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Promises	By : recension Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Ginny Views: 2750 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, all characters items and worlds, do not belong to me but to WB and JK Rowling. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
In the morning, Draco felt much better than he had in weeks. The sun slipping through his curtains didn't make him feel suicidal, and the mess of his room was revolting instead of apathy-inspiring.

He shuffled from bed and aimed a few spells at piles of clothing on his way to the bathroom. One scalding hot shower, one straight razor shave, and one considered moment dressing later and Draco was much more the picture of himself. He descended the stairs and immediately set about his morning routine. Espresso, the paper, toast.

He had a long day ahead of him, playing catch up from all the time missed. It was easy enough to run the shops from home but the Falcons needed extra care. Their first few games had not gone well.

Draco moved quickly to his study to retrieve his mail, thumbing through the letters in the hopes of seeing her handwriting, but he wasn't totally disappointed to see she hadn't written. Give her time.

He folded the post into his newspaper and Disapparated to Diagon Alley to begin his day.

Ginny could hear her parents whispering outside her door. For all the secrets they had kept during the wars, they were awful gossips.

She had tried her hardest to be clear and restrained when she had told them the news that morning. She and Harry had had a fight, it was likely they were splitting up. Arthur pressed for more details, but Ginny pled exhaustion and excused herself upstairs. She had faded in and out of sleep for the better parts of the morning and afternoon. By the time she woke, the sun was near setting and the house had a distinct murmur that told her she wasn't the only Weasley child back home.

Reluctantly, she came downstairs to see the situation wasn't as bad as she thought. George and Bill were in the living room with her father, Angelina and her mother were preparing some sort of tea service while Fleur set the table.

She cleared her throat gently at the bottom of the stairs and drew the attention of everyone in the small house.

"Ginny, dear, take a seat. Tea will be ready in just a minute," Molly called to her with an exaggerated smile.

Bill cheerfully headed into the kitchen, giving her shoulder a squeeze as she sat down in her usual seat. "Hi-ya squirt," he greeted her and Ginny gave a soft smile of hello.

Even though this whole event was, at best, false cheerfulness and, at worst, likely an attempt to convince her to patch up her marriage, it was kind of nice to be the guest of honor at the table.

"I suppose you couldn't drum up Ron and Hermione then," Ginny spoke with a somewhat indignant tone, blushing as her mother's smile seemed to falter. Percy and Audrey could hardly be expected to be there, busy with the campaign, and Charlie only really came down from Romania for Christmas.

"Mum, it's fine. I'm sorry. It's nice to see everyone, really," Ginny quickly patched over, thanking Fleur as she began pouring tea, the rest of the family settling in at the table. Ginny dropped two sugar cubes into her tea, stirring the cup as she felt eyes falling on her and quickly pulling away. It seemed the plan had ended at 'get everyone over for tea.'

"I'm not going to be a story teller if that's what you're all waiting for, but I will answer your questions," she finally offered. "I'm not going to ignore the elephant in the room."

"Gosh, Gin, who said we were here to talk about you?" George teased, but the laughter of the room broke the tension just enough. She was grateful for the laugh.

Ginny felt her father reach for her hand and squeeze it briefly. "No matter how this ends up. You are always welcome here," Arthur told her kindly. "We are all just worried at the suddenness of it all, sweetheart."

If Ginny had the energy to cry she probably would have. She just nodded, feeling warm and loved. "Thanks, Dad. I know... I know it's going to be strange for all of you. Harry has been a member of our family since long before he was an actual member of our family. It's not like I expect you to abandon him or cut of ties because we're splitting up. I don't want that at all."

"Percy will be glad to hear it," George offered with a grin, taking a cheeky sip of his tea, earning him an elbow to the stomach from his wife. "Oh come on, half of his campaign strategy is to cart out Harry at every single event, have them shake hands and pledge to protect the world."

Ginny sighed gently, "Harry will love that, I'm sure." The heads of her family members swiveled back to her and she blushed as an uncomfortable silence followed. She looked up to her mother and frowned at Molly's hopeful look. Breaking Molly's heart was the last thing she wanted to do.

"We fell out of love with one another, is all. I'd been unhappy for a long while now, but I couldn't leave him while he hadn't done anything wrong. He's Harry Potter. He's the father of my children. He's 'The Boy Who Lived,'" Ginny smiled sadly. "He's still very dear to me. But last night I found out he has been unhappy too and I think it's time we stopped lying about it. To ourselves, and to each other."

"So it's done then?" Arthur sliced his hand through the air horizontally. "You can't patch this up?"

Ginny fiddled with the handle of her teacup considering the question. "I don't think I really want to, Dad. Not if things won't really change. I tried my hardest to put some effort back into the marriage but Harry would have to make the same effort. It just feels like neither of us is willing to do that."

Molly's worried look only intensified; it stabbed at Ginny's heart. Never before had a Weasley marriage ended like this, and with Harry in the family Molly had gotten used to the pride of treating him as her own. Ginny could tell her mother was torn.

"I appreciate everyone's concern but I really do think this is for the best. Harry and I can now try and be happy apart without hurting one another," Ginny insisted. She tucked her hair back, sighing as she unwillingly thought of the photographs last night.

"Was he cheating on you, Gin?" Bill finally asked, as if he could read her mind, all trace of humor gone from his face.

"Hold your tongue, Bill," Molly shushed her eldest. As much as Ginny didn't want to embarrass her mother or Harry, she realized if was going to start being more herself she could start with being honest.

"The truth of is was we were both having affairs," Ginny admitted with what she hoped was a casual shrug.

"Sacre merde," Fleur whispered under her breath and Ginny resisted a strong urge to roll her eyes.

"Is it really all that shocking?" she inquired with a frown. "We've been drifting apart for so long. It's been obvious, hasn't it?"

"I thought I was the only one who had cheated until last night. Knowing he was unhappy too—unhappy enough to cheat—gave me the permission I needed," Ginny looked up to her mother again carefully, her eyes stalling on the lion brooch pinned to her mother's homely sweater. She hadn't taken it off since Christmas. Molly's eyes were sad, but sympathetic, as she pushed a plate of teacakes towards her daughter.

"I made lemon," Molly offered softly. "Your favorite."

Ginny and Harry stood side-by-side on the train platform. For the first time in a long time, Ginny felt like everything might be okay in the end.

She was still staying with her parents, but it was only temporary. They had agreed to terms of separation, aiming for an official divorce by the end of the summer: Harry would keep the house, and anything else he had inherited. The rest of their belongings would be split, and the children would be shared evenly. When the pain of the first few fights had simmered, Harry had finally stopped justifying actions and insisting on more chances. They still ended conversations with 'I love you', but gone was the romantic sentiment that had been attached so many years ago.

They had written to the children together explaining the situation, but Ginny was nervous about their reactions in person. The children, sidelined in most of the events of the past few months, were the most important thing to protect now.

As the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station, Ginny searched the windows for recognizable faces, caught off guard by Teddy Lupin as he approached the two of them from behind. He embraced them both, one arm around each neck. "You know, it's an awful shame you two are splitting up," he teased, a broad grin masking a voice portraying his true sadness.

"Come on now, Ted, it's not that big of a deal," Harry turned on his most fatherly tone. "We still love you very much."

"Oh it is a huge deal, Uncle Harry. You can't cook for shit, and with Aunt Ginny gone I'm afraid this summer you'll starve," Teddy joked, clapping Harry on the back but giving a wide smile. "I'll help the little one with her case," he offered, taking long strides down the platform towards the emptying train.

Ginny found herself in a better mood already, Teddy was always good-natured and his smile was infectious. She was grateful to have him around as a big brother to her children. She glanced over to Harry and was happy to see him smiling as well. "We can make this work, right?" she asked him, nervously.

Harry turned to her and nodded gently. Ever since they'd split, they'd been tender with one another, trying to return to a brother and sister dynamic. Despite everything, she still trusted his words as gospel. "If anyone can, we can," he offered hopefully.

"Mum!" Ginny turned in time to see Lily bounding towards her, weaving through the crowd, running into her with a fierce hug. James and Albus followed behind her a few paces with luggage carts, Teddy behind them with all of Lily's things piled together. Her sons looked less cheerful but she embraced them and kissed them hello just the same.

"You look happy," Albus said softly against her middle and Ginny ran her hand through his hair. She kissed his forehead and wiped the lipstick print before letting him go.

"Well let's get moving, Grandmum has the hugest welcome-home feast planned for you and all of your cousins," Ginny excitedly explained, smiling as Lily took her hand and threaded their fingers. The little redhead lead her mother towards the platform exit. Ginny looked up to see Draco and his son. The two of them were quite a pair, a matching set of brooding blonds in all black.

Draco raised his hand in a respectful greeting. Ginny raised hers in return before stepping through the transverse.

Ginny grabbed a heavy metal bucket, sliding a straw sun hat on her head. She had volunteered to tend to the garden, finding her parents quite appreciative of the help she was providing around the house. An afternoon of de-gnoming and weeding was in her future but the day was nice so she didn't much mind.

"Make sure you collect the berries, dear. They'll be overripe and unusable in a few a few days," Molly called to her from somewhere unseen in the house.

"Right, Mum, I got it!" Ginny pushed out the door, heading into the garden. She turned around the house and paused at the sight of Hermione Weasley settled upon the flat stone boulder in the middle of the yard. She was in full robes, which meant she had been at work, probably out on her lunch break. Ginny was curious why her sister-in-law would take the time to travel all the way to the Burrow but didn't want to know all the same.

Ginny set down her bucket near the wild berry bushes at the side of the house. "Afternoon, Hermione," she greeted the woman, feeling only slightly regretful for messing with Hermione's memories at Christmas. Hermione was a formidable witch; Ginny hoped she wasn't there for some sort of retribution.

"How have you been, Ginny?" Hermione asked, squinting in the summer sun.

Ginny shrugged in response. "Not too bad. Would you like a cup of tea?"

Hermione shook her head, "I won't be staying. I just wanted to offer an apology."

Ginny frowned, looking over at Hermione under the brim of her hat. She did seem concerned, guilty even. "I'm sure you don't have anything to apologize for," Ginny blushed, wanting to broach her own confession but knowing it was best kept in her own mind.

"There was one afternoon, just after Ron and I had gotten married. You were over to help me unpack while Ron and Harry were at Auror training. You told me you weren't in love with Harry anymore, and I ignored you," Hermione spoke softly.

"It's eaten at me so these past few weeks I just had to tell you how sorry I am." The brunette took a deep sigh as she tried to gauge Ginny's reaction.

Ginny felt her stomach tie itself up, the knots traveling up and through her throat. She couldn't swallow, could barely breath. "Hermione," she spoke softy, sympathetic for the other woman.

"If I had wanted to leave, I would have." Ginny felt a frown take over her features, "I think at any point if I had been unhappy enough to not go on, I would have left him. Have no doubts about that. But we both know what a good man he is, and I don't blame you at all for any of this."

"Of course you don't," Hermione murmured with a light scowl. "That doesn't mean I don't blame myself." She stood upright then, her robes skimming the grass of the garden, a sadness about her face.

"To think you could have found Draco so many years ago—" she paused and guiltily blushed before explaining, "—Harry told us."

"Of course he did," Ginny frowned, wondering if Ron was out there somewhere with a wand to Malfoy's neck. "Look, Draco and I are over for the moment no matter what my marital status is. I need to stand on my own for a little bit. I don't want to think of my life being any different than the way it is. It would be wrong to think I would want my children any different than they are."

Hermione solemnly nodded, "Of course. I didn't..." she trailed off.

"Did Harry tell you about his…?"

Hermione nodded slowly. "Ron said he had a hunch which made me want to strangle him for not telling you. I told him if he ever had a similar inkling, no matter how old I was—even if I was dead—I would find a way kill him."

Ginny smiled softly at her imagining of Ron's face when he heard those words. He surely swallowed thickly, apologized, and changed the subject quickly.

"I do hope you know that you're welcome at our place anytime. I don't want you to think Harry gets to hold us hostage for his own." Hermione blushed crimson, knowing full well that it worked just like that, even if it was unintentional. "You're both our family."

"Harry and I have been working things out rather well, I think," Ginny admitted. "For the family, for the kids. It's just going to take some time before he and I can sit at a dinner together. For example."

Hermione nodded, sensing the sensitivity of the subject, squinting in the sun. "I should be getting back to the Ministry," she excused herself, starting to walk her way out of the garden. "It's good to see you though, Ginny. You look well."

Ginny bashfully gave a soft wave. "Do pop in and say hi to Mum before you go. I'm sure she's got something to give you. She's been baking non-stop since I arrived."

Hermione smiled and nodded her agreement and faded from view around the house. Ginny picked up her bucket and headed to the berry bushes, beginning to pick when Hermione called to her again.

"Just one more thing, Ginny... but I have to ask," Hermione had returned to the garden gate, a wicker basket in her hands stuffed with Molly's baking.

Ginny turned, tipping her hat back to see her sister-in-law, giving her attention.

"What is Draco Malfoy like in bed?"

Ginny broke out in a grin, unable to help laughing as Hermione cracked up the same.

"I'm just kidding, of course. And please don't tell me." Hermione grinned, changing her mind, "I have a feeling I'll have to meet him with a straight face sometime soon."

Ginny took a deep breath as she steeled herself to enter the office. She needed her press pass, and that was all. Just her press pass and she'd be on her way. It was near daily deadline, and the sound of twenty typewriters thudded in uneven cadence. She crossed to her desk quickly, unlocking her drawer and withdrawing the pass, slipping the card and lanyard around her neck, locking the drawer.

"Potter," Felix Skeeter beckoned from his office doorway and Ginny froze, reluctantly accepting the invitation. This close.

She crossed the floor to the Lifestyles Editor's office and shut the door behind her as she settled in across the desk from her boss.

"Tea, coffee?" Felix offered.

She shook her head silently in refusal. "I've got a match to cover in a little bit," she explained.

"Right, of course. Wanderers versus Falcons," Felix nodded, obviously nervous. "Well, I just wanted to... apologize."

Ginny felt her cheeks flush, but she stayed quiet.

"It was you who..." He gestured to the envelope now resting on the corner of his desk.

Ginny nodded, but still stayed silent.

"I hope you understand that I really thought it was best. We got the photos a few months ago. AZ wanted to run them," Ginny frowned. AZ, Alexander Zolleis, was the Editor-in-Chief of the paper and a man as dogged as he was ruthless. "He wanted to put it out front page. I begged him not to. Pleaded, really."

Ginny took a deep breath before speaking, "I'm surprised that worked, to be honest."

"Well, it didn't at first. Then I told him the shareholders wouldn't like the most respected name in wizarding journalism reducing itself to tabloid status," Felix rested his elbows on his desk, leaning forward in his seat. "Coming from a Skeeter, I think it made some impression."

Ginny nodded, but found herself fumbling for words to say. She wanted to thank Felix and reprimand him at the same time. She wanted him to make the matter go away instead of pressing on her mind every time she thought of the newspaper.

"I was going to wait until Monday, but I suppose now is as good a time as any," Ginny finally found her nerve, her gaze raising to his level. "I'd like to officially tender my resignation."

"Bloody hell, Ginny, please don't," Felix protested over the end of her words, concern etched in his face.

"I don't want to work here anymore," she said plainly. "I don't enjoy it as much as I used to. The hours, the matches, it's just another part of my life that I'm bored with."

It was Felix's turn to be silent, the slight man leaning back in his chair as he evaluated her statement.

"Of course the fact that I can't trust you is part of that decision," she finally spoke, swallowing hard after voicing the words. "I don't mean to punish you, or the paper. I'm grateful for the way you handled the situation, I suppose. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision. But someone could have told me. I can weather a lot of things, but I can't weather my friends making me out to be a fool."

"Harry and I are splitting up. It's been a long time coming but I don't think I can forgive the fact that I spent three years longer than I had to in that hopeless situation, and that falls on your head, Felix."

Ginny watched her boss shift uncomfortably. "I wish you would stay," he finally offered, his eyes wide with sympathy. Strange, she thought. How everyone wants to offer their sympathy now that I'm on my way to recovery.

"I really can't," Ginny stood. "I'll work through to the end of the season, of course, but this season will be my last."

Felix stood then, and leaned across his desk, extending his hand for a professional shake. The mutual respect of their time together had given her a bit of herself to hold onto when everything else melted away. Her time at The Daily Prophet had kept her sane through the rearing of her children; it had kept her going when it was tempting to give up and hide away.

Ginny grasped his hand firmly, giving it a gentle shake before letting her fingers slide from his. "I have the match to attend."

"Of course. Give my regards to Mister Malfoy, will you?" Felix casually requested, pulling back to stand again.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ginny felt her cheeks flame up at the mention of Draco.

"Potter, how did you think his notes kept ending up on your desk?" he smirked gently. "Honestly, I thought you were one of the brighter ones out there."

Ginny walked the stadium halls on her way to the press box. She had made sure not to seem dressed up or nervous—Just regular me—but inside she had massive butterflies at the prospect of seeing him that night.

The chatter of the stadium was loud. The game was sure to be intense, both teams known for brutality but fighting their way out of early season losses. As Ginny descended the steps into the press box she greeted her fellow correspondents with familiarity, settling in to her reserved chair.

She was impressed at the fan turnout, the Falmouth stadium at near full capacity in a sea of black and red.

"Missus Potter?" An usher gently called for her attention. When she turned, the young man went crimson. "It's an honor, ma'am," he said nervously with a slight bow. "Mister Malfoy would like to extend an invitation to watch the game in the owner's box."

"Why does she get an invitation? What about us? What's she got that we don't?" a portly WWN reporter about her father's age posed jokingly.

"Those legs, for a start," one of the other men cracked, and the booth broke into laughter. Ginny blushed but stood and gathered her things, accepting the invitation.

"Now now, boys. Don't be too jealous. I'm sure the view is cloudy up there," she insisted. "And the company will be far worse."

"Damn straight," the WWN reporter agreed with a chuckle.

Ginny let the usher lead her back through the concrete maze of the stadium, nodding at him in thanks as he gestured to an open door. She took a quick deep breath for courage but crossed the threshold confidently. The box was empty, just two small rows of seats with a bar table in front and a catered spread at the back wall. Except for the slightly different view and lack of inhabitants, it was identical to the press box.

She found a seat with a decent angle and set up her workspace again—her pad and quills at the ready, her Omnioculars out of their case. She wrote a few starting notes to fill her boredom, scribbling down the approximate size of the crowd, and the fervor, before the teams even began a warm-up flight. After a few more minutes of solitude, she moved to the back of the box and fixed herself a drink, picking at the food too nervous to really eat, returning to her seat and checking her watch. This is ridiculous. I'm not watching the match alone. She rose and began packing up her things.

"I'm sorry we're late," Draco apologized from the doorway and when Ginny turned she saw a pair of blonds where she expected one. "Scorpius this is Ginny Potter," Draco ushered his son into the box. "Ginny, this is my son Scorpius."

The boy was about James' age, they were probably in the same year at school. Ginny couldn't help wondering if they were rivals like their fathers, though she recognized more similarities than differences in their dispositions. She felt her cheeks flush and she walked to the back of the box, shaking Scorpius' hand firmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Scorpius."

"You too, Missus Potter," Scorpius spoke softly, quickly withdrawing his hand. "Game's about to start," he remarked to his father from under a coiffed muss of platinum fringe.

Draco nodded. "Go grab a seat," he excused his son from the circle and the teenager bolted to the front of the box, taking a seat at the edge of the box.

"Is this... okay?" Draco asked Ginny nervously once they were alone. "He really wanted to come to the game, and we don't have much time together with the custody as it is."

Ginny nodded but gave him a reassuring smile. "I think it's kind of wonderful," she spoke softly. "I assume he doesn't know about us?"

"Of course not," Draco knit his eyebrows together as he shook his head subtly. "I told him we were friends."

"Rude of you to lie to your son like that," Ginny teased with a grin, and a brief wink before she returned to her seat. She watched the Wigtown Wanderers fly their starting line around the stadium to cheers and jeers, their players showing off their flying skills.

"You used to play professionally, didn't you Missus Potter?" Scorpius asked, watching the display through Omnioculars.

"I did. Almost five years with the Holyhead Harpies," Ginny leaned back in her seat, crossing her legs.

"What was your signature move?" He asked, curiously, drawing his gaze to her.

Ginny blushed at the attention but was grateful Scorpius wouldn't be sulking the entire game. "I used to fly out upside-down," she smiled as she remembered it. "I was a bit of a show-off then."

"She was brilliant," Draco spoke, settling into the seat just behind Scorpius'. "The broom tucked under her knees, arms extended. Like a trapeze artist."

Ginny went bright red as Draco talked about her flying. He had never mentioned ever seeing her play. "Well, thank you," she blushed. "I do like to think I was something special."

"Why'd you quit?" Scorpius asked, returning his focus to the stadium as the home team began their introductions.

"I retired to have children. I was pregnant with James, my son James," Ginny answered.

"I know James, he's a mate," Scorpius mentioned casually, never taking his gaze off of the players.

Draco raised an eyebrow but shrugged at Ginny's matching expression, laughing silently at their shared surprise.

The game began shortly after that, Ginny focusing on her dictations and play by play coverage, occasionally glancing into her Omnioculars for clarification or to watch something over again. The conversation was light, but enjoyable. Scorpius was polite, extremely interested in Quidditch, and inquisitive; his father stayed quiet for most of the game, but pride was streaming out Draco's ears that the two of them were getting along.

As the score grew higher, Ginny glanced at her watch. If the snitch was caught before eleven o'clock, she had time to finish a write-up and get it in the morning edition. If the match went any later, she'd have to write a quick mid-game review. Normally Ginny would be praying for a caught snitch by now, but as the game intensified and the conversation kept rolling, she didn't mind the prospect of staying out all night with the Malfoy men.

Draco noticed she was checking her watch often and was reminded of their trysts. She was always concerned about getting back to her real life, keeping their time together in neat appointment slots. "Doesn't Harry mind you staying out so late?"

Ginny frowned in confusion. Without thinking, she responded. "Why would he mind? We haven't been living together for weeks."

Draco felt his heart race as he processed the information and he waited for her gaze to meet his. Reluctantly, her amber eyes met his silver as she realized the admission with a cute grimace. There were more tactful ways to share the news. Draco just smiled, at her expression and the news without a trace of irony or smugness.

"Divorce?" He asked breathlessly.

"By the end of the summer," Ginny couldn't help a small smile at Draco's expression, eye-rolling playfully. "You don't have to look so gleeful."

Ginny's watch beeped and she looked out to the game. Clouds were rolling into the stadium and the players were clearly having trouble in the low visibility. She was in for a long night. She stood and grabbed her notebook, "I have to owl the paper with a mid-game report, from the press box," she blushed at Draco's continued smile and slapped him on the back of the head with her notebook playfully as she headed for the door, finding her way to the press box to finish her business.

When she returned a few minutes later, Draco was alone in the box standing at the far end, looking out onto the game.

"Please tell me my news didn't make you sacrifice your first born in tribute to the gods," she teased, slowly walking to the front of the box, to join him.

"I kindly suggested he watch from a higher level, because of the cloud cover," Draco smirked.

"Right, yes. The cloud cover," Ginny seriously agreed in playfulness with a nod, keeping a straight face as she glanced back to the game.

"I'm glad you left him," Draco spoke softly. "I can't help that, Ginny."

"Well he didn't give me much choice," Ginny sighed, her smile fading. "He was sleeping around too. For longer, not that that matters."

"Fucking prick," Draco disbelievingly murmured under his breath.

"Draco," she warned him softly. "It doesn't matter," she sighed as she looked out over the pitch.

"It's not like you ever threatened his mistress, right?" Draco flashed his eyes to her.

Ginny turned to face him with a frown. "When?"

He shrugged before answering. "A few months ago. I don't remember the day. Walked right into my shop, threatened to ruin my business if I ever contacted you again."

Ginny blushed, anger rising within her, but not surprise. "That's why he was so angry at Percy's dinner," she groaned as she put the pieces together. Draco gave a gentle nod.

"It's not like I was afraid of him," Draco defended his pride. "I wanted to respect your distance. You had chosen to end things."

Ginny gnawed on her lower lip as she thought over his words carefully. "If... and I'm not saying I want to, just if I wanted to un-end things," she spoke, keeping her eyes on the cloud cover as players raced through. "Would that be all right with you?"

She could feel Draco's smile on her. "If that were the case, that would be all right with me," he spoke softly, watching her watch the game.

"And if, again if I wanted to wait until my divorce was settled before I asked to un-end things... would that also be all right?" Ginny found the tone of her voice dropping as she spoke, turning to face him, not shying from his intense gaze.

Draco nodded his reply. "As long as we can still be friends. For Scorpius. For appearances."

"Yes, of course. For appearances," Ginny grinned, her eyes flashing from his to his lips unconsciously. "By the way, your Beaters need cross-training. Archery, I'd suggest."

"Unsolicited advice," he huffed, turning back to the game. "My team is just fine."

"They're half of what they could be, and you know it. You need a new defensive coach," she defended her opinion with a trace of flush. "And it just so happens that I've quit my job this afternoon, so I'm available for next season."

Draco let his mind mull over her proposition; the nerve of her always did impress him. "And you think I should just hire you? The Harpies never won anything of circumstance while you played."

"First of all, that was not my fault. My offensive figures were well above league-average. Second, I've had over a decade to observe the game since," Ginny smirked, the crowd erupting in cheers as the announcer shouted over and over that the Wanderers' seeker had caught the snitch. "You need me, Malfoy."

Ginny pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to the steady thrum of his heart. She wanted to get up, but didn't want to leave him alone in the bed.

Astoria's wedding the day prior had gone much better than she had expected. Though Draco had asked her to accompany him as friends, they had tumbled into something more again somewhere mid-reception. Meeting Draco's ex-wife had gone well, Ginny rather liked Astoria, and despite the setting Draco seemed to be in high spirits. They had spent most of the night snuggled up against one another in the corner of the posh hall mocking the groom's extended family.

Draco remarked how happy his former wife looked, swaddled and twirling in the arms of another. It was undeniable that the woman sparkled.

Ginny had wanted to wait until the divorce was finalized before sleeping with him, but Draco's magnetism was impossible to resist. The champagne, the twinkling candles, the romance of the evening had gone to her head in the most delightful way. Draco had been between her thighs by midnight.

She watched him sleep, her enigmatic lover. As if he felt her eyes on him, he woke, peering out from under long blond lashes. "Morning," he drawled, shutting his eyes while he took his first conscious breath of the day. His lungs expanded, pressing his chest up, making her rise with the gentle force of the expansion.

"Good morning," she replied, gently sitting up next to him. "I figured I might cook the Malfoy men some breakfast."

Draco smiled and gave a gentle rumble of a chuckle. "If it's after seven, Scorpius has already made us breakfast," he explained. "Potions. Cooking. Same skill set, and he excels. Eggs Florentine to die for," he murmured sleepily, giving a soft yawn, a reminder that they hadn't actually rested much the night before.

Ginny gently sat up, covering herself with the covers modestly. "Then I'll get dressed and we can go eat. You'll need energy."

Draco raised an eyebrow into a perfect playful arch, but said nothing.

"Last night you were complaining about your backlog of repairs. I fully intend to beat you through the stack," Ginny taunted him, sliding from the bed to look for her slip amongst the discarded clothes on the floor of the room. She slid the green silk over her head, letting it fall loosely along her body. Draco had sat up, admiring the view of his dressing companion.

She remembered the days she would sneak into the hotel bathroom first thing after sex, to fix her hair and make-up and appear perfect for him. She was certain she looked a wreck but the way he looked at her had not changed.

He pulled out his wand and murmured an incantation under his breath, the high hem of her silken slip growing until it was at her feet. "You look beautiful in green, but Scorpius is only a teenager. I can't have him getting any funny ideas." She crawled across the bed to kiss him in reward for his jealousy, no matter how passing and light.

"I love you," she whispered for the first time, her nose brushing against his, her eyes shut fearing the emotional ricochet. She had hurt him beyond what should be forgiven, and yet he had held his flame for her. He—the world's most impatient man—had shown patience, and when the timing was just right he had recaptured her.

She could imagine her future moving forward without him but found herself more than pleasantly surprised to hope that wasn't her fate.

"I adore you, Ginny Weasley," he murmured in response, stroking over her cheek. "But you're an idiot if you think I'm letting you take charge on the restoration of the backlog. Hands off," he warned her. "Dervish, Banges, Borgin & Burkes property. Thieves will be hexed upon sight."

Ginny grinned at his casual bite, pulling back to take him in. His smile was clear in his voice, but he wore a Malfoy smirk, which was fine by her: he was handsome just the same. "I'm a faster draw," she reminded him, pressing one more chaste kiss to his lips.

"I make no promises to spare you," Draco watched her rise, slide on his dressing robe and steal a playful glance at him before she left the room, leaving the door ajar.

"I welcome the challenge," she called after him from the staircase.

He spent another long moment in bed, letting the sun wash over him from the open windows. He pulled on his pajamas and his spare robe, sliding his feet into slippers before shuffling down the stairs, pausing in his study as he heard Ginny and his son discuss proper Julienne technique. He greeted Rigel and slid a treat between the cage bars, leafing through his mail finding no interest in the post whatsoever.

As he crossed back across the foyer he paused at the tall mirror towering beside the staircase, ready for transfer back to its proper home. It had taken Draco the better part of his adulthood to find the pieces and elevate the object back to its former glory. It was a contribution he was happy to give back to the school that he felt saved his life.

Draco peeled back the velvet curtain across the glass, stepping back properly to peer into it once more.

He saw nothing but his own reflection.

Ginny joined him in the foyer, a cup of tea in her hands. He let drop the curtain, the velvet swinging back over the ancient glass as he turned his attention to her.

"I think it's awfully rude of you to be sending it back broken, by the way," Ginny murmured, offering him the teacup.

"Broken?" He scowled, accepting the tea. "The frame is brand new." He looked over the frame quickly with concern, scanning for cracks or warps in the freshly carved wood.

Ginny moved to stand behind him, pushing the velvet aside again. "I didn't see anything when I looked into it," she explained casually, pressing a kiss against his shoulder. Draco wasn't sure if she was messing with him but given his own reflection moments ago he wondered if she even truly knew what her words meant.

"Come," she murmured in invitation, pink lips parting for the sparse word as she nodded towards the kitchen. "Breakfast."

He had never heard anything more alluring.
- 7
- 8
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Promises