Unaffected

"Tell me a story," Lily begged. Ginny smiled and tucked the covers under her freckled chin, then sat down on the side of Lily's bed.

"What shall it be tonight, Poppet? A Quidditch story, perhaps?" Ginny smiled indulgently at her. At the tender age of three and a half, her daughter had already developed her father's passion for Quidditch. The thought struck her as humorous that Harry would be mortified if he knew his daughter was a Chudley Cannons fan - thanks to her Uncle Ron.

"No, Mummy, I want to hear a story about Daddy tonight." Ginny's heart clenched in her chest, but she smiled.

"What would you like to hear about?"

"How did Uncle Ron and Daddy get to be friends?" Her viridian eyes were glowing with excitement, and Ginny couldn't help but laugh. Harry was never very far away when Lily was near; she carried his soul inside her little body like an Olympic torch.

"Well, your Daddy didn't know he was a Wizard until he got his Hogwarts letter, remember?" Lily nodded eagerly. "He was on the train to Hogwarts for his first year," she said.

"And he and Uncle Ron shared the same car," she filled in eagerly. Ginny laughed and gave her a look of mock anger. She knew very well that Lily had heard this story enough to have it memorized herself.

"Do you want me to tell you this story or not, young lady?" Her voice was stern. Lily's smile wavered momentarily, and then she realized that she was being teased. Her face melted into one of Harry's signature grins, and she nodded with only the impetuousness that a three year old can convey. Ginny chuckled softly.

"I'm sorry, Mum."

"I know, sweeting. Alright, where was I? Oh, yes," she said, nodding. "He was on the train to go to Hogwarts for his first year, and you're right. He and Uncle Ron shared a compartment on the same car."

"And he bought me a load of sweets off of the snack trolley," a pleasant voice boomed from the doorway. Ginny looked up in mild surprise as Lily squealed and pushed the covers off of her.

"Uncle Ron! Uncle Ron!" She launched herself at him, and he grinned. He bent and picked her up, giving her an indulgent kiss on the forehead.

"Aren't you tired of that story yet, Lils?" Ginny felt her heart flip at his nickname for her. She knew that Harry's father had called his mother that - she remembered him saying it was one of the things he'd heard from Sirius. She stood and smoothed out her modest flannel pyjamas.

"I never get tired of that story," Lily asserted, her chubby face going serious. "My Daddy is in it. It's my favoritest story in the whole wide world!" Ron grinned and nodded.

"So I see," he teased. He gave her another kiss before handing her into Ginny's outstretched arms.

"Alright, Poppet. Time for bed. You'll have plenty of time to visit with Uncle Ron in the morning." She tucked in a very disappointed Lily and snapped off the light. She followed Ron down to the kitchen, where her mother had already made coffee, and she hugged him. "What brings you here, Ron? Mum and I were just talking about inviting you and Fred over for dinner." He took a mug of steaming liquid from his mother and sat down.

"So that's why my ears were burning," he teased. She rolled her eyes playfully, and Molly sat down with a smile. Sometimes it was amazing how much Ron could make her feel as though they were both still teenagers; when times had been happier.

"Seriously," she prodded. He shrugged.

"I got some time off rather, er, unexpectedly," he said, raising the cup to his lips. Ginny's mouth fell open.

"Ron, please tell me you didn't get fired!"

"No, I didn't get fired," he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Well?" his mother asked exasperatedly. "Are you going to tell us or not?"

"I got promoted," he said proudly. Ginny let out a long squeal, and Molly almost knocked over her coffee mug as she jumped up to hug him. He laughed. "It's not that big of a deal, really. I actually have vacation time now, though, so I thought I'd take a day off, first thing."

"Your father would have been so proud!" Molly beamed. Ron's ears turned pink, and Ginny laughed.

"I think you're embarrassing him, Mum." She sipped at her coffee, and Ron glanced up at her.

"How are you doing, Gin?" he asked softly. She knew he was asking about more than her work or Lily, and gave him a wry smile. "Same, huh."

"Well, sort of. You know, I ran into someone rather unexpectedly today."

"Who?"

"Draco Malfoy." Ron sputtered, and his mother handed him a napkin to dab at the coffee that was staining his white shirt. He turned incredulous eyes to her.

"Did you just say you got a visit from Ferret Boy?" She grinned and nodded.

"Yeah, he wanted to talk about his mother. Apparently he's been paying for her therapy with me."

"You're giving therapy to his mother?" Ginny clapped a hand over her mouth. What had happened to her patient's privacy? "Have you been taking the mickey? How can you see her without thinking about how her husband killed yours?"

"Ron," she said, removing her hand and taking a deep breath. "Her husband killed Harry, not her. She's grieving just as much as anyone else, you know." He stared at her in amazement, and then turned to his mother.

"Is my sister not the most amazing woman you've ever met in your entire life?" He turned awed eyes back to her, and she blushed, unaccustomed to praise - especially from Ron. Molly smiled proudly. "You are, without a doubt, the most forgiving person I've ever met."

"Narcissa didn't do anything for me to have to forgive," she pointed out reasonably.

"I beg to differ," Ron shook his head. "She gave birth to the world's greatest git."

"Oh, Ron!" she couldn't help laughing. He reminded her so much of Harry in that moment that it was almost painful.

"How is the old Ferret, anyway?" he asked, going back to his coffee.

"I wouldn't know," she said honestly. He looked up, curiosity filling his eyes. "He told me he wanted to discuss his mother, and I told him my shift was over. I told him to make an appointment with Violet. He didn't seem pleased," she smiled.

"I reckon not," he laughed. "Fancy my sister telling Draco Malfoy to make an appointment with her!" He snorted with laughter. "I never thought he'd have the guts to show his face anywhere again, what with the big scandal about him being a turncoat."

"I suppose he had good reasons for betraying his father," she said smoothly, her voice not belying her emotions. She knew perfectly well why he had turned against Lucius and Voldemort in the end - to save his mother, the only person he'd ever cared about. Narcissa had told her as much. It was one reason for her biweekly sessions with Ginny. She felt horribly guilty for turning father against son, and vice versa. Ron raised an eyebrow at her.

"Now that is an interesting way to phrase it, little sister," he said, his eyes twinkling. "Is there something you'd care to share with the rest of the class?" She laughed.

"Patient confidentiality."

"But he's not a patient of yours, so you can say anything about him that you want to," Ron pointed out, barely containing his excitement. She giggled.

"Sorry, Ron." His face fell. "But I'll keep you notified of any new developments, should he decide to speak to me. Incidentally, are you going to be in town Saturday? Hermione is bringing Alice over to play with Lily." His eyes lit up quickly again.

"Is she? How is she doing?"

"She's getting better. It's a long, slow process, but she's making great strides."

"Excellent," he said, clearly relieved. "She's been a totally different person since Neville's death, you know. I was beginning to worry she'd never get back to being the Hermione we all know and love." Ginny thought she might have heard his voice soften as he said the last part of his sentence, but she couldn't be sure.

"Oh!" Molly said, startling them both. "I forgot to tell you, I got a letter from Remus this morning, and he's headed back into this area!" Ron's eyes lit up and Ginny's face split in a grin.

"Well, you'll have to invite him over on Saturday, as well!" Ginny said. Molly nodded and smiled, and Ron fidgeted in his chair.

"Would it be asking too much if I invited... erm..." his face turned pink beneath the curious stares of his mother and sister. "If I invited someone to come with me?"

"Does this someone have a name?" Ginny asked, her voice heavy with amusement. Ron's ears promptly went from pink to scarlet, and he mumbled something under his breath. Ginny's eyes widened in surprise. "Did you just say what I think you just said?"

"What do you think I said?" he asked, fervently hoping that she wouldn't make him repeat the name. He knew from the way she raised her eyebrows that she was going to make him do precisely that. "Blaise Zabini."

"The Blaise Zabini? As in the Slytherin girl that every guy in Hogwarts wanted to shag?" Ron's face turned a nasty shade of green.

"Don't say that," he protested weakly. "I didn't want to shag her, and neither did Harry."

"You didn't want to shag her then, but I'd be willing to bet that now is a different story," she said pointedly. He tried to hide his cheeky grin, but she saw it, and her mouth dropped open. "You already have, haven't you? You dirty thing, you!" She didn't sound as mortified as she tried to, and her mother hid a smile behind her hand.

"Actually, we have an... announcement, of sorts, to make. I was hoping that you could get a hold of Fred and invite him, because I want him to hear too."

"Oh!" Ginny's eyes filled with tears of happiness for her brother. "You're getting married, then?"

"That, and we're going to help the Weasley name move into the next generation," he said, looking proud even though his face was fuchsia.

"Oh, Ronald!" his mother squealed, tears pooling in her eyes. Ginny's jaw dropped in surprise, but her eyes twinkled happily.

"It's about damned time you gave my daughter someone to play with," she said, trying to sound haughty. He grinned and opened his arms as she hugged him tightly. The truth was that she was more than moved by his baby-to-be. The birth of another baby meant that the rebuilding of the Weasley family was beginning. Even though no one could ever replace her father or other brothers, at least this was a start.

"Do you mind if I stay here tonight?" he asked abruptly. She was pulled from her thoughts, and noticed the odd look he was giving her.

"Ron, what a ridiculous question," she admonished, smiling tiredly. "Really. You know you don't even have to ask." She stifled a yawn, and Molly swooped in to take the empty coffee mugs away.

"You should be getting to bed, Ginny. You have to get up early for work tomorrow." Ginny laughed softly. It didn't matter that she was a grown woman with a child and house of her own; her mother would always be her mother. She stood and dropped a kiss on Ron's forehead, then left the room.

When morning came, it found Ginny already dressed and ready to floo to work. She kissed Lily goodbye and promised to play a game with her when she got home, then left her to her brother's devices. She walked towards her office wearing a silly grin; she knew that Lily and Ron would most likely spend all day outside, talking Quidditch. He loved to take her for rides on his new broom, and she loved it almost as much as him.

She squared her shoulders resolutely, trying to prepare herself for the seriousness that lay ahead, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Ron. The war had changed him. And why wouldn't it have? He watched his best friend and half of his family die at the hands of the death eaters, while simultaneously seeing his best girl friend and his sister slip into depression. She shook her head; at least she'd broken free of that vise grip - Hermione was a different matter altogether, though.

She was so lost in thought that as she walked into her office, she failed to notice that it was already occupied. She reached into her desk for her lime-green hat, then pulled it out and turned to the small mirror that hung on her wall. She began to pin her hair up, then jumped when she heard a voice.

"And who said that Malfoys were the only vain people on the face of the planet?" he smirked. She spun around to face him, not letting the surprise register on her face for an instant.

"Why, Mr. Malfoy," she said pleasantly, putting her hat to the side for the moment. She sat down at her desk and looked at the schedule that her secretary had left for her. "What a surprise to see you back so soon."

"I am on there, you know," he said, amused. She didn't even blink. She had learned how to keep her emotions in check - in this line of work, it was a necessary ability.

"I can see that," she said politely, sitting the parchment down on her desk in front of her. She folded her hands together on top of the dark cherry wood and gazed unflinchingly at him. He shifted uncomfortably and eyed her back. "Won't you sit down?" she asked.

"How very professional of you," he murmured, taking a seat on the plush chair that faced her desk.

"One tries," she said dryly. A ghost of a smile crossed his lips, then was gone. "What can I do for you?"

"I told you yesterday," he said, leaning back in the chair. He rested his left ankle on his right knee casually. "I want to discuss my mother."

"And what is it about her that you'd like to discuss?"

"I want to know exactly what she talks to you about two damn times a week," he said, his cool demeanor staying in place. She gave him an indulgent smile.

"I'm afraid I can't discuss that with you, Mr. Malfoy. That would be breaking our confidentiality agreement, as I'm sure you're well aware of."

"Look," he said, his eyes flashing. He dropped his foot to the floor and leaned forward. "She is my mother, and I am paying for her sessions. Therefore, I have a right to know!"

"You may be paying for her sessions," she said calmly. "But that does not in any way entitle you to know what goes on in this room when she is here. If she chooses to tell you herself, that is her own prerogative. However, I am not at liberty to divulge any information." He gaped at her.

"Fine." If she was surprised, she didn't show it. Draco couldn't help it; he was intrigued beyond belief. This was definitely not the same girl he remembered from Hogwarts. She had been vibrant and bubbly, which had irritated him to no end. Not to mention the fact that she had done nothing but moon over the Wonder Boy - and apparently had married him and had his child as well. The woman before him showed no emotion other than polite interest, and it infuriated him. What infuriated him even more was that he was interested in finding out if he could crack her shell.

"Well, if that's all then," she said, nodding. He shook his head.

"That's not all."

"Was there something else you needed?"

"Did you even read your schedule, Potter?" he asked, smirking. The name sounded strange directed at her, but his voice didn't show it. She turned her eyes briefly to the schedule, and Draco got his first taste of satisfaction - she was surprised, and he knew it.

"Oh," she said, her voice neutral. "I didn't realize that you had wanted to have a session yourself. Alright, then, I'm afraid you've caught me off guard. Just let me get a few things out, and we can begin." He nodded silently and watched as she went methodically about her morning ritual.

She dropped her hat into her drawer, not wanting to be bothered by unnecessary distractions. She pulled out a bottle of ink, two quills (in case one of them broke, as she tended to squeeze them so tightly that they snapped rather frequently), and some parchment. He watched with interest as she went about her tasks, noting the lack of effort it took on her part. When she had her quill in hand, she looked up and did something that caught Draco totally off guard.

She smiled at him.

"Are we ready?" he nodded, wondering if this had been such a smashing idea, after all.