Unaffected

**

"Having trouble?" he asked dryly. They had been in the same aisle for almost ten minutes as she frowned at the rows of magical cleansers. She shot him an annoyed look and bit her bottom lip as she turned back to the myriad of containers.

"I have to admit, I haven't been in here since before Harry died," she said softly. He blinked at her frankness. She hadn't been able to say Potter's name without flushing and stammering in the short time he'd been talking to her, but she'd just done it. Her cheeks were tinged pink, but other than that, there were no other indicators of her having trouble with the thought.

"What does that have to do with having trouble?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I'm not really familiar with the layout of the store anymore," she admitted, taking a few steps away from him. A rather plump wizard rounded the corner carrying some bottles. His eyes lit up when he saw Ginny.

"Mrs. Potter!" he called. She turned and smiled warmly at him.

"Hello, Augustus! How have you been?" the man embraced her, and Draco felt a mixture of awe and jealousy. He was awed at her ability to charm everyone she met, but he was jealous at the older man's physical proximity to his would-be girlfriend.

"Well, of course you know May died back in February," he said, a note of sadness in his voice. Ginny was immediately sympathetic.

"Oh, Gus! I didn't know. I'm sorry to hear that. How are you holding up?"

"Been doing okay, taking it one day at a time. I thought about coming to see you, and ..." his voice died as his eyes landed on Draco, who was leaning casually against the wall. His eyes darted to Ginny. "Are you alright?" he whispered. She frowned.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Did you know that the Malfoy boy is behind you, watching your every move?" Draco arched an eyebrow. He was not used to being spoken of as though he was not in the room.

"Oh, Gus!" she laughed, her frown melting. "I know he's there. He's my friend." She turned and motioned Draco over with a wave. He didn't move, and her smile faltered a bit before she turned back to the shopkeeper.

"Well, if you need some help, let me know," he said, eyeing Draco warily. Ginny bristled, but before she could say anything, Draco was standing at her elbow, sneering at the man.

"Of course, because little Potter has to be protected from the big, bad Death Eater, right?" Ginny cringed at the chill in his voice. "You see me standing there and automatically assume that all I want to do is hex Potter's widow!"

"Well, isn't that what you're going to do?" the old man asked defensively, his hand automatically going to the wand that was in his back pocket. Draco glared icily at him.

"I have better things to do with my time than terrorize other people."

"Hold on," Ginny said gently. "I think there's been a misunderstanding." Draco turned his frosted eyes to her.

"Indeed," he said coldly. "I was an imbecile to think that there could be anything between us." Ginny's jaw dropped.

"What are you talking about? Draco, please, don't overreact-"

"Overreact? Someone accuses me of harassing you and I'm overreacting?" His eyes narrowed. "It's always going to be this way, you know. Wherever we go together, people are going to point and ask questions about us. We'd always be talked about." Ginny's eyes hardened.

"And do you think that I don't know what that feels like, being married to the savior of the known wizarding world?" she spat. He blinked, barely able to contain his surprise at her display of emotion. "Do you think I don't know what it feels like to have every aspect of your life scrutinized?"

"I didn't-"

"I know you didn't, and that's the problem," she hissed, tears filling her eyes. "You're too ready to react and cause a huge scene just because you're insecure. And in case you hadn't noticed, Draco Malfoy," she said, taking a step backwards, "Regardless of the fanfare surrounding him, I stuck by Harry because I loved him. I couldn't care less what people think of me."

Before he could say anything, she had disapparated with a loud crack. He was left to stare at the shopkeeper, who had the decency to look embarrassed. Draco ran a frustrated hand through his hair and exited the shop, blending in with the people milling through the streets of Hogsmeade.

He was going to need a good, stiff drink.

**

"Ginny, are you here?" Ginny raised her head at the sound of the feminine voice, and she smiled through her tears.

"In the kitchen." She wiped her eyes hastily with the back of her hand, and Blaise pushed the door open. When she saw Ginny's red-rimmed eyes, she stopped short, then quickly sat down at the table with her.

"Are you alright? What happened?" Before she could answer, Ron ambled into the kitchen. He was mumbling something about family and turncoats, but quickly stopped when he saw Ginny's face.

"That great bloody git has done something, hasn't he?" he asked, his ears turning pink. Blaise shot him a disapproving look, then turned back to Ginny.

"Ignore your prat of a brother," she said soothingly. Ron sat down across from them. Ginny shook her head.

"He didn't really do anything," she sniffed. "He just... it was like I was seeing the old Draco again for a while, and I didn't like it."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"He went with me to buy some Magical Mess Remover, and Gus saw him. He alluded to the fact that Draco was standing around, just waiting for an opening to hex me, or something." Blaise sucked in a sharp breath.

"I can imagine what Draco said back to him."

"He wasn't happy," Ginny agreed. "He wasn't as nasty as he could have been, but I still think he overreacted."

"Why are you crying if he just got mad at Gus?" Ron wondered. She bit her lip.

"He said that the two of us would never work because it would always be like that, with people talking about us." Ron gaped, then bellowed with laughter.

"Oh, sweet Merlin," he gasped. "Does he remember who you were married to?"

"Did he say anything after that?" Blaise asked patiently. Ginny sighed.

"No, I didn't give him a chance to. I fired my shot and ran before he could."

"Wait, did you say he said it would never work between you?" Blaise asked curiously. Ginny nodded. "What did he mean by 'it'? Did something happen?" Ginny's cheeks turned pink.

"We, uh," she glanced up quickly at Ron, whose face appeared to be draining of all blood.

"No," he squeaked, shaking his head. Blaise rolled her eyes at him.

"Ron, you do know that Ginny had to shag Harry to conceive Lily, right?" He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.

"I don't want to think about it. As far as I'm concerned, Lily was immaculately conceived." Blaise sighed, and Ginny smiled.

"We didn't do that, Ron," she said. He looked relieved. "We just kissed."

"That's still too much information," he said, the color slowly returning to his face.

"Remind me again why I love you?" Blaise murmured, a ghost of a grin flitting across her lips.

"Because I'm good in bed?" he suggested helpfully. Ginny groaned and Blaise laughed. She turned back to Ginny.

"So you're saying that Draco got upset that Gus thought he was only there to hurt you, and you got upset at the way he reacted."

"Yes. He ought to know from my being with Harry that I can handle people asking questions and generally inspecting every moment of my life with a microscope."

"You know," Blaise said softly. "In all fairness, he has a point." Ron and Ginny both gaped at her. "Hear me out before you jump on me, too. When you and Harry attracted attention, it was fairly positive, was it not?"

"Except for a few articles from the Prophet, and not being able to go out on a date without constant scrutiny, I suppose."

"Look at it from Draco's angle. Harry was a hero. People looked up to him; they worshipped him. I imagine the reaction you got today from being out with Draco was fairly mild considered to what you'd get from the masses."

"I think you're underestimating people," Ginny said.

"I think you're overestimating people," Blaise said gently. "Draco has basically been in hiding since right before the war ended, because of all the negative attention he was getting for his defection. It didn't matter that his defection saved hundreds of people, or led to the capture of so many Death Eaters. All they knew was that he was the son of Lucius, and that's all they needed to know."

"So he's just supposed to roll over and die like that?" Ron asked incredulously. He cringed immediately. "Sorry, bad choice of words."

"No, I wasn't trying to say that he did the right thing, but you have to remember that Draco has a very quick temper. He doesn't like it when his integrity is questioned, especially not after what he went through to establish it."

"You're right," Ginny conceded softly. "I didn't even think about that. I went on the defensive just as much as he did. I was very hurt by him telling me that we wouldn't work like that - it came out of the blue."

"Well, like I said, I'm not saying that what he did was right, but I can understand where he's coming from." The kitchen was silent for a few moments.

"So," Ginny cleared her throat. "What did you two come over for?" Ron's eyes narrowed.

"I came to talk to you about making my only Quidditch ally in the family wear a Falcons shirt! Who the hell gave her that? I know you didn't - you never buy sports related clothing. Harry was the only one who did that, and he'd be pissed as all hell to see her in that!"

"Draco gave it to her," she laughed. "She worships him, so she worships the shirt. And Harry would be mad if she wore a Cannons shirt, too, but Draco bought her tons of Cannons stuff. I think she's just particularly attached to that shirt because she knows it's his favorite team, and it was the first thing he gave her."

"He bought her Cannons stuff?" he asked, his eyes lighting up. She nodded.

"Loads of it. Her room is plastered in orange now." Ron stood so quickly that his chair toppled over.

"I'll... just... go have a look see, shall I?" he was out of the kitchen faster than she could say Quidditch. Blaise laughed, and Ginny smiled at her.

"See what you're marrying into? All of the Weasley men are insane when it comes to Quidditch. It's in their blood."

"And in yours, from what I hear," Blaise teased. Ginny laughed.

"Guilty as charged. So you were at Mum's, then?" Blaise nodded. "How is my poppet? Is she behaving?"

"She was an angel while we were there. Of course, I didn't get to see her much, seeing as how Ron had her up on his new Firebolt Gold edition."

"He what?" she screeched. "He knows I don't want my baby on a broom yet! She's only three!"

"Well, in all fairness, your Mum gave him permission." Ginny gaped, then laughed again. She shook her head.

"My entire family loves to undermine my authority as a parent."

"Grandmother's privilege," Blaise said, her eyes twinkling. "I suppose I'd better get used to it."

"You have no idea what you're in for," Ginny mumbled, getting up to make a cup of tea.

"Have you eaten yet?"

"No, I was too upset about Draco to eat anything."

"Why don't you come out to eat with Ron and I?" she suggested. Ginny smiled.

"That sounds like a lovely idea."

**

Draco was seeing double. He was sure he'd had far too much firewhiskey, although he couldn't seem to recall exactly how many shots he'd had. He rubbed his eyes and tried to make them focus, but they weren't obeying.

He sighed. He wouldn't be here, sodding drunk, if he had only kept his temper. He knew he'd hurt her pretty badly; she'd disapparated without even giving him a chance to speak. That was rash for her, and he knew it. He couldn't deny he deserved it, though.

His head dipped and his forehead landed with a soft thud on the table. He groaned. He wasn't even hung over yet and he was feeling the effects of the alcohol. He fumbled around for his wand and pointed it to his head, about to perform a sobering charm, when the door to the Three Broomsticks opened, and Ginny walked in with her brother and Blaise.

He watched as they sat down on the other side of the restaurant, blissfully oblivious to him. Blaise was glowing with her new pregnancy, and it brought a smile to his mouth to see her so happy. He'd never have imagined that a Weasley could bring her that much happiness; but then again, he'd never imagined it for himself, either.

Ron and Blaise sat beside each other, and Ginny scooted into the seat across from them. She was smiling at them, but he could hear the strain in her voice when she laughed. She was upset, and he knew why. Because of him. He let his head fall to the table with another thunk. Would he never be able to do anything right with women again?

All he had to do was find a way to apologize to her. She was a forgiving person. She had forgiven him his past and accepted him as he was now; surely she would forgive a little bit of stupidity on his part. He turned his head to peek at her. She sipped a cup of tea. A goofy smile plastered itself across his face. She was so fond of tea. Perhaps he'd buy her some rare, exotic tea to make things up to her.

He stayed like that, watching her, until the three of them paid for their meal and left. He hadn't realized that he was dozing off until there was a loud rap on the table, and his head shot up. He winced; his head was already feeling as though it had been crushed beneath one of Tosh's stiletto boot heels. The woman standing at his table was prattling on about some bloke named Ogden.

"I don't know anyone by that name," he slurred. The woman's cheeks turned pink.

"Your bill, Mr. Malfoy, for all of the Ogden's firewhiskey you ordered!" She slapped a bill on the table and started to walk away.

"Wait!" he called after her. She turned to look at him. "If it belonged to this fellow, why did you bring it to me?" She rolled her eyes and went back to the bar, and he pulled several coins out of his pocket. He laid them on the table and left, stumbling into the sunshine outside the dimly lit restaurant.

Several hours later, after the sun had begun to set in the brilliant summer sky, there was a knock on Ginny's front door. She frowned and placed a bookmark inside her book to hold her place, then sat the book on the coffee table. She opened the door and her eyes widened. Draco was leaning against the doorjamb looking as though he might have fallen asleep there.

"Draco?" she asked, poking his shoulder gently. He snorted and his eyes flew open. His pupils were dilated, and she sniffed gingerly. Her nostrils stung with the pungent odor of firewhiskey. She frowned at him before opening the door.

"Get in here. You need to lie down."

"I'm fine," he protested, leaning on her heavily. She shut the door and helped him to the couch, where he flopped onto his back and closed his eyes. She went to the closet and got him a blanket. She removed his shoes and socks, then spread the blanket over him. When she was tucking the blanket around his shoulders, he opened his eyes and gave her a soulful look.

"Brought you a present." He shoved his hand out to her, and she blinked. He was holding a small canister of Earl Grey tea and a bottle of Miss Scower's Magical Mess Remover. She bit her lip. Not the traditional flowers and candy, but it works. She smiled at him and took the gifts, then planted a soft kiss on his forehead.

"Thank you," she said. He gave her a boyish grin.

"Welcome." She laughed. "I'm sorry for earlier."

"I'm sorry, too," she said, nodding. "But you get some rest, and we can talk about it in the morning." She started to move away, but he shot out a hand and grabbed her arm.

"Did I ruin my chances?" her eyes widened slightly, then she laughed again. She shook her head.

"Not exactly." He looked relieved, and tugged down on her arm.

"I'd really like to kiss you," he said quietly. She held still as he leaned closer to her, his whiskey-tinged breath on her lips clouding her senses until she felt like she was the one intoxicated. Just as she had parted her lips and let her eyes flutter closed, he said, "But I shouldn't, because you're special."

"You know," she said, grinning wickedly. "You're so pissed that it would be easy to have my way with you if I like. And you wouldn't even remember it tomorrow." His eyes widened.

"You wouldn't be that cruel to me, would you?" She stifled a giggle.

"Which part is the cruelty, the taking advantage part, or the not remembering part?"

"That last bit," he said. "Besides, I don't put out on the first date." With that, he closed his eyes. She pulled the covers tight around him, dropped another kiss on his forehead, and went upstairs to bed.