Two Months

"Here you are, Miss Weasley," said Mr. Alvin, the receptionist, showing her to a desk.

"Thank you," said Ginny Weasley, looking around at her surroundings. She was so glad to be staring her new job, a secretary for the Head of the misuse of Dark Objects Department. This was her first day, and she was determined to make a good impression. She noticed her boss, the person she was secretary for, sitting a table away, bent over something.

"And this is the Head of the Department, Miss Weasley," said Mr. Alvin. The man in the desk turned around. "Mr. Draco Malfoy."

Ginny stared at the young man. Draco Malfoy? She had not seen him since two years ago, when his year graduated. She had no idea he was working for the ministry, and in the Dark Objects Department too. Malfoy stared coolly back, and held out his hand.

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Weasley," he said. Ginny extended her hand too, but made sure the handshake was brief and quick.

"Well," said Alvin, "I'll just--"

"Wait!" said Ginny hurriedly. "Are you sure I'm in the right place? I mean, Draco Malfoy, I--"

"Yes, I know," said Mr. Alvin. "He has helped the Ministry enormously ever since he came here. Smart, quick, it's no wonder he's already become the Head of a Department at such a young age."

"Well, but--" Ginny faltered. She was nineteen, she had just graduated from Hogwarts, and so Draco must be twenty. "I mean, he's a...a Malfoy."

Alvin was giving her a strange look. "Well, Miss Weasley, if you have any complaints, you can file a complaint to Celia at the front desk. Dunno why you would though... I suggest you just stay here for the time being. You have a very good job for a girl who just graduated from school."

Ginny sighed inwardly. "Alright. Thank, Mr. Alvin."

He smiled. "You're welcome. See you later, Miss Weasley."

He left, and Ginny looked towards Malfoy, who had been watching the scene with a satisfied smirk. He hadn't changed much since the graduation, but it seemed like something was different about him. It was still the same piercing gray eyes, the fine and delicate-looking blonde hair, falling to cover part of his eyes, and the familiar smirk. He was just as good-looking and beautiful as she remembered. The same Draco Malfoy girls drooled over, who had a sharp wit and was almost as smart as Hermione Granger. She ignored her thoughts. "Where should I put my things?" she said, a little tightly.

Malfoy nodded at the desk beside him. "That's your desk. To start with, you can file these papers alphabetically in that cabinet over there." He handed her a pile of papers.

"Okay," she said, and started to take things out of her backpack, which she had brought with her. There were a few pens, pencils and erasers, and notebook, several sheets of paper, and then a framed photograph of Harry Potter. Ginny set it on the corner of her desk fondly. Harry in the picture smiled and winked at her and she blushed, fingering the ring on her ring finger.

A month ago, Harry Potter had proposed to her. They had been going out ever since he graduated, and one day, after a particularly successful date, he had whipped out a box and handed it to her, urging her to just say 'yes'. Happily (and a bit tearfully), she had flung her arms around him and shouted 'yes' over and over. It was the happiest day of her life.

Smiling, Ginny settled down at her desk and looked over the papers Malfoy gave her blissfully. She started sorting them when she heard the familiar voice.

"When's the wedding?" Malfoy half-drawled, half-said.

"What wedding?" said Ginny, surprised.

"You and Potter," he replied, giving her the classic Draco Malfoy smirk she remembered so well. "Aren't you getting married to that skinny little orphan?"

Ginny's face turned hot. "Don't call him that! How'd you know, anyway?"

Malfoy gave her a amused smile. "You have a ring. And Potter is glaring at me from that frame over there."

She turned to look. And indeed, the photo Harry was scowling at Malfoy, and making faces of disgust.

Malfoy raised an eyebrow, amused. "He may be an adult, but he still acts like a child."

Ginny decided to ignore this. She wanted to make a good impression, but Malfoy was not helping. On the other hand, he probably wouldn't care if she made a bad impression. Huffily, she started back on her work, sitting stiffly in her chair.

"Uncomfortable, Weasley?" said Malfoy, after a few moments, without looking up from his work. "You want my chair?"

"Uh, it's okay," said Ginny, glancing at his padded recliner and her small wooden chair. But then she realized that she no longer had the small splintery chair, that she was now seated in Malfoy's chair. Surprised, she looked at him. There was no wand in sight, or any sign that he used a wand to switch the chairs.

"How'd you do--" she started to ask.

"Father taught me," he said briskly. "It's a very complicated process, not to mention painful. It took eight years. I can only do some small magic wandless, but I'm working on it."

"Oh," she said, still watching him. He was working intently, his hair dropping over his eyes, and not looking all that bad...

"Don't stare at me," he said suddenly, and Ginny, startled, turned back to her own desk as he picked up the phone.

"Sorry," she said quietly, but Malfoy was already talking to someone and didn't hear her.

"No!" he said loudly into the phone. "I asked for...that's crazy, I don't know what you're talking about.... damn right it is...just finish it, okay? Alright....I'll see you. What? He did? What did he...whatever. Tell him I don't give a shit. Bye."

Malfoy hung up, sighed and turned to Ginny. "I'm going to get a coffee. You want one?"

"Um, it's okay," said Ginny, unsure.

"Alright," said Malfoy, and he started to leave.

As he was heading out the door, Ginny suddenly said, "Wait! Malfoy!"

"Yeah?" he turned.

"When do I get to go home?" she asked, and bit hesitantly and boldly.

He smiled amusingly. "That eager? You can go home now if you want. There's nothing much left to do."

"Okay," said Ginny.

He started to leave again, but then turned back. "And I'd prefer that you call me Mr. Malfoy, Weasley."

"As if!" Ginny shot back, surprised at her outburst. His cool attitude was starting to get on her.

Malfoy shrugged, as if he didn't really care. "Fine. Call me whatever you like, Miss Weasley. Goodnight." And then he was gone.

After she got home to her small rented apartment that night, she mused over her first day of work. Even thought she didn't do anything, she felt exhausted. Perhaps it was the result of trying to keep up with Draco Malfoy. He was a strange one, she thought. One moment he seems almost decent, and then turns annoying. She looked forward to her next day at work.