Two Months

Draco Malfoy looked up on Monday morning to see a very angry Harry Potter strolling up to him.

"I'm warning you, Malfoy, stay away from Ginny Weasley," Potter said, quite belligerently.

Draco pretended not to see him.

"Malfoy! Turn around and look at me!"

He did, widening his eyes beatifically. "You're quite rude, Potter," he said. "And what scary and daunting threats you make. I can't help it if Ginny just can't resist me."

It was actually somewhat ingratiating to see Potter turn redder and redder, livid with fury. Draco broke him off with a short laugh.

"Calm down, Potter, I was just joking. You have nothing to worry about, your precious little Ginny is absolutely fine. Great condition."

"Don't flout me!" Potter said, very loudly. "I have reason to suspect you! And if you lay as much as a finger on her, I'll have your neck!"

Draco inspected his perfectly manicured nails for a moment, and then turned back to Potter. "Are you quite done?" he asked, ever so politely. "I'm a busy man, you know."

Seething, Potter said, "Just one finger..."

Then he turned on his heels and left, just as a memo flew in. Draco ensconced happily in his chair as Potter disappeared from view, and held out a hand to receive the note. However, a slight frown appeared on his face as he read, and the frown got deeper and deeper...

***

Ginny walked into office almost lightly, ready to take on the day's events and to face whatever challenges lay ahead. I will tell Harry, she thought. After I talk to Draco and work it out. Harry will be able to take it; he's strong. And it's what's right and what should happen.

Draco was waiting for her at her desk.

"Ginny," he said. "You've been transferred."

"What?"

Draco glanced at the slip of paper he was holding. "To Mr. Roske's office. On the next floor, Department of Magical Transportation. You're to work for him now."

Ginny suddenly felt very sick, very fast. "What? Why? Then who will be your secretary?"

"Me," a voice behind her said. Ginny turned, and saw a dark-haired young woman of similar age. She was dressed in black leather boots, a miniskirt, and a tight fitting and quite revealing embroidered top. Her long earrings and necklace looked expensive, shining in the light. The woman looked at Ginny with dark and thickly mascara eyes, and said, "Veronica Nott. Was almost Veronica Malfoy."

Ginny remembered. Draco's ex-fiancée.

"Ronnie," said Draco, glancing at Ginny quickly.

"Yes?" said Veronica Nott, going over. She laid a red finger-nailed hand on his shoulder. "Doesn't the little girl have a new assignment? To old balding Mr. Roske?" She laughed and turned to Ginny. "Don't be put off guard, because he looks so senile. He'll try to feel you up any chance he gets."

"Veronica," Draco said, a hint of aggravation in his tone.

Little girl, Ginny thought. She felt something rush inside her, frenetic and a bit feverish. She was suddenly very warm, and she then could only see Veronica Nott, her red lips smiling at the little girl. Veronica Nott who strode in here with her leather boots and booted her, Ginny, out. She tried to be calm.

"Well, I guess I'll be going then. And get my stuff," said Ginny. Her vision blurred as she went to her desk and gathered her things. She tried not to think of Draco, but she could see him clearly in her mind, as clear as she always had, but this time with someone else in it. And it wasn't her. Ginny picked up her photo of Harry, and the Harry in the frame looked at her worriedly and tried to smile. Again, she tried to soothe herself by taking a deep breath.

"Ginny," Draco was suddenly behind her, his hand closing around her arm.

"Yes?" She made her voice sound as bitter as possible.

"I'm sorry about...about..."

"About Ronnie?" Ginny said scathingly.

"And Mr. Roske," Draco added.

"Thanks," said Ginny, hoping her voice was sarcastic enough. "For your concern."

Draco looked slightly taken aback.

Then Ginny whipped around and left before he could say anything else.

***

"Draco Malfoy."

He had received a call late afternoon, someone who told Veronica was urgent. "Who is this?" he asked.

"Where is she?"

He realized who it was. "Potter?" he said incredulously. "What are you rambling on about now? I have work to do, and I've told you, Ginny's not--"

"She's not here." Potter said impatiently.

Draco blinked. "Where?"

"At her apartment, you idiot," said Potter. "She's not at work, either. I called..."

"Well, maybe she quit," said Draco easily. "When I told her she wasn't working for me anymore, she must've gotten upset. You know how charming I am."

"Shut it, Malfoy," said Potter fiercely. "I'm saying, there's an sealed envelope here. With your name on it. And an emblem with a great honking "M." As in Malfoy?"

Suddenly Draco paled. "And does it have a great honking snake on it?" he asked quietly.

There was a pause. Then-- "Yes."

"Don't move, Potter. I'll be right over."

"But--" Potter started to say, but Draco had already hung up.

He walked over to where Veronica was working. "Who sent you here?" he said.

"What?" she said, puzzled. "I needed a job...and I just ended up here."

"Liar," said Draco, suddenly menacing. "My father. It was my father wasn't it?"

Veronica looked stricken, spluttering, "No--of course not...it was"

But Draco had already left the room.

He got to Ginny's apartment soon after. Potter let him in, and together they went into Ginny's bedroom, where Potter said he had found the letter.

"I didn't touch it," said Potter.

Together, they read the letter

Dear Draco,

I sincerely hope you will never find and read this, but my instincts told me otherwise, and you know I am always right. So you must know why I've taken away the Weasley girl. That family has so many children, they won't even realize one of them is gone. And the littlest Weasley, she's so easy to deceive, I'm sure I proved that in your second year at Hogwarts.

That said, I have heard that Veronica Nott is back in your life. You do recall that I liked the girl tremendously, and if you two marry not only will you have great-looking children, the family will also be richer, thanks to Nott's wealth.

I hope you are in good health.

Lucius

P.S. I gave Veronica a pair of your boxer shorts, the ones with the little Snitches on them, since she wanted them so much. She claimed she loved Quidditch.

Draco closed his eyes and sighed. "My father," he said sourly, "likes to do what he thinks best for me. And, of course, he's always right."

Harry said, "Hey, do you think you have another pair of those shorts? I've always wanted a pair with Snitches on them."

"Shut it, Potter," said Draco. "Do you want to save your little Weasley or not?"

Harry looked surprised. "You want to come with me?"

"No, but you can come with me. Why did you call me over here for then, if not to find Ginny together?"

"I didn't want to touch a Malfoy letter," said Harry sheepishly.

Draco smacked him on the head. "There," he said, almost triumphantly. "Now you have my cooties on you."

Harry rubbed his head. "Fine. Where do you suggest we look?"

"Well, probably at the Manor. And surrounding lands. But if Voldemort sees you," Draco shrugged, "it won't be good."

"Voldemort?" Harry said weakly. "Why would he be there?"

"He likes to have a cup of tea with Father now and then," said Draco. "He has nothing to do now, since you defeated him and forced him to retire early."

Harry groaned. "I'll do anything to get Ginny back," he said. "So let's go."

***