The Remedy

"James! James!"

"Yes, what is it?"

"You used to work at 'Rave' right?"

"Yeah, I was the magazine photographer. Why?"

"So you knew Virginia Weasley then?"

"Knew her? She was the creator, of course I did! We ate lunches together once and a while, too."

"I thought so. In that case, you may be interested to know the poor gal's gone and gotten Cancer."

"Cancer? You don't say! That's really rare amongst our kind. What's--"

"Shit!"

Draco cursed out loud. The coffee he was pouring splashed on him. He was now soaked with the burning hot liquid, but that was the last thing on his mind.

"You feeling all right there, Malfoy?"

There was no answer as Draco grabbed his coat and bolted out the door. He didn't know quite what he had in mind, but he got in his car and headed off.

On his way to nowhere he passed through a cheerful suburban neighborhood. There was a block party going on to celebrate the 4^th of July...he imagined it must be an even bigger deal than usual there in Washington DC where he worked. There were kids running through sprinklers, or feasting on hot dogs. One little girl in particular caught his eye. She couldn't have been more than four, and was enjoying her hula-hoop, but all Draco saw was her flaming hair. He turned his head away and cursed again.

It was steadily getting darker as Draco headed onto the freeway. In the distance he saw fireworks. He remembered once ages ago (or what felt like ages ago) watching the fireworks and swearing that it must have been the happiest day in his life. The feeling of sitting on that blanket with a basket and a bottle of wine and a girl in his arms. Tears had stained his cheeks as he watched her instead of the fireworks. Her, with her eyes lit up in wonder and awe. He was filled with love for her then. It had been her birthday.

Tears threatened to pour out now, so closing his eyes he tried to bitter himself with bad memories. Memories of cold nights. Memories of jealousy. Memories of anger and rage. Memories of their hurtful, and awful break-up. Memories of their secret, the secret that destroyed them. For a minute he actually dared to think she deserved what she got. That was when all his barriers broke down and he let the tears sting his face.

Well I saw fireworks from the freeway

And behind closed eyes I cannot make them go away

Cause you were born on the 4^th of July (freedom ring)

Well something on the surface it stings

I said something on the surface

Well it kinda makes me nervous

To say that you deserve this

Draco drove first to 'Rave' Head Quarters. He wasn't surprised at the curious looks he got from various employees They hadn't seen him there for quite a while. At first when he was informed that she was at home, on a temporary vacation from work, he considered going home. After all, this had nothing to do with him. That part of his life was over, done with. He tried convincing himself that she meant nothing to him. However, when the impact of the words "temporary vacation" hit him, a pain seared through his heart.

On the way to Ginny's flat he tried to drown out his thoughts with music and the loud buzz of other cars. He rolled the windows down and let the wind rush through his head. He tried to breathe it in, and calm himself. He parked out front and looked up, and was relieved to see her light still on. He took the stairs two at a time, feeling he couldn't get there soon enough. Yet, at the door her found himself frozen. His fists were like lead as he lifted them to knock.

*******

Ginny was finishing a late dinner and watching fireworks from her balcony when a soft knock permeated the room. Not wanting to be bothered she took another bite of the cake her friend had sent over earlier that day. When the knock issued again, she sighed and set the plate down. She made slow progress to the door, feeling a bit queasy. Once she peered through the peep hole, she nearly fainted. Surely her eyes deceived her. For a moment she considered going back to the balcony, but her everlasting curious nature prevailed, and she unlatched the door.

The silence between them was deafening. Draco looked Ginny up and down. She was in her pajamas, her beautiful hair messily thrown up in a bun. Her cheeks were pale, and her eyes lacked their natural shine. For the first time the truth fully hit him. She was sick.

Ginny looked away as Draco's stormy eyes looked her over. She felt exposed, and weak. She wanted to crawl under the covers and hide from all the pain they'd shared in the past, and all she was feeling now. But gathering up her nerve, she tried to look strong, and healthy. She wasn't sure whether she was hoping he'd come because he knew, or just out of coincidence. She also couldn't tell whether she wanted him to know, or not.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he looked straight into her eyes. She could tell he knew.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Ginny's mouth fell open. He knew. He knew, and he was going to make her say it anyway. She considered her options for a moment.

"Cancer." she said, choosing the simplest method. Draco felt his world tumbling down.

"Oh, Ginny." He sighed, and pulled her into an embrace.

"It's-it's ok. I've known for a while." She was clearly restraining tears, and she struggled to speak.

"You'll get through it, though, right?" She could see the pleading in his eyes, and all of a sudden she started to feel angry. How could he think this was about him?

"I don't know, Draco, I don't know!" She was getting hysterical and the tears were flowing now. "It's so uncommon for a witch to get, and the medi-witch said I'll have to go for muggle treatments--" Draco put his finger to her lips.

"Shhh. We'll beat it."

And what kind of God would serve this?

We would cure this dirty old disease

Well, if you gots the poison

I gots the remedy

"We'll beat it." Ginny looked at him in shock. How could he be so sure? And what did he mean we?

"We can't beat anything, as you made perfectly clear 2 years ago." Her anger was flaring up, and she couldn't contain it.

"What?! Now don't you pin that on me! You know that we both made our mistakes."

"I don't know anything like that!"

"Oh! Ok! So shall I assume that you also don't know anything about a decision we both made to keep our relationship quiet?"

"How dare you drag that up!"

"Because that's what it's all about! That's why we're standing here lying to ourselves! That's why I had to overhear a conversation to know you were bloody sick instead of being there for you from day one! That's why it hurts to breathe!" Ginny was now sobbing, and it hurt Draco, but he knew those things had to be said.

"Like-like," Ginny struggled to speak. "Like you would've stayed with me anyway."

"That's a lie and you know it. I loved you Ginny, and you loved me and we thought we had to hide it so it tore us apart. The fact is we were too in love to keep it a secret. And the fact is we are both independent, spirited people and we couldn't live in a secret all our lives."

"Well, it's too late now isn't it? I'm dying!" Draco's eyes widened.

"No! No, Ginny don't you see together we could get through this!"

"Get out." Ginny held out a shaking arm and pointed to the door. Draco couldn't stay calm anymore. He fixed Ginny with a furious glare before storming out, knocking over a lamp on the way.

*******

Instead of heading home, Draco drove over to a nearby park. He needed to clear his head and sort things out. For the first time in over a year he forced himself to think about them.

Their first kiss had been in that very park on a sunny day after ice cream. She tasted like mint chocolate chip, which was her favorite flavor. They had met up in DC when Ginny was working on getting her magazine off the ground. He worked in advertising so he had to work with her often. For a while they tried being bitter, then just ignored each other, and finally the false friendliness. Soon their friendship became more than a means to get things done, and it grew to where they were spending as much time together as they could. Finally, they were in love. Together, though, they made the decision to keep it secret. The fooled them selves into thinking it was so they wouldn't hurt others. Too bad, Draco thought, it hurt them so much more.

The two did everything together, everything but announce themselves. Luckily, living in America made it easier to keep secrets. They loved to go dancing at nightclubs, or meet for dinner. However, one sad common theme in their relationship, were the horrible fights. They both had bad tempers, and they often left the other in horrible states. Finally, it became too much. They both became terribly hurtful and their break-up was full of bitter resent.

Now, Draco tried to come to terms with it. What he had said was true. They had both made mistakes. Their biggest one was hiding how they felt from the world. As Draco walked through the park, he realized the love he thought was dead and buried was still very much alive. He needed her, and he knew that no matter how she tried to hide it, she needed him too. Especially, now. He only wished he could help her see the sunlight again. The prospect of dying had really hit her hard, he could tell. It was strange, but their roles were reversed. She was usually so cheery and positive, and he the pessimist. But this time, he knew he had to make her see they would get through this...together.

The remedy is the experience

It's a dangerous liason (I says)

The comedy is that it's serious

This is a strange new play on words

I say the tragedy is how you're gonna spend

The rest of your nights with the light on

So shine the light on all your friends

Well it all amounts to nothing in the end

*******

Ginny sat Indian style on her couch watching TV. She really would have rather had it off, but she was too busy enjoying her Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream to do much of anything. It had been almost a week since her encounter with Draco and she was still shaken up. She cried at regular intervals, and at other times threw things against the walls.

The problem was she kept playing it over and over again in her head, and each time she felt worse about it. Basically, her one true love had come to her begging to give them another try, and begging to be allowed in her life so he could help her through this and she had shoved him away, and blew her last chance. Her last chance at love and happiness. She mentally kicked herself again.

Finally, Ginny managed to find the remote and turn the awful cartoon show off. It was a good thing because if she hadn't she might not have heard the owl tapping at her window. She silently prayed it wouldn't be from her mum again. She couldn't handle that right now. However, it came to be that it was not an owl at all but a majestic hawk. Grabbing the letter she sent him on his way.

Virginia, --Only one person called her that.

I don't mean to hurt you anymore than you have been, it's important you know that. However, I refuse to let this lie. Please, just let me have my say. I want to help you, because you deserve more than the unhappiness you are facing. Meet me at our spot tomorrow at 2.

Draco

*******

"Well, Bob, as far as I'm concerned the government really needs to be looking more at Saddam's Inner Circle rather than..."

Ginny sat at the vibrant, comfortable Café Magnolia, a spot where she used to meet Draco frequently. She was listening to one of those debate shows on terrorism, and politics that she hated. Listening to the argument made her want to scream. She didn't mean to be selfish but with all she was facing, those problems seemed so trivial. She also felt that the subject had been tired out quite a while ago. Discussing it on the radio wouldn't make a difference anyway.

Well I heard 2 men talking on the radio

In a cross-fire kind of new reality show

Uncovering the ways to plan the next big attack

Well they were counting down the ways to stab a brother in the Be right back after this

She looked up as the bell on the door rang, announcing someone's arrival. Sure enough the familiar silvery blonde haired man made his way towards her. She took a deep breath, and told herself to be strong. She wasn't going to waste another perfect moment on pettiness. He sat down across from her, and handed her a single rose. She fought not to cry. She then took the initiative.

"I need you."

"I need you, too." Ginny smiled, and so did he. It seemed like it should be harder than that, but she was already starting to feel relieved.

"I just feel so lost, and-and...well, Draco, I'm scared." She felt silly saying it, but he took her hand and squeezed it, giving her confidence.

"Of course you are, and I am too. I love you more than ever, and I am afraid to lose you," She looked mildly surprised.

"You're not going to. We won't lose each other again." It seemed a bit of a corny thing to say, but Ginny meant it with all her heart. For a minute they just sat there looking at each other. The waiter came and they ordered, but their gaze didn't break for long. Peace landed over the table, as the both came to grips with what was happening. At last, Draco leaned forward and they shared a sweet, reuniting kiss.

The unavoidable kiss

With the minty fresh death breath is sure to outlast this catastrophe

Dance with me

Well if you gots the poison, I gots the remedy

"So what are we going to do?" Ginny asked, quietly.

"Find a remedy."

"What kind of remedy?"

"We'll see."

Their coffee came and they spent the rest of the time in casual chat. Draco could tell Ginny needed a rest from the drama, and hard truth.

"Remember this song?" Ginny smiled hearing the beginning notes play.

"Of course. They used to play it at 'Red 3' all the time."

"Yeah," Ginny laughed. "And I always used to make you dance to it, which you hated."

"I did not!"

"Oh, you did too."

"I did not!"

"You used to say 'Any other song, Gin, any other!'-"

"That's not true."

"-And I always made you dance anyway."

"That's cause you used to threaten not to kiss me for a week if I didn't."

"I did not!"

"You did too."

"I did not!"

All of a sudden Draco stood up. He straightened his shirt and stood tall in front of her. Ginny giggled and tugged at him to sit down.

"Ginny, may I have this dance?"

"What? Here?" she said, blushing.

"Yes, here."

"Draco, we're in public, and I don't think you're supposed to dance!"

"Do it or I won't kiss you for a week." Ginny's face lit up and she surrendered. They moved out into the open area (not quite a dance floor, but close enough), and swayed in perfect harmony.

As the dance ended Draco bent over and whispered into her ear.

"This, my angel, is the remedy."

The End