Serendipity

Serendipity - Chapter One

Ginny loved almost everything about Christmas; from the beautiful decorations everywhere, to the happy carollers outside in the snow. Even though there were many positives things about Christmas, there was one little negative detail. But in Ginny's eyes, this was not a little thing to her. No, this caused a lot of frustration and stress to herself, so much so that it would be better to forget about Christmas, and shut herself in her apartment and shut out Christmas every year. Though, the thought of her loved ones' faces when they ripped open their presents , to reveal a thoughtful and caring gift made her put up with the agony of going outside. You see, Ginny hated Christmas shopping, although she loved giving to people; what she hated about Christmas shopping was the crowds of people, and the hustle and bustle that caused so much commotion everywhere, in the Wizarding world and the Muggle, as she had just found out. This year, she thought the Muggle shops in London would at least be quieter and more manageable than Diagon Alley, but she was wrong, so wrong.

Ginny sighed. She arrived in the streets of London, being pushed around already, as she stood there, taking in her surroundings. Might as well shop here, no point going back now that I'm here. Ginny thought to herself. She sighed once again. "Might as well get Harry's gift first." She muttered under her breath. She and Harry had gotten together a few months after Ginny had graduated and had been dating ever since. She looked into various store, until she found the most perfect gift, a pair of sports shoes, she smiled to herself, perfect. She knew Harry needed new shoes, as his current ones weren't exactly pleasant to look at nor did they have the best smell. She walked towards them. In the corner of her eye, she could see someone's head bobbing up and down in the crowd, heading in the direction of her shoes. Ginny quickened her pace until, "Ha!" she said, as she grabbed one shoe. She took one step away from the rack, but she was pulled back in the other direction. "What the..." she exclaimed; she turned around to see what the problem was. But the problem wasn't a 'what' it was more of a 'whom.'

"Excuse me, but..." Ginny started. "Great Merlin, Malfoy?" She couldn't believe her eyes, she couldn't believe the person holding the other shoe, was none other than Draco Malfoy. She thought he was dead, after the war in her sixth year. Well, he certainly doesn't look dead, I mean, damn, his face is so... Ginny get a hold of yourself, you've got Harry. Remember him? He has black hair, wears glasses, defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Besides, Malfoy probably still has that annoying drawl, stupid smirk, gangly body and he's still most likely to be an asshole.

"Weasley," he drawled. 'Ok, scratch the annoying drawl, it's bloody sexy and DAMN! He has one fine body, but hey, we still have two things that are total turn offs.' Ginny could feel her ears turning red.

"Weasley," Draco continued. "If you can't read this, it says for men only. Or, are you so dense that you think you're a man like your brothers?" Ginny opened her mouth to retaliate but he continued as though he hadn't stopped. "On second thought, I actually don't know why you're buying these, when all of your brothers are quite feminine and most likely queer." Draco smirked at this comment, proud of himself. Ok, maybe he also has a sexy smirk, but nothing can change his asshole...ness, if that's even a word. Ginny was red with fury, but she took a deep breathe in, and then she finally said, "You know what, Malfoy (she spat out his last name with complete malice) it should also say; only for people who aren't assholes." This time it was Ginny who was doing the smirking but, then a second later her expressions was puzzled, when Draco smiled at her, not his trademark smirk but, a real genuine smile.

"Ouch, that really hurt," Draco mocked.

"Look, why don't you just let go of the other shoe, because we both know you can't even afford the shoelaces, okay?" Oh, that was it!

Ginny obediently let go of the other shoe. Draco thought he had gotten his way, until the second after Ginny let go of the other shoe, her hand had made contact with Draco's cheek, creating a loud SMACK! Draco immediately dropped the shoes. Ginny quickly grabbed them and darted to the counter to pay for them. (Luckily, there wasn't a long line.) She sprinted out of the store and ran into the nearest place for shelter. Luckily, it was a café called 'Serendipity'. It was her favourite café in London, and she was starving after the incident that had happened just a few minutes ago. She made her way to her favourite booth in the corner, her back turned away from the door. She couldn't believe she had done that, and to Draco Malfoy no less. She definitely had to tell her best friend, Hermione, all about this incident. She felt so exhilarated, so jumpy, so...

"Aaah!" Ginny squealed. She thought it was Malfoy, wanting to get her back for the slap; fortunately it was Roxanne, a waitress she knew that work there.

"A little jumpy, are we Ginny? The usual, I assume?"

"Yes, of course, thanks Roxanne."

"Be with you shortly."

Two minutes later, she felt a nudge.

"Wow, that was faster than... oh my gosh." It was not Roxanne this time but Malfoy with a very angry look on his face. Ginny could see a pinkish hand mark on his pale cheek.

He sat himself opposite her and said, "Look Weasley, how dare you slap me like that or, even dare say what you said to me? But I'm...." Draco stopped. She thought he was going to say even more insults about her family or herself, or was going to get revenge, but his face softened up and he said the most unexpected thing ever. "...Impressed." Draco smirked, his sexy smirk.

"WHAT?!"

"Yeah, you heard me, I was impressed, no-one has slapped me in since third year, but I like that sort of rage in a woman."

"B...but you're not mad or anything, you're not even going to get me back, or I'm not going to owe you anything."

"Oh, you definitely owe me."

"With what?"

"What every man wants during mid-day." Draco smirked.

Ginny looked at him oddly, then it clicked. Uh-uh, NO WAY! No way am I going to have...

"Lunch," Draco said.

"Oh, I thought you wanted...never mind. Lunch it is!" Ginny said, in a relieved sort of way.

Draco eyed her for a few seconds, but shook it off as Roxanne arrived.

"Here you go Ginny, oh I see you have a friend with you now, what would you like?"

"Anything with coffee in it and, a chicken sandwich." As Roxanne went back to the counter, Ginny started to apologise, but Draco held up his hand and said, "No, I guess I sort of deserved it but, I guess I don't really know what to say when Gryffindors are clinging onto the shoes I was going to buy, especially a pretty, female Weasley." Ginny blushed at this comment. "Oh, so now I meet Mr. Draco 'Smooth' Malfoy. Who did I meet in the shoe shop then? Let me guess; was it Mr. Draco 'Asshole' Malfoy?" joked Ginny. Draco didn't know how to respond to this, where is this all coming from, I compliment her, and she insults me! His order came two minutes after Ginny's insult. They didn't know what to say to each other, and both just stared out the window, sipping on their drinks to avoid conversation. It was Draco who spoke first.

"This is the best coffee I've ever had. How'd you find this place?"
" I first came in because of the name: Serendipity. It's one of my favourite words."
"It is? Why?"
"It's such a nice sounding word for what it means: a fortunate accident. So, how did you end up Christmas shopping in the Muggle world?"

"Well, Blaise and I, Blaise Zabini by the way," answering Ginny's unasked question. "Made a sort of challenge or promise, that for Christmas one of us would buy the other presents in the Wizarding world and the other in the Muggle and, ironically I got Muggle."

"Must be fate," Ginny muttered.

"How?"

Ginny blushed at what she was about to say, "Because you were one of the hottest guys in Hogwarts." Draco raised an eyebrow at the comment. "I can't believe I just said that," Ginny sheepishly said.

"It's alright," chuckled Draco, as he shrugged off his jacket. "You weren't so bad yourself in Hogwarts, I would have asked you out but: one, you wouldn't even give me the time of day, let alone go out with me. Two, even if you had said yes, your brothers would have killed me, and three, you were with a different guy every two or three weeks."

"Excuse me, apparently you went out with nearly all the Slytherin girls when you were in your 7^th year, but I guess you're right, most of the guys I went out with were Gryffindors though, but I've found my perfect Gryffindor." Ginny sighed the last few words.

"Let me guess, Potter?"

"Naturally, how about you, is your love life okay? I mean, Blaise making you happy?

"Blaise? Blaise is a guy, if you remember."

"Yeah, I know, but I thought you turned, you know, gay." Ginny whispered the last word.

"Gay?!" a defensive Draco said. "No, no, I mean, I may look after myself well, buy expensive designer clothes and enjoy a manicure regularly, but I'm as straight as an arrow, Pansy Parkinson's my girlfriend."

"Parkinson? But I thought you hated her?"

"Well, things changed during the war and well, when her mother died, I felt sorry for her and she became, bearable to be with, and we've dated ever since."

"Oh," was all Ginny could say, she looked at her watch and realised it was 1.30pm already. "Umm, well, I better go," Ginny said as she was wrapping up her untouched muffin. "I've got heaps of shopping to do and well, yeah, it was nice talking to you, and I mean in a real civilized conversation. I guess I'll, uh, see you," Ginny said, as she walked away from the booth to go to the counter to pay. She turned back and gave Draco a smile, she didn't know whether or not he returned the smile, but he did as she walked out the door.

Draco looked out the window and saw a flash of red hair. He had felt a connection while talking to her. He was deep in thought, until a man on the other table nudged him. "Hey man, I don't really know you, but I know that you like her, why don't you go after her, and ask her out." Draco looked at him as though he was crazy, but then shook his hand and patted him on the back. "Thanks man." He ran out the door, looking left, then right, and then left again, as he saw the red head bobbing up and down in the crowd. "Weasley, Weasley, Ginny!" he called out.

The figure froze and turned around. Draco reached her and put his hand on her shoulder; he was slightly out of breath, but managed to say everything he wanted.

"Ginny, I really felt something back there, and I know you felt it too. Look, I know you're with Potter and I'm with Pansy, but I was wondering if I could have some way of contacting you, not at your house because of your brothers, but do you have a Floo pager or something, just in case neither of our relationships work out."

Ginny looked deeply into in his eyes, and thinking whether or not she should give him any way of contacting her. She was about to refuse him but...

"Ginny..." Draco said. That was it. The way he said her name again, she smiled. She produced a quill and a bit of parchment out of her bag.

"Here's my Floo pager. This is only if you want to talk, or have lunch, but not often." Ginny hesitantly gave him the parchment; it was an inch away from Draco's fingers. But then, a gust if wind came out from nowhere, and blew the parchment away into the snow, where it got kicked around.

"No, it was a mistake! An accident! Just write it again!" Draco said, still in shock. "N...no...NO!" Ginny said more confidently the last time. Draco was about to respond again, but Ginny continued, "Don't you see? It was a sign."

"No, it was a mistake!" yelled Draco.

"No, it was a sign! Look, fate brought us together, in that shoe shop and having lunch together and talking. That was all fate and destiny wanted us to!"

"Do you really believe in that?"

"Yes I do, I also believe there's a soul mate for everyone, and we aren't meant to be. Harry is mine, as Pansy is yours. If we are meant to be together, then fate will bring us together again, but for now, live your life. Goodbye Draco." Ginny kissed his cheek, the same one she had slapped; and then she walked away from him and his life.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Don't you see? It was a sign... Harry is mine, as Pansy is yours." That particular comment echoed through Draco's head as he shuffled through the thick snow, he thought about what Ginny has said, and then he just thought about Ginny overall. He was so angry, though he wasn't sure if he was mad at himself or Ginny. He understood why she didn't give her number again, but it was just the fact he always got what he wanted, but this time he didn't. He really wanted to kick the snow, to release his anger, but just a few minutes ago, he kicked the snow and it nearly knocked over an old lady and the child with her. He decided not to make the same mistake again.

Draco continued on his way to the Leaky cauldron, just as he going to enter, he remembered he left his jacket in the café. He contemplated whether or not he should get it or not, but in the end, he began making his way back to the café. As he entered and turned his head to the booth he was sitting in a few hours ago, there was someone at that same booth, reaching over where Ginny had sat. He realised it was her.

"I guess fate has brought us together again," Draco said, while walking towards her, grabbing his jacket opposite her.

"W...what are you doing here?" stuttered Ginny.

"Forgot my jacket, you?"

"My shoes. I guess you're right, fate has brought us together, again."

"So...ummm...I was wondering, do you know how to ice skate?"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Half an hour later, they were at a new ice skating rink, not far from the Leaky Cauldron. They were asking each other random questions; so far it was just Ginny asking. "Favourite types of food?"

"Italiano," Draco said, in a very fake Italian accent,

Ginny cocked an eyebrow. "Anyway, favourite Muggle song?"

"Any thing by Eminem."

"Oooh, so you like rap music, interesting, umm favourite Muggle moment?"

"This one's climbing the charts." Ginny blushed and looked down, as if there was an interesting object on the ground.

"Ok, my turn, umm let's see, favourite flower?"

"Lavender."

"Favourite song?"

"I will survive." It was Draco's turn to cock an eyebrow.

"What? It's very catchy." Ginny said defensively.

"Moving right along," Draco said. "Aaah, I know favourite sexual position?" Draco smirked. Ginny twisted around to look at him.

"You perv...aaah!" yelped Ginny. She had tripped over herself and Draco couldn't help but laugh, however, as he was going to help Ginny to her feet, he tripped over as well, and soon she was laughing as well.

"Very graceful, Malfoy."

"Come on, let's go," Draco said, as they stood up and made their way to the Leaky Cauldron. They talked throughout the trip and as Ginny was going to turn the corner, Draco stopped her. "Look, I've been thinking. If fate has brought us together again, this must mean something."

"Yeah, I know, I've been thinking as well," Ginny said, "but the timing is wrong, I mean, we are both in a relationship."

"But giving me your Floo pager number won't affect anything!" Ginny stared at him with a sad look on her face. "Look, Ginny what if it's all in our hands and you just walk away? No numbers, no nothing, what do you think's going to happen? Do you think good ol' fate is going deliver my information to your doorstep? Or yours to mine?"

"You know, that's the best idea you've had all night."

"What's the best idea?"

"Here you go," Ginny said, as she handed him a Sickle. "Put a spell on the coin so you can put your number on it, and then the spell where it heats up when a specific person touches it."

"On this Sickle?"

"Yeah, just do it."

"You are a strange and interesting woman," Draco said, while doing the spells.

"Here." He handed over the coin. "Now what?"

"Well, tonight I'm going to spend it, and if it makes its way back into my hands, I'll be able to page you, and when you see my face on your pager, and then you'll believe in fate, won't you?

"Hey! What about me?"

"What about you?"

"Well, we have to send something out in the universe with your name, don't we? I mean, that's the fair thing to do."

"That is the only fair thing. What have I got?" said Ginny, while looking through her bag. "Ooh, I have a really good idea."

"See this book?"

"No, I have no idea what you're talking about," Draco said in a sarcastic voice.

Ginny looked at him in a don't-play-around-with-me look. "When I get back to the Wizarding world tonight, I'm going to write my number in this book, and then I'll sell it to a used bookstore."

"Which one? You're not going to tell me, you're not going to tell me? Why not?"

"Now every time you pass an old book store you're going to have to go inside to see if it's there! Remember, it's called Shakespeare."

"Oh, who can't remember a title that short, wait a minute," Draco said, changing his tone slightly, "what if we are still in relationships and we receive the book or sickle?"

"Don't worry, we won't be, I've got an idea."

Ginny dragged him to a stunning place called, 'The Angeltail Plaza'. They ran inside, until they reached the elevators.

"Look, if we're destined to meet again, we'll take separate elevators, we randomly pick a floor, and if we both meet on the same floor, we can have lunch, everyday, for the next five days; if we don't meet, then we can let fate bring the coin and book to each other."

"This is crazy," Draco muttered, as he got into the elevator.

"Oi, heads up!" Ginny yelled, as she threw the bag the shoes they had fought over were in. But when Draco looked inside, there was only one. He looked up and saw Ginny holding the other. "If we do meet, I want the other back." Ginny smiled.

"Ok, on the count of three press any floor button...one," Ginny started.

"...two..." Draco continued.

"...three..." they both said.

"Merry Christmas!" Draco heard, as the door shut closed.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny was so nervous, why was she doing this? What happened if he was on this floor? But what was the chances of that?! One out of thirty-two. With a 'ding' the elevator halted at floor eighteen. Now all she had to do was wait.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco tried to distract himself, as much as he tried, he failed. He was really nervous. The elevator stopped, he was about to get off until he realised it was only floor seven, it let in a man and his son. "Floor eighteen, Matt," the man said.

"It's already on, Daddy," the little boy said, as the door shut.

"Are you going to floor eighteen," asked the man.

Draco nodded, afraid if he spoke, he would throw up; he saw the little boy pressing every button. "Hey, hey, don't do that!" moaned Draco.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny sat in front of the elevator Draco had went into; she sat there for what seemed like hours but only three minutes had passed. Finally, she had been waiting for ten minutes. She sighed in disappointment, she went back to her elevator and decided to retire back home, where she would forget this day. But then she remembered she had the coin and the book, if she wanted fate to take its course, she would proceed with it, the idea slightly put her spirits up. But, just as soon her elevator door shut, Draco jumped out of his elevator, expecting Ginny to jump into his arms, but no one was there. But he could tell she had been definitely here, her natural fruity smell intoxicated the area. He jumped back into the elevator, and went back to the lobby. He looked around and spotted her going out the door with one shoe in her hand. He sprinted as fast as he could, but it was too late, she had already blended in with the crowd. Draco was so pissed off! Draco kicked the snow in frustration, but only caused the snow to fly over the same woman and child that he had nearly knocked over earlier that day.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

References:

What every man wants...lunch - Coyote Ugly (Movie) [I changed the original word which was 'breakfast' into lunch]

This is the best coffee... a fortunate accident - Serendipity (Movie) [little altered wording]

Look, Ginny what if it's all in our... inside to see if it's there! - Serendipity (Movie) [some altered wording]

A Floo pager is like a Muggle pager only you that it says so-and-so wants to talk to you by Floo or if there isn't one available, you want your privacy or it's urgent, you can talk between pagers.