In the End

Chapter One - New Life, Old Enemies

The flat was smaller than I'd been hoping for, a tiny bedroom and bath in the back, a combination sitting room/kitchen in the front. But it was near the Quibbler offices and I'd been living with Mum and Fred for a year and a half. It was time to have my own place. The landlady, a tiny wizened witch with a poof of white hair and a glare that rivaled McGonagall's, had told me I could have the flat cheap if I promised to keep the landing and hallway swept and didn't have any visiting men. I told her I could promise I wouldn't have any men I wasn't related to in the flat. She stared at me long and hard. "You're that Weasley girl, aren't you? The one with all the brothers who fought in the war."

"Yes." I turned away so she wouldn't see my tears. I noticed quickly that she had said "the war." Most people these days spoke so you could hear the capitals. The War. The Final Battle. The Boy Who Lived. This old witch had been alive when Dumbledore defeated Grindewald. They were the only ones who did not use vocal capitals.

"Well. If that brother of yours, Ronald I think it is, visits, you bring him down so I can meet him. And his wife. The Granger girl." She handed me the keys and turned on her heel, sweeping out of the flat. I stared after her in amazement.

~

"Ginny! Miss Weasley!" I turned. It was Bonnie Jarvis, the Quibbler office receptionist. She had perfect blond hair and was the nosiest person I had ever met. I had to admit she was not my favorite Quibbler employee.

"What is it, Bonnie? I'm in a bit of a rush." I had to turn my latest column before Apparating to the Leaky Cauldron, where I was meeting Hermione for our weekly lunch date.

"A man was just here for you. He left this." She held up an envelope with my name written on the front in neat cursive. I studied the handwriting, trying to figure out if I recognized it. It seemed...vaguely familiar. I took the envelope and thanked her, running down the hallway toward Mr. Lovegood's office as I did so.

~

Later that afternoon, back at my flat, I finally got a chance to open the envelope in private. It held a single slip of paper. As I read, my eyes widened in astonishment:

Dear Ginevra,

You will wonder why in the world I am writing to you. To be honest, I don't know. I am back in England. The Ministry has cleared me of all charges. Please believe me when I say that I never followed the Dark Lord. After Snape betrayed, I became a spy for the Order. They never quite trusted me, especially your precious Potter. But I was faithful. I helped you win this war. If you get this and you aren't too angry, please meet me at the Hog's Head on Friday the 18^th around noon. I have things I need to ask of you.

Respectfully yours,

D. L. Malfoy

I stared the paper. Draco Malfoy wanted to see me? Draco Malfoy had been a spy for the Order? Draco Malfoy's middle initial was L? Lucius, I supposed. After his stinking Death Eater father.

Damn. Why couldn't my life just be easy for once?