[HP] Three thousand days of innocence

Just after seven o'clock that night, a knock on the door interrupted her meditations.Ginny stood up slowly to open the door. After sitting in one position for a long time, her body became stiff.

"I thought you'd be home." Percy stood in the hallway with his arms folded.Walked in without waiting for her invitation; Ginny closed the door.Percy stopped when he saw the messy living room. "Merlin, are you still looking at the case?"

She shrugged. "I want to make sure I'm not missing anything."

"You've tried your best." Percy said bluntly, drew out her wand, and waved her wrist deftly. The documents and notes she had read all afternoon neatly piled up in a pile, and jumped into his arms. "I can't let you go on like this," he said, stuffing the papers into his robes. "It's not healthy."

Ginny smiled coldly. "That's what the biggest workaholic I know said it."

"Listen to me, don't imitate me." He said dryly.

"Okay," she said, sitting on the sofa that had been cleared, "what do you suggest I do? I have to do something, or I'm going to go crazy with worry."

"Sleep," said Percy, sitting down beside her.

"except this."

"Sleep." He said it again, more firmly. "Just looking at you makes me tired, Kim. You have bad circles under your eyes."

"That's great, thanks," she said.She got up and went to the kitchen, Percy following. "I can't sleep," she told him, pulling out two glasses. "I have nightmares when I sleep, I can't stand it."

"Have you tried potions?" he asked.

"The potion will just keep me asleep in nightmares." She sighed, took out a bottle of pumpkin juice from the refrigerator, and poured them each a glass.Percy took the cup and thanked him softly. "Believe me, I tried a dreamless sleeping potion. The dreams I had that night were more vivid than they would have been without it."

"It's a common thing," said Percy thoughtfully. "I just spoke to my mom an hour ago. She wanted to invite you and everyone over for dinner tonight, but I told her you weren't coming. Mom was trying to distract you with food and mindless talk, and I think that Not what you need."

Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, it must be terrible. I'm afraid I'm not fit to be with anyone at the moment."

"Sorry, it's not going to let me go," Percy joked.

"Then why?" Ginny blurted out.

Percy seemed taken aback by her answer, and an awkward silence fell between them. "I'm worried about what's going to happen to you," he said softly. “People build up beliefs, take one thing very seriously, and as long as they’re awake, it’s going to be on their minds, and when it’s over, they’re going to have a breakdown.” They’re going to have a very serious breakdown. "

Ginny turned and sipped the juice, but Percy didn't stop. "You've been waiting weeks for tomorrow's results," he continued. "The Wizengamot will sentence Malfoy tomorrow morning, and then? Kim, you're really going to be sick."

"Then you think he'll be found guilty," she said softly, closing her eyes.

"I didn't say that," he said. "Even if he were to be acquitted - which is highly unlikely, I must say - you would become demoralized and think your life had lost all meaning. That worries me, Kim." He approached her. "About two years ago, I experienced it first-hand," he said. "I'm going to Rome to attend an important summit for ministers and this is the opportunity I've been waiting for to take my career to the next level. Regardless, I've made up my mind, spent a lot of time preparing my speech, and devoted myself to this event. Extraordinary energy—I was devastated immediately after it was over."

"I remember," said Ginny absently. "George laughed at you for kissing an Italian woman."

"I don't want this to happen to you," Percy said, "especially since you've sacrificed your job and your health for it."

Ginny heard him, but only in one ear and out the other. "You always worried about me more than anyone else," she said. "More worried than Ron or Bill." She looked him in the eye. "When something went wrong with Tom Riddle's diary, you were the only one who noticed. Why? Did you think I wasn't strong enough to take care of myself?"

"On the contrary, Ginny," said Percy.He puts down the juice and puts his hand on her shoulder. "You are more independent than us. It's not that you are not strong enough, but that you sometimes suffer too much. You don't know your limits."

Ginny let him wrap her in his arms, savoring the feeling.Of course, he was right.Percy was always right. "If I can't sleep," she said, "the sentencing is at nine tomorrow morning—what am I going to do until then?"

He let her go. "Why do you ask me?" he said with a smile. "I'm just trying to tell you what to do, remember? Don't work. Don't stay in your apartment worrying about this case. You're going to go crazy if this goes on."

Percy tried to put her to sleep again, and it didn't take long before Ginny left her apartment after he Apparated.She walked around the building where she lived, nearby Russell Square, and the British Museum for almost an hour, walking aimlessly, letting go of her thoughts, and breathing the cool night air.

She knows what to do.

Ginny ducked into the nearest alleyway and Apparated onto Earls Court Road.A moment later she was standing on the familiar doorstep of Buxton Gardens, knocking heavily on the front door.

The door opened immediately. "My God, it's time for you to come." Simon complained. "You should have been here a few hours ago. Dinner is going cold."

"I want—I want to play video games with you," Ginny said flatly. "Any game is fine, I don't care."

"I know," Simon said.He let her in and followed her into the living room, where John was lying on the sofa reading the BBC news bulletins.There was a takeaway carton on the table, and Ginny wasn't surprised to see that they had ordered dinner for her.

"We're going crazy too," Simon said.

"Tell me about yourself," John said. "I'm long past that stage. It's tomorrow, isn't it?"

"Yes." she replied.

"French fries?" Simon handed her a bag of slightly crushed french fries. "I eat it every time I'm in doubt." He paused as Ginny ate the chips. "I've got to say, though, that I'm willing to give up my first child right now for Draco's New Orleans-style gumbo."

"Or his creme brulee," interrupted John.

"Chicken curry."

"His lamb stew is also delicious."

"Salmon with maple and mustard," Ginny said softly.

John whistled. "He made this for you that night?" he asked. "Wow."

"what happened?"

"Nothing," he said, sitting up on the couch and grabbing some chips, "it's our home cooking. That's what we call it. He's been making it for me and Kinzie, about once a week, because the three of us I like it very much."

John told me he could live off it.

It was as if she was in the kitchen at Draco's again, watching him cook by the fire.He always shakes the hair that falls on his forehead.His orange flip-flops tap the tiled floor, and his chef's uniform is somehow always clean.

Ginny's heart skipped a beat, and tears welled up involuntarily. "Damn." John muttered, and hurried forward to hold her hand. "I shouldn't have said that. Don't cry, Ginny."

"Okay." She wiped her eyes. "But I can't help it."

"You're not the only one," Simon murmured. "Come on, let me heat up your food."

They went into the kitchen and Simon dumped her food on a plate and put it in the microwave. "You know what," she said suddenly, "Percy was worried that I'd break down after Draco's trial—I don't think he's right."

"How do you know?" Simon asked.

"At first I thought I was in denial, but I hung around for almost an hour and I knew I wasn't." She pulled from her pocket a folded piece of parchment she'd received hours earlier. "This is from Oliver Wood, captain and keeper for the Kenmare Kestrels," she said, handing the letter to Simon. "He wrote to tell me that his coach was interested in me joining professional Quidditch and couldn't wait to see my trials. And..." Ginny took a sharp breath. "I'm so excited," she said softly. "It's really exciting. I sometimes feel like I don't have the right to it, but — I do. I wanted to be a pro gamer since I was a little girl."

Simon read the letter, then handed it back. "You should be excited," he said. "I used to dream about being a Chaser for the Wigtown Wanderers when I was a kid."

"But Draco—"

"Draco has his own life, separate from yours," Simon said. "If he goes to Azkaban, you can't go with him."

"I think I figured it out tonight," she said slowly. "It's not a romance novel—even if he went to Azkaban, I wouldn't die of a broken heart. I would, I know I would," she added quickly. "I love him. I love him so much I can't express it sometimes." She swallowed the lump in her throat. "As the prophecy said, he completes me. He understands me, he makes me laugh..." She looked down, and Simon gave her time to collect her emotions. "But life goes on!" she said, looking at him. "I never thought about how my brother George would go on without Fred, but he did it. It's possible. If he can do it, so can I."

Simon smiled fondly at her. "Of course you can," he murmured. "During the few months I've known you, I've also realized it. You are the daughter of fire, not only because of your hair color."

"But does that mean I'm a bad person?" she said worriedly. "You and John are his best friends, shouldn't you say I'm selfish and ruthless?"

"Think of it this way," he said. "If Xiaolong boy goes to jail, do you think he would like you to mope, cry, and live? It's an insult to him, and that's the worst. He'll never forgive you. Neither will I will forgive you."

Ginny sighed. "I'm going to live my life," she said softly. "I'm going to play Quidditch, travel the world, do things I've always dreamed of doing. But he's with me every step of the way."

"Of course he will," said Simon, as the microwave finished reheating her dinner.

Night came with slow, solemn steps, the sky darkened and the moon came out.John and Simon had taught her how to play their video games, and she had to hold back her reactions when she saw Draco's unregistered avatar in each game.They played until late at night, until Simon snored softly at the end of the sofa and John dozed off.

"If you don't think you can Apparate home, you're welcome to stay," John said, blinking at her vaguely.

"Thanks, John," she whispered, smiling at him.

"Kinzie won't go to the trial." He lay back on the couch again. "He wishes he could go, but he can't bear to see his father. He'll go to work. I promised him to owl him as soon as I know the outcome."

"Then you will come?"

"Of course," John murmured, closing his eyes. "Won't miss it. I love that poor bastard."

Ginny watched them sleeping on the sofa for a while, feeling extremely uncomfortable.Ten years ago, she would never have imagined that there were two selfless people in the world, and here they are: Simon, who loves unselfishly everyone he meets and has an infectious sense of humor; John is patient, understanding and helpful.Percy worried about what would happen to Draco when she got his sentence, but what about his two closest friends?They knew Draco better than she did, and besides Lucius, they probably knew him best in the world.They found him lost and alone, opened their hearts to him unconditionally, and spent seven years shaping him into what he is now.

She believed they would have each other.The three of them will definitely stay together and help others through this difficult time.It has been so for the past few weeks and it will be so in the future.

Ginny turned off the video game and switched to the news channel, turning the volume down so as not to disturb John and Simon's sleep.She dozed off and on, but her mind kept flying to Draco and her Quidditch trials, and she couldn't sleep well.The three of them spent the night on the couch until Simon woke up, muttered about going to the office, and shuffled upstairs to take a shower.He came downstairs in a Muggle business suit looking fresh, and he pulled Ginny into his arms and hugged her.

"We'll send you a letter as soon as we know the result." She whispered in his ear.

"I know," he said. "Go and see him early. You're all going."

"You read my mind," she teases reluctantly.None of them laughed.Simon let go of her, gave her a sad smile, then opened the front door and left the house.She heard him start the car and drive away.

Ginny waited until John woke up and went back to her apartment to shower and change.Feeling energized again, she walked towards the familiar red telephone box and entered the Ministry of Magic for the last time.

They believed her story and allowed her to speak to her client before he went to sentencing.Everyone in the wizarding world - and she knew this because she had bought a copy of the Daily Prophet - believed that Draco would be found guilty, so it was plausible that Ginny had already started preparing an appeal.She made her way to the holding cell, unable to catch her breath as she waited for him in the interrogation room where they had been locked together before.

She was shocked to see Draco again.He didn't look scruffy and tired, or cry.In fact, he looked very peaceful: he was tranquility personified.He was so handsome and perfect that she was so upset that it took her a long time to remember what she was supposed to do before the guards left.

"Excuse me," she said when a guard was about to cast a tracking spell on the rope that bound Draco. "Could you please give me a glass of water?"

The guard shrugged. "no problem--"

"Oh, wait, it's okay," Ginny said, with a forced smile.She raised her head and looked at him through thick eyelashes. "I don't want to bother you."

"No trouble, lawyer," he said at once.

"No, I can't let you go AWOL." She waved him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, very sure." Ginny smiled with the corners of her mouth pulled. "Thank you so much."

As she had hoped, the guard forgot to cast the tracking spell.They both left without casting a spell.

Draco did not speak until Ginny had removed all monitoring charms from the room. "I know it's not the time," he said softly, "but this is so sexy."

Ginny covered her flushed face with her hands. "Really? You find it exciting that I'm flirting with other men?"

"You're doing it for me," he said. "You distracted them so they wouldn't cast that alarm spell on me." Draco laughed brightly. "I'm afraid I've always liked a woman in charge."

It had been a long time since Ginny had been alone with him, and she blushed even more.She couldn't get enough of staring at him, she just wanted to keep his appearance firmly in her heart while she still had the chance.

"Do you remember the day we met?" Draco continued softly. "At St James' Park that day. I was playing rugby all the time because I thought you were the prettiest girl I'd ever seen and you said it straight up. From that moment on I knew I was in love with you."

"You cooked for me on our second date," Ginny said softly. "Watching you make food for us with your own hands..." She choked up and couldn't continue.She took out her wand again and lifted the binding spell on him.He stood up immediately, took her hand, and pulled her into his arms.

Ginny broke down.The control she had struggled to maintain for a long time completely disappeared, and tears slid down her face, soaking his clothes.She hugged him tightly, her fingers gripping his shirt tightly, as if he would disappear, and she sobbed softly against his chest. "I can't lose you," she whispered. "I just found you."

"Shh, honey," he said against her hair. "I've been able to accept it calmly."

"How could you?" she cried, looking up at him. "How? I can't even bear the thought of you being there—"

"Everything is meant to be," he said firmly. "I've accepted—reluctantly, yes, but I've accepted my fate. This is my fate." He kissed her forehead and took her in his arms. "Only knowing how upset you're going to make me hesitate."

"'Sad' is an understatement," she cried.

"I want you to be happy," Draco said. "When I was in Azkaban, I didn't want you to wait for me to get out of prison, if they ever let me out. I wanted you to find another man who would love you as much as I did—"

"No, no," said Ginny, pressing against his chest.

"I don't want you to be sad. Everyone deserves to be happy at least once in their life." He kissed the top of her head. "At least I have these two months with you. That's enough."

"How can you say that?" She looked up at him again. "How can you stand here and leave me with someone else like you don't care—"

"I care!" he growled, cupping her face in his hands and running his fingers through her hair.Anger and tears glistened in his eyes. "Do you think I don't hate every word I say now? Do you think I'd like to think of other men touching and kissing you? It's murder, I can't—but I can't fight anymore." He looked Her anger disappeared.Ginny hugged his waist tightly until there was no space between them. "When I told you I loved you," Draco said softly, "I never said it to anyone after we spent—that wonderful evening together. I never took it so seriously— His voice cracked, and he looked down at the floor, as if trying to calm himself down. "You've done too much to save me, I don't want anything more. I can see the price you paid for it, and I hope you don't destroy yourself because of me. I don't deserve it."

"Don't say that," Ginny sniffed. "I know I've said and done some cruel things to you, but when I say I love you, I mean it. I mean it every time. You deserve it."

"No," he said, shaking his head. "You look like you're going down, Ginny, and I wouldn't let you do that to yourself."

"Draco—"

"No but," he said, with a small smile on his face. "Now I'm in charge, and I want you to stop worrying about me."

"You forgot," she also smiled slightly, "I'm a red-haired woman. We redheads are always stubborn."

His smile trembled a little. "Oh, damn it," he muttered, and before she could speak, he covered her lips and kissed her hard.She hugged him tightly, determined not to let go, and kissed him, trying to show him that he was worth it, no matter how much they had been through, how many lies she had told—he was worth it .

"I love you, Draco," she said softly.The words brought tears to her eyes. "I love you so much. Only you."

"I know," he whispered back, kissing her freckled throat. "I doubted you once, but I will never doubt you again."

After a while, Draco wiped her tears away, watching her spell away the traces of her crying. "Before the verdict," he told her, rubbing her back, "go get something to eat."

"I do not--"

"I don't care, I don't listen," he interrupted her. "Go eat. Then go outside for some fresh air. Then I will allow you to go back to court."

"Oh, now you have to give me permission, don't you?"

"I told you, now let me make the decision."

Ginny took a sharp breath. "I see what you mean," she whispered. "It's pretty exciting to let someone else call the shots."

Draco's eyes darkened.His hand moved from her back to her face, and Ginny stood still, letting his calloused thumb rub her cheek.He licked his lips as if to speak, but changed his mind.He slowly leaned over her.Ginny looked up until their noses touched lightly, and she could feel his breath on her skin.She put her hand on his chest, feeling him tremble; he reached out and took hers.

"I'm at your mercy again," he said softly against her lips.

Their kiss, a heartbreaking one at the end, only makes it harder to let go.

When the guards returned, Draco was already tied up, and Ginny did as he was told after she left.She went straight to the dining room, bought the first thing she saw - a croissant - and packed it up in the square near the Ministry of Magic, where she sat on a bench and ate it.The sun was shining outside, and she ate the bread, which was tasteless, but after she finished eating the bread, she felt a sense of accomplishment.She fulfilled his request.Here's what she can do for him.

When she returned to the Ministry of Magic, she ran into Harry who was going to his office. "Ah," he said awkwardly. "It's today, isn't it?"

"I'm sorry for what I said to you earlier," she told him. "It was all out of anger and frustration."

Harry blinked, taken aback. "don’t worry."

"It was very unprofessional of me to do that, sorry," Ginny said. "I won't be working for you anymore, but I just want to reconcile with you because you and Ron remain friends and colleagues."

"Understandable," he said, nodding. "Er—would you like some coffee before you go to court?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I mean I don't hate you, idiot, it's not that I want to get back with you. There's a difference."

Before he could react, she strode toward the elevator.She found half her family inside, fresh from the Auror office.

"Here she is, the star of the most important criminal trial of the year," said Ron, laughing.Hermione was standing beside him, as were Percy and her father. "how do you feel?"

"It sucks," she admits, and they laugh.Hermione put her arm around Ginny's shoulders until the lift reached the floor they were going to.

"Whatever happens," her father said, pulling her aside as they stepped out of the elevator, "you know we love you and are proud of everything you've done, baby Ginny."

Ginny looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you, Dad." She hugged him.

They walked silently to the court, half the Wizengamot already in place.Lucius arrived too, in mourning and stiff as a poker.Ginny left her family—Molly came in, followed by George and Bill—and took her seat at the defense table.John came in with the last of the officials, waved her, and took the seat next to George.

No, he's next to Bill.Ginny blinked and shook her head.The rows of seats in front of her seemed to be reclining badly, refusing to stay in the same place.She vaguely knew they were supposed to be that way, but she didn't understand why the benches kept moving.

"Lawyer Weasley?"

Ginny blinked hard again.She didn't realize that Kingsley had announced the opening of the court and called the roll call.Harper glanced at her with a smile.Ginny stood up hastily, waiting for the world to stop spinning. "Yes, Chief Wizard?"

"I'm asking you if you have anything else to say to the Wizengamot about your client," Kingsley said, looking at her with concern. "Conclusion?"

Ginny hesitates to bring up the "arbitrary Alph Gifford" case, reminding the Wizengamot that whatever crime her client committed, he doesn't remember and therefore doesn't deserve the full punishment.At least, she wished she had said so; her words seemed to fade from memory as soon as they were spoken.

"Okay," Kingsley said when she had finished. "Lawyer Harper? Epilogue?"

When Ginny sat down, Harper stood up. He must have been talking, but she couldn't hear him.Her ears could only hear the sound of blood flowing and the beating of her heart.Kingsley's voice echoed in a cave, and everyone in the stands turned to watch someone—oh, yes, Draco—enter the room.He looked at her strangely.

"This court has heard the defense and the prosecution concerning Draco Malfoy," said Kingsley, breaking the standstill abruptly.Ginny woke up suddenly in her seat. "We have taken everything into consideration, and after careful consideration, have made a verdict on the fate of Mr. Malfoy. The plaintiff's lawyer please stand?"

Harper stood up beside her, and Ginny did the same, her breathing fast and her heart pounding.She stands up too fast.The world instantly tilted into a more dire angle, and she felt like her head was flying off her shoulders like a balloon.Geometric gray clouds drifted into her vision, obscuring everything, even voices—only echoes of worry could reach her.

The last thing she remembered was her cheek against the cold stone floor, and then she knew nothing.