Chapter Text
Dear Harry,
I still remember the first time I saw you play Quidditch. You were so sure of yourself and of your movements. I remember thinking to myself - that’s exactly how I want to be. Merlin, we were so young. You looked so wide eyed and smiled so easily. It’s hard to comprehend how short a time ago that all was.
What I would give to play Quidditch with you again and have that be all that mattered. Have the most remarkable thing you did be catching the Snitch in your mouth? Could you imagine that? Wind in your hair? Eyes tearing up? Having no one chasing you, screaming just for the sheer delight of it all? Bet I could out maneuver you at this point. I’m always up for it or whatever else you might want to do.
With love,
Ginny
"This is brilliant, Malfoy, thanks.” Ginny said after reading it, then playfully punched him in the arm. Draco did not know how he ended up in this situation. Seriously, it had only been two nights ago when he’d been very content to get very deeply drunk by himself by the lake for yet another night of forgetting and an ounce of self pity, when Ginny had appeared out of nowhere and nearly tripped over him.
“Malfoy, what are you doing here?!” He held up the bottle of Firewhisky he had been planning on downing in response.
“What does it look like I’m doing? Is there a brain under all that hair? Or does the red burn it from within?” She glowered and some small part of Draco wished he hadn’t said it. But most of him just wanted to be left alone.
“What is your problem? Why are you such a prick?”
“I don’t have a good answer, sorry,” he smiled at her as he said it. For a moment he thought she might punch him so he asked, “What are you doing out here anyway?”
“Needed a walk to clear my head. I have a hard time sleeping.”
“I wonder when I’ll find someone who tells me that they sleep through the night.” Merlin, he must be more tispy than he realized, he had not meant to say that out loud. But Ginny’s face softened, so at least the fear of her punching him was gone.
“You up for sharing?” She pointed to the mostly full bottle still clenched tightly in his hand and sat down as if he’d already said yes.
“I suppose not drinking alone next to a body of water isn’t the worst idea.” So there they sat, silently drinking straight from the bottle. Draco thought he probably should be concerned that he was basically turning into an alcoholic, seeing as he did this most nights. He was pretty sure this was his fourth bottle of the month. He usually did it alone. It was easier to forget why he had to drink at all when there wasn’t another person there serving as a reminder. But there was also something deeply depressing about drinking alone. He could invite one of his friends along he supposed, but then they would tell him to stop. Sitting here drinking with the Weaselette wasn’t the worst thing.
“You know,” she said suddenly, her speech very slow, “Luna told me about being imprisoned in the Manor. She said you were always nice to her. So maybe you’re not such a prick.” Then she giggled. None of it made much sense through the pleasant fog that currently guarded his head.
“Be nice if she said that to more people.” he said looking up at the sky, “My reputation isn’t well -- you know.” They stopped talking. Draco let his tiredness win and fell asleep right there.
He woke up the next morning alone, but with Ginny’s sweater over him. They’d finished the bottle and by the looks of it, she’d taken it with her when she went back to the castle. He groaned as he sat up. His back hurt from the hard ground and his head ached like a bitch. And he’d have to return her sweater. But at least he’d slept through the night. Not a dream he could remember.
***
Draco found her in between classes.
“This is yours.” He handed it to her and continued walking quickly. Some of his papers fell as he repositioned them. He stopped to pick them up.
“You’re welcome by the way.” Ginny said as she bent down to help him.
“For what? Finishing my alcohol?”
“For not leaving you to freeze. You’re never going to have a good reputation if you keep on insisting on being a prick.”
“What do you know?” He sneered. She frowned and looked down at the stuff she picked up for him.
“Apologize and say thank you. Or I won’t give these back.” It was an essay for Potions, some Charms homework and a few loose pieces of parchment. Draco’s heart stopped. Don’t read it don’t read it don’t read it. But the Weaselette’s eyes scanned the page trying to figure out what it was.
“I apologize and thank you. Please may I have my work?” He said fast in an attempt to get it back.
“Malfoy, what is this?” It was something no one was meant to see. A coping mechanism his mother had recommended. Whenever he felt the memories boil to the surface and he felt himself slipping out of reality, he was to write down everything he saw in front of him in as explicit detail as he could. He’d taken to writing down all his observations about the people around him as well.
“None of your business, now give it here.” Ginny only passed him the schoolwork though. Keeping her right hand clutched around the parchment. They both stood and Draco made an effort to wrench the paper away from her.
“Six older brothers, nice try.” She said moving her hand away quickly. But then she stopped reading. As if speaking had broken the spell of reading other people’s private notes against their will.
“What is this?” She asked again.
“Private,” he said and this time she handed it back to him.
“You’re a very good writer by the way. I like the way you describe people.” Ginny smiled, Draco frowned.
He began to walk away again, determined to succeed this time. He made it all of ten steps when Ginny called after him. “Wait!”
“Salazar save me.” Draco whispered.
“I have a proposition for you.”
“You what now?”
“Just listen, I had this really great idea just now. I need your help with something and in exchange Luna and I will work with you to restore your reputation.”
“What?” he asked incredulously, “What could you possibly need my help with?”
“I need you to write some letters for me. I’m no good at it or at sappy romantic stuff, but there is this guy I really like and I want you to write me love letters for him.” Trust a Gryfinddor to come up with such a ridiculous and bold face plan.
“You want me writing love letters for you?” Draco started laughing bitterly, “And I suppose these are to Potter, right? You want me to write love letters to a man that hates me.”
“And a man who saved your life and the entire wizarding world, so shut up.” She stared at him, “Just think about it. Reputation in exchange for a few letters.”
***
And that’s how Draco ended up back at the lake, handing Ginny the letter. It hadn’t been overly difficult once he got over the sheer irony and awkwardness of it. “Could you write another one in the next two days maybe? And you can join me, Luna and a couple others in the library tomorrow before dinner. We like to sit there and do homework.”
“Fine.”
Dear Harry,
There’s this little thing you do, which I doubt you are even aware of, but it makes me smile every time. Whenever you push your glasses up the bridge of your nose, you immediately run your fingers through your hair. I don’t know why, but you do. Maybe that’s why your hair is always so messy.
It’s growing out nicely, by the way. Though the way you tug at the ends of it makes me wonder whether it’s intentional or you just haven’t found the time to cut it. I hope it’s on purpose, you’d look really great with those curls. Let me know the plan, maybe?
With love,
Ginny
Homework with the Weaselette and Lovegood was painfully awkward at best. They'd all seemed to have been informed that Draco was coming, but were still surprised to see him. Pansy had asked where he was going on his way out and he’d just shrugged. It was like that a lot these days.
No one really spoke to him, but no one glared at him either. They sat by year, so people could whisper questions to each other. Draco sat next to Lovegood, who smiled at him.
“I’m glad you came,” she said while everyone started packing up, Draco gave her the smallest closed lip smile and walked away before she could say more.