Beyond Us (Dramione)

[16. The Flashback]

AUTHOR'S NOTE: WARNING - the following chapter as well as the next one will all be a flashback! Enjoy!

[ 11 months ago ]

Blaise Zabini stepped out of the office and put on his coat swiftly. "Potter, I'll take my leave for tonight if that's okay with you," he stated, fixing his jacket as he gripped onto his briefcase tightly.

Harry lifted his eyes from the file and nodded. "Of course, good work today, Zabini."

"You, too." Blaise gave Harry a curt nod and continued to walk down the hall. He caught sight of the gorgeous redhead by the desk and walked over with a smirk on his lips. "Weasley,"

Ginny turned around and shook her head with a smile on her face. "How many times do I have to tell you, Zabini? I'm married now," she said, sticking up her left hand and waving her ring finger in front of him.

Blaise glanced at the shiny ring and shrugged. "You'll always be Weasley to me,"

"No, Weasley is Ron,"

"Weaslette," Blaise corrected himself.

"How about Ginny?" She asked, placing her hand on her hip.

"Mhm, Weasley fits best." He concluded and leaned back, rubbing the back of his neck. "Staying late?"

"Looks like it," Ginny said, waving the case file in her hand. "Just another cold case I need to write a report on stating how it's a lost cause," she rolled her eyes.

Blaise eyed the case file in her hand and cocked up an eyebrow. "So, what happens to these cold case files? Do we just store them into some cabinet and never look at it again or do we burn them?"

Ginny narrowed her eyes on the strange wizard and furrowed her eyebrows. "Neither. Why the sudden interest in cold cases?"

The charming wizard of Italian descent cleared his throat and popped up his shoulders again. "Can't blame a guy for being curious?"

"No, but I can blame you for acting weird lately. You've been off, Zabini. Is everything okay?" She asked.

Blaise locked eyes with her and immediately looked away, nodding. "Of course, why do you think otherwise?"

"Because you're giving me a reason to think otherwise,"

He sighed out and shook his head lightly. The corner of his lips twitched upwards into a crooked smile. The same crooked smile he used whenever he was uncomfortable or lying. "Everything's fine." He said.

Unconvinced, Ginny nodded slowly and forced a grin upon her face. "Goodnight, Blaise."

"Good luck tonight, Ginny." Blaise winked with a smirk and walked towards the annex of the building.

Ginny watched him leave and sighed deeply, chewing on the bottom of her lip. She looked down at her hand, touching her ring and frowning slightly. She shook her head and dropped her arms to her sides as she walked back to her office.

Blaise made his way to the doors when he saw Draco coming inside. "Just coming in?"

"Yeah, finished a job just now." Draco replied as he scanned his friend up and down. "You're leaving already?"

"What do you mean already? I've been here since the morning," Blaise stated as he tapped the black watch on his right wrist.

"But we still have reports to write and new cases to look ove--"

"I'm busy tonight." Blaise cut in sharply, his gaze shifting from the door to Draco's eyes.

Draco met eyes with him and leaned back slightly as he raised an eyebrow. "Since when were you busy at this hour on a Wednesday night?"