[HP] Three thousand days of innocence

The rugby player, in a Newcastle United jersey, was back with friends, his fluffy pale blonde hair undulating as he ran.His skin was a little red from the exercise, but she knew that under normal circumstances, his skin was as white as ivory, smooth and flawless.She had never seen anyone with eyes that gray.

Ginny tried to sit down again, but lost her balance and fell to the ground in a gaffe. She kept staring at the young Muggle. He was Draco Malfoy, but it couldn't be Malfoy.The Ministry of Magic had been searching the continent and across the UK for years - had he really been in London all this time?Is he the one who showed up in France and Italy?

She shook her head, looking down at her novel in surprise.No.That's not him, no way.First, he showed no signs of recognizing her when he saw her, and Ginny knew she hadn't changed since Hogwarts, and he would have recognized her instantly: redheads always give her away identity.But he didn't even wink at her, and there was no voice change or body movement to indicate he recognized her.In fact - if Ginny really thought back to her body language lessons - he seemed attracted to her, and if Malfoy ever found Weasley attractive, Tom Riddle would surely come back from the dead.Has he become such a good actor during his time away from the wizarding world?

Ginny looked up again and caught him looking at her; he ducked his head slightly, waved his hand, and returned his attention to the game.He must have known who she was, or at least guessed.He also knew that the Ministry of Magic was after him, and Ginny knew that he would probably try to escape, even dare to Apparate in front of Muggles all over the park.She reached for the wand in her pants pocket, her heart pounding.Damn, she hasn't been in that situation for at least four years.What should she do?Call for backup?She was surrounded by Muggles and she had no idea where the nearest floo was.An owl would look suspicious, and there was no way she could call an owl.It was too conspicuous and inexcusable to fire sparks in front of so many Muggle witnesses.

She couldn't leave, and she couldn't send a message.

She is stuck.

Ginny took a deep breath to slow down her racing heart, then opened the novel, opened a page at random, and stared at the words inside.When he leaves, she follows him.That's it.She would wait until their bout was over, then stalk him to a quiet place and knock him out.Then she would manifest with his entourage to the Ministry of Magic and hand him over to the Law Enforcement Department to have the Malfoys told that their son was back.Finished cleanly.Now as long as her heart doesn't pound so hard.

But then again—it's normal for her to be nervous.Malfoy's disappearance was the biggest thing after the war, and his infamous return would be a big deal.Everyone will want to interview her, learn her story, and possibly unearth all the secrets she wishes to keep buried forever.

She looked up and saw Draco looking at her again.They both turned immediately.

Ginny just wished she knew what he was thinking.Why had he left, what was he doing, why was he playing rugby here in broad daylight with a bunch of Muggles?The Draco she knew wouldn't even touch a Muggle-born wizard, let alone stand with a Muggle and breathe the same air.He must have taken "hiding among Muggles" to the limit.

She had been thinking for about a quarter of an hour, wondering who the Enforcement Department would be on duty, and whether she would be able to avoid everyone's attention this time, when Ginny heard heavy footsteps coming towards her.Thinking it was Draco, she looked up quickly to see a handsome Muggle in an Iggy Pope T-shirt walking towards her, another player on Draco's rugby team.Her heart returned to its normal position, but she bit her lip in confusion.How is this going?

He laughed so easily, though, that Ginny couldn't help it, too. "How do you do?" he said in a thick Scottish accent.

"Hello," she replied, moving nervously.

"Listen, I'm not one to beat around the bush, so I'll just say it straight." He knelt down beside her, hot, sweaty air blowing against his face.Ginny had to resist the urge to tremble with excitement. "My friend over there—that boy who looks like he hasn't been out since the Ice Age, that?"

She followed his fingers and saw Draco's figure.Draco was talking to another player, wiping his face with the hem of his jersey.They appeared to be packing their things to go home. "Yes, I saw him," she said, her smile fading slightly.

"He's a stubborn fellow," the Scot told her, laughing. "Too proud to admit anything. He's been watching you since the ball landed on you and we lost the game because of his obsession."

Ginny looked at him with wide eyes. "Oh—well, I apologize—"

"So I thought, 'Simon,'" continued the young man, "'as much as the football game is, he's your best friend. To show him there's nothing wrong with us, why don't you help him get that beautiful Where's the girl's phone number?'" He shrugged and smiled. "You know, that's the least I can do. My friend is usually a great player."

Ginny glanced at Draco again, and saw that he was looking at her again, but did her best to look nonchalant.The setting sun shone on his long hair, and it seemed to form a halo on his white and angular face.

"So he kept thinking about me during the game?" she asked, deliberately delaying time. "poor guy."

"What a shame," Simon agreed.

Ginny bit her lip.Things take a turn, and she quickly abandons her previous plan to follow him out of the park.After all, there are other ways to make sure he stays within her grasp. "Then I guess I should at least give him my phone number," she said.

Simon laughed again. "It's nice to have you on my side, honey."

Ginny took a piece of paper and a Muggle marker from her bag and scrawled her name and number on it - she was thankful again now that Harry had persuaded her to buy a mobile phone and taught her How she uses it.Simon took the paper, thanked her, and strode back to Draco and their group.

She watched them carefully, reaching for her wand as Simon handed Draco her name and number.Once he sees it, he will likely try to disapparate or otherwise escape, regardless of the surrounding witnesses.

But when Draco saw what was written on the paper, he threw back his head and laughed, pushing Simon with one hand.The others with them came closer, laughing, and she guessed they were kidding about his crush on her.She was still waiting for him to escape.She will be ready for him.

Yet she was shocked again when he pocketed the note, tossed the ball to one of his friends, and ran towards her.Wiping her suddenly wet palms on her jeans, Ginny wondered how quickly she could draw her wand in a duel.

"Hello!" he said enthusiastically, extending a hand in greeting...

Ginny swallowed hard.Any doubts she had earlier were dispelled.This handsome blond young man - dressed like a Muggle, playing rugby with Muggles, with no trace of magic around him - was really the long-lost Draco Malfoy.

"Are you all right?" Ginny replied, covering her eyes with her arm.

"Very well." Draco smiled at her stupidly, and it was a surprise that she realized that he was behaving abnormally.When had she ever seen a smile like that on his face?In addition to contempt and condescension in his voice, when is there any other tone? "Hey," he said, putting his hands on his narrow hips. "Look, if Simon says anything that offends you—"

"No, he's a perfect gentleman," she said, forcing herself to smile too.

"Okay." He ran his hands through his hair and continued. "I'm glad you gave him your name and phone number - whatever he says, just listen to it."

Ginny stood up, brushing the grass off her jeans so he could get a good look at her face. "Is Simon always demanding a lot?" she asked, moving closer.

"Yes," he said, and Ginny couldn't help staring at him, wondering how eight years had changed him.He looked—quiet.hapiness.His face was fuller, not as sharp as it had been when they were kids, but he was healthy too, and he seemed to be taking good care of himself.This wasn't the Draco Malfoy she and her brothers knew; far from it, this was a better, newer, improved version.

criminal!she cried in her heart.He is a criminal!

"Meeting Simon made me wonder what your other companions were like." Ginny said flatly, smiling shyly.

He laughed and rubbed his sneakers on the grass. "So you're interested in my friend?" Merlin, his voice was the same as before, but it wasn't Draco. "Can I end this conversation before doing something embarrassing?"

Ginny shrugged. "I've seen you miss simple passes several times, so I don't know what your definition of 'awkward' is."

"It hits the nail on the head." Draco said, putting his hands to his heart. "You're right. Since then, I think I can stand anything now."

"Let's break it," Ginny said with a smile.

He took out the piece of paper with her name and phone number on it. "I was just about to ask you if I might take the liberty of keeping this," he said. "So I can—I don't know, use it when. Call you. Invite you to dinner?"

Ginny lowered her head, hiding an excited smile.She wished she had some sort of recording device, because this was a historic moment: a Malfoy asking a Weasley out on a date. "Presumably?" she repeated, pretending to think for a moment. "No, I don't think it's presumptuous at all."

Draco smiled brightly at her, and for a few seconds Ginny was completely mesmerized.He'd never smiled like that before, but Merlin, he had a nice smile. "Does that mean you're going to say yes? I'm here to ask if I can call you, but I don't even know if that's a sure thing."

"That's something else entirely," said Ginny, and they both laughed. "But I'd love to have dinner with you."

"Okay - I think you'll get a call from me soon," Draco said, fiddling with the paper nervously.

"I'm looking forward to it," Ginny said, realizing she wasn't completely lying.

"Hello!" Simon called among Draco's friends, who all turned to look at him. "Are we going to the bar or should we wait for the wedding?"

Draco blushed, and Ginny thought it was the cutest thing she had ever seen. "You won't be invited, you bloody transvestite," he yelled, and Ginny giggled when Simon made a rude gesture. "Introducing you to my roommate," Draco said, sighing exaggeratedly. "Simon Kincaid. Wait and see him have a few drinks."

"You'd better go," she said with a smile.

"Well—may I call you tomorrow?"

"I'll have my phone on," she promised.Just as he was about to go back to his friends, she called, "Wait!"

Draco turned around. "What's wrong?"

"By the way, my name is Ginny. Ginny—Beasley." She improvised a last name.The surname Weasley was so uncommon outside of the wizarding world, she still didn't know her and Draco's situation.

He rolled his eyes and held out his hand.When they shook hands, he said, "My manners are usually better than this, I promise. Nice to meet you, Ginny Beasley."

"nice to meet you too--"

"Ben Hamilton. At your service."

He flashed her his lovely big smile again, and ran to his mates while she watched.Ginny felt as if she had entered another time and space through the Portkey, where everything was irrational, and Draco Malfoy had no idea who she was.

What exactly is going on?