It wasn't Harry's fault. His actions had always been tied to his emotions. The kiss. Merlin. He'd been so angry with her. Couldn't she see that he was trying to help her? Azkaban had a cell with her name on it, and he was trying to keep her out of it. Why was she so stubborn?

And when Ginny was angry, God help him, he was bewitched. Magic pouring out of her, dark eyes wild. He couldn't look away.

So, he'd done the only thing that he could think of as she challenged him. He probably should've thought about it more before he'd done it.

Now, he was doomed.

To say he enjoyed it was an understatement.

As he entered the Ministry, moving through the atrium to the lifts, he was on autopilot. Up and off then through the corridors to Headquarters. Every step, his mind was at the entrance of that flat. Her lips were so soft. He touched his lips.

People probably said hello to him, called him, said a few words but he didn't respond, trapped in his memories. Ginny. He sighed, pushing open the doors, and he was bombarded by Aurors.

"Did you catch him?" Pitters asked.

"Did Fyrefox catch you?" Cotton asked.

"Where have you been?" Jefferson asked next.

Harry crossed his arms.

"Don't suppose you have the target or the artifact with you?" Cortez asked from behind him.

Merlin's Beard. He bit his tongue, looking back at the door. Could he sneak out before they got deeper into-

"Potter, my office now."

He stiffened. Robards was ready for him.

"Do you want backup?"

Harry's gaze shot to Sharp, leaning against his desk, arms crossed. Harry walked over. "No, it's probably best this next part is done alone." He ran his hands over his face, his glasses sliding up his forehead. "Where are the Americans?" he asked softly.

"Jack's in a meeting with the President and Kingsley. Have been for an hour." He straightened, looking towards Robards' office. "Where have you been?"

Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "Fyrefox stunned me."

Sharp's eyebrows rose.

"Later," Harry said, holding up his hand when Sharp started to respond. He moved to Robards' office, where he leaned against the front of his desk, arms crossed. His expression blank. That alarmed Harry. The Head Auror was hiding what he really felt.

Bloody hell, he was screwed.

"Sir," he said.

When he came inside, Robards gestured to the chair. Harry sat, running his hands down his trousers. He licked his lips. He folded his hands.

Robards didn't move or speak.

He didn't know how much more he could take before there was a knock on the door and a strong wave of déjà vu.

"Come in," Robards called out without looking away from Harry.

The door opened and Kingsley came in, followed by the President and Jack. Harry jumped to his feet to allow both Kingsley and the President to take the seats. He peeked at Robards. The man wouldn't destroy him and his career in front of the Americans, right?

When they got settled, Robards just dropped. "How could you let this happen?" 

Guess not. Harry exhaled.

"Tell us what happened after you disappeared, Harry," Kingsley said. "We received word from Sharp and Weasley that you apparated right after the fireworks ended."

Nodding, Harry started, "I caught sight of someone with the artifact in hand. I assumed it was Fyrefox, so I tried to follow them the best I could." Stick to the truth as much as possible, he thought.

"Where did you go?" Kingsley asked.

He licked his lips. "I followed them to Diagon Alley then into Knockturn Alley. When I turned a corner, I was stunned." He still couldn't turn Ginny in. He looked around the room. Even if he trusted these men, he couldn't let Ginny get arrested. She was misguided. He wanted to help her.

And maybe that kiss complicated things.

Stay focused, Potter. 

"Did you catch a glimpse of Fyrefox?" Robards asked.

He exhaled. "No." Act the part. He would be upset if he didn't see Fyrefox. If he let the thief get away again. Everyone knew he was hell-bent on catching the thief.

"Dammit!" He punched the wall. Pain shot up his arm, but he ignored it. 

"Potter," Robards called out.

"I let Fyrefox slip right through my fingers! This goddamn thief!"

Kingsley got to his feet and laid his hand on Harry's arm. "It's okay, Harry. We all know that sometimes things don't go according to plan. You know that better than others. You'll get him next time."

He ran his fingers through his hair, biting down on the horrible sense of lying to them all. After a breath, he nodded. "Next time."

"Don't worry so much, Potter," The President finally spoke up.

Silence filled the office as they all turned to look at the man. He grinned, leaning back in the chair.

"But isn't the Golden Unicorn Horn important to you?" Harry asked, but he kept thinking about Hermione's words. Maybe she was right.

"Well, yes, it is." The President chuckled at their expressions. "It's important to me, but stuff happens. The Golden Unicorn Horn is just a sign of the alliance between us. Just a prop." He shrugged.

The three of them stared. Jack shook his head.

Kingsley laughed, shaking his head.

"You're not mad?" Robards asked, eyebrows raised.

"Mad? Hell no." He shrugged then turned to Harry. "Just catch this bastard and get the token back for the people. Of course, more for their benefit than ours." Harry nodded. The President continued. "Jack will help you."

The American Auror's eyebrows rose. "I will?"

"You will." The President nodded, shooting the man a look.

Jack's lips twitched. "I will help you."

Harry fought hard to keep from smiling at the man. He couldn't help it, the man's facial expressions spoke volumes

"We'll stay until everything is settled." He got up and patted Harry's shoulder. "Everything will work out, you'll see."

Harry was blown away. Ginny stole the offering to upset the President and ruin relations between the two governments. But it hadn't worked. Hermione was right, the President was a far better person than Ginny thought of him. A grin split across his lips, and he nodded.

"Now, get out there and find that thief," Robards ordered.

"Yes, sir." Harry nodded and made his way to the door. 

"I'll get the other Aurors as protection for the President, and I'll be at your office in fifteen minutes. Get Sharp and Weasley and any others who you think might be helpful," Jack said as the President got to his feet.

"Sounds like a plan," Harry told him as he left the office, trying to figure out how to catch Fyrefox without Ginny getting involved. 

Every other option was worse than the last.

*               *               *

Ginny had obviously lost her mind. The high from the job and the anger from her meeting with Malfoy, that had to be it. That had to be the only reason she kissed him back. She lay in bed, the early morning sunlight seeping through the curtains. She'd tossed and turned all night. She needed to stop thinking about that bloody kiss.

After Harry left, she sat on the floor, leaning against her door for the better half of the night, refilling her bottle of Firewhiskey. She'd finally gotten up and shuffled in the dark to her bed in three in the morning. She'd gotten maybe five hours, and it had been fretful one.

She sat up in bed, touching her lips. Merlin's Beard, did his kiss scar her? Was that possible? It felt like he'd left some mark for the entire world to see. She licked her lips.

"No!" She cried, sitting up and tossing off the covers. She was losing her mind. She had to be. Her reflection stared back at her from her bathroom. A shower would help. Hot. Maybe it would scramble her thoughts or melt away her memories of the feel of his lips, his tongue caressing hers, his body touching-

She jumped out of bed and rushed into her bathroom, turning the water onto boiling. Steam filled the bathroom, and she sighed as she started to undress. 

It was still there. Her heart squeezed. She might hate Harry something fierce, but she still felt that passion, that attraction. 

She shook her head. She needed to stop thinking about him and that kiss. And she did, for the time. She emptied her mind.

Once out of the shower, she dressed and braided her hair. She sat on her bed and pulled on a pair of red snitch socks. She could really use a pickup game of Quidditch. She hasn't been able to play in years. One of the last matches had been the summer before her sixth year. It had really been too long.

The golden vase caught her attention as she passed the table on the way to the kitchen. She smiled at the red bouquet.

What she needed now was a new job. Now that she dropped the Malfoy assignment, she should think about that vacation. Maybe a stop in Knockturn Alley for a nice chat with Abram Vander about a quick job for fast money. Some tea would be a good start.

A knock stopped her. Wand in hand. Was the Ministry here? Had Harry told them? Didn't matter, she was ready. She inched towards the window. Azkaban was not somewhere she was planning on staying.

"It's me, Weasley," a voice called through the door.

Ginny frowned. How the hell was everyone finding out where she lived? She hurried over to the door and threw it open. 

"Good morning," Malfoy said with a grin on his face, two travel mugs in his hands.

"What are you doing here?" She glared. "And how do you know where I live?" 

"Tea first?" He held a cup out to her. She grabbed it and took a sip. It was just how she liked it. She frowned. How did he know how she took her tea? She didn't like it.

"Can I come in?" he asked with a smile.

Merlin, he was happy today. She'd never seen him smile so much.

"No." She took another sip. "What do you want?" 

His forehead furrowed. "I can't come in?"

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"Guess here's better than nowhere," he mumbled.

Ginny watched him. He was annoyed, running his fingers through his hair, sending it up in odd angles. She bit her lip to keep from smiling and inviting him in. "What do you-"

"I'm sorry for what I said last night." He reached over and laid his hand on her shoulder. "I didn't mean to... I didn't mean to threaten you."

She blinked. 

"You don't need to look so shocked," he hissed.

"You apologized. That's got to be a first." She couldn't look away from him.

"Stop that," he told her, looking away, and she wasn't sure if the blush was real or not.

"Come in," she said, smiling.

He looked back and grinned. "Thank you." He took a sip of tea and stepped into her flat, eyebrows raised as he took in the living room. "Lovely décor."

"Shut up." She rolled her eyes.

"I want you to take the job again," he said suddenly.

She frowned. "No."

"What? Why not?" He frowned back. "I apologized."

Her mouth opened then closed. She fought down a curse. "Did you apologize because you meant it or to get me back on the job?"

"Neither," he said, but it sounded more like a question.

"Malfoy, I accepted your apology but I don't want to-" He cut her off.

"I'll double the pay, half in advance and the rest upon completion."

"No." She shook her head but stopped when she felt woozy. "I'm sorry but no."

"You're the best at what you do." He stepped even closer into her personal space. "Come back." 

She licked her lips. "Thank you but no," she said again.

He frowned, silvery-gray eyes staring into hers. Dark like storm clouds. The oddest feeling overcame her when she looked into them. She felt... She shook her head. Like being sucked into their depths.

"It'll be fun," he whispered. It sent a shiver up her spine.

"Yes," she replied. 

A real smile slipped onto her lips, and the sight dazzled her. She took a step back and looked away. She shook her head again, taking another step back when Malfoy stepped forward. Her back hit her door, as her eyes met his again. They pulled her in.

"You can do it, Ginny. I know you can," he whispered again.

She gulped and pushed back further. Something wasn't right, but couldn't tell what. Her heart pounded, her brain fuzzy as she looked into his beautiful, breathtaking eyes. She was drowning-

"I'll break into the Parkinson Manor," she told him without thinking. She licked her lips.

"You do that." He lifted his arm and placed it on the door beside her head, leaning forward. "I'll wait for your owl," he whispered, face inches from hers. His lips would brush against hers if she moved the littlest bit.

She held her breath.

He smirked, taking a step back, his arms falling to his side. "I'll leave you to that." With a quick move, he pulled her away from the door and into her arms.

The contact was almost more than she could bear. She inhaled, eyes staring into his, but then he blinked and looked away. She jumped away from him but he was already opening the door and leaving, his laughter staying behind, filling her flat. It vibrated through her bones.

She slammed the door,  shaking her head. Common sense flooded her mind. She blinked a few times then punched the door. "What the hell was that?" she cursed.

*

Ah. So, what do we think about this chapter? Ginny miscalculated about the President and how he would react to the offering being stolen. And what was that Draco? She's going back to work for him. Huh.

And, I'm curious, who do you ship with Ginny more: Harry or Draco? Tell me your thoughts. And as always, thank you for all of your support. You all keep me writing! Next chapter up on Monday <3