Running Total Word Count as of June 29: 1267

This would be the first chapter of a new story I am thinking of starting. Not much D/G fluffiness here, but there is of course sexual frustration later on in the story. Any thoughts? Thanks!

--

Ginny let out a laugh. The waves of her vibrant read hair moved with her head, which was thrown back.

"Not again, Mum!" Ginny never understood why she needed to settle down. But, unfortunately, that didn't stop every married person she knew from setting her up.

"But he's such a nice boy!" Molly Weasley gushed.

"Mum, I am buried at work. I don't don't have time for a date," Ginny said. Then she added as a premptory statement, "Not even just this once!"

"Don is such a nice boy! He has a very nice arse, too, honey!"

"Mum! Too much information," Ginny said with disgust, her face turning into a frown.

"Sorry, sorry. But won't you just go out with him! Please! He's new at your father's work and he doesn't know many people."

"Awww. Mum. Fine!" Ginny always gave in (to Molly anyways). She could always just blow off the date later.

"Knew you'd see it my way!" Ginny knew Molly was beaming with pride. "Thursday, 7, Leaky Cauldron."

"Fine. I'll be there."

*****

"Hi, Jaime," Ginny said with a birth smile to the girl sitting on the bed. "My name is Dr. Ginny. How are you?"

Her mother stood up at the question. "Well, Doctor, Jaime has had a fever for three days. She's got welts all over her body." She pulled up a sleeve of Jaime's to reveal a variety of bruises on her arms.

"Well, Mrs. Brown, I think Jaime might be having an allergic reaction. She only has a low-grade temp and the welts seem to be concentrated on the parts of the body that tend to be exposed; the arms, lower legs, etc. To be sure, I'll want to run some tests. If you could wait in the hall and fill out these papers," Ginny said, handing Mrs. Brown a clipboard, "Jaime and I will be done in a flash."

"Sure. Just a few minutes, right?" Mrs. Brown asked concerned.

"Promise," Ginny reassure her talking to Jaime.

"Jaime, you're wearing a very pretty dress. Can you roll up this sleeve?" Ginny asked, pointing to the left arm.

The seven-year-old looked down, then rolled up her sleeve.

"Very good. Now, I am going to give you a shot to get some blood. Is that okay? It won't hurt too much," Ginny added, seeing the look of hesitation cross Jaime's face.

Trembling, the young gril close her eyes and looked away. Ginny's heart broke at the sight of her. Ginny drew the blood and put a band-aid on her arm. It glittered and sparkled. Mrs. Brown came back in and Ginny gave Jaime a lolly-pop.

"Thank you," a little voice said.

"You are very welcome. Thank you for being such a good girl, Jaime.| Ginny said with a smile. She turned on The Lion King and told the pair she'd be right back.

As a nurse passed by, Ginny gave her the blood sample for the lab. With a thanks, she went to make her rounds.

----

Draco hit the ball against the wall, then backed up, allowing his recent business conquest to take his turn. With one more hit by Draco, the game was over.

"Good game, mate," Seamus Finnegan said. He was an up-and-coming inventor, mostly concerned with all things quidditch.

"You too. Take a shower and go to the bar?" Common business discussion area.

"Sure. Fifteen minutes," Seamus responded.

--

"Now, Mr. Finnegan, I'd like to talk business with you. You need money to open shop, I'm looking to dabble in a risker aspect of sport. Any interest in being backed by Silver Flier, Inc.?" Draco asked directly with his best business tone.

"What exactly does being backed by you involve?" Seamus asked, eyes alight. He had been wanting to open a store.

"Means I get you started, you give me fifteen percent of your profits. You don't succeed, my company assumes the costs."

This was a good deal. Draco knew it, Seamus knew it. Fifteen percent was low for Draco, but he liked Seamus and saw promise in his eyes.

"Sounds okay to me. When do we start production?"

"Building will start in two days. We'll go around and pick a locale tomorrow. We'll talk about the next step when you complete the first one."

"Okay, we have a deal." The stood up, shook hands and signed the customary paperwork.

****

Ginny had just gotten home from a double shift. She had picked up a paper on her way home. She lived in an apartment in Muggle London, with a close entrance to the wizarding world.

She'd always been fascinated with Muggle medicine, so she went to Muggle Medical school when she graduated high school. Then she went back to Healers school in the wizarding world and now split her time between the hospitals. She had become an emergency doctor, specializing in pediatrics.

She set the paper on the table and read the headline:
"Young couple killed in car crash. Child left orphaned."

Ginny's heart fell. She always got a similar tug when a child had no where to go. She'd been that way since she could remember, and that had stuck with her, taking her where she is today. She fell asleep at the table, dreaming about the family.

--

Ginny was startled by the ringing of her cell phone. She groggily answered it.

"Dr. Weasley."

"Hello. This is Mr. Reid, Mrs. White's lawyer."

"Hi. What is this about?"

"Custody of Sophie White, ma'am," he replied.

"Sophie? Custody? What?" Ginny didn't know what this man was talking about. She was having a hard time piecing together the puzzle.

"Dr. Weasley, I take you don't know?"

"Know? What should I know?" She was beginning to worry. What was going on with her best friend, Alex White?

"Mrs. and Mr. White, they're. Well, there's no real way to sugar coat this, they're dead," he finished softly.

She looked at the paper. A tear slip down her cheek. Her best friend, Alex. A witch that she had gone to school with. She was dead. Ginny was too shocked to speak.

"Dr. Weasley, are you alright?" the lawyer asked worriedly.

"Yes. Yes," was her quiet response.

"Would you meet me at the Leaky Cauldron at seven tonight, please? We need to discuss the situation immediately."

"mm.." was her only response.

"Seven, then. Dr. Weasley, I'm sorry." He clicked off the phone.

****

Draco's phone rang.

Who has this number besides my secretary, he thought.

"Mr. Malfoy. Who is this?" he answered the phone tersely.

"This is Mr. Martelli, Mr. White's attorney."

"Bill? What's up with him?" Draco asked.

"Sir, we need to talk about custody of his daughter, Sophie," the lawyer said in a no-nonsense tone.

"Why? What?"

"Could you meet me tonight at seven? The Leaky Cauldron?"

"Yea. Um. Sure?" Draco was curious now.

Draco dialed his secretary. "Cancel with Payton tonight. Thanks."

"You know how she gets," Connie answered.

"Just do it," Draco hated not knowing things.

"Okay. I'll do it. Why?"

"Not sure yet."

"Fine. Have fun," Connie said.

****

"Ah, Ms. Weasley. Yes. Your party is waiting for you."

Doctor Weasley, she thought. Wait, party?

They reached a table in the back. Seated there were three men, one of them a shaken Draco. They all stood as she approached. Mr. Reid pulled a chair out for her and they all sat.

"Dr. Weasley, would you like anything?"

"Water is fine," she said. "Thank you. Now, what is going on. And why is Draco Malfoy here?"

"Okay, we can get started now," Mr. Reid said, giving Draco a pointed look. "You and Mr. Malfoy have been named the guardians of Sophie White."

"How?" Draco asked, finding his voice first.

"Well," Mr. Martelli said, fielding this question. "Both Mr. and Mrs. White named different guardians. As long as both of you are fit, you will share custody of Sophie White."

They looked at each other, grateful that they had help, but wishing it was anyone other then the person sitting next to them. This was going to be a bumpy ride.

*gasp* Wow. This seems like a great idea, please continue!



Faith, loving the arse comment

nice start but can you start a chapter from my fic challenge for old times sake please it will be nice thanks