Ginny fidgeted with her napkin. This was it. This was the day she'd actually start this dream she'd been having for years. This was the first concrete step, the first brick laid down. Figuratively speaking, of course, seeing as she still had no clue if they'd be able to find a building. Or if he'd even agree to this. Yes, contracts were very intimidating in the magical world, but she didn't want to rush into anything without security. She wanted real honest paperwork binding him to her clinic. To their clinic, if he'd have it.

She wasn't sure why, but she was feeling like 2 completely separate people. Sometimes she felt so confident, so sure of herself. But at other times, she felt so lost, like she had no idea who she really was. Was insecure and worried what others would think of her. It was ridiculous.

  She looked up from the tatters she'd made of her napkin when he came through the door. She smiled slightly and waved to him. Oh, Goddess. He doesn't want this. Who would want this? Why are you so worried? Stop being so worried.

Blaise walked over to the table Ginny was at and sat down. He waved for a drink and then glanced at her, frowning.

"Alright, who died? You're staring at me as if you've to tell me someone died or something like that."

"Oh, it was my appetite. You took so long it ran off." There it was. There was the insecurity-hiding sarcasm I'd been looking for. "How are you?"

He smirked. "I'm just wonderful, Weasley. And you? Having fun chatting it up with my best mate?"

Ginny scowled. "So you're how he 'checked-up' on me. I see it now." She sat back in her chair, arms crossing over her chest. "How's his wizarding VD? Hope you didn't touch him. It's very contagious."

Blaise had just received his drink and taken a sip when Ginny had spoken, and he immediately started choking. He looked up at her to see her glaring at him. <i>Merlin, she's serious</i>.

Then he started laughing. Loudly.

"Wizarding VD? Are you fucking kidding me?! He actually thought he had it?" He leaned back and continued to laugh loudly, drawing much attention.

"Well, I'm not exactly sure. He said his mum thought he did, but his voice got pretty shrill when I told him his glands were swollen." She grinned. "I think he was more worried about what glands I was referring to." She took a sip of her drink and grinned at him over the rim.

Blaise started laughing louder. "Oh Merlin, I'm going to have to send that woman flowers. She's incredible. I knew she had to have something up her sleeve when he told me she didn't hex him when he first came home. Oh, I bet his face when you told him there was no such thing as wizarding VD was priceless." He snorted. "He neglected to mention that when he visited me after seeing you Wednesday."

Ginny nodded. She could only hope that Malfoy had been saying good things. He wanted to build Blaise's lab. I don't think he'd lie to your face. Well, you've been wrong before. She sighed before leaning forward, putting her elbows on the table. "Listen, I don't want to waste your time. Have you thought about my proposition?"

Blaise nodded, very serious. "I have, and I accept. I'll have a contract drawn out, but don't worry about loopholes and hidden fees and the like. If you want, you can have Draco look over it for you. I'm not going to cheat you out of anything."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "Why would I have Malfoy look it over? He's not-" She held her hand up, stopping herself. "I don't think you'll cheat me. You're too proud to cheat at something like this. Having a contract drawn up would be fine. Really. I'm not worried." I'm terrified. "I trust you." Oh, gods, what am I doing? "Once I find some premises, once we find some premises, I'll let you know. You'll probably need to come in and check the dimensions, make sure they're to your liking. Make sure you get everything you need."

Blaise took another drink. He couldn't tell if she was nervous over something or just anxious to get started on her clinic.

"Not a problem. If you want to give me a list of potions you'll need on the first day, I'll get started on gathering ingredients and starting the potions. It can be as long or short as you like. And if you need help getting a permit or any legal stuff someone might hold over your head, just let me know. I'll hex them until they say what we want them to."

She stared at him until he grinned. He was kidding. Thank Merlin he was kidding. She sat back. "Yeah. That might be helpful. I'm pants when it comes to bureaucracy. But you'd know all about that portion of the business, wouldn't you? As for the potions on the first day... I actually have no idea what we'd need. Probably nothing more than simple pain potions, pepper-up potions, Skele-gro, hangover potions... just the stuff you'd want stocked at home. Of course, as we get patients who'll need specific potions, that's where you'd come in."

She sighed. "I'll compensate you for the potions you make from home, including the time and ingredients."

Blaise snickered. "You won't have to. Draco's paying for everything. I'm not spending a dime."

Ginny leaned forward again, her hands coming down on the table a mite rougher than they normally would have. "No. No. I'm paying for this. I have to do this myself. I won't- I can't have him- I will be paying for your materials, ingredients, your supplies. Everything." What made Malfoy think she needed his help?

Blaise's eyebrows rose and he whistled. "You nearly throw a better tantrum than he does. I'm quite torn on the subject now."

"Don't be torn. Unless I'm mistaken, Draco Malfoy's name is not going to be associated with this business. You're not writing up a contract with Draco Malfoy. He's a patient. Besides the fee he'll be paying for the mess of his arm, I don't see myself accepting money from him." She sat back in her chair, glaring at Blaise. "I appreciate what he's trying to do, but he needs to stop. I don't need his help. We don't need his help."

He grinned. "Perfectly fine by me. I just have one thing to ask."

"Yes?"

"Can I be there when you tell him that? Please?" he asked, grinning.

Ginny rolled her eyes and took a sip of her water. "Do all you Slytherins enjoy seeing your friends in pain and getting yelled at, or are you and Malfoy just a rare breed?"

"Oh, we're a rare breed alright, but just for different reasons. No, I'm afraid all Slytherins can't be this dashing and elegant." Blaise snickered. "And you haven't seen 'in pain' or 'getting yelled at' until you meet Tracey and Pansy. If you want to be around for a nice show, try to find them when they find out Draco's back. That's going to be fun. I hope I'm there." 

Ginny laughed. Somehow, she just couldn't imagine herself being in a situation where she'd need to be in Pansy Parkinson or Tracey Davis' presence. "I can't even imagine." And I kinda don't want to. "Anyway, I'll owl you when I find someplace. Are you against helping getting it set up? I mean, I don't need you there, but I'm sort of a hands-on type of girl. I don't like doing something and not getting my hands dirty. I want to know every little thing going into this. I understand if you don't want to, but it's completely up to you."

Blaise leaned back. "Oh I definitely like getting dirty. Owl me when you get everything sorted out."

"I'll be sure to do that." Ginny leaned back and grabbed a menu. She looked up at Blaise. "Did you- Did you want to eat? We don't- I mean, you don't have to stay." Now she felt like an idiot. She'd just assume they'd be eating, she never really asked him if dinner would be a good idea.

He smiled. "I'm meeting Pansy later for drinks, but I have time," he said picking up a menu. "You know, once this clinic gets off the ground, we're going to need to have a proper celebratory dinner."

Ginny laughed a little harshly. "I don't know if a celebratory dinner would be a little presumptuous of us. We haven't opened, don't have a patient base, and have no where to house us. A celebratory dinner may be a little too early for us to start thinking about." She really didn't want to sound as pessimistic as she did, but Mungo's was draining the light out of her and it was hard to see the bright side when she was in the dark most of the time.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I'm sorry I'm in a bad mood. I just-" She stopped herself, shaking her head and taking a look at the menu. She was his business partner, but she didn't want to call him a friend. Not yet. It'd be too soon to do that.

"Unwind all you want. If I can stand Draco's bitching, I can certainly stand a little venting from you. And you work at St. Mungo's, so it's understandable that you'd want to rip anyone's head off now. I avoid the place if I can."

"Well, I suppose I'll have to give you a pretty steep discount on your healing, that way you won't go back there. It'd be bad for business, one of the owners rushing off to be healed by someone else." She shook her head, grinning up at the waitress as she came for their order. She ordered the spaghetti, not wanting something too heavy, which really didn't make much sense because pasta was the worst and heaviest food one could eat.

She looked back at Blaise, smiling slightly.

"Right, now that business is out of the way, it's now time for pleasure." He grinned a bit wolfishly. "I think this is the part where I ask your favorite color, your favorite animal, and your favorite food. Sound good?"

Ginny rose an eyebrow. "Green, fishes, and my mum's stew. And you?"

He snickered. "Blue, cats, and any sour candy. Now it's your turn to ask the questions." Blaise made a face. "I'm turning into a Hufflepuff."

"What will your mother say, you turning into a Hufflepuff?" She laughed, glad that she could relax. He wasn't going to dash from the restaurant, laughing at her ideas. Things were looking up. "Favorite song? Favorite musical instrument, and do you play?"

"Oh Merlin," he laughed. "Mother would sooner hex me to the moon than have me be a Hufflepuff." Blaise let out a rush of air. "You certainly don't ask the easy questions, do you? I'll get back to the favorite song. I have to think on it. As for the instrument, it's the piano. I've been playing it since before I could walk. Mother forced me into it when I was young. I hated it for years until I hit about 15, then I really started to like it. I've been playing a lot ever since. Saying that, my favorite piece would have to be Claire de Lune by Debussy."

Ginny nodded. "So you play the black and whites as well? Interesting." She sipped at her drink as her salad was set in front of her. "I don't do classical. It didn't help when I played it. I need something with lyrics." She took a bite of her salad, elbows resting on the table. "I believe it's your turn for questions."

He rested his elbows on the table as well, folding his hands and resting his chin on them. "So you play the piano as well," he said. "You mentioned lyrics... do you sing? If you do, what is <i>your</i> favorite song?"

"I don't sing." Ginny took another bite of her salad, looking down. "In public. Ever." She looked up and smiled, a blush tinging her cheeks. "I don't- most of the stuff I listen to is Muggle. Harry... was a bad influence on my musical tastes."

"Don't assume because I'm pureblooded that I hate Muggles. Does it look like wizards could have made this suit?" he asked fingering his blazer. "I don't think so. Sometimes Muggles have the right idea. Music, clothing, automobiles, and business mostly."

Blaise leaned forward with a grin. "Now I'm curious. I want to hear you sing. You <i>are</i> going to sing for me sometime. I'll just nag you until you do. I'm an excellent irritating person, you realize."

Ginny laughed. "You won't hear me sing unless I'm very, very, very drunk. And that doesn't happen often." She was an idiot for even saying anything. She decided to change the subject altogether. "Favorite type of biscuit?"

"I'll let that slide... for now. But it's now on my list to get you drunk and near my piano. And it's white chocolate macadamia nut. Yours?"

"I actually don't like biscuits that much. I'm more of a cake type of girl. Chocolate cakes, cheesecakes, angel food cakes, you name it, I'll eat it." She shook her head, realizing how bad that sounded. She blamed him, of course, since he was slightly incorrigible. "Your turn." She pushed her salad away, finished.

Blaise sat back and sighed, thinking. "Let's see... if you could shag anyone in my year from Hogwarts, who would it be, and it can't be a Gryffindor."

Ginny grimaced. How did she know that talk with Blaise Zabini, resident manwhore of her Alma Mata, would turn to sex. "We may be partners, but we're not partners." She shook her head. "I'll answer if you answer first." There. That was fair.

He nodded. "Sure. I'd shag Potter. You?"

"Um, I don't think he'd enjoy that very much, but I could be wrong." Ginny shook her head to rid it of the image of Blaise Zabini and Harry Potter, shirtless and touching. Goddess, this is getting ridiculous. I can't wait to go out tomorrow night. Work off this... whatever this need is. "I'm not sure who I'd shag, really. I never gave it much thought. I don't-" She paused, cocking her head to the side. Well, if he could say someone of the same sex, then... "Susan Bones. I always thought she was rather pretty."

If he had been drinking something, he would have choked and died. He had said Potter just to get a reaction. It's what he did. Somehow he didn't think Ginny Weasley said shocking things to get reactions to people she didn't know that well.

"That's a very nice thought," he said with a smirk. "Two redheads together. Anyway, next question? It's your turn. And don't be afraid to ask the hard questions."

"What's your greatest fear?" She moved her hands back when her spaghetti was placed in front of her. She looked up at him expectantly.

He groaned. "Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions, he says. Never tell that to a Gryffindor. Damn." He sighed and sat back. "Losing my friends. They're my real family. I haven't seen my mother in years. Narcissa Malfoy is more of a mother than her, and Draco's like my brother at times. The other times he's just an idiot. But... losing my friends and family and just being alone is mine. Now... I was painfully honest," he grimaced, "It's your turn now."

Draco, you will owe me your SOUL for this, he thought.

He'd been honest. She felt it only fair to do the same. "I fear... everything. It used to be losing family but after Percy and George... it's shifted. I fear failing, especially in this. I fear giving myself to something so much that I break when it ends." Well. Now she felt naked, and not in a good way. "Your turn."

He was about to ask another question when his eyes strayed to the clock and he swore.

"We'll have to continue this later, love. I'm due to meet Pansy and if I'm late she'll clip off my bollocks and shove them down my throat." He grinned. "Lovely visual, ay?"

Ginny grimaced. "Very lovely. I'll treasure it forever." When he stood, she stood as well, setting her napkin on the table. She cleared her throat and held her hand out. "I'm glad we're doing this. I am."

Blaise took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Me as well. Owl if you need anything." With that, he was out the door in a flash.

She sat back down with a sigh. She was suddenly not hungry. She was doing this. She was really going to do this. This was happening. Oh gods. Oh gods. She looked up when the waitress gave her the bill. "Thank you." She took a deep breath and sat back. This was happening.

[SUMMARY]-Blaise and Ginny meet up and decide to partner up for the clinic.