A Marriage of Convenience

Disclaimer: All that you recognise belongs to JKR.

Warning: None.

A/N: As promised here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it! I know I’m having a lot of fun writing this fanfic. I only wish I had more time to dedicate to it!

Water Nymph

After the ball it seemed all Ginny ever did was go to soirees, balls, picnics, and any other outing society could conjure. Most of these functions were not deemed worthy enough for the Malfoys to attend, and so Ginny felt immense relief that she did not have to put up with Alexia Malfoy’s sneers, Draco’s glares, or Narcissa Malfoy’s stares. Instead, she associated with those people Celia called the ‘jolly bunch’. Maria Cunnigham’s daughter Katherine, or Kitty as she liked to be called, was included in this bunch, and had become a great friend of Ginny’s. She just so happened to be the rosy-cheeked brunette that Julian had been dancing with, and was as stupid as she was pretty. Mrs Cunningham’s elder daughter Charlotte called such functions a frivolous waste of time, and as such had taken a severe dislike to Ginny. Ginny herself was quite happy to dispense with Charlotte’s company, as she and Kitty both agreed that Charlotte was a dead bore and sounded like a fusty old book.

Today, however, Ginny had no pressing engagements to attend to at all, and so it was with great delight that she decided to explore the surrounding countryside of Adderson Manor. It would be a nice chance to just take a break from everything and reflect.

Donning a straw hat on her head, Ginny picked up one of the apples on the table and left the house. She knew that Celia would scold her dreadfully for walking around the muddy grounds, but she did enjoy the outdoors so much, and it seemed she never got to do anything but stay inside now that she was in society. Besides, the pale pink gown she was wearing was casual enough to walk in.

Taking a deep breath as the rush of fragranced country air slipped into her lungs, she smiled happily to herself as the sweet smell of wild flowers and sun dried grass swirled around her. It reminded her of home, lying out on the fields while her mother baked some biscuits inside and her brothers would be playing quidditch in the periwinkle blue skies. She never got to join in, but she would always lie on the silky grass making daisy chains and staring up at the clouds chugging by, trying to figure out whether the fluffy clouds looked more like house elves or muffins. Her musings would always be interrupted by the shouts of teenage boys arguing above her, and then she would turn her chestnut eyes to watch them debate on endless rules and fouls as they played their game.

It was those days that had really got her into quidditch herself; for eventually the clouds and daisy chains became lest interesting, and the game above her became more exciting. She would watch her brothers speed past her in colourful blurs, cheering them on as a spectator, until one day she learnt to break into the shed and started practising herself. She’d been quite good at it too, but her time on the team at school had been short-lived, and the war ended up taking away all the fun things in life anyway, as she was forced to stay low while the battles fought on around her.

She had never been allowed to actually fight in the war, except for the small moments where fighting had been inevitable. It had been frightening, and even for all her boldness and brave words Ginny would never forget the terror in those times. The fear that would seize her heart when she would see a spell come too close to a loved one, or the icy coldness that would creep over her body when a masked face would leer down at her- those were the memories that relived as nightmares in her sleep.

Clambering over a small wooden fence, Ginny leapt to the ground and stared at the peaceful meadows around her while munching on her apple. The war was over now and she was free to do what she wished. She could lie out in fields again making daisy chains and interpreting clouds; she could play quidditch and speed through the cerulean skies, chasing the birds and soaring through misty clouds. The world was hers to explore, and life was hers to enjoy.

Smiling to herself as she walked through the meadow of golden fields, Ginny realised how truly blessed she was. Voldemort had been defeated only three years ago, but it seemed his taint had left the world for good. No one mentioned his name, not out of fear, but because he just wasn’t important anymore. The shadow of the Death Eaters was over. Those who had been on his side had been firmly dealt with, and a rebirth of society for the better had happened. It was uncanny how the Malfoys had played such a significant hand in that restoration for good, but then Ginny supposed they had changed sides in the war. Pureblood ideals still lingered, of course, but there was no mindless killing anymore, no pointless hate. People were happy again, and a new hope had come. It was for this reason that the sun seemed to shine all the more brighter to Ginny, and the air smelled that little bit sweeter. Life really was good, and now that she was experiencing her first season, it couldn’t possibly be better.

A faint sound of trickling water pricked her ears, and Ginny paused to listen intently to where the gurgling whispers were coming from. She stared towards some pine trees and started walking forward, hearing the bubbling laughter of the stream becoming louder with each step. Ducking her head to avoid being hit by the branches, Ginny came out from under the leafy roof of the trees and smiled at the picturesque scene around her. Trees shedding emerald rain shielded the secret stream from view, and wild flowers sprouted up and curled in pastel colours to give their own small beauty to the landscape. The stream was clear and looked deeper than Ginny had originally thought, becoming more of a small lake than a stream. It was very inviting, and since this was such a warm day, Ginny decided she wouldn’t mind having a swim.

Her eyes glanced about the countryside through the trees to make sure no one was around, but all she could see were fields and more fields. Her lips curled into a small smile, and quickly she pulled off the hat on her head and undid the pink dress she was wearing until she was standing in just her petticoat. It seemed a shame to get that wet too, so she pulled it off and quickly jumped into the stream- her maidenly modesty not allowing her to stand naked in an open field.

Ginny let out a deep sigh of contentment as she paddled about in the surprisingly warm stream, feeling the sun tickle her bare flesh, and the smooth water embracing her body. She’d always loved to swim, and it was very nice to know there was this little place where she could come to if she wished to.

“This is beautiful,” She mumbled to herself, while staring up at the bright blue sky above her.

A rustling sound in the bushes started up, but Ginny kept swimming. It was probably just a squirrel or something. The rustling got louder and Ginny began to feel just a little alarmed. She stared towards her pile of clothes, which were too far away from her to reach easily, and apprehensively watched the trees moving as the sound of footsteps came closer. The last thing she wanted was to run to try get dressed and have someone see her completely naked.

“Oh no,” she whispered to herself, hugging her breasts so that whoever was coming would not see anything. Vaguely she wondered why it was she had forgotten her wand, but then she never did carry it around with her now. It just seemed pointless.

The branches rustled more fiercely and Ginny got a glimpse of finely made boots, before her eyes flickered up to see a familiar face with piercing grey eyes staring right back at her. It was Draco Malfoy of course. Just her luck…

His eyebrows darted up in surprise, and by the way he just stood there gaping at her it seemed that he was too shocked to do much else.

“Do you mind?” Ginny snapped, holding her arms across her naked breasts more tighter for protection, not realising that she was only making things worse. The water only just came above her hips, and she knew he was getting a very nice view indeed of her body with all its flaws and beauty; her hair not even being able to cover it as it so often did in romance novels since it was in a simple plait. Really, it was quite unfair that she didn’t even get to look ethereally beautiful like a water nymph- not that she wanted to be a nymph for Draco Malfoy. He was just a perve. Now if it was Julian….

“I’m sorry,” Draco muttered quickly, his grey eyes still finding it difficult to leave the water-beaded body so openly bared before him. She could feel his gaze burning into her skin and felt her cheeks going horribly red. She probably looked like a tomato right now.

“What are you doing here anyway?” The thought had been bothering her in amongst the embarrassment of being caught naked, and the fact that it had to be him of all people to catch her. Well it was just an improbable coincidence really, and not at all what she wanted.

“I’m,” he swallowed hard, and Ginny saw him tug his collar in some awkwardness. “I’m here with my mother, but since she wishes to speak to you she asked me to come find you. Celia told me that you had gone for a walk so…”

He trailed off, and Ginny was surprised to see a faint tinge of pink on his pale cheeks. He cleared his throat uncomfortably and fidgeted slightly with his hands, his eyes finally leaving her face to dart around the trees in what almost seemed like nervousness.

Realising that he was not going to go, and actually expected to escort her back to the house- not that he deserved her company at all after that episode at the ball- Ginny decided it would be up to her to fix this horribly embarrassing situation.

“Well I’m not getting out of this water with you just standing there. Turn around!” she commanded angrily, her eyes glaring hard at him to dare defy her. Draco silently obliged, and once Ginny was sure he would not sneak a peep, she quickly got out of the water and slipped on her petticoat. She could feel it sticking to her body but there was not much she could do about that. She had to forgo putting on the dress, as she knew it would only make her incredibly uncomfortable.

She stared at his back and gave him a small glare as she started undoing the plait in her hair. “You can turn around now.”

He turned around with the same uncomfortable expression on his face, his eyes not quite meeting hers. It was obvious he was feeling a little out of his element here, and it served him right too; creeping up on innocent girls like that. Didn’t he have any manners at all? And to just stand there and stare at her? It was ridiculous!

“Would you like my coat?” he asked quietly, causing Ginny to look at him in some surprise. A Malfoy offering a coat to a Weasley? Now that was something you didn’t see everyday. Then again he did find her refreshing. She snickered slightly to herself, and then realised he was staring at her weirdly and glared at him. “What?”

“Nothing,” Draco replied stiffly, losing some of his awkwardness now that she was more clothed. “But unless you want to run around in a see-through petticoat, I think you should take my coat.”

Looking down at herself, Ginny realised he was in fact right. The water had made the sheer fabric go all the more sheer, and blushing angrily, she stomped over to him and snatched the offered coat out of his hands, not even bothering to say thank you. It was his fault she had to do this anyway.

Draco said nothing as Ginny put on the coat that felt as rich as its owner. It smelled like him too, though she couldn’t quite place the scent, and refused to admit that it did smell glorious- whatever it was. She gave him a mutinous glare knowing that she should be grateful he leant her the coat to protect her modesty, and bent down to pick up her dress and hat off the ground. “Don’t think this makes you in my good books. I still hate you, even if you did give me your coat.”

He gave her an ironic smile and bowed his head. “Whatever you say, Weasley. I have no desire to be in your good books anyway.”

Feeling quite at a loss what to say, Ginny held her head high and stalked off towards the house as dignified as someone could after being caught naked in a stream. She could hear him following much more placidly behind her and felt incredibly angry that this should have happened. Why did it have to be him? Why??? And she couldn’t even run away from him to calm her embarrassment. Instead she had to let him escort her back to the house so that his mother could talk to her.

She suddenly froze and stared in confusion at the ground. Why would Narcissa Malfoy want to talk to her? She’d been so caught up in being furious at Draco that she’d completely forgotten that little detail.

“Oh Merlin, I have no luck!” Ginny grumbled out loud without thinking.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her, causing Ginny to glare waspishly at him.

“Oh yes, you may rise your eyebrow in that haughty way, but you’re not the one going to go see your mother in nothing but a wet petticoat and your stupid coat. I look a mess, I feel horrible, and I just know Celia will scold me too!”

“Perhaps you should have thought of that before you decided to jump into a stream in no clothes.”

Her eyes narrowed darkly, and she turned around and walked towards him with rage radiating off her like a dark cloud. The very air crackled around her from the intensity of her frustration. “If you”- she poked him hard in the chest- “Hadn’t decided to interrupt me I wouldn’t be in this mess! In fact, if you and your mother hadn’t decided to come visiting me for Merlin knows why, I’d still be swimming in that stream perfectly content!!”

“Well unfortunately my mother seems to have taken it into her head that she must see you, and gave me no choice but to come with her. I don’t particularly take much enjoyment being in your company either, I hope you know.”

“Really?” Ginny quipped tartly, arching an eyebrow at him. “Because I specifically remember you saying I was so refreshing.”

His face drew into a scowl, and once more faint tinges of pink graced his cheeks. “Yes, well perhaps I’d just forgotten how annoying you are.”

She laughed scornfully. “How convenient for you. Well you don’t have to worry, Malfoy. I’ll remind you as much as you like how very annoying I can be to someone like you.” She smiled sweetly and flounced ahead, feeling wickedly pleased at the furious expression on his face. It served him right too. She would never forgive him for what he said to her that night. Even now it made her blood boil and gave her the sudden desire to punch that haughty face until he couldn’t form a sneer even if he wished to.

Draco said nothing more to her in their trek back to the house, but he did hold the door open for her. His eyes did not meet hers, and Ginny gave no thanks. She doubted he expected it from her anyway, and she knew that he was not holding the door for any other reason than that he was trained to do so.

No one was in the foyer and she wondered if she would be able to sneak up to her room to get changed, but the door to the parlour opened and the two women she had been dreading to see walked out.

“My, my,” Narcissa Malfoy stated in her cool voice, her haughty blue eyes taking in Ginny’s dishevelled appearance with an unreadable expression. Ginny could feel herself going red and tried to look as dignified as she could in a wet petticoat and Draco’s coat, while holding on to her dress and her hat, with her wet hair trailing around her waist.

“Child, are you insane!?” Celia exclaimed, clapping a hand to her heaving bosoms. “Please don’t tell me you have been wandering around the countryside in a wet petticoat. Why I could practically see your whole body if it weren’t for that coat!”

Ginny’s blush spread across her cheeks. “Well… you see, I…” She bit her lip and wondered what she could say to possibly make this not as bad as it looked. Narcissa’s raised eyebrow was making her feel distinctly uncomfortable, and she was sure the woman had realised the coat Ginny was wearing belonged to her son. Somehow that made things all the more embarrassing.

“She fell into the stream.”

Surprised, and reluctantly grateful, Ginny turned to look at Draco with wide eyes. Was he sticking up for her, even after all she had said to him? There had to be an ulterior motive behind this. Surely he would not help her like this for no reason? He was a Malfoy for goodness sakes.

“And I suppose you rescued her?” Narcissa asked somewhat dryly, looking from Ginny to Draco with a gleam of amusement in her eyes. The unimpressed expression that so frequently occupied her face had gone, and instead faint humour lurked in her smile.

“Something like that,” Ginny replied, trying hard to keep her voice even. Narcissa’s expression was very disconcerting, and it seemed Draco too was feeling distinctly uncomfortable by his mother’s piercing gaze. There seemed to be no lying to this woman, and Ginny had a feeling that Narcissa Malfoy had already guessed what had really happened.

“You poor dear, you must be miserably cold.” Celia exclaimed worriedly. “Why don’t you go have a bath, and we’ll wait for you in the parlour when you’re ready. Narcissa has a lovely proposal for you that I think you’ll like to hear.”

“Please take your time, Ginevra. I am more than happy to wait.” Narcissa turned to her son and beckoned him with one graceful wave of her hand. “Come Draco, tell me how you rescued our fair Miss Weasley…”

Ginny watched them leave and let out a deep sigh of relief. Tippy the house elf popped out in front of her and ordered her to get into the bath that was awaiting her. Ginny didn’t even bother to think how the house elf could possibly know so fast what was expected, and simply made her way to the bath, stripping off the cloak and wet petticoat once she got there, and hopping into the warm water.

As she lay in the water she wondered what it was Narcissa Malfoy wished to speak to her about. Celia talked of a proposal, but she was not sure what that meant. Obviously Narcissa had a proposition for her, but what?

“Would Miss like some more rose oil?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Tippy bowed and then left the room, allowing Ginny to finally relax and think about what had happened. It really was very decent of Draco to stand up for her like that, but it just went against every bone in her body to be grateful to him. She would not apologise to him! She couldn’t apologise to him…. but he had helped her…

“But why? Why would he do that?”

Not being able to come up for any answer on why Draco had helped her, Ginny got out of the bath and slipped on a simple green gown. She once more plaited her hair, and then made her way back to the parlour. Voices floated to her ears, and Ginny paused to listen to the conversation.

“She is very much like her mother. The more I see her the more I feel like I’m looking at our dear Molly again. People are in absolute raptures over her!”

“Hrm,” came Narcissa’s smooth voice. “She is like Molly, but Ginevra is perhaps not so beautiful. Undoubtedly her red hair will always catch the eye, and that shade of chestnut in her eyes is strangely attractive, but she is lacking in the striking beauty that Molly had, nor does she have the figure her mother possessed.”

“To be sure, but she is quite a pretty little thing all the same.”

“What do you think Draco?” Narcissa asked suddenly. “Does Ginevra gain your approval?”

Ginny didn’t know why she took a sudden step forward to listen more intently, nor did she know why it was of such great interest to know just what he thought. Either way, she found herself unbearably curious to know his view on the matter.

“She is not as tall as one would hope, and her figure is neither fashionably thin, nor is she curvaceous enough to let that fact slide. Her skin is too tan, and her freckles too many. Her eyes, I suppose, are quite beautiful, but then that does not nearly make up for her lack of grace and posture. I would describe her as pretty at the most, but she certainly does not deserve the praise that she receives from society.”

Ginny sat down on the step and stared at the floor with a dispirited frown on her face. She had always known she was not as beautiful as the other girls, but to hear it so frankly stated in Draco Malfoy’s drawling voice made it all the more worse.

“You are very harsh on the girl,” Narcissa commented.  “However, you are right. She is quite plain compared to the others, though I do think her style excellent. The dresses she chooses to wear magnify her looks greatly, and looks are nothing to someone with good style. Look at Marissa Hurst. She looks positively hideous no matter where she goes because she’ll insist on wearing those awful colours that do no justice to her unique looks. If she would only wear colours that suited her she’d be very beautiful.”

“Quite right, Narcissa, but young girls hardly ever know what to wear nowadays. I’m quite blessed with Ginny really. She doesn’t seem to like the latest fashions at all, and has a more simplistic taste which I find very pleasing.”

“Indeed.”

Having heard enough, Ginny stood up and entered the room, her spirit feeling oddly shattered. She didn’t think she could handle anymore of their judgements on her looks or style- good or bad.

“Ah, there you are, Ginny.” Celia beamed and patted the seat next to her. “Come take a seat.”

Ginny quietly took a seat. She could feel all their eyes on her, but it was Narcissa whose gaze she met finally. The woman just seemed to command all eyes to look upon her, and not just because of her great beauty.

“You had a proposal for me?” Ginny asked hesitantly, unsure whether she was supposed to say anything.

“Yes.” Narcissa smiled, and for the first time Ginny thought it seemed beyond mocking amusement. “I am inviting you to my home for a gathering we are having. It will last for the whole week, and there will be plenty of activities to pass the time. There will be a select few people, many of them you probably know already. I think it would be a good opportunity for you.”

Ginny didn’t know what to say. This was the greatest honour to be bestowed on someone like her, and she didn’t need Celia’s giant beam to tell her that. She truly did rely on the grace of others, since Draco had been right in saying her connections were so low that most people did not need to do anything but bow to her. Narcissa had taken a liking to her though, and even if her son was detestable, Ginny found herself oddly inclined to like the older woman. Narcissa was proud, snobbish, and not at all friendly to those she deemed below her, but there was something you couldn’t help but like. Perhaps it was the way she seemed to disregard everyone but herself that you couldn’t help but smile at, or maybe it was the fact that she had the nerve to do as she pleased and force society to obey her even if they hated her. Either way, Ginny found herself liking the haughty woman in spite of herself.

“Well? Do you accept?”

“Accept Ginny,” Celia whispered fiercely, but Ginny did not need Celia’s prompt.

“Yes, I’ll come.”

“Lovely.” Narcissa answered, even though everyone knew that she was expecting Ginny to accept anyway. There was just no possible way to refuse the woman. “You may tell Julian that he can come too.”

“Of course.”

Narcissa stood up and Draco followed suit. “Well we must be going. Until we meet again then.”

Ginny and Celia both inclined their heads, as both Malfoys gracefully took their leave.

“Well what do you think of that?” Celia asked excitedly once Narcissa and Draco had left. “Narcissa certainly must think highly of you if she’s inviting you to her home, and just think of all the young men that will be there.”

Ginny smiled wryly to herself. Yes, all those men, but only one would catch her fancy…

OOOO

Draco paced up and down his room agitatedly. Today had not at all been how he had expected it to go. When his mother had told him they were going to Celia Adderson’s house he had scowled and refused to go. His mother had simply raised her eyebrow, and Draco had felt all the fight die in him then and there. People had always assumed it was Lucius who ruled the roost, but Narcissa had a way of making everyone feel guilty for even daring to defy her. So Draco had gone, and regretted every moment of it.

“Dammit, just stop thinking about her!”

But he could not. He could recall very vividly how Ginny had looked in the water, with her hair burning like flames in the sun, and her skin gleaming with soft seductiveness. She may not have thought herself very much like an ethereal nymph, but Draco had not been able to keep his eyes off her. And then she had put on that petticoat which had might as well been nothing at all with the way it had hugged her body so perfectly, not to mention how see-through it had gone thanks to her wet body. Draco may have scoffed at her figure in the parlour, but he was still a man with very real emotions, and could not deny how extremely attractive she had appeared to him in that moment.

Sighing for the hundredth time, Draco ran an agitated hand through his already tousled hair and cursed himself for his thoughts. She was just a stupid Weasley. A Weasley who didn’t know her place and had the nerve to insult him! He would not let her play her silly games with him…

The door opened and Draco turned quickly in surprise. “Alexia?” he said with a frown, wondering what in Merlin’s name she was doing in his room. “What do you want?”

“Can I not talk to my cousin in his room?” She asked innocently, a smile lurking on her lips. Her green eyes were half-lidded in that lazy way she had, deceptively hiding her mercenary nature.

“I suppose,” Draco replied slowly, watching her somewhat warily. He knew what kind of girl Alexia was, and knew very well about her feelings for him. The rest of his family may like to marry their cousins, but Draco was not one of them. Thankfully Narcissa also seemed to abhor the tradition, and did not encourage the relationship.

Alexia walked in and took a seat on the bed, her cat-like eyes watching him intently. “I heard you and Aunt went to that detestable Celia Adderson’s today. I suppose you saw that horrid freckled thing.”

“If you mean Ginevra Weasley, yes I did see her,” Draco replied somewhat dryly.

“Hmph. She won’t last long in society. Everyone is raving on about her now, but soon they’ll grow bored and realise what a common, vulgar thing she really is.”

Draco said nothing. He didn’t really want to hear Alexia’s spiteful comments. Somehow they were not so funny anymore.

“Where is Mrs Adderson’s husband? I don’t think I’ve seen him anywhere.”

“He’s dead,” Draco replied shortly. “He was an elderly man when Celia married him. I’m sure you can figure out why she did.”

Alexia laughed derisively. “I heard she’s not even from a good family. How Aunt became friends with her I do not know.”

“Celia was best friends with Molly Weasley when they were at school together. Mother was Mrs Weasley’s friend, and so naturally she ended up being friends with Celia too. Of course, once Celia married Devon Adderson and gained a very large inheritance people stopped caring that she had no connections.”

“I suppose that’s what she’s aiming for that Ginny girl to do. Imagine that, she calls herself Ginny.” Alexia laughed again. “Only someone terribly common would label themselves something close to a alcoholic drink.”

Again Draco said nothing. He wished Alexia would just go.

“Do you not agree, Cousin?”

“I think she’s not worth talking about,” Draco said simply, causing Alexia to give a delighted laugh.

“I knew you would not be trapped by her as everyone else seems to be. You have so much more taste than that.”

“Hrm,” was all Draco said, privately thinking that Alexia had no idea. She was nothing but a silly, spiteful girl that would end up with an equally silly husband. She probably thought he was in love with her, and while there was no mistaking Alexia was extremely beautiful- there was also no denying she was completely rotten in the inside.

He thought of Ginny again and once more found himself faced with mixed feelings. On the one hand she was charming in all her artlessness and raw honesty- on the other she was extremely annoying by being rude and insulting. There was no winning with her, and soon he would be stuck with her for a whole week…

This should be interesting…