A/N: It is official: computers hate me. I had just finished typing this when the computer in the lab crashed. So, I had to completely redo it. It's not as long or good as it was, but it's here.
Chapter 9 - The Date
Ginny and Draco were sitting in complete silence at the upscale French restaurant while waiting for their food.
`Could this be any more uncomfortable? I should have just stayed home,' Ginny thought as she adjusted the napkin in her lap for the fifth time that night.
`Say something! What am I supposed to say? Anything! She's going to think you're an idiot. Better to keep your mouth shut and others think you a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.' Draco quoted the old adage and snickered to himself for his cleverness.
Ginny looked up from her napkin ministrations at the sound and gave a look that showed him that he was correct in believing that she thought he was an idiot. Draco was trying to save face when a strolling minstrel began serenading the two with an old French love song that was traditionally sung at anniversaries. Ginny turned a color of red akin to that of a tomato and covered her face with her hands, and Draco sat speechless as he stared at the man with a look of both disbelief and annoyance. At the end of the song, the minstrel wished the "Spellmans" a wonderful fifth wedding anniversary, kissed Ginny's hand, and left before Draco could completely come to grips with what had happened.
Ginny peeked though her fingers at Draco and began to softly giggle. The giggle grew until she was laughing outright and Draco had no choice but to join in the infectious laughter. They had been laughing for a few minutes when they noticed that they were attracting quite a bit of attention.
Draco threw some gold on the table and said, "Let's get out of here," as he reached across the table to take her hand.
Still laughing, she nodded, took his hand, and allowed him to lead her out of the restaurant full of annoyed-looking witches and wizards. They walked down the sidewalk, still holding hands, when he said, "I know a much better place. Do you mind getting a little messy?"
"No minstrels?"
"I promise, and if I see one, I will personally hex him."
Ginny smiled and said, "Lead the way," as she gestured forward with her hand.
After a few turns, Ginny wasn't exactly sure where she was, but she was pretty sure that there weren't any restaurants here. Draco stopped suddenly and reached for a door that Ginny hadn't even seen at first. He held the door for her, and she looked unsure as she stepped into the hole-in-the-wall establishment.
After she realized what she had just stepped into, she turned around and looked at Draco incredulously.
"It's a hot dog stand," she said morosely.
"That's where you're wrong. This," he stopped for a dramatic pause and looked around in awe, "is Wally's Wondrous Wieners. Home of the Super Dog."
He smiled brightly and pulled her forward with him. "Two Super Dogs, loaded."
The order was called to the back and in less than no time, they were presented with two items that, Ginny was convinced, had to be heart attacks in a bag. Draco paid the man, took the bags, and proceeded toward the door.
"Where are we going, now?"
"Come on; you'll see."
After a few minutes of Ginny trying to keep up with Draco's stride, she was about to complain about the walking in heels when he stopped.
"We're here."
Ginny looked around. She had been so busy trying to keep up that she didn't even notice them entering the park. They were near a large tree and had a perfect view of the moon reflecting off of the lake.
"Could you hold these for a second?" Draco asked as he handed over the leaky bags.
Ginny's face was that of disgust as she held the bags at arm's length and Draco transfigured a napkin into a nice picnic blanket. He took off his shoes, sat in the middle of the blanket, and patted the spot directly across from him.
She handed him back the bags and started tugging on her dress, trying to make it a smidge longer so that she could sit modestly. When she found a position that suited her, she looked at him worriedly.
He took out the boxes containing the mammoth hot dogs and handed her one.
"We don't have any silverware."
"It's a hot dog," he said looking at her questioningly.
"Yes, but it's wet. Are you sure about this? It really doesn't look very good."
"Trust me; you'll love it. Here, just wrap your hands around it and bite. You'll make a mess, but that's okay. That's what cleaning charms are for." He demonstrated this by taking a huge bite, while his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he released a contented sigh.
Ginny closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and went for it. It was very possibly the best thing she had ever put in her mouth. "This is incredible," was her mumbled response as she tried to talk with her mouth full.
Draco just smiled. "I know," he said as he tucked into the rest of his dinner.
They ate in relatively peaceful bliss until Draco finished and started to watch her. `In this moonlight, she really is quite lovely, even with mustard on her cheek.'
Ginny didn't notice as she hummed happily and ate her last few bites. He cast a cleaning charm on her messy hands and face and she collapsed on the blanket with the type of happiness that only comes from a full tummy. He crawled over to lie next to her and she started to giggle.
"What?"
"Never in a million years would I have pictured Draco Malfoy eating a hot dog in the park. Don't tell me this is an old family pastime."
"Of course not. My father is probably rolling in his grave. It's actually a guilty pleasure of mine. Blaise got me hooked about two summers ago. He bothered me all summer until I agreed to try it."
"Do you have any other guilty pleasures I should know about?" she asked as she sat up to look down at him.
"Maybe," he said as he sat up to look her in the eye. As he said this, he leaned in and kissed her on the corner of her mouth. He pulled back to search her eyes. Seeing her approval of his actions, he added, "But I really don't feel guilty about it."
With this, he kissed her again, but this time, full on the lips. He gently swept her top lip with his tongue, seeking entrance. She timidly opened her mouth and leaned in, and he ran the tip of his tongue over the roof of her mouth. Their tongues met once and he pulled away. Her eyes fluttered open and he whispered in her ear that it was getting late. She nodded and took his proffered hand, and they picked up their trash and left the park.
The walk home was fairly quiet; both had thoughts racing through their minds. Draco was thinking about the softness of her lips and the innocence in her touch, while Ginny was thinking something close to, `Okay, so maybe he's not so bad after all.'
A goodnight kiss at the door, however, was not to be.
In fact, there was no door at all; there were just some charred remains.
Ginny's eyes grew large and they ran into her apartment. They immediately found her mother under the effects of a full-body bind in the living room.
"Mom!"
"Mrs. Weasley? Enervate!" Draco yelled as he pointed his wand at the poor woman.
She immediately collapsed to the floor and started sobbing. Ginny was already running through the house screaming for Ben.
"Mon, where is he? Where's my baby?" Ginny screamed, panicking.
"They took him! They took him!" was the only thing her mother could say, and she was saying it repeatedly.
With this, Ginny released a blood-curdling cry of anguish and fell to the floor at Draco's feet.
A/N: Sorry if it's seemed like a while since I posted, my dad was just put in the Intensive Care Unit and I've been a little busy. If you're the religious sort, could you please add my dad to your prayers? Thanks.