Chapter 7: Ginny meets Draco
Ginny sighed, and sighed, and sighed some more. She'd never been a patient witch, but her mother was now pushing the little that she did have to its limit. They had been in Flourish and Blotts now for at least an hour, and her mother was still flipping through back issues of Witch Wear for the latest fashions, and selecting cookbooks to restock her small library at home. Currently, she had selected two, and Ginny idly perused through Casual Cuisine for the Cauldron as she waited.
She was supposed to have met Draco Malfoy almost fifteen minutes ago at Quality Quidditch supplies, and she was late. She hated being late.
"Mum, really. Can't we go now? You have a load of cookbooks at home," she tried again, determined not to sound whiney. After all she was sixteen now and she wanted her mother to see her as a blossoming adult; even though Molly hadn't let her come to Diagon Alley by herself like she had Ron. Ginny secretly seethed about it, but as she knew, she would always be the baby of the family.
Molly slapped the magazine closed and eyed her daughter suspiciously. "Land sakes girl! I've never known you to be so eager to get to the Quidditch shop! That's usually Ron's favorite romping ground! Now what's got you in such a hurry?"
Platinum blonde hair, cool gray eyes, a tall lean form, and an icy demeanor that I'm currently working on… Ginny favored her mother with her most innocent smile. "Mum, you know I'm trying out for the team this year…I've been saving all summer for the Quicksilver Two Thousand Four. I want to snatch one up before they're all gone!"
Molly sighed and continued scanning the cookbook section. "Well alright then…I'm almost done here…Ah! Here it is, and the last copy too!"
She triumphantly grabbed up Champion Charbroiling Charms by Tabitha Buttersby and grinned, holding it up like a trophy to admire, and sighed in contentment. She already had Basting and Broiling with Buttersby, and Tabitha's Tantalizing Treats at home, and had had enough successful dinner parties to impress the neighbors for at least a year, but she wasn't done yet; not by a long shot!
Ginny fought the impulse to roll her eyes. It wouldn't do to have her mother angry at her when she was so close to her goal, but seeing her mother's face filled with glee gave her a small chuckle. She knew what her mother was on about. She and her closest neighbor, Betsy Brumbles had been dueling over who was the best cook for as long as Ginny could remember. They were the best of friends and the worst of competitors at the same time. Each frequently had the others family over for dinner, but Ginny wasn't sure if it was for friendship sake, or to prove who was the better chef.
Well could she recall the many hours over her young life she'd been subjected to questions about who's cooking was better. "Now Ginny, isn't my roast beef much juicier than Brumbles? She constantly forgets basting with beef stock"…or…"Do you remember Brumbles sourdough bread? Dry as a cotton sock, it is…"
Ginny smiled politely at her mother and took her hand, leading her towards the cash register. Time for a little intervention…"There mum, done then? Time is a-wasting."
Molly gave her youngest a furtive glance, but paid for the items and walked out with Ginny, being led rather too quickly along for her liking.
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As was expected, the moment Ginny and her mother entered Quality Quidditch Supplies, they noticed it was packed. Not the usual amount of witches and wizards, but nonetheless, there was scarce walking room.
Ginny deviously started a conversation between Molly and Darcy Brown, Lavender's mother, and when it became clear that they had lost interest in her, she snuck away to find Draco.
She had agreed to meet him at the broom-servicing aisle, but her efforts to get there quickly were once again thwarted by the throng of people she was pressed against. She was forced to edge her way along the rows of shelves beginning each aisle, and found herself being bumped and jostled along, no matter how much she tried to avoid it.
She finally reached the correct aisle, but had the bad fortune to get a section of her long red hair tangled in the brush end of a broom as she tried to edge past it. The bristles had been sticking out of the end of a shelf just at the height of her head, and were perfect for snagging.
"Damn it!" Ginny growled quietly to herself as she twisted to the side in an attempt to untangle the mass of red snarled in the broom.
An unconcerned drawl whispered very near her ear. "Not very lady-like."
That cool, aloof voice made her tingle all over every time she heard it, and sod it all if he didn't know it! She jumped, despite herself, but twisted enough to catch the tall pale form of Draco Malfoy behind her, casually leaning against the shelves, hands in his pockets, eyebrows raised ever so slightly, and a twisted smile on his face.
Ginny recovered herself enough to give him a frown. "Well don't just stand there you prat! Help me get out of this!"
Draco glanced at the red tangled in the broom, and moved disinterestedly forward to help, in no particular hurry. "You're late," he stated flatly.
He came closer, working nimble fingers through her locks. Ginny turned a little to take in his form towering over her, and shivered involuntarily when his knuckles grazed lightly against her cheek. Draco almost looked taken aback, as if he hadn't meant the slight touch to happen, but recovered quickly as usual, and threw a snide remark Ginny's way.
"Not cold in here, is it…"
Ginny gave him a huge scowl and once free, began finger brushing the snarls out of her hair. "You're assuming I was reacting to you?"
"No one else here," replied Malfoy with an arrogant shrug.
"How about that gorgeous bloke over there?" Ginny looked past him with a wanton expression on her face as if she spotted someone highly desirable.
Draco's eyebrows dropped and he quickly glanced behind him to see a little boy of around eight or nine haranguing his mother to follow him to the toy aisle.
He turned back around to eye Ginny a little angrily for having made him look, but she was currently finding a stain and lacquering kit for broom handles particularly fascinating. Malfoy scowled, despite his usual indifferent demeanor and let it slip for once.
"Not funny, Weasley."
"The name's Ginny, and I wasn't under the impression that you cared much." She glanced his way and casually flipped her hair over her shoulder.
Draco realized she'd caught him in an actual emotion and worked his mouth a little before he could come up with a suitable reply. "I think you mistook curiosity for caring…"
Ginny smirked. "That was an oddly serious curiosity you were displaying there, Malfoy…You'd better watch it, someone might see through that disaffected façade you put on one day and actually see the real you."
Draco studied her through half-lidded eyes and merely shrugged in response. "I care about things…I just don't let my emotions rule me. Especially like the Weasel does."
Ginny narrowed her eyes angrily. "Are you referring to Ron? Because if we're gonna be friends, you'll need to learn to respect him."
"Like he respects me?" Draco shot back.
Ginny sighed and tossed down the servicing kit. "I'm working on him."
Draco sneered a little and shook his head, platinum blonde locks falling into his gray eyes. He swiped easily at them and quickly noticed Ginny noticing.
A slow blush crept up her face and she looked away.
He smirked egotistically. She was too easy. "Save it, Red. Weasley and I will never be friends. You and I probably never will either."
Ginny glanced back up at him and moved closer, her blue eyes alight with something resembling a challenge. "Then what are we doing here?"
It was Malfoy's turn to look slightly dumbfounded, and for once he found himself less than completely articulate. "You…amuse me…Why else would I hang out with a Gryffindor…"
Ginny cocked her head slightly and moved so close to him that he could feel her breath on his neck. "I don't know. Why would you?"
Draco looked down at the pretty red head and his mind began working double time. You could kiss her right now…she wants you too…NO! Are you daft!? She's a Gryffindor, and a Weasley! Besides, she's too damn…good. There's no way. She's an amusement. I don't want or need her. I don't need anyone; I never have.
Afraid of Lucius' disapproval?…I'm not afraid of that bastard!…Hmm…your body sure disagrees with you… Shut the hell up! She's female, isn't she? Explanation enough…
Immediately, Malfoy shut off the inner discourse, letting the shroud of distant ease fall over his features once again. He was in control once more, and that's the way it would stay. He stepped back from Ginny and let his hands slide easily into the pockets of his robe. His mouth held an amused twist along the corners.
"It takes more than that to affect me, Red. You'll have to try harder."
Ginny cocked her head and smiled at him, a wicked gleam just barely visible in her eyes and thought determinedly to herself. All in good time… "You're assuming I want too? You're too predictable. You think every witch within twenty feet of you automatically wants you…"
"Fifty…and yeah. That about sums it up."
Ginny's smile faltered at the irritating look of confidence on his face. "W…well not me."
Draco moved closer and cocked his head to the side, meeting her gaze steadily. "Is that so, Red?"
Ginny felt herself beginning to shiver, but remembered her plan. She wasn't about to let him know how she felt. Let him think she was just an amusement. But in the meantime, he would be chasing her without even knowing it. She mentally nodded to herself. She had to play this carefully… She met his gaze with an unwavering confidence of her own, and willed her body to stop reacting.
"It is," she replied simply.
Draco looked a little nonplussed, but only around the eyes. Weasley was a damn tough nut to crack. But he would find her weakness, and then, he'd be done with her. That's how it always was with the girls he chose to play with. It was only a matter of time… "All right. If that's how you wanna play it."
"Play it?" said Ginny airily, "I'm confused. Are we in a Quidditch match? I'm not playing at anything Malfoy…and I'm done with you for today; I've got other things to do. You can come along if you like, but don't worry. I won't cry if you don't."
Malfoy stepped closer. She was good. "You sure about that?" He drawled coolly.
Damn him for being so bloody restrained… "Absolutely," Ginny replied. "I guess I'll see you at school."
Malfoy sneered, and turned to leave. "Maybe. But don't get your hopes up."
Ginny smiled in return. "I won't."
She turned to walk away and find her mother. She really was done with him for today, and she felt she had played him well. She would be leaving him more than a little confused. She doubted any other girl had ever reacted to him in that manner as he had girls throwing themselves at him almost as much as Harry did.
She turned one last time to take a surreptitious glance at him, and what she saw made her smile. He was turning to leave as well, but was leaving her with a little less of the self-assured manner about him. She smiled even wider as she walked away. It was going to be a good year….
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