Unofficial Portkey Archive

Ginny's errands for Professor Sprout sent her to Hogsmeade the following week. Snow was still thick on the ground and a bitterly cold wind blew through the tiny village as she made deliveries to the shops and houses. Normally she would have been sent with an escort but Ginny felt a need to be alone that evening and had managed to convince the Professor that she was taking a friend. She was coming to regret this decision as she struggled with her heavy trolley through the snow. A strapping lad to help her out would have been very welcome as it turned out. Ginny's mind wandered to thinking of one particular strapping lad as she made her way to the final stop of the evening, a large crate of fruit for the bar at The Three Broomsticks.

She pushed her way into the bar she shook the snowflakes from her hair and robes and made her way through the crowded interior. Madam Rosmerta greeted her enthusiastically and offered Ginny to stay and have a Butterbeer before making her way back to the castle. Ginny gratefully accepted and sat at the bar and took in the occupants of Hogsmeade's most frequented Pub. Among the usual Hogsmeade locals there was a crowd of Ravenclaw seventh years Ginny was surprised to see, playing exploding snap. Two old wizards in the corner with a wizards chessboard spread out in front of them and in a corner sitting alone and looking decidedly glum was Draco Malfoy.

Ginny spat out her butterbeer, choking slightly. Draco looked over at her and she went a little red with embarrassment.

Smooth Ginny, real smooth.

Draco looked away and began to examine the grain of the table he was sat at. When Ginny had finally stopped spluttering she took a deep shaky breath and slid off her chair. She crossed the room towards him and stood there waiting for him to notice her. After a few moments he still hadn't turned to look at her she cleared her throat and forced a brassy smile.

"You look like you could use some company."

Draco looked up at her blankly and after a second's pause contorted his face into a scowl.

"Oh yeah? What about now? Do tell me when I look like I want to be left alone."

Ginny put her hands up, slightly offended and doubly humiliated.

"Suit yourself."

She turned to walk away and as she did so Draco called out after her.

"One condition Weasley, Drink with me."

Ginny turned and looked at him like he was a simpleton. Motioning towards her mug of Butterbeer she said. "What does this look like to you Malfoy? Scotch mist? But you know what? I think I'll pass. Enjoy your evening."

Draco chuckled to himself, "That is not a drink. Come join me, unless you are worried about what your brother will say about you drinking with the enemy."

Ginny stared at him, she could see that he was goading her and she smiled despite herself. "I thought we were back to last names. Anyway for your information I am quite old enough to make my own enemies." She sat down opposite him, holding his gaze. "Now, what drink did you have in mind?"

Draco smiled and summoned Rosmerta over to them. From her he ordered a bottle of fire whiskey and two glasses from her. Ginny's eyes were wide as she watched Rosmerta walk calmly away and prepare a tray for their drinks.

"Neither of us are old enough to be drinking and she knows that! How on earth….?" She stopped as Rosmerta returned and upon serving them their drinks, turned to Draco,

"I trust you will drink responsibly the two of you. Draco, I trust you not to let me down."

"Of course, Madam Rosmerta."

When she was out of earshot, Ginny scooted round the table, closer to Draco and whispered to him, "Yes Madam, No Madam. Arse kisser! I didn't realise that bad boy Malfoy was Madam Rosmerta's bitch. "

Ginny smirked at the incredulous look on Draco's face. He playfully punched her on the arm and passed her a glass of fire whiskey.

"What shall we drink to?" Draco said, raising his glass.

Ginny smiled again and said, "To unlikely drinking partners and never underestimating how much people can surprise you. Cheers!"

With that they both knocked back their drinks. Ginny, who by now was quite used to the taste of fire whiskey didn't even wince at the taste. Draco made an appreciative hissing noise and nodded his head at Ginny. "I'm impressed. I didn't really believe the rumours that you sneak out drinking with the Ravenclaw boys to go drinking, but now I'm starting to wonder!"

With a slight smile she explained about her fondness for bugging her brother and about the bottle of fire whiskey outside the common room. They talked about everything they could think of, the conversation and the fire whiskey flowed easily and before long they were both a little drunk.

"How are Gryffindor looking for the match in a few weeks then? How badly are we gonna kick your arses?"

Ginny sniggered "Hardly gonna tell yooooou, am I now? We will have to wait and see how badly you guys play really. If its anything like usual then we will crush you. Obviously."

Draco pushed her playfully and she fell sideways onto the seat beside her, giggling.

Draco took another sip of his whiskey and paused thoughtfully as he watched her try to climb her way back upright. "You are probably right about you winning. I cant even get my team to stop shpending practice times talking about how fine Ginny Weasley's arse is let alone get them to stop staring at it long enough to play a decent game!"

"You what now?"

Draco sighed and prodded her leg, "You and that appealing body of yours has shabotaged any hope I have of producing a pashable team this year."

Ginny went a little red and put her head in the crook of her arm as she giggled again at the way that Draco was nodding drunkenly in the affirmative.

"Oh you had better believe it! All this rebelliousnessnssh you have going on lately have made you irresistible to Shlytherins apparently."

Ginny stopped giggling and smiled. "Is that so?"

Silence descended between them for the first time that evening and Draco avoided her eyes by pouring two more whiskeys.

"I suppose that makesss us even then, I mean doesn't Potter spend most of his time staring at my arse?

Ginny slapped a laughing Draco lightly across his head. "Harry isn't Gay!"

Draco put a mock shocked look on his face, "You mean he isn't going out with your brother?"

Ginny squealed with laughter. "You are so baaaad!" Draco slid the glass of whiskey over to her but she shook her head slowly and pushed it back at him. "I've had way too much already. I need to get back." She attempted to stand but stumbled into Draco who swore loudly.

"Buggering hell woman. Watch it! I'll walk you back. I happen to be going that way myself."

He held Ginny firmly under her arm and put his cloak around her. She noticed that her was wearing a simple white silk shirt and her drunken self was struck once again by how gorgeous he was. As Draco said goodnight to Rosmerta, Ginny looked up at him and, before she could stop herself she said, "You're yummy."

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

The pair of them stumbled back up to the castle laughing and singing and shushing all the way. By the time they reached the courtyard outside the Entrance Hall, Draco's shirt had gone see through from the snow that was falling and Ginny could see the contour of his muscles clearly through it. He had a spectacular body himself and she was looking, lots.

He walked her all the way to the Gryffindor tower and when they reached the portrait hole she turned to him, "Thanks for this evening, It was the best fun I've had for a long time. You are very different to how I imagined you Draco. I like the new you."

She could swear that he blushed at that. "No, thank you Ginny. I think your company must have made me soft."

Their moment was somewhat spoiled by a rustling from behind the Fat Lady's portrait. A voice from behind it called out, "Ginny, is that you out there?"

Ginny's face dropped as she recognised that call.

"Oh fuck! It's Ron!"

Draco grabbed her to him and before she could protest, he rolled them both behind a bookcase into the shadows. He put his hand over her mouth as Ron burst from the portrait hole, his face red, his eyes searching around for her. Ginny started to giggle again despite herself. Ron didn't hear and went back inside and Draco let her go much to her inward dismay.

"Do you want me to stay?" His eyes were full of concern and Ginny was so affected by that she reached up, touched his face and smiled. "No I'll be fine. He is just a great bag of wind." She withdrew her hand but he caught it and spoke earnestly.

"Meet me next week. Same time, same place."

Ginny frowned but her heart leapt at the request. "Ok. See you on Friday." Draco beamed at her and released her hand. Ginny handed him his cloak and watched him as he walked away.

Yummy indeed.

She was still walking on clouds when she reached the common room. Then she met Ron and came crashing down to earth again.

"Where the Hell have you been? I've been worried sick. I was going to go and find Professor McGonagall and report you missing. Have you been drinking? Bloody hell Ginny! Anything could have happened to you! Was that you outside before? Who were you talking to? Are you going to tell me where you have been or do I…."

Ginny closed her eyes and put her hands over her ears. "GOOD LORD RON DARLING! Take a breath will you? It's none of your business where I have been or who I have been with. I'm sure you must have better things to do than wait up for me all night so please go and do them. I don't know who you think you are to lecture anyone about danger, you got into more dangerous situations in your first year here than most of us have in our whole lives. I can look after myself thank you very much. Goodnight."

She left her brother there gawping at her retreating form.

It had been a good evening.