Draco's Return
Walking quickly down the sidewalk, he didn't pause to gaze in any of the shop windows he passed.
He didn't turn into any of the coffee shops like many of the other Londoners that morning; he didn't duck into one of the many underground tunnels like the group of men and women in front of him.
He carefully made his way around an icy patch at the entrance to Barclay's Bank and pulled open the door, waving a young woman through who smiled up at him in thanks.
Standing inside the foyer and slightly to the left, he unbuttoned his long, grey wool coat, removed it and threw it over his arm. Anyone who would walk past him would see him as a wealthy customer: Armani suit, Brunomagli shoes, subtle dark red tie, expensive leather briefcase in his right hand. Confidently he walked up to a teller and explained he had an appointment with the manager.
"Your name please?" the attractive blond asked him, smiling at him.
"Draco Malfoy."
"Please have a seat and I will let him know you are here. Can I get you anything?" She normally wouldn't ask this question to a customer, since she was a teller, but she could tell this young man had some money and wasn't one to be kept waiting.
"No, thank you. I'm fine. I'll just go wait for him," Draco turned towards the plush leather chairs and settled himself in one, resting his briefcase at his feet. His mother's project was about to get off the ground. He hope Bill Weasley's advice would come to fruition at the end of all this business.
"Mr. Malfoy."
Draco stood up at the sound of his name, bending down to pick up his briefcase.
"The manager will see you now. Follow me please."
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Two hours later he was back home, still dressed impeccably, sitting at what was his father's desk reading through the most recent bank statement. Sighing, he tossed them to the side and pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ebb the headache that was lingering in the corners of his thoughts.
Changing gears, he pulled a manila envelope towards him and slit it open with a letter opener. Carefully, he turned it upside down and out slid two pictures. Turning the pictures right side up, he placed them next to each other directly in front of him. He picked up the note written on a piece of parchment from Colin Creevy and quickly read down through the large loopy handwriting.
He had taken Muggle photos of everyone at the Ball and was sending the pictures to the men, who could make copies if they wanted with some hard to pronounce spell. Draco took out his wand and did just that, watching two other sets appear before him. Tucking his wand back inside his pocket he tossed the parchment into the trash and stared at the pictures.
The first one was of him and Ginny slow dancing, a profile shot of them standing so close, but looking at each other talking about something. In a rare moment of emotion, Draco felt himself grow warm remembering how she felt in his arms and how that dress looked on her. Clearing his throat…he shifted his eyes to the second picture. This was the one he picked up by the corner and looked at, hardly recognizing himself.
He was so engrossed in taking in the details of the picture he didn't hear his mother come up to the open door behind him. She was standing such that she could see the picture and for a moment she watched her son…until she walked in and up to him, seeing him drop the picture as he heard her.
"Is that Ginny?" she asked, reaching around him and picking it up while placing a hand on his shoulder. He nodded and pushed the other one to the side, then picked up the bank statement he had been looking at earlier.
"I remember your father saying something about the red hair, but he never mentioned how pretty she truly is," she said watching Draco for a reaction.
"Father never looked," he said coldly. Gently, Narcissa laid the pictures down on the envelope they came in and let her hand drop from his shoulder, not quite believing how her only son had grown the months that he was at school.
"That's true, he never did," she agreed with him reading the statement over his shoulders. "Did the bank give you any problems?"
Draco shook his head and handed it back over his shoulder to his mother, who read down through it.
"Everything looks fine; we might need to go Barclay's together in the next month or so," Draco said looking up at his mother. Silently she handed him the statement and their eyes met.
"I guess that means I get to see you while you are in school then…six months is a long time," she said carefully. Draco slid his gaze from hers, knowing now that his father was gone, she was lonely in this huge manor. She had her friends but he knew they had been Narcissa's and Lucius' friends, not just women she could talk to or take a trip with.
"Maybe it's time you take that trip to America you told me about over the summer. We can schedule the appointment anytime, even after your trip if you would like," Draco pushed the chair back and stood up, turning to a cabinet behind him and filing the statements away. Turning around he leaned against it, appraising his mother. He was now a good three inches taller than her, approaching his father's impressive height. He could tell she was a bit more relaxed during the past few months and was avidly taking an interest in the affairs his father left behind.
"That is actually a wonderful idea. I may have to look into that; the weather has to be better over there than here," she smiled at him and walked out of the room. Turning back to the desk he sat down, and at the same time heard the familiar sound of someone in the fireplace. He looked up and there was Ginny's brother, looking at him; only the top half of him was visible.
"Weasley, back so soon?" Draco ambled over and looked down at him.
"I just had a conversation beyond conversations with Hermione; I need to kick your arse in Chess," Ron said lightly and Draco rolled his eyes.
"I'd like to see you try, so therefore I'll be there in a few," Draco turned as Ron's head disappeared and walked back to the desk, grabbing the envelope that came with them morning mail. He figured Ginny would probably want to see the pictures of them at the Yule Ball. Not bothering to change out of the suit he had worn that morning to the bank, he decided to apparate over, not wanting to stumble out of an ashy fireplace.
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Ginny yawned and stretched luxuriously in her bed, happy that after two nights of nerves she had finally succumbed to sleep. Turning over she looked at her clock, almost noon. Her stomach let her know that she missed breakfast and she stood up, wondering why the house was so warm. Lately, her mother kept complaining that she was either to hot or too cold; Ginny guessed it was the latter before she left for work that morning. After tugging down her tank top and tying the drawstring on her pajama pants, she brushed her hair, stuck it back in a ponytail, brushed her teeth and headed downstairs.
The house was quiet, except for the sound of a fire in the den, off the living room. Walking over to the counter she grabbed an envelope with pictures on top of it and saw two pictures of Ron and Samantha from the Yule Ball; Colin did a good job with the Muggle pictures she thought. She heard Ron in the living room, hearing the familiar scrape of the chair pushing back from the chess table.
Turning around she said loudly, "Ron, I like your-," and never finished her thoughts as she looked up thinking it was Ron standing in the doorway between the kitchen and living room. "Malfoy!" He was standing in her kitchen…again…in a Muggle suit that she realized was the best thing he had ever worn…EVER…then wondered why.
"What are you doing here?" she reached next to her and set the pictures down, then crossed her arms over her white top, not believing she was standing here in a spaghetti strapped white top and grey stretch pajama pants while Draco was dressed like a model from a magazine not five steps away from her.
"Your brother challenged me to another game of chess and I accepted," he looked at her looking at him. Blushing she looked down at her bare feet.
"I guess I should go make myself more presentable," she said softly, realizing how much skin she was showing and realizing how naked she felt with out a bra on. She walked over to the stairs but heard Draco call her. She had reached the second step and turned around. He came to a stop in front of her and for the first time their faces were level. He reached into his jacket and handed her an envelope.
She recognized it looking like Ron's on the counter so she opened it, taking out two pictures. She handed the envelope back to him and looked at the pictures one in each hand. Her heart thumped wildly as she saw them on the dance floor, his arms around her waist, hers on his shoulders with them looking at each other. It was a profile picture and quite a clear one at that. Draco had an almost gentle look on his face as he looked down at her concentrating on something she was saying. She carefully laid it under the second picture.
She smiled to herself at this one, seeing them so happy at the moment. It was a close up and she remembered when it was taken, exactly. It was at the end of the night, after two glasses of champagne each, they were both smiling at the camera, the sides of their foreheads touching, his icy blue eyes and her hazel ones smiling along with them at the camera. You could see just the top of their dress clothes and Ginny stared at the picture, her heart captured by Draco's smile and her smile right next to his.
"Those are your copies," he said startling her as she realized the REAL thing was right in front of her.
"Thanks," she cleared her throat trying to calm her shaky voice. "Colin did a good job. I actually like the Muggle way he developed them," Ginny ran a hand thru her hair trying to smooth back the pieces she knew had escaped her ponytail, then crossed her arms, holding onto the pictures.
"For an annoying kid, he did do a pretty good job," Draco handed her the envelope and she put them safely back inside, closed it and then looked at him.
"Why are you wearing that suit?" Ginny asked curiously, tugging down her top.
"I had a meeting at a bank; have to dress the part you know," Draco answered her and she nodded, not pressing him for more information. She let her eyes run over the dark blue pinstriped suit that fit him oh so very well and she thought that if she didn't grip the hand rail she might go down from the weak feeling in her knees.
"How long have you been here?" Ginny asked curiously, feeling very odd that she was asleep while he was here in her home.
"Since 10:30 or so playing Chess," he reached out and stilled her hand that was playing with the waistband of her pants.
"Stop fidgeting," his voice softened a bit and she removed her hand from his and crossed her arms. His hand rested on her waist and she felt his fingers on her bare skin, a place he had never touched before and that single touch produced a mind-blowing electrical feeling.
It coursed through her as his fingers touched the bare skin right above the band of her pants. From the look on his face he felt something too. As she backed up a step, he dropped his hand.
"I-I'm going…to change," and with that she turned and ran up the stairs, leaving Draco staring at her from behind, momentarily stunned at the incredible feeling that flowed from her into his fingers. He turned to walk back to the living room still trying to wrap his mind around what just happened.
Ginny being upstairs trying to change, never saw the moment between her brother and Draco.
"Ready?" Ron came bounding in from the den and sat down, seeing Draco nod. Ron quickly moved his Knight and after a moment Draco, not even seeing that he could easily take it with his Castle, moved one of his pawns which did nothing except enable Ron to keep his Knight.
Ron looked up at him and saw Draco's head turned glancing at the doorway. When he turned back around he met Ron's look. (Before Ron had looked up from Draco's move he wondered what Draco was thinking, making a silly move like that?) Now as they looked at each other evenly for a moment, Ron knew.
He had about three seconds to think of something to say before that "uncomfortable gaze feeling" would kick in.
"Malfoy, you got it bad."
And for the briefest second, Ron could have sworn on Merlin, Buddah, and all the other God's that people believed in, that Draco gave a single nod transforming what had been a wall made of the strongest stone, between them, into a door that could be opened a bit more easily all because of Ginny.
Draco's visit was much shorter this time; leaving after finishing a third match, also ending in a draw. He had said a quick goodbye to Ginny, both still confused as to what had happened on the stairs…she did get a quick hug and feeling that suit under her hands, she thought maybe robes were way overrated.
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The next day dawned bright and clear; the perfect day for Ginny to meet Draco and his mother at Diagon Alley. She had talked with her parents about going and they didn't have a problem with it. They also got to see the pictures of their son and daughter at the dance.
Ron had gone upstairs and was getting ready to mail Samantha her copies while her parents looked at Ginny and Draco's picture. Strangely in Ginny's eyes, her parents had seemed to get choked up over them, especially the close up of her and Draco. Her mother said that she looked very happy and Ginny said she was, but she was also taking things slow, knowing she had a whole other year to get through at school. Her father didn't say anything and Ginny wasn't sure if that was a good sign or bad sign. Hermione had been over earlier, sharing her pictures, and said it was probably a bit of empty nest that he knew was coming and the fact that his daughter looked happy with Draco, whom was almost unrecognizable in the picture with the true smile that he shared with Ginny.
Nervously, Ginny cleaned herself off from the floo from Flourish & Blotts, mentally cursing her late August birthday for delaying her ability to apparate legally. She hurried down the street, occasionally waving at a few students in her class buying supplies, as she made her way towards Olivander's.
Hermione, being the good friend she was showed up for a few minutes before she left giving her moral support. Ron had spent the night at Grimmauld Place avoiding Ginny and her pacing throughout the house; but no one seemed to understand that Ginny wasn't nervous, she was petrified of meeting Narcissa Malfoy.
As she made her way through the crowd of people she saw him watching her approach the store when, suddenly, her view of him was obstructed by a familiar face.
"Ginny! What brings you here?" Lavender Brown came up to her and gave her a quick hug. "I needed some quills for school and a new wand. My little sister broke mine."
"How are you Lavender?" Ginny asked quickly.
"Doing well. Is your brother with you?" she glanced around.
"No. He's visiting Harry and Hermione. It was nice talking to…," Ginny made a move to go around her.
"You're here by yourself? What are you doing?" Lavender looked at her skeptically, knowing that usually someone was with her.
"She's having lunch," a voice said behind Lavender who jumped and spun around, eyes widening.
He walked around Lavender and stood next to Ginny.
"You are having lunch? With her?" Lavender pointed to Ginny, who didn't really like being patronized. She narrowed her eyes a bit.
"Yes, Lavender. We're having lunch…if you'll excuse us?" Ginny smiled at her and she moved aside, gawking at this unlikely pair walking next to each other into Fortesques, which was across the street.
Draco stopped as they walked inside and they took of their cloaks, hanging them up by the door.
"I think I would rather have run into a photographer than her today," Ginny said taking a deep breath, and Draco smiled at her.
"It'll give her something to think about," he rested his hand on the small of her back and directed her through the tables towards the back.
"We're over here." Draco turned a corner and Ginny immediately picked out Mrs. Malfoy, who stood when she saw them coming. Ginny clasped her hands in front of her to stop them from shaking.
"Hello, Ginny," Mrs. Malfoy said and Ginny shook her hand, saying Hello and hoping that her hands weren't too sweaty or shaky.
"Thank you for asking me to lunch, Mrs. Malfoy," Ginny sat down as Draco held out her chair and he sat next to her, facing his mother.
"There's no need to thank me. I really wanted to meet the young lady my son is spending time with." She gave Ginny a small smile and looked as if she was about to say more, when a waiter appeared with three menus, told them the specials then retreated back into the shadows. Ginny had no idea what to order, she didn't think she would be able to eat with the flying bats that had taken residence in her stomach. (Butterflies had long flown away).
After a few moments of silence, Draco asked her what she was getting to eat and Ginny quietly answered a salad and half a sandwich (and she was going to be lucky to finish that).
"How about you Draco?" Mrs. Malfoy folded the menu and placed it in front of her, looking across the table with the same blue eyes.
"Steak and kidney pie," Draco set his menu down, leaned back and laid his arm across the back of Ginny's chair.
"It must be nice to eat whatever you want," she retorted and then looked at Ginny. "He has always been able to eat and eat, never gaining weight."
"That sounds like my brother. I must have missed that gene," Ginny responded softly, still in slight awe of this tall, thin woman across from her who resembled her son, down to the blond hair which fell past her shoulders.
Mrs. Malfoy gave a small laugh. "How many brothers do you have? Six I believe?" her eyes met Ginny's who tried very hard to keep her gaze steady.
"That's right…all of them older than I am; there's only two of us left at home now."
Ginny sat back feeling Draco's arm behind her as the waiter appeared to take their order. Ginny had never been here for meals just the occasional ice cream and was still trying to get used to the dining room that had been added on to the place. It was full, so that must be a good sign. The three quickly place their order and Ginny could sense Mrs. Malfoy wanted to ask more questions, but sensed that she was a very reserved, almost regal like, woman, so they were going to come slowly.
"Does your brother know what he wants to do when he finishes Hogwarts?"
"I'm not sure. He has mentioned a few things he would like to do…personally I think being a taste tester in a kitchen would suit him just fine."
Ginny smiled as Draco and his mother laughed out loud at that comment, which made Ginny feel a bit more relaxed than she had been.
"How about you? I know you have another year left but do you have any thoughts on what you would like to do?" Mrs. Malfoy crossed her hands in her lap.
Draco turned and looked at her, now knowing the answer himself and with his direct stare she could feel a slight blush rise to her cheeks. Taking a quick drink of her water she answered quickly.
"A healer, maybe concentrating on children if I can."
"Really?" Draco asked from next to her and for the first time since she sat down she turned her head and met his gaze.
"Really." She said firmly, then felt empowered to ask, "How about you? What do you want to do?" with this question, she could see Mrs. Malfoy's head swing from her to her son. 'Probably wondering why I didn't know that by now' was the thought that entered Ginny's head as she held Draco's gaze.
"Well, I am still working on that actually. My plans…they've changed," he said, then turned as the waiter appeared with their order. He removed his arm from behind her, his fingers trailing along her upper back for a second so Ginny wasn't sure if it was accidental or on purpose.
The next few moments were silent as they ate, Ginny managing to get part of her appetite back.
"What makes you want to be a healer?" Mrs. Malfoy asked as she took a break and drank from her glass of wine. Ginny finished chewing her salad and wiped her mouth.
"Actually, my sister in law will be having twins in a few months and following her health, hearing everything associated with the babies really interest me. My friend is going to be one after she finishes Hogwarts this summer, so I will be able to get first hand information as to whether it really is for me or not."
"Who is your sister in law?"
"Her name is Katharine Warren. She graduated a year before Charlie, who is my second oldest brother and her husband."
"I'm familiar with that name. I believe they are one of the few pure bloods."
Ginny raised her eyebrows in surprise, "I didn't know that. I never thought to ask."
Mrs. Malfoy nodded, "As is your family." Ginny just nodded at that, knowing that it was common knowledge she and her brothers were pure bloods.
"How did you do on your OWLS? You mentioned you would be in advanced Potions," Draco asked, finishing off his pie.
"I managed eight OWLS, so I have a busy year next year with that and Quidditch."
"Eight?" Draco's eyebrows shot up.
"Quidditch?" Mrs. Malfoy asked surprised. Ginny nodded.
"What position do you play on the team?"
"Chaser, sometimes Seeker if Harry decides I need to."
"Well," Mrs.Malfoy sat back. "Wouldn't that be interesting if you were both Seekers in a game."
Ginny lowered her eyes and swore she saw Draco do the same.
"Most likely that will never happen, mum," Draco muttered and Ginny thought it was interesting to hear the words "mum" come out his mouth.
"Did Draco tell you about the letter he got this morning?" Mrs. Malfoy finished her lunch and nudged her plate to the side.
"I haven't had a chance to," Draco interjected as Ginny shook her head.
His mother looked at him waiting …and Draco set down his fork and turned to Ginny.
"Dumbledore sent me a letter saying that Longbottom has stepped down from being Head Boy due to his grandmother being ill, so he offered it to me."
"Good for you, but not so good for Neville I suppose," Ginny smiled at him, wondering if Hermione heard anything about it.
"He said he sent out a letter to…Hermione…telling her also."
Ginny grabbed the edge of her chair to keep herself steady. She just heard "Hermione" come out of Draco's mouth, hesitantly as though he knew his mother would have disapproved of using her last name or the slur he had used for many years. 'Wait until she hears this; she won't believe it!' Ginny thought excitedly.
"Well, now you won't have to share a room with anyone anymore. Hermione says it's nice…being able to come and go as you please," Ginny offered, moving her eyes from Draco's to Narcissa Malfoy's gaze.
"Is Hermione one of your friends? As well as Harry?"
"Hermione is probably my best friend; her parents are Muggles though. Harry you know, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood who is in Ravenclaw and a few other people that I have had class with since my first year I'm also friends with," she answered, pushing her plate over, finished with her sandwich. A waiter appeared to apparate in front of them and took their plates, asking if they would like any ice cream.
"Why not?" Mrs. Malfoy smiled and ordered a dish of orange pineapple ice-cream and waited for the other two to order. Ginny decided to try Peppermint Stick and Draco ordered Pistachio, a flavor she had never tried and never thought of Draco ordering…then again, she never thought she would be sitting here eating ice cream with him and his mother.
Draco moved his arm and put it on the back of her chair again and this time Ginny felt his fingers against her shoulder; at that moment she saw a bright flash and blinked rapidly, in between white spots dancing in front of her eyes, she saw Mrs. Malfoy stand up, walk over to the person with the camera and say something to him, rather angrily from the way her finger was pointing at him.
"Sorry," Draco gave her a small smile and Ginny shrugged and smiled back.
"You warned me. Now I see what you and Harry go through and don't envy you one bit."
She felt his hand move to her shoulder and he let it rest there.
"I'm used to it, but my mother hates it as you can see," he turned his head and watched his mother come walking back towards them, her eyes flashing with anger…something Ginny had seen in Draco's eyes many times over the past six years.
"Anyway, what were we saying before we were so rudely interrupted?" her voice was tight and Ginny took a sip of her water, not sure how to answer that question.
"We were ordering ice cream. So, mum, tell Ginny about the trip you are taking next week."
Draco steered his mother into a different direction and Ginny saw a smile come across Mrs. Malfoy's face as she reached out and touched her son's hand.
"I am going to America for a month. I have never been there and always wanted to see it, ever since I was a small child."
"America? I'm sure you will have a great time. Where do you want to go?" Ginny asked.
"New York is where I will fly into. Then I would like to go to Washington, DC, Florida; I have a friend I attended Hogwarts with that lives in Texas so I will pay her a visit, then to a few states on the West Coast. I was told there is a Witch and Wizard School in California I may try to find. I'm interested in how their education compares to ours." For the next few minutes as their ice cream was placed in front of them, they discussed her trip and the sites she would like to see.
Ginny took a bite of her ice cream and looked at Draco's, who caught her eyeing his.
"Your aren't going to pull a Weasley and steal this out from under my nose are you?" Draco actually joked, covering his ice cream with his two hands. Ginny giggled, forgetting for a moment that his mother was sitting right there.
"No, I would never do that. I just have never tried Pistachio…the name doesn't sound appetizing to me."
She eyed his ice cream warily. He scooped a small bit onto his spoon and held it in her direction.
"Try it."
Hesitating for a moment, a million thoughts running through her head ranging from sharing something with him to how she should try to take the ice cream OFF without looking silly, she reached for his spoon. He had a firm grip on it, so she wrapped her hand around his, feeling his Slytherin ring in the palm of her hand she bent down and took the ice cream off his spoon, releasing his hand as she did so.
"It's good!" she said. "Really good."
She laughed as Draco held his hands over his bowl again and she returned to hers, not noticing the amused glance from his mother across the table.
Their lunch wound down after their ice cream, the bill was paid by Draco who gave Ginny a look when she put her hand in her pocket and the three of them walked up where the cloaks were, Draco helping his mother with hers as Ginny quickly shrugged hers on and buttoned it up.
"Draco, you make sure she gets home safely. I have to attend to some business at the hospital," Mrs. Malfoy said as they walked outside into the winter air.
"I have to get a few things before I head home anyway," Ginny said, pulling her gloves on.
"As does my son, so he can still see you safely home," Mrs. Malfoy pulled up the hood of her expensive looking black velvet cloak. "It was very nice meeting you, Ginny," she said and held out her hand, which Ginny shook firmly.
"Thank you, you too. Again, thanks for lunch and the ice cream," Ginny pulled her hand back and let it fall to her side. Draco gave his mother a kiss on the cheek and said he would see her later, and with a smooth sounding POP she was gone. Ginny stared at the spot for a minute, then turned in the direction of Flourish and Blotts.
"Your mother is very nice; I see a lot of you in her," Ginny said as they walked side by side across the street.
"I told you she doesn't bite," he said lightly, holding the door for her as she stepped into the warm interior and headed for the Quills. Quickly, she found a few Quills that she liked to use and some parchment and met Draco up at the counter…insisting that she pay for her things when he tried too.
A few minutes later, they were back outside and Ginny wasn't sure what to do next. Glancing at the clock in the window she saw she had been in Diagon Ally for an hour and a half.
"Do you need to get home right away?" Draco asked, swinging his bag lightly at his side.
"Ummm…no, I just need to be home for dinner and to pack."
Ginny shivered as a cold blast of air hit her face as a breeze fluttered down the street. Draco took her arm and steered her down the sidewalk.
"Come on, I have to go pick out a birthday gift for my mother then we can go somewhere, the bookstore or something."
Ginny had no choice but to walk beside him as he steered her towards a jeweler's on the corner of Diagon and Knockturn Alley and guided her into the store.
"Your mother likes jewelry?" Ginny glanced in a case next to her and gasped as she saw a 13,000 Galleon diamond necklace.
"Very much; something my father bestowed upon her," Draco said absentmindedly, walking to a case and stopping by a case full of brooches.
Ginny gently shrugged her arm out of his grasp and stared at a case full of rings: engagement, wedding, simple ones with stones, gaudy ones with every color stone under the rainbow. She had never been in here, not owning any expensive jewelry and was astounded at how much a simple ring with a red stone cost…120 galleons.
She could hear Draco talking to the wizard behind the counter about a pin he liked and Ginny, not wanting to be rude and see the price or overhear it, moved down the aisle of cases staring at the rings. She always admired Hermione's sapphire ring and her engagement ring.
Seeing a ring similar to Hermione's but with out the Crescent Moon shapes she bent over and looked at the price, startled to see a five figure price attached to the engagement ring. 'Harry must have more money than I thought', Ginny said to herself, briefly wondering how Ron was going to pay for a ring if he got one sooner rather than later for Samantha. He had mentioned it more than once and Ginny told him to go for it.
Moving to the end of the case was a row of sterling silver rings with simple settings of stones embedded in it…she let her eyes wander around that section of the case until she heard Draco come up next to her.
"Ready?" she looked up at him and saw he was looking into the case.
"When is your birthday?" he asked and Ginny blinked.
"Why?" she blurted out before thinking. He glanced up at her.
"I was going to show you your birthstone."
"Oh, August then," she mumbled and he pointed to a gorgeous green stone.
"Peridot, right there," she followed his finger and looked at the stone, amazed that anything that green could come out of the earth. There were different hues in the stone that had been polished very smoothly.
"How about you?" she asked.
"I'm June, Alexandrite," he pointed to a stone that looked blue until she leaned in and it changed colors to green and she swore she saw red in there.
"It changes colors," she said half to herself, moving her head entranced by the way the light danced off of it.
Her favorite color was green.
Draco seemed to have many sides she didn't know, like a chameleon, who changes colors.
Like his birthstone, Alexandrite.
'This is getting very strange,' Ginny thought to herself stepping back from the counter. Draco was looking at her strangely, almost as if he could sense her thoughts. Ginny ducked her head and started walking outside, forcing him to follow her.
Ginny walked out, holding the door for Draco and turning around, she bumped into someone. It didn't take long for Ginny to realize she walked right into Pansy Parkinson. Draco bumped into Ginny as she stopped suddenly and the three of them stared at each other silently.
Ginny figured that maybe she should practice manners first and just as she was about to say "hello" when Pansy glanced from Ginny to Draco to the bag in his hand.
"Showering Weasley with gifts already are you? None that she could afford herself," Pansy sniffed and Ginny shut her mouth, rethought her opening statement as her hand gripped around her wand in her pocket and took a few steps away from the entrance, coldly meeting Pansy's dark gaze.
"Actually, he was buying his MOTHER a gift," Ginny said coldly before Draco could even form a reply in his head.
"So he says," Pansy said shortly glowering at Ginny. "What are YOU doing here? Hanging out looking at things you can't afford?"
Ginny heard Draco start to say something and she interrupted him.
"Actually, having lunch…with his MOTHER and jewelry isn't something I NEED," Ginny nodded pointedly to the diamond studs in Pansy's ears peeking out from under her Slytherin green hat. "So, therefore it doesn't bother me that I can't afford it," Ginny's voice lowered to something that her brothers would have recognized as time to back off, but Pansy insisted on trying to push her buttons.
"Must be serious if he is introducing you to his mother. Should I expect to see an engagement announcement soon?" Pansy looked up at Draco, "I mean, she technically IS a pureblood so she will keep your bloodlines going."
Draco must have anticipated Ginny's movement because he reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Pansy, maybe you should leave now. Ginny has a wand and she knows how to use it, as do I," Draco's voice was low and strangely even.
"It's "GINNY" now?" Pansy smirked, tugging her hat down a bit.
"You two have fun; well not too much because Draco won't go THERE," and with that Pansy turned and stomped rather than walked down the street.
Ginny blew out a deep breath she didn't realize she had been holding. 'THERE'? What did that mean?' Ginny thought.
"Are you ok?" Draco turned her towards him.
"She-," he began but Ginny interrupted again.
"I'm fine. She just tries to get a rise out of me from time to time; I'm used to it."
"Still, she is angry with everything that happened, or didn't happen between us and never has been very good at keeping her emotions under control."
"It's fine, really. I'm used to standing up for myself; she doesn't scare me," Ginny said firmly and Draco looked at her for a moment, then nodded…jumping a bit as flashbulbs went off to their right. Ginny spun around and saw someone running away with a camera.
"No privacy for you when you go out is there?" Ginny asked, staring at the person turning the corner down to Knockturn Alley.
"Are you ready to go yet?" Draco asked, still holding her arm, not as tight this time.
"No, actually." She turned around and faced him. "Let's go down to the bookstore."
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Ginny lay in bed, well after midnight, all packed; sketch pad on the top of her robes in the trunk. She was ready to head off to Hogwarts with her brother and friends in under ten hours.
Stretched out on her bed, hands clasped under her head she stared at the shadows on the ceiling, recounting her lunch with the Malfoy's and the two hours she spent wandering around with him. After the two photographers and encountering Pansy and Lavendar, their time together went smoothly. They had perused the bookstore, looked at some animals out in crates on the sidewalk, and then Ginny realized she should probably head home…knowing that Ron would probably need help packing too since his things were strewn over two different houses.
Despite her insistence she could floo home fine, he insisted on Side Along Apparition. Slightly intrigued, she allowed him to put his arm around her and after that squeezed until-your-eyes-pop-out feeling, she was at her front door.
"I'll see you tomorrow, and congratulations on being Head Boy," Ginny reached up and kissed his cheek, his arm going around her waist and holding her for a moment, then letting her go.
"Thanks. I'll see you on The Express tomorrow."
"Maybe, but being Head Boy and a Slytherin usually means you'll be busy," Ginny had no idea what had made her say that…maybe wondering how things were going to be back at school, knowing that Lavendar was sure to have passed the word through the Hogwarts Owlvine about them eating lunch together.
She saw a flicker of something… annoyance?... in the way he set his mouth when she said that.
"I don't say things I don't mean," he said almost coldly and she was surprised at this turn in his personality.
"I didn't mean…I'm sorry," she stumbled over her words, "I just saw how busy Hermione and Neville were in September on the way there," Ginny reached for the door handle. Draco leaned down and pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth, letting his lips linger for a moment, causing those now familiar stomach flips for Ginny.
"I will see you," he said firmly and silently he apparated.
Ginny rolled over onto her side briefly wondering what the hell was going on between them. They had both acknowledged some strong feelings, but no labels had been applied to them yet.
A few minutes later she rolled onto her stomach, punching the pillow. She thought about Hermione and Harry wondering how their talk with her parents, about the miscarriage, went. She heard Ron apparate into his room at that moment but was too tired to go ask. Finally, she fell into a fitful sleep, tossing and turning the whole night.