Title: A Spot of Trouble
Name: rainpuddle13 (rainpuddle13 at gmail dot com)
Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/littleyellowduck/
Journal: http://rainpuddle13.livejournal.com/
Rating: Mature/R/Naughty
Characters/Ships:Draco/Ginny
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various
publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.
No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Notes:This story is not related to my Tangled Web story arc in any way, shape or form. I took
a little break from my normal fare (and apparently my senses) to write some total crackfic. Thanks to nokomis305 for
the beta and suggestions as always. This one is for you girl! Thanks to dragonsangel68 for even more suggestions, and
for actually liking it. Originally inspired by the song "Take the Money and Run" by the Steve Miller Band and
the hurricane season.
Summary: Bill discovers that his little sister is in a spot more trouble than he could have ever imagined.
A Spot of Trouble - Chapter 2
Would he do it again?
That was the question Draco kept asking himself as he took advantage of the unending supply of hot water the hotel shower had to offer. He tried to put it out of his mind as he finished up his shower, shaved, and dressed in a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt. He checked his appearance before exiting the spacious bathroom, quite pleased that he'd managed to not nick himself with the razor. Ginny would always giggle at his string of curses during his twice-weekly ritual then she'd help him staunch the blood flow. He was almost sure she used his razors to shave her legs.
The room was dark except for the eerie glow of the television that was tuned to some channel that offered weather information twenty-four hours a day. He could never understand why Muggles needed a minute-to-minute update on the weather. Of course, he really didn't care to understand Muggles; he just had to learn to live with them ever since the close call in Algiers with Ginny's prat brother and his little sidekicks. That was when they'd stopped using magic unless it was absolutely necessary. He was positive that was how the Weasel king had tracked them down. New wands, not registered with the British Ministry of Magic, were a top priority as soon as they had some spare funding.
He ran his fingers through his still wet hair, slicking it back, and muttering something about desperately needing a haircut under his breath. He took a few moments to watch the sleeping figure laying in the middle of the oversized bed wearing nothing but the fluffy blue bathrobe provided by the hotel. Her tangled red hair was spread over the crisp white sheets of the turned back bed, making for a very pretty picture that made him want to crawl in bed with her, and make everything all right for her.
Would he do it again, that niggling little voice asked in the back on the back of his mind. Yes, without a moment's hesitation. He'd do anything for her, anything to make her happy. Anything at all. Especially after the hell she'd been through in the past couple days; being ripped from the stable and comfortable life they'd settled into over the past year and all. It wasn't what he had envisioned for them when they'd fled England nearly three years go, but she seemed happy and that was all that mattered.
He loved her so much that if she'd asked him to commit murder he'd gladly lose his soul for her.
Draco contemplated the last few days as he pulled on his socks and shoes then wrote Ginny a quick note saying he went out to find them some dinner. Three days ago they were living in Key West; that was where they landed when the money he'd taken from the Malfoy family vault had finally given out.
Ginny hadn't once complained as they slowly pawned most of their possessions in order to have money to live on. He felt immensely embarrassed the first time they had to resort to selling a few items, but Ginny didn't even bat and eyelash. She'd actually haggled with the proprietor for a higher price for certain items; something, he was quite certain she'd learn after years of watching her mother do the very same thing. He had insisted she keep the slender platinum wedding ring he'd bought her in Corsica to make their hasty marriage official, and the silver and garnet bracelet purchased on a whim in a market in Algiers when the time came.
It had been his intention to settle down with Ginny in Corsica, where he still had a few family connections, to a nice, quiet little life where he'd spend the rest of his days making her happy. He owed her that much, because she was the only person in the world who was on his side, and believed in his innocence. His best laid plans were ruined by her meddlesome family not once, but twice. So he took the drastic measure of moving them across the pond to the States where it was much easier to get lost.
After they ran out of things to pawn, they settled on a warm tropical island that was the southern most tip of the United States, or at least that was what the marker said. Ginny had managed to secure a job in a small bar just off the beach in exchange for a two room flat and tips. He bounced around from job to job, until settling into a semi-permanent working arrangement with one of the more wealthy and reclusive couples on the island. It wasn't the life he was accustomed to living, but his wife seemed completely unfazed.
Then two days ago the whole world went to hell. A mandatory hurricane evacuation order came down, leaving them twelve hours to pack up and make arrangements to get off the island. They had $500 between them, most of their possessions fit into a large shopping bag, and they had no way off the island. Luckily that problem was solved when his 'employers' offered to fly them out on their private jet, and that was how they ended up in Atlanta. Now he almost wished he'd taken them up their offer to stay with them as well, but he never was one to take charity, because it wasn't something any self-respecting Malfoy would do. But if he'd learned anything in the last few years, it was that love made you do crazy things.
Which was exactly how they ended up in their present situation.
They'd spent the night in the cheapest motel he could find near the small county airport where the flight terminated. It was the kind of place that he would never have stepped foot in a previous life, let alone asked Ginny to stay. They'd spent a restless night, trying to catch some sleep on a bed that was harder than a brick, and where the cleanliness of the room was questionable at best. He knew they couldn't stay there one second longer after Gin was propositioned on her way to get a bucket of ice by a smarmy character looking for a blow job. He'd rob a bank before he'd allow his wife to sink to such depths.
And that is exactly what he'd done actually.
It wasn't like he'd started out the day intending to rob a bank. It was just one of those things that happened. Ginny hadn't felt well all morning. She'd picked at her breakfast, and then spending the morning walking around in the oppressive heat and humidity had left her nauseous and pale. To be honest, he wasn't exactly feeling all that well himself, thanks to all the stomach gnawing worry he'd been experiencing over the past few days.
Ginny had ducked into a store along Peachtree Street in an effort to find a little respite from the mid-day sun, while he scouted around the area for someplace more suitable for them to stay. They had made plans to meet back in front of the store in half an hour. Not ten minutes later, he was across the street asking a vendor about the area when Ginny hurried past him, her head down, with a smartly dressed woman right behind her yelling for the police. When he'd caught up to them in the foyer of a large bank half a block later, Ginny was in tears as someone in a uniform unceremoniously dumped all of their belongings on the floor and allowed the woman to rifle though them while everyone in the vicinity looked on with avid interest.
That was when the thought had occurred to him. Banks had plenty of money right? They wouldn't miss a little bit of money now would they? It was for a good cause. He was in and out before he even realized he'd done it. Everyone was so focused on what was happening in the foyer that no one noticed he'd vanished into thin air and reappeared, with his pockets slightly more heavy, a few seconds later.
He'd been remiss in taking care of his wife, but not anymore.
Draco collected his wife after the officer was finished with her report, sending Ginny on her way without so much as an apology, and he secured a room in the first hotel he found. She was so dazed by the day's events that she didn't ask any questions; she just allowed him to take her hand and followed silently as he made his way up to their room on the eighth floor. He ran a hot bath for her in the large whirlpool tub to occupy her while he counted the money he'd just stolen. The take - $5,000 - wasn't bad. It would be enough for them to live comfortably for a few weeks - hopefully long enough for them to get back to Key West. If it was still there that is, according to the Weather Channel.
"I was starting to get worried," Ginny said softly the moment he opened the door. She was curled up in one of the over stuffed chairs by the window, her feet tucked under her and the complimentary bathrobe still wrapped snuggly around her. At some point, while he was gone, she'd tried to do something with her hair.
"I left you a note. Didn't you see it?" he asked, setting a number of shopping bags down on the foot of the bed. "Do you feel any better? You still look a little pale."
She rose from the chair, tightening the belt of the robe as she crossed the room. "A little. I think I'm hungry though." She kissed him as he gathered her in his arms. "What's all that? Do I smell food?"
He rubbed noses with her. "Yes, I got you baked ziti and that, my love, are things we needed."
"Oh," was all she said as she rummaged through the bag of food, digging out a round aluminum take away container that held her dinner. She made herself comfortable in the chair once again, and dove into the ziti like she hadn't eaten in a week.
Draco went about showing her the things he'd purchased including a couple pieces of luggage, a variety of toiletries, and clothing for each of them. He saved one bag for last, though. "I bought you a present," he teased as she finished up her supper.
"You did?" She sat up straight, watching his every move intently. He couldn't remember the last time she'd seemed so perky about anything.
He nodded as he pulled a cream silk nightgown from the bag. It was long with spaghetti straps, a slit up one side to the hip, and delicate lace detail accenting the plunging neckline. "I did," Draco said with a naughty grin.
"Oh, Draco," she whispered, getting up to examine the garment more closely. She slowly ran her fingers along the lace edging. "It's so beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you." He kissed her tenderly. "That isn't all either."
"It's not?"
"Nope." He produced a matching robe and a pair of knickers so barely there he knew she'd find them absolutely scandalous. He didn't care, though, because he knew she'd wear them anyway just for him.
"You shouldn't have!" exclaimed Ginny, turning an alluring shade of pink.
"But I wanted to," he insisted, taking her in his arms again and dusting her cheeks with tender kisses.
"You have to take them back, we can't afford this," she said adamantly.
He knew she'd demand he return his gift, but he was determined she keep what he'd purchased for her. It wasn't often he got to spoil her any more, damn it. "Don't worry you about that right now."
"But I do." She tried to shove the nightgown and knickers back into the bag.
He snatched the bag away from her and threw in the rubbish bin. "Gin, you deserve something nice once in a while."
"A silk nightgown and knickers?" she queried, giving him a stern look.
"Well, I get to enjoy it too." With a smirk, he turned her about and gave her a firm pat on her bum. "Now go try it on like a good little witch."
It was all he could not to stare open mouthed at her when she reappeared from the loo a few minutes later. The silk of the gown skimmed her body, clinging enticingly to the lush curves of her body and showing a dangerous amount of cleavage. "Wow. You're beautiful."
She smiled then, the first genuine one he'd seen in days. "So you like it?"
"Like it? I love it. Now come here so I can brush your hair for you." She had somehow managed to lose her hairbrush somewhere between Florida and the hotel, and her fingers could only do so much with her unruly hair. So he'd bought her a new one while he was out on his little shopping spree. He had forgotten how good it felt to spend money frivolously. For just a moment, it'd felt like he was back in Diagon Alley without a care in the world.
Only this wasn't England, and he had more cares than he could handle. But he could pretend, just for the evening.
They settled on the bed, Ginny in front of him, between his legs as he gently brushed the tangles from her long hair, and occasionally lavishing her bare shoulders with kisses. He gave up on her hair after a while, focusing solely on enjoying the feel of her in his arms as his mouth slowly made its way from her shoulder to her neck.
"Draco?" she said dreamily after a while.
"Mmm," he purred in her ear before gently nipping the lobe.
"Where did you get the money?" she asked hesitantly. "I just have to know."
He stiffened slightly, even though he'd try to prepare himself all afternoon just such a question. "I sold a few things I'd held onto just in case we had an emergency," he responded smoothly, hoping she'd believe him and leave it be. While lying had been second nature to him while he was at Hogwarts, he really hated deceiving his wife after he'd sworn that he'd never lie to her.
She pulled his arms tightly around her as she leaned into his chest. "Good, I just wanted to make sure you didn't rob a bank or anything silly like that."
~*~