The Devil's Bed

Waterlilly

Rating: PG13
Genres: Romance, Humor
Relationships: Draco & Ginny
Book: Draco & Ginny, Books 1 - 4
Published: 29/12/2006
Last Updated: 19/10/2007
Status: in_progress

Draco gets involved with a stranger and has to meet her. It turns out to be none other than Ginevra Weasley, but he can't let go. MIGHT boarderline R rating in later chapters.

Chapters

1. 1. Hope

2. Surprises

3. Emerald Enterprises

4. 4. Little Arguments

5. 5. Trust

6. Macaroni and Cheesecake

7. 7. After the Book Store

8. 8. Nothing is Something

9. 9. Tests

10. 10. Stupid Men

11. 11. Ready

12. 12. What Luck

1. 1. Hope

A/N: Ok, a new story! Let me know if I need to continue it or trash it. No obvious plot yet, but it will get there!

Chapter 1

Ginny was sitting in front of her fireplace staring blankly into her mother's face.

“But dear, are you sure you're okay? I mean, if you don't like living on your own, you can always come home. Or even if you just want to come over for dinner or-”

“Mom, I've told you a thousand times, I'm fine. There is no need to worry. I'm great. My refrigerator is stocked full of food.”

Her mother began to open her mouth, but Ginny cut her off, “And the cabinets too,” her mother snapped her mouth shut, trying to think of another excuse to get her daughter home.

“Well you really need to start hanging out with some different people, I mean look at-”

“Mother, let's not start on that again. My friends are still going to be my friends, I'm still going to hang out with them, and my hair is going to stay blonde!”

“But honey, it's not even blonde, it looks dirty, like you haven't washed it in a while. It just doesn't look that good on you.”

“Mom, it's supposed to be this color. It's blonde with light brown mixed in, and everyone thinks it looks great! You're the only one who doesn't like it.”

“Your father doesn't like it.”

“That's because you tell him not to.”

Her mother huffed into her upper lip, “Well, I guess I'll let you start your dinner.”

“Okay, mom. Love you.”

“Love you,” and her mother's head reluctantly disappeared from her daughter's fireplace.

Ginny stood up in relief and walked into her little kitchen. She opened her refrigerator and saw a carton of old milk, half a grapefruit, and a bottle of chocolate syrup. She opened her cabinet and caught a mouse eating her only box of crackers.

She yelped and slammed the door shut. “Okay,” she said to herself, “the bar it is.”

She grabbed her cloak and went out the door.

She apparated down the street from Neville's bar. She walked until she could see the neon red doors of `Nev's Bevs.'

She wrenched open the door and recoiled slightly at the loud music. She made her way through the crowded dance floor and up to the bar where Neville always served as bartender.

“Hey, Nev. What's up?”

“Another mouse?”

“And an empty refrigerator,” Ginny sighed.

“I also have the feeling that your mother flooed you,” Neville asked while filling another man's glass with Firewhiskey.

Ginny rolled her eyes, “Of course. But she's right about one thing. I definitely need to get a better job than being a writer for Daily Spell. I want a desk job. I want to work at the Ministry, but it'll be hard since I didn't go straight there.” Ginny sighed.

Neville snuck a glance at Ginny while filling yet another glass for the same man, “You'll get there. Start applying now. What could happen?”

Ginny shrugged her shoulders, “I guess you're right. I'm going to take a potty brake.”

“You couldn't go before you got here? You know how nasty the bathrooms get on a Friday.”

Ginny looked a little embarrassed, “My landlord shut my water off.”

“Gin, do you need to borrow money,” Neville asked in a worried tone.

“No, no. I'm fine. As soon as I write my article, I'll have a few more galleons,” she hopped off the stool and headed toward the bathroom.

She forced her way through the crowd of people grinding on the dance floor, and went into the little hallway. The hallway ended in a corner that turned to the right, and some stupid git had blew the light out in the hallway, so it was pitch black as soon as she'd stepped around the corner.

She felt hands grab her and spin her against the wall. Her hands were held above her head and a leg was pressed between hers.

She started to scream, but a hand gently covered her mouth. “Shh, it's just me,” a seductive voice whispered in her ear, and then she felt lips press hot open-mouthed kisses on her neck.

Her stomach clenched up at the sensations, but her mind kept screaming at her. He moved his hand from her mouth to her hip and she took the advantage.

“Get off of me,” she said loudly, but not screaming. The man immediately stopped kissing her and she could feel his eyes searching her face, trying to see it in the dark.

“Lumos,” he whispered and a tiny light shone through his robe, not bright enough to be seen around the corner.

Her eyes widened as they met silver eyes that were clouded over in lust. She couldn't see the rest of his face, but she would always remember those eyes.

“Shit,” he whispered, “I thought you were someone else.”

He released her hands and pushed himself off of her.

Ginny breathed a sigh of relief and stood there uncomfortably.

He was staring at her with out an emotion etched on his face. Finally he said, “If you're waiting for an apology, you're wasting your time.”

“I didn't expect one. I know better than to expect anything respectful or ethical to come out of you,” Ginny snapped at him.

“You don't even know me,” he said in a superior tone.

“I know enough about you Mr. Slytherin Ice Prince or Slytherin Sex God, whichever title you chose for yourself back in our school days.”

“Our school days,” he questioned in that condescending tone he always used.

And then it dawned on Ginny why he wasn't throwing up by now. He didn't recognize her with her different hair color and in this dark hallway. Now, in broad daylight, he might've recognized her face.

“And for your information, I was The Slytherin Sex God. And I wasn't the one who came up with it. The girls did because. . . well because I am a sex god.”

She had a sudden thought and spoke on impulse, “I know why we called you that.”

“We? What do you mean by `we',” he said trying not to looked shocked.

She just winked at him and started toward the bathroom.

“Hey, wait just a minute,” he said grabbing her arm, “You didn't go to school with me, and I never had sex with you because. . .” he looked her up and down, “I'd remember you.”

“And what is that supposed mean,” Ginny asked indignantly.

“Well, look at you, and that scent of vanilla would never leave my mind.”

“Quit trying to drop pickup lines. It's not going to work.”

He shrugged, “Fine, it's your choice. I just thought you might like to see the Sex God work his magic.”

“I told you I've already witnessed first hand your `magic,'” Ginny said holding up her hand to emphasize the word `magic' in quotation marks.

“You're lying. I've already told you that I would have remembered your body.”

“But not my face?”

He shrugged again, “I'm usually not interested in faces. How can I concentrate on a girl's face if I'm working my magic with my tongue somewhere further south?”

Ginny couldn't help the feeling that had begun to bubble in her abdomen.

She shrugged defiantly, determined not to show him that he was almost having an effect on her, “Think what you want,” and she turned again to go to the bathroom.

His grip on her arm tightened just a little, not threatening, but holding her back all the same.

“Well, what's your name?”

“I thought it didn't matter,” she said raising her eyebrow in surprise.

“It does now.” He said in that tone that she had learned to hate.

She looked at him for a moment and then replied, “Hope,” before turning and walking into the bathroom.

“Hope what,” he asked quickly, but she had already shut the door and he heard a faint popping sound, signaling that she had apparated.

He turned and went back into the crowded dance floor. Before he could make it all the way across, a random girl started rubbing herself all over him. He danced with her for a few moments before prying himself away from her. He hated it when women threw themselves at him.

He liked to be the pursuer. He was used to having girls fawn over him, but he was picky when it came to women. Granted, he had had many of them in his school days and even more since he graduated two years ago.

Now he had a new object to pursue, Hope. That was all that she had given him, and all he needed.

What made him so earnest to find her was that she hadn't seemed interested in him at all, claimed she knew him, lied about sleeping with him, and he caught a sense that she didn't like him one bit. Now that's something to go after.

He walked up to the bar and Neville just looked at him blankly.

“Do you know a girl named Hope?”

Neville gave him a puzzled look and just shook his head. Draco just nodded, threw ten galleons on the counter for his tab, and left.

He apparated to Malfoy Manor and decided that he would begin his search for Hope in the morning.

~*~

Ginny apparated into her bedroom from the bar and rushed to restroom because her bladder was about explode.

She paused in front of the toilet, realizing she had no water. She sighed and apparated back into the hallway of the bar.

She looked around quickly to make sure he had gone, then went to pee.

When she came out, she was going to talk to Neville, but paused just inside the darkness.

There was Draco, with a girl attached to his crotch. She was shocked to see that he was trying to disengage himself from her grasp. After about ten minutes, he finally succeeded and proceeded to the bar.

She made out the words `Hope' and sucked in a breath. He was going to look for her.

He threw some money on the counter and stalked out. She waited a few moments before she went back up to the bar.

“Why is Malfoy asking if I know a girl named Hope,” Neville asked suspiciously.

“He attacked me in the hall.”

“He ATTACKED you,” Neville said slamming the bottle of butterbeer he was holding.

“Chill! He thought I was someone else.”

“Oh, well that helps. He still attacked you.”

“He didn't hit me.”

Ginny saw a puzzled look come across his face, “So, if he didn't hit you. . . then how did he attack you?”

“He threw me against the wall.”

“He threw you against the wall?”

“And kissed me.”

“He - what?!”

“But he didn't know it was me.”

“How could he not?”

“It was dark, and then he didn't recognize me because of the hair, I think.”

“So you told him your name was Hope?”

Ginny just tightened her lips and nodded.

“So now what are you going to do?”

“Um. . . turn my hair back?”

“Why? You like your hair, and the fact that it makes your mom angry.”

“I think he might try to find me.”

“And why would he try to find you?”

“Because I made it seem like we had sex while we were at school, and he says he knows we didn't because he would've . . .”

“Would've. . .”

Ginny rolled her eyes and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, “He would've remembered my. . .” she looked up at Neville nervously, then back down at her hands, “My body.”

Neville's eyebrows shot up, “Well. Um. . . I think a Malfoy just accidentally gave a Weasley a compliment.”

Ginny couldn't help the tiny smile that came across her face.

A/N: Sorry if you think it's a little short! Please leave a review!

-->

2. Surprises

A/N: Sorry this took me a while to upload- life is just plain CRAZY! Anyway, definite thanks to my best friend, Cayla, who gives me great ideas and pushes me to upload as often as possible. So... you guys should thank her too!

Please review, since it really does speed along new chapters! Thanks.

Oh, and I'm really sorry- it's REALLY lengthy. I already chopped it in half and I don't think I can chop it anymore!

Chapter 2

“Ginny. Ginny. Ginny!”

Ginny sat up straight in her bed, I thought I moved out, She thought groggily.

“Ginny, do you hear me? Are you even there? You better be here and not out partying and Merlin knows what else!”

“Mom, chill,” Ginny said as she sleepily walked into her living room, “Why are you yelling at me to get up?”

“Well dear, it's already ten. Anyway, Fred is at St. Mungo's. He fell off his broom during practice.”

“Practice,” Ginny said with a smirk on her face.

“That's what I said, he couldn't even wait until an actual game. Anyway, just come on down and see him okay?”

“Okay, just give me half an hour and I'll be there.”

“Half an hour,” her mom asked.

“I'd like to get a shower, mom. Is that okay?”

“No, a shower can wait. Just head on over here.”

“Um, no. I'm taking a shower.”

“Ginevra Molly Weasley! I told you to get over here now!”

By the time she had got her sentence out, Ginny was already into her hallway, “Get over it, mom. I'm taking a shower,” then she slammed her bathroom door shut so she couldn't hear her mom's reaction.

I'm so dead.

~*~

An hour and a half later, Ginny walked into Fred's room at St. Mungo's.

Fred looked at her, “Mom is so pissed. You're an hour late.”

“It's nothing personal, Fred,” Ginny said siting down in the visitor chair.

“To mom it is.”

“Oh it is personal to mom.”

“Oh, I get it. You put off seeing me to make mom mad?”

Ginny smiled sheepishly, “Sorry Fred.”

He shrugged, “Hey, I ain't the one that's going to have to move back in with mom so she can teach me respect.”

Ginny sat up in her chair, “She said that?”

Fred nodded with a knowing smile on his face.

Ginny leaned back hard in her chair, “Shit.”

Ginny looked around as her father came into the room.

Arthur looked at his daughter, then retreated to the doorway to look back into the hallway. He stepped back in and closed the door behind him, “I think you should go ahead and leave dear. I know you would rather have the conversation through your fireplace, she can't lock you in from there.”

Ginny jumped up. She didn't have to be told twice, “I didn't mean to be disrespectful, but she's being disrespectful to me. She doesn't treat any of my brothers that way.”

“I know, but you do need to watch your mouth from now on,” he gave her a quick hug.

Ginny went over to Fred, “Next time, play that hard in a game instead of practice.”

Fred tousled her hair and said, “just get out of here before I team up with Mom.”

Ginny laughed and left the room.

~*~

When she got back to her flat, she noticed a brown owl perched on her window sill.

She set her purse down, and let the owl in.

It dropped a blue envelope onto the table and took off.

Ginny watched it for a moment before picking up her envelope.

Dear Ms. Weasley,

We are sorry to inform you of your termination. If you have any articles that you have written, but have not turned into our office, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you and have a good day.

Sincerely,

Hope Winthrope

Chief Editor of Daily Spell

Ginny read threw the letter three times before screaming into the air, “This is ridiculous! This is absurd! I can't be fired, not now!”

She grabbed her cloak and her purse and flooed to the office.

She stepped lightly out of the fireplace, trying to hold as much soot on her as possible.

She walked quickly to Hope's office. The door was closed and she started to just burst in, but decided to wait.

After a few minutes she could make out the words from the other side of the door, “Oh, I am sorry to interrupt, I'm just looking for a friend named Hope, and you were the only one in the area. I guess she doesn't live around here anymore.”

“Yes, I suppose so. It's really no problem sir. You have a good day.”

“Thank you and you do the same.”

The door opened and Ginny was faced with Draco Malfoy.

He stopped and said, “There you are, I've been looking for you.”

Ginny turned and ran back down the little hallway and into the lobby. She burst through the doors that led to muggle London. She could hear him following her, calling after her to stop.

She didn't listen, she just kept running. Why did I have to tell him a name that is close to me? I should've known. . . stupid. . stupid. . . stupid. . .”

She chanted to herself as she ran, and turned abruptly down a little alley way that had a place that she could enter Diagon Alley again.

She entered and walked into many shops and little alleyways until she was sure she lost him.

~*~

She went back to the office and stormed into Hope's office. She dropped the letter on her desk and shouted, “What is the point of this? I don't deserve to be fired!”

Hope just smiled her stupid annoying smile. She always reminded Ginny of Mrs. Umbridge. “Of course you deserve it. You are never at the office, you rarely turn in your articles by the deadline, and someone was just hired. And she's a better journalist than you.”

Ginny just fumed, “What am I supposed to do now? How am I going to pay rent?”

“That's not my problem,” she handed Ginny a little sack, “This is for your last article. Now have a good day before I have to call security.”

Ginny scowled, snatched the bag out of her hand and sulked out of her office.

She was staring at the back of Draco Malfoy. He was standing at the main desk talking to the receptionist, “She's about 5'2" and has dirty blonde hair. She was in here a few minutes ago and she ran out the door. I need to know her name.”

“Well, I'm not allowed to do that, sir, safety precautions and all, but she might be standing behind you right now.”

Draco whirled around, and Ginny did too, ducking into an office. She locked the doors and pressed her ear against it.

“Well, now that I've seen her, can you give me a name?”

“Actually, I was just informed that she no longer works here, and since you're so dreamy. . .”

Ginny rolled her eyes.

“Her name is Ginevra.”

“And the last name would be?”

“I don't know. She wasn't in the office much, so we didn't get to know each other that well.”

“Figures.”

Ginny heard the door slam, so she slid out of the office and flooed to Neville's bar.

~*~

Draco couldn't believe how his day was going. He had went to at least a hundred businesses and homes that day. He had made a list of all the addresses that had a `Hope' connected to it. He was on his last address when he found her, and turned out her name wasn't even Hope, it was Ginevra.

He was certain that finding her again would be easier. Honestly, how many Ginevra's could there be?

~*~

“What am I going to do,” Ginny whined at Neville.

“Well, I thought you said that you were going to turn your hair back to red. If you had, this probably wouldn't have happened.”

Ginny thumped her head down onto the bar, “I know, but this morning my mom woke me up and I was so mad, then I had to go see Fred because he fell, and then I get that owl saying I'm fired. I just didn't think about it.”

“Wait, they fired you? Why?”

“They say I'm not good enough. And really they're right. I just need the job so damn bad!”

“Well, it's ridiculous. They should've given you at least a week to get a start on a new job.”

“Yeah, but Hope is a bitch.”

“Is that how he found you?”

Ginny looked up from the bar and nodded.

Neville rolled his eyes, “So how do you plan to get rid of Malfoy?”

“Well, I'm not to worried about it because I'm hoping against hope that as soon as he finds out I'm the girl weasel he'll forget about me.”

“Or kill you, depending on how mad he is.”

“Well, that too.”

~*~

He couldn't believe it. If this girl that had him so riled up and turned on turned out to be Ginny Weasley, he would scream.

What would he do if it was her? He walked over to her flat and found that she had almost no security. He pretty much just waltzed right in.

He looked around her shabby apartment. Even though it wasn't nice, and her poverty was evident, it seemed to fit her, and that intoxicating smell of vanilla was driving him wild.

He looked through her kitchen and found that it was pretty much empty of food. He went through her bedroom and found just a week's worth of clothes and nothing else of importance.

He went back into her living room and sat on her couch to wait.

~*~

After three more firewhiskeys and a Sober-Up potion, Ginny apparated into the hall in front of her door. She opened the door and stood in shock as her eyes fell onto a man sitting on her couch.

“What are you doing here,” she yelled at him.

“Waiting for you,” he stood up and walked closer to her, “Do you have any idea what I have been through the past two days?”

Ginny just stared at him, caught between shock and anger.

Draco continued, “I have been through hell.”

Ginny just stood there, scared and attracted to him by his attitude, “Um. . . what?”

Draco rolled his eyes, “Why did you lie?”

“About what?”

“About us in school.”

“Oh. Well, to make you go away I guess.”

“And just how would that make me go away?”

“Well, I figured if you thought you'd already had sex with me, then you would just move on.”

Draco nodded and said, “Well, since I remember every girl I've ever shagged, maybe not their name, but at least...” he looked down her body as he finished, “. . . their body.”

Ginny unconsciously covered herself with her cloak, even though she was completely clothed.

She was desperate to change the subject and getting him to quit staring at her, “Um. . . do you want some tea? Or to leave. . .”

“Do you want me to leave?”

“Honestly, yes.”

Draco was surprised but tried not to show it, “Why?”

“You make me nervous.”

He stepped closer to her and leaned in until he was mere inches from her ear, “Because I scare you, or because of something else?”

Her breathing faltered, “Both- I mean else- I mean you scare me- I mean- just- go!”

He smirked and walked out the door.

-->

3. Emerald Enterprises

A/N: Thank all of you who reviewed, I hope to get more so. . . keep it up! And, just to let you guys know, it might be a little while before I can update again. My mom just went into the hospital, so I'm posting this now so maybe you can last until she's better. Thanks for understanding!

Chapter 3

Ginny sighed and slunk down to the floor. She sat there in a daze for a few minutes before standing up and apparated to Neville's flat.

Neville looked up at her when she apparated directly into his living room, “Ginny, what if I was naked?”

“Well, then I would be one of the lucky girls to see Neville in all his glory,” Ginny said cocking her head to one side and smiling.

Neville rolled his eyes, “Anyway, why are you here?”

“He was at my flat,” she said simply.

“Like inside your flat?”

“Yeah, sitting on my couch.”

“What did he do,” Neville said sitting up in his chair by now.

“He told me that I caused him to have two horrible days, then kinda hit on me, then made me realize that I am attracted to him. And I think he knows it.”

“You think?”

“Ok, so I know.”

“Well, what are you going to do now?”

“Move,” Ginny said with a sheepish smile.

“You know that if you move, he'll just follow.”

Ginny furrowed her eyebrows, “What makes you say that?”

“The Malfoy's always get what they want Gin, and right now you might be the next one on his list.”

~*~

Draco was furious.

That wily witch pushed all his buttons, and turns out that it was Potter's stupid love bird.

He was griping and complaining and pacing in his office while his house elf, Leppy, was listening.

“Um. . . excuse me sirs. . Is you talking about Ms. Weasley sirs?”

Draco stopped and looked at the elf with a quizzical look, “Yeah, so?”

“Well . . . Now please don't be mad at Leppy, Leppy just overheard master talking and Leppy remembers the master laughing about a Ms. Weasley breaking up her engagement with that Potter boy.”

Draco's face lit up, “That's right. Leppy, you're a genius,” and he grabbed his cloak and apparated back into her flat.

~*~

Ginny flopped down onto Neville's couch with a huff.

He looked over at her, “Do you want something?”

Ginny rolled her head to the side to look at him, “Nah, I guess I should be getting back. It's already 9:30 and I still have to take a shower. I gotta get

up in the morning and look for a new job.”

“Alright, if you need anything I'll be here.”

“You aren't going to be naked are you?”

“As long as you don't apparate into the bathroom, you should be okay.”

Ginny smiled and apparated back to her flat.

As soon as she popped into her living room she seen him, jumped, and fell over, “What are you doing here? AGAIN,” she screamed at him from the floor.

Draco stood with grace and looked down at her, “I can see your knickers.”

Ginny looked down and closed her legs quickly and growled in frustration. She hoisted herself off the floor, “Okay Malfoy, what do you want?”

“Why did you dump Potter?”

Ginny was confused at the randomness of his question.

“Is that any of your business,” Ginny asked him with her hands on her hips.

“It is now.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to know.”

“Are you serious?”

“Malfoy's are always serious.”

Ginny rolled her eyes, “Well, I have decided that it is not any of your business, so. . . there.”

Draco shrugged, “Fine, I'll find out from someone else.”

“Like who?”

“Potter.”

“He wouldn't talk to you.”

Draco stood there with a look on his face that told her she obviously had no idea.

Ginny stood there trying to decide if he knew something she didn't.

“Well, are you going to tell me or not because I can go elsewhere.”

“Well, why do you want to know?”

“Because I want to know why you would dump him since you were so in love with him when we were in school,” he said in that annoying superior tone he was infamous for.

“You know, I don't trust you enough!”

Draco held his arms out to the side in a gesture to present himself to her, “How can you not trust me?

“Simple. Because you're a Slytherin!”

“Where's your Gryffindor courage all of you are supposed to have,” Draco asked with a smirk on his face, “You should be telling me and then wait for me to squish your heart. That's courage you know.”

“No, that's trust, and I don't trust you. I'm not being cowardly, I'm being smart and protecting myself from your devious pranks.”

Draco was beginning to get impatient, “Look, Weaslette, tell me now or I'm going to Potter.”

Ginny shrugged her shoulders and decided to take a chance, “Go to him, see if I care, see if he'll tell you!”

He walked menacingly over to her and she instinctively backed up against the wall away from him.

He glared right in her eyes as he pressed his whole body against hers and brought his face mere inches from hers and gritted through his teeth, “You'll regret not telling me,” and he apparated.

Ginny sighed and shook her head. She walked into her bedroom and flopped onto the bed, clothes and all, and decided that sleep is what she

needed to deal with her two new-founded problems, not to mention the previous ones, tomorrow.

~*~

The next morning, Draco sat up in bed, stretched and strolled into his bathroom.

“Good Morning, handsome,” his mirror said flirtatiously.

Draco never could keep himself from smiling when she said that, even if

it was just a mirror.

“Morning,” he replied suavely.

He took off his pajamas and glanced at himself in the mirror before sinking into the almost pool sized tub.

He floated over to his only other two taps, cinnamon and pine, and turned them on. Brown and green bubbles floated over the top of the water.

After a moment, he turned off the tap, so the smells wouldn't be overbearing, and soaked in the water.

After an hour, he got out and dressed in his black satin robes. At the snap of his fingers, Leppy appeared with the Daily Prophet in his hand, “What would the master like for breakfast, sir?”

“Blueberry pancakes with bacon,” Draco said, sitting down at his little breakfast table and opening his paper.

“Milk or orange juice, sir?”

“Both.”

Leppy nodded and popped out of the room.

Draco continued to read the paper, the sat up suddenly as his eyes fell upon a name he should have thought of earlier. Someone who knew everyone's juicy gossip.

~*~

Ginny sat up in her bed around nine o'clock and still felt sleepy. She slipped her feet in to her slippers and padded out to her little kitchen.

She opened her cabinet and remembered there was no food, “Fortesque's ice cream it is.”

~*~

“Pansy, I need something from you.”

Pansy looked up from her magazine at her desk, “Dear, you always need something.”

Her attitude really ticked him off sometimes, and this was one of those times, “Well you know what Parkinson? That is your bloody job, you are my secretary. You're supposed to do everything I ask you, not read a fucking magazine while you're on MY time!”

She rolled her eyes. She actually had the nerve to roll her eyes at him.

“Don't roll your eyes at me,” he said with his hands on his hips.

Pansy smirked, “Yes mother.”

He pursed his lips and decided to ignore her last comment, “Why did Weasley break up with Potter?”

Pansy tossed her magazine onto her desktop, “Is there a certain reason you want to know?”

“I always have a reason, but you're not always privileged to know it.”

Pansy shrugged, no surprise to her. She leaned forward and put her elbows on the desk, “Well, it's rumored that he cheated on her with Granger, and that he was bad in bed. But I know that the real reason is because he tried to tie her down too much.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, he wouldn't let her go out with her friends, or go to a bar, or really to do anything but what he wanted her to do.”

“Well, what did she want to do so bad?”

“Well, nothing in particular I don't guess. But I do know she likes muggle ballet and opera.”

Draco raised an eyebrow.

Pansy just shrugged, “Don't ask me, I'm not the one who likes it.”

Draco just turned and walked into his office.

~*~

the new little waitress sat Ginny's ice cream in front of her, “You're up early this morning Miss Weasley.”

“Yeah, I'm job searching.”

“I hear that Emerald Enterprises is hiring.”

Ginny's eyes lit up, “Really?” that was a desk job, just what she was looking for.

“Yeah, I think a few secretary positions are open.”

“Thanks a lot.”

The waitress nodded and went back inside.

Once she finished she left a Sickle for a tip and went off down the street to the new building near Gringotts. Now it was the biggest building on Diagon Alley.

She walked in and she looked around in amazement. Everything was elegant and high class. She walked up to the little circulation desk and a witch in emerald green robes looked up at her.

Ginny smiled and said, “Hi, I was wondering if there were any job opennings?”

The witch nodded, “Yes, but it's on the muggle side of the company. The boss is hiring wizards and witches for those departments too, but they handle the muggle part of the business, so if you get hired, you'd be working with muggles.”

Ginny nodded, “No problem. Where do I go to talk to someone?”

“Through those doors. There's an office to your right, that's the employment office.”

“Thanks,” and Ginny went through the doors the witch had pointed to.

~*~

Draco was staring at the muggle papers on his desk. Actually he had been staring at them for the past hour, thinking about Harry keeping her from doing anything.

Why would anyone want to contain her energy? It was beyond him.

What still amazed him was the fact that she actually left him. She had enough courage to go against her family, and the Wizarding World for that matter, and actually dump Harry Fucking Potter.

The more things he learned about her, the more intrigued he was.

~*~

“Oh my goodness! Ginny?”

Ginny's vision was obstructed by a mass of curly brown hair, “Hermione?”

“Yes, it's me! How have you been,” Hermione asked, releasing Ginny from her hug.

“I'm okay. What are you doing here?”

“Oh! I work here,” Hermione said with a bright smile, “I'm the head of the employment office, and I'm the Office Manager, the Resource Manager, head of the Human Resources office, and the accountant.”

“Wow, Hermione. You must be overloaded with all those jobs to do,” Ginny asked with some concern on her face and in her voice.

Hermione waved her hand to dismiss Ginny's concern, “Overloaded? Never! I love my job!”

“Well, I guess I'm not that surprised.”

“What are doing here?” Hermione asked suddenly.

“I'm, uh, looking for a job.”

Hermione's face brightened, “Really? You're hired! Now we're work buddies!”

Ginny put fake enthusiasm into her voice, “Yay.”

“You can start tomorrow!”

“Ok, I'll meet you back here then?”

“Yes! Meet me here and I'll go over your paperwork and show you how to do everything!”

~*~

Ginny slumped into the bar later that evening.

“You look happy,” Neville said while drying a mug with a white towel.

“I'm exhausted.”

“Well, are you gonna share,” Neville asked with raised eyebrows.

“I went looking for a job this morning and. . . I found one,” Ginny said with forced happiness.

“What, don't you like it?”

“I think I will, but I met Hermione today.”

“Really? No one has seen her in ages!”

“Yeah, I know. She's been hiding away at her job. She's like a manager, or officer or something. That's all she really does.”

“Where?”

“She works at Emerald Enterprises, in the employment office. I met her there because I heard it had some job openings. She's the one that gave me the job.”

“Well, that's great! I think you'll love that job.”

“Yeah, but Hermione insisted I go to lunch with her. She's very, um, energetic.”

“Hey, that'll wear off. She misses you.”

“Yeah, I know, that's why I haven't quit my job yet.”

Neville smiled and went down the bar to take someone's order.

Ginny celebrated her new job with a muggle margarita and apparated home.

No one was waiting on the couch.

She breathed a sigh of relief and went to take a shower.

She ignored the little pang of disappointment she felt.

~*~

It had been three weeks since he had talked to her. He hadn't seen her out anywhere, and she hadn't been going to the bar.

He was staring at the stupid things muggles called `paychecks.' Stupid little pieces of paper that say how much he was paying them. It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't have to sign every little one.

He was signing all of them as fast as he could when a name caught his eye, Ginevra Weasley.

He looked at it for a minute, then jumped out of his desk and rushed down to Hermione Granger's office.

“Granger,” he growled at her.

Hermione jumped a little and looked up at him like a deer caught in headlights, “Yes?”

“Why, had no one informed me that a Weasley was working here?”

Hermione's face showed a little more surprise at this and she replied, “Oh, well, sir, I was not aware that a fact like this was so. . . important to you.”

“Well, it is. Tell her to go to my office first thing in the morning,” he turned briskly and started to billow out the door when he whipped around and added, “And Granger, do not tell her who I am. I have a feeling that she doesn't know. If I find you have done otherwise, you will no longer have your beloved job.”

Hermione just nodded mutely.

A/N: You know you want to push the review button. :)

-->

4. 4. Little Arguments

A/N: I'm sorry it took me soooo long to update, but there is a surprise at the end. . .

Chapter 4

It had been three weeks at her new job, and suddenly the owner wanted to see her.

What did that mean? Fired? Promoted? No clue in Hermione's voice as to whether it was good or bad.

Ginny nervously headed up the stairs.

She reached the top of the landing and could see a little waiting room with Pansy Parkinson sitting at the reception desk.

Ginny's eyes widened in shock and hesitated before she walked over to her desk, “Um, I was told the boss wanted to see me.”

Pansy just smiled; she realized that Ginny had no clue as to who she was meeting, “I'll let him know you're here.”

“Thanks,” Ginny replied shyly and took a seat next to the door.

Pansy had opened the door and stuck her head in. All Ginny could here was her say, “Ms. Weasley is here.”

Pansy stood for another minute, then pulled her head out and look at Ginny, “You can go in now.”

Pansy was smiling, and that made Ginny extremely nervous. Slytherins only had bad reasons to smile, so Ginny feared the worst.

She entered the office with her head down and she heard the door snap shut behind her.

Ginny raised her eyes and to her amazement met sparkling silver orbs. He had that smirk on his face, the one that made everyone he directed it to want to smack it off.

Ginny's eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly.

“Hello, Ginevra.”

Ginny just stared at him.

“I guess you had no idea that you were working for me did you?”

She just dumbly shook her head.

Draco stood and strode over to her. She seemed nervous at his movement so he stopped about five feet from her.

“What do you want from me,” she asked in a pleading voice.

“Time,” was all he responded, nothing more.

Ginny's eyebrows unconsciously furrowed in confusion.

“A date, Ginevra. That's all I want.”

“Why,” she asked in a voice barely above a whisper.

“Because I can't forget you.”

Ginny just turned and started out the door. When her hand was on the doorknob, he said in an almost desperate tone, “Meet me there and seven. If you don't show up, I'll leave you be.”

She didn't say a word and walked out of the office.

~*~

It was 5:30 and Ginny was sitting at the bar telling Neville about what had happened.

“Well, are you staying until seven to meet him?”

Ginny shrugged and slung another shot back. Neville thought that maybe he needed to quit carrying muggle booze.

“Ginny, if you don't stop you won't be able to do anything.”

“Eh, give a sober potion.”

Neville sighed and gave her a bottle of the clear liquid.

Ginny gulped it down and slammed her head onto the bar.

Neville grimaced and Ginny said, “Why did this happen to me?”

“Because your landlord cut off your water,” Neville said nonchalantly.

Ginny raised her head and glared at him, “What are you, the memory king?”

“Hey, don't take this out on me.”

“I thought this was over! I thought that he had just left me alone, and my new job was going great. I'm making good money! I don't want to quit,” Ginny wailed and thumped her head back down onto the bar top, “Life just sucks right now!”

Ginny lay like that for an hour.

Neville poked her lightly and said, “Hey, it's 6:45, he'll be here any minute.”

Ginny lifted her head off the bar, “Dammit!”

She lifted herself off of the barstool and walked into the hallway.

~*~

When the darkness enveloped her, she sensed him.

He was already there.

She tensed her body, waiting for him to do something. She was half way filled with fear, the other half anticipation.

After a moment, her eyes had slightly adjusted to the dark and she could see him leaning his back against the wall, his legs and arms crossed arrogantly.

“So you came.”

“Wipe that stupid smirk off your face. I'm just curious.”

The smirk grew to an almost genuine smile, “Can we go somewhere to talk?”

Ginny was definitely taken aback by this question.

He offered her his hand and said, “We'll go have dinner.”

Ginny looked from his hand to his eyes.

“Trust me, Ginevra.”

~*~

Ginny wasn't sure how she ended up at Giovonni's. It was by far the most expensive restaurant in all of London.

Ginny was wearing new robes that Draco had bought her just mere moments ago because Ginny didn't have dress robes, and that was the dress code.

She was surprised while they were walking down the street when he suddenly opened the door on a little shop that Ginny would've, and couldn't for that matter, never stepped foot in.

“Draco, I can't go in here.”

Draco had furrowed his eyebrows at her, “Why not?”

Ginny pointed at a price tag, “This is on sale and it's still more than three months rent on my apartment!”

“That's not an issue.”

“Ginny reached into her pocket and pulled out four Sickles, “Oh yeah. It's an issue.”

He closed her hand over the Sickles and said, “We are on a date, so it is my job to pay for everything, and tonight that includes a wardrobe addition.”

So, reluctantly, Ginny spent the next half hour feeling like a princess while she tried on robes for Draco to approve of. He had finally settled on white dress robes that accented her figure well, but modestly.

So, here she was, sitting across from Draco Malfoy, and he was staring at her like he could devour her.

She squirmed in her seat a little, “Quit staring at me like that.”

Draco didn't stop, but rather began a conversation, “So, do you trust me?”

“Just a little.”

“But not enough?”

Ginny raised her eyebrows, “Enough for what?”

Draco leaned onto the table, “You know.”

Ginny's mouth dropped, “Excuse me?”

“I want you to tell me.”

Realization dawned on Ginny's face, “Oh, um, no I still don't think I want to.”

“Fine, so why did you suddenly come to work for me?”

“Well, first I didn't know that you owned Emerald Enterprises, and second, I have to pay rent somehow.”

“Why don't you work for the Daily Spell anymore?”

Ginny scoffed, “I'm just not good enough.”

“Do you think you're good enough?”

“Not really.”

“Then what's the problem?”

“Well, now there's not because I have a job. It was a problem when I didn't have one.”

The waitress came up to the table, “Hello there! How are you? My name is Mandy and I'm your server. What can I get you to drink?”

“Your best red wine,” Draco said with superiority.

She nodded and left the table.

“Wine?”

“It's a muggle specialty.”

“Muggle? You are actually going to drink something that muggles do?”

“You're forgetting that half of my Enterprise is muggle-based.”

“You have changed a lot from when I remember you.”

“From when? Back in school? Of course I have changed. The war has changed many people.”

Ginny sat looking at him for a few minutes. She hadn't thought about how the war would've affected him. Everyone was affected by the war in someway or another, but some a lot more than others.

Her family was one that was affected a great deal, and of course his was too.

“Ginny, it's okay. I'm fine.”

“But-”

“Really, I'm over it. My father deserved his fate. He had put me through hell when he was alive and he was still doing it in his death by leaving all of those sketchy businesses that I have to clean up. The war has changed me for the better.”

Ginny gave him a sympathetic smile, “That's great.”

“What about you?”

“Me?”

“Yes, how has the war changed you?”

“Well. . . I'm more independent. And I have changed my friends. Most of my old friends died in the battles.”

“What about Harry,” he asked casually.

Ginny shrugged and looked him straight in the eyes, “What about him?”

“How did he change?”

Ginny scoffed again, “Hell, he was changing before the war broke out.”

Draco just sat patiently, waiting for her to continue, but not wanting to push her to where she wouldn't go on.

Ginny was actually feeling very comfortable. She could tell he really had changed. When he smirked at her it was with amusement, not disgust. His father's influence on his opinions had disappeared.

Ginny was about to continue when the waitress came up to the table and placed the wine in a bucket of ice beside the table, “Are you ready to order?”

Draco nodded his head and said, “Yes, I'll have the sauteed sirloin with the red wine and mushroom sauce with a bowl of potato soup and steamed vegetables,” Draco said and handed her the menu.

He looked at Ginny and Ginny just stared at the menu. She had no idea what half of this stuff was, so she got the only thing she knew, “Um... I'll just have the kid's maccaroni and cheese.”

The waitress looked at her with a funny expression and took the menu.

Ginny looked back at Draco and his eyebrows were raised in shock, “I brought you to the most expensive restaurant and all you get is maccaroni?”

“Well, yeah. I had no clue what the other crap was and I can't survive without maccaroni and cheese.”

“Every time I take a girl out to a fancy place, she always gets the lobster.”

“Why?”

“Because it's the most expensive thing on the menu.”

“Well, I'm not other girls.”

He gave a slight imperceptible nod.

“Do... you take a lot of girls out?”

“Not really. You're the first one I've taken out in a long time.”

“What about the girl you thought I was that night in the hallway?”

This question made Draco slightly uncomfortable but he masked the emotion expertly, “I was not going to take her out to dinner.”

Ginny put a forced smile onto her face, “I see.”

“It's not like that.”

“Then what is it, Draco?”

He was taken aback by the question and Ginny raised her eyebrows at him to let him know she was waiting for the explanation, “Well, it was for sexual favors, but-”

“But what?”

“I didn't do that all the time. Maybe once or twice a month. And since it was you that I slammed against the wall, I haven't done it. And trust me, I am miserable.”

Ginny was definitely surprised and asked, “Why are you miserable?”

“Look, girls and guys are different. Guys basically need sex. Girls can go without it. Well, most girls. So, when I get desperate enough, I meet a woman. And the night that I slammed you against the wall I was desperate and I sure didn't get any sex from you. I haven't been with a woman since then either, and you can't imagine the withdrawal symptoms I'm going through.”

“Is that why you brought me here?”

“No, I know you won't have sex with me tonight.”

“Then why did you bring me?”

“Because I just wanted to.”

Ginny tried to hide her smile and looked down at her glass, “Ok.”

“Do you trust me?”

Ginny studied him for a few minutes then replied, “Not entirely.”

“Why not?”

“You're the devil,” Ginny said with a smirk.

~*~

“What has gotten into you, child,” her mother asked desperately.

Ginny was kneeling in front of her fireplace looking at her mother like she wasn't really there.

“First you dye your hair that awful color, then you get wild friends, then you get fired! Now you're going out to dinner with Draco Malfoy!”

Ginny's eyes snapped to attention, “How did you know?”

“The Minister saw you last night! How could you? And he said you were wearing very expensive dress robes! How could you waste your money like that? It's just one robe Ginevra!”

“I didn't buy it mother! He did.”

“You took charity from him? You just let him pay for it?”

“Honestly mother, I can never win with you! First you say that I'm wasting my money, then when I tell you I didn't, you yell at me to not take charity! Make up your mind! Just leave me alone and love me no matter what I'm doing! At least I didn't sleep with him!”

Molly's eyes perked up a little bit, “You didn't?”

Ginny rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Molly let out a little sigh of relief.

“Mom, I have to go. I'm going to be late for work.”

“See you dear,” and her head disappeared from the fireplace.

~*~

When Ginny got to work, she had a beautiful bouquet of pink lilies with the accent of baby's breath sitting in the middle of her desk.

Ginny just stood there and let the door snap shut behind her.

Hermione, who had obviously slept at her desk all night, jerked her head up and gasped when she noticed the flowers.

“Wow, Ginny! Who are they from?”

Ginny walked over and took the envelope out of the flowers. She nervously opened it and took the card out; it only had one line:

The Devil.

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed, “Who's that?”

For some reason, Ginny lied, “I don't know. Could be a stupid joke Neville is playing on me,” Ginny looked over at Hermione, who had dark circles under her eyes and was in desperate need of a hairbrush, “Did you sleep here?”

She smiled sheepishly, “Yeah, I'm just going to go freshen up okay?”

Ginny shook her head in disbelief, “Go ahead.”

Ginny walked around her desk and sat down. She looked back at the envelope and realized that something else was in there.

She pulled them out and just stared. It was two tickets to the Romeo and Juliet Opera premiere.

She jumped up and ran to his office. When she got to the little waiting room, Ginny walked right on by Pansy, completely ignoring her, and burst through his door.

Draco whirled around in his chair, obviously startled, but his face shown nothing.

She silently held up the tickets. He glanced at them and raised his eyebrows.

“What are these?”

“Well, they appear to be tickets to an opera premiere.”

“I know what they are,” she snapped.

“Then why did you ask?”

“Don't start your shit with me! Who are they for?”

“Us,” he said like it should have been obvious.

“Us?”

He raised his eyebrows at her again.

“Why?”

“I thought you would like to see it,” he said standing up and walking over to her, “but I guess I was wrong,” he reached to take them from her.

She snatched them to her chest.

He raised his eyebrows at her again.

I'm going to shave those things off if he does that one more time!

“Well,” he asked.

“I. . . want to watch it.”

“Then what is the problem?”

“I'm confused.”

“About.. . .”

“You,” she said simply, not looking him in the face.

He just stared at her for a few seconds and then asked, “Why?”

“What in the bloody hell is the matter with you?”

“Excuse me,” Draco said in an almost menacing tone.

“Don't be rude, I asked you a question, Malfoy!”

“So now we're back to Malfoy?”

She just stared at him.

Draco pursed his lips and decided to take a different approach, “What do you mean? All I did was send you flowers and tickets to an opera premiere that I was sure you would enjoy.”

“Why?”

Draco put his hands palms up in disbelief, “I just told you!”

Ginny puffed out her breath, “Why do you care to take me or even if I would like it or not?”

Draco put his hands down, “Look have I missed something? What in the bloody hell did I do now?”

“You attacked me! You searched for me! You chased me down the street! You broke into my house! Twice! You hired me!”

Draco raised his finger but Ginny continued, “Do not interrupt me! You buy me very expensive dress robes! You take me out to dinner! And now you're wanting to take me to the opera! That is what you have done, Malfoy!”

He was speechless.

“Well, I didn't hire you, Hermione did. That isn't my fault, and I'm still not sure what you're asking me,” Draco said in a forced casual tone.

“This is not the Draco Malfoy I know. The Draco Malfoy I know hates Weasleys, Mudbloods, as you would put it, and poor people.”

“We have already had this discussion.”

“No we haven't!”

“Yes we have. Over dinner. You told me I had changed. I agreed. I told you that the war had changed many people, including me.”

She sucked in an inaudible breath, furrowed her eyebrows, and looked away. Wait, why am I upset again?

“So, will you let me take you?”

Ginny snapped back to attention, “What?”

“Will you let me take you?”

“Where,” Ginny asked. She was totally off track now.

“To the opera.”

“Fine.”

“So I can take you?”

“I said that was fine.”

“Ok, I will pick you up tomorrow at five.”

“I get off at five.”

“Tomorrow, you will get off at 3:30.”

“Why?”

“Don't worry about it.”

Ginny nodded her head and walked out of the office.

“Sooooo, I'm guessing you're letting him take you,” a voice said behind her.

Ginny turned around and looked at Pansy, who had a smirk on her face.

“Yes, why does it matter.”

“Well, I was going to tell you that you were stupid if you hadn't”

“Why would I be stupid?”

“Because I have never seen him act like this.”

“Like what?”

She rolled her eyes, “You know we have cameras in all of the offices right?”

Ginny nodded, she had known, and seen them. She had just never thought about anyone actually watching her.

“He sits and watches you sometimes. Then he'll get mad and turn the little screen thing off. Saying things. . .” Pansy's voice trailed off.

“What things?”

“Oh, I'll tell you when you're closer to falling in love with him.”

Ginny's face contorted in shock, “What?”

“Run along now and get some work done little Weasley. Trust me, I will tell you.”

Ginny shut her mouth, nodded and walked off a bit sulkily.

~*~

A/N: sorry if it was long again, like the last time, I had to cut it in half. But I'm making it up to everyone for the long wait. . . SURPRISE I'm adding another chapter today, so review and hit NEXT! (Sorry, I'm a little excited. . .)

-->

5. 5. Trust

A/N: For one of my scenes in this chapter, I got it from one of my favorite episodes of `Friends,' the sitcom. Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Ginny was sitting at home reading her favorite book, when she heard a faint tapping against the window.

She sighed and placed her book on her bedside table. When she walked into the kitchen, she could see a jet black owl hovering outside her kitchen window.

She walked over and let the owl in. It dropped onto her dining room table and waited for Ginny to unwrap the box that was bigger than himself.

She went to her cabinet and took out an owl treat. She handed it to him and untied the parcel.

The owl just swooped out of the window and disappeared quickly into the darkness.

She looked down at the silver package.

She hesitated, then untied the bow and lifted the lid. She pulled out a beautiful set of black dress robes. It had silver swirls designed on it and a heavy black cloak came with it to match. She gasped and quickly tried it on.

She smiled and pulled it tighter around her. Just then, she heard a knock on the door. She walked into her living room, still smiling, and flung open the door.

“So I take it you like my gift,” Draco said leaning on her doorframe with that smirk plastered across his face.

Ginny was determined not to act surprised or flustered or. . . whatever that feeling was that kept pulling at her stomach.

“Yes I do. Thank you, it's very lovely.”

“You're welcome.”

Ginny cocked her head to the side and looked at him curiously.

“I've changed, remember. I have manners now.”

Ginny couldn't help but smile. She stared at him for at least two minutes.

He patiently stared back at her.

Ginny suddenly snapped to attention and stepped aside, “Well, you can come inside- if you want.”

He smiled, “Thank you.”

She smiled back and watched as he walked past her. She closed the door and stood there just caressing the door when he cleared his throat.

She whirled around trying to contain her smile.

“What are you smiling about?”

“Nothing,” Ginny said, trying to sound innocent.

He smirked, “Yeah, I bet it's nothing.”

“It is!”

“Is that because nothing happened?”

“Well, it was something and nothing,” she thought he knew what she had been thinking about, but she wasn't entirely sure.

“Well, I think it was nothing, but it could've been something if you had've let it.”

“You're the one who left.”

“You wanted me to.”

“Even if I hadn't wanted you to, you would've left. It still would've been nothing.”

He pushed her into the wall and pressed his whole body against hers. He put his knee between her thighs and whispered in her ear, “Are you sure about that?”

Ginny swallowed hard, and she felt his smirk against her skin.

He planted little kisses that outlined her jaw until he came to her mouth. He looked into her eyes and reluctantly pulled himself away, “I am ruining your dress robes.”

She tried to catch her breath and looked down at her robes, “Right, I'll go and change,” her voice trailed off and she walked down the hallway.

He breathed a long- held breath out and sat down on her sofa.

She came out in what he assumed to be her pajamas. She was wearing shorts that were so short he was sure her bum was hanging out of them and a spaghetti strap top that fit her tightly.

He jumped up and said, “Well, I gotta go. I'll pick you up tomorrow at twelve.”

“Wait a minute, earlier you said five.”

“Change of plans, take the whole day off.”

He walked out of her apartment and she heard the faint pop of his apparition.

She smiled to herself, went back to her bedroom and continued reading her book.

~*~

This was getting ridiculous. He was pacing back and forth in his study, and he had no clue what to do.

She was right, what in the bloody hell was the matter with him?

What was he doing?

Really?

In all honesty with himself.

He had no clue.

There was just something about her. . .

~*~

The next morning, Draco woke earlier than ususal. He bathed, ate, and dressed, then he waited in his study. It was only 10:00.

He stared out the window for about half an hour when he decided he couldn't wait any longer.

He stood and apparated directly into her living room.

He stood motionless for a moment, trying to hear her moving around.

When he didn't, he crept into her bedroom and found her still sleeping.

He gently sat down on the bed, and just watched her for a few breaths.

He stroked her hair behind her ear. She stirred slightly, opened her eyes, shrieked, and jerked the covers up under chin.

Before she could cover herself, he caught a glimpse of bare shoulder and realized that she was naked. He sat there stunned for a moment before calmly standing up and muttering, “I'm sorry.”

He walked out of the door and closed it behind him. As soon as he closed it, she exploded.

“WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE HERE UNTIL TWELVE! YOU'RE AN HOUR AND A HALF EARLY! I SWEAR TO MERLIN WHEN I GET DRESSED. . .”

Her voice trailed off. Draco took his opportunity, “I'm really sorry about that. I didn't mean to wake you up. I just had nothing better to do so I-”

he was cut short when she threw open her door and glared at him.

She stomped out of her room, and into the kitchen. Draco followed her.

She was slamming a cabinet closed and he noticed she had cappuccino mix.

He started to explain, “Look, I didn't-”

She turned and glared at him. He stopped mid sentence and didn't bother to finish.

He turned slightly away from her and muttered, “Great, red hair AND Weasley temper.”

“Excuse me,” she snapped at him.

He brought his eyes to hers quickly, “Nothing.”

“Liar.”

“Well, I don't want to hurt your feelings. . .”

“Oh god,” she swore, rolling her eyes. She threw the mix back into the cabinet, opened another one, grabbed a bottle of muggle Vodka and began to drink quickly from the bottle.

Draco furrowed his eyebrows, “What are you doing that for?”

She stopped drinking and glared at him, “You're bugging me.”

“It's only 10:30 in the morning!”

“And it's going to be a long day.”

“Why? You're going to be with me!”

“Exactly.”

“Are you bi-polar?”

Ginny rolled her eyes, “Don't be ridiculous.”

“Well, you just seem to go back and forth between tolerating me and being pissed at me.”

“You broke into my house, again, walked into my bedroom, uninvited, and almost saw me naked, without my consent,” Ginny said through clenched teeth in a voice so calm and quiet that it made Draco a little nervous.

“I tried to tell you before, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you weren't decent, or even still asleep. If I had have known that you weren't awake yet, then I wouldn't have come.”

“But you didn't leave when you noticed I was still sleeping.”

He just looked at her. He didn't want to tell her the truth, not yet. He couldn't scare her, not when he was so close. So he just stood there.

~*~

It was 11:30, and Ginny was in her room dressing in muggle clothes. She had no idea why Draco wanted her to put the dress robes he bought her into a bag.

She wasn't as angry with him as she was earlier when she went on a tiny drinking binge.

After her last statement he had just stood there. She had gotten the feeling that he had a good reason (to him anyway) and he just didn't want to tell her that yet.

She growled to herself and finished tying her tennis shoes. She stepped back into the living room and found him sitting on the couch reading her book.

“Hey,” she screamed at him and ran over and snatched her book away.

He started to snicker.

“Where were you,” she asked while quickly trying to remember about where he had the page turned to.

“Oh, don't worry. Your neighbor won't be home for hours.”

Her eyes grew as big as saucers.

“My, my, Ginevra, I didn't know that you read pornography.”

Ginny gasped, “It is NOT porn!”

Draco scoffed.

Ginny stood there, mouth opening and closing like a fish on dry land, trying to think of something to say.

After a moment she exclaimed, “Well, so what if women want to enjoy a little erotica! Men get to look at their stupid magazines!”

Draco kept chuckling.

All of a sudden, his face turned serious, “What's that?”

“What's what,” Ginny snapped at him.

“It smells like something is burning,”

Ginny looked into the air trying to smell it, “I don't smell anything.”

“Oh, well it must be your burning loins!”

Ginny gasped again and smacked on the arm with her book, “You prat!”

She started to smack him again, when he looked at his pocket watch and said, “Oh, look at the time! We have to go!”

She looked at her clock on the mantle, 12:00.

She sighed, went to her room to hide her book, and came back out.

He held out his elbow for her to hold. She looked at him with raised eyebrows.

“Trust me,” he said, and she couldn't help but take his arm.

~*~

He had apparated them into the Leaky Cauldron. He led her out into muggle London.

“Where are we going?”

“Okay, I'm going to have to have you trust me for longer periods of time.”

Ginny gave him a sheepish smile, “Sorry.”

He took her to a train station and they boarded a train to take to the nearest airport.

Ginny was nervous the entire time, having only read about trains in her muggle studies class. Muggle trains seemed so different from the Hogwarts Express.

While they were talking, Draco would just smirk at her because she wouldn't let go of her white-knuckle grip on the seat.

She could finally breath right when they stepped off the train.

They took what he called a `taxi cab' to the airport. She almost had a heart attack when she seen and heard a plane take off.

He gripped her shoulder and said, “Calm down, just think of it as a giant broom.”

She glared at him, but allowed him to lead her into the building.

She was fine, until the plane started moving.

“Oh Merlin! I'm going to die!” she said to herself.

“You're not going to die. Stop being such a baby.”

“I am glaring at you.”

“You're not even looking at me.”

“I'm glaring at you in my head.”

“Oh, sure. Keep doing it if it makes you feel better.”

“It does.”

“Good.”

“Malfoy, you wait until I get off this piece of crap!”

“What are you going to do,” Draco said trying to hide his laughter.

“I haven't figured it out yet, but when I do, you won't like it!”

“Okay.”

She growled at his nonchalant attitude.

He snickered and stared out of the window for the rest of the flight.

~*~

“Hey, we're here. You can open your eyes now.”

“I refuse.”

“Well, we have to get off.”

“Then you will just have to walk me because I refuse to open my eyes.”

He just and said, “Fine, have it your way.”

“Thank you.”

He led her off of the plane and she heard a woman say in a fake voice, “I hope you enjoyed your flight!”

Ginny's eyes snapped open (she could feel ground again), “Enjoyed my flight? Who would enjoy that! It's a death trap! You people must be out of your minds!”

“Ginevra, come on,” Draco said pulling her away.

“Sorry, I just snapped.”

“I noticed.”

“So, and I'm trusting you here so just answer my question, where are we now?”

Draco looked at her and smiled, “America.”

A/N: Remember all I'm asking if for one little bitty review. . .

-->

6. Macaroni and Cheesecake

A/N: Hey new chapter! Toward the end, I hope you notice the mood change. I tried really hard to make you feel what they were, and hopefully I did a pretty good job.

Chapter 6

Ginny was fascinated with everything. She was talking so fast that Draco wasn't sure he knew everything that she was saying.

Draco had a smile plastered across his face, he could tell she was having a great time,“Come on. We're going to be late for the opera.”

~*~

By the time they got there, the lights were already dimmed and everyone was seated.

When they got to their seats Ginny said, “Oh, Draco! You got us seats right in the front! This is going to be great!”

“Hey! Shut up down there!”

Ginny turned around in surprise, “Excuse me?”

“Hey fellow! Make your woman shut up!”

Draco glared at the man a few rows back. The man's eyes widened and he focused his attention on the stage.

Ginny whispered to Draco, “What was his problem?”

“They're American. They think they're better than everyone.”

Ginny smirked, “Like you?”

Draco looked at her, and Ginny flashed an innocent smile.

“You better watch the play,” he said in a fake menacing voice.

Ginny giggled and hushed instantly when the curtain rose.

~*~

When the curtain fell, Draco looked over at Ginny, who had a whole box of used tissues piled in her lap, and noticed her eyes were damp from tears.

He leaned closer to her and whispered, “You know this is just a story, right?”

Ginny looked at him and choked out, “I know, but it's so sad!”

Draco looked at her with confusion in his eyes. After a few more minutes, Draco leaned in again, “Would you like to get some coffee?”

Ginny sniffed and stopped her silent tears, “Yes, that would make me feel much better.”

She looked into her tissue box, then back at Draco expectantly.

Draco furrowed his eyebrows, “What,” he asked cautiously.

“I'm out of tissues.”

He smirked and pulled his hankie out of his inside pocket.

She wiped her face and said, “Thank you.”

He nodded and stood, offering her his arm. She took it, and he led her to the nearest coffee house.

~*~

They sat down at a little table and a waitress came up and asked them for their order.

“I'll have a French Vanilla Cappuccino with French Vanilla cream please.”

They waitress smiled at Ginny and turned to Draco, “Black coffee.”

She nodded and went behind the counter to start on their order.

Draco looked at Ginny and she immediately became embarrassed, “Look, I'm sorry about earlier.”

“What about earlier?”

“About crying. Usually I'm not like that, but when I watch a play or an opera, I just turn into a waterfall. I'm a hopeless romantic.”

“What do you mean by `hopeless?'”

Ginny was surprised by his question. It had never occurred to her why people referred to her as a `hopeless romantic.'

“I don't know. People just say that's what I am, so. . . I guess that's what I am.”

The waitress sat down their mugs and walked off without a word.

“Well, isn't she just a bright ray of sunshine,” Ginny said with raised eyebrows.

Draco smiled and nodded. He looked back down at his cup.

“Is there something else you want to ask me,” she asked, noticing his body language.

“Why won't you tell me why you and Potter broke up?”

She slouched in her chair and her face fell a little, “Let's not talk about that. We were having a great time.”

“I just want to know.”

She shrugged, “He just changed.”

“How,” Draco prompted immediately.

She glanced into this eyes, then back down at her cup, “He just. . . wasn't my type.”

Draco just stared at her.

She sighed, do we have to discuss this here?”

“No, I can wait a little longer.”

“Thank you.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes when Draco asked, “So, do you want to catch a late plane, or wait until tomorrow?”

“Well, where would we stay if we waited until tomorrow?”

“A hotel.”

Ginny sat for a moment, thinking.

She took the last sip of her drink, stood up and said, “Well, let's find a hotel.”

Draco nodded and threw some muggle money down on the table. He put his hand on her lower back, guiding her outside and down the street.

~*~

Draco found the most luxurious hotel in New York and pushed her inside.

“No, Draco,” she kept whispering to him, “It's too expensive. Let's go somewhere else.”

“If you don't be quiet, I'll make you sleep on the street while I sleep here.”

Ginny huffed and puffed, but finally gave up.

Draco walked up to the desk while Ginny stood two feet behind him gazing around in awe.

“Just one room,” he glanced back at Ginny, “And we'll probably need two beds.”

The male clerk gave him a sympathetic nod and started typing away on his computer. He shook his head and said, “I'm sorry sir, we don't have any rooms available with two beds.”

Draco looked at Ginny again, who still wasn't paying any attention, and turned back to man, “Well, give me the most expensive room you have to make it up to her.”

The clerk smirked and gave him a slip to sign, took his money, and gave him a key card.

Draco thanked him, called Ginny's name three times, then took her to the elevator.

When the doors of the elevator opened, she looked at Draco like he was crazy, “Draco, this is a box.”

“It's an elevator.”

“A what?”

“Just trust me.”

Ginny looked at the box warily and reluctantly followed him in.

The doors shut and Ginny said, “Dear merlin!”

She ran to the doors and tried to open them.

“Ginny, you're fine. They're supposed to do that.”

“I need to get out of here!”

“Just a minute,” he pressed a button that said `32,' and the floor started moving.

Ginny screeched and clutched the rail with her eyes screwed shut.

Draco wrapped his arm around her and she calmed down enough to breath right.

However, as soon as the doors were open, she flew out of the elevator as if her life depended on it.

Draco shook his head, chuckled, and strolled out of the elevator.

Ginny was standing a little way down the hallway trying to catch her breath.

He placed his hand on the small of her back and took her to the door at the very end of the hall.

He opened the doors with the key card, while Ginny watched on earnest, and swung the door open with a dramatic gesture.

Ginny gasped at the grandeur of the suite.

It was about the size of her own apartment, decorated in beige, tan, and cream with dark brown as an accent.

“It's like a page from a magazine!”

Draco smirked proudly, “Do you like it?”

She turned around with a beaming smile, “I love it!”

He shut the door, and placed his coat on the back of the chair.

“So, are you hungry? I could order room service.”

“Room service? Sure! Do they maccaroni and cheese?”

“Is that all you eat?”

“No,” Ginny said defensively, then her eyes furrowed in thought, “Well, now that you mention it, yeah that's pretty much what I eat.”

His smirk grew into a smile and he nodded, “I'll see if they do,” he picked up the receiver and started to dial zero for the clerk when Ginny gasped.

“What?”

“I haven't looked at the bathroom yet,” Ginny exclaimed, racing toward a door slightly to draco's right.

Draco chuckled and pushed zero. He waited a moment and when the woman's voice met his ears, he hesitated and then finally asked, “Um, yes, do you by any chance have maccaroni and cheese?”

He listened to her and then said, “Great, I really appreciate it.”

He plopped down the receiver and went to the bathroom door and put his ear to it.

“Hey Gin?”

She flung open the door with a huge grin on her face, “Oh my gosh Draco!”

She pulled him in by his wrist. Draco's eyes grew wide with bewilderment as she jerked him in.

“Look,” she said breathlessly. He glanced around, wondering what was so great, but then he realized that in her eyes this place was magical.

“Yeah, it's beautiful isn't it?”

“It's lovely.”

Suddenly she realized that they were in a bathroom and she said, “Um, did they have maccaroni?”

“Oh, yeah it should be-”

there was a knock at the door, “That must be it.”

he walked out and she followed him and sat down at a little dining table in an alcove across the room.

A man in black dress pants and white button- up with a red vest came in with a tray. He set it down, smiled up at Ginny and said, “Hi, what's your name?”

Ginny smiled back and started to answer when Draco walked over and said, “Well, it's nice of you to ask! My name is Draco.”

Draco held out his hand and the man shook it with an awkward smile.

Ginny heard paper crumble as the man shoved his hand in his pocket and excused himself.

Ginny smirked at Draco, “Jealous?”

“No,” Draco said in a defensive tone, then sat down in the seat across from her.

She lifted the little metal dome off of her plate and smile at the huge pile of macaroni and cheese that met her eyes. She glanced up and watched Draco reveal his plate.

He had a huge slice of cheesecake with white chocolate drizzled all over it.

Her shoulders fell as she stared at it.

Draco had began eating, but he suddenly got the feeling that she was staring at him. He glanced up at her, “Is there something more interesting than your macaroni?”

“Cheesecake,” Ginny said in a dreamy voice.

Draco's featured showed confusion when he said, “Yes, this is cheesecake.”

“Is that white chocolate?”

“Yes.”

“Can I have it?”

“No, this is my cheesecake, you wanted macaroni.”

“But I didn't know they had cheesecake.”

Draco was beginning to get disturbed because Ginny hadn't taken her eyes off of his cheesecake, “You can have a bite,”

“Really?”

Draco held his fork out to her and she ate it.

Draco was definitely becoming scared when her eyes immediately closed and she moaned rather loudly, “Oh my gosh! It's so creamy! Can we trade?”

“No, you've had your bite, now eat your macaroni.”

Ginny's shoulders slumped, “Fine.”

She sat motionless for a second before screaming, “Screw you,” grabbing the plate, and running to the bathroom.

Draco realized what was happening when she was halfway to the bathroom. He reached her just as she slammed the door in his face and twisted the lock.

“That is my cheesecake,” he shouted through the door.

Ginny giggled and said in a sing-song voice, “Not anymore!”

“Are you laughing at me,” he asked indignantly.

She giggled again, “Yep.”

“That's it,” he took a small step back, drew his wand, and the door clicked open.

When he looked at Ginny, he realized that she had already eaten the entire piece of cheesecake.

“You already ate the whole piece?”

“Um- hmm. . .” Ginny said licking the fork.

Draco, noticing this, took a deep breath.

Ginny, realization hitting her, quit licking the spoon and dropped it on the plate.

In a few seconds, Draco regrouped himself and said to her, “Fine, if that's the way you want it. . .”

Ginny watched him walk out of the bathroom not fully understanding his statement.

When she heard the clink of silverware against a plate, she thought she knew what he meant.

She poked her head out of the bathroom and could see that her plate of macaroni and cheese was gone.

She walked over to the table with her mouth hanging open, “You ate my macaroni?”

“You ate my cheesecake,” Draco said simply.

Ginny sighed, “I'm too tired to argue, I'm going to bed.”

She turned around and noticed for the first time that there was only one bed.

She turned back to Draco, who was avidly avoiding her gaze.

“Draco. . . .”

He still didn't acknowledge her.

“Draco. . . . .” she said with a little more menace.

He finally looked at her guiltily, “Yes?”

“There is only one bed.”

“Oh! Right, about that. . .”

“Did you think. . .”

Before she could finish her question, he held out his hand in an effort to stop her, “No! No, it's not like that at all! They didn't have anymore rooms with two beds. I had no choice. I'll sleep on the little couch if you want me to.”

Ginny's face softened a bit and she sighed, “No, but stay on your side of the bed!”

Draco felt a quick feeling of triumph and said, “Understood.”

Ginny nodded and went over the bed and pulled out her book.

Draco tried, he really did, to suppress his smile, but it came out as an snicker.

Ginny quickly turned her attention away from her book to glare at Draco.

Draco, trying to stop snickering, said, “Yes?”

“What is so funny?”

“You reading porn.”

Ginny threw her book down on the bed and said, “I told you, it's not porn!”

Draco straightened his face and asked, “Ginny, why do you read that stuff?”

Ginny opened and closed her mouth a couple of times. She didn't really know why. In her defense she finally said, “I have only read that one.”

Draco stood and looked at the book lying on the bed, “It seems pretty wore out. It's practically falling apart.”

Ginny glanced at it, and couldn't say anything.

Draco studied her face as she was looking away from him. He could see a glint of something wrong in her eyes, a sadness that he never noticed before. But as soon as it was there, it was gone. There was no longer that trace of sadness on her face.

She looked back at him with a sheepish smile,“Well, I guess I have read it a lot.”

Draco looked at her for a moment, then said in a low voice, “You're very lonely aren't you?”

Ginny was taken aback by his question. She just looked into his eyes, and she didn't know what to say.

His face was almost a blank canvas, with just a hint of concern in his eyes, maybe sympathy.

he leaned in close to her and whispered, “We're more alike than you know.”

Then she felt it. She felt that feeling. But this time was different, more intense, more real.

She was falling in love with Draco Malfoy.

-->

7. 7. After the Book Store

A/N: Okay, this may be a little shorter than some of the other chapters, but it was a good place to end it. This also gives me the chance to work out some kinks in my upcoming ideas. I hope you like it, and sorry again about it being short.

Chapter 7

The next morning Ginny woke up in an extremely good mood. She cuddled closer to her pillow, then she started thinking.

She couldn't remember her pillow being so warm. . . and hard. . . and smooth. . . and moving!

Her eyes sprang open to meet icy grey eyes. She sprang away from him yelling, “Oh my god, what the hell are you doing!”

“Staying on my side of the bed.”

Ginny started to argue with him and realized that he actually was on his side of the bed.

Ginny scoffed, “Well, you pulled me to your side!”

“Oh, no. you're not going to make this my fault, when all I did was obey you.”

“No, see, I would've stayed on my side if it weren't for you!”

“You're in denial.”

“No I am not!”

Draco rolled his eyes, “Okay, Ginny. I pulled you to my side of the bed. You win. You're right. All hail Ginny.”

“Don't say I'm right just to make me shut up,” Ginny said in a motherly tone.

“Can I ever win with you?”

Ginny smirked, “If you get lucky.”

~*~

An hour later, Ginny finally convinced Draco to apparate her back to her apartment. She was not going to fly on that thing ever again!

After a few moments of `Thank yous' and “Your welcomes,' Draco finally left apartment.

As soon as her door was shut behind him, her smile faded into a look petrified terror.

She immediately apparated into Neville's apartment.

“Neville?”

She waited a few minutes before quietly yelling, “Neville,” again.

This time she heard rustling sounds and muttering coming from his bedroom. A few seconds later a very disgruntled looking Neville came into view.

“Ginny, I was taking a very nice nap.”

“Neville, I'm a complete idiot,” Ginny said in desperation.

“Why,” Neville asked flopping onto his couch.

Ginny sat beside him, “I went out on another date with him.”

“Is that why you think you're an idiot? It doesn't seem that stupid to me.”

“No. . . he took me to. . .”

“Spit it out, Ginny, you're killing me here.”

“He took me to America.”

“America,” Neville asked in shock.

“Yeah, and I was a complete and utter idiot! I was so nervous about getting on that flying thing, and then there was the moving box, they were so scary, and then he brought this cheesecake, and you know how I am about cheesecake, and I was so nervous, and he let me have a bite, and it was so creamy, and he wouldn't trade it for my maccaroni, so I stole it and ran into the bathroom and ate it really fast, and now he must think I'm the most immature person in the world and won't want to date me anymore,” Ginny said hurriedly.

“Ginny, calm down. You're not immature, you were just. . . excited and nervous because you like him. And he took you to America for a date for merlin's sake!”

“Wait, back up. I do not like him!”

“But I thought you were worried he wouldn't want to date you anymore.”

“Well. . . yeah. . . but. . . everyone wants people to like them . . .”

“But you don't like him,” Neville asked raising his eyebrows.

“Right, I don't!”

“So what are you going to do?”

“What should I do?”

“Um, I think if you're this worried about it, then you should just talk to him.”

“Talk to him,” Ginny asked unsurely.

Neville shrugged his shoulders, “Well, yeah.”

“Talk to him,” Ginny said to the space in front of her.

Neville just nodded slightly.

“I could do that tomorrow at work I suppose,” Ginny said more to herself than Neville.

“Sounds like a plan,” Neville said in a reassuring tone.

“Thanks,” Ginny smiled at him weakly.

“Do you need anything?”

Ginny shook her head, “No, not really. I'm just going to go shopping and clean my apartment.

“Alright, if you do need anything, just find me.”

“Thanks, Neville.”

~*~

After some grocery shopping and cleaning her apartment, Ginny was utterly exhausted.

She lounged on her bed and picked up her book from the night stand.

She started to open it, then paused and stared at the cover. She sighed and laid the book back down.

It was time for a new book.

She got up, got dressed, and walked down the street to the little bookshop.

She stood in the doorway for a moment as she looked at a little sign on a shelf that read `Romance Novels.'

She eventually looked away and found the sign that read `Mystery.' she walked over to the shelves, then went to the Muggle section. That was one thing she loved about this store, they carried Muggle novels too. Wizarding mysteries were so boring and monotonous.

She picked up a book whose author had three whole shelves to herself. It was Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie. It seemed interesting.

When she turned around she almost ran into Draco. Completely unprepared for his appearance, she gasped, “What are you doing here?”

He smirked, “I had a feeling you would be buying a new book tonight.”

She looked down at her book and smiled just a little, “Yeah, I decided it was time.”

“I also noticed it's not a romance novel,” he said quietly, not intending it to be a snide comment, and thankfully, she didn't take it that way.

“Um, yeah,” she looked up at him, “I thought I would read something new.”

Draco smiled and gently took the book from her, “Sleeping Murder, sounds interesting. You do know this is a Muggle book, right?”

“Yeah, wizard mysteries are boring.”

Draco took her lower arm in his hand and led her to the counter. He tossed a couple of galleons into the woman's hand, then he turned to Ginny, “So, can I be a gentleman and walk you home?”

She smirked, “I don't know.”

Draco furrowed his eyebrows, “Why?”

“I don't know if I should let the Devil follow me home.”

Draco smirked a little too, “And what is wrong with that?”

“What would my mother think?”

“I'm sure we can leave her in the dark. Besides, playing with the Devil is so much more fun than being a good girl.”

Ginny let her smirk grow into a smile, “I guess you're right.” She hooked her arm into his and he led her back to her apartment.

When they got there, they stood outside her door awkwardly. Ginny finally looked at him and said, “Um, would you like to come in for a little while?”

He looked at her seriously, “Are you trusting me? Completely?”

Ginny looked at him warily, but decided, “Yes, I'm trusting you.”

Draco seemed happy when he said, “Then I would love to come in for a while.”

Ginny started to open the door then turned around. Draco was so close she could smell his cologne and a hint of the mint in his breath.

Ginny stammered, “But. . . you can come in on one condition.”

Draco smirked and raised his eyebrows.

Ginny took a deep breath and said, “No funny business.”

He leaned in closer to her, pressing his chest to hers and whispering in her ear quietly, “Are you sure?”

He leaned back just enough to look in her eyes, but left their noses only an inch apart.

Ginny shivered and stared at him and started to shake slightly, “Um. . .”

Draco's seductive face formed a tiny smirk as he lowered his lips onto hers.

A/N: Come on. . . you know you want to push that review button!!!!

-->

8. 8. Nothing is Something

A/N: Hey, I know this is really short, but I'm still typing, so maybe this weekend or early next week. Cross your fingers!

Chapter 8

Draco's seductive face formed a tiny smirk as he lowered his lips onto hers.

It was slow and sensuous, and when he pulled away, she didn't want him to.

He just looked at her, his expression blank, not letting her know if he wanted more or not.

That thought made her nervous so she decided to stop it herself, to save her feelings if he had planned to reject her.

“Um, I don't think I'm ready for anything else tonight,” she said quietly.

He nodded, “Do you want me to go?”

She looked at him for a moment then just shook her head and opened the door.

Draco followed her slowly and shut the door behind him.

She was in the kitchen when she asked loudly so he could her here from the living room, “Do you want some French Vanilla Cappuccino?”

She could hear the smirk in his voice when he replied, “Let me guess, with French Vanilla cream?”

She laughed as she came through the kitchen doorway carrying two mugs, “Of, course.”

“I didn't say I wanted a cup.”

“Well, I just assumed.”

“What if you assumed wrong?”

“Then I'll have to ask you to drink it anyway, so as not to hurt my little feelings,” Ginny said with a fake pout. Then she smiled and handed him the cup.

He smiled back and took it from her. He raised his eyebrows is surprise when he tasted it, “It's better than what I thought it would be.”

“See, you just got to give things a chance.”

“I'm giving things a chance,” he said in a suddenly serious tone, “Are you?”

Ginny knew what he meant and nodded slowly, “Maybe, I don't think it's hurting anyone. . . yet.”

Draco looked confused, “Who's going to get hurt, Ginny?”

Ginny looked at her hands and didn't say anything.

Draco lifted her chin with the tips of his fingers, “Do you think I'm going to hurt you, Ginny?”

Ginny reluctantly looked at him, “I don't know. I don't think so, but sometimes. . . sometimes. . .”

“Sometimes you think I haven't changed, or that I'll change my mind now,” Draco finished for her.

“I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't want to hurt your feelings.”

“Come on, a Malfoy? Feelings? Whoever heard of that,” he said with a playful laugh.

Ginny tried not to smile, “Draco, I'm being serious.”

Draco stopped laughing and said, “I know. I understand. I was a. . .” he stopped searching for the right word.

“A bastard,” Ginny finished for him.

“Well, I was going to go with prick,” he put on a sad face, “Your word was hurtful.”

“I thought you didn't have feelings,” Ginny said lightly pushing his shoulder.

He suddenly straightened his face, “That's right, I don't.”

Ginny patted his head as she stood to take their cups to the kitchen, “You keep telling yourself that.”

When she got to the kitchen, she let out a breath that she had been holding. Her stomach was in knots. She was so nervous. She leaned against the cabinet and held her stomach. She had to calm down. That kiss was amazing, but she was sure to mess this crazy relationship up if she wasn't careful.

Draco noticed she had set her book onto her coffee table, so he picked it up and, out of curiosity, he flipped it open to the first page and began to read.

He was on the fourth page when Ginny had finally calmed herself down enough to return to the living room.

She stopped in front of him with her hands on her hips, “Are you reading my book?”

Draco finished the sentence he was on, then looked up at her, “Yes, does that bother you?”

“Yes, it's my book. You can borrow it once I'm done. Maybe. I can become obsessive over my books.”

Draco scoffed, “Obviously,” he said referring to her romance novel.

“Don't make fun of me,” she said in a playfully defensive tone.

“Well, anyway, I bought the book, so if I wanted to be cruel, I could say it was mine and take it with me.”

Ginny was taken aback she had forgotten she let him buy her the book. She thought for a moment then said, “Fine, how about every night we read a chapter together?”

Draco stood up and stood in front of her, “Are you asking me to come here every night and read you the book?”

“Well, yes and no. I'm asking you to come over and we can switch nights on reading it aloud.”

Draco nodded and smiled, “That sounds like a great idea.”

“Great, hang on a second,” Ginny turned around and went into her bedroom.

She got into her pajamas and jumped into the bed and under the covers, “Draco, bring the book and come here!”

Draco was a little confused, but he grabbed the book and headed to her room anyway. He knocked, there was no way he would make his earlier mistake by not knocking again.

“Come in,” Ginny said, and Draco poked his head in tentatively. She waved him over and patted the bed.

He walked around to the other side and just stood with a questioning look on his face.

“It's okay, Draco. I just like to read in bed. I trust you.”

He slowly sank onto the bed and sat beside her, on top of the covers of course.

And that was the beginning of their ritual. Every night Draco would show up at her apartment with two pieces of cheesecake, and Ginny would have two steaming cups of French Vanilla cappuccino sitting on her night stand. They would take turns reading the chapter and would talk for at least an hour afterwards.

Nothing else ever happened.

It was really starting to piss her off.

Seriously, was he not interested in her anymore? Is this the point where she got hurt?

~*~

Two Weeks Later

~*~

Ginny was trudging up the stairs to Draco's office. She didn't really want to be doing this because the last time she came up here she ended up in America.

Pansy looked up and smiled, “So, are you in love with him yet?”

“No,” Ginny replied back a little to quickly.

Pansy's smile grew, “Oh, yes you are!”

“No, really, I'm not.”

“Well, you think you might be.”

Ginny didn't say anything, so Pansy's smile turned into a knowing smirk.

“So, do you want to know what he said?”

Ginny instantly knew what she was talking about, “Yes, I do.”

“You have to tell me why you and Harry broke up first.”

“No, that's not fair. Why do you want to know?”

“Because I just do. If you and Harry broke up for some stupid reason, then what is the point of even telling you my secret?”

Ginny wasn't exactly sure what point Pansy was trying to make. She stood there a moment to see if Pansy would say something, or just tell her anyway.

When Pansy made no move to tell her, Ginny sighed, “Okay, fine, I'll tell you.”

Pansy leaned forward in her chair in triumph and concentrated on what Ginny was saying.

“Just before the war started, Harry went crazy and was so paranoid of everything. He wouldn't let me do anything. I couldn't even leave the house! I couldn't owl or floo anybody, he just basically cut me off from the world for months. Then after the war, he just went into this pit of depression, and Hermione came to his rescue and they fell in love. I think.”

“You think they fell in love?”

“Well, he told me he was in love with her and I haven't talked to her about it.”

“Why?”

“It's awkward.”

“Well, why?”

“Because she stole my fiancÃ©, but freed me from his prison too.”

Pansy just nodded, “That makes sense. Well, were you in love with him?”

Ginny hesitated, then said, “No, I wasn't.”

This confused Pansy just a little, “Then why were you with him?”

“I thought I was, and maybe I was. . . until he went crazy.”

“So you're not in love with him now?”

“No.”

“Are you two friends?”

Ginny pondered the question for a second the said, “We could be. . .”

“If. . .?”

“If I talked to him.”

“Ah-ha.”

Ginny stood there in silence for a few minutes. She grew impatient and finally asked, “So what does he say?”

Pansy smirked and leaned forward toward Ginny in a conspiratorial manner. Ginny instinctively leaned forward too.

Pansy whispered, “Nothing.”

Ginny was slightly shocked, and hurt to be honest.

“Nothing,” Ginny asked, trying to be nonchalant.

“Exactly,” Pansy leaned back, “He doesn't say a word, and trust me, that is saying something.”

“Saying nothing is not saying something! It's saying nothing!”

“But it means something, even if it's saying nothing.”

“Why? How is that great? That I'm not good enough for even one nasty comment of his? That he's just leading me on?”

Pansy put her hand up to stop Ginny from talking, “Sweetheart, when does Draco Malfoy not have anything to say?”

Ginny thought about it and said, “Never,” with a hint of realization in her voice.

Pansy pursed her lips in a satisfied manner, “Never.”

A/N: Okay, okay, please review! I love them, and they give me encouragement. You want the next chapter sooner, right?

-->

9. 9. Tests

A/N: Okay, did anyone notice the significance in Ginny buying a new book? Anybody? I hope you guys did, because no one reviewed about it. . . just wondering because that was an important step for their relationship. . .

Anyway, you guys may consider this to be short, but it's really just a filler chapter, I'm trying to find a way to wrap it up. Any suggestions? Mild suggestions, please. . . ones that I can build on and kind of make my own. .

Enough of the author's note, and on with the chapter!

Chapter 9

Pansy put her hand up to stop Ginny from talking, “Sweetheart, when does Draco Malfoy not have anything to say?”

Ginny thought about it and said, “Never,” with a hint of realization in her voice.

Pansy pursed her lips in a satisfied manner, “Never.”

Just then, Pansy's phone beeped, and Draco's voice rang out into the waiting room, “Pansy, is she on her way already? I'm dying here!”

Pansy lifted her finger to her mouth to indicate that Ginny should be quiet and then said to the speaker phone, “Why are you always so impatient, I'm sure she's busy. She will probably be here any moment now.”

“No, she is not busy, she isn't at her desk!”

“Have you been watching her again?”

“Shut it, Pansy. I can't help it. Any day I'll fuck everything up and she'll have nothing to do with me, so let me obsess if I fucking want too!”

“Okay, okay. I'm sorry, just stop freaking out, I'm sure she'll fall in love with you soon.”

“Well, it better be soon or I'm going to go insane!”

“Shhhhh, she's coming,” Pansy whispered, then she shut the speaker off.

“Now, isn't nothing something?”

Ginny nodded. She was a little shocked by what she had heard, “What do I do, Pansy?”

“Just go see what he wants, then decide.”

Ginny nodded and headed for his office doors.

Draco sat almost at the edge of his seat, “Hey, Ginny. How are you?”

“I'm okay,” she said quietly, not really sure what else to say.

Draco furrowed his eyebrows, “You seem nervous, are you really okay?”

Ginny forced a smile, “Yeah, but um. . . the last time I came here I ended up in America.”

Draco smiled, “Yeah, that was a great time.”

Ginny nodded in agreement, then, before the tension rose between them, she asked, “So, what am I here for this time?”

He picked up a book off of his desk and held it up in his hand, “Look what I got us.”

Ginny walked up to the desk and took the book. It was And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie.

Ginny smiled, “Great, we're on the last chapter of the other one.”

“So, I'll see you tonight?”

Ginny, slightly disappointed, nodded and walked out of the office.

~*~

It was his turn to read that night, and Ginny decided that it was time.

Time for what?

She didn't know, but she knew it was time for something. Anything.

So, she told him if he was cold he could get under the blanket. . .

She scooted closer to him. . .

She looked into his eyes. . .

She stared at his lips. . .

She did everything she knew to do. . .

And the bastard was oblivious. . .

What else is she supposed to do?

So, she just said it. . .

“When are you going to do something,” Ginny nearly shouted at him.

He jumped mid-sentence and looked at her in bewilderment, “What?”

“Am I not desirable? Am I not pretty? What is wrong with me?”

“Why. . . why would you think that,” he asked nervously.

“Because I have given you hints and you are completely oblivious!”

“Well, not completely oblivious. . . I have noticed. . .”

“Then what the hell are you doing here,” Ginny said, willing herself not to cry for being so stupid. She knew she shouldn't have fallen in love with him, life was never fair to her when it came to love.

“I'm trying to be a gentlemen and not force myself on you,” Draco said defensively, “I didn't know you wanted to move so fast.”

“I don't want to move fast!”

“Then why are you freaking out? Do you want to sleep with me?”

“No! I mean I don't know. Not right now, but you can't just kiss me and then act like nothing happened. Do you want to sleep with me?”

“Yes! I mean, not right now, when you're ready. Are you ready?”

“No, I just want some sign of interest, that's all.”

“I come over here everyday, and you think that I have no interest in you?”

“Not romantically. You haven't done anything since that kiss, so I thought you had changed your mind.”

Draco relaxed and looked into her eyes, “No, you said you weren't ready. I made the first move, and you weren't ready, so I thought you would make the next.”

Ginny nodded to show that she understood and said, “Well, kiss me.”

Draco smirked and kissed her softly. The kiss deepened, and when they broke apart, Ginny whispered, “We might want to finish the chapter tomorrow.”

Draco nodded and stood up. He kissed her forehead and said, “Goodnight, Ginny.”

She smiled, “Goodnight, Draco.”

~*~

Ginny got up and apparated to Neville's apartment.

He was sitting on the couch waiting for her, so she just sat down beside him.

He grinned at her, “So, did you do it?”

She just nodded.

“Does he know you overheard him talking to Pansy?”

She shook her head, still smiling.

“So what was the point in your plan?”

“To let him know that I'm interested, and to kiss him.”

“So, what are you going to do now?”

“Keep kissing him.”

“Until. . .”

“I know I'm in love with him.”

“And then what are you going to do?”

Ginny's smiled widened, “More than kiss him!”

~*~

The next day, she didn't get any work done. All she did was daydream and look forward to getting home from work, just so she could wait some more.

But tonight, was another test she had prepared for Draco, he just didn't know it yet.

“Hermione, do you know the spell to change my hair back to my natural color,” Ginny asked her just before leaving the office.

Hermione looked up from her work, a little shocked. They didn't talk much, so it surprised her a little, “Yeah, do you want me to do it?”

Ginny smiled in relief and replied, “Yes, please.”

Hermione simply lifted her wand and poof, no more blonde hair.

Ginny looked at it and said, “Thanks Hermione.”

Hermione smiled back, “No problem. I'll see you tomorrow?”

Ginny nodded and waved good- bye.

She went to the bar before returning home and liked the shock Neville greeted her with.

“I thought you liked your hair,” he said to her as she sat down.

“I did, this is a test for Draco.”

“Okay, how are you testing him?”

“Well, I'm a Weasley, and I was lacking my Weasley trait. Maybe it will trigger some covered hatred for me.”

Neville looked confused, “Do you want him to hate you?”

“No, I want him to like me for me, not someone else.”

“But you were still the same when you had blonde hair.”

Ginny rolled her eyes, “What is it with guys not understanding anything?”

“What is it with women and their tests? Leave us alone, because you set us up to fail!”

“I'm not setting him up to fail,” Ginny argued.

“We'll see.”

Ginny stood up to leave, “Well, I have faith in him!”

“That makes one of us.”

Ginny just glared at him and left the bar.

~*~

Draco knocked on the door, and Ginny jumped up to answer it.

When she flung open the door, she studied his face to see his first initial reaction.

He raised his eyebrows and cocked his head to the side, “Get tired of being blonde?”

Ginny just nodded, still trying to read his reactions.

He walked past her and said, “Good, too much longer and you would've turned into a dumb blonde.”

Ginny feigned hurt and said, “Hey, I'm not dumb!”

“Well, now you're not. I was wondering when you were going to turn your hair back.”

“Well, do you like it,” she asked confused.

He shrugged and turned back to her, “You look like you used to.”

She put her hands on her hips, getting ready to be angry, “Does that mean you don't like it?”

“No, it goes better with your freckles,” he said nonchalantly while heading to her bedroom with the cheesecake.

Ginny smiled to herself and followed him, “I'm glad you like it. It's great to be me again.”

Draco sat on the bed and grinned at her, “Yeah, now I feel like I'm actually dating Ginny Weasley, and not some new random woman I met on the street.”

Ginny chuckled, “Um, actually, you met me by attacking me in a dark hallway. That's very different from the street.”

“Well, if I had met you on the street, I wouldn't have chased you down, and therefore, we would not be dating.”

Ginny slowly sat down on the bed herself and asked thoughtfully, “We're dating?”

Draco furrowed his eyebrows and looked at her, “What do you think we're doing?”

She smiled and brushed a lock of platinum hair from his face, “I guess we're dating.”

Draco stared into her eyes for what seemed like hours, he took a deep breath, looked away, and said, “Well, time to finish this book!”

A/N: Okay, you guys beg me for new chapters, so I'm gonna beg you for reviews!!!

-->

10. 10. Stupid Men

A/N: Okay, this was a quick update, but I need more time to write the next chapter! So, don't maul me! I think the next chapter is going to be a big one!

Chapter 10

“Honey, it's just so great that you've changed your hair back. We've all been so worried about you.”

“Mom, only you have been worried about me because you want me home. But I'm still fine.”

“No, I'm not the only one, Ron has been worried about you too.”

Ginny rolled his eyes, “Of course he is.”

“And what is that supposed to mean young lady?”

Ginny could just imagine her mother's hands on her hips on the other side of the fire, and fought the urge to roll her eyes again. She took a calming breath and said, “Mother, anytime he wants to speak to me, or see me, he always has Harry with him. So I don't talk to Ron, and I don't see him.”

“Well, why don't you want to talk to him? No one knows what happened between you two.”

“Well, it's no one's business!”

“Well, honey you disappeared months before the war and it was a long time afterwards before you turned up again. Your family deserves to know!”

“I'm not discussing this with you. It's my business!”

“Did you cheat on Harry?”

Ginny stared at her mother with her mouth hanging open in shock and indignation, “I cannot believe you!” Ginny stood up and stomped out of the apartment, leaving her mother desperately calling her name.

~*~

Ginny stormed into Emerald Enterprises in a foul mood. She sat down hard in her chair with a scowl on her face, and started shoving papers around on her desk.

Hermione watched her for a few minutes and said, “Um, Ginny? Mr. Malfoy wanted to see you.”

Ginny stared at Hermione and debated yelling at her. Ginny decided to keep shoving papers around on her desk.

“Um, Ginny? Aren't you going to go?”

Ginny slammed her hands down on her desk, “Hermione, do you always have to butt into people's business? Just leave me alone for once! Sometimes people don't need your help!”

Ginny stood up and stomped out of the room to go to Mr. Malfoy's office.

When she got up to the little waiting room, Pansy was reading a magazine, like always.

Pansy looked up and said, “Whoa, you're murky. Do you want me to cleanse your aura?”

“Leave my aura alone,” Ginny snapped at her.

Pansy shrugged and went back to looking at her magazine, “Fine, be murky.”

Ginny's shoulders slumped, “Sorry, Pansy.”

“That's okay.”

Ginny furrowed her eyebrows at her, “Were you ever this nice in school?”

Pansy shrugged again and said, “No, I was a bitch.”

Ginny grinned, “Oh, that's right.”

“I'm not sure if he's in there or not, I think he might've snuck past me. You can still check though.”

Ginny nodded and continued to his office.

She entered Draco's office and saw that he wasn't there. Curious, she began to look around.

I'm not snooping, I'm just browsing, she convinced herself. She wandered over to the window and looked down at the street.

She watched people trying to drag their shopping bags around for a few moments, then, just when she was about to turn away, she spotted bright blonde hair.

She did a double take and realized that it was Draco.

And he was hugging another woman and kissing her cheeks.

She watched them for a moment while they talked. She would laugh and casually put her hand on his arm. It made her sick.

After a few more times of her placing her hands on his arm, Ginny was ready to go down there and hex her to death.

But then he placed his hand on her lower back and led her off down the street, and out of sight.

~*~

Ginny wasn't going to cry. She really wasn't. She was too mad to cry.

She came out of his office and walked up to Pansy's desk.

Pansy looked up at her and said, “Wow, what happened?”

“He wasn't in there.”

“Is that bad?”

“Well, it wouldn't have been, until I seen him on the street through his window.”

Pansy sat there waiting for her to continue, and when she didn't, Pansy waved her hand in a circular motion to tell her to get on with it.

“He was talking to another woman. He hugged her and kissed her cheeks, and they were talking. She would laugh and put her hand on his arm. Then he put his hand on her lower back and led her off down the street!”

“Okay, don't panic! I have an idea. You know the party that the Daily Spell throws every year?”

“Yeah, I had to go when I worked there.”

“Are you willing to be a Slytherin for a while?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are you willing to be a sly, mischievous bitch?”

Ginny wasn't really sure so she asked, “Why?”

“Because, honey. You got to make him realize that you are who he wants. You need to make him insanely jealous!”

“Okay, how do I do that?”

“I'm going to give you a make-over, and you are going to show up with a hot date.”

“Like who?”

Pansy smirked, “Blaise Zabini.”

~*~

She was sitting on Neville's couch sipping Muggle vodka.

Neville was watching her, waiting for a chance to snatch the bottle and hide it.

“I don't know what to do! I'm in love with him and then I find him with that woman. What is wrong with me Neville? Harry and now him. I think I have a beacon for this type actions.”

Neville sighed, they had been through this after the `Harry Incident.'

He put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Ginny, it's nothing you did. Men can be jerks. And who knows, maybe it's not what you think.”

“But what if it's exactly what I think? You're not a jerk, why couldn't I have fallen in love with you?”

“Well, find out if it's what you think, and for the other thing, that would be weird. And you're drunk, why don't I just take that. . .”

He snatched the bottle and Ginny just started laughing.

“And guess what I'm doing tomorrow night? I'm going to the Daily Spell party! With Blaise Zabini! Isn't that hilarious?!”

She burst out laughing again, while Neville just stared at her, “You are going to the party with Blaise Zabini? Why?”

“To make Draco jealous of course,” she exclaimed as she once again burst into giggles.

But suddenly she stopped, “Oh man, Neville. I need a Sober Potion now, I gotta get back to my apartment!”

Neville sighed in relief and got up to fetch the potion.

Once she gulped it down, she apparated to her apartment. She put up apparition wards, cut off the floo network, sat down on her couch, and waited.

~*~

When he knocked on her door, she let herself remember what he had done, and slung open the door with anger evident on her face.

Draco was standing there with a box of cheesecake, and was grinning until he saw her face. His grin disappeared instantly and he asked, “What's wrong?”

“What's wrong? You are what's wrong,” she screamed at him and slammed the door in his face.

He stood there in shock for a second, and then the door opened long enough for Ginny to grab the box of cheesecake and slam it again.

He snapped out of his shock and yelled through door, “What did I do?”

“Don't even pretend like you don't know,” she yelled through the door.

“Whatever, you know, I was going to invite you to go to a party with me, but maybe I won't take you,” he threatened.

“That's great because I'm already going with someone else!”

“What?!”

“Yeah, that's right! So you just run along and I'll see you tomorrow night at the party!”

“Fine!”

“Fine!”

A/N: I KNOW, I KNOW! It's super short, but I need more time to write the next chapter like I mentioned at the top! So much pressure. . .

And leave a review to give me inspiration to write FASTER!

-->

11. 11. Ready

A/N: Okay, here it is! I hope I did okay. . . Enjoy!

Chapter 11

The next morning, Pansy was filing her fingernails at her desk when Draco yelled, “Fuck,” making Pansy jump and look at him.

“What is it, darling,” Pansy asked, trying to hide her smirk.

“Well, Pansy I told you I would fuck it up, but I don't know what in the world I did!”

“Oh! I forgot, I have to go to her apartment this morning,” Pansy got up, gathered her purse and started to leave.

“What do you mean? She's not coming to work?”

“No, I'm going to her house.”

“You two are supposed to be working!”

“What are you gonna do, Drakie? Fire me,” Pansy asked while walking out of the door.

“Yeah, that's what I should do!”

Pansy just laughed and said while continuing out the door, “See you at the party Draco!”

~*~

“Okay, so what are you going to do to me?”

Pansy just laughed and said, “Ginny, don't worry! We're going shopping!”

“Pansy, I don't have that much money! I can't just go shopping!”

“Don't worry,” she held up a rectangular plastic card, “We're going Muggle shopping, and this is Draco's credit card!”

“Credit card?”

“It's Muggle money, don't worry about it, especially since it's Draco's!”

“Okay, if you insist. . .”

~*~

It was almost four o'clock before they returned with shopping bags.

“Pansy, I'm so tired I don't think I can make it through the party,” Ginny said as she flopped onto her couch.

Pansy waved her hand at her, “Nonsense, this is essential! Come on, let's get you ready!”

Ginny sighed and followed Pansy into her bathroom.

“Okay, let's do your make- up first,” Pansy said, pulling out silver and gold eye shadow.

“Whoa, I didn't pick out any make-up.”

“I know, I did. Trust me, this will go great with the black dress.”

“But I don't like the black dress,” Ginny said, trying not to whine.

“Well, I think you look sexy in it! That's the point of this party, to look sexy! And, I'm sorry, but pink is not sexy, and it doesn't go with your hair. Are you sure we can't dye it?”

“Yes, remember, he has to like me for who I am. And that includes my Weasley hair.”

“Okay, if you insist. . .”

Ginny smiled at her and said, “I really appreciate this, Pansy.”

Pansy smiled back, “No problem.”

~*~

A little while later Pansy was admiring Ginny in the mirror.

“I don't know Pansy, this dress is so. . . revealing. . . I don't think I have enough confidence to wear something like this!”

The dress was long and elegant with a slit on the right side that reached to over half of her thigh. The back was cut out and reached to the bottom of her tail-bone (Ginny had protested this at first by saying, “Pansy, if I move too much you'll see my crack!”).

It was a halter top, and dipped down below her breasts to the middle of her stomach. It clung to everything Ginny had, and caused her to have a slight problem breathing. With her hair done in a high bun, and her black strappy stiletto heels, Ginny looked like she stepped out of a magazine.

“Honey, you can pull this dress off, trust me! You look stunning!”

“Thanks, Pansy. You did a great job.”

“I know, I know, now come on! We have to meet Blaise there!”

~*~

Draco was in a fowl mood. He had know idea what happened between them. He thought everything was going great with Ginny.

So why was he here at the party with Emilia instead?

He hadn't even worn his best suit. What was the point?

~*~

Ginny was so nervous she couldn't stand it. She never like Blaise Zabini, and here she was attending the biggest party of the year with him instead of Draco!

He was just a couple of inches shorter than Draco, but still a head taller than Ginny. Her stilettos put her almost eye-level with him. He had jet black hair that fell into his eyes, which were the color of a pine tree.

She had to admit he was handsome, however, he was more rugged, where Draco was aristocratic.

She had her arm hooked through his and had a fake smile plastered across her face. She made small talk with her old co-workers, while Blaise paraded her around like she was actually his girlfriend.

She could easily see everyone in the room, since there were practically no decorations. There were just a few balloons and streamers here and there, but they made up for with a fabulous mini-bar.

Then she saw Draco across the room. He didn't look like he was enjoying himself, and that made her just a little happy.

Then she saw that woman hooked onto his arm, talking to him like he was actually listening.

She stood there watching them for a moment, when Blaise noticed where she was staring, and for an unknown reason, he stared too.

After a few more minutes, Draco noticed them. He eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger.

He started to stalk over toward them, dragging the insufferable blonde behind him.

Draco just stared at Blaise, and the woman smiled an evil smile at Ginny.

She was wearing a blood red dress that was floor length, long sleeves, and had a collar to boot. “I know I look better than her,” Ginny thought to herself.

She held out her hand and said, “Well, hello. My name is Emilia, what's yours?”

“Ginevra,” Ginny managed to ground out, not taking her hand.

“How. . . nice. . .” she pulled her hand back, then turned her attention to Blaise saying, “Well, Blaise how nice to see you again,” she smiled as she looked down at his crotch and back up to his eyes.

Draco noticed and scowled even more.

“What's your problem, Malfoy, don't like my date,” Ginny snapped at Draco.

“No, do you like mine,” he retorted.

“No, who is she?”

Emilia had caught what they were saying and said, “Um, excuse me I'm standing right here.”

Ginny ignored her and raised her eyebrows at Draco, “Well?”

“She is an ex- girlfriend of mine.”

Ginny was a little shocked, she had been hoping that she was some long lost cousin, but life just isn't fair.

“Oh really? What happened? Did you cheat on her too?”

Draco glared at Ginny, then scowled at her date, “No, she cheated on me.”

Ginny didn't let her surprise show on her face, “Really? With who?”

Blaise looked down at her and said, “With me.”

~*~

Pansy entered the party a little after everyone else. She believed in the concept of `fashionably late.'

However, on this one occasion, she wished she had come earlier.

Across the room, she could see Ginny, Blaise, Draco, and, “Oh Merlin. . . is that. . . Emilia?!”

Pansy rushed across the room, as fast as he could in stilettos, and stood beside Ginny, “Hi, Ginny,” she said looking at Emilia, “We need to talk.”

“Oh, no, Pansy, it's okay, she already knows,” Draco said through clenched teeth.

“Oh, hi Draco, um how are you?”

“I'm just peachy, Parkinson, how are you?”

“Um. . . great! Thanks for asking. . .”

“Yeah, I bet you are, give me my credit card.”

“What? Oh. . . right. . . here.”

Draco snatched it from her outstretched fingers.

“Thanks Pansy.”

“No problem, Ginny, seriously we need to talk.”

Emilia, who had been making eyes at Blaise the entire time, said, “It's okay. . . Pansy. . . is it? We'll just take our conversation elsewhere.”

Emilia smiled evilly at Ginny, grabbed Blaise's arm and they walked away to get a snack from the food bar.

Ginny, Draco, and Pansy just stood in an awkward silence for a few moments before Pansy said, “Wow, look at that mini- bar, I'll be back!”

So it was just Ginny and Draco.

Draco eventually looked at her and said, “So, is that what I did wrong?”

“Yeah, how did you guess?”

“I didn't do anything with her, Ginny.”

“How can I be sure? I saw you two being all cuddly together in Diagon Alley!”

Draco sighed, “I know what you saw may not have been innocent to you, but I'm buying her father's business, and I have to be nice to her or I'll be spending double his original price for me.”

“So. . . you were just being nice to her because you're buying her father's business?”

“Yes.”

“And you had a relationship, but now it's over?”

“Yes.”

“Because she cheated on you.”

“Yes.”

“With Blaise?”

“Yes.”

“Blaise Zabini?”

“Yes.”

“The guy I came to the party with?”

“Yes.”

“Were you in love with her?”

Draco shrugged, “I cared for her, yes. Given time, I could've loved her, but no, it never got that far.”

Relief flooded through Ginny at those words, “Right, so. . .”

“I believe you owe me an apology.”

Ginny was taken aback, he was right, but apologize? That was intense, that was admitting she was wrong. She had never admitted she was wrong, to anyone.

“I think you're right.”

Now it was Draco's turn to be taken aback, “Really?”

“Yes, I owe you an apology. I overreacted, and I was paranoid, and for that I'm sorry.”

Draco smiled, “I accept your apology. By the way, you look stunning.”

“Well, I had to be stunning to make you jealous.”

“It worked. I had to have a date to this thing to make you jealous.

Ginny smiled, “It worked.”

“Do you want to leave and get something to eat?”

“Yeah! Let's get out of here.”

“What do you want to eat?”

Ginny thought for a moment and said, “Hot dogs.”

Draco raised his eyebrows in surprise, “Are you sure?”

Ginny nodded and Draco said, “Okay, let's go.”

He wrapped his arms around her and they apparated.

He apparated them behind a sub shop, and they went inside to eat. Ginny had three hotdogs, and Draco just had a sandwich.

Once Ginny was done with her third hot dog Draco asked, “Where do you put all of that food?”

Ginny smiled sheepishly and shrugged, “I have great metabolism.”

Draco smiled and, after a few moments, said, “Would you like to finish our book now?”

Ginny brightened at the idea, “Yes, that's a great idea!”

~*~

She was really trying to concentrate.

She really was.

But all she wanted to do was kiss him.

So she closed her eyes and just listened to him read the last few pages.

When he finally got to the end, he shut the book and looked down at her.

She smiled and sat up saying, “Wow, that wasn't what I expected at all,”

Draco didn't say anything. He just leaned in and kissed her deeply.

When he pulled back, he had a little smile on his face.

He started to get out of the bed, but Ginny held onto his hand.

“Draco, I'm ready.”

Draco just stared at her.

“Draco. . . are you okay?”

Draco kept staring at her and she shifted slightly under his scrutiny.

“Are you sure, Ginny?”

She pulled him in for a kiss, and nodded against his lips.

Ginny started to let herself lie back onto the bed with him on top of her when he pulled back and said, “Ginny. . . do you love me?”

“Yes, Draco. I love you.”

“I love you too,” and he climbed on top of her, kissing her like there was no tomorrow.

~*~

A/N: And well. . . you know. . . anyway, make sure and leave me a review! They're like candy!!

-->

12. 12. What Luck

Chapter 12

The next morning, Draco woke up with a smile on his face. He looked down at Ginny, who had her head resting on his shoulder, and noticed that she was fast asleep.

He raised his arm slowly to remove it from under her head. When her head slid onto the pillow, he laid there holding his breath, waiting for her to wake up.

When she didn't', he got up and went into her bathroom to take a shower.

~*~

Molly popped her head into the living room. She listened for a moment and was about to call Ginny's name, when she heard her coming from her room.

Molly was about to greet her daughter good morning, when a man came out of the room instead.

A naked man.

A naked man who was damp from taking a shower.

He had a towel and was hand drying his hair, so she couldn't see his face.

She gasped and the man stopped dead in front of her and slowly lowered the towel from his face.

His eyes were wide, and Molly's own eyes about fell out of her head.

It was Draco Malfoy, naked in her daughter's apartment.

~*~

Draco had just got out of the shower, and was going to the kitchen to make them some cappuccino. He was drying his hair with a towel, and as he got halfway across her living room, he heard a gasp.

He was sure it wasn't Ginny's. He slowly lowered his towel, and his eyes met Molly Weasley's.

Molly snapped out of her shock and said, “Oh. Merlin. What is going on here?”

Draco stared at her, not knowing what to say. He was naked for Merlin's sake!

Finally, he said the first thing that came to his mind, “I had permission!”

This didn't really go over Molly to well, and her face became blood red.

That scared Draco a little bit, so to try to do some damage control, he said, “I love her! I promise I do!”

Molly wasn't convinced and yelled, “GINNY!”

There was a loud thump, and Ginny came stumbling out of her bedroom with a sheet clutched to herself.

Ginny first saw a naked Draco in her living room, looking like he'd seen a ghost, then she looked into her fireplace to see none other than her mother's head.

Ginny froze in her doorway and just stared at her mother. She wasn't sure to be scared, or to be pissed.

She decided to be pissed.

“Mom! You have to stop popping into my apartment!”

“Well, it looks like I should be popping in more often!”

“Mom, no offense, but I'm a grown woman, and if I want to bring my boyfriend to my apartment for pleasure, I will!”

“Boyfriend?!”

“Yes, mother! Boyfriend, and I'm in love with him!”

“Is this who you cheated on Harry with?”

Draco's eyes widened when he saw the look of pure rage on Ginny's face.

Ginny was so furious that she couldn't see straight, “Mother, how many times do I have to tell you that it's none of your business?”

“You never answer the question so I assume you did cheat on him!”

That was it. Ginny was tired, so tired that she wasn't going to cover his ass anymore!

“Mom, I wasn't the one who cheated! He's with Hermione now! So stop asking me whether or not I cheated on your precious baby!”

Molly was definitely shocked, “He. . . he. . . cheated on you?”

Ginny pursed her lips in frustration, “Mom, I'm not telling you the whole story. I don't know if he did or not. We're not together anymore, so can we please just drop it?”

Molly looked apologetically to Draco, and then back to Ginny, “I'm sorry, dear. I really am. You have your own life now, and I guess I'm just not used to it. So, I'm guessing you had a good time at the party?”

Draco's face flushed a dark red for half of a second before he gained control again.

Ginny shrugged, “The party itself wasn't that great.”

Molly's eyes flicked to Draco. His eyes were a little wider than normal.

“I. . . I thought . . . the party was . . . okay. . .” he said trailing his sentence off, and Ginny noticed his voice was shaking ever so slightly.

Molly, trying to make a light conversation with him, said, “That must be bollocks, darling. Everyone know that the after- party is always more fun. Where did you guys go after the party?”

“Um, we came back here. . . Mom.”

“Oh, right. . .” Molly realized that Draco was still naked and said, “Well, I think I've stepped across some `Mother and daughter's boyfriend' lines, so I'm going. Have a good day,” and she popped out of the fireplace as fast as she could.

Ginny started laughing.

Draco looked over at her with a puzzled look on his face, “Why are you laughing?”

Ginny suppressed her giggles enough to get out, “You were standing there naked the whole time,” before bursting into giggles again.

Draco looked down again and said, “Fuck,” and almost lost enough control to run back to her bedroom, but not quite.

~*~

By lunchtime, Ginny had received an owl asking her to join the whole family at the Burrow the next day. Including Draco.

When she read the letter through again, she looked up at Draco and said, “Would you like to do me a favor?”

He looked up at her from the Daily Prophet and said, “Sure, what is it?”

“Come to dinner with me and my whole family at the Burrow,” she said simply, acting like it was no big deal.

“Um, never-mind. I don't want to do that one. Can I pick another favor, please?”

She gave him a stern look, “You're my boyfriend now, and my family now knows, so no you cannot pick another favor!”

Draco sighed and laid the paper down on the table, “They will kill me, Ginny! They don't like me remember?”

“I didn't like you, but now you're my boyfriend,” Ginny argued.

“And you almost killed me before we got this far!”

“No, I ran from you, I didn't try to kill you.”

“Ah, that's a technicality. You were a tease!”

“So were you,” Ginny shot back at him.

He smirked, “I'm a Malfoy, I'm too good looking not to be a tease!”

Ginny rolled her eyes, folded the letter, and said, “Get over it, you're coming with me,” while walking out of the kitchen.

Draco tossed down the paper, “I gotta find Pansy.”

~*~

“Pansy, I need you to write down my will.”

Pansy looked up from her magazine, “Your will?”

“Yes, my will because tomorrow I won't be alive.”

Pansy was sitting on her couch, but she got up to get out of Draco's pacing range, “Why won't you be alive?”

“Because they're going to kill me!”

“Who?”

“THE WEASLEYS!”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, Oh.”

“I think you just need to calm yourself, and be prepared for some heated arguments with her millions of brothers.”

Draco shot her a look, “Okay, Pansy, be of more help, please.”

“Well, be yourself. Well, not completely yourself, you can be an asshole, you know.”

“Thanks, Pansy.”

She smiled at him, “No problem. Listen, just try not to be rude, or sarcastic, and convince them that you really love their daughter/sister.”

Draco put up his hands, “Whoa, love?”

Pansy, in turn, put her hands on her hips, “Who are you kidding?”

Draco put his hands down with a sigh, “Yeah, you're right.”

~*~

Draco didn't show up to Ginny's flat until he absolutely had to. When he popped into her hallway, she had immediately opened the door, “Took you long enough! Come on, we're going to be late!”

~*~

Ginny had apparated them into her mother's kitchen. To Draco's surprise, it was empty.

Molly looked around, “Oh, hello Ginny dear. Everyone's out in the garden. It would be way too crowded in her with Harry and Hermione here too.”

Ginny just nodded and took Draco's hand to lead him outside. Draco managed to get a polite “Afternoon, Mrs. Weasley,” before Ginny had dragged him out of the house.

When they came into view of the table, everyone had immediately stopped talking when they realized that Draco Malfoy was standing in their garden holding Ginny's hand.

“Ginny, Ginny,” Draco whispered out of the corner of his mouth, “they're staring at me. What do I do? They're going to kill me.”

Ginny stole a glance at him and smirked before she said loudly, “Hi everyone! I'm sure you know my boyfriend, Draco.”

-->