Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters you may recognize from the wonderful world of Harry Potter, they all belong to the revered JK Rowling; I just like to play with them a little.
Author's Notes: Written for scarlettrayne2 for the Fall 2008 dgficexchange. Huge thank you to my beta, rainpuddle13, for her patience, commentary and skill.
TRUTH WILL OUT
THE CONTRACT
"Our bellies are full, so isn't it about time we got down to business?" Blaise asked, looking around at what was left of the veritable feast Ginny had prepared.
"I guess so," Ginny agreed.
"You included everything we spoke about this morning?" Draco inquired.
"Absolutely," Blaise answered, as he retrieved the contract he'd spent the morning preparing and a quill from his cloak.
"It's so romantic," Luna said dreamily.
Draco frowned in the direction of the blonde. "What is?"
"The two of you finding life partners for each other," Luna explained. "Only those closest to us can see what we really need."
"We're just-" Draco shook his head, deciding not to continue when the ditzy blonde gazed at him with a blank expression. "Never mind."
"Here you go," Blaise said, placing the contract on the table between Draco and Ginny.
"Very professional," Draco commented. The contract appeared just as any business agreement would with what appeared to be well-worded clauses and the like.
"Did you expect anything less?" Blaise queried.
"Of course not," Draco responded.
"You both need to sign it here." Blaise pointed to the two blank lines at the bottom of the parchment. "Once you do that, you're bound by the contract above."
Ginny picked up the quill laying next to the parchment and made ready to sign, but Draco snatched the quill out of her hand.
"You don't sign anything without reading it first, Weasley," Draco instructed. "Do you have any idea what may happen if you break the contract?"
"I trust Blaise," Ginny countered, reaching for the quill again.
Draco held his hand above his head and the quill, effectively, out of her reach. "More fool you then."
"Why would he do anything horrid to us?"
"Because it would amuse him," Draco replied, picking up the parchment. "We read first, then we sign, if we're happy with the contract."
She shook her head in disgust, but ceased her efforts to claim the quill. "Trust is the basis of friendship."
"Have you forgotten that I roomed with him for seven years at Hogwarts?" Draco asked. "I know what I'm doing."
"Fine. You read it, and when you're happy, we'll sign our lives away," Ginny muttered as she began clearing the table.
"Weasley, I wouldn't mind a bit more of that apple pie thing you made," Blaise said as she left the table.
"Sure, there's plenty left," Ginny answered, smiling. The apple pie she'd made had been a disaster; the top crust had fallen apart, so she'd turned it into an apple crumble of sorts and both men thought it was absolutely ingenious, not to mention delicious. "Draco, do you want another slice?"
"Please," Draco mumbled as his eyes roamed over the contract.
"I'll help," Luna offered, following Ginny into the kitchen empty handed.
Apart from the occasional mutter from Draco as he read the contract, the dining room was silent. Blaise knew better than to disturb him while he was concentrating on something as important as the consequences of what he was about to do.
Ginny only took a few minutes to serve the boys more dessert and return to the dining room. She placed the plates on the table and removed more dirty dishes.
"Thanks," Blaise whispered.
Draco made a non-committal grunt when he realized food had been placed in front of him.
"You're welcome," Ginny said before returning to the kitchen.
The next time Ginny returned to the table to continue clearing the mess Draco frowned at her. She poked her tongue at him and made certain that the two dishes she'd picked up clashed loud enough to irritate him, but not so hard that it would damage them.
"Weasley," Draco warned.
"Remind me to buy your secretary a gift," Ginny said, shaking her head at him. "Perhaps a medal would be appropriate."
"Whatever for?" Draco asked irritably.
"The woman deserves a medal for putting up with the grumpy bastard she works for," Ginny responded facetiously as she left the room.
Blaise laughed aloud. "She's got you there."
"Shut up," Draco grumbled, returning his full attention back to the contract.
One last snort from Blaise earned him a deadly glare from the blond wizard before the room fell silent again. There was a little noise coming from the kitchen as Ginny and Luna set the dishes to wash, but this didn't appear to bother Draco too much.
"Cup of tea would be nice, Weasley," Draco called as he placed the contract back on the table.
"You know where everything is," Ginny returned cheekily.
"I might, but you make the best cup of tea in Britain, and I don't want to insult you with my shameful effort," Draco answered.
"Do you actually think that'll work?" Ginny asked as she appeared in the doorway.
Draco shrugged. "It's worth a try."
"I'll make the tea," Luna offered from the other room.
"Thanks, Luna," Ginny replied as Draco's face screwed up.
"Make sure she remembers to put the tea in this time," Draco whispered.
"Leave her alone," Ginny snapped in a hushed tone.
"Well, tea without tea in it is just milky hot water," Draco responded, wrinkling his nose.
"She forgot once," Ginny insisted.
"That was one time too many," Draco told her seriously.
"Enough," Ginny hissed. "Now, did you find the contract acceptable?"
"There doesn't seem to be a problem with it," Draco answered pretentiously.
Ginny slapped his shoulder as she sat down.
"Oww!"
"I told you, I'm going to beat that attitude out of you eventually," Ginny said.
Blaise sniggered behind his hand. "You know, you should just take him into the alley and give him a good beating once-"
"She doesn't need any ideas from you," Draco growled.
"Just trying to be helpful," Blaise commented in a show of mock innocence.
"So we can sign it then?" Ginny enquired.
"I can't see why not," Draco said, and then cringed as he waited for the blow.
Ginny slapped him lightly. "A simple yes would have done."
"Don't you want to know the details?" Draco asked, utterly horrified that she already had the quill poised over the parchment.
"You said it was all right!"
"Yes, but you still need to decide whether you want to be party to such an agreement," Draco said patiently. "You should read it."
"Why don't you just tell me what I need to know?" Ginny returned impatiently.
"Fine," Draco grumbled. He picked up the contract and scanned it quickly for the most pertinent points. "Basically, we must find a selection of dates for each other and set up appointments to meet these people. We must be honest in our assessment of each candidate when we report back to the other or-"
"Or what?"
"Or we will be afflicted with colored skin," Draco finished.
Ginny frowned. "Colored skin?"
"I'm rather impressed with my creativeness," Blaise boasted. "Draco will turn red and gold, and you will turn green and silver."
"How long does it last?"
"Until you tell the truth," Blaise informed her.
"Impressive," Ginny complimented him.
"Thank you." Blaise preened.
"This contract is only good for thirty days," Draco added. "So from the day we sign we'll be bound until the thirtieth day has passed."
"I won't need thirty days to find you someone," Ginny complained. "I know exactly what I'm looking for."
"If we should find 'true love' before that time has elapsed, the contract then becomes void," Draco clarified.
"Sounds good to me," Ginny announced, reaching for the contract.
"You're sure?" Draco questioned, holding the parchment just out of her reach.
"Yes, I'm sure," Ginny assured him. "Unless you're going to chicken out."
"Not at all," Draco snapped, clearly affronted.
"Well, either sign it or hand it over, so I can sign it," Ginny demanded.
"Fine," Draco snarled, reaching into his breast pocket for a quill.
"With the one I provided, mate," Blaise instructed. "Magical contract, magical ink."
"Of course," Draco muttered, holding his hand out for the correct quill.
"Here you go," Ginny said. "Sign your heart into my capable hands."
A small frown flitted across Draco's brow, but it disappeared as he snatched the quill from Ginny's hand. In less than a second, he'd scrawled his signature on one of the vacant lines at the bottom of the contract. "Your turn."
Ginny smiled as she accepted the quill and pulled the contract across the table. Careful not to smudge Draco's signature, Ginny left her own mark on the page, and then passed the contract back to Blaise. "That didn't hurt a bit."
"Not yet at least," Draco mumbled.
"Aww, trust me, darling," Ginny crooned, reaching over to stroke Draco's head. "I know what's best for you."
Draco shrugged away from her hands. "You sound like my mother."
"We have a lot in common," Ginny stated matter-of-factly.
"What could you possibly have in common with my mother?" Draco asked incredulously.
"You," Ginny answered simply.
"All right, I'll give you that," Draco conceded. "I am rather important."
"In your own mind," Blaise muttered.
"Everyone is important," Luna said as she set the teapot on the table.
"Some more than others," Draco added.
"Stop it, or I shall be forced to poison your tea, rather than sweeten it," Ginny whispered.
"I'm terrified," Draco mocked almost silently.
Ginny sighed heavily and shook her head. Just to be certain that Luna hadn't forgotten to put the tea in the pot, Ginny poured everyone a cup. The last thing she needed right now was for Draco to have another excuse to be rude to her flat mate.
"Are you going to place advertisements in the Daily Prophet?" Blaise queried.
"I think that's probably the best way to proceed," Draco answered. "I took a glance at the personal columns this morning, and they seem quite popular."
Blaise nodded thoughtfully. "That'll give you two days to get your adverts sorted before the Prophet's office opens for submissions again."
"Why don't we have breakfast on Monday morning and place our ads before we go to work?" Draco suggested.
"Sounds like a plan." Ginny smiled across the table. "Of course, it'll have to be an early breakfast."
"No problem," Draco said casually. "What time does your shift start?"
"Eight o'clock."
"Breakfast at six-thirty then?"
"I'll be awake." Ginny grinned. "Will you?"
"Don't worry about me," Draco replied smugly. "I have servants to wake me up."
"If only we all had ugly, scaly creatures to give us a wake up call," Ginny mused humorously. "Mind you, they're probably a damn sight more attractive than some of the women you've woken up next to in the past."
"Ouch." Blaise chuckled.
Draco held his hand over his heart. "You wound me, Weasley."
"If the truth hurts…" Ginny trailed off, not feeling the need to finish the sentence.
"It's a wonder you two are friends at all," Blaise stated as Draco opened his mouth to respond to Ginny. "All you do is pick at each other."
"We do not," Ginny argued.
"You do too," Blaise countered. "You're constantly at each other's throats. I swear it's like watching an old married couple."
"Don't be ridiculous," Draco snapped.
Blaise shook his head sadly. "If you don't believe me, ask anyone."
"Luna?" Ginny prompted.
"I think it's sweet," Luna said. "You know each other so well that you can say anything to each other without being offensive."
"Sweet?" Draco almost choked. "Our-our-"
"Relationship?" Ginny offered.
"Yeah, that-that is sweet?" Draco finished.
"Yes," Luna answered as a confused frown crossed her face. "Why wouldn't it be sweet?"
"Because it's not," Draco protested vehemently. "It's anything but!"
"All right, I think we'll leave this conversation right there," Ginny interrupted strongly. "We wouldn't want anyone throwing a tantrum," she continued under her breath.
"On that note, I might get going," Blaise announced. "I have a date tonight."
"With your mother," Draco supplied derisively.
"At least I'm taking my mother, which is more than I can say for you," Blaise retorted.
"My father is escorting my mother," Draco pointed out. "This leaves me free to-"
"To come and keep me company," Blaise almost pleaded.
Draco pulled a face to convey his disgust at the idea.
"I know you were invited," Blaise pressed.
"I was," Draco confirmed. "But that doesn't mean I want to spend the evening having ugly, eligible women shoved down my throat by my mother and her friends."
"I'll protect you," Blaise offered.
"Where are you going tonight?" Ginny asked curiously.
"I told you last week, Weasley," Draco reminded her. "The Parkinson's are having a dinner party."
"Oh right." Ginny nodded. "The one you don't want to go to, but have to because you're expected to."
"That's the one," Draco declared.
"If you're already accepted the invitation it would be rude not to attend," Ginny pointed out.
"Yes, I am aware of that," Draco said patiently.
"So, you are coming," Blaise stated excitedly. "Excellent! We can fend off the ugly women together."
Draco shook his head amusedly. "It takes so little to make him happy."
"If you sucked my-"
"There are ladies present," Draco warned, knowing exactly what path his friend's mind was going to take.
"I was just pointing out that I could be happier," Blaise answered as innocently as he could manage.
"Weren't you leaving?" Draco queried.
"Yes, I was," Blaise confirmed. "Mother will have a fit if I'm late."
Draco checked his timepiece. "I should get moving myself. I'm meeting my parents at home before we go to the dinner party."
"How charming," Blaise teased. "You're attending as a family."
"Drop it," Draco snapped. "Mother simply wants-"
"To make sure you get there," Blaise finished.
"Something like that," Draco confessed. "Where will you be tonight, Weasley?"
"I'm not sure," Ginny answered. "We're supposed to be going out with a group of friends."
Draco nodded thoughtfully. "If we get released early enough, I might hunt you down."
"No problem. We'll be at one of the pubs until late."
"If I don't manage it, I'll talk to you tomorrow night," Draco promised.
"Not coming to lunch?" Ginny teased.
"I'll give it a miss, thanks anyway," Draco responded.
Ginny laughed. "It won't be long until you have to come."
"I'm not intending to lose, Weasley."
"I never said you were going to purposefully lose," Ginny replied innocuously.
"Don't get too confident," Draco drawled as he stood up.
"I'm not." Ginny winked playfully at him.
"Thank you for lunch. It was wonderful as usual," Draco said appreciatively before placing a chaste kiss on her cheek.
"You're welcome."
"If I don't catch up with you tonight, I'll see you for breakfast on Monday morning."
"I'll be there."
"Zabini, are you coming or are you going to sit there all day?" Draco inquired.
"I'm coming," Blaise said. "I don't think I could handle one of Mother's tantrums today."
"Lovegood," Draco intoned politely. "As always, it was an adventure."
"See you later, Draco," Luna answered vaguely. "Blaise, it was wonderful to have your company."
A short-lived expression of surprise crossed the dark-haired wizard's face. "Likewise."
"Maybe you can join us later this evening as well?" Luna continued.
"I'll see what happens," Blaise answered carefully. "Thanks for lunch, ladies."
As soon as the door closed behind the two wizards, Ginny turned to Luna. "What was that about?"
Luna blinked innocently at her friend. "What?"
"Inviting Blaise to join us tonight," Ginny clarified.
"Oh, I just wanted him to know he was welcome as well."
"He doesn't need an invitation to feel welcome," Ginny pointed out.
"And he's handsome," Luna admitted before escaping to her bedroom.
Ginny stood in the middle of their sitting room shaking her head in dismay. If she read what Luna was saying correctly, then she needed to do all she could to discourage her. The only man she knew who had a worse reputation for womanizing than Draco was Blaise. As she finished cleaning up from lunch, her mind was filled with worry for her friend. Luna's childlike innocence was no match for a man like Blaise Zabini, who would simply use her, and then toss her aside. For now she hoped that Blaise wouldn't act on Luna's infatuation. If he did, she was going to have to step in, because she refused to stand by and allow Luna to be hurt.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*