Chapter 1 "Long time no see Ginger."
Ginny stood in the bustling Heathrow airport.
Ron was beside her, craning his head over the crowds on the lookout for Harry, Luna and Hermione.
"I can't believe she didn't tell us who she's bringing" he muttered. Ginny knew he meant Hermione.
As part of their new M.A.P (Muggle Awareness Program) the Ministry of Magic was offering heavily discounted overseas holidays to all their employees.
The only catch, they had to act as though they were muggles.
They weren't allowed to apparate, use portkeys or the floo network, and they weren't supposed to use magic. Ginny was sure the Ministry wouldn't really care if they did use magic, but Hermione was adamant that they were all to behave like proper muggles. They were also allowed to bring a partner.
Since Hermione was already going, Ron had (after much begging from her) brought Ginny. Harry of course, would be accompanied by his long time girlfriend Luna Lovegood. Hermione refused to tell anyone who she was bringing and her tight-lippedness was a constant sore spot for Ron.
"You don't think she'd bring Lavender do you?" he asked anxiously, "I mean, I know they go to the same Witches Association branch but that doesn't mean she'd bring her right?"
Ron was being annoying enough that Ginny was willing to let him fret a little bit longer, rather than tell him exactly what Hermione thought of Lavender. He didn't have to suffer for long. A bushy brown head came into view, weaving towards them through the throng of people. It was followed by the sleek blonde head of none other than Draco Malfoy.
/
Ron stood open mouthed, his expression akin to a fish out of water. "What the hell is he doing here" he practically bellowed as soon as they were in earshot. Draco gave Hermione a look that clearly said I knew this would happen.
"Draco," said Hermione, emphasising the word, "is here as my guest. He's my plus one."
"What?" spluttered Ron, his ears slowly turning a particularly bright shade of red. "You couldn't have brought anyone a little less… evil?"
"Yeah, thanks Weasley" said Draco quietly. He looked sombre as he turned to Hermione, "I told you this wasn't a good idea."
Ginny hadn't heard that voice in almost three years. It was one she had thought she would never hear again.
"Ha! See even he agrees, he shouldn't be here," interrupted Ron.
Hermione's patience was wearing thin.
"Look if you don't like it, no one is making you come. But honestly, I was hoping you would be a bit more open minded, like Draco here."
Ron was lost for words. Draco smirked and instantly his face was transformed into the one Ginny had always known. The spoiled, haughty boy who always thought he was too good for everyone else, especially mudbloods and blood traitors such as themselves. Her curiosity pricked as she wondered why he would even consider joining them in the first place.
"Long time, no see Ginger."
She placed a hand on one hip. "Ginger?"
"Well I can't call you Wealsey now can I? It would get confusing seeing as there's two of you."
"What should I call you then? Blondie?" she countered.
He gave a humourless smile.
"Well I'd settle for 'My Lord', or if you're feeling particularly generous 'Your Majesty'."
Ginny rolled her eyes.
Ron spluttered in outrage, but before he could open his mouth they were interrupted by the arrival of Harry and Luna.
Ginny rushed to hug them and greetings were exchanged all around. Finally Harry turned to Draco.
"Malfoy."
"Potter."
They stared at each other for a moment before Harry extended his hand which Draco shook. It was a stiff greeting, but civil.
"Harry mate, can you believe it! Hermione's gone and made Malfoy her bloody plus one," Ron chimed in as though it wasn't already blindingly obvious.
"Yeah I know," said Harry, "She told me last week."
"What!" The redness in Ron's ears had spread to his face and was starting to make its way down his neck. "You… you knew about this?"
He rounded on Hermione. "How could you tell Harry and not me?"
"Because I knew you'd do this" She hissed. "I knew you'd make a scene."
"I am not making a scene" He almost yelled, causing several muggles in the vicinity to look in their direction.
"Ronald," she snapped, "I invited him. Draco is my guest, he's staying, and I don't want to hear another word about it."
"But –"
"That's final!"
Malfoy snickered. "Looks like you've been put in your place then Weasley."
"And don't you antagonise him." Hermione rounded on Draco with a ferocity that would have had any of them running for the hills.
Draco nodded his surrender. "Whatever you say, Granger."
"Looks like you've been put in your place then Malfoy" countered Ginny.
He narrowed his eyes at her but she was sure his mouth twitched, as if he were holding back a smile.
"I'm so glad we finally get to do this" said Luna as they headed towards the check in counter to collect their tickets. "Two weeks in America will just be lovely. I do hope we get to see some Jackalopes."
/
Ron had flat out refused to allow Hermione to sit next to Draco on the plane, insisting instead that she sit with him. Hermione had agreed, hoping to put him in a better mood.
Ginny kindly offered her seat to Harry so he could sit with Luna, leaving her to eleven hours of what she thought would be strained silence with the Slytherin. Straight away she busied herself with music, movies and all the muggle entertainment the flight had to offer. Draco chose a more traditional route and buried his nose in a book.
It wasn't until they received their first meal that he spoke.
"So Granger and Weasley still going strong then?" Draco asked from the seat beside her.
Ginny wondered for a moment if he could be interested in Hermione but dismissed it almost immediately. Pureblood superiority had been drummed into Draco since birth, he wasn't about to drop all that in an instant. Even if he did seem… less unpleasant than before.
"Yes, well they've been living together for a while now, but I wouldn't be expecting him to pop the question any time soon. He goes pale every time Mum mentions grandchildren," she chuckled.
"So do you keep in contact with anyone from Hogwarts?" she asked tentatively.
He thought for a moment, "Zabini. We're pretty close, and Granger. That's it.
"Hermione?"
"Yeah, we kind of got on speaking terms that last year of school and have kept in touch since."
Ginny's eyes widened with surprise. "I never even knew you went back. She never said…"
He gave a wry smile. "I don't blame her. So how about you?"
"Huh?"
"Do you see anyone from school?"
"Not really, just this lot. There's the occasional lunch with girls from my dorm, and I speak to Dean Thomas every now and then I suppose. It's been a while, as you know. I didn't go back for my NEWTS."
"How come?"
"Got picked to play for the Harpies as soon as I turned 17. Didn't see the point in staying on with a career opportunity like that."
He simply nodded and went back to his book.
Ginny placed her headphones back over her ears. She frowned, wondering why she had revealed personal information to someone who was worse than a stranger.
/
The rest of the journey passed easily. They arrived late afternoon, and almost straight away they were boarding their connecting flight to Wyoming. The group intended to spend 2 weeks skiing before returning to California. Darkness had fallen, by the time they reached their hotel. Ginny stood in the atrium, leaning against Luna, staring down at her suitcase with tired eyes. Though they had all dozed on the plane, everyone was exhausted, cold and (in Ron's case) somewhat irritable.
His dulcet tones broke into her thoughts as he raised his voice at the poor muggle woman at the concierge desk.
"What do you mean, a mistake? Well why can't you fix it?"
Hermione was trying to get him to lower his voice as Ginny came over.
"What's up?"
"Some VIP guests showed up unannounced and they're short a room," said Hermione. "There's only three rooms between us, instead of four. I'm afraid you'll have to share a room, instead of having your own like we'd planned."
"Well what are we going to do?" said Ron, turning away from the very harassed looking desk lady. "Someone's going to have to share with that git," he jerked his chin towards Draco.
Ginny looked over at Draco. Since their conversation on the plane he had been quiet and distant. Aside from their exchange of quips upon meeting, he hadn't really seemed much like the haughty, sneering teenager she once knew. Ginny decided to trust in Hermione's judgement. If Hermione had though Draco a decent enough person to stay in touch with all these years, then she would give him the benefit of the doubt.
"It's fine," said Ginny, "I'll share a room."
"No you bloody well won't. I will not have my sister sharing a bed with a- a- a Slytherin. What would Oliver say?"
"Calm down Ron" Hermione pleaded. "The suite has a fold out couch, they won't even have to sleep in the same room."
She turned to the desk lady.
"Could you just have someone show us to our rooms, please."
Draco cracked a smile when they broke the news to the others.
"Didn't get enough of me on the plane then Ginger."
Ginny thought Ron's head was going to explode.
/
The rooms were in fact quite lovely. Warm brown and cream tones gave them the luxurious yet rustic feel one could expect to find in a ski lodge. The bottom floor featured a kitchenette and bathroom. A small spiral staircase wound up to the loft which over-looked the spacious living area. A large television was mounted about the small fireplace. The hotel staff had kindly pulled out and prepared the couch bed already. Piled high with pillows, it looked as inviting as any bed Ginny had seen.
Draco took one look at it and sneered. "Sorry Ginger but I think I'd rather sleep on the floor than on that thing."
"Yes, we wouldn't want to ruin your silk pyjamas" she countered.
"Exactly"
She rolled her eyes. "Fine, whatever, I'll sleep on the couch, I don't care, I'm totally exhausted."
And with that they parted ways, Draco to the loft, and Ginny to a deep, dreamless sleep.
So a little background, I started writing this in 2008 (yikes) on a skiing trip to the states (big surprise). After taking a loooong break from writing fanfics I am now back into it so this first chapter is a little rough. However, I do have about half this story completed so can promise some regular updates for now... and then we'll see. I won't say reviews will definitely make me update, bit they will help :P
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, but I did once go on a similar holiday (just with less sex). On that note, rated M for a reason! Much smut in later chapters, you have been warned!