DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything except the story-, which isn't really mine as I borrowed the idea from FlamablePajamies' story Malfoy Enterprises.
Chapter 1
Ginny's sixth year
"Ginny? Ginny!"
"What?!" Ginny turned around in her seat irritably.
"Pass the ketchup, please," Ron replied, equally irritated. "Whom are you staring at?"
"None of your bloody business!" Ginny snapped her ears were turning red.
Ron simply shrugged. "Fine." He proceeded to inhale the food in front of him.
'Thank goodness for ignorant brothers who prefers pigging out than inquisition,' Ginny thought.
They were all having breakfast in the Great Hall, just before their last Quidditch game. As usual, the last game of the year was between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Ginny's reluctance to tell her brother exactly whom it was that she was staring at was mostly because the person was in Slytherin, had white blonde hair and the last name Malfoy. Ginny's crush towards Harry had started to fade after her third year. Unfortunately for her when her brothers find out, her puppy love was now centered on a certain Slytherin prince. She would steal glances at him when they were having meals in the Great Hall, rooting for him silently in Quidditch games- when it wasn't Gryffindor versus Slytherin, of course, purposely brushing against him when they weave through throngs of people as they changed classes- faking ignorance when he realized it and insulted her.
Ginny smiled to herself when her eyes found her target. His hair wasn't slicked back today, just as she preferred. Satisfied, she quickly started on her plate of food before anyone realized that she was staring and nearly drooling at the beautiful sight of Draco Malfoy.
Ginny's robes whipped around her as she flew at top speed towards the Slytherin goalposts, the Quaffle tucked securely in one arm. Her heart pounded harder when she missed a Bludger by a mere inch. Ginny then realized that there was one Slytherin Chaser on each side of her, ready to snatch the Quaffle from her when she was within shooting distance. She faked and dropped the Quaffle unexpectedly to her teammate below her. Before either of the Slytherin Chasers or the Slytherin Keeper caught on, the other Chaser scored. Cheering happily, Ginny didn't see the Bludger coming at her.
WHAM!
The Bludger hit her right in the middle of her head. Shocked coursed through her body, and she didn't register the pain at first. Then it started- the white-hot blinding pain that shot through every nerve in her body. Ginny could hear the gasps from the crowd but she couldn't see anything, couldn't feel anything except for the excruciating pain that threatened to make her head explode. Her senses were all focused on that pain that her fingers released their tight grasp from the broom, her nerveless body tilted sideways and she fell off her broom. She could feel the wind whistling through her ears but the pain in her head was overwhelming. She couldn't even muster the action of screaming for help.
"GINNY!" She heard someone's voice screaming.
She expected to feel the harsh impact of the unforgiving ground below, the sound and feel of broken bones. But suddenly, she was caught in someone's arms and hugged closely to the person's chest. She couldn't sigh in relief for there was still the pain in her head but she could smell the person's unique smell that belonged only to one person.
She heard him saying in a rough voice, "Thank Merlin."
Before total darkness swallowed her whole, her last thought was 'Draco'.
Ginny was awake but her lids were feeling very heavy. She could hear snatches of the whispered conversation around her.
"Poor girl... Hit right in the head with such a powerful blow!"
"Are you sure, there's no serious damage done, Poppy?"
"I didn't find any internal injuries and such, Minerva. But she's going to have a horrible day or two of migraine. All I can do is administer a sleeping potion so that she can sleep it off."
"Right now, I'm worried if she will lose her memories. The Muggles call it amnesia, I think."
"Yes, I do hope it wasn't so serious."
"Well, at least she didn't break her bones from her fall."
"Yes, I'm quite surprised that young Malfoy was the first to save her."
"Maybe we have been too hurried to judge a book by its cover, or in this case, a book by its publisher."
"I wonder why-"
Ginny didn't hear the rest of the conversation as she had drifted off to sleep.
Ginny stayed a week in the hospital wing. By the end of the week, she had received quite a load of candies as get-well soon presents. She was musing about the fact that everyone brought her candies instead of something to read to relieve her of her boredom one morning, when a beautiful eagle-owl flew in through the open window at the far end of the hospital wing and dropped a single red rose on her lap. There was a scrap of parchment attached to it. In an elegant sprawl it read, 'Get well soon'. She pondered over who sent it but gave up as there wasn't a clue at all.
When she was released, she saw Draco everyday as usual but she never got the chance to thank him as he avoided her for the rest of the school year, which wasn't really that long. She often wondered if he really was avoiding her or was actually busy with his NEWTs exams. She chose to believe the latter as there was no reason why a Malfoy would want to avoid someone instead of meeting head-on.
Three years later
"He fired me! That asshole actually sacked me just because I wouldn't sleep with him!" Nineteen years old Ginny Weasley raged to her sister-in-law as she flung another garden gnome fifty feet into the air.
"Calm down, Gin. I think it's a good thing anyway," Hermione said calmly, as she sat on a chair, drinking a cup of iced tea with one hand, another resting protectively on her very-pregnant belly as if she were trying to shield the baby in her womb from Ginny's fury.
Ron had finally proposed to Hermione in her fourth month of pregnancy. Everyone was shocked when they found out that their Perfect Hermione wasn't so perfect after all when she forgot to cast the anti-pregnancy charm before she and Ron danced the horizontal tango one drunken night. To his credit, Ron didn't yell when he found out. In fact, he was totally calm as he quietly slid to the floor in a dead faint as soon as Hermione told him he was going to be a father. Without much prompting, or rather, after a three-day lecture from Molly on the subject of responsibility, Ron dropped to his knees in the Alacoque Cafe with a few hundred people as witnesses and proposed to a sobbing Hermione. They got married within 3 weeks of their engagement.
"Hermione! How can you say it's a good thing?!" Ginny swung the next unfortunate gnome harder, landing it right in a prickly hedge.
"Well, first of all, you know everyone hated it when you work there, especially when your brothers hated the looks of that man. Secondly, he wasn't even paying you high enough for all those extra work you had to do! Let's not forget the sexual harassment you receive everyday just to keep that lousy job of yours. Ginny, you're a very good designer! You just have to find a better boss to work for," Hermione said.
"If I could, I would have! Do you think I enjoyed being drooled over by that moron?! Of course, the one time he tried to grab my ass, I took a leaf from Gilderoy Lockhart's book. I removed the bones in his hand. Surprisingly, he 'forgave' me for that incident," Ginny smirked at the memory. She then sighed and flopped down next to Hermione on another chair. "Ugh. What am I going to do? I'm going to be broke and homeless soon."
"You could always shift back permanently here to the Burrow, you know."
"But I've come to appreciate the freedom I have of living alone. I like the independence, 'Mione. Not to mention, the privacy."
"I'm not going to try to talk you out of it. Go and find a new job, then," Hermione placed a copy of the Daily Prophet on Ginny's lap as she stood up and headed into the house.
"I did. But no one wants to hire a girl who was fired from her job with no certain reason whatsoever just after six months on it." She discarded the newspaper onto the kitchen table.
"Why don't you go scout out Diagon Alley, then? Sometimes, the shops will put up signs for wanted help. You could work there temporarily while you look for someone who is hiring fashion designers," Hermione said as she slowly climbed up the stairs. "I'm going to nap for awhile. These little kiddies have got me tired out."
Ginny had started studying design after she graduated from Hogwarts. The Wizarding world had advanced a lot since the past few years. The magical community is more receptive towards Muggle trends and fashions nowadays. Many witches and wizards agreed that Muggle fashion is much more easy for everyday use compared to billowing robes that get in the way.
"Okay. Thanks for the idea, Hermione," Ginny said as she Disapparated.
Ginny sighed miserably as she walked down the street in Diagon Alley. Nobody seemed to need hired help now when she needed a job. At nineteen, Ginny wasn't the tall, gangly girl she was at sixteen. Now, she had the right curves at the right places, her height making her look good in anything she wore. Her long red hair was slightly wavy, hanging to the middle of her back. Ginny thought she as attractive on an average scale.
Ginny found herself walking into Madam Malkin's unconsciously. She visits there sometimes to get some new ideas for her designs. If she saw a robe that she really admired or liked, she would buy it with whatever money she had left from her meager salary, which was very rarely. Most of the time, she wears her own designs as a way of advertising and it was cheaper. Although she wasn't in the mood to shop today, she still browsed through the racks.
A deep emerald green robe caught her eye and she instantly reached out to see its design. The green color of the silk robes was rich and vibrant, as if it was a pool of melted emerald. The mandarin collar, edges of the slashed sleeves and the hemline was hand-sewn with small silver cherry blossoms. Ginny's eyes widened as she gasp with utter delight at the beauty of it.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Madam Malkin's voice intruded Ginny's thoughts.
"It is," Ginny replied quietly, still in awe of the beautiful design. "How come I didn't see this before?"
"It came in two months ago. It is from the new fashion line, Vixen," Madam Malkin said. "Would you like to try it on?"
"Yes, please," Ginny said.
She changed into the robes and stared at her reflection in amazement. The robes clung to her curves, hinting seductively at what was underneath. The material felt deliciously smooth on her. Ginny performed a quick spell on her hair to hold it up in a loose bun, tendrils curling around her face. She imagined herself in a ballroom, dancing with her Prince Charming.
"You look good, honey," her reflection complimented.
"Thanks," Ginny smiled. She regretfully changed back into her own robes.
"How much is it, Madam Malkin?" Ginny asked as she came out of the dressing room.
"Three hundred Galleons, Miss Weasley," Madam Malkins told her.
Ginny was crestfallen. She didn't have ten Galleons, what more three hundred Galleons. "Sorry, Madam Malkin. I don't have that much with me. Perhaps another day."
"Alright, Miss Weasley," Madam Malkin smiled sadly. She rather liked Ginny but business is business.
"By the way, Madam Malkin, would you happen to be hiring? I'm kind of in need of a job right now," Ginny asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry, dear, I'm not-" Ginny was dejected. Madam Malkin smiled and continued, "But I know where you can get a job."
"Really?" Ginny's eyes widened. "Where? For who?"
"As it happens, the company that owns the Vixen fashion line is in need of a new fashion designer," Madam Malkin said, her eyes twinkling.
"You aren't kidding me, are you, Madam Malkin?" Ginny asked, her hopes raised sky high. "What's the company name?"
"Malfoy Enterprises," Madam Malkin announced cheerfully.
"What?" Ginny blinked, her smile vanished.
"I'm sure you know the director, Mr. Draco Malfoy. I believe he went to school with your brother, Ronald?" Madam Malkin was ignorant of Ginny's pale face.
"Oh," was all Ginny could say. "Can I know who is in charge of hiring the employees, please?" Ginny knew she was desperate. She could always keep it first, as a last resort.
Madam Malkin wrote down the name and address of Malfoy Enterprises on a parchment and handed it to Ginny. "There you go, dear. Mr. Draco is apparently quite picky about who is being hired but I'm sure you'll get the job, Miss Weasley."
"Thanks, Madam Malkin. If I do get the job, my first salary would be used to buy that robe," Ginny told her.
"I'll hold you to that promise," Madam Malkin warned as Ginny exited her shop.
The next day found Ginny pacing a hole into the rug in her bedroom.
'Should I or should I not?' Ginny worried her bottom lip. 'On the one hand, it's Malfoy I'll be working for. On the other, I get to have a job I actually like. And maybe I finally get to thank him for saving me. Maybe.'
After another half an hour of pacing and troubled thoughts, Ginny flopped onto the bed. "Oh, why not? I'm desperate anyway. I should just give it a go. I might not even get the job since my last name is Weasley," she thought out loud.
Changing into Muggle clothes- a dark green tank top and black trousers, her hair in a braid, Ginny Flooed to Malfoy Enterprises. She didn't want to risk Apparating into the middle of nowhere even though she hated to travel by Floo.
Ginny found herself in a huge room with a high ceiling, Roman pillars supporting it. The room was brightly lit by the sunlight streaming through the huge windows. Everything was done in Slytherin colours. The walls were a deep green with silver trimmings. The comfortable-looking leather sofas were black; magazines were neatly stacked on the glass coffee tables. Ming vases decorated the mahogany side tables. The carpet and curtains, however, were a clean refreshing white. The fireplace was exactly opposite the green marble reception counter. A few people were sitting quietly, reading the magazines provided. Quietly walking towards the reception counter so as not to disturb the peaceful environment, Ginny was amazed with the interior decorations of the office.
"Excuse me?" Ginny quietly called the receptionist who was busily scratching a parchment with her quill.
"Yes?" The woman looked up. A look of recognition dawned on her face. "Ginny Weasley?"
"Um, yeah," Ginny frowned, unable to recall whom the woman was. "Do I know you?"
"I'm Pansy Parkinson!" Pansy said.
"Pansy?" Ginny's eyes widened in disbelief. This wasn't the pug-face girl she knew in Hogwarts. Pansy was actually pretty. Her Muggle pantsuit hinted seductively at her voluptuous figure.
"Surprised?"
"Yes!"
"Don't be. What are you doing here?"
"Oh, um," Ginny was suddenly reminded of her miserable fate. "I'm here for an interview. Madam Malkin told me that Malfoy was looking for a fashion designer?"
"Oh, yes, he is," Pansy actually smiled at her, a Weasley. "Why don't you go ahead and sit there first. You are the fifth who came in this morning looking for a job. I'll tell Draco he has another applicant."
Dazed, Ginny sat on the sofas-, which were really comfortable, flipping through a magazine without reading a word of it. As she flipped through, she finally noticed the picture of Draco Malfoy scowling from within the pages. Flipping back to that page, she curiously read the article.
Malfoy and Danae getting hitched? Is it true?
An inside source told our reporter that Linda Danae had confirmed the rumor that Draco Malfoy had proposed to her in the Maldives while both of them were on a holiday after Malfoy was seen courting her to a few official occasions in a row. Draco Malfoy, the only son of the late ex-Death Eater Lucius Malfoy and currently the director of Malfoy Enterprises, was recently seen at the annual Morgan Charity Ball with the latest singing sensation, Linda Danae in a rather compromising situation. Malfoy, a self-proclaimed connoisseur of woman, is also well known for escorting the world's most beautiful witches including American model, Queenie Longman and the Russian Seeker, Tanichka Ravanelli. However, when our reporter seeked an interview with Malfoy on that subject, Malfoy's secretary, Michael Dautremont had declined, saying that Malfoy was currently busy with the latest expand of Malfoy Enterprises into the women's market through the latest fashion line, Vixen. Vixen is known for its trendy robes that merge between the Wizarding world's robes and the Muggle's world's latest fashions. Although it has only entered the market quite recently, it has already become quite a trend...
Ginny felt a twinge in her stomach as she thought of Draco Malfoy marrying someone else.
'Oh my goodness. Please tell me that crush is so over. That was, like, three years ago!' Ginny thought.
"Ginny?"
"Yes?" Ginny looked up to see Pansy standing over her, smiling. 'I doubt I can ever get use to the fact that Pansy smiled at me.'
"Mr. Malfoy will see you now," Pansy said primly.
"Oh, ok. Thanks," Ginny said as butterflies invaded her stomach. 'Oh goodness. I'm gonna see Malfoy. What am I going to call him? Malfoy? But that's like so rude to your future boss. Mr. Malfoy? Nah. That'll just sound weird. Draco? No way. Too informal.'
Her black heels sank into the thick carpeting as she walked unsteadily behind Pansy towards a wide green marble door she didn't notice earlier. It gave a 'ping' and opened.
"This lift will take you directly to the office of Draco's secretary. Dautremont will greet you there," Pansy said as Ginny stepped into the huge elevator. Pansy turned to a screen next to the lift and said "Michael Dautremont."
When the door closed, Ginny then only realized that she was floating in mid-air, outside the Malfoy Enterprises building. She was stepping on glass. The entire lift was made of glass and appeared to have been tinted -green, of course- so that the sunlight wouldn't be glaring. The door 'pinged' again and opened after about 30 seconds. She found herself in a room like the one before.
"Miss Weasley?" Ginny nodded to the man dressed in superbly neat burgundy robes that had greeted her. He was tall, like Ron and wore a black, thick-framed spectacle. His sandy brown hair was neatly combed back. All in all, he looked like someone who was very efficient. "This way, please." Ginny had to hurry after him as he took long strides.
He led her to another door like the one before near his desk and opened it slightly. "Mr. Malfoy is waiting for you," he said as he bowed slightly.
Ginny pushed the door open wider with a shaky hand and entered the room. The room was almost exactly like the reception room, except for the large, polished mahogany table near the windows. She saw a man's silhouette standing by the windows.
"Malfoy?"
"Hello, Weaslette," Draco greeted her as he stepped forward. He was dressed in a light gray silk shirt and black pants under the robes that were obviously tailored to fit him and made of the best material Galleons could buy. "Didn't think I would see any of you again. What are you doing here?" He asked as he sat down behind his desk. He waved his hand imperiously, signaling to Ginny to sit down on one of the two leather seats in front of him.
"Looking for a job, Malfoy. It's not like I did, either," Ginny said huffily as she gracefully let herself into the chair.
"Why here, then? I never thought that a Weasel would lower himself to work for a Death Eater like me," Draco sneered.
"And here I thought that you thought highly of yourself, Ferret. And weren't you cleared of all charges?" Ginny said quietly. "It's not like I had a choice Malfoy. I've been looking everywhere but nobody wants to hire a young girl with hardly any work experience and was fired after six months from her job without any reason whatsoever."
"Why were you fired, Weaselette?" Draco asked, looking interested.
"The boss decided to get a piece of my ass, instead he got me in a Bat-Bogey Hex mood," Ginny smiled sweetly.
"Interesting. And you never told this when you went for other interviews?" Draco smirked.
"I did. But they immediately assumed that I was the one who seduced him. As if I'd seduce an ass like him," Ginny snorted.
"And how can I be sure that if I hire you, you wouldn't want to seduce me?" Draco asked, smiling evilly.
"Dream on, Ferret," Ginny laughed as she looked Draco over. 'Is it me or is the room temperature suddenly rising?' Ginny stopped her impulse to gulp loudly. Draco was looking extremely good. His hair was slightly long, touching the collar of his robes and he left the bangs to cover his forehead instead of slicking it back like he used to. His mercurial eyes seem to be undressing her.
Draco laughed in reply. To Ginny, it was like listening to music. "So, which position are you here for, Weaslette?" Draco wiggled his eyebrows at the innuendo.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Ferret. I heard from Madam Malkin that you wanted a fashion designer?" Ginny said.
"Well, I never thought that the Weaslette would have any fashion sense," Draco grinned. "Okay, you can have the job."
"What?" Ginny blinked.
"I said, you can have the job," Draco smirked.
"But, why?" Ginny was thrown off track. She had been prepared to plead, beg, scream, cry, throw a tantrum- to do anything for the job. She was surprised that Draco has just given it to her without a question.
"You wanted the job, didn't you?" Draco said with a raised eyebrow. At the dirty look Ginny threw him, he laughed and said, "Well, I need a fashion designer if not Vixen will be going out of business soon. And, if you don't do a good job, I have the pleasure of throwing you out on your cute bum."
"You think my bum is cute?" Ginny thought aloud. When she realized she just did, her eyes widened as she clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Yes, I think your bum is cute. So you make a mistake, and I get to spank it red," Draco said as he wiggled his eyebrows again, laughing.
"Try, and you'll find yourself the target of my Bat Bogey Hex again," Ginny threatened.
"Now, is that any way to talk to your new boss? Aren't you afraid I'll sack you before you even start the job?" Draco smirked as he made another innuendo, "You're suppose to please me, not threaten me, kitten."
"Your mind is permanently stuck in the gutter, isn't it?" Ginny folded her arms.
"Want to help me scrape it out? It'll be a lot of fun," Draco said. "You can go now. I have a meeting in five minutes. Michael will show you where everything is. If there's anything you want to ask, ask him. He knows everything like the back of his hand." He stood up and led Ginny back to the door.
"Thanks, Malfoy," Ginny said with heartfelt feeling. She still couldn't believe that she got the job so easily.
"I'll start you at five thousand Galleons a month," Draco said coolly as he opened the door.
Ginny's eyes widened again. "That's a bit much for a beginner like me, isn't it?" She said, waiting for a snide remark from Draco about her never seeing that much money before. Surprisingly, it didn't come.
"I don't really care as long as you do a good job and Vixen sells, love," Draco informed her.
"I- I'll try my best," Ginny stammered at the humongous responsibility that was just heaped onto her.
"Do try not to make a mess, Weaslette. Or your bum is mine," Draco winked, patted her derriere and shut the door quickly before she could aim her wand at him.
"Ferret!" Ginny hissed, embarrassed. The area where he had patted was now on fire.
"Miss Weasley?" Ginny blushed furiously, hoping that Dautremont didn't see his boss patting her ass. His face held no emotions and she breathed in relief. Her mind, however, was in turmoil as Dautremont showed her to her very own room on another floor and her soon-to-be colleagues.
'Was Malfoy flirting with me just now?' Ginny wondered. Then she realized that she didn't get to thank him for saving her in her sixth year.
"I'm home," Ginny called out as she Apparated into the Burrow.
"Ginny?" Hermione's voice floated from the kitchen. "I'm in the kitchen, making a sandwich. Do you want one?"
"No thanks," Ginny smiled happily at Hermione.
"Where have you been since this morning? You left before Ron went to work!" Hermione asked as she bit into her chocolate and tuna sandwich. Ginny smiled wryly at Hermione's weird craving.
"I found a job!" Ginny announced happily and started twirling around the kitchen table.
"You did? Good for you!" Hermione was happy for Ginny. "What are you working as? Where?"
"As a fashion designer!" Ginny told her friend. "I still can't believe I got the job."
"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Hermione said as she tried to pull Ginny into an awkward hug. "Where?"
"Er, Hermione, sit down and promise me you'll be calm, okay?" Ginny said, as she pulled out a chair for Hermione.
"Okay," Hermione said as she sat down. "Why? What's so big deal with who you're working for?"
"I'm, um, working for," Ginny gulped. "I'mworkingforMalfoy."
"Excuse me?" Hermione said, laughing. "I thought I heard you say Malfoy."
"I did." Ginny mumbled, unable to look at Hermione in the face.
"What?" Hermione stopped short.
"I did. I'm going to be working for Malfoy as of tomorrow," Ginny informed her.
"Oh. my. goodness." Hermione grasp the edge of the table.
"Um, yes."
"Why?"
"Because I was desperate?"
"You could have worked somewhere else!"
"No one wanted to hire me, 'Mione. And I get to do a job I actually love!"
"Oh, Merlin. How are we going to tell Ron?"
"I was hoping that we don't have to tell him," Ginny grimaced.
"As if we could hide such a huge matter like this from him," Hermione said.
"We could! I mean, he didn't even notice that I was acting weird in my first year!" Ginny exclaimed.
"I'm really sorry about that, Ginny. I know we should have but everyone was still reeling from the fact that Harry is a Parseltongue and might have been Salazar Slytherin's last descendant," Hermione told her.
"It's always Harry first, isn't it," Ginny sulked.
"Oh don't sulk, Ginny. It makes you look like a whiny brat. If it'll make you happy, I'll be here when you tell him. If I'm standing between the both of you when he explodes, he won't attack if he doesn't want to send me into an early labour," Hermione offered.
"Really? Thanks, Hermione!" Ginny gave Hermione a peck on the cheek and rushed up the stairs. "I'm going to take a long bath. It's been a very stressful day and I bet it's gonna be worse soon."
"WHAT?!" Ron exclaimed. Ron came home from a horrible day at work to an even more horrible evening at home.
"I'm w-working for Draco Malfoy as of tomorrow," Ginny said, wincing at her brother's tone.
"Who says you will?!" Ron continued storming.
Instead of feeling meek, Ginny felt her own temper rising. Ron was continually trying to control her actions. "I say I will! I don't care what you say about it!" Ginny said, her voice rising.
"How can you work for that fool?!"
"Who are you calling a fool?! If you remember, you aren't exactly perfect seeing that you got Hermione pregnant before you were married!"
"That has nothing to do with this topic!"
"It does! Who are you to scream at me about what I'm doing when you yourself don't even know what you are doing!"
"I know exactly what I am doing! I'm going to stop you from working for Malfoy!"
"And why exactly should I listen to you?! I am an adult in my own rights!"
"He's a monster!"
"Like you? I don't think so!"
"He called Hermione a you-know-what when we were in school!"
"So I can't work for him just because he called people names? Then I probably shouldn't even speak to you since you called me names when we were kids!"
"At least I didn't get you in trouble in school!"
"You didn't notice that I was in trouble in my first year!" Ginny screamed at him.
"It's not my fault that you were stupid enough to trust something that can think but you can't see where it keeps its brains!"
"So, I'm stupid now, am I?" Ginny said, dangerously calm, her eyes flashing.
"Stupid enough to work for Malfoy!" Ron just didn't know when to stop, did he?
"At least I know where my brains are! Yours is probably down the drain!"
"Don't change the topic! Of all the people to work for, why must it be Malfoy?!"
"Because he was the only willing one to hire me!"
"The twins are willing to hire you!"
"So that I blow up things?! That I put my life in jeopardy as well as others'?!"
"The Ministry will employ you as a secretary!"
"Malfoy is employing me as a fashion designer, something that I want to do!"
"Seamus Finnigan can too!"
"Malfoy is paying me five thousand Galleons a month!"
"So that you sleep with him?!"
Ginny socked him in the nose with one powerful blow. "I'm not one of those cheap cows you slept around with, Ronald Weasley!"
"Fuck!" Ron cursed as his most likely broken nose bled.
"I'm working for Malfoy whether you like it or not! It's my choice, not yours!" Ginny screamed at him as she stormed upstairs. "Say one more word and I'll jinx you with the curses the twins taught me!" Ginny slammed the door of room.
"Gibby!" Ron tried shouting. "Cumb bag herd!"
"Guess Ginny didn't need my help after all," Hermione remarked to herself, sipping her tea. "Would you like me to fix that, Ronald dear?"
"Yeb, bease," Ron said, holding his broken nose.
"I probably should let you suffer after all those things you said," Hermione glared as she waved her wand and Ron's nose healed in an instant.
"I wouldn't be so worked up if she'd just listen to me!" Ron said indignantly.
"Ron, you're letting a school-kids fight clouding your judgment. That's a bit immature, don't you think?"
"I'm not! Malfoy's a Death Eater!"
"He was cleared of all charges, Ron. Read the news. The Mark was never found on any parts of his body," Hermione sighed.
"He's still an ass anyway," Ron stubbornly said.
"You are an ass. It's her life so it's her choice. You have no say in it, Ron," Hermione told him firmly.
"Oh fine, but if anything happens, I reserve the right to say 'I told you so'," Ron said sulkily.
"Thank you, dear," Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek. "And if you don't apologize to Ginny within the week, you will be spending a very long time on the couch."
"Why within the week? Why not now?" Ron asked, confused.
"Because if you approach Ginny now, you'll be at the receiving end of her Bat Bogey Hex," Hermione promptly told him.
The next morning found Ginny's room strewn with clothes. Hermione knocked on the wide opened door. "Ginny?"
"Hermione! You came just at the right time," Ginny said. "Is this okay?" Ginny had worn a black spaghetti strap top, a white knee-length skirt and her favourite black calf-length boots.
"You look ready to kill, Ginny. Are you trying to impress a certain Slytherin prince?" Hermione asked with an eyebrow arched.
"No!" Ginny denied vehemently. "I just want to make a good impression on my first day of work. I want people to know that I have a sense of style!"
"Right," Hermione said doubtfully. "He is quite good-looking, isn't he?"
"He looks delicious," Ginny replied absentmindedly as she browsed through her jewelry. Realizing her answer, she blushed and said, "N-not that I noticed, of course!"
"Whatever you say, dear," Hermione sing-songed as she went out of Ginny's room. "Do you want any breakfast?"
"No thanks, Hermione and I didn't!" Ginny yelled after her. "I didn't," She tried to tell herself. She wore her huge silver hoop earrings and a necklace with a heart shape pendant. She then put her hair in a high ponytail, all the while trying to convince herself.
Oh, whom was she kidding? 'He's yummy-looking and I'm woman enough to admit it!'
'But are you woman enough to take him on?' Her 'Bad Ginny' self replied evilly.
'Of course I am! Not that I want to!' Ginny thought back hurriedly.
'Are you sure?'
'Oh, hush you!' Ginny thought crossly. 'Oh Merlin. I'm thinking to myself!' She shook her head and Disapparated.
"Morning, Pansy," Ginny greeted.
"Morning, Ginny," Pansy smiled. "You're early. Michael showed you your room yesterday, didn't he? Go on ahead."
"Thanks," Ginny smiled back and walked towards the lift. The lift opened with a 'ping' and Ginny announced, "Fashion design department" before walking in.
No one was in yet. Ginny looked at the clock and realized it was only eight o'clock. However, when she stepped into her room, she saw Draco Malfoy in her seat. He was dressed in a deep blue turtleneck and light blue jeans, looking extremely delicious.
"Good. You're here early," Draco said when he looked up. "Good morning, Weaslette."
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked.
"No 'good morning' for me? Is that how you greet your bosses?" Draco asked.
"Good morning, Ferret. I repeat, what are you doing here?" Ginny asked as she put one hand on her hip.
"Waiting for you, of course," Draco said mildly.
"Why?"
"Because I need to discuss with you about the summer/autumn collection of Vixen, love," Draco said impatiently. "Now, sit down."
"Oh, okay," Ginny told herself that she wasn't disappointed. Why would she be?
"I need a few of your latest sketches in three days, Weaslette. We're quite rushing for time. Vixen is for witches in their teens to witches in their mid-thirties. It is, of course, targeting the richer circles. We want a design for every category- casual, formal, tea, et cetera. Teen Queen and Witch Wonders will be making a feature of our collection in three weeks' time," Draco told her.
"Three days?" Ginny squeaked. "I-I'll try my best."
"Don't try, Weaslette. Do," Draco corrected.
"Uh, okay," Ginny said. "Anything else?"
"Want to have lunch with me?" Draco invited.
"Today?" Ginny asked, the butterflies fluttering in her stomach again.
"No, next year. Yes, today," Draco said, frowning. "Why? Do you have plans?"
"No," Ginny said.
"Well, another day then," Draco said as he stood up.
"NO! I mean, no, I don't have plans. Yes, I'd love to have lunch with you," Ginny quickly said.
"I'll come by at lunch time, then," Draco said. "Have a nice morning."
"Oh goodness," Ginny said to herself when Draco left. "What have I just gotten myself into?"
Ginny was hard at work in her office when Draco came to take her out for lunch. Her waste-paper basket was filled with scrunched up balls of paper.
"Are you ready, Weaslette?" Draco asked as he entered her office without even bothering to knock.
Ginny sighed in frustration. "Don't you ever knock?"
"My office," Draco replied simply as a reply. "What are you working on?" Without preamble, he grabbed the sheet of paper in front of Ginny. His eyes widened at her design. "Weaslette, this is good!"
"No, it's not," Ginny frowned. "I can't get any of it right! It's missing something."
Draco grabbed a scrunched up paper ball from her table and smoothed it out. He gave a low whistle. "Weaslette, this is all beautiful! What's wrong with them?"
"It's missing something Muggle-ish," Ginny cried.
"Well, I have an idea," Draco said as he stood up. "Come on. We're going somewhere."
"Where are we going?" Ginny said as she grabbed her purse.
"Diagon Alley," Draco said as he ushered her out of her room.
"Why? I thought we were going out somewhere near for lunch," Ginny said.
"We are going out for lunch. Don't ask so much. Just Apparate into Diagon Alley in front of the archway to the Leaky Cauldron," Draco said as he Diapparated in the reception room. People can only Apparate and Disapparate in the reception room of Malfoy Enterprises building.
"Geez, at least have the courtesy of waiting for a lady, Malfoy," Ginny grumbled under her breath as she Disapparated as well.
As soon as she Apparated, Ginny saw Draco tapping on a particular brick on the wall. The wall broke away, providing a view of a busy Leaky Cauldron.
"Come on," Draco grabbed Ginny's hand and led the way.
"Malfoy! Where are we going?!" Ginny exclaimed as Draco dragged Ginny through the Leaky Cauldron to the main entrance.
"We are visiting the Muggle world today," Draco proclaimed as he and Ginny emerged into a sunlit road in London.
"What!" Ginny looked around wildly. Draco Malfoy? Stepping foot into the Muggle world? Has the world gone mad?!
"Don't look so surprised, Weaslette," Draco smirked. "I have many businesses in the Muggle world so I have to visit it once in a while."
"Y-you do?" Ginny squeaked.
"Why? Didn't you visit the Muggle world before?" Draco arched an eyebrow. When Ginny mumbled something in reply, he cupped a hand to his ear and said, "What? I didn't hear that, Weaslette."
"I said I have never been to the Muggle world before, Ferret!" Ginny repeated through gritted teeth. She waited for some sort of nasty remark about her father being a Muggle lover and again, she was surprised when it didn't come up.
"Well, I guess it's my job to show you the wonders of the Muggle world," Draco said gallantly. He offered an arm to her. "Shall we?"
Ginny stared at him in surprised, then held onto the crook of his elbow. "We shall," she said, smiling happily. She had always wanted to see what the Muggle world looked like. However, when she was younger, her father was too busy with work while her mother was too busy with seven children. Later on, she did not dare to venture out into an unknown world where she knew no one, nowhere, nothing.
"Welcome to the world of ignorant people, Weaslette," Draco said, brandishing his free hand.
Ginny was too busy taking in all the sights and sounds of people who went about life, ignorant of another race of humans who had magic to help them in everything. These people could actually live without any magical help! To her, Muggles were far, far more amazing than any witch or wizard could be. She stared at all the shops of Muggle London. She watched in amazement as people talked to some device, then choked on the pollution from the heavy traffic around another corner. She passed by an electrical store and watched wide eyed as people sang, danced, talked, cried inside boxes. She knew what a television was as she had taken Muggle Studies but she had never seen one before.
Draco led Ginny to a grand limousine. Ginny stood in shock at the white vehicle. Draco waved away the driver who hurried out to open the door for them. Draco opened it and bowed slightly.
"My lady?" He cocked an eyebrow.
"Is this yours?" Ginny asked as she stood there frozen on the spot.
"Yes. Are you getting in or not?" Draco asked impatiently.
"Sorry," Ginny said as she quickly climbed into the spacious car. As Draco climbed in the other side, she commented, "Boy, you really know how to show off, don't you, Malfoy."
"If you have it, flaunt it!" Draco replied, smirking.
"Figures," Ginny muttered. "You never do anything in a moderate scale do you?"
"Of course. The one thing you expect from a Malfoy is grandness," Draco said.
The car ride was smooth and Ginny entertained herself with staring out of the tinted windows to the magnificent buildings and people. They stopped in front of a French restaurant half an hour later. Ginny got out of the car gracefully, smoothing her skirt. They were sat at a table next to a window by the snobbish-looking maitre'd who treated Draco like fine china. They made their orders and settled comfortably in small talk.
"I never got to thank you," Ginny said as she sipped her iced water.
"For what?" Draco asked, smiling.
"Saving my 'cute bum' as you put it, from crashing into hard earth three years ago," Ginny said wryly.
"How did you know it was me?" Draco asked, frowning now. "You were knocked out."
"I fainted after you caught me and oh yeah, I overheard Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall talking when they thought I was sleeping in the hospital wing," Ginny told him. "So, thanks."
"Welcome," Draco said, shrugging indifferently.
"Why did you do it?" Ginny asked, curious.
"Do what?" He asked back, looking innocent.
"Don't be an ass, Malfoy. Why did you save me?" Ginny said.
Draco shrugged again. "You were near me. I didn't want your blood messing up the Quidditch pitch."
"Gee, that was nice of you, Ferret," Ginny said sarcastically, trying to squelch her disappointment. Why was she feeling disappointed anyway?
"Of course," Draco said.
The food came and conversation turned back to mundane things. After Draco had paid the bill, even though Ginny had tried to insist that she pay, they walked out of the restaurant and down the street.
"Where are we going now?" Ginny asked Draco. "Lunch time is almost over."
"I took the liberty of calling the office and telling them that you are attending a meeting with me. We have the rest of the afternoon free," Draco informed her nonchalantly.
"Where's the meeting?" Ginny asked.
"Nowhere," Draco grinned.
"What?!" Ginny squeaked. "Y-you're - I'm..."
"Playing truant," Draco said, grinning like a little boy.
Ginny was quite shocked by Draco's playful attitude that she tripped and fell into someone. "Excuse me!"
"Why if isn't little Ginny," the person replied with a voice she didn't wish to hear anytime soon. She could smell the stench of alcohol from his breath. She looked up and saw her ex-employer, Mr. Daniels, the asshole who fired her just because she wouldn't bed him. Immediately, Ginny felt the fury building inside her.
"What is the little witch doing here in Muggle London, then? Looking for some fun?" Daniels leered at her.
Ginny felt disgusted. But before she could react, Draco had dragged her behind him, shielding her from Daniels' leering eyes.
"What do you want, Daniels?" Draco asked in a cold voice.
"A little piece of that English whore," Daniels replied in his nasal voice, still leering at Ginny.
"Lay one finger on her and I'll curse you into pieces," Draco warned quietly, his right hand reaching for his wand hidden in his pockets.
"You can't do magic in Muggle world, Malfoy. What is that bitch to you anyway?" Daniels said, laughing till he wheezed. "Little bitch got herself her knight-in-shining-armor, then?"
"Insult her one more time and I just might disregard the Wizarding law," Draco said coolly. "After all, it is a 'special' circumstance. You are a drunken lout who is attacking us and we used magic to defend ourselves. Of course, it was your misfortune that the first spell we thought of removes your manhood."
"You have no witnesses," Daniels said, eyes narrowing.
"Of course, I can always take you in the normal Muggle ways. While I absolutely hate getting messy, I think I'll enjoy it just this once," Draco said, his eyes gleaming with the idea of tearing Daniels apart, limb by limb.
"Think you can take me on, do you, boy?" Daniels sneered. "Then let's get on with it."
"Come on, then," Draco said.
"No!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Don't worry, Ginny. I can take him on," Draco said, sizing up Daniels.
"It's not that!" Ginny said. She thrust her purse into Draco's startled hands. "Here. Hold it for me while I rearrange his body parts and don't make a sound." Ginny moved into position. "Come on then, you asshole. I've been waiting to kick your ass for a long, long time now."
"Little girl, you sure you want to play the big boys' game?" Daniels laughed. "I'll go easy on you, then."
He wasn't prepared when Ginny punched him in the nose, hard enough to draw blood. He quickly decided that he won't be Mr. Nice Guy anymore and attacked. He lunged for Ginny but she jumped away and kicked him in the face, the heels of her boots digging into his cheek. She followed it with a roundhouse kick and another punch in the gut. Daniels fell to the ground with an 'oomph!' and lay there, winded. Ginny finished by kicking him in the groin, hard. The pathetic man curled himself into a tight ball and moaned and groaned.
"Don't ever let me see you again, Daniels or I will castrate you the Muggle way, without sedatives!" Ginny threatened. Brushing her hands off, she turned around to see a wide-eyed, slack-jawed Draco. Somehow, he managed to still look adorable with that idiotic look.
"Who are you?" Draco asked jokingly as he handed her back her purse. "Where did you learn that?"
"I had a Taekwando master who came from Korea a few years back," Ginny said, shrugging. "I prefer using the wand, though. But that was fun!" She giggled. "Did you see the look on his face?!"
"I think I did," Draco winced. "Remind me never to catch you in that mood again. You did that in a skirt! Imagine what you can do in pants..."
"Nah, I'd rather curse you with the Bat Bogey Hex," Ginny laughed gaily, feeling very light and free for the first time in a long while. "I want to do something fun!"
Draco just raised an eyebrow. "What happened to good little Ginny who wouldn't play truant?"
"She's sound asleep," Ginny smiled, skipping.
"Come on, then. Let me show you the wonders of Muggle electricity," Draco said, taking her arm in his.
They walked arm in arm to an arcade where Ginny spent the day learning how to beat Draco in other things. She especially loved the game that had things popping up and she could whack them unmercifully. Evening fell and Draco dragged her away from the machine to a carnival nearby. Ginny's eyes widened in childish wonderment as she stared at the huge Ferris wheel, bumper cars and game booths.
Their fingers interlaced with each other's as they walked around but neither seemed to notice. Draco bought for Ginny a large purple cotton candy and she was hooked on it. Draco could only shook his head in amazement when Ginny gobbled down cotton candies, toffee apples, hot dogs and other junk foods washed down with soft drinks endlessly. He admitted to himself that he found Ginny attractive and liked seeing her so carefree and childish.
Ginny used her skills as Chaser to knock down the stacked bottles, winning herself a small green stuffed dragon. Draco outdid her by winning a huge stuffed bear at the fishing pond using his quick reflexes, gallantly handing it over to Ginny, getting many deep sighs from the many girls who was staring at the handsome man. He then stuck his cheek out and pointed at it, indicating that Ginny should kiss it. Giggling, Ginny stood on tip toes as she leaned forward and pecked his cheek. Draco turned just in time to catch the peck on his lips. Ginny blushed when Draco smacked his lips together and proclaimed the kiss acceptable.
They rode the Ferris wheel with Draco grumbling about his image as he held the huge bear with one hand and held Ginny's hand in the other. Ginny giggled when she saw how cute Draco looked, hugging the bear. They had bought a disposable camera earlier and this was a moment she wanted to keep forever. She quickly snapped a picture before Draco could react.
"Hey!" Draco said, not really caring.
"Don't be such a baby," Ginny laughed, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Don't stick your tongue out unless you intend to use it, kitten," Draco warned.
Ginny blushed but she was saved from replying as the ride had come to an end. They played the bumper cars where Draco looked adorable and ridiculous at the same time, squashed into a small car with a huge bear. Ginny had fun as soon as she learned how to control the car. She and Draco chased each other about like small kids, yelling and laughing. At one point, Ginny snapped another picture of Draco in the car with the bear. How she had managed it, no one knows.
After a few more games, Ginny started to yawn a lot and Draco decided that the night should end. It was nearly midnight. The limousine had picked them up again and dropped them right in front of Leaky Cauldron. If the driver had thought it was weird that he was dropping his employer off in front of a rundown, vacant shop, he didn't say a thing. They brought the film to the Wizarding one-hour photo wash shop while they had a quiet and relaxing supper in a cafe next to it. Needless to say, they had shrunk the huge teddy to fit Ginny's pocket as soon as they had arrived in the Wizarding world. Ginny giggled over the pictures and Draco let her keep all of them, including the ones of him with the bear. Ginny was so tired, she nearly fell asleep on her feet.
"Come on," Draco said, when he saw her dozing off.
"Huh?" Ginny's mind was fried.
"Here," Draco said. He held out his arms and Ginny unthinkingly stepped into them. "Apparate with me. I don't want you splinting yourself just because you're too tired to think straight."
"Hmm? Okay," Ginny mumbled as she snuggled deeper into his arms. She inhaled the cologne he wore and the distinctive male scent that was his and no one else's. Her clouded memory recalled the time she had fell of the broom and had been held in his arms.
"On the count of three, Disapparate and Apparate in the Burrow, okay? One, two, three." A pop was heard as both Disapparated together.
Ginny was practically leaning on Draco for strength. Her legs wouldn't even work.
"Wake up, love. You're home," Draco patted her cheek gently.
"Home," Ginny mumbled as she stumbled towards the door and would have ended up sprawled on the ground if Draco hadn't caught her. "Home is where the heart is... Draco."
Draco smiled at her. He swung her into his arms and somehow managed to knock on the door. Luckily for him, it was Molly and Arthur Weasley who was still awake for a late night cuppa and not the hotheaded moron, Ron Weasley. He quietly greeted them and told them that Ginny had tire herself out in her first trip to the Muggle world. He assured Molly that he had kept Ginevra safe, all the while thinking of the time she had kicked Daniels into everlasting pain. He did all this while still carrying Ginny in his arms. They let him in and he carried her upstairs silently and gently, as if she weighed nothing more than a Galleon.
Molly and Arthur watched in wide-eyed silence as their former enemy's son tucked their daughter into bed so carefully after changing her clothes with a simple spell. They watched as he extracted two miniature toys from her purse and enlarged them to their normal size. Mischievously, he enlarged the dragon to the size of the bear, dressed it in Slytherin robes and hung a tag around it's neck that said 'I am Mr.Draco! Love me!' and he tucked the bear and dragon next to Ginny. Pressing a kiss on Ginny's forehead, he turned around to leave only to see the elder Weasleys staring at him as if he had grown another head. He smiled, said a quiet goodnight and Disapparated in the kitchen.
"What do you think that was, Molly?" Arthur asked, stunned.
"I have no idea, Arthur. That was definitely strange," Molly said.
Author's notes:
1. This is my first fanfiction ever uploaded. So please be easy on me when you guys give me reviews!
2. This story was spun from FlamablePajamies' Malfoy Enterprises. Tory has very kindly allowed me to use her storyline/plot/whatever you call it.
3. I have never been in London before and most of the things written above are just guesses. I also don't speak French/Spanish/Portugese et cetera. So forgive me when you guys notice something amiss.