Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Harry Potter books or movies. I am just borrowing them for a bit of fun. Hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to review however like I have said I will put the bad reviews in with my owl so she can poop on them! The good reviews will get the reviewer a shout out in the author note in the next chapter!
Chapter 4: Thanks a Lot
For the second time this school year Draco found himself wondering what could possibly caused their crazy old headmaster to pair Ginny Weasley and himself up. It just didn't make sense. Come on he knows how much the two families hate one another so why force them to hang out together?
Ginny was once again at Draco's side. She was standing very quiet once again hoping her partner would not notice her if she stayed quiet. She was tempted during the last month to find Professor Dumbledore and ask him why he had been as insane as to pair her with Draco Malfoy. She had once again found that she could not get out of going to Hogsmeade as she needed some potion supplies, a birthday gift for one of her many brothers, and she need yet another prank.
"What has you so quiet this time Weasel?" Draco had again noticed her beside him.
"Just thinking about all the things I need to get. Trying to figure out how to get even this time with my brothers. I am so sick of their pranks. I wish I was as quick at figuring out pranks as they are!"
"Wow someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed! Was it more dreams of me?"
"Ha! I haven't had a nightmare of you since that night! Thank you very much. Let's just say my brothers are at it again and if they don't stop I am going to be forced to move out of my dorm room!"
"Another early morning prank that upset the bunk mates?" Draco questioned Ginny.
"No more like a prank that made everyone's undergarments disappear for about two hours. That was why all the girls in my dorm room were running ten minutes late today! I mean when they went to go change for the trip to Hogsmeade they found their undergarments still missing. We only had the ones we had on and so we had decided to change when we got back to the dorm after breakfast. However when they realized the garments were still missing some of the girls refused to leave the castle until we found out what happened. That is when I finally opened the letter my brothers had sent me. It told me that they were testing another product and the missing items should return to their rightful places in about 20 minutes. Of course it had already been about 15 so we waited another 5. Sure enough they all returned except mine! They once again wouldn't tell me how come or where mine were just said I would find them later!"
"You know your brothers may be a bit annoying but I like the pranks they pull." Draco said with a smirk as she finished. "So what did you do about your missing things?"
"Get your mind out of the gutter Malfoy!" Ginny replied as they were checked off by Filch. "First I wrote a quick note to Mum and Dad. Then I found Ron and told him that if he didn't start watching out he would be caught in the middle because I suspected it was him who had the twins pull this prank. I told him he better find out quickly how to get my items back or I would make sure his disappeared!"
"What was his response?"
"Um let's just say the twins were getting an earful when I left the common rooms."
"Well they will probably get it again when Millicent finds out because she hates having to wait."
"Oh I took care of that. I told her what happened and she just laughed. She said no problem however my two brothers better expect a howler from her!"
"Good for her! So again we have to hit Zonko's and of course Honeyduke's right?"
"Right! Plus I need some potions ingredients and I have to pick up a birthday present for one of my brothers." Ginny told him. "What about you?"
"Well I need some parchment and a book."
"Ok Malfoy so where to first?"
"Zonko's?"
"Ok but why?"
"Oh I am looking forward to seeing what you pick out this time. By the way what happened last time?"
"Oh let's just say that Mum sent me a letter that looked as though she should have sent a Howler. However Ron had already sent her a letter explaining that you are my Hogsmeade partner and he was sure it had been you that had made me get the necessary items for the pranks. Mum brought that so I got a long letter instead. But I could still tell that she was really mad at me. So this time I will let her in on it first. That was the biggest problem she had. She was upset because it scared her out of her mind when she seen my brothers come downstairs for breakfast that morning. The blood was coming out of their mouths and they had little hair left. They looked like death warmed over. I guess it would have been smarter to let mum in because then she wouldn't have worried so much. She claims she almost took them to St. Mungo's! However about two minutes later it all wore off after they starting screaming that they were going to kill me! Oops guess I better start working on how to dodge the Avada Kedavra curse!"
"Good luck with that one! I doubt that is how they will kill you. They will probably get your dorm mates so pissed that they do it for them." Draco said though a fit of laughter.
"What is so funny?" Ginny asked as they walked into Zonko's.
"I was just picturing your brothers with little hair and blood dripping from their mouths as well as you dodging their attempts to kill you."
With this Ginny laughed too. She quickly found some more gags to pull on her brothers and he found a couple to pull on Crabbe and Goyle. They paid and headed out again. "Now where too?" Ginny asked quietly.
"Parchment store?"
"Ok lead the way!" Ginny said.
Once they finished getting Draco's parchment they went to get her potion supplies. While in the potion supply shop they ran into Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore. As they had the last time Draco and Ginny were fighting. Neither of them had noticed the teachers until they spoke.
"Miss Weasley please remember to get enough dried nettles to make it though the month if not longer! I am not going to give you any more this time!" Snape said bitterly. "Also Mr. Malfoy don't forget to pick up some more shrivelfig."
"Did you find that book you needed?" McGonagall spoke up this time.
"Um I haven't been to the book store yet that was the next stop." Draco responded looking at Ginny with a smirk.
Dumbledore noticed that neither teacher had broken the ice with the young pair. "Can any of you believe the amazing Quidditch season so far?"
"Yes it has been quite good!" McGonagall exclaimed.
"I agree. I must congratulate you Miss Weasley on your excellent score ability especially against the Slytherin Keeper. You and your team mates are playing even better this year!" Snape was sneering and yet complimenting her at the same time.
"Thank you Professor but I must say it took all my energy to keep away from your Beaters. Your team has excellent Beaters. Your Chasers are better this year then they were last year as is your Keeper. However your Seeker could use more practice but I think he is doing a fine job otherwise."
"Hey like you are any good as a Seeker?" Draco came back bitterly.
"I wasn't saying that. What I was saying is your still falling for the fake out that Harry pulls on you. You need to learn to watch more closely and you would see that the snitch usually not were he is looking but rather in the opposite direction."
"Really? Like why should I believe you?"
"Just telling you the facts."
"Fine whatever!" Draco said and huffed away to pick up his potions ingredient that he forgot he needed. He also picked up Ginny's and brought it to her without thinking.
"I guess I said something wrong!" Ginny said with a weak smile to the teachers before her who looked as stunned as she herself felt. "I am sorry if I was too harsh on him."
"Don't worry about Miss Weasley. I actually thought it was nice of you to tell him how he could improve his game." Snape said with a half smile as though he was reassuring the young Weasley that she had done nothing wrong in his books.
Upon coming back Draco pushed a bag into her hand. He asked bitterly, "Was that all you needed in the line of potion supplies?"
"No. I also needed daisy roots. I think that is everything I needed." She looked over at Snape as if asking what she was going to need for classes.
"Miss Weasley I think you should also get some porcupine quills and extra black beatle eyes." Snape stated and then looked over at Draco, "Draco why don't you go get those items for Miss Weasley and then come back." Draco just nodded and walked off.
"Miss Weasley please be a bit nicer to Mr. Malfoy." Professor McGonagall stated after Draco was out of earshot.
"I will try."
Shortly after that Draco came back over to them and deposited the bag containing the three ingredients into Ginny's hand. "I have to agree that Weasley is playing better this year then she has in the past however I would like to remind her that dodging the Bludgers hit by the Slytherin team may be more challenging next time around because the Beaters will have noticed your ability to score more often than the rest of your teammates."
"Thank you for the compliment and advise. However are you forgetting who your Beaters are?"
With this Dumbledore, McGonagall, and even Snape tried to hide a laugh. "Well don't forget who their team captain is and who it is that gives them their pep talks each game."
"Oh yes that is true you are smarter than they are and you are the one they take orders from so I will keep in mind to dodge the two Beaters of Slytherin more next time."
The professors all laughed silently at the way their two students were trying to be nice to one another in their presences. "Well we must be going now." Ginny told the professors with a wave and Draco followed with a wave to the three professors.
Once they were out of the shop Ginny busted out laughing. "What is so funny now Weasel?"
"Snape and McGonagall laughing!" She said between laughs.
"Yeah I guess that was kind of funny." Draco said with what looked like a grin on his face.
They continued on to the bookstore to get Draco's book. After that they went on to get some lunch. "I am sorry if I offended you back at the potion supply store. I was being serious that you are a great Seeker however Harry is better but only because he has you faked out every time."
"It's alright. I just didn't want to hear what I already knew." Draco said as they ordered their lunch.
"So if you didn't tell your two friends how to play do you think they would figure out that they should be attacking me?"
Draco chuckled as he said, "probably not! As you have pointed out they aren't the fastest brooms in the broom shed!"
"Good analogy." Ginny said as their food was brought to them. "Don't look now but we are being followed!"
"Who your brother?"
"No. Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonagall are coming in. I have a feeling they are going to pass by us again. They seem to be tracking our trips to Hogsmeade or something like that."
Draco turned slightly and sure enough the teachers were headed their way. "Maybe we should invite them to join us so that they can just continue to study us up close!"
"Hello Mr. Malfoy and Miss Weasley." Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Hello professors. Would you care to join us for a while?" Draco responded.
"Hello. Please do join us for a bit. We won't bite unless you're made of food." Ginny added quickly.
"Are you sure? I mean you two aren't afraid you would be considered suck ups?" Dumbledore asked.
"We will risk it if you will!" Draco said.
"Right!" Ginny agreed.
"Well in that case sure we will join you." Dumbledore nodded to the other two professors and they sat down. McGonagall sitting down beside Ginny and Snape sitting beside Draco while Dumbledore sat at the head of the table.
After the instructors had ordered and everyone had their food they all dug in. They talked and laughed about many subjects including Quidditch, Potions, Transfigurations, and candy. "I must say though my favorite is the chocolate frogs." McGonagall concluded as they were discussing candies.
"I would have to say the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans is mine." Declared Snape. Everyone was shocked to find this out.
"I will admit that I am partial to anything muggle made or chocolate." Dumbledore exclaimed with a laugh.
"What about you Ginny?" Draco asked.
"Um what did you just call me?" Ginny said taken aback.
"Ginny. Why?"
"Ok just wondering. My favorite candy would have to be the chocolate frogs. We have a war going in my family to see who has the most cards by the end of each school year."
"Who is winning?" Dumbledore asked.
"Ron I think. He is always getting Harry and Hermione to give him their cards."
"Your friends don't help you out?" Snape asked.
"I don't ask because I don't care as much as he does about the contest. Although it would be nice to just one year have my brothers doing my chores for the summer instead of me doing theirs. Of course Mum always ends up giving them some extra chores which doesn't count in the deal."
"Well Ginny is there a specific way you guys handle this? I mean do you have to have different cards or can they all be the same?" McGonagall asked suddenly.
"Either! Fred and George use to win every year because they would pull theirs together and then divide them evenly. Always tying and then Ron and I would have to do their chores."
"Oh those two were always a handful but they were good for a laugh." McGonagall exclaimed.
"Weasley how many do you have so far this year?" Draco asked.
"Ten. Ron has twenty already and probably has another ten today."
"Well if I help you out can you send pictures of your brother doing your chores?" Draco asked quietly.
"Yeah but why would you want to help me out?"
"Simple I think it would be funny to see your brother doing your work after several years of you doing theirs."
The teachers looked from one student to the other with surprised looks on their faces. "Well I am sure we can all find a way to make sure Miss Weasley wins this year." Professor Dumbledore finally added with a wink.
"Hey Draco by the way what is your favorite candy?" Snape asks.
"Um chocolate frogs." Draco mumbles.
"What was that?"
"Chocolate frogs ok?"
"Yeah good answer." McGonagall replied with a smile.
After a few minutes they all paid and left. The teachers head back to the castle while Ginny and Draco went about finishing their shopping.
Ginny decided to get her brother his favorite candy for his birthday so they headed straight for Honeyduke's. Ginny bought some Bertie Botts, a couple of chocolate frogs, and her brother's favorite candy. Draco picked up several frogs, Bertie Botts, and a chocolate bar.
"Well let's head back shall we?" Draco said as they walked out of the shop. When they got closer to the castle Ginny took out a frog and started eating it. She then carefully placed her card back in the bag.
Draco also was munching on a frog checking out his card. "Here you go Weasley I already have this one."
"Thank you Malfoy! Hey by the way how much do I owe you for the potion supplies?"
"Don't worry about it. Just get me a really big Christmas present next month ok?"
"You got it. However it probably won't be up to your standards you know?"
"Don't worry about that either. I will help you pick it out." He smirked as he held the door for Ginny to enter the castle.
"Good evening you two. Long time no see!" Dumbledore greeted them. Again Snape and McGonagall were standing beside him.
"Good evening Professor." The two said together. They looked at each other and both busted out laughing without know why.
"Any questions tonight sir?" Ginny recovered first.
"No. You two may go put your stuff away and head to dinner."
"Thank you sir!" Ginny and Draco once again answered together and once again were laughing as they departed from the professors.
Again they noticed the instructors watching them leave but just headed toward their own houses.
