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 6: Winter Wonderland
"So Gingin where do we need to go today?" Draco spoke softly so that only Ginny could hear the nickname he called her.
"Well I need to get everyone's Christmas presents. I think that is all I need today! What about you?" Ginny said with a small smile on her face. This was Ginny's favorite time of the year. Ginny loved to give gifts even more than she loved to receive them. She always gave her family and friends some kind of candy along with whatever she decided to make them for Christmas. This year she was going to make them all personalize handkerchiefs with their initials and something that reminded her of them.
"I need to get Christmas presents. I think I am sitting ok on school supplies right now." Draco stated simply. "So what are you getting everyone?"
"Oh well I um." She started stammering as her face went bright red. "I am making them personalize handkerchiefs with their initials and something that reminds me of them. I know it sounds stupid but I don't have too much money to get them real gifts so I always make their gifts and then buy some kind of candy to go along with it."
"I think they sound neat. So is that what I am getting as well?" Draco asked without thinking.
"What? I mean you want me to make you a handkerchief? I don't think that you would like it. I would probably put a ferret on it you know!"
"Yes I want you to make me a handkerchief. I don't even care if it has a ferret on it." Draco replied with a smirk. He knew she was thinking he was mocking her but he did really like the sounds of this kind of gift.
"Fine that is what you're getting but I can't promise you will get candy or anything else!"
"I understand!" Draco said with what seemed to be a smile playing on his lips as he looked down at his little partner. They had just been checked off by Filch and were making their way down to the village of Hogsmeade. "Hey Gingersnap do you think we could call a truce on the fighting today? I mean I want to enjoy this last trip before the break and I am sure you do too because it is a beautiful time of the year."
"I agree Ferretface. I think we really need to call a truce for the rest of the school year!" Ginny said quietly. "By the way why have you taken to calling me Gingersnap and GinGin?"
"I told you I like those nicknames. I only wish I knew your other nicknames because I have a feeling they are just as nice." Draco said as he shrugged his shoulders as though it should have been obvious as to why he called her those names.
"Oh! Well I don't like the fact that you know my nicknames and I don't know yours."
"Well Pansy calls me Drac or Drakkie but I wouldn't recommend those if you want to stay on my good side. I mean Ferretface is better than those names." He made a look of disgust as he brought up Pansy and her nicknames for him.
"What is there trouble in lovers' paradise?" Ginny asked in a whisper.
"What do you mean?"
"Well you looked as though you would rather touch me than to ever touch Pansy with a ten foot pole."
"I guess you could say that is about the size of things. I am not Pansy's boyfriend nor have I ever been. I can't stand her that much. She tries telling everyone we are dating but it is a lie. The only reason I took her to the Yule Ball was because my father forced me into it."
"Oh I didn't know that."
"What about you and your lover boy?"
"No boyfriend! Guys are too much trouble especially with this year's partnerships for Hogsmeade! I would never really have time to see my boyfriend between school, Quidditch, homework, and having to spend my time with you in Hogsmeade." Ginny responded with a slight pink tint in her cheeks. "So if you're not dating Pansy who are you dating?"
"I am not dating anyone. So what you're getting at is that I am the only guy you would have time for and that is only because Dumbledore found it cute to pair us up?"
"I guess you could interpret it that way. Why no girlfriend? I gave you my reasons for no boyfriend but you didn't give me your reasons."
"Same reasons you gave. Plus I am sick of dating girls that don't know how to carry on an intellectual conversation. Not that I would ever want to date someone like Granger but I would like someone that could talk about something other than music, makeup, and movies."
"So did you know that Pansy has been throwing hissy fits every time we have a Hogsmeade trip? She keeps bitching to Harry about how unfair it is that she is stuck with him and you are stuck with me. She even told him that you were her Draco!"
"God that woman is annoying. Goyle said that all she could talk about on the first trip was me and how she planned to get to the bottom of this. She would make sure Dumbledore saw the error of his ways and fixed this mess. She wouldn't have her Draco suffering such an injustice."
"Yeah that is about what Harry claimed she had said. She even demanded Dumbledore explain his little game or plan to her right then and there after the first trip."
"Did I even mention her that day?" Draco asked cautiously hoping that if he had nothing had gotten back to her because that would just add more problems for him.
"No. We talked Quidditch, the prank war, my nightmares, and your dislike of shopping with women. But you never mentioned Pansy. I think I even mentioned that to Hermione when she asked about it after telling me what had happened to Harry."
"Good. I don't think I could handle it if she thought there was a chance between her and me. I mean if she thought I had brought her up she would take it that way. Wait a minute you remember everything we talked about?"
"Of course I did. I mean I was surprised at how well we got along that day even with the fight."
"So care to share what your other nicknames are?" Draco asked as she led him into the first store she needed to hit to get the handkerchiefs for her gift.
"Maybe later but right now I need to pick up some handkerchiefs." Ginny replied while picking up the packages she needed. She went up and paid for the items then they made their way out of the busy store.
"So what would you get for everyone if you could afford more?" Draco asked in a curious tone.
"Well Hermione would get a book most likely. Ron anything about the Chudley Cannons. Mum would probably be some kind of wool so she could stop sending Ron that horrible Maroon colored sweaters every year. I think he needs a different color. Dad would get anything having to do with muggles. Fred and George anything prank related. Percy would be an attitude adjustment! Bill would be a hair brush or an earring. Charlie would be anything homemade because he loves those gifts best. Harry would be anything related to Quidditch or the wizarding world that could make his life easier when he goes home. For my friends it would be film for Colin and anything unusual for Luna. Neville would be anything to do with Herbology." Ginny finished a little surprised that Draco asked.
"Well I think Ron would thank you for the thought of what to give your mum." Draco said after she finished.
They were now in the thread shop and she was deciding what colors she would need. Ginny looked at the one box that had everything she needed in it but it was too much for her to get so she decided to pick out just about five colors. As she was purchasing these she noticed Draco had something behind his back. "What is that a gift for someone?"
"Yeah I guess you could say that. Are you done in here?" When she nodded he added. "Why don't you wait for me outside? It is kind of crowded in here."
"Ok see you outside."
When he came out he handed Ginny his bag. "I am not caring your purchases for you Ferret!"
"Open it Gingersnap!" Draco said with a smile in his eyes.
With that Ginny opened the bag and saw the box of threads she had been looking at. Ginny felt at a lose for words. "Thank you Draco."
"You are welcome!" He exclaimed quietly.
They went into a shop where Draco picked up a gift for his father. Then they walked into the parchment store where Draco picked out some parchment for a friend. He also picked out a quill that changed colors as it wrote. Ginny didn't even notice that the parchment had a W on it.
"Draco?" Ginny whispered as she tugged on his robes. He leaned down so his ear was next to her mouth.
"Yes Ginny?"
"What are you going to get your mother? I mean if you don't have anything picked out yet I have a place that has beautiful items. Also I need to go by this place for a moment anyway."
"Lead the way my lady!" Draco said as he bowed before her.
Ginny laughed at this and then took his hand and lead him down the crowded streets toward the other end of the village. Ginny didn't release Draco's hand as she led him in the store and called out, "Christine are you here?"
"Ginny girl is that you?"
"I am not Ginny! I am Dumbledore!" Ginny said with a laugh as Christine walked out from the back room.
"Where have you been Ginbug? I mean I haven't seen you all school year and I know you have had two trips before this. So spill girl and explain why you haven't even owled me lately. Also tell me who the new guy is. I mean you always did have great taste in guys!" Christine said to Ginny.
"Well Christine this is Draco Malfoy my partner for the Hogsmeade weekends. That is why I haven't been stopping by this term. As for the reason I haven't owled well that is because I have had so much homework and I have had a detention. We won't even mention the prank war." Ginny replied.
"I see! Well what brought you here this time?"
"Draco needs a gift for his mum for Christmas so I suggested this place. This way I could see you and give you a hug because I have missed our girl talks."
"I have missed you too Ginbug. I really do miss the chats about guys, school, and just anything. Draco why don't you have Ginbug show you around and then if you two don't mind I will join you for lunch so we can chat ok?"
"Sounds good to me! What do you say Ginbug want to show me around?"
"Ok I guess we could do that." Ginny said as she noticed he had picked up on another nickname she had.
As soon as Christine was out of earshot Draco turned to Ginny. "So which brothers' girlfriend?"
"Charlie's exgirlfriend."
"Ah! So Ginbug is Charlie's nickname for you. George has Gingin while Fred has Gingersnap. Am I right so far?"
"Yes! Why do you care so much what my nicknames are?"
"Honestly I am not exactly sure why unless it is because they seem to annoy you. Or maybe I am sick of calling you Weasley, Weasel, or Weaselette."
"Alright I guess it is ok if you call me Gingersnap but I don't like Gingin and only Charlie and Christine can call me Ginbug."
"Agreed Gingersnap! So what would you suggest for my mother?"
"How about this lamp?" Ginny held up a beautiful silver and green lamp. This surprised Draco because he never realized she had such good taste.
"It's perfect." Draco said with wide eyes. With this they walked over to where Christine had reappeared and Draco paid for the lamp. Christine carefully packaged the lamp and then closed the shop for an hour.
They walked to the Three Broomsticks for lunch. Upon ordering their meals along with their drinks Ginny and Christine started chattering away. Ginny sensed Draco's discomfort and realized they were excluding him from the conversation. "Draco what do you want for Christmas this year?" Ginny asked after telling Christine that she herself wanted chocolate frogs or even just the cards. Also she wanted some books on potions and on herbology. She had also mentioned some special perfume she wanted.
"Well I want something homemade for a change. Also I want some chocolate frogs and a couple of books. I have two books left to complete the series I started reading."
"Which books?" Christine asked realizing that Ginny had noticed Draco feeling left out and wanted him to be comfortable.
"Wizard of the Darkness and Darkness becomes Light."
"Can I ask what these books are about?" Christine responded.
"Well the one is about a young wizard around my age whose father is forcing him to join the dark side of a war of good verses evil. However he really doesn't want to be on the dark side. All he really wants is to prove himself to the girl he loves. She is from a family that supports the side of light. This girl only sees him as a dark wizard and hates his guts. The second book is about how he ends up fighting on the side of light and ends up in a bad battle that lands him in the hospital. Who happens to be his mediwitch? The girl he loves! While she is taking care of him she finds out more about him and finds he has changed from the days they were in school together."
"Wow those sound like good books." Ginny stated.
"That's what I thought too. Anyway what type of books do you ladies like?"
"Well I love classic romances about a witch who turns the bad boy into a man worthy of marriage." Christine explained.
"I like any romance that adds comedy to it. With all the things I have been though I need a good laugh now and then." Ginny added.
"What is your all time favorite romance?" Draco asked Ginny.
"A True Wizard." Ginny responded. "Unfortunately I have only read half of it because I had to return it to the friend I borrowed it from and never had the chance to finish it."
"I see!" Draco smiled at her. At this point they had finished eating and Christine paid for all three.
"You two better join me the next time you're in the village. I have truly missed you Ginbug. It was great to meet one of the Malfoys I have heard so much about from Ginny."
"It was a pleasure to meet you too Miss um?" Draco stopped realizing he didn't know her last name.
"Felton." Christine supplied.
"Right Miss Felton it was a pleasure to meet you and spend time with you. I look forward to seeing you in the future. As for what Ginny says about me I am sure she is way too nice and the truth is I am much nastier than she makes me out to be."
"Don't be to sure. From what I have seen Ginny described you almost perfectly. Except she never said you were so charming." Christine told Draco as they walked out to the sidewalk. She then turned to Ginny and hugged her. She whispers in Ginny's ear. "Goodbye Ginbug and remember even bad wizard boys can turn into good wizard men because a woman loves them."
"Thanks Christine for everything especially the advice. See you the next time we are in the village." Ginny told Christine. With that Christine made her way back to her shop while Ginny and Draco stepped into the bookstore.
Draco picked up several books. Ginny however found only two books she could afford thanks to Christine who had slipped some money into her pocket as she hugged Ginny goodbye. After finishing in the bookstore they hit Honeyduke's. They then hit one more store with a mix of gift items. Upon making their purchases they headed back to the school.
"Gingersnap can you do me a favor?" Draco asked.
"What Ferretface?"
"Can you give some people gifts from me however make it look like they come from you not me?"
"What?"
"I bought some people gifts however I know they would not accept them from me. So I want you to put your name on them."
"Sure I guess."
"Great come on!" Draco led her into the castle where once again the three teachers waited. After answering a couple of questions Draco led Ginny to a small corridor that was deserted at that time. He then told her which gifts went to which people.
Author note: Thanks for being patient everyone! I am fighting a cold but am sure I will live. I am going to post two more chapters within the next few minutes. Sarah I am glad I have caught your attention with my story. I don't mind having only one reviewer it happens a lot to me. I am trying to get the fanfiction work out of my way so that I can write my real story that I have been working on for almost a year now but because of all of these other stories I have in my head I couldn't get the work done. I myself read a few stories here and there but have saved my favorites to read again and again. I was into a couple pairings at one time from Harry Potter one being Ginny and Draco since it was the first one I found and the writer I read had a great story but I can't tell you which one it was I have read many great Ginny/Draco fics. Well need to post two more chapters here and then work on my other fanfic that is in the Mighty Ducks area no Harry Potter in it lol. Take care all!