Chapter Eight
Crazy Old Men
Dr. Malfoy looked up at him, blinking suddenly. Draco kept his gaze. Ginny even found the courage to look up as well.
"I... experiment."
"How utterly Shelley," Draco drawled. "Interested in God's role? Or just trying to improve the world."
Ginny couldn't believe Draco's audacity. She knew he was daring but this was tempting towards suidical. Still, she was feeling less and less the center of attention and was glad for it.
"Not on humans, if that's what you're asking," the doctor managed, trying once more to turn to Ginny.
"Then on what?" Draco demanded, forcing him back towards him.
"Animals. There's a surplus of rats and boars like the one you met. I try to increase longevity."
"Why?"
Well, we have to start small. Someday I hope to perfect the process on humans."
"And just how long do these boars live?"
"Average is about twice their normal length."
Draco leaned back. He could see where this was going. If the man could live twice as long as a normal man, he could rule for almost two centuries. He needed to stop this man now.
A movement from across the table caught his eye. Ginny was shifting. He put immediate action out of his mind. He needed to move to a more restricted situation before trying anything drastic. He needed Ginny safe.
Which meant getting her away from him. The easiest thing would be to antagonize the good doctor into throwing him into a life or death situation. But Ginny... again his thoughts strayed towards her. She wasn't strong enough yet to stand up for herself. If he could stall... But he had no desire to stay here any longer than nessecary. Still, a few days wouldn't hurt. He could stay with Ginny. All she had to do was realize she could fight for herself and that would be all.
Dinner passed relatively un eventfully. Draco continued to bait the doctor whenever Ginny looked to be struggling. He managed a good jibe or two, even earning a giggle at the one point from Ginny.
He walked her back to her room after dinner. Ginny leaned on him slightly. She had had a few glasses of wine with dinner.
He took her into her room. She was flushed and he helped her out of her dress and into a large shirt. He tucked her in and was starting to go when she grabbed his sleeve.
"Stay with me."
He stared at her.
"I'm scared." She continued in a small voice.
He crawled onto the bed, lying atop the covers. "Alright."
For a long time, he lay there, stroking her long wine red hair as she slept. Finally he drifted off.
When Ginny woke the next morning she had a breif moment of panic to see she was alone. A second later there was the hiss of a shower starting. She got up, walking to her bathroom. The curtain was drawn and she could see the outline of Draco.
She allowed herself a smile and returned to the bedroom. She found a skirt that she liked and put it on with the shirt.
A hand drifted to her hair, stroking it gently. "You should wash your hair." Draco said.
She smiled, "I did. Yesterday."
"Tch. You should wash it again. You still have sand in your hair."
"It's fine," She protested. She had no idea, but she was slowly coming to terms with him and Draco was loving every second she argued with him.
"Oh, I think you should!" He picked her up. SHe shrieked in protest as he dumped her into the bath tub. She laughed as he leaned over making sounds of dismay as he found sand on her scalp.
"Thank you."
He looked down at her. "For what?"
"For staying the night. And for making me laugh. It's been a while."
He kissed her quickly. "I aim to please. At least you."
(A/N: oooh! Aren't they so cute? Also, keep in mind in earlier chapters I alluded that Ginny liked Draco too but was too shy to say anything. Just so you don't think this DG thing is coming out of left feild here.
