Chapter Eight
Frantic Boyfriends.
"Honey! I'm home!" Draco announced, swinging through the door with a bouquet of flowers.
He listened for a minute. There was no sound, but he wasn't worried. It was only five and Ginny usually wasn't home til around five thirty. He had checked in at the Quibbler before apparating here. Luna had been delighted with his news and he was certain Ginny would be too.
Luna had said Ginny hadn't come in but called in sick. Draco knew nothing would keep Gin sick long but he had picked up flowers so he could use them as leverage. Not that he needed it anymore. With this news, nothing else would matter.
He figured she was out getting groceries. She often did that. Just in case, he checked her message machine. There was only one. He didn't bother. If Ginny had left a message, it wouldn't be just one. She was obsessive like that. She would have left a message for every five minutes she was gone, leaving updates. Draco? I'm getting the potatoes now. Draco? I'm at the register.
He loved her for it. Some people might see it as needy, but Draco could tell what she was really doing. She was making him feel like he belonged. She was over acting the part of the needy girl friend. He also had a pretty good idea that she would stop when they were more public. He regretted not being able to show it.
Draco set the flowers in a vase on the kitchen table. He looked around. He had the desire to make her dinner. If he made it he could magically heat it back up later.
He pulled out a smock from her supply. It was a drab olive green one that she probably used for potion making as opposed to cooking. But any port in a storm.
He decided on pasta primavera with chicken. The pasta took about half an hour to make it just the way he wanted it. He set it in the oven to wait while he grilled the chicken. He chose garlic salt, lemon juice and basil for seasonings. He basked in the fumes as the two peices cooked on Ginny's table top grill.
When it hit seven Draco started to worry. He loved Ginny and he trusted her, but it wasn't like her to do something like this. She always called. Always.
He picked up the phone and dialed the speed dial. Maybe she had stopped off to see her mother for a bit. She often lost track of time there. And she had had that falling out the other day. She probably went to apologize.
Molly Weasley picked up on the third ring.
"Hello?"
"Mrs Weasley? This is... a friend of Ginny's from school."
"Oh? Any one I would know?"
Draco didn't mean to say anything more than a polite inquiry into Ginny's state but before he knew it he was in a conversation.
"Oh, Draco Malfoy."
"Oh my! I haven't heard that name in a while. How are you dear?"
"Fine! Um, I was trying to get in contact with Ginny again. Do you know..."
"Well she's not in right now, but-"
"She's not?" Draco repeated with no small measure of horror.
"No, dear. I'm afraid we had a bit of a falling out about boys. She seems to be involved."
Draco started. "Involved?"
"Oh, not that she's told me. She has a perchance for stubborness. No, just the way she carries herself, you know. But it must be some one she didn't think we would apro..." Molly trailed off.
Draco shifted for a moment, uncomfortably as he waited.
"Draco dear... How is it you're calling from my daughter's apartment?" Molly asked with entirely too much smugness.
Draco stuttered for an answer for a moment before Molly stopped him. "Don't worry dear, we won't let Ginny in on it just yet. But do come to dinner soon."
Draco finished the conversation with no small amount of relief. He still had to contend with brothers but he had the feeling Molly was on his side.
Draco stared off into space for a few minutes before his gaze was drawn back to the blinking message indicator. Maybe Ginny was doing something that required her to be out of communication for a while...
He reached out and pressed the button. A voice, he recognized it as Pansy Parkinson came on.
"Draco, dear. I'm sure you're listening to this and wondering where your dear Ginevra is. The answer is I have her. I understand you were planning on becoming legit with the Ministry today. After all your father is recieving the Kiss and your mother is dead so you will be coming into quite a small fortune. But if you think you can stay home and enjoy that money with your dearest, you are quite wrong. I am holding Ginevra captive until midnight at warehouse 13. If you don't consent to marry me, I will kill her."
(A/N: ... I really should just go break my foot now. I know that's what my fans would do to me. Break my foot and keep me tied up til I finish these fics.
