I'm having a few problems uploading documents so I hope this works (I copied an existing chapter and then changed it...)
Thanks again to all who reviewed. I seem to be having issues replying to you too... I don't think the website likes me much!
Maybe my enforced stay here could end up more enjoyable than I thought.
Draco pondered over his conversation with Ginny as he slowly dressed in more black clothes that he had been provided. When the little weasel had shown him the large cupboard that housed all the garments he had been appalled at how many red items were in there. Bloody Gryffindors. How I wish I could go shopping for my own clothes. Although I can't believe I just wished that as I used to find it so laborious!
As he was lacing his old boots, which he had demanded he kept, Draco suddenly smelled the most wonderful aroma floating into his room and decided he had to investigate where it was coming from. He strode over to the door, threw it open and followed his nose down the rickety stairs…
Ginny stood in the kitchen, lost in her thoughts as she chopped, diced, stirred, seasoned and performed various other kitchen tasks with ease. She jumped as Tonks poked a finger into her ribs and laughed when Tonks continued to tickle her.
"A sickle for your thoughts Ginny love?" Tonks asked.
"Oh it's nothing, I was just wondering about Malfoy"
"That boy? Pffft. Ignore him is my suggestion." Tonks pulled a face at his name and not just any face; she turned her hair white blond and her chin stretched to a point. Her eyes changed silver and she pulled a remarkably good Malfoy like sneer. "Malfoy's don't need friends. We're above them don't you know?"
Ginny giggled at her, but swatted at Tonks hands. "Stop it you! He seems ok to me, I think he's grown up a little. I want to see if I can help him."
"Turn him 'good' you mean?" Tonks asked, her face returning to normal. "Wouldn't bother if I were you. It'll never happen. Too much of his dad in him… Mother too if you ask me. Anyway, I promise to play nice if I bump into him, but only for you." She sniffed at the pots and pans bubbling away. "Mmm, smells good. Mind if I grab a sandwich to take with me?"
Ginny paused for a second, remembering Tonks was fairly accident prone. "Erm… sure! There's room over there for you." She said pointing to a counter as far away from her own food preparations as possible. "Where are you going? Everyone seems to be away on some mission these days."
Tonks sighed. "I'm going with Remus to help lock him up for the full moon."
"Still no luck making the wolfsbane potion then?" Ginny asked.
"No, none of us are good enough, Hermione managed to brew a weak version of it that prevented him being quite as ferocious when he changed but he still can't be trusted. Yet another reason to hate Snape." Tonks began throwing ingredients into a large baguette; Ginny peered over her shoulder and wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"You've put pumpkin chips, cheese and jam in there. Did you mean to do that? Because if so you're gross." Ginny giggled.
"Of course I did, I've had this since I was tiny. Mum used to make it for me, it tastes great!"
"I'll take your word for it!" Ginny laughed at her friend's crazy behaviour.
"I'll leave you some to try." Tonks said. She cut some of the baguette off and left it on a plate. She then went into the larder to rummage about for something to wrap her own very large portion in.
Ginny looked up just as Draco waltzed into the room, he had his eyes half closed and was taking big sniffs of air. Damn he looks good in those clothes. I should really try and get Harry to wear something like that. She thought.
Draco followed the breathtaking smell along a couple of winding corridors until he realised that he was headed for the kitchen. He quickened his pace until he reached the door, when he pushed it open the most heavenly aroma enveloped him and he couldn't help but take several deep breaths of it.
He spotted Ginny and stalked over to her. "What's that smell? It's amazing." He asked.
She gave a small laugh. "It could be lots of things Malfoy, it happens to be baking day today so I've lots on the go. Apple crumble, Jam roly-poly, pumpkin pie, steak pie, chicken casserole, butterscotch tart, chocolate cake, four different types of bread, a vegetable soup and your breakfast!" She finished, slightly breathlessly.
"Porridge?" Draco asked expectantly. Ginny laughed at him. Why is she always so happy he thought. She's always smiling or laughing so freely.
"No, I though your stomach could probably take something a little richer than porridge now. Don't worry I'm sure it will be just as pleasant." She added seeing his face fall a little. "I'll be done in a minute, why don't you grab a seat?"
Instead he wandered round the room kitchen poking in the drawers and nosing in pots. He stopped when he came across the remains of Tonks' sandwich. "Pumpkin chips, jam and cheese. Wow! I love that sandwich, how did you know?" He exclaimed!
Tonks' head whipped its way round the doorway from the larder. "What do you mean you love it?" She demanded. "No one loves it…"
If Draco was shocked at the sudden appearance of the bubblegum coloured witch he did nothing to show it. "For your information my grandmother Druella used to make it for me." He replied haughtily.
Ginny smirked at the shocked look that appeared on Tonks' face. "Well Tonks, looks like you two have more in common than just blood." She noted and was satisfied to finally see Draco register shock on his face.
"What? You mean?" He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. "Are you my shunned Aunt's daughter, or some other relation?" Draco asked.
"That'd be me" replied Tonks, not looking too happy.
"I've wondered since I was a child who they were but none of my family would talk about the missing relatives much. I just saw all the burned out patches on the family tree and tapestries and wondered who they could be. To be honest I'd often hoped for a male cousin that I could talk to but any relation around my age would have been a welcome break; even if you are a muggle lover with a weird name!" Draco burst out.
"Before you murder him Tonks, I think the last comment was a joke." Ginny said quickly. "Like any of us have normal names though. Harry got lucky!" Ginny said, mainly to herself.
Tonks looked decidedly awkward and her hair had faded to a mousy brown. She turned to face Draco and said "Look, I don't know you but I've hated your side of the family all my life for what they did to my mother. I can't just all of a sudden start liking you or thinking of you as my cousin. But let me think about this and get to know you a bit more and we'll see what happens. OK?"
"Well it's no skin off my nose." Stated Draco abruptly and plonked down on a wooden chair with slightly less than his usual grace.
"Malfoy don't be an arse or she'll never get to see the good side to you." Ginny piped up.
"What good side?" he mumbled, thoroughly unimpressed with the way the conversation had gone. That'll teach me to be friendly he sulked. "Oh stop being a baby or I won't give you any breakfast!" Ginny threatened.
Draco sighed, mumbling something about blackmailing his stomach. He raised himself to his full impressive height and stuck out his hand towards Tonks. "Fine. Look, I probably don't have the same ideals as you and all but it'd be quite nice to find out a bit more about my missing relatives so when you're not busy maybe we could sit down and have a chat."
"Deal." Said Tonks looking slightly happier. "Hey Gin, Hermione might be popping in soon with an update. Can you ask her to give the Wolfsbane potion another go please? I can't stand seeing him like this. I can't believe he's so strong to put up with this for so long."
"Wolfsbane? I can make that." Said Draco. Ginny and Tonks both stared open mouthed at him. "Look... I know I'm gorgeous but I just don't think it right that my cousin drools over me." He smirked.
Tonks got a desperate look in her eye. "Are you winding me up?" she asked.
Draco frowned, "Erm, yeah… I don't really think you were drooling over -"
"NO!" she snapped, "About the Wolfsbane potion?"
"Oh yeah, Lucius had me learn it a few years ago so I could make it for some Death Eater chum he was dealing with. He was too busy to do it himself but far too scared of being bitten so I had to make it and be damned sure it was perfect."
"Make it for me." Tonks demanded.
"Hey wait, have you been infected? Are you a werewolf?" Draco started backing away a little.
"No you idiot, Remus. Please make some." Tonks look turned desperate.
"Well here's your chance to prove your worth Malfoy!" Ginny told him.
Draco stood back and held both hands out in front of him, palms facing the girls. "Now hold on a minute. First off I'm a prisoner here, next you say hate me. Then you're going to think about it and pass judgement on me if I'm up to your standards and now I'm your personal slave. There's nothing in it for me, why should I do it?"
"Malfoy don't be like that. This is your chance to help somebody. To do something good." Ginny said reaching her hand out towards his arm. Draco snatched his arm away. "I already told you I'm not a good guy Weasley. Quit trying to turn me into a stand in until lover boy gets back."
"You could never be Harry's stand in and he is not my lover but that's none of your business. Quit being so stubborn or do I have to hex you to make you see sense?" Ginny spit back at him.
Draco's face changed into a cold mask. "Threats Weasel? Now that's something I've been quite used to these past few weeks. But I doubt you could threaten me with anything even close to the horrific ordeals I've been put through. Try another approach why don't you. Torture certainly won't help."
"What is it that you want Malfoy?" Tonks interjected with a sigh. "You know we can't let you leave if that's what you're after. Remus would rather be locked up again than that. What are your conditions?"
Draco smirked. "Right, I will make your stupid potion on one condition." He paused dramatically, "I want to be allowed to go to Diagon Alley to buy some provisions. If I'm going to be in hiding or faking my own death then I want to be comfortable whilst doing so."
Tonks shook her head. "That's as good as letting you go. We can't do it."
"Wait, I think I know a way it's possible..." Tonks and Draco looked at Ginny hopefully as she continued. "You'll have to give me a minute to check it out but I think with Hermione's new form of Polyjuice potion and a kind of binding spell we can pull this off."
I'm not sure if Draco knew about Tonks being his cousin but for the sake of this story he didn't!!