I do not own Harry Potter and/or any of the characters, places or things mentioned. They all belong to JKR-who is not me.

Lesson 5 How to talk the walk

"Okay, So I regret what I said! Please don't make me do it!" I pleaded at Malfoy while the gates of Malfoy Manor loomed ahead. He ruthlessly (might I add) rolled his eyes and dragged me towards the swirling gates, in which I peered through noticing a waddling turkey roaming round a-Holy Cow is that a fountain?-and pecking at some seeds.

"Cool turkey." I sniggered.

"Weasley, it's a peacock. Get your facts straight."

What's the bloody difference? They're both overweight birds which need to go to weight watchers. Oh, oh no! I'm being dragged towards the doors. Help! Mummy!

As I was pushed towards the front door, I tripped up the stone steps causing Malfoy to feel the need to gloat even further. When I was close enough that I could even smell the door, I noticed that they were bloody huge. Like, larger than one side of my house. Malfoy pulled a long chain which sounded a large bell.

"Oh the bells Esmeralda." I said In a deep voice, giggling to myself. That hunch back of Notre dame joke never gets old! Well, it does for someone like Malfoy who probably has never heard of it.

"What?" He pulled a face, his pale nose scrunched up.

But then I thought of something else...in old horror movies, when girl scouts ring doorbells to a haunted house (quite like Malfoy manor), usually a trap door opens underneath their feet and a monster tears them to shred and-and-

I jumped to the side, bent down, knocking the floor just in case. What? Its Malfoy manor, you never know...

"W-W-Weasley..." Malfoy gets interrupted by my knocking. "WEASLEY!" He yells over the top of my knocking. I raise my head, grinning innocently as if what I was doing was normal.

"Hm?"

"What in Godrics name are you doing?"

"Uhhh...checking whether your floor is just right." But before I could get up, I saw a pair of tennis ball sized eyes staring at me. A little hand helped me up and I noticed that the Malfoy's have an house elf! Now, I share my mother's opinion, house elves should not be used as servants!

"Hello Master Scorpius how has your day been? I hope you don't mind me asking, who is your lady friend?" The house elf squeaked. I noticed that this house elf look surprisingly clean and well dressed.

"Very well thank you Pip. And this is my..." Malfoy paused and I swear I saw a glimmer of a flush. "This is my friend, Weasley-I mean Rose."

The house elf who appeared to be named Pip held out a hand in which I shook. I was pleasantly surprised that Malfoy treated this house elf as if he were talking to a fellow wizard or witch (not counting me).

"And how are you Pip? Anything happened?"

"Fine, Fine Master Malfoy. Although, your mother has now decided that she wants to change the entire outer exterior! Also, there's an infestation..."

I sort of zoned out after this. As interesting as this was, I spotted the one, the only Mr Draco Malfoy standing at the top of the elegant stairwell. I pretty much freaked out inside. He was just as scary as I imagined right down to the pointy ears. But in a way, he was just like Scorpius. Just, Scorpius had a faint trace of stubble, whether Draco was like a hairless cat.

Malfoy finished his conversation with Pip and ushered me inside. After I had taken one step I realised that the house had outgrown the word massive and grown into humongous.

I watched as Draco stepped down the stairs, watching me like a hawk. I stood still, rather like his prey.

"So," he drawled "Your the famous Rose Weasley my son blabbers about constantly."

I gulped.

"Yes sir. That's me. Ginger hair and all."

He raised his eyebrows. I shrank.

"I see you had a safe journey then?" he moved his eyesight towards his son.

"Yes father, we did." Malfoy answered quietly.

Was he scared of his dad? I knew I was, but it appeared that even the boldest of gits have someone who can crush their big heads. Interesting.

"Father, if you don't mind, we are going to play a friendly game of Quidditch outside. Would you care to join us?" Malfoy Jr. asked his narrow eyed father.

"No, thank you Son. I'll let you play." He began to stroll upwards but halted turning around. "Do you play much Quidditch Weasley?"

I coughed a little.

"I-err-yes sir. My Uncle and Dad taught me and my brother." I stuttered, lifting my head, attempting to look brave. I knew in an instant (plus from hearing my dad yell constantly) that neither my Uncle Harry, nor my own father were best chums with Draco Malfoy, so bringing up both of them in his house wasn't exactly the smartest move being as I am trying to persuade him to do whatever Malfoy asks.

Draco Malfoy nodded, pulling a familiar expression, which his Son always seems to wear: Bored. So, here's the part where my brain steps in and does something like; hey Rose! *Waves* Shut up.

"We'll be off then. Will I be seeing you for dinner?" Malfoy asked Draco.

"I hope so. Will you be joining us Miss Weasley?" Malfoy Sr. asked directing his thin, pale eyes towards me once again.

I found myself searching for Malfoy's help. I didn't know whether that was part of the whole deal. How long will persuading Draco Malfoy take? Malfoy (Thank Godric) seemed to come to my aid, stepping in.

"Yes father. I made arrangements with Mother earlier; I hope that this is alright?"

I'm stunned. I can't get over how formal they are towards each other, I mean it's his own dad and they are made to talk as though he is some sort of king! I don't know about you, but in the Weasley household, my dad sits on the couch, burps, then yells;

"Oi! Rosey, could you fetch your old dad some more cereal? –Actually, bring the whole box, who needs a bowl!"

You see the difference? My dad has changed my nappies, so he feels that I need to fetch him cereal to pay him back sometimes. But it seems that most likely, Draco Malfoy probably never changed Malfoy's nappies once. Let's move away from Malfoy and nappies shall we...

"That's quite alright Son. I understand that you should need some female company, even if it is from a Weasley."

And there you have it. I was waiting for some form of snide comment, but I'll let it slide. Besides, I have some persuading to do. So I can show Malfoy that he sucks at persuading.

Malfoy nodded and lead me towards the garden-no, more like field. - Where there is a proper Quidditch pitch. The tomboy side of myself is have a field day! Get it? Lame...

He hands me an awesome broomstick-must be the latest edition-and I mount it with no problem. He gets on one himself and we rise in the air.

"We both have a faint idea that we're not here to play Quidditch." ...Aw! Sorry, had to have some thinking input here, I'll let you know where Malfoy was going with this. Proceed. "So, what's your game plan? What are you going to persuade my dad to do?"

"What? I thought you were going to decide."

Malfoy frowned, trying to remember what his end of the deal was.

"Oh yeah...Okay I've got the perfect -scratch that- most outrageous thing that my dad would never allow if I asked. He naturally would forbid it, but boy, it's hard."

"Bring it on." My confidence making a late entrance from left wing everyone.

Now, I'm scared. Malfoy was smirking at me, but at the same time blushing. Help me out here! It better not be something disgusting, like swimming in a bag of dirty washing...oh...that's just Hugo who does that.

"Let me take you on a date."

Holy cow. Merlin's pants. My cat's arse. What did he just say!

"Huh?"

Malfoy blushed a little more, but tried to continue his case.

"See, our dad's dislike each other, right? So the thing that is really going to be hard to persuade is to let my dad's son, which is me, go with Ron Weasley's daughter. You see where I'm going?"

No.

"Let me get this straight, you want me to persuade your dad to let you take me out." I said slowly, lines forming on my forehead.

"...Yeah." Malfoy said, talking to me as though I was five. His mouth then formed a smirk. "Bet your glad you said my persuasion techniques were naff Weasley, because if your's are as good as you say they are, then see you on our date."

With this, he had the audacity to wink and me then fly on on his Nimbus whatever!

I think, in some twisted way, Malfoy had just asked me out. And all before dinner...

Author note: So, there you have it. After my awfully long absence on this story I have produced this. I hope that it isn't too horrible, but I rather enjoyed writing this. If it's not any trouble, could I have some feedback..please?

I really enjoy reading all of your comments, because some of them are rather funny. I'm glad you all seem pleased with Rose's commentary on everything and shall hopefully continue making her as Rose-ish as I can. If you want, in your reviews you could put what you think Malfoy manor on the interior looks like? Yeah? No?

IckleblueeyedWitch.