Working for the Dragon

Chapter 10. Harmless

I don't quite know about anyone else, but I absolutely hate it when I lose control of things that revolve around me. Oh let me change that, things that concern me.

It's disconcerting, annoying, appalling, irritating, frustrating, discouraging, crimping, defeating, depressing, disheartening...

Oh will you look at that, there is an entire list of synonyms for frustrating, online.

It's New Year's Eve and I'm not even out partying, I have a ghoul waiting for me back at home... and I have like sixty pages worth of data to print before I can actually go back home.

I feel like Scrooge.

Oh and, I've been studiously avoiding Mal-Draco for three straight days now. Mind you, the fact that he is my boss does not make my life any easier.

However, good ole Irish luck has been shining on me for the last couple of days. He has not felt the need to call me and if I ever catch sight of him strutting along the corridor, I hide. Behind a plant, pillar; whatever I can find.

It's amazing what a steamy dream and the paranoid aftermath of an interpretation can do to you.

Yes, believe it or not, after I got home that fateful day, I rummaged through my old school books for my tattered Merlin-knows-how-many-hands-down Divination text book and actually read the entire chapter on interpretation.

So according to that, I crave for positive reactions from my boss. I am lonely and I find him intriguing enough to engage him in any form of activity mentally.

It sounds bloody insane right?

I can't help but think that if Hermione were here, she'd knock me on her head with one of those Britannica's that she carries everywhere for a little bit of light reading when she is bored.

Honestly, that woman absolutely abhors fortune-telling.

I actually think that my life would be much easier if I called Draco by his surname. It makes me have icier feelings towards him. His surname is like the Great Wall of China to me.

Why?

Somehow, he is starting to feel like a friend, I can pour my heart out to him without feeling hesitant. He doesn't make me feel bad about it; instead, he makes me feel light, and light is good.

It all started on the day where I was compelled to force Draco to have lunch with me by Narcissa.

So, finally, the Koreans left and I was all happy about accomplishing my job without getting in the littlest bit of trouble, completely forgetting one important detail.

Until that very detail tapped me on the shoulder, making my insides freeze.

I can't believe I forgot about him when moments earlier he had just given me, 'The Look'.

So I gathered my courage, thickened my skin mentally and I faced him with defiance. I don't know what I was expecting, but amusement was definitely not on the list.

I am such a stereotype.

"Would you care to explain what was that all about or would you rather leave me to my imagination?" He looked, okay well a little on the peeved side.

I tapped my leather strapped wristwatch, "Hello, hero, its lunch time!"

I could tell from his surprised reaction that he hadn't realised that it was already passed the standard non-corporate lunch hour, translation: noon.

"So?" He shrugged at me, not really getting what I was implying.

I decided to break the news to him kindly.

"Today, I'm your lunch date, Draco. So shall we?" I held my hand out grandly pretending to be an escort.

"Let me guess, Mother put you up to this?" He looked at me for confirmation.

"Yes and she won't leave me alone until you eat. I don't blame her because when you don't eat, your stomach releases tons of hydrochloric acid which in turns imbalances the pH value of your tummy at the same time corroding your stomach walls. Whatever the consequences is, it's not good. And you're a businessman, businessmen need food to stay healthy... Merlin, I sound like Mum." I paused, astonished at my startling resemblance to the Weasley matriarch when she gave one of her infamous, eating-is-good lectures.

"So for the next hour, I'm your boss. Lunch is served; I pulled him towards his cabin where piping hot mushroom soup, freshly baked bread and Cornish pasty were already served. There was an apple and a slice of lemon meringue pie for dessert and a glass of chilled fresh milk.

"Wow, looks good." I remarked.

"Help yourself." He answered shortly, indicating for me to sit and following suit. Manners.

"Oh c'mon. Will the both of you banish your insane pride already? What the hell was the argument about anyway?" I asked curiously.

It's true though, who wouldn't be interested to know what the Malfoy's fought about.

Previously, it was rather predictable with Voldemort and everything.

"Last night, when I 'escorted' you home, I returned late. And Mother was not very happy about it despite the fact that I am nearly twenty four. So I kind of told her off..." He said looking rather sheepish at the end.

"Really? That's all that the both of you fought about and there you are having a cold war?" I shook my head.

"That's how the Malfoy's do it." He shrugged as if that provided an explanation.

"Do the both of you intend to talk anytime soon?" I was amazed with the way they handled things.

"Eventually." I stared at him until he changed his words.

"Okay, okay. Tonight, alright? I'll take her out to dinner. Are you happy now?" He asked rather sarcastically.

"Ecstatic." I smiled.

He ignored that little comment as he pulled the tray over to himself. He was about to take a bite when he stopped and took a look at me.

"Have you eaten?" He enquired looking concerned.

"Yup." I nodded my head, not wanting to give him details of my diet.

"Really?" His blonde eyebrows rose again at that, "So what did you have for lunch?"

Oops.

"Er, I had lasagne." I blurted out the first dish that entered in my head.

"Did you really?" He dismissed me politely, "How was it?"

Oh dear.

"Absolutely smashing. It was so good; I wanted to eat the plate." I babbled nervously, trying hard to distract myself from observing his facial expressions.

It wasn't my fault though, he looked good raising his eyebrows, smirking, and looking bored... anything.

I was being haunted by the dream as I admired his facial features.

Draco Malfoy honestly looked like a demi god with his almost-silver hair, stormy yet expressive eyes, and muscular fitting form in his suit which I recognised to be Armani.

I couldn't take my eyes off his lips as he spoke, remembering how the very same lips ravaged me in my dreams and how blissful it felt.

"Wea...Ginny..."He waved his hand in my face making me snap back into reality from a daydream that I had not even realised, started.

Somehow, I imagined him wearing a leather jacket, while he was shirtless looking absolutely badass in jeans.

"Huh?" I looked at him in confusion.

"Some daydream, huh? What was it about?" He glanced at my face, reading its expression.

I could feel blood pooling at my cheeks, "Er, leather jackets and stuff..." I muttered.

"Interesting." He remarked.

"And cut the crap, I know that you've not eaten. So guess what, since you're my lunch date, we're splitting."

I knew that I had no say in the matter so I went ahead with his plan.

"It's not poisoned, is it?" I said, warily examining the food as though I would find traces of cyanide or something.

"You tell me." Draco answered sarcastically as he held out a bite for me to eat with the fork.

Without taking the fork from him, I casually tasted what he had given me, much to his surprise.

"Mmmm, this is good." I told him after I had swallowed.

He proceeded to cut another piece. Just as he was about to pop that bite into his mouth, I interrupted him.

"You're sharing the fork with me? As in DNA?" I was trying my best not to make my jaw drop.

"Sure, why not? Sharing things improves friendship." He shrugged nonchalantly.

I gaped at him feeling astounded. What the hell happened to blood traitors and mud bloods unite?

He took a bite and chewed on the piece slowly as though he was savouring all the flavours. When he realised that I had not said anything, he looked up, his grey eyes meeting my pathetic expression.

"What?" He asked, once again raising his eyebrows.

"Er...nothing." I muttered, blood pooling at my cheeks. Oops!

"No, seriously? Why are you looking at me as though I have grown two heads? Do I have a stain or something?" He asked me, worriedly looking down at his expensive looking black suit.

That cracked me up. Draco was so narcissistic.

His nostrils flared, he was not amused at all. It was all so silly.

"Ginny, stop laughing and tell me." He insisted.

I shook my head playfully refusing to tell.

"Are you telling me?" He asked, sullenly.

I shook my head again, stifling my giggles.

"Are you sure?" He leaned over the table, pausing when he was just basically an inch away from my face.

Any closer and we would be kissing. That very thought nearly made my heart stop. My breath hitched and all the giggles died within even though I felt this very hysterical need to giggle which I suppressed with all my might.

His fresh breath blew across my face like a drug.

What the hell was wrong with me, honestly?

We gazed into each other's before he spoke again, his voice like smooth... Oh Merlin, I didn't know. It was just sexy, alright?

"You sure about that?"

"H..Huh?" I stuttered, feeling like a complete fool.

To my surprise then, he burst out laughing. While that was great noise, considering the fact that he barely smiled, I had no clue why he was laughing.

"Why are you laughing?" I managed to ask.

He shrugged mysteriously and gave me a wink.

"Oh no..." I groaned. So it was going to be like this.

"Oh yes." He smirked, triumphant.

"Alright, it's a fair deal. I'll trade information with you." I told him, it didn't seem like a bad idea at that time.

"Okay. You go first." He gestured.

I sighed, knowing that it was a battle which I had lost without even fighting.

"Well, what do you want to know?"

"Hmmm...I want to know why you were gaping at me like a goldfish." He said thoughtfully with his palm resting on his cheek.

I rolled my eyes to myself, "You asked for it. What the hell happened to mudbloods and blood traitors unite?"

He looked puzzled but it dawned onto him later when I further explained.

"So you're saying that you considering yourself inferior compared to me?" He twisted my words.

"You're asking me that?" I said in disbelief. Who the hell did he think he is?

No doubt he had the ability to dazzle me, or at least make my insides melt with 'The Look'.

I couldn't find an appropriate word for it yet.

But still. Inferior? No freakin' way, buddy.

So anyway, he explained.

"We're friends now. Friends share stuff, it makes the bond stronger." He shrugged.

To be honest, what he said was true. Sharing did make bonds stronger.

"And besides..." He continued, "It's not like you're Granger or something."

It took me a few seconds to process what he said. And I did the first thing I could think of. I grabbed the nearest file and smacked him hard on his shoulder, continuously.

"Yeowch.. Ginny you are assaulting your boss for that..."

"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you, Draco Malfoy. Remember the power of my Bat Bogey Hex." I warned him, even though I was not annoyed.

We were just having a go at one another for the fun of it.

"You owe me an apology for that." He said, wincing at the mere memory.

It was my turn to smirk.

"Hey, you deserved that, okay. You held me too hard. It hurt."

"I was an ass then, okay? I am not, now." He replied, defensively.

"Really? Because I don't seem to see the difference." I muttered quietly, more to myself.

"What did you say?" He demanded his curiosity piqued.

"I said, well at least you admitted that you were an ass."

"I... " He actually did not have a comeback.

"Let me guess, you are... speechless?" I was having the time of my life.

"You are one annoying escort you know that?" He said dryly.

"Okay scratch that. Tell me! Why were you laughing?" I insisted.

"Well..." He simply said, "You got caught up in my charms too."

I was indignant. "I did not!" I protested.

"Well then what was that all about?" He did that eyebrow thing again. Ugh.

"I thought... that... well... you were... oh you know what! Nevermind." He made me so flustered, it was frustrating!

I thought he was going to kiss me. As if I was going to tell him that.

No way! Never. Nuh-uh!

"I got you, didn't I?" He edged me to admit it.

"Okay, fine. You did." I said, resigned.

He had me right where he wanted me. Not that I am dirty minded or anything but that sounded kind of wrong. Catch my drift?

"So anyway, I noticed that you've been working till late recently, little weasel. What's up with that?" He teased me, but somehow, deep down inside, I could hear the concern in his voice.

"Well, my boss is rather ambitious." I retorted back.

"Spill it." He answered as though he had not heard my previous remark.

"Honestly..." I paused, trying to gather my scattered thoughts which were zooming around in my brains like paper caught in a tornado.

"I don't like being at home alone. Everyone is in Bulgaria and they won't be back until the Quidditch season there is over. Something about Viktor Krum's techniques..." I recalled what an envious Ron had told me the last time we had spoken.

"So you stay till late because..." He prompted me.

"Well, by the time I get back home, I'm too tired to think or get creeped out by..." I stopped halfway realising that I was going to tell him what scared me.

"By...?" His voice warm and all sweet like hot cocoa when you were freezing.

"Oh well.. Since you have already seen my house, you know it's no palace. But it's not a dungeon either or a pig sty. There is a ghoul in my attic. A nasty one at that, all he ever does is moan and bangs the pipes at ungodly hours. Since everyone is gone, it's creepy..." I trailed off.

He had a look of innocent interest on his face.

"You have a ghoul in your house? Really?" He looked as though he could not fathom that fact.

I nodded my head.

"Can I see it?" His grey eyes gleamed.

"No way. You let me see your dust bunnies first. And the only reason why you want to see that ghoul is probably because the next time you see Ron, you're going to piss him off. I'm not stupid, Draco. I know you."

"I know you know me. I want to know you though." That was a serious answer.

Wow. What do you say to that?

I reacted as coolly as I could, "Well, Draco, I think we got to know each other enough for today... Don't you want to continue your conference?"

"Conference? Oh yeah... Conference. Send them back in when they are ready." His tone was dismissive.

Ouch.

I got up to leave. Apparently, we had wiped everything out with that harmless flirting that had been going on.

Harmless, but it shouldn't happen again. Merlin knows how many times my blood raced through my veins.

"Ginny." He stopped me once I was at the door.

"You can go home for today. I want you to have a good rest. Screw the ghoul." He smiled at me looking absolutely dashing and making my heart swell.

What the hell?

I smiled weakly, "Bye Draco. Take care of yourself. You should go home too."

He nodded briefly already immersed in his work, "I will, after the conference. And Ginny, its not over yet."

He winked.

I groaned inwardly.

And that was basically what happened between us. Simple and harmless flirting, I may be out of practice, but it sure felt like it to me.

There was something different. Something that turned my emotions upside down, something that scared me more than the ghoul and I didn't know what to think.

That was why I decided to avoid him as much as I could.

That dream was driving me crazy.

And now, I was hiding behind a blasted pillar, trying to sneak right back into my cabin.

Malfoy Empire was weird. You never knew when who was around.

"Hello there."

A familiar voice caused me to jump right out of my thought and drop my thick records file straight to the ground.

A records file that I had arranged, WITHOUT MAGIC.

Paper floated in the air like they did in the movies, everything was in slow motion. There was nothing romantic about this because for one, unlike the usual cliché, I had not fallen straight into his strong arms.

Secondly, I was completely, utterly, mortified as I bent down to pick up my papers.

Thirdly, that asshole who startled the hell out of me and probably reduced my age by five years was none other than Draco Malfoy himself who looked extremely satisfied with himself.

Not that he ever did not on an ordinary day.

I bet he looked good even on his bad hair day, if he ever had one.

I swear, if it was dignified for him to shake with glee, he would.

"Well, well. What do we have here? A weasel, papers floating like giant confetti..." He bent down in front of me.

"Excellent. 10 points to Slytherin for your observation, Mr Malfoy." I said dryly, not at all pleased about the fact that my documents were scattered all over the floor.

"I'll hold you to that." He picked up the fallen file and took a look at the name.

"Ahh, just the file I needed." He looked pleased, despite the fact that it was a mess.

He started organizing the papers never taking a look at them for more than a second.

"So... Someone has been a busy bee, lately." He began casually.

"Who?" I wondered, even though I really couldn't care less.

"Hilarious. Why haven't I seen you lately?" He demanded.

I guess he had a right, of course. To wonder, I mean, secretaries are practically supposed to live at their boss house.

"Er... I've been busy." I started squirming uncomfortably under his deep gaze.

"Doing...?"

"Stuff..." Apparently a single word answer was not satisfactory for him.

"What stuff?"

"Stuff that you pay me to do."

I could tell that I was riling him up now. Suddenly he leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially.

"Really? Or have you been avoiding me?" His voice was soft, seductive. It made my insides melt.

"Whaaat...?" I felt blood rushing to my face. I probably looked like a crossover between a carrot and a tomato right now.

"You're scared, because I make you feel alive... I know you...Ginny." He whispered my name, his fresh breath fanning my face as he drew closer.

I froze. He had no idea how right he was.

"Thanks for the file. " He picked up the last bit of papers which was right beside me, his hand accidentally brushing my knee as he reached out for it.

He stood up, smirking.

"Have a good New Year's. See you around."

HE SWATTED MY BUTT WITH THE FILE!

I think I needed a drink.

Hello all you beautiful people! I think I got my muse back. And the desire to post tons of other stories as well. :) It's amazing what music does.

So anyway, I still haven't had the chance to watch HP, will watch it when the crowd dies though. ;p with my bestie. Definitely more than once!

The other night, I lost the password to my wifi connection and couldn't connect with my phone – it was for an event. I cried my eyes out because I was so scared so my bucket overflowed with my emotions.

My friend was there for me and her bf totally saved my ass. So guys, this chapter is for you even though you may never see/read it. (Unless I am famous) Thank you to CF & Glenn. :D Stay together always.

Okay so do read and review. XXX

P.S: I am sick. :(