A/N: This story was rewritten in December 2021. If you started before then, please read from the beginning – a lot has changed!
*Fair warning: The end of this chapter is rather smutty.*
The Nice Girl Chapter 15
The Leaky Cauldron was deserted when Draco arrived early Wednesday morning. One glance around the room quickly told him that his company had not yet arrived, so he waved at Hannah, and took a table in the back. Moments after he sat, a steaming cup of tea floated over to him. Immediately the mint aroma inundated him, quickly bringing Ginny to the front of his mind. Smiling, he sipped the tea, remembering her fixation with it.
A member of the board had owled that morning asking him to meet with a reporter to comment on an article about the reopening of Ollivander's. Begrudgingly, he had agreed to go.
After glancing at his watch for a seventh time, he sighed: he hated unexcused lateness.
When the blonde reporter finally arrived, Draco stood to greet her before they sat, inwardly groaning at the sight of Rita Skeeter.
"Apologies for being late," she sang. "You are never going to believe the story I am chasing about the former Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge and who he was caught with. It was none other than -."
Draco interrupted, "I don't care."
Rita continued without skipping a beat, "Of course you don't, you have much better things to be concerned about. Tell me, Mr. Malfoy, how long have you been involved with the Ollivander's project?" As she asked, her Quick Quotes Quill leapt into action, pausing only to wait for his answer.
"Ollivander's apprentice, Mr. Berrycloth, approached Malfoy Industries a few years ago," Draco explained. The quill darted across her parchment. "At the time, he just had a concept, no solid plans, but he was eager to work with us to develop a business model."
"And the ultimate goal?" Rita inquired.
"Bring a quality wand supplier back to England."
"Of course," she paused, peering over her glasses at him before reading the notes the quill had written. "And has this project been difficult considering your own complex history with Mr. Ollivander?"
Draco's face turned to stone. He had been guaranteed the interview would have nothing to do with his personal life. "I have nothing to say regarding that matter," he recited stiffly. It was a line he was used to giving to the press after many escapades in the public eye.
"Of course," she repeated, clearing her throat. "Now, Malfoy Industries has quite the connection for wand supplies. How else will your company be involved in the reopening?"
"We are designing a state-of-the-art storefront that will have a repair shop, testing facilities, and space to house over ten thousand wands." He would not admit it to her, but he was incredibly proud of the design for the new shop - he had overseen the project personally.
"And the reopening is?" She prompted.
"We announced last week the reopening date of August 1st. Just in time for students to get a wand before heading to Hogwarts." That had been Blaise's idea.
"Will Ms. Weasley be attending the grand opening?" Rita asked casually.
Once again, Draco froze, his cup of tea half raised to his lips. The anger bubbling in his stomach threatened to come out - rage for her was on the tip of his tongue. He took a deep breath and set his cup down, trying to temper his anger. "Ginny Weasley," he began slowly, weighing his options of what to say. He took another deep breath, George's advice and Blaise's words ringing in his ear; he was acutely aware of Rita's unwavering stare. Finally, settling on a thought, he looked up at her again and said, "I am in love with Ginny Weasley."
—
"Did you read it?" Hermione asked, pouring Ginny a cup of tea. "Even Ron thought it was a good article."
"I didn't." The hot tea was soothing down her throat. Of course, Ginny had seen the cover of the Daily Prophet that morning - everyone she knew had owled her about it, even people she hadn't spoken to since Hogwarts. The Prophet and Witch Weekly had both owled for an interview. Witch Weekly wanted her for a cover article and centerfold spread. The reporter had actually pitched an article about her called Ginny: The Future Mrs. Malfoy.
Hermione set a plate of biscuits on the table and Ginny took one, grateful for the excuse to not speak. Sighing, Hermione leaned back in her chair, "Have you talked to Malfoy at all?"
"Not since Luna had the baby," Ginny confessed.
"Has he tried to see you?" Ginny shook her head and Hermione sighed again.
Before she could speak, Ron bustled into the kitchen, chasing Rose who screeched with laughter. "Aunt Ginny!" The little girl leapt into Ginny's lap, nabbing a biscuit off the table. "What are you doing here?" She asked, spraying Ginny with crumbs.
"Your mum invited me for tea," Ginny hugged the girl tightly. "What are you two playing?"
"Witches and Dragons!" Rose hooted excitedly. "Daddy is the dragon this time - he never wins when he's the dragon!"
"Ron only wins when he's the witch," Hermione said pointedly, teasing her husband.
"Oi, I make a great witch!" Ron protested. "The wig compliments my eyes." He stooped to hug Ginny and grabbed Rose off her lap. The girl howled with laughter, shouting made up spells at her father. "Did you show her the article, 'Mione?" The witch nodded. "Did you read it Gin? I'll admit, Malfoy is a bloody bastard, but I was surprised."
"Why must everyone stick their noses in my business!" Ginny exploded. "Do you all remember what he did to me? The lying? The cheating? The using me for his reputation?"
"I know, Gin," Ron was struggling to hold Rose in his arms as she wiggled frantically. "I'm the president of the I Hate Malfoy club, but Merlin, he seems to be trying. After he was at the Burrow for dinner last week -," Ginny interrupted him.
"He was at the Burrow?"
"You didn't know?" Hermione asked.
Ginny shook her head and Ron said, "Seems Mum has gotten rather attached to him. You know how she feels when someone lost their parents. Look at Harry, even after what he did to you, he's invited for every holiday and still gets a Weasley sweater every year."
"Somehow I can't see Draco in a Weasley sweater," Ginny snorted.
"They've already decided on grey," Hermione informed her. "Molly wanted to do green, but Draco thought grey would be better."
Ginny glanced up at her older brother, "What do you think of him, Ron?"
"Are you going to make me say it out loud?" He whined. "He's a bloody tosser who made our lives hell at Hogwarts, but," he cringed and quickly finished, "He didn't have much of a choice now, did he? Lucius Malfoy was a downright wanker. It's a miracle Draco is even a functional adult -," Ron trailed off. "I suppose, if you love him and want to be with him, I can't stop you."
"Read it," Hermione slammed the edition of the Daily Prophet down on the table in front of Ginny. "The least you can do is read it. Then decide." She stood and chased Ron and Rose out, leaving Ginny alone in the peaceful kitchen.
Grumbling, Ginny ripped open the folded paper, eyeing the front story.
Draco Malfoy Confesses Love for Ginny Weasley
The relationship between Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley has been highly speculated on by many in the Wizarding community. The unconventional pair were seen together early this year, first attempting to hide their connection. They have not been seen together in public since Malfoy Industry's annal Spring Reception, announcing the reopening of the newly renovated Ollivander's Wand Supply shop.
While many have surmised that the couple has split up, Draco Malfoy sat down with the Prophet's own Rita Skeeter and confessed his love for Ms. Weasley. "I am in love with Ginny Weasley. She's the best thing that ever happened to me." The young Malfoy, one of Wizarding Britain's richest bachelors admitted he has a rocky history with women. "Over the last few years, I've made a lot of mistakes. I've been involved with the wrong women, been selfish, made bad business decisions, but Ginny was able to see past that." He even admitted his plans for their future, "Ginny is unlike anyone I've ever met before: loving, forgiving, kind. I want to spend the rest of my life with her."
Mr. Malfoy would not comment on the status of their relationship. If the rumors are two and the pair have split, this reporter hopes that Ms. Weasley gets the message loud and clear: Draco Malfoy is hers for the taking.
—
August first came faster than Ginny expected. After reading the article in the Prophet, she had made up her mind to go to the grand opening event, and Luna had eagerly helped her pick out a simple black cocktail dress. The Floo trip to Diagon Alley was quick and she managed to dodge the reporters and step into Ollivander's without much trouble. The shop looked gorgeous with large windows looking out into the street and a sleek new checkout counter. There was a bar set up right by the door, and she gladly took a glass of wine to calm her nerves.
A number of Draco's employees, business associates, and investors walked around the shop, enthusiastically pointing out the quality work that had been done. As Barnaby Lerrick walked by, Ginny caught him saying, " - possibly one of the best investments Draco could have made in Diagon Alley -." There were handouts on the bar that Ginny flipped through, reading about the business plan and parts of the store yet to be completed.
"You came," his voice behind her made her jump in surprise, and she nearly dropped her wine glass. Whipping around, she came face to face with Draco. He looked handsome in a tailored black suit and green tie - he seemed ardently against dress robes, she noted. He looked comfortable and confident in this environment; surrounded by prominent wealthy members of the Wizarding community - this is where he belonged, amongst the elite. Her insecurities of ever fitting in with his crowd were in the front of her mind.
"I did come," Ginny said stiffly. "I - uh - I thought - I - just," she stumbled around for words. The idea of coming had overwhelmed her enough, she hadn't planned what she would actually say to him when she saw him. And now that he was here, standing in front of her, looking pristine with his hands tucked deep in his pockets, suit jacket buttoned formally and pressed to a crisp: She couldn't form a coherent thought.
"I'm glad you're here," he interrupted, his grey eyes dancing across her face, reservation at her presence blatant on his own.
Taking a deep breath, Ginny smiled up at him, and asked "Give me a tour?"
Her smile must have eased his worries, because he smirked back at her and said "Of course, follow me." He led her around the room, showing her every detail of the new store. Ginny was in awe. The displays of wands rotated, giving shoppers three hundred-and-sixty-degree views of the merchandise. There was a testing room in the back - fully padded and fireproof - which allowed young witches and wizards to safely try new wands. There was even a design station at the back where a witch or wizard could work with an employee to create a wand to their own specifications. "And one of my favorite features," Draco led her down a hallway and pushed open a door, revealing a long room, "A dueling court."
"I am astonished," Ginny admitted, wandering around the room, admiring all the details put into the space. "This is brilliant, Draco. You've done amazing work."
"Did you ever doubt me?" he teased, watching her closely.
"Doubt you? Not once." She ran her hand over the wood wainscoting around the wall.
Draco's eyes followed her, taking in every move she made. The cocktail dress exposed her freckled shoulders, which were even more freckled from the summer sun. She had plaited her wine-red hair down her back, exposing the elegant curve of her neck, framed by glittering earrings. The heels she wore made her taller than he was used to but brought an air of regality about her. She looked powerful, and confident, and beautiful. Draco traced every inch of her body from the curve in her back to her honey brown eyes, that finally landed on his. When she met his gaze, she gave him a soft smile, and raised her wine glass to him before downing the rest of it in one swallow.
He mirrored her actions, throwing back the rest of his drink before saying "Care to duel?" He hopped up to one end of the dueling platform and raising his eyebrows at her, daring her to accept the challenge.
Ginny laughed, "Don't tempt me, Draco."
"Scared?" he teased, twirling his wand between his fingers.
She snorted, "I've seen you duel, I'm not scared."
"Prove it," he challenged, cocking his head to the other end of the platform.
Scoffing at him, Ginny followed his direction and pulled her wand out of the strap at her thigh before stepping onto the other end of the platform and raising her wand. "I'm going to kick your arse, Malfoy."
—
"Are you sure you don't want to go to St. Mungo's?" Ginny asked, dabbing a healing salve on the cut on his forehead. Draco perched on the desk in front of her, trying to flinch away from her, but she had him trapped.
"I have the best healer here, why do I need to go?" Draco smirked. He hissed when she rubbed the salve into the cut. "I just need to make sure they get a medi-kit in the new store."
"Thankfully you have one here," Ginny gestured at his office. After she hit him with an Expulso spell, Draco had been knocked back off the dueling platform, bloodying his head. The lack of a medi-kit had brought them back to Malfoy Industries, despite Ginny's urgings for him to go to St. Mungo's. Ginny continued muttering healing spells over his forehead and then ran her fingers through his hair to make sure she got it all. "I still think you should go to St. Mungo's, but you'll survive. Might have a bit of a scar though on your forehead - you need better quality healing balm."
"I suppose I'll have to stop calling Potter Scarhead," he sighed, leaning back on his hands against his desk. Though he wouldn't admit it, he was overwhelmed by her presence and proximity. The only other time she had been in his office was when she screamed at him about not wanting to date him. Now, with the increased intimacy between them and the knee length cocktail dress she wore, he was finding it difficult to concentrate.
"I can think of a few other nicknames you can call him," Ginny muttered. She did one last inspection of the newly formed skin along his hairline and said, "Not my finest work, but it'll do."
"Thank you," Draco smiled at her softly. His long legs dangled off the desk where he sat, and his knees bumped the outside of her thighs. The sudden realization of their closeness made Ginny inhale sharply and look up at him nervously. He reached up to gently brush her hair out of her face, trailing his hand down her cheek and tracing her lips.
"Draco," she mumbled against the pad of his thumb.
"I won't if you don't want me to," he whispered, his voice cracking.
"Please," she urged, her voice was barely audible. Though she could barely admit it to herself, she craved him; ached to have his hands on her body.
Fervently, he cupped her face to draw her lips into his, but before he kissed her, he asked once more, "Are you sure?"
It was Ginny who moved, crashing her lips on his, unable to wait any longer. He groaned against her mouth, grabbing her waist, and pulling her into his lap so she would straddle him on the desk. Her skirt hiked up over her thighs and she tangled her hands in his hair. The relief that spread through her body was overwhelming and her lust for him quickly settled between her legs. Leaning back, Draco pushed everything off his desk, scattering quills and documents across the room. The desk was cool against his back, and he dragged Ginny down with him, her breasts pressing tightly against his chest.
Pulling out of the kiss, Ginny sat up, grinding her hips over his and tugging his jacket and shirt off, breaking buttons off with her haste. The urgency in her action made him growl and he pushed her dress farther up her waist, hungrily eyeing her creamy thighs. Once again, she rolled her hips against his, eliciting a groan from both of them. "Ginny, I want you," he hissed, watching her breathlessly as, in one motion, she gripped the hem of her dress and pulled it off over her head, tossing it on the floor. What she was left in could only be described as lingerie and Draco's jaw dropped open at the sight of the barely-there lacy black chemise and knickers. "Did you wear those on purpose?" he asked, enjoying the view from where he lay on the desk.
"Possibly," she flirted, running her hands up her body and playing with the straps of the chemise. Teasingly slow, she outlined her body with her hands, accentuating every curve. Every time her hands grazed over a sensitive area of skin, she muttered what she wanted him to do to her. She looked a goddess perched on top of him, unbothered by his eyes roaming her body, her red hair tousled and falling out of the plait. It was the sexiest thing Draco had ever seen, watching her tease him and tell him exactly what she wanted.
Her hands on his belt buckle made him inhale sharply. It took only seconds for her to unhook his belt and slide it free from his trousers. She stood up to drag them down his long legs, leaving him bare on the desk. She raised her eyebrows, "And I see you didn't bother with underdrawers either."
Draco shrugged, not fazed by his nakedness, "All they do is get in the way."
Grinning, Ginny toyed with the hem of her knickers, savoring the ravenous look on his face as he watched her. It was thrilling, teasing him. Slowly, she slipped the last of her clothes off and tossed them aside, before joining him back on the desk. "I've never used a desk for shagging," she commented, straddling him again.
"I don't need a bed to shag you," he said roughly, barely able to concentrate with their naked bodies pressed tightly together. "The desk works, or a lift, a broom. Hell, I'd even shag you in the -," he moaned loudly as she grasped him with one hand and sank onto him, tossing her head back with pleasure. " - Minster's office," he finished, groaning.
"The Minister's office?" Ginny asked breathlessly, her hips moving against his. She set an achingly slow pace, never halting.
"Always seemed appealing," he answered, grabbing her hips to match her movement.
"Would the Minister be there?"
"Ideally no," Draco hissed, letting his head drop back on the desk as she pivoted her hips, sending waves of pleasure through his body. "But I wouldn't let his presence hinder us." He had very rarely let a woman take charge while shagging. Usually, he preferred to be in control, dictating the positions and tempo, but seeing her on top of him, taking her own time and prioritizing her own pleasure made his vision go blurry with delight. "Merlin, Ginny. You are so beautiful."
"I wouldn't mind shagging on a Quidditch pitch," she managed to get out, groaning as his hands explored her body, groping her breasts and her bum. "Or -," she paused to gasp, "A classroom at Hogwarts."
"Any classroom in particular?" He managed to choke out as she picked up speed.
"The Astronomy Tower -," she fought to catch her breath as her pulse raced under his touch, "- The Great Hall. Merlin -," she groaned loudly. Sensing that she was losing control, he wrapped his arms around her so he could rotate them in one motion to pin her down to the desk. His lips captured hers again and he pulled her legs around his waist, dragging him even deeper into her. "Please," she groaned from underneath him, "Please, Draco. I'm so close."
The air around them became drunken with pleasure, filling the room with groans of satisfaction and words of love. When he felt himself reaching his limit, he reached down to find her core and stroke her fully. Her body was immediately wracked with bliss, and she called out his name as her body throbbed around him. The feeling of her pleasure threw him over the edge, and he grunted as he released into her. He continued to move with her, prolonging every moment of bliss, before collapsing against her on the desk.
—