The Drunk, His Friend For The Day, His Fiancee, And His Sister (Part 2, cause I was threatened with spears and other nasty items)
Now, Draco Malfoy considered himself to be a jackass. And why not? Truth be told, he was not a nice little boy, willing to help an old lady cross the street.
No, Draco was the kind of boy who would push the old lady into the street.
But jackasses don't care about their co-workers. They're not supposed to. No, they're supposed to poison the coffee so that they can have the bigger cubicle.
They're not supposed to be falling in love with them.
It had been two years since Draco and Ginny had been partnered. Two years of pure hell for the man in the office next to theirs. Besides a lethal attraction to Kleenex, Ginny wasn't the kind of person one would expect to be hurling vases at important people.
Look what Draco pushed her to.
Then again, it was all her fault Draco had her as a partner. Yes, she had put in a request for a partner, thinking Harry would ask, after all, Harry and her had been an item for a while there.
They seem to be one again, but Draco didn't want to think about that right now.
Anyway, her boss had decided that she and Draco would be a good team.
Ha.
So, after two years of bickering, Kleenex boxes, thrown vases, Chinese take-out, and jealousy, Draco The Jackass had finally kicked the bucket. Or at least, he didn't want to harass Ginny anymore. Well, he did, but not in a G-rated way. And that wasn't happening any time soon.
But Draco Malfoy didn't just curl up and die when bad things happened. No no, of course not. He plotted revenge. Which was just what he was doing.
It was common knowledge that he and Miss Patil had a relationship. Unfortunately, she loved Draco. He just wanted someone to mess around with.
Then again, maybe he shouldn't have stayed with her for four years if he just wanted a fling.
Parvati was expecting a ring any day now. And Draco had finally realized that his chances with Ginny might as well be dead. Ginny had loved Harry Potter for years, and it finally seemed that her fairy tale might come true.
Yes, this was a kick in the crotch for Draco.
Even though Draco wasn't as horrible a person as he used to be, he still wasn't above proposing to a woman just to get another one jealous.
And this is exactly why Draco Malfoy was still a jack ass.
~~~
Ginny had slept surprisingly well on the couch, her back felt fine, she felt well rested, and for a moment, all events from the night before had been forgotten.
Of course, the good moments in the morning never last long.
The things of the night before hit her hard, as she remembered the alcohol, Harry, Draco, the ring, Draco, Pansy and Ron, and Draco. She pulled herself into a sitting position and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. She felt tears coming, but held them back. She didn't want to wake anyone up, and she knew that if she cried, she would sob, and Pansy and Ron wouldn't appreciate being woken up.
"Morning, Gin. I've got some clothes here you can borrow. And- hey there, what's wrong?" Pansy asked, holding a small pile of clothes as she came out of her room.
"Nothings wrong at all!" Ginny sobbed, clutching the blanket very closely to her. Pansy sat down besides Ginny and threw an arm around her shoulders.
"What happened last night?" she asked softly. Ginny spilled out the entire tale for Pansy, leaving out the bit about the ring. Even though her love life was ruined, Ginny didn't want Ron's to be too. Well, if he had been with Fleur, then she would have left in the ring.
And the little fling Ron had with Lavender after graduation.
"I need a box of Kleenex," Ginny said, her voice scratchy from crying.
"You know, that's the whole reason why I sent Ron out yesterday. I've got a new box, I'll go grab it from my room. Why don't you change in the bathroom, it's that room right there," Pansy suggested, pointing to a tiny door just beyond the living room. Ginny nodded and took the clothes to the bathroom.
The bathroom was not what Ginny expected at all.
Ginny was expecting a bathroom like the one at the Burrow, classic looking, with a cluttered counter, bright walls, a mage light in the center, and a bathtub.
This bathroom had a marble counter. A white marble counter, on a limestone setting with a silver sink. There was a bathtub, but not the kind simply built out of the wall. It was a self standing appliance, gothic styled and porcelain. The walls were painted a dark green, with a tiny window covered with that nifty glass that looks like water. Several tiny mage lights hung in the corners near the ceiling.
But the bathroom holds no importance in this story.
So Ginny shrugged off the uniquely decorated bathroom and got about to changing.
When Ginny left the bathroom, still slightly in awe of it, she saw Pansy putting the blankets up in the linen closet. She was a bit embarrassed to be wearing the older girls clothes, truth be told.
Ginny just didn't wear low hanging baggy guy pants with tight tank tops. It was just too alternative for her. Well, she had never really felt comfortable in muggle clothing, it wasn't her thing. She had always loved the wizarding robes that hung in Madam Malkin's shop, or the classy robes that all the Ministry people wore.
Pansy's clothes made her feel her age.
And at the moment, Ginny didn't want to be twenty-two. She wanted to be eighty and near death so the whole Draco thing wouldn't bother her.
All she wanted to worry about was what pills to take and if she needed any prune juice.
"I know you're not used to muggle clothes, but the only robes I have are for work," Pansy said simply. And Ginny didn't ask any further about her work. It wasn't common knowledge that Pansy was a spy. Only a few choice people were privy to that information.
Soon after her parents were killed, Pansy sobbed, and pretended to bend to Voldemort's will. Most of the Death Eaters believed it was a set up, thus justifying the innumerable threats she got. But Voldemort had truly believed she wasn't lying, that she wanted back in.
But Voldemort never was the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree.
"Thanks. Anyway, I'd rather be wearing the pants than one of those really short skirts. I don't think I could manage very long in something like that," she said. Ginny was, although she wouldn't readily admit it, something of a tomboy. Being raised in a family of six brothers, not only did she learn how to fight (and make a great peanut butter and jelly sandwich), but she learned a bit about hiding her femininity. She didn't enjoy make-up like Lavender, and very, VERY short clothes like Parvati.
But Ginny didn't want to think about Parvati, it was her fault that Ginny couldn't have Draco.
Okay, maybe that's a little unfair.
"Where's Ron?" Ginny asked after a while.
"Working. Or at least, that's what he wants me to think," Pansy replied with a sigh.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, a feeling of dread rising in the back of her throat.
"Oh, Ron's always going off about how hard Quidditch is, but I know for a fact that he was at a bar in Knockturn Alley for the better part of yesterday."
"Ron was in Knockturn Alley?!" Ginny sputtered, eyes wide. Pansy nodded dismally.
"He's got a thing for alcohol, but I'm sure you knew that. Anyway, that's not the problem, it's just that The Sleezy Hag isn't a place a person like him, who is so open in the fight against Voldemort, should be. I don't think he realizes how bad Voldemort wants him dead," she whispered. "Even though Voldemort believes I am with him, he still wants revenge. Apparently, though my parents weren't as important as I am, they were important enough to demand revenge. Which is why Voldemort is mine!" she spat, a fire burning in her eyes. Ginny was mildly afraid.
Pansy could do things like that to people. She had the curse of a dark past, of which only few people knew the details, and Ginny wasn't one of them thankfully. But even though a lot of people didn't know her past, many people could tell just by looking at her that she knew things that would make your hair curl. She could make people think that she was plotting something horrible against them, just with a simple glare.
At times, Ginny wished she had that power. But instead, she had this horrible affliction. When confronted by things, she tended to bend, rather than stand straight. It wasn't something she was proud of, but when she thought deeply about it, Pansy commanded peoples respect mostly out of fear.
But Ginny still wanted that respect.
Draco wasn't the only person to tease her about her meager beginnings. Pansy used to do the same thing, but the Ron came along. Though Pansy never openly apologized, she did make it clear that she was ashamed at herself for what she had said. Many other Ministry officials had snickered behind her back when she first started working. After all, she was working in a very prestigious department and hadn't the clothes to show it. Even when she got the money, she still hadn't the slightest clue as to what styles to buy.
That was the first time she and Pansy ever really spoke.
Sure, they had talked before, but briefly, exchanging pleasantries and such. But Ginny had been in desperate need of help, and had first turned to her friends.
However, all of her friends were already busy, and besides, they still hadn't a clue as to what Ginny needed to buy.
Then she went to Hermione. But she couldn't help her either. Hermione had only been in town for a few days before she had left to study abroad.
So the only option left, besides Draco, and she wasn't that desperate yet, was Pansy. Gathering every ounce of her courage, and praying to every god she had ever heard of, Ginny asked Pansy to help her.
At first, Pansy was a bit suspicious, which was to be expected. She had just rejoined Voldemort, and was on very shaky standing with him. But, after a few minutes of thinking, she had agreed. The two went, not to Madam Malkin's as Ginny expected, but to Jesetts, a designer Ginny had never heard of.
Then again, the only designer Ginny had ever heard of was Madam Malkin.
But when Ginny entered the store, which was located in eastern France by the way, she knew that Pansy had made the right choice. The shop was filled top to bottom with suitable robes, that would successfully knock the socks off her co-workers.
True, they didn't become best of friends because Pansy knew a store where Ginny could buy clothes that would slap her co-workers in the face. No, it was over the course of years that they became friends, and now were somewhat close, not "I would die for you" close, but "I'll kick your boy friends ass 'cause he hurt you" close.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go off like that! Really, you should have stopped me!" Pansy said with a small laugh. "I've got to get to work. No no, not _that_ job," Pansy said, noticing the look on Ginny's face. "In my free time I tell fortunes at this cafe. It's rather funny, these muggles are so amazed at how accurate my predictions are! Oh you should have seen it! My first day their, the owner told me to just make up things about money and love. Of course, I didn't need too, but it was still hilarious!" Ginny groaned, flopping down on the couch.
"I'm so not up for work this morning," she muttered.
"I could call you in sick," Pansy suggested.
"No, I have to go. If I'm ever going to move out of the tiny apartment I have now, I'd better get to work," she resolved, regretfully hauling herself off the couch.
"Well then, it's off to work we go! My, won't you make a splash in the latest for Pansy's Closet!" Pansy struck a pose, waving her fingers, before apparating away. Ginny chuckled to herself, looking for some Floo Powder around the fireplace. She found it, tossing a handful into the fire.
"Neville's apartment," she yelled, stepping into the flames, and was gone.
She reappeared moments later, standing in the fireplace of Neville's apartment. Ginny cautiously looked around for Harry. Not seeing him, she stealthily made her way to the end table, where her wand was at. She had just grabbed it when Harry walked into the room.
Harry was clad in his work robes, apparently about ready to leave for the Auror training center. Harry had been in training to be an Auror for five years. They didn't just make you an Auror over night! No, they made you sleep in the snow, trudge through bogs, and eat crickets.
Okay, maybe you don't have to eat the crickets.
"Ginny? Look, we really need to talk," Harry said. Ginny held up a hand to silence him.
"Harry, I just came for my wand. I'll come back later for my- my clothes. And no, we don't need to talk."
"I just wanted to make- make sure that you felt the same way about last night as I did," he said quietly.
"Harry, I do. Believe me it was-"
"Thank god, you don't have a clue how that makes me feel," he said, embracing her. "I'm so glad you want to get back together too."
Ginny stood, frozen in his arms. She and Harry had shared a very long and strong relationship, that ended in a close friendship. But she didn't want a romantic relationship with Harry. Not now, not ever. But at the moment, she was just contemplating how to get out of this situation.
"Um... Harry?"
"Yes?" he said, pulling away from her so he could see her face, but keeping his hands on her waist.
"I-" but she couldn't let him down. He looked so incredibly happy. She desperately thought what Pansy would do.
But if she couldn't let him down verbally, there was no way in hell she could slap him.
So, against all better judgment, she decided, very stupidly, to follow what Pansy would have done. She slapped him.
Hard.
"Harry, last night was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry, but I don't want this right now," she said forcefully, pulling Harry's hands off her waist. He nodded dumbly.
Well, there wasn't much that could happen that could ruin her day anymore. But when she apperated into her office, to find Draco and his desk and all belongings gone, she knew it had.
In a confused whirlwind of red, Ginny ran out of the room and down the hall to her boss' office. She threw the door open, stormed past the secretary, who was yelling at her, and walked directly into his main office, slamming the door behind her.
Not only was her boss sitting behind his desk, but Draco was there too.
"What the hell is going on here, Miss Weasley?" her boss demanded. Now, Ginny's boss was about as kind and caring as Draco. And, we all know our dear Draco is a horrible bastard.
"Sir, I just wanted to know why my partner isn't my partner anymore!" she yelled, not realizing that she cared so much until the words were out of her mouth.
"Mr. Malfoy is being transferred."
Ginny felt her world stop. She looked to Draco for confirmation, but he was staring at the wall behind the Boss. Blindly, she groped for a chair and sat down in it.
"To which department?" she asked, her voice barely audible because of her shock.
"That is none of your-" the Boss began.
"To the Espionage department." They were the first words Draco had said since she had stormed into the room. Ginny snapped out of her shock, turning to stare at him, and found his stormy eyes on her already.
"What?" she whispered. But he didn't say anything else, he just faced the wall again.
"Sir, could I please go? I have to report at nine," Draco asked quietly.
"Of course. Now Miss Weasley, you have some- excuse me? Are you listening to me?" Ginny couldn't have cared less what her boss was saying. She was just tracking Draco with her eyes. She caught his eyes as he started to stand, and held them, for what seemed like an eternity as he hauled himself out of the comfy chairs. And she would have held the eye contact until he left the room, but the door opened quietly, and Parvati stuck her head in. She scanned the room, and when her eyes landed on Draco, she quickly entered.
"I'm sorry, Sir. But the department sent me over to guide Mr. Malfoy," Parvati said politely. Parvati had the beauty many people wished they had. She had long, dark hair, a nice figure, and a to die for boyfriend.
"That's no problem Miss Patil. Is that an engagement ring on your finger?" the Boss asked, waving for Parvati to come close. She smiled impishly and complied, holding out her hand for the Boss to see.
"It is Sir! Draco just proposed to me this morning!" she said happily.
Ginny swallowed, suddenly very aware of her surroundings. She quickly stood and fled from the room, keeping her eyes on the ground.
She didn't stop running until she found herself at the Chudley Cannon's main office.
~~~
Draco watched Ginny, a silent display of emotions racking his insides. But he couldn't very well follow the young Weasley. Not with Parvati clinging to his arm. And, the funny thing was, worry was evident in her eyes too.
But, it was the polite kind of worry.
The kind of worry someone has for a person they've never met, nor heard anything about. And this angered Draco. But he knew that he wasn't entitled to feel angry at Parvati. No, in a few minutes, she'll be angry with him.
He'd be surprised if he came out of it with the ability to have children.
Draco never, ever, thought twice about proposing to Parvati as revenge at Ginny. He was sorely regretting that decision. Parvati looked so happy, so incredibly happy. And he had made her that happy. Just with a simple ring.
With a simple diamond ring, set in pure silver.
And that stung even more.
"Is she okay?" Parvati asked quietly, a tone of her polite worry injected into her voice.
"Let's go. I'll be late soon," he replied slowly. He grasped Parvati's tiny hand in his, and led her from the office building, and down to the street below. But he didn't take her to Espionage department, he led her down the road to a tiny coffee shop, which he knew had secluded corners.
"Draco, where are we going, honey?" she said. But he didn't answer her. He kept walking, until they reached the coffee shop, and corner he had been looking for.
The coffee shop had a distinctive Mediterranean air too it. It had a patio which came off to the side, which was where are current couple were sitting. Ivy branches hung from the walls and rocky overhangs, which had been created to give a tropical feel. The corner Parvati and Draco had taken was one of the most secluded, and almost no sound escaped the corners of the rocks.
"Draco, what's wrong?" Parvati, bless her, was so unimaginably innocent, no matter what anyone thought. She was so willing to believe anything anyone told her, it made no difference how outlandish it was. She was so forgiving, it was almost pathetic.
He prayed that no one would ever exploit her the way he had again.
"Honey, what's wrong?" she repeated, gently taking his hand in hers. Draco patted the top of her hand, but slid his out from under hers.
"Parvati, I have something to confess. I want you to know, that I am a complete jack ass, and that you are an angel. A complete angel. God, just don't interrupt me until I'm done," he began. She nodded, concern in her eyes.
"Par, I should have broken up with you two years ago. Two years ago, when I was partnered with Ginny, I thought it was hell, but that changed. My whole life seemed to change. I fell in love with her, and I'm still in love with her. But she recently reconciled with Harry. And for the life of me, I wanted her to feel the pain I felt. So I proposed to you. I'm evil, pure evil. I can't stand myself for doing it. I know you hate me, but I just couldn't go on a minute longer. You were just so happy, and I still can't believe that you actually cared for a asshole like me."
Parvati's eyes had filled with tears, which fell gently down her cheeks. She pulled her hands off the table, covering her face with them. Draco stood, and attempted to put an arm around Parvati's shoulders. But she shrugged him off.
"I- I- I don't know what to say," she said harshly, polite until the end. She glanced at the ring on her finger, and more tears cascaded down her face. Tugging at the ring, she placed in on the table and stood. For a mere second she caught Draco's eyes. But for that mere second, Draco felt the full impact of what he had done. She glanced away, grasping her wand and apperating away.
Draco brought his wand from his pocket, pointing it at the ring and whispering a few choice words. The ring flickered and was replaced by a piece of rope, tied in a circle. He shrugged his shoulders, hoping vainly to shrug the feeling away. He grimly set out of the coffee shop. He was taking the day off.
Screw anyone who got in his way.
~~~
Ginny slammed her fist against the door to the office repeatedly, but no one came to answer. For ten full minutes, she banged her hand against the door, screaming for someone to open it for her, ignoring the curious looks the people were giving her. With a defeated howl, Ginny sank to the ground, openly sobbing into her hands, and she had no idea how long this went on. She had no clue of anything going on around her.
Until a pair of arms wrapped around her. And she felt so safe.
Daring a look, she found herself staring into the troubled eyes of Draco Malfoy.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered, pulling her back into an embrace. "I'm so sorry." But Ginny wasn't listening. She felt to protected and loved to care about anything he had to say. It couldn't have compared to how she felt at that moment.
Besides, Draco still had that damnable drawl.
~~~~~~~~~
Got a bit serious there... wasn't plannin on that. This was a challenge fic for a challenge from Tabbycat2000, that I got from the amazing Draco Ginny fan fic list, which I suggest you all stop by ( shameless plug!).
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DracoGinnyFanFic
I'd like to say thanks to everyone on the list, 'cause you all rock, and also to Emerald Star, who thought my story was funny (you rock!) and blonde_bombshell (I just finished reading "So Long and Thanks for All The Fish" by Douglas Adams when I started this!)
Now, Draco Malfoy considered himself to be a jackass. And why not? Truth be told, he was not a nice little boy, willing to help an old lady cross the street.
No, Draco was the kind of boy who would push the old lady into the street.
But jackasses don't care about their co-workers. They're not supposed to. No, they're supposed to poison the coffee so that they can have the bigger cubicle.
They're not supposed to be falling in love with them.
It had been two years since Draco and Ginny had been partnered. Two years of pure hell for the man in the office next to theirs. Besides a lethal attraction to Kleenex, Ginny wasn't the kind of person one would expect to be hurling vases at important people.
Look what Draco pushed her to.
Then again, it was all her fault Draco had her as a partner. Yes, she had put in a request for a partner, thinking Harry would ask, after all, Harry and her had been an item for a while there.
They seem to be one again, but Draco didn't want to think about that right now.
Anyway, her boss had decided that she and Draco would be a good team.
Ha.
So, after two years of bickering, Kleenex boxes, thrown vases, Chinese take-out, and jealousy, Draco The Jackass had finally kicked the bucket. Or at least, he didn't want to harass Ginny anymore. Well, he did, but not in a G-rated way. And that wasn't happening any time soon.
But Draco Malfoy didn't just curl up and die when bad things happened. No no, of course not. He plotted revenge. Which was just what he was doing.
It was common knowledge that he and Miss Patil had a relationship. Unfortunately, she loved Draco. He just wanted someone to mess around with.
Then again, maybe he shouldn't have stayed with her for four years if he just wanted a fling.
Parvati was expecting a ring any day now. And Draco had finally realized that his chances with Ginny might as well be dead. Ginny had loved Harry Potter for years, and it finally seemed that her fairy tale might come true.
Yes, this was a kick in the crotch for Draco.
Even though Draco wasn't as horrible a person as he used to be, he still wasn't above proposing to a woman just to get another one jealous.
And this is exactly why Draco Malfoy was still a jack ass.
~~~
Ginny had slept surprisingly well on the couch, her back felt fine, she felt well rested, and for a moment, all events from the night before had been forgotten.
Of course, the good moments in the morning never last long.
The things of the night before hit her hard, as she remembered the alcohol, Harry, Draco, the ring, Draco, Pansy and Ron, and Draco. She pulled herself into a sitting position and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders. She felt tears coming, but held them back. She didn't want to wake anyone up, and she knew that if she cried, she would sob, and Pansy and Ron wouldn't appreciate being woken up.
"Morning, Gin. I've got some clothes here you can borrow. And- hey there, what's wrong?" Pansy asked, holding a small pile of clothes as she came out of her room.
"Nothings wrong at all!" Ginny sobbed, clutching the blanket very closely to her. Pansy sat down besides Ginny and threw an arm around her shoulders.
"What happened last night?" she asked softly. Ginny spilled out the entire tale for Pansy, leaving out the bit about the ring. Even though her love life was ruined, Ginny didn't want Ron's to be too. Well, if he had been with Fleur, then she would have left in the ring.
And the little fling Ron had with Lavender after graduation.
"I need a box of Kleenex," Ginny said, her voice scratchy from crying.
"You know, that's the whole reason why I sent Ron out yesterday. I've got a new box, I'll go grab it from my room. Why don't you change in the bathroom, it's that room right there," Pansy suggested, pointing to a tiny door just beyond the living room. Ginny nodded and took the clothes to the bathroom.
The bathroom was not what Ginny expected at all.
Ginny was expecting a bathroom like the one at the Burrow, classic looking, with a cluttered counter, bright walls, a mage light in the center, and a bathtub.
This bathroom had a marble counter. A white marble counter, on a limestone setting with a silver sink. There was a bathtub, but not the kind simply built out of the wall. It was a self standing appliance, gothic styled and porcelain. The walls were painted a dark green, with a tiny window covered with that nifty glass that looks like water. Several tiny mage lights hung in the corners near the ceiling.
But the bathroom holds no importance in this story.
So Ginny shrugged off the uniquely decorated bathroom and got about to changing.
When Ginny left the bathroom, still slightly in awe of it, she saw Pansy putting the blankets up in the linen closet. She was a bit embarrassed to be wearing the older girls clothes, truth be told.
Ginny just didn't wear low hanging baggy guy pants with tight tank tops. It was just too alternative for her. Well, she had never really felt comfortable in muggle clothing, it wasn't her thing. She had always loved the wizarding robes that hung in Madam Malkin's shop, or the classy robes that all the Ministry people wore.
Pansy's clothes made her feel her age.
And at the moment, Ginny didn't want to be twenty-two. She wanted to be eighty and near death so the whole Draco thing wouldn't bother her.
All she wanted to worry about was what pills to take and if she needed any prune juice.
"I know you're not used to muggle clothes, but the only robes I have are for work," Pansy said simply. And Ginny didn't ask any further about her work. It wasn't common knowledge that Pansy was a spy. Only a few choice people were privy to that information.
Soon after her parents were killed, Pansy sobbed, and pretended to bend to Voldemort's will. Most of the Death Eaters believed it was a set up, thus justifying the innumerable threats she got. But Voldemort had truly believed she wasn't lying, that she wanted back in.
But Voldemort never was the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree.
"Thanks. Anyway, I'd rather be wearing the pants than one of those really short skirts. I don't think I could manage very long in something like that," she said. Ginny was, although she wouldn't readily admit it, something of a tomboy. Being raised in a family of six brothers, not only did she learn how to fight (and make a great peanut butter and jelly sandwich), but she learned a bit about hiding her femininity. She didn't enjoy make-up like Lavender, and very, VERY short clothes like Parvati.
But Ginny didn't want to think about Parvati, it was her fault that Ginny couldn't have Draco.
Okay, maybe that's a little unfair.
"Where's Ron?" Ginny asked after a while.
"Working. Or at least, that's what he wants me to think," Pansy replied with a sigh.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, a feeling of dread rising in the back of her throat.
"Oh, Ron's always going off about how hard Quidditch is, but I know for a fact that he was at a bar in Knockturn Alley for the better part of yesterday."
"Ron was in Knockturn Alley?!" Ginny sputtered, eyes wide. Pansy nodded dismally.
"He's got a thing for alcohol, but I'm sure you knew that. Anyway, that's not the problem, it's just that The Sleezy Hag isn't a place a person like him, who is so open in the fight against Voldemort, should be. I don't think he realizes how bad Voldemort wants him dead," she whispered. "Even though Voldemort believes I am with him, he still wants revenge. Apparently, though my parents weren't as important as I am, they were important enough to demand revenge. Which is why Voldemort is mine!" she spat, a fire burning in her eyes. Ginny was mildly afraid.
Pansy could do things like that to people. She had the curse of a dark past, of which only few people knew the details, and Ginny wasn't one of them thankfully. But even though a lot of people didn't know her past, many people could tell just by looking at her that she knew things that would make your hair curl. She could make people think that she was plotting something horrible against them, just with a simple glare.
At times, Ginny wished she had that power. But instead, she had this horrible affliction. When confronted by things, she tended to bend, rather than stand straight. It wasn't something she was proud of, but when she thought deeply about it, Pansy commanded peoples respect mostly out of fear.
But Ginny still wanted that respect.
Draco wasn't the only person to tease her about her meager beginnings. Pansy used to do the same thing, but the Ron came along. Though Pansy never openly apologized, she did make it clear that she was ashamed at herself for what she had said. Many other Ministry officials had snickered behind her back when she first started working. After all, she was working in a very prestigious department and hadn't the clothes to show it. Even when she got the money, she still hadn't the slightest clue as to what styles to buy.
That was the first time she and Pansy ever really spoke.
Sure, they had talked before, but briefly, exchanging pleasantries and such. But Ginny had been in desperate need of help, and had first turned to her friends.
However, all of her friends were already busy, and besides, they still hadn't a clue as to what Ginny needed to buy.
Then she went to Hermione. But she couldn't help her either. Hermione had only been in town for a few days before she had left to study abroad.
So the only option left, besides Draco, and she wasn't that desperate yet, was Pansy. Gathering every ounce of her courage, and praying to every god she had ever heard of, Ginny asked Pansy to help her.
At first, Pansy was a bit suspicious, which was to be expected. She had just rejoined Voldemort, and was on very shaky standing with him. But, after a few minutes of thinking, she had agreed. The two went, not to Madam Malkin's as Ginny expected, but to Jesetts, a designer Ginny had never heard of.
Then again, the only designer Ginny had ever heard of was Madam Malkin.
But when Ginny entered the store, which was located in eastern France by the way, she knew that Pansy had made the right choice. The shop was filled top to bottom with suitable robes, that would successfully knock the socks off her co-workers.
True, they didn't become best of friends because Pansy knew a store where Ginny could buy clothes that would slap her co-workers in the face. No, it was over the course of years that they became friends, and now were somewhat close, not "I would die for you" close, but "I'll kick your boy friends ass 'cause he hurt you" close.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to go off like that! Really, you should have stopped me!" Pansy said with a small laugh. "I've got to get to work. No no, not _that_ job," Pansy said, noticing the look on Ginny's face. "In my free time I tell fortunes at this cafe. It's rather funny, these muggles are so amazed at how accurate my predictions are! Oh you should have seen it! My first day their, the owner told me to just make up things about money and love. Of course, I didn't need too, but it was still hilarious!" Ginny groaned, flopping down on the couch.
"I'm so not up for work this morning," she muttered.
"I could call you in sick," Pansy suggested.
"No, I have to go. If I'm ever going to move out of the tiny apartment I have now, I'd better get to work," she resolved, regretfully hauling herself off the couch.
"Well then, it's off to work we go! My, won't you make a splash in the latest for Pansy's Closet!" Pansy struck a pose, waving her fingers, before apparating away. Ginny chuckled to herself, looking for some Floo Powder around the fireplace. She found it, tossing a handful into the fire.
"Neville's apartment," she yelled, stepping into the flames, and was gone.
She reappeared moments later, standing in the fireplace of Neville's apartment. Ginny cautiously looked around for Harry. Not seeing him, she stealthily made her way to the end table, where her wand was at. She had just grabbed it when Harry walked into the room.
Harry was clad in his work robes, apparently about ready to leave for the Auror training center. Harry had been in training to be an Auror for five years. They didn't just make you an Auror over night! No, they made you sleep in the snow, trudge through bogs, and eat crickets.
Okay, maybe you don't have to eat the crickets.
"Ginny? Look, we really need to talk," Harry said. Ginny held up a hand to silence him.
"Harry, I just came for my wand. I'll come back later for my- my clothes. And no, we don't need to talk."
"I just wanted to make- make sure that you felt the same way about last night as I did," he said quietly.
"Harry, I do. Believe me it was-"
"Thank god, you don't have a clue how that makes me feel," he said, embracing her. "I'm so glad you want to get back together too."
Ginny stood, frozen in his arms. She and Harry had shared a very long and strong relationship, that ended in a close friendship. But she didn't want a romantic relationship with Harry. Not now, not ever. But at the moment, she was just contemplating how to get out of this situation.
"Um... Harry?"
"Yes?" he said, pulling away from her so he could see her face, but keeping his hands on her waist.
"I-" but she couldn't let him down. He looked so incredibly happy. She desperately thought what Pansy would do.
But if she couldn't let him down verbally, there was no way in hell she could slap him.
So, against all better judgment, she decided, very stupidly, to follow what Pansy would have done. She slapped him.
Hard.
"Harry, last night was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry, but I don't want this right now," she said forcefully, pulling Harry's hands off her waist. He nodded dumbly.
Well, there wasn't much that could happen that could ruin her day anymore. But when she apperated into her office, to find Draco and his desk and all belongings gone, she knew it had.
In a confused whirlwind of red, Ginny ran out of the room and down the hall to her boss' office. She threw the door open, stormed past the secretary, who was yelling at her, and walked directly into his main office, slamming the door behind her.
Not only was her boss sitting behind his desk, but Draco was there too.
"What the hell is going on here, Miss Weasley?" her boss demanded. Now, Ginny's boss was about as kind and caring as Draco. And, we all know our dear Draco is a horrible bastard.
"Sir, I just wanted to know why my partner isn't my partner anymore!" she yelled, not realizing that she cared so much until the words were out of her mouth.
"Mr. Malfoy is being transferred."
Ginny felt her world stop. She looked to Draco for confirmation, but he was staring at the wall behind the Boss. Blindly, she groped for a chair and sat down in it.
"To which department?" she asked, her voice barely audible because of her shock.
"That is none of your-" the Boss began.
"To the Espionage department." They were the first words Draco had said since she had stormed into the room. Ginny snapped out of her shock, turning to stare at him, and found his stormy eyes on her already.
"What?" she whispered. But he didn't say anything else, he just faced the wall again.
"Sir, could I please go? I have to report at nine," Draco asked quietly.
"Of course. Now Miss Weasley, you have some- excuse me? Are you listening to me?" Ginny couldn't have cared less what her boss was saying. She was just tracking Draco with her eyes. She caught his eyes as he started to stand, and held them, for what seemed like an eternity as he hauled himself out of the comfy chairs. And she would have held the eye contact until he left the room, but the door opened quietly, and Parvati stuck her head in. She scanned the room, and when her eyes landed on Draco, she quickly entered.
"I'm sorry, Sir. But the department sent me over to guide Mr. Malfoy," Parvati said politely. Parvati had the beauty many people wished they had. She had long, dark hair, a nice figure, and a to die for boyfriend.
"That's no problem Miss Patil. Is that an engagement ring on your finger?" the Boss asked, waving for Parvati to come close. She smiled impishly and complied, holding out her hand for the Boss to see.
"It is Sir! Draco just proposed to me this morning!" she said happily.
Ginny swallowed, suddenly very aware of her surroundings. She quickly stood and fled from the room, keeping her eyes on the ground.
She didn't stop running until she found herself at the Chudley Cannon's main office.
~~~
Draco watched Ginny, a silent display of emotions racking his insides. But he couldn't very well follow the young Weasley. Not with Parvati clinging to his arm. And, the funny thing was, worry was evident in her eyes too.
But, it was the polite kind of worry.
The kind of worry someone has for a person they've never met, nor heard anything about. And this angered Draco. But he knew that he wasn't entitled to feel angry at Parvati. No, in a few minutes, she'll be angry with him.
He'd be surprised if he came out of it with the ability to have children.
Draco never, ever, thought twice about proposing to Parvati as revenge at Ginny. He was sorely regretting that decision. Parvati looked so happy, so incredibly happy. And he had made her that happy. Just with a simple ring.
With a simple diamond ring, set in pure silver.
And that stung even more.
"Is she okay?" Parvati asked quietly, a tone of her polite worry injected into her voice.
"Let's go. I'll be late soon," he replied slowly. He grasped Parvati's tiny hand in his, and led her from the office building, and down to the street below. But he didn't take her to Espionage department, he led her down the road to a tiny coffee shop, which he knew had secluded corners.
"Draco, where are we going, honey?" she said. But he didn't answer her. He kept walking, until they reached the coffee shop, and corner he had been looking for.
The coffee shop had a distinctive Mediterranean air too it. It had a patio which came off to the side, which was where are current couple were sitting. Ivy branches hung from the walls and rocky overhangs, which had been created to give a tropical feel. The corner Parvati and Draco had taken was one of the most secluded, and almost no sound escaped the corners of the rocks.
"Draco, what's wrong?" Parvati, bless her, was so unimaginably innocent, no matter what anyone thought. She was so willing to believe anything anyone told her, it made no difference how outlandish it was. She was so forgiving, it was almost pathetic.
He prayed that no one would ever exploit her the way he had again.
"Honey, what's wrong?" she repeated, gently taking his hand in hers. Draco patted the top of her hand, but slid his out from under hers.
"Parvati, I have something to confess. I want you to know, that I am a complete jack ass, and that you are an angel. A complete angel. God, just don't interrupt me until I'm done," he began. She nodded, concern in her eyes.
"Par, I should have broken up with you two years ago. Two years ago, when I was partnered with Ginny, I thought it was hell, but that changed. My whole life seemed to change. I fell in love with her, and I'm still in love with her. But she recently reconciled with Harry. And for the life of me, I wanted her to feel the pain I felt. So I proposed to you. I'm evil, pure evil. I can't stand myself for doing it. I know you hate me, but I just couldn't go on a minute longer. You were just so happy, and I still can't believe that you actually cared for a asshole like me."
Parvati's eyes had filled with tears, which fell gently down her cheeks. She pulled her hands off the table, covering her face with them. Draco stood, and attempted to put an arm around Parvati's shoulders. But she shrugged him off.
"I- I- I don't know what to say," she said harshly, polite until the end. She glanced at the ring on her finger, and more tears cascaded down her face. Tugging at the ring, she placed in on the table and stood. For a mere second she caught Draco's eyes. But for that mere second, Draco felt the full impact of what he had done. She glanced away, grasping her wand and apperating away.
Draco brought his wand from his pocket, pointing it at the ring and whispering a few choice words. The ring flickered and was replaced by a piece of rope, tied in a circle. He shrugged his shoulders, hoping vainly to shrug the feeling away. He grimly set out of the coffee shop. He was taking the day off.
Screw anyone who got in his way.
~~~
Ginny slammed her fist against the door to the office repeatedly, but no one came to answer. For ten full minutes, she banged her hand against the door, screaming for someone to open it for her, ignoring the curious looks the people were giving her. With a defeated howl, Ginny sank to the ground, openly sobbing into her hands, and she had no idea how long this went on. She had no clue of anything going on around her.
Until a pair of arms wrapped around her. And she felt so safe.
Daring a look, she found herself staring into the troubled eyes of Draco Malfoy.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered, pulling her back into an embrace. "I'm so sorry." But Ginny wasn't listening. She felt to protected and loved to care about anything he had to say. It couldn't have compared to how she felt at that moment.
Besides, Draco still had that damnable drawl.
~~~~~~~~~
Got a bit serious there... wasn't plannin on that. This was a challenge fic for a challenge from Tabbycat2000, that I got from the amazing Draco Ginny fan fic list, which I suggest you all stop by ( shameless plug!).
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DracoGinnyFanFic
I'd like to say thanks to everyone on the list, 'cause you all rock, and also to Emerald Star, who thought my story was funny (you rock!) and blonde_bombshell (I just finished reading "So Long and Thanks for All The Fish" by Douglas Adams when I started this!)