Harry Potter and the Characters herein are the property of JKRowling, Bloomsbury Books, Warner Bros et al.
Hogwarts is a word I first saw in 'How to be Topp' By Willans and Searle published by Puffin Books.
Since I am a fan of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer some of the language will be recognisable. If there is any doubt, it's theirs.
However, the plot is mine!!!
I am not making any money out of this.
Phew!
Thanks to those who have reviewed so far. *bows in gratitude* While it may seem a little hard to envisage why Malfoy may have ended up as a groomsman at Harry and Hermione's wedding, it will become very obvious in later chapters. You are meant to doubt at this stage, and be just as puzzled as Ginny is.
Dragon's Desire
Chapter 2 - The First Date
In the previous chapter:
She paused for a long time slowly shaking her head. That seemed so long ago. The old sarcastic and unpleasant Malfoy had reappeared, and he had her right where he wanted her. He knew just what buttons to push, and he pushed them without compunction to get what he wanted. She shivered and headed slowly for the fireplace. She knew what she had to do.
"Malfoy Manor!" She called as she dusted the Floo powder.
Now Read On.
"Ah! Virginia, or should I call you Ginny?" Said Draco affably as she appeared out of the grate.
He had on a light robe and underneath something that looked like a short dressing gown. It hid neither his well-proportioned chest, nor his powerful thighs, but the state of his dress did nothing to calm Ginny's feelings. She fixed him with a direct look and shrugged her shoulders.
"We're not here for the small talk are we? I take it since you know so much, you know the amount that my father needs to keep the goblins at bay?"
Draco inclined his head with a small smile and placed a pile of galleons on a side table. "That should keep him safe for a month or so."
Ginny wordlessly picked up the gold and put it into her purse.
Draco came close and gave her a light kiss. His breath smelt of fresh mint and was warm on her cheek. She looked up at him, and was surprised to see an almost kindly look greeting her.
"You know." He said almost haltingly. "I will try not to make this too bad for you. I mean, I hope even, you will get to like it." With that he gently took her cheeks in his hand and started to plant little kisses on her lips moving up her cheek to her earlobes.
Ginny closed her eyes, it didn't feel that bad really, in fact it was quite pleasant, it was just thatand before she could help it, tears started rolling down her cheeks.
Draco checked in surprise. "Hush now." He hesitated then continued. "Hang on for a bit, Ginny and take a few deep breaths. It's been a lousy week for you and your family hasn't it?" His voice sounded almost as if he cared.
Ginny just nodded and sniffed, hunting for a handkerchief in her purse.
"Try one of mine" Said Draco offering her one with DM and the Malfoy crest embroidered on it.
Draco sat down heavily. "Come on, sit down here."
She sat down next to him and he put his arm around her, drawing her close. He put his hand under her chin and brought her face up to meet his.
"Do you know why I have always thought of Gryffindors as being stupid?"
She shook her head and sniffed again.
"Well, as I recall, there was Ginny Weasley, cute as a button, smart, and fun to be with. And all those Gryffindor boys could think of was 'here is Ron's little sister'. Not one of them could see how good looking or clever you were. Not one of them was smart enough to ask you out except in desperation at the Yuletide ball. Not even the famous Happy Rotter. How stupid were they Ginny?"
"And how do you think I feel now Malfoy? They at least ignored me. You want to turn mehave turned meinto a wh-." Draco quickly brought his hands up to cover her lips. "Don't say it."
"You know." He said in a slightly reproachful tone. "I am sure I suggested that we could marry. I know I did. You had three options, not accept my offer, or marry me, or yes, become my mistress. Yours was the choice."
"You won't even leave me with the dignity of at least the facade of being forced into it will you, Malfoy?"
Malfoy gave a crooked grin. "Well, there is another offer I can make." He paused and used the handkerchief to wipe away the tears rolling down Ginny's cheeks.
"What say for the next twelve months you were to become my girlfriend? And I don't insist on going all the way with you, just a heavy pg15 snogfest, that's all, unless you want more?" He let that sink in.
"But the catch is, that you will have to acknowledge me as your boyfriend to everyone, and not go out with anybody else at all in that time."
Ginny laughed nervously. "You're just hoping I'll change my mind about you and let you"
"Rubbish!" He snorted. I could get that right now. You've taken my money after all. I'm trying to be nice. That's all."
"And if I accept, you will keep paying the goblins?"
"Better than that, I will pay them off for a year and get them to write a letter to your father explaining that there was an error in claiming the interest and that he has a year extra to pay. Oh, and one more thing. Your herbal farm and potion supply business has great potential, but it could do with a big cash injection to build new greenhouses and storages for imported plants. I will provide the cash in return for an equal share in the business. I'll be a sleeping partner. You won't find me interfering in your work."
"What's the catch?" Said Ginny suspiciously.
"No catch. Your business needs a capital injection and I need somewhere to invest some of my money. And I do want to snog with you rather badly. Do we have a deal or not?"
"I get to keep my pants on at all times?" Ginny looked at him through narrowed eyes.
"At least when I'm around. Though I think your mother would start to worry if you kept the same ones on for a year." His boyish grin at this was almost believable, thought Ginny.
"Then we have a deal." She said with her chin up. "Shake on it, Malfoy!"
Draco extended his hand. "Done! But do call me Draco."
Ginny looked at him rather nervously. "So what's next?"
Draco sighed. "I think that you'd better go home now. Your parents will be wondering where you are, and I don't want to cause any problems."
"You mean you are thinking about someone else Draco?" Ginny couldn't believe her ears.
Draco snorted. "Listen Weasel. If you get home late now, and your brothers find out it was because of me, they will be on our case. And I definitely want to get some serious snogging in before they catch on. Thinking about someone else? As if!"
"Well." Thought Ginny. "I was beginning to doubt myself there." Out loud she said. "Look Draco, even though I think you are a prat. I guess I have to be honest and say that I am grateful for your help, so what have you got planned for tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?" He replied blankly.
"Yes, tomorrow. You did say that you wanted me to play girlfriend for a year. That means you get to take me outor do you want to visit the burrow first up? I was thinking perhaps a nice muggle restaurant, or a play? Or do you just want to snog?"
"Well." He said slowly. "I guess I really should face, er, I mean meet your parents and lull them into a false sense of sec-, I mean assure them that you are in safe hands with me. Then we can go to a play or come back here and snog. He paused, as if thinking, and then as a smile came over his face, said: I'll pick you up at seven tomorrow night then?"
"OK, ok, but I must get home now. They'll be wondering what I've been doing all this time. And bye the way, the name is Ginny."
Draco closed his eyes and smirked at the likely reaction if Ron Weasley had the faintest idea what he and Ginny were going to be doing.
"Bye Ginny" He said, and popped a kiss on her cheek. Then one on her mouth, then....
"Uh! Must go! See you tomorrow at seven." With that she took out the Floo powder, stepped into the fire and shouted, "The Burrow!"
Ginny Weasley woke up the next morning after the first good night's sleep in a while. She stretched and yawned and smiled at the sun's rays coming through the window.
She shook her head at the previous day's events from the low of seeing Harry married and her father's despair, to the lifeline handed to her by, of all people, Draco Malfoy.
She frowned in concentration for a second, trying to make some sense of it. But the more she thought, the better their deal seemed to her. Her father would be out of trouble for a year at least, and with Malfoy's cash injection into her herb and potion business, it could easily turn out that she would be earning enough money by the end of a year to pay off the goblins forever. And there were other benefits. Malfoy was right. She hadn't ever had a boyfriend, and hadn't Padma said that you can go for years without anyone wanting to be your boyfriend, but the minute one comes along, there are several more that come along at the same time. Maybe in the year with Malfoy, some others might show some interest. They could be followed up after their deal was over in twelve months.
Then her thoughts turned to Malfoy himself. What was his little game? It was beyond belief that he was in love or wanted marriage. That was just too far fetched. Still, whatever his scheme was, the benefits to her outweighed the costs by a long chalk. And, she thought with a guilty start, snogging with Malfoy wouldn't be all that unpleasant.
With a wicked little chuckle at that thought, she snuggled under the blankets.
"VIRGINIA!" Came her mother's voice from the passage. "BREAKFAST."
"Yes mother." She yelled back. "Coming." With that she threw off the blankets and got out of bed.
She entered the kitchen and sat down at the table with the rest of the clan. Her mother deftly handed out the eggs and bacon with a forced cheerfulness, while every now and then glancing at her husband at the head of the table listlessly looking off into space. Ginny bit her lip, hoping that Malfoy would hurry his business with Gringotts. Seeing her usually cheerful father like this was badly unsettling.
Suddenly, there was a tapping at the window and a rather large owl appeared. Molly opened the window, and took the proffered letter, handing the owl some sweets. In a flash, it was gone, leaving Molly to stare at the letter.
"It's from Gringotts." She said dully.
Mr Weasley looked up. "It had to come, m'dear. Let's open the letter and face the music."
Suddenly, her mother burst into tears and ran out of the room, leaving the note on the table. Her father ran after her, softly calling, "Molly! Molly!"
The rest of them looked at the note resentfully, and Ron grabbed it and threw it into the fire. "B@$&@rd Goblins!" He ejaculated.
Ginny dove for the fire place and quickly took the letter out before it had started to singe. "Perhaps we should read it first?"
She opened it, and started reading out loud.
"Dear Sir, I refer to our previous letter demanding full and final payment of your debt by today. However, due to some oversight or other in our accounts department, I am pleased to advise that the debt is not due until one calendar year from today. Of course should you be placed to pay the loan off sooner, I should be, Your most humble and obliged servant. (Signed) Grevillius Grabber III, Teller-in-charge"
Draco had delivered!
Ginny ran after her mother and father. "It's all right. The Goblins have given us a year!"
Molly and Arthur were in the small sitting room on the couch cuddled together for comfort and they looked at her uncomprehendingly.
"Did you hear me? The Goblins made a mistake - you don't have to pay till next year."
"Really?" Her father said in disbelief.
"Really! Here it is." She waved the letter in her father's face.
He took it from her, looked through it, reading again and again as if it were impossible to comprehend. Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief. "Molly, we're saved." He hugged and kissed his wife and then Ginny, and then the boys who by this time had crowded happily into the room.
"Merlin, I am so happy, I don't think anything could upset me now." He cried.
Well, thought Ginny, that was my cue.
"Well, father. You know yesterday when I came home late?"
"Er yes." Said Mr Weasley.
"The reason I was late was that I was talking to Draco Malfoy." The temperature in the room cooled noticeably.
"What did he want?" Asked George.
"He asked me to go out with him." Replied Ginny.
"HE WHAT???" Shouted all the male Weasleys. Well, almost all the male Weasleys, Ron, for some reason was strangely silent.
"He asked me to go out with him and I said yes. And he's coming round here tonight to pick me up."
"The hell he" Started George.
"George! Mind your language." Said Mrs Weasley sternly. "Besides, if Virginia wants to go out with someone at her age, it is none of your business."
While Ginny was glad for her mother's intervention, she couldn't fail to notice the use of the word 'Virginia' rather than the usual 'Ginny'.
"Thanks mother. I think I'll go and clean my room now."
With that Ginny scuttled out of the room and headed to her room upstairs, slamming the door in relief behind her. Whew, she thought. That's the first hurdle over. Now to choose something to wear for tonight.
To Ginny's relief, nothing more was said on the matter during the rest of the morning and the afternoon, although the air was a little strained.
At seven o'clock promptly, there was the knock at the door, and Malfoy, true to his word stood in the door that had been opened by George Weasley.
"Aren't you going to invite me in George old son?" Asked Malfoy with a little smile.
"George!" Came a voice from inside the house.
"Yes Mother! Er, won't you come in Malfoy?" He backed away from the front door grudgingly allowing space for Malfoy to enter.
"Call me Draco. After all, I'm going out with your sister."
George ground his teeth. "You know what I'd like to call you"
"George!" Hissed his mother, "If I have to speak to you once more"
"Right. I'll go and see if Virginia is ready." He trudged out of the hallway and upstairs to Ginny's room.
"Virginia. Youris here." He said.
"OK. Coming." Came her voice.
"Mr Malfoy," began Mrs Weasley, "please accept my apologies for that rudeness. Would you like to come into the lounge room and sit down while you wait for Virginia?"
"That's quite all right Mrs Weasley, but I hope you will call me Draco." He flashed his best and most winning smile at Mrs Weasley.
"Well Draco, only if you call me Molly. And, where are you going to tonight?" Darn, thought Molly, now I am starting to pry.
Draco only bowed and said. "I've got tickets to a little theatre in London that I thought Ginny might like."
"I'm coming." Shouted Ginny as she ran down the stairs, putting all conversation to a halt.
Draco stood up, and as Ginny came through the doorway, he was stunned. He had never seen her dressed up before. She had on a full length sheer red evening dress gathered modestly up to the neck at the front, but deeply cut at the back. Her hair framed her face and set off the pale creamy skin of her shoulders and the red leather high heels gave her the extra height needed to transfer her from little sister to WOW! She smiled uncertainly at Draco who seemed unable to move for a second.
However, with a graceful recovery, he pulled out a little bouquet from under his robes and presented it to her. "You're beautiful." He said almost underneath his breath and so only she could hear. Out loud, he turned to Mrs Weasley, and pulled a small box of chocolates out. "This is for you Molly."
"Why thank you Draco." She said in astonishment. She shook her head and pointed to the fireplace. "You'd best be off. You don't want to be late for that show now do you?"
Ginny and Draco headed for the fireplace, but before they got there, they were waylaid by Fred.
"Listen Malfoy, I don't know what your little game is, but if you so much as touch my little sister"
Malfoy lifted a supercilious eyebrow. "Aren't you going out with Angelina, Fred?"
"Well." Bridled Fred. "So what if I am?"
Malfoy grinned and winked at Ginny who was looking at this confrontation doubtfully. "Well, Fred, I promise that I'll only do to Ginny what you are doing with Angelina. Fair enough?"
"You DARE Malfoy!" He started, then stopped suddenly, blushing to the roots of his hair.
"What exactly are you doing with Angelina?" Asked Ginny innocently of her older brother.
"Err, nothing, forget about it." Mumbled Fred, still as red as a beetroot.
While Fred was thus disarmed, Malfoy disappeared into the fireplace shouting "Dyeurn Alley" amid a shower of floo powder, quickly followed by Ginny.
Fred turned round to be confronted by his mother with her arms crossed and that look on her face.
"Well Fred? What are you doing with Angelina?" She demanded.
"Oh Mother, sheesh. I'm not sixteen any more."
In Dyern Alley, Draco and Ginny were laughing like drains. "Fred's face was classic." She hooted.
"From what I can remember Ginny, it was always you that was getting the teasing. Perhaps with a little help from me, the boot will be on the other foot from now on. I wonder how your brothers will like it?" He said contemplatively. "Anyway. Let's get to the theatre."