Chapter II: Observations
"Come along, Draco. We'll stop and look at the Quidditch supplies after the fitting."
Draco Malfoy heaved a sigh as he followed his mother through the crowded walkways of Diagon Alley to Madam Malkin's. He didn't understand his mother's sudden need to purchase him new robes, since his grandparents had just taken him two weeks earlier, but he was grateful to not have to listen to the insane rantings of his father.
His father had changed over the last year, hell his whole family had changed. When he arrived home from Hogwarts after his fourth year, his father had been furious with him for allowing Potter, Granger, and Weasley to hex him. He was locked in his room with a few spell books and told to figure out how to cure himself.
He awoke one night to find his mother sitting on his bed crying. Draco was surprised to say the least, if not scared. It was the first time in, well, a very long time, if not the first time in memory that he had seen his mother show any real emotion. When he asked her what was wrong, she just tearfully told him that she was sorry. He could clearly remember his mother's tear stained face saying, "Oh, Draco. I'm so sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing. This is entirely my fault." She paused as her hand gently traced his facial features. "You can't be like him. Please, don't be anything like him."
Then she left.
A few days later he was told that he would be going to his mother's parents for the rest of the summer. He was surprised his father let him go; that he still let him go. For his entire life, he hadn't had any contact with them at his father's demand. It was funny how the promise of an inheritance could make people do things they would normally never allow.
They entered Madam Malkin's, and Narcissa went to speak with her while Draco looked around idly. There was a new display up at the window he noticed.
"Was there something wrong with the robes he already ordered?"
Draco turned to look at the conversation between the shop keep and his mother. "No, no. You always do such a lovely job, Madam Malkin. I would just like to buy him some extras. Do you have any for the spring?"
A look of comprehension crossed her face that Darco did not understand. He gave them a look of confusion, but said nothing.
"Yes, Mrs. Malfoy. I believe I do have some styles that are best for that season, but they are in the back. If you would come with me please, I'll take you to a fitting room."
They followed her through the main area of the store and into a small side chamber that Draco didn't even know existed. Passing through the curtained entrance, he saw that there were two other's in there already. The strikingly red hair gave away the identity immediately as the Weasley girl, and, undoubtedly, her father.
At first he just stared at her figure, which was easily outlined by the thin cotton of her dress. She had curves in all the right places, with firey red hair that tumbled down to the middle of her back. He felt drawn to her, like a moth to the flame. He would gladly risk being burnt if only he could get close.
Just as quickly as those thoughts came, the realization of how wrong it was for him to be thinking anything of the sort about her pervaded through his mind. Giving his head a shake, he placed his patented sneer onto his face just as she turned to look at him.
Draco was caught for a moment by her gaze. It seemed to see right through him, analyzing, yet not surprised to see him. This, more than anything else, was surprising. It was almost as if she were expecting him. Then she broke eye contact and looked away.
Draco felt the loss and scowled at himself for feeling this way. "Weasley."
She barely spared him another glance, but kept her gaze fixed to the entrance of the fitting room. "Malfoy."
He turned to follow her line of sight and saw his mother beginning to speak to Weasley's father.
"Mrs. Malfoy. This is an unexpected, uh, pleasure."
Draco heard Virginia snort behind him as his mother nodded in reply. Stepping to his mother's side, Draco glared at Mr. Weasley. "Come mum, I'm sure there's another fitting area available."
"Nonsense, Draco. Here is fine." He turned to look at his mother in shock, but she just ignored him and walked further into the room and gestured for Draco to step up beside Virginia on the fitting stools.
Draco scowled and crossed his arms defiantly.
"Oh, what's wrong, Malfoy? Having a little temper tantrum, or are you afraid of me," Virginia taunted.
"Ginny," her father scolded, "apologize this instant! That was uncalled for."
Virginia glared darkly at Draco, but none the less complied. "Please, accept my apology, Malfoy."
"Apology accepted, Weasley," he sneered back. At Virginia's raised eyebrow, he stepped up.
"There now," Narcissa broke in dryly. "We can all get along just fine. Madam Malkin will be in directly, I'm sure, and until then we'll just look through some catalogues."
Draco watched in confusion as his mother went and sat with Virginia's father and began to speak quietly.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy?"
Draco turned to look at Virginia. "I could ask you the same. Are you sure your family can afford something new?"
She was quiet for a moment as she looked as if she was mentally restraining herself. "I'm serious, Malfoy. What's going on?"
Draco studied her for a moment. "I honestly don't know."
She blinked in surprise and shot a look towards their respective parents. "I swear, Malfoy, if you're lying, it will be the last thing you do."
Some what taken aback at the malice in her tone, he stayed silent.
Looking back at his mother, he saw that she was now leafing through a book, pausing for a moment on a page to read the contents and gave a slight nod. His gaze shifted to Virginia's father, who was holding a catalogue, but not really looking at it, instead had his head cocked to the side, seeming staring off at nothing, but somehow Draco doubted that. Especially when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw his mother withdraw something from her robes, discreetly placing it the book and closing it.
She released a small sigh and stood up. "Well, I'll go and see what's keeping Madam Malkin, shall I."
Mr. Weasley rose from his seat as well. "No, no. I'll go, Mrs. Malfoy."
"Very well, Mr. Weasley. Thank you."
He brushed by her and, once he passed through the curtains, Draco noticed his mother was no longer holding her book.
Draco turned to catch Virginia's eye, but she just continued to stare at the entrance way.
"Draco?" He tore his gaze off of Virginia's form and looked at his mother, who was now standing before him, eyebrows raised. "How many robes did you purchase last time you were her?"
"Uh…I mean, I believe grandmother ordered eight."
"What about dress robes? Did you get new ones? Or a winter cloke?"
Draco quickly glanced at an amused Virginia and felt a blush building. "No, I-I told her what I had was fine."
"Nonsense, you look like you've grown since last year. Does he not, Ginny?"
It was now her turn to look embarrassed as his mother looked at her expectantly. "Er…yes?"
Narcissa nodded her approval. "You see. Now, we'll get dress robes and a cloke for you today. Which colour…hmmm…red, no…grey?" She looked up and smiled ever so slightly. "Ginny, dear, what do you think?"
"Colour?" she squeaked out.
"Yes. What do you think would look best on Draco?"
"Mother—"
"Hush, Draco. Ginny, what do you think?"
She sighed and turned to study him. "Midnight blue."
"Why that colour, dear?"
Virginia blushed slightly. "Well, he does prefer dark colours, and it does contrast with his colouring, but the blue would, uh, bring out his eyes."
Draco's eyebrows shot up and Virginia's blush deepened. Narcissa was silent for moment. "Yes, I believe you're right."
Draco was prevented to make any comment by the entrance of Mr. Weasley and Madam Malkin.
"Oh, forgive me for keeping you waiting. Now then, Mr. Malfoy, I already have your measurements, so I'll just begin with Miss Weasley here." She brought out her wand, gave it a swish and a tape measure appeared and began to take measurements of every sort of Virginia. "Stand up straight, dear. That's it. Arms out."
Virginia sighed, stretched out her arms, and glared at Draco as he snickered.
"So, Mr. Weasley, what are you looking to purchase today?"
"Well, she seems to have grown out of her school robes, so we'll need a few of those, as well as new dress robes."
Madam Malkin's smile grew. "Excellent. And you, Mrs. Malfoy?"
"Just dress robes and a cloke."
Draco smirked slightly towards Virginia. "Midnight blue robes. Isn't that right, Ginny?"
She flushed again and mumbled something under her breath.
"Yes," Narcissa broke in, "that's the colour we decided upon."
Draco leaned in towards Virginia. "What was that, Ginny?"
"Virginia," she hissed out.
"What?"
"My name is Virginia, Draco."
Draco looked at her for a moment, then nodded and turned away.
Some time later, after Draco was called to tell Virginia how "lovely" she looked, they were finally leaving. They made their way towards the front of the store and he saw the rest of, what he assumed to be Virginia's group standing there. The Dream Team glared at him as he approached them. "Well. If it isn't Potter, Granger, and the little Weasel."
"Shut it, Malfoy," Ron said hotly.
He was about to make some more comments, but caught Virginia's gaze and restrained himself by just glaring in return.
"What's the matter, Malfoy? Can't think of anything intelligent to say?"
"Ron," Virginia broke in, "that's enough."
Ron gaped at Virginia. "Ginny!"
"Ron!"
He turned away in disgust.
Narcissa signaled for Draco to leave and he nodded in reply. "See you all at school." He gave Virginia a wink and the others a sneer as he passed. "Virginia."
She gave a slight nod in return. "Draco."
As he stepped outside, he could hear Ron beginning to yell at Virginia and was caught between amusement and perhaps the slightest feeling of guilt.
"Draco," his mother looked over at him.
"Yes?"
"If you want her to like you, you have to be more kind to her family and friends."
"What!?" he gaped.
"She seems a very sweet girl."
Draco stopped dead in his tracks and stared after his mother. 'What is going on here?' he asked himself.