A/N: Hey guys, sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. It was my fault, and it didn't help that I goofed by accidentally sending my beta reader the wrong version of this chapter.
I hope you all like it.
Disclaimer: All I own is Raven, nothing else. There's no reason to sue, I've already spent all my money on Christmas presents.
Au Paire
Chapter 10—The Non-Believers
By VirtualFaerie
"Hello there, Ginny," Mr. Murray said coming to stand besides her, smiling genially. Ginny's arm flew up to clamp onto Colin's firmly, warning him not to say anything.
"Hello," Ginny said, grinning, her grip on Colin's arm so tight he thought it might fall off.
Mr. Murray looked at her, and then his eyes rested on Colin. He gave him a curious look and asked, "Where's Draco?"
Ginny blinked for a moment, "He's at home; he wasn't feeling well tonight."
"Then who is this?"
"This is my cousin, Carl," she said, giving Colin both a look, and tightening her grip even more. "He came in Draco's place."
"Nice to meet you, Carl," Mr. Murray said holding out a hand.
Colin took his hand and smiled, "Nice to meet you too."
Mr. Murray smiled at Ginny, "Well, I'll be off. Enjoy the show; see you soon, Ginny. –At the wedding?"
"Of course," Ginny said waving at him as he walked away. She sighed loudly and put her face in her hands. "That was so freaking close I don't even want to think about it."
"Why was that close, Ginny?" Colin asked angrily. "What was that all about? –Introducing me as your cousin?" He raised both of his eyebrows and looked at her expectantly. "And why did that man ask you where Draco was? And whose wedding was he talking about?"
"Well, Colin," Ginny started out, rubbing the bridge of her nose. He was really starting to stress her out. "That was Mr. Murray; he's Draco's new boss. He thinks that I'm Draco's fiancé."
Before Ginny could finish explaining, Colin said, "Do you want me to go over there right now and tell him you aren't?"
"Colin, just be quiet. I pretended to be his fiancé to help him get the job."
"Why would you help Malfoy? -Did he threaten you?" Colin demanded hotly.
"No, he didn't."
Colin stepped closer and looked intently into Ginny's eyes. "Did he put a spell on you?"
"Draco would never do anything like that!" Colin's countenance darkened.
"Are you in love with him?" He asked warily.
"No, I'm not," she glared at him.
"Well then why else would you pose as his fiancé?"
"I did it because . . . because, well it doesn't even matter why I did it. The point is that it's such a small thing and I don't see why you're overreacting. – I mean, I don't see what's so horrible about what we did, it's not that big of a deal."
"But it is a big deal," Colin exclaimed. "Living with Malfoy has changed you. You didn't used to act like this—so deceiving and underhanded. —Like a Slytherin. You even said I was your cousin! Like there was something wrong with being seen with me." He sighed. "You're not the Ginny I know; let me take you home—to your mother, you don't have to keep living like this."
Ginny pursed her lips, "Since when did you become an expert on me? Being with Draco hasn't changed me one bit. You're being an overbearing prat!" She glared, "I don't need you to take me home."
"Fine, run home to your 'fiancé'." Colin said bitterly.
"He's not…" she trailed off turned on her heel and walked out of the building. She didn't need to defend herself to him.
***
"If you're happy and you know it clap your hands!" Raven clapped her hands more than necessary. "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands! If you're happy and you know it and you really wanna show it! If you're happy and you know it clap your hands!" Raven stood up and began bouncing around the room, clapping her hands feverishly, grinning from ear to ear.
"Stop it!" Draco called from his seat on the couch. "You're giving me a headache."
Raven walked over to the couch, shaking her bottom. "Eeeeexcussssse ME!" She said sticking her nose up in the air. "But you are always having headaches, Drakey."
"Gee, I wonder why," Draco said looking at her pointedly.
Raven lifted her eyebrows and nodded, "Yeah, me too." Draco rolled his eyes and flung his head back dramatically causing Raven to start giggling. "Ha ha, Drakey is dumb!" She pointed at him and kept giggling.
Draco scowled at her, lifting his head back up. "What did you say?"
Raven's mouth made a perfect 'o' shape. "Nothing…." She mumbled putting her hands on her cheeks.
Draco's mouth curled up into a mischievous grin, "Nope, you definitely didn't say 'nothing'." He got up off of the couch slowly and made his way towards Raven, who was backing up. "I think you said I was dumb."
"No, Drakey, I never—"
"DRACO MALFOY!" Both Draco and Raven cringed. "COME HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" Ginny's voice echoed through the house.
"Uh-oh," said Raven. "Drakey's in trouble." Draco shot her a look and walked out of the room quickly. Raven giggled and she rushed out of the room after him.
***
She had her finger pointed at him, and her scolding voice on. "This is all your fault. You ruined my date, my night, EVERYTHING!"
"Now really, I don't think I ruined anything," Draco said rolling his eyes. The he frowned, "How did I ruin your date? I wasn't even there."
"And you better be glad you weren't. I might have killed you...with a plastic spoon."
Draco shuddered, a plastic spoon didn't sound so pleasant. "What happened?"
"What happened? -What didn't happen!" Ginny sighed and flopped down in a chair. "See, everything was going wonderfully, well except Colin kept doing this really annoying thing, but that's beside the point. During the intermission, we were walking around and I heard someone call my name. Guess who it was? Yes, that's right folks, it was Mr. Murray."
"Mr. Murray was at a muggle theater? What did you say to him? You didn't screw everything up did you?
"Me screw everything up?"
"Ginny, if he found out about you and Creevey I'll be fired before you can say 'quidditch'. Now tell me exactly what was said so I can figure out how to fix this mess you made."
"Mess I made? If you would have gotten this job without having to lie to anyone—if you had gotten in on your own merit, then you wouldn't be in this sticky situation now would you?"
"I did get that job on my own merit, I'm more than qualified and I wasn't going to loose it because of Murray's family man bias. I don't see what's so horrible about what we did, it's not that big of a deal, and you're making it sound like murder or something."
Ginny's head snapped back as if she had just been slapped. "Oh my gods," she whispered, Draco gave her a confused look. "Colin was right."
"What do you mean he was right?" Draco demanded.
"I said that exact same thing to him. 'I don't see what's so horrible about what we did, it's not that big of a deal.' He said it was a big deal and he was right when he said it. He was right."
Draco rolled his eyes again, "He's not right. Gods, I'd think you'd have more sense that to listen to him."
"Don't say that, Colin's a great guy and he didn't deserve anything that happened to him tonight."
"What happened to Colin that was so horrible? -I'm the one whose job is hanging in the balance."
"For goodness sakes Draco, we were on a date and I introduced him as my cousin and then was told that I was engaged. He wanted to tell Mr. Murray the truth and when I wouldn't let him he broke up with me."
"Did Murray believe it?"
"Yes he did."
"So what are you so upset for?"
Ginny stood up and shook her head. "You just don't get it Draco, he broke up with me because of you. Well," she stopped herself, "I think he did."
"He's not the right person for you anyway, ever think of that?" he snapped.
"Then who would be?" she asked quietly. Draco looked at her and met her eyes, but didn't say anything. There was an unreadable expression on his face. "That's what I thought," she said mildly. "Why are you doing this to me? Why are you making things so hard for us?" she began. "Y-You kissed me," she spluttered, "and you said it was just because you could. Do you have any idea how much that hurt my feelings? —Do you even consider my feelings? Do you realize I have any?"
Draco looked at her, his face completely masked, showing no emotion. Ginny lowered her eyebrows and turned her face upwards towards the ceiling, her lower lip trembling and her eyes shining with tears. "Draco, I just can't do this anymore," she said in a breathy whisper, lowering her eyes to look at him before she fled the room, slamming the door behind her.
"Damn," Draco cursed, hitting himself on the forehead.
***
Ginny pushed the door of Raven's room slowly and peered in. Raven was sitting on her bed, holding her blond and redheaded dolls in her hands dejectedly. Ginny heaved a sigh and made her way towards Raven. Raven looked up at her and smiled.
"Hello, Dinny," she said.
"Hi…" Ginny said giving her a weak smile. She couldn't hold the smile; it fell from her face. "Raven, I'm not going to be here much longer. I think I'm going to be leaving tonight." She stroked Raven's hair. "But I want you to know that I'll always be there for you if you need me."
"You're leaving me?" Raven asked in an unusually small voice.
"Yes."
"Why?" she asked, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"I have to, but everything will be okay." Ginny got Raven ready for bed in silence. She tucked her in and kissed her forehead.
"I love you, D-Dinny," she said quietly.
"I love you too, Raven," Ginny said smoothing her hair, tears falling to her cheeks.
***
Ginny yanked her bag out of her closet and began throwing her things in it haphazardly, tears blurring her vision. She looked at her clock and saw that it was well past ten, hopefully her parents would still be up when she got home or maybe it would be better if they weren't, she didn't want to be bombarded by questions.
After her bag was packed, she found her wand and apparated home.
"Ginny dear," her mother greeted. "What are you doing back here so soon?"
Ginny sniffed, "I really don't want to talk about it right now." Her mother nodded. Ginny looked up instinctively at the clock to see if anyone else was there, but she saw the most curious thing.... Her hand was pointing to "at the Burrow" and not "at home". She turned to her mother, immensely confused. The Weasley kids didn't get that unless they were married. "Mum," she said quietly. "Why has the clock changed?"
Molly looked at Ginny carefully, "Well dear, are you in love at the moment?" She took in Ginny's red eyes and assumed she'd just had a fight with whoever it was."
Blinking, Ginny answered very slowly, her face reflecting her surprise. "I think…maybe I am."
Molly nodded again, "Alright then, why don't we get you into bed? You must have had a long day." Ginny allowed herself to be led to her bedroom.
"Thanks mum," she said giving her a hug.
Molly smiled, "Remember we always love you." Molly left the room, with a feeling in the stomach that told her that the person Ginny was in love with was not Colin Creevey.
Ginny looked at the closed door and then went to curl up on her bed, kicking her shoes off along the way. She buried her face into her pillow and started to cry.
***
Drakey," Raven said when she walked into the second floor library the next day, where she knew Draco would be. She sniffled, "D-Dinny's gone."
Draco was standing by the window looking at the backyard of his mansion. His hands were resting at his sides, and his eyes were set in a sharp manner. He turned to face Raven, his gaze softening as he set eyes on her. "I know."
"Can you make her come back, Drakey?" Raven asked earnestly.
"You know I can't."
"Yes, you can," Raven said, "You just don't want to try. Don't you love her?"
"Love her?" Draco asked incredulously. "You have got to be kidding me. There is no way that I love her." Draco blinked and rolled the thought of being in love with Ginny around in his head. "No, I'm not in love with her."
"Yes you are," Raven said putting her little hands on her hips. "I saw both of you kissing." Draco gave her an astonished look. "You thought I was sleeping, but I wasn't.
"Raven," Draco spluttered. He cleared his throat and shook his head. "Just because we kissed doesn't mean that we're in love. People kiss all the time and it doesn't mean they're in love."
Raven shook her head, "You and Dinny love each other, just like mommy and daddy do, I can tell."
"You don't know what you're saying." Draco said, storming out of the room, calling Miss Wells to take care of Raven.
***
Molly Weasley threw a handful of powder in the fiery hearth and called out "Narcissa Malfoy".
A/N: I hope that was well worth the wait. I'm sorry that it took me so long. Maybe I'll be able to get the next chapter out sooner since Christmas Break is almost here, Friday.
Thanks to the greatest beta, Natalie, for putting up with goofiness of not being able to send the right chapter, and also putting up with things that have nothing to do with my fics.
Thanks to everyone for reviewing. I love it when you review, it makes me feel like there's actually a reason that I'm writing this story that I think is sort of stupid. Actually, I think all of my stories really suck. But you guys change my mind. :-)
Please Review!!!
I hope you all like it.
Disclaimer: All I own is Raven, nothing else. There's no reason to sue, I've already spent all my money on Christmas presents.
Chapter 10—The Non-Believers
By VirtualFaerie
"Hello there, Ginny," Mr. Murray said coming to stand besides her, smiling genially. Ginny's arm flew up to clamp onto Colin's firmly, warning him not to say anything.
"Hello," Ginny said, grinning, her grip on Colin's arm so tight he thought it might fall off.
Mr. Murray looked at her, and then his eyes rested on Colin. He gave him a curious look and asked, "Where's Draco?"
Ginny blinked for a moment, "He's at home; he wasn't feeling well tonight."
"Then who is this?"
"This is my cousin, Carl," she said, giving Colin both a look, and tightening her grip even more. "He came in Draco's place."
"Nice to meet you, Carl," Mr. Murray said holding out a hand.
Colin took his hand and smiled, "Nice to meet you too."
Mr. Murray smiled at Ginny, "Well, I'll be off. Enjoy the show; see you soon, Ginny. –At the wedding?"
"Of course," Ginny said waving at him as he walked away. She sighed loudly and put her face in her hands. "That was so freaking close I don't even want to think about it."
"Why was that close, Ginny?" Colin asked angrily. "What was that all about? –Introducing me as your cousin?" He raised both of his eyebrows and looked at her expectantly. "And why did that man ask you where Draco was? And whose wedding was he talking about?"
"Well, Colin," Ginny started out, rubbing the bridge of her nose. He was really starting to stress her out. "That was Mr. Murray; he's Draco's new boss. He thinks that I'm Draco's fiancé."
Before Ginny could finish explaining, Colin said, "Do you want me to go over there right now and tell him you aren't?"
"Colin, just be quiet. I pretended to be his fiancé to help him get the job."
"Why would you help Malfoy? -Did he threaten you?" Colin demanded hotly.
"No, he didn't."
Colin stepped closer and looked intently into Ginny's eyes. "Did he put a spell on you?"
"Draco would never do anything like that!" Colin's countenance darkened.
"Are you in love with him?" He asked warily.
"No, I'm not," she glared at him.
"Well then why else would you pose as his fiancé?"
"I did it because . . . because, well it doesn't even matter why I did it. The point is that it's such a small thing and I don't see why you're overreacting. – I mean, I don't see what's so horrible about what we did, it's not that big of a deal."
"But it is a big deal," Colin exclaimed. "Living with Malfoy has changed you. You didn't used to act like this—so deceiving and underhanded. —Like a Slytherin. You even said I was your cousin! Like there was something wrong with being seen with me." He sighed. "You're not the Ginny I know; let me take you home—to your mother, you don't have to keep living like this."
Ginny pursed her lips, "Since when did you become an expert on me? Being with Draco hasn't changed me one bit. You're being an overbearing prat!" She glared, "I don't need you to take me home."
"Fine, run home to your 'fiancé'." Colin said bitterly.
"He's not…" she trailed off turned on her heel and walked out of the building. She didn't need to defend herself to him.
***
"If you're happy and you know it clap your hands!" Raven clapped her hands more than necessary. "If you're happy and you know it clap your hands! If you're happy and you know it and you really wanna show it! If you're happy and you know it clap your hands!" Raven stood up and began bouncing around the room, clapping her hands feverishly, grinning from ear to ear.
"Stop it!" Draco called from his seat on the couch. "You're giving me a headache."
Raven walked over to the couch, shaking her bottom. "Eeeeexcussssse ME!" She said sticking her nose up in the air. "But you are always having headaches, Drakey."
"Gee, I wonder why," Draco said looking at her pointedly.
Raven lifted her eyebrows and nodded, "Yeah, me too." Draco rolled his eyes and flung his head back dramatically causing Raven to start giggling. "Ha ha, Drakey is dumb!" She pointed at him and kept giggling.
Draco scowled at her, lifting his head back up. "What did you say?"
Raven's mouth made a perfect 'o' shape. "Nothing…." She mumbled putting her hands on her cheeks.
Draco's mouth curled up into a mischievous grin, "Nope, you definitely didn't say 'nothing'." He got up off of the couch slowly and made his way towards Raven, who was backing up. "I think you said I was dumb."
"No, Drakey, I never—"
"DRACO MALFOY!" Both Draco and Raven cringed. "COME HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" Ginny's voice echoed through the house.
"Uh-oh," said Raven. "Drakey's in trouble." Draco shot her a look and walked out of the room quickly. Raven giggled and she rushed out of the room after him.
***
She had her finger pointed at him, and her scolding voice on. "This is all your fault. You ruined my date, my night, EVERYTHING!"
"Now really, I don't think I ruined anything," Draco said rolling his eyes. The he frowned, "How did I ruin your date? I wasn't even there."
"And you better be glad you weren't. I might have killed you...with a plastic spoon."
Draco shuddered, a plastic spoon didn't sound so pleasant. "What happened?"
"What happened? -What didn't happen!" Ginny sighed and flopped down in a chair. "See, everything was going wonderfully, well except Colin kept doing this really annoying thing, but that's beside the point. During the intermission, we were walking around and I heard someone call my name. Guess who it was? Yes, that's right folks, it was Mr. Murray."
"Mr. Murray was at a muggle theater? What did you say to him? You didn't screw everything up did you?
"Me screw everything up?"
"Ginny, if he found out about you and Creevey I'll be fired before you can say 'quidditch'. Now tell me exactly what was said so I can figure out how to fix this mess you made."
"Mess I made? If you would have gotten this job without having to lie to anyone—if you had gotten in on your own merit, then you wouldn't be in this sticky situation now would you?"
"I did get that job on my own merit, I'm more than qualified and I wasn't going to loose it because of Murray's family man bias. I don't see what's so horrible about what we did, it's not that big of a deal, and you're making it sound like murder or something."
Ginny's head snapped back as if she had just been slapped. "Oh my gods," she whispered, Draco gave her a confused look. "Colin was right."
"What do you mean he was right?" Draco demanded.
"I said that exact same thing to him. 'I don't see what's so horrible about what we did, it's not that big of a deal.' He said it was a big deal and he was right when he said it. He was right."
Draco rolled his eyes again, "He's not right. Gods, I'd think you'd have more sense that to listen to him."
"Don't say that, Colin's a great guy and he didn't deserve anything that happened to him tonight."
"What happened to Colin that was so horrible? -I'm the one whose job is hanging in the balance."
"For goodness sakes Draco, we were on a date and I introduced him as my cousin and then was told that I was engaged. He wanted to tell Mr. Murray the truth and when I wouldn't let him he broke up with me."
"Did Murray believe it?"
"Yes he did."
"So what are you so upset for?"
Ginny stood up and shook her head. "You just don't get it Draco, he broke up with me because of you. Well," she stopped herself, "I think he did."
"He's not the right person for you anyway, ever think of that?" he snapped.
"Then who would be?" she asked quietly. Draco looked at her and met her eyes, but didn't say anything. There was an unreadable expression on his face. "That's what I thought," she said mildly. "Why are you doing this to me? Why are you making things so hard for us?" she began. "Y-You kissed me," she spluttered, "and you said it was just because you could. Do you have any idea how much that hurt my feelings? —Do you even consider my feelings? Do you realize I have any?"
Draco looked at her, his face completely masked, showing no emotion. Ginny lowered her eyebrows and turned her face upwards towards the ceiling, her lower lip trembling and her eyes shining with tears. "Draco, I just can't do this anymore," she said in a breathy whisper, lowering her eyes to look at him before she fled the room, slamming the door behind her.
"Damn," Draco cursed, hitting himself on the forehead.
***
Ginny pushed the door of Raven's room slowly and peered in. Raven was sitting on her bed, holding her blond and redheaded dolls in her hands dejectedly. Ginny heaved a sigh and made her way towards Raven. Raven looked up at her and smiled.
"Hello, Dinny," she said.
"Hi…" Ginny said giving her a weak smile. She couldn't hold the smile; it fell from her face. "Raven, I'm not going to be here much longer. I think I'm going to be leaving tonight." She stroked Raven's hair. "But I want you to know that I'll always be there for you if you need me."
"You're leaving me?" Raven asked in an unusually small voice.
"Yes."
"Why?" she asked, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"I have to, but everything will be okay." Ginny got Raven ready for bed in silence. She tucked her in and kissed her forehead.
"I love you, D-Dinny," she said quietly.
"I love you too, Raven," Ginny said smoothing her hair, tears falling to her cheeks.
***
Ginny yanked her bag out of her closet and began throwing her things in it haphazardly, tears blurring her vision. She looked at her clock and saw that it was well past ten, hopefully her parents would still be up when she got home or maybe it would be better if they weren't, she didn't want to be bombarded by questions.
After her bag was packed, she found her wand and apparated home.
"Ginny dear," her mother greeted. "What are you doing back here so soon?"
Ginny sniffed, "I really don't want to talk about it right now." Her mother nodded. Ginny looked up instinctively at the clock to see if anyone else was there, but she saw the most curious thing.... Her hand was pointing to "at the Burrow" and not "at home". She turned to her mother, immensely confused. The Weasley kids didn't get that unless they were married. "Mum," she said quietly. "Why has the clock changed?"
Molly looked at Ginny carefully, "Well dear, are you in love at the moment?" She took in Ginny's red eyes and assumed she'd just had a fight with whoever it was."
Blinking, Ginny answered very slowly, her face reflecting her surprise. "I think…maybe I am."
Molly nodded again, "Alright then, why don't we get you into bed? You must have had a long day." Ginny allowed herself to be led to her bedroom.
"Thanks mum," she said giving her a hug.
Molly smiled, "Remember we always love you." Molly left the room, with a feeling in the stomach that told her that the person Ginny was in love with was not Colin Creevey.
Ginny looked at the closed door and then went to curl up on her bed, kicking her shoes off along the way. She buried her face into her pillow and started to cry.
***
Drakey," Raven said when she walked into the second floor library the next day, where she knew Draco would be. She sniffled, "D-Dinny's gone."
Draco was standing by the window looking at the backyard of his mansion. His hands were resting at his sides, and his eyes were set in a sharp manner. He turned to face Raven, his gaze softening as he set eyes on her. "I know."
"Can you make her come back, Drakey?" Raven asked earnestly.
"You know I can't."
"Yes, you can," Raven said, "You just don't want to try. Don't you love her?"
"Love her?" Draco asked incredulously. "You have got to be kidding me. There is no way that I love her." Draco blinked and rolled the thought of being in love with Ginny around in his head. "No, I'm not in love with her."
"Yes you are," Raven said putting her little hands on her hips. "I saw both of you kissing." Draco gave her an astonished look. "You thought I was sleeping, but I wasn't.
"Raven," Draco spluttered. He cleared his throat and shook his head. "Just because we kissed doesn't mean that we're in love. People kiss all the time and it doesn't mean they're in love."
Raven shook her head, "You and Dinny love each other, just like mommy and daddy do, I can tell."
"You don't know what you're saying." Draco said, storming out of the room, calling Miss Wells to take care of Raven.
***
Molly Weasley threw a handful of powder in the fiery hearth and called out "Narcissa Malfoy".
A/N: I hope that was well worth the wait. I'm sorry that it took me so long. Maybe I'll be able to get the next chapter out sooner since Christmas Break is almost here, Friday.
Thanks to the greatest beta, Natalie, for putting up with goofiness of not being able to send the right chapter, and also putting up with things that have nothing to do with my fics.
Thanks to everyone for reviewing. I love it when you review, it makes me feel like there's actually a reason that I'm writing this story that I think is sort of stupid. Actually, I think all of my stories really suck. But you guys change my mind. :-)
Please Review!!!