Summary: When Ginny boarded the Hogwarts Express on the first of September, she was surprised to come face-to-face with the last person she expected to see back in school. He was still the same prat she remembered from years before, but now he has a much higher authority than ever before: he was this year's new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Ginny wished this was all a dream, but to her dismay she was stuck with him for an entire school year!
Disclaimer: Once again I don't want to go through all the mumbo-jumbo of having to write this out, so I'm saying this now: NOT MINE!!! I keep on forgetting to add this on to this one: MAIN HP CHARACTERS AREN'T MINE, those other names you don't recognize are mine as well as the plot, and also other stuff that you don't recognize, kapish?
Setting: Ginny's in her 7th year; Draco graduated the year before
PhoenixRae's Notes: :::clears throat and grins widely at the readers::: hiya'll! how'd you like that bit of action in the previous chapter? no snogging, but...well, Ginny was a bit frisky, wasn't she? hehehehe and to Loves-Kiss, thank you girl for editing this chapter and probably the next chapters to come--I hope :::keeps fingers crossed:::
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XXII. Last-Minute Hogsmeade Trip
Sitting across from the blond drinking his third mug of butterbeer, Hermione still couldn't understand what he was so uptight about. So Ginny told him he would be spending Christmas with her and her family at the Burrow, what was the big about that? She was going with Ginny as well and so would Janelle and probably Twyla, although the latter still hasn't confirmed on whether or not she was going, but Hermione was sure Twyla wouldn't miss the chance to see Percy again.
"So what is really bothering you, huh?" she asked again for what must have been like the umpteenth time since they sat down at the far corner booth at the Three Broomstick.
"Isn't it obvious, Granger?" Draco snapped.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. She knew what he was bitching about for the past couple of weeks now. Ginny finally told him what his final task was--and he flipped out! They only had a week of school left then by next weekend the four of them (five if Twyla's parents gave her permission to spend Christmas with the Weasleys) would be on their way to the Burrow.
"Staying at the Burrow isn't that bad, Malfoy," she tried to appease him, but he merely snorted at her attempt to make him change his mind about not enjoying his time with the Weasleys.
"For you and those two other girl friends of Ginny, but for me?" he raised a questioning eyebrow the took a big gulp of his drink, "Hell, Granger! I'm a Malfoy," he stressed-out his last name; the name alone spoke volumes with regards to what they were discussing, "Her brothers would sure like to kick my behind as soon as we reached Kings Cross."
"No, they won't," she told him firmly, "Percy, Ron, and the twins never treated you badly when they were here to watch the Quidditch games with us," she pointed out.
"Yeah, right."
"I mean it," she insisted, "Sure Ron threatened you about poking your eyes out if you ever as much as looked at Ginny, but that's just the big brother in him talking. All six Weasley boys--and Harry--are overprotective of the youngest and only Weasley girl in the family," she explained.
Draco still wasn't convinced. A part of him wanted to rejoice at the prospect of being surrounded by a family who knew what love was and certainly knew how to love, but another part of him was apprehensive. He was never exposed to the kind of family Ginny grew-up in; his was more dark and cold. Christmases at home during his school years was best left forgotten as far as he was concerned. Sure he received quite a lot of expensive presents from his parents and relatives and from what he could classify as his so-called friends, but that wasn't enough. He already decided that he would be at Hogwarts for Christmas and enjoy a peaceful week without students buzzing about, chattering non-stop and lessons to be prepared, but then Ginny changed all that.
He already went and talked to Ginny himself soon after he recovered from the shock of how she dropped the news on him, but Ginny remained firm about her decision and wouldn't concede to changing it.
"A bet's a bet, Blondie. Either you go ahead with it or suffer the consequences," she threatened.
"And what's a fate worse than spending Christmas with your family, huh, Ginger?" he retorted back.
Draco watched her eyes dilated at the underhanded insult he just hurtled at her. He quickly bit his tongue after those words escaped him. Now he angered her, but in a way he rejoiced about it for a week, thinking that by angering Ginny she had changed her mind about taking him with her to the Burrow; but he celebrated too soon.
He received an owl Friday after school. It was from Ginny.
Blondie,
Gifts are optional for you. I don't know if you ever did any Christmas exchange gift giving at your house, but at the Burrow it's customary for us to do that especially if we happen to have the whole family (along with Harry and Hermione if ever they could come and join us) over during the holiday. Don't buy any gifts unless you feel comfortable and confident enough that you know what kinds of gifts to give each (yes, you read that correctly, EACH) family member and houseguests (I'm referring to Harry and Hermione and whomever else is staying over at the Burrow for the holiday), so to be on the safe side just stick to giving nothing. BUT DON'T YOU DARE BACK OUT OF GETTING ON TO THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS WITH THE REST OF US!
Ginger
It was that letter that got him itching to go to Hogsmeade and search every damn store for something to give (yes, he wanted to give something to Ginny's family) to his host and hostess for the holiday. He wasn't really that bad of a person who doesn't give a damn about others. He does too, only nobody would even guess he was that kind of person with the persona he projected.
"The Weasley brothers aren't the only thing that's bothering me, Granger," he admitted, pushing aside his nearly empty mug of butterbeer and laced his fingers together.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, "What else is bothering you? Don't tell me you're still ticked because Ginny left you in some kind of a limb when she dropped the news of your impending visit to the burrow almost a month ago!" she exclaimed, remembering the sour mood Draco had been in after Ginny left him horny with want for her that cold Saturday afternoon; even the chilly winds didn't help Draco much with his massive problem.
Draco scowled at Hermione for having the gall to dredge that incident. He was still a tad bit miffed that Ginny had a good laugh at his expense after pulling that stunt on him, and he still had to get her back for that...but getting even with Ginny for leaving him with a boner in the middle of a semi-secluded pathway to Hogwarts will just have to wait until after the holiday was over and he was back at Hogwarts in one piece--he hoped.
"I'll pretend you just didn't bring that bloody subject up," he glared at her, intending to intimidate the brunette Arithmancy teacher, but Granger merely stuck her tongue out at him and urged him to go on and tell her what else was bothering him.
Draco wasn't quite able to bring himself and asked her outright what his sole purpose was for asking her over to Hogsmeade with him. It wasn't really like him to just come outright and ask someone--a Muggle-born--for help; it wasn't very Draco Malfoy-ish.
Hermione drummed her fingers on the tabletop, watching the blond haired git seated across from her to make up his mind on whether or not he would tell her what was the other thing that was bothering him or if she had to stay where she sat until she started growing roots from being bored out of her mind.
"Look here Malfoy, I don't have an entire century ahead of me to sit around here and wait for you to speak up. Either you tell me what's wrong or I walk out--it's as simple as that," she threatened.
"Hey, it's not easy for me to ask what I'm about to ask you, so give me a moment here to gather my wits, will ya?" he snapped back at her, his gray eyes glaring a hole right through the brunette's forehead.
"Oh please, Malfoy, if you're going to ask me for help, all you have to do is ask it!" she made it sound so...so...easy! That irritated Draco.
"It wasn't as simple as that, Granger."
"Sure it is. Look, it's like this," she paused and cleared her throat, her brown eyes holding his gray ones, " 'Granger, I need help. Would you help me...please?' See! It's that easy!"
Draco's scowl deepen. "Yeah, easy if I've been practicing a lot," he snorted.
"There's always a first time for anything," she reminded him matter-of-factly, "Anyway, now that we've established that you're going to ask for my help, what is it that you need help with?" she looked at him expectantly now, her brown eyes watching him intently as she waited ever so patiently for him to take his time and gather his thoughts.
Well, here goes nothing, he let out a strangled sigh and told her what was kind he needed.
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A/N: I know, I know, very short compared to the last couple of ones, but I just need to get this out before I jump right in to the chapter(s) of Draco at the Burrow. Anyway, I'm going to take this opportunity and give you my ever so wonderful readers the chance to have a say in this fic. What I need right now are ideas on what kinds of gifts (hilarious or not) Draco should buy for each of the people spending Christmas at the Burrow. I'll make a list of all the wonderful gift ideas you'll throw at me and just read about the result in the next chapters. Remember, a gift for EACH PERSON SPENDING CHRISTMAS AT THE BURROW (in other words, Harry, Hermione, Janelle, Twyla, and the entire Weasley clan! *lol*). thank you all and hope to hear about your wacky gift ideas.
Hunter: hope you enjoyed the events of the last two chapters...I know this one nothing much happened, but I needed to set the pace-up again (or something along those lines *lol*)
mavis: hmm...yeah, I suppose I could've made her do that, but...hehehe, well, she did enjoy it! :::winks::: her final task for him surprised you, eh? hehehe...well, I wasn't really sure if people would be expecting that she would tell him that for his final task
Reagan: I'll try and write longer chapters
Starry: Draco didn't actually become Ginny's slave
demetre: thanks for the review and glad you liked chapter 18 & 19
Yochy: thanks
meLisSa: I'm hoping to get as much chapters out this weekend, but of course I'll be waiting for response from you readers regarding gift ideas so we'll see
cherries: yep, poor Malfoy indeed, hehehe
Faltering Hues: uhm...yeah! *lol* I just couldn't resist from letting Ginny do that to Draco...it's just really too tempting to resist!
Sharlene: I told you they have some ass-fetish going on between them! *lol*
Kilmeny: oh no, it's going to be a big surprise...but her parents know since she had to give them the heads-up, hehehe
Cactuskitty: awww...sorry for exposing your virgin-eyes to that graphic description of Draco & Ginny's escapade in the previous chappie, hehehehe
Polgara: yep, he'll (Derek) eventually do that, but for now we'll leave our lovebirds to have some fun on their own
Wizzabee: well sometimes "good girls" are soooo damn BAAAAADDDD!!! *lol*
izzy: hope your teacher didn't catch you! *lol*
wowsergirl: I try my best to add as much as I can every time
Lady Godiva: uhm...well, not much action & suspense & drama *LOL* (J/K) in this chapter
Ali Lee: neither can I! *lol* I'm so excited about writing the Burrow chap(s) I can't wait!
Nicole: 4 words: THANK-YOU-VERY-MUCH! hehehe
Kodomo Cow: are you sure it's just the brothers that's going to put Draco through some very difficult obstacles, hm? hehehe
ashes: thanks so much!
Miss Marauder: yep, you gots the spelling of her name right. and I'm thinking...yeah...she's going
lovey360: well I'm aiming for a Harry/Hermione pairing in this fic...as for Ron...well, I'm not sure if he'll end up being paired up with anybody, but that's not written in stone yet, I might change my mind and get him together with somebody from out of the blue! *lol*
kellyanne: me, naughty? :::puts on an innocent face::: REALLY?? hehehe, well, it was Ginny who was being naughty and I just went along with her and made Draco have a hard time *LOL*
hasapi: we all have our moments. sometimes I go about everyday trying to figure out an idea for the next chapter and couldn't think of any, so I get stuck which sux (hey! that rhymed! *LOL*)
me: *lol* no need to borrow Hermione coz I update as often as I can (which sometimes is every damn day! *lol*)
Loves-Kiss: *lol* thanks for helping me out with the editing...my other beta (Blu Misterie) is currently busy with schoolwork and working on her fic as well, but mostly it's school she's busy with
omelette du fromage: thank you so much for liking my stories. I am reading "All I Need" right now and you'll know soon enough what I think of it once I'm done reading it, hehehe
Mystical Starlight: hope the old man didn't hit you too hard with his cane! *lol* thanks for the review!
Cheater 531: thanks, and I'm excited to get started on the Burrow chap(s)
Alli: thanks! and I'll check it out as soon as I'm done reading the other fic I'm reading in-between writing this chapter! *lol*
dreamofTF: thanks for liking this story, and I update like one chapter a day (except on weekends, I tend to update like more than one chapter sometimes, hehehe)
MelissaAdams: you call what Ginny did to Draco nothing??? *lol* well, you're right. they didn't snog or anything much, hehehehe
