Oliver's Luck
Dinner Parties and Ferret Threats
Ginny and Oliver returned to their flat after their lunch in Diagon Alley. They were going to go to dinner party at the home of the owner of Puddlemore United. It was a formal event that meant dress robes. Ginny spent the day worrying about it. This gave Oliver the chance to get back at her for making fun of his fear of the Weasley family dinner.
"Don't worry Gin, they won't bite, in fact your family is more dangerous than on little quidditch team, all of whom you know." He said as he sat on the couch.
"Honestly Oliver, grow up," she said.
"What?"
"Please you know that this is different than dinner with my family," she sat next to him on with a glass of water.
"You are going to put that on a coaster right?"
"Man, did Percy teach you that."
"I don't want rings on the furniture."
"You are so anal."
"Get over it."
"I'm going to take a shower and get ready for the party."
"Gin you showered this morning; you're still clean."
"You don't understand Oliver this is a different kind of shower," she laughed at his puzzled face, "Your so cute Ollie."
"A showers a shower Ginny."
"No its not."
"Yes it is."
"Sometimes I forget you're a man."
"Just what's that supposed to mean."
"Nothing," came the innocent reply.
"I was under the impression that you liked me partially because of the fact that I was a man," he said as he pulled her back down on the couch.
"Oh, course I do, you big bad, manly man." She gasped out trying to catch her breath from laughing so hard. "The shower is so I can wash my hair Oliver."
"Now your just being patronizing."
"If you will excuse me Mr. Wood I have a shower to take," she pushed herself off the couch.
"Do you need someone to wash the hard to reach places?" he asked suggestively raising his eyebrows.
"That's a whole different kind of shower!"
Ginny took her shower and Oliver knew better to get ready before she had finished her shower. So he waited running over quidditch plays and other important thing. About a half an hour later Ginny finished her shower. Oliver went in to their room to get his razor and other things so that he could prepare in his own way. Ginny sat on the bed toweling her hair in her black bathrobe.
"You know that there are spells for that?"
"Yes," she smiled slightly, "I do, mother, for your information I prefer not to use them, they make my hair go frizzy."
"Very well, I'm sure there are spells for that too."
"Do I look like I care," she asked sweetly rising off the bed. She walked over to Oliver and placed her arms around his waist; she rested her head on his back. "Do you have to go to the party, love, can't we stay here and have our own party?"
"I have to go," he said turning around he kissed the top of her head. "And I need you with me."
"Why?"
"Because other wise I'd have to fight the women off with a stick," he said and Ginny cracked up. Once they had stopped laughing they got ready for the party since it was a formal dinner party. Ginny dressed in deep forest green robes with a wide neckline and long flowing sleeves. It was tied at the waist with a matching cord like belt. The robe showed off her pale skin, with it's spattering of freckles and her fiery red hair. Which was put up in a bun with little curls hanging down framing her face. Oliver was dressed in formal black robes that had silver buttons on the front and on the sleeves.
"Wow, Gin," Oliver breathed as she finished with her earrings, she had two per ear and three in her left ear, and the top earring was a silver hoop with a deep green bead. Oliver had two earrings as well both in his left ear, one in his cartilage and the other in his lobe. He wore two silver hoops in his ear. "You look absolutely smashing."
"Thanks, love, you're looking pretty hot yourself."
"Thanks," he mumbled blushing, "should we be going?"
"Yes," they grabbed their cloaks and headed out. They would be traveling by portkey, because the floo was way too messy and Ginny was still helping Oliver figure out what he was doing wrong when he tried apparating. They made it to the party around quarter past five.
They arrived at a large manor that was owned by, Jackson Davis, the owner of the Puddlemore quidditch team, the man who was throwing the party. He was holding the dinner party for the investors in his team as well as the players, coaches, and the manager. Oliver and Ginny knocked on the large wooden door and waited. A butler ushered them in as he took their cloaks.
"Mr. Oliver Wood and Miss Virginia Weasley," the butler announced and Ginny smiled nervously while Oliver stood there calm and collected, but he held her hand rather tightly. They went and mingled with some of Oliver's teammates, watching when the butler would announce another guest. Their host greeted Ginny and Oliver, after the server came around with a tray of Champaign.
"Ah, Oliver Wood, so glad you could make it," Mr. Davis said.
"Glad to be here Mr. Davis."
"And who is you beautiful guest," he asked and Ginny blushed.
"This is my girlfriend, Ginny Weasley."
"A pleasure to meet you Miss Weasley"
"The pleasure is mine," she said shyly.
"Well, I will leave you to mingle, there are a lot of people you should be talking with Oliver," he said and left them standing there.
"What did that mean?"
"I think he is talking about furthering myself when I decided to retire or if the unfortunate happens."
"I'd rather not think about that?" They went and mingled; and of course ran into the Malfoys, Draco, to be specific, and his wife Madina.
"Well, well, well, they let a weasel in," Draco sneered.
"Draco," Madina hissed.
"Malfoy," Ginny grimaced.
"So Weasel who did you sell to get invited?"
"Grow up Malfoy," Oliver said and they tried to ignore Draco and talk with his wife.
"So Ginny, Elena told us that you are dating Oliver now," Madina asked smoothing things over.
"Yes, we are together."
"Gee and I thought that you sold your family to get invited, but then they aren't worth that much," Draco sneered.
"Just what's that supposed to mean Malfoy?"
"Just that I am worth more than your entire family."
"Listen, ferret boy," Ginny hissed, "my family is far better than you."
"Leave Ginny alone Malfoy," Oliver said sharply.
"Looks like the little Weasel has a protector." Draco sneered and Oliver stepped closer to Draco. Ginny placed her hand on his arm to stop him.
"I can deal with the ferret," she said calmly her eyes narrowing, "see ferret boy, I happen to know the spell needed to bring back the "incredible bouncing ferret".
Both Oliver and Madina looked at each other puzzled.
"You wouldn't dare W-weasley," he stuttered.
"Try me," she challenged. "I did grow up with six older brothers."
"Wait a minute, what's this about a ferret?" Madina asked.
"You mean to tell me that your husband never told you the story of the ferret?" Ginny asked.
"No," Madina replied, "do tell."
"Well, Ferret boy shall I tell the story?" Ginny asked Draco who didn't respond. "Well, in my third year at Hogwarts, Draco's fourth, we had Mad-eye Moody, well supposedly, as our defense of dark arts teacher and one day Malfoy here got in a fight with 'the Gryffindor trio', Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and he was caught and punished by Moody. Who turned him into 'the incredible bouncing ferret.'"
She had to stop telling the story to contain her laughter. Both Oliver and Madina were laughing hysterically next to a bright-red Draco Malfoy. Once she had controlled her giggling she continued.
"You see ferret boy here has never lived it down, partly because no one will let him."
"I'm sure you were a incredibly appealing and regal ferret, honey," Madina replied to Draco's viscous glare.
Dinner was called at six fifteen sharp. They were led into a large dinning room with enormous chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The woodwork was exquisite. Their places were marked by fancy place settings. Oliver and Ginny took their cue from the others and took their seats that just happened to be across from the Malfoys. Ginny smiled nervously at Oliver.
"My goodness Oliver," she whispered, "who needs this much silverware?"
Oliver and Ginny made conversation with the others sitting around them as they waited for their host to join them. He finally entered and took his seat at the head of the table; his entrance silenced the room.
"Well, don't stop talking because I entered the room, you have no idea how nervous that makes me," he joked. Their meal began with soup and salad, and then moved from course to course. Ginny smiled at Oliver.
"Don't worry dinner with my family won't be this long."
"I know I've eaten with your clan before, I swear do they even taste the food?"
"Percy does."
"Of course Percy does, it takes him three times as long to eat a grape then necessary."
"So Miss Weasley are you a fan of Puddlemore?" the lady next to her asked.
"As much as I have to be," she answered, "but don't let it out, my brother Bill is however."
"Oh that's nice."
"Yes, Bill is the Puddlemore fan, Ron favors Chudley," she said and the lady laughed.
"We all prefer different teams,"
"Really," ask the man next to the other lady.
"Yes, I myself was a fan of Ireland, before Oliver and I started dating of course. Fred and George and both fans of Ireland as well, and Charlie never really had one particular team. Well maybe Glasgow."
"Charlie, Charlie Weasley is he your brother?"
"Yes."
"He was quite the quidditch player, if I recall, seeker right?"
"Yes,"
"He was offered a contract wasn't he? What is he doing now?"
"He went to Romania to work with dragons actually."
"Interesting."
"Yes it was a hard decision for him to make."
"If I may have your attention ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to propose a toast." Their host interrupted them with his glass raised, "To Puddlemore United, a truly great quidditch team."
"To Puddlemore," was repeated through out the room, and then dessert was served. Once the evening was finished and they said their goodbyes Ginny was glad to be back home.
It was a quarter of nine when they made it back to their apartment; it wasn't much of a hike from the portkey station. They got ready for bed in silence and lay there together; Oliver had his arm around Ginny.
"That was exhausting," she said yawning.
"I hope you had fun," he said.
"Had a blast," she said and with her wand she turned the lights off. Oliver kissed the top of her head.
"Good night, Ginny, sweet dreams. I may unfortunately dream about ferrets."
"So will Draco and Madina. Night Ollie."
To be continued…