CHAPTER 2: THE INTERVIEW GONE AWRY

by Angelamyte

For a second after Draco asked that question, Ginny was transported back to the Weasley house when she was a child. Her mother pointedly staring, accusing her of Fred and George's antics or Percy drilling her about his quills' whereabouts. She could hear the voices implying and charging her of things that she didn't do. This was yet another instance.

She shook her head, erasing the thoughts as if they were notes on her mental blackboard. She wasn't that girl anymore, and she wasn't going to act like her.

"Draco, you of all people should know that I was at that gala honoring the six year anniversary of Harry's heroic death against Voldemort." Ginny stated as she got up to look him straight in the eye. Draco flinched when he heard Harry Potter's name, but then went back to nonchalantly fingering the unfinished velvet cloak on Ginny's desk.

"Harry Potter." He scoffed, "Was it just six years ago that he died? It seems like a lifetime. I guess that you have witnesses that can attest to this claim?"

"Witnesses? How about the 500 people who I spoke to, and the millions of people who heard my speech?"

"You have an airtight alibi." He said as he made notes in his leather notebook.

"It's as airtight as it can be, without saying that I was with you." Draco looked up and gave her a look that made her blush.

"I see that you are still trying to be what you aren't." Draco said as he slid his notebook back into his coat and walked closer to her.

"What I'm not? How dare you say that after just speaking to me for hardly 10 minutes."

"My dear Ginny," Draco said softy as he raised his arm to stroke her cheek, "I've been watching you for longer than you want to imagine."

"My name is Virginia! And don't you dare touch me with your vile hands."

"What a pity, we could've been good together. Very good." He said, with layers of innuendo lacing the sentence.

"Mr. Malfoy, is that all?" she got red in the face up to her newly henna rinsed hair, "As you can obviously see, I am very busy designing my new line. If there are no further questions, please leave."

"As a matter of fa—" the phone rang, cutting him off.

Virginia crossed the room to answer it with swift, purposeful steps, and was wishing it were someone to get her away from that creepy Malfoy. "Virginia's Secret, Virginia speaking."

"Ginny, it's me Ron. I'm in a bind. Not really a bind though, it's more of an extreme tangle." Ron whispered into the mouthpiece of his cell phone.

"You know it's Virginia, and what's the problem?" she asked taking off her glasses and pinching the bridge of her nose. She has had enough problems without her older brother Ron adding something to the mix.

"Well, you won't believe this, but Hermione and I are at Cowell's house. We thought that if we find the reason behind his dirty accusations, it'll lead us to his murderer, and take the spotlight off you."

"Ron! How daft can you be? You're 26 now, not 14. That was a stupid thing to do." She yelled, and then remembered that Draco was in the room.

He raised a blond brow, "I should be going now. I'll get my secretary to call you tomorrow for more details into this investigation."

Virginia waved him off, turned around, and focused on Ron's problem.

"Gin-Virginia, who's in the room? I heard a voice."

"Don't worry, it was Draco Malfoy and he was just leaving." She emphasized the latter; as she turned around to make sure he left.

"Ecoutous Phonous." Draco whispered as he pointed his wand at Virginia's telephone line, and was instantly made privy to the Weasley's conversation.

"Drat, knowing Malfoy, he bewitched your phone. Look behind you, he's there right?"

"But he's on his cell phone..oh.. DRACO!"

"See you until next time Virginia," he said and disapparated with a soft 'pop'.

"Ron, I'll call you, stay tight."

"That's the problem, we can't."