Chapter Nine: A Shopping Spree, A Family Tree, A Friendship

Malfoy didn't come to practice the rest of the week. Ginny saw him briefly at the game against Puddlemere United, in which they won 170 to thirty in the span of an hour and a half, but he was gone before she could approach him. Distance was probably the better option, considered Ginny, but she felt like he deserved an explanation for Harry's presence on Wednesday. She wasn't sure what she was going to say on the matter, but she figured after their afternoon tea and broom ride, she should say something.

Harry had worked every day since his day off, something Ginny was grateful for. The fact of the matter was that Ginny was barely sleeping. Her guilt was gnawing at her insides. It was lucky that the clearest her head has ever been was when she was flying, because her career counted on that, but elsewhere, Ginny couldn't make head or tails of anything. She knew she didn't owe Malfoy an explanation. Right down to her bones did she know it. But the excuse to reel Malfoy back in, to feel his gaze on her, to simply have his attention was something Ginny felt she needed desperately. Every time she tried to figure out why, she found a distraction.

Over the last three days, she had cleaned the entire house, including organizing the bedroom closet, which had triggered Ginny's feeling of restlessness. The green dress was still residing there, piled in the back, though not quite forgotten. As she ran the fabric through her fingers, she remembered the way his lips felt on hers.

At two o'clock on Monday afternoon, Ginny had decided she could stay at Grimmauld Place no longer and chose to head to Hogsmeade for some Christmas shopping and fresh air. The holidays could not be faster approaching. She found gifts for most everyone in her family, but stopped outside a jewelry store, the glint of a gold bracelet catching her eye through the window.

It was a delicate thing. A thin gold band with a single crimson stone, glittering in the afternoon light. Ginny couldn't help herself. She was not much of a jewelry person, but this piece was too beautiful to pass up. She placed her hand on the window, almost longingly.

"It's nice enough, I suppose," drawled a voice.

Ginny almost wondered if she conjured it up and seemed to sigh in relief. Was this why she had gone out in the first place? A chance encounter? A giddiness spread from the pit of her stomach outward. When she looked up, she saw Malfoy's reflection in the glass.

"Hi," she said breathlessly, turning around. "Are you Christmas shopping, too?"

Malfoy nodded. "Though I suspect my list is much shorter than yours."

"Only because I have six brothers," said Ginny, but her voice caught. Awkwardly, she cleared her throat, tears blurring her vision. She tried to look away but couldn't. "I mean, five," she said thickly.

"Well, my father's dead, so one down," was Malfoy's response. A toothless smile shone across his face, stretching his pointed chin ever so slightly. Ginny knew this bad joke was a sad attempt at humor and a ploy to make her feel better from her own slip up, but she couldn't smile back.

"Just your mother, then?"

"We'll see," said Malfoy vaguely.

Ginny lifted her shopping, the bags swinging freely off her wrists. Most of her shopping was done.

"Want some help?"

Though Malfoy didn't respond, he didn't stop her from joining him as he continued his way down the alley.

"Are one of those for Potter?" asked Malfoy. His tone was innocent enough, but Ginny noticed the disdain as his eyes shifted downward to indicate the shopping bags.

"No, I'm rather stumped for him to be honest," said Ginny. She was sure to keep her gaze ahead of him. "We barely talk anymore."

"Hmm," was all Malfoy responded.

"I didn't know he was going to come to practice with me Thursday. That's the most time he's spent with me in ages. He usually is always working."

Malfoy heaved a long heavy sigh.

"Just wear that bloody green dress for him on Christmas. He'll like that, I'm sure."

Ginny cut across to stop Malfoy in his tracks.

"What is it with you and that dress? Shut up about it."

Malfoy smirked. Ginny saw his eyes rake over her billowing cloak, and though she was blushing, she also felt quite charged, as if sparks from a wand were coursing through her core. She kept his gaze but stepped aside and fell back in his stride.

"What do you normally get for your Mum?" asked Ginny to diffuse the tension.

"Every year, I get her the same thing. Custom chocolates from Honeydukes, and amaryllis flowers."

"Isn't it a bit early to get those now?"

"I'm just here to place the order today, Weasley." Malfoy seemed annoyed at her lack of knowledge on the matter. Of course it was just to place the order, how could she be so ignorant? Nevertheless, Ginny kept her pace with Malfoy to Honeydukes, where they immediately made their way to the counter. Ginny watched as Malfoy painstakingly pointed out exactly which twelve chocolates he was going to order for his mother, with flavors ranging from dark chocolate and raspberry to white chocolate and peppermint to the classic chocolate and orange.

"How come you haven't been to practice lately?" asked Ginny, as he selected yet another flavor.

"I told you I wouldn't be hanging around." Malfoy's tone was terse, but his eyes caught hers and then darted away too quickly, as if he hadn't wanted to be caught looking at her.

"I just thought—" started Ginny, but she stopped, defeated. "Nevermind," she said softly.

Malfoy finished placing his order, then stood up straight to face Ginny head on.

"That we were friends?" The smirk stretched across his lips, his pointed chin jutting out slightly. She could make out the beginnings of a receding hairline, his eyes a dull grey, a storm brewing. The black cloak fastened up to his neck billowed out in a bat-like fashion. There wasn't a single handsome thing about him now. He was goading her and successfully making her feel foolish and childish.

"You're a right prat," she said evenly, maintaining eye contact. And with that she turned around and exited the crowded store.

Once outside, she realized she had forgotten her shopping and let out a growl of frustration. As she turned around to retrieve it, she collided into Malfoy.

"Erg! Geroff!" She pushed at his hard chest to maintain distance. There was that charge in her core she had felt earlier when he'd announced his presence. How funny that she sensed it again now. She took note of the way he seemed to lean into her slightly and relished in the weight.

"You left your shopping."

It only occurred to her now that his arms were hanging limply at his sides, bags wrapped around his wrists. She huffed, completely at odds with his behavior. None of it was making any sense.

Ginny begrudgingly thanked him as he deposited the bags to her. She did her best to keep a stiff upper lift. Her lack of sleep was catching up to her.

"What are friends for?" said Malfoy cheekily.

"Bugger off, Malfoy, you made it perfectly clear that we're not." As she attempted to gather her shopping, she struggled, dropping one every time she picked up another.

"Perhaps your wand would be of use next time," said Malfoy slyly. "Should we drop this lot off before we continue?"

Ginny watched as he gracefully bent to pick up the last shopping bag, his cloak billowing out even further. She remembered the firmness of his chest. His body weight had felt delightful.

"Drop off?" she said slowly and then, realization dawning, continued, "Yes, we should." She cleared her throat awkwardly as Malfoy stepped closer, still holding the remaining shopping bag.

"After you."

Once they arrived on the front step of Grimmauld Place, Ginny's heart was racing. Harry wasn't due home for another three hours, but she still felt wrong having Malfoy in their home, though that charged sensation had yet to leave her insides.

"Er, you can come in," she said rather awkwardly. "I'll just go set these upstairs and then we can go." Hastily, she ran up the stairs, finding it too difficult to make eye contact with Malfoy.

She deposited the bags into the bedroom closet, using her wand to keep them concealed. Though Harry's gift was not amongst any of the bags, she didn't want him rummaging through to make a mess of things. It was simply easier this way. She made her way towards the bathroom, thinking just how routine her life had become. With Malfoy's new sponsorship of the Harpies, however, that routine was changing. The charged feeling inside of her gave a buzz at the thought. She leaned into the mirror to study her appearance. She looked rather flushed. Unsure if Malfoy was the reason or not, she dug around for a quick remedy, her fingers landing on a pink blush and some nude lipstick. She applied both and hoped Malfoy wouldn't notice. Or perhaps he would, which would also make her happy.

When she made her way back downstairs, she noticed that Malfoy had left the entryway. She found him in the drawing room, studying the Black family tree. Without saying a word, she joined him and the two looked at it for quite some time.

"It's mad to think how close our circles really ran," Ginny finally said, quietly.

"They don't call it the sacred twenty-eight for nothing," replied Malfoy.

Ginny noticed he was only looking at one name on the tapestry.

"You miss him." She watched the fingers on his left hand twitch as he slowly brought his arm to reach for his father's name. Without thinking, Ginny brushed her own hand against Malfoy's right, trying to comfort him. He hooked onto one of her fingers. Though she didn't pull away, the charged feeling inside of her gave its strongest buzz yet, and she bit her lip in anticipation.

"Should I make tea?"

Malfoy gave the smallest shake of his head. "I was thinking of something stronger, but I've still got to place an order for my mother's flowers." He pulled his hand away, checking his watch.

Ginny tried not to miss the contact. "Ready when you are." She offered a small smile. She watched appreciatively as Malfoy took one last glace at his father's name before exiting the drawing room and heading back into the entryway.

Upon returning to Hogsmeade, Malfoy led Ginny to an outlet she had never visited, called Dogweed and Deathcap. From the looks of the place, they sold exotic plants and flora. It didn't take her long to figure out why. Though the flowers were bountiful, colorful, and well-groomed, the store had an overall moody atmosphere to it. The overall effect was very dramatic. Ginny found herself unsure of where to look.

"I'll be right back," said Malfoy, acknowledging her enjoyment in looking at the different flowers. "Feel free to look around."

She had just found a rather interesting flower, with blue petals and red thorns, when she heard her name from the other side of the room.

"Ginny!" It said again, this time much closer. Ginny turned upon her caller and saw none other than Neville Longbottom. She couldn't help but to suppress a moan. Her eyes widened.

"Neville!" she exclaimed, a slight tremor in her voice. "Shouldn't you be teaching?" She hoped desperately it would take Malfoy longer to place his order. The last thing she needed was to be spotted helping Draco Malfoy do his Christmas shopping.

"I've got an open period, so I thought I'd pop down here to see if anything new's come in. I like to keep my lessons interesting, you know! What are you doing here?"

"Well—erm—I've actually never been before," said Ginny, uncomfortably. "Just thought I'd see what the fuss is about." She finished lamely.

"The season's been treating you pretty fair, yeah? I try to keep up. How's Harry?"

"He's good," said Ginny, her eyes sifting the crowd for Malfoy. She needed to be able to stop him from approaching her somehow. "He works a lot." Though she chuckled lightheartedly, she didn't find her statement funny. It only reinforced how much more time she was currently spending with Malfoy. And enjoying it.

Too much.

"Actually, Neville, sorry to dash, but I just remembered I've a letter to send. I keep telling Harry we need our own proper owl but, you know how he is. It was good to see you!"

Before he could comment, she was outside the shop, waving apologetically.

She made her way to a bench across the street where she plopped down rather clumsily. Silently, she willed Malfoy to exit before Neville did. She removed her scarf from around her neck, suddenly feeling too hot for it. Fanning herself with her hand, Ginny pondered her predicament. Why was she still here, waiting for Malfoy? She should just go home. But the charge that was buzzing inside her dulled at the thought of leaving him, especially without a word. Besides, she was the one who had gotten upset when he'd implied they weren't friends. Whatever was going on between them certainly wouldn't continue if she left now.

The tinkle of a bell sounded, and Ginny's head snapped in the shop's direction. It was Malfoy. She watched him momentarily, to see if he was worried or angry. Though his face was passive, his eyes were searching. He kept craning his neck every which way. He was looking for her.

Ginny's heart thundered in her chest. The charged feeling inside her was bursting. On a whim, she reached for her wand. With a flick of her wrist, she undid Malfoy's shoelaces on his left shoe. After only a few steps, he noticed and drew his own wand to do them back up, at which point, Ginny flicked her wrist again and undid the laces on his right. She giggled as he sighed in frustration. Malfoy turned towards her, his eyes zeroing in on her position. With a smirk he swaggered over.

"Funny," he said.

"I thought it was," said Ginny, scooting over so he could sit down. As he did, she felt his body heat and then immediately wanted him closer. She kept her eyes forward, however, and stiffened. They needed to leave this bench before Neville exited the shop to avoid being spotted.

"Did you get your order placed?"

"Are you hungry?"

They had both spoken at the same time. Ginny knew the answer to her question. She had only asked it because she wasn't sure what else to say. She was, however, surprised by his. She looked at Malfoy and smiled.

"Yes," they both said collectively.

"But, listen, Malfoy. I saw Neville in there. I…panicked. I'm not sure what to say if someone sees us together."

"I suppose the truth will do," replied Malfoy lazily. Gracefully, he got up from the bench and extended his hand to her. "Friends?"

Ginny made a show of wrapping her scarf around her neck, slowly pulling her hair through. She feigned being surprised by his hand and jumped theatrically. Malfoy smiled.

A real, genuine smile. Followed by a real, genuine laugh. The smile buffed out his pointed chin slightly, which complimented his jawline. The laugh lines on his face were proof that this was not a rare occurrence, but Ginny had never seen him like this before. His eyes seemed to sparkle. The only thing she wanted in the whole world was to make it happen again.

She took his hand, shaking it, and for the briefest of moments their eyes lingered on each other's lips in remembrance.

He pulled her to her feet.

"Friends," she said. And she was happy about it, though part of her knew they were already more than that.