Title: Little Children

Rating: PG

Summary: When Draco, the boy who never grew up, suddenly becomes responsible for a nine year old girl, his life is bound to change. With a germaphobic child, Ginny as a nanny, and bills to pay, Draco's gonna have to learn a few things about little children...

A/N: Thanks for all your reviews! I got more than I was expecting and I appreciate them all! Sorry it took so long to update, I've got very little homework tonight, so I'd thought I try to write a bit (I have to run the mile in gym tommorrow. I got zero pull-ups today, but passed on the push ups! Go me!) Anyway, thanks again.

Little Children

Chapter Five

"It smells here," Nina complained, sitting down on a small fold out chair in Draco's small cubicle. Sighing, Draco handed her a car freshener lying on top of his desk to mask the stench of old socks and dirty bologna. Nina held the tree shaped freshener as far away from herself as she could with a grimace.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" she questioned.

"Sniff it. Smells like pine trees," Draco answered, not really paying attention as he sat down at his desk, filled with papers he needed to sort through.

"I don't like this place." Nina replied. "It's scary. It's all dark and cold."

"You gt used to it." Draco answered absentmindedly. "Go...go and play or something."

"Where?" Nina questioned.

But Draco didn't respond, he was far too involved in his work. He had to get this paperwork done so he could go to the interview Blaise had set up between him and the new nanny. The Three Broomsticks, three o'clock sharp, booth eight. He didn't reall care what qualifications the woman had, he just needed someone to keep the brat out of his way.

Meanwhile, Nina wandered away, trying to find something to do. Draco had told her to go an play. She didn't play, she had never really played. But what else could she do until Draco was done working? Soon enough, Nina was lost among the cubicles. Hundreds of people were chattering among the phones, filling out papers, being yelled at by their bosses. But Nina didn't seem to notice. Maybe if she didn't go back to Draco, he would leave without her and se could live on her own, all by herself. It would be better that way. So much better.

"Are you alright?" a tall, red haired woman exclaimed as Nina ran into her inattentively and fell backwards.

"I'm fine." Nina shrugged, pulling herself. "Who are you?"

"Ginny Weasley." Ginny replied, laughing at the childs candid question. "Who are you?"

"Nina." the child replied in her best little girl voice. "I'm here with my brother."

"Really?" Ginny questioned, wondering who would bring a little girl to a horrible, drab office like this. "Why would he do that?"

"I don't know." Nina sighed. "I don't know why he does anything. He hates me."

Ginny laughed again, this time nervously. "I'm sure he doesn't hate you. If he's your brother, he must love."

"I don't think so." Nina nodded. "I was going to run away, but that's probably not a good idea. I don't reallyh ave anywhere to go."

"That's true," Ginny agreed. "How about I take you back to your brother and you can mull it over."

Nina seemed to consider it carefully. "I suppose. I think he works somewhere over there."

"We'll find it." Ginny grinned down at the small girl and took her hand as they started to walk. "My Daddy works here, too."

"That's nice." Nina said politely, not really interested. "There he is, right over here."

As Ginny started a brisk pace, Nina dragged beind her, not especially eager to be returned to Draco, not matter how much she liked the lady who had found her. "That's him."

"Excuse, me, sir," Ginny started, turning into the small cubicle. "Is this your sister?"

Draco turned around in his seat with a sigh. "Probably...Weasley?" he questioned as he saw the beautiful woman standing in front of him. "What are you doing here?"

Ginny stood in front of him wide eyed. "Malfoy?" she replied. "They gave you custody of a kid? Do they want her to die?"

"I'm very responsible." Draco retorted, folding his arms over his chest defensively. "And ey! What are you doing with my...sister anyway?"

"I found her." Ginny answered. "She was about to run away."

Draco stared at her bug eyed. "Why did you stop her?"

Ginny stared down at the little girl. "You didn't tell me that Draco Malfoy was your brother."

Nina shrugged. "It didn't seem that important. Why, do you know him or something?"

"Unfortunately." Ginny and Draco responded at the same time.

"Here's your sister." Ginny said, letting go of Nina's hand. "It was a real...pleasure seeing you, but I really must be going."

"Ginny!" Mr. Weasley exclaimed. "What are you doing here sweetheart?"

"Bad news really, Dad." she replied, turning her back to Draco to face her approaching father. "I came to tell you that I can't meet you for lunch today. Um, Hermione wants to go shopping."

"Granger." Draco muttered under his breath in a nasty tone.

"Did you say something, Draco?" Mr. Weasley questioned in a cheery voice.

"Actually, yes." Draco said, standing up. "I finished with the Thompson report. I was wondering if I could have the afternoon off. Um, Nina and I were planning on...taking in a movie and maybe some lunch."

"You never said anything about a movie-" Nina started suspiciously, but was cut off by Draco clamping his hand over her mouth.

"Sure, go ahead, Draco." Mr. Weasley said happily.

"Thankyou, sir." Draco replied, quickly grabbing Nina by the shoulders and ushered her out of the cubicle and down the hallway. Sure he had lied to his boss, but what he didn't know couldn't hurt him. plus, this was much more important than lunch. this was his ticket to easy street. That was highest priority.

______________________________________

Ginny stood outside of the Three Broomsticks at three oh two exactly. she ad been there on time, sure. But she was scared. This was her only chance, this was theo nly thing was qualified for. What if the employer didn't like her? What if she didn't get the job? What then? Would she have to live with her parents the rest of her life, relying on her brothers to protect her? She couldn't bear the thought.

Not only was she scared of the pressure of the interview, she also felt bad about lying to her father. she had lied to her mother lots of times, but never her father. But she knew he wouldn't approve of her getting a job as a nanny. He would tell her that now that he was promoted to head of the department, they had all the money they needed, she didn't have to worry about making her own.

Taking a deep breath, Ginny stepped into the Three Broomsticks. The place was crowded at lunch, every booth was taken. How would she ever find who she was looking for? "What can I do you for, sweetie?" A middle aged waitress at the counter asked, walking over to where she stood. "We're a little busy right now, but we do have some room at the counter if you'r interested in a cuppa coffee."

Ginny smiled at the woman and clutched her purse tightly, her hands shaking. "Actually, I'm meeting someone. Booth eight."

"Hmmm," the waitress replied, looking around the crowded place. "Let's see, booth eight would be...right over there." She pointed to the smallest table, situated snuggly in the corner where a blond man sat with his back to her. He looked oddly familiar, Ginny thought, but didn't take anymore time to think about it. "Thankyou." she smiled at the waitress again graciously.

"Welcome, sweetie." she replied, walking back to her station at the couter. "Call me if you need anything."

Take another deep breath, Ginny took one step towards the table and then another. "Sir?" she called out as she approached the table. "Are you expecting...ohmigod."

Theman turned around to look at the lady with a smug grin. "What are you doing here, Weasley? I thought you were out having a day on the town with Granger."

Ginny didn't respond, merely fell into the seat across from Draco, her cheeks flushed red and a lump in her throat. "No...not...you." was all she managed to say. Draco was at first delighted to see the littlest Weasley choking on her own word, but the amusement quickly turned to disgust.

"C'mon, Weasley, get out. I'm expecting a very important person to meet me here and you'll just muck it up, so please just leave."

"I'm expecting a very important person as well." Ginny replied, her voice heated and practically enraged.

"Yes, that's very nice." Draco said, as if entertaining a child. "But not here."

"Actually it is." she replied. "Three Broomsticks, three oh clock. Table-"

"Eight." Draco finished for her, the little color in his cheeks fading quickly. "Blaise Zabini must die."

"It's not his fault." Ginny said quickly, grumbling. "It's my own fault. Everything is always my fault."

"Oh, the blame game." Draco brightened. "Yes, I think it would be much better if we blamed everything on you."

"That's so kind of you," Ginny remarked sarcastcally. "So what are we going to do?"

"I'm going to leave." Draco replied, starting to stand, but Ginny pulled him back down into his seat. "You can't go anywhere." she said, feeling like she was about to cry. "This is my only chance."

"Only chance for what? There's plenty of jobs and most of them include not working for me!"

"I can't get any. I've already been to see Blaise and this is the only job I'm really qualified for."

"That is not my problem." Draco answered. But then again...No, no, no, Draco thought. There is no way...but still. No matter what, this was his only choice as well. He didn't have enough money to place an ad and if he called Zabini again, the prick would hang up on him. it was either hear the Weasley girl out or ait until the first of the month to collect enough money to place an ad. But the first was so far away.

"Alright," Draco reconsidered. "What are your quallifications?"

"None."

"Do you get along with children well?"

"I guess."

"Do you know how to cook?"

"Macaroni and toast."

"Will you do what I say?"

"Depends on whether or not you're being a jackass."

Draco mulled it over for a moment before responding. "You're hired."

"You won't regret." Ginny said in a small voice. He won't, she thought to herself. But I will.

A/N: Believable? I hope so. Anywho, please give me your opinion in a review. It would make my day. Next time, Ginny's first day on the job. thanks for reading!