Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowlings.

Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews and so sorry it's taken so long, but I've been away from the computer, I helped my sister move cross country to BC, but I'm back, but I have a broken wrist now, so typing has been going a bit slower and a bit more painfully.  So sorry again for the wait.  I hope to have the next part out in the next few days.

Chapter Three:  Foot in Mouth

"Heads up!"

Virginia ducked just as a litter filled tray came flying towards her to empty itself in the waist bins beside her.  She came up from her crouch and waived off the sheepish grin of the wizard who had his wand pointed in her direction and continued through the entranceway.

Taking Draco's advice, she had tried flooing him, but had gotten, she assumed, his flat mate, as he, when asked, had said, "Oh, you should try the Medi-Buff.  He's usually there on Thursdays, if not the hospital these days, but I gotta go love."

So after asking around, here she was, back on the medical studies end of campus, on the second level of the Fletcher building in the buffeteria.  At this rate, she was thinking of switching degree programs outright.  "This is getting out of hand.  I don't even like this person.  Right?"  She suddenly couldn't answer that question.  Years ago, this boy mocked everything she loved, now she meets him here, they have a few laughs and a butterbeer, and she's practically stalking him?  She shook her head at the thought.  "No, it isn't like that.  He's just, for some unexplainable reason, being kind since I don't know anyone.  After this weekend, I'll never have to see him again."  She sighed as she sidestepped a few people.  "Besides, he said he wanted something in return, so you know he hasn't changed that much."

She was scanning through the crowds when she spotted his shaggy blondish locks hunched down in a back corner, seated by himself and Virginia quickly weaved her way back and sat down opposite him, but he never looked up, just moved his books slightly closer to himself to himself to make more room for the new table mate.

"Draco?"

He looked up surprised.  "Oh!  Sorry."

"So, what's my punishment?"

His brow furrowed.  "Excuse me?"

"In exchange for Friday."

"Right."  He gave her a sheepish grin.  "To tell you the truth, I was barred from making you do anything too heinous, and since I need my school work to be half-way decent—"

"Hey!"

"Can you tell me what Darvazin Axyaderin is used to treat, and the possible side effects?"

"No."

"There you go.  Anyway, barring cruel and unusual and homework, I could only come up with laundry that I really need done, so you can so my laundry."

She scoffed.  "Is that it?  He just shrugged.  "Fine, Saturday I'll come and do your laundry."

"Next Saturday.  I have to make it worth your while."

She eyed him for a moment.  "Why do I get the feeling this is still going to be cruel and unusual?"

"So," he changed the subject with a smile, "is this a social visit, or do you have some details for me?"

She sighed as she leaned forward and rested her chin on her hand.  "Oh no, I want to hear more about this task you have for me."

"It's just laundry.  Surely, at some point in your years at the Weasley household you have done some."

She narrowed her eyes.  "Fine, if that's the way you're going to be…"

He gave her an innocent look.  "What?"

"Never mind."  She pushed some hair back from her face.  "It's going to be kind of dressy, but not really formal.  Some of the faculty are going to be there to, well, mingle, then some of us are getting together for a party afterwards.  I was going to just let you go to the party with me, but now…" she gave him a smirk that he was down right impressed with.  "You do have dress robes, right?"

"Of course, and where and when should I collect you for this lavish affair?"

She raised a brow at his choice of words, but did not comment.  "I'll meet you at the Memorial Gates at Eight O'clock.  Don't be late."

"That's it.  You're not going to tell me anything about what to expect, nothing?"

"You're not."

"I'm not expecting you to impress my underwear, or tell intelligent stories to my socks or anything.  You have to at least cut me some slack here so I don't come off looking like an idiot in front of these… academic types."

"Just ask them if they know what Darzy-whacha-ma-call-it is, and some other medical talk, and I guarantee they will not think you are an idiot, besides, what do you care?"

He just shrugged.  "I don't.  So.  That's it?"

"Yeah."

They sat in silence for a moment, Virginia pondering this man in front of her.  "Why are you doing this?"

"You asked me to."

"But, why did you agree to it?"

He shifted in his seat in and studied his books for a moment.  "My good deed for the year, I guess."

She felt her heart sink at his answer, but pushed the sensation away as she tried to remind herself of her earlier resolve.  "Well, thanks.

He nodded his head before meeting her gave again.  "So, how did you find me, yet again?  Should I be afraid?"

She blushed at this.  "No!  I tried flooing you, but you were gone already, so your flat mate told me to try here."

"You spoke to Nieal?"

"Uh, I didn't catch his name, Irish bloke, brown hair, straight to the point, at your place?"

"Crap."

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, what, did I do something wrong?"

He shook his head.  "No, I was just hoping to keep this… quiet."

"This?"

"You know, you."

Her gaze went hard.  "Excuse me?  Am I that much of am embarrassment to be around?  Afraid a Weasley might tarnish your name?"  She stood up abruptly.  "Well, you don't have to worry about that, Malfoy, I'll leave."  She began to storm away as she called back, "And don't worry about tomorrow night either, wouldn't want to embarrass you!"

He just gaped at her for a moment before realizing what had just happened.  "Damn it!"  He haphazardly shoved his books into his bags and ran after the fuming witch, ignoring the bewildered stares following them.  "Virginia!  Stop!  Please!  I didn't mean it like that!  Will you please just listen to me?"

"Go to hell, Draco.  You know, I thought you changed, but obviously I was wrong."

"Oh for Merlin's sake, I'll hex you if I have to."

She whirled at that.  "You wouldn't dare!"

"Would you just calm down for a moment!  I didn't mean anything by what I said, it's just that, well, Nieal can be a real prat at times.  He just doesn't let up with things.  Especially when it comes to, tormenting me…  So it's not about you, it's about preserving my sanity."

"What in the world are you talking about?"

He sighed.  "Okay, here's the whole tail, but just remember, you were going to meet him next week anyway, so you can't say I'm embarrassed.  You know how we bumped into each other in the book store?"

"Yes."

"Well, I mentioned it when I went home that night and we got to talking about what a prat I was to you back in our Hogwarts days, and he said you were probably plotting your revenge on me."  Virginia chuckled at this.  "He'd probably help you if you wanted it, but I shouldn't tell you this, see we have this love/hate relationship, whole other store that has absolutely no baring on this one.  Okay, where was I?"

"I'm getting my revenge on you."

"I think you are, be we're not getting into that one either."  She looked him strangely but made no comment.  "Anyway, next thing I hear, you're checking up on me at the office, trying to find out where my classes are at, then you do manage to find out one of them and the professor, how did you manage that, by the way?"

She smiled, "I'll never tell."

"So you come back to the office and try to stalk my professor, and I have to admit, I was actually thinking maybe Nieal had something to his theory, and yes I told him this, so he's been plotting and scheming different ways that you are going to exact your revenge, and I've been letting him, as it's been distracting him from the… other things he usually likes to do to get my goat, but it's been dying down since there hasn't been any new developments lately, so it's been perfect.  No pranks, no taunts, the occasional outlandish theory, and quiet, but now that you've flooed, he'll think either you're going on the warpath and go for the direct attack to help you out, and get in touch with you to coordinate, or think that you've gone soft on him, changed your mind, and that we've hooked up. In either scenario I'm going to lose the peace I am enjoying."

She stared at him for a moment and crossed her arms.  "You expect me to believe that?"

"It's all true."

"Nieal?"

"Is crazy."

"Why don't you just get a new flat mate?"

"What?  We've lived together for the last four years!  He's my best mate!"

"And he wants you dead?"

"I told you, it's a love/hate thing.  But rest assured, if he were convinced you really were going to do anything to me, he wouldn't have told you where to find me."

She cocked a brow.  "But he curses you?"

"For crying out loud, woman, let it alone!  Now, are we still on, or aren't we?"

"Fine, tomorrow at eight."

He nodded his assent.  "Right.  Now, you should probably get going to classes, and I have to get back to studying for my exam."

Virginia lifted her chin defiantly, but turned in heel none the less and marched away, muttering under her breath.

~@~

Draco watched her go with a note of trepidation, knowing he was going to have to pay this tomorrow, though he was still pretty sure he didn't do anything wrong.  And damn her for waltzing into his life and having this kind of power over him anyway.

Deciding not to go back into the buff after their rather dramatic exit, he turned towards the stairs when someone clapping stopped him.

"Bravo, love."

He groaned as he turned around.  "Not now Liz."

"She really is a feisty one, isn't she?"  The woman smirked for a moment.  "I guess the show will forgive that she deprived me of my dining companion."

"What is with you woman?  Do they take you aside one day and explain how to drive men insane or does it just come naturally?"

She gave him a mock pout as she came and ruffled his hair.  "Awe, did the big bad witch hurt your feelings?"

He pushed her hands away.  "I said not now.  I have a test."  She just smirked.  "And not a word to Nieal or your dog gets it!"

Her jaw dropped, "You can't do anything to Poopsy!"

"Not a word!"

Her eyes narrowed dangerously, "Just you wait, Draco Malfoy!"  She gave him a shove and left him while Draco just stared after the second angry female to leave him in as many minutes and shook his head.

"Damn it!"

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