Hi everyone! Uhhhhhh, so, yeah… it's bean awhile. ::Dazma ducks as the onslaught of projectiles are aimed at her head::
A bit of an understatement maybe? Okay, well I am really sorry. I had planned to have it up the last week before school started, but then I had to have an emergency operation to have my impacted wisdom teeth removed. (If any of you have ever had that done you understand why the chapter didn't get written then.) Following that I did actually get the chapter written, but my computer deleted it. Thus I had to re write it.
Approximately then, homework started to flood in, and it hasn't stopped since. So I've been trying to write it whenever I have a free moment, but I haven't really had all that many of them… until now!
I hope you guys enjoy it; I'll try to get the following chapter out sooner. I might even be putting up another D/G to work on too. I get rather bored sometimes just working with one story (I'm sure my fellow authors understand).
Anyways, I've rambled on too long now. So quick, go read the chappy, and don't forget to review!
The following week was so busy, that although Draco had trouble getting his mind off her, he never got a chance to contact Ginny. For you see, the week was spent running around getting Jewel and Aquilus ready for their first year at Hogwarts. They needed robes – which Draco had his own business handle – then wands, which once again he had his own business handle, cauldrons, which they had to go out and buy, and all the ingredients, plus a few extras Draco figured they could have fun (plus do extra credit projects) with. After that they both begged for a pet – and he conceded – so Aquilus got an Owl with Phoenix and Hawk ancestors, and Jewel got a White Persian Cat with violet eyes. They spent a whole day searching for the perfect pets, (and spent a small fortune once they found them!) Of course after that there were all the school books, plus all the other ones Draco got for them with strict orders for them to read two chapters a day. Then there was a quick stop at his Quidditch store for two new Silverlightnings and some practice gear. Followed by a visit to Weasley Wizard Weezes for lots of pranks to play on the teachers (but only after they promised to leave Prof. Snape alone.)
Everything else they needed Narcissa insisted on taking the twins out to get, so Draco got a break from shopping, but not from life. His trading company (Dragon Traders) had had a problem with one of the trades. Customer A wanted two thousand Galleons for a rare book of some sort, while customer B refused to let it go for any less than three thousand and an antique broomstick from the 1600's (which customer A did possess but refused to give up) and of course, the man he had sent to negotiate it all had fallen ill, and no one had known, so now both customers were throwing hissy fits and were threatening to use a different trading company. That didn't count the customer who had been waiting for over a year now for them to find someone who possessed a 1920 Chinese levitation stick made of platinum with a crystal head, and was threatening to never use their company again if he didn't get at least a hint of a deal in the next month.
And just to top everything off, he was supposed to be hosting a fundraiser for the society of disabled witch and wizard children, two days after Jewel and Aquilus went to Hogwarts.
This left about three hours to sleep and eat, and no time to find Ginny, let alone spend any more time with Jewel and Aquilus.
Ginny herself had an equally busy week. In all honesty, if Lavender hadn't been called away she probably would've hidden in her flat and moped around like a lost puppy, but she didn't have that option. So she dragged herself to work everyday, and cursed whoever was watching over her for making the week a living hell. Usually Ginny loved her job, but this week she wanted to sell her ownership of 'Magic Touch' and disappear off the face of the earth. She didn't though.
When looking back Ginny would probably realize that if she hadn't kept busy that week she would've torn her mind apart with thoughts of Draco, but this wasn't clear to her now. So she spent the few minutes she did have free wishing she could have the week off.
Just to add to everything, because Hogwarts would be starting again in a week, Hermione, Harry, and Ron were all just as busy and she couldn't even get hold of them to talk to.
Now there is something you might be wondering about: how after all this time Ginny and Draco had never run into each other before, and there is actually an answer to this, though some of it has to do with luck and chance.
Draco's mansion was actually on a tiny island just off the coast of England, and had so many spells, charms, hexes, and illusions on it that the only way to get to it was if you knew it was there (and only a handful of people did.) And even then, Draco had set up a private portkey station as the only way to get on the island, so most people had no idea they had left England at all. As a last way of hiding, Draco never used his real name for anything other than personal engagements. All of his businesses were either registered under the name Drake Manston, or Dragon Maytin. Strange to be sure, but you must remember that Draco had gone against his father and Voldemort by not becoming a Deatheater, and even though they had both been killed, they had followers who still lived and would love to get their hands on him and the twins. Two of them being Cassandra's parents, Jewel and Aquilus' Grandparents.
As for Ginny? Well, after Ginny had started modeling she had given up all ties to her inventing years, and now focused all her time and energy into Magic Touch. So while Draco was aware that she had invented the personal portkey, he didn't know what had become of her, nor had he tried to find out, until now. As well, while Magic Touch was a well known fashion magazine in the fashion world, it was still a new and rather small one, so people who didn't have a connection with the fashion industry weren't too aware of it, and Draco was even newer to the Wizard world of fashion than Magic Touch. Needless to say he'd heard of it, but never really looked in to it. He had never suspected Ginny would end up some day at his doorstep for an interview about one of his lines. He hadn't known anything about what had happened to her except for a few inventions of hers, and in all honesty, had tried as much as possible not to think of her over the years.
Finally the week from hell was over. And Draco had only one last task to do. One of the hardest things he would ever have to do. He had to take Jewel and Aquilus to Platform 9 and ¾, let them get on the train, not make a fool of himself, and actually let the train take his two brats away from him for a year.
He almost wished he could live through the week again, just so he could have a few more glimpses of them before they left.
So, come that day, with two wide-eyed devils in disguise, he stood on Platform 9 and ¾ and helped them get their trunks and pets safely on the train. He had to blink a few times for a moment there, but he assured himself it was only because he got a bit of dust in his eye.
"Now, don't cause so much trouble that I have to pay a small or any sized fortune in repairs, okay?"
"Yeah Dad, okay."
"And for Merlin's sake, don't get yourself expelled!"
Aquilus grinned and shared a glance at Jewel, "we'll see."
Draco groaned, "Just promise me you'll TRY to stay out of too much trouble."
"Dad, you know we can't promise to try," Aquilus scolded. "But I promise we'll try to try."
Jewel smiled, "Don't worry Dad. I'll even write you a letter every week, and I'll make sure Aquilus does too!"
Aquilus stuck his tongue out at his twin. Draco smiled.
"Did you remember the extra books I got you to read?"
Now they both stuck their tongues out at him! "Unfortunately," groaned Aquilus.
Draco smirked, and then quickly pulled them both into a tight hug. Much to his relief, they hugged him back, just like they always did. His brats weren't quite gone yet.
"I'll see you at Christmas then; is there anything else?"
"Nope, we'll see you then, Dad."
"Yeah, enjoy your peace while it lasts."
Draco watched as Jewel and Aquilus ran off towards the Hogwarts Express. A sigh escaped from his perfect lips. He knew they had to grow up sometime, hell they had been growing up all their life, but did they have to do it so quickly? They didn't even grow slow when they were still cute little babies!
Pretty soon they wouldn't need him anymore. Jewel wouldn't come running to him when Aquilus pulled her hair. Aquilus wouldn't beg Quidditch lessons from him. He'd probably never push Jewel on a swing again, or teach Aquilus how to figure out how to multiply some random numbers. Memories of Jewel sitting on his lap while he did work would fade. The picture of the first shoe Aquilus ever tied on his owned would grow old and worn. His little devils would grow into big devils; devils that would play havoc on the hearts of the other students. (They both had all the makings to take for too much after him romantically)
Draco shuddered, he didn't even want to broach the subject of the twins dating.
After that, then what? Graduation, marriage, children of their own! He was still far to young to have grandchildren plaguing his thoughts! THEY were still far too young! HE shouldn't even be thinking about this, he was starting to have trouble breathing. It would be very bad if he had a nervous breakdown!
The Hogwarts Express had just started moving when two heads popped into the twins' compartment. "Hello," said the first head. "Do you mind if we share a compartment with you?"
The second head added, "All the others are full."
"Uh, sure," said Aquilus, moving his new Owl – Aren – from the seat beside his. Jewel scooped up Deon – her cat – from the floor so they could get in.
"Thanks," said the first girl happily, plopping herself down beside Aquilus. "I'm Ellie, by the way, and this is Lyn." Lyn smiled and sat down beside Jewel, "hi."
Ellie was the taller of the two, and a couple of inches taller than the twins. She had very curly brown hair, dark brown eyes, and skin with a light brown tone.
Lyn was the shortest in the compartment, but only by a few inches, had light crème skin, fuzzy chestnut hair, and also had brown eyes.
Jewel smiled at them, "I'm Jewel, and that unmentionable life form sitting beside you Ellie, is my brother Aquilus."
Aquilus made a face at her and turned to the two new girls, "please ignore my darling little sister here, ladies. She's just being mean because I own the better pet and she's jealous."
Jewel snorted, "Yes Aquilus, I'm jealous that you own Christmas dinner!"
Aren shrilled loudly and everyone in the compartment burst out laughing; Jewel gave him a little bit of the candy bar she had been munching on to apologize.
"So are you two first years as well?" Lyn asked once they had quieted down.
"Yep. Young, innocent looking, and ready to reek havoc!" cried Aquilus with dramatic flare.
Ellis grinned, " I think we shall be good friends. Trouble is our profession too!"
"Yeah," agreed Lyn. "And now we have fresh blood to prey on. People who know nothing about our pranks!"
"Oh, do you run into that problem too?" asked Jewel curiously. "'Quill and I have been finding it so hard to pull pranks at home now a days. Our Dad is getting way too good at catching us and seeking revenge!"
"Do we ever! We were trained by the best trouble makers Hogwarts ever saw and we still can't pull a decent prank on our friends anymore!"
"No kidding Ellie, it's so sad when even Ron can stop us!"
Aquilus stared at them for a moment, "Who's Ron and who are 'the best trouble makers Hogwarts ever saw'?" He asked after a moments pause. Jewel looked at him suspiciously but kept silent.
Ellie stared at him, eyes bulging. "You mean you don't know? Obviously the best trouble makers Hogwarts ever had would be Fred and George Weasley! And Ron is Ronald Weasley, their brother, and co-owner of the Orphanage we live in."
"I knew it!" screamed Aquilus jumping to his feet, mock rage on his face. "You're Harry Potter people!"
"Uh, yeah…" Ellie and Lyn exchanged glances. "Who are you?"
"We are the children of Draco Malfoy!" cried Jewel, jumping to her feet with flare. "Which means we must fight you!"
Ellie's jaw hit the ground.
"DRACO MALFOY?!" Screamed Lyn, and quickly got into a fake fighting stance.
"Oh no! Lyn, we've been consorting with the enemy!" Ellie stood up as well and pulled off her coat to act as a weapon.
"Charge!" cried Aquilus.
"Get 'em!" screamed Ellie.
And this is how the strongest, strangest, most absolutely bizarre friendship Hogwarts ever saw began. It would, of course, cause their guardians to nearly lose all sense of reality when they first learned who their charges were best friends with, but that is a different chapter…
Well, that's all folks! Hoped you enjoyed. Oh, and I'd like to dedicate this chappy to my friends from school who wouldn't stop pestering me, my two lil sistas, and my beta reader. Thanks everyone!
Oh, and to those of you who asked, my puppies name is Pirate. Also, you can still join the mailing list if you want. You can join it whenever you want! Just email me and have the subject line say "mailing list".
Till next chapter, (remember to review)
-Dazzy
Ps- Voice 17: Hi guys, long time no read! I just wanted to remind everyone to go out and steal- muhah ah mah muahhh!
Voice 18: Don't forget to review guys! ::Drags a gagged, kicking and screaming 17 away.