Shopping
Draco and Ginny decided to leave while everyone was at lunch. "That way no one would see a Weasley and a Malfoy hanging out." Draco reasoned.
It was Ginny's idea to go to a muggle mall. "Because everyone at Hogsmede knows who we are." Ginny explained.
At the stroke of noon, Ginny and Draco climbed on Draco's broom and took off. As soon as they were off Hogwarts grounds, Draco landed. Ginny gave him a quizzical look. "It's a surprise." Draco explained, grinning broadly. "We have to appreate, and we can't on Hogwarts grounds." Ginny nodded in agreement as Draco pulled out his wand. Draco motioned for Ginny to come over as he pointed his wand to the sky. "Hang on tight." He whispered. He couldn't help feeling nervous when Ginny grasped his waist. He had a lump in his throat and he wasn't sure if it was from Ginny hugging him so tight, or something more. Draco quickly shook his head and focused on his appration. He called out the name of some mall Ginny had never heard of before. In an instant, that familiar hook feeling in the pit of her stomach came and whisked her and Draco away. Within moments, they were standing in front of an enormous mall. Ginny was surprised at its enormous size. "Six floors, stores, eatery, rock climbing wall, movie theatre, this place has everything." Draco boasted.
"This place is amazing, but how would you know about this place? I mean it is a muggle mall."
"Better exchange rate." Draco reasoned. "A galion is worth a lot more here than at Hogsmede. Come on, we better hide our robes before someone sees us."
Draco and Ginny took off their Hogwarts robes and hid them under a bush. This was the first time Ginny ever saw Draco without his robe on. He looked…good. He had on a simple white button down shirt, with the top three buttons undone, black pants and a silver belt. Ginny had on a tight blue sweater and dark blue jeans. Draco was the first to notice that they were staring at each other. He smirked. "Like what you see?"
Ginny shook her head out of her daze. She gave a little pout she always did whenever she realized she had been caught in the act. Colin knew the look well. "Shut up, let's go."
Draco laughed as they walked into the he mall together. Inside, the mall was covered with Christmas trees, lights, and ribbon. "Christmas!" Ginny squealed. "I've been so busy with everything I almost forgot about Christmas shopping!" Ginny took out her wallet and checked her money. "You know, if I budget this right, I might be able to do my Christmas shopping and get a few things for myself. How about you Draco, do you have any Christmas shopping left to do?"
"A little." Draco confessed.
"Well then let's go!"
Ginny and Draco spent the entire day at the mall. Ginny was determined to get the perfect gift for everyone. Every couple of hours Draco and Ginny would stop at the eatery or the game room for a break. They spent most of their time walking store to store talking about everything under the sun. 'The more I'm getting to know Draco, the more I like him. I wonder if this is an effect from the spell too.'
Little did she know that Draco is asking himself a similar question. 'She is so awesome, why couldn't she have been in Siltherian. Woa! Did I just think that about a Weasley?' Draco looked at Ginny and smiled. 'You know, she is kinda cute. Woa! There I go again.' Draco laughed at himself. 'Ginny has brought out this whole other side of me, it's….nice.'
"Well that is everyone on my Christmas list. How about you Draco?" Ginny finally asked after five hours of shopping.
"Well, I just have one more person to shop for." Draco confessed. A mischievous grin crossed his face as he approached her. He stood a few inches from Ginny, as if to tease her senses. It was Ginny's turn to get a lump in her throat. "Tell me Gin, what do you want for Christmas?"
"Me?" Ginny gulped, still a little nervous from standing so close to Draco. "But I didn't get you anything."
"You've already given me something very precious to me; you have been a true friend to me. That's enough."
"Nope." Ginny said finally snapping out of her nervousness. "If you are getting me something, I have to get you something. It's always been a rule among my friends." Ginny paused. "Did you call me friend?"
"Yup and so did you, so what do you want for Christmas?"
"Oh I don't know, something sedimental."
"Then that's what I want from you, something sedimental." Draco paused. "Did you ever go shopping for yourself today?"
"Yeah a little." Ginny replied.
"Well is there anything you would like to look at while you are here? Maybe a Christmas hint or two for me?" Draco winked.
Ginny giggled. "Normally I would take you up on that offer, but we have been shopping for five hours and I'm tired. I think we should head back to school."
"A woman tired of shopping?!?" Draco teased. He put his hand on Ginny's forehead. "Quick call a doctor I think Ginny's sick."
"Draco." Ginny giggled.
Draco's hand moved from her forehead to her face. 'I wish I had a spring of mistletoe right now. Woa! Where did that come from?!?' Draco took a step back and once again, shook romantic thoughts from his head. "Yeah you are right, what time is it?"
"5:30"
"Perfect, we'll get back just as everyone is leaving for dinner, come on we'll have to hurry." Draco and Ginny tried to get through the Christmas rush crowd. The rush hour traffic brought in a huge wave of customers that nearly swamped Draco and Ginny. "Stupid crowds." Draco murmured. Draco turned around and grabbed Ginny's hand. "Stay close." He cautioned. Hand in hand, they made their way through the crowds. On their way out Draco noticed a twinkle in Ginny's eye as they passed by a few shops. Draco took a mental note of each one. After much shoving and pushing, they made their way out of the mall. "Wow, that was nuts." Draco huffed.
"Yeah." Ginny replied. Neither one of them had registered that they were still holding hands until they had found their school robes. Ginny blushed and Draco looked away as the awkwardly broke hands.
'This is too much. But still…' Draco thought to himself, looking at Ginny. 'I think she is worth it.' Ginny and Draco had to appreciate in a back alley so no one would see them. Ginny and Draco clung tightly to each other, once again that familiar lump in their throats. Within moments, they had whisked themselves to just outside of Hogwarts grounds. They clung to each other for a moment before breaking apart. "Come on," Draco said grabbing his broom from beneath a bush. "We better get back."
Ginny climbed on in front of Draco and together they flew back to Hogwarts. Draco dropped off Ginny right behind Gryffindor building. Before heading in she gave Draco a big hug. At first, Draco had been taken back by this sudden hug, but eventually returned it. "Thank you Draco for everything." She said before turning and running into her building.
Draco just stood there watching her for a minute before climbing on his broom and flying back to his own dorm. It was then Draco finally admitted to himself, 'I'm falling for Ginny Weasley.'