Ginny resisted the urge to run as she stood before of one of the oldest
and richest family estates in all of Britain. It was tall, dark, gloomy,
and more than a little trouble to locate. It wasn't a simple apparation.
You had a choice to take a Ministry portkey or apparate to Malloy Square, a small town that was mostly made-up of the Manor's staff. Then a smooth twenty-minute buggy ride with one of the Manor's drivers, Mr. Hassleoff to the actual Manor. Now here she was standing in-front, of dark heavy double doors with an unnatural fear.
"Please, it's just Malfoy," whispered Ginny to herself, pulling the gray rope to sound her arrival. "Just stuck-up ferret-faced, Malfoy."
The door slowly opened and a rather oddly, but well dressed house-elf greeted her.
"You's be the Weasey. Master's been waiting for?" He asked. His blue-eyes, tactlessly skimming her clothes. "Come in." He held the door even wider, as if Ginny hadn't gotten the hint the first time. "Me names' is Edmund. Can's Edmunds gets the lady's anything."
"No, thank you." Ginny answered, feeling quite self-conscious.
She was appalled by the elf's behavior and his unconventional name. She took off her green cloak, as the small elf scampered away, leaving her alone in the entrance hall.
It wasn't the first time that she felt this small and insignificant. She felt this way a lot working at the Ministry. However this wasn't the Ministry, this was something much bigger, but the cold and un-welcoming feeling was still the same.
There were closed doors on each side of the hall and a grand staircase stood in the center. Ginny silently wished the house-elf would return quickly so she could get this over with.
"Ms. Whezzy, Masters will see you's now." He called from one of the rooms doorways.
"Thank you." She called after, hurrying to the partially open door.
She didn't fancy getting lost. In her third year, she had heard rumors that if you were to get lost in some manors, you would never be found. You would just disappear, not even your body would be discovered. Sure, it was immature to listen to such tales, but she wanted to stay safe.
The room in question wasn't actually a room at all, but another long and dark hall. The candelabras' burning in the spacious nooks in the stone walls were casting an eerie golden glow as they passed. It was all making Ginny very nervous.
She didn't like the dark very much. Her mother had told her once she had been a wonderful baby. Rarely scared of anything, a true Gryffindor. She even went to bed without a fairy-light before Charlie, and he was the bravest of all the Weasley's. Then it was her first year, and the nightmares began. Tom came and the fear of the dark swallowed her.
Soon they had turned onto a hall with fewer doors. She assumed the rooms must be getting bigger, because they were spaced further apart.
***
Draco sat in his study, waiting for his authenticator to arrive.
He knew she was a Weasley, the smallest and youngest to boot. The one with the unyielding crush on Potter. The one that opened the Chamber. The one living proof that sometimes even his father could be an untidy git. True, he had covered his tracks well but not well enough to prevent very unwanted attention.
But Ginny Weasley was coming and there wasn't much he could do about it. Unfortunately, he needed her. She had the gift, an unnatural gift (even by a wizard's standards), a gift she was never supposed to receive. She had the capability to tell him, if he was right and he hoped he was. That the piece he bought was the real thing.
He heard his office door open, and in walked a small red head a green cloak draped over her folded arms. She was shorter than average, an unmistakable trait inherited from her mother. Thin and round, disturbingly where she should be. The undeniable trademark Weasley tresses pulled into a sort of loose knot at the back of her head with curls randomly escaping and spilling out.
She was wearing an unfashionable handmade cream sweater, and khaki dress trousers.
Draco felt his mouth twitching at the sight before him.
Well, well, the little Weasley's grown up.
"Weasley." He drawled and slowly made his way around his large desk. He casually leaned against it waiting for Ginny to meet him.
"Malfoy." She answered, a clearly forced smile on her face.
***
Ginny sat in an uncomfortable chair before Draco's desk. He was lounging lazily, his long charcoal trouser clad legs stretched from his seat to the empty top of his desk. His black shoes reflecting the candle light.
They had done their uncomfortable, at least for her, greetings and inquiries. Mostly on her part and mostly about his mother. He kept his insults to himself and was oddly quiet.
'Too quiet.' Ginny thought suspiciously quiet.
Soon he had given her a piece of old, yellowed to the point of being considered brown, scroll but on closer examination Ginny saw it was a piece of something. A piece of a map. There were black lines and words in Latin, English, and a language she wasn't familiar with, drawn all over.
She touched it and held it up to a candle's light, which didn't make the tall blonde very happy at all.
"You could burn it, you silly cow!" He yelled. Snatching it away from her.
"Like you could tell," contorted Ginny trying to snatch it back. She didn't know why but the piece intrigued her. "It's nearly black anyway."
He reluctantly gave it back and three hours later they were still at the beginning.
"Well is it or isn't it?" He asked impatiently.
"Well is it or isn't it, what?" She replied. "It wasn't created with dark magic and hasn't led anyone astray or," Ginny's voice sounded very bored and recited. She had told this to so many people when they called upon the Ministry, but rarely was anything ever truly enchanted.
"That's all you have to say," asked Draco. He pulled his feet from their home on his desk. "I pay you fifty-thousand galleons and you say it hasn't been touched by dark magic. That's it."
"Fifty-thousand?" Ginny stammered. Percy had told her it was only twenty- five. She was going to have to deal with him later.
"Yes, fifty-thousand." He answered. "Not so sure anymore though, not with such little and useless information."
"Fifty-thousand?" She repeated, silently.
"Merlin's beard, have you gone deaf or something?"
Ginny just looked at him. Fifty-thousand galleons and he was going to take it away if she didn't say something.
"I can have someone else. Someone much better than me look at it." She said very quickly standing up and handing the piece to Draco. "Someone very advanced in these...things."
"Who?" Draco asked, sitting back in his chair. His gray eyes slitting with suspicion.
"Hermione?" Ginny replied.
"Granger? With MY map, I think not." He said. He was in the process of putting the map back in its case. A task he trusted no one, not even Edmund, to do.
"You trusted me with it." Ginny declared. She knew she was begging, but she didn't care. Her department desperately needed that money. "I'll guard it with my life. I swear."
"Now Weasley, that's just disgusting. I hate when people beg." He looked at her a smirk pulling at his thin lips. "Actually no I don't. Beg away, throw in some sexual favors while you're at it."
Ginny felt her face blushing. Did he just say what she thought he said?
Draco obviously noticed her lack of cheeky comeback and tinted cheeks. "Gods Weasley, you have the sense of humor of a Grim."
"And you a hippogriff." Ginny smiled. She saw the highest point of his cheekbones barely tinting baby pink.
"Oh yes, that one never get's old." He said flatly. He was handing her the frame now.
"You're letting me take it?" She asked smiling.
What had changed Malfoy's mind? Why was he letting her take it? Before she could blink, much less ask any questions, the fair boy had pulled his dark wand out. She felt her eyes widen as he muttered some spell and a light- blue spark drowned the room in blue.
"What did you do?" She squeaked and felt her throat closing.
"You said with your life. Am I correct?" He asked pulling Ginny up from her seat by her upper arm. She noticed Draco's grip was stronger than it looked.
"Yes, but.."
"But nothing. You're going to prove it. I'm letting you take it to the Ministry, your home, the shower if it's necessary," He paused to open the study's heavy door, "it can't be taken more than three meters away from you at any time."
"So I can let Hermione see it?" She asked smiling. Her eyes moved down to where Draco was still holding her arm and then back up to his face.
He was much taller than she remembered and his hair was much fairer, almost silver. Under different circumstances she would have loved to sit and study him for a little longer.
Ginny wondered what he was thinking as he looked down at her, his gray eyes slit.
"Yes," he said defeated. "But only if the mud-blood can keep her mouth shut?"
He let go of her arm and shut his door.
"Wait. I have more questions." Ginny said to the door. She knocked and there was no answer.
"Draco." She pleaded in vain to the thick closed door. "Please, I need to know where it came from? Whom you bought it from?"
"Hey," She heard a soft Scottish voice from behind her. "Aren't you Fred and George's little sister?"
"Yes." Ginny replied. She turned on him her cheek's red and her brown eyes bright.
Her jawed dropped a little at the burly man before her. His uncommonly short hair and his dark chocolate eyes not much different from the days she had watched him on the quidditch pitch.
"Oliver Wood?" Ginny asked smiling. "It's me Ginny." "Well, you've grown. Las' time I saw you was at Fred's weddin." He said, smiling at her his teeth impressively still intact despite being a professional keeper.
"Yeah." She smiled. "Umm, What are you doing here?"
"Quidditch business. Me boss, needed someone to come and familiarize," He rolled his eyes, "ourselves with Malfoy. Seems he's startin some buisness with the team. Investin' or somethin' not real sure." He scratched the back of his dark head. "Eneway, found out I went to Hogwart's and sent me...You?"
"Umm... Ministry business." She said flatly, looking at her watch.
"Ginny, I shouldn't be too long. Would you like to ride back together?" He asked leaning into the door. His bright red cotton shirt complimenting his slightly darker complexion.
"Sure." She smiled wider. "But if you're not down in half-an-hour. I'm leaving without you."
"Deal."
He walked through the door as Ginny started down the hall.
***
Ginny glanced at her watch it had been fifteen-minutes, when she heard the strangest string of words in her life. When the voice's body opened the door, Ginny was shocked. White hair and long legs stepped in and sat across from her.
"Oliver Wood, stupid prat," He was seemingly going into another rant. "You buy the quidditch team with Flint's old rival, and somehow you're responsible for ruining their lives. Thick-headed, kilt-wearing, sorry excuse for a keeper..."
Ginny cleared her throat.
"What are you doing in my carriage?" He asked, his voice slightly edged.
Ginny wanted to answer, but oddly her voice caught in her throat.
"Decided to try the favors route then?" He asked, kicking the carriage door open."I'd usually be thrilled, but tonight I'm rather late for an appointment, so if you don't mind." He motioned with his hand to the door.
"This is my carriage." Ginny retorted. How dare he try to claim it, she had been sitting in here for a quarter of an hour.
"No it's not. It's mine." He said, quickly closing the door.
"Is your name on it?" Ginny asked. Immediately she regretted her childish insult, of course his name was on it. He owned it.
"As a matter of fact." He started, but stopped when he found himself falling into a childish squabble.
"Fine," Ginny answered confidently, "I'll get Edmund to get me another one." She was reaching for the door and Draco stretched his leg out to block her.
"Edmund?" He asked mockingly innocent. "Gotten familiar with the help, have you? Lot like that brother of your's Peter."
"Percy." Ginny corrected. "What are you talking about?"
"Forget, I said anything." He said. His face turned to the window.
Ginny sighed frustrated. She looked out the window. They seemed to be already ten minutes into their ride. She had missed her ride with Wood, all because of Draco. Loathing that she hadn't felt in a long time, seemed to bubble with in her. Why did he have to be so annoying? Why did she have to work with him?
"We're here." The driver announced and opened the door.
Draco let Ginny get out first. She tightly wrapped her dark green cloak around her and the frame. Draco got out, straightened his black cloak and ran a hand through his pale hair.
"Well Miss Weasley," he turned to her, "I think our working together will be very...interesting to say the least. I do hope you and Granger have it figured out, before noon on Friday." He turned on his heel and made his way down the dark street.
"What's Friday?" Ginny called after him.
He ignored her and turned into one of the many homes aligned on the small street.
"This has been one of the strangest days of my life." She murmured to herself before she made her way to the portkey.
Disclaimer: Don't own a thing. A/N: I know I hacked up the Scottish accent. I'm sorry. I'm not really sure how to write it.
You had a choice to take a Ministry portkey or apparate to Malloy Square, a small town that was mostly made-up of the Manor's staff. Then a smooth twenty-minute buggy ride with one of the Manor's drivers, Mr. Hassleoff to the actual Manor. Now here she was standing in-front, of dark heavy double doors with an unnatural fear.
"Please, it's just Malfoy," whispered Ginny to herself, pulling the gray rope to sound her arrival. "Just stuck-up ferret-faced, Malfoy."
The door slowly opened and a rather oddly, but well dressed house-elf greeted her.
"You's be the Weasey. Master's been waiting for?" He asked. His blue-eyes, tactlessly skimming her clothes. "Come in." He held the door even wider, as if Ginny hadn't gotten the hint the first time. "Me names' is Edmund. Can's Edmunds gets the lady's anything."
"No, thank you." Ginny answered, feeling quite self-conscious.
She was appalled by the elf's behavior and his unconventional name. She took off her green cloak, as the small elf scampered away, leaving her alone in the entrance hall.
It wasn't the first time that she felt this small and insignificant. She felt this way a lot working at the Ministry. However this wasn't the Ministry, this was something much bigger, but the cold and un-welcoming feeling was still the same.
There were closed doors on each side of the hall and a grand staircase stood in the center. Ginny silently wished the house-elf would return quickly so she could get this over with.
"Ms. Whezzy, Masters will see you's now." He called from one of the rooms doorways.
"Thank you." She called after, hurrying to the partially open door.
She didn't fancy getting lost. In her third year, she had heard rumors that if you were to get lost in some manors, you would never be found. You would just disappear, not even your body would be discovered. Sure, it was immature to listen to such tales, but she wanted to stay safe.
The room in question wasn't actually a room at all, but another long and dark hall. The candelabras' burning in the spacious nooks in the stone walls were casting an eerie golden glow as they passed. It was all making Ginny very nervous.
She didn't like the dark very much. Her mother had told her once she had been a wonderful baby. Rarely scared of anything, a true Gryffindor. She even went to bed without a fairy-light before Charlie, and he was the bravest of all the Weasley's. Then it was her first year, and the nightmares began. Tom came and the fear of the dark swallowed her.
Soon they had turned onto a hall with fewer doors. She assumed the rooms must be getting bigger, because they were spaced further apart.
***
Draco sat in his study, waiting for his authenticator to arrive.
He knew she was a Weasley, the smallest and youngest to boot. The one with the unyielding crush on Potter. The one that opened the Chamber. The one living proof that sometimes even his father could be an untidy git. True, he had covered his tracks well but not well enough to prevent very unwanted attention.
But Ginny Weasley was coming and there wasn't much he could do about it. Unfortunately, he needed her. She had the gift, an unnatural gift (even by a wizard's standards), a gift she was never supposed to receive. She had the capability to tell him, if he was right and he hoped he was. That the piece he bought was the real thing.
He heard his office door open, and in walked a small red head a green cloak draped over her folded arms. She was shorter than average, an unmistakable trait inherited from her mother. Thin and round, disturbingly where she should be. The undeniable trademark Weasley tresses pulled into a sort of loose knot at the back of her head with curls randomly escaping and spilling out.
She was wearing an unfashionable handmade cream sweater, and khaki dress trousers.
Draco felt his mouth twitching at the sight before him.
Well, well, the little Weasley's grown up.
"Weasley." He drawled and slowly made his way around his large desk. He casually leaned against it waiting for Ginny to meet him.
"Malfoy." She answered, a clearly forced smile on her face.
***
Ginny sat in an uncomfortable chair before Draco's desk. He was lounging lazily, his long charcoal trouser clad legs stretched from his seat to the empty top of his desk. His black shoes reflecting the candle light.
They had done their uncomfortable, at least for her, greetings and inquiries. Mostly on her part and mostly about his mother. He kept his insults to himself and was oddly quiet.
'Too quiet.' Ginny thought suspiciously quiet.
Soon he had given her a piece of old, yellowed to the point of being considered brown, scroll but on closer examination Ginny saw it was a piece of something. A piece of a map. There were black lines and words in Latin, English, and a language she wasn't familiar with, drawn all over.
She touched it and held it up to a candle's light, which didn't make the tall blonde very happy at all.
"You could burn it, you silly cow!" He yelled. Snatching it away from her.
"Like you could tell," contorted Ginny trying to snatch it back. She didn't know why but the piece intrigued her. "It's nearly black anyway."
He reluctantly gave it back and three hours later they were still at the beginning.
"Well is it or isn't it?" He asked impatiently.
"Well is it or isn't it, what?" She replied. "It wasn't created with dark magic and hasn't led anyone astray or," Ginny's voice sounded very bored and recited. She had told this to so many people when they called upon the Ministry, but rarely was anything ever truly enchanted.
"That's all you have to say," asked Draco. He pulled his feet from their home on his desk. "I pay you fifty-thousand galleons and you say it hasn't been touched by dark magic. That's it."
"Fifty-thousand?" Ginny stammered. Percy had told her it was only twenty- five. She was going to have to deal with him later.
"Yes, fifty-thousand." He answered. "Not so sure anymore though, not with such little and useless information."
"Fifty-thousand?" She repeated, silently.
"Merlin's beard, have you gone deaf or something?"
Ginny just looked at him. Fifty-thousand galleons and he was going to take it away if she didn't say something.
"I can have someone else. Someone much better than me look at it." She said very quickly standing up and handing the piece to Draco. "Someone very advanced in these...things."
"Who?" Draco asked, sitting back in his chair. His gray eyes slitting with suspicion.
"Hermione?" Ginny replied.
"Granger? With MY map, I think not." He said. He was in the process of putting the map back in its case. A task he trusted no one, not even Edmund, to do.
"You trusted me with it." Ginny declared. She knew she was begging, but she didn't care. Her department desperately needed that money. "I'll guard it with my life. I swear."
"Now Weasley, that's just disgusting. I hate when people beg." He looked at her a smirk pulling at his thin lips. "Actually no I don't. Beg away, throw in some sexual favors while you're at it."
Ginny felt her face blushing. Did he just say what she thought he said?
Draco obviously noticed her lack of cheeky comeback and tinted cheeks. "Gods Weasley, you have the sense of humor of a Grim."
"And you a hippogriff." Ginny smiled. She saw the highest point of his cheekbones barely tinting baby pink.
"Oh yes, that one never get's old." He said flatly. He was handing her the frame now.
"You're letting me take it?" She asked smiling.
What had changed Malfoy's mind? Why was he letting her take it? Before she could blink, much less ask any questions, the fair boy had pulled his dark wand out. She felt her eyes widen as he muttered some spell and a light- blue spark drowned the room in blue.
"What did you do?" She squeaked and felt her throat closing.
"You said with your life. Am I correct?" He asked pulling Ginny up from her seat by her upper arm. She noticed Draco's grip was stronger than it looked.
"Yes, but.."
"But nothing. You're going to prove it. I'm letting you take it to the Ministry, your home, the shower if it's necessary," He paused to open the study's heavy door, "it can't be taken more than three meters away from you at any time."
"So I can let Hermione see it?" She asked smiling. Her eyes moved down to where Draco was still holding her arm and then back up to his face.
He was much taller than she remembered and his hair was much fairer, almost silver. Under different circumstances she would have loved to sit and study him for a little longer.
Ginny wondered what he was thinking as he looked down at her, his gray eyes slit.
"Yes," he said defeated. "But only if the mud-blood can keep her mouth shut?"
He let go of her arm and shut his door.
"Wait. I have more questions." Ginny said to the door. She knocked and there was no answer.
"Draco." She pleaded in vain to the thick closed door. "Please, I need to know where it came from? Whom you bought it from?"
"Hey," She heard a soft Scottish voice from behind her. "Aren't you Fred and George's little sister?"
"Yes." Ginny replied. She turned on him her cheek's red and her brown eyes bright.
Her jawed dropped a little at the burly man before her. His uncommonly short hair and his dark chocolate eyes not much different from the days she had watched him on the quidditch pitch.
"Oliver Wood?" Ginny asked smiling. "It's me Ginny." "Well, you've grown. Las' time I saw you was at Fred's weddin." He said, smiling at her his teeth impressively still intact despite being a professional keeper.
"Yeah." She smiled. "Umm, What are you doing here?"
"Quidditch business. Me boss, needed someone to come and familiarize," He rolled his eyes, "ourselves with Malfoy. Seems he's startin some buisness with the team. Investin' or somethin' not real sure." He scratched the back of his dark head. "Eneway, found out I went to Hogwart's and sent me...You?"
"Umm... Ministry business." She said flatly, looking at her watch.
"Ginny, I shouldn't be too long. Would you like to ride back together?" He asked leaning into the door. His bright red cotton shirt complimenting his slightly darker complexion.
"Sure." She smiled wider. "But if you're not down in half-an-hour. I'm leaving without you."
"Deal."
He walked through the door as Ginny started down the hall.
***
Ginny glanced at her watch it had been fifteen-minutes, when she heard the strangest string of words in her life. When the voice's body opened the door, Ginny was shocked. White hair and long legs stepped in and sat across from her.
"Oliver Wood, stupid prat," He was seemingly going into another rant. "You buy the quidditch team with Flint's old rival, and somehow you're responsible for ruining their lives. Thick-headed, kilt-wearing, sorry excuse for a keeper..."
Ginny cleared her throat.
"What are you doing in my carriage?" He asked, his voice slightly edged.
Ginny wanted to answer, but oddly her voice caught in her throat.
"Decided to try the favors route then?" He asked, kicking the carriage door open."I'd usually be thrilled, but tonight I'm rather late for an appointment, so if you don't mind." He motioned with his hand to the door.
"This is my carriage." Ginny retorted. How dare he try to claim it, she had been sitting in here for a quarter of an hour.
"No it's not. It's mine." He said, quickly closing the door.
"Is your name on it?" Ginny asked. Immediately she regretted her childish insult, of course his name was on it. He owned it.
"As a matter of fact." He started, but stopped when he found himself falling into a childish squabble.
"Fine," Ginny answered confidently, "I'll get Edmund to get me another one." She was reaching for the door and Draco stretched his leg out to block her.
"Edmund?" He asked mockingly innocent. "Gotten familiar with the help, have you? Lot like that brother of your's Peter."
"Percy." Ginny corrected. "What are you talking about?"
"Forget, I said anything." He said. His face turned to the window.
Ginny sighed frustrated. She looked out the window. They seemed to be already ten minutes into their ride. She had missed her ride with Wood, all because of Draco. Loathing that she hadn't felt in a long time, seemed to bubble with in her. Why did he have to be so annoying? Why did she have to work with him?
"We're here." The driver announced and opened the door.
Draco let Ginny get out first. She tightly wrapped her dark green cloak around her and the frame. Draco got out, straightened his black cloak and ran a hand through his pale hair.
"Well Miss Weasley," he turned to her, "I think our working together will be very...interesting to say the least. I do hope you and Granger have it figured out, before noon on Friday." He turned on his heel and made his way down the dark street.
"What's Friday?" Ginny called after him.
He ignored her and turned into one of the many homes aligned on the small street.
"This has been one of the strangest days of my life." She murmured to herself before she made her way to the portkey.
Disclaimer: Don't own a thing. A/N: I know I hacked up the Scottish accent. I'm sorry. I'm not really sure how to write it.