Disclaimer: I don't own a thing.
Chapter V: Quidditch, Dinner, and Let's Make a Deal
Draco walked the long corridors of St. Mungos Hospital. The light green torch lights flickering in the pale blue walls. A guard was walking a few steps ahead and another a few steps behind him. They walked in silence, the only noise the click of Draco's black boots on the stone floor.
He had come here every other Sunday since the year of his graduation. Every other Sunday since the dark lord fell, at the hands of Harry Potter. Every Sunday since his father had been incarcerated. Fudge had been arrogant enough in his ingnorance to sentence Lucius to St Mungo's other than Azkaban.
'Stupid Fudge.' Draco thought. 'Stupid, Fat, Foolish, Too-short, bowler-hat wearing Fudge.'
The guard, armed with his drawn wand, stopped at a stretch of gray bricked stone. The guard Draco knew as Michael from their brief meeting when Draco arrived. His head of light brown hair which was cut unfashionably short, fell a bit shorter than Draco himself. He taped his light against the stones in a pattern Draco had imprinted in his mind. Draco yawned with boredom as the dark-gray stones parted like the Red sea.
The room was bright contrasting greatly to the dark of the hall. Draco stepped through. The room held a single white sheeted cot and sitting at the only table in the room was a man he didn't care to see. His long pale fingers clasped together and lay on the brown and beige chess board. White locks fell on his white uniformed shoulders.
"Draco." He drawled, as unsurprised to see Draco, as Draco was to see him.
"Good afternoon, Father."
~*~*~*~
Ginny yawned stretching her freckled arms over her head. She was sitting in her dark office, the only light coming from the small window. She liked going to her office on Sundays. It meant no one would be there. No one to bother or berate her.
She was examining the dagger again. The beautiful dagger with the emeralds embedded in it's silver hilt. Ginny could see her face's reflection contorted, as if the blade were a carnival mirror. She was studying the blade when she noticed the smallest edge of writing: To hear with sight.
"To hear with sight?" Ginny read into her empty office.
"What?" A muffled feminine voice asked from the door.
Ginny looked up. In the threshold stood a tall blonde behind a stack of over filled boxes.
"Good afternoon Holly." Ginny greeted, making her way to help her coworker with the boxes.
~*~*~*~
Draco sat at the small table across from his father. His father's black marble Knight had taken his white marble Rook. He still was not quite sure how his father accomplished this, but he had to take his father's word for it.
Lucius had begun topics on many things, but Draco had dropped each one quickly. Answering with short Yes and No sirs. He did not want to be here with every fiber of his being. The only reason he made these awkward visits was to please his mother, and up to a year ago, the visits had only been twice a month.
"Draco," he began, dragging his black queen across the board. "How is that map business of your's coming along? The Weasley girl still helping you."
Draco was not surprised of his father's knowledge of the map. He had been the one to suggest Mr. Roberts, but Draco had not informed him of Ginny's involvement.
"Yes sir." Draco answered curbing the surprise from his voice. He kept his gray eyes fixed on the chess pieces, hoping his father might want to drop the subject.
"Do you care to indulge?" Lucius asked. His silky voice more demanding than inquiring.
"The plan is coming along smoothly." Gliding his white Rook across the board to take his father's Bishop."Weasley's involvement has been minimal and by tomorrow evening she will have none at all. She was quite useless really."
"My young son," Draco felt his father's smooth but cold finger pulling his chin up to meet cool gray orbs, "That is where you are wrong."
"What do you mean?" He asked pulling subtly away from his father. His eyes falling back to the inanimate chess pieces. The ministry refused to allow any magical objects within Lucius Malfoy's grasp. Draco had to leave his wand when he arrived as if he were visiting a common criminal.
"I mean," Lucius whispered as he leaned over the game, his thin white locks brushing the pieces. "You could use her Draco."
"That skinny brat." Draco spat sitting back in his chair. "I think not."
"You think too much." Lucius replied a sneer forming on his lips. Draco saw the look in his father's eyes. The same eyes he saw every morning in the mirror, but these had an eccentric gleam to them, undeniably belonging to a mad man. He knew that the ministry was quick to acknowledge his father's insanity. The man was indeed crazy. The doctors and nurses agreed that it had been many factors: The fall of his dark lord. The world he fought two wars for collapsing around him.
His behavior was humiliating, running off into his own world, speaking in gibberish and third person. Draco had been sure it was an act. Something to fool the ministry. He was wrong.
After all the tests, he was given the chance to speak privately with his father. Draco was sure his father would turn to him with his thin lips curled in the Malfoy smirk and explain to him how it was all staged. That it was his way of diverting the ministry and escaping a lifetime in Azkaban. That he would be home to take care of his wife. To Draco's horror he just sat in the chair speaking soothingly to himself.
Unfortunately, he was getting better. The episodes of embarrassing convulsions had subsided. He was holding half lucid conversations and occasionally could hold a non-wizarding game of chess. Draco would have claimed him sane. He held his self in the same demeanor Draco had remembered from childhood, cold but clearheaded. The only difference was the irrational look in his eyes.
Now the same mad eyes, the same delicate voice was trying to convince him to use Ginny Weasley. The same Ginny Weasley, who had brought his father so much disappointment Draco's second year. He knew he shouldn't be listening to him. The man was crazy but to save his mother Draco was would snog a dementor. If that meant making deals with the devil, then so be it.
Draco found himself very uncomfortable sitting across from a lunatic. He quickly broke eye contact, glancing at his shiny new silver wrist watch. It was nearly five o'clock. His mother's nurses would be expecting him home.
"I have to go." He stood up as Lucius let his back fall in his own seat. "Lovely time as always, Father."
"Heed my word Draco." The elder Malfoy called to his son's retreating back. "Heed my word."
~*~*~*~
Ginny stood next to her bed, her entire wardrobe covering her daisy yellow sheets. She had come home, relinquishing the office to her lanky colleague. Now she had the job of finding something to wear.
She had never really been taken on a date. While at Hogwarts Ron would pay attention to her long enough to scare any willing boy away. Since working at the Ministry she'd had enough offers to make her confident with herself, but with her job no time accept any. Seamus had brought her on many lunch dates and if all failed she got to come home to Colin.
'Colin.' Ginny smiled to herself thinking of him. Colin forever her rock. They had not become close, barely talking at all, till their fourth year. Colin was being teased by boys from their own year and house. The taller boys had Colin's camera much out of his reach. Ginny warned them to leave him alone, to give him back his camera. The large fourth years insisted on taunting Colin for being small, un-athletic, and for his ever open and odd fascination with the Boy-Who-Lived.
Ginny recalled threatening them to give it back, or they would be sorry. She jumped for the camera herself to no avail. Hermione seemed to come out of the stone walls of the corridor, flashing her prefect privileges and flanked by her two best friends. The boys stiffened and dropped the camera into Hermoine's hands. Apologizing profusely before scampering down the stone hall. Ginny smiled to see her brother and Harry standing there smirking at each other. 'Her heroes.' She remembered thinking.
Colin had been embarrassed but thanked Ginny and Hermione anyway. That evening in the Great Hall, he sat by her for the first time and Ginny found Colin could be a bit of chatter box. The boy could talk for hours without taking a breath, leaving Ginny no room for discussion but she liked it that way.
"Colin." Ginny called into the empty air of their flat.
"What?" Colin answered from where Ginny was convinced was the kitchen.
"Come help me find something to wear." She whined, throwing a fairly new peach robe to the bed.
"Don't have to yell ya know." Colin replied through a mouth of corn beef sandwich. He was leaning against the open door of her bedroom.
"So," He asked swallowing. "I reckon, another date with Seamus, eh?"
"No." Ginny said hoping her voice was casual.
"Well," Colin asked confused. "Then who?"
"It's not a date, but I'm not telling you. You'll just make fun." Ginny picked up an awful pink dress her mother had bought her holding it to her blue cotton pajama clad chest, before throwing it to the ground.
"C'mon, Gin-bug tell me." Colin begged, shaking his head at a blue sweater Ginny was holding. "I told you when I took out that model chap."
"You weren't embarrassed. You were damn well proud."
"I was not. Models are shallow." Colin argued, handing Ginny a knee length cream colored dress.
"Oh yes you were." Ginny insisted. She was holding the new dress up. "You ran around the flat for hours singing, I'm taking out Jason Morgan at the top of your bloody lungs."
"No I wasn't. I was singing 'I'm taking out SUPER-MODEL Jason Morgan.'" Colin sang, giving Ginny a thumbs up to her new dress.
"Either way, It's not a date. It's....business, and I'm not telling you." Ginny answered, gathering the rest of her clothes off the bed.
"Well, date or not. You're going to look lovely, Gin."
Colin helped Ginny put her clothes away, berating her for the not so fashionable choices that filled her wardrobe. It consisted mostly of oversized Weasley sweaters, denim and corduroy trousers, shoes that were either too big or too small, but at the back of her closet still in it's packaging was the prettiest cloak Ginny could ever afford.
~*~*~*~
Quidditch was a sport Draco loved dearly. The crowds cheering, the mascots dancing, the teams on their brooms soaring higher and higher, the overall excitement. He saw it more like a piece of art than a competition.
He admitted It was different when you played. It was more beautiful. The wind whipping by you and the adrenalin pumping through you as you hover meters above the pitch. One fail swift of a bludger and they would be carting you off to the hospital wing. He missed playing. He really did but he couldn't. Good as he was in school it was nothing compared to professional quidditch. Instead he did the next best thing, and bought himself a quidditch team.
His quidditch team Puddlemere United was facing the Chudley Canons or as Draco preferred to refer to them as talent less fire-orange pigs who unfortunately for all, learned to fly. Draco's hatred for the team only grew as he heard the announcement of the players on that Monday afternoon.
"And as Seeker, Mr. Harry Potter." An overly excited voice proclaimed from the announcer's box.
Draco's hand clasped around his champagne glass a little too tightly and the light gold substance began shaking.
"Didn't know. Did you?" Ginny asked, taking a sip from her own glass. She was sitting to seats away from him pale legs crossed. She was wearing a pale cream dress that fell above her knee when she sat. 'It was suitable for muggles' Draco thought, 'but what else could he expect from a Weasley.' Her mass of wild red hair was tamed, worn down, and straight. It covered her arms and back like a cloak.
She was pretty Draco reluctantly admitted. His father's words ringing clear in his head. 'Maybe Weasley was useful for something.'
"Didn't know what?" Draco asked dragging his narrowed gray eyes up her crossed legs eventually reaching her face. He took a sip from his cool glass.
"Don't play dumb." Ginny answered putting her glass on the table. They were in his private owner's box. "You didn't know, Harry played for the Cannons."
"My Virginia," Draco started with sarcasm."Your surveillance skills are a marvel. How did the Aurors let you slip through their fingers?"
"I was too good." Ginny added. Her eyes never leaving a certain flying fire- orange pig.
"Obviously not good enough for Potter. He surely didn't notice."
"Look Malfoy." Ginny started, "I'm here about the map. Not you and Harry's immature post Hogwarts battle of bigger bananas."
Draco was in the middle of taking a sip of his bubbly, and used all his self-control to swallow. "Well." He cleared his throat. "Since we have talk of bananas out of the way. I guess we should discuss this map business eh?"
Ginny nodded. Her brown eyes never leaving the game.
"What would you like to know?" He asked.
Ginny and Draco shared their information as the orange and blue teams zoomed through the clear September air. They didn't get much bartered as it was a quick game. Harry catching the snitch in an almost personal record. Bringing the Cannons their third win of the season.
Draco took the loss much better then Ginny expected. He didn't break his chair or throw their bottle of shared champagne against a wall. He didn't run out the door proclaiming he was going to kill Walt Mc Heel, the head coach. He stood up his lips pressed firmly together.
"Lovely." He exhaled. His thin nostrils barely flaring.
~*~*~*~
The stadium's security guard opened the door to the owner's box at the top of the steps. Draco let Ginny walk through first. She stopped at the railing to look down onto the few lucky fans adorned in faded blue and flame orange waiting anxiously for their team's players. Each one hoping to get a picture or an autograph.
"Pathetic." Draco mumbled over her shoulder in disgust.
She heard a group of young girls scream and she felt Draco's head next to hers move as a tall raven maned figure was making his way through the sea of orange and blue. A taller man with ginger hair and freckles bound to his side, pushing people off as they grabbed for the Canon's young seeker.
"Ron! Harry!" Ginny called from the balcony, hoping her brother could hear her over the crowd.
She saw Ron look up at the sound of her voice and felt Draco's warm fingers clasp around her upper arm. Ron's sapphire eyes squinted as he sought her out. Ginny waved with her free arm again, and he waved back. Ron grabbed his friends arm, saying something to him and pointing at the balcony Ginny and Draco were standing on. Harry looked up, his green eyes barely making contact with Ginny's as he waved. They both continued on their way out.
Neither man noticed Malfoy standing close behind Ginny. Draco took in her disappointed expression and obvious self-pity. Her brother and lifelong crush barely noticing her with the owner of a quidditch team alone in his private box. Both barely waving as they continued with their busy lives. Draco filed this emotion with the rest for future reference. He collected all the sensitivities he had witnessed from her and placed them in a folder named 'Ginny' in his mind of filing cabinets. He knew they would be more than useful.
"C'mon Weasley." Draco drawled. The hand around her arm steering her away from the railing and down the steps.
~*~*~*~
"Great team you bought there." Ginny said mockingly.
Draco had invited her out to an early dinner, due to the short match. They had not been able to exchange all their information.
The restaurant was not romantic in atmosphere. It was stuffy and reeked of old wizards and witches. The chairs were anything but comfortable. Ginny was sure they were magically manipulating her spine as they perfected her posture. Her eyes roamed over to Draco, and he looked completely content. His back straight. His elbow raised high as he sipped the wine the waiter declared as 'being a very good year.'
"Oh yes." He said taking a sip. "I see them taking the league championship."
"Do you really?" Ginny asked. She was surprised at Draco's sudden admiration and enthusiasm for his team.
"My God no." He snickered. Which wasn't really a pleasant sound to Ginny's ears.
"That's not funny." She insisted. "To put your team down. Do you really expect them to do well, with encouraging speeches like that?"
"Oh please." Draco said taking another sip of his dark drink. "I've only met one of them. That Scottish fellow...Wood."
"What?" Ginny asked baffled. "You haven't even met your team. The men whose futures you hold."
"I bought the team. I'm not their coach." Draco interrupted. "I don't go down to the pitch, give them hugs, kisses, pat their backs, and read them bed time stories. It's not my thing." Again Draco took another sip, "My money is all the encouragement they need."
"I see." Ginny sighed rolling her own half-full glass over in her hands. The dark purple liquid turning red as it swirled onto the sides."So you erased Hermione's memory, eh?" She asked testing the waters of a different subject.
"No, Virginia." He started. Bringing the wineglass to his lips again before setting it empty on the white tablecloth. "I haven't seen Granger in...well over a year."
Ginny didn't understand why, but she believed him. He had no use in lying to her now. He agreed with Ginny that he had been the one to break into her house and steal his map.
"But it was MY map! I had every right to get it back." He had defended.
He also admitted that he had knowledge of Hermione's memory being tampered, but that nothing harmful had or would come of it. Ginny had exhaled loudly with this news. Draco however refused to disclose who had done the tampering. Leaving Ginny with many unanswered questions.
"So," He said staring at her. "Are you going to help me or not?"
"Me?" Ginny asked baffled.
Draco nodded.
"Me." She repeated.
"A name you call yourself." Draco said massaging his brow with his fingers. "Now, if your going to burst into song. I'd rather be somewhere else, so are you or are you not?"
"Not what?" Ginny said. 'Did Draco Malfoy just ask for her help? Again.'
"Going to help me." He asked a whiny tinge to his voice.
"Why should I?" Ginny asked. Her voice unexpectedly calm and steady. 'Why was Malfoy asking for her help?' More important, 'Why did Malfoy need her help?'
Draco's mouth opened then closed, and eyes narrowed for a second. He seemed to have not been expecting this protest.
"Double your pay." He smirked.
"Double my pay?" Ginny asked insulted. Her freckled arms crossing on the table. "Do I look like a bought woman?"
"Do you honestly want the answer?" He studied Ginny's face. No sign of a smile, but narrowed eyes and a set mouth. "What do you want?"
"First, I'd like to know exactly what you want with it." Ginny started pushing her wine glass around nervously with her fingers. Not everyday did Draco Malfoy ask you what YOU wanted. "Second, well...I'd like a part of it."
"Part of what?"
"Part of the map." Ginny answered.
"What for?" Draco asked one silver brow arching. He was beginning to question Virginia's intentions. Maybe his father was wrong. Maybe he shouldn't trust her. She already tried to cross him once.
"You answer my question first." Ginny smiled revealing a deep dimple among her freckles. She knew she had the upper hand and she was going to use it. 'Draco didn't want her. He Needed her.'
"Well then we really are in trouble. I'll give you a quarter of the map, but of your earlier question the subjects closed." Draco slid his uncomfortable chair back and stood up. "So It seems we're at an impasse."
He took a dark velvet sack from his long gray jacket and deposited a few gold coins onto the table. His demeanor seemed uncaring that Ginny had refused to help him. He was walking out expecting her to follow. Ginny could feel her opportunity slipping by. Maybe she was wrong and whatever plans Malfoy had with the map he could do on his own.
Ginny thought the sound of her own voice sounded pathetic as she called after him.
"I'll help you." She called to his back. Draco stopped and was startled to find Ginny so close.
"You will." Draco said, standing to the side to share room between the tables.
"Yes." She sounded defeated. She was making a deal with the devil she knew, but what other choice did she have.
"I knew you'd see the light." He smirked.
~*~*~*~
A/N/O/S: Don't worry Ginny's not still hopelessly in love Harry. It was from D-POV and well, you know.
A/N: Puddlemere United, I looked EVERYWHERE and couldn't find what colors they wear so I put them in blue. I apologize and will gladly change it if someone knows.
To the Great Reviewers: Virtual Faerie- All your reviews are so sweet. Thank you so much, and well I've already given you free reign over the story. I checked out portkey.org and recommend all D/G, H/H, or J/L fans to go do the same. Anyway, Thanks. Blazefury- Thanks a lot, I can't wait to see how it all comes out either. Kallei Karali- No, I haven't killed Hermione off. (Pauses for Dramatic effect) Yet. Just joking. Thanks for the review. Aurora North- Don't we all love angry Ginny and Snarky Draco. Beccs- You don't say much, but it means a lot. August, Aemiliana, Lyss, Me, Elfmoon87: Thanks bunches and schnoogles for everyone.
Chapter V: Quidditch, Dinner, and Let's Make a Deal
Draco walked the long corridors of St. Mungos Hospital. The light green torch lights flickering in the pale blue walls. A guard was walking a few steps ahead and another a few steps behind him. They walked in silence, the only noise the click of Draco's black boots on the stone floor.
He had come here every other Sunday since the year of his graduation. Every other Sunday since the dark lord fell, at the hands of Harry Potter. Every Sunday since his father had been incarcerated. Fudge had been arrogant enough in his ingnorance to sentence Lucius to St Mungo's other than Azkaban.
'Stupid Fudge.' Draco thought. 'Stupid, Fat, Foolish, Too-short, bowler-hat wearing Fudge.'
The guard, armed with his drawn wand, stopped at a stretch of gray bricked stone. The guard Draco knew as Michael from their brief meeting when Draco arrived. His head of light brown hair which was cut unfashionably short, fell a bit shorter than Draco himself. He taped his light against the stones in a pattern Draco had imprinted in his mind. Draco yawned with boredom as the dark-gray stones parted like the Red sea.
The room was bright contrasting greatly to the dark of the hall. Draco stepped through. The room held a single white sheeted cot and sitting at the only table in the room was a man he didn't care to see. His long pale fingers clasped together and lay on the brown and beige chess board. White locks fell on his white uniformed shoulders.
"Draco." He drawled, as unsurprised to see Draco, as Draco was to see him.
"Good afternoon, Father."
~*~*~*~
Ginny yawned stretching her freckled arms over her head. She was sitting in her dark office, the only light coming from the small window. She liked going to her office on Sundays. It meant no one would be there. No one to bother or berate her.
She was examining the dagger again. The beautiful dagger with the emeralds embedded in it's silver hilt. Ginny could see her face's reflection contorted, as if the blade were a carnival mirror. She was studying the blade when she noticed the smallest edge of writing: To hear with sight.
"To hear with sight?" Ginny read into her empty office.
"What?" A muffled feminine voice asked from the door.
Ginny looked up. In the threshold stood a tall blonde behind a stack of over filled boxes.
"Good afternoon Holly." Ginny greeted, making her way to help her coworker with the boxes.
~*~*~*~
Draco sat at the small table across from his father. His father's black marble Knight had taken his white marble Rook. He still was not quite sure how his father accomplished this, but he had to take his father's word for it.
Lucius had begun topics on many things, but Draco had dropped each one quickly. Answering with short Yes and No sirs. He did not want to be here with every fiber of his being. The only reason he made these awkward visits was to please his mother, and up to a year ago, the visits had only been twice a month.
"Draco," he began, dragging his black queen across the board. "How is that map business of your's coming along? The Weasley girl still helping you."
Draco was not surprised of his father's knowledge of the map. He had been the one to suggest Mr. Roberts, but Draco had not informed him of Ginny's involvement.
"Yes sir." Draco answered curbing the surprise from his voice. He kept his gray eyes fixed on the chess pieces, hoping his father might want to drop the subject.
"Do you care to indulge?" Lucius asked. His silky voice more demanding than inquiring.
"The plan is coming along smoothly." Gliding his white Rook across the board to take his father's Bishop."Weasley's involvement has been minimal and by tomorrow evening she will have none at all. She was quite useless really."
"My young son," Draco felt his father's smooth but cold finger pulling his chin up to meet cool gray orbs, "That is where you are wrong."
"What do you mean?" He asked pulling subtly away from his father. His eyes falling back to the inanimate chess pieces. The ministry refused to allow any magical objects within Lucius Malfoy's grasp. Draco had to leave his wand when he arrived as if he were visiting a common criminal.
"I mean," Lucius whispered as he leaned over the game, his thin white locks brushing the pieces. "You could use her Draco."
"That skinny brat." Draco spat sitting back in his chair. "I think not."
"You think too much." Lucius replied a sneer forming on his lips. Draco saw the look in his father's eyes. The same eyes he saw every morning in the mirror, but these had an eccentric gleam to them, undeniably belonging to a mad man. He knew that the ministry was quick to acknowledge his father's insanity. The man was indeed crazy. The doctors and nurses agreed that it had been many factors: The fall of his dark lord. The world he fought two wars for collapsing around him.
His behavior was humiliating, running off into his own world, speaking in gibberish and third person. Draco had been sure it was an act. Something to fool the ministry. He was wrong.
After all the tests, he was given the chance to speak privately with his father. Draco was sure his father would turn to him with his thin lips curled in the Malfoy smirk and explain to him how it was all staged. That it was his way of diverting the ministry and escaping a lifetime in Azkaban. That he would be home to take care of his wife. To Draco's horror he just sat in the chair speaking soothingly to himself.
Unfortunately, he was getting better. The episodes of embarrassing convulsions had subsided. He was holding half lucid conversations and occasionally could hold a non-wizarding game of chess. Draco would have claimed him sane. He held his self in the same demeanor Draco had remembered from childhood, cold but clearheaded. The only difference was the irrational look in his eyes.
Now the same mad eyes, the same delicate voice was trying to convince him to use Ginny Weasley. The same Ginny Weasley, who had brought his father so much disappointment Draco's second year. He knew he shouldn't be listening to him. The man was crazy but to save his mother Draco was would snog a dementor. If that meant making deals with the devil, then so be it.
Draco found himself very uncomfortable sitting across from a lunatic. He quickly broke eye contact, glancing at his shiny new silver wrist watch. It was nearly five o'clock. His mother's nurses would be expecting him home.
"I have to go." He stood up as Lucius let his back fall in his own seat. "Lovely time as always, Father."
"Heed my word Draco." The elder Malfoy called to his son's retreating back. "Heed my word."
~*~*~*~
Ginny stood next to her bed, her entire wardrobe covering her daisy yellow sheets. She had come home, relinquishing the office to her lanky colleague. Now she had the job of finding something to wear.
She had never really been taken on a date. While at Hogwarts Ron would pay attention to her long enough to scare any willing boy away. Since working at the Ministry she'd had enough offers to make her confident with herself, but with her job no time accept any. Seamus had brought her on many lunch dates and if all failed she got to come home to Colin.
'Colin.' Ginny smiled to herself thinking of him. Colin forever her rock. They had not become close, barely talking at all, till their fourth year. Colin was being teased by boys from their own year and house. The taller boys had Colin's camera much out of his reach. Ginny warned them to leave him alone, to give him back his camera. The large fourth years insisted on taunting Colin for being small, un-athletic, and for his ever open and odd fascination with the Boy-Who-Lived.
Ginny recalled threatening them to give it back, or they would be sorry. She jumped for the camera herself to no avail. Hermione seemed to come out of the stone walls of the corridor, flashing her prefect privileges and flanked by her two best friends. The boys stiffened and dropped the camera into Hermoine's hands. Apologizing profusely before scampering down the stone hall. Ginny smiled to see her brother and Harry standing there smirking at each other. 'Her heroes.' She remembered thinking.
Colin had been embarrassed but thanked Ginny and Hermione anyway. That evening in the Great Hall, he sat by her for the first time and Ginny found Colin could be a bit of chatter box. The boy could talk for hours without taking a breath, leaving Ginny no room for discussion but she liked it that way.
"Colin." Ginny called into the empty air of their flat.
"What?" Colin answered from where Ginny was convinced was the kitchen.
"Come help me find something to wear." She whined, throwing a fairly new peach robe to the bed.
"Don't have to yell ya know." Colin replied through a mouth of corn beef sandwich. He was leaning against the open door of her bedroom.
"So," He asked swallowing. "I reckon, another date with Seamus, eh?"
"No." Ginny said hoping her voice was casual.
"Well," Colin asked confused. "Then who?"
"It's not a date, but I'm not telling you. You'll just make fun." Ginny picked up an awful pink dress her mother had bought her holding it to her blue cotton pajama clad chest, before throwing it to the ground.
"C'mon, Gin-bug tell me." Colin begged, shaking his head at a blue sweater Ginny was holding. "I told you when I took out that model chap."
"You weren't embarrassed. You were damn well proud."
"I was not. Models are shallow." Colin argued, handing Ginny a knee length cream colored dress.
"Oh yes you were." Ginny insisted. She was holding the new dress up. "You ran around the flat for hours singing, I'm taking out Jason Morgan at the top of your bloody lungs."
"No I wasn't. I was singing 'I'm taking out SUPER-MODEL Jason Morgan.'" Colin sang, giving Ginny a thumbs up to her new dress.
"Either way, It's not a date. It's....business, and I'm not telling you." Ginny answered, gathering the rest of her clothes off the bed.
"Well, date or not. You're going to look lovely, Gin."
Colin helped Ginny put her clothes away, berating her for the not so fashionable choices that filled her wardrobe. It consisted mostly of oversized Weasley sweaters, denim and corduroy trousers, shoes that were either too big or too small, but at the back of her closet still in it's packaging was the prettiest cloak Ginny could ever afford.
~*~*~*~
Quidditch was a sport Draco loved dearly. The crowds cheering, the mascots dancing, the teams on their brooms soaring higher and higher, the overall excitement. He saw it more like a piece of art than a competition.
He admitted It was different when you played. It was more beautiful. The wind whipping by you and the adrenalin pumping through you as you hover meters above the pitch. One fail swift of a bludger and they would be carting you off to the hospital wing. He missed playing. He really did but he couldn't. Good as he was in school it was nothing compared to professional quidditch. Instead he did the next best thing, and bought himself a quidditch team.
His quidditch team Puddlemere United was facing the Chudley Canons or as Draco preferred to refer to them as talent less fire-orange pigs who unfortunately for all, learned to fly. Draco's hatred for the team only grew as he heard the announcement of the players on that Monday afternoon.
"And as Seeker, Mr. Harry Potter." An overly excited voice proclaimed from the announcer's box.
Draco's hand clasped around his champagne glass a little too tightly and the light gold substance began shaking.
"Didn't know. Did you?" Ginny asked, taking a sip from her own glass. She was sitting to seats away from him pale legs crossed. She was wearing a pale cream dress that fell above her knee when she sat. 'It was suitable for muggles' Draco thought, 'but what else could he expect from a Weasley.' Her mass of wild red hair was tamed, worn down, and straight. It covered her arms and back like a cloak.
She was pretty Draco reluctantly admitted. His father's words ringing clear in his head. 'Maybe Weasley was useful for something.'
"Didn't know what?" Draco asked dragging his narrowed gray eyes up her crossed legs eventually reaching her face. He took a sip from his cool glass.
"Don't play dumb." Ginny answered putting her glass on the table. They were in his private owner's box. "You didn't know, Harry played for the Cannons."
"My Virginia," Draco started with sarcasm."Your surveillance skills are a marvel. How did the Aurors let you slip through their fingers?"
"I was too good." Ginny added. Her eyes never leaving a certain flying fire- orange pig.
"Obviously not good enough for Potter. He surely didn't notice."
"Look Malfoy." Ginny started, "I'm here about the map. Not you and Harry's immature post Hogwarts battle of bigger bananas."
Draco was in the middle of taking a sip of his bubbly, and used all his self-control to swallow. "Well." He cleared his throat. "Since we have talk of bananas out of the way. I guess we should discuss this map business eh?"
Ginny nodded. Her brown eyes never leaving the game.
"What would you like to know?" He asked.
Ginny and Draco shared their information as the orange and blue teams zoomed through the clear September air. They didn't get much bartered as it was a quick game. Harry catching the snitch in an almost personal record. Bringing the Cannons their third win of the season.
Draco took the loss much better then Ginny expected. He didn't break his chair or throw their bottle of shared champagne against a wall. He didn't run out the door proclaiming he was going to kill Walt Mc Heel, the head coach. He stood up his lips pressed firmly together.
"Lovely." He exhaled. His thin nostrils barely flaring.
~*~*~*~
The stadium's security guard opened the door to the owner's box at the top of the steps. Draco let Ginny walk through first. She stopped at the railing to look down onto the few lucky fans adorned in faded blue and flame orange waiting anxiously for their team's players. Each one hoping to get a picture or an autograph.
"Pathetic." Draco mumbled over her shoulder in disgust.
She heard a group of young girls scream and she felt Draco's head next to hers move as a tall raven maned figure was making his way through the sea of orange and blue. A taller man with ginger hair and freckles bound to his side, pushing people off as they grabbed for the Canon's young seeker.
"Ron! Harry!" Ginny called from the balcony, hoping her brother could hear her over the crowd.
She saw Ron look up at the sound of her voice and felt Draco's warm fingers clasp around her upper arm. Ron's sapphire eyes squinted as he sought her out. Ginny waved with her free arm again, and he waved back. Ron grabbed his friends arm, saying something to him and pointing at the balcony Ginny and Draco were standing on. Harry looked up, his green eyes barely making contact with Ginny's as he waved. They both continued on their way out.
Neither man noticed Malfoy standing close behind Ginny. Draco took in her disappointed expression and obvious self-pity. Her brother and lifelong crush barely noticing her with the owner of a quidditch team alone in his private box. Both barely waving as they continued with their busy lives. Draco filed this emotion with the rest for future reference. He collected all the sensitivities he had witnessed from her and placed them in a folder named 'Ginny' in his mind of filing cabinets. He knew they would be more than useful.
"C'mon Weasley." Draco drawled. The hand around her arm steering her away from the railing and down the steps.
~*~*~*~
"Great team you bought there." Ginny said mockingly.
Draco had invited her out to an early dinner, due to the short match. They had not been able to exchange all their information.
The restaurant was not romantic in atmosphere. It was stuffy and reeked of old wizards and witches. The chairs were anything but comfortable. Ginny was sure they were magically manipulating her spine as they perfected her posture. Her eyes roamed over to Draco, and he looked completely content. His back straight. His elbow raised high as he sipped the wine the waiter declared as 'being a very good year.'
"Oh yes." He said taking a sip. "I see them taking the league championship."
"Do you really?" Ginny asked. She was surprised at Draco's sudden admiration and enthusiasm for his team.
"My God no." He snickered. Which wasn't really a pleasant sound to Ginny's ears.
"That's not funny." She insisted. "To put your team down. Do you really expect them to do well, with encouraging speeches like that?"
"Oh please." Draco said taking another sip of his dark drink. "I've only met one of them. That Scottish fellow...Wood."
"What?" Ginny asked baffled. "You haven't even met your team. The men whose futures you hold."
"I bought the team. I'm not their coach." Draco interrupted. "I don't go down to the pitch, give them hugs, kisses, pat their backs, and read them bed time stories. It's not my thing." Again Draco took another sip, "My money is all the encouragement they need."
"I see." Ginny sighed rolling her own half-full glass over in her hands. The dark purple liquid turning red as it swirled onto the sides."So you erased Hermione's memory, eh?" She asked testing the waters of a different subject.
"No, Virginia." He started. Bringing the wineglass to his lips again before setting it empty on the white tablecloth. "I haven't seen Granger in...well over a year."
Ginny didn't understand why, but she believed him. He had no use in lying to her now. He agreed with Ginny that he had been the one to break into her house and steal his map.
"But it was MY map! I had every right to get it back." He had defended.
He also admitted that he had knowledge of Hermione's memory being tampered, but that nothing harmful had or would come of it. Ginny had exhaled loudly with this news. Draco however refused to disclose who had done the tampering. Leaving Ginny with many unanswered questions.
"So," He said staring at her. "Are you going to help me or not?"
"Me?" Ginny asked baffled.
Draco nodded.
"Me." She repeated.
"A name you call yourself." Draco said massaging his brow with his fingers. "Now, if your going to burst into song. I'd rather be somewhere else, so are you or are you not?"
"Not what?" Ginny said. 'Did Draco Malfoy just ask for her help? Again.'
"Going to help me." He asked a whiny tinge to his voice.
"Why should I?" Ginny asked. Her voice unexpectedly calm and steady. 'Why was Malfoy asking for her help?' More important, 'Why did Malfoy need her help?'
Draco's mouth opened then closed, and eyes narrowed for a second. He seemed to have not been expecting this protest.
"Double your pay." He smirked.
"Double my pay?" Ginny asked insulted. Her freckled arms crossing on the table. "Do I look like a bought woman?"
"Do you honestly want the answer?" He studied Ginny's face. No sign of a smile, but narrowed eyes and a set mouth. "What do you want?"
"First, I'd like to know exactly what you want with it." Ginny started pushing her wine glass around nervously with her fingers. Not everyday did Draco Malfoy ask you what YOU wanted. "Second, well...I'd like a part of it."
"Part of what?"
"Part of the map." Ginny answered.
"What for?" Draco asked one silver brow arching. He was beginning to question Virginia's intentions. Maybe his father was wrong. Maybe he shouldn't trust her. She already tried to cross him once.
"You answer my question first." Ginny smiled revealing a deep dimple among her freckles. She knew she had the upper hand and she was going to use it. 'Draco didn't want her. He Needed her.'
"Well then we really are in trouble. I'll give you a quarter of the map, but of your earlier question the subjects closed." Draco slid his uncomfortable chair back and stood up. "So It seems we're at an impasse."
He took a dark velvet sack from his long gray jacket and deposited a few gold coins onto the table. His demeanor seemed uncaring that Ginny had refused to help him. He was walking out expecting her to follow. Ginny could feel her opportunity slipping by. Maybe she was wrong and whatever plans Malfoy had with the map he could do on his own.
Ginny thought the sound of her own voice sounded pathetic as she called after him.
"I'll help you." She called to his back. Draco stopped and was startled to find Ginny so close.
"You will." Draco said, standing to the side to share room between the tables.
"Yes." She sounded defeated. She was making a deal with the devil she knew, but what other choice did she have.
"I knew you'd see the light." He smirked.
~*~*~*~
A/N/O/S: Don't worry Ginny's not still hopelessly in love Harry. It was from D-POV and well, you know.
A/N: Puddlemere United, I looked EVERYWHERE and couldn't find what colors they wear so I put them in blue. I apologize and will gladly change it if someone knows.
To the Great Reviewers: Virtual Faerie- All your reviews are so sweet. Thank you so much, and well I've already given you free reign over the story. I checked out portkey.org and recommend all D/G, H/H, or J/L fans to go do the same. Anyway, Thanks. Blazefury- Thanks a lot, I can't wait to see how it all comes out either. Kallei Karali- No, I haven't killed Hermione off. (Pauses for Dramatic effect) Yet. Just joking. Thanks for the review. Aurora North- Don't we all love angry Ginny and Snarky Draco. Beccs- You don't say much, but it means a lot. August, Aemiliana, Lyss, Me, Elfmoon87: Thanks bunches and schnoogles for everyone.