~*~*~ Unadulterated Bliss ~*~*~

Ch 10: Abated Fears

Draco leaned against the corridor and cursed himself for forgetting to write a certain time to meet her. He'd been standing there for a rather long time, but he didn't want to leave, in the fear that she might come right after he left. Wishing that he'd brought something to occupy his time with, he sat on the floor. No sooner did he do that, when he heard voices just outside the corridor. Female voices.

"Well, we got here soon didn't we" (followed by a nervous laugh).

"Come on, Gin, I'm sure it's not going to be him...Now just go."

Seconds later, she was in front of him. He abruptly rose onto his feet, curiously noting her relieved face.

"Virginia Weasley," he said smoothly, "how very kind of you to come. I hope I do not disappoint. I am rather curious though, as to whom you were expecting."

"Oh," she seemed startled. "When I first got your note, I was terribly afraid that it would come from...someone else."

"And who would this someone else be?" he gently probed, seeing her anxious face.

"I thought it was from Ryan. I thought he was still angry from what had happened the first day, and wanted somehow to get revenge." Her words became quieter and quieter.

"Well, I'm sorry to have caused you any distress. The point of the matter is, that I sent you that note in order to ask you a favor."

"A favor?" she looked up at him astonished.

"Yes, a favor. You see, my friend Pansy Parkinson and I have this agreement that we would go with each other to such social functions as balls and whatnot, unless either party particularly wanted to go, and either asked or was asked by someone else. Earlier today, she came up to me and told me of being asked by Blaise, so now I am without a date. And I was wondering, if you would go with me?"

He said everything with such confidence and even gentleness, that shocked her. She had heard much about the reputable Draco Malfoy, but had never really expected such kindness. She had observed him with his friends, and saw that he was nowhere near the sneering, brute that she had believed; but was instead lively and energetic, and possessed a thoughtful side to him that she would never have believed was there.

She looked up and saw that his eyes had remained steadfastly locked to her person. She smiled and said, "Yes, I'd love to."