Author's Note: Wow! I'm over 50 reviews already, and this is a first! Can't tell you all how happy I am; this just gives me more motivation to keep writing!
And I know, I know, the plot is starting to stray a little from 'My Fair Lady', which is a bit unfair to those of you who are reading it for that twist…So I'll do my best in the next few chapters to make it up to you and get this baby back on track.
BulimicBarkingSqurril- lol I'm glad to see you're very enthusiastic about this- and if you'd really like me to tell you, it's spelled squirrel… ;)
Darcel- What? No maids? *gasp* hehehe, I don't have any brothers, but I can tell you I took advantage of my older sisters in much the same way…
Nancy- What's that? Skidding through doorways? WHERE??? Ah how I almost wish I was at school today! ;)
Draco's Cutie- Thanks! I'll try to keep it up to par…
Zoe- LOL I agree, it isn't the tea that's scrumptious!
Jenni- See above… lol
Sabriel14- Yeah, wherever that is is right…lol I need to get this thing back on track…*shakes head* but I'm glad that you think it's keeping its light tone- that was my goal from day 1!
Anjelline- Hehehe, so glad you enjoyed that chapter!
Louisa- Breathe, darling, breathe…
MelissaAdams- well, here's your next chapter! J Read and enjoy!
And now, a little more action at the Malfoy Manor! (No, not the action you're all looking for…not yet… lol) Oh, and I know that this first part with Draco is a little OOC, but I'm sorry! I couldn't think of any other way to do it… (Gimme a break, I'm sick and my mind isn't working as well… lol!)
Draco didn't know what had come over him- here he was acting like a schoolboy, for goodness sakes, over a cup of disgusting tea…but for some reason, the only thing that mattered to him right now was that Virginia Weasley saw that he could do something as menial as making tea.
"Do you like it?" he asked, studying her face carefully.
"It's scrumptious," she replied, without hesitation. He knew that she had to be lying, of course- the tea was revolting. Draco grinned; a real, honest-to-goodness grin, not the Malfoy smirk. What in the world was going on here? He was just considering pouring her another cup, (but if she was lying about the taste, wouldn't it be rather cruel of him to subject her to his awful tea?) when she set her teacup down and looked around.
"Quite a fancy place you have…" Since when was Virginia Weasley so friendly with him? She'd come here quite curtly to grab her purse and leave, and now she was making small talk!
"Would you like the unofficial tour?" Draco stood and began to pile the tea set back onto its tray.
"Why, I think I would!" A smile played about her lips as she watched Draco.
"I'll just wash up then, and after that we can-" He stopped as she hastily stood up and took the tray away from him. "What are you doing?"
"Look, Malfoy. I let you make the tea. And if truth be told, it was ghastly…worse than any tea Ron's ever made- actually, Ron is quite good at making tea…" Draco snickered. Figures that the Weasel would be one to bustle about in the kitchen. "But that's not the point. The point is, I wouldn't want you to drop any cups or anything. Let me wash up." And before Draco could protest, she was setting off down the hallway for the kitchen.
Ginny rolled her eyes as she heard Draco sidling down the hallway behind her. It was obvious that he didn't want her to clean up, but she wasn't about to relinquish her power. For that's what this was about- control. Sure, he had the upper hand with the tea, but she couldn't let him think that she was a pushover. No siree…Draco Malfoy would have to find out that Virginia Weasley had a lot more to her than red hair and freckles.
He hovered around her as she cleaned the tea set, and as soon as she was finished, he took off down the hallway. Ginny didn't really know what had made her long for a tour, but she'd always admired fine houses, and, well…when would she have a better chance to inspect one? Much as she loved the Burrow and its coziness, she sometimes longed for the finer things in life.
Draco was a very good tour guide- not only did he obviously know the purpose of each of the rooms and such, he knew the history of them as well. The architecture, the time period in which it was furnished; Ginny found herself learning quite a bit about the styles from the early 19th century, which seemed to be a favorite in this house.
She was surprised at the manor; in all of her previous years at Hogwarts, when the Malfoys still embodied the Dark Arts, she had imagined the fabled manor to be dark and gloomy- like the villain's castle in a fairy tale. But this manor, the one that Draco was showing her, was (well, she wouldn't say bright and cheery…) tasteful and elegant; nothing close to what she had imagined.
Malfoy led her up to the fourth floor, and was showing her around some of the lesser rooms that they used to entertain less formal company, when a small house-elf, dressed in a sapphire blue sheath sort of outfit approached them.
"Bitsy!" Draco hailed the elf as she came towards the two of them. "What is it?"
"Bitsy has a note for master," she told him, looking hastily at Virginia, and then back. She leaned in towards Draco, who squatted down to hear what she had to say. "Is it alright for Bitsy to give it to him…here?"
"Yes, yes, it's fine," He waved her along, and she handed him the note. "Thank you," The elf hastily retreated downstairs. Draco opened the note. It was in his mother's handwriting.
Draco dearest,
Owing to the marvelous salon last evening, I have decided to give the servants the rest of the day off- they did work rather hard last night, didn't' they? I am sure you won't mind, and by the time you get this, I will be away already. You see, one of my dear friends is in town, and the two of us have decided to get together and have some tea and do some shopping… Bitsy of course shall be home to take care of you if you need anything- don't expect me until later this evening.
Ciao, darling!
"Oh…." Draco scanned the note quickly again, then folded it and put it in his pocket. "So that's where everyone is,"
"What?" Ginny asked, curious. He turned to her. She was looking up at him, perfectly at ease- something he never could have expected. Even at the salon the previous night, there had always been that bit of tension between the two of them; he was a Malfoy, and she was a Weasley, for goodness sakes. He couldn't say truthfully that he didn't like the idea that she could be comfortable with him, but- Damn it, Malfoy, there you go again! When will you learn to hold your tongue- er…thoughts?
"Nothing," he snapped, and instantly regretted it, as he saw her face close up.
"Well, thank you for showing me around," she replied curtly, and made to leave. Desperately, Draco tried to think of a way to make her stay. It wasn't that he wanted her company, necessarily, but he did need some company in this house.
"Wait!" Damn it, that sounded way too anxious, he thought. Virginia turned slowly.
"Yes?"
"Er, you…haven't seen…my quarters yet!" Using his amazing facial control, Draco masked the worry on his face. You dolt! Your quarters, of all places? Mentally, Draco was berating himself for his stupid move.
"And what is so interesting about…your quarters?" Virginia asked, stepping a bit closer.
"They, uh, they…have a…spectacular view," he replied, trying to keep the huskiness out of his voice. Damn she looked good sometimes. MAYDAY Draco Malfoy, MAYDAY! His mind screamed at him. "Would you care to see?" He cockily raised one eyebrow and held out his arm. Flashing him a killer smile, Virginia Weasley accepted and stepped with him through the doors to his room.
Author's Note: Dun dun DUUUUUN!!! *dramatic music plays* Hehehe, aren't you all just DYING for the next part? (haha, to tell the truth, I am too!) Well…you're just going to have to wait! Mwahaha…I'm sooo evil. See? Little horns. ;) Please read and review!
