Author's Note: Hey all! Wow, I've been getting more and more reviews lately for each chapter! I have to say, I'm quite encouraged by it!
So I figured that the last part was quite nasty of me, and I'd try and make it up to you all by posting another part. (Though I don't know how happy everyone is going to be with me after this one…)
Nancy: Are you sure that's why your mouse was smoking?
MelissaAdams: Yes, Draco can be pretty evil, can't he?
Darcel: No, I can't say I've read those books; I'll have to check them out. And normally, yes, Ginny would probably freak- but as we've all noticed, there's a little something coming over her these days…
Jenni: I'm afraid you'll have to wait in line for that unofficial tour… I'm next lol!
Zoe: Well, as disappointed in your lack of appearance in this as you are, I'm terribly flattered… ;)
Anjelline: Thank you! I'm feeling better already! J As for anything happening…read and see!
Pumpkinpiebaby: You've actually reviewed before, and I'm thrilled you chose to do so again. It's more of Draco's POV that you want me to put in, is that it?
SAngel: Well, I'm glad you like it with all of my strayings…lol I'll try not to not stray too much… hahaha!
Kinboshi Hiko: Whoa there… ;) I'm doing my best to update! And I know- that cliffie was pretty evil…
Sabriel4: Draco? He's bonkers. But we all knew that. ;) And yes- Professor Higgins was always a bit too…old and snooty for me… lol! But we'll see just how far away from him Draco really is… lol! And I'm absolutely tickled you think I'm funny- especially because those are the hardest parts for me! J
Thief: Thank you so much! I only wish I had as much talent as you think! lol
Phew! Now after that long and exhausting Author's Note…I think I'll call it quits.
NAH, I'm just fooling with you all… lol! Here it is, boys and girls! (Probably mostly girls though LOL) Enjoy!
VIRGINIA ABIGAIL WEASLEY! GET OUT OF HERE IMMEDIATELY! Ginny's mind was screaming at her, positively apoplectic with horror at what she was about to do. Great, now I've got Mum invading my mind? Ginny shook herself and looked around. She was still holding Draco's arm, (still? It had only been about four seconds- when would she have let go?) and he was watching her with a rather strangled look on his face- almost one of frantic worry and delight. Oh Gods, what am I doing? She panicked. How did I ever let him get me in here? Dismayed, Ginny nearly turned and fled with all the strength that she had, but something stopped her. Go. GO. Go faaar away! Her brain was furious with her at this point. Every ounce of learning and years of experience Ginny had told her that this was some sort of a trick- that the last hour or so had been a dream and there was no way Draco Malfoy was shyly inviting her into his room. She was a Weasley, for goodness sakes, and even if he wasn't… evil, like everyone thought…the one thing he hated most (or so she thought) were the Weasleys.
But her body was telling her something extremely different.
Sure, maybe he's setting you up for something…but how many girls get the chance to be personally invited into Draco Malfoy's rooms? Ginny's imaginary devil perched on her ear and started whispering to her. Okay, so maybe a lot. But still…carpe dium! Seize the day! So what if you're going down? At least enjoy the ride! Ginny started to agree with it, and began to smile coyly. Then her "Mum-like angel" broke in.
Enjoy the ride?! The only ride you'd better be enjoying is the one home young lady, because there is no way this will go well. This can only end in tears! (A/N: Haha, if any of you have seen Anastasia it's possibly one of my favorite lines- but it's hard for me to picture Molly Weasley with a Russian accent…) Ginny's head was beginning to throb from the inner conflict (she couldn't believe how fast it all went by- mere seconds, at the most) when she heard a faint noise, and Draco stiffened.
She turned to look at him, and found herself ushered out of the room. "What?" she asked, confused.
"It's time for you to go," Draco haughtily replied, smoothing back his hair and hurrying her down one flight of stairs. "You should consider yourself quite lucky- not many receive such an extensive and informative tour of the Malfoy Manor." Yeah…I'll bet, Ginny snorted. As he pushed her down the second-story staircase, Ginny halted.
"Draco Malfoy! What is the meaning of this? One minute you're being friendly and polite, showing me around, and the next, you're pushing me out the door! You were practically begging me to stay before- showing me your quarters, indeed!" Ginny could feel herself turning red with anger, and she was resisting the urge to smack him across his snobbish little face. His very attractive snobbish face… "Ohhh…shut up!" she yelled, accidentally voicing out loud her frustration at her confused feelings.
Draco's face set itself. "While I am sure that you have made very gallant efforts at retaining your visitors, Miss Weasley, showing off your rooms- er, room- may not be the best method." He retorted, pale face just the slightest bit flushed.
SMACK!
Ginny could hold out no longer. She was sick of him. Sick of his little games, sick of his arrogant, conceited ways, and most of all, sick of his disgustingly beautiful house.
"Show off that," she spat, and stormed down the stairs, Draco hot on her heels.
"How dare you strike me," he grabbed for her arm, but she jerked away.
"Don't you touch me!" Ginny screeched. He looked so angry; while she wanted to believe that he would never stoop to hitting a lady, she could tell that he was close to the edge. "You keep your hands off of me, or…or… I'll have you in court faster than you can say albatross!" With that, she turned to leave, finding herself facing none other than the very lady of the house- Draco's mother. Why does she keep doing this? Ginny nodded curtly. "Good day, Mrs. Malfoy!" she strode out of the house without looking back.
Draco stood there for a moment, fuming. How dare she. Strike a Malfoy. In his own house. He never- he simply couldn't believe it. He dragged his eyes away from the angry form retreating down the drive and faced his mother.
"Draco Malfoy, what is the meaning of this?" She was staring at him, absolutely horrified. "And what was that Weasley girl doing in this house?"
"She came to retrieve her bag, Mother. And what should you have against having a Weasley in the house anyway?" He glared, resisting the urge to rub his burning cheek. His mother looked completely shocked at his audacity.
"For your information, I have nothing against the Weasley family- I find them quite delightful, if a bit rustic…I do, however, like to be notified of who is in my house and when. I would like to make it clear to you that no one is to set foot in this house without my knowledge, do you hear?" She turned on her heel to leave. Draco had never heard her speak like that- like an actual mother, instead of a fashion plate. It gave him that feeling of resentment one gets when being told off.
"Do not speak to me as if I were a child, Mother!" He called to her, hands clenched. "You missed that chance! Do you hear yourself? You sound like Father," he spat, before making his way up to his rooms. The nerve of that girl… slapping me like I was some…some…common criminal! I should have known better- Mother may have nothing against the Weasley family, but I most certainly do- and there is no way that miniature Weasel is setting foot back in this house!
Draco knew that he was unnecessarily upset, that Ginny had had every right to treat him like she did; he had after all completely pushed her away. But he couldn't have had his mother or another visitor find the two of them together in his room! She would have had a fit… Draco supposed that he should calm down and consider the situation rationally. But once his Malfoy temper had gotten a hold of him, nothing would settle that rage but retaliation.
Ginny aparated back to the Burrow enraged. She still could not believe the impudence of Malfoy- with his fancy house and fancy manners- fancy was all he had going for him!
The sight of her home softened her mood a bit. She loved her family, and their house, and since it was her dad's birthday in two days, the whole family would be visiting. Bill and Charlie were due to arrive today, as was Percy. (Along with Penelope) Sighing to cool her fiery temper, Ginny pushed open the back door.
"Gin! Where've you been? We missed you this morning," Fred was bounding down the stairs as she entered the kitchen, trying to turn his green Weasley sweater around to the front.
"Oh, I had an errand to run," she mumbled. It wasn't really a lie- she did have an errand to run- it just shouldn't have taken an hour and a half to run it…
"Well at least you're back!" Fred flashed her one of his winning grins as he snatched a scone from the table. Their mother was nowhere around, so he figured he was safe. Ginny stifled a laugh as a piercing voice echoed through the kitchen from the living room.
"Fred Weasley! I see you sneaking food! You put that back immediately and come fix this cat!" Ducking into the living room, Fred winked, and innocently tried to convince his mother that he had had no part in the shrinkage of the family cat. Ginny sighed, and while her mother was occupied with Fred, seized a scone to give her brother later. She was on her way to her room when two heads popped out of a door to her left.
"Ginny! Long time no see!" It was Bill- he looked as cool as ever, with his earring and long hair, only this time he looked like the cat that caught the canary.
"…What are you two up to?" she asked, eyeing Charlie, who was grinning mischievously at her from behind Bill's shoulder. A third head peeked out from around his other shoulder.
"Welcome back, Gin! Er…you didn't happen to see Percy down there, did you?" George asked. Ginny shook her head slowly. "Ah. Marvelous. You see…the bloke's in a bad enough mood already- apparently some friend of his…Zoe, or something, literally attacked him- Penelope walked in on the two of them…Percy swears he had nothing to do with it-"
"-but we don't believe that," Charlie winked. "Anyway, Bill brought him a, er, present from Egypt…and gave it to him without realizing quite what a mood he was in…try and keep him away from us, eh?" Ginny, originally horrified at Percy's plight, cocked her head.
"What did you give him?" she asked Bill.
"Oh, you'll find out,"
Author's Note: THERE. That's got to be my longest yet. And while there's none of the action I'm sure you all were hoping for, weren't all just cheering Ginny on? I, for one, was resisting the urge to have a musical number in there- "Just you wait Draco Malfoy" ;)
Who is this mysterious Zoe trying to snog Percy?
What will become of his engagement?
What did Bill give him?
Will Draco ever forgive Ginny?
Will they ever get together?
All of these answers and more in the next part! Well, no. Not in the next part. And we may never know the answers to all of them. So you'll just have to hang tight and wonder. ;) Read and review please! Ciao!
