Author's Note: I realize that this is going to be a pretty short chapter, and that Draco is a bit out of character and all… but I'm leaving for Scotland for eleven days in… two hours, and I thought that you guys might like to have SOMETHING before I go…
So while I wish I could acknowledge all of the great reviews that I got, I simply don't have the time. But thank you to EVERYONE for them! I'm over 200 now! So, sit back, make it last as long as you can, and enjoy!
Draco stood outside his bedroom door for a minute, feeling blissfully wicked and evil. That is, until he looked down. All thoughts of being crowned prince of the Underworld vanished as he realized he was still clad in only a towel. (A/N: insert very sheepish grin from author here)
Well, that explains the strange look the cook was giving me, Draco mused, rushing back into his room to change before anyone else noticed. How the hell could I have missed that? (A/N: yes… how?) Then he remembered Virginia's face, and how soft her hair had been when he was feeling around for the bump she had received. Okay, so that part is understandable…but STILL!
Very quietly, so as not to wake the sleeping girl, Draco re-entered his quarters and found a robe. Checking briefly to see if Virginia was still asleep, Draco deftly exchanged the towel for the less revealing robe. He was sifting through his closet for something to wear when he heard a noise to his left.
Ginny opened her eyes at a faint sound, and immediately located the source. It was a young, lean man with very blonde hair, dressed in a white robe. She half-wondered how she got into a room with such a specimen, when it hit her. That was Draco.
…And he was fully clothed. When did that happen? She wondered, a trifle disappointed, And how did I miss it? That last thought almost caused her to laugh out loud, and she had to stuff her fist in her mouth to keep quiet. Ginny Weasley, since when did you become so scandalous? Half her brain marveled. Since I saw Malfoy in that towel, that's when… Ginny fought back another wave of giggles, and Draco turned around, having obviously heard her. He arched one eyebrow.
"Something you find amusing?" he asked her.
"What? Amusing? No, no… not at all," Ginny lied. "Uh… I see you've found yourself some clothes?"
…Tell me I didn't say that out loud.
Draco flushed a bit, but recovered quickly.
"Oh, this old thing?" he indicated the robe. "Actually, I was just taking it off," he teased, and toyed with the belt as Ginny determinedly glared. At his face.
"As you wish," she shrugged, catching on to the game. " but it's so cold in this bed…" she trailed off suggestively, propping herself up on her elbows in a very… becoming position. Now it was Draco's turn to stay focused on her face.
"Pity," he said, clearing his throat. "This should help." He whipped his wand out, and conjured a very heavy comforter, which nearly flattened Ginny. She scowled at him.
"Oh, aren't you the clever one? Never mind that," she interrupted Draco as he began to agree with her. "Did you bring me something for this?" she indicated the bump on her head. Draco's eyebrows were raised quite high now.
"Now you want my help?" Ginny rolled her eyes, exasperated, as he disappeared into a side room for a brief moment, and reappeared a moment later dressed for dinner in dark green dress robes.
"Never mind," she sighed. "Let's just go to dinner."
As Virginia swept out of his room, Draco rushed after her, tutting loudly.
"Manners, my dear Miss Weasley," he chided, when she turned to face him. "You can't possibly be thinking of attending dinner without an escort, could you?"
She didn't stay to hear more, but continued down the stairs, yet again leaving Draco to chase after. It was beginning to grate his nerves. He caught up with her on the last few steps, and caught her arm.
"In this house, Miss Weasley, a dinner guest of the female persuasion is always granted an escort." They stared each other down for a few moments – or rather, Draco stared Virginia down and she stared him UP – before she caved, mumbling under her breath something Draco couldn't quite catch. He decided he didn't want to know.
Author's Note 2: Anyway… I realize that this chapter is pretty out of character for Draco, and I'm sorry – I'll patch it up in the next one. I just wanted to get you guys SOMETHING before I left for eleven days. Enjoy!
