Disclaimer: I do not own this. Although, I do deserve to be sued for being such a bad author.
Summary: In which a friendship begins, babies are babysitted, and weddings are planned.
Author's Notes: (More are at the bottom of the chapter.) This chapter will be split into two chapters. I'm sorry for the delay and you have the right to be mad at me. Please check out my other stories and review. Lubb you all. And just for the wait, I'll speed some things up. ;) I'll have the next chapter up soon because I'm off for summer vacation. This chapter is not Beta'd, andI don't think my Beta reads my story anymore... Any applicants to be my Beta?
Chapter V: My Hands Around Your Throat
Ginny carefully placed the tip into her inside pocket and continued to do her rounds. She was at her job, a week later from the incident. Malfoy had not said one word to her. Blaise was not around the house anymore. The whole plan had abolished itself. She had not gotten any information from any Death Eaters, let alone any work done at all. Her computer was on the verge of crashing with a virus, and she had made a note to transfer all of her files.
She spent most of her time at Luna's and had no idea why she was even living with Malfoy. It was pure stupidity. They weren't getting any work done. They weren't going to get any work done. They didn't want to work together.
Ginny placed another slug scotch in front of a blonde, red eyed man and swiftly turned around. She felt something tug at the back of her jacket and looked behind her to see a dark Moody, in charge of her personal training, grunt.
"Yes?" she asked, exasperated.
"Sit." She did as she was told. "Pick a drink."
"That's all very well said and done, but I actually have to make a living." She stood up to leave.
"Did you catch Malfoy's arrogance too?" said Mad-Eye.
"No, and don't you dare accuse me of being like that toerag." She warned him.
"Could have fooled me. So, how are things? Getting along?"
"I almost avada kedavra'd his sorry arse."
"Ginevra, I need to tell you something-" Moody began.
"What is it? I have a job to do, and it's the only one I've got." Ginny said promptly. Moody just shook his head.
Ginny scoffed and clicked her tongue. She briskly tended to some elderly couple's lunch, when she heard a rich laughter.
She froze, mouth gone slack. Mother. No. No. No. No. NO! She quickly wrapped her leather jacket firmly around herself and slowly turned, eyes closed. She little by little opened them and almost died on the spot.
Narcissa Malfoy and her poor mother were talking excitedly and laughing in between sentences. Ginny furiously made her way to the counter, trying to find some place to hide.
"Ginny, dear! Come here, please!" Her mother called. Ginny's stomach flipped, and she suddenly felt sick. She obeyed and made her way slowly across the bar.
Stopping in front of their table, she braced herself for the utmost criticism. Ginny mentally slapped herself for wearing trainers, a pair of jeans, and the leather jacket. She looked like a slum. Her fears came true when she watched Mrs. Malfoy look her up and down, finding her flaws.
"I'm very please to meet you, Ginevra. You look well in good health. Although, with strong children like your mother's, you probably don't get sick at all. I'm Narcissa Malfoy." She seemed cheerful for a rainy day like this one. Her platinum hair looked to be highlighted with silver and gracefully swept around her face. She had the most breathtaking blue eyes that Ginny had ever seen. Unlike Narcissa, Malfoy had the coldest grey eyes she had ever seen.
"Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy." Ginny spoke as politely as she could. Her mother looked at her with a large smile and closed the hefty, leather bound book that the two had been looking at. "What is that, mum?"
"A wedding planner. Bill and Abigail are going to be married soon. Tell me dear, what color dress should we order?" Her mum's face was positively beaming. "And remember, we need something that will compliment Bill's hair."
Ginny gave a confused look and shook her head. "I have no idea. Why don't you ask- hmm- the bride?" She said sarcastically and quickly gave a smile of apology to Narcissa.
Her mother chose to ignore her and folded her hands patiently. "How is everything? Seeing as though I heard all about your brand new job from Ronnie. Now tell me, what it is that you do that you're wearing that garment?"
Ginny knew exactly what her mother was talking about. The bodice. She couldn't get it off. It was as though the corset itself had a sealing charm around her body. She had tried everything. Garden tools, acid liquid joke drops, her dagger that Luna had given her, and any sharp object she could get a hold of. Ginny had been bathing more than usual and putting washing charms on herself to keep her skin from getting putrid. She was beginning to think that her mother was implying that she was a whore. Either that, or someone was definitely out to get her.
"I'm helping Mal- Draco with personal issues that I could probably discuss with you later." Ginny said. However, she didn't mean to say what was coming next. "But why is Mrs. Malfoy here?"
"Ginevra, mind your manners!" Her mother warned her.
"Sorry."
"That's quite alright, Ginevra. I admire your audacity. Boldness really is the trait of Gryffindor. To answer your question, I'm here to help Molly with the wedding. And she is helping me with my friend's son's wedding."
Ginny smiled back at Mrs. Malfoy's own smile and felt her cheeks slightly flush.
"Do you think you could do me a favor, Ginevra? My best friend's daughter has lost her nanny for the evening. I was wondering if you could watch her for a few hours. Draco will help you, I'm sure."
"Okay."
"Good. The family will drop her off at three. They will pay you as much as they do their regulars, and I assure you that the child is an angel."
Ginny rushed to the manor after her shift and put on a pair of overalls and a collared lavender shirt. She quickly pulled her hair into a hair tail and scrubbed most of her makeup off. It made her look sixteen again, not almost twenty two.
She walked downstairs and paced nervously in front of the door. Would they floo? Drive? Ride by broom?
Ginny looked at her watch and wondered about the child in question. Mrs. Malfoy's friend had a daughter? And that daughter had her own child? Was the child a boy or a girl? Was it really angelic? How old was it?
Being the baby in the family, Ginny had rarely been around children younger than her at home. Ron was the closest to her age.
"I can't wait for it to come!" Ginny heard a very energetic Malfoy enthusiastically say. Ginny smiled. He liked children too.
"Neither can I." Ginny replied. Draco walked toward her and stopped in front of the door.
He smiled back at her and impatiently began tapping his foot. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Draco rushed to open the door.
What he saw made a grin come to both their faces.
"Can I hold it first?" They both asked at the same time.
They both exchanged strange glances as Ginny was handed a small bundle in a blanket. Draco looked confused.
The poor man who had handed Ginny the baby was elderly and looked to be the butler of another large estate. He handed Draco a bag and bowed, leaving them both.
Draco looked in the bag with a puzzled look to find nappies and bottles. "I guess my package isn't coming today." He said with a look of disappointment.
Ginny gave him a look of disgust and violently grabbed the nappie bag away from him.
"Let's go to the kitchen, so we can feed the cute, wittle, precious baby. Now, what is your name, wittle baby?" Ginny cooed.
Draco looked at them in horror as they walked into the kitchen. A baby? Ginevra had not better known its name. She had better not own it either.
Draco walked into the kitchen to see Ginny holding said baby, feeding it a sterling silver bottle, and brushing its hair with a wool baby brush. Who would want to take care of a baby when they didn't have to? There were house elves for that.
"So… What is it?" Draco asked, dispassionately. He actually felt quite nervous around the thing.
"What do you mean, what is it?" she whispered, but still snapped at him. "It is a girl. Her name is Isca. If you're just going to ogle at it, then get out."
"Fine. I'll just be sitting down in MY chair with MY paper, minding MY own business." He finished gruffly and gracefully sat down at his kitchen chair.
"That's a good boy. Now, would you like to-"
Ginny was cut off by the sound of the doorbell. She mentally winced. "Gods, hold the baby, Ferret Boy. What am I saying? Get the door, smart one!"
Draco got up roughly from his chair and made his way to the door. Upon opening it, his eyes almost popped out of his head.
"Why hello!" She just stood there, leaning against the door frame, arms folded. Her lips were pulled into a pout, and she had the darkest blue eyes. Her curly hair was a shiny light brown and it complemented her fair complexion. She was wearing a white skirt that was a little too short for her own good and a purple shirt that revealed her navel.
"Are you going to let me in, or are you going to let your eyes pop out of your head and fall to the floor?" She asked sarcastically, looking at her nail beds.
"Who- who are you?"
"Red's friend. Anymore questions, bright one?" The last statement sounded remarkably like something Weasel would say.
Ignoring his confused look, she waltzed past him and automatically headed toward the kitchen.
"JESUS! YOU HAD A BLOODY BABY? WITH HIM!"
"No, Le Fay. Calm Down. I'm babysitting. And shh. She's sleeping."
"Suuuree… And why does the baby have blonde hair and brown eyes? Riddle me that."
"I have no idea."
"Aha! So you do own it! You didn't tell me? I'm crushed! What happened to our friendship? And for a one night stand with him! Are you insane? You can't raise it all by yourself! And-" She stopped in mid sentence.
"And?" Ginny pressed on.
"And why didn't you let me have a go with him first?" She pouted.
"First of all, I have a- significant other. Second, feel free to jump his bones. Thirdly, you sicken me."
"What do you mean by significant other, Red?" Le Fay asked, sitting down in the nearest chair. She held her arms out, and Ginny deposited the baby in them carefully.
"He hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend or anything. We've been on a few dates though. He's great really. True definition of tall, dark, and handsome." Ginny sighed and rested her head on the countertop, playing with the buckle on her overall.
"Well no wonder!" Her friend grinned and pointed at her with a free finger. She had the now-asleep baby in her arms and was rocking it back and forth. "You look like you're twelve, Red. You really need to find some new clothes… I have an idea."
Ginny groaned, and Le Fay rolled her eyes and continued. "Bring him. I'll take care of Blaise and Draco. Bring Luna. I'll send you a note later."
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Red,
I hope you did owl Raleigh. This will be so much fun, just the six of us! Meet us in the Leaky Cauldron at two so we can chat and eat lunch. As said, I've owled Blaise and Draco. Luna's coming with you, right? I know you won't disappoint me, Gin! Don't bring any money, as I'm paying for your new wardrobe. Can't wait to speak with you again.
Le Fay
Ginny groaned as she rolled up the letter and sent her owl off. She went over to her closet and pulled out a pair of jeans and a large orange jumper with the letter 'G' embroidered onto it. She slipped on a pair of white trainers and kept her hair down. She muttered a spell to untangle it and dry it.
Ginny walked down the stairs to see Malfoy reading a paper at the kitchen table. He was sipping coffee and occasionally rolling his eyes. "Are you going to ogle at me like an idiot or are you going to eat breakfast?" He gestured to a plate of scrambled eggs and some toast. A glass of orange juice had already been poured for her, and next to it was an empty coffee cup.
"Thanks, hun. But I think I'd rather have some cereal." She sat down at the table, ignoring him as usual. "And I would like to have some coffee."
It was Draco's turn to ignore her. He managed to go five minutes without saying a word. "I'm sorry, Weasel."
"For what?"
"A week ago. I didn't mean what I said. You angered the hell out of me, and I, well, I said some things that were very inappropriate. Do you accept my apology?"
"Wow. I'm going to have to write this down. July twenty third, two thousand and three at-" Ginny paused to look at the clock. "nine thirty two. Draco Orion Malfoy apologized to Ginevra Molly Weasley for the first time without a hint of sarcasm or cynicism. I must say, I'm impressed. And I take back everything I said." Ginny had a large smile on her face, and this caused Draco to summon a smirk.
"Everything? How generous-"
"Except ugly. I have to say, Drakey, you're the ugliest thing I've had to live with in months." She had interrupted him. She was still smiling, about to crack up laughing. "Say, Drakey… Have you taken a drink out of your steaming hot cup of coffee?"
"Nice try, Weasley. But even you can't Weasel yourself into this one." He was still smirking and put down his paper. Lifting up his coffee cup with an air of victory, he stared at her as he took a long drink.
Ginny was ignoring him now. She was planning on a way to get his coffee, seeing as though the pot was already empty and she was too lazy to make another pot. Taking out her wand in a discreet manner, she managed to summon his coffee into her own cup by her plate. She picked up her filled cup just as Draco realized his was empty.
"You little witch… That was naughty."
"Yes! And Weasel scores again! Whoo hoo! Ferret zero, Weasel two." Ginny began to laugh again and took another sip of her cup of coffee.
"Oh yeah? Well Ferret's going to be grumpy today if he doesn't get his cup of coffee."
"Sorry, Ferret. Can't have it. It's already tainted with Weasel germs. Try again."
Ginny was caught off guard when she found herself 'glued' to the chair. Draco had bound her with a charm. She rocked back and forth, trying to get out of the chair. Meanwhile, Draco had picked up her cup of coffee and sneered at her while her rubbed a napkin around the rim of the cup. "You see, Weasley? I always get what I want." There were three sips of coffee left in the cup, and he finished it off in seconds. Setting the cup down, he prodded the ropes with his wand. "Finite Incantatem."
"You could have just asked." Ginny huffed. Her thought suddenly turned to the outing today. "Are you going to the Leaky Cauldron today?"
"Yes. Something about Le Fay wanting to go shopping with the two of us. You're coming too, right?"
"Yep. What do we do until two?"
"I've got an idea."
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If you had told Ginevra Molly Weasley three weeks ago that she would be eating mint chocolate chip ice cream with Draco Malfoy… Well, she probably would have cracked up laughing.
She was sitting with Malfoy at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor doing just that. And they were having a grand time.
"Why'd you take me here?" She asked, digging into her sundae and avoiding the cherry.
"Well, we're sealing the apology agreement. As much as I'd hate to admit it, I need your help."
"That's funny," she commented and looked at the cherry on his spoon in disgust. "So… Do you like cherries?"
"I-" Draco was interrupted by two hands being wrapped around his eyes.
"Guess who?"
Draco paled. If that was even possible. He knew who was behind him. One of them-
"I reckon he's lost all ability to speak. Should we help him along, Georgey boy?"
"I think we shall. Here, eat this." The other Weasley brother, Fred, watched as George put a small slip of paper in Draco's hand and a green cookie.
"Leave him alone, you two!" Ginny forced herself not to laugh.
"Why is-"
"He taking-"
"You are-"
"On a-"
"DATE!"
Half the ice cream parlor turned to look at them. Ginny's ears quickly turned red, as did Fred and George's.
"Just telling us about their products! You should really check out their shop sometime! Further down the road…" Draco said to the whole shop and rolled his eyes when his head turned back to the twins. "Now, what do you really want?"
"Honestly?" They asked at the same time.
"No. Let's make it a lie… Of course we want it honest you gits!"
"Jesus, Gin. We just wanted some ice cream and-"
"We found the two of you here. Now, what are you doing here?"
"We're going over business plans," Ginny lied quickly. "Mr. Malfoy's showing me land propositions."
"For what?" George asked. Draco tried to hide his puzzlement.
"What do you mean 'what'? Are you daft? I'm moving from my flat into a larger estate. I needed help."
"Oh. Well the least you could do was to tell us before we freaked out, Gin."
"Yeah, we could have hurt poor Drakey over here." George rolled his eyes and ushered his twin out of the door.
"What'd they give you?" Ginny asked, a twisted smirk on her face.
Draco handed her the cookie and decided to read the paper. Words appeared on it as he read, as if they were having a conversation with him after they left.
Stay away from our sister.
She's the only one we have.
Keep your hands off her or we'll cut yours off.
If you were doing business, where's the pictures of the houses? Paperwork? Your suit?
We're not stupid, Ferret Boy.
We know.
Best not to show this to our innocent, fragile, and much too good for you little sister.
And we'll be watching you.
So watch your back.
"What's the letter say? Oh, and they tried to give you a Weasley Shrinking Cookie. Merlin only knows what that would have done..."
"The letter? Oh, nothing. They gave me their business line. Told me I could come by sometime." Draco's voice was unnaturally high.
"Oh, that sounds nice."
"Yes it does." He replied, trying to hide the pained expression on his face.
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Author's Notes: I am /SO/ sorry! I've been so preoccupied lately. I just got out of school, having lots of problems, and am very distraught. My cat died yesterday. God bless you, Ozzy, this is goodnight, not goodbye.
I /will/ make the updates sooner! I apologize for breaking my promise and the delay, Love you lots and please check out my other stories,
Mellia Black