Chapter Twenty:

(A/N. Hello everyone. Sorry I took so long. I've been super busy. Well if you'd like to learn more about me I have a livejournal and the URL is on my profile. Enjoy!)

As soon as Virginia was better, Draco offered to continue tutoring. She surprised him by not even asking what happened or why he'd saved her. He had the suspicion that Harry had told her his own version of the events. He shouldn't have cared that she now thought he'd saved her to win a game, but he did. However he knew if he tried to correct the story it would only sound like the whine it was. At the moment, he was sitting beside her on a table in the library. His feet propped up on the desk, and his astrology book open on his lap.  Virginia was working on a practice test that Draco had drawn up for her. His silver eyes wandered away from the pages full of star charts as he watched her work. He watched as she bit her lip over the tougher problems, smiling faintly as she understood it. Soon he saw that she was finished and she pushed the packet toward him with a bright smile. Draco snapped his book shut and dropped his legs.

"I'm feeling puckish, let's go get something to eat." He said, tucking the packet into his bag to correct later.

"Draco, lunch was a while ago and dinner won't be served for another few hours." She said frowning at him.

"Then we'll go to the kitchens." Draco said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Isn't that against the rules?" She cried and he laughed, standing up and walking toward the door, Virginia quickly following him.

"Come on, Weasley, don't be a wuss." He taunted easily, no malice in his smooth voice. Behind him, she sighed and followed. They went down to the kitchens where Draco stopped in front of the painting of a bowl of fruit. Although he knew perfectly well how to get to the kitchens, he had never visited them before. He reached out cautiously and tickled the large green pear. Finally, it gave out a small giggle and a handle appeared. Draco pulled it open and stepped inside a large room with high ceilings. Brass pots and pans lined the walls and a immense brick fireplace was off to one side. Hundreds of house elves bustled about preparing the food for dinner. Draco strutted in, followed by Ginny, and a few house elves looked over at them.

"Would you like something, sir?" A small voice piped. Draco glanced down and saw a blue eyed house elf smiling up at him.

"Yes, do you have something to eat?" He asked, conscious that he was treating these elves far differently than those at home.

"Yes, sir, of course, sir." Instantly six elves trotted up, silver trays laden with plates of food. Two more houselves pulled out a small table and two chairs. Draco dropped into the seat and grabbed a small cupcake. Suddenly he realized Virginia was still standing by the door.

"You done gawking, Weasley? You know, you should close your mouth before a bug flies in." He teased. She glanced over and blushed furiously. "Well come on, then." He encouraged motioning toward the seat across from him. She quickly moved to take the seat.

"MASTER MALFOY???" Exclaimed a high-pitched, very surprised voice. Draco froze, his cupcake halfway to his open mouth. He closed his mouth and turned, subconsciously sitting up straighter a menacing air surrounding him. He looked up and was met with a very odd and colourful sight. A house elf was staring at him in shock and horror through enormous green eyes and his bat-like ears were quivering fearfully. He was wearing a bright purple tie, orange shorts and a pair of mismatched socks. The overall image was quite ridiculous. Draco coughed politely…several times. His shoulder quivered as he tried to contain his laughter and he pressed a fist firmly to his mouth. He ducked his head until he regained control and then raised it slowly. Virginia was looking at him strangely, her eyes sparkling beautifully.

"Do I know you?" Draco said still struggling with his laughter. Virginia grinned at him and tutted.

"Use that brain you're always bragging about, Draco. This is Dobby." Recognition hit him like a bat and his good humour died immediately as his eyes narrowed.

"Oh. You're that house elf that bloody Potter managed to free." Draco sneered, ignoring the glare Virginia threw at him.

"Yes sir, it is Dobby." The house-elf replied meekly. Draco turned away and looked down at his tea, carefully spooning some sugar in.

"So you came here after you were sacked." Draco stated bluntly. The house-elf continued to tremble.

"No, sir. Dobby travelled all over looking for a job…but no one is wanting Dobby…" He trailed off.

"I wonder why?" Draco said sarcastically. The little house elf looked at him sincerely, not understanding Draco's cynicism.

"It was because Dobby wanted pay, sir." The house-elf said. The delicious pastry caught in Draco's throat. He swallowed some tea to force it down.

"Pay?" He repeated incredulously, chocking out the words. The house-elf nodded and Draco noticed how the other house-elves sent him disapproving glares. "But…but you're a house-elf!"

"Yes sir, but Hermione said that it is good for house-elves." Dobby stammered out softly. Draco rolled his eyes.

"Figures this would all be that blasted mudblood's idea." Draco scoffed his face contorted in a sneer.

"Master Malfoy should not talk that way about Harry Potter's friends." Dobby said warningly.

"Uh, another sodding Potter fan." Draco muttered angrily, grabbing a roll of bread. He turned back to the green-eyed elf. "Well…um…it was…nice seeing you…By the way, I like your socks." Draco said fighting to keep a straight face. Dobby's face lit up.

"Thank you, sir! Dobby has a hundred and one pairs now." The house-elf said proudly before walking away.

"Does he have a foot fetish?" Draco demanded as he turned back to Virginia. His comment earned him a smack on his shoulder. "Ow, Weasley that hurt." He said pouting making Virginia grimace.

"Don't pout, Malfoy, it looks absurd." She snickered. He glared at her and she smiled. "See? Much better."

"Oh, bugger off." He said and threw a piece of bread at her. She laughed and threw it back at him. He titled his head and caught it in his mouth. She raised an eyebrow.

"Why, Draco. I am now officially impressed." She stated with a firm nod. He raised a responding eyebrow.

"Really? And unofficially?" He asked, noticing that Dobby the house-elf had left. She rolled her eyes.

"Unofficially? Why Draco, that's a secret." She said. His usually smirk filled his handsome face.

"I see." He glanced at the clock. "Come on Weasley, we'd better go." He said and stood up.

"Why, Draco? Scared to get caught with me?" Virginia teased. Draco turned around to face her.

"How on earth did you know?" He gasped, feigning shock. She rolled her eyes and stomped past him. He smirked and turned to the elves. "You'll have to excuse Miss Weasley's, she has a Harpy's temper." Draco said and heard an outraged screech from outside the portrait.

"I heard that!" With an exaggerated wince Draco raced out.