AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everybody. Back. Without improvement. Feeling depressed. And too lazy to write in complete sentences. Stupid grammtically-incorrect cow, it's all those stylebook-discs-of-doom's faults. Anyhoodles, here's the next chappie. Goddamn, what on my green earth is wrong with me? I've entered the Twilight Zone! Na-nee-nah-na-na-nee-nah-na...wait a tic...47 grams of sugar? Well, that explains it...note to self; stop accepting drinks from friends who cannot be labelled as 100-percent trustworthy. Am not feeling so depressed anymore. But will when see loads of flames. Or worse...nothing.

Damn.

DISCLAIMER: Not mine if it belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Mistaken Liaisons

Chapter Four: The Request

Blaise was smiling so broadly it almost hurt. Ginny slid her eyes along over to him and secreted a wink at him. He smiled broader, certain he would split his face in half. Draco was looking absolutely gobsmacked, his mouth hanging open as he took in the littlest Weasley who was…well, not so little anymore.

Blaise had to hand it to the woman; when she wanted to make an impression, she had the strength and cunning of a Slytherin and the means to do so. Even now, standing in front of them in only a somewhat revealing pair of shorts and a little white vest, entirely paint-spattered with paint smeared all over her face and hands, she looked imposing.

Draco finally found his voice. "Weaselette?" he coughed, voice sounding strained. Blaise snickered and put another one lost to the Ginny-magnetism. She tilted her head back, peering down her blue nose at him.

"I prefer Weasley, which, unless you really never did figure out what all those little squiggly inked things on paper mean, is my real surname. Leave it to a Malfoy to laud his intelligence and perfection over others and yet still be illiterate." She sneered in a drawl that matched Draco's in contempt and sarcasm.

Blaise fought a grin; he knew it would do no good to encourage this, especially if they were to all live in one household together. He nearly lost it though, when Ginny flashed him a brash, triumphant smile. That brought Draco back over the edge.

"I wouldn't expect you to know much about literacy, Weaselette." Draco spat at a last snatch to regain his previous composure. Ginny, however, simply turned back to him with a coolly simmering, almost patronizing smile. "Welcome back, Malfoy. I'd thought we'd lost you." She smirked. "But where are my manners?" she said and Blaise knew that wasn't the end of it. "Just because you have none doesn't mean I shouldn't." she thrust her hand, black and purple, out.

Draco stared at it pointedly, not bothering to hide his disgust. Ginny rolled her eyes and wiped her hand deliberately on her shirt, spreading a healthy blackish-purple streak down the white. She stuck her hand out to Malfoy.

"Ginevra Weasley, delighted to make your acquaintance." Draco wasn't quite sure what to make of this, so he took her hand briefly in his. "Enchanted." He drawled, a smirk flashing over his features as he brushed his lips over Ginny's knuckles.

She slipped a glance at Blaise that quite clearly stated that he was either going to owe her exceedingly or he was going to die a very painful death. Ginny pulled her hand away, gesturing towards the sofa. "Please do sit; I'll be right back." She shot a withering glare at Blaise that was not without its humour, before sweeping out of the room.

Draco turned to Blaise, an odd, glowing look about his drawn countenance. Blaise saw a familiar look in his eyes and let out a laugh. Draco's lips slid down into a confused frown. "What?" he asked curiously. Blaise grinned knowingly. "You've got it bad, mate." Draco arched an eyebrow. "What are you on about?" he asked, sinking down into the pouf across from the two-person couch Blaise was sitting on.

"She's changed since school, hasn't she?" Blaise asked with a smirk. Draco shrugged. "She's just as filthy and stupid as she was then." He snarked, waiting for Blaise's accompanying laugh.

It never came.

"Merlin…you really do like her, don't you?" Draco asked in awe as Blaise said nothing. "She's my best mate, Draco. Just try to get along with her and don't call her anything that'll make me have to re-grow any of your appendages." He asked in a low voice as Ginny swept back into the room, having scoured the living hell out of her face and arms with a spell.

She came back into the room in a pair of Blaise's old jeans Draco actually remembered from Hogwarts. She slung herself casually onto the couch, landing next to Blaise and tucking her head into the nook of his shoulder so comfortably that Draco suddenly knew this was something they were used to doing. They had a weird bond that didn't allow for any awkward discomfort.

Ginny jabbed an elbow into Blaise's ribs. "Retaliation." She spat under her breath. Blaise smirked and hung an arm over her shoulder. Draco was wondering if Blaise was gay; he knew he wouldn't be able to have a girl like that in his reach without… 'standing up'. He shook his head slightly, reviewing his own thoughts. She's a Weasley, Weasley, Weasley, Weasley, Weasley…

"So, Malfoy. What are you up to these days? Working?" she asked, only slightly maliciously. Malfoys never worked for money. Draco sneered at her. "Not currently. You?" he asked, knowing perfectly well what the answer was; the whole wizarding world had seen her disgraceful dismissal from the Ministry of Magic's Auror division in the Daily Prophet. Ginny growled, fisting her hands in Blaise's pants. "Oh, just writing here and there." She gritted out, soothed only slightly by the thumb Blaise was rubbing gently on her wrist.

Ginny took a deep breath and settled back into a more relaxed position, damned if she would be riled up by a Malfoy. "So, what are you doing in town?" Ginny asked pleasantly, forcing manners and good-nature into her voice for Blaise's sake. Right now she hated them both, but she figured sooner or later she'd have to start liking Blaise again because he was her best mate and currently had her shampoo, which she would eventually want back. As much as she hated him, Malfoy was Blaise's best friend from Hogwarts, and that was just something she would have to put up with. A sudden outburst of cold sweat broke over her brow; pain swept through her in a dull flash and her pulse speeded as she wondered if this meant Draco was now Blaise's best mate. She didn't want to lose the best friendship she'd ever had, especially to Malfoy.

Draco shook himself out of his moniker mantra and turned a questioning glance up to Blaise, realizing Weasley had just asked the question only she herself could answer. Blaise wrapped both arms around Ginny, resting his chin on her shoulder. Ginny didn't even bother turning to look at his face. "What do you want?" she asked impatiently and a tad bit snappishly.

Blaise was idly drawing little figure eights on her arm. "Erm…well, you see…Draco has sort of…run away from his father's home…he's left the Death Eaters, you see…and he doesn't really have any money and…" he took a shallow breath as he felt Ginny stiffen slightly. He plunged ahead before she could cut him down.

"…andhedoesn'thaveaplacetostayandItoldhimhecouldstayherewithus." He breathed very quickly, wondering what it was about the two of them that made him so edgy. Perhaps it was the fact that they were both capable of, and willing to kill each other. Draco hadn't caught but a few words of that and had no idea what Blaise had said.

Ginny had. Blaise could tell she was displeased; her nostrils were flaring ever so slightly and he could see angry, red blood rushing through her veins and seeping up the backs of her ears and neck. She breathed in and let it out through her nose, closing her eyes.

When she opened them, her pulse had reduced to normal. "I'm sorry we don't have an extra room; however, I'm sure we can find a place for you to sleep. This place is rather small, so I suppose you could share a room with one of us…" she trailed off, not wanting to actually go so far as to offer him her room when she really didn't want him staying…not if it could jeopardize her friendship with Blaise.

"We already have." Blaise said, more than a little frightened at her gracious hostess attitude. He felt relief wash over him as Ginny pinched his side; she was pissed, but not angry. Good, he thought, picking her up by the waist and swinging her around.

Draco watched as the two scrabbled around and fought. The girl Weasley had certainly changed…and Draco was finding he didn't mind the transition. Ginny turned around facing Blaise and started pummelling the pillow he was holding up as a shield. Draco stared at her arse…no, he really didn't mind the transition…

…

Much later that night, Draco really couldn't fight the yawn trying to escape his lips. Ginny immediately noticed and slapped Blaise on the back of the head. "Zabini, you git, shut up. Our guest" she stressed it slightly, hinting at distaste so only Blaise would hear it "is tired and no one really wants to know exactly what you did with Parkinson on the floor in Moaning Myrtle's lavatory." She said, getting up off the couch.

"Well, I think I'll turn in as well." Ginny said, not looking vaguely tired. She turned as Blaise stood and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "'Night Blaise." She said cheerily, not forgetting to add a whispered 'I'm going to murder you in your sleep and make it look like an accident' into his ear as she turned back to Draco.

"'Night, Malfoy." She said, a little harshly, sticking her hand out to shake. Draco took it in his and kissed her knuckles again. Ginny merely rolled her eyes, snatched her hand away with a strained smile, and strode from the room. Blaise saw her wiping the back of her hand on his jeans to rid it of Malfoy-slobber as she disappeared into her room.

Once Blaise had shown Draco into his room and gathered some of his clothes and necessities, he walked back into the living room. He glanced once at the sofa with blatant dislike and turned on heel out of the living room.

…

He peeked through the crack in the door.

He smirked with what was bordering on glee as he slipped into the room, noting that she was indeed, wearing clothes. For once. He made his way to the bed, once again wondering how she ended up with the bigger bed. He frowned momentarily, noticing that the only sleep cover she had was a single patchwork quilt one. He got cold and liked to have a good, thick blanket.

Sighing and surrendering himself to a cold night next to a warm-blooded woman, he slid under the soft cover. He stared at Ginny, watching her sleep. Or at least pretend to. He reached out and punched her stomach. Her brow furrowed and he saw her intentionally pout her lower lip in a movement that had led her through many men's beds.

"I'm sleeping." She grumbled tiredly, rubbing her stomach. "Go find your own bed, Zabini." Blaise grinned as she blindly smacked him across the face and, moving in closer, stared at her face. She flicked one eye open and promptly turned over, her back to him. He frowned slightly.

"Sparky?" he asked tentatively, using his favourite nickname. She said nothing. Blaise's frown was on full-blast now. "Alright," he said gruffly, flipping her over and pulling himself to sit on her waist. She let out a whoompf of breath; he was no pixy. "What's wrong?" he asked gruffly.

"Fuck Zabini, get off." She breathed, sounding very strangled. He scooted back, sitting on the tops of her thighs resolutely. "I'm not getting off until you tell me what's wrong." He pestered. She frowned and looked away, crossing her arms over her chest stubbornly. "Nothing." She growled. Blaise rolled his eyes.

Taking her chin in his fingers, he turned her to face him. "Don't play stupid with me, wench…I know every trick and move in your book and something's gotten under your skin. Is it Draco?" he asked.

The way her eyes flickered up to his for a moment and the way her arm muscles clenched told him he was bang on. He sighed. "Listen, I know he's a bastard most of the time…but just give him a chance; he's got things rough and for it all, he's a fine enough bloke, really. He gave up the Malfoy name and fortune and left his family and home."

She nodded and it occurred to him that she knew all this. For a Weasley, she was damned clever. No, it was something else that was bothering her. "Mm-hmm. I know. He's a great bloke, no doubt. Good friend." Her teeth were definitely grinding now.

And suddenly, Blaise grew a brain. He knew, as if a sudden bolt of lightning had crashed down…

She was jealous.

Ginny glared up at him as he started laughing, knowing that he was laughing at her for some reason. "Well, I'm glad someone finds this amusing." She drawled in annoyance, trying to roll over and turn her back to him. He pinned her down, still trying to maintain his laughter.

"You-you're jealous!" he laughed, amazed to no wit's end. He could feel Ginny's glare sizzling his black hair. "And what have I to be jealous of a no-good rotten twit of a bastard ferret like Malfoy for, eh?" she snarled, angry that he was laughing at her and enraged that he'd read her so easily.

"Oi, Sparky…" he said, ceasing his laughter as her eyes blazed angrily. "You stupid little chit…you're my best mate, you know that, right?" she shrugged her shoulders in an admittedly infantile manner, refusing to look at him. He made a grumbling noise deep in the back of his throat and pulled her face over to his. "Right?" he asked, staring her down. She narrowed her eyes and nodded once. "And no matter how many of my old Slytherin mates come to live with us, you'll still be the only person who can annoy the hell out of me the way you do and still live, right?" Ginny felt her mouth quirking up in a grin.

"Can I have your word on that?" she asked.

Blaise was about to answer when suddenly there was a fist in his stomach and they were once more rolling around and fighting, as if absolutely nothing had happened.

They stopped to allow Ginny to reset Blaise's nose, deciding one broken nose was good enough for tonight. They collapsed back down on the bed and Ginny tucked her head into Blaise's chest, asleep in minutes.

…

The next morning came far too quickly. Draco stumbled from the room Blaise had left him in. The hallway was dimly lit and he nearly ran into a wall a couple of times. He managed to make it to the kitchen without killing himself.

Blaise was at the kitchen table, taking large gulps out of a coffee mug and looking a little tired. Draco glanced once over at the unmade, unused sofa and arched an eyebrow. "Still haven't shagged her yet?" he smirked.

Blaise glowered at Draco as he took the seat across from him. "Have not, nor will not." He stated firmly, trying to keep down what he was drinking. "I don't know what kind of incest they practice at Malfoy Manor, but I for one, wouldn't even imagine ever shagging my sister. And Ginny's more like a sister to me than anything…besides being my best mate." He added thoughtfully.

Draco nodded, eyes flickering over to the back of the house. "Is she with anyone?" he asked, a spark of interest in his voice that did not go unnoticed by Blaise. He shot Draco a look. "I'm not sure…she goes through them like tissues…you'll have to ask her. Why?" he asked, trying not to grin.

Draco covered his arse nicely, though. "No reason…just curious. I didn't think any man would let his girl live in the same house as a young, handsome, randy Slytherin male." He said, adding in a smirk of his own. Blaise grinned. "That's not true," he said thoughtfully, looking at Draco appraisingly "you're not that handsome, Malfoy." He smirked.

Draco glowered, on the verge of saying an unnecessary and rather petulant 'I was talking about you' when an owl flew in through the window. Blaise took the letter attached to its leg and opened it as the owl flew off. Draco watched as Blaise read the letter over.

Rolling his eyes, Blaise tossed the letter into the sink carelessly. "Excuse me, will you, Draco? Apparently the famous, renowned, world-wide sensationalist Lei Chang, associate head of Solid, the largest magazine in western Europe, needs my help figuring out where she misplaced her favourite quill." He sounded far too disgruntled for Draco to assume that this was something Blaise was going to enjoy.

Draco snorted. "So…are you shagging her?" He was hit with a wave of nostalgia at the infamous 'Death Glare' Blaise sent him that was reminiscent of the one he had seen so many, many times during his days in Slytherin.

"I'll take that as a yes."

…

Ginny rolled over onto her side. It took her a moment to wonder why she felt so strange in her own bed before she fell over the side with a thump. Trying to figure out just exactly how she managed to fall off a bed that could have housed Crabbe, Goyle, and Hagrid easily, she climbed back on the bed, grumbling now at the nauseating thought about who her mind had just placed in her bed together.

As soon as she figured out how to manipulate her muscles into cohesion, she was so Disinfecting her bed.

She was just in the process of drifting off into a deadened sleep when she heard her door creak open. Her hand slid noiselessly under her pillow as someone entered her room. Those weren't Blaise's footsteps…she knew Blaise's footsteps as well as her own.

The foreign footsteps continued into her room even farther, the door closing almost silently behind them. When she calculated whoever it was in her room was by her bed, she bolted up. Catching the stranger at the neck, she shoved him up against her wall, her wand at his throat. His very, very smooth and freshly shaven throat smelled of Blaise's shaving cream.

She stepped back, staring at the smooth-faced young blonde man goggling at her. "Malfoy?" she asked in surprise, wondering why Draco Malfoy was standing in her room even as the events of the previous night came flooding back to her. "Oh…" she said simply, pocketing her wand and running a hand through her sleep-tousled hair.

Draco was still staring down at her as though she was some new and interesting species he'd just discovered. She felt acutely awkward and sidled past him, running into the safety of the bathroom and it's most amazing feature; a locked door. Turning the locking mechanism behind her, she settled herself on top of the toilet lid, putting her head in her hands.

How the bloody hell was she supposed to live with Malfoy?