Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter characters, or magical situations which are described in J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter series, and so on, so forth.
A/N: This chapter has very small, minute Ginny/Tom interaction. There is a small Lucius/Narcissa scene.
Enjoy!
CHAPTER THREE-
Tactics.
Maybe it was an obsession, for you could always catch Tom watching Ginny, sometimes with a vicious look, sometimes pensive, and sometimes blank.
Ginny knew that Tom had begun to spy her a lot, especially at the rare occasion of a party (which neither of them took any pleasure in). Ginny thought he was becoming suspicious, although there was barely anything to notice. But, someone did notice.
She had been standing alone, like she always did at parties, by the doors leading out to the West Garden, when a middle-aged woman named Mildred Cray approached and begun talking to her.
"Miss Weasley," Mildred took a quick glance over to where Tom was with some of the other men, "how are you?" Ginny was surprised. No one ever came to talk to her, and Ginny thought that Mildred was trying to be nice. Mildred was simply a woman who would like to insult others in subtle ways to make herself feel good.
"I am fine, Mrs. Cray," Ginny said politely, glancing over at the groups of chattering women. "How are you?"
She ignored Ginny's sentiment. "That is a fine dress, Miss Weasley, I see being the Dark Lord's mistress has other...perks," Ginny frowned questionably at her, "but, your stomach seems to strain against the fabric slightly," she gave a small smirk. That'll teach her for upsetting my daughter.
Ginny didn't see the petty insult; she saw Tom staring thoughtfully at her, Ginny became startled, and moved quickly away from the smirking woman, and mumbled a 'goodbye.'
Lucius Malfoy had noticed something also.
"Narcissa," he said, trying to reason with his stubborn wife, "there is an obvious...affection for that muggle-loving brat."
"Lucius," she said amused, and also annoyed at Lucius' insistent chatter on the subject, "I really don't think that love is a capability here."
"I did not say love," he said, propping his feet up on the desk, where Narcissa promptly pushed them back to the floor. "Now, obsession is a capability."
"She has not even been there for a year, Lucius, that cannot happen in such a short space of time," Narcissa replied, checking her fingernails.
"You only took a minute," he said smirking. Narcissa glared at him. "The Dark Lord has not been in such a close proximity with a girl in this way for this long."
"Does it matter that much?" Narcissa said offhandedly. "I don't think the Dark Lord will appreciate you trying to babysit him."
"She's an annoying interference," he said. "Maybe you should strike up a...friendship with Miss Weasley," he gave a knowing glance to Narcissa. "Keep her away from him." He mumbled something.
Narcissa grinned, and said pointedly. "You want him to finish plans. Well, I'll only do it for you, but," she stood up, standing over him. "You'll have to arrange these little meetings though, won't you?"
"Yes, dear," he replied in a resigned tone.