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Chapter Two:

"Is that all you need?" Hermione wanted to know as she peered into the suitcase by the door. Ginny nodded silently from her sprawled eagle position on the bed, not bothering to reply. She was suppose to be at the Manor at 15.30 and it was already 15 minutes past the hour. Somehow, it was impossible to find the energy and move at all. Now that she had actually had to face the music, she couldn't do it.

"Ginny, you better get move on," the brown haired woman said firmly and walked over in the attempts to drag the girl up. Ginny fell back boneless the second she was let go.

"I don't want to! Why me? What have I done to this world to be punished like this? Fred and George are far more evil and look at them! I've only mashed a live spider into Ron's food once! And my single hypnotising attempt on Percy to make him only dress in a cauldron for Halloween never worked, so that doesn't count."

"A cauldron?" Hermione spluttered.

"Yup- it was when he went on and on about those cauldron bottom reports, remember? I got so sick of it that I wanted him to do something fun and that was when I found one of Dad's muggle books on hypnotism. I used Percy's old Head Boy badge as pendulum. God knows it's shiny enough." A smirk appeared and Ginny's voice took on a reminisce tone. Unfortunately, Hermione wasn't distracted from her real purpose.

"You need to move soon, Ginny Weasley. You can't let the Malfoys think that healers at St.Mungos are unprofessional by turning up late."

Ginny replied thoughtfully, "You know, St.Mungos is the only magical hospital in Britain, so I doubt it matters. If they want to have treatment else where, they'd have to go over sea to find it and that means leaving the country. Since everyone would be happy to see the back of them, I'll be deemed a heroine as I'll be the one to shoo them out! Like St. Patrick with the snakes in Ireland or something!"

"And all by just turning up late?" The redhead pretended not to hear the cynical tone in her friend's voice and carried on dreaming of being heralded the heroine who had now slain the Malfoys.

"Draco means dragon you know…so it's perfectly reasonable for me to try and slay a dragon. They're so dangerous, so they shouldn't be allowed to live and scare off the kiddies… I'll be called Saint Ginevra. I think I'll use my full name for this, as it sounds more grand than St. Ginny."

"You're talking about killing a human. As much as a lot of people would cheer for you, the only new title you'll gain is Inmate 892K5 at Azkaban."

"Why are you ruining my fun?" Ginny demanded crossly and sat up to glare at her friend.

"I'm pointing out the obvious. Now stop delaying and apparate to the Malfoy Manor or I'll body-bind you and give you to Ron- he's quite mad at you after what happened yesterday, especially since the twins are milking it for all it's worth."

"It was his own fault," Ginny whined, dragging her body off the bed nevertheless. "I never thought I'd see the day you'd be so eager for me to walk into the jaws of the serpent though, Hermione."

She sighed. "For the love of Merlin, just go Ginny."

"Yeah yeah, you've done your job here- I'll be off. If you don't hear from me in say ten days time, be sure to get the Ministry and raid the basement, 'k? I'll probably be locked away, starved and tortured and desperately need salvation." She leaned over to pick up her suitcase and paused to look at Hermione. "Don't forget to bring Harry when you do the raid- poor dear needs to rescue someone soon. He's getting rather wilted around the edges now that he can't save the world seeing as he's already done that. I don't mind being the damsel in distress anyway. Cheerio." With the last comment, Ginny picked up her suitcase and closed her eyes to apparate.

Nothing happened.

Hermione watched with a bemused expression on her face. The clock was ticking and it would not do for Ginny to make a bad expression on her first day.

The redhead screwed up her nose and tried to apparate again.

Again, nothing happened.

Ginny opened her eyes and stared at Hermione in shock. "I've become disabled! I'm a Squib now!"

"Don't be so silly, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation." The bushy haired girl frowned and tried to think of all the reasons that would prevent apparation from taking place. It was rather hard with Ginny wailing in the background about becoming a squib, but someone had to keep their head in situations like this. With Harry and Ron for friends, it was a good thing that she had plenty of practises in stopping herself from conjuring up angry gerbils to stick down their throats. Good for Ginny, to say the least.

"Oh Draco, is this your home? It's amazing!" The brunette on Draco's arm gushed and leaned closer to the man, who quickly hid his distasteful expression and leaned closer to plant light kisses on her throat instead. That shut her up as she fully returned the attention. He came up for air and glanced at the grandfather clock in the parlour before muttering a slight curse.

"Cynthia darling, it looks like I'll have to interrupt our little session- Mother's live-in healer will be arriving soon."

The woman pouted her full lips whilst tugging her skirt down from her waist. "You're dismissing me for the house staff?" she wanted to know.

"Not dismissing you…just delaying the inevitable. They do say a little waiting adds to the climax…" A slow predatory grin lit up his face and his voice came out in a low teasing growl.

Cynthia paused in thought and Draco could practically see the clogs in her head turning as she tried to make sense of what he had meant. After what appeared to be 5 minutes later (he had timed it using the clock), she nodded and smiled coyly. "See me to the door?"

"Of course," he said gallantly, offering his arm.

When he returned, the grandfather clock's long hand had already reached half past but there was no sign of Ginny Weasley. Maybe she got cold feet, he certainly hoped so. Draco could just imagine the fun that he could kick up at St. Mungos: imagine- a healer failing to turn up and look after her charge- someone who's dying from long term exposure to Dark Magic without the proper protection. Visions of him, Draco Malfoy, bringing down the Weasleys from the perch they had gained after the War shined brightly in his mind, and it offered almost as much entertainment as seducing the girl herself. Almost, but not quite.

A long bang in the chimney was heard, shaking Draco out of his reverie. He jumped up with the wand already in his hand as he faced the fireplace. A giant puff of black soot followed the noise and Ginny topped out in a heap on to the floor.

"Well, well, well. Never thought I'd see the day- a Weasley kowtowing before me. So what changed your hatred to undying adoration for me?" Draco asked, amusement clear in his voice. "Let me think of my qualities, shall I? I'm sure I can guess. So was it my handsome looks? My winsome witticism? My endless wealth? My vast sea of knowledge?"

"Shove off Malfoy. If you were so clever, you could have at least told me it's impossible to apparate to here." Ginny bared her teeth at him, furious that she had panicked into thinking that she was a squib, and all because of him.

"Ah, I did not think of that little apparation problem." To her surprise, he offered her a hand up. Ginny accepted warily.

Draco pulled her close and smiled, his eyes deep enigmatic silver. She was too surprised to resist as his face came closer and closer. Fleetingly, she wondered if she should close her eyes. Don't be daft- it's Malfoy here! He wouldn't want to kiss me.

"What are you doing?" Ginny demanded angrily, inches from that pair of full, irresistible lips.

"Just admiring the view." He told her easily. A finger came up to trace her cheekbones. She could feel the small tingle where his hand had been and almost begged for more. "You're dirty by the way. Before you attend to Mother, a shower would be advisable. Servants' rooms are in the East Wing. Knobbles will show you." He pulled back abruptly and waved his hand. A house elf in a pillowcase appeared by the doorway and bowed to its master.

Ginny stood in the parlour, stunned at his sudden disappearance before his parting words registered. "I'm NOT a servant!" She yelled furiously. A lazy chuckle from somewhere was her only reply.

3 reviews but 80 hits...? i'm disappointed.

Thanks to the following for reviewing: Jessi Brooke- glad you're giving it a try and hope you like this chapter!

nun outfits are cool- here's more...

Alexandria J. Malfoy- lol. i take it you like this them )