CHAPTER SIX: Ginny and Dragons

Charlie groaned in irritation as he rolls over his bed. He was having one pleasant dream about chocolate snitches flying everywhere. Before he can swallow one, the knocking woke him up. Eyes still closed, he got up and went to open the door. There, Percy stood looking like a zombie. He's a mess. His bed hair is everywhere and he looked like he had not taken a wink of sleep at all.

"You need to distract Ginny from that book," Percy told him. "I have nothing against Harry Potter but what you said about silly girls and all that…"

"Okay, Perce," Charlie said, now fully awake but feeling quite uncertain. "Are you okay?"

"I… I've been reading," said Percy. "Stuff that could distract Ginny from it. And I admit, I may sound a bit paranoid but I have a bad feeling about that book. Anyway, it has to do with money so I think it should work but I haven't been having any luck."

Charlie thought about what Percy's trying to say. He stifled a yawn.

"So, you are roping me into your little quest?" Charlie asked. The earnest nod he received from Percy made him want to laugh out loud. It was just so funny to see the uptight son of Arthur and Molly Weasley looking so bedraggled over something as unassuming as a fiction book.

It's not unassuming. Yes, I know.

"Alright," said Charlie. "I'll see what I can do."

Percy was about to leave when Charlie said, "Not so fast." Charlie lifted his foot in front of Percy high enough not to trip him. "I propose a truce."

Percy's eyes narrowed at that. "I still do not approve of your flying lessons, Charlie."

"But you need my help," Charlie told him in a condescending tone. "Thus, truce."

Percy grabbed his foot and shoved it down. "Whatever."

Charlie closed his door as soon as Percy's entered his and started thinking about any interesting distractions that could actually work. It took him an hour to come up with the most amazing idea from all the amazing ideas he had come up with. He then took a bath and dressed up. Charlie took the entirety of his savings with him and slipped into the floo.

The moment he stepped out, he found himself looking at the shelves of Flourish and Blots. He found what he was looking for three shelves down the aisle.

DRAGONS.

They're big and awesome though he doesn't know anything much about them. Still, he thinks Ginny would love to read all about these dangerous creatures. He bought the prettiest looking secondhand book and went home.

"Mum?" he called out.

"Yes, dear?" Molly answered from the kitchen.

"Where's Gin?" he asked from the living room.

"Oh, she's with the twins. They're out hunting the gnomes."

Charlie thought about it for a second and decided he would just hand the book later when Ginny's not covered in dirt. He went to his room not knowing that it'll become the turning point of his life. In his attempt to kill time, he grabbed the book he bought and started reading it.

It was with an excited beaming face that Charlie handed the book to Ginny. He then regaled her on how awesome dragons are. He was enamored with them, Ginny noticed. That night, she read the book and told Charlie the next day that he was right and that dragons are truly majestic creatures. Ginny realized, though that she's not as hyped with dragons as Charlie is but she doesn't have the heart to tell him that. Instead, she ventured into learning more about dragons for his brother's sake.

Percy, meanwhile, had forgotten he was supposed to distract Ginny with a new discovery. He became too engrossed with the marketing books he nicked from his father's shelf of muggle contraband and ended up finishing his first business plan.

Ginny was once again with Percy in Diagon Alley shopping for seeds. Bill was tasked to chaperone them and Ginny knew that just by looking at Bill's expression, he isn't thrilled to be there.

Bill cursed his luck that day. Of all his siblings to be stuck with for the weekend, he ended up with the two normal ones. He'd rather play chess with Ron than go seed shopping.

Who does that?

Apparently, these two.

Bill knew that Percy's been nicking their father's muggle books while Ginny's most illegal activities comprise Charlie's flying lessons and the twins' evil classes. Thank Merlin, she has character-building hobbies. Bill knew she needs them. No matter how much he denies it, his only sister seems too ordinary to be a Weasley. The least a Weasley could ever be is boring and if it wasn't for Charlie's death-defying idea and Fred and George's brainwashing, Ginny would've been too much of a girly girl and that's just wrong.

He looked up when he heard a soft thump. He frowned when he saw his adorable little sister sitting on the ground. In front of her stood a little boy with silver blond hair and sharp features that could only be… a Malfoy's.

"Watch where you're going, brat," the older man behind the boy reprimanded Ginny. Bill gulped nervously when he saw the boy's babysitter for the day. Antonin Dolohov, the Minister's mad dog.

Percy quickly helped his sister up and pulled her out of their way. Ginny, on the other hand, was looking at the boy who was looking right back at her. Both of them were frowning at each other. It doesn't take a genius to see that Ginny's about to call the boy out for his lapses. Bill hurried to his sister's side but he was too late.

"Are you blind?" Ginny asked, curiously, and even waved her hand over the little boy's face. Bill saw how the Malfoy's face was starting to turn red in embarrassment and was about to have an outburst when he picked up Ginny and bowed his head at the two.

"I'm sorry, sir," said Bill. He bowed again and again in apology. He grabbed Percy's arm and pulled him away. He prayed earnestly to Merlin that Dolohov didn't find his hasty retreat too disrespectful.

Draco Lucius Malfoy will be visiting the Minister's Manor today. He needed to buy a gift for Harry Potter and Diagon Alley is his first stop. He was thinking about what to buy his soon-to-be friend when he bumped against someone. Glancing down, he realized he's looking at a little girl. She looked really small. He'd bet his Chocolate Frog Card collection, he's taller than her. When she looked up at him, Draco blinked. He couldn't believe how big her eyes were. They were almost too big on her freckled face. He stared at the huge orbs which seemed to be twinkling in expectation. Of what, he didn't know.

"Watch where you're going, brat."

Draco turned to Antonin and was about to apologize when he realized he was talking to the little girl before them. Draco watched the little girl rise with the help of her brother judging by their similar features. He realized she was frowning at him, a bit disapprovingly. He frowned back at her feeling defensive. He didn't mean to bump on her like that. He was just lost in thought and why was she standing on the sidewalk stationary, anyway? Draco could feel his thoughts raging to find the right excuse. Instead, she raised her hand over his nose and asked if he was blind.

Had he been calmer, he would've noticed that the girl was just worried and not sarcastic. Blood boiling in anger, he took a deep breath and-

Another redhead swooped in and carried the little girl away. Draco wanted to call her back and explain himself, make her understand that it wasn't his fault at all. He didn't like the sight of her fleeing like that.

Antonin Dolohov scoffed. "Weasleys."

Draco's eyes narrowed. He'd heard of the Weasleys from his parents. He brushed off the invisible dirt on his robes where he bumped against the Weaslette. Feeling disgusted, he turned away from the direction the Weasleys took and went back to gift shopping. There are more worthwhile people to give his attention to. The Weasleys aren't one of them.