Disclaimer - HP belongs to JKR, and neither does the Caledonia lyrics.
The bright morning sunshine glared through the floor to ceiling window of his office situated on the top floor in the Malfoy Incorporate building. Draco was a natural in the industry; he knew instantly which products to invest in and small businesses to fund. He was known to be ruthless and strict, especially with his contracts. Nothing illegal or anything suspicious went on; it was a healthy expanding empire which he loved being part of.
His father had made him work as soon as he left Hogwarts so he could learn the ins and outs of day to day business. It had paid off as Draco was now the Director of International Business Relations. His job was to meet with potential clients in the UK and abroad to expand their businesses to various countries. Malfoy Incorporate invested and owned many smaller businesses in Britain and around the world due to having offices in Paris, Rome, Dubai, Houston, New York, Tokyo and Sydney.
His father was still intimidating as ever but since Voldemort had been defeated he strived to prove to everyone that the Malfoy name was still a name to be respected among the wizarding community.
Draco sat back in his high-back leather chair and propped his feet onto his desk. The one thing he was most used to was getting what he wanted. He had the money, influence and power to get anything on earth apart from the one thing he desired most above everything else in the world. Ginny Weasley was not someone he could just take out for a meal or lavish with expensive jewellery. She'd had her heart broken and it was his fault. Draco needed to get her to trust him once again.
To say he regretted leaving her would be an understatement. He had felt guilty for leaving Ginny the way he did. He had been disgusting, telling her she was part of a bet...a bet which had seriously gone wrong...
Draco and Blaise sat in the Great Hall staring thoughtfully at the more interesting occupants in the room, girls of course. They didn't care about the little first years being sorted into the four houses; they had been there and done that. Plus it was much more fascinating to watch the girls who had developed beautifully over the summer.
"Padma Patil looks good this year." Draco commented, nodding his head over to the Ravenclaw table where the brunette was watching the sorting with avid attention.
"Hmm shes a bit small for me." Blaise replied putting his hands to his chest making Draco laugh.
Pansy shot them both dark looks, "Seriously, you are so degrading to women." She hissed throwing her sleek black hair behind her right shoulder.
"It's not degrading. We just like to see what's on offer for us this year." Blaise explained giving Pansy a playful nudge.
Pansy snorted, "You are both unbelievable. You reduced so many girls to tears last year."
"Now Pans, you're being ridiculous." Draco rolled his eyes at his friend.
"You alone reduced approximately ten girls to tears last year alone." She gave him a pointed look and nodded towards a huddle of now sixth year girls who were glaring at him. "Three from Slytherin, three from Ravenclaw and four from Hufflepuff. I remember them well since I escorted them out of the dungeons; they didn't have a clue how to get back to their own common rooms."
Draco shrugged, "I warn them all it is strictly no strings attached. What?" He asked Blaise who was giving him a strange look.
"What's wrong with Gryffindor girls?" Blaise asked.
"Excuse me? What has that got to do with anything?" Draco sneered and glanced over to the Gryffindor table.
"Well, you've had a Slyth...they are quite easy since you're Draco Malfoy. Ravenclaw girls like you because you dazzle them with your wit and plus they have a thing for prefects. Say one nice thing about a Hufflepuff girl and they are putty in your hands...so why haven't you tried your luck at Gryffindor, too much of a challenge?"
Draco contemplated what his friend was insinuating then looked back once again to the red and gold clad table. "It wouldn't be a challenge, the girls just don't appeal to me."
Pansy rolled her eyes and grinned, "Yeah right. You're just wary of all the courage those Lions say they have and you're afraid you might get hurt. Scared of getting a little scratch?" She made her hand into a claw and hissed.
"Bugger off Pans." Draco grumbled and took a drink, "I could have any one of those girls I wanted."
"Care to prove that statement Draco?" Pansy smiled smugly, she knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't back out on a bet.
"State your terms." He cocked an eyebrow and folded his arms; he was the picture of arrogance.
"I get to help pick the girl. And you have to give me your broom collection, including your Lightening Bolt, if you don't succeed and I will give you anything you want, within reason, if you win." Pansy stated smugly donning the same pose as him.
"Fine, I if win you give me that car of yours." Draco's replied, he was quite fond of Pansy's black Audi R8. He let his eyes wander across the hall looking for potential candidates. Lavender Brown caught his eye, she was always easy, but then there was that time in fifth year she got overly obsessed with Weasley and he didn't want someone known for their clinginess...or a Weasels leftovers.
Speaking of Weasley's...the girl, she looked quite good. Slim, not much in the chest area but her face was pretty enough, her eyes were chocolate brown and sparkling in the light, her friend Creeley or something was whispering in her ear making her giggle and hit him playfully on his shoulder. He knew from past encounters with her that she would be a challenge. There had been that incident in his fifth year with the Bat-Bogey Hex and various meetings in the corridors that had resulting with some verbal, albeit tame, sparring sessions.
"I think I know who it will be." Draco kept his eyes on the Weasley girl, "I haven't a clue what her name is...Jenny?"
"Ginny Weasley?" Pansy looked at the red head and smirked, "Perfect."
"How is she perfect for you?" Blaise asked as he also joined in staring at the red head.
"Well, she is notorious for her temper, hates the Malfoys in general, she is not exactly easy, she has had three boyfriends all lasting under a month due to her not wanting to have sex with someone she doesn't love. The girls bathroom is a great way to get some juicy gossip. Pansy smirked as Draco narrowed his eyes at her.
"The girl is different. You will see. Her family are extremely well known for their loving relationships, if I woo her a little bit she will be just like all those Hufflepuff girls." Draco promised and strutted out of the room, his robes billowing behind him.
Draco sighed as he remembered how it all started. Ginny was completely different from all the other girls he's been with. He'd had to jump through hoops just to get her to go to Hogsmeade with him. She had been a bit of a challenge but it had been well worth it just to finally spend some time in her company.
He grinned all through their journey to Hogsmede which was done in comfortable silence. He couldn't stop himself but he kept stealing glances at her as she concentrated on her footing down the rocking path towards the small village, following the rowdy crowd of students in front of them.
When they arrived she stopped and looked up at him, "Uhm. Where do you want to go first?"
She was fidgeting and looked awkwardly at the students passing them by who were staring with rapt amusement; Draco Malfoy was on a date with Ginny Weasley, how bizarre.
"I was thinking we could visit Honeydukes first then go anywhere you want to. Then some lunch?" He asked her gently trying to get her attention to focus on him, he needed her to see that he was being genuine, well as genuine as he could.
Ginny just nodded in reply and headed off in the direction of the sweet shop. Draco sighed and followed behind her, this was not going as well as he hoped it would.
They spent a good half an hour looking at all the goodies on display at Honeydukes. Draco had bought a large box of milk chocolate caramels, chocolate frogs and some of the fancier dark chocolate truffles for his mothers' birthday. Ginny on the other hand stared longingly at a box of sugar quills but after checking her money pouch she settled on buying one of the smaller bags of Every Flavour Beans. He had quickly swiped up the Sugar Quills and placed them along with his goods without her noticing.
Draco had noticed she was being uncharacteristically quiet and was beginning to worry as he led Ginny towards Madame Puddifoots which was an extremely tacky cafe filled with pink frilly tablecloths and flowery wallpaper but girls seemed to like it.
They were seated at a table near the fire which gave it a cosy romantic atmosphere, just the way he wanted. Draco watched Ginny closely as her eyes wandered around the room, she began to blush. Many couple were already smitten with each other as they shared kisses across the table, feeding food to one another and stroking and touching. It was all a bit sickly sweet to Draco but coming here in the past had guaranteed him a shag or two.
The plump owner squeezed her way over to their table, smiled and handed them two pink menus, then waddled off to another table to take their order.
The awkward couple sat in silence as they read the menu. Draco sighed, the food on here wasn't exactly delicious but he supposed the chicken fillets would be edible enough. "I think I will have the chicken, you?"
Ginny closed her menu and smiled, "I will have the same."
Draco narrowed his eyes at her, "You look a bit uncomfortable, am I doing something wrong?"
The red head bit her bottom lip and shook her head, "It's just that...I have never really liked this place."
Draco let out a sigh of relief and laughed, causing Ginny to smile, "You know what? Let's go to the Three Broomsticks, I like the Shepherds' Pie there." He nodded his head to the door and offered his hand. She took it without hesitating and giggled as he pulled her out the door.
That had been their first date. It had been the start of something good. Ginny had even let him kiss her on the lips, just a peck, but it was a kiss nonetheless.
Ginny looked up from under her lashes giving him a sweet shy smile, "I had fun today Draco. Thank you."
They stopped at the portrait of the Fat Lady who was watching them with obvious curiosity. They stared, both of them not knowing what to do. Draco, feeling like he had to make the first move, took his hand away from Ginny's and put it into his pocket taking out a tiny package, he whisper the spell to make it larger then handed it to her with a grin, "I hope you don't mind but I saw you looking at them."
Ginny took the box of Sugar Quills with shaking hands, "Thanks. These are my favourites, I will pay you back." She whispered, looking down in embarrassment.
"Ginny, I don't want you to do that. You're my girlfriend now, it's my duty to buy you gifts." He gave her a grin and placed a finger under her chin to make her look up at him. Slowly he moved his head down lower, looking into her eyes then to her lips watching her tongue dart out and lick them with shy anticipation.
"Can I kiss you?" He asked her, his eyes locked on her lips.
"Yes" She breathed and before she had finished he swooped down on her and gave her a gentle peck on the lips. Ginny looked at him curiously as he moved out of her reach.
"I think we should go slow, I wouldn't want to push you into anything. Plus, I know you still don't trust me enough." He ran a finger down her cheek and traced her lips then turned and walked away from her; hiding his satisfied smirk.
Draco pushed himself out of his seat and used his arm to prop himself against the window, looking down at the hustle and bustle of London city centre. He needed to find a way to get back into her heart again. Draco grabbed the floo power and floo-ed the only person he knew who would help him: Luna Lovegood.
A/N - Hi guys, thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter! I hope you liked it, I felt it would be good to see how things started out. Next chapter will be Luna's memories of D/G's relationship...PLEASE REVIEW!