"Right Malfoy, first things first, you need to have a shower and then you're coming with me and I am going to make you a nice cup of tea and something filling for breakfast."
Draco was still grumbling to himself as he made his way unsurely through the house looking for the kitchen. Ginny had given him some spare clothes that they had saved in the house, she had explained that some of the students and squibs who wanted to help out in the war but were either too scared or not good enough to fight had rallied round and done things like making clothes, blankets, bandages and any other helpful items they could think of. Bloody do-gooders! Draco thought as he pulled at the clothing. It was definitely not to his usual standards; he knew that the clothes he had upstairs were torn and stained beyond even spell repair but at least they were his and he knew once they had been good clothes.
He imagined by now Ginny had incinerated his clothes with her wand, the way she had wrinkled up her nose when she had looked at his old clothes was almost Slytherin-like. Draco gave a small chuckle as he remembered that was exactly how he had felt about her family's clothes at school, especially the Weasel King's dress robes! He couldn't mock them quite as much now that they had some money but he was sure to be able to entertain himself with finding some other fault to pull them up on.
Ginny looked up from the worktop as she heard the door open, Draco walked in with a faraway look in his eye and a smirk on his face. Well he certainly seems in a better mood she thought, maybe until he gets quizzed by Remus. She smiled to herself at his appearance; the clothes she had picked for him certainly fit him well - a grey T-shirt with a fitted black jumper over it and black jeans. How does that boy manage to make everything look so good? Ginny mused, although she was aware how painfully thin he was. She imagined that without the jumper and t-shirt she would be able to see all of his ribs. Not that I want to see him with his top off! She thought to herself quickly.
"Good morning Malfoy… again! I see you're feeling better. I told you my potion would work."
"I am somewhat refreshed yes. Although I do feel that these clothes are tantamount to prisoner brutality."
Ginny laughed. "You are SO spoiled! I think you look good in those clothes, they fit like they were made for you…And you're not a prisoner, you're a… patient I guess."
"Oh sure weasel, so your little friends said I can just leave whenever I want did they?" He noticed that Ginny's face fell "I thought not. See as nice as you want to treat me and as jolly as you wish to make this situation, I am for all intents and purposes a prisoner."
Draco didn't feel so great about the sad look on her face. He'd enjoyed teasing her at school but having her so close made him feel a little uncomfortable and he wasn't sure why. Why should I care? He thought, they're going to be keeping me here for Merlin only knows how long. And what will they do with me then?
"I'm so sorry!" Ginny blurted out. "This is all my fault; I brought you here and now you're stuck, I feel so bad." She hung her head.
Draco nearly laughed. "I really don't understand you Gryff types - have a bit of backbone. You saved my live and now you feel bad? Get a grip. If I wasn't brought up to be such a supercilious bastard I really would have thanked you by now."
Ginny looked up at him curiously, sniffled a little and then gave him a small smile. "You're being civil. And you put yourself down… You even nearly seemed grateful. Did you hit your head last night?"
Draco eased himself gracefully into a large armchair by the kitchen fireplace, and stretched catlike as he basked in the heat. "Charming, you're nice to a girl and she throws it back in your face. I have enough good points to allow myself a small put-down. My looks, wit, charm and many other qualities are shining examples of what a fine individual I am. Anyway, I'm not so sure I consider arrogance such a bad fault. But since you asked, it's nice to have some human company again. I can ignore you or insult you if you would prefer. I don't particularly thrive off niceness."
He was suddenly shocked to feel something damp strike him across the back of his neck, Ginny had thrown a towel at him and was giggling.
He jumped up angrily "What on earth did you do that for?" he yelled.
Ginny looked shocked at his sudden outburst. "It was a joke, I… I didn't realise it would make you angry. I'm sorry." She suddenly had a sad thought. "Have you never had a play-fight?"
"No of course not!" he snapped, still confused and annoyed. "Why would anyone play at fighting? You people are strange. Is this what happens when you mix with muggles? You go mad?"
"No Malfoy; this is what happens when you mix with people you like. It's just fun sometimes to let go and play like children. You should really try it sometime, loosen up a little."
"Well I never really played as a child. I had tutors and learned to fly and such things. Although I can't really say I liked any of the people that taught me…" His stomach growled loudly and Ginny didn't fail to notice.
"Oh Malfoy, you must be starving. I'm so sorry. I was making you some food when you came in. It's probably done by now. Sit down and I'll bring it over to you."
Draco watched Ginny as she moved nimbly about the kitchen with her wand, opening big wooden cupboard doors and drawers and levitating out bowls and spoons. She had on a baggy green jumper that kept falling off one side as she moved. She had obviously worn it for comfort as it looked old and out of shape but Draco couldn't help admiring how it showed off her neckline and exposed shoulder. A voice in his head piped up, Stop checking out the weasel, she's so below you it's ridiculous. Another voice which he tried unsuccessfully to quashcouldn't help but notice how good she looked in Slytherin colours
He stared into the fire for a while before a thump on the table made him look up.
Ginny had put a large tray in front of him full off food. "Sorry it's nothing too fancy. I didn't want to give you anything too rich as it might not sit well after weeks of dry food." She said.
Decent food at last Draco thought. On the tray say a few slices of toast, boiled eggs, a pot of tea, a selection of fruit and a bowl of something he didn't recognise.
"What the hell is that gloopy stuff? I'm not an invalid you know, I can eat real food!"
"Please don't tell me you've never had porridge Malfoy?" Ginny asked. "You're missing out. Here try it like this…"
The hairs on the back of Draco's neck stood up as she brushed against him to reach for a jug; she then proceeded to pour its contents all over the porridge. "Honey and porridge is one of my favourite comfort breakfasts. I know it looks gross but just try it!" she urged.
"Don't make me feed you like a baby." She threatened when he made no move to taste it.
Draco sighed heavily and then took his spoon, and tentatively tried a mouthful. His eyebrows raised but he didn't make a comment; just spooned up another, slightly larger mouthful.
Ginny grinned at him. "Told ya so!" She grabbed a big wooden spoon and her own bowl of porridge; smothered the food with honey and sat on another oversized armchair with her legs pulled up and tucked under her jumper looking thoroughly cosy.
Both of them ate in silence, Ginny wondering what sort of a childhood Malfoy had and feeling a rare pang of gratefulness for her large and friendly family; Malfoy wondering how he had ended up in this crazy situation and asking himself why he wasn't more annoyed at being stuck in a house with someone he supposedly hated.
Both were startled when the kitchen door banged open, Ginny jumped and gave a little cry of shock but Malfoy stayed silent and still except for his eyes which looked at the face of his old professor. He raised an eyebrow and wondered how many people he knew were hiding around this rickety old house.
Remus gave Ginny a kind look "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to make you jump Ginny. In fact I was looking for you…It was regarding Malfoy here and whether he was up to questioning but it seems as though your healing skills speak for themselves. Well boy, I have no doubt you will hate this but we need for you to come and answer some of our questions. Please don't bother to argue, I'm afraid that until proven innocent we are considering you as a Death Eater spy. We may be wrong but I have learned the hard way not to take any risks."