I think the next two (possibly 3) chapters will be about the shopping trip, I want to get some more bonding between them but also a bit of action!
I'm trying to add quite a lot of detail into the chapters - as I was asked to ;) – but it's meant that this has turned out to be a very long chapter.
Do please stick with it and hopefully you'll be rewarded in the next one (Yes I have something up my sleeve and I'm desperate to start writing it but still don't feel they're chummy enough for it to happen believably in this chapter!!)
Thanks again for reviews, they make me smile! (although I'm not getting any notification of them on my hotmail. Nor any when I update so I might be missing notification of your chapters too... Anyone else having this problem?)
Ginny turned to him and smiled. "I'm glad you feel like that. I'm going to make sure we make the most out of today then. We're going to have a blast!"
They walked through the second, silver set of Gringotts doors and headed for an available counter.
"I would like to have a private meeting with Ragnok please. It won't take long." Draco said in a commanding voice to the goblin that was seated there.
"One moment Sir." He replied and disappeared into a back room for a few moments. "You are in luck Sir, Ragnok will see you."
"Thank you." Draco said with a courteous nod of his head. "This way" he said guiding Ginny to a room that he had visited many times with his parents. In that room sat a large and incredibly astute looking goblin, he was surrounded by ledgers, magical abacuses, quills, ink pots and many secure boxes and keys.
Once Draco had explained who he was and produced his key Ragnok called for another elf. "Krignar," he said in his creaky voice. "Take these guests to vault number 5. Speak to no one about their identity." The new goblin swallowed rapidly and nodded his head several times. "Number 5, yes sir… Follow me please Sir, Madam…"
As they followed the goblin down several windy dark passageways Ginny whispered to Draco "Vault number 5? That must be ancient. How have you managed to get such an old vault?"
"The Black name is extremely old, hence the vault number. Lucius made sure he took full advantage of using the influence Mother's name could bring him. Add that with the Malfoy name and that amounts to lots of money and power. The Malfoys are a very old French family but our part of the family has lived here for generations since one of my ancestors was married to an English witch to keep the blood pure." Draco took her hand to help her into a very old looking and unstable cart which looked like it would follow a rail which travelled almost vertically down.
Ginny paused for a second before stepping in. "Won't your Father be mad that you took his money?" she asked, looking around her nervously. Visions of an angry Lucius Malfoy jumping out at her from dark corners suddenly filled her mind. She shivered
"He has no choice in the matter as it's not his money anymore. The ministry of Magic handed all control of the money and deeds etc to my mother when Lucius was put in Azkaban. I know that her will leaves everything to me. So everything is mine… Malfoy Manor is too but I would imagine that's over-run with Death Eaters by now." The cart sped off with a rumble and slowly built up speed until Ginny's new blond hair was streaming out behind her. Draco looked at her and saw she was shaking. He put his arm round her and felt goosebumps on her forearms, he felt an urge to protect the little witch. "Are you cold Ginny, do you want my jumper?"
"No, but thanks. I'm just a bit nervous of what or who could be hiding down here."
"Ginny, you are one of the scariest witches I've ever met, saving my Aunt but I think she's deranged… You have nothing to worry about!"
"Please don't talk about your Aunt that flippantly. She killed members of the order. I'd be more scared of meeting her down here than your father."
"I'm sorry." Draco sighed heavily. "It's not easy getting used to being with relatively normal people and not criminally insane family members all trying to worm their way into your brain. Look, we're here now - let's forget about it." He took her hand and helped her out of the cart, he had after all been taught to have impeccable manners when the situation arose.
The entrance to the vault was a giant wooden door with heavy iron hinges and locks; it had many shapes and inscriptions scrawled across what looked to be about half a tree. Krignar let out a guttural command and ran both of his hands over different etches in the wood; Draco turned his key in the lock and Ginny couldn't help but gasp when the door split jaggedly down the middle and the pieces drew back into the wall revealing the biggest pile of Galleons, sickles and knuts she had ever seen, or even imagined.
"Your jaw is going to hit the floor if it goes any lower Weasel." Draco smirked. He walked into the vault, took a bag off a peg on the wall and started filling it with money. "That should do." He murmured. Ginny was still in awe of the vast amounts of money, she was desperately trying not to feel jealous remembering the many times her family had gone short. Draco noticed a strange look in her eyes and guessed correctly what was bothering her.
"If it's any consolation Weasel, I'd swap every last knut of it for my Mother's life. You have a lot to be thankful for." Ginny looked at Draco in a new light. "You're right. I have... Thanks." She said gently squeezing his hand.
"Ok, let shop!" Draco said, trying to lighten the mood.
They made their way out of Gringotts and Draco led the way to Flourish and Blotts where he bought a good many books on all manner of subject, although the overriding choice seemed to be potions books. "It's something that soothes me. Plus I'm going to have a lot of time on my hands." He commented when Ginny observed that was his fourth potions book. Ginny bought a book on fashions through the ages. "For my brother's fiancée. She loves fashion!" And a book on counter curses. "For my brother. It might come in handy."
They then went to the cauldron shop where Draco bought a couple of different sized cauldrons, stirrers and measuring spoons. Ginny sighed wistfully as they passed the boarded up Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlour. "It's just not the same with his shop closed. It really brings you down to earth the fact that danger is everywhere. Still at least the ministry have upped the security measures."
Draco manoeuvred her away from the window and walked slowly to Madam Malkin's. "Surely this will cheer you up. Girls love clothes shopping don't they?"
"I guess. I'm just glad the potion was altered so you can keep the same size figure - otherwise I'd never get the right clothes! Hmm, thinking about it…you have impeccable taste, you can help me choose a bridesmaid dress for the wedding! It has to be silver. I think she wants us to look like fairies!" Ginny giggled.
Draco took charge as soon as they were in the shop, sweet talking Madam Malkin into fetching the two of them cool drinks and fawning over them while they browsed the vast selection of robes and other clothes. He pointed Ginny in the direction of the evening robes and gowns where she could browse at ease as the shop was currently deserted.
Draco had a large pile of clothes at the counter and had been measured for several sets of robes by the time Ginny had got half way through the rail of dresses. "Why are you scrutinising each dress? Just take some and try them on." Draco asked.
"I'm no good at this." She whined. "It's not as if I get new clothes often so I don't know what to pick. It has to be special or Fleur will think I've made no effort but it can't be as nice as her dress or she would murder me. Although I imagine her dress will be spectacular so no chance of that!"
"This is the one then." Stated Draco pulling a long silver dress out of a rail Ginny had already walked past. She could have sworn the dress wasn't there before.
"That?! I don't know?" She bit her bottom lip. Draco sighed and forced her towards the fitting rooms. "Try it on and trust me. It will be ideal." A couple of minutes later and Ginny walked out of the changing room with a look of reverie on her face. "Oh D... Ferret I mean! It's perfect! But it really clashes with my hair." she worried, tugging on a strand of blond hair. Draco lent in and whispered "Your hair won't be that colour you fool. This Fleur knows what she's doing by the sound of it."
He stepped back, looked at Ginny twirling round in the dress and agreed with her - it was perfect on her. Her figure was hugged in all the right places by the shimmering silver satin and he thought she looked divine.
The corseted top had a very low cut neckline but a soft swathe of pearlised chiffon covered in tiny iridescent crystals ruched around the bosom so you could imagine, but not quite see her cleavage. The boning accentuated her tiny waist perfectly and then the dress flowed out into a floor length full skirt. Both the ribbon at the back of the corset and the organza overlay of the skirt were set with the same crystals and it looked like a thousand tiny stars were shining out from the dress.
"Oh my dear. That dress is simply divine. But with your colouring I would go for it in a blue." Madam Malkin said when she spotted Ginny looking as if she was floating on air.
"She's dying her hair. This will be perfect. We will take it." Draco told her, Madam Malkin bustled over to the counter and waved her wand, the dress stared being wrapped in tissue paper.
"Now all you need are shoes, gloves, underwear and jewellery." Draco told Ginny… She came out of her daydream suddenly. "Oh, but I don't have the money. Fleur and Bill could only afford a certain amount. I've got some of my own money but that's meant to be for their wedding gift and a few other items… I'll have to look for something cheaper or wear old shoes and stuff."
"Ginny, you've seen the amount of money I have. You don't have to worry about it."
"I couldn't accept your money." Ginny bristled at the idea of charity. "You won't be able to see my shoes under the skirt anyway and I have a necklace at home. I'm perfectly fine thank you."
"Nonsense." Draco told her. "Don't go all prickly on me now. If you're getting funny about taking money then let's say it's a trade for all the fantastic food you've been making me?"
"Oh, so now you're trying to pay me like a servant. You can't buy me!" Ginny hissed at him, aware that Madam Malkin was waiting for them at the counter.
"Don't be so ridiculous. Can't you just accept it as a present from… from a friend? I've never been able to use my money for anything nice and I want to treat you. Now don't be stubborn because you will start to annoy me."
Ginny didn't know what to do, of course she would love to be treated to all manner of gifts but she had been brought up with a strong sense of independence and it would go against everything she believed to take charity. "I don't know if I can accept that. I don't want you to feel like you have to take pity on me." She shook her head.
"Gods you're so infuriating woman. I'm not used to being argued with… I don't pity you. If you have to have my last strands of dignity then you may as well know you're the only person that really wants to spend time with me. No one else trusts me and I want to say thank you. Now can you just accept that and stop being so bloody obstinate."
Draco stalked over to the counter and started talking to Madam Malkin about clothes trunks. The squat owner of the shop nodded and made her way to the back of the shop. A few moments later Draco felt a small hand rest on top of his as it lay on the counter, he looked round and saw Ginny staring at him with unfamiliar blue eyes.
"I'm sorry Draco, it's hard for me to accept gifts but I realise you're doing it for a nice reason. So I guess I'll let you treat me - this once."
"Finally you've come to your senses." Draco drawled. "I'm going to take you shopping in style. This is going to blow your socks off!"