Chapter 9

The Malfoy social calendar

'She's late' hissed Narcissa to Lucius. She had been pacing up and down the lounge since quarter to seven and after twenty minutes had grown tired.

'Only by a few minutes' reasoned Lucius. He hated it when his wife was in a temper and was trying to diffuse her mood for as long as possible. His wife didn't seem to notice though.

'It's not on' she continued 'if she carries like this then we will forbid her from attending any of our social events. If she had been brought up properly she would understand what punctuality is.'

'Now do you see what I have to put up with at school' called Draco from his spot in the corner. 'It's impossible to work with her. I sometimes find-.' He stopped abruptly as the door to the lounge opened and he gazed at the vision stood there. It was like the ones that filled his dreams.

There was a girl, mature looking but still a girl, clad in a black and white dress that just skimmed the floor on which she stood. It was held up by dainty little straps over the shoulders. There was a scoop neck, but not so low that it was tasteless. The vision had wonderful red locks, which cascaded in ringlets around the neck and part way down the back. There was no jewellery to be seen, except for a tiny glint in the ears that suggested diamond studs. Draco was completely mesmerized, his eyes not daring to leave the wonderment that filled them, until she spoke.

'Oh I'm sorry, am I late?' Draco was pulled from his trance with a thump. Ginny? Ginny Weasley? It couldn't be she was younger than him and she had horrible red hair and she wasn't pretty at all. Was she? He cast a quick glance at his mother and father. It appeared that his father was caught by the same vision that he himself had been moments before. His mother on the other hand looked disapprovingly at the girl.

'You are, Miss Weasley, precisely five minutes late. You are also inappropriately dressed for the occasion. A familiar dinner such as this requires no sweeping skirts, just a simple short yet sophisticated dress.'

Ginny smiled 'I was told that it was a formal dinner. Nobody enlightened me on the specific differences of formal and formal familiar. I decided that it was better to be overdressed than underdressed.' Narcissa starred at Ginny. Lucius managed to recover himself enough to remember his manners.

'Would you like a drink, Miss- Ginny?' As he looked over she shook her head.

'Thank-you but no thank-you Mr Malfoy I never drink before a meal.'

'In that case' interrupted Narcissa 'we will make our way to the dining room for dinner. Then you will be able to drink.' And taking her husband's hand she led the way into the next room. Draco walked over to Ginny, his hand outstretched. With a huge smile on her face, she took it. Her appearance meant she had both the Malfoy men on her side. Narcissa didn't stand a chance.

Lucius and Narcissa were sitting up in bed talking. They very rarely did this anymore. There wasn't anything they ever needed to discuss. Ginny however was a different matter.

'Did she pass your tests then?' enquired Lucius.

'She scrapped through-just' replied Narcissa. 'I find her manners rather irritating at times and she's not especially adept at beginning a conversation, but when in one she holds her own sufficiently. Her clothes were rather disappointing. I will have to educate her in some basic ground rules of dress and etiquette.'

'Will you let her attend our swaries?'

'Perhaps. She will certainly focus the attention of all the men. We haven't had a girl of her age and of her beauty potential attend for so long.' Narcissa looked over at her Husband. 'I saw the way both Draco and yourself were taken with her. At our New Years Ball she will most definitely be a success, that is if she can dance, which I doubt come to think of it. Lucius brushed aside his wife's comments.

'I'm sure we can persuade Draco to give her a few lessons. After all he isn't bad himself.' And, leaning over, Lucius pecked his wife on the cheek. She looked at him

'What wrong?'

'Nothing, just felt like giving you a kiss.'

'I'd rather you didn't.'

'Just a little more' gasped Ginny. Ethel, the young girl who was helping her dress pulled the laces on her corset tighter still. Ginny let out a groan and moaned 'that's it.' Ethel tied the strings together and Ginny heaved a sigh. In doing so she went to relax her stomach and discovered that she couldn't. Inwardly she cursed not quite being old enough to use magic out of school. She would have made it so that she couldn't feel a thing. Not this pain of having her middles squashed together in a space far too small for them. Ethel couldn't do anything either. Like all of the people who worked for the Malfoy's, except for Yearns, she was a squib. The idea behind this, Ethel had explained was so that the staff couldn't rise up and rebel against their masters. It also meant that most stayed for the duration of their working lives. A majority of magical families weren't bothered about employing squibs. Still tonight was the final evening of having to put up with the pain and humiliation of residing at the Malfoy Mansion for Christmas. Although, Ginny had to admit, it hadn't been as bad as it could have been. Everyday she had had a different event to prepare for. These had varied from the Horse Races in the 'back garden' on Boxing Day, to seven course dinners for fifty in the dining room. There was never an empty moment. Always meeting and greeting new people, explaining her relationship to the Malfoy family, and listening to a whole variety of tales- of how people had made their fortune, lost their fortune, or given it to a society of little consequence. She was relieved that tonight was the final party. Malfoy and she were arriving at Hogwarts a day before the rest of the school. This was so they could complete all the homework they had neglected during the holiday. Ginny felt that she should also admit that she was thawing where Malfoy was concerned. True, he was still big headed and obnoxious but at least he was a gentlemen when guests were around. He knew his duty. She felt that upon the return to school, their marriage would take a turn for the better.

'Mistress sent me to say that the guests will arrive in ten minutes and would you please be ready and waiting in the drawing room by the time.' Ethel was back. Ginny looked over at her and grinned.

'And I suppose those were the exact words that Narcissa used.' Ethel quickly checked outside the door to ensure no one was there before replying

'No. Well, I made it a bit more polite. I didn't want to say one of the words.'

'That's fine. If you tell her I will be ready and waiting in five minutes.'

After Ethel had gone, Ginny checked herself in the mirror one final time. A white corset top, pulled as tight as she could bare was matched with a wavy white skirt that stopped just above her knee and white wedges. Her hair was straight and flowed down her back. Simple, yet effective she said to herself. It was her final night here, there wasn't anyone she needed to impress anymore, that included the Malfoy men. If she was honest, Ginny said to herself, she was desperate to get back to school to see Harry. He had arrived two days ago, alone. Via the magic mirrors he had briefly informed her that Katie's grandmother had been taken ill and she and her family had gone to care for her. It had been easier for Harry to go back to school. Ginny sighed at the thought of Harry. They had never actually said anything to each other about their feelings but Ginny was sure that he liked her as much as she liked him. Spending Christmas apart for the first time in five years was enough to confirm her feelings. All she had to do was survive tonight and tomorrow she would see him. And tell him everything.