A/N: Yippee! another chapter! Please people, review!!! I wrote this one while I was supposed to be writing a history essay at school :P
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Now, read on!
The working week had droned by slowly, only speeding up the rare moments Ginny had fun. In the past couple of days, fun was watching Malfoy squirm uncomfortably every time she mentioned the handsome Frenchman, Amant. Ginny, being the opportunist she was, never missed a chance to humiliate either Draco or the sulky receptionist Claire. Therefore, finding the girl waiting impatiently in the waiting room to Draco's office was like a golden gift just waiting to be unwrapped.
"What're you sitting here for?" questioned Ginny rudely. "Don't you have enough work to do downstairs?"
The other woman glared at Ginny, making her grin. "It's not like it's any of your business, but, I have to meet Mr. Malfoy immediately. It's urgent business you see," she shot back, smugly.
Ginny, for the life of her, couldn't understand why Malfoy would agree to seeing the woman he dreaded catching sight of. Most of what he had spoken of the past week, consisted at least one rude remark directed at the pretty blonde. Staring into the Claire's small blue eyes, it only then occurred to her that it was not Malfoy who had invited her, for in her eyes was fear, masked well behind the made-up face of victory. Almost feeling sorry for the woman, Ginny didn't know what to say, and was spared the trouble when the other woman bit out a nasty comment about Ginny's heritage, and her mother.
"Why you little skank! I'll show you filth, why I'll rub your face in it!" she screamed as she hurled towards the startled Claire. Caught off guard by the loud 'pop' behind her, Ginny fell forward, losing her momentum. Thankfully, the stranger that had just Apparated behind her stabilized her flailing body, grabbing her roughly around the waist.
"D-Draco-" murmured Claire.
"Mister Malfoy to you," hissed Draco, dropping the struggling Ginny to the ground. "What the hell are you two banshees fighting so early in the morning for? Especially right in front of my office, the moment I arrive!"
"I- we need to uh...need to talk," Claire meekly replied.
"Whatever for?" he questioned with malice in his eyes. "I don't remember having to speak to you about anything. So scram, I need to speak with Ms Weasel here."
Pushing herself off the ground, Ginny recovered from her initial shock of being thrown to the floor, enough so to finally speak.
"You heard him, we need some time alone. You know, urgent business." She sneered, channeling her boss perfectly.
With one final unbelieving scoff, Claire stalked back out towards the elevator, leaving the other two silent until they were sure she was gone.
"Urgent business?" asked Draco, raising an eyebrow in question. "What the hell were you two talking about before I got here? And you're damn lucky I did get here in time! If you had laid one hand on her, I would've had to throw you right out of here. I can't have my name tainted by the wrestling ability of my assistant."
Annoyed by the whole ordeal, Ginny turned to walk away, ready to start on the big pile of work left on her table from the previous night, only to be stopped by Draco's hand on her shoulder.
"By the way, sorry for dropping you like that," he started, flashing her a grin."But you weigh a ton."
"If that's all you wanted to say, screw you."
Grinning, Draco let go of Ginny's shoulder. "I also wanted to ask if you had anything to wear for the party yet, because if you don't you can borrow some money from me and go dress shopping."
"You really trust me with your precious money?" she quipped.
He pretended to ponder her question for a moment before shaking his head solemnly. "I guess not, either meaning you'll have to scrape up the money yourself or, you'll have to come with me as I buy my new robes."
"When are you going?" she asked disbelievingly.
"This afternoon, during my free time. Please, don't get any ideas, I'm only doing this because you'll be introduced to everyone as someone I hired, and by now you should know I hate to associate myself with someone who looks like gum below my shoes."
"Oh, a true gentlemen you are!" she said, dizzy with excitement at the thought of having something beautiful to wear.
Wow. How thoughtful of him!
At around one thirty, Malfoy gathered his cloak and checked his reflection in his favorite talking mirror ("you are the fairest of them all") he continued on his way after, for the first time ever, asking if Ginny was prepared to join him. He couldn't figure out why he had asked the pipsqueak to join him in the first place, he shouldn't really care if she looked utterly horrid at the party. He could just pretend like he had no idea who in Merlin's name she was! Yet, as he was about to continue in his verbal assaults earlier in the day, he accidentally blurted that he would pay for her attire, concealing his surprise nicely and making it sound completely intentional. After making the first mistake, he continued on to tell her that she could accompany him as he collected his new dress robes, making him want to repeatedly bang his head on the nearest desk.
So, as Ginny held on to him firmly as he Disapparated, he just had to wonder how exactly he was going to survive such an ordeal. Shopping with a woman was bad enough, but shopping with a Weasley was suicidal.
I'll just take her someplace nice, make sure no one will be there to rub it in my face later.
Ginny was blown over the moment she felt the familiar tug on her belly-button disappear, she couldn't contemplate ever having enough money to shop in a place as extravagant as the one she was standing in. Preparing herself for the excursion beforehand, she had made sure her hair was nice and straight and her face fresh and natural. She couldn't afford showing up at someplace Malfoy was taking her as 'just another Weasley child', even though she honestly loved being a Weasley.
The shop she was in looked enchanting with its golden décor and grand entrance. Everything sparkled and shone, blinding Ginny at first. Although she thought it looked brilliant, she couldn't help feeling it was a little too much for a clothes store, albeit she doubted a place like this would sell 'simple' clothes.
A little witch appeared at the bright counter, wrinkled in age yet with a face that showed it once radiated with beauty. At the sight of Malfoy, her thin lips curled up into a smile.
"Oh Draco dear! It's been so long," she sang, in a soothing voice one could get lost in.
"Too long, Madame," Draco exclaimed as with a charming smile, as he held her outstretched hands to his lips. "I hope you've been doing well? How's Mr. Longworth?"
"Fine, fine," she said half-heartedly, too busy eying Ginny who awkwardly stood next to Draco, unsure of what to do or say. "Who is this you've bought along, my dear?"
"Ginevra," he began, nudging her forward gently. "She's my new assistant. I was hoping you could help her find the perfect dress for an event we'll be attending."
"Together?"
"No!," he answered hurriedly, laughing nervously. "My uh, mother invited her. Anyway, I'd love it if the dress was one already made, so we can see exactly how it will look on her. Hope it's not too much to ask for," he finished, not sounding like he cared either way.
"No, no, no problem at all! Come now dear," she addressed Ginny. "Oh, what lovely skin you have! I think I have just the right colors that would look stunning on you. And your body! I love to see a woman with curves in all the right places, my dresses would look gorgeous on your delicate frame. Come along dears," her attention snapped to Malfoy. "As I'm sure you'll want to help decide the final arrangements Mr. Malfoy, and try out your own pair of robes as well."
"Ah, of course," he simply said, following her into a room with curtained cubicles and large mirrors on every wall. Ginny found the woman surprisingly pleasing, half expecting a snooty old hag when Malfoy first spoke of her.
"So, what do you have in mind Mrs. Longworth?" she asked politely.
"Oh, no need to worry about that Miss," she answered smoothly, whipping out her wand, causing measuring tapes to fly out of nowhere and entangle Ginny, measuring even her ankles.
After half an hour of tedious proportioning, Ginny was finally ready to try on the dresses, something she had been looking forward to the entire time. Since Draco already had his robes ready and waiting, all he did was sit by and watch amusedly as Ginny struggled out of elegant dresses that threatened to squeeze the life out of her.
"What do you think?" she asked him as she stepped out in another too-tight, silver ensemble. "Is this color pleasing enough? I'm getting extremely self-conscious having to pinch myself into these dresses," she added softly.
"I could always lend a hand..." he started cheekily, earning a playful slap from Ginny. He couldn't help himself, she looked very distracting at the moment, that being something he would never, ever own up to thinking.
"I have just found the one dress that would look perfect on you dear!" announced Mrs. Longworth, making Ginny grimace at the thought of trying on another lousy gown. "You'll never want to get out of it I promise!"
"One more couldn't hurt," whispered Draco.
"You have no idea," Ginny whispered back as she stepped gingerly into the plush changing room, stripping out of her gown with the aid of Mrs. Longworth. As soon as the supposedly perfect dress was brought out into the light, Ginny knew it was the one. She could even consider getting married in it! What surprised her even more was that it fit like a glove, like it was made specifically for her, unlike the other million she tried before!
"You look beautiful, my dear!" The lady sighed happily, like she had never seen anything more wonderful. "Go on, show Master Malfoy," she urged.
Walking out into the 'spotlight', Ginny wasn't sure what he would think about her. On her mind at that moment was not Malfoy, but Amant. She wondered if he would truly notice her in this stunning dress, if she would sink or swim. Surely, looking like this, nothing could get in her way now. She was Ginny Weasley, beautiful, smart, clumsy and sometimes awkward woman of the world. Imperfect in a pleasing way, she was waiting for Malfoy's reaction to guess what Amant's would be like.
The surprisingly animalistic grunt that escaped Draco's lips as he caught sight of her was all she needed to further strengthen her confidence.
Saturday's sure going to be interesting.
E/N- Review! I need feeeeeeeedbaaaaaaack.