DISCLAIMER: Don't own HP, unfortunately.
Hermione washed the last of the plates lying in the sink, and was about to dry them when she heard Harry make his way into the kitchen.
"Any idea where she's gone?" he asked hopefully
"Well, even if I did, I wouldn't tell you, because you've made it abundantly clear that you don't want her in your life."
"Hermione! You know –"
"Look, Harry, if you can come up with an actual reason for blocking her out, then you and I can have this conversation."
"But, Hermione –"
Hermione walked off before Harry could give her another pathetic excuse.
Narcissa was the first to recover from the initial shock. Her eyes, which had grown abnormally large, returned to their normal size and she spoke calmly, but with an extremely definite stern edge, "Draco, can I talk to you alone for a minute?"
"Mother, we have a guest. Wouldn't it only be right to let her in first?"
Narcissa turned to Lucius, who stood stone faced, yet obviously seething with anger as she made up her mind. When he made no sign, she turned towards Ginny, grudgingly, with a forced smile, which to Ginny looked rather like a grimace, and said in a falsely sweet voice, "Come in."
Ginny walked behind Draco, and was shown to a fur sofa in the sitting room. Despite the comfort of the material, and the size of the seat, Ginny found herself sitting stiffly at one end as she waited for Draco's return.
"What is the meaning of this?" snarled Narcissa through gritted teeth when Draco and her reached the passage below the stairwell.
"Meaning of what, Mother? Am I not allowed to see people?"
"Don't you act smart with your Mother, boy," added Lucius harshly.
"Well, as far as I know, dating someone isn't a crime. And well, even if it was, that's something we're used to."
"I want her out of here," said Narcissa in a monotone.
"She will be. By the first," replied Draco calmly.
"You're asking her to stay here? A Weasley at the Malfoy Manor?" asked Lucius incredulously.
"Surely you don't plan to bring her for the ball?" asked Narcissa, cringing with every word.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot about that. She'll be needing a dress. I'm sure I'll find one in the memoirs room. Pity you don't have any of Aunt Andromeda's dresses. I think she's more her size."
"Draco, this is not funny."
"Oh, the only thing funny about this is that you still think that it's a joke, when I'm rather serious about this. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to show my girlfriend to her room," said Draco triumphantly.
With that, Draco walked out of the foyer and into the sitting room, pulled Ginny up lightly with her hand and walked her up the stairs.
As soon as his parents could no longer see them, he let go.
"I hope you don't expect me to stay in the same room as you," said Ginny disgustedly.
"Never, dear."
"Don't call me dear," she spat.
"Well, you'd better get used to it, sweetie," teased Draco.
"Where's my room?"
"Well, for someone who's spent their life living in a box, you're rather demanding."
Ginny glared at him for a second, and then, slapped him hard.
Draco held his cheek painfully, and winced slightly.
"Merlin, calm down, Weasley. Down the corridor, third door to the right."
Ginny made her way down the hallway, pushing the aforementioned door back, to reveal a moderately large room, with light green curtains shielding the light from coming in. Her eyes instantly made their way to the bed, which to her slight fear, was for two people. She placed her bag in the small cupboard at the end of the room, and sat stiffly on the edge of the bed. She took a deep breath, her heart beating in her chest audibly as she realised one week was a rather long time to be spending in a house like this. Despite its grandeur and massiveness, it didn't resemble a home. If she had lived here, she would never have wanted to come back for the vacations.
She looked around the room once more, her eyes stopping at a small photograph by the dresser. It showed two young girls in black and white, hand in hand as they looked up at the camera innocently. But something was wrong with the photograph. It felt incomplete, like as if it had been torn from an album and stuffed into a frame. And that's when she saw it, another hand outstretched holding on to the little girl's shoulder. But that's all there was, just the trace of an arm. No person to accompany it. But why was it here? Couldn't Narcissa Malfoy keep the picture in her own room? Then, it hit her. Ginny felt sick. The room seemed to shrink, and her breath was laboured. She ran out, holding her hair back, only to crash into a bored Draco.
"What's the matter, Weasley? Never seen a room that's bigger than a shoe box?"
"I can't stay there. You can't expect me to stay...there," Ginny said despairingly, ignoring his snide comment.
"Well, it's a rather lovely room. I don't see why not."
"That's it. I'm leaving," said Ginny with finality, enunciating each word.
"Oh, alright, alright. I'll find somewhere else for you. Now, what's issue with that one?"
"How could you even ask that? It's horrid enough that I'm staying with people who are responsible for my brother's death -"
"Not directly, though."
" - And now you want me stay in the room of a murderer, a woman who was so insane she killed her own niece? A woman who almost killed ME."
"I'd forgotten that used to be Aunt Bella's room. No matter -".
"Forgot, did you? How convenient. You little rascal, you inexcusable..." Ginny trailed off as she noticed Narcissa standing before them.
She lowered her wand, and shoved it into the pockets of her dress, waiting for the lady to speak.
"It's time for dinner. I expect you both will be joining us for that?"
"Certainly, mother," said Draco graciously.
She nodded curtly and made her way down the spiral staircase once again.
"Let's go have dinner, shall we?"
"Oh, of course, just another way to make my day perfect. Dinner with the Malfoy's," replied Ginny bitingly.
Draco smirked, and led her down the stairs, careful to maintain a distance. He'd been victim to too many of her curses, and was rather afraid of them, not that he'd ever admit it.
Draco could feel the tension in the air, and he was sure Ginny could feel it too as they made their way into the dining room. The large rosewood table was set with all the finest goblin wrought silver dinnerware. To make Ginny even more uncomfortable, Draco thought. Though he never wanted to live in that shoebox they called a home, he had always been jealous of the homely atmosphere the Wesley's brought with them. The casualness and comfort of their style of living had always enticed him in the strangest of ways, though he would never admit it in a thousand years. He found himself wishing that his parents would be slightly more welcoming, not because he wanted to impress Ginny, but to make sure she would stay her whole week. He was about to open his mouth, when his father said, "How much is he paying you?" looking directly at the red headed beauty.
Ginny looked at the older man who had addressed her, not quite comprehending his question.
"Lucius," admonished Narcissa.
Draco felt a wave of affection for his mother, and a surge of hatred for his father, which he realised, he was becoming quite used to now.
Despite Narcissa's admonition, Lucius didn't waver, his gaze stayed on Ginny Weasley.
"How much did he pay you to come here?"
"Lucius, that's enough," growled Narcissa.
"I'm sorry, Mr Malfoy," replied Ginny not sounding sorry at all. "I'm not sure I understand what you're saying."
"Well, let me make it clear to you. There is now way my son, a Malfoy, would ever fall for a dirty cheap stake Weasley."
Ginny felt her face flush with anger, and her temper rose, but her voice remained steady, "Well then, I suppose you'll have a hard time explaining to all your guests at the ball tonight; how a Malfoy fell for a Weasley."
When Lucius was caught off guard, he made a rather strange sound with his mouth, somewhat like a fish, and Ginny smirked triumphantly.
"Well, though this was turning out to be an absolutely lovely dinner, I'm really not that hungry. I think I'll go outside for a bit," said Ginny, walking off without a second glance at the Malfoy's.
Draco soon got up to follow, as he figured a boyfriend would do exactly so.
"That was absolutely disgusting behaviour," said Narcissa harshly.
"Don't tell me you're okay with a Weasley in the house."
"That is not the point. What you did was unacceptable, and you better apologise to Draco at once."
Ginny was pacing up and down the long courtyard outside the manor, when Draco came running towards her.
"Go away," she yelled.
"Look, I know my father crossed the line but -"
"Yes, he did. But why are you apologising? That's exactly what you do all the time, too."
"Technically, I didn't apologise."
"Just leave," roared Ginny.
"I -" started Draco, but stopped himself because he knew Ginny wouldn't care to hear what he had to say.
"Remember 1000 galleons. Ronniekins wedding. But only if you complete it," he said instead.
Ginny huffed loudly, and ran her fingers through her hair, before sighing, "When's the ball?"
"It starts at six. But you'll need a thing to wear, and the other things," said Draco making weird movements with his hands in a way that almost made Ginny laugh. No matter where you went, guys were the same, they never knew the names of any sort of accessory or a simple piece of clothing.
"I'll see you in your room at five," she replied formally, but could hear the grin in her own voice.
"Don't be late," he warned before walking off towards the house.
Ginny watched his retreating figure, and caught a glimpse of Lucius Malfoy glaring at her from the window of the first floor.
She sighed again. 'It was going to be one long week.' She didn't break her stare with Lucius. Instead, an idea hit her. If she was going to live here for one week, she might as well make it worthwhile. And she would do that starting right that moment. She grinned widely at Lucius and gave him a dramatic wave. The shock on his face, was rather priceless, and almost made up for her grumbling stomach. Thank god for George's endless supply of chocolates. She had managed to stuff some into her bag before leaving. With one final look at the garden, the only warm place of the house, she made her way towards the Manor.
A/N: Please don't hate me! *uses most pleading voice* I know I haven't updated any of my stories in forever, and that is absolutely unacceptable and I'm really sorry, I really really am. I've been so busy, school started, and it's crazy hectic, there's literally no time to breathe. But I came up with this chapter finally, and I really hope you guys like it, so please tell me what you think. I love constructive criticism. Also, make sure to tell me which story you want updated next, because I will update them. Haven't abandoned anything. Again, I'm sorry, and I love all of you for reading my stories so far, so do continue reading them. Thank you for all your amazing reviews and follows and favourites. They mean the world to me. (:
~ MoonylilyPadfootProngs