Chapter Seven

Ginny sighed through her nose, staring down at the pages of her newest acquisition, Pretties by Scott Westerfeld. She had just finished Uglies yesterday and she was dying to continue the series.

The sigh was not for her book. The sigh was because the door had just opened, admitting Draco Malfoy.

He was looking quite sexy, Ginny had to admit. He was wearing a simple white polo shirt and black jeans. His hair was down and longer than she remembered it being. He could almost have a Wesley ponytail going, she thought.

She was half way through a fantasy of him rescuing her from the Fire Swamp, when she figured out what she was thinking.

She slammed her book shut. No matter how much he looked like her favorite film character, she would not submit to his charms.

She looked up at him. "Yes?"

He smiled. "No charade of politeness?"

"I think we both know that the other night cancels that."

He leaned against the counter, his handsome face serious. "Then can we start again?"

Ginny snapped her gaze up to him in disbelief.

"Look, I'm sorry I made such a big fuss, but I thought you were blowing me off. And I... I'm not used to that, okay?"

"You're serious?"

He smiled charmingly at her. "Of course. I made a mistake. It was entirely unforgivable. But it would make a great story... especially when you accompany me to Herbert West's party Friday?"

He raised is eyebrows, making it a question. One Ginny was finding hard to say no to.

Then it clicked.

"Wait, Herbert West? The Herbert West? The millionaire?"

"Oh, I think he's into the billions now."

Ginny stared at him. "You want to take me to a mil- a billionaire's party?"

"Of course. I can think of no one else who would look more at home than you."

Ginny hesitated. It was a great offer. Her brother Percy had been trying to get into West's clique for years. If she managed to actually meet him, it would look good for Perce. Despite his arrogance, Ginny like Percy and if she could help him succeed, she figured it would be worth a night with Draco Malfoy.

She pursed her lips then nodded. "Okay. But you get me a dress. Nothing slutty!"

"Can you wear heels?"

"Yeah..."

"What size? Dress and shoes, please."

"Four and five and a half. I can wear six if they aren't heels."

"Heels will look better, my dear. I'll drop them off Wednesday. Call me if you need them refitted," he said, writing a number on a napkin.

Ginny took it, uncertain if she was making a mistake.

"Anything else?" he asked with a smile.

She resisted the urge to ask him to say 'As you wish,' and wrote her appartment address on another slip of paper. "Pick me up at five. I assume this party starts about then?"

He nodded. "Four actually, but we can be fashionably late."

"Don't be late."

He smiled then took her hand and kissed it. "As you wish."

(A/N: I couldn't resist that last line.