A/N: This one's a little on the short side but I really wanted to put this scene in. I didn't want to put it at the end of the ball scene though because I wasn't sure how developed I wanted it and I needed to do Scorpius' POV first. So consider this a link between that chapter and what's to come!
I love the reviews, and the favorites and the alerts! Thanks guys :) Message me with any questions. Sorry if these have some spelling errors. I do my best but they slip by me sometimes.
Enjoy!
Ginny was standing at the window to the box, just over a month later, watching as Scorpius scored anther goal. She pulled her sweater tighter around her body. She'd barely left the lab in a month. Narcissa had been gracious enough to let Scorpius stay with her, but Ginny had missed her son.
"Haven't you seen you during daylight in a while. If I didn't know better I'd say you were a vampire," someone drawled from slightly behind her. Ginny turned with a small smile and met Draco's eyes.
"I've been making progress with my special project. Unfortunately it requires almost constant supervision."
"She's brilliant mate. We might have the potion completed by the New Year," Theo said coming up next to the pair. He offered Ginny one of the firewhiskeys in his hand and she took it with a grateful nod.
"Thought I'd take a break for the weekend and maybe spend some time with my…with Scorpius," Ginny said her facing falling a little as she turned back toward the window.
Theo made a face at Draco and wandered off to find Pansy. Draco moved closer so that he was standing next to Ginny and took a sip of his firewhiskey.
"I think you've been avoiding me."
"I'm almost done this potion. It could change your mother's life," Ginny said softly. She placed her drink on the ledge in front of them, untouched, and watched as Scorpius gained control of the Quaffle again.
"He looks good," Draco offered, changing the subject. For the moment.
"He does, I'm sorry I haven't been able to come to any practices. I wasn't ignoring your owls. I just –"
"Was busy. It's fine. You're not the first woman to ignore me after a night spent together," Draco drawled. Ginny turned to glare at him. Draco was smirking.
"I thought we both agreed that was a mistake," Ginny replied.
"Come on let's get you home," Ginny said pulling Draco to the edge of the dance floor. He laughed and grabbed her hand.
"One more dance, come on. I've heard you don't get out much let's not end the night so early."
Gods I need another drink, Ginny thought as she let Draco drag her back onto the dance floor. After that dance Draco let himself be led to the bar and she ordered them another round. He tossed some galleons on the bar and took a swig of the firewhiskey.
"Where did you learn to dance?" He asked as she threw back her firewhiskey and waved for another.
"Your mother helped me find an instructor around the same time Scorpius started taking lessons. My business means I go to a lot more galas then I expected. And most of the men seem to think the best time to talk business is when they're busy feeling me up on the floor. At least now I know the steps and I can escape at the proper time."
"If you'd left Potter's ring on they wouldn't be so brave," Draco stated without anger or hatred – simply stating a fact.
"Harry and I have grown too far apart to ever fix things," Ginny replied finishing the second glass of firewhiskey. Tossing a couple more coins on the counter, Draco grabbed her hand.
"Tell me about it while I use the dance floor as an excuse to touch you inappropriately," Draco said with a waggle of his eyebrows. Ginny laughed and allowed herself to be led to the floor, unaware of the eyes on them.
The two made a handsome couple, Narcissa decided as she allowed the Barrister to help her into the cloak and watched Ginny and Draco step onto the dance floor again. She would do everything in her power to bring them together. Ginny was already like a daughter to her, and she seemed to bring Draco out of the shell he'd gone into when he was in prison.
When the music ended Ginny was laughing at something Draco had said when Harry was suddenly at her elbow.
"I'll take you home," Harry said stiffly offering a nod to Draco. Ginny shook her head.
"I'm all set Harry, thanks though."
"Gin," Harry started a pained look on his face.
"Go find your date, Potter, I'll make sure mine gets home just fine." Draco spat. Harry opened his mouth but Ginny grabbed Draco's arm.
"Just take me home Draco," she said softly. "We don't want a scene."
Draco led them out then, throwing a winning smirk over his shoulder at Harry who was scowling at the edge of the dance floor.
"Seems like Potter's pretty used to bringing you home," Draco stated as they made their way to the appartion point.
"Old habits die hard," Ginny said. The firewhiskey was loosening her tongue. Damnit, I didn't want to tell him that.
Well, that's something, Draco puzzled over her response. When they reached the apparition point he looked at her expectantly. Keeping her arm firmly in his she pulled her wand out and side-along apparated them to her home.
"Night cap?" she asked as they arrived in her kitchen. Draco nodded, shedding his jacket and tossing it over one of the chairs. He fell into another one and looked around. He hadn't been to the farmhouse since his release, and he'd never been inside. He found he rather liked her taste, it was nothing like what he'd seen at the Burrow the few times he'd ventured there to retrieve Scorpius.
Ginny poured them a couple glasses of firewhiskey and swirled it appreciatively. Draco took a sip and smiled.
"This is aged nicely."
"It's been here practically since I bought the place. I only drink…on occasion. I'm afraid you've gotten me rather drunk tonight, Mr. Malfoy," Ginny said coyly, leaning back against the counter. Draco found himself eyeing her appreciatively, not for the first time. He'd learned that she often helped coach the Chasers on Scorpius' team and she hadn't lost her Quidditch form. He was just beginning to get his back from being imprisoned.
Perhaps what impressed him most was that she had put their rather sordid past completely behind her. He had struggled to do the same. He knew that she had avoided him for a month because of his rather untoward remark about her engagement. He found that she didn't seem to want to talk about this at all and it both frustrated and fascinated him. She seemed very like her mother in that aspect, she just ignored the people that pissed her off and pretended that the problems didn't exist. It was obvious to him that Potter still carried a torch for her. But why didn't she want to be with him.
Gods he's attractive, Ginny found herself thinking. His month free of Azkaban had done wonders for the lines around his eyes. They no longer appeared shrunken into his face and he was able to stop using the glamours. She had ignored him for a month to teach him a lesson about being rude to her. But he seemed like he had taken this in stride. Unlike Harry he didn't bring up the fact that she had been avoiding him. He'd merely accepted her invitation and had been, admittedly, an exceptional date to the Ball. He was an excellent dancer.
Draco stood finishing his glass of firewhiskey and offered Ginny a lopsided smile.
"I should be getting home," he said. He brought the firewhiskey glass over and leaned around her to place it in the sink. He could smell her strawberry perfume and the products in her hair. She smelled, intoxicating.
"You should," Ginny all but whispered. She could smell the spicy cologne he wore rolling off his body and where his body brushed hers to reach the sink fireworks were exploding. He started to move away, aware that his body was reacting to her breathy whisper in an ungentlemanly fashion when he hand latched onto his arm. "But you don't have too."
Draco barely caught her words but when he did he stopped, more out of shock than anything. And then she was leaning forward, her lips an inch from his, where she stopped looking up at him through her lashes. Without thinking Draco closed the distance, pressing his mouth firmly against hers.
He let his hands move up to her shoulders, brushing down her bare arms and felts her arms go around his waist, pulling him closer. He obliged and was surprised when she nipped his lip with his teeth. He opened his mouth to admonish her and found her tongue darting in quickly, deepening the kiss – and then he was lost.
He moved his hands down her body, reaching for her hips and stroking them through the thin material of her dress. She gasped into his mouth and ran her hands down the front of his shirt, making quick work of the buttons. He was startled when her hands touched his bare chest. So that's where this is going.
He allowed her to push the shirt off his shoulders and drew back to look at her, questioning. She laughed.
"I'm not a little girl Draco, I know what I want." Grasping his hand she led him out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Draco couldn't help but take in his surroundings. It appeared the entire house was done with polished dark hardwood floors. The walls were painted muted browns and other earth tones. Most of the doors were closed, although Draco spied one open, behind which was a Quidditch, decorated room. That reminded him, where had his son disappeared too.
"Gin, where did Scorp go?"
"Oh, Luna took him –" Ginny said waving her hand dismissively. She paused in front of a dark mahogany door and turned.
"Are you sure?" she asked wrapping her hands around his neck. Draco laughed lightly, he moved his mouth down to her neck and nipped at the spot just above her collarbone. She gasped in surprise and reached behind her twisting the handle. They practically fell into the bedroom.
Draco scooped her up and carried her to the bed, brushing one of her long locks out of the way. He gently reached behind her to undo the zipper to her dress and she slipped out of it eagerly. He ran his hands down her muscled abdomen with a smile.
"You really are beautiful," He said softly as he leaned in to steal another kiss.
When Ginny woke up with a groan the next morning she thought that perhaps she'd brought Harry home with her again. However, when she rolled over gray eyes might hers and she groaned again. Oh gods, it's so much worse, she thought.
"You look about the way I imagine I looked when I woke up this morning," Draco smirked.
"Why're you still here then?" Ginny demanded. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and reached for her robe. She was facing him as she pulled it on. He didn't drop his eyes, as Harry would have. She found this turned her on but quickly stamped down the feeling.
"Because I thought we should talk before I disappeared. Here," Draco reached to the bedside table next to him and handed her a murky green potion vial. Hangover potion. Wonderful. She noticed that he was wearing his black tux pants already, another miracle. She wished that Harry had been this considerate after a night spent together.
"I'll make us some breakfast while you shower," Draco said.
"There are some clothes…in the spare bedroom next to Scorpius' room. They're Harry's," she looked him over, "But I think they'll mostly fit. I can alter them until you get home. So you don't have to wear your tux. There's a shower in there too."
Draco scowled at the thought of wearing Harry's clothes, but was nonetheless impressed with her generosity. She dropped her robe as she entered the bathroom, looking over her shoulder at him.
"Don't worry I picked them out," and with that shut the door. Draco frowned, it appeared he would be taking a shower anyway. A cold shower, what a minx, he thought angrily.
"No," Draco was saying drawing her attention back to present. "You said it was a mistake and I merely agreed. That seems to be the easiest route to take with you. Then I thought I'd give you some time and space."
"A relationship would complicate things," Ginny replied softly, looking around.
"Yes, you said that already," Draco said with a smirk. "I, however, think it might uncomplicate, some things. Like my explanation to my mother as to where I was the night after the ball and why I arrived wearing another man's clothes," Draco leaned towards her to whisper the last couple words. Ginny shivered and stepped away.
"Not here," she hissed.
"Splendid, then I can take you out to dinner? Tomorrow, say seven? Mother said she'd watch Scorp."