Working For the Dragon
Chapter 22. The Extraordinary First Date
I had a date today. A play date with my favourite child in the world, Teddy Lupin. A night before the Ball, I had promised to spend a day with the little boy.
"Wotcher, Gin!" Tonks greeted me as I stood at the entrance of her home. It had been quite a while since I'd visited the Lupins. The last had been before the disastrous, for me- Marvin Choque fashion show where I was required to attend with Narcissa Malfoy.
It was a calamity because Fleur and Bill had been there. The same people whom I'm not on talking terms with right now were present at the show. Let's just say that I had a hand in inducing the birth of little Victoire Amanda Weasley.
Then, I had been at Tonk's house borrowing her style which eventually made me look like the red-headed version of the very dead but beautiful Bellatrix Lestrange. I'd keep this secret with me till my last breath because if it came out any time before, I would be thrown into a boiling cauldron of witch stew.
I found Bellatrix Lestrange strangely beautiful. I had never encountered her personally- else I'd probably not be alive today but I had seen her 'Wanted-Dead or Alive posters.' She was intriguing to say at the least...Okay Ginny wipe those thought about that evil witch out of your brain.
"Hey Tonks!" I pulled her into a tight embrace. I hadn't seen her since the dinner at my place. She looked great, all decked up to have a perfect day out with Professor Lupin.
Being a Metamorphmagus, today she had straight jet black hair with dark blue streaks. Her eyes were heavily lined with kohl. She wore a simple, floral print sundress which softened her fierce look. If anything, today she looked as though she could pass off as Channy's older, gothic sister.
"How have you been?" Tonks asked as she led me inside her humble home after the embrace at the entrance.
"I'm great!" I replied chirpily observing my environment. Her home was simply beautiful. There weren't many decorations to speak of but it was decorated with photos of the Lupins- telling their story. Her house had a slight feminine touch, most likely Andromeda's –Tonks's mother - with chiffon, peach coloured day curtains and a darker, velvet, and dirty orange for the night ones.
The couple, busy with their respective careers had not much time to go heavily into furnishing but what they had was home and it was beautiful enough.
"Yeah... I read about your 'greatness' in the Daily Prophet." Tonks replied, grinning at me slyly.
"Oh no... not that!" I groaned in frustration. She grinned at my discomfort.
"So you and Draco, huh?" She asked as I hung my cloak on their cloak hanger. Having baby-sat for them many times in the past, I usually knew where everything belonged.
"Me and Draco..." I trailed off, not knowing what she wanted to know.
"Are the both of you official?" She asked, looking at me carefully.
"Didn't your newspaper tell you that?" I teased as I followed her into the kitchen. Little Teddy was nowhere around even though evidence of his presence was evident. There were toys scattered everywhere, from toy broomsticks, muggle toy cars, which I nearly lost my balance over -to toy wands, the ones my brothers Fred & George developed in their joke shop.
Even though Tonks was Draco's cousin, her relationship was more established with me than it had been with him. I had practically grown up with her, when I had no one to talk girly things to, I'd turn to her. She treated me like a sibling too, in fact whenever we went out, just the two of us, her hair would be red, long and styled just like mine, and so would her features. People would then mistake us as sisters.
"I just want you to be happy, Gin. As long as he treats you right, and if he doesn't, he'll find himself in Azkaban." Her eyes flashed dangerously for a moment there before she smiled.
"He's quite sweet, really..." I informed her and proceeded to tell her about how he had handled me when I had thrown that tantrum. I also took the chance to tell her about the cold war that was happening at the Burrow. She promised that she would speak to Mum as soon as possible in attempts to diffuse the situation.
"Sounds like he's quite the ..." She was about to remark when little Teddy chose to make his presence known.
"Mummy! Ginny!" He squealed adorably as he raced into the kitchen.
"Teddy! Be careful!" Tonks chided him while he looked at her innocently.
"Just be careful okay? And if anything breaks today, I'm going to kiss you as much as I want in public." She warned him, her eyes twinkling as she looked at her son with love.
-"Aren't you going to give me a hug?" I knelt down to his height so that I could hug the child properly. Little Teddy Lupin practically melted into my arms. I held him tight, close to my chest.
"You came!" He babbled enthusiastically.
I ruffled his hair lightly, "I promised you didn't I?"
He smiled and his naive eyes lit up with happiness and excitment. -"Yay! You can be our Princess!"
"Huh?" I looked at the little boy, puzzled. Princess?
"Princess! We're playing Knights and Dragons! You can be the Princess." Teddy explained to me as though I was a child. Silly boy!
I knew what Knights and Dragons was. I'd never played it before in my life but once, back in Hogwarts when we were having our midnight chat in the girl's dorm, I'd learnt about the game while we chatted about our childhood.
"Who is going to be the Dragon?" I teased although seriously wondering. Didn't Professor Lupin and Tonks have plans to spend time together? Finally I came to the conclusion that I'd be taking care of two boys. Little Teddy had a friend over.
"Me!" Teddy squealed, wiggling like a worm away from me as I tickled his tiny body!
"Who is going to be the Knight then?" I asked him as we walked towards his playroom.
Teddy pushed the door open before he could reply. He ran like the wind.
Having babysat him a little over a thousand times, I knew that Teddy never kept his things neatly. Very often, I found myself tripping over or nearly losing my balance over a toy broomstick or even a mere marble.
"Be careful, sweetie! Why don't you..." I froze, my question left mid-air as I stared at an unexpected face before me.
"He is the knight!" Teddy told me happily. He was none other than Draco Malfoy; my boss and apparently my boyfriend of a little more than 12 hours. He didn't know of my plans today - no one did. Not even Channy.
Back at The Burrow, everybody was under the stereotypical impression that I was going to be spending every minute of my spare time with him. In fact, breakfast this morning was a silent, awkward affair - it was so awkward that I skipped breakfast - screw Gryffindor courage.
"Wha-at are you doing here?" I practically shrieked while whispering, if that was possible. I was keeping my outrage and inner happiness under the bar so that little Teddy wouldn't be affected with my passionate emotions.
"I could ask you the same thing." He raised a calm, cool platinum blonde eyebrow.
I rolled my eyes to myself, one minute he was the sweetest person on the planet, the next minute he counters me with cunning answers. Draco was so mentally stimulating- he made me think. I hate thinking – makes me hungry.
He sat on the floor in Teddy's room in the most casual attire that I had ever and probably will ever see on him. He wore a pair of navy blue denim jeans and a white button down shirt. His platinum blonde hair was a sexy mess. As though he had tumbled out of bed or emerged from having glorifying hot sex. I knew otherwise though- the messy look screamed Teddy all over.
Although it was purely innocuous, I longed to run my hands through his hair and feel the silk against my hands.
"This is Uncle Draco." Teddy introduced me proudly. It was obvious that he idolized Draco. I hadn't known that the Malfoys and the Lupins were tight. Tonks never mentioned much except for the fact that after the war, Andromeda and her sister had reconciled. I guess I had never questioned the seriousness of the reconciliation. But all those times that I had taken care of Teddy, he never mentioned Draco. Curious... curious...
"Hi, Uncle Draco!" I teased, flashing a smile at Draco, putting my hand forward.
"Ginny." He greeted accepting my advance and pulled my hand towards his lips kissing it lightly. I felt my breath get hitched in my throat as I stared at him, thankfully little Teddy was more obsessed with gathering the necessary toys for the game.
I decided to ask Draco himself while waiting for our dear boy.
"Seriously, Draco, what are you doing here?"
"Me?" He replied mildy as though I had asked him the time instead of an explanation to feed my budding curiosity.
-"I came here on Mother's insistence that I deliver a vase to Tonks." He looked a little irritated at that.
-"Down here, I met this little monkey. Since I hadn't spent time with him in ages and I had a spare bit of time, I thought... why not?" He shrugged, looking a little bit out of place having made to reveal his feelings.
"Uncle Draco is spending the day with us." Teddy added as he came towards us carry toy shields and swords.
"That's not right, Teddy. We have to ask Ginny's permission." He corrected the child lightly but firmly enough to make a point.
Eager to please his uncle, sweet little Teddy looked at me with this innocently hopeful expression that made my heart melt into a pile of goo. As if I would deny this child anything he asked of me, I scoffed.
"Of course, darling. Your Uncle Draco can play with us any day." Teddy smiled brightly as though his birthday had come early.
He handed Draco a sword, Draco raised a sardonic eyebrow in question.
"What is this for?" He asked Teddy quizzically.
"It's your sword, silly!" I slapped him lightly on his arms, feeling the hardness of his muscles.
"With this? I think my hands are enough to finish this fiery dragon." He grabbed Teddy before he could react, pulling him into his arms and tickling the little boy.
Teddy squealed hysterically with laughter and protest.
"So what do you think?" Draco asked him raising his pale hands, making move to grab the boy.
"Sword, Ginny! Tell him to use the sword!" Little Teddy looked at me for help. Like I said, if he asked me for the world, I'd have given it to him in a heartbeat.
"Draco..." I said in my most bossy voice –"Use the sword."
"Yes ma'am!" He saluted me playfully, -"Although, if I have to use the sword, Ginny has to wear a tiara."
"Yuck! Tiara is for girls! I don't have girl toys!" Teddy said in disgusted protest. I nodded in agreement, me in a tiara?
"It's only fair." Draco reminded his nephew.
"Where are we going to get a tiara from?" Teddy asked fearfully.
Draco thought for a moment, "Which is your least favourite toy?"
Teddy ran to his toybox and pulled out a puzzle set. I shook my head, he was such a boy. They hated games like these. The puzzle set had been a gift from Hermione in encouragement that he sharpens his thinking skills. We had spent a whole afternoon together working on it once. I can say with utmost certainty that he never solved it again.
Draco smirked when he noticed the puzzle box. Taking it from Teddy's hands, he looked at me.
"Get ready for your tiara, Princess." He said the last part with such intensity; I felt my heart skip a beat.
I had to remind myself that we were in front of a six year old.
He muttered a spell and swirls of chalky blue smoke clouded the box. As the smoke cleared away, a small, inconspicuous yet really pretty tiara was on grand display in the middle of the wooden floor.
"Wow..." I breathed looking at the little piece of jewellery.
It was dainty with combs on both ends to ensure that it stays. There were white rhinestones in intricate swirls – diamonds, crystals or paste. I couldn't tell but it was really pretty.
"Princess..." Draco gestured for me to bow my head. He gently pushed the crown into the tangled mess also known as my hair.
"Stunning." He complimented me as he brushed a strand away from my face. He smirked slightly when he realised that his gaze had caused my breath get caught in my throat.
Abruptly, he turned around to face Teddy. "Ready?"
Before Teddy could react, he attacked while I watched. What was a Princess supposed to do anyway?
Teddy's squeals and screams of laughter filled the house. I smiled to myself as I snuck out of the room. There should be refreshments for them to cool off with when they are done.
Tonks had saved me the work before she left; there was a jar of iced pumpkin juice on the dining table as well as cheese sandwiches cut into small pieces. I decided to take a tray filled with refreshments and snacks.
I had just gotten the tray when a strong pair of arms wrapped themselves around my waist, startling me.
"The Princess is all mine." He whispered seductively in my ear. Raising his voice a little he called Teddy –"I have rescued the Princess, young dragon. You may surrender and become my pet. Or you..." He said dramatically, playing the part of a gallant knight really well.
"Never! Roarrrrr!" Teddy yelled racing into the kitchen.
I shooed them out of the kitchen as I continued with the refreshments. Honestly, I had nothing left to do. Mentally, I was entertaining some interesting thoughts about Draco in my head. He was good with children – well, Teddy in particular since I had never really gotten a chance to see him around others.
I smiled lightly to myself – Damn, Gin, you've got it bad.
"Caught you!" I heard Draco say from the hallway as Teddy shrieked. There was a loud clanking noise, probably from their toys.
"Surrender, dragon. Or I'll have your head for dinner." Draco threatened.
Suddenly, there was complete silence. It was rather worrying as I had gotten used to the enter house being in complete chaos thanks to their battle.
"Draco? Teddy?" I walked out of the kitchen towards the living room only to be startled by the boys.
"Don't ever do that again." I clutched my heart as both of them grinned at me, rather Teddy grinned while Draco smirked.
I rolled my eyes to myself as I informed Teddy that there were refreshments laid out on the table for him.
"How's the heart?" Draco asked teasingly as we walked towards the kitchen.
"Really, Draco?" I raised an eyebrow as I led him to the table where Teddy was already chomping food.
Teddy and Draco were engaged in a conversation about broomsticks as I cleared the table. I overheard Teddy telling him about how Harry had taught Teddy to ride the broomstick. I smirked to myself as I heard Draco's sarcastic reply. Poor Teddy didn't understand that both his uncles didn't like each other.
"Since your beloved Uncle Harry has taught you how to ride the broomstick? How about some ice cream down at Diagon Alley?" Draco suggested causing Teddy to squeal.
I glared at Draco pointedly; getting the hint he leaned down and whispered smoothly in Teddy's ears –"We must ask Ginny's permission first."
"Oh Ginny! Can we go? Please? Please? Please?" Teddy practically begged.
I looked down at his cute face and all my resistance melted away. Like I said if he asked me to give him the world, I wouldn't hesitate – ice cream was something that helped him keep awake for the afternoon.
At Diagon Alley, both Draco and I held Teddy's hand as he skipped merrily along the stoned-tiles a game that almost every child played in Diagon Alley. He pulled us along with us like a restrained child at times, Draco and I had to laugh at his enthusiasm.
At Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlour, Draco gave Teddy the liberty to order ice-cream with every topping available. This resulted in the three of us sharing a large melting blob of chocolate ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, marshmallows, chopped almonds and every other topping you could think of.
It was gross yet oddly delightful. Teddy's mouth was a mess by the time we were done with him. There was chocolate smeared all over his adorable face.
"Teddy..." I reached for a napkin on the table to wipe his face however, to my surprise, Draco stopped me.
"I'll do it." He looked at me with a small smile making my heart flutter.
Gently, he took a piece of napkin and dabbed at Teddy's cheeks. I had to control the urge to scream, watching them. It was so cute!
Teddy had created a real mess on his face; the ice-cream resembled a muddy face pack. All the napkins had been used up.
"Teddy, go and grab some more napkins for your Uncle Draco." I told the child sweetly.
Teddy hopped off his chair almost knocking over another in his rush. Like mother like son, I shook my head at his antics, smiling. I turned to see Draco staring at me.
"What?" I touched my cheek, self-consciously. –"Is there something on my face?"
"No..." He shook his head, smiling at me.
"Seriously, Draco?" I asked him, curious to know what was on his mind.
"Why isn't Teddy back yet?" He abruptly asked, changing the topic. It wasn't fair that he did that, but he was right. At this point, our priority should have been the six year old child.
"I'll go and check." I stood up and headed towards the napkin counters. Usually, from where we sat in the parlour, everything would be visible but good ole Mr Fortescue was having an discount sale today hence there was a crowd of people buying ice cream.
I noticed Teddy before I reached the counter. A blonde haired woman with a bad perm was grasping his hand tightly. I didn't recognise her but Teddy looked slightly afraid. I sped up praying that she wasn't a kidnapper or something along those lines.
"Teddy?" I stood behind the woman.
Both the woman and Teddy looked at me at the same time – although I much preferred if it was Teddy alone.
"I should've known, only a child like this would belong to you." Audrina greeted me sweetly, the curls from her bad perm bouncing with every movement she made.
"Oh my Merlin... What have you done to your hair, Audrina?" I gasped dramatically and I must say, a little too dramatically for my own good. I had gotten the attention of the people around us.
-"Are you trying to depict Medusa? Really Audi, I had no idea that a sea monster was your idol. That's terribly creative." I babbled on, my mouth probably spouting rubbish. I couldn't care less.
Teddy clutched my arm as though it was his teddy, pun intended.
"Draco Malfoy's new belle eh?" She examined me from head to foot, turning her nose down at me as though I was a mere peasant. No offence to peasants of course.
"Something that you could never be." I retorted back equally sarcastic.
"You keep dreaming, by the next month, he'll have another girl latched onto his arms. You'll be a forgotten story." She told me venomously.
I felt my anger flare up; I forgot that I had a six year old beside me listening earnestly to our word vomit.
"Well, at least I'm not a slut. Unlike some people...Let's go Teddy, Uncle Draco is waiting." I grabbed what felt like half the stack of napkins and stalked off towards where we sat.
As we walked back to our seats, little Teddy piped up a question that I could literally kill myself for.
"Ginny? What is a slut?" He asked just as we reached Draco.
Unfortunately, I was not the only one who caught it, Draco did as well. His mercury eyes widened as he heard the question. I'd say we had identical expressions although I felt more as though I wanted to slam my head on the table and knock myself out for my stupidity.
We had always been restricted from cussing around children for this very reason. I'd always been careful, how could I have forgotten? I should have at least made an effort to cover his ears.
Draco looked at me questioningly as though wondering how Teddy caught the word. I looked away shamefully. Why couldn't the ground open up and swallow me right now?
Sensing that he wasn't going to get a reply from me, little Teddy turned to Uncle Draco.
"Uncle Draco, what is a ..." Draco pressed Teddy's lips shut lightly with his fingers.
"It's not a very nice thing to say to someone. You shouldn't say it." Draco chided him almost severely. Little Teddy looked as though he was going to cry; his idol thought badly of him.
As if Draco knew that was the case, he pulled Teddy in a hug and ruffled his hair affectionately.
"Little man, it's good that you came to us when you heard the word. Every time you hear a word and you don't know its meaning. Go to mommy or daddy alright? Preferably daddy." Draco cleared his throat as though a thought struck him.
Once again, Teddy skipped out of Florean's as though he had never been scolded. Draco was absolutely magic with Teddy.
I sighed into his arms as Teddy skipped merrily in front of us.
"That was brilliant." I told him, meaning it as I relished the comfort and warmth his arms emitted.
"Brilliant, huh?" He smirked at me as we walked on. I slapped his arm playfully. That man had an ego the size of an ostrich egg.
Once Teddy was settled home comfortably narrating his adventures to his parents, Draco and I made a move. Not before I playfully glared at Tonks when she asked me if I liked the surprise in Teddy's room.
I had to admit that I appreciated it. Seeing Draco with Teddy today was indeed an experience.
As usual, Draco insisted on accompanying me home. As we walked down the path that led to the Burrow in comfortable silence, Draco squeezed my hand lightly.
"Do you consider this our first date?" He asked me out of the blue.
I shrugged, "It rightfully is, isn't it?" He nodded his head.
"Well then it was one heck of a first date."
"You are right. It was an extraordinary first date." He smiled slightly at my reaction.
He pulled me into his arms, kissing my hair lightly as we reached my gate.
I couldn't help but think that life couldn't get any better than this.
I hope this chapter answers some of your questions, no I have not forgotten about the Audrina/Goyle drama.
I've had a roller coaster vacation for the first three weeks. First, I successfully managed to physically impair myself while doing nothing. This in turn caused me to partially dislocate my knee which in turn requires me to go for rehab and quit dancing temporarily. My cousin just got married, I've got two part-time jobs and I'm nursing an injured knee. So while I'm not at my happiest, I've had one heck of a vacation. I was hoping to update sooner but I couldn't. Although be assured that I will be updating soon!
Review and let me know what you thought of this lil' chapter! Till the next update! XOXO
IMPORTANT:
Around X'mas '11, I uploaded a new story called Under the Mistletoe which I managed to complete a few weeks ago. Please do go and check it out if you haven't already. XOXO