♥ "Loving, Losing, Wanting, Having" for Britt 1/2 ♥
Title: Loving, Losing, Wanting, Having 1/2
Rating: Sorta Naughty
Possible Spoilers/Warnings: Swearing and some scenes of a (mildly) sexual nature
Summary: Draco needs a personal assistant. Ginny wants an escape. What they get is each other. Featuring: laughs, lies, a very persistent house-elf, drunken misunderstandings, a great deal of name calling and a very naked Draco.
A/N: Thank you so much to my beta for her constant “less angst, more humour!!” prodding. Without her this fic would have been much darker. And (as always) thanks to the wonderful Mods who work so hard to bring us these things. Thank you!
Loving, Losing, Wanting, Having 1/2
Scanning the last lines of the thick document one final time she took a deep breath and obediently scribbled her name with a shaking hand. Something as simple as signing a contract shouldn’t lead to butterflies in her stomach she was sure, but the thinly veiled glare from the woman hovering over her was not helping the situation.
“Good,” the tone was clipped with obvious impatience, “now the formalities are finally out the way we can get down to business. As I’m sure you are aware this is a very exclusive agency and we expect nothing less than absolute perfection from the people we acquire. The coming months will be very challenging but I’m sure we can count on you to rise to the occasion.”
At this the forbidding woman known to her as only Ms. Smith took the opportunity to pause and bestow her with yet another unimpressed stare.
Resisting the urge to squirm under the intense scrutiny Ginny attempted a smile as she drew herself up a little straighter in her chair.
“Don’t worry. I assure you I won’t let you down.”
“Well we shall just have to see about that, won’t we Miss Weasley. Now if there are no more questions I think it is about time you met our client. I’m sure we wouldn’t want to keep him waiting.”
Without pausing for Ginny’s conformation she brusquely removed the thick contract from the table and turned around to rustle through a large metal cabinet.
“Actually…I did have one or two quick questions if you don’t mind,” Ginny began hesitantly.
“Such as,” Ms. Smith prompted without turning around.
“Um…well…is it normal to send people off on jobs without telling them who they will be working for? Only it seems kind of important and I’d quite like to know a bit about them.”
Instantly the woman turned and fixed her with a glare.
“Let us get one thing very clear. This job is not about you. You are going to be a personal assistant to someone very important. What you think or want is irrelevant. It is only what they want that matters from now on. If your ego cannot cope with this fact I think it would be better if you found alternative employment,” her tone was icy as she waited for Ginny’s reply.
“I’m sorry,” she stammered, shocked by the woman’s reaction to what she had assumed was a simple request.
In response Ms. Smith just sighed and turned back to what she had been doing.
“I will not lie Miss Weasley. You would not be my first choice for this post. You are young, untrained and have an almost laughable lack of experience. However, this position has proved challenging to fill and our client, for some reason, asked for you specifically. So as you can see my hands are somewhat tied. All I ask is that you do not bring this agency into disrepute.”
She paused and lowered herself back into her chair stiffly before passing Ginny a thin brown envelope which she indicated Ginny should open.
“Inside you will find a copy of our rules. I would memorise them if I were you. They are crucial if you wish to make a success of yourself in this business. You will also find a small velvet bag containing the Portkey that will take you to the man that you are obviously so keen to meet. I wish you the best of luck. And now I think it is time for you to go.”
Ginny stood and hesitantly reached into the bag until her fingers touched something cool and smooth. Instantly an invisible force jerked her forward as wind whistled in her ears and Ms. Smith’s ornately decorated office faded away. Moments later she was released and stumbled against a green hedge. Glancing around as she waited for her ears to stop ringing she noted she was in a narrow unpaved country lane bordered by high hedges that extended towards the sky. A little way to her left were a pair of cold iron gates.
Shakily she approached the intricately shaped metal and peered through. On the other side a long gravel drive way was surrounded by perfectly manicured lawns leading up to what could only be called a mansion in the far distance. Colourful flower beds were neatly arranged in ordered rows and Ginny thought she could just about make out a fountain in the distance.
“Okay so the guy’s rich. Well he’d have to be considering what he’s paying,” she mumbled to herself in an attempt to keep from hyperventilating from nerves.
“You can do this. You’ve had far worse jobs than this in the past and you need the money. Come on Gin just think of the money,” she continued as she searched for a way to gain entry to the estate.
Finally finding a long metal chain almost hidden in the hedge she gave it a firm pull and waited. For several moments nothing happened but then, just when she was about to try again, the gates glided open noiselessly. Nervously she glanced around but after no one appeared to greet her she resigned herself to the long walk up to the main house.
Setting off with only the crunch of her footsteps for company she decided to check out the book of rules she still held in her hand. Opening it she glanced down and read:
Rule 1: Be sure to always address your new employer in a respectful manner. This is key to forming a successful working relationship.
“Wow that’s helpful,” she muttered with a snort.
A strange sound echoed from behind her and she span around in surprise. Standing not so far away from her was the strangest looking albino bird she had ever seen. A plume of tail feathers blossomed around the bird suddenly and Ginny realised it was a peacock. In slight awe Ginny took a step towards it but quickly backed away as it hissed at her menacingly.
“I’d be careful if I were you,” came a loud voice from behind her, causing her to jump. “I’m not sure he likes little Weasels.”
Even after all the years there was no way she could mistake those sneering tones. Feeling her face grow hot as all the long buried feelings of burning anger and resentment bubbled up, she span round and gaped at him.
“Malfoy?! What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded.
“You’re in Malfoy Manor, Weasley. This is my home,” he replied, his mocking smile growing larger by the second as she stood rooted to the spot glaring speechlessly at him.
“Honestly now. Is that any way to greet your new boss,” he chided snidely as the screaming in her head increased in volume as things fell into place.
“No,” she muttered quietly as she tore her gaze from him.
“What was that?”
“I said no, Malferret. I will not work for a cowardly traitor like you,” she declared, clearly stressing every word.
“I have a contract that says otherwise.”
“Screw you” she declared angrily as she turned on her heel and marched back down the drive way.
“I’ll give you till tomorrow morning to grow up Weasley. You really don’t want to break this contract you know. The consequences will be terrible,” he shouted after her hastily retreating form.
In reply she turned round and gave him The Finger before she Apparated.
**********
“Sorry Gin but you’re completely screwed,” announced Bill sadly, several hours later as he sat opposite her in the Leaky Cauldron rereading the contract for the third time.
“Are you sure?”
“Once upon a time I explored ancient tombs and neutralised curses. Now all day long I deal with Goblins, Goblin negotiations with Goblin contracts. I know what I’m talking about when I say this thing is as solid as a troll. Until this contract ends you have to work for him.”
“But I can’t work for that Bastard Malferret. Is there really no way out of it?” she whined.
“Well there is a paragraph governing his behaviour. If his behaviour towards you is inappropriate at any time the contract will be null and void.”
“Does him being a smug rude git count?” she queried hopefully.
“I think it’s more referring to violence or threatening behaviour,” he replied, taking a sip of his drink.
“Well his peacock did hiss at me,” she offered and then sighed as he choked on his drink and looked at her aghast.
“Calm down. That was not a euphemism. He’s the sort of rich Bastard that keeps them as pets. And I have to work for him. Merlin help me!” she declared as she plonked her forehead down on the table and let out a groan.
“Well try to look on the bright side. It’s been years since you were in school together. You’ve changed a lot. Bet you a sickle he has too,” he offered in a voice that was clearly trying to be cheerful.
She gave him a deeply unimpressed look.
**********
“It’s been years,” she muttered to herself the next morning, imitating Bill’s overly cheery tone as she stormed up the drive way kicking up the gravel as she went, “maybe he’s changed.”
“Yeah, changed into even more of an arse. He’s had years to cultivate his talent now. Before he was just a trainee in the art of being an arse but now he’s a Grand Master. Now he’s like an evil villain only instead of a cat he’s got a bloody peacock.”
Several minutes of angry stomping got her to the imposingly shiny oak front door of the property. Last night she had been down hearted and depressed but this morning she was hung over and pissed off. So she had to work for him. That didn’t mean she couldn’t make him regret it.
Her rage rather stalled however when the large door swung open to reveal only empty air. Glancing down she noticed the cowering House Elf wearing an old blue tea towel and attempted to mould her features into a less fierce expression. Some people enjoyed being mean to house-elves but she was not one of them.
“Sorry about that,” she apologised, “I’m Ginny Weasley. I’m meant to start working for Malfe…I mean Mr Malfoy today.”
The house-elf smiled at her in response.
“Ah yes. Master said a Miss Weezy would be coming today. I am Blinky, Miss. Please come in,” he said politely in high squeaky tones.
“Thank you Blinky. Could you tell Mr Malfoy that I’m here please,” she asked figuring she might as well get this over with as soon as possible.
“Sorry Miss Weezy but Master is busy at the moment. Miss will have to wait,” he informed her as he ushered her into a side room with a dark walls and a plush couch.
“Unbelievable! He orders me to meet him here and then buggers off,” she muttered to herself.
“Oh no Miss, Master has not gone out. He is here but we must not disturb him. He is very busy now,” the elf informed her, looking frightened.
“Doing what?” she demanded, letting her anger get the better of her again.
“He is…in bed Miss,” Blinky informed her reluctantly.
“It’s after eleven. How can the lazy git still be in bed?! Please go wake him and tell him I’m here.”
“Please no Miss. Master will be very angry with Blinky,” he replied wringing his hands.
“Fine! Take me to him and I’ll tell him myself,” she declared.
“Master will be very cross,” he tried to warn her again but she rose from the couch and crossed her arms.
“I don’t care!”
Slowly the house-elf led her through several doors and along a long corridor. Their progress was slowed even further as he began to halt every few steps to give her pleading looks but she ignored them and ushered him on. Finally he came to a stop by a pair of double doors.
“Please…Miss mustn’t be going in,” he begged one more time before backing away.
Ignoring him she raised her hand and knocked loudly.
“Go away!” echoed a gruff male voice through the door.
Undeterred she raised her hand and knocked again, more loudly this time.
“Fuck off!” came the reply a moment later.
She had tried to be polite but if he was going to be rude then so was she. Squaring her shoulders for a fight she reached for the door and pushed it open. The next minute however went by in rather a blur as she swung the door open and marched through. A quick survey of the scene later she realised her mistake. Malfoy was in bed alright but he wasn’t alone. He was with another person. A woman with a rather large chest. A woman with a rather large bouncing chest. For a second the shock of her discovery held her completely rooted to the spot in the doorway.
“Out…now,” barked a male voice from the bed and her brain finally kick started her limbs.
She backpedalled herself out through the door so quickly that she tripped and landed on her butt. The part of her that wasn’t still in shock heard laughter come from the room and then Blinky was mercifully there swinging the door shut and leading her away by the hand.
He took her into the kitchen where he sat her down on a stool and passed her a cup of tea.
“Blinky is very sorry Miss. He did try to warn Miss,” he offered as she sipped her tea.
“Yes he..i mean you…did,” she agreed, shaking her head in an attempt to snap the vague images from her mind. It took some time.
“Who was the woman?” she asked after a couple more cups of tea and some toast.
“Blinky doesn’t know Miss.”
“You don’t know Malfoy’s girlfriend?” she queried.
“Master Malfoy has many girlfriends but they don’t speak to Blinky. Master Malfoy doesn’t talk about them so Blinky doesn’t know. Blinky is sorry Miss.” He looked so worried again that Ginny felt she should reassure him.
“It’s okay Blinky. It’s not your fault your Master is a womanizing git who…” she trailed off mid-sentence as the man in question entered the kitchen looking flushed and wearing a dark green robe.
“I thought I could feel my ears burning and here you are,” he declared sauntering over and taking another cup of tea from Blinky.
“So Weasley…enjoy the show. Never figured a little Virginia like you would be into voyeurism but I suppose you never can tell,” he smirked at her and she gave him a disgusted look.
“Did you like what you saw? You certainly took a long enough look. Well up to the point that your face turned as red as your hair. Thanks for that visual. It’ll keep me laughing for days. And now as fun as that was we should get down to work. You can bring me my breakfast in the sun room after I’ve showered,” he informed her and made to leave.
“Doesn’t the girl want breakfast too?” she queried. The second she said it she realised it was the worst come back ever, but her brain felt almost paralysed with rage.
“Oh sweet little Virginia. The sort of women I date don’t eat breakfast. Unlike some, they actually care about their figures,” he replied flicking his eyes over her body in a way that made her feel naked and flabby.
“Bill you so owe me that sickle,” she muttered sourly at his departing back.
**********
Sometime later she found herself cursing him for entirely different reasons. He’d said to meet him in the sun room but how the hell was she meant to know what that was. She’d been wondering around like an idiot for what seemed like forever and she still had no idea if she was half way there yet. The carpets were deep and plush and everywhere she looked the walls were all shinning dark wood and polished marble but what struck her most was the oppressive echoing silence that seemed to follow behind her. She paused as the passageway split into three yet again and attempted to contain her scream of frustration.
“About bloody time. I was beginning to think you’d run away,” drawled a voice from the shadows behind her.
She let a sharp shriek and spun around, almost dropping the plate. He reached out and grabbed her arm to steady her.
“Jumpy little thing aren’t you, Virginia. What would your fellow Gryffindors think if they could see you now?”
“They’d probably be wondering why I haven’t already smashed this plate over your git head,” she retorted wrenching her arm away from him and then shoving the plate at him.
He took the plate from her with a disdainful look and began to head back in the direction she had just come from.
“If in doubt react with violence. How very predictable,” he threw back over his shoulder as she hurried to catch up with him.
“Oh yeah and how would a Slytherin handle it?”
“Oh once upon a time I’d have poisoned the food and handed it to you with a smile.”
“But not now?”
“Of course not. Haven’t you heard? I’m a completely reformed character. A pillar of the community even.”
“Last I heard you were best known for throwing your money around and bedding a great deal of very questionable women as publicly as possible.”
“Jealous of all the fun Weasley?”
“Hardly. Sounds like a good way to get a very nasty rash,” she sneered back at him.
“Speaking from experience? I mean there are all those rumours. You must know what they say about Quidditch players…” he trailed off smirking.
“Why am I here, Malferret? Surely not even you can need a personal assistant just to keep track of your weekly shags.”
“You’ve heard of Precious I presume.”
“What?” she questioned, confused by the sudden jump in topic.
“Come now Weasley it’s only a few doors down from your brother’s garish monstrosity of a shop. Not even you could miss it,” he chided.
“That poncy jewellery place. ‘Those who actually work for a living need not enter’ Precious. What about it?”
“I own it,” he informed her smugly.
“You bought a jewellery shop?”
“No I created the business. I took people’s need for defensive magic and made it beautiful. Jewellery, as you so dismissively put it, with a purpose.”
“Wow. You took desperate people’s fear and figured out a way to make a profit from it. Am I meant to be impressed?” she scoffed.
“And just what have you been doing with your life that gives you the right to judge me. Healing the sick? Saving innocent little puppies? No you’ve spent the last few years zooming around on a broom and promoting overpriced sportswear based on how good it makes your arse look.”
“So why did you hire me!? If you think I’m such a pathetic person what am I doing here?” she demanded, stepping in front of him.
“Well I did catch a few of your games.”
“And?”
“And I thought that’s one arse I wouldn’t mind having about the place,” he replied, leering mockingly.
In that second it took every single ounce of her self-control not to draw her wand and hex his ugly smirking face.
“Merlin Virginia, relax. As amusing as this has been, I do have a long list of things I need to get done today. Perhaps you could at least pretend to be the professional that I’m paying you to be,” he suggested patronisingly as he pushed past her and went to open a door.
“My name’s not Virginia,” she stated coldly.
For a second his brisk stride faltered as he paused and turned to face her. He looked older suddenly as the playful mocking left him.
“And mine’s not Malferret, Weasley. What’s your point? Do you honestly think something as simple what we call each other can change the past?”
“Of course not. Which leaves me wondering yet again why on earth you hired me,” she countered but he cut her off.
“My reasons are none of your business. Now come along before I decide this really is all just a terrible mistake and fire you. Your office is just along the hall here. Things might need a bit of sorting out. Your predecessor was many wonderful things but neat was not one of them.”
**********
A couple of months later Ginny was still trying to work out exactly what those good qualities might have been. Her predecessor seemed to have found basic filing and record keeping a bit too tricky and had resorted to keeping important information like crucial client details and deadlines on various scraps of paper that were thrown haphazardly on the floor. The only clear space had been the desk and, judging from the tiny scrap of silken underwear Ginny had found (to her utter disgust) in one of the drawers, the less she thought about exactly what sort of work Malfoy’s previous assistants had done in that room the happier she would be.
It was not her dream job by any stretch of the imagination but after a great deal of effort on her part she was hopeful that things might work out. Or at least she might get through her contracted working period and get paid without hexing his smug face. He was not an easy person to work for by any means. His working hours were erratic and unpredictable and any suggestions that hers should be different were met with dismissive disdain. She would be getting ready to leave for the night only for him to storm in and demand some obscure item or report be one his desk first thing in the morning. Luckily what he considered first thing in the morning was rather more sometime around mid-day for normal people.
Still, although she had long resigned herself to the fact that there would be no such thing as regular working hours with the job, she was particularly pissed off to be awoken at two o’clock in the morning by a shrill voice that was coming from her bag.
“Weasley! Wake up! I need you. Weasley!” the impatient voice demanded again.
“Noooo,” she mumbled jerking up in bed and blinking the sleep out of her eyes.
“Weasley! Are you there? Answer your bloody mirror you lazy cow,” the voice continued, sounding even more agitated now.
She considered rolling over and just going back to sleep but decided against it with a sigh. Unwilling to give up the warmth of her covers just yet she flung an arm out and yanked her bag towards her. Of course the bloody thing she was looking for had to be right at the bottom, tangled in amongst all her other possessions and assorted lip balms. Finally pulling out the tiny square of reflective glass she was greeted by a rather irate looking Malfoy. His hair was in complete disarray and his mouth appeared smeared with smudges of crimson lipstick.
“Do you know what bloody time it is?” she demanded in way of greeting
“Weasley?! Thank Merlin! I need you to come get me. Right now!” he hissed back, ignoring her question.
Great! So the git was so drunk he couldn’t even use his Portkey. Again. When he’d first given her the two-way mirror she had been fascinated by the little gadget that enabled her to find him no matter where he went. However, after the third late night drunken call the wonder of it all had worn off somewhat.
“Malfoy I am not the bloody Knight Bus. Find your own way home for once.”
“I would love to but she’s got my wand and she’s not giving it back,” he told, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on something that she couldn’t see.
“Who has?”
“Weasley. If you want to keep your job you will get your arse over here right now,” he shouted and then swore loudly before the connection cut off.
She let out a strangled scream of pure annoyance and then grabbed her wand to do as asked.
Everything became somewhat blurry and confusing as she focused in on his location and then felt the almost audible pop that signalled her arrival. She stumbled slightly and felt herself bump into a warm chest. A warm naked male chest. With a surprised shriek she jumped back and caught sight of the full extent of his nakedness. She was about to make the full extent of her horror known when he grabbed her arm and jerked her to the side as something crashed into the wall just behind where she had been standing.
Her naked boss momentarily forgotten she lurched around and was confronted by the sight of a short girl with dark curly hair who was clutching a sheet to herself with one hand as she hefted another large book threateningly at them.
“Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.” The words came like a mantra, escaping from her lips as she stared at Ginny with horrified eyes.
“Malfoy! What the hell have you done?” Ginny demanded harshly, keeping her eyes on the shaking form that seemed caught between fight or flight.
“Me?! Nothing. She’s the crazy one that attacked me,” he countered from somewhere behind her.
“Liar! My mother warned me to stay away from strange men! What the hell are you? What have you done to me?” came the angry response.
“I would never…” he retorted, stepping forward but then retreating again as a textbook whizzed past his head.
“So why am I seeing things? People can’t just appear from nowhere. And what the hell happened to my clothes?”
“I vanished them,” he told her.
“You what? Well I don’t care! I want them back. Give them back now!” she demanded, stamping her foot in rage.
“For Merlin’s sake Malfoy. Give the girl back her clothes. And get your own while you’re at it. I don’t think you being naked is exactly helping right now,” she hissed at him as she tried to assess whether it might be safe to approach the rapidly hyperventilating girl.
“I would love to Weasley. But she snapped my wand,” he told her irritably.
Even in this moment of complete chaos some tiny wicked and completely wrong part of her couldn’t help but glance downwards at his comment. It was barely a few seconds before she caught herself and politely averted her gaze once more but he noticed anyway and sighed.
“No Weasley. My actual wand. For Merlin’s sake get your dirty mind out of the gutter.”
“Are you actually trying to lecture me about decency? Now? I’m going to ask you one more time. What the hell did you do to her?”
“Nothing. I swear to Merlin nothing at all. We met in this club and she invited me back to her place so I went. And then we were on the bed and things were just starting to get good but then she was having trouble with her buttons so I thought I’d speed things up a bit. And then she just freaked out. She snatched my wand and started shrieking like a banshee and throwing things,” he explained calmly, sounding as puzzled as she felt as she glanced around to get a good look at where they were for the first time.
The room was quite small with the double bed taking up most of the floor space. One wall was entirely covered in photos of the mystery girl in happier times. Her in the middle of a huge group of smiling girls. Her laughing and pointing at a guy in a funny hat. Her in the process of blowing out candles on a large cake. The last one in particular struck Ginnny as wrong it took several moments more before the glaringly obvious truth jumped out at her.
“Malfoy. She’s a Muggle!” she hissed, glancing back at the girl on the floor in shock.
“What?!” he demanded
“She’s a bloody Muggle you utter moron. Look at her photos. None of them move,” she insisted pointing to the wall.
His nakedness seemingly forgotten he brushed past her to stare at the unmoving pictures in horror.
“Oh hell!” he muttered, glancing from the photos to the girl and then back again.
This movement seemed to stir some instinct in her because she jumped back, tripping slightly as her foot caught on the edge of the bed sheet.
“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you people but I want you out…right now,” she told them harshly, her glare failing to fully disguise the way that her legs were now shaking with fear.
“Look...” Malfoy began, turning towards her and raising a placating hand.
“Don’t come near me!” she shrieked.
Ginny sighed and pushed past him to stand closer to the girl who glared at her warily.
“I’m sure this must be really scary but everything is going to be alright. I just need you to calm down a bit and then you and me are going to have a little talk. Okay?” she offered trying to sound as reassuring as possible but it didn’t seem to work.
“Your friend drugged me and you want to fix it all with a little chat. Are you insane? Get out of my room right now before I…” she began but never got to finish her threat as Ginny reached for her wand and Stunned her.
Catching the unconscious girl before she could hit the floor she covered her limbs as best she could and then turned to glare at Malfoy who was looking relieved.
“For Merlin’s sake Malfoy, would you cover yourself. I need to think and you’re distracting me,” she snapped shielding her eyes and trying to pretend she hadn’t seen everything already.
“It’s not like you haven’t seen it all before little Virginia. There’s no need to get all bashful now. And what do you suggest I use anyway. She’s hogging all the bed sheets.”
She picked up the nearest object to hand which just happened to be a rather large briefcase and hurled it at him, smirking as it hit him in the stomach and he let out a pained grunt.
“Fine,” he muttered as he repositioned it to cover his unmentionables.
“No Malferret it is not fine. Nothing about this whole mess is fine,” she snapped angrily.
“Calm down. I’ll just erase her memory and then you can take me home. Problem solved. Just lend me your wand,” he told her, holding out his hand.
“No way. You’ve been drinking and you can’t know those spells.”
“Well I do. Come on Weasley don’t be difficult about this,” he cajoled, reaching again but she raised her wand and pointed it at him.
“You have already terrorized this girl. I’m not going to let you poke around in her brain as well. She is not just some inconvenient problem that you need to fix. She is a person,” she told him levelly in a no-nonsense tone.
“You can’t mean the Obliviators. I did magic in front of a Muggle. That’s not something they take lightly,” he argued.
“This is not all about you. You arrogant arse!”
He drew himself up at that and glared at her but she cut him off before he could reply.
“No I don’t want to hear it. You can’t deal with your problems like an adult. Fine. I’ll take you home. And then I’ll come back here and clean up the mess you’ve made,” she snapped before she grabbed him and Apparated them both back to Malfoy Manor.
**********
He was waiting for her in her office the next morning when she arrived looking tired and harried. Stopping in the doorway she bestowed him with a very unimpressed glare.
“So? Did you sort it?” he asked as she continued to stare at him.
“Melanie,” she told him, stressing the word, “is going to be just fine. The Obliviator did a fine job and she woke up this morning feeling nothing more than slightly embarrassed that she got so drunk last night that a complete stranger had to get her home.”
“You stayed with her?” he questioned.
“Someone had to. It can leave people a bit confused for several hours and the Obliviator couldn’t stay that long for an unofficial call out.”
“Unofficial?” he prompted.
“Yes. Luckily for you I have people who owe me favours and seeing as Melanie confirmed your story the incident will not be appearing in any reports or, more importantly, the Papers.”
He let out a sigh of relief and stood up.
“Thank Merlin for that. Good work Weasley. I’m glad to see that hiring you was not a mistake after all,” he began jovially but was cut off as she stalked towards him and poked him hard in the chest.
“Her name is Melanie, Malferret. I know that you don’t normally bother learning their names but you’re bloody well going to remember this one. Melanie Grimshaw has a mother and father who have called her every Sunday since she moved here three months ago. She did so in order to become a vet like her big brother Joe. She has been waitressing all night to pay for her studies and has not had time to make many friends. Last night after her shift she decided to stop off in a local club on her way home from work. There she was surprised to not be asked for ID at the bar since she only celebrated her eighteenth birthday a few months ago,” she told him in a pleasant, almost conversational tone. Anyone who knew her would have been backing away at this point, but he didn’t know her very well.
“Oh well. At least she was…” he began but trailed off as he finally noticed the look in her eyes.
“Malfoy if you say ‘at least she was legal’ I will slap you, I swear to Merlin. Just because it is legal doesn’t make something right. She is a baby compared to you. A tiny naïve little child that you planned to use as a quick distraction from your shallow pathetic life. Like you use all of them. Well they have stories too and feelings. You cannot just use people like toys and then discard them when they no longer amuse you. I’m sure you have your reasons. I’m sure deep down inside you’re just miserable and lonely. But so what? A lot of us are.”
“Weasley…you,” he tried to interject but she stepped away and turned her back on him.
“This is my job. I signed the contract. You are my boss. I get it. And tomorrow I will be in bright and early ready to get to work. But today I’m going home. Because right now you, and this job, make me sick.”
The sun was just beginning to set later that day when she was roused from her doze by a large eagle owl tapping on the glass. After letting it in she unhooked the rolled up parchment from its leg and watched the bird swoop off without waiting for a reply. Unrolling the thick expensive paper she caught sight of the Malfoy crest at the top and quickly scanned down expecting to see a dismissal notice. Instead she found only five small words in elegant script.
You were right. I’m sorry.
As promised, the next day she made sure she arrived early in order to catch up on anything she might have missed the previous day. He strolled by her office at his usual time of around midday but she did have to concede that he at least did not look like he had been out partying the previous night. Neither of them mentioned the previous couple of days and their interaction for the day continued in the normal bristling politeness of thinly veiled insults. At face value nothing seemed to have changed but she did note that for that for the next couple of nights he seemed unusually keen to stay home. This did not last forever of course, but she had not expected it to. Why her opinions should matter to him at all, she had no clue.
**********
“Poor guy. Sounds like he’s got a serious problem,” Bill agreed a few weeks later when they finally managed to meet up for a late lunch. Things had been particularly busy lately and she had been waiting to talk over recent events with someone trustworthy for far too long. Now if only she could get her brother to stop playing devil’s advocate.
“Poor him?! Poor me more like! If I have to open one more letter containing slutty underwear I’m going to scream. I don’t know why they even bother. He never stays with any of them for more than a few nights at most. Then he has me send them flowers with a subtle hint to get lost so he can move on to his next conquest.”
“That’s sad,” he mumbled in agreement.
“Bill! It’s not sad. It’s disgusting.”
“I just meant that anyone trying that hard to find something to distract themselves must have issues.”
“These women aren’t things Bill. He’s using them and they’re just so thrilled by any little crumb he throws them. It makes me sick. What on earth do they see in him?”
“Well he’s powerful, rich and attractive. Are you honestly telling me that you don’t see it?”
“Oh yuck. How can you even suggest that I’d ever fancy the Malferret. I’d rather kiss a toad.”
“So you don’t even like him just a little? Because I’d totally understand if you did.”
“Nope I’m one hundred per cent sure about my feelings, but I’m beginning to worry about yours.”
“What?”
“Well first you seem rather keen to make excuses for his awful actions and now you’re telling me how attractive he is. Are his slimy seductive powers working across gender boundaries now? Do I need to have a conversation with my sister-in-law?”she baited, laughing lightly as her ever calm brother just laughed and rolled his eyes.
“I’m just checking up on you. I know how attractive ‘bad boys’ can be…”he trailed off as she snorted.
“Not really helping your case here.”
“I’ll have you know I read an entire piece about the phenomenon in Fleur’s Witch Weekly. What? They have some very good articles. Your guy seems to feature in rather a lot of them and I can’t help but notice.”
“Eugh. Draco Malfoy will never be my guy. He’s just an evil little Ferret with far too much money.”
“The thing about money Gin, is that it can’t buy happiness,” he told her, dead serious again.
“Wow. Did you get that pearl of wisdom from Witch Weekly too? ‘Top Ten Bloody Obvious Sayings to Make You Sound Really Deep’ or something.”
“Naw. It was my fortune cookie from last night’s Chinese. But in all seriousness Gin you should watch out for him. No guy spends that much time trying to get wasted unless he’s seriously unhappy.”
“So he’s miserable. So what? Life is hard and happiness isn’t exactly easy to come by these days. He’s probably less deserving than most of us anyway.”
“And who says you get to judge?” she went to interject but he cut her off, “The past is over Gin. It’s done. And you’ve got to let it go or go mad.”
“Now try to cheer up okay. You’re far too young to be this cynical.”
“Right I should leave that to you old timers. Eh granddad,” she joked and tried to smile but as usual he knew her too well and saw through it.
“You’re okay, right Ginny? Not to go all Mum on you, but I know you’ve had a tough time and if you ever need to talk you’re always welcome to come over,” he told her, reaching across to take hold of her hand.
“Only if you promise not to cook,” she joked, attempting to pull her hand away but he held on, searching her eyes.
“I’m fine Bill. You know me. I’m tougher than I look. Save your grey hairs for your own kids,” she told him and laughed as his hand flew to his head in horror.
**********
Unfortunately Bill’s words were harder to brush off than the man himself as she felt his words echoing back to her throughout the day. So when the topic of their conversation stormed into her office later that afternoon she found herself assessing him anew and noticing the bags under his eyes and the tight set to his shoulders. Maybe Bill was right. Maybe she should try being a little more charitable towards him. Of course he failed to sense this intended change and so continued to be his usual abrupt and slightly hostile self.
“Do I need to use smaller words, Weasel?” he demanded in an exasperated tone as she realised she had been so busy concentrating on adjusting her attitude that she had completely missed everything he had just said.
“I said do you have a dress?”
“Why?”
“Well I’ve got this cute pair of heels but nothing to wear them with,” he stated as she blinked and wondered when the world had
gone so insane. He sighed and gave her an irritated look.
“The War Orphans Ball is tonight,” he stated pronouncing every word slowly, “and I need a date.”
“What? No! I sorted this last week. I booked two tickets for you and what was it again…Petal? What happened to her?”
“Pansy can’t go anymore,” he announced, stressing the name.
“So? Don’t tell me you can’t think of at least a dozen women who would love to take her place.”
“You know what these fundraisers are like. The women I date tend to be better at dancing on tables than listening to another boring housewife discussing her flower arrangements.”
“Are you actually ashamed to be seen with them Malfoy?”
“Of course not. Different people are simply better suited to different situations. It’s just a matter of realising people’s strengths. If I wanted someone who was gorgeous and skilled in bed I’d ask one of them. Whereas if I wanted someone to network with a bunch of boring old farts and profess how much they care about children I’d ask you. Simple really.”
“Of course if you’d prefer me to think of you in the other category…” he let the sentence hang and she wrinkled her nose.
“Stop right there before I puke all over you.”
“Charming as ever, Virginia. Now go find a dress. I’m sure it’ll be a stretch but this is a big event so try to think classy. None of your usual third hand rags tonight. Just remember you’re representing me and the firm,” he informed her snidely.
She smiled sweetly, flashed him The Finger and turned to leave without saying a word. If only Bill knew what the prat was really like.
**********
The evening had started off ordinarily enough. She had shown up at the Manor where she had taken Malfoy’s silence as the greatest compliment she was likely to get from him. They had Apparated to the Ball where she was instantly swept into meeting and greeting as he ushered her around the room exchanging smiles and meaningless pleasantries with everyone in their path. As if from nowhere her previously scowling and sullen date seemed to light up and she caught her first glance of the shining public face of Malfoy. The charmingly irresistible one that attracted women and men alike. He knew people’s names and families. He laughed at their truly atrociously unfunny attempts at humour and smiled as yet another person remarked on how it really was ‘unseasonably warm for this time of year’.
The meal dragged through course after course, each slightly more disappointing than the last. A little old lady told her all about her dog’s health problems and then a greying man proceeded to conduct an entire conversation with his eyes firmly fixed on her chest. It wouldn’t have been quite so creepy if they hadn’t been discussing his granddaughter at the time.
Just when she was beginning to hope things were winding down the speeches had begun and then the dancing. At this point she had looked round for Malfoy, hopeful that she had now done her duty as his date and would be allowed to leave. Except that he was now conveniently nowhere to be seen and neither was the young perky blonde who had been making eyes at him since they’d first arrived. She’d sighed in annoyance and told herself that she shouldn’t be surprised. It was a day that ended in ‘y’ after all. Of course Malfoy was off doing Merlin knew what with some girl. Well stuff him! It was late and she wanted nothing more than her bed. She was just getting up to leave when the balding middle aged man who had been staring at her suggestively from across the table had demanded a dance. Initially she had tried to refuse but he had obviously been waiting for this opportunity and was not taking no for an answer.
And so, several dances later, she found herself on the dance floor with the bloke she had dubbed ‘Mr Gropey’. He’d positioned himself far too close during the initial faster number and had become more touchy feely as time went on. Currently she was locked in his vice like grip as they swayed to a slow song. She sighed as she felt the hand on her waist dip to cup her arse. It was going to cause such a scene when she made his face explode with boils but it seemed there was nothing else for it.
“Do you mind if I cut in?” The heavenly voice asked just as she was about to reach for her wand.
“Come on now Durgin you can’t hog one of the prettiest girls all night. Give the rest of us a chance, eh,” it continued as Mr Gropey (now Durgin) gave her a longing look and reluctantly let go.
She turned to thank her brave rescuer but saw only Malfoy, ever present smirk in full effect.
“Having fun there little Weasel?” he mocked, holding out his hand to her.
She was so tempted to refuse but reluctantly decided he was the better of two evils. Until the other guy stopped hovering, at least.
“I’m warning you Malferret. You’d better be a perfect gentleman. I’m way past my tolerance level for groping this evening,” she warned as they swayed and she tried not to notice how good he smelled.
“I’ll have you know I have never groped a woman in my life,” he replied indignantly.
She made a noise of disbelief and rolled her eyes.
“Fondled yes but never groped and only after they’ve begged me. Do you have any plans to beg me little Weasel?”
She pulled back to glare at him and made a disgusted face.
“I will take that as a no then. No need to be rude to your majestic hero.”
“Don’t get cocky. I was handling it,” she snapped, trying to push him away.
He twirled her around easily and snapped her back to him as the music sped up once more.
“You were gearing up to hex him. Which, don’t get me wrong, I would normally find hilarious. But it just happens that our dear Durgin is a rather valuable acquaintance. And I’m fairly certain that having you hex his balls off would be bad for business.”
“You could be a little more grateful you know. Right now there is a gorgeous blonde waiting to do unspeakable things to me in the cloakroom, and yet I’m making her wait just so I can protect your honour.”
“Well it looks like your disgusting friend has left so feel free to piss off back to your tart. I’m a big girl and you’re not responsible for me.”
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be back. Durgin’s the persistent sort and you did play footsie with him all through dinner.”
“What?! No I didn’t.”
“Alright technically that was me. But I’m fairly sure he was aiming for you under that table and I needed some entertainment to distract me from another diatribe from that lady about poor Mr Fusskin’s bowels. These things are unbelievably dull. A guy has got to take any entertainment he can get.”
“If you hate them so much why do you go to so many? Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean. I arrange the tickets, remember.”
“We can’t all inherit good guy reputations Weasley. Unlike your dear Potter some of us actually have to work at it.”
“Yeah I mean all he did was save the world that time. What’s that compared with being forced to eat fancy food and dance?”
“Trust you to pick the easy bits. It’s all the forced conversation with rich and pompous do-gooders. That’s the terrifying part.”
“Well you hide it very well. Anyone would think you were having a good time.”
“Well I don’t know. Doing the charity circuit has its perks I guess. Sometimes I even get to rescue gorgeous women.”
She went still at that comment. Struck dumb for a moment. But he just laughed and dragged her back into the rhythm.
This means nothing, she told herself clearly. It doesn’t mean he likes you, it just means he’s breathing. And the fact that he’s flirting with you at all just goes to show how drunk he is. But this was the first time since she’d started working for him that they’d had any length of conversation that had not simply degraded into insults. She had to admit it was kind of nice.
“He’s not mine you know,” she heard her mouth blurt before it ever registered in her brain. Apparently she was quite drunk too.
“Who’s not?”
“You said ‘your Potter’ but Harry’s not mine.”
“But he used to be?” he prompted.
“And now he’s not,” she stated simply.
They continued in silence after that as the music once again changed to a slow song and he held her closer in an almost, if she didn’t know better, tender way. Then the song ended and so did their quiet moment. Shaking herself lightly she pushed away and made herself look him in the eye. What she saw there did nothing to simplify her charged emotions.
“Isn’t it about time you went to find your cloakroom girl? If you’re not careful she’ll go home without you,” she teased, trying to make her tone light and school her face not to betray her.
This was not about him, she reassured herself. It had just been rather a long time since anyone had held her close and made her feel like she was the most important woman in the world. She was just a little love starved and she’d been enjoying the company of all that free champagne too much. That was all.
“What would you say if I told you I’d much rather go home with you, Virginia,” he whispered into her ear and she felt herself shiver.
Taking a breath she tugged away from him and steeled her resolve.
“I’d say you’re drunk, Malferret. Very very drunk,” she replied, proud that her voice sounded steadier than she felt.
“And if you think you’re getting a shag out of me you must be insane as well,” she added for good measure.
“Quite right. Can I at least accompany you to the Portkey point or will that damage your delicate virtue too?”
“Don’t you have someone to go meet?” she questioned, rolling her eyes at his overacting.
“Nah. You know that whole thing you were telling me about how I should get to know women a bit before I have my wicked way with them?”
“Like a normal decent human being. Yes I do seem to remember something about that.”
“Well I tried it” he began and then paused.
“And…?” she prompted.
“And Tara is truly a very trying woman. You have no idea. I asked her one question and she just talked and talked and wouldn’t shut up. Don’t think I’ll be trying things your way again anytime soon. Completely wrecked my plans.”
“Maybe that’s just a sign you just need to find a better date. Someone you’re more suited too,” she suggested lightly.
“I thought you weren’t offering,” he teased.
“I am so going to mock you tomorrow morning when the booze wears off and you return to your normal self,” she informed him as they reached the Portkey point and she fumbled in the bottom of her bag for her charmed key ring.
“You look very pretty tonight. I just thought you should know,” he informed her as he swung his arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear.
“Honestly Malferret, you should be charmingly drunk more often. I find myself liking you so much more,” she joked, pushing him away lightly.
“Funny. I like myself more too,” he mumbled, looking away.
“Nice try but I’m not falling for your self-deprecating wiles.”
“Really?” he asked focusing on her again.
“Nope. I’m far too smart for that. Sorry.”
“Damn. Knew I should have hired someone stupider.”
“Or at least someone who doesn’t know all your tricks,” she suggested with a laugh.
“Seriously though, it’s been a really nice evening. Probably the most fun I’ve had in ages.”
“And you didn’t even have to remove any clothes. Fancy that,” she mocked, wondering why on earth she was drawing this simple goodbye out for so long, but somehow unable to leave first.
“Good night little Weasel,” he said, ending her dilemma.
“Night Malferret. Thanks for the rescue,” she replied, smiling.
Then, in a moment of what she was quite certain was pure drink fuelled madness, she leaned in and pecked him once, very quickly on the cheek. The shock on his face as the Portkey jerked her away kept her laughing for quite some time.
As she changed into her pyjamas she reflected on the conversation she had shared with her brother just that morning. Something had changed between then and now, leaving her feeling strange and unsettled. Damn Malfoy and his sexy bad boy charm! She wondered idly if Bill would lend her that article. Clearly she needed all the help she could get.
**********
Finish reading the story here!
Original Prompt that we sent you: Post war fic. Ginny works for Draco as a personal assistant.
The tone/mood of the fic: Humor, can start of just friendship.
An element/line of dialogue/object you would specifically like in your fic: Chocolate Ice Cream, Bahamas, hot pink bikini decorated with cows. Briefcase.
Preferred rating of the the fic you want: Sorta Naughty/T
Canon or AU?: It doesn't matter
Deal Breakers (anything you don't want?): Virgin, good girl Ginny. OOC Draco. Too much Weasley
Rating: Sorta Naughty
Possible Spoilers/Warnings: Swearing and some scenes of a (mildly) sexual nature
Summary: Draco needs a personal assistant. Ginny wants an escape. What they get is each other. Featuring: laughs, lies, a very persistent house-elf, drunken misunderstandings, a great deal of name calling and a very naked Draco.
A/N: Thank you so much to my beta for her constant “less angst, more humour!!” prodding. Without her this fic would have been much darker. And (as always) thanks to the wonderful Mods who work so hard to bring us these things. Thank you!
Loving, Losing, Wanting, Having 1/2
Scanning the last lines of the thick document one final time she took a deep breath and obediently scribbled her name with a shaking hand. Something as simple as signing a contract shouldn’t lead to butterflies in her stomach she was sure, but the thinly veiled glare from the woman hovering over her was not helping the situation.
“Good,” the tone was clipped with obvious impatience, “now the formalities are finally out the way we can get down to business. As I’m sure you are aware this is a very exclusive agency and we expect nothing less than absolute perfection from the people we acquire. The coming months will be very challenging but I’m sure we can count on you to rise to the occasion.”
At this the forbidding woman known to her as only Ms. Smith took the opportunity to pause and bestow her with yet another unimpressed stare.
Resisting the urge to squirm under the intense scrutiny Ginny attempted a smile as she drew herself up a little straighter in her chair.
“Don’t worry. I assure you I won’t let you down.”
“Well we shall just have to see about that, won’t we Miss Weasley. Now if there are no more questions I think it is about time you met our client. I’m sure we wouldn’t want to keep him waiting.”
Without pausing for Ginny’s conformation she brusquely removed the thick contract from the table and turned around to rustle through a large metal cabinet.
“Actually…I did have one or two quick questions if you don’t mind,” Ginny began hesitantly.
“Such as,” Ms. Smith prompted without turning around.
“Um…well…is it normal to send people off on jobs without telling them who they will be working for? Only it seems kind of important and I’d quite like to know a bit about them.”
Instantly the woman turned and fixed her with a glare.
“Let us get one thing very clear. This job is not about you. You are going to be a personal assistant to someone very important. What you think or want is irrelevant. It is only what they want that matters from now on. If your ego cannot cope with this fact I think it would be better if you found alternative employment,” her tone was icy as she waited for Ginny’s reply.
“I’m sorry,” she stammered, shocked by the woman’s reaction to what she had assumed was a simple request.
In response Ms. Smith just sighed and turned back to what she had been doing.
“I will not lie Miss Weasley. You would not be my first choice for this post. You are young, untrained and have an almost laughable lack of experience. However, this position has proved challenging to fill and our client, for some reason, asked for you specifically. So as you can see my hands are somewhat tied. All I ask is that you do not bring this agency into disrepute.”
She paused and lowered herself back into her chair stiffly before passing Ginny a thin brown envelope which she indicated Ginny should open.
“Inside you will find a copy of our rules. I would memorise them if I were you. They are crucial if you wish to make a success of yourself in this business. You will also find a small velvet bag containing the Portkey that will take you to the man that you are obviously so keen to meet. I wish you the best of luck. And now I think it is time for you to go.”
Ginny stood and hesitantly reached into the bag until her fingers touched something cool and smooth. Instantly an invisible force jerked her forward as wind whistled in her ears and Ms. Smith’s ornately decorated office faded away. Moments later she was released and stumbled against a green hedge. Glancing around as she waited for her ears to stop ringing she noted she was in a narrow unpaved country lane bordered by high hedges that extended towards the sky. A little way to her left were a pair of cold iron gates.
Shakily she approached the intricately shaped metal and peered through. On the other side a long gravel drive way was surrounded by perfectly manicured lawns leading up to what could only be called a mansion in the far distance. Colourful flower beds were neatly arranged in ordered rows and Ginny thought she could just about make out a fountain in the distance.
“Okay so the guy’s rich. Well he’d have to be considering what he’s paying,” she mumbled to herself in an attempt to keep from hyperventilating from nerves.
“You can do this. You’ve had far worse jobs than this in the past and you need the money. Come on Gin just think of the money,” she continued as she searched for a way to gain entry to the estate.
Finally finding a long metal chain almost hidden in the hedge she gave it a firm pull and waited. For several moments nothing happened but then, just when she was about to try again, the gates glided open noiselessly. Nervously she glanced around but after no one appeared to greet her she resigned herself to the long walk up to the main house.
Setting off with only the crunch of her footsteps for company she decided to check out the book of rules she still held in her hand. Opening it she glanced down and read:
Rule 1: Be sure to always address your new employer in a respectful manner. This is key to forming a successful working relationship.
“Wow that’s helpful,” she muttered with a snort.
A strange sound echoed from behind her and she span around in surprise. Standing not so far away from her was the strangest looking albino bird she had ever seen. A plume of tail feathers blossomed around the bird suddenly and Ginny realised it was a peacock. In slight awe Ginny took a step towards it but quickly backed away as it hissed at her menacingly.
“I’d be careful if I were you,” came a loud voice from behind her, causing her to jump. “I’m not sure he likes little Weasels.”
Even after all the years there was no way she could mistake those sneering tones. Feeling her face grow hot as all the long buried feelings of burning anger and resentment bubbled up, she span round and gaped at him.
“Malfoy?! What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded.
“You’re in Malfoy Manor, Weasley. This is my home,” he replied, his mocking smile growing larger by the second as she stood rooted to the spot glaring speechlessly at him.
“Honestly now. Is that any way to greet your new boss,” he chided snidely as the screaming in her head increased in volume as things fell into place.
“No,” she muttered quietly as she tore her gaze from him.
“What was that?”
“I said no, Malferret. I will not work for a cowardly traitor like you,” she declared, clearly stressing every word.
“I have a contract that says otherwise.”
“Screw you” she declared angrily as she turned on her heel and marched back down the drive way.
“I’ll give you till tomorrow morning to grow up Weasley. You really don’t want to break this contract you know. The consequences will be terrible,” he shouted after her hastily retreating form.
In reply she turned round and gave him The Finger before she Apparated.
**********
“Sorry Gin but you’re completely screwed,” announced Bill sadly, several hours later as he sat opposite her in the Leaky Cauldron rereading the contract for the third time.
“Are you sure?”
“Once upon a time I explored ancient tombs and neutralised curses. Now all day long I deal with Goblins, Goblin negotiations with Goblin contracts. I know what I’m talking about when I say this thing is as solid as a troll. Until this contract ends you have to work for him.”
“But I can’t work for that Bastard Malferret. Is there really no way out of it?” she whined.
“Well there is a paragraph governing his behaviour. If his behaviour towards you is inappropriate at any time the contract will be null and void.”
“Does him being a smug rude git count?” she queried hopefully.
“I think it’s more referring to violence or threatening behaviour,” he replied, taking a sip of his drink.
“Well his peacock did hiss at me,” she offered and then sighed as he choked on his drink and looked at her aghast.
“Calm down. That was not a euphemism. He’s the sort of rich Bastard that keeps them as pets. And I have to work for him. Merlin help me!” she declared as she plonked her forehead down on the table and let out a groan.
“Well try to look on the bright side. It’s been years since you were in school together. You’ve changed a lot. Bet you a sickle he has too,” he offered in a voice that was clearly trying to be cheerful.
She gave him a deeply unimpressed look.
**********
“It’s been years,” she muttered to herself the next morning, imitating Bill’s overly cheery tone as she stormed up the drive way kicking up the gravel as she went, “maybe he’s changed.”
“Yeah, changed into even more of an arse. He’s had years to cultivate his talent now. Before he was just a trainee in the art of being an arse but now he’s a Grand Master. Now he’s like an evil villain only instead of a cat he’s got a bloody peacock.”
Several minutes of angry stomping got her to the imposingly shiny oak front door of the property. Last night she had been down hearted and depressed but this morning she was hung over and pissed off. So she had to work for him. That didn’t mean she couldn’t make him regret it.
Her rage rather stalled however when the large door swung open to reveal only empty air. Glancing down she noticed the cowering House Elf wearing an old blue tea towel and attempted to mould her features into a less fierce expression. Some people enjoyed being mean to house-elves but she was not one of them.
“Sorry about that,” she apologised, “I’m Ginny Weasley. I’m meant to start working for Malfe…I mean Mr Malfoy today.”
The house-elf smiled at her in response.
“Ah yes. Master said a Miss Weezy would be coming today. I am Blinky, Miss. Please come in,” he said politely in high squeaky tones.
“Thank you Blinky. Could you tell Mr Malfoy that I’m here please,” she asked figuring she might as well get this over with as soon as possible.
“Sorry Miss Weezy but Master is busy at the moment. Miss will have to wait,” he informed her as he ushered her into a side room with a dark walls and a plush couch.
“Unbelievable! He orders me to meet him here and then buggers off,” she muttered to herself.
“Oh no Miss, Master has not gone out. He is here but we must not disturb him. He is very busy now,” the elf informed her, looking frightened.
“Doing what?” she demanded, letting her anger get the better of her again.
“He is…in bed Miss,” Blinky informed her reluctantly.
“It’s after eleven. How can the lazy git still be in bed?! Please go wake him and tell him I’m here.”
“Please no Miss. Master will be very angry with Blinky,” he replied wringing his hands.
“Fine! Take me to him and I’ll tell him myself,” she declared.
“Master will be very cross,” he tried to warn her again but she rose from the couch and crossed her arms.
“I don’t care!”
Slowly the house-elf led her through several doors and along a long corridor. Their progress was slowed even further as he began to halt every few steps to give her pleading looks but she ignored them and ushered him on. Finally he came to a stop by a pair of double doors.
“Please…Miss mustn’t be going in,” he begged one more time before backing away.
Ignoring him she raised her hand and knocked loudly.
“Go away!” echoed a gruff male voice through the door.
Undeterred she raised her hand and knocked again, more loudly this time.
“Fuck off!” came the reply a moment later.
She had tried to be polite but if he was going to be rude then so was she. Squaring her shoulders for a fight she reached for the door and pushed it open. The next minute however went by in rather a blur as she swung the door open and marched through. A quick survey of the scene later she realised her mistake. Malfoy was in bed alright but he wasn’t alone. He was with another person. A woman with a rather large chest. A woman with a rather large bouncing chest. For a second the shock of her discovery held her completely rooted to the spot in the doorway.
“Out…now,” barked a male voice from the bed and her brain finally kick started her limbs.
She backpedalled herself out through the door so quickly that she tripped and landed on her butt. The part of her that wasn’t still in shock heard laughter come from the room and then Blinky was mercifully there swinging the door shut and leading her away by the hand.
He took her into the kitchen where he sat her down on a stool and passed her a cup of tea.
“Blinky is very sorry Miss. He did try to warn Miss,” he offered as she sipped her tea.
“Yes he..i mean you…did,” she agreed, shaking her head in an attempt to snap the vague images from her mind. It took some time.
“Who was the woman?” she asked after a couple more cups of tea and some toast.
“Blinky doesn’t know Miss.”
“You don’t know Malfoy’s girlfriend?” she queried.
“Master Malfoy has many girlfriends but they don’t speak to Blinky. Master Malfoy doesn’t talk about them so Blinky doesn’t know. Blinky is sorry Miss.” He looked so worried again that Ginny felt she should reassure him.
“It’s okay Blinky. It’s not your fault your Master is a womanizing git who…” she trailed off mid-sentence as the man in question entered the kitchen looking flushed and wearing a dark green robe.
“I thought I could feel my ears burning and here you are,” he declared sauntering over and taking another cup of tea from Blinky.
“So Weasley…enjoy the show. Never figured a little Virginia like you would be into voyeurism but I suppose you never can tell,” he smirked at her and she gave him a disgusted look.
“Did you like what you saw? You certainly took a long enough look. Well up to the point that your face turned as red as your hair. Thanks for that visual. It’ll keep me laughing for days. And now as fun as that was we should get down to work. You can bring me my breakfast in the sun room after I’ve showered,” he informed her and made to leave.
“Doesn’t the girl want breakfast too?” she queried. The second she said it she realised it was the worst come back ever, but her brain felt almost paralysed with rage.
“Oh sweet little Virginia. The sort of women I date don’t eat breakfast. Unlike some, they actually care about their figures,” he replied flicking his eyes over her body in a way that made her feel naked and flabby.
“Bill you so owe me that sickle,” she muttered sourly at his departing back.
**********
Sometime later she found herself cursing him for entirely different reasons. He’d said to meet him in the sun room but how the hell was she meant to know what that was. She’d been wondering around like an idiot for what seemed like forever and she still had no idea if she was half way there yet. The carpets were deep and plush and everywhere she looked the walls were all shinning dark wood and polished marble but what struck her most was the oppressive echoing silence that seemed to follow behind her. She paused as the passageway split into three yet again and attempted to contain her scream of frustration.
“About bloody time. I was beginning to think you’d run away,” drawled a voice from the shadows behind her.
She let a sharp shriek and spun around, almost dropping the plate. He reached out and grabbed her arm to steady her.
“Jumpy little thing aren’t you, Virginia. What would your fellow Gryffindors think if they could see you now?”
“They’d probably be wondering why I haven’t already smashed this plate over your git head,” she retorted wrenching her arm away from him and then shoving the plate at him.
He took the plate from her with a disdainful look and began to head back in the direction she had just come from.
“If in doubt react with violence. How very predictable,” he threw back over his shoulder as she hurried to catch up with him.
“Oh yeah and how would a Slytherin handle it?”
“Oh once upon a time I’d have poisoned the food and handed it to you with a smile.”
“But not now?”
“Of course not. Haven’t you heard? I’m a completely reformed character. A pillar of the community even.”
“Last I heard you were best known for throwing your money around and bedding a great deal of very questionable women as publicly as possible.”
“Jealous of all the fun Weasley?”
“Hardly. Sounds like a good way to get a very nasty rash,” she sneered back at him.
“Speaking from experience? I mean there are all those rumours. You must know what they say about Quidditch players…” he trailed off smirking.
“Why am I here, Malferret? Surely not even you can need a personal assistant just to keep track of your weekly shags.”
“You’ve heard of Precious I presume.”
“What?” she questioned, confused by the sudden jump in topic.
“Come now Weasley it’s only a few doors down from your brother’s garish monstrosity of a shop. Not even you could miss it,” he chided.
“That poncy jewellery place. ‘Those who actually work for a living need not enter’ Precious. What about it?”
“I own it,” he informed her smugly.
“You bought a jewellery shop?”
“No I created the business. I took people’s need for defensive magic and made it beautiful. Jewellery, as you so dismissively put it, with a purpose.”
“Wow. You took desperate people’s fear and figured out a way to make a profit from it. Am I meant to be impressed?” she scoffed.
“And just what have you been doing with your life that gives you the right to judge me. Healing the sick? Saving innocent little puppies? No you’ve spent the last few years zooming around on a broom and promoting overpriced sportswear based on how good it makes your arse look.”
“So why did you hire me!? If you think I’m such a pathetic person what am I doing here?” she demanded, stepping in front of him.
“Well I did catch a few of your games.”
“And?”
“And I thought that’s one arse I wouldn’t mind having about the place,” he replied, leering mockingly.
In that second it took every single ounce of her self-control not to draw her wand and hex his ugly smirking face.
“Merlin Virginia, relax. As amusing as this has been, I do have a long list of things I need to get done today. Perhaps you could at least pretend to be the professional that I’m paying you to be,” he suggested patronisingly as he pushed past her and went to open a door.
“My name’s not Virginia,” she stated coldly.
For a second his brisk stride faltered as he paused and turned to face her. He looked older suddenly as the playful mocking left him.
“And mine’s not Malferret, Weasley. What’s your point? Do you honestly think something as simple what we call each other can change the past?”
“Of course not. Which leaves me wondering yet again why on earth you hired me,” she countered but he cut her off.
“My reasons are none of your business. Now come along before I decide this really is all just a terrible mistake and fire you. Your office is just along the hall here. Things might need a bit of sorting out. Your predecessor was many wonderful things but neat was not one of them.”
**********
A couple of months later Ginny was still trying to work out exactly what those good qualities might have been. Her predecessor seemed to have found basic filing and record keeping a bit too tricky and had resorted to keeping important information like crucial client details and deadlines on various scraps of paper that were thrown haphazardly on the floor. The only clear space had been the desk and, judging from the tiny scrap of silken underwear Ginny had found (to her utter disgust) in one of the drawers, the less she thought about exactly what sort of work Malfoy’s previous assistants had done in that room the happier she would be.
It was not her dream job by any stretch of the imagination but after a great deal of effort on her part she was hopeful that things might work out. Or at least she might get through her contracted working period and get paid without hexing his smug face. He was not an easy person to work for by any means. His working hours were erratic and unpredictable and any suggestions that hers should be different were met with dismissive disdain. She would be getting ready to leave for the night only for him to storm in and demand some obscure item or report be one his desk first thing in the morning. Luckily what he considered first thing in the morning was rather more sometime around mid-day for normal people.
Still, although she had long resigned herself to the fact that there would be no such thing as regular working hours with the job, she was particularly pissed off to be awoken at two o’clock in the morning by a shrill voice that was coming from her bag.
“Weasley! Wake up! I need you. Weasley!” the impatient voice demanded again.
“Noooo,” she mumbled jerking up in bed and blinking the sleep out of her eyes.
“Weasley! Are you there? Answer your bloody mirror you lazy cow,” the voice continued, sounding even more agitated now.
She considered rolling over and just going back to sleep but decided against it with a sigh. Unwilling to give up the warmth of her covers just yet she flung an arm out and yanked her bag towards her. Of course the bloody thing she was looking for had to be right at the bottom, tangled in amongst all her other possessions and assorted lip balms. Finally pulling out the tiny square of reflective glass she was greeted by a rather irate looking Malfoy. His hair was in complete disarray and his mouth appeared smeared with smudges of crimson lipstick.
“Do you know what bloody time it is?” she demanded in way of greeting
“Weasley?! Thank Merlin! I need you to come get me. Right now!” he hissed back, ignoring her question.
Great! So the git was so drunk he couldn’t even use his Portkey. Again. When he’d first given her the two-way mirror she had been fascinated by the little gadget that enabled her to find him no matter where he went. However, after the third late night drunken call the wonder of it all had worn off somewhat.
“Malfoy I am not the bloody Knight Bus. Find your own way home for once.”
“I would love to but she’s got my wand and she’s not giving it back,” he told, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on something that she couldn’t see.
“Who has?”
“Weasley. If you want to keep your job you will get your arse over here right now,” he shouted and then swore loudly before the connection cut off.
She let out a strangled scream of pure annoyance and then grabbed her wand to do as asked.
Everything became somewhat blurry and confusing as she focused in on his location and then felt the almost audible pop that signalled her arrival. She stumbled slightly and felt herself bump into a warm chest. A warm naked male chest. With a surprised shriek she jumped back and caught sight of the full extent of his nakedness. She was about to make the full extent of her horror known when he grabbed her arm and jerked her to the side as something crashed into the wall just behind where she had been standing.
Her naked boss momentarily forgotten she lurched around and was confronted by the sight of a short girl with dark curly hair who was clutching a sheet to herself with one hand as she hefted another large book threateningly at them.
“Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.” The words came like a mantra, escaping from her lips as she stared at Ginny with horrified eyes.
“Malfoy! What the hell have you done?” Ginny demanded harshly, keeping her eyes on the shaking form that seemed caught between fight or flight.
“Me?! Nothing. She’s the crazy one that attacked me,” he countered from somewhere behind her.
“Liar! My mother warned me to stay away from strange men! What the hell are you? What have you done to me?” came the angry response.
“I would never…” he retorted, stepping forward but then retreating again as a textbook whizzed past his head.
“So why am I seeing things? People can’t just appear from nowhere. And what the hell happened to my clothes?”
“I vanished them,” he told her.
“You what? Well I don’t care! I want them back. Give them back now!” she demanded, stamping her foot in rage.
“For Merlin’s sake Malfoy. Give the girl back her clothes. And get your own while you’re at it. I don’t think you being naked is exactly helping right now,” she hissed at him as she tried to assess whether it might be safe to approach the rapidly hyperventilating girl.
“I would love to Weasley. But she snapped my wand,” he told her irritably.
Even in this moment of complete chaos some tiny wicked and completely wrong part of her couldn’t help but glance downwards at his comment. It was barely a few seconds before she caught herself and politely averted her gaze once more but he noticed anyway and sighed.
“No Weasley. My actual wand. For Merlin’s sake get your dirty mind out of the gutter.”
“Are you actually trying to lecture me about decency? Now? I’m going to ask you one more time. What the hell did you do to her?”
“Nothing. I swear to Merlin nothing at all. We met in this club and she invited me back to her place so I went. And then we were on the bed and things were just starting to get good but then she was having trouble with her buttons so I thought I’d speed things up a bit. And then she just freaked out. She snatched my wand and started shrieking like a banshee and throwing things,” he explained calmly, sounding as puzzled as she felt as she glanced around to get a good look at where they were for the first time.
The room was quite small with the double bed taking up most of the floor space. One wall was entirely covered in photos of the mystery girl in happier times. Her in the middle of a huge group of smiling girls. Her laughing and pointing at a guy in a funny hat. Her in the process of blowing out candles on a large cake. The last one in particular struck Ginnny as wrong it took several moments more before the glaringly obvious truth jumped out at her.
“Malfoy. She’s a Muggle!” she hissed, glancing back at the girl on the floor in shock.
“What?!” he demanded
“She’s a bloody Muggle you utter moron. Look at her photos. None of them move,” she insisted pointing to the wall.
His nakedness seemingly forgotten he brushed past her to stare at the unmoving pictures in horror.
“Oh hell!” he muttered, glancing from the photos to the girl and then back again.
This movement seemed to stir some instinct in her because she jumped back, tripping slightly as her foot caught on the edge of the bed sheet.
“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with you people but I want you out…right now,” she told them harshly, her glare failing to fully disguise the way that her legs were now shaking with fear.
“Look...” Malfoy began, turning towards her and raising a placating hand.
“Don’t come near me!” she shrieked.
Ginny sighed and pushed past him to stand closer to the girl who glared at her warily.
“I’m sure this must be really scary but everything is going to be alright. I just need you to calm down a bit and then you and me are going to have a little talk. Okay?” she offered trying to sound as reassuring as possible but it didn’t seem to work.
“Your friend drugged me and you want to fix it all with a little chat. Are you insane? Get out of my room right now before I…” she began but never got to finish her threat as Ginny reached for her wand and Stunned her.
Catching the unconscious girl before she could hit the floor she covered her limbs as best she could and then turned to glare at Malfoy who was looking relieved.
“For Merlin’s sake Malfoy, would you cover yourself. I need to think and you’re distracting me,” she snapped shielding her eyes and trying to pretend she hadn’t seen everything already.
“It’s not like you haven’t seen it all before little Virginia. There’s no need to get all bashful now. And what do you suggest I use anyway. She’s hogging all the bed sheets.”
She picked up the nearest object to hand which just happened to be a rather large briefcase and hurled it at him, smirking as it hit him in the stomach and he let out a pained grunt.
“Fine,” he muttered as he repositioned it to cover his unmentionables.
“No Malferret it is not fine. Nothing about this whole mess is fine,” she snapped angrily.
“Calm down. I’ll just erase her memory and then you can take me home. Problem solved. Just lend me your wand,” he told her, holding out his hand.
“No way. You’ve been drinking and you can’t know those spells.”
“Well I do. Come on Weasley don’t be difficult about this,” he cajoled, reaching again but she raised her wand and pointed it at him.
“You have already terrorized this girl. I’m not going to let you poke around in her brain as well. She is not just some inconvenient problem that you need to fix. She is a person,” she told him levelly in a no-nonsense tone.
“You can’t mean the Obliviators. I did magic in front of a Muggle. That’s not something they take lightly,” he argued.
“This is not all about you. You arrogant arse!”
He drew himself up at that and glared at her but she cut him off before he could reply.
“No I don’t want to hear it. You can’t deal with your problems like an adult. Fine. I’ll take you home. And then I’ll come back here and clean up the mess you’ve made,” she snapped before she grabbed him and Apparated them both back to Malfoy Manor.
**********
He was waiting for her in her office the next morning when she arrived looking tired and harried. Stopping in the doorway she bestowed him with a very unimpressed glare.
“So? Did you sort it?” he asked as she continued to stare at him.
“Melanie,” she told him, stressing the word, “is going to be just fine. The Obliviator did a fine job and she woke up this morning feeling nothing more than slightly embarrassed that she got so drunk last night that a complete stranger had to get her home.”
“You stayed with her?” he questioned.
“Someone had to. It can leave people a bit confused for several hours and the Obliviator couldn’t stay that long for an unofficial call out.”
“Unofficial?” he prompted.
“Yes. Luckily for you I have people who owe me favours and seeing as Melanie confirmed your story the incident will not be appearing in any reports or, more importantly, the Papers.”
He let out a sigh of relief and stood up.
“Thank Merlin for that. Good work Weasley. I’m glad to see that hiring you was not a mistake after all,” he began jovially but was cut off as she stalked towards him and poked him hard in the chest.
“Her name is Melanie, Malferret. I know that you don’t normally bother learning their names but you’re bloody well going to remember this one. Melanie Grimshaw has a mother and father who have called her every Sunday since she moved here three months ago. She did so in order to become a vet like her big brother Joe. She has been waitressing all night to pay for her studies and has not had time to make many friends. Last night after her shift she decided to stop off in a local club on her way home from work. There she was surprised to not be asked for ID at the bar since she only celebrated her eighteenth birthday a few months ago,” she told him in a pleasant, almost conversational tone. Anyone who knew her would have been backing away at this point, but he didn’t know her very well.
“Oh well. At least she was…” he began but trailed off as he finally noticed the look in her eyes.
“Malfoy if you say ‘at least she was legal’ I will slap you, I swear to Merlin. Just because it is legal doesn’t make something right. She is a baby compared to you. A tiny naïve little child that you planned to use as a quick distraction from your shallow pathetic life. Like you use all of them. Well they have stories too and feelings. You cannot just use people like toys and then discard them when they no longer amuse you. I’m sure you have your reasons. I’m sure deep down inside you’re just miserable and lonely. But so what? A lot of us are.”
“Weasley…you,” he tried to interject but she stepped away and turned her back on him.
“This is my job. I signed the contract. You are my boss. I get it. And tomorrow I will be in bright and early ready to get to work. But today I’m going home. Because right now you, and this job, make me sick.”
The sun was just beginning to set later that day when she was roused from her doze by a large eagle owl tapping on the glass. After letting it in she unhooked the rolled up parchment from its leg and watched the bird swoop off without waiting for a reply. Unrolling the thick expensive paper she caught sight of the Malfoy crest at the top and quickly scanned down expecting to see a dismissal notice. Instead she found only five small words in elegant script.
You were right. I’m sorry.
As promised, the next day she made sure she arrived early in order to catch up on anything she might have missed the previous day. He strolled by her office at his usual time of around midday but she did have to concede that he at least did not look like he had been out partying the previous night. Neither of them mentioned the previous couple of days and their interaction for the day continued in the normal bristling politeness of thinly veiled insults. At face value nothing seemed to have changed but she did note that for that for the next couple of nights he seemed unusually keen to stay home. This did not last forever of course, but she had not expected it to. Why her opinions should matter to him at all, she had no clue.
**********
“Poor guy. Sounds like he’s got a serious problem,” Bill agreed a few weeks later when they finally managed to meet up for a late lunch. Things had been particularly busy lately and she had been waiting to talk over recent events with someone trustworthy for far too long. Now if only she could get her brother to stop playing devil’s advocate.
“Poor him?! Poor me more like! If I have to open one more letter containing slutty underwear I’m going to scream. I don’t know why they even bother. He never stays with any of them for more than a few nights at most. Then he has me send them flowers with a subtle hint to get lost so he can move on to his next conquest.”
“That’s sad,” he mumbled in agreement.
“Bill! It’s not sad. It’s disgusting.”
“I just meant that anyone trying that hard to find something to distract themselves must have issues.”
“These women aren’t things Bill. He’s using them and they’re just so thrilled by any little crumb he throws them. It makes me sick. What on earth do they see in him?”
“Well he’s powerful, rich and attractive. Are you honestly telling me that you don’t see it?”
“Oh yuck. How can you even suggest that I’d ever fancy the Malferret. I’d rather kiss a toad.”
“So you don’t even like him just a little? Because I’d totally understand if you did.”
“Nope I’m one hundred per cent sure about my feelings, but I’m beginning to worry about yours.”
“What?”
“Well first you seem rather keen to make excuses for his awful actions and now you’re telling me how attractive he is. Are his slimy seductive powers working across gender boundaries now? Do I need to have a conversation with my sister-in-law?”she baited, laughing lightly as her ever calm brother just laughed and rolled his eyes.
“I’m just checking up on you. I know how attractive ‘bad boys’ can be…”he trailed off as she snorted.
“Not really helping your case here.”
“I’ll have you know I read an entire piece about the phenomenon in Fleur’s Witch Weekly. What? They have some very good articles. Your guy seems to feature in rather a lot of them and I can’t help but notice.”
“Eugh. Draco Malfoy will never be my guy. He’s just an evil little Ferret with far too much money.”
“The thing about money Gin, is that it can’t buy happiness,” he told her, dead serious again.
“Wow. Did you get that pearl of wisdom from Witch Weekly too? ‘Top Ten Bloody Obvious Sayings to Make You Sound Really Deep’ or something.”
“Naw. It was my fortune cookie from last night’s Chinese. But in all seriousness Gin you should watch out for him. No guy spends that much time trying to get wasted unless he’s seriously unhappy.”
“So he’s miserable. So what? Life is hard and happiness isn’t exactly easy to come by these days. He’s probably less deserving than most of us anyway.”
“And who says you get to judge?” she went to interject but he cut her off, “The past is over Gin. It’s done. And you’ve got to let it go or go mad.”
“Now try to cheer up okay. You’re far too young to be this cynical.”
“Right I should leave that to you old timers. Eh granddad,” she joked and tried to smile but as usual he knew her too well and saw through it.
“You’re okay, right Ginny? Not to go all Mum on you, but I know you’ve had a tough time and if you ever need to talk you’re always welcome to come over,” he told her, reaching across to take hold of her hand.
“Only if you promise not to cook,” she joked, attempting to pull her hand away but he held on, searching her eyes.
“I’m fine Bill. You know me. I’m tougher than I look. Save your grey hairs for your own kids,” she told him and laughed as his hand flew to his head in horror.
**********
Unfortunately Bill’s words were harder to brush off than the man himself as she felt his words echoing back to her throughout the day. So when the topic of their conversation stormed into her office later that afternoon she found herself assessing him anew and noticing the bags under his eyes and the tight set to his shoulders. Maybe Bill was right. Maybe she should try being a little more charitable towards him. Of course he failed to sense this intended change and so continued to be his usual abrupt and slightly hostile self.
“Do I need to use smaller words, Weasel?” he demanded in an exasperated tone as she realised she had been so busy concentrating on adjusting her attitude that she had completely missed everything he had just said.
“I said do you have a dress?”
“Why?”
“Well I’ve got this cute pair of heels but nothing to wear them with,” he stated as she blinked and wondered when the world had
gone so insane. He sighed and gave her an irritated look.
“The War Orphans Ball is tonight,” he stated pronouncing every word slowly, “and I need a date.”
“What? No! I sorted this last week. I booked two tickets for you and what was it again…Petal? What happened to her?”
“Pansy can’t go anymore,” he announced, stressing the name.
“So? Don’t tell me you can’t think of at least a dozen women who would love to take her place.”
“You know what these fundraisers are like. The women I date tend to be better at dancing on tables than listening to another boring housewife discussing her flower arrangements.”
“Are you actually ashamed to be seen with them Malfoy?”
“Of course not. Different people are simply better suited to different situations. It’s just a matter of realising people’s strengths. If I wanted someone who was gorgeous and skilled in bed I’d ask one of them. Whereas if I wanted someone to network with a bunch of boring old farts and profess how much they care about children I’d ask you. Simple really.”
“Of course if you’d prefer me to think of you in the other category…” he let the sentence hang and she wrinkled her nose.
“Stop right there before I puke all over you.”
“Charming as ever, Virginia. Now go find a dress. I’m sure it’ll be a stretch but this is a big event so try to think classy. None of your usual third hand rags tonight. Just remember you’re representing me and the firm,” he informed her snidely.
She smiled sweetly, flashed him The Finger and turned to leave without saying a word. If only Bill knew what the prat was really like.
**********
The evening had started off ordinarily enough. She had shown up at the Manor where she had taken Malfoy’s silence as the greatest compliment she was likely to get from him. They had Apparated to the Ball where she was instantly swept into meeting and greeting as he ushered her around the room exchanging smiles and meaningless pleasantries with everyone in their path. As if from nowhere her previously scowling and sullen date seemed to light up and she caught her first glance of the shining public face of Malfoy. The charmingly irresistible one that attracted women and men alike. He knew people’s names and families. He laughed at their truly atrociously unfunny attempts at humour and smiled as yet another person remarked on how it really was ‘unseasonably warm for this time of year’.
The meal dragged through course after course, each slightly more disappointing than the last. A little old lady told her all about her dog’s health problems and then a greying man proceeded to conduct an entire conversation with his eyes firmly fixed on her chest. It wouldn’t have been quite so creepy if they hadn’t been discussing his granddaughter at the time.
Just when she was beginning to hope things were winding down the speeches had begun and then the dancing. At this point she had looked round for Malfoy, hopeful that she had now done her duty as his date and would be allowed to leave. Except that he was now conveniently nowhere to be seen and neither was the young perky blonde who had been making eyes at him since they’d first arrived. She’d sighed in annoyance and told herself that she shouldn’t be surprised. It was a day that ended in ‘y’ after all. Of course Malfoy was off doing Merlin knew what with some girl. Well stuff him! It was late and she wanted nothing more than her bed. She was just getting up to leave when the balding middle aged man who had been staring at her suggestively from across the table had demanded a dance. Initially she had tried to refuse but he had obviously been waiting for this opportunity and was not taking no for an answer.
And so, several dances later, she found herself on the dance floor with the bloke she had dubbed ‘Mr Gropey’. He’d positioned himself far too close during the initial faster number and had become more touchy feely as time went on. Currently she was locked in his vice like grip as they swayed to a slow song. She sighed as she felt the hand on her waist dip to cup her arse. It was going to cause such a scene when she made his face explode with boils but it seemed there was nothing else for it.
“Do you mind if I cut in?” The heavenly voice asked just as she was about to reach for her wand.
“Come on now Durgin you can’t hog one of the prettiest girls all night. Give the rest of us a chance, eh,” it continued as Mr Gropey (now Durgin) gave her a longing look and reluctantly let go.
She turned to thank her brave rescuer but saw only Malfoy, ever present smirk in full effect.
“Having fun there little Weasel?” he mocked, holding out his hand to her.
She was so tempted to refuse but reluctantly decided he was the better of two evils. Until the other guy stopped hovering, at least.
“I’m warning you Malferret. You’d better be a perfect gentleman. I’m way past my tolerance level for groping this evening,” she warned as they swayed and she tried not to notice how good he smelled.
“I’ll have you know I have never groped a woman in my life,” he replied indignantly.
She made a noise of disbelief and rolled her eyes.
“Fondled yes but never groped and only after they’ve begged me. Do you have any plans to beg me little Weasel?”
She pulled back to glare at him and made a disgusted face.
“I will take that as a no then. No need to be rude to your majestic hero.”
“Don’t get cocky. I was handling it,” she snapped, trying to push him away.
He twirled her around easily and snapped her back to him as the music sped up once more.
“You were gearing up to hex him. Which, don’t get me wrong, I would normally find hilarious. But it just happens that our dear Durgin is a rather valuable acquaintance. And I’m fairly certain that having you hex his balls off would be bad for business.”
“You could be a little more grateful you know. Right now there is a gorgeous blonde waiting to do unspeakable things to me in the cloakroom, and yet I’m making her wait just so I can protect your honour.”
“Well it looks like your disgusting friend has left so feel free to piss off back to your tart. I’m a big girl and you’re not responsible for me.”
“I’m pretty sure he’ll be back. Durgin’s the persistent sort and you did play footsie with him all through dinner.”
“What?! No I didn’t.”
“Alright technically that was me. But I’m fairly sure he was aiming for you under that table and I needed some entertainment to distract me from another diatribe from that lady about poor Mr Fusskin’s bowels. These things are unbelievably dull. A guy has got to take any entertainment he can get.”
“If you hate them so much why do you go to so many? Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean. I arrange the tickets, remember.”
“We can’t all inherit good guy reputations Weasley. Unlike your dear Potter some of us actually have to work at it.”
“Yeah I mean all he did was save the world that time. What’s that compared with being forced to eat fancy food and dance?”
“Trust you to pick the easy bits. It’s all the forced conversation with rich and pompous do-gooders. That’s the terrifying part.”
“Well you hide it very well. Anyone would think you were having a good time.”
“Well I don’t know. Doing the charity circuit has its perks I guess. Sometimes I even get to rescue gorgeous women.”
She went still at that comment. Struck dumb for a moment. But he just laughed and dragged her back into the rhythm.
This means nothing, she told herself clearly. It doesn’t mean he likes you, it just means he’s breathing. And the fact that he’s flirting with you at all just goes to show how drunk he is. But this was the first time since she’d started working for him that they’d had any length of conversation that had not simply degraded into insults. She had to admit it was kind of nice.
“He’s not mine you know,” she heard her mouth blurt before it ever registered in her brain. Apparently she was quite drunk too.
“Who’s not?”
“You said ‘your Potter’ but Harry’s not mine.”
“But he used to be?” he prompted.
“And now he’s not,” she stated simply.
They continued in silence after that as the music once again changed to a slow song and he held her closer in an almost, if she didn’t know better, tender way. Then the song ended and so did their quiet moment. Shaking herself lightly she pushed away and made herself look him in the eye. What she saw there did nothing to simplify her charged emotions.
“Isn’t it about time you went to find your cloakroom girl? If you’re not careful she’ll go home without you,” she teased, trying to make her tone light and school her face not to betray her.
This was not about him, she reassured herself. It had just been rather a long time since anyone had held her close and made her feel like she was the most important woman in the world. She was just a little love starved and she’d been enjoying the company of all that free champagne too much. That was all.
“What would you say if I told you I’d much rather go home with you, Virginia,” he whispered into her ear and she felt herself shiver.
Taking a breath she tugged away from him and steeled her resolve.
“I’d say you’re drunk, Malferret. Very very drunk,” she replied, proud that her voice sounded steadier than she felt.
“And if you think you’re getting a shag out of me you must be insane as well,” she added for good measure.
“Quite right. Can I at least accompany you to the Portkey point or will that damage your delicate virtue too?”
“Don’t you have someone to go meet?” she questioned, rolling her eyes at his overacting.
“Nah. You know that whole thing you were telling me about how I should get to know women a bit before I have my wicked way with them?”
“Like a normal decent human being. Yes I do seem to remember something about that.”
“Well I tried it” he began and then paused.
“And…?” she prompted.
“And Tara is truly a very trying woman. You have no idea. I asked her one question and she just talked and talked and wouldn’t shut up. Don’t think I’ll be trying things your way again anytime soon. Completely wrecked my plans.”
“Maybe that’s just a sign you just need to find a better date. Someone you’re more suited too,” she suggested lightly.
“I thought you weren’t offering,” he teased.
“I am so going to mock you tomorrow morning when the booze wears off and you return to your normal self,” she informed him as they reached the Portkey point and she fumbled in the bottom of her bag for her charmed key ring.
“You look very pretty tonight. I just thought you should know,” he informed her as he swung his arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear.
“Honestly Malferret, you should be charmingly drunk more often. I find myself liking you so much more,” she joked, pushing him away lightly.
“Funny. I like myself more too,” he mumbled, looking away.
“Nice try but I’m not falling for your self-deprecating wiles.”
“Really?” he asked focusing on her again.
“Nope. I’m far too smart for that. Sorry.”
“Damn. Knew I should have hired someone stupider.”
“Or at least someone who doesn’t know all your tricks,” she suggested with a laugh.
“Seriously though, it’s been a really nice evening. Probably the most fun I’ve had in ages.”
“And you didn’t even have to remove any clothes. Fancy that,” she mocked, wondering why on earth she was drawing this simple goodbye out for so long, but somehow unable to leave first.
“Good night little Weasel,” he said, ending her dilemma.
“Night Malferret. Thanks for the rescue,” she replied, smiling.
Then, in a moment of what she was quite certain was pure drink fuelled madness, she leaned in and pecked him once, very quickly on the cheek. The shock on his face as the Portkey jerked her away kept her laughing for quite some time.
As she changed into her pyjamas she reflected on the conversation she had shared with her brother just that morning. Something had changed between then and now, leaving her feeling strange and unsettled. Damn Malfoy and his sexy bad boy charm! She wondered idly if Bill would lend her that article. Clearly she needed all the help she could get.
**********
Finish reading the story here!
Original Prompt that we sent you: Post war fic. Ginny works for Draco as a personal assistant.
The tone/mood of the fic: Humor, can start of just friendship.
An element/line of dialogue/object you would specifically like in your fic: Chocolate Ice Cream, Bahamas, hot pink bikini decorated with cows. Briefcase.
Preferred rating of the the fic you want: Sorta Naughty/T
Canon or AU?: It doesn't matter
Deal Breakers (anything you don't want?): Virgin, good girl Ginny. OOC Draco. Too much Weasley