♥ "The Best Laid Plans of Theodore Nott" for sororitysheep ♥
Title: The Best Laid Plans of Theodore Nott
Author: nbaeker
Rating: PG
Possible Spoilers/Warnings: Compliant except for Epilogue
Author's Notes: I don't own the characters. Thank you to my betas. You know who you are.
Summary: Working a dead-end job by day, and patrolling the streets of London by night, Ginny's life and "cover" are changed in the span of a week.
The Best Laid Plans of Theodore Nott
Monday
It had been another one of those days, and Ginny was less than pleased. The third Howler of the day had spat flames at her, singeing her eyebrows off. Then Proudfoot from three cubicles over had spilled salad dressing on her new blouse, and Draco Malfoy had sniggered in a most unbecoming way. The only thing that had made that entire situation bearable was the fact that she'd been able to point that fact out, and make him return to his normal stony silence.
So here she was, sitting in her flat at quarter after ten on a Friday night, getting ready to go out on the town. Her hair down, mask over her eyes, and a suit no one her family had ever seen her wear, she was finally ready. Turning the Floo off, she grabbed her broom and Apparated away.
She found herself on the outskirts of Muggle London, and smiled as she inhaled a lungful of the dreary, rainy air. Casting an invisibility charm on her broom, she clambered onto it and kicked off into the night. She had been doing this for months now, and every night she had found herself helping to keep the Muggles safe from their own. From petty theft to kidnapping to murder to cats stuck in trees, Ginny had stopped them all, and had found herself lauded a super-hero. The Erubescent Eagle.
It felt good to be doing something worthwhile, she mused as she soared over the buildings of London. So what if no one at work acknowledged her? So what if her family was still holding out hope that Harry would break up with Hermione and marry her, never mind her own feelings on the subject? In these moments she was more Ginevra Weasley than she had ever been before. And that was enough.
*~*~*~*~
"Why don't you do it yourself, Nott?" Draco snapped at his friend, glaring at the other man over his pint of butterbeer. The bastard he was visiting was too cheap to offer him real alcohol, he thought spitefully.
"Oh, I could, but I already risked..." Theodore was cut off by Draco rolling his eyes.
"Your life for me, yeah, I know," the blond man snapped. "Do you really need to bring that up every time you think you could use a favour? Honestly, you would imagine we would be square by now."
"You do this one last thing for me, and we will be square. I need your help procuring this special," he paused, "a treasure, of sorts."
"One last thing, then we're even, and you never use this to coerce me into anything again." Draco said, glaring across the table.
Theodore shrugged. "We're Slytherin. We do what's necessary. Now here's where I need you to go."
*~*~*~*
He was in Muggle clothes. It was a travesty. It was an outrage. It was... Bloody hell, my arse looks fantastic in these trousers, Draco thought as he looked in the mirror. The denims, as Theodore had named them, were a great fit, thanks to his tailoring charm, and with the long sleeved black top, he could pass for a Muggle. A really dashing one, at that.
Or could have, if Theodore hadn't walked in at that exact moment.
"Before you go, I've got something else for you to wear."
He was holding out a scrap of material, which Draco accepted dubiously. "What is it?" he asked, unfolding the thing to reveal what looked like a beanie, but wasn't.
"It's a balaclava. It pulls down over your face so just your eyes and mouth show," Theodore explained, grinning.
"Are you bloody mental?" Draco snapped, throwing the offending article into the flames in a fit of pique. "Can you imagine what that would do to my hair? No, I'll find a real hat and a masquerade mask, if you insist on covering my face."
Even if that is a poor idea. My face is beautiful.
*~*~*~*
The alarms from the museum were blaring loudly as the man in black and a balaclava raced out the doors. He was almost a block away when Ginny swooped in behind him and hit the ground running.
"Stop!" she yelled, even knowing it was a futile demand. She sped after him, skidding around the corner and hollering again. "You bloody well better stop!"
Draco turned to see a man in one of those horrid mask things running towards him, followed by a woman who was hollering at the bloke to stop. Not quite sure why, Draco stuck out his foot and tripped the man. A large package tumbled out of the man's hands and Draco deftly caught it as the woman pounced on the villainous man in black.
Almost immediately after the woman had tied the man's hands behind his back and stood him up, the three were surrounded by cars with funny blue and red lights on the top.
"Thank you," Ginny said to the man who'd been so quick to help.
"It's the Erubescent Eagle!" one of the uniformed men said, running to take over the job of holding the thief.
"Another job well done, Eagle," the most officious looking man said, shaking Ginny's hand. Watching the scene unfold, Draco was content to be silent until one of the officers grabbed his arm.
"Come on, then. Down to the station with you. And hand over the diamond."
"What? Unhand me, you," filthy Muggle, "oaf!" Draco squawked in outrage. How dare this man try to arrest him? He was an upstanding citizen, and he wasn't about to get hauled off to the gaol because he'd helped to stop a crime. The fact that he had been in the vicinity fully intending to commit one was entirely beside the point, to his mind.
Ginny looked up as the officer tried to arrest the unnamed man who'd helped her, and put a hand out to stop him.
"No, no, Officer. He actually helped stop the thief," she said.
"Is he your sidekick then?" the officer asked as he released Draco's arm.
SIDEKICK? Draco's grey eyes went wide and he nearly choked. He was no one's sidekick, especially not some do-gooder with red hair named the Erubescent Eagle, who was wearing what appeared to be a black and red spandex suit. Never mind that the woman had an arse that was absolutely glorious to behold; Draco Malfoy was no Muggle-saving woman's sidekick. No sir.
"No sir." Ginny unknowingly repeated the mysterious man's words with a small laugh. "He just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
The officer smiled and nodded, accepting the diamond from Draco and walking away.
"The reporters are going to want to talk to us," Ginny said amicably to the man. He was wearing a fitted shirt and denims along with a mask and a fedora, which he'd settled on his head at a rakish angle. "If you don't want them naming you like they did me, you'd best have a name to give them."
Draco nearly snarled. "I suppose they thought they were witty, coming up with your name," he said, sneering. "I think I'd rather just leave." And I'll have to try again tomorrow. Theodore is not going to be happy about this.
"Suit yourself, but apparently you know reporters well. They always think they're being witty. They're apt to call you my side-kick if you just leave." She knew she had him then, lips curling into a smile beneath the mask that covered her eyes. "And I won't correct them."
Draco gaped at her. How dare she suggest that such a thing would be even remotely acceptable. "Where are the reporters, Eagle?"
When the amused red-head pointed them out, Draco sniffed and nodded. Turning on his heel, he stalked away from her and towards the crowd of people waiting for a statement.
Tuesday
Draco,
What the hell happened to you last night? You missed the rendezvous, and I looked like a fool.
-Theodore
~*~*~*~
Theo,
It wasn't my fault. There was a complication.
Theo? Your original owl made it sound like you and Malfoy are shagging. Is this true? It would confirm a lot of suspicions. And I'd win a lot of money from the office pool.
Ignore the damn Weasley. She snatched the parchment right out of my hands.
We on for tonight instead?
-Draco
~*~*~*~*~
Draco,
Keep her from reading my owls, please, it's annoying to know someone might be reading this besides you.
What was the hold-up, then? And yes, tonight.
-Theodore
P.S. Have you heard about those superheros in Muggle London? The Erubescent Eagle and the Malachite Shadow. She has a nice arse, but what was he thinking when he came up with that name?
~*~*~*~
Draco snarled and crumpled up the last missive from Theo. His name had been genius. Malachite, after the green mineral that could be seen in the Slytherin Common Room, and Shadow, well, that spoke for itself, really.
"What'sa matter, Malfoy?" Ginny asked, noticing that the blond man in the cubicle next to hers was clutching at a piece of parchment as if by squeezing the life out of it, he could make it go away. "Your boyfriend break up with you?"
"He's not my boyfriend," Draco said with a sniff. "And as if I would deign to share my personal correspondence with you of all people."
"Suit yourself. Coffee?" Ginny asked, a pleasant smile on her face as she stood.
Draco nodded regally. "With a splash of milk and precisely a teaspoon of sugar."
Ginny smirked as she walked back to his desk and placed the cup on his desk. He didn't look up at her, for which she was grateful.
A moment later, a squawk of outrage came from Draco's cubicle and Ginny looked up to see the blond man spinning madly around in circles.
Thank you, George, for having such good ideas, she thought to herself as the Whirling Dervish Drops she'd snuck into Draco's coffee took effect.
As everyone else on the floor clapped and cheered, Ginny simply shook her head and returned to her work. He was so easy.
*~*~*~*~*
"Oh, Draco," a woman's voice said, "you look devilishly handsome."
"I know," Draco said, smiling rakishly at the mirror, which sighed lightly. "The fedora really completes the look, don't you think?"
"Most definitely, Draco," the mirror agreed.
"And tonight there shall be no saving of Muggles, or run-ins with that Eagle woman," he said decisively. "I will steal the treasure Theo wants, perhaps kick a small dog, and my reputation will be protected."
"If you say so," Theodore quipped from the doorway. "And what reputation would that be?"
"The one of knowing I'm better than people who sneak up behind me and make snide remarks," Draco retorted. "What do you want?"
"Just wanted to make sure you were going to go," Theodore said with a shrug.
"Of course I'm going to go. I gave my word."
"Under duress."
"The only time worth giving it," Draco said. "Now, if you'll excuse me?"
Theodore smirked and Apparated away.
"I really ought to change the wards," Draco muttered as he donned the fedora and mask. "See how he likes being torn to bits the next time he tries to enter my house unannounced."
*~*~*~*
It was a lot quieter tonight, Ginny mused. There were no alarms going off, no cries of "Help, help, he's getting away." Nothing. And that meant Ginny was bored. Soaring over the streets of London, she moved to the same area of town that she'd patrolled the night prior. With nothing else to do, she pondered the man she'd met the night before. I wonder why I've never seen him before, she mused, glancing down. There was the man in question. The fedora was unmistakable and the walk was incredibly familiar despite her having only seen him one other time, but she knew it was him. Circling her Disillusioned broom lower and lower, Ginny wondered if he knew something she didn't about the events about to unfold.
*~*~*~*
Draco kicked a small rock and watched as it skipped across the sidewalk. He was well on his way to completing the task Theodore had set him, and then he could finally be free.
Bloody Theo, with his bloody plans, on the same bloody night that some Muggle-loving woman decides to make me her bloody sidekick. There'll be none of that tonight. I am Draco Malfoy. I do not help Muggles, as I hate Muggles. They are dirty and ... filthy. Now see that? That is a perfect example of what I mean.
Draco sneered at the small child who was walking hand in hand with his mother. When the woman stopped to smell the flowers at a street vendor's stall, the boy had continued wandering on his way, picking his nose.
I don't know how the bloody Golden Trio stood it, always being such do-gooders. One night of accidentally helping, and Draco was about ready to hand over his Slytherin card. If there had been such a thing, of course. He watched the small, dirty child as he wandered away from his mother, and was struck with inspiration.
"Forget puppies," he muttered. After making sure the mother was most definitely not watching, Draco stuck out his foot and tripped the annoying, snot-eating child.
It was only after he had smirked at the child, who'd begun crying immediately, that he realized that the mother was coming quickly towards him. He wanted to move, but found himself rooted to the spot.
"Billy! Oh, Billy, how many times have I told you not to wander away from me! You could have been hit by a car!" She turned large, grateful eyes on Draco. "Thank you, sir. You saved my son's life."
Ginny had watched the entire situation with amusement and couldn't help the snort of laughter that escaped at the mother's profuse thanks and blatant adoration of the man who'd just tripped her son.
"You!" Draco hissed when he saw her. It was that Muggle-loving do-gooder again, and he wasn't going to be able to finish his job for Theo. Damn it all to hell and back.
"Me. What a fine job you did there, Malachite Shadow," Ginny teased, handing the woman the purse she'd dropped.
Draco sniffed. "Well, you weren't around, Erubescent Eagle," he said disdainfully. "Pity someone else always ends up having to do your job for you. Even more of a pity is that it always ends up being me."
"The kid was also half a block from the road," Ginny pointed out.
"Completely irrelevant," Draco said with a sniff. "I was still being a good citizen."
Ginny couldn't help but smirk as he stalked away. Men who get huffy over the slightest things are infinitely amusing, she mused, continuing on her way.
Neither noticed the mother on her mobile, talking animatedly about the man who had just saved her son.
~*~*~*~~*
Wednesday
Draco,
What the hell happened last night? I'm beginning to think that this is too much for you to handle.
-Theo
Nott,
It isn't too much for me to handle; I stumbled upon this while I was on my way.
-Draco
Draco,
Am I reading this right? The berk tripped a child and is being hailed as a hero for it?
Muggles are so stupid.
Don't worry, I'll take care of the "heroes" tonight.
-Theo
~*~*~*~
Draco wondered what exactly his mate was planning, but shook his head to clear it. There were Howlers to be opened, after all. He sighed as he set to work.
Ever since his father had been tossed in Azkaban for his part in the war, the Malfoy name had commanded little to no respect. It had been thanks to Potter and his lackeys that Draco and his mother's fate had not been the same, and that they had retained their home. Almost everything else had been taken from them, thus why Draco Malfoy had found himself working in a horrible job for the Ministry, answering Howlers.
There was one thing that always brightened his day, however. And that was the fact that there was someone who was even more miserable than he was.
"AUGH!" Ginny yelled, leaping back as the Howler she was opening exploded. "Why do people not realize that their Howlers don't even go to the person they are wanting them to?!" she asked rhetorically, containing the explosion with a swish of her wand.
Draco watched her and snickered to himself. This was almost a daily occurence for Ginny, and he enjoyed it immensely. She had broken up with Harry Potter after the war, and by all accounts had gone into hiding, except for her dull job answering Howlers for the Ministry. The media considered it poetic justice for 'Breaking the Boy-Who-Lived's heart', but Draco just felt that it was a suitable job for a Weasley to be doing. Menial tasks. Much more suited to her than him.
"What are you looking at, Malfoy?" Ginny snarled, patting her robes as the last of the smoke wafted from them.
With a smirk and a flick of his wand it was a drenched Ginny glaring at him. "Sorry, Weasley, my mistake. I thought your head was on fire."
Laughing softly, Draco pushed back from his desk and headed over to the tea-cart.
You will pay for that one, Draco Malfoy," Ginny thought, drying herself off. She glared at his perfect blond hair once more and turned back to her work.
~*~*~*~
The smoke was drifting lazily over the city when Ginny first noticed it. Where there's smoke... She pressed close to her broom and followed the smoke to its source.
Big Ben had been lit on fire. It was really quite a feat, considering that the material had several enchantments over it to stop that exact thing from happening. Which meant that it was a wizard who had decided the thing was meant to be a giant candle.
"Bloody hell," she murmured, stashing her Disillusioned broom and moving towards the flames. "If it was started by a wizard, then that means water will do nothing." But the Statute of Secrecy, that which had kept her from revealing that she flew on a broom, kept her from being able to simply put out the flames with the wand she had tucked in her sleeve.
A crowd of people rushed by Draco, and one of them noticed him. Physically stopping him, the man informed him that he was going the wrong way.
"What do you mean?" Draco snarled.
"Big Ben is on fire!" one of the members of the crowd said, "You have to help the Erubescent Eagle put it out, Malachite Shadow!"
And despite every fibre of his being making him want to run and finish the job while the red-haired muggle-lover was distracted, he allowed the crowd to take him along, and when they came upon the sight of the burning Big Ben, Draco almost immediately went to her side.
"Malachite. You need to cover me. I need to pull out my wand, but I can't do that around these Muggles."
"Good with a wand, are you, then?"
The nasty words rolled off his tongue, but Draco did as she asked, grabbing the hose that a Muggle fire-fighter had held out to him. As he sprayed the useless water towards the magical flames, he watched as the Eagle woman surreptitiously cast the necessary spells to extinguish the flames.
Ginny nodded to the Malachite Shadow bloke as she tucked her wand away.
"Very good," she murmured as the crowd began to cheer. "But I don't intend to give you a demonstration."
She turned to talk to the reporters, leaving Draco glaring at her. Stupid Muggle-lover, with her stupid outfit, and her stupid heroics. He stood stoicly by her side as she answered the questions the reporters peppered them with.
"Yes, this was an intentional blaze. I would almost think that it was meant to be some sort of distraction, or perhaps an introduction to their style. We will see soon enough if this was a one time event, or something else entirely."
With that, the Erubescent Eagle waved off any further questions, and stalked away, with Draco trailing behind her. Once she was out of sight of the Muggles, he watched her mount her broom and kick off.
As she flew away, Draco thought two things. That wit became the witch, and that her arse was fantastic. Looking around to ensure there were no Muggles watching, Draco Disapparated.
Thursday
Draco,
Again?
*~*~*~
Theo
The crowd was crazy. There was no escaping them.
*~*~*~*
Theodore Nott was an intelligent man. This was agreed upon even by those who were his peers in his field of study. He wasn't always likable, but he rarely did something stupid.
It was why he was so annoyed that he seemed to have misplaced his trust in Draco. Perhaps the man merely needed more opportunities, better ones. He had set Big Ben aflame the previous night in an attempt to distract the super heroes, only to find that Draco had been swept along in the wake of the crowd. Everything seemed to be cursed in relation to this mission, but Theodore wasn't about to give up. He had to admit, though, that these super heroes were going to need a bigger challenge than what he had set them previously.
He would not be denied.
~*~*~*~
Ginny Weasley was amused. Well, that wasn't quite right. She was more than amused at the moment. There was very little that she liked better than dishing out vengeance in the form of a pranking war, and after Draco Malfoy had been so snide about her hair the previous day, she'd upped the ante. He was currently being a beta-tester for her brother George's newest line of hair changing candies.
I knew that the twit wouldn't think twice about eating chocolate sent by a secret admirer, Ginny snickered to herself as everyone in the office began chortling over the great Malfoy's purple hair. It was during the distraction that a completely non-descript owl flew in the window, landing on Ginny's desk. The envelope was addressed to her alter ego.
Gasping lightly, she untied the letter and gave the owl a treat, rushing to the Atrium to read.
Erubescent Eagle,
I thought that you ought to be informed of the challenge I am putting forth for you this evening. Since you proved so capable in putting out fires, I have decided that at precisely 5 o'clock rush hour, I shall release a Quintaped into the heart of Muggle London.
Enjoy yourself!
-The Black Bane.
Ginny crumpled the message and went to find an owl of her own. She needed help if she was going to catch a Quintaped without Muggles seeing it or her disposing of it.
Malachite Shadow,
Apparently we have an arch-enemy. The Black Bane. He's releasing a Quintaped at five. Feel like stopping a crazy monster?
-Erubescent Eagle
~*~*~*~
The Muggles were screaming in terror. At least two had been eaten already, and it was only one minute past. Ginny dove, low to her broom, casting charms as best she could at the beast. She had been attempting to divert and engage the Quintaped since she'd arrived at the scene, but each time she caught it's attention, another Muggle would scream in terror and bring the beast's focus away from the red-head.
"Where is that bloody Malachite Shadow?" she muttered, flying in a circle around the beast's head. It lunged at her, teeth snapping, and she barrel-rolled out of its way. "That's right, beastie, come after me."
Draco arrived to see the Erubescent Eagle distracting the beast and trying to keep it from destroying half of London. When he'd gotten the owl from her, he'd had purple hair and hadn't been about to rush off. He was a Malfoy, and even if masked, he couldn't go out looking like that. He still had his pride, after all.
He was jolted from his train of thoughts as the Quintaped lifted one large paw and smacked the red-head from her broom. Pressing close to his own, he moved instinctively, catching her a mere five feet from the ground. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he landed gently on the ground.
"You alright, Eagle?"
"Yes, I think so," the woman agreed, still pressed against him. A moment passed before she spoke again. "Do you suppose you could let me go, so that we can get rid of this beast?"
Draco's eyes widened and he pushed her away viciously, strangely disappointed at the sudden lack of her. Nodding, he turned towards the creature.
What is this peculiar feeling? Probably disgust at the fact that you just saved such a Muggle-loving do gooder. Who happens to have a fantastic arse. And smells faintly of vanilla. Like a cookie.
"Malachite! Look out!"
Draco looked up and shot a stunner on instinct. The beast went cross-eyed and collapsed, nearly crushing Draco in the process.
"How did you do that?"
"I stunned him."
"You stunned him," Ginny repeated blandly. She had spent the better part of twenty minutes trying every spell she could think of, and then this berk stunned him and that was that.
"Yes. Stunned him. I believe it's a pretty simple incantation... nice and easy swish and flick motion."
Ginny growled inwardly but plastered a smile on her face. "Well, thank you for your help, and for stopping me from falling, though I'm quite sure I would have been fine."
She stalked away, and Draco followed slowly, wondering why she was so ungrateful.
She could at least mean it when she says thank you. It really wouldn't kill her to have some gratitude. I mean, what kind of utter prat doesn't appreciate it when someone else saves their life? I would never... Oh. And realizing that he too had responded almost exactly the same way, ungrateful to Potter and his friends for their part in his continued existence, Draco's mood became even more foul than it had been in regards to the hair colour incident. Grumbling to himself, he returned home.
Friday
Malfoy,
What the hell, man? Surely the Quintaped ought to have stopped them?
-Theo
~*~*~*~
Theo,
Don't ask. That was you?
-Draco
~*~*~*~
Draco had spent all night tossing and turning as he tried to find sleep. Unfortunately every time he closed his eyes all he could see was the masked red-head falling.
It made for a grouchy, grouchy Draco Malfoy.
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Ginny couldn't help asking the blond as he groaned into his arms. The man had always been a bit of a drama queen, but he hadn't been as completely insufferable this week, and she was feeling generous.
"Bugger off, Weasley," Draco said, barely lifting his head to look at her. His gaze met hers and he frowned. Had her eyes always been that chocolate colour? For a moment he wondered whether they would darken in the heat of passion, but he mentally shook himself.
"It's not as if I'd tell a Weasley anything anyways."
"Fine then," Ginny sniffed, heading to her own cubicle. If he was going to insist on being a prat, she wasn't going to warn him about the rest of the candy.
A squawk of outrage came from the cubicle she'd just left, and Ginny smirked. He'd just eaten the caramel.
~*~*~*~
"You saved my life," the woman sobbed as the police cuffed the man who'd been attacking her.
"There, there, ma'am, it was what anyone would have done. You're safe now," Ginny said, patting the woman on the back as she wept. "He's going to be put away for a very long time."
The police took Ginny's statement and she strolled out of the alley. A large crowd was cheering and Ginny frowned. She appreciated their support, she did, but it was a somber thing to have nearly witnessed. Who knows what she might have found if she'd been even a few minutes later to the scene.
"Where were you, Eagle?" one reporter demanded, shoving a microphone in her face.
"What?" Ginny spluttered, confused. She scanned the crowd and noticed that none of them were looking at her and applauding...
"Malachite Shadow," she grumbled, pushing past the reporter and stalking over to the masked man in his fedora. "What just happened?"
"They're praising me. I stopped an evil-doer most foul," the man replied, smirking at her, just like that prat Malfoy. "And you look like crap, by the way."
"More foul than an attempted murderer? 'Cause stopping him is why I'm such a mess," Ginny snapped. Her knuckles were scraped, her jaw bruised, and her lip still trickling blood from the run in with the burly man. She was not in the mood for foolishness, and it appeared that this, this prat was determined to poke at her last nerve.
"I stopped that man," he said, pointing to a very grumpy looking man. "He was attempting to abscond with that child's confection."
"Let me get this straight," Ginny said, nostrils flaring slightly as she exhaled. "I subdue a would-be murderer, while you stop a diabetic from leveling his blood sugar levels, and they're going crazy over you?"
"Well, I am prettier," Draco reasoned, amused at the outrage emanating off the red-head. "Not that you're bad-looking, mind. You do have a fabulous arse. Do you hear that a lot? I mean, you must, considering the fact that you're wearing clothes that show off just about every curve on your body."
He could sense that he was treading on dangerous territory, but he just couldn't help but pick at her. He'd been in a foul mood since the previous day, but pushing her buttons was working exceedingly well in easing his own temper.
Ginny growled and stalked off, biting her tongue to keep from hexing him. The last thing she needed was to break the Statute of Secrecy now.
Draco chuckled as the woman left, waving cheerfully at her retreating form. "Thanks for stopping by!"
Saturday
It was Saturday, and the office was mostly empty, except for Proudfoot, Draco and Ginny. The teams of Ministry Howler personnel switched off every second Saturday, and so the three of them found themselves answering Howlers while the rest of the department's employees were enjoying their weekend.
Ginny was amused to see the familiar owl of Theodore Nott fly in through the window and land in front of Draco.
A moment later, a squawk of outrage came from the blond man who tore up the missive in a huff. She could hear him muttering something about people always assuming, and she was pretty sure she'd heard Harry's name.
"Do it himself indeed," Draco huffed. "Smarmy bastard."
Feeling a bit sorry for him, she picked up the basket of scones her mother had sent her and moved over to his cubicle.
"Scone, Malfoy?" she asked, holding the basket out.
He looked up at her with narrowed eyes, as if trying to figure out why she would be offering him food. He had his suspicions about the candy he'd been sent, though he wouldn't be able to prove anything.
"I don't need your bloody pity, Weasley," he snapped finally, and Ginny glared at him.
"I'll have one," Proudfoot piped up, and both of the others glared at him. "Or not," he said, sheepishly turning back to his work.
"It isn't pity, you great prat," Ginny snarled. "My mother baked these scones fresh this morning and I thought you might like to have one. But if you're going to be an ungrateful, pointy-faced rodent about it, I won't bother."
"Excuse me for not entirely trusting your motives when I suspect you were the one who sent me charmed confections," Draco retorted with a sniff.
"You have no proof of anything," she snarled.
"Are you two having sex?" Proudfoot interrupted, causing both to stare at him in shock.
"What?" Ginny yelped.
"Why would you even suggest such a ludicrous thing?" Draco asked.
"Just seems like you two have a spark. If you're not, maybe you should." With that pronouncement, he promptly turned back to the next Howler, only to have it explode in his face.
Draco and Ginny merely smirked at him, as it served the berk right.
A moment later, Ginny made to return to her desk but Draco caught her wrist. A jolt went through her, and she turned back to him, expression one of concentrated nonchalance.
"Yes?" she asked sweetly.
Wordlessly Draco reached out and took a scone. Taking a bite of it, he raised his eyebrows at her. "You can go now," he said after he swallowed.
As she rolled her eyes and walked away, he couldn't help but notice that her hair looked especially nice today against her green blouse, and that her arse was fantastic.
Once she'd sat down, he turned back to his desk, munching on the scone and writing an owl to the one person who could stop the bastard who had so insulted his honour and capabilities.
~*~*~*~
Eagle.
Tonight there's going to be a theft. Meet me at the oak tree on Fifth at ten.
-Malachite Shadow.
Who is not Potter
~*~*~*~
Ginny strode up to the masked man and raised an eyebrow.
"Well?" she asked impatiently, as he simply looked at her. "I don't have much patience. Are you going to tell me what's about to be stolen?"
Draco suddenly furrowed his brow. That voice, that hair, where had he seen it before?
"I'm not certain," he admitted. "But the man who was responsible for the Quintaped has been after this treasure, as he calls it, the whole time."
The snide tone in the masked man's tone made Ginny pause and she raised an eyebrow at him. She could almost swear she'd heard that tone directed at her more than once. She mentally shook her head to clear the sudden thought that she ought to see if his mouth tasted as good as it suddenly looked in that prideful smirk.
"Where is he going to be?" she demanded, but was cut off by a screech from just down the block. Glancing at each other, both took off running. They skidded around a corner to see a beautiful brunette being tossed over the shoulder of a tall man wearing a suit and a mask.
"Stop!" Ginny hollered, diving at the man's knees, knocking his feet out from under him. The girl was tossed into the air with another shriek, more terrified than the first. Draco ran forward and caught her, a loud 'oomph' escaping him as the motion caused him to land on his arse.
"What the hell is going on here?" the woman snapped irritably, poking Draco in the chest with far more force than he felt was necessary.
"We're saving you from this evildoer," Ginny announced, her knee in the man's back as he lay face-down on the ground.
"Bollocks, Malfoy never stood a chance, if I got caught," the man muttered.
"I did SO stand a chance," Draco exclaimed, dumping the woman off his lap rather unceremoniously to jump up indignantly.
"Malfoy?" Ginny asked, looking up at the blond man who'd been helping her. "It's you?"
Draco's eyes went wide, and he kicked the man she was holding. "Way to go, Nott. You blew my cover."
"NOTT?" Ginny exclaimed, stepping back. "What are you doing kidnapping a Muggle?"
"Muggleborn," the woman interjected, "Mandy Brocklehurst, to be specific. And what's this about kidnapping? You're ruining everything! Theodore promised to whisk me away ages ago. I've been waiting for his messenger for nearly a week."
"Draco decided he'd rather play hero," Theodore snarled, glaring at his friend.
"I'm not the one trying to sneak off with a Muggle-born," Draco retorted.
"No, you've just been saving and helping them all week," Theodore said.
Draco didn't have a response for that, so he was left simply glaring at the other man.
"So, you don't need help?" Ginny asked Mandy.
The other woman shook her head and smiled. "I do love the colours you chose for your outfit, though, Ginny; they offset your hair without looking gaudy."
"Thanks," Ginny said, grinning.
"WEASLEY?" the two men chorused, turning to Ginny with shock on their faces.
"Damn. There goes my cover," Ginny muttered.
Sunday
Theodore and Mandy had taken off for some exotic locale almost immediately after the revealing of who was behind the masks. Draco had raked his hand through his hair and looked at Ginny with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, you think we're friends now?" he asked.
"I suppose that this counts," she had agreed.
"Want to get coffee tomorrow, then?" was his offer and surprising them both, she agreed.
Thus they found themselves at a coffeeshop together on their day off, talking as if they'd been mates for years.
"I still can't believe I was working alongside you that whole time and didn't even realize it," Ginny said, shaking her head in disbelief.
"I still can't believe I've been voluntarily saving Muggles," Draco grumbled, but there was no real heat behind his words. "By the way, your mum makes the best scones I've ever had," he said, changing the subject as a familiar owl swooped down in front of them.
"What does Nott want now?" Ginny asked, furrowing her brow.
Draco opened the parchment and together they read the missive that Theodore had sent them.
Malachite Shadow and Erubescent Eagle,
I know how Malachite hates to be bored, so I wanted to reassure you that I've left some fun to entertain you while I'm on vacation.
-The Black Bane
P.S. Mandy insists on saying hello.
As Draco and Ginny looked at each other in confusion, they suddenly heard screams.
"See you there?" Ginny asked.
"Definitely," Draco agreed, and they were off.
ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Briefly describe what you'd like to receive in your fic (art)
The tone/mood of the fic: Post-war, Draco and Ginny are both trying to pick up the pieces as best they can. They're working crap jobs at the same company, waiting for the chance when they'll finally move out of entry-level and do something interesting/worthwhile. To finally feel like she's doing something useful with her life, or maybe just to recapture some adventure-fueled adrenaline a la her days at Hogwarts, Ginny turns to crime fighting. That's right, she's a superhero. Make up an awesome name (did she come up with it herself or did the Daily Prophet?). Draco is in direct competition with Ginny's masked alter ego, whether as arch-nemesis or (reluctant and snippy) do-gooder, whichever you find more interesting. Masked squabbling, villainous hijinks, "mild mannered alter-ego" interactions full of double entendres, shocking revelations of secret identities, or any other traditional superhero story element you like.
An element/line of dialogue/object you would like in your fic: Draco actually dealing with the fact, however crankily, that the trio saved his life a couple times. Dislike turning to grudging UST and perhaps onward (I loves me some sexual tension). Snarkiness about helping Muggles and superhero fashion choices. A mustachio twirling villain.
Preferred rating of the the fic you want: PG13 and up, would not be opposed to seeing someone write some masked avenger nookie. Heh.
Canon or AU? Canon, minus the Epilogue of Pain.
Deal Breakers (anything you don't want?): Fluff, marriage proposals, babies, R/Hr. I'm demanding, I know. But "luuuuurve" makes me ill.
Author: nbaeker
Rating: PG
Possible Spoilers/Warnings: Compliant except for Epilogue
Author's Notes: I don't own the characters. Thank you to my betas. You know who you are.
Summary: Working a dead-end job by day, and patrolling the streets of London by night, Ginny's life and "cover" are changed in the span of a week.
The Best Laid Plans of Theodore Nott
Monday
It had been another one of those days, and Ginny was less than pleased. The third Howler of the day had spat flames at her, singeing her eyebrows off. Then Proudfoot from three cubicles over had spilled salad dressing on her new blouse, and Draco Malfoy had sniggered in a most unbecoming way. The only thing that had made that entire situation bearable was the fact that she'd been able to point that fact out, and make him return to his normal stony silence.
So here she was, sitting in her flat at quarter after ten on a Friday night, getting ready to go out on the town. Her hair down, mask over her eyes, and a suit no one her family had ever seen her wear, she was finally ready. Turning the Floo off, she grabbed her broom and Apparated away.
She found herself on the outskirts of Muggle London, and smiled as she inhaled a lungful of the dreary, rainy air. Casting an invisibility charm on her broom, she clambered onto it and kicked off into the night. She had been doing this for months now, and every night she had found herself helping to keep the Muggles safe from their own. From petty theft to kidnapping to murder to cats stuck in trees, Ginny had stopped them all, and had found herself lauded a super-hero. The Erubescent Eagle.
It felt good to be doing something worthwhile, she mused as she soared over the buildings of London. So what if no one at work acknowledged her? So what if her family was still holding out hope that Harry would break up with Hermione and marry her, never mind her own feelings on the subject? In these moments she was more Ginevra Weasley than she had ever been before. And that was enough.
*~*~*~*~
"Why don't you do it yourself, Nott?" Draco snapped at his friend, glaring at the other man over his pint of butterbeer. The bastard he was visiting was too cheap to offer him real alcohol, he thought spitefully.
"Oh, I could, but I already risked..." Theodore was cut off by Draco rolling his eyes.
"Your life for me, yeah, I know," the blond man snapped. "Do you really need to bring that up every time you think you could use a favour? Honestly, you would imagine we would be square by now."
"You do this one last thing for me, and we will be square. I need your help procuring this special," he paused, "a treasure, of sorts."
"One last thing, then we're even, and you never use this to coerce me into anything again." Draco said, glaring across the table.
Theodore shrugged. "We're Slytherin. We do what's necessary. Now here's where I need you to go."
*~*~*~*
He was in Muggle clothes. It was a travesty. It was an outrage. It was... Bloody hell, my arse looks fantastic in these trousers, Draco thought as he looked in the mirror. The denims, as Theodore had named them, were a great fit, thanks to his tailoring charm, and with the long sleeved black top, he could pass for a Muggle. A really dashing one, at that.
Or could have, if Theodore hadn't walked in at that exact moment.
"Before you go, I've got something else for you to wear."
He was holding out a scrap of material, which Draco accepted dubiously. "What is it?" he asked, unfolding the thing to reveal what looked like a beanie, but wasn't.
"It's a balaclava. It pulls down over your face so just your eyes and mouth show," Theodore explained, grinning.
"Are you bloody mental?" Draco snapped, throwing the offending article into the flames in a fit of pique. "Can you imagine what that would do to my hair? No, I'll find a real hat and a masquerade mask, if you insist on covering my face."
Even if that is a poor idea. My face is beautiful.
*~*~*~*
The alarms from the museum were blaring loudly as the man in black and a balaclava raced out the doors. He was almost a block away when Ginny swooped in behind him and hit the ground running.
"Stop!" she yelled, even knowing it was a futile demand. She sped after him, skidding around the corner and hollering again. "You bloody well better stop!"
Draco turned to see a man in one of those horrid mask things running towards him, followed by a woman who was hollering at the bloke to stop. Not quite sure why, Draco stuck out his foot and tripped the man. A large package tumbled out of the man's hands and Draco deftly caught it as the woman pounced on the villainous man in black.
Almost immediately after the woman had tied the man's hands behind his back and stood him up, the three were surrounded by cars with funny blue and red lights on the top.
"Thank you," Ginny said to the man who'd been so quick to help.
"It's the Erubescent Eagle!" one of the uniformed men said, running to take over the job of holding the thief.
"Another job well done, Eagle," the most officious looking man said, shaking Ginny's hand. Watching the scene unfold, Draco was content to be silent until one of the officers grabbed his arm.
"Come on, then. Down to the station with you. And hand over the diamond."
"What? Unhand me, you," filthy Muggle, "oaf!" Draco squawked in outrage. How dare this man try to arrest him? He was an upstanding citizen, and he wasn't about to get hauled off to the gaol because he'd helped to stop a crime. The fact that he had been in the vicinity fully intending to commit one was entirely beside the point, to his mind.
Ginny looked up as the officer tried to arrest the unnamed man who'd helped her, and put a hand out to stop him.
"No, no, Officer. He actually helped stop the thief," she said.
"Is he your sidekick then?" the officer asked as he released Draco's arm.
SIDEKICK? Draco's grey eyes went wide and he nearly choked. He was no one's sidekick, especially not some do-gooder with red hair named the Erubescent Eagle, who was wearing what appeared to be a black and red spandex suit. Never mind that the woman had an arse that was absolutely glorious to behold; Draco Malfoy was no Muggle-saving woman's sidekick. No sir.
"No sir." Ginny unknowingly repeated the mysterious man's words with a small laugh. "He just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
The officer smiled and nodded, accepting the diamond from Draco and walking away.
"The reporters are going to want to talk to us," Ginny said amicably to the man. He was wearing a fitted shirt and denims along with a mask and a fedora, which he'd settled on his head at a rakish angle. "If you don't want them naming you like they did me, you'd best have a name to give them."
Draco nearly snarled. "I suppose they thought they were witty, coming up with your name," he said, sneering. "I think I'd rather just leave." And I'll have to try again tomorrow. Theodore is not going to be happy about this.
"Suit yourself, but apparently you know reporters well. They always think they're being witty. They're apt to call you my side-kick if you just leave." She knew she had him then, lips curling into a smile beneath the mask that covered her eyes. "And I won't correct them."
Draco gaped at her. How dare she suggest that such a thing would be even remotely acceptable. "Where are the reporters, Eagle?"
When the amused red-head pointed them out, Draco sniffed and nodded. Turning on his heel, he stalked away from her and towards the crowd of people waiting for a statement.
Tuesday
Draco,
What the hell happened to you last night? You missed the rendezvous, and I looked like a fool.
-Theodore
~*~*~*~
Theo,
It wasn't my fault. There was a complication.
Theo? Your original owl made it sound like you and Malfoy are shagging. Is this true? It would confirm a lot of suspicions. And I'd win a lot of money from the office pool.
Ignore the damn Weasley. She snatched the parchment right out of my hands.
We on for tonight instead?
-Draco
~*~*~*~*~
Draco,
Keep her from reading my owls, please, it's annoying to know someone might be reading this besides you.
What was the hold-up, then? And yes, tonight.
-Theodore
P.S. Have you heard about those superheros in Muggle London? The Erubescent Eagle and the Malachite Shadow. She has a nice arse, but what was he thinking when he came up with that name?
~*~*~*~
Draco snarled and crumpled up the last missive from Theo. His name had been genius. Malachite, after the green mineral that could be seen in the Slytherin Common Room, and Shadow, well, that spoke for itself, really.
"What'sa matter, Malfoy?" Ginny asked, noticing that the blond man in the cubicle next to hers was clutching at a piece of parchment as if by squeezing the life out of it, he could make it go away. "Your boyfriend break up with you?"
"He's not my boyfriend," Draco said with a sniff. "And as if I would deign to share my personal correspondence with you of all people."
"Suit yourself. Coffee?" Ginny asked, a pleasant smile on her face as she stood.
Draco nodded regally. "With a splash of milk and precisely a teaspoon of sugar."
Ginny smirked as she walked back to his desk and placed the cup on his desk. He didn't look up at her, for which she was grateful.
A moment later, a squawk of outrage came from Draco's cubicle and Ginny looked up to see the blond man spinning madly around in circles.
Thank you, George, for having such good ideas, she thought to herself as the Whirling Dervish Drops she'd snuck into Draco's coffee took effect.
As everyone else on the floor clapped and cheered, Ginny simply shook her head and returned to her work. He was so easy.
*~*~*~*~*
"Oh, Draco," a woman's voice said, "you look devilishly handsome."
"I know," Draco said, smiling rakishly at the mirror, which sighed lightly. "The fedora really completes the look, don't you think?"
"Most definitely, Draco," the mirror agreed.
"And tonight there shall be no saving of Muggles, or run-ins with that Eagle woman," he said decisively. "I will steal the treasure Theo wants, perhaps kick a small dog, and my reputation will be protected."
"If you say so," Theodore quipped from the doorway. "And what reputation would that be?"
"The one of knowing I'm better than people who sneak up behind me and make snide remarks," Draco retorted. "What do you want?"
"Just wanted to make sure you were going to go," Theodore said with a shrug.
"Of course I'm going to go. I gave my word."
"Under duress."
"The only time worth giving it," Draco said. "Now, if you'll excuse me?"
Theodore smirked and Apparated away.
"I really ought to change the wards," Draco muttered as he donned the fedora and mask. "See how he likes being torn to bits the next time he tries to enter my house unannounced."
*~*~*~*
It was a lot quieter tonight, Ginny mused. There were no alarms going off, no cries of "Help, help, he's getting away." Nothing. And that meant Ginny was bored. Soaring over the streets of London, she moved to the same area of town that she'd patrolled the night prior. With nothing else to do, she pondered the man she'd met the night before. I wonder why I've never seen him before, she mused, glancing down. There was the man in question. The fedora was unmistakable and the walk was incredibly familiar despite her having only seen him one other time, but she knew it was him. Circling her Disillusioned broom lower and lower, Ginny wondered if he knew something she didn't about the events about to unfold.
*~*~*~*
Draco kicked a small rock and watched as it skipped across the sidewalk. He was well on his way to completing the task Theodore had set him, and then he could finally be free.
Bloody Theo, with his bloody plans, on the same bloody night that some Muggle-loving woman decides to make me her bloody sidekick. There'll be none of that tonight. I am Draco Malfoy. I do not help Muggles, as I hate Muggles. They are dirty and ... filthy. Now see that? That is a perfect example of what I mean.
Draco sneered at the small child who was walking hand in hand with his mother. When the woman stopped to smell the flowers at a street vendor's stall, the boy had continued wandering on his way, picking his nose.
I don't know how the bloody Golden Trio stood it, always being such do-gooders. One night of accidentally helping, and Draco was about ready to hand over his Slytherin card. If there had been such a thing, of course. He watched the small, dirty child as he wandered away from his mother, and was struck with inspiration.
"Forget puppies," he muttered. After making sure the mother was most definitely not watching, Draco stuck out his foot and tripped the annoying, snot-eating child.
It was only after he had smirked at the child, who'd begun crying immediately, that he realized that the mother was coming quickly towards him. He wanted to move, but found himself rooted to the spot.
"Billy! Oh, Billy, how many times have I told you not to wander away from me! You could have been hit by a car!" She turned large, grateful eyes on Draco. "Thank you, sir. You saved my son's life."
Ginny had watched the entire situation with amusement and couldn't help the snort of laughter that escaped at the mother's profuse thanks and blatant adoration of the man who'd just tripped her son.
"You!" Draco hissed when he saw her. It was that Muggle-loving do-gooder again, and he wasn't going to be able to finish his job for Theo. Damn it all to hell and back.
"Me. What a fine job you did there, Malachite Shadow," Ginny teased, handing the woman the purse she'd dropped.
Draco sniffed. "Well, you weren't around, Erubescent Eagle," he said disdainfully. "Pity someone else always ends up having to do your job for you. Even more of a pity is that it always ends up being me."
"The kid was also half a block from the road," Ginny pointed out.
"Completely irrelevant," Draco said with a sniff. "I was still being a good citizen."
Ginny couldn't help but smirk as he stalked away. Men who get huffy over the slightest things are infinitely amusing, she mused, continuing on her way.
Neither noticed the mother on her mobile, talking animatedly about the man who had just saved her son.
~*~*~*~~*
Wednesday
Draco,
What the hell happened last night? I'm beginning to think that this is too much for you to handle.
-Theo
Nott,
It isn't too much for me to handle; I stumbled upon this while I was on my way.
-Draco
Draco,
Am I reading this right? The berk tripped a child and is being hailed as a hero for it?
Muggles are so stupid.
Don't worry, I'll take care of the "heroes" tonight.
-Theo
~*~*~*~
Draco wondered what exactly his mate was planning, but shook his head to clear it. There were Howlers to be opened, after all. He sighed as he set to work.
Ever since his father had been tossed in Azkaban for his part in the war, the Malfoy name had commanded little to no respect. It had been thanks to Potter and his lackeys that Draco and his mother's fate had not been the same, and that they had retained their home. Almost everything else had been taken from them, thus why Draco Malfoy had found himself working in a horrible job for the Ministry, answering Howlers.
There was one thing that always brightened his day, however. And that was the fact that there was someone who was even more miserable than he was.
"AUGH!" Ginny yelled, leaping back as the Howler she was opening exploded. "Why do people not realize that their Howlers don't even go to the person they are wanting them to?!" she asked rhetorically, containing the explosion with a swish of her wand.
Draco watched her and snickered to himself. This was almost a daily occurence for Ginny, and he enjoyed it immensely. She had broken up with Harry Potter after the war, and by all accounts had gone into hiding, except for her dull job answering Howlers for the Ministry. The media considered it poetic justice for 'Breaking the Boy-Who-Lived's heart', but Draco just felt that it was a suitable job for a Weasley to be doing. Menial tasks. Much more suited to her than him.
"What are you looking at, Malfoy?" Ginny snarled, patting her robes as the last of the smoke wafted from them.
With a smirk and a flick of his wand it was a drenched Ginny glaring at him. "Sorry, Weasley, my mistake. I thought your head was on fire."
Laughing softly, Draco pushed back from his desk and headed over to the tea-cart.
You will pay for that one, Draco Malfoy," Ginny thought, drying herself off. She glared at his perfect blond hair once more and turned back to her work.
~*~*~*~
The smoke was drifting lazily over the city when Ginny first noticed it. Where there's smoke... She pressed close to her broom and followed the smoke to its source.
Big Ben had been lit on fire. It was really quite a feat, considering that the material had several enchantments over it to stop that exact thing from happening. Which meant that it was a wizard who had decided the thing was meant to be a giant candle.
"Bloody hell," she murmured, stashing her Disillusioned broom and moving towards the flames. "If it was started by a wizard, then that means water will do nothing." But the Statute of Secrecy, that which had kept her from revealing that she flew on a broom, kept her from being able to simply put out the flames with the wand she had tucked in her sleeve.
A crowd of people rushed by Draco, and one of them noticed him. Physically stopping him, the man informed him that he was going the wrong way.
"What do you mean?" Draco snarled.
"Big Ben is on fire!" one of the members of the crowd said, "You have to help the Erubescent Eagle put it out, Malachite Shadow!"
And despite every fibre of his being making him want to run and finish the job while the red-haired muggle-lover was distracted, he allowed the crowd to take him along, and when they came upon the sight of the burning Big Ben, Draco almost immediately went to her side.
"Malachite. You need to cover me. I need to pull out my wand, but I can't do that around these Muggles."
"Good with a wand, are you, then?"
The nasty words rolled off his tongue, but Draco did as she asked, grabbing the hose that a Muggle fire-fighter had held out to him. As he sprayed the useless water towards the magical flames, he watched as the Eagle woman surreptitiously cast the necessary spells to extinguish the flames.
Ginny nodded to the Malachite Shadow bloke as she tucked her wand away.
"Very good," she murmured as the crowd began to cheer. "But I don't intend to give you a demonstration."
She turned to talk to the reporters, leaving Draco glaring at her. Stupid Muggle-lover, with her stupid outfit, and her stupid heroics. He stood stoicly by her side as she answered the questions the reporters peppered them with.
"Yes, this was an intentional blaze. I would almost think that it was meant to be some sort of distraction, or perhaps an introduction to their style. We will see soon enough if this was a one time event, or something else entirely."
With that, the Erubescent Eagle waved off any further questions, and stalked away, with Draco trailing behind her. Once she was out of sight of the Muggles, he watched her mount her broom and kick off.
As she flew away, Draco thought two things. That wit became the witch, and that her arse was fantastic. Looking around to ensure there were no Muggles watching, Draco Disapparated.
Thursday
Draco,
Again?
*~*~*~
Theo
The crowd was crazy. There was no escaping them.
*~*~*~*
Theodore Nott was an intelligent man. This was agreed upon even by those who were his peers in his field of study. He wasn't always likable, but he rarely did something stupid.
It was why he was so annoyed that he seemed to have misplaced his trust in Draco. Perhaps the man merely needed more opportunities, better ones. He had set Big Ben aflame the previous night in an attempt to distract the super heroes, only to find that Draco had been swept along in the wake of the crowd. Everything seemed to be cursed in relation to this mission, but Theodore wasn't about to give up. He had to admit, though, that these super heroes were going to need a bigger challenge than what he had set them previously.
He would not be denied.
~*~*~*~
Ginny Weasley was amused. Well, that wasn't quite right. She was more than amused at the moment. There was very little that she liked better than dishing out vengeance in the form of a pranking war, and after Draco Malfoy had been so snide about her hair the previous day, she'd upped the ante. He was currently being a beta-tester for her brother George's newest line of hair changing candies.
I knew that the twit wouldn't think twice about eating chocolate sent by a secret admirer, Ginny snickered to herself as everyone in the office began chortling over the great Malfoy's purple hair. It was during the distraction that a completely non-descript owl flew in the window, landing on Ginny's desk. The envelope was addressed to her alter ego.
Gasping lightly, she untied the letter and gave the owl a treat, rushing to the Atrium to read.
Erubescent Eagle,
I thought that you ought to be informed of the challenge I am putting forth for you this evening. Since you proved so capable in putting out fires, I have decided that at precisely 5 o'clock rush hour, I shall release a Quintaped into the heart of Muggle London.
Enjoy yourself!
-The Black Bane.
Ginny crumpled the message and went to find an owl of her own. She needed help if she was going to catch a Quintaped without Muggles seeing it or her disposing of it.
Malachite Shadow,
Apparently we have an arch-enemy. The Black Bane. He's releasing a Quintaped at five. Feel like stopping a crazy monster?
-Erubescent Eagle
~*~*~*~
The Muggles were screaming in terror. At least two had been eaten already, and it was only one minute past. Ginny dove, low to her broom, casting charms as best she could at the beast. She had been attempting to divert and engage the Quintaped since she'd arrived at the scene, but each time she caught it's attention, another Muggle would scream in terror and bring the beast's focus away from the red-head.
"Where is that bloody Malachite Shadow?" she muttered, flying in a circle around the beast's head. It lunged at her, teeth snapping, and she barrel-rolled out of its way. "That's right, beastie, come after me."
Draco arrived to see the Erubescent Eagle distracting the beast and trying to keep it from destroying half of London. When he'd gotten the owl from her, he'd had purple hair and hadn't been about to rush off. He was a Malfoy, and even if masked, he couldn't go out looking like that. He still had his pride, after all.
He was jolted from his train of thoughts as the Quintaped lifted one large paw and smacked the red-head from her broom. Pressing close to his own, he moved instinctively, catching her a mere five feet from the ground. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he landed gently on the ground.
"You alright, Eagle?"
"Yes, I think so," the woman agreed, still pressed against him. A moment passed before she spoke again. "Do you suppose you could let me go, so that we can get rid of this beast?"
Draco's eyes widened and he pushed her away viciously, strangely disappointed at the sudden lack of her. Nodding, he turned towards the creature.
What is this peculiar feeling? Probably disgust at the fact that you just saved such a Muggle-loving do gooder. Who happens to have a fantastic arse. And smells faintly of vanilla. Like a cookie.
"Malachite! Look out!"
Draco looked up and shot a stunner on instinct. The beast went cross-eyed and collapsed, nearly crushing Draco in the process.
"How did you do that?"
"I stunned him."
"You stunned him," Ginny repeated blandly. She had spent the better part of twenty minutes trying every spell she could think of, and then this berk stunned him and that was that.
"Yes. Stunned him. I believe it's a pretty simple incantation... nice and easy swish and flick motion."
Ginny growled inwardly but plastered a smile on her face. "Well, thank you for your help, and for stopping me from falling, though I'm quite sure I would have been fine."
She stalked away, and Draco followed slowly, wondering why she was so ungrateful.
She could at least mean it when she says thank you. It really wouldn't kill her to have some gratitude. I mean, what kind of utter prat doesn't appreciate it when someone else saves their life? I would never... Oh. And realizing that he too had responded almost exactly the same way, ungrateful to Potter and his friends for their part in his continued existence, Draco's mood became even more foul than it had been in regards to the hair colour incident. Grumbling to himself, he returned home.
Friday
Malfoy,
What the hell, man? Surely the Quintaped ought to have stopped them?
-Theo
~*~*~*~
Theo,
Don't ask. That was you?
-Draco
~*~*~*~
Draco had spent all night tossing and turning as he tried to find sleep. Unfortunately every time he closed his eyes all he could see was the masked red-head falling.
It made for a grouchy, grouchy Draco Malfoy.
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Ginny couldn't help asking the blond as he groaned into his arms. The man had always been a bit of a drama queen, but he hadn't been as completely insufferable this week, and she was feeling generous.
"Bugger off, Weasley," Draco said, barely lifting his head to look at her. His gaze met hers and he frowned. Had her eyes always been that chocolate colour? For a moment he wondered whether they would darken in the heat of passion, but he mentally shook himself.
"It's not as if I'd tell a Weasley anything anyways."
"Fine then," Ginny sniffed, heading to her own cubicle. If he was going to insist on being a prat, she wasn't going to warn him about the rest of the candy.
A squawk of outrage came from the cubicle she'd just left, and Ginny smirked. He'd just eaten the caramel.
~*~*~*~
"You saved my life," the woman sobbed as the police cuffed the man who'd been attacking her.
"There, there, ma'am, it was what anyone would have done. You're safe now," Ginny said, patting the woman on the back as she wept. "He's going to be put away for a very long time."
The police took Ginny's statement and she strolled out of the alley. A large crowd was cheering and Ginny frowned. She appreciated their support, she did, but it was a somber thing to have nearly witnessed. Who knows what she might have found if she'd been even a few minutes later to the scene.
"Where were you, Eagle?" one reporter demanded, shoving a microphone in her face.
"What?" Ginny spluttered, confused. She scanned the crowd and noticed that none of them were looking at her and applauding...
"Malachite Shadow," she grumbled, pushing past the reporter and stalking over to the masked man in his fedora. "What just happened?"
"They're praising me. I stopped an evil-doer most foul," the man replied, smirking at her, just like that prat Malfoy. "And you look like crap, by the way."
"More foul than an attempted murderer? 'Cause stopping him is why I'm such a mess," Ginny snapped. Her knuckles were scraped, her jaw bruised, and her lip still trickling blood from the run in with the burly man. She was not in the mood for foolishness, and it appeared that this, this prat was determined to poke at her last nerve.
"I stopped that man," he said, pointing to a very grumpy looking man. "He was attempting to abscond with that child's confection."
"Let me get this straight," Ginny said, nostrils flaring slightly as she exhaled. "I subdue a would-be murderer, while you stop a diabetic from leveling his blood sugar levels, and they're going crazy over you?"
"Well, I am prettier," Draco reasoned, amused at the outrage emanating off the red-head. "Not that you're bad-looking, mind. You do have a fabulous arse. Do you hear that a lot? I mean, you must, considering the fact that you're wearing clothes that show off just about every curve on your body."
He could sense that he was treading on dangerous territory, but he just couldn't help but pick at her. He'd been in a foul mood since the previous day, but pushing her buttons was working exceedingly well in easing his own temper.
Ginny growled and stalked off, biting her tongue to keep from hexing him. The last thing she needed was to break the Statute of Secrecy now.
Draco chuckled as the woman left, waving cheerfully at her retreating form. "Thanks for stopping by!"
Saturday
It was Saturday, and the office was mostly empty, except for Proudfoot, Draco and Ginny. The teams of Ministry Howler personnel switched off every second Saturday, and so the three of them found themselves answering Howlers while the rest of the department's employees were enjoying their weekend.
Ginny was amused to see the familiar owl of Theodore Nott fly in through the window and land in front of Draco.
A moment later, a squawk of outrage came from the blond man who tore up the missive in a huff. She could hear him muttering something about people always assuming, and she was pretty sure she'd heard Harry's name.
"Do it himself indeed," Draco huffed. "Smarmy bastard."
Feeling a bit sorry for him, she picked up the basket of scones her mother had sent her and moved over to his cubicle.
"Scone, Malfoy?" she asked, holding the basket out.
He looked up at her with narrowed eyes, as if trying to figure out why she would be offering him food. He had his suspicions about the candy he'd been sent, though he wouldn't be able to prove anything.
"I don't need your bloody pity, Weasley," he snapped finally, and Ginny glared at him.
"I'll have one," Proudfoot piped up, and both of the others glared at him. "Or not," he said, sheepishly turning back to his work.
"It isn't pity, you great prat," Ginny snarled. "My mother baked these scones fresh this morning and I thought you might like to have one. But if you're going to be an ungrateful, pointy-faced rodent about it, I won't bother."
"Excuse me for not entirely trusting your motives when I suspect you were the one who sent me charmed confections," Draco retorted with a sniff.
"You have no proof of anything," she snarled.
"Are you two having sex?" Proudfoot interrupted, causing both to stare at him in shock.
"What?" Ginny yelped.
"Why would you even suggest such a ludicrous thing?" Draco asked.
"Just seems like you two have a spark. If you're not, maybe you should." With that pronouncement, he promptly turned back to the next Howler, only to have it explode in his face.
Draco and Ginny merely smirked at him, as it served the berk right.
A moment later, Ginny made to return to her desk but Draco caught her wrist. A jolt went through her, and she turned back to him, expression one of concentrated nonchalance.
"Yes?" she asked sweetly.
Wordlessly Draco reached out and took a scone. Taking a bite of it, he raised his eyebrows at her. "You can go now," he said after he swallowed.
As she rolled her eyes and walked away, he couldn't help but notice that her hair looked especially nice today against her green blouse, and that her arse was fantastic.
Once she'd sat down, he turned back to his desk, munching on the scone and writing an owl to the one person who could stop the bastard who had so insulted his honour and capabilities.
~*~*~*~
Eagle.
Tonight there's going to be a theft. Meet me at the oak tree on Fifth at ten.
-Malachite Shadow.
Who is not Potter
~*~*~*~
Ginny strode up to the masked man and raised an eyebrow.
"Well?" she asked impatiently, as he simply looked at her. "I don't have much patience. Are you going to tell me what's about to be stolen?"
Draco suddenly furrowed his brow. That voice, that hair, where had he seen it before?
"I'm not certain," he admitted. "But the man who was responsible for the Quintaped has been after this treasure, as he calls it, the whole time."
The snide tone in the masked man's tone made Ginny pause and she raised an eyebrow at him. She could almost swear she'd heard that tone directed at her more than once. She mentally shook her head to clear the sudden thought that she ought to see if his mouth tasted as good as it suddenly looked in that prideful smirk.
"Where is he going to be?" she demanded, but was cut off by a screech from just down the block. Glancing at each other, both took off running. They skidded around a corner to see a beautiful brunette being tossed over the shoulder of a tall man wearing a suit and a mask.
"Stop!" Ginny hollered, diving at the man's knees, knocking his feet out from under him. The girl was tossed into the air with another shriek, more terrified than the first. Draco ran forward and caught her, a loud 'oomph' escaping him as the motion caused him to land on his arse.
"What the hell is going on here?" the woman snapped irritably, poking Draco in the chest with far more force than he felt was necessary.
"We're saving you from this evildoer," Ginny announced, her knee in the man's back as he lay face-down on the ground.
"Bollocks, Malfoy never stood a chance, if I got caught," the man muttered.
"I did SO stand a chance," Draco exclaimed, dumping the woman off his lap rather unceremoniously to jump up indignantly.
"Malfoy?" Ginny asked, looking up at the blond man who'd been helping her. "It's you?"
Draco's eyes went wide, and he kicked the man she was holding. "Way to go, Nott. You blew my cover."
"NOTT?" Ginny exclaimed, stepping back. "What are you doing kidnapping a Muggle?"
"Muggleborn," the woman interjected, "Mandy Brocklehurst, to be specific. And what's this about kidnapping? You're ruining everything! Theodore promised to whisk me away ages ago. I've been waiting for his messenger for nearly a week."
"Draco decided he'd rather play hero," Theodore snarled, glaring at his friend.
"I'm not the one trying to sneak off with a Muggle-born," Draco retorted.
"No, you've just been saving and helping them all week," Theodore said.
Draco didn't have a response for that, so he was left simply glaring at the other man.
"So, you don't need help?" Ginny asked Mandy.
The other woman shook her head and smiled. "I do love the colours you chose for your outfit, though, Ginny; they offset your hair without looking gaudy."
"Thanks," Ginny said, grinning.
"WEASLEY?" the two men chorused, turning to Ginny with shock on their faces.
"Damn. There goes my cover," Ginny muttered.
Sunday
Theodore and Mandy had taken off for some exotic locale almost immediately after the revealing of who was behind the masks. Draco had raked his hand through his hair and looked at Ginny with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, you think we're friends now?" he asked.
"I suppose that this counts," she had agreed.
"Want to get coffee tomorrow, then?" was his offer and surprising them both, she agreed.
Thus they found themselves at a coffeeshop together on their day off, talking as if they'd been mates for years.
"I still can't believe I was working alongside you that whole time and didn't even realize it," Ginny said, shaking her head in disbelief.
"I still can't believe I've been voluntarily saving Muggles," Draco grumbled, but there was no real heat behind his words. "By the way, your mum makes the best scones I've ever had," he said, changing the subject as a familiar owl swooped down in front of them.
"What does Nott want now?" Ginny asked, furrowing her brow.
Draco opened the parchment and together they read the missive that Theodore had sent them.
Malachite Shadow and Erubescent Eagle,
I know how Malachite hates to be bored, so I wanted to reassure you that I've left some fun to entertain you while I'm on vacation.
-The Black Bane
P.S. Mandy insists on saying hello.
As Draco and Ginny looked at each other in confusion, they suddenly heard screams.
"See you there?" Ginny asked.
"Definitely," Draco agreed, and they were off.
ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Briefly describe what you'd like to receive in your fic (art)
The tone/mood of the fic: Post-war, Draco and Ginny are both trying to pick up the pieces as best they can. They're working crap jobs at the same company, waiting for the chance when they'll finally move out of entry-level and do something interesting/worthwhile. To finally feel like she's doing something useful with her life, or maybe just to recapture some adventure-fueled adrenaline a la her days at Hogwarts, Ginny turns to crime fighting. That's right, she's a superhero. Make up an awesome name (did she come up with it herself or did the Daily Prophet?). Draco is in direct competition with Ginny's masked alter ego, whether as arch-nemesis or (reluctant and snippy) do-gooder, whichever you find more interesting. Masked squabbling, villainous hijinks, "mild mannered alter-ego" interactions full of double entendres, shocking revelations of secret identities, or any other traditional superhero story element you like.
An element/line of dialogue/object you would like in your fic: Draco actually dealing with the fact, however crankily, that the trio saved his life a couple times. Dislike turning to grudging UST and perhaps onward (I loves me some sexual tension). Snarkiness about helping Muggles and superhero fashion choices. A mustachio twirling villain.
Preferred rating of the the fic you want: PG13 and up, would not be opposed to seeing someone write some masked avenger nookie. Heh.
Canon or AU? Canon, minus the Epilogue of Pain.
Deal Breakers (anything you don't want?): Fluff, marriage proposals, babies, R/Hr. I'm demanding, I know. But "luuuuurve" makes me ill.