In Which These Two Smiles Meet

Part V

The next evening, Draco arrived precisely at eight o’clock, as promised, and even brought Ginny flowers—a huge bouquet of lilies of all kinds.

“Thank you,” Ginny whispered, blushing. She turned to find a vase to put them in, but Draco stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“Wait,” he said, deftly pulling a calla lily from the bouquet. He wordlessly arranged it in Ginny’s hair. As he did, he brushed his fingers across her face, leaving her breathless.

Ginny was surprised that she managed to put the flowers into a vase without breaking anything; she was trembling so much. Once she had, Draco Apparated both of them to the Bingley house.

Later, once their obligations to the hosts had been met, Draco and Ginny took to the dance floor. Draco continued their conversation from the last week’s ball, telling Ginny all about the other people at the ball, but after a while, both of them fell silent.

Ginny closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of being in Draco’s arms, of the way they moved perfectly together across the floor. When she opened her eyes, she looked up to see Draco watching her intently. When he saw her looking at him, he smiled softly. Ginny’s heart flipped over.

“It seems too good to be true,” Hermione had said the night before, after Ginny had told her all about her previous encounters with Draco. “What is Malfoy getting out of your relationship?” Ginny had promised Hermione that she would consider the possibility that Draco was just using her, but now she knew that the other witch had to be wrong. What could Ginny have that would be of use to Draco Malfoy, after all? Except possibly Ginny herself. Just the thought that Draco might want her sent shivers down her spine. And that smile—that slow, small, contented smile—there’s no way he could fake that.

“How are you doing?” Draco asked quietly.

“I’ve never been better,” Ginny answered honestly. “Though I am a little thirsty. Could we go get something to drink?”

“Of course,” Draco said, leading Ginny off the dance floor.

Draco found Ginny an armchair. When he returned with their wine, he perched on the armrest, with one of his arms stretched along the back of the chair. Ginny sat back so her shoulders touched his arm. She took a sip of her wine. It tasted much better than the wine had the week before—light and fruity rather than just alcoholic. Ginny sighed contentedly.

“Harry Potter is such a bore!”

The loud exclamation startled Ginny out of her reverie. She jumped, and her wine sloshed in her glass.

“Yes, I met him at a party a couple days ago,” the voice continued. “He just sat there!”

It was Isabella. Ginny turned to look at Draco. From the grim look on his face, she knew he had recognized the speaker as well.

“He didn’t try to meet anyone new, and he hardly said anything to me, even after we were introduced,” Isabella said. “He was even stilted when talking about Quidditch! I’ve wanted to meet him for ages, but he was a terrible disappointment!”

Ginny heard someone else speak, but couldn’t hear what he was saying. Isabella’s answer, on the other hand, was loud and clear. “It’s just so frustrating! I’ve spent weeks buttering up Ginny Weasley, trying to get an introduction. All that hard work down the drain! It really was not worth it!”

Ginny stiffened. Draco tightened his arm around her shoulders. “Have you finished your wine?” he asked quietly.

Ginny nodded. There was still wine in her glass, but she was no longer thirsty.

“Good,” Draco said. “I have a sudden desire to talk to Blaise and Pansy.” He offered Ginny a hand and helped her to her feet.

As Ginny and Draco approached the group of people surrounding Isabella, she recognized Roger Davies among them. Roger’s face turned pale when he saw the two of them together.

“You didn’t really mean that about Ginny Weasley, did you?” Roger asked Isabella.

“Of course I did!” Isabella said. “She’s so wet behind the ears, I’m surprised her hair isn’t damp. You wouldn’t think I would actually want to be her friend, would you?”

Just as she finished speaking, Isabella turned her head and saw Ginny. Her expression was defiant.

“Come, Ginevra,” Draco said in a louder voice than was natural. “I need some fresh air. It seems that there is something rotten in here.” He steered her out of the room. As they left, Ginny turned her head back for long enough to notice that Roger Davies, as well as several other people who had been standing near Isabella, had edged away.

Draco and Ginny found Pansy and Blaise in the ballroom, as expected.

As they approached, Blaise nodded at them briefly, while Pansy said, “Hello, Draco, Ginevra. What can we do for you this fine evening?”

“Hello,” Draco said with a half smile. “You anticipate me, as usual.”

“We heard about what Isabella Thierry said,” Pansy answered. “I assumed you were in the mood for revenge.”

“You heard already?” Ginny asked. “But we just came from there!”

Pansy and Draco exchanged amused grins. “You have seriously underestimated Pansy and Blaise,” Draco said.

“That’s true,” Pansy said. “But don’t worry—most people do. You’re lucky, though, Ginevra.” She grinned malevolently. “Most people—including your friend Thierry—learn the hard way.”

Blaise snickered, not taking his eyes off the dance floor.

“Now,” Pansy said, turning back to Draco. “What would you like? Ostracism? Curses? Both? Something entirely new and different?”

Draco smirked. “I think ostracism will be sufficient. Not necessarily permanent, but at least for tonight, maybe for the next week.”

Pansy pouted. “Come on, Draco. You’re getting soft. At least let us throw in some curses. She insulted your girlfriend, after all!”

Ginny’s heart leapt at Pansy’s words. They had never made any arrangement of the kind. On the other hand, they had come to the ball together tonight. Did that have some meaning that she wasn’t aware of? Alicia and Reggie had been dating for six months, and they still met up at the balls rather than arriving together. What had she gotten herself into?

“Ginevra has not yet agreed to any sort of formal relationship with me, Pansy,” Draco said, turning slightly pink.

“But she will,” Pansy said firmly. “Won’t you?”

Draco, Pansy, and even Blaise turned to look at Ginny, waiting for her answer. “Oh!” she said. “Yes, of course!”

Draco smiled and took Ginny’s hand. “Thank you,” he said. “Would you care to dance again? Pansy and Blaise will take care of the rest for us.”

Ginny nodded, and soon she was dancing with her new boyfriend. Just the thought of it put a new spring in her step that lasted all the way until supper.

Draco led Ginny into the supper room and to a table near the center of the room that had a small card embossed with the Malfoy name on it. She smiled when he held a chair out for her; none of her previous boyfriends had ever been so courteous. When Draco had taken his place next to Ginny, he said, “We have perfect seats to watch the show.”

Ginny looked at him curiously. What show?

Draco’s eyes lit up with mischief as he gestured toward a table slightly to their right. “Now you will see just what Pansy and Blaise can do.”

Ginny looked where Draco had pointed, and saw Isabella approach the table. It was occupied by a man and two women, but had five empty seats.

“Hello, Tom, Maria, Julia. It’s good to see you,” Isabella said happily. “May I join you?”

The wizard gave Isabella a cold look. “I’m afraid all of these seats are taken,” he said.

“Oh!” Isabella said, her smile faltering slightly. “That’s too bad. I would have enjoyed catching up with you.”

The threesome at the table just stared blankly at Isabella until she moved away, and approached another table.

Ginny watched as similar scenes played out over and over again. She frowned as Isabella slowly approached one of the last tables in the room, her shoulders sagging dejectedly.

Suddenly, movement near Isabella caught Ginny’s eye. A haughty looking young woman had pinned Isabella’s train with a rhinestone-encrusted stiletto heel. Not realizing what had hampered her progress, Isabella moved forward with just a little too much force, and her dress tore at the waist. The quick release of tension propelled her forward, and she landed unceremoniously on top of the beverage table.

Isabella pulled herself to her feet, looking down at her torn and punch-stained dress. She let out a horrified cry, then fled the room.

Draco chuckled. “That was even better than I had hoped!”

“I feel kind of bad for her,” Ginny said, looking toward the door through which Isabella had disappeared.

“Of course you do,” Draco said gently. “You can be too sweet for your own good sometimes.”

“It’s just basic human compassion,” Ginny insisted.

“No it isn’t,” Draco said with a look of amusement. “She insulted you to your face. She deserves what she’s getting, but you still feel bad about it. That’s much nobler than most people would be.”

“But you said that people talk about each other behind their backs all the time. You do it yourself, and nobody ever ostracizes you. I can’t help but think her punishment is worse than her crime,” Ginny said. “Isabella didn’t even know I was there when she said those things.”

“Do you really think so?” Draco asked with a smile. “Why else would she have spoken so loudly?”

Ginny frowned. She didn’t want to believe that her friend—or former friend, now—would be so nasty, but Draco did have a point.

“Don’t think too much about it,” Draco said, taking Ginny’s hand under the table. “By next week, everything will be back to normal, but Thierry will be much more careful about what she says.”

Ginny cast another glance at Isabella. “I hope you’re right,” she said doubtfully.

“I am,” Draco said. “And now here come my parents.”

Draco stood up as Lucius, Narcissa, and two other couples approached. Ginny began to rise as well, but Draco placed a hand on her shoulder, gently indicating that she should remain seated.

“Good evening, Miss Weasley,” Lucius said. “You look radiant this evening.”

“Thank you,” Ginny said, blushing.

“Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, and Mr. and Mrs. Fairfax, may I present Miss Ginevra Weasley. Miss Weasley, these are the Churchills and the Fairfaxes. They will be joining us for supper tonight.”

The men assisted the ladies into their seats, then sat down themselves. Ginny was relieved to find Narcissa beside her, rather than Lucius.

“It’s so nice to finally have an opportunity to talk to you, Miss Weasley,” Narcissa said. “Draco has told us all about you, of course, so I feel almost as if I know you already, but a mother must judge for herself.”

Unsure of how to answer, and unexpectedly moved by the news that Draco had been telling his mother about her, Ginny just nodded and took a bite of prime rib.

“I can certainly see why Draco has taken a fancy to you,” Narcissa went on. “You have the most gorgeous figure I have ever seen. It must be from all the Quidditch. That slim, athletic look is all the rage these days.” Narcissa paused for a delicate bite, looking Ginny up and down. “Those robes are nice enough, though I’m not sure Adela Allen’s work shows you to best advantage. You must allow me to introduce you to Louisa Musgrove. The lines of her robes would suit you much better, I think.”

Ginny made a noncommittal noise. Narcissa must have taken it as assent, because she continued her monologue. “And shoes! Your feet must be killing you! I know the most wonderful cobbler. He spells his shoes so you don’t feel a thing. They’re heavenly. We must get you several pairs!”

Narcissa spoke in a similar vein for most of the meal, only stopping occasionally to eat something. Ginny never got a word in edgewise. She didn’t think she was expected to.

At one point Ginny glanced at Draco, finding him watching her with amusement. He mouthed the words, “I told you so,” before returning his attention to Mr. Churchill.

Just before dessert was to be served, Alicia appeared at Ginny’s side. “Oh, Ginny, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I just got the most disturbing news,” she said.

“What is it, Alicia?” Ginny asked, rising to her feet and stepping a short distance away from the table.

“I just got an owl from Gwenog,” Alicia said. “There’s been a fire in our block of flats. They think it was caused by Ashwinder eggs.”

“Oh, no!” Ginny said. “Is everyone all right?”

Alicia nodded. “Nobody was hurt, but all the flats have damage of some sort. Gwenog said it will probably be a few days before they get everything sorted out, and let us back in.”

“Oh, dear,” Ginny said. “I hope it isn’t too bad.”

“Me too,” Alicia said grimly. “The team is apparently in total chaos too. Half of us live in that building, so Gwenog has cancelled training until we can get back in.”

Ginny groaned. “I can’t afford to miss any training!” she said. “I only just fixed my Woollongong Shimmy yesterday.”

Alicia nodded. “I feel the same way, but Gwenog thought we would be too preoccupied to train properly. And some of us would have to Apparate long distances to get to Holyhead, which wouldn’t help matters either.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Ginny said with a sigh, “I’ll just have to try to do what I can in the orchard paddock, like I did when I was a kid.”

“At least you have that,” Alicia said. “My parents live in London.”

Lucius suddenly appeared at Ginny’s side, startling her. “Excuse me, ladies,” he said, “but I couldn’t help overhearing, and I may have a solution to your problem.”

“A solution?” Ginny asked stupidly.

“Yes,” Lucius said. “I propose that both of you come stay with us at Malfoy Manor until your training resumes. We have a regulation sized Quidditch pitch, so you can train as much as you would like on our grounds, and we can of course provide you with any necessities, considering you won’t be able to retrieve them from your flat.”

“That’s very kind of you, Mr. Malfoy,” Ginny said. “But we wouldn’t want to impose.”

“It wouldn’t be an imposition at all, Miss Weasley. I’m sure that we all”—he paused to glance significantly at Draco—“would enjoy your presence very much.”

Ginny turned crimson. Alicia shrugged her shoulders very slightly. Ginny turned back to Lucius. “Thank you very much, then. We would be happy to accept.”

“Splendid!” Lucius said. “You two enjoy the rest of the evening then, and leave the details to me. Now, if you will excuse me, I must contact the house-elves.” He walked briskly out of the room.

Ginny and Alicia looked at each other wide-eyed. “Well, I guess that’s settled, then,” Alicia said a little shakily. “I’ll see you later.” She returned to her own table, leaving Ginny with Draco and Narcissa.

“Oh, how wonderful!” Narcissa said. “This will give us the perfect opportunity for our shopping trip!”

Draco leaned over and whispered in Ginny’s ear, “And it will give us the perfect opportunity for other things.”

Ginny couldn’t help but shiver.