When Draco Met Ginger

a/n: Story featuring Draco and Ginger, a couple in my Snape/Hermione fic "Ensnaring The Senses" (did some edits~~ thanks to my friends' wonderful suggestions. Jackie, Jo and Hermy)

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The sun shown down brightly on the Quidditch field, and the fans cheered as the Cannons' Seeker caught the Golden Snitch ending the game in a win. Finally the Cannons were on a winning streak, and their young owner smirked. His platinum blond hair was slicked back and his eyes were hidden behind a pair of Muggle sunglasses a friend had gotten him. He pulled off his tie, threw his jacket over his shoulder and headed out of his private box.

Draco Malfoy had bought the Chudley Cannons this year, after the previous owner was sent to Azkaban and convicted of his Death Eater activities. He'd been bored of his play wizard image, and wanted something to spend the galleons rotting in his Gringotts account. His scouts had raided other teams and found the best players, and Draco paid them well. This afternoon's performance was well worth it.

The team's latest find was a Keeper named Ginger Wallace. She had auburn hair, and hazel eyes. She was long legged, had an athletic build, and played her position well. She'd get on the field, do her job then disappear right afterwards. She spoke to no one on the team outside of game comments, and anyone who dared to get close to her received a scathing look before she walked away. The one time Draco had addressed the team before their first scrimmage she had given him a pointed look of disgust, and he felt the challenge to pursue. No one could truly resist the Malfoy bad boy charm for long.

He'd been trying for days to get her attention again, but every time he close to her, she went the other way. All he knew about her was what was in her records, and that wasn't a lot. Name: Ginger Wallace, Birth Date: March 31, 1985, and that she had attended Beauxbatons. Not a lot to go on.

Was it her looks, her air of mystery or the fact she seemed to hate his guts that attracted him the most? He was just glad that her red hair didn't have a Weasley hue to it. Those mere qualities would have driven him running to the door. Instead, here he was once again trying to get her attention.

“Draco! Draco Malfoy!” A frazzled sounding voice called from behind him. Draco wanted to stamp his foot in frustration. So close, but so far away. He sighed and turned around to see Hermione Granger standing there holding Cissa, the child he considered to be his sister. She set the six year old down and she ran to him. He bent down, picked her up and tried hard to remind himself it wasn't her fault that she interrupted his perfect chance.

“Hello, Kitten,” Draco said, kissing the top of her head. Her bushy black hair tickled his nose, making him laugh. “What's wrong, Hermione?” He asked, noticing she seemed upset.

“I'm late for a medi-witch convention that I am required to attend for my licensing, Mum and Dad are sick and don't want Cissa to catch it; Harry and Ginny are fighting- again. I have no one other than you or Ron.” She shuddered. “Can you watch Cissa for the weekend, please?”

“Sure, I'm always happy to watch my favorite sister.” Draco said.

“Draco, I'm your only sister!” Cissa giggled, wiggling to be let down. “Can I go on the field? Please Mum? Game is over.” Draco set her down, and she hopped from leg to leg in excitement.

“Yes, just watch for any stray bludgers.” Hermione answered, watching the black haired black eyed child run off. “Here's her bag,” She pulled a shrunken package from her pocket. “I know she has rooms full of toys at your place, so I didn't pack any. I'll be back Monday afternoon. You need any help I'm sure--”

“I've babysat her before, love.” Draco put an arm around the still frazzled witch and hugged her close. “Don't worry, Twinky raised me-- he'll keep her safe.” He winked at her.

“So who was that girl you were chasing after?” Hermione asked, pausing momentarily from her port spell.

“Chasing? Me? I'm Draco Malfoy, rich young play wizard! They chase me.” He laughed, avoiding her eyes. Hermione's laughter made him smirk. He loved being pursued, but this was the first time in a long time he was on the other end.

“You let them. About time you actually looked at one. Got to go.” Hermione kissed him on the cheek and disapparated for her convention.

Draco tucked Cissa's trunk in his pocket and headed out to the field before the kitten got herself in trouble. The sight that filled his eyes made him step back into the shadows to watch.

Cissa looked at the older witch with awe as Ginger landed her broom on the field after doing a flip roll just above the young girl's head.

“So young lady, where's your Mum and Dad?” She asked as she dismounted, letting the bristles rest on the ground.

“Mummy has a convention, Daddy's a spy on an important Order mission so I am here.” Cissa answered, her fingers running down the smooth ebony handle of Ginger's Nimbus 2012.

“Who's watching you?” Or not watching you? Ginger asked. Kid has a great imagination, Spy for the Order?

“My brother is. Hey, can you take me for a spin around the field? Please? He won't mind. I know it.” Cissa pleaded, her hand now curling around the broom's handle.

“Who's your brother? Does he know you are running around unsupervised?” Ginger bent down an unconsciously to tuck a curly lock behind the child's ear. None of the male players on the team matched this little witch in looks, so she couldn't even begin to think of who this brother was.

“He's right over there.” Cissa pointed at Draco, who stepped out from the shadowed corner he had been in. He rubbed the back of his neck and came to stand beside them. Ginger's eyes narrowed, and Draco smirked back.

“Has Cis been a bother to you, Miss Wallace?” Draco asked, enjoying her discomfort. Trapped by a crafty little girl. Bravo, sis! He thought, pulling off his sunglasses and tucking them into his shirt pocket.

“She's been delightful,” Ginger looked at him, her eyes wary. “How could you let a small child run around a Quidditch field unsupervised?” How could this child be related to that prat? They don't even look like.

“Her Mum just dropped her off and said her good byes. It's been a total of I'd say three minutes. I have been watching though, but considering the fact you walk away every time I step near you, I decided to give Cissa a few minutes to charm you before walking up.” Draco bent down and swept Cissa in his arms, her petite body hardly a weight in his arms.

“Draco! Miss..Miss..” She looked up at Draco, her thoughts barely masked behind her child's eyes. Was I ever this young? Innocent? Draco asked himself.

“Miss Wallace,” He prompted, looking to the witch in question.

“Miss Wallace was going to take me on her broom if you allowed.” Cissa's coal black eyes pleaded with her brother's. He felt her fingers restlessly pick at his shirt buttons as he leg swung back and forth.

“Kitten, you know your Mummy doesn't want you flying unless it's Uncle Harry or Uncle Ron.” Draco shook his head no, “Maybe one of the two will stop by the Manor tomorrow.” Cissa frowned, her eyebrows meeting together as she thought. Draco couldn't decide if she looked more like Hermione or Severus. Severus, he nodded. Too Slytherin of a look to be Gryffindor.

“Do you think Miss Wallace would come to lunch with us?” Cissa asked, her eyes innocently going between the two of them.

Merlin's beard, the girl was good! Draco thought with amazement. Couldn't have set this up any better if I had planned it.

“Miss Wallace? Would you like to go out with us?” Draco asked, his ice gray eyes looking into her hazel ones.

“I'm sorry I don't socialize with former Dea-” Ginger began to say, but stopped when Draco shook his head and nodded at Cissa. “I'm sorry but I have plans.” she finished, her hand clinched around her broom handle, her knuckles white from the force. She turned and began to walk away.

“Miss Wallace!” Ginger stopped at Cissa's call. Cissa wiggled again till Draco set her down. He watched as she ran up to the auburn haired witch and pulled on her hand.

Ginger knelt down till she was level to the blacked haired witch's face. The child couldn't help that her brother was a former Death Eater, even though he had gotten off by claiming to actually be a spy for the Order. He had worn the Dark Mark, so in her eyes he was no different. She could still see the black robed figures, hoods pulled up with their white masks gleaming in the fire's flames as she had ran; her hand clutched tight by her father's deep into a forest. The two of them had escaped that night, but her mother and a few others hadn't.

“Yes Miss-?” Ginger looked up a second at Draco. He could see the unsettled look in her eyes, a glimmer of her thoughts.

“Her name is Narcissa Granger.” Draco said. “Her mother is Hermione Granger.” Ginger looked at him with confusion, but let it go for the moment. The last she had read, the Daily Prophet claimed that Hermione's child was Harry Potter's. Now he was claiming she was his sister and Cissa said her dad was some spy off on a mission. Wonder which story is true? She pondered.

“Miss Granger, I'm not sure how appropriate it would look for me to be going out with the owner of the Chudley Cannons. He's my employer, dear.” Ginger tried to tactfully explain, but she could tell the child wasn't buying her excuse.

“But I want you to come. Maybe if Draco gets to know you, he can talk Mummy into letting you take me out on your broom. Plus I bet we'll go to the Golden Snitch instead of the Manor for lunch. Twinky thinks I like to eat broccoli.” Cissa leaned in to whisper into Ginger's ear. “But it's yucky.”

Ginger laughed and thought for second before nodding her agreement. “I like broccoli, but the Golden Snitch does sound better.” She whispered back, unsure why she was doing this. If she hadn't needed the money, she wouldn't even have accepted the Keeper position. The Cannons' scout had offered more then the other teams, and she had been hard-pressed to think of a reason to turn it down.

“Thank you,” Cissa exclaimed, surprising the other two by wrapping her arms around Ginger and kissing her cheek.