A Match Most Unlikely

Just as Draco finished reading his last memo, Ginny Weasley swooped into his office with her usual air of indifference toward him. “Have you figured out the Port Key problem yet? We’re trying to move on in our investigation, but we obviously can’t do so if we don’t know if the Port Keys were legitimate or not.”



“Uh.. umm…” coughed Draco, completely caught off guard by her sudden entrance.



“Well, I haven’t got all day!” Ginny said irritably.



“Yes, well I’ve only just arrived haven’t I? I just finished reading your note, and I was just about to get that question answered for you. And now you’ve just delayed me, haven’t you?” replied Draco quickly getting a grip on himself.



“Fine. Well, just send word up to me as soon as you know,” and with that Ginny stormed out of Draco’s office.



Draco knew he had unsettled Ginny, which was comforting as she unsettled him. He hoped he kept his cool better than she did, half-way through the conversation her cheeks had started to turn pink. Of course Draco knew he definitely got to Hermione worse than Ginny, Hermione always sent Ginny down to be his liaison between the Transportation and Magical Law Enforcement Departments. Ginny was an Auror working in Hermione’s department, and as Hermione was Ginny’s sister-in-law, they were close. He hoped, however, that he affected Ginny differently than Hermione. Hermione hated him, and he knew it. Seeing as how Ginny didn’t seem to have much of a problem dealing with him, he hoped he unsettled Ginny in a deeper sexual way. The problem was that Draco couldn’t help his stomach lurching whenever she was in a room with him, and this was all very disconcerting. He had spent most of his life hating the whole Weasley family, and to find he was attracted to Ginny was fairly confusing.



Draco snapped himself out of his pensive state, and walked in to Davis’ office to inquire about yesterday’s Port Keys. Not surprisingly, he confirmed that the Port Keys were not Ministry sanctioned, and he sent a note up to Ginny.



Not ten minutes later, Ginny was back in his office looking slightly perturbed. “Why couldn’t you simply send the answer in the note? Was it really necessary for me to come down here?” Ginny snapped.



“No it wasn’t necessary, to be truthful,” replied Draco with a slight grin on his face.



“Well, are you going to tell me why you wanted me to come down here to receive the report in person?” answered Ginny, although she sounded a little curious at this point.



“I just wanted to see you again,” smiled Draco catching Ginny completely off-guard.



“Why, why would you want that?” stammered Ginny.



“Well, it’s nice to see something beautiful in my office every once and while,” smiled Draco. It was clear Ginny didn’t know what to say to this so he continued, “In fact, lately I haven’t had much beauty around me even after work. How about a drink at the Leaky Cauldron tonight ‘round six?”



Ginny was so confused and caught of guard that she was saying “Yes” before she knew what she was doing. Draco watched her stumble out of his’s office as quickly as she could manage. Draco wondered whether she would actually show up. Perhaps she only said ‘yes’ to get out of the room? Somehow, he didn’t think so, or at least, he hoped not.



***



Draco was elated, for the first time in a long time. He was thinking about his date with Ginny as he cleared up his office at ten till six. He thought he must be mad asking Ginny for a drink, but he had just been so lonely for so long that he really felt he had nothing to loose. He quickly gathered himself, the apparated to The Leaky Cauldron.



It took Draco no time to spot Ginny seated at a table in the corner, her brilliant red Wealsey hair gave her away. He walked over to her and said, “Glad you actually came. I thought you might skive off on me.”



“Oh well, you know, I thought it would be rude, I guess,” Ginny said smiling slightly.



“Well, what can I get you?” asked Draco. Ginny looked taken aback by his gesture, but she gathered herself and asked for a Butterbeer. Draco came back a short while later with the drinks. He had gotten himself a Firewhisky to calm his nerves.



“What made you ask me out anyway?” asked Ginny.



“I thought that’d be obvious,” Draco replied, “You’re lovely, even when you’re clearly irritated with me, and well, you don’t look at me like I’m pond scum, like most of the people at the Ministry.” Draco sounded a bit defeated in this moment of honesty.



“Not everybody dislikes you Draco,” Ginny said gingerly and desperately tried to come up with something more convincing, but failed.



“It’s alright, I’m just happy, you don’t. You don’t do you?” Draco replied picking up his confidence. He didn’t want to reveal himself too quickly, she might think he had lost his nerve.



“No, I don’t. But I am confused. You were always quite cruel to me at Hogwarts.”



“I was. I know. But things are very different now, aren’t they?” Draco smiled. He hoped using his charming smile on her would help her relax, and it seemed to work. Ginny was looking at him in an appraising sort of way. Draco inwardly congratulated himself on his success.



They’re conversation progressed to other more pleasant things like Quidditch and some of the funnier things in the news. Draco noticed that Ginny seemed to be enjoying herself. He chuckled to himself, wonder how surreal this must seem to her. Draco knew that he didn’t exactly show his interest gradually. He just surprised her with it when he got confident enough.



Ginny looked at her watch and was startled at the time. “Oh, I’m sorry Draco, but I’m afraid I really should be getting home, it’s almost ten.”



“Oh of course I hadn’t realized it had gotten so late. Mind waiting for me so I can pay the tab?” Ginny agreed, and as he glanced back, he noticed that she was looking him up-and-down, hoping that what she saw pleased her.



“I really had an excellent time Draco, thanks,” blushed Ginny as Draco approached her.



“As did I, Miss Weasley,” Draco smiled down at her. He almost reached out to touch her shoulder, but she was stepping away and within a few seconds there was a Snap! and she was gone. “Bollocks,” muttered Draco, before apparating home himself.