A Match Most Unlikely

After their first date at The Leaky Cauldron, Ginny and Draco started seeing each other regularly for the past two months. At least twice a week they would go to the pub or a restaurant in the area. Draco knew Ginny wasn’t telling anyone about their meetings, not even her family or best friend Hermione . Ginny normally told Hermione everything, and it seemed as though Hermione knew that something was up. Ginny had given her a flurry of excuses as to why she was busy a couple of nights a week, but it didn’t seem that Hermione really believed her. Draco knew that Hermione would never believe that Draco was a actually a nice man, not the git he was when they attended Hogwarts. Draco and Ginny had become fairly close friends in the past couple of months, but Draco was hoping she had begun to think of him as more than a friend. She had purposefully stopped his many advances and not let him kiss her, and this frustrated him. She kept sending him mixed signals. At one moment she would look like she would give anything for him to kiss her, and then once he tried, she would turn away.



Draco knew this had to change. But how could he get her to stop resisting him? Then he had a thought. Perhaps she wasn’t comfortable out in public to let her guard down around him? He pulled out a quill and wrote a quick invitation.



Ginny,



I was wondering if you would join me tonight after work again. Would you do me the favor of meeting me in the Atrium at six?



~Draco



He pondered inviting her to his office, but then decided that an invitation such as that might seem too presumptuous. He knew she probably wouldn’t want to meet in the Atrium with the chance of someone seeing her with him, but something in him wanted to see if she would give in. He wanted to make small steps. Meeting him in the Atrium was a small step to her accepting him into her life.



He sent the note off to her office hoping he wouldn’t be left like a fool waiting this evening.



***



Draco stood in the Atrium waiting for Ginny. He was facing one of the enchanted windows, now displaying an impressive downpour. He could see the life in the reflection of the windows. Five after six he watched Ginny step tentatively off the lift. She had noticed him and was walking over. She seemed to like what she saw despite the slight quiver in her step. She was obviously nervous. Draco felt encouraged thinking that her nerves might be related to her anticipation. He saw that she was only about five paces away from him and said, “I thought for a moment you weren’t coming.” He turned toward her with his charming smile in place. He had learned that she responded more openly to him when he was smiling. The Malfoy good looks really worked for him when he smiled apparently.



“Why would you think that?” replied Ginny in a soft voice.



“Oh, just thought you might not want to be seen with me here,” he smiled softly. “But apparently I was wrong.”



Ginny let the awkward moment hang in the air for a moment then asked, “Where do you propose to take me, Draco?”



“To Malfoy Manor, if you would agree to come along.” He almost faltered. He was worried that she would deny him. He quickly gathered himself, so she wouldn’t see his weakness.



Ginny stood there obviously thinking it over. Draco had a hard time keeping his composure when his stomach was doing flip-flops. “I’m not going to kidnap you, Ginny” Draco replied trying to ease her tension.



“Of course not. I mean, I would never. Um… Well, I’d love to. What do you have planned?” stammered Ginny. Draco knew he had won a victory, now he just had to keep it together.



Draco held out his arm to her, “Well, grab on, I’ll take us there.” Ginny slipped her arm in his, and with a Pop! they disappeared from the Ministry of Magic.



***



When they reappeared on the lawn in front of the Malfoy Manor, Ginny was shocked at how beautiful it all was. Draco expected her to be surprised with the Manor. When his father had owned it, the building and grounds were intimidating and dark. He had filled the grounds with statues, flowering plants, and bushes all on a bright healthy green turf. The view was very welcoming, exactly the opposite of how it had been ten years ago. He looked at her shocked expression and explained, “After my parents died, I did some severe redecorating.” He smiled down to her, “Do you like it?”



“Well I haven’t seen the inside yet, have I Draco?” Ginny replied. He was surprised as how well she was holding herself together, not letting him know exactly what she was thinking.



“Of course, well, let me show you in.” Draco led her into the Manor, with her arm still in his. He had never let go of her and didn’t plan to any earlier than he had to.



Draco took her into the Manor giving her a quick tour of the bottom floor. Ginny was impressed with the many beautiful rugs and frescos that adorned the rooms, along with matching furniture. Everything looked like it must have cost a fortune. Draco led her into the dining room where the lights were dimmed, there were candles on the table, and two place settings right across from each other. Draco led Ginny to her seat, held her chair out for her, and then took his seat across from her. Just as he sat down Worrly entered the room with platters of food.



“May I get you something to drink Miss?” Worrly asked Ginny.



“Oh, um tea’s fine, thanks”



“Master?” Worrly’s eyes looked toward Draco.



“Same,” Draco replied to the elf. He then looked toward Ginny and asked, “I hope everything is to your liking.”



“Oh it’s splendid Draco, but you didn’t have to go to all this trouble for me, you know.” But Draco simply waved her off, just as Worrly came back into the room with their drinks.



Draco did his best to make conversation to put Ginny at ease. Worrly had turned on soft background music, as Draco had planned. He watched as Ginny quickly relaxed and was able to enjoy her meal and her surroundings. He also thought he picked up on some casual flirting Ginny. Their conversation had filled with hidden inuendos and slight flirtation. Draco was pleased to see things going along better than he had planned. Ginny was responding better to him than he had hoped. The two talked their way through dinner, dessert, and then one final cup of tea. He was careful to always be in complete control of himself around Ginny. He never missed a step and was sure that every move was purposeful and in control. He knew that his commanding presence no longer intimidated Ginny, and now that she was used to hit, she found it attractive. As he watched her, he noticed that she was watching his hands, and her mind was wondering. Draco wished he could read her thoughts, but at least what he could read of her body language was encouraging.



“Have you finished your tea, Ginny” Draco asked her softly. She nodded to him. “I would like to show you something. Will you come with me?” He asked standing up from his chair and walking over to her.



“Sure. What is it you would like to show me, Draco?” Ginny asked, genuinely curious.



“It’s bit of a surprise,” Draco replied grinning. He took Ginny’s hand and led her out of the room, back into the entryway. He took her up the wide stair case and headed to the right to another staircase. He lead her down a long hallway to the right, through a door, and up a spiral staircase that lead to the top of what was apparently the tallest tower of the Manor. The view was spectacular. He knew that she would appreciate the beauty of the place.



“I come up here when I’m feeling depressed or pensive. I feel instantly calmer. I used to come up here to escape my father when I was younger. I would disappear up here, and he wouldn’t find me for hours until I was back in my room. This was a great place to come to escape his wrath. My father was terrifying when he was angry. Beat my mother a fair few times too. She kept him off me for the most part. My mother truly loved me, and I was a stupid prat of a teenager. I hated her smothering me and coddling me. Stupid of me really.” Draco was sure to keep his voice casual even though he was telling Ginny more than he had ever told anyone. In all of their dates he had never opened up to her this much. He knew that as much as he didn’t want to, he needed to give a bit of himself if he ever hoped for Ginny to let him in. He also knew that Ginny’s childhood had been much better than his, and that she couldn’t really understand what he had gone through with his parents.



“I’m really sorry Draco. I don’t know what I can say.”



“You don’t have to say anything,” replied Draco looking down at her. He slipped his left hand around her waist, and pulled her gently closer to him. With his right hand, he caressed her face. “You really are quite a gorgeous woman you know?” and before he knew it, he was kissing her softly, but urgently.

It took a few moments for Ginny to realize that he was kissing her, but much to Draco’s pleasure she started to kiss him back with almost as much urgency. He felt her hands come up around his neck, and she started playing with his silky blonde hair. He started to pull away, but she grabbed him closer and continued the kiss. When she finally pulled away she looked into his eyes. She seemed to like what she saw, because she gave him a beautiful and honest but slightly coy smile. Draco couldn’t believe he had just kissed Ginny and she had not only not slapped him, but she had clearly liked it. Draco leaned in again with new confidence wrapping her up in his arms, this time kissing her more fully. She didn’t object but met him with as much energy as the last kiss. He slipped his tongue over her lips asking for entrance, and she obliged. Draco’s pulse was rising, he was slowly loosing himself in her, and he then pushed her up against the wall deepening the kiss. His hands were now on the sides of her waist; one was slowly finding its way up under her shirt. The feel of her soft skin sent him whirling. He couldn’t think anymore for wanting her. He felt himself getting hard, but he couldn’t stop. She was all he wanted, and it had been so long.



As soon as he was fully erected, Draco felt Ginny tense up and heard her whisper, “Draco. Draco, please,” she said as she started to push him off of her.



Hearing the ‘please’ snapped Draco back to his senses. He quickly jumped back saying, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to… I wasn’t thinking…” He was terrified that he had ruined all his chances with Ginny by pushing for too much too fast.



“Oh, it’s fine. You weren’t the only one,” Ginny smiled at him. Draco felt his stomach doing flip-flops. “It’s just that it’s getting late, and I should be getting home,” she finished lamely.



“Ok, you’re right. It’s getting late. Let me walk you downstairs. You can’t apparate in the Manor.” Draco grabbed her hand in his and led her back down to the drawing room. “When can I see you again?” Draco asked.



“Well I’m staying at The Burrow this weekend with my parents, but I’ll be back in London Sunday night,” replied Ginny.



“Dinner, Sunday, then?” Draco asked imploringly.



He thought he may have surprised her with wanting to see her again so soon, but she smiled and said, “Oh well, sure. Ya I can cut out a bit early and come here I guess.”



Draco nodded and was about to turn away, when he thought twice about it. He turned around and scooped Ginny up in his arms and gave her one last kiss.