Duplicity

Duplicity
Ch1. I have Talons too

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Ginerva Molly Weasley, affectionately known as Ginny by her closest friends, hastily threw her dark green Team robes and the rest of her belongings into her Quidditch rucksack and picked up her well-cared for Firebolt. The Firebolt had been a gift from Harry before they ended their engagement and it was one of the few things she didn’t return to him. Hey, she needed it, and besides he hadn’t asked. Satisfied she had everything; she hefted the rather heavy pack onto her shoulders and made for a quick escape. If she hurried, maybe she wouldn’t be late for Percy’s Birthday Dinner and both her brother and his uppity wife Audrey surely would call her foul if she was. Answering her teammate’s distant calls of farewells with a tired little wave, Ginny made her way across the Holyhead Harpies’ practice pitch towards the designated Apparition point.

“Ginerva, can I have a word?” came a voice from across the pitch. Ginny turned to see her idol and team captain, Gwenog Jones jogging steadily towards her.

“Ginny, Gwen please” said Ginny lightheartedly. “We’ve been colleges for almost two years, hell, you even carried me off the pitch after my fall this year”. Ginny winced at the memory. That fall had put her on the bench for two months and kept her on reserve-reserve for the past six. Recruited right after school, the Harpies immediately stated her as reserve seeker and began training her during their current season, but after about 14 months into her new career and on her second season with the Harpies; Ginny suffered a bludger straight to her head and fell almost 50 feet to the ground. At the young age of twenty, and full to the brim with talent, she was too valuable of a player. They didn’t have the heart to kick her off the team, but, they also hadn’t offered her previous spot back as the reserve seeker. So, she sat on the bench and dutifully memorized plays. This season was coming to a close, and she was eagerly looking forward to a month off before pre-season began. It would be nice to spend time in a place where she would feel useful for once- like the burrow for example. She was not looking forward to the next season because the current late August weather may be beautiful to sit through, but if she had to sit on her ass through another brutal British winter, she might just up and quit. Shaking her head in self deprecation, she continued,

“Gwen if you could make it quick? I have to be home in well…” Ginny glanced at her wristwatch “5 minutes ago actually”.

“Of course dear” Gwen replied with a kind smile “this won’t take but a moment”. Ginny braced herself- they were letting her go for sure.

“I don’t know if you had heard yet, but Gertie Wellington just announced to me that she will be at last retiring after this season is over. And I wanted to offer you a spot as our third first-string chaser.” Mistaking Ginny’s astonishment for distaste, she quickly amended “You can stay on as reserve seeker too if you want, but I really think you are the best candida-” She was cut off as the tiny redhead launched herself toward the captain enveloping her in a tight enthusiastic hug.

Releasing her suddenly Ginny gushed, “Gwen this is amazing news, more than I could ever hope for, are you sure you want me? I’ve been on the bench for almost a year surely Gabriella or Golde would be qualified I mean not that I’m ungrateful gosh I can’t wait to tell the boys…”

“Ginny, stop babbling” Gwen chuckled, “I am most certain I want you as my third chaser. As long as I am correct in assuming your right shoulder has mended, cause you will most certainly need that, I have the utmost confidence that you are the perfect choice.”

“Yes yes,” Ginny replied with fervor, “I have done nothing but strengthen both that and the rest of my body since the fall. So typical of a clumsy Weasley to land on the only part they really need to play the part of a seeker or chaser- their dominant arm. But hey, at least I caught the snitch on the way down. Dear Glynnis was so proud of me as she watched from the stands- she said she was so happy that the reputation of the Harpies having an exacting seeker lived on. She worked so hard before she retired to make our team respectable…”

“So is that a ‘Yes Gwenog I accept the spot’ Ginny?” Gwen cajoled.

“Of course yes, yes, YES that is. If I wasn’t already late I would smother you more with affection. Thank you so much!” Gwenog smiled at that and bade her goodbye chuckling slightly as she watched the younger girl practically skip away.

Nearing the apparition point in her own cheery daze with little recognition of her surroundings, she narrowly missed colliding head first into the platinum blonde arrogantly strolling into the pitch.

“Well well well, Weaselette” at this Ginny was startled out of her own thoughts, “looks like you haven’t changed a bit since school”. Ginny looked up –quite a ways up- to see none other than Draco Malfoy, winner of Witch Weekly’s Most-Charming-Smile award, …and hair, …and butt, …and what have you, seeker for the Falmouth Falcons, and all around irritating playboy of England’s pure-blooded socialites, standing just inches away from her. He drawled lazily, “how is playing on reserve? Oh, don’t tell me, you’re used to being second or well, seventh dare I say, in everything. Hand-me down clothes, hand-me down books” he sneered at that one, “and is that Potty’s old broom you’ve got there? He knocked you up yet?”

“Oh shut it Malfoy” Ginny replied unfazed. “What are you doing here, what do you want?”

“Nothing from you weasel, I can assure you. Where is your ever stunning seeker, Gillian Hawthorne?”

Ginny nonchalantly indicated towards a group of women chatting and getting ready to leave. As she was about to reply with a simple ‘shes over there’ or ‘get lost’, Draco rudely pushed past her.

“Well goodbye to you too ferret” Ginny grumbled under her breath. “Icy Bastard. …I have talons too... …Fucking Falcons. I hope the Harpies get to play you this season.” At that, she continued to skip toward the apparition point, the spring from her step only slightly diminished.

She did turn around to glimpse that Award Winning ass though.


**********

Draco loved a fresh summer night. The cool breeze floating in through his bathroom window reminded him of a time before the world totally hated his family, before Voldemort returned, before Hogwarts. He had been young, innocent, and carefree. While he may have redeemed himself through his charm, good looks, and talent however; the world still despised his father and pitied his mother. Gripping the marble counter, he looked in the mirror. Grey eyes framed by long pale lashes rested atop angular cheekbones and a pointed nose and chin. He smiled and his full bottom lip spread to match the thinner upper one and for a moment, he didn’t look pouty. He looked almost boyish and dashing with his platinum blonde hair falling just as it did, ever so slightly in his face. He could briefly imagine what his life could have been like if he hadn't become a death eater so early. As his amusement slowly turned to anger, he fought the urge to break the glass. Swearing, he turned his gaze towards the open window .His bathroom faced the gardens, and nearing sundown, they were like a picture from a storybook. Nearing sundown… nearing sundown… nearing sundown…

“Shit,” he exclaimed and tore into his bedroom. Throwing on the designer suit tailored to him perfectly, knowing full well he would look fabulous in the dark grey on grey silk shirt and tie combo even if he was disheveled, he ran out the door. As he passed his mum in the hallway, he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and rushed down the staircase. Traveling down the grand hall, he rapidly approached the double doors that led out to the front walk. He grabbed his light summer robes and the parchment waiting for him at the door and rushed outside. Apparating quickly, he had just enough time to think, ‘I hope their practice ran late’.

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Draco was a lucky man. Not only was he on time, there were even a few players still practicing on the pitch. Taking a moment to compose himself, he slid into his Malfoy demeanor. He would be damned if anyone ever caught him sweating over a girl -unless they were that girl and they were under him. He wouldn’t allow anyone to see him off guard, lest someone would suspect that the infamous Draco Malfoy would stress over his appearance, or women, or even being late. Satisfied he looked gorgeous and uncaring; he haughtily strode into the pitch as if he owned it. And that was, of course, the exact time Ginny fucking Weasley decided to crash directly into him. Little chit was lucky she was only tall enough to mess up his suit and robe collars rather than his hair -god forbid. Instantly, an idea popped into this head and he smiled, he could have fun with this. He never particularity hated the weasel girl but, she was still a blood tractor, albeit a talented one.

“Well well well, Weaselette looks like you haven’t changed a bit since school”. He drawled, trying to push as many of her buttons as possible. “How is playing on reserve? Oh, don’t tell me, you’re used to being second or well, seventh dare I say, in everything. Hand-me down clothes, hand-me down books” he sneered at that one, “and is that Potty’s old broom you’ve got there? He knocked you up yet?”

“Oh shut it Malfoy” said Ginny dreamily, to his annoyance, unaffected by his snarky attitude. “What are you doing here, what do you want?”

Feeling affronted that he wasn’t dampening her mood, he replied coldly, “nothing from you weasel, I can assure you. Where is your ever stunning seeker, Gillian Hawthorne?”

As she pointed over to a group of chatting girls, he pushed his way past her with a smile. If insults wouldn’t work then dismissal should. Judging by the grumbled responses she made under her breath, it did.

Draco approached the group of girls unhurriedly very aware that their chatting became giggling as one by one they watched him advance. Smirking slightly, he made a beeline for the prettiest girl of the group. Gillian Hawthorne, the current Harpies’ seeker and niece of famous past Harpies’ seeker Glynnis Griffiths, looked up at him expectedly from packing her gear. Her sweaty brunette ringlets framed bright blue eyes. She was the prettiest girl on the team, but known for being aloof and uncaring about men’s feelings. Draco wanted to add her under his belt. For fun, a challenge. She was also a pureblood and a celebrity, perfect for a Malfoy.

“Gillian love,” he purred, “I saw your picture in the Prophet after your brilliant victory last week and simply couldn’t resist coming to see you” at this, she blushed terribly, only to encourage him into saying “would you care to be my date to my family’s annual autumn ball?” He could see even before she could answer, he knew he had it in the bag.

After exchanging glances with her girlfriends, she proclaimed coyly, “Well Mr. Malfoy, I’ll have to see if I have the time, but I should be able”.

“Perfect” he said as he handed her the parchment he brought over to her, “this is a formal invitation. I’ll floo by your apartment at say 7 o’clock that evening?”
“That would be lovely” she gushed, forgetting her coy response just two seconds before.

Draco sneered “7 o’clock sharp, if you’ve heard anything about me, you know I hate to wait”.

At that he gave her a curt nod and turned on his heel and headed out of the pitch. As he walked away, he gave himself a metaphorical pat on the back. He was charming, accommodating, and a bastard all at once- the perfect recipe to catch a woman, hook, line, and sinker.

He forgot all about running into Ginerva Molly Weasley.


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With a pop, said Ginerva Molly Weasley arrived at the Burrow, and at seeing the bright lights and hearing the Weasley chatter from the garden, she promptly forgot all about running into one, Draco Malfoy.


AN/ I hope you liked the first installment, this is my first fic EVER, so bear with me. Any constructive criticism is welcome!! Hugs, and Kisses, Astoria <3