Nothing I Have Ever Seen

Chapter 4

Two hours later, Draco emerged from the fourth dress robe boutique they had visited. He'd made the mistake of taking an interest in Pansy's idea of visiting them as he hadn't yet bought his own robes. He found the ones he wanted in a matter of seconds- plain, black, long and luxurious- but Pansy would not be satisfied with anything until she'd seen all the dresses known to mankind, it seemed.

He'd really only put up with her for this long because Flint had been hanging around. If there was one thing that annoyed Draco more than Pansy herself, it was Flint and his sudden interest in her. So whilst Draco was around, Flint would back off, knowing he couldn't make any move while Draco was standing there. It had been working so well so far.

"Draco, what do you think of this one? I know it's red, not really my colour, but the style! Isn't it pretty! Ooh I do like this, what do you think? Draco?"

Draco's eyes came back into focus- he'd been off in a world of his own- one far away from Pansy- and looked as she pranced around in front of him wearing a hideous red creation.

"Whatever. Just go and buy it." It wasn't like it really mattered what dress Pansy chose, it seemed that none would do her enough favours to make a significant difference anyway.

Pansy pouted as if this response wasn't quite what she was looking for, and looked and Flint. "What do you think?"

Draco watched in sickened amazement as Flint stared adoringly at Pansy's image.

"I think you look great," he mumbled, clearly embarrassed about expressing this in front of Draco.

Pansy rolled her eyes, muttering something about boys and shopping, and disappeared back into the changing room. Suddenly, Draco realised he'd had enough. Without a word he strode past Flint and out into the street. He took a deep breath of fresh air. Of course, now that he'd left, Flint and Pansy were alone but if keeping them apart meant spending one more second in their company, he'd have killed one of them. Preferably both.

He looked up and down the street. Left was the route back to Hogwarts, right ran towards the square at the centre of Hogsmeade, with its majestic Christmas tree providing a focal, as well as gathering point for visitors to the town. Running a hand through his hair he made his way towards the Christmas tree, fleetingly wondering where Ginny had disappeared to, then cursing himself for the thought. The street was finely decorated in the spirit of Christmas, with wreaths of holly hanging on the wooden shop doors, softly glowing candles floating above the heads of the crowd and small garden fairies creating bursts of sparkling colour for the delight of the teeming street- witches and wizards hurrying by getting the last of their Christmas shopping, small children clutching their parents' hands, holding bags of Honeydukes sweets, street vendors with market stalls calling out, "Bewitch your garden with our non-melting snow- only eleven sickles!" or similar.

Attention entirely taken by a whole host of things that would now be appearing on his Christmas list, he turned the corner and smacked right into someone coming the other way. He straightened up unsteadily and regarded the one unfortunate enough to get in his way.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Watch where you're going, why don't you!" his eyes flashed menacingly at the figure before him. The figure with the mass of burning red hair, now matching the colour of her flushed cheeks. Ginny.

He watched as she bent down, silently retrieving the numerous bags that had been thrown into the air on her collision. Why didn't she reply to him? Why didn't she apologise for her clumsiness? What was wrong with her? Irritation coursed through Draco's veins. Ginny, bags now in hand, stood unmovingly in front of him.

"Thanks for helping me." Was that a hint of sarcasm in her voice? What kind of response did she want to that? That was not the kind of apology he had in mind.

For one moment, the eyes that had been avoiding his contact locked onto his, as they had done last night. For one moment, the anger and annoyance that had risen in Draco's chest melted away. For one moment, the crowd around them disappeared...

*

"Listen, would you like to go to the Three Broomsticks and get a drink?" God, what had he just said? Good one Draco, he congratulated himself. This isn't going to confuse matters even more. He'd even left himself open to rejection...

Ginny's brow wrinkled as she tilted her head slightly to one side. Probably wondering what he was on about. He didn't even know himself. He kept her eye contact. Tactics, that was what it was about. Make it hard for her to get away.

"Ok," came the timid (and, Draco noticed triumphantly, somewhat scared) reply.

*