Unaffected

Chapter Eight

Ginny ran up the stairs and into the second floor bathroom, not bothering to shut the door behind her. She turned the tap on in the sink and splashed her face with cold water, trying to stop the flow of tears that was threatening to overwhelm her. She couldn't shake the memory of the look on Lily's face as she spoke to Draco; she'd never seen her daughter look that way at anyone but Harry. What was happening? She knew she should be glad that Lily looked up to a male figure finally, but why did it have to be him?

She took several deep breaths and splashed her face one last time before turning the taps off and reaching for a towel. When her fingers brushed warm flesh, she turned in surprise to see Draco holding out a towel. Her face burned with embarrassment. She took the towel from him and pressed it to her face, willing herself to stop crying.

Draco had stood outside the door and listened to her cry. He couldn't deny his surprise over the entire scene today; this woman had been nothing but professionally aloof or friendly all week, and here she was, breaking down twice in the same day. He wanted to comfort her, but he wasn't sure exactly what to do - he'd never had to deal with a weepy female before, and it unnerved him. When he heard her turn off the water, he'd stepped into the bathroom and handed her a towel. He knew she was embarrassed and he didn't want to prolong it; but on the other hand, he wanted to let her know that it was alright.

"I suppose that by now you must think that all I do is cry," she said, her voice muffled by the towel.

"Actually, I'm relieved to see you crying," he said. She peeked over the towel with curiosity.

"You are?"

"Yeah. I was beginning to think you were inhuman, not showing any emotion, or anything," he teased. She tried not to smile, but she couldn't help herself. She folded the towel and shook her head as she hung it on the rack, then turned to look at him.

"I'll bet you're tired of chasing me around today, aren't you?" she gave him a wry smile, then looked away. "It's just been a difficult day. Most days aren't tough to get through, you know?" She turned her cinnamon eyes to look at him, and he realized that she didn't think he knew what day it was. He nodded.

"I know. Some days are just harder to get through than others." He did understand; he had days like that as well - his father's birthday and his parents' anniversary were always difficult days for him. They weren't troublesome because he missed his father - they were hard because he'd hated his father so much.

"Can I ask you something?" He looked up at the curious note in her voice, and nodded. "What were you talking to the girls about?" He grinned.

"Quidditch."

"Ah," she said, arching an eyebrow. "That explains everything."

"I didn't realize that your daughter was such an avid Quidditch fan." He followed her from the bathroom as she began walking downstairs. She laughed softly.

"Yes, Quidditch is just about her favorite subject. Too bad for her that she's a Chudley Cannons fan," she shook her head, and he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"You're a Quidditch fan, too?"

"Of course," she said, laughing. She pushed the screen door open, and a cool breeze caressed her face. "I couldn't have been married to-" she paused. "I couldn't have grown up in a house with six brothers and not adore Quidditch. I used to play, remember?"

"Vaguely," he said. He did remember now that she mentioned it; he also remembered making fun of her and her brother quite often and very publicly.

"It's too bad that Ron has turned Lily into a Cannons fan, though," she lamented, smiling at her daughter. He grinned.

"Not a Cannons fan, I take it?"

"Not at all. I much prefer the Falcons." He blinked, then gaped. "What?"

"That's my favorite team!" She smiled.

"Really? Well, I suppose you were probably attracted to their team motto."

"You mean, 'Let us win, but if we cannot win, let us break some heads'?"

"Sounds like you," she laughed.

"I would've figured you for a Holyhead fan," he said, shaking his head in wonderment.

"Ginny, a Holyhead fan?" Ron piped up from behind them. "That's a swear word in our house." She laughed.

"Did you think I'd be a fan of theirs just because they all happen to be female?" she asked, her eyes twinkling. Draco grinned, but didn't say anything.

"At least she's not a Magpie fan," Ron pointed out. Fred, who had been standing behind them, turned when he heard this.

"The Magpies are the best team in the history of the sport," he said, glaring at Ron. Ginny shot Draco an amused look, and he returned it.

"Is that so?" Ron asked, bristling.

"Yes, it's so, and you know it! They're the most successful team the sport has ever seen!"

"And what is your basis for this assessment?"

"Ron, they've won the British and Irish league Championship thirty nine times!" Fred looked to Ginny. "Back me up, Gin." She held up her hands in protest.

"Are you kidding? I remember the last time I got involved in the middle of one of your Quidditch arguments! As a matter of fact, I think I still have the scar on my shoulder." She turned her back to them and peered over her shoulder, pointing to a faint white line. Draco stepped closer and squinted at it, then laughed.

"Alright, fine," Fred said, turning to the next available victim. "Draco." Draco looked startled at being addressed so familiarly. "You back me up. Tell this pillock that the Magpies are the best team in the whole ruddy league!"

"Sorry, but I have to concur with your sister. I'm a Falcons fan as well." Fred looked defeated and Ron rolled his eyes.

"Another Falcons fan!" Ginny winked at Draco, and he felt his stomach pitch forward pleasantly. "Why can't any of your friends be Cannons fans?" he asked Ginny.

"Excuse me, but I believe you've done enough damage to my daughter with your Cannons nonsense," she pointed out, smiling. "We've never had any agreements on Quidditch teams, even when Harry was alive. You know what a big Puddlemere fan he was." Fred and Ron exchanged glances when she said Harry's name calmly.

"Yeah, I remember," Ron said, sighing. "I also remember the big shouting matches we all had when we visited Mum and decided to talk about it." She laughed, and Fred grinned. Draco was trying not to feel left out, but when they talked about Potter, he couldn't help it. He was just about to excuse himself when Ron turned to him.

"Malfoy, we've been planning a trip out to the next Cannons match, since they play the Falcons, and we've got an extra ticket." Ginny's eyes widened and she shook her head wildly at him, but he took no notice.

"Yeah, and we've been waiting for Ginny to find someone to invite, but since she won't, what would you say to joining us?" Draco found that he wasn't surprised by their invitation; nothing the Weasleys did today was going to surprise him. He was actually quite pleased that they had included him.

"You just have an extra ticket lying around?" he asked.

"Well, we were waiting for Ginny to snag a boyfriend," she looked as though she wanted to strangle both of them. Her face, what he could see of it behind her hands, was beet red. "But since she insists on becoming an old spinster, why waste a perfectly good ticket?"

"Oh yeah, no pressure there," she said sarcastically. Draco laughed. "Guys, Draco has a fiancée that would most likely not want him to go with another wo-"

"I'd love to," he said, cutting her off. Fred grinned and Ron promptly excused himself.

"Excellent!" Fred clapped his shoulder. "We're going next Saturday. We're going to meet here, then go together. See you then. Bye, Gin," he called over his shoulder, sending her a wicked grin as he walked away.

"I'm sorry about that," she said, shaking her head. "I really think that most of the time, they walk around with their heads stuffed up their arses." He guffawed, and several people turned to give them curious looks. His mother caught his eye and nodded.

"Oh," he said, straightening up. "My Mother would like to invite you to dinner at the Manor tomorrow night." She blinked in surprise.

"Why would she do that?"

"She was actually rather insistent that you attend, as a means of repaying you for your kindness in inviting us here today."

"That was nothing," she said, dismissing it with a wave of her hand. "I enjoy having company over."

"I'd like it if you'd come," he said quietly. She felt the heat rising in her cheeks, and scolded herself silently. He isn't interested in you like that, he's just being polite. "From one Falcons fan to another." She smiled.

"Well, when you put it that way, how can I refuse?" He grinned. "What about Lily? Is she invited as well?"

"Most certainly," he said, his eyes falling on the little girl. She looked up and smiled at him. Ginny bit her bottom lip, then smiled again.

"She seems quite taken with you."

"The feeling is mutual," he said, sending the child a wink. She blushed and giggled, then went back to playing with Alice. He chuckled.

"I just know when you leave, she'll be asking me tons of questions about you," she said, shaking her head.

"Why do you say that?"

"She's a very inquisitive little girl. She likes to know why things happen, who people are, things like that. She isn't the kind of girl who's satisfied with the bare minimum - leave no stone unturned, that's my Lily."

"Draco, I do hate to ask you to leave good company, but I'm rather tired. Could you escort me home?" Narcissa asked, approaching him. He blinked and looked behind her.

"Where's Professor Snape?"

"Severus had some more pressing matters to attend to," she said, not missing the disappointment that flooded her son's face.

"Thank you so much for coming," Ginny said, smiling at Narcissa.

"I can't thank you enough for inviting me. It has been a most wonderful evening." She turned back to her son, who held out his arm. She threaded her arm through his, and he shot Ginny an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry to be leaving in the middle of our conversation. Would it be alright if I flooed here to pick you up tomorrow night?" She was surprised at his offer; it sounded more like something a date might do.

"Er... sure," she said, nodding. "What time should I expect you?"

"Six thirty?" his mother suggested. "Casual dress, too. Nothing fancy." Ginny nodded, vaguely wondering if her idea of casual was the same as Narcissa's. "Goodbye," she said, moving with Draco inside the house. She waved, then turned back to the other guests.

**

"I disagree," Hermione said, her passion etched all over her face. "Lycanthropic rights is a very hot topic right now, and I would think that being a werewolf, you'd be interested in all of the latest news." Remus chuckled.

"All the lycanthropic rights in the world aren't going to change the way people think about werewolves, Hermione. All a law would do is force people to do things they don't want to do."

"So you're against legislation?" she asked incredulously. Before he could answer, Alice had approached her mother.

"Mummy, do you know Mister Draco?" Remus' eyes widened slightly, and Hermione struggled to maintain a straight face. She nodded.

"I do indeed, darling."

"I told Lily you did, and she didn't believe me," Alice stuck out her lower lip in a pout, and Remus had to look away to hide his grin.

"Well, you can tell her that I do know him, and she can come ask me, if she likes." Alice nodded and ran back to the small table. Hermione turned to Remus and laughed. "Would you have ever believed in a million years that Draco Malfoy would have captured the hearts of two children like this?"

"I must admit, I'm rather surprised," he said, grinning. "Did you happen to notice that Ginny barely spoke to anyone else this evening while he was here?" Hermione nodded.

"I did," she said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger thoughtfully. "I wonder if there isn't something starting between them."

"I would venture to say so," he mused, arching an eyebrow. "Did you see how he followed her into the house after she cut the cake?"

"She was very upset, Remus," she said, shaking her head slowly. "And besides, he has a fiancée; he vocalized that to Fred earlier, and I heard Ginny repeating it."

"It sounds like to me that they're both looking for excuses to not be interested in each other."

"That's a very interesting theory," she agreed, smiling brilliantly at him. His heart thudded wildly. "Maybe we should help them see the error of their ways?"

"Now, Hermione," he said, sitting up straighter. "You know me, I'm the straight-laced sort of fellow who wouldn't dare get involved in a crazy matchmaking scheme!" She narrowed her eyes playfully.

"Is that so? Is this the same Remus who was friends with James Potter and Sirius Black? Because I'm starting to wonder where his sense of adventure is." He grinned and his cheeks turned pink.

"It's been misplaced."

"Then I'll just have to help you find it."

**

"Hold still, poppet," Ginny said calmly. She was pulling a hairbrush through Lily's flaming hair in a vain attempt to control it. She finally gave up with a loud sigh, and Lily turned to look at her.

"You look so pretty Mummy," she said, her eyes wide. Ginny laughed, then leaned forward and hugged her daughter close.

"Thank you, sweeting," she said, resting her cheek atop Lily's head.

"Mummy, why do I have to get dressed up for dinner?" Ginny looked into her daughter's inquisitive emerald eyes.

"Because we're going to eat dinner with some very important people, and we need to look nice."

"Who?"

"Remember my friend Draco?" Lily's eyes grew as wide as saucers, and she nodded. "We're going to eat at his house with him and his Mum."

"Why can't I wear my Cannons shirt?" Lily asked, jumping off of Ginny's lap and running to her toy box. She pulled out a faded orange shirt, and Ginny laughed.

"What in the world is your nightshirt doing in your toy box?"

"I was playing with it this morning when my dolls played Quidditch." The look on her face was so serious that Ginny was finding it difficult to maintain a straight face.

"Well, you should put it back on your bed, so you'll know where it is come bedtime." She watched as her daughter trudged to her small bed and dropped the beloved shirt on her pillow.

"I wanna wear it."

"I'm sorry, darling, but you have to wear what I've put on you." Lily looked down at her purple jumper and soft gray skirt.

"Alright," the dejection in her voice almost made Ginny relent, but she was distracted by a voice calling up the stairs.

"Is anyone home?" The sound of Draco's voice both titillated her and frightened her. She laughed as Lily recognized his voice and bolted from the room at breakneck speed. She stepped into the hallway and bit down hard on her lip as she watched Draco squat to accept Lily's arms around his neck. He smiled at the little girl. "I've brought you something."

"What?" she squealed eagerly, clapping her hands. He chuckled, then handed her a dark blue parcel. She ripped into it and pulled out a small t-shirt with a falcon on the front. She frowned up at him. "This is a Falcons shirt."

"Of course it is," he said, winking at her. Her chubby little cheeks promptly turned scarlet. "That's my favorite team. The next shirt I get you will be a Cannons shirt." Her eyes lit up and she planted an impetuous kiss on his cheek, then ran to show the shirt to her mother. Draco stood slowly and touched his fingers to the spot on his cheek where her kiss still made his skin tingle. He wasn't used to such overt gestures of affection.

"Look, Mum! Can I wear this to dinner? Mister Draco gave it to me, so it must be okay, right?" Ginny laughed at her daughter's eager face, and shook her head.

"You may wear it after dinner, if you like." Lily's face fell. "Please take it into your room." Lily trudged into her room, and Ginny tugged her eyes up to meet Draco's. He sucked in a deep breath - she was gorgeous. Her hair had been pulled up into a loose ponytail, and she was wearing a simple black dress - simple, but at the same time, very elegant. The hem of the dress stopped just below her knees, exposing her perfectly shaped legs. His heart began to race at the sight of her, but he couldn't put his finger on why.

"You look nice," she observed, trying to calm her rattled nerves. Why should she be nervous at the sight of him? He'd been here yesterday, and she hadn't been this jumpy. She chewed the inside of her cheek, trying to relax. "I can see I wasn't too far off with my own choices." She gestured to her simple dress, and he shook his head slowly, not trusting his voice. He was wearing a very elegant black shirt and matching pants, and a pair of shiny black dress shoes completed the ensemble.

"I'm ready, Mum!" Lily announced, bounding back into the hallway. "Can I sleep in my Falcons shirt?" Ginny smiled.

"Yes, just don't let Uncle Ron or Uncle Fred know that you have it." Lily clapped her hands and rocked eagerly on the balls of her feet, then turned to Draco.

"Does your Mummy like Quidditch like mine does?" she asked, grabbing hold of his hand. He led her downstairs to the fireplace as they spoke. Ginny followed silently, wondering at Lily's immediate attachment to Draco. What was so appealing about him that made her gaze so adoringly at him, or lavish him with such affection? Even Fred had a hard time coaxing hugs and kisses from her most of the time.

"Not really," he said, smiling. "She liked to watch me play when I was at Hogwarts, but she never got very excited about it."

"You played Quidditch at Hogwarts?" Lily asked eagerly. Ginny could sense trouble on the horizon and tried to interfere.

"Poppet, I'm sure Draco doesn't want to spend the entire evening telling old school stories." Draco gave her a curious look, and she mouthed the word that explained everything - Harry. Understanding washed over him, and he nodded.

"I don't mind," he said, shrugging. Her eyes widened slightly, but she gave no further indication of her surprise. Draco grabbed a handful of floo powder and hugged Lily to him as he said, "Malfoy Manor!" Ginny followed suit, and when she stepped out of the fireplace, she found herself standing in a very large, very handsomely decorated room. Lily was still holding onto Draco for dear life, and she was surprised to see how naturally he was carrying her, as though he'd been doing it all of his life. She followed quietly behind them as they spoke.

"Did you know my Daddy?" she asked.

"Yes, I did."

"Were you friends?" Ginny tensed, but remained silent. She had to admit that she was curious as to how he would explain his rivalry with Harry.

"No, we weren't," he said honestly. "Your Dad and I didn't really like each other in school."

"Why not?"

"I wasn't a very nice person," he said quietly, not daring to look at Ginny. If he had, he would have seen her trembling.

"You're nice now," Lily pointed out. He laughed softly.

"Not all of the time. I still have trouble. Your Mum is helping me learn how to be nice." Lily nodded wisely.

"My Mummy is good at that. She helps people feel better, don't you, Mum?" She turned her eyes to Ginny, who forced a smile and nodded.

"That's right, poppet," she said, her voice catching. Draco turned curious eyes to her, but she was already gaping at the room they'd just entered. She'd known that the Manor would be impressive, but she had obviously underestimated just how impressive. Before she could say anything, a vaguely familiar woman bounded up to Draco and planted a very loud kiss on his lips. His eyes widened in surprise, and he glanced at his mother, who was looking extremely flustered. He took a deep breath, then turned to Ginny.

"Ginny, this is Natasha."