Top Hat

Chapter 3

Ginny started to get a little nervous because the rain wasn't letting up at all. She scooted away from 'Adam' a bit on the bench; she had no idea what was going through his head at this moment. Looking over at him, though, she noticed that he was looking down at his hands, apparently deep in thought about something or other. Ginny felt a tiny bit bad about what happened and how she had been treating him lately. She decided to relax him a little; after all, he was kind of cute.

"Hey, Adam," said Ginny, tapping him on the shoulder. "Penny for your thoughts."

Draco jumped. "Oh, I was just thinking about the rain."

"Really, now? Why the rain? I mean, it's just water falling from the sky, isn't it?" She couldn't see the point of pondering a little rain. Scratch that, it was practically raining cats and dogs out there, away from the gazebo.

"No, it isn't. Rain is something greater, something having to do with love and clouds. Then there are the thunderstorms. Shall I explain it to you?"

Ginny wasn't sure about this, but she agreed anyway. This might be interesting, at least.

"Alright. This is how it goes: when an awkward cloud meets a lady cloud, he realizes that she's the cloud for him. He floats toward her, but she moves away. This happens a few times until she starts to cry. That's the rain. He comforts her, and they have a bit of lightning. They kiss, and you have the thunder. That's how thunderstorms work. What?"

Ginny was giggling like a schoolgirl. "Nothing, it's just that you were so funny, telling that story. The awkward cloud sounds just like you."

"I'm only awkward when I'm not dancing. Would you like to?"

"I'd love to."

They whirled around and around the gazebo, dancing and laughing, showing each other what they knew, and challenging the other to show that theirs was better....

* * *

Back in her hotel room, Ginny laughed like a maniac. She felt so fulfilled after dancing in the rain with 'Adam.' An owl landing on her shoulder snapped her out of her reverie. Ginny took the letter tied to the owls' leg and read:

"Hi Gin,

It's Hermione. I'm in Italy and I want you to come over. There's someone I'd like you meet. I'm sure you'll get along just fine. See you soon."

'Darn,' Ginny thought. 'But I'll probably never see him again anyway. Might as well go to Italy. At least I might have a real person to look forward to.'

As she was thinking this, she heard a loud pop, and whirled around to come face-to-face with her brother Ron. He was a very, very successful clothes designer, who was extremely over-protective of his little sister.

"Oh, hi, Ron! I didn't know you were stopping by. How are you doing?"

"Fine, fine," he answered. "Just came in to check on my little sis here. So, what have you been up to?"

"Nothing much, really. I think I'm going to visit a friend in Italy."

"Awesome!" exclaimed Ron. "I was just going to ask you to come with me to model some evening gowns. How about it?"

"Sure. I think I'm the most reliable model you have, aren't I?"

"Yep, definitely." Suddenly he got a look of curiosity and something else, like accusation, in his face as he asked, "By the way, do I know this friend of yours?"

"Yes, very well. Relax already. Ok, so when are we leaving? How about staying tonight for the show and leaving tomorrow afternoon?"

"Fine with me. Ooh, is it a dancing show?"

"Yes, with one of the best dancers around."

* * *