Some Days I Wish I Were in Slytherin

Chapter 5: Coffee and Conspiracy

The train was slowing down, steam from the smokestack pouring into the open window as the speed lessened. Ginny propped herself up on her elbow and looked out at a scene of utter chaos. Wizards in brightly colored robes and strange flat hats were milling around the platform, eagerly awaiting the train. Witches speaking Spanish were hugging small children, searching frantically through gigantic handbags, or calmly sipping a last cup of coffee at the small stand up café. She set down her book and looked at the sign. Bienvenido a Buenos Aires. An apron clad man with neat black hair and dark eyes who was carrying a tray of tiny little cups noticed her looking out the window and approached her.

"Cafecito, senorita?"

She nodded and handed him a few knuts. He counted out the correct amount and gave her change back. "Con leche?" he asked. She nodded and with a wave of his wand the cup grew larger, and the brunette brew turned a rich creamy tan. He handed her the cup, winked, and went on to the next window.

Ginny took a sip of the hot coffee and gasped. It was delicious- sweet, and just a touch bitter. She took another greedy sip, her head already spinning from the strong dose of caffeine. This was good. She didn't think she'd ever drink tea again. She made a mental note to try to meet one of the Argentinean witches on the train so she could find out how to make it. She cuddled back into her armchair and looked through the window for a while longer until the platform was empty and the train began to slowly leave the station.

"Good isn't it?"

Her hand jerked, sloshing a little coffee into her saucer, and she looked up into Draco's amused face. He was standing in front of her with a cup cradled in his hands. He put it down, pulled another armchair closer to her, quickly sat down, and took a drink. A house elf followed behind him and set down a tray with a steaming aluminum pot and a ceramic pitcher of warm milk.

She raised an eyebrow and said coolly, "I didn't think you enjoyed such plebian pleasures."

He shook his head. "But of course. I grew up on this. When I was little we lived in Venezuela for six years. That was a time when it was ... advantageous for my father to be out of the country. My mother used to have the house elves make this every Sunday morning ..." he stopped, as if aware he might be saying too much.

"Oh yes. Your mother, how is she dealing with ... your father?"

"Well enough," Draco shrugged. "She took off to Paris with her flying instructor."

Ginny tried to not look shocked. Even Malfoy didn't deserve to be deserted by both his parents. She couldn't imagine her parents doing such a thing. "So where have you been staying?"

"With my grandfather," he said. "He's attending the Wizard's consortium, giving a set of lectures on Principles of the Wizard Stock Market. He wasn't overly thrilled to have me come along, but I guess he thought it better than leaving me alone in his house. Who knows what trouble I would have gotten into?" He made an ugly face, and she astonished them both by cracking a smile. "Ah, I think that was the first real smile I've ever gotten out of you. I told you I could be nice ... Ginny." He lowered his glance to his cup and avoided her eyes.

Ginny looked at him and then at her empty cup. "Well, if you're so nice you won't mind sharing your coffee with me. You do know the meaning of the word share I presume?"

"Heard of it somewhere," he said, rubbing his chin and looking thoughtful. "Something to do with Potter and your brother and the Mud -"

"Malfoy!" Ginny interrupted. "Spare the explanation and just pour."

"Well you asked." He refilled her cup and topped off his own. "Now don't drink too much. I have a fabulous lunch planned."

"Lunch?"

"Of course, don't you remember you agreed to have lunch with me?"

"Actually you agreed to have lunch with me, and I thought we'd eat in here," Ginny said, laughing helplessly.

"No trouble at all. I've already set it up with the staff. They were pleased to do it I think. Give them something to do to keep busy."

Ginny looked at the house elves who were frantically trying to serve the growing crowd in the dining train. "Malfoy!" she sputtered.

Draco smiled at her and stood up, offering her his arm. "I think it should be ready. Shall we?" Ginny hesitated for a moment. "There's more coffee where that came from," he teased.

"You have a deal." She strolled off on his arm, ignoring the glances thrown at them by several of the passengers.

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Ginny sank back into the sofa of the reading room and threw down her napkin. "Delicious, I must admit. I never thought I'd like eel."

"Get used to it. If you're spending six weeks in China you'll be eating all kinds of strange things," he said. He gave her a curious look. "Why exactly are you going to the conference anyway? You never really told me."

"I'm here with Snape, I thought I told you that," she said, amused.

"But I thought you said that was a joke."

"Well I'm not sleeping with him if that's what you mean." Ginny took a sip of her wine. "I was chosen to accompany him as a student intern."

Draco shuddered. "Enough with the scary visual images. I don't remember hearing anything about an internship." He looked at her intently.

"It was kind of a last minute thing. The spot came open and I applied for it. My brother heard about it."

Draco nodded and turned to the waiting elf. "That will be all Cappy. Clear these things, but leave the wine." He offered the bottle to Ginny. "More?"

She put her hand over the glass. "Too early."

"Don't be such a Gryffindor. It's only wine."

"All right, maybe a little." She held out her glass and smiled, this was going better than she'd hoped.

"So what are you studying at the conference?"

"Everything, anything, charms and potions mostly, and I'm going to be helping Professor Snape with a research project in the evenings. I think that's the only reason he let the Ministry assign a student in all honesty. I'll probably spend the entire time copying his scribbles into something that can actually be read by the rest of the world."

"Are you sure that's all he wants help with?" Draco conjectured.

She shot him a look. 'Very. Plus, not interested, he's definitely not my type."

"Oh ... so now this gets interesting. What is your type?" He closed his eyes. "Let me see I'm opening my inner eye and I see striking good looks, blonde hair, grey eyes." His voice grew suspicious. "I think I know this guy, wait a minute, yes I've got it." His eyes shot open and he beamed. "Gilderoy Lockhart!"

Ginny laughed and hit him with a pillow. "Definitely not."

"Wait a minute let me check my inner eye again." He closed his eyes, put his hands together, and started swaying back and forth. "Yes, I see it now. My goodness, he is handsome. Wait a minute, what's this? You're going to ask him to kiss you."

Ginny looked at him cautiously. "Kiss me?"

Draco opened his eyes, gave her an evil smile, and leaned in. "Why Ginny, I thought you'd never ask."

He placed his hand on her cheek, and she felt his lips touch hers, surprisingly warm and soft. She leaned into them for a moment before pulling back sharply and schooling her face into a look of anger and embarrassment. She pushed him away from her.

"What are you playing at Malfoy? Why all this sudden interest? You ... You ... Just stay away from me." She let her voice break and turned away, her eyes brimming with tears as she stormed out of the compartment. She ran all the way back to her room and collapsed on the bed in a fit of laughter. That had gone very well. Very well indeed. Lesson two she hadn't had to learn from Snape. Always leave them wanting more.

Hours later, Ginny was deeply immersed in one of her textbooks, 'Charmed to Death: The Art of Charms in the Dark Arts', when she heard a knock on her door.

"Yes?" she said.

Professor Snape opened the door and looked in. He leaned in the doorway and watched her for a moment, his dark eyes inscrutable. She returned his gaze without blinking and slowly raised an eyebrow before he asked, "Studying hard?"

"Yes, Professor. These antidotes are fascinating reading."

"Good. And was Mr. Malfoy able to help you with your studies?"

"Of course," she said. "But, I still need to work with him a great deal."

"I thought as much," he responded. "Your work must be very interesting for him." He handed over a package addressed to her in large, neat green letters. "Very interesting indeed. I think you're getting off to a good start. Keep it up; just remember not to let it get in the way of your other studies." He gestured to the stack of books on her bed. "I am expecting you to arrive prepared for your first lesson." He picked up two books off the pile and gave them to her. "I'd recommend studying these two first."

He left without another word, leaving her staring at the books. The Occulumency book she had already read, but a small knot formed in her throat as she saw the title of the other. The small black book was thin, but well worn, and embossed on the cover were the words. 'Defensive Magic: The Unforgivables'

Ginny shook her head to clear her thoughts and placed the book aside for the moment. She'd save it for later. It would make great bedtime reading, she thought wryly. Her focus went back to the package Snape had left. She picked it up and shook it gently. It was very light and didn't rattle. She peeled off the outer paper and set it aside, then opened the box and removed a long thin object obscured by a mass of soft russet colored material. Underneath was a letter, which she opened first.

Dear Ginny,

These words don't come easily to me as I'm not accustomed to saying them, but I am sorry about what happened earlier. I know you probably feel I was trying to take advantage of you, but that wasn't the case. I did mean what I said about wanting to be friends with you, and I promise I'll be a perfect gentleman. I'm not sure what came over me. I'd blame it on the wine, but that would be a lie. I'm not used to just talking to a girl. They usually either fawn all over me or hate my guts. I guess that it was just nice talking to someone, and we were having such a good time that I got carried away. I know that you don't know me well and probably don't really trust me, but I'd like to change that. I think we may have more in common than we realize. I hope you'll accept my apology and that you'll be willing to spend time with me while we're in China. I know Professor Snape will keep you busy, but I'm sure he'd be willing to give you time off to spend with me (see, being his favorite student is good for some things). Please write me back and let me know how you feel. I've enclosed something for you. I noticed you never had one before, and they come in very useful. I remember what you said last night, and I think you'll like the design. The other gift, well I got off the train this morning and bought it from a vendor, the color just reminded me of you.

Sincerely,

Draco

By the way, my friends call me Draco.

Ginny set the letter down and picked up the package. Unwinding the material, she discovered it was a long silk scarf, made of thin, gauzy material, the color a warm coppery brown that was somewhere between the color of her hair and her eyes. Inside of it was a wand sheathe. The smooth claret colored morocco leather was stitched with nearly invisible gold stitches (Gryffindor colors) and was embossed around the top with a raised pattern. Looking closely she realized it was a snake hidden within camouflaging vines. Clever, Malfoy, very clever. So he was listening to what she was saying. The letter was amusing, either he had a tremendous gift for lying or he really was interested in her. She couldn't be sure which one, but it really didn't matter. Whether he was purposely trying to seduce her or she managed to convince him it would be a good idea, as long as she ended up closer to his inner circle it was fine with her. She turned the wand case around in her hand. Only the highly fashionable and wealthy carried these. She wouldn't fool herself; both the death eaters and the Pureblood Council were always looking to recruit impressionable members of old wizarding families. Her brother Percy had told her he'd been approached by the council upon joining the ministry and had turned them down. Most likely Draco was under orders, and that suited her just fine. As Snape had said, let him think it's his idea, and if he happened to fall for her all the better.

Ginny ran her fingers through the soft silk and gently tied the scarf in a loose knot around her neck. Yes, it would definitely be better. She touched her lips with her fingers and smiled. She could use some ... fun.

That evening she gave a passing house elf a letter and asked him to deliver it to Malfoy in the morning; it was always good to keep them waiting a little bit.

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Draco seized the letter that was delivered with his morning coffee and waved the house elf away as he tore into it impatiently. His eyes scanned the words, and he set it down with a satisfied smile and began to eat his breakfast.

Dear Draco,

Thank you for the lovely and thoughtful gifts. The scarf is beautiful, and I am wearing it as I write. I didn't know what to think yesterday when you kissed me. I wasn't sure whether to slap you or kiss you back. Instead, I decided to run. I have to admit I'm really not sure what to think of you. My whole life I've thought of you in one way, and suddenly I feel like I'm seeing you in a whole different light.

I would like to get to know you better as well. Maybe it's time for us to put old battles behind us and get to know each other not as a Weasley and a Malfoy, or a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, but as Draco and Ginny, and make our opinions based on that. I spoke with Professor Snape, and he said I'd have my weekends free to do whatever I wanted, so if you'd like, perhaps we can get together while in Beijing. We'll be staying at the Lotus House Inn.

Now that the niceties are out of the way, I just have to say as a friend. I can't believe you kissed me. What's the matter with you? I'm amazed you've ever had a girlfriend between your inappropriate timing and your lousy pickup lines. I mean it was a good try, and I have to admit you're not a bad kisser, but honestly wait at least a little longer next time. Oh and I rather like calling you Malfoy, but I'll call you Draco sometimes so you won't pout.

I'll see you in Beijing. By the way, I do like the design.

Ginny