Hard to Handle

"Malfoy - Draco!"

Draco turned around to face the speaker.

"You know, usually people use it the other way around but what ever suits you," he said, and then smiled at the girl in front of him before noticing she was wearing a Gryffindor tie.

"Ew," he said, with all the eloquence of someone blessed with an extensive vocabulary.

The girl didn't seem too put off. "Can I talk to you for a second?" She eyed Blaise Zambini, who was standing next to Draco, already looking bored with the conversation.

"No!" said Draco vehemently, but he followed her into an empty classroom anyway. She might be a Gryffindor, but she was a damn sexy one. Plus, curiosity killed the Slytherin.

"Do you want to go with me to Hogsmede next weekend?" she asked confidently, smiling the smile of someone who knows exactly how gorgeous they are.

For a second Draco almost thought about considering it. Then he screwed up his face and walked out.

"Damn," Ginny swore under her breath, leaving the room after Draco.

And in an amazing bout of unluck, she ran right into Ron.

"What were you doing in there with Draco Malfoy?" he demanded as Draco strolled gracefully down the hall in front of them.

Ginny paused.

Oh, what the hell.

"Asking him out," she said casually, looking down at her fingernails as she walked along.

There was a thud behind her and she spun her head around to see Ron unconscious on the floor. From down the hall Ginny could hear Malfoy laughing raucously, and felt an odd desire to do the same.

At that moment Hermione and Harry rounded the corner, Ginny tried to keep a straight face.

"Oh my gosh, Ginny, what happened to him?"

Oh my gosh Hermione, could it be more obvious that you love him?

"He passed out when I told him I asked out Malfoy," she said, feeling her mouth twitching at the corners.

Harry jerked his head up in shock and stared at her, mouth partially open. Hermione was too busy fussing over Ron to properly over-react.

"M-Malfoy?" Harry stuttered.

"Yes, Harry, M-Malfoy," said Ginny.

Harry continued to stare at her in horror.

Or was it jealousy?

Please let it be jealousy.

"Don't worry, Harry. He said no."

Further down the hall, Draco was trying desperately to regain even a little bit of composure. But just thinking about Weasley falling to the ground in a big ginger puddle brought on new fits of hysterical laughter. At this rate he was going to be very late for Potions.

"Blaise," he said finally, fighting the hilarity, "who is that girl with Potter and the Mudblood?"

"The one you were t-talking t-to before?" Blaise stuttered. "G-Ginny Weasley."

Yes, the stutter was annoying, but he really was a variable mine of information. Who else knew about Gryffindors? Draco decided to keep him around a bit longer.

"Weasel's sister! If only I'd known!"

"If only you'd kn-known? What d-difference does it m-make?"

"She just asked me out. Go on to potions without me."

Draco walked back down the hall to where Ginny was now leaning against the wall while Harry and Hermione tried to wake Ron up.

"Ever heard of Evervate?" he said, shaking his head. "Honestly. Thousands of witches and wizards, and they send YOU to defeat the most powerful Dark Wizard of our time?"

"Go away, Malfoy," Harry spat.

"Actually, I will, in a minute. Weaselette, I wanted to say I changed my mind." He said, turning to Ginny.

A smile spread slowly over Ginny's face until she was grinning widely.

"Great. I'll meet you here at ten o'clock."

Harry looked like he might join Ron in unconscious-land as Draco sauntered off.

"I have to get to Transfiguration or McGonagall might kill me. I'll seeya later," said Ginny, running off in the opposite direction.

Harry looked shell-shocked.

"Oh, Harry, maybe Malfoy was right! You aren't the brightest all the time, are you?" said Hermione.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing," said Hermione, shaking her head. "Enervate."

Draco pulled on his grey shirt and smoothed down his hair. He checked his watch. Five to ten.

"D-date with Ginny?" said Blaise, walking in.

"Yep," said Draco.

"She doesn't like butterbeer," said Blaise.

What was he, a stalker?

"Good to know," said Draco.

He strode confidently up the steps from his dormitory, smirking as Pansy Parkinson went cross-eyed with lust when he passed in the common room.

He knew it, he looked good. Damn good in fact. Black trousers, grey shirt, perfect hair; he was elegant and gorgeous, like an elegant and gorgeous...muggle...with magical powers.

Ginny was already there when he arrived at their meeting place. She too looked gorgeous in a black singlet-top and short khaki skirt teamed with knee-high black boots.

Draco was surprised, but pleasantly.

"Nice boots," he said.

"Nice hair," she said, grinning.

Wait...was she mocking him? Draco frowned, but let Ginny slip her arm through his.

"So where are you taking me?" she asked as they surmounted the stairs leading to the grounds.

Draco realised he hadn't thought about it.

"Well you asked me out, so where are YOU taking ME?"

"Thought you'd say that. Hogs Head?"

"Isn't that a bit rough for an innocent little Gryffindor such as yourself?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I can handle it."

"Perhaps...but I doubt you can handle me," said Draco.

"Maybe not in large doses," Ginny replied. "But I think I can put up with you for a couple of hours."

He'd never admit it, but Draco was impressed with Ginny's quickness. She took his hand and pulled him into the village. Draco had never liked Hogsmede. It was far too quaint for his taste, and he liked it much less when he was at a high risk of being spotted with a Gryffindor.

They entered the Hogs Head, and Draco was relieved to see that they only Slytherins there were a pair of insignificant first years. Ginny let go of Draco's hand and walked casually to the bar, leaning over and ordering from a creepy looking barman. Draco didn't hear what she asked for, but reminded him self that it wouldn't be butterbeer.

She returned to Draco and handed him a small glass with some amber liquid in it, before sidling past him and sitting at a small table in the corner.

"What is this?" Draco asked, indicating at his glass.

"Firewhiskey," said Ginny, taking a large sip from her own glass.

Draco raised his eyebrows then tipped his own glass back and let the fiery liquid slide down his throat. He coughed slightly and Ginny laughed, finishing her own glass.

"Can't hack it?" she said, eyes sparkling. Draco narrowed his eyes at her and took another gulp.

"So I thought we'd go and see my brother soon," said Ginny.

"Ergh, why would we want to do that?" said Draco.

"Why else would you accept this date with me? Draco Malfoy, genuinely interested in a Gryffindor? I think not. It was only when you realised I was Ron's sister that you agreed to come with me today. Just wanted to see how far you could push him before he exploded."

She was definitely a lot smarter than her housemates. Draco just shrugged and nodded.

"It's not like I care. I'm just with you to make Harry jealous." She stood up. "Nearly finished, precious?"

"Call me that again and I'll kill you," said Draco, draining his glass. For some odd reason he had felt a stab of disappointment when Ginny had told him she wasn't actually interested him. He shrugged it away.

Ginny pushed open the door and walked out into the street, taking Draco's hand once more.

"No doubt he'll be in the Three Broomsticks," said Ginny, heading towards the pub on the other side of the street.

The entered the crowded Three Broomsticks and looked around for Ron.

"Over there," said Malfoy indicating with his eyes to a small table where Ron was sitting with Harry and Hermione.

"Look, there's a free table next to them! Perfect."

They made their way across the room holding hands, and sat down at the table. Ginny waited for the sound of her brother choking on his butterbeer. Sure enough...

*coughspluttercough* "Ginny?"

Ginny turned around. "Oh, hey Ron, Harry, Hermione. Didn't see you there."

Ron glared at Malfoy, turning a hideous shade of purple. Malfoy gave a small smile and a wave. He was really, really enjoying this.

Ginny turned back to Draco, well aware that three pairs of eyes were now fixed in her direction. She leant across the table and took Draco's hand, engaging him in another conversation. Much too her surprise, Ginny forgot that she was putting on an act for Harry. Malfoy kept her on edge during the whole conversation, testing her wit with every remark... inviting her to rise to the challenge, which she did, very well. She glanced behind her an hour later only to find that Harry, Ron and Hermione had left.

"When did they go?" Ginny asked.

"About forty-five minutes ago," said Draco.

"You mean I've been wasting my charm and wit on you for three quarters of an hour?"

"Where as they'd be put to such better use on Potter?" Draco enquired.

"Actually...yes," said Ginny, with all the conviction of an old sock. "We should go back to the castle."

"If you want. I just need to stop at Honeydukes to get some chocolate for my mother. I swear she's the fussiest woman in the world. Can't go a week without her Honeyduke's Swiss Creams."

Ginny nodded and went with Draco to the candy store, where they looked around for a few minutes before Draco found the chocolates he was looking for. They were enclosed in a cream and gold coloured box, and had a small price tag saying 3 Gal.

"Three galleons!" Ginny exclaimed before she could stop herself.

Draco raised his eyebrows, but decided it would be best not to say anything. Perhaps he was ill.

"That's some expensive chocolate," Ginny said.

"Hand made by Swiss Pixies," said Draco, handing the box along with three gold coins to the store keeper.

"Would you like this wrapped, sir?"

Draco nodded once, leaning casually on the counter while the man wrapped his purchase, and watching Ginny as she looked at the various sweets. They left the shop with a small chime.

"Oh, you didn't want anything, did you?" said Draco once they'd left.

"Nope," said Ginny.

They walked in silence for a few minutes across the Hogwarts grounds. Ginny stopped suddenly.

"What?" said Draco.

"Just have to tie my shoe lace," said Ginny, bending down

"You don't have shoe laces," Draco felt it necessary to point out.

"Ha, so I don't," said Ginny. Then she dug her hand into the mud and flung it right at Draco's shirt.

He stared at her in shock, and she straightened up to face him, a huge cheeky grin on her face. Then, before she could get away, he grabbed her and kissed her, pulling her towards him. He was surprised by her eager response as she kissed him back hard and wrapped her arms around his waist. She didn't even seem to realise she was getting all muddy, and Draco was rather impressed. He finally pulled away, and quickly bent down to scoop up some mud, but Ginny was too quick. She ducked the mud-ball and ran laughing up to the castle. Draco abandoned his poise and raced after her, not catching her until the bottom of the steps where her caught her by the arm and spun her around. She grinned at him.

"Here," he said, handing her the wrapped up chocolates he'd managed to hold on to.

"Aren't they for your mother?"

"I made that up. They're for you."

Ginny looked down at the most expensive gift she'd ever been given.

"No, Draco, I can't. Give them to Pansy or someone who'll appreciate them more. I would feel too bad. I only asked you today because I wanted to make Harry jealous."

Draco looked at her for a few seconds. "You have a spot of mud on your cheek. Just...there." He wiped it away. "Ginny, I only accepted to go with you because I wanted to make Ron explode. But I also, to my great surprise, had a good time. I want you to have these, as a token, ok?"

"A really expensive token..." said Ginny, taking the box. "Thanks, Draco."

"You are quite welcome."

"Well I guess I'll see you around then?" said Ginny, smiling.

"Ginny wait. Do you want to do something again next weekend?"

Ginny paused. "Oh...Draco, I dunno. I mean, I really like Harry, you know?"

Draco nodded. "No problem, see you."

Ginny left and Draco sat down on the step, grinding his teeth.

Maybe she wasn't so smart after all.