Trademark smirks and Temperamental redheads

Chapter 13 - Permission?! (Fifth Year)

Draco paced his room, an expression of annoyance on his slightly flushed face. It had been an hour already! An hour and thirty-seven pieces of parchment embossed with the Malfoy family crest as well as several empty inkbottles later; he was down to the final piece of parchment and the last in his supply of quality quills. Stupid, stupid, stupid! What was one supposed to say to the parents of their girlfriend-to-be anyway? It wasn't like they were getting married, what type of permission were they after?

He sat down heavily at his desk and let out a long breath. Resisting the urge to compose a death threat, in which the words 'give me Ginny or else' surfaced to mind, he began for the thirty-eighth time that day, to write a letter.

After a tedious quarter of an hour later, he finished with a satisfied smirk on his face. It was perfect - well, to him anyway.

Dear Mr and Mrs Weasley,

First, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Draco Malfoy and I am currently attending the fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I have been honored with the privilege of being appointed a Prefect for this year, and am currently setting my sights for the position of Head Boy. I believe Mr Weasley is quite familiar with my father, Lucius Malfoy, who also works at the Ministry of Magic. I'm sure you are both acquainted with the Malfoy family name, and its reputation, so I will dwell on that no further.

The purpose of my letter is to 'ask for permission', as your daughter, Ginny Weasley, so eloquently puts it. Over the past few months, I've had the pleasure of becoming well acquainted with your lovely daughter, and would be very honored if we could continue to develop our friendship. However, your son, Ron Weasley as well as others, seem to have a slight problem dealing with our newfound amity. I assure you that I mean no harm to Virginia, on the contrary, I have only unending affection for her.

Both Virginia and I would be elated if we could have your consent and blessing for our friendship. I declare upon the Malfoy family name and honor, to protect Virginia at all costs, and to treat her with respect and courtesy at all times of our relationship, whether now or in the future.

If you need more information to convince you of my integrity, I am sure that my head of house as well as Potions Master at Hogwarts: Professor Severus Snape would not hesitate to provide you with more information about myself. Another referee you might like to contact is our Headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore, I believe you may find him more convincing.

Lastly, if you feel the need to discuss this issue with my parents, may I suggest correspondence with my mother, Narcissa Malfoy. My father is often away on business matters and I find it wise not to disturb him with my trivial affairs. My mother has been notified of my friendship with Virginia, and she asks me to invite both of you to join her at Malfoy Manor for tea in the gardens.

I believe that is all I wish to say, and hope that I have not taken up too much of your time. Please feel free to discuss the contents of this letter with your daughter and your sons before replying. I await your letter sincerely.

Respectfully yours,

Draco Malfoy.

~~~

"Let me read it!" Ginny said, as she tried to pry it from his hand. He merely lifted it above her head, taunting her. "Virginia, you look like a little puppy, stop it. You'll find out what I wrote soon enough. Now are you going to let me send this letter or not?"

"Fine!" she pouted, storming over to a corner of the Owlery to sulk. He smirked at her, as he tied the letter to his owl's leg. After he watched it fly out the window, he went over to Ginny, pulling her to him.

"Did you know that you look really sexy when you pout like that?" Draco whispered in her ear, brushing his lips against her red cheek.

~~~

"Ginny!" The two of them looked up as they turned a corner, standing in front of them was a red faced Ron, with Hermione and Harry on either side of him frowning.

Ron strode forward, pulling Ginny toward him. "Did he hurt you Ginny?" he asked in concern, Ginny rolled her eyes.

"I assure you we weren't snogging in a broom closet somewhere Weasley, if that's what you're so concerned about," Draco drawled.

"If you dare come near my sister again Malfoy-"

"Ron! Stop it! You promised me you'd give him a chance," Ginny protested, holding onto Ron's arm.

"No, Hermione promised. I said no such thing, and I will hex Malfoy ten different ways from Sunday if I feel like it. And right now, I feel like it," Ron muttered angrily, he moved to raise his wand.

"I'd check my wand before I start hexing anything Weasley. As I remember, the last time you tried to hex me, you had slugs coming out of your mouth for hours afterward. These clothes are new; I'd appreciate it if they didn't get slimed on," Malfoy returned, raising his wand as well. Ginny turned from one to the other. Boys, when would they ever grow up?

"Harry, Hermione!" Ginny pleaded with them.

"Accio, wand," Hermione muttered, Ron's wand flew out of his hand and into Hermione's outstretched one. She pocketed his wand quickly, looking pointedly at him.

Ron glared at her menacingly, before letting out a growl and lunging at Malfoy. If he couldn't use magic, then he'd have to go at it the old fashioned way; come to think of it, giving Malfoy a broken nose wasn't such a bad idea.

The two landed on the floor in a loud thud, Ron on top of Malfoy, one hand pinning him down and his other arm pressed down on his throat, choking him. Malfoy swung his arm around violently, aiming for Ron's head as he attempted to push him off. His fist connected with the side of Ron's face just as Ron raised his arm, ready to punch. Ron's eyes rolled back in their sockets as he swayed slightly and fell to the left, still pinning Malfoy to the ground.

Draco struggled to get out from under Ron's heavy bulk, gasping in a desperate lungful of air. He could swear his face was purple from the lack of oxygen. Stupid Weasley, he kicked him in the stomach for good measure, before he felt another weight on his back. He was slammed against the wall hard, as Harry stepped in. Harry roughly turned him around and punched him in the face; it connected with his left cheekbone in a sickening crack.

The two boys went at it for a couple more minutes, with Ron adding his two punches worth from the sidelines.

Hermione had just about had it with the three boys in front of her, all of them sporting different sorts of bruises and cuts. Draco in particular had a bleeding lip, swollen to twice its normal size. She hit the three of them with the full body bind curse, shaking her head at the scene in front of her.

"Mobilicorpus," she muttered, and levitated them to the Hospital Wing, followed by a shocked Ginny.

~~~

"Honestly, the way teenagers carry on these days," said Madame Pomfrey sternly, as she attended to the three boys. Hermione had taken off their curses, and the three were now glaring at each other as they sat up on a hospital bed each.

Ginny was standing nervously next to Malfoy, studying his wounds, as Hermione busied herself with Harry and Ron. Malfoy's left cheek was swelling badly with an angry purple bruise, his lip was cut and puffy-looking; there were a couple more bruises around his neck where Ron had tried to choke him as well as on the knuckles of his left hand. Ginny winced slightly at the sight of him, and wished Madame Pomfrey would hurry up and treat him.

After Madame Pomfrey had healed them, she allowed Ginny and Hermione to stay for ten minutes. As she left for her office, a strange silence fell on the five teenagers. Ginny looked at Draco in concern, who was in turn sending a death glare to Ron. Ron glared right back, his lip curling slightly as Harry and Hermione looked helplessly at each other.

Ginny sighed warily, her shoulders slumped in defeat. "Why can't you guys just get along?" she whispered softly. All four turned sharply to look at her. "Can't you see that you're all important to me? I need you guys, please, can you at least try?" she pleaded, her eyes going from Malfoy to Ron.

Draco looked away, trying to keep his expression neutral. Ron was silent a moment, staring intently at his hands. "Why did you have to pick Malfoy of all people? Couldn't you have picked a nice boy, like Neville?" Ron said quietly.

Draco sneered from his end of the room. "Longbottom? Are you sure you'd trust Virginia with him? He wouldn't even remember his own name if it wasn't sewn onto his underwear," he said scornfully. Ron looked about ready to bound over from his bed and begin where he had left off, wringing Malfoy's neck.

"Anyone would be better than you Malfoy," Ron began. "Do you honestly think you can give her happiness? You're probably going to run off and join the Death Eaters just like your father, and then what will Ginny do?" he demanded, in a rare display of insight.

Malfoy curled his hands into fists, remaining unusually quiet. Ginny could tell he was trying to keep his temper in check; the corners of his mouth were twitching again. "I will give her happiness," he said quietly, after a long period of silence. The others stared at him speechless. "She's special to me, I would never let anyone hurt her, including my father."

"Save your lies Malfoy," Ron spat in disgust. "I've known you for five years, you and your family are a disgrace to the wizarding world. I'd never let you near Ginny as long as I have breath in my body."

"Get over yourself Weasley, not everything is about you," Malfoy returned just as fiercely.

"What's with the sudden interest in my sister anyway Malfoy? You spend the last five years taunting me and looking down your nose at Ginny. Why the sudden change of attitude?" Ron demanded.

"Oh I assure you Weasley, I still feel the utmost contempt towards you three, as well as all the Gryffindors and Mudbloods, however, Virginia is different. I'd tell you why Weasley, but I have a feeling you wouldn't have any idea what I'm talking about considering your social relationships. Come back when you finally get your emotions together enough to confess to Mudblood over here, I'm sure these two-" he gestured to Harry and Ginny. "Are dying to give you a good kick up the rear," he finished.

Ron was turning purple and Hermione's eyes were as wide as saucers. Harry sighed, exasperated. "I-I don't know what you're talking about Malfoy! We were talking about Ginny, don't change the subject!" Ron said furiously. Malfoy shrugged.

"Virginia is happy with me, even someone with as thick a head as you should be able to tell. She's been through enough already; I want to take care of her, to protect her; because Lord knows you three obviously don't give a damn about her," he paused at the indignant protests the Trio were making.

"That's not true!" Harry said angrily.

"We try to take care of her," Hermione added.

"She's my sister! Of course I care about her!" Ron bellowed in outrage.

"Is that so?" Malfoy began. "How many times have you told her to go away so you could discuss your little secrets without her? What about in second year when she was being possessed by the Dark Lord's soul, where were you three then? Busy boiling Polyjuice Potion so you could get incriminating evidence about me, isn't that right?" he sneered at the surprised looks on their faces.

"What? You didn't think I'd find out about that? I hope for both your sakes that you two don't go into acting, I saw right through your disguises Weasley," he said with loathing. "How well do you really know your sister? Do you know what she does when you three go sneaking around school or talk about secrets too important for her to know about? I'll give you a hint; it involves a lot of sobbing and wads of tissues.

"When have you three ever stopped to think about the pain you've caused her? She's only your friend when you feel like it, when she needs saving from big evil beings. Face it Weasley, you only seem to notice her when I'm involved; 'the big bad wolf out to snare innocent girls', otherwise you couldn't care less about her well-being.

"I'm the one who shouldn't feel at ease entrusting her to you three," he finished in disgust.

Ginny stood looking at her shoes, feeling the tears well up in her eyes. The Trio had identical looks of guilt mixed with indignation on their faces. Draco leaned his head back against a pillow and stared at the ceiling.

A curious look crossed Madame Pomfrey's face as she came back into the room, looking at the blank expressions on all five students. She quickly ushered the two girls out, warning the boys to behave themselves before going back to her office.

The three boys lay quietly in their beds, trying to get to sleep. Draco looked out the window at the moonlight, wishing he were down by the lake, sitting atop his oak. He briefly wondered what had provoked his outburst; it felt like he had let out so much frustration with those words. Over the years, he had watched Ginny trailing in their shadow, always too shy and scared to say anything. It was time she came out of their shadow, time she led her own life. He would help her; he knew he could, if only he had the chance. With that thought in mind, he drifted off to sleep.

~~~

Ginny stared at the fireplace owlishly; she had been trying to read her Divination textbook while waiting for her parents. Ginny was nervous with anticipation; praying that Malfoy had written the right things in his letter. What would her parents say? It had probably come as a big shock to them that their only daughter, their youngest child had been 'fraternizing with the enemy' to use Ron's words.

Finally the faces of her parents appeared in the fireplace of the Gryffindor common room.

"Hi Mum, Dad," Ginny greeted them with a nervous smile.

"Ginny! Oh good, you got our owl then. I was worried Errol didn't make it, he's still not back yet you know?" Molly Weasley said worriedly.

"Don't worry Mum he's fine, I put him up in the Owlery with Hedwig. So err, have you read the letter yet?" Ginny asked anxiously.

"Well yes," Arthur Weasley began hesitantly; Ginny's parents exchanged worried glances before continuing. "You know we love you Ginny, and that we would support you in anything you think is right-"

"Oh thank you Dad! You're the best!" Ginny interrupted excitedly.

"But Ginny dear," Molly cut in. "Don't you think it's a bit...sudden? How did you and ...Draco, get to know each other? You have to remember, his father Lucius Malfoy isn't exactly what your father and I consider 'respectable'."

"Malfoy is different though, well, alright so he's not really that different," Ginny said, as she thought of all the cruel things Malfoy had said to her friends. "But he really does care about me, and he treats me really well," Ginny tried.

Her parents looked at her dubiously. "Where's Ron by the way?" her father asked. "It'd be good if he heard this as well."

Ginny sighed tiredly. "He's up in the Hospital Wing," she said, continuing quickly at the worried looks on her parents' faces. "He's alright, Harry's up there too along with Malfoy, they've just got a few bruises. Ron tried to punch Malfoy, and then Harry joined in and Hermione had to cast the body bind curse on them and send them to Madame Pomfrey," she said this really fast, waiting for her parents' response.

Molly Weasley shook her head slightly. "Your brother, he's just so easily provoked. All right Ginny, we can't stop you from choosing your own friends. But just be careful okay? The last thing we want is for anything to happen to you," she said worriedly.

"I'll be fine Mum, don't worry," Ginny assured her.

"I don't know, I think we should take up young Malfoy's offer and have a chat with his mother," Arthur Weasley put in.

"His mother?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Yes, in the letter it said that Narcissa Malfoy wanted to talk to us about the two of you," her father explained.

"Dad! No! You're not saying anything to Malfoy's mother! How embarrassing," she exclaimed.

"But -"

"No! Mum, Dad, I'll be fine. Just trust me for once," Ginny pleaded with them.

Finally her parents relented, and Ginny let out a long sigh of relief. She bid them good night as their heads disappeared from the fireplace. It was done; she could be with him now. Ginny grinned in a goofy manner as she made her way up the stairs to her bed.

~~~

The next morning, as Draco dressed and prepared to leave the Hospital Wing, Weasley came over to him, grunting to catch his attention. Draco looked up, his expression inquiring.

"You better take care of my sister Malfoy, or I swear you will die a very painful, very slow death," he said quietly, avoiding Draco's eyes.

"I'm terrified," Draco replied dryly, the edge had gone from his voice, replaced by a pleasant sarcasm.

The two boys grinned at each other awkwardly, before Draco cleared his throat and moved past the taller boy, heading out the door. Did he just have a warm, fuzzy moment with Weasley? Merlin!