Smear

Chapter Two

The next morning, the Burrow seemed to be in a full-scale uproar when Ginny came downstairs. Several heads turned as she entered the kitchen. Most of her family was present, along with a few unexpected guests.

"He was in our house?" Ron said.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I didn't invite him here, Ron, and he could have left at anytime; they both could have. Why are you making such a big deal?"

"Because it's Malfoy!" he shouted.

"It's been two years," said Ginny angrily. "Can't you grow up?"

"He probably could," said a voice. "But I can't. You know how much I hate Malfoy, Ginny. If you go to this banquet and spend the evening with him-"

"What are you going to do, Harry?" Ginny asked, reaching behind her to wrap her hand around the wand in her back pocket. "We're not a couple, so I don't know what your problem is, either."

"He was horrible to you at Hogwarts," snarled Harry. "Why would you want to relive that torture just for a stupid charity?"

The sound of shattering china ended the conversation. Molly was standing at the sink staring at Harry with hard eyes and thin lips. "Stupid charity? Well, if that's how you feel..."

"No, Mrs. Weasley, I didn't mean-" Harry began.

"I think it's best if you and Hermione leave," said Arthur quietly.

"Hermione didn't do anything," Harry said defensively. "I want to talk about what I said, please."

"I think he should go," Ginny said, glaring at him. "And if you think that this charity is stupid, then you shouldn't show up."

"I agree," Molly said as she flicked her wand and repaired the broken dish. "We already have a few people going who don't really want to be there, I just never expected you to be one of them, Harry."

"I'm going," he said, staring at her.

"You're only going as a guest," Arthur reminded him. "We have the right to revoke that invitation at anytime."

"This is ridiculous," Harry hissed. Then he turned to Hermione, who was trying to hide. "I think we should leave, Mione. It's obvious none of them-" His eyes fell on Ron in particular who said nothing. "-want us here."

They had left quietly and without any hesitation. There was a sudden knock on the back door. When Molly answered, everyone looked around at each other, surprised, especially Ginny.

"What are you doing here?" Ron snarled, balling his hands into fists at his side.

"Relax, Weasley," Malfoy drawled, stepping around Molly and looking at Ginny. "I'm here to talk to your sister."

"Me?" Ginny said.

"You," Draco said, his lip twitching slightly, as he took in her lazy appearance. "Now if you get dressed, we'll be on our way."

Ginny blushed and hurried back upstairs.

"Where are you taking her?" asked Bill. He didn't seem threatened or suspicious as the others.

"For a walk," Draco said, shrugging. "There are a few things I need to go over before the banquet. Does that make you nervous?"

Draco froze suddenly as a hand landed on his shoulder.

A voice whispered, "If you hurt my baby sister, Malfoy, I know plenty of spells."

Charlie let him go and went to kiss his mother.

Bill, Fred, and George snorted at the expression on the blonde's face. Ron, however, looked worried.

"I forgot there were more of you," Draco said, composing himself. "Are there any more I should know about?"

"Don't let Charlie's tough act get to you," Ginny said as she returned from her bedroom. She wore a pair of low cut jeans and a gray tank top, with her hair tied in a messy bun. "He's really very sweet."

Draco found his eyes roaming, and he mentally slapped himself before any of her brothers saw the new expression on his face. "Shall we get going?"

As Ginny left the Burrow with Draco in tow, she heard Ron's voice, high and demanding, and she rolled her eyes. She stopped beside the gate in their yard and turned around. "You have a look on your face."

"It's nothing. So, would you like to go to Diagon Alley, Weasley?"

"Ginny," she said softly.

He stared at her for a moment before nodding, then tested her name on his lips for the second time it two days. He found that he liked it, and he smiled slowly.

"I'm willing to bet you're going to hear it from your brother when you get home ," he said as he opened the gate for her and allowed her to pass him. He caught something that smelled like vanilla, and he groaned inwardly.

"Ron's the only one who seems annoyed at this," Ginny said Draco stopped walking suddenly and she bumped into him. "What are you doing?"

He grinned at her before wrapping an arm around her waist, and as she started to tell him that was a bad idea, they vanished.

"You could have told me we were going to Apparate," said Ginny as they landed in the center of Diagon Alley. "You scared me."

"You didn't like my arm around you?" Draco questioned carefully, raising an eyebrow. "Well, then this banquet is going to be very interesting."

"I did," she said, turning away from him, but not missing the smirk that pulled on at his lips. "It'll be fine, you know."

"What will?" he asked as they began walking down the crowded street. Several times, Ginny was pushed into him so that her hand brushed his arm. "Why, Weasley, I never knew you liked me this much."

Ginny straightened up, a slow blush building on her cheeks as she shoved him and said, "Don't be a prat."

He smiled. "Do you think you can compose yourself, Weasley? I have to discuss the dance with you."

"It's Ginny," she almost hissed.

"You let little things bother you," said Draco as he stared at her. He smirked and pushed his hair behind his ears. "Why does it still bug you that I call you that?"

"Because you're not at Hogwarts anymore," she said, shaking her head.

His smirk widened and she automatically knew that he was up to no good. "It's interesting that you've brought that up. How about we make a little bet before the banquet?"

Ginny tilted her head and eyed him suspiciously. "What kind of bet?"

"You have to refrain from calling me Malfoy before or at the banquet, and I'll try to not call you Weasley," he said, glancing at her. Then he stuck his hand out. "Do we have a deal?"

Biting her lip, Ginny reached to slide her hand into his, and as she did he pulled her closer. "What are you doing?"

"I forgot to mention something," he said in a low voice, his breath warm on her cheeks. "For every time you mess up, that's how many dates we'll go on."

"Mal - that's ridiculous!"

"One," he said, grinning. "It's going to be an interesting week."

"That didn't count," said Ginny hotly. "And what about if you screw up?"

The look he gave her made her knees slightly weak.

"Malfoys never screw up, Ginny."