The Love of a Bet

Draco opened the door and walked into Zonko's. The shop was full of Hogwarts students. It was nearly impossible to move anywhere, let alone find somebody in that place. But all he had to do was look for Ginny's legs. Draco walked around and searched for her legs. After a minute, he stopped. He saw them standing in a corner. Draco's eyes traveled up. There stood Ginny talking to Granger in the corner. He didn't just want to go over there and barge in on their conversation. Wait, did he just think that? He must be waking up weird or something. Or maybe, he just didn't fell like being annoying right now. It would ruin his plan. Yeah, he'll just believe that he didn't want to be annoying for the sake of his plan. That always worked. So he pretended to be interested in a poster that hung on the wall. Something dealing with a contest or something around those lines, he didn't pay much attention. His plan was to remain interested in this poster until she noticed he was standing there. There weren't as many people there now as there was before, because it was getting closer to noon, and people were probably on their way to the Three Broomsticks. Pretty soon, Zonko's would be empty. Draco felt a tap on his shoulder, which startled him. He slowly turned around, and there stood Ginny with her wide, green eyes staring back at him. For a minute, he thought he sensed hate in her eyes, but that quickly faded.

"What took you so long," she giggled as she talked.

He couldn't really say the absolute real reason why, but he would just simply say that he had to use the bathroom. He was surprised that she wasn't as mad he thought she would be. "I had to use the bathroom, and you were too far ahead so I couldn't tell you."

"How come you didn't come to me when you came in?" she asked with a little more seriousness in her voice.

Remembering his plan, he remarked, "Because I didn't want to disturb you and Granger."

"Yeah right," she mumbled under her breath.

Draco didn't catch this, so he simply just continued on. "Anything special you want to get?" he asked.

"Yeah, just one moment. There are some great supplies over there for Fred and George would love that they could use for their joke shop." Ginny went behind a display case and disappeared. In about five minutes, she returned with a few simple items in her hands. She paid for them, and they left.

"Where would you like to go next?" he asked in a polite voice.

"How about the Three Broomsticks? I could really go for a butterbeer," she responded.

"Yeah, so could I." They both set off in the direction of the Three Broomsticks.

***

Ginny opened the door and walked into Zonko's. The shop was pretty full of Hogwarts students. It was getting harder and harder to move around. She walked around a bit, searching for anything that might be useful. She was wondering what was taking Draco so long. Maybe he ditched her.

"Ginny," somebody called from behind and interrupted her thoughts.

Ginny turned around and saw Hermione making her way towards her. She was relieved, but yet, disappointed. "Hey Hermione," she replied with a smile.

"How about we go over there," she pointed to a corner in the shop. "That way, we don't have to talk as loud, and we're away from the crowd."

"Good idea," responded Ginny. They both made their way through the crowded students to the corner.

"So," Hermione started, "how are things going?"

"You mean with Draco?"

"Since when do you call him Draco?" she asked with a shocked look on her face.

"I'll tell you later, but not now. Things are going great, but I don't know where he is right now. He said he had to get something out of his pocket and that I should go on ahead, but I haven't seen him for a while now. You don't think he ditched me, do you?"

"No. Knowing Malfoy, he would want revenge; he wouldn't do anything like that. Not unless it was some way embarrassing."

"I suppose, but then, why is he so late?" asked Ginny.

"I'm not sure, but tonight you have to tell me everything that happens, ok? Then, I want to tell you something that happened to me yesterday. You won't believe it. Plus, you have to help me carry out this idea that I have. You'll find out all about it tonight. You can't tell anyone though, ok? Plus, I love your handwriting. So you could be a big help in writing things down. Ginny, don't look now, but guess who walked in the door."

Ginny turned around for a quick second. She could easily recognize that he had just walked in. " Finally, but I wonder if he'll notice I'm here."

"Maybe he will, but he's not coming this way. He walked over to some wall to read a poster."

"Typical men, should I give him a few minutes?"

"I think you should wait for him to come to you. I mean, he did make you wait, didn't he?"

"Yeah, but I don't want to wait too long. Maybe he's waiting for me to get done. I don't know. I don't understand how his mind works, but, hopefully, that will soon change," Ginny said mischievously.

"You have a plan, don't you?"

"I've got a very good plan," she responded with a smile. "This is going to be easy."

"You sound pretty sure of yourself."

"That's because I am. I'm going over there. I want to get done with this as soon as possible."

"Oh, wait, did I tell you what happened to Ron?"

"What?" Ginny asked curiously.

"He has detention. He was getting mad at Professor Snape and yelled at him. He also tipped his cauldron over. It was a huge mess. I better go as well. I'll talk to you tonight then. Don't forget I want every detail."

"Ok, I won't," laughed Ginny. "Bye Hermione."

"Bye Ginny."

Hermione and Ginny separated. Hermione headed for the door, and Ginny headed straight for Draco. She wasn't the happiest person in the world. For moment, she felt really angry. She tapped him on the shoulder and he slowly turned around. As soon as she looked in his eyes, she couldn't feel angry with him anymore. She couldn't explain why, but she just couldn't. "What took you so long?" She giggled as she talked.

He was hesitant for a moment, and then said, "I needed to use the bathroom, and you were too far ahead, so I couldn't tell you."

Ginny could understand that, but then she couldn't get something else off of her mind, so she asked him, "How come you didn't come to me when you came in?" she asked.

"Because I didn't want to disturb you and Granger," he remarked.

Ginny had a hard time believing this, so, almost on instinct, she mumbled, "Yeah right." As soon as she said this, her heart started racing. She really hoped he didn't hear that, because then she would have to explain herself and she wouldn't know what to say. Then her whole plan would be ruined and then she would lose the bet.

"Anything special you want to get?" he asked.

Ginny was very relieved when she heard this. She was so glad that he didn't hear what she has said. She thought for a second about what she had seen earlier that she wanted. It just came back to her, "Yeah, just a moment. There are some great supplies over there for Fred and George that they would love for their joke shop." She walked behind a display case to grab stuff that her brothers would get every time they came here. She couldn't get a whole lot because she didn't have a lot of money, and she still needed to get a lot of stuff for her friends and family yet. She grabbed their brother's favorite items. She went to go pay for them, and they left.

"Where would you like to go next?" he asked in a polite voice.

Draco was really shocking her today. He was acting civil, and it kind of seemed suspicious to her, but she really couldn't prove anything, so she thought of where she wanted to go. "How about the Three Broomsticks? I could really go for a butterbeer."

"Yeah, so could I." They both set off in the direction of the Three Broomsticks.

***

Ginny and Draco walked into the Three Broomsticks. The place was crowded. You could see teachers talking with shop owners. You could see students talking excitedly and laughing with each other. But at one table, were a group of Slytherin girls who didn't look happy at all. They were talking barely above a whisper. They had serious looks on their faces and were trying to shut out everyone around them. Then, they all smiled and sat there drinking their butterbeers. Nobody saw them doing their planning for revenge. If anyone were to see them, they would think they were up to something.

Ginny and Draco found a small, open table near a window. Madame Rosemerta came back there and took their orders.

"I'd just like a butterbeer please," Ginny said.

"Same for me," remarked Draco.

"Ok, I'll be back." Madame Rosemerta disappeared into the crowd. "So," said Draco breaking the silence, "What do you want to do for the rest of the day?"

"Well, I need to go into Honeydukes to get a few things for my family. Then, anywhere you would like to go."

"I really have no place in particular to go. So, wherever you would like."

"Here you guys go." Madame Rosemerta returned with their butterbeers, Draco gave her some money, and they drank in silence.

"So," Draco started, "are you having fun in your classes?"

"Is that all he can think of?" thought Ginny. "Yes, tons," she responded.

Then they both sat there for a couple of minutes still drinking their butterbeers in silence.

"How are your brothers doing?" Draco asked, yet again breaking the silence.

"Well, I'm not sure about Fred and George because we haven't entirely heard from them in a while, probably with the exception of Ron, they are doing well."

"That's good. What do some of your brothers do?"

"Well, my brother Bill works for Gringotts bank in Egypt, um, Charlie works with Dragons in Romania, Percy works for the ministry, and Fred and George are about to open up their own joke shop."

"It must be hell in your house when you are all together. Do you have any sisters or any body younger then you?"

"Yes, it is hell when we are all together, and no I don't have any sisters or anybody younger then me."

For once on their whole "date", Draco and Ginny were actually having a decent conversation. They talked more about Ginny's family and they both talked about some embarrassing moments and a few other little things, like their interests and hobbies. Their conversation went well into the afternoon that they didn't go anywhere else. It was now around the time to go. Ginny and Draco had one more thing to say to each other.

"I had an excellent time with you Draco," Ginny said seductively.

"I had a wonderful time with you too," Draco responded with a smile on his face.

Unexpectedly, Ginny leaned up and kissed Draco on the cheek. "Goodbye," she said and she went out the door. Draco was a little stunned at this, but yet happy. It took him a few seconds to take it all in. After a while he walked out the door as well making his way back to the school.