[HP translation] Hope

Ginny couldn't think of a more tense, harsh, eerily uncomfortable silence than this.Without waiting for another angry word from her, Malfoy walked past her, motioning with his head for her to follow.Ginny was too shocked not to obey.

Outside, a sleek black limousine waited on the sidewalk, complete with a driver in sharp livery, and it took her a moment to realize that this was their mode of transportation. "My God, Malfoy, have you turned into a Muggle?" she cried.

The driver opened the rear door for her. "Miss." He nodded.

"Get in the car, little weasel," said Malfoy coldly.He had gotten into the car without her noticing. "Come up. Or shall I send you back to England?"

Swallowing, Ginny thanked the driver softly, and sat down in the car carefully, as if one wrong move would overturn her.The driver closed the door, he took his seat, and they set off.Two rides in one day, Ginny thought in amazement.Dad will be jealous.

She'd expected Malfoy to say something, anything, to explain to her exactly why he was here and what had happened, but he, as always, didn't do what she wanted.Instead, with a wave of his wand, a minibar appeared behind his seat, and he poured himself a glass of wine.She didn't know which was more shocking: his drinking before noon, or his being alive.

"Firewhiskey?" he asked.

Ginny blinked.She'd never had anything so strong, but a little dizziness sounded better for her. "Okay." He poured a second glass and handed it to her.

When she just watched for a moment, he laughed. "I didn't poison you." To prove it, he raised his head and drank his own cup, raising his eyebrows at her.

But Firewhiskey was the last thing on her mind.It was all out of the blue: to see him here, in expensive clothes, in a fancy car, looking completely unaffected by what was going on in their country, was unbearable.After she lost her mother and all her brothers and friends; after Voldemort took control of all the good things in England.How dare Malfoy sit here with a smug smirk.How dare he live when Harry, Ron and Hermione were dead.

"So you've been hiding, haven't you?" Ginny asked, slamming her glass on the minibar.It sprayed out and landed on her fist. "Run away when war threatens to ruin your complexion, and wait for the situation to subside?"

"I wouldn't call it hiding," he said, his tone still icy sarcastic.He reclined comfortably in the seat. "Instead, I was sent away because my mother suddenly had a conscience and she decided she didn't want me involved."

"Oh, that's quite a technique," exclaimed Ginny.

"That's the truth."

"Then you just happened to see my picture on Spearman's speed-dating announcement—"

"I have to admit, I'm not in the habit of looking for mail-order brides," he sneers. "But you look so miserable in the picture—"

"Spare your insults. They don't work on me."

"—and I decided I had a right to have some fun." He winked at her ferociously, thrusting the glass into her hand. "To you, Weasley." He raised his glass and put her drink back.

She was too angry to speak, so they fell silent.The silent passing of the windows of the building made little impression on her, for she could only think of the horrible situation she had put herself in.I left England and Dad for the damn Draco Malfoy?Am I finally crazy?

But her dream—everyone said it was a good thing she chose to be a mail-order bride, she had thought that the wizard who chose her would be the leader of some sort of American Order of the Phoenix, like the customs officer mentioned.Damn Draco Malfoy would never have been involved in that kind of thing.He may have a great estate here, too, and spend his days at idleness, while thousands of miles away his countrymen are dying.

She hardly noticed that the car suddenly pulled onto a ferry. "Where are we going?" said Ginny.

"Relax, Weasley," Draco said. "I live on an island." He moved closer to her, and she backed away at his sudden approach. "This is Puget Sound," he said, gesturing to the endless blue water around them, more evident from her window. "We're taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island, as it's the closest, and then we Apparate to my private island."

"Are we the only ones there?"

He laughed and leaned back. "Of course there are servants. You don't think Malfoy does his own laundry, do you? But I think you really can't imagine the convenience of a servant if you spend your whole life doing the housework yourself, can you, Weasel?"

"My mother is not a servant," Ginny hissed, startling herself at the hoarseness of her voice.She turned away, bracing herself for his next scathing comment, but he didn't say anything.

By the time they reached Bainbridge Island, it was raining heavily, and when they stopped in front of a shop in the small retail area of ​​the island, Malfoy took a Slytherin green umbrella from under the seat and opened the door brace. open it. "Come on, Weasley," he said, and he got out of the car.Ginny quickly followed behind.

The limousine drove away, and he pushed her towards the back of the building, where she saw a white lowland that must have been invisible to Muggles.Malfoy led her towards it and stood on the apparition point.

"You have to grab my arm because you haven't been there," he said. "Don't rumple my shirt." Ginny gripped his arm tighter than necessary with every ounce of hatred for him, and they were Apparating in no time.

She had expected him to cast some sort of weather spell around his island, so she was surprised when they reached the glass porch in the pouring rain.Malfoy flicked the water off the umbrella, cast a drying spell soundlessly, then threw it to the ground and walked towards the low, dark archway. "I don't have a day, Weasel." His voice floated over his shoulder.

Merlin, I'm really at Draco Malfoy's house.I thought I was crazy.She followed behind him.

Now, she is mentally prepared.She had never been to Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, nor had she seen any interior photographs, but she had heard rumors of French silk drapes, Oriental rugs, Greek sculpture and Italian marble.If Malfoy Manor was half as good as this place, it would be quite magnificent.Tall columns of white marble, threaded in fine green mineral, reach to vaulted ceilings painted with centaurs, unicorns, wizards and water nymphs.Malfoy walked past the largest rug Ginny had ever seen, a green oriental rug intricately embroidered with flowers and vines on silk.

"Too lazy to move all the Wiltshire stuff here," Malfoy said lazily, gesturing casually at the extravagant decor. "So I bought them all new. I don't think it's too bad, but I must say, Americans have the worst decorating taste. Most of these things have to be brought in from abroad." Ginny couldn't believe she wouldn't treat him Such a waste of money would say something ugly, so she gritted her teeth and remained silent.

He led her to the front of the house, where a grand staircase wound its way down around a magnificent crystal chandelier. "I'm going to show you your room," he said.

"Then you're serious," said Ginny, stopping at the first step.

He raised an eyebrow. "about what?"

"You're really the one—" She blushed at the thought of speed dating.

"Otherwise why am I at the Disapparation point? My health?"

"I thought--"

"I don't care what you think, Weasley, but now, I'm starving, I want to show you your room so we can have lunch." He started up the stairs again

Her room was near the rear of the house, an airy suite as complete as the rest of the house.Two sets of French doors lead to a small balcony, which is sure to offer stunning views of Puget Sound when the weather is nice.The sheets and comforter are blue and gold, with soft and thick pillows and bedding.Ginny thought of her little bed in Grimmauld Place with the pure white sheet, and couldn't believe that this was where she was going to sleep now.

Malfoy stood in the doorway, watching her touch the bed, touch the bedside table, look at the mirror and vase, and poke her head into the private bathroom. "Everything is okay?" he said simply.

Ginny's mouth opened and closed several times. "this……"

"Unpacking. Pinch will be up shortly to take you to the restaurant for lunch." He turned and left.

She couldn't think of what to do, so she took out the shrunken suitcase and returned it to its normal size.Glancing at the cherry wood wardrobe, she saw that there were already hangers in it, so she hung up her clothes and put the other things in the drawers.Her old second-hand clothes and robes were pitiful compared to the luxury of the room, and she realized with a heavy heart that when Malfoy saw her wearing them, she would surely hear him laughing constantly.Dear Merlin, she jumped from one fire pit to another.

There was a sharp pop behind her, and Ginny turned to see a house-elf in an embroidered napkin from shoulder to waist, bowing so low that its nose nearly touched the ground.

"I'm Pinchy, mistress," it said sharply.If a house-elf had a gender, Ginny would think it was a female. "Master asked me to be Miss's maid, I am willing to serve you."

She suddenly remembered what Hermione had said about defending the rights of house-elves, and Ginny had to hold back a smile. "Nice to meet you, Pinchy," she said. "I'm Ginny."

"Will you follow me, mistress?" Pinch bowed again, and began to trot out of the room, Ginny following her.

The dining room is slightly separated from the rest of the house and can only be accessed from a long, narrow corridor in the former living room.Daylight and wide bay windows provided most of the light, but a chandelier only smaller than in the porch also flickered candles above their heads.Malfoy was sitting at the end of the long table, reading a newspaper when she entered.He said little, and continued reading.

"You don't read the Daily Prophet, do you?" Ginny said. "you do not know--"

"The Daily Prophet isn't the only wizarding newspaper in the world, Weasley," said Malfoy.If it were someone else, he would have rolled his eyes long ago. "It's the Mercury Herald in Los Angeles, and I don't read the Daily Prophet kind of propaganda crap anymore." When she sat down at the other end of the table, he seemed to notice what she was wearing. "That can't be done."

"what are you saying?"

"Not only do I have to pay for your trip and give you a place to live, do I also have to dress you properly? Weasley, didn't your parents teach you anything?"

"I won't allow you to say anything bad about my parents," she cried. "They're good, hard-working people—"

"I think they just like war, don't they?" Malfoy sneered. "So many people have died, I believe they can take something from the dead and put it on themselves."

"I warned you." She pointed her wand at him. "I'm not afraid of you, Malfoy."

"Don't be impulsive," he said calmly, but his eyes were on her wand. "I don't want to be killed before lunch."

Ginny scowled, brooding over the curses she knew, trying to choose the most painful one.

"Alexta!" Malfoy yelled, and a potbellied house-elf immediately appeared with plates of food.Ginny forgot how long ago it was her last meal in the butter churn, and immediately put away her wand when she saw this.I'll fix him later, she thought as she ate her delicious pie.

"You're going shopping with Pinch tomorrow," said Malfoy as they ate. "She can take you to Point Lane to buy some new robes, as Madam Malkin has a franchise here. And everyday wear, and there are some shopping spots in the city center that I approve of."

"I can't afford new robes," said Ginny, wishing she didn't blush. "I only have--"

He waved. "I don't think so. I'll pay."

Too late.She felt her cheeks heat up. "I'll give you back—"

"Need not."

"Why did you do that? And, damn it, how did you do it?"

He winked at her and sipped his pumpkin juice. "What? Well, I saw your picture, wrote to the speed-dating company, and here you are."

"But why?" Ginny asked again, gripping her fork. "I'm a Weasley, remember?"

"I told you already," he said, with a twinkle in his eye. "I'm going to have some fun. Thought you could take advantage of this too, because Potter can't get enough of you, can you?"

Hate ran through her veins like molten metal until she saw red.He couldn't talk so casually about Harry, who had given his life for the hope that the wizarding world could be restored to peace.If there was any fairness, Malfoy should go down immediately. "You're evil," she whispered.

"Well. I've always been called the Devil's Son, but I don't think I've ever really believed them, because my father was a delightful fellow." He took a small vial from his pocket—Ginny suspected it was wine—and added it to his own drink.

Ginny tried with all her might to think of a horrible insult that would counteract the anger and despair he'd stirred up in her within an hour.Will this lead her to a better life?so?with him?Just look at that idiot sitting there eating his lunch.Did he know there were starving people in England still hiding?Some people are naked because they dare not risk buying new clothes, because Death Eaters are on every street corner.Does he realize how unworthy he is?

Ginny let out a sob, and before he could react, she pushed back the chair and ran out of the room.

She thought—but that might have been her imagination—that she heard him calling after her.

She was well aware that it wasn't Thursday yet, but when she got to her room, she rummaged through the suitcases until she found the two-way mirror hidden in a ball of socks. "Daddy," she called inside. "Dad, it's Ginny. I need to talk to you." Her voice was shaking, and she rubbed her nose with her sleeve.

Arthur's worried face came into view. "Baby Kim? What's the matter? You—"

"It's Malfoy, Dad," she said. "Damn Draco Malfoy. He's the one responding to my photo on the speed-dating bulletin."

"Draco Malfoy?" Arthur raised his eyebrows. "Merlin, everyone thought he was dead!"

"I know, I wish he was dead," said Ginny darkly.

"So you're at his house now, in Seattle?"

"Yes. Of course, he lives on a big estate on his private island. Damn, Dad, he's got a full set of house-elf servants and everything! He says he's been here for years."

"I believe it," Arthur sighed. "Look, Ginny, even though I know you and Ron don't like him, it's better for you to stay in Seattle with him than to come back here."

"dad--"

"Don't argue, Ginny. You've agreed to this, and I'm not going to send you home because of the old school rivalry."

Ginny made a sound of frustration, tugging at her lips as she thought. "Can you do at least one thing for me, Dad?"

"Anything, baby."

"Check him? Make sure he's okay?"

"Okay, I can do it." Arthur looked away, frowning. "My God, if I sent you to a worse situation—"

"Don't worry about me," said Ginny firmly. "I can take care of myself. It's you I'm worried about."

"I've lived a whole day without you so far," he said, smiling sadly. "Made my own tea, did everything. Worried you might get separated on the Atlantic crossing. Seriously, that was the most stressful part of the day."

"But you'll ask Malfoy for me?"

"First thing tomorrow," he promised. "Tonks will be coming with the Muggles she helped get into Europe. I can't wait to discuss electricity with them. I was just looking at my old Muggle science textbook—"

"That would be great, Dad," she said, laughing homesickly. "Don't let me delay you."

"Don't tell him anything about the Resistance until I have more information."

"Okay. Love you."

"I love you too, Kim." He disappeared from sight.

Ginny collapsed on the bed, staring at the ceiling.After talking to Arthur, she felt better knowing that he would learn everything he could about Malfoy.

She yawned, exhausted by jet lag and apparating thousands of miles in one day.What a pity Malfoy was, she thought casually as she drifted off to sleep.At school, she didn't really have a problem with him.

She thought that a man with such a handsome appearance should not be extremely rotten inside, and she quickly fell asleep.