Disclaimer: don't own; therefore, don't sue

A/N: I just noticed the typos in the last chapter, but, unfortunately, no longer have the file on my computer (I have switched comps), so I can't edit it via and am too damn lazy to go through the trouble of reposting the stories altogether.

Chapter Two - The Coat of the Weasel

Ginny awoke Monday morning at six o'clock - as usual. She put on a pair of baggy jeans and a BBC t-shirt from Hermione, and then her robes. She was about to go through her checklist for the day, when there was a light tapping at the window. Not wanting anyone else to wake up, she quickly and quietly opened the window, letting the owl in.

"Cosette." Ginny breathed, stroking the snowy owl's head as she took the note from Malcolm.

Your common room at 6:10 - hurry before I'm caught.

Ginny rushed down the stairs, trying to step quietly, and ran to hug Malcolm in the common room.

"Here you go," he handed her a garbage bag.

"Er... thanks?" Ginny took it, holding it as far away from herself as possible.

"It's your clothes, silly." Malcolm laughed, "The sewing's a little shoddy, but I backed it up with a few holding charms. I was thinking we should try it all on you in the prefect's bathroom."

Ginny quickly ran back upstairs to get her bag, then followed him out to the large gilded bathroom.

"It's mostly casual - some tailored things, but I had some other resources... I couldn't resist."

Ginny could tell what he meant as soon as she opened the bag. "Oh, Malc..." She pulled out the ivory dress.

"It's nothing. I found fabric and all that in the Room of Requirement," he explained, "Try it on, I might need to hem it."

"You didn't need to do this..." Ginny protested as he slipped the silky fabric over her head.

"It's no big deal. Most of it was done yesterday - I told you, I love this stuff." He zipped her dress up, holding her hair away from her neck so it wouldn't catch.

Ginny looked up and gaped. "I love it!" She sighed, looking at her reflection in the wall of mirrors.

The dress was a warm ivory tone, flowing down to her knees. She spun and watched the fabric fan and then slowly settle. There was a v-neck, with folds of fabric around it, and short cap sleeves. The waistline hit just below her bust, giving her plenty of movement.

"It's just a sundress." Malcolm blushed at her amazement.

"Where did you get the fabric?" She rubbed it between her fingers, recognizing the texture.

"It was in the Room of Requirement, but I think it's the same fabric used for the curtains in the dormitories," he admitted, "I used a softening spell on the inside... it does need to be taken in a bit..." he put a few marks on the dress with his wand. "I'll have it back to you by Saturday," he assured her as he slipped it off, handing her another outfit.

"What was this?" She asked, looking at the pleated denim skirt curiously.

"Some of your brothers' old jeans." Malcolm explained. "The pleats took me a bit, but that's where magic comes in handy," he grinned in self-satisfaction. "What do you think of the shirt?"

He had gathered the side seams of a baby blue t-shirt and ruched it to her sides, fitting the sleeves.

"Is this...?" she looked at it in surprise.

"Granger and Granger dental associates." He answered, "But that logo was awful, I got rid of it."

Ginny took out the last three items - capris, a hoodie, and... "What is this supposed to be?"

Malcolm looked at her from where he was marking the capris. "Shorts."

Ginny looked incredulous. "They're tiny," she pointed out.

"No, honey, that's how girls' shorts are supposed to look," he told her.

"But... they don't even come down to my knees!" She held them against her.

"Just try them on. Oh, and beware-" his eyes glinted mischievously, "They don't have an elastic waist."

Ginny rolled her eyes, but tried them on.

"They're soft." She exclaimed, in surprise.

"One of those old t-shirts," he explained, coming over to adjust them.

"What are you-" Ginny protested as he tugged the shorts down.

"They go on your hips, not over your bellybutton," he ordered.

Ginny gulped at her reflection. The shorts were... short. They hit mid-thigh, heather grey fabric just barely fitting the dress code. "They're so short," she protested, squeaking.

"They make your legs look good." Malcolm argued, "Honestly, it's nothing like what Mama makes."

Malcolm's mother was a muggle fashion designer, hence Malc's sewing at a young age, and taught her son much about design and construction of clothing. But she was eccentric. Her work was couture - aka crazy - and that meant extreme. Her shows had garish makeup and stick thin models, the clothes bright and flamboyant or dark and gothic.

"I guess you're right..." Ginny agreed, doubtfully.

"I'll keep working - you'd better get to breakfast," he hustled her out of the room, back in her hand-me-downs.

-------------------~-------------------

Ginny walked slowly to breakfast, not hungry at all.

"Ginny, where were you? This is the first time you've been late all year." Hermione asked as Ginny sat next to her.

"Just talking to Malcolm," she explained.

"Oh, are you two getting back together? I saw you with him by the lake over the weekend." Hermione asked, handing her an apple.

"Maybe," Ginny lied, taking a bite.

"You two were so cute, and he's such a gentleman" Hermione nodded her approval.

Ginny swallowed. "Yep," she agreed, "He's sweet."

As soon as the meal was over, Ginny waited for Malc outside of the Great Hall.

"Ah, Weaslette."

"Find a new victim, Malfoy. Preferably one who cares," she droned looking past them at Malcolm's approaching grin.

"But you're so much fun. Such a tease." Zabini smirked, "And my offer still stands-"

"Ginny, there you are." Malcolm pecked her on the cheek, rescuing her. Malfoy raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, Malc," she smiled, attempting the look of a lovesick adolescent, as she placed his hand on her waist.

"New boyfriend, Weasel?" Malfoy asked, pointedly, "How many is that now?"

"Three. In three years." She told him, simply. "Now, if you will excuse me," she looked at Malcolm, "We have some... business." She tried to look seductive as she pulled Malc toward the dungeons, but the minute they were out of earshot she burst into laughter.

"Are they bothering you? You know about the... thing on Saturday?" Malcolm asked, chuckling with her.

"No more than usual," she lied, not wanting to worry him, "Why are you so excited?" She asked, remembering his grin.

He looked sheepish, "Nothing. I don't even know if it will work..."

"Tell me." Ginny ordered.

"Nope, you'd just get mad at me."

"Come on," she whined, "Just a hint?"

"Not now. Soon though, I promise," he told her, sincerely. "Are we 'back together'?" he asked, as they closed in on the potions room.

"Not officially," Ginny gave him a half smile, "But thanks for playing along." She looked at him, sadly.

"Just don't want to be the fag of Hogwarts," he muttered.

"I know," Ginny stated, quietly, feeling tears welling in her eyes.

"Oh, don't cry!" Malcolm chuckled, weakly, "It's not your fault..."

"I hate that you have to do this," she sniffled, "I hate using you."

"Hey." Malcolm looked into her face. "I don't mind. One day when you're famous I can use you." He smiled and wiped her eyes.

"You're gonna be the famous one," she smiled.

-------------------~-------------------

It wasn't until Friday that Ginny got the owl. Malcolm had been refusing to answer her increasingly curious questions, and hadn't returned any of her clothes.

Finish all work today. Meet me early tomorrow in the RoR - bring more clothes. --M

Ginny fidgeted all day, losing her focus. Finally, in her last period of the day, she had class with the Ravenclaws.

"Malcolm," Ginny whined, standing right in front of his table, "Tellllll meeeee."

Malcolm grinned, "Ginny: be patient," he ordered.

"But..." Ginny frowned, "For all that I know, you're going to... I don't know. Just tell me, already!" she pleaded.

He smirked, eyes closed. "Patience, grasshopper. You do not chase the fly: the fly will come to you."

Ginny growled, "Thanks, 'sensei,' but I'm not in the mood for philosophy."

"One who holds the stone cannot take it from the jar," Malcolm droned, in a mantra-like tone.

"Seats, everyone," Snape ordered.

Ginny rushed to her seat, still eyeing Malcolm. She needed to know what was up.

"Today we will be working on a metamorphmagus potion." There was some tittering, silenced by Snape's icy glare. "As you all should know, the metamorphmagus potion is illegal. Which is why I will not give you the last ingredient. When I collect your entire cauldrons' contents, I will add the last ingredient on my own. Not a single drop of this potion is to leave this room."

They worked quietly, Ginny frequently sending glances at Malc, who was too absorbed to notice.

"Ginny?" Natalie MacDonald, Ginny's potions partner and fellow Gryffindor, waved a hand at her, "You alright? You seem a little out of it."

"I'm fine, Natty," she smiled, "Just have a bit of an emergency coming up..."

Natalie looked confused. "...Can you just cut that root, please?" She asked, attempting not to offend.

"Oh, my bad." Ginny blushed, laughing, and began to chop up some of the ingredients. Finally, it seemed like they were nearly done. "Aaaand... stop." Ginny watched the time tick by, waiting two minutes. "Finished." She and Natalie raised their hands for Snape's approval.

He looked to be finding any possible flaw, but evidently none could be found. He tipped a small envelope of white powder into the cauldron. Ginny sniffed... no... it couldn't be! The last ingredient was... powdered sugar? "This will do." Snape nodded and flicked his wand to empty the cauldron, "You are dismissed."

Ginny's thoughts blazed in her head as she rushed through her weekend homework. What was Malcolm planning? He was obviously just as excited as she was. It was October first - too chilly to swim... what was up his sleeve?

Ginny could barely sleep. Eventually, she cast a sleeping spell upon herself, and could finally rest.

-------------------~-------------------

Ginny finally woke up at five o'clock. She rushed to take a shower, drying her hair with her wand. She pulled on some sweats and her robes, and ran through a list of last minute details. She had a bag of hand-me-downs to take to Malc - check. Her wand - check. Absolutely no idea of what Malc was planning - check. She had made sure she had an excuse - she already knew the prefects who would be on duty.

Ginny exited with her school bag, the bag of hand-me-downs shrunken to fit inside. She left the common room, heading toward the Room of Requirement.

"Ginny!" Allison French sounded shocked, "What are you doing out this early?" Allison was a fifth year prefect from Gryffindor, and knew Ginny from meetings.

"I remembered last night - I left some homework in the library," Ginny lied, "I wanted to make sure I had it - and finished - in time for class."

Allison waved her on, and Ginny relaxed. It wasn't too hard, getting back into the swing of rule-breaking. She found the hall of the Room of Requirement, and spotted a door where there usually wasn't one. She ducked inside, closing the door silently behind her, turned, and gaped.

"Jesus, Malc..." She gazed over the room. It was exactly like the one show she'd seen of Malcolm's Mama. The entire room was white except for the back, where a fluorescently glowing white runway jutted out from a black wall. The floor of the room was filled with racks of clothing - both finished and hand-me-downs. One entire wall was covered in bolts of fabrics, spools of ribbon, and containers of buttons, thread, needles, and other things. The other wall was all shelves of accessories and cosmetics.

"Ginny!" Malc's grin threatened to split his face in two. Ginny could tell that this room provided his lifeblood - art. "Isn't it perfect?!" He stood up from where he had been working at a long black table covered in scraps of fabric.

"You're a genius, Malc." Ginny walked cautiously into the room, "But..." She looked more carefully at the clothing on the racks, "... you didn't make all of this."

Malcolm put his arm around her shoulders. "Before you get angry, let me explain." He took her silence as a prompt. "I know you hate charity. But this isn't charity. Mama found a good company - also owned by a witch - that is looking for models. I took the liberty to send a few snapshots Colin took for me..."

"Malcolm!" Ginny admonished, fiercely, "I don't want to be a pity case!"

He covered her mouth until she quieted. "Mama told me when she first saw you she would've taken you if you were skinnier," he told her. Ginny glared, and Malcolm explained, "Thankfully, Franz isn't nearly as anorexic as Mama in choice of models. You have the body for it, Gin. She just wants a video of your walk and some test shots with her clothes. I already found a photographer-"

"Colin?" Ginny asked, scowling.

"He may not be a professional, but he's been doing it for years." Malcolm defended himself, "And I knew you wouldn't let me hire someone."

"Malcolm, I can't do this, even if I wanted to. I still have a year of school."

"Just work the Spring and Resort collections, then! You get plenty of benefits - the comps, for one." He gestured at the racks of clothing. "You'll get to keep a good amount of what you wear - nearly ten percent! Well, not the couture stuff, but-"

"Sorry, Malcolm, I can't."

"You're not a pity case. You have talent."

"I've never modeled before! I don't even know how!"

"You're a natural!" Malcolm argued, "You have poise, posture, attitude," he ticked them off on his fingers, "You walk like a pro in heels, you're skinny and tall, you have a unique look - face it: you were made for this." When she still frowned, Malcolm sighed, "Just give it a chance," he advised, "We've got the clothes till November, anyway."

Ginny took a minute, thinking. "Fine. But only for you and Colin. I'm not keeping the clothes."

"A chance is all I'm asking for." Malcolm began to smile again, "I have some looks made up for you already."

"No," Ginny pushed the dress away.

"Yes," Malcolm ordered, "If you don't do it yourself, I will wrestle it onto you."

Ginny grudgingly took the hanger, hurrying behind the curtain. As soon as she had it on, she opened the curtain again. Malcolm rushed back over, tugging here, prodding there, tucking and charming here here and here. Ginny stood patiently as he worked the dress - he was a master of the craft.

"Am I late?" The door burst open as Colin entered, carrying three different camera bags and a collapsable set of lights.

"Just in time," Ginny smiled, wryly.

"Colin, help me out here, will you?" Malcolm handed the blonde boy a list, not even looking up from his alterations. Colin read through the list, then muttered a few different incantations, summoning from the shelves.

"Finished!" Minutes later, Malcolm surfaced from his daze, and led Ginny to a mirror.

Again, Ginny gaped, speechless.

Her hair was set in deep waves, darker than usual, and gold and orange was fanned out around her eyes, forming a shimmering mask on her face. Her lips were golden, and a single golden tendril wrapped from her neck down around her left arm. The dress was beautiful. The red silk was woven in criss-cross pattern from the sweetheart neckline to the knees, where a red tulle skirt hung in an A-line. It was strapless, the skirt trailing in the back, but revealing her legs in the front, from mid-thigh to the black velvet pumps she stood in.

There was a snap as Colin took a picture. Ginny glared at him, and he took another.

"That's it, I'm not doing this." She lifted her skirt, moving away from the mirror, and Colin clicked again. "Stop it!" She ordered, angrily.

"They're just pictures," Malcolm drawled as Colin grinned, clicking away, "Come here." He beckoned from the runway, gesturing at a set of stairs.

Ginny reluctantly obeyed, lifting her skirt to climb the stairs, and standing next to Malcolm.

"Now walk. Pose at the end, then walk back," he ordered.

Ginny rolled her eyes, "I feel so stupid."

Malcolm pushed her, and she slowly walked, glaring at him as she sloughed to the end, paused, and turned back to him.

"Again," he ordered. She started to move, and he began to yell instruction. "Pop your hips! Straight back! Head up!" He ordered, angrily, "Don't thud - heel, toe, heel, toe." She reluctantly followed his advice, but he stopped her again. "This isn't working. Have fun with it! Here," he clapped his hands, and a thumping dance beat filled the room, "Go little birdie -" He grinned, "Fly! Fly away!"

Ginny finally smiled. She followed his instruction, hitting the runway with a smug look on her model face, and working it.

"Good, good." Malc grinned, "Next outfit."

Ginny didn't mind the next one as much. She spun, letting the beige and green skirt spin. It was a halter with a zippered neckline down to there. Everything was candy striped in emerald green and a metallic beige. The skirt was short, with a petticoat of emerald green tulle to keep it sticking out. Colin handed her leather gladiator sandals and gloves as Malcolm worked her hair into a single gold-threaded plait, extending it until it hit the ground. A green painted chain wrapped around her neck, links trailing to her navel.

Ginny had fun with that, and the next outfit, and the next. By the end of the shoot she was psyched for another round. "That was great!" She grinned, clacking her white patent leather thigh-high boots together. She was wearing her last outfit - a purple minidress with a large cut-out - and her hair was in a slick and very tight genie ponytail on the top of her head.

"Ginny..." Malcolm looked guilty.

Uh oh. "What?" She asked, warily.

"Truth is... those weren't all Franz's things," Malcolm admitted. Ginny was silent. "Most of them were mine."

That hadn't been what she was expecting. "Really?" She asked in amazement, "You made all of those?"

"Yeah," he grinned, nervously, "And..." he took a deep breath, and his next words came out all at once, "I'musingyouinmycampaigntosellthemonline."

"...what?" Ginny asked, confused, as she changed back into her clothes.

"I'm, er... I'm using your pictures to start selling some of them online." Malcolm refused to meet her eyes.

"Oh..." Ginny looked stunned. "...Okay, I guess."

Malcolm looked astonished, "You're not mad?"

"As long as I get comps," she grinned.

-------------------~-------------------

Review Thanks:

Zabini fans -

FangFan22 a.k.a. GwenFan22

Soccergirl0388

Caramel Wafer

kerffylicious-.-'

snowfire81

Jackie Pappillion

elisa

Bubbles-ZeeCrzy1

Dracoandme - and, no, I just needed to post it so people searching Ginny/Blaise could find it, too, as the end coupling has yet to be determined =]

panictowel

Malfoy fans -

Soccergirl0388 - again =]

Bubbles-ZeeCrzy1 - again =]

tiddlywinx

luvsjacob

Sorry I took so long, have many more chapters written than typed! Please R&R!