Chapter 1: The Burrow

"Our power is just the force of our love for our children and grandchildren." –Barbara Weidner

The only source lighting the room was from the moon and the stars. The occupants lay nestled in their bed together as they do most nights, both wide awake but eyes contently closed; their breathing just starting to calm once again.

Her head lay in the crook of his neck, his fingers delicately tracing the length of her bare arm. A soft smile played on her lips. There was not a care in the world that could touch her as long as she lay in the comfort and safety of his strong, loving arms.

And though he felt much the same way, tonight his thoughts were troubled. His fingers still absently stroked her satin-soft skin, but his eyes lay upon the ceiling, his mind far-off somewhere.

A shiver from his lover drew his mind back as he turned his attention to the fiery red hair of his wife. He let out a simple sigh and kissed the back of her head. Pulling up the blanket to prevent another shiver, he whispered in her ear, "I love you, my lady."

He could hear her smile through her 'mmm' before she answered, "And I, you, my lord husband."

Moments later he was still running his fingers over her body when she shivered again.

"You still cold?" he asked attentively, ready to retrieve another blanket if need be.

"No. It's just…" she trailed off for a moment. "After nineteen years, your touch still sends butterflies."

"Ah. I understand completely. I do have that affect on women."

He felt her chuckle at his ever-arrogant attitude.

"That's right. I've married the Slytherin God, Prince of snakes and all around bad boy. It's only natural that I melt to his touch."

He laughed. "And I have the always-proud, eternally stubborn princess who I'm crazy about but who might not be completely sane for having settled for me as her life-long mate."

"I suppose we deserve each other." She mused, turning over to face him.

Her dark eyes met his and her smile faded. She could read him instantly through his eyes. "Draco, what is it?"

He sighed. "It's nothing."

She glared slightly. "Don't. We share everything. So spill, lover boy." She said running her gentle fingers through his silvery-white locks.

"I worry. About our children."

Her eyes narrowed slightly not understanding. They were all safe asleep in their rooms.

"They know none of their extended family. On either side. They have 22 cousins, that we know of, six uncles and aunts, and four grandparents they've never met and barely know of."

"To know fault of ours." She interjected.

"Even so. Our children deserve the best. They're Malfoys, dammit!" He said heatedly. "They're supposed to have everything!!"

Her hand slid to his cheek. "You've given them everything. Our families' grudge against each other is beyond our ability to mend."

"I just don't understand! My family I can almost. It's in their nature to be heartless; cruel. But not yours, Ginny. I mean," he sat up in bed as his anger rose. "We always knew it would take some convincing to make them come around to me- to us. But I always thought they would. Especially after we had children. And still, they completely cut us out. And I'm an only child. Surely my parents would want some involvement. You're even pureblood, for God's sake!" He all but yelled.

Ginny sat up, keeping the blackest to her chest. "Shhh…" she soothed. "You'll wake them."

Draco closed his eyes trying to calm himself through cleansing breaths. His hands were balled tightly into fists clutching the comforter. "Even friends abandoned us. Again, I figured mine were worthless; all about status. But yours… Granger! Potter! Both solely devoted to their friends and your family."

"I don't think Harry will ever forgive either of us. I mean, I left him for you after all."

"Yes." The thought made him smile. The one and only thing he ever beat Perfect-Potter at –winning the love and affection of the one girl they both had to have.

It was several flashbacks later that the smirk finally faded from Draco's face.

"Ok. I can think of one way to attempt, at least, to get our children acknowledged by my family. And if they still choose to shut us out… I'm afraid it will only hurt our kids. I'm not sure they could hurt us more."

Draco blinked.

"Christmas holiday. We always had a big family gathering. They've never met or seen the kids. I think if we pay them a surprise visit… the shock of how much they resemble my brothers… that might give them our best chance."

Draco smiled lightly. "That may work with mine as well, since our youngest looks exactly like my father."

They both shared a smile. It always got to Ginny how sensitive her husband really was when it came to those he cared about; mainly herself and their children.

"I'm having second thoughts." Draco whispered as the eight of them made their way down the road.

The day had finally come. Through a few pulled strings, Ginny had learned that her family's Christmas holiday gathering was in fact being held at The Burrow a few days before Christmas.

It would be interesting to see how they'd accommodate everyone. There was considerably more family than there had been the last time she had been home.

The Burrow finally came into view. Ginny looked at it with some sorrow. Her childhood home. And she wasn't exactly welcome.

"That's it?" One of her twin boys asked with a scrunched face.

Ginny smiled. "Yes. That's where I grew up."

"Really, Gin. Second thoughts." Draco said again, low enough so only she could hear.

"Why?"

"All I've ever wanted was their acceptance." He whispered. "I still won't have it even though I fathered six of their grandchildren. And you know my temper…" his eyes traveled over his children. He'd never shown them his anger. Ever!

Ginny clutched his hand. "I'll be right there next to you." She didn't smile. But her bold confidence glowed. It reassured him.

"Do we have to go in?" their six-year-old questioned miserably, looking up at the front door.

All six children scowled, an expression that mirrored a look Ginny had all too often seen on Draco growing up. She put on a big, what she hoped was assuring, smile. "Yes you do." And she knocked on the door.

Laughter could be heard quite a ways down the road and now up close, she could feel the jealousy scream through her. That was her family having a good time and never bothering to think of her.

Moments later the door opened to a plump, graying woman with warm sparkling eyes. She had a broad smile that all but faltered at the recognition of Ginny. Her eyes flickered to Draco and then widening as they drifted over the children.

Ginny had carefully planned what exactly she'd say to her mother once the situation presented itself. She rolled her tongue in her mouth slowly as she felt her husband's hand squeeze hers.

"As my children grow," Ginny began quietly. "I see each of my brothers in them. I see their grandparents through their actions. Their expressions, attitudes, troubles and successes… I recognize them all through looking up to my family for years. And it makes me sick that they don't get to experience my family. But what really makes me sick is watching that same family, who would help each other through any and everything, shut out their own."

Her words were quiet and smooth. For a fleeting moment she thought her mother would slam the door on her. Even as she watched the tears form in Mrs. Weasley's eyes, Ginny felt the dread of having her children ignored.

"All I'm asking is to please be a part of my children's lives. Even if you still don't want to be a part of mine." Ginny said in almost a whisper.

Mrs. Weasley watched her for a moment as a tear slipped down her cheek. She hastily whipped it away and opened the door without a word and led them into the family room.

It was quite obvious there was an Expanding Charm on the room. Ginny hadn't seen so many people in one place since she attended Hogwarts. And almost all of them had red hair.

The room hushed. All eyes were on them. Had it not been his Slytherin blood, Ginny was sure the angry glares that fell on Draco would have caused him to stand behind her. But if only to be defiant, he stood almost in front of her, glaring right back.

Mr. Weasley stood his attention on the children. He walked to her twin boys who looked remarkably like Fred and George did when they were younger. Then looking to his wife, he asked quietly, "Molly… dear… what's the meaning of this?"

His tone was soft and almost borderline bored. Ginny knew it was in an attempt to keep the emotion and discontent from his voice.

Instead of just addressing her husband, Mrs. Weasley looked to everyone in the room. Her eyes slowly scanned all her children and grandchildren. She could recall every little detail from the moment their parents had announced pregnancy; first steps, words, wand, broom… She knew every first hair cut, first tear, first 'boo boo' and first giggle. But as her eyes turned to the six standing just in the doorway, she couldn't so much as recall a name.

"Do any of you know these children's names?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

There were looks from one person to another as questions were murmured under their breaths. One of the older children nodded. A new teenager, possibly 13. Her hair was fairly long, passing her shoulders in loose ringlets. Her eyes were dark brown and freckles littered her pretty features. "They're Malfoys. Three of them," and she pointed to which "are in Slytherin, but Mel is in Gryffidor with me."

The child deemed 'Mel' smirked slightly at her with a curt nod.

"Except our children," Mrs. Weasley began again. "Which of us has taken the time and effort to learn their names?"

A loud silence filled the room; it rang deafening in Ginny's ears. Draco squeezed Ginny's hand once again. Their six-year-old was getting bored and fidgety. He had his hands in his pockets as he stared through everything into nothing.

"I am ashamed that I let this grudge carry on as long as it has. I have missed many years with my grandchildren, from my only daughter, which I can never get back." She looked to Ginny, completely ignoring Draco and said with a strained smile, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me and introduce me to my grandchildren."

Ginny nodded with a straight face. She let go of Draco, who let his grip fail reluctantly, and placed her hands on the shoulders of two girls, who looked exactly alike. A few inches shorter than Ginny, their hair fell to their mid necks, straight as a bored, fiery red and as shiny as new silver. Their eyes were pale gray and they were blessed with only a moderate amount of freckles.

"This," she indicated the child to her left. "Is Melodeus; a forth year Gryffindor, who is often called Mel. This," indicating the girl to her right, "is her twin sister, Hydra, a forth year Slytherin."

She moved to the two boys who also mirrored each other. "This is our next set of twins." They also had bright red hair, kept fairly short, dark brown eyes and a freckle to match each on the original set of Weasley twins. They stood almost in perfect height to the twin girls. Indicating the boy to her left, "This is Ladon and his twin Drayce. Both second year Slytherins."

The next boy's hair was a wild frizzy mess and completely hopeless to tame. When wet the short hair held extremely tight curls but when dry it puffed out in what muggles called an afro. For this reason it was kept pretty short. It was also in the shade of brilliant red. No freckles with bored brown eyes stared at the woman labeled 'grandmother'. "Our nine-year-old, Oboth."

And lastly her hand smoothed back silky white blonde locks held back in a very neat, short ponytail. His face was serene with not a freckle in sight, his lips pursed and stormy gray eyes glared in defiance. "Our six-year-old Lucus."

Quite a few tense moments later, Hermione pulled herself from the crowd. She offered a weak smile and walked to a child who looked just like she did when younger with the exception of having red hair instead of brown and many freckles. "This is Ron's and my daughter, Zeki. She's a first year Gryffindor."

Ginny smiled to her and the child.

Harry stood next, pulling a woman up as well. She had dark blonde curls to her shoulders and bright blue eyes. "I don't know if you ever knew Rose from school." He trailed off, his tone fairly dry. "The two with Zeki is our son Casey, a first year Ravenclaw, and our son Adah, eight." Adah had black hair and green eyes just like her father and Casey had blond hair and green eyes.

Again Ginny smiled. It was quite some time before everyone was introduced (there were so many children) and even as everyone started to intermingle again, there was an undeniably cold air to the room.

Ginny watched as her children did their best in an awkward situation. Melodeus sat quietly chatting with the girl who had recognized her (George's oldest child, Nia, and a third year Gryffindor). Hydra sat stoically behind her twin watching the group.

Ladon and Drayce sat in a corner and whispered to each other. She imagined them snickering about every other child in the room. It was truly strange sight- two red-headed (would presumably be Weasley's) boys with wicked grins and fleeing eyes.

Oboth was playing with three others close to his age. Two of which belonged to Charlie and one Percy –who kept a close watchful eye on him. Ginny observed this for a while. Every now and then the other kids would stare at Oboth incredulously. It was quite clear that child would be a Slytherin.

But Ginny watched her youngest the most. He stood off to the side for a long time watching; taking everything and everyone in. Then he traced the walls with his eyes. She could see him doing a quick calculation before moving to the almost center of the room, sitting cross-legged on the floor and opening a book he had taken out of his robes. Twice he was disturbed. Once by Fred's girl asking if she could read to him. In response to which he raised his gray eyes just barely meeting hers over the book and replied, "I can read on my own."

The cold monotone voice stunned the girl and she backed away. Only minutes after that, one the George's triplets attempted to get him to play with them.

The cold glare he gave her sent the child running behind her mother, who shot Draco a very dirty look.

For a while after, Lucus was left alone to read. The next time Ginny looked to him though it was to find one of Charlie's three-year-old girls standing in front of him, hands clasped together in her lap. Lucus tried to ignore her but the girl wouldn't go away.

Ginny chanced a glance to Charlie and his wife. They were watching intently, ready to jump and intervene, if need be. It angered Ginny to see that. These were her children, not some evil monsters.

Her eyes back on her son and the child, she saw him finally lower the book and look at her blankly. That didn't deter the little red head. Instead she crawled in his lap as he speedily moved his book so she wouldn't sit on it. He sat there a moment looking at the child, hands held slightly out so as not to touch her. She comforted herself before reaching out to the book and guiding it around to the front of her. She leaned back against him, placing her left pointer finger in her mouth and her other pointed at the book. It was a clear request. She wanted him to read to her.

Lucus still watched the child in silence before he looked up to his parents. His dark eyes were still, not quite questioning or mad, shocked really.

Many eyes watched them astonished for a long, long time. Next time Ginny glanced to Charlie, it was to see a wide smile on his face and a very warm one on his wife's as they both watched Lucus and their daughter.

Ginny made her way to Draco where he sat on the hearth. She sat next to him. Draco wrapped his arms around his wife's waist and buried his face into her neck. "They all still really don't like me, Gin."

"They're not happy with me either. I disappointed them time and time again. It might have been a mistake to come here. They all grew up together; known each other for as long as they can remember. And we just threw our kids out there to be scrutinized and judged of what awful traits you bore into them."

Ginny felt Draco smirk and sigh against her neck before he turned his head to watch the rest of the room. "Think about this: against all odds and with everyone against us, we made a wonderful life together. We have six beautiful and healthy children, a huge spacious house, great jobs and plenty of gold in Gringotts. We still are madly in love and our children are very bright. We are rich in material possessions and in every other way there is. We even have a large family filled with love. And someday, when our children have kids we will be right there with them, even if we don't agree with who they marry."

Ginny smiled wryly. Draco really was a good man. Of course he had some rough edges at first but there was nothing they hadn't been able to work out. Their families were the only discrepancies in their lives.

Mistaking her thoughtful look for one of confusion, Draco whispered, "a thousand times I would bow down to your family; kiss their feet for them to accept my love for you."

Ginny turned to face him, her smile content, and the look in her eyes of the utmost happiness. "Oh, how I love you." She said.

---

Draco smiled back to her, kissed her lips gently and sat back to watch her family, his head on her shoulder.

The sea of redheads only broke every once in a while. It was extremely uncomfortable being around this many people he was supposed to call family. It was heart wrenching to watch them all snicker at his children like they had some sort of disease.

These Weasley children, perfect and superior that they are, attempting to chide his into playing. Malfoy's don't play, an inner voice sneered. The looks they gave Lucus for refusing twice –it was a lucky thing his wife insisted on carrying his wand.

But now he sat quietly with Ginny on the hearth, a calm detached expression as he took in the world around him. It wasn't till much later that Draco noticed the slight thinning of the adult members of the room. Fred and George, who Ginny had said could never stay mad at her for too long, finally came to her and dragged her off. They sat a ways away as the three of them chatted merrily.

With his wife's attention occupied completely it was easy to see people slip out conspicuously from time to time. Of course he was curious. His eyes flickered to his boys. Something in the air must have caught their attention because as his eyes landed on them, theirs flashed to his.

With barely a movement he beckoned them over. With casualty and furtiveness only a Slytherin could pull off, they made their way to their father.

"Let me borrow your wand." He said barely moving his lips and barely above a whisper.

In an almost invisible movement, Drayce places his wand unnoticed in his father's hand while Ladon talked daftly to take the attention.

Draco smiled slightly, a warm proud flutter running through him. They returned still unnoticed.

Draco stood. When Ginny's questioning eyes met his he mouthed "loo". She nodded with a smile and went back to her brothers. To make good of his word he did go to the loo, placed a Disillusionment Charm on himself and came out completely undetected.

It took only moments to round the corner to the kitchen were a very heated conversation was taking place. He slipped inside the door and leaned on the wall out of the way.

"We really should give him the benefit of the doubt." Charlie was saying. "I mean, Ginny's happy, unharmed and here now."

"She's here as a Malfoy." Ron sneered. "And with him!"

"He's nothing but a snake. He can't be trusted!" Hermione said matter-of-factly as if she had proven a point.

"Well, we can't very well break them up." Mrs. Weasley said. "That would tear up their entire family. And their children…"

"Are Slytherins." Harry snickered.

"The little one looks just like him." Hermione shuttered. "He gives me the creeps."

There was a moment of silence as they all agreed. Charlie rolled his eyes.

Draco rolled his tongue in his mouth. Arms already crossed on his chest, his hands slowly balled into fists. Talking about him, he could handle. But talking about Lucus…

"There is no helping my baby girl now." Mrs. Weasley said as if Ginny were dead. Her voice was even a little tearful. "She clearly chose to be his wife over us."

"I've been working on it, mum, for years. Trying to pin him to something so I could take him away and lock up him." Said Percy. "But he kept his tracks covered."

Draco almost scoffed aloud. It took a few calming breaths for him to keep his mouth shut.

"Or he's actually clean." Charlie suggested as if it was the first time it had crossed someone's mind.

And indeed it was. Every one had already condemned him as a Dark Wizard. The looks on their faces said so as they all glared at him.

Draco smirked a little in Charlie's direction.

"He must have her under some kind of spell." Ron said. "I mean she chose him over Harry. And just out of no where."

"It was a bit peculiar that the decision happened almost over night." Hermione murmured.

"Would he really do that?" Mrs. Weasley's face gleamed a bit tear-stained.

"Of course!" Harry said immediately.

Draco's hand itched over the wand.

"But why?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Because he'd never beat Harry at anything. Harry was the favorite with everyone, except Slytherin. It was the only way to get him one-up. To go after Ginny." Ron rambled off.

Mrs. Weasley looked horrified. "My poor baby."

Charlie shook his head.

"You're so blind with jealousy," Draco drawled before letting his charm slip away. "You cant admit that she's happy." He just couldn't keep quiet anymore. "It pains you to know she chose me over perfect Potter and that she didn't give me up and come running home when you said you wouldn't love her anymore. She's with me because I would never make her choose my love or yours."

"I never said that." Mrs. Weasley said abashed.

"Because over the last twenty years you've sure shown her how much she meant to you." Draco sneered. He paused to let that sink in. All heads lowered a bit. "Not that I need to explain anything to the likes of you… but to comment on some of your finer points, yes Ginny did marry me and take my name on her own free will. You've all tried many times to come between us to your failure. Yes a majority of my school-aged children are in Slytherin because they have huge ambitions and refuse to let anyone outdo them. They're bloody brilliant and would give Granger –Weasley- whoever you are now- a run for your money. And I'm sorry Lucus gives you the creeps." Mrs. Weasley's expression was almost painful. "Seems to me that the three-year-old who's been in his lap for the last three hours would say otherwise." He paused a moment but continued before anyone could counter. "Ginny doesn't need or want help and you chose to disown her, she didn't choose anyone over you. I can't be tied to any crimes, petty or Dark, because I haven't committed any. I can come with written or personal alibis if you'd like Percy. And to cover anything I might have missed or that you just haven't accused me of yet, I don't have any mistresses, I don't have any Dark Mark tattoos, my parents disowned us as well so the life we have we've built ourselves. I don't drink or gamble and I'd never –have never and will never- lay a harmful hand on my wife or children. I love Ginny with all that I am. There is nothing you can do, or plan, or say that will ever change that."

All was silent. Draco looked levelly at each of them before pushing himself off the wall and walked directly to his wife. He excused himself for interrupting and whispered in her ear a very brief summery of why they needed to leave.

Ginny's soft beautiful features went stone. The minute she stood and headed for the door, their children immediately followed in their footsteps without a word. Lucus gingerly placed the small child on the ground and walked calmly away without a word. Oboth dropped what he was doing and followed his family. Mel stopped mid-sentence and stood in complete unison with her sister following right behind her twin brothers.

Not saying or looking to a single person in the kitchen on their way by, the eight Malfoy's left The Burrow. They started to walk up the road, the children keeping right up with the angry pace of their mother. But no one questioned anything.

A moment later Ginny stopped abruptly, almost causing Ladon to run into her and cause a domino affect had Draco not been quick to catch him. She turned on her heal without a sound and stormed back into the kitchen. She looked at the family still lined there with the addition of Fred and George who had presumably come out to see why they had left so suddenly. She glared at them more fiercely than any Malfoy could have ever pulled off.

"Just so you know, it was Draco who wanted you to be a part of my children's lives. He was afraid they were missing something. But heaven help you if you ever come near them again. How dare you insult my children! You have not known fear until you have hurt my babies. Never, ever cross me."

She returned outside to see Hydra running her hand over Lucus's hair. "I knew we should have charmed his hair red." Hydra said as Lucus smirked.

"Do not ever change yourselves for anyone." Ginny said. "I'm sorry for making you come here."

All her children hugged her tightly.

"You're all the family we need, mum." Ladon said.

"You and dad." Drayce added.

Ginny smiled to them and kissed each of their heads. The six children let go of their mother and headed back up the road. Ginny stood back to watch and admire them. They all interacted with each other nicely. Smiling, laughing. It made her smile.

Draco encircled his arms around his wife from behind. "I'm sorry. And I think… we should forgo my mother's house."

Ginny chuckled. It had definitely been and interesting turn of events.

-LC