Chapter Three

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May 10th, 2006

Oh Merlin, I am good. I got ickle Ronnikins into a headlock and he couldn't get out of it! Auror training is definitely paying off… too bad I had to quit. Mum glared at me all through our fortnightly Sunday lunch. Whether it was because of somebody hurting her little baby boy, her daughter acting like a boy though she is twenty three and a girl, or perhaps it's because I'm setting a bad example to all my little nieces and nephews.

Knowing mum, it's all of the above.

Ron's glaring balefully at me so I'm outside in the backyard, facing the wide Weasley property. We may be poor, but we have massive yard. I've found myself taking more and more time just to stand around and stare. Who knew death would make you this introspective?

Just from where I'm lazing on our rusted outdoor daybed, I can still see the tree with a big gaping hole on its trunk out in the distance where a branch used to be. I remember as clear as day, Ron and I were little kids and we snuck Charlie's broom out and decided to go joy riding whilst the family was occupied and were not supervising their youngest kin. Ron was being an idiot and was trying to impress me by flying with his eyes closed. I was sitting behind him with my tiny arms wrapped around his body, trusting him completely like little sisters do. I actually was impressed that Ron was able to fly in a straight line with his eyes shut. He even flew without his hands on the broom and I thought he was the greatest brother out in the world and I was about to tell him but I screamed instead when I opened my mouth. He had completely turned a blind eye to a branch we were flying straight towards to.

Ron noticed at the last moment and he balled up his shoulder to protect us both and fractured it in so many places that even mum winced.

It's all highly traumatic for a four year old like Ron.

The neighbours gave our family concerned looks after mum was through with Ron. Her yelling was that loud. You'd think that that incident would scar me for life but it didn't. It triggered a thrill and generated the love for quidditch, just like all my other brothers. Yes, even Percy loves quidditch even though he's so much of a pansy you wouldn't really believe it.

Looking further past the damaged tree I see the signs of an early spring in England. It's comforting and a little sad; knowing that life will go on even when I'm gone. Draco picked just that moment to walk in with coffee, bridal magazines and Pigwidgeon riding on his head. He gives me an anxious expression but I can't help but laugh. Pig absolutely loves Draco, much to his chagrin. Draco smiles at my reaction instead of his usual eye roll and it's like the sun is breaking through heavy clouds.

I am such a sap over Draco. I've had moments where I swear I can feel that my mind is mushy with love over him. I can't help it though, when he smiles that special smile he reserves for me, he makes everything seem okay. Especially when he has Ron's miniature owl nuzzling his platinum blonde hair!!!

Now we've finished our idle chit chat and the merits of headlocking Ron, I'm just resting in his arms, our coffee long finished. We're both silent now, watching the sun's tentative attempt to warm the winter-bitten land, listening to the gentle breeze and the soft scratching of my quill on parchment. It's just so god-damn poetic. I feel like I'm in a poem, a short, sweet one where you can just read over it again and again, effortlessly. I know life will end, but unlike a short poem, it won't just start over again. Not for an individual. Not for me.

Perhaps life is like a thick novel. A really, thick novel where you've spent as much time as possible reading it, finishing it and wanting to reread, but you know it's impossible because your life is busy. The story is over. Maybe it's like having that satisfaction of completing it but having it only as a faded memory because you were rushing to get to the good parts, the exciting parts, the important parts.

Too caught up to read each word, to appreciate how every sentence is linked and structured and the quality of the text…

Perhaps cancer is making me think up too many similes.

But who knows? I sure would like to.

Draco's breathing has gotten really slow and steady so I know he's asleep. Draco's angelic when he's asleep. The complete antithesis to when he's awake. When Draco's sleeping, he doesn't smirk, (which I secretly think is the most sexiest expression a man can make, namely Draco, who is the only guy who can pull it off), he doesn't tease Ron, he doesn't give basilisk stares to his adversaries, he doesn't ridicule the minister Fudge and make him sputter in embarrassment and indignation and he certainly doesn't pull on my bra strap when I least expect it…

Owowow, I turn around to nuzzle my fiancé, in an act of affection and it turns out he was half asleep because he bit my nose! He is so not getting any tonight.

I can actually feel his smirk.

…Holy crap I just saw this dress in one of the bridal magazines that I have fallen in love with. It's strapless with flawless white silk. It's stunning in its simplicity and only has a small amount of silver embroidery fringing along the top. I swear that dress was made for me, though the price is quite high…

Draco surprises me and says from behind my shoulder by my ear, "if it is what my Ginny wants, it is what my Ginny gets." Now he's kissing my neck and I don't think I can write much more because I'm falling in this abyss of a fantasy called Draco Malfoy…

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This is just a memory…

"…Ginevra Weasley! Congratulations!" says Dumbledore from the podium and I can hear loud cheering from the large crowd, especially from my family. I step out from the orderly Gryffindor rows and step towards my headmaster with a wide grin in place. I'm so happy that I've graduated from Hogwarts with high honours, being in the top five of the year.

Dumbledore's got that twinkle in his eye that he reserves for every single one of his students, pre, present or past. He smiles as he hands over my diploma and shakes my hand in the most reassuring way possible. He can see right into my happiness and my desire to be an individual and an independent person and he knows about Draco and how happy he makes me as well. He looks at me with genuine happiness as well and I can feel all of that in one steady handshake.

I walk back to my place in line and grin at Colin who grins back. I walk back feeling like I've suddenly surprised the age of student into the world of adult and I love it. Staring out into the crowd, I catch Draco's eyes and the dancing merriment behind them. I can also see his proud smirk, knowing the pride is for me.

Draco finished his studies at Hogwarts last year much to my despair. That meant I had to spend most of the year without his company. Some scoffed at our newly together-status last year, writing it off as "puppy love," "he just wants to get laid," and "he's up to something, if he hurts you, Malfoy is a dead man."

Hmm, three guesses to who the last quote is from. Thanks Ron, you're just so supportive.

Tonight is actually the first time I've seen Draco in about eleven weeks. Only the fact that I'm standing up on a stage is stopping me from running down the stairs to crush him with my embrace.

"…And to the class of 2000, who I have shared so many experiences with, laughter, sorrow and joy, straight from my heart; I wish you all success with your future lives. Whether it be dreams to become the Minister of Magic, healers, magical engineers or perhaps parents. Thank you very much for being a part of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, graduating class of 2000!"

This massive applause could be heard and all of the graduating students, yes, including the Slytherins and I find myself throwing my witches' hat up in the air with everyone else, cheering madly and waving my diploma around whilst Dumbledore is sweeping his wise eyes across his students and guests.

Well… I've lost my hat, but it doesn't matter. There's this riot of noise since the ceremony is over and I'm hugging Colin with all my might and I see Luna running up now and now we're all hugging each other breathless. We've survived. The world had better watch out, because we're coming.

I'm walking towards my family who are all clustered together as one big bright, flaming mob and are smiling just as wide as I am. I see Draco headed towards me determinedly through the crowds and I'm just engulfed in his tight hug before my brothers can even open their mouths to threaten him for putting his "paws" on me.

Oh god, I just feel so good now, in his arms. How did I spend this much time away from him and not go mad? Oh yes, that's right, studying for NEWTs were making me crazy instead. It doesn't matter, I have Draco right here, right now and his neck smells nice.

"You're still my little witch," he whispers and I can feel his smirk on my ear. Before I can retaliate, mum has elbowed her way through dad and Bill who are clamouring to see me and has shoved Draco out of the way to hug me. This hug is a very different one, since Molly Weasley is plump, matronly, blubbering and soaking my clean cut robes with her happy tears.

"Oh my darling little Ginny! All grown up! I can't believe how fast my little girl has grown up! You looked so beautiful up there with your neat robes and your confidence. Oh and when you received your diploma! Top five of your graduating class! My darling girl is so smart too, you have always been so intelligent… oh, oh…" but mum never finished her sentence. She broke out in tears again.

"Dad!" I mouth to my father who's waiting patiently for mum to finish.

"Now now Molly. Let Ginny breathe. Ginny dear, I'm so proud of my big girl." Dad just grins that comfortable grin that I've known all my life and his one sentence means just as much as what mum's blathering ever meant. Mum lets him by and he gives me a warm, short hug and then I find Bill in front of me.

All my brothers are surprised to see their little Ginny all grown up. Percy is almost busting himself with pleasure with my grades. Instead of finding myself pissed off with him with his pompousness, I'm just happy. Must be the euphoria. It does strange things to you. So I give him an extra kiss on the cheek and he blushes. Silly Percy.

Twins of course, make recommendations about my future career and Weasley Wizarding Wheezes and mum chokes. Ron gives me a tight hug and an amazed expression.

"Cor, Gin. You're just about as smart as 'Mione!"

"Thanks Ron. You can really dish out those compliments," I reply flatly.

So after that was all said and done, there was an awkward silence which surrounded Draco and I. I really feel sorry my boyfriend. Half my family were eying him like he was a dangerous snake, the other half were getting ready to hex off his hand for holding mine.

"So uh, mum. What's for dinner?" I say this to break this awful silence that has surrounded our large group, despite the many other families around us exclaiming happily. I can feel Draco stiffen next to me and his hand squeeze mine in warning. He knows how my family feels about him; murderous.

"Your favourite, Ginny. Roast lamb and Italian potatoes." My mouth immediately waters and I just want to get the hell home because I'm starved and I had no school to return to.

So I ask the diabolical question that everybody knew was coming.

"Can Draco join us?"

There is a major intake of breath and I think I can hear Charlie, Fred, George and Ron actually growl.

Mum and dad are scrutinizing Draco from head to toe, and in true Draco style, he doesn't back down.

Ron blabbed to them about Draco and I when he saw us during a secret rendezvous up in the air at the quidditch pitch kissing quite wildly actually… I was truly worried for my brother's life because for the first time, ever, he actually turned purple and I could see every vein in his neck and throat swell.

The howler that I had to place an incendio spell on the following morning was quite a clear answer to whether mum and dad approved or not. Surprising myself, I couldn't give a damn. Mum never liked Ron's reports about my various boyfriends but she never did anything about it. I never saw why she should now. After that, we went public. Only Luna, Colin and Blaise new about our relationship before everyone else. Needless to say though, they are my best friends. Well… Blaise is Draco's best friend. Kinky bastard.

"…please… dad? Mum?"

They caved.

"Mum?" one of my brothers yell incredulously.

"Dad!"

"Have you lost your ruddy mind? That's Malfoy you just invited over for dinner! His father was apprehended for being caught in the act of serving Voldemort!"

"I swear if you lay one hand against my family…"

I ignored my brothers. My parents' acceptance was the first step of me getting what I want.

Molly ignored her sons and said warmly to Draco, "let me invite you to The Burrow."

--+--

"Last time I came to 'The Burrow' was a disaster," Draco muttered in my ear as we apparated on the front lawn of our house.

"Don't talk about my house in inverted commas you arrogant bastard," I retorted hotly. He just smirks and it makes my blood boil. Not in the bad way, but in the way that leads to really hot sex.

Yeaaah, Arthur and Molly don't quite know about that yet.

Heheh, I am definitely blushing hotly and Draco knows exactly what is going through my mind. He was my first, and even just after a year, I'm really getting the feeling that he'll be my only. How the hell he has made me fall in love with him… I don't know.

Last time, during the holidays, Draco tried coming over to my house to take me out on a date. I hoped that I would be able to get out of the door to go with him before my family found out but no, it wasn't to be. I got locked in the house whilst Draco nearly splinched himself getting to St Mungos for counter curses to the various hexes and curses he got from my brothers. Needless to say I was so pissed with my brothers I nearly struck out at them. So, close, to unadulterated violence.

We cross the threshold and I feel a sense of calm and homecoming radiate over me as I always do when I enter The Burrow. I ignore the glares and focus on Draco. His blue-grey eyes are sweeping across every corner of our house and I can tell he's making a mental note of our belongings against his old Manor.

Malfoy Manor; yep, that great whopping big mansion which got destroyed by the Ministry because it had dark arts artifacts.

The Manor that Draco was supposed to inherit. His fortune that he was supposed to inherit.

I hear the Ministry is well off these days…

"I know what you're thinking…"

Draco's voice is neutral when he replies. "Well, I'm not really surprised." I can feel my cheeks burn and his words hurt more than they really should. Draco wasn't earning that much himself so he couldn't afford anything too expensive… he was just used to sophistication and elegance whilst everything in our house was half broken.

"It doesn't matter," he says in his blunt drawling voice and he smirks that fucking smirk which really makes everything else seem insignificant.

Dinner passes awkwardly.

It's like our family is too scared to talk in front of their own bloody daughter's boyfriend because he'd go and blab to Voldemort that the banister of our staircase is a bit wobbly and that Charlie has found a nice girl in Romania. Or perhaps it's the fact that Percy has had another pay rise will be used against us.

One nice redeeming quality though was the amount of food Draco ate. Mum was ridiculously pleased at the fact that Draco was eating like a horse. I guess living alone as a bachelor for a year makes you hungrier than usual.

Everyone else though, even dad, were quite on edge. After a few more minutes of fucking silence I lose it.

"Oh for gods sake! Draco is not a Death Eater! He does not owe his allegiance to Voldemort! He is not evil, is does not have another agenda, he is not just using me and has it ever occurred to you that Draco Malfoy is just another human being who has feelings for me? Or have I become that invisible that only occasions where I've graduated or I bring home an 'enemy' are the only moments where I'm noticed?"

"Ginny…" Bill murmurs in a scandalized tone.

"Save it," I snap. The infuriating thing is I know Draco's not the only problem here. It eats at me at times, how forgotten I actually am. That it takes a freaking catalyst such as dating Draco or getting really high marks gets me attention. Sometimes they spend more bloody attention on Potter.

I'm mostly angry at myself because I know I just want attention but my family is just too big.

I'm angry because I've lost that rare, complete happy elation I had earlier tonight.

But I'm aware of how Draco replaces it.

I'm out the kitchen in a huff and I can hear Draco's distinct footsteps follow me into the backyard.

"Lumos," he says and immediately we're both bathed in the soft yellow glow from his wand. "Nice speech Gin. I really couldn't have said it better myself. Though… I'm more than just another human being. I'm a Malfoy. However, you are making me miss the best roast lamb I've had since… actually, that's the best roast lamb I've ever had."

I nearly choke on tears and laughter. I know it was the stress of studying so hard and not having Draco ease some of the tension that's causing me to snap. I opt for shaking quietly. Draco just knows and hugs me so tightly that it seems like he's trying to merge his soul with mine.

"I've missed you. A lot," I mumble into his warm shoulder and he nods.

"You've got PMS too. I swear ever since I graduated you've gone on twenty times as many rants. I can hear your voice in my head when I read your letters, and yes, I want to throw darts at McGonagall because she's assigning you too much as well." I can't help it. I giggle.

"I know you were a loner at the Halloween ball because you were so depressed I wasn't there to escort your loveliness."

His voice was getting husky and I thought I knew what was on his mind but he surprised me by saying what hit home the hardest. "I know you think I'm the only one who cares about you. It's not true. You're being selfish and you know it."

Oh Merlin… I know Draco's hurt me on purpose but he's a strong believer in you have to be cruel to be kind and it works; every, single time.

"You're a bastard, y'know." Oh god. I'm mumbling pathetically.

"Ginny. I've always been a bastard. The only thing that's changed now is that I'm your bastard." And he does it, just like that. Turns me from angry, raging goddess. He actually calls me a goddess! To sad, pathetic, selfish little girl, to horny, hormonal teenager who hasn't seen her boyfriend in over a term.

He pulls me flush against his body and starts kissing me desperately and I have this urge to jump on him so I do.

Only to have the lights suddenly shine on due to my parents looking for me.

"…GINNY!!!"

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This Sunday is a good day. It's days like these that remind me the of the pre-cancer heydays. Where my family's main worry was weather Draco was treating me well. Not wondering if they should make wedding preparations first or funeral ones.

Rest assured, he makes me happy. The kind of happy that you enjoy every moment and then still enjoy when you just sit back and think about. That addictive, fuzzy and warm type of happy.

Today I felt like a real excited woman about who was about to be wed to that "perfect guy." Who has as many faults as winning qualities and you just can't help but fall tit over toe for.

Draco's fallen asleep again, as he usually does after eating a lot. It's adorable! When he read this, he's going to flip. Apparently, and he tells me this many times, "Malfoys are not adorable."

We just had a typical bride and groom-to-be argument about what colour the wedding theme was going to be. We're both stubborn so in the end, it was sapphire blue that won out. We couldn't decide between red or green. Of course we both agreed red and green was definitely out. No Christmas theme for us. Not for our summer wedding.

Looking down at Draco, I see he's wearing this grey coloured shirt which he likes but I think is disgusting. I think I'll just slide my hand under the shirt and feel his rock hard abs before ripping the buttons off…

Oh god! I'm back at our flat and Draco's having a sulk in the shower because I ruined his shirt. The funniest part was when Ron walked out into the yard, rubbing his neck then screaming like a little girl whilst I was tearing the clothing off my fiancé.

I think I'll join Draco in that shower and make him feel… better.

I can't, I won't let this cancer win, I've got too many heady happy moments like these to look forward to.

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If you're wondering about what Ginny's wedding dress actually looks like, go to this site and look at the "Ginny's Wedding Dress" file on my msn space.

http://adrenalinichewy.spaces. live . com /

just make sure that you back space the spaces between ". live . com /" otherwise it won't load properly in your browser!