Chapter 8
Gossip and Screaming Matches
Two hours later Draco and Ginny were outside the ballroom doors waiting to be introduced to the reception. Narsissa had insisted on all the traditional wedding activities, right down to the bouquet she insisted Ginny carry and the garter she was forced to wear so Draco could take it off her later.
"You look beautiful, And I will buy you anything you want for putting up with this tonight." He kissed her cheek and a moment later the doors opened. He took her hand and led her in as all the guests stood and clapped.
" I am so not in the mood for this right now" She said through gritted teeth and a fake smile. Draco led her to the dance floor for their first dance. Draco held her close as they spun around the dance floor. Ginny could feel everyones eyes on her, when the song ended they were seated and dinner was served.
Ginny looked around the room. She only recognized a few, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, and of course Grabbe and Goyle. She would never know how Lucius had escaped imprisonment after the war, and she would never ask. She assumed it had something to do with his money and his heavy support for the new minister. Ginny counted herself lucky that bellatrix had not managed to escape Azkaban, that woman was nutters.
" Are you alright Gin ?" Draco asked snapping her out of her daze.
"What ? I'm sorry."
" You're not eating your dinner."
" Sorry" She mumbled and picked at her meal.
Draco reached over and took her hand. "It's going to be alright Gin, I promise."
" I don't see how Draco, I don't want to have a child where there is no love." They were seated at a romantic table set for two in front of the rest of the party so their conversation could not be overheard.
" Ginny we may not love each other" Except I do, he finished in his head. " But I'll always care for you, and we will both love the child, thats all that matters."
" I bought you a wedding gift." He reached into his pocket an pulled out and envelope. "Open it."
She pulled the piece of paper out and started to read, Draco spoke when it became clear she didn't understand.
" I bought back the Burrow for you. All the debt is gone, the mortgage is all paid. This way no matter what happens in the next year, you'll always have a home." Tears were streaming down her face.
"Thank you Draco, I... I can't believe you did this." She leaned over and hugged him, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. The rest of the party saw Draco close his eyes and smell her hair, His love was apparent to everyone except Ginny.
After dinner the tables were moved aside for dancing. Thankfully most of the night Narsissa was to preoccupied with being the hostess to bother her. Although she insisted on cutting in to dance with Draco leaving her to dance with Lucius, which was significantly awkward considering they never held a conversation before.
" You seem to be handling yourself quite well tonight" He said as they danced.
" Do I detect surprise in your voice ?" She raised an eyebrow at him.
" Of course you do. But its still a compliment. You seem nervous."
" With all do respect Mr. Malfoy, we've never held a conversation so this is a little ..."
" You are my daughter in law now, you can call me Lucius."
" I must confess I'm surprised you are not more upset about this considering who my father is...was"
" Your father was a good man Ginevra we merely saw things differently. You are who Draco wants, I should have shut up long enough to listen sooner."
" Thank you"
The song ended and he kissed her hand. Before Draco could rejoin her Blaise came over and took her hand, she was about to excuse herself when she caught Narsissa glaring at her and decided it wasn't worth it.
" Do you remember me from school ?"
" Of course, Your Draco's best friend."
" I must say he is a very lucky man. I guess I owe you best wishes and congratulations."
" What do you mean ?" She asked although she had a pretty good idea what he was talking about.
" Well ...Pansy noticed you weren't drinking. Pansy loves her gossip." Ginny looked away for a moment.
"You don't seem happy about it."
" It's not certain yet so just to be safe I...." She shrugged.
" I'm sure Draco will be ecstatic, if thats what you're worried about."
" It's not. It's complicated Blaise"
" Not as I see it. I hope Draco doesn't hold me to the bet." He mumbled.
" What bet ?"
" Well I guess its alright to tell you now. Back in...like, I guess it was our 6th year, your 5th. He had bumped into you in the hall, I don't remember what you said to him but he said he was going to marry you."
"What !"
" He said you were different, he was certain that he could love you and that one day he was going to marry you. I said no way, I thought by now you would be the mother of 3 Potters. He said I'll bet you half my inheritance, I never really took it seriously."
"I... I can't believe that."
" Why are you so surprised, you married him so you must love him back."
"Yes of course. He just never told me."
" Yes well I'm hoping he forgot because I already spent half my inheritance." He laughed.
" I'll make sure its safe, thanks Blaise."
"Thank you for the dance" He kissed her cheek and handed her back to Draco.
" What did blaise say to you ?"
" What makes you think that he told me anything ?"
" He's my best friend, he knows all my secrets."
" Well he did say you had a bet regarding me, which I think we should talk about." They were back at their table and Ginny was massaging her feet.
" Oh merlin, like I'd really take half his inheritance. I was 17 when I said that. I was still a kid." He said quickly in explanation. " I...I wasn't serious" He mumbled, averting his eyes.
" Yea, thats ...thats what I thought." She leaned down and put her shoes back on. Draco couldn't help but look down at her cleavage. She leaned back up to quickly for Draco and her head knocked into his chin.
" Ow Draco ..." She looked at him as she rubbed the back of her head, his cheeks were red. She immediately punch his arm.
" You were looking down my dress ! "
" Well it's not like I've never seen them." She rolled her eyes at him.
" Will you excuse me, I need to use the loo."
The rest of the night passed in a blur of wedding cheesiness. When Narsissa approached Draco and Ginny and told them it was now appropriate for them to leave Ginny was immensely happy until she found out that Narsissa planned a "honeymoon" portkey for them to some unknown location for an extended weekend.
They were transported straight into a lavish beach house. Ginny didn't even bother to try and figure out where they were. They both just went to sleep due to the long, stressful day they just lived through.
The next morning Ginny found Draco out on the porch drinking coffee and joined him.
" It is beautiful here but I can't believe you mother did this. although I shouldn't be surprised by anything she does."
" My mother is nothing if not thorough" Draco said as he sipped his coffee
" We can just relax here Ginny, nobody knows we are here, Its our private beach. No reporters or prying eyes."
" Oh great at least we will be alone when we find out if our accident is going ruin my life."
" The innocent child who may or may not exist, didn't ask to be thrown into this situation and doesn't deserve to be spoken of that way."
"I can not believe that you are willing to address this situation as anything but what it is...A mistake Malfoy. We made a mistake, made worse by your mother. Now if this mistake does turn into a child I will have to weigh my options."
" Weigh your options ? Ginevra you don't have options." His temper was rising, his face was turning red.
" News flash Malfoy, This "marriage" is bloody bullshit !" She yelled jumping to her feet.
" I can have any option I want and you couldn't do a damn thing about it." She said poking him in the chest. Looking back, it wasn't the smartest move.
Without warning he took hold of her wrists, and walked forward until her back was to the wall.
" Are you intentionally trying to make me mad ?" He growled at her.
" Yes, Sweet merlin Draco what your mother did was awful ! Its scares me that you don't think so."
" I do think its awful, I want our children conceived out of love."
"What did you just say ?"
"I said I want my children conceived out of love."
"No, No you didn't. You said our children" She said in hardly a whisper as her throat went dry.
" Let's just drop it Ginny."
" No ! Draco I want the truth from you "
" What would you like to hear me say Ginevra ? What will make you happy ?"
" The truth Draco, for once." She said in a calm even voice which unnerved him due to the fact that she had just been screaming at him.
" I'm going for a walk on the beach." She said when he didn't answer.
" Don't follow me" He watched as she walked out towards the ocean. Even after seeing her in the most expensive dress last night, He thought she never looked more beautiful then she did now as the wind blew her fiery hair and the sundress she was wearing to one side exposing more of the creamy, soft skin on her thighs.
REVIEW PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!
