A/N: Okay just to clarify; the way this chapter will work in the beginning is: Draco's POV, going on through into a few months or so then it'll change to Ginny's POV and it'll start over to the same time point as when we first started with Draco, the only difference in Ginny's POV is that it doesn't last as long (The next chapter will be those months not in this one.) because, apparently, Draco isn't as interesting as Ginny.
My inspiration for this chapter and those to come:.
People can change,
People can change,
I'm sorry for all the things I've done.
People don't change,
People don't change.
Once a Death Eater,
You're always one…
-The Ministry of Magic, Snape vs. Snape
(Or, you know, in this case Draco vs. Draco)
Draco
I went to my mother's house the day after I learned of Father's death. It was unnecessary, I knew she was not grieving in the slightest, but it was the polite thing to do in society.
My mother, soon after my marriage to Ginny, moved to the vineyard in Italy; she says the activity of overseeing the wine making and grape enriched air was the best thing that happened to her. I, however, am not so fond of her new home; it's located much too close to the village nearby for my tastes. Noise and bustle on a constant basis, who on Earth would want to deal with that?
An ancient house elf showed me to my mother's Tea Room, where she sees all her company. When I entered the room she looked towards me and nodded; the signal for me to have a seat. She was wearing the usual emerald pencil skirt outfit made of imported material and those very high black heels that made a loud clicking noise everywhere she went, alerting people of her presence. She looked powerful and elegant, like everything she was or did. "Draco, how lovely you've stopped by" a pause, "I assume you've been told about Lucius?"
I nodded solemnly. "I have."
"Contrary to what you believe, Draco, I did care for your father," Mother sipped at her tea, her red lipstick leaving marks on the cup's rim. "Perhaps not in the way a wife cares, but he was a sort of friend to me when we entered our arranged marriage. He was not wholly the monster he always seemed to be. I think I shall miss him, even if only a little. But there is something I wish to discuss with you, Draco, about your wife."
Ginny? Had my mother found something out? Did she know Ginny's location? My hopes rose, but only to be put down.
"I must say, Draco, I'm very disappointed in you. I've spoken to some of your help and what they've told me doesn't please me. Your treatment of that girl was absolutely unsupportable." She scolded me.
What had I done wrong? I only ever punished Ginny when she did something wrong. I didn't want to punish her. It was Ginny's own fault. Didn't she know that if she only listened to me and obeyed I would have no reason to be unpleasant? That if she'd just give me a smile, the way I'd seen her give them so freely smile to her friends and her precious Potter, I'd be absolute putty in her hands; I'd giver jewels and clothes, I'd allow her to go and be anywhere in the world, hell I'd even get her her own Quidditch Pitch, fully equipped, if she so desired. If only she'd behave.
"I don't understand, Mother." I said, confused.
"Draco, I know you never really had much of a real father figure in your life, but your actions toward Ginerva were completely nonsensical." She said in a firm voice, her features set. "You have treated her like a toy that wouldn't work and I am thoroughly disappointed; it's no wonder the poor thing ran off on you. Not even your father treated me so badly, even if he did lose his temper often."
"She didn't run off, Mother, she was taken away; probably by Potter and his band of merry men…"
"Draco, whether she was taken or ran, whether Harry Potter did it or not, does not matter. My son, I believe you don't really want to cause this girl harm. You were always a selfish child and you always got your way, but you had a good heart in everything you did. Perhaps this isn't the right thing to do, but I will trust you not to act towards Ginerva as you have before, and I will assist you in your search for her."
Just then the same old house elf that showed me to my mother came hobbling in. "Mistress Malfoy," it squeaked, "You have a-another visitor. Faitley, he says h-his name is, Mistress."
"Ah, what perfect timing; escort the gentleman in, Tappy." Mother waved her hand and set down her tea, a small 'clink' echoing through the room. I considered it strange for Mother to allow someone to interrupt us; usually she makes whoever it is wait until we are finished with our conversation.
A man of about thirty, with a balding head and a large handlebar mustache walked in; he was sporting a Muggle suit, which I thought rather odd, as well.
The man bounded over to my mothers chair, and knelt down, taking her hand. "Mrs. Malfoy," said he, "I have done what you have asked of me." He pulled a small, rolled up piece of parchment from his coats breast pocket, and secured in my mother's long fingers.
Mother nodded to the man sharply. "Very good, Faitley. That is all; you may go."
And without another word the strange man left.
"And what," I asked, dragging my words out lazily, "Is that, Mother?"
"This, Draco, is nothing for you to be concerned about. It is simply some ongoing research I am having Mr. Faitley doing."
And with that we spent the next few hours in near silence, with the occasional clink of tea cups and crunch of crackers.
Before I left Mother informed me that Father's funeral would be held next Friday. I, of course, was expected to attend; and I would.
***
My search for Ginny went on for months; months filled with Death Eaters going in and out of Malfoy Manor, months of failed leads, dead ends, and disappointed hopes.
The Dark Lord, as a small token and favor, in honor of my father, let me use as many Death Eaters as necessary for the retrieval of Ginny. I had Yaxley, Parkinson, Crabbe, and Goyle on the job. It wasn't much of a pleasure working with such dim associates, but I managed.
I suppose it was a good thing, in some ways, that I hadn't found Ginny for so long. It gave me time, whether I wanted to or not, to think over Mother's words.
Had I been too hard on Ginny? I never really thought about the way I treated her, or how it made her feel; just that she didn't do what I wanted, didn't act how I wanted, and I didn't like it. Was my mother right? Had I treated Ginny like a broken toy? In connection to my mother's words, I thought of Ginny herself, and not just getting her back. I thought of the color of hair, a wonderful ruby red, so different from that of her carrot-headed brothers. I thought of her eyes, the shape of them, the wonderful hazel color, that in the sunlight nearly changed color to green; The wonder spark that was always in her eyes at Hogwarts, a teasing light, always ready to help her twin brothers with pranks, or jus hang about and have fun. At Malfoy Manor the only time that spark entered her eyes was when she was reading a book in the Library, so far away in her mind. I never noticed all these things, or else, never really thought of them; and though I would never admit it aloud, I began to genuinely miss Ginny….
Ginny
The next morning (well, afternoon, really, I didn't get much sleep that night and no one woke me) I prepared my self for what I knew was to come. For a short time I thought of just not telling anyone, but I knew that wouldn't go well. It wouldn't stay secret for long, whether I told them or not, would it? I'd rather they heard it from me.
I tromped down the narrow staircase, found the small kitchen, (smelling of home-made soup, no doubt from Harry's hand. Spending all that time as a maid for those Muggles, the Dursleys, wasn't for naught.), and greeted everyone. They were all smiles and nods and "Good morning, Ginny", "Are you alright, Ginny?"
"Um, Hermione, Harry…Ron…" Oh, Lord, Ron. He couldn't even take it when he saw me snog Dean Thomas in my fifth year, and I can only imagine his reaction when he found out I'd been taken to Malfoy manor. How would he react? "I've sort of kept something from you that I know I should have said the second I got here but I was just so nervous, and afraid that you'd hate me, and I was so excited and relieved to see you all again, and… and.." I burst into tears, my hands sliding over my face. Again I was upset with myself. I never cried; never. I was showing weakness in front of my friends and family, in front of Harry.
Immediately all three of them rushed over to me, helping me to the small breakfast nook, cooing my name, saying everything would be alright. No it wouldn't.
It took me ten minuets before I calmed down, and another ten to say 'it'.
"I'm…Pregnant." I whispered. The room fell silent. Three pairs of eyes went wide, and three mouths dropped open. Harry, from his seat across from me, abruptly stood and walked out of the kitchen in three long strides. Hermione, Ron, and I watched in silence, our eyes following him out of the kitchen door.
We faintly heard the boom, boom, booms of his feet stomping up the stairs, and a bedroom door slam shut. I was afraid he would react that way. How long it would take Harry to calm down, I had no idea. When he would speak to me again wasn't in the line of sight, either.
Hermione's arm tightened around my shoulders. Ron crossed the kitchen, leaned his elbows against the wooden counter, and put his face in his hands; He let out a sort of cross between a groan of anguish and a sigh of pity. "How," His voice cracked, "How long…have you known, Ginny? That you were…" He trailed off.
"Not long," I replied.
"Bloody Hell," I heard him mutter. He looked pale.
I felt so sorry for doing this for him.
"It is Malfoy's, though?" Hermione asked. Her head stooped down a bit more as she spoke, and she lowered her voice a bit, as if she were telling a secret.
"Hermione!" I exclaimed, "Do you really take me for that much of a slag?" I questioned her, a little hurt and shocked. I know Hermione didn't mean to insult me; she doesn't realize how rude she sounds sometimes, I think.
"No, Ginny, of course not; It's just that…well… we have no idea what happened when you were… with Malfoy," I Shivered at the way she had said that; like I went away for vacation to the Bahamas. She may as well have said "While you were at Honolulu." "Oh…I'm sorry, Ginny, that just… came out very wrong."
I simply nodded. I'm not sure I trust my mouth.
Ron shook his head from left to right slowly. He pounded his fist on the counter, "I'll kill him. I'll go track him down and kill him now!"
"Ron, no you can't!" Ron and Hermione gave me strange looks. "If we try anything and he dies you'll have more Death Eaters tracking you now than ever before, and if you go there and don't kill him than it's a big possibility that he'll use a locator charm to track you back here. In either case it's too dangerous.
"I do want him to pay, I want it more than anyone, but I can't take that risk until You-Know-" I paused, "Until Voldemort is dead and Malfoy is out of power. We have his whole life to kill him, Ron; don't risk ours because you're impatient."
"Well," Said Ron, "If I can't kill Malfoy then I want to know what we are goin' to do about…it," The word 'it' dribbled from his mouth like un-wanted throw-up.
"Well," Hermione approached cautiously, "There is Muggle practices that will…well…it'll get rid of it."
"'Get rid of it'," I repeated. "What do you mean, 'get rid of it'?" Ron turned to face us from where he was standing, looking interested.
"It's called 'abortion'." Hermione explained, her face bunched up "The Muggle doctor basically takes the fetus from your womb. He kills it. There's always that option, Ginny. Or you could go full term and then give it up for adoption. You have choices, Ginny. Remember that."
Ron's face flashed with some twisted form of hope. "You mean we can kill it? She won't have to have it?"
"Ronald!" I exclaimed, "I am not killing my child, and I am not giving it to strangers! No matter whom the father is. I don't care if Satan himself fathered my child-"
"Are you saying that Draco Malfoy isn't Satan and the root of all evil?!" Ron protested.
"- I am not going to kill it." I finished, ignoring my brother. How could he even suggest such a thing? Just because Draco's a monster doesn't mean my child will be. For the first time since discovering my condition I thought of the baby inside of me fondly. I absently wondered if it would have the Weasley red hair. It seemed likely, with my family's background, that it'd inherit most of the Weasley traits.
We talked more of what I would do when the baby was born, seeing as I was so against the Muggle practice Hermione had suggested.
Ron had, ever so slowly, calmed down and sat with Hermione and me. We talked of things like where I would live (With them, of course. Ron would never let me out of his sight again), we suggested things, like what color the baby's room would be (Ron want's green, I'd like a pale yellow. Hermione just wants Ron to shut up), and we had disagreements ("It's a boy, I tell you!", "Ron, you're nutters, it'll be a girl!"). Ron was still trying to push that Muggle practice on me (He stopped when I threatened his life. My wand may have been taken, but my fists were still as sturdy as ever.) We all became slightly more relaxed towards the Idea of my having a baby. I knew Ron and Hermione, at least would be there no matter what, now. At five thirty (had it been so long?) we took a small break from bickering on what to name the child (Ron had officially blocked out that the child even HAD a father, at that point) and had a small dinner. Immediately after the dishes were washed and charmed to put themselves away we continued our before conversations.
"You'll name him Ronald Arthur Weasley, the Second," Ron said, the finality in his voice almost comical. ("Ron, we don't even know if it's a boy yet!" piped Hermione) I was amazed at how a conversation that began so badly this morning, ended so relaxed and funny, and I certainly never thought that Ron would be suggesting names for my child. The former thought got me thinking of Harry. He'd been in his room for over five hours. I began to worry.
Before I could voice my thoughts, we heard footsteps quietly walking down the stairs. We all looked to the ceiling, holding our breath. A few seconds later, his hair mussed and his eyes looking very tired, Harry walked through the kitchen door, his hands in his pockets and his head down.
"Could I talk to you, Ginny?" He asked, starring straight at me. His eyes had dark circles under them, I noticed.
Ron coughed, awkwardly. "Hermione, do you think you could help me go look for that… thing that I lost?" He dead-panned.
"What…?" Hermione looked confused, and then it dawned on her what Ron was hinting at. "Oh. Oh! Yes, Ron, lets go look for that thing," and they scurried out of the kitchen, whispering to each other.
Harry and I were left in silence.
Finally he opened his mouth to speak. "Ginny, I… I've been thinking." Oh, Merlin. This is the part where he calls me a no good slag and tells me to go on my merry way back to Draco. I can't bear to listen to this, I just can't.
"And I've decided," Harry went on ever so slowly, too slowly for me. "That I want to help you raise the baby."
"Harry, I know that I- wait what?" I stopped. I hadn't expected that.
"I know this isn't the most normal situation to do this in, what with us not being able to even be seen, but Ginny, we're so close to defeating Voldemort, and even then, if you want, we can wait a little until things die down a bit. I-"
"Harry!" I exclaimed. "Are you- are you asking me to marry you?"
"Well…I suppose I am, aren't I?" He gave a nervous laugh. "This isn't really the way I pictured it happening. I kind of had a little speech prepared, and of course, I wanted to wait until Voldemort was dead, but I just don't know-"
He really can rattle on can't he? I mused. I went over in my head what he asked me, and as I did a smile spread over my face. He must be so nervous. He was still running on. I let out an amused laugh. "Harry," he stopped his ranting and looked at me "shut up, will you?" I crossed the room and through my arms around his neck and kissed him.
"Yes, yes, yes," I muttered against his lips. He wrapped his arms around me and I laid my head against his shoulder. "Of course I'll marry you," I whispered. I took a deep breath; he smelled so good.
"Really," He asked, "Gin, I promise I'll be the best husband and I'll take care of you, and the baby."
"I know, Harry; I know."
"I love you, Gin." He whispered. His face was so serene, I could almost cry.
"Oh!" Hermione burst through the kitchen door, "I knew it! I knew it!" She laughed; Ron followed her, a smile on his face.
"Congratulations mate." He turned towards me, "You'll still name him Ronald Aurthur, though, right?"
I giggled. We all laughed.
"Not a chance in Hell, Ronald," I said, and we laughed even harder.
I don't think I'd ever been happier than in that short time of unreal bliss. But, then, we all have to enter reality again sometime, don't we?
(Note:PLEASE READ SORT OF IMPORTANT, NOT REALLY, BUT AL LEAST SKIM, GAWD.HBP SPOILERS,SORRY. SKIP THE CAPS LOCK, ALL THREE OF YOU WHO ACCUALLY READ THIS PART)
A/N: Hey, everyone, Read here (Obviously). I am a little stoked to be (and OH MY GOD HALF BLOOD PRINCE CAME OUT AND I SAW IT AND SHE TIED HIS FREAKIN' SHOE! WHO TIES THEIR LOVE INTERSEST'S SHOE?! AND THE BURROW? BURNT TO THE GROUND, THAT DIDN'T EVEN HAPPEN IN ANY OF THE BOOKS! DAMN YOU WARNER BROTHERS) reaching this point in the story (almost ten chapters. It won't be the ending, but still. I'm thinking of doing something special for Chapter Ten, but I don't know what; any ideas, oh loving readers of mine?) And I don't know if any of you felt this way, but I'm almost certain there's something off about this chapter. It just doesn't sit right with me. I think it's around Ginny's part, maybe things went a little too fast or something. Gah! Also, I'm thinking of going back and re-doing the time span of Ginny Draco life, make it longer and do a few full days at least, you know? Maybe I'll just add a new chapter all together. I told you I'd be going back and making changes! (Think it's a good idea or a stinker?) (I like parentheses this week for some reason…) Oh! A few more things!
I have begun writing a D/G oneshot! It's not so long, I'm thinking I've got the majority down pat and I've only written not even 3 Word pages! D: It is centered around three main components: Ginny, Draco, and the Quidditch 't say much more, sorry. Still configuring a title, my first idea was "of Snitches and Kisses" but I'm not liking it so much anymore. Maybe "All She wanted was A Little Quidditch" ….Nah…
Okay, one final thing, I SWEAR! I want to do a little free-advert. For a few things I love and I'd love love love it for all of you to check these things out.
First, for all the hard-hitting DG fans, there's this AMAZING site call the Fire and Ice Archives; it is too cool. I'm trying to get this story up on there but their rules and restrictions are more restriction-y than FF's are. :( Nothing from them on my story yet (and, you know, I don't even know if I put it under the right categories. I didn't know if they considered a series a story with more than one chapter or a story with epilogue stories and spin offs on D&G's kid or some crap like that Ugh. It's a bit confusing but I've been asking around on things)
And Two, for those of you who own iPods, the Accio Potter (OR, Accio Rememberall (Third 'e'?), a joint cast) is super funny and informative on all things HP. Subscription is free.
That's it. So 'till next time,
Love, ReadBML.
