Chapter 10
Ginny opened the door of the music room, and stood in the doorway. She scans the room for Draco but he's not hard to find. He's on the piano bench, with his head in his hands. Ginny steps further into the room and closes the door. He doesn't look up as she comes over to him. She silently stands in front of him.
Ginny reached out softly touched his hand, he looks up at her and sighs, "You don't have to apologize Ginny; I hurt you. I just wasn't expecting that right now."
Ginny slipped her hand into his and held it, "I wasn't going to apologize . . . yet."
Draco looked up at her slightly confused, but waited for her to explain, "I want to know why you did it Draco?" She sat next to him, "I need to know, before this . . . us. Before we go any further, I need to know why you hurt me the way you did."
Ginny's hand was still resting in his as he stayed silent. He gently ran is thumb over the back of her hand, "Because I needed you to hate me, and it worked."
"But why? Why would you want me to hate you?"
"Because I couldn't get out of marrying Pansy and if you hated me I knew that at least one of us would have a chance at a real life, not pining over something could never have. My father wouldn't have it any other way, I needed you not to love me anymore . . ." he trailed off.
"Well, I hated you," she said finally. "But I never stopped loving you Draco. I never could and never would."
Draco looked up to find her staring at him, she was still too good for him, still too pure and he still loved her too much, "So what happened after?" she asked quietly.
"Don't you read the papers?"
She shook her head, "I stopped reading them when every other article became about you. I didn't need the reminder."
"Oh, I'm So-"
"It's ok." She cut him. "So what happened? Where's Pansy?"
"She died, Gin."
Ginny's hand flew to her mouth, "Oh Merlin! How?"
"Fire. Had you read the daily prophet they would have told you it was an unfortunate accident . . . it wasn't. I saw her right before she did it. She looked me right in the eye, and walked straight into the burning building. I couldn't stop her."
"Why did she do it?"
"We weren't happy, and there's no divorce for arranged marriages. It's until death ends our binding, so she ended it."
"I'm so sorry,"
"Don't be, we're both better off with it done. Pansy was always on the edge. All the Slytherins knew it would happen sooner or later. We just always thought she would do it in a more private fashion. You know overdose, throw herself from the roof at Hogwarts, something more refined and less irreversible."
They sat in silence for a while, Draco still unconsciously running his thumb over the back of Ginny's hand, "Why did you want to be alone earlier?" She said finally breaking the silence.
Now's as good a time as any, Draco looked over into Ginny's warm Brown eyes and spoke, "Because . . . I still love you Gin and I wanted you to know that. We've been through a lot and we probably have a lot more headed our way, but no matter what I want you to remember that I never stopped loving you."
He spoke with pure, unadulterated honesty and Ginny melted. She pressed her lips against his and he didn't hesitate in responding. Her hands returned to their favourite places, the smooth taught muscles and supple soothing skin that they had memorized years before. He lifted her onto his lap, and they leaned against the piano.
Memories of years before flooded back, how perfectly they fit then. The way they still fit now, neither had out grown the other. Their hands still settled perfectly together, and both knew where to touch the other to get the right reaction.
Surrounded by music they reclaimed the love that had always been; a love that could never die.
Ginny's eyes opened to darkness, and the cold chill of air against her skin. She rolled back slightly coming in contact with barely warmed skin. She smiled. Quietly she sat up pulling on the nearest item of clothing she could find; his shirt.
The light fragrance of his cologne and his soap still clung to the fabric. Long tendrils of sunburnt red hair rolled over her shoulders and fly away hairs framed her face. She stood carefully and padded, barefoot, across the hardwood floors. Ginny ran her fingers along the black lacquer top of the piano.
She sat on the cold wooden sat, which made her shiver. Quietly she raised the cover off of the keys.
You'll never see - the courage I know
Its colors' richness won't appear within your view
I'll never glow - the way that you glow
Your presence dominates the judgements made on you
But as the scenery grows, I see in different lights
The shades and shadows undulate in my perception
My feelings swell and stretch; I see from greater heights
I understand what I am still too proud to mention - to you
You'll say you understand, but you don't understand
You'll say you'd never give up seeing eye to eye
But never is a promise, and you can't afford to lie
You'll never touch - these things that I hold
The skin of my emotions lies beneath my own
You'll never feel the heat of this soul
My fever burns me deeper than I've ever shown - to you
You'll say, Don't fear your dreams, it's easier than it seems
You'll say you'd never let me fall from hopes so high
But never is a promise and you can't afford to lie
You'll never live the life that I live
I'll never live the life that wakes me in the night
You'll never hear the message I give
You'll say it looks as though I might give up this fight
But as the scenery grows, I see in different lights
The shades and shadows undulate in my perception
My feelings swell and stretch, I see from greater heights
I realize what I am now too smart to mention - to you
You'll say you understand, you'll never understand
I'll say I'll never wake up knowing how or why
I don't know what to believe in, you don't know who I am
You'll say I need appeasing when I start to cry
But never is a promise and I'll never need a lie
A pair of arms encircled her waist, and kiss was placed in her hair, "I will never stop loving you," He said repeated quietly. Ginny closed her eyes and let a tear roll down her cheek.
"You still haven't told him!" Gabrielle burst out in the middle of Madame West's tea room. Ginny sunk down in her chair, "You have with the boy and still haven't effing told him!" Hermione covered her face with her hand.
"Say it a little louder why don't you Azkaban hasn't heard you yet," Luna hissed.
Gabrielle restrained herself and cleared her throat, "Don't you think that's a little messed up Gin?" she said adopting more dulcet tones.
"I know it's a pissy situation, but I'm no longer planning not to tell him. I just haven't decided a day yet,"
"Well feel free to take your time deciding," Luna said patting Ginny's hand.
"Just because it's your draw in three weeks," Hermione said nonchalantly sipping her tea.
"and yours is next week Mione, so be silent" Gabrielle snipped.
"and your week is almost up."
"All of you shut it with your stupid bets already!" Ginny said slamming down her cup, "If you all don't mind I have to go pick up my children from nursery."
"I'll come with you," Luna said quietly.
The two walked in silence toward the nursery, Ginny locked elbows with her friends by way of forgiveness and they began a loose plan of Luna's wedding dress. "I still can't believe my brother got someone as great as you, pumpkin."
"I can't believe we're going to be sisters,"
The two girls laughed as the entered the nursery. Petra, Luna's receptionist, looked up from her desk and gave them a warm smile. "Miss. Weasley I didn't think you would still be coming today."
Ginny looked mildly confused, "Why wouldn't I come, Petra? I still have to get the girls."
It was Petra's turn to look confused, "But Natalie picked them up . . . an hour ago."
"What?"
"Yeah, she said that you told her to come and get them because you wouldn't have the time and she was to take them for lunch and you would meet her after," Petra explained not understanding just what was wrong.
"Did she mention where she was taking them?" Luna asked, her eyes not leaving her red headed friend who was having a hard time soming to terms with the new information.
"No, sorry. I just assumed you knew."
Ginny made a swift exit from the day care center and Luna turned to follow, "I don't understand whats wrong?" Petra asked from her desk.
Luna stopped at the door, "Ginny doesn't allow anyone near her children, her own mother isn't allowed to pick them up with out her extreme and explicit say so," with that Luna exited the small building. Ginny was standon the pavement just outside the door waiting.
When luna got close enough she began to walk, "I know she's been acting strange lately but this is unbelieveable" Ginny said storming toward the club. It was the only logical place she could think of.
"Why would she just decide to pick them up?2 Luna asked, finding it difficult to keep up with Ginny.
"Because she wants the sack obviously,"
They reached the club and Ginny ragefully pushed open the doors, "Natalie! Natalie get out here right now!" There was no answerr.
"Natalie!" She yelled again. Still to no avail, "Luna floo Gabrielle and get her Miona to look around Diagon Alley, then floo Harry and tell him to meet me at my flat." Luna nodded and began toward the fireplace as Ginny exited the building. She made her way swiftly to the leaky cauldron, after checking the ice cream parlour, the quidditch shop and Flourish and Blotts.
"Tom," She yelled for the innkeeper. The hunchbacked man came limping and quickly as he could toward her.
"Yes, Miss. Weasley. Will you be needing one of our conference rooms again?" he asked hopefully.
"Not now Tom. Have you seen Natalie?"
"Your bartender? No not for awhile now. I usually see floo through here twice a day but i haven't seen her for about a month now. why?"
"How about my girls have you seen them?"
"Oh i haven't seen the two darlings since the last time you brought them to one of your muggle realations meetings."
"Bollocks," she muttered under her breathe.
"Why do you ask Miss?"
Ginny took a deep breathe, "No reason," she said deciding the less people that knew right now, the better. "Just, if you see them, or Natalie, could you alert me or any of my partners as soon as possible?"
"Of course Miss. But i'm still not sure why I would be doing this?"
"Because I asked you to Tom" with that she walked over to a near by fireplace and flooed out.
Draco sat neatly between two towering stacks of parchment, reading over his latest stock takings. There was a roaring in the fireplace in the next room which he, as usual, ignored assuming it was someone to drop off more work or the cleaner.
"Draco!" someone yelled from the next room.
It sounded strangely like, "Ginny?" He yelled back. The door behind him flew open and a very disstressed red head stood in the way.
Draco stood up as she approached him, "Ginny what's wro-2
"Natalie has Sara and Liz," she interrupted.
"What? Who's Natalie?"
"Natalie, the soon to be ex-Bartender at the club. She lied to Luna receptionist and picked the girls up from daycare and now i don't know where they are."
"Why would she do that?"
"I don't know! All I know is that she has them and I want them back!"
"Of course Gin. We'll find them don't worry." he pulled her into his arms and held her there. She was shaking violently in his grasp. He tried his best to soothe her, but soon her shakes turned to sobs and he was lost.
". . .but why would she-"
"We don't know, ok. All we know is that she was the last person seem with them and that they aren't here, ok?" Harry explained impaiently to the Auror for what seemed like the tweleth time. The Auror nodded and added it to his many notes.
"We'll do our best but without a motive we don't have much to go on," he assesed mournfully.
Harry was livid and opened his mouth to tell the Auror a thing or two about where his notepad should be shoved when Draco appeared in the door of the flat, "You will do better than your best because if you don't find those girls very soon you'll have to find a new job, won't you?"
The Auror nodded, "Yes, Mr. Malfoy." He said reverently and was gone.
"Thanks," Harry muttered rubbing sleep from his eyes.
Draco waved his hand, and walked into the flat. The living room was packed with people. peple here to console Ginny, people here to help Ginny, people who just wanted to seem like they cared, but no Ginny. Draco made his way through the crowd as Gabrielle 'politically' tried to convince them that Ginny was in no state for visitors right now, "Would you all just get the fuck out! She doesn't want to see you, i don't want to see you. We don't even know half of you now bugger off and leave her alone!"
Draco veered off into the side the door at the side of the room, with a gentle knock he opened the door and went in. The room was dark as he closed the door behind him, he gave his eye time to adjust and made his way over to the bed.
Ginny's frame could just be made out seated on the edge. Her head was hung and Draco could hear her sniffling. It had been three days, the new papers had gotten wind of it, they had filled out countless reports and there had been numberous dead end tips from people who just needed attention and through it all Ginny had only cried and screamed.
He sat next to her and she insticntivly wrapped her arms around him and curled into his lap. She had become reamrkably light during the whoel ordeal, she refused to eat because she was to anxious to be hungry. Draco rested the bottle of strengthing potion Molly had given him to deliver on the ground and held her.
Molly was surprisngly keeping her distance, she visited Ginny everyday without fail and returned to the burrow to watch the clock. Sara and Liz had been charmed in the day they were born, and the needle had never once wavered to peril it remained stationary on travelling.
"You should eat something," he whispered into Ginny's hair. He felt her shake her head into his chest and them he heard the muffled reply of, "not hungry." He nodded and simply held her for a moment longer until her breath evened out. It was the only time she slept, when he was there, and it would only continue for a moment after he lay her down. she would almost instantly wake up again if he wasn't right beside her.
There was a gentle knock and Gabrielle's jet black head peeped in, "She asleep?" she whispered. Draco nodded gently and Gabrielle motioned for him to come outside for a second. Draco gently rested Ginny one the soft sheets and sent up a silent prayer that she would stay sleeping this time.
When he went back into the living room it was empty. Gabrielle had managed to get them to all leave by threatening to curse each and everyone of their familes if they didn't and knowing Gabrielle wasn't one for empty threats they all promptly left. Gabrielle was curled on the sofa beside Blaise baby Caleb asleep in his basinet beside them. They were a picture perfect family, besides the stressed and tired looks on their faces.
"I feel so fucking helpless," Gabrielle whispered.
"It's not your fault Gabs, there is nothing any of us could have done." Blaise said rubbing her shoulder.
"Yeah, but of all people. Why Ginny? She's the sweetest person in the world she doesn't deserve or need any of this." Harry said from the corner of the room. Draco hadn't noticed him before now. He was crouched behind an armchair with his head in his hand, Hermione seemingly sleeping in the chair, "Where's her brother?" Draco asked.
"Kitchen, he can't handle this level of stress over everything Luna's in there consoling him." Hermione said, her eyes still closed.
"This is going to sound rude, but why would anyone take two of Weasley children?" Draco asked. The entire room looked up but said nothing, "What?" he asked noticing the tension that appeared in the air.
Harry looked at Gabrielle and shrugged, "Draco-" she started. but the door behind Draco flew open and Ginny stepped out, "What's going on out here?" she said quietly her voice hoarse from crying.
"Nothing, love. Go back to bed." Blaise said sweetly.
Ginny shook her head, "Not tired," she lied stifling a yawn. She padded barefoot over to Draco who put a protective arm around her shoulders.
The group sat around the living room waiting, that's all they could do. Every now and then, one of them would shift positions but other than that they were completely still and silent.
Caleb stirred in his basket and began to cry, Gabrielle lifted him gently to hush him, "Maybe we should go," Blaise suggested watching Ginny's face as her best friend cuddled her own child. Gabrielle nodded quistly and got up. She gave Ginny a gentle kiss before leaving with Blaise.
With Gabrielle gone the others slowly trickled out, Ron and Luna being the last because he was reluctant to leave his sis ter all alone, "She's not alone." Draco interrupted.
This filled Ginny with relief, because while she didn't want a bunch of people suffering with her. She didn't want to be alone either. When they were all gone Ginny sat on the couch stifling a yawn, "You should really get some sleep," Draco said settling beside her.
She shook her head, "I'm really not tired," she said resting her head on his shoulder and yawning again.
Draco chuckled, "As long as your sure," he said amused. He ran his fingers through her blood red locks. "Ginny," he said quietly. "Why would anyone want your children? I mean they are Weasley's after all, no offense of course."
"None taken," she said in a tired voice, "Well," she yawned againd. "It's... it's because..." her breath evened out and she was gone. Draco decided that it was more important for her to sleep than for him to satisfy morbid curiousity.
This is the second time i'm uploading this.
R&R
xx