Thursday nights were interesting. Pansy usually arrived around six, greeted Ron then turned to the rest of his family. It was like she was making up for lost time, needing to work her way so firmly into his family that nobody remembered what it was like without her there. She listened to his father's long enthused explanations about muggle technology. She did dishes for his mother and set the table, listened to her chatter away about the latest celebrity gossip. She exchanged detailed conversations with Ginny on just about any subject – although they were good at pretending that they hadn't been meeting for ages before Ron brought her home. When George visited, she needled him for his newest ideas for the shop and was happy to offer suggestions. Charlie came for the week, and when he was there she grilled him about dragons. Bill and Fleur visited for a long weekend and Pansy managed to get Bill to tell all his most exciting stories, and Fleur to share all her makeup charms and beauty tips. Even Percy managed to find some interesting stories to share and topics to discuss with her – or she was amazingly gifted in directing him towards those things without him noticing. She would look up from her conversations every now and again and smile at him, her dark eyes shining and her cheeks glowing with life. He wondered how he had never before seen that she was the most beautiful creature alive.

Most surprising, however, was when Malfoy turned up one Thursday evening at about five past six. He had worked things out with Ginny by taking her on a very expensive week-long holiday, but had never yet visited her family. Ron answered the door. Malfoy looked like he expected to be tortured to death – he was even paler than usual. "Ginny said that it would be ok if I came for dinner tonight," he said tentatively. He seemed very aware that he was on enemy territory.

"Malfoy, before you come into this house, let me get one thing clear," Ron said. Malfoy clenched his jaw but nodded curtly. "You'd better make my sister happy. No, ok, that's not fair." Malfoy seemed surprised that Ron cared if what he was expecting of him was fair, but he said nothing. Ron continued. "You'd better make sure that you're good for my sister. I want her to be content. She's been the happiest I've ever seen her these past few months, but there was a bit before that where she was the most miserable I've ever seen her. She was miserable because she thought you didn't like her. So make sure that she's never afraid of that again, you hear me?"

Malfoy stared at him. "That's it? No, 'don't hurt my baby sister or I'll kill you' speech?"

Ron shrugged, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Pain is inevitable. It sucks, but close relationships mean that you let down your guard and let the pointy parts of the other person's character prickle into you. Gin's terrified of not being wanted, though; so you make sure that she's not afraid you'll get bored and leave. Cos then I will have to hunt you down and tie you up and bring you back so she can do whatever it is she wants with you – and, I've got to warn you, I'm less vicious than she is."

Malfoy nodded. "I understand, Weasley."

"You're going to have to get used to calling us by our first names, Malfoy. There's a whole house full of Weasleys in there," he taunted.

Malfoy gave him a strange, one shouldered shrug. He stuck out his hand. "Ron?" He asked.

"Draco," he confirmed, shaking the other man's hand. "Now we'd better get inside before mum complains that I'm letting a draft in."

When Ron escorted Draco in, the room stopped dead. Ron could see a flush rising on the man's pale cheeks. "Mum, Dad: this is Draco. Ginny's invited him here."

Pansy, surprisingly, was the first to recover. "Draco!" She jumped to her feet and bustled over to kiss his cheek. "It's so lovely to see you here! You've gone and caught us all by surprise. Let me introduce you to Molly and Arthur." She took Draco by the arm and marched him into the room, charming his parents into liking the pale-haired man by default.

Ron went upstairs to find Ginny. She'd been having a shower, he assumed, and had missed the big introduction.

"Gin," he said, catching her elbow as she moved to pass him on the stairs.

"Mmm?" she said, stopping to look at him questioningly.

"Malfoy's here."

"He's what?" She squealed. "Have they dismembered him? Merlin, I was supposed to be there…"

Ron kept hold of her elbow to stop her rushing downstairs. "No, I brought him in and Pansy's looking after him. Before the night's out I'm sure he'll be as much a part of the family as she is."

Ginny stared at him for a long minute as the words sank in. "You mean… It might work? I didn't actually expect him to show up."

"I hope you didn't bet too much money on it; he arrived about five minutes after Pansy."

Ginny checked a clock on the wall. "He's been here almost a full five minutes?" She looked down at what she was wearing. "Oh, Circe, I've got no makeup on…"

Ron slid his arm through hers and cinched it tight to his side. "Come on, girl. He's meeting your family. It's nothing much to let him see your face naked."

Her face might have been naked and she might have been wearing old jeans and a canary yellow jumper, but when she stepped into the room Draco stopped mid-sentence and stared at her. Molly looked behind her at her daughter who was smiling radiantly, then over at Arthur. They shared a knowing smile.

"So," Pansy said into the silence that had descended. "When's the wedding?"

Ginny flushed and her family chuckled nervously; Draco, however, gave a loud, genuine laugh. "What," he said to Pansy, "Jealous it's not you?"

She grinned back. "Of course. Ginny's a lovely girl. If I was inclined that way, I'd be happy to take her off your hands." She wriggled her eyebrows at him and he snickered.

"Such dirty talk out of your mouth, Pansy," Draco chided. "You should wash your mouth out. With some good, strong wine. About two bottles should do nicely." He rubbed his hands together conspiratorially, a wicked smile on his lips. "And we'll give two to her as well."

Ginny giggled, pushed Draco back in his chair and sat on his lap. "Calm down, sweetheart," she said, rolling her eyes. "Who says we need to be drunk?"

Draco made eye contact with Ron, and then all four of them were laughing loudly. Molly cleared her throat and Arthur snorted, which only made them laugh longer, blushing furiously. "Well," Molly huffed. "I'll go get dinner out of the oven, then."

Pansy stood, still grinning, and went to help her. "Molly," she started, putting the beans in a serving dish and then on the table.

"I know, dear," the older woman sighed. "Marriage among purebloods is a joke. And you've known young Draco all your life. I have never gone in for dirty humour, that's all. Especially not about my children.

"But," she sighed, putting the heavy dish of roast potatoes and pumpkin on the table, "my babies are growing up. Bill's married, Charlie, Percy and George have all moved out; Ron and Ginny have steady partners. It scares my socks off, but I'm so happy for them all. I'm glad you're part of the family, dear," she said softly.

Pansy smiled deeply. "It really is an honour to be part of the family. And you know that we're not just doing this because it's convenient: I really do love Ron, and Draco really does love Ginny. Draco has a really wicked sense of humour, and I suppose I share that. We don't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Molly sighed again. "They're my babies. I don't want to think about them… being intimate with anyone. You'll understand when you have children."

Pansy nodded. "I suppose I will. But, Molly – we are doing things properly. I'll be wearing white on my wedding day, and my conscience won't twinge in the slightest."

"I… didn't expect that. I'd never tell the kids, but… my conscience definitely did twinge when I walked down the isle in white. I suppose it's hypocritical of me to expect them to be more controlled than me. But I've always wanted what's best for my kids, better than I ever had."

Pansy smiled, reaching out to give the older woman a hug. "They've always had the best of everything important," she said.

"I hope so," Molly said quietly, returning the embrace.

Draco ended up seated next to Molly at the table. He didn't seem at all comfortable, and added to this was the necessity to learn an entirely new set of table manners.

"Lamb!" Went up the cry from Arthur, wielding the dish with one hand, the serving fork in the other.

"Yes!" came the exclamation from all members of the family, Pansy just helping herself as Ron took the platter. Draco seemed taken aback at the enthusiasm they had for the food.

"Beans!"

Pansy dished food onto Draco's plate before things disappeared. "If you don't claim it, Draco, it'll be gone," she warned.

"Some of everything, then," he supplied.

"You've got hands," Molly declared, holding the dish of roasted vegetables for him and handing him the tongs.

"O… Ok…" he said, scooping up a potato or two and some pumpkin. He was more generous with the lamb ("leave some for the rest of us, hey?"), and seemed taken by the beans.

"You don't serve yourself at your house?" Molly asked, returning the platter she was holding to the table.

Draco shook his head. "Our plates were sent up prepared by the elves. I'd never even seen cooking take place until I was seven and Uncle Severus insisted on cooking dinner for us…" he looked aside. There was the moment of uncomfortable silence that usually accompanied the mention of someone who had died in the war. Draco picked up his gaze and the thread of conversation. "I was sure he was making the whole thing up, actually. I'd never even known we had a kitchen."

Molly put a hand on his arm. "You poor child. I can't imagine not knowing such basic things about life."

He gave her a small smirk. Seen up close, Molly could tell that it was actually self-depreciating, not arrogant as Lucius' had always been when he was young. "Neither could Uncle Severus. He insisted on giving me cooking lessons for the next four years. It wasn't mere coincidence that I was good at potions."

Ginny smiled. "Does that mean you'll cook for us one night?"

"Merlin, no!" he exclaimed. "All I can remember how to make is shepherd's pie and bread and butter pudding."

"Better than me," Ron interjected. "Mum always shooed me out of the kitchen before I could ruin anything."

"You had a real talent for that, dear," Molly said. "It didn't matter how closely I supervised you, it always went wrong. One afternoon, he even burned a pot of water. I still have no idea how he managed that. Charlie was always the best at cooking. But Ginny has a real knack for baking. She's much better than I am, even."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Hardly, mum. You've the knowledge of years behind you. I just like to put flour, sugar, butter and eggs together."

"With apples, cherries and brandy," Arthur supplied. "That cake is still my favourite, you know."

"I know, dad. I make it for you every year, don't I?"

"Yes, you do. I'm just ensuring that you know how much I enjoy it. Wouldn't want you to forget," he winked. Ginny smiled.

Draco looked from Weasley to Weasley. "You really all like each other, don't you?" he asked, amazed.

Ron snorted. "Most of the time."

"We all have our moments," Ginny added.

"But we've worked very hard to accept each of our children."

"And each other," Arthur finished, a small smile bestowed upon his wife. "Even though I love to play with muggle toys."

"And I rave about Quidditch," Ron said.

"I'm a bit of a monster in the kitchen," said Molly.

"And I'm the bossiest of the lot," Ginny smirked.

"And they have made me feel so welcome; I have more pleasant memories here than I ever had in my whole lifetime at home," Pansy said, smiling sadly at Draco.

"I'll probably find the same," he replied, sadness tugging down the corners of his mouth.

Molly wrapped her arm around Draco's shoulders, giving him a sideways hug. "You dears are such good children."

Dessert was chocolate self-saucing pudding with thick double cream. "I suddenly have much more respect for your figure," Draco jibed Ginny as he leaned back, filled to overflowing with good food.

She smiled secretively. "Draco, darling; you've no idea. Once you've gained a few pounds, you'll be begging to know how I keep this figure."

Molly snorted. "You've got your father's digestion, that's what," she said.

Ginny pouted. "You're ruining my fun."

"Watching him beg is fun?"

Ginny raised an eyebrow at her mother. After a moment, Molly turned to consider Draco. Then she turned back to Ginny. "Ok, I suppose I see how that could be fun."

Ron sighed contentedly. He held Pansy's hand under the table.