-Chapter Fourteen-
"What, is, a, Malfoy, doing holding my daughter's hand?" roared Arthur balling his fists in shock and rage. His face reddening alarmingly fast.
"Take your hands off her!" yelled Charlie, snatching Ginny from Draco's side and holding her protectively. This war was driving everyone loco. Draco was left with a little shocked expression on his face, but all he really cared about was the fact that Ginny's warm petite hand was in his larger one.
"No, dad, Charlie, I can explain. Draco is my boyfriend!" declared Ginny, waving her hands frantically in front of her and stepping away from Charlie to shield Draco from whatever her family was willing to do to him.
"He what?" both Weasley men roared, advancing towards Draco menacingly. "Have you lost your mind?" bellowed Arthur. Molly simply smiled appreciatively at Draco, seeing he was a handsome lad and stuck out her arms sternly, stopping Charlie and Arthur in their paths.
Arthur really was a calm man, so Ginny was surprised that he did his nut like that. Then, Ginny's mother spoke up.
"Arthur, Charlie, calm down. People are looking at us. Ginny has invited her new boyfriend over for Christmas, and I have graciously accepted him," said Molly calmly, not dropping her arms.
"How could you?" asked Charlie exasperatedly. "He's the enemy!"
"Ginny would date the enemy?" said Molly simply, tossing a greying red lock behind her neck with a toss of her head. Both men simply open and closed their mouths soundlessly, unable to say anything for a moment. Then, Arthur rounded on Draco, who had slipped his hand into Ginny's again.
"What did you do to my baby girl? I swear, if you've hurt her I will kill you right here, right now," growled Arthur. But before Draco could answer in negative, Arthur continued muttering. "No, no this isn't happening. This can't be right. The Malfoys hate the Weasleys. Always have, always will. It's this damn job that's getting to me. Ruddy death eaters, charming oblong shaped objects to do inappropriate things."
"Mr Weasley," spoke up Draco finally. He had stepped from behind Ginny and now stood close to her. Too close for Arthur and Charlie's comfort. "With all due respect, what you have just said is wrong. I do not hate the Weasleys. I know for a fact Ginny does not hate me, and I'm still a Malfoy. I know I don't hate her, and I know I will never hate her because I love her." Charlie and Arthur simply boggled their eyes and let their jaws drop in surprise. Molly simply looked extremely smug, and envisioned Draco in handsome wedding finery, arm in arm with Ginny.
"Honestly Arthur," said Molly after a moment of Charlie and Arthur looking absolutely ridiculous with widened eyes and slacked jawed. "It's getting extremely cold on this platform and it's already 8:30 in the evening. Our daughter and our guest need to get home to eat! Charlie dear, will you please pick up the trunks? Ah, here comes Harry and Ron." She waved the two over energetically.
Charlie groaned and eyed his mother incredulously. However, he got a face full of glare so he hastened to comply.
Ginny, who seemed content with having the meet and greet sorted, smiled warmly at Draco which filled him with the strength he would need to deal with the Weasleys for the next two weeks.
Arthur silent and dumbstruck, led his family plus the Malfoy and the Potter out of platform 9¾ to an old yellow Holden Kingswood he had bought off a muggle with great enthusiasm. Of course Arthur diligently modified it so it was wizarding standard. ie. The ability to squeeze in ten times more gear and people than normal. The ability to fly and the ability to turn invisible at the touch of a button. Molly of course threatened if there was any repeat of Harry and Ron's second year, she would be having her husband's guts for garters.
Ginny decided that the whole meeting went over quite well. She seriously expected wands to be drawn out and Ministry law enforcements to be on the scene. Luckily, some amount of level-headedness remained in Ginny's dad, and right now the waters were calm. Once everything had been packed inside of the car, Arthur and Charlie finally gave Ginny their originally planned welcome. They hugged her and commented how lovely she looked and how much she had grown. Molly kept talking about how beautiful and happy Ginny seemed to look and Arthur questioned Ginny about her grades. Then, the family turned back onto the other two and questioned them briefly yet extensively. Ron let it slip that they knew about Ginny's relationship and Arthur and Charlie let their jaws drop again and wordlessly open and close their mouths angrily.
Draco was left standing a little distance away from them and observing Ginny's parents. Arthur had the dorky yet loveable father look, with the pinstriped trousers and Hawaiian shirt that he had underneath a shocking maroon jumper. Molly wore a flowery pink blouse covered with an even pinker thick, hand-knitted cardigan with a below knee grey skirt. Charlie, Draco had to admit, looked pretty cool. He had baggy jeans with a shirt which looked quite expensive. Over that shirt was an impressive looking black dragon-hide jacket.
'What was it that Charlie did again?' asked Draco to himself as he watched Ginny measure herself against Charlie's back for her height. He then noticed the numerous scorch marks and scars on Charlie's hands and he remembered. Ginny's second eldest brother was a dragon keeper. Draco was an avid dragon lover himself, and he guessed that once Charlie got over his throttling rage for Draco, they'd get along fine. Heck, Draco's name even meant dragon.
Soon, everyone was shepherded into the car with Arthur and Molly up the front and Charlie, Ginny and Draco at the back. Charlie deliberately sat himself between our two lovers and he gave Draco a suspicious glare. Harry and Ron amazingly fit in next to Ginny. Soon they were off, sliding between traffic inconspicuously fast. Then, the questions began.
"So Draco," said Molly, looking back to the back seat. "I hear you don't have much of a Christmas?"
Draco kept eye contact politely and answered, "no, I don't. Christmas isn't a big affair in the Malfoy household."
"Oh-ho," replied Molly, smiling. "You're going to love it at The Burrow. The lead up to Christmas day is fantastic." Draco simply smiled, wishing Ginny was the red head sitting next to him, not her stocky brother.
"Good. Now that we've gotten over that. I want to know why I can trust you with my daughter," said Molly, not changing her friendly tone at all.
Draco suppressed a smile. He was beginning to warm to Molly's bluntness. Every ear in that car had pricked up, including Ginny's who gazed across at Draco ardently. This gaze did not escape Charlie, who started wondering about the depth of this relationship.
"You should trust me with your daughter, because I do not support the dark side. I now hold no affiliations with Voldemort, nor do I wish to," replied Draco smoothly yet completely honestly. It made Ginny smile. She loved it when Draco could remain so blunt, yet so polite and sincere. Sometimes she would just get too caught up with the romantic side of Draco that it was kind of refreshing to see him behave normally.
"What of Dumbledore's death?" probed Molly further. Her tone was curious and slightly demanding. But it was obvious she had the right to ask so rudely and so openly because she was in the position to kick Draco's arse out onto the street if he didn't answer honestly. Draco finally lost some of his composure, and his face visibly blanched and it felt like his mind was being tortured with a fiery rod.
Ginny came to the rescue and leant across Charlie to hold Draco's hand reassuringly. "Mum, please. It's private for Draco. He didn't kill him though, and he had no choice but to help Voldemort at the time. Please, please just drop it for now," she said using as much persuasion as possible. Arthur looked up warily from the windscreen to Molly's face.
"Alright then," complied Molly, looking at Draco sympathetically through the rearview mirror. "Your parents? Aren't they concerned about your whereabouts?"
"Actually," started Draco with a sigh. "I'm wondering about theirs. After Dumbledore's… murder, they disappeared without another word. I haven't heard from them since." Molly looked over her shoulder intently at Draco. However, Draco didn't feel threatened, he felt kind of, relieved. He felt as if this homely woman was going to take care of all his worries. Despite the interrogation, he felt as if he didn't have to work up to such a high standard except love their daughter.
"Ah, we're here," announced Arthur. Draco looked up and out of the windows, his eyes drinking in the sight of the Weasley's humble abode.
It was absolutely shockin'.
The house looked like it was going to topple over on itself, but Draco knew it was only sheer magic which prevented it so. They had chickens scattered everywhere inside a pen, a large yard and a large driveway. All three stories (not including the attic) looked like a health hazard, yet extremely homely. The Kingswood then screeched to a hold and everyone exited the car excitedly. Draco got out of his side of the car first and waited for Charlie to exit. Then, he extended his hand politely to Ginny, who blushed and smiled. She took it and exited the vehicle gracefully. Unbeknownst to them, Molly smiled smugly. 'What a gentleman!' she thought excitedly, as she glared at Arthur for not extending the same manners. Arthur jumped a bit when he saw his wife's menacing glare and recoiled.
Draco ignored the dirty looks Harry gave him and focused on Ginny, who wrapped her arms around Draco possessively this time, as if daring her family to say something. Arthur looked like he wanted to tear Draco away from Ginny, but Molly gave him a look that could kill and needless to say, that stopped him in his tracks. Charlie was too busy unloading all the luggage and Ron simply held his tongue. For some reason, the more Ron saw the two together, the easier it was to deal with the fact they were. Harry had no right to say anything, so they simply averted their eyes.
"Come on kids," announced Arthur cheerily after he averted his sight from the embracing Ginny and Draco. "Dinner's on!" A smile appeared on Ginny's ever pale face and soon it crept onto Draco's too. The Burrow's door swung open and everyone was piling in, glad to get out of the cold. Snow was imminent. Draco caught flashes of overdone Christmas decorations before he was violently thrown backwards as he tried to enter the threshold.
Molly gasped and cried, "Arthur! The repelling spell! I forgot to take off Draco Malfoy off our repelling spell! Goodness!" and she rushed back out of the house to aid Malfoy who was a heap on the Weasley's doorstep. However, Ginny was already by his side, leaning over him concernedly.
"Draco? Are you okay?" she gushed, her long, soft red hair tickling Draco's face.
"Absolutely fine," he smiled, surprising himself. Six months ago, scowling would have been the least severe thing he would have done if he was thrown backwards trying to enter a house. He gently brushed away Ginny's hair and looked deep into her eyes, reassuring his okay-ness.
"Oh my lord! Draco dear!" yelled Molly, arriving on the scene, three meters away from the door. "Are you alright?" but Draco never got the chance to answer, because Molly began frantically checking him for injuries. Draco of course thought the poking and prodding by Molly was completely unnecessary, but it was nice to be fussed over. "I apologize deeply," said Molly, turning red after he examination of Draco. Who turned out to be fine. "As you know, the Malfoy's aren't our cup of tea, and we must take precautions these days."
"Mrs Weasley, no need to apologize. I understand completely," replied Draco in an amazingly soothing and reassuring voice.
"This is so embarrassing, a guest! No less! Goodness, where are my manners. You better get inside, it's beginning to freeze out here," tutted Molly to Draco. But as Draco was getting up, Ginny pounced on him, giggling like mad. The giggles of uncontrollable happiness were because from her mother's reaction, she seemed to be able to tolerate Draco. The pouncing was because Ginny absolutely loved the little surprised expressions Draco would get whenever something unexpected would happen, like for example, when Ginny would treat him to a mind mushing, knee-weakening kiss.
"Ginerva! Don't be silly. Let's get Draco inside, it's starting to snow!" cried Molly, heaping Ginny off Draco with surprising strength.
"Has dad deactivated the alarm for Draco?" questioned Ginny, putting her hand into Draco's when he got up himself.
"Yes, he has. Now come in, come in," urged Molly, hurrying to the door which was left open. Draco and Ginny eagerly complied. When Draco stepped through the doors, a warmth enveloped him. And it wasn't just the I'm-inside-a-house-with-a-fire-so-it's-warm type of warm, it was a homely type of warm. The house was lined with endless candles, creating warm flickers over the rickety furniture. It was a bit cramped, so everything seemed cosy. Laughter could be heard, and the tinkling of a slightly out of tune piano. Bright Christmas decorations adorned everything that could be decorated. Most of all, Ginny and Molly were smiling warmly at him, taking his muggle coat off and ushering him deeper into The Burrow.
The contrast was staggering compared to Malfoy Manor. Malfoy Manor was massive. The grand entranceway was a ball room, with a five meter wide chandelier dangling from the second story ceiling. However, most of the house was dim since three people and a couple of servants couldn't possibly occupy all that room. There were wide sweeping corridors which were often chilly. Many unoccupied rooms and the scent of something obnoxiously new was always present. Like new furniture that was never used. If the house elves didn't clean the mansion spotlessly, and cobwebs and dust were left to adorn everything, the Manor would have been classified as creepy. That house was hardly a home. The Burrow was.
"I love your house," Draco found himself saying before he could think. Molly heard the sincerity and she blushed as she guided him into the kitchen which led into the dining room.
"Nonsense, you're only saying that," tittered Molly happily. Ginny couldn't stop smiling, she could tell her mother was beginning to really warm to Draco. She nudged Draco and presented that smile, which earned her one back. Suddenly, another red head appeared on the scene.
"What is he doing here," demanded Percy with an accusatory tone.
"He is my boyfriend and I invited him over for Christmas," replied Ginny in the same tone.
"Malfoy?" said Percy disbelievingly.
"I'm so glad you can recognize fellow wizards," replied Ginny sweetly. "It's surely due to your amazing intelligence, being head boy and all." Draco stepped behind Ginny and dipped his head to hide his smile.
"Stop teasing your brother," said Molly sternly as she pressed plates into Percy's hands.
"Sit next to me!" said Ginny excitedly and she pulled Draco along to two empty chairs. Draco felt relaxed next to Ginny who was still holding his hand, tightly, to remind her she was there. However, he also felt really anxious, being in a room full of Weasley men who were glaring at him suspiciously. Ginny didn't notice them. Either that or she was ignoring them. Draco reasoned with himself as she turned to her father to ask him something. 'I don't need to be scared. Be cool, like you usually are,' he told himself. However a nagging thought wouldn't leave him. Rational reasoning kept reminding him that if he wasn't being open, The Weasley's would continuously be suspicious and that would get him and Ginny nowhere.
Ginny soon returned her attention back to Draco and studied his face carefully. Draco realized what she was doing so he quirked his eyebrow and smirked, knowing that would be the undoing of Ginny. It worked. Her furrowed brow relaxed and the questioning eyes turned admiring. Then, Ginny realized what Draco was trying to do and she said indignantly, "oh no you don't mister!" Draco smiled knowingly and it infuriated Ginny. (And melted her.) "Are you okay," she asked after a moment.
"Absolutely," replied Draco, looking into Ginny's eyes and meaning it. Ginny shivered out of pleasure whenever Draco looked Ginny directly in the eyes. It felt like her soul was being searched, like Draco was trying to figure out why he loved her so much. Sometimes it seemed fake to Ginny, that Draco loved her. Often back at school she would observe him from far away and he'd look like the cold heartless bastard she had known for a long time. But whenever Draco looked her way, his face showed only indifference, because he was trying to hide his emotion. Lately Ginny could tell when Draco was trying to hold in a smile.
So when Draco said "absolutely," Ginny believed him. Suddenly there was a loud noise near the entranceway and Draco looked alarmed. "It's the twins," said Ginny dryly. The two nineteen year olds burst through the kitchen singing an off key Christmas carol and bopping Percy on the head as they traipsed their chairs.
"Good evening mum, dad, Percy, Charlie, Ron, Harry, Ginny, Malfoy," said Fred and George in unison and very quickly, nodding at each other in turn. Ginny stared dumbstruck at Draco. Had the twins accepted Draco this quickly? But her question was unexpectedly answered swiftly.
"Don't think we've accepted you this quickly," said Fred in a light voice. But the warning was evident.
"You get up to any funny business with Ginny or any other member of this rad family and you'll get your neck snapped," continued George the same fashion, averting his eyes to his fingernails and examining them carelessly.
"Something else will be in damaged too, but it's far too inappropriate to mention at this table of dining." Draco's eyes widened slightly and Ginny glared at her brothers. "After that, maybe killing you will be merciful," sighed George unfolding his napkin.
"Shut up," growled Ginny, kicking one of the twins in the shins. Draco simply leaned back in his chair and smiled. By now most of the table had filled up with up with various crimson haired people and Draco felt terribly like the odd one out. Suddenly a deep voice refocused Draco's attention.
A tall, even cooler looking figure graced the room with his presence. "What's up with you two?" announced that guy, by the name of Bill. "I could hear you from the drive way."
Fred and George grinned happily. "We made a massive profit at the store today," said one of them.
"We're treating everyone to good gifts this year, not something we found behind the couch," announced another. Ginny blanched when she heard this.
"You found my singlet from behind the couch!" she demanded angrily. Fred and George simply snickered.
Then, Bill's attention focused on Draco. "What's he doing here?" he asked coldly, a contrast from his previously warm voice. Surprisingly, Arthur spoke up.
"That's Ginny's new boyfriend. Apparently he's changed and doesn't support you-know-who and apparently he was forced to help in the murder of Dumbledore.
"Boyfriend?" repeated Bill a bit dazed, his eyes settling on the youngest in his family. He noticed how Ginny was seated quite close to Draco, and they appeared to be holding hands underneath the table. "How can we trust you though?" he asked, furrowing his red brows. Draco liked Bill, he didn't seem too accusatory.
"That's what I'm here for. To try and show you how much I love your sister, how I would do anything for her," answered Draco. As clichéd as that sounded, it sounded sincere. As did everything that left Draco's mouth that evening. Ginny looked pointedly at Draco and her eyes asked the question, 'don't you think you're laying it on a bit thick?'
Draco simply leaned down and whispered in Ginny's ear huskily, "well it's true," which made Ginny smile. The whole family saw this exchange of information and wondered about the lovely smile that was on her face.
Bill considered Draco for a moment and nodded, though the warning that Fred and George expressed verbally was apparent on Bill's scarred face.
Suddenly, a shrill foreign shriek was heard throughout the household. "Fleur's here," said Bill happily as a drop dead gorgeous French blonde seemingly skipped up behind Bill and wrapped her elegant arms around him. To say Ginny was threatened by Fleur's beauty was an understatement although she desperately tried to hide it. Draco noticed straight away and he gave Ginny a lingering kiss on her pinking cheeks. Then, the food rolled in.
Molly carried a big steaming bowl of pasta and a variety of sauces and salsa's to go with it. Positively every mouth in that room watered. Then, all hell broke out. Everyone started grabbing food at once, diving for their favourite sauces and eating hungrily. Draco didn't stand a chance. Three minutes later, when the centre of the table cleared up and Draco could finally get a pick of the pasta, there wasn't much left.
Molly patted Draco's shoulder consolingly and told him she had cooked more. She then bustled off to the kitchen whilst Draco stared wide eyed at Ginny. "Yeah, yeah I know, my family eats a lot. But hey! We have a big family," said Ginny defensively.
"I never said anything bad about it," said Draco infuriatingly calmly. "You assume too much Ginger." Ginny grimaced and punched Draco in the stomach, none too gently. As a knee jerk reaction, Draco's knee went upwards with tremendous speed and it knocked onto the dining table with a loud smack. The force of the reaction made the plates bounce a bit and the easy chatter suddenly fell. Every eye was on Draco.
Draco cleared his throat a bit and simply said, "excuse me. Sorry about my knee-jerk reaction." Since there really was nothing of interest there, the occupants at the table returned to stuffing their mouths and chatting through stuffed mouths.
Ginny stared at Draco with her mouth agape. "How do you do that?" she asked in wonder.
"Do what?" asked Draco back nonchalantly.
"Not blush when something embarrassing like that happens?"
"Must be a Mafoy thing. You are going pay for that still. With tickles," said Draco seriously, though his eyes were sparkling with mischief. But before Ginny could respond, Molly re-entered the dining room with another big pot of steaming pasta and the two lovers eagerly dug in.
The rest of dinner passed with polite but inquisitive questions directed towards Draco and good-natured chatting and reminiscing between the Weasleys which of course Draco didn't understand. Needless to say by dessert, the Weasley family was surprised at Draco's politeness. Throughout the meal they assumed he would make some underhanded remark about their clothing, or the mismatching china or the state of their house. But he didn't, and this only made them relieved yet suspicious still.
There was a ten minute break after the Italian style meal was devoured and dessert being prepared and the family was free to move around within the house. Ginny smiled happily and dragged Draco along to the couch, securing at least one side of it before the rest of The Burrow's occupants could. "I didn't know you were so infuriatingly happy at home," smiled Draco, finally wrapping his arms around Ginny in such a natural fashion it didn't really register in Draco's mind anymore. Everyone was still in the dining room, being slow about it.
"I'm just infuriatingly happy because my family hasn't kicked you out," replied Ginny, snuggling up to Draco. Draco nodded with that blank yet so descriptive expression that Ginny had grown to love and she was just leaning up to kiss him when somebody cleared their throat angrily and uncomfortably.
"Dessert's in the kitchen," Arthur said in a controlled but disapproving tone. Ginny blushed and went in the kitchen with Draco following her.
As Draco passed Arthur, he quietly said, "thankyou." Arthur simply stared in surprise, wondering if something had really changed in Draco.
Inside the kitchen and on its bench lay a large platter of chocolate dipped strawberries. "Wow mum! I love these!" exclaimed Ginny, picking up many and depositing them onto her plate.
"Gees, Ginge. Don't eat them all, you'll get fat," teased Draco. Everyone in the kitchen at the time, who was Charlie, Harry, Ron, Molly and Bill stared at Draco in shock. How dare he say such a thing? However, Ginny just laughed and punched Draco lightly on the shoulder, asking him how many he wanted.
The basic thought that was going through most of the kitchen occupants apart from Ginny and Draco was, 'he insulted her and he got away with it! She must really love him or something!' Then, before anyone could stop them, they left for Ginny's room. But not before Draco thanked Molly for the pasta.
Ginny led Draco up to the third floor which was where her room resided. She gently pushed against her door and revealed a small but personal room. The walls were painted a chocolatey shade of brown which added a surprisingly homey and warm feel to the room. There was one single bed that looked like it could just support two people. There was a small but rich looking mahogany desk which Draco knew would have cost Ginny quite a fair bit and there was an adjoining closet. The rest of the area was filled with knickknacks and various books packed every precariously. At the foot of Ginny's bed lay her trunk. The walls themselves adorned various quidditch teams, bands and photos. Many featured Ginny's family and some contained Colin and Ginny waving excitedly at some exciting location.
"Nice room Gin," said Draco, moving around and letting his fingers fall on items like Ginny's desk and her bed. Ginny checked Draco's expression for any trace of sarcasm, and found none. His voice held none either.
"Thanks," said Ginny flattered. "It's kind of small. The best thing about my room however," said Ginny dramatically. She walked over to a door that Draco had somehow missed. "I have my own bathroom!" and she flung the door open to reveal a tiny but again personal bathroom. There was a mirror from the bathtub upwards that stretched to the ceiling and reflected the whole room. It made everything look bigger. Then there was the standard sink, toilet and shower stall. Oh, and a towel rack.
"That's great Ginny. Your room is exactly like mine, except smaller. And better," commented Draco, walking over to Ginny and popping his head in. "And stop acting like everything you own is crap. Your room, it hold's some kind of quality my cold room will never have. Anyway, you going to eat those strawberries or do you want me to do it for you?" asked Draco, his face extremely close to Ginny's.
"Why do you keep doing that?" said Ginny frustrated, not breaking eye contact, mostly because Draco's had captured hers.
"Doing what?" he replied back, feigning innocence quite well.
"Making me feel this way whenever you look at me," breathed Ginny, closing her eyes, bracing herself for the kiss she knew that was sure to come.
"Okay, I won't then," said Draco light heartedly, walking away from the closed eyes Ginny. He lay down on Ginny's bed and began eating her strawberries, admiring and amusing himself with the imminent blush that was to grace Ginny's features. Ginny was left standing by her bathroom door, spluttering with anger. "Want some?" gestured Draco to the plate of dessert.
"I hate you," said Ginny heatedly, seating herself beside Draco and sharing the strawberries.
"I love you too," said Draco, knowing that this would draw a smile from Ginny. And it did.
The two finished dessert in silence, though it was an amiable one. Draco simply enjoyed being in Ginny's room. It seemed to represent everything about her. The chocolate coloured walls, which was Ginny's warmth. The many books and the desk seemed to describe Ginny's intelligence. (In everything but transfiguration.) The little knickknacks reminded Draco of Ginny's youth and the quidditch posters clearly displayed Ginny's love, not obsession, of the sport.
Ginny would have gotten more strawberries, but she was far too content to be sitting in bed next to Draco. His closeness held warmth that held such security that Ginny couldn't bear to move away from it. She shuffled closer and Draco put an arm around her shoulders.
"You're perfect, you know that?" said Draco suddenly. He started stroking Ginny's face ever so softly and Ginny wished he'd never ever stop. "Beautiful," he whispered, closing his eyes and leaning in, taking Ginny's strawberry chocolate flavoured lips with him.
It was lucky that the empty plate slid off their laps and landed softly on the ground so Ginny had to get out of bed to pick it up because at that moment Charlie came bounding into Ginny's open room and reminded her there were only ten or so strawberries left. "Draco?" said Ginny questioningly.
"It's okay, you can have the rest of them," replied Draco politely which surprised Charlie. Every time Draco said something, it was sincere or polite and it would always take him by surprise.
"Thanks," smiled Ginny and the three of them went back downstairs.
The family could be found in the living room sitting next to the fire and talking merrily. On the old rickety coffee table lay the platter with a few chocolate dipped strawberries left and three milos. Draco assumed one was for Charlie since it was half full and the other two was for Ginny and him. Draco was suddenly consumed with emotion that the Weasley's actually considered making him a cup of milo as well.
Ginny made a beeline straight for the strawberries and sat cross leggedly on the ground next to the table. There were a few seats left, but that was next to Harry or Ron, so he decided to do something he had never actually done before. He sat on the ground, on purpose. Though it was next to Ginny so there was some compensation. Ginny smiled crookedly with a smear of chocolate on her cheek and Draco very badly wanted to lick it off, however the fact that the room was filled with protective testosterone filled Weasleys, Draco refrained.
"Hey mum, what are we doing tomorrow?" asked Ron. Harry wasn't paying too much attention to the conversation they were just having. He was too busy staring at Draco and Ginny regretfully and slightly enviously. Okay, very enviously.
"Well," looked up Molly from her knitting. "I was thinking we could all go into Diagon Alley for Christmas shopping." Ginny looked particularly pleased with this decision noted Draco, stealing a strawberry from Ginny's poised fingers.
"Hey, give that back, it's the last one!" exclaimed Ginny, grabbing at the strawberry, but Draco kept moving his hand. The two were oblivious to the stares of everybody and they continued with their blatant, well; flirting.
"Come and get it," teased Draco, a smile crinkling the smooth contours of his face. Ginny made another swipe at the chocolate covered fruit but still she couldn't get it. Draco dangled it above his mouth and was motioning eating it when Ginny unexpectedly pounced on his chest, knocking him over. She then proceeded to snatch the strawberry away from Draco's fine fingers and eat it angrily amidst Draco's deep chuckles.
"Ginny!" scolded Molly though inside she felt deliriously happy. It really was all about keeping up appearances. "Stop attacking our poor guest. It's the second time you've knocked him to the ground. Honestly, I don't know what's gotten into you!" and she kept mumbling on with the such. Everyone else was recovering from the shock of seeing Draco seem so natural around Ginny whilst Ginny and Draco themselves laughed. Well, Ginny tried to through a mouth full of strawberry, which in turn made Draco laugh harder, and then the sight of Draco shaking with fits of laughter made Ginny laugh even more! So as you can see, the vicious cycle continued until Ron threw a cushion at Ginny's head which shut Ginny up and made Draco wheeze because he had laughed at that too. Soon he was all out of laughs.
"Draco! My brother assaulted me! Do something about it!" demanded Ginny after giving Ron a thorough glaring.
"Exactly, he's your brother. You do something about him," smiled Draco at Ron. Ron found he couldn't help but smile back.
"You're not kicking me in the shin's Ginny, otherwise you won't be in the quidditch scratch match we're having tomorrow," said Ron in a warning tone, drawing up his legs onto the couch.
"You can't stop me!" sulked Ginny, leaning against Draco. Draco decided to take the risk of wrapping his arms around her. He was not told off so they remained there for the rest of the evening.
Arthur had dozed off in his big armchair and Molly continued knitting, remembering the delighted laughing of Ginny and surprisingly, Draco. She'd draw on the memory whenever she'd feel upset or alone.
Eventually the pre-bedtime milo drinking session was over and it was eleven thirty in the evening. Molly yawned violently and exclaimed about how late it was. The rest of the Weasleys, not including Arthur quirked their eyebrows at her. Eleven thirty in the evening was not late. Parents.
"Mum, where's Draco' sleeping?" asked Ginny. But before Molly could answer, Arthur woke up with a start and answered for his wife.
"The couch," he said in a grouchy fatherly strict voice.
"The couch!" exclaimed Ginny. "But it's so lumpy, and old…"
"He's not sleeping in your room Ginny," said Arthur grumpily.
"Fine, if he gets back problems it's your fault," retorted Ginny angrily.
Draco soothed Ginny's anxiety by saying, "it's okay. The couch is fine."
"Are you sure?" asked Ginny worriedly.
"I'm not as fragile as you," teased Draco, poking Ginny in the shoulder.
"Anyway forget about it!" said Molly. "No one of the opposite sex is sleeping in the same room. Not at your age anyway. Heaven forbid!"
"I guess you learnt that from experience," snickered George. Fred snickered alongside his twin.
Suddenly, Molly turned into a thunderous figure head. "All of you, to bed! Now! Another word out of you, Fred and George, and you'll be sorry you ever opened your silly mouths," she screeched. Her glare hardened onto the two nineteen year olds and they cowered.
"Yes mum," they replied meekly and quickly scampered off to bed. Draco's eyes simply widened in shock from the ferocity of Ginny's mother.
Everyone else said their goodnights and shambled off to bed, except for Fleur and Bill who of course were engaged and had a place of their own, so they went home. Arthur went to check the house once more before hitting the sack and then there was just Ginny, Draco and Molly.
"Draco dear," said Molly kindly, which was a gaping contrast to what she had just yelled. "I'll get you some blankets. If they're not warm enough I'll tend to the fire more." Then she bustled off down the hallway.
"Sorry you have to sleep on the couch," said Ginny as soon as Molly was out of ear shot.
"That's okay. I would have been surprised if your dad did let me sleep in your room. One's thing for sure, every night I would be in your bed. That's of course, if you want me to," said Draco. The last part was said a bit stammery. It made Ginny smile and blush.
"I love you," she murmured, going straight for the kiss. The kiss of course wasn't too heated, but it was long. They didn't even notice when Molly returned with fresh blankets and pillows. Ginny and Draco broke away when Molly conjured a camp bed though. Ginny blushed beetroot red, and even Draco had the embarrassment to tint pink slightly. Though his wasn't very noticeable since the only light was from the dying fire.
"Um," said Ginny and Draco embarrassedly. But Molly just smiled kindly.
"That's okay dears. Silly Arthur, didn't think of adding a camp bed. Anyway Draco, this is for you. You tell me if you need anything else, don't hesitate at all.
Draco regained composure and said, "thank you Mrs Weasley, for your hospitality. I know how, threatening it may be for me to be in your house."
Molly simply smiled. "If Ginny thinks you're good person, then I think you are too. Have a good night. Night Ginny, it's great having you back too."
"Thanks mum," said Ginny, allowing Molly to give her a kiss on the cheek. Molly began exiting the room when she suddenly remembered.
"Oh and Draco, are you going to be coming to Diagon Alley with us tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure. I have to buy presents," replied Draco.
"Great, well goodnight dears," said Molly with a yawn before walking away to her room.
"Ragh," said Ginny simply, standing up and stretching her muscles. "Ugh, I'm tired. Well, your trunk will be in the entranceway. You can take it up to my room. You do the levitating though, I'm still an underage witch." Draco ruffled Ginny's hair affectionately and gave her a kiss.
Then the pair got the trunk upstairs and Draco set out his clothes for the next two weeks. "You want a shower?" asked Ginny politely, letting him go first.
"Yeah sure, but don't you need one?"
"You're the guest," replied Ginny simply. "There's clean towels in there." Draco smiled his knee-weakening, heart-pumping, mind-mushing smile and then disappeared into Ginny's adjoining bathroom. Ginny could finally concentrate when Draco's arse in jeans were gone.
Flopping onto her childhood bed, Ginny laughed to herself quietly. Never, ever in her wildest dreams did she ever think, that Draco Malfoy would be dating her. Never, would she have imagined him setting foot inside her crooked house, or taking a shower in her miniscule bathroom. The loud splashing noise from the shower was steady, and it calmed Ginny's pulse rate. Soon she had drifted into some half sleep where she could still here the water hitting the tiled shower flooring.
Fifteen minutes later, Draco emerged smelling like Ginny's fruity scented shower gel. Draco tried to keep his footsteps soft as to not wake Ginny, but her eyes opened anyway. To an extremely glorious sight.
Draco, wearing nothing except for a colourful beach towel.
Draco bent over to pick up a set of pajamas and Ginny swore her heart stopped beating. It was only when Draco stood up again to go back to the bathroom he noticed Ginny staring wide-eyed at him. He was taken aback for a moment, but then regained composure, making his way slowly towards Ginny with a devious (and sexy!) smirk on his face. He deposited his pj's on Ginny's bed and began crawling towards Ginny. She could feel the bed dip under his weight and she just remembered to swallow.
Soon, he was so close that Ginny could have just inched forward to kiss him. "You can go take a shower now," was all Draco said to a stock still Ginny. However he found himself unable to not kiss her. His head inched forward and Ginny responded. Draco could feel the kiss heating up, and he forced himself to break away, with which Ginny responded with dismay. "Go," he ordered, sternly yet gently. Ginny got the picture and slid from underneath him and quickly got a pair of pajamas from her closet. Then she slid into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her softly.
Draco exhaled and tried to think neutral thoughts. He really shouldn't have let himself go like that. And he was naked! Apart from the ridiculously bright beach towel. After changing swiftly, Draco berated himself harshly. What if the next time he kissed her with such intensity he couldn't stop himself? He knew Ginny wouldn't have stopped him. And he knew, oh he knew, the pain Ginny would be in then.
Still, he waited for Ginny to finish her shower before he went to bed. She emerged fifteen minutes later with damp hair and full length pajamas featuring blue pygmy puffs. Draco's pajamas were simply very deep forest green cotton. Ginny looked apologetic, but Draco simply wrapped her in a tight hug to let her know thing's were okay. It was a long hug, and Ginny half fell asleep in Draco's arms. Draco's body was starting to ache from Ginny's dead weight but he didn't want to move. However when his shoulder began getting extremely numb, he gently carried her over to her bed and tucked her in, giving her a kiss on the cheeks.
Waving the lights out with his wand, Draco then proceeded to make his way down two flights of stairs to the living room where is temporary bed lay. Sighing, he set his wand down beside him and climbed into the bed and fell asleep with only the crackling fire to keep him company.
The next day dawned early and snowy for Draco. It was six am, the standard wake-up for him. He thought he was the first one up, but Molly beat him. He could here soft rattling and footsteps in the kitchen. He got out of bed, remade it and walked into the kitchen, following his nose.
"Goodness, you're up early," exclaimed Molly with a start when she heard Draco entering.
"Yeah, I always get up this early. I thought I was the first one up," responded Draco with a smile. Molly laughed a little and turned back to the stove.
"With a house full of this many kids, I have to get up early to prepare breakfast. Would you like anything?"
"Coffee please, I can make it myself. You look busy," said Draco. Molly turned back to him appreciatively.
"It's just in the shelf above your head. Mugs are beside the sink and the drawer underneath that will contain teaspoons. Boiling water is in the kettle and milk is on the table," recited Molly without even having to think about it. Draco maneuvered his way around the cluttered kitchen to collect what he needed. Molly remained silent until Draco had just finished his coffee.
"You know Draco. I'm not one to judge quickly, but in your case I have," Molly said all of a sudden sitting down and eating her own breakfast. Draco simply looked quizzically at her, trying to get where she was going. "I've seen how you act. I've seen how much you love my daughter. It's obvious from your body language. She must love you very, very much if you can insult her and she still returns to your side."
Draco smiled a dazzling smile and agreed. "Yes, I have been trying to impress you. One thing that worries me though, is it that obvious I love her? Because, this could spell trouble."
Molly frowned at her plate. "Yes, I know. Do you have any idea of what you are going to do when you leave Hogwarts?"
"Well, McGonagall says an Aurorship is the way to go, and I believe it is, because, if I can contribute to the demise of Voldemort, I don't have to hide anymore. If Voldemort however wins, I will most probably be dead. It's better that I die, than Ginny die because of my love for her. If the dark side gets any wind of my feelings for her, then it's game over. I'd die to protect her, but they would keep coming," said Draco seriously.
Molly looked at Draco with a surprised expression on her face. The gears were turning in her brain about the implications of their love. "You have really thought this through haven't you? However, if you do become an Auror, I'm sure you will gain even more support from this family."
"Yeah. Contrary to everybody's belief, I really do hate Voldemort. It pains me to think it took me so long to break away from his grip. Even now though, even though I'm not doing his bidding, Voldemort controls me. I hate, being, controlled," gritted Draco. He was surprised that he was letting so much out. "I mean, one way he compresses my freedom is the fact I have to keep my feelings for Ginny hidden. The closer we get, the harder it is to ignore her when we walk pass each other at school, or if we happen to be standing next to each other in public."
Molly didn't say anything, but Draco could she was listening because her whole body and stilled and her motherly eyes looked troubled. A comfortable silence passed whilst Draco drifted into thought and Molly continued on with her breakfast. A few minutes later, Charlie made his way to the kitchen and bid good morning to Draco and Molly before grabbing breakfast himself. Soon, by seven o'clock, signs of life began showing.
Arthur came downstairs in a set of shabby wizard robes and made himself coffee wearily. Half an hour after that, Harry and Ron shambled in, still looking half asleep. Hermione of course, was staying at her parents.
"Ruddy Pig," grumbled Ron as he collapsed into a chair. "Woke me up, with his ruddy screeching."
"What time did you get up?" asked Harry groggily to Draco.
"Six," was Draco monosyllabic reply.
"When are we going to Diagon Alley?" said Ron through a mouthful of bacon.
Molly gave him a reproving look and said, "before lunchtime." The rest of breakfast was spent with casual chatter about Christmas and presents, of course with Draco left out. The only changes were that Fred and George rushed about exclaiming how late they were for work. Percy walked stately into the kitchen and politely asked for toast, ignoring Arthur who had his nose buried in the Daily Prophet.
Draco had long finished breakfast and was waiting for Ginny to come down so he wouldn't disturb her sleeping. It was ten o'clock and everyone had already cleared out to do whatever they had to do. Finally Molly told Draco to go upstairs to wake up her daughter so they could all be ready to go shopping in time.
Climbing the stairs, Draco didn't realize how lazy Ginny could get. He reached Ginny's door and knocked lightly. No reply. Gently, he pushed against it and turned the handle to find the bed as a mass of tangled sheets with red hair splayed everywhere on the pillow. A gentle rise and fall of the sheets assured Draco Ginny was breathing. He quickly changed into muggle clothing and then had nothing to do except watch Ginny sleep. Which at that moment wasn't that great because her head was buried under the quilt and she had rolled up into a ball.
So Draco sat on the edge of the bed, just thinking about the past day he had. It really did surprise him how Ginny's family had just accepted him. Sure, they all looked at him suspiciously, probably thinking he was suddenly going to jump on the kitchen table and curse everybody, but they didn't say anything, which was the most important part. It was getting to half past ten when Draco decided enough was enough, Ginny was getting up.
His hands slid underneath the quilts where he found Ginny's foot and he began tickling it. Ginny twitched in her sleep but she did not wake. Draco increased the intensity of the tickling and Ginny thrashed a bit, moaning, "no, go away. I have to write a ten thousand word essay! No, no mandrake root! No! Uggh." Draco smiled to himself and started tickling two feet at the same time. This finally had the desired effect because Ginny suddenly sucked in a deep breath and surged upwards. "Draco," she breathed, shirking her feet away from Draco's fingers. "What'd you wake me up for?" she took a look at her watch. "It's only ten thirty!"
"Yeah, and we're leaving at about lunch time! Get up!" scolded Draco.
Ginny glared balefully at her boyfriend. "No. Bite me," she announced. She snuggled back under the covers but got up again when she felt Draco's weight move towards her upper body. She froze, as Draco's arms gripped her shoulder and she stopped breathing when she felt Draco's teeth on her neck. "No! On the other hand, don't bite me!" said Ginny frantically as the pressure on her neck increased, but not painfully so.
Draco straightened up and smiled. "Getting up now?" Ginny, who was now content that she would not be bitten shook her head and disappeared back under the covers. Draco sighed and decided to take drastic action. Ripping the covers from a curled up Ginny, he unleashed his fingers on her body and tickled her mercilessly. Ginny shot up like she was electrified but she couldn't escape because Draco's body had formed some kind of cage between her and the bed.
"No!" Ginny tried to scream, but that dissolved into laughter. Secretly, Ginny loved the attention and she wouldn't have minded if Draco woke her up everyday like this. Still, Draco tickled whilst Ginny thrashed and laughed. He also stopped when he got the inkling that the tickles were getting the painfully convulsive and the laughter was starting to hurt her.
"Getting up yet?" smirked Draco, holding himself above Ginny with his hands. Ginny could feel the bed dipping under Draco's additional weight and her heart beat raced.
"It depends," sighed Ginny, getting lost in Draco's intense gaze.
"On?" whispered Draco, his head dipping towards hers to catch what she was saying. Ginny suppressed a smile, Draco was doing exactly what she wanted. He was leaning in, but not quite close enough.
"Come closer," Ginny barely breathed. Draco definitely couldn't hear what she said but he inched closer anyway. Suddenly, Ginny's hands shot up and she pulled his head towards hers and began kissing him crazily. The sudden shot of pleasure took all the strength out of Draco's arms and he consequently fell about five centimeters onto Ginny, who didn't seem to mind the extra weight. Draco's mind was blown, he was enjoying the feeling of Ginny's tongue exploring with his. He also loved the way Ginny's slender arms kept snaking around his body, searching, pressing. Draco stopped for a moment to breathe and the fresh air without the intoxicating sweet scent of Ginny let him think rationally. The strength returned to his arms and he pushed himself off her.
"Are you okay?" asked Draco concernedly.
"Yes," said Ginny breathlessly. "Why?"
"I fell on you."
"Oh! I liked it… actually," replied Ginny, blushing and wishing she could hide underneath the sheets again.
"Really? So did I," said Draco with a reassuring smile. "Come on, up you get. Christmas shopping today."
"Oh yeah," said Ginny, rolling out of bed. "What do you want for Christmas?"
"You," replied Draco, lounging on a chair. Ginny's eyes fell onto him with a snap.
"But you already have me," she said breathlessly. 'Why does he always do that to me?'
"Well then," said Draco with a smirk. "Don't get me anything."
"Nonsense," said Ginny severely, now digging around in her drawers for something to wear. "If there's one thing we Weasley's always do, it's give gifts. Even if it is just a chocolate frog," she continued, digging out a pale and dark green striped jumper with a white singlet. Then she opened another drawer and reached out for the nicest pair of jeans she had.
"Alright, said Draco. Well I don't mind what you get me. I'll appreciate it all the same. Say, I haven't had a chocolate frog in a while." Ginny simply straightened up and smiled at him. "What do you want for Christmas," Draco pressed on.
"Anything. I don't care. You already gave me the necklace, it's the best present I've received," replied Ginny, locking her bedroom door for extra privacy.
"Really?" asked Draco surprised. "Oh, I see you're changing, I can go if you want," but he got cut off by Ginny.
"No, stay where you are," she replied calmly, before stripping off her pajama shirt right before Draco's very eyes. And for once, Ginny had the pleasure of seeing Draco's jaw drop completely and eyes bug out. His obvious shock and appreciation pleased Ginny, who wasn't sure if Draco would accept her scrawny body.
"Nice boobs," was the first thing Draco managed to choke out. His eyes raked over Ginny's A cup sized breasts. He also took in the pure paleness of her torso and the taut but smooth curves of her abdomen.
"Really?" beamed Ginny, looking down at them.
"Yeah," reassured Draco. "They're not small, or anything. If, if that's what you're thinking," he stuttered. Ginny smiled again and cupped them in her hands. Draco felt like he was being set on fire, that girl really was too much. It was from the purest of will power Draco stayed seated, though he did cross his legs rather conspicuously.
"Oh right, bra," said Ginny absent mindedly, digging around in her trunk. She found a green one with spots all over it and put it on swiftly, shaking her chest a bit so they fell in comfortably. Draco gulped, breaking out in a sweat and taking deep breaths to settle his raging hormones. Ginny then poised her thumb on the waistband of he pj pants and Draco tensed completely. However when they were pulled down Draco sighed with relief. She was wearing completely mismatching underwear. If she wasn't, Draco didn't know if he had enough self control to stop himself. He would have taken her right then and there.
But soon, Ginny's near nakedness was abolished when she pulled on her jeans and slipped the singlet on. Seizing the jumper, she pulled it on haphazardly. Slipping into a pair of black boots, Ginny was dressed and she was looking at Draco with concern. "Are you okay Drake?"
"Um, no. I have to go to the bathroom. I'll see you downstairs," he said anxiously, bending over his knees to look as if he was picking up something.
"You seem, um, stressed," said Ginny innocently. Draco believed the innocence. It wasn't fake. "See you downstairs," she continued, taking one last worried look at Draco. He waited till she had shut the door softly and he quickly rushed to the bathroom. There were other ways to cool himself down without resorting to a cold shower.
Ginny bounded down the stairs happily and fixed herself left over bacon and eggs. Molly came bustling in fully dressed looking stressed. "Oh good, you're up. Where's Draco?"
"Bathroom," replied Ginny after she swallowed. Molly beamed.
"Ginny dear, I'm so glad you swallow before you speak, unlike your filthy brothers," she grumbled.
"Colin does it too," said Ginny darkly. "It's disgusting."
"Too right it is. How is Colin anyway? He's not staying with us for the break?" asked Molly curiously.
"Colin is great, he's dating Luna Lovegood now. You know, the Ravenclaw? His family really misses him so he's with them. He says he'll come visit me sometime," replied Ginny happily.
"Good," said Molly, happy that she had another mouth to feed. "You invite him over for dinner sometime." The rest of the time was spent with Molly tidying up the kitchen and Ginny eating her breakfast. Ten minutes later, Draco made an appearance, looking like his usual calm and indifferent self. Molly announced that they would be leaving at 11:45 and reminded the two it was already 11:30.
As soon as she left, Draco sat down next to Ginny and let his expression show.
"What?" mumbled Ginny with a full mouth now that her mother had gone.
"Are you trying to drive me crazy woman?" Draco demanded, shaking Ginny's shoulders gently.
"I just, changed, in front of you. You don't like my body?" asked Ginny, hurt clouding the corners of her eyes.
"Oh Merlin I love your body," hissed Draco. "How could you ever think I don't?"
"Well, you looked really, really surprised back in my room," said Ginny softly, relief settling in.
"Ginny, you weren't wearing anything except a pair of knickers. Do you know how damn beautiful you are? It's a wonder I didn't take you then and there," he growled lustily.
"I don't know what possessed me to do that. I'm sorry," said Ginny apologetically. She knew Draco tried hard to keep his hormones under control, but sometimes she couldn't help but do something risky. It was in her nature.
"Don't be sorry," whispered Draco softly, wrapping Ginny in a tight hug. The moment however, was ruined when Harry and Draco entered, talking loudly about brooms.
"The Firebolt two is supposed to have even more control and refinement than the original, but the original is so good I don't know how they could make much difference," Ron was babbling as they walked through the room. He immediately shut up when he saw Draco embracing Ginny. "Um," he continued pathetically.
"I'll just go upstairs to get my purse," said Ginny, staring determinedly at Ron and Harry who were staring wide eyed at Ginny and Draco. 'God, it's as if they haven't seen two people hug,' thought Ginny exasperatedly.
"I'll just go get my wallet," added Draco smoothly and he followed Ginny out of the room.
It was a moment or two after the pair left that Ron continued yakking about brooms. "To tell you the truth, I think the second edition of Firebolt is exactly the same as the first!"
Oh my god, you guys, that chapter was sooo crap! I can't believe how random, how stupid that chapter was. Everything I wrote there was sooooooo damn lame! And I wrote twenty pages on word full of lame crapness! ARgh!
I'm gonna make the next chapter better, even if it kills me.
-sigh- as you can see, I'm not too sure how to make Gin's family react. :S I hope you're not too disappointed.
Luv,
Jessica/yourbeautifulnightmare