Chapter 14 – "I Will Remember"

A/N: I told you I would update sooner!

Read and review because I'm curious to know what you think. I've had this story on my mind for so long, I can't honestly say whether or not it's any good.

This chapter's song is "I Will Remember" – Over the Rhine.

I will remember

Every dream about you...

"What do you mean you've been seeing someone?" Ron demanded. His fork was suspended in midair and he seemed completely to have forgotten the chicken he had previously scooped from his plate.

"Now Ron, you keep your temper in check or I'll send you away from the table," Molly scolded. She turned back to face her daughter with a kind, yet questioning face. "You were saying, dear?"

It was a beautiful sunny September day and the Weasley clan had gathered for Sunday afternoon brunch in the back yard at the Burrow. Everyone around the table had been chatting careless until Ginny had casually mentioned to Hermione that she was seeing someone. Now, every creature in the backyard seemed to have frozen, hanging on her every word. Ginny suddenly felt this might have gone better if she'd simply told her mum and dad first. Maybe Molly could have broken the news to her brothers a bit better than she was doing.

"We've been seeing one another for a few months," Ginny said slowly, tensed for the onslaught of yelling she was sure would come.

And Ron did open his mouth, but the glare Molly fixed him with was enough to make him turn his anger on his plate. He attacked his chicken, savagely skewering a piece with his fork and stuffing it in his mouth.

"And do we know this lucky fellow?" Arthur asked, straining to maintain his pleasantly interested smile.

"Probably," Ginny started, her gaze fixed on the apple tree behind her father. She continued on in a rush. "And I'd love to tell you who, but I don't think certain people," here she took a breath and glared at Ron, Fred and George respectively, "would be very open-minded about him."

"Gin?" Harry's voice drew her attention away from her brothers.

She recognized the tone of dawning comprehension in his voice and realized too late he had probably put two and two together. He had been there that night at the ministry ball, all those months ago.

She ignored Harry and turned her focus back on her mother.

"Mum, I think it would be best for all involved if you and dad meet him first," she said, thinking that this had seemed so much easier under the cloak of darkness. She had told Draco the night before that she didn't want to keep him a secret from her family anymore, and of course her parents would like him, and yes she'd like them all to meet. "Would you like to come to my apartment tomorrow evening for dinner?"

"Of course, dear," her mom answered, smiling broadly.

"We'd love to," her dad chimed in.

"And the rest of you will keep your noses in your own business until Ginny is ready to let you in on the private goings-on of her life," Molly added, giving each of her sons a firm look.

"Thanks Mum," Ginny whispered, gratitude shining in her eyes.

Molly simply smiled, nodded and directed everyone else to get back to their food before winter chased them back inside.

I will remember

I could not doubt you.

Ginny had just served dessert when she realized that no one had broken anything.

Draco and Arthur were actually having a very animated conversation about international trading agreements or something of the sort. Her mother was grinning at Draco in a way that made Ginny proud. She sat back in her chair and savored the rich flavor of the tiramisu Draco had insisted she make.

Of course, the entire evening had not gone off without any hitches.

When her parents had opened the door to see Draco Malfoy seated on their only daughters living room sofa they had been a bit taken-aback, to say the least. Arthur's face had turned a shade of red Ron would have been proud of and Molly looked hurt and betrayed. But Draco had been polite, courteous and charming. He had assured them it would be a shock for his mother as well, and he understood their reactions.

"But I care about your daughter a great deal," he had explained as he took their traveling cloaks and hung them in the closet. "It was my suggestion that we meet. I know how important family is to Ginny and I didn't want her to go on keeping secrets from her family."

Molly had warmed to him soon after that, and by the main course, Arthur had followed. Draco was at top form, witty and pleasant, and she knew it was easy for her parents to see what had attracted her to him.

It was over tea that Molly saw that time had gotten away from them.

"Oh dear!" Molly said, sitting her teacup on the saucer. "It's nearly 11. We'd best be heading home, Arthur."

"Is it really that late?" Arthur asked, looking up from his conversation with Draco. He glanced at his watch and jumped up when he confirmed the time. "Heavens, we didn't mean to stay so long."

He and Molly headed for the door and Draco managed to beat them to the closet with their cloaks.

"You really don't have to run, mum," Ginny said, helping Molly into her cloak.

"Yes, we do. I've got a hundred things to do tomorrow, dear." She took Ginny's face in her hands and lowered her voice. "And don't you worry about your brothers. Leave them to me."

"Thanks mum," Ginny mumbled as Molly pulled her into a hug.

"I never thought I'd be saying this about Malfoy's son, but I absolutely adore him," Molly whispered against Ginny's cheek.

"Me too," Ginny replied before Molly stepped away.

Draco and Arthur were shaking hands when Molly came over to pull Draco into a hug. He seemed startled at first, but managed to pat her on the back before she pulled away. In a moment, Arthur and Molly had stepped into the outside hallway and disapparated.

Ginny closed the door behind them and signed loudly.

"That was…." she trailed off, searching for an appropriate word.

"Interesting," Draco supplied, moving back towards the kitchen.

"To say the least," Ginny replied.

"You know, I really like your parents," he said. He stopped by the table, lifted the teapot and carried it to the sink. "Honestly. They just seem so…normal."

"Thanks," she laughed, reaching out to help him clear the table.

They worked quickly, but the familiarity and casualness of the activity was not lost to her. They were standing side-by-side at the sink; he washed and rinsed the dishes, while she dried and returned them to their proper cabinets.

She glanced at him when they were nearly finished, wondering what the old Hogwarts Malfoy would have said if he could have seen how he would turn out, up to his elbows in dishwater suds, his normally perfectly-styled hair falling into his eyes. He reached his arm up to wipe at his hair and ended up smearing bubbles across his forehead. He sighed loudly and attempted to blow the bubbles from his face. Ginny, grinning like an idiot, felt her heart swell as she walked over to wipe his brow.

"You're adorable when out of your element," she whispered, reaching in the murky water to pull out his wrinkled hand. "Have you ever washed dishes before?"

"Are you mad? A Malfoy wash dishes?" he answered, then grinned sheepishly. "I just wanted to help you. You'll probably have to rewash everything tomorrow."

"Probably," she laughed. He was laughing too as he reached into the sink to drain the water. "But right now, all I want is a nice bath and a soft bed."

Draco grinned and tossed her the towel he had just dried his hands on

"I think we could arrange that," he answered, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her down the hallway.

All my first impressions

Of my new possession

I will remember

I will remember

"Ginny, I'm so glad we went with lavender," Hermione gushed, plucking at the hem of Ginny's dress.

"Yes, I do think that particular shade of yellow you suggested earlier would have been a disaster with my hair," Ginny answered, turning to inspect the criss-cross of the gowns straps across her back.

The girls, along with Luna, were in Diagon Alley for the final bridesmaid dress fitting. Fleur, who had already been fitted, had left for a meeting at the bank.

"Yes, you were right," Hermione answered. She stood and pulled at Ginny's gown strap and, finding it suitable, turned to the seamstress and smiled. "I think everything is in order with this one, thank you."

"I can't believe you're getting married in barely more than a month," Ginny said, stepping off the podium and heading towards the changing room.

"I know! There's so much left to do!" Hermione exclaimed, hurrying over to knock on Luna's door. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, I'm coming," Luna answered, her dreamy voice floating over the top of the dressing-room door..

Ginny listened to Hermione and Luna checking the other girls dress as she pulled her robes back on. It was always entertaining to listen to Hermione try to get direct answers from Luna.

"It fits lovely," Hermione was saying when Ginny emerged from the changing room. "Do you like the color?"

"Oh yes, it's nice," Luna replied. Hermione looked relieved before Luna continued, "Although it might attract a few nargles…"

Hermione sighed and turned to catch Ginny rolling her eyes.

"This one's fine, too," Hermione told the seamstress as Luna made her way back to her changing room.

"It's your turn now," Ginny said in a sing-song voice.

She ushered Hermione over to a larger changing room and held the door open so the seamstress could help Hermione into her dress.

Luna and Ginny had been sitting on the couch behind the platform for nearly ten minutes before Hermione finally emerged.

"Oh Merlin," Ginny whistled. "Harry won't know what hit him."

"That will certainly attract nargles," Luna said, eyeing the beadwork on the bodice of Hermione's gown.

Hermione laughed as she stepped onto the platform. She gasped when she took in the sight of the tight-fitting bodice and ball-gown shape of the white silk skirt of the dress.

"You look beautiful, Hermione. I'm so happy for you," Ginny answered.

She had moved to stand beside the platform and Hermione reached down to grasp Ginny's hand in hers. The two women smiled at one another then burst out laughing, the stress and excitement of the event finally getting to them.

They were still giggly occasionally as they left the shop. Hermione directed the bridesmaid dresses to be delivered and had asked if she could store her dress at Ginny's apartment to keep Harry from snooping.

"This was too much fun," Ginny said.

It was late afternoon and the streets were crowded with the after-work rush.

"It was!" Hermione agreed. "You know what? We should get some drinks or dinner. It would be nice to unwind a little."

"Oh Hermione, I'd really like to, but Ron and I are going to dinner tonight," Luna said.

"Can't you postpone or something?" Hermione asked as they approached the Leaky Cauldron.

"I wish I could," Luna replied. "But Ron and Harry are going out of town tomorrow for business and we already planned to spend some time together tonight."

"Business?" Ginny interrupted. "Auror business?"

"Yes," Luna answered. "He couldn't tell me where he's going exactly, so it must be very high-risk."

"Oh, I'll bet it is," Ginny replied, at once feeling excitement that they must have a lead on Death Eater activity and upset that they had not involved her. "Luna, is Ron still at the office?"

"I believe so. Why?"

"I'd like to have a word with him, that's all." Ginny turned to leave, then remembered Hermione and turned back to hug the woman and apologize. "I'm sorry, 'Mione. Can you take a rain-check until the weekend?"

"Of course," Hermione answered, hugging Ginny back. "That is, if you're not out gallivanting around with a certain Malfoy…."

Ginny pretended to glared at her.

"Did my Mum tell you?"

"No, Harry actually."

"Oh." Ginny guessed one of her brothers had found out from her parents, and then told Harry. "Well, I'll always have time for you."

"I know." Hermione smiled. "But if you want to catch Ron you better go."

"Right. I'll Floo you later!" She called, taking off down the street, her mind racing.

Every shadow

Every shiver

Every breath of borrowed air

Somehow

I feel now

The Auror Department Offices were mostly deserted when Ginny arrived, but she could hear voices coming from behind Harry's closed door. Two voices, she determined, both of which she was certain she recognized.

She knocked once, then opened the door. Harry was leaning back in his chair, his feet propped on his desk and Ron was sitting in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

Both men jumped when Ginny barged in.

"So, thought you were going off to fight without me, did you?" She demanded.

Ron looked as if he were about to deny everything, but Harry spoke first.

"I guess we can't pretend we don't know what you're talking about," he said. "Have a seat and we'll tell you what we can."

"Thank you," she said, looking smugly at Ron.

"How did you find out, though?" Ron asked.

"Your lovely girlfriend let slip you were going out of town on top-secret Auror business," Ginny said, smiling.

"Shite! I forgot that dress thing was today," Ron exclaimed.

The mention of dress-fitting seemed to distract Harry from the business at hand.

"Dress?" He asked, blushing profusely. "How did she look?"

"Beautiful," Ginny answered. "But stop trying to change the subject."

"Oh. Yes." Harry stopped to straighten the papers on his desk. "We've been informed of another meeting, this time in Turkmenistan." The word sent off an alarm in Ginny's mind, but she could not remember what the connection was. "Our informant has also told us that several of the current leaders of the movement will be present at tomorrow night's meeting. We've been in contact with the Turkmenistan Auror department and we're assembling a team to try and capture some key players. It's not a stake-out this time, Gin. It's going to be a fight, and people are going to get hurt."

He paused for a moment to study her face. She did not feel fearful at the prospect of a battle, and she was sure he could see that on her face.

"We want to take as many of these bastards into custody as we can," Ron cut in. "We have to act now before they have the chance to follow through with whatever they've been planning the last couple of months."

"What have they been planning?" She asked, her curiosity increasing.

"Something large-scale is all we've been able to determine," Harry answered slowly, glancing at Ron.

The two men shared a meaningful look and Ginny knew they were keeping something from her. However, she did not press the issue. At the moment she would rather go with them the following evening.

"So what time do we leave?" Ginny asked, leaning forward to place her hands on the corner of Harry's desk.

"Ginny, I don't know if it's such a good idea for you to -- " Harry started.

"Stop it. We've had this discussion before. And last time, I believe I provided valuable curse-breaking assistance." She raised her eyebrows at Harry, daring him to disagree. He looked at her, with a look somewhat akin to pity. She narrowed her eyes then, confused and trying desperately to keep her temper in check. "Harry?"

He glanced at Ron, who shrugged lightly, which served only to increase Ginny's interest in their strange behavior.

"What's going on?" She demanded, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Nothing," Harry answered. "We're leaving from here at 8 p.m. tomorrow night. Don't be late."

She nodded once and left the office, her mind a whirl of confusion and uncertainty.

Every whisper

Taken prisoner

Every brush of cloth

And furrowed brow

I feel

This last day darling

Here with me (darling)

All the rest is history

She had just slipped between the sheets when she heard his key in the door. She smiled and extinguished the candle on her bedside table, listening as he dropped his keys onto the kitchen table.

Draco had sent her an owl earlier, informing her that his meeting had run late and he might not be able to stop by until later. She had waited until nearly 10 p.m. before giving up, taking her bath and going to bed.

His footsteps in the hallway echoed lightly against the walls, and a clap of thunder made her jump. There was something about the approaching storm and him sneaking in at such a late hour that had her skin tingling.

She sat up on her pillows just as he stepped into her room, and she watched silently as he unclasped his cloak and draped it over the chair in the corner. He sat in the chair and slowly removed his shoes and socks, watching her the entire time. She pushed the covers down to her waist, knowing he would recognize the black lace negligee he had bought her as a housewarming gift.

A flash of lightning cast the room in an eerie blue light for a moment and she felt goose bumps rising on her arms.

Every shade of white

In the thieving night

That we steal to grow inspired

I know right now

She watched as his gaze traveled over her body and she licked her lips lightly.

He took a step towards the bed before pulling his shirt up over his head and letting it fall to the floor. Her breathing increased when she heard him undo his belt and unzip his trousers.

No words had been spoken and she had seen him dozens of times before, but her heart was racing from the sight of his naked form and the promise in his eyes.

He sunk onto the bed and pulled the covers off her.

She reached for the hem of the gown, and he watched as she pulled it over her head. Then he was kissing her, and the rain started coming down harder outside.

He paused, lifting his head from her lips and gazing into her eyes.

"Ginny, there's something I need to tell you," he whispered, his eyes silently pleading. "I tried the other night, but - "

"I heard you. I was still awake," she whispered, bringing a finger to place over his lips. "I love you, too."

He looked startled for a moment, but then smiled more brightly than she had ever seen him smile before.

"I do love you," he breathed, brushing kisses over her face. "You know that, don't you?"

"Yes," she breathed, and the word became a hiss as he bit down on her neck and grasped her breast in his palm.

Every kiss and curse

Every burning thirst

Every fix and flush of fire

I feel right now

She lay awake, listening to the mingled sounds of the pounding rain and his steady breathing. Another clap of thunder rattled the porcelain box on her dresser.

She watched tiny rivers of rain sliding down the glass of the window and knew with strange clarity that something was different about that particular night. The magic in the air had been nearly palpable and she had felt something…..something exciting and heartbreaking and unexplainable.

She turned on her side to gaze at Draco's sleeping form.

She had realized months ago that he was spectacularly beautiful and tragic in his sleep, and he was even more so tonight, for reasons she could not begin to understand.

Lightning lit the room again and suddenly she felt as if the darkness was slipping away far too soon. She had an idea then, and wondered vaguely why she had not thought to do so before.

She slipped from the bed and padded quietly down the hall to the dining room. Here, she retrieved her sketch pad and a lone piece of charcoal she had purchased months ago but never used.

Paint was her usual medium, but tonight was unusual, in every way.

She picked up the small wooden chair from in front of her easel and made her way back to the bedroom, hoping she had not made too much noise.

She sat her chair quietly beside the bed but froze when she dropped the pad of paper.

Her eyes found Draco and she watched with batted breath as he stirred in his sleep. His lips moved as though he was speaking in his dream, but she could not determine what he had meant to say.

"Draco?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper, but the sound of it seemed to calm him.

He was still for a moment more before she picked up the sketch pad, settled herself on the chair and turned to study him.

Every sound we make

Is a new prayer prayed

Disappearing, disappearing.

I hold on now

He was lying on his back, his chest bare and the blanket pushed to his waist.

His right arm was over his head, palm up, resting on the pillows and the other was stretched across his abdomen, as though he were still reaching for her.

The blinds on the windows were open just enough to let the blue light of the city outside illuminate him in shadows.

She gazed at him for several long minutes before her charcoal finally met the paper, and by then his image was nearly burned into her retinas. Her hand seemed to move of its own accord, working effortlessly to capture the true version of the man before her.

He was bare before her, but somehow still secretive and she realized there were many things she did not yet know about him.

She took particular care drawing his face, smudging the harsh black lines smooth, like the outline of his lips.

When she finished, she studied the portrait.

He was captured in his innocent sleep, painfully beautiful and tragic, the way she imagined a fallen angel should look. The picture moved her, and she knew that she would not paint him because the simple yet striking lines of charcoal had captured him better than her brush ever would.

She traced the line of his jaw on the paper and felt her heart constrict. She felt something was wrong, or off, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She wiped at her eyes then, unaware tears had been spilling silently down her face.

She carefully placed the sketch into the drawer of her nightstand and slipped back in beside him.

I will remember

Every sliver of you

This last day darling

Here with me (darling)

All the rest is history

"Ginny, don't move from this spot until you see my signal," Harry ordered her, moving from behind the building. He sprinted to the left, where she knew their Turkmenistan counterparts were waiting.

They had arrived in Turkmenistan nearly an hour earlier and it had taken them almost as long to locate the secret meeting of the suspected Death Eaters. They were hiding out in what looked to be a deserted warehouse in a most unpleasant part of town.

Ron was beside her, focused and quietly observing the building for any sign of movement.

"As soon as we know they're dismissing, we'll act," Ron whispered. "They can't disapparate from the building. So don't do anything until we see the door open and a few of them start coming out."

Ginny nodded and squinted into the twilight, looking for any signal that there was someone inside the building.

Suddenly, the door burst open and several people came barreling outside. Harry's patronus appeared beside them suddenly, and Ginny knew this was the sign for them to attack.

She hesitated long enough to hear that Harry and the Turkmenistan Aurors had already started the battle. Men were shouting curses in foreign tongues, light was flashing over the buildings and pieces of stone and dirt littered the air.

"Ginny!" Ron shouted, calling her from their hiding place.

This time she did not think, but merely stepped out into the line of fire and begun casting spells in every direction.

She lost count of how many men had come from the building, but they were easy enough to target. Most still had their old Death Eaters masks on, but some had taken them off for better visibility in the fading light.

Quite a few of the men had been stunned, but a band of about 10 were still huddled by the door of the building, firing curses and shouting.

"Ginny!" Ron was suddenly behind her, covering her from the back. "Ginny, Harry's just stunned Yaxley and a few others! As soon as we can drive them back enough to disapparate away, we'll be out of here."

"Alright!" Ginny shouted and fired several stunning curses to cover Ron as he made his way over to where Harry was detaining several men.

It was when she averted her eyes to the side of the building near the main door that she saw something to make her blood run cold.

I will remember

Every door we slip through

Every curving hour

Every dying ember

She froze, stopping dead in her tracks and letting her arms fall limply to her sides. She stared at him, eyes wide in the red light of twilight, taking in the sight of his white-blond hair and porcelain features.

"No," she gasped.

She was hallucinating, she was sure.

That was not him. That man could not be real.

Someone must have taken Polyjuice because Draco, her Draco, could not possibly have just emerged from a known Death Eater hideout. The Draco she loved could not really be holding a Death Eater Mask in his gloved hand.

Red and green curses were flying about her in every direction, but it seemed the world had slowed down to her and the man who had not yet noticed her.

Every color of our sorrow

Every fallen angel's graceful bow

I feel now

He was not fighting, not exactly.

His wand was drawn and he was gazing in Harry's general direction, but he was not casting any spells.

If only he would turn and face her. She was certain if she looked into his eyes she would know it was not really him, merely an imposter sent to confuse her and the Aurors.

She had still not moved, had not lifted her wand or shifted out of the line of fire.

A loud shout from behind her finally captured his attention. But when she felt his eyes on her, she knew.

She knew before she lifted her eyes from his chest that it was him.

She had felt those eyes on her a thousand times before.

And now, when she finally let her brown eyes meet his hard gray orbs, she found she was unable to draw another breath.

Every broken word unspoken

Every crooked line of this sad town

I feel

They stared at each other for nearly a minute.

Her eyes were shining with tears of betrayal she could not yet shed.

His eyes were glowing with words he longed to tell her.

He took a step towards her, his hand reaching out to her, and it startled her from her daze. She held his stare, but took a step back just as someone fired a curse.

Her body absorbed the red light before she could realize what had happened.

She had only enough time to let her lips form an "Oh" shape.

She felt nothing but numb disbelief as she sank down onto the ground, her mind still burning with the image of his silvery gray eyes.

I will remember

No other lover

There is no other

A/N: So? What did you think? All build-up and no climax? Don't forget to leave me a review!