Chapter 21: It Just might Work Out

Draco woke up beside Ginny one bright Saturday morning. He turned his head and looked at her. She was peacefully asleep. One of her locks was lazily lying on her face. Seeing her beside him, Draco felt just one thing; he felt lucky. His mind went back to his miserable past and he shuddered. It had been almost eight years since he had made love to a woman. He knew how he had longed for a simple human touch. How long it had been since he was given any affection. How long it had been since he was loved. And Ginny had given him all this. He never thought he would care about anyone much … but looking at Ginny he knew, there was no one he would care more than her.

He moved her hairs from her face and kissed her forehead. Ginny open her eyes.

"Hey you." She said sleepily.

"Hey," he said. He couldn't help smiling. "Did you sleep well?"

"Hmm … you?" She said snuggling closer him.

"Yeah" He kissed her again. "Ginny … I Love you."

"I Love you too." Ginny said still sleepy.

"Marry me." Draco said.

Ginny opened her eyes in a flash. "What?" She asked.

"Marry me, Ginny" Draco said again.

"Draco, stop joking." Ginny said now totally awake.

"I have never been more serious in my life."

Ginny looked at Draco with astonishment.

"Draco, I don't understand." Ginny said confused.

"What do you not understand? I love you and I want to spend my life with you." Draco said.

"We have been dating for just a month. Isn't it too soon even to think about it? What kind of a guy are you?"

"A guy who loves you and don't want to be away from you anymore. You know Ginny, those seven years in Azkaban, each day I wished for a different life. I counted each day as it passed. You can still go and see each line I have drawn in my cell. I wanted to run away from all that. You wont believe how many times I thought of killing my self there … I just didn't have enough courage." Draco said in sort of a choking voice.

"Oh Draco … it's all over now." Ginny said sympathetically.

"I know that. Now I have you." Draco said. "Ginny, you gave me what I desperately wanted." He paused, thinking about something. Then he continued. "My father wanted me to follow his steps. My mother was too protective. I never made a single friend in Hogwarts. I had money and I had people following me around. When I met Dark Lord … I thought he could make me invincible. I was so wrong. I never knew what I wanted in my life or what would make me happy." He looked at Ginny and cupped her face with his hands. "Now I know Ginny … it's you … you make me happy … more than you can imagine. This morning when I woke up and saw you beside me … I just knew I wanted it to happen every morning. I want you beside me all my life."

Ginny smiled. "That's … that's very sweet Draco … but … but I think you should think more about it."

"I have thought about it Ginny." Draco said impatiently. "But … if you need time … I understand."

"Draco we can't decide this in such a hurry. I have a son … Are you ready to take care of him all life?" Ginny asked.

"Believe it or not … I like James." Draco said. "I even like Hermione and her son, Harry. I have a little trouble with your brothers … but I can handle them. After Dark Lord and Azkaban, nothing looks impossible."

"Draco … it's … it's just too soon for me. I just can't answer you right now."

"That's fine … I can wait till tomorrow morning." Draco said smiling.

"This is not funny, Draco." Ginny said angrily.

"Come on Ginny … you wanted to marry Potter when you didn't even know him."

"It was a crush initially, Draco … I was just eleven. It changed into love when I got to know him better."

"Ok fine." Draco said frustratingly. Then he took a deep breath and continued. "Ginny, I want to do this. And I understand if you want to mull over it. I will love James and I will try to like your brothers too. And I will try my best to make you the happiest woman."

"Draco …" Ginny started.

But Draco interrupted her, "I know, I don't have much money … but hey you are rich. And I can handle all the House work … the kids there already like me. You can take Aurora's recommendation also … she loves me. And didn't Hermione suggested you to give us a chance … are you going to ignore the most brilliant witch's advice."

Ginny was smiling now. The only time she had seen Draco so desperate was when he had asked her to help him for a job. That was such a long time ago … who could have thought she would end up in bed with him.

"I will think about it … ok?" Ginny said. "Now dress up. Hermione will be here with James."

Later that afternoon, Ginny told Hermione about the proposal.

"He what?" Hermione asked in a shock.

"He proposed." Ginny said.

"Wow … that must have been some sex you had." Hermione said smirking.

"Please Hermione … don't joke. What should I do? I promised him I will think about it."

"Ginny, it has to be your decision."

"Yes I know … but my head is all muddled up. My brothers hate him."

"Well he is not marrying your brothers … do you love him?" Hermione asked.

"I do … but Hermione this is too soon."

"Well he could have waited for four years and then asked you … like Ron did with me. Would it make a difference? For me, it wouldn't have mattered … I always knew I was going to marry your fool of a brother."

Ginny smiled. She knew how frustrated Hermione had felt before when after four years of dating; Ron had still not proposed her. She also remembered how Hermione had bawled when Ron finally did propose.

"After Harry died and before Draco, I think I have dated 5 men." Ginny said. "And it never even crossed my mind that I would marry again. It was just James and Me." She said looking out into the garden. James, Harry and Draco were playing with the toy wands spraying each other with water. "James likes him." She said finally.

"Yeah … isn't it weird." Hermione said.

"Harry Potter's son and Draco Malfoy … who would have thought?" Ginny said chuckling.

"Who would have thought Ginny Potter and Draco Malfoy?" Hermione pointed out.

"Yeah … Ginny Malfoy … sounds so odd …" Ginny said.

"Who says you have to change your name?" Hermione interjected. "It might be better if he becomes Draco Weasley … you know wipe the Malfoys." She said smirking.

"Hermione … and he had actually started to like you." Ginny said shaking her head.

"I was just joking …"

"You think I should say yes … don't you?" Ginny asked.

"Ginny … aren't you tired of living alone? Harry's gone for 4 years now. He wouldn't like you to be alone and sad. He would want you to move on."

"What if Draco is not the right person to move on?" Ginny asked.

"There will always be doubts … but what if he is?" Hermione insisted.

Ginny thought for a while and then smiled, "Ron will be furious."

"So he will crib for a while … it's not easy to put someone in Harry's place, Ginny … we all know that."

"Harry will never be replaced, Hermione."

"I know that … but we can always make a place for Draco in our lives. It just might work you know."

"It just might." Ginny said nodding.

Ginny knew she had to talk to James before she could decide anything. The trouble was James was spending too much time with Draco now a days. Ginny suspected Draco had a hand in it. He was already hard at work to impress James.

A couple of days later Ginny did get time alone with James, thanks to a kitchen emergency at the House. She thought this would be as good a time she will get.

"So did you have fun with Mr. Malfoy today?" She asked James.

"Yes … look what he gave me Mommy … a firebolt." James said showing Ginny a toy-model of firebolt.

"That's really nice of him." Ginny said.

"Mr. Malfoy said Daddy had one of these … he said I will be a good flyer just like Daddy." James told her excitingly.

"He really said that?"

"Yes."

"James, do you really like Mr. Malfoy?" Ginny asked.

"He is fine." James said shrugging. "Are you going to marry him Mommy?" He asked.

"Ah … who said that to you?" Ginny asked.

"Granny"

"Oh? … ummm … what do you think?"

James thought for a while. "You won't have to pay him if you marry him … right Mommy?" He said.

"Right." Ginny said smiling. Only yesterday she had increased Draco's pay after they had got a huge funding from Dean Thomas.

"Then you should … and Mr. Malfoy says he loves you too." James continued.

"Right … that's the additional bonus." Ginny said laughing.

Later that night, Draco and Ginny were sitting on the couch snuggling with each other.

"I will never forget our first kiss." Ginny said.

"Well … you deserved it … nobody slaps Draco and gets away without a kiss." Draco said.

"Well actually I remember Hermione slapped you once in your third year." Ginny said smirking.

"Err … yeah well … that time I had a vow." Draco said blushing lightly.

"Which was?"

"No lips of mine would touch a muggle-born. But let her try now … She won't get away without a kiss." Draco said smiling.

"Hmm … May be I should tell Ron to try that … it will be fun to watch you two make up." Ginny sniggered.

"Well then I will have to propose him too … and I really don't want to upset Hermione." He said seriously.

Ginny looked into Draco's eyes and touched his lips.

"What?" He asked softly.

"I will marry you." She said simply and kissed him.

They had healed each other and they were ready to move on.

Author's Note: Ah well … Happy Ending are so nice … :sob:. Are you listening JKR? That's the key word – "Happy Ending" for Deathly Hallows. Still the Epilogue to go … read on.