Ginny greeted her parents at the door, who gave her wide eyed looks at the dress robes she wore and she sighed to herself.
She'd thought it may be too much, that they may take it the wrong way, she'd hoped they wouldn't shoot her those odd little glances, however. In fact she'd hoped they'd understand that the robes were a gift from Lucius and she wanted to wear them, wanted to show them off because he'd bought them for her.
Just for her.
It was a feeling she was unaccustomed to and she often had to remind herself not to get used to it. This relationship was new, it may not last, it may last forever. She had no true way of knowing.
Luc greeted her parents and showed them to the sitting room for drinks, he had turned the charm up several notches and she snorted a laugh as soon as they were out of the room at the wicked sparkle in his eyes when only she could see him.
He was a cad, a complete prick and there was nothing to be done for it, but somehow she found it endearing.
Somehow, she found herself enjoying it.
Harry and Draco came next, the former giving her a tight hug while the latter tapped his foot impatiently and muttered snarky, half-niceties under his breath. It was when Hermione and Severus arrived that she emitted a high squeal and tugged her friend into her arms.
The austere potions master only stood behind her, his posture tense and his front nearly pressed to her back as he loomed over her. It was sweet, she supposed, the way he looked after her friend.
"You look beautiful Gin." Hermione supplied in her ear as they hugged and she rubbed her back.
She observed her friend for a long moment when they broke apart, in a set of beautiful lavender dress robes that swept to the floor and gave her a very regal look. Snape, as always, wore his frockcoat and black robes but seemed to have foregone his sweeping, much to Ginny's humor.
"I should say the same to you!" She exclaimed before giving Snape a look. "Everyone is in the sitting room, can I borrow your wife for a minute?" She tried to give him a reassuring smile but she was sure it wobbled.
He gave her a long, intense look that made her stomach clench before he placed a soft kiss on Hermione's cheek and whispered something in her ear that made the brunette smile with a giggle. He drifted away, vanishing down the hall and Ginny could feel her posture relax.
"What's wrong, Gin?" Hermione asked as soon as she was sure they were alone and she shrugged.
"I look to fancy, mum and dad, they gave me this terrible look. I think I hurt their feelings." She was staring at the soft fabric of her robes across her legs, the way it clung and swayed, like fluid on her small frame. She adored the robes, but in that moment she wanted to take them off.
"Oh, Ginny, you can't feel bad for having something nice, is that what this is about?" Ginny was swept into another hug and she gave a soft nod, a sigh as she hugged her friend back.
"You have just as much right to be treated fantastically as anyone else, Gin." She rubbed her shoulders and Ginny smiled, trying to reconcile the idea.
"Thanks 'Mi, how are things with Snape? I hardly see you at school." She managed to shift the attention to something else, still feeling a bit uncomfortable but wanting to know how her best friend was, they'd barely seen each other for the past week, or talked for that matter.
With Hermione living in Snape's chambers they didn't stay up for late night talks and study sessions anymore.
"We're good, we spend a lot of time in bed…" Ginny cut her off with a hand.
"Reading, I know, I imagine you do a lot of reading." A wicked smile tugged Hermione's lips and Ginny groaned.
"I don't want to know."
"Is everything okay, ladies?" A voice from behind her made Ginny spin and she gave the cocky bastard standing in front of her large grin.
"Everything is fine Luc."
"Madam Snape." He greeted Hermione cordially. She knew he still didn't see her friend as his equal, still, he was trying, and that was more than she would have ever expected from him.
"Mr. Malfoy." She gave a nod as Snape swept around him and joined Hermione at her side, looking for all the world like he would be anywhere but there.
Ginny really hoped they could all learn to get along.
"Dinner is ready, master." Dobby appeared with a pop before disappearing again, leaving the tension in the air waning.
"Draco, escort the Snapes and Weasleys to the dining room, I need to have a word with Ginevra." She hadn't even realized Draco was there, leaning against Harry and talking lowly between them. He snapped to attention and rolled his eyes even as he cleared his throat.
"Right, still think it's weird you're married to my godfather, come along then." He coaxed, Hermione gave a wicked little laugh as she passed him.
"And what about when Ginny becomes your stepmum." Ginny almost fell over laughing right there at the pale look on Draco's face as Hermione and Severus passed them and made their way to the room that held Ginny's parents. Soon the group was off, Draco acting as a tour guide, telling them all about the fantastic history of his family home while Hermione giggled behind his back.
"Are you okay, Ginevra?" Luc strolled up to her after they were all gone and held the sides of her face, staring into her eyes and caressing her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs.
"I'm fine, I just felt like my parents may not approve of this." She motioned to her robes, he sniffed, cleared his throat, and gave a tight nod.
"Ginevra, I cannot say that I particularly care what your parents think. In fact, they are only here because I care for you and wanted to give you the comfort of family during an uncomfortable meal." He tipped her face up to look into his with his thumb on her chin, stormy eyes holding her attention.
"You cannot dwell on what they think forever, if they do not like the lifestyle I can offer you then they are more than welcome to see themselves out. I will continue to offer you the things I think you deserve and there is no one that will ever stop me, save for you."
Ginny furrowed her brow, surprised by the sentiment. Still she managed to wrap her arms around his torso and suck in a deep breath, eyes closed as the sharp scent of his cologne tickled her nose.
"Let's get this over with." She heaved her shoulder, only to be met with a bright chuckle from the man clutched to her. She gave a short laugh herself.
"I think that is a good idea, my little fireball."
"Fireball?" She cocked an eyebrow as she pulled back, straightened her dress robes and gave him a look.
"You can call me a git and prick but I cannot call you a fireball?" He cocked his own eyebrow back and she pursed her lips, a smile trying to fight its way on her face.
"Honestly? I would have thought you would come up with something more insulting."
"I will work on that then." He smirked, offered an arm to her and lead her to her doom, or- dinner.
LMGW
To the credit of the Weasleys, Lucius thought, they managed to make it through most of the meal without commenting on Ginevra's attire. It was abundantly clear to him that everyone, save the Weasleys, understood how one dressed when attending a dinner party at Malfoy Manor.
Even the mudblo-Hermione- had managed to dress nicely enough, looking lovely on the arm of Severus Snape. The pair had spoken at length through owl post and had come to an agreement, they needed to set aside their differences and figure out a way to get along as they had when they were young, if they were going to be involved with a set of friends as close as Ginevra and Hermione were.
When the couple did comment however, he could see the hurt in the witch's eyes at the gentle bite of their words. He didn't think they even intended to hurt her feelings, Gryffindors blundering through their days saying what they thought without any consideration for the consequences.
This was something he knew he and Severus could see eye to eye on.
"I think Ginny looks lovely." Hermione smiled, settling her napkin onto the table and giving the redhead a broad smile. Lucius couldn't help but be grateful, fists clenched beneath the table.
He would sooner hex the couple into oblivion than see the witch upset, it was good there was at least one, no, two he thought as Potter jumped into the discussion, adding he'd never seen her look so pretty, who had a sense of diplomacy.
Ginevra beamed at her friends as they came to her rescue and he silently thanked Merlin, Circe, the cosmos that he'd not reacted immediately. His temper was volatile at best, despite the soothing effect the witch seemed to have on his patience with her, he was still easily tried, and annoyed, by those around him.
"Is it appropriate, in your opinion, to make such remarks to your daughter?" Severus chimed now, and he could see the bushy brunette's hand shift under the table, presumably soothing the wizard.
Ah yes, Severus was a Slytherin as well, after all, they were all volatile, in their own ways.
"Oh Ginny, we didn't mean anything by it sweetie." She nodded at her mum and turned back to her meal, the meal that fell back to comfortable conversation and Lucius stroked the hair back from her face softly when he was certain no one was paying attention, wrapped up in their own conversations.
"It is lucky for your friend, Ginevra, I may have done something to make you hate me, had she not spoken up." He spoke just loud enough for her to hear and she turned to him with a cocked eyebrow, her brown eyes twinkling. Gods those eyes were lovely.
"Does this mean you can see yourself accepting her at some point?" Her lips twitched, a smile threatening to take her face and he heaved a breath.
"I believe it means I can see myself tolerating her for as long as I must." He managed carefully and the witch gave him a wide smile, before shrugging and schooling her face into something less excited.
"I guess that means I can see myself tolerating you for a time longer as well." She returned haughtily before sticking the spoon that dangled loosely in her hand into her mouth and smiling around it.
"Cheeky witch."
The conversation would have carried on in such a manner, if the wards that surrounded the Manor were not triggered in that instant, invoking a loud pop near the front gates that sent them all rigid in their seats.