"Quite a bunch aren't they?" Ginny said, appearing as if from no where behind Draco, a smile playing on her lips. She was wearing a fetching little black and silver dress, her hair curled to perfection, framing her face beautifully, one side pulled back with a flower in her hair. She was frustratingly beautiful. Accepting a girl was pretty was one thing, even a Weasley, knowing it made you squirm was another all together. She seemed in another place with her happiness as she watched the scene before them.

Bill was dancing with his bride, and it did not matter what type of woman you went for, the beauty of a blissfully happy bride was more then anything else, mostly. They did not remove their eyes form each other, there was such gentleness in the way they were, if he ever doubted the feeling the pair held for each other, they were washed away now. Even the scars that marred his once handsome face seemed almost invisible on this day.

Her brothers were dotted about the room, one of the twins, Fred he believed was standing beside Hermione, grinning as he took her hand and dragged her onto the dance floor, swinging her into his arms with a dramatic gesture, Hermione smiled reluctant and begun to laugh as he pulled her around the dance floor with a deceptive amount of grace for a gangly redhead. He saw it coming perhaps before Hermione did, because after one swish when he flung her out, he pulled her in, and looked at her with that unmistakable look, before placing a kiss on her lips.

A hand grabbed Draco's arm in a vice like grip, and he looked down to see Ginny grinning like a mad woman as she watched the kiss happen. He smiled despite himself at her evident excitement at the turn of events.

Ron it appeared had settled himself with this turn of events, as he stood there, seeming not to acknowledge what was happening, instead settled for turning to the other twin and talking to him. At the other end of the large marquee that had been put up, Charlie was holding Teddy, as his mother took a break, sitting beside him, sipping on wine and smiling. Percy was in the corner, not really talking to anyone.

It was hard not to notice however that there was so much happiness in the room, even with a few uncomfortable moments, Molly was fussing and smiling like she could not be happier, people chatted easily, laughed and smiled. The music was loud, people danced with each other, and moved through the crowd, stopping and chatting as they went on occasion. It was different from any other wedding that Draco had been to before, there was true happiness in here, without motive.

He remembered witnessing the wedding of Marcus Flint to some girl from France, neither smiled all day, and when the vows had been made, they parted, people wore dark clothing, the music was quiet and subtle, it was hardly the celebration tonight proved to be.

And as the night came away, the happily drunk partygoers disappeared, sincerely wishing Bill and Fleur the best of luck, disappearing into the night with bright smiles on their faces.

"Have you enjoyed yourself, Draco? I see you didn't dance all night?" Molly asked as she trudged past him, levitating a large pile of presents.

"I had a good time, thank you Molly, you did a wonderful job on the decoration," Draco said politely, Molly blushed red at his compliment, and twittered and cooed about how it was an important event, and he smiled.

"Well, I am glad, we would like for you to enjoy your time here,"

Draco nodded, thanked her once more before pulling himself away and settling down in his room. Molly wanted him to enjoy his time here, and even though he sometimes felt lonely, and she made him do chores, he did, he enjoyed it more than being at home, because here, he was a person to be fussed over, he'd developed actual muscles, he actually tanned a little out in the garden, it was a strange way of living to him, but one he could perhaps grow accustomed to.


"Did you mean to kiss me? It wasn't just because we were at a wedding and dancing, was it? I mean, gosh, I don't think I know what I mean." Hermione flustered as she stood in Fred and Georges room, blushing a shade of red Ginny would be proud of, and waving her arms around. Fred was sat on his old bed looking at Hermione with an amused expression as she faltered, seeming to loose herself in her embarrassment.

He laughed, unable to help himself.

"I don't know what you've heard Hermione, but I don't make a habit of going around and kissing people," Fred replied with a grin, he looked genuinely amused by the situation, but Hermione frowned, it wasn't exactly an answer, and he could see that written all over her face. "Yes, I meant to kiss you."

"Ok," Hermione squeaked she nodded her head and walked out of the room, only to walk directly into the door frame. Fred leapt to his feet, turning the young woman around to face him as she gripped her face in her hands. He gently prised her hands away before inspecting her face, other than a red indent running down her forehead and across her nose she was unmarked. He smiled as she finally looked into his eyes.

"Don't go smashing your face in Hermione; I can't handle being the prettier one in a relationship."


As summer drew on, things took an almost unexpected turn as Oliver turned up one day to visit the Twins, he grinned as he lazed in the garden. He was a new member of the Order, but still so young.

"How are things going with Puddlemere?" Fred asked as they lounged in the garden, Hermione was with them as well as Harry and Aimee, Ginny and Ron.

"Great, it's different to being on the team at Hogwarts, but it's good," Oliver answered, and Ginny could not help but feel excited, if there was anything she could do after Hogwarts, it would be quidditch. "Actually we're scouting for new players next season, you've caught their eye Ginny."

"Are you kidding me?" Ginny almost squealed, Oliver grinned and shook his head no. "That's beyond awesome!"

"Yeah well you've been playing well this year, even if Gryffindor didn't win," Oliver replied easily. Ginny grinned, unable to contain her happiness at this news. "You should join me one day at practice; it would be cool to get you to see it early."

"Yes please!"


"Isn't he a bit old for you?" Aimee asked as she and Ginny were back in the house later that evening, getting cups and juice to drink as the sun begun setting, it was still a pleasant evening in mid summer. Oliver had stuck around, much to Ginny's delight.

"He's only twenty and I'm sixteen, anyway it's irrelevant, clearly he's too cool for a little Weasley like me," Ginny replied with ease, sliding past her cousin who raised an eyebrow at her, not satisfied with her response.

"You may be legal, but that doesn't mean he's not too old for you," Aimee warned as they moved back outside, unaware of the eyes that watched them.


Draco said nothing as he watched the pair, clearly his thoughts on what had been going on between him and Ginny were misplaced, he had been pretty certain that given a little more time that he could have her, that flame goddess who haunted him in the night. He almost scolded himself for such thought, but it was difficult, sexual attraction was a fact of life, and he certainly had it for the youngest Weasley, he always had, it was strange, when sixth year had begun a few had noted how Aimee was perhaps one of the most gorgeous girls in school, and she was certainly good looking, but he knew what she was, it was in her genes to be like that, Eternals were ethereal beings, if she wasn't fantastic she would not be what she was, but looking at her closer he spotted the fiery redhead beside her… it had hit him in a way he had never expected, how trying to see beauty he found in the most unexpected of places.

They had shared a moment, just a moment, he hadn't taken her that night, she had blushed when he had set her on her feet and nudged her towards the door, she'd reached the door handle before turning around and running back to him, placing one last beautiful, glancing kiss against his lips.

Even though it had not lasted, he thought perhaps they had. He did not know, they never spoke of it, and it did not happen again over the holidays, instead they had fallen into some weird friendship of sorts, where all the small things seemed to matter just that much more than the big things. He did not understand it if he were honest.

He sighed, watching her fawn over the Gryffindor quidditch player, who was verging on famous; he scowled to himself and angrily thought that fan-girls never change. She went from one famous bloke to another with ease, clearly Draco was just a blip in the routine, a rich blip, he thought bitterly.

She certainly knew how to pick them, that was for sure, he decided it was because she came from a poor family, because she needed the security, it was little more then the gold diggers her parents had assumed would make a good Malfoy wife, well at least they had the decency to admit to what they were.

He grew angrier and angrier, storming up to his room and slamming the door, throwing himself to the bed in a tantrum a two year old would be proud of.

He felt like kicking his legs and screaming in his frustration. The bitter taste of jealousy bit at him and he groaned, he was not one to be jealous, he'd never wanted something he could not just take before, but clearly taking Ginny would have connotations that were overtly illegal. And unbecoming of a man from high society.

The door opened and he quickly sat up and saw Molly Weasley standing there watching him carefully.

"We don't slam doors in this house, Draco," She told him firmly, before moving inside and setting herself down beside him, motherly concern practically radiating from her. "Should you not be outside with the others? I think they are talking about quidditch, didn't you used to be on your house team?"

It was hard not to feel grateful for her concern, but he was in little mood to talk to Ginny's mother. He shook his head and she patted his hand.

"Well if you are sure dear."