Chapter 28: All about Molly

Arthur sat in the worn chair across from his wife listening to her recall her relationship with Lucius Malfoy. She told him of the stolen kisses between classes, trips to Hogsmeade, and of days lazing by the lake. He could hear in her voice that she had actually loved him, the man who had held so much anger and had caused so much pain to his family over the years. As her story came to a close, he could hear the pain in her voice as she told him of the last meeting she had with Lucius and his cavalier attitude as well as the betrothal between the Malfoys and the Blacks.

Arthur looked at his wife of twenty-seven years astonished that he never knew about any of this. Arthur stared at her in silence unable to put his thoughts into words for what seemed like eons to a worried Molly. Eventually, he did speak.

"All this time, you kept this from me," he stated in disbelief. "Molly, we ostracized our daughter and the only thing she is guilty of is doing exactly what you have done. She fell for a Malfoy."

"Arthur, she did a bit more than that," Molly retorted quickly. "Look, you may not understand, but I don't want her to go through what I did. The Malfoys value their bloodline above all else. Ginny will be crushed when she discovers that boy will never marry her and more than likely is already betrothed to someone else," she explained.

Arthur debated with himself for a few moments trying to determine whether or not to disclose the weekend's events to his wife. He decided that it wasn't his place. If she was to be informed, she would need to speak to Ginny and it would come directly from her. He didn't want to betray his daughter's trust after it had just recently been mended. He sighed heavily opting to divert the conversation away from that particular topic.

"Molly, Ginny has seen the photo. I think you need to sit down and talk to her as soon as possible. She was quite beside herself when she saw it."

"Arthur, where did you get this photograph?

"Does it really matter?

"No, I suppose it doesn't," she replied looking down at her hands folded in her lap.

Arthur looked sternly at his wife. "You've caused this rift between us and our daughter and you will fix it. She needs you Molly and you are the only one who can bridge the gap," he told her. "I blindly agreed with you before, but not anymore, not now."

He watched his wife for her reaction. She sat and listened with her lips pursed and fire in her eyes; her face and ears were the same flaming color of her hair. He looked at her thoughtfully.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous of her relationship with young Mr. Malfoy," said an astonished Arthur Weasley.

"That's absurd!" an indignant Molly screeched. "I am thankful every day that I didn't end up with Lucius Malfoy. I have a wonderful family that I love more that life itself and I wouldn't trade that for anything! How could you say such a thing?"

"If that's true my dear, I would suggest you right this with Ginny," he stated rising from his chair. His blue eyes locked onto hers. "Do you really want to miss the birth of your first grandchild?" he asked leaving her to ponder the answer to his question.

~*~*~*~*~*****~*~*~*~*~

After a slow Monday morning, Ginny was summoned to the headmaster's office which had taken her by surprise. His note simple stated that her needed to speak with her and that she could floo to his office at 2 o'clock.

As the time approached she began to feel quite nervous. Her only thoughts were that he had found out something that would not allow her to marry Draco as a student and either she would have to leave school, or Draco would have to leave. Neither option was acceptable.

Ginny stepped from the emerald green flames into the headmaster's office and walked slowly to the chair opposite his large desk.

"Welcome, Miss Prewett. How are you today?"

"I'm doing well. I'm just concerned as to why you've asked me here," she asked with her brows slightly furrowed in confusion.

"It's nothing too terrible, I assure you," he smiled. "I actually have two reasons for asking you here. The first is in regards to your end of tern examinations. I have spoken to all of your professors and they feel that you are ready to take your exams and I thought that you may want to go ahead and take care of that this week or next week so that you may spend your time on other pending arrangements. I'm sure that planning a wedding a birth in short proximity will be quite time consuming."

Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. It took a few moments to compose herself before speaking.

"I…that's not what I expected you to say, I somewhat thought you'd called me here to tell me that you were mistaken yesterday and that Draco and I could not get married as student and teacher."

"Miss Prewett, I'm sorry. Perhaps I should have told you what we'd be discussing. No, I was not mistaken yesterday. There is nothing stopping you and Mr. Malfoy from completing the betrothal contract by getting married."

"Good! And to answer your question, I'm more than ready to take my exams."

"Wonderful, I knew you would be. I'll get with your professors and set up a timetable. I will need to appoint someone to supervise your DADA exam. I'm sure neither Minerva nor Severus would mind."

"Sir, I know that my professors know about my pregnancy, but will they need to be told about the betrothal as well?"

"I'll leave that up to you and Mr. Malfoy, but you may want to inform your head of house. She tends to get quite upset when she doesn't know what's going on with her own students."

"Yes sir, she does. I'll talk to Draco and we'll explain everything to her."

"Good, good," he replied with his eyes twinkling and a smile on his face. "Now, as for the other bit of business, you have someone here who you like to see you."

"Me? Who would want to come see me? I saw everyone that still speaks to me yesterday."

"It seems Molly would like to speak to you," he replied.

Ginny immediately became nervous and started fondling the crystal on the necklace Severus gave her earlier in the school year. Her mind was racing. She couldn't think of any reason her mother would want to speak to her. She had made that abundantly clear when she chose not to visit Ginny in the hospital after she found out about her child's father. The only thing Gunny could think of was maybe her Dad had been able to change her mum's mind and she was here to let her know that all was forgiven.

"Miss Prewett," the headmaster called interrupting her thoughts. "May I suggest you hear her out? It may shed a bit of light on her actions as of late." He rose from his seat motioning Ginny to the door. "If you'll follow me, she is waiting in the conference room. You may leave at anytime you wish. The floo in there will allow you to return to your room, or any other connected floo in the castle," he explained as they stopped at the door. "This is where I leave you, my dear," he said as he turned to go back to his office.

Ginny stared at the conference room door. Part of her wanted to throw the door open and run inside to see her mum and hope that all had been forgiven. Another part wanted to storm into the room and demand to know why she had been treated so poorly when she herself was just as guilty for being involved with a Malfoy.

She hesitantly opened the door and walked into the room. Molly was sitting near the window waiting for Ginny to enter. When she heard the door open she stood to greet her daughter. Both women stared furtively at the other trying to gauge the other's reaction. Finally, after several tense minutes Molly finally broke the silence.

"Ginny, it's good to see you," she greeted. Her voice lacked the usual warmth that Ginny remembered.

"You too, Mum," she replied taking a seat across from her mother. She nervously ran her hands over stomach trying to quell the intense kicking that began when she entered the room. She just looked at her mother's face. It seemed she was just as nervous as Ginny. Not able to stand the silence for another moment she blurted, "Why are you here?"

"Your father…"

"You're only here because Dad asked you?" she interrupted incredulously.

"Let me finish," she implored.

Molly took a deep breath not knowing exactly what she was going to say, but knew she had to start somewhere began quietly. "You're father told me you knew about my relationship with Lucius."

"Actually, I only saw a picture of you and Lucius. It did look rather cozy," she replied bitterly.

"Ginny, this isn't easy for me."

"I can't imagine why. It's not like you're being hypocritical of my relationship with Draco," she replied sardonically.

Molly clenched her jaws to bite back the ire she felt welling inside. She wanted to explain things to Ginny, but she did not seem very receptive to her explanations.

"Hypocritical? You think I'm being hypocritical?" she asked incredulously. "All I'm trying to do is protect you. I don't want you to go through what I did!" she retorted with her temper getting the best of her.

"He's not Lucius."

"No, he isn't, but he isa Malfoy and there is no way he'd marry you no more than Lucius wanted to marry me."

"What are you talking about?"

"Think about it, Ginny. Why would he marry you? You have nothing of value to offer him! Malfoys don't do anything without a reason. I'm not sure why or how you two got together in the first place, but all he'll do is take, take, and take until he moves on. I'm sure he's already betrothed to some pureblood, status obsessed, wealthy girl who has no choice in the matter. That's his destiny as much as it was Lucius'. You have no part in that!" She paused for a moment to look into her daughter's enraged face. She hated to upset her, but she had to see that it wouldn't work out. "He'll see soon enough and accept his obligation to follow his family and leave you and your child like the mistakes you are."

Ginny listened to the words falling from her mother's lips. Every word that she extolled sliced another wrenching tear in her heart. It hurt beyond words that her mother would say that she and her child were a mistake that Draco would never care about. Ginny knew that he loved her and was marrying her. She also knew that he loved his child the minute the shock wore off after he found out about him, but with her haywire hormones it was easy to allow a bit of uncertainty to creep in.

"You should have just waited," her mother continued. "He would have come back when he was ready to settle down. He just needed some time."

Ginny looked quizzically at her mother.

"None of this would have happened if you'd just waited for him," she sighed.

Ginny's eyes widened as she realized what her mother was talking about. She narrowed her eyes and fixed a hard glare upon the matronly redhead before speaking. She took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Not everyone is like you and Ron, Mum. The rest of the world doesn't believe the world revolves around the great Harry Potter, especially me," she said evenly.

"He's just a boy. He…"

"He cheated on me with my best friend! It had been going on for months!" she spat. "Ron knew. Hermione knew. Bloody hell, even Seamus and Dean knew and they are oblivious to everything! The only way I found out was by walking in on him shagging her in the broom shed and then hexing a confession out of them," she fumed. "They had the nerve to tell me 'it didn't mean anything', 'it was a way to relieve stress,' oh, and my favorite, 'recreational shagging' I believe is what he called it!" she spat with her voice continuing to rise 'And you want me to wait for him?"

"No one's perfect, Ginevra," she replied wearily.

"That may be true, but don't I at least deserve someone who respects me enough to treat me better than that, someone who'll be honest and truthful?"

"And you think that's him? He left you once already. What makes you think he won't do it again and take your son, his heir this time?"

"Why are you doing this?" Ginny asked despairingly trying to hold back the tears that were brimming in her eyes.

"Ginny, I don't want you making the same mistakes I did. I want you to find someone who loves you and for you to be happy."

"Mum, he makes me happy and… and this is my life, my mistakes to make. Draco and I being together is not a mistake. We love each other and we're going to be together for a very long time. You might as well get used to it."

"I thought that about Lucius as well."

"How many times to I have to tell you? HE IS NOT HIS FATHER!"

"Maybe not, but he was raised by him and taught by him." Molly sighed heavily and looked at her distraught daughter. "I just want what's best for you and I don't think it's him."

"How can you know that? You've never taken the time to talk to him. How can Dad, Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George see that we love each other and you can't?"

"You think what you feel is love, but you don't know what real love is. He is the father of your child and you're holding onto that. Once the baby is here and you're back to yourself, you'll see that I'm right."

Ginny couldn't believe her mother was saying this to her. This was the same woman who comforted her after every scraped knee, after falling off her broom, and after every nightmare she had. Why was she doing this? Ginny's hand automatically grasped the crystal dangling from the chain trying to comfort herself, but she couldn't take hearing another word escaping her mother's lips.

"STOP IT! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" she yelled. "He loves me! He loves us!" she cried with tears streaming down her pale cheeks as she buried her head in her hands.

"Malfoys don't know how to love. They use, they destroy, and they shatter hearts, but they do not love, especially Prewetts," she added the last under her breath.

"He does love me! He does!" she screamed as the door to the conference room burst open.

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded a very angry Severus Snape.

"This is none of your concern Severus. This is between my daughter and myself," Molly replied sternly.

"Woman, can't you see how distraught she is? She isn't supposed to be getting excited or upset. It could be harmful for her and the baby, but you wouldn't know about any problems she's had since you can't be bothered with her! She may be your daughter, but I highly doubt you know anything about her," Severus growled gathering Ginny in his arms trying to calm her down.

"Severus Snape, unhand my daughter this minute!"

"Molly, someone needs to comfort her and obviously it isn't going to be you. Now, madam if you don't mind please show yourself out. You've done enough damage for one day," he sneered.

As Molly stormed toward the door and turned to Ginny before she left. "It'll end the same with you as it did for us. I refuse to pick up the pieces because you are too stubborn to see the truth," she extolled the slammed the door as she left the room.

Severus stroked Ginny's hair as he whispered comforting words into her ears. Her shoulders shook as the sobs escaped her body. They sat like that until she had cried the last of her tears.

"Ginevra, are you alright?" he asked in a soothing voice.

She sat up wiping the tears from her face with the back of her hands.

"I'll be fine," she answered sounding more broken and battered than he's ever heard. "She was just…just so cruel. I never knew she could be that way to her own child."

"Why was she here?"

"She said that she came to talk about her relationship with Lucius, but we never really got around to that." She took a deep breath and grunted in frustration. "Draco is not Lucius; I wish she could see that. She…she said that the baby and I were his…his mistakes. That given the choice, he'd never have us," she finished in a small defeated tone.

She looked away from Severus and asked, "Why does she hate me? What did I do to deserve to be treated this way by my own mother?"

Severus reached up and tilted Ginny's tear-stained face to his and looked into her troubled eyes. "Ginevra, you did nothing wrong. I'm sure she loves you, but she is allowing her personal issues with Lucius to interfere with her relationship with you."

"I'm not so sure about that," she replied somberly. "I just don't understand. It happened so long ago and she's been married to my Dad for over twenty-five years. You'd think it wouldn't matter to her, but she acts like it just happened yesterday."

"Ginevra, you and I both know that when thinks pertain to Lucius Malfoy time has no bearing. He was a destructive force that left nothing and no one in his wake."

"I just need to make her see that Draco is nothing like Lucius, but with the stories she's heard from Ron, Harry, and Hermione it's almost impossible."

"Well, then might I suggest allowing her to see for herself. Let his actions speak for themselves."

Ginny nodded in agreement as she adjusted in the chair.

"Let's get you to Poppy. I need to make sure you both are alright. Then, I'll let Albus know that Molly is no longer allowed to visit you," he stated helping her from the chair.

"She's my mum, Severus," she retorted.

"That may be the case, but Charlie is now your guardian. She has no business here. She will not be allowed to come here and upset you like she's done today. Now, don't worry about her and let's get you checked out. I'll get Draco as soon as we have you settled," he stated authoritatively brokering no room for argument as he led her through the floo connection to the hospital wing.

*~*~*~*~*~*****~*~*~*~*~*

After making a floo call from Madam Pomfrey's office, Severus left the hospital wing thankful that he currently had a free period. When he arrived at the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, he was so agitated at the situation he didn't bother knocking on the door. He forcefully flung the door open startling the first year Ravenclaw and Hufflepuffs class and causing a suspicious Professor Malfoy to glare menacingly at the intruder.

"You need to dismiss your class," Severus growled.

"We're almost finished, can…"

"NO! It cannot!" Severus interrupted and whipped his head around glaring at the class. "You are dismissed! Anyone remaining here in two minutes will find themselves in detention with Mr. Filch every night until the end of term!"

The first years scurried out of the room as fast as their feet would carry them with their fear of the potions master outweighing that of their DADA professor.

As soon as the last student passed through the door Draco flicked his wand slamming the door casting locking and silencing charms before he rounded on Severus.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you? What gives you the right to come in here and dismiss my class without my consent?" he demanded.

"Oh, do be quiet, Draco. I have a very good reason. You're needed in the hospital wing."

All of the anger and hostility immediately Draco's body/ He knew the only reason he would be needed there was Ginny.

"What did Boles and Greengrass do to her this time?" he asked with worry and concern etched in his voice.

"It wasn't them. It was Molly. Apparently she came at Arthur's request and with Molly's and Ginevra's tempers being what they are, it wasn't a very productive discussion. Molly said a few things that upset Ginevra greatly. I took her to Poppy to make sure they were both alright. She's resting now."

Draco clenched his jaws tightly as he listened to Severus. He could only imagine the type of discussion those two would have. Draco sighed in frustration raking his fingers through his hair.

"What were they discussing? What did she say?"

"According to Arthur, Molly was to explain her relationship with Lucius and her recent behavior toward Ginevra." Severus paused taking a deep breath before continuing. "According to Ginevra, she called Molly a hypocrite before much could be said and it escalated from there." Severus looked sadly at his godson then added, "Molly told her that she and the baby were a mistake that you'd eventually decide you didn't want."

Draco was livid. "She had no right to say that to Ginny! She doesn't know me or what I feel for her or our child! I'd never do that to them," he fumed.

"I know that and so does Ginevra," she stated trying to calm the young man. "She's just hurt that her mother would say those things to her. After I had her settled in with Poppy, I flooed Arthur and let him know what was happening and that Molly would not be allowed near Ginevra again until she requests it. He was coming right over and should be with her now. Why don't we join them?"

Draco nodded in agreement as the two men made the familiar trek to the hospital wing.

*~*~*~*~*~*****~*~*~*~*~*

Arthur Weasley sat behind his desk compiling his weekly reports for the Minister when green flames burst from the floo and Severus Snape's head appeared in the flames.

"Severus, is everything alright?"

"No, Arthur everything is not alright."

"What happened?" he asked not sure he really wanted to know the answer.

"Molly came to visit Ginevra today."

"I take it things did not go well then?"

"Ginevra is in the hospital wing and Molly has been banned from Hogwarts for the time being."

"Merlin's pants! Is Ginny ok? How's the baby?"

"She's with Poppy. That's all the information I have at the moment, but I want to know what possessed Molly to speak to Ginevra without a mediator? You of all people know their temperaments."

"How bad was it?" Arthur asked fearfully.

"Molly won't be winning any parenting awards and once your sons find out what she said there may be a rather large rift in the Weasley family."

"How so? What exactly did she say?"

"She called Ginevra and her son a mistake of Draco's"

"Bloody hell! I'll be right over. I can't think of any reason why Molly would say that. I promise you, Severus, I don't feel that way," he called as he rushed from the room hurrying to the closest apparition point.

~*~*~*~*~*****~*~*~*~*~

Ron Weasley and Harry Potter had just completed their Auror training for the day and walked into the corridor and nearly collided with a frantic Arthur Weasley. The two jumped out of the way just in time to avoid the collision.

"Was that your dad?" Harry asked.

"I think so. Let's go find out what's going on."

The two young men took off after Arthur calling his name. Arthur bolted through the corridors of the Ministry of Magic with grim determination to reach his target as soon as possible. This determination is what prevented him from hearing the calls of his youngest son. The duo finally caught up with Arthur at the lift gates.

"Bloody hell, Dad! For someone your age, you sure run pretty fast," Ron panted.

The older Weasley cringed at his son's voice. He knew the boy would want to know where he was off to in such a hurry and he didn't have time for explanation or argument.

"I just need to get somewhere fast, boys."

"Is everything ok? Nobody's hurt are they?" asked Ron seeing the worried look on his dad's face.

Arthur hesitated answering just long enough for the Auror trainees questioning him to determine that someone one was indeed hurt or injured in some way.

"Who is it, Mr. Weasley? What happened?" Harry asked unable to hide the concern he had for his surrogate family.

Arthur looked at the young men as they followed him onto the lift.

"I don't think you boys would be interested," he replied.

The two looked at him questioningly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Son, it means that you haven't had anything pleasant to say to her or about her since her birthday," Arthur replied anxiously tapping his foot waiting for the lift gates to open.

"Ginny," Harry simply stated and Arthur nodded in confirmation.

Ron's face screwed up in disgust as his faced reddened. "What's he done? What's Malfoy done to her?" he demanded.

"Draco's done nothing to her," he replied, his voice dripping with annoyance.

"Draco?" he asked not believing his father would address him so informally.

"Yes, Ron. His name is Draco."

"Well, if it wasn't Malfoy," he spat. "Then what happened?"

"Your mother."

"Mum?" he asked as both young men stared with obvious confusion etched into their faces.

"Molly went to talk to Ginny and you know how alike those two are…" he trailed off.

"I'm sure there was little talking and a lot of yelling,"

"Exactly," he answered as the group filed out of the lift. "Ginny's in the hospital wing; She was supposed to be taking it easy after the scare she had last month."

"Scare?" Harry asked concerned.

"She almost lost the baby," he replied somberly.

Ron stopped as the words sunk in, and then ran to catch up with Arthur and Harry.

"Do you think…I mean…is she…are they ok?" Ron stuttered.

"Severus seemed to think so, but I'm going to go check on her myself."

"Do…do you think it'll be ok if I came?" he asked sheepishly.

Arthur looked directly into his son's worried blue eyes. "I don't think this would be the right time for you to see her. Maybe you should owl her and I'll ask if she wants to see you." He sighed seeing the disappointment in his son's face. "She's had an eventful day and doesn't need anything else to add to it and I'm sure that Draco will be there as well. Ginny doesn't need to being arguing with you or witnessing you and Draco going at it either," Arthur replied before dashing toward the exit.

~*~*~*~*~*****~*~*~*~*~

Harry watched his friend. Ron was always the one to act first and think later. This is what had caused the rift between him and Ginny. It seems that now, he may be regretting his previous actions.

Ron sighed heavily rubbing her hands up and down his face. "Blimey, Harry! I miss her and being mad at her isn't going to change the fact that she's having Malfoy's kid. Besides, she's the only one who can control Fred and George. Quite frankly, I'm tired of being their test subject."

"Mate, I just don't understand how she could fall for him of all people." Harry said shaking his head. "Where were we when all of this was happening?"

"I believe you were shagging her best friend, or rather former best friend at the time."

"That ended well didn't it?" Harry asked acerbically thinking back to the biggest mistake he'd ever made.

The two sat on a bench in the atrium each lost in thought about the youngest Weasley. After a few moments Harry's chuckling broke the silence. Ron looked at his friend trying to figure out what could be so amusing.

"I think your sister has had this unhealthy obsession for Slytherins since her first year. I mean, first there was Riddle. Then, she doesn't mind doing detentions with Snape. If I remember she almost looked forward to them."

"Let's not forget Zabini. I fully place the blame on him for this. It's his fault her and Malfoy were even in the same room together." The two men rose from the bench and edged toward the exit.

"You know, Harry as mad as I've been. I don't want anything to happen to her or the baby. She's had enough to deal with over the years."

"I know," Harry replied. "If I could take back any of the grief I caused her, I'd do it in a minute. She didn't deserve that," he replied thinking over his actions of the past.

"No, she didn't," Ron replied sternly stepping into the floo as he decided against apparating.

~*~*~*~*~*****~*~*~*~*~

Ginny sat in the bed in what she felt should be names the Ginny Prewett-Weasley Suite as she had utilized the room more than any three students combined. She leaned back against the pillows allowing the calming draught to work through her body as she heard a light knock on the door. Thinking it was either Draco or Severus, she called out for her guest to enter. The door creaked open as Arthur entered the small room.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Ginny asked with the shock of his presence in her voice.

"Severus flooed and I came straight away," he answered resolutely. "How are the both of you doing?" he asked sitting on the edge of the bed taking her small hand into his.

"We're fine. Madame Pomfrey gave me a calming draught and said I needed to stay here for a few hours."

Arthur nodded stoking her fingers with his thumb. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

"No, but I'm glad you came," she smiled sadly at her father.

"Ginny, Severus told me what happened. I never would have asked her to speak with you if I knew how this was going to end," he explained with a guilt ladened voice.

"I know. It's not your fault. I just don't understand how she can be so hateful about this."

"She thinks she's trying to protect you, Fae. She doesn't want you to suffer from another broken heart. I haven't told her about the betrothal, and frankly at this point I'd be afraid to tell her," he sighed heavily.

As Arthur spoke the door soundly opened with a worried Draco striding determinedly into the room. Arthur stood relinquishing his spot on the bed to the younger man.

Draco leaned over placing a kiss on her forehead resting one hand on her rounded belly trying to determine for himself that his son was indeed safe and unharmed. He raised his other hand and stroked the flaming red locks that framed Ginny's face.

His soft caring voice permeated the quiet room. "I spoke with Pomfrey before I came in. She says you both are fine, but how are you feeling?"

"I'm fi…"

"Don't tell me you're fine when I can see it in your eyes that you're not," he interrupted.

She huffed then answered, "I'm confused, hurt…what do you want me to say?"

"Say whatever you want. Just let it out," he said sitting on the bed with her.

"I'm…I'm angry. I don't understand how she could treat me this way. I am her child. Granted there are seven of us, but sometimes she acts like she should have stopped at six. She's mad at me because I did the same thing she did. I… I just don't understand," she grunted in frustration. "But I know one thing for certain; I don't want to be a Prewett any longer than necessary. I refuse to share a name with someone who holds that much contempt for me and our son."

"Ginny, what do you mean?" Arthur asked.

She looked at her Dad and saw his eyes swimming in confusion mingled with hurt over the situation. She looked hopefully into Draco's controlled features.

"I'm taking all of my exams this week. Do you think that we could get married on Saturday?" she asked nervously.

Draco saw the determined look in her eyes and knew that she would not be easily dissuaded, but he felt that it would be too stressful on her to do everything necessary in five days along with taking her exams.

"I was hoping to wait until the end of term," Draco began then stopped when he was Ginny's head drop in disappointment. He watched her wring her hands nervously for a moment then reached over and tilted her head until he could look into the depths of her eyes. "As I was saying, I had hoped to wait until the end of term, but if you want, we could do it sooner. All I ask is that we wait until the following Saturday, Your exams will be finished and you can concentrate on the wedding. This way, there will be less stress on you and the baby. It's just an extra seven days," he added seeing the crestfallen look on her face. "Please, just do this for me?"

Though she was slightly disappointed, she nodded in agreement.

"I'll owl Mother and we'll get her working on the details. If anybody can make a wedding happen in twelve days, it would be her."

A light knock on the door interrupted the couple. When it opened, Narcissa and Severus entered the room greeting the occupants.

Draco smiled rakishly at his Narcissa. "Mother, you have impeccable timing. I was about to owl you."

"Oh?" she queried. "So, you were going to let me know my future daughter-in-law was receiving medical care?"

Draco ducked his head a bit having the decency to appear embarrassed before flashing a broad smile. "Actually, I was going to see if you could organize a wedding in twelve days?"

"Twelve days?" she asked amused. "I guess it's a good thing I've already contacted a few trusted vendors, isn't it?" she smirked. After years of planning large scale events and galas, the simple wedding of her son and his beloved would be quite easy for the society witch.

~*~*~*~*~*****~*~*~*~*~