Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Author's Note: Half an hour prior to this, i had problems logging in and now when my laptop's battery is running low, they decided to log me in. Fantastic! Uurghh...
Well that aside, this is the second last chapter, Chapter 29. I'm excited and a little sad that this is all ending. This chapter is not that long and i hope people who read it will like it. Please leave reviews at the end!!!
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Ginny's eyes fluttered slowly as she tried opening them. The light that was shining above her head was giving her a headache.
"She's awake. " She heard someone whispered.
"You guys keep it down. She has a headache!" She recognized that voice as Draco's. Her lips twitched into a smile. She felt his warm hand on hers and she squeezed his lightly.
"How are you doing?" Draco asked.
"I'm fine. How long was I unconscious?" Ginny asked.
"Just a little under an hour. We are all so worried."
"Is the baby fine?" Ginny suddenly remembered and clutched on her stomach.
"The baby is fine Ginny." Ginny closed her eyes in relief.
"Why don't you go back to sleep?" Hermione suggested.
"I will." Ginny said nodding her head. "I just need some time alone with Draco if you don't mind."
"Of course we don't mind. Take care alright?" Hermione said and leave the room with Harry. After the door shut silently, Draco kissed Ginny lightly on her right cheek.
"What is it that you want to talk about?" Draco asked.
"I'm sorry I didn't consult you before I took action on Boulahrouz."
"You don't need to say sorry Ginny. That was brilliant. How did you find out about the Dagger of the Fatum?"
"Ever since the day I did not return to the manor I was reading some books that Bill had bought for me when I was younger. I came across one about vampires and there was one page about how this certain dagger could claim vampire's lives just by stabbing them in the heart. I went to Knockturn Alley the next day with Fred and George as my company. There are only two such daggers in this world. One of it was rumoured to be last seen in Belgium and the other right here in England. It wasn't easy begging Fred and George to come with me though." Ginny explained.
"So what happened then?" Draco asked eagerly.
"I explained to them the advantages of us finding the dagger and they immediately agree with me. They finally saw the rationality behind my decisions. But that wasn't the challenge. We found the dagger easily but the owner from one of the shops along Knockturn Alley refused to sell it to us. He said that the dagger is one of the precious dark artefacts left after the war ended. Most of them were confiscated but he managed to hide a few. He said that there was only one price he wanted for the dagger and nothing was going to change his mind."
"So…how much did he asked for?"
"Erm…two hundred thousand Galleons?"
"Two hundred thousand Galleons???!"
"Yes Draco, two hundred thousand Galleons. I had to get the money from mother. I owled her that very day and she came to me with the money a few hours later when you were not at home. You were at one of the meetings." Ginny said.
"Well…at least it worked." Draco said softly and Ginny could see he was distracted. She knew that he wanted to invest the money that the Lucius had left after he died. "Hey it's ok." Draco said as soon as her thought crossed his mind. "I mean we do still have millions of Galleons and I love you more for doing what you did. It was so…Malfoy."
Ginny swatted his arms as hard as she could. They both laughed and was about to kiss when the door opens. It was Narcissa.
"Thank Merlin you both are safe!" She said and pulled both Ginny's and Draco's faces for a kiss.
"Of course we are." Draco said. Narcissa immediately broke down and cried on her son's shoulder. "Mother what happened?"
"It's your grandmother…she didn't make it." Narcissa sobbed. "They found her body among the Death Eaters. She's gone Draco."
"What?" Draco asked his voice hoarse.
"No…" Ginny said and shook her head. Tears were already streaming down her pale face and she cried into her hands. Narcissa walked over to her daughter-in-law and embraced her in a warm hug. They cried in each other's arms. Draco slumped down on his sit and buried his head in his hands. He didn't realise that the news about his grandmother would affect him this way. He had never come to good terms with Martha and all they both had done was argue most of the time. He didn't get to say thank you to her. He wanted to thank her for all the help and for all the things she had done to facilitate this whole battle. Most of all, he wanted to say thank you for believing in him and believing that he was never like his father.
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The Healer pointed his wand on Jilly's temple and placed his left hand slightly above her forehead. Ron waited in anticipation. The Healer shook his head in dismay.
"I think it is best that Miss Prague wake up at her own conscience. I can't do anything at this moment Mr Weasley." The Healer said.
"Alright." Ron merely said and the Healer left the room. Ron took a seat on the chair and pulled himself closer to Jilly. He held on to her cold right hand tightly, rubbing it occasionally to give it some warmth. Ten minutes later, Neville, Hermione and Harry walked in.
"Ron, I'm really sorry for what happened." Neville apologized.
"Neville, please don't apologize. Things happen you know." Ron said. Hermione looked at his best friend and saw that he was really affected by Jilly's condition. He took Ron's hand in hers and squeezed it lightly to assure him that things will be ok. She met Ron's blue eyes and smiled at him. He nodded as a sign of thanks.
"Everything will be alright mate. Jilly's a strong girl. She will survive." Harry said and patted Ron's back.
Ron nodded his head and looked at Jilly. How did things go so wrong? Jilly was capable and her reflexes were usually fast. Ron took her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly.
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Hermione and Harry walked out of St Mungo's together after receiving their treatment from their Healer. Harry had some stitches on his forehead and Hermione received some treatment on the scratches and bruises on her arms and legs. They apparated back to Grimauld Place and sat on the sofa in Harry's room in silence.
"How's your forehead?" Hermione asked after a while.
"Nothing I can't handle." Harry replied.
"Good." She said and soon fell asleep with her head leaning on Harry's arms. Harry carried her to his bed and pulled the blanket up to her chin. Hermione slept soundly. Harry was tired and he felt a little sleepy but he couldn't find himself sleeping even when he tried. Thoughts were swarming his mind and he find it hard to keep him relaxed and go to sleep.
Harry went to another room across his. In there was all the possessions that his parents had kept for him. Sirius' most prized possession was in there too. He closed the door behind him and went straight to a chest of drawers. The drawer had the most intricate design Harry has ever laid his eyes on. Carvings of flowers; lilies to be exact, covered the sides of the drawer. The flowers were painted in bright colours and it matched the brown coloured wood of the drawer. He was told by Sirius that the chest of drawers belonged to his mother, Lily Potter. It was present to her on her wedding day by her parents.
Harry pulled out the first one where most of his mother's jewelleries were kept. He took a small red velvet box out and shut the drawer. He sat down on an antique chair and began to ponder. He opened the box and stared in awe at the sparkling diamond ring. Around the diamond were small green jewels Harry recognized as emeralds; the colour just like his eyes as well as his mother's.
It was four in the morning when Harry decided to lay down on the bed next to Hermione. He lay down quietly so that he would not make any noise that could wake Hermione. He smiled to himself and closed his eyes, feeling satisfied and confident that what he wants to do as soon as Hermione wakes up was the right thing.
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The next morning, Hermione woke up at the sound of Harry's voice. She opened her eyes and squinted at the bright light that was shining through the windows.
"Oh Harry, draw back the curtains. I want to go back to sleep." Hermione pleaded.
"Hermione, wake up." Harry nudged her softly. "I have prepared a very nice breakfast. It's already eight. Come on now."
Hermione forced her eyes open and saw Harry sitting beside her on the edge of the bed. He was looking at her intently and the look in his eye made her sighed and got up from the bed.
"Can I at least wash up first?" Hermione asked.
"Of course. Go on now." Harry said and pushed her slightly towards the bathroom. Hermione closed the door behind her and turn on the showers. She removed her clothes and took a quick one. She was out in ten minutes and was down at the dining room in twenty. On the table were scrambled eggs, pancakes, some bread, hams and jams of all kinds. Harry pulled her and let her sit on one of the chairs.
"Well…dig in." Harry said when all Hermione did was stared at the food. He poured her a cup of tea and she took a sip. She started with some marmalade and a piece of bread. They started talking about the events that had happened the previous night and knew that Moody might want to question them anytime. After almost an hour of a nice scrumptious breakfast, Hermione noticed that Harry was looking at her nervously.
"Erm, Hermione." Harry started.
'Yes?" Hermione asked.
"Can I ask you a question?" Harry stammered. When Hermione nodded her head, Harry felt his heart lifted and raced at the same time. "Hermione, will you marry me?"
Hermione looked at Harry in surprise, too shock to answer him.
"Hermione, I have done a lot of thinking last night and to tell you the truth, I didn't sleep at all. Makes you wonder how I still have the energy to prepare breakfast huh?" Harry said and chuckled nervously. Hermione just smiled. Harry cleared his throat and started to speak again. "The truth is I just can't bear the thought of losing you. You have no idea how difficult and frightening it was for me last night when we were battling. You getting hit by a curse…it just made me realise that there is no one else in this world I rather spend my whole life with other than you. You are my best friend, my backbone. You were there, helping me when I need you. Hermione…I love you."
"Well, I love you too." Hermione said. Her eyes were glistening with fresh tears and it dropped slowly down her cheeks. Harry wiped her tears away and she felt the calluses of his hand but most of al, she felt assurance and safety.
"So will you marry me?" Harry asked again.
"Of course. Of course I'll marry you."
Harry slipped on the ring on Hermione's finger, to Hermione's surprise and they kissed passionately.
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Ron woke up early the next morning. He had slept on a cot in Jilly's ward. She was still unconscious and last night, before he went to sleep, he had requested that Jilly's Healer try again in reviving her.
"Mr Weasley, may I suggest that you try talking to her? You know, maybe deep inside, she can hear voices and she might react to it and wake up. Give her words of encouragement, just talk to her about all kinds of things." The Healer had said. Ron looked up at the 52-year-old man and just nodded his head.
He got up from the cot and walked to the washroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. Mr and Mrs Weasley had come down last night to bring some change of clothes and other necessities. After washing up, he went back to sit beside Jilly and hold both her hand in his.
"Hey Jilly, it's a wonderful morning." Ron began. He looked out the window and felt the light cool breeze. Smell of the morning dew and fresh air wafted through the window and lingered in the room. "Do you hear the birds chirping Jilly? I know you love to hear them in the morning. Remember the time we had to make a trip to Romania last January? You were so eager to watch the sunrise coz you heard that it is beautiful to watch the sunrise over the hills. I remember you waking Neville and me up and in the end pissing both of us." Ron chuckled. "I didn't admit to you how beautiful I thought the sunrise was on that day. So I'm telling you right now. And…" Ron paused and looked at Jilly. He summoned all his courage and said it out loud enough, hoping that Jilly could somehow hear him in her deep sleep. "Jilly, I love you. I really do." Ron started to sob and buried his face in his hands while still holding on to Jilly's. "So please wake up Jilly because I need you."
Ron wiped his tears hastily and looked at Jilly again. His heart started to race when he saw Jilly's eyes fluttering lightly. Her fingers started to move. "Jilly?"
Jilly opened her eyes slowly and looked over at Ron. He smiled for the first time in two days and his racing heart began to slow down.
"Water." Jilly muttered and Ron quickly poured for her a glass. He helped bring the glass to her lips and Jilly sip it slowly.
"Lie down Jilly, I need to get Healer James to see you." Ron said and Jilly weakly nodded her head. Ron rushed to get Jilly's Healer and when he got him, the Healer rushed to Jilly's ward and did some test on her.
"She's going to be fine. She just needs lots of rest." He said ten minutes later. "I'm going to get some prescriptions for her. There are some potions she ought to take to make her stronger faster." Healer James said and closed the door to give Ron and Jilly some privacy.
Ron kissed Jilly on her forehead and smiled at her. "I'm so glad you're awake."
"I'm glad too." Jilly said her voice hoarse and soft. "Is there something else you would like to tell me?"
Ron looked up at her face and into her hazel brown eyes. She knew. She must have heard it. Ron cleared his throat and find himself suddenly unable to uttered the three words that he had a few minutes ago. He cleared his throat and tried again.
"I love you Jilly. I'm sorry I didn't say this earlier. I knew better now."
Jilly smiled at Ron, her heart filling in with such loving warmth. She had been waiting to hear that and she was glad that she finally did.
"Well, I love you too." Jilly said and Ron stood up from his seat and lay down on the bed beside Jilly.
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That evening, a small funeral was held for Martha Anna Malfoy. The Malfoys, The Weasleys, Hermione, Harry and some of the Aurors involved in the battle were present. Moody and McGonagall were also amongst them. Ginny linked her arm with Draco and holds him tightly. Narcissa was standing on his left side with a handkerchief in her right hand. Most of the one present had red eyes and were sniffing slightly. After the funeral, all of them waited to give their condolences to the Malfoys.
Ginny hugged Mrs Weasley tightly and cried in her arms. "It's ok my dear. Everything will be fine. Martha died protecting us. She will always be remembered."
After meeting with everyone present, the Malfoys went back to the Manor. Narcissa excused herself and went into her room. Draco and Ginny went into their room and lay down on the bed all day. They talked about everything and anything but Martha. Ginny knew enough not to question him and knowing Draco, she knew that even if she asked, Draco wouldn't want to answer.
Draco wrapped her arms around Ginny and kissed her right temple. "So what are you going to name our baby?"
"You sure you want me to name our baby?" Ginny asked.
"Well…if it's a boy, Draco Jr will be great."
"Are you kidding me Draco?"
"No I'm not." Draco said and he got his arm punched by Ginny.
"Ow! What's that for?"
"Well I think one Draco is enough…so no, no Draco Jr."
Draco chuckled and suggested another name for Ginny. "Ok what about Matthew? Or maybe Jason…or Bradford?"
"Can I ask why you're spurting out only names of boys?"
"I'm sure it's going to be a boy."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because I just know it's going to be a boy."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "I don't know why I marry you Draco." She said.
"Oh come on. I know you know." He started and kissed Ginny on her lips. "I know you simply can't resist me." He whispered huskily into Ginny's ear and kissed her neck.
"Draco stopped it. I know what you're trying to do." Ginny said and tried pushing him away.
Draco started to tickle her tummy and Ginny screamed and laughed as she started to feel ticklish.
"Stop it Draco!" Ginny pleaded. Draco stopped and kissed her hungrily. He stopped and looked at Ginny in the eye.
"I love you." He whispered.
"I love you too Draco." Ginny said.
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REVIEWS PLEASE!!!
fleeting.ideas: Wow you worry about so much people. LOLX! Well things get better in this chapter i hope.
Sam: I never thought you would come back. Thanks for the review.
CrAzY-gIrL-oUt-To-WrEaK-hAvOc: I didn't realise that you don't really like Ginny beforet his chapter. I kinda thought it was all neutral. I'm going to miss this fanfic too and of course i'm gonna write again.
