Thank you all for your reviews… I'm afraid there is another chapter and a bit to go at the wedding still!! More from Harry and a surprise for Ginny although not much romance in this chapter - sorry.
I would say I'm probably about two thirds of the way through the story at the moment but every now and then I get a change of heart with certain things so it may be a little longer or shorter than I thought!!
Thanks for reading.
They could both hear people chatting loudly and making their way to the clearing but in that moment neither seemed to care; they were too lost in the embrace.
Ginny melted into him, oblivious to anything else that was happening. Draco had moved his hands from her chin and was currently pulling her even closer to him as he deepened the kiss.
Ginny had never felt such electricity running through her body. It was Draco that had made her feel and seem so fresh and alive; Draco that had switched on her inner glow and she could understand how. He seemed to be able to instinctively know exactly how to kiss her, how to hold and touch her in a way that was ecstasy.
Far too soon for Ginny's liking, Draco had stopped the kiss and instead was kissing her gently down her neck with feather light touches. "We should go where everyone else is Ginny." He said in a low gruff voice. Ginny was worried – were her kissing skills not good enough? Had she made a fool out of herself?
Draco could tell something was wrong when he looked into her eyes. "Ginny?" He said, once again taking her chin in his hand.
She looked a little embarrassed. "You want to leave already? Did I do the wrong thing?" she said. Draco couldn't help but smile at how vulnerable she looked.
"I don't want to go Ginny but this is your brother's wedding. I really don't think it would be fair to take any of their limelight by shocking everyone with a sudden kissing spree. It is their day. Plus… I'd like to keep this between us for a little while." He could tell that she hadn't understood his meaning the second that the words left his mouth.
"Are you ashamed of me Draco?" Ginny said, a dark blush spreading over her already flushed face.
"No. I just want to take some time for us. I'd like for you and I to have a chance to be with each other for a while before we have to face a barrage of questions from people. I know your friends won't be happy and I'd rather we didn't have a struggle right from the word go."
Ginny looked up at him. "So you want there to be an us?" she asked. "Not just friends? This wasn't just some way of you getting your kicks?"
"No!" Draco exclaimed, running his hand through his hair. "I… I understand why you'd think that. I've never really been too honourable in the past. But… You do something to me and I can't seem to get you out of my head. I'd like to see where things go. I can't promise you anything. I'm not a knight in shining armour."
Ginny smiled. "They're overrated anyway. I'd choose you over Sir Cadogan any day." She laughed.
Draco smiled back. "We'd best go now because in another minute I won't be able to keep my hands off you. I was wrong about the dress…" Ginny frowned self consciously. "Why, do I look silly? I-"
Draco silenced her with a quick kiss, "No, I was just going to say – I didn't follow the dress choosing rules, you do look better than the bride!" Ginny giggled and swatted at his hand.
They walked towards all the noise of the other guests and Ginny introduced Draco to members of the family and they chatted happily for a while before moving around again. Ginny was pleased to find out that Draco spoke quite good French so they were able to make small talk with Fleur's family too.
Harry looked up from his drink and nearly spat it out when he saw Ginny with Draco walking together; before he could say anything Molly walked over to them. "Oh you found her Draco, thank you my dear, we were wondering where you two got to but Aunty Dee said she'd seen you chatting happily! Ginny, you look simply wonderful my darling. Your father and I are so proud of you today."
Arthur walked over; he had been celebrating with Bill and Mr Delacour. "My Mollywobbles!" he said grabbing her hand and kissing it. "Have you been telling our little Ginny how beautiful she looks? Just like you… My baby, nearly all grown up." Molly gave Arthur a nudge and he looked as though he had said something he shouldn't have. Molly told him to go and find them all a glass of champagne. "Ginny deserves a treat." Draco said he would go and help Arthur carry the glasses and left the two ladies with a bow.
Molly gave her daughter a big hug. "Ginny you really do look wonderful. Where did you get this beautiful jewellery?" Ginny blushed and told her that Draco had bought it as a surprise. Little did she know that Harry had been listening to their conversation.
Harry practically ran to where Ron and Hermione were just finishing a slow dance. He grabbed them both and pulled them to a secluded corner." Quick Ron – you have to get Ginny to remove her jewellery… It's an emergency." Ron went to go racing off towards Ginny but Hermione caught his arm. "Don't be so hasty Ronald, Ginny's hardly going to appreciate you speeding towards her and grabbing at her outfit is she. Harry what are you talking about?"
Harry gave an exasperated moan at Hermione. "The jewellery – Draco gave it to her. Don't you remember Katy Bell? It's a curse or something… Maybe that's how he's fooling her. It's charmed with the imperious curse." He shook his head. "I'll get it myself."
Both Ron and Hermione grabbed Harry. Ron's face had gone very red. "Harry, she's been wearing it all day mate. I mean do you not think something would have happened by now?"
Harry looked suspiciously at Hermione. "What have you been saying to Ron?" he asked slowly.
Ron didn't like the way Harry was looking at his now girlfriend. "She's been talking sense to me Harry. Look mate… I hate the stupid Ferret as much as you do but he didn't have to save me or Ginny. He didn't have to make a cure for me – no one else knew how to so he could easily have pretended to be ignorant and let me die… And when he saved Ginny – he used wandless magic Harry. He couldn't have reached her otherwise so again, it would have been easy to make out he tried but couldn't save her."
Harry looked at his two best friends as if they had grown extra heads. "Have all of you gone mad?" He asked. Hermione placed what she hoped was a calming hand on his arm.
"Harry, I honestly think Dra- Malfoy has changed. He's not powerful enough to trick everyone, and Remus, Tonks and several other Order members and Aurors have questioned him. If you are that worried then why don't you go and talk – calmly – to Ginny about it. You know her well enough to know if she is under any curse."
Harry bowed his head and muttered something. "What?" chorused Hermione and Ron.
"I can't. I tried warning her about him when we were dancing earlier and she snapped at me. We went for a walk and... and." He couldn't finish. The idea of not being with Ginny was still fresh in his mind. He knew deep down that she was right but it was a little embarrassing to let his friends know.
Hermione looked sad. "What happened Harry? Did you tell her that you couldn't get back together? I know it's a hard decision for you."
Harry shook his head. "No." His voice got very low and gruff. "We talked and came to… erm a mutual decision that we wouldn't have worked out anyway. So we're just going to have a bit of space and try and be friends." That wasn't too bad Harry thought. At least I don't look like she rejected me.
Hermione felt sorry for Harry. She was sure he wasn't telling them something but decided to leave him be. "Harry. I'll go talk to Ginny but only because you're my friend. I think you need to ignore Draco, seeing as you can't be convinced to give him a chance."
Hermione wandered over to where Ginny was talking to her mother. Both gave Hermione kisses and hugs. "You look lovely 'Mione." said Ginny. "Even prettier than the Yule ball!"
Molly spotted Harry and Ron where Hermione had left them and excused herself to go and smother the two boys in motherly cuddles.
Hermione took the opportunity to have a word with Ginny. "Ginny, Harry's worried about you. I think he's overreacting but he has been right before so I wanted to make sure that you're feeling alright."
Ginny smiled at her. "Harry's always worrying. You're right, he has stopped some awful situations in the past by worrying but this time he's wrong. In fact… I don't think I've ever been happier. Although you probably shouldn't word it like that to him. I don't want to seem cruel."
Hermione's brain put the pieces together… "You told Harry it wasn't going to work didn't you?" she asked. When Ginny nodded slowly she continued. "How come Ginny? I thought you wanted him to come after you?"
Ginny shrugged, wondering how to explain the situation to Hermione.
"It's Draco isn't it?" Hermione guessed, which was confirmed when Ginny looked shocked. "You like him? I'd give it a bit of time before you do anything if I were you. I won't say anything but Harry will go mad if he finds out. He already thinks Draco has you wearing cursed necklaces and stuff." Hermione sighed, knowing she was going to be caught in the middle of something huge.
The music stopped suddenly and the MC announced that the new Mr and Mrs Weasley were now leaving for their wedding hotel and could everyone please raise their glasses to the happy couple. Draco came over with a drink for Ginny, Hermione noticed the way their hands brushed against each other's when he passed the glass to her.
Everyone who could, produced a corporeal patronus. The silver creatures surrounded Fleur and Bill in a circle of dancing light before fading delicately away... Ginny explained to Draco it was something that was occasionally done at wizarding weddings. "A patronus is a spell of love and joy. It's meant to be a wish for good luck in their marriage." Draco seemed very interested, not having too much experience on advanced spells which didn't involve dark magic, but he knew that it wasn't the time to ask.
After the cheers had gone up and the happy couple left everyone began partying again. Draco leant close to Ginny and whispered. "I think you should come this way… it would be to your benefit."
He manoeuvred her to the front of the crowd of dancers, where a large buffet and drinks table had been set up and the music was coming from. As soon as Ginny spotted her parents Arthur stood up and cast a Sonorous on himself.
"Ladies and gentlemen. I have one last request for you, now that the happy couple have gone… It's time for another celebration. It has been more or less forgotten this week but I would like you to all raise your glasses for my little Ginny. It was her birthday on Monday and she probably thinks we have all forgotten. How could I forget my baby's sweet sixteenth? Happy birthday my love."
Yes ok so I'm a bit sad and actually looked up to see the nearest Saturday to Ginny's birthday in 1997 so it was all accurate… I really do want it all to be real lol!
