I've got a tight grip on reality,

But I can't let go of what's in front of me here.

I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up.

Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream.

-Paramore The Only Exception


Chapter 29: The Decision

That rest of the morning was filled with many chores divided up between Ginny, Hermione, Draco and Ron. Harry and Daphne had went back to Sirius to spend the Easter with him, promising that night to return with him in tow, the older Weasley men and their women had went back to their homes to get ready for the evening feast, Luna and Blaise went back to Luna's, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had started with food preparations and decorations.

Ginny and Draco didn't say much to each other after the talk on the deck. They weren't completely distant, but they seemed to have tension crushing down upon them.

But then again, that's what Ginny had wanted.

Draco has felt that he had revealed too much of his thoughts this morning, but he didn't think that the result would be Ginny not wanting to be near him like she had this whole weekend. He kept mentally kicking himself for opening up as wide as he did.

Ginny had already figured out the solutions to both of their problems. She was just waiting on the right time to be able to let him know everything that she felt he needed to know.

The four of them helped Ginny's parents set up a long table outside in the yard as Sirius, Harry, Daphne, the Grangers, the Tonks, and the Lupins, would be joining them as well as Aunt Muriel and everybody else. Holidays was always a big issue at the Weasley's and Easter and Christmas were always done big with families and friends coming in from everywhere, to break bread and have a good time.

While Ginny and Hermione helped Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen, Draco and Ron finished making the outside look festive. Ron had felt the tension around Ginny and Draco and while he didn't want to pry, he did find himself wanting to know. And also, he knew Hermione would pry so he wanted to know so when she would act like she knew everything, he would shock her with knowledge himself.

"Oi, Malfoy? What's eating you mate?" asked Ron as he stared using Hermione's spell to make bluebell lights and putting them in jars.

"I'm good Weasley." said Draco pretending to concentrate on the grass that he was trimming for no reason with his wand.

"I mean I'm no Zabini, but I do somewhat listen."said Ron with a snicker. "What's up?"

Draco sighed. He needed to get it out and while yes, Ron wasn't Blaise, he was still someone to talk to.

"I acted like a sap and poured myself out to your sister today." said Draco.

"Ah. Manly." joked Ron.

"Do you want me to tell you or not, Weasley?"

"Sorry, sorry. Continue."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Anyways, yeah I put my manliness aside and told Ginny how I felt. About everything. Including her. And I think I may have scared her off or something because she is barely talking to me unless she has to."

"Have you really tried to have a proper conversation with her?" asked Ron.

"Under the circumstances, yes I have. But she doesn't give anything back hardly. I feel like a bloody git."

Ron had seen an opening for a joke but seeing as Draco was trying to open up he decided to save it.

"Usually when Hermione is quiet after we've had a serious talk, it means she is thinking. I just let her mull things over and come to me when she is ready to talk it over. She seems to like that better, and it seems to keep her from making a rash decision, as she has had time to think. Maybe just let her be and see what she does, yeah?" said Ron.

Draco thought about what Ron said and nodded. Usually that's what he does when he and Ginny have a row. He separates himself to think and then tries to make up later for it.

"Yeah. You're right. I should try. Wow. We must have came a long way if I'm agreeing with you, Weasley." said Draco smiling.

"We have strong, stubborn women in our lives, mate. We may not have much in common, but we do have that and that I can actually help with." Ron said with a smile.

"What do you do when Hermione tells you something you don't like?" asked Draco, halfway knowing the answer.

"Well, we either row about it until one of us caves, or we talk it out and see if we can find common ground. Usually it's me caving, but in the end we get out our apologies, make up, and be done with it."

"What if it isn't that easy? What if it's something that won't go away?"

"Then grovel until it does. That's what I do." said Ron shrugging.

Draco shook his head. "I see who wears the pants in your relationship."

"Hermione does. And she looks fucking sexy in them" said Ron with a laugh.


Later that night, the yard was filled with food, conversation, and laughter. At the head, Mr Weasley and Ted Tonks were discussing the latest Ministry gossip as well as muggle business with Mr. Granger, Mrs. Weasley, Andromeda Tonks, and Mrs. Granger were comparing muggle and wizarding decoration methods, BIll, Charlie, and Remus Lupin were discussing rumors that had been going around about Death Eaters and raids, Nymphadora Lupin (formerly known as Tonks) was holding a sleeping Teddy while talking to Fleur, giving the little parenting tips she could give, as Fleur was weeks away from having her and Bill's baby, and the younger ones were going back and forth about quidditch, the twins shop, and various other topics.

Through all the conversations going on around her, Ginny remained silent. She was sitting in between an equally quiet Draco and Hermione, who seemed to only be talking because she didn't know what else to do.

After dessert had been served, the twins led everyone to the lake to show off their new wet working fireworks and lights show. They threw a big crate full of them into the lake and everyone watched in awe as the fireworks flew up out of the water and exploded into the air. Lights drew patterns in the sky of snitches and magical creatures and the fireworks exploded in vibrant colors.

Ginny decided that this would be the best time to speak her mind. She took a hold of Draco's hand and led him toward the deck.

"This seemed fitting as this started here this morning I guess." said Ginny. Draco nodded and mentally braced himself for the worst.

"I'm sorry for the way I've been seeming to lead you on these past months. I never meant to hurt your feelings. Hell, I never even thought I would have feelings for a Malfoy really. Just as much as I never pictured you having feelings for a Weasley."

"I truly don't care about that anymore and you know that." said Draco.

"Shut up. This is hard enough as it is without you interrupting me" said Ginny putting her hands on her hips.

Draco put his hands up and nodded for her to continue.

"Anyways, as I was saying, I'm sorry. And I'm really sorry that I made you feel like you were paying for Harry's mistakes. That is one thing I never want you ever feel. Especially since you're like the best thing that has happened to me since I first got my wand."

"Wait, what?" said Draco, stunned expecting something totally different.

"You have been nothing but wonderful to me since the train ride to Hogwarts last term. You seemed to always be there for me when Harry would do something dreadful, you would stop me from coming undone and losing sight of myself. And you really did get me back to who I am. And for you to do that, no matter how hard I made it for you, I could never show you how much I appreciate that."

Draco smiled and put his hands on Ginny's waist and pulled her closer to him. "I really don't care if you're going to tell me something that I'm not going to like right now. I just feel like-"

"What makes you think I'm going to tell you something you won't like? Unless you don't want me anymore." said Ginny smiling up at a very dumbfounded Draco.

It took Draco a moment for it to register what Ginny was saying. "You want to be with me?" he asked almost in a whisper.

Ginny smiled and put her arms around Draco's neck. She reached up and pressed her lips onto his. As if on cue, the fireworks started going off with more gusto and had gotten bigger and brighter.

Draco kissed her back with as much passion as he could. His mind was racing with no thought in particular but all of his random thoughts pertained to Ginny.

They got deeper and deeper, tongues dancing around like the twins lights making beautiful visions in their minds of the two of them starting their wonderful relationship. They focused on nothing but each other, the world had disappeared around them. It was just those two and the background popping of fireworks.

All of a sudden their minds were snapped back to reality as they heard whistles, shouts, and whooping coming from what seemed out of nowhere. They broke away from each other and looked over to see Ron, Hermione, Angelina, Nymphadora, and the twins cheering them on.

"ABOUT BLOODY TIME!" yelled Angelina and Ron.

Draco laughed and picked up Ginny bride style and spun her around until he got dizzy and collapsed. The six laughed and ran over to them and fell on them laughing, poking, and hugging them and each other.

Harry and Daphne watched from a distance. Daphne his a smile, while Harry stared as if he could hex them with his eyes. He felt so much disgust for the scene that his scar was starting to hurt him a little.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looked over at the scene in approval and smiles. "Well there it is." said Mrs. Weasley. "Think you can handle possibly having a Malfoy in the family, Arthur dear?"

Mr. Weasley kissed his wife lovingly on the forehead. "If it's that Malfoy, I can deal with it."