Disclaimer: The regular disclaimer still stays in place, I owe nothing but the AU and OC. The rest belongs to JKR.(dg)


Chapter 18

When the group had made their way into the courtroom, things have immediately started off as if, nothing had been interrupted by Ginny Weasley's dramatic outburst. Draco had noticed Seamus donning his no-nonsense look escorting Astoria and Daphne away where several Aurors were standing in guard. The plump woman had grinned at the two of them, "Mr. Draco Malfoy, Miss Ginevra Weasley, how glad we are to know that you have finally worked out this slight misunderstanding. Please step up to the podium so that the remaining papers work could be finished off".

They were not allowed to wait for George and Astoria to get sorted out. They were escorted into the adjoined room, where all other couples had been disappearing after being matched by the "process". On his way to this secluded room, Dean had brushed past him, muttering, "Neville got Pansy, she is safe."

Immediately after the ceremony, the newly married couple were informed, that due to security measures, the Gringotts bank has complied with the Ministry's request. They would be carrying out the valuation of joint assets at the Malfoy Manor Ground. A team of sturdy Aurors had escorted them out of the Ministry in on time. Right before apparating, Draco had grabbed hold of Ginny's hand and had pulled her into his arms. He had kissed her at the brief ceremony. He had felt the soft tunic, had seen the hint of her feminine grace. He had already started through dirty looks at all other men stealing a look of the beautiful wife. As for now, he had wished to find another reason to simply hold her.

Ginny was glad to find Lee Jordon a former Gryffindor among the several unknown faces. Jordan had taken it as his responsibility to see that Malfoy was truly being honest with his promises. He had whispered into Ginny's ears, "Hey Gin, don't worry, I will check out this new place that the ferret is bragging about, one dark stuff, and I will see to it that you get out of this marriage as fast as you can fly. Cheer up now!"

Once they had made it through the grounds, instead of going inside the house, he had led the others to a grove behind the huge mansion. Through an enchanted gate they had found themselves in a garden of exotic flowers and plants. There was also a pond secluded among tall palm trees. Very soon they had left all of this behind and they had started climbing up. The trees had started thinning out. In front of them lay an open expanse with a small mound ahead. The area was dotted with gravestones, and Ginny had felt an eerie displeasure crawl up her skin. Above the hill, they could see a small portico. As they had approached it, they had found Kingsley along with a few other members of the ministry waiting for them. Along with them, they had got two bodies, one belonged to Narcissa Malfoy and the other to Lucius Malfoy.

Draco had not uttered a single word throughout the short procedure of their burial. Neither had he urged anyone to raise their wands to honour the dead. He had only asked Ginny to conjure a wreath. Just one wreath. If he had his wand, he won't have asked her to help.

The girl was still smarting over her misfortune marriage to the sworn enemy. She had transfigured a twig into a wreath of thorns and had shoved it in his hand. He had stared at her. Insulted and hurt, he had just squinted his eyes at her but had shrugged his shoulders in defeat. He had walked up to his mother's new grave and had stood still, staring at the tombstone. He wanted it to simply read "Mother". He wanted the world to remember her just like that.

Ginny had expected him to place the wreath at Lucius's grave. She couldn't help but feel guilty. Molly Weasley did not teach her children to insult others and sully the dead. Feeling ill at ease, she had walked up to Draco, and had placed her hand on his shoulders. "Wait", looking at the wreath she had murmured, "give that back," doubtful of her true intentions, he had still past the thing back to its creator.

A flick of her wand that slowly turned the horrific wreath, into a beautiful halo of Narcissa flowers braided together. She had handed it back to him, offering him a grimace of an apology of sorts. His eyes had shone in gratitude, and he had offered her a quick nod. Turning back, he had delicately placed it on his mother's grave. Ginny had heard him mumble, "Goodbye Mother, you will be mourned."

Turning towards Kingsley he had extended his hand. The older man had handed over his wand. Ginny had watched the subtle display of joy, similar to the ones long lost friends would reserve for each other pass on her new husband's otherwise emotionless face. He had held the wand up and had aimed it at his Father's grave. Fury had coursed through his body, magic had shot up to his wand arm, coiling through his wand, it had shot out squarely against the newly made grave. Just like her, most of the other wizards and witches had stepped back.

The fire had rose high, its flames licking the wooden portico. The others in fear, had rushed out of it but Malfoy heir had stood his ground. When a few Aurors had raised their wands to decapacitate the mourning man, Kingsley had raised his arm to stop them. "He had personally requested me to allow him to do that. Lucius was a dark wizard, and Draco is just making sure, he can never rise again from the dead." Narcissa Malfoy's grave had remained untouched.

Satisfied at his handy work, Draco had come back to Kingsley and had handed back his wand, "You can go ahead and put as many restrictions on it, I don't mind, but you know what I would use it for, so just…"

"Mr. Malfoy, I have seen for myself, what you are capable of, I assure you, in the long run, the wizarding community will surely benefit from your newest endeavor. Although I would like to keep a close eye on your activities, just too…"

"I won't complain, watch over me…or whatever, I assure you, you won't hear of me, unnecessarily."

The legal aids of the Malfoy trust had walked up to the young heir. Handing over a bunch of parchments with a big glistening seal with the Malfoy crest stamp on it., they had walked back. Draco had handed it over to the Minister's waiting hands. "Those are the papers of the house and the many businesses of my parents and grandparents. If we have settled everything here, I wish to leave for the Red Villa, at Withmorshire." A Ministry official along with a Gringotts representative had handed out legal documents to the owner of the Malfoy properties. He had simply placed his seal over them and had passed them to his associates.

Fixing an advanced tracing spell on his wand, the Minister had handed it back to its owner, "Very well, we need to side along, Mr. Jordan, has requested to be present on behalf of Mr. George Weasley, Is that fine with you Malfoy?"

Malfoy had looked at Ginny and then had turned to the Minister, "I am okay with Jordan coming with us."

The four of them had left the other Aurors and ministry officials at the Manor and had walked back to the Apparition point near the peripheral wards of the Manor. Once again, without even asking for her permission, he had grabbed her hand. Jordan had walked to the other side and had placed his arm around Ginny protectively. The Minister had held on to Draco's shoulder, and in a blink, the four had apparated away.


They had appeared inside an apple orchid. Draco had led them through the small pathway among the dense cluster of trees. After about a quarter of an hour's walk, they had arrived at a backyard. Ahead of them, stood the Red Villa. It was a medieval-looking house, ancient, but still vibrant, the setting sun of the day, made the red bricks shine brighter.

Draco had spoken softly, "This is the Red Villa. No, I don't really need a mansion, a manor or a castle, I am content enough with what muggles call as "duplex" to start a life, to have a family," he had turned to face Ginny when he had uttered the last bit, and Jordan could not help but be shocked how genuinely affectionate the Malfoy heir looked at the moment.

There were more surprises in store for them. Draco had only one house-elf, Dorsie, and he had made a deal with the mousy elf, he would share the household chores. When the Minister had arched his brow at that, the man had simply supplied, "I liked doing things on my own, it felt liberating." Cross questioning the elf had been hilarious, who had gone on and on about how hard it was to watch Master Draco, wash dishes, sometimes like a Muggle, or change sheets, or light a fire like muggles with matchsticks!

While Kingsley and Draco had disappeared into his workshop, Jordan and Ginny, led by a much excited Dorsie, had taken the house tour. The living room, the study with a library, the kitchen, the dining area and a spare guest room was on the ground floor. There was a basement and a cellar. In the basement, Draco had his workshop set up and a small potion lab was built in as well. The cellar had a good stock of vintage wine, which Dorsie was too benevolent to supply.

The stairs had taken them up to the second level. Here they had walked into an open space a lounging area of sorts, with bookshelves around. And an elegant fireplace in the center of it. The mantle, if one could call the stand built around the circular fireplace, had an ancient watch and a twirling dragon studded with gemstones and diamonds. Dorsie had seen how the New Mistress and her friend had been staring at the mantlepiece." Master had made it before the Dark Lord had punished him with that horrible mark."

There was a huge bay window overlooking the open space at one side, which Dorsie had mentioned extending to a hanging balcony, where Draco would often sit and watch the sunset.

Jordan had good-naturedly mumbled, "Quite Idyllic".

Ginny had stubbornly avoided the master bedroom, instead, she had taken a quick peep into the other rooms. There were three more bedrooms, spacious and well decorated. And a study, which was locked from inside. Jordan had grown suspicious but Dorsie had added, "That's the studio, for painting, has been since Mistress Doreen, now the Master uses it."

"Draco Malfoy paints…"

Dorsie had nudged them to take the winding stairs once again. And this time they had come along and stood inside an open rooftop ballroom, with a grand piano at one end. the area did not have a wall, instead, it had windows, and a glass doom.

Despite herself, Ginny had whispered, "Wow!"