Merlin, Help Me

Chapter 12

Ginny's POV

The idea of Draco Malfoy in Muggle London was too humorous to not want to see.

"Draco is going to come with me and Beth tomorrow when I head into Muggle London," I said to Harry and watch for his reaction.

Harry stopped dead, turned to me, and stared for a whole minute. "Are you sure that's wise?" he finally asks.

I couldn't help but snicker because Harry was clearly picturing something like I had. "He seemed pretty set on joining us, knowing where we were going."

"If I gave you a device to record what happens, would you record it for me?" he said, chuckling.

I gave him a stern look. "I was thinking if you're done when we return, we could sit down like adults and discuss things."

"What things?"

"How to handle things like birthdays and holidays and who Beth calls what. You know, how we want her raised."

"Oh okay, Ginny. Don't forget the credit card like last time. I have to be in court today for a case, so I won't be able to rescue you like last time. And Gin, for once, spoil yourself for me please."

"Ok, Harry."

About an hour after Harry left, Draco arrived. He wore black slacks and a pale blue button down shirt that brought out the colour of his eyes. I smiled at him. "Are you sure you know what you signed up for today?" I asked as I took Beth and placed her in her pushchair.

He squatted down to Beth's level. "Hey Princess, how are you today?"

Beth pulled back and started crying. "Sorry, Princess, but one day you're going to find yourself loving me. I have forever to get there," he vowed to our daughter.

I handed her a thin blanket so she could hide herself from Draco if she wished. "Are you ready?" I asked.

"Lead the way," he commanded. As we started off, he asked, "So what is it you need to buy today?"

"A dress and shoes for the Muggle service."

"Is it all Muggle?" he asked.

I nodded. "This aunt and uncle weren't the best type of Muggles, for they hated anything to do with magic. I guess they were much like your family, only towards magic."

"Then why does Potter want to go?"

I pressed my lips together. The Horcruxes weren't a secret, per say, but they were rarely talked about. "Well Draco, his aunt was treated poorly by Snape as a child, then her parents were killed by, well for all I know, your father could have been one of the Death Eaters that did it. Then Tom killed her sister and brother in law, causing them to have to raise a child they never even laid eyes on. I think the woman had reason to dislike magic. And being so close to a Horcrux, the one that was in Harry, all of that would have affected them."

"I don't know everything Father did," Draco claimed, trying to sound innocent.

"Draco, I didn't tell you that to make you feel like you need to defend him. I was stating a fact. Honestly, I don't even know if the thought has occurred to Harry."

"So what do Muggles wear to funerals?" he asked.

"I'm looking for a smart, conservative black dress about knee length, but I'll have to alter it to the right length."

An hour later, I was in a fitting room trying on a dress. I REALLY hate being short! Nothing ever fits right! Just once, it would be nice to buy something off the rack and not have to alter it. I groan in frustration.

"Do you want me to ask for a smaller size?" Draco asked from the other side of the door.

I open the door and sigh. "I wish I was human sized instead of the size of a pixie."

He sized me up and down with a critical eye and reached for my hand. "Come over to this other mirror." He led me over and placed me in front of the mirror. "This needs to be taken up a bit…"

"I know that! I can't tell, once it's taken up, whether my bra will show in the arm holes."

He stepped behind me and zipped the last three inches of the zipper up. Then, as if he knew about altering clothing, he gently pulled the dress up at the shoulders so I could see how it would sit. My bra wasn't visible at the armpit. "It will still need the hem shortened, but otherwise you look amazing, as always," he whispered.

His words made me go weak in the knees. I needed some space. "Yeah, this will work," I said, pulling away from him. "I think I'm finished here." I slipped back into the room.

"It's nearly lunch. Should we stop and get Beth something to eat before the shoe shopping?" he asked.

I looked down at her. She was getting bored and I knew once she ate, she would nap for a couple of hours. Perhaps Draco would leave if Beth fell asleep hard enough. "Sure, that sounds good." When he was behind me but touching me, I wanted more, but I am a married witch. I won't hurt Harry like that.

We found a little cafe nearby. I ordered a child's plate for Beth and a grilled chicken caesar salad for myself, but I requested the chicken be put on the side. That way, I could give Beth some of the chicken. Draco ordered a pasta dish. Then he shocked me and asked, "Is it alright for me to give her some of the pasta?" Draco Malfoy was willing to share something with another living soul!

"I can't see why not. She actually really likes noodles."

Beth was still watching him with her Malfoy look; it seemed to unnerve him a bit. It was so hard not to laugh at the fact that an eighteen month old could intimidate Draco Malfoy!

Draco's POV

This morning was nearly perfect. The only things that bothered me were: the engagement and wedding rings on Ginny's delicate finger, the fact that they weren't rings that I gave her, for they were common and boring, and the way Beth still looked at me. I had to find ways to spend more time with my girls.

By the time lunch was done, I understood why Ginny was concerned about me being ready to dine with a toddler. Ginny took Beth to the restroom to clean her up and I took care of the check. When they returned, I asked, "Is the shoe shop next?"

"Yes. I need a better pair of shoes," she answered.

While in the shoe shop, I was disappointed at the shoes Ginny was looking at; black women's dress shoes that had a low heel. They were practical and dull. I did see her eye a couple pf pairs of shoes that were more interesting. "Why don't you get those?" I asked.

She shook her head at me. "it's a funeral, not a party."

"So? You clearly like them. You should treat yourself," I encouraged her.

"I wouldn't have a place to wear them to. At least not til Harry's Christmas party. We don't go out much."

"Because of Beth?" I questioned.

Ginny smiled. "Mostly."

This left me feeling guilty. For two years, I lived the life of a playboy while Ginny gave up being young and carefree. "I wish I could say I'm sorry, but Ginny, she's amazing." Had I known, yes, we would have become parents at a young age, but at the Manor, there would have been help and staff so she could have been a bit more carefree.

"She is, but Draco, I'm not the type to go out partying, I would rather sit in a pub and visit with friends than be at a party where I can't even hear myself think. I just need to stop at a florist to arrange flowers to be sent to the service from Harry and I and then we're done in Muggle London. " She smiled at me. "You did very well here."

I smirked at her. "You might be surprised, but I'm actually in the Muggle world a lot more than most would think."

Ginny looked a bit surprised.

I realized this might work in my favor. "Seeing as how you are a mother to a Malfoy, I'll share a piece of family history. How much do you know about Muggle history?"

She laughed at me. "You realize most summers Hermione shared my room, right?"

"Truthfully, I never really thought about it. So I take it that that means you know some?" She nodded. "One of my direct ancestors asked Queen Elizabeth the first to marry him."

She was clearly trying to recall who this queen was.

"It was like 400 years back, and we would rather that fact wasn't known by the masses."

"I was hoping if Harry is here when we return, we could all sit down and talk about what everyone wants and expects. I trust you can act like an adult?"

Merlin, she can remind me of my mother at times! I have no desire to talk with Potter. I know all I'll want to do is smash his face into the ground! But what I want to do, versus what I will do, aren't the same. I have to win the war, not just a battle, and this war is a million times more important than the wizarding war. "Don't you think I have possibly matured since school?"

She smiled at me. "I just know how you and Harry get under each other's skin."

We made our way back to the home she shared with Potter. It's a small cottage near where her parents live, but it looks much better than the place she grew up in.

Ginny gently pulls Beth, who has been sleeping since lunch, out of the pushchair. "Come on, love," she whispers.

Beth whines sleepily in protest. I swear, it's the cutest thing I have ever seen. She wraps her little arms around Ginny's neck as Ginny rubs her back.

"I might be able to lay her down for a bit," she whispers to me. Ginny headed into the house with me following.

A/N I know it's been forever. But I already have five chapters written, I recently finished two older stories and completed two new stories. But I wanted to return to some Draco/ Harry rivalry.