Chapter 14

Later over dinner, Lucius posed a couple of questions. "You were clearly shocked to see Severus, weren't you?" he asked.

I sighed. "There were just so many stories going around about what happened after he was released. One story even claimed that he couldn't bear Harry knowing the truth and that he had killed himself." It wasn't a lie.

"That's not far off, really," Lucius claimed. "He lives for the most part in the Muggle world to avoid people bothering him about his life. It's not that hard for him; his father was a Muggle."

Now I have questions about this for Lucius. I think he will know, but at the same time I don't want to ask too much and make him question why I'm asking. "I'm curious about something, Lucius; how does a half blood become a Death Eater that He so trusted?" I can ask things like this and he doesn't mind me asking, mostly because he knows I'm trying to understand.

"At first," Lucius began, "he always showed he had skills for the Dark Arts, and there was his dislike of his father. Truthfully, even though he is years younger than me, I learned a lot from him. I wasn't in school when his friendship ended with Potter's mother, but that was when things really got serious for him. The night it came out she was going to marry Potter, he took the Mark."

Once again, the idea that Lily was everything to Severus was rubbed in my face. Nearly two and a half years later and it still hurt. I was very quiet over the rest of dinner.

"Ginevra, something is bothering you, What is it?" Lucius asked.

"No dear, I'm just wondering and worrying about practice tomorrow."

It was three months later when Severus was over again. I had no excuse to not join them in having a drink. When Draco arrived and had to steal Lucius away, we expected it was going to be a few minutes. I was alone with Severus for the first time since the battle for Hogwarts.

"Why didn't you marry Potter?" he asked directly.

I took a sip of my Firewhiskey. "I wasn't in love with him," I replied. Deep down, it still hurts that I was just a replacement for Lily Evans.

"I was surprised when I heard the wedding was called off. You were so desperate to see him that night," he said, staring into the fire.

"You of all people should know Ron and Harry go hand and hand. If Harry was there, then Ron was. You wouldn't understand, being an only child."

He turned and looked at me for a long moment. I wondered if he was reading my mind.

"I never thought of it that way," he admitted. "You seem happy. I can tell Lucius is."

I smiled. "That's nice to hear you think he is."

"How did you two end up together? You have to admit you're an unlikely pair."

"He saw something in me no one else did, and he made me feel alive again," I admitted to him, then took a large sip of my drink. "I haven't told him about the time we spent together."

"Nor have I. Ginny, I wronged you and treated you poorly. I offer my apologies."

I smiled at him. "I don't regret it." I don't. I regretted that it meant far more to me than it did to him.

He gave me the rarest smile in return. "Ginny, I want you to know you can always count on and come to me."

I smiled more broadly as I could tell he did mean it. "That means a lot to me."

"I really mean it," he emphasized as the Malfoy men return to the room.

I had been at the Manor for over a year now. I was Lucius' partner, we supported each other, and he came to every game I played. We were just as happy to spend a night reading in the same room as we were having sex. I stood beside him and supported him during raids at the Manor.

"Lucius, we have been together for nearly one and a half years," I began.

Lucius' POV

I already didn't like where this was going. We were sitting in the library.

"Perhaps it's time to move to the next step," she finished.

She lives here. I love her. She loves me. I paid all her expenses, not that she has ever asked me to. There was clearly only one thing left; she wants us to be married. I've been married. It wasn't the FUN everyone claims it is. She was my wife in every way except legally. Ginevra and I worked well as we were; there was no reason to change what works. "And what would that be?" I asked, playing dumb.

"Marriage. Lucius, don't you think it's time?" she asked.

"Ginevra, I'm nearly fifty. I have no intention of marrying again," I lied.

"Then what would become of any children we chose to have?"

I shook my head. "You know I have my heir. I have no need for children. I'm not your father," I coldly stated.

I think I pushed a bit far on that last comment. I'll make up for it later. She just needed to accept that this was what our life was. When she accepts this, then I will ask her when she doesn't expect it.

"I have to get ready for the game tonight," she said abruptly and left the room.

Her game is later called off due to the unexpected death of the other team's coach. Her teammates still gathered together that evening. The next day, I arrived home from the office and went to change. When I entered our room, there were boxes scattered, suitcases on the bed, and the smallest was open in front of her. She was putting her underwear in it. "Ginevra?" I questioned.

She looked at me with a coldness I last saw from her when she was eleven. "We want different things. I fail to see the point of playing house anymore," she stated.

"You were just going to leave without telling me?" I accused her.

"If I was going to do that, I would have left this morning." She paused. She was trying to call my bluff. She wanted me to beg her not to leave and to offer to marry her so she would stay. I answered to one master once; I won't do that again. She continued, "Lucius, you made me feel again and you brought me back to life. I will always be thankful for that, but I'm sorry; I want it all, and you don't. I'm leaving you for the same reasons I ended things with Harry; I don't want to grow to hate you." She placed the last item in the case and closed it. "I wish you all the best." She walked over to me and went to kiss my cheek.

I pulled away. I was mad! How dare she try to call the shots here! "You walk away, don't expect to come back!" I threatened.

She gave me the oddest smile. "Don't worry, I have no reason to come back." She turned back to the boxes and cases and started minimizing them. She then set them to piling into her handbag. I expected any second that she would say she can accept what I have to offer. I watched as she slipped her shoes on. She gave me a sad smile, and in an adorable move that has become her trademark, she snapped her fingers and Apparated away.

I moved into the dressing room to check her drawers. She left nothing but her scent. I then think of the one thing I expect she would have forgotten to take and made my way to the bathroom. I checked under the sink to see that she even took her feminine products. Perhaps she meant it. I needed to rethink my own plans here. However, I will allow her time to sweat it out.

The End… there is a sequel that is completed, it needs editing and is longer. I will post the first chapter of it within a week. It's called And Still.