A/N: And now, the final Part. Thank you, SometimeSelkie, for the great input and support in this chapter.

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The Safe House

~ Part Three ~

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The Malfoys spent their anniversary enjoying the woods behind the house. Ginny prepared all of their favourite foods, no longer needing to conserve, and they picnicked in the place that had been their wedding circle. Thuban had been trying to walk again, and he completed his first successful series of steps between his parents under the trees. Ginny took many pictures of the house and the woods with the Muggle camera, and she was overjoyed when she found the timer on the camera and was able to capture pictures of all of them together.

As she lay in bed next to Draco that evening, Ginny let out a loud sigh.

Draco turned towards her and stroked her cheek. "You ready for this?"

"Yes." She sighed again. "I wish we could just Apparate there, but then I'm glad we're taking the train. I want to see them and I want to put it off. Then I feel guilty for even thinking that."

"We can still Apparate or go to North Witch Alley and take a Floo to the Ministry if you want –"

"No, that's all too risky. You could still be considered a Death Eater. We need to explain to my family what has happened first."

"I understand, Ginevra." He kissed her forehead and laid back down, staring at the ceiling. "I have mixed feelings about returning as well."

She quickly sat up and leaned on her elbow. She gently pulled his face towards hers. "Oh, darling, I know you do. I love you … so much. I just …I keep thinking that I am going to wake up."

"It's not a dream, Ginevra. We're going to see your family tomorrow."

"And then yours." She pulled him to her and placed his head on her chest. She began running her hand through his hair. "That's not the dream, though. You are. I keep thinking that the moment I walk into the Burrow, you will disappear and this will have all been the dream."

"I hope not. I don't think I would ever get over waking up." He kissed her chest and laid his head back down.

"How romantic, Draco. Are you still wanting to celebrate this evening?"

He chuckled softly. "I always want to celebrate, but that was not an attempt at persuading you to do anything. That was simply the truth, love."

ooo

The next morning, Draco Apparated the small family to the abandoned shed outside of town. They had packed their things on Friday and Saturday, choosing to bring only the most important items, as they were sure to return to the house again. Draco had shrunk the boxes to fit into the three pieces of luggage that he had. Ginny had packed a bag with snacks and toys for the baby. They had been taking Thuban further from the house each day in order to get him used to leaving and used to the fact that there were other people. On Friday evening, the three of them went to town and enjoyed a pizza at a local restaurant. Thuban was overwhelmed with seeing other people for the first time, and he spent most of the evening clinging to his father's neck. Many of the other patrons would comment on his adorable looks and try to talk with him, but Thuban would bury his little face into Draco's chest. On Sunday morning, the little boy began crying loudly for his daddy once they entered town. Draco had charmed the luggage to be almost weightless, but he refused to allow anyone, even the Muggles, to think that he would permit his wife to carry the suitcases. So Ginny continued to struggle with a frightened Thuban whilst they waited for the morning train.

Once seated in the compartment, she sat the baby down, and he immediately toddled to Draco. Ginny watched her son clinging again to his father.

She teased, "Does this make up for that month when he shadowed me every second of the day?"

"Actually, it does." He smirked and then kissed the top of Thuban's head. "You really think it's worth travelling by train today?"

"Draco, it's too far. I don't want to risk anything, and we have no idea what kinds of wards are in place. Also, he needs to be around more people. I don't want him to scream in my mother's face when she tries to hold him."

"Yes, well, I don't think that random strangers are necessarily going to make him feel more comfortable. It's just going to take time."

"I know, but I think I need the time, too."

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oooooOOOooOooOOOooooo

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Molly had been very anxious since Thursday morning. She had chosen to accept that Ginny was somewhere safe and happy and would not be returning, but then that damned clock hand had moved from 'home' to 'travelling'. She immediately Floo'd Arthur at work, but within the next couple of hours, the hand returned to 'home'. That evening, she and Arthur had discussed their long-lost daughter once again. They agreed to not get their hopes up, but they were beginning to wonder if she might be trying to find her way back to them. Friday morning, George informed them of the information from Lucius Malfoy's memories, once again giving them reason to believe that Ginny would be returning. But then on Friday evening, the hand had moved to 'out' for an hour and a half before once again returning to 'home'. When the hand had remained at 'travelling' for several hours, beginning Sunday morning, Molly decided to owl the rest of the family and tell them that Ginny might be finally coming home.

Arthur convinced Molly to only put the children on alert, and not to have them all converge on the house. He wasn't sure what to expect, but having all of the Weasleys waiting together for Ginny's return did not sound like a good idea to him. He was worried about her state of mind. Knowing that she had never been part of Voldemort's plan was like having a boulder lifted from his shoulders, but he still worried that something terrible had been happening to her. And because of this, he wanted the house to be calm when and if she arrived.

When Arthur heard the knock on the front door, his breath caught, and he looked towards his wife. They immediately went to the sitting room and looked at the clock. Ginny's hand was pointing at 'visiting'. Molly's face had turned white, and she nodded for him to get the door. It was as if her legs would not work so she remained in her seat and listened for her daughter's voice.

Ginny had decided to let her family see her alone first and had left Draco and Thuban sitting at the table in the back yard. The wards had required her to allow Draco and Thuban in, but they were not surprised at that. After kissing her husband and child several times, Draco nudged her away and gave her a sweet grin, encouraging her to walk away from them. She stood at the corner of the house for several minutes, gazing at her family, before she took a deep breath and headed around to the front of the Burrow. She quickly knocked on the front door, deciding that would be better than simply Apparating into the house. When her father opened the door, she immediately fell into his arms and began weeping. It was only seconds later that she felt her mother's arms embracing her from behind. Together they cried for several minutes before her mother ran back into the house to begin contacting her brothers.

Arthur led Ginny into the sitting room, his hand gripping hers tightly, and sat with her on the sofa. "Molly, I thought we'd give her some time. Ginny, are you ready for everyone to be here?" He stroked his thumb across her cheek and let the tears fall freely down his face.

Ginny was so overwhelmed with emotion that she could barely concentrate on her father's question. "What?" she choked out.

Molly left the Floo and knelt in front of her daughter, clutching to her knees. "Oh, baby girl, you look so grown up. … Are you - have you been hurt?"

"No, I've been fine. Really, I have." She squeezed both of their hands, and her thoughts began to rush out of her quickly. "Mum, Dad. There's so much to tell you. Severus saved me. He took me to a house that he had prepared for hiding. I -"

Arthur cut in, "We know, Ginbug. We just found out this week. Lucius Malfoy left some memories with his wife that explained what Snape did for you. But, unfortunately, they didn't tell us where you have been. Ginny, you know we would have come for you if we could have."

At the mention of her father-in-law's name, Ginny became hyper aware that her husband and child were patiently waiting for her to bring them inside. "Lucius?" she gasped.

Molly placed her hands on Ginny's face. "Yes, sweetheart. Lucius Malfoy was the only one who knew what happened to you. You may be surprised, but in a way, he protected you. He never betrayed Snape's secret until the day he died. At least, that's -"

Ginny pushed their hands away and bolted up from the couch. "What! He's dead?" She started to walk away from the couch, only to have both of her parents sit her back down. She began weeping at the thought of telling Draco about his father.

Arthur nervously watched his daughter crying into her hands. The idea of Lucius Malfoy actually doing something good was already difficult for them to believe, and he wondered what the Death Eater had really known about his little girl.

He gripped her shoulders and spoke in a low, steady voice. "Did Malfoy know where you were? Did he keep you hostage? Were you really safe, Ginny?"

Molly had also become disturbed by her daughter's reaction to the news of Malfoy's death. She joined in with a sob, "Oh, God, was it all a lie?"

"Yes!" Ginny cried to her father. "No, he didn't keep me hostage, and I don't know what you were told. But, I just … Dad, I wasn't alone at the house." She wiped at her tears, and Molly grabbed her left hand, looking at the wedding ring.

"Ginny? Is this?" Molly's face had turned pale, and her mouth was open for a moment before she swallowed and, with a strangled voice, asked, "Not Malfoy?"

Ginny's eyes grew round for a moment before she realized that her mother was referring to the elder Malfoy. "No, not exactly."

Arthur stood up and paced around the room. "Not exactly? Oh, Ginny, what are you saying? He didn't …" He stopped his movement and looked down at her. His face was pinched in distress at thinking about his daughter being manipulated by Lucius Malfoy or some other man. He sighed heavily before asking, "Have you really been okay? Please, tell us …no one hurt you. That you've been happy."

"Yes. Please, both of you. Stop interrupting me and just sit down." She stood and watched her parents sit together, looking at her with a mixture fear and concern. "Mum, this is a wedding ring." Molly held her hand to her mouth, and Arthur placed his arm around her shoulders. "And my husband is outside." They both glanced out the front window and relaxed with the smallest relief. "With our son." At this, her parents froze.

Molly finally took a deep breath and tentatively smiled. "Do we … do we get to meet them?"

Ginny smiled broadly and hugged both of her parents. "Let me go get them."

She ran through the kitchen and called for Draco from the back door. When she turned around, her parents were standing in the door to the kitchen, having followed her.

Draco stepped up behind Ginny, carrying a sleeping Thuban in his arms. He gave a small smirk at their shocked faces and quipped, "Surprise."

Molly and Arthur exchanged a brief look and communicated silently with the speed only a long and happy marriage could provide.

"Mum and Dad. Draco Malfoy is my husband, and this is Thuban." She took the baby from Draco's arms and crossed to her parents, presenting him like a peace offering. She had not missed their unspoken conversation and knew that they were not happy about Draco being their son-in-law. "He's not used to people, so be prepared for screaming if he wakes up." She silently sent up a prayer of thanks that Thuban was sleeping.

Arthur gingerly took the little boy, and Molly smoothed his white-blond hair from his forehead. Thuban stirred slightly, and Ginny reached her hand out to him, stroking his cheek.

Arthur spoke first. "He's beautiful, Ginny. He has your mouth."

"That's about all he has of mine." Ginny smiled at her parents, and they seemed to be accepting that this was their grandson.

Draco had slowly entered the kitchen and placed his arm around his wife's shoulders. "He has your personality, too."

The sound of the deep male voice broke the spell of seeing their grandchild, and it brought Arthur and Molly back to the reality of whose child this really was that they were holding. Molly stepped away from the sleeping baby and addressed the tall blond. "Mr Malfoy, I am a little surprised to see you since it was reported that you have been dead for over two years." She eyed him with suspicion. "And now you show up with our missing daughter, claiming to be married to each other?"

"Mum! Severus had brought Draco to the house before he took me there. And we are married. You asked if I was happy, and I said yes. Draco has made me happier than I have ever been."

Her voice had risen in volume as she spoke, and the baby slowly opened his eyes looking for his mother. When he looked up at Arthur Weasley, he screamed loudly and began squirming to find his parents. "Dada! Dada!"

Draco strode past Ginny and Molly and quickly took Thuban into his arms, holding him to his chest and soothing him with a soft voice.

The Weasleys watched the father and son, surprised to see Draco showing so much tenderness to his child. Arthur closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. "Ginny, we believe you. It's just a lot to take in." He crossed back over to her and took her hands. "We are so happy that you are back home. But I think that we're going to need to hear more of this story. Do you want your brothers here for it or not?"

Ginny felt so guilty when she realized that she had not even asked about the rest of her family. "Oh my goodness, are they all okay?"

Arthur quickly replied, "Yes, we have been very lucky." He followed Ginny's eyes as she looked to Molly in relief and then at the younger Malfoy in sympathy, but the man was focused on the baby.

He continued, "Charlie was injured pretty badly, but he is doing much better. I think it would be best to tell them all at once, but just your brothers for now. And I think that Malfoy – Draco - should take the baby to your room and wait up there."

"Okay." She looked at Draco, and they also communicated silently. "The luggage is outside. Let me get it, and then I'll show them where my old room is."

Draco watched Ginny leave the kitchen and looked over at his in-laws. "I love her."

Molly interrupted him. "We don't want to hear about that right now." Her eyes were cold as she spoke, but when her daughter re-entered the room, she relaxed and smiled warmly at Ginny.

ooo

Once inside the small bedroom, Draco and Ginny sat on the bed. Ginny sighed and used the wand to transfigure a small cot for the baby. Thuban had fallen back asleep in his father's arms, and Draco placed him in the little bed. Ginny pulled the stuffed dragon from the bag, and sat it next to her little boy.

"Draco, can you get his blankets from the suitcase? It will smell like home to him." She stood over the cot, gently rubbing her baby's tummy. "Oh, Snitch. I'm so sorry you were frightened."

Draco found the baby's blankets and placed them over Thuban. He put his arm around Ginny and led her back to the bed. "Your brothers are going to be even less receptive."

"Maybe. Well, George might not be too bad. He's always been the most open-minded. Percy probably won't cause any problems, and Charlie …" She stopped speaking and leaned into his shoulder, crying again. "I didn't think I would be this emotional."

"It's a lot, Ginevra. Are you sure you want to tell them alone?"

"Yes, they will need to see that I'm okay first. As you well know, some of my family members are more of an act-first, ask-later type."

"Are you referring to … Ron?"

"Wow, was that the first time for you?" She smiled at him, her eyes laughing at his grimace over saying Ron's name.

"I deserve a reward, don't you think?" He leaned into her and kissed her sweetly.

"Ever snogged in a girl's bedroom?"

"Ever been widowed?"

"That's not funny, Draco."

"Neither is being murdered, which is exactly what will happen if anyone in your family would find us. I wouldn't be surprised if we were being spied on right now."

"Ever done it in front of someone?" she teased. And then she laughed at his stunned face.

"Mrs. Malfoy! You little minx!" He pushed her back onto the bed and began kissing her again. He sat up quickly, and muttered, "Okay, enough of that."

She lay back on the bed, scowling. She tugged on his shirt and pulled him back down. The bed was small, and they shifted around so that he was holding her.

"Draco?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too." He stroked her hair from her face and looked down his nose at her. "What's in that head of yours, love?"

"I …" She closed her eyes. How can I tell him? And my brothers will all be here any minute. This is not the time. But what if one of them says something? She shifted so that she could see him better. "Draco, I found out something about your father."

He took a deep breath, and he had to force himself to look back down at her. He knew her too well. He knew that what she had to say was not going to be good just by the tone of her voice. "When did it happen?"

"I don't know, but he … he kept us safe. They said that he knew that Severus had taken me, but he kept it secret." A new wave of tears was falling from her cheeks onto his chest.

"And my mother?"

"I think she's okay. Your father left some memories for her, and Mum and Dad said that they just found out about Severus this week. If she's been in the Order, then she would have told them right away. She probably also just found out this week. That doesn't tell you any more about when your father … Maybe they found his memories after Voldemort was defeated."

Draco closed his eyes and pictured his father. He remembered one of the last times he had been with him. The night that they had embraced, and his father had almost told him he loved him.

~.~

"You look like hell," Lucius peered over his glass of Firewhisky as he sat at his desk.

"Well, thank you, Father. It's always a pleasure to see you, too," Draco snapped back, pausing mid-stride to fling his Death Eater cloak onto the leather chaise by the door.

"Your mother wants you to attend the Nott party next weekend. Do you think you can manage that?" Lucius deposited the glass and sat back in his seat, casually crossing his arms across his chest and his legs under the mahogany desk.

Draco sat with a thud in the large chair opposite his father. He was supposed to meet with Potter during the party. It was something he was already trying to figure out how to achieve, for without a Time-Turner he could not be in two places at once. The two Malfoy men stared at each other in silence for several minutes.

"You really do look like hell."

"I thought we already established that, Father. And yes, of course, I will be at the party. Where else would I be?" He smirked at his father and then, growing uncomfortable with Lucius's unwavering stare, he reached forward and took his father's glass and finished the drink.

"No, I mean it. I've never seen you like this."

Draco scrunched his face in confusion and shook his head, lightly laughing. "How many of these have you had?" He nodded towards the empty glass.

"Draco. I know you have not been a mission leader for several months – "

"I'm sorry, Father, I know I've disappointed – "

"Stop. I know what happened. I know why you did what you did." Lucius frowned for a moment as he held his son's gaze. "Being one of the Dark Lord's trusted servants, well, in the first war, being in the inner circle kept me from many of the … shall we say, baser activities. I always planned for you to be by my side." He finally looked away from his son.

Draco wasn't sure what to make of his father's behaviour. He followed Lucius's eyes to the photograph that had been sitting on the desk for as long as he could remember. It was a picture of their family at Christmas when he was four. Draco had often stared at his own copy of the photo that was sitting in his bedroom. It was the only picture he had ever seen that showed his father looking truly happy and in love with his wife and child.

"Father?" he quietly addressed.

"No. Let me finish." Lucius stood up and walked around the desk, stopping just in front of Draco. "This was not the life that I wanted for you. I worked so hard to stay in his graces, but I failed … all of you. I never wanted you to be taken into the inner circle until you were at least in your twenties. I know Severus has spared you where I have not, and I will be forever grateful to him for that. But … I wanted you to know that if it were truly up to me, you would not be in the position you are in today."

Draco had been staring up at his father throughout his speech, his mind brimming with questions. He finally stood and met his father eye to eye. "I don't feel that you have failed me, Father."

"Yes, you do. I can see it in your eyes, but I'm touched that you are trying to spare me. At least, I still have your consideration."

"You have more than that …" Draco clenched his jaw as he saw the smallest smile come from his normally stoic father. Before he could stop himself, he reached forward and embraced Lucius, who, after a moment of shock, returned the gesture. Draco closed his eyes tightly and whispered, "I love you, Father."

Lucius tightened his hold on his only child and quickly inhaled, ready to respond, when Bellatrix burst into the room. The two Malfoys broke apart quickly, and Lucius dismissed Draco as he returned to his seat.

~.~

Draco had never felt such love from his father as he had that night. He felt Ginny's hand caressing his face, bringing him back to the present. Lucius had helped him have Ginny, and no matter what anyone would ever say about him, Draco would always be grateful to his father for giving him the best gift he would ever have.

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A/N: So much love to those of you who have been reviewing. I cannot tell you how much it means to me, especially after I get some flames like I did last chapter. As much as I know there will always be people you can't please, it still completely makes me question my writing.

Anyway, what do you think of the reunion so far? And what about their choice to take the Muggle way home? Did that bother you?