A/N: As always, SometimeSelkie has been a wonderful beta, and I thank her.

I also want to thank everyone for the amazing response after the last chapter. I am so thrilled with each and every one of your reviews. Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much it keeps me motivated, especially as we are getting into the parts that I still need to work through again.

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The Safe House

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Draco and Ginny stayed in her small, childhood bed for several more minutes, listening to the sounds of more and more people entering the Burrow. They could hear much laughter and excitement in the male voices drifting up the stairs. Ginny's brothers would be demanding to see her shortly, and she did not want to leave Draco so quickly after him learning of Lucius's death.

Draco kissed her head and whispered into her hair, "Ginevra, I will be okay. I have been prepared for this from the day I entered the house. Go and see your family."

Before Ginny could sit up, the door opened, and her mother appeared. Ginny froze for a moment, foolishly feeling like a child that had been caught, before she sat up and smoothed down her dress and gave her mother a warm smile.

Molly took in the scene before her. She did not look happy about seeing Draco in bed with Ginny, and her voice came out clipped when she spoke. "Ginny, it's time for you to come down and explain." She stood at the bedroom door, waiting for her daughter to join her. She scowled at seeing Draco help Ginny stand and then hug her before sitting back down on the bed.

Ginny could feel her mother's eyes follow her from Draco's embrace and then as she walked over to the cot. She leaned over and smiled at Thuban. She knew he would be waking up soon. Even though it had been a stressful day, his nap would only last for so long. She heard her mother huff behind her, and she frowned to herself. This was not quite what she had expected from her mother. She did not have any real illusions about her parent's reaction to Draco, but she had been convinced that Thuban would melt away their concerns. She turned back once again to Draco and gave him a quick kiss, mostly out of spite for her mother, but also because his kisses always made her feel better. Draco smirked at her and then looked unapologetically at Molly.

"Ginny, they will storm your room if you don't come down now." Molly tried to sound normal, but Ginny could still hear the strain in her voice.

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Once she walked into the sitting room, Ginny's anxiety vanished at the sight of her five brothers waiting in a half-circle for her arrival. They all smiled broadly at her, and then Bill stepped forward.

"Ginny. We decided we would go in order." He crinkled his eyes and grabbed her to him. He whispered in her ear, "But I know that you love me best. I love you, sweetheart. I've missed you so much." He kissed her forehead and held her again.

Once Bill stepped away, she was face to face with Charlie, who was using a cane to walk. She put her hand to her chest and cried, "Oh, Charlie! What happened?"

He hugged her to his burly chest. "Just a little injury. A surprise attack, but I'm fine. Dragonfly, I never thought I'd see you again." He wrapped his arms more tightly around her, and she felt tears come to her eyes at hearing his childhood nickname for her.

Next was Percy. "Ginny, you … you look beautiful." He gave her a quick, but tight squeeze. "I'm so glad you are all right. It's been very difficult not knowing where you have been or if …" He grabbed her once more and gave her another firm embrace. "You really do look lovely, Ginny."

"Thank you. I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry you all have been so worried."

George stepped forward and kissed her loudly on the cheek. "Just don't do it again, okay? We won't be so nice the next time you show up, no matter how pretty you look." He was smiling, but then his face became serious, and he pulled her close. "Please don't ever disappear again. I can't lose you, too."

She could feel his tears, wet against her cheek, and she turned her face to his, kissing him sweetly on his chin. She leaned forward and whispered into his ear, "George, I'm going to need you." She pulled back and gave him a meaningful look. He quirked his head to the side and nodded when he saw the grave look on her face.

Finally, it was time for Ron. He walked up to her and stopped. He just looked at her for a minute, and Ginny gave him a curious smile. "It's really me, Ron."

He quickly seized her and held her so tightly that she almost couldn't breath. After a minute, it even began to hurt, and she started to pull free. He smiled at her, but she could see that it didn't reach his eyes. Something has happened to him. Oh, Ron, why have you changed?

She turned around to face the rest of her family once more, but instead she found herself facing Harry. She looked around the room and noticed her brothers and even her parents eagerly watching this particular reunion. She stared into the green eyes that she had once so loved. "Harry," she breathed.

He stepped closer, and she could see his unshed tears. He threw his arms around her and inhaled the scent of her hair. "Gin, you don't know how happy I am to see you. I'm so sorry I didn't protect you. I'm so, so sorry." He was mumbling into her neck and rocking the two of them.

She felt so much relief at finally being able to apologize to him. She knew that her parting words combined with her abduction had to have been torture to her ex-lover. "No, I'm sorry. I should never have left the way I did. I regretted it the moment I did it. I didn't mean what I said, Harry. Please forgive me."

She sniffed and then smiled at him, but before she could pull away he took her face in his hands and kissed her. At first, she was shocked by his kiss. When he began to deepen the kiss, she reacted without even thinking and pushed him away with a hard shove. "Harry! It's not like that!"

He was bewildered by her rejection. "I know we were fighting, Gin, but I thought you'd be over that by now."

She shook her head and looked to her parents. They seemed disappointed at her behaviour, and she started to feel dizzy. Why can't they just be happy that I'm back? She caught George's eye, and he lifted his brow, asking if this was what she had meant. She placed her hand on her head and looked back at Harry, who was waiting for her reply.

Ron decided to finally speak. "Merlin, Ginny. The poor man hasn't even celebrated winning the fucking war because he's been moping around waiting for your arse to show up!"

Arthur turned to his youngest son and said, "Ronald. That's enough." He looked at Ginny. "It's time for you to explain what has happened."

Ginny dropped her hand from her head and took a deep, cleansing breath. You are a Gryffindor! You can do this! Standing a little straighter, she began speaking in a calm voice. "I think that we should all sit down at the table before I begin."

After the others had made it to the kitchen table, Ginny discovered that the seat left for her was between Harry and George, who looked at her guiltily with a subtle nod at Harry. It was a rare moment in the Weasley house, to have all of them seated quietly. Ginny looked around the large table. Her parents appeared worried about what was to happen, and she couldn't really blame them. Harry was leaning forward, and she could tell that he was aching to touch her again. She knew that he would be feeling very differently as soon as he knew who was waiting upstairs. Ron had closed his eyes, and again she felt a twinge of pain at seeing him so altered. The rest were looking at her with love and encouragement written across their faces, but there was also a hint of fear of what she had to tell them. She realized that it was fear for her, for what she had endured without them. It warmed her heart and gave her the push to get things started.

"Mum and Dad said that you know about Severus saving me." They all nodded except Ron, who had yet to look up.

She bit her lip, thinking of how best to tell her story. "Okay. Well, I was taken from the field over by the broken tree. I don't know where they took me."

Harry did reach for her hand, but he changed his mind and sat back, as if to further himself from his temptation. He looked at her. "It was the Nott estate. That's where they had taken you. What did they do to you, Gin?"

She swallowed. It was strange to find out where she had been prisoner after so much time. She already hated Theodore Nott for his role in Draco's life. She finally found her voice again. "They beat me and cursed me." She heard her mother gasp, but she focused on the table. She wanted to finish this as quickly as possible. "They didn't rape me." Harry released his breath. "Severus came in and told me to follow him. I really had no choice but to believe him. At some point, I passed out. When I awoke, I was in a strange house and could hear him talking with someone."

She reached under the table and took George's hand. He gave her a little squeeze. She briefly glanced at her parents before continuing. "It was Draco Malfoy." At this point, Ron slammed his fist on the table. She looked up at him with fear and noticed that Harry looked at her brother with worry. "Severus –"

Ron interrupted her. "Why do you keep calling him Severus?"

"Um, because – "

This time it was George. "Who cares, Ron? Just let her finish!" Another squeeze.

Ginny dropped her eyes back to the table. "Severus had brought Draco to the house many months before. He had taken him there to hide him. It was a Safe House. One he had inherited from the Muggle side of his family. He had planned on going there someday if he needed to hide." She turned to Harry. "Draco had been working with you. He was the Order's spy."

Harry frowned. "He had been in contact with me, yes."

She stared at him for a moment, confused by his response. Finally, she decided to end the torture. "Draco and I were warded into the house by his Dark Mark. Severus had refused to stay in the hopes that he could continue to help the Order. So we were basically trapped. Until his Mark disappeared, the wards would stay in place. That's where I have been. With Draco."

Ron stood up and glared at her. "Until the bastard died, you mean."

Her eyes grew wide, and she slowly shook her head no.

Bill pushed Ron back into his seat, and facing Ginny, he inquired, "Where exactly is this house?"

For some reason, Ginny did not want anyone to know. She and Draco had never discussed keeping it a secret, but at this moment, she was determined that none of them would ever find out. "It was in Norwich."

Bill smiled at her and then said, "Is that all? Ginny, you look like there's something else."

"Yes, there's actually something very important. Draco," she paused as she heard Ron curse again. "Um, Draco and I are married and – "

At this, Ron exploded. "You said he was dead, Harry! You lied to us!" He jumped up and knocked his chair back.

Harry had frozen at Ginny's announcement. He just stared at her as if she were mad. But when he heard Ron screaming at him, he stood up and faced his friend. "No, I did not. I hoped he was dead, and he must be. Voldemort performed the Curse of the Mark on him. Ginny, what are you talking about? Did he force himself on you?"

"No! He's my husband, and he's alive because I saved him." She was afraid. She had never seen Ron like this before. He was enraged. She pleaded, "Ron, what happened to you?"

Ron ignored her and looked at his parents. "Where is he?"

Bill once again grabbed Ron by the shoulders and shoved him back in his seat. Bill cautiously questioned her. "Ginny, he's not here, is he? He's still at the house?"

She could not speak. She looked at Harry, and he had once again frozen. He was boring his eyes into hers. She could see his pain, his disappointment, and then his anger when she would not answer. Finally he said, "Where is he, Ginny?"

She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, a loud thump was heard above them. She was seated closest to the back stairs and ran to them, blocking Ron and Harry who had also run towards them. "Stop! You can't hurt him."

Ron looked to Harry. "Move her or I will."

Harry shook his head and said to her in a cold voice, "Ginny, you have to let us through. He will be wanted for questioning."

In her panic, she cried out, "Draco!"

Ron growled and roughly pushed her down, but George fired a Body Bind on his little brother and levitated him back to their parents. He threatened to keep him there indefinitely. Ginny heard her bedroom door open and felt Harry's hands on her, lifting her up and holding her close to him at the bottom of the steps.

They all held their breath as they heard the quickly approaching footsteps. Harry began backing her away from the stairs, and she let him. She knew that he would let her go when he saw her child.

"Ginevra?" Draco was holding the baby against him protectively and his wand was drawn in his left hand. He slowly descended the last few stairs. He had heard the yelling, and when he crept to the bedroom door to listen more carefully, Thuban had knocked over one of the suitcases.

"Draco, I'm fine. Come on down." She felt Harry's grip tighten on her arms.

Draco entered the kitchen and was met with the scene he had expected. Most of the Weasleys looked upset and confused. Ron Weasley was being held back by magic, and Harry Potter was trying to be the hero and had swiftly stepped in front of Ginny with his left arm holding her close. He shifted the baby, and Thuban turned his large grey eyes to his new family members. They all gasped at the movement, finally noticing the baby in his arms.

Thuban clung to Draco's thin jumper, but he began craning his head to see Ginny. "Mama?"

Ginny pushed past a limp Harry and ran to her husband and child. She smiled at her baby and took him into her arms, kissing his cheek. "It's okay, Snitch. I'm right here."

She turned to face her brothers, and she felt Draco come close to her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "This is our son. His name is Thuban."

Harry eyed the man before him. He took in the way his hand was sitting on Ginny's shoulder, the way his body was pressed close to hers, the way he was staring back at him with a smirk that practically screamed "I won." Before he could kill the blond wizard, he decided to leave. He turned around and walked over to Ron, and taking his friend's stiff body, he Apparated them away.

Once the two of them had left, the entire room seemed to relax a little. Bill crossed to his new brother-in-law and nodded. "I trust Ginny." Everyone in the room understood what was not said. He did not trust Draco. Bill looked down at the little boy and smiled. "He's beautiful, sweetheart."

"Thank you," she sobbed and gave him a watery smile.

Bill's reluctant acceptance opened the door for the others to join in. It was clear to Ginny that her brothers shared Bill's caution about Draco, but she was glad to see them making an effort to at least get to know her son. George was even able to get Thuban to laugh at one point, and hearing the two of them laughing together made it worth everything else that Ginny had endured that afternoon. Eventually, the baby reminded all of them that it was time to eat. Whilst Molly quickly prepared a small feast for the family, Ginny quietly asked each of her family members to not discuss Draco's parents, wanting to give him privacy for his grief. Most of the evening was spent catching up on her brothers' lives. Ginny shared a few funny stories from the Safe House, but she could see that her mother was not comfortable with hearing about her life with Draco. After Molly interrupted her third attempt at telling the story of their first Christmas in the house, Ginny simply smiled and let her mother take over the conversation. She was getting very angry with her parents, her mother's blatant disregard for her husband and her father's disinterest in him, and she struggled to stay calm. But once Draco had fed Thuban and handed the baby to her to hold, he began gently rubbing small circles on her lower back and she soon relaxed. Draco remained very quiet throughout the evening, keeping his answers brief and direct to the few questions he was asked. He was desperate to leave and find his mother, but he knew that this time was important to Ginny and hoped that her family could recognize his sacrifice for her happiness. It was very late when the Weasley brothers had all returned to their homes, and plans were made for the entire Weasley clan to celebrate Ginny's return the following weekend.

Once the house was quiet, Arthur asked to speak with Draco. The older wizard sighed. He had been watching his new son-in-law throughout the evening, and he noticed that Draco always stayed very close to Ginny and Thuban. He could see how much Draco loved his family, how protective he was. Arthur also knew Molly still did not trust the wizard, but he could see how much she wanted to know her grandchild. He looked into the grey eyes of the man who had married his daughter, unsure of what he thought about the tall wizard. "You were spying for the Order?"

"Yes, sir. Potter can tell you everything about my work. He was my only contact besides Severus Snape." Draco kept his eyes trained on the older man. He refused to explain himself or back down.

"Very well then. You three should stay here tonight. George can take you to your mother in the morning." Arthur noticed the slight flicker of change in Draco's face. "Did Ginny tell you about your father?"

"Yes, sir. When did he die?" Draco felt his heart racing with the news of his parents, but he kept his mask firmly in place.

"This week. Voldemort killed him just before he was defeated, but I don't know what exactly happened. Harry can tell you more." Arthur realized that it sounded as if he was throwing Draco's words back in his face, and he grimaced.

Draco narrowed his eyes at Arthur. He didn't think that the man was trying to be rude, but he still felt angry. "Of course. Thank you for letting us stay here. Good night."

Ginny had been sitting with Molly, who was holding Thuban. It had taken much encouragement from Ginny and Molly working her own kind of magic on the little boy, but he eventually fell asleep in his grandma's arms. Ginny had listened to the men's conversation, and she smiled at her mother before taking the baby and following Draco back up the stairs.

ooo

Once they were in the room, Draco sealed the door and cast a Silencing Charm on the room. He watched Ginny lay the baby in the cot. "We are only staying because it is late. And I know that it's important to you."

She turned and took him into her arms. "Thank you. Tonight was terrible. But … then I think it got a little better. George was amazing, really. Unfortunately, Mum still doesn't like you, but Thuban is getting to her. Dad will probably -"

"Shh." He led her to the bed and began pulling her clothes off of her. He kissed her collarbone and rubbed her shoulders. She melted into his arms and sighed. "Ginevra?"

"Hmm?"

"If Potter ever touches you again, I will kill him." He lifted her chin and kissed her mouth.

"Draco, please don't give them any more reason to hate you."

He chuckled. "So not to spare his life, but to keep Christmas dinner from being spoiled?"

"Well, I like Christmas dinner." She pulled him down on top of her.

He began kissing her again, and his hands wandered down between her legs. She moaned into his mouth. He briefly thought about their son being so close to them, but then he recalled all the suspicious looks and unkind words through which he had suffered that day. He decided that not only did he deserve to enjoy himself, but they also deserved to have him ravishing their daughter under their own roof.

Ginny panted into his chest, "I thought you didn't want them to murder you."

"Seeing as they might do that anyway, I think I should at least earn their contempt." He sat up and quickly shucked his trousers and shirt off of him. "Now shut up, and let me do my worst."

She laughed quietly. "Draco, you are a bad boy."

"Yes, I am."

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A/N: Thank you for reading! You know how much I want to hear from you. Please review!

Now, what did you think of the rest of the Weasley reunion? Poor Harry, right? Or maybe not. And Ron, well, just keep in mind that he's grieving, and he's stuck in anger right now.