N/A: Thank you guys for the previous chapter feedback. You're AMAZING, really.
It's what motivates me to write more and faster. Keep making me happy! haha
23 – Moral Hangover
Ginny woke up with a start and brusquely sat in bed, feeling her head pounding and a bitter taste in the mouth.
Brushing the messy hair out of her face, she looked out the window desperately, trying to locate herself chronologically; the day had not yet fully dawned, but it already announced that it would be one of those grayish rainy days, so typical of London.
Then, little by little, the memories from the previous night came back to her, at the same time that an anguish feeling took over her.
She combed her long hair with her fingers and rubbed her eyes vigorously, as though she wanted to break free of the effects from the Sleeping Draught Olivia certainly had put in the tea she had ordered Della to make as soon as they stepped into Ginny's house.
Ginny had stopped drinking it as soon as she correctly deduced what was in the beverage, knowing she had no right to sleep while her world turned upside down, but her strong willpower had not been enough to fight what she had already ingested. Then the night's events, the pregnancy and the nervousness came crashing down on her like avalanche.
After a few seconds, her vision had blurred and she knew she would sleep soundly.
And the fact remained: she had slept a few hours, even though she had not drunk all the bloody potion.
Few hours that could have cost her dearly.
On a first instinct, she wanted to look in the mirror to see what she looked like. Someone - surely Della - had taken off her luxurious gala dress and replaced it with a thin nightgown, which already showed her plump belly under the fabric.
She looked away from the mirror and changed her mind: she did not want to look at her image, did not want to face herself after last night, after what she had caused.
Pulling on the robe at the foot of the bed, she covered herself to avoid trouble – Olivia should have left by now, but caution had become Ginny's motto in recent years. She jumped out of bed, staggering.
Quickness was the key in that moment, she needed to be fast and go out in search of information about what had happened to Draco and Blaise. She would use the Floo Network to communicate with Malfoy Manor and may Merlin help her to get news.
Only one word hammered in her head.
Scandal.
Ginny had never been afraid of it, given the fact she was Molly Weasley's daughter and had spent her childhood and adolescence with Ron, but in that moment where discretion was the most precious possession she had, that kind of attention was deadly and unwanted.
And she did not want to admit to herself, but there was still the awful small voice in her head chattering incessantly about how unscrupulous she had been. And the memory came back to her as in a flash.
Closing her eyes, she watched again Draco drawing his wand, more livid than usual, while Blaise grinned with the boldness of the drunks, both positioning to dueling in front of the Minister.
Blaise's words were repeated over and over in her memory - I took your wife from you, Draco Malfoy - and all eyes suddenly turned to Ginny, very flushed, with her dress slightly out of place, panting and highlighting her generous cleavage with the movement.
It would not do any good to tell those people that Blaise and her had not really done anything, that Draco's arrival had interrupted anything they might have done.
Ginny had already been judged and condemned by everyone there.
Merlin, what was I thinking?!
Ginny had not even noticed when Olivia approached, as a commotion formed around the two men and a few more people exited the Great Hall, curious about the unusual noise.
Thankfully there aren't many, and that was all she could think at the height of her shame.
She noticed the mocking and scandalized stares from the people around her, following the two dueling men to Ginny, in a rhythmic and coordinated movement that made her want to gouge out the eyes of everyone there. Nonetheless, she remained still and demonstrated all the dignity she could muster, chin held high and challenge in her eyes – even though, internally, she just wanted to bolt through the door.
"Dear, you need to get out of here." Olivia had pulled her firmly by the arm, trying to get her out of the uproar.
Ginny made an unconscious move to free herself from the Minister's wife, not moving as far away as Olivia had wished.
Although Ginny wanted to be anywhere in the world but here, she knew she could not let her husband and her best friend hex each other without interfering. Passivity had never been in her nature.
"But-" She stammered, in an attempt at an argument.
Olivia energetically interrupted the feeble protest, switching from her kind approach to one that would not be contested.
"No but, Ginevra! You're going to get out of here, and quickly! You mustn't be here when the others Death Eaters show up, drawing their attention to you. It would only give scope for more gossip!"
"Leaving now it's not going to erase the situation, nor the fact that everybody is going to talk about me." Ginny insisted without taking her eyes off Draco and Blaise, still circling and analyzing each other before the duel started. "I'll stay and stop this foolishness."
Blaise was grinning aggressively and Draco raised an eyebrow, smirking as if daring Zabini to cast the first spell.
"It certainly won't erase it." Olivia agreed hastily. "But if you act smart and hide now, another scandal will soon be the amusement of these people and they'll leave you alone. Be at peace, isn't that what you want, Ginevra?"
Ginny recognized the truth in those words, but still could not run away without looking back.
"Think about your son!" And against those last words from Olivia, Ginny could not argue or be reluctant.
James was what really mattered. Always had been.
She turned her back to the people there, hastily leaving the hall and the castle, casting one last worried glance over her shoulder at the small huddle that had formed, unable to see Draco or Blaise, already hidden by the people around them.
May Merlin help us all, she wished fervently while following Olivia's lead.
"Today I got permission to Apparate inside Hogwarts so I could bring Pius here. Usually, I'm the one who takes him from place to place at these social events, because of his... peculiar conditions." They walked quickly away from the castle entrance and Olivia continued to talk, also to distract Ginny's mind. "Do you understand me?"
"Yes." Ginny responded promptly, trying to think of something other than the night's events.
"Brilliant! I'm going to Apparate to Hogsmeade and from there you take us to your home. Are you able to Apparate?" Olivia asked as they hurriedly walked and Ginny nodded absently.
With no hesitation, Olivia grabbed Ginny's hand and, in the blink of an eye, they were at Hogsmeade. Once there, they barely had time to look around because it had been Ginny's turn of Apparate to her house, taking Olivia with her.
Then the Minister's wife had stayed there until she had been sure that Ginny would be okay, promising the young woman she would send news as soon she got them.
Putting the memories aside, Ginny started to get dressed rapidly, felling there was no more time to waste. But while rummaging through her drawer in search of clean socks, she heard a commotion downstairs.
What is it now?, She thought in exasperation. Why would someone come to my house at dawn?
Ginny left barefoot towards the noise coming from her living room downstairs. Practically jumping down the steps, she leaned dumbfounded over the banister before reaching the bottom of the stairs because what she saw left her speechless for a few seconds.
Draco was leaning on his elf, Edril – who despite just hitting his master's waist, gave a kind of support to the man – creating a scene that would make Ginny laugh for days if she had not been so downright nervous.
Draco lifted his head to look at her, brushing his very blond hair out of his sweaty face. His expression revealed nothing but his eyes were the color of the sky before a heavy storm, in a clear sign of internal turmoil.
"I've killed Blaise." He said without preamble when he saw her figure by the stairs.
Ginny gasped and had to hold on to the banister more tightly to keep from falling when an overwhelming dizziness hit her. Her body shook wildly because she wanted to cry for Blaise and also cry for ... Draco.
What have I done?
And all thoughts devastating her mind gave way to a single idea, rumbling in her head and, until that moment, she had not realised it was her biggest concern.
Draco is alive, Draco is alive, Draco is alive.
But Blaise isn't.
Her heart sped up even more, wanting to jump through her mouth.
After that thought settled, all she felt was pain and regret.
Blaise... Blaise has died because of me! My dearest friend!
Ginny closed her eyes briefly, putting that feeling in a hidden corner of her mind from where she would only take it out when she was alone, with that situation fixed.
Then, when she had everything under control again, she would mourn Blaise without thinking of anything else. Would not give him less than that.
Trying to concentrate, she quickly descended the remaining steps and walked over to Draco, seeing the expensive shirt he had worn under his black tuxedo was soaked with blood just above his abdomen and the knot in his tie was loose, as if it had been hastily and carelessly undone.
She had known Draco Malfoy for almost fifteen years by then and it was the first time that he had his clothes in total disarray; she noticed with apprehension that he was holding his right arm with his left hand, while the house-elf held his master's robe with his free hand.
"And how did you manage to get out of Hogwarts after… this?" Ginny asked avoiding thinking about Blaise and looking worriedly at the amount of blood soaking the shirt soft fabric. "And why did you take so long?" She completed when realised that Draco had taken a few hours to make the journey.
"One of my Aurors helped me to get out of there before the arrival of Death Eaters who could cause me problem. It ended up taking a while because I couldn't Apparate in this condition, even accompanied by him. So I dismissed him, summoned Edril and came in a carriage." He drawled a little more than usual, as if it were harder to organise his ideas in that moment. "Here is not the first option where they will start looking for me. Everyone thinks you live with me at Malfoy Manor and this house is empty."
"You're hurt…" Ginny uttered in a numbed voice, stating the obvious. "Is it serious?"
Draco tried a sarcastic reply to her inadequate question, but preferred silently deny with his head, becoming even quieter.
It was then that Ginny realized she needed to take the reins of the situation. She shooed the house-elf with an impatient gesture and supported Draco's body with her own, passing his arm over her shoulders, slowly guiding him to the stairs, heading to her room.
She had to fix everything.
Certainly Draco was quite confused, since he made no comment at her reaction, not even those remarks charged with his traditional mockery and sarcasm.
"Where are you taking me?" Draco asked after they climbed some steps with effort.
"To my bedroom." Ginny was almost panting from the effort of carrying him. "You're really heavy."
"I am definitely not!" Draco defended his good shape, wounded pride speaking louder than his injury. "I'm just fucking tired, that's all."
If Ginny had not been busy carrying that dead weight up the stairs, she would have called his bluff.
"Do you want me to levitate you?" She preferred to ask neutrally.
"And easily fulfill your dream of taking me helpless and surrendered to your bedroom?" He said smirking weakly and Ginny had to stop the urge to hex him. "No, Weasley, thank you very much. I shall have full control of all my movements."
They followed this way the rest of the path, Ginny in hurt silence as Draco walked with difficulty, taking deep breaths.
Upon reaching Ginny's room, he dropped heavily into an armchair, closing his eyes. His skin tone was eerie and Ginny was back to worrying. His wound had to be taken care of soon.
She took her wand from under her pillow and asked Della – who had gone up the stairs behind them with Edril – to bring water and her healing potions. Then, she grabbed the untouched bottle of firewhisky that was over the mantel and poured him a considerable shot.
"Here, drink this." She handed the glass to Draco and he obeyed willingly for the first time, invigorating a little in the sequence as two pinkish spots appeared on his cheeks.
Ginny took the glass from his hand and place it on the nightstand. Then, with a brusque movement, she tore the fabric of the shirt over his wound; Draco moaned quietly and Ginny did not know if it was caused by the shirt destruction or by the pain he had felt at her sudden movement.
"And there goes an awfully expensive and custom-made shirt..." Draco murmured while removing his tie with his left hand, unintentionally answering her unvoiced question.
"Shhh." Ginny ordered firmly while analyzing the damage Blaise's spell had done. "If you sit still, I promise I'll let you buy a dozen more of these shirts with the money you stole from my vault."
"It's not a matter of money." Draco replied and fidgeted when she touched the injured area a little more forceful. "It's about exclusivity."
Ginny poked it again, being rewarded with the same squirming reaction. "Stop moving or I'll cast an exclusive Freezing Charm on you!"
Draco snorted grudgingly but did as she ordered and Ginny was able to look at the wound more closely.
Even though it did not look so critical when she examined it, the lesion was a large cut, running from the right arm to halfway across his chest, seeming relatively deep.
Ginny wondered what spell Blaise had used to do this, but forced herself to divert her thoughts from Zabini as she began to mutter some basic healing spells, touching the smooth, very white chest with her fingertips.
Realizing she had to close the cut before using her potions, she lifted her face, meeting his pained gaze in warning. "It's going to hurt."
"Every moment with you is a delight." Draco deadpanned stoically, but nodded his acceptance. "By all means, proceed."
True to his nature, Malfoy remained impassive, even when she deduced that it must be hurting reasonably.
Suddenly, Draco turned his head to her and their eyes met momentarily, before she returned to murmur her spells and looked away, slightly embarrassed.
They remained silent for a few more minutes, until Malfoy broke their peace, saying more to himself than to her.
"I'm quite curious to see how they will comply with the Ministry's resolutions."
Ginny stopped abruptly. "What resolutions?"
"Regarding my arrest, of course." Draco attested simply and, noticing the slightly anxious expression on her face, he went on raising an eyebrow at her. "Do I need to remind you that duels between pureblood wizards are prohibited?"
"No, I've heard about this stupid law." Ginny conceded grudgingly.
"Thus, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is responsible for the arrests." Draco continued explaining. "It's a remarkable ironic twist of fate that I amits Head."
Draco could not help his cynical smile, even though the expression had ended in a grimace of pain when he moved to make himself more comfortable in the chair.
"And I cannot arrest myself, can I? I cannot even arrest Zabini, the bloody fool, given my partiality in the matter."
"Even more because you can't arrest a dead man." Ginny stated with hurt, feeling her eyes sting and a chill down her spine at the thought of Blaise.
How many more of my friends will be killed?
She was still too stunned to analyze the situation properly, to know how they would react to this crime committed because of her. She felt the tears once more wanting the freedom to run freely down her face, but sniffled to avoid them.
She would deal with that after she healed Draco.
"Blaise?" Draco smirked at her like a boy who had done some mischief. "He doesn't have a scratch."
For the second time, Ginny stopped suddenly with her wand held high, this time searching Draco's eyes purposefully.
"But you just said-"
"I'm well aware of my words, Ginevra." Draco shrugged, wincing at the movement. "I was wondering if you would faint because of him."
A glint of naughtiness flickered in his grey eyes and Ginny closed her own, counting to 10 and controlling the mad urge to skin Draco alive. And at the same time, an overwhelming wave of relief washed over her, making her legs weaker.
Right now, someone needs to be the adult in this bloody situation, right? Ginny thought, summoning all the calm available she did not even think she possessed.
"Draco Malfoy," She said through clenched teeth and an angry flush covering her cheeks. "I swear if you could defend yourself, I would hex your arse right now."
Draco, for his part, just smiled arrogantly and stared at her in silent challenge.
Controlling herself not to choke him, Ginny snorted loudly and raised her arm to continue the spells. It was then that Draco's eyes landed on the faint bruises on her wrist.
The smile died on his face right away.
"Did I cause this?" He asked in a low, smooth voice.
"Why do you care?" Ginny rebuked with indifference, still feeling angry at his childish attitude about Blaise.
"I still have manners, Weasley." Draco stated with conviction, as if he somehow wanted her to believe in his words. "My mother made sure of it."
"And…?" Ginny encouraged without looking at him directly.
"And, even though your behaviour was by no means adequate – offering yourself to a Dementor no less," Draco said, emphasizing the words in a petulant tone and this time Ginny did glare at him. "I had no intention of ending our conversation like that."
"Didn't you though?" Ginny heard the slight accusing tone in her question and was unrepentant. "Are you sure?" She raised her wrist at his eye level, showing the bruises.
Draco lifted a shaky, slender hand as if to touch the bruised spot and Ginny froze. He seemed to change his mind halfway through, dropping his arm to his side.
He sighed, also to control the pain and discomfort, while looking a little exasperated.
"I didn't plan... doing this." He practically choked to find a word that would define what he had done, but could not find an appropriate one.
There has not been one.
After visibly swallowing hard and his cheeks turning slightly pinker, he went on bravely.
"I wasn't lying when I said all that to you, but I shouldn't have hurt you. I didn't want to hurt you. I still don't." He drawled the words as he always did in that peculiar and unique way of speaking, but this time the words were devoid of any poison. "My behaviour isn't befitting that of a civilized man and there's no excuse for it. My sincere apologies."
Ginny was sure she had flushed viciously and this time not from anger. She never imagined that she would live to see Draco Malfoy apologizing for anything, even if not with the traditional approach normal people used to show regret.
She changed the subject quickly, not knowing how to handle it at the time.
"Have you lost the duel to Blaise then?" She asked, going back to doing the spell, almost finishing it.
"Obviously." Malfoy replied looking discontent, but at the same time relieved by the change of subject. "Someone had to stop that foolishness. Zabini was drunk and trying to provoke me, so I let him hit me with the Cutting Spell he cast and end of the story. We ran away from there as fast as we could, separated to make the search more difficult." He shrugged again with a new frown. "I would not have destroyed a friendship of more than twenty years for a woman, not even for you."
Ginny froze at the last sentence, uttered as Draco closed his eyes and his face paled even further in a fit of weakness at the same moment she finished her work.
Not even for me…, she thought feeling her stomach sink. Does he consider me in any way different from others?
Without stopping to think about what she was doing, she placed her hand on his forehead in a rare gesture of tender contact between them, feeling her body reacting in a funny way. Touching him without animosity was so weird.
And at the same time so… right.
Ginny smiled when he did not repudiate the gentle touch.
"You're hot." Ginny affirmed, guessing that the cut was probably making Draco feverish.
"So I have been told." He gave her a little infuriating smile.
Ginny rolled her eyes at him, but did not take her hand off his forehead.
"In just one night you saved my life, left me on the verge of a fit of rage and dueled because of me. I think we can't say that our marriage is boring, right?"
"No, I believe we cannot." Draco opened his light and clear eyes to look at her, sighing tiredly. "It was so much better when you hated me."
"It wasn't better. It was easier." Ginny's gaze involuntarily turned to his mouth, pallid and inviting. "And, to be honest, I've never hated you, Draco."
"Ginevra-" Now Draco hold her wrist kindly, running his thumb gently over the bruised spot, as if he could get it out of there with just his touch, and Ginny did not know whether he would push her away or pull her to close the gap between them.
"Yes?" Ginny's mind was elsewhere when she replied absently, more precisely in the sensations his thumb was causing her.
I didn't realize he had so nice lips…
"I believe it's past time for us to talk."
Maybe if I come closer I can taste it again and-
"Talk?" Ginny blinked.
I don't want to talk, you blood fool! The stupid hormones boosted by your child – the one you put in me! - just make me want to throw you in bed and have my way with you and-
"Yes, about our… situation. About us." Draco explained warily – shyly?-, never letting go of her. "In one thing, Blaise was right. I'm bloody tired of so much miscommunication."
"So am I." Ginny agreed and smile bashfully, a little bit ashamed by her wicked thoughts. "I do need to talk to you."
"We can-"
Draco never finished saying what they could do together. Suddenly his attention had turned to something else and the moment between them passed.
He released her wrist and raised his own as if to tell her not to say nothing more, and Ginny took her hand away from his forehead after a moment's hesitation.
"It seems I've been found." Draco said quietly after a moment, relaxing in the chair as though resigned. "It took less than I'd imagined... I'm really making my department more efficient."
Ginny had to control her tongue to keep from saying that he overestimated himself too much, and preferred to listen to any movement downstairs.
There were footsteps coming up the stairs and she straightened up, ready to attack anyone who dared enter her room, taking a protective stance in front of Draco.
The door opened slowly, revealing two very concerned house-elves and a Auror behind them, looking quite troubled. Ginny guessed it was due to the fact that it was not every day that someone was assigned to arrest their own boss.
"Excuse me masters, Edril and Della tried to stop him, but the big man insisted." Draco's elf said, already looking for something to punish himself with.
Draco leaned his head back against the armchair, looking exhausted.
"You may go back to the Manor, elf." He said impassively and Edril did not wait for another order, disappearing a 'pop'. Then, he pointed a long finger at Della. "And you too, nosy-elf. Shoo."
Without hesitation, Della left as well and added one more item on the list of Things That Astounded Ginny Weasley.
The idiot was now even bossing around an elf that wasn't his!?
Then Malfoy turned his attention to the Auror.
"Good morning, Finley." He had an almost amused glint in his grey eyes. "Have you come to arrest me?"
Prison! Reality hit Ginny like a bolt of lightning. She did not imagine that Draco was being serious and he would actually be arrested since he had not killed Blaise.
She was still, unsure whether to hex the Auror or collapse on her bed, inert.
The Auror confirmed with a desolate shake of his head.
"Yes, sir." Finley said in an apologetic tone.
Ginny looked from Finley to Draco and then to Finley again, making her decision to attack the Auror and get Malfoy out of there safely. She closed her fingers tightly around the wand taking advantage of the fact that Finley was distracted by Draco and certainly thinking that she had the wand in her hand because she was healing Malfoy and not because she wanted to stun him.
However, Draco seemed to read her reaction and with a quick and tender gesture he took her free hand, interlacing his cold fingers with hers, as if he was seeking her support to get up.
Ginny knew it was a message for her not to do anything stupid - like attacking an Auror-, but still, the unusual gesture amazed her.
She gaped at their clasped hands.
"What happened to Zabini?" Draco asked his subordinate, getting up with effort and leaning his weight on Ginny, who helped him to his feet after recovering a bit from her shock.
When he stood up, Draco released her hand after a moment, but not before squeezing her fingers gently, as if to say 'don't be a fool' or 'everything will be fine'.
Ginny did not know which option baffled her the most.
"He's already in Glastonbury, sir. He was found in his own Manor an hour ago." Finley answered efficiently. "Mr. Goyle is taking care of everything."
Draco rolled his eyes looking more bored than was acceptable in his situation as he tossed his robe over himself to cover his bare torso. "Goyle... I expected someone more adequate to handle my case."
Upon hearing about Goyle and realizing that Draco was actually going to prison, Ginny's head spun. She was terrified of the idea that anyone in her family could be incarcerated, even though she herself had gone there once.
Another spun made her realize that she, in an impertinent and irrational moment, had considered Draco as part of her family. She should be glad he was getting a taste of his own medicine and going to the same prison he had once sent her to. Right?
Right?!
She only noticed her words when they were already coming out of her mouth.
"Mr. Finley!" She rushed towards the Auror, while Draco tried to follow him slowly. "Please don't take him there, please, not to Glastonbury."
She meant that he could be confined at Malfoy Manor until a decision was made and they did not need to take him to prison
She could not handle any more absences, even if it was his.
"Madam, I'm sorry, but it's the Ministry's order. You're not unaware that Mr. Malfoy committed a crime by dueling, are you?" He said politely and shyly, as Ginny did not hold back a tear that insisted on running down her face. "But don't worry, I'm sure he'll be taken care of and his wound will be treated."
Draco scoffed at the Auror's naivity, who did not notice his boss's reaction.
But Ginny did. And that made her even more apprehensive.
Draco knew what awaited him.
"No, not in that prison!" Ginny stamped her foot, losing her temper, while Draco, this time supported by the Auror, headed for the door.
"Stop fretting over it, Ginevra." Draco turned to her, raising an eyebrow at her and looking slightly annoyed. "Where would you want them to take me? To Azkaban, perhaps? Share cells with traitors and Muggle-lovers?"
And with those impatient words he gestured with his hand for the Auror to help him out of the room and down the stairs.
However, when he was by the door, he turned around, staring at her, trying to convey with his eyes thoughts he was not able to express with words.
"We shall talk, I promise."
Ginny nodded helplessly.
Draco would never understand what it meant to Ginny watching someone close to her being taken to a prison, even if it was a better prison than Azkaban.
Ginny had spent so many years fearing this, terrified that her family would be caught and taken from her once and for all… It was as if her nightmare were coming true and smothering her with its implications.
She sighed resigned, throwing herself in the armchair where Draco had sat seconds before, curling up in a fetal position and wishing only to sleep for hours.
Ginny barely remembered the subsequent hours, only that Della had given her more Sleeping Draught and she had cried and slept, not necessarily in that order.
She had refused food, company, conversation. In a moment of lucidity, she correctly surmised that the pregnancy had played a very important role in her uncharacteristic lethargy, but she shrugged and went back to sleep.
She vaguely remembered James walking into the room and looking at her with green eyes bright with concern; however, even James could not make her get up.
The knowledge that her son was at home with her and safe gave her comfort to remain there, like a heartbroken widow – without actually being a widow, but Ginny chose to ignore that small detail.
And that was how a hooded figure found her in her bedroom, opening the curtains and letting the sun in through the large windows of the room.
Anesthetized, Ginny slowly opened her eyes, feeling uncomfortable with the amount of light coming in.
How long had it been since Draco had been arrested? And who was the short, hooded figure walking through the room with unchallenged authority?
The person stopped in front of Ginny's bed, throwing the blankets off with an impatient wave of the wand. Ginny threatened a feeble protest, which died in her throat the instant the figure lowered the hood, revealing a face full of displeasure.
A round, flushed, scary face.
"Mom!" Ginny sat up as if her mattress had turned into a bed of thorns.
"Don't 'mom' me, young lady! I can't believe I had to come here to knock some sense into you!" Molly said, hands on her hips. "I thought I've taught you better than that, Ginny Weasley."
Ginny ignored the harshness of her mother's scolding and threw herself into the older witch's arms with a suddenness that caught Molly off guard, causing her to stagger back two steps to keep her balance.
"There, there, my love." Molly rocked her gently, changing her attitude at the same speed as she changed her mood, while Ginny reveled in that very particular perfume – mother's smell- that she had missed so much. "Mommy is here with you."
Ginny felt her body float, until she realized that something was wrong. She pulled back to sit rigidly on the bed.
"Mother, what are you doing here? Did something happen? It's very dangerous and..."
Molly silenced her with a gesture of her hand.
"I'm so tired of this danger thing keeping me away from my children." She sighed and seemed suddenly tired and older. "I had a good reason to come; your house-elf, despite having ties to another family, seems to care a great deal about you, which pleases me to no end. She used the Enchanted Coin to warn us and say that you hadn't eaten or gotten out of bed for two days and that you had… no conditions to keep going like that."
Molly looked directly to Ginny's tummy and smile openly for the first time. She placed her hand on her daughter's stomach, chocolate eyes gleaming.
"Now I understand these conditions. I'm so glad I've decided to come. I got three unvaluable gifts: saw you, James and got this news."
Ginny wiped a tear of joy that ran down her cheek. "Have you seen James?"
"I spent a lot of time with him before coming to your room. Even though I can't tell him who I am, he made me very happy in those few hours I was with him. He's lovely." Molly counted, getting teary-eyed again and clasping her hands over her chest. "And there's one more!"
"And there's one more." Ginny agreed, smiling back and hugging her mother.
It was so relieving to find someone who really liked the idea of her being pregnant, even with Draco Malfoy's child.
Molly seemed to read her thoughts and patted her daughter comfortingly on the back. "Is it Draco's?"
"Of course it is!" Ginny gasped and then narrowed her eyes at her mother. "Is this a problem?"
"Certainly not!" Molly looked at Ginny as if she had said something very unreasonable. "We're going to love him like we love James and Victorie, dear. Regardless of who the father is. Your brothers will just need some extra time to deal with the idea, but I'll make sure they'll understand, one way or another."
If possible, Ginny felt relief and apprehension at the same time. "Don't tell them, please. I don't think I'm ready to deal with all of this yet... And I do need to tell Draco first-"
"Ginny Weasley!" Molly's squawk was heard from miles, Ginny was sure.
"What?!" Ginny rebuked and flinched when the powerful glare of her mother was back.
"Watch your tone." Molly scolded and then looked at her daughter baffled. "How far gone are you? Four, five months?"
"Four." Ginny mumbled grudgingly.
"And you still haven't told Malfoy." Molly looked disappointed now and that was a thousand times worse than seeing her miffed. "Clearly, I'm not fond of him and his… history, but what you're doing isn't right. He has the right to know."
"I know," Ginny sighed sadly. "I do know. The time was never right. It's just… It's complicated between us, mom."
Her mother did not respond and was suddenly more serious, as if she were carrying the world on her back. "Ginny, listen carefully and be honest with me. Depending on your answer, I'm willing to drag you out of here, no more 'need to be away from family' stuff."
Ginny stifled another protest; she had not seen her mother in years, there was no point in start to arguing, so she simply waited in silence for what Molly had to say.
"When I heard you were going to marry Draco Malfoy, well, I wasn't happy. And certainly your brothers weren't happy either, but they came here and had the impression that this was a marriage of convenience, for what reasons, only Merlin knows."
Molly peered at her daughter with shrewd brown eyes and Ginny tensed; she did not want to remember how she had made Draco marry her, let alone allowing her parents to know about her ruse.
Molly went on, oblivious to her reaction.
"And we know that a marriage on these terms doesn't give a baby a chance to be made, so if Malfoy forced you in any way, I'm going to drag you out of here and-"
Ginny could not take it.
She started to cackled at the tension, at the embarrassment and at the surreal tone of the conversation she was having with her mother. For an instant, she thought her mother was seriously questioning her sanity, which made her laugh even more.
And suddenly it dawned on her that her family would never believe the fact that, indirectly and thanks to Blaise's cunning mind, it had been Ginny herself who had stipulated the condition that had gotten her pregnant and, however much her mind had screamed in disgust, her traitorous body had been quite lenient with Draco.
She felt a shiver run through her body and stopped laughing, wiping away a tear that ran from her eye.
"This is quite serious, Ginny!" Molly snapped, losing her patience and putting her hands on her hips again.
"I know, mom. I'm sorry, I'm just not used to this kind of conversation."
She stopped and saw Molly's expression still demanding an answer, which Ginny forced herself to give after a moment.
"No, Draco didn't force me to do anything. What happened between us, if not completely understandable, at least was consensual." And she was surprised by her own voice, as if it had taken on a more intimate tone. "It just... happened."
Molly blushed once more.
"For Merlin!" Her mother looked like she would pass out at any moment and it was as if Ginny had taken a shock. "You like him!"
"Of course not!" It was Ginny's turn to blush and become as red as her hair. First Ron with that idea, now her mother. They were all nuts. "I don't know where you got that idea from. Draco was just an asset to achieve my goal, which is to protect James." Ginny retorted, stumbling over the words.
Molly looked at her with sad eyes, as if she knew things that Ginny was far from understanding, and that deeply displeased the younger witch.
"And it's because of this asset that you've been lying in bed for two days, as if your life had lost its meaning?" Molly simply asked.
Ginny felt cornered; she had no arguments against it, though her mind had savagely rebelled against her mother's words.
No one seemed to understand...
She almost suffocated at the feeling of losing someone else close to her, it still hurt too much to think of Fred, Neville, Harry. And in the prison... Ginny just hated the idea of having to deal with incarceration, with the deprivation of liberty.
She had only gotten out of the bloody prison because she had had Anne's help.
Draco, on the other hand, would never stand a chance, no one would help him. It was totally irrational, but it was like he was never going to leave that place again.
"I think I freaked out, seeing Draco being taken away like that, as if he'd done something unforgivable." She just mumbled in response.
"He has done unforgivable things in the past and I don't doubt he keeps doing it now." Molly said crossing her plump arms over her chest and Ginny shot her an angry look. "Oh, I've never imagined I'd see you like that, so... drawn. Not to him."
"I'm not drawn!" Ginny sneered at the word and, under her mother's skeptical gaze, decided to change tactics. "Is that why you came? I think Della overreacted and you exposed yourself too much. Surely my brothers didn't want you to come."
"She didn't overreact at all! Look at your condition, Ginny! You look terrible! If I could stay longer, I'd throw you in the bath and get those bags under your eyes with a good potion, but I can't... Your brothers really didn't want me to come. As a matter of fact, they wanted to come in person, but I had a feeling it wouldn't be a good idea." She said and Ginny felt a huge affection for her mother.
"Thank you for choosing to come, mom." Ginny simply told the truth. "I think about you every day."
Molly smiled kindly and put her hand over Ginny's. "It was my duty and it's also a balm for my soul. You're my daughter and my responsibility. But, most of all, you're my love."
Ginny truly smiled, happy with that little piece of her heart, back within the reach of her arms.
"And Ginny…" Molly murmured, a shadow of apprehension passing over her eyes. "I'll never forget what Draco and his family did to us... Bill, the Chamber of Secrets..." Suddenly, she could not finish her statement and changed her approach. "But for you and for this baby, for what I saw here today, I'll try to move on. It's past time to do so, I think."
And Ginny could not say for sure why a wave of devastating relief washed over her like that. So, she simply nodded, no response was needed after all.
The matter seemed finished between the two of them, and Molly remembered something else.
"Now let's make it clear: if you don't get out of this bed and start behaving like a normal human being, I'm going to send you a Howler, no matter what the consequences!"
And then, with her mother's help, she threw aside the blankets that had been her refuge for the past few days, symbolically saying that the time for mourning was over.
With her confidence restored, Ginny realized she had been wrong all that time. Draco did have someone to help him.
She needed to regain the control of her life and get her husband out of the fucking prison.
N/A2: Ah, our lovebirds starting to work together and defend each other. Love is beautiful even in times of war.
Stay tuned and let me know your thoughts.
THANK YOU!