Ginny was seriously considering allowing Luna to cast one of those karma spells she was constantly going on about; there had to have been something absolutely horrible she had done in her life (this one or the past, if Luna was to be believed) that she was making up for now. What else could explain how after the past year Ginny Weasley had ended up laying on top of none-other than Draco Malfoy in the entrance of the Gringotts with the press just behind the, thankfully closed, door? And why was she thinking about Luna's far-fetched ideas instead of getting up and off of the ferret? Oh, yeah, she was hoping this was a nightmare she would soon wake from instead of reality. No such luck.
Deciding that aggression would only prolong things, Ginny got up as gracefully as she could, held her hand out to help Malfoy and started to apologize: "Sorry about that Malfoy, I was in a rush to escape the vultures that I didn't look at who might be in front of me, I hope I didn't hurt you."
Fully expecting a scathing remark, Ginny was surprised to hear Malfoy soft snigger, lightly grab her upper arm and away from the door before responding: "apropos name if I ever heard one, word of experience: running from them will only make them more blood-thirsty. Simply act like they are not there and they will learn they will get nothing from you and move on to their next victim."
Seemed like today would be the day that constantly threw Ginny for a loop "sound advice, I might try it. But why are you being civil Malfoy?"
the corners of his lips raised a bit and he answered: "1) you didn't call me ferret even when I called you weaslette. Sorry about that, you caught me off guard and you know what they say about 'old habits'. 2) Name calling is juvenile, I know and use better insults when appropriate or called for and they do not apply at the moment. 3) I understand what it is like to be hunted and harassed by those 'vultures' you call them and cannot blame you for wanting to get away as fast as you can. I have done it myself. And finally 4) I think that hounding you is unfair and uncalled for. They should be looking for Potter, but they are too lazy and you are accessible. So I am not going to add to your problems by creating a scene. As a matter of fact, I will help you escape as it were. I have an errand to see to right now, but I am required back here in half an hour. If you want to stay and wait for my return, I will allow you to come with me as I use the VIP floo network and leave unnoticed. I can arrange a a quite place for you to wait and refreshments while you wait, and you will be safe from the crowd outside. We will be going to my office, but it will be away from here, and you can use the floo network there to go wherever you need."
Ginny was now seriously considering the probability of having hit her head when she fell. The medi-witch had told her the extent of her injury during her game, the delay in seeking treatment, and the extra emotional shock after sustaining her injury could have residual effects for a while and if she were to hit her head again within the next year (Which would end in 2 months) she could have exasperated symptoms, including hallucinations*. She must have been staring because Malfoy gently grabbed her by her elbow, walked her to a bench, and somehow not only had he maneuvered them to both being seated, but put a cup of warm, sweet tea in her hands that he was lifting to her lips in an effort to help her to drink. The sweetness of the tea was what ejected her from her thoughts. Spitting out the vile liquid she cried "Yuck! How much sugar is in this thing?"
"Eloquent as ever Weasley."
Looking over to the man beside her "Malfoy? You're real? I'm not hallucinating? I slammed into you and you were nice and offered to help me?"
This time he scoffed "I can see why that would throw you, but no you're not hallucinating. although I have changed since the last time we met, I am offering this small bit of aid for my own reasons." .
Ginny couldn't help herself, she snorted and simply said "indeed"
Getting up from his seat, and still smirking, Malfoy adjusted his muggle suit jacket under his robes, "yes, well. As I said I need a few minutes to run an errand, I will return in less than half an hour. You should stay seated, drink your tea, and I will return to escort you from here." With that he walked away without as much as a glance back. Ginny thought about leaving too, but after the day she had, the idea of being able to use a little-known and VIP exit to a location NO ONE would think to look for her proved too tempting. So deciding her bank business can wait for another day, when she was more calm and in a better mindset to deal with goblins, she simply reached into her robe pocket and took out the zippered pouch she always carried with her.
Inspired by Hermione's beaded handbag, Cathy and Mary (Dean's muggle sisters) had gifted Ginny with a hand-painted zipper pouch that had different sections inside it. It even had rings she could attach a chain onto to convert it from a simple wristlet into a trendy mini-purse for when Ginny was in the muggle world and didn't have the large pockets of her robes. Mary had made the pouch (hand painted leather outside and 3 fabric sections inside) and Cathy had made a drawing on a piece of leather used beads, glitter, and hand-painted a picture of a dragon sitting in a defensive position atop a castle with a flying Ginny soaring around on her broomstick in the background to the front. The dragon didn't look like any dragon Ginny knew of, Cathy had told her it was based off of a muggle television show and rife with artistic liberties, but Ginny love it, Taking a page from Hermione's book she had cast an Undetectable Extension charm and a feather-light charm on it and filled each section with various nick-knacks she liked to keep on her at all times. One section was dedicated to her writing, it contained a notebook of ideas for her charms book as well as several research books, her research notebook, and several colored pencils. She was thus able to get some reading and notetaking done while waiting for Malfoy to return.
True to his word, Malfoy returned 25 minutes later and without fuss walked up to a fully engrossed Ginny "seems like you found a way to pass the time. Gather your things Weasley, I have another meeting I cannot be late to."
Ginny started putting her things away, but couldn't help saying "you cannot have changed that much Malfoy, what are you playing at?"
"I am not playing at anything. I have simply learnt two things since we last saw one another. 1) I do not need to go around telling people I am a Malfoy and all that it encompasses, people will know and treat me accordingly. Also being, and acting, superior was what my father wanted me to be, if I want to separate myself from him I need to be different from what he taught me. So while I am not overly polite I try to be civil and in doing so I found life to be easier. I did not have to keep up with comments and remarks or histories about everyone I met. I did not need to keep track of who to be friendly with, who to be rude to, who to be hostile towards etc. I could simply be civil and well-mannered to everyone and that led to people doing more things for me. When I treat people decently and in strict opposition to how my father treated people, the shock and pleasantness of the interaction gets me far more than I expected. It's easier for me to do, it's more profitable and it distracts me from him. So why not? 2) The second thing is derived from the first. I am no longer a child under the thumb of my father. I am an adult and the head of the Malfoy family. I have business all over the world, and in that capacity I interact with people of various cultures and even muggles. No one takes a brat, or a snob, seriously. And that is what I was, it was by design of my parents, but true. The war humbled me, rebuilding the Malfoy Empire and fortune taught me a lot, and the one thing I took away was that I needed to treat people better because they really are not that different from me. So when I see someone, like you, who I know and can make amends to by a little act of kindness, why not?"
Finally having put her things away Ginny stood from her seat and started following Malfoy as he began to walk towards the back corner of the back. "Amends?"
"Yes, I know in school you and I had an antagonistic relationship. Looking back, that was mostly a reflection of my father vs Potter. I certainly did not pick on you for being you. Yes, you were a Weasley and while that was bad enough, you were also thus closely attached and loyal to Potter. As a Weasley I might have said something snide from time to time, Especially your brother who was in my year. But you being a girl and a year below me, I would have ignored you for the most part. In later years I even admired the grace with which you flew and skill when you cast the bat-bogy hex. Even if it was aimed at me." With that he let out a small laugh "But you were a Potter-sympathizer, so on principle I had to pick on you. The war is past, my father is gone, and you are no longer a Potter, though I suspect you will never be fully done with him, so I cannot think of a single reason not to be civil to one another. And I can do a simple favor, like this, to make amends for the troubles of the past."
By this point Malfoy was reaching to open a well concealed door, but his last statement had suddenly on high alert Ginny stopped where she stood. "Simple favor?"
Taking a moment to look at her, Malfoy continued to open the door, gesturing for her to enter what looked like a small receiving room. It was furnished with a couch facing two arm-chairs, and several low tables scattered around them. This arrangement was flanked on both sides by two of the largest fireplaces Ginny had ever seen. "Don't work yourself up Weasley, I do not plan on making this public or gaining from this little act of kindness. I am simply making a point to you, as well as myself, that we do not need to be antagonistic. Who knows maybe we can even be civil if we see each other outside in public. That is all. I admit I have a serious problem in Wizarding England and to some extent Europe due to the actions of my father, mine too to a smaller degree. But I claim youth and ignorance and am trying to change, and showing that I have changed is going to be my best strategy. But that is not something I will ask for your help on. I will change that on my own, I will build my family name up again, I am not asking for anything from you Weasley. Simply a chance to clear my own conscience of past actions against you and yours. Now do you trust me enough to allow me to take you away from the aptly named vultures, who were still lingering outside the back when I returned, or will you brave it on your own?"
Ginny's expression must have shown her doubt, all that talk about favors and public image was too suspicious, because Malfoy let out a huff and continued "Listen, the truth of it is, given the love the Wizarding World has with practically ANY Weasley that ISN'T you, befriending your family would do me a world of good. I was not lying when I said I have a family image to clean up. But for one I do not expect your family to do anything for me simply because I let you use an exclusive exit. And for another honestly being seen with you in particular, the 'Potter-breaker' a name I love by the way, would give me more undesirable attention than I would ever want. If things go the way I see it, and in 6 months you are no longer 'the woman who failed' boy-wonder, and you wanted to show the world that Malfoy is not synonymous with evil by –I don't know arranging a friendly hello at an event of some kind- yes. I would be interested. But right now you and I being seen together is nothing but trouble. So what will it be? I really do have a meeting and need to be in my office to prepare.``
Ginny knew that any other time being called the equivalent of a social pariah would send her off in a fit of indignation worthy of the old muggle gods, but now she found it oddly reassuring. Malfoy wanted to help her for no other reason than he knew what it felt like to be hunted and harassed by the press. Merlin knew he couldn't take a drink of water without it being reported, and speculated, on in the years immediately following the war. Reporters, society, and the ministry were just waiting for the slightest indication that Draco had the same inclinations, thoughts, and ideas as his father. The ministry especially, had many people within its walls who would have loved to declare their entire family as traitors, throw them to rot in prison, and confiscate their wealth and assets. So Draco, ever cognizant of the scrutiny, had started showing that he was different, changed, or as he had put it: grown. However his father had thought the power of his wealth and name and the renewed excuse of the Imperius Curse would protect him from his war crimes, it was how he was able to evade the law the last war, he would do it again. He had been wrong. The Wizengamot had decided to make an example out of him and prevent the creation of a "forgive all excuse" in one swoop.
If Lucius Malfoy had to pay for his crimes, so did everyone else. No excuses. Malfoy Sr. was brought to the ministry and made to account for every single thing he had done which could even slightly be related to the Dark Lord, since the first War. He tried to argue that it was his (and his wife's) betrayal of Lord Voldemort that had led to the end of the war, he even tried to provide information against other Death Eaters, but the ministry would not relent. Lucius was sentenced to Azkaban, but due to a mix of overcrowding of the prison, the lack of guards and the ensuing chaos due to the removal of the Dementors, and his father's deteriorating health (the trail had taken 7 months, during which time Malfoy Sr. was housed in Azkaban), and a hefty donation to the ministry, Draco was able to commute his father's sentence to house arrest on a small island the family owned in the Caribbean.
Lucius Malfoy was to spend the rest of his life in a "miniscule" 3 room house, without a single house elf, no visitors (no one, not even his family, wanted to visit him anyway), no luxuries, and meals delivered via an enchanted dumb-waiter attached to Malfoy Manor. It was just over a year into his exile that it was announced that L. Malfoy had died due to a long-known heart condition. However rumor was that he killed himself by ingesting the one many toxic plant species he was rumored to have grown on the island. While ingesting the plant leaves was known to be deadly, it's flower petals was used in a myriad of topical potions ranging from beauty to dragon-pox treatment; leading to its questionable legality
Narcissa Malfoy was granted clemency due to the fact that she HAD actually lied to Voldemort and saved Harry, plus there really was nothing they could directly tie her to that would warrant persecution. Like her husband, she had been housed in Azkaban for the duration of her trial, but her trial only lasted a week. She had left her hearing, gone to Malfoy Manor and no one had seen her for almost 2 years. When she did emerge, she confined her activities to only those of societal and charitable natures. She held garden, and tea parties. She served on the committees of several post-war charities and did fund raising for them. She rarely left the Malfoy grounds, but oddly enough she had been seen several times as a patron and avid attendee of muggle classical music. She was present for opening night of every ballet, classical performance in London; she had even traveled to Sydney, New York, Italy, and Paris for the sole purpose of seeing a favored performer or director's performance.
Coming to this realization and considering the very personal history Malfoy had with this specific issue Ginny took his hand and walked inside one of the massive fireplaces and waited for him to name the place he was taking her to whisk her away somewhere safe. She hoped waiting for someone to save her wasn't going to be a new theme in her life.
*not medically sound, but I'm thinking she fell a distance equivalent to several stories. Such a fall would have killed a muggle, but spells were in place to lessen the impact of the fall and emergent and first-aid healing that would have been done "on site" might not be enough for what she experience and her delay into going to St. Mungos has given me enough leeway to claim artistic license and so the effects of a concussion are prolonged and amplified here.