Ginger Chap 13
By Ice Queen (ice_queen_5@hotmail.com)
Category: Romance/humor
Keywords: Draco, Ginny, Weasley,
Rating: G
Spoilers: All four Books, but not really.
Summary: Draco keeps having these dreams, and they're throwing off his bad boy groove. But they aren't scary... Cept for him, that is. D/G
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: Oye minna, I'm soooo glad this thing is almost over. I know you might not be, but trust me, it's a good thing. Over 200 reviews... Man, I love you guys! Thank you^_^ May your life be as bright as you wish it to be! Live long and Prosper! And remember... ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE! Heh, the story has rotted mine brain...
Chapter 13: Insert Title Here
What is the difference between love and possession? What is the difference between using and loving? Perhaps the more enlightened understand these things from the beginning, but Draco Malfoy had to learn for himself, painfully and slowly. Thankfully Ginny was never made aware of his inner struggles through the next year.
Because he had to keep in his father's good graces to spy on Voldermort, Draco and Ginny had to pretend there was nothing between them anymore. They lived from letter to letter, never showing anything more than a long forgotten attraction to the observing public. Draco took to playing spy like a duck to water, his Slytherin cunning allowing his father to not suspect a thing. The only thing that almost ruined it was when his father noticed Vodka when Draco was home at Christmas.
"What... is that?" Lucius asked, one of his eyes developing a twitch. He had seen the smaller muggle-loving children wearing something like it, but this was much more developed.
"I... I stole it from one of the Gryffindors." Draco stated. Lucius nodded, anything that might piss off a Gryffindor was good enough for him. Besides, Draco had taken such an uncharacteristic interest in his work with Voldermort that he was certain his son would be joining his side.
It was hard, but everyone understood their roles, even enjoying them in the case of the eternally feuding Ron and Draco. Harry was less able to pretend that he still hated the blonde, but was easily shown to dislike his attitude, which was good enough.
By the end of Draco's seventh year, and Ginny's sixth, the war was over, Voldermort defeated soundly, even believed to be dead, and Lucius Malfoy sent to Azkaban. Narcissa was released from the imperious curse that had been placed on her, and sent to counseling at St. Mungos.
Draco took a job coaching a local Quidditch team, every once in a while helping the Ministry deal with some of the remaining Death Eaters. Ron and Hermione married a few months after graduation, Ron taking a job with his older brothers, Hermione becoming a reporter for the Daily Prophet, soon rising to the rank of Editor.
And Draco waited patiently for a small redhead. Well... as patiently as the arrogant blonde was known to be. He spent many a weekend down at Hogsmeade, growing strangely fond of the twins as long as they let him in on the pranks. His favorite thing was when Ron was working over the weekend.
Thanks to Draco's persisting arrogance they often broke out in all out brawls winding all three redheads and the blonde in trouble with Mrs. Weasley, who clucked over them even as she was cuffing their ears. And the males would sit there, grinning as Ginny, Hermione and Mrs. Weasly bemoaned their childish behavior.
Harry was there as well, having taken a job coaching the team that played Draco's on a regular basis. In fact, one might even say the competition was the only reason the two hadn't taken bigger jobs with more famous teams, that and they each had a reason to want to stay close. Draco had Ginny, Harry had the entire Weasley clan. It was strange, no doubt, for Harry to find himself working side by side with Malfoy on cases for the Ministry, but both handled it strangely well.
Harry stayed out of most of the weekend brawls though, claiming that he had enough of that when he was a kid. Personally Draco wondered if he had taken up collecting bets on who would win, and was secretly making millions on every black eye received. Of course, that was what he did on the rare occasions he had avoided being dragged in.
What Draco really loved was the ability to be blatant over the fact that Ginny Weasley belonged to him, he had the male students at Hogwarts terrified of even thinking about the little redhead as anything other than a friend. Of course, the twins, after getting used to the fact Draco was around for good, were more than willing to help. Many Hufflepuffs had begun running in horror at the sight of Ginny, and the Ravenclaw males tended to have their respective girlfriends on hand at any moment.
It wasn't enough though, not for Draco.
"I'm thinking about taking that job as Snape's assistant for the year." He stated, wrapping his arms around the little redhead's waist.
"So you can glower at any male within twenty meters of me? I think not." She growled, shoving her palm against his chest. "I swear! You're worse than the twins! Do you know that one of the Hufflepuffs faints every time he see me?" She slipped out her wand, making him release his grasp quickly.
"Now, now, Weasley! He was-"
"I don't care what he was doing! It's what my boyfriend was doing with my brother's not yet released hexing quills that I want to know about!"
"Now, Ginny! You don't really want to-"
"I do believe she does, mate."
"Aye, she has the bloodlust in her eyes! Haven't seen that since year before last!!" He looked up to see Fred and George smirking at him as though he were their personal entertainment.
"And you're just as responsible as he is!!!" She snarled, waving her wand wildly. The three males looked at each other, dawning horror mirrored in their faces.
"I shouldn't have taught her those hexes last month..." Draco panted as he and the twins raced out the door and down the street.
"Are you kidding? We had her at seventh level hexing her first year of school." George stated, only slightly less winded. "You just topped it with last month. She's now on par with the Ministry's best."
"Yeah... She's perfect, isn't she?"
"You know it."
"GET BACK HERE AND TAKE YOUR PUNISHMENT LIKE MEN!!"
"Bloody hell I'm glad she can't apparate yet." They grinned, and disappeared.
"This isn't the end of it!! You cowards!!" Ginny stomped her foot, a slight grin twitching at the side of her mouth. It was great to have family.
************
Her pale, yet beautiful face had begun to fill out, the pinched look slowly lifting, and the tremor in her hands had calmed. She was his mother once again, after so many years. It wasn't easy though, she still jerked at loud sounds and her thoughts tended to stray more than they should, but the emptiness was no longer in her eyes.
"Mother."
"Please, Draco... I've never liked the way you say that word..." He flinched, as though being slapped, uncertain of where he stood even now. Her hand dropped on his, tightening as she gave him a deliberate smile. "Could you... Call me mum, instead?"
Draco smiled slowly, wrapping his fingers around hers. Narcissa took a deep breath, intent on telling all. "My baby boy, you have no idea how many times I wished that I might see that smile. You've grown so much in these last few years..."
"I..."
"No, there's something that I've wanted to tell you from the first. All I ever wished for was your happiness, and it was killing me inside, knowing... knowing that as long as you tried to please your father you never would be happy. I just wish it had been me to change that, but I'm so proud of you for doing it for yourself."
"There's a... girl, a woman, actually. I was hoping you and she might-" He stopped, worrying over the fact he was about to introduce this delicate creature into a den of wild Weasleys, but needing her approval, none the less.
"I would love any girl that was brave enough to stand up to you, Dear. It takes strength to deal with a Malfoy." Her eyes were starting to sparkle, her feeling of self-worth leaping at the thought of her son caring what she thought.
"Fa-" He started out, Narcissa waved her hand, her eyes flashing with unaccustomed rage.
"No, don't even mention that man! You are not your father Draco, no matter how much you tried to be as a child. You will never be him, never. Not as long as I have breath in my body!" She vowed. "Now, take me to this brave child, I wish to get to know my future daughter in law."
Draco couldn't help himself, he started to grin as his mother patted her hair and motioned arrogantly for him to get the door. "Tut tut! We haven't all day, my boy! We have places to be! People to see!"
There was a... queen like grace to his mother, and for a second Draco could even envision her stating 'Off with his head!' without a second thought. She would no doubt deal well with the Weasleys, after becoming accustomed, of course. And when the twins came along...
"Dear boy, are you going senile on me already? I haven't the time for lollygaggers! I very well might leave you here!"
"Coming mother!"
"Draco!!"
"Er... Coming, Mum!!"
***********
Mrs Weasley and his mother were cautious at first, not sure after hearing of so many feuds if there might be hard feelings, but Molly was never one to hold a grudge for too long, as long as it wasn't that no good Lucius Malfoy. She figured that anyone who could raise a child that grew up to be as decent as Draco was now, wasn't that bad in her book.
Yes, Draco was a bit stuffy and condescending at times, but that was just his way of expressing himself. He was getting better, and her daughter was much too smart to fall for good looks alone. And my, did the boy have those!
Soon the two women were sitting cozily in the burrow's kitchen having a spot of tea and telling embarrassing stories of their respective children. George and Fred took advantage of the situation, listening intently to every word that came from Mrs. Malfoy's lips, even jotting down notes for future reference.
When Ginny got there, having gotten permission for a weekend visit, she was slightly stunned to find herself being hugged by a tall, imposing blonde. But it wasn't Draco.
"You must be the one who made my Draco smile!" The blonde stated, hugging so tightly that Ginny couldn't breathe for a moment. Narcissa pulled back, smiling down at her, a slight tear falling from one eye. "You have my eternal gratitude, my child. So has the date been set?"
"Uh... I... er..."
"Mum!! She still hasn't graduated from Hogwarts!" Draco stated, blushing furiously.
"Oh! I see, the prat just wants to toy with our little sister's emotions! Lead her down the flowered path, so to say!" Fred and George turned, hitting their fists into the opposite hand in a threatening manner.
"No! I mean- I Just-" He started backing up, his hands in front of him. "What I was trying to say-"
"Is that we were thinking some time next spring." Ginny jumped in, not wanting her future mother in law's first visit to be graced with a Weasley brawl. The entire room turned to her with mouths wide open, well, other than Narcissa, who looked distinctly smug.
Draco closed his mouth, grabbing Ginny by the arm and pulling her out of hearing distance. "Are you sure about this? I mean, you're still really young and-"
"I love you Draco, arrogant prat that you are, and you love me. I don't see why we should wait. Besides, I already have a job as a designer for the twins lined up, so I'm set as far as career goes. In fact, I'm famous already, thanks to the tattoos."
"But... I don't want to force you into something you're not sure-"
"What happened to the Draco I know? You're sounding almost like a... Hufflepuff!"
Draco glared down at her laughing face. "Fine! But you're the one who gets the blame for the twins." She blinked, completely lost. Whoops, shouldn't have mentioned that... Need a diversion... Oh... right! He leaned over, gently placing his lips on her and proceeded to snog her senseless. At least until the wolf whistles started up. The looked up to find themselves surrounded by laughing (And in Ron's case, slightly green) family members.
"Ginny? Will you marry me?" Draco asked, a little bit late, if you ask the author.
"Took you long enough, Malfoy." She stated with a shy smile.
"WHOOHOO!!" The twins yelled, and the day was made perfect.
************
"You've never said it, you know."
"Said what?"
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about!"
"Oh, right... I..." He choked, a long forgotten mirror jumping to his mind. "I... BWAHAHAHAA... I... WAHAHAHAAA!!! I... Do Love... BWAHAHAHAA!!! You, Ginger."
"What are you laughing about? I see nothing funny about-"
"Nothing, Love, just remembering my poor, neglected mirror." He stated with a snicker.
"DRACO!!" She shouted, pulling out her wand with a hidden smirk. "That's it! Your mirror has to die! I can't believe you told a mirror that before you told me!"
"Now, Weasley! I was merely... practicing! Yeah!!"
"Draco... if you love yourself so much I suggest you... run!"
**************
(Three years later)
"Do you think he'll faint?"
"Bet ten galleon's he tosses before he faints."
"You're on."
"Really guys! This is no joking matter! Besides, last time he merely started working on his will in the corner."
"Aye, but this time there's two of 'em."
"True... Who would have thought twins would be so popular this year?" Narcissa, with a two-year-old Erick in her lap, looked over at Ron and Hermione and the twins with a gentle smile. "But they are awfully sweet, aren't they?"
"Sweet, hah!"
"Don't mind him, the girls were up all night with a little temperature. They're starting to teethe, and Mr. Dad over here couldn't leave them alone." Hermione looked up with a gentle smile at her grouchy redheaded husband.
The bets on what Draco would do were cleared up a few moments later when the medic came out with a smile. "One of each!" BANG! Draco hit the floor in a faint.
"Pay up, Charlie."
"Aye, Bill, who woulda though the iceman would turn into such a whimp?"
"You're just peeved cuz you lost." Fred and George stated calmly, hugging their respective wives to themselves and wondering whom to prank next. They had already racked in the cash for what sex the children would be. (Draco had given them a hint, for a small percentage.)
(A few minutes later)
"We are not naming MY children Georgette and Fredrick Jr!"
"Well, then why don't you come up with names, Mr. Bigshot 'DRACO'!"
"I like my name, thank you very much! But... Why don't we name them... Anthony and Antonia?"
"Huh... I like it."
So did they... Draco thought, old memories teasing the back of his mind.
***********
"If I didn't know better, I would think you were waiting for them to talk." Came the voice from the door. Draco looked up from the two small cradles, a slight snicker on his lips.
"I wouldn't be that surprised, really."
Ginny walked up to him, wrapping a casual arm around his waist and looking down with the same wonder as his. She had allowed her hair to grow again, and it was brushing past her shoulders.
"You once told me of two redheaded children that changed your life."
"Did I?" He smirked, turning away from the cribs and leading her towards the door. "I must have been dreaming." As they walked though the door he had a thought. "Hey, Ginger? Do you think you could put two more dragons like Vodka together? I think they'd really get a kick out of having one when they get older. I bet Erick wouldn't mind one either."
"Why, Draco! So you did like my gift all those years ago!"
"Are you kidding me? That little guy kept me sane my sixth year. Obviously you weren't helping him with that."
"Oh, you deserved everything I put you through and more. You really were a prat."
"Oh, I feel loved."
"You should."
***********
Two pairs of silver eyes blinked up at the ceiling, then dropped down slowly, they had much to plan for the time they could walk, their big brother Erick needed some grounding in reality.
And next chapter we shall be right back at the beginning... And the end.
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