Hi everyone! So this is it!!! Chapter VI! Hope everybody will like it though its unusually long compared to the other chapters. Anyway, this chapter is for Fred, my beta-reader. Fred, I'm so, so sorry I wasn't able to send this to you. I'm having problems with my hotmail account and your e-mail addy is in their. But anyway, this chapter is for you, k?
And special thanks to my other beta-readers, Alli-chan, Hedwig aka Jilly and Violetjersey!!! Thanks a lot!!!
Serpent's Bride VI: Wines and Liquors
Vladimir Malfoy sighed comfortably as he settled himself in his favorite couch with his favorite book, sipping his favorite wine in front of the cheerful fire that night. Nothing could be better, he thought. After receiving Draco's letter two weeks before, Vladimir couldn't think of anything but the nearing engagement party and the wedding of his one and only grandson.
He put the book down momentarily and lifted his wineglass, taking a small sip of the potent liquid. He frowned a little as he felt the heat of the alcohol sipping down through his throat only to settle inside his stomach. He chuckled. Did Draco think he was stupid?
It was never a doubt that there is something really fishy going on about this nearing wedding. No matter how Draco says or proves that he has already abandoned his philandering ways, still Vladimir couldn't help but think that Draco's still not being entirely that 'honest'. He chuckled again and lifted his book.
"Thinks he can fool ol' Vlad." He muttered. "Bloody git! Didn't know that I was once as rotten as he is!" He added. He was about to take another sip of his wine when suddenly his ghost valet floated through the chamber's heavy doors. Vladimir looked up, his eyebrows raised in question.
"Yes, Fields?" He asked.
"Mr. Chandler here to see you, sir." His valet replied without emotion.
"Ah yes, Chandler." Vladimir said standing up. "I'm expecting him. Send him in, send him in!" He added.
"Very well, Master Malfoy." Fields said and with that, he floated again past the doors completely disappearing from his sight. Vladimir smoothed his hair and stood there waiting. After a moment, the doors of his chamber opened and Bartholomew Chandler stepped in.
"Bart, ol' chap!" Vladimir boomed walking towards the slightly small man and giving him a hearty slap on the back as his greeting. The man slightly staggered forward at the force of Vlad's big hand hitting him on his shoulders. "How are yeh?"
Bartholomew Chandler stood there, his over-bearing coat carelessly slung over his hunched shoulders. He let his beady black eyes rake suspiciously around the gloomy chamber before letting it rest on Vladimir's cheerful face, his lips set in a thin line. Vladimir frowned slightly since Chandler never did bother taking off his coat. His frown deepened when he noticed that Chandler wasn't even bothered by how hot and humid it was inside his chamber.
Vladimir couldn't help but notice the heavy fabric of the same shabby-looking coat on his trusted man. It was really a wonder why Chandler preferred coats rather than the cloak most wizards normally wore. The strange thing about this man was also the fact that he always refused the coats Vladimir gave him. But then judging from his fidgety disposition, eyeing everything around him with suspicion, it was really not a wonder why most of the wizards thought Bartholomew Chandler was either weird or creepy. It was a known fact that almost everybody even thought that Vladimir was out of his wits when he decided to hire this lunatic-looking man to work for him. Vladimir admitted that he took a gamble hiring a man of such character but after sixteen years of loyal and good service, Vladimir was sure he did the right thing.
"What have you got for me, Bart?" He asked jovially as he took out his pipe. He paused a while, placing the wooden pipe between his lips and lighting it with this wand. "I hope it's worth my while." He muffled against the pipe.
Chandler grinned - a very eerie grin - showing the wide black gaps of his teeth. "Indeed, Master Malfoy." He said in his usual oily voice. "I think that you would find this most interesting." He supplied as he lightly scratched his long hooked nose.
Vladimir frowned and blew a cloud of smoke from his lips. "Then say it, man." He said loudly.
"I have kept an eye out for the young Master Draco as you have ordered." He began, his beady eyes yet again scanning the chamber before setting on his master's face. "Apparently, the young Master Malfoy has been seeing this woman." He replied, pacing inside the room back and forth. "It was the same red-haired woman I saw the day before yesterday and the day-- well, I think that-- "
"Yes?" Vladimir interrupted earnestly. "Go on, go on!"
"Well, I-- I think that the young Master Malfoy and this red-haired woman are currently, in Muggle terms, going out." Chandler finished, not quite sure if he had used the right word. He crinkled his brows and stopped in his tracks only to scratch again his nose, a thing he seemed to be fond of doing.
Vladimir nodded his head thoughtfully. "Yes, yes…" He murmured absently as he stride towards his desk with the white smoke of his cigar trailing behind him. He then stopped and faced Chandler sharply. "Was it the same woman?"
Chandler nodded his head. "Yes, positive." He answered. "It was the same woman I saw a month before." Then his servant scratched his head. "Might I ask why Master Malfoy takes a great interest on young Master Draco's affair?" He inquired carefully.
Vladimir looked at him and said, "I just don't want to be fooled by that boy, Chandler." He growled. Chandler nodded once, accepting the vague answer. He then bowed slightly.
"Would there be anything else, Master?" He asked.
Vladimir shook his head as he lightly bit his pipe. "No, that will be all." He answered.
"Very well then." Chandler said. He began exiting the chamber, leaving a trail of mud on Vladimir's clean rug. Once alone, the part-vampire shook his head and muttered out audible curses. He swished his wand and instantly the muddy spots on his rug vanished. Surveying his now clean rug, Vladimir gave a satisfied grunt and settled himself back again on his couch. He was about to lift his book up again when an idea suddenly sprang up in his mind. He smiled wickedly.
"Fields!" He called out in his heavy booming voice. Instantly, his ghost valet appeared before him, its face wearing the same usual flat statement.
"You called, sir?" The ghost asked in its aged voice.
Vladimir nodded his head. "Have Henry Walters here." He said authoritatively.
Fields nodded. "At what time, may I ask, sir?" His valet asked politely.
Vladimir looked up and scratched his head lightly. "At about nine in the evening… " he answered, his voice trailing thoughtfully. After a moment's pause, he turned his eyes to the transparent form of his valet and nodded his head. "Yes, have him here by nine o'clock, evening."
His valet once again nodded his head. "Very well, Master Malfoy." It said, floating backwards, facing him. "Would there be anything else?"
"No." Vladimir answered, waving his right hand as a sign of dismissal. "That will be all."
At that, his ghost valet nodded its head and disappeared in the room, passing smoothly through the wall. Vladimir Malfoy then lifted his book up again and resumed his reading, thinking that his grandson would have the biggest surprise of his life.
==========
Ginny bit her lip nervously as she surveyed the grumpy faces of her brothers (except Bill) before her. Ron was sitting in between Charlie and Bill Weasley, his arms crossed, a flicker of a nasty smile tugging his lips. Charlie Weasley looked at his watch, whistled softly and decided to busy himself with the Daily Prophet, lying carelessly on the coffee table. Bill, on the other hand, looked at Ginny, met her eyes and smiled kindly and reassuringly. Of all her brothers, it seems that only Bill was the one happy about her coming wedding, which left her more guilty than ever. Dismissing such thoughts, she forced out a smile, took a deep calming breath and turned her eyes to her watch. 7:30 it read. Ginny let out a soft curse and stood up, making her way towards the window.
"Where the hell is he?" She thought furiously. She brushed the window curtain aside and stared outside, the black darkness welcoming her eyes. No Draco. She bit her lip as worry and anger filled her. What is taking Draco so long?
"I think the bastard won't show up." Ron said casually after a moment. He looked at his watch and sighed. "Face it Gin, the guy's one bloody git. He probably-- "
Ginny turned to him and frowned angrily. "He WILL show up!" She almost shouted. Ron's green eyes widened with surprise at her sudden outburst. Ginny, upon seeing the astonished look on her brother's face, turned away and looked out the window again. "He will show up." Then she looked at her father whom was busying himself with his newest Muggle purchase – a cell phone. Ginny frowned slightly as she watched her father tapping his wand against it, taking it apart. When Arthur Weasley felt Ginny watching him, he looked up and smiled.
"Don't worry, honey." Her father said. "I'm sure Draco will be here any minute now." He added, smiling reassuringly.
Ginny shook her head. "But that's not the point, Dad." She said. "I'm sure he will be here but he is late! He was never late!" She paused remembering the many times he would just drop by the faculty lounge almost everyday, always after class, always right on time. At that, Ginny looked out the window again.
Still no Draco.
Ginny sighed dejectedly and made her way back towards the couch, opposite Bill, grumbling audibly. Charlie looked up from his reading and raised his eyebrows.
"You worried about the Malfoy kid, Gin?" He asked.
Ginny turned to him and frowned, surprised at his sudden question. Then remembering the deal she made with Draco and the awful masquerade they're playing, Ginny slowly nodded her head. "Well, of course I'm worried." She replied. "He's my fiancé and he is still not here! Of course I'm worried!" She added in a shrill voice.
Charlie raised both of his hands as a sign of surrender. "All right, all right, I was just asking." He cried. Then he rolled his eyes upwards with exasperation. "Geez, Gin, you don't have to bite my head off like that."
Despite of the tension and nervousness, and the worry Draco's causing her, Ginny's eyes softened. Then without a word, she sighed and turned away from the astounded look her brothers gave her. She was half-tempted to apologize for snapping at Charlie like that but to her surprise no words of apology came out of her mouth. Then much to her surprise, she found herself really worried and anxious about Draco. Not just because tonight will be night he would formally ask for her hand in marriage, making their grand charade come to pass, but because of the fact that HE wasn't here yet. Because of the fact that being this so late wasn't like Draco at all! She shifted anxiously from her seat. What if something happened to him? What if something horrible happened to him on his way here? But then, he would always prefer apparating, right? But if he did apparate, why isn't he here yet? So then maybe he didn't apparate at all? Or maybe he had just decided to back out of the deal? Just what would she say to her family? And how about the children then? Ginny sighed. So many questions… Since when did she start worrying about him anyway? Then as if on cue, she remembered the almost crazy week she had spent with him.
After that rude interruption he had made just two weeks ago, Ginny found herself spending almost all of her time with Draco on a daily basis. Although, she was thankful enough that he had finally gotten rid of "bursting inside her class unannounced", she still couldn't say that she was happy or vexed during those days she was with him. It was neither sad nor delightful, really. For her, it was something else… awakening maybe…
Ginny couldn't deny the fact that she had known something about Draco Malfoy during those days she spent with him. Something her brother, Hermione, Harry or everybody else hadn't known. She had learned, much to her surprise, that Draco wasn't really the ultimate stuck-up, bastard everybody at Hogwarts hated (except for the Slytherins, of course). She had found out that he was a nice man, in a weird sort of way. For once, Draco acted like a rotten prat because of his father. Just knowing what happened during the war, with him turning his back on his father and the Dark Lord, was enough to convince her that Draco was just someone who had not been given a choice. Lucius Malfoy expected his son to be just like him, to follow in his footsteps and in order to please his father and for him to get through school, Draco became the most unbearable kid in Hogwarts. But she noticed that after graduation, just as he could now support himself, he suddenly went astray, not bowing to his father's wishes anymore. Somehow, she surmised that the rotten attitude that Lucius taught and showed to his son had been instilled so deeply within… it was never forgotten. The fact that he was also surrounded by Dark Magic during the last seventeen years of his life didn't help either for him to turn in a new leaf completely. Although Draco now tends to be approachable, oftentimes tolerable, there were just times that he couldn't help being terrible and appalling.
Another thing that she had discovered about Draco was that he was actually well… sensitive. She frowned at the word. Sensitive? Draco Malfoy? But then… she shook her head. Although she hated to admit, Draco was really sensitive when it came to other's needs especially when it came to their feelings. Although Draco tended to be a stupid idiot by DELIBERATELY annoying, vexing or worse, hurting other people, she still was sure that he was well AWARE of what damage he did and how cruel he was. But then again, he was Draco Malfoy, right? And Draco Malfoy was known for being that way. Ginny shook her head again. No, he is just plain stupid and hard-headed. She thought. She could even say that he was sensitive when it came to her wants… Her face suddenly darkened as she remembered the heated kiss they shared the first time they went out.
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
Just remembering that kiss brought again dozens of unanswered questions inside her head. She couldn't deny the fact that if Draco had gone on and on, 'something' might have had happened between them. It was like, she keeps on forgetting herself everytime he kisses her or touches her like that. It was so addictive. She never felt that with Harry or Seamus (when they were still going out)… she had kissed other guys… but with Draco… it felt so-- Ginny unconsciously brought her fingers to her lips-- It felt so forbidden… so deliciously wicked. But then why did he suddenly pull away? There was no doubt that Draco liked kissing her, right? Just hearing him groan with pleasure or feeling how his hands had purposely wrapped around her and pulled her closer to him was enough to convince her that he also wanted it… but then… why did he suddenly pulled away? And after that, although they tend to share kisses now and then (most were 'unintentional'), it was as if he was keeping a certain distance. Those kisses were just… mere kisses. So much unlike that searing kiss that kept her wide awake each night. Surprisingly the thought hurt her. Did Draco find her unattractive? Or was he seeing someone other than her? What's more… could she be already fancying him?
"No!" She heard her mind screaming. "It has something to do with your blasted feminine ego, Virginia Weasley! That's it! Just your blasted feminine ego! Of course you know you're not the only woman he had kissed, right? So that's just about your ego… your ego being hurt and not you, you nitwit!" It reiterated.
"Hey Gin!" Ron called softly, tapping her lightly on the shoulder.
Ginny jolted back to reality, blinked her eyes and was surprised to find her brothers looking at her strangely. She frowned. "What is it? Why?"
Ron frowned at her with confusion. "What's up with you, Gin?" He asked. "You've been giving us that face again."
Ginny frowned back. "What face? What do you mean?" She asked wonderingly. Bill pursed his lips as if trying hard not to laugh. Ginny's frown deepened. "What is it?" She demanded.
Charlie gave a long, low whistle. "Ooh, the spoiled, bratty Ginny strikes back." He teased. "You keep on making strange faces as if you're being possessed or something. One moment you frown then the next you growl then you shake your head then you smile--"
"I-- I was thinking of something." She stuttered. She wasn't aware that she was that obvious. Then she pouted. "I'm not spoiled and I'm not a brat!" She exclaimed.
"Yes you are." All three of her brothers said at the same time.
"No I'm not!"
"Yes, you are too." Bill said, brushing his long hair away from his face. "No matter how you grow up or how you mature, Gin, you'd always stay the same spoiled member of this family." Then his eyes misted. "Even if you're already getting married…" His voice trailed with his eyes having this far away look on them. Then he grinned. "But you really looked funny a while ago." He chuckled.
"What did I do? They were just faces okay! So let's just drop it!" She said crossly. When the three of them exchanged mysterious smiles, Ginny's pout deepened. "This is not fair! You're at it again!"
"What do you mean?" Charlie asked innocently. Ron nodded his head and chuckled. This is one of their favorite past times – teasing Ginny mercilessly.
"You're conniving and teasing me again just like you used to when I was little!" She cried.
"Ooh, Ginny's getting annoyed already." Ron kidded. "Amazing! Usually, it takes Fred and George to team up with us and do something funny before you get annoyed and vexed."
"You call that funny?" Ginny demanded shaking her head. "It was far from funny! Fred and George! What they do aren't funny! They're crazy! Insane and--"
"And funny." Ron supplied matter-of-factly.
With that, Ginny couldn't help but smile. "And yes, funny." She said softly. She looked around and smiled with satisfaction. Even if she felt worried and anxious about Draco, it really felt quite good to be sitting here and being teased by her brothers just like old times. It nearly surprised her to think that she had actually missed them. Now, if only Percy would spare some of his time to come here then everything would be perfect.
With that, Charlie cleared his throat. "And speaking of Fred and George." He said looking around. "Where are they?"
Bill took the Daily Prophet from him. "Up in their room, as usual." He replied as he leafed through the pages of the wizarding newspaper. "With little Sylvia no doubt concocting something to 'welcome' this Malfoy guy with." He added winking at Ginny's direction.
"Now, Bill that's not nice."
Bill looked up only to see the plump form of their mother emerging from the kitchen, her wand swishing in the air. Before her were two big floating, enchanted trays filled with sweet cakes, biscuits, teacups and saucers. She looked sternly at Bill. "Now, don't go teasing Ginny again, all right?"
"Mom's all up for this, mind you." Ron whispered at Bill. He deliberately raised his voice to be heard. "I think she likes that thought of Malfoy's family merging with us." He added with obvious disgust.
Bill just shrugged. "Well I couldn't care less if Ginny wants to marry the devil himself." He declared. "As long as he makes her happy." Then he cracked his knuckles together. "But he better not make our Ginny cry or else-- "
"Ditto!" Charlie exclaimed. He then looked at Ron, who was throwing dagger looks at him. He frowned. "What?" He asked. "Oh Ron, don't be so old-fashioned! Ginny loves him so would you just keep quiet?"
At that, Ginny felt terribly sick… sick with guilt.
"Marrying the devil's far better than marrying a Malfoy." Ron said darkly.
"Now, Ronald Weasley you stop that nonsense immediately." Molly scolded as she sat beside her husband who wasn't paying much attention. With that, Molly angrily tapped Arthur on his shoulder with her wand. "Would you please put that thing away, Arthur?" She asked crossly, her eyes landing on the dismantled cell phone littering the whole coffee table. "What on earth are you doing?" She demanded.
Arthur looked up. "Oh Molly, you should see this!" He replied excitedly. "This is entirely different from the telephone I took apart before!" He stared at the broken parts of the cell phone before him with wonder. "Really! Those Muggles--"
"Take them away so that I can put the trays down." Molly ordered. Arthur looked up and realized the trays hovering in the air, just above the coffee table. With that, he smiled.
"Of course, Molly dear." He said quickly. With the simple flick of his wand, the broken pieces disappeared.
"Thank you." She said as she let the tea tray down slowly. After the task, she turned to Ginny and smiled kindly. "So dear, where's Draco?" She asked.
Ginny turned a bit red. "He's still not here." She soberly replied. Molly frowned slightly.
"Don't worry Gin." Bill began looking at her. "He'll be here any moment now."
Ron just smirked and hoped to God that whatever Fred and George were doing would really give that Malfoy the 'welcome' he so deserved. He was about to stand up and check on his twin brothers when Ginny suddenly sat up straight.
"He-- he's here!" She cried, springing up from her seat. She felt it! She felt him! She ran towards the door and opened it only to see the tall frame of Draco standing before her, smiling, his eyes looking straight at her. Instantly, Ginny felt weak all over as she stared back, her eyes absorbing his handsome form. He was wearing his family robes and it looked so-- so good on him. She couldn't help but admit that he looked good in black.
Draco's face lit up as an amused smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He let his eyes rake appreciatively over her simple knee-length dress before looking back at her face. She was giving him that look again. He was well aware that her family's watching them and so without a moment's care, Draco pulled the unsuspecting woman in his arms and gave her a sound kiss on the lips.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Virginia." He drawled after the quick, greeting kiss.
Blinking hard, Ginny snapped back into reality. "It's- it's all right." She stuttered. Then she stepped aside, pulling him inside the house. "Come in and meet my family." She said.
Draco smiled and stepped inside only to see five pairs of eyes staring up at him. Instantly, tension filled the living room as the Weasleys stared at the man whose father had caused them, especially Arthur Weasley, a great deal of trouble. Draco, upon feeling the affected atmosphere about him, smiled charmingly and spoke, "My deepest apology for being late." He began.
Arthur Weasley immediately stood up. "No, it was nothing." He said with authority. He held his hand with hesitation and Draco shook it firmly.
"Please have a sit." Molly said stiffly. Draco waited till Ginny let herself drop to the empty couch opposite her brothers. Draco, in turn, sat beside her, the smile not leaving his face as he noticed the pair of eyes all looking at him warily. Molly then busied herself setting and pouring the tea things before them and began distributing.
Ginny, feeling the rising strain in the air, cleared her throat loudly. "I believe you know my brothers?" She began looking at her fiancé.
Draco nodded. "Of course." He answered cordially although he didn't miss the murderous look Ron gave him. With that he looked at Charlie who was eyeing him quite unsurely. "I heard that the Ministry's giving you quite a hard time about the senseless hunting of dragons? Antipodean Opaleyes if I'm not mistaken?" He asked.
Charlie nodded reluctantly. "Yes." He said. "Those stupid wizard traders don't have anything better to do."
"I think it's because of the dragon's scales." Draco replied. He then paused just to accept the teacup Molly offered him. He turned to Ginny's mother and smiled. "Thank you." He said warmly. Molly gave him a small, rigid smile.
"So what about their scales?" Bill asked with unexpected interest.
Draco momentarily took a sip of his rose tea before replying. "Well, an Antipodean Opaleyes dragon's scale is very beautiful." He said. "They are iridescent, pearly scales so it was no wonder why wizard traders took great interest in them. It was just a pity though, those dragons are harmless creatures--"
"Precisely!" Charlie said in agreement. "And the fact that those are non-aggressive dragons… they don't even kill people! They only kill sheep or kangaroos to eat… they are practically harmless and--"
"Charlie." Ginny interrupted. "THEY are dragons."
"HARMLESS dragons." Charlie quipped. Then he turned to Draco. "I never knew you have an interest in dragons, Mr. Malfoy?" His eyebrows raised in question.
"Well, I've read about them." He replied. "They are interesting creatures, really. It was a pity though that most people deemed them highly lethal."
Ginny, at that moment, knew Draco had already won Charlie over. It was a known fact that all the Weasley children thought Charlie's insane to ever venture into something that dangerous. As a result, whenever Charlie gets home for the holidays, he never had anybody to discuss dragons with – his most favorite subject. Charlie kept on insisting that dragons are fascinating creatures. To them, dragons are dangerous and terrifying monsters.
Ron's face darkened when he saw the look of agreement on Charlie's face and the flicker of interest Bill, his father and his mother gave him. He looked at Ginny who was also looking at him with rapt attention and wonder.
"So, Draco." Arthur Weasley began putting his teacup gently on the coffee table. "If you don't mind my asking, what took you so long? Did something happen?" He asked with calmness. Ginny couldn't help that his father was trying his best to sound light about everything. She could just fill the rising strain written on his father's face. Well, she couldn't really blame him or her whole family, really. Lucius Malfoy had been unbearable to her parents while Draco Malfoy had been despicable to her brothers. She could just imagine what her father's feeling right now, talking to your mortal enemy's son-- soon to be your future son-in-law…
Draco turned to Ginny's father and shook his head. "Oh it was nothing trifle." He answered with politeness that surprised Ginny. "I just didn't expect that my meeting with the goblins in Gringotts would take that long."
"What were you doing in Gringotts anyway?" Ginny asked curiously. She looked at her family and bit her lip. "Dear?" She quickly added.
Draco shook his head. "Did you already forget, Virginia?" He said delicately as if nothing was amiss. "I have arranged all our property. You know, conjugal rights and such."
Ginny frowned at him with confusion. Draco looked at her long and meaningfully. She started to feel hot in the face, fully aware that her family's looking at them, waiting for her to say something. After a moment she spoke, "Oh, yes." She said nodding her head for effect. Draco frowned slightly and turned his attentions back to her family. Ginny never felt so stupid.
"Pompous goblins we got there." Draco began, shaking his head. "Really, if you ask me, those goblins…" He shook his head with pity and disgust. Bill nodded.
"Damn right you are!" He said. "Couldn't do my work properly when I was back in Egypt. Those goblins kept on pestering me… I tell you when it really comes to money, reason and common sense leaves their heads." He added.
Molly looked at Draco. "So they gave you a hard time?" She asked.
"Putting Virginia's name on my property was an easy task, really. I have informed them a week ago and I expected that I would just have to sign everything there." He began. Then he shook his head. "But no! Those stupid goblins really did make things complicated by checking and double checking the family property and such, which is why it took me so long to get here." He continued in his most soothing voice. "If you ask me, those goblin lot are not trusting when it comes to us wizards."
"I couldn't agree with you more." Molly said, unwillingly nodding her head, remembering the many times those goblins gave her a hard time when her children were all going to Hogwarts.
Draco then cleared his throat and looked at Ron. "How are things going in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, may I ask?"
Ron's eyes narrowed. "Fine." He answered curtly. Then he smiled sarcastically. "It's really a bore, you know. After You-Know-Who's demise…" He added deliberately. With that, Ginny frowned with disapproval while her whole family turned to Draco, all waiting for him to say something. Ginny turned to him as well, her whole body slightly trembling with nervousness. She wringed her hands together, which surprisingly felt sweaty.
"Well, it was a pity, yes." Draco started saying smoothly as if he wasn't affected by any of it since his family was known to have the most Death Eaters. "But you never know, being an Auror these days," He paused and turned to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. "Having an Auror in the family is really-- "
Just then Draco stopped when a loud explosion shook the house. Arthur Weasley immediately stood up while Molly quickly went about her tea things, which were rattling with the force of the explosion. Ginny looked at Draco who was frowning with confusion then to her twin brothers' room, her face turning red. Just what would Draco think of her family? She found herself asking unwillingly. It wasn't that she's embarrassed or ashamed of her family but really… this wasn't the time for this. She cleared her thoughts only to hear Bill and Charlie laughing while Ron letting out an audible curse, no doubt feeling furious of the sudden interruption (he was this close to trapping Draco).
A moment later, loud laughter rang inside the living room as Fred and George emerged from their bedroom, looking like a bunch of mad Muggles on the loose with feathers sticking out of their shirts. Just behind them was a little giggly girl of two, all smudgy and covered with dirt, scattering feathers with her every step. Instantly, Molly sprang up from her seat, completely forgetting about their visitor.
"Fred and George Weasley!" She said angrily, hands on her hips. "Just what-"
"Aunt Wheezy!" Sylvia squealed running towards her, her little arms outstretched. "Aunt Wheezy, Aunt Wheezy!" She cried again and again as she threw herself at Ginny. Giving a little gasp of surprise, Ginny caught the laughing girl in her arms and smiled while Fred and George went about their endless explanations about the sudden blast in their room.
"Sylvia!" Ron called. Her daughter turned to him momentarily and smiled. "You come here this instant!" Ron ordered, looking at the sorry state of her daughter. He then shook his head. "Your mother's going to clobber me if she sees you like this when she gets back from the Ministry." He groaned.
But Sylvia ignored him, turning her eyes back to Ginny, then to the stranger sitting beside here. Pouting, she tugged Ginny's hair and spoke. "Who's he?" She said in a tiny voice. Draco looked at her and let out a tiny, reluctant smile. If there was one thing Draco's afraid of other than commitments, it would be children.
"He's Draco, sweetie." Ginny hushed.
"Why is he here?" Sylvia asked, her green eyes wide.
"Well, he is going to be little Sylvia's new uncle." Ginny cooed as she proceeded to wipe the dirt off her niece's cheek with her hankie.
"Why?"
"Because we're going to get married."
"Why?"
Draco stared at Ginny and he couldn't help but marvel at how she sounded tender and caring… He didn't quite expect her to be like this since she has this weird tendency to always bite his head off everytime they see each other. He pursed his lips and listened with amusement at the exchange of talk between Ginny and Sylvia, completely becoming deaf to the voices around him.
"What do you think you're doing?" Molly asked in a loud voice. "Having a thing like that in my house!"
"W- well what it is-- " Fred began unsurely as Arthur Weasley disappeared with Ron to check the damage of the blast.
"We were trying to see the effect of this uh-- Jobberknoll Feathers with the Cheating spell-- " Goerge stammered, showing Mrs. Weasley a heap of blue and white feathers before her face.
But Mrs. Weasley would have none of it. "Can't you see that we have a visitor right now? And Sylvia! Look how filthy that girl is. You didn't even think about what might have happened to her! And from the sound of that blast--!" She mused tiredly as Fred and George proceeded to take their wands and zap themselves clean. "Oh, just when will you two start growing up? It's no wonder you two can't get married yourselves! For goodness sake, seven long years… seven long years…" Molly began yet again her speech as she started tidying up the living room while Bill busied himself with the cakes and Charlie with the Daily Prophet. Suddenly, Fred nudged George, his eyes landing on the new face just sitting beside Ginny. Ignoring their mother, the twins then made their way towards Draco, eyeing him strangely.
"Oh its you." Fred started looking at his face with unhidden disapproval.
Draco tore his eyes away from Ginny and nodded his head. "Fred and George Weasley, I presume?" He acknowledged, standing up and offering his hand. The two redheads stared at it for a while. Then remembering Ginny, they finally shook it reluctantly, looking at him warily.
Taking back his hand, Draco sat again while Fred plopped himself on Ron's seat, George taking his father's, both of them crossing their arms across their chests. Draco cleared his throat. "You will excuse me surely but I couldn't help but hear something about Cheating spells?" He asked mildly.
"Yeah." George answered callously. He popped a cookie in his mouth and grinned churlishly.
"We were trying to find out the formula of that Cheating Quills Zonko's used to make. You know, quills with cheating spells on them? Great for exams and stuffs." George supplied taking one cookie as well. "But of course, ours would be much better. It would be 100 percent effective, having less chances of being caught and everything and-"
"Don't be stupid." Bill said suddenly as Mrs. Weasley disappeared to the kitchen. "You very well know that it is against the Ministry of Magic to make quills like that. Don't you remember that every quill and parchment made by Zonko's were all burned?"
Fred shook his head. "Now Bill, you are starting to sound like Percy." He quipped.
"Well, you could get into trouble for that." Bill answered back.
"It's not like we're going to sell it." George snapped. "We just want to know how it was made."
"Ah Zonko's Marvelous Quills-- " Draco exclaimed. Ginny turned to him wonderingly as Sylvia began playing with her hair. Just what's up his sleeve this time?
"You know about Zonko's Marvelous Quills?" Fred and George asked at the same time. When Draco nodded, Fred and George shook their heads with disbelief.
"Come on! How could you know about that?" George asked. "Those quills were made before we're born!"
"Yeah!" Fred added.
Draco crinkled his eyebrows thoughtfully. "Well, as I remember… " He started. He then blinked his eyes. "They're the ones having these unusual feathers right? And they come in three shades: blue, white and taupe, am I correct?" He asked.
"Yes, we've heard." George replied, nodding his head.
"Mom and Dad didn't tell us about it." Fred added thoughtfully.
"If I remember correctly, I may have three of those quills left back at the Manor." Draco said lightly, placing his elegant fingers to his temple as though he was thinking. With that, Fred and George looked at him surprised.
"Really?" They both said with enthusiasm. Fred then cleared his throat, remembering that this was Draco Malfoy, the bloody bastard who always cheated on Quidditch. "I-- I mean, so what about it?" He hastily asked, looking at the confused statement of George.
"It has become a collector's item." Draco answered nonchalantly. "I remember my grandfather showing me his' one time."
Fred and George nodded, as they listened to it with rapt attention. "So, did you use it?" Fred asked.
Draco shook his head. "Unfortunately, no." He replied. "I was forbidden to use it. My grandfather hid it so well that even I, using a bunch of spells and enchantments, wasn't able to find it." He added, pausing. "But now that I have graduated-- Would you like to see it for yourself?" He asked smoothly, raising one eyebrow.
"That-- that would be too much, really." Fred forced out.
"Y-yes, surely." George added reluctantly.
Draco just smiled and nodded his head. "Whatever you say, gents." He said. "But you would always be welcome to examine it, should you ever desire to."
Fred and George nodded while murmuring their agreements. Ginny was about to take Sylvia up to her room when Mrs. Weasley suddenly appeared from the kitchen while Mr. Weasley and Ron emerged from the twin's old bedroom, looking tired.
"So, Draco." Molly began. "When did you and Ginny start going out?" She asked curiously attempting to start a quiet, 'normal' and happy conversation.
Draco cleared his throat and smiled while Ginny spoke. "Just a-- a month, Mother." She answered.
"Everyone knows that Ginny and I went to Hogwarts together, am I right?" He added, looking lovingly at Ginny. Ginny looked back, smiled and resisted the effort to barf right then and there. He's really determined to make this work!
Ron snorted. "Who could forget that?" He said sarcastically, crossing his arms on his chest. Fred and George merely nodded their heads silently while Bill and Charlie awkwardly cleared their throats.
"We-- we started dating w-- when--" Ginny sputtered as she saw the awaiting statement of Molly before her. "That is-- we-- "
"I can't exactly remember when I saw her…" Draco interrupted, placing his hand on top of Ginny's for effect. "All I remember was how she looked back then…"
"Yes?" Mrs. Weasley prodded on encouragingly.
Draco's eyes somewhat softened. "She was wearing that simple robes of red… I could say she really caught my attention because she was sitting there, with the wind blowing against her, her hair playing against the breeze… and with a smile of her face. But she wasn't aware that she was being observed…"
Mrs. Weasley sighed while Ginny blushed. Although none of it was entirely true, Ginny couldn't help but give a little sigh of how romantic he had sounded.
"And at that moment, I was able to define beauty by just merely looking at her." Draco finished softly. "And since then, she never gave me some peace of mind."
"Blimey! This is getting sick." Fred kidded and laughed. George nudged him while desperately trying to suppress his laughter. Draco turned to them and smiled.
"Say all you want but I can tell you this… just wait till you find that special someone and for all you know you'll be much worse than me." He declared jovially. "I was once like that but then--" He paused and turned to Ginny. "I met Virginia." He added softly.
"Weird combination, if you ask me." Ron said impatiently. "Redheads and blondes don't mix."
"Ron, don't be unpleasant." His mother scolded.
"If you don't mind my asking, just where did you go to during the war?" Charlie suddenly asked.
"I went away with my mother. Actually Professor Dumbledore performed the Fidelius Charm and he had been our secret keeper. We just went to Romania and stayed temporarily with my mother's friends." Draco answered truthfully. "I'll be really honest here and I'm not ashamed to admit that I went away not fighting."
"So what else is new? Dumbledore is a trusting old-- old-- man." Ron murmured darkly. Draco decided to just smile and ignore him.
"I admit I've done some things I'm not proud of." He began looking at the faces before him. "But I tell you this, I have thought all about them and what I have done before… and there was never a day that I haven't felt so sorry for it--"
"Now, that's really something." Ron butted in.
"Ronald Weasley!" Molly spat warningly. Ron mercifully shut his mouth up and frowned.
"I disappeared during the war not because of cowardice." Draco began, his eyebrows crinkling together. "But because of fear. Fear of what Voldemort or my father would do to my mother should I REFUSE to fight, or to CHOOSE to go against them. And at that span of time, during my disappearance, I have realized that I have wronged everybody especially myself." He shook his head. "I am not ashamed to admit that I was scared… scared for the safety my mother… so now…" He paused and shook his head once more. "Now I'm trying my best to straighten whatever damages my father had caused, first to my mother then to all the people he had wronged. And as for Virginia…" He turned to her and smiled. "Unbeknownst to her, she had become my strength. She had become the sole reason why I desired to change. I want to be good enough for her. I want to deserve her."
Ginny blushed again while Molly nodded in earnest after his little speech. The men meanwhile took deep breaths and looked at Draco with reluctant approval (except Ron who remained scowling). Just then, Ginny stood up and chuckled.
"Wow! It's getting late." She began, letting Sylvia out of her grasp, probably off to do some damages again.
"So, what about your wedding plans?" Molly asked suddenly.
"Well, I was planning to take Virginia to meet mother and grandfather this week, possibly the day after tomorrow." He replied. "Then there would be an engagement party three days after that and we, I and Virginia, agreed to have the wedding a week after the engagement party."
"Y-yes." Ginny stuttered at her parents, sitting down once again. "Would that be all right?" She asked.
"Well, I couldn't help but admit that it's so soon." Molly replied thoughtfully while Arthur just decided to keep quiet. "Could you prepare everything at that short span of time?" She asked doubtfully.
Draco nodded. "Oh yes." He replied. "Everybody at my house are willing to help." He added. Ginny couldn't miss the tone of modesty in his voice as he used the word 'everybody' instead of 'servants', and 'house' instead of 'Manor.'
"Of course you and Charlie would bring your family?" Draco said turning to Bill and Charlie expectantly.
"Well, I'm sure Grace would love to go to your wedding." Charlie replied nodding his head.
"I'm not sure if Fleur would be there with my son, Robert." Bill said reluctantly. "They're at France right now, staying with my mother-in-law." Then he shook his head. "Really, I can't see what Fleur's thinking when she insisted that Robert attend Beauxbatons instead of Hogwarts." He added with slight disgust.
"Well, either way, all your families are invited to the engagement party and wedding, of course." Draco replied.
"Until now, I was wondering," Fred began looking at Bill thoughtfully. "How on earth did you convince that veela, Fleur Delacour, to marry you?"
"Fred, don't start right now." Bill replied sighing tiredly.
"Well, I think everything's settled now." Ginny said suddenly, taking the tea things. "I'll just put this in the kitchen and-- "
"I'll help you with that." Draco said taking the tray from her hands and before Ginny could say another word, Draco went ahead of her beckoning for her to follow him. Once inside the kitchen, Ginny faced him and smiled nastily.
"Bravo." She said cruelly. "I swear if you were Pinocchio, your nose would be 20 meters long by now." She added with sarcasm.
Draco just raised one eyebrow after putting the tray on top of the kitchen table. "You'd be surprised, Virginia." He just said. "There are just some things you don't know about me."
"Well, either way. I feel horrible." She mused, slumping herself tiredly on a chair. Draco looked at her and smiled knowingly.
"I told you you're not a very good liar." He said smoothly, inching towards her.
"Whereas you are?" Ginny commented, looking at his eyes. Draco held her gaze, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"I told you, there are just some things you don't know about me." He repeated finally stopping just inches away from her. He then placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her up till her face leveled against his chin. Ginny looked up, unable to say anything, her eyes not leaving his.
Then without a word, Draco took her hand, kissed it and held her palm up. Ginny felt her face get hot with the sudden action. She frowned when Draco placed a tiny, gold key on top of her palm. She looked at him with confusion.
"Consider this as an engagement ring." He drawled. At that, Ginny realized that he had just handed her the key to her very own Gringotts vault. "Spend it well."
"So much for being romantic." Ginny murmured, her eyes not leaving the key. "You really went to Gringotts, that's why you're late?" She asked.
"You thought I was lying?" He asked, his fingers going through her hair. "Were you worried about me?" He added, his voice silky.
Ginny took a deep breath and forced herself to think straight. She just knew what Draco's up to. "He's seducing you! Snap out of it!" Her brain screamed. She then, mustered up all her will power and turned away from him.
"If you think you can get me by doing things like that, you're wrong." She said firmly but calmly.
Draco chuckled. "Oh I wouldn't bet on that, Weasley." He drawled arrogantly. "You DON'T know what I'm capable of doing."
Ginny just smiled without humor. She turned around and was about to make her way out of the kitchen when suddenly, her father, entered. "Could I have a word with Draco alone, honey?" He asked.
Ginny turned to Draco questioningly. Draco nodded. "Of course." She said.
"Good." Arthur Weasley replied. "Let's go then." He said beckoning for Draco to follow him. Ginny frowned with confusion as she watched Draco follow her father out of the kitchen into the study room. Now, what was this all about? She thought, as Draco looked at her one last time before closing the door gently.
==========
"Now Mr. Malfoy." Arthur began as he purposely walked back and forth inside his study.
Draco looked around the tidy room full of muggle things, books and gadgets before frowning at the sudden formality. He had noticed the earthy ambiance of Arthur Weasley's study room with the fire, cheerfully glowing from the side, and with the big, brown sturdy desk on the center, no doubt made of narra wood. From his assumption, this room was built just after the Weasley family struck it rich. He turned his gray eyes to Arthur and nodded his head.
"Mr. Weasley?" He asked.
Arthur then cleared his throat importantly. "I'm not actually saying that I don't want you to marry my daughter, since she alone chose you." He began. Draco nodded and waited. "But I'm not also saying that you could marry her just like that."
"Then what do you suggest--" Draco asked his voice trailing off.
As his answer, Arthur Weasley took out a large key from his pocket and began unlocking one of the big drawers in one of the corners. Then to Draco's amazement, Ginny's father stepped back to reveal a set of muggle wines and liquors before him. Draco's eyes widened as he stared at the multi-colored bottles waiting to be opened and imbibed. Just then, Draco swallowed hard as realizations hit him. He couldn't be serious, could he?
"I'll tell you what." Arthur began, facing him. "Let's have a little drinking contest." He said, looking at the surprised face of the younger man in front of him. "This," He supplied, his hands gesturing towards the liquor bottles behind him. "is my liquor collection. As you can see, I haven't had the chance of opening any or drinking one since all my sons much preferred butterbeer and this uh-- whisky… what do you call this whiskey, by the way?" Mr. Weasley asked snapping his fingers.
"Ogden's Old Firewhisky." Draco answered for him.
"Yes, yes, Ogden's Old Firewhisky." Arthur said nodding his head. "Anyway, if you beat me in this little drinking game, then you can marry my baby girl." He continued.
"And if I don't?" Draco asked.
"Then-- " Arthur just shook his head as his answer. Draco stood there for a moment, surveying the bottles staring back at him. From the looks of it, all the liquor was muggle made since he couldn't recognize the names and labels. Good lord! Never in his whole damn life-- He had never drank or even tasted muggle liquor! Not only because they were made by muggles but also because muggle liquor had higher alcohol content than most wizard drinks he knew. He was used to wines, champagnes, butterbeer and the like, but muggle whiskies and vodka? Brandies?
"What do you say, Mr. Malfoy?" Arthur asked after a second's pause.
Draco thought about his chances. From the looks of it, if he wanted to marry Ginny, he had no other choice. If he decided not to accept this challenge, no matter how Ginny insisted on marrying him, which he doubted, her father's final say would still matter. Since he had that little speech about changing for the better in front of her family, Draco didn't have any choice but to accept Arthur Weasley's decision. This was a not a win-win situation and Draco wasn't used to feeling that. After this, he would surely make Ginny pay for all this trouble. "Just think about 262 million galleons." His brain coaxed.
Draco smiled. "Shall we begin?" He asked mildly.
Arthur smiled and with a simple flick of his wand, two glasses appeared on the table. Draco took a seat just across from him while Ginny's father proceeded to fill his glass with the potent stuff. Draco gulped as Arthur handed him his first glass.
"Cheers?" Ginny's father asked mildly.
"Cheers." He said, raising his glass a bit then bringing it to him, his lips lightly touching the brim. The moment the heavy liquor touched Draco's mouth, he found himself frowning with disgust. He took a tiny sip. His eyes suddenly widened upon feeling the painfully hot liquid seeping through his throat only to settle inside his stomach. AND IT WASN'T VERY NICE.
"262 million galleons… 262 million galleons…" He let his brain chant. Then shutting his eyes close, he took a deep breath and drank the remaining contents of his glass quickly. He pursed his lips to hide the choke, which was desperately trying to spurt out from his mouth. He put the glass back down and took a deep breath.
"Not bad." Arthur said as Draco poured him a glass. He smiled and held the glass up a bit.
"Cheers." He said and to Draco's surprise, Arthur Weasley drowned the contents with one quick gulp. "Ready for your second round?" He asked Draco after putting his glass back down.
"Y- yes." Draco answered as he held his glass for him to fill. Then without a moment's hesitation, he forced the liquid down, his face scrunching with subtle displeasure.
On and on it went. Glass after glass. When Draco noticed that he had already poured the last drop of the brandy in Arthur's glass, he heaved a grateful sigh. Thank god they've already finished one bottle. Expecting it to be the end of the drinking bout, he felt thankful that he could still think straight. Just then, Arthur stood up and made his way towards his cabinet.
"Looks like we've already finished the brandy." He commented surveying the empty bottle before him. He grinned and to Draco's horror, he placed another bottle on the table. "Now, this should do it!" He boomed loudly, making his glasses slip off from his nose.
"What the-- " Draco found his brain screaming as Ginny's father started filling his glass again. Then he sighed with defeat as Arthur handed him his glass. "This will be a long night." He thought taking it from him.
==========
"What is taking them so long?" Ginny asked her mother as she turned to her watch. "It's almost midnight." She added, looking aimlessly at her father's study.
Molly Weasley looked up from her needlework and frowned. "I don't know dear." She answered equally curious. Everybody has already retired except them.
"I will go in now." Ginny declared, standing up. Before Molly could stop her, a loud, raucous laughter rang from the study room. To Ginny's surprise, the door suddenly burst open only to reveal a merry-faced Weasley and a red-faced Malfoy. Arthur was laughing, assisting the staggering Draco to the door. His right arm over Drac, his left hand clutching a bottle of wine from his collection.
"What the-- "
"I'm-- fine-- Virginia… " Draco drawled as he made his way towards her. Arthur laughed again while Draco walked unsteadily towards her. Then to her astonishment, Draco slumped his body against hers for support. Ginny held him, struggling against his weight over hers.
At that, Molly stood up and angrily faced her husband. "Drunk! What were you thinking?" She demanded crossly while Arthur just smiled sleepily. "I should have known… Ginny dear, let Draco sit over the couch--- "
"No, Mrs. Weasley… I'm fine…" He slurred.
Ginny resisted the urge to laugh upon seeing Draco in such a state. It was very un-Draco like. She just can't believe that he's struggling to act all cool and calm and suave even though he's already reeking of alcohol! Ooh… she wished she had a camera right now. She then, assisted her sloshed fiancé to a couch and sat beside him. Draco sighed gratefully upon feeling her softness against his body. Then without warning, he closed his eyes and let his head rest on Ginny's shoulders, finally losing the fight.
"My new son-in-law!" Arthur boomed merrily and laughed at the sight of Draco snoozing beside her daughter.
"Just what did you give him?" Molly asked angrily. "Why did it to be like this, Arthur? Explain this!" She demanded.
Ginny turned to Draco who was softly breathing against her ear. He smelled strongly of alcohol that she looked at his father wonderingly. "What is the purpose of this, father?" She asked.
"He deserves you, my daughter." Arthur said finally after the torrent of laughter.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"It was just a test." He simply replied. "I knew, by just looking at him, this young man couldn't really take Muggle liquor. Muggle liquor has higher alcohol content, mind you." He added, now hiccuping.
"So?"
"He knows he can't take or stand Muggle liquor but he did it." He supplied. "He could just shake his head and refuse, I would allow him to marry you anyway, but he did! He did it for you, Ginny."
"That is utterly rubbish!" Molly said angrily, helping her husband up.
"Say what you want, Molly dear but you don't know anything about us men, now!" Arthur answered back as they staggered towards up to their room. Molly then turned to Ginny who was looking unsurely at Draco.
"He can't possibly go home now, dear." Molly began. "Better settle him inside Percy's room just for tonight. There is a washcloth in one of his drawers and a basin in the kitchen." With that, they opened the door and stepped inside their room and disappeared from her sight.
All alone, Ginny stared at the sleeping form of Draco beside her. Somehow, she liked Draco sleeping than Draco awake and annoying. He was breathing softly, his eyes closed… he looked so gentle, so harmless like a baby and without a word, Ginny took her handkerchief and began wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead.
"He did it for you, Ginny."
Ginny rolled her eyes and softly brought her fingers to his hair. "I wish." She muttered shaking her head. But then, she couldn't help but think… did he really do it for her? Was her father telling the truth, about Draco not standing Muggle alcohol? Or was he just drunk? It was just all about the deal, right? But then-- it wouldn't hurt pretending that someone would do something like that for her… She gave a start as Draco shifted comfortably beside her, murmured something inaudible and started drifting off to sleep again.
And with that thought, Ginny lightly stroke Draco's hair while letting him lie his head down on her lap. "There's still tomorrow to be nasty and spiteful anyway." She thought as she wiped his face gently with her hankie. "Until then, just rest." She added, as she watched his sleeping face.
Author's notes: The part about the Antipodeon Opaleyes dragon is from Newt Scamander's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them! Thought you oughta know! ;p
End of Part VI