Astray in Endeavor





Summary: Ginny Weasley disappeared within a week of graduating from Hogwarts, and Draco Malfoy swore that he would find her if it killed him. Now, three years and an anonymous tip off later, it just might do that. And if he's not careful, her too. In order to protect the world and the woman he fell in love with from a new and perhaps even more dangerous threat, he must swallow his pride and team up with his childhood nemesis before someone else disappears.



Disclaimer: I own nothing. I'm a University student. I have no money.





Chapter 10



It was several hours later before Draco got Ginny to himself again. The Weasley's had been furious that she had run away instead of telling them about the baby, and letting them help. They had also been annoyed that she hadn't even written, not even when she knew she was going to be in trouble. But, at the end of it all, they were very glad she was back, and Mrs. Weasley was torn between admonishing her daughter about responsible behaviour, and taking Silvanna out to spoil her. All of their friends had been more understanding, and also glad of her return to their world, and everyone had taken a peek at the newest Weasley before leaving. They all thought she was adorable.

Draco had been discussing something with Harry for a moment, but then he'd gone back home, so he went back into the Hospital wing. She had lain back down on her bed, and closed her eyes. He watched her for a moment.

"What are you looking at?" She asked.

"Something beautiful."

"Oh really."

"Really."

She opened her eyes and looked at him.

"So am I."

He smiled, and went to sit down at her bedside again. Her eyes followed his every movement, and she continued to stare at him after he sat.

"Blaise is dead. Isn't she?" She asked. Draco looked at his hands, and nodded.

"Yes. She is. She was a liability to the Death Eaters, so they took her out. She was expecting it." He said. She closed her eyes, and sighed.

"Another name to add to the casualty list. How did she die?"

"It's been theorized that she was thrown off a bridge."

"Horrible way to die. But at least she's free now." Draco frowned a little.

"Did you know about her...ability?"

"Yes. Before you did actually. I knew during the war. I never knew why though, until now."

"How did you know?"

"Well, the same connection that exists between the Death Eaters, existed between them and Voldemort as well. Because his mind had become a part of mine, I subconsciously knew what he knew." Draco stared at her, realizing the complexity of what she was talking about.

"That means that you would have had the same ability that Blaise had, wouldn't you?"

"Not necessarily. Voldemort's mind was stronger than the Death Eaters. He could control what I knew. But Blaise was part of the throng of Death Eaters, who had no control over what information was passed."

"Voldemort must have known that he was doomed to fail, even before he started, then. So why do it?" Ginny smiled wanly, and reached out for his hand. He took hers in both of his.

"Because he was insane. And there was always the trump card. Take over my body, that takes me out of the picture. Kill Blaise, and that takes care of her. It means two less fighters, not to mention all the people we lost in the first battle. Four years wouldn't be enough time to amass a big enough of an army, you know. The Wizarding world would have been doomed."

"So, we've just averted doomsday." He said. She grinned widely.

"Yeah. You did. Be proud."

"But I'm not proud. All I wanted was to have you back. I even resorted to Dark Magic to get to you. I'm not proud of that. Blaise is dead because I wanted you back. My motives for saving the world a second time were completely selfish."

"So? You're a human being, Draco. We're all prone to being selfish. Some people just never admit it."

"Potter isn't."

"Harry is different. He was handed a whole life on a silver platter, and didn't know how to deal with it. In some odd way, saving us all was a way of thanking us for saving him."

"So, Potter will always be the exception to the rule."

"No, you're an exception too. I mean, look at who you used to be. And look at who you are now. You're not the same person that got on the train to Hogwarts as an eleven year old. And neither am I." Draco raised an eyebrow at her.

"You have got a point. I am not who I used to be. And I should think that the little person sleeping in Madame Pomfrey's office is proof that you aren't the same person you used to be." He said. She smiled at him again, but then her eyes got sad.

"I am so sorry I didn't tell you about her. I felt so guilty leaving without saying goodbye, and I used to talk to your picture I got so lonely." She started to cry a little, and Draco made her scoot over in the bed, so he could wrap his arms around.

"Ssh...It's alright. I already told you that I understood why you did what you did."

"But that doesn't make it right."

"Maybe not, but it's all past now. And someone wise told me that you can make it up in time. Trust me, Ginny. In a few years, we can look back at all this and say 'That was the exciting point of our lives.' And we'll wish that something out of the ordinary would happen. Not, that I'm suggesting that you run off the next time you're pregnant." He said, rubbing her back. He heard her giggle.

"Are you saying that there will be a next time?" She said. He looked down at her.

"Damn right. I missed Sylvie's infancy. I refuse to let her be the only child we have." He said, smiling. She grinned at him, then reached up to pull his head down to hers. As soon as their lips touched, for the first time in three years, it was like touching heaven. It only grew more passionate as it continued. When they finally broke off for air, both of them were breathing heavily. He sighed as he leaned he head back against the headboard of the bed.

"You have no idea how badly I've wanted to do that again." He said. She snuggled into his chest.

"Oh, I rather think I do." She said. They were interrupted in their reverie by a slight giggle coming from across the room. They looked to see Silvanna grinning at them.

"Hey sweetie!" Ginny cried. "Come give Mummy a hug!" Silvanna charged across the room and jumped up onto the bed, attaching herself to Ginny, and hugging the daylights out of her.

"Hi, Mummy."

"Hi, baby. Did you miss me?" Ginny asked. She nodded at her.

"Uh huh. But Daddy missed you more."

"I'm sure he did."

"Are we a family now?" Draco and Ginny smiled.

"Yes, sweetie. We're a family now."

"Goodie." Silvanna said, as she settled on both of their laps, and proceeded to tell them what had happened while she was at Uncle Ron's.



Draco was standing on the other side of the room when he came in. He and Silvanna had been waiting for Ginny to change and make her bed, before they headed to Malfoy Manor for a celebration party, that Harry and Hermione were throwing. Ginny of course didn't know this.

It had been three days since Draco had rescued her from the Death Eaters, and Madame Pomfrey had finally agreed that she was had a clean bill of health. She had just pulled the curtains back from around her section of the room, and was making the bed.

Ron came in, looked around sheepishly and then let his gaze settle on Ginny. Draco saw him smile. Ron took a deep breath, and walked over to Ginny. She hadn't seen him enter yet. Draco watched as Ron tapped her on the shoulder, and saw how she jumped a little at the sudden contact. Her face went from angered to unbelieving when she saw who it was. Though Draco couldn't hear what was being said, he understood the gist of it from their actions. Ron looked apologetic, and sad. He was probably disappointed that she hadn't said anything to him, because despite their fights over who she should be allowed to date, he was still the brother that she had been closest to. Ginny looked sad too, and then her face started tearing up and she held out her arms to him. He stepped into her embrace and they stood there, hugging like that for a few minutes. When they broke apart, he wiped her face and said something that made her laugh. She hugged him again, and then went into the bathroom. Ron stood a moment, then looked over at Draco. He held his head up higher, and then approached them.

"Malfoy." He said.

"Weasley." Draco answered evenly.

"You realize that this means we go back to what we were before."

"Really. Good, because being chummy with you was something I never wanted to be." Ron cracked a smile.

"I'll never understand why I was doing that anyway."

"I agreed with Potter once, that he and I would never be friends. It's true for you and I as well. We're never going to be friends, we aren't enemies, but there's just too much between us to be friends."

"Oddly enough, I agree with you. But, you did bring my sister back to us. That means that I have some level of respect for you. I know Harry respects you, but it's for different reasons. We're all our own men, Malfoy. And you've proved that you're better than we thought you were. So, if there's anything you ever need..." He took a deep breath, "You can count on me."

Draco raised an eyebrow when Ron held out his hand to him. Draco looked him in the eye for a moment, then took it with the hand that wasn't holding onto Silvanna's. They shook once, and Ron let go.

"Thanks for saving her again, Malfoy. See you at the party." Then he left the room. Draco stared after him, in awe over the transformation. Just a week ago, Ron had stoutly believed that there was nothing wrong with the world. But, now he seemed to have grown up. A hand on his arm brought him back to reality. Ginny was standing there, looking up at him through curious brown eyes.

"What was that about, Draco?" He smiled slightly at her.

"A truce. A truce to neutrality."

"I'll have to ask you what that means at some other time. Right now, I want to go home."

"But your home isn't mine." She stood on her toes to kiss his cheek.

"Sure it is. Home is where the heart is, and my heart's always been with you."

He grinned at her, and kissed her again. Then he scooped Silvanna up, and took one of Ginny's hands. Together they walked out of the Hospital Wing, out of Hogwarts, and metaphorically into the sunset.





In a perfect Movie setting, large pretty script letters would scrawl across the screen proclaiming...

THE END

But of course, there is still the Epilogue to come....