Bah, I'm sick of this, refer to the first bubbly thing. I disclaim, I own, I summarise and most of all I ramble. Do read on good friends!

Death, love and all that's in between.

# # #

RONALD ALFRED WEASLEY … DEAD

Draco read the newspaper heading and dropped his coffee. Virginia! In moments he was at her flat. He had tried to see her last night but she'd been out, probably out with Amber, but that wasn't the point … how could this happen to that bastard of a weasel? Sure he didn't like him … but he had meant something to Virginia hadn't he? He was family, his lady needed him! He rapped on the door and waited for a response, nothing.

Then he heard a figure moving slowly towards him. It was Virginia; she looked dead on her feet. Her hair was crumpled; she was holding boots in her one hand, her black jumper in her other and looked like she was about to fall on the floor from exhaustion.

"Draco" she managed to murmur as she graciously fainted in his arms. Draco sighed and kissed her cold head as he carried her inside. Like before he placed her on the couch and brought her a cup of hot water. He rubbed her temples and pulled out his wand. She was up a moment later, albeit a bit groggily, but she was up.

"Vir, I saw … Ron … his gone" He saw her nod slowly in response and then lay her head back trying to claim some sleep. "Vir stay awake for just a moment…"

"Oooshay" she replied sleepily

"Okay indeed, where were you?"

"I went out last night and then I came home early this morning and Harry with Hermione found me and they took me to see his body. His gone too."

"Yeah I know sweetheart, I'm sorry"

"Did you do it?"

"WHAT? NO!" he was honestly shocked

"Then you have nothing to be sorry for … look I'm really sorry love, but I'm going to fall asleep." And with that she nearly was. "I love you, don't go anywhere, please" he heard her beg drowsily as she finally gave into exhaustion.

Draco watched her sleeping form and went over to the windowsill where his owl sat unread. Draco raised and eyebrow and then left it there. She hadn't had a chance to read his proposal for them to go away for a weekend away in three weeks. Good he thought, she didn't need ideas like that after her brother's death. Draco went to the kitchen and made himself a cup of coffee and picked up her copy of the Daily Prophet and read peacefully waiting for his love to arise.

* * * * *

Mmm it's so nice and warm in here. Virginia woke up lazily to late-afternoon sun pouring onto her face. She yawned and her eyes shifted to the figure at her table: Draco. He was hunched over a book and Virginia's heart did a little patter at his face; a man who liked his reading, wonderful.


She crawled of the couch and wound her arms around his neck.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. My my Draco I never knew you were one for eighteenth century female muggle authors"

"What can I say? There's a lot you don't know about me, but you'll know soon enough"

"Likewise" she responded rather dryly

"Anyway; there's a great deal of truth in that statement don't you agree love?"

"Absolutely, as long as I'm that wife and you're that single man"

"Without a question Red, without a question. So how are you now? You looked buggered when I caught you. Would you like something to drink? Are you up to talking yet?" Virginia smiled at his concern and kissed his cheek.

"Yes doctor, I'm fine. Don't you ever work?"

"Offcourse I do, I just make time for more important things in life, and anyway I have enough capable staff to handle the company while I'm personally seeing to my most valuable asset" He grinned and sat her on his lap, kissing her thoroughly.

"Mmm, how about we continue this in bed?"

"You're doing it again" he murmured against her neck

"Doing what?"

"Changing the subject, in the most effective way. But really beautiful, I want to make sure you're okay before I ravish you"

"I think I like that idea much more" Virginia snuggled closer to him and let him continue his trail down her neck while asking questions.

"So how'd you find out?"

"I came home a few moments before Harry and Hermione came here, in the early morning, they took me to see his body and then … then I felt like coming here and getting some sleep and that's when I found my white knight waiting for me"

"White knight am I?"

"You're gorgeous enough to be one, and yes my white knight"

"A bit possessive aren't we darling?"

"Well fine, I'll just go tell me hordes of lovers that they can feel free to come in tonight because–" her talking was cut of by his mouth, his lips plundering hers and taking control of all her bodily senses.

"Mine" he muttered in between kisses. "All mine … always mine." Virginia grinned at the ownership in his voice and pushed further into his kiss.

"What about you huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Whom do you belong to?" she asked with a raised eyebrow and a grin. "You better answer this correctly" she mumbled before kissing down his neck. Suddenly he was gone and she was biting down on her tongue to stop from calling out. He was back a moment later holding a black pen.

"Here" He continued to pull his slacks dangerously low and scrawled with the pen on his left hipbone 'Property of Virginia' She grinned and kissed the spot he'd scribbled on. "Anyway Ms Virginia you don't need to bother to ask that, no one has ever fully captured my heart the way you have" Virginia grinned at that, just like the poet of the sixteenth century. She stood up to kiss him

"Are you sure you're not a runaway from the Chamberlains men of the sixteenth century?"

"Come on beautiful, tell me how you feel"

"I feel wonderful. I have Draco delish standing but an inch away…"

"You know what I mean Vir"

"What can I say? I've lost my brother closest to age in me. What else? I've lost my parents three weeks prior and in two weeks we are having a double funeral, and I don't think I could bear to be alone for that. You have to promise me Draco as much as you hate my family and Potter and Granger that you'll be there, I can't do it alone. Percy will have Oliver and I want you … to…"

"Shh precious, if you want me there I'll be there, don't worry." She sighed and rubbed her dry but tired face against his chest. "I love you, I'll do all I can for you"

"Thankyou"

"Don't say thankyou, its my duty to look after you cara"

"I don't deserve you, you know that"

"Well in my opinion I believe I deserve you completely, so that balances things out doesn't it? You sure you don't want to have a big cry with tubs of chocolate chip ice-cream and Oreo's?" Virginia punched him lightly on the shoulder.

"Are you trying to make me look like my deceased mother Draco!? I told you once, I don't like the dumpy woman look … and are you telling me I'm too skinny?!?" she hissed the last part with squinting eyes, daring him to answer. Not a good move bucko.

"You know very well that you're quite perfect to look at, well a man good just look at you all day and be content … well you naked at least … lying in a bed … flushed body from kisses being rained over your body…"

"Is that an invitation Mister Malfoy?"

"Is it being accepted?"

"Absolutely" Virginia started tugging at his shirt immediately as he scooped her up to carry her to the bedroom.


* * * * *

Two weeks later

"Oh Percy!"

"Well what do you think of this lovely funeral in honour of our parents and little Ronnikins?"

"Ugh … very black?"

"Black, how odd dear sister!"

"Shut-up! So who's here? Who has paid their kind regards? Who else has burst out into tears? And is their any place I need to be?"

"Not right now, except for maybe the front gate"

"Why?"

"Cause I believe your man just pulled up. Good luck love!" he called to her retreating back.

Virginia was running outside to meet Draco, she'd spent the night at The Burrow the night before the funeral and he was coming here for her, her eyes started swelling with love. "Hello love"

"Hey you, so have any of your brothers seen me yet?"

"Only Percy, but you for some unknown reason are in his good books, we don't question fortunate fate like that. He probably sees you the way I do. Anyway, come on we better start moving in. There's lots of food, so many people are here and we couldn't decide where to place the family photos of them. And oh the auror's are here to see if anything is up. And harry is heading them up I suppose because of his position and…" His fingers covered her mouth.

"Vir, you're babbling."

"I guess I'm just nervous, all these people, all these aurors running around here. Wouldn't it be something if they found the murderer here?" She spoke with such childlike wonderment that Draco kissed her then and there … he should've known better.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING WITH OUR SISTER MALFOY?" Spat Fred. Not one happy brother.

"Get you're hands of her now and we might let you leave the premises in one piece" George added on. Not two happy brothers.

"Who is that Ginny? Is he a Malfoy?" asked Charlie with a glare pinned on Draco. Not three happy brothers.

"Whoever you are, you shouldn't be holding her like that, you heard George. Get you're hands of her" finished Bill. Not four happy brothers. Virginia groaned and dropped her forehead into Dracos shoulder why me? She cursed.

"That's enough. Fred, George, Charlie and Bill, this is Draco Malfoy and before you say anything he will be staying for the funeral on my invitation. Now would you all kindly remember that I am capable of looking after myself, I am twenty-seven years old and have more magical ability then the lot of you combined, I didn't gain Hogwarts highest N.E.W.T.S.; even in potions for nothing. And finally please remember that I do what I want when I want to whom I want. Understand?"

"No we don't Ginny, sister dear, when the one person who probably killed our parents and our brother is standing before us joi–" Before Fred had even finished his sentence Virginia's palm came out to slap him hard across the face with a ear deafening WHACK!

Her eyes were menacing, cold and unyielding. "Don't you dare say anything like that ever again, any of you, particularly about something you don't know anything about. Now I'm taking Draco inside and I don't want to speak to any of you for the rest of the day" with that she stalked of, pulling Draco behind her.

"Ginny you don't–"

"Shut-up Fred" everyone turned around to see Percy standing there "You've said quite enough for today, today is meant to be a day of remembrance and peace, we'll talk about this later, and about your unfair behaviour towards your sister tomorrow." Percy stood there with naked disappointment in his eyes and Bill nodded in agreement and shame.

"Yeah um, we better all go on to greet the rest of the mourners. Percy's right, till later boys."

* * * * *

Draco watched Virginia pacing in her room. It was small and very girlish. Draco and Virginia both cringed upon entering. Now she was fuming and muttering incoherently about her brother's immature behaviour, he was sure, that was all she'd been muttering about for the last few minutes.

"Um … love?"

"What!?" she snapped. Okay, not a good idea.

"Nothing … nothing" she sighed at that

"Oh I'm sorry Draco, its just they all get me so worked up besides Percy; no one understands me. Ron was the worst but the rest aren't any better."

"That's all right love, don't say sorry. Um but shouldn't we go down now? I mean you don't want to miss…"

"Yes you're right … as usual"

"What can I say? It does get hard always being right…"

"Oh shut-up you!" with a grin she threw one of the pink fluffy pillows at his chest.

They sat at the end of the family area of the funeral; Potter and Granger included in family. He held Virginia as she listened to the different speeches given about the three deceased Weasley's and as she watched the coffins being lowered into the ground. It struck him odd, neither Virginia nor Percy gave a small selection of words about their brother or parents. Also Virginia was eerily calm through the discourses and her eyes were dry and clear for the entire funeral. He shook his head at the odd thoughts, but it was a bit unsettling that someone could be so calm, she must've cried it out of her system he rationalised.

At the end of the funeral the entire assemblage of wizards and witches paid their respect to the family and close friends, pointedly Potter and Granger. Once everyone had filed out it was late into the evening. Draco could see the fatigue on all their faces. He wanted to pick up Virginia and carry her into a warm bed so she could sleep away the weariness that was shouting out from her body.

Finally it was just them sitting out on the back porch, no one had approached him all day and for that he was quite glad. He was still on the receiving end of glares from Potter, and the twin Weasley's but the other two that had first confronted him looked away shaking their head every time they saw him holding onto their younger sister, but the anger was gone. He liked Percy, the one brother he was speaking to he was guarded and still a bit pompous but you saw the difference in his character when he was standing with Oliver. Oliver him had also talked for some parts of the evening, after getting over the initial fact he was a Malfoy, the very same Malfoy that had tried all those tricks in Olivers last three years for the quidditch cup, they got on famously. Virginia and he thought that Oliver and Percy were ridiculously sweet. Holy Salazar, was this Malfoy becoming soft or what?

"Come on, lets go home I just want to sleep for a century and then some" she whispered against his ear. He just nodded as he yawned. As they walked past they saw Granger and Potter huddled in a far corner of the living room, bother crying freely. Virginia looked at him for the briefest of moments and he nodded, stood up and waited for her outside.

* * * * *

Virginia drifted on over to Harry and Hermione. She saw their blotchy faces and sat down next to them.

"Harry … Hermione"

"Yes Ginny?" Harry asked, rather coldly in her opinion.

"I just wanted to sit with you guys for a bit before I left…"

"To go home with ferret-boy I see" Virginia crossed her eyebrows at this but didn't fall for the bait; she was not going to let Harry annoy her. She was going to show the considerate her; he could be jealous all he wanted. Virginia grinned at that, the idea of Draco and The-Boy-Who-Just-Kept-On-Living. "What, you're grinning? So naturally you're going home with him"

"Actually Harry, not that its really any of your business, I am. He is taking me home. But that isn't the point I'm merely trying to help you both and to tell you that we can support each other through this loss…"

"Oh Ginny, I'm sorry but you just don't know how we feel" Virginia blinked at the sound of Hermione, did she always sound that bad? Ick. "He was special to us, I know he was your brother but you just didn't know him they way we did. Harry and him shared a special, unique connection like Ron and I shared. You just wouldn't feel the same pain we do." Virginia was taken back by the words that she was hearing. He was her brother and she supposedly wasn't meant to feel the same pain?

"I ugh … if that's…"

"It is how we feel Ginny, I'm sorry but 'Mione is right; we knew him more than you ever could and we just don't think, no know that you wouldn't understand our grieving. Its best you let Malfoy take you home."

"Yes, and thankyou Ginny for coming today." At that Virginia just shook her head and stalked off.

He was technically my brother! I was the one that had been around for 10 years before they came along! I was the one that knew his fears first. I was his family for Pete's sake! And to top it of 'Thankyou Ginny for coming today' … what; I was just a measly guest? I wasn't expected to come? Fine Potter and Granger fine; stay in your bubble. Hope you enjoy all your time together!

* * * * *

One week later

Draco watched Virginia become engulfed by the Witch Weekly building and sighed heavily. Things seemed right in his world. His mother was happy he had one 'steady' female in his life, that wasn't a woman of quote 'loose morals, or a scarlet woman' unquote. His business was growing stronger week by week and he was in love. Ick that four-letter word that he vowed he wouldn't feel for anyone but his nonna, and now that fiery redhead had squirmed her way into his heart and she wasn't about to budge. And Draco realised he'd never want her too.

Since her parents funeral she'd been a lot colder amongst her family members, particularly between Granger and Potter, he didn't know what happened that evening and wasn't particularly keen to ask for when she'd met him outside she was fuming, but fuming like dry ice. She was all ice chills and cold glares … whatever had passed between them; it couldn't have been good. She seemed; at times to have an unearthly air to her, she was cold and detached, and he liked it. It was otherworldly, ambiguous … she was a mystery at times, and one that'd he'd love to solve, to get to know and embrace her warmth and darkness.

Draco glanced down at his copy of the prophet, Granger was going into questioning about the murders, Draco scoffed at that … Granger? A murderer? As if! That one couldn't hurt a damn house-elf, killing real people, real wizards and witches? Impossible, no this was someone exact … someone that knew what they were doing; like with Lucuis' death. They had this planned out; they were seeking on paying back these random, erratic deaths. So far the only connection had been between The Weasley's and the youngest boy Weasel … who could it be?

Draco shook his head at his confused thoughts and whistled all the way to Draconian Exchanges. Merlin, life was good when you were in love!

* * * * *

A/N: Rightio that was kind of long (I think?) Also for those trudging along, thanks and You've all probably figured out who it is by now, if not I'm sorely disappointed It's as clear as day!

No more words for moi!