Chapter 6: The Burrow (again)
Hermione, Harry and Ron had arrived back at the house about 10 minutes after Ginny. When they arrived, they found the rest of the family sitting in the living room.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were on the loveseat, Ginny was between Fred and George on the couch and Percy was sitting on one of the armchairs. None of them were talking, just looking around, obviously deep in thought.
Ron spoke first, "Ginny, could we talk to you in the kitchen?"
"No Ron, I'm quite comfortable here and I really do have a lot on my mind right now."
"Please Ginny?"
Ginny shook her head no and laid her head on Fred's shoulder.
Fred bent down and kissed the top of her head.
Ron, Harry and Hermione walked into the kitchen. Hermione sat down at the table and immediately began to cry.
Ron rushed to her, hugged her and said, "Mione, don't cry. Ginny is just upset; she didn't mean all those things she said."
Harry quickly agreed, "Of course she didn't. She's just very upset right now and with good reason."
Hermione shook her head. "Ron, Harry as much as I love you both, you are extremely naïve. Of course, she meant what she said and with good reason. She is right. We don't really know her. We leave her out unless we need her to help us. We never ask her if she needs our help. Do you realize she got four more O.W.L.s than I did? I never even knew she was that smart. I just thought she was an average student. We all owe her a BIG apology."
Before either of the boys could respond, a loud thud sounded in the living room.
The three arrived in the living room doorway just in time to see Lucius Malfoy rise to his 6'2" height and turn around to face the Weasley clan.
Immediately, the trio drew their wands.
Lucius looked toward them and laughed an evil cackle. He spoke directly to the trio, "I'm not worth getting yourselves expelled from school. Besides, I have come to discuss the happy nuptials of Miss Weasley to my son, Draco."
Arthur stood and told the three to put away their wands. They did so with quite a bit of hesitation.
Arthur walked up to Lucius and said, "Let's discuss this in the dining room, Molly and Ginny please join us."
Molly and Ginny rose and followed the two men into the dining room. Molly turned back to the living room and told the rest of them to go outside and play Quidditch for the rest of the afternoon. She watched all of them trudge outside with their brooms.
Molly, Ginny, Arthur and Lucius sat down at the table. Lucius looked at Ginny and said, "Miss Weasley, you have certainly grown into your looks this year. You really are quite beautiful. You and Draco will make quite a striking couple."
Ginny smirked at that, looked Lucius right in the eye and responded, "Yes, I do believe we will."
Lucius stared back at her. He thought to himself. She has spunk. She could make things interesting at the Manor as long as she remembers her place.
Arthur cleared his throat. He asked, "What exactly do you want to discuss Lucius?"
"Why the terms of the betrothal and marriage, of course, I was thinking we could keep with tradition and do a true Merlin Wedding."
Ginny started at that, "A true Merlin wedding?"
Molly spoke up at her daughter's question, "A true Merlin wedding consists of a three month betrothal, divided into 3 sections, followed by a traditional Wizard wedding. The first month of betrothal consists of dates between the two parties, chaperoned. The second month consists of unchaperoned dates. The third month entails what muggles call "Living in sin." The Merlin wedding is rarely experienced these days. Most kids today just run off and do it the muggle way."
"True, true," said Lucius, "but this is a marriage of purebloods, this cries out for a traditional wizard wedding."
Arthur spoke up at that, "I really don't think being pureblooded has anything to do with this."
Lucius sneered. "So, are we in agreement to have a traditional wedding?"
Ginny replied "Yes Mr. Malfoy, I think you are right. This does call for a traditional wedding. If you agree Mom and Dad."
"If that is what you want Pumpkin, then that is what you'll get," said Arthur.
"So, shall we set the date for three months from today, which will be October 29?" asked Lucius.
"NO!" interjected Ginny, "We will be married on October 30, my 17th birthday."
"Good, Good I'm glad that is settled," said Lucius, "I'll send Draco tonight at 7pm for your first chaperoned date." He turned to Arthur and asked, "Do you want to provide the chaperone or shall I?"
Arthur responded, "We will."
"Good. Then, Draco will be here promptly at 7." Lucius got up from the table and returned to the living room. He threw the floo powder in the fireplace and yelled, "Malfoy Manor!"
Hermione, Harry and Ron had arrived back at the house about 10 minutes after Ginny. When they arrived, they found the rest of the family sitting in the living room.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were on the loveseat, Ginny was between Fred and George on the couch and Percy was sitting on one of the armchairs. None of them were talking, just looking around, obviously deep in thought.
Ron spoke first, "Ginny, could we talk to you in the kitchen?"
"No Ron, I'm quite comfortable here and I really do have a lot on my mind right now."
"Please Ginny?"
Ginny shook her head no and laid her head on Fred's shoulder.
Fred bent down and kissed the top of her head.
Ron, Harry and Hermione walked into the kitchen. Hermione sat down at the table and immediately began to cry.
Ron rushed to her, hugged her and said, "Mione, don't cry. Ginny is just upset; she didn't mean all those things she said."
Harry quickly agreed, "Of course she didn't. She's just very upset right now and with good reason."
Hermione shook her head. "Ron, Harry as much as I love you both, you are extremely naïve. Of course, she meant what she said and with good reason. She is right. We don't really know her. We leave her out unless we need her to help us. We never ask her if she needs our help. Do you realize she got four more O.W.L.s than I did? I never even knew she was that smart. I just thought she was an average student. We all owe her a BIG apology."
Before either of the boys could respond, a loud thud sounded in the living room.
The three arrived in the living room doorway just in time to see Lucius Malfoy rise to his 6'2" height and turn around to face the Weasley clan.
Immediately, the trio drew their wands.
Lucius looked toward them and laughed an evil cackle. He spoke directly to the trio, "I'm not worth getting yourselves expelled from school. Besides, I have come to discuss the happy nuptials of Miss Weasley to my son, Draco."
Arthur stood and told the three to put away their wands. They did so with quite a bit of hesitation.
Arthur walked up to Lucius and said, "Let's discuss this in the dining room, Molly and Ginny please join us."
Molly and Ginny rose and followed the two men into the dining room. Molly turned back to the living room and told the rest of them to go outside and play Quidditch for the rest of the afternoon. She watched all of them trudge outside with their brooms.
Molly, Ginny, Arthur and Lucius sat down at the table. Lucius looked at Ginny and said, "Miss Weasley, you have certainly grown into your looks this year. You really are quite beautiful. You and Draco will make quite a striking couple."
Ginny smirked at that, looked Lucius right in the eye and responded, "Yes, I do believe we will."
Lucius stared back at her. He thought to himself. She has spunk. She could make things interesting at the Manor as long as she remembers her place.
Arthur cleared his throat. He asked, "What exactly do you want to discuss Lucius?"
"Why the terms of the betrothal and marriage, of course, I was thinking we could keep with tradition and do a true Merlin Wedding."
Ginny started at that, "A true Merlin wedding?"
Molly spoke up at her daughter's question, "A true Merlin wedding consists of a three month betrothal, divided into 3 sections, followed by a traditional Wizard wedding. The first month of betrothal consists of dates between the two parties, chaperoned. The second month consists of unchaperoned dates. The third month entails what muggles call "Living in sin." The Merlin wedding is rarely experienced these days. Most kids today just run off and do it the muggle way."
"True, true," said Lucius, "but this is a marriage of purebloods, this cries out for a traditional wizard wedding."
Arthur spoke up at that, "I really don't think being pureblooded has anything to do with this."
Lucius sneered. "So, are we in agreement to have a traditional wedding?"
Ginny replied "Yes Mr. Malfoy, I think you are right. This does call for a traditional wedding. If you agree Mom and Dad."
"If that is what you want Pumpkin, then that is what you'll get," said Arthur.
"So, shall we set the date for three months from today, which will be October 29?" asked Lucius.
"NO!" interjected Ginny, "We will be married on October 30, my 17th birthday."
"Good, Good I'm glad that is settled," said Lucius, "I'll send Draco tonight at 7pm for your first chaperoned date." He turned to Arthur and asked, "Do you want to provide the chaperone or shall I?"
Arthur responded, "We will."
"Good. Then, Draco will be here promptly at 7." Lucius got up from the table and returned to the living room. He threw the floo powder in the fireplace and yelled, "Malfoy Manor!"