Title: Red Rose Petals

Author: Straw_berry

Rating: PG13

A/N: AAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first one I made of this story was somehow deleted from my diskette!!!! And I have to re-type the whole thing all over AGAIN!!!!

Clearances:

1. ( )- this is still part of the story.

2. [ ]- this means author's notes.

3. Ginny is accelerated here.

Hi Ho De Lai'o!

Chapter One

          Draco Malfoy sat on an ornately crafted table, munching an apple, while listening to a female rant and rave about something.

          This apple tastes good…wonder where it came from…

          "Draco!" the female said, waving her hands in front of his face. "Are you listening to me!?"

          "Yeah. I was. Quit waving your hands will you! You're disturbing my eating!"

          "You're not listening!"

          "I was!"

          "Then what was I talking about a millisecond ago!?"

          "You were asking me, dearest cousin, whether I was listening to your woes or not!"

          "You're insufferable!"

          "I am not!"

          "Yes you are!"

          "You call your favorite cousin insufferable? I'm shocked!" Draco said, making a high falsetto-ish fainting sound.

          "You know very well, Draco, that the reason why you're my favorite cousin, I because you're my ONLY cousin. And besides, I bet you don't know how it feels to have my problems…"

          "You have problems? Really? I thought you had a butler to take care of it for you?"

          "Stop it, will you! You know I don't have a butler…and besides, you aren't the one who's gonna be forced to marry someone who you don't know!"

          "You're right…but try being the one who's expected to marry Pansy Parkinson…"

          "Ewww! That pug-faced girl who's a spoiled brat?!"

          "Yup! The one and only!"

          "Damn…now I pity you! Why don't you just tell Lucius that you don't want to?"

          Draco let out a strangled laugh. "Are you crazy? Doing that would mean instant death…or worse. I remember when…

/flashback/

          "Look Draco! What a beautiful flower!" Narcissa Malfoy said to her six-year old son, pointing to a rose on a bush.

          "Yes, mummy! It sure is beautiful! I want to give it to you! Just wait for a moment!" Young Draco said, rushing over to the rosebush.

          "Wow…" he said when he got close enough to examine the rose. "I'm gonna get it!"

          His chubby six-year old hands weren't strong enough to break the stem of the rose, but he tried and tried, until finally, it broke off.

          "Yay! Now I can give it to mum!" he said, rushing over to where his mom stood.

          "What's that on your hand, boy?" a rough mean voice, belonging to Lucius, asked.

          "A rose, Father! A rose for mum!" he answered, giving his father a sunny smile.

          "Foolish nonsense. Give me that!" Lucius ordered, reaching out for the rose.

          "No! I'm gonna give it to mum!"

          "I said give it to me!"

          "NO!!!"

          Lucius grabbed the rose from Draco, tearing the flower apart before grabing Draco by the collar and throwing the rose behind him.

          Draco watched, his eyes blurry with tears, as the rose petals slowly fell unto the ground, it's beauty destroyed.

          The rose was for mum…now I don't have anything to give her…

          Later on, in his mother's carriage, a sobbing Draco was being soothed by his mother.

          "Shush…mummy isn't angry at you…"

          "But mummy…now I don't have anything to give you…"

          "Shhh…just sleep…" Narcissa said, caressing the scarred palm of her son. While Lucius grabbed the rose, it's thorns wounded her son's hands.

          "Shush…"

          "shush…"

          "shhh…"

          "Sleep…"

/flashback/

          "Draco? Are you okay?" his cousin's voice asked, breaking into his thoughts.

          "Huh..?"

          "You remember when you what?"

          "What?"

          "You were telling me about something…"

          "Oh, nothing, forget about it. Hey! I think I hear the elf calling…let's go down and eat."

          "Sure…whatever you say, your Lordyship…"

          "Quack down, Mother Goose."

~

          The Weasley house had much improved, compared from what it looked like in the past.

          New rooms had been added, the living room had been enlarged, and their land had extended from their own backyard to the farm adjacent to their house.

The Weasley family, like their house, had also undergone many changes.

          First of all, the eldest of the Weasley brood, William Anderson Weasley, better known as Bill, Head Boy, Good Boy, Bank Curse Breaker, had gotten married to Anita Shane Samalla, a blonde-haired girl with brown eyes, President of the Starlight Sorority at Beauxbatons, Honor Student and fellow Curse Breaker at Gringotts.

          Second was that the second eldest of the brood, Charles Harley Weasley, just sent the news of his engagement to Rose Marie Frogwallow, a brunette with wild, curly hair and olive eyes, home. They were getting married at this upcoming Christmas Break.

          Percival James Weasley, or rather, Percy, had just moved out of the Weasley House. The Ministry of Magic, seeing how devoted he was to his work, had given him a flat just outside of Diagon Alley. Another change was of Percy's attitude. His long-time fiancée, Penelope Clearwater, had just broken up with him, because he was being an arrogant, self-absorbed git. And because of their big-break-up, Percy had humbled down, and had become more agreeable.

          Fred and George Weasley had bought the farm that was adjacent to the Weasley house and moved in there. They had transformed the smelly run-down old farm into an operation area for their very successful joke shop. They go home quite often though, because none of them liked to cook dinner, and it was always convenient to just jump over the fence and smell the homey smells of home.

          Ronald Aames Weasley had just transferred from his room to the twins' room. The family ghoul had been making too much of a racket, and, he was going to share his new room with somebody else.

          Harry Potter was the biggest change of all in the Weasley household. After Vernon and Petunia Dursley had finally gathered up enough courage and forcefully kicked Harry out of their home, Arthur and Molly Weasley temporarily adopted him. He was to stay with them until his Godfather; Sirius Black's name could be cleared. He was now sharing a room with Ron in their house, living there twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, four weeks a month, twelve months a year.  

          Ginny Weasley had been permitted by her parents to redecorate her room. So, her room had turned from a thing belonging to an antique shop to a thing of beauty.

          Her walls had turned from dirty white to pale green, her windows, from no curtains to rosebud patterned ones. She had thrown out her old desk and bookcase, replacing it with new ones.  Her old cabinet also had to be thrown away, due to the holes all the mice had been gnawing, and was replaced with a new one, complete with an un-sarcastic mirror who loved to compliment her and her russet colored tresses. Her wrought-iron bed was still intact, although the covers had been replaced. The flooring, instead of being bare, was now covered with dark green carpet.

          Her parents were greatly surprised at how she had been able to decorate her room in that way, with only such a small budget. They didn't know of course, that Harry had helped her—'it was a way of showing his thanks'—as Harry had said.

          It was a bright sunny day when all the Weasleys, including the sister-in-law and the soon to be sister-in-law, were sitting in the newly enlarged living room.

          Bill and Anita were sitting on the loveseat, Charlie and Rose sat on the beanbag on the side of the seat. Percy sat on the comfy armchair next to the couch which Harry, Ron, Fred and George shared. Her parents were sitting on the other loveseat, while she sat on the floor.

          Ginny waited for everyone to stop chattering before she burst out her big announcement.

          "Dad, Mum, Bill, Anita, Charlie, Rose, Fred, George, Ron, and Harry…Since we're all here together now…I want to tell you all the good news!"

          "Anita's pregnant?" said Charlie.

          "NO, Bill won the lottery!" said Fred.

          "You're engaged?" said George.

          "George, Ron would've killed the first man who would dare go out with Gin…" said Bill.

          "Yeah…forgot that fact. Sorry, Bill!"

          "Malfoy's Dead?" said Ron.

          "Which Malfoy?" asked Harry.

          "All of them, for all I care." Said Ron.

          "They grow apple trees in Egypt?" asked Rose.

          "Hermione's engaged to Ron?"

          Ron blushed.

          "No dope, that's impossible…even Hermione's not that dumb…"

"What did you say!???"
"Calm down Ron! That was just a joke!"

"So, what is it, Ginny Dear?" her mum asked.

"Well…since I have been getting higher than a fifth year student's GPA…the Professors let me skip sixth year and make me study as a seventh year student!"

"That's great, dear!" her mum said.

          "Yes, I agree! I knew you could do it!" said her dad.

          "At least someone in this family followed my footsteps." Quipped Percy.

          "Don't study too hard, Gin!"

          "Yeah, you might wind up like Percy!"

"What!"
"Just kidding Percy!"

"Nothing wrong with a good joke, isn't there?"

"Harrumph!"

Ginny watched them all with loving eyes.

I love them all…

~

Draco Malfoy sat quietly in his seat, eating his lunch.

Only a few more minutes…then I'll be free from this agony…
"Dear, how is your mother?" his mother asked his cousin.

"She's fine, aunt Narcissa."

"How is Hailey? Is he still working in the bank?"

"Hailey's still working at the bank, but he's been promoted to bank manager."

"And your father?"

"He's fit and healthy…he still plays golf every morning with Counsel Minister Artania."

"Draco, why don't you eat your dessert?"

"I'm not hungry mum…"

"Boy, are you prepared for opening of school?" Lucius Malfoy's sharp cold voice asked.

"Yes Father."

"Hmph. Such a bad shape that school's in…Dumbledore being headmaster is the worst thing that anyone has ever done…"

Yeah right…following that old crippled thing named Voldemort is the worst mistake any decent creature would ever do…not that Lucius is decent…

"…and letting muggle-borns study in that school is simply revolting!"

Draco could sense his cousin's anger radiating from where she sat.

Yeah…I forgot…Aunt Lillian has a bit of muggle blood in her which came from her great grandmother…

"Niece…your father has informed me that you will go to school at Hogwarts this year…"

Now Draco could sense his cousin's anger zoom from 66% to 90%.

"…beware of those filthy muggle-borns there…remember…Malfoy blood and heritage is a special privilege, that not all are gifted with…"

Really…Draco thought wryly…precious? Is that why you don't care whenever the floors of the dungeon get spilled with your own heir's blood?

"So be careful that no muggle filth be infiltrated in you—"

"No!!!" his cousin answered back.

"What!?"

"You piece of—"

"Father," Draco cut in between his father and his cousin, "my cousin is very upset right now…can I bring her upstairs? To her room, perhaps?"

"Fine. You may be excused. And teach her to bite her tongue."

"Yes, father." He replied, steering his cousin out of the room.

When they were safely out of earshot, and somewhere near his cousin's room, Draco shook his cousin.

"Are you mad?!"

"Well, he had no right to insult my mother that way! Him talking of filthy muggle-borns…as if he isn't filthy himself…that b—"

"Whoa…stop cursing. These walls have ears in them, don't you know?" he said, entering his cousin's room.

When they got inside, his cousin threw herself in her bed and screamed in her pillow.

"Done working out your frustrations out already?" he said, giving his cousin a crooked smile.

"Almost."
"Uncle Jefferson never told Lucius about your mother's heritage, didn't he?"

"Never. Mom has gotten over that stage wherein she used to be affected by all the insults he gave to muggles."

"Why are you so upset, anyhow? I know that the muggle insult thing went too far, but you're a Malfoy, and Malfoy's are known for keeping their cool…"

"I'm also pissed off about my dad transferring me to Hogwarts without my knowledge!"
"He didn't tell you?"

"NO! It's just like my to-be-husband! I don't know who the hell he is, or how he looks like, or how he acts like! All I know is that he studies at…" his cousin paused, realization dawning on her face.

"At?" He asked.

"At Hogwarts…that must be why my dad wants me to study there…to find out who he is…for myself…"

"Hogwarts? Maybe I know him…"

"His name is Blaise Zabini."

"Zabini? Blaise Aldrich Zabini?"

"Something along the lines of that…didn't listen when dad was telling me all about him…"

"Want me to tell you a bit of inside information about him? Just so that you'll be prepared?"

"Sure…"

"Blaise is a womanizer, considered handsome by many of Hogwarts, had average grades, owns the Green Dale farms—"

"Green Dale?" his cousin cut in. "Isn't that where all the magical Herbs come from?"

"Yes. He also happens to be my best friend."

"Oh…you have a best friend?"
"What can you expect? Blaise and I have been comrades and allies and friends even before we got into Hogwarts…"

"And he's a womanizer?"

"Yeah…"

"No wonder. One womanizer, plus another womanizer, equals big trouble…"

"I don't know…Blaise may seem quite nice to ladies, and quite arrogant to others, but he's a nice guy…"

"Really? Guess I have to find out for myself…"

"Yeah…hey, here, have a mint." He said, tossing it to his cousin.

"Thanks." She replied, popping the mint into her mouth.

"Can I use the washroom in your room?" he asked.

She nodded, still chewing on the mint.

Seconds after Draco closed the door of the washroom, a small scream was heard from the other side of the room.

"Draco Malfoy!" she shouted, banging on the door. "You dirty trickster! What you gave me was pepper, not mint! Come out here!"

"Sorry, cousin! I couldn't help it!" He said, clambering out of the bathroom window, where his broom was waiting.

"Ohhh…you big prat!" she exclaimed, using her wand to open the door. "Draco! I'm gonna—"

She looked around the bathroom, not seeing Draco anywhere.

"AAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!"

~

The remaining weeks of vacation flew by quickly, and before they knew it, school opening was just a day

away.

The Weasley siblings, while their parents were away, decided to hold a "Sibling Talk", a tradition which

originated from Bill, Charlie and Percy.

          They were just to talk and talk and talk, to sort out past disagreements, reveal secrets, and to bond as a family.

          "I hereby open this session of our sibling talk." Said Bill, hitting the floor with a gravel.

          "Geez, stop being so formal, Bill." Said Charlie.

          "Fine. Who wants to talk first?"

          "I do!" said Fred. "Remember the time when we set fire to Mrs. Piggysnut's wig?"

          "Yeah! That was a scream!" said George.

          "She couldn't forgive us…"

          "…so she never visited us again!" finished George.

          "Twas' quite a favor actually, her not visiting." Said Percy.

          Six redheads looked at him with shock.

          "What? I mean, even I couldn't stand her constant nose sniffing and her always scrunched up face!"

          "Alright, Percy!" said Charlie, thumping him at the back.

          "The Prefect finally shows his true colors!" said Bill.

          "Our wittle Percy…" said Fred.

          "…is finally grown up!" said George.

          "Shut, you two! It's quite normal! Even Ginny here has her bad moments!"

          Six male redheads turned to look at her.

          "Spill." Ron said.

          "Okay, fine." Ginny replied. "Remember, the day after the twins set fire to Mrs. Piggysnut's wig? I overheard her muttering something bad about us, so…I snuck up to their barn and burnt the hay…I didn't know that the barn would burn up too…"

          "Gin burnt a barn?"

          "Really?"

          "Cool…"

          "…crap, man!"

          "Really?" Ginny asked, smiling.

          "Yeah! How come we never thought of that, Fred?"

          "I don't know, George…"

          "Maybe because you two aren't that genius enough." Said Percy, causing everyone to laugh.

          "Cut the funny stuff…time to get serious here…" said Bill.

          Everybody immediately stopped laughing.

          "Okay…so all of us know that Ginny and Ron are both on their last year at Hogwarts…so each of us prepared a speech…" Bill paused. "…Charlie begins."

          "Ron, Gin, since this is your last year at Hogwarts, I want you to enjoy it to the fullest, and leave with good memories.

          Find out what you really want to do with your life…I was lucky that I found out my love for animals early in my schooling…because of that, I was able to concentrate more on improving my skills as a Dragon tamer…and I was also lucky to have Hagrid there to help me…Fred, George? Your turn."

          "Learn how to be careful…those nights when George and I sneaked around the hallways? We discovered a lot of things about Hogwarts that most people aren't aware of…"

          "Yeah.  Dumbledore always let Fred and me off the hook, because he knew that we already knew about the things that weren't supposed to be known, and it would be useless to erase those memories."

          "Dumbledore gave us his complete trust, and we kept our word. That's another thing you need to learn…when someone gives you his trust, learn how to keep your word…we know how it feels to be trusted…and…it feels great…Perce?"

          "Appreciate your teachers…they're gonna be your greatest help when you get out of Hogwarts…and don't study that hard…Remember when it was time to take the N.E.W.T.s? I nearly killed myself with studying…and it was Professor Snape who helped me…"

          Ron and Ginny looked surprised.

          "Really…he found me at the library at lunchtime…I had skipped my lunch to study…he gave me two weeks detention."

          "What's so great about Snape giving you detention?" Ron asked.

          "At first, I hated him.  By giving me detention two weeks before exam week, I wouldn't be able to study! But I was wrong…every day, I served five hours of detention…he didn't make me work…instead, he asked me what I didn't know…and he taught me more. Turns out that he knows more than McGonagall when it comes to transfiguration…he told me that I don't need to kill myself in studying…because that would mean that I would also kill myself working…he told me that if I study too much… I won't be able to store them all in my head…I still keep contact with the Professor…he's the best counselor…Bill?"

          "Be true to yourself. Don't do something, just because you're expected to do so…when I first came to Hogwarts, I was expected to be good at Charms and Herbology, like mom and dad. But I wasn't good at those subjects at all…my strongest point was Transfiguration…and nobody expected me to be a Head Boy…but I became one…

          Be true to your heart. Whatever the heart tells you will always be true, so follow it. Remember the saying? If you love someone, then set him free…if he comes back, then he'll be yours forever…if he doesn't, then he was never yours…"

          "Which also means that you should pick up your skivvies and ask Hermione out, Ron!" said Fred.

          "Yeah! We're sick of seeing you oogle lovingly at her when she doesn't look!" said Fred.

          "I DON"T OOGLE AT HER!"

          "Give us a break, Ron…you forget that the Fat Lady sees everything in Gryffindor…and that the Fat Lady and Bill are good Chums…" said Charlie.

          "Go for it, Ron…or else you might lose her…" said Percy, in a sad voice.

          "Yeah…" said Ginny.

          Ron just shut up and turned beet red, which caused everyone to start laughing once again.

~

          Draco and his cousin lay on the grass, looking up at the stars.

          "Are you ready?" he asked.

          "Ready for what?"

          "School."

          "I think I am…"

          "What if you don't get into Slytherin?"

          "I'll survive…I'll visit you and talk to you in the hallway…"

          "There are things that are unchangeable in Hogwarts…such as the silent rule which states that Slytherins are evil, and that they don't mingle with the other houses…"

          "But you're not evil, Draco…you've a good heart…"

          "But no one else sees that…no one else wants to take the risk, and look…all they see is the mask that I put up…to cover my face…all they see is the costume I wear…to shield my soul…"

          "Someone will, Draco…there's always a someone for everyone…"

          "I don't believe so…"

          "There will always be…look at my dad…he was bad…but when he met mom…he turned into good, and faced the light…"

          "But he still wears a mask…"

          "Only in front of your father…"

          "Look, Draco…a shooting star…make a wish…"

          "I don't believe in those…"

          "Make a wish, anyway…"

          "Okay…but I doubt it would come true…"

          "Oh, just shut and wish!"

          Draco Malfoy shut his eyes and thought of a wish.

          I wish…that someone would finally see the real me…

~

          It was an hour later, when the 'Sibling talk' finished, and all of them were in bed.

          In Ginny Weasley's room, Ginny was looking out the window.

          The night sky is always so beautiful…

          Hundreds of stars dotted the night sky, making it look like a black dress with glitters.

          What's that?

          A shooting star had just passed by.

          A wishing star!

Ginny shut her eyes tightly and wished.

I wish…I wish…that someone would finally see me as Ginny Weasley…not just as 'the sister of Ron…

~

Meanwhile, far, far away…the wish fairy gathered up the wishes on the star…

Two wishes, of two souls, were wished on one star…and their wish will come true…

A/N: There! Done! Finally!

          Now, be a good reader and press that little blue button…

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 \/  Thanks!!! ^-^