Hope's Salvation
By:Brianne Crandle


Chapter Two: Have a Bit of Malfoy, Virginia Weasly.


Ginny shivered slightly. A strange chill passing over her momentarily and she drew her brightly patched quilt closer about her. Soft blue gray eyes started off into the darkness as thunder rumbled dangerously across the sky, a flash of blue lightning illuminating her brooding heart-shaped face. A light drizzle splattered lazily against her window and made light tinkling sounds on her roof. Her bothers horrid snore's filtered through the wall every now and then and Ginny couldn't help but pity Harry, whom was sharing a room with him, she hoped he was a deep sleeper.

Sitting there Ginny couldn't help but feel anxious. She couldn't explain why. After dinner she had been very tired and went straight up to bed but after a few hours of tossing and turning she had finally given up and dragged a blanket to her window seat to think and wait for sleep. Two hours later and she was still waiting.

The room around her was silent and familiar, comforting her nervous mood. Lavender walls with pictures of fairies and unicorns, her bed littered with mismatched blankets and sheets, decorated with her favorite stuffed animals. It was a little girls room, but Ginny loved it. She smiled softly and pulled a stuffed rabbit against her chest before letting her thoughts wander.

School started in less than a week and Ginny was about to begin her sixth year at Hogwarts. It was a year that she hoped would not be lived and shadowed in fear. Voldemort had become quiet in the last few months, his faithful Death Eaters slowly disappearing, appearing to have become inactive, but no one expected that to last long. He was obviously planning something horrible for Harry, for the wizarding world. Ginny shivered again and drew her knees tightly against her chest. Poor Harry, he had been withdrawn and distant, rarely smiling, with the death of his godfather followed by the death of Hagrid, he found little to be cheerful about. Though recently she had seen him laugh twice and smile quite often in the past four weeks, the Burrow seemed to have brought out some of the old Harry. Ron had been especially relieved.

Sighing softly Ginny leaned against a few purple frilly pillows and rested her head lightly against the wall behind her, the sound of rain on glass soothing her dismal thoughts. She felt her eyes slipping a few moments later, her head heavy and her breathing relaxed. Opening her eyes for a moment she saw a small shadow looming closer to her home. It looked like a large bird and Ginny yawned softly, her mind dragging to catch up to what she was seeing. She had just drawn herself up and was peering sleepily out her window when a flash of lightning showed that the steadily approaching creature was not a bird at all, in fact it appeared to be someone on a broom. Someone with a black cloak and bright blonde hair. Ginny was wide awake now and felt her heart pounding in her chest. She jumped back from her window in a panic.

Was it death eaters come to claim Harry at last? She thought wildly, her eyes darting around the room, finally landing on her wand and she dashed forward snatching it up quickly.

When she turned back to her window she was met with fierce gray eyes that bore straight into her. Ginny shuddered and hurried away from the window until the backs of her knees hit the edge of her bed.

Registering the blonde hair and gray eyes, Ginny slowly realized just who it was.

Draco Malfoy was hovering in front of her window, sopping wet and clutching on to a very expensive broom, one arm bracing a large lump to his chest.

Ginny gapped in astonishment and felt her knees give way so that she sat back heavily on her bed, which gave a loud squeak of protest. She clutched her wand all the harder in her shaking hand, completely unsure what to do.

Draco scowled at her through her window and rapped harshly on the glass, obviously requesting entrance. Ginny, suddenly finding herself, gulped and snapped her hanging jaw shut. Hesitantly she made her way towards her window, wand raised in warning, her eyes watching him like a hawk. Draco continued to scowl, looking very impatient and uncomfortable.

Slowly Ginny lifted the latch of her window and slipped it aside, shivering when cold wet wind hit her face, her thin satin night gown offering little protection.

Draco smirked, his lips slightly blue and his normally pale aristocratic face tinted slightly pink with cold.

Hello, Weasly, love the night gown, its very.... pink, he drawled, his teeth chattering slightly.

Ginny glared at him and felt her face grow hot with embarrassment, which quickly turned into anger. Why was he here? Did he come all this way to insult her? If he indeed had he was really more demented then she thought.

What are you doing here Malfoy? Shouldn't you be out terrorizing people? she growled trying to suppressed her fear, horrified that he might actually be here on some kind of Death Eater mission.

Draco glared, Let me in Weasly, I'm not here to harm your precious family.

Ginny scowled, No way am I letting you into my house, Malfoy, without an explanation, she said more bravely than she felt.

Draco did not look pleased, and Ginny suddenly realized he was shivering and though he was desperately hiding it, near exhaustion.

Suddenly from with the fold of his thick cloak came a loud, distressed wail, followed by feverant cries and sobs. It sounded very much like a baby. Ginny gasped as Draco pulled back his heavy cloak slightly to reveal a very upset, very wet baby.

Bloody hell, Ginny whispered and stepped away from her window beckoning him into her room, eyes locked on the infant Draco held tightly in his arms.

Draco immediately floated inside her room, ducking to fit through the window. Once inside he stumbling off his broom, his legs quivering visibly, drops of water dripped off his clothing and on to her floor. After another moment of shocked silence, disturbed only by the babies faint wails that had slowly become more hoarse, Ginny jumped forward and closed her window.

Shivering to his very bone Draco set his baby sister onto Ginny's brightly clothed bed, then removed his soaking cloak with heavy numb fingers. He felt the wandering hands of exhaustion and desperation creep slowly on his mind. He was weary to the core and the cold he felt was not only from his wet state. Turning to face a white faced, wide eyed Virginia Weasly, he gave her a determined smirk before he pitched sideways against her bed and slid soundlessly to her floor. A black cloud of unconsciousness flowing over his weary mind until Ginny's worried words and questions slipped away form his mind and he met the comfort of darkness.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Draco's first awareness to the world around him was the comfort of heavy quilts and soft lumpy pillows. He shifted and sighed wearily, burring his face into the soft folds of the pillow beneath his head, breathing in its lavender sent.

Lavender? Since when had his pillows smelt like lavender? And when had they become so... frilly?

Memories of the flight from his home and his baby sister came flooding back and Draco sat up sharply, the mismatched blankets falling around his hips, reviling his bare chest.

For a moment he panicked. Completely unsure where he was, Draco's wide gray eyes surveyed the very purple room around him. Then he remembered facing the youngest Weasly and gaining entrance to her room, his jumbled thoughts recalled her surprise and hesitation, everything else was a blur. He was so very tired.

Shifting, the bed creaking loudly, he glanced under the blankets and found he was clothed only in his boxers, his wet clothing appeared to have been removed.

Ginny? Surely not Draco decided, she would have died of embarrassment, she was much to innocent to even consider it. Draco smirked despite himself and threw off the covers, determined to find his clothing, and his baby sister. But there was no need. Before he could even rise from the bed the door was thrown open angrily, bouncing of the wall in retaliation, and a very angry Ron Weasly entered the room, carrying a bundle of clothing under his arm.

Draco's smirk grew wider.

Hello Weasly, your sister has a great room, I love the stuffed animals, very cuddly, he said in greeting.

Ron's only response was to growl and throw the bundle of clothing at Draco with all his might. Draco's mind might have been a bit slow and sluggish from tiredness, but his muscles were not, and he easily caught the drab clothing with two hands.

Get dressed, Ron snapped in his angry burr, Unless you want to meet my parents like that.

Looking at the fadding green shirt and old jeans that had small rips at the knees, Draco voiced is opinion. Well going half naked would be more dignified style than wearing these rags, where's my bag?

Ron's face grew red with instant anger, and he opened his mouth say something that Draco doubted would be very nice, when a second redhead walked hesitantly into the room.

Ron, dad wants you, Ginny said hurriedly, knowing her brother was on the verge of loosing his head.

Ron glared at Draco for another long moment before making a very rude gesture at him and stomping out of the room in a flurry.

Well he's certainly glad I'm here, Draco said brightly and grind at the youngest Weasly's shyness as her pretty eyes avoided his bare chest and legs, her eyes locked on the wall behind him.

Here's your bag, she muttered, and tossed the black bag onto the bed, obviously not willing to come any closer to him.

Draco grinned, Why thank you Weasly, but where's my sister and my wand?

Right here, said a warm voice from the door way. A red haired, very plump woman in a bright green dress and blue apron, stood in the door way, her watery blue eyes full of kindness and laughter. In her large arms she held Esperanza, who was clothed in a disgustingly lacy pink baby dress and bonnet. She appeared to be very content and was sleeping, one small hand holding onto the front of Mrs.Weasly's dress.

But before you claim either, I suggest you get dressed and come down for breakfast, we obviously have allot to talk about, the woman said brightly, disappearing down the hall with his sister. Draco glared defiantly where the woman had stood only a moment before, fighting the urge to call her back and demand his sister.

Shifting his gaze, his glare landed on Ginny, who seemed to have become very fascinated with her dirty tennis shoes. She was wearing a large blue sweater that was a few sizes to big for here and faded lose jeans, her fiery curls clipped at the back of her head, a few strands escaping to frame her freckled face.

I-Is she your daughter? Ginny asked hesitantly after a very awkward silence, completely unsure of what to say to both Harry's and Ron's worst enemy.

Draco scowled at her angrily. She's my sister, he snapped harshly and instantly regretted it when he saw her slim jaw harden. She had after all sheltered him and taken care of his baby sister, she easily could have turned him away at her window, he admitted.

Well sorry, she muttered, obviously trying to hold back her Weasly temper.

Draco sighed in annoyance, Do go away Weasly, I need to get dressed.

Ginny glared at him and her blue gray eyes flashing with anger, Yes your royal highness, if you need a good kick in the arse I'll be down stairs, she said bitterly and swept out the door, her footsteps echoing down the hall.

he muttered and pulled out a clean shirt and pants from his bag, tossing aside the drab clothing he had been expected to wear, and he slipped them on hurriedly. He finger combed his knotted white blonde hair and found his shoes near the bed, his wand sticking straight out of the left. Decided the very poor Weasly's wouldn't care if his hair laid flat he left it alone and didn't bother to tuck in his shirt before leaving the room.

The house was larger than he would have expected. Though very much different form his own well furnished and luxurious home, it had a strong homey feel to it. Walking down the hall in his best Malfoy stride Draco started at the pictures that lined the walls. A few were obviously of Ron and Draco snickered at the baby pictures. Quiet a few also displayed Ginny with her brothers, she was always smiling brightly and she waved to him as he passed, while Ron glared at him and made a few well chosen hand gestures that made an older man, who was obviously Mr.Weasly, hit his son on the head. Draco smirked and started creakingly down the twisting stairs.

He reached the foot of the stairs a moment later and he instantly heard angry voices from the kitchen.

I can't believe you actually let him in Gin, what were you thinking! said a very angry voice that obviously belonged to Ron.

Well what was I suppose to do Ron, say I'm sorry Malfoy my brother will throw a fit, you and your sister will have to die of cold', said an equally angry Ginny.

I am not throwing fit! yelled Ron stubbornly, He's a terrible rotten snake, he's probably here to find things out about Harry!

Oh honestly Ron, his sister said in exasperation, Do you really think he would go to all this trouble to find out what Harry's doing?

I wouldn't put it past the bastard, he's been after Harry since day one, and his father is a Death Eater in case you don't remember!

Both of you stop, said a harsh male voice that Draco suspected belonged to Mr.Weasly.

Draco took a deep breath and slowly entered the Weasly's bright kitchen. He defiantly held his head high as he strolled into the room, determinedly keeping a smirk plastered to his face. These Weasly's were much to predictable he decided, as their conversation continued to replay in his head.

Mr. Weasly was seated stiffly at the had of the table in worn, fadding robes of blue, that were obviously as shabby as everything else in his home. His red hair was graying and he sported a receding hair line that made his head look much bigger than it was. To his right sat none other than Harry Potter, his vibrant green eye's flashing with hate behind his silver glasses as he watched his worst enemy invaded the Weasly's mismatched kitchen. Draco, unsure of how to react, simply continued to smirk.

Ginny, who sat half way down the long table, glanced up at him momentarily as he entered before setting her jaw and busying herself with her food. Ron just sat and glared at him fiercely from his seat next to Harry, obviously not caring who saw his dislike.

Good morning lovely day isn't it? Draco said in his best drawl, refusing to admit these terribly poor people made him nervous.

Do sit down Draco, do sit down, Mr. Weasly said nervously motioning to a chair at the other end of the long unstable looking table, Mrs. Weasly should be here any moment, yes any moment now.

Draco slowly pulled out the small chair and sat himself down lazily, treating himself to a tasty looking pancake, refusing to look at any of them.

Pass the syrup if you would Weasly, he asked in a voice that dripped with fake politeness, eyes carefully locked on the youngest Weasly.

Ginny looked up at Draco slowly and met his cold gaze with an angry glare. Draco was slightly surprised when he met the full defiance of her gaze. She was no longer the shy little puppy that had longed after the famous Harry Potter, no not at all. Doing her best to hold her anger in check she shoved the syrup at him as Mrs.Weasly came bustling in to kitchen holding Draco's now awake, little sister in her arms. When Esperanza saw her brother sitting at the table she began to wail desperately, failing her little arms. Merlin she can cry, Draco thought flinching at the sound.

Even his sister can't stand him, Ron muttered to his bacon. Draco glared.

Let me have her, he said to Mrs.Weasly who looked hesitant but handed the squirming infant over when Draco's gaze grew steadily colder.

Esperanza's cries drifted off with a hiccup as Draco took her awkwardly into his arms. He doubt he would ever get used to holding her. Babies were indeed strange creatures he decided.

His sister looked up at him with watery blue eyes before giving him the tinniest baby smile. He had to admit she was rather beautiful, even if she did cry allot. That was until she hiccuped and decided her morning meal of milk looked better all over Draco's neatly pressed shirt.

Ron snorted into his orange juice, and Ginny hid a giggle behind one slim hand. Mr.Weasly had to hit Harry on the back to save him from choking to death on a piece of toast.

Oh dear, Mrs. Weasly muttered and handed Draco a napkin. Snatching it out of her hand he wiped the white substance from his shirt, his face burning with embarrassment.

After Draco had cleaned himself up as best as possible, he turned his attention back to the Weasly's.

Mr.Weasly instantly asked him a question, What happened young Mr. Malfoy, and why have you brought your sister here?

Draco hesitated, not wanting to share his personal life with these people in the least, but he realized that he would have to if he wanted their help. Draco scowled down at his baby sister, who's eyes were wandering curiously around the big room. If Potty and Weasel kill me its all your fault, he told his sister mentally before turning his attention hesitantly back to his audience.

The Weasly's listened to his tale silently, Draco refused to look at Ron, Harry or Ginny, and decided a big gray cat on the counter was the friendliest listener in the room.

When Draco finished his tale, Mrs.Weasly had tears in her already watery eyes and Mr.Weasly's face looked old and tired. Draco stubbornly refused to look at Harry or Ron, and slowly met Ginny's sympathetic gaze. Should have looked at Harry, or Ron, at least they don't make me feel two inches tall,he thought bitterly, and hurriedly looked down at his baby sister.

Oh my dear boy, you will have to stay here of course! said Mrs.Weasly earnestly, her eyes bright with unshed tears.

Ron said furiously, He's a Malfoy, you know the son of that bastard Lucius! The one who tired to kill Harry? Or does that even matter any more?!

Ronald Albert Weasly! Mrs.Weasly cried shrilly, You will not speak of our guest like that! And in case you haven't noticed, he is not his father.

Draco, who was shocked by Mrs.Weasly defense, could only sit gapping at her.

Ron's face turned as red as his hair and the tips of his ears looked ready to burst into flame. He sat there for a long silent second before slowly rising from his chair.

If you'll excuse me, I can't eat when the whole kitchen smells of horse shit, he said gruffly and blew out of the room like a hurricane.

Mrs. Weasly sighed wearily and rubbed at her temple, a sure sign of stress. Draco felt a small tug of guilt, he was indeed a burden to this family, but he really didn't have any where else to go.

Ginny looked back and forth between her father and mother, both looked extremely worried and tired. Deciding that it may be best if both she and Draco left for a little while, she reluctantly met Draco's gaze.

Come on Malfoy I'll settle you in, she said as nicely as possible. Merlin the boy made her mad.

Draco who seemed to understand what she was hinting at, said nothing and rose from his chair, following her silently as she led him up the stairs.


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There you have it! Chapter 2! To one of my reviewers, Draco could have easily known Esperanza meant hope, he is after all very rich and probably travles alot, besides I suck at Spanish and I know what Esperanza means. Thanks to all those who reviwed and I'm ever so glad you liked it ^_^. Well keep reading, it can only get better!

~*~Brianne Crandle