Harry had never been home for the Christmas Holidays, and was looking forward to it greatly. Not only would it give him lots of time with Ginny, but he'd finally feel like he had a family too. Christmas at the Dursleys' was hardly what one would call a family affair; well, maybe it was for Dudley, but not for Harry. Christmas for Harry consisted of ducking whatever new toy (torture devices he often thought of them as) Dudley had gotten and listening to him complain about how he didn't get as many presents as last year. On a whole, Christmas was worse than Dudley's birthday, because Christmas was supposed to be fun for him, too. He smiled warmly at Ginny and squeezed her hand that he was holding. On the seat across from them, Ron and Hermione were having a private conversation. Although Ginny and Harry could see them, Hermione had put some kind of a charm up, so that she and Ron would be inside a bubble of their own, one that sound could not perpetrate. Harry didn't mind; there were many times he wished it were just he and Ginny alone.
Inside their little privacy bubble, Hermione and Ron were discussing their holiday plans.
"Christmas morning is always really nice with just the three of us. It's quiet, but fun. Mum makes a large breakfast, and then we open presents. But once we go to my Mum's sister's house it's just horrid. All of my aunts act as if we're strangers and just meeting for the first time, which results in a lot of high-pitched, fake laughter. My Grandparents actually admit to knowing us, but they criticize everyone. Everything you do is wrong to them. Honestly, they nag more than anyone I've ever met." Ron was actually a little amazed that someone could nag more than Hermione. "They are so stuck in their ways. From what Harry's told me about the Dursleys, my family isn't much better. Aunty Gwendolyn judges everyone. She believes that anyone who isn't exactly like her is wrong and strange. Uncle Todd is even worse. He's a starch Tory and even holds a seat in Parliament, the House of Lords. My mother's whole family is like that. It's either their way, or the highway."
"What's Parliament?"
"You know you really should—"
"Take muggle studies I know, just answer the question."
"Parliament is the supreme legislature of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It consists, technically, of the Crown, the House—" Hermione trailed off when she saw Ron yawn and lean back. "Erm, basically they make the laws."
"Your uncle makes laws?!" Ron asked, more than a little shocked that his girlfriend was the niece of a lawmaker, though knowing how Hermione was, he supposed he shouldn't be.
"Well, yes—" Hermione said hesitantly.
"Oh," was all Ron said, "well it sounds like you're lucky your mum took you being a witch so well."
"Yes, Mum always thought a little differently than the rest of her family I suppose. Though, she did get a lot of their stubbornness; she just applies it towards different issues."
"And she passed that onto her daughter." Hermione batted Ron on the arm playfully. Ron only laughed good-naturedly and affectionately ran a hand over her shoulder. "All they same, I'm glad they let you come."
Hermione smiled up at Ron and leaned into his arms, "what about you?" she asked. "What is Christmas like at the Burrow?"
Ron sighed and leaned his head back against the seat. "It's really the same as most dinners at my house, except that we've just all opened presents. So, Fred and George are wreaking more havoc than usual, and Percy has some new 'priceless treasure' he's trying to protect from them. Bill and Charlie are home, so they always have lots to say. Mum fusses over Bill's hair. Dad is just like a kid and always has some new Muggle gadget to fiddle with. Why Mum buys him plugs and the like is beyond me…" Ron also trailed off, exhausted at the mere memory of one particular Christmas dinner at the Burrow.
"That sounds like so much fun!" Hermione exclaimed comparing his rowdy family centered affair, to her stiff, formal luncheon.
"Well, there's never a dull moment," Ron provided.
"I wish I could be there," Hermione said wistfully. Ron hugged her close and patted her arm pleasantly. Maybe she could come…
~
Draco was sitting on the Hogwarts express with his arm casually draped around Pansy. She was chatting nonchalantly with the Avery twins, leaving Draco free to mentally rehearse how things would go with his father. Above all, he knew one thing: It would not be easy. He thought, numerous times, about how his father may react, and what his possible course of action may be. He only hoped it would involve him still being initiated; he had been looking forward to becoming a Death Eater since summer. The power surge he got after raiding the Diggorys was simply too tempting to deny. So, as the train pulled into King's Cross station and he saw his mother waiting there for him, he couldn't help but feel a bit ill at ease.
"Hello Mother," Draco greeted once he disembarked.
"Hello. How was the train?"
Draco nodded, "fine."
~
Ginny ran off the train to see her mother. She didn't care that she was in sixth year and the students in her year were no doubt watching her and thinking how she was acting like a first year. So much had been going on lately, that she hadn't even realized how much she needed her mother until she saw her waving lovingly on the platform.
"Hello!" Mrs. Weasley greeted warmly, giving Ginny a large, affectionate hug.
"Hi Mummy!" Ginny said enthusiastically. "I can't wait to get home."
Mr. Weasley smiled warmly at his daughter and patted her affectionately on her shoulder. "Glad to see you're home safe sweety,"
As Draco and his mother walked away, Draco caught this disgusting scene out of the corner of his eye. Didn't she know you don't do that in public? Didn't she know how embarrassing that was? But somehow, Draco knew Ginny didn't care. He couldn't imagine not caring what other people thought. What would it be like to run up to his mother and hug her? What's more, what would his mother do? The thought, though entertaining, also bordered on heresy in his family, so Draco followed his mother wordlessly to the car.
~
"Is there something bothering you, Ron?" Hermione asked as they disembarked from the train.
Ron shook himself as if coming out of a daze.
"Wha-why d'you ask?" he answered back nervously.
"It's just—you've been nervous for the last ten minutes."
"What makes you say that?" he squeaked.
She rolled her eyes, "Honestly, Ron! I know there's something on your mind, it just shows."
"Erm—I was just thinking..."
"Yes?" she pressed.
"You know, Christmas. We're going back home, both of us."
Hermione sighed, and Ron hesitated before speaking again.
"This is the last time we'll see each other for two whole weeks; so, I was just thinking... maybe we don't have to wait that long. I mean—we could see each other at some point, and then we wouldn't miss each other so much." The last part came out quickly.
She noticed him blush and resisted the urge to smile. Instead, she said, "Well, ok, we could do that, so that we don't miss each other like you said. But—when should we meet, and where?"
"You can come over for Christmas dinner", he said excitedly, obviously encouraged by her words, "It'll be great, Hermione! We always have fun at Christmas dinner, I've told you that already. And—and you can be there for Ginny, you know? I thought she could use some company."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Ginny could use some company? I thought you said you didn't want us to miss each other."
He blushed again, realizing that his attempt to push the subject elsewhere had failed.
"Well—yeah... Of course."
Hermione didn't see any sense in pressing him further, so she just smiled and said, "I would love to come over, Ron."
He gave out a sigh of relief and Hermione looked amused at the happy expression on his face. They smiled, and hugged. Hermione surprised Ron by turning and giving him a sweet kiss on the lips. Ron blushed, redder than a Gryffindor flag, but didn't protest. The couple parted, both of them looking forward to Christmas Day much more now than they ever had.
~
The car ride home provided Draco with even more time to contemplate what he could say to his father. He knew exactly what the schedule of the evening would be. It was the same way every time he came home after fall or spring term. First, they would have supper together, where Draco would give the usual mechanical explanation of his term. Next, Draco and Lucius would retire to one of the drawing rooms for drinks, or at least, he hoped they would both be drinking tonight. In the past, Lucius would have hard liquor, and Draco would be confined to butterbeer, but during the summer, Lucius had started allowing Draco to drink more than that. It was a sign of equality, and it would be much easier to break the news to his father if they were peers. Draco always dreaded these meetings, and as the car pulled up into the long drive of the manor, the pit in Draco's stomach got worse.
"Draco!" Lucius called gaily as soon as Draco entered the Manor. Draco couldn't help but be taken aback by this enthusiastic greeting. Lucius was NEVER this happy, and was he actually smiling?
"Hello Father," Draco said hesitantly. This couldn't be good, but he hardly had time to consider this, because a house-elf popped up announcing that dinner was ready. Swallowing, Draco followed his mother and father into the Dinning Room.
"So tell us about your term," Lucius prompted. Draco looked at his mother for any sign that Lucius's smiles had become a normal occurrence while he was at school. If that was the case, he also wondered if hell happened to have frozen over in the last few months. His eyes found his mother properly cutting of a dainty piece of ham, making no sign that Lucius's enthusiasm was out of place. Mentally sighing, Draco prepared himself to be criticized for his shortcomings.
"Well uh—" Draco said and than winced slightly, that was no way to start off a conversation with his Father. He mentally shook himself and started again. "Term has gone well, " he began to describe the incredibly boring year he had, pointedly leaving out that he had spent much of his time in the Great Hall staring at the Gryffindor table. Much to his surprise his father didn't interrupt to scold him at all, even when he told them about losing to Ravenclaw.
"It sounds like a rather productive term," Lucius said once Draco had finally finished. Draco had to make a point to shut his mouth after that. That was a positive comment, and Lucius never made positive comments about his term. Even that time in sixth year when they had beaten Gryffindor for the first time at Quidditch and he had beaten Hermione Granger in Potions, and come close in Transfiguration, Father had still complained that his grades weren't high enough, and that he should train more at Quidditch. He was seriously wondering if his 'father' was an imposter using Polyjuice Potion by now.
"Shall we retire to one of the drawing rooms?" Lucius asked Draco. That was rather odd, too. Most of the time the 'invitation,' to the drawing rooms was accompanied by a sigh, and a disappointed voice saying that he could see that they need to talk about upholding the Malfoy name. His wand was in his pocket; if this were one of Dumbledore's little followers impersonating his father, they would have another thing coming. Draco was just reaching to unobtrusively pull out his wand when he saw his father viciously kick a house-elf out of the way and shout at it in Latin. Draco removed his hand from his wand. Only Lucius would shout at a house elf in a language it didn't know.
Once they reached the drawing room, Lucius pulled out a flask of brandy, poured two identical glasses, handed one to Draco, and took one for him.
"Thank you," Draco said and accepted the glass with a nod. They sat in silence for a while, Draco becoming more and more nervous with each passing second. He absentmindedly swirled his brandy and looked down into the cup. Perhaps his father already knew about the girl and he was simply trying to guilt him into saying something, but Lucius was never known for his subtlety. Finally he couldn't take it anymore.
"Father, about the girl—" but Lucius started speaking at exactly the same time, and Draco shut his mouth to listen to him instead.
"I visited our master today to speak with him about your initiation."
Draco eyes went wide and he completely forgot about telling his father about Ginny. Despite his racing heart and curiosity, Draco managed to reply calmly. "You did? What did he say?"
"He wants to initiate you before Christmas." The slightest of slight smiles played on Lucius's lips.
Draco smiled a broad, cocky smile. "I'm honored," he took a swig of brandy.
"And I must say Draco, I agree with him. You've come a long way this year, and you handled the situation with Ginny wonderfully."
Draco almost chocked on the brandy, but he managed to recover and say, "Thank you Father," before his father noticed anything askew.
"There is something I want to give to you. Think of it as an early initiation gift." Lucius said and snapped his fingers. A house-elf appeared carrying a large a box. Lucius took the box from the elf and handed it to Draco. He remembered the last time his father had handed him a box like this. It had contained Death Eater robes, but he opened this one to reveal a different sort of robes.
"An invisibility cloak!" Draco said taking the whimsical folds out of the box.
"Yes, an opportunity to buy this arose and I thought it would make a perfect gift for you." Draco stared at the cloak. He knew Potter had one of these, and now he would have one too. He smiled, there was so much you could do with a cloak like that, including taking little field trips to the Gryffindor girls' dorms, particularly the sixth year ones. And his father had given him such an honor! He glanced up to see Lucius smiling down at him. His face was practically glowing with parental pride. Draco looked back down the study the cloak once more.
"Now what about the girl?"
"Huh?" Draco said looking up with a start.
"The girl, you mentioned the girl but I told you about your initiation."
"Oh uh," Draco looked down at the cloak, "Um, nothing. I just, nothing." Draco swallowed and ran his fingers through the silky folds of the cloak. Things would work themselves out.
~
The day before Christmas Eve, Ginny and Hermione were perched pleasantly on Hermione's bed while Harry was showing Ron a live game of football on Hermione's television and trying to explain Dean's obsession with the game to Ron. Ron, however, didn't seem to be getting it. Ginny had always wondered what a muggle house looked like, so Hermione had invited them for a stay. Harry, Ron, Mr. Weasley and she had flooed to Diagon Alley and ridden the tubes to the Grangers' apartment. Mr. Weasley had had a great time 'muggle watching,' and he was now presiding in a small coffee shop about a street away. Hermione was secretly hoping that he wasn't causing too much of a scene. Although she knew Mr. Weasley was smart enough not to mention 'magic;' the man couldn't help but be amazed by all the things 'muggles have done to get along without magic.'
"Come now Ginny," Hermione was saying, "It won't be that bad. It's not your fault. Your parents have to know you didn't want this baby."
"But they'll still be upset about it. You don't understand. Your parents are more sympathetic about such things. My mum's going to have a bloody cow when she finds out!"
"Well…" Hermione said searching for something to say, "It won't be that bad."
Ginny rolled her eyes in disbelief, whilst Harry (who had given up trying to convince Ron after Ron had said, 'but they're not flying,' for the dozenth time) stood up and said, "Ah, come on now sweet stuff, you've been a wreck for weeks. You'll feel so much better once you tell them, and besides, they like me, so they'll like our plan."
Ron looked the other way. It was too weird, his best friend wanting to marry his sister. He wouldn't trust anyone with Ginny except Harry, and come to think of it, he wouldn't trust anyone with Harry except Ginny.
Ginny sighed and looked endearingly at Harry. "Do you really think so, Harry?"
Harry nodded and brushed a few stray strands of hair away from her face. "We'll tell them together tomorrow, okay?"
"Alright," Ginny said weekly.
~
On Christmas Eve day, the house was being prepared for the night's celebrations, and Draco Malfoy knew enough to stay out of his mother's way when decorating for any holiday was in progress. He spent the time in his room planning what he could do as a Death Eater and all the power he would feel, but his thoughts slowly shifted to what he could do with his new cloak. Yes, he would frequent the Gryffindor's dorm. Maybe he'd even let her catch a glimpse of him. That would make her paranoid. He couldn't wait to see her. In fact, why was he even bothering to wait? He could Apparate into the Burrow right now and see her. He put on his cloak and drew his wand.
Draco popped into the Burrow. He found himself in a warm, despicably ugly, yet still warm room, where he saw Ginny and Potter seated close together on one couch, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley seated together on another. He knew his Ginny was still with Scarface. Ginny was rocking back and forth in an almost comical manor. He smiled, it reminded him of Dobby, his old house-elf. Judging by the way there were seated and Ginny's nervous stance, Draco could pretty easily predict the conversation that was about to take place. He leaned leisurely against the wall to watch the scene play out before him.
~
Ginny sat on the couch feeling like she was back in first year, and trying to tell Harry about the Diary. She rocked back and forth until Harry put a comforting hand on her back to still her. Harry's green eyes were gazing lovingly at her, so she gathered up all her nerves and prepared to tell her parents her news. "I uh—well that is—I guess I don't quite know how to put this, but—um—I'm—when Draco," She swallowed and Harry squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, she took a second to gather her nerves, and tried not to look at her parents confused and worried faces across the way. "I'm pregnant, almost five months pregnant to be exact." Ginny said, looking at her feet the entire time. She felt ill, Harry had been wrong. She wasn't feeling better, she felt worse!
"Ex-excuse me?" Mrs. Weasley stuttered. "You-you're what?"
"It's Malfoy's!" Ginny suddenly sobbed.
"Why didn't you tell us before!?!" Molly Weasley asked jumping up to her feet. Ginny thought she was going to be sick.
"It's not something you just send by owl!" Ginny protested.
"This is a disaster!" Molly sprouted. "Think of what people will say." Ginny was just about to open her mouth to screw everyone else and focus on what was happening to her, when Harry spoke up.
"Mrs. Weasley, we can make a point to tell everyone whose baby it is. We could even use it as proof to put Lucius and Draco away for good!"
"This can't be happening!" Mrs. Weasley went on as if Harry hadn't spoken a word. "The money, the talk, your life is ruined Ginny! You're having a child before you're married. You'll never find a husband now!"
"Mrs. Weasley!" Harry cried loudly, "Her life is not ruined." Harry couldn't believe he was hearing these things. Mrs. Weasley stopped to look at Harry as if he was some sort of creature that Hagrid might like, before she spoke again. "Oh I'm sorry dear, but I think it's going to be drastically different from now on."
"Different yes," Harry spoke up, "but not ruined. We've decided, and we'd like your blessing, but uh--we'd like to raise the child together." Neither Mr. nor Mrs. Weasley said anything; so, Harry started to ramble, Of course, we won't be married until after Ginny graduates from Hogwarts, and we certainly won't be having any children until after that. Maybe, I don't know, I could live here after I graduate and help take care of the child. I uh—still have plenty of the money that my parents have left me, and I could help support the child."
Mrs. Weasley plopped down next to her husband and began fanning herself frantically.
"Ginny honey, and you Harry," Arthur began, "Are you certain about this?"
"Yes sir!" Harry said. Arthur sighed.
"Then you have our blessing,"
"Arthur what—"
"And we'll talk about this later Molly."
~
Draco Malfoy couldn't believe his ears. He Apparated back to the Manor without much thought, and so fast, that he was lucky he didn't splinch himself.
Absentmindedly, he wandered through the hallways, thinking. Ginny was going to end up with Potter; his child was going to be raised by Potter, and they were going to use the child against him. He could end up in Azkaban. He snorted, not even Fudge could be convinced to ignore proof like a baby. This was so unfair! HIS Ginny was going to be married to Potter, and he was going to end up in Azkaban! He knew he had to tell his father now. There were no excuses left for avoiding it. Draco stopped mid stride, amazed; his inattentive wanderings had taken him right to the door of Ginny's old pink room. Slowly, he turned the handle and opened the door. The room looked exactly the same as it had the last time he had left it, and a million memories came rushing past him
"I've missed you!"
"Dim the lights,"
"Do you have to go?" He could almost hear her little voice whispering. He sat in one of the chairs by the little table where they had shared so many meals together. He remembered sitting there and looking across at her, thinking about how much he just loved spoiling her. He had been so nice to her and done everything to make her stay comfortable, but she was a conniving little whore, and now, their child was going to be raised by Potter. No, that wouldn't do, his pet and his child could not belong to Potter; they belonged to him, and if he couldn't have it, no one could. That settled it. A plan started to form in his head; he could do it, all he needed was the Dark Lord to give the okay, and then, he would be immune to the laws. Yes, he was going to tell his father now.
~
Ginny let out a huge breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and leaned against Harry, who immediately slung his arm around her and rested his hand on her swelling belly.
"That went," he hesitated, "well." Ginny only had the energy to nod, but she agreed with Harry. In comparison to how she thought it was going to be, it did go rather well.
"But she didn't even ask if I was okay," Ginny said. Harry sighed and held her close.
"Don't worry about it sweets. She's just," he hesitated, "a bit overwhelmed I think." Ginny nodded and snuggled in closer to Harry.
"Why did he have to choose me?" she whispered, and Harry couldn't help but wonder the same thing.
~
Draco opened the door to his father's study with a minor bang. Lucius looked up, slightly startled to see Draco, and spoke.
"Draco! What is the meaning of this?"
"Father, what does the Dark Lord think about raids. I mean, once I'm initiated, could I, or could you suggest to him that we raid a certain house, and get hold of a certain person."
"Like who?" Lucius questioned harshly, though he had a pretty good idea.
"Ginny Weasley. She's still pregnant, but Potter is going to raise the child with her, and they're going to use the baby as proof against us.
Lucius looked at Draco like he was something rather foul on the bottom of his boot. Draco had surprised him, and he hated being surprised. A good portion of his life had been devoted to avoiding receiving surprises like these, and he wasn't happy with his son for putting him in such a situation. He glared and Draco, and his son swallowed before Lucius said, very slowly and deliberately "Ginny Weasly is still pregnant? How long have you known this, Draco?"
Draco had been so concentrated on getting Ginny back from Potter that he had completely forgotten that he was finally breaking the news to Lucius.
"She never got to take the potion. Stupid Potter showed up and smashed it against the wall, and she was supposed to get rid of it by muggle ways. I don't know, something that that mudblood was helping her with. I—uh—didn't know until today, when I went to her house using my invisibility cloak, that she still has the baby. I came in on her telling her parents as such."
"So let me get this straight," Lucius said. "She never even took the potion. So, she's been pregnant for an extra two months and you never bothered to tell me?"
"I didn't know until just now!" Draco protested, "but anyways, the point is, now I want to get Ginny. I mean we have to get the child one way or another. Do you think The Dark Lord would let us have a raid on the Weasleys? And instead of just killing Ginny, we could keep her here even after the child is born."
Lucius sighed, his son had gotten them into quite a dilemma, but he was willing to forgive Draco for surprising him, if he had a plan, which he seemed to. Now it was only a matter of getting The Dark Lord to give the okay. "But you're not even a Death Eater yet Draco. I highly doubt Our Lord is likely to grant you favors quite yet."
"But you are a Death-Eater, and you're his favorite one. Ask him Father; ask him if we can raid the Weasleys' house. Won't you give Ginny to me as an initiation present?"
"I already gave you that invisibility cloak; didn't I?"
"Er-right, but we need to get rid of the baby. Even if Fudge did ignore the proof, others wouldn't. And I just don't see why I can't keep Ginny here."
"Well, if we took certain precautions, I don't see why not. Of course you'll have to leave your wand outside when you go visit her, and she'd have to be in a dungeon room so she couldn't send owls again."
Draco nodded profusely, and Lucius had a flashback to when Draco was seven, trying to partition him for a new racing broom. Narcissa had wanted Lucius to buy Draco a slower broom so it would be safer, but between the two of them insisting, she finally conceded and Draco had gotten the Comet 260. He'd looked the same than, wide-eyed and eager.
"Alright Draco," Lucius said, "I will ask the permission of the Dark Lord tonight."
"Tonight? Can't I go with you Father?"
Lucius laughed good-naturedly. "No Draco, the Dark Lord only allows true Death Eaters in his presence, the only exception being initiations."
"Oh," Draco nodded, a little more somber.
"Why don't you start preparing a dungeon cell? I suspect you're going to be down there quite a bit at first, and we do want the child to live. You never know, it could actually be valuable somehow; the Dark Lord may have a use for it. But now I must collect my thoughts before I see Him."
Draco nodded again left his father study for the dungeons. The Malfoy dungeons weren't exactly famous for their hominess, quite the opposite actually. The dungeons were a foul place. The walls seemed to suck the happiness out of the confinement as the niter sucked oxygen from the air, but as Draco Malfoy practically skipped down the deteriorating halls, he defied the dungeon's atmosphere and thought pleasantly of having Ginny in a little room again, all to himself. She would need him again, and when he came in to see her, she would beg him to stay and keep her company, because she would be so lonely without him. He smiled once more, thinking about his child she was carrying. Yes, his child would be just perfect, and he liked his father's idea. The Dark Lord may have a purpose for it, but he was willing to bet that Ginny would go all motherly on him now. It was only natural that she would cling to it when she was 'protecting' it from him. Didn't she know he had no use for a child, that all he wanted was her? A part of him would even enjoy taking it from her. He'd see her face twist up and she'd beg him, maybe even bargain with him, for her child. Then she'd know how he felt. Yes, he'd have complete control over her again.
~
Lucius summoned a house-elf and began getting dressed into his Death Eater robes and mask. He wasn't particularly looking forward to asking The Dark Lord for favors, but it was a necessity. Besides, the Dark Lord had been in a relatively generous mood lately, and he planned on taking full advantage of that for as long as he could. Mentally preparing himself to face his master, Lucius Apparated to a hollow in the Dark Forest. The Dark Lord had set up a camp there some time ago, and it was a strong hold. The Dark Forest, completely different from the Forbidden Forest, was a long abandoned enchanted wood invisible to Muggles and forgotten by most wizards. The Dark Lord now resided here, his throne sat among the trees, and next to him, Peter Pettigrew crouched on the ground. Lucius hadn't a clue where Voldemort actually lived, but he could be found sitting in this throne almost all hours of the day. (that was pretty explanatory,too.)
"Lucius," Voldermort said, and Lucius couldn't help but get a chill at Lord Voldermort's acute sense for knowing which follower was which, even with the black robes and masks.
"My Lord," Lucius said, immediately dropping to one knee, and gritting his teeth. Malfoys bowed to no one, and it was difficult to make an exception.
"You may approach." Lord Voldermort's icy voice sounded.
Lucius walked forward with trepidation, "Thank you My Lord."
"You have come to ask a favor of me, no?"
"I have My Lord," Lucius graveled, and waited for Voldermort's permission to continue.
"Well?" he prompted impatiently and Lucius winced; apparently, he shouldn't have waited for approval.
"My Lord knows of my son's possession of Virginia Weasley this past summer?"
"I do Lucius," Voldermort said.
"She became pregnant with my son's child," Lucius paused. Voldermort liked to critique each sentence separately, and it was Lucius's knowledge of things such as this that made him Voldermort's favorite.
"Yes, I sensed there was something you were holding back from me before Lucius. You will be punished of course, but for now continue with your request."
Lucius swallowed and tried not to think of the crucio that was in his near future. "We planned to give her a potion, but someone caught them while she was taking it and the potion was lost."
"Who?"
"My Lord?" Lucius questioned.
"Who caught them Lucius?" Once again, he had to fight the urge to wince; he had purposefully avoided mentioning Potter's name, but Voldermort seemed to be able to sense when Potter was involved.
"Potter, My Lord." Lucius swallowed.
"Very well," Voldermort said shifting slightly in his throne.
"Continue."
"Yes, My Lord. Virginia told my son that she was going to get rid of it some Muggle way, and my son, having no real grasp on the idea of Muggle methods, believed everything had gone according to plan."
"But that wasn't the case?"
"No, My Lord, I'm afraid not." Lucius paused but Voldermort merely raised his hand, inviting him to continue. "My son found out today that she's still with child."
"A problem," Voldermort mused.
"Yes My Lord, a very large problem."
"And how would you like my assistance in this matter?" Voldermort questioned.
"I only seek your permission to raid the Weasleys."
"An interesting request," Voldermort said and Lucius continued.
"And once we have the girl, we would keep her at the Manor, and present the child to you, My Lord."
Voldermort paused and appeared to think about the situation.
"No," Voldermort finally said.
Lucius fought the urge to let out a string of nasty profanities. No? But then how was he supposed to deal with this?
"Perhaps my Lord could suggest another possible course of action." Lucius replied instead, trying to keep an edge off his voice.
Voldermort chuckled. Lucius was devoted, but he had a temper that he had a hard time controlling. It had taken many Cruciatus Curses to teach him in the beginning. "I can suggest something else Lucius, and I think you will find it agreeable."
"I'm certain I will My Lord," Lucius said, but he was silently pleading that this was one of Voldermort's best ideas.
Voldermort's face distorted into a cruel, unnatural smile. He was going to enjoy watching Lucius to react to this. "Draco and Virginia Weasley will be wed."
Lucius blanched, had he heard him right? "My Lord?" he dared to question.
"I know you believe the Weasleys are foul excuses for pure-bloods, but the Weasleys' blood goes back farther than yours, Lucius." Voldermort had stumbled across this information some time ago, and had been looking for just the right moment to inform Lucius.
Lucius thought he was going to be ill. That couldn't be true.
"I-My Lord, I believe Virginia would make a most disagreeable wife for Draco. I can't foresee her acting as a Malfoy wife should."
"But she will Lucius," Voldermort said with a slight smile. He should punish Lucius for not trusting him. All the same, he flicked his wand, and Lucius found himself holding a rolled up bit of parchment.
"My Lord?"
"Read it Lucius." Voldermort said. So, Lucius did, and as he read a smile began to curl at his lips.
Marriage Contract of Draco T. Malfoy III and Virginia E. WeasleyI, Arthur R. Weasley, promise my Daughter Virginia E. Weasley, to be wed to Lucius M. Malfoy's son, Draco T. Malfoy III.
_______________And I, Lucius M. Malfoy, promise my son, Draco T. Malfoy III to be wed to Arthur R. Weasley's daughter, Virginia E. Weasley.
_______________
For the duration of Virginia E. Weasley and Draco T. Malfoy III's marriage, we, Arthur R. Weasley and Lucius M. Malfoy agree that they shall, abide by the following rules:
Excluding only the clause immediately proceeding this, another exact copy (excluding the names at the bottom which will be changed to read Mrs. and Mrs. Draco Malfoy and signed accordingly) of these agreements will be signed by both the bride (Virginia E. Wesley) and the groom (Draco M. Malfoy) at their wedding and once again on their respective eighteenth birthdays (at the time Virginia E. Weasley will be called Virginia E. Malfoy)
The marriage between Virginia E. Weasley and Draco T. Malfoy must take place before midnight of 31 December 1997 A.D.
Virginia E. Weasley (henceforth called Mrs. Draco Malfoy) shall not do anything that could in someway result in the disgrace or embarrassment of The Malfoy bloodline. What is considered a disgrace or embarrassment is to be determined by the current head of the Malfoy family, Mr. Lucius M. Malfoy (name will change accordingly.)
Under NO circumstances may either Mr. Draco Malfoy or Mrs. Draco Malfoy divorce. The only way this contract may be broken is the death of either Mr. Draco Malfoy or Mrs. Draco Malfoy.
Mrs. Draco Malfoy will have at least one healthy male child that can properly carrying on the family name. She will continue to bear children until she has a male child. The only time this clause maybe waved is if she had produced no less than ten children and no male heir. In which case, the eldest daughter will be raised to take on the role a male heir would have possessed.
Her Husband, Mr. Draco T. Malfoy (henceforth called simply Draco Malfoy) may decided when it is reasonable to have children if Mrs. Draco Malfoy does not start bearing children by the age he finds suitable.
While expecting a child, Mrs. Draco Malfoy may not do anything to harm the child intentionally.
Further on the subject of children, Mrs. Draco Malfoy will raise her children to be what the head current head of the Malfoy family, Mr. Lucius M. Malfoy, (name will change accordingly) considers correct.
Mrs. Draco Malfoy may not seek officials if she finds any activity they would deem unlawful occurring that involves any one of the Malfoys.
The exact contents of this contract may not be discussed or divulged to anyone who was not informed of it at the time of its signing, Mrs. Lucius Malfoy being the only exception. The marriage may be discussed but no mention of the contract shall be made.
Mrs. Draco Malfoy may not take any job (volunteer or otherwise) that the current head of family, Mr. Lucius M. Malfoy (name will change accordingly) does not agree to.
Mrs. Draco Malfoy may not keep her maiden name in any form. She is not to add it as a middle name. Her only sir name from the time of marriage to the time of her death is Malfoy unless circumstance change (see below).
In the case of Mr. Draco Malfoy's untimely death, Mrs. Draco Malfoy may remarry after an appropriate mourning time has passed (5 years) but only to one that the current head of the Malfoy family, Mr. Lucius M. Malfoy (name will change accordingly) finds suiting. However, if she does not wish to remarry, she cannot be forced to.
Mrs. Draco Malfoy must finish her schooling to become a fully trained witch by the time she has reached the age of 19.
Mr. Arthur R. Weasley and Mr. Lucius M. Malfoy again agree to the above statements.
______________________________
"My Lord!" Lucius spouted. "It's wonderful." It really was brilliant. Ginny would be a good wife under this, and Draco would be thrilled. Besides, he wasn't a fool. He knew that the Malfoy blood was getting thin, and if the Weasleys really did have purer blood than theirs, he planned on capitalizing on that.
"About your punishment—"
Lucius's smile faded and he steeled his nerves for the curse.
"I'm not going to put you under Crucio." Voldermort said and Lucius relaxed a bit. "But because you and your son withheld information from me, Draco will have to wait until summer to be initiated."
"My Lord, Draco will be mostly disappointed." Lucius said.
"But he will have his new bride to appease him." Voldermort said.
"Yes my Lord, because of your brilliance, he will have a new wife."
Voldermort waved his wand with a satisfied smile. "Dismissed!" he barked and Lucius suddenly found himself back at the Manor; he hated it when Voldermort forced him to Apparate. Lucius marveled at the contract in his hand. On the one hand, Draco wasn't going to become a Death Eater, and he had so been counting on that. But The Dark Lord didn't seem to be too upset, and Draco could be initiated this summer. Besides, the little Weasley child would be a fine addition to the family. Arthur would be furious.
~
The next day, Draco was sitting in the drawing room with his father, desperately trying to keep his hands from shaking. His father had an odd roll of parchment by him, and he was curious to know what it was. He knew his father had gone to ask Voldermort permission to get Ginny for him, but Lucius had made no mention of it at supper today and had barked at him to join him for drinks. His father's good mood had faded, and Draco only hoped he chose this moment to let on why.
"You're nervous aren't you?" Lucius finally said.
"I'm curious, father. How did your meeting with Our Lord go?" Draco was commanding his hands to stay still, but they wouldn't listen. They were shaking so much, that the drink he was holding was splashing around annoyingly in his glass.
"I have some news." Lucius supplied in his usual cold voice. Draco swallowed. This couldn't possibly be good.
"Good or bad, Father?"
"Bad," Lucius said and he saw Draco tense, "and good." Draco relaxed slightly. Even if there was good news, bad news from his father was guaranteed to be unpleasant, and bad news from Voldermort was guaranteed to be worse than unpleasant.
"Father?" Draco prompted.
"Voldermort has forbidden you to become a Death Eater."
"WHAT?!" Draco bellowed getting up and spilling his drink. "WHY!?" Voldermort couldn't forbid him; he needed that power. It simply wasn't fair.
"Because you have withheld information from him."
"What?" Draco repeated.
"Yes, but do not worry, you will be initiated in the summer. Our Lord thinks you will be otherwise occupied until then."
"What?" Draco questioned harshly.
"Your new wife," Lucius said, a slight smiling curling at his lips.
"Wife?" Draco asked, now more confused than anything.
"Yes, you said you wanted Ginny Weasley, and you are going to own her, for the rest of your lives."
"Wh-what?" Draco said sitting down. He could have Ginny for as long as he pleased?
"Ginny is going to be my wife?"
"Yes, and she will be under this contract," Lucius and handed Draco the odd parchment he had been holding. Curious, Draco opened it and read. His reaction was much the same as Lucius's; a small smile crept onto his mouth. Ginny Weasley was going to be his, forever. From about a week from now and until death do them part, Ginny was going to belong to him. She would have to do whatever he said, wear whatever he told her to wear, say whatever he wanted her to say. His first order of business would be to tell her NOT to go anywhere near Potter. His smile broadened thinking of Potter. How would he react to this? He imagined he would be livid at the very thought of Draco laying a finger on Ginny, let alone marrying her. That would teach her not to plan to raise his child with Potter.
"I don't know what to say," Draco said looking up at his father.
"We'll have to get everything planned and get some ingredients we'll need for an impediment potion."
Suddenly, a very unpleasant thought hit him, "Father, what if Arthur Weasley won't sign this contract? I mean, why would he sign it?"
"Arthur will be given two options. He can either pledge his daughter to be married to you, or I will kill her. You'll find Draco, that some people have certain week spots; most of the times, those week spots are their children and family." Lucius looked at Draco in such a way that Draco was quite certain he was not a weak spot for him.
"Yes, Father," Draco said.
"I suppose I shall Apparate into the midst of the Weasleys' Christmas celebration and deliver Ginny her little gift."
"Can't I come Father?" Draco asked. He didn't want to miss her reaction, or the entire Weasley clan's reaction for that matter.
"No, I think I should go alone." Draco wanted to protest but he was in far too good of a mood right now, and he didn't wish to spoil it by upsetting his father. Ginny Weasley was going to be his, forever.
A/N: If you'd like to be added to the update list, please say so in your review and leave your e-mail in there too. Also, I'd like to give credit to my beta for writing the part where Ron suggest that Hermione comes to visit him for Christmas. I just can't write romantic moments between the two of them so thanks to her!
I actually typed up a contract and had fun making paper to print in on. If you'd like to see it, click the 'Homepage" link in my profile.
