Something Tells Me You're The One
By Roni Black

Chapter Six

"Mom, Dad, can we talk?"

It was after dinner that day. They had had a big dinner and Mrs Weasley invited the family and some friends: Bill and his wife, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Hermione and Harry Potter.

Mrs. Weasley was talking enthusiastically to Bill's wife, Allison, about Gilderoy Lockhart's books; and Mr. Weasley was discussing one of the Goblin's revolutions with Bill.

Ginny was sitting and waiting for her parents to be free for an hour now; she was getting impatient. "Mom? Dad? I need to talk to you..."

"In a minute, sweetheart," said Mrs. Weasley. "Oh yes, Gilderoy is amazing. I especially loved the way he scared away that Bunshee..."

"Mom! It's important!"

Mrs. Weasley stopped talking; so did Mr. Weasley. They both looked at Ginny. "Yes, darling," said Mr. Weasley, "is there a problem?"

"it's not exactly a problem... but I need to talk to you, now."

"OK," said Mrs. Weasley and got to her feet, "let's go to the kitchen, shall we?"

The three of them entered the kitchen. Ginny made sure the door was closed, then turned to her parents. They were both sitting down, waiting for her to speak.

Ginny was to nervous to sit down, so she began to walk around the room. "Well... umm... something... extraordinary has happened lately..."

"Just a second, honey, sorry for cutting you off," interrupted Mrs. Weasley, "would you two like a dessert? How about banana ice-cream with hot chocolate syrup? I can make it while you're telling us what you wanted to tell, dear."

"No, Mom," said Ginny and sighed, "it's not time for desserts... you'll see what I mean in a few minutes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure, let the dessert wait." Ginny couldn't help but notice her father looked disappointed, probably for losing his banana ice-cream.

"OK, dear, we're listening."

"It's not so easy to say," Ginny sighed again. She looked at the wall. JUST TELL THEM...

She looked at her parents. They were both sitting and watching her carefully.

"I'm getting married," she finally whispered.

Mr. Weasley's eyes widened in shock; Mrs. Weasley, however, jumped off her chair with a big smile on her face. "Oh, I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!" She cheered and gave Ginny a big kiss. "I'm so happy for you, sweetie!"

"You are?" said Ginny, puzzled.

"Yes!" cried Mrs. Weasley. "Oh, it's so wonderful, you and Seamus are going to be so happy!"

"Uh - Mom - "

"It would be grand!" Mrs. Weasley gave her a big hug. "You're so perfect for each other, I'm so happy for you, who would have thought - my little Ginny is getting married - "

"Mom - "

"We can make a big, beautiful wedding in the church," Mrs. Weasley continued.

"But - "

"Of course, if you don't want it to be too big, we can make it small and pleasant, in our back yard!"

"MOM!" said Ginny loudly. "It's not what you're thinking."

"What do you mean?" Mrs Weasley stopped and stared at her.

Ginny shook her head. Not daring to look at her mother's face, she said: "I'm not marrying Seamus."

Silence spread in the room.

After a few minutes, Mr. Weasley said: "What do you mean, you're not marrying Seamus? You said you're getting married, right?"

"Right."

"Then who's going to be the groom, if not Seamus?"

Ginny swallowed hard. She couldn't say the name. So she began: "That's what I wanted to talk to you about, you see..."

They watched her closely, obviously surprised and worried.

"You're not going to like this," she said desperately.

"But we have to hear it anyway," replied her father.

"Yes..." she took a deep breath and whispered: "Draco Malfoy."

Her parents just stared at her for a moment; then Mrs. Weasley said: "I beg your pardon?!"

"Draco Malfoy," Ginny repeated in a low voice.

"W-what - how - Arthur, say something!" Mrs. Weasley raised her voice.

Mr. Weasley began to say something, but then the door was opened and Bill, Allison, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Hermione and Harry broke in.

"Hey!" Ginny screamed.

"What's going on?" Ron shouted, his face bright red; "is what I've just heard true? Are you marrying Draco Malfoy?"

"No, she's NOT," said Mrs. Weasley firmly, "now if you don't mind..."

"Yes, I am!" said Ginny angrily.

"No, you're not!" shouted Ron back, "You can't marry him!"

"I'm not asking you, Ron!"

"Everybody out!" oredered Mr. Weasley, but nobody listened; they were far too shocked and angry.

"Ginny, have you lost your mind?" Hermione cried, "What on earth are you thinking?!"

"I - "

"What has gotten into you?!" said Fred, "Did he hex you or something?"

"Of course not, I - "

"Ginny, where's your common sense?" Charlie demanded, "This is a Malfoy, the son of Lucius Malfoy, one of the main Death-Eaters!"

"He's not like his father at all - "

"Yeah, right!" said Bill angrily, "He's just like his father, everybody knows it - "

"Get out, everyone!" Mrs. Weasley oredered.

"Ginny, have you forgotten what he was like in Hogwarts?" asked Ron furiously, "How he used to call us traitors, and Hermione a Mudblood, and teasing Harry all the time and how he kept getting on our nerves?!"

"I know, but - "

"Why are you doing it?" George demanded.

"BECAUSE I LOVE HIM!" Ginny screamed.

Everybody fell quiet. Bill, Charlie and Harry looked at Ginny as though they were afraid she was mental; Fred, George and Ron looked furious; Hermione and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley looked fearful.

"Get out, all of you," said Ginny angrily, "I need to talk to Mom and Dad. ALONE."

"But - " George started.

"Out!"

"You can't do this!" said Ron angrily.

"OUT!" Ginny and her parents both shouted.

And finally everyone went out, muttering and complaining, and Ginny locked the door after them and turned to her parents.

"Well?" said Mrs. Weasley. Her arms were crossed and she hadn't bothered to sit down this time; her whole body was shaking with repressed anger.

Ginny knew the situation would only get worse if she said "Well what?", so she chose not to reply.

"WELL?" Mrs. Weasley repeated.

"I - I'm sorry!" Ginny burst out, "Believe me, Mom, I didn't plan this, I didn't want to fall in love with him, I didn't want this to happen, I've been trying to repress this for months - "

"Why didn't you tell us, Ginny?" said Mr. Weasley. His face was tight, his teeth greeted, his fists clenched; Ginny bit her lips forcefully. She felt so bad.

"I've been trying to deny it at first - then I realized how strong my feelings were and I got scared - "

"DON'T SAY THAT!" Mrs. Weasley screamed.

Ginny fell silent at once.

"How can it be?!" Mrs. Weasley demanded, walking around the room, wild fury in her eyes. "This is impossible! My daughter - falling for a Malfoy? No! Ginny, do you have any idea what his family thinks about us?"

"He's using you, Ginny, don't you get it?" asked Mr. Weasley, panting.

"Don't talk about him like that!" said Ginny angrily. "He's not what he used to be, he's not like his parents, he's changed - "

"How do you know?"

"He loves me too, OK?" Ginny shouted. "I love him, he loves me, and you have to accept that!"

"We don't have to do anything, Ginny, we're still your parents and you are the one who has to - "

"Listen," said Ginny desperately, "I know it's hard to believe, I know it sounds as though I've gone crazy, but believe me, I'm telling you the truth. Draco has changed. Trust me, if he were what he used to be, I would never fall for him. But he's different, he's charming, he loves me more than words can say - and I love him more than I've ever loved anyone. None of us wanted to fall in love, we knew it was impossible, but our feelings were too strong. We tried to fight them, we tried to deny them, we tried to ignore them - we tried everything! But it didn't work... because now I know: he's the one for me, and I'm the one for him. I can't imagine my life without him."

Everybody was quiet for about a minute. Then Mrs. Weasley said one word:

"NO."

"Mom," Ginny begged.

"No, Ginny, I won't accept this! I won't allow this to happen! I will not let my daughter marry a Malfoy! Not after all the things they've done!"

"Well," said Ginny quietly, "I'm afraid it's not up to you at all."

"You think so?!" Mrs. Weasley's face went all red, but Ginny wasn't alarmed; on the contrary, she was perfectly calmed now.

"Yes, Mom, I think so." And before her parents could say anything, Ginny opened the door, left the room and ran upstairs to her bedroom.

She magically locked the door, and then caught a roll of parchment and a quill, and began to write feverishly.

"My dear Draco, It didn't work. They didn't agree. I tried to explain; they didn't accept my explanation. I told them how much we love each other, believe me, I tried my best, but they wouldn't listen. I can't say I'm surprised. I guess the same thing happened to you. Please write back as soon as possible, because I can't bear to stay in this house much longer. I love you so much. Ginny"