Something Tells Me You're The One By Roni Black

Chapter Seven

Draco and his parents were eating dinner. His mother was talking about nonsense, or at least that's what Draco thought; he wasn't listening. His mind was busy thinking about how he was going to tell his parents he was going to marry Ginny Weasley. He knew perfectly well that they weren't going to be very delighted. In fact, he was afraid of his father's reaction. But he was hoping that his mother, after the first shock, would at least try to understand, and maybe convince his father.

"...so I didn't know what to choose, the black skirt or the blue one?" His mother was saying. "It was such a tough decision! The shopkeeper told me..."

Lucius was looking at his wife, his face frozen and expressionless. It was hard to tell if he was listening carefully, or only staring at her as if she were just another chair. Draco wasn't even bothering to pretend he was listening; he knew his mother had always liked to talk, whether she was being listened to or not.

"I thought I looked good in both skirts, and I just couldn't make a decision," Narcissa continued.

Should I say something now? Draco asked himself, or should I wait till the end of supper?

Narcissa said: "But then my friend Louisa stepped into the store! I was so surprised to see her, and just in the right moment! So after saying hello and how do you do and everything..."

I have nothing to lose.

"...I asked her what she thought, if I should buy the black skirt or the blue one, and she said she liked the black better..."

"Mom, Dad, I have to tell you something," Draco interrupted. He didn't even understand he had cut his mother off, because he hadn't been listening to her; but then he saw her offended expression and added: "Oh, sorry. Go ahead and finish."

"Thank you," Narcissa said loudly. "She said she liked the black one better, so, of course, I bought the blue one immediately. I knew I can never count of Louisa's opinion."

"Fantastic," said Lucius, "simply wonderful. What was it you wanted to tell us, Draco?"

"Yes, Draco, what is it?" said Narcissa.

"Well..." Draco took a deep breath and said: "I just want you to know that you're not going to be very happy."

"What happened?" asked Narcissa at once. "Did you get fired from St. Mungo's?"

"No, it's just that - "

"Wait a minute, Draco, before you tell us, I want to ask you something," said Lucius. "Your six months are up by now. I believe you have found a bride, because you probably know what is going to happen if you didn't." A cold smile spread on his face.

Draco swallowed hard. He defintely knew. "Yes, well, umm, actually, Father, that's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about."

Narcissa's hand went up to her mouth and covered it, as if a disaster had happened. "Oh my God... Draco... you DIDN'T find a bride?"

"I did - " Draco began.

Narcissa jumped to her feet and screamed with happiness. "I knew it! I knew it! Oh, that is so marvelous, Draco darling, you're getting married..."

Draco tried to say something, but Narcissa was choking him with a hug; still chattering and saying: "Oh God, this is so wonderful, my little boy is getting married to the most beautiful, most appropriate woman in the - "

"What?" Draco pulled back, astonished.

"What do you mean, what?" Narcissa went on. "You're marrying the woman we wanted you to! We are so - "

"Hang on," said Lucius coldly, his eyes resting on his son's puzzled and anxious face; "For some reason, I sense there is a problem about this marriage..."

Without a word, Draco nodded.

"What is it?" asked Narcissa apprehensively.

"It's just that..." Draco took a deep breath. Just do it, he told himself. Be strong. They can't hurt you, they can't stop you, you're not a child anymore.

"I'm not marrying Margaret."

"Huh?" Narcissa's jaw dropped.

"I'm not marrying Margaret," Draco repeated in a louder voice.

"But - why?" asked Narcissa, shocked and alarmed.

"Have you found another bride?" asked Lucius quietly.

"Yes," said Draco courageously.

"Who?"

"Ginny Weasley," answered Draco.

His parents fell silent. Draco stared at them, waiting for reaction; he was slightly scared, but was also determined not to show it.

"You're joking," said Narcissa finally.

"No," Draco answered.

"Please tell me you're joking."

"I'm not joking, Mom."

"What - the hell - are you - thinking?" said Lucius in a low, cold, frightening voice.

"I love Ginny Weasley," said Draco determinedly, "she's the woman I want to share my life with."

"You can't!" cried Narcissa. "You cannot possibly marry a Weasley! What happened to you?! You know what this family is - they're - they're - traitors!"

"They're not traitors," said Draco quietly. "You don't know them. I thought so too, till I got to know Ginny better, and now I know how wrong it is. They're not traitors."

"Draco," said Lucius in the same low, cold voice, "listen to me, and listen very carefully, because I'm going to say that only once. YOU ARE NOT MARRYING GINNY WEASLEY. Understood?"

"No," said Draco clearly.

His father stared. "Excuse me?" he said quietly.

"I said - "

"Did I just hear you say 'no' when I ordered you to do something?"

"Yes," said Draco.

"I thought so." And before Draco could say another word, Lucius pulled out his wand. "CRUCIO!"

It felt as if his whole skin was on fire. He heard his mother's scream as he fell to the floor, yelling and writhing in pain.

"Stop it! Lucius, please, stop it!" Narcissa screamed.

And then Lucius stopped it. Draco collapsed on the floor, his whole body shaking.

"I will say it again," said Lucius, his cold gray eyes staring down at his son's tormented face. "You are not marrying Ginny Weasley. Is it clear now?"

Draco rose up, still shaking, but he was determined to stand up for his rights. He was not a child anymore. His father could not control him; he had the legal rights of an adult, which included choosing a partner for life on his own. He stood up straight in front of Lucius, and said loudly: "NO."

"Haven't learned yet?" asked Lucius with a cold smile, raising his wand again; but Draco quickly pulled out his wand and faced his father.

Lucius was obviously surprised and taken aback; he hadn't been expecting this.

"You can hex me again," cried Draco, "but you can't forbid me to marry the woman I love. I am not a little boy anymore, Father, you cannot control my actions, and if I have to fight for that - fine, I will. If duelling proves you how much I care for Ginny - I'll do it. Let's duel, Father."

For a moment, Lucius didn't say a word. Draco was alert and ready to confront him, and Lucius saw that.

"Fine," Lucius finally replied.

"Fine what?" said Draco.

"Fine. Marry the woman of your dreams." Lucius put his wand back in place.

"Excuse me?" asked Draco, totally shocked; Narcissa's stunned face proved him she didn't understand this as well.

"You can marry her," said Lucius. "Get out and marry her."

Draco stared.

"Get out," Lucius repeated. "Get out of this house, and never come back. My son will not marry a Weasley. You are not my son anymore. Get out of this house at this very second."

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

Ginny was sitting in her back yard, waiting for Draco. As soon as he Apparated in front of her, she jumped up, ran over to him and hugged him tightly.

"Quick, let's go," he whispered, "I don't want your parents to see me."

"What did your parents say?"

"They threw me out of the house."

"WHAT?!"

"Shh!" whispered Draco. "Naturally, they weren't happy, and my father put the Cruciatus spell on me, but I still didn't give up - "

"Oh my God!" whispered Ginny.

"Yeah, and when he saw I was serious - he said I wasn't his son anymore, and that I should leave his house and never come back."

"But then - where are we going to live once we're married?"

"That won't be a problem. I have a huge bank account of my own in Gringotts."

"Good. So, we're doing this?"

"Yes."

They held hands.

"Are you sure we're doing the right thing?" whispered Ginny.

"If we want to be together, we don't have any choice."

"I love you..."

"I love you too." A quick kiss - and off they went.

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

Author's note: sorry I haven't updated for a few days. My mouse went wild and I had to buy a new one... pretty annoying. I'll try to update regularly from now on, but again, REVIEWS WILL HELP! So please, please review more, and thanks to all my reviewers, I love you!

Roni.