Title: Was I Ever Loved By You?
Author: Audrey (booksmartbrilliance@yahoo.com)
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Summary: Ginny Weasley has it all. Successful career woman, love interest of Harry Potter, the envy of her generation. Life can't get any better. Until something happens that brings everything crashing down around her and she's forced to look at life from a different angle.
A/N: Wow! A record! Over 1000 people have viewed this fic. I'm amazed and honored! I hope that you continue to enjoy this story.
Apologies for taking forever on this chapter. It's my favorite so far, however, and I think it was worth the wait. Special thanks go to Dani aka hazy afterglow, Potty For Potter, and Krismone, without them this chapter would have taken infinitely longer. To make up for the delay the chapter is extra long. Enjoy!
Edit: *grovels at the feet of the all powerful Becca* Massive apologies for not thanking you for this chapter. I am an insensitive git. You helped me through my writer's block and helped me make Draco much sexier. Thank you! You rule!
CHAPTER EIGHT -- SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT
People are talkin, talking 'bout people
I hear them whisper, you won't believe it
They think we're lovers kept under covers
I just ignore it, but they keep saying
We laugh just a little too loud
We stand just a little too close
We stare just a little too long
Maybe they're seeing, something we don't, Darlin'
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love?
Something To Talk About by Bonnie Raitt
* * * * *
"Ginny can I speak to you in the kitchen a moment?" Mum asks, her voice strained.
"Sure," I say cheerily. I look up at Draco who looks even paler than usual and pat him on the arm. "I'll be right back." I leave the dining room with everyone still staring at Draco. I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud.
"Ginny, what is he doing here?" Mum asks as soon as the kitchen door is shut.
"I invited him."
"But why? This is terrible!" she says, wringing her hands. "This will ruin everything!"
"Mum," I say, putting my hands on my hips. "You're overreacting. He didn't have anywhere to go, so I asked him to come. You always told us that if we had any friends that didn't have anywhere to go for Christmas, they'd be welcome."
"I know, Ginny, but a Malfoy? What will Harry think?"
"Harry isn't here," I say. Mum looks away quickly and I feel my stomach drop. "Mum, tell me you didn't!"
"It's just not Christmas without Harry!" she says quickly. "I just want my family together for Christmas, is that asking too much?"
"Mum!"
"He didn't even want to come at first, no doubt because of the cold shoulder you and Ron have been giving him, said he was going to the Grangers. Honestly, Ginny! Do you know what those Muggles have for Christmas dinner? Duck! Duck on Christmas..."
"You should have told me," I say, feeling the sudden urge to Apparate somewhere, anywhere but here at the Burrow.
"I wanted it to be a surprise!" she says defensively. Then, in true motherly fashion, she tries to turn it on me. "You should have told me you were bringing Malfoy."
"I didn't bring him, I invited him. I didn't even think he was going to show up. Do you have any idea how awkward this is going to be?" I ask. "Wait a minute! Mum you told me to answer the door! You thought it was Harry, didn't you?"
"I think I left that stove turned on," she says, going over to the stove and checking it.
"Mum!" I yell.
"Oh, alright. I just think you two need to put this behind you and move on."
I stare at her unbelievingly. "We haven't been together for four months, this isn't just rough spot in our relationship. It's over."
I don't know who's more shocked by my words, me or her. The truth is, up until a month ago I was sort of hoping deep down that this was just a rough spot, that Harry would just call me up and tell me he was wrong and everything would go back to normal. But here I was telling my mother that it was over and it just felt right.
"Ginny, everyone makes mistakes," Mum says quietly.
"Yeah, and we have to learn from them. I'm not making that mistake again."
"I just think that..."
"Mum look, Harry and I are not going to get back together. No matter how much you want us to. It just wasn't meant to be. Right now I don't even know if we can be friends."
Mom lets out a long sigh just as the doorbell rings. We both jump at the sound and look at one other with apprehension.
"Right then," she says hurriedly, "No use hiding in the kitchen. Ginny get the door. I'll rearrange the seating. It is Christmas after all, the more the merrier."
"Mum..." I plead, but she's already disappeared into the dining room. I make my way to the front door for what feels like the thousandth time that day. I take a deep breath and open the door.
"Happy Christmas!" says a cheerful looking Hermione, her arms full of presents, "I'm so sorry we're late."
"Happy Christmas," Harry says, smiling nervously at me. I feel a little ache in my chest as I look at him.
I manage to force a smile though, as I say, "Happy Christmas."
I open the door and they step in shaking off the cold. I lead them into the living room where we deposit the gifts and then to the dining room which is in the midst of chaos. Mum has made everyone get up, except Penelope, and is now making more room for additional chairs. I spot Draco standing in the corner watching the scene with amusement as mum barks out orders and assigns seats.
"There. Percy, sit by your wife. Charlie and you Karen can sit here, Bill and Fleur, there, Gabrielle, be a darling and sit over there by Arthur will you? Ron take that seat in the corner. Fred and Angelina could you? Yes, that's fine. George and Alicia, right. Harry! Happy Christmas! Oh and Hermione, hello! Bill go get another chair. Harry you sit over here by Ron. Ginny..."
I give her a pointed look.
"You and Mr. Malfoy can sit by Fleur," I give a sigh of relief. Even though we're sitting across from Harry at least it isn't right beside him, "Hermione, dear, you can squeeze in over here by Gabrielle. There, I think we're ready to eat."
Fred and George are looking down at our end of the table and grinning evilly.
"And to think," I hear Fred say to Angelina as he nods towards Harry, Draco and I, "we almost went to your parents' this Christmas and missed all this."
* * * * *
"Are they always like this?" Malfoy asks out of the corner of his mouth.
"Like what?" I ask, frowning up at him. He is looking up and down the table his face blank of emotion, "Like...this." He says looking back at me and making a small gesture that takes in the entire table.
I follow his gaze. At the end of the table mum is heaping more food on Penelope's plate while talking to Percy; Charlie is whispering something in Karen's ear; Alicia, Bill and George are discussing Quidditch: Fleur, on the other side of Draco, is on her fifth eggnog and singing softly to herself; Angelina and Fred are talking in hushed tones across from us; Harry is talking over Ron to Dad; Ron is talking over Dad to Gabrielle who is smiling and laughing; Hermione is frowning as she occasionally injects her opinion into their conversation.
I smile at him, "Yes."
I don't know how I expected my family to react to me bringing home Draco Malfoy. Part of me is relieved that they haven't been rude or asked any questions that he obviously doesn't want to address. There is another part of me though that thought there might be a little more uproar. After all, it isn't everyday I bring home a man thought dead, son to a legendary Death Eater, and...let's face it....someone very attractive.
But they've all been perfectly pleasant.
Pleasantly ignoring him.
He stiffens beside me, momentarily shooting me a look of surprise. "Weasley...?"
"What?" I ask, dread hitting me at the look on his face. If Fred or George slipped anything into his food, I'll...
He smiles at me slightly, "As much as I'm enjoying that sensation, it's not really appropriate, is it?"
I frown at him, "What are you talking about?"
He frowns slightly, "Really, Weasley, stop."
My cheeks feel warm. He's playing some kind of game. He showed up here to embarrass me in front of my family. "Stop what?" I hiss, causing Harry to glance up at us.
"For the love of Merlin, Weasley," he says, exasperated, "Stop rubbing my leg."
This statement gets the attention of most of the table. I feel my cheeks go scarlet.
"I-I'm not!"
"I am," says Fleur winking at Draco and putting her hand on his arm. "You're so pretty. Will you be the angel at the top of my tree?"
Draco's eyebrows raise in surprise as he turns to stare at Fleur along with everyone else. She is smiling at him seductively as she reaches up to touch his face.
Bill stops her with a slight frown, "That's enough." With his other hand he puts her eggnog out of reach. "No more."
Fleur turns to her husband and pouts in the way that drives me up the wall. I turn away from them as Gabrielle apologizes to Draco, shaking her head slightly, "I'm terribly sorry. She always gets like this after a few drinks."
Harry snorts putting down his fork and smiling wryly, "Remember the New Years she thought Ron was Bill and snogged him senseless?"
"Well, Ron didn't stop her!" Hermione says, a reproachful tone in her voice.
Ron's face goes a deep shade of red as he looks horrified for a moment. Then he seems to pull himself together as he looks across the table and winks at Gabrielle, "What can I say? I have a thing for blondes."
Beside me, Hermione's face goes slightly red as she sets her glass down abruptly. Gabrielle smiles shyly at Ron while Dad smiles faintly and seems very interested in his food. I look across from me and see Harry staring at Ron a look of faint surprise on his face. Obviously, I'm not the only one that thought this attempt at suaveness by Ron was out of the ordinary. What's even more shocking is that Gabrielle seems to be falling for it.
I try to disguise the laughter that is threatening to overtake me by coughing weakly. I hear a small strangled noise from my left and turn to stare at Draco. We're packed so close around the table that our arms are practically touching and I can feel him shaking slightly. He's staring determinedly down at his plate his hair falling over his face and hiding it from view. I nudge him slightly and he looks up at me a thin smile on his face. It's his eyes that catch my attention though. They're practically shining with quiet laughter. I have to bite my lip to stop myself from erupting into a fit of giggles.
For a moment, it feels like we're the only people in the room as we share a private joke. For one fleeting moment I forget that I'm surrounded by my crazy family. I forget that I'm sitting across from my ex-boyfriend who's not talking to my brother, his best friend. I forget about the awkwardness of it all and I'm simply focusing on him, Draco Malfoy, the last person I expected to be sitting by me this Christmas. The moment is short lived, however, as my family comes rushing back full force.
Fleur who is now arguing loudly with Bill knocks over Draco's wine glass with an overdramatic swing of her hand causing it to spill all over the front of his sweater and trousers. Fleur turns around her eyes wide.
"Oh," she says, her eyes slightly glazed as she grabs her napkin from her lap and goes to wipe at the spill. At least, I think she's trying to wipe at the spill, though the fact that she goes for his trousers first gives me the impression that she is taking advantage of the situation and trying to cop a feel while she's at it.
Draco scoots away from the table quickly muttering, "I'll get it."
I stand up beside him. "I'll help you," I say my voice wavering slightly as I try to control the laughter that is bubbling up inside me and causing tears to spring to my eyes. I have to get out of the Dining Room before I burst out laughing and everyone thinks I'm justifiably insane.
"I think there is some cleaning potion in the Kitchen," I say having to bite the words out. "I'll show you." I'm vaguely aware of eyes burning holes in the back of my head as I lead the way out of the Dining Room, but I'm trying so hard not to burst out laughing that for once in my life, I don't care.
* * * * *
In the Kitchen I finally let go of the laughter that I've been holding inside and it washes over me in seemingly endless waves. I laugh until I have tears streaming down my face and I can hardly breathe, my sides are aching so badly. When I finally catch my breath and look up at him he is smiling at me his eyes still bright.
"And I used to think you Weasleys were dull," he says, wiping away tears of laughter.
"Never a dull moment!" I say cheerily, feeling my stomach ache from laughing as I look at him. He has a beautiful smile, I wonder why he doesn't use it more often. Despite the fact that it now hurts to smile I grin at him. "You really thought that was me rubbing your leg?"
His face, slightly pink from laughing so hard, turns a deeper shade of pink. "Well..."
"Wait a minute, are you blushing?" I ask raising an eyebrow in surprise.
He pulls himself to his full height and his smile disappears, though his eyes don't change, "Of course not. Malfoys don't blush."
I snort as I make my way to the closet and start looking for the cleaning potion. I hear him chuckle behind me. "What?" I ask, grabbing the bottle and turning to look at him.
"Did you see Granger's face?" he asks, smiling to himself. "I've never seen her look like that."
"See what a well placed picture on the front of your magazine can do? Any other Christmas and Ron would already be three sheets to the wind and coming on to the coat rack in the corner."
Draco looks genuinely surprised, "You mean the magazine..."
"Is the reason Gabrielle is here." I finish for him. "I told you to trust me. Now take off your clothes."
"You know," he says dryly, "I seriously underestimated you Weasley women First your sister-in-law shamelessly tries to grope me and now you're telling me to get undressed? I feel like I'll be writing to Penthouse soon."
"For the cleaning potion," I say, rolling my eyes, "unless you like your clothes with a hint of red wine."
"Are you kidding?," he says, sliding off his shirt, "This is Gladrags' finest. The best money can buy."
"Then I'll be sure to be really careful with it," I say sarcastically, taking his shirt and trying not to stare at his bare chest. I lay it out on the Kitchen table and sprinkle some of the potion over it. "Trousers too," I say, holding out my hand.
He looks at me doubtfully and then glances at the door. "Don't worry," I say, "No one will come in, it will only takes a couple of minutes for the potion to set and then you'll be fully clothed again."
"You probably use that line on all your male guests," he says, unzipping his pants and stepping out of them revealing black boxers underneath. He hands me his trousers and I put them on the table beside his shirt and sprinkle the cleaning potion on them. I turn back to look at him and feel my cheeks go warm. I recall the way the girls in my year used to fall all over themselves about Draco Malfoy. I never gave it much thought, I was always too obsessed with Harry to notice anyone else, but now I can see why Rebecca, a roommate of mine, used to get all dreamy eyed at the mention of his name.
Draco sits in a chair, somehow managing to look dignified in only a pair of boxers. I take a seat beside him and we stare at the fire in the kitchen for a moment. I'm trying to stare at anything but him, but it's hard as I keep getting flashes of pale and toned skin in the corner of my eye. The silence has gone a few seconds into the "awkward" category and I frantically search for something to talk about. "So, where have you been all these years?" I hear myself blurt out.
In the corner of my eye I see him stiffen, though his voice is smooth and calm when he speaks, "Well it all depends on who you talk to, doesn't it?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"Most people think I've been dead, some say I've been plotting the return of the Death Eaters, others say I've been in a coma, and there are a few who seem to think I'm a spy for the Ministry of Magic."
"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." I say, trying to lighten the talk again.
He grins at me, relaxing a bit, "What do you think?"
"Honestly?" He nods. "I thought you were dead."
"I was, sort of."
"What?" I say, turning to look at him.
"Dead to the wizarding world, anyway. Would you believe me if I said I've been living as a Muggle in America?"
I blink, "No."
"New York, actually. Fact is always stranger than fiction."
"But why? I thought you hated Muggles."
He looks away, his grin fading. "I did. I hated muggles and mudbloods and puppies."
"You hated puppies?"
"Actually, I still hate puppies."
I'm not sure what to say to this, so I don't say anything.
"But I hated Voldemort more. For years I had watched my father, one of the most powerful wizards in England, grovel at the feet of this...thing. He wasn't even human. It was pathetic and revolting and it wasn't what I wanted to do with my life. So when it came time for me to get the Dark Mark and join the ranks of the Death Eaters I left."
"You ran away?"
"I'm not a coward," he says, looking at me, his eyes flashing momentarily. "I did what was best for me."
"I wasn't implying that you were a coward," I say. "It's just hard for me to imagine Draco Malfoy running away to be a Muggle."
"When you put it that way it doesn't sound glamorous at all."
"Was it glamorous?"
He laughs softly, "No. It had it's moments though."
"There are wizards in America, why did you live as a Muggle?"
"That's a long story," he says, glancing at me. "Basically, I knew my father would put a tracking charm on my wand. The minute I used it he would know where I was. So at first I couldn't use my wand at all. Then Potter defeated Voldemort and my father went to Azkaban."
"Why didn't you come back after Voldemort was defeated?" I ask, unable to control my curiosity despite the dark look in his face.
"By that time I had certain...obligations. I had a job and friends and there was nothing here for me," he pauses, sitting up and sniffing, "Do you smell smoke?"
I sniff, I do smell smoke. I look at the fire and then behind me to find a thin line of smoke rising from his clothes on the table. "Oh no," I say, jumping up. I pick up his shirt only to be looking through a large hole in the middle of the fabric. I pick up the pants to see the same result. "I must have left the potion on too long."
"Well, I suppose that's one way of getting the stain out." he says, frowning.
"I'm so sorry," I say, looking over the bottle of the potion, "I should have diluted it."
He picks up his clothes and looks over them. "Now what? I can't very well go back out there like this, can I?"
"Wait!" I cry, "I'll be right back. Don't move!"
He looks at me as if I'm daft. "Where am I going to go in my boxers, Weasley?"
I run upstairs to Ron's old room and rummage through his drawers. There isn't much left to choose from and I grab the best of his old clothes. I return to the kitchen and hold them out to him. "Here, these should fit."
His nose wrinkles and for a moment he looks like the snotty boy I used to know at Hogwarts. "I'm not wearing that."
"What's wrong with it?"
He frowns unhappily at me. "Look at it."
"This is all there is," I say, shoving it at him. "Unless you want to walk out in your boxers."
He's trapped and he knows it. He sighs and pulls on the pants, he goes to pull up the zipper and makes an exasperated noise. "The zipper doesn't work."
"It has to," I say, getting frustrated with him. "This is Ron's last pair of pants."
"Well it's not working," he says, trying to zip them up.
"Wait, the fabric is stuck," I say, bending down and seeing the problem.
He tries to jerk it past the caught fabric.
"Not that way, you have to unzip it and then go again. Oh, here!" I say getting down on my knees and unzipping him. I hear the kitchen door swing open.
"Ginny, we're opening presents and..."
I look up startled to see Harry looking at us. I watch as the color drains from his face and his eyes take us in. I stand up quickly, realizing what it looks like and feeling my cheeks go crimson. "Harry..."
"You're Mum told me to come get you," he says, flatly and then he turns and shuts the door behind him.
I stare at the door, unable to speak.
"Bloody hell," Draco says, zipping up his pants and looking pale. "How do you get into these situations?"
"Hell if I know!" I snap, my voice edging on panic. "What am I going to do?"
He pulls on the maroon sweater with a huge "R" knitted on it and shrugs, "Open presents?"
"You're not helping."
"All right," he says, sighing. "You're going to go out there and..."
"And?"
"Open presents," he says grabbing my hand and pulling me out the door. "Leave Potter to me."
* * * * *
A/N: Yes, I'm evil and leaving it at a cliff hanger while I scamper off to write a bit on my other fic, Out of Body, Out of Mind. It's only fair though, as I've written eight chapters of this and only five of OBOM. I've also been pressured by certain parties. *coughPottyForPottercough* Not to worry though, I have plans for this story! :)
Happy New Year to all of you beautiful, beautiful reviewers! You keep me inspired to keep writing!
JilseponieAngel I'm glad you liked it!
elle I'm glad I made you feel better. Revenge is always sweet.
Crystal I'm so happy you love it!
Arafel Your wish is my command!
Nicole My faithful follower! Hopefully I've still got you cheering me on. :) Hope this little bit of D/G romance will tide you over. More to come, promise!
Lourdes Thank you for your reviews! They made my day!
Twistie I'm glad you like it!.
Krismione Thank you again for all of your help! And get that chapter out! ;)
FlavOftheweek You know...that is a great idea. You're brilliant!
Chocolate Muse Revenge is best served cold. :)
Leah Oh my God! I love Home for the Holidays! You're right though, at least it isn't that bad.
Fairly Fiendish Fairy I'm glad you love it. I'm sure your muses are just as talented...sometimes you have to feed them large amounts of sugar and caffeine to get them going, though.
HPFanForever I'm pretty sure Ginny/Harry is beyond help in this story. Anything's possible, though
Potty For Potter *massive schnoogles* Thank you so much for all your help and support! Your emails and encouragement always make me feel special. You make me *lol* way too often. :)
Sunkist I do hope we get a chance to talk again, soon! I'm glad you are enjoying the story so much and appreciated the lightness.
The Light and The Dark Qwerty! Good to see you again! Matt and Elijah are single! Perhaps we should pool our efforts and set a trap. ;)
Cosmoz *squees* WOW! You are the 75th review! You like me, you really, really like me! *hands you free toaster* Take this free toaster as a sign of my appreciation.
Kittylioness I'm glad you enjoyed it so!
Dewi I'm glad you were able to laugh with Ginny. Hopefully I haven't kept you waiting for an update too long!
horse-girl Fleur...no, I don't really care for her much. I like her sister, though. :D