A/N: *sob* This is the last chapter of Merlin, Leave Us Alone! Can you believe it? I am dumbfounded at the numbers I have seen reading this story! Thank you! I get such a warm feeling from you all, and I have learned A LOT since my first chapter with Merlin's Oath! LOL!
Yes, there is ONE more story to this collection, making the set a trilogy. Yes, I have known this the whole time; although, I have changed a few concepts or ideas as I've gone along. *grin*
Therefore, I will return! You can expect the last installment, Merlin's Return, to start in late February/early March. This chapter is short and merely sets the scene for the last story. And yes, you will all probably want to throw rotten tomatoes at me…but have faith, we've made it thus far. Right?
For any Hermione/Severus shippers out there, I will be starting a new H/S story very soon…
Also I have many people to thank:
Alinora: A great friend, mentor, listener and Beta…
Rob: The other half of my soul…and your Beta skills are not half bad either.
Nymphadora Tonks: A great new friend, a great Beta and such a talented person!
To those who put me on your Favorite's Author List, you make me want to write more…Thank YOU!: Mariel4, lilikins, dreamingofhorses, giggleshorts, Makoto Silvermoon, vickie2, Rainpuddle, Alinora, XxX NaUgHtY GuRl XxX, scarred, DobbyMania89, Marston Chicklet, TeenRocker22, ClouDy SkieZ1, SeverusSnape, GinnyDracoFan, Rikka3, Blue Coloured Roses, Patatita, bana05, Principessa Squish Avina, Jan McNeville, hatredsgoddess, ringette-chick, ishical1, mabaker1, Americasweetie, pumpkinpiebaby, Tina20, ILoveMoulinRouge, SilverStrDust16, vanillastrawberryswirlygrrrrl, mmn673, Gayle Foster, Cursed4Life, J.M.Woo1, slack-al, d[n-n]b, issy1, hart-break, Maguena, Queen Smuffles, Fantasy Is My Life, Indigo Child, Dayton, piper-h-99, cgrwchick631, legally-blonde1, KrystianMalfoy, AmericanGirl04, Pickle2, sassw14, Cameron, RubberDuckii, pixydust3, aero0617, Alyssa Rose, HarmonyGoddess, ice mage1014, goddessTeasha, iloveDracoMalfoyannonomou, eegurl, Noel Malfoy, Jorrn716, BlueRosesAtMidnight, SweetThang123, burgosdamasco, vampire79, hartful13, Shadow of a Cat, beccanick, Angyl Grrl, Aimee Kisstchu, SugarSweetKisses, innocent-stars, SilverWingPhoenix, DearestCristina, DareaK, and kittycat
To ALL my reviewers: Thank you for taking the time to let me know what you think! Good, Bad, or Ugly…I eventually enjoy them all. Yes, even the ugly ones. Laughter is the best medicine, after all. They make my day, keep me on my toes and help me to grow in my writing, and all of these are important to me! Thank YOU!
For all the above mentioned, I present the last chapter of Merlin, Leave Us Alone…
Ginny woke the next morning with a slight headache. It was not helping that the sunlight was pouring through the bedroom window and focusing on her face. She gave her face another harsh scrunch to block as much of the light as possible and gave a quick turn over and screamed…
Lying beside her in bed was Draco "Bloody" Malfoy.
Ginny's screaming woke the blonde man beside her. He, in his sardonic drawl, snidely asked her to kindly lower her voice.
However, when the unknown girl responded nastily back to him, his eyes shot open and confirmed his worst fears. Dear Merlin, he was in bed with a Weasel. What was her name? Ginger or something?
He quickly pulled back. She grabbed the sheets; he grabbed the quilt.
This action caused Ginny to gasp and begin to cry. Draco looked down and saw the reason for her tears. They looked at each other and said simultaneously…
"Damn! I slept with the ferret!"
"Fuck! I had sex with a female Weasel!"
They hastily, while carefully avoiding the others' eyes, began putting their clothes on.
As they finished, there was a knock on their outer door. They both had panicked looks on their faces.
"Well, Weasel, I hardly open doors at my MANSION, why don't you open the door. I'm sure you have more experience with the mundane issues of the world," the little jerk sneered at her.
Ginny rolled her eyes at the spoilt brat and walked to the door. She carefully opened it. She was not in the mood to have to explain this situation to her brother, or worse, Harry!
She peered through the barely opened door and, to her relief, saw Dumbledore. With any luck, he had some explanation to this current situation. The man did, after all, seem to know almost everything.
She opened the door and allowed the hoary man to enter the room. Ginny watched the man carefully and saw his twinkling eyes quickly and efficiently sweep the room. He turned to Ginny and gave her an intense stare and raised his left bushy, white eyebrow in a questioning manner.
When Ginny did not respond, he questioned her, "Mrs. Malfoy, is there a problem here?"
Ginny, before she could react in shock, heard Draco's gasp of shock and his harsh inquiry of Professor Dumbledore, "What happy weed are you smoking, you crazy old man? A Weasel married to a Malfoy? That is utterly preposterous! Did Longbottom's grandmother give you one of her family's special blends?"
"Mr. Malfoy, your father had better manners than you. And is that anyway to speak about your fellow classmates, and, more importantly, your superiors? One hundred points from Slytherin for your lack of respect to your elders and another fifty points for insulting your wife." Professor Snape said as he entered the room, followed by Professor McGonagall.
"What do you mean HAD better manners? My father is currently in his study working on Merlin knows what while my mother simpers at his side. Explain yourself."
'MR. MALFOY, watch your manners…again. It is most unfortunate that you have lost a significant amount of time. Your Heads of Houses and myself will be here to help you through this trying time. Unfortunately, I feel that I must take another ten points from Slytherin for your disrespect."
At this point, Ginny could say nothing. She simply allowed her mouth to inelegantly hang open. Draco had lost Slytherin 160 points in less than five minutes with 150 removed by Snape! What the hell fantasy world, time warp or cosmic plane was she in?
"It is as we feared, Albus? Isn't it?" Professor McGonagall questioned her superior.
"I'm afraid so. In the final battle with Merlin, Merlin removed all the properties of the Oath from Draco and Ginny. Merlin did not, however, remove their marriage bonds. While they are married still, they have forgotten all that got them here: the Oath, the courtship, the marriage…everything."
Ginny had finally found her voice, "So-umm-I am really Mrs. Malfoy and married to Draco? And, sir, what the hell is this Oath you speak of?" Ginny hated how her voice squeaked when she said the ferret's name. Draco just smirked at her being uncomfortable.
"Yes, dear, you and Draco are married. You have been for several months. Believe me when I say that you were also very much in love despite the Oath and all of its conditions. The castle felt fresh, alive and young again…despite all the chaos that accompanied it." Professor McGonagall assured the young, redheaded woman.
Ginny and Draco both snorted at this, but was given a glare from Professors Dumbledore and Snape.
"Professor Dumbledore, would you happen to still have the Pensieve of their wedding that you officiated?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Ahh- marvelous idea, Professor McGonagall; I shall head to my private quarters and retrieve the Pensieve."
Before he could leave though, Madame Pomfrey arrived hastily in the room.
"Headmaster, do we know the situation yet with Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy?"
"Yes, Poppy, it is as we feared."
"Oh dear…," she said as she collapsed into a nearby sofa in the couple's living area.
"Is there something wrong, Poppy?" Professor McGonagall asked her long time colleague and friend.
"Yes, Minerva, there is. They remember nothing of their relationship, correct?"
"That is correct," Professor Dumbledore said.
"Well, they now have tangible proof of their relationship - and this one is alive."
All the professors gasped as her words sank in.
"What do you mean 'alive'?" Ginny asked, obviously not quite taking everything in. Madame Pomfrey turned to her and gave her an odd look.
"Ginny, you are pregnant with Draco's child!"
Draco, surprising himself, instinctively caught his wife, correct that…pregnant wife, as she fainted dead away.