"Nobody said it was easy, it's such a shame for us to part. Nobody said it was easy, no one said it would be this hard. Oh take me back to the start"

The Scientist, Coldplay -

Chapter 7.

Dinner went as well as it could be expected. Virginia found herself strategically placed at the opposite end of the table from Ron and Hermonie and she was not complaining. The children were at a table next to the adults and she found that Grace and Josh seemed to be getting along with the others. Garth was chatting to Bill's son John and even Sarah seemed to be enjoying herself. She turned to look at Max who was sitting in a high chair next to her. She had Fleur and Bill across from her and Arthur and Molly next to her. She was feeding Max whilst participating in the conversation.

"Josh mentioned that you knew Gabrielle before Virginia?" She never mentioned that she knew you" Fleur asked deeply confused. Surely her sister would have mentioned something this important to her.

Virginia had the good grace to blush slightly. "That's my fault. I met Gabrielle shortly after she came to America. She began modeling at my first fashion show. We've been close friends since then. At the time she didn't know I was Virginia Weasley until I eventually told her and made her promise not to ever mention to you that she knew me" Virginia explained.

"Oh" Fleur said quietly slightly hurt that her sister would keep something big from her.

"She did it for you Fleur. Gabrielle is the Grace's godmother. I asked her not to tell you because I didn't want you in a position where you would have to lie to Bill on my behalf" she said watching the French girl.

"It's okay, I'm just a little shocked" Fleur reassured her.

"Where are you going to live now when the shop opens up Virginia?" Arthur asked his only daughter.

"We haven't decided yet. Zabini Estate is more than fine for the time being. It's home there. But I would like to settle into our own place. We've got the house back in America that we will keep of course and then there is Blaise's house in Italy and the holiday house in Southern France. But I think we will move in to Rose Hall. It's another of the Zabini Estate's that Blaise's grandmother Rose lived in until she died in Blaise's final year at Hogwarts. She left it to him of course and he in turn left it to me. It's a beautiful place, not to far from Malfoy Manor which will be great" she said explaining it to everyone.

"How many homes do you actually have then?" George asked.

"Four" Virginia said smiling as she continued to feed Max, clearly ignoring the shocked look on their faces. As petty as it sounds she was glad to have shocked them. Glad that she had gone on and showed them all that she didn't need them. Sure a lot of it was thanks to Blaise, but she had started Avalon Designs from scratch and was damn proud of how successful it was.

"Harry and I ran into Pansy in Diagon Alley the other day Virginia" Hermonie said speaking to her directly for the first time.

Resisting the urge to say a snide comment and smirk she merely focused her gaze on Hermonie and raised her perfectly shaped eyebrow at her.

"Yes, Pansy mentioned that she had the pleasure of running into the two of you" Virginia said sarcastically.

"So her and Malfoy have children?" Hermonie said speaking again, trying to involve herself in a conversation with Virginia.

"They've been married for three years and have two children, Blaise Alexander and Isabel Virginia Malfoy. My godchildren. Her and Draco are godparents to Josh" she explained.

"I can't believe that you still see so much of Malfoy after everything that happened" George said quickly without realizing what he had said.

Anger flashed in Virginia's eyes as she delicately placed down the spoon she was feeding Max with.

"Draco and Pansy are my best friends. You'd do well to remember that George. And it is after everything that happened, is the reason why I am still so close to him. You will find no one more loyal than Draco Malfoy" she said seething quietly.

"He's a Malfoy Virginia, he didn't chose a side in the war" George shot back ignoring Alicia when she placed a restraining arm on his shoulder.

"Oh he chose a side George. This is what none of you could understand. He chose to fight for himself and for those he cared about. It's Slytherin thinking George. If you're not openly a supporter of the dark arts then you fight for yourself. That's what the Zabini's did. Your protect you and your own, or you die trying" she spat back at him.

"Mum?" Josh asked standing up from the table where the children were.

"Grab your cloaks kids we're leaving now" she said as she was taking Max out of the high chair. "Sarah help Grace for me please" she continued as she walked to the couch and picked up Josh and Garth's cloaks.

"Virginia please" Molly said as she stood up from the table and rushed to her daughter.

"I won't stay here and listen to them bad mouth my family" she said coldly.

"Thank you for dinner. You can reach me by owl" she said before turning her back on them and walking to the fireplace. Pulling some floo powder out she threw it into the fire.

"Okay same as last time. Garth, you and Josh first. Say Zabini Estate clearly" she told them as they stepped into the fire clearly.

"Okay Sarah, Grace you two are next" she said as they stepped into the fire. And then they disappeared also.

Turning to face them all at the table one last time she clearly yelled "Zabini Estate" and she too disappeared.

**

The following day Virginia was at her shop in Diagon Alley slowly getting everything organized for the opening of the store. She had orders coming in already and was rushing to get them finished in time for Christmas. She was also getting Rose Hall ready for them to move into before the New Year, it was a surprise for the children.

A popping noise alerted her to the fact that someone had apparated into the room. Turning around she saw Gabrielle Delacour standing there grinning at her. Letting out a cry of joy Virginia rushed to hug her close friend.

"It's been to long Rose" Gabrielle said happily as she eagerly returned the hug.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were coming?" Virginia asked curiously as Gabrielle hadn't mentioned anything at all.

"Well I didn't even know, Sebastian asked me to marry him last night and we've come to get a ring at Malfoy's of course" Gabrielle said happily.

"Getting married? Congratulations! Draco will be so pleased your getting your ring from him" Virginia told her.

Gabrielle just smiled excitedly. "He's the best"

Draco Malfoy had opened a jewelry shop after leaving Hogwarts and it was an overnight success. He had a great eye for stones and had a passion for diamonds that the magical world had not seen in many years. People first started going there out of curiosity after all Malfoy had played an important part in the war, turning on his father and all that. Yet it was the quality of the jewelry that kept many going back. He had opened a store in Italy, Germany and France as well, though none were as grand as the English store.

"I spoke to Fleur this morning, she told me about last night" Gabrielle said cautiously not wanting to pry.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about her finding out about you knowing me that way. Josh just came out and said it so suddenly" she replied.

"It's ok. Fleur honestly understands" Gabrielle reassured her. "Now why don't you come with me to meet Sebastian and see Draco? I told them that we would be there in 20 minutes. We could walk its not to cold yet" Gabrielle said taking Virginia by the hand.

The two left and walked at a brisk pace through Diagon Alley, which was busy despite it being the middle of winter. They were chatting happily and were unaware of a person taking pictures of them as they walked towards Malfoy's.

Gabrielle held the door open got Virginia and they walked into the warm showroom of Malfoy's. Gabrielle grinned at Sebastian as he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.

"Hello Virginia it's so good to see you again" he said kissing her hand.

She laughed and tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Such a charmer Mr. Venier" she laughed at him. "He's a keeper this one Gabby" she said affectionately.

She left the two of them to look around and she walked out of the showroom and upstairs to the offices. She greeted a few of the staff that she knew and was about to head to Draco's office when she heard a cry of "Aunt Gin" and a little blonde headed boy wrapped himself around her legs.

Smiling she reached down to pick him up and found herself staring into the clear blue eyes that he had inherited from his mother. "Hello little Blaise" she said affectionately as she smothered his face with kisses.

He squirmed in her arms and she out him back down on the floor. "Where's your Daddy?" she asked gently and Blaise grabbed her hand and started leading her towards Draco's office.

"Izzy and I are spending the morning here cause Mummy is at the Ministry" he explained acting like he knew everything. "Is that so?" Virginia muttered wondering what on earth Pansy was doing there.

Blaise ran ahead into the office and she quickly followed him into the office. She found Draco sitting at his desk going through paperwork and little Isabel crawling on the floor. There was a light glow surrounding her, which Virginia knew was a protection spell, which would stop Isabel from crawling to far away and anything from falling on her.

"Gin!" Isabel giggled out in between a bunch of baby talk and Virginia quickly bent down to pick the little girl up.

"Hello Izzy" she said warmly smiling at the little girl who looked like a miniature version of her father. Little blonde curls and stormy grey eyes. Definitely a Malfoy through and through.

"What brings you here Rose?" Draco asked as he walked over and kissed her cheek before returning to his desk.

"Gabrielle is downstairs picking out her engagement ring with Sebastian" she said smiling at him.

"Really? Sebastian finally asked her then hey" he grinned back at her.

Virginia looked at Blaise who was playing in the corner of Draco's office before talking again.

"Blaise mentioned that Pansy was at the Ministry. What's she doing there?" she asked curiously.

"It's nothing bad Gin, she's just getting some permits for me. It's Malfoy's 5th anniversary on New Years Day. Remember I told you I was planning something to celebrate it? Well it's a New Year's Eve party to celebrate it we've invited about 200 people. The invites are being sent out this afternoon" he explained.

"It's going to be a big event. Did you invite any of the Weasley's?" she asked curiously.

"That's up to you. I had to invite your parents since your Dad's minister. But nobody else, you can if you want to?" he told her.

She sat down in the chair opposite and ran a hand through Isabel's soft curls. "Maybe Bill and Charlie" she said thoughtfully.

They were interrupted by Pansy's head appearing in the fire.

"Draco, I'm having a bit of a problem with some of these permits. Oh hi Gin!" she said happily.

"Hi Pansy" she replied happily at her friend.

"What's the problem love?" Draco asked her.

"Because of the guests coming in from other countries we need a higher level of security and have to have it approved by someone from the International Relations office" she calmly explained.

"You've been to see Munroe?" Draco asked her.

"Yep, he says he can't organise it" she replied.

"Wait, Dean Thomas works in International Relations" Virginia interrupted them.

"Of course" Draco muttered.

"Oh shut up you, Dean's a good man" Virginia said slapping Draco's arm.

He grinned at her and nodded. "Ok, Gin do you mind meeting Pansy there and going to see Dean?"

"Of course. Go downstairs and see Gabrielle, tell her where I've gone and that I'll owl her today" she told him as she put the now sleeping Isabel into his arms. Taking her wand out of her robes she apparated to the ministry.