Disclaimer: for those of you that are particularly slow and haven't gotten it yet, let me spell it out…ready?  i   o-w-n   n-o-t-h-i-n-g.  wow, what a surprise!

A/N: THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER. see the author's note at the end-

Wife Wanted

Chapter 8: The Ad

Draco and Colin waited silently outside the steel door that separated Neville (and now Ginny) and the rest of the world. "Erm, so, um, Malfoy, how's it going?" Colin said, trying desperately to end the awkward silence.

"Fine," Draco said shortly.

"Well, uh, that's good."

"Indeed."

"Er, so how goes the search for the wife?"

"Okay," Draco said as he gave a nonchalant shrug.

"Bloody hell, Malfoy. I'm trying to be nice," Colin said, frustrated.

"Bloody hell, Creevey," Draco mimicked him in a high voice. Seeing Colin's flustered face, he smirked and snorted derisively. His eyes grew cold. "Listen, I have no intention of becoming 'friends,' Creevey. The only reason you are still in my home unharmed is because of Ginny."


Colin was about to retort angrily when a thought occurred to him. "Where's Ginny?"

"In there," Draco said dismissively, waving his hand towards the door.

"But it's been an awful long time…Neville's not stable; what if he did something to her?"

Colin saw a flicker of worry in Draco's eyes and stared in wonder. Malfoy has feelings?

"What are you staring at, Creevey? I know I'm staggeringly handsome, but I don't happen to fly that side of the Quidditch pitch. Sorry to disappoint you," Draco snapped. Colin blinked. The glint of worry in Draco's eyes had disappeared, and his cold mask was back in place. Nonetheless, Draco pushed the door open. "Wait here," he commanded and shut the door quietly.

He stepped tentatively towards where he supposed Neville to be. "Neville?" he asked with a soothing tone. Neville's chair whirred in response. He walked towards the sound and found Ginny. Her hair was plastered on her forehead with sweat, and he noted that her arms were shaking slightly. "Come on," he whispered to Ginny. "Let's go."

He led her to the door and pushed it open gently. Colin rushed forward.

"Ginny! Gin, are you okay? Did he do anything to you? Oh Merlin, I knew we shouldn't have come. Visiting a mentally unstable man who tried to kill his parents…"

"She's fine," Draco informed Colin.

"I-I'm fine. He didn't do anything to me; he just scared me for a bit. It felt like he was mocking me. It was like he was almost staring at me. But he didn't try to do anything. He just grabbed my hand, and it shocked me, that's all. He let go. I'm okay; don't worry," Ginny reassured Colin shakily. "Go see him now, Colin."

"If you say so," he said skeptically and stepped into the room.

"Weasley, are you okay?" Draco brushed back her hair with his long fingers.

"I-I'm fine," she told him.

"Don't lie to me, Weasley."

"It's just that I didn't expect him to be that bad. I mean, Neville was the strongest one out of all of us. He was the bravest, too. If anyone- anyone- could survive this war, we thought that he would. After Harry," her voice wavered, "died, we all depended on him for reassurance and support. You know he never lost faith, Draco? Never. Not even when Dumbledore died in the war…not even when his grandma, the only person to ever have been there for him the entire way, died."

"I know, Weasley. He was strong, but it's too late. There's nothing we can do. He's far too lost."

"Don't call me Weasley," she closed her eyes. "Please."

"All right…Ginny," he said, embracing her tightly.

"Oh Merlin, Neville…" she sniffed, tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. She leaned back against him.

"I know," he said, patting her back. "I know."

"How would you know?" she demanded, pulling away from his hold. "Look at you," she scorned, "trying to pretend you care, trying to pretend that you give a damn. But I can see through it, Draco Malfoy. I fell for it once before, and I'm not going to fall for it again."

"Ginny—"

"Don't call me Ginny, you bastard!" She slapped him.

What in the world? He flinched and looked down at her, bewildered. Women. He shook his head. Must be that time of the month. But all year round? Was it some kind of conspiracy against him?

"Fine. Listen Weasley, I—" He was interrupted again.

"Oh no, Draco, I'm sorry! I didn't mean that. Honestly, I didn't," Ginny butted in tearfully.

He rolled his eyes. Damn women and their menstrual cycles. One minute they were slapping him and yelling at him, the next they were crying and begging for his forgiveness.

"It's alright."

"No it's not," she wailed.

He quickly hugged her again. "Look, see? I'm bloody hugging you now."

She said nothing but reclined against him. He glanced at her.

She had not changed much since the last time he had seen her, but there was something distinctly different about her. Her hair was the same as always- long and red, like the blood that flowed through his veins. Her skin was as pale and freckled as always. He loved her freckles. She had once told him they were kisses from angels, but he much rather believed that they were kisses from some Malfoy who blessed her years back. She was as thin as always, looking as if one strong gust of wind (or one Draco Malfoy, for that matter) could blow her away. Still, there was something that changed. He didn't know what was different, but he certainly liked it.

His legs had started to ache, and he was about to move away from her when he noticed that her chest was rising up and down in a very tranquil manner. He groaned when he realized that she had fallen asleep. Great. He willed her to wake up. Wake up, damn it.

After an unsuccessful try of channeling his thoughts to her, he gave up. He stroked her hair and waited. Five minutes later, Colin emerged from the room, looking just as shaken as Ginny did. He looked at Draco questioningly when he saw that he had sat down, and Ginny was cradled in his lap.

"Go," Draco whispered, "She's sleeping. I'll watch her until she wakes up."

"But," he protested.

"Go back upstairs, and look for some maids. Tell them that Master Malfoy wants them to do whatever you say. Don't worry about Ginny. She'll be fine," Draco said softly. "I'll call for you when she wakes up."

"But," Colin tried again.

"Go," Draco snapped.

"Alright, fine. But as soon as she wakes up, come get me." He gave a worried glance back at Draco and Ginny as he walked away.

Draco sighed. Ginny stirred. She opened her eyes blearily. "Draco?"

"Shh," he put a finger on her lips. He leaned forward to kiss her.

"What are you—" she gasped. She pushed him back. "Draco, I-I can't do this. Not now." She stood up and brushed down her skirt. "I should go. I have to go. Colin!" she called out. She swept by him, tottering up the stairs.

He watched her in amused silence. Silly Weasley.

Malfoys always got what they wanted, and he wanted her. It had only taken him more than four years to realize it, but he did. She was the 'one' for him. When she was in his arms, he had known that she was. She fit perfectly next to him. Nothing had changed about her, he realized. She had always been perfect. He was the one that changed.

"I suppose I should take my Wife Wanted ad out of the Daily Prophet now," he mused out loud. After all, he had found his wife. Now all he had to do was inform her that she was to be his bride. That wouldn't be too hard.

They'd be seeing each other a lot, he noted as he recalled the business project he had agreed to do for Zabini and Rushmoore. Plus, she'd be by to visit Neville, no doubt. A little bit of the old Malfoy charm would do the trick. They'd be married in no time.

A thought then suddenly occurred to him. "What if she doesn't want to name our children Draco Jr. and Dracaena?"

-Fin.

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A/N: THE END! ohhh my, i didn't think i'd ever finish (and in a way i didn't because many issues have been left unresolved). i hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as i enjoyed writing it. i know the ending was a bit rushed, but i really was running out of ideas. if you remember the author's note at the end of chapter 7, i said that i didn't know what to do with this. thus, i ended it. the good thing about this ending, however, is that it leaves me plenty of space to do a sequel about what happens later- their relationship, neville, the business proposal (see ch 4), and other fun stuff hehe. leave a review, and let me know if you want a sequel. if enough people want one, then i probably will write one. it's that simple hehe.

THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED:

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AND A VERY BIG THANKS TO MY WONDERFUL BETA, PEACHY PAPAYAS.