Sorry it took so long.

Little bit of writer's block/hiatus/something. So, yeah.

4AnJ

Chapter 7: Explanations

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

I don't know why I instigate

And say what I don't mean

I don't know how I got this way

I'll never be all right

So I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight

Linkin Park – Breaking the Habit

"…Do you think we should get your mum?" Hermione asked Ron, wringing her hands together in a fretful motion. After Ginny had stormed out, the three remaining had gone downstairs and Hermione was now pacing back and forth across the den. Ron shrugged, glancing at the clock. Ginny's hand rested steadily on 'Distressed.'

"I don't know. We should just let them be for now. They'll come back when they're ready," he replied. Hermione sighed, sitting heavily next to Ron and resting her head on his shoulder.

"I suppose you're right… Sorry." The room lapsed into silence until Harry broke it, holding up a rumpled piece of parchment.

"…Sirius is coming back from France earlier than he expected. He owled me this evening while you two were…studying." Hermione turned red. Ron nodded, taking the parchment when Harry offered it.

"So you'll be leaving soon, then?"

"Tomorrow afternoon. …Well, I suppose it would be this afternoon, actually. It's almost two." Hermione let out a worried noise, and made a move to stand up again, but Ron snatched her around the waist, tugging her into his lap.

"You stop fussing this instant. They'll come back when they're good and ready," he murmured in her ear, resting his chin on her shoulder. Just as Hermione had settled against him, the back door slammed open, and Draco staggered inside, Ginny sleeping comfortably in his arms. The three in the living room jumped from their seats, and Draco took the opportunity to put Ginny on the couch. She wouldn't quite let him go, though, her hands clutching the front of his shirt tightly. Hermione slipped her hand into Ron's as Draco whispered soothingly to the girl, gently prying her hands off. He glanced at the others as he stood, shaking his head.

"…She's fine."

"What about you?" Hermione asked, glancing at Ginny as she stirred slightly. Ron motioned them all into the kitchen and they sat around the table as Hermione gave Draco a look. He shrugged, rubbing his fist.

"I'm…better. I just needed to get some frustration out."

"Sorry, mate. Just gave us a shock, there," Ron apologized, exchanging a guilty look with Harry. "I suppose I'm not known for my tact…" Draco smirked, shaking his head again.

"Nothing I haven't heard before… You know I would never hurt your sister, right? She means more to me than anything." He said quite seriously, locking his eyes with Ron's. The other boy stared back at him for a moment before he gave a slow nod.

"…I know now. Just…no one wants to hear that their baby sister's dating their mortal enemy." Draco snorted loudly and Ron let a half smile slip out, squeezing Hermione's hand as it slid back into his. The table lapsed into silence, the only noise being the soft snores coming from the den. After a few minutes of this, Draco peered into the den, a smirk on his face.

"She snores like a freight train," he stated quietly, a smile gracing his features for a brief second. Ron exchanged a glance with Harry and the two burst out laughing, with Hermione and Draco watching amusedly.

"What's so funny?" Hermione asked, nudging Ron gently. Ron pointed at Harry, grinning widely.

"Harry said the exact same thing when Ginny would fall asleep on his shoulder in the common room while they were studying. Said she snored like the bloody Hogwarts Express." Both Draco and Harry faltered at the reference to his former relationship with the youngest Weasley. Ron frowned as the room once again fell into relative silence. Harry broke it this time, picking at the corner of the table.

"You know it's over, right?" he asked Draco, glancing up at the other boy. He gazed back, waiting for Harry to explain. "…She really loves you. You can tell when she looks at you. …I don't think she ever looked at me like that." His eyes darted towards the living room before returning to his hands. "…Just make her happy. Don't ever hurt her and…you've got my blessing." Draco swallowed hard. His throat felt suddenly dry.

"…I'll try my hardest." Harry glanced over at him to gauge his sincerity, and then nodded, pushing himself up from the table.

"I'm going to bed." With no further explanation, he slipped out of the room and up the stairs to Ron's bedroom as the other three watched. Hermione stifled a yawn, leaning against Ron and resting her head on his shoulders. His arms absently draped over her waist as he gave Draco a calculating look.

"…You better not ever make her sad again," he stated quietly, pushing himself up and coaxing Hermione to her feet. The couple slowly started up the stairs as Draco looked on, a smirk finding its way onto his face. That statement from Ron was the closest he was going to get to acceptance from the boy. Left alone in the kitchen, Draco moved from his chair back into the den, kneeling next to the sofa where Ginny was stretched out. His fingers found their way into her hair, brushing it tenderly away from her face. Ginny's eyes drifted open lazily, peering at Draco. He kissed her softly, then gathered her into his arms and made his way upstairs to put her to bed.

"Mmm. You're warm," Ginny whispered, looping her arms over his shoulders.

"And you're gorgeous," Draco replied, kissing her forehead sloppily. She giggled softly, snuggling up against him as he stopped outside her door. "I'm going to put you down now, okay?" With a reluctant sigh, Ginny nodded, not quite releasing him as he set her down. She drew him into a kiss, leaning against the doorframe. He rested against the wall next to her, pulling back before the embrace could get too serious. "Go to bed, love. We'll have a chat with your mum in the morning about the pendant." She nodded, yawning as she fumbled for the doorknob.

"Good night, Draco. No more punching things tonight, okay?" Draco snorted as she slid into her room, closing the door gently behind her. He stared at the door for a moment, then made his way to Ron's room. Maybe he would be able to get some sleep this time around.

"Mum, we need to talk to you for a second." Molly looked up as her youngest spoke, clinging tightly to Draco's hand. He stood beside her calmly, nodding at her reassuringly.

"Of course, dear. What about?" She motioned for them to sit, taking the chair across from them. Draco reached into his pocket with his free hand and held the dragon pendant out to her.

"About this." Molly took the pendant, frowning gently.

"I've told you all I know about the legend, Ginny." Ginny shook her head, leaning the slightest bit towards Draco.

"Not about the legend. …I can feel him. Through the pendant, I think. It's happened twice. Once at school. He…was angry. And punched a wall. I could hear his thoughts. …And then last night." Molly blinked, eyes narrowing in worry.

"What happened last night?"

"Ron discovered my…scars," Draco supplied, trying to keep his voice from wavering. He stared back unblinkingly as the older woman turned to him, someone surprised at the look of concern on her face. She looked as if she was going to ask where the scars came from, but he continued before she got the chance. "I lost my temper and took it out on one of the trees by the lake. Apparently Ginny felt everything I did. She came to find me and had me cast a healing spell on myself."

"It scared me, Mum. Everything Draco was feeling was transferred to me somehow. It wasn't only physical pain. I was angry and afraid and hurt and alone…" Draco's eyes turned to Ginny in a look of confusion. She hadn't told him that part… Ginny carefully avoided his eyes, barely reacting when he squeezed her hand softly. Molly watched the two, the color draining slowly from her face.

"…So it's true," she whispered, earning perplexed looks from the teenagers.

"What's true, Mum?" Ginny pried gently, leaning forward to listen. Molly shook her head, dabbing at her eyes.

"My mother told me as her mother told her, and her mother told her. Every once in a great while there will be two reunited souls. I believe she told me it was every five generations. Your great-great-great grandmother Virginia found her soul mate. Yes, you were named after her. The five-generation subject was just a coincidence. When I held you the first time, you just struck me as a Virginia." Molly smiled fondly, reaching out to touch Ginny's cheek softly. The two exchanged a smile that could only be sent between mother and daughter.

"…So Draco's my soul mate?"

"Apparently," her mother replied, handing the dragon pendant back to Draco. "There's a spell written down in one of Nana's diaries to keep the dragon from connecting you. She told me the connection only happens when one of the couple is feeling a particularly strong emotion, most likely anger or fear. But once the connection is made, nothing is separating the couple. Every feeling will be passed on from one to the other until they are together and any physical pain is extinguished." Molly pushed herself up from the table, patting her eyes dry. "I'll go up to the attic and look for that diary after Harry leaves this afternoon." Ginny nodded as she and Draco stood, smiling as her mother stood in front of the boy. She locked eyes with him for a moment, then patted his cheek and kissed his forehead in a mother gesture. He stared at her silently, a small grin hinting to emerge.

Molly nodded, tugging Ginny's hair gently as she started towards the sink. "You go on, now. I'll call when lunch is ready." Ginny nodded, tugging Draco out of the kitchen and up the stairs. It wasn't until their reached the landing that Draco let his emotion show, practically pinning Ginny to the wall as he leaned against her, face burying into her shoulder. Her arms wrapped around him immediately, her lips seeking his. They kissed feverishly, an unknown urgency in their actions. The outside world fell away, leaving only them standing there on the landing.

But the world rapidly returned as someone cleared their throat loudly, breaking the silence. Draco leaped away from Ginny, eyes wide in a panic. Bill stood in the doorway to his room, arching an eyebrow at the two. He smirked, starting towards the stairs.

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" he asked in an innocent tone, ducking as Ginny lunged for him. He laughed, capturing his only sister in a bear hug to keep her from wailing on him. Taking the opportunity given to him, he leaned in, whispering in her ear. "You take good care of this one, eh? He'd be mighty useful at the vaults and it'd help if you kept him around long enough." He grinned impishly as he released Ginny, cuffing her on the shoulder before making his way downstairs. She sent a very un-ladylike snort after him, turning to motion Draco into her room. Where no one could interrupt them.

It's finally done!