A/N: The lyrics at the beginning are from 'If It Makes You Happy' by Sheryl
Crow
I don't own any of the characters
Cheers for the reviews and as I keep being repeatedly told 'I Want You to Want Me' is apparently by Cheap Trick, but I haven't heard that one and have only heard the Letters to Cleo version, so sorry if I got it wrong. Keep reviewing it helps, enjoy this chapter, it's a bit longer than the others I think but I couldn't seem to find the right place to end it. cheers babes xx
Chapter Five – Maybes, Hangovers and Babies
If it makes you happy
It can't be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad?
Ginny's alarm going off the next day punctured through her dreams and she swatted at the bedside table;
"Shut up you bloody evil thing!"
She groaned, banging her hand on the table without opening her eyes, hoping she would hit it sooner or later. But unfortunately it was a wizard clock which didn't go off after a minute it just continued to get louder and steadily more annoying.
"Come on Gin, up you get."
An airy voice called, throwing open her door and wafting a mug of coffee under her nose. She sighed in relief when the alarm was switched off and burrowed back under the covers. But it seemed as though there was a chorus of bells ringing in her head and she moaned in pain;
"Get me a damn ambulance."
She groaned, shoving the steaming mug away from her face and glaring through bloodshot eyes as a radiant Hermione smiling down on her.
"Is it that bad?"
She giggled, placing the mug on the bedside table and tearing open the curtains to let some light into Ginny's darkened room;
"Can't somebody shut those bloody bells up?!"
Ginny bellowed, immediately regretting it when her temples gave a twinge and a pain shot through her head.
"'Fraid not. Some lucky person is getting married and they're going to be ringing for the next ten minutes."
Hermione sighed, gazing wistfully at the old church across the road before turning around and ripping the covers off Ginny, who cursed and curled up into a ball, her hand wearily scrabbling across the sheets looking for her quilts.
"Come on; time to get up your brother's waiting downstairs."
Ginny sighed, but knowing better then to bother arguing with Hermione, she slowly got out of bed and pulled her dressing gown on. It took her about five minutes to get down the stairs as each step felt like a cement block being dropped on her head.
Draco glanced up as she descended the stairs, gingerly cradling her head in her hands as though it was a glass of water she didn't want to spill. Her hangover was pressing against her brain causing all thoughts to become fuzzy but she was determined not to mention what had gone on the night before. This seemed to be evident as Draco didn't bring up the subject either, simply carrying on with his breakfast, eating it at the counter as opposed to the breakfast bar where Ron sat, glaring at him. The phone ringing startled them all and Ginny quickly picked it up, more to cut off the evil shrieking noise it was making then wanting to actually speak to whoever was on the other end;
"Hullo?"
She grumbled into the receiver, closing her eyes against the harsh light as Hermione opened the kitchen blind.
"Hey Ginny."
An involuntary smile lit up Ginny's face as she heard her best friend's voice.
"Tab! Where are you? How's living in America suiting you? How's that gorgeous wizard actor you were seeing last I heard?"
She said all this very fast, sipping tentatively at the coffee Hermione had just put before her.
"Fine, everything's fine. How about you?"
Ginny halted her friend for a second;
"One minute, Tab. There you go you're on speaker now, Hermione and Ron are here."
Ginny flicked the switch on the telephone stand and Tab's cheery voice rang around the room, doing nothing for her headache but cheering her up just the same.
"Hey guys!"
Ron and Hermione exchanged greetings with Tab, chattering idly for a few moments as Ginny shot secret glances across at Draco who was listening into the conversation with jealousy twisting his gut; he wanted to part of this life. To have friends and family who cared if he got hurt, basically he wanted to be part of Ginny's life!
"In answer to your questions; living in America is great! And I'm still seeing Grant but he's visiting his family in Chicago right now. And, guess what baby doll? I'm in London at this very moment."
Ginny let out a scream of joy that caused everyone in the room to wince and even made Draco turn to look at her.
"Where are you? Come and see us, I'll meet you in Diagon Alley!"
Ginny shrieked, jumping up and down happily. She hadn't seen her best friend since she had left Hogwarts to go travelling after taking her OWL's. She quickly made arrangements to meet Tab at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour before downing the steaming Hangover potion Hermione put before her.
"Be careful Ginny, that potion sends your Apparition Targeting out of the window for at least two hours."
Hermione warned, following Ginny up the stairs to her room. Ginny made a gesture with her hands as though waving the warning away;
"It's alright I'll drive."
She flicked her wand at the radio and it switched itself on. She pulled open her wardrobe and scanned its contents critically, finally deciding on a pair of faded denim jeans with slices all over the place and Touch and Die printed across the back pockets, and a black Weird Sisters t-shirt. Quickly brushing her hair and shoving it back into a long ponytail she glanced up to see Hermione glowing.
"Why are you so happy?"
She asked suspiciously, watching Hermione flush and look at her hands in her lap.
"I'm pregnant."
Ginny gaped at her, her silence making Hermione look up apprehensively.
"That's fantastic, Hermione! I'm going to be an aunt! No wait I'm too young to be an aunt. Oh well, how far gone are you? How long have you known? Does Ron know?"
Hermione quickly shut Ginny's bedroom door and sat down on the bed next to her soon to be sister-in-law.
"I haven't told him yet, I don't know how he's going to take it."
Ginny placed a hand under Hermione's chin and lifted her head so she could see her eyes.
"He's going to be ecstatic, he loves kids!"
She assured her, giving her a quick hug before dragging her downstairs.
"Ron!"
She cried, banging open the kitchen door and throwing her arms around her older brother who stared at her as though she had grown an extra head.
"Wonderful news!"
Ron continued to stare at her, his mouth a little open as Draco looked up curiously from his Daily Prophet.
"Ron... there's something I... I need to tell you."
Hermione stammered, sitting opposite him and taking his hands in hers as Ginny back away to give them room.
"What is it... you haven't... found someone else... oh my god... you have... I'll kill him... who is it?"
Ron spluttered, trying to leap to his feet but not quite managing it as Hermione was gripping his hands and Ginny was shoving down on his shoulders trying to force him back into his seat.
"No! There's no one else. It's...well... this isn't easy... you see... I'm late."
She finally said in a small voice, not quite meeting his eyes as her hands tightened their hold on his.
"Late for what... no!"
He gasped finally cottoning on. Hermione's eyes filled with tears, he didn't want a baby after all.
"This is great! Is it a boy or a girl? What shall we call it?"
She jerked her head up at him incredulously to see him staring at her in excitement.
"It's a girl."
She whispered quietly. As a witch she knew what was growing inside her from the moment she took the test and her excitement grew as Ron whooped gleefully.
"What should we call her? How about Marcella?"
Ginny winced and jumped in after seeing the look on Hermione's face;
"Ron! You can't name a baby after a brand of sweets!"
She scolded while Draco doubled over in silent laughter behind Ron.
"Well what about Alicksandreia after Great-Grandma? I've always liked that."
Ginny glanced at Hermione who nodded, beaming.
"Alicks it is then. Well I'm off to Diagon Alley, anyone need a lift?"
Ginny glanced around the room, her eyes landing on Draco when he nodded;
"Yeah, I have to get some money out of Gringotts and I need to check in at the office while I'm there."
Ginny nodded and grabbed her bag, waiting patiently while Draco dashed upstairs to get ready.
"I'm still not happy about him living here."
Ron called out to her, breaking away from Hermione's kisses for a moment. Ginny turned to glare at him,
"If you complain about him to the Order and get him in trouble, or lay one finger on him in a violent way, come to think of it, I will castrate you with a blunt knife. Do you understand me Ronald Weasley?"
She hissed, narrowing her eyes at him. He flushed and opened his mouth to retort before quickly snapping it shut again when she gave him a sharp look, looking so like his mother he flinched.
"Ready?"
Draco called from the front door, watching as Ginny slipped on a pair of boots and waved goodbye to an oblivious Ron and Hermione.
Ten minutes later Ginny was almost knocked flat by a mass of fluorescent pink hair. Laughing she hugged her best friend before pulling back, eyeing her friend critically. She did look fabulous with her short wild hair dyed bright pink and a dark tan emphasised by the denim skirt and white tank top she was dressed in.
"You look great!"
They cried in unison before collapsing into chairs at an outside table, Ginny ducking under the shade of the large umbrella to stop her fair skin burning while Tab protected her glittering green eyes with designer sunglasses and lay back, propping her feet up on the chair next to her.
"How is being rich suiting you then?"
Ginny asked, picking up the hint of an American accent in Tab's voice and fighting a wave of envy; Tab had asked her to go travelling with her but she had had to continue her studies if she wanted to become an Auror which were her long term plans, the assistant teaching job being a cover. She leaned over and took a sip of Tab's ice-cold lemonade on the table before her.
"So-so, it gets pretty boring when the only people you meet are stuck up snobs or terrible star-fuckers. You never get tired of shopping though."
She laughed, stretching a smooth brown leg ending in a dusty foot and a wedge sandal out; seemingly unaware that every man in that passed was sneaking looks at her.
"So tell me more about this gorgeous blond guy I hear you're living with?"
Tab asked slyly, raising an eyebrow when Ginny flushed.
"Who told you I was living with him?"
She mumbled, cursing herself for blushing.
"Noah."
Tab said promptly, swirling the straw around in her glass and making the ice rattle.
"You know the girl could never resist some good gossip."
Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes at Tab, knowing perfectly well what Noah was like.
"Not much to say, it's Draco Malfoy."
She replied, not quite meeting Tab's eyes, staring down at the chequered table-cloth instead.
"You lucky bitch! Do you know what I'd give to spend one night under the same roof as him?"
Tab cried, a lazy grin slowly lighting up Ginny's face.
"What have you done with him?"
Tab demanded, narrowing her eyes behind the dark glasses at Ginny, a knowing smirk curving her lips.
"Nothing."
Ginny mumbled, looking away as Tab lowered her sunglasses so their eyes could meet, a mischievous sparkle Ginny knew only too well shimmering in their dark green depths.
"Don't lie to me, Weasley. You never could and you never will be able to, I know you too well."
Tab grinned at her triumphantly when Ginny described all that had happened the night before.
"I don't blame you girl, that God walking over to us now is everything you want in a man."
Ginny spun around in her seat to see Draco stalking over to them, his hair glowing in the sunshine, his face still pale despite the heat and his heat- attracting black jeans and black t-shirt showing off the Chinese dragon tattoo winding its way around his left upper-arm.
"Still as hot as ever."
She grumbled, turning back around to Tab.
"Can't deny it, what with those wicked come-to-bed eyes and that promising bulge in his pants."
Tab sighed earning a reproachful look from Ginny and a slap on the arm.
"Hey! Yeah well can you imagine what my brothers would do if they found out anything had happened between us?"
Ginny muttered, casting a dark look at Fred and George's shop in the distance.
"The words; tower, locked, dragon come to mind."
Tab sniggered, lifting her glasses up over her eyes and shoving them into her hair to hold it out of her face.
"Mind you, I wouldn't mind it if Charlie was the one doing the rescuing."
She grinned, winking at Ginny who laughed.
"Tabitha Duncan, behave yourself."
She giggled, shaking her head, plucking the glasses from Tab's hair and putting them on.
"I thought you went on a date with that Parker guy anyway. That's what you said last time I rang."
Tab creased her brow as a confused look drifted onto her face and Ginny froze at the memory.
"Yeah I did, and let's just say I'm not a virgin anymore."
She muttered, glad the glasses were hiding her eyes as a blush crept across her cheeks from under them.
"You didn't?"
Tab hissed, moving in closer to her and pulling the glasses down the bridge of her nose, letting out a shout of laughter at the defiant look in Ginny's eyes.
"What's funny?"
A voice said, startling Ginny as she looked up into Draco's silver eyes, the sunlight bouncing off his hair and giving him a halo, making her think he looked just like an angel. She quickly stamped on Tab's foot to shut her up before introducing them and waving Draco into a seat next to her.
"Ice cream ladies?"
He offered, pulling out his wallet and indicating the list of flavours on the wall by the counter.
"I'll have Peppermint and Tomato flavour please."
Tab said, not bothering to look at the menu as she and Ginny had spent hours at a time here once they had passed their Apparition tests and couldn't be doing with the chaos of the Burrow.
Ginny wrinkled her freckled nose in disgust at Tab's choice, exchanging an amused look with Draco.
"Just chocolate please."
She mumbled, her face reddening once more as his eyes held hers through the dark glass longer than was necessary.
"And two coffees."
Tab chirped after him, waving her empty glass at him. He turned to look at them;
"Sugar?"
Ginny shook her head and glanced at Tab.
"No thanks we're sweet enough."
They replied in unison before dissolving into fits of giggles.
Once Draco had left them to go to Gringotts, Tab had brought up the subject once more;
"So your brothers are a bit iffy about you dating Malfoy, sorry Draco. So what? It doesn't matter who you choose they're always gonna be overprotective of you cos you're the only girl."
She said wisely, watching Ginny play with her ice-cream as she scooped up hers.
"I'm not dating Draco though!"
Ginny hissed wistfully, slumping back in her seat and shoving her ice cream at Tab who promptly tipped it into her bowl along with her own half eaten ice cream.
"Yet."
Tab corrected, not looking up from her bowl.
"You're not dating him yet."
Ginny sighed and looked at her watch.
"Where are you staying?"
She asked, knowing that Tab didn't get along with her parents at all which was why she had spent most of every summer holiday at the Burrow with the Weasley's who thought her as another sister.
"No idea."
She replied breezily, yawning and staring around at the thinning crowds bustling from one shop to the other. She had missed Ginny and the Weasley's a lot, even though they had constantly written and phoned each other it wasn't the same as their Hogwarts days when they had been inseparable.
"Problem solved, you can stay at my house. Come on let's go check on Fred and George while we're waiting for Draco."
Ginny tossed a few coins onto the table for the extra coffees and waited for Tab to get to her feet.
"Tab!"
George cried, giving her a hug and kissing her full on the mouth before hugging Ginny. Ginny grinned and gave Harry a hug as he stepped out of Tab's embrace. Tab winked and gave Fred and Angelina a hug before advancing on Ron and Hermione sat at a table in the corner planning the new nursery.
"I hear you're expecting. Congratulations."
She said warmly, stooping to give them both a hug before settling down between them and babbling about names, nursery colours, pregnancy, labour, birth control, whether Hermione was going to keep the placenta as some women did and a whole lot of other things that made Ron turn pale green and excuse himself quickly.
"Merlin! Why would you want to talk about something like that in front of a bloke?"
He mumbled shakily to George who was pinning up new offers posters in the shop window.
"No idea, but Angelina's been getting broody from all the planning."
George sniggered, jerking his head back at Angelina who was stood behind the counter chattering animatedly to Ginny who was sat on the counter fiddling with her wand.
"Fred a father?"
Ron snorted, shaking with laughter at the mere thought of it.
"I'm not complaining."
Fred said, winking at his brothers as Harry and himself wandered back into the shop, one from the store cupboard and the other from the basement which doubled as extra storage and sometimes housed Order meetings as few people knew there was a basement, both carrying a sack full of what appeared to be money.
"Where did you get that?"
Ron asked suspiciously, eyeing the sacks nervously; he had been the guinea pig for their tests ever since Percy had left.
"Fake money, brother."
George said, taking a coin out of the sack and handing it to Ron.
"Yeah what's it do?'
He asked, examining the fat golden coin in his palm.
"Well you see, you leave it on the ground and wait for someone to pick it up..."
Fred said, looking at his watch in anticipation.
"And thirty seconds after the body heat of someone's contact triggers it, it goes off."
George continued, looking down at Fred's watch.
"What do you mean goes... ARGH!"
Ron bellowed as the coin released a jet of hot black liquid into his face.
"Fred, George!"
Hermione shrieked, using a cleaning spell to remove the stuff from Ron's face. She turned on them half in anger, half in amusement and slapped them both hard around the backs of their heads.
Ron glared at them and then around the room at Ginny who had nearly fallen off the counter for laughing, Angelina who was bent over the counter clinging onto it for support and Tab who was sprawled across the couch in the corner wheezing with laughter.
"What was that?"
He grudgingly saw the funny side and grinned weakly at Harry who was trying to hold in his own laughter.
"A wonderful invention surprisingly made by Muggles that we modified."
Fred chortled, waving his wand from the sack of money to the empty display boxes randomly placed in between the shelves so the money flew out and piled into them with an almighty clinking sound.
"It looks like Vandal Grease."
Hermione said, staring at the used coin covered in the remains of the black liquid still in Ron's hand beadily.
"Exactly. We modified it so it wasn't quite so hard to get off and sprayed hot instead."
George declared, rubbing his hands together gleefully and conjuring a sign to place in the window advertising them.
No one noticed that Ginny was sitting quietly gazing out of the window at Draco who had just come out of Gringotts and was heading into Flourish and Blotts not paying nay attention to the hot looks he was getting from the witches standing outside Madam Malkin's. She sighed and drew her knees up so she was sat cross-legged, her eyes never leaving his retreating figure. Maybe it wasn't so bad if they liked each other, he was in the Order after all which was a good thing. Maybe it was just her stupid overprotective family that were preventing her from being happy with him.
Looking around at her family and friends she felt tears spring up in her eyes, how was she ever going to decide what to do? She loved her family so much, and Hermione, Tab and Harry were practically family anyway, she knew she couldn't hurt them. But she didn't know if she could stand the pain of refusing her heart what it so badly wanted; happiness, a family of her own, mostly someone to love her, hold her when she was lonely and always be there.
She never would have thought she would be associating those things with Draco Malfoy, but she knew it felt right with him. Whether she liked it or not she was falling for the bastard and there was nothing her family, her friends or herself could do to stop it. But then again she wasn't sure she wanted to stop it. In fact she didn't think she wanted to stop it at all.
Cheers for the reviews and as I keep being repeatedly told 'I Want You to Want Me' is apparently by Cheap Trick, but I haven't heard that one and have only heard the Letters to Cleo version, so sorry if I got it wrong. Keep reviewing it helps, enjoy this chapter, it's a bit longer than the others I think but I couldn't seem to find the right place to end it. cheers babes xx
Chapter Five – Maybes, Hangovers and Babies
If it makes you happy
It can't be that bad
If it makes you happy
Then why the hell are you so sad?
Ginny's alarm going off the next day punctured through her dreams and she swatted at the bedside table;
"Shut up you bloody evil thing!"
She groaned, banging her hand on the table without opening her eyes, hoping she would hit it sooner or later. But unfortunately it was a wizard clock which didn't go off after a minute it just continued to get louder and steadily more annoying.
"Come on Gin, up you get."
An airy voice called, throwing open her door and wafting a mug of coffee under her nose. She sighed in relief when the alarm was switched off and burrowed back under the covers. But it seemed as though there was a chorus of bells ringing in her head and she moaned in pain;
"Get me a damn ambulance."
She groaned, shoving the steaming mug away from her face and glaring through bloodshot eyes as a radiant Hermione smiling down on her.
"Is it that bad?"
She giggled, placing the mug on the bedside table and tearing open the curtains to let some light into Ginny's darkened room;
"Can't somebody shut those bloody bells up?!"
Ginny bellowed, immediately regretting it when her temples gave a twinge and a pain shot through her head.
"'Fraid not. Some lucky person is getting married and they're going to be ringing for the next ten minutes."
Hermione sighed, gazing wistfully at the old church across the road before turning around and ripping the covers off Ginny, who cursed and curled up into a ball, her hand wearily scrabbling across the sheets looking for her quilts.
"Come on; time to get up your brother's waiting downstairs."
Ginny sighed, but knowing better then to bother arguing with Hermione, she slowly got out of bed and pulled her dressing gown on. It took her about five minutes to get down the stairs as each step felt like a cement block being dropped on her head.
Draco glanced up as she descended the stairs, gingerly cradling her head in her hands as though it was a glass of water she didn't want to spill. Her hangover was pressing against her brain causing all thoughts to become fuzzy but she was determined not to mention what had gone on the night before. This seemed to be evident as Draco didn't bring up the subject either, simply carrying on with his breakfast, eating it at the counter as opposed to the breakfast bar where Ron sat, glaring at him. The phone ringing startled them all and Ginny quickly picked it up, more to cut off the evil shrieking noise it was making then wanting to actually speak to whoever was on the other end;
"Hullo?"
She grumbled into the receiver, closing her eyes against the harsh light as Hermione opened the kitchen blind.
"Hey Ginny."
An involuntary smile lit up Ginny's face as she heard her best friend's voice.
"Tab! Where are you? How's living in America suiting you? How's that gorgeous wizard actor you were seeing last I heard?"
She said all this very fast, sipping tentatively at the coffee Hermione had just put before her.
"Fine, everything's fine. How about you?"
Ginny halted her friend for a second;
"One minute, Tab. There you go you're on speaker now, Hermione and Ron are here."
Ginny flicked the switch on the telephone stand and Tab's cheery voice rang around the room, doing nothing for her headache but cheering her up just the same.
"Hey guys!"
Ron and Hermione exchanged greetings with Tab, chattering idly for a few moments as Ginny shot secret glances across at Draco who was listening into the conversation with jealousy twisting his gut; he wanted to part of this life. To have friends and family who cared if he got hurt, basically he wanted to be part of Ginny's life!
"In answer to your questions; living in America is great! And I'm still seeing Grant but he's visiting his family in Chicago right now. And, guess what baby doll? I'm in London at this very moment."
Ginny let out a scream of joy that caused everyone in the room to wince and even made Draco turn to look at her.
"Where are you? Come and see us, I'll meet you in Diagon Alley!"
Ginny shrieked, jumping up and down happily. She hadn't seen her best friend since she had left Hogwarts to go travelling after taking her OWL's. She quickly made arrangements to meet Tab at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour before downing the steaming Hangover potion Hermione put before her.
"Be careful Ginny, that potion sends your Apparition Targeting out of the window for at least two hours."
Hermione warned, following Ginny up the stairs to her room. Ginny made a gesture with her hands as though waving the warning away;
"It's alright I'll drive."
She flicked her wand at the radio and it switched itself on. She pulled open her wardrobe and scanned its contents critically, finally deciding on a pair of faded denim jeans with slices all over the place and Touch and Die printed across the back pockets, and a black Weird Sisters t-shirt. Quickly brushing her hair and shoving it back into a long ponytail she glanced up to see Hermione glowing.
"Why are you so happy?"
She asked suspiciously, watching Hermione flush and look at her hands in her lap.
"I'm pregnant."
Ginny gaped at her, her silence making Hermione look up apprehensively.
"That's fantastic, Hermione! I'm going to be an aunt! No wait I'm too young to be an aunt. Oh well, how far gone are you? How long have you known? Does Ron know?"
Hermione quickly shut Ginny's bedroom door and sat down on the bed next to her soon to be sister-in-law.
"I haven't told him yet, I don't know how he's going to take it."
Ginny placed a hand under Hermione's chin and lifted her head so she could see her eyes.
"He's going to be ecstatic, he loves kids!"
She assured her, giving her a quick hug before dragging her downstairs.
"Ron!"
She cried, banging open the kitchen door and throwing her arms around her older brother who stared at her as though she had grown an extra head.
"Wonderful news!"
Ron continued to stare at her, his mouth a little open as Draco looked up curiously from his Daily Prophet.
"Ron... there's something I... I need to tell you."
Hermione stammered, sitting opposite him and taking his hands in hers as Ginny back away to give them room.
"What is it... you haven't... found someone else... oh my god... you have... I'll kill him... who is it?"
Ron spluttered, trying to leap to his feet but not quite managing it as Hermione was gripping his hands and Ginny was shoving down on his shoulders trying to force him back into his seat.
"No! There's no one else. It's...well... this isn't easy... you see... I'm late."
She finally said in a small voice, not quite meeting his eyes as her hands tightened their hold on his.
"Late for what... no!"
He gasped finally cottoning on. Hermione's eyes filled with tears, he didn't want a baby after all.
"This is great! Is it a boy or a girl? What shall we call it?"
She jerked her head up at him incredulously to see him staring at her in excitement.
"It's a girl."
She whispered quietly. As a witch she knew what was growing inside her from the moment she took the test and her excitement grew as Ron whooped gleefully.
"What should we call her? How about Marcella?"
Ginny winced and jumped in after seeing the look on Hermione's face;
"Ron! You can't name a baby after a brand of sweets!"
She scolded while Draco doubled over in silent laughter behind Ron.
"Well what about Alicksandreia after Great-Grandma? I've always liked that."
Ginny glanced at Hermione who nodded, beaming.
"Alicks it is then. Well I'm off to Diagon Alley, anyone need a lift?"
Ginny glanced around the room, her eyes landing on Draco when he nodded;
"Yeah, I have to get some money out of Gringotts and I need to check in at the office while I'm there."
Ginny nodded and grabbed her bag, waiting patiently while Draco dashed upstairs to get ready.
"I'm still not happy about him living here."
Ron called out to her, breaking away from Hermione's kisses for a moment. Ginny turned to glare at him,
"If you complain about him to the Order and get him in trouble, or lay one finger on him in a violent way, come to think of it, I will castrate you with a blunt knife. Do you understand me Ronald Weasley?"
She hissed, narrowing her eyes at him. He flushed and opened his mouth to retort before quickly snapping it shut again when she gave him a sharp look, looking so like his mother he flinched.
"Ready?"
Draco called from the front door, watching as Ginny slipped on a pair of boots and waved goodbye to an oblivious Ron and Hermione.
Ten minutes later Ginny was almost knocked flat by a mass of fluorescent pink hair. Laughing she hugged her best friend before pulling back, eyeing her friend critically. She did look fabulous with her short wild hair dyed bright pink and a dark tan emphasised by the denim skirt and white tank top she was dressed in.
"You look great!"
They cried in unison before collapsing into chairs at an outside table, Ginny ducking under the shade of the large umbrella to stop her fair skin burning while Tab protected her glittering green eyes with designer sunglasses and lay back, propping her feet up on the chair next to her.
"How is being rich suiting you then?"
Ginny asked, picking up the hint of an American accent in Tab's voice and fighting a wave of envy; Tab had asked her to go travelling with her but she had had to continue her studies if she wanted to become an Auror which were her long term plans, the assistant teaching job being a cover. She leaned over and took a sip of Tab's ice-cold lemonade on the table before her.
"So-so, it gets pretty boring when the only people you meet are stuck up snobs or terrible star-fuckers. You never get tired of shopping though."
She laughed, stretching a smooth brown leg ending in a dusty foot and a wedge sandal out; seemingly unaware that every man in that passed was sneaking looks at her.
"So tell me more about this gorgeous blond guy I hear you're living with?"
Tab asked slyly, raising an eyebrow when Ginny flushed.
"Who told you I was living with him?"
She mumbled, cursing herself for blushing.
"Noah."
Tab said promptly, swirling the straw around in her glass and making the ice rattle.
"You know the girl could never resist some good gossip."
Ginny sighed and rolled her eyes at Tab, knowing perfectly well what Noah was like.
"Not much to say, it's Draco Malfoy."
She replied, not quite meeting Tab's eyes, staring down at the chequered table-cloth instead.
"You lucky bitch! Do you know what I'd give to spend one night under the same roof as him?"
Tab cried, a lazy grin slowly lighting up Ginny's face.
"What have you done with him?"
Tab demanded, narrowing her eyes behind the dark glasses at Ginny, a knowing smirk curving her lips.
"Nothing."
Ginny mumbled, looking away as Tab lowered her sunglasses so their eyes could meet, a mischievous sparkle Ginny knew only too well shimmering in their dark green depths.
"Don't lie to me, Weasley. You never could and you never will be able to, I know you too well."
Tab grinned at her triumphantly when Ginny described all that had happened the night before.
"I don't blame you girl, that God walking over to us now is everything you want in a man."
Ginny spun around in her seat to see Draco stalking over to them, his hair glowing in the sunshine, his face still pale despite the heat and his heat- attracting black jeans and black t-shirt showing off the Chinese dragon tattoo winding its way around his left upper-arm.
"Still as hot as ever."
She grumbled, turning back around to Tab.
"Can't deny it, what with those wicked come-to-bed eyes and that promising bulge in his pants."
Tab sighed earning a reproachful look from Ginny and a slap on the arm.
"Hey! Yeah well can you imagine what my brothers would do if they found out anything had happened between us?"
Ginny muttered, casting a dark look at Fred and George's shop in the distance.
"The words; tower, locked, dragon come to mind."
Tab sniggered, lifting her glasses up over her eyes and shoving them into her hair to hold it out of her face.
"Mind you, I wouldn't mind it if Charlie was the one doing the rescuing."
She grinned, winking at Ginny who laughed.
"Tabitha Duncan, behave yourself."
She giggled, shaking her head, plucking the glasses from Tab's hair and putting them on.
"I thought you went on a date with that Parker guy anyway. That's what you said last time I rang."
Tab creased her brow as a confused look drifted onto her face and Ginny froze at the memory.
"Yeah I did, and let's just say I'm not a virgin anymore."
She muttered, glad the glasses were hiding her eyes as a blush crept across her cheeks from under them.
"You didn't?"
Tab hissed, moving in closer to her and pulling the glasses down the bridge of her nose, letting out a shout of laughter at the defiant look in Ginny's eyes.
"What's funny?"
A voice said, startling Ginny as she looked up into Draco's silver eyes, the sunlight bouncing off his hair and giving him a halo, making her think he looked just like an angel. She quickly stamped on Tab's foot to shut her up before introducing them and waving Draco into a seat next to her.
"Ice cream ladies?"
He offered, pulling out his wallet and indicating the list of flavours on the wall by the counter.
"I'll have Peppermint and Tomato flavour please."
Tab said, not bothering to look at the menu as she and Ginny had spent hours at a time here once they had passed their Apparition tests and couldn't be doing with the chaos of the Burrow.
Ginny wrinkled her freckled nose in disgust at Tab's choice, exchanging an amused look with Draco.
"Just chocolate please."
She mumbled, her face reddening once more as his eyes held hers through the dark glass longer than was necessary.
"And two coffees."
Tab chirped after him, waving her empty glass at him. He turned to look at them;
"Sugar?"
Ginny shook her head and glanced at Tab.
"No thanks we're sweet enough."
They replied in unison before dissolving into fits of giggles.
Once Draco had left them to go to Gringotts, Tab had brought up the subject once more;
"So your brothers are a bit iffy about you dating Malfoy, sorry Draco. So what? It doesn't matter who you choose they're always gonna be overprotective of you cos you're the only girl."
She said wisely, watching Ginny play with her ice-cream as she scooped up hers.
"I'm not dating Draco though!"
Ginny hissed wistfully, slumping back in her seat and shoving her ice cream at Tab who promptly tipped it into her bowl along with her own half eaten ice cream.
"Yet."
Tab corrected, not looking up from her bowl.
"You're not dating him yet."
Ginny sighed and looked at her watch.
"Where are you staying?"
She asked, knowing that Tab didn't get along with her parents at all which was why she had spent most of every summer holiday at the Burrow with the Weasley's who thought her as another sister.
"No idea."
She replied breezily, yawning and staring around at the thinning crowds bustling from one shop to the other. She had missed Ginny and the Weasley's a lot, even though they had constantly written and phoned each other it wasn't the same as their Hogwarts days when they had been inseparable.
"Problem solved, you can stay at my house. Come on let's go check on Fred and George while we're waiting for Draco."
Ginny tossed a few coins onto the table for the extra coffees and waited for Tab to get to her feet.
"Tab!"
George cried, giving her a hug and kissing her full on the mouth before hugging Ginny. Ginny grinned and gave Harry a hug as he stepped out of Tab's embrace. Tab winked and gave Fred and Angelina a hug before advancing on Ron and Hermione sat at a table in the corner planning the new nursery.
"I hear you're expecting. Congratulations."
She said warmly, stooping to give them both a hug before settling down between them and babbling about names, nursery colours, pregnancy, labour, birth control, whether Hermione was going to keep the placenta as some women did and a whole lot of other things that made Ron turn pale green and excuse himself quickly.
"Merlin! Why would you want to talk about something like that in front of a bloke?"
He mumbled shakily to George who was pinning up new offers posters in the shop window.
"No idea, but Angelina's been getting broody from all the planning."
George sniggered, jerking his head back at Angelina who was stood behind the counter chattering animatedly to Ginny who was sat on the counter fiddling with her wand.
"Fred a father?"
Ron snorted, shaking with laughter at the mere thought of it.
"I'm not complaining."
Fred said, winking at his brothers as Harry and himself wandered back into the shop, one from the store cupboard and the other from the basement which doubled as extra storage and sometimes housed Order meetings as few people knew there was a basement, both carrying a sack full of what appeared to be money.
"Where did you get that?"
Ron asked suspiciously, eyeing the sacks nervously; he had been the guinea pig for their tests ever since Percy had left.
"Fake money, brother."
George said, taking a coin out of the sack and handing it to Ron.
"Yeah what's it do?'
He asked, examining the fat golden coin in his palm.
"Well you see, you leave it on the ground and wait for someone to pick it up..."
Fred said, looking at his watch in anticipation.
"And thirty seconds after the body heat of someone's contact triggers it, it goes off."
George continued, looking down at Fred's watch.
"What do you mean goes... ARGH!"
Ron bellowed as the coin released a jet of hot black liquid into his face.
"Fred, George!"
Hermione shrieked, using a cleaning spell to remove the stuff from Ron's face. She turned on them half in anger, half in amusement and slapped them both hard around the backs of their heads.
Ron glared at them and then around the room at Ginny who had nearly fallen off the counter for laughing, Angelina who was bent over the counter clinging onto it for support and Tab who was sprawled across the couch in the corner wheezing with laughter.
"What was that?"
He grudgingly saw the funny side and grinned weakly at Harry who was trying to hold in his own laughter.
"A wonderful invention surprisingly made by Muggles that we modified."
Fred chortled, waving his wand from the sack of money to the empty display boxes randomly placed in between the shelves so the money flew out and piled into them with an almighty clinking sound.
"It looks like Vandal Grease."
Hermione said, staring at the used coin covered in the remains of the black liquid still in Ron's hand beadily.
"Exactly. We modified it so it wasn't quite so hard to get off and sprayed hot instead."
George declared, rubbing his hands together gleefully and conjuring a sign to place in the window advertising them.
No one noticed that Ginny was sitting quietly gazing out of the window at Draco who had just come out of Gringotts and was heading into Flourish and Blotts not paying nay attention to the hot looks he was getting from the witches standing outside Madam Malkin's. She sighed and drew her knees up so she was sat cross-legged, her eyes never leaving his retreating figure. Maybe it wasn't so bad if they liked each other, he was in the Order after all which was a good thing. Maybe it was just her stupid overprotective family that were preventing her from being happy with him.
Looking around at her family and friends she felt tears spring up in her eyes, how was she ever going to decide what to do? She loved her family so much, and Hermione, Tab and Harry were practically family anyway, she knew she couldn't hurt them. But she didn't know if she could stand the pain of refusing her heart what it so badly wanted; happiness, a family of her own, mostly someone to love her, hold her when she was lonely and always be there.
She never would have thought she would be associating those things with Draco Malfoy, but she knew it felt right with him. Whether she liked it or not she was falling for the bastard and there was nothing her family, her friends or herself could do to stop it. But then again she wasn't sure she wanted to stop it. In fact she didn't think she wanted to stop it at all.