Chapter eight
As summer approached, things between the death eaters and the order of the phoenix began to heat up. The one subject that Ginny and Draco didn't discuss became harder and harder to avoid. It made for spats and harsh words between them more and more often.
While Draco seemed just as horrified as Ginny at the atrocities the death eaters committed, he wasn't entirely unsympathetic to their cause.
"I agree with the idea of keeping wizarding pureblooded. I just think they're going about it the wrong way. And they haven't the sense to realize that Voldemort, yes, I said his name, don't look at me like that, if he can't even kill Harry Potter, he isn't anyone to be afraid of, Voldemort is using them to get what he wants. I object to having a half muggle in charge even more than I object to death eaters killing people."
"Draco, we were all muggle once. Everyone has to come from somewhere. Why if we refused to mate with muggles and wizards from muggle families, eventually we'd all be inbreeding." Ginny would try to reason with him, but Draco would give her a dozen reasons why she was wrong.
Ginny had known Draco felt this way. She tried very hard to be objective and see his point of view. It was hard. Several nights she had gotten so angry, or he had gotten so angry that one of them would slam out of the music room mid argument. They always forgave each other though, and never let it get in the way of how they felt. The next night, the one who'd stomped out would be waiting for the other.
On the train home, Draco and Ginny had a compartment all to themselves. It had been quite a make out session from the time they pulled out of Hogsmeade, right up until they pulled put to platform 9 ¾. When the train stopped, Ginny pulled Draco along to meet her parents.
"Gin, this isn't necessary."
"Yes it is. If you can brave your father for me, I can brave mine for you."
"Mum, Dad, this is Draco." Ginny said, holding Draco's hand in front of her parents.
"Pleased to meet you ma'am, sir" said Draco, holding out his hand to her mum. Molly Weasley pulled her mouth down in a frown as she took his hand and said hello. When Draco extended his hand to her father though, Arthur turned his back and walked away.
Ginny sucked in her breath. "I'm sorry Draco."
He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Its alright. Better than what my father did. Argh, I'd better go, there's father glaring at me over there. I'll owl you tonight, ok?"
Ginny nodded as he hurried over to Lucius. Molly Weasley watched as Lucius Malfoy grabbed his son's arm and shook him, and although she couldn't hear the word he said to the boy, anyone could see they weren't kind.
Molly's eyes softened and she asked Ginny, "Is all that because of you, Ginny?"
"Yes mum, it is."
Molly looked a moment longer, not being able to help feeling sorry for the boy. He was just a child, no matter how Arthur felt about his father. Then she shook herself and said, faking nonchalance, "I expect we'll be seeing him over the summer, then. We'll have to see what we can do to fatten him up a bit. Now where ever did your father go? And there's Ron, over there, practically mugging Hermione. Indecent I tell you. I can see I'll have to keep a close eye on those two. Oh, there Arthur is, with Harry..."
Ginny grinned happily as she trailed after her mother.
The first part of summer was pretty grand for Ginny and Draco. Carefully planning when their fathers wouldn't be around, they each managed to visit the other several times. Narcissa entertained Ginny and in her polite proper way, poked and prodded Ginny till she had the information she wanted from her about her's and her son's relationship. And in the end, decided she quite liked the lovely little red head, no matter what Lucius might think of her family. She noted Draco seemed much happier and at peace when Ginny was around. The girl could do with some refining, but Narcissa thought she was a jewel in the rough. She quietly began to teach Ginny the proper manners and customs of high society.
Molly on the other hand, being the nurturing soul she is, took Draco into her fold as if he'd been there all along. Draco was quite overwhelmed with all the hugging at first. His family didn't do much in the way of public displays of affection, but he quickly learned that Molly Weasley was as quick to fold you up in her plump arms when she felt you needed a hug as she was to whack you across the back of the head when she felt you needed a smack. He met Bill and Charlie and Percy over the summer, and they were quite taken with him. Bill especially. Ginny had known that he and Charlie would be easier to convince than the others, since they had never known Draco personally. Bill in particular seemed to take to Draco.
The big surprise was that Draco managed to win Percy over. Prickly, smarmy Percy, whom Ginny almost didn't like herself. Draco took a whole afternoon to reassure Percy that he had only Ginny's best interests at heart. When curiosity got the better of Percy and he not so subtly asked about Draco's inheritance, Draco saw his opening. As they discussed money and properties that would someday belong to Draco, Percy warmed right up to him, in the end, proclaiming Draco a "good catch for Gin." And while Ginny held some contempt for Percy's obvious gold digging, she was relieved to have one less family member to have to fight.
Things were tense when Draco was there with Ron home, but they got even tenser when Harry showed up, mid summer with Hermione. Harry had done his two weeks at his aunt's house, and like always, arrangements were made to get him out of that hellish house for the rest of the summer till school started back. He had gone with Hermione for two weeks first, to visit America with her family, and then they had both come to Ron's for the rest of the summer, as usual.
Ron was still not speaking to Ginny, but Harry seemed to come back home (despite herself, Ginny still considered her home Harry's) with a different attitude. Slowly he began to spend time with Ginny again, laughing and talking like old times. Ginny began to hope that maybe he'd accepted her and Draco and gotten over his feelings for her.
She couldn't have been more wrong. One day, alone in the house, Harry cornered her. The rest of the family had gone into town to buy ice cream and Ginny had elected to stay home, reminding them to bring her back strawberry. The day before, Draco had been there and he and Ginny had squabbled about muggles again, Ginny angry when he had carelessly called Hermione a mudblood again, and she wanted to owl him and let him know that she would be willing to forget it, as she realized he hadn't been thinking when he said it. At the last minute Harry claimed a headache and stayed too. Molly had expressed concern that it was his scar hurting, but Harry had assured her that was not true, it was only a run of the mill headache and he thought he take an aspirin and go lie down for a bit.
When they had all gone, Harry wandered into the kitchen where Ginny was, rubbing his head.
"Is it your scar after all Harry?" she asked, worriedly. "Did you just say it wasn't so you wouldn't worry Mum?"
"No, no, I don't think so, it just really hurts." He said, grimacing.
Ginny went over to where he was and began to massage his temples. Despite Draco's loathing of Harry, Ginny loved him as if he were another brother. In fact, she often included him in the number of her family when people asked. I have seven brothers, she would say.
"Let me get you some water to take your aspirin with." She said, going over to the faucet to run some water in a glass. When she turned around, she found herself face to face with Harry. He hemmed her up against the sink by placing a hand on either side and leaned in on her.
Ginny leaned away from him, backwards, over the sink and exclaimed, "Harry, what are you doing?"
"I knew if I waited long enough you'd see that Malfoy wasn't right for you Ginny. I knew when you sent him away yesterday that I finally had my chance. I know you must feel something for me, as nice as you've been all summer. Finally." Harry sighed as he leaned in closer and horrified, Ginny realized that he was going to try and kiss her.
She planted both hands on his chest and shoved with all her might. Harry didn't budge. He didn't even seem to notice her trying to resist. As she leaned back, practically lying on the sink now, she heard a low silky voice say, "Potter, why am I feeling a sense of déjà vu here? Must I ask you again, what the hell do you think your doing?"
Ginny sighed in relief. Draco. Harry swung around to face him.
"Damn it Malfoy, what are you doing here?" he said.
"My cherished girlfriend lives here Potter. I have an open invitation from her and her Mum. What the hell are you doing here?"
"I live here most of the time, is what I'm doing here. This is my family, or at least might as well be. "
"Doesn't look to me like you think Ginny is family. Or is it that you're trying to make your fantasy come true, and perhaps marry into the family?" Draco snapped.
"Ginny sent you away. She doesn't want you anymore." Harry proclaimed.
Draco raised one aristocratic eyebrow and looked at Ginny. "You want me to leave, Princess?"
Ginny, who had been slowly inching closer to Draco, shook her head no and latched on to his arm.
Harry's face screwed up in rage when he saw Ginny grab Draco's arm. "Why Malfoy, why, out of all the girls you could have, why do you want the one that is supposed to be for me?"
Draco's face darkened. He moved close to Harry and said so low Ginny had to strain to hear, "She isn't for you Potter. You had your chance, and let it slip away. Not everything is yours, you know. This girl, this one thing is mine. Remember that, because I don't intend to give her up. Not for you, not for my father, not for Ron, or anyone. And if I catch you at her again, they'll be no stopping till one of us is bloody, do you understand?"
Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco, and backed away from the sink. He took one last look at Ginny and said, "Go ahead Ginny, have your fun. Maybe you won't be too sullied when he's done with you. Maybe I'll still want you."
Draco moved towards him as he left the room, but Ginny pulled him back. "Don't hit him Draco. It's too sad. He just won't let it go."
"Sad? Potter makes a move on my girlfriend every time I'm not around, implies something less than wholesome about her and I'm still not allowed to hit him. How is that sad for anyone but me?"
Ginny laughed and hugged him. "I'm awfully glad you got here when you did, even if you are a great git!"
Two days later, while Draco and Ginny sat in a swing watching crookshanks chase gnomes around the garden, Harry approached them.
"Ginny, "he said, looking down at his shoes." I'd like to apologize for my behavior in the kitchen the other day. I don't know what came over me. It won't happen again and I hope we can still be friends."
"Potter admitting he was wrong." Draco sneered. "I must have scared you into it."
Harry scowled at Draco. "I didn't do it for you Malfoy. You don't scare me at all. I did it for Ginny. The Weasleys are the only family I have, and I don't intend to lose a single one of them. I've lost enough already."
Ginny pinched Draco on the arm and said, "Of course Harry. It's forgotten. Would you like to sit with us?"
Harry declined and went back into the house.
As Draco rubbed his arm where Ginny had pinched him, he said, "Witch, why is it that when Harry Potter is around I seem to be the one who gets in trouble, even though he is the one who behaves badly? If I didn't know you were hopelessly mad about me, I'd think you fancied him."
Arrogant git!" Ginny laughed as she kissed him. "I am hopelessly mad about you, but you don't have to sound so smug about it!"
"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."
Ginny pinched him again.
As summer approached, things between the death eaters and the order of the phoenix began to heat up. The one subject that Ginny and Draco didn't discuss became harder and harder to avoid. It made for spats and harsh words between them more and more often.
While Draco seemed just as horrified as Ginny at the atrocities the death eaters committed, he wasn't entirely unsympathetic to their cause.
"I agree with the idea of keeping wizarding pureblooded. I just think they're going about it the wrong way. And they haven't the sense to realize that Voldemort, yes, I said his name, don't look at me like that, if he can't even kill Harry Potter, he isn't anyone to be afraid of, Voldemort is using them to get what he wants. I object to having a half muggle in charge even more than I object to death eaters killing people."
"Draco, we were all muggle once. Everyone has to come from somewhere. Why if we refused to mate with muggles and wizards from muggle families, eventually we'd all be inbreeding." Ginny would try to reason with him, but Draco would give her a dozen reasons why she was wrong.
Ginny had known Draco felt this way. She tried very hard to be objective and see his point of view. It was hard. Several nights she had gotten so angry, or he had gotten so angry that one of them would slam out of the music room mid argument. They always forgave each other though, and never let it get in the way of how they felt. The next night, the one who'd stomped out would be waiting for the other.
On the train home, Draco and Ginny had a compartment all to themselves. It had been quite a make out session from the time they pulled out of Hogsmeade, right up until they pulled put to platform 9 ¾. When the train stopped, Ginny pulled Draco along to meet her parents.
"Gin, this isn't necessary."
"Yes it is. If you can brave your father for me, I can brave mine for you."
"Mum, Dad, this is Draco." Ginny said, holding Draco's hand in front of her parents.
"Pleased to meet you ma'am, sir" said Draco, holding out his hand to her mum. Molly Weasley pulled her mouth down in a frown as she took his hand and said hello. When Draco extended his hand to her father though, Arthur turned his back and walked away.
Ginny sucked in her breath. "I'm sorry Draco."
He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Its alright. Better than what my father did. Argh, I'd better go, there's father glaring at me over there. I'll owl you tonight, ok?"
Ginny nodded as he hurried over to Lucius. Molly Weasley watched as Lucius Malfoy grabbed his son's arm and shook him, and although she couldn't hear the word he said to the boy, anyone could see they weren't kind.
Molly's eyes softened and she asked Ginny, "Is all that because of you, Ginny?"
"Yes mum, it is."
Molly looked a moment longer, not being able to help feeling sorry for the boy. He was just a child, no matter how Arthur felt about his father. Then she shook herself and said, faking nonchalance, "I expect we'll be seeing him over the summer, then. We'll have to see what we can do to fatten him up a bit. Now where ever did your father go? And there's Ron, over there, practically mugging Hermione. Indecent I tell you. I can see I'll have to keep a close eye on those two. Oh, there Arthur is, with Harry..."
Ginny grinned happily as she trailed after her mother.
The first part of summer was pretty grand for Ginny and Draco. Carefully planning when their fathers wouldn't be around, they each managed to visit the other several times. Narcissa entertained Ginny and in her polite proper way, poked and prodded Ginny till she had the information she wanted from her about her's and her son's relationship. And in the end, decided she quite liked the lovely little red head, no matter what Lucius might think of her family. She noted Draco seemed much happier and at peace when Ginny was around. The girl could do with some refining, but Narcissa thought she was a jewel in the rough. She quietly began to teach Ginny the proper manners and customs of high society.
Molly on the other hand, being the nurturing soul she is, took Draco into her fold as if he'd been there all along. Draco was quite overwhelmed with all the hugging at first. His family didn't do much in the way of public displays of affection, but he quickly learned that Molly Weasley was as quick to fold you up in her plump arms when she felt you needed a hug as she was to whack you across the back of the head when she felt you needed a smack. He met Bill and Charlie and Percy over the summer, and they were quite taken with him. Bill especially. Ginny had known that he and Charlie would be easier to convince than the others, since they had never known Draco personally. Bill in particular seemed to take to Draco.
The big surprise was that Draco managed to win Percy over. Prickly, smarmy Percy, whom Ginny almost didn't like herself. Draco took a whole afternoon to reassure Percy that he had only Ginny's best interests at heart. When curiosity got the better of Percy and he not so subtly asked about Draco's inheritance, Draco saw his opening. As they discussed money and properties that would someday belong to Draco, Percy warmed right up to him, in the end, proclaiming Draco a "good catch for Gin." And while Ginny held some contempt for Percy's obvious gold digging, she was relieved to have one less family member to have to fight.
Things were tense when Draco was there with Ron home, but they got even tenser when Harry showed up, mid summer with Hermione. Harry had done his two weeks at his aunt's house, and like always, arrangements were made to get him out of that hellish house for the rest of the summer till school started back. He had gone with Hermione for two weeks first, to visit America with her family, and then they had both come to Ron's for the rest of the summer, as usual.
Ron was still not speaking to Ginny, but Harry seemed to come back home (despite herself, Ginny still considered her home Harry's) with a different attitude. Slowly he began to spend time with Ginny again, laughing and talking like old times. Ginny began to hope that maybe he'd accepted her and Draco and gotten over his feelings for her.
She couldn't have been more wrong. One day, alone in the house, Harry cornered her. The rest of the family had gone into town to buy ice cream and Ginny had elected to stay home, reminding them to bring her back strawberry. The day before, Draco had been there and he and Ginny had squabbled about muggles again, Ginny angry when he had carelessly called Hermione a mudblood again, and she wanted to owl him and let him know that she would be willing to forget it, as she realized he hadn't been thinking when he said it. At the last minute Harry claimed a headache and stayed too. Molly had expressed concern that it was his scar hurting, but Harry had assured her that was not true, it was only a run of the mill headache and he thought he take an aspirin and go lie down for a bit.
When they had all gone, Harry wandered into the kitchen where Ginny was, rubbing his head.
"Is it your scar after all Harry?" she asked, worriedly. "Did you just say it wasn't so you wouldn't worry Mum?"
"No, no, I don't think so, it just really hurts." He said, grimacing.
Ginny went over to where he was and began to massage his temples. Despite Draco's loathing of Harry, Ginny loved him as if he were another brother. In fact, she often included him in the number of her family when people asked. I have seven brothers, she would say.
"Let me get you some water to take your aspirin with." She said, going over to the faucet to run some water in a glass. When she turned around, she found herself face to face with Harry. He hemmed her up against the sink by placing a hand on either side and leaned in on her.
Ginny leaned away from him, backwards, over the sink and exclaimed, "Harry, what are you doing?"
"I knew if I waited long enough you'd see that Malfoy wasn't right for you Ginny. I knew when you sent him away yesterday that I finally had my chance. I know you must feel something for me, as nice as you've been all summer. Finally." Harry sighed as he leaned in closer and horrified, Ginny realized that he was going to try and kiss her.
She planted both hands on his chest and shoved with all her might. Harry didn't budge. He didn't even seem to notice her trying to resist. As she leaned back, practically lying on the sink now, she heard a low silky voice say, "Potter, why am I feeling a sense of déjà vu here? Must I ask you again, what the hell do you think your doing?"
Ginny sighed in relief. Draco. Harry swung around to face him.
"Damn it Malfoy, what are you doing here?" he said.
"My cherished girlfriend lives here Potter. I have an open invitation from her and her Mum. What the hell are you doing here?"
"I live here most of the time, is what I'm doing here. This is my family, or at least might as well be. "
"Doesn't look to me like you think Ginny is family. Or is it that you're trying to make your fantasy come true, and perhaps marry into the family?" Draco snapped.
"Ginny sent you away. She doesn't want you anymore." Harry proclaimed.
Draco raised one aristocratic eyebrow and looked at Ginny. "You want me to leave, Princess?"
Ginny, who had been slowly inching closer to Draco, shook her head no and latched on to his arm.
Harry's face screwed up in rage when he saw Ginny grab Draco's arm. "Why Malfoy, why, out of all the girls you could have, why do you want the one that is supposed to be for me?"
Draco's face darkened. He moved close to Harry and said so low Ginny had to strain to hear, "She isn't for you Potter. You had your chance, and let it slip away. Not everything is yours, you know. This girl, this one thing is mine. Remember that, because I don't intend to give her up. Not for you, not for my father, not for Ron, or anyone. And if I catch you at her again, they'll be no stopping till one of us is bloody, do you understand?"
Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco, and backed away from the sink. He took one last look at Ginny and said, "Go ahead Ginny, have your fun. Maybe you won't be too sullied when he's done with you. Maybe I'll still want you."
Draco moved towards him as he left the room, but Ginny pulled him back. "Don't hit him Draco. It's too sad. He just won't let it go."
"Sad? Potter makes a move on my girlfriend every time I'm not around, implies something less than wholesome about her and I'm still not allowed to hit him. How is that sad for anyone but me?"
Ginny laughed and hugged him. "I'm awfully glad you got here when you did, even if you are a great git!"
Two days later, while Draco and Ginny sat in a swing watching crookshanks chase gnomes around the garden, Harry approached them.
"Ginny, "he said, looking down at his shoes." I'd like to apologize for my behavior in the kitchen the other day. I don't know what came over me. It won't happen again and I hope we can still be friends."
"Potter admitting he was wrong." Draco sneered. "I must have scared you into it."
Harry scowled at Draco. "I didn't do it for you Malfoy. You don't scare me at all. I did it for Ginny. The Weasleys are the only family I have, and I don't intend to lose a single one of them. I've lost enough already."
Ginny pinched Draco on the arm and said, "Of course Harry. It's forgotten. Would you like to sit with us?"
Harry declined and went back into the house.
As Draco rubbed his arm where Ginny had pinched him, he said, "Witch, why is it that when Harry Potter is around I seem to be the one who gets in trouble, even though he is the one who behaves badly? If I didn't know you were hopelessly mad about me, I'd think you fancied him."
Arrogant git!" Ginny laughed as she kissed him. "I am hopelessly mad about you, but you don't have to sound so smug about it!"
"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."
Ginny pinched him again.