Eh, hello everyone… ummm, so it's been awhile huh? Well, besides just being busy I do have some excuses but I doubt you really want to hear them. I'm sorry this chapter isn't really long but I felt it was right just where it was and I figured I shouldn't wait any longer. So, without further delay, may I present chapter 8!
Of course special thanks to my beta reader, Sizarie, and all my friends for pestering me about this chapter. What would I do without you all?!
Draco sat down in his chair, eyeing the pile of paper work waiting for him. He looked around his office wearily; the house was just so bloody quiet without those two brats!
Ten minutes later he still had yet to even touch the pile of paper work. The silence was starting to drive him mad! When he had been younger he'd loved silence, it was peaceful and calming, now it just seemed disturbing. How was he supposed to get any work done without a racket? This silence was giving him a headache!
With an oath, he jumped to his feet and started pacing around his office. When had he become so bloody weak? He doubted his father had gone through this when he had left. But then, he hadn't been like Aquilus and Jewel, and his father had still had a wife to keep him company. Something he most assuredly didn't have, and something he'd only want one person to ever be.
Ginny. Draco covered his face with his hands. How was he ever going to work things out? What could he possibly do to make her understand? He wasn't sure he even understood.
Ginny watched quietly as a useful charm cleaned the dishes for her. It was strange, her week from hell was over, Lavender had come back and this month's issue was ready, yet now she wished it wasn't. If only so that she wouldn't have time to think.
A clatter at the window caught her attention, and she opened it to find none other than a great eagle owl waiting outside. She stepped aside, letting the beautiful creature glide in and land on the back of one of her chairs, holding out his leg waiting for her to take the letter he carried.
"I can guess whom you belong to," she said, as she carefully untied the string. "I'm just surprised he hasn't come in person."
With shaking fingers she broke the black dragon seal and unfolded the thick parchment.
Dear G,
I'm sorry that I have not contacted you sooner, I'm afraid it has been a hectic week. I would however, like to ask you out to lunch tomorrow. It goes without saying that we need to talk. There is much I must explain to you that I do not feel is appropriate to write in a letter. If you do not already have plans I will meet you at The Three Broomsticks at 12:45 tomorrow. Please send your response back with Kyne right away.
-D
Ginny felt tears well up in her eyes, his letter had sounded so formal and cold, but he'd used their old nicknames as if it was completely natural. Quickly she scribbled a reply and gave it to Kyne, as Draco had named him, watching with mixed feelings as the beautiful owl delivered her message.
Draco was wearing a hole in his carpet with all his pacing. Where was that damn bird?! Surely he should be back by now. What was taking so long?
A scraping at the window sent rushing to open it, more anxious then he'd been in years. Kyne glided in majestically as always, and landed on Draco's waiting arm, holding out his leg.
Draco read the letter almost savagely.
Hello D,
Your request is reasonable; I will meet you for lunch. I won't however be able to arrive until 1 o'clock due to prior arrangements. I hope this isn't a problem. I will see you then.
-G
Draco sighed, now all he needed to do was figure out what the hell he was going to say to her!
Aquilus nervously squeezed Jewel's hand as they stood in line, waiting to be called up and be sorted by the Sorting Hat. He wasn't really sure what house he wanted to be in. On the one hand, his real father had been a Ravenclaw, but Dad – Draco – had been from Slytherin. He supposed the hat would put him where he belonged, but still he couldn't shake the fear it would be wrong. Really, how well could a hat know where you belonged? You put it on for a few seconds and it would decide your fate for the next seven years.
"Malfoy, Aquilus."
A silence fell over the hall at the famed name of Malfoy rung through the room. With a last squeeze of Jewels hand he stood up and walked to the podium where the dreaded hat waited.
At 1 o'clock on the dot Ginny walked into the Three Broomsticks, and quickly spotted Draco sitting near the back reading a book. She raised an eyebrow, somehow that just seemed out of character for him. With quick strides she made her way through the nearly empty pub her heart pounding in her ears.
When Draco noticed her approach he quickly dropped his book and stood up, pulling out her chair for her and waiting for her to sit before returning to his own seat. Ginny gulped, it all seemed too familiar, perhaps she should've insisted on a place they hadn't spent many dates in.
Draco cleared his throat nervously, "You look good."
Ginny smiled weakly, "You too." She paused searching for something else to say. "Have you ordered anything yet?"
"Yes, I took the liberty of ordering us each a bowl of vegetable soup for starters." He paused, "You do still like vegetable, right?"
"Yes."
An uneasy silence fell over them. Ginny nervously played with a strand of coppery hair that had fallen out of her neat bun. She looked up at Draco who sat staring at her, mesmerized by her actions. Quickly she dropped her hand and studied her plate.
"Do you want to know their names?"
Ginny looked up startled, "What?"
"The twins, do you want to know their names?"
"Okay."
"Jewel Rain and Aquilus Phoenix."
"Those are nice names."
"Yeah."
"Who named them?"
"I did."
"Oh?" she looked up quizzically. "Then I suppose they have Latin meanings or something?"
Draco grinned, "You know me too well-"he stopped.
Ginny looked down at her plate again, "I used to," she whispered.
"Here you go!" said their waiter cheerfully, plopping down two bowls of steamy vegetable soup in front of the duo. Ginny started violently and almost knocked over her water. "Uh, thanks," she muttered, picking up a spoon.
The waiter looked from her to Draco and grimaced slightly. "I'll check back in a minute to see what else I can get you, okay?" He hurried away almost before he finished his sentence.
Draco cleared his throat once the waiter left and waited patiently for Ginny to look at him. "Ginny, I just want to tell you how sorry I am before we go any farther."
Her eyes flickered to him and for a minute she could almost imagine they were teenagers on a date again. She sighed, "Draco, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I mean, I'm not a kid anymore, I have a life and all…" she bit her lip. "But at the same time, I can't seem to let you go. I spent all week trying not to think about you, but every time I close my eyes you're all I see."
"God, Gin… I know what you mean. It's been years since I talked to you, yet the idea of just letting things go makes me sick. I feel like everything should be the way it was before I left."
"But it can't be! Draco, I don't know about you, but I've changed. I don't know if I even want to know you anymore, and for all we know you might not like who I've become either."
Draco closed his eyes, what could he do to make things right? "I know things are different know, but I still want to know you, Ginny. I've spent all these years thinking about you and wondering what had happened after I left." He gulped, "I never wanted to hurt you, and even if we can't have what we once had, I can't walk out of here today without knowing that I'm going to see you again!"
Ginny squeezed her eyes shut. How come she couldn't wake up from this stupid dream? Why after all these years of wishing she could see him again did she now want more than anything to pretend they had never seen each other?
"Gin?"
Ginny snapped her eyes open and met Draco's stormy gaze. "Yes?"
"I'm hosting a fund raiser tomorrow night." He lent forward and took her hand, "Please come. I'm not asking you to go with me, but I want to spend some time with you."
Ginny gulped, her eyes strayed down to their hands studying how his enveloped hers. Everything about him enveloped her, his scent, his gaze, his kiss…
"Ginny, please let me have a chance to know the woman you've become."
She met his eyes; they were sincere. "I'll come."
Aquilus and Jewel smiled at each other from across the table. Strangely enough, the Slytherin dungeon hadn't seemed nearly as cold as Dad had described it. But he figured he had plenty of time to find out if the floors actually hit freezing during the winter. He was sure even if they did he could find some way around it. As Dad had said when telling them about his years in Slytherin, 'the true test of whether you were a worthy Slytherin was whether or not you were able to find a way to survive the Slytherin common room and dorms!'
What did you think? I hope to get the next chapter out sooner than this one; I promise I'll try my best. This chapter took so long because my computer ate Microsoft Word and the Internet, but I have a new computer now (which is I pain because I have to move all my old files) so it shouldn't take nearly so long!
Also, I want to know what you think of Aquilus and Jewel. Should they appear more in future chapters, or do you want the story to focus closely on Draco and Ginny. Either way they will play an important part in the plot later on but for now it can go either way. Tell me what you think when you review – you will be reviewing of course ::giggle:: - and I'll see how it works out.
As always, the mailing list is still up so send me an email with the subject line "Mailing List" if you want to be added.
Until next chapter,
Dazzy
Ps- Voice 17 couldn't be here today because he was arrested for stealing a car. But don't worry; as we speak the other 4241 voices are working on how to break him out! Wish them luck!
::Dazma's imaginary lawyer walks in:: Dazma is not in anyway trying to promote car theft, disobedience of the law, or anything else that could get her in trouble. Thank you. ::Dazma's imaginary lawyer walks out::