Chapter Thirty Three
Ginny was hanging her gown in the closet when someone knocked on her door. "Come in," she called.
"Hey, Gin." She turned and smiled at her brother.
"Hey!" her smile faded when he sat down on her bed and put his head in his hands. "What's wrong?"
"I just feel bad about Pansy getting so much attention at the wedding," he said, shaking his head. His hands dropped, and she saw that his eyes were red-rimmed. She sat down beside him and put her arms around him, hugging him tight.
"Ron, she was prepared for it," she said soothingly. "She was prepared for the eventuality that someone might say something about it. Nothing bad happened to either of you, did it? It was just a bunch of old biddies with their tongues wagging."
"But they think we're dirty," he said quietly. She sighed.
"We're not dirty, Ron. Our blood is just as pure as theirs, if not more so." Ron nodded.
"I know you're right. I just feel bad about the whole thing."
"At least none of them tried to hit on you," she said, laughing softly. Ron snorted.
"I suppose you should feel flattered that he thought you were worthy of his attentions, huh?"
"The only thing I feel flattered by was the fact that Draco cared enough about me to job him good." Ron sniggered.
"He did, didn't he? I guess I don't have to worry about your honor after all – at least, not with him around."
"I love you, big brother."
"I love you, too, brat." She pushed him away and laughed. He lunged at her and began tickling her. She was howling with laughter when Draco and Pansy appeared at the door.
"Someone- please help," she gasped, tears flowing as she laughed. Draco folded his arms over his chest and smirked at them. Pansy rolled her eyes but smiled as she pulled Ron off of his sister. Ginny sat up and tried to catch her breath. "Gee, thanks, Draco. I'm glad you didn't mistakenly show me that you cared, or anything." He pretended to look affronted.
"Me?" he asked, pointing at himself. His gold bracelet glinted in the light of the room, and Ginny felt a wave of warmth roll over her. He was still wearing it, which was a good sign. She stood up and began smoothing the front of her clothes out.
"Thank you, Pansy, for stepping in and saving me before my arse of a brother made me wet myself."
"Wouldn't be the first time," Ron snarked. Pansy laughed, and Draco grinned. Ginny slapped his arm. "Ow!" He rubbed the spot where her blow had landed.
"Serves you right," she said, poking her finger into his chest. "Here we were, having a beautiful brother-sister moment, and then you go and pull this. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Ronald!"
"Ought to," he shrugged. "But not." His eyes sparkled with laughter, and she shook her head.
"Men. See what you're getting into, Parkinson?" Pansy laughed and reached for Ron's hand.
"I think I can handle him," she said. "Are you ready to go now? I'm starving." Ron nodded.
"Pansy and I are going to go and get something to eat."
"Where are you going?" Ginny asked. Ron turned red.
"Why do you need to know that?"
"Because if you're going somewhere I like, I might want you to bring me something back." She arched an eyebrow. "Why is it a secret?"
"He's taking me to the Burrow," Pansy said, clearing her throat. Ginny eyed Ron thoughtfully.
"I expect she'll get a better welcome there than I got from her parents," he explained. Ginny nodded.
"Most certainly. Did Mum say what she was making?"
"Lasagna."
"Oh! Can you bring some back for me and Draco?" She turned to smile at her boyfriend. "Mum's lasagna is divine."
"Sure," Ron said, nodding. "But we'd better get going now. Behave yourselves." He kissed his sister's cheek, and she pouted.
"But being good is no fun," she said. He laughed and followed Pansy out of the room. It was only then that Ginny realized that Draco was wearing the jeans she'd bought him. She shot him a wide smile. "You're wearing them."
"Isn't that what you bought them for?" he teased. "Or did you think I'd just hang them in my closet?"
"I didn't think you'd wear them," she admitted, laughing. "But they look good." He arched an amused eyebrow, and she felt the heat rising in her face. "Well, they do."
"You look pretty good in yours, too. But then again, I believe I already told you that." She rolled her eyes playfully and shook her head.
"Shameless flatterer."
"Are you ready for your surprise?" he asked. She nodded. "Come on, then." He turned and began down the hallway, and she followed him, wondering at his seemingly annoyed air. When they reached the door that led outside, she watched as he bent and retrieved something from the corner.
"Is that-?" she began, staring. He nodded.
"A flying carpet."
"But I thought they were outlawed," she said, confusion on her face.
"They were. My father saved this one, though. Ever been on one?"
"No. Won't I need my cloak? It's snowing outside."
"No, I've already put a warming charm on it. As long as we stay within the confines of the carpet, we should be perfectly fine." She nodded and followed him outside. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to retain body heat, as he spread the carpet out on the snow, then sat down on it and beckoned to her to do the same. She sat in front of him where he'd indicated, still shivering. He murmured some archaic words, and the carpet teetered precariously into the air. Ginny went rigid from fear. She loved flying, but only on something she could control.
Draco managed to steady the carpet, and Ginny relaxed little by little. She was still freezing, though. Draco felt her shiver before he saw it, and he frowned. He'd cast a simple enough warming charm on the ruddy carpet before they'd climbed onto it, and couldn't figure why it wasn't working. He murmured the charm again, and nothing happened.
"Can you try the warming charm?" he asked.
"I don't have my wand with me," she said through chattering teeth. He swore softly, then moved to sit behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned back into him, and his heart did a somersault. Maybe getting the warming charm wrong hadn't been such a bad thing, after all.
They glided silently towards the back of the Malfoy grounds, towards the rose garden his Mother loved so much. When they got there, he gave a growl of frustration. His Mother had apparently had the greenhouse closed and locked, and he hadn't thought to ask her for the anti-charm to get inside. There was another part of his elaborate plan foiled. He steered the carpet towards the lake, and Ginny huddled closer to him.
"Draco," she said urgently. Draco sighed.
"What is it?"
"Um, the carpet," she said, sitting up.
"What about it?"
"It's coming apart."
"It's what?" he asked incredulously, leaning forward. He gasped as he saw what she was talking about. The edge of the carpet was unraveling, and quickly. They were over the middle of the lake, and the carpet falling apart would be a very, very bad thing indeed.
"Great," he muttered, trying to turn the carpet around. As soon as he did, the carpet started to give way beneath them, and they fell into the lake, Ginny screaming all the way. He broke the surface of the icy lake and spluttered, then looked around for her. She came up seconds later, coughing. He swam over to her and wrapped his arms around her, then swam to the shore. When they stepped out, they were both wet and freezing cold.
He kept his arms around her as they walked back to the house, trying to cling to any sort of warmth that they could. As soon as they got back inside, his Mother came running. When she saw them, she gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
"Oh, dear," she said. She pulled a silver cord that hung on the wall, and a house elf appeared. "Fetch some towels and start a fire in both Draco and Ginevra's rooms." The house elf disappeared with a pop, and Draco growled. A moment later, the house elf appeared with an armful of big, fluffy towels, and Draco snatched one to wrap around Ginny's shoulders. Her lips were blue, and her teeth were chattering loudly. Narcissa frowned. "I'm going to go and get you some pepper-up potion." She took off down the corridor, and Draco kicked the wall in frustration. Tiny beads of water flew everywhere.
"This was not supposed to happen," he said angrily. Ginny tried to force her teeth to be still, but it didn't work.
"W-what w-wasn't s-s-supposed t-to h-happen?" she stuttered. He turned and frowned at her.
"I had this elaborate scene planned," he began, flailing his arms to emphasize his point. "I was going to dance with you at the wedding, and it was going to be so romantic. Then I was going to bring you back here and fly you out on the magic carpet, over the rose garden, and over the lake, where I was going to propose to you. But then the garden was locked up, the warming charm didn't work, the carpet unraveled, and we fell in the ruddy lake!" She stared at him with wide eyes.
"What did you just say?" He looked up at her, confused.
"We fell in the ruddy lake," he repeated. "You know, you were there!" she closed her eyes and shook her head.
"No – what did you say about being over the lake?" He stopped and stared, realizing what he'd just said. He sighed.
"I was going to propose to you." She bit her lip.
"Was, as in past tense? Not anymore?" He hesitated, and then withdrew the ring from his pocket. He got down on one knee in front of her and held the ring up.
"Ginevra Weasley, will you be my wife?" Tears flooded her eyes and spilled over as she nodded.
"Yes, I will." A huge grin broke out on his face, and he slid the ring onto her icy finger, then stood and wrapped her in his arms.
"Oh!" They both turned to see his Mother clinging to his Father. Both of his parents were grinning stupidly, and Draco laughed. Narcissa finally broke away from her husband and handed Ginny a bottle of potion, then wrapped her in a tight hug, ignoring the fact that she was soaking wet. "I'm finally getting the daughter I've always wanted!"
"Congratulations," Lucius said, smiling at the two of them. "Now, I hear that my flying carpet is responsible for your swim in the lake?" Draco stepped in front of his mother and wrapped his arms around his still-shaking fiancée.
"It is," he said, nodding. "But I'm not quite so angry about it any more."