Sorry it took so long. I hope you'll find that it was worth the wait.
Chapter Forty Three
Draco stared at her, his heart filling with fear. Was she going to tell him that she'd decided against this, after all? He watched as she glanced down at their joined hands, noting the way her cheeks turned scarlet. She took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes shut.
"I just... I have to tell you that I've never been happier in my entire life than I am when I'm with you. I can't marry you without being sure that you know why I'm doing it. I don't want you to get the wrong idea and think that I'm only marrying you for money, or for your protection. It isn't for those reasons."
"I know," he said softly. She shifted uncomfortably. "Is that what you had to tell me?"
"No – well, yes, but that's not all. I mean, I wanted to let you know how I feel."
"And?" he prompted gently.
"I love you," she breathed, the scarlet of her cheeks deepening. He sucked in a quick breath, and watched as she chanced a quick glance up at him.
"You love me?" his voice trembled as he spoke. She nodded slowly.
"Yes, I do." He squeezed her hand before placing his index finger beneath her chin and gently forcing her to look up.
"Then it's only fair that I tell you my motivation for marrying you, as well. It's not only to protect you, and it's not just because my parents are mad about you. When you were in that bed and you couldn't look at me or talk to me or laugh with me, I realized that I was hopelessly in love with you." Her eyes widened.
"Y-you are?" he nodded.
"I am. I love you, and you have made me happier than you know by telling me that you feel the same way."
"Oh," she breathed, giving him a soft smile. He turned back to face the man in front of them.
"I believe we're ready now," he said, giving the man a curt nod. He squeezed Ginny's hand, and his heart swelled when she squeezed it back.
When Draco and Ginny returned to the Manor, they were immediately greeted by Pansy and Ron, who had been sitting in the Parlor, waiting for them.
"Where have you been?" Pansy asked, rising from the sofa she'd been sitting on with Ron. "We've been worried sick that something happened to you!" Ron remained silent, observing the adoring looks that Ginny kept shooting Draco.
"We've just been to the Ministry," Draco said, frowning. "Why, has something happened?"
"No, nothing's happened – we just came by to see if the two of you wanted to have lunch at the Burrow with us. Imagine our surprise when we found out that neither of your parents even knew you were gone! Your Mother's in a right state!"
"Well, let me go and get her and Father, and then we'll tell everyone why we disappeared so suddenly." He let go of Ginny's hand and gave her a quick smile before heading out into the hallway. Ron narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but still remained silent.
"You're having lunch at the Burrow?" Ginny asked, sitting in a plush chair. Pansy resumed her seat and nodded.
"Yes; your Mum is going to show me how she makes her meatballs," Pansy said, finally smiling. Ginny grinned at her.
"Aren't they the best you've ever tasted? They're Ron's favorite." Ron's ears turned pink, and he grinned at Pansy.
"The house elves at Hogwarts didn't even come near them when they tried to make them."
"I don't remember ever being served meatballs at Hogwarts," Pansy said, frowning slightly.
"That's because they never served them to the entire school," Ginny laughed. "Ron would sneak down to the kitchens and tell them what he wanted, and they'd try to make them for him."
"You snuck into the kitchens?" Pansy asked, amused. Ron nodded. "How?"
"By tickling the pear."
"What?"
Before he could explain it further to her, Draco re-entered the room with his parents in tow. He perched on the arm of the chair that she was sitting on and put his arm around her shoulders, watching as his parents took a seat on the small sofa opposite them. When he was sure that he had their attention, he smiled.
"I want to start off by apologizing for our leaving this morning without word and causing you all to worry. As you can see, we're fine. As a matter of fact, we're better than fine – we're married."
Narcissa's jaw dropped, along with Ron and Pansy's. Lucius was the only one who did not look surprised at all. He nodded. "I expect that you had a proper ceremony, complete with binding spells."
"Of course, Father," Draco nodded.
"Well, then. I suppose the two of you ought to find a new room in the Manor to be your shared quarters, and you may keep your separate quarters as well." He stood and moved towards the seated couple, shaking Draco's hand. Ginny stood and embraced him. "Welcome to the family, Ginny."
"Thank you," she breathed, giving him a weak smile.
"Well?" Draco asked the remaining three in the room. "No congratulations, or at the very least words expressing your surprise?"
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," Pansy said, pouting as she rose to embrace both of them. "It always was like you to go off and do what you wanted, devil be damned." Draco grinned at her.
"Thanks, Pans."
"I can't believe that you did it without your parents present," Narcissa said, her voice belying her hurt and disappointment. Lucius moved to her side and wrapped his arms around her.
"Now, Cissa," he soothed. "I'm sure they have their reasons for doing it the way they did, and frankly, I can't say that I blame them. A nice private ceremony was probably just the thing they needed. Imagine with the way Potter has been behaving, if they had announced a large wedding. What would have stopped him from barging in and ruining it?"
"I suppose you're right," she said, relenting. She smiled at Ginny. "And now I have the daughter I've always wanted." She moved to hug her son's new wife, and Ginny clung to her.
"I'm so glad you're not upset," she whispered, tears in her eyes. "I don't know what I would have done if you'd been angry with me."
"Oh, child," she said, pulling away to smile at the redhead. "I could never be angry with you. Everyone present knows how much you've meant to Draco – to this family." Draco's cheeks turned pink, and his father chuckled. Pansy sniggered at him. The only person who had not spoken by this point was Ron, and that worried Ginny. Ron's temper, the trademark Weasley temper, was renowned throughout the Wizarding World, and she didn't like the thought of him holding his feelings back.
"Well, that being said, perhaps when this unpleasantness with Potter has passed, the two of you will have a large formal ceremony – to appease your Mother," Lucius said pointedly. Draco nodded.
"Absolutely."
"Now if you don't mind, I have some work to be getting back to. Congratulations again, both of you. I couldn't be happier for you." Lucius gave them a genuine smile before leaving the room, with Narcissa in tow.
"Ron?" Ginny asked tentatively. Ron's eyes shot up to meet hers, and he forced a smile as he stood and embraced her tightly.
"I'm happy for you," he said quietly. "It's just sudden and I thought... I mean, I'd hoped... Well, I wanted to be there when you got married." Ginny felt a rush of emotion towards her brother as she squeezed him back.
"I'm sorry, but it was a spur of the moment type thing," she whispered back. "We'll have a big ceremony later and have everyone there, I promise." He pulled away and nodded at her. "But you're not upset that I'm married?"
"Gods, no. I feel better knowing that someone has a connection to you," he said, shaking his head. She blinked at him.
"How do you-"Ron gave her a soft smile.
"He told me about wanting to do the binding spells," he said. She turned and looked at Draco, who was whispering something to Pansy. "Besides, I know that he really cares about you, and there's not much more I could ask for."
"You're taking this much better than I thought you would," she said, her eyes sparkling.
"You're a big girl," he said, shrugging. "I reckon you know what you want, and it's not my business anymore to protect you. You have a husband to do that." A tiny thrill went through her at the sound of the word husband. "I think we should probably get going. Are you coming?"
"We're coming." Ginny turned at the sound of her husband's voice. He stepped closer and slid his arm around her waist as he gave Ron a genuine smile. "You two go on ahead without us, and we'll be behind you momentarily." Ron nodded and extended his hand, which Draco took and shook.
"Congratulations." With that, Ron moved forward and reached for Pansy's hand. "Ready?" She nodded, and Ginny watched as they left the room.
"I've never seen Ron so calm before," she remarked thoughtfully.
"Falling in love will do that to a man," he replied, gently squeezing her hip. She smiled.
"You think he's in love with Pansy?"
"I do."
"Why?"
"Because I can see it in his eyes. Look at the way he looks at her."
"Do you think she returns his feelings?"
"Undoubtedly."
"Oh," she said softly, her silly grin plastered on her face.
"Have you decided how we're going to tell your parents?"
"We?"
"Surely you didn't think I'd make you do it alone, did you?"
"I just didn't think you were very... fond... of my family, is all."
"Are you afraid they'll be upset?"
"A little."
"If they know you're happy, will they still be upset?"
"I'm more worried about Dad than Mum. My Dad doesn't particularly care for your father, you know."
"I am not my father," Draco said, frowning.
"I know," she said, reaching up to caress his cheek with her hand. "I'm not worried." He bent and pressed his lips gently to hers.
"I can't wait to get you back here and have you to myself," he whispered. Chills traveled up and down her spine at the look he was giving her. "No more worrying about being alone."
"I know." She cupped his cheeks in her hands and drew him down for another gentle kiss. When he pulled away, his breathing was ragged.
"Sod going out today," he swore. "We'll stay here all day, in bed." Her cheeks flushed, but she smiled.
"We've already said we'd go to my parents' house. If we don't get there soon, Ron will open his big mouth and tell them, and we won't have a chance to. Besides, we've got the rest of our lives to spend together."
"You're right." He extended his arm, and she threaded hers through it. "Shall we?"