Chapter Forty Four

When Ginny and Draco entered through the front door of the Burrow, they were immediately greeted by the sight of his parents showing Pansy some of Ron's baby pictures. Molly looked up and was momentarily startled by the sight of Draco in her home, but recovered quickly when she saw her daughter next to him. She stood and made her way quickly over to them, wrapping her daughter in a hug that smelled of sugar cookies.

"Ginny, darling," she said, squeezing her tightly. "It's so good to see you! You've stayed away too long – we were beginning to worry about you."

"I'm fine, Mum," Ginny said, smiling. "This is Draco." Molly nodded at Draco and gave him a tentative smile.

"Hello, Draco."

"Thank you for having me over, Mrs. Weasley," he said politely, inclining his head. Molly relaxed visibly.

"Don't even think on it, dear," she said, turning back to Ron and Pansy. Ginny shot Draco a quick smile before following her Mother into the family room and taking a seat on the couch. Draco sat down beside her.

"Where's Dad?"

"Is that my only daughter?" Her father's voice drifted down the stairs, and she grinned as he turned the corner, entering the room. She jumped up and launched herself at him, wrapping him in a tight hug. Draco felt a smile tugging at his lips – his wife was very obviously a Daddy's girl. "It's about time you came and paid your aging father a visit," he teased. She laughed.

"Dad, I've brought-"her voice died as her father's eyes landed on Draco. Draco stood and moved forward, extending his hand to Arthur.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Weasley." Arthur hesitated for a moment, and then took Draco's hand.

"Afternoon, Mr. Malfoy."

"Draco, please," he said politely. Arthur nodded.

"Draco, then." He turned back to his daughter with a questioning look. She cleared her throat and moved to stand next to Draco, and slipped her hand into his. Her Father's eyes widened slightly, and her Mother gasped.

"Mum, Dad, we have something to tell you." She took a deep breath. "I've been staying with the Malfoys for the last week or so, and this morning..." she turned and looked at Draco. He smiled gently at her and squeezed her hand in a show of support. Heartened, she turned back to her parents. "This morning we were married." Molly sank down heavily onto the couch, stunned into speechlessness. Arthur simply stared.

Ginny held up her left hand, displaying the diamond encrusted engagement ring, which was now partnered by a thick wedding band. "Well?" she asked nervously. Her mother lifted her eyes to meet her daughter's.

"I always thought that I'd be a part of your wedding," she said quietly.

"No one was a part of it," Ginny said, shaking her head. "We didn't tell anyone beforehand that we were going to do it. It was a spur of the moment thing for both of us. But we're going to have a big ceremony sometime and you'll be involved, I promise."

Molly managed a feeble smile. "Are you happy?"

"I am," Ginny said, looking up at Draco. "I really am."

"And your parents?" Molly asked, looking at Draco. "Are they all right with the fact that you've married our daughter?"

"My Mother absolutely adores Ginny," Draco said cautiously. He knew that the Weasleys were friends of Potter's, and Potter was after his father. If Potter somehow got the idea that Lucius was still in the Manor, he would stop at nothing to get to him. Molly nodded slowly.

"Then that's all I can ask." She stood and gave her daughter a shaky hug, and then turned to Draco. She didn't hesitate before hugging him as well, which surprised everyone in the room. Pansy and Ron exchanged curious glances from their places on the couch. Draco looked more surprised than anyone else present, and Ginny wondered if he had expected her parents to rage and thunder about the situation.

"Arthur?" Molly asked, turning to look at him. "Welcome our son in law, and congratulate your only daughter on her marriage." Arthur did as he was told and hugged his daughter loosely, and then shook Draco's hand – all without saying a word. After that, the mood lightened considerably, and Molly went about preparing lunch as Pansy, Ron, Ginny, and Draco exchanged light banter in her family room. Arthur snuck into the kitchen and cast a quick silencing charm before turning to his wife.

"What in the bloody hell is she doing?" Molly turned to him and pursed her lips.

"Arthur, she's obviously in love with the boy. Look at the way she acts around him."

"But he's a Malfoy," Arthur hissed.

"And he's your son in law, and your daughter's husband. He is who she chose, so we should respect that."

"But-" Molly shook her wooden spoon at him.

"He's been nothing but polite and respectful since he got here, Arthur Weasley, and if you do anything to break the peace, so help me-"

"I won't," he said, sighing. "But can we trust him to take care of her?"

"His family has more money than God," she remarked casually, turning back to the stove. "I have no doubt that she'll be well taken care of."

"That's not what I meant, and you know it."

"Well, what did you mean, then?"

"I was asking if you thought she'd be safe with him and his family."

"Of course she will," Molly sighed, stirring slowly. "I doubt that she would have married him if she felt unsafe around him and his family. She has a good head on her shoulders, Arthur. We've done our job in raising her, and we have to trust that we did a good job." Arthur nodded.

"You're right, I know. I just worry so much about her."

"Dear, we can't be there every second of the day. There was a time when we had to be there and catch her when she fell, but that time has passed. We have to let her live her life the way she wants to."

"You're not afraid for her?"

"Of course I'm afraid for her," she said exasperatedly. "But she's a grown woman now. She has to make her own mistakes, and if this marriage is a mistake, then she'll learn from it and move on. But I'm telling you she looks happy to me. I've never seen her look so happy since Fred and George left."

"Our family-"

"Our family has changed, Arthur. He's a part of this family now, like it or not, and we'd better get used to it and be civil to him, or we might lose Ginny, too." Arthur hung his head and heaved one last, heavy sigh.

"Again, I know you're right. I'm just going to have to get used to him, is all, I suppose. It's not easy."

"When have things ever been easy?" He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his wife's cheek.

"I'm just glad that I married such an amazing woman," he murmured. Molly's cheeks turned pink, and she tried to hide her pleased look. "You've got a big heart, Molly, and I love you for it."

"I love you too, even though you can be a silly sod at times," she teased. He chuckled. "Now go back into the other room, and get to know your daughter's new husband."

"That went surprisingly well," Draco remarked, striding into Ginny's bedroom at the Manor. She turned and smiled at him.

"I was pleasantly surprised," she agreed.

"Your parents didn't say a derogatory word all afternoon."

"They have more tact than you give them credit for," she said, moving into his open arms.

"Are you ready to choose a bridal suite?" She felt the heat rising in her face, but nodded. "Good. Shall we take a look around, then?"

"Of course." She let him lead her out into the hallway, and they walked to a part of the Manor that she hadn't seen yet. He opened several doors to allow her to look at the rooms, but after looking at every bedroom in the wing, she still hadn't seen one she liked as well as her own room. As they were exiting the last room, she turned to him.

"Would it be possible to convince you to just use my current room as our bedroom?" The heat rose in her face again, but she ignored it as she waited for his answer. He frowned.

"You don't want a room to yourself?"

"I don't really need one," she said, shaking her head. "If you ever wanted to get away from me, you could always go back to your own room, or I could sleep in a guest room."

"I won't hear of it," he said. "You'll never have to sleep somewhere else if you don't want to. That's fine, if you're sure that that's what you want. I'll have the house elves move some of my things in."

"I'm sure," she said, sighing with relief. He reached for her, pulling her close.

"Do you want to retire to our chambers now?" his voice was low, and his meaning unmistakable. Ginny shivered slightly.

"What about dinner?"

"We can have the house elves bring us something later, if we desire it."

"What about your parents?"

"They will understand."

"Oh," she said, blushing furiously.

"If you'd rather wait, I'll understand. Just say so."

"No, it isn't that," she said, shaking her head. She stared at her feet for a moment, struggling to find the words. "It's just – well, you've... I've never..."

"You're nervous?"

"Very," she breathed, glad that he'd understood what she wanted to say.

"Don't be," he said. "I'll do everything I can to make you comfortable. You'll just have to be vocal enough to tell me if you don't like something."

"I will," she promised. He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

"We've waited long enough. Let's go back to our room."