For The Sake Of The Baby
Chapter 2
Some Family Trees Bear an Enormous Crop of Nuts
Disclaimer: I own the characters you do not recognize. Namely Chloe, Elizabeth, Mara, Bailey, Bella, Sophie, Rachel, Andrew, Chris and Danica so far. All else belongs to JK who is making money. I am not. Sometimes I feel like I should though.
Author's Notes: Hey everyone! Thanks so much for reviewing for the first chapter! It's already more than the amount of people who reviewed for my first chapter last time. Well, not collectively, just right off the bat. Anyway, that's enough rambling. To the question of whether or not I'm going to use the photograph idea later, yes I will! It's already written in and everything! I'm sorry that I took so long, I was on vacation in Cancun and some of my beta readers were vacationing too so it took a bit longer, but I don't mind! I hope it was worth the wait! Okay, but anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter a bunch!
Thanks a whole lot to my amazing betas: LadyBrannon, Lily_Among_the_Thorns_89, Beachbabe4214, Innocent, Charlene (dancingchopstix), and Megan
Here it goes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 2
Some Family Trees Bear and Enormous Crop of Nuts
"Draco?" Narcissa asked cautiously, not knowing how Draco had changed, she hoped he would answer her.
"Yes, Mother?"
"Who was that girl I saw you with at the Platform?"
"Ginny." Draco answered blatantly.
"Weasley?" Narcissa asked, shocked. There had been numerous occasions on which Draco had openly insulted the family. She remembered scolding him, as well, for making fun of what they couldn't help.
"Yes." Draco answered, not really wanting to get into this at the moment. It's not that he was ashamed; he knew his mother would want all the details and he just wasn't sure that this was the right time. It would cause a scene. Unfortunately, he didn't have much choice in the matter.
"So, are you two friends?" she urged.
"Yes." Draco said, still holding out in hoping that his mother would just drop it until they got home at least.
"Are you more than friends? I saw you kiss her."
"Yes, Mum. Ginny is my girlfriend." The blonde boy gave in and told her.
"Oh, that's marvelous, Draco!" Narcissa exclaimed loudly, causing the cab driver to flinch.
"I know, Mum."
"So?"
"So? What?"
"What's she like?" Narcissa asked.
"She's amazing. Beautiful, smart, funny, carefree - although that's not always a good thing and she loves me." Draco told his mother quickly, dropping his façade.
Narcissa was delighted. She could hardly remember the last time that Draco had been this happy; he had been very young. On second thought, he'd never really had a girlfriend she completely approved of before either.
"Do you love her?" she asked.
"Very much." Draco said, making eye contact with his mother as if to show his honesty on the matter. His eyes said he was loyal and caring, that he would do anything to prove his love for Ginny.
"Oh, how lovely!" his mother squealed. Suddenly a thought came to her. "I have a surprise for you when we arrive at the Manor."
"Oh really?" Draco asked, shocked at this news.
"You'll love it." Narcissa smiled contentedly.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the manor. Draco pulled his luggage and owl out of the trunk of the car.
Narcissa quickly paid the driver what was owed and then walked up to the doors. She unlocked the large mahogany doors on the white manor and peered in. She saw Draco's surprise and signaled to the big surprise.
"Hey Mum, let's go in shall we? I mean we do live here." Draco grunted under the weight of his luggage.
"Oh yes! Do come in dear."
"Thanks, I guess." Draco said looking very confused. He walked into the house and saw that it had definitely been made more comfortable looking now that it was just his Mum. He was about to comment on this when something, or SOMEONE rather, came crashing into him and threw their arms around his waist.
"Drakie!" A small high voice squealed.
By now all of Draco things had fallen to the floor, and he had a good view of the person attached to his waist.
"Bailey!" Draco exclaimed, picking up a small, fragile blonde girl and hugging her tightly.
"Hi Drakie! Will you play dolls with me?" She asked innocently as she clung to his neck.
"Sure, but we'll have to wait until a little bit later!" Draco told her as he pulled Bailey away from him and set her on the floor. It had been forever since he'd seen his little sister.
His family had Veela blood running through its veins and it was obvious that Bailey, like Draco, had inherited that gene. Her hair was so blonde it was almost silver and it curled at the ends. He saw that she let it grow to her waist. Of course, it was possible that BAILEY had not let it grow but simply had not cared, as most five year olds don't. Bailey had tiny bone structure and the gray eyes that were the Malfoy trademark.
However, Bailey's eyes were very unlike how Draco's eyes used to be. Her eyes were friendly and mischievous with a hint of mystery. They were caring and happy-go-lucky, not cold and relentless. Draco was thrilled to say that his eyes were now, happy and fun too. Hopefully, Bailey would always be bubbly.
Bailey grabbed Draco's hand and began to lead him toward the bathroom down the hall. Once inside, she pointed to the marble sink expectantly.
"Wash your hands." she demanded.
Draco rolled up his sleeves and turned on the water.
"So, how long have you been home?" Draco asked her.
"I came home when Mommy was lonely." Bailey replied matter-of-factly, placing her hands on her hips.
'So, she came home after Father died. Mum must have missed her, too.' Draco thought as he dried his hands. "Why did I have to wash my hands?" he questioned her.
"We're eating."
"So? You don't think I would have washed my hands?"
"Bella says to wash your hands." Bailey told Draco spreading her arms out exasperatedly before putting them on her hips once more.
"Bella's back?" Draco stammered.
"Duh, Drakie." The little girl answered as though it was the stupidest question she'd ever been asked.
Bailey took Draco's hand and led him down the hall and through the kitchen doors.
"Good evening Master Malfoy." Bella's kind old voice greeted them.
"Bella!" Draco cried out, losing all control and hugging the house elf. Never before in his life had he ever hugged a house elf, but this was Bella. It was like when he was small and he had lost his favorite toy. Once he found it, he was so ecstatic that he carried it around with him for days, protecting it. He found his childhood companion whom he lost so many years ago.
"Master Malfoy, if you would please stop squeezing Bella so."
"Oh yeah, sorry Bella." Draco said releasing his old friend.
"My, how you've grown Master." Bella observed as she put the plates on the table. "Last Bella saw Master, Master was only Miss Bailey's age."
"Yeah, I was. I was also really naïve. I'm so sorry for not listening to you, Bella."
"It is okay, Bella assures you, for Bella is back again."
"How?" Draco asked.
"Your mother bought Bella back from the family Bella was working for. She said she knew how much Master Malfoy had loved Bella." The old elf explained, tears in her eyes.
"Bella, can I have chocolate for dinner?" Bailey asked suddenly.
Bella turned her big blue eyes on her.
"No, you may not Miss Bailey."
"But Bella, why not?" the small girl whined.
"It is not a suitable meal for a growing girl!" Bella rationalized.
"I wish I would stop growing then." Bailey pouted. "Please Bella! I'll be really good!"
"No. But Bella will make Miss Bailey some chocolate milk. How's that?" The house elf compromised. Draco watched this scene play out before him and recognized it as something that used to occur quite often when he was young.
Bella then turned her attention to Draco.
"What would Master Malfoy like to eat?" She asked kindly.
"Spaghetti sounds delicious actually." Draco said. "And just call me Draco, Bella."
"Whatever you wish, Draco." Bella said uncertainly. "What would you like Miss Bailey?"
"Just call me Bailey." She said, imitating her older brother. "And I want whatever Drakie's having!"
"Okay, Bailey. You two go and play while Bella fixes Draco and Bailey supper. Go on! Off with you!" She said, shooing them out of the kitchen.
Bailey and Draco entered the hall once more, not knowing what to do next.
"Drakie! Come see my room! I got new toys!" Bailey demanded, pulling her big brother behind her.
"Who would give YOU new toys?" Draco teased as they bounded up the grand staircase and into a large pink, yellow and white room.
"Mommy!"
"Well, what are we going to do about that?" Draco asked, raising his eyebrow at all her toys. There was a large dollhouse in the middle of the room that had about 50 very detailed rooms just big enough for the custom made dolls. Life-sized teddy bears lined the wall and a magic teacup set was put together and set atop Bailey's massive oak toy chest.
"We ask for more!"
'She really is spoiled.' Draco smirked to himself as he sat down to play dolls with his beloved little sister.
~*~*~*~*
"Hello!" Molly called throughout the Burrow.
There was a sudden pitter-patter that could be heard stampeding towards the three Weasley that had just arrived.
"Inny!" a small girl screeched, running recklessly through the halls of the Burrow, coming to a halt temporarily before flinging herself into Ginny's arms.
"Sophie!" Ginny squealed, twirling her niece around the entrance hall.
Sophie had grown up so much since Ginny had seen her last summer. Bill and Fleur had gotten married soon after Fleur had graduated. Shortly after their marriage, Fleur had become pregnant with Sophie Rayne. The last time Ginny saw Sophie she was only two years old. Now, she was three (almost four) and already had Fleur's Veela-like features, to include long silvery hair that grew at an unreasonably rapid rate. But Sophie; did have a faint few freckles across the bridge of her nose, and the big brown Weasley eyes.
"Inny! I missed you!" the three year old said excitedly, wrapping her arms around her aunt and burying her face into her neck.
"I missed you too, Fee."
"Gins!" A booming voice greeted from behind her.
"Virgeenia." An elegant French accent purred.
The redhead turned around to see Bill and Fleur. Bill opened his arms as Ginny set his only daughter on the floor. Bill swooped up his baby sister into his arms.
"How's my favorite sister doing?" Bill asked setting her back down.
"I'm your only sister. I'm doing pretty well. Very well, actually." Ginny assured her oldest brother. "In fact, I have some great news for you all - but we'll get to that at dinner so I can tell everyone at once."
"I'm glad to hear it, Gins." The eldest Weasley son said. He put his arm around Fleur before turning more serious. "You gave us all quite a scare earlier this year."
"I know Bill; really I'm sorry about that whole thing."
"At least someone was looking out for you though, even if it was Malfoy."
"He's like my guardian angel." Ginny said.
Bill raised his eyebrows, but paid no further attention as the rest of the Weasley family came into view.
First there was Charlie and his wife Rachel, holding their one-year-old twin boys, Andrew and Chris.
Charlie had met the tall brunette in Romania and had instantly fallen in love with her big green eyes and loving attitude. She acted an awful lot like Mrs. Weasley.
"Andrew! Chris!" She said, squatting down to hug her redheaded nephews. Somehow, she figured they'd turnout to be just like Fred and George.
Speaking of which.
"Fred! Angelina! George! Katie Bell!"
"Ginny!"
"My, my Angelina, you are looking VERY pregnant, now aren't you?" Ginny exclaimed upon seeing her sister-in-law who looked as though she'd had a beach ball shoved under her shirt.
"Due to come any day now!" She said joyfully patting her stomach.
"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" Ginny asked. "Or, do you not want to know?"
"We'd much rather it be a surprise. We've just been calling it Yahootie for now. We will continue to call it that until it's born; you can't keep going on calling it 'it' the whole nine months." Angelina giggled.
"Yahootie?" Ginny questioned as they all moved into the living room and sat down.
"Fred's idea entirely."
"Imagine that."
"In! In! In!" The pair of redheaded one-year-olds chorused, trying to regain their aunt's attention.
"What guys?"
"Whoa!"
"What does that mean?" Ginny asked Rachel.
"They're trying to tell you 'Hello' but it just doesn't come out right yet. They can only say a few things."
"They're so cute!" Ginny told Rachel.
Then she turned to George and Katie and said, "No children for you two yet, huh?"
"Hopefully, in a little while but I've got to get George to grow up before we can even start worrying about kids." Katie laughed, nudging George.
"Don't let her fool ya, Gin. It's really HER who needs to grow up." He said shoveling pasties into his mouth.
"Whatever!"
Ginny got up and went into the family dining room to find a VERY bored Ron, Lavender, Harry and Hermione sitting at the table with their fists on their cheeks or heads propped up on one arm as they listened to an extremely animated Percy go on about something that was making Mrs. Weasley swell with pride. (A/N: Since my last fic was even taking place after the Dream Team's fifth year, we're not going to add any of those incidents really. We can all just pretend for the sake of the fic that Percy saw the error of his ways.)
Ginny draped her hand across his shoulder lovingly.
"Still on about those cauldron bottoms are you, Perce?"
"For your information, they have finally adjusted the cauldron bottom thickness; but now instead, they decreased the thickness of the sides." He said sounding slightly offended.
"Wow."
"Can you believe that?"
"Now Perce, why would anyone do something so heinous?" Ginny asked, attempting to hide her sarcastic tone.
The four teenagers shook their head vigorously from behind Percy's turned back. Obviously, that was the wrong thing to say.
Percy was just about to actually tell her who WOULD do something like that when Ginny interrupted him.
"Hey listen, Perce; I've got to be upstairs unpacking. Maybe I'll see ya around later! Staying for dinner at least I hope!" She said receiving a nod and beginning to retreat up the stairs to her room. "Oh yeah, Percy, where's Penelope?" She asked, referring to Percy's fiancé, Penelope Clearwater.
"Penny's taking a nap at the moment."
"Oh, okay then!" the redhead answered jovially, running up the stairs.
She was, however, stopped less than halfway up on her way to her bedroom by Fleur holding Sophie; who was asleep in her arms.
"Hey Gin!" Fleur said with a thick French accent.
"Hey Fleur, what's up?" Ginny asked her sister-in-law.
"I was wondering eef you would be available to babyseet Sophie zis evening?" She asked quietly.
"Sure Fleur! I'd love to!"
"I must warn you zat she can be quite see 'andful!"
"I can handle Sophie! But I may have a friend over here this evening and she may help, would that be alright?"
"Of course! It will be around eight o' clock!" Fleur said, heading back into her room with Sophie.
Ginny took the rest of the steps at a running pace and stepped into her cozy little room.
She admired her room lovingly, knowing she was home at last. Her walls were sponged light yellow and white and bore several framed pictures of her and her brothers. There was one of her and Ron when they were younger and they were playing with the things on their father's desk at the ministry. Another featured all of her brothers and her, beaming at each other in front of the Burrow.
When Ginny looked at this photo, she laughed. Ron was wearing his Chudley Cannons jumper - one of many - and admiring himself self consciously; Charlie had a large pair of Draco hide boots and was hopping up and down; trying vigorously to put them on as Bill stood next to him, holding a book of curses that he was studying intently, shooting Charlie a very angry glare every now and again. Fred and George, at first glance appeared innocent, but then would slip a firecracker into Percy's back pocket every now and then - obviously waiting for the perfect moment to set them off. Percy seemed unaware of this and stood there smiling in as dignified a way as he knew. Then there was Ginny herself, holding her favorite doll, Caroline, to her chest and watching the commotion around her with laughter in her eyes.
Ginny moved her eyes past all the photos and saw her bookshelf, which was about to collapse under the weight of the romance novels that stocked the shelves. There was an antique dollhouse in the corner, next to her dresser.
Finally, Ginny's eyes rested upon her favorite piece of furniture, which sat between her nightstand and her rocking chair. Her bed had a yellow quilt and white pillows. It was no canopy, but it was hers.
She saw that her trunk had been placed at the foot of her bed. The brown- eyed girl dug out her quill and some parchment; it was time to invite Chloe over for her babysitting escapade.
Dear Chloe,
It is barely summer and I'm already writing to you! Bet you hadn't expected a letter so soon! Anyway, you need to come over tonight! I have to baby sit my niece, Sophie, and I can't do it on my own! I need to talk to you. You can spend the night if you like, but reply ASAP!
Lots of Love,
Ginny
"Pigwidgeon!" She called at the top of her lungs and received an absolutely overjoyed owl that would have fit easily into the palm of her hand, or at least she figured he would; she never really got him to hold still long enough to test her theory.
With great difficulty, the redhead attached the letter to Pig's leg and sent him off into the evening sky.
"Ginny! Time for dinner!" Ron bellowed as he passed her door. She had to wonder how he knew that, as their mother had not called up the stairs yet. But then, Ron always knew when food was waiting.
Ginny knew that now was the time to inform the rest of her family about Draco.
"Here goes nothing." She said to herself as she walked down the stairs and towards her doom.
~*~*~*~*~
"Drakie, I'm hungry." Bailey announced throwing down her doll in disgust and turning to face her big brother anxiously.
"Well Bailey, it's nearly six; so, it's almost time for supper. Why don't you go get changed and washed up and I'll meet you down in the dining room in ten minutes?" he compromised.
"Okay, Drakie! Last one to the dining room is a rotten leg!"
Draco smiled at Bailey's misinterpretation and left the room to change into his best black robes for dinner. At Malfoy Manor, you were always expected to dress in robes for supper; and they must be nice.
Draco bounded down the marble stars only to find Bailey entering the dinging room just ahead of him. He'd never hear the end of it.
As he entered the dining room, he was glad to see that his mother had replaced the foolishly long dining room table with a much smaller elegant rectangular one.
"Ha! Ha! Drakie's a rotten leg!" Bailey cried giggling madly.
"That's EGG, dear." Bella corrected, bustling to set the table.
"Right." Bailey agreed sarcastically rolling her big gray eyes at Draco before leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Doesn't she know anything?"
Draco shrugged his shoulders to humor his sister as his mother walk in dressed in very elegant robes of blue.
"Hello, Draco.Bailey."
"Hello, Mum."
"Hi, Mommy!" Bailey squealed.
"What have you two been doing?" Narcissa asked.
"Drakie played dolls with me!"
"Oh, he did?" Narcissa asked incredulously.
"Yeah, he's good at playing dollies!"
"Draco, I must say, I'm very impressed with your behavior. It has improved so much over this last year!" Narcissa complimented her son. It was true that even though Draco loved his mother and sister a lot; he was not exactly ever that nice to them. If Lucius were around, then Draco would have to act nasty to them. If he wasn't around, then Draco didn't know what to say because he wasn't allowed to show any affection.
Bella brought in the pasta and drinks (to include Bailey's chocolate milk, she so desired.) and set them on the table in front of them.
"Bella, do sit down with us! We've got so much catching up to do!" Narcissa exclaimed. She meant with Draco and Bella, as the others were already caught up.
Draco was in total shock. They had never eaten with a house elf before. But once again, this was different; this was Bella.
Bella grabbed a chair and sat down quietly, trying not to make too much noise or interrupt their dinner.
"Momma, was Drakie a bad boy before?" Bailey questioned with a noodle hanging out of her mouth.
"Sometimes sweetie, though it was not entirely his fault." Narcissa answered.
"Daddy was a VERY bad boy wasn't he?"
"Very much so."
"Is Drakie a good boy, now?" Bailey asked, acting almost as though Draco wasn't even in the room.
"It would appear so. I think it was that girl that changed him." Narcissa said.
"Girl?" Bella asked.
"Yes! Hasn't Draco told you? He's got himself a girlfriend! And a good one at that!" Narcissa exclaimed.
"Drakie's got a girlfriend! Drakie's got a girlfriend!" Bailey sang.
"Is that so? Hope he treats her well." Bella said sternly, obviously remembering the abuse that the last Malfoy male she worked for inflicted upon his lover.
"I do." Draco said. 'Or at least, I think I do.' He thought to himself.
"She's cute as a button, too." Narcissa added with pride. With all this talk, you would have thought Draco and Ginny were getting married.
"So, what does she look like?" Bella asked, enthralled.
"She has beautiful curly auburn hair almost to her waist with big brown eyes and a few freckles across her nose. Thin, but not sickly thin." Narcissa recalled.
"Nice girl, I hope?"
"I think so, but I've never met her. It's Virginia Weasley." Narcissa added.
Both females were acting as though Draco was not present, which really did not bother him all that much. They, however, had to talk rather loudly over Bailey's slurping. The little girl was sucking down her chocolate milk like there was no tomorrow.
"Haven't met her?" Bella exclaimed. "That's not proper at all!"
"No I suppose not!"
"You have a right to judge your son's new taste. I propose you invite her for lunch tomorrow."
"I think I will Bella!" Narcissa said, eyes shining with joy and determination.
Draco dropped his fork and left the table quietly as Bella and his mother began to discuss all the arrangements.
"Now mother will be all snappy tomorrow and she'll probably lock me in my room so I can't even see Ginny! What good does that do ME?" Draco mumbled to himself.
He WOULD find a way to see Ginny tomorrow, no matter the cost.
~*~*~*~
Ginny took her place at the table between Lavender and Hermione quietly. She noticed that everyone was waiting rather impatiently for Ginny so they could start eating.
"Bout time." Ron grumbled, reaching across Lavender for the rolls.
"Sorry." Ginny said sardonically.
Dinner was going along nicely when Bill suddenly decided it was time for Ginny to speak.
"Gin said she had some great news to tell us at dinner and dinner's almost over, so I think it's time we knew."
"Before I begin, Ron could you run out to the chickens and fetch me an egg for tomorrow's breakfast?" Ginny asked.
"But Gin! I wanna know!" Ron whined.
Ginny leaned over to whisper in his ear.
"You already know, it's about Draco."
"Oh yeah. That whole friendship thing. Fine." Ron agreed, leaping up to go get the egg.
"Okay," Ginny said after seeing Ron race out the door. "I've got a boyfriend."
There was a loud chorus of "that's great Gin's" before Charlie asked the question she'd been waiting for.
"Who is it?"
Harry, Hermione, Lavender, Arthur and Molly grinned and waited for everyone's reactions.
"Draco Malfoy."
"That git?"
"Gin, that's dangerous."
"How?"
"Why?"
"He saved her life."
"So?"
"So obviously, he's decent."
"I don't care, it's Malfoy."
"He's not like his father. He's amazing and I love him." Ginny explained.
"We'll give him one chance." Bill said. She knew Draco only got the one chance because he HAD saved her life.
"Thanks."
"So, what'd I miss?" Ron asked barging back in.
"Nothing." Ginny said, cutting everyone else off. "I forgot that I wanted TWO eggs. Could you run out and get another?"
Ron rolled his eyes and mumbled something about "owing him big" but left once more.
"I forgot to mention that Ron doesn't know."
"He thinks they're just friends." Harry added.
"So don't say anything." Hermione finished.
Everyone nodded and began to eat their apple pie quietly.
~*~*~*~
When Ginny got back to her room, she found two owls waiting for her on her bed. One was tawny and she recognized it as Chloe's. She quickly tore open the letter.
Gin,
Course, I'll help you! Se ya later! I'll come around 7:30 tonight!
Your sister from a different mister,
Chloe
The second owl was Anessa, Draco's owl. But the letter was not from Draco - but from his mother.
Virginia,
I would be delighted if you would join me for a late morning tea and lunch tomorrow, I have heard of your relationship with my son and I must say that I'm delighted! I hope to see you tomorrow around eleven?
Sincerely,
Narcissa Malfoy
"Oh dear." Ginny sighed, collapsing on her bed, exhausted.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Oh wow! That was a long chapter! I hope you guys didn't mind! Anyway, everyone knows about Draco and Ginny's relationship now! Well, except for and there's a good reason for that! You also know whom the little ones that Draco and Ginny came home to are and now things will start to pick up and get interesting!
Please leave me a review!! Thanks guys!!
Chapter 2
Some Family Trees Bear an Enormous Crop of Nuts
Disclaimer: I own the characters you do not recognize. Namely Chloe, Elizabeth, Mara, Bailey, Bella, Sophie, Rachel, Andrew, Chris and Danica so far. All else belongs to JK who is making money. I am not. Sometimes I feel like I should though.
Author's Notes: Hey everyone! Thanks so much for reviewing for the first chapter! It's already more than the amount of people who reviewed for my first chapter last time. Well, not collectively, just right off the bat. Anyway, that's enough rambling. To the question of whether or not I'm going to use the photograph idea later, yes I will! It's already written in and everything! I'm sorry that I took so long, I was on vacation in Cancun and some of my beta readers were vacationing too so it took a bit longer, but I don't mind! I hope it was worth the wait! Okay, but anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter a bunch!
Thanks a whole lot to my amazing betas: LadyBrannon, Lily_Among_the_Thorns_89, Beachbabe4214, Innocent, Charlene (dancingchopstix), and Megan
Here it goes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 2
Some Family Trees Bear and Enormous Crop of Nuts
"Draco?" Narcissa asked cautiously, not knowing how Draco had changed, she hoped he would answer her.
"Yes, Mother?"
"Who was that girl I saw you with at the Platform?"
"Ginny." Draco answered blatantly.
"Weasley?" Narcissa asked, shocked. There had been numerous occasions on which Draco had openly insulted the family. She remembered scolding him, as well, for making fun of what they couldn't help.
"Yes." Draco answered, not really wanting to get into this at the moment. It's not that he was ashamed; he knew his mother would want all the details and he just wasn't sure that this was the right time. It would cause a scene. Unfortunately, he didn't have much choice in the matter.
"So, are you two friends?" she urged.
"Yes." Draco said, still holding out in hoping that his mother would just drop it until they got home at least.
"Are you more than friends? I saw you kiss her."
"Yes, Mum. Ginny is my girlfriend." The blonde boy gave in and told her.
"Oh, that's marvelous, Draco!" Narcissa exclaimed loudly, causing the cab driver to flinch.
"I know, Mum."
"So?"
"So? What?"
"What's she like?" Narcissa asked.
"She's amazing. Beautiful, smart, funny, carefree - although that's not always a good thing and she loves me." Draco told his mother quickly, dropping his façade.
Narcissa was delighted. She could hardly remember the last time that Draco had been this happy; he had been very young. On second thought, he'd never really had a girlfriend she completely approved of before either.
"Do you love her?" she asked.
"Very much." Draco said, making eye contact with his mother as if to show his honesty on the matter. His eyes said he was loyal and caring, that he would do anything to prove his love for Ginny.
"Oh, how lovely!" his mother squealed. Suddenly a thought came to her. "I have a surprise for you when we arrive at the Manor."
"Oh really?" Draco asked, shocked at this news.
"You'll love it." Narcissa smiled contentedly.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the manor. Draco pulled his luggage and owl out of the trunk of the car.
Narcissa quickly paid the driver what was owed and then walked up to the doors. She unlocked the large mahogany doors on the white manor and peered in. She saw Draco's surprise and signaled to the big surprise.
"Hey Mum, let's go in shall we? I mean we do live here." Draco grunted under the weight of his luggage.
"Oh yes! Do come in dear."
"Thanks, I guess." Draco said looking very confused. He walked into the house and saw that it had definitely been made more comfortable looking now that it was just his Mum. He was about to comment on this when something, or SOMEONE rather, came crashing into him and threw their arms around his waist.
"Drakie!" A small high voice squealed.
By now all of Draco things had fallen to the floor, and he had a good view of the person attached to his waist.
"Bailey!" Draco exclaimed, picking up a small, fragile blonde girl and hugging her tightly.
"Hi Drakie! Will you play dolls with me?" She asked innocently as she clung to his neck.
"Sure, but we'll have to wait until a little bit later!" Draco told her as he pulled Bailey away from him and set her on the floor. It had been forever since he'd seen his little sister.
His family had Veela blood running through its veins and it was obvious that Bailey, like Draco, had inherited that gene. Her hair was so blonde it was almost silver and it curled at the ends. He saw that she let it grow to her waist. Of course, it was possible that BAILEY had not let it grow but simply had not cared, as most five year olds don't. Bailey had tiny bone structure and the gray eyes that were the Malfoy trademark.
However, Bailey's eyes were very unlike how Draco's eyes used to be. Her eyes were friendly and mischievous with a hint of mystery. They were caring and happy-go-lucky, not cold and relentless. Draco was thrilled to say that his eyes were now, happy and fun too. Hopefully, Bailey would always be bubbly.
Bailey grabbed Draco's hand and began to lead him toward the bathroom down the hall. Once inside, she pointed to the marble sink expectantly.
"Wash your hands." she demanded.
Draco rolled up his sleeves and turned on the water.
"So, how long have you been home?" Draco asked her.
"I came home when Mommy was lonely." Bailey replied matter-of-factly, placing her hands on her hips.
'So, she came home after Father died. Mum must have missed her, too.' Draco thought as he dried his hands. "Why did I have to wash my hands?" he questioned her.
"We're eating."
"So? You don't think I would have washed my hands?"
"Bella says to wash your hands." Bailey told Draco spreading her arms out exasperatedly before putting them on her hips once more.
"Bella's back?" Draco stammered.
"Duh, Drakie." The little girl answered as though it was the stupidest question she'd ever been asked.
Bailey took Draco's hand and led him down the hall and through the kitchen doors.
"Good evening Master Malfoy." Bella's kind old voice greeted them.
"Bella!" Draco cried out, losing all control and hugging the house elf. Never before in his life had he ever hugged a house elf, but this was Bella. It was like when he was small and he had lost his favorite toy. Once he found it, he was so ecstatic that he carried it around with him for days, protecting it. He found his childhood companion whom he lost so many years ago.
"Master Malfoy, if you would please stop squeezing Bella so."
"Oh yeah, sorry Bella." Draco said releasing his old friend.
"My, how you've grown Master." Bella observed as she put the plates on the table. "Last Bella saw Master, Master was only Miss Bailey's age."
"Yeah, I was. I was also really naïve. I'm so sorry for not listening to you, Bella."
"It is okay, Bella assures you, for Bella is back again."
"How?" Draco asked.
"Your mother bought Bella back from the family Bella was working for. She said she knew how much Master Malfoy had loved Bella." The old elf explained, tears in her eyes.
"Bella, can I have chocolate for dinner?" Bailey asked suddenly.
Bella turned her big blue eyes on her.
"No, you may not Miss Bailey."
"But Bella, why not?" the small girl whined.
"It is not a suitable meal for a growing girl!" Bella rationalized.
"I wish I would stop growing then." Bailey pouted. "Please Bella! I'll be really good!"
"No. But Bella will make Miss Bailey some chocolate milk. How's that?" The house elf compromised. Draco watched this scene play out before him and recognized it as something that used to occur quite often when he was young.
Bella then turned her attention to Draco.
"What would Master Malfoy like to eat?" She asked kindly.
"Spaghetti sounds delicious actually." Draco said. "And just call me Draco, Bella."
"Whatever you wish, Draco." Bella said uncertainly. "What would you like Miss Bailey?"
"Just call me Bailey." She said, imitating her older brother. "And I want whatever Drakie's having!"
"Okay, Bailey. You two go and play while Bella fixes Draco and Bailey supper. Go on! Off with you!" She said, shooing them out of the kitchen.
Bailey and Draco entered the hall once more, not knowing what to do next.
"Drakie! Come see my room! I got new toys!" Bailey demanded, pulling her big brother behind her.
"Who would give YOU new toys?" Draco teased as they bounded up the grand staircase and into a large pink, yellow and white room.
"Mommy!"
"Well, what are we going to do about that?" Draco asked, raising his eyebrow at all her toys. There was a large dollhouse in the middle of the room that had about 50 very detailed rooms just big enough for the custom made dolls. Life-sized teddy bears lined the wall and a magic teacup set was put together and set atop Bailey's massive oak toy chest.
"We ask for more!"
'She really is spoiled.' Draco smirked to himself as he sat down to play dolls with his beloved little sister.
~*~*~*~*
"Hello!" Molly called throughout the Burrow.
There was a sudden pitter-patter that could be heard stampeding towards the three Weasley that had just arrived.
"Inny!" a small girl screeched, running recklessly through the halls of the Burrow, coming to a halt temporarily before flinging herself into Ginny's arms.
"Sophie!" Ginny squealed, twirling her niece around the entrance hall.
Sophie had grown up so much since Ginny had seen her last summer. Bill and Fleur had gotten married soon after Fleur had graduated. Shortly after their marriage, Fleur had become pregnant with Sophie Rayne. The last time Ginny saw Sophie she was only two years old. Now, she was three (almost four) and already had Fleur's Veela-like features, to include long silvery hair that grew at an unreasonably rapid rate. But Sophie; did have a faint few freckles across the bridge of her nose, and the big brown Weasley eyes.
"Inny! I missed you!" the three year old said excitedly, wrapping her arms around her aunt and burying her face into her neck.
"I missed you too, Fee."
"Gins!" A booming voice greeted from behind her.
"Virgeenia." An elegant French accent purred.
The redhead turned around to see Bill and Fleur. Bill opened his arms as Ginny set his only daughter on the floor. Bill swooped up his baby sister into his arms.
"How's my favorite sister doing?" Bill asked setting her back down.
"I'm your only sister. I'm doing pretty well. Very well, actually." Ginny assured her oldest brother. "In fact, I have some great news for you all - but we'll get to that at dinner so I can tell everyone at once."
"I'm glad to hear it, Gins." The eldest Weasley son said. He put his arm around Fleur before turning more serious. "You gave us all quite a scare earlier this year."
"I know Bill; really I'm sorry about that whole thing."
"At least someone was looking out for you though, even if it was Malfoy."
"He's like my guardian angel." Ginny said.
Bill raised his eyebrows, but paid no further attention as the rest of the Weasley family came into view.
First there was Charlie and his wife Rachel, holding their one-year-old twin boys, Andrew and Chris.
Charlie had met the tall brunette in Romania and had instantly fallen in love with her big green eyes and loving attitude. She acted an awful lot like Mrs. Weasley.
"Andrew! Chris!" She said, squatting down to hug her redheaded nephews. Somehow, she figured they'd turnout to be just like Fred and George.
Speaking of which.
"Fred! Angelina! George! Katie Bell!"
"Ginny!"
"My, my Angelina, you are looking VERY pregnant, now aren't you?" Ginny exclaimed upon seeing her sister-in-law who looked as though she'd had a beach ball shoved under her shirt.
"Due to come any day now!" She said joyfully patting her stomach.
"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" Ginny asked. "Or, do you not want to know?"
"We'd much rather it be a surprise. We've just been calling it Yahootie for now. We will continue to call it that until it's born; you can't keep going on calling it 'it' the whole nine months." Angelina giggled.
"Yahootie?" Ginny questioned as they all moved into the living room and sat down.
"Fred's idea entirely."
"Imagine that."
"In! In! In!" The pair of redheaded one-year-olds chorused, trying to regain their aunt's attention.
"What guys?"
"Whoa!"
"What does that mean?" Ginny asked Rachel.
"They're trying to tell you 'Hello' but it just doesn't come out right yet. They can only say a few things."
"They're so cute!" Ginny told Rachel.
Then she turned to George and Katie and said, "No children for you two yet, huh?"
"Hopefully, in a little while but I've got to get George to grow up before we can even start worrying about kids." Katie laughed, nudging George.
"Don't let her fool ya, Gin. It's really HER who needs to grow up." He said shoveling pasties into his mouth.
"Whatever!"
Ginny got up and went into the family dining room to find a VERY bored Ron, Lavender, Harry and Hermione sitting at the table with their fists on their cheeks or heads propped up on one arm as they listened to an extremely animated Percy go on about something that was making Mrs. Weasley swell with pride. (A/N: Since my last fic was even taking place after the Dream Team's fifth year, we're not going to add any of those incidents really. We can all just pretend for the sake of the fic that Percy saw the error of his ways.)
Ginny draped her hand across his shoulder lovingly.
"Still on about those cauldron bottoms are you, Perce?"
"For your information, they have finally adjusted the cauldron bottom thickness; but now instead, they decreased the thickness of the sides." He said sounding slightly offended.
"Wow."
"Can you believe that?"
"Now Perce, why would anyone do something so heinous?" Ginny asked, attempting to hide her sarcastic tone.
The four teenagers shook their head vigorously from behind Percy's turned back. Obviously, that was the wrong thing to say.
Percy was just about to actually tell her who WOULD do something like that when Ginny interrupted him.
"Hey listen, Perce; I've got to be upstairs unpacking. Maybe I'll see ya around later! Staying for dinner at least I hope!" She said receiving a nod and beginning to retreat up the stairs to her room. "Oh yeah, Percy, where's Penelope?" She asked, referring to Percy's fiancé, Penelope Clearwater.
"Penny's taking a nap at the moment."
"Oh, okay then!" the redhead answered jovially, running up the stairs.
She was, however, stopped less than halfway up on her way to her bedroom by Fleur holding Sophie; who was asleep in her arms.
"Hey Gin!" Fleur said with a thick French accent.
"Hey Fleur, what's up?" Ginny asked her sister-in-law.
"I was wondering eef you would be available to babyseet Sophie zis evening?" She asked quietly.
"Sure Fleur! I'd love to!"
"I must warn you zat she can be quite see 'andful!"
"I can handle Sophie! But I may have a friend over here this evening and she may help, would that be alright?"
"Of course! It will be around eight o' clock!" Fleur said, heading back into her room with Sophie.
Ginny took the rest of the steps at a running pace and stepped into her cozy little room.
She admired her room lovingly, knowing she was home at last. Her walls were sponged light yellow and white and bore several framed pictures of her and her brothers. There was one of her and Ron when they were younger and they were playing with the things on their father's desk at the ministry. Another featured all of her brothers and her, beaming at each other in front of the Burrow.
When Ginny looked at this photo, she laughed. Ron was wearing his Chudley Cannons jumper - one of many - and admiring himself self consciously; Charlie had a large pair of Draco hide boots and was hopping up and down; trying vigorously to put them on as Bill stood next to him, holding a book of curses that he was studying intently, shooting Charlie a very angry glare every now and again. Fred and George, at first glance appeared innocent, but then would slip a firecracker into Percy's back pocket every now and then - obviously waiting for the perfect moment to set them off. Percy seemed unaware of this and stood there smiling in as dignified a way as he knew. Then there was Ginny herself, holding her favorite doll, Caroline, to her chest and watching the commotion around her with laughter in her eyes.
Ginny moved her eyes past all the photos and saw her bookshelf, which was about to collapse under the weight of the romance novels that stocked the shelves. There was an antique dollhouse in the corner, next to her dresser.
Finally, Ginny's eyes rested upon her favorite piece of furniture, which sat between her nightstand and her rocking chair. Her bed had a yellow quilt and white pillows. It was no canopy, but it was hers.
She saw that her trunk had been placed at the foot of her bed. The brown- eyed girl dug out her quill and some parchment; it was time to invite Chloe over for her babysitting escapade.
Dear Chloe,
It is barely summer and I'm already writing to you! Bet you hadn't expected a letter so soon! Anyway, you need to come over tonight! I have to baby sit my niece, Sophie, and I can't do it on my own! I need to talk to you. You can spend the night if you like, but reply ASAP!
Lots of Love,
Ginny
"Pigwidgeon!" She called at the top of her lungs and received an absolutely overjoyed owl that would have fit easily into the palm of her hand, or at least she figured he would; she never really got him to hold still long enough to test her theory.
With great difficulty, the redhead attached the letter to Pig's leg and sent him off into the evening sky.
"Ginny! Time for dinner!" Ron bellowed as he passed her door. She had to wonder how he knew that, as their mother had not called up the stairs yet. But then, Ron always knew when food was waiting.
Ginny knew that now was the time to inform the rest of her family about Draco.
"Here goes nothing." She said to herself as she walked down the stairs and towards her doom.
~*~*~*~*~
"Drakie, I'm hungry." Bailey announced throwing down her doll in disgust and turning to face her big brother anxiously.
"Well Bailey, it's nearly six; so, it's almost time for supper. Why don't you go get changed and washed up and I'll meet you down in the dining room in ten minutes?" he compromised.
"Okay, Drakie! Last one to the dining room is a rotten leg!"
Draco smiled at Bailey's misinterpretation and left the room to change into his best black robes for dinner. At Malfoy Manor, you were always expected to dress in robes for supper; and they must be nice.
Draco bounded down the marble stars only to find Bailey entering the dinging room just ahead of him. He'd never hear the end of it.
As he entered the dining room, he was glad to see that his mother had replaced the foolishly long dining room table with a much smaller elegant rectangular one.
"Ha! Ha! Drakie's a rotten leg!" Bailey cried giggling madly.
"That's EGG, dear." Bella corrected, bustling to set the table.
"Right." Bailey agreed sarcastically rolling her big gray eyes at Draco before leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Doesn't she know anything?"
Draco shrugged his shoulders to humor his sister as his mother walk in dressed in very elegant robes of blue.
"Hello, Draco.Bailey."
"Hello, Mum."
"Hi, Mommy!" Bailey squealed.
"What have you two been doing?" Narcissa asked.
"Drakie played dolls with me!"
"Oh, he did?" Narcissa asked incredulously.
"Yeah, he's good at playing dollies!"
"Draco, I must say, I'm very impressed with your behavior. It has improved so much over this last year!" Narcissa complimented her son. It was true that even though Draco loved his mother and sister a lot; he was not exactly ever that nice to them. If Lucius were around, then Draco would have to act nasty to them. If he wasn't around, then Draco didn't know what to say because he wasn't allowed to show any affection.
Bella brought in the pasta and drinks (to include Bailey's chocolate milk, she so desired.) and set them on the table in front of them.
"Bella, do sit down with us! We've got so much catching up to do!" Narcissa exclaimed. She meant with Draco and Bella, as the others were already caught up.
Draco was in total shock. They had never eaten with a house elf before. But once again, this was different; this was Bella.
Bella grabbed a chair and sat down quietly, trying not to make too much noise or interrupt their dinner.
"Momma, was Drakie a bad boy before?" Bailey questioned with a noodle hanging out of her mouth.
"Sometimes sweetie, though it was not entirely his fault." Narcissa answered.
"Daddy was a VERY bad boy wasn't he?"
"Very much so."
"Is Drakie a good boy, now?" Bailey asked, acting almost as though Draco wasn't even in the room.
"It would appear so. I think it was that girl that changed him." Narcissa said.
"Girl?" Bella asked.
"Yes! Hasn't Draco told you? He's got himself a girlfriend! And a good one at that!" Narcissa exclaimed.
"Drakie's got a girlfriend! Drakie's got a girlfriend!" Bailey sang.
"Is that so? Hope he treats her well." Bella said sternly, obviously remembering the abuse that the last Malfoy male she worked for inflicted upon his lover.
"I do." Draco said. 'Or at least, I think I do.' He thought to himself.
"She's cute as a button, too." Narcissa added with pride. With all this talk, you would have thought Draco and Ginny were getting married.
"So, what does she look like?" Bella asked, enthralled.
"She has beautiful curly auburn hair almost to her waist with big brown eyes and a few freckles across her nose. Thin, but not sickly thin." Narcissa recalled.
"Nice girl, I hope?"
"I think so, but I've never met her. It's Virginia Weasley." Narcissa added.
Both females were acting as though Draco was not present, which really did not bother him all that much. They, however, had to talk rather loudly over Bailey's slurping. The little girl was sucking down her chocolate milk like there was no tomorrow.
"Haven't met her?" Bella exclaimed. "That's not proper at all!"
"No I suppose not!"
"You have a right to judge your son's new taste. I propose you invite her for lunch tomorrow."
"I think I will Bella!" Narcissa said, eyes shining with joy and determination.
Draco dropped his fork and left the table quietly as Bella and his mother began to discuss all the arrangements.
"Now mother will be all snappy tomorrow and she'll probably lock me in my room so I can't even see Ginny! What good does that do ME?" Draco mumbled to himself.
He WOULD find a way to see Ginny tomorrow, no matter the cost.
~*~*~*~
Ginny took her place at the table between Lavender and Hermione quietly. She noticed that everyone was waiting rather impatiently for Ginny so they could start eating.
"Bout time." Ron grumbled, reaching across Lavender for the rolls.
"Sorry." Ginny said sardonically.
Dinner was going along nicely when Bill suddenly decided it was time for Ginny to speak.
"Gin said she had some great news to tell us at dinner and dinner's almost over, so I think it's time we knew."
"Before I begin, Ron could you run out to the chickens and fetch me an egg for tomorrow's breakfast?" Ginny asked.
"But Gin! I wanna know!" Ron whined.
Ginny leaned over to whisper in his ear.
"You already know, it's about Draco."
"Oh yeah. That whole friendship thing. Fine." Ron agreed, leaping up to go get the egg.
"Okay," Ginny said after seeing Ron race out the door. "I've got a boyfriend."
There was a loud chorus of "that's great Gin's" before Charlie asked the question she'd been waiting for.
"Who is it?"
Harry, Hermione, Lavender, Arthur and Molly grinned and waited for everyone's reactions.
"Draco Malfoy."
"That git?"
"Gin, that's dangerous."
"How?"
"Why?"
"He saved her life."
"So?"
"So obviously, he's decent."
"I don't care, it's Malfoy."
"He's not like his father. He's amazing and I love him." Ginny explained.
"We'll give him one chance." Bill said. She knew Draco only got the one chance because he HAD saved her life.
"Thanks."
"So, what'd I miss?" Ron asked barging back in.
"Nothing." Ginny said, cutting everyone else off. "I forgot that I wanted TWO eggs. Could you run out and get another?"
Ron rolled his eyes and mumbled something about "owing him big" but left once more.
"I forgot to mention that Ron doesn't know."
"He thinks they're just friends." Harry added.
"So don't say anything." Hermione finished.
Everyone nodded and began to eat their apple pie quietly.
~*~*~*~
When Ginny got back to her room, she found two owls waiting for her on her bed. One was tawny and she recognized it as Chloe's. She quickly tore open the letter.
Gin,
Course, I'll help you! Se ya later! I'll come around 7:30 tonight!
Your sister from a different mister,
Chloe
The second owl was Anessa, Draco's owl. But the letter was not from Draco - but from his mother.
Virginia,
I would be delighted if you would join me for a late morning tea and lunch tomorrow, I have heard of your relationship with my son and I must say that I'm delighted! I hope to see you tomorrow around eleven?
Sincerely,
Narcissa Malfoy
"Oh dear." Ginny sighed, collapsing on her bed, exhausted.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Oh wow! That was a long chapter! I hope you guys didn't mind! Anyway, everyone knows about Draco and Ginny's relationship now! Well, except for and there's a good reason for that! You also know whom the little ones that Draco and Ginny came home to are and now things will start to pick up and get interesting!
Please leave me a review!! Thanks guys!!