Chapter 14
Malfoys Don't Cry
Ginny sat next to Draco on one of his green couches, across from them sat an infuriated Mrs. Molly Weasley. Neither knew how she had gotten into his room, they assumed Dumbledor had told her the password. For a long while there was silence, the young couple just stared at the older witch, who angrily stared back.
After what seemed like eons, but was actually just minutes, Mrs. Weasley spoke in a deadly whisper, "What were you thinking?"
Ginny nervously looked towards Draco as her fingers twirled her hair in knots. Her eyes were wide and large now, and she didn't know what to say.
Draco decided he would take the blow from Mrs. Weasly for Ginny, "We weren't thinking any-"
"Exactly! You weren't thinking!" Molly hissed.
"That may be so, but I was thinking when I asked Ginny to marry me. I was thinking, 'I love this girl, and want to spend the rest of my life with her'. Should I have thought something different?" Draco asked angrily.
Molly looked at a loss for words for a few moments, as she watched her daughter look at Draco lovingly, who was currently glaring at Molly...
"Well, just because you love each other now doesnt mean you will in a year..."
"Listen, Mrs. Weasly. I love your daughter today, and I will love her a year from now, I will love her an eternity from now. Love is not an issue. If you are worried about money, well I can assure you: Money is no problem. It never has been, and never will be. If you are worried about her reputation, we can hold a wedding before she begins to show. Though quite honestly, I don't care. It's up to you, Mrs. Weasley. You are, after all, her mother."
Ginny smiled and started to tear up. He was so sweet, and she could tell by the way he gulped that he was being honest and truthful, not faking just to get her mum off their back and so that he could get some later on. She wiped away a happy tear and looked at her mum, who was yet again at a loss of words. She looked around, as if wondering 'Who knew a Malfoy could love?'
Draco was absolutely horrified with himself, he had shown weakness, he had shown love. He was now vulnerable, Mrs. Weasley could use this to hurt him - she could take Ginny away...he was, ofcourse, being paranoid, but who could blame him? He was raised by Lucius Malfoy.
"You two will have to be married within the next five months. I will not have anyone calling my Ginny a scarlet woman, or...or...a slut!" Molly said stiffly, although if you looked closely you could see she was breathing heavily and sweating, "I...I'll let you two think this over...I'll go ask Professor Dumbledor about a guest room..."
"Mum, you're STAYING!? Guest room for...what? Why aren't you leaving? There's nothing to think over. We're getting married, we're having a daughter, we're going to live happily ever after, the end, no questions asked," Ginny said, glaring at her mother. Why couldn't she just let her be happy?!
"Be that as it may, I will not have you alone during a pregnancy! I am your mother, Ginny. I want to be here...this is an important time in your life. Don't take this away from me..." Molly said softly.
"So..what, you're going to sit here at Hogwart's for months? Mom, I promise I'll go to the hospital wing all the time, and as soon as they tell me I'm nearing it, I'll owl you. I mean mum, it's not like I'm going to give birth right now or something," Ginny scoffed.
Mrs. Weasly sighed, "Fine, but I will be back January to help you plan."
"Plan what?"
"Your wedding of course!"
"But mum! You said five mon-"
"It takes time to plan a wedding, dear."
Ginny glanced at Draco, who's face was saying 'Don't come back, please..' Molly looked a bit upset, but took a deep breath. "I'll take your silence as an 'okay, mother, I love you oh-so much and I can't wait to see you in January.' Good. I love you too, Ginerva, and I'll see you in January." She gave Ginny a giant hug and scowled at Draco, putting her hand out as if it were the worst thing she ever had to do. With another glance at the two, Molly turned around and walked out of the room.
"Well...that went well, wouldn't you say so, Red?" Draco asked, much more relaxed now that Molly was out of the room.
She smiled and stared at her ring, entranced. It was so beautiful. So simple, yet showy. Plain but glamorous.
Draco stared at Ginny, entranced by her, he thought he was the luckiest man on earth. Both their thoughts were interupted, however, when a tawny owl tapped impatiently on the window. Draco went up to the window and opened it, letting the owl glide in, and took the letter.
"What is it?" Ginny asked.
"Its...a letter...from the ministry."
Ginny walked up behind him and read over his shoulder:
'Dear Mr. Draco Malfoy,
We would like to inform you that your father's, Mr. Lucius Malfoy, sentence will be served earlier than planned. He will be recieving the dementor's kiss November 5th, if you would like to be present please reply as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Jerald Ford
Azkaban Warden'
---------------------
To: Mister Jerald Ford
From: Mister Draco L. Malfoy
Mr. Ford, I would like to witness my father recieving the kiss, I will see you on November 5th.
- D. Malfoy
Draco was surprised it was already November, the days had sped by like a blur. Today he would be going to watch his fathers soul be sucked out of him, and he was nervous.
"You ok?" Ginny asked, appearing out of nowhere, causing Draco to jump.
"Oh...yea, I'm fine."
"You sure?"
"I said I was fine!"
"Okay! Sorry! No need to get snappish!"
"I'm not...I'm sorry."
Draco gave Ginny a hug, "Its just...even though I despise the man...he was still my father, you know?"
Ginny nodded, "Want me to come with you, Draco?"
"What? No! It would be to upsetting for you, Red."
"It wouldn't be as upsetting for me. I mean, I'm your..soon-to-be-wife..I'm supposed to be there for you."
Draco sighed, "Do you really want too?"
"I do, I want to be with you."
"Fine...fine...we have to leave by noon..."
"Okay," she said gently. She sat on an armchair and pretended to read while silently watching Draco. He was staring out the window, up into the somewhat dark sky. It was going to rain soon, and he should close the window...
Draco finally sighed, closing the window sadly, as if by closing that window, he was closing a part of his life.
"Lets go, Gin."
"How are we going to get there?" She asked timidly.
"The ministry is sending a car over." He was already on his way out the door, Ginny running to catch up.
When they exited the castle, they saw a black car already waiting for them. The driver opened the door for Draco and Ginny, and drove off.
It seemed like they had only been driving for minutes (actually hours) when they finally reached the tall forboding fortress like prison, surrounded by water on all sides (the car could fly). Draco, for the first time, looked truly nervous.
Ginny gripped his hand and squeezed it, looking up at him, trying to calm him down. He looked away, then at the floor, then at the sky.. Was he going to cry? No, of course not. Malfoys don't cry..do they?
"Come on then" Draco said gruffly. Squaring his shoulders he marched up towards the prison doors, as if he was marching to his own death.
They passed by the dementors who gaurded the front entance, both Ginny and Draco shivering at the extreme depression that washed over them when they neared the dementors.
"Here for Malfoy's Kiss?" An oily voice asked, as a greasy looking man stepped out of the shadows, "This way then. Come on."
The man, who introduced himself as chief overseer of the prison (Mr. Willoby), led them to a small stony room. With in it was an extremely large cauldron that let you view the 'kiss' room. The cauldron was set somewhat low into the ground, so you could sit in a chair and look down comfortably.
Draco and Ginny took their seats around the cauldron, slowly the viewing chamber filled with a few reporters from the Daily Prophet and Ministry Officials. Draco had managed to keep himself composed, he wouldn't let some reporter see him so upset. He stared down into the cauldron intently, as a magical voice sounded, "Mr. Lucious Malfoy: Death Eater."
Draco watched as his father was pratically yanked into the kiss room by a single guard. Soon as the gaurd had him chained into the rooms single chair, he left quickly. About five minutes afterward a dementor gliding in, even though the dementor wasn't anywhere near the group of onlookers, they still all shuddered.
Slowly, as if wanting to build suspense, the dementor lowered its hood. The crowd winced, and Lucius seemed to be having a seizure, his entire body was shaking and his eyes had rolled to the back of his head. The dementor didn't care, it lowered its sightless face to the elder Malfoy's, sucking in deeply. Dracos father began to shake more violently, as a dark light radiated from him. Finally, the dementor pulled away, and Lucius slumped down, alive physically, but dead to the world. Nothing but an empty shell, he was a being without a soul.
Ginny turned, wide eyed, to Draco. Was he as horrified as she was? She closed her eyes and covered her eyes, but the same scene kept running through her mind...
Draco looked dead to the world, simply staring at one of the stone walls, his face emotionless. The few reporters present were scribbling down the horrid event while it was still fresh in their minds. On of the ministry officials walked up to Draco, clearing his throat but recieving no reply.
"Draco has no comment at this time," Ginny answered for him, and led him outside, walking far away from the reporters to a wood-ish area with a stone bench. She sat him down on it and sat down next to him, rubbing his hand.
"That was inhumane, Red." Draco said hoarsely, "I mean...I didn't love him...he hurt me...but he was still my father..."
She hugged him and nodded. "I understand, can't they do it some other way?" she whispered, more to herself then to him. She stood up and shook a little, as if trying to shake off the Dementor's depression. "We should go back," she frowned. Draco took her hand and walked to the car, telling the driver to take them the fuck home.
---
Draco wouldn't talk. He sat on the bed, doing homework. It was to the point Ginny wanted any Draco back, even the rude one. Now, he was just like his father: alive, but dead to the world.
"Draco, maybe we should go to Hogsmeade.."
"No. I have homework," he answered briskly.
"Since when do you do homework rather than break the rules with me?" She asked innocently. He looked up at her, and she gave him the famous 'look'.
Draco sighed heavily, "What do you want to do?"
"Honeydukes maybe?" Ginny suggested.
Draco hesitated, looking at Ginny and then at the bed coverlet beneath him.
"Come on, Draco. You know it will make you feel better!"
Draco looked at her, suddenly looking almost like his old self: Sneaky...devilish. With a small smirk, he said slowly, "I'll only go if you let me surprise you with something."
She frowned, wondering what it was he was going to 'surprise' her with. But, it was worth it: she needed the old Draco back. She nodded as he smiled.
Draco gave her a playful/evil look, as he went to a drawer and took out a length of black cloth. He wrapped it around her eyes whispering, "Can't have those green eyes of yours ruining the surprise."
She sighed. Hey, at least he's smiling.. Or, at least I THINK he's smiling..I can't exactly see anything..
"Don't you worry, love." Draco said as he led her out of the room. It seemed like forever (and her feet were starting to hurt) when she heard him open a door and the tinkle of a bell.
"Hello Mr. Malfoy!" Ginny heard an older woman say cheerfully.
"Hello Ms. Walters..." He paused, taking the blindfold off of his fiance, "This is Ginerva Weasley, I believe I've already told you about her..."
"Oh yes! Does she know..."
"No." Draco replied sharply, "Not yet..."
"What is it Draco?" Gin asked nervously, what the hell was going on?
"Ginny, this is Ms. Henrietta Walters, shes the owner of 'Magical Weddings Bridal Shop'. She's our...er...wedding consultant."
"You, Mr. 'I'm-such-a-badass,' got a wedding consultant? My, my, my," Ginny teased, kissing him on the cheek. "That was really sweet of you, Draco."
"I didn't do it because I'm going soft you know." Draco said snappishly, although he kissed her cheek right back.
"Oh, of course," she nodded.
The couple sat down with Ms. Walters, who showed them wedding book after book. Ginny didn't believe she had ever felt so excited, as Draco kept pointing out the most expensive things saying, "What do you think of that?" as if he was trying to tell her price didn't matter.