Yay, it's chapter 12! You do know this means one more chapter and I can actually start to try and work on the other million stories people are bugging me to finish. I promise to get the next chapter out soon, and someone pitched the idea of a sequel to me. I was a little surprised, I mean, would anyone really care for a sequel? I just don't know how I would write one. Do tell me, because I love hearing back from you guys (and girls lol) and if enough people tell me they want one, maybe I'll consider writing one. Now, back to the current story…
Chapter 12 Perfection
Ginny and Harry stepped into the English Ministry hand in hand, quickly making their way to the Auror department. Both were dressed to appear in court, and as soon as they stepped into department, a smartly dressed brunette witch stepped in front of them. "Ms. Weasley? Mr. Potter? I'm Bridgette O'Connor, " she greeted calmly, adjusting the small rectangular glasses on the bridge of her nose. "We need you to sign these forms."
"Don't we have to appear in court?" Ginny asked, taking one of the packets from her while Harry took the other. "Are these release forms?"
Bridgette nodded. "The hearing was cancelled, as Mr. Malfoy," she spat his name out, "Had no objections for you to take the child in question."
"Why weren't we told that a trial was held?" Harry asked as he looked over the forms. "We could've testified."
"There was no trial," Bridgette told him. "Mr. Malfoy confessed to the murder of his father and Bellatrix Lestrange before we even drew up the indictment papers. He didn't take a plea bargain, he asked for the death penalty. I think he wants to die," she paused, rummaging around in her purse. "But he did want me to give you these." She handed them two envelopes, an unaddressed one and one addressed to Ara and took the forms from them. "I'll tell them to bring you the baby."
They watched her retreating form before turning their attention to the letter. "Open it," Harry urged, referring to the unopened one after a minute of silence.
Ginny obliged and Harry moved to her side so they could both read the writing scrawled across the page.
Weasley and Potter,
If you're reading this, I'm probably in Azkaban. Chances are it's for the murder of my father and aunt, which I must admit, is probably the best thing I've ever done in my life.
I first found out about my mother's affair when Michael (my half brother, Ara's father) showed up on my doorstep with Ara and his wife, Janice. I fell in love with Ara the minute I saw her. Michael and Janice asked me to keep her because they felt she was in danger. Three weeks later, they were murdered.
I, of course, knew who it was immediately. My father asked where he and Bellatrix could find the baby, so I turned her over to the Ministry and requested you two be put on her case. I figured if anyone could protect her, it'd be the famous poster boy and his sidekick's little sister. The Ministry refused to tell me where they put you, but after working a few officials, I found out. So, I began to send my father and the rest of the former Dark Lord'sgoons on wild goose chases across Asia and South America, making sure to keep them as far away from Nebraska as possible. Unfortunately, my father's ability to lie wasn't one of the things I inherited.
They slipped me something and I ended up spilling everything. The next morning, I realized what I had done and I immediately owled the Ministry to tell them you would be attacked. Afterwards I hurried to the Ministry. As soon as I arrived, they told me that the house you had been living in had been attacked, and I began to worry. You see, I promised Michael that nothing would happen to Ara. I swore on everything I had. If something happened to her, I'd burn in hell.
Not that I'm afraid for my soul now. I've fulfilled my promise to Michael and Janice. I eliminated the risk of my father and Bellatrix escaping and killing her. I've guaranteed her safety, and if I go to hell, I'll go happy.
Now, this is the point in the letter where it sounds like I'm beginning to beg. I'm not, just to let you know, and if I ever hear someone remark that I did, I'll haunt you from my grave. My mother wants to know the baby. She says she wants the best for her granddaughter and insisted that I ask if she may visit the baby. Personally, I think you should keep the baby away from her, being as she's the one who sent Michael away to live with his father and she was never a real mother to me, but this way you can tell her I asked and I can go to hell with a clean conscience and no debts to be paid to Satan or my mother for that matter.
Oh, and this is the point where I'm actually going to beg. Yes, I, Draco Malfoy, and am asking that, if chances are I'm still alive, you never, ever let Ara see me like this. I don't want her to hear from someone else that I am a cold, heartless killer. Tell her the truth when she's old enough to hear it, and don't let her hear it from someone else. I want you totell her that I love her, and I knew the consequences of the actions I was going to do... and I accepted them. Don't let her think that I did this because I'm a heartless person, but that I did it for her future safety and the safety of everyone she might come to love.
I end this letter with no regrets. Rumours may spread, but now both of you know the truth. Don't try to justify my actions to anyone, because they are unjustifiable. I killed two people and I shall accept the consequences.
Tell Ara I love her, and give her the other letter when you feel she's ready.
Signed,
D. L. Malfoy
When Ginny finished, she carefully folded the letter and dropped both in her purse just as Bridgette came through the doors. "I think this belongs to you," she said, handing the baby over to Harry. "Be careful, she just ate." And without another word, she spun on her heel and left them standing in the middle of the Department.
"What now?" Ginny wondered aloud, looking at Harry. "What are we supposed to do?"
Harry wrapped an arm around her waist and began to steer her towards the Floo fireplaces. "I have a surprise for you," he admitted, leaning over her shoulder slightly to look at the baby. "And for you too." Ara bounced on her arm and cooed as Harry continued to talk to her. "You and Gin are going to like it, yes you will."
When they reached the fireplaces, Harry threw the Floo powder in and shouted, "12 Grimmauld Place!" Before Ginny could question him, he pulled her though.
She gasped as they stepped into the living room. The once grimy, dark space had been cleaned, aired and the curtains replaced, allowing light to flood the capacious room. "It looks amazing," Ginny said, awestruck. She continued into the hallway. "When did you do all this?" she continued, gazing around.
Harry leaned on the doorframe and watched as she continued her investigation. "Ever since I learned Sirius left it to me. I started the renovations after I graduated. I figured, being as Ara's technically a Black, her name would be on the family tapestry."
"Is it?"
"I don't know. I think I had it moved," Harry told her as he began to walk through the rooms. "The library. Upstairs."
They ascended the stairs and Ginny continued to gasp softly at every room he led her into. "So," she asked as he led her through the many bedrooms that had all been restored wonderfully. "All these rooms? Is that an insinuation?"
Harry laughed. "Wait till you see the master bedroom."
She squeezed his hand playfully. "I can't wait."
Just the tone of her voice made him want to show it to her and forget about the rest of the house, but he was curious as hell about the family tree. Was she on it? And why hadn't anyone noticed her father and his wife on it before?
Two huge oak doors blocked their entrance and as soon as Harry pushed them open, Ginny's mouth fell open. Bookshelves covered three walls, and each shelf was completely covered in books. A large oak desk sat proudly in the middle, and behind it hung the infamous Black family tapestry. It was faded, and several names were scorched off, but Ginny still thought it looked regal and very intimidating.
Harry let go of her hand and walked behind the desk, scanning the tapestry. "Look."
Sure enough, Michael Black, Janice Reams and Arabella Black were all on the tapestry, right next to Draco's name. As Ginny carried Ara over, she squealed and buried her little head in the crook of Ginny's neck. "I guess she doesn't like it," Ginny mused, reading over the tapestry. "Here's where my great-great-grandfather got burned off," she remarked, tracing over the burnt patch. "I really hate this thing."
Harry, however was browsing through the books on the shelves. "These are some complicated spell books for Dark Magic. It's freaking me out," he told her, placing the book down like it burnt his hands. "Let's get out of here."
She took his hand and Ara reached out for Harry. "Now," Ginny reminded him, "You are going to finish the tour, right?" She handed Ara to Harry and he bounced her up and down.
"Should we show Mummy the rest of the house?" he asked. Ara giggled and waved her arms before spitting a huge drool bubble. "Is that a yes?"
Ginny followed Harry down the hall the rest of the way, which there were only two rooms. "May I present," Harry announced dramatically, "The nursery." He threw open the door and Ginny stepped inside first.
The walls were painted bluish green and the windows and doorframes were trimmed with white. She walked towards the crib on the side of the room and then to the rocking chair that was padded with blue cushions. She sat down and admired the scenery out the back window. She looked up and realized the ceiling of the room was made to look like the night sky. "It's beautiful," she told him.
"Now, we have to see our bedroom."
Our bedroom, the words never sounded so good, Ginny thought as she followed him though the door that joined the two rooms. As soon as she stepped in, she was awestruck for the umpteenth time.
A king sized dark red bed stood in the middle of the huge room. The walls were white, but the carpet was a luscious scarlet color along with the drapes and hangings around the bed. A desk and two nightstands lined the walls, and a picture of the setting sun hung on the wall, next to the door. She went to the door and opened it, surprised at the huge chandelier that hung from the ceiling. It was the most prominent feature, but the marble counter tops and floors were still amazing. She sighed and plopped down on the bed.
Harry tossed Ara to her and sat next to her. "This must have cost a fortune," Ginny remarked, gazing around the room, the approval of the whole house shining in her eyes. "I can't believe you never told me."
Harry fell back onto the bed next to her. "Well, I wanted to surprise you after the wedding," he admitted. Ara began to wiggle around, trying to pull herself up on one of them. "You know, after the honeymoon and all. Coming home to an already made up house and then adding your own little touches to it. Raising three or four kids here, having grandkids run up and down the halls." He reached out and took her hand in his. "I just wanted everything to be perfect."
She smiled softly and turned onto her side so she was facing Harry. "Everything's perfect now," she told him. "We're back together, we have a house and a baby. If you want the truth, this is exactly where I pictured us being."
"Minus the whole Cho incident, right?" he added.
"Yes, but still," she leaned in and kissed him lightly. "This is perfect."
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