(A/N Keep up the trust you have in me. I promise not to disappoint. The song is the whole inspiration to this whole story. I suggest you read through the lyrics or download the song. It is a really good song.
You guys are either going to hate or love this chapter. I personally hope you love it, it is very long. There is only a few more chapters I'm thinking two. So enjoy! And oh and I do expect apologies for doubting me.)
Disclaimer: I disclaim
Reunion
A Lonely September
-Plain White T's
I'm sitting here all by myself
Just trying to think of something to do
Trying to think of something, anything
Just to keep me from thinking of you
But you know it's not working out
Because you're all thats on my mind
One thought of you is all it takes
To leave the rest of the world behind
I didn't mean for this to go
As far as it did
I didn't mean to get so close
And share what we did
I didnt' mean to fall in love
But I did
And you didn't mean to love me back
But I know you did
I'm sitting here trying to convice myself
That you're not the one for me
The more I think the less I believe
And the more I want you here with me
You know the holidays are coming up
And I don't want to spend them alone
Memories of Christmas time with you
Just kill when I'm on my own
I didn't mean for this to go
As far as it did
I didn't mean to get so close
And share what we did
I didnt' mean to fall in love
But I did
And you didn't mean to love me back
I know it's not the smartest thing to do
But I just cant' seem to get it right
But what I wouldn't give to have one more chance tonight
One more chance tonight
Sitting here trying to entertain
Myself with this old guitar
But with all my inspiration gone
It's not getting me very far
I look around my room
And everything I see reminds me of you
Oh please baby won't you take my hand
We gont nothing left to prove
I didn't mean for this to go
As far as it did
I didn't mean to get so close
And share what we did
I didn't mean to fall in love
But I did
And you didn't mean to love me back
But I know you did
I didn't mean to meet you then
When we were just kids
I didn't mean to give you chills
WIth the way that I kissed
And I didn't mean to fall in love
But I did
And you didn't mean to love me back
But I know you did
Don't say you didn't love me back
Because I know yoy did
No you didn't mean to love me back
But you did
Ginny awoke with a yawn. The sun was shining on her face, not allowing her to go back to sleep. She sat up to see Draco watching her. "What do you want?" Ginny asked with a little sigh as she pulled the blanket around her.
"Nothing." Draco replied with a shrug turning away from her.
"Were you watching me sleep?" Ginny inquired.
"If you must know, yes. I use to watch you sleep all the time."
"Why?"
"Why was I watching you or why did I use to?" Draco asked turning back around to face her.
"Both."
"I use to watch you sleep because I was in love with you. I watched you sleep just know because I'm still in love with you."
"We were kids, we didn't know what love was."
"I know that I loved you."
"It was just suppose to be a game to you. You weren't suppose to love me and I wasn't suppose to love you back."
"And I didn't mean to give you chills with the way that I kissed."
"And I didn't mean to fall in love with you."
"But you did."
"It was five years ago."
"But you admit you did loved me."
"Loved." Ginny pointed out, "Past tense."
"Once you love someone you never stop."
"I did."
"No you didn't."
"How do you know?" Ginny asked defiantly.
"I know you. I never stopped knowing you and I can still read you." Draco replied. "And I never stopped loving you."
"You should have come back." Ginny replied hugging the blanket around her as she stood up and walked out of the room. Ginny walked into the kitchen and laid her head down on the table. "Coffee, please."
Blaise poured her a cup of coffee and sat down across from her. "Sleep well?"
"I hate you both." Ginny replied glaring at Blaise and Ron as she took a sip of her coffee. "How could you stick me in a room with him?"
"So you two didn't make up?" Ron inquired sitting down.
"No. I'm with Harry."
"I thought you said you gave the ring back."
"I did." Ginny replied taking another sip. "I'm not with Harry."
"No you aren't."
"So, what do I do now?" Ginny asked.
"Well, you come into the living room with us and tell us what happened last night." Blaise replied leading the three of them into the living room.
Ginny sat down on the floor and leaned against the couch. "We talked last night."
"Just talked?"
"He told me everywhere he had been for the past five years, and he showed me that he had learned to smile."
"He told you he had learned to smile?" Ron asked confused.
"It's a long story." Blaise replied. "Go on."
"That's all, we just talked for a bit before I went to bed."
"So when are you two going to get back together."
"I don't know that we are." Ginny sighed. "I don't trust him."
"You don't trust him or you don't trust him to not hurt you."
"Both."
"He won't hurt you."
"He already did."
"Ginny," Ron started. "He won't hurt you again."
"You are suppose to hate him." Ginny moaned.
"I haven't hated him for a long time." Ron smirked.
"Well, bully for you." Ginny glared at him.
"You are grumpy in the morning." Ron teased.
"I hate you."
"You love me. I'm your favorite brother."
"Bill is my favorite brother."
"That isn't nice."
"It's true."
"Really, Bill?"
"Gin, you hurt Ron's feelings."
"Good, he won't hate Draco for me."
"So it's Draco again?" Blaise asked smirking.
"What?"
"For the past year it's been Malfoy, said with a sneer. And now you are calling him Draco again?" Blaise asked.
"I'm too tired to think straight."
"It's noon." Ron pointed out.
"So."
"So it's too late in the day for you to be too tired." Ron replied.
"You don't get to make up rules." Ginny said taking another sip of coffee. "Good coffee."
"Blaise made it, I taught him how to use a coffee maker."
"Good job." Ginny nodded at him. "So, why did you invite Draco to spend the night?"
"We had to catch up with each other." Ron replied. "Of course you interrupted us before we could finish catching up."
"Like you really cared." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I do care." Ron smirked. "After all I like to keep tabs on the boys who have captured my sister's heart."
"He didn't cap-"
"Just stop denying it." Ron sighed. "Be happy and stop denying it. You still love him, just admit it and be happy."
"It isn't that easy."
"It could be."
"How do you know?" Ginny asked.
"Because I won't ever leave you again. I won't ever hurt you." Draco said from the doorway. "Just let me have you."
Ginny's eyes flew up at Draco before looking back down to her half filled mug. Why did he have to have such horrible (good?) timing?
"Draco, how did you sleep?" Blaise asked amused.
"Coldly." Draco replied with a quick glance at Ginny. "Seems I didn't get a blanket."
Instead of replying Ginny took a sip of coffee.
"Would you like some coffee?" Blaise asked standing up.
"Yes." Draco replied.
"Okay, Ron come help me make a new pot." Blaise said pulling Ron into the kitchen and leaving Ginny and Draco alone.
"Ginny." Draco said quietly moving deeper into the room.
"You should really decide what the hell you are going to call me." Ginny said quietly staring at her coffee.
"What do you want me to call you?" Draco asked sitting across from her.
"What kind of question is that?" Ginny asked quietly.
"Do you want me to know you?" Draco asked. "Do you want us to be anything?"
"It's all I ever wanted from you." Ginny said quietly. "But I learned that just because I want something doesn't mean I get it."
"You can have me." Draco said holding his hand out to her."I won't ever hurt you again."
Ginny looked at his hand cautiously.
"Should we go back in there?" Blaise asked Ron peering through the doorway.
"They aren't yelling at each other so, no." Ron replied sitting down at their table. "Sit."
"So do you really want her to date him?" Blaise asked.
"She's still in love with him. I just want her to be happy."
Blaise turned around as he heard a pop. "Harry, what are you doing here?"
"I cam to get my fiance." Harry replied. "Where is she?"
"Harry, I don't know if she wants to see you right now." Ron said quietly.
"Ron, where is Ginny?" Harry asked sighing.
"She is in the living room." Blaise replied. "But I wouldn't suggest going in there at the moment."
Harry ignored Blaise as she started towards the living room. Harry stopped in his tracks as he stepped into the room. And he surveyed the scene in front of him. Draco was holding his hand out to Ginny and she was about to take it when she looked up.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked staring at Harry was she pulled her hand back to herself.
"I came to get you."
"What?" Ginny asked standing up. "You came to get me? And what are you going to do with me?"
"Ginny, don't be like that." Harry sighed. "What are you wearing?" he asked as he noticed her clothes, or lack of pants.
"It's my shirt." Draco interrupted.
"What?" Harry asked narrowing his eyes. "You are wearing his shirt and you had the audacity to tell me that you didn't shag him."
"I didn't shag him." Ginny replied narrowing her own eyes. "I have had this shirt with me for five years. I would think you would know me better than that."
"All I know is you are in here drinking coffee with him wearing nothing but his shirt. I'm not stupid."
"Yes you are." Draco interrupted again standing up.
"What did you say?" Harry asked turning on Draco.
"You must be the most stupid person ever. You were actually engaged to Ginny and you lost her."
"You lost her first." Harry smirked.
"Of course, you lose your girlfriend and all you care about is that I was an idiot first." Draco rolled his eyes.
"You started it." Harry replied.
"I started it! What did I start?"
"This competition."
"What competition?" Draco asked confused.
"Over Ginny."
"Ginny is not a prize to be won." Draco said deadly quietly.
"You are only saying that because you won't win her."
"I don't want to win her." Draco hissed. "She isn't a prize and if you don't get that then you really don't deserve her."
"You don't deserve her." Harry yelled back.
"No, I don't." Draco agreed. "She is far too wonderful and perfect for me, but as least I realize that. You don't even know how perfect she is, you don't even realize it. You had her. She would have been yours. But you are so selfish that you ruined it. How could you be so stupid? She is perfect and you lost her. You lost the most perfect girl in the world because you were so selfish you wouldn't even give her her damn mail."
"You don't know anything." Harry hissed at him.
"No I do." Draco replied. "I know how wonderful she is. I know how beautiful she is and that if I ever got her back then I would be the luckiest man in the world. I know that you don't appreciate her."
"How would you know?" Harry asked defiantly. "You've been gone for five years. You don't know anything."
"I know more than you think." Draco replied backing Harry against the wall. "I know that you are such a prat that all you care about is your damn image. You can't do a damn thing without your PR guy okaying it first. You let the damn reporters know you were going to propose just so the papers would have their damn story. Who the fuck does that? You haven't even been to any of her art shows. Do you realize what a wonderful artist she is? And you tell me I don't deserve her. Well if I don't then you sure as hell don't because you don't even realize what a wonderful girl you have." Draco backed away from Harry, visibly shaking with anger. "Don't you ever treat her like she is some damn prize to be won. She is better than you can ever hope to be."
Draco turned away from Harry and left the living room. Ginny watched him leave before turning back to Harry.
"Why are you here?"
"Ginny, I want you to come back with me." Harry replied.
"No." GInny shook her head.
"But-"
"No." Ginny repeated. "I don't want to go back with you. You knew how much I wanted to hear from Draco, you knew and you stole my letters. I thought he had deserted me forever and all along he had written to me and you didn't tell me. How could you do that to me? You were suppose to love me."
"I didn't want to lose you. I love you."
"No, because if you really loved me than you wouldn't have kept something like that from me. Even if you were scared of losing me." Ginny replied quietly. "I can't marry you, I'm sorry." Ginny looked down the hall. "Goodbye Harry."
"Should we go in there yet?" Blaise whispered to Ron as they listened to Draco yell at Harry.
"No." Ron replied. "Shh, this is getting good."
"I thought he was suppose to be your best friend."
"He is, but this is entertaining." Ron grinned. "Plus Ginny really should handle this herself."
"Wimp."
"How?"
"You are scared to get in the middle of them in case they start fighting."
"That isn't being scared." Ron replied. "That's being smart."
Ginny stood in the doorway watching Draco pace back and forth in the master bedroom. He seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Ginny was watching him. Every few seconds he would mutter something and shaking his head. The words Harry, fuck, prat, and git could be made out but besides that nothing else could be heard. Ginny didn't know what she was going to say to him when he noticed her, but it seemed she would have a few minutes.
Draco finally seemed to take notice of Ginny because he stopped pacing and turned to look at her. She was waiting for him to say something but it seemed he was waiting on her to say something.
Finally Ginny sighed. "Thanks for saying what you said, it was really nice."
Draco nodded still looking at her expectantly.
"I'm not going to marry Harry." Ginny replied looking down. When Draco still didn't say anything she looked up again. "Say something."
"I have nothing left to say." Draco sighed. "I've said everything there is to say and there is nothing else I can say to make you take me back."
"Draco,why didn't you think you were good enough for me?" Ginny asked quietly. "I mean you have chosen to live where you do and work where you do."
"Because you are so perfect and I'm not."
"Will you show me where you live?" Ginny asked quietly.
"Why?"
"Well, you seem to still know a lot about me, and I don't know anything about you."
"Sure." Draco nodded.
"Okay, just let me get dressed." Ginny replied picking up her bad and walking into the bathroom. Ginny stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. What the hell was she doing? Was she really going to go to Draco's apartment? Ginny turned away from the mirror as she got dressed. She pulled her hair up in a ponytail and stuffed her dirty clothes back into her backpack.
"Let's go." Ginny said as she walked out of the bathroom.
"You have to talk some sense into your sister." Harry told Ron grumpily.
"Harry, she's going to do what she is going to do." Ron shrugged.
"You can't be serious."
"I can't change her mind." Ron replied. "You know how stubborn she is."
"You can't let her-"
"Harry, get out of my house." Blaise interrupted.
"What?"
"I don't want you in my house. Get out." Blaise repeated. "I don't like your tone. All you've done since you've been here is been rude, so I want you out. Goodbye."
"This is my apartment." Draco motioned towards the door that opened into an alley. He led her into his apartment. "This is the kitchen slash living room."
"It's nice." Ginny said as she looked around at his very bare apartment.
"It's boring." Draco replied walking towards a door on his right. He opened it. "My bedroom and my bathroom is through that door." He closed the door before Ginny could get a good look and pointed to some of the other doors. "Come on, I'll show you the garden."
"You have a garden?" Ginny asked as she followed behind him.
"It isn't much, just a little alley that I turned into a garden. I added some flower gardens so that I would have somewhere to go and think."
"This is really cool." Ginny said as she looked around the little garden.
Draco led her back into his apartment. "Do you want to see my favorite room?"
"Yeah." Ginny nodded.
"Behind this door." Draco replied opening the door and following her in.
Ginny gasped as she looked into the room. The room that featured three of her paintings. "I didn't know you bought these."
"That was the only condition of me buying them."
"Why didn't you want me to know?" Ginny asked as she walked to stand in front of the fireplace, staring at her self portrait.
"I like my secrets." Draco shrugged.
Ginny turned back to face Draco. "Will you show me where you work?"
"You don't want to go there."
"Please?" Ginny asked.
"Why do you want to see where I work?" Draco asked. "It's not a nice place."
"Do you want me to trust you or not?" Ginny asked.
"Okay." Draco replied. "Come on."
They didn't talk as he led them up the road before stopping in front of a little bar. "This is it."
"Are we going to go in?" Ginny asked as they stood out there looking at the door.
"I'd prefer we not." Draco replied.
"I'm going in." Ginny replied starting towards the door.
"Hey, Draco, you aren't working till Tuesday." the bartender called out from behind the bar. "What the hell are you doing here? And who is your very sexy friend?"
"This is Ginny and she wanted to see where I worked." Draco replied sighing. "Can we leave now?"
Ginny sat down on a bar stool. "So do you know Draco pretty well?" Ginny asked the bartender.
"I suppose you could say I know him a bit."
"So what kind of guy is he?" Ginny asked.
"Very weird." the bartender replied.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
Draco sighed as he sat down beside Ginny.
"No matter how many chicks hit on him he doesn't go home with any of them. Though I suppose you probably like hearing that considering you are with him. Or are you not with him?" the bartender asked leaning towards her, leering at her.
"I'm with him." Ginny replied leaning away from the bartender. "So tell me more about him."
"I am here."
"Yeah, well you like your secrets." Ginny replied.
"He's a really good worker, can make some really good drinks. Never late for work. Often helps get the people home who are too drunk to get home by themselves."
"Thanks for the information." Ginny replied standing up.
"Bye Phil." Draco said as he followed behind Ginny.
"When you two break up give me a call." Phil called to Ginny.
"Why did you tell him you were with me?" Draco asked as they walked back to his apartment.
"Well considering he was a very gross person, who was hitting on me, and technically I was there with you, I thought it was the most logical answer." Ginny replied. "So, that's where you work."
"Yep. Four days a week from four to one." Draco nodded. "Doesn't pay too well, but the tips are great."
"So, you get hit on a lot?"
"Yeah."
"Hot girls?"
"And some guys." Draco replied. "You pass up enough girls and the guys start wondering."
"You never went out with any of them?" Ginny asked as they reentered his apartment.
"They weren't you."
"I didn't really shag Colin." Ginny replied.
"Your brother thinks you did."
"That's because Colin and I spent the night together, but we didn't sleep together, we just slept. He was too drunk to get home and then Ron and Blaise came over and saw Colin and they assumed."
"Why didn't you tell them the truth?" Draco asked as he started to pull food out of his fridge.
"I don't know." Ginny replied. "It seemed like a good idea at the time to just let them think that we had slept together."
"Do you like spaghetti?" Draco asked as he started slicing mushrooms.
"I like everything." Ginny replied taking a seat at his counter.
"And Potter?"
"We slept together." Ginny replied.
"Why did you date him?"
"He wasn't you."
"Oh."
"No, it isn't like that." Ginny replied. "I dated him because he wasn't like you. He didn't remind me of you. I knew that when I looked at him I wouldn't think of you, because he is nothing like you."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No." Ginny shook her head. "It's a good thing you aren't like him."
"Would you really have married him?" Draco asked as he started to chop up some onion.
"I don't know." Ginny shrugged. "I didn't know you could cook."
"It took me six months of really bad food before I got the hang of it." Draco replied as he started to brown the meat.
"Do you want some help?" Ginny asked.
"No, you just sit there. I can handle it." Draco replied as he continued to make them lunch.
"Why do you live here?" Ginny asked. "I mean, you don't have to, so why do you?"
"I don't know." Draco shrugged. "I guess I just got use to living without my money."
"Oh."
"Why did you decide to open an art store?" Draco asked her as he finished making the sauce and left it on the stove to simmer.
"I wanted a place where I would be able go to and paint. And I was able to in an art store, plus the fact that I never ran out of supplies."
"I guess you wouldn't." Draco nodded as he pulled out a large pot and filled it with water.
"Would you like to see my art shop? After we eat, I mean."
"I want to see anything of yours." Draco replied.
"So what are we having with the spaghetti?" Ginny asked.
"Garlic bread and salad."
"So what else can you cook?" Ginny asked him.
"I can cook quite a few things." Draco replied. "I can cook you something else if you stay with dinner."
"If you want me to stay for dinner, I will." Ginny replied quietly.
"Good, what do you want for dinner?"
"I don't know, surprise me."
"So, if your staying for dinner, what does that mean?"
"That want to eat dinner with you."
"Tell, me the truth, who taught you to dance like that?" Draco asked as he started to slice up french bread.
"Blaise." Ginny replied sheepishly. "I asked him to a few years ago."
"That's who I thought." Draco nodded. "So why did you tell me it was Harry."
"I wanted to make you mad, and jealous."
"You being engaged made me jealous." Draco replied as he put the bread in the oven and added some pasta to the boiling water. "You dating Potter made me jealous."
"Oh. So, what did you write in those letters to me?"
"Nothing really." Draco replied. "Just some letters. Just letters to say hello."
"Why did you wait so long to write them?"
"I told you, I was scared."
"Why?"
"I was afraid that my life wasn't good enough for you."
"When did you become so humble?" Ginny asked quietly.
"Humble? I'm not humble, I'm just not an egotistical ass anymore." Draco replied. "You live here and work here long enough and it's bound to happen."
"How much longer till lunch?" Ginny asked.
"It's almost finished." Draco replied. "Two more minutes."
"Good because I'm starving."
"You are always starving."
"I'm a Weasley."
"Well, it's done." Draco said as he strained the water out of the noodles. He made up two plates and walked over to his table.
"This looks really good." Ginny said as she sat down.
"It tastes better."
Ginny took a bite. "You're right. This is really good. I'm impressed."
"Good, because I was trying to impress you."
Ginny looked down at her plate blushing. They ate the rest of their meal in silence and Draco quickly cleaned their plates in the sink.
"Are you ready to go?" Ginny asked him.
"Yeah."
"I wonder where they went." Blaise mused as he sat in his living room with Ron.
"Hopefully they are making up because if I have to deal with a depressed Ginny again I'll scream."
"They will make up." Blaise replied. "They are made for each other."
"You better be right." Ron sighed. "What am I going to do about Harry."
"He'll get over it eventually."
Ginny unlocked her art store and led Draco in. "This is the main store, everything is organized and all neat. And back here, is my workshop."
Draco followed behind her and stopped when they entered her workshop. "Is this-?" he asked looking at the painting in front of him.
"It's called Portrait of a Lover." Ginny replied walking to stand beside him.
"But is it-"
"Yes." she interrupted again. "It's you."
"Why did you paint this?"
"Draco, I miss you."
"There's nothing to miss, I'm right here."
"No. I miss having you. I feel so empty, all the time."
"I know how you feel." Draco said quietly.
"Do you think it is too late for us?" Ginny asked.
"Not if you don't want it to be."
"I don't want it to be." Ginny replied quietly as she stared at the painting.
"So, then what do we do?"
"I don't know. I feel so awkward around you."
"Well, first things first." Draco replied turning Ginny to face him. He kissed her gently on the lips, bringing her closer to him.
Ginny kissed him back as she wrapped her arms around his neck. How could it feel so natural and normal after all these years to just give herself over to him. That's exactly what she was doing, just giving herself to him again. She kissed him deeper as she pulled herself against him.
"Ginny." Draco said quietly.
"Hm?" she asked.
"You do realize that I haven't had sex in five years, and you do realize what you are doing to me, right?"
"Yes." Ginny replied kissing him again. "So, are we going to go back to your apartment or not?"
"Seriously."
"Five years." Ginny reminded him. "Why are we still here?"
"Harry, how can this be true?"
"She left me." Harry said quietly.
"You will have to talk to the newspapers." James told him.
"What do I tell them?"
"Tell them that she had been cheating on you and you had to break it off with her."
"I don't think she had been cheating."
"The newspaper don't know that." James replied. "You have to make yourself the victim. Who is she with right now?"
"I think she is with Malfoy."
"Her ex?"
"Yeah."
"This is wonderful. The press will love this. Their hero left the night of his engagement party because his fiance was seeing her ex behind his back." James was thinking hard.
"I don't know."
"What don't you know?" James asked. "This is perfect."
"Won't this make Ginny look bad?"
"She left you, she is making your reputation look bad." James continued. "Your women fans will love this. You are going to have them throwing themselves at you. This is going to be great publicity. I know, we can have a contest. You are going to have women throwing themselves at you so why not use this to our advantage."
"We are going to give some women the chance to win a date with me?" Harry asked.
"It's genius."
Draco ran his hand through Ginny's hair as he kissed her passionately on the lips. She pulled the blankets around her as she cuddled against Draco.
"Promise you aren't going to leave me again." Ginny said quietly.
"I promise you that I won't ever leave you again." Draco replied as he pulled her closer to him. "I already told you that."
"I just wanted to make sure." Ginny said quietly as she buried her face in his chest.
"You're still perfect." Draco whispered quietly.
"So are you." Ginny replied as she ran her hands across his stomach.
Draco wrapped his arms around her as they lay there, drumming his fingers on her back.
"Are you nervous about something Draco?"
"Why would you say that?" Draco asked.
"Because your drumming your fingers, and usually that's what people do when they are nervous." Ginny replied kissing him on the chest.
"I'm not nervous, just happy."
"That's good." Ginny replied quietly. "But it tickles."
"I forgot you were ticklish."
"Don't tickle me." Ginny replied. "Just lay here with me."
"Do you still not believe in love?" Draco asked her quietly.
"I never stopped believing in love." Ginny replied. "I just wanted to hurt you. I never stopped loving you either. I just made myself believe differently. I really didn't want to believe in love, because if I did then that mean that you didn't love me anymore. So instead I told myself that I wouldn't love at all. It didn't work though because you came back."
"I'm sorry to have messed up your illusions."
"I'm not." Ginny replied. "I mean is it really so much to ask to get to be happy?"
"No, it isn't too much to ask." Draco replied.
"Guess what you get to do." Ginny said smiling.
"What?"
"You get to come with me to tell my family that I am not marrying Harry. Mum's going to be so disappointed that I'm not getting married."
"So you aren't getting married to Potter, who's to say you aren't going to get married."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that you might be telling your mother that you won't be marrying Potter, but who needs Potter." Draco replied. "You can always tell her that you are marrying me."
"Are you serious?" Ginny asked quietly looking up at Draco.
"Well considering that I'm not allowed to ever leave you again." Draco said quietly. "I want to be with you forever. Say you will marry me."
"I just broke up with Harry, what will people say?"
"What do you care what they think?" Draco asked quietly. "Just think about what you want."
"I want to be with you forever too." Ginny replied just as quietly.
"So you will marry me?" Draco asked hopefully.
Ginny kissed him gently on the lips. "Yes, I will." she sighed quietly. "I had a dream last night."
"Really? What was it about?" Draco asked quietly.
"It was this right here." Ginny replied.
"So you knew I was going to propose."
"I thought it was just a dream. A good dream, but just a dream."
"Ginny,"
"Yes?"
"Will you spend the night?"
Ginny laughed quietly. "You asked me that same question five years ago."
"I know. So what do you say?"
"Well you're in luck because I have no where else to go." Ginny teased. "So I suppose I will."
"You know everything is a little surreal."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"This morning you hated me and now we are engaged."
"Oh my gosh, we're engaged." Ginny said sitting up.
"You were there when I proposed." Draco replied sitting up beside her.
"I know, but it just hit me. I'm engaged to you." Ginny laughed quietly. "I'm engaged to you, and this morning I didn't even want to talk to you."
"Are you okay?" Draco asked looking at her.
"I'm fine, I just can't believe I'm engaged and I'm actually looking forward to it." Ginny replied. "I'm engaged."
Draco looked at her amused. "Yes you are engaged, to me." He pulled her into his lap.
"Should we celebrate then?" Ginny asked.
"We should go out to dinner." Draco replied. "Somewhere nice."
"I don't have anything to wear." Ginny protested. "Everything I own is in my apartment that Harry and I share." she frowned, "I have to go get my things and find somewhere to live."
"You know, I was thinking of quitting my job and moving." Draco told her. "What would you say to moving into Malfoy Manor with me?"
"Malfoy Manor?" Ginny asked thinking. "Why were you moving?"
"Well I can't live here forever." Draco replied looking around his bedroom. "I already own the mansion and it is furnished and after we fix it up it will be a really nice place to live."
"Of course I will move in with you." Ginny replied. "I think we already covered the fact that I have no place else to live."
"So tomorrow, after we visit your family, we can go get your stuff and move it to the manor."
"Yeah." Ginny nodded.
"So about dinner?"
"I don't have anything to wear."
"Ah, but you see, I just made a decision. I'm going to live off all my money, and the first thing I'm going to do is shower you with gifts. After all I have five years of showering you with gifts I have to make up for. So we will go get you a dress and then go out to eat?"
"Okay." Ginny nodded smiling. "I suppose if you want to shower me with gifts then I won't stop you. But I have my own gift to give you."
"What?" Draco asked as he climbed out of his bed.
"That painting in my shop, I was going to sell it, but you should have it."
"I would love to have it." Draco replied leaning down and kissing her on the lips. "I'm going to go get dressed, I'll be out in a few minutes."
By the time Draco reemerged from his bathroom Ginny was dressed and waiting for him.
"Since you aren't cooking me dinner you have to cook me breakfast." Ginny told him as they left his apartment. "Preferably in bed."
"You want me to bring you breakfast in bed?" Draco asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"The lady gets what she wants." Draco replied leading her up the street and into a little shop. "I assume that you don't need me to help you pick out a dress."
"Why, where are you going?" Ginny asked.
"To sit, right there and read my newspaper." Draco replied pulling a paper out of his pocket.
"No, I can pick out a dress alone." Ginny told him. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Don't forget to get shoes also."
"I know how to shop." Ginny told him. She turned around. "My mum and I already bought a dress."
"What?"
"A wedding dress, I had already bought a dress."
"So?"
"So, it's just another loose in I have to tie up." Ginny replied turning back around and looking through the store. She emerged a few minutes later wearing a new dress and new shoes. "Draco." she called to get his attention. She was wearing a black dress that came to her knees and had a green sash tied around the waste and black shoes. "How do I look?"
"You're beautiful." Draco replied getting up. "Just be glad I just got paid otherwise we would have to pop over to Gringott's." he pulled out some money and gave it to the cashier before leading her out of the store. "So where would you like to eat?"
"I don't know." Ginny replied. "What's around here that's good?"
"I have the perfect place." Draco told her as he led her up the street. "It's a lovely little cafe that serves greek food."
"Which makes sense considering we are in Greece." Ginny nodded.
"They have english menus though, so you will be able to read them."
"Good, I never really trusted you when you ordered my food. Too many years of living with the twins to fully trust anyone around food."
"If you had been any other girl there is no telling what crap I would have ordered." Draco said with a little laugh.
"I'm glad to know I'm so special." Ginny replied as he led her into the restaurant.
"Of course you are." Draco said quietly.
"Did you see the paper?" Blaise asked Ron. "They printed a second edition."
"What?" Ron asked looking at it. "I'm going to kill him. My sister did not cheat on him and he knows it. I'm going to kill him."
"Ginny probably won't care." Blaise said quickly.
"No." Ron shook his head. "He has made my sister out to be a scarlet woman."
"Ron don't use words your mother uses." Blaise replied absentmindedly.
"Well he is and I'm going to kill him."
"Keep reading."
Ron started to read the rest of the article. "A dating contest?"
"Yep."
"He's such scum."
"So tell me, Hermione and Snape?" Draco asked as he pushed his plate away from him.
"Married and expecting their first kid."
"No. No they aren't."
"Yes. in fact she's going to pop in a month and a half." Ginny replied smiling. "After Hermione graduated they went public with their relationship and now she teaches muggle studies at Hogwarts."
"I pity the kids who have to learn from her." Draco snorted.
"So do I." Ginny nodded. "It was a really beautiful wedding, I was the maid of honor. Dumbledore married them and Harry still hasn't forgiven her."
"What about Ron and Blaise?"
"They are pretty much inseparable." Ginny replied. "They constantly go on vacations when Ron isn't playing quidditch. Mum went insane when she first heard about them. Kept going on and on about he's a boy and that he needs to give her grand babies and so on and so on."
"What is she going to say about us?"
"I don't know." Ginny shrugged. "She will probably yell and then she will yell and then dad will talk to her and then she will yell at him and then she will yell at you and then she will yell at me. So basically lots of yelling."
"And while she is yelling should I say just sit there and take it."
"Yes." Ginny replied firmly. "Just sit there and nod and soon she will be done, a few days later."
"So why are we bothering to tell your family then?"
"She is going to find out eventually." Ginny replied. "And if we are going to get married, she will defiantly find out."
"So, what time are we going over there tomorrow?"
"I figure we should go over there at noon. By that time all the family would have read the paper and be at mum's house waiting for me to show up and explain."
"How do you know they are going to be there?"
"Because it's my family. They will want to know what is going on. My family can be very nosy."
"Do are you going to want desert?" Draco asked.
"Not tonight." Ginny shook her head.
"Not even something chocolate?"
"No."
"Let's go then." Draco replied getting up and helping her out of her chair. "I did tell you that you look wonderful in that dress."
"Yes, you did." Ginny replied. "I'm glad you like it so much."
"You're beautiful."
"Good, now lets get home so that we can get me out of this." Ginny smirked as she walked out of the restaurant with her hand in the crook of Draco's arm.
"You sure we have to tell your mum?"
"Are you scared?" Ginny teased.
"I don't like yelling." Draco replied. "Tends to give me a headache."
"It's okay to admit you are scared of my mum." Ginny continued. "When Harry and I first stated dating it took him a whole month to see my mother again."
"I'm not scared of your mum. Especially not if that prat was."
Ginny laughed quietly. "So tomorrow we can get up and start packing up your apartment before we go to my parent's house."
"Fine." Draco sighed. "You should probably floo your brother and let him know where you are, so he won't worry."
"I'm sure he all ready knows where I am." Ginny replied. "But, I'll do it all the same."
"Ron!"
"Ginny?" Ron asked looking up.
"I'm at the fireplace." Ginny called.
"Gin, where are you? You've been gone all day."
"I've been with Draco." Ginny replied. "Where's Blaise?"
"Off getting you a PR guy."
"What? Why?" Ginny asked.
"Here." Ron replied handing her a newspaper through the fire.
Ginny quickly scanned it. "He told them I cheated on him! I did not cheat on him!"
"Which is why Blaise wants to get you a PR guy."
"I don't need a PR guy." Ginny replied. "Draco says he has one I can use."
"So you and Draco?"
"You'll find out tomorrow at the Burrow." Ginny replied.
"Come one you can tell me, I'm your brother."
"Tomorrow at noon." Ginny replied with a wink. "Bye."
"Come on let's go to bed." Draco said as she pulled her head out of the fire.
"I can't believe Harry would say that." Ginny frowned.
"Don't worry. Tomorrow I'll call my father's old publicist and we will beat him at his own game."
"You do realize so many people think you are dead."
"I know." Draco nodded. "But, I think it's time for me to make my comeback."
"Really?"
"Yes and I must say that you are going to see a very different Draco."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, once I come back to life, so to put it, people will be very interested."
"Why?"
"Because I'm a Malfoy. And the Malfoy name will always command a certain amount of respect."
"Oh." Ginny replied. "Can you help me with my zipper?" she asked turning to allow him access to her zipper.
Draco unzipped Ginny as he kissed her on the neck. "So little Red, are you telling me you couldn't unzip this yourself?"
"Maybe I just wanted you to." She replied as he continued to kiss her on the neck.
"I wonder why that would be?" Draco smirked as he pushed her onto the bed.
"I'll admit it." Ginny replied. "I've had one good shag in the past five years and it was from you so I want another."
"If you insist." Draco laughed as he pulled off his shirt.