DISCLAIMER: Nothing is mine; all this fantastic universe and characters belong to the amazing J.K. Rowling
CHAPTER 11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Narcissa Malfoy stood in the door of Ginny's temporary bedrooms, her delicate figure was set in a menacing stance, her beautiful face a clear mask of outrage and her eyes were showing her disapproval of his son's actions and of the scene that she was watching.
Draco was surprised, to say the least, to find his mother looking at him totally enraged, he knew by experience that Narcissa's wrath was a cold blow and it was far more difficult to endure than his father's outbursts. He was angry and ashamed to find himself in such a position. He looked at Ginny's eyes and saw them full of unshed tears and fear, he knew for certain that her tears were from his outburst but he wasn't sure if the fear that he saw in Ginny's eyes was caused by him or by his mother. He reluctantly let her wrist go just to put himself as a barrier between Ginny and his furious mother, shoving Ginny behind him. He was conscious that his actions were totally irrational; first he was almost ready to throttle Ginny, and the next moment he was trying to protect her from Narcissa, at least until he could make sure that his mother's anger were directed only to him.
"Good morning Mother, is there something I can do for you?" Draco's voice was polite but certainly it contained a coldness that indicated how irated he was at the moment. Certainly he didn't appreciate his mother's intrusion and her demanding tone and the way she was looking at him.
Narcissa glared at him for a tensed moment, trying to calm herself or maybe trying to find something appropriate to say to his son, Draco couldn't guess what she was doing, but he was sure that whatever Narcissa Malfoy was thinking, it was not pleasant and that thought made him feel uncomfortable.
"Well Draco dearest, as you have already fulfilled my request to let your fiancée go, I would appreciate if you could leave me alone with her for a small talk. I'd love to get to know her better and I think that with you around that will not be possible"
Narcissa's voice was clipped and educated, but although Ginny wasn't able to see her she instantly guessed where Draco learned to make his voice sound cold. Only that Narcissa's voice was ten thousands worst than Draco's at his worst, and she couldn't suppress a shudder at the mere thought of being alone with this woman that as far as Ginny knew, was not satisfied to have her as Draco's wife.
"And I also would love to see her right now. Really Draco, there's no need for you to hide her" Narcissa finished sarcastically.
"I'm not hiding her mother"
"Of course you are. I can't see her, not even her famous hair. And I think that introductions are in order Draco, where are your manners? You can't come and ask me to teach your fiancée some manners without showing that you have some yourself! So, step aside dear, and let me see your beautiful bride!"
"I would have made the proper introductions at the proper time if you wouldn't burst into Ginevra's chamber without even knocking mother!"
In his total indignation, Draco didn't realize the mistake he made until it was too late and he saw the predatory smile in Narcissa's face, and finally Draco found out who Narcissa was angry with.
"Oh really? I thought it necessary to intervene, as you didn't seem too willing to let your fiancée go, even when she asked you to do it. I must confess to you dear, that I thought for a moment that I failed in my maternal duties seeing that you were so angry that you couldn't control your emotions and that you weren't acting as the gentleman I taught you to be in any circumstance in a lady's presence" Narcissa's wrath was directed towards her son undoubtedly "Fortunately, it seems that this is only a lover's quarrel and that you were not hurting or scaring Miss Weasley in any way"
"As usually you're right mother" Draco's voice was barely audible. He was conscious that his actions were not acceptable, that no matter how much Ginny infuriated him, there was no excuse to act as he did. He just realized that in his little display, he showed Ginny how much he still cared for her, and that was not what he wanted.
"Let me introduce to you my fiancée mother" Draco said stepping aside and gently taking Ginny's hands in his, his voice hoarse and emotionless. "Miss Ginevra Weasley. Ginevra this is my mother, Lady Narcissa Malfoy"
Ginny was ashamed that Draco's mother had to know her in such circumstances, she was still in shock after her fight with Draco, and she was more than confused. During her fight with Draco she was doing everything in her power not to cry, but now she wasn't able to contain her tears any longer and they ran freely down her cheeks, even if Ginny was not making a sound. Narcissa's features softened a little and she mustered a little smile.
"Draco darling, don't be so formal with the poor girl, you're overwhelming her! After all, we're going to be family" Narcissa told Draco, trying to ease the girl's evident distress. "I'm so pleased to meet you Ginny, I'm sure you'll be everything I've heard you are. Welcome to Malfoy Manor" Narcissa said approaching Ginny and she did something that surprised even Draco, she hugged Ginny quickly and without expecting a greeting from Ginny she addressed Draco once more. "Now, darling, kiss your fiancée good-bye for just an hour and let me talk to her, we'll see you at breakfast" Politely, Narcissa looked at the garden in order to give Draco the opportunity to say something to Ginny.
Draco took said opportunity and led Ginny inside the room, leaving his mother watching the garden in the balcony.
"I'm sorry Ginevra, I never meant to hurt you and it won't happen again. No matter how angry I am, I promise to never hurt you again" Draco's voice was soft "Please don't cry anymore, tell me what you want me to do"
Ginny looked longingly into Draco's silver eyes, trying hard to stop crying "Don't say anything and just hold me for a second. Let me pretend that everything will be just fine," her voice was trembling a little, but it was evident that she was trying to regain control over her emotions as well.
Draco was moved by Ginny's sincerity, she didn't bother to elaborate her answer and without hesitation he surrounded her with his strong arms, doing his best to ease her.
"Everything will be alright little one, I promise, I won't hurt you again"
Contrary to Draco's expectations, Ginny didn't cry aloud, she just nodded while Draco continued whispering little nothings into her ear. For Ginny it was clear that Draco was trying to ease his conscience in his own way, but she was also aware that Narcissa was waiting for her and that she still needed to talk to Draco and try to make their situation clear, so she took a small step back her tears dried and look directly at Draco's clouded eyes trying hard to smile.
"Your mother is waiting for me, it's not polite to maker her wait." She made a little pause "We still need to discuss this situation Draco, but definitively this is not the time. Maybe later if you agree?" Ginny tried hard to be brave and to look in control of her emotions, but Draco was able to see trough her and knew that she was terrified to be alone with his mother.
"You're right, my mother is waiting for you. We will talk later; I promise this time to talk to you, maybe after I show you the Manor. Right now you don't have to worry about my mother, after all she was angry with me and has just scolded me" Draco saw Ginny's shocked expression and smirked "You will know Narcissa Malfoy with time, and then you will realize that she will never actually yell, but it's not necessary, she has rather efficient methods to let you know that she's furious with you, and today's display was just a little example, I'm sure I haven't heard the end of this. But as I was saying, you don't have to worry Ginevra, it seems that my mother likes you" Draco squeezed Ginny's hand in a reassuring way and lead her towards Narcissa who was still admiring her garden. She turned when she saw her son holding Ginny's hand, the girl's tears completely gone. She looked at Draco expectantly.
"Well Mother, I'll leave you both alone. I'll see you in the dining room in forty minutes" he kissed Ginny's hand and approached his mother to kiss her cheek. Narcissa accepted the kiss with polite coldness and before Draco could turn to leave she grabbed his arm making Draco looked at her with certain shock in his eyes.
"I'd love to talk to you later darling, I will be expecting you tonight in my chambers. Now you may go." Narcissa said with a polite smile. Draco just nodded but inside he wanted to make a nasty comment to his mother, he hated the condescending tone she used with him and hated the way she dismissed him like he was a simple house-elf, but decided that he had had enough emotional outbursts for the day and simply left Ginny's room as soon as possible.
When Draco closed the door, Narcissa returned her attention to Ginny who was standing uncomfortable in the middle of the balcony, her eyes slightly red from the crying. Narcissa smiled in what she hoped would be a reassuring way.
"Why don't we sit down here, enjoy the view and talk about your situation Ginny," she said in a warmer tone than the one she used previously with her son. Ginny nodded and sat in the rocking chair that she used when she disastrously tried to talk to Draco just minutes before. She wasn't able to understand how things have gone so wrong, she knew that Draco lost his temper with her because she challenged him to do so with the things she shouted at him, but Ginny never knew that he would be affected by what she said, maybe just maybe, in a very twisted way Draco still loved her, maybe there could be hope for them... She felt a warm hand covering hers and was startled to see Narcissa Malfoy's hand, for a moment she forgot that Draco's mother was with her.
"Everything will be alright Ginny, believe me" Narcissa said in a soft voice. Seeing Ginny's shocked expression at her words she elaborated. "I know everything that has happened between you and Draco and I know why you two are getting married in two weeks. I don't agree with Sarah's methods but I'm certain that you will be a good influence to my son and I'm glad that he has you back in his life, even under these circumstances"
"You know the person that helped Draco to defeat You-Know-Who?" Ginny asked being unable to hide her surprise. Narcissa smiled condescendingly.
"You had the same reaction as Draco, and, as I told him the three of us will have this conversation later, maybe Lucius will be able to join us, in order to explain to you both who Sarah is and how we know her. But right now Ginevra, I would like to cover other issues regarding your future marriage, if you don't mind of course"
"No, it's okay" Ginny barely murmured. It was unbelievable that Draco's parents knew the mysterious woman that sealed Ginny's fate and she was looking forward to what Lucius and Narcissa had to say about her.
"I knew of your relationship with my son in the past Ginevra. I also knew when you left him and the reason you gave him. He told me himself. I knew that you never stopped loving him and I knew that you were as heartbroken as Draco with your rash decision" Ginny was starting to be ashamed of having this conversation with Draco's mother and she didn't know how to react. Should she give Narcissa Malfoy the explanation that Draco refused to hear? Will Narcissa judged her as harshly as Draco did? Did she hate her for making her son suffer?
"I... I never intended to break Draco's heart... at least not deliberately," Ginny said in a small voice.
"I know Ginny dear, and I'm not here to recriminate you your actions. Of course I hate seeing Draco suffer but I sort of understood you. I've always known that your family despises my son for the sole fact of being a Malfoy and because Draco was not very nice with your brother Ron, and I know that they never approved your choice. I'm sure that your mother would have preferred to have the Potter boy as her son in law instead of my son" Narcissa said disgustedly "And I know that your mother can be terribly stubborn when she sets her mind on something; and she wanted to see you and that Potter boy together. You don't have to explain to me your actions, it's clear that with my son away on an Order's mission, that pathetic Potter boy whining that without you he wouldn't be able to defeat the Dark Lord, your mother fussing over him and pressuring you to be with him and old Dumbledore telling you that sacrificing your love for my son would serve a greater good; you felt yourself trapped and scared so they left you without option" Narcissa sighed exasperatedly. "And you left my son."
Ginny was surprised to say the least, that Narcissa's version of the events were so accurate and was even more surprised to realize that at that moment she had felt exactly as Narcissa described.
"The only thing that I regret Ginny dear, is that I was not there to tell you that your sacrifice wouldn't change anything, that what you thought to be essential was in reality a trivial matter, you see, you left my son to be with Potter in order to help him in his effort to get rid of the Dark Lord and in the end, it was my son who helped him. Ironic really" Narcissa smiled sadly.
"I never wanted to hurt Draco Mrs. Malfoy... I... I just... Oh! I don't know how I could be that stupid!"
"I'm not blaming you dear, after all you are only a child and my son should have been here with you, especially since he knew that your family was pressuring you to leave him. I know that he was in an Order's mission but he should have taken you with him instead of leaving you alone. At least he could have brought you to live here, in Malfoy Manor, under my protection. Unfortunately we can't do anything to change the past dear, so we have to concentrate on the present and future, and right now you are going to marry my son."
"But Draco despises me and I can understand why. I betrayed him, I was not strong enough to refuse Harry and to say no to my family and Dumbledore. He loved me and I betrayed him" Ginny was close to tears.
"You won't solve anything by crying Ginevra, so please don't do it, besides I think that you've cried enough to make your eyes red and puffy" Narcissa's tone was gentle but commanding at the same time and Ginny started to take deep breaths in order to regain control of her emotions, something that Draco taught her once. Once that Ginny was calmed enough, Narcissa resumed her talking.
"I know that my son has made clear that he doesn't want to marry you. He thinks that you betrayed him and in some way he's right, you left him for the man he hates most, but... he had never listened to you, not that you have been very clear in what you wanted to tell him the few times that you catched him alone, mind you. Right now he feels hurt and angry with you and he has every right to be like that. But... there's the little fact that he still loves you, even if he doesn't want to admit it right now. Let me tell you a little secret that you don't know: he had never stopped caring about you, his main fear was that you were hurt or taken by Deatheaters because you were Potter's girlfriend. He still loves you Ginevra. The question here is: How much do you love my son?"
Ginny was taken aback by Narcissa's revelations. She never expected that Narcissa was going to be that nice with her. According to Draco, his mother was a woman that you didn't want to have as your enemy.
"I love him as nobody else can love him ever," Ginny answered clearly and with certainty. "And I would and will do anything in my power to make him forgive me, I won't let him go that easily, not without putting a fight. I love him Mrs. Malfoy and I know that I hurt him deeply and that I made him suffer, but I want to make all that up to him, I'm sure I can make him happy, if he only would give me the chance, and no matter how long it takes, I will show him everyday that he can trust me again" Ginny's determination was evident and Narcissa was very pleased to hear her, and for the first time during their conversation, she was smiling openly at Ginny.
"Well Miss Weasley, let me warn you that recapturing my son's heart won't be an easy task, but I think I may help. Just to see him happy, even if he doesn't deserve my concern about him" Narcissa laughed. "I'm really happy to have you here Ginny dear, I'm sure that eventually Draco will give you an opportunity. But right now I guess my son is waiting for us, so lets go to the dining room, he doesn't like to wait" Narcissa said at the same time she rose expecting Ginny to do the same. "We will discuss your lesson later dear, I'm sure you will be an excellent student and my son is eager to see you as a proper lady of this Manor. I'm sure we will surprise him! Of course we have to see all the details of your engagement party and your wedding, we have little time to prepare these parties but I'm sure we will manage."
Narcissa kept talking animatedly about the plans for the engagement party and the wedding itself, it was obviously one of her favorite subjects and Ginny remembered Draco telling her once that his mother was the best hostess in all the Wizarding World, and now Ginny had to agree with him. She half heard what Narcissa was saying and was still thinking of how unexpected their little reunion turned out to be. Ginny always expected that Narcissa Malfoy would never accept her as Draco's wife and since Draco himself told her that his mother was not very pleased with the news of their imminent marriage, Ginny anticipated the worst once that she was alone with Narcissa. But instead of an ice goddess, she found a strong and understanding woman, she expected that Narcissa would blame her totally for Draco's suffering and bitterness, and Narcissa proved her wrong once more. Ginny started to think that she already liked this woman and smiled without realizing it for the first time since the downfall of the Dark Lord.
After walking through a large corridor, they arrived to the stairs, magnificent in it's white marble steps and got down arm in arm in order to arrive to the dining room, where a slightly nervous Draco was being expecting them for five minutes already. He was unsure of how his mother would receive Ginevra and was starting to think that it would be better that he went to check them... just in case, but he was interrupted by the sound of someone approaching the dining room and that someone was giggling, it only took Draco a few seconds to recognize Ginny's giggles and it occurred to him that maybe his mother had cursed Ginny so badly that she was insane. He was going to reach for the door, when the two women entered the dining room, arm in arm, the redhead one giggling like a school girl and the blonde one smiling broadly and nodding. Draco was paralyzed with that vision. Narcissa noticed and nodded towards him, Ginny saw him too and stopped giggling.
"We are sorry to be late darling, we just lost track of the time. Shall we start our breakfast now?" Narcissa said sweetly and Draco somehow managed to find the voice that he was certain he lost upon seeing both women together and getting along so well.
"You don't need to excuse yourself mother, you are the mistress of the Manor and you can do as you wish." Narcissa looked meaningfully towards Ginny and Draco sighed knowing what his mother expected of him "And as for Ginevra, she also can do what she wishes without the need to apologize to anyone." Narcissa knew that she was not going to get a better response from her son and dropped the subject. She took her seat and indicated Ginny and Draco where to seat, so they were facing each other. Immediately after they were seated, a small house-elf appeared with the breakfast. They ate in relative silence that was broken sometimes by Narcissa's animated rant about the next festivities, sometimes Ginny intervened in the conversation just agreeing with whatever Narcissa was saying and Draco just nodded once in a while just to avoid his mother's lecture. When they finished their breakfast Narcissa rose, followed by Draco.
"I think it would be nice of you to show Ginevra the house, dear. I will be terribly busy with your party's arrangements and trying to pretend that I'm now a widow" Narcissa said with a mischievous glint in her eyes, then she took Draco's hand and whispered "I will never end thanking you for what you did for your father Draco" she softly kissed Draco's cheek her previous anger already forgotten just for the moment, but for Draco seeing his mother that happy was worth all the sacrifices he should make.
"Don't mother, you don't have anything to be grateful for. I just did it because he is my father and because you deserve to be happy and I know he is your happiness" Draco said softly and lovingly. Narcissa just smiled.
"You are very lucky in marrying this man Ginevra Weasley" Narcissa whispered.
"I know Mrs. Malfoy, I know"
"Well, what are you waiting for Draco, take Ginny to see the Manor!" Narcissa stated in a lighter tone.
Draco offered Ginny his arm. "We are leaving mother, we are leaving!" a small smile tugged in the corner of his mouth. For a second Draco was happy, for a second he forgot that once upon a time Ginny left him and for the time being he pretended that they were a happy couple. He looked at her and couldn't help but smile.
LovesFantasy: Thanks a lot for keeping reading this and for your comments. It's great to see you around.
Mo the Deatheater: Thank you for your support and for all your reviews!!, I hope you enjoy thus chapter.
CassandraKCB: I agree that Draco needs to learn to control his temper, and I guess Narcissa will help him gladly :)
MerlinHalliwell: Here's the update, I hope you like it.
Laina3: Draco loses his temper sometimes, but it's not very often, I hope you'll enjoy this chapter
Athena Linborn: Thank you very much for your review, I hope that you continue reading this story and please feel free to tell me what you think.
cocoachristy: Here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy it.
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And and as usually, thanks a lot to my beta VAB and her crazy ideas ;)