Disclaimer: I do not own anything canon in the Harry Potter Books.

Chapter 2

The Reverberating Results

An old, fine house presented its visitors with a gloomy demeanor. The white house was seven stories high and its towering figure intimidated most people that came by. The house was located in Wiltshire, on the west side. Malfoy Mansion was no ordinary house, it held many secrets.

Draco Malfoy awoke at 6AM every morning. Today was the first exception in almost two years. Draco found his dreams haunted by a certain redhead; maybe haunted was not the word for it. Draco awoke with a start at 9AM that morning.

Draco cursed as he ripped the black silk sheets off of him and got up. He quickly pulled off his silver silk boxers and walked into the adjacent bathroom, stepping into the bath. After five minutes he got out and magically dried himself and pulled on some fresh clothing; a pair of silk boxers, expensive black robes, and shiny black dragon hide dress shoes. His outfit rarely changed. He was about to leave when he saw a glint in the corner of his eye, the solid platinum, self-stirring, collapsible cauldron sat atop his ebony desk. He magically packaged it and grabbed it before heading down to the dining room.

The house stood at five stories high, warmth emanated from it as the sun crept up over the horizon. It was a new day. The young house was still and silent as the sun shined through its many windows. The Burrow was named after the first Weasley house, which had been in the family for centuries until it had been burned down during the war. The new house had been built with Ministry money on the east side afterwards. Arthur Weasley died for the cause and Molly Weasley died shortly afterwards so all old furnishings that were left of the first house went to Ron because he did not have a house, while all his brothers were already settled. Ginny resided with her brother and his family.

Ginny awoke as sunlight flooded into her warm bedroom. Ginny rolled over and placed her head under the white pillow to try and get more sleep. A few moments later she rolled back over and sat up, pulling her white down comforter off of her and stretching before getting up. Her toes curled as they touched the dark green carpet. She headed out of her room and to the bathroom in the hallway, shutting the door behind her. She pulled her white nightgown over her head and ran the water in the bath. Fifteen minutes later she was out and walked back to her room quietly.

Ginny had a life, but it was not really hers. It belonged to everyone in a way. Ginny did what was expected of her, but it wasn't what she wanted. Ginny wanted a normal life, one with a job, a husband, some kids, a house, maybe a pet. Harry made her quit her job in an unobtrusive way, she was expected to be free when he needed her for business dinners and to be shown off and her old job kept her from being available all of the time. When Ginny was not pleasing Harry she was doing something for her family. Ginny didn't hate her life, but she wanted something more. Love.

Ginny sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. No, this was her life. Ginny grabbed some ivory robes from her wardrobe and pulled on some shoes. After she brushed her hair she ran downstairs to make breakfast for everyone. Hermione, although a genius, could not cook. Nothing was expected of Ron, so that left the cooking to her. Ginny didn't mind though, she was an excellent cook, she liked cooking, it reminded her of the times when she cooked with her mother years ago.

Ginny groaned as she heard Ron partially running, partially falling down the stairs. He was all disheveled and grabbed a plate, shoveling the food down in less than two minutes before apparating. Hermione walked down a few minutes later with a large book and Harry in her arms. Ginny took Harry from her and put him in his high chair and Hermione sat absentmindedly, reading The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts...again. Ginny sighed as she began feeding Harry.

Ginny was out of the house at 8:30AM, heading to Scribbulus Everchanging Inks of Diagon Alley. Ginny needed some expensive parchment for Christmas cards and invitations.

Draco sat comfortably in a brown leather chair in his dim library thinking when a black man stormed in with a strange smile holding a newspaper. The man was tall, maybe six feet two inches, and muscular. The blue-black hair accentuated his piercing blue eyes, but were off-set by his golden skin tone.

"Zabini, what are you doing here, I wasn't expecting you until noon," Draco said getting up.

"Have you seen the Daily Prophet, Draco?" Blaise asked without answering the direct question.

"What are you going on about? You know I don't read that shite," Draco said, giving him a curious look as he took the two glasses of firewhisky a house elf handed him. Draco handed one over to Blaise.

"Well...I advise you to take a look at it," Blaise said smirking as he handed it over.

Glass shattered.

Draco dropped his glass as he saw the large photograph. It was him and that Weasley girl, they were all over each other. Blaise grinned as he downed his glass.

"You sly dog you," Blaise said grinning and patting Draco on the back before changing his whole demeanor and smacking Draco upside the head, "What the bloody hell were you thinking? Ginevra Weasley? Have you absolutely lost your mind? Harry Potter's bitch? You're fucking around with her!" His demeanor changed suddenly again, "I am so proud of you, fucking around with his girl like this, this is wonderful, of course you'll probably be wanted dead more than ever now, but this is better than when the Falmouth Falcons won the European Championship." Blaise then smacked him again, "Why didn't I know about this before!"

"WILL YOU BLOODY SHUT UP ALREADY!"

"Yes, I suppose I shall, I have nothing else to say."

"IT IS A BLOODY LIE DAMMIT!"

"Oh, well that's disappointing..."

"What do you mean it's disappointing?"

"Well, Draco... You really need to get laid, you've been an arse these last couple of weeks and...we all agree it would be for the best."

"Who is we?"

"Just me...and Nott...and a few others..."

Draco sighed as he sat back in his chair, "Take care of this."

Blaise nodded, knowing exactly what Draco meant.

Ginny returned back to the Burrow half an hour later with a large bag. Ginny sighed as she dropped her bags on the floor and slid into a chair. Hermione was still reading and looked like she hadn't moved in ages. Ginny got up and picked Harry up, she was making her way up the stairs to give him a bath when something caught her eye. The Daily Prophet lay on the kitchen table and the picture on the cover almost made her faint if it had not been for Harry.

"Merlin..."

"What is it?" Hermione asked although her full attention was still on the book.

All Ginny could do was point, Hermione finally pulled away from her book for a second and when her eyes fell upon the picture she fell out of her chair.

"Ginny, what have you done?"

"I didn't do anything, I swear. I just bumped into Malfoy the other day in Diagon Alley and we exchanged some insults and walked away."

Hermione didn't get a chance to reply as Harry Potter stormed in. "What is this?" he yelled, holding up the newspaper in her face.

Blaise sighed as he looked down into the eyes of Rita Skeeter, forever stilled under those jewelled spectacles of hers. Blaise stood up and apparated to London. He was late.

Blaise Zabini and his wife, Daphne Greengrass, had an agreement; don't ask, don't tell. Everyone that was anyone knew that the couple despised each other. No one knew why they got married, not even the couple, it was just expected of them.

Blaise was sleeping around and so was Daphne. Neither cared. Blaise was not sleeping around with just anybody though, he was sleeping with a Lion.

Blaise half wished that Draco was sleeping around with Ginny Weasley because then Draco would understand his situation, but his hope was once again killed. Luna and Blaise had been together since before the war, the war was what kept them apart, the war and their actions during the war, mainly their marriages. Blaise was glad though, that out of all the people Luna could have married, she married Neville Longbottom.

Blaise was late, he was meeting Luna at The Hog's Head. It is a small inn in Hogsmeade, on a side street off the main street, much dirtier than the Three Broomsticks. The bar consists of a single small, dirty room smelling strongly of something that might be goats. It's something of a fashion to hide one's face in the Hog's Head, by wearing a hood or veil, so it was perfect for the couple. Every Saturday the couple met in Room 4. Today was December 23. Christmas was on Monday and Blaise wanted more than ever to spend it with her, but he knew it was impossible.

He sighed again as he apparated to Hogsmeade.

Luna Lovegood sat in the luxurious room, although the inn was filthy, Blaise had personally decorated the room with the owner's permission, the two were the only ones that ever used the room. Luna sat at the vanity table, brushing her straggy, waist-length, dirty blonde hair. Her silvery gray eyes looked herself over in the mirror.

Luna sighed, she hated this. Having to meet Blaise secretly. Having to lie to everyone about where she always was. Having to be unfaithful to such a kind, trusting husband that deserved better.

Luna was pregnant.

It was Blaise's child, she knew it. Neville and Luna rarely, if ever, had sexual relations. It was not just about them anymore. What was she going to do? How could she tell Blaise? What about Neville?

Luna had no more time to think, she would put it off for another month, she thought as Blaise entered the room.