Chapter 6: His Name Is Draco

"It looks like everyone's awake by now … we should probably go back inside." Ginny and Draco were sitting beneath a large oak tree in the back yard, not really talking, just sitting and holding hands. Draco didn't want to talk, but he did want to be around someone.

"Yeah … hey, Gin?"

"Yes?"

"This is kind of a stupid question … but do you think there'd be any way I could get back to the Manor? I'd like to pick up some of Mum's old things that I know she wouldn't want in Lucius' possession … if he hasn't already destroyed them." Draco sighed softly and looked away after seeing the worried expression that Ginny was giving him.

"I can tell you that I, definitely, don't want you to go … but whether you can go or not, is something you'll have to ask Dumbledore."

"So basically you're telling me that it's highly doubtful?"

Ginny attempted a smile, though it ended up as more of a grimace. "Yeah, pretty much." She squeezed his hand; she hated how much everything was wearing on him, but she hated the thought of him being in danger even more.

She opened her mouth to say something more, just as Molly came to the back door and yelled, "Ginny! Draco! Breakfast!"

"Come on … some of Mum's food will do you good." Draco gave Ginny a slightly confused expression as she got up and brushed herself off. "I'm not blind, Draco. I know that it's been days since you've had a proper meal. Let's go eat some breakfast and you can talk to Dumbledore afterwards."

"You want to talk to Dumbledore with me, don't you?" Draco asked with a very slight twinkle in his eyes – still, it was more than Ginny had seen in a long time. He too stood up and brushed his robes off.

"Why do you say that?" She pretended to be very interested in the invisible lint she was picked off her shirt, but Draco put his finger under her chin and brought her head up to look into his eyes.

"Because I know you and I know you want to be there when I ask him, to make sure that he doesn't let me go there without an army of Aurors, including yourself, of course." Ginny had the decency to look sheepish. "I'll make you a deal; if you promise that you'll stay here – safe and sound at the well protected Burrow – then I promise I won't ever go back to Malfoy Manor without protection. Okay?"

"Okay." Ginny stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him lightly, before turning around and leading him back to The Burrow.

... ... ...

"Now where did Ginny run off to?"

"She's sitting with Blaise, Mum," Ron responded softly between bites. He smiled slightly as he felt Hermione place a hand on his thigh, in a purely comforting gesture.

"Oh … I'll just take her a plate out there then." Molly started towards the living room, but Draco stood up and stopped her before she got very far.

"Please, let me, Mrs. Weasley." Molly rolled her eyes; Draco refused to call her anything but 'Mrs. Weasley', but handed him the plate nonetheless.

"Dumbledore will be here to check up on Blaise in an hour or two. I want you all to stay out of the living room. Play Quidditch for all I care, but I don't want you in there." Molly Weasley turned a stern eye to the four of her sons – and Harry and Hermione – that were sitting at the kitchen table.

Ron, Fred, George, and Charlie all responded with a simultaneous, "Yes, Mum."

Harry and Hermione replied with two soft choruses of, "Yes Mrs. Weasley."

Draco returned, moments later, to a very somber dining room. Usually, it was hard to hear yourself think the Weasley household, especially with the twins home. But for the past few days it had been eerily quiet. Draco didn't like it at all … it reminded him of Malfoy Manor, a thought, which quite literally made him shiver. He tried to push away all thoughts of that horrid house and its master, as he sat down and started eating breakfast.

"Draco, Dumbledore had some new school robes made for you. They're upstairs with your other things," Charlie said softly. Molly had already left the room, going upstairs to talk to Arthur before Dumbledore arrived.

"Thank you." The conversation was doomed to continue similarly for the remainder of breakfast; soft, forced, and sparse.

... ... ...

Ginny looked up from her book to see two gangly, redheaded men tumble out of the fireplace. "OY! Percy! Get off me!" Ginny laughed – the first time in a while mind you – at hearing the voice that could only be Bill's.

"Don't yell at me like it's my fault, William. You're the one who decided we should floo! And floo together! Sometimes you are so daft!"

"Don't call me William, Percival!"

"Don't act like an idiot and I won't have to call you William!" The two brothers immediately stopped their bickering at hearing a very familiar giggle. The turned away from the fireplace to find the source of the giggle standing in front of them, her arms crossed, and a grin on her face.

"You two have been fighting since the day you both could talk! Don't you ever get tired of it?"

"Well you certainly haven't gotten tired of fighting with Ron, now have you?" Percy responded with a slight smile.

"Point taken." Ginny walked closer and gave both of her brothers a kiss on the cheek and a hug. "Everyone's in the kitchen eating breakfast … Mum's upstairs with Dad."

"Thanks, Gin." Bill smiled and walked to the kitchen, probably in search of Charlie. Ginny heard him ask the twins to take his and Percy's stuff upstairs a moment later. Percy, on the other hand, walked with Ginny to the loveseat where they both sat down.

"I'm assuming you've heard about the … situation." Ginny waved her hand vaguely in the direction of Blaise.

"Yes … Charlie owled both of us a few days ago, asked us to come home. He said Mum's been a wreck and stuff like that. William had the brilliant idea to save some floo powder and floo from my apartment with our stuff." Percy smiled, but Ginny just nodded. Being the observant person he was, Percy hadn't failed to notice the gaunt look that Ginny had about her. She was thinner than he remembered and her hair looked limp, lacking the fiery quality it had had a few months ago when he saw her last. Her eyes, too, looked slightly dulled, like old silver that was starting to loose its luster. Deciding that he'd talk to Charlie (or someone that had been around her lately) first, Percy didn't say anything about her appearance.

"How is … umm Malfoy doing?"

"His name is Draco, Percival."

"Sorry … please don't call me Percival. How is Draco doing?"

Ginny nodded her approval before saying, "Well, considering that his Mum was murdered and his best friend is in a coma … he's doing okay. It gets better everyday … but then again, it gets worse everyday that Blaise doesn't wake up. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, it makes perfect sense." Percy leaned over and ruffled Ginny's hair affectionately, "How have you been holding up? I mean, with Mum and Dad finding out about Draco and the like?"

"Oh … fine I guess. They haven't been too bad about it, all things considered. But I've got 7 brothers to keep me on my feet, so I'll be fine." Ginny forced herself to believe that, despite the fact that it directly contradicted what her mind was saying.

A/N: First I'd like to offer a HUGE thank you to all my new beta's. But Lily in particular as she beta'd this chapter soo fast for all of you! This chapter is kind of a transition chapter, so not much happened. The next chapter is going to knock your socks off! It's possibly my most favorite chapter yet! The more people that review, the faster the chapter gets up! So please review! Friday is my birthday, so I'll have some kind of little present for you then. It will either be some updates or a one-shot, I'm not sure what yet, but make sure to look for it!

Rowenhood: You'll find out who it was in the next chapter. Or you'll be able to figure it out, at least.

Mz. Sammiz: Thanks!

Spitxfire: Thanks, I really wasn't sure about the Ron/Hermy part. LOL, you already read the chapter that reveals the Death Eater, so you know now! Yeah, I'm trying to take it easy with the Carporal Tunnel. Thanks!