Title: More than Mrs. Potter

Author: Joy

A/N: Long chapter...lots of things to read carefully. Especially this beginning part.

11.Making it work

The hospital wing was quiet as Harry snuck in using his invisibility cloak to snag some potions to heal Draco's face and Harry's knuckles. Gathering what he needed Harry attempted to leave but was faced with Dumbledore, Snape, and Poppy coming in the wing.

"I don't think it is wise to trust children with something this important," Snape snapped.

Dumbledore gave him a fatherly look, "Serverus, you know very well Miss Weasley is the only one able to do this. Part of having the three of them work together is letting them make the discoveries for themselves. She has to become comfortable with the magic she is tapping into. Mr. Malfoy must trust Miss Nigellus and Miss Weasley completely if he is going to believe that he will be protected. Miss Nigellus has done the best of all since her primary function was to unite those Slytherin that will not take Voldemort's side. She accomplished her task almost immediately...using her gifts in her favor with Mr. Malfoy turning his back on her."

"Do you really believe this is going to work Albus?" McGonagall said from the side. "Mr. Malfoy had Miss Weasley poisoned. I imagine Mr. Potter might well kill the boy."

"Have faith Minerva. Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Potter have to negotiate their alliance in their own way. I never believed it would be a bloodless union. I have allowed many liberties in this situation to take place so that things would move forward."

Poppy sighed, "I do not like the idea of having to put Mr. Malfoy in such physical danger... Can we not give them a push in a safer direction?"

"What safer direction?" Snape snapped. "Believe me if there was anything else I would have been the first to try it."

"Which reminds me Serverus, Miss Weasley has requested that to turn over the memory of receiving the dark mark to her in the form of a pensive. I must say I was impressed with that bit of insight," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "Let's adjourn to my office to continue speaking." Harry watched as the teachers moved off before taking his leave.

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Harry left Draco after carefully ensconcing him in his room to avoid all other Slytherin. "Okay, here is the potion to heal the bruising, and this one will repair the broken bone in your nose, and this one will help with the loose teeth," Potter said as he sat Draco on his bed.

"Whatever," the Slytherin mumbled turning on his side lying down.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked.

"Going to sleep."

"You need to take that stuff."

"No I don't...I'll heal up like a muggle would."

Harry rolled his eyes. "That won't look suspicious or anything...now come on. Take the damn potions."

Draco sat up, downed each potion in turn and lay back down again. "Now leave me alone."

"Fine," Harry growled and left the other boy to wallow.

Harry had done nothing that would shock the Slytherins as punishment for failure. All who knew Draco would see his absence as him licking his wounds and avoiding public ridicule...not new concepts. Mainly Harry just wanted Draco hidden from Hope so she wouldn't have to deal with him...in particularly after the blond had confessed he had feelings for Hope. Not something Harry really wanted to think about.

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By the time Harry arrived at the Gryffindor common room Ginny was teary eyed and confused about her feelings. For Harry's part he just wanted the world to get back to normal...although it had been a long time since he could remember normal.

"Hey," he whispered.

"Hey," she answered.

The common room was mainly deserted. Ron and Hermione were standing watch over Ginny so no one could slip her anything else. Harry and Ginny had wisely decided to leave Draco's part of Ginny's poisoning out. They mainly said it was a dumb joke gone bad and left it at that. However Ron being the protective older brother that he was seemed reticent to go off alert.

Harry sidled up to Ginny to whisper in her ear about his adventure with the Ferret. "I...I punched him...a lot...broke his nose I think. I scared him. And I talked to him. I figured some stuff out too."

Ginny's bloodshot eyes regarded him a moment then turned to the side. "What did you figure out?"

"That your friendship with Draco is an important one no matter how uncomfortable it makes me. He was mad at you for not talking to him and hurt that Hope doesn't seem to want him...and I am someone you both love and turn to. He needed to hurt me. It is far easier to hate me than be angry at you." Harry ran his hand through his hair, "Hermione and Hope are some of my best friends. I share things with them I don't share with you. You are my best friend in the world but everyone needs someone other than his or her partner to talk to. When you are part of a couple, you are one unit. Sometimes you just need to be defined as yourself alone. Draco helps you do that," Harry stated.

Gin observed her boyfriend a moment, "What makes you think I still want to be friends with him after what he did?"

The raven-haired boy smiled, "Because in his own twisted way it was his statement of love for you. I know he is not actually in love with you...I think its more he is so happy to be loved for himself he doesn't know any other way to be... After finding out how sick you became, Draco broke up with April and pushed aside all of his 'friends'. He is very alone right now. Hope really let him have it last night. He's afraid he's lost you both forever... besides you still have to help him with the dark mark."

"He told you?" Gin asked quietly.

"Yeah. And I am so proud of you."

"There is nothing to be proud of yet."

Harry smirked, "Dumbledore has confidence in you. I dare say Snape will have even more reason to be nicer to you now. You might actually get him to lighten up a bit...maybe even smile."

The titan haired princess smirked back, "I hadn't thought of that. I think that would be worth the trouble...having Snape indebted to me."

"My little Slytherin," Harry murmured kissing the top of her head.

Harry moved Ginny toward his door. "Where are you going?" Ron asked.

Harry looked his friend over, "My room...I'm taking care of her." The authority behind the statement took Ron aback but he said nothing. Ron wasn't ever gonna understand what Harry had gone through when he thought he had lost Ginny. For that reason Harry made no apology for the protective and proprietary nature that spilled out in him. By the way Ginny was curling into him and touching his chest he was sure she enjoyed it.

"Come on Harry," Ginny whispered. "I want to be close to you."

Harry nodded and scooped her up in his arms leaving behind all thoughts of anything but Ginny.

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Ginny woke to find Harry staring at her touching her naked shoulder with his fingertips very lightly. "How long was I asleep?"

"We slept through dinner. I doubt anyone will care," he murmured bringing his mouth down to trace the path his fingertips had caressed.

She shifted so Harry's head lay on her breast and she ran her fingers through his hair. "Did you mean it Gin?" he asked suddenly.

"Did I mean what?" she answered.

"When you promised forever? Were you just trying to make the situation better or did you really mean it?"

Ginny looked at the top of Harry's head and for once wished for Hope's gift. She sighed and concentrated on her connection with Harry. Nothing earth shattering came to her so she just went with her gut that he was being insecure.

"Yes Harry...I meant it. I don't want to loose you for any reason."

"What if I loose you?" he whispered playing with her fingers.

"Loose me to whom?" she asked.

Harry's fearful eyes turned to her, "Draco, Colin, several guys with crushes on you... Death."

That's when she felt it, that old tug of fear from the past. "Death is an absolute Harry. I will be claimed some time...just like you will. You can't stop it."
"I can't do this without you," he whispered.

"You won't have to," she stated with authority.

"Because we're too strong. He hasn't ever been able to kill you. He didn't kill me. He marked us both and together we will take him down... Death may not come in the war Harry. It may come years from now. We just have to live for today until we can live for always."

Harry smiled, "Aged beyond our years indeed."

Gin grinned at him, "What was that?"

"A concept I have trouble wrapping my head around."

Harry turned to his love once more, "What does it feel like when you tap his magic?"

Ginny observed him a moment then said, "Like I'm Alice falling through the rabbit hole."

"Hermione is lending you books again?" he asked.

"Most definitely," she answered. "Why did you want to know?"

"I want you not to be afraid of telling me...or freaking me out. You've seen me do wandless magic. I can stand to be amazed at your abilities."

"Flattering as that statement was...I am only using borrowed magic."

"And you are the only one who can...that is no small feat," he reminded her.

"You believe I can do this?" she asked quietly.

"I believe you can do anything...even forgive Malfoy."

"That was tricky."

"I am a Marauder."

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Harry's suspicion over the whole situation with Dumbledore was founded. Draco copped to trying out the polyjuice potion on himself to deliver the note as Dumbledore. So it seemed the headmaster never 'knew' that Draco had stopped being part of the sessions. This was compounded by the fact that Dumbledore gave Draco some information to take to their research sessions. Draco let Harry know that he would be at the meeting so in turn Harry could inform Hope and Ginny...both of whom were still very pissed at the blond Slytherin.

Harry was the first to arrive hiding under his invisibility cloak for a good seat. Draco was the next to arrive, but to him it seemed like he was the first. Harry knew that Draco had no clue how to play this and was therefore gearing up to be attacked. Harry heard the other boy mutter, "They'll forgive me. They'll forgive me...eventually they'll forgive me."

Ginny strolled into the meeting room and walked straight to Draco. The blond tried to sink into the background as much as possible. She just stood before him waiting to be acknowledged but no acknowledgement came. Harry had managed to convince her that for everybody's sake she needed to go ahead and fix things with Draco.

"Draco," Ginny barked. He refused to look up. "Answer me damnit."

Draco slid into his façade quickly, "What do you want Weaslette? Here to beg to be graced with my presence again?"

Ginny rolled her eyes and sat next to him. "Drop the attitude. I know you to well."

"A Weasley claiming to know a Malfoy...how very progressive the world has become."

"Look at me," she said gently. "I promise not to yell. I..."

Draco cut her off. "Why would I care if you yelled? We aren't friends. You don't care. We are back to normal- hating each other."

She sighed, "I don't hate you, Draco. I do care...and we are friends. I don't know how...but I promise to find a way to make it work...Remember, you aren't alone."

The façade began to crack, "And Potter? He isn't the one that told you not to talk to me Gin. You decided that. How could you do that to me? I needed you. And now you say we're gonna be friends again? How are you going to explain all this to Golden boy?"
"I love him. He isn't going anywhere...but neither are you."

"He won't stand for us being close," he said dejectedly.

"You're wrong...Harry and I have already talked about this...about you." She paused, "Draco I was wrong to have used you like a back up boyfriend. I didn't even mean to. We weren't cheating but I wasn't working things out with Harry. I can make sure he is the boyfriend and you the best friend. I just need to be honest with him about us. He leans on Hermione in ways he doesn't with me... It didn't help matters that you acted as if you were 'the other man'."

Draco nodded, "So...what does this mean? Can we write again? Talk?"

"Yeah...sounds like a good place to start," she soothed. "I can't speak for Hope...but I want you back here working with us."

"I'll be here," he replied.

"Now that that is settled...I am really pissed at you!" Ginny snapped.

"For what?" Draco asked incredulously.

"You had me poisoned!" she said in exasperation.

"Oh that."

"Yeah that."

Draco groaned, "It wasn't supposed to poison you...just make you sleep."

"And Harry... that was what?" Gin asked.

He shrugged, "Hurt him for hurting me."

She shook her head, "Get over it...Its me you were mad at."

"Only partly...I was mad at Hope too."

Ginny took Draco's hand, "Draco I am going to say something that is going to hurt you but it needs to be said."

"What?"

"I was never yours...in fact I was most especially always his. I connect with Harry in a way I can't with any other person. It has nothing to do with heroics or being a goody-goody. It's about knowing the dark recesses and loving me anyway... I know you can love me but you don't know Tom the way Harry and I do."

"No offense Gin, but I don't want to love you in that way," Draco said carefully.

"Good, that's as it should be," Ginny answered.

"...but you aren't leaving right?"

She shook her head, "No, I'm not leaving...Furthermore I am going to attempt to get you and Harry to be in the same room tolerably if not comfortably."

"Yeah right, Ginny, I can get away with chatting on paper and Dumbledore project. It won't escape notice that I am anywhere near Potter."

"We'll start small."

TBC...

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