Special Note: The song from James and the Giant Peach seemed to fit this chapter, because love is the sweetest thing, and it does exactly what it wants to do! The quotes, in order, were taken from Robert Burns, Shakespeare (from The Tempest), Morgan Llywelyn, Winthrop Mackworth Praid, Willow, and The Princess Bride.
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Chapter 49- Love is the Sweetest Thing
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Blaise giggled at the astounded look on Terry's face. Carefully placing her bag on the floor, she walked toward him with a wide smile. "Like my new look?"
He nodded wordlessly, reaching out to touch dark waves of hair falling past her shoulders. He stared with an intensity that made her catch her breath. "Why did you grow it out?"
She tried to reply lightly, "So no one will recognise me as Blaise Zabini."
He looked appraisingly at her face. "To someone who knows you, it's not that extreme a change, but to strangers who have only seen you in a jeweller's ad…." Terry smoothed waving strands toward her face. "You've gone from exotic and sexy to pretty and sexy." When she narrowed her eyes, Terry grinned. "Spicy to sweet".
Blaise slid her palms up his chest. "Hey, I'm spicy and sweet."
"Yes, you are," he said after a kiss. His expression became serious. "Are you ready for this? No second thoughts?"
Still unused to the way her hair slid into her face, she said, "I burnt my bridges. I don't want to turn back. I want to go on, with you." She noticed a piece of luggage on the floor by the sofa. Blaise returned the question, "What about you? If…if you have second thoughts, I'll…I'll understand and…."
The firm manner in which Terry took possession of her mouth was more reassuring than words.
He said, "David's going to cover for me so no one tries to 'wake' me and break the illusion spell making it seem as though I'm still in bed." His gaze smouldered. "He's going to tell Mum and Dad that we stayed up late and I'm sleeping in."
Her cheeks grew hot. "That won't be a lie. You will be sleeping in." Terry's fairer skin showed a tinge of a blush, while his smile revealed how much he looked forward to that. Feeling absurdly shy, Blaise glanced away.
His hand cupped her cheek, brought her gaze back to his. "But to see her was to love her, love but her, and love her forever." He smiled. "I was reading my old poetry book earlier, and that expressed how I feel about you."
After he followed the sweet words with a sweeter kiss, she leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
He said in a smiling tone, "That was Robert Burns, but I know a bit of Shakespeare too." His lips brushed her ear. "Hear my soul speak. The very instant that I saw you, did my heart fly to your service."
Tears clogged her throat and spilled down her cheeks.
Terry used the pad of a thumb to wipe them away. "These are tears of joy, I hope?"
Her arms tightened around him as she nodded.
He pressed her closer before saying, "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes."
He lifted her bag and then moved to pick up his own before following her into the fireplace.
At the inn, she brushed Floo powder off Terry's shoulders while he looked around at the chintz and lace filled gathering room. "No one will think to look for the sophisticated Miss Zabini here."
She said, "I had to stay somewhere close enough for you to fly over to be with me if your father's using the office. I like Ottery St. Catchpole, and the White Witch Bed and Breakfast will be a fine place to spend the days before our trip. Mrs. Comfrey's cooking is magical."
A warm voice said, "Why thank you, dear. So nice to know word of my breakfasts gets round." Rosy cheeks creased in a smile as the grey-haired woman bustled forward. Wiping her hands on a floral apron, she looked at Blaise inquiringly. "Have you stayed with us before Miss…Romero, isn't it?" Going to the register on the table across from the front door, she looked at the reservation and corrected, "Mr. and Mrs. Romero?"
Adding the slightest hint of a Spanish accent, Blaise said, "Si, we are the Romeros. A cousin of mine stayed here, senora, and recommended your lovely inn to us."
The older witch beamed. "Yes, I remember now. You have the Honeymoon Suite." Shaking her head, Mrs. Comfrey remarked sympathetically, "Newlyweds having to work on their honeymoon. It's not right, but I do admire the way you're making the best of it, dears. Come this way."
Halfway up the staircase, a tart voice Blaise remembered well said, "They seem rather young for newlyweds."
With an apologetic glance, Mrs. Comfrey murmured, "My sister, Mrs. Snidely, is aptly named." Raising her voice, the plump woman looked down at the thin, frowning witch and chided, "They're of legal age, so keep your opinions to yourself." When the stern woman spluttered, her pleasanter sister said brusquely, "Go on, make yourself useful and bring up a welcome tray."
With another apologetic smile to the young couple, Mrs. Comfrey continued up the stairs and led them to the room that took up half the second floor. Terry's gaze flickered over the bed placed in the centre of the room, lingering on the white satin duvet before glancing at the white on white floral rug, the white paint, wallpaper and furniture. He gave a warm, slow smile that made Blaise blush again.
Mrs. Comfrey discretely pretended not to notice. She showed them the bathroom with its enormous claw foot tub and took the tray of assorted fruits, chocolate, and sparkling cider from her sister when the scowling witch arrived at the door. Setting the tray on a small round table in front of the balcony, she reminded them that a breakfast tray would be placed outside their door at nine the next morning.
"You don't mind me registering us as Romeros, do you?" asked Blaise, once they were alone.
He said, "I wouldn't care if you registered us as Malfoys." Trailing his fingertips across skin bared by the off the shoulder bodice of her gauzy white dress, Terry said in a tone that made her heart race, "You look beautiful."
He wore the midnight blue silk shirt that made his eyes like sapphires. She sighed. "You look beautiful too."
In the mirror behind him, she could see that her own eyes were dark with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Disregarding the typical bridal jitters, Blaise walked over to her bag and used her wand to open the lock. Out of the magic carpetbag, she took a white pillar candle in glass candleholder and pointed. "The sun rises on that side of the room, so place the candle there, please."
She removed a jar of seashells next and asked, "Will you fill this with water and put it on the opposite side of the room?" While he fulfilled her request, Blaise lifted a marble bowl out of the bag and poured a pouch of lapis, turquoise, and amethyst stones into it before setting it down on the north side of the room while Terry placed a brass candleholder with a red pillar candle over on the south edge of the bedroom.
Afterwards, they used white votive candles to make an almost complete circle around the symbols of Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. Stepping into the open end of the circle, Blaise stood by the bed and held out her right hand to Terry. He took it and helped her wrap a white silken cord around their clasped hands.
After a moment of nervous silence, he said the words they had chosen when they researched marriage rites 'for someday' in the Hogwarts library.
"Handfasting is a symbolic binding together of two people that have come to make of two lives, one life." Gazing intently into her eyes, he spoke the Celtic wedding vow, "I, Terry, pledge to you, Blaise, that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night and the eyes into which I smile in the morning. I will cherish and honour you through this life and into the next." Huskily, he added, "I pledge to be your husband from this day forward."
In a soft voice, Blaise repeated the vow and pledged to be his wife.
He took a Celtic, heart knot wedding ring from his pocket and slid it on her finger, smiling tenderly. "Wear this ring forever, as a symbol of our unending love and intertwined lives."
Eyes shining with emotion, she took his matching ring and slid it onto Terry's finger; saying the words and rejoicing in the knowledge that although they might have to remove the rings, the symbolism would remain in their hearts and souls.
Terry spoke the spell wizard Praid of the Wizengamot had established to make private vows legally binding. "Now the rite is duly done, now the word is spoken, and the spell has made us one which may ne'er be broken."
They both inhaled sharply when every candle in the room extinguished. After a moment, they relit.
Terry smiled as he untied the cord and let it fall. "May I kiss my bride?"
Overcome by the realisation that from now on, wherever they went, they would go together, whatever the days held, dark or bright, they would face united, she lifted her face toward his. Their first kiss was one of sweetness. The second burned bright and strong, like the flames around them. Terry's mouth moved over hers with increasing passion. The touch of his lips and hands kindled a fire in her veins. Now, she was free to give him all that she was, and take all he had to give in return.
Within the circle of candles, and arms, and love, the image of two flames coming together to make one flame came to mind. Blaise found the vision, and her wedding night, beautiful, sacred, and filled with indescribable joy.
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"In Romania."
Draco had suspected that his answer to the question of where he would be instead of helping to entrap Marisol would receive a mixed response, but he hadn't expected Bill Weasley to punch him. Turning so the blow glanced off his cheek instead of blackening his eye, he stood and prepared to fend off another attack. He needn't have bothered. Fred and George jumped on their hothead eldest sibling and swiftly took him to the ground.
Mr. Weasley watched the action with a small smile while his wife shrieked, "What has got into you Bill? You should be ashamed of yourself!"
Trying to buck off twin captors, the man grunted. "Me? I'm not the one trying to run off with a sixteen year old girl!"
Ginny turned a shade of red that Draco had never seen before. He smirked when she gave her brother a kick to get his attention. "We aren't going to live together, you bloody fool. He'll be working at the centre with me, protecting me." She reached down and pulled the ponytail, hard. "Do you understand now?"
Fred and George's faces were contorting with the effort not to burst out laughing. Fred looked over and saw Draco's smirk. He lost his composure, rolling off his brother to hold his sides.
Immediately, the red-faced prat dumped George off and rose, glaring and muttering darkly, "Identical hyenas had better sleep with one eye opened."
The twins stopped laughing, but kept sniggering from time to time as they drolly practiced keeping an eye open. Pulling his hair out of its holder, Weasley refastened his ponytail. Tersely, he said, "Sorry, Malfoy, if I jumped to the wrong conclusion."
Draco nodded his acceptance of the cool apology. The steely look that had accompanied the words told him that the man didn't think he had accused falsely. If the Wizard Handshake had never been given, Weasley wouldn't have been wrong. As it was, 'living together' as Ginny so inspiringly put it, was only a dream for the future.
Mrs. Weasley clapped her hands to get everyone's attention. "I need tea. Into the kitchen, everyone."
Amused by how the family instantly followed orders; Draco followed them into the kitchen and sat beside Ginny. Beneath the table, she slid her hand into his.
He thought no one noticed until George said, "How interesting. Our Gin-blossom's drinking tea with her left hand."
"I didn't know she was ambidextrous," said Fred, with a suspiciously straight face.
Mr. Weasley smiled pleasantly. "I'm not ambidextrous, either." He reached across and tapped Ginny's teacup with the one in his left hand. "Cheers."
Ron Weasley's scrunched face said 'that's not right' clearly, as if he had groaned the words aloud. The twins snorted in amusement. Bill Weasley's lips twisted, but he remained silent.
Mrs. Weasley looked surprised. "You're not? I thought for sure you were, being so talented with your hands and all…." The woman's thoughtful voice trailed away as her husband lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to the back.
"Thank you, my love," he said
Noticing her family and guest's stares, Mrs. Weasley said briskly, "Yes, well, now that we've had tea, tell us more about your plans, Draco."
"The volunteers meet at the end of the week to travel by port-key to Romania. Ginny can use a potion or Illusion Charm to disguise herself until we arrive safely." He smiled wryly. "I'm sure her brother will think of many ways to keep us busy." Even Bill smiled at that comment. While the rest of the family told stories of their Christmas visit, Draco caught Ginny's eye and winked. There was no way Charlie would keep them that busy. She suppressed a smile and squeezed his fingers.
Later, after accompanying him to the workshop so they could say goodbye in private, Ginny draped her arms around his waist and teased, "So you plan on squeezing romance into our busy schedule, do you?"
"No man comes between me and the girl I love."
Her smile faded. Pressing her cheek against his chest, she asked solemnly, "What about another woman?"
Draco was glad that she couldn't see his expression. Flatly, he told her, "The raven better never find her way to Romania. In the Forbidden Forest, I came very close to killing her." Ginny squeezed him in comfort. He brushed his lips across her hair and promised grimly, "If Marisol tries to hurt you, it will be the last thing that witch ever does." She pulled back and looked up into his face. What she saw didn't make Ginny turn away. Instead, she stood on tiptoes and kissed him fiercely. His mouth slanted over hers, returning the kiss hungrily. He needed the assurance that she loved him, even the parts that were dark and ugly. His fingers tangled in her hair, lifting the strands and rubbing them alongside his cheek like silk. When they arrived in Romania, he would lead his little Red into the forest and snog her senseless every chance he got. Against her lips, he smiled wolfishly.
She opened heavy lidded eyes. "Are you going to lure me off the path and gobble me up, my big, bad wolf?"
"I would if I hadn't given my word, Red." When she pouted, he chuckled. "I never said I wouldn't nibble, though." When she laughed, he spun her around, growling playfully, "Let's start now." Sliding her hair over a shoulder, he bent and lightly raked his teeth across the back of her neck, following it with an opened mouthed kiss that made her sag against him and moan.
"I love the way you nibble."
Turning to face him, she smiled in a way that made him say, "What pretty white teeth you have, Red."
She smiled in a feminine, but decidedly wolfish manner. "The better to nibble you with."
He returned to the Zabini London home several kisses and one supposedly accidental love bite to his neck later. Draco's content smile vanished when he remembered his conversation with Blaise in the mirror. He burst into his room and snatched up the note left on his pillow. Sitting on the bed, he opened it and quickly read the contents. As she'd said before, his mate had left, and didn't plan on returning to her childhood home. She briefly outlined the confrontation with her father and the steps she had taken to protect her independence.
Draco was glad that Wizarding law stated criminals lost the right to control their business interests. He had been made acting head of Malfoy Enterprises, and the first step he'd taken was to separate his accounts from the company's. Grey eyes widened when he read where Blaise had arranged for them to stay until the volunteers left for Romania.
He was grinning when a hesitant voice inquired, "Mr. Draco is wishing I pack and send along his things as I have for Miss Blaise?"
One look at the house-elf standing in the doorway showed the reason for Minky addressing him by name instead of 'young master.' She wore a miniature mink stole with her fur edged tea towel.
He frowned. "Why are you still here, offering to help me? Why haven't you gone?"
Large green eyes twinkled. "Minky is free, so Minky is choosing to serve Miss Blaise out of her own free will. Shall I be packing now?"
Thinking about how much more comfortable the wilds of Romania would be with a house-elf along, Draco said, "I would appreciate that very much…Minky…thank you." It wasn't as hard as he'd thought, being polite to an elf. Perhaps all that practise being polite to Weasleys had paid off in more ways than one.
He efficiently directed Minky in packing for the upcoming trip, taking advantage of her skills to transfigure several pairs of trainers into sturdy hiking boots. Incinerating Blaise's note to ash and slipping his mirror into his trouser pocket, he thanked the elf before she took his trunk to the inn.
After Minky left, Draco heard a knock on the door and went to open it. His mother stood swaying in the hallway. He said, "It's late. What are you doing up?"
Narcissa laughed drunkenly. "Ha! The real question is what have you been up to?"
He slid an arm around her waist and began to lead his mother toward her room. "I've been packing to go on holiday, Mother." She snorted. The vulgar contrast to her elegant façade made him smile.
His mother curled her lip. "I know what Blaise told Eddy. Ed woke me up all excited over the holiday that scheming girl's paying for." Icy blue eyes warmed slightly. "I never liked Blaise much, but she's grown on me, like those Jimmy Choos I didn't want but Eddy forced me to buy. I actually wear those shoes now." When he huffed in amusement, she smirked. "It's true."
Inside her room, Narcissa weaved unsteadily over to the dresser and picked up one of his father's pictures. She watched Lucius smile at the camera as though he were planning something truly evil. Tonelessly, she said, "Your father sent a note informing me that since my influence in your life is insufficient to keep you in line, he's taken steps to remedy that." Abruptly placing the photograph face down, she reached out and touched Draco's face, smiling briefly. "I won't go against your father, but if you resist his control, I won't go against you either."
Impulsively, he kissed her cheek. "Thank you, Mother."
She blinked and waved him off. "Go on, have a happy little holiday while Eddy and I do the same." The look in her eyes belied the smile on her mouth, conveying a seriousness that made his insides twist. "Go."
He nodded and left her turning every photograph of his father face down.
Before he Flooed to the White Witch Bed and Breakfast, Draco had one task left to complete. Back in his room, he picked up the bottle that Blaise had left along with the note. His eyes scanned the directions. A half hour later, he looked into the mirror and laughed until his side began to hurt. When he stepped out of the hearth in the twee establishment his mate had chosen to revisit, Mrs. Comfrey looked up from her knitting and smiled without recognition.
"Mrs. Romero said you would be arriving late, and it was no trouble for me to wait up for you. Your trunk is already in your room." Pausing to retrieve a key from the register desk, she asked anxiously, "It's on the first floor instead of on the second beside your cousin, Mr. Suave, but Mrs. Romero said that you'd prefer your privacy."
He agreed while signing his name 'Rico Suave' in the register and trying to decide how to pay Blaise back for her little joke.
"The honeymoon suite has sound-proofing spells, so the other guests rest undisturbed," said Mrs. Comfrey. She must have noticed his inadvertent glance toward the ceiling.
He smiled ruefully and bid the woman good night. Unable to wait another minute, he took out the Melusine Mirror and said, "Ginny." Her eyes were soft and sleepy until she noticed his hair. They widened and then glazed over when he lifted the ends of hair that was now Legolas-length and waved them at her meaningfully. Her mouth dropped open. While she bit a knuckle, he said, "Starting thinking about what you want rubbed first."
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Luna rolled onto her stomach, pulling the pillow over her head to block the sun streaming into the room. Remembering another morning, when her father came in singing 'rise and shine' and tickling her toes, she blinked back tears. Who knew when she would hear that off-key bass again. The days since she'd come home had been awful.
The memory of that first evening, when the bottom had dropped out of her world still made her stomach twist in knots. She had watched her father sip Firewhisky and waited for him to speak.
Unexpectedly, Daddy chose to sit in the chair next to hers instead of his usual seat behind the desk. He picked up the letter. "Lorinda wrote to tell me of an encounter she had recently. Shopping in Diagon Alley, she ran into Molly Weasley, who thanked her for having the girls over Easter Holiday. Admitting that her nickname of 'Loopy' is well founded, Lorinda said that she just smiled and went on her way, thinking that perhaps she had forgot her niece visiting."
He tossed the envelope back onto the desk after she made no move to take it. "Your aunt consulted her calendar once she got home and was perturbed to discover that she had cancelled her trip to Spain due to a friend's illness. She owled me right away."
Luna thought that explained a lot. Looking at her Mum and Dad's wedding picture on the desk, she asked in a small voice, "Are you very angry?"
He didn't answer until she gathered the nerve to meet his eyes. "I was. Now I'm very, very disappointed that you felt it necessary to lie." In a tone that most likely made new reporters fear sacking, he demanded, "Where did you go, and who did you go with?"
She explained about Blaise's family beach house, how the girls all slept in one room, the boys in another, and nothing dodgy had gone on. Her father listened silently as she told about windsurfing, horseback riding, ballooning, and making dinner. She left out dancing in clubs and long siestas in hammocks.
Afterwards, he said, "So it's only luck that the Intruder article wasn't 'Hogwarts Girls Gone Wild'? I suppose I should be grateful, but I'm finding it hard to feel anything other than disillusioned." Rising to his feet, her father said tiredly, "We'll talk more another time. Go up to bed now."
Luna rose to her feet. In the doorway, she stopped when he said, "Did you consider for one moment that I might have understood?"
Remembering the wistful question and her sad reply of 'no', Luna threw off her pillow and rolled over to contemplate the stars on her ceiling. At night, they glowed softly in constellations across the room. Now, the glow was absent. She felt that way, like a star that didn't shine.
Her father left for the Quibbler every morning before she awoke and returned after she'd gone to her room for the night. If she hadn't been able to talk to Wesley, Luna would have been devastated by the estrangement from her father. As it was, it still hurt more than she let anyone, even Wesley, know.
Rolling out of bed, the girl contemplated her reflection in the mirror. Merlin, her hair was a rat's nest. When had she last washed it? Her nose wrinkled. When had she last taken a shower or changed out of her nightclothes? Disgusted by her depression, she marched into the bathroom.
Luna was combing the last knot out of her hair when she entered the kitchen. Her father stood at the stove, stirring a pot of porridge. His pale blue gaze showed relief that she was up…and clean. She sat at the table. He brought her a bowl after crumbling brown sugar on top. Taking a seat beside her, he offered a platter of bacon. Her lips curved. It was nice and crispy, just the way she liked it.
She took a bite. "You're not going in to work today?"
"I'll go in for a few hours this afternoon." After taking another bite of porridge, Larry announced, "We're Flooing to London, to meet Ivanna and the girls for lunch."
She stared into the slightly protuberant eyes she had inherited. "So you stayed home this morning to make sure your loony daughter wouldn't embarrass you?"
Her father merely smiled. "Do you think a man called 'Lunatic Larry' minds his daughter being loony?" He said, "I've been avoiding you, and I'm sorry. I didn't know how to get past what you'd done."
Luna asked, "And now you have? How?"
"By remembering that I was young once too and thought I knew better than my parents, and made similar mistakes." He gazed at her steadily. "I learnt from my mistakes, and didn't make them again. Can you do likewise?"
She nodded. "Yes, I'm sorry I disappointed you." When he hugged her, she whispered in a choked voice, "I love you, Daddy."
His voice was unusually gruff when he said, "I love you too, sweetheart." Clearing his throat, her father straightened and reached for the paper. Shrewd eyes flickered over the front page and darkened as he bellowed, "An error! The front page of the Quibbler has an error! Look at this!"
The paper was thrust beneath Luna's nose. She noted the misspelling and made a sound of commiseration, although personally, she found the headline 'Rat Toni, Cure-all, or Conspiracy to Kill?' rather amusing. She said, "I'm sure readers know that you meant tonic, not a person named Toni." As her father continued to rant and threaten, Luna smiled. All was right in her world.
A few hours later, she almost changed her mind. Flooing to a London station and walking the short distance to the restaurant, Luna chatted with her father, enjoying his company. Once they reached the restaurant that her father claimed had 'good homey atmosphere with no pretensions', she finally met Ivanna Greengrass.
She was not happy to meet her. The woman was nothing like the wicked stepmother of her imaginings. Instead, she was petite, attractive, with stylishly short blonde hair—the image of a successful businesswoman.
Mary Kate and Ashley gushed, "Hello, Luna!"
Their mother ushered the twins past the bar on the ground floor to the restaurant above. The girls told Luna that they had wanted to go to the Weird Sisters' Café.
Ivanna said, "That place is too loud, and we'd have to wait forever for a table. This is elegant but relaxed, and we'll be able to hear each other talk." She smiled at Larry. "The superb wine list is what interests me the most. I need a glass desperately. I had a reporter go mental. He ran down the street naked telling people he was Merlin. It took all morning to get him checked into St. Mungo's."
Once the server had taken their order, Luna's father made an effort to carry the conversation by asking the girls how they planned to spend their summer holiday.
Mary Kate wanted to dye her hair brown.
Ashley cried, "How could you even think about looking different than me? Is it because I used the last whitening mint this morning? We can get more, and I'm sure no one noticed that your teeth aren't quite as bright!"
Their mother briskly interrupted Mary Kate's recital of the mental anguish she had suffered to ask Luna what her plans were.
"I'd like to volunteer at St. Mungo's."
Ivanna smiled warmly. "That's a wonderful idea. Don't you think so, Larry?"
He frowned. "I remember Roberts telling me his son was volunteering at the hospital. Are you wanting to help, sweetheart, or wanting to see Wesley?"
"Both." She gazed serenely at her father.
He shrugged. "Fine with me"
All of a sudden, the day seemed brighter, Mary Kate and Ashley's argument over which cosmetics line was better seemed amusing instead of annoying, and her father having a 'friend' wasn't such a calamity. For the rest of lunch, conversation was casual and unforced, and everyone agreed that the bananas tart tatin was scrumptious.
After the bill was settled, and Luna bid a smiling farewell to the Greengrass trio, she asked her father, "May I go by the hospital now?"
He nodded. "Come by the office and say hello before you floo home."
She kissed his cheek. "I will."
Luna soon approached the entrance to St. Mungo's hidden behind the façade of Purge & Dowse Ltd. Other shoppers never even glanced at the redbrick department store permanently 'closed for refurbishment.' She walked up to a mannequin in a minidress of purple paisley. "Luna Lovegood, to volunteer, and I love your dress," she said. The painted lips turned up while the beehive bewigged head bent in invitation for the visitor to step forward.
The welcomwitch grumpily directing visitors barely spared her a glance. "Volunteer Office is on the fifth floor between the Hospital Shop and the Visitor's Tearoom."
In the lift, Luna watched with interest as a boy with scrofungulus exited on the second floor, a witch who giggled uncontrollably departed on the third, and a wizard who kept saying, 'What's my age again?' was led off by a friend when the lift opened onto the fourth level. Following a couple of elderly witches down the fifth floor corridor, Luna noticed a handwritten sign of 'Volunteers' affixed to a door about halfway down. She turned the handle and went inside.
A mediwitch looked up from a desk. She said, "I'm Madam Ratchet. Wishing to volunteer, are you?"
Before the Luna knew it, she was filling out forms, answering questions about the sorts of things that frightened or nauseated her, and told that she could start that very day, if she liked. Luna said, "Do you suppose I could assist another volunteer, Wesley Roberts?"
The mediwitch looked at her more closely. "If I had a Galleon for every time I've been asked that over the last few days…." She smiled. "However, since Wesley showed me your picture, I'll send you to him instead of to the third floor to assist with regurgitation patients like I did the last girl."
According to Madam Ratchet, Wesley was pushing a trolley of books around the Spell Damage ward. The patients had taken quite a liking to him. Luna took the stairs down to the fourth floor.
Behind a curtained off section, she heard him say, "So you're not interested in mysteries, thrillers, or historical novels. How about romance?"
A spate of giggles sounded, causing Luna's hands to clench into fists. Her nails dug into her palms when the unseen witch said in a high, breathy voice, "I'd love some romance in my life."
Wesley said, "Then The Princess Bride is just what you're looking for."
Enraged, Luna yanked open the curtain, saying fiercely, "Wesley Roberts, don't you dare give that book to any girl but me!" Her mouth fell open when she saw the old woman on the bed.
The witch giggled and pinched the boy's cheek. "I told you that I was a young and beautiful woman." Smiling sweetly at the gaping girl, the old woman said kindly, "The Sorceress Fin Rizelle does not enchant men whose hearts belong to others. Take him, and the book, with my blessing." Patting Wesley's hand, she said, "I think I'll have that pirate romance, 'Inconceivable Love'." She winked. "I love pirates."
"Me too," said Luna. She backed out of the space, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her. She must have embarrassed Wesley horribly. His lips were pressed tightly together. Meekly, she followed him into what looked to be a linen cupboard.
Once inside, Wesley laughed until she poked him in the ribs. "It wasn't that funny."
Blue eyes were bright with amusement. "Yes, it was." Pulling her against him, Wesley bent and kissed her forehead. "It was funny." He kissed the tip of her nose. "It was also flattering." Next, both of her cheeks received kisses. "And inspiring…."
She repeated hopefully, "Inspiring?"
He kissed her lips, his mouth showing her the exact nature of the inspiration. She sank her fingers into his golden hair, using her hold to deepen the kiss. His fingers tightened on her hips when she used her lips and tongue to show how he had inspired her.
Wesley kissed his way over to her ear to whisper, "You must be a sorceress, Bella Luna, because you've enchanted me."
There was only one thing she could say. "Oh my sweet Wesley!"
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The day before the volunteers were scheduled to leave for Romania, Ginny slipped downstairs and Flooed to the White Witch Bed and Breakfast. As she had every other morning since Draco had begun staying there, she breathed in the delicious aroma of Mrs. Comfrey's famous breakfast and sighed. She was going to miss the kindly woman's cooking.
She walked quickly toward the stairs, giggling. There was something else she'd miss even more—early morning snogs with Draco.
Halfway to the second floor, she looked up to see a couple descending. Terry was fully dressed while Blaise wore a robe that gaped enough to show she wasn't. Kissing while walking down the steps didn't look very safe, but it did look fun. Ginny decided she should try anchoring her fingers in Draco's hair and leaning against him while he slowly navigated sideways down the stairs.
When Blaise unlocked Terry's lips, she saw her friend and smiled. "Good morning!" Pulling her partner by the hand, Blaise said enthusiastically, "Tomorrow's the big day. I can't wait to go, can you?" She gave her new husband a sultry look. "Just think. No more sneaking around to sleep with your wife…at least for the rest of the summer."
Blaise winked at Ginny before continuing downstairs to kiss Terry goodbye at the fireplace. He Flooed or flew to be with his wife each night and left early every morning. If he could manage it, the he visited in the afternoons.
Two days ago, the three friends had been playing Exploding Snap in the gathering room when Terry bounded out of the fireplace, explained, 'I only have an hour' and slung Blaise over his shoulder before heading upstairs.
Draco had pouted enviously until Ginny said she'd thought of another part she wanted him to rub with his hair. After gathering the cards with flattering speed, he had then chased her up the stairs with a wolfish smile. Remembering how silky his hair had felt sweeping down her leg, she smiled dreamily.
Blaise patted her arm. "Hey, mate, are you all right? You're pulling a Luna."
"I'm wonderful."
"Wonderful, then you can come up and have a chat before awakening Sleeping Beauty."
On the way upstairs, Ginny thought about Draco lying on the bed, long white-blond hair framing a face so masculine and beautiful that sometimes, she encouraged him to talk Quidditch strategy just so she could have a reason to stare. She followed Blaise into the suite, surprised to see how tidy everything was. From the girl's state of dress, she'd expected a rumpled bed and clothing strewn from one end to the other.
"You is wishing me to bring breakfast now?" Minky nodded to the visitor and added, "Strawberry crepes is what you is wishing, yes, Miss Ginny?"
"Yes…I mean no…I'll eat later."
Blaise countered, "Bring two trays, if you'd be so kind, Minky. She'll take hers down to Draco in a few minutes."
The house elf bowed and was gone before Ginny could countermand the request.
"Don't say no. I'm aware you two have breakfast—" Blaise smirked. "—on bed every morning."
"I don't want to give Minky extra work."
"She enjoys it, truly." Picking up a brush, she drew it down the length of dark hair and changed the subject. "Long hair is fun, but Merlin, it takes forever to wash, and gods, the constant brushing. How do you stand it?"
Ginny glanced in the mirror at her own hair. "I'm used to it, I guess."
"Well, Terry better enjoy it while he can, because I want my curls back before I step on the Hogwarts Express." With a speculative expression, Blaise asked, "Have you brushed Draco's hair yet?"
For some odd reason, Ginny blushed. "Erm…no…." He had been too busy brushing his hair across her. She asked, "Why? Have you brushed his hair?"
"Only in the normal way, because it's so bloody gorgeous, not in the, you know, sensual way."
"What's the sensual way?"
By the time Ginny carried the tray downstairs to Draco, she couldn't wait to get her hands on his hair.
He opened the door after her knock, smiling sleepily. His robe wasn't belted, giving her a scenic view of his chest. Not wanting to lose the stirring sight, she covertly pulled off the belt while he used his wand to make the bed. Dropping the length of silk, she kicked it under the bed while he placed the tray on the duvet.
She lifted a warming cover. "Strawberry crepes." When he lounged on the bed and reached for a plate, she sighed contentedly and picked up a fork.
After he placed the tray outside the door later, Draco stretched like a satiated cat. "I should probably get dressed." When she shook her head and patted the bed in front of her, he smiled, "Want a morning snog?"
Grey eyes grew smoky when she said, "Yes, but first I want to brush your hair."
Her heart skipped a beat and then raced when he shrugged out of the robe and sat with his back to her on the end of the bed. He said, "If you ever want to see me without clothing, Red, you only have to ask." He chuckled. "Where did you hide my belt?"
Had her throat always been this dry? Swallowing hard, Ginny croaked, "Under the bed." She took his brush and carefully drew it down the platinum length of hair.
He said, "It won't fall out from brushing. You don't have to go easy on me."
She laughed, mostly at herself. "That's good to know." Grooming her own hair had never been a thrill, but stars and stones, brushing Draco's hair gave her pure pleasure.
His head tilted to the side in complete relaxation. Ginny gathered her nerve and set aside the brush. Using her fingers, she sifted through the strands, massaged his scalp, and enjoyed the silky texture in a way that was incredibly sensual. She glanced up at the ceiling, sending a mental thank you upstairs.
Leaning forward, she lifted the silken mass and rubbed it against her cheek. Impulsively, her fingers tightened in his hair, tugging him back until his head rested in her lap. Ginny bent and kissed him. Upside down felt different, but oh, so good. She smiled against his mouth. "Your lips are perfect from all angles."
He rolled away, stood, and pulled her off the bed and into his arms. Her hands roamed every inch of bare skin she could reach. His hands slid down to her backside and pulled her flush against him. Breaking off the kiss, Draco stepped away and muttered, "Cold shower, yeah, we'll take a shower, and then go do…something…somewhere…out."
To see the cool and collected Draco Malfoy hot and bothered was a very fine sight indeed. Ginny said, "We may both need a cold shower, but I think I'd better run up and use Blaise's." At his look of confusion, she giggled. "You said 'we'll take a shower'."
His lips twisted. "Wishful thinking."
Smiling in a way that hurt her cheeks, she said, "If I ever find a magic lamp, watch out." His brow creased. She laughed. "It's another one of those Muggle stories. I'll tell you about it later, after a cold shower."
Her walk toward the door halted when he asked, "Will you brush my hair again sometime?"
"Every day."
His smile of male satisfaction kept her grinning all the way to Blaise's room.
-
The next day, Ginny awoke early to share a family breakfast. She and Bill would soon Floo to the station closest to the Quidditch pitch where the volunteers were meeting. The group would be going on to Romania by port-key. In the kitchen, her mother was sniffing and wiping her eyes with an apron. Ginny hugged her. "Don't worry, Mum, I'll be just fine." Trying to cheer, she added, "I can use the flames in Charlie's fire to talk to you after we settle in, and he can send my letters with his when he owls."
Her mother gave a watery laugh. "If you get Charlie to write home more often, that alone will be worth the trip!"
Her father rose from the table to pat his wife's shoulder in reassurance. "That's the attitude, love. Our Ginny will be home before you know it, safe and sound."
"Safe and sound, that's the most important thing. To keep our little girl out of harm's way until that awful woman is apprehended." Eyes misting again, Molly sniffled and moved toward the stove.
Fred stepped into her path. "Go have a cup of tea, Mum. Breakfast is men's work."
George sniggered. "Or so Angelina tells him."
After their mother turned away to have a seat at the table, Fred used a tea towel to pop his brother. George yelped. Fred nodded sharply. "That's for being a prat, and you'll get another if you don't admit that you cook for Alicia, brother mine."
Eyeing the damp cloth capable of snapping with painful precision, George said, "Takes a prat to know a prat." He made a face. "Fine, I cook for Alicia…but not every ruddy meal like you, Chef Fred." Raising the hand that received a stinging snap, he yelped, "Cut it out, you prat!"
Fred grinned. "Takes a prat to know a prat—Ow!" He shook his stung fingers. "You grabbed a towel, you sneak. Good one!"
Suddenly, the twins were laughing like loons. Ginny kissed both their cheeks and then kissed them again once she saw the stuffed French toast turning golden brown on the magically heated burners of the Aga.
Over at the counter where bacon cooked the old-fashioned way, with a crisping charm, Ron said, "How come they get all the attention?"
Ginny marched over to ruffle hair and kiss his cheek.
Smiling, Ron said, "Remind Charlie that he promised me that I'd be the first to hold a dragon egg, and don't go begging, okay?"
She said, "Don't worry. I don't ever want to get that close to a broody dragoness!"
Over breakfast, Bill filled everyone in on the steps that were being taken to apprehend 'the raven.' Ginny saw with relief that her parents and siblings seemed to be comforted by the knowledge. Even so, it was a tearful parting, with her brothers gruffly telling her to keep safe. Mum and Dad each hugged her tightly, whispering their love along with assurances that she would be home soon.
-
An Illusion Charm made Ginny look like a petite brunette with hazel eyes and no freckles. She had used polyjuice before, so looking like someone else didn't bother her a bit. That confounded Bill and made her smile.
Reaching the pitch where the volunteers gathered, she saw that she and Blaise were the only females going. She had hoped a few others would brave the wilds of Romania, so she could hook Charlie up. Amused at how matchmaking seemed to be contagious, she glanced at Bill.
He gave a low whistle. "I never saw a girl who looked like that volunteering before. Merlin, maybe I should go along for a few days to give Charlie pointers in the romance department." Hearing her laugh, he frowned. "What's so funny?" His gaze was drawn back to Blaise, who was currently entwining around Terry in a manner Salazar himself would be proud of. Bill shrugged. "I guess its 'sorry, Charlie' then." He hugged her. "Go on, have fun, stay out of the woods, and I'll do my damnedest to bring that Death Eater to justice."
Her smile was wobbly. "Pluck her feathers for me."
He nodded. "I'll wring that raven's bloody neck if I have to."
Kissing his cheek, she held out an envelope. "In…a few days, give this to Mum, okay?" In response to his questioning look, Ginny smiled wryly, "I have something I need to tell Mum and Dad about Easter Holiday, and I figure by letter, and with me out of the country, is the best, if cowardly, way to do it." When he opened his mouth, she shook her head. "Don't worry, I'm sure they'll tell you all about it."
She waved goodbye and moved to join the group. Terry and Blaise looked up and smiled in greeting.
Draco raised a brow over her appearance. "I would kiss you, but my girlfriend's the possessive type, and I'm afraid she considers these lips private property."
Ginny slid her fingers into his hair, using her grip to pull his head down. She whispered, "Those lips are mine, mine, mine and don't you forget it. As for kissing me, close your eyes."
He shut his eyes, smiling, as her mouth moved against his.
-
A/N: Next week's the final chapter! St. Mungo's to Romania- what a long and winding road the last chap takes. I have to confess, it's the longest one I've ever written. Had to go out in a blaze of glory... :D