I'm overwhelmed by the responses I got from you guys…you're totally awesome. I'm so flattered that you LIKE my work, lol. But this chapter goes out to a very special reviewer, now you guys are all great and I will be doing shout outs at the end (I don't want it to clutter my chapters and to be more personal for each of you). Now, as I was reading my reviews, searching for inspiration I came across a review from jailyncharles who wrote to me:
"wow you really have a way of leaving me hanging.. only wish these were longer. doing good marina, props to you. i like how you fitted dumbledore's death in that last chapter. good work. i can't wait for the next chapter, i always check your story first, it's one of my fav's. and i can't vote on the story, it's for your creative instincts to take over…"
That was in regards to my question on what I should do after this story is over. Wasn't that great? That deserves some applause from me. Clapping
That's inspired me so greatly. Thank you. So this one goes out to you :D. This had to be done, sorry guys. I'll redeem him soon ;)
Pansy grappled with Goyle for several seconds. "Greg, I have to get to Faye! She needs me!" Her throat was dry and she could think of nothing but getting to the young child who sounded in peril.
"Faye is fine." He answered gruffly. "I just checked on her." His eyes flashed dangerously as he watched the realization dawn in her eyes.
Draco was rooted to the spot; Ginny…oh gods. His vision blurred as instinct took over. "I have to get to her!" He gasped rushing towards the door.
Goyle let go of Pansy and let a fist fly straight into Draco's stomach. "You bastard!" He roared. "You left your pregnant wife alone to take my wife god knows where in the middle of the night! I could kill you!"
All breath left Draco's body and he crumpled to the floor, coughing violently. Gasping for air, he started to get up…and was rewarded with a swift kick to the ribs. Collapsing again, blood began to trickle from his nose.
"Goyle, stop! You're killing him!" Pansy cried, horrified. She had seen so much death…so much violence in the last few hours.
The very sound of her voice calmed him…the adrenaline high that had never quite lessened since he had delivered the babies, finally seemed to dissipate. He flexed his hand…it would definitely be bruised after connecting with Draco's ribs, but he was sure that nothing was broken. "You deserve this and more…do you know what your wife went through?" He spat caustically.
"I-I'm sorry." Draco but out, still struggling to breathe. Goyle had done a number on him with just a few swift blows.
"Why are you apologizing to me?" He snapped. "It's not me that you left in my hour of need…though I must say; delivering your babies wasn't exactly the highlight of my evening." His face colored uncomfortably; the mere memory made him feel a little barmy.
Pansy just stared. "You delivered the twins? Were they healthy? Is Ginny okay?"
Goyle sneered. "Isn't it sad that my wife asks before you do?" He quipped and turned to her. "The babies are fine and Ginny came through remarkably well. The midwife was away tonight but she came in time to clean Ginny up and to check the babies out."
Draco coughed again, trying to form words. "I never wanted it to happen this way." His voice came out in a hushed whisper.
"Pansy, go check on Ginny please…I'd like to talk to my old friend here." He didn't leave any room for argument. It was a statement, not a request.
With a thin lipped smile she turned to go but after another thought, looked him in the eyes. "Goyle, don't hit him again...please."
He just frowned. He heard Pansy's footsteps echo down the hall and rounded on Draco again. "For a long time I was your only friend at school. And you treated me like dirt." He started.
"I—"Draco began but Goyle cut him off. "Don't interrupt me again!" He barked.
Draco sat back, configuring some ice and placing it on his aching stomach. Goyle was VERY angry, he could see that…and he had every right to be; however, Draco refused to believe that physical violence was necessary.
"But you were so damn critical…Crabbe and I were just two oafish brutes you had in your pocket. But I never saw you the way you saw me…I was ALWAYS your friend." He gestured with his hands to prove his point.
Draco immediately felt ashamed…he had never treated Crabbe or Goyle like equals. He had been a spoiled, selfish brat with a bad temper.
Goyle folded his arms over his broad chest. "And Crabbe would get sick of it but I always told him that all you needed was time. You know, that when you grew up, you'd be a great man." His voice took on an almost whimsical lilt as he laughed. "Well I was wrong, you abused us and now you're abusing Ginny!"
His eyes widened in horror. "I have never hit Ginny!"
"Yeah, you never hit me either! That doesn't mean it's not abuse!" Gregory roared. "You ignored her for weeks! You holed yourself up in your room plotting her demise! You may as well have laid her out on your bed and flogged her!"
That statement stung Draco more than any physical blow ever could. What was worse was that Goyle turned and stalked out, leaving him to think extensively on what he had done.
Tears stung in Draco's throat…it choked him even worse than the kick to the ribs had. Draco put his head in his hands and for the first time in a long time, he wept.
Ginny's precious sleep was shattered by the sound of piercing screams. Her body was like a lead weight as she picked Gregory out of his crib. His icy grey eyes peered up at Ginny as his crying ceased.
"Hey Gregory, I'm your mommy." She said quietly. Overcome by emotion, tears leaked down her cheeks. Her children were so beautiful…her beautiful family. Except that Draco wasn't there, and that meant they were incomplete.
Sitting down in the rocking chair she began to feed her child. A strange sensation yes, but not quite painful…just, strange.
Back and forth she swayed, humming gently as Gregory suckled. Reaching back into the depths of her memory, she came up with a song her mother had sung to them all as children. "You are my sunshine; my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey, you'll never know dear, how much I love you…oh please don't take my sunshine away."
Her voice was scratchy and not at all beautiful like her mother's but it seemed to lull the child to sleep. That was until Orion awoke, screaming.
"Dear gods, that child has a set of lungs." Ginny said quietly. With Gregory all finished, she merely placed him back in his crib… luckily, it was charmed to magically rock and the infant was asleep within seconds.
Ginny was exhausted, but Orion wasn't going to hang on while she got a few more hours sleep. "Hello sweet boy." She said, cradling him close to her body.
It was obvious the boys were not identical…Gregory had silvery eyes and wispy hair that promised to be red someday, whereas Orion had no hair whatsoever and Ginny's large chocolate brown eyes. As Ginny rocked him, he ate greedily.
She smiled down at him…oh yes; Orion was definitely going to be a big boy. When he had finished, she looked up to see Pansy in the doorway.
"Come in!" She whispered, gently setting Orion down in his crib. She rushed to her friend's side and took her hand.
Pansy had been there for only a moment, but the sight made her feel as if there were some joy in the world. A mother and her children, there was no more beautiful picture. "I just wanted to see if it was true…congratulations Ginny."
"It was Goyle really…I would've died if it weren't for him." Ginny said honestly. "He delivered my babies. He was really brave…I picked the right man to be the godfather of my children."
Pansy peeked over the side of the first crib. "Oh Ginny…they're precious." She whispered, staring down at the perfect little children in their cribs. "What are their names?"
Ginny felt a swelling of pride as she pointed. "Well the one with the red hair, that's Gregory Donovan. He was born a close second...I thought it was just perfect to name him after Goyle." She explained. "And the other one is Orion Nathaniel…that's a Black family tradition you know, to name your children after the stars."
"They're absolutely perfect..." She said, wiping a tear from her eye. "I wish I could have been there."
Suddenly it dawned on her. "Oh! Pansy, did Goyle find Draco? Are you alright? What happened?"
"I'm fine, don't worry about me." She said with a small smile. "Draco's in the sitting room I think…he and Goyle are having some words."
Ginny's eyes widened. "Will you stay with the babies for a moment Pansy?" She asked frantically. There was no time to waste.
Pansy nodded. "Of course, take as long as you need…but take it easy, you just gave birth. Now is not the time to be running around the manor!"
"Yes mum." Ginny teased, giving her a playful wink. She smoothed the front of her nightgown and took off as fast as her leaden legs would carry her. Every muscle in her body ached from just the slightest movement…but the pain was receding. And in the warmth of her love, all seemed to disappear into the darkness.
Upon entering the drawing room she saw him…face in hands, weeping. "Draco?" she called softly.
Draco looked up; his normally icy eyes were red and bloodshot. Immediately, he looked away again. "I don't deserve you!" He cried, turning aside. "I'll give you all of my money and leave…I'm not worth it."
Ginny sat beside him. "Shh, Draco, please." She said soothingly. Gently she ran her fingers through his hair. "It's going to be alright…everything can be worked out in time."
"Really?" He asked, dropping his hands once more to look into his face. "I can never make up for what I did…it doesn't matter what I know, it matters that I was gone for the happiest day of our lives."
Ginny bit her lip as she looked down. Inhaling deeply, she nodded. "I know…" Leaning in, she hugged him. "I still love you."
Draco trembled against her…he loved her so much that it hurt to breathe, and he was sure it was love this time, not a swift kick to the ribs or coughing. "I love you."
She pulled back and smiled. "I know…and that's why you deserve this." Pulling her hand back she slapped him across the face HARD. The sound resonated around the room…Ginny itched the palm of her hand, she had slapped him so hard that had affected her. "And another thing." She brought her elbow up and slammed it into his groin.
For the 4th time that evening he couldn't breathe…instead, he rolled off the couch and lay in fetal position. He had definitely picked the wrong time to screw up.