Chapter 6

Ginny had been spending the majority of her free time with Draco for the past six months. He took her to fancy dinners, Charity Balls, the theatre… all these things, of course assuming they made it out of one or the other's bedroom. She didn't remember ever feeling so carefree and she was doing so well in her work.

She was hastily getting ready for another night of dinner and the Opera with Draco. She had on an elegant royal blue strapless gown he had sent over for her and was slipping one-carat diamond earring solitaires into her ears. She heard the crack of his Apparition and hurriedly slipped into her strappy silver shoes, grabbing her silver cloak as she scurried out of her bedroom.

"I'm ready! I promise!" she called. She noticed Draco leaning lazily against the mantle of her fireplace, bouquet of lilies in hand. She had hinted around that lilies of any sort were her favorite.

"You look incredible!" he breathed, handing the flowers to her as he kissed the hand she held out to him. He then pulled her into his arms and kissed her neck then her mouth as she giggled.

"Thanks! I'll just go put these in a vase and we'll go." Draco nodded and watched from his spot by the mantle.

xxx

They had finished dinner and were about to Apparate over to the Hogsmeade Theatre for the Opera when Draco instead grasped Ginny's hand and Apparated them both to a beautiful garden in front of a large mansion, which Ginny immediately recognized as Malfoy Manor. Draco's mother was still living somewhere in the enormous house. Narcissa Malfoy had met them for lunch a few times and she and Ginny got along quite well with one other.

"Draco?" Ginny began, puzzled. "The Opera. We'll be late!"

Draco ignored her with a small smile and led her to fountain. She kept her puzzled look as he knelt down and she gasped as she saw his hand reach into his pocket and draw out a small black box. Draco had given her many presents and she had learned very quickly to accept them. But he'd always been standing when he did so. This could only mean one thing.

"Ginevra, I know we've only been together a short while in the eyes of others, but I know all I need to know. And that is that I want to spend the rest of my life with you," he said as smiled and looked up into the chocolate brown eyes that were about to spill over with tears. "I love you. Will you marry me?"

Ginny let out a labored sob. Draco had first told her he loved her about two weeks ago. She had not yet been able to say the words in return and yet here he was, proposing marriage! He was an egotistical, self-assured prat, but he was her egotistical, self-assured prat. All she could do was stare at him. She should do something, she thought. Answer. How? What was the word she should say? She was panicking.

"Gin, honey? Are you okay?" Draco tilted his head to try and gage the look on her face.

Her head needed to move. How to move it, to help him understand her acceptance? She swayed slightly and he rose to catch her in his arms and sat her down on the edge of the fountain.

"Gin? You're kind of scaring me here. This is a rough thing for a guy you see and—"

Ginny immediately regained her senses and smiled. Leaning forward she kissed him and whispered, "Yes!" against his mouth. He grabbed her in a tight hug. She pulled away. "I'm sorry! I momentarily lost all capability of communication. I'm shocked is all."

Draco leaned back, searching her eyes with his. "You want to, right? You're not just saying yes because I asked are you?"

"No. I said yes because I… because I love you," they both smiled as the words crossed her lips. Draco slid the diamond solitaire onto Ginny's ring finger and rubbed her hand with his. She drew her hand to her face and admired the ring. Draco knew her. It was nice, but not too flashy. No more than two carats, she'd guess, the perfect size for her small hand.

"Ready to go to the Opera?" he asked.

"Yeah, but if it's boring, I think I'd rather go celebrate our engagement in private!" she grinned slyly.

xxx

Ginny clutched at Draco's back as she buried her head in his shoulder, each of them releasing into the other. Draco moaned and flopped backwards, pulling her with him. Ginny held out her hand, admiring her ring for the thousandth time that night. They'd managed to make it to the first intermission of the Opera but had Apparated to Draco's, spreading their clothes between his living room, hallway, and bedroom between kisses and eager touches.

As she curled up beside Draco to go to sleep, Ginny realized that she needed to do something for him. He always had gifts for her, took her places, he'd said he loved her first. She had said she had loved him twice now, once when he'd asked her to marry him earlier in the evening and the second time as they'd made love. But she felt she needed to show him and she began to formulate a plan.

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"Ginny!" Pansy greeted her as she flooed into the Richards' home. "Philip's still out getting everything that we need but I expect he'll be back shortly. I can't believe you are doing this! Draco will flip out! Now let me see that ring!"

Ginny had owled Pansy immediately the next morning, which was a Saturday, and had made plans for her and Philip to aid her in her quest to show Draco she loved him. Pansy grabbed Ginny's hand and studied the ring.

"Draco really does have exquisite taste, doesn't he?" she cooed. "So, I've been going over several of the files that we have. By combining what treatment has already been given, and shown some degree of success, with the Muggle medications Philip seems to think will work, we should be able to make some progress."

"Good. I know this is going to take time but I have been doing a bit of research on my own. I was mainly doing it for Neville's parents, but I think it could be helpful in this case as well."

"I hope you are right."

"I'm back!" Philip called as he entered the house by the front door, carrying a small bag. "Hi Ginny!" he shot her a smile.

"Hi Philip! So, tell us what you've got there."

"Well you get right down to business, don't you?" he laughed as he kissed his wife on the cheek and motioned for the two witches to follow him into the kitchen. "I've got Serotonin, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine releasers. I've also got a few medications for migraines and seizures in here. I figured anything with neurological properties could be of help."

"Sounds good," Ginny said as she sat down.

They worked for hours pouring over papers, making potions, studying the reactions of various chemicals and potions in test tubes. Ginny received an owl from Draco late in the evening, asking if she would be over. She had told him she was going shopping and to a 'chick flick' with Pansy. She was exhausted and as much as she wanted to see him, she didn't want to accidentally let anything slip. She owled back saying she really wanted to sleep and that she would see him tomorrow, asking him to come over to her flat whenever he wanted.

"Well Gin, I think we've come along way from where we started this morning," Pansy sighed, rubbing her tired eyes as she saw Ginny to the fireplace to floo home.

"I know. I hope we have something soon though. I suppose I am going to have to start wedding planning soon, won't I?" Ginny's mouth formed an 'O' in realization. "Oh gods! I have to tell my mum and dad! Mum isn't going to leave me alone for months and then, when the wedding's over, she'll start on bugging me into getting pregnant! Merlin, what have I gotten myself into?" she said with a note of panic.

Pansy laughed. "'Night Gin! You'll be fine! Good luck telling the folks, though. I am sure they'll be emotional.

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A/N: I know this is short but I want to save some stuff for the next chapter. I also didn't want to keep anyone waiting so I hope this little morsel appeases! Thanks for all your kind reviews!