Chapter 8

A month had passed since Ginny and Pansy had been allowed to return to Psych rotation. Healer Bennett was so thrilled with their breakthrough that she was going to have them write an article on it for the Healing community if their work proved successful.

Lucius Malfoy had been dosed twice a day since their return to Psych. He was reacting well to the potion and the results were looking good. He was becoming more mentally competent and alert, and regaining some of his physical mobility as well. Pansy, Ginny, and Healer Bennett all felt it was near time to tell Draco about his father and begin searching for the right dose for the Longbottoms.

Ginny had prepared dinner for Draco one evening after work. She served him a rack of lamb and risotto in a romantic, candlelit setting in her flat. She dressed for the occasion. When Draco had flooed in, it was all Ginny could do to get him focused on the dinner, promising to be the dessert later in the evening.

"I have a surprise for you," Ginny said, blotting her lips with a napkin.

"You do?" He raised an eyebrow. "Is it under there?" he asked, looking directly at her clothes.

"No, silly! I have to take you somewhere." Ginny laughed. Draco's mind was one track sometimes, as was her own.

"Okay." Draco had been out of town quite frequently for meetings and even when he had been able to visit his father, it was only for short periods of time. Ginny knew for a fact he hadn't seen Lucius in two weeks and he had made drastic improvement in that time.

"So, I am going to blindfold you and we're going to go see your surprise," She rose to put their dishes away.

xxx

Ginny had gotten special permission to Apparate into the hallway just outside Draco's father's room so he wouldn't guess to early where they were. So, once outside the door, Ginny removed Draco's blindfold. He looked around.

"My surprise is at the hospital? In the Psych ward?" he asked with a frown, confused. Ginny smiled and nodded towards the door. Draco kept his eyes on her as he started through the door.

"Ginny, what—?"

"Shh! Just go in!" She pushed him into the room gently. Lucius was sitting up in a chair by his bed, having dinner. Draco looked at his father, then at Ginny, who just urged him forward.

Draco began as he always did. "Father? Father, it's me, Draco. Your son," he said gently as he bent down in front of his father's tray table.

Lucius studied the man for a minute and then began to smile in recognition. "Draco! Draco my boy! Is it really you?" he asked, tears beginning to form in the corners of his tired eyes. He rose from his chair and Draco rose with him, more confused than ever. Lucius flew around the tray table and gathered his son in his arms. "Oh my boy! I've found my way back!"

"Father?" Draco cried softly and returned his father's embrace. Once the embrace was broken he looked to Ginny who had tears forming in her own eyes. "Ginny?"

"Oh!" she gasped, trying to regain her composure. "I didn't know I would get so emotional!" she grinned through her tears. "Philip, Pansy, and I began some research a few months ago using some potions and some Muggle medications and found a treatment for your dad! Isn't it wonderful? He knows you! He's getting better!"

Draco looked back and forth between his father and Ginny for a long time. "Does he remember much?" Draco asked.

Ginny shook her head. "Some, not much. Enough to know his family… we should bring your mother in."

"My mum? She's here?"

"Yes. I had her wait outside. I wanted you to see him first." Draco ran to Ginny and picked her up, swinging her around recklessly.

"I love you! Oh I love you I love you I love you, Ginny Weasely!" Draco then put her down and ran out into the hallway and grabbed his mum. The rest of the evening Ginny, Draco, Narcissa, and Lucius Malfoy talked about wedding plans and good times and even a bit of the bad. There would probably be things that Lucius would never recall, but Draco and Ginny both felt that might be for the best.

Lucius didn't even bat an eye when Draco told him of the engagement to Ginny and the upcoming wedding. He simply smiled and remarked how lovely his son's bride-to-be was and hinted that he was ready for grandchildren as soon as possible.

xxx

Later that evening, Draco and Ginny flooed back to her flat, Draco wearing the biggest grin she thought she'd ever seen on him. He grabbed her around the waist as they walked from the fireplace.

"You," he whispered, his hot breath tickling the sensitive skin on her neck, "have been a very good girl, you know that?" She could feel his grin.

She snickered. "I have, have I?"

"Uh huh," he said as he turned her to face him. He scooped her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. "And now it's my turn to be a very good boy." His grin was wicked and sexy and Ginny felt herself begin to tremble in anticipation. He kissed her long and hard and then carried her to her bedroom.

"I did that because I love you," she whispered as he set her gently on the bed. "I knew it would make you happy to have your father back, maybe not as he was, but—"

"It does make me happy. And you make me happy. You make me happier than anyone ever could and I love that you did that for me," he whispered as he trailed kisses onto the skin he revealed by divesting her of her clothes. Ginny arched up into him in reply and Draco lost all control, reveling in the feel of her skin. He quickly removed his own barrier of clothing and proceeded to revel in Ginny four times that night.

xxxxxxx

The wedding planning was coming right along. They were two months away from the wedding. Lucius Malfoy was well enough to be going home soon, and Ginny spent a lot of her formerly free time going over invitations, robes, flowers, etc. Draco was home more often now, and Ginny's lack of free time began to frustrate him but he dealt with it, knowing shortly he would have her living with him.

Draco did get to spend a good amount of time with Ginny as they went house hunting, though. He enjoyed making her blush in front of the realty-witch as he whispered in her ear about what surfaces he'd take her on if they bought this house or that.

They'd found a house out in the English countryside, not ten kilometers from Pansy and Philip, with which Ginny was completely enamored. Draco, using one of his business trips as a cover, had bought the house and planned to surprise her as she had done with him and his father.

He blindfolded her, and Apparated her side-along with him into the house, where he had laid out a picnic dinner on a blanket on the floor in front of the fireplace in the grand living room. "Surprise!" he exclaimed as he removed the blindfold from her eyes.

Ginny looked at her surroundings and gasped. "You bought it!" She cried as she threw her arms around his neck. "I should have known you were up to something! You little rat!"

"I prefer 'Snake,' thank you!" He laughed as he returned her embrace. "I've got dinner here for us, but… how about we break the place in and work up an appetite?" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at her.

Draco had once confronted Ginny about their sexual habits, worried that he wanted too much. To his pleasant surprise, her sex drive matched his. His had never been this needy, not before Ginny. But once he was with her, it was like an addiction. She had felt the same pull and had heartily agreed that while they both had a strong sex drive, it was not the foundation of their relationship.

"Well by all means, Mr. Malfoy," Ginny grinned coyly, "We should certainly christen our new home!" She moved the basket of food and the ice bucket of wine off the blanket and pulled Draco down on top of her.

When they were both fully sated, they fed each other in front of the glowing fire, in the home which they would begin their family.

xxxxxxx

Lucius Malfoy was home and doing well by the time the wedding came around. This was good because the wedding was being held there, in the gardens. Narcissa had insisted once Ginny expressed interest in an outdoor wedding.

Hermione, Luna, and Pansy served as Bridesfriends (since none of them were maids, as they were already married.) Blaise Zabini, Vincent Crabbe, and Greg Goyle were the Groomsmen. Authur Weasley beamed and tried to hold back his tears as he walked his only daughter down the aisle towards the man that would be taking care of her for the rest of his life.

As they said their vows, Draco and Ginny looked deeply into each other's eyes, promising each other their very souls. Draco let a single tear fall as he finished his vows, staring awestruck at his blushing bride.

How had it all began, he wondered? Pansy had invited him to one of her parties, suggesting she'd invited some interesting young ladies. As soon as he'd spotted the redhead, he'd known he was attracted to her. He'd been embarrassed that he'd let his lust get the best of him that night, but she had been willing and he couldn't resist. After the first taste, he knew he'd never want to let her go and he'd fought for her. He kept going back and going back, convincing her that they were to be together. And he'd succeeded.

He floated through the wedding reception with Ginny, talking to people but not really thinking about anything but her. Then, he finally had her alone. They had taken a Portkey to their honeymoon destination on the island of Aruba.

Draco took great pride carrying Ginny, in her exquisite white gown, over the threshold of the vacation cottage door. He stood her before him, and took care in gently divesting her of her gown. His hands stroked through her hair as he took it down from the tangle of curls that had been done up under her veil.

"Draco, my husband," she murmured as she unbuttoned his shirt. Her eyes were half-closed in bliss.

"My wife," he grunted softly and possessively. "I love you."

"I love you," she whispered hoarsely as he began his exploration.

Her eyes were closed and she enjoyed every lingering touch and kiss as though it was their first time. In a way it was, it was their first time making love as a married couple joined by law and by God.

xxxxxxx

A/N: one more chapter to go- well it's an epilogue of sorts. I am not real good at endings, so sorry if this seems rushed. I have been working on it for a while though and have 2 other stories to finish as well. So, this one is getting wrapped up first. BUT ... I have something planned for once those others are finished and its inspired by A Walk To Remember. Also, for more fluff, I posted my 2nd fanfic ever here, called 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' but not based on that movie- just liked the title. Thanks for your kind reviews! I hope this fic lives up to your praises!