Disclaimer: Same as before.
A/N: Thanks for reviewing. Give me more reviews, or I shall have to hold back chapters. That sounds very vain doesn't it? Other people do it anyway and they get results. Also, if anybody knows anybody who speaks Italian and can write it perfectly, basically fluent, please email me as I want to expand the Italian section on this website, plus it'll be fun to read it in Italian. Thanks.
Storygirl2009: I'd say there are about 21 chapters, something like that.
Jaded Dagger: When are you going to update My Only Fear? It's really good.
CHAPTER NINE-
D-Day Landings.
Harry and Ron sat back in some vacant chairs in The Three Broomsticks and watched Hermione give her marching orders. They weren't in the least surprised; Hermione did this sort of thing as if it were in her nature.
"...And this should teach you to stop acting so foolish!" she shouted, standing over the two boys, who were bound in tight rope with only their fingers and heads able to move. Hermione had used the Incarcerous charm to tie them together.
Hermione was glaring at them angrily, turning to Madame Rosemerta. "Ennervate," Hermione murmured.
Madame Rosemerta gave a groan and touched her head lightly, sitting up. She opened her eyes and her face instantly turned furious at the sight of the two boys writhing on the floor, shouting angrily. "You silly boys!" she screamed, her face turning red.
"I've put their wands over there," Hermione pointed to an empty table where two wands lay on the top. "I've told them that if they get over there, they can free themselves," Hermione said matter-of-factly to Madame Rosmerta who was nodding in acknowledgment. "And I'm sure that you won't help them," Hermione said smiling.
"I'll be sure not to, Hermione," she said warmly, "I'll also make sure others don't either. Did you hear that!" she shouted down to the boys.
All the while, Ron and Harry were trying very hard to suppress their laughter. Hermione turned to them. "Come on, let's go, then," she turned on her heel, said a 'goodbye' to Madame Rosemerta, and marched out of the small pub, with Harry and Ron following behind.
"That was entertainment at it's best, Hermione," Ron said, slapping her on the back. "You haven't done that in a long time."
Hermione grinned. "Well, they shouldn't go around thinking that they own the place."
Meanwhile, back in The Three Broomsticks, the two boys were still writhing, and telling each other to not touch the hair. Both giving shouts of frustration. Then, finally giving up, they sat in silence.
"So...what Quidditch team do you support?"
The first sound Ginny became aware of when she awoke was the clickity-click of heels, and soft humming. If that is Tom, I will die of laughter. She opened her eyes, and didn't see Tom, who wasn't even in the bedroom, but saw a woman, who was plump and looked middle-aged. She was taking Ginny's dresses from the wardrobe, folding them, and putting them into a suitcase.
"Um..." Ginny said, cautiously. "Who are you?"
"I am Lauren, Mademoiselle," the woman said, with a light French accent. "I am your maid," she said with a wrinkly smile.
"Maid?" Ginny said, bewildered.
"I am to help you during your pregnancy, Mademoiselle," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Did Monsieur not tell you?"
Obviously not, or I wouldn't be asking you. "Where is he?" Ginny said, making sure the sheets were covering her body properly.
"Monsieur is currently in France," Lauren said, turning back to the suitcase and dresses. "He left early this morning."
"France!" Ginny said, astonished. "Is that why you are packing my things?"
"Yes, Mademoiselle." Lauren looked at Ginny with a frown. "Does Monsieur not tell you, he gave me specific orders to make sure you meet him in... two hours, in Marseilles."
"That's all the way in the South of France!" Ginny exclaimed. Tom, you annoying bastard! "We won't be able to get there in time."
"We are travelling by Portkey, Mademoiselle." Ginny then wondered how on earth did Tom manage to get into France. "We'll be using a Portkey from here to take us directly to the Portkey Base in Dover."
Ginny didn't want to leave England, she liked it in England!
Once Lauren had finished packing her clothes away, Ginny washed and put on the clothes that were laid out for her, she took up her winter cloak and placed it on her shoulders, tying it around her neck. She met Lauren in the main hallway; she had Ginny's suitcase at her side, and was holding a small statue of an obese frog.
"Let's go then, Mademoiselle," Lauren held onto Ginny's suitcase, and waited for Ginny to touch the statue. As she did so, Ginny felt the familiar tugging in her naval area, and was pulled forward.
Ginny was now standing outside of a large manor, it was smaller than the one in England, and was waiting with Lauren for the large door to be opened. Lauren knocked again. A sound of oily hinges rang through the quiet, calm air.
"Good Afternoon," a rather fat-looking house elf answered the door. He clapped his hands and two more house elves appeared, taking the luggage. "Tenya is taking Miss to Sir, in the garden." Then he turned to Lauren, and clapped his hands again, making another house elf appear. "Senza is escorting Miss Lauren to her bedroom in the East Wing."
The house elf, called Tenya, turned and began walking, his large ears flapping as he did so. Ginny quickened her step to keep up with the speedy house elf. Tenya slowed down as they reached two glass doors, which were flung open, letting the cool air into the house.
Tom came into view; he was standing on the bottom step, with his arms folded, and his back to them. Ginny thought that he was thinking about something. Probably about last night, the dirty git.
"Tenya has Miss for Sir," Ginny wished house elves were able to talk the way humans do, their speech just made them lower than they already were. Tom stayed facing ahead, and waved his hand in acknowledgement. The house elf went away with a POP! and Ginny and Tom stood in silence for a few minutes.
"I sense that you are annoyed, Ginny," Tom's voice cut through the silent air.
"It would have been OK, if you had told me I had a maid, and that I was going to be dragged to the South of France," Ginny said quietly. He turned around then, grabbing her hand, and indicating that he wanted to walk.
"I thought you might have enjoyed a surprise," he said, smirking at her. She was twirling her hair around her index finger, and watching it curl at the ends. Her cheeks had flushed pink due to the cold; her red hair seemed brighter, coming down in waves along her back. Tom thought she looked like something out of a fairy-tale.
"I'm sorry I had you rushed over here after me, Ginny," he said with an amused tone despite what he had just said. "But, I had to sort some things out without you."
They walked in silence again.
"Why am I here?" Ginny questioned.
"Well, looking at the same four walls is rather boring, isn't it?" he stated.
Ginny stared at his hand gripping hers. It wasn't what she had meant, but he probably knew that.
(Ginny's POV)
Lauren was helping me unpack my things, and Tom was standing over by the balcony and staring out of the windows, with his arms folded. Lauren began talking excitedly.
"So, mademoiselle, are you hoping for a boy or a girl?"
I glanced at Tom; I could see the smirk plastered on his face already. I wanted to march right over there and punch him.
"It's a boy," I replied bluntly.
Lauren gave a sound what was similar to that of a squeal. "I'm sure Monsieur is very happy about that," she said pointedly. Tom continued to stare ahead; his hands were in his trouser pockets now.
"I suppose he is," I said offhandedly, casting a glance at Tom again, his smirk growing wider.
"I am sure he will be very handsome." Lauren snuck a look a Tom, and I presumed she fancied him or something; it was rather funny come to think of it. She could have him for all I care.
"Maybe," I muttered slowly, wanting the conversation to end, and thankfully we had finished unpacking my clothes. "Thank you, Lauren." She bowed her head slightly, still smiling away, and left the room.
Tom turned to face me. "Why 'maybe'?"
"Eavesdropping, Tom? That's rather rude," I said, reaching into the suitcase for the last item left; a worn book that I hadn't gotten around to reading.
"It was hard not to, I was only a few metres away," he remarked in an amused tone, with an eyebrow cocked up. "Are you saying I am not handsome enough? Your maid thinks I am." Tom was smirking now as he strode toward me.
"No, I don't think your ego needs anymore boosts of appraisal," I said haughtily, lifting my face to his.
"So, you do think I'm handsome, Ginny," he said, smiling and twirling a lock of my hair around his fingers.
"I did not say that, Tom," I turned to walk toward the door, but he gripped my arm, and pulled me back. I sighed. "I want to go to the library, if you don't mind."
"I know you think me nice-looking, you wrote me so, after I showed you a memory, Ginny," I felt my cheeks grow hot, "and," he continued, "you don't even know where the library is." I stared up at him, hating him even more for being right all the time. I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't be so juvenile, darling, it doesn't suit you," he stated, tightening his grip on my wrist as a warning, telling me off again. "In your condition, you'll have to depend on me."
"I'm not ill, Tom," I said quietly, shying away from his words, "I'm quite sure I can walk on my own."
"Yes, well, it'll be quite a chore to get out of bed without my assistance," he replied.
"I managed perfectly fine on my own this morning."
Tom glared down at me, and then lifted his head, smiling. "You'll depend on me to take you to the library," he said smugly. "But, I don't think I'll take you now."
"I'll read in here then." I made to move away from him and felt the book being snatched out of my grasp.
"What if I don't let you?" He dangled it in front of me, and I snapped my hand up, but he lifted it higher beyond my reach. "You'll have to ask nicely and sincerely if you want it, dear."
"No," I turned my back on him with my arms folded, and sulked. "No, no, no."
"Come now, Ginny," he said, amusement clear in his voice again. "Stop acting like a five year old." He stood in front of me.
"Please, can I have my book back?" I said in a mock sweet tone. He began smiling, enjoying every minute of it.
"And?" he said, lowering the book. I sighed, loathing him.
"And you're very handsome. Now can I have it back?" I said, impatiently.
"No, not yet," he laughed at my sulky expression, demeaning my dignity, well, what was left of it. Then his face turned serious. "I want you to kiss me, Ginny."
I gave a small whine. "I just want to read the damn book!" I half-shouted.
"Don't shout at me, Ginny, and hold the language," he said admonishingly. "Come," he pulled me close to him. "It's not difficult, is it, Ginny?" If he were me, then he wouldn't ask that silly question. I had to tiptoe to reach him, and I kissed him quickly on the lips, noticing for the first time that he smelt of mint and lime. "Oh, come now, Ginny, is that all?" he said, smiling. He bent down, whispering into my ear. "I want you to kiss me like I kissed you last night."
He's only doing this for his sadistic enjoyment. I shook my head, flushing red again.
"You didn't seem to mind last night, or did you forget?" he whispered again, continuing to remind me of my repulsive behaviour the night before. "You want the book don't you, Ginevra?"
I held my hands on his shoulders to keep him there, and pressed my lips to his. I opened my mouth slightly, and felt his tongue instantly sliding over mine, scraping the roof of my mouth. And as quickly as it had begun, it ended.
"There you go, Ginny," he said offhandedly. "It wasn't that hard was it?" He handed the book to me, but I didn't feel like reading it anymore, the humiliation I had to go through to retrieve it. However, Tom took my hand and pulled me out of the bedroom, and down a string of corridors. Then he stopped.
"Here we are," he said pushing down the silver handle and opening the door. Revealing a spacious library, it was filled with light, unlike the gloomy one in England, and there were long lines of shelves stacked all the way to the top with books. "Now, don't be too long, Ginny, dinner will be ready soon, in," he checked his watch. "Half an hour, and I'm sure you are hungry."
He ran his hand along my back, then stopped at my hip. "I must go, Ginny, be a good girl."
A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter, slightly longer than the others. And it is important that Ginny is in France. I hope you've noticed that the chapter names are to do with wars, but I made the terms fit with the content of the chapter. This chapter was named after the D-Day landings, because troops were sent to another country, and here Ginny was sent to another country, hoped you noticed that.
Keep reviewing or I shall have to cook your toes in newt water. Mwahahaha! Just joking.