Part II, Chapter Three: Welcome to the Manor

Really really quick note: Yeah, you may have noticed... Snape Back. And good. Dumbledore not dead. But... everything else follows HBP. I have a selective memory. (Giggles and runs away)

Ginny paced around the girl's dormitories, looking for something to wear. Her heart was beating a mile a minute, her palms were sweaty, and she had red marks all around her neck. She knew that as soon as someone like Lavendar would see her, she'd know. Ginny wrung her hands and took deep breaths, trying to analyze the situation. The only things that made sense in her mind was 'I just shagged my ex-boyfriend' and 'I'm going to be killed by Ron if he ever finds out.' The hazy bits of her brain were filled with 'Draco Malfoy is going to be my husband?' and 'Where is Malfoy Manor anyways?'

But she couldn't think of that now. As she said herself, 'no time for regrets.' Not that Ginny had any, anyway. Harry was... and... She sighed. She tried to feel content and happy, but the thoughts finally filled her head that in a few minutes, the Gryffindor Quidditch team would be coming back, Hermione would be coming home from her date and would need someone to talk to, and that eventually, they would have to go to sleep. Ginny was immensely tired, but didn't want to sleep: if she let herself sleep until the morning, tomorrow would be school-wide exams. Then it would be the day of relaxation at Hogsmeade, and then...

She sighed. It would be the last day. Their graduation. Her last day as a single girl. The last time she could ever look at another boy again without her being under the laws of marriage. 'Till death do us part' -- though, for her, it was probably 'Till death do us stay together eternally with Merlin.'

Ginny heard movement outside the room and positioned herself on the bed so it looked like she was doing some intent studying for tomorrow. But really, what did it matter? It's not like if she failed all her tests they were going to make her stay back a year. No one cared. They knew her life was over and wouldn't make her stay in sixth year again. Though, given the choice between sixth year and Draco, she'd gladly choose sixth year all over again.

"Hello, Ginny, darling!" Hermione said in a very Luna-like tone: dreamy, wishful, and not fully there. "How's your daaaaay?"

Ginny rose an eyebrow. Hermione definitely didn't realize who she was talking to. Or, at least, didn't remember. She scrunched her nose up in disgust; did Hermione do it for her first time?

"Uh... fine, and y --"

"Simply marvelous! Ronald and I went on a date, I'm guessing you know that. Harry suggested it, you know, so we could get our minds off everything. And... my, it was fabulous."

Never in Ginny's life had she heard Hermione use so many positive adjectives in one breath.

"That's g--"

"And -- get this -- he kissed me! It was long, too... oh, my, I hope I was good..."

Ginny snapped her fingers and Hermione's "dazed and confused" look immediately left her face.

"Oh, God, please don't tell me I just started talking about Ron kissing me without even asking about you! I'm so sorry, Ginny, I don't know what came over me!" She cried, truthfully apologetic.

"It's okay, Hermione. Really. I'd rather hear about Ron and you."

Hermione shook her head. "Unimportant. Please tell me, I promise I'm listening."

And so Ginny said all she knew, every detail, up until her and Harry.

"Oh, Ginny, I'm so sorry... Where will you be moving, is it far? You will be able to hang out with us still, won't you? And a job, how will you get one if you're put into a remote place with none other than Draco Malfoy? And... Ginny, what?"

She gulped, trying to decide whether to tell Hermione or not. She took a deep breath and whispered it in Hermione's ear.

"HarryanIusthagged."

Hermione blinked. "Huh?"

"Harry. And I. Just..."

"OH MY GOD! Ginny, how could you? What about your virtue?"

Ginny spoke through tears, keeping her voice as even as possible. "It was my last opportunity, Hermione. For the rest of my life, I'm going to be with Draco Malfoy and only Draco Malfoy. Every waking moment. It was the last time I could ever... imagine being with Harry. I could release my inhibitions one last time before being tied down once more by my coming future. I don't care about my ruined virtue, Hermione."

Hermione looked down at her hands, then up at her crying friend. Keeping her know-it-all mouth shut for once, she put her arms around the shaking redhead and let her cry on her shoulder.

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"Are you ready for your exams, Ginny?" Hermione asked as she, Ginny, Ron, and Harry walked towards the Great Hall.

"No," Ginny replied nonchalantly. "No, didn't study a bit."

Harry and Ginny shared a quick glance, followed by a blush that went unnoticed by Ron.

"Ginny, you really should --"

"What does it matter, Hermione?" Ginny shot back. "It doesn't matter if I pass or fail. Either way I'm going to have to live with... him. An 'A' in Transfiguration won't make the problem go away, and neither will an 'F'."

The group was quiet as they continued their walk, nearly reaching the doors to the Great Hall. However, Professor McGonnagal and Severus Snape stood in their way, staring at Ginny intently.

"Ginny..." the group gasped; it was the first time Snape had ever referred to her that way. "You're leaving school early."

Gin's mouth dropped open. "Wha- what about my exams?"

"Neither of you are taking them. You're going straight to the Manor as soon as possible, as per orders of your parents, along with Mr. Malfoy's," McGonnagal replied.

Ginevra found it difficult to catch her breath as she saw Draco appear behind McGonnagal. She took deep breaths and looked to the trio, who were eyeing her in a pathetic excuse for comfort. Harry's eyes seemed particularly saddened.

"But -- but -- Professor, what about tomorrow? The day of rest? Graduation?"

Snape shook her head. "Not necessary. No need. Please come along, Weasley. It will make it easier on you if you leave now." He lightly grabbed the sleeve of Ginny's dress robes, pulling her and Draco away from the trio. Ginny turned around desperately, tears filling her eyes. Ron jumped out and tried to grab her, but it was no use. She was gone.

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Ginny packed her trunk as quickly as her hands allowed it, which was about the speed of a snail on a hot, lazy summer's day. She had the urge to hold everything in her room, even things that weren't hers. She took out one of her dress robes for special occasions and began folding it, letting her fingers feel along the beautiful green-and-black lace. Her mother bought her the dress in the hopes that she would make happy memories in it, but she had yet to wear it. She had the urge to throw it out, knowing that whenever she wore it now, her memories would be anything but happy.

She heard a knock on the door and yelled a defeated "come in." Draco Malfoy crossed his arms and threw a glance around the room and at her clothes appraisingly. Something about his glance he didn't like; it made her feel like a lowly slave rather than a young woman.

"You're twenty minutes late," he drawled, glaring at her.

"What, exactly, am I late for? If I do recall, places of residence don't normally move. I'm sure our lovely little home will be there in another twenty."

Draco shook his head. "You're only making it worse for yourself, Weasel. The longer you stay, the harder it is to leave."

"And the longer you stay in this room, the more time I take getting ready."

Draco smirked. "You don't get it, do you?" he asked, and without a reply, left the room.

Ginny threw one of Hermione's shoes at the door and it shut with a slam. Ginny let the tears escape her eyes as she hurried up the packing process, wanting to have last moments to soak up her room.

Once she had packed her belongings -- every scribble, photograph, even a random school note from Hermione on the floor -- she took out a few pieces of parchment and a quill, then began writing.

To my loving brothers,

I just want you all to know I will always remain a Weasley. No Malfoy scum will ever change me. Please know that during my days at the manor, memories of you will help keep the sunshine in the dark corridors. I write this note asking you not to worry about me if I don't write to you. I will try to make the best of this, and I'm sure you don't want me to be completely miserable. That is why I won't be writing to you often. The more I speak to you, the more I find out how grand your lives are going, the more homesick I'll get. The more I'll will this curse to just eat me alive.


Please trust me, and please know that you were the best brothers a girl could ever ask for.

Share this to mum and dad. Let them know that I will always be their little girl, no matter how old I get. Tell mum she will always be 'Mumma,' and tell Dad he will always be 'papa.' Remind them of happy moments when I was a little girl, and steer far away from memories of this year.

Most sincerely and lovingly,

Ginevra M. Weasley

She folded the paper up and wrote 'Ronald Weasley' on the side. She would leave it on Ronald's best chair so that he could see it right away, as soon as he was done with his exams. Getting out another piece of parchment, she began to write the hardest letter of all.

Dear Harry,

I... don't know what to say. My breath is catching in my throat just as I write your name and my brain registers the memories we had together. I will miss you so much. You are my favorite memory of Hogwart's, always will be.

You always try to apologize for last year, Harry, and I don't understand why. You and I shared a great love, no matter how long or short it was. I know what you had to go through. You're the boy who lived. You spent the beginning of this year looking for horcruxes and defeating Voldemort. And yet, you told Hermione the hardest thing about this year was being apart from me and not being able to apologize for our breakup last year.

In my heart, I don't think we ever broke up. Sure, we didn't snog or do anything that couples are 'supposed' to do, but we got the closest we've ever been. Our hearts ruled us, and for once, I think we were really content.

Let me apologize this time, Harry. I'm sorry for leaving you. I'm sorry I can't be with you. I'm sorry that my tears are ruining this ink so much that it's hard to read. I'm sorry that you won't be able to see me walk down the aisle. I'm sorry you won't be able to dance with me at our wedding. I'm sorry you and I won't have a gazillion little red headed monsters or raven headed rebels running around our house.

I'm sorry about the future, Harry. But not about the past.

I love you. I always will.

Your adoring fan,

Ginny Weasley.

As an afternote, she lightly scrawled,

His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, his hair is as dark as a blackboard. I wish he were mine, he's really divine, the hero who conquered the Dark Lord.

Ginny folded it up carefully and wrote 'Harry Potter,' then grabbed her stuff and began walking downstairs to the commonroom.

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"Bloody finally," Draco complained, looking up from examining a painting on the wall of the Gryffindor commonroom. He finally noticed Ginny's smeared mascara, puffy eyes and red nose: the universal sign that a woman's been crying. "Oh, enough with the bloody tears already."

"Shut the hell up," she whispered. "Can't you show a little compassion, Malfoy? Or are you truly the heartless prat I've thought you to be?"

Draco Malfoy said nothing but watched the small girl put two notes on a red armchair by the portrait.

"Let's go already, this room is making me sick."

Ginny smirked at her soon-to-be husband. "Oh, certainly, your majesty."

"That's more like it, Weasel!" Draco said, puffing out his chest as they began to make their way quickly out the front doors of the school, then towards their carriage. "This arrangement will work just fine if you keep that attitude!"

Ginevra shook her head and grabbed Draco's robes, pulling him close enough to feel his icy breath on her nose. She leaned close and sneered in his face as the driver watched with an amused expression.

"You listen here, Malfoy. When we get to the manor, you will respect my privacy. You will not touch my things, you will not enter my room without knocking or asking permission. I want keys to the rooms that I will reside in. My rooms will be locked when I am not home. You will not refer to me as 'Weasel.' You will not touch me. You will not disrespect my family's name and you will never disrespect Harry's. Are we clear?"

Malfoy leaned in closer and spat in a low hiss, "I think you're forgetting whose house it is, Weasel. I make the rules, not you. You listen here. You will not go into any of the upstairs rooms, especially ones that have a snake engraved on the doorframe. The only rooms that have keys are the ones that I make keys for. If the rooms that you happen to have are not locked, then I guess that's just too damn bad. I will disrespect anyone I bloody want to disrespect, Weasel, no matter how you feel about them. Are we clear?"

Ginny shook her head and stepped away, glaring at him. "You're despicable. If I didn't have a family that loved me and a man that adored me, I'd let this curse eat me alive. But I guess you don't know that feeling, do you, Malfoy? You don't know what it's like to hear 'I love you' from someone and not have it be said out of fear. You don't know what it's like to get a hug from a parent for no reason. You're just the cold-hearted bastard I thought you were."

Malfoy let his face show no emotion, but somewhere deep inside his soul, it was as if his heart was slowly melting a bit... and Draco didn't like it. Her words stung and the five-year-old Malfoy, the one who yearned to be loved, flashed in his mind.

"Mummy, can I go outsi--"

"You will not call your mother anything other than MOTHER in public, Draco! How many times do I have to teach you that?" Lucius Malfoy yelled, sending his silver, pointed cane into his toddler's leg.

"Master Malfoy, are we ready to go?" the old driver asked, smiling at the two arguing teens. The redhead was practically a yard away from Draco, her arms crossed, looking rather cross herself. The blond seemed to be in a daze, his cold blue eyes staring at nothing.

Draco snapped out of it, his "Yeah... Yeah, sure."

"Come along, then. Inside," the man said to the both of them, holding the door open. Draco smugly made a show of bowing down to Ginevra as she stepped inside, and she exaggeratedly put her hand over her heart as if it were the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for her. In a mere second her expression changed and she stuck her tongue out at him, then walked inside. Draco stared at the sky, hoping for a really strong rain so that she could get her pretty little Gryffindor uniform muddy on their way up to the Manor.

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"Where the bloody hell are we?" Ginny asked, waking up after sleeping through the long voyage.

"Welcome to France," Draco said dryly.

The driver stepped out and opened the door for them. "C'mon then, kids -- er... adults... ? ... Get out, I need to get yer things. Follow me."

Ginny slowly stepped out, hearing the french language being thrown around at the speed of light all around her in the dirty streets. It made her sickeningly homesick, reminding her of Fleur and Bill's wedding the summer before. She stuck her hands deep in her cloak pockets as they made their way up the hill towards mansion that was so huge even at the farthest point of France could see its high and pointed roof.

She chuckled coldly; Slytherins always were showoffs.

"Something funny about my mansion, Weasel?" Draco hissed as they walked closer and closer to the mansion. As they got closer, the manor only began to look more menacing to Ginny. She imagined that once it hadn't looked so; the place had probably been filled with love. From what she heard, Ginny got the impression that Andasar, Elye, and Fayebris were very happy... before Salazar had to ruin that. Stupid Slytherins! Always ruining everything!

"We're here, then," the driver said, dropping the trunks down on the steps in front of the main doors. He opened them and Ginny looked inside; it was amazing.

There was a large staircase straight in front of her that was carpeted with red and green rugs. A large and beautiful chandelier was held from the tip of the ceiling and the floor below it was a beautiful white marble. It was dusty, that was for sure, but gorgeous. Just the main room was nearly the size of the astronomy tower at Hogwart's.

Draco smirked and stepped behind Ginny, putting his mouth next to her ear. "Welcome to the Manor."

Author's Note: No offense... I love Harry and Ginny and everything... BUT THANK GOD HE'S GONE! Rofl. Honestly, I really need some good Draco/Ginny action. So ya'll better review so I can get my jam on! (Don't ask. It doesn't make sense to me either.)