Chapter 12: Dealing with lies

Their engagement party was the following weekend. Narcissa had been planning it secretly for a month. She had flooed Molly Weasley the day of Ginny's birthday, allowing Molly to make small changes in the party plans and add people to the guest list.

It was held in the grand ballroom of the Manor. Ginny wondered if Narcissa had invited every wizard in England. Draco had joked with her about half of the people being related to her. Looking at her brothers' families Draco had to ask.

"Gin, love – we have a lot to talk about in the coming months."

"I know Draco. Planning the wedding is going to take a lot of work."

He looked over at the group of pregnant Weasley women; if they weren't pregnant they were holding a baby. She noticed where he was looking. "I was thinking more along the lines of life decisions, where we're going to live, number of children, when to have them, things like that."

With sincerity in her voice, "I was hoping to have a least a dozen children." He tried to hide his shock. Ginny laughed. "That was too easy! Oh, Dragon!" She laughed for a short time before speaking again. "Sweetheart, I'd like to live in the penthouse for the first year at least. I know you want to live in the Manor but I'm not really for that right away. I was thinking three or four children would be nice about two years apart." She takes a drink of her wine. "I'd like to wait three or four years before we start a family. I want to work as a healer for a couple of years."

He kisses her, "I agree with all of that." He nibbles on her neck. "I like the idea of having you to myself for four years."

"Draco, we are in public." Lucius hissed at his son. He kisses Ginny on each cheek. "Ginevra, you look beautiful as always."

"Thank you, Mr…

Lucius eyes her.

"Thank you, Lucius." He smiles at her.

"I hope we will be seeing more of you around the Manor, now."

"I'm sure we will, Lucius dear." Narcissa added. "We have a wedding to plan." She kisses Ginny's cheek. "You look wonderful, Ginevra."

"Thank you, Narcissa. My mother can meet with us Thursday."

"Marvelous, Ginevra. I will have a luncheon arranged."

Ginny never dreamed her engagement would be big news. She was aware it would be on the front of the society page, but she didn't think it would cause the Prophet to sell out, or the things that the Prophet would write. She had been dating Draco for over a year and the reporters had written little about their relationship, and she didn't understand why everyone was so surprised he had become engaged to her.

The paper articles that appeared days after their engagement party were different. Why did she read the paper first thing in the morning? She thought. She fought her want to floo Draco through out the morning. She wasn't dumb enough to let the things in the paper causes problems between Draco and herself but she needed to hear an "I love you" from him soon.

Ginny went to the dining room table, it was covered with catalogues. Narcissa, Molly, and she were meeting tomorrow. She wanted to present only the flowers, brides' maids dress, and invitations, she liked to her mother and future mother-in-law. Their tastes were very different from hers and only the gods knew what they would pick if she didn't narrow it down first.

She had narrowed down the invitations to three when she heard the apparation pop. Her heart raced with joy, jumping up from her chair she ran into the Living room. Only she and Draco could apparate inside the Penthouse. She jumped into his arms knocking the bouquet of flowers he was holding to the floor. Her lips locked on his firmly. She runs her tongue over his lips and teeth asking to deepen the kiss. He answers her request. Moans of satisfaction escaped both of them. He breaks away first, licking and kisses her neck causing her to moan wantonly. "I could get use to this kind of welcome home." He whispers in her ear. She giggles back at him.

"Master, I has placed your luncheon in the parlor. Misses wedding things was in the dining room." Squeaked the small house elf. It picks up the bouquet of flowers from the floor. "Do Miss wish Tabby to place these in a vase?"

Gin looks at the bouquet. There was one red rose surrounded by wildflowers. He handed her a small box. She opens it revealing a single piece of Honeydukes finest chocolate. She takes the flowers in her hand, smells them and hands them back to the elf. "Tabby, please, place them in a vase and place it on dining room table." The elf pops out.

"Thank you, Dragon. That was very sweet." She kissed him again. The house elf pops back in. "Does Master needs Tabby still?" asked the elf.

"No, go back to the Manor." Draco says shortly. The elf leaves the room. "Gin love, you have to stop saying please and thank you to the help."

She pulls away from him and puts her hands on her hips. "I see no need to be rude to any people or creature."

"It's not become an aristocrat to…" He takes her into his arms. "Oh, forget it. I'm not here to fight. I love you, Gin." He caresses the back of her neck, lifts her chin with his other hand and goes in for a kiss. The kiss is soft and caring.

"I've needed to hear that all morning."

"You should have flooed me, love. Father only showed me the Prophet minutes ago."

"Oh, Draco. Rita's comment didn't upset him, did it? I would never keep our children from him or your mother."

"Father wasn't upset. We are used to this. He was concerned about you." He stroked her left cheek with the back of his hand. "It would put my mother's mind at ease to know you're feeling about that topic."

She pulls back slightly but maintains her hold on him. "What makes her think, I wouldn't let her see her grandchildren?"

"Love, not counting the times you were in my private chambers. You've only come to the Manor a dozen times in the last year. And you don't want to live there."

"I'll have to inform her of my thoughts tomorrow."

"Thank you, Love." As he kisses her, he looks into her eyes. "Now, what is this about Finnigan mauling you in public?" Smirking at her during the entire statement.

Smirking back and speaking seductively, "Oh yes, we had the most wonderful snogging session for the whole two minutes it took you to pay the bill. Megan enjoyed watching us"

"I always thought Seamus' wife was into the kinky stuff." He relied in a severe tone.

She playfully slapped his chest. "Be good Dragon."

His left hand went down to cup her bottom, squeezing it once in awhile. His right hand worked it's way to her left breast. He played with her nipple through her shirt while he kissed her feverishly. He slowly breaks the kiss, and whispers. "Am I being good now princess?" His hands keep up their work as he sucked and nibbled on her neck and ear. A lusty moan escapes Ginny's lips. "I'll take that as a "yes".

Fin