She turned her honey brown eyes on him and sighed. "What's the meaning of life?" She had fallen hopelessly in love with him, and he didn't care.
"What does it mean to you?" He lifted an elegant blonde eyebrow at her. He knew her answer and was afraid it was right.
"Life, happiness, and... love." She said the word in almost a whisper. He sighed and looked into her gaze.
"You have all of those things." He said it as thought he was aggravated with her for asking him the question.
"Do I? Take a look Draco. If I did, would I be this way now?" He saw her eyes become moist with unshed tears and he didn't know what to do. He had given her everything she wanted, but what she wanted most, he couldn't give.
"I'm sorry Ginny. But I can't just say the three most important words on a whim. Especially if I don't mean them. I'm sorry." He reached out to touch her arm and she jerked away as if he'd burned her. He saw the tears well up in her eyes. "Ginny please." She shook her head and turned her back to him. He heard her draw in a ragged breath, and felt his heart constrict. Just because he didn't love her doesn't mean he doesn't care for her.
"No Draco... I can't do this anymore." He closed his eyes, and drew in a breath. "I have to go Draco. I don't want to be a convenient lay when ever you want. I want something that you can't give me." He let go of the breath he was holding and stared at her back.
"Is that what you think? Is that I'm only with you for the sex? I've never cheated on you-" He was sharply cut off by her hand on his cheek. She had whirled around so fast and her tear-stained face contorted in anger, that he hadn't yet processed what had happened.
"Don't-you-dare-lie-to-me." She hissed out each syllable like it was poison in her mouth. "I've found letters from your mistresses, and I've seen you with them when you think you are safe. I've never said anything to you because I love you. I should've left in the very beginning when I first found out, but I couldn't bring myself to live without you. Now I see the mistake." She grabbed her coat and fled out the door with him calling her name.
He opened his eyes remembering that horrid night as if it had happened yesterday. He had caused what had happened to her now. She had been in a coma for almost ten years now. The story was that she had been running into a muggle town and had been hit by an automobile. When he heard the news that his wife had been in an accident, he had apparated to St. Mungos before you could say Quidditch. He had sat by her side crying for her to forgive him for a week. He loved her, he knew that now. And he was willing to admit it to himself, and ready to admit it to the public.
He didn't know at that time, but she had been a month pregnant, and had lost the baby. He felt like his life was shattered. Potter had been one of the first ones to accuse him of hurting Ginny. Then it had been clear to him that Potter was indeed in love with her. Draco had stolen Ginny away from him and made her unhappy. He knew he shouldn't have messed with their romance back in school, but he couldn't help but find that he wanted her more than anything.
He sat in the chair that he had sat in on that fateful night with a bottle of Firewhisky. He hadn't bothered to get a glass because he knew it would be useless to him, because he throws them in the fire anyway. He had already drained two bottles in less than two hours. Her going into a coma had taken a toll on him, he went spiraling into a major depression. He had been drinking since the accident and there was no turning back now. She was gone. She might never wake up for him again, and he had driven her away, because his stupid arse couldn't admit that he still loved her. It had taken something of a catastrophe for him to realize that he loved her. And now he couldn't tell her.
Her brother Ron had actually tried to convince him that it wasn't his fault. Draco had been very surprised then, because out of everyone, he had expected Ron to be the most angry one out of the bunch. He remembered the night he told Ron what had caused her accident as good as the night Ginny was hit.
Draco was sitting, about to open a bottle of Firewhisky, his new best friend, when he heard a pop come from the front of the house. He called out to whoever it was to bugger off, but was only rudely told to shut up. He turned around in a huff and was about to take a swig of his drink when it was rudely taken away from his hands. He turned around to see the culprit was and saw none other than his brother-in-law.
"Still drinking I see?" He asked as he sat in the chair across for him. "Draco, we talked about this drinking thing. I told you then it wasn't your fault. It isn't. She was upset and she wasn't familiar with the muggle town. It was an accident." Ron's eyes were filled with sorrow and Draco could see that he was thinking about that night.
"I could've prevented it. I could've just... I could've just told her. But I was a stubborn arse then." Draco couldn't meet Ron's eyes, but knew that they were on him. Studying him. He heard him sigh and heard him lean back in the chair. He glanced up to find Ro's eyes on the fire and they were clouded from the memory of that night.
"You never did tell us about the argument that had caused her to run out like that. What should you have just told her? Tell me." Ron hadn't taken his eyes away from the fire. Draco sighed and rubbed his face. He hadn't wanted to tell him at all. Ever. But he figured Ron should know.
"I should've told her.... told her I loved her. I didn't want to admit it to myself then that I still loved her after three years. It seemed to me that she'd always be there to take care of me and love me when I needed to be loved. Not when she needed to be loved. I had only shown her affection when we first got married. After that I'd gone on and I guess, pushed her away. That night she asked me what I thought the meaning of life meant and I asked her what she though. She said life happiness and love. I told her she had all those things, and she said that she didn't and that she was unhappy. I told her I couldn't ell her those three words on a whim especially if I don't mean them. She told me that she couldn't do it anymore and that I was only with her for a good lay. I told her I had never cheated on her and that that wasn't true and she hit me. She told me not to lie to her and she said she knew about my affairs and that she had known since the beginning. Or since the first mistress I had had." He paused and took a deep and ragged breath. Ron could tell he was holding back the tears.
"She said she had never told me because... because she... because she loved me. She said that she should've left me in the beginning, but she couldn't because she couldn't live without me. She said that she saw the mistake now. I miss her so much and it's all my fault!" Draco almost yelled as he stood up and threw a vase at the wall. He saw Ron jump and slumped down to the couch with his head in his hands letting the tears run freely.
"I do understand why she was upset, but you still can't blame yourself. I thought you both were happy, I would've never guessed that you had been sleeping around with other women. For that I'm disappointed in you. I thought that you were truly in love with her. I knew people had problems in their marriages, I mean, 'Mione and I fight, but nothing like this. I can see why she fled, but it's still not your fault she was hit. It's not your fault this happened and none of us blame you for what happened. They just think it was some sort of freak accident." Draco lifted his head and met the eyes of Ron.
"Harry wants to kill me. He tried to at the hospital." Ron chuckled and shook his head.
"He doesn't wasn't to kill you. He is just... he has never gotten over you taking her from him in school. He loved her, you know?" Draco nodded and reached for the Firewhisky, but Ron pulled it out of his grasp. "No more." And with that he threw it against the wall. "You've got to stop wallowing in your self pity. It's not your goddamned fault!" Ron had now stood up and pulled Draco to his feet and was shaking him by the front of his robes. "I've had enough of you sulking and drowning your damn problems in alcohol! It's not your fault! Forget it... I've tried to be nice to you, and all you can do is drink. You're pathetic." Ron yelled and dropped him on the couch. He grabbed his cloak and put it on. "I never thought I'd see the day when I Malfoy destroys himself over something that isn't his fault."
Draco shook his head at the memory and took another swig, his throat burning with the taste of it. He had drank the rest of the bottle and thrown it in the fire. His vision was blurry and he felt like he couldn't move anything on his body. He looked over at the picture of him and Ginny on they're wedding night and she was smiling and waving into the camera and he was looking at her, his eyes filled with love. He reached over and slammed the photo face down on the desk.
He dragged himself up the stairs to his room and collapsed on the bed. He lay on the bed, and the memory of they're wedding night drifted to his head. He smiled as he remembered the ceremony.
"Are you sure you're up to this?" All of her brothers were standing in the room getting ready. George was standing next to Draco and was talking to him.
"Of course I'm ready. Why wouldn't I be?" His fingers were shaking as he tried to tie the tie. He got it in a know and George chuckled and helped him with it.
"Well, one, you're eighteen and she's fresh out of school, and you're shaking something horrid." Draco gave him one of those nervous glances you get when you know the other is right. When George had tied the tie he gave Draco a hardy clap on the shoulder. "It could be worse... she could be pregnant." Draco's eyes widen at his comment. They had never gone that far, and George was making jokes about it.
The door opened and Harry walked inside. Draco let out a sigh of relief, and George started laughing. Harry looked over at Draco and gave a sight smile. "They're almost ready. They'll be ready in ten minutes or so." Draco sat down shakily, and Bill came over and sat down next to him.
"I can't believe Ginny's getting married. And at seventeen. That's young. Me and Fleur didn't get married until about two years ago. I was... quite a bit older than you guys are. That much is obvious, I'm an old man." He said with a laugh. Draco gave a nervous laugh. The door opened and Mr. Weasley came in.
"All right people, show time." And with that they were left to get out into the sanctuary. Draco's best friend, Blaise Zabini, was already waiting at the front. As Draco walked down the aisle to the front. As he took his respectful place and stood waiting next to Blaise, he scanned the crowd and was shocked to see his parents sitting next to Molly and Arthur. They were having a Wizarding Wedding and Draco knew the consequences of getting married with the Wizarding Wedding, once your bound, there's no escaping it.
The great oak doors opened up and Draco looked up to see all of the brides maids in a have circle covering the bride from his eyes. They started to walk towards him, and as they separated, and came to sit on the benches in front of him, he saw Ginny. She was dressed in a white flowing dresses that came to a puddle at her feet and the sleeves came to her hips. She was holding a bouquet of red roses and her veil covered her face completely so he couldn't see her face. As her father and she made the way down the aisle, her train was longer than the hall. When she reached him, they turned towards Dumbledore and he nodded to Draco, so he could pull the veil up over he head. He reached up with shaking fingers and lifter it over her face and gasped when he saw her. She looked beautiful.
"Mr. Draconis Lucius Malfoy, do you so understand that this wedding is to be forever till, death shall do you part?"
"I do." Draco found his voice and licked his lips nervously.
"And do you Miss. Virginia Anne Weasley, understand that this wedding is to be forever till, death shall do you part?"
"I do." Her voice came out soft and whispered through the air.
"Will both of you please kneel on the pillows." They did as they were told and got down on their knees. "Mr. Malfoy, please give me your left hand, and Miss. Weasley your right." They held out their hands and each of them saw the other shaking. Dumbledore grasped their hands and laid Draco's on hers. He raised his wand and conjured a silvery looking piece of cloth and with his wand wove it around they're hands till it was tight. "I am going to ask both of you again, do you understand that this wedding is to be forever till, death shall do you both part?"
"I do." They said in unison.
"Then let these two people Mr. Draconis Lucius Malfoy and Miss. Virginia Anne Weasley become one till death do them part." And with that he started to speak in Latin. As he spoke a grey cloud surrounded Draco as a white hue surrounded Ginny. They felt as if they were bring jerked by some invisible force and then it settled down and he quit speaking. Dumbledore made a movement for them to stand and they did.
"Miss. Virginia Anne Weasley is now Mrs. Virginia Anne Malfoy. Mr. Malfoy, you may now kiss your wife."
Draco turned towards Ginny and leaned in to her. He lightly brushed his lips upon hers, but when she wrapped her arms around his neck he placed his hand on her neck and deepened the kiss. When they pulled apart, the whole church exploded in applauds and shouts from the family.
Draco laid on his back smiling about it. He'll never forget his wedding night.
"What does it mean to you?" He lifted an elegant blonde eyebrow at her. He knew her answer and was afraid it was right.
"Life, happiness, and... love." She said the word in almost a whisper. He sighed and looked into her gaze.
"You have all of those things." He said it as thought he was aggravated with her for asking him the question.
"Do I? Take a look Draco. If I did, would I be this way now?" He saw her eyes become moist with unshed tears and he didn't know what to do. He had given her everything she wanted, but what she wanted most, he couldn't give.
"I'm sorry Ginny. But I can't just say the three most important words on a whim. Especially if I don't mean them. I'm sorry." He reached out to touch her arm and she jerked away as if he'd burned her. He saw the tears well up in her eyes. "Ginny please." She shook her head and turned her back to him. He heard her draw in a ragged breath, and felt his heart constrict. Just because he didn't love her doesn't mean he doesn't care for her.
"No Draco... I can't do this anymore." He closed his eyes, and drew in a breath. "I have to go Draco. I don't want to be a convenient lay when ever you want. I want something that you can't give me." He let go of the breath he was holding and stared at her back.
"Is that what you think? Is that I'm only with you for the sex? I've never cheated on you-" He was sharply cut off by her hand on his cheek. She had whirled around so fast and her tear-stained face contorted in anger, that he hadn't yet processed what had happened.
"Don't-you-dare-lie-to-me." She hissed out each syllable like it was poison in her mouth. "I've found letters from your mistresses, and I've seen you with them when you think you are safe. I've never said anything to you because I love you. I should've left in the very beginning when I first found out, but I couldn't bring myself to live without you. Now I see the mistake." She grabbed her coat and fled out the door with him calling her name.
He opened his eyes remembering that horrid night as if it had happened yesterday. He had caused what had happened to her now. She had been in a coma for almost ten years now. The story was that she had been running into a muggle town and had been hit by an automobile. When he heard the news that his wife had been in an accident, he had apparated to St. Mungos before you could say Quidditch. He had sat by her side crying for her to forgive him for a week. He loved her, he knew that now. And he was willing to admit it to himself, and ready to admit it to the public.
He didn't know at that time, but she had been a month pregnant, and had lost the baby. He felt like his life was shattered. Potter had been one of the first ones to accuse him of hurting Ginny. Then it had been clear to him that Potter was indeed in love with her. Draco had stolen Ginny away from him and made her unhappy. He knew he shouldn't have messed with their romance back in school, but he couldn't help but find that he wanted her more than anything.
He sat in the chair that he had sat in on that fateful night with a bottle of Firewhisky. He hadn't bothered to get a glass because he knew it would be useless to him, because he throws them in the fire anyway. He had already drained two bottles in less than two hours. Her going into a coma had taken a toll on him, he went spiraling into a major depression. He had been drinking since the accident and there was no turning back now. She was gone. She might never wake up for him again, and he had driven her away, because his stupid arse couldn't admit that he still loved her. It had taken something of a catastrophe for him to realize that he loved her. And now he couldn't tell her.
Her brother Ron had actually tried to convince him that it wasn't his fault. Draco had been very surprised then, because out of everyone, he had expected Ron to be the most angry one out of the bunch. He remembered the night he told Ron what had caused her accident as good as the night Ginny was hit.
Draco was sitting, about to open a bottle of Firewhisky, his new best friend, when he heard a pop come from the front of the house. He called out to whoever it was to bugger off, but was only rudely told to shut up. He turned around in a huff and was about to take a swig of his drink when it was rudely taken away from his hands. He turned around to see the culprit was and saw none other than his brother-in-law.
"Still drinking I see?" He asked as he sat in the chair across for him. "Draco, we talked about this drinking thing. I told you then it wasn't your fault. It isn't. She was upset and she wasn't familiar with the muggle town. It was an accident." Ron's eyes were filled with sorrow and Draco could see that he was thinking about that night.
"I could've prevented it. I could've just... I could've just told her. But I was a stubborn arse then." Draco couldn't meet Ron's eyes, but knew that they were on him. Studying him. He heard him sigh and heard him lean back in the chair. He glanced up to find Ro's eyes on the fire and they were clouded from the memory of that night.
"You never did tell us about the argument that had caused her to run out like that. What should you have just told her? Tell me." Ron hadn't taken his eyes away from the fire. Draco sighed and rubbed his face. He hadn't wanted to tell him at all. Ever. But he figured Ron should know.
"I should've told her.... told her I loved her. I didn't want to admit it to myself then that I still loved her after three years. It seemed to me that she'd always be there to take care of me and love me when I needed to be loved. Not when she needed to be loved. I had only shown her affection when we first got married. After that I'd gone on and I guess, pushed her away. That night she asked me what I thought the meaning of life meant and I asked her what she though. She said life happiness and love. I told her she had all those things, and she said that she didn't and that she was unhappy. I told her I couldn't ell her those three words on a whim especially if I don't mean them. She told me that she couldn't do it anymore and that I was only with her for a good lay. I told her I had never cheated on her and that that wasn't true and she hit me. She told me not to lie to her and she said she knew about my affairs and that she had known since the beginning. Or since the first mistress I had had." He paused and took a deep and ragged breath. Ron could tell he was holding back the tears.
"She said she had never told me because... because she... because she loved me. She said that she should've left me in the beginning, but she couldn't because she couldn't live without me. She said that she saw the mistake now. I miss her so much and it's all my fault!" Draco almost yelled as he stood up and threw a vase at the wall. He saw Ron jump and slumped down to the couch with his head in his hands letting the tears run freely.
"I do understand why she was upset, but you still can't blame yourself. I thought you both were happy, I would've never guessed that you had been sleeping around with other women. For that I'm disappointed in you. I thought that you were truly in love with her. I knew people had problems in their marriages, I mean, 'Mione and I fight, but nothing like this. I can see why she fled, but it's still not your fault she was hit. It's not your fault this happened and none of us blame you for what happened. They just think it was some sort of freak accident." Draco lifted his head and met the eyes of Ron.
"Harry wants to kill me. He tried to at the hospital." Ron chuckled and shook his head.
"He doesn't wasn't to kill you. He is just... he has never gotten over you taking her from him in school. He loved her, you know?" Draco nodded and reached for the Firewhisky, but Ron pulled it out of his grasp. "No more." And with that he threw it against the wall. "You've got to stop wallowing in your self pity. It's not your goddamned fault!" Ron had now stood up and pulled Draco to his feet and was shaking him by the front of his robes. "I've had enough of you sulking and drowning your damn problems in alcohol! It's not your fault! Forget it... I've tried to be nice to you, and all you can do is drink. You're pathetic." Ron yelled and dropped him on the couch. He grabbed his cloak and put it on. "I never thought I'd see the day when I Malfoy destroys himself over something that isn't his fault."
Draco shook his head at the memory and took another swig, his throat burning with the taste of it. He had drank the rest of the bottle and thrown it in the fire. His vision was blurry and he felt like he couldn't move anything on his body. He looked over at the picture of him and Ginny on they're wedding night and she was smiling and waving into the camera and he was looking at her, his eyes filled with love. He reached over and slammed the photo face down on the desk.
He dragged himself up the stairs to his room and collapsed on the bed. He lay on the bed, and the memory of they're wedding night drifted to his head. He smiled as he remembered the ceremony.
"Are you sure you're up to this?" All of her brothers were standing in the room getting ready. George was standing next to Draco and was talking to him.
"Of course I'm ready. Why wouldn't I be?" His fingers were shaking as he tried to tie the tie. He got it in a know and George chuckled and helped him with it.
"Well, one, you're eighteen and she's fresh out of school, and you're shaking something horrid." Draco gave him one of those nervous glances you get when you know the other is right. When George had tied the tie he gave Draco a hardy clap on the shoulder. "It could be worse... she could be pregnant." Draco's eyes widen at his comment. They had never gone that far, and George was making jokes about it.
The door opened and Harry walked inside. Draco let out a sigh of relief, and George started laughing. Harry looked over at Draco and gave a sight smile. "They're almost ready. They'll be ready in ten minutes or so." Draco sat down shakily, and Bill came over and sat down next to him.
"I can't believe Ginny's getting married. And at seventeen. That's young. Me and Fleur didn't get married until about two years ago. I was... quite a bit older than you guys are. That much is obvious, I'm an old man." He said with a laugh. Draco gave a nervous laugh. The door opened and Mr. Weasley came in.
"All right people, show time." And with that they were left to get out into the sanctuary. Draco's best friend, Blaise Zabini, was already waiting at the front. As Draco walked down the aisle to the front. As he took his respectful place and stood waiting next to Blaise, he scanned the crowd and was shocked to see his parents sitting next to Molly and Arthur. They were having a Wizarding Wedding and Draco knew the consequences of getting married with the Wizarding Wedding, once your bound, there's no escaping it.
The great oak doors opened up and Draco looked up to see all of the brides maids in a have circle covering the bride from his eyes. They started to walk towards him, and as they separated, and came to sit on the benches in front of him, he saw Ginny. She was dressed in a white flowing dresses that came to a puddle at her feet and the sleeves came to her hips. She was holding a bouquet of red roses and her veil covered her face completely so he couldn't see her face. As her father and she made the way down the aisle, her train was longer than the hall. When she reached him, they turned towards Dumbledore and he nodded to Draco, so he could pull the veil up over he head. He reached up with shaking fingers and lifter it over her face and gasped when he saw her. She looked beautiful.
"Mr. Draconis Lucius Malfoy, do you so understand that this wedding is to be forever till, death shall do you part?"
"I do." Draco found his voice and licked his lips nervously.
"And do you Miss. Virginia Anne Weasley, understand that this wedding is to be forever till, death shall do you part?"
"I do." Her voice came out soft and whispered through the air.
"Will both of you please kneel on the pillows." They did as they were told and got down on their knees. "Mr. Malfoy, please give me your left hand, and Miss. Weasley your right." They held out their hands and each of them saw the other shaking. Dumbledore grasped their hands and laid Draco's on hers. He raised his wand and conjured a silvery looking piece of cloth and with his wand wove it around they're hands till it was tight. "I am going to ask both of you again, do you understand that this wedding is to be forever till, death shall do you both part?"
"I do." They said in unison.
"Then let these two people Mr. Draconis Lucius Malfoy and Miss. Virginia Anne Weasley become one till death do them part." And with that he started to speak in Latin. As he spoke a grey cloud surrounded Draco as a white hue surrounded Ginny. They felt as if they were bring jerked by some invisible force and then it settled down and he quit speaking. Dumbledore made a movement for them to stand and they did.
"Miss. Virginia Anne Weasley is now Mrs. Virginia Anne Malfoy. Mr. Malfoy, you may now kiss your wife."
Draco turned towards Ginny and leaned in to her. He lightly brushed his lips upon hers, but when she wrapped her arms around his neck he placed his hand on her neck and deepened the kiss. When they pulled apart, the whole church exploded in applauds and shouts from the family.
Draco laid on his back smiling about it. He'll never forget his wedding night.