Chapter 15

Ginny's POV

"Did we look like that the first time we watched it?" I asked Severus behind the closed door of our room.

"No, my dear. You were one hundred times more readable than Lucius. You tend to forget the man has been schooled in hiding his feelings since he was an infant. The fact you were involved with him and forgot how good he is at hiding his true emotions is of concern."

"Did you ever think that maybe I got good at reading him and he isn't hiding them as well as he is to you?" I pointed out to him. "After all, I can read you better than anyone else could before."

"But at times you still need me naked and recovering to read me," he pointed out as he removed his socks.

"Or maybe I just pretend I do," I teased him. "For any number of reasons, like that I love it when you shag me senseless."

The next morning, I was the first person up in the house. I made coffee and took my mug of liquid good mood and stood at the living room window that looks out on our large yard. The first light of sunrise was illuminating the area. We had a heavy snowfall overnight, so the world was covered with a thick blanket of snow. The branches on the trees looked four times thicker than normal. I love this time of year; it's so pretty. I watched a deer bound across the yard and jump the fence. She disturbed the perfect blanket of snow.

I then felt a blanket being draped over my shoulders and I leaned back into Severus. I felt his hands on my shoulders. "You always did love dawn," Lucius said.

I'm too close to the window to pull away. "Lucius! I thought you were Severus," I said, hoping he would step back and give me some space.

He remained where he was. "I owe you an apology."

"For what?" I asked, even though I thought I knew where this was going.

"Come sit with me," he requested, finally pulling back and giving me the space I needed.

I followed him to the chairs in front of the fireplace. He magically lit the fire. I took a seat and he followed suit. "The day you asked about marriage, I was in a mood. I didn't want to feel that anyone other than me was the one in control."

"Lucius, it's in the past and it's done."

"Please, allow me to finish. I didn't want to marry you because you brought the matter up. I wanted to be the one calling the shots. I felt that you had me, I was covering all of our expenses, and you were living with me. I wanted you to be happy with what we were. I told myself once you accepted that, then I would ask you."

I knew better than to say anything.

"Then you mentioned children, and honestly, I never thought about more children until you brought it up. At the time, I thought you were trying to force my hand. The idea that you were already expecting never entered my head."

"Lucius…"

"Please, there's more. The next day when I found you packing, I was calling what I thought was a bluff. When you left, I expected that you would return. Every morning when I woke, I told myself it would be the day you returned. I should have swallowed my pride and come after you. When you quit Hollyhead, I should have come for you. I was stubborn for six months. I did look for you, but again, I was too prideful to ask your family as to where you were. I could never admit to any weakness to them and I slipped into acceptance of you being gone."

"By the time you started looking for me, Severus and I were already married," I reminded him.

"I know. I'm sorry for being stubborn and prideful. I'm sorry for not even asking you why it suddenly changed for you. I need to know what I could have said or done that day that would have changed things."

"I don't know," I began, "I wasn't hoping to hear anything particular, besides that you thought I was right. And that, yes, it was time for us to marry. Perhaps had you shown up at the Burrow and said that you would do whatever it took to be with me, it might have changed things. When did you know I was really gone?"

"After you left, I looked for what you left behind, but you took everything that was yours; even your feminine hygiene products. Only the scent of you remained. It was six months before I admitted it to myself."

"Your ego really will be the death of you," I said, shaking my head.

"So, what's the plan for today?" he asked.

I looked back at the yard. "Well, there is a driveway to shovel. Severus will be glad the kids are here to help. I have to get more groceries, and I thought I would get Marie to help me with some baking tonight so you and Eva could have some time together. I also have some gift wrapping to do, so if you want I can wrap the stuff you got Eva."

When everyone was up, I let Severus and the kids know I needed to pick up groceries, so he made sure my side of the driveway was cleared first. I was heading to the car as the kids were shoveling, under Severus' supervision, when Len drove over. "Severus!" he called out from the car. I went over to him as well to ensure I knew when Wyatt needed to be ready to go. "I have a complicated case at the hospital, so I'm not going to be able to take the boys tonight. Would you mind taking them?"

Severus looked at me. I smiled and gave him a nod.

"I can do that," he replied.

"Thanks! You won't be sorry; they're private box seats. The tickets are on the fridge if Tony forgets where I said they were."

"What time is the game?" I asked.

"Seven o'clock," Len answered before pulling away.

Later, Severus called me on my cell. "You should take the boys," he stated, somewhat hopeful.

"Why?" I asked him.

"Because I have no interest in the sport."

"This was supposed to be a guys thing. What's really going on?" I asked.

"I don't like the idea of you in the house with him without me there," he admitted.

"Severus, you have already left me alone with him overnight."

"That was before I gave him permission to win you back." I could hear the annoyance in his voice.

"And you think he's going to wait for you to be gone to start? Severus, he started yesterday with you fifteen feet away. He continued this morning while you were sleeping in. I'm not a fool to it."

"I never meant to imply you were. I'm just aware of how amazing my wife is and don't want to risk losing her."

I shook my head. "Then why did you give him permission to try to get me back?"

"Ego."

"Well then Husband, tell your ego I married the best man in the world!"

Severus and Wyatt were getting ready to go. Lucius and Eva were out for a walk. Marie and I are baking, but her phone keeps going off. I finally couldn't stand it. "What's going on?" I asked about all the notifications on her phone.

"Peggy's parents told her she could have friends over tonight, and they all want me and Eva to come."

"Marie, I think it's best if Eva stays here. She is supposed to be getting to know Lucius."

"Ginevra," Lucius said, startling me as I hadn't heard them return. "I think they should be allowed to go."

I saw Eva behind him looking hopeful. "Can I have a word with you, Lucius?"

Eva came over to Marie, who started showing her the messages. Lucius and I headed to the office. "She's supposed to be getting to know you."

"Yes she is, but I also don't want her to view me as the person who ruins her fun. Ginevra, at fourteen, which would you rather have done; partied with friends or hung out with an old man?"

I knew he was right, but I didn't like the idea of a few hours alone with him. Not since Severus told me what he had told him.

"I was thinking; I wanted to head back to that magical area. There's a couple of things I have been thinking about. Perhaps you could join me. We could have our evening meal there." Damn him! That sounded pretty good. "You're not afraid of me for some reason, are you, Ginevra?"

Double damn him! How does he know me this well? Implying I'm scared of something! A challenge I can't ignore. "No, I just… screw it, sure."

We returned to the kitchen. "Fine, you may go. I'll get your dad to pick you up after the game."

"Thanks, Mom, you're the best! Thanks, Father, for being cool!" Eva exclaimed. The girls then bolted upstairs to get ready.

"She called you Father," I said, smiling at him.

"Ginevra, she's trying to manipulate both of us, and she knows we are looking for her and my relationship to develop. She got what she wanted and gave us a reward for our behavior."

"I know, but it's still progress. Anyway, I'm going to go change if we are heading out too."

Once in my room, I called Severus. "Hey, the girls are heading over to Peggy's for a get together. Do you mind picking them up?"

"Mom," Eva barged in, "can we spend the night? Mrs. Doll says it's okay, and she'll both pick us up and drop us off," Eva blurted out from the doorway.

"Sure thing."

"Thanks, Mom!"

"Never mind, dear." I said to Severus.

"What are you going to do alone with Lucius?" he asked cautiously.

My call was now coming through Severus' car's Bluetooth. "He and I are going to do some last minute Christmas shopping and perhaps grab a bite to eat at the 'Drunken Sailor.'" I tried to let him know we would be doing magical shopping.

"Okay. I'll see you in a few hours."

I quickly changed into clothing that wasn't covered in flour. When I came down, Lucius was, sort of, watching the early news. "I want to wait until the girls are picked up before we leave."

A few minutes later, the girls came downstairs, I could tell by the clothing they were wearing there would be some cute boys at this get-together. Eva was wearing a tight pair of jeans and a sweater that I'm sure she shrunk so that there were peekaboos of her midriff showing when she moved.

Severus and I saw this over the summer; Eva followed the limits we set, but she was so close to the line. Lucius, who was used to the innocence of magical British kids, wasn't ready to see his daughter looking hot.

"Evangelina, I don't think that is acceptable," he stated coldly.

"Lucius, Canadian kids are different." I shook my head at him. "Girls, do you have your toothbrushes?"

I got an eye roll from both girls. "They just turned into the area," Marie stated.

I led the girls to the front door. "'Night Mom, Father," Eva said and she kissed Lucius' cheek before bolting out the door.

I started laughing. "She just did it again! You let it go as to how she was dressed and your reward was affection. Lucius, she's a natural at this game!"

"Don't you think they were dressed inappropriately?"

I smiled at him. "Severus and I had this battle with her last summer. She's following the rules we put in place, however she's pushing it to the line. I think if Severus was home, she would have toned it back a bit more. He can still scare kids when needed. Let's go!"

Lucius was on a spending spree. We stopped outside of a jeweler's. He was clearly considering something. "What is it, Lucius?"

"Would I be breaking a law if I bought Marie something here?"

"You would be riding a very fine line, that's for sure," I warned. "It's sweet that you're thinking of her." I have learned that Lucius' love language is gifts of love, whereas Severus' is acts of service.

"She matters to Evangelina," he stated.

"Lucius, she's a Muggle."

He looked displeased with me. "You're the one who pointed out that having her like me would help me with Evangelina."

"I advise getting her something at a Muggle shop."

"But if she can tell it's magical, wouldn't that say something? A book or an idea in a movie is one thing, but she would never expect magic in a bobble. That would be amazing if she picks up on the fact it's not Muggle."

I understood his logic. "Fine, but just goblin made; no other magical properties to it." He chose a bracelet.

As we left the shop, he suggested, "Let's get some dinner."

We were sitting in a restaurant, looking out at the water and marina. "Ginevra, are you really happy?"

I smiled at him. "You know, everyone I know has questioned me and Severus being together, but he and I have a lot in common."

"Like what? What does a beautiful young woman have in common with a bitchy loner?" he asked.

"We both grew up poor, so it gives us common values. We have both felt like outsiders. We both were used by Tom." Lucius and I had dealt with the fact he gave me the diary years before.

"He's 22 years older than you!" he pointed out.

"And you're 27 years older, Lucius!" I pointed back. "We're never going to make sense to you because you don't want us to, but we bonded because we were protecting each other."

"Don't misunderstand me, Ginevra; I care for both of you and I want both of you to be happy."

"Just not happy together?" He gave me a knowing look. "How is Draco? I never even asked."

"He is good. He married Astoria Greengrass and they have a son, Scorpius."

"Why does the Malfoy family only have one heir and then stop?" I asked. Him not wanting more children was half the reason I left.

"Sadly, it boils down to dividing the inheritance."

"But Lucius, you're the first person to talk about the dwindling numbers of Purebloods! You could help that by having more children."

"Would you like to start on that with me right now?" he asked, then grinned.

"I'm a happily married woman!" I reminded him..

"You seem to be. I'm too old now to be having more children. Perhaps had things been different, we would have had more than just Evangelina. I should have talked to you that day," he admitted.

"Perhaps I could have gone about things differently as well," I conceded.

He reached over and took my hand. "Ginevra, I want you as my wife still."

I heard the words, I understood the meaning to them, and what he was saying. A part of me was touched.

"Umm…"

"Leave Severus and marry me," he encouraged me.

"Lucius, I love Severus. I'm sorry," I whispered, finally pulling my hand away from him. "I won't tell him what you just suggested this time, but if you do it again, I will."

"Really? He gave me permission to win you back," he said.

"I know, but it wasn't permission to win me back; it was permission to try to win me back. I'm not going to lie and say that I don't love you or that there isn't a part of me that isn't jumping for joy right now that you do want me, but I'm sorry, Lucius. Severus is my other half. He completes me."

He looked down.

"You saw what I was like when I was with Harry. I was like that because I wasn't with Severus."

"I was the one who brought you back to life," he pointed out.

"You did, and I thank you for that. I was frozen without him and you warmed me up, but Severus is the cause of the fire. Lucius, it has been fifteen years! Why haven't you moved on?"

He looked down for a moment again, then back up into my eyes. He licked his lips before speaking, "I thought I had, but seeing you again in August proved I hadn't. You're the one that was the cause of the fire for me. You were never after my money, or name. You knew my past and didn't hate me for it."

It was my turn to look down. If I wasn't with Severus and if I didn't love my snarky old dungeon bat with all my heart, this would have been it for me. I didn't want to hurt Lucius. I did love him, but I was in love with Severus. I honestly didn't know what to say.

"I'll stop. I have clearly made you uncomfortable. I do wonder why you are attracted to both of us, though."

I was more comfortable with this subject. "Severus and I talked about it. We think, in some way, it boils down to the diary and what, however fake it was, that I thought I had with Tom. I don't say this to upset you; just hear me out. I was eleven and away from my parents for the first time. Tom was able to isolate me from nearly everyone, so that diary was very important to me. We all know he was dark and powerful. It's likely the ways that you and Severus are similar to Tom and the qualities I found attractive in what I knew of him."

"Or saying that my actions against you as a child…"

"No, Lucius, I'm saying that I was at an age and time in my life that I was forming what I found attractive. If it wasn't Tom, I likely would now, or even twenty or so years back, have been over the moon for a boy nearer to my own age. But I was exposed to someone more mature, someone who was able to fake emotional intelligence, and someone who is darker than myself."

"Ginevra, did you love him?"

"As much as an eleven year old can. I loved who he pretended to be; the guy that understood me, that wanted to hear all my hopes and dreams, the one who was there for me when I needed him. It was all fake and manipulation, and I know that now, but at the time Tom was a dream come true. When Severus was protecting me before the end of the war, I once asked if he thought Tom remembered me. Severus asked if I wanted Tom to. I knew he wasn't the person I thought he was, but even then, there was a small piece of me that hoped that my Tom was still in there and that he would keep me safe. At the same time though, I knew my Tom wasn't real."

"Might I ask; when did things start between you and Severus?"

"It started…uhm, I'm not sure exactly. I learned the night Carrow skinned me that Severus never betrayed the Order and that he was protecting me. Some time later, I realised that Tom expected to see memories of Severus having me sexually. But who, short of maybe my own mother under Polyjuice potion as me, would have sex with him and never tell a soul? I was the one who made him take me. He spent a lot of energy trying to make me hate him after, out of guilt. After he gave up on that idea, I forced him into a friendship. We were only a traditional-ish couple for a few weeks. Honestly Lucius, you're the first person to hear this."

He stared at me for a long time. "It's not fun hearing how the woman one loves grew to love your best friend."

"I'm sorry. Perhaps I should go. It will be dark, so you can Apparate to the back deck." I felt bad and got up.

Lucius reached out and stopped me. "Don't go. I asked for you to explain it."

"Lucius, don't hate him," I said, still standing, "Honestly, if it weren't for Severus, I don't think we would have happened. Eva wouldn't have happened."

"I don't hate him; I envy him. Do you realise what that means for me?"

"I know that the two of you were best friends. Lucius, he kept Draco from having to kill. He has loved your daughter as if she was his own. He did come to you and give you the chance to admit to him that you still loved me before he talked to me about marrying him. He knew you were lying then, but I don't doubt, if the tables were turned, that you would have done the same thing. My point is; I hate that I came between the two of you."

"You didn't come between us! Our own egos are the real thing that came between us."

My phone went off and I glanced at the text message: 'The shops have been closed for some time now. Has Lucius kidnapped you?' I smiled.

"Severus?" Lucius guessed.

"Yes. He's concerned," I stated.

Lucius pointed at my phone. "That's either the best thing Muggles have come up with, or the worst thing."

'We're having a bite to eat before returning.' I send a message back. "Eva, of course, wants one."

"Marie has one. Is that normal?" he asked.

"Yes it is. We have avoided it because she knows it won't work at school, but I think we will have to cave and get her one for her birthday. I can't see her going another summer without one. She complains that she's a freak for not having one."

"Are you really happy living as a Muggle?" he asked.

He would never change. "Lucius, I hate to point it out, but you have been living Muggle for days now and you have been in a much better mood than Severus or I EVER expected!" He looked at me like he wasn't happy that I was right. I, in turn, sheepishly smiled, then looked down.