Ginny watched Hermione until she was out of sight. The older witch was clearly preoccupied (and clearly besotted with Ginny's older brother, even if she wouldn't admit it), but she wanted to be on the safe side. Hermione of all people would be discreet, but Ginny preferred no one knew until she was ready.
She made her way down Diagon Alley with ease, slipping through the crowd until she reached a certain set of upscale flats above a row of shops. Ginny headed for the door marked 3E and knocked.
After a few seconds the door swung open, and a pair of strong yet slim arms pulled her inside so forcefully she caught her breath. Before she regained it, thin lips were on hers, kissing with increasing passion. They stumbled backward, kissing and groping, until suddenly they fell horizontal, the cold leather of a sofa beneath her. Ginny was dizzy by the time they parted, lips chapped and swollen, hair mussed, face flushed, chest rising with rapid breaths.
"Nice to see you, too," she said, standing up and straightening her blouse. "You act like I didn't just see you last night."
The blond wizard was fixing his hair with equal fastidiousness, smoothing each piece that dared stick out. "I'm not used to waking up alone."
"I have to go home some time," she said. "I pay good money for that place."
"Tell me, where do those teammates of yours think you spend half your nights?" Draco asked with amusement.
"The Burrow, Grimmauld Place, a different place every night, I don't know," she replied. "I'm hardly the only one whose bed is still made in the morning. No one cares."
"No one but your family," he reminded her, sliding an arm around her shoulder as she sat next to him. Draco was much more affectionate in private than public.
Not that they spent much time in public.
"It's not that they'll be opposed," she argued. "Just ... it will take a minute for them to get used to the idea."
"I switched sides at the beginning of the war," he said petulantly. "I risked my life. I fought alongside all of them, against people I used to consider friends."
"Yes, I know, dear," she said patiently.
"No one minded me when I lived there. Why would they have such a problem with me now?"
"I'm the only girl, and I'm the youngest. The baby. Ron wasn't particularly thrilled when I dated Harry, if you remember, and they're best friends."
"I chose the wrong side, but I changed as quickly as possible. I made one mistake, and everyone still holds it against me," he complained.
Ginny was a Weasley. Her patience was short-lived. "It was hardly a small mistake, Malfoy," she said, stressing his name. "You were a Death Eater. You may not have done much harm while you were, but the fact – and the mark – remain. And we all remember the six years you were a giant prat to us all."
Draco rubbed his left arm, where the Dark Mark was still barely visible, faded from a tattoo to a scar. "Then why would you go and fall for the giant prat?" he said, grumpy.
"Who said I fell for you?" Ginny retorted playfully. "Perhaps I'm just having a good laugh. Perhaps you're simply Mr. Right Now."
Draco leaned toward her, his breath hot against her skin. "Right now, as in this very moment? Because it just so happens that works for me as well."
Ginny giggled as he began peppering her neck with kisses. "No, not right now, at least not here. Bare skin on a leather sofa? I don't think so."
"Then I suppose I'll have to remedy the situation," he whispered, and in one sudden, fluid movement, he stood and picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder.
Ginny squealed and protested this decidedly undignified treatment all the way to his bedroom, where she soon stopped objecting entirely. Afterward, Draco returned to their earlier subject.
"So do you really think tonight will go alright?"
Ginny sat up, wrapping a sheet around her. "Merlin, Draco! I've never seen you so insecure. I much prefer you cocky."
"You prefer me cocky?" he repeated, grinning as he put the emphasis on the last word. "I think I can do cocky. Why don't you come back over here and I'll show you just how cocky I can be?"
"Oh, shut up," she snapped, though she laughed. "Tell me, does a talent for penis jokes run in the Black family?"
"What?" he sputtered.
"You, Sirius, and Tonks all have such filthy minds. I'm simply wondering if underneath that aristocratic exterior runs a vein of immaturity and gutter humor."
"First of all, I don't think you can use aristocratic in the same sentence as Sirius and Tonks. Secondly, as of about five minutes ago, you seemed very enthusiastic about my filthy mind."
"It wasn't the mind that called to me," Ginny replied silkily, reaching out to trace the well-defined stomach.
"What would your parents say if they could see you now, in bed with a Malfoy?" Draco asked.
"And the mood has been ruined." Ginny sighed as she climbed out of bed and began to dress. "Don't bring up my parents while we're in bed, Draco. If they saw me naked with any man, they wouldn't be pleased even if it was Merlin himself."
"Would naked with a woman be okay, then?"
Ginny laughed. "See what I mean? Filthy mind." Then she sighed. "Since you're so concerned, here's what's going to happen tonight. We'll tell them our news, and all will be quiet for a moment. My brothers will get that 'I want to hit someone' look, and –"
"My cousin will undoubtedly make some sort of ribald joke," Draco interjected dryly.
"Yes, most likely. Anyway, despite how they look, no one will hit anyone or anything, and they'll be happy for us. Remus or Luna will be the first to say something nice. And then it will be over."
"If you say so."
"I do. Besides, if all else fails, we can turn the attention to Charlie."
"Your brother? What's going on with him?"
"Nothing yet," Ginny replied. "I ran into Hermione in Diagon Alley and she told me she ran into Charlie. There's something going on between them, or I'm the Minister of Magic. We'll get them under the mistletoe again."
Draco laughed as he finished dressing. Ginny watched him with a fond smile as he fussed over which shirt to wear. You can take the boy out of the manor, but you can't take the manor out of the boy. His flat was evidence of that. Cleaned once a week by his mother's house-elf, it was spotless at all times, decorated in a black and white theme and filled with designer furniture. Very Malfoy.
"You know, that's the good thing about your family and all the others," he remarked.
"What's that?"
"There's always someone to deflect any sort of tension. The twins will make a joke, Tonks will embarrass Harry ..."
Ginny laughed. "Andromeda will scold her, Luna will bring up Wrackspurts or some other imaginary being, Hermione will try to dissuade her with logic ..."
"Tonks and Sirius will argue, as will your mother and Fleur, Percy will bore everyone to death ..."
"Mum will go on about Bill and Charlie's hair, Ron will talk with his mouth full, Hermione will tell him off, Hagrid and Charlie will drink too much and sing inappropriate songs ..."
"Your father will interrogate the Grangers on plugs, and Percy will suck up to Minister Shacklebolt," finished Draco.
"And no one will even notice Ginny and Draco," Ginny added. "Not to mention, Neville returns today."
"Does he? It's about time. How long has he been in America?"
"Six months," she replied. She pulled on her elegant boots and rose reluctantly. "I should go soon."
Draco turned around, raising his eyebrows. "Go? Why?"
"I want to stop by Bill and Fleur's," she explained. "Fleur's family leaves today, and I want to say goodbye to Gabi. And I still need to dress for the party."
"Why did you come here, then? Was this just a booty call?"
Ginny smirked. "Would you mind if it was?"
"Not at all. I simply want to know where I stand with you."
"Where you stand with me," Ginny repeated contemplatively. She took both his hands in hers. "I came here to make sure you weren't going to chicken out tonight." She grinned at his outraged look. "Anything else was a bonus. For the record, I like you out of bed as much as in. How's that?"
"Satisfactory," he answered, kissing her briefly before following her into the living room.
Ginny rolled her eyes as she took a handful of Floo powder. "I think I was more than satisfactory about fifteen minutes ago." They shared a smile. "Don't be late. We'll tell everyone after dinner, okay?"
Throwing down the Floo powder and shouting "Shell Cottage!", Draco's flat disappeared with a whirl, and a moment later, she spun out of the fireplace into Bill and Fleur's seaside home.
"Ginny?" Her eldest brother stepped forward, smiling. "Hi. What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to say goodbye to Gabi before the Delacours left. Am I too late?" She brushed herself off before hugging Bill.
"No, you're right on time. We don't leave for the Portkey for a while."
"Cutting it close, aren't you? Mum won't be pleased if you're late to the party."
"It's not even her party," Bill said dismissively. "But if she is, she is. Someday, Gin, you'll learn the joys of balancing the in-laws with your own parents."
"Just imagine how much more complicated it will get when you have kids, if you ever get around to it," she teased. Both their mother and Apolline Delacour had made very clear their desire for grandchildren in the years since Bill and Fleur married.
To her surprise, Bill didn't roll his eyes like normal. "Yes, I'm sure it will be difficult," he said, looking positively delighted by the prospect.
Shrugging, she followed her tall brother into the kitchen, where the Delacours were sharing a cup of tea with their daughter. All were pleased to see her, and they chatted briefly before she gave hugs all around. Though several years younger, Fleur's little sister Gabrielle had taken a shine to Ginny, and the two were good friends. After one last "Au revoir!" Ginny accompanied Bill back to the living room.
"I wish I could stay, but I have to get ready for the party," she explained.
"So early? Have to look good for a hot date?" he asked good-naturedly.
"Maybe," she replied mysteriously.
Frowning, Bill immediately assumed a more appropriate older brother attitude. "Really?" he inquired. "Who?"
She winked as she stepped into the fireplace. "Guess you'll have to wait and see tonight."