Chapter 2- Fallout

*****Ginny*****

Harry's trial happened and he didn't get expelled. Ginny actually felt a little bad that people weren't celebrating more with Harry, because all of her family was worried about the marriage contract.

"Could Dumbledore get me out of it?" was all Ginny wanted to know. He hadn't, she already knew, or they would look happier. She really just wanted everyone else in the family to leave, to go celebrate with Harry or something. Yeah, sure, they cared about her and wanted to be supportive, but they weren't the ones that might have to be forced into marriage.

"We have… a good first step," his father said slowly. "The timeline stipulated was to be within a month of your coming of age…

What? Ginny hadn't even read that part. Because she had sort of thought that they could just put it off forever and never marry anyone. Ginny could live with that.

"But Dumbledore has been able to establish that coming of age should now be interpreted to mean seventeen, not fourteen. So we have three years and a month to find a better way around it," her father ended in what he tried to be a hopeful manner.

"So we just have to kill Malfoy by then," Fred said.

"What if we made him a girl?" George suggested.

Three years and thirty days until her life ended, because one day had already passed, mostly wallowing in her room, which had been a complete waste. Ginny found herself oddly grateful that August was a long month, because that meant one more day. It would be awful if she had been born in February. Of course, three years and thirty days was a long time. She could easily just be dead by then.

"And he thinks, Dear, that we should try to get to know the young Malfoy boy. He points out that… the boy is hardly fifteen and may very well choose a path different than his father's."

Her brothers started protesting at this.

"Dad, Draco only ever talks about his father. He's always going to be just the same," Ron said.

So, not only was her life going to be over in three years and thirty days, but she had to spend some of that time doing something she didn't want to do, getting to know Draco Malfoy.

"Dad, they could hurt her, and Malfoy can't come here," George said. Sometimes they were all good big brothers when it mattered.

"They can't hurt her," Ginny's mother said. That seemed worth listening to. She had sort of wondered if her life would be shorter because Lucius Malfoy would try to kill her. "It's against the contract. They would activate the penalties of the contract, which would be very against their interests," she said.

Penalties? Of course there had to be something making them do it, or they could just ignore it but… she really needed to read that damned contract. She was supposed to be a woman now, not a scared little girl.

"What penalties?" Ron asked for her. Their mum shook her head. She was getting upset. And it took a lot to make Molly Weasley upset. Would Ginny die? What kind of horrible person would do this?

"Both children would go through a very painful process, leaving them unable to have children of their own, or perform magic," their father explained tensely. "And it would be harmful to the attacker as well."

That… didn't sound great, but… did it really sound worse than being forced to marry Draco Malfoy? Even though she had sort of… wanted to have kids… not seven but… three or four maybe… But not with Draco Malfoy. Could people without magic fly brooms? Because… if she could still do that, she could make quidditch her whole life. But they probably couldn't. Why was everyone making her do anything about this before at least three years from now?

"Could she marry someone else before then?" Hermione suggested. "Sorry for… interrupting," she said, standing by the door. Ginny turned to look, and Hermione, Harry, Sirius, and Tonks were all standing by the door. The non-Weasleys in residence. Maybe Hermione and Tonks would be Weasleys eventually, Ginny noted. But not Harry- and not just because of the old-fashioned taking the man's name thing.

But it was a good idea, even if there wasn't anyone she wanted to marry right now. Three years and thirty days was… maybe enough time to change that.

"I- don't think so, but we are looking into it," her mother said. "Dear, you need to know that there is a fidelity clause, we think starting at your fourteenth birthday, that you need to be very careful not to violate," she said gently.

"Mum, I told you. I'm not going to do anything that could give you grandchildren," Ginny said. Though she hadn't precisely said this earlier- she'd simply said that she wouldn't actually get pregnant but… she wouldn't do either.

"Guidelines at the time had… more restrictions in mind… such as kissing," her father said. They usually weren't quite so awkward talking about that stuff. They certainly kissed each other publicly enough.

"So we make sure that's updated just like the age thing," Ginny said. But would she really kiss guys she didn't have any chance of a future with? Maybe.

"It specifically forbids other… physical relationships. You might even need to refrain from hugging non-family members, honey," he said. He was talking like her pet died or something… instead of just her childhood and her supposedly fun teenage years. She had planned to kiss Dean Thomas next.

"I need to read the contract and have some time alone," Ginny said, because that would make her feel in control. "And then I'll meet with him, but only in a public place, and I'm sorry, but I don't want you all there- any of you. I'm not a little girl who needs to sit with her mum and dad," she said. It was about feeling in control. And because her parents being there hadn't stopped Lucius Malfoy last time… it had just made more of a scene.

"Ginny, you can't meet with those people by yourself," her mother protested.

"You said they can't hurt me, right? Can they make anyone else hurt me?" she clarified.

"They can't do that either, dear, but we're not just worried about your physical health, they are horrible people. And even if they can't hurt you, our world isn't safe anymore," her mother said sadly. Ginny knew that. It was why they weren't at home at the Burrow, maybe playing quidditch now, even if Ginny probably wouldn't get to play.

"I could go with her as a… chaperone or just disguised in the crowd," Tonks offered. Tonks was the best.

"I- don't know," her mother said. Mum liked Tonks, probably wanted her as a daughter-in-law, because who wouldn't? But Ginny wasn't sure that a lot of people thought much of her auror skills… because she always knocked down the umbrella stand and various other things.

"Ask Dumbledore what he thinks," Ginny said, even if it sounded whiney. "It's that or I'm not seeing Draco Malfoy at all, which I'm perfectly fine with," Ginny said. "And in case you weren't listening, oh brothers of mine, you can't hurt Malfoy, or I get it too. So if you're going to kill or castrate him, I want warning and to be unconscious first," Ginny said, because speaking like she didn't care made her feel better. "Where's the contract?" she asked.

"With Professor Dumbledore," her father said with a small sigh.

"Then you can get it back when you talk to him about the meeting," Ginny said. "Or make a copy," she added, because she really did want Professor Dumbledore to find her a way out of this. And then she left, being done with the togetherness. She walked past the non-Weasleys and up to her room. If she weren't a Weasley either, she wouldn't be in this trouble.

*****Ginny*****

"And who might you be?" Lucius Malfoy asked Tonks in a formal voice, looking ungenerously at her hair, which was today her most common short pink spikes. They were meeting in Diagon Alley, at a fancy sort of place that Ginny had never been to before, of course, a restaurant with private rooms.

Tonks snapped back, "A friend of her family, a member of yours, and a qualified auror. Hello Aunt Cissy, we've never actually met, since your family persists in pretending that your sister who isn't a mass murderer doesn't exist." Ginny smiled at her friend's words, taking strength from Tonks's defiance. She might have a little bit seemed like she was overreacting, but Ginny totally understood. His tone was rude, even if his words weren't.

Ginny looked over at Draco, the boy was slightly frowning and looking from his mother to Tonks. Did he not know that he had a cousin? Ginny was certain that Malfoy didn't have any other first cousins, no close relatives at all besides his parents and Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Thank you for attending as chaperone in her parents' stead," Narcissa Malfoy said formally but with what looked like a genuine smile. Ginny would guess that really she was just a better actress. "We are eager to get to know Ginevra and appreciate your presence. And please do tell your mother and father that I hope they are doing well. We may very well be planning another wedding shortly," she said, "And I will hope to see her there." That was… nice if it weren't so alarming.

"Du- Professor Dumbledore has it delayed until I'm at least seventeen. I thought you would have known," Ginny blurted.

Draco's head snapped towards her quickly. It was the first time he'd looked at her in the outing, Ginny thought. And he looked relieved. Ginny couldn't hold that against him. She didn't want to marry him either, but marrying him in less than a month would have been unbearable.

"Well, that is excellent dear, now we have another three years to get to know you and welcome you to the family. We simply want Draco to be happy, and of course you as well," Mrs. Malfoy said smoothly. She wasn't easily shaken, Ginny thought.

Ginny felt ill. The words were nice and… she did seem to care for Draco but she wasn't the same sort of nice as Ginny's mum. Molly Weasley was only nice when she wanted to be and to people she at least sort of liked, but you knew she was real when she was doing it. But Mrs. Malfoy… she'd played hostess to parties full of Death Eaters, probably torturing muggles right in front of her and smiled through it, Ginny would bet.

Three years and twenty-seven days, Ginny had wanted to reply.

The last few days hadn't really been that bad, if she wanted to convince herself of that. Ginny hadn't had to clean the house or help her mother cook. No one really made her do anything. If only they were back at the Burrow, no one would have stopped her from flying whenever she wanted. She had thought about asking to go back. Death Eaters didn't seem as likely to kill her now, right? Or had she become more of a target? She was a young pureblood, so they probably hadn't given up on molding her yet, probably.

The table was silent until a tentative young-ish man came to take their drink orders. Lucius ordered wine for himself and his wife, as Ginny paid little attention, until Lucius nodded to Draco to order for himself and the boy asked for Cabernet Sauvignon, some fancy French sounding wine for a what- barely fifteen-year-old boy?

Should she do the same? How expensive was this place? She did have some money on her that George had slipped her.

Just as she had made her mind up to ask for water from the taps, Mrs. Malfoy cut in, "The bill will come to us of course. I think you might like this white wine that I'm having. It's quite light," she said.

Ginny couldn't stop the nervous smile, "Yes, I will, thank you," she said, half to the server, half to Mrs. Malfoy. Tonks ordered a butterbeer. That would have been good, Ginny thought. Honestly, she'd never had anything stronger.

"So, Ginny," Mrs. Malfoy started conversation again. She was clearly the one leading this interaction, both young and old blond wizards staying mostly quiet. Malfoy senior wore a displeased expression, as if Ginny and Tonks didn't merit even pretending to care. The younger, Draco, was quieter than Ginny had ever seen him- had he said anything? Except for ordering the fancy wine. "Third year was a rather important year. What electives did you take, dear?" she asked. Being called 'dear' made her feel uncomfortable, even though her mum did it all the time, even to strangers.

"Creatures and Runes," Ginny answered, and immediately thought it sounded too informal. But who really wanted to say 'Care of Magical Creatures and the Study of Ancient Runes?' Really, saying 'study of' as if that weren't already implied because it's a class.

"Oh, those are the ones Draco is taking as well," she commented, as if this were a great thing in common to be celebrated, but even she looked a bit tense now. It was… a little surprising that they had picked the same electives, well really just that they had both taken Ancient Runes, because most students took Creatures… though her class had maybe been smaller than the year above… Hagrid didn't have the… best reputation. Of course, most of that was Malfoy's fault, really! The brute had tried to get Buckbeak killed, and since coming to Grimmauld Place, Ginny had become somewhat fond of the beast. Luna would love him, Ginny knew.

But Ginny wouldn't have guessed that Draco- she was only thinking of him by his first name because there were too many Malfoys around- would take Runes.

"What made you select the study of Ancient Runes?" Narcissa- because she might as well think that name too- asked.

"My- eldest brother is a curse breaker for Gringotts. He uses a lot of runes in his work, to study and break apart enchantments, and I always found it interesting. Before my second year in Hogwarts, my family visited him in Egypt, where he was working, and it was fascinating," Ginny said. And because she'd had to pick a second class, and none of them sounded better, especially after hearing about Hermione and Harry's experiences in Divination, and it wasn't like Ron enjoyed the class either. And she probably had wanted to take Creatures because of Charlie, because really all the rest of them looked up to Bill and Charlie.

Ginny imagined one of them mentioning yes, they'd seen that her family had won some money. She wondered if she was brave enough to retort that she'd needed a distraction after her traumatic first year. No, she wouldn't give him that much.

Narcissa spoke again instead anyway.

"And you have another brother who was just named the Junior Assistant to the Minister himself. You must be very proud," the woman led. Ginny caught Malfoy senior- she wouldn't even think of being on a first name basis with him- smirk. It seemed like such a childish facial expression, and Draco would look just like that often, so now Ginny knew where he got it. That Malfoy must have known about the row in the Weasley family, about Percy basically calling Harry a liar and the rest of them stupid for believing him, Percy calling their dad other nasty things, essentially disowning the family. Draco's face was still mostly neutral, maybe even annoyed, so he didn't know. Narcissa… Ginny couldn't tell.

"Yes, very proud," Ginny said, and was saved by the server bringing drinks. Ginny definitely needed one. Was that how people started a drinking problem?

"I took Creatures too," Tonks chimed in to Ginny's relief, "Of course about everyone does. Had a few good years with Kettleburn, but by the time my year was ready for the really good stuff, he was too scared to do anything. My other one was Muggle Studies, you know, for the easy 'O' since my dad's muggleborn and liked to keep some muggle things around," Tonks went on. Maybe she was just talking to have some fun.

Everyone just sipped on their drinks. Ginny wondered how many glasses she could have if she finished this one. She ordered whatever Draco did to eat, some meat that she hoped was good.

The food arrived mercifully quickly, but magic could help that. It was a large, delicious steak, and Ginny had a big appetite. But a steak for lunch? They usually had sandwiches.

"How did the two of you meet?" Ginny asked Narcissa after the table had been quiet for too long. She was proud of thinking of such a neutral question.

She was rewarded with quite a bit of time where Narcissa talked and Ginny wasn't expected to say anything at all. It seemed the families had known each other, but they didn't formally meet until Narcissa started school, and even then not well, because though they were in the same house, Lucius was several years ahead. She said she got to know him better her second year when Lucius was made a prefect. A prefect. So he was a fifth year when she was just in her second. That got Ginny thinking that she and Draco were really close in age. They could have been stuck together even if he was almost twenty five years older. She almost felt… lucky considering that. And that was why she had drunk her second glass faster than her first. Drunk- drank- drunken- dranken?

After her second emptied glass, Ginny heeded the looks Tonks was giving her and stuck to her water glass, politely declining another glass of wine. It wasn't like they were full glasses. She just felt… pleasantly warm, and that was definitely better.

Anyway, when Narcissa was about Ginny's age, her parents introduced the idea of her marrying Lucius, and she had no objection as she had admired him very much. He was a seventh year then, and they started speaking, and writing after he graduated. They were married shortly after Narcissa graduated.

Ginny wouldn't get to wait that long, she had realized days ago. She'd have to get married in the first month of her seventh year, and Draco would have already graduated. Would she just live in the girl's dorm like everyone else- like nothing had changed? They didn't… have to have sex or do anything really. That wasn't in the contract- which she had read multiple times now. They didn't even have to live in the same country, really. They just couldn't do anything with anyone else. That… wouldn't be so bad. But Narcissa would be hoping for grandchildren. Ginny had… thought she'd have children eventually. And the idea that maybe she wouldn't get to have them at all… made her want seven. Because if you only had one like the Malfoys did, and that kid was a Percy, then it was like you have no kids at all. And if she was a Malfoy, they could have seven kids and still not be poor. She'd just have to have sex with Draco Malfoy… and raise kids with him, or basically on her own, or with a house elf or something. She could have a house elf and not have to clean ever again!

"Ginny, we must go shopping sometime. I always wanted a girl to shop for," Narcissa said. The sour look Lucius wore made Ginny agree easily. So it was probably because Narcissa would want Ginny to look nice whenever the press found out about his mess or something, Ginny wouldn't let herself care. All her current robes were old Hogwarts robes that the twins had worn as first years. Before she'd fit in those, they'd bought her robes and other clothes from second hand shops. She wasn't sure if she had ever worn anything truly new- unless you counted Weasley jumpers, which Ginny didn't most days. She certainly didn't have anything very feminine or mature. She'd had dresses, but they were girlish rather than womanly.

"And you must come to the manor for tea next week- if we have passed your chaperone's tests for you to come alone next time," Narcissa said… sort of politely to Tonks. Everyone was done eating, though all of the Malfoys left some food on their plates- Ginny didn't.

"That's between Ginny and her parents," Tonks said, though she wore a smile as large as always, standing first to leave. Ginny didn't stand until the Malfoys did. She was glad she didn't feel wobbly. Just… still warm.

That definitely didn't go as badly as Ginny had expected.

Her father met her at the Burrow's floo, gave her a tight hug, and apparated them back to Grimmauld Place.

Back… it seemed like everyone was waiting, too many people. Even in a huge house like this, there were always too many people around. It didn't help that half the rooms were still unusable. Maybe she'd help with the cleaning after all, just to speed it along. And why couldn't they use magic? Could the Ministry really trace it here in this unplottable old house teeming with magic?

"How was it?" Fred was the first to ask.

"Malfoy better not have tried anything," and there was Ron.

"We'd kill him if he did- after we figured out how to not hurt you with it of course, Ginny," and George.

"Ginny, dear, would you like some cake?" her mother offered. Cake in the middle of the afternoon. Her mother had baked because she was worrying.

"Actually, it was fine, better than fine. Narcissa was absolutely lovely," Ginny said, as if she'd been given permission to use the woman's first name. She hoped Tonks wouldn't rat her out. "They paid for my lunch and invited me to tea at their manor. And I'm going to write today saying that I accept. Just me," Ginny said. So… it was maybe stretching a little, because she'd had some bad feelings from Mrs. Malfoy but… had she really done anything to deserve it? Probably.

"Ginevra Weasley, going to those people's house is entirely out of the question. We are doing the best we can with a very difficult situation, but we will not allow you to do something as foolish as that. Really, Ginevra, seeing them in public is one thing, but in their own home," her mother went on. Her mother was as prejudiced as the Malfoys were. Maybe that was harsh, and the Malfoy's deserved it but…

She had the power here, didn't she? They couldn't hurt her, and the Malfoy family with their pure-blood supremacy following the family line mentality would not want to jeopardize their son's only chance to have children. And that train of thought went on far, far too long. Children with Draco Malfoy, raising kids with him as the "supportive father." Sex with Draco Malfoy, ick. She wasn't a child, she knew how those things worked, what went where, and she did not want to picture sex with Draco Malfoy.

But she was sure that she could live as an infertile muggle better than Draco Malfoy could, and his parents would know that too.

"I'm going. And before you try to stop me, talk to D- Professor Dumbledore first. I'd love to just ignore all of this and hope it goes away, but I can't. And I don't really want to live as a muggle, so I figure I better at least give this a try," Ginny finished. She'd tried to sound mature and sensible, saying Professor Dumbledore instead of just Dumbledore, but… the half-yelling probably didn't help. Nor did the running upstairs. And did she really even want to do this?

What was worst is that no one even followed her and yelled at her. She even heard her mother crying. Because something awful was happening to her little girl, and they were hiding in this wretched house, and they couldn't seem to do anything about anything. But Ginny wasn't going to cry.