Chapter 7: A Proposal

Ginny looked out from her bedroom window, watching with heightened excitement as the lone figure stomped through the snowy yard. What was he doing here? She hadn't expected him until this afternoon. The sun had barely risen, and under normal circumstances she would still be asleep. As it was though, she had done no more than drift in and out of sleep all night. It was the fourth day of the Christmas Holidays and Ron, Hermione, and Harry had been invited to the Burrow for Christmas Eve. What they didn't know, is that Draco had also been invited. It was all part of Ginny's master plan to introduce Draco as her boyfriend to Ron. Her brother was still in the dark about it, Hermione refusing to take on the responsibility of telling him. She would have told Draco to come earlier, but he had just gotten back from his assignment in Greece yesterday.

She was about to run down to greet him, when she saw her father rush out of the house and steer him away from the door. Astonished, she watched as the two wizards disappeared into her father's shed. What in Merlin's name was going on? Lying on the floor, she scrambled for the extendable ear she knew was somewhere under her bed. Yanking it out, it looked less like an ear and more like a mashed up dust collector. Grabbing her wand, she cleaned it, and then raced out of her room.

Encompassed by a warming charm, Ginny crouched against the side of the shed, ignoring the snow that was melting on her dressing gown. The ear had become a fleshy rope, looping around the perimeter of the shed, and stopping under the door crack.

"And you will be able to provide for her?"

"Mr. Weasley, I can assure you, your daughter will never be in want of money or anything that money can buy."

"I knew this was only a matter of time. Ever since I saw you with her back in May. I had every intention of not allowing it, you understand. But, well. I was you not so long ago. Eighteen and asking Molly's father for her hand. Her father did say no. Didn't think much of me. Thought I was from the wrong sort of family. And so I know that what I say doesn't really matter. Ginny is too much like her mother. Stubborn and sure of herself. Molly ignored her father, married me anyway, and ruined her relationship with her parents. I won't have history repeat itself. I won't lose my daughter over this."

"…..So is that a yes then?"

Ginny heard her father give a large, resigned sigh and had to stop herself from shrieking in delight. "Yes. You have my blessing. Just remember, her mother and I still expect to see her for family dinners every once in a while. And when you have children, Molly will want to watch them. No grandchildren of ours are going to be raised by a house elf."

"Yes sir." Ginny had to clap a hand over her mouth to keep from squealing. Her face was one enormous grin. The door opened and Ginny jerked back, hastily trying to roll up the ear, but it was too late. Her father had the end of it securely in his hand, and was looking over at Draco with an eyebrow raised. "If you planned some surprising or romantic way of doing this, you'll have to rethink it." Ginny stepped out around the corner of the shed, and grinned guiltily.

Her father shook his head in a way that clearly showed his many years of dealing with his children's antics, and released the extendable ear. Draco took a minute to look back and forth between daughter and father, and then unceremoniously dropped to his knee. Mr. Weasley's eyes rounded along with his daughter's, and he held out a hand. "Hold on!" Producing a patronus, he sent it flying into the Burrow and the three waited in a strange sort of stillness as Mrs. Weasley rushed out the door in her nightgown, wand held ready for battle. "Arthur! Where's the attack!"

"Sh! Just watch." Alarmed, Mrs. Weasley took in the scene in front of her, and looked ready to faint. Draco turned to face Ginny, his face red, and tried to block out her parents.

"As you know, I don't have a clue how to be romantic. I splattered you with glitter and turned your bedroom into some pink nightmare when I tried. I don't always know how to say things kindly and we're probably going to piss each other off many times over the course of our lives. But you also make me the happiest I've ever been and I promise to love you and provide for you for the rest of our lives. Ginevra Molly Weasley, you went from being my favourite person in Hogwarts, to being my favourite person in the entire world. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Ginny realized she was crying, and could only nod frantically, before launching herself at him. They toppled over into the snow together, Ginny squeezing him for dear life as she kissed him. He flailed under her, and shot a look over to the side where her parents were watching them. His discomfort broke Ginny out of her daze, and she followed his gaze before blushing and pulling back. As the two of them stood up, Ginny could hear her mother crying, and beamed. Draco was retrieving something from his cloak, and Ginny nearly fainted as he opened the box. That was for her?

"It's a bit extravagant I know, but it's been in the family for centuries. My father's grandmother was its last owner." Uncaring of her parents, Ginny found herself kissing him again. "It's beautiful. I love it. Oh Draco. You really didn't need to."

"Oh shut up, of course I had to. You're going to be a Malfoy and Malfoys always have the best of everything." Ginny laughed and Draco smiled back as he slipped the ring onto her finger. Then she was hugging him again, and he hugged back, both of them incredibly happy and in Draco's case, relieved. "Oh my baby! Oh Arthur! Look at them! She's practically glowing isn't she? What are we all doing out here in the cold? Come inside dears. We can celebrate over breakfast. Draco, what is your favorite dish? Ginny loves beans and tomatoes on toast. Bit odd, but there you go."

"Er, well I actually like bangers with mushrooms the best I suppose. Thanks Mrs. Weasley." Ginny watched her mum hesitate for a moment, and then nod decisively. "Never mind this Mrs. Weasley nonsense. It's mum to you now. Bangers and mushrooms hmm? Charlie always liked that as well. You'll have to meet him when he's here next. Back in Romania for Christmas this year, he is."

Draco shot a look over to Ginny that was half dazed and half incredulous. Ginny just squeezed his hand and smiled back at him. Ginny had a suspicion she had Fleur to thank for this reception of Draco. Her parents had already experienced the futility of not immediately embracing an in-law, and seemed inclined to not repeat that experience. If Draco was going to be family, they seemed to know they might as well accept it and save everyone the grief.

Ginny couldn't help but feel like she was in her own little world, even as her parents chatted with each other and cooked up breakfast in the kitchen. Not letting go of his hand, she sat in the chair next to him, and simply gazed at him as he made simple conversation with her parents. All throughout breakfast, it seemed like a dream. They were engaged. He had really proposed. She was going to be Ginevra Malfoy. She knew it had been coming. But having the ring, having it really be real, it was incredible.

"We'll let you two have some time alone. Just remember, the others are set to arrive around one. Don't go too far and remember, back by one." Ginny and Draco nodded in agreement, anxious to get out the door. They began by grabbing brooms out of the shed and flying a ways off, but neither could concentrate on anything but the other. They ended up under a tree, making out, brooms long forgotten. In between the kissing, they managed to catch up on the two weeks since he had been at her Quidditch game. They also talked briefly about wedding plans, tentatively slating their wedding for the summer. But even as they talked, they couldn't keep their hands completely off each other. Kissing often interrupted sentences, not that either minded, and 'I love you' was muttered back and forth at random intervals.

As they flew back towards the Burrow, Ginny felt her nervousness come back full force. She knew Draco was nervous too, and had therefore failed to mention to him that Ron didn't know about them dating. It would only have increased his anxiety. But she would admit that she might have made a mistake with that. As soon as she was through the door, Ron could be heard from the living room. "Ginny's here mum! Now can you tell us why you've been acting like an absolute nut since we've gotten here? Ow! What was that for 'Mione?"

Taking a deep breath, Ginny gripped Draco's hand and marched forward. Draco stumbled slightly, and then matched her pace as they entered the family room together. "About time you got here! Mum wouldn't let us eat….what the BLOODY HELL IS HE DOING HERE!" Draco had slipped out of her grip and retrieved his wand before she registered what was happening. Ron had shot a hex that Draco barely dodged. But before Draco could retaliate, Ron had been blasted backwards into a chair by George.

"The prat is Ginny's boyfriend. Honestly. How do you not know that by now?" Draco had managed to stand and brush his robes by this point, smirking at Ron's flustered protests. "Boyfriend…but…no. That's impossible. It's…how…I…" Hermione sighed, and looked to Harry for help. Harry was busy looking at Ginny though, his expression rigid as he looked at her hand. "No…not boyfriend."

George, Percy, and Hermione all looked at Harry in confusion, but Harry only nodded towards the two. "I think Ginny might have an announcement."

Ginny instantly found herself the center of attention, and gave them all a big smile. "Harry, Ron, Hermione, Percy, George. As most of you know, I've been with Draco for over a year. And very recently, we've gotten engaged." The reactions were very mixed. Percy perked up at the news and came over to give Draco a handshake, congratulating him, while Draco shook his hand back with surprise. George lifted his bottle, tipping it in Draco's direction with a wink. "Good luck mate. She has a temper that one. Taught her half of what she knows."

Harry sat quietly, just about as neutral as it was possible to be. Hermione was equally silent, but looking between the two with disapproval. Ron could not be quieted though. He was up and shouting. "Engaged! Is this some horrible joke? No way I'm going to be related to that prat! Get away from my sister you slimly git! Mum! Why are you just standing there? You can't actually allow this to happen!"

Ginny watched as her mum put her hands on her hips. "Ronald Weasley, don't you take that tone with me. This is your sister's decision, and she made it of her own volition. She's of age now, and if this is what she wants, then you'll just have to find a way to live with it."

"But he's evil!"

"Oi! I am not."

"Close enough! I can't believe we saved your sorry arse. And how do you repay us? With this! Preying on my little sister, trying to wiggle your way into my family."

"Preying on me! Is that what you think Ron? That I'm just some poor little victim of Malfoy's? I'll show you weak. Draw your wand!"

"Ginevra! Ronald! Stop it this instant! Wands away now and wash up for lunch." The two siblings glared at each other, and then slowly did as their mum had said. George tried to break the tension with a joke. But as soon as Hermione laughed, Ron snapped, turning his ire onto his girlfriend. "You knew about this, didn't you! How long?"

Hermione's shoulders went back and she glared at Ron. "Not as long as Harry. And no need to look so angry. I'm not Ginny's keeper." Scandalized by this new piece of information, Ron could only look at Harry with wide eyes. "Harry?"

Harry blushed something mad, and ran his hand through his hair. "I didn't really know. I didn't know it was a relationship I mean. I just knew that they had been….uh….together." Ron's ears were bright red and Hermione's eyes had widened. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had tensed, while George and Percy shared a look of confusion.

Draco winced as Ginny took the opportunity to put it all out in the open. "Yes, alright! George and Percy, sorry about this, but everyone else already knows. Harry only heard the school rumours Ron. He didn't know anything other than what the other 250 people who went to school with us knew. It's going to come up at some point if not now. Neville, Seamus, they all only know part of the story."

"Which is what exactly?"

"That Draco and I were sleeping with each other all of last year." You could hear a pin drop. And then it was chaos. Ron didn't bother with a wand this time. He leapt for Draco, shoving him to the ground before going at it with his fists. Both Percy and George were standing, looking as if they weren't sure if they should be helping Ron or not. Part of their reluctance could have been due to Ginny who was yelling, shoving Ron off her fiancé, eventually using a powerful charm when her body wasn't enough.

As Ron groaned and tried to recover, George drew his wand in determination. "Sorry Gin, but no decent brother can let this go." Ginny screamed for him to stop, but it was too late. George had slammed Draco up against the wall, pinning him there with a spell. Draco's head lolled, already bruised and bloody from Ron's assault. "Perce?"

Ginny saw Percy reluctantly raise his wand, and she shouted a disarming spell at him. Percy let his wand clatter to the floor without much resistance, and Ginny turned her attention to her other brother. "Let him go George!"

"Gin, I get that you love him but"

"But nothing! Let him go right now!"

"George, listen to Ginny. You don't think as her father I didn't feel the same way when I found out? But it's no use now. They're getting married and the past can't be undone." Her father's words worked where hers had failed, and George slowly let Draco back down to the floor. Draco groaned in pain, and Ginny gave her mum a desperate look.

"Right. To the kitchen all of you. And if anyone so much as raises their wand, you will be sent to eat lunch by yourself in the shed. Now off with you!" Ginny stayed behind as her mum went up to get healing potions. She tried to cradle him in her lap, but he pushed her away and sat up on his own. "Stop, I'm fine. I just…I just need a minute." Ginny nodded and drowned in her feelings of guilt. She shouldn't have said anything. Her and her stupid mouth. Why had she insisted on everyone knowing the truth? Of putting it all out there?

"I'm sorry. I never thought that-"

"Gin, stop. Don't apologize. I can take a few punches okay? I'm not made of glass." Ginny nodded, but didn't miss the look of relief on his face after her mum gave him a potion to relieve a headache. Her mum healed his split lip, reduced all of the swelling, and gave him something to speed up the bruising process. He looked awful, and all she wanted to do was kiss every inch of his face.

Everyone was silent as Draco and Ginny took their seats at the table. There was a tension in the air that Ginny refused to acknowledge. Eventually, conversations began. George was talking to Harry, Percy was talking to her dad, and her mum was chatting with Hermione. Ginny put her hand on Draco's thigh and squeezed. It would all be okay. Things were subdued but peaceful, and then Percy looked over, right at Draco. "You had a meeting with Kontrubis when you were in Greece, didn't you? What did you think of him? The man's letters are a convoluted mess. Can't get a good read on his real feelings about the new regulations over chimaeras."

Draco immediately sat up straighter and stared at Percy. He knew this was his opportunity. He went for it. No sarcasm, no sneering. Just straight forward conversation. "It's the translation charm he uses. He's bollocks at it but refuses any offer at help. Drives his assistant mad. But as for his feelings, the only thing he cares about is money. If the British Ministry is going to control the movement of the creatures so strictly, he needs to either be bribed or paid really well. If not, he's going to keep running them through the black market."

Ginny noticed Ron's mouth hanging open in shock, and gave her own smirk. It wasn't long before her dad was asking Draco who else he had met in the Ministry so far, and even Harry found himself drawn in as Draco explained what he knew of the black market.

Ginny felt her heart might burst as she took it all in, watching her family slowly bring Draco into the fold. By dessert, the tension had all but disappeared, and they were all speaking now of holiday traditions. Ginny's mum was interrogating Draco on his family's Christmas traditions, and Hermione was chiming in with her own, and it all just felt so lovely. Until Ron spoiled it of course. "You know Ginny is still going to spend her Christmases here, don't you?" Silence engulfed the table, and then Ginny scoffed. "Oh come off it Ron! As if we have to choose one or the other. I'm sure we'll floo and split the difference. Morning at one place, and the afternoon in the other. Honestly. Stop trying to cause a fight."

Ron glared back at her. "Me? I'm the one trying to cause a fight! You're the one who brought this foul little ferret here."

"No wonder no one tells you anything Weasley. You haven't got an ounce of decorum have you? Isn't it a bit embarrassing? Your family, best friend, girlfriend, all feeling the need to protect you from knowing things?" Ginny bit her lip to keep from smiling as everyone stared at Draco.

"You can't…I…this is my house…my family"

"Really? I never would have noticed. What is your point exactly?"

"You can't insult me! Not here!"

"Right. Should we move to the family room then? It's certainly not far. Could probably get there in two steps."

George choked on his ale, cutting off any response Ron was about to give. "Blimey Malfoy. Forgot what an absolute prick you could be. Not that I don't agree with the bit about Ron, mind you."

"What! How could you agree? I'm your brother!" George ignored Ron's flustered indignation and kept his focus on Draco.

"Fair warning though. Go too far, and you'll have a shop full of products to worry about. And quite a collection of prototypes that were a bit too nasty to sell to the public. For family use though…"

"You're not alluding to that awful sticky goo are you? George Osbert Weasley! You swore to me you threw every last batch of that out! That poor boy. It took him nearly a month to fully recover."

"He knew what he was getting into mum! And I paid him very well for being the test subject. In fact, he's starting up work again after Christmas."

And just like that, the conversation moved on. When the last bits of cake had been cleared away, Ron sighed and leaned back in his chair in contentment. As well he might. He had shoveled in three pieces. "Up for a game of chess Harry?" Harry made a face, and searched the table desperately. "What about Percy?"

Percy cleared his throat, and then blushed. "Actually, I have to pop into the office for a few hours. Just some ends to tie up. I'll be here bright and early tomorrow though." Ginny couldn't help but feel sad as she saw just how much that last bit meant to her parents. Even her dad looked a bit teary.

George was staring at his youngest brother, his head cocked to the side in thought, and then got up and grabbed Harry's arm. "Come on Harry. I want to show you my newest line. Anything you wanted to show Hermione Ronnikins?" Ron blinked in confusion, and George rolled his eyes.

And then finally, Ron understood. "Oh, yes. Er, right. Want to go for a walk 'Mione?" Ginny grinned as Hermione's face lit up and the two of them headed out the door holding hands. Ginny really hoped it worked out between Ron and Hermione, but she couldn't help but worry. Her brother just seemed so clueless.

"So, you two headed to the snake pit next?" Draco didn't visibly react to what George had said, but Ginny reached over and squeezed his hand anyways. She knew how much Draco still hated the thought of snakes. Being around Nagini and watching her swallow a person wasn't something he was ever going to forget. "Are we?"

Draco looked at her warily. "They would probably appreciate it. You don't have to worry about it being a surprise; my father is actually the one who gave me the ring." Ginny knew what Draco was leaving out. She could tell from his tone. That his mother still had her reservations. But Ginny wasn't one to cower.

"Yeah, uh, leave in ten minutes? I'll just go change first shall I?" And then before anyone could give a response, Ginny was rushing up the stairs trying to keep herself calm. Narcissa Malfoy. The thin, immaculate blonde witch that was always wearing the richest fabrics and the most elegant jewelry. What in Merlin's name did Ginny own that wouldn't look absolutely ridiculous next to that?

Arriving at the manor only confirmed Ginny's suspicions. The dark blue robes with embroidery stitched on by her mum looked like some pathetic craft project next to Narcissia Malfoy's outfit. The woman had on a robe that cinched at the waist and flared out at the bottom voluminously. The collar and hem boasted shimmering feathers and the embroidery on the bodice was as fine and delicate as a spider web. Not to mention the material of it was something that resembled shiny silk. It clung to her beautifully.

"Draco dear, thank Merlin you have returned. The dinner party is set to begin in just three hours." Dinner party? Ginny threw a startled look at Draco, yet thought the decorations made a bit more sense now. The front hall they were in was decked out to the eaves. Sticking charms must have been used, evergreens having been arranged into elaborate designs on the walls and bannisters. Countless white candles were intermixed with the greenery, and Ginny could already imagine how nice it would look all lit up this evening.

"Oh yes, the party. How could I forget? Three dozen witches and wizards all at least three times my age. How thrilling."

"Draco." Ginny watched as he huffed at his mother's reprimand, and shrugged her shoulders when he looked over at her. She didn't mind. If he could handle lunch with her family, she could suffer through some stuffy dinner party. He gave her a brief smile, before looking back at his mother. "We'll be ready a quarter to seven." Ginny couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride. The things they were willing to do for each other. And then his mother spoke.

"We? Draco, you don't mean to say she'll be staying? Why, she doesn't even appear dressed for it! Horatia Travers and Isolde Fawley will have an absolute field day. I can hear their snide comments already. Absolutely not."

"Mother you're being…." Ginny waited with baited breath as Draco cut himself off. His mother was looking at him with raised eyebrows and pursed lips, tension so thick between the two that a fight seemed inevitable to Ginny. She was fully expecting a screaming match.

It was an absolute shock when Draco finally spoke. He didn't so much as raise his voice. Instead he took a deep breath and somehow kept a respectful tone. To Ginny, it was so odd and unexpected that she barely paid attention to what he said.

"I'm sure father already made adjustments to the seating chart this morning to include Ginny. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he's already dropped hints that she'll be there to more than a few people. Wouldn't it be much more embarrassing to be asked why the witch I'm engaged to is absent? And if you're really so worried about her robes, why don't you lend her one of yours. She is to be your daughter soon."

Ginny would have to be blind to not have noticed the expression of sour disgust that Narcissa made at that last sentence. It took all of Ginny's self control to remain quiet and not react to the insult. She had promised herself that she would try to stay out of any conflict. To try and trust that Draco would know best how to deal with his own parents. But Merlin, was it difficult.

"Right then. I'm going to take her on a tour of the Manor. If you decide to lend her something for this evening, you can send the elf. Come on love." And with that, Draco took her hand firmly in his own, and began walking down the hall. Ginny let herself be led a half dozen steps, before she stopped and looked over her shoulder unable to stay quiet. "Mrs. Malfoy? I wouldn't worry too much about appearances if I were you. Given that no one from my family knew about it, I'm sure no one very important was invited to this party of yours. If you ever want to have dinner with the Minister though, I'm sure I could ask my mother to invite you to one of her get togethers."

Narcissa's expression didn't falter, other than for a slight widening of the eyes. Ginny's heart was hammering away, but she knew it had been the right thing to do. She had to make it clear that she was not going to be some pathetic doormat that could be stepped on and ignored. The silence lasted for a good half minute, and then Narcissa looked angrily at Draco. "So this is what you want in a wife? Some ill mannered, disrespectful shrew?"

Ginny's back straightened and her chest puffed out, but before she could retort, Draco had stepped in front of her. "Goodbye mother." Narcissa gave one last huff of indignation, and then turned, stalking off to another room. Ginny watched Draco as he stared at his mother leaving, and felt a wave of sadness and frustration wash over her. As much as she had been offended by his mother's comments, Ginny couldn't find it in herself to want him to actually fight with his mother. For all Narcissa Malfoy did and said, it was clear she loved her son.

When she had completely disappeared from view, Ginny finally spoke. "Your mother is a piece of work, isn't she?"

Draco turned around to look at her and smirked. "Pot calling the kettle. And just so you know, none of that was actually against you personally. She would have reacted the same way to nearly any witch. I can count on one hand the women she would have approved of. She just needs time. Trust me. People will begin to compliment her on what a smart match we are, or how beautiful our wedding was, or even how adorable her grandchildren are, and she'll suddenly be saying she knew you were the one for me from the very beginning. As soon as she realizes how many people like you, her distaste for you will disappear."

Ginny couldn't help but think that such an attitude seemed superficial and shallow. She kept her opinion to herself though as Draco kept talking. "You're just not who she expected. I think she was hoping for a daughter in law that would be just like her. Someone she could shop with, gossip with. Someone who ran in the same social circles. She'll get over it. And until she does, my father will make sure she's at least polite at any public function. Don't worry about tonight. Now, let's start this tour shall we?"

As it turned out, the tour started out quite pleasantly. He led her first past the stairs, and into the room that functioned as a ball room. Her eyes had widened at the enormous Christmas tree, but it was the tapestries on the wall that really caught her eye. "Is that one of your ancestors fighting off a leucrota?" Draco eyed the tapestry critically. "Yeah. It's not as old as you would think though. Great, Great Uncle Claudius apparently had a penchant for the medieval period and paid a heap of money to find someone still skilled with weaving to make this. He hunted the beast down and gouged the eyes out sometime in the 1840s. They're upstairs actually. I'll show you in a bit."

At first, Ginny thought she might have misheard. Gouging out eyes for potion ingredients was all well and good, but why in Merlin's name would you keep eyes upstairs? Draco shrugged when she asked, and explained that there was a myth that if you put the eyes under your tongue, you'd gain ocular powers. Ginny's face scrunched up in disgust and Draco laughed. "It's not so bad. The eyes look and feel more like gemstones than anything else. Nothing soft or squishy about them. I tried it once growing up, but sadly, no powers."

The next room they visited was a small room off of the ballroom that functioned as a cozy parlor. The middle of the room was dominated by a grand piano that Draco took a seat at, much to Ginny's surprise. "You play?"

"Of course. Well, actually, just the basics. I was taught by a great pianist, but I was a bit of a snot about it. Wouldn't practice between lessons and got a bit mouthy when my teacher tried to reprimand me. More than once, she got so fed up she silencioed me for the length of the lesson. I was so mad at her for that, I would slam my fingers down on all the wrong notes and refuse to play correctly. Finally, she thought to lift the silencios and instead enchant my piano book to follow me around and beat me every twelve hours if I hadn't opened it. It was probably what I needed, but I threw such a large tantrum over it, that my parents agreed to let my teacher go and that was the end to my lessons."

At her urging, he began to play a simple version of The Ghouls of Yule, and Ginny sang the words in her off-key but enthusiastic way. To an outsider, it would seem that they had mangled it, but neither Draco nor Ginny cared. They had such fun with it, that they belted out three more songs before moving on to the rest of the rooms. There was a solarium that was filled with all sorts of plants, and next to it, a room that had been set up for brewing. Both rooms had stone walls and floors that bore the marks of centuries of explosions, foul liquids, and Merlin knew what else. It made Ginny think back to when Draco had told her he thought he might be a brewer, and she realized that maybe he would have been better at it than she had thought. After all, how many people grew up with a room dedicated to potion making?

After a quick look at the drawing room, the kitchen, and the dining room, they headed upstairs to a long hallway. The walls were filled with portraits who gave her appraising looks, before gossiping amongst themselves. Draco's only acknowledgement of any of them was a brief comment about how one got silencioed every night so as to keep him from waking them all up with his terrible lute playing at 4 am. That Draco didn't open the doors for his parents' room and his father's study was understandable. What was not understandable was the door next to the study that Draco shot a stunning spell at when it shook violently as they walked by.

"What was that!" Draco furrowed his brow, and then shrugged his shoulders. "Not sure. It's been doing that for the last month or so. It used to shoot splinters, but father finally figured out some charm to immobilize it. Now shaking's the worst it does." Ginny stared at the door wide eyed, and then looked back at Draco. "Can we open it?" She hadn't even taken two steps towards it, before Draco grabbed her arm and yanked her back.

"Not yet. We've sent the elf in there a few times, but it's not figured it out yet. We think some cursed object must have been broken and released its magic inside. It used to be my grandfather's study. The room hasn't really been used much since he died of Dragonpox when I was six." Ginny let Draco lead them past, but couldn't help her spark of curiosity. She forgot all about it though as Draco opened the door at the end of the hall.

Candles all over the room flared to life, illuminating a floor covered in rugs. The room was an explosion of books and trinkets. Bookshelves warped by magic and time held dozens and dozens of volumes. Some of the books were glowing, others floating a bit, and some just rather ordinary. On the shelves, the books shared space with all sorts of objects from tarot cards to feathers. There were pieces of jewelry, rocks, and small old boxes that could contain anything. There was an astrolabe, half a dozen dusty crystal balls, and a dismantled telescope.

Draco grinned at Ginny's awestruck face. "You can look through if you want. Hardly anything is cursed in here. The really dangerous stuff is locked up in the study. There are couches up in the loft, along with a few more books. Here." And before Ginny knew it, a brass ladder was hurtling towards them. She felt a bit ridiculous being awed by a ladder, but it was engraved with designs and had veins of emerald running along it. Not to mention inscriptions on every rung. Squinting at it, she could make out only a handful of the runes.

She didn't have time to study it though as Draco told her to climb on behind him. Once she did, the ladder zoomed back across the room, and she followed Draco up into the reading area. It was a wide area, possibly 2 meters deep, but her head nearly hit the ceiling. Draco was ducking to avoid being thwacked. "I've tried extension charms on the ceiling, but they always fade and collapse within an hour or so." She watched him fling himself onto the couch, and grinned. He looked so unkempt. Picking up the book that had been left on the other cushion, she glanced at the title, and then thwacked him with it.

"Draco Malfoy!" His eyes were glinting with mirth. "What? I'm just trying to be prepared." Ginny flipped the book open to a random page and wrinkled her nose. "Are you planning to cheat on me with a centaur then?" His arms reached out and grabbed her by the waist. Ginny allowed her body to fall onto his lap, and flipped to another page. "Is that really what a goblin's bits look like?" Draco put his head on her shoulder, and read the page with her. "I suppose you could always put an engorgement charm on it? I met a half goblin once. Larissa. Looked mostly human. Was a bit squat. Large pointed ears and a bit of a pug nose. She could hide it pretty well with the right hat though."

Ginny knew that there were a number of beings with mixed parents. She had never given much thought to just what their parents had done to bring them into existence though. She knew she would regret it, but she couldn't help but have a perverse curiosity. She flipped to a page illustrating and describing how a wizard and giantess could get it on and tried not to think of them as Hagrid's parents.

"I hope you guessed this already. But there is about a twenty page section describing sex between witches and wizards, which is what I was reading it for." Ginny turned her head and looked at him with a mischievous expression. "Yeah? And do you have a favorite page?" He bit his lip, and then reached around her and turned the page. He didn't say anything. Just let her look and read on her own. His arm stayed firmly around her waist, but otherwise let her be. Ginny shifted on his lap and then leaned back into him when she was done. "Can we work up to it?" He tightened his hold on her and kissed her neck. "Course we can."

They stayed in the room for a good hour or so as Ginny explored the bookshelves and boxes, Draco only occasionally able to tell her where a trinket was from or how old something was. After that he led her to the second most interesting room in the house; the room of curiosities. She had just picked up a snake skin that changed colors when you touched it, when the door slammed open.

There was a minute of shock where Ginny and Lucius simply stared at each other, and then Lucius regained his bearings. "Ah, welcome Miss. Weasley. I heard this morning went well?" Ginny nodded dumbly and moved her left hand so that he would be able to see the ring for himself. He nodded. "Well in that case, you two ought to get dressed. Draco, if she needs help with the robes, fetch your mother, but only if you really can't figure it out. She is in an absolute state. The guests are arriving within the hour and that damned elf has gone and put poison in the pudding again."

Ginny couldn't help but blanch. "What do you mean again?" It was Draco that answered, sounding more exasperated than anything. "Remember when I said we had Aunt Bella's old elf? Well we haven't quite got it to sort out its priorities yet. At the moment, it is rather disgusted that our dinner parties are not some way for us to attack or poison the guests. Obviously having people over for nothing more than an enjoyable night, is a complete waste. An opportunity that we're too stupid to take advantage of."

Ginny didn't know whether to be horrified or amused. Lucius was quite visibly annoyed. "Stay upstairs until your mother calls for you. I'm heading downstairs to check for any traps or curses. Last week the elf managed to get the carpet to burn through the boots of Aurelius Abbott when he came to visit. The thing was still holding on to a grudge from when Aurelius and Cygnus were fighting over something back in the 40s." And with that unsettling warning, Lucius left.

Ginny knew she needed to get changed. But being in Draco's room, she found herself much too distracted. She squealed with excitement when she noticed a snitch on the shelf signed by the seeker for the Falmouth Falcons, and immediately began interrogating Draco on what it had been like to meet him. And then she began opening things. Every time was a surprise, Draco choosing to stand back and let her explore. She opened one wardrobe expecting clothes, but instead found herself gaping at a gramophone and nearly a hundred records all held in slots, thanks to an extension charm. One chest had large albums chock full of Quidditch trading cards and Chocolate Frog card collections. Another drawer that looked as if it ought to be for socks or something turned out to be full of star charts. "Did you even take astronomy?"

"I haven't looked at them for a few years. I used to be more into it. Got an O on my OWL. I did start NEWT classes, but I skipped so many classes sixth year that she wouldn't let me take it seventh year." Ginny tried to tell if he was bothered by that, but couldn't get a good read on him. He wasn't making eye contact with her though, so she closed the drawer and changed the subject just in case. The easiest way to distract him was actually the most practical way as well; to start taking off her clothes. By the time she was down to her stockings and chemise, Draco had her in his arms and was kissing along her jaw while his hands kneaded her breasts. She let herself be lost to the moment for a while, and then shoved him gently away. They did have a time constraint after all. Time it turned out, that they really shouldn't have wasted.

Draco was still struggling with her laces when they heard the beginning of the music in the ball room start up. All it did was raise both of their panic levels. "What are you doing! You just left a gigantic gap! No, not that way!" Draco grunted and undid it again. "How the hell is there not a spell for this? This is the stupidest…most frustrating…there! Is that tight enough yet?" Ginny scrutinized the mirror she had floating in front of her that let her see her side better. "What did you do at the bottom?"

"I tied it!" Ginny took a deep breath and reminded herself that Draco had no experience with witch's clothes. "You have to make the knot look nice Draco. Not limp and pathetic." Through the mirror, Ginny could see his scowl.

She huffed. "Alright, fine. Just start lacing the other side. I think I can do the knot myself." It was a bit of an awkward angle to work at, but in the end her knot was at least better than Draco's had been. This particular gown laced up on either side of her, from the top of her ribcage down to her hips. While she appreciated the deep green velvet fabric of it that kept her warm, the heavier material also meant that the lacings had to be extremely tight to hold it together. At first Draco kept lacing it too loosely, supposedly worried about hurting her, but Ginny had never heard something so ridiculous.

By the time they got down to the ballroom, nearly all the guests had arrived and were deep into the appetizers floating around the room. Draco leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Father must not have trusted the elf." Ginny nodded distractedly, thinking that the Malfoys hardly needed the presence of an elf to make clear their social standing. There was an actual quartet playing in the corner, and sometime in the last few hours, the tree had acquired a large sprawl of gifts for all the guests. Ginny grabbed a goblet of eggnog and looked around the room. She had just taken a sip when she nearly spit it out. Harry?

Without any explanation of where she was going, she left Draco alone and began making her way across the room. "What are you doing here?" She hadn't interrupted any great discussion. While wearing perfectly serviceable formal robes, Harry still looked extremely out of place. He had been doing nothing but standing near the window, trying to be as much out of the way as possible.

At her question, he looked completely lost for an answer. "I really don't know. My supervisor owled me his invite not two hours ago, demanding I show up to represent our department's interest or something. He apparently caught the flu. It's not a business meeting though is it? This is just a Christmas party." Ginny could only shrug. "I think it's one of those things that the party is really a chance to make connections. See over there? Draco's talking to that man with the bright green waistcoat. I'll bet you five galleons he's angling for some sort of influence."

Harry paled. "I really hate this. How long do you think I have to stay for Bruckle to not lose his head?" Ginny rolled her eyes. She knew it wasn't Harry's cup of tea, but it wasn't really as torturous as he was making it out to be. "Come on then, let's make you some friends." For the next hour, Ginny strode over to any group that looked promising and inserted herself in the conversation, Harry dragging himself along at her heels.

"Oh yes! Professor Slughorn's parties are still quite memorable. Why, just last month he had us spend the evening in a boat! Seven of us, all NEWT students. It was a bit cold of course, but we did see the mermaids come up as he expected. One saw us spying and tried to sink our boat, but a few well aimed repelling spells did the trick."

The group around her burst into laughter, and Ginny smiled pleasantly, listening as the wizard next to her reminisced about a party of Slughorn's from over thirty years ago. At her side, Harry muttered into her ear. "I thought you hated that night. Didn't Hermione say you nearly decided to jump ship and take your chances swimming back to the Castle?" Ginny elbowed Harry pointedly and refused to look at him. When she had tried to set Harry up to speak earlier, he had done nothing but say he hadn't really fancied much about Slughorn, leading to an awkward silence in the group.

Eventually, everyone moved out of the ballroom and towards the dining room for supper. Ginny purposefully maneuvered herself to sit next to a woman who she had heard earlier was Madame Rothbard. Ginny remembered Fleur contemplating getting her wedding dress from her. Ultimately, Fleur had gone with some French designer, but it had been a close call. Harry followed her in and sat on her other side, leaving Ginny slightly startled. Wouldn't he know she might want to sit next to Draco? The seats across from her were filling up and she caught Draco's eye from across the room. He raised an eyebrow at her, and then shrugged, sliding into a seat nearer to the head of the table. The table was enormous, long enough to accommodate all forty guests.

Before food was served, Lucius stood up at the head of the table and made a brief speech about how lovely the holidays were and how happy he was to have all of them, before the guests all began digging in to the many platters along the table.

"I have always loved the idea of fairy dust. Is there any way to make it cling to silk well?" Ginny was only vaguely aware of Harry being quiet and bored on the other side of her as Madame Rothbard described a fabric called charmeuse, and how it compared with silk. By the end of the meal, she had set up an appointment for three days from now to begin being fit for a dress. She was nearly bursting with excitement. "Is it over finally?" Ginny turned around to look over at Harry, and frowned in annoyance as the people around them all began leaving their seats.

Before she could say anything though, Draco was there, his hand outstretched. "I hope you're ready to be the center of attention. Father was planning to do it before supper, but given where we ended up sitting….it rather annoyed him I think." Ginny's eyes widened, and her heart began thumping slightly. She knew they had announced it to her family already. But this seemed something quite different. "Where should we be?"

"By the tree. Come on." And as she made her way through the party, her arm firmly tucked inside Draco's, she found herself thinking how happy her younger self would be right now. In a beautiful dressrobe, at a posh party, about to become part of the wealthiest family in Britain. Of course money wasn't everything, but she would be an absolute liar if she didn't admit to it feeling like a fairy tale. Standing right next to the tree, Ginny watched Narcissa and Lucius walk towards them. Draco had been right. Arm in arm with her husband, no one would suspect how unhappy Narcissa was to have Ginny here.

Lucius waved his wand so red and green sparks fell out, and the crowd quieted. He looked positively smug. "Before we begin the gift giving, I would like to present the first gift of the evening to Ginevra. She is a strong, talented witch who has quite captured the heart of my son. And it is with great pleasure that I officially announce their engagement." Ginny flushed as the room celebrated, claps and shouts mixed in with sparks from wands. Not that the gossip hadn't already spread hours ago. But the official announcement was still important. She gently lifted the lid off of the box, and then forced a smile as she looked up. Luckily, that was enough as the rest of the guests soon lost interest in her in favor of acquiring their own present, while his parents left to be gracious hosts to everyone else.

"Are you alright?" Ginny stared at the box again. It was a lovely set of earrings. The problem? She didn't have pierced ears. It was generic. Probably last minute. It's not like she expected his parents to know much about her. She would be just as useless at giving either of them a present. Still. "I..er..I don't wear earrings is all." Draco blinked, looked down at the gift, and back up to her face. And then he used his hand to cup her cheek and kiss her. "Just give it time. Now, put that box back under the tree and come dance with me."

It didn't matter then that she didn't know the steps. That the music was more formal than she was used to. She just let him guide her, moving back when he pushed, coming in when he pulled, and if her steps weren't quite right, they were good enough. It wasn't long before Draco couldn't help himself, and began purposefully messing up the steps. At one point he spun her out, and then pulled her back in so that she was right up against him, much closer than she was supposed to be. Another time, he stepped too far forward and leaned in for a kiss. His hand slipped from her waist to her hip, and his pelvis came indecently close to hers before he pulled away again.

And then they both flinched, each having felt a slight sting. Looking around, they met Lucius' stare. He gave them a firm look with a raised eyebrow, and then turned back around to continue talking to his companion. Instead of being embarrassed or upset, they both looked at each other, and had to hold back laughter. Nothing could ruin today. Tonight. They were together. They were going to get married. It was the best Christmas present either of them could ask for.