The Cruelty of the Past

Chapter 15

Marriage Betrothal 101

Ginny arrived in the foyer of the Manor and headed for the Rose room. She didn't bother calling for a house elf; she was able to carry her own bags. As she walked she reviewed the fight with Harry. She couldn't understand why he was being so unreasonable. Stupid git! How does he expect me to resist it if I can't practice? He'll have me kicked out of school! He most likely can, she thought to herself.

"Ginevra, is something wrong?" came Lucius' voice from behind her.

She jumped, quite startled. She slowly turned around to face her husband. "I didn't expect you to be home yet."

He smirked at her. "I was at the Ministry today, and being Friday, most people there prefer to take off early."

"Oh."

"You didn't answer my question; is something wrong?" he pressed, then reached out, taking her overnight bag from her.

"I'm just having a problem with my Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," she explained. Lucius began heading down the hall with her.

"What seems to be the problem?" he inquired.

She bit her lip, wondering if she should tell him. However, if she was kicked out of school, he would hear about it soon enough. "We were covering the Unforgivables today and he had permission from the Ministry to perform the Imperius on us. He gave me a hard time because I couldn't fight it, but no one else could either. He said that if I can't resist it by next class he would speak to the governors about the fact that I am wasting his time and everyone else's around me and have me removed from school." As she explained, she could once again feel the tears burning her eyes.

Lucius looked at the young woman in front of him. He could tell she was tired, but he knew this was most likely connected to the fact that they needed to be together. "You're not feeling like yourself today, are you?"

"I'm tired. It's been stressful since my birthday," she admitted.

Lucius stopped and turned towards her; she too stopped. He chose his words carefully. "I can understand that, but has it occurred to you that maybe the reason you're tired has to do with the bond?"

"No, I hadn't thought of that."

"You're young, and this is all very new to you." She shifted, showing she was uncomfortable. "It's up to you; a few hours won't kill you, but if you want we could take care of things now, or wait till after dinner," he offered.

She blushed bright red. Part of her wanted to get it over and done with, but she didn't want to seem overly eager. "Is there anything we have to do besides that this weekend?" she asked, stalling.

"No. People feel we're still in the honeymoon phase, so we have no social obligations. However, I do think we should add to your wardrobe."

"What? Everything I have is new!" Ginny exclaimed.

"New, yes. However, you are now a Malfoy wife. They wear higher quality, tailored clothing, more so than what you have," he explained.

"Yes, and you would know all about what I have, seeing as how you went through my stuff, including my underwear!" She remembered she was upset with him.

"I did not go through your things!" Nobody accused Lucius of something he didn't do!

"Bullshit! You knew my sizes!" Her eyes flashed with anger.

"There are other ways of finding things out."

"Don't lie to me!" She then went to hit him, but with his fast reflexes he caught her hand. She struggled against him.

"I wouldn't advise trying to hit me again," he threatened. She still tried to fight him and she was making his blood boil. He had two choices if he wanted to put an end to her behavior. The first was to hit her; however he didn't think becoming an abusive husband one week into his new marriage was the best thing. So he did the only other thing he could, pulling her into his arms and kissing her passionately. At first she fought back, but quickly gave in. Within a minute or two he had picked her up and carried her to his bedroom, where he spent a long time shagging her.

"Wow!" Ginny said after catching her breath.

Lucius was lounging back on the bed. "I told you I'm a great lover!" he said smugly.

"I was talking about how much better I feel," she stressed. But yes, that was pretty good, not that I plan on telling you that, she thought to herself.

"After good sex, you will always feel revitalized because your adrenaline is running, but some of it is due to the bond. In time, you will learn to understand what your body is telling you. Besides being tired, was there anything else you were experiencing?"

"I was more emotional than normal," she admitted, then realized she was laying in his bed and talking as if they were friends or something. She moved to get out of his bed.

"Ginevra, I could teach you to resist the Imperius Curse," he offered.

She stopped dead in her tracks, then looked back at him. "Why?"

"Because you're my wife, and I am an expert in casting it," he explained as he sat up, revealing his nude body.

Ginny blushed deeply and turned her head back so she wasn't looking at him. Lucius covered himself and laughed as she replied, "I know."

"I'm covered," he said. "You should get used to seeing me unclothed. Now, do you want my help?"

"I- I don't know."

"Do you feel unsure about putting yourself in a vulnerable position like that with me?"

She nodded and added, "You said we can't use magic on each other."

"Yes I did, but I meant that we can't use magic against each other. If you allow it, I can." He felt it was important to have her be willing to trust him like that.

Lucius had spent the last week thinking long and hard about what he wanted from this marriage. He and Narcissa had wanted more children than just Draco. He now understood why Narcissa never got pregnant after Draco, and that had been the real reason they grew apart. But now he had a young, highly attractive and sexy wife who he was already molding into a sex kitten. He did also see the added benefits to having her as his wife; it would show others he was reformed, it would piss off Arthur and Potter, and he was sure he could manipulate her to do as he wanted.

"Think on it tonight and let me know tomorrow. There are a few ways to resist it, but they need some practice. Do you feel like going out for dinner?" He was drawing out talking to her because he could tell that while she wanted to leave the room, she didn't want to walk around naked in front of him. Young women were fun to play with. "I've already seen you nude." She blushed deep red, again.

Hours later, Ginny sat in the library of Malfoy Manor working on her Potions assignment when Draco walked into the room. He watched her for a couple of minutes before finally speaking, "That's something I don't miss; homework." She didn't reply, so he came over and looked at the textbook that sat next to her. "Potions. You know, I got top marks in it, if you want any help."

She finally looked up at him. "Thank you, but both Professors Slughorn and Snape said I was the best Potions student they had in years," she stated coldly.

Draco looked shocked. "No! Severus said that?"

Ginny smiled to herself. "Yes he did."

"About a Gryffindor?" He seemed surprised.

"Perhaps you're forgetting he spent his whole life in love with a Gryffindor."

"Love is strange," Draco mused.

"Why are you being so – civil to me?" She couldn't help herself. She had been stressed out all week, and other than the letter Hermione brought to the train, she hadn't heard from her family. Also, with the exception of Luna, everyone else she knew was giving her a whole lot of space.

"Well, let's see...you have, despite it not being for me, given up a lot, yet I benefit from it. I'm guessing your choice has had a negative effect on your social life; I understand that. And Father asked me to-- extend an olive branch, so to speak."

She looked down at her paper. "I don't need false friends."

"Look Ginny, I know more than most about fake friends. You said the day of the hearing that you would have married me if you had to. I realized that it most likely would have been my best chance. With you, I would always know where I stand, at least. You would be with me for one clear reason; we would have truth."

Ginny was surprised by Draco's revelations. "Lucius asked you to ..."

Draco finally sat down, across from her. "I know what you must think of him, but really he's not as bad as you think. I know that many believed he abused both me and Mother, but as far as family goes, he would never harm a hair on our heads. Lucius is a man of great passion in everything he does, both the good and the bad." He then rose from the table. "Try to become his friend, at least; you'll be happier. Anyway, I need to go. Good night, Ginny."

When Ginny went to bed, she thought about what Draco had said about Lucius. She felt like she was in a different world. Lucius was being … nice to me, and Draco was acting like he wanted to be friends! Very strange, she thought.

And she hadn't heard from her family. She wondered if it was because they all hated her now. She had realized that that was what would likely happen, but it didn't change the fact that it still hurt. Ginny herself hadn't reached out to them because she knew that she was so very emotional, which was really unusual for her, but she understood why. With one letter her whole life had changed. She was married to a man old enough to be her father! What could they possibly have in common? Every time he looked at her he must see a little girl. She was already beginning to wish that it was Draco she had to marry; at least they would have had a small hope of finding some common ground.

The next morning when Ginny arrived at the breakfast table she found only Lucius. He wore tailored robes once more. "Good morning," she greeted as she entered the room.

Lucius once more stood up as she came in the room. He took note of the black pencil skirt and pale green cotton blouse she wore. It was a very fetching combo on her. He was surprised to find himself wondering what underwear she was wearing. "Good morning, Ginevra." He then held out her chair for her.

"You don't have to do that; I'm capable of seating myself," she commented.

He sighed deeply. "I'm sure you are. However, I believe it's simply good manners. In the society I'm from, things are more formal than what you would be used to."

"I don't see the Slytherin boys doing that kind of thing at school."

"The youth of today are losing respect for the class they should have been raised with. I feel that part of it has to do with their close proximity to Muggles."

"I'm sorry, but I disagree with you." She tried to sound as polite as possible.

"Ginevra, I am aware of how you were raised and the beliefs your father instilled in you, but allow me to explain why I say what I say." She nodded in consent. "Contrary to what you may think, I do know more about Muggles than one would guess. Some may think we in the wizarding world are vastly underdeveloped in comparison, however we aren't the ones ruining the environment. And also, the things that the Death Eaters did to kill Muggles in the war were better than Muggle ways of murder, like the H bomb or germ warfare. Muggles have some very strange ways of thinking, like that it's alright to have sex and have it be recorded for others to watch." He paused. "I prefer a more dignified way, which includes more sophisticated manners."

Ginny nodded again, not knowing what to say.

"Next month, we are invited to a ball at the Ministry. I want- would like- you to allow me to arrange for a tutor in the social graces, and perhaps some ballroom dancing lessons. Would you be willing?"

"You think I will embarrass you," Ginny declared.

"I never said that. However, there are certain standards that a Malfoy wife is held to."

"And I'm not good enough! Why can I just be me? I think we should be honest about why we're together."

He looked solemnly at her. "Ginevra, I never said you weren't good enough. Don't you want to be the very best you can be? To not feel uncomfortable in any situation that you will be exposed to as my wife?"

She looked back at him for a long moment, then spoke, "I'm not looking for a fight; I only want to understand things. I thought that since you reformed, you were shunned by most of the people who viewed things like what you're talking about."

"To a point, yes, but there are those who didn't support him to the extent I did who still see advantages to associating with me. Gold greases a lot of wheels."

"I'll try the tutoring," Ginny consented.

Lucius flashed her a quick smile. "Good! Now, do you want me to help you with the Imperius Curse?"

She smiled back at him. "I don't just want your help trying to resist it; I want you to teach me how to master resisting it."