Chapter 4
The days leading up to Bill and Fleur's wedding seemed to pass quickly and, even though Mad-Eye Moody's death still hung over the house, Molly put them all to work, making the house more than spotless for the arrival of Fleur's parents. Ginny was sure she hadn't even seen some of the places Mrs. Weasley was having them clean: inside the upstairs closet, the attic and even the old broom shed out in the garden. Ginny had no free time to see Harry, but Molly paired her up with Hermione. The two girls enjoyed their time together, even doing chores, and they were glad to have a chance to talk and gossip.
Even though she saw Harry every day, Ginny's mind was still focused on Draco. She was worried about him, even though he had reassured her that he was fine. Early one morning Ginny was imagining Draco as she pulled on a nice summer dress before following Ron, Harry and Hermione out into the garden where they would wait for Monsieur and Madam Delacour. Within moments Arthur walked into the garden, chatting with Fleur's father about, what appeared to be, a rather humorous topic. Compliments soon flew back and forth between Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and the Delacours and by the look on her face, it was obvious that Fleur was very happy to see her parents and her sister.
The Burrow was cramped, more cramped than usual, as it was now housing twelve people instead of its usual six or seven. Ginny found her cheeks starting to hurt as she forced a fake smile on her face when Madam Delacour said, "Oh, Ginevera, darling, 'ou are zimply beautiful."
"Thank you, Madam Delacour," Ginny said quietly. It was a nice, crisp morning, the morning of Harry's birthday, and Ginny, Madam Delacour and Mrs. Weasley had been the first awake, taking the opportunity to make everyone breakfast.
"Oh, pleeze," Madam Delacour said with a wave of her hand, "Call me Apolline, Madam Delacour makez me feel old. And after all, we are practically related now."
"Ok," Ginny smiled.
She started putting piles of plates and silverware on the table when Madam Delacour asked, "You 'ave been dating Harry Potter, 'ave you not?"
"Oh, um, yes, I have," Ginny said quietly, "But we broke up. It's too hard for him to be in a relationship when he needs to focus on bigger thing." She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"Well, yes, 'e must be very busy, but eet ees obvious zat 'e cares for you," Madam Delacour said quietly, "'e will be a great man when 'e eez older."
"Yeah," Ginny paused, "I know." She excused herself and ran up to her room before throwing herself onto her bed. She let the tears fall freely down her cheeks, not bothering to wipe them away. 'God, how am I supposed to choose between them?' she thought, 'Harry will be a great man, but he will always be 'the boy who lived.' He'll always try to protect me and I don't need him to do that. But Draco? Draco is teetering between the dark side and the light side. How am I supposed to know which side he'll choose?'
She pulled her knees up to her chest, trying to ignore all her feelings and push the world out of her head. She only wanted a few minutes to herself, a few moments in which she didn't have to think.
Suddenly the sound of footsteps echoed in the hall, followed by Hermione's voice, "I'll pack these for you. I'm nearly done, I'm just waiting for the rest of your underpants to come out of the wash, Ron."
Ginny quickly wrenched open her door before Ron could respond and said, "Harry, will you come in here a moment?" Harry followed Ginny into her room as Hermione pulled Ron up the stairs. He looked around her room nervously, and Ginny took the time to catch her breath. She was also nervous; this was the first time he was in her room. "Happy seventeenth," she said quietly.
"Yeah… thanks," he said, looking down at her. The look on his face made Ginny want to tell him everything. Everything about Draco, but she couldn't, it would only hurt him. Before she could say anything he glanced out her window and said, "Nice view."
Once again, she resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "I couldn't think of what to get you." He mumbled something about how she didn't have to get him anything, but she ignored him again. "I didn't know what would be useful. Nothing too big, because you wouldn't be able to take it with you."
She said something more to him, but she couldn't really concentrate on what it was. All she could think about was what she was going to do, so she planted her lips on his. He was obviously surprised, but he kissed her back. Before she knew what she was doing she kissed him more deeply than she ever had before: she kissed him like Draco kissed her.
Suddenly her door slammed open and Ron said, "Oh! Sorry!" sounding suspiciously phony.
"Ron," Hermione sighed, exasperated.
"Well, happy birthday anyway, Harry," Ginny said sighing. She turned away from him and within moments the trio had left. Ginny took a deep breath and rushed to take a shower. That afternoon she was to go with Fleur and Gabrielle to a high end salon in downtown London to get her hair and makeup plan for the wedding the next day. A groan escaped Ginny's lips as she pulled a brush through her hair. Harry, Ron and Hermione's voices drifted softly through the wall, but she couldn't make out what they were saying. At times, she wished she was an only child.
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"Oh! Ginevera, you look abzolutely gorgeouz!" Fleur said, pulling Ginny to a mirror, "Oh, 'arry won't be able to keep 'is eyez off of you!"
Ginny had to admit that she looked better than she ever had before. The floor length gold dress matched uncharacteristically with her red hair and creamy skin. Usually gold wasn't her color; the Gryffindor colors never agreed with her. The dress also hugged her curves nicely and dipped low enough between her breasts to expose only a slightly pornographic amount of skin.
Molly bustled into the room and let out a soft 'hmm' at the sight of Ginny in the dress. Although Molly had doubts about the appropriateness of the dress, she didn't say anything as Madam Delacour had chosen it. Gabrielle's dress matched Ginny's, but the neckline was considerably more conservative.
"Oh, Ginny, you look beautiful," Molly said stiffly, kissing Ginny on the forehead. In a soft whisper she added, "Just try to cover up when you get closer to your dad. We don't want to give him a heart attack."
Ginny giggled and hugged her mum, "How are you holding up?"
Molly shrugged, "My son is getting married," she sighed, "It's every mother's dream right?"
"Well, look on the bright side," Ginny pointed out, "as soon as they get married, they'll move out and Fleur won't be here to bother you anymore."
Molly smiled and said, "Come on, the wedding is about to start."
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Ginny spun around, trying to find Harry, Ron and Hermione. They weren't there anymore. She could have sworn she just saw them, but they were gone. The wedding guests rushed around, groups of people Disapperating. Within minutes the large tent was swarming with Death Eaters. Ginny shrieked as someone grabbed her arm, but Arthur quickly quieted her saying, "Ginny, run! Get out of here!" and for once, Ginny took his advice. She hiked up her dress, kicked off her shoes and sprinted towards the house. She heard voices behind her, but didn't risk glancing back.
After Kingsley's Patronus had vanished, everyone at the wedding had panicked. People were running in different directions, trying to gather their children and families together before Disapparating away. Trying to focus on where she was running she stumbled and worked to pick herself up when someone grabbed her ankle. Glancing down she let out a soft cry and yanked her ankle out of the Death Eater's grasp. After pulling herself up she bolted for the house, trying to gain as much of a distance between her and the Death Eater.
Avoiding the driveway she scampered along the east side of the house, heading towards the kitchen door. She was only a few meters away when he grabbed her arm, "Where do you think you're going?" Her breath caught in her throat and she stared up at the scarred face of the Death Eater, "Pretty little thing, aren't you?"
"D-Don't touch me," Ginny said breathlessly, "I didn't do anything."
"No, but, if I remember correctly, you mean quite a deal to Mr. Potter," the older man sneered, "It would be a lovely cramp in his side if the love of his life was found dead, minutes after he abandoned her to save his own skin."
Before Ginny could respond another cloaked Death Eater walked around the corner of the house and said, "Haftock, what are you doing? You know we're not supposed to go by the house."
"Look what I found," Haftock said, wrenching Ginny around to face the new Death Eater. Ginny struggled to free herself from Haftock, but he just twisted her arm around, making her whimper with pain.
"Oh, a Weasley," the Death Eater said greasily.
"Yeah, what do you think I should do?"
The Death Eater raised his wand. Ginny's body trembled as a sob escaped her lips. The Death Eater sneered and muttered, "Stupify."
Ginny braced herself for the fall, but instead found herself free from Haftock's grasp. She panted quietly, staring at the Death Eater as he slowly pulled his mask off.
"Draco," she said breathlessly. She tried to approach him, but he pointed his wand at her.
"Ginny, it's not safe here," he said quietly, "Go in the house. We have strict orders to not go in the house. Go in and you'll be safe."
"But Draco," she said, stepping closer to him.
"Stop, Ginny," he said, pointing his wand right at her heart, "If any Death Eater sees me with you they'll kill us both. Just go in the house, now."
Ginny ignored the tears spilling down her cheeks and said, "Fine." She turned and ran into the house and up to her room. After bundling herself in piles of blankets she buried her head in her pillow and sobbed. Within the hour the rest of the Weasley's, including Monsieur and Madam Delacour, Fleur and Gabrielle had found safety in the living room. Arthur had searched the house and found Ginny in her room. He didn't yell or say anything, just took Ginny in his arms and held her while she sobbed into his shoulder.
When they had finally descended the stairs again Molly was in hysterics about Ron, Harry and Hermione while Fleur was weeping into Bill's shoulder. Ginny sat between Fred and George. George smiled at her and wiped a tear from her cheek. She smiled up at him, ignoring the gaping hole that had been his ear.
Arthur muttered a few comforting words to Molly before turning to everyone else, "I've heard from almost all the guests and so far, everyone is safe. Luna and Neville are going to come to stay with us in a few days. Xenophilius and Neville's grandmother feel it's safer if their children come and stay with us for the rest of the summer holiday. In three weeks we'll take Ginny, Luna and Neville to the train station to return to Hogwarts."
Arthur looked over at Ginny and she nodded to him, a silent gesture that she wouldn't argue about going back to Hogwarts.
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The train felt empty. Even though Ginny was sitting in a large compartment with Luna, Neville, Colin and countless other Gryffindors, the train felt incomplete without Harry, Ron and Hermione. Luna was sitting in a corner stringing strange yellow and pink beads on a long string which she then tied into a knot and placed on her head like a crown. Colin was discussing his photos with Lavender, who was looking bored. Ginny had already changed into her uniform and was rubbing lotion over her legs.
Luna, who seemed to be proud of her string of beads turned to Ginny and said, "I have a great lotion that you should try, its right here in my bag." Luna pulled a strange blue metal bottle out of her handbag and handed it to Ginny. "My father says it's supposed to make your legs smooth and tone them as well."
"Um, thanks," Ginny said, cautiously taking the bottle from Luna. Not wanting to be rude Ginny squirted a small amount into her hand. It was thick and light brown; the smell made Ginny wrinkle her nose in disgust. Ginny smiled painfully at Luna and carefully rubbed the lotion into her right leg. Almost the instant the lotion touched her skin she gasped and exclaimed, "Luna!" The long area where she had rubbed the lotion had turned a hot purple.
"Oh, dear," Luna said absent-mindedly, "I guess that might be a side effect."
"I'm going to go try to wash it off," Ginny said.
Ginny sighed and made her way to the bathroom, ignoring strange looks from various students. She walked into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. After locking the door she wet down a paper towel and started scrubbing at her leg.
Ten minutes later found Ginny still scrubbing at her leg. Ginny growled and muttered, "Fuck."
A soft knock on the door made her snap, "What?"
"Are you ok?" Shocked, Ginny didn't say anything. After a moment the voice said, "Ginny, are you ok?" Without saying anything Ginny opened the door and stared at him. He stared back at her for an instant before glancing down at her leg and asking, "What happened?"
"Luna made me try a new lotion of hers, I can't seem to get all of it off," Ginny said quietly.
"Let me help," he said, startling her.
"Ok," she said, doubtfully.
He stepped into the bathroom with her and shut the door. "Sit down," he said, gesturing at the toilet. She put down the toilet lid and sat down. He crouched in front of her, took the wet paper towel and gently slid it up her leg. She watched him closely as he made his way to her knee and then to her thigh.
"Couldn't you just charm it off?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah," Draco said shrugging.
Ginny felt a smile cross her face and she said, "You're quite devious Mr. Malfoy." He smirked up at her, but said nothing.
After a few minutes he knelt back on his heels and said, "There, you're all cleaned up."
"Thanks," she said quietly.
"Anytime," he stood up and threw away the paper towel. She stood up and followed him out of the bathroom. Luckily the hall was empty so they were able to walk side by side down through the hallway to the end of the train car and out onto the small platform between two cars.
"How was the rest of your summer?" he asked, leaning against the railing around the platform.
She took a moment to look at him before she answered. He was wearing a pair of black slacks and designer black shoes. To make his outfit look more relaxed he was wearing a long sleeved black shirt that exposed a soft portion of the skin on his chest. From the neck up he looked the same; long blonde hair and gorgeous blue eyes.
"My summer was ok," Ginny answered, shrugging, "I spent most of my time at the Burrow. My parents said it was too dangerous for me to go out alone."
"They're right," he said quietly.
"Sure," said Ginny, "Even when I was at the Burrow I ended up getting captured by a Death Eater."
"I know," Draco mumbled.
"But at least I got to see you that night," she said sarcastically, "Even if you treated me like shit, we had a nice moment together. Don't you agree?"
"Ginny, I'm sorry I was rude, but it was too dangerous," he said.
"I know," she said apologetically. She turned to face him and said, "It's just," she paused, "sometimes it's hard for me to see you. I don't really understand what our relationship is."
"I understand," Draco said quietly, "I don't really understand what this is either. It's complicated." Ginny sighed and fell into comfortable silence. After a moment Draco took a deep breath, "Ginny, that day was one of the hardest days of my life."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"You were so beautiful," said Draco, briefly closing his eyes. He opened them quickly and said, "I'll never forget that evening. That dress, the sun set," his gaze caught hers again and he said, "It was breathtaking, and I couldn't tell you. I couldn't hold you, kiss you, or even touch you." He sighed, "You were gorgeous."
Blushing she looked down at her hands and said, "Thanks."
He captured her hand in his. Surprised, she looked up at him. Gently, he tipped her chin up and kissed her. The instant his lips touched hers, her body went weak and she collapsed against him. He easily held her up, one arm around her waist, the other behind her neck.
When she finally gained control over her body she pinned him against the railing, keeping her lips firmly planted on his. She felt his smile against her lips. Pulling away she looked up at him, maintaining the contact between their bodies. Smiling curiously she asked, "What are you smiling about?"
"It's," Draco paused a frown crossed his face, "It's nothing."
"Tell me," Ginny said, playing with the front of his shirt.
"It's just," he looked down at her, "I'm happy that I get to have this time with you, but I'm sad that we may not have a lot of time together."
"What do you mean?" she asked quietly.
"Ginny, can't you see? It's almost impossible for us to be together."
"What?" Ginny asked, pulling away from him.
"Let me put it this way," said Draco, sighing, "Have you told any of your friends about me?"
"No," Ginny said slowly.
"Exactly," Draco said, "And I haven't told any of my friends about you. We're on opposite sides. You're family hates me, and my family hates you. It would never work out."
"I-I," Ginny stuttered, "I don't care what they think, it doesn't matter."
"Don't be silly, love," Draco said, smiling softly, "We both know that we don't have much time together. Now, can't we just enjoy this while it lasts?"
Nodding Ginny settled back into his chest, letting him wrap his arms around her. All her muscles seemed to relax as she let herself sink into his heartbeat. After a moment she mumbled, "I should probably get back to my friends; they'll start wondering where I am."
"Ok," he kissed her lightly, "I'll see you at school."
"Ok," she reluctantly pulled herself away from him and walked back to her compartment.
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