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Nine"Protego."Ginny felt the words whisper around her, murmured from nowhere and yet everywhere at once. They sighed through the undergrowth and the bare braches of the tree. She could have sworn - standing in the cold, winter-beaten forest, clutching her child to her chest, finally realising that no longer did she simply fear for the life of her child – that the voice belonged to one she knew intimately. One that had sung her to sleep in her cradle, held her when the nightmares streamed in with the moonlight, and loved her when she thought no one else could.
It was all in the blink of an eye though; she felt the calming magic that resided in the trees and in the world where they had built their home – for now no longer was their hut simply a structure, it had become a haven – rise up to envelop them.
The deathly curse reflected away, the green light stopping only millimetres from Draco's chest. It flew into a nearby tree, severing one of the huge boughs, sending it toppling into the underbrush.
"Interesting," remarked Lucius, a slightly calculating look appearing in his cold eyes. "Diffindo Corpal!"
The jinx spurted out of the elder Malfoy's wand, this time straight on eye-level with Ginny. But invisible protection that had deflected the killing curse still hovered around them, the redhead could still feel it, a forgotten pocket of love had been unlocked from her heart.
The hex was repelled instantly, but Ginny expected this. Lucius, it was clear, didn't, so he was entirely too surprised to act when the curse rebounded towards him.
It glanced across the shoulder of his wand arm, instantly creating a tremendous gash that began to fill with deeply red blood. Apparently Lucius wasn't immune to his own curses.
The man across from them in the clearing swore fluently. Ginny couldn't see Draco's face, but she imagined it was unreadable as ever.
"Don't think I won't be back," Lucius hissed, his features contorted in pain, "son." He stressed the word dangerously before turning and apparating with a pop.
Ginny gripped Arthur impossibly close to her chest with relief. The surrounding forest, that had gone almost mysteriously quiet during the confrontation, now seemed to resume its natural sound level.
"That was far too close," Ginny breathed, not meeting Draco's eyes.
"You should have stayed back at the house," he replied, not looking at her either.
She lifted her pupils to his features abruptly. "I was worried." It came out as half an exclamation, half a whisper.
He studied her now, blatantly, looking for a sign – a clue – to the truth of her statement, to an emotional back up. But he found nothing.
Draco's eyes strayed to the sleeping form in her arms. His son, his flesh and blood. He remembered the night of his conception – how could he forget, and the doors that had rattled on the night of Arthur's birth began to creak in protest as he pried his way into the past.
Sunday 20th March
Draco had stayed late at the Headquarters, he had some thinking that needed to be done and it couldn't be done at home under the watchful eye of his substitute girlfriend.
The recent battle had taken hard losses for the Order, and the aura of gloom was difficult to miss. Draco knew that the end was coming; he knew the final battle would be soon. He also knew he would not die.
His father had gone into hiding – the Fidelius Charm most probably. His only ambition in this life now was to finish the evil that was his elder had cursed his years with. Before the Malfoy king had left the face of the planet, he had told Draco one final thing. Something that would haunt his sleep, his nightmares, his every waking moment, something that he could not dismiss.
Holly was with them still. Lucius had Holly.
Draco dipped his head into his hands, knowing it was wrong, but wishing her death rather than a life at the hands of his father. He thought that maybe if he hadn't let his jealousy of Potter consume him so entirely, if maybe he hadn't been quite so in love with Ginny Weasley, then he may have found the little girl, maybe he could have tipped the balance of the war.
"Still here?" a voice echoed across the small entrance hall, ricocheting off the stone blocks and varnished floor.
A vision stood across from him, masked in shadow, but visible nonetheless. Draco stared, drinking in the sight as he always did, hoping each time would not be the last.
"Yes," he replied, giving away nothing with his tone. "I had some important business."
"Like playing chess with yourself?"
He smiled, though she could not see this. Ginny moved a pawn forward two, a well-known opening. She was white, of course.
He replied with a move of his own, bringing a black pawn out to meet the white.
"How are you?" Draco asked before immediately regretting it. That kind of question was not one you asked in times such as these, that kind of answer was not one that should be demanded.
But she shrugged, coolly. "Have you seen Harry today?"
The green envy rebelled inside his stomach, assaulting his inner workings, but not making it into the open. "Of course. He had a hangover."
"When doesn't he?" she snorted. "The last hope of the light side – always drunk."
The silence that fell between them then negated her statement though. She knew it wasn't fair, it was written in her eyes, in the lines of pain that marred them all.
"He still loves you." The jealousy clawed inside him, but he did not give in. She would have to find her own way; his love would not be able to guide her. Not the path she led.
"He loves a memory," she corrected. "Something I no longer am."
Draco disagreed. She was still as beautiful as he remembered her from Hogwarts. He reached his hand cautiously across the board, covering hers with his own. She jerked away as if burnt.
"What do you want from me?"
Ok, yes VERY long time wait.
Huge thanks to your reviews go to Victoria27, Actrez, Poky, ShortySC22, GoldenFawkes (really no way lol), Lollipopkins89 and Sweetginny86 .
I'm sorry you people had to wait sooooooo long for this chapter. But I've just gone back to school and it's all busy busy busy, ach. And it was my birthday yesterday. Just thought I'd add that in :)
Xx Susannah xx