A/N: Eh, I know this is short-er. It was harder to get it out this fast. Usually I've got chapters lined up so I've got somewhat of a break but phew! I hope you like it! Oh, before you read this one, you might want to re-read Chap. 2, I made a few minor changes in detail. You'll see…

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Above and Beyond

Chapter 6 – Here We Go

'Uncle Drake! Uncle Drake!' the rambunctious toddler trailed after his exasperated guardian.

'Yes, Adan.' He answered wearily. The young child had been hounding him since the prior afternoon; clinging to his leg and asking a succession of annoyingly probing questions. Draco wondered if this was what parents felt like and had an unsettling feeling in his gut, like he was getting a… oh no, not a conscience! Was he actually beginning to care for the little blighter?

He took a deep, hopefully calming breath.

'Uncle Drake, is our new mommy coming today?'

Not calm. Draco tensed up, and then released the breath slowly.

'Adan, I've told you, she's not your new mother. She's here to look out for you, and take care of you.'

'But that's what a mommy does. So is she coming today? Huh, is she, is she?'

Draco growled and swung the little boy up into his arms. He was quite heavy for such a small thing and wriggled in Draco's uncomfortable hold. He wasn't exactly used to holding children, but the extra weight on his leg was driving him crazy. Grey eyes stared into grey. One pair alight with the carefree vigour of childhood, the other marred by the mistakes of the past.

'She isn't going to be your new mother.' Draco repeated for what he guessed was the thousandth time. 'And yes, she is coming today. She should be here any minute, in fact.' He added, checking his watch. As if on cue the doorbell rang a few feet from where they stood in the hallway. They watched as the ghostly butler, James, appeared out of a wall to their right. Adan shivered and moved closer to Draco. Draco understood the feeling; he had never liked the ghost much as a child, either. They stood frozen as he opened the door and announced,

'Ms. Ginevra Weasley.'

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Ginny was having a terrible day. First she woke up late, causing her to rush getting ready, spilling coffee over her last set of clean work robes. Her hair was a mess, choosing today to have its worst day in all her years. She grumbled all the way into work, before remembering she had the day off to prepare for her assignment. She Flooed from her office to the Burrow, grumbling as she stepped into the kitchen.

'Ginny, dear, what's the matter?' her mother asked genially.

'I've got to start the new job today, and nothing's going as planned.' She replied wearily.

'Well, dear you just can't give up. You're the one who decided to take this job and last night you were so sure you could do this. I'm sure it isn't as bad as you're making it out to be. Just grit your teeth and go ahead with it.'

Ginny sighed wishing she could follow her mother's advice.

'Go ahead with it, with a stained set of robes, terrible hair and a bad attitude?'

Her mother clucked her tongue, and shook her head disapprovingly at Ginny.

'The attitude we can work on, the hair is easily fixed with a Glamour charm,' she glared at Ginny affectionately as if asking why she'd never thought of that, 'And, honestly, Ginny, haven't I taught you enough household spells to get rid of a simple coffee stain?'

Ginny hung her head, secretly smiling. She'd been so caught up in her bad luck she didn't even remember she could fix most of them with a wave of her wand. Her mind, screaming with frustration seemed to calm down under her mother's gentle ministrations. Some time later she was sufficiently calmed down to enjoy a few cups of tea with her mother. Hermione walked in suddenly, closely followed by Luna. The two were giggling. Ginny raised an eyebrow in greeting.

'Ginny!' Luna called happily.

She had lost some of her dreaminess after Hogwarts. A terrible shame, Ginny would say sarcastically and they'd burst into giggles.

'Hi, Luna, Hermione.' Ginny replied.

'Long time no see, chica. Que pasa?' Luna was dating a Ministry employee on transfer from Spain.

Ginny looked confused before Hermione clarified.

'What's up?' she asked.

Ginny shook her head. She wasn't lying; nothing was up, everything was way down. She heaved a great sigh, forcing her friends to tug her into the living room and away from her mother's comfort.

'No one sighs like that if nothing's going on. So tell me, what's going on?' Luna demanded gently.

Hermione hung back warily.

'I've got a new job,' she began.

'Well that's good news' Luna said happily.

'At Malfoy Manor' Ginny finished. Luna's mouth widened in an 'O'. Ginny nodded grimly.

'Well that's not so bad. What's the job?'

'The usual: taking care of orphans. There are four of them: a sixteen year old girl, four year old twins and a one year old boy. The children I can handle, it's their guardian that bothers me.'

Luna and Hermione exchanged looks. They didn't share the Weasley dislike of the Malfoy name and could see with clarity the situation Ginny was being put in. It was like something out of the romance novels Ginny used to read in school. She, however, wouldn't see the resemblance. They sat on either side of her and each put a comforting arm around her shoulders.

'It's really not that bad, Gin. Think of the opportunity and um- ' Luna looked desperately to Hermione for help.

'Yes, the opportunity,' Hermione picked up, 'This might help you get a promotion...'

Ginny looked at them miserably.

'What if I don't want a promotion?' she asked glumly.

Luna and Hermione shared a glance over her head and shrugged shoulders. They could think of nothing else and she was going to take the job after all, so she didn't really need a pep talk. Hermione's eyes brightened as she thought of some good news to brighten her friend's day.

'Okay, Ginny, no more bad news. I've got a great one.'

Ginny didn't even blink. She had laid her head morosely in Hermione's lap and was complaining unintelligibly about the unfairness of Fate and the deceit of Destiny. Luna was stroking her shoulder in an effort to calm her down. It wasn't working.

Hermione took a deep breath and announced in a voice just above a whisper,

'I'm pregnant'

That got Ginny's attention. She gasped and sat up straight.

'You're what!?'

Hermione smiled slowly and repeated herself.

'Oh gods, Hermione, I'm so happy for you! This is the best thing that could ever possibly happen. Does Ron know?' Ginny gushed. Luna and Hermione were glad that Ginny was sufficiently distracted from her own 'problems'.

Hermione shook her head.

'I'm going to tell him tonight at dinner.'

Luna and Ginny oohed and ahhed, making Hermione blush. They buried their friend in a shower of hugs and spent the rest of the afternoon in girl chatter.

All too soon the hours sped by and before Ginny knew it, it was 4:30 and time to go. She didn't know how long it would take her to get to the manor (she doubted she could just Apparate onto the premises) so she had decided to get an early start. She bade goodbye to her mother and friends reflecting on the melodrama of the day, chuckling at her silliness. Of course she could handle this.

So she had arrived. Ginny stood on the doorstep (and a rather large one it was at that) of Malfoy manor, steeling herself for what she was sure would be the most challenging thing she had tried to date.

ooOoo

Draco's first wild thought on seeing Ginny on his doorstep was that she was a lost, bewildered child. She looked desolate and panicky as if she was about to flee. Like a gazelle, Draco thought, then shook his head angrily because 'Malfoys did not think like that, or sprout poetry at the wrong moments'. Still in an effort to calm her (he would later wonder why he would instinctively try to do such a thing) he invited her inside. She complied and stepped into the foyer. Draco was still holding Adan uncomfortably in his arms and she licked her lips even as her eyes flitted between both pairs of grey eyes. Her motion brought Draco's eyes immediately to her lips.

He must have stared at them for longer than was appropriate because she cleared her throat uncomfortably. Draco's eyes flew from her face, but not before noticing her cheeks were tinted in a blush. His cheekbones too, he was sure, were probably tinged pink. He had not meant to stare. But why should he feel embarrassed? Women everywhere longed for Draco Malfoy to look at them for longer than two seconds, right? Why should this Weasley be any different?

'This must be Adan.' She looked enquiringly at the toddler, now looking happier at finally settling comfortably in Draco's arms. At Ginny's words, however, he wriggled closer to Draco and peered at Ginny warily. Draco chuckled and bounced him gently. It felt so natural. His spine stiffened and he was immediately on his guard. Natural? Since when did Draco Malfoy: Playboy become Draco Malfoy: Family Man? He hadn't. Scowling, he brusquely handed Adan over to Ginny.

'Yes,' he replied tersely, 'This is Adan. He's just shy.' He added before stalking from the hall. Adan had whimpered at bit on being separated from Draco's arms but just as easily settled into Ginny's. She gave a small smile at that, but her brows were burrowed in confusion over Draco's behaviour.

'Come on, Adan; let's see if we can find your brother and sisters.' Ginny said.

They had almost left the foyer when Adan piped up,

'I like you.' he declared. 'You smell like flowers.' Ginny's smile widened at this admission: the honesty of youth. Her heart was won; she wouldn't quit this job for the world.

Draco had paused by the door to listen to this exchange, a wry and amused smile played on his lips.

'Charmer,' he whispered to himself, 'Definitely a Malfoy.'

A/N: Oh, just review!! Please. And thank you very veryyy much to those of you who have reviewed!! I'm really grateful.