Sunday was as beautiful a day as the day before. Ginny and Draco arrived at Pansy's Cottage (which was anything but: walking around to the back garden gave the visitors a view of just how large the property actually was), meeting up with Hermione and Severus near the seating in the back garden.
"We're sitting on Pansy's side," Hermione informed them. Some of Ron's family had arrived to sit on the left hand side of the seating. Hermione kept her head down and walked them over to the chairs. Ginny felt for her friend. She also eyed her jealously – she looked remarkably well-rested and relaxed under her nervousness.
"Looks like they're enjoying being married," Draco muttered to her under his breath. Ginny felt the blush rising up her cheeks. She elbowed him. He gave her a look that made her blush even darker. She hurried to sit down.
Music started from somewhere. Everyone stood up, watched the isle. Molly and Arthur walked down, then stood waiting for Pansy and Ron, who followed them.
The ceremony was simple – not quite as Spartan as Hermione and Severus', but nearly as short – and Ginny spotted her mother's tears when a pale golden light illuminated the couple: the magic's blessing. Ginny smiled when Ron dipped his head to kiss his new bride – very tentatively, rather quickly, like she might bite. Yes, Pansy would keep him in line quite well.
A light lunch was presented on long tables, and Ginny started the daunting task of avoiding her aunts and uncles who wanted to talk to her. Normally, she would humour them for a few minutes; but today she simply wanted to go home. Draco was taking it all rather well – exchanging a few words with several of her cousins. The startled looks he left in his wake ranged from shock that the man was polite to one girl who thought that all her Christmases had come at once and nearly swooned. Ginny watched that incident with amusement.
Hermione and Severus had departed as soon as the ceremony had finished, with barely a congratulations for Pansy. Ginny had exchanged a look with Draco over the stricken look on Ron's face – alongside the very faint predatory smile on Pansy. Ginny took a glass of champagne from a circulating tray and began to fortify herself against any questions that family may field at her: namely, what on earth was she doing at the wedding with Draco Malfoy. She managed to give off vibes that kept most of the guests away.
Harry Potter – making a rare appearance in the public eye for his best friend's wedding – was not most guests. He wandered over to her. "I didn't even know," he said, beginning the conversation in the middle to avoid the uncomfortable introductory comments. "I thought he and Hermione were happily married."
Ginny shrugged. "There's a lot you don't know, staying cooped up in your farmhouse."
"I suppose. I enjoyed the solitude, although I will admit that now I am becoming a little lonely." He glanced at her over the top of his glass. Ginny felt creeping dread in her stomach. He couldn't even make small talk. He wanted something.
"Is that your way of saying you'd like to be friends?"
"I'm sorry for walking away before, Ginny, I really am. I had gone through so much, and I needed time to decide who I was…"
"And now you've decided, you're back to claim your prize?" Ginny interrupted. Merlin, she didn't want this confrontation at her brother's wedding: no, she didn't want this confrontation at all. She wanted Harry Potter to go back to his solitary house and leave her alone forever.
"What? Is that what… No, Ginny, you were never my prize. God, Ginny, I was afraid that… That I'd hurt you, somehow…"
"So you left, and you left me behind. Well, Harry, unfortunately you have to live with the decisions you've made. Even the unintentional ones. It's part of growing up, you know. I'm happy that you're ready to get back into life. But I'm not going to be part of that life." A few people glanced over at them; most people at the day were her family, however, and had felt slighted by Harry's actions toward Ginny. He found no support there. Ginny watched Harry's face flush slightly as he took in the glances of people around. Then Ginny felt an arm wrap around her waist.
"Everything alright, dear?" Draco said casually.
"It is now," she said, watching Harry's face turn dark.
"I see how it is," he said.
"That's good," Ginny said.
"Now, darling, poor Harry's had a hard life," Draco said patronisingly. "Don't be too hard on him."
The look that Harry gave Draco was pure venom. "Traitor," Harry said in an escalating voice. "Thief. You couldn't even stay on your side of the war properly. You stood there, watching everyone around you die, trying to decide which side to fight for. And now, just because you managed to send a random jinx into one or two people, you think you're a hero? You know nothing. You are nothing, nobody."
Now everyone was watching. Ginny moved to speak, but Draco squeezed her. She relented: this was his fight now. "Oh, Harry," he said sadly. "Hardly. Yes, I admit, I was young. I didn't know the full extent of what was happening. I know you don't believe me. To you, I was always guilty. All I was actually guilty of was being young and stupid and believing in my father. When I stood there, watching people die… I couldn't believe it. And when I made my decision – when I made an informed decision – I decided for what I knew was right: not the side that was winning. No, I will never know what it was like for you to grow up facing Voldemort at every turn. But you are the one who knows nothing. You have shut yourself away from the world for years. Children today are told about you and they think you are a story, an imaginary person. You're not real. You are nobody."
He turned to Ginny. "Shall we go now, sweetheart?"
"I want to say congratulations to Pansy."
"Ok, let's do that."
They left Harry standing there. He was so furious he couldn't get a word out, just a few choked noises. When a crack sounded, both Ginny and Draco flinched, expecting a curse in the back. They relaxed when they realised the noise was him apparating away. "Wonder if he wants to come back to life now?" Draco murmured to her. She barked a laugh.
"No idea."
Ron and Pansy were standing by themselves, a small group of guests having just said goodbye. "You seem to have won over the crowd," Pansy said with a small arch of her eyebrow.
Draco glanced around. A few of the men met his gaze and nodded; the women smiled. He smiled and nodded back. "So it would seem. It wasn't really for their benefit." Pansy made an indelicate noise. Draco laughed. "Ok, so I turned it to my advantage. I've been waiting to trick that speech out of him for years."
"What speech?" Ron asked. Ron didn't seem to impressed: Harry was his best friend, after all. Draco smiled darkly.
"The one where he says that I didn't kill anybody, that I actually fought against Voldemort. The one where he exonerates me for any suspicion hanging over my head about events during that final battle. That speech."
"Oh," Ron said. "Why couldn't you just do that yourself?" All three people gave him exasperated looks. "Am I supposed to know the answer to this question?" He said, his voice tired. "Just tell me. I'm not very good at guessing."
"If he tried to say those things, he'd just be discredited," Ginny said. "Saying them is as bad as not saying them. If Draco claimed to be innocent, it'd be seen as a confession of guilt. Saying nothing leaves room for doubt. Saying anything confirms suspicion."
"Oh," Ron said.
"Yes, oh," Ginny replied. She gave him a big smile. "Congratulations, Ron. And congratulations, Pansy," She hugged them both. Draco shook Ron's hand and gave Pansy a civil kiss on the cheek.
"Congratulations to you as well," Pansy said with a slight smile. Draco rolled his eyes at her.
Molly and Arthur caught them before they could leave. Molly caught Draco in a hug that nearly broke his ribs. "Uh, I don't mean to be rude, but… What is this about?"
"We never believed those terrible rumours…" Molly sobbed into his chest.
Arthur cleared his throat. "What my wife means is, we did believe those terrible rumours, and we're very sorry for jumping to conclusions. You have shown yourself to be honourable in your dealings with our daughter. Much more honourable than Harry Potter. And I'm very sorry for setting him up as a measuring stick against you." He was bashful.
Draco extracted himself expertly from Molly's vice grip. "And I am honoured that you were willing to accept me into your family whilst believing those terrible things. And I'm not threatened by Harry Potter, so think nothing of it."
Molly surrendered to Arthur's arm around her shoulders, though tears still streamed down her face. "You have our blessing, and more."
Draco grinned. "Don't give unspecified gifts to a Slytherin," he cautioned. "Especially when you're emotionally vulnerable. Who knows what I might do with that offer?"
It was to Molly and Arthur's credit that they both chuckled at his words. "You've already got our daughter," Arthur said quietly. "What more could you ask?"