"Then why?" Ron demanded as he stared between Draco and Ginny.
"We don't have time for this." Draco told him, his voice bellowing the way Ron had always expected from a Malfoy. "If you want answers, stick around and wait for his to show up. If you'd like to remain alive for a few more years, then grab your girlfriend and run. That's all we have for you. We don't have answers for you. We never did. That wasn't our intention. We never tired to figure out why he held you captive. And, you know," Draco paused when Ginny detached herself from him, but continued on all the same. "Maybe we should've. Maybe we should considered the fact that you might have wanted answers when you got back, but our only concern was finding your ass."
"Don't even pretend like you give a damn, Malfoy!" Ron yelled back at him, Hermione also distancing herself from Ron.
"Yeah, you see? I spend seven years of my life looking for you, and what do I get? A broken nose?" Draco replied, his eyes now shining gray having lost all color in his anger. "You don't have to like me, Ron. You don't even have to accept me, but it's not your decision whether or not I stay here. You can hate me all you'd like, but that little girl. Your niece, is my daughter, and you're best getting used to disappointment if you think I'm going to walk out the door because you're uncomfortable."
"Guys," Harry's voice nearly echoed off the old walls of the burrow, and even covered Ron's voice when he tried to respond to Draco. "Stop now. There is no good that come from your arguing. Molly has already explained the situation to me. I gave Elizabeth to George and he's going to muggle London with her and will not return until we send for him. Molly and Arthur are gathering Teddy and the other children and are going to George and Angelina's house to safety. Ron, you're still weak and I suggest you go with them, but if you must stay, then stay. But you've got to stop arguing. Lucius may be here any moment."
"Wow," Hermione spoke as she glanced from Ron to Draco. "A man who speaks reasonably. Where can I find one like that?" She asked sarcastically as her glared landed on Ron once more, before she left the room. Ginny followed behind, not bothering to so much as glance to Draco, but he hardly noticed as he pulled his wand from the inside pocket on his cloak.
Ron moved to Harry, who was standing in the back entrance of the dining room, while Draco waved his wand around as he magically moved the furniture against the inner walls of the rooms. Without glancing to Harry and Ron, he moved to the next room and moved the various chairs and tables so they were not scattered about the room. After a few more minutes, Hermione and Ginny appeared in the stairwell as the descended the stairs, after having traded their shorts and skirts for pants and loose shirts for more fitting clothing.
"Hey," Ginny called softly as she put her hand on Draco's arm. He turned to her, and she saw the conflicted emotions flashing in his icy blue eyes, worry making up the majority of the emotions she could make out. "I love you, Drake."
"I love you, Gin." He replied as he wrapped his arms around her body once more before he lowered his lips to hers. After breaking the kiss, Ginny remained in Draco's embrace knowing that any moment either of their lives might end and neither would be as complete as they are now.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione soon joined Draco and Ginny in the main room of the burrow, but the five remained in silence. The all too familiar sound of flapping wings filled the silence around them, but only silence filled Ginny and Draco's ears. All they could pay attention to was the void where the sound of their beating hearts had once filled. Neither dared to take another breath until after somebody read the letter aloud, confirming their worst nightmare.
"He's out," Harry finally spoke the dreaded words and Draco heard a dry sob in Ginny's throat as she attempted to breath once more, but was met with a wall of tears brought on my fear for her love and for her daughter.
Draco tightened his grip around her, hoping to hold her up until her strength returned. Though he felt as broken as she, he knew there was not time for both of them to break down, especially mere moments before their predicted return of his father. Instead, Draco salvaged whatever strength he still held within him as he also steadied Ginny. Though Ron only saw Ginny's pain, Harry and Hermione saw the broken will masquerading behind Draco's strong appearance and stubborn walls.
"Love you," Ginny whispered softly and Draco put a kiss on the top of her head, but was careful not to let his eyes close. He knew if that happened, his tears would show as well.
"I love you, Ginny." Draco told her as she slowly stood on her own, though they still grasped each other's hands. In his left hand, Draco griped his wand tightly, though he paid special attention not to snap it under his grip. It seemed as though hours had passed in silence, and only Hermione knew it had been no more than three minutes before an all too familiar face appeared before the five.
His signature platinum blonde locks which defined the Malfoy family fell to his waist but he had his hair tied together at the back of his neck so his locks fell perfectly straight and neat in one single column. Even as his icy cold eyes scanned the room, and his smirk played across his lips, even Ron could not help but feel there was no connection between the evil escaped fugitive before them, and the calm man beside them.
"Why no furniture?" Lucius spoke first as he motioned to the empty space around him, his right arm holding his wand, his left hand open and empty. "I trust you were expecting company, Draco, and yet there is not a single chair for which you could offer me."
"Fuck off," Draco responded, his voice harsh as he glared at the heartless man he could not believe was his father.
"I taught you better manners than that," Lucius growled his response as his eyes narrowed at Draco. Slowly, he followed Draco's out stretched arm until his hand met with Ginny's. Then Lucius' narrowed eyes fell on Ginny.
"Why are you here, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, keeping her voice as calm as possible. She took a step forward, leaving the protective space between Harry and Ron, despite Ron's protest. Carefully, she neared Lucius, but she halted when he turned to her, his wand pointed directly at her.
"I'm sure you are bright enough to figure that one out all on your own, Mud-Blood." Lucius responded sharply. Ginny could feel the anger pulsing through her as though the term had been applied to her, and she felt Ron felt the exact same way, but Harry's out stretched arm stopped Ron from approaching Hermione.
"Lucius," Hermione responded, still keeping her voice calm, realizing she was probably the only one with the ability to do so, especially around this company. "Ron came home. That means you can still get a deal with the Ministry. They can waive The Kiss if you turn yourself in. We both know that your chances of escaping us are no better than your chances of escaping The Kiss at your trial."
"What?" Lucius actually smiled as though he were the master behind the game he tricked everyone around him into playing. "Don't I get a hearing?"
"Hearings are not reserved for killers." Ginny responded, her voice sounded much stronger than Draco had expected from her. Though he was glad her strength had returned, Draco was not pleased when Ginny drew Lucius' attention to her once more.
"You know," Lucius responded, his tone still a reflection of the game he thinks he's playing. "If Draco would just give me one little tiny piece of paper, this would all end right now."
Draco laughed as he looked at his father. As Draco stepped forward, he released Ginny's hand and switched his wand to his right hand. "I wouldn't give you Voldermolt's last wishes even my life depended on it. Besides, this is your entire fault. You're the one who left your precious instructions in the Malfoy Manor, under some delusion that I wouldn't find it."
"Well, I always felt you took after your mother."
"You mean the woman you murdered?" Draco answered coldly, and Hermione took a step back when she saw the flash in Lucius' eyes.
"I did not kill her," He yelled, his voice sounding remarkably close to Draco when Draco had been yelling some hour ago.
"You might as well have. It was an inevitable consequence of your gallivanting about as you murdered and killed and attempted to resurrect your precious Death Eaters." Draco responded. "She was killed because of you, and I won't watch everything I have fall into pieces because of you."
"And you think your life is with her?" Lucius asked, motioning to Ginny with his right hand, his wand pointed at her. That, of course, did not sit well with Draco who on instinct protected Ginny as he casted a spell on his father, sending the older man into the wall behind him.
"Point your wand at her once more." Draco dared the cold hearted man as he struggled to get to his feet once more, only to see Draco standing in his direct line of Ginny.
"Fine, son, have it your way." Lucius responded coldly as he started to flick his wand, but casted no verbal spells. Ginny stood back and could only watch as Ron was thrown back against the wooden railing of the staircase, effectively snapping the old board. He landed on the stairs, his back hitting the wall, but he stumbled down a few steps before he laid out, motionlessly.
Hermione had watched in pure horror, and when her head was turned, Lucius flicked his wand once more, sending her to the opposite end of the room, where Harry quickly joined her at his bidding. Neither had their wands, and were bound to the wall after Lucius casted a spell under his breath. Ginny kept her eyes forward on Draco and Lucius, but she could not block the sounds of Harry and Hermione fighting against the spell that bound them uselessly together.
"Is this better, Draco?" Lucius asked as he stared down at Draco, but Draco knew better than to engage in another word game with the delusional man. "Now it's just you protecting your blood traitorous wife." Even though Lucius had spat the word out with such disgust, Draco could not help but feel as though describing Ginny as his wife was fitting, though incorrect.
"But, jut to even the field," Lucius added as he flicked his wand once more, making Ginny's wand fly from her grasp, despite her best efforts to remain in possession of the wand.
In response, Draco casted another spell, but Lucius blocked it, seemingly with ease. Though his block appeared rather simply, Draco could see the physical toll spell casting took on the man's aging body. Despite his difficulties, Lucius shot his own spell at Draco, sending the young man across the room, landing just a few feet short of Ginny.
Ginny took a few steps back, until her back was pressed against the wall, giving Draco more room, but she knew what he really needed was a second person with a wand to help him. Draco got to his feet easily and within mere minutes, the father and son duo and casted several spells at one another. Some spells were blocked and some were dodged. The spells that struck the walls of the burrow threatened the integrity of the old building.
"Give up, Draco."
"Fuck you." Draco answered in a dry laugh as he stumbled to his feet once more. He shot another spell and successfully sent his father back, giving Draco a moment to reach Ginny's side. He stroked the side of her face and stared into her eyes, but all Ginny saw was the defeat in Draco's clear blue eyes. She knew he would not last long enough, despite his youth.
"Crucio," Lucius sent another spell at Draco, who fell to Ginny's feet as his body seized in what Ginny knew was intolerable pain. She fell to her knees at Draco's side, desperate to help him, but she knew there was nothing for her to do. Distantly, she heard the curse as it was casted once more, and Draco's body was thrown about once more as he suffered through the curse a second time. Finally the effects wore off and Ginny allowed herself a breath as she reached out for Draco's still shaking hands.
"One more time?" Lucius asked, his cruel voice filling the air but was followed by the screams and protests from Hermione and Harry. "Don't you worry," He added with a slight chuckle. "I meant for dear little Ginny this time," He explained as he rose his wand at her once more, the curse half way out of his lips, but in that moment, Draco found enough strength to push his body up, taking the curse once more so Ginny wouldn't experience it at all.
Tears had started to fall from his blue eyes as he stared up at Ginny, determined to make her face the last image he would see, should the maximum number of deadly curses he could endure happen to be three. Ginny had cried along with him as she tried to hold his hand but he seized in utter pain and often moved his hand out of her grasp.
All Ginny knew was the only man she'd ever truly loved was dying before her. One instant solution crossed her mind, but her morals wouldn't allow her to cast such a spell. Despite every part of her mind telling her to stop, she moved around Draco's body and lifted his wand from where it had dropped. Slowly she got to her feet once more, and held Draco's wand up at Lucius.
Two simple words were on her lips, and she knew exactly how to cast the spell, for she had heard it far too many times when her friends were being killed by Voldermort and his followers. He mind knew it was wrong, and she knew she was probably not strong enough to take anybody's life, but her heart overruled everything else. All Ginny could truly focus on was Draco, and his touch, and his love, and she knew she for sure she was not strong enough to attend his funeral.
Tears poured from Ginny's eyes as she watch Lucius fall back to the ground once the green light had faded away. She hadn't even heard the words fall from her lips, but Draco's screams instantly stopped. At that moment, Ginny wanted to simply fall to the ground in her horror of having actually taken a life that did not belong to her, but she managed two steps to Draco's side before she fell. In her horror, she discovered an unresponsive Draco despite her best attempts as she shook him, begging him to come back to her.
No longer bound by Lucius' spell, Hermione and Harry rushed to Draco and Ginny, but Hermione focused on reviving Draco while Harry tried to comfort Ginny through the two horrors she'd experienced. "He has a breath," Hermione said and Ginny pushed Harry back with what little strength remained within her.
"Drake," Ginny whispered as she looked down at him, watching his gray eyes slowly regain their color. "Draco." She cried as she put a kiss on his forehead. "Please don't leave me."
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