Chapter 8

Saturday January 17th, 1998
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The hall outside Hospital Wing
3:07 p.m.

He didn't know what it was that had drawn him to the Hospital Wing at that particular time; he just knew that there was some reason he needed to be here. /-/That's odd/-/ he thought to himself as he watched from the shadows as Harry made his way out of the Hospital Wing and headed off in the direction of Gryffindor Tower. Blaise had been at the quidditch match earlier and knew that Harry had not gotten injured during the game and so had no reason to be in the Hospital Wing, unless… Once Harry had turned the corner he stepped from the shadows and made his way over to the door leading to the Hospital Wing, pushing it open quietly, hoping Madam Pomfrey was anywhere but in the main wing as he just wanted to see if he could find the reason for Harry's visit and why he felt like he needed to be here. He got his answer the minute he looked down the wing and saw someone lying in one of the hospital beds, someone with very familiar long red hair.

Glancing around he saw Madam Pomfrey was indeed nowhere to be seen, before making his way silently to her side. She was pale, far too pale against the white sheets, with bandages around her wrists... "Ginny?" he whispered.

"Leave me alone," she replied quietly, not looking at Blaise.

"Ginny..."

"Please milord, just leave me alone," she pleaded, desperately trying to hold her tears at bay.

"Ginny please, let me help you," he countered gently. "Please don't push us away... we all care about you, I care about you..."

"I can't…milord please…I can't…"

"Ginny," Blaise tried once more.

"Please just go…"

"Ginny..." he sighed.

"Mr. Zabini! What are you doing in here!"

Blaise looked up at Madam Pomfrey and mentally groaned, "Just visiting a friend, but I'll be going now. Feel better Ginny," he focused on her before rising and quickly making his way towards entrance.

Making his way through the school halls, Blaise made his way to his chambers where he spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out how to word the message he was sending his cousin, before finally figuring out the best way perhaps to tell Josephine what he had seen.

Monday January 19th, 1998
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The Great Hall
12:17 p.m.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please," Albus said as he stood up from his seat at the Head Table, Minerva tapping her glass as he did so to gather everyone's attention. "I have a very special announcement to make. All afternoon classes for sixth and seventh years have been cancelled for today so that you all may get ready to help your professors and I celebrate the impending union of two of your classmates. It is my pleasure to invite you all to the marriage ceremony of one Mr. Harry Potter and one Miss Ginevra Weasley to take place at one o'clock tomorrow afternoon. My congratulations to you Harry and you Ginevra," he said as he raised his glass towards the Gryffindor Table and the couple in question. "A party is being held this evening in honour of Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley and those of you in sixth and seventh year that wish to attend may do so."

"Ginny are you all right?" asked Harry in concern when he noticed that Ginny had lost the little colour she had regained since leaving the Hospital Wing earlier that morning.

"I'm fine Harry, I think I just need to lie down for a bit if that's all right," Ginny said quietly.

"Want me to come with you?" Harry asked worriedly.

"Would you mind?"

"Of course not," Harry said rising and helping Ginny to her feet.

Seeing Harry help Ginny up, Ron snorted into his pumpkin juice. "Gods you can take the girl away from the nobility but you can't take the nobility out of the girl."

"What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Harry as he turned to look at Ron.

"She's been away from the nobles for almost two months and yet you jump when she tells you to."

"That's not fair Ron," chided Hermione. "Ginny didn't ask Harry to take her upstairs, he offered. You're sister's been through hell since the Winter Ball, not to mention she's only just been released from the Hospital Wing, can't you just cut her some slack for once? Come on you guys, lets get out of here," she said turning to look at Harry and Ginny before the three of them began making their way from the Great Hall.

"Where are you going?" demanded Draco when Blaise rose form his spot next to him at the Slytherin table.

"To find out if what Dumbledore just said was true," Blaise replied.

"She's leaving with him isn't she? Guess that means it's true," Draco commented. "Why are you even bothering Blaise? It's not like she's even in the same league as us. Potter deserves a common peasant whore like her…"

Blaise never stuck around to hear the rest of Draco's comments, too afraid of what he might do to his best friend if he did, instead taking off after Ginny in the hopes of catching her before she disappeared behind the door to the Gryffindor Common Room. "Ginny!" he called out as he exited the Great Hall and noticed them making their way up the grand staircase. "Milady!" he called out as he closed the gap between them. Ginny still giving no indication that she had even heard him. "Countess, wait, please," he said when he finally caught up with them and placed a hand on Ginny's arm causing her to turn slightly to look at him. "Might I have a word Milady?"

With barely a glance at Harry or Hermione, Ginny gave a small nod and stepped down onto the landing next to Blaise, allowing him to lead her a short distance away from the others.

"Is it true? What Dumbledore said? You're marrying Potter?" Blaise asked quietly.

"Yes," replied Ginny just as quietly, keeping her eyes downcast and not making eye contact with Blaise.

"Why Ginny? You deserve so much more than what he can give you," Blaise argued.

"No Blaise. Harry's the best I could hope for. I learned that the hard way and it's a lesson I won't soon forget," Ginny said as she lifted her hand to her cheek and lightly brushed the small white scar that still graced her cheek. There must have been something in the composition of Simeon's ring because Madam Pomfrey had been unable to completely heal the cut it had put on her cheek when he had backhanded her at the Winter Ball, leaving her with a long thin white scar on her cheek. "Before returning Milli and Pansy's books, I did a little digging. James Potter was a Baronet, like his father before him, which means that Harry now carries that title whether he wishes to acknowledge it or not. A Baronet like Harry is the best a girl like me can ever hope to have."

"That's not true Ginny and you know it," countered Blaise. "You are the Countess of Rosewood…"

"No Blaise, I'm not," Ginny interrupted him. "I'm a commoner, a peasant, nothing more. Now if you'll excuse me my Lord, I need to lie down for a while before the party this evening," she said as she dropped into a curtsy before rising and stepping around him, what little energy she had failing her as she neared the steps.

Seeing Ginny start to falter in her steps, Harry quickly made his way to her side and picked her up and made his way back up to where Hermione stood waiting before they continued up to Gryffindor Tower, leaving Blaise alone in the hallway.

Blaise stood where he was, watching as the three Gryffindors disappeared up the stairs, before turning and making his way back down to the Entrance Hall where he found Draco, Millicent and Pansy waiting for him.

"So is it true?" asked Pansy when Blaise walked up to them.

"I'm afraid so," Blaise said.

"Good," snapped Draco, causing the others to look at him. "What? You can't honestly tell me you liked hanging out with a common whore who would do anything to snag a noble husband. I'm just glad she got the message at the Winter Ball that she's not one of us."

"What message might that be?" snarled Blaise angrily.

"That she doesn't belong in our world and that the minute everyone learned of who she was they wouldn't want anything to do with her," replied Draco.

After thinking back on the events of the Winter Ball, it suddenly dawned on Blaise just what Draco was referring to. "What did you say to him Draco?"

"Say to who?" asked Pansy in confusion.

"Simeon," replied Blaise. "I remember seeing him dancing with Ginny. They seemed quite happy with each other. I remember him asking me about her earlier in the night, he was taken with her from the minute he first laid eyes on her."

"I don't understand," commented Millicent. "I remember seeing them dancing too, then they disappeared for a bit and after that I only ever saw Simeon. I never saw Ginny again until we returned to school after the break."

"Exactly my point, I saw them leave the dance floor and head out onto the terrace. A few minutes later I saw Simeon make his way back inside which is when I saw him talking to you Draco and then he disappeared back out onto the terrace. When he returned a short while later he was alone and looked ready to kill. What did you say to him Draco?" demanded Blaise.

"The truth. I told him the girl he'd just spent half the night making a fool of himself over was nothing more than a common filthy little peasant whore, who was trying to snag herself a noble husband," replied Draco.

"Why you…" Blaise trailed off angrily as he drew his arm back to punch Draco.

"Blaise no!" cried Pansy grabbing his arm to try to stop him from hitting Draco.

"You're not worth it," Blaise said suddenly as he dropped his arm. Without another word, he simply turned and walked off, making his way down to his room in the dungeons.

"Come on Pans, we have a letter to write," Millicent said as she took Pansy by the arm and started leading her in the same direction Blaise had just gone, leaving Draco alone in the Entrance Hall.

Monday January 19th, 1998
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Gryffindor Tower
The Sixth Year Girls' Dormitory
7:24 p.m.

"Come in," Ginny called when a knock sounded on her door a few hours later, as she rose from her vanity and made her way over to her bed where her shoes were laying.

"You're wearing that to the party?" asked Hermione as she entered Ginny's room and took in the simple green dress robe Ginny was wearing.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" asked Ginny as she slipped her shoes on and stood back up.

"Nothing…really. It's just I don't understand why you'd pick something so simple when you have all these other stunning gowns to choose from," Hermione said as she walked to Ginny's closet and opened the door.

"Because those don't belong to me that's why," replied Ginny.

"But…"

"They belong to the Countess de Winters Hermione, not me. Besides, my mother made this dress for me; the least I can do is wear it," Ginny said. "Go ahead and ask me Hermione."

"Ask you what?" asked Hermione in confusion.

"The question you've been dying to ask me since Blaise stopped me in the stairwell. You want to know if what he called me is true," Ginny said.

"Is it?"

"It was…once, but not anymore. I learned my lesson the hard way."

"What lesson is that?" asked Hermione curiously.

"That I'm a Weasley and as a Weasley I'll never be anything more than a commoner," Ginny said.

"What about your friends? The Slytherin nobles?"

"They're not my friends Hermione. They put up with me because they had no choice. I was the pet project of the Countess de Winters but that didn't stop what happened to me at the Winter Ball…"

"What did happen at the Winter Ball Ginny?" Hermione interrupted. "All we know is that you suddenly showed up at the Burrow one morning and we were told to leave you alone and not pester you with questions."

"What happened is private and not something I wish to discuss," Ginny snapped in irritation. "Now if you'll excuse me, my fiancé is waiting for me. Come on Kylie," she said, her young whippet coming when she called.

"Wait. Ginny you can't take Kylie with you," argued Hermione.

"Why not? It's my party, if I want to bring my dog, I'll bring my dog. I made the mistake of not having her with me in the past, I'm not about to make the same mistake again," Ginny said as she spun on her heels and stormed out of the room, Kylie right behind her.

"You look beautiful Ginny," Harry said when he saw her enter the common room.

"Thanks Harry," replied Ginny with a smile.

"Where's Hermione?"

"Shouldn't Ron be worried about that?" asked Ginny.

"He's not coming tonight. I told Hermione she could come with us," Harry said.

"You invited Hermione to come to our engagement party with us?" Ginny questioned in disbelief.

"I figured you wouldn't mind," Harry shrugged.

"Of course not, why would I mind if another woman accompanies us," Ginny snarled as she started to pace.

"Ginny you need to calm down. You know what Madam Pomfrey told you," Harry told her as he watched her pace. "Here's Hermione now," he said when he noticed his friend making her way down the stairs and into the common room.

"Ginny, you can't take Kylie with you," Hermione said when she stopped next to Harry.

"Watch me," snapped Ginny as she turned and started towards the door. "Are you two coming?" she asked angrily as she stuck her head back into the common room when she realized they weren't following her.

"We're coming Ginny," Harry said, taking Hermione's hand and leading her out of the common room and joining Ginny in the hallway, the three of them making their way down to the Great Hall, where the 'happy couple' was greeted with cheers and congratulations.

Ginny had been standing staring out one of the windows in the Great Hall, her back to the main doors, when she heard the beginnings of a commotion behind her. Turning around she noticed the Headmaster and her head of house trying to prevent some people from entering the Great Hall. Recognizing the voices, Ginny slowly made her way over to where Albus and Minerva were standing. "Excuse me Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall."

"Yes Miss Weasley?" asked Albus, turning to face Ginny.

"It's alright, sir. You can let them in," she said quietly, not taking her eyes off the Headmaster.

"Are you sure, Miss Weasley?" asked Minerva in concern.

"Yes Professor, I'm sure," Ginny said.

"As you wish then child," Albus said stepping back slightly.

"Thank you for coming, your Grace," Ginny said, turning to face the visitors and slipping into a curtsey. "It is a great honour that you have bestowed upon my fiancé and I by gracing us with your presence at our humble party."

"The honour is ours Milady," Josephine spoke before her brother could. "How could we not come and give our well wishes to the Countess of Rosewood and the Baron of Oak on their coming wedding?"

"Thank you kindly Countess de Winters but I have given up any claim to Rosewood," Ginny said standing once more. "It was made quite clear to me that I was not welcome amongst the nobles of society," she said, her eyes flicking to Lucius for a moment before returning to Josephine's hands. "My place is here, with Harry."

"And yet your fiancé is not here beside you," Blaise said from his position just to the side of Josephine.

Josephine glanced at her cousin from the corner of her eye before focusing on Ginny, "My dear, Rosewood is still yours, you laid claim to it, it can not be renounced, only your death can leave it to be claimed by another," she explained gently. "As for what happened... please do not judge us all by the actions of a few fools, you have more right to be amongst us than many who say they are nobility."

"You are kind to say so Milady," Ginny said with another curtsey. "If you will excuse me Milady, your Grace, I must find my fiancé."

"Of course, Milady," Josephine answered, inclining her head slightly.

With a slight nod, Ginny rose from her curtsey before turning and making her way across the Great Hall, Kylie at her heels, towards where Harry was standing talking to a few of the other Gryffindors.

"Milady... why aren't you putting a stop to this?" Millicent asked softly.

"It is not my place to dictate Ginny's life," she answered, not taking her eyes of Ginny. "If I were to do such a thing, I would be no better than her mother. She has enough people in her life telling her how to live her life... that is not our place. We are her friends, though at the moment she runs from us... We stand by her no matter what she chooses... only those who led her to this decision can possibly give her reason to not do what she is," she glanced over at Lucius to find him as well watching Ginny.

"Well, I'm going to try to change her mind," Blaise said suddenly as he started off towards where Ginny was now standing staring out the window, the same window he'd noticed her at when they'd first arrived.

"Blaise," Josephine stepped forward to grab his arm and stop him, "Do not make a scene, and do not give her reason to hate us more. Watch what you say cousin," she finished evenly before letting him go. She raised a hand when Pansy started to speak, "He's a Duca, I can not tell him what to do, I can merely advise," she explained before turning and heading towards the refreshment table, pausing only long enough to link arms with her brother and pull him along, the others following them.

"Ginny can we talk?" asked Blaise quietly as he stopped beside Ginny.

"There is nothing to talk about my Lord," Ginny replied just as quietly as she turned towards Blaise only to curtsey and start to walk away from him.

"Ginny please," Blaise pleaded as he put his hand on Ginny's arm to stop her progress. "I know about what happened with Simeon."

Ginny closed her eyes for a moment before nodding.

"Come, lets go someplace a little more private," Blaise suggested as he gently laid his hand on the small of Ginny's back and led her along the back wall of the Great Hall and into a small anteroom, just off the back corner of the Great Hall nearest where the Slytherin Table normally stood.

"You look beautiful, Ginny," Blaise said as he closed the door behind them.

"I look like the commoner I am, especially next to the Countess de Winters and the rest of your friends," Ginny said quietly.

"They're your friends too Ginny," Blaise said as he stepped up behind her and took her gently by the arm before turning her to face him. "As am I," he continued as he gently cupped her cheek.

"Please don't," pleaded Ginny quietly as she stepped back from Blaise's touch.

"Ginny, what Simeon said, it's not true. You have to know that," Blaise said.

"Isn't it?" asked Ginny, her voice quiet as she raised her gaze to meet Blaise's for a moment before dropping back to her hands.

"You are not a whore Ginny," Blaise argued as he stepped towards Ginny, once more cupping her cheek in his hand, gently wiping away an escaping tear.

"I slept with a man that I knew could never want me, could never love me."

"That doesn't make you a bad person Ginny and it doesn't make you a whore either," Blaise told her. "You made a mistake, nothing more. Those of us that know you would never hold your mistakes against you. We don't care who your parents are or what you may or may not have done. We care about you Ginny and nothing is going to change that," he said.

"Oh Gods," Ginny cried quietly as Blaise pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

"You don't have to do this Ginny. You don't have to marry Potter. You can have the life you've always wanted," Blaise said as he held Ginny, rubbing her back.

"You don't understand Blaise, I don't have a choice," Ginny argued.

"Yes you do Ginny," Blaise countered as he took a hold of Ginny's arms and held her back away from him just enough so he could look into her eyes.

"No Blaise I don't. None of the young nobles will have me and the man that I want can't stand to even have me in the same room as him," Ginny said.

"Are you sure?"

"He told me so himself Blaise. After we…we were together, he threw me out and told me he never wanted to see me again and if I knew what was good for me I would never be in the same room as him again. Don't you see? Harry's the only one that will have me."

"But is he marrying you because he truly cares for you or for what you can provide for him?" questioned Blaise. "Ginny when I arrived here this evening you were standing by yourself and Potter was on the far side of the room with his friends and Granger. I also heard people talking about how Granger entered the party with you and Potter…"

"And I thought the Winter Ball was humiliating," Ginny said dropping her head into her hands.

"He had no right to insult you in such a manner Ginny. You're of a higher station then him, you could make him pay for his transgression if you so desired," Blaise told her.

"I told you Blaise, I've given up my claim to Rosewood," Ginny argued.

"And I recall Josette telling you otherwise. Rosewood is yours Ginny, regardless of what's happened recently."

"Blaise…"

"Ginny, I can help you if you'll let me."

"How?"

"Marry me."

"Excuse me?" asked Ginny in shock and confusion.

"Ginny a union between us would benefit both of us. I am the Duca di Piancenza, there are only two people who could possibly prevent a marriage between us and I don't think the Duke of Grey would try to stop it, nor would his sister the Countess de Winters."

"Blaise, do you know what people will think when they hear of a marriage between a Zabini and a Weasley? People will take one look at us and accuse me of bewitching you or something just to get your money," Ginny argued.

"Ginny, a marriage between us wouldn't be a marriage of Zabini and Weasley. It would be a union of house Piancenza and house Rosewood. You are not a Weasley. You are Lord and Lady Prewett's granddaughter and therefore you are a Prewett. Marry me Ginny. Marry me and become the Duchessa di Piancenza. I swear to you I'll make you forget Potter and the man that broke your heart. I'll make you the happiest woman in all of England for as long as we live."

"Would you do anything for me?" asked Ginny.

"Anything," replied Blaise.

"Will you make love to me?"

"Every night for the rest of our lives," Blaise said.

"Now? Will you make love to me now before we're married?"

"Ginny…"

"Blaise please, it's all I ask. If you make love to me now, I'll marry you whenever you want me to. I will become the Duchessa of Piancenza," Ginny said.

"Of course," Blaise said as he pulled Ginny close and kissed her for the first time.

Feeling his arms wrap around her once more, Ginny allowed herself to give into Blaise's kiss. While it did not have quite the same intensity of Lucius' it had an intensity all its own and Ginny soon found herself getting lost in it.

"Where?" Blaise asked as he pulled away slightly a few minutes later, his hands holding Ginny's head.

"Room of Requirement," Ginny said breathlessly as Blaise leaned in and kissed her once more.

Stepping back a few moments later, Blaise took Ginny by the hand and without a word led her from the anteroom, Kylie following silently, through the back corridors of the school up to the Room of Requirement. When they finally got the door open, Blaise took both of Ginny's hands in his and led her into the room, praying his path was clear as he couldn't see where he was going given the fact that he was walking backwards as he led Ginny into the room.

/-/Goddess please let me be doing the right thing. Please let this put a stop to the dreams/-/ Ginny thought desperately, biting on her lower lip worriedly as Blaise led her into the Room of Requirement. Taking a quick yet brief look around, she noticed the room was furnished quite simply with a king size canopy bed, much like the beds in the dorm rooms only bigger, the hangings a neutral cream colour, or at least that's the colour they looked in the light being given off by the dozens upon dozens of candles that littered the room.

The minute the door closed behind them, Blaise pulled Ginny towards him and into another kiss, wrapping his arms around her in the process. The intensity of Blaise's kiss had not diminished from earlier; in fact it had only seemed to grow, causing Ginny to forget about everything else but the man kissing her.

"Make love to me," Ginny begged when Blaise broke the kiss a short while later, before turning his attention to Ginny's neck as his hands went to work on her robes. It wasn't long before Blaise had managed to remove Ginny's robe, allowing it to pool on the floor at her feet before picking her up and carrying her over to the bed. After placing her gently on the bed, Blaise quickly removed his own clothes before following Ginny onto the bed, climbing on top of her and kissing her once more. Maintaining his hold on Ginny's lips, Blaise let one of his hands trail down Ginny's side, lightly tracing her curves before letting his hand slip under the waistband of her panties.

"Are you sure about this?" asked Blaise in concern when he felt Ginny lift her hips into his touch.

"Mm hmm," replied Ginny as her body reacted to what Blaise was doing with his hand, causing her hips to lift off the mattress once more. "Make love to me Blaise," she instructed. /-/Make the dreams stop./-/

"As my Lady commands," Blaise said. He kissed Ginny on the lips, breaking it off after a few moments so he could trail kisses down her chest, where he removed her bra and spent time paying attention to her breasts before moving on down her abdomen. After removing her panties, Blaise slowly worked his way back up Ginny's body, leaving no area unexplored, much to Ginny's pleasure, if her moans were anything to go by. "Ginny?"

"Yes?"

"This is your last chance to say no," Blaise said as he lay down next to Ginny, his body stretched out next to hers, their lips mere inches apart.

"Yes Blaise," Ginny said as she pushed Blaise onto his back as she climbed on top of him, kissing his lips briefly. "I'm saying yes," she said breaking off the kiss before giving him the same treatment he had just given her, although she chose to ignore his manhood for the moment as she kissed and caressed the rest of his body.

"By the Gods Ginny are you trying to kill me? Blaise groaned as Ginny slowly slid her body up his to lay half draped on top of him, her hand wandering over his body.

"You don't like?" asked Ginny innocently as her hand went everywhere but where Blaise wanted it. "If you don't like it maybe I'll just get dressed and head back to Gryffindor," she said as she rolled away from Blaise, intent on doing just as she said. Just as she was about to hop off the bed, she felt an arm snake around her waist and pull her back on the bed.

"Oh no you don't Countess," Blaise said pulling Ginny back onto the bed, straddling her in the process as he began to tickle her sides, causing her to squeal in laughter.

"I give, I give," Ginny pleaded. "You win; have your way with me my Lord."

"Gladly," Blaise smiled as he leant over and kissed Ginny, deepening the kiss seconds after their lips touched as he lay down on top of her.

Both Blaise and Ginny allowed themselves to fall into the intense sensations they were feeling the longer they kissed, that neither one of them noticed that Ginny didn't bleed when he entered her nor that neither one of them felt the bond being formed as they made love.

"You are so beautiful," Blaise said as both their breathing slowly returned to normal after their releases, his body still on top of Ginny's, still inside of her.

"I'm a sweaty mess Blaise," countered Ginny.

"It doesn't matter, you're still beautiful," Blaise said as he kissed her lightly.

"Please don't," Ginny pleaded quietly when she felt Blaise start to withdraw from her.

"Ginny…"

"Blaise please," Ginny pleaded, a note of desperation in her voice. "Can you just hold me like this for awhile?"

"Of course," Blaise agreed as he rolled them onto their sides and wrapped his arms around Ginny protectively, holding her tight, as he entwined his legs with hers to keep him firmly seated inside of her.

"Thank you," Ginny said quietly into Blaise's shoulder as sleep started to claim her.

"I love you Ginny," Blaise said as he hugged Ginny close, closing his eyes and following Ginny into sleep.

Monday January 19th, 1998
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The Great Hall
8:06 p.m.

It had been quite a short time really, since they had arrived at the party, and Josephine found her attention divided between two things. One, where her cousin had disappeared to after he went to speak with Ginny, the newly engaged Countess also missing... and the fact her brother had not left the refreshment table in some time, and though she knew they would not have anything alcoholic at the party, she had a mental bell going off that said he was definitely not drinking the butter rum.

Sighing, she made her way towards Lucius, she couldn't exactly solve her first concern, the least she could do was take care of the second and hopefully get him back to the Manor before she finally dealt with her nephew... "Hello brother mine," she greeted as she stopped next to him.

"Remind me again sister dear why exactly it was you insisted I escort you to this party?"

"If I have to answer that question, then you're certainly not as smart as I ever thought you were," she countered quietly.

"You are wasting your time Josette," Lucius told her as he took a drink from the glass in his hand.

"If I am a fool for wanting to see you happy, then so be it, but I refuse to believe I am wasting my time. And if you get drunk here I'm going to smack you over your head hard enough you'll feel like your head is going to explode not just from the hangover... for a week," she hissed her last statement.

"Have you forgotten the slightly major issue in that I have a wife?"

"That is a conversation we are not about to get into here Lucia. You wouldn't have to worry about that particular issue if you would just listen to reason and what many of us already know," she spoke quietly so only he could hear.

"I'm not about to risk the reputation of the Malfoy family or bring the kind of shame adultery can bring to a family. Why do you insist on throwing the Countess of Rosewood at me anyway? Have you ever heard the term jailbait darling sister? The Countess is young enough to be my daughter. Merlin's blood, she's younger than my son and yet you insist on throwing her in my path."

"Because she's your true mate, your equal, you're just too bloody concerned with the way things will look to actually notice it," she countered evenly, "And I know, I'm just as bad as you when it comes to something that even might bring disgrace to our family and ancestors. But Lucia, the shame of adultery would not be yours, and you must remember that in times past it was nothing to take a bride much younger than you."

"You think I don't know that?" hissed Lucius angrily. "But even if by some miracle of the Goddess I were free of Narcissa, it's already too late because that bridge was burned a while ago."

"And you can't make things right? The girl loves you Lucius, anyone would be blind to miss it when she looks at you, really looks at you. And I know that you love her, you might deny it to yourself but you do. No relationship is ever free of hardships, and true, things have been far from easy in this, but there is always hope, only when we are no longer in this world can we never have a chance to make things right."

"How can I possibly love a girl I barely know beyond a single innocent kiss in the halls of this blasted school and being your little pet project? And if she loves me as you claim, why is she marrying Potter?"

"First, brother mine who I love dearly but at the moment want to strangle," Josephine looked up at him and rolled her eyes, "I lost my innocence in the non-literal sense a long time ago, and we both know as you so eloquently put it a few months ago, I know far too much about your sex life. And while I'm sure your wife wouldn't be able to tell, I can tell when you've been well and thoroughly pleasured, same way it was so obvious when Pére and Mére made love. As for this whole event," she waved a hand to indicate the party and it's cause, "What would you do if the person you loved was out of your reach, and you had been convinced that the life you were denied for so many years, that you finally had in your reach, only to be told that you didn't deserve it and have your worst fears confirmed? Is it any surprise she settled for someone she knew cared about her, thinking he was the best she would ever have?"

"If he cares for her so much why has he spent his entire time with that Muggle-born Granger girl and not his fiancée? If I heard the whispers correctly, Potter had the nerve to invite Granger to attend this so-called engagement party with him and young Ginevra. Is that the type of husband you want your friend to settle for? Although if you ask me I'd say she's probably moved up the food chain by now seeing as neither she nor our young cousin are anywhere to be seen and haven't been seen for quite some time now. I believe I've wasted enough of my time on this farce of an engagement party dear sister."

"Good, because you drink anymore I fear you might become exceedingly drunk, brother mine," she countered evenly, "And no, I do not want her to settle for Potter, but I can not control her decisions in life, I would be no better than her mother if I were to attempt it. If she has chosen Blaise, you will have to get used to having her around Lucius, consider that, could you really spend the rest of your life having to face her as she is married to our cousin when she is your true mate? Do not let time run out my Lord, if you do, I fear you will regret it for the rest of your days," she finished quietly before turning to join her 'girls' across the room.

As his sister made her way across the room, Lucius made his way as quickly as he could, while still maintaining the dignity of his position, out of the Great Hall and Hogwarts in general, apparating back to the manor once he was clear of the wards.

Tuesday January 20th, 1998
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
The Room of Requirements
12:27 a.m.

Her last conscious thought had been how nice it was to feel Blaise's arms around her, to feel him inside her and know that everything would be all right. That she had found a place for herself in the world and that the dreams that had been plaguing her since she returned to school would stop.

She let out a sleepy moan when she felt a hand slip between her legs, cupping her gently as it set to work manipulating her as her shoulder was lavished with kisses before she felt the kisses slowly start to make their way down her body. /-/By the Goddess Blaise, are you trying to kill me?/-/ Ginny thought, mirroring his words from earlier when she felt the kisses stop and his lips replace his hand in his ministrations, causing her hips to lift up to meet them.

She was close, she could feel it, and her entire body was tingling. Just a little longer and she knew that she would fall off the cliff as her release was ripped from her. /-/Oh Goddess why did he stop/-/ Ginny thought desperately as she felt him pull away from her causing her to whimper in frustration, eliciting a low chuckle from him. She moaned into his kiss when his lips met hers seconds later, tasting herself on his tongue as he devoured her mouth. He did nothing but kiss her for a few minutes, their lips being the only point of contact between them

"You are mine, now and forever," he whispered in her ear after breaking the kiss as he pushed into her.

"Oh Goddess," Ginny moaned as she felt him enter her. It took a few moments before her brain registered the fact that something wasn't right. The man inside her was big, bigger than Blaise had been and that voice. She knew that voice and it wasn't Blaise's and Blaise's hair wasn't long enough to brush her shoulder while he was on top of her. Slowly opening her eyes, her worst fear was proven true. "Get off me," she cried as she tried to push Lucius off of her.

"You are mine Ginevra," Lucius purred as he quickly took hold of Ginny's wrists, stopping her from her attack on him as she couldn't strike him with her hands pinned down.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you tormenting me like this?" Ginny cried as she frantically looked around to see if there was anything or anyone to help her. As she looked around the room, it didn't take Ginny long to realize exactly where they were, given the rather round table she found herself lying on and the portraits that hung around the room, each one behind a different chair.

"I am not the one doing the tormenting Ginevra," Lucius said. "You haunt my dreams at night. You make it so no other is as appealing as you and there's nothing I can do. I must have you," he said as he leant down and captured Ginny's lips in another kiss, keeping her arms pinned above her head and the majority of his weight on her hips, keeping her trapped against the table despite her struggles as he pumped into her harder and harder until both of their releases were ripped from them.

When they were done, Lucius rolled onto his side and pulled Ginny into his arms, holding her tight as she cried herself to sleep, falling asleep himself not that long after her.

Ginny woke with a gasp, frantically looking around the room and breathing a sigh of relief when she took in her surroundings and realized that she was in the Room of Requirement and Blaise was sleeping peacefully beside her. "It was just a dream," Ginny told herself quietly, not wanting to wake Blaise up. "Ouch," she hissed when she brushed her hand against her opposite wrist accidentally. "Goddess no," she whispered, panic entering her voice, when she looked down and noticed the red marks on her wrists, marks that had been caused when Lucius had held her hands pinned to the table. "It really happened. They've been real the whole time," Ginny cried as she threw herself from the bed, gathering her clothes as quickly as she could and throwing them on.

"Ginny?" Blaise asked sleepily as he felt around the bed for her, her leaping from the bed moments before having woken him. "Ginny wait!" he called when he saw Ginny and Kylie disappear through the door leading back out into the school. "Bloody hell," he cursed as he climbed out of bed and grabbed his clothes, throwing his pants and shoes on first before taking off after Ginny, throwing his shirt and robe on as he went. "Ginny stop!" he called after her when he reached the top of the stairs leading into the Entrance Hall and he saw her making her way out the main door of the castle. "Gods be damned Ginny, what the hell are you running from," he wondered aloud as he ran down the stairs and out into the night, determined to catch up to Ginny, which he did only feet from the edge of the Forbidden Forest. "Ginny, stop," he said as he grabbed her by the arm, stopping her in her tracks.

"Let go of me," Ginny pleaded through her tears as she struggled to free herself from Blaise's hold on her arm.

"Ginny, why are you running?" asked Blaise in concern.

"I can't stay here. Blaise please you have to let me go," Ginny begged.

"Ginny, I don't understand what's going on."

"It didn't work. It didn't make them stop," Ginny said as she lifted her hands to show him her wrists, even though it was much to dark to truly see the extent of the damage.

"Ginny what…"

"I have been waiting for you child. The stars spoke of your coming but not when," a voice spoke from within the forest causing Ginny to spin around in fear and back into Blaise, who had dropped his hold on her when he heard the voice, now placing his hands on her hips.

"Who are you? Who's there?" demanded Ginny, her voice full of fright.

"I am Ronan," the centaur said as it emerged from the Forbidden Forest.

"What do you want?" asked Ginny.

"The sanctuary you seek can be found at Cair Paravel," Ronan said.

"Cair Paravel?" repeated Ginny sharing a confused look with Blaise.

"Cair Paravel on the Eastern Sea," Ronan said as he turned and started making his way back into the forest.

"Ginny, what are you doing?" asked Blaise as he tightened his grip on Ginny when she went to step forward.

"I'm going to Cair Paravel," Ginny said.

"Ginny are you nuts? You can't go with a centaur," Blaise argued.

"I can't stay here Blaise. If I stay he'll just continue to torment me and I can't take it anymore. I've already tried to take my life once only to have Lavender find me before it was too late. Maybe…maybe at Cair Paravel it will be like it was before, when he couldn't torment me like this," Ginny said.

"Who's tormenting you Ginny?"

"I can't. Blaise please…"

"It's him isn't it? The man you told me of."

"Yes. He turned me away, told me he never wanted to see me again and yet he's tormenting me in my dreams. I can't live like this anymore Blaise and maybe Cair Paravel will help, maybe the dreams will stop," Ginny said, tears in her voice once more.

"Oh Ginny," Blaise said as he kissed Ginny on the forehead. "Come on," he said holding out his hand to Ginny.

"Blaise…"

"I'm coming with you Ginny," he said as he continued to hold his hand out to Ginny.

"Blaise no, you should stay here. Find a girl and make her your Duchessa…"

"I've found her already and I'm not letting you go to some strange place alone," he said. "If you really want to follow the centaur to this Cair Paravel, then I'm coming with you, end of discussion."

With a nod, Ginny reached out and took Blaise's hand before the two of them made their way into the Forbidden Forest, catching up quickly with Ronan who had stopped to wait for them just inside the trees before leading them through the forest as it began to snow.