Baby I have no story to be told.
But I heard one on you, and I'm gonna make your head burn.
"Mum, why are you not happy?"
The question sparked the silence that suddenly struck the Weasley family dinner table that evening. Across the long stretch of the wooden dining set, James stared into the stunned eyes of his aunts and uncles, feeling a bit shy. Fleur, who was the closest mother next to the row of children at the dinner table, reached out to gently wipe her napkin along the sticky mouth of the young Potter child, cleaning up the honey that stuck to his lips. To everyone else, it appeared to be a most polite gesture in quieting someone.
"Now, now, leetle one. Why do you believe your Mama iz not 'appy? Look at 'er, she iz az bright az ze sun."
"Well..." James blushed, staring down at his plate. He avoided the looks from Ginny and Harry, both focused on him in equal wonder. "Mum cries a lot, Aunt Fleur. Whenever we're sleeping, she wakes up Albus and me by apologizing a lot to a man named Dra-"
"James, don't be ridiculous." Harry stated sharply then, the family's attention turning away from James onto his father. Harry's eyes narrowed towards his eldest child, the hand on his fork unintentionally tightening around the base. Ron and Charlie's hands patted his shoulder in understanding, for the Weasley family was more than aware of the struggles from Ginny's condition and the toll it was taking on her family. Harry merely shrugged them off. "Your mother has simply felt ill for the past few days; that's all. Eat your dinner and don't interrupt the family's conversation." His voice was clipped, razor-edged.
"B-but Dad, Mum is not happy!" James was indeed his father's son. The twisted expression of displeasure on his face mirrored Harry's to the T. Being scolded did not stop him from speaking his worry over Ginny. "I had a dream that Mum left us. She said she wasn't happy and she was mad at us for not noticing that she wasn't happy, and she left us, Dad -"
"That's enough, young man." The other children Oooh'd in glee as the matriarch, Molly Weasley, spoke firmly towards her grandson. "The dinner table isn't the place to have that kind of conversation. Ginny, tell your son that you're alright. Tell him that you're happy so he won't be frightened anymore."
Ginny hadn't said a word, however. She met with James's pleading expression, her chocolate eyes bearing down into his own similar ones. What did you see, James? Ginny asked him silently, wondering if he possessed the talent for Legilimency at such a young age. She honestly wouldn't have been surprised if her son was gifted enough to sense out her emotions during a time like this. The nightmares she had of her and Draco's previous relationships never seemed to get better. It did shame Ginny that her son was starting to see the repercussions of her actions, yet it only proved that the curse that afflicted her was growing stronger as time went by. It took most of Ginny's strength to even eat at the dinner table, regardless of how well she believed she'd hidden the condition. You have to believe me, James. I don't want to leave you. You're my son; I see it in your eyes. You look like your Father, but you're just like me. It's not you that I want to leave, but I can't help it. Do you understand, son? Do you understand?
"Ginny." Harry's voice held a warning tone. "Tell James that he's being ridiculous."
The door to the Burrow interrupted the tense moment. Someone knocked on it with a slow, secure motion. Arthur Weasley stood from the head of the dinner table, giving a warm smile towards his family and moving to answer the door. This triggered the normalcy of the Weasley family dinner once more, and different conversations between the siblings, their wives, and their children began. However, James and Ginny continued to stare at each other, a silent conversation happening, which left Harry on the side of his wife in confusion.
"Ah, Harry. Do you mind giving us a moment of your time? Its... Ministry business." Arthur stood in the doorway of the kitchen, a concerned look on his features. Harry's eyes finally left his family, coming to a stand with a sigh. Ginny's gaze with her son finally broke as the familiar feeling crept into her chest. Biting her lip to keep from whimpering, despair washed over her for that instant, and she stared down at her plate. Ministry business, my arse. What is Draco Malfoy doing at the Burrow?
Draco hadn't meant to interrupt the Weasley family during their dinner gathering, but his manner was much more important than poor blood traitors and their traditions. The Wizarding World accepted his return with wide-open arms - each charitable event utilized for the Wizarding economy's progress, magazines and newspapers eating his story of being cast away into Muggle London like it was a tragic novel, and the witches that died to end up in his bed for that night. Regardless of these good things, the Ministry insisted on making his comeback as difficult as possible.
His arms crossed over his chest, the sensation of hollowness crawling within it like a beast as he stared into the eyes of Arthur Weasley and Harry Potter - the two Ministry officials assigned to his case. Normally, he'd have no trouble at all dealing with business at their residence. What gave him the trouble was the redheaded temptation in the other room that forced everything inside of him to feel so cold and caused his head to burn.
"I want to know who issued the extension to the return of Malfoy Manor to me."
"There are things about Malfoy Manor that are required to be investigated before you are allowed to return to it, Mister Malfoy," Arthur said calmly, sitting on the sofa, Harry standing in between the two gentlemen. "You wouldn't want anything remaining within the Manor that would force questions about your ability to remain in society, would you?"
Harry scoffed. "It isn't as though the Ministry will be able to find all of it, I'm sure. I was the one who issued the extension, Malfoy." Harry's emerald eyes gleamed towards Draco with clear distaste. "There are many Dark artifacts hidden within that manor that would warrant your never stepping foot in that place again, if it were left up to me. Just because your fans believe you have been rehabilitated, doesn't mean I'm going to leave behind any possibilities for you to prove them wrong."
Draco's face was in Harry's in that instant, the snarl on his lips a warning. Both Wizards held onto the wands beside them, the glare enough to frighten anyone that was in the vicinity. Arthur watched intently as Draco spoke first, his wand arm twitching as though he were waiting for Harry to take the bait and give him a reason. "You don't have the authority, nor the right, to keep me away from what belongs to me, Potter. You may have done it once, but my home is something you will not get away with. Watch your bloody fucking tone."
"Done it once? Just what are you trying to say?"
"Dad! Dad!" The excited tones of James broke through the heated argument, the young boy running into the living room area with the three standing gentlemen. In his hands he held a broomstick, parading it around proudly. "Look at what Uncles Fred and George gave me! They said the shop's doing well and it goes really fast! Can you fly outside with us? Please, Dad?" Behind James came a pallid-looking Ginny, who was holding baby Albus close to her chest.
"Sure, son. Let's go right now." Harry smiled gently towards his boy, ignoring the inquisitive looks that Draco gave to James and then to Ginny before walking out the door. "You're not looking well, Ginny. Go upstairs and rest." Before he went through, he pressed his lips against Ginny's in a firm manner, placing his hand on James's shoulder and leading him out of the room with him.
"Mum wants your help in the kitchen, Dad," Ginny said softly, turning to head up the stairs without a second glance at Draco. She clung to Albus, feeling the pain stifle through her chest when Harry's kiss hit her lips. Thankful that Albus seemed to know the right time when to need a changing, she quickly walked up the stairs and towards her bedroom for privacy.
"Mr. Weasley?" Draco's expression was unreadable, staring at the area where James, Harry, and Ginny once stood. "May I use your restroom?"
"Of course, Mr. Malfoy. When Harry has returned and cooled off, we can continue discussing the release of the Manor to you." The warm expression never left the eldest Weasley's face. Arthur pointed towards the stairs. "It's on the left once you reach the very top. Understand that this isn't an issue that I exactly agree with, Mr. Malfoy. I believe in your reform as strong as the Minister does. Protocol calls for it, however."
"Of course," was all Draco had to say to that.
"He has a lot of nerve entering the home of my parents. I hope whatever business he has, he gets absolutely nothing done!" Ginny scowled down at the confused expression of Albus, the baby's coos stopping for a brief moment as mother and son gave each other their fullest attention. A large sigh left Ginny then in a rush of wind, pulling the round legs of her son into the air so she could replace his nappy quickly. "You don't understand a word I'm saying. That's good. You don't have to see Mummy -"
"Acting like a ripe harpy, I'm sure." The voice behind Ginny startled her. Grasping onto her wand, she turned around and hissed in dissatisfaction of seeing Draco Malfoy leaning against the doorway to her room. "Now, Weasley -"
"Potter."
"Whatever. It seems as though your wish is coming true. For some strange reason, your pathetic excuse for a husband sees fit to keep my home away from me." Draco's eyes were a stormy grey, reflecting everything seen in front of him.
Ginny felt odd, like a force commanding her to lower her wand, though no magic was happening within the room. No obvious magic, that is. "You believe I have anything to do with that? Harry doesn't bring his work home, sadly. You are the one who is unprofessional by coming to the Burrow to handle business." Ginny's chin lifted in defiance, barely noticing that Draco was moving closer to her. She was so transfixed on his face that when he grasped at the wrist that held onto the wand, she let out a cry of surprise. Their touch gave a feeling of warmth, as though he replenished strength that was not there. Her eyes focused on the storm-grey eyes that belonged to him, seeking for a reaction as similar as her own.
"The petition was last minute. When I tried to return home, the wards from the Ministry was still set in place. I had no other choice. So, tell me, Potter. How did you convince your husband to pull this one off? Did you suck him enough to convince him to exact revenge on ickle Draco Malfoy?" He sneered into her face, the pull of the unnatural magic between he and Ginny sent electric currents through their touch and their proximity.
"I would never -"
"Oh, don't give me that noble Gryffindor bullshite. This comes from the Weasley that snuck into my room with an illegal potion, fucked me dry, and then dared to demand me for something. I can assure you that plotting against me by seducing your husband isn't too far from the things you would do, Ginevra Potter," Draco stated, and his body pressed into Ginny's, forcing her to fall back onto her childhood bed, lying right next to her squirming son. He noticed how her eyes widened in fear, and his hands remained on her. They crept along her thighs, his knees pressing into the edge of the bed to lean over her. "I didn't think it was possible for you to wound me twice, Potter. I underestimated you."
"Don't... not here. Not in front of my son." Ginny's bottom lip trembled. She wished she felt anything else but the attraction that connected white-hot between her and Draco. She wished she felt shame for laying next to Harry Potter's son, the second one she given to the great Wizard, and allowing the ex-convict to touch her. However, Ginny felt nothing but an ease that was never there before, a peace of mind that had long felt missing from her life.
"Yes, because you care so much about your family. You've proven that you didn't give a shite about them when you rode me, Potter. All for your selfish reasons, by the way. What was that again? I did something to you ten years ago, and you have no real clue what it could be. A very nice excuse to climb into my bed."
"It wasn't like that!" Ginny raised her fists then, bashing them into Draco's chest to force him off of her. But, his hands were too fast, and they pinned her down beside the bed as he gazed into her eyes intensely.
"Wasn't it? I enjoyed watching Potter kiss you, watching how you nearly broke into tears and turned pale as he approached you. What's wrong? You didn't want me to see husband and wife acting so lovely together? Or was it too much knowing that his touch felt disgusting in comparison to mine?" Draco's questions were coming so fast, Ginny could barely think. Angry tears began to fill her chocolate eyes, and she twisted underneath Draco to try to get him to just stop touching her long enough so she could breathe. As she struggled, however, she saw the gleam in Draco's eyes, his own pale features startlingly white in the dim light of the room.
Are those rings under his eyes? He hasn't slept. I bet he hasn't had a peaceful night since his return. That's why he hosts witches in his bedroom. I bet that he doesn't want to sleep either. Ginny knew it in an instant, repeating Draco's taunting words inside of her head. He knows. He knows because…
"It's happening to you too, isn't it?" Ginny knew she struck a nerve at the way Draco's body froze above hers like a statue. Fury unlike anything she'd felt before pressed her on. "The women you roll around with in your bed means shite to you! Returning back to the Wizarding world means nothing! You came back because ten years ago when I betrayed you, you cursed us both! Whatever you did to us is killing us, isn't it? Isn't it! Don't lie to me, Draco Malfoy!" Ginny's voice was nearly hysterical, shrieking out her demands and arching underneath Draco in order to get her point across. "What was it? What did you do me, you basta-"
She couldn't speak; he was kissing her so firmly that not even air could come in between them. His body came down on hers, and nothing felt more right or more pure in the world than him that moment.
Albus's sobbing broke through the silence, the loud wailing sure to grab someone's attention soon. Draco forced himself away from Ginny's lips, harsh breathing escaping both of them while his hand released one of her wrists. Pulling out his wand, he ignored Ginny's protests and casted a Locking Charm onto the door. When the wand pointed at Albus, Ginny reacted by bringing her own wand up to Draco's temple.
"What in the bloody hell do you think you're doing? You can't kill my son!"
"Now you want to care. Shut your bloody mouth, Ginny." He knew that would stun her. He called her by her first name. He casted a Silencing Charm on the wailing baby then, just in time to hear footsteps barreling up towards the room. "You want to know what's happening? Hold on." His hands grabbed onto Ginny then, lifting her to stand and pulling her with him.
"Where are you taking me? I'm not going anywhere with you, not until you take this bloody curse off of me!" Ginny shouted, feeling her body press against Draco's. Her brain melted a little in thought. The only thing holding her to some semblance of her normal life was the banging on the locked door and the shouts of her name.
"Alohomora!" was the last thing Ginny heard before Draco Disapparated the two of them away from the Burrow.