Chapter 31 Mending Ties

"What is a committee? A group of unwilling, picked from the unfit, to do the unnecessary." –Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

The Weasley clan was hard to handle on a good day. On a bad occasion, however, Ginny thought, they were completely out of control. Molly was crying and muttering, "You mean you don't want to marry my baby?" Harry was desperately trying to explain that he just wasn't keen on the idea of marriage so soon to his blubbering future mother-in-law. Fred and George seemed to be having a private conversation using only strange hand signals and movement of their eyebrows. Ron sat perfectly still next to Ginny just taking in the whole scene.

Ginny turned to her estranged brother, "We come from a strange bunch."

Ron grinned tiredly, "Sometimes, I wish we didn't."

Ginny noticed a change in her older brother lately. He wasn't as open with his assholeishness as before. He was far more subdued in the past few weeks. Ginny wondered if maybe he was going back to the way he used to be. Back to the nice brother that was completely in love with his girlfriend and wouldn't even think of doing the terrible things he had done. Then, Ginny thought, what he did was unforgivable and she wasn't sure if all the regret or reparation in the world could make up for it.

"I wouldn't trade my family for the world." Ginny smiled back at Ron. "Any of my family."

A flash of guilt and relief crossed Ron's face before he replied, "Thank you."

Ginny was satisfied with herself. The first step in the painful process of forgiveness had just begun and she was happy that she would be the first to let Ron back into her life. After all, he was her family and if they didn't forgive you, who would? Ginny knew the rest of her family was aware of the tension between Ron and just about everyone he came in contact with but they had wisely chosen not to comment. Well, Fred and George had tried and were sadly shut down by their mother.

"I just don't understand why it can't be now." Mrs. Weasley was using her saddest voice in order to possibly sway the Boy Who Lived into marrying her only girl as soon as possible. Unfortunately for her, Harry seemed to get more and more panicked the more he talked about marriage. A boy who had been abandoned and disappointed his entire life was bound to grow into a man with commitment phobia. Ginny just hoped he would get over it long enough to marry her…eventually.

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Draco snuggled into the incredible and recently missed warmth in his arms. He was finally back where he belonged with Hermione and in their bed. He would probably never mention that any time spent away from her always seemed like the end of the world. They had had plenty of bumpy spots in their relationship already and Draco was ready to leave the fairy tale and get on with the happily ever after.

Hermione smiled as she felt Draco try to get even closer to her, an impossible feat as there was scarcely a hair's length between them already. She missed this. The quiet morning in with the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. She knew they still had quite a few things to talk about and sort through but, for now, she was content with just feeling him close to her again.

"We should get up. It's nearly noon." Hermione found her logical side overshadowing her inner romantic once more.

"Nothing better to do today." Draco's voice was muffled by her hair but his intent was strengthened by the tightening of his arms around her.

"Don't squeeze too tight. You'll make the baby uncomfortable." Draco immediately loosed his arms and Hermione smiled. The couple's quiet interaction was interrupted but the tapping of a beak at the window. Draco reluctantly crawled out of bed and let the owl in.

Draco's brow furrowed. "It's for you but I don't recognize the handwriting."

Hermione rolled out of bed and joined her husband. Hermione took the letter and broke the old-fashioned wax seal on the back.

Mrs. Malfoy,

I regret that I could not get my reply to you sooner but I've been away from the country and international owls take quite a long time to reach their destination. I would be delighted to meet with you and speak of my time with your mother. However, I'll be away until after the holidays and honestly can't make it back before February. I will send you an owl as soon as I make it back and hope we convene then.

Sincerely,

Proserpina Pallin

Hermione gasped and smiled at the unexpected response.

"What is it, then?" Draco tried to read over her shoulder to no avail.

"It's a letter from my mother's personal maid. She wants to meet with me when she gets back to England. Isn't that wonderful?" Hermione faced her husband then kissed him so he couldn't respond.

"I think I like when you get good news. So," Draco raised his eyebrows and tried to look innocent, "I think we should go back to bed."

Hermione laughed, "Well, I suppose I have nothing better to do."

Draco gasped in insult, "Of course not because there's nothing better in the world than being in bed with Draco Malfoy."

Hermione rolled her eyes, "I don't think you, me, and your ego will all fit in that tiny, little bed. So, maybe I should just leave."

Draco growled and tackled her before she could move. (A/N: Forgive me if "tackle" seems harsh but I mean it in the least abusive way possible.)

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Severus paced the length of his dungeon rooms. He hadn't heard from Elizabeth for what seemed like forever and couldn't decide if he should owl her first.

"This is ridiculous!" He screamed out in frustration, "I'm acting like a bloody lovestruck teenager."

Deciding to just do it already, he wrote a short message on a spare bit of parchment and sent it out before he could change his mind.

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Elizabeth was standing in the kitchen when she heard the tap on the window. She frowned having never lacked owl message for fear the owl may tap a dent in he window. She gently took the parchment and smiled then quickly wrote back and sent the owl away.

She took a few private moments to squeal and dance around the room like a little girl. Then, she remembered that she had her own little girl and decided to be more adult about her excitement over passing notes with the boy she liked and walked out of the room with a beaming smile.

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A/N: I'm so sorry about the long wait! I feel terrible. I've had this chapter half finished for months and just couldn't think of any way to end it. I'm still not happy with the way it turned out. I can't make any promises about the next chapter but I'm trying to speed the story along a bit so it might jump a little.

Reviews: Thanks to everyone! I love all the wonderful reviews.

Anarane Anwamane: Thanks for reviewing every chapter! Nice to know you can relate your hubby to Draco.

Fallenrose482: Thanks for the review!

jellybeanlove52: I'm sorry it took so long! I'm glad you liked the story that much though.

Dance-a-holic: Thanks for the review and, well, here's an update.

fallen2302: I updated! Finally, it took a long time. Sorry…

cmtaylor531: Thanks for the review! I thought it was cute, too.