Disclaimer: If I owned anything other than that plot I would be filthy rich. Seeing as I am not don't sue me.
Chapter 7 – Old Friends
With the United Kingdom firmly under Voldermort's control Severus, Ginny, and Draco were able to move from the cottage to Prince Manor – Severus's ancestral home. Unfortunately the move also included their least favorite rat as Severus's helper in his death eater duties.
At the time of the proposal Wormtail was under the influence of a mild sleeping draught so Severus and Ginny had the opportunity to inform the Dark Lord of their engagement at their leisure. It could have gone a lot worse. When the Dark Lord found out he could have cursed them, tortured them, or killed Severus. Instead he threw them an engagement party.
The Dark Lord was pleased that his daughter chose one from his inner circle as her mate. He was pleased that she was not foolish enough to chose a peon from the lesser death eaters who would attempt to use his position at her side to gain favor with the Dark Lord. He was pleased that everything was going according to his plan.
The evening of the engagement party Draco was pacing in the foyer of Prince Manor. This was the first time since his failure that he was going to be face to face with his 'friends' at a social event not behind a mask at a death eater meeting – an organization that he wished he never became a part of.
Draco found himself in the summer palor in front of one of the people he was dreading. Gregory Goyle stood up as the Draco entered. "Well not the person I was expecting to see but a pleasant surprise none the less. How are you old friend?" Goyle said as he walked toward Draco.
Draco held his ground with his wand at the ready when Goyle suddenly embraced him. Goyle held him at arms length and said "Tell me Draco, how are your lessons going?"
Draco gaped for a minute. "Fine. Goyle what are you doing here?" He asked as he fingered his wand.
"Well actually I am here to see an old friend, but it I suppose that it is best that we meet now instead of at the party tonight. Sit down Draco; I mean you no harm. I can't say the same for the others of course."
Draco said with an impassive face and masked emotion "So does that mean that you do not intend to attempt to kill me for my failure."
"Heavens, no! Draco don't get me wrong. When you told us of your mark we were all impressed, proud to be your friends. Now that I have one of my own, now that I know what this entails. Draco, I hated being your lackey – to have no discernable identity of my own. It was the role I was born into, the role I still play. It is not the be all and end all of me, just as how being a pompous leader isn't the totality of you. We all play roles in life, in war, but the only way to survive the confines of these roles is to reach out beyond them to something or someone who sees you for more than you present to the outside world. That is why I am here."
Draco was stumped by how insightful his former muscle was when Ginerva blew into the room. Draco and Goyle stood up and Ginny greeted each of them with a hug and a kiss. Draco was stunned. What was her connection to Goyle?
"Sometimes, when I have a moment to myself, I wonder what would have happened if I allowed Ginny to come with us – if I hadn't left her in that yard. Did I really want to protect her or did I want to keep her in a little bubble so she would be waiting for me pristine when I came back from war – like a trophy." Harry said to Molly as they looked over their battle plans while waiting for the Commander of their cell to arrive so Harry could introduce the remaining members of the London cell to them. "I still love her. I suppose I always will no matter what. She is an angel that gives me strength through this time every opportunity she takes to pop in and help us out. I have a million things to say to her, but she never stays long enough to listen."
Molly rung her hands as she thought about her daughter's activities. There was so much she didn't understand – so many gaps in the story. A fighter for light and a fighter for darkness – what was she up to. She determined that she would not say anything to the others until she knew the full story. She couldn't stand to break Harry's fragile heart.
"Harry dear, you broke up with her for a reason. Whether or not that reason was justified, you made a choice. Who are you to condemn her for acting accordingly? Did it ever occur to you that she won't listen because she can't bring herself to because she is heart broken?" Molly asked. I'll defend her for now until I find out the truth. Molly thought.
"All the time, Molly" Harry muttered. "But what can I do to get her to forgive me for when this all ends?"
"I don't know Harry." Molly said while privately wondering if Harry would forgive Ginny when he found out about her other activities.
Suddenly the footsteps could be hear coming towards them. Harry and Molly looked up to see who was intruding on their conversation.
"Hello Harry, Mrs. Weasley." The commander shook both their hands in a firm grasp.
"Sirus –" Molly Weasley breathed before she fainted.
Severus dressed for the engagement ball in his black slick robes treaded with emerald green on the cuffs. He was surprised he wasn't dead. He thought for sure that with Wormtail telling Voldermort all of Severus's encounters with Ginerva that Severus would be a goner. Instead he was getting married. He could only hope that his luck would hold.
He walked into the palor to find Ginerva, Draco, and Gregory Goyle sitting and talking like old friends – well at least Ginerva and Goyle were. Draco was appeared to be caught in the twilight zone.
"Good evening" Severus greeted as he breezed into the room. He walked to Ginerva and kissed her on the cheek after he said "You look beautiful this evening, my dear". Then he walked to Goyle to shake his hand. Then he walked to Draco and slapped him on the back to shake him out of his daze.
"Are we ready to go then?" Severus asked. When he received three nods of acknowledgement Severus and the others apparated to Riddle Manor.
In the bright of morning a phoniex flamed into headquarters. The phoniex turned into a vivacous red head intention on one possession within these ruins – the portrait of Albus Dumbledore.
She found the portrait in the ruins of Sirius's old bedroom. She took the painting off the floor and turned into a phoniex with that she flew to Italy to give the resistance some much needed guidance.
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A/N: Next chapter I will delve into all four scenes. I would have gone into the engagement party but I don't know what I want to happen their yet all I know is that I want it to be a turning point in Severus and Ginny's relationship.