Chapter Thirteen

The Search

Draco held to Ginny's hand until he regained his balance. He contemplated removing it from her warm fingers then decided against it. Best to just follow her.

But it was his choice. He could leave her at any time.

They ran outside, glancing over their shoulders occasionally for pursuit.

"What now?" He asked.

Ginny pulled out her wand. "Accio brooms!"

No less than seven brooms appeared out of thin air. Draco grabbed the second best of the lot, chivalry letting Ginny have the best of the lot.

Well he told himself it was chivalry.

They mounted and took off.

They flew south, looking for a safe haven til they could figure out their plan of action. It came in the most unlikely form. Malfoy Manor.

The original intention had been simply to check in. Despite his icy demeanor, Draco loved his mother and missed her terribly. They agreed to a quick stop.

The Manor was not empty.

They entered silently through the kitchen.

"You sure no one will be here?"

Draco smiled. "Not in the kitchens. I used to sneak out this way all the time."

Ginny smiled back. "Did you do that often?"

"Sneak out? All the time. My parents were always at one another's throats. Their marriage was as close to an arranged marriage as you could get."

"What do you mean?"

"Growing up, my parents knew they would be married. Mum was from a perfectly acceptable Pureblood family that was devoted to the Darker half. Dad was the epitome of perfect arrogant Pureblood. He wanted to get rid of every Half blood."

"Like Hermione?"

"Yeah. Actually, she was his target with the journal."

"Why? You'd think it would be Harry."

"Oh he was just a plus. Dad wanted Hermione dead."

"But why?"

"Because he thought I loved her."

Ginny nearly choked when she heard this. "What?"

"Yup. Dad wanted Granger dead because he thought I was infatuated with her."

"That's crazy! Didn't he want the truth?"

"Why? He never liked things that didn't agree with him. And the truth rarely did."

"Wow. Great guy."

"Tell me about it. In any case, he and Mum would fight all the time."

"What was your mother like?" Ginny asked as she began rummaging through the drawers.

"What are you doing?"

"Dobby used to work for you, right? Well maybe he brought the Time Turner back here. Now about your mother...?"

"What about her? I loved her. Doesn't every one love their mother?" Draco asked rhetorically. Ginny could sense the bitterness in his words.

"We did. At least, most of the time."

"What? You didn't have the perfect family relations?" Draco asked as he opened a cupboard.

"Yeah right. The twins were always in some sort of trouble. Mum was always yelling at us for something or other. Sure she let us get away with murder most of the time, but part of being a mother is knowing when to say no. And she knew."

Draco smiled and was about to reply when a noise caught his attention. He dropped to the floor behind the island, motioning Ginny close. She followed suit and drew her wand. He put a finger to his lips. She raised her empty palms to the ceiling, indicating confusion.

He touched his ear and pointed to the door from which the elves could reach the dinning room. She nodded and they waited.

They didn't have long.

After several moments they could hear the sound of someone loudly swearing. Seconds later, the door opened and Lucius Malfoy stumbled in.

Time had not been kind to him. His hair was grey and like Voldemort, wrinkles lined his face.

Draco's jaw clenched and he rose to his feet. Ginny contemplated stoping him, but this was clearly something he had to do for himself.

"Where's mother?"

Lucius stopped and stared at Draco. "You!"

"Yes, father, me."

"You little shit. You leave and all you have to say when you return is 'where's mother'?" Lucius mocked.

"Fuck you father." Draco snarled.

Lucius tsked. "An attitude like that will get you no favors."

"Tell me!"

"Or what? Your girlfriend here will hurt me? I see I was wrong. The engery used killing Granger in that final battle would have been better used here."

"You fuck!" Ginny snarled, attempting to attack him. Draco grabbed her around the waist and firmly held her back.

"Feisty one there. Might have had a go at her myself, but I don't deal with blood traitors."

"So, on a scale of one to ten, how offended would you be if I showed you how much I love my spitfire?" Draco drawled. Ginny glanced back and saw he was smiling. She felt a grin tug at her own face and swiveled so she could wrap her arms languidly around his neck. She cast a glance at Lucius who was looking properly apopoleptic.

"You wouldn't!"

"Just taking a page from your book dad. There's nothing a Malfoy wouldn't dare."

And with that, he swung Ginny into a spectacular dip, bringing his lips to meet hers.