Okay, this is the longest chapter so far. I wanted to wait a few days to post it since I just posted Chapter 6 but I thought you guys would appreciate it since the last chapter was so short. Anyhow, here it is. I really hope it's good because I thought of it while I was half asleep.

Chapter Seven

Well, this is it, Draco thought to himself. He stood rigidly in the Ministry of Magic. Many years had passed since he last walked the halls of the Ministry. Being back after the war made him nervous. Taking a deep breath, the blond wizard knocked on the door in front of him. The seconds dragged by with no answer. He was ready to walk away when the door opened.

Draco walked tentatively inside and discovered a room amassed with unusual objects scattered about shelves, desks and every other surface in the room. He hesitated when he noticed that the man he had come to see was still absorbed in the object on his desk.

There's still time to leave. He noticed. He could turn and walk out and nobody would be any wiser. The man was obviously not paying attention to him yet.

As soon as the words crossed his mind, however, the wizard in front of him proved it false. "What can I do for you Mr. Malfoy?" Arthur Weasley said, his eyes never leaving the strange contraption in front of him.

Draco's body went rigid from shock. Well there goes that plan. He stepped forward. "I, er, I wanted to talk to you about something, sir. If that would be alright."

Mr. Weasley pushed aside his project and looked up. Waving his wand, he moved a pile of objects from the chair opposite his desk. He waved his hand to the chair, motioning for Draco to sit down. "It has been some time since I've seen a Malfoy in this office. And I can't say I missed it."

Draco looked away, knowing all to well what he was being told. "I'm not like my father, Mr. Weasley. I've changed quite a bit since the war."

"Ah yes, the war. Fled to America, I hear."

"I chose to leave, yes. It seemed the best thing to do at the time, sir."

"Well, I can see why you would think that. Though if you have a father like yours, I can't see why you would think to worry. Bought himself out of a trip to Azkaban, didn't he?"

"Yes, sir."

"And I'm sure the cost didn't effect your family's wealth all too much either."

"Sir, I did not come here to talk about my father's inability to accept what he has coming. Whether he acknowledges what he has done or not is not for me to say. I admit to my part in the war and I left my home because of it. It isn't what I wanted, sir. To be part of that monster's rise to power. I was raised to believe what I did. But I learned otherwise while at school."

"Is that so, Mr. Malfoy?" Mr. Weasley asked skeptically.

"Yes, sir, it is." he said, and taking a deep breath, continued. "And it is your daughter who I thank for that."

"My daughter? My daughter has never associated with Malfoys."

"That's not true, sir." Draco said. "Ginevra and I spent many hours together during our last years at Hogwarts. She offered me friendship when I had none."

Arthur Weasley stared at the blond boy in front of him, shock and disbelief rushing over him. He waved his wand and the door to his office closed. "Continue." he said. "You will tell me everything."

Draco swallowed hard. "I, er-. Yes, sir. It started when she was in her fifth year. I came across her in the Room of Requirements. She was singing with a small bird I had brought in with me." At the look of skepticism, Draco painfully explained, "You know, undoubtedly, about the vanishing cabinets which I repaired during that year. Well the bird was used to test it." he said. "Anyhow, she would visit the Room of Requirements every week on the same day. Whenever she was there, I would leave her be and wait to continue my work. One day, she showed up when she wasn't supposed to. She found me with the bird. It had been killed. She sat with me and we talked. She offered to talk any time I needed someone. When Potter attacked me and I ended up in the hospital wing, your daughter came to visit me. Over the course of that year, she remained the closest thing I had to a friend.

"When school started the next year, I was relieved to see her. I was sure she wouldn't be back after all that had happened."

"And she wouldn't have if her mother had been given her way."

"And I thank you for allowing her to come back, sir. We continued to talk and in time, we started dating. Ginevra showed me what it meant to be loved and maybe more importantly, to love someone in return. She was there for me no matter what happened. I was devastated when she told me that she would not be returning after Easter break but I knew it was for the best. And again, I must thank you, for not allowing her to return. My ability to protect her was wearing thin and I'm sure we would have been found out, had she returned. When Potter and his friends were caught and brought to my home over Easter break, I was asked to identify them. But I couldn't. If ever there was a time for me to learn what it truly meant to love someone, it was then. I knew Potter could protect her so I said that I couldn't tell if it was them. I tried to by them time and help them escape. I put the lives of my entire family at risk. And why? To keep Ginevra safe.

"That is why I came here, Mr. Weasley." Draco said. This is it. It's now or never. "I love your daughter." he said, pulling a small box from the inside pocket of his jacket. "And I would like to have your blessing to marry her."

Arthur stared at the small box in the hand of this wizard who claimed to love his daughter. "How is it that you expect me to believe all of this?"

"I don't." Draco said. "But it is. I love your daughter and I was raised to believe that a father's permission was everything."

"Well, Mr. Malfoy. I'm not sure how to answer this right now."

"Of course." Draco said, he pulled a small piece of parchment from his pocket and handed it to Mr. Weasley. "Here. This is my address. I don't need an answer right away but I would appreciate one, sir. You can send an owl if you like. Or you can stop over. Preferably after three in the afternoon. I might not be home otherwise."

Arthur took the parchment and folded it in half before tucking it into his pocket. He nodded solemnly.

Draco Malfoy sat in his living room, reading an old book. One of many which he had taken from the library of his family home when he left. He closed the book, giving up trying to concentrate on the words. He would have to start over again as the words failed to sink in as he read. Draco closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind. Sleep had eluded him over the past week as he waited for some response from Ginevra's father.

Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes again. Images of his future with Ginevra flooded his mind. A small red-haired child clasping her arms around his neck made him smile. He saw a young boy with blond hair and Ginevra's deep brown eyes running around a yard, being chased my Ginevra. The images changed, playing through a day of games and laughter. As the day drew to an end, the family he longed for sat down to dinner. As they began to eat, however, the room began to rattle and fall apart.

Draco jerked awake suddenly and realized the thing that woke him was a knock on the door. He stood, rubbing his neck as he made his way to the door. Standing on the other side of his door was Arthur Weasley.

"Mr. Weasley," he said. "come in." He stepped back and allowed the older gentleman to enter.

"Is this a bad time?" he asked, looking around.

"No, sir." Draco replied, "I, uh, was just in the living room." he continued, ushering him into the room. "Can I get you anything? Coffee, water, pumpkin juice? I might have some soda in the fridge."

"How about a coffee? Looks like you could use a cup yourself."

"Sure. Just give me a minute to make a fresh pot."

Mr. Weasley watched as the tall blond man left the room. He was shocked to see that the young Malfoy's home was very modest, or modest for a Malfoy, that is. And now he watched as the young wizard carried in two cups of coffee. He took the one offered to him graciously and said his thanks. He sipped the coffee, surprised to find that it was rather good. "I must admit, Mr. Malfoy, I was quite surprised at your house. I didn't imagine it would be so... small."

"Large homes are rather depressing if you're alone." He answered. "And please, it's Draco, sir."

"Yes, well, Draco, I suppose you are right about that."

Draco drank his coffee silently, waiting for Mr. Weasley to speak again. It didn't take long.

"I don't have to tell you why I've come. That part should be obviously."

Draco nodded. "Yes sir."

"Right," Mr. Weasley cleared his throat. "I am a firm believer in second chances." He said. "And I would do anything for my little girl."

Draco sat straighter in his seat.

"Now don't get ahead of yourself." Arthur said, noticing the sudden movement. "I want to know more about you before I give you any sort of blessing to be with my daughter. We may not have much in the way of money or possessions but the one thing I can give my children is security. And I won't be handing her over to just anyone."

Draco nodded. "Okay, sure. Ask whatever you like, sir. I'll answer anything I can."

Amazed at his willingness to give up details of his personal life, Mr. Weasley hesitated for a moment. "Right then. I know plenty enough about your family so we can skip that. Tell me, what is it that you do?"

"I run a corporation in Exeter."

"Exeter? I've never heard of any sort of wizarding company in Exeter."

"Well that's because it isn't a wizarding company. Or, not officially anyhow. It's a mailing business that employs both muggles and wizards." Draco explained. "Muggles run the offices, collecting mail to be sent. The magical folk in our employment handle transportation to the designated locations. We have areas set up all over the country as apparation points. We send the packages with a wizard who takes them to the place they need to be and the muggles deliver them. Next day delivery, guarantee."

"That's remarkable. And you own this company?"

"Co-own. Blaise Zabini is my business partner."

"Ah yes, the Zabinis. I remember them. But tell me, how do your parents feel about this lifestyle of yours?"

"Mother is quite proud of my accomplishments. Father, of course, is ashamed. He would have me back in the pureblood world, working under his watch, if it were up to him."

"Some people never change Draco."

Draco nodded. "Is there anything else you would like to ask?"

"Yes, actually. Tell me, why did you choose this house?"

"I don't know, sir. I suppose I like the large open yard that came with it. The house is nice enough, though I had to do some work on it when I first bought it. The rooms were a bit too small for my liking. But a simple extension charm fixed that and as long as I reapply the Illusionment charm to the outside once a year, the muggles don't seem to notice that the house isn't quite as large from the outside."

"Is that so? I must admit, you don't seem the slightest bit like your father. So much of your life seems to revolve around muggles."

"Father was wrong, Mr. Weasley. We are not better than them, nor are they better than us. We are all human."

"That's quite a statement to make."

"It's quite a lesson to learn, coming from a family like mine. But it's about time the Malfoys learned to change their way of thinking. I'm only sorry that it took so long."

"Yes, well, is there anything else you think I would care to know?"

"Well, I recently bought the majority shares for the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team."

"That's my daughter's favorite team."

"Yes, I know sir. She mentioned wanting to play for them some years ago. I thought it might be a nice wedding gift, allowing her the chance to try out."

"Oh, I'm sure she would love that. Though if she got accepted by means other than her own pure skill, it may turn rotten quickly."

"I don't think that will be an issue. She was quite the chaser in school."

"That she was. But what with six older brothers, it's no surprise." Mr. Weasley stood. "I think it's about time I got out of here." He offered his hand to Draco, who had since stood up as well. "You man, if you have changed as much as it seems, then I would be proud to have a man like you in my family. If you want to ask Ginevra to marry you, you have my blessing."

Relief and joy filled him. "Thank you sir. It means a great deal to me."

"Yes, well. There are plenty more obstacles in your way." Arthur said. "For instants, the first one, you have to tell her mother."

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