Chapter Sixteen
Wednesday melted into Thursday, which faded quickly into Friday. Ginny had made all the preparations for Hermione's party. It was taking place at a popular club in the heart of Paris. She had sprung for accommodations in fancy hotel with an unobscured view of the Eiffel Tower. She had to hand it to herself. She knew how to plan a bachelorette party.
Ginny tried to convince herself that she had arranged for the party to take place in Paris for reasons other than the fact that Draco was living there. She was reassured by reminding herself that Paris is a very luxurious and romantic place for such an event, and it would be a new experience for most of the girls who were attending. It had the potential to be raunchy, but it was certainly not overstated.
She began to get ready two hours ahead of time. The guests were instructed to meet her there, and Ginny would escort Hermione. Ginny had purchased an entirely new dress solely for the occasion. It was black and drop-dead sexy. The plunging v-neck showcased her ample bosom nicely, and a black band of tonal matte wrapped around her waist, leaving some skin showing and defining her hourglass shape. The straps crisscrossed over her upper back, allowing the rest of her skin to remain elegantly bare. The dress ended a little above the knees, showing a divine amount of leg. She wore black high heeled sandals and curled her hair to complete the look. When she showed up at Ron and Hermione's apartment to pick her up, Hermione was speechless.
"Ginny…I barely even recognize you," she said in awe. Harry ambled up to the door to see what the fuss was about, and he nearly began to drool on the spot.
"Merlin, Ginny," Harry breathed, reaching for her. "Perhaps we should reschedule the parties for another night." He touched the skin left bare on her waist as if in some sort of trance. Ginny rolled her eyes and kissed his cheek.
"Sorry, love. Hermione and I are running a little late. We need to be off." Harry dragged Ginny into his arms and kissed her deeply.
"Can't I just admire your beauty for one more minute?" He whispered, nibbling on her neck and earlobe.
"I wish I could stay," Ginny replied, somewhat forcefully detaching herself from Harry's grip. "But we really do need to get going. The girls are waiting." Harry groaned, his erection now apparent in his black slacks.
"Fine, but you're all mine later."
"I'm all yours forever," Ginny reminded him, holding up her hand.
"Oh, come on, Ginny! I can't wait to get to wherever we're going!" Hermione squealed excitedly, grasping Ginny's arm.
"All right, let's go. Take care of my brother, Harry," Ginny called over her shoulder as Hermione pushed her out of the apartment.
"Where are we going? Can you tell me now?" Hermione asked giddily. Ginny grinned and took her friend's hand.
"Why don't I just show you?" She suggested. With a wave of her wand, both girls were apparating to Paris. When they landed gracefully outside the club, they were immediately rushed upon by all of the guests. Hermione was gasping with excitement when she realized where they were, and the general vivacity of the group was contagious.
The girls made their way inside and found seats at the bar. Ginny ordered margaritas for everyone and tapped her glass to make a toast.
"Girls, we all know why we're here. We're here to celebrate our dear friend, Hermione's, last night as a single girl out on the town! So let loose, drink like a fish, and dance like a hippogriff!" All of the girls laughed and saluted Ginny's toast before taking a drink.
"All right, now who wants to dance?" Hermione asked. Almost everyone made their way to the dance floor as soon as the words passed her lips. But Ginny remained at the bar. She finished her margarita and sighed.
"Another margarita, mademoiselle?" The bartender asked. Ginny shook her head.
"Give me your strongest," she replied. The bartender eyed her uncertainly for a moment before mixing her a drink. He slid it across the bar.
"The pain will still be there when you wake up tomorrow," he said quietly. Ginny looked at him with desperation.
"As long as it's gone tonight, I don't care. I refuse to ruin my best friend's party because I'm a hopeless idiot," Ginny replied, examining the mystery drink.
"Well, then that's the stuff. It'll wipe your memory clean for at least five hours."
"Then, to amnesia," Ginny said, raising her glass in salute. She had the glass at her lips when she froze. Sitting alone across the bar was none other than the memory she had been looking to erase. There was no possible way that he could be in this bar on the same night that Ginny was hosting Hermione's bachelorette party. It was all too serendipitous. He hadn't noticed her yet. He was preoccupied with the shot glass in his hands. He was staring at it intently, as though he were wishing on it like it was a birthday candle. Then, he downed it in one gulp. When his gaze trailed back down from the ceiling, it came to rest on the woman across the bar, watching him in awe.
"Oh, this cannot be bloody happening," Draco muttered to himself. He slapped his money down on the bar and started for the door. He left the bar and welcomed the cool air on his face, which was suddenly much warmer than it had been when he had walked over. He had just started to believe that what he had seen was a hallucination when a hand closed around his arm.
"Draco, wait," her smooth voice commanded. Draco paused, but did not turn to face her.
"What do you want with me? I told you I was finished. You rejected me twice. I'm not sure my ego could sustain a third time," he growled through gritted teeth.
"Rejected you?" Ginny exclaimed indignantly. "I never rejected you! You were the one thing I wanted the most in this world!"
"Then what the bloody hell are you doing with this on your finger?" Draco shouted angrily, snatching her hand and shoving the ring in front of her face. Ginny's eyes sparked furiously as she pulled her hand away.
"You know, that could have been our engagement ring on my finger if you had only mustered up the courage to ask me to marry you when we had the chance!"
"You don't think I planned on marrying you, Ginny? I bought the ring. I bought the damn wedding ring the night before I was captured! I was going to propose to you the very next day!" Draco thundered, gesturing wildly with his hands. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small cloth bag. Ginny watched as a beautiful diamond engagement ring fell into his open palm.
"This would have been yours," Draco said quietly, watching the diamond catch the street light and sparkle. "But now it belongs where my heart is. Under your foot." Draco dropped the ring onto the ground, where it rolled and landed beside Ginny's feet. Then he turned and walked away, afraid to reveal more of his already vulnerable heart. He didn't get very far before Ginny had caught up to him and threw her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly, trying to memorize how he smelled and how strong his shoulders felt in her embrace. She half expected him to push her away, so she was surprised when his arms encircled her waist and pulled her tighter.
She didn't even know where they came from, but tears started leaking from the corners of her eyes as she held on to Draco for dear life. He felt her tears soaking through his shirt, and he was overcome with a powerful urge to take her home with him and protect her for the rest of their lives. He just wanted to care for her, be there for her, love her. Was that too much to ask?
"By the way," Draco murmured, not releasing her from his grasp. "You look absolutely stunning tonight." Ginny sniffled and pulled back from him to look into his eyes. She smiled weakly and shrugged.
"Not so much anymore," she corrected, trying to wipe away her smudged mascara with her fingers. Draco took her hands in his and held them to his chest.
"You look beautiful," he insisted quietly, holding her gaze. Ginny's gaze dropped to the ground and she blushed pink. Then she held out the ring.
"I should get back. Everyone will wonder where I've run off to," Ginny said softly. Draco tucked a loose tendril of brilliant red hair behind her ear.
"Ginny, would it be the worst thing if we hung out tonight?"
"Draco, I can't. I'm hosting a bachelorette party for a girl who would recognize you in an instant. It's impossible." Draco smirked and flicked his wand. His hair turned a dark brown color and the prominent bone structure of his face softened. Without his signature blonde hair and almost harshly defined cheekbones, he barely resembled the Draco Malfoy everyone knew and hated. Except for those eyes, Ginny thought.
"How about now?"
"Draco-"
"Come on, Ginny. Can't we just pretend for one night that we're the only two people in the world who matter? Don't you want to know if the fire is still alive?" Ginny looked into Draco's eyes and knew that she was breaking down. She thought of Harry, and what he would say if he knew. Then her thoughts shifted to an image of a drunken Harry in a strip club in London. Some of her guilt melted away.
"Fine," she agreed reluctantly. "Just this one night."
"That's all I need," Draco replied with a grin. He let Ginny lead the way back into the club. Almost immediately, Hermione bounced into view and waved Ginny over.
"Ginny! Where did you go? I was looking for you everywhere!" Hermione was shouting much too loud, indicating that more alcohol had been consumed in Ginny's absence.
"Sorry. I stepped outside for some air and bumped into this nice gentleman," she lied, bringing Draco forth.
"Nice to meet you!" Hermione exclaimed enthusiastically pumping Draco's hand. "I'm Hermione! I'm getting married in six days!" Draco grinned at her apparent inebriation.
"Enchanted, mademoiselle. The name's Thomas." Hermione spluttered something incomprehensible and flounced away. Ginny couldn't stifle her laughter for long.
"I've never seen her like that before," she said in an amused tone.
"She's certainly not the same Granger she was at Hogwarts," Draco remarked. "So, Ginny. Would you like to dance?" Ginny looked at him uncertainly, wondering if dancing with him would be a mistake. She knew it would be, but that was part of the reason why she said yes.
Draco led her to the dance floor, holding her hand lightly with a hint of possession. As they began to move with the beat of the music, Ginny noted that his hand rested timidly on her lower back. Then, as the dancing continued, it became more adventurous, daring to caress the skin left exposed by her dress. Unlike Harry's touch, Draco's sent pleasurable chills up and down her spine, leaving her wanting more. Draco spun her around so that her back pressed up against his strong chest. His hands began at her shoulders and traced slowly down the length of her body, ending at her thighs. Ginny was too lost in the feel of his hands on her body to consider how inappropriate it was. All she knew was that she didn't want him to stop. Ever. He dared to kiss the smooth, milky flesh of her neck, exciting her senses almost instantly.
Draco wanted to tell her how much he wanted her, and how he had imagined a moment like this a million times when he was held captive. How the mere thought of seeing Ginny again, holding her, touching her, kissing her again kept him alive. But he was afraid of breaking the silence. He was afraid that if he shattered the moment with speech, Ginny would realize what they were doing, and she would leave him again. And Draco was prepared to do anything in his power to keep her in his arms at least for one last night.
However, Draco didn't need to say a word to end their time together. The music finished. The dancing stopped. Ginny turned to face him.
"Harry has never touched me like that," she said softly, shame present in her eyes.
"He's a fool," Draco replied, cupping her face in his hands. "He has no idea what he has." The music started up once again, but the pair stood motionless, wondering if continuing the night would ruin them. Draco soon decided that he didn't care.
"You know, I really like this dress," Draco commented, tracing the band wrapped around her waist. He touched her skin, sending shockwaves of excitement through her body. She shivered in anticipation.
"Do you?" She whispered, her throat suddenly dry. Draco walked around behind her and placed his hands on her hips.
"I really do," he murmured, brushing his lips lightly across her shoulders and neck. Ginny felt her knees weakening, and she turned around to put her arms around Draco's neck.
"I think I like it too," she replied with a smile. Draco returned the grin before spinning her away from him to begin the next dance.
--
It was near three in the morning when Ginny carried Hermione to her hotel room. The bachelorette was nearly unconscious and mumbling incoherently when Ginny laid her down in bed. She quietly left the room and shut the door before turning around to face a restored Draco Malfoy.
"She'll be all right," Ginny said quietly. "She just had a little too much fun."
"I think I had a little too much fun," Draco replied devilishly, reaching for her. "Can you put me to bed as well?" He teased, cupping her neck in his hand. Ginny rolled her eyes, but couldn't help smiling.
"You're bad," she accused playfully.
"Yeah, I am," he agreed. "Come on. I want to show you something." He took her hand in his, and before she could protest, he whisked them away to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Ginny gasped and clutched Draco immediately.
"God, it's high up here," she muttered savagely. Draco grinned and held her to him protectively.
"Don't worry. I won't let you fall. I've got you." Ginny looked around at the amazing sight before her. It nearly rendered her breathless.
"Draco, this is amazing."
"I'm glad I can share it with you, Ginny," Draco replied, caressing her cheek gently. Ginny sighed and pushed Harry from her mind for just one more moment. She allowed herself to enjoy the feel of his arms around her and the tenderness of his fingertips on her neck. She savored the way he kissed the top of her head and tightened his grip every once in awhile, as though he sporadically remembered how much he cared for her.
Eventually, they returned to Ginny's hotel and Draco walked her to her door. He looked at her with sadness in his eyes, but he did not attempt to make another vie for her heart. Instead, he kissed her forehead softly and pulled her into a fervent hug. When he released her, Ginny was certain that she saw tears in his eyes.
"Good-bye, Ginny."
"Good-bye, Draco," she whispered in a barely audible voice. She felt tears stinging in her eyes, but she clenched her jaw and refused to let them fall until Draco was out of sight.
She stumbled into her room and immediately collapsed onto the bed and sobbed. She cried and cried, until she no longer had the energy. Then she fell asleep, longing for the serenity of her subconscious. Ginny did not awake until eleven o'clock the next morning when Harry gently shook her to consciousness.
"Ginny," Harry said quietly. "Wake up, Ginny." Ginny groaned.
"Go away," she mumbled, stuffing her head between two fluffy pillows. Harry sighed and took the pillows away.
"Ginny, there's something we have to talk about," Harry tried again. Ginny finally recognized Harry's voice and quickly rolled over.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked in shock.
"Nice to see you too," Harry replied.
"Sorry, but…what are you doing here?" Ginny asked again, unable to wrap her brain around it. Her mind was still a little foggy from the previous night. Suddenly, it all came back to her in a rush. Draco. Harry must have found out somehow. He was here to accuse her of cheating. Would he be right? Was what she had done considered cheating?
"Ginny, something happened last night that I think we need to discuss," Harry began. Ginny felt like she was about to throw up, but she nodded him on. He took a deep breath before continuing. "The party was great. Ron had a smashing good time. And I did too; except I think I went a little overboard."
"Overboard?" Ginny questioned. Harry ran his hand through his hair uneasily.
"Ginny, there's no easy way to say this. I kind of let one of the strippers go down on me," he splurted out. Ginny blinked.
"You what?" Ginny snapped, sitting up.
"I'd had a little too much to drink! Trixie offered, and I said yes. I'm sorry," he added almost as an afterthought. Ginny just stared.
"I'm sorry. I'm missing the part where this becomes something we need to talk about, because as far as I'm concerned, this conversation, as well as this engagement, is over," Ginny said icily. Harry grabbed Ginny's hands and fell to his knees.
"Ginny, please! We have to talk about this because I still want to marry you! Trixie meant nothing to me! It's you that I want!"
"Save your breath, Harry," Ginny retorted.
"Please, Ginny. We can't call off the engagement now! Can you imagine what the headlines would read? You don't want that kind of publicity, do you?"
"And god forbid we ruin your reputation," Ginny sneered. "Do you really think I care about what the newspapers say? I can't marry a man who would do something like this! And I most certainly can't marry a man who is more concerned about his reputation than about doing the right thing!"
"Marrying you is the right thing!" Harry exclaimed. "Ginny, you're the one for me. I love you. And I feel horrible about everything. I know you would never cheat on me, and you would never do anything to hurt me." A pang of guilt wrenched Ginny's heart. Draco flashed through her mind, and she couldn't help feeling like somewhat of a hypocrite.
"Harry…" Ginny began, but she was just too exhausted to finish.
"Come on, Ginny. You know I love you." Harry knelt on the bed beside her and kissed her ardently. Confusion flooded Ginny's mind, paralyzing her. She let Harry kiss her face and her neck, lacking the energy to argue with him or with herself. His fingers deftly unbuttoned her silk pajama shirt, and his mouth feasted greedily on her waiting breasts. Ginny blinked away tears. She knew that she should kick Harry out for cheating on her. But she also knew that she was just as guilty for her antics with Draco. And now Draco was gone. She didn't know where to find him, and it was understood that she wasn't to go looking for him. She had broken his heart too many times. She couldn't justify chasing him down to possibly break it again.
She did her best not to cry when Harry thrust inside of her. Her mind subconsciously transformed Harry into Draco. But even that created a cavernous void in her heart. She just lay there, listening to Harry's grunts of exertion and satisfaction, wondering how she got to be so messed up.
--
Ginny did not tell Hermione about Harry's affair. She didn't tell anyone. She had kept her silence for five days, and it was gnawing away at her. Hermione and Ron were sitting across the table from her at the Three Broomsticks, talking excitedly about their wedding the next day. Ginny found herself unable to participate until Hermione mentioned something that struck a chord in her heart.
"Guess who Ginny and I saw when we were shopping last week?" Hermione asked Ron. He shrugged.
"Who?"
"Draco Malfoy," Hermione supplied. Ron choked on his butterbeer and his eyes widened in disbelief.
"No way," he exclaimed. "Malfoy died in the war! At least that's what all the papers were saying."
"Well, he was very much alive when we saw him, wasn't he, Ginny?" Hermione nudged Ginny into a conversation she had been looking to distance herself from.
"Oh, uh, yeah."
"It seems incredibly suspicious that he resurfaces after all these years," Ron remarked darkly. "You sure it was him?"
"Almost positive. But I didn't get a very good look. Ginny saw him before I did. Did he look much different than he used to?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, I didn't really notice-"
"He might even be married at this point," Hermione said, cutting Ginny off. Ron wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"Who would want to marry a prat like that?"
"Maybe he's changed," Ginny spoke up defensively without thinking. Ron looked at her as though she had suggested buying a pet tarantula.
"Changed? People like Malfoy don't change, Ginny. He tried to murder Dumbledore!" Ron pointed out furiously. Ginny bristled, unable to stop herself from jumping to Draco's defense.
"But he didn't do it, did he? Maybe at the last moment, he decided that he was tired of following in his father's footsteps. Maybe there's more to him than you could ever possibly imagine!" Ginny argued, her voice rising as she continued. When she finished, Ron and Hermione were staring at her in confusion.
"Ginny…what the bloody hell was that?" Ron whispered in shock. Ginny swallowed, thinking wildly of some excuse for her unexplained rampage.
"You've been a little off since Paris," Hermione added. "Is something wrong?"
"Harry and I are just…going through some things right now," Ginny replied vaguely.
"Will everything be settled by tomorrow?" Hermione asked hopefully, not wanting her wedding to be spoiled by needless drama. Ginny forced a tight smile and nodded.
"Yeah, we'll be fine," she said, more trying to convince herself than anyone else. Ron and Hermione exchanged nervous and skeptical looks. Ginny suddenly felt very uncomfortable and suffocated.
"I think I'll leave you two and skip dessert," she said, rising from her seat.
"All right. Go home and fix things, Ginny," Hermione suggested gently. "You and Harry are meant to be. You guys will work it out." Ginny nodded, but she had no intention of going home to Harry. Instead, she apparated to the Burrow and let herself in. She walked into the living room and saw her father sitting in his armchair, his face buried behind the Daily Prophet. Ginny took a deep breath and began timidly.
"Dad?" Arthur Weasley glanced over the top of his newspaper and was obviously shocked to see his daughter standing before him.
"Ginny," he said, standing up. "How's my baby girl?" Ginny threw herself into his open arms. She treasured the warmth of his embrace; it was something she had missed desperately since the day she had moved out.
"What's wrong, Ginny?" Arthur asked, sensing her turmoil immediately.
"Dad," Ginny choked out. "I need to talk to you about something." Arthur led her to the couch and sat down beside her, holding her hands.
"Go ahead, sweetie," he encouraged.
"It's a really long story," Ginny sighed.
"I've got all the time in the world for my only daughter."
"Well…it started after Dumbledore died…"
-
Arthur sat with Ginny's hands clasped tightly in his. Her story was heartbreaking and shocking to his ears. Ginny had done her best to keep from breaking down into tears, but she could not explain the emotions in her heart during their night in Paris without crying tears of regret.
"I think I still love him, Dad," Ginny sniffled and wiped her eyes. "But I don't know if we could ever be together. We keep breaking each other's hearts, and I think I already blew my last chance with him." It was causing Arthur considerable pain to watch his daughter cry with such anguish. He wanted to do everything in his power to make it all better.
"Ginny, you need to follow your heart. Marriage is one hundred percent certainty. If you aren't completely positive that you want to marry Harry, you need to tell him."
"I know, I know," Ginny wailed. "I just don't know what to do anymore, Dad. I feel so lost." Arthur hugged his daughter comfortingly.
"I'm glad you told me, Ginny. I wish there was more I could do to help."
"You did just fine, Dad," Ginny smiled through her tears. Arthur saw his daughter to the fireplace and watched her Floo away. Not a moment later, Molly returned from shopping and glanced at her husband.
"What's wrong, dear?" She asked. Her eyes moved to the clock, where Ginny's arrow was slowly moving away from the home position. "Ginny was here? Was she all right?" Arthur hesitated before responding. He got the impression that Ginny didn't want her mother to know anything just yet. So he lied.
"Yes, darling. She's fine."
-
Draco sat alone in his apartment, staring up at the ceiling cracks. He hadn't left his apartment in almost a week. His face was unshaven and the sink was filled with dirty dishes. He took a swig of bourbon and enjoyed the burning sensation as it traveled down his throat. He went to take another drink, but found that the bottle was empty. He scowled and tossed it into a substantial pile of empty bottles on the floor.
He was torn from his drunken stupor by a knock on the door. Draco sat up in surprise. He had no associations. No friends. No one who would visit him at home. Hastily, Draco flicked his wand and got rid of the disorder in his apartment before stumbling to the door.
"Draco Malfoy?" An older red-haired man questioned.
"That's me. What can I do for you?" The man extended his hand.
"Arthur Weasley," he introduced himself. "I believe you're in love with my daughter, Ginny." Draco stood motionless and stunned for several moments before finally reaching out to shake Arthur's hand.
"Pleasure to formally make your acquaintance, sir," Draco mumbled, still somewhat in shock. "Please, come in."
"Thank you, Draco," Arthur replied, entering the apartment. "I suppose the wizarding community owes you a debt of gratitude from what my daughter has told me."
"Excuse me?"
"An undercover spy for the Order. So secret, only three members knew about it. If not for your service, the war might have been lost," Arthur said with a twinge of pride in his tone. "You seem to have a strong sense of moral character, Draco."
"I'm not sure I deserve all this praise," Draco replied uncomfortably. "I've done horrible things in my past."
"But you changed your ways, Draco. Don't let something like that dissuade you from believing that you deserve my daughter."
"Sir?"
"Ginny came to me this afternoon and told me everything. I can't tell you how painful it was to watch her cry and not be able to help her. Then I realized there was something I could do for her. That's why I came here today," Arthur explained.
"With all due respect, sir, I still don't understand why you're here. Ginny is engaged to Potter. She'll be married by the end of the month. That's what she wants. I can't keep putting my heart out there because it keeps getting broken. If Harry is what she wants, then I need to start figuring out how to get her out of my head." Arthur sighed and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder.
"Harry was a good man. I feel like he's gotten a little lost on his journey, and now he has a skewed perception of what's important. But I can see through you, Draco. And I know my daughter is the most important part of your life. You need to fight for her. Because we both know that Ginny marrying Harry is a mistake. I believe you're the only person who can make her see that."
"I don't know if I can do it," Draco replied weakly. "I don't want to cause her any more pain."
"It's funny," Arthur commented wryly. "She said the same thing about you."
Arthur excused himself, having a meeting to attend to, leaving Draco alone once again. For a moment, he wondered if the alcohol was causing him to hallucinate. He could hardly believe that Ginny's father had just showed up at his door and practically begged him to marry his daughter. Or at the very least, convince her not to marry Harry. It was beyond strange. Still, it made Draco think. If he was going to win Ginny back, he knew he only had one more chance.