A/N: The much anticipated dinner and I promise there's a lot of action in this one! Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Later as Ginny was getting out of the shower she suddenly heard a loud squeal from downstairs. Luckily, Ginny would know that sound anywhere. She had heard it when her many brothers had become Head Boys, when Ginny had told her she was going out with Harry again, and when Fleur had announced her pregnancy. Ron and Hermione had told her mother about the pregnancy. While she was sure her mother wasn't thrilled about them not being married yet, she knew that nothing could dull her mother's love for babies.

Ginny decided that she would let the bliss simmer down before she went downstairs so she took her time getting dressed. She also wanted to look nice tonight. Though she didn't want to admit it to herself, she wanted to look nice because Draco would be there. While she had determined that she would avoid him, she also wanted him to know that she was young, beautiful and in love and nothing he did could take away from that.

It was a warm evening so she selected a blue summer dress with delicate shoulder straps. As she looked in the mirror, she was pleased to see that the dress made her look sexy and casual at the same time. She left her hair down so it would cascade around her pale neck and shoulders and make the red stand out more.

Deciding that she had allowed her mother enough time to calm down, and knowing that her family would be arriving soon, she slipped on some flats and headed downstairs to the kitchen. At this point Ron had left and Hermione was alone in the kitchen with her mother, who was pestering her with questions while finishing up the dinner.

"Have you seen a mediwitch yet?"

"No, I only just learned about it a few days ago. I suspected for a couple of weeks and then I was nervous to tell anyone," she admitted blushing.

"Oh, well that's silly dear. Everyone is going to be thrilled! And I'm sure you and Ronald will get married soon enough anyways," her mother replied. She then noticed Ginny in the doorway.

"Ginny dear, have you heard the wonderful news? Hermione is pregnant!"

"I know, Ron told me earlier. Congrats Hermione!" she said giving her a hug.

"Thanks Gin. I'm so happy that everyone is being so supportive," Hermione said with obvious signs of relief on her face. "Anyways, I think I'm going to go change before everyone gets here."

Giving Ginny a tired smile, she left the room.

"Isn't it wonderful?" her mother said again once Hermione was out of the room. "Of course, I wish they were married first and your brother will hear it from me later for his irresponsibleness, but overall it's such a happy thing and I'm sure they'll be married soon. And maybe I'll be planning another wedding shortly after," she suggested giving her a wink.

She suppressed a groan and merely smiled at her mother. She had anticipated this but it still didn't make it any better. Not wanting to stick around and hear more about her mother's wedding prophecies, she grabbed the dishes and headed out into the backyard.

She saw her father, Harry and George out of the corner of her eye all huddled around Ron. It looked like they were teasing him and having a good time judging by everyone laughing and Ron, being as red as a tomato. Not wanting to interrupt, Ginny continued over to the tables her brothers had set up. She set the plates down on the table and then cast a spell so that they flew to their respective spots.

Not wanting to head inside just yet, she decided to walk towards the garden. She stood at the edge starring pensively at the horizon. She didn't want to process everything that was happening although she was happy for Ron and Hermione. It just seemed like life was going by so much faster these days and she was expected to make decisions that would last.

She ran a frustrated hand through her hair and made a very unladylike groan out loud.

"Got a problem, Red?" asked a voice right behind her head.

She jumped and spun around to land face-to-face with the one and only, Draco Malfoy.

"Draco! I didn't know you were here!"

"Obviously," he drawled with a smirk. "That's why it's so much fun to scare you."

She glared at him a little but couldn't ignore her heart skipping a beat.

"So, what's got you all upset?" he prodded suddenly serious.

"Nothing. I mean, nothing really important," she said nonchalantly.

"Oh, come on Red. You can tell me."

"Why do you want to know? Don't you have better things to do than bother me all the time?"

He raised his eyebrows giving her a questioning look.

"I wasn't aware I bothered you all the time. Exactly how do I bother you?"

"You're always questioning everything I say and popping up everywhere and pretending to care when you don't. And I have enough going on in my life without having to worry about you," she replied angrily. Then she stormed past him without glancing back.

Once within sight of the guys she tried to calm herself and look serene and happy. She didn't want anyone to know about how angry Draco made her, or more specifically, how much he affected her. While she knew that there was no reason for her to be angry at him, she couldn't help it. He made her feel things she shouldn't and couldn't feel, especially while dating Harry.

A little while later the whole family sat down at the table. Draco sat between Harry and Bill. Bill had quickly become one of Draco's favorites in the Weasley family because of his laid back attitude. It also helped that he had never known Draco in school so had no reason to dislike him. While he had a shaky friendship with many of the other Weasley brothers, he knew that at a moment's notice it could all end and they would be enemies again. That was one of the reasons why his pursuit of Ginny Weasley was so dangerous.

Across the table sat Ron and Hermione looking like two lovebirds and Ginny, doing everything in her power to avoid looking at him. He thought back to what she had said in the garden. It was obvious that he was causing her frustration and confusion, and if he really cared about her, maybe he would avoid causing her that pain. But he couldn't stand the idea of forbidding himself interactions with her. And, truth be told, he enjoyed them for more than their entertainment value though he didn't want to think very long on this idea.

Once everyone had sat down and the food was about to be served Mr. Weasley stood at the head of the table.

"Before we start dinner, I want to make a wonderful announcement. Some of you have heard by now but for those who haven't, we will soon have a new addition to the family. Ron and Hermione are pregnant!"

"Starting to feel any morning sickness yet Ron?" asked George with a big wink. This produces some laughs throughout the table.

"Ginny, what does pre…pre…pregnant mean?" asked Teddy looking up at her curiously.

"It means they're going to have a baby," she answered.

"Oh, but I thought you had to be married like Bill and Fleur," he replied.

Ginny grimaced as everyone else at the table shifted uncomfortably and Ron and Hermione turned red.

"Teddy, as long as two people are in love, they can have a baby. It's a good thing," said Mr. Weasley with a reassuring tone.

"Okay. Ginny, how do they get pregnant?" he asked and this time it was Ginny's turn to turn red. She looked at a loss for words and Draco almost laughed out loud at the spectacle.

"Hey Teddy isn't your birthday coming up?" Draco asked wanting to give Ginny a life preserver. Luckily, the little boy's attention could be easily averted so he immediately lite up and turned to Draco.

"Yes! I'm going to be this many," he said holding up 3 fingers. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and jumped on the new topic as everyone started talking about Teddy's birthday and serving food. Draco looked up and his eyes met Ginny's for a second. She seemed hesitant for a second before she mouthed thank you and then looked away quickly.

He smirked into his food as he began to dig into the feast before him. He had to admit, there was something very nice and comforting about the Weasley's weekly family dinners, though he would never tell anyone that. Instead, he pretended that they were inconveniences that he went to just to satisfy Potter or Mrs. Weasley. Draco's family was not very big and they definitely weren't the type to have family dinners. While they were loyal to family, the word love was never really spoken.

Part of him craved what the Weasley's had and maybe that was why he was drawn to Ginny so much. She was love and family and happiness and she infected everyone she met with it. It was intoxicating for someone who had spent his whole life being quiet and reserved.

It was this line of thought that lead him to take his napkin from the table and quickly scribble a message on it using his wand. He then spelled the napkin to fly over to Ginny under the table. Without waiting to see if she would open it, he stood up and asked to be excused to make an urgent Floo call, then headed inside without a glance back.

Ginny was deliberately trying to avoid looking at Draco when she felt a very light tickle on her leg. She looked down to find a napkin folded up. At the same time Draco stood up and went inside the house. Although she knew she shouldn't, she got curious and opened the napkin.

There were only a few very quickly written words. It said, "Come meet me please." The part that really stuck Ginny as strange was the please. She knew Draco wasn't the type to ever ask for something and he was used to commanding. It was this word that made her interested enough to decide to follow him. She waited a minute so it wouldn't look suspicious and then excused herself from the table saying she needed the bathroom.

As she walked away from the table her inside turned to knots and she started to panic. What was she doing? This was ridiculously stupid. She was going to meet someone who was not her boyfriend and who she had feelings for. No, this definitely was not a good idea. But the idea of turning around and not finding out what he wanted killed her more so she continued on into the house.

Once inside she wondered where he would be. He wasn't in the kitchen so she went into the living room where she found him standing and looking at old family photos. The one that seemed to have caught his attention was from Ginny's first day of Hogwarts.

She cleared her throat a little to get his attention, not sure what to say.

He spun around and his eyes met hers instantly, catching her by surprise and locking her where she stood. After a few seconds of silence she broke his gaze and looked down.

"What do you want Draco?" she asked.

"I wasn't sure you would come," he said, for once all sarcasm and joking gone from his voice.

"Well, I was curious. What is this about?"

"Are you happy?" he asked suddenly. The question took Ginny by surprise.

"Yes, of course I'm happy. What kind of question is that?"

"No, I just mean, are you really happy? Like, do you have everything you want out of life?"

She thought this over and knew that her answer was no. She should be happy but she felt like there was something missing, though she didn't know what that was.

"No one has everything they want Draco," she answered simply.

He seemed to consider this for a minute and then replied, "You're different. From the girl you were in this picture, I mean."

Without meaning to she stepped closer to him and the picture. She studied it for a few minutes. She was obviously younger in the picture, but she also had this passionate glow around her. She remembered how happy and excited she had been to finally be going to Hogwarts though she was also terrified.

"You were happy in this picture." It wasn't a question but rather a statement of fact.

"I was little then. Everyone is happy when they're little. Besides, a lot has happened since then."

"I want to make you that happy again," he admitted suddenly looking her in the eye again. She only then realized how close they were. She could see every stray hair that had come undone from his perfectly coifed hair and she could smell his intoxicating cologne. She tried to clear her head and think her way out of the situation but every part of her was screaming for her to kiss him.

As if he had read her mind, Draco grabbed her face carefully with one hand and leaned forward. When he was inches away from her lips he stopped for a second, as though giving her a chance to stop it. The logical part of her told her to push him away and run from the room but in that second all she wanted was to know what those lips would taste like and to feel loved, not just as a friend or partner, but as a woman and lover.

Without thinking about it a second longer she closed the small space between them and kissed Draco, hesitantly. That seemed to be all the invitation he needed as his mouth moved against hers insistently and desperately. Before she knew it their tongues were dancing together in her mouth and his and his other hand had come to rest at her hip to keep them close and also steady them.

She reveled in the feel of his mouth on hers and the newness of it all. She hadn't been kissed by any other than Harry in years and she couldn't remember the last time they had kissed with this amount of passion.

A moment later Draco broke the kiss to come up for air. This was all the time Ginny needed to realize what they were doing and how wrong it was. She took a step back and shook her head.

"We shouldn't have done that," she said touching her lips but refusing to look at Draco. "I'm sorry."

She then spun on her heels and ran from the room before Draco could say or do anything else. Knowing she couldn't face other people right now she ran up to her bedroom and quickly locked the door. She then threw herself down on the bed and proceeded to cry out her feelings hoping that at the end of her tears would be a solution she couldn't see right now.