A/N: Once again I am extremely glad to know that you Guys like my story. I am grateful to those who added favorites,alerts and to those who reviewed it too. Thanks Guys.:)
Visiting the Twins and Harry
Ginny woke up, freshen herself and walking towards the living room where she saw her elf Twinkle already lading her breakfast dishes on the table.
She sat at the table, eating her breakfast. She was reminiscing yesterday events.
"Everything went well..err except Ron. I won't do anything. He should meet me first." She stubbornly thought to herself.
Today, she decided to rest the whole day.
As she was relaxing on her couch. She called up Luna at Boston using her magical mobile, asking about the well being of her sons. Luna told her that they are fine; they are missing her too and excited to come to England. She felt fine after hearing her sons's voice, telling her they have excited things to tell her when they will come to England.
She spent her time, lazying around, reading a romance fiction book. She was so engrossed in reading the book; she didn't hear the faint pop sound behind her.
"Feeling lazy today, are we?" She jumped up a bit on the couch as she heard the drawling sound of Lucius Malfoy.
Lucius came around and sat on the comfortable armchair.
"Father! You could have warned me . " Ginny leaned back again, resting the book on her lap.
"Malfoys are always alert of their surroundings." He smirked at her and she groaned . She summoned Twinkle to provide drinks .
He relaxed against the armchair.
"Any exciting news?" He questioned.
"Yes, I talked to Derek and Lucas. They missed us and very eager to come here. "Ginny replied, grinning at the knowledge of her sons being impatient over at Boston.
"Ah, yes. How are they coming back here? Malfoy family portkey or through the international portkey center?" He inquired , wanting to know how his grandsons will come here.
"Through the International portkey center. I decided to let them come by the normal way so that we can show the twins around while reaching Malfoy Manor." Ginny said enthusiastically, excited about her plans.
"Okay, as you wish." Lucius smiled at her indulgently.
"So you didn't tell me how did Harry and your brothers find you? Ah, just a sec , let me guess..., they found you at the park, right? "
Seeing Ginny scowling at him, he laughed.
"Somehow I knew that one day someone will notice you at the park and it will be Harry mostly. Because I knew that he lived nearby. And he did. "Lucius smirked satisfactorily.
"Exactly. They found me and invited them here, told the story. And let me tell you, Harry felt a bit angry at you and Uncle Severus for not telling him about me for so long. I straight away told him that it was none of his business and it was my decision after all."
"Indeed." Lucius looked thoughtfully.
Twinkle came and gave them coffee. Living in the states for eight years, Ginny had developed a liking for Coffee. So most of the time she prefers having coffee than tea.
As she sipped her coffee, Ginny thought again about Harry Potter, how she had not noticed him at the park.
At school he had not been so close with her. They were not even friends, just acquaintances in spite of living in the same tower. Maybe it has been so long time that she had forgotten about him, how he looked and all..
But it was hard for her to let go of old grudges she had for Harry, Ron, Hermione and the way they treated her as a baby all the time in the past. She might be able to forgive him for what he had done to her, but it was much harder to forgive him for what he had done to Draco. But again what's the point of dragging past memories into the present.
Seeing Lucius and her dad reconciling and even formed a friendship too, letting go of past grudges.
Shouldn't she also let go of her past grudges too and start afresh with the Golden trio. Well, then I will wait and see how they interact with me. Now they know the reasons.
"Father?" she asked. Lucius was putting his cup on the table and looked up , she continued. "What do you know about Harry Potter?"
Knowing that Harry works with Lucius sometimes, he must know Harry very well.
"Harry Potter? Why would you want to know about him?"
"Well, I know nothing about him. " Ginny looked at the window, thinking deeply.
"From the way he spoke at the park, I felt that he was hiding something. So I learned some bit information from the twins at the burrow." Lucius was curious and raised an eyebrow.
"Found what?"
"He left the Aurors for some reasons. He told me that he got fed up of chasing Dark wizards and chose to do his Potter business. Somehow I find it hard to believe it. He seems so different than how he was in the past, but I have trouble believing it."
Lucius understood her, seeming to know what Ginny was trying to say.
"From what I have heard, he had changed, at least somewhat. There were all sorts of questions about why he resigned from the Aurors. His sudden speech and he wanted my guideness or sort of his advisor for handling his business. "Lucius gazed at her thoughtfully.
"I just accepted his request and helped him as much as I can." Ginny pondered over it.
"But he was a very good Auror, captured many rogue Death Eaters with your brother Ron, but he never enjoyed his fame. He has given away a lot of money–he even funded some of the charity we started, Draco's Child care center for magical children from all races. He seems to keep to himself a lot."
"One thing I do know for sure is that he is now becoming one heck of a businessman. I have seen recently that he has doubled the revenues of his investment firm over the last two years. He has an uncanny instinct for which businesses will be profitable, like Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Your brothers have made him tons of money, you know. And plus he spends most of his free time teaching children defense or quidditch at Hogwarts too."
Lucius smiled at her. "Does that answer your question?"
"Perhaps. I guess I'll have to find out for myself. I am really curious to know about him. What happened over last eight years? It's just hard to hear and accept that he left the Aurors and now he is a businessman ,taking of his estates, smarter , ..."
"Hmmm the Harry I know doesn't do anything on his own. He always takes help from Hermione even for silly matters. It is hard to see him as a smart, self-confident person now and not depending on anyone. ." she trailed off...
"I know you probably keep hearing this, but most people have changed since you left. You probably should give him a chance. "Lucius told her seriously.
"I will," Ginny smiled over the rim of her coffee cup.
"Anyway, we have some work pending. We need to go to Gringotts and do some paperwork. You really need to announce yourself in the wizarding world. It's time now. No more putting off and hiding away. You are a Gryffindor or not? "Lucius raised his eyebrow, as if daring her to do...
She scowled fiercely at him. Damn! He is always right!
She knew that she had no more reason to put off visiting Diagon Alley. If she were going to reestablish herself in the wizarding world, she'd need to go.
She needed to go to Gringotts to reopen her and Draco's vault.
When she was at Boston, she had tried to spend as little of Draco's money as possible because it was her sons's by right. But Lucius reminded her that she is a Malfoy repeatedly, encouraged her to spend as much money she likes to make her life comfortable as Draco would have wanted for them. So she did it for her and her sons too...
She had put it all off long enough. Today was the day.
Looking at her expression, he smirked. Malfoys are always right.
Lucius getting up, telling her to be ready and leave in some moment now. Ginny quickly got up from her couch, hurried to her bedroom, quickly got changed in fifteen minutes.
Ginny wore normal causal dress with a cloak around her. It's time, let them see me. I am a Malfoy and I am proud of it.
Ginny tried to be as surreptitious as possible, holding on to Lucius's arm, nervous to be out on the ten-minute walk to the Leaky Cauldron. She and Lucius entered the pub quietly and suddenly there was a silence.
Ignoring the staring and gawking eyes of the passersby, she walked around towards the entrance of the alley. Lucius was glaring around, daring them ...not to come near them.
Everybody was whispering loudly.
"... it's true that Lady Malfoy had returned..."
"...She is Draco's widow..."
"...she is a redhead...so similar..."
"...she must be Ginevra..."
"...doesn't she look like the missing Weasley girl..."
"...yes...a Weasley and a Malfoy..."
She was in wizarding London for the first time since Draco's funeral.
It was a bit overwhelming at first. There were so many people, it was almost frantic. They moved this way and that, calling out to each other, bargaining with the shop keepers. And if she thought Muggle London smelled old, it was nothing compared to Diagon Alley.
But after a few minutes, the familiarity of it all came back to her. She had been coming here since she was a baby, after all.
She and Lucius started to make their way down the alley, looking into shop windows as they went.
She found the apothecary particularly interesting. The once-familiar potions ingredients seemed so odd now. Since she started getting nostalgic as she remembered how she and Draco had fun picked out the worst potion ingredients by their smell .
She stopped off at Flourish and Blotts long enough to check out the recently published titles, here she remembered how she and Draco met for the first time before her first year at Hogwarts.
Lucius was observing her, knowing how she felt. He too remembered how his son Draco met her here for the first time.
She was particularly amused to see Hogwarts, A History, and Fifth Edition, by Hermione Granger-Weasley. She noted this mentally to ask Hermione about it .
She and Lucius eventually made it to the steps of Gringotts. She took a deep breath and reminded herself of the discretion of goblins, who generally knew about her identity of being the Lady Malfoy and was thinking whether to meet her brother Bill, who also worked in the building or not.
Everybody noticed her when she stepped inside. She waited while Lucius ask for his manager to the nearby goblin. The Malfoy Goblin manager, Sharptooth came immediately, and bowed to him and her; she and Lucius did likewise to the goblin.
"I would like to reopen mine and Draco's vault, in my name and my sons's name too." She said clearly, while Lucius looked on.
Sharptooth raised his hand and presenting forward, "The key?"
She presented the key to him. The goblin examined the key.
"Very well, Mrs. Malfoy. I will arrange it everything as required. May I enquire as to the names of your sons?"
"Lucas Abraxas Malfoy and Derek Alexander Malfoy"
Lucius stepped up and quietly questioned the goblin," And I would prefer this information be treated with the utmost discretion, even among your employees?"
He gave them a long, penetrating gaze, and then responded, "Yes Sir, I quite understand. "
Sharptooth was arranging the financial papers and giving it to Ginny,telling her to sign at the bottom of the page. Ginny read the paper , finding that it was alright and finally signed it. Finished signing all the required paperwork. The Goblin took the papers back and filed it under the huge Malfoy account files.
"Thank you." She trusted implicitly in his word on the matter. The Malfoys is one of Gringotts biggest clients.
As they were turning back to leave, Ginny saw Bill waving at her, coming in her direction.
Bill hugged her, "I thought you didn't want the press to know about your presence?"
"I didn't want to do at first but Father insists that we should not put it off. I should not have to hold back my life here by hiding away. So here I am , what happened?"
She noticed Bill's worried face. "Well be careful then. I thought I saw some reporters outside, hiding around. Rumors have spread around so fast ."
"What rumors? " Lucius questioned.
"Some are saying that they noticed you and Ginny in the Leaky Cauldron. They must have recognized her as the witch whom Draco had married. "
"Very well. At least the rumors were right. Don't worry, Bill. I have learned to handle them since I have been working in Malfoy International at Boston."
"Okay. If you say so." She hugged him again.
Ginny and Lucius stepped out into the street, slightly wary. She noticed one of Luna's trustworthy reporters lurking around.
"Father, I noticed Melinda, since she is one of Luna's trustworthy reporters. Should I give her some information about me, for the next step to ease my way in the world?" Ginny looked at him anxiously,
"Okay. If that's what you want to do. Go ahead. Enjoy your time. I will be going to office. Owl me later once you reached the flat." Checking the area around, he squeezed her hand before departing.
Seeing Lucius depart, she went towards Melinda, whispered to her," Follow me to the Weasley Wizard wheezes shop now." Melinda startled and nodded quickly.
After so many years, Ginny was surprised that she still knows exactly where to go to WWW. Her feet automatically took her to the door of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. She entered the shop, noticing Melinda following behind her, searching for Fred and George.
Melinda closed the door, silently standing beside her. She found her brothers huddled over the counter studying something.
"Hello brothers' dearest." she called out to them.
"Ginny! What are you doing here! " George exclaimed. He moved quickly towards the door and turned the "open" sign to "closed".
"I wasn't aware of you coming here." Fred stated.
"Yeah, it was the spur of the moment. Lucius insisted that I should not put it off for too long. It's time I show myself to the public." Ginny stood herself against the counter.
"So alright out there? No problem?"
"So far, no problem, a bit staring at the Leaky Cauldron and well, I just noticed one of the reporters lurking outside Gringotts." Ginny motioned them to look at Melinda. She smiled slightly at the twins.
"Come and sit here, Melinda. I have something to talk about. "
Melinda came quickly and sat on one the stools near the counter. She looked up at Ginny with full attention.
"I know that you are one of Luna's trustworthy reporters. " She smiled at Ginny, grinning a bit at hearing the compliment.
Melinda was awed that Ginevra Malfoy had recognized her.
"I want you to write an article saying, that I have been to Diagon alley and enjoying being back in London after eight years. And most important is that I was a Weasley before I married Draco during the war. We had a good married life until Draco was …... " Ginny faltered, then immediately composed herself before anybody noticed.
Melinda was busy scribbling on her notepad with a muggle pen.
Being one of the best reporters , she had a keen eye for tiny details. She had not missed Ginny expression when talking about Draco. Inwardly, she sympathized her.
"I understand what you are trying to say. You want the public to know that you were actually Ginny Weasley who married your childhood sweetheart Draco and you left this wizarding world because you couldn't bear living here without Draco."
"Good! Just don't over dramatize it. Just state the fact, simple and plain."
Ginny paused, "And I will be calling you next time for my exclusive interview only if I see and like your article in the paper otherwise …..."
"Thank you Ma'am. I can't tell how surprised I am that you chose me for writing your article. "
Melinda smiled widely and took a deep breath, saying," I will do my best to post the article as short as possible. Maybe I could put a snap of yours as a proof that you are really Ginevra Malfoy nee Weasley. " Melinda held herself still, thinking that she should not have ask for more.
"Okay, you may put only one snap of mine." Ginny got up and shook the proffered hand of Melinda. Melinda relaxed .
Watching Melinda leave the shop, she turned around and saw her brothers staring at her at awe.
Snapping a finger in front of them, they shook their head.
"Wow, little sis. I can't believe that …." George spoke with a strange look at her.
"...you handled it all like a pro, speaking like a true …" continued Fred, too staring at her as if they are seeing her for the first time.
"...business woman. It's just we are seeing ….
"...different aspect of your personality."
"Years of experience working at Malfoy International will do that." Ginny modestly shrugged .
She spend most of the afternoon with Fred and George getting reacquainted. They never failed to make her smile, even when they tested one of their newest gags on her.
She decided to go to the park, wondering secretly if Harry would be there or not. If he is not there then she would go back to her flat.
As she reached the park, searching around. Then she saw Harry and smiled secretly, relieved to know that he was here too.
Suddenly she felt nervous, not sure how to deal with Harry Potter face to face. But he gave her a bright smile as she sat down next to him on the bench.
"Ginny! I'm glad you came. I wasn't sure that if you would come here again."
"Well, I admit that I'm not quite sure how to react to you. Well, Thanks for giving me moral support yesterday. "Ginny smiled at him tentatively.
"Oh, I didn't do anything. Yours brothers, Fred and George helped you more than I did." Harry said modestly.
They sat in silence, enjoying the comfortable silence between them. Ginny didn't know why.
"I am sorry for whatever I did to you and Draco, intentionally or not." Harry spoke up suddenly, breaking up the stretch of silence. He gazed at her intensely.
"After listening to your story, I understood your point. I realized how self-centered I was. I was involved in my own world, feeling self-pity about my destiny. I didn't care what going on around me."
"I know that Ron had interfered your life much in the past. I didn't do anything, just simply stood by I should have told Ron to back off, complaining about you and Draco. I should have made lot of efforts involving you, Draco into our team meetings. I should have trust and believe you and about your feelings of Draco at that time , but I was ignorant .…... "
Harry was trying his best, wanting to show that he is really sorry for everything. .
Ginny was still looking at the children playing, not daring to look at Harry, especially now.
"I am not asking for forgiveness. I just want you to know I sincerely regretted many things in the past and I have learned a lot, changed myself. I know that it is too late to apologize and well. I tried searching you in the past ..." His voice shook.
Ginny gazed at Harry deeply, finally speaking, "Actually, I've realized that I know nothing about you. After all, here you are, Harry Potter, My brother best friend here ready to apologize to me face to face And my own brother Ron refuses to see me!"
"Ron will meet you for sure; it's just a matter of time." Harry feeling better, knowing that Ginny was listening and silently forgiving him.
Both remained silent again.
"Well, a lot has changed," Harry said with a sigh.
"I guess so," she said with a half-hearted smile. "I suppose war and a whole lot of time do have that effect, don't they?"
"Yes, yes they do." They smiled at each other slightly.
Harry looked curious. " Do you often come to the park ? "
"Not often. I only visit the park when I want to feel relax ,err.. a place for me to think quietly."
"So does that mean you will come again here tomorrow? So we can meet here just to talk ." Harry felt excited at the thought of meeting Ginny regularly.
Ginny's smile faltered. "Err...I will be quite busy at the manor tomorrow, my sons will be coming day after tomorrow. I need everything to be ready for them. I won't have time to come regularly to the park. Maybe sometime later, around next week or …"
Seeing Harry's disappointed face. Wanting him to smile.
She blurted out," Or you could come to the Manor anytime you want. " She clammed up.
"To the Manor anytime?" Harry questioned her, wanting to believe, sure that he is free to visit anytime. He was beginning to smile and looking at her intensely. Ginny felt her face hot at his intense gaze.
Ginny got up, straightening herself and slowly turned to face Harry. What the hell was she thinking? Inviting Harry to the Manor anytime he wants. Have you gone mad?
"Yeah, I am sure, Lucius would be happy to see you again. "Ginny reassured him.
"Really. Well maybe I will come around next week. Be sure to inform Lucius about you giving me free pass to the Manor anytime." Harry cheekily smirked at her, eyes glinting with happy gleam.
Ginny was second guessing herself, at seeing Harry's happy gleam. Nothing will happen. What the worst that could happen. Right?
A/N: Slowly Harry and Ginny forming their friendship slowly. Watch out for the next chapter.
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By Ice Queen Malfoy