Three days later, Ginny's body was still aching from Malfoy's curse. It exhausted her beyond belief to run after the kids, and she kept forgetting to go to the Muggle store and buy snacks for them. Thankfully, today was an easy day. She only had Brandon, the baby, and Nik, the shy boy with worn clothes. Nik was quiet, playing with the massive amount of toys strewn throughout the living room while Ginny gave Brandon a bottle. A knock at the door caused Ginny to get up.
"I'll be right back Nik," she told the little boy tiredly, walking to the door while cradling Brandon. He nodded, stacking a few battered, colored blocks on top of each other and knocking them back down. She gave him a small smile and pulled the door open.
No one was there.
Ginny took a step outside, looking down toward the walk. No one. She turned, her brow furrowed, and saw an envelope tacked to the door. She grabbed it, flipping it over to see if there was any writing on the back, since the front was blank. None.
"Who could this be from?" Ginny asked Brandon quietly, bouncing him lightly as she went back inside. His big blue eyes stared back at her, blinking slowly.
Nik looked up at her briefly, then went back to playing. Ginny gently set Brandon down on the couch, tucking pillows around him as she sat next to him. She crossed her leg over the other, bouncing her foot up and down while she stared at the envelope. If it was bloody Malfoy again...
With a sigh Ginny ripped the envelope open, her eyes quickly scanning the small note written in what looked like her brother Charlie's handwriting.
Muriel's dead. She left this for you.
She blinked, rereading the note. She tried to shed at least one tear for her cranky, outspoken great aunt, but none came. Ginny traced each letter of the note, wondering if Charlie's scarred hands had shaken while writing to her, wondering if he missed her at all. She shook the envelope, tipping it to one side to reveal what was left for her. It was a delicate ring, most likely goblin-made. The band was thin, with a tiny, sparkling diamond secured in the middle. Impossibly delicate strands criss-crossed the large band, almost moving as they continued around the ring. It had to be Muriel's engagement ring, kept from the poor bastard who proposed probably a century ago.
Ginny slipped it on her right ring finger. It was much too large, and fell off when she bent her hand to admire the light on the diamond. She frowned as she leaned down and picked it up, tucking it into her trouser pocket. She never thought Muriel would die, and she never would have imagined that she would leave anything for Ginny. She never showed emotional attachment to her great-niece, and never affection. Ginny was puzzled, but grateful nonetheless for receiving such a beautiful piece of jewelry.
She turned her attention back to Brandon, picking him up and bouncing him on her hip as she walked to the kitchen. She grabbed a juice box, closed the refrigerator, grabbed her purse, and walked back to the living room.
"How'd you like to go on a field trip?" Ginny asked Nik, smiling as his eyes lit up. He nodded quickly, bouncing up and grabbing her hand as she walked out the door.
"Hello, welcome to Diagon Jewels, how may I help you?" The witch behind the counter smiled at Ginny and the boys, her hands splayed flat on the glass counter.
"My aunt left me her ring in her will, and–"
"Oh, I'm so sorry for your loss," the witch said, pushing out her bottom lip and giving Ginny doe eyes. "Time will heal that wound."
"Er, yeah. Thanks. I need the ring resized, it's huge on me." Ginny let go of Nik's hand and dug in her pocket, placing the ring on the counter. The witch snatched it up, tilting the ring to all different angles in order to catch the light.
"What a beautiful piece of jewelry. Do you know your size?" Brandon began to whimper, and Ginny turned her attention to him.
"No, but I–"
"Oh here, try this on." The witch grabbed a stunning ring sitting on a pillow nearby and seized Ginny's free hand, putting the ring on her left hand with surprising gentleness, given her frantic manner. The fit was perfect, and Ginny angled her hand to show Nik. His mouth opened wide, as did his eyes.
"It's so pretty Miss Ginny," he said in awe, staring at the ring.
"Ah," the witch looked up, flashing a smile at a man hovering in the corner, "Mr. Malfoy. I just needed to borrow your ring for a moment, someone already has their eye on it and will most likely buy it–" Both the sales witch and Ginny jumped as the door to the shop was slammed shut, shattering the glass in the top half. Ginny grabbed Nik's shoulders and pulled him to her hip, rubbing his back as she bounced Brandon softly.
"I am so sorry!" The young witch dashed out from behind the counter and fixed the door with a quick flick of her wand. Ginny nodded, biting her lip as she stared at Malfoy's ring. It was an engagement ring, and Ginny couldn't help but wonder who it was for. She slowly tugged the ring off, replaying the flash of pain that reflected in Malfoy's eyes when he saw it resting snugly on her finger. Could it have been for her?
"When can I pick up my ring?" Ginny asked the witch, glancing at Muriel's ring on the counter. The witch picked it up, rapped Malfoy's ring gently then tapped Muriel's ring with her wand as she muttered a quick spell.
"Here you go. Take good care of it, it's a beautiful ring." The sales witch gave Ginny a small smile as Ginny put her ring on her right hand while balancing Brandon in her left arm, grabbing Nik's hand after she finished and headed toward the door.
She saw the witch wave out of the corner of her eye and snorted lightly, pushing the newly repaired door open. Ginny squinted in the bright afternoon light and turned to the left, tugging Nik along with her.
"Miss Ginny," Nik whispered, pulling at Ginny's hand.
"What is it Nik?" she asked absentmindedly, dodging through the thick crowd of people.
"Thescaryman'sback," he mumbled. Ginny stopped, looking down at him.
"What did you say, sweetie?" she crouched down to look Nik in the eye. He was looking down at the cobblestones, shuffling his feet.
"The scary man. He's behind you."
Ginny set her mouth in a thin line and looked behind her. Malfoy stood in the middle of the crowd, people walking around him like he was a boulder in the middle of the river. He sneered at her, his silver eyes on fire as he crossed his arms over his chest. His wand peeked out from the crook of his elbow, just like a serpent ready to strike.
She stood up slowly, pressing Nik to her legs and Brandon to her body.
"What do you want?"
"Whose whore are you now?" Malfoy asked with a curl of his lip, taking a step closer.
"What the hell do you mean?" Ginny covered Nik's ears with the side of her leg and her hand.
Malfoy jutted his chin toward Ginny's hand.
"The ring. Who's the poor bastard?" She curled her fingers into a fist, and stared at Malfoy with hatred.
"I'm not engaged, you stupid git," Ginny hissed with disdain, taking a small step backwards. Nik followed her, now clinging to her leg tightly.
Malfoy's facade fell for a second, but then he twisted his face back into a sneer. His arms fell back to rest loosely against his sides, his wand held stiffly in his hand as he glowered at Ginny. He took several quick steps while she stayed rooted to the spot, barely breathing. We're in public. He wouldn't dare to hi–Malfoy's hand snaked up to grab her chin, tilting her head up to look at his fuming face. He bent his head down, his lips inches from her ear.
"You look gorgeous, love," Malfoy purred into her ear, running his finger down her back. She shivered and took another step back, holding the kids against her. She gave a sickening smile, then held the children to her as she Apparated back to her house.
"It's okay, he's gone now," Ginny quietly told Nik as she unlocked the door and set Brandon down in his bassinet. Nik took a tentative step into the house and pulled on the handle to close the door. He looked up at her with startling green eyes.
"Who is he?"
"He's...an old friend," Ginny answered with a sigh, though she shuddered at the comfortable sound of the word.
"He scares me," Nik stated as he moved back to the toy chest.
Ginny crossed her arms and stood straight, stretching her back with a deep breath. She rubbed her head, feeling a migraine coming on as she walked to the kitchen. She chewed her lip as she leaned against the counter, staring out the window. Why was Malfoy popping up in her life again? Was he stalking her? Could he be still in love with her? He did have a very expensive, very beautiful engagement ring that he seemed adamant upon selling, but that didn't necessarily mean it was for her...did it?
A light tapping against her window shook Ginny from her thoughts. She glanced toward the living room as she walked to the window, making sure Nik wouldn't be able to see the owl. She knew most parents would think the stories their children told about magic were just their imagination, but if a parent ever questioned her about a child's owl sighting she wasn't sure how she could explain that.
The small owl squeezed inside before Ginny could open the window fully. It twisted its head, staring up at her quizzically as she stared at the paper attached to its leg. She had written the Daily Prophet several times, and it seemed as if they didn't want to accept the fact that she actually didn't want the paper delivered.
Ginny grudgingly dug for a Knut in her purse, slipping it into the owl's pouch and grabbing the paper. She watched as the owl flew away, then glanced down at the front of the Prophet. She sneered and threw the paper onto the counter, walking back to the living room as the doorbell rang.
She opened the door and made pleasantries with Brandon's mother for the next ten minutes, finally waving goodbye and shutting the door tightly. Nik sat up at her presence, a picture book spread in his lap.
"Can you read to me please, Miss Ginny?" He looked up at her with wide eyes, a shy smile on his face. Ginny smiled back and sank into the couch, patting the cushion next to her.
An hour later, seven books had been read and were stacked in a messy pile next to the couch. Ginny glanced at the clock for the fifth time. Nik's parents were later than usual.
"Honey, do you know who's picking you up today?" Nik yawned and nodded.
"My mummy is." Ginny frowned and nodded, sighing as the doorbell rang. About time.
"I'm glad you're here, Nik is pretty tir–" Ginny chattered as she opened the door, glancing back toward Nik.
"Hello, Ginevra."
She froze, turning her head slowly to look up into Malfoy's cold, silver eyes.
"What part of 'leave' didn't you understand the first time?" Ginny hissed as she went to close the door. Malfoy firmly stuck his foot in the gap between the door and the outside world, smirking as he looked down at her.
"See, I like being around you. I like to see you get all hot and," he glanced down her shirt, licking his lips, "bothered. And, most of all, I like it when you..." His voice dropped to a whispered, and his account of their night together made Ginny blush a deep red.
"You scare Nik. I hate you. You, therefore, need to leave," Ginny said slowly, forcing the door shut. She turned to Nik, taking in his tiny scared face. "I'm sorry sweetie. He's gone now, so don't worry."
Nik seemed to be fighting something inside himself as he stood there, staring at the solid wood door. He finally took several tense steps to it, yanking backward on the handle to open the door and reveal Malfoy still standing on the stoop.
"Say sorry to Miss Ginny." Nik stared up at the boy with such fierceness in his eyes that Malfoy cocked an eyebrow and glanced at Ginny.
"Er, no."
"You hurt her feelings. Say sorry." Nik reached up quickly and tugged at Malfoy's sleeve, pulling him inside. Malfoy stumbled, catching himself as he stood as close to the door as possible.
"Sorry," he muttered, staring at a spot above her head. She stared at him, then turned on her heel to the kitchen. Her hands were shaking as she pushed open the door, walking straight to the drawer where her cigarettes were hidden. She fumbled with the top of the box, dropping them on the counter.
"Stay with him until his mother actually remembers to pick him up," she ordered as she heard the door swing open behind her.
She could smell Malfoy's cologne, or aftershave, or whatever he was wearing; it filled the room, making it hard to breathe. She pulled open the door to the back, leaning against it as it closed. Tapping her wand to the tip of her cigarette she inhaled deeply, the smoke calming her immediately. Malfoy's shadow appeared on the grass through the window, a distorted interpretation of him. She closed her eyes, seeing his mouth, his eyes, his arms...he had apologized. It was forced, but still, it was an apology. Ginny took another drag, holding the smoke in as she stared up at the sky. What the fuck was she doing with her life?
She stared up at the night's sky for a few more minutes, then stubbed out the cigarette butt and went back inside. She paused at the door, listening. It was quiet, and she assumed Nik's parents had finally picked him up. Pushing open the door, she scanned the living room. Malfoy was lounging on the couch as if he owned it, and Nik didn't appear to be in the room.
"His father came to get him. Apparently his wife didn't remember or something like that..." Malfoy explained as he stared at his fingernails intently.
"Fantastic. You can leave now." She walked up the stairs, not looking at Malfoy.
She placed her hand on the door to her bedroom, closing her eyes as Malfoy's face flashed through her mind. She jumped when his hand roughly grabbed her waist, turning her to face him. He pinned her against the wall, staring into her eyes.
He pressed his arms against the wall behind her, caging her in with his lean body. His breath was light as it ghosted across her cheek.
"Is it true?"
She stayed silent, staring up into his face. She saw his eyes soften, touched with pity as he gazed down at her. Dammit, she hated that look.
"Did he rape you?"
Very long chapter, but I wanted to get some background stuff in as well as extra bits to make the story flow...I love how it's going, but if something obviously doesn't make sense let me know. Sorry for the wait on the update. Enjoy loves!