Real Love

Chapter 20: What Do You Say…

Disclaimer: No ownership

A/N: Long time no see eh? Thought this would be the final chapter….but it sort of evolved into a two-parter. I won't dare make promises of the next chapter being up "soon," but "soon" is at least my intention.

Don't know much about your life.
Don't know much about your world, but
Don't want to be alone tonight,
On this planet they call earth.

You don't know much about my past, and
I don't have a future figured out.
And maybe this is going too fast.
And maybe it's not meant to last

-Celine Dion, Taking Chances

When Ginny got out of the shower she tried just to ignore the hushed voices she heard coming from Draco's room, but she simply couldn't. Slowly, with a towel wrapped snuggly around her, she crept out of the steamy bathroom and tiptoed to Draco's door. Pressing her back to the wall, she held her ear as close to the slightly cracked door as she dared.

"Everything's set then?" she heard Draco question.

"Yeah, we got it all done. And I got in touch with Charlie in Romania. She'll like that. He and Ginny are really close." Ginny was shocked to hear Fred's voice in the room.

"Thank you. It means a lot, that you and your brothers are willing to help me like this after everything."

"Yeah well, for some reason you keep our baby sister happy, and none of us enjoy the company of an unhappy Ginny. So if you can keep her that way, welcome to the family mate!" Fred jested and Ginny's heart pounded. "Speaking off which… There's something I wanted to talk to you about." She heard Fred's feet suddenly heading for the door and she scurried away ducking around the corner just as Fred peeked his head out of the door and pulled it shut.

She slammed her own door shut and collapsed against the off white wood. Draco really was going to propose, and Fred knew. Is that what he had talked to Charlie about as well? Did all her brothers know? When was he going to do it?

Was she going to say yes?

And what would he do if she said no?

Draco had finally given up waiting for Ginny come back to his room after her sudden exit earlier that morning, and decided he'd better go find her. Time was ticking.

He gave her door a swift knock and heard her call back, "Just a minute."

With hope she might not be dressed, he quickly slipped into the room and clicked the door shut behind him.

"Damn," he cursed, disappointed.

"Draco!" Ginny swirled around from her vanity mirror, surprise on her face. "What are you doing in here?"

"I came to make sure you hadn't snuck out through the bathroom window or something."

"Oh," she replied, nervously fidgeting her hands in front of her.

"I made plans for this afternoon…you curled your hair," Draco suddenly took notice of the ringlets falling around her face. Ginny reached up and twirled one in her fingers, sneering at the red lock.

"No I just haven't straightened it yet."

"You straighten your hair?" he stepped towards her, with a building in need to have his hands buried in her fiery mane.

"Yeah," she shrugged. "It's just a quick charm." She reached for her wand on the crowded vanity and Draco stopped her.

"Leave it. I never knew…"

"There're lots of things you don't know about me Draco Malfoy," she spat out with more venom than she'd used towards him in quite awhile.

"Is everything okay?" He crossed his arms and looked down at her.

He watched as something in her face broke and she shook away her scowl, replacing it with a toothy smile.

"Everything's fine. I was just teasing you. I just hate my hair like this…But I'll leave it. For you."

"Are you ready then?"

"Ready for what?" She shrugged awkwardly, twisting the yellow skirt of her dress in her hands.

"Well I was thinking maybe we could start the day with a walk?" he offered, hoping she'd agree without a struggle. He wasn't exactly sure how to read her mood at the moment.

"A walk?"

Was that panic on her face?

"Yes a walk. You know. One foot…then the other."

"A walk sounds fine." She replied, completely ignoring his sass.

"Don't sound too excited Weasley."

"Well where do you want to walk?" she stood up, now fidgeting with her curls again.

"You know if you your hair bothers you that much…" He snapped at her.

"No. No its fine." She dropped the hand, though it was clearly a struggle to for her to keep it still.

"Whatever," he muttered. "Well I was thinking you could show me the grounds of the Burrow."

"The grounds?" she laughed. "The Burrow doesn't have grounds, Draco. We're not at the manor."

"You have acres of land around your house Ginny."

"They're not grounds. It's not like we have a topiary garden, and a stable, and a fountain, and tennis courts and whatever other symbols of wealth constitute the grounds of Malfoy Manor. It's just grass…."

"Can you take a fucking walk on the grass?" he cut her off, unwilling to take anymore.

"Yes." She frowned back at him.

"Then let's go." He held out his hand for her to take. Tentatively she extended her left hand, gazing at it briefly before placing it in his.

"Let's go," she smiled, but it wasn't her normal smile. Nothing was normal about her that morning.

"Come here," he pulled her closer, and bent his head to hers. Her warm lips touched his and the shudder that always ran down his spine as they kissed returned. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she deepened the kiss. He groaned as she nipped at his lower lip, and reluctantly pulled away while he still could.

She smiled coyly up at him.

Maybe she wasn't acting so different after all.

It was probably just the hair.

"Oh jesus," she whispered quietly when they reached the crest of the large hill behind the Burrow.

"Surprise love. Congratulations." Draco whispered into her ear.

She turned to him. He was smiling ear to ear, pride written all over his face.

Down in the small valley below her family and few other people were milling about. There were picnic tables and balloons and flowers.

"Oh Arthur they're here!" she heard her mother call out from below. "We missed it! Everybody! Ginny's here!"

Ginny waved down at the crowd as the twins leaped up and cried "Surprise!"

" Happy graduation Ginny!" Oliva yelled up to her.

"You did all this?" Ginny looked up at the man beside her.

"Of course not. Your family had to do most the work. With you glued to my hip and all…"

Ginny could feel the blush on her cheeks.

"Don't worry love. I don't mind. In fact I think I may just keep you."

The white hot panic Ginny had been experiencing flashes of all day overwhelmed her for a second; so much so that she didn't even here Draco when he urged her to begin the decent down the hill to the party.

The joy of being surrounded y her family and friends was enough to calm Ginny for most of the day and make her forget her worries. It amused her to no end to see Draco frowning in confusion at whatever muggle contraption her father had pulled from his pocket while her mother shoved plate after plate of food in front of him. She watched with George for a fair while before sending the twin to go help him.

Next to a table filled with sweets, Ginny spied Olivia picking at the candies.

"I'd be careful. You can never trust treats when Fred and George are around." She warned her friend.

Olivia eyed the chocolate in her hand and carefully put it down. "Shouldn't be eating that anyway." She laughed. "Just thought one for the road."

"You're leaving?"

"Seamus and I have a few errands we have to do. He's so sad he couldn't make it today. His hours at work have been so crazy.I t's a great job ,he's just still new there…" Olivia threw her hands up and shrugged

"Olivia!" Ginny grabbed her blonde friend's hand. "Seamus did propose!"

"Well not quite…" Olivia blushed a pulled away a bit. "It's a promise ring. You know a promise that he will propose, when we can afford a house and the wedding. And when he can afford a real ring." She laughed as she twirled the pink heart stone around her finger.

For just a second Ginny's heart lifted. Maybe her ring was just a promise ring. That gigantic monster of a diamond hidden in Draco's room was a promise ring. A promise that he'd buy her a bigger, better, real ring and a house and wedding. Just as soon as he could afford it... Right.

Everyone left had settled comfortably around one large table and were lazily picking at what was left of the picnic. Ginny's chest clenched as she heard a clinking of glass from the other end of the table. Wasn't it time for the party to be over yet? She looked down to where George was rising from his seat.

"Well since you guys are all here…" he started and Ginny blinked. It wasn't George. It was Fred, wearing a stitch in his brow that she'd only ever seen on the other twin, who'd been long determined to have inherited the only serious bone between the two.

Fred ran a shaky hand through his hand through his hair and looked at the family. " I've been lying to you all about something. For a while now."

Ginny saw her father wince as her mother gripped his hand. She reached for Draco's and he gave her a reassuring squeeze.

"For a while you've all been trying to set me up on dates and I've turned them all down because I didn't have the time. The truth is I didn't have the time because I've been dating someone. I've been seeing someone for over a year now."

"You zee!" Fleur exclaimed, poking Bill in the shoulder. "I told you he vas gay!"

"Oh Fred, why didn't you tell us? You thought I wouldn't accept you?" Molly wailed.

"Though I do happen to find the gentleman over there remarkably attractive," Fred shot a finger at George, "And Gin I have to tell you Malfoy is pretty, I'm not gay."

Ginny saw a few shoulders slump as Fred shot down the news.

"I've been dating a girl for over a year now, and I'm in love with her. And she's wanted me to tell you all since nearly the beginning and I wouldn't. I couldn't. I didn't know what you all would think of me. So she let me keep her a secret."

It was all becoming too strange. What could possibly be so wrong with a girl that Fred would feel the need to hide her from their entire family? She was sitting hand in hand with a Malfoy at the family dinner table, and Fred was afraid to tell them who he was dating.

"But you see I love her. I love her very much, and I won't feel guilty for it anymore. I want to be with her and love her in every way, every day, always and for the rest of my life. I want to marry her."

Ginny realized Fred was talking not to the family but to one person. She followed her brother's gaze and only then realized that Hermione had tears running down her cheeks. She gasped as Fred approached her friend and kneeled down before her.

"Hermione I'm sorry I've been such a coward, and that I've made you feel that I'm ashamed of you. If you can forgive me nothing would make me happier than to be your husband, and stand beside you though everything, always. Hermione, will you marry me?"

Fred then popped open the black box in his hand and Ginny saw it; the glittering diamond from Draco's room.

She couldn't explain the sinking disappointment that flowed through her at that moment, and suddenly her head was so full of confusion she didn't even hear Hermione answer Fred. The commotion of congratulations brought her back to reality, and while she celebrated with the rest for the remainder of the evening, she never did shake the pang in her heart.

"Draco?" a soft feminine voice called as a knock sounded at his door.

Everyone had returned to the house for some celebratory drinks and the cool evening breeze had settled a chill over the house. He'd excused himself to fetch a sweater for Ginny, and had stopped off to grab one for himself.

"Come in," he replied.

"Gosh it's weird seeing you in here," Hermione smiled a little as she entered the room. "I can remember the last time all of us were in here together." She sat down on the edge of Ron's old bed and pulled a pillow on to her lap. "It was the last night of Christmas holiday and Ron and I were curled up on the bed together, chatting with Harry before we fell asleep. The door creaked open and we thought for sure it was Molly checking to make sure I hadn't snuck in. It was Ginny. She was wearing these little pink bottoms that said witch on the bum."

Draco made a mental note to ask Ginny where these bottoms were.

"Ron threw such a fit. 'You're in your knickers,' he yelled. And of course she said 'They're shorts!'" Hermione snorted as she laughed at the memory. "And then Harry said 'Yeah Ron, they're just shorts.' He had on this wicked grin that he only wore the few times he was brave enough to oogle Ginny in front of Ron."

He scowled at the thought of Potter eyeing Ginny's bottom in her panties. And scowled more when Granger said. "And then when she climbed in bed with Harry…. But then Ron never did see how much Harry loved her…."

"Well lovely as that is…" Draco said crossly and stepped towards the door.

"I know you don't want to hear it Draco but he did love her. They were just friends but the way he curled his arms around her that night and the way he looked her in the eyes when they spoke. Even when things got so hard she could make his eyes dance just like they did that night. Just like she makes you light up."

"I knew that night…" she continued. "I knew that the four of us there were meant to be. We were meant to be together. And its so strange now. Because when I'm in here and I remember them and I remember Ron's arms around me…its so wrong that they're gone. It's just wrong. And I just don't understand then how being here having this conversation….how everything…feels so right."

"Ginny went through the same thing you know…what Potter and your brother would think of her if they knew."

"I know. And that's why I'm worried about her. Has she talked to you at all? I can tell she's upset…I just really thought if anyone would understand it would be her. "

Draco shook his head and laughed. "She's been acting like that all day. I don't think she's upset with you. I love her, but when something's on her mind, Ginny's more narcissistic than I am.

"I wish you would take Ginny's feelings more seriously, she's been through so much…"

"I take Ginny's feeling very seriously….when they're actually serious, and not just fits."

"You know last summer when she was with Blaise…"

"I know all I need to know."

"Then I guess you know how much he was there for her and how much having a shoulder to lean on did for her?"

"Yes. I'm quite aware of how much my best friend was there for the woman I love. Lucky for me he wasn't quite as there for her and that honorable fiancé of yours was there for you." He snapped at her as images of Blaise with Ginny formed in his head.

"I see you're quite over it then?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"What's there to be over? Ginny's with me isn't she?"

He felt uneasy as Granger gave him a sweet smile and rose from the bed. "Oh good," she said. "I was so concerned that you'd be upset when you found out that she snuck off with Blaise as soon as you came upstairs." He didn't speak as she slipped by him, an unmistakable smirk on her lips.

He pretended not to care for twenty minutes. After that he didn't care that Granger was watching him with mirth in her eyes as he drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair in which he sat. It was half an hour after that, as Granger's face turned to something more resembling guilt and concern that he could no longer stand it.

Once outside Draco realized he had never actually fetched the sweater he'd been getting when Granger had stopped him. A fact she was doubtful to have missed. He cursed the cool night air, and Ginny for forcing him to come out in it.

He was just a bit off from the top of the hill in the Weasley's back yard when he finally heard voices carrying down.

"Please Blaise? Let's not go back just yet." He heard Ginny's soft voice plead.

"We've been gone nearly an hour Ginny…he's going start to wonder where we've gone."

"Oh let him wonder…"

"So what are you gonna do Gin?" Blaise voice sounded.

"I don't know. Pretend like it never happened?"

"You've got to talk to him about it."

"Why should I?"

"He knows something's going on."

"That's for sure," was what Draco said when he reached the top of the hill. The two were laying in the grass, Ginny snuggled into Blaise, his jacket wrapped tightly around her. She sat up quickly when he spoke, shock clear on her face. Blaise gave him a cheeky grin and stood.

"You're just in time mate. Ginny has something she wants to talk about." Blaise gave him a slap on the shoulder as he passed and Draco used all his self restraint to stop from punching him in the face.

"Well?" he propositioned Ginny when Blaise was gone.

She had stood along with Blaise, and now wrapped her arms tightly around her, cinching the waist of Blaise's oversized jacket. He wanted to rip it offer but was stunned silent and he eyes filled with tears.

"God Draco, I'm such an idiot."

He didn't dare respond.

"I know how you felt…how you feel… But earlier in your room I…"

"You fucked Zabini in my room?" he blurted out before she finished.

"When I found the ring I just thought…" She looked up sharply, clearly processing what he had said, just as he processed her words.

"Wait what?" they both said and stared at each other.

"I what?"

"You found what?" They spoke in unison again.

"Fred's ring…I found it tucked behind your pillow this morning when you were in the shower."

"And you thought I was going to propose?" Draco couldn't help but burst out in laughter.

"Well apparently I think a little more of us than you do. You thought I slept with Blaise?" Draco's laughter was cut short when he saw the hurt in her eyes.

"Well no…not really. I just…" It wasn't like him to fumble over his words.

"You know all day, all I kept thinking about was whether we know each other well enough to say this is it. I guess I should have known…but I at least thought you knew me better than that."

"I do Ginny. I just…"

"You just what? Think I'm that easy?"

"You know I don't think that." He looked at her pointedly. His tone seemed to snap something within her and her shoulders visibly slumped.

"Maybe that's the problem Draco. I barely know anything! And obviously you know even less!"

He reached out and grabbed her hands. "I'm painfully aware of the fact that I know far too little about you. Which is why I'm so thankful to have a second chance," he paused and dropped his head a bit before admitting in a quiet whisper. "And why I'm so scared to lose it." He was relieved when the remainder of Ginny's anger seemed to melt away and she gently kissed his forehead. She placed his hands on her waist and pulled him into an embrace.

Her lips tickled his neck as she whispered. "Lesson one. Pretty things are always a thoughtful reminder that you're really sorry. The shinier the better. "

Draco chuckled and lowered his own mouth to her ear. "Lesson one. I would never propose to the future Mrs. Draco Malfoy with a ring that microscopic." He pulled away just in time to watch her eyes widen, and the corners of her mouth twitch with restrained delight.

He shivered a bit, the cold air replacing the warmth of Ginny's embrace.

"Let's go back," she pulled him in the direction of the house. "You really should have brought a sweater."