Live to rise

by AirmidM

When Ginny Weasley is faced with a startling set of circumstances, she does what she has to in order to be happy and safe. She has no idea where life will take her or what joy and heartbreak she will endure along the way. Ginny/Blaise and hints of other possible ships. A series of long one shots and ficlets in celebration of Ginny's birthday.

4. Wherever it takes us

Wherever it takes us (Under the Knife by Rise Against)

"Cease and desist."

Scorpius froze at the very angry, yet calm and collected tone. Aunt Gin only used that tone when she was very, very angry. Even at sixteen and having been around this family for five years, he knew that hiding was the most valid (and safe) option. He scooped up three year old Athena and raced out of the entrance hall.

Athena giggled, regardless of his panic. He noted that his half brother and sister, despite being twenty-one, had also ducked into this particular room to hide.

"Shh, Thena," Damon whispered.

"What did you do?" Margot hissed, ducking behind the chair.

"I didn't do anything," Scorpius replied warily. "It was Brais and Dora, I swear."

"Blaise Damon Zabini!"

Even Athena went silent.

"Theodore Henry Nott!"

"Grandpa," Athena whispered, catching sight of Kingsley ducking into the room and closing the door.

"Shh, dear one," Kingsley murmured. "She might skin them this time."

"Gin love, we didn't mean to make so much noise."

Scorpius winced. Uncle Blaise was risking his skin, but considering how he doted on Aunt Gin most of the time, it really was no surprise that he was risking her wrath.

"You two are grown men! Grown men I say! Here I am, pregnant and due any moment and yet you and Theo insist upon running amok like tots! Encouraging the children to go along. Not to mention the dogs and kneazles and the gods know what other creatures you pulled in this time!"

"Gin darling."

"Oh thank all the gods," Damon muttered. "Grand will talk her down."

"I'm going to kill them dead this time, Marguerite."

Low laughter preceded, Marguerite's, "Darling, you can't kill them where the Minister has overheard your plans."

"So, find him and take him up and do…whatever it is you do that makes him forget he lives in a madhouse, I beg you."

"Gin," Uncle Blaise said calmly. "What if we take all the children out for the day?"

Scorpius glanced over to see Margot with her hand over her mouth, clearly trying not to laugh. Really, he didn't see what was so funny about this. Aunt Gin was already overdue and that meant she was prone to temper or tears. Though, the last time she'd had a weeping fit, he had been the recipient of the most confusing monologue ever. Frankly, he thought it had something to do with the why of him having twin half-siblings, but he wasn't dim enough to actually ask her about it. Honestly, what happened was firmly in the 'I never need to know' section of his life.

"Let me take you up, love. I'll run you a bath, rub your back, and Theo will go to Honeydukes to get you the best chocolate."

"Fine." Aunt Gin promptly burst into tears.

"Dear gods, what is going on?"

"Oh shite," Scorpius muttered, handing Athena off to Damon and hurrying to the door. His dad wasn't supposed to be by to get him for hours. There was also the little fact that his Dad could win a verbal sparring match against anyone… except Gin and Blaise Zabini. He pulled open the door and rushed over. "Dad, you're early. We should go."

His dad was staring horrified as Aunt Gin cried into Uncle Blaise's shirt while Uncle Theo watched from the relative safety of the first landing. "No really, I am curious about what happened here."

Just then the Irish wolfhounds raced through, setting Aunt Gin's sobbing off again.

"Dad, we should just go," Scorpius repeated.

Aunt Gin turned her head enough to glare at his dad before making her way slowly up the stairs. She had just reached Uncle Theo when his dad decided not to listen to his advice.

"Blaise, why the seven hells do you keep spawning? Don't you know what causes that?"

It wasn't Aunt Gin, at least not this time, that replied in the usual Zabini trumps Malfoy way of things.

Damon stepped out of the parlour where they'd been hiding and strode over to throw his arm over Scorpius' shoulders. "Really, are you the right person to be asking that?"

Scorpius was torn. He could laugh like he wanted to or he could wince at his Dad's expression. Dad really, really should have known better.

"I'd like to hear his answer, Dame," Margot said, joining them with Athena in her arms, the three redheads watching his dad closely.

"You two," Uncle Blaise said warningly.

"He started it," Brais said as he peeked out from one of the other rooms. "Really, Daddy, he did."

Uncle Blaise held his hands up. "I am escorting my wife to our rooms. Theo, it is your duty to insure that all the children make it out of this in one piece. Draco, good luck."

"What?" his dad all but yelped.

Grand and Grandpa Kingsley chuckled before walking brusquely down the corridor towards the library. Scorpius didn't miss that they were laughing now. Outnumbered, he slipped back and leaned on the wall, motioning to Margot that he'd take Athena from her. She grinned, passing the tot off before standing with Damon.

"Now that Mummy and Daddy are gone," Margot said cheerily.

"And Uncle Theo, Grand, and Grandpa," Dora said, coming out of hiding, having peeked up to see that Uncle Theo was leaning on the wall and all but ignoring what was going on down below.

"What is this?" his Dad said warily. "Some sort of Zabini version of the Wizengamot?"

"Perhaps," Damon drawled dryly. "Perhaps not."

"You upset Mummy," Brais said huffily.

"I didn't mean to. Your dad and I do joke around a bit usually."

"When Mummy is already crying?" Margot's tone was one that Grand used often, a sharp censure covered in just enough sweetness to soothe a bit. Not much, but at least the sentiment was there.

"Dad," Scorpius suggested, noting that Uncle Theo was now backing away down the hallway, "Just apologize and then run; it really is your only option."

"My own son," his dad said disbelievingly.

"Oh now see." Damon sighed, shaking his head and looking utterly disappointed. "You ruin the fun when you just hand us openings like that."

"What am I supposed to say?"

Scorpius snickered. "Dad, that wasn't it, I can tell you that much."

Dora grinned wickedly. "Mummy and Daddy told all of us their side. I say it is your turn."

"Is this something the little one needs to hear?"

Scorpius hitched Athena back up on his hip and smirked. "You know not what you have done. You do realise that the only two that could possibly stop any of them-"

"Us, Scor," Damon said cheerily. "You're part of this wacky family now too."

Scorpius shrugged, still smirking. "Well, you heard Dame; the only ones that can control us are either upstairs being bribed with back rubs and exotic holidays or listening in with lovely products from Uncle George's store."

"What did I do to deserve interrogation?"

"I'll take pity on you, Mr Malfoy," Dora said in a tone that really should come with a warning label. "Where to start? We love the twins so we'll not go into that, but we do want to know why you act much like the Mean One."

"The mean one?" his dad repeated dully. "What?"

"Not a what-" Damon began.

"But a who-" Margot finished.

"The one that was in-" Dora went on.

"Your class in school," Brais finished.

Scorpius looked down when Athena giggled, clearly amused by the whole finishing one another's sentences game that Uncle George taught them. She grinned up at him, stuck her thumb in her mouth, and laid her head on his shoulder.

"You don't know his name?" his dad said hesitantly.

"Scor?" Brais said, motioning for him to continue.

"No, we know it. It's basically Taboo in this house though," Scorpius explained.

"Okay? I certainly don't like the implication that I act anything like him."

"You do though," Damon said warily. "It's not like we came begging or anything."

"Mummy didn't either," Margot pointed out. "We have a Daddy, we don't really need another."

"I never implied that you did."

"Ahh," Scorpius cut in before anyone else could. "But, you do act a bit prattish most of the time, sorry, Dad, but it's true."

"You made our mummy cry," Dora reiterated angrily, her hands on her hips looking much like Aunt Gin as she did.

"I can apologize if that would help."

Athena popped her thumb out of her mouth and giggled again. "Sorry, sorry, sorry."

Scorpius stepped up and handed Athena to Margot. "Look, Dad, it is a strange situation and has been for five, almost six years now. Act like you do at home, okay?"

His dad held up his hands. "It was simply a situation I had no idea how to approach."

"Do what Scor did, get to know us." Damon sighed. "Daddy will always be Daddy, that won't change. You and Mummy had a…something I am not saying in front of the younger kids."

"I am not discussing this in front of children."

Scorpius rolled his eyes. "Then why don't we just go?"

At that moment Uncle Theo raced down the stairs and slid across the entrance hall before turning and running towards the library. "Really, we should have known!"

"What?"

Scorpius snickered, really he couldn't help it. Uncle Theo only was frantic in two situations, Aunt Gin in labour or one of the kids injured. All the kids were here which meant only one thing. "Aunt Gin is about to have the baby, Dad."

"She gets really grumpy," Margot offered wryly. "Well-"

"Grumpier than the usual pregnant testy," Damon finished.

"Okay, you lot," Margot said, passing Athena back to Scorpius. "Dame, Floo Uncle Charlie first, it will take him the longest to get here. Then-"

"I know, I know, and then Uncle Bill and finally Uncle George, I have this, sister mine."

She grinned, clapping her hands. "Grand will get the mid-witch, though I swear that woman is probably waiting by the Floo, the gods know she seems to anticipate Mummy better than even Daddy."

"I'll take Athena," Dora offered. "We can read until it is time to see if we have a new brother or sister."

"I'll see if Mummy needs anything," Brais said already halfway up the stairs.

Everyone darted off, though Athena had refused to let loose of Scorpius which meant Dora followed after Brais.

"They're like a well-trained army," his dad muttered, sounding amused.

"Too true; Grand taught them very well. Margot really is a younger Grand."

"You three can come with me, if you'd like."

"Minister."

"Mr Malfoy, Scor has been asked to stay so he can be a part of this as he was Athena's birth," Grandpa Kingsley said with a wide smile. "Theo will be up there with Blaise and Gin the entire time as will Marguerite."

"Athena is attached," Scorpius said wryly.

"Thena darling, come with Grandpa and let Scor join the big kids."

"No. No. No." The adorable redhead pouted at him and Scorpius knew he wouldn't be making her upset by asking her to get down.

"It is okay, Grandpa Kingsley, I can take her up to the playroom and we'll read. What do you want me to read, Thena?"

"Pwince."

"Which one?" Scorpius was already moving towards the stairs.

"Wittwe."

"The Little Prince?" He was guessing, only just barely able to translate Thena-speech.

"Uh huh."

"Scorpius?"

He turned his brow lifting. "Yes, Dad?"

"Please tell Margot and Damon I did not intend to make them uncomfortable."

Scorpius blinked in shock, but managed a nod. Athena tugged his shirt and pointed towards the playroom with her free hand. "Yes, Princess, I'm going."

-ii—

Ginny laughed at Blaise's smug grin. "Yes, darling, go for it. If he lives up to his name, it is squarely on your shoulders." She kissed the curly brown hair on her son's head and passed him to Marguerite.

"Well?" Marguerite demanded.

"Deimos…" she grinned at Theo and winked, "Henry Zabini."

"Favourite uncle again," Theo said gleefully. "Get him named properly so I can commence with the spoiling."

"Brainwashing," Blaise returned dryly. "Call it like it is, Theo. You want to start from the first minute, telling the little man how you are the best uncle in the world."

The mid-witch just laughed. "I really do enjoy you lot. So, will this be the last time I see you?"

Ginny sighed. "I said yes last time and look where that got me."

"How about we get back to you on that?" Blaise said with a snicker.

"You know," Margot said from the doorway. "You two have to stop before I get married and start giving you grandbabies. That would be just too weird."

"You can still be locked in the east tower," Blaise and Theo chorused.

Margot glared, huffed, and stomped off, calling over her shoulder, "You wouldn't dare! Mummy would hex you both endlessly."

"She's right you know." Ginny grinned and then sighed. "I need a shower."

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Yes, love, I know the sequence of events by now. I already have your pyjamas laid out on the counter."

"That is why I keep you around," she teased, ruining it with a yawn.

"Up you go, love, I'll even wash your back."

"I do love you, Blaise."

"I love you too."

-ii—

Draco had ended up staying with Kingsley, unsure if the tentative truce he seemed to have with the children would be null and void if he'd left. It had been an interesting talk. Apparently, the Minister had been around the situation for years and years, being one that had initially protected Ginny and the twins. He thought he understood a bit better now what had happened. It was just still so strange to know that he had two children that could care less if he fell over dead. These days, he wasn't sure if all three felt that way. It was disconcerting to say the least. Astoria hadn't been pleased when he had Flooed to say that he was unsure when he and Scorpius would be home, but then again she seemed displeased by everything these days.

"What is your advice?" Draco could barely believe that he was asking anyone, let alone the Minster for Magic, for advice, but apparently he was the patriarch of this odd family his son had been welcomed so easily into.

"Like the children said, be yourself and set aside any concerns that the twins are going to suddenly demand to be named Malfoys."

He frowned, running a hand through his hair.

"You know, Ginny did what she did because she wanted to keep the children safe, their father too from what I saw."

"Why though? It is so confusing. Most women in her situation would have come running, demanding things."

Kingsley looked unimpressed. "When has Ginny ever been like most women?"

Draco laughed, shaking his head. "Never. Okay, so do what…act like myself and hope that one day the lot of them stops glaring like I'm a boggart?"

The man laughed. "We have no boggarts here."

"I do remember hearing something about many who can defeat boggarts all those years ago on the platform."

There was a knock at the door and Brais peeked in. "You two are to come up now."

"Me?" Draco exclaimed, his eyes wide. "Are you certain?"

"Look," Brais said, looking very much like a miniature version of his father. "Mummy said to bring you two up. What Mummy says, especially after what she just went through, goes in this house. It would be like telling Grand no. It simply isn't done."

"Does she have her wand?" Draco got to his feet warily.

Brais laughed long and hard. "No, Daddy takes it when she starts pacing and doesn't give it back until after she gets plenty of sleep. Hurry or Uncle Theo will come down and find out what is taking so long."

Kingsley winced, shooing Draco out. "We don't muck about with Theo's time with the wee ones, he tends to whinge for weeks when we do."

"You people are so confusing," Draco muttered, following Brais up the stairs.

-ii—

"No one will bite." Ginny wasn't going to let it be awkward. It wasn't every day you invited a man you had a one night fling with into the birthing room where you'd given birth to his children in secret long ago and where you'd just given birth. She motioned Draco inside. The kids, Scorpius included, were all curled up around her and Blaise. Theo, of course, was at the end of the bed, trying hard not to pout that Deimos was being passed around and not tucked in his arms.

"Well," Theo teased, "not unless you try and tickle Dora."

"Uncle Theo," Dora said with a pout, climbing over Damon and tugging on Bill's shirt. "Uncle Bill, Uncle Theo needs a sound hexing."

Bill laughed, passing Deimos to George. "You know, you have a wand now, princess."

"Bill!" Theo yelped. "Don't encourage her!"

"Children," Ginny warned them, trying not to laugh aloud. "I can use B's wand, in case you lot forgot that."

"You know," Draco said warily, "I think it is safer over here."

Blaise laughed, waving Draco inside the room. "No really, we all know better than to even think too hard about hexing someone."

"I don't bite, but I will pop them upside their heads." Ginny smiled brightly at the wary looks all around her. "Now, stop behaving like heathens and someone can introduce Draco to the baby."

Scorpius slid off the bed and took Deimos from George. He made his way over to Draco. "Look, you have a shield now, Dad."

Blaise leaned over and whispered, "We really are wearing off on that boy."

She laid her head on his shoulder and snickered. "We have to make this work, B. The poor man looks so lost."

"Don't let him hear you say that, darling. I don't know what we can do if he wants to be a prat."

"He looks just like you, Blaise."

They looked up and saw that Draco hadn't been talked into holding the baby, but that Scorpius looked all too happy to finally get to do so.

"They tend to go one way or the other," Ginny quipped.

"That just means we try again," Blaise teased her, ducking her playfully swat. "Hey! If you knock me out then who will keep the little man from fussing when you are sleeping?"

"I say again, you people are very confusing."

Ginny just smiled smugly. "You get used to it, Draco. If you want to escape, Scor is welcome to stay."

"I…well… it is up to Scorpius really."

Ginny frowned, not sure what the seven hells his deal was. "You can stay as well. I'm sure someone is up for a game of chess. We'll be booting everyone out soon anyway."

Draco waved his hand to indicate the crowd. "You realise that this is completely foreign to me, right?"

Scorpius took pity on Draco, laying Deimos in Marguerite's arms. "You know that it isn't normal to give birth in some sterile hospital room, right, Dad?"

Draco shrugged. "I'm going to go over in the corner and watch the show. You lot are confusing, but I will admit that you're fun to watch."

She yawned and laughed at the same time, laying her head on Blaise's shoulder. She didn't like or dislike Draco, not really. She did have a huge soft spot for Scorpius though and it was clear that he, Damon, and Margot had figured out some sort of relationship in addition to his friendship with Brais. That was what she wanted to make sure stayed the way it was. She drifted off to sleep listening happily to the conversations going on around her.

-ii—

"Oops, Mummy is sleeping," Margot whispered.

"Everyone out," Grand said softly, literally shooing them out the door. "You know the rules. Go on now; there will be plenty of time to spoil Deimos after they have a good rest."

Theo crouched down and Dora climbed on his back. He stood and hooked her legs around his waist. "Come on, princess, I'll read The Little Prince until we both fall asleep."

Damon chuckled, attempting to get Athena to leave the room. "Come on, Thena, you know it is mandatory sleep time."

"Baby."

He picked her up. "Yes, baby is sleeping and so is Mummy. You can cuddle them both later."

Scorpius followed them out, not bothering to stifle a yawn. "You coming with us, Dad, or going home?"

"Come on, son," Marguerite said to the clearly confused young man still sitting in the corner. "There is no need for you to leave, we have spare rooms enough. Have a good rest and a meal and then go home."

She was surprised that the young man allowed her to lead him down to the guest suites. It wasn't until they were alone that she found out why he had done so. "You should hate me."

Puzzled, she opened the door to one of the suites and motioned him inside. Once the door was closed and they had privacy, she stared at him. "You should explain."

"I did something incredibly stupid and yet once it was clear that Scorpius and your grandchildren wanted to be friends, you simply overlooked my transgression."

"Really? Is that how you see it?" Marguerite shook her head sadly. "The way I see it is that yes, you and Gin did something irresponsible. But, by doing so, it led to my son finding happiness and me to many grandchildren."

"I'm surprised no one hunted me down and killed me," he admitted sheepishly.

She laughed. "Oh dear, if we had, it would have set Gin on the one responsible. She was adamant about not even saying your name. Anyone who looks closely enough at Damon can see it. Theo spotted the resemblance right off. We're big on respect in this family. We respected her right to not name names and Blaise saw them as his even before they were born."

Draco sat on the end of the bed, just shaking his head. "I remember those first few months of seventh year. He was viciously overprotective of her. I never figured out why, until five years ago."

"Did you ever even consider demanding to be recognised as their father?" She had to know, it was the one thing that had always bothered her about this whole situation.

"No," he replied swiftly and firmly. "When they taunted me on the platform, I knew that they didn't expect and wouldn't appreciate any such thing."

She sat beside him. "So, why the attitude all these years?"

"What was I supposed to do or say? Then to see Scorpius accepted with open arms, that threw me, I will admit. This whole situation is very strange."

She laughed. "No stranger than my fiancé Flooing me late one night to say that I was needed to help protect a pregnant young witch that was scared out of her mind and trying desperately to hide it or that when I Flooed my son, I didn't get past her name and condition before he was demanding we help. I sat there with my head still in the Floo as he raced out of the room as if Hades' hounds were nipping at his heels. It is certainly no stranger than seeing this terrified child gripping her wand and fully prepared to kill us all if we tried to take her babies from her. I loved her like a daughter from that moment on. Now," she stood and gave him her 'mum look', "you'll go over and find the pyjamas in the wardrobe and then get some sleep. When you wake up, come down to the family dining room… don't worry about getting lost, just follow the noise."

"Marguerite?"

She turned back to the very lost looking young man. "Yes?"

"How long has Theo been in love with the both of them?"

Her eyes went wide. "You saw nothing."

He was clearly taken aback. "Okay, I presume I said nothing as well?"

"Exactly. Now get some sleep and I fully expect to see you holding my youngest grandson before you leave this house."

"What if I drop him?"

Incredulous, she blinked a few times. "What?"

He laughed humourlessly. "I wasn't allowed near Scorpius until he was three months old and I certainly wasn't present for his birth."

"Why that horrid bint!" She was back across the room and hugging Draco before he could protest. "You and Scorpius will stay here as long as you'd like. This family will do you both a world of good."

"Why do I get the feeling," he said once she'd released him and stepped back, "that not only will there be random touching, but that should I not take you up on your…suggestion… that I will find it impossible to leave."

She grinned evilly. "Because, you are a very smart young man."

With that she waltzed out and down to where the children's rooms were, hoping to find Scorpius still awake. She knocked once and entered when given his leave to do so. "May I talk to you?"

He sat up from where he'd been reclined on the bed reading. "Of course, I'm clearly not going to sleep no matter how tired I am."

"Good, though you may not like some of what I have to say."

He winced. "So long as there is no hexing, I am willing to listen."

"Your father seems to think that you will forget all about him now that you have us or that you have forgotten him. Perhaps even that you don't love him as much as you used to."

"But…what…why?"

"Did you know that he was kept from you for three months after you were born?"

Scorpius sighed. "No, but I did know that Mother insisted upon having me at St Mungo's and that he wasn't allowed to be there. I also know that Mother hasn't been too kind since seeing Damon and I on the train first year."

Marguerite was angry. Not angry at Draco or Scorpius, but angry for them. "You and your father will be staying here until further notice. But, you must make sure he understands that you do not hate him. Your Aunt Gin never did, not even when she deliberately taunted him. Any anger, and yes she told me all of this, was at the situation. Uncle Blaise doesn't hate him either, not now that he knows that there will be no attempts to take Damon and Margot from us."

Scorpius ducked his head, whispering, "He wouldn't. You have to believe me when I say that."

She hugged him tightly. "I do, as I believed him when he told me the very same thing a few minutes ago. I want you to rest and then eat. After the meal, I want you and your father to have a private talk."

Marguerite was up and almost to the door before Scorpius said, "I think…that Dad and I both could use a real family."

She looked over her shoulder and smiled sadly, "You already have one, darling boy. I'll send and elf with some tea to help you sleep."

When the door closed behind her, Marguerite leaned on it and closed her eyes. If someone had told her sixteen years ago that by protecting Ginny that her life would end up here, she would have laughed and recommended shock spells at St Mungo's. Now though, she could admit that no matter how bloody complicated it was, her life and her family were perfect.

-ii—

Two weeks. Draco could scarcely believe that he and Scorpius had stayed this long at Valhalla, but he wouldn't have changed it for anything. He had been able to manage the vineyard and other assorted Malfoy businesses from here and yet spend time with Scorpius. It wasn't that he hadn't before; but that something had shifted that he couldn't quite put his finger on. He was even somewhat comfortable when someone passed by and plopped Deimos into his arms before moving on. Even the other children seemed less wary around him.

"Draco, your move."

He looked up, shaking his head and smirking, moving his chess piece. "Checkmate."

Theo rolled his eyes and sighed, shifting the sleeping baby on his chest with a chuckle. "I say you cheated."

"I say you are only saying that because you have a human shield," Draco replied smoothly.

"I say that I want my son and you two should go out to the pitch and have your arses handed to you since Theo promised them a game." Laughing, he and Theo turned to see Ginny standing in the doorway looking utterly amused. "Go on, give me the kid and you two go try and beat the children on the pitch. Deimos and I will watch and laugh from the comfortable seats."

"How do you know that they'll win?" Draco asked curiously.

She smiled ruefully. "They had Blaise, Theo, George, Charlie, and I training them from the time they could sit on a training broom. Theo, hand over the baby and stop being a baby."

"You wound me, Gin, wound me I say. I'm surprised I'm not bleeding."

"Theodore Henry…"

Much to Draco's amusement, Theo was up and across the room handing the baby over. She turned her glare on him. "Don't presume I am not aware of your full name or that I won't use it."

He stood, holding his hands up in surrender. "I'm going, I'm going."

He and Theo were near the doors leading out to the pitch when she said, "Deimos and I are off to Hogsmeade."

Draco was surprised just how quickly Theo changed course, marching back down the hallway. "You are not! Blaise is in meetings all day, Kingsley is at work, and I damn well know that Marguerite had some silly garden party this afternoon."

"I am fully capable of taking my child to Cerridwen's so that Lilis and Morag can spoil him rotten, Theo."

"Need I remind you what happened the last time you went?"

Draco winced, Theo sounded right stroppy. That was never a good thing.

"Hermione tried her luck and Miles booted her out," Ginny replied promptly. "I was just grumpy that he didn't let me hex her before he did so."

"And the time before that?"

Ginny glared. "Theo!"

"What did you promise Blaise?"

She sighed. "That I wouldn't go alone and I'm not, I'm taking Deimos with me."

"I swear, either the sorting hat is a sadist or it was having a very bad day."

Draco snickered at Theo's petulant, if accurate, assessment.

"I am going, Theo, end of discussion."

"Not alone." He turned to Draco. "Tell the kids I am accompanying Ginny and Deimos to Hogsmeade and that I promise another game later to make up for missing this one."

"Perhaps I am missing something, but if it is such a big deal, why not meet them here?" Draco sighed, mentally cursing himself for getting involved.

"Because," Ginny said wearily, "The wards are very tight and already let more people than Kingsley, Theo, and Blaise are comfortable with inside."

Okay, now he was definitely intrigued, walking back down so they weren't yelling. "As far as I know, only five come and go who don't live here."

"You do realise that we are paranoid," Theo said slowly, "More paranoid than you are by far, don't you?"

"Well, yes, considering I do have a working brain in my head. Just how many wards do you have?"

Ginny laughed, shifting the baby to her shoulder. "That just might take days, Draco. After my idiot brother, Molly, and Harry broke in about fifteen years ago, the wards were added to quite extensively."

"They did what?" He wasn't shocked, because it was Potter and his sidekick. But, he was quite angry. "What was their goal of breaking into the estate of people far more lethal and unforgiving than they could possibly fathom?"

"Oh, well…" Ginny winced and looked away.

"They wanted to take Ginny back. Luckily, they didn't know I was here or that the twins existed. I hid with the twins and Kingsley had set the wards to notify him if they were breeched. Had he not arrived when he did, Ginny would have been locked away in St Mungo's and it was about fifty – fifty on whether they would have arrested Blaise and Marguerite or simply killed them and made up some story afterwards to cover their arses. The gods only know what they might have done to the manor before I could have escaped with the twins."

"I know my vote doesn't count, but I am with Theo on this."

"It was fifteen bloody years ago! They would never have done it had they paid attention and known that Kingsley and Marguerite were married!"

"Which would be why you don't go out alone," Theo replied patiently. "Just think of what would happen should they harm you or Deimos."

"They wouldn't," she said stubbornly. "The most they do these days is try to corner me and convince me that I made a mistake and to come back to the family fold."

Draco took a big step back at the look on Theo's face. His low, livid tone meant another step back. "They're convinced someone here is using mind control on you! If you wish to continue this discussion, I will Floo Blaise and take his place in the meetings."

"I'll go," Draco offered, not sure where the words came from since all he had really been thinking was 'oh gods I should run now'.

"You didn't take the same oath we did."

"Oath?"

Ginny sighed. "The ancient oath of protection, Draco, which Theo, Marguerite, Poppy Pomfrey, Kingsley, and Severus Snape all took sixteen years ago. The way Marguerite worded it, the oaths not only covered me and my, at that time, unborn children but any future children I had as they were all technically 'unborn' at the time of the oath taking. Theo, well his covered me and my children and that was open-ended as well."

"You made them take an oath of protection?" He was gaping, he just knew he was.

"I didn't, Marguerite did it and insisted everyone else do so." Ginny smirked. "She claims that she could see how paranoid I was and that anything less would not have reassured me enough. I agree with the assessment."

"I took an oath of secrecy as well." Theo looked a bit smug. "Though, it does make it difficult to order anything to be delivered for Gin or the kids."

"You do realise that this goes beyond paranoia, right?"

"It isn't paranoia when they really are out to get you," Theo pointed out darkly.

"What about your brothers?" Draco asked Ginny.

"The same," she said dryly. "They didn't think twice about it."

"So, it is only Scorpius and myself that haven't done so?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "You can stop right there, Draco Marcel Malfoy. Don't you dare."

He lifted a brow and smirked. "I do believe that I dare. Theo?"

Theo just shook his head. "Ahh, no going back now, Gin. You know the rules."

She stomped her foot and glared at both of them. "You lot are utterly ridiculous, you know that right?"

"You want to go to Hogsmeade and Theo would be breaking a promise if he went. I, however, wouldn't be. It would also mean that only one person allowed on these grounds, an under aged one at that, was not barred from sharing information with any Aurors who clearly ignore all rules set forth and continue to run amok as they see fit."

Ginny glared at him, then at Theo, and then back at him. "Oh for fucks sake. I am going to pack the bag for Deimos, so if you are going to do this, you'd best get on with it."

-ii—

Ginny was mildly irritated with the blond walking beside her to Cerridwen's. "Why did you really do that?"

He shrugged. "It is nothing you didn't do for me."

She glanced over at him and sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get any more of an answer out of him. They stepped into Cerridwen's and were immediately set upon by Morag and Lilis. Ginny shook her head and drew her wand. "Nice try, but no."

"Seriously?" Draco muttered angrily. "You have got to be kidding me!"

"Lilis, when was the first time I met you?" Ginny asked calmly.

"Hogwarts, of course," Lilis answered promptly. Which was the wrong answer, the first time they had met was the day she met Molly here. This meant that this was certainly not Lilis.

"Morag, what was the first thing you said to me?"

She had to let this play out and hope that, as per usual, the Moon and MacDougal men were watching from afar, never letting their sisters out of their sight for long. It also begged to question where Miles and Anthony were.

"Congratulations," Morag answered brightly. Again wrong answer; damn, damn, damn.

"Step back, now," she demanded, lifting her wand higher and shifting Deimos in her arm so that he was better protected.

"You heard Ginny," Draco said, moving over to cover the baby, but leaving her enough room to use her wand if needed. "Do it, now."

"Ginny," Lilis protested angrily. "This is silly!"

"No, this is ludicrous." She shifted her wand hand, pressing her Zabini signet ring in hopes of alerting Marguerite, Kingsley, and Blaise in enough time to keep whatever these two had planned from playing out.

"Why are you doing this, Ginny?" Morag asked, clearly trying to sound upset.

"First of all," she drawled, hoping to buy a bit of time, "Morag would never wear off the rack clothing and second, clearly you didn't watch our interactions closely enough to get even the smallest things about Morag or Lilis correct."

"Are you ill?" Lilis said in a simpering tone Ginny recognized all too well. So, Molly was Polyjuiced as Lilis; now to figure out Morag.

"Ginny, lower your wand. There is no need for this."

"You know," Draco said conversationally, slowly moving Ginny back towards the counter. "I have never heard Morag Moon sound anything less than a Princess and she never would wear cheap imitation shoes like the ones you're wearing currently."

Ginny snickered. He had a really good point. She was just close enough to the counter to duck behind it when Blaise, Kingsley, and Marguerite ran through the door.

"What the seven hells is going on here?" Blaise demanded with his wand trained on 'Morag'.

"These two just went mad," Lilis supplied in that same simpering tone that Lilis would rather die than ever be caught using. "I think you should have your wife seen to."

"Actually, it is you that will need St Mungo's… or a really good solicitor when the Moon and MacDougal families are done filing charges. Though, if you have harmed one hair on Lilis' head, what Miles will do to you won't leave much left for them to sue. I am not even going to think about what Talon will do if you harmed Morag." Marguerite flicked her wrist, binding both women before either could react. "Gin darling, you stay back there until we've cleared the area."

"I am not arguing," she replied angrily. "Lilis is Molly, I puzzled that much out. Morag is going to kill whoever is pretending to be her, simply for showing up in public in knock off shoes and off the rack clothes. My guess is Hermione."

"Gin? Are you or Deimos injured?" Blaise called out from the back of the shop.

"Hells no!" Draco replied, beating her to it. "Have a bit of faith, Blaise."

"I found them," Kingsley called from the kitchen. "Lilis, Anthony, and Morag are all here and look to be knocked out, but no injuries that I can see."

"Those two wouldn't be alone," Gin called back. "Harry and Ron will be around somewhere."

"They are very much fired for this, unlike last time, they will not be getting out of it," was Kingsley's testy reply. "I will Floo the Moons and MacDougals now."

"Oh shite," Draco muttered, stepping back so he could see her. "I have to agree to one thing."

Warily, she eyed him. "I am not going to like this, am I?"

"Likely not," he agreed. "You really shouldn't leave the grounds unless you are going directly out of the country."

"Overprotective Slytherin bastards," she muttered irritably.

-ii—

The wards blared and Theo sent the kids directly to the passages, wondering just what the seven hells was going on. After the last time the wards were breeched, he had secured a portkey directly to the estate in Greece and it was down in the passages. Margot and Damon knew that if someone didn't come for them in five minutes, that they were to portkey out and stay there until someone came for them.

Warily, he made his way towards the front of the manor, wand at the ready. He almost made it to the doors when they burst open in pieces and he was hit with some sort of spell before he could react. He flew back into the wall and slumped to the floor in a bloody heap.

-ii—

"The wards!" Kingsley yelled, racing out of the kitchen and to the front door. "Aurors, decent ones I can trust, are being alerted just as I am. Gin, I need you to Apparate to the secure location."

"Not without my kids!"

"Remember the plan," Blaise said, pulling her close and kissing her soundly. "Take Draco with you, even Apparating might be risky. We'll be there soon, love. I promise."

She shook a bit. "Don't you dare die on me!"

"Do I lie to you?"

She shook her head.

"Then you know I won't, right?"

She nodded. "I love you. Be safe."

"Love you too," he said, rushing out the door and Appparating a moment later.

"GO!" Marguerite ordered, shifting to provide cover for her and Draco the moment they were outside of Cerridwen's and able to Apparate.

Ginny grabbed Draco's arm. "Look, you have to hold on tight, it will be a long trip and I can't lose my concentration."

"Just do it," he said in a reassuring tone.

She prayed to every god she could name that no one died today, Apparating them a moment later. They landed just outside the house in Greece. Damon and Margot were out the door a moment later, hugging her and taking Deimos from her. "The others?"

"Scor has them inside, in the secure room." Damon hugged her tightly. "Uncle Theo shoved us in the passage and went to see who had breached the wards."

"Oh gods," she whispered, leaning on her oldest son and not taking her eyes off of her youngest who was cradled in his big sister's arms. She felt sort of hazy and disconnected as Draco shooed them all inside.

"Go, check the kids and I will keep watch," Draco instructed firmly.

She nodded, letting Damon lead her through the house and into the room where all the other children had gathered. Athena was clinging to Scorpius and the others looked shaken, but unharmed. "What happened?"

"We don't know, Mummy," Brais said softly. "Is Uncle Theo here yet?"

She hugged him tightly. "No, baby, not yet."

"He will be," Dora said sharply. "I won't hear any of you say different either!"

Ginny simply sat on the floor, gathering the kids around her. Please gods, please let everyone get through this alive.

-ii—

Blaise ran through the broken door, almost screaming in outrage at the sight of Theo lying crumpled on the floor. Potter and Weasley had been found half-dead just inside the wards and he'd left them to the Aurors and Kingsley. He dropped to his knees and began healing what he could. Damn, what had those sick bastards done? "Theo? Theo? Come on, answer me!"

"Move aside," his mother said shakily. "Let me try, darling."

Blaise sat back on his heels, praying that she could do something, anything to save Theo. When she sat back, tears streaming down her face, he simply stared in disbelief. It simply wasn't possible. It just wasn't.

-ii—

Ginny stood; not knowing what the dread she was feeling was from, but knowing that it was bad, very bad. She shook her head. "No, loves, you stay here. Do not leave this room, you hear me?"

"Yes, Mummy," Margot whispered, having given in and cried a few minutes ago.

Ginny all but stumbled out to the main room where Draco was still standing guard. "I- I- you…"

He turned from the window, his eyes narrowing. "Take a deep breath and try again, Ginny."

"Valhalla. Something wrong. Go, please. Go now."

"Whoa," he muttered, carefully leading her to the nearest chair and pushing her into it. "I said I would stay here and I will."

She shook her head fervently. "No," she whispered, laying a hand on her chest. "Something is very wrong."

"Listen to her," Damon said, standing in the doorway, but technically still following her instructions. He held up his hand where the signet ring he'd been given on his seventeenth birthday lay. "Margot is sobbing and nothing I do or say is helping. I am not much better. I have never asked a thing of you, but I am now. Please see what is wrong."

Ginny could see the internal war going on, but Draco finally nodded. "If any of you leave this house, it will be my head Blaise removes. Stay here. Swear it."

"Unless this house is breached or is made unsafe by magical or Muggle means, we will all stay inside until someone comes to retrieve us, I do so swear," Ginny intoned. "Now go!"

-ii—

Draco landed just outside the doors; the Aurors pausing long enough to get a look at him before going back to whatever it was they were doing. His eyes went wide as he saw the giant front doors lying splintered in the entrance hall. "Well damn," he whispered, making his way over to where Marguerite and Blaise were crouched over a body.

"What are you doing here?" Blaise demanded harshly. "You're to be protecting Gin and the kids!"

"She and Damon sent me here, something to do with their signet rings," Draco explained softly, closing his eyes and praying that he wasn't seeing what he thought he was.

"You aren't seeing things and the nightmare will still be here when you open your eyes." Blaise sighed heavily. "I need to clean up and get these robes to the Aurors. Then I can go inform my wife and children that Theo was murdered by Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. How I will keep them from rushing to St Mungo's and finish what the wards started will be another problem altogether."

Draco crouched down in front of him. "Let me help you both up. Come on, the sooner you are up, the sooner you can be there for your family. Let me deal with this, I took that oath of protection just before we left. Trust me, just this once."

"Marguerite." All three of them turned to see Kingsley looking far graver than expected. "I need you to be very strong for me right now."

Marguerite stood, swiping the tears off of her face, leaving a trail of Theo's blood as she did so. "I am, love, I am."

"Good," Kingsley said. "Blaise, I need you on your feet as well."

Blaise complied slowly. "What is going on?"

"Get a good hold on Draco," Kingsley requested.

Draco shot to his feet, only to find his arms held by Blaise and Marguerite. "Just spit it out! What the hell are you not saying?"

"You have him?" At Blaise and Marguerite's nods, Kingsley pressed on. "This was not their first stop of the day. I'm sorry, Draco."

He simply stared, not sure what to do or say. He knew Scorpius was safe in Greece so that only left one person as his parents had both died five years back, just before Scorpius started Hogwarts. "Are you," he began, his voice tight, "Are you telling me that they breached my wards first?"

"I am. We presume, at this point, that they planned on calling it a raid, due to the documents we found on Ronald; a raid gone wrong, hence their need to kill Astoria. We think that they planned on doing the same here, likely capturing Gin at Cerridwen's and taking her to St Mungo's and the mental ward. Again, there was paperwork on Ronald indicating that this was their plan."

"You can let me go," he said flatly. "I'll not risk making my son an orphan to get vengeance on those sick bastards."

They believed him, dropping their hands.

"I sent someone to check on George and Bill. I have also contacted the Romanian Ministry and someone will be going to check on Charlie as well. Arthur and Percy have been detained at the Ministry as a precaution, until such time as we know if their involvement or not. I need you three to gather belongings for everyone and join the children. I will take great care with Theo and Astoria, I assure you. They will receive all the proper rites and I will join you there the moment I have news."

Draco didn't know what else to do but follow the instructions. The only thought in his head was: just what the seven hells had happened to the Weasley family?

-ii—

Blaise wasn't sure what to say first. The kids definitely knew something was up and the dead look in Gin's eyes told him that she had figured out what that was. So, he crouched down, pulling Gin into his arms and holding her as tightly as he could without hurting her. "You can't go hunting anyone, love."

"They killed him, didn't they?" Damon demanded.

"Yes," Blaise replied simply, not knowing how to soften the blow any. He loosened his hold when Dora climbed between him and Gin, holding them both while she sobbed. Athena was next to curl up with them, looking quite lost. Brais knelt behind Gin, laying his hands on her shoulders and crying freely. Damon wrapped his arms around the whole group from one side; his hands clasped in Margot's, who was positioned exactly like her twin on the other side. His mum simply sat next to Blaise, cradling Deimos in her arms, leaning on him.

"Dad?" he heard Scorpius whisper. "What else is there?"

"They breached the wards at Malfoy Manor first."

Blaise felt the twins flinch and wished there was something he could say to them or to Brais who looked utterly shattered.

"Mother?"

"I'm sorry, Scorpius," Draco replied almost too softly to be heard.

Blaise didn't have to look to know that the quiet sobbing was Scorpius.

"You two should get over here, you're part of this family now and that means we don't leave anyone out," Ginny said, her tone still flat and dead, but laced with enough force to get the two blonds moving. Once everyone was settled, Gin continued, "They wanted to break us, to destroy us. Are we going to allow them to do so?"

"No," chorused through the room, Blaise's voice joining in immediately.

"Good," his mum said, her voice a steely tone Blaise hadn't heard her use in years, not since she made that oath in Snape's quarters. "We will mourn. Then we will pick ourselves up and honour those that were murdered today by not breaking, by not allowing them the satisfaction. You are Malfoys, Zabinis, Weasleys, and Greengrass'. Now is the time to remind the world what that truly means."

-end-