Ginny sat in the Gryffindor common room, curled up in one of the cozier armchairs with parchment and quill in hand. The fire warmed her face, but the knot in her stomach remained. She had started and stopped writing at least half a dozen letters, each one sounding worse than the last.
She sighed, staring down at the parchment in front of her:
Dear Mum and Dad, I'm really sorry...
With a frustrated groan, she crumpled it up and tossed it aside.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered, grabbing a fresh piece of parchment. She dipped her quill in ink and started again:
Dear Mum and Dad, I wanted to tell you before you heard from someone else…
She stopped, biting her lip. That wasn't any better.
Just then, Ron came up behind her, obnoxiously crunching on an apple. "What are you doing?" he asked, his words half-muffled by the fruit.
Ginny glanced up at him, rolling her eyes. "I'm writing to Mum and Dad," she said, "about Draco."
Ron raised his eyebrows, his chewing slowing down. "Blimey, are you really that serious about him?"
"I don't know about serious," Ginny said with a shrug, "but I like him. And the last thing I want is to treat him like a dirty secret." She hesitated, then added casually, "Besides, Draco's already told his parents about me."
Ron nearly choked on his apple. "What? Malfoy told his parents about you? Already?!"
Ginny smirked, watching Ron's expression shift from shock to disbelief. "Yep."
Ron stared at her, dumbfounded. "That's...wow."
He glanced down at the scattered, crumpled letters on the floor. "So what are you telling them? That you've lost your mind? Gone completely mental? Need to be locked up?"
She shot him a look, then sighed again. "No, I just...I don't know how to say it. Everything sounds like I'm breaking bad news. I'm not ashamed, Ron. I just don't want them to be disappointed."
Ron rolled his eyes but leaned against the back of her chair. "Listen. Not that I like - this - at all, but you like the git. You don't have to apologize for that. It's Mum and Dad. They'll understand better than me."
Ginny blinked at him, surprised by the rare show of maturity. "You really think so?"
Ron nodded, though he grimaced slightly as if the words physically pained him. "Yeah, really. Just tell them like it's good news. It'll go better than if you act like you're announcing a funeral."
Ginny smiled a little, shaking her head. "Thanks, Ron."
"Don't mention it," he muttered, glancing at her half-written letters again.
With renewed determination, Ginny pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and began writing again:
Dear Mum and Dad,
I hope you're both doing well. I wanted to share some news with you before anyone else does - I've been seeing someone. It's Draco Malfoy, and I know that might come as a surprise, but I wanted to tell you directly. I like him, and I've come to realize he's not who I thought he was. We've gotten close, and I'm happy.
I'm sure we'll talk more at Christmas, but I wanted to tell you first. I'm doing well and I can't wait to see you both then.
She folded the parchment, placing it in an envelope, and leaned back in her chair with a relieved sigh.
Ron, still hovering nearby, gave her a side-eye. "You done, then?"
Ginny nodded. "Yeah, finally."
Ron stood, looking a bit uneasy before attempting to be casual, "But...you know, if they take this well…maybe don't invite him to Christmas?"
Ginny smirked, not missing a beat. "What, afraid he'll beat you at charades?"
Ron scoffed, feigning indignation. "Please. That is actually impossible. Think about what you're saying, Gin."
Ginny rolled her eyes, but the grin stayed on her face. She sealed the letter and placed it carefully on the side table, feeling a strange sense of relief.
She glanced at Ron, and for a moment, she realized how much she'd worried about their relationship. It had felt tense for so long, and she hadn't known if things would ever go back to normal. But now, with his joke and that reluctant support, it seemed like something had finally been repaired.
He'd always be her brother, but maybe now, it looked like they'd finally found their way back to where they were supposed to be.
The morning post came in a flurry, owls swooping down to deliver letters and packages to the students scattered throughout the Great Hall. Ginny glanced up from her toast just as a familiar owl landed in front of her, a letter tied neatly to its leg. She froze, her heart leaping to her throat.
Ron, sitting beside her, noticed the letter and nudged her, speaking around a mouthful of toast. "Go on, open it. What's the worst that could happen? They disown you?"
Ginny shot him a look, though she couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "Helpful, as always, Ron."
He shrugged, grinning. "What can I say? It's a gift."
On the other side of the table, Harry, who had been quietly observing, glanced between the two siblings. "At least they know about it now. That's something, right?"
"I'm sure it'll be fine, Ginny," Hermione added, her tone soft. "Your parents love you. And it's not like you're eloping with him"
Ron made a face, looking horrified. "Merlin's beard, don't give her any ideas."
Ginny rolled her eyes and turned her gaze back to the letter, nerves bubbling up inside her. Her parents know now - about Draco. She wasn't entirely sure how they'd taken it, but at least Ron had...well at least he had stopped pretending to gag every time Draco was brought up. There was hope, she supposed.
Just as she was about to work up the nerve to open it, she noticed a familiar figure approaching the table. Draco strolled toward her, looking casual as ever, but there was a letter in his hand too.
He stopped by her side, holding his letter aloft. "Well, seems we're both getting the family treatment today."
Ginny blinked, surprised. "That's from your parents?"
"Yep," Draco said, glancing at the letter in his hand before looking back at her. "Took them a few days, but it finally came."
Ginny nodded, her own letter feeling heavier in her hands. "So…we're doing this, then?"
Draco gave her a sideways smile. "The courtyard?"
"Sure," Ginny agreed, tucking her letter into her robes and pushing her plate away.
Ron, who had been watching the whole exchange, looked between the two with a smirk. "If they disown you both, just remember, I called it first."
Ginny rolled her eyes as Draco raised an eyebrow, holding up his letter. "You might be right, Weasley. I'm almost curious if they've already put my things in storage."
Ginny shook her head, giving Draco a nudge. "They're not putting your things in storage."
Ron rolled his eyes, not missing a beat. "Yeah, surely they'd hire someone to do that for them."
Draco let out a small huff of amusement. "Well, that goes without saying." He glanced down at Ginny, his smirk still in place. "Shall we?"
Ginny and Draco sat in the quiet courtyard, their letters unfolded in their hands. Ginny was the first to finish reading hers, her eyes lingering on the words. There was a familiar warmth in the letter from her mother, even if it was laced with confusion.
"Well?" Draco asked, glancing sideways at her, waiting for her reaction.
Ginny exhaled, a small smile playing on her lips. She handed the letter over for him to read:
Dear Ginny,
Well, your father and I certainly weren't expecting this news from you, but as long as you're happy, that's what matters most to us. Of course, we've known Draco for years, and while he's not exactly who we would have imagined, we trust your judgment. You've always been your own person, and we love you for that.
You'll be home for the holidays, won't you? There's much to talk about, and you know we'll support you no matter what. But do make sure to look after yourself. Relationships can be complicated - especially ones that come with...baggage.
Love,
Mum
Draco read, a flicker of something soft crossing his face. "That seems like a win."
Ginny chuckled. "Yeah, I'd say it's a win for sure. How about yours?"
Draco shrugged, he didn't seem upset. "Best I could've expected, really."
Ginny raised an eyebrow, curious. "What did they say?"
Draco turned the letter around, showing it to her. It was short and concise, written in his mother's elegant, formal handwriting.
Draco,
Your father and I were surprised to receive your letter. I trust you to know what you are doing. Your father will come around eventually.
Mother.
Ginny chuckled at the formality, shaking her head. "Wow, that's actually a relief."
Draco smirked, but then tapped the bottom of the letter, still holding it up for her. "Read the P.S."
Ginny leaned in, her eyes scanning the bottom of the letter. Her mouth fell open in surprise as she read aloud, "Your father also insisted I remind you - she comes from a very...fertile family. Do be careful. This is not a suggestion."
Draco ran his hand through his hair, silently chuckling. "Don't have to tell me twice!"
Ginny shook her head, a mix of amusement and horror flickering across her face. "I've just realized...we're going to have to come up with a different story about how we got together. I mean, this-" she gestured between them, "-isn't exactly dinner table conversation."
Draco smirked, unbothered. "Nah, it's simple. We grew close during our potions project. Mostly true. That way, we don't have to keep any lies straight."
Ginny arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "That's disturbingly Slytherin of you."
Draco grinned, stepping closer and looping his arms around her waist. "Well, you knew what you were getting into."
Ginny looked up at him, her expression softening. "I suppose I did."
Draco leaned down, his forehead resting lightly against hers. "So...we're doing this."
Ginny smiled, tilting her head up slightly to brush her lips against his. "Everyone knows now, doesn't get more official than that!"
With the letters tucked away and the weight of telling everyone finally off their shoulders, Ginny and Draco stood quietly for a moment, side by side. Whatever came next, they'd figure it out. But for now, this was enough.
