Lucius Malfoy had never been so disgusted with something in his life.
It's love? What was love? Because there was no way his son was in love with that… Pauper. But he could clearly see his arm wound around her waist, his face pressed into her ear as he whispered something. And the picture showed the shade of red the girl turned, suggesting things about what Draco was whispering.
Love? Malfoys didn't believe in love!
He needed to see his son right away. If the boy screwed this up – as he had everything in his life – then there would be hell to pay. Everyone knew the girl-Weasley was a favorite of his Master. Since his adventures inside her head when she was eleven, Lord Voldemort spoke fondly of her. Even Draco wasn't stupid enough to go falling for her.
However, from the looks of things, he definitely was. His father recognized the signs of a man in love, as he'd once followed Narcissa around stupidly as well.
Lucius looked up from the paper when a Ministry guard appeared in front of him. "What now?"
The cell unlocked, opening for him. As soon as Lucius stepped forward, he felt as his hands and feet were magically bound. It only meant one thing. He had a visitor. Maybe he wouldn't have to summon Draco after all. The ingrate was likely here to assure his father he didn't love the Weasley and that it was all for show.
Except it wasn't his son, it was his wife. Lucius couldn't resist rolling his eyes. She was probably there to seek his assurances. He could practically hear the conversation in his head already?
Is Draco in love with a Weasley?
It appears that way, doesn't it?
How could he fall for a Weasley! A Weasley, Lucius!
Oh, Narcissa…
However, when he got a look at her, she didn't seem distraught. She was holding the paper and smiling happily. Lucius took the seat across from her. "You're not supposed to be here until next week."
"I'm going on holiday. I won't be here then."
"Holiday?" Lucius questioned. He slid his eyes over her, noting the expensive new robes she was wearing. "Spending more of my money, I see."
She ignored his comment at her and went on as if he hadn't said anything. "Severus has agreed to join me. We'll be taking a tour of the Lakes. You know it's my favorite bit of Britain."
"How long do you expect to be gone?" he questioned in a bored tone. Lifting his hand, Lucius studied his fingernails carefully. What he would give for a proper manicure.
"No less than three months, I expect. Draco won't be in London, so I've no reason to stay."
"Where will Draco be?"
"Honeymooning, I expect." Narcissa held the paper out to him. "You know he married, right? To the lovely Weasley girl."
Lucius gaped at her. Had his wife just referred to a Weasley as lovely? It wasn't possible. "I had no idea."
Narcissa pushed the paper. "There are several articles. Read them. He seems very happy in the pictures."
"For the press, I imagine. The marriage must appear real."
His wife studied him carefully. If she caught on at that moment, she didn't say. Instead she said, "They're very happy around each other. Ginevra and Draco joined me for dinner last night. I believe he's in love with her."
Lucius jerked his head up from the paper and look at his wife. She hadn't… There was no way… "Love?"
"I think so." Narcissa looked down, straightening imaginary wrinkles from her robes. "He bought her jewelry."
"That's not unusual," he replied, clearly relieved. "He buys jewelry and clothes. Has no problem giving my—"
"My money, darling," Narcissa interrupted. "And he didn't give her money. Ginevra said he picked it out himself. Her engagement ring looks like something Draco would choose."
He studied his wife carefully, making note of the satisfied smile she wore. "You're happy about this."
"Of course, love. Our son is finally in love. He's very happy."
"Narcissa—"
"And Ginevra!" she exclaimed. "She's positively glowing. Even though she's a Weasley, she's lovely. I think she might be pregnant, even though they both deny it."
Pregnant! Draco wouldn't! The Malfoy heir wasn't to be a Weasley!
Narcissa glanced up, as if suddenly noting the time. "Darling! I must go. I'll be late for my appointment with Severus."
Lucius narrowed his eyes. "You seem to be spending a lot of time with Severus."
"You know how he cares for Draco, love. It's perfectly normally. I'm just concerned for our son."
As if sensing her intent to depart, the guard returned. Lucius knew the conversation was over. Narcissa stood and leaned over the table, brushing her lips against his cheek even though she knew it wasn't allowed and he would be punished for it. "He's happy, dear. And the possibility of grandchildren… I couldn't be happier for him. I'll see you in three months."
And then she was gone. Once Lucius was returned to his cell, he flipped through the papers Narcissa left him. Each of them gave him a new perspective on his son's marriage to the Weasley. Surely Narcissa was wrong. And Severus. He would need to speak with the Potions professor. He didn't mind if Narcissa carried on an affair – but to do it so blatantly?
That didn't matter, though. Right now, the pressing issue was speaking with Draco. And perhaps Ginevra as well. If he saw them together, he might get an accurate read on their relationship.
And if he did love her… Lucius could only blame himself. His final plot against Arthur Weasley would be wasted. He wanted his son to have the girl fall for him, and then toss her aside casually. Lucius knew the way his son went through women – he read the papers.
Ginevra Weasley was the best way to get at Arthur, who six months ago was the final vote suggesting he get the Dementor's Kiss. He'd been protected so far, because he paid his solicitors well. Someday soon, however, Lucius knew they would ruin out of appeals. He was running out of time. His final plot had been to turn his son into someone cold and calculating – someone like him – and he wanted to use Draco to ruin Weasley's daughter.
But if Draco loved the girl, then it was all for naught. He'd given the boy exactly what he wanted and Lucius knew that in time the Weasley's would welcome Draco into their family. It seemed that his scheme was falling apart.
Lucius Malfoy sat in his cell, thinking of different plots. He knew he'd never escape and with the Dark Lord still missing and in the meantime, he would die waiting for His return.
Only now it seemed so much worse, because he would die knowing Draco was happily married to a Weasley.
Ginny awoke startled, not accustomed to waking up with someone. Much less in someone's arms, but once her senses returned to her, she decided she rather liked it. She refused to overanalyze why Draco wouldn't have put her in her own room last night, deciding rather to just enjoy the time left she had with him. Instead, she thought back on her past with Draco and how they'd both changed since leaving Hogwarts.
Two of her brothers and her father worked for the Ministry, like Draco, so she would see him from time to time. There would be events she would attend with a family member and might see him across the room. Of course, Draco was always accompanied by a different witch – each one more beautiful than the last. They were always holding on to him, listening intently to his every word, and they always left with him. If he even knew Ginny was at the party, he'd given no indication.
The last time they'd run into each other was three years prior. She'd been visiting Percy and they met in the corridor. Draco hadn't said anything to her, but Ginny took some time to take him in. It was clear he'd grown into his body. He took care of himself and prided himself on his appearance. At the time, his hair had been gelled. Ginny didn't know if that was his normal appearance, but she preferred his hair without any styling products.
For three years, she didn't see him. She only heard his name whispered around water coolers and in the loo. His father was arrested and put back in Azkaban and Draco was summoned home by his mother. Whatever rift existed with Lucius did not extend to Narcissa.
Ginny felt Draco shift behind her on the couch and sucked in her breath. Was he awake? His arm tightened around her waist and tugged her against his chest. "Gin?" he asked quietly.
"I'm awake."
Draco kissed the skin behind her ear. "Good morning."
She couldn't help but smile at his gentleness. At Hogwarts, Draco had always treated her like she was made from porcelain. When she complained, he'd changed. He wasn't rough with her, but he stopped doing all of the extra things that insured her comfort. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes. We both fell asleep at the same time."
"And I was too heavy to put into my own bed?" she teased.
"I just…" he started to explain. "You looked so peaceful; I didn't want to risk waking you. I'm sorry if it bothered you."
"No." Ginny covered his arm around her waist with her own. "Thank you."
"What day is it?" Draco asked.
"Thursday."
She felt Draco nod behind her before he said, "Thursday. What would Mrs. Malfoy like to do today?"
"Stay home." The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Ginny twisted so she could see his face. "Do you think the press will miss us for one day?"
"I'm sure they will. But if my wife wants to stay in, then we'll stay in. What would you like to do here?"
Ginny shrugged. "Whatever you like. What do you normally do on a Thursday?"
"Work. Catch bad guys." She could hear the lazy drawl in his voice. "I'm usually at the Ministry from eight in the morning to well after eight at night."
"Twelve hour days, Mr. Malfoy?" she tsked. "What does that do for your social life?"
"I don't have much of one."
"Draco Malfoy? Not have a girlfriend?"
"I have my work. I have my flat. I have my mum."
"That sounds a bit lonely."
"It's my life," he admitted. "I work and I eat and I sleep. Nothing terribly exciting. Although, I think I just ruined the way you pictured me in your head."
"Assuming I've spent any time thinking of you," she quipped. "Which I haven't."
"I see your tongue is still razor sharp." Ginny felt the blush rising on her cheeks. "Of course, that wasn't the primary use for your tongue at Hogwarts. At least not in my mind."
"Now you're being crude."
"I was eighteen, Gin. I didn't know how to be anything but crude. I'll be the first to admit, I wanted in your pants. A pretty girl who was giving out free kisses? Probably one of the most memorable things about Hogwarts."
"You mean you don't remember Pansy?"
Draco groaned. "How could I forget? Pansy was one of a kind. Did you know we were supposed to marry right after Hogwarts?"
"No." Ginny turned so she was laying flat on her back, looking up at him. "You didn't, right?"
"After Father disowned me, it wasn't necessary." Draco closed his eyes, as if trying to remember. "Pansy married some bloke. I think he went to Durmstrang, but I'm not sure. Someone she met during the Triwizard Competition. Mum and Mrs. Parkinson were good friends, and told me she was pregnant when she married."
"Pansy?" she questioned. "Oh, now that doesn't surprise me at all!"
Her husband couldn't stop his urge to laugh at her statement. "That wasn't nice."
Ginny noticed that when he laughed, there were tiny lines around his eyes. "She wasn't ever nice to me. She tried to hex me at every opportunity."
"I think she was jealous. I never admitted my interest in you outright, but being the prat that I was, I hinted at it. She knew I was meeting someone my seventh year. She acted out towards any female I showed any familiarity with."
"Why?" Ginny questioned. "She didn't own you. You could snog whoever you pleased."
"I agree. But Pansy saw herself as my fiancé. She felt that afforded her a certain amount of respect. If I was going to fool around, then I needed to be discreet about it. What she didn't know was that I was. I never publicized any of my snogs. It was the girls who wanted everyone to know they were shagging Draco Malfoy."
The redhead couldn't stop from rolling her eyes. "You are so conceited!"
Draco grinned. "Yes, and you were the one moaning my name. So if I was conceited, it was only because you made me that way."
"Prat." Draco couldn't help but notice there was no venom behind the name. "And then? After Hogwarts?"
"I went to work for the Ministry, Father disowned me, and I shagged whoever I wanted for about five years."
Ginny was glad he felt he could be completely honest with her. "I used to see you at Ministry events. Ron would drag me with him, while he was in between girlfriends. And you know what a prat Ron can be, so that was fairly often. I always noticed the witches you were with. All very beautiful and well-mannered."
"And completely boring," Draco admitted. "Those weren't the girls I was shagging, though. Those were the girls I was supposed to marry."
"Ah, I see. You always kept up appearances, but still liked girls like me."
"Ginny, there is no one else like you."
She would never admit the relief that flooded her brain at his statement. "So what then? Never found one you wanted to marry? Never wanted to add onto the Malfoy line?"
"No. Not with any of them. My mum comes from a very old, pureblooded family. It was always expected that I would marry someone like her. Enter Pansy. After my father disinherited me, I vowed if I married, it would be for love."
"Or necessity," Ginny quipped.
Draco nodded his head, but didn't comment.
"And none of these witches you shagged turned up pregnant?"
He was incredibly uncomfortable with this conversation, but didn't say anything. If she wanted to ask her questions, he would answer them. "No. I was always extremely careful."
"How thoughtful of you."
"What about you? Boyfriends? Fiancé's? Long lost lovers? Potter?"
"Jealous much?" his wife questioned. Her tone was joking, but she was serious. "Occasionally. Never anyone I brought home to meet Mum."
"Anyone I know?" Draco prayed his tone was casual. Even if the situation was unusual, he needed to know. The other day she'd told him they'd kissed and she couldn't kiss anyone else. He wanted to know how truthful she'd been.
"Probably. Oliver Wood, Seamus Finnigan, and Colin Creevey. Never anything serious, though."
"But no Potter?"
Ginny shook her head. "After my fourth year, I never looked at Harry that way. My family wanted it, of course. Any excuse for Harry to be a legitimate member of the family. It was always for them, though. Never me."
"So what did you do after you finished at Hogwarts?"
"Took some classes at a Muggle college while I still lived at home. When I couldn't stand it anymore, I accepted a job at the Ministry. After awhile, I could afford my own flat. It wasn't the best place, but it was mine. That's what I've done for the last six or so years."
"Sounds very lonely," Draco observed.
"Not really. I cherished my time alone. I still had my family, but after living in a house with seven people for most of my life… it was nice. Besides, if I ever got lonely, Mum wouldn't mind if I popped over. I loved my job and I loved my flat."
"Speaking of jobs, are you planning on returning?"
"What?"
"You don't have to work, you know. I have enough—"
"For now, Draco. What happens when we aren't married anymore?"
"I'll always take care of you, Gin."
"I don't want to be taken care of." Ginny closed her eyes. She could feel the blood begin to pound in her veins. He probably wasn't even aware of what his offer sounded like. "Someday, you're going to find a witch you'll want to marry. Really marry, Draco. You're going to want an heir. She's not going to understand why you're still keeping your ex-wife up. Especially since our marriage is in name only."
Draco couldn't think of any response. Anything he might say would be taken the wrong way. Or taken the right way. He didn't know which was more frightening. That Ginny think he didn't care for her at all, or for her to know he loved her. He'd already found the witch he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Now, he only had to convince her.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I shouldn't have snapped at you."
He waved her apology away. "I shouldn't have even suggested it. I know what you're saying is true."
Ginny felt all of the air leave her lungs. Why did his agreeing with her hurt so much? "I need to get up."
"Gin—"
"It's nothing, Draco. I just want to get dressed."
He reluctantly moved his arm and released her. As soon as she left his side, Draco couldn't help but notice the emptiness. He had the feeling she didn't understand at all. He'd somehow mucked it all up.
As he watched her walk away from him, Draco tried desperately to think of something to say. He needed to do something or their day at home would be ruined. Sighing, he got up and went to dress himself. For now, he'd let her have her time alone, but later he'd draw her out.
So far, it'd been a good morning. He wouldn't let his words ruin that. Draco was determined to make her love him. When he was finished, Ginny would see she was the witch he wanted to be married to. She would be the witch to give him an heir.
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