Ch 9: Facing Up
Ginny could barely sleep that night. Once she heard her mother stirring around and her father heading off to work, she slipped quietly downstairs. Her mum was busy in the kitchen making breakfast.
“Morning,” Ginny beamed quietly. Molly Weasley stopped what she was doing and turned to face her daughter, trying to hide her smile.
“Good morning, dear. Interesting night, wasn’t it?” she said, settling down into a chair at the table across from Ginny.
Ginny blushed. “I really like him, mum. He’s not like everyone thinks. I mean, he can be completely insufferable but for the most part, he’s got a really good person hiding out under that smug front he puts on.”
Mrs. Weasley nodded. “I have to say, I didn’t expect this. Not with… with what happened between you and Harry.”
“Mum, don’t. I know he’s not Harry and I don’t expect him to be.”
“Oh honey, neither do I! And I loved the fact that you were dating Harry, but Draco is, despite his past and his problems, a nice young man and I think someone like you will be good for him.”
Ginny covered her shock. “Thanks mum. I really hadn’t given much thought as to what you and dad would say. I know Ron is going to freak out and Harry… I don’t know how he’ll respond.”
“Give your brother and his friends some credit. They’ve seen the change in him. They may not be as accepting of it as you have been, but they’ll come around. Especially Harry, he has a good heart, you know.”
“I know, I know. But facing the music isn’t going to be easy, not that I would expect it to be. There’s a lot of bad history there.”
xxx
While Ginny was getting cleaned up, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had left to go off who knows where. No one was telling her much of anything these days. When she came down again, she was disappointed to not see Draco anywhere. She mingled idly around the kitchen, waiting for her mum to say something.
“He’s outside. I think he’s waiting for you,” Molly smiled, finally turning around.
Ginny skipped outside to find Draco sitting in the garden, waiting for her. “Care to go flying?” he smiled and stood as she made her way towards him. He motioned to two brooms he’d gotten out of their shed. She nodded and smiled as he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
They flew about for the first part of the day and spent a few hours after lunch playing their usual games.
xxx
Late that afternoon, Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned. Harry lingered just outside the house, watching with a twinge of jealousy as Draco and Ginny nuzzled each other while cuddling on the bench in the garden. He decided it was time for a talk with Ginny.
He approached confidently and managed a weak smile at them both.
“Er, hi. Ginny, may I have a word?” he asked. He watched as Draco eyed him suspiciously and raised an eyebrow to Ginny. She nodded and whispered something in Draco’s ear. Draco reluctantly got up and gently kissed her forehead in a possessive gesture.
She smiled and watched Draco saunter past Harry, barely nudging him with his shoulder since Harry made no room for him to get through the gate.
Harry sat down by Ginny and kept his eyes on her. “So, I guess you’re with him then?”
“I guess so,” Ginny agreed.
“Is this… I mean, are you…,” he stopped, not knowing what to ask without sounding like an ass.
“Harry, I know it’s sudden and I know we really haven’t been broken up that long, but it’s something that just happened. Draco and I have spent a lot of time together and we--”
“Oh, so it’s Draco now, is it?” he mimicked snidely. He wiped the look off his face at Ginny’s harsh glare.
“Harry, I don’t want to fight with you! We’ve been friends and I want to continue that. I’m sorry that this has all happened like it has, but I’m not sorry that it happened. Harry, when you broke up with me, it hurt! You turned your back on me and walked away like I was nothing! That was hard for me!”
Harry began to speak but Ginny held up a finger and cut him off.
“I was crushed! But what I have realized in all of this is that you don’t need me. You’re a strong person. You know how to love your friends and those around you. Draco doesn’t know any of that. He needs me, and I like that! I don’t know if this will last or even really what it is, but I want to give it a go.”
“What about what he did to Ron though? He can hardly be trusted, what if he—“
“You were there! You heard him! Hell, Harry, you heard Dumbledore! Those were lame attempts made by a young, confused boy who was under extreme duress!”
“So him nearly killing Ron doesn’t bother you at all?”
“Harry! Of course it would bother me had it been meant for Ron but it wasn’t and Ron is okay. If he weren’t, there’s no way we’d be having this conversation.”
“What about the fact that although he didn’t kill Dumbledore, Dumbledore is dead because of him? Snape had to finish the job that Draco started, didn’t he? Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“Yes, it does Harry! And whose side is Snape on? Ours! Dumbledore knew! It was all part of a plan. Dumbledore as much as said so in his last letter to you. He wasn’t afraid to sacrifice himself for the greater good! Dumbledore knew the whole time! You heard him, you heard what he said to Draco when he…” her voice fell. She hated having this conversation with Harry, but she knew it was unavoidable.
“Has Draco fully changed overnight, into you? Of course not! He’ll never be you, Harry! But he can be a better version of himself. You’ve seen that.”
“If you’re thinking you can change him, you can’t.”
“I never said I wanted to! I see a different side to him than most people. He opens up to me. But after a lifetime of putting up a false front, a guard, do you honestly expect him to drop it right away and become your new best friend?”
“No!” Harry buried his face in his hands and got up to pace. “Ginny, that’s not it! I’m glad that you think you see a different side of him—”
“I don’t think I see it Harry, I do! Draco needs to be shown right now what it means to be cared for and to care for someone else. He’s never had a real family. That’s something you can relate to, yeah? How much have you appreciated the way my family has taken you in? Doesn’t he deserve a right to have that as well?”
Harry sat in silence for a bit. “I can’t say that I will ever support this or that it doesn’t hurt. But, when something bad happens, I won’t say I told you so either. But, as long as you are with him, our friendship is something that will change. I’m sorry, but I won’t sit back and watch this.”
Ginny nodded, not looking at him. “I’m sorry, too.” He remained motionless and silent beside her. She thought for a few minutes, then looked up, cupping his face. He winced, but didn’t move her hand.
“You’ve got a lot on your plate, but I know you’re going to pull through. I know you’re going to be victorious and end this nasty war. I have faith in you. All I’m asking is for you, Ron and Hermione to have a little faith in me and in my decisions. You don’t have to like Draco or be friends with him. Just have some faith in me.” She dropped her hand from his face.
“I do have faith in you, Ginny. But on this, I am not going to budge. If you are going to be with Malfoy, our friendship won’t be what it used to be.”
“Okay,” said Ginny, rising from her spot on the bench. “I guess your decision is made.”
“We’re leaving in three days,” Harry stated. “Ron, Hermione and I are going to Godric’s Hollow.”
“Well then, goodbye,” Ginny nodded as she walked over to the house. Her tears fell freely, but she wasn’t regretting her decision to pursue this… well, whatever this was with Draco.
xxxxxxx
Draco had watched the discussion between Ginny and Harry from his room with curious eyes. He saw Ginny walking back into the house and laid on his bed, picking up a book. When he heard the knock on his door not to long after, he immediately called for her to come in. He wasn’t totally shocked, but he was a bit upset seeing the tears staining her cheeks.
“What’s wrong? Potter didn’t take it well?” Ginny shook her head. “Ah well, too bad.”
“It is too bad!” she blurted. “We’ve always been friends, at the very least friends, but he said as long as I am with you, we basically can’t be.”
“Mature,” Draco rolled his eyes. He patted a space on the bed next to him and Ginny crossed the room to sit down. He put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder.
“Draco, please don’t start on Harry. I mean, he and I did break up not too long ago and I know this came as a shock to him, this thing with you and me. What am I supposed to expect?”
“Well, he could consider you in there somewhere,” Draco said quietly. “If you were really friends, would he let this come between you?”
Ginny eyed Draco. “Like you’d do that if you were in his shoes? Not likely,” she huffed.
Draco knew better than to keep pursuing this line of questioning. He decided to simply comfort the girl and cheer her up.
xxx
Ginny’s next task was talking to Ron. She didn’t have to wait long, because she had left the door to Draco’s room open and Ron and Hermione happened by.
“Oi! No snogging!” Ron called as he pretended to cover his eyes. Draco was just hugging her, but naturally, Ron had to make an ordeal of it. Ginny rolled her eyes, sniffled and pulled away from Draco.
Ron turned to Draco, still scowling. "What am I thinking letting my sister even hang out with you? You nearly killed me with that poisoned mead!"
Draco nodded and sighed. "Yes, and I…” Ginny flashed him a look. “I feel badly about that. It wasn't meant for you though, you know. It really wasn't meant for anybody. I wasn't myself then.”
“Yeah, but you could’ve hurt loads of people, even one of your own friends! What if it’d been Pansy Parkinson or someone that got it?” Hermione asked.
“I don’t think I’d have minded,” Draco said as Ginny smacked his arm and Hermione gave him and icy stare worthy of a Slytherin. “Okay, okay! I didn’t mean that but really— you guys don’t know Pansy! She is obnoxious!”
“I always thought she was a female version of you,” Hermione said slyly.
Draco nodded. “That’s fair, I suppose.”
Ginny looked on as Ron steeled himself bravely before saying, “You're not yourself now either. I think this Malfoy could be, well, he might be okay…someday.”
Then, Ron did something completely unexpected. He held out his hand to Draco, and the pair of them shook hands quickly.
xxx
As Ron and Hermione walked out, Hermione was still puzzled by Ron’s quick acceptance of the relationship. “Ron, why were you so quick to be civil in there? I was expecting you to, I dunno, hex him into the millennium.”
“Ah, I guess I just see something in the git. He told me he cares about her, you know. Well, he tried to cover it up but that was what he was going to say. He meant it, too. I could see it. Besides, if mum and dad don’t want it to happen, it’ll be stopped, believe me!”
xxxxxxx
That night, Ginny’s father requested that his daughter talk a walk with him. He wanted to discuss the new “developments” between her and their houseguest.
“Ginny, I… it’s not that I mind if you and Mr. Malfoy fancy each other, but while he is living under our roof, certain rules need to be followed,” Arthur Weasley began, quite nervously.
“Dad!” Ginny groaned.
“No, now hear me out. I was prepared to give you this speech at some point. I figured it would be a bit sooner, perhaps in the spring when we heard about you and Harry, however—”
“So, you’d be torturing me like this whether it is Harry or Draco? Well, at least you are fair!” She laughed.
Arthur turned and faced his daughter. “And how does Harry feel about all this?” He studied Ginny’s face, looking for a reaction.
“Dad, I know Harry’s like a son to you and the last thing you want is for him to be is hurt, but he is. And, it’s my fault. But… I can’t help the way I feel now about Draco, just as Harry couldn’t help but feel the way he did when he broke up with me in the first place,” she sighed.
“But his reasons weren’t for someone else, Ginny. You’re not doing this to get to Harry, are you?” Ginny rolled her eyes. “As much as I may not like Lucius Malfoy, the son is not the father. I don’t want Draco to get hurt in all this either. It could ruin any chances we have of him being on our side for good.”
“I really do like him dad! I’ve gotten to know a side of him that no one else sees. He’s had a hard past. Ron thinks Draco should’ve had it easy because of all his family’s money but—”
“Yes, yes dear. I can imagine Lucius’s parenting skills left much to be desired.”
“He told me,” Ginny began quietly, “about how he used to hear his parent’s fight and his mum would walk the next day as though she were hurt although there were no physical signs of injury. I think Mr. Malfoy hit Draco, too, but he won’t talk about it. He told me that he was so desperate for his father’s respect and love that he tried just about anything— including what happened at the end of the school year.”
Arthur sighed and nodded. “Ginny, I’d prefer it if from now on, as long as Draco is our guest, you two remain in the company of your mother or brothers. I don’t want you two in each other’s rooms alone, and I really don’t like the idea of you being out on the grounds alone. Try to keep in viewing distance of the house, will you?”
“Ugh, fine,” Ginny huffed, blushing. “Is that all?”
Arthur nodded and shook his head, laughing, as he watched his pride and joy, his only daughter, head back into the house.
xxxxxxx
Two nights later, Ginny had barely settled into bed and slept little less than half an hour when there was a knock at her door. She groggily opened her eyes and stuck her head up out from the covers to see her mum crossing the room towards her.
“Ginny, you’ve got to come downstairs.”
Ginny nodded wondering what in the name of Merlin was going on, put on her slippers and followed her mum out into the hallway.
“Narcissa Malfoy and Severus Snape are here with your father. They’ve come to get Draco. It’s not safe— someone knows he is here! The rest of us will all leave to go to the Order. I’ll get everyone else up in a minute.”
“Okay,” Ginny said, yawning and scratching her head.
“He’s asked to see you before they go.”
Ginny nodded again, opening her eyes more fully and seeming to understand more what was happening. She headed down towards the kitchen and could hear hushed voices. Draco crossed to her immediately.
“I didn’t want to leave without seeing you first,” he said as he took her arm and led her over by the fireplace. Snape’s jaw dropped as he gaped at the sight before him. Narcissa didn’t seem to be noticing anything; she was too busy looking at her surroundings as though she smelled something foul.
Draco hugged Ginny to him and whispered, “I didn’t honestly know it would be this short. I don’t know where I’m going or when I’ll be back.”
Ginny could hear the concern and fright in his voice. She hugged him back and kissed his neck, as a tear slid down her cheek. They’d only just begun to form a bond and now it had to be broken for an indefinite period of time, maybe forever, she thought sullenly.
Draco kissed the top of Ginny’s head and Snape just about choked. At that point, he tilted her head to his and went in for the kill, just as Hermione, Ron and Harry entered the kitchen. Nothing like those three to ruin a mood, she thought. Nevertheless, Draco was focused on the matter at hand and kissed her as if he thought he might never kiss her again.
They paid no heed to Ron’s blatantly obvious choking, Hermione’s gasp, Harry’s scowling, or to anyone else around them. When they broke apart, Ginny looked up into the gray-blue eyes she’d come to adore so much.
“We’ve no time for your little romances, Draco,” Snape hissed.
At that moment, following a loud cry of “Reducto!” the door to the Burrow flew off its hinges.
Draco instinctively grabbed Ginny, shoving his body in front of her in protection. As the smoke from the blast and the dust settled, everyone was silent and still, wands drawn.
There, in the doorway of the Burrow, stood Lord Voldemort, surrounded by a number of Death Eaters, who were garbed in their disturbing masks and black robes.
Ginny could barely sleep that night. Once she heard her mother stirring around and her father heading off to work, she slipped quietly downstairs. Her mum was busy in the kitchen making breakfast.
“Morning,” Ginny beamed quietly. Molly Weasley stopped what she was doing and turned to face her daughter, trying to hide her smile.
“Good morning, dear. Interesting night, wasn’t it?” she said, settling down into a chair at the table across from Ginny.
Ginny blushed. “I really like him, mum. He’s not like everyone thinks. I mean, he can be completely insufferable but for the most part, he’s got a really good person hiding out under that smug front he puts on.”
Mrs. Weasley nodded. “I have to say, I didn’t expect this. Not with… with what happened between you and Harry.”
“Mum, don’t. I know he’s not Harry and I don’t expect him to be.”
“Oh honey, neither do I! And I loved the fact that you were dating Harry, but Draco is, despite his past and his problems, a nice young man and I think someone like you will be good for him.”
Ginny covered her shock. “Thanks mum. I really hadn’t given much thought as to what you and dad would say. I know Ron is going to freak out and Harry… I don’t know how he’ll respond.”
“Give your brother and his friends some credit. They’ve seen the change in him. They may not be as accepting of it as you have been, but they’ll come around. Especially Harry, he has a good heart, you know.”
“I know, I know. But facing the music isn’t going to be easy, not that I would expect it to be. There’s a lot of bad history there.”
xxx
While Ginny was getting cleaned up, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had left to go off who knows where. No one was telling her much of anything these days. When she came down again, she was disappointed to not see Draco anywhere. She mingled idly around the kitchen, waiting for her mum to say something.
“He’s outside. I think he’s waiting for you,” Molly smiled, finally turning around.
Ginny skipped outside to find Draco sitting in the garden, waiting for her. “Care to go flying?” he smiled and stood as she made her way towards him. He motioned to two brooms he’d gotten out of their shed. She nodded and smiled as he greeted her with a kiss on the cheek.
They flew about for the first part of the day and spent a few hours after lunch playing their usual games.
xxx
Late that afternoon, Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned. Harry lingered just outside the house, watching with a twinge of jealousy as Draco and Ginny nuzzled each other while cuddling on the bench in the garden. He decided it was time for a talk with Ginny.
He approached confidently and managed a weak smile at them both.
“Er, hi. Ginny, may I have a word?” he asked. He watched as Draco eyed him suspiciously and raised an eyebrow to Ginny. She nodded and whispered something in Draco’s ear. Draco reluctantly got up and gently kissed her forehead in a possessive gesture.
She smiled and watched Draco saunter past Harry, barely nudging him with his shoulder since Harry made no room for him to get through the gate.
Harry sat down by Ginny and kept his eyes on her. “So, I guess you’re with him then?”
“I guess so,” Ginny agreed.
“Is this… I mean, are you…,” he stopped, not knowing what to ask without sounding like an ass.
“Harry, I know it’s sudden and I know we really haven’t been broken up that long, but it’s something that just happened. Draco and I have spent a lot of time together and we--”
“Oh, so it’s Draco now, is it?” he mimicked snidely. He wiped the look off his face at Ginny’s harsh glare.
“Harry, I don’t want to fight with you! We’ve been friends and I want to continue that. I’m sorry that this has all happened like it has, but I’m not sorry that it happened. Harry, when you broke up with me, it hurt! You turned your back on me and walked away like I was nothing! That was hard for me!”
Harry began to speak but Ginny held up a finger and cut him off.
“I was crushed! But what I have realized in all of this is that you don’t need me. You’re a strong person. You know how to love your friends and those around you. Draco doesn’t know any of that. He needs me, and I like that! I don’t know if this will last or even really what it is, but I want to give it a go.”
“What about what he did to Ron though? He can hardly be trusted, what if he—“
“You were there! You heard him! Hell, Harry, you heard Dumbledore! Those were lame attempts made by a young, confused boy who was under extreme duress!”
“So him nearly killing Ron doesn’t bother you at all?”
“Harry! Of course it would bother me had it been meant for Ron but it wasn’t and Ron is okay. If he weren’t, there’s no way we’d be having this conversation.”
“What about the fact that although he didn’t kill Dumbledore, Dumbledore is dead because of him? Snape had to finish the job that Draco started, didn’t he? Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“Yes, it does Harry! And whose side is Snape on? Ours! Dumbledore knew! It was all part of a plan. Dumbledore as much as said so in his last letter to you. He wasn’t afraid to sacrifice himself for the greater good! Dumbledore knew the whole time! You heard him, you heard what he said to Draco when he…” her voice fell. She hated having this conversation with Harry, but she knew it was unavoidable.
“Has Draco fully changed overnight, into you? Of course not! He’ll never be you, Harry! But he can be a better version of himself. You’ve seen that.”
“If you’re thinking you can change him, you can’t.”
“I never said I wanted to! I see a different side to him than most people. He opens up to me. But after a lifetime of putting up a false front, a guard, do you honestly expect him to drop it right away and become your new best friend?”
“No!” Harry buried his face in his hands and got up to pace. “Ginny, that’s not it! I’m glad that you think you see a different side of him—”
“I don’t think I see it Harry, I do! Draco needs to be shown right now what it means to be cared for and to care for someone else. He’s never had a real family. That’s something you can relate to, yeah? How much have you appreciated the way my family has taken you in? Doesn’t he deserve a right to have that as well?”
Harry sat in silence for a bit. “I can’t say that I will ever support this or that it doesn’t hurt. But, when something bad happens, I won’t say I told you so either. But, as long as you are with him, our friendship is something that will change. I’m sorry, but I won’t sit back and watch this.”
Ginny nodded, not looking at him. “I’m sorry, too.” He remained motionless and silent beside her. She thought for a few minutes, then looked up, cupping his face. He winced, but didn’t move her hand.
“You’ve got a lot on your plate, but I know you’re going to pull through. I know you’re going to be victorious and end this nasty war. I have faith in you. All I’m asking is for you, Ron and Hermione to have a little faith in me and in my decisions. You don’t have to like Draco or be friends with him. Just have some faith in me.” She dropped her hand from his face.
“I do have faith in you, Ginny. But on this, I am not going to budge. If you are going to be with Malfoy, our friendship won’t be what it used to be.”
“Okay,” said Ginny, rising from her spot on the bench. “I guess your decision is made.”
“We’re leaving in three days,” Harry stated. “Ron, Hermione and I are going to Godric’s Hollow.”
“Well then, goodbye,” Ginny nodded as she walked over to the house. Her tears fell freely, but she wasn’t regretting her decision to pursue this… well, whatever this was with Draco.
xxxxxxx
Draco had watched the discussion between Ginny and Harry from his room with curious eyes. He saw Ginny walking back into the house and laid on his bed, picking up a book. When he heard the knock on his door not to long after, he immediately called for her to come in. He wasn’t totally shocked, but he was a bit upset seeing the tears staining her cheeks.
“What’s wrong? Potter didn’t take it well?” Ginny shook her head. “Ah well, too bad.”
“It is too bad!” she blurted. “We’ve always been friends, at the very least friends, but he said as long as I am with you, we basically can’t be.”
“Mature,” Draco rolled his eyes. He patted a space on the bed next to him and Ginny crossed the room to sit down. He put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder.
“Draco, please don’t start on Harry. I mean, he and I did break up not too long ago and I know this came as a shock to him, this thing with you and me. What am I supposed to expect?”
“Well, he could consider you in there somewhere,” Draco said quietly. “If you were really friends, would he let this come between you?”
Ginny eyed Draco. “Like you’d do that if you were in his shoes? Not likely,” she huffed.
Draco knew better than to keep pursuing this line of questioning. He decided to simply comfort the girl and cheer her up.
xxx
Ginny’s next task was talking to Ron. She didn’t have to wait long, because she had left the door to Draco’s room open and Ron and Hermione happened by.
“Oi! No snogging!” Ron called as he pretended to cover his eyes. Draco was just hugging her, but naturally, Ron had to make an ordeal of it. Ginny rolled her eyes, sniffled and pulled away from Draco.
Ron turned to Draco, still scowling. "What am I thinking letting my sister even hang out with you? You nearly killed me with that poisoned mead!"
Draco nodded and sighed. "Yes, and I…” Ginny flashed him a look. “I feel badly about that. It wasn't meant for you though, you know. It really wasn't meant for anybody. I wasn't myself then.”
“Yeah, but you could’ve hurt loads of people, even one of your own friends! What if it’d been Pansy Parkinson or someone that got it?” Hermione asked.
“I don’t think I’d have minded,” Draco said as Ginny smacked his arm and Hermione gave him and icy stare worthy of a Slytherin. “Okay, okay! I didn’t mean that but really— you guys don’t know Pansy! She is obnoxious!”
“I always thought she was a female version of you,” Hermione said slyly.
Draco nodded. “That’s fair, I suppose.”
Ginny looked on as Ron steeled himself bravely before saying, “You're not yourself now either. I think this Malfoy could be, well, he might be okay…someday.”
Then, Ron did something completely unexpected. He held out his hand to Draco, and the pair of them shook hands quickly.
xxx
As Ron and Hermione walked out, Hermione was still puzzled by Ron’s quick acceptance of the relationship. “Ron, why were you so quick to be civil in there? I was expecting you to, I dunno, hex him into the millennium.”
“Ah, I guess I just see something in the git. He told me he cares about her, you know. Well, he tried to cover it up but that was what he was going to say. He meant it, too. I could see it. Besides, if mum and dad don’t want it to happen, it’ll be stopped, believe me!”
xxxxxxx
That night, Ginny’s father requested that his daughter talk a walk with him. He wanted to discuss the new “developments” between her and their houseguest.
“Ginny, I… it’s not that I mind if you and Mr. Malfoy fancy each other, but while he is living under our roof, certain rules need to be followed,” Arthur Weasley began, quite nervously.
“Dad!” Ginny groaned.
“No, now hear me out. I was prepared to give you this speech at some point. I figured it would be a bit sooner, perhaps in the spring when we heard about you and Harry, however—”
“So, you’d be torturing me like this whether it is Harry or Draco? Well, at least you are fair!” She laughed.
Arthur turned and faced his daughter. “And how does Harry feel about all this?” He studied Ginny’s face, looking for a reaction.
“Dad, I know Harry’s like a son to you and the last thing you want is for him to be is hurt, but he is. And, it’s my fault. But… I can’t help the way I feel now about Draco, just as Harry couldn’t help but feel the way he did when he broke up with me in the first place,” she sighed.
“But his reasons weren’t for someone else, Ginny. You’re not doing this to get to Harry, are you?” Ginny rolled her eyes. “As much as I may not like Lucius Malfoy, the son is not the father. I don’t want Draco to get hurt in all this either. It could ruin any chances we have of him being on our side for good.”
“I really do like him dad! I’ve gotten to know a side of him that no one else sees. He’s had a hard past. Ron thinks Draco should’ve had it easy because of all his family’s money but—”
“Yes, yes dear. I can imagine Lucius’s parenting skills left much to be desired.”
“He told me,” Ginny began quietly, “about how he used to hear his parent’s fight and his mum would walk the next day as though she were hurt although there were no physical signs of injury. I think Mr. Malfoy hit Draco, too, but he won’t talk about it. He told me that he was so desperate for his father’s respect and love that he tried just about anything— including what happened at the end of the school year.”
Arthur sighed and nodded. “Ginny, I’d prefer it if from now on, as long as Draco is our guest, you two remain in the company of your mother or brothers. I don’t want you two in each other’s rooms alone, and I really don’t like the idea of you being out on the grounds alone. Try to keep in viewing distance of the house, will you?”
“Ugh, fine,” Ginny huffed, blushing. “Is that all?”
Arthur nodded and shook his head, laughing, as he watched his pride and joy, his only daughter, head back into the house.
xxxxxxx
Two nights later, Ginny had barely settled into bed and slept little less than half an hour when there was a knock at her door. She groggily opened her eyes and stuck her head up out from the covers to see her mum crossing the room towards her.
“Ginny, you’ve got to come downstairs.”
Ginny nodded wondering what in the name of Merlin was going on, put on her slippers and followed her mum out into the hallway.
“Narcissa Malfoy and Severus Snape are here with your father. They’ve come to get Draco. It’s not safe— someone knows he is here! The rest of us will all leave to go to the Order. I’ll get everyone else up in a minute.”
“Okay,” Ginny said, yawning and scratching her head.
“He’s asked to see you before they go.”
Ginny nodded again, opening her eyes more fully and seeming to understand more what was happening. She headed down towards the kitchen and could hear hushed voices. Draco crossed to her immediately.
“I didn’t want to leave without seeing you first,” he said as he took her arm and led her over by the fireplace. Snape’s jaw dropped as he gaped at the sight before him. Narcissa didn’t seem to be noticing anything; she was too busy looking at her surroundings as though she smelled something foul.
Draco hugged Ginny to him and whispered, “I didn’t honestly know it would be this short. I don’t know where I’m going or when I’ll be back.”
Ginny could hear the concern and fright in his voice. She hugged him back and kissed his neck, as a tear slid down her cheek. They’d only just begun to form a bond and now it had to be broken for an indefinite period of time, maybe forever, she thought sullenly.
Draco kissed the top of Ginny’s head and Snape just about choked. At that point, he tilted her head to his and went in for the kill, just as Hermione, Ron and Harry entered the kitchen. Nothing like those three to ruin a mood, she thought. Nevertheless, Draco was focused on the matter at hand and kissed her as if he thought he might never kiss her again.
They paid no heed to Ron’s blatantly obvious choking, Hermione’s gasp, Harry’s scowling, or to anyone else around them. When they broke apart, Ginny looked up into the gray-blue eyes she’d come to adore so much.
“We’ve no time for your little romances, Draco,” Snape hissed.
At that moment, following a loud cry of “Reducto!” the door to the Burrow flew off its hinges.
Draco instinctively grabbed Ginny, shoving his body in front of her in protection. As the smoke from the blast and the dust settled, everyone was silent and still, wands drawn.
There, in the doorway of the Burrow, stood Lord Voldemort, surrounded by a number of Death Eaters, who were garbed in their disturbing masks and black robes.
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