Something To Believe
Chapter Fifteen: Home Away From Home
---
His silver eyes stared unbelieving into her warm brown eyes.
"I bet it's cabin fever," Ginny said, trying to keep the mood light, though her fingers were trembling and her palms were sweaty.
"What's that?" He was pressing his hand to his forehead, checking his temperature. She smiled.
"Being stuck here, you know, together. It's enough to drive us crazy," she shrugged.
"Oh. Right," Draco said, lowering his eyes, a delicate pink flush forming across his cheeks. Ginny couldn't help but smile at the awkwardness of the moment. She rooted around for something appropriate to say.
"Er...so your Manor is beautiful," she said, twisting the hem of her skirt in her fingers. He shrugged one shoulder, tracing a pattern on the rug with his finger.
"Was that your home? In the second Dream?"
"Yes, that was the Burrow, in all it's glory," Ginny chuckled uncomfortably.
"It was...nice."
Ginny laughed. "You don't have to lie. You want to say something like...'it's a right hovel compared to my -"
"A house does not need to be a mansion to be a home. The Manor is large and empty and cold... I mean, it's home to me, but it's always been rather lonely."
"The Burrow's quite the opposite - it's small but warm and comfortable, crowded and inviting..."
"Your mum's a bit of a packrat, isn't she?"
"Come off it," she smiled, glad they'd reached a comfortable topic - they were each missing home.
"Do you want to come with me? When I go to the Manor?" He was looking up at her, with an uncharacteristically timid look in his eyes.
"I'd like that. But shouldn't I stay back to work on the potion?"
"Oh, well most of the ingredients are ready, we're a bit ahead of schedule. I think we could afford to take a day off."
"You got any open fields on your estate?"
He arched an eyebrow at this, clearly thinking of the first Daydream she'd shown him. He nodded slowly, uncertainly.
"Think we could go for a fly? You know, on brooms?"
He smiled, broadly, and nodded again, this time more enthusiastically. Ginny was taken aback a moment by the way the simple gesture lit up his face. Like her silly Daydreams. Where his smile transformed his face and he was almost...friendly...and happy.
She was about to comment on his charming smile, wondering if he'd react with a blush or a boast, when they heard the front door slam open, voices floating up from the foyer.
He stood, pulling out his wand and placing himself between the door of the study and her. She smiled at his protective instinct, finding the gesture quite different, and far more flattering, from the bothersome nature of her brothers.
"Maybe it's Tonks?" she suggested, peaking around his arm, up at him.
"Then we'd have heard the umbrella stand," he said seriously. A moment's pause...and they both started to laugh. Poor Tonks. Her arch nemesis was that awful troll's leg.
The mood in the room changed in an instant and Ginny couldn't help but wonder where their conversation might have led if they hadn't been interrupted.
---
"There's been another jailbreak from Azkaban. About five Death Eaters," Harry said, pacing around the kitchen.
Draco looked up, and said, "My father?"
Harry nodded. Draco swore under his breath.
"We're not sure where they are, at this point, but looks like they managed to get out with help from the giants," Hermione explained. "Since there's no dementors at the Prison, the security has been rather lax, to say the least."
Ginny watched Draco, whose mind seemed to be racing.
"There'll be an Order meeting tomorrow evening, hopefully our members at the Ministry can tell us what's happening. I'm sure they'll manage to find them," Hermione continued. She placed a hand on Draco's wrist and said, "It'll be fine."
Ginny's heart clenched in her chest upon seeing Hermione touch Draco and she mentally pinched herself for feeling jealous. She stood abruptly and asked, "Tea?"
Hermione gestured for her to sit, while she stood and moved to the counter.
"Watch out for those eggs, those are important."
"I'm not touching the stove, Draco - relax."
"So you lot staying until tomorrow's meeting?" Ginny asked, fidgeting in her seat beside Draco at the scrubbed kitchen table. Ron was eying Draco carefully, while Harry yawned wide and stretched.
"We're only here for a quick refresh. Figure we might as well stay for the meeting. We'll be out again after that," Ron explained.
"Ron, you want tea?"
"Oh," he said, watching with narrowed eyes as Hermione served Draco first. "Yeah."
"Where have you three been? I thought you were at the Burrow for a few days."
"Yes, just two days. Needed that break," said Harry, blowing to cool his tea. "Been out there since. We headed a raid down south, before coming back here..." He looked like he could barely keep his eyes open.
"A raid? What sort of raid?" Ginny asked. Instead of answering, Harry yawned again.
"Catch anyone?" Draco asked, sipping his tea, demurely.
"Wouldn't you like to know, Malfoy," growled Ron.
"Well, yes I would," he snarled back, using the same tone as Ron.
"Stop it, both of you," said Harry.
"Well, we took your advice, Draco. We were spotted by the Death Eaters and we managed two captures - the Carrows, was it? Yes, there will be Ministry dealings and publicity as well. It worked wonderfully," said Hermione, toasting Draco with her cup.
"Of course, now we'll have to be very careful the next few weeks," said Ron, frowning at Draco. "Especially with the fugitives out now."
Ginny struggled to keep up with this conversation. She saw the smug look on Draco's face and knew that he wouldn't tell her about this development. Perhaps she could get some information out of Hermione later.
"This is amazing, did you make this, Draco?" Hermione was standing by the color-coded schedule on the wall, taking in the detail, noting how far along they had come with the potion.
"Yes, needed something to keep little Weasley in line," he drawled. Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled. For some reason, Ron seemed to find their interaction a bit comforting, because he stopped glaring at Draco and shrugged.
"Oh," yawned Harry, "Perhaps we should have some coffee instead...Anyone know a spell for that?" He was eying the contents of his teacup, accusingly. Instead of waiting for a response, he stood and set his cup in the sink.
He gestured at Ginny to follow him. He left the kitchen, starting up the stairs.
"Go on, we'll be up in a minute," said Ron.
Ginny rose from the table, abandoning her tea, pausing a moment at the door, looking over her shoulder. Draco was sitting with his arms crossed, watching her, while Hermione resumed perusing the schedule, asking him questions about their progress. Ron shuffled to the cupboard, rummaging for biscuits. When the kitchen door shut behind her, she rushed to follow Harry.
"You alright, Harry?"
He was slowly stomping up the staircase to the room that he usually shared with Ron. He stretched and from behind him, Ginny noticed his shirt rode up, revealing a bit of his back.
"As good as I can be, I suppose," he answered, twisting the doorknob to his room and tumbling in. She followed him in and shut the door quietly. He stumbled a bit to the bed and sat down heavily.
"Did you want to talk to me?"
"Yeah - I've been wanting to ask how you've been coping with Malfoy?"
"He's really been... alright," Ginny said slowly, thinking about the past three agonizing days. "We've been pretty busy working on the potion, Mum came by today for dinner. Things are fine, Harry, don't have to worry," she smiled, sitting down on Ron's bed, crossing her legs under her.
"Oh, but I do have to worry, Ginny," he said, bending to untie his trainers. He removed them and started peeling off his socks, wriggling his toes.
"And why is that, Harry? Worried about big, bad Malfoy? Think he'll do something nasty to the little girl? Make me cry?"
"I'm worried about you. He's not a good guy, it's just not in him. You need to be careful. And keep your distance."
"How ironic," she sighed. Hadn't he told her the very same advice - keep a distance?
"What's ironic?"
"He told me the same thing."
"Well, that goes to show that he may be bad, but at least he's smart. So work on the potion, but don't get attached or anything. He's a Death Eater, for crying out loud."
"He's as much a Death Eater as I am, Harry."
"That doesn't make sense. You don't know what you're - "
"Don't tell me I don't make sense! I do, too! He was forced into it, like I was with the whole Chamber-"
He stood up.
"Ginny, you don't have a damn Mark on your arm! He took that Mark willingly, but you didn't try to give Tom Riddle your soul on purpose."
She unfolded her legs and stood, as well.
"And how would you know, Harry?"
"What?"
"I know I never brought this up, but did you ever think to ask me about it? How I felt? If I ever thought about it? You never cared before - so don't talk about it like you know anything!"
"What? You never told me...I didn't ask because...Well... you didn't want to give him your soul, did you?"
"No, of course not, don't be daft. Anyway, I was saying that he didn't want to take the Mark, either - he was forced into it - Voldemort threatened to kill him," Ginny paused when Harry snorted, "He was trying to protect his family - "
"Yeah, I know all about that. He told me the same rubbish. Protecting his family. As if they're worth protecting! He should have just refused and let them die, it would have saved us all a lot of trouble!"
"How dare you?" Ginny's hands clenched into tight fists. "That's the cruelest thing you could say about someone's family, Harry! And coming from you, someone who's lived without his parents his whole life, I thought you'd have more sympathy than that!"
"You've had the pleasure of meeting his father, Ginny - and you know what a bastard he is – now he's on the loose! And you may not have gotten to know his mother, but she's - "
"Stop it!" she screeched, shoving him in the chest. Harry was shocked for a moment. Then he looked down at her with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry."
"If you hate him so much, why did you vouch for him, Harry?"
"Dumbledore...that night on the ramparts... I was there, Ginny. I watched Draco lower his wand when Dumbledore offered him a way out. It's not something I'd have expected or something I'd have done for Malfoy. I did it for Dumbledore."
Ginny swallowed, her mind reeling. Harry had been there when Draco...
"Listen, I didn't want us to fight over this. I just wanted to warn you."
"Warn me?" Ginny crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head, almost knowing exactly where this was leading.
"Y-yes," he faltered, "Your mum let slip that you two were getting along...what'd she say... 'swimmingly'... and I can't have that!"
"You can't have that! What does it matter to you?"
Harry heaved a sigh. The conversation was apparently not going as he'd have liked. He took a step toward her and lightly put his hands on her shoulders. When she didn't pull away, he stepped closer, letting his hands slide down her arms to take hold of her hands.
"I care about you, Ginny."
She froze at the words, unable to react. Her mind raced, trying to recall him ever using that phrase. The closest he'd ever come to admitting his feelings was 'I like you very much', a phrase over which she'd been ecstatic for a week.
And for a moment, she wished these new words had a greater impact on her than they did.
Before he could lean down closer to her, there was a rough knock at the door and it swung open. Ron bustled in, looking slightly surprised at the intimate stance between his little sister and his best friend.
"I have to go," Ginny murmured, pulling away from Harry. "There are fresh towels in the loo, Mum changed your sheets, should be fine... There's a lantern under there... Of course, you lot can use your wands for light. I'll just go check on Hermione and get to bed as well. Good night," Ginny called as she left the room. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it breathlessly.
---
"What are you doing? Get to bed," Draco said. He was sitting at the kitchen table, thumbing through a Potions text, not bothering to look up at her.
Ginny ignored him, starting to wash the teacups by hand. Her mind was still racing from talking to Harry.
She kept wondering why she wasn't thinking about his shirt riding up, like she had when Draco's shirt had done the same thing. She kept wondering why Harry's delicate touch seemed very inadequate, for Merlin's sake, they'd already snogged countless times. She kept wondering at his choice of words - he cared for her? - and she wondered why she felt nothing about it.
A teacup slipped from her soapy hand, landing with a crash in the sink, where it broke. She swore loudly. A shard sliced her finger, leaving a long, shallow cut.
"Let me see," Draco called. He didn't stand up, but he looked up at her expectantly, holding out his hand.
"It's nothing, I'm fine."
"Just let me see it, Weasley," he drawled, standing up. He walked around to the sink. He waved his wand and the teacup was reformed. "Picked up that spell from my clumsy cousin."
"Tonks?"
"She's frighteningly good at spells of that sort. Tell me what I should do for this," he said, taking her hand in his large one. She swallowed and couldn't stop it from trembling.
"I don't know," she answered, looking up at him. He frowned.
"I thought you wanted to be a Healer. You should know some basic things by now," he said.
"We don't usually get things this minor healed up. And if it's bad, we'd go to the Hospital Wing or at home, my mum usually does the healing. She's got a decent book of simple spells for minor stuff. But it's at the Burrow," Ginny said, looking up to see Draco examining her small wound carefully. She smiled at his gentle manner.
He let go of her hand and summoned a long strip of linen and a roll of tape. He wound the linen around her finger.
"Is that too tight?"
"No, it's fine."
"This is really rather pathetic. For someone aspiring to be a Healer. Having her own wound tended to in this manner. I mean, honestly, Weasley."
She stayed silent as he taped the linen tightly in place. He leaned down over her, inspecting her bandaged finger. "That better?"
"Yes. Thank you," she managed to answer. Their proximity, the tender way he was holding her hand, leaning down close - oh God, was that his cologne? - was all making her a little dizzy.
"What were you so galled about?" he grinned at her, arching an eyebrow.
"I was not galled. I'm not angry," she answered, pulling her hand from his warm grasp. He straightened and stared down at her, eyebrow still arched.
"Right, Weasley," he drawled, sitting back down. "So what did Potter want to tell you? To stay away from me?"
"Yeah, pretty much," she answered.
"And what'd you say? That you'd be a good girl and keep away from the dirty Death Eater?"
"Is that what I should have said? Oh, bugger, and there I wasted all that time defending you," she said, trying to sound casual, as she examined her dressed finger.
"Why on Earth would you do something as stupid as that?"
"It's stupid? To defend your friends?"
"Ah, there you go again, saying we're friends," he smirked.
She swallowed nervously before looking up at him. "So about earlier?"
"Yes?" His eyes locked with hers.
"Are we going to pretend that stuff didn't happen?"
"Well, technically, it didn't happen - "
"You know what I mean, Draco," she cut in, her voice was a whisper.
"Look, it's like you said - we're just stuck here together - that's all. It's not as though you fancy me or anything."
Before she could think, her mouth was open with words spilling out. "And if I did?"
He stared at her a moment, as though taking her in for the first time. He lowered his eyes slowly.
"Look, Weasley," he said in a quiet, patient voice, "You're just interested in me because for months I've been the only male you've had any contact with - who isn't your father or your brother. Or Potter," he added as an afterthought, "Who's actually enough to turn you off to boys all together."
She let out an uneasy breath, hoping it sounded like a laugh. Oh no, now I'll be all nervous around him, oh no!
"It's alright, Weasley. We both know - we both - " He broke off, his voice oddly heavy with emotion, leaving unsaid what they were both thinking.
They were both thinking that they were not meant for each other. Not meant to be together.
And yet, here they were. They were relying on each other in their times of need, depending on one another in times of weakness, and watching as their strange imprisonment developed into an even stranger friendship.
Ginny shrugged. "So what about your father?"
"I'm not sure. He's terrified of the Dark Lord. He may even hate him as much as I do, but yet I imagine he'll be rather angry when he hears that I've abandoned his Lord for the Order. He'll probably be looking for me and... my mother."
"She's safe."
"Yes, I know."
"And you're safe, too," Ginny said softly. He looked at her and smiled. Ginny resisted the urge to hug him.
"Aren't you going to bed? It's late," Ginny said.
"Yes, I suppose we should. We'll try to finish up the moonstone by noon tomorrow. That way there's little left to do when your mother comes around. And maybe if she's free and if I ask nicely, she'll make that splendid roast of hers," he said as he stood and gathered his notes and potions book.
"That's one of my favorites!"
"Judging by your weight, Weasley, you have many favorites!" he said, having to run up the stairs to avoid Ginny's physical attack.
---
"Hermione, what were you all talking about last night? The raid?"
She looked up from the heavy book she'd been flipping through.
"Well, it was all Malfoy - er, Draco's idea. He'd said he probably wasn't the only one who noticed that since the funeral, Harry'd basically disappeared off the radar," Hermione said. Ginny gave her a confused look and she reiterated, "Basically he'd been off the map."
"Ok, so what?"
"So, Malfoy's point was that if we've disappeared like that, where nobody knows where we are, what we're doing, we'll be raising all sorts of suspicions."
"Well, who cares what the Ministry thinks? And most people must realize by now that the papers are all - "
"But, you see, it's not the Ministry or the Prophet that we're worried about. Draco suggested that if we wanted to continue our secret mission without rousing the suspicion from Voldemort and his followers - we should make it appear as though we're only in hiding to try and root out some Death Eaters! That way, there's not much suspicion as to what we're really doing." Hermione looked rather proud.
"And what are you really doing?" Ginny asked, looking hopeful.
"We're - " Hermione deflated a little. "Nice try, Ginny. Anyway, I can tell you that Draco's idea has been pretty clever and it's worked well so far. If we want to go up North, without anyone knowing - we stage a huge raid down South, act like we're planning on sticking around there. Meanwhile, it's been the Order doing most of the dirty work. And it's actually been a lucky coincidence that we actually managed to catch quite a few Death Eaters in this manner."
"What's going to happen to them?"
"A trial, I suppose. But you know how those go. They're all going to Azkaban, regardless of what they say. And don't get me wrong, most of them deserve it. But those who don't - "
"Like Draco."
"They'd need a miracle to keep them out. They'd actually need someone like Dumble - " Hermione snapped her mouth closed, and Ginny sighed. Both girls stared sullenly into their teacups.
"I really miss him. I don't know what we'll do without him," Hermione sighed.
"He was so wonderful to me," Ginny whispered. Hermione looked at her questioningly. "He used to have me up to his office once a month for tea. Just me, him, and some lemondrops. You know, he confided in me that the lemondrops were loaded with Veritaserum."
Hermione gasped. "I'd always suspected something of the sort!"
"That was a joke, Hermione. He sure loved his candy, though."
They both went back to staring into their teacups. It was a few moments before the kitchen door smoothly opened. Draco Malfoy entered, wearing his pajamas and his thick silk dressing robe, looking slightly uncomfortable after seeing Hermione.
"I forgot you were still here," he muttered, his hands instinctively trying to adjust his mussed hair.
She'd seen him like this for many mornings. The pajamas and the dressing robe. His tousled hair. When she had thought about it, cracking eggs over a pan, or watching sausages sizzle, she figured it was a rather intimate thing. Seeing each other every morning, in pajamas, undone. Unmade. Something they shared from the beginning, as though it were rather natural, completely normal.
But suddenly, Ginny felt rather uncomfortable about seeing Draco in this state. It made her feel very hot, her face flushed. Ginny's arm jerked toward her, a nervous twitch, sending her teacup crashing to the floor.
"Oh bugger, I'll get that," she mumbled, leaning down. Her arm other arm swept across the table, knocking over the sugar bowl. Ginny realized she probably was likely to do more damage with each move, so she straightened up, arms at her sides and pleadingly stared ahead at Hermione.
Hermione waved her wand and reformed the teacup on the floor. She righted the sugarbowl with her free hand, and she leaned conspiratorially over the table and whispered, "Tonks? Is that you?" Ginny shot her a glare.
Draco bent to pick up the teacup on the floor. He placed it in the sink. "Nice work, Weasley! Two cups in as many days! Going for a record?"
"Oh, stuff it, Malfoy," she said, determined to sit absolutely still.
"Well at least you didn't hurt yourself this time," he said, smirking.
Hermione stood and shuffled to the door, saying, "I'd better see what those boys are up to."
Draco sat in his place and pulled the plate of toast closer. He reached for a small knife and turned to Ginny. She propped her head up on her elbow and looked at him expectantly. He pressed his lips together and then started to chuckle.
Ginny was momentarily distracted by his musical laugh. She felt something squishy on her elbow but couldn't tear herself away from his sparkling gray eyes to check what it was.
He leaned closer to her, his eyes still full of mirth. He smirked and said, "Can you pass the butter, please?"
Horrified, she realized what was seeping through the elbow of her sleeve.
---
"That's quite a mountain of moonstone powder, dear," commented Molly, opening the door to the oven. She waved her wand and guided the roast to the table, which Ginny had set for six.
"You should see the amount of ginger roots in the icebox," she replied, dryly.
"Yes, well, seems you'll be ready to start brewing," her mum said, placing a bowl of sauteed potatoes beside the roast. She checked the stove, where green beans were boiling in a small pot beside the dragon eggs.
"I suppose so," Ginny said, frowning as she remembered that Draco planned to leave once the potion was brewed.
"I think that's everything. Why don't you call Draco? And the others. I'll open us a bottle of wine," said Molly. Ginny raised her eyebrows, amused, as she went up the stairs to the study, where Draco was reviewing another set of owls that Molly had brought.
Ginny knocked at the door to the study. She turned the doorknob with trepidation.
She found Draco sitting at the desk, leaning over to whisper fervently to Hermione who was sitting in the chair nearest him by the window. They both stopped talking and turned to look at Ginny.
"Erm... Time for your roast, Draco," she said, watching him roll up a parchment.
"Our roast, Weasley," he said, grinning at her. Hermione stood and nervously brushed her skirt with her hands.
"I'll go call the boys," she said, brushing past Ginny with a tiny smile.
"You finished with those?"
"Yes, only just."
"She's opening wine."
"That'll be lovely. I mentioned it last time. That a nice red would go great with her roast."
Ginny grinned. He used the word lovely to describe dinner with her and her mother. It made her heart flutter a bit.
She shuffled behind him, following him back down to the kitchen. They entered to find that Molly had poured the wine and also lit several candles at the table.
"Mrs. Weasley, you really shouldn't have gone to so much trouble," he said as he sat at his place, pulling a napkin across his lap. "Your meals are delectable even without such embellishments."
"Come now, it's the least I can do to change up the scenery for both of you. Please sit. Ginny, here," she directed Ginny to the seat beside Draco. Ginny sat down nervously, because, though she'd managed to avoid further embarrassment in front of Draco since breakfast, she was afraid that she'd have worse luck during dinner.
Hermione entered with Ron and Harry following closely behind her. Harry scowled at seeing Ginny sitting next to Malfoy. Mrs. Weasley vaguely gestured for them all to sit.
"Tonks has been assigned to take you to the Manor tomorrow," Molly said taking a sip from her goblet.
Ginny glanced at Draco, wondering if he'd remembered inviting her along.
"Mrs. Weasley, I'd like to ask your permission to take Ginevra with us," he said. Ron sniggered loudly through a mouthful of roast. Harry clenched his goblet tightly and took a large swig.
"No need with such formalities, Draco. And why would you want to take her? She'll just be bothersome, really," Molly said, taking a bite.
"Mum!"
"No, I've promised her a day out."
"I don't think it's such a good idea," Harry muttered. "Don't forget that your father is on the loose."
"There won't be an issue of safety," Draco drawled. "We'll be going to a private location, with an Auror guard."
Molly looked from Draco to Harry and back. She smiled, wryly.
"She can go."
"Yes!" cried Ginny, sloshing her wine from her goblet as she punched the air with her other hand a little too excitedly.
Draco arched an eyebrow and tucked into the roast.
---
Late that evening, Ginny was sitting on her bed, perusing her paperback novel. From downstairs, she could hear Order members, finally finished with their meeting, coming up the stairs from the kitchen. She heard the front door open and a few voices as people stepped outside.
She put her book down at the sound of several people coming up the stairs to her room. There was a gentle knock at her door.
"Come in, Dad," she said, smiling. He opened the door and stepped through, followed by Bill, Charlie, and George. Ginny stood and went to hug Charlie, who she hadn't seen since he'd returned to England. He chuckled.
"I knew I was your favorite," he said.
"Merlin, I haven't seen you in ages," said Bill, sweeping her up in his arms. Ginny smiled up at his scarred face.
"You're too busy with your little wife, you've no time for the other girls in your life!"
Ginny's father laughed and put his arm around her shoulders.
"How have you been holding up? I'm so jealous of Molly, she gets to see you all the time!"
"I've been fine, Daddy."
"The potion coming along?"
"Yes...but I'm sure you've already talked about it in depth with Draco," she said, watching her father smile and shrug.
"Dad's been breathing down his neck about it, constantly," said George, folding his arms across his broad chest.
"Can you blame him, George? I'm his baby girl!"
Arthur placed a hand on Ginny's hair. "Yes, my baby girl," he whispered, patting her head gently. Ginny frowned at his tone.
"Ok, what's wrong?"
Her father blinked and smiled. "Nothing... I just still get emotional about... Well. It doesn't matter, everything seems to be working out just... swimmingly." His smile widened and his eyebrows went up.
"Oh, no, Mum's told you that, too?" Ginny buried her face in her hands.
"There's nothing wrong with that, Ginny," George said, so sincerely, "Malfoy's really not a bad guy."
Ginny sighed. She felt her face flushing.
"It's not like that. We're friends."
"I know, Gin," her father said, patting her back, "I'm glad for it. He is a good kid and he can use some friends. Merlin knows, Harry isn't trying. Despite vouching for him."
"I've never seen anyone give someone that hard a time," Bill said, half under his breath.
"I think he's just jealous," George said, smirking at Ginny, waggling his eyebrows. Ginny groaned.
"Can we please change the subject?" Ginny begged.
Bill laughed and ruffled the top of Ginny's head. "I'd better go see if Fleur is ready to go."
"I'd better see if I can pull Fred away from Angelina. Or vice versa!" George tapped the tip of Ginny's nose with one finger and followed Bill out the door.
"Bye, Ginny, I'll be back to see you soon. I'll definitely be here when it's time for you to... well... I'll be back before the potion is finished, certainly," said Arthur, pulling his only daughter in for a tight hug.
"Daddy, where have you and Mum been staying? I worry about you."
"Let's just say I'm grateful Aunt Muriel doesn't snore..."
Ginny giggled when her father shuddered. She watched him leave and turned to Charlie.
"I'm glad you're back, Charlie."
"Me, too. I've been away for too long..." his voice trailed off. They stood quietly for a minute.
"Gin, I wanted to talk to you about Malfoy."
She didn't say anything but shrugged to indicate she was listening.
"I don't mean to presume too much, but the way Mum goes on and on about him, I'm guessing he's a decent bloke."
Ginny nodded, refusing to meet Charlie's eyes.
"During dinner, Fred was teasing Malfoy about how he may feel about you... and despite Malfoy's harsh response, I could tell that he cares about you...a lot."
He cares about me. Ginny's heart sped up and her breath hitched in her throat.
"He said there'd never be anything between you two..." Charlie rubbed his freckled neck and smiled. "Mum nearly burst into tears!"
Ginny nearly laughed. "Oh, Mum..."
"When he said that, I just thought... well I could just see the heartache behind his eyes when he said that."
"I don't know what I can do," Ginny whispered.
"Just give him something to believe, Ginny."
Chapter Fifteen: Home Away From Home
---
His silver eyes stared unbelieving into her warm brown eyes.
"I bet it's cabin fever," Ginny said, trying to keep the mood light, though her fingers were trembling and her palms were sweaty.
"What's that?" He was pressing his hand to his forehead, checking his temperature. She smiled.
"Being stuck here, you know, together. It's enough to drive us crazy," she shrugged.
"Oh. Right," Draco said, lowering his eyes, a delicate pink flush forming across his cheeks. Ginny couldn't help but smile at the awkwardness of the moment. She rooted around for something appropriate to say.
"Er...so your Manor is beautiful," she said, twisting the hem of her skirt in her fingers. He shrugged one shoulder, tracing a pattern on the rug with his finger.
"Was that your home? In the second Dream?"
"Yes, that was the Burrow, in all it's glory," Ginny chuckled uncomfortably.
"It was...nice."
Ginny laughed. "You don't have to lie. You want to say something like...'it's a right hovel compared to my -"
"A house does not need to be a mansion to be a home. The Manor is large and empty and cold... I mean, it's home to me, but it's always been rather lonely."
"The Burrow's quite the opposite - it's small but warm and comfortable, crowded and inviting..."
"Your mum's a bit of a packrat, isn't she?"
"Come off it," she smiled, glad they'd reached a comfortable topic - they were each missing home.
"Do you want to come with me? When I go to the Manor?" He was looking up at her, with an uncharacteristically timid look in his eyes.
"I'd like that. But shouldn't I stay back to work on the potion?"
"Oh, well most of the ingredients are ready, we're a bit ahead of schedule. I think we could afford to take a day off."
"You got any open fields on your estate?"
He arched an eyebrow at this, clearly thinking of the first Daydream she'd shown him. He nodded slowly, uncertainly.
"Think we could go for a fly? You know, on brooms?"
He smiled, broadly, and nodded again, this time more enthusiastically. Ginny was taken aback a moment by the way the simple gesture lit up his face. Like her silly Daydreams. Where his smile transformed his face and he was almost...friendly...and happy.
She was about to comment on his charming smile, wondering if he'd react with a blush or a boast, when they heard the front door slam open, voices floating up from the foyer.
He stood, pulling out his wand and placing himself between the door of the study and her. She smiled at his protective instinct, finding the gesture quite different, and far more flattering, from the bothersome nature of her brothers.
"Maybe it's Tonks?" she suggested, peaking around his arm, up at him.
"Then we'd have heard the umbrella stand," he said seriously. A moment's pause...and they both started to laugh. Poor Tonks. Her arch nemesis was that awful troll's leg.
The mood in the room changed in an instant and Ginny couldn't help but wonder where their conversation might have led if they hadn't been interrupted.
---
"There's been another jailbreak from Azkaban. About five Death Eaters," Harry said, pacing around the kitchen.
Draco looked up, and said, "My father?"
Harry nodded. Draco swore under his breath.
"We're not sure where they are, at this point, but looks like they managed to get out with help from the giants," Hermione explained. "Since there's no dementors at the Prison, the security has been rather lax, to say the least."
Ginny watched Draco, whose mind seemed to be racing.
"There'll be an Order meeting tomorrow evening, hopefully our members at the Ministry can tell us what's happening. I'm sure they'll manage to find them," Hermione continued. She placed a hand on Draco's wrist and said, "It'll be fine."
Ginny's heart clenched in her chest upon seeing Hermione touch Draco and she mentally pinched herself for feeling jealous. She stood abruptly and asked, "Tea?"
Hermione gestured for her to sit, while she stood and moved to the counter.
"Watch out for those eggs, those are important."
"I'm not touching the stove, Draco - relax."
"So you lot staying until tomorrow's meeting?" Ginny asked, fidgeting in her seat beside Draco at the scrubbed kitchen table. Ron was eying Draco carefully, while Harry yawned wide and stretched.
"We're only here for a quick refresh. Figure we might as well stay for the meeting. We'll be out again after that," Ron explained.
"Ron, you want tea?"
"Oh," he said, watching with narrowed eyes as Hermione served Draco first. "Yeah."
"Where have you three been? I thought you were at the Burrow for a few days."
"Yes, just two days. Needed that break," said Harry, blowing to cool his tea. "Been out there since. We headed a raid down south, before coming back here..." He looked like he could barely keep his eyes open.
"A raid? What sort of raid?" Ginny asked. Instead of answering, Harry yawned again.
"Catch anyone?" Draco asked, sipping his tea, demurely.
"Wouldn't you like to know, Malfoy," growled Ron.
"Well, yes I would," he snarled back, using the same tone as Ron.
"Stop it, both of you," said Harry.
"Well, we took your advice, Draco. We were spotted by the Death Eaters and we managed two captures - the Carrows, was it? Yes, there will be Ministry dealings and publicity as well. It worked wonderfully," said Hermione, toasting Draco with her cup.
"Of course, now we'll have to be very careful the next few weeks," said Ron, frowning at Draco. "Especially with the fugitives out now."
Ginny struggled to keep up with this conversation. She saw the smug look on Draco's face and knew that he wouldn't tell her about this development. Perhaps she could get some information out of Hermione later.
"This is amazing, did you make this, Draco?" Hermione was standing by the color-coded schedule on the wall, taking in the detail, noting how far along they had come with the potion.
"Yes, needed something to keep little Weasley in line," he drawled. Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled. For some reason, Ron seemed to find their interaction a bit comforting, because he stopped glaring at Draco and shrugged.
"Oh," yawned Harry, "Perhaps we should have some coffee instead...Anyone know a spell for that?" He was eying the contents of his teacup, accusingly. Instead of waiting for a response, he stood and set his cup in the sink.
He gestured at Ginny to follow him. He left the kitchen, starting up the stairs.
"Go on, we'll be up in a minute," said Ron.
Ginny rose from the table, abandoning her tea, pausing a moment at the door, looking over her shoulder. Draco was sitting with his arms crossed, watching her, while Hermione resumed perusing the schedule, asking him questions about their progress. Ron shuffled to the cupboard, rummaging for biscuits. When the kitchen door shut behind her, she rushed to follow Harry.
"You alright, Harry?"
He was slowly stomping up the staircase to the room that he usually shared with Ron. He stretched and from behind him, Ginny noticed his shirt rode up, revealing a bit of his back.
"As good as I can be, I suppose," he answered, twisting the doorknob to his room and tumbling in. She followed him in and shut the door quietly. He stumbled a bit to the bed and sat down heavily.
"Did you want to talk to me?"
"Yeah - I've been wanting to ask how you've been coping with Malfoy?"
"He's really been... alright," Ginny said slowly, thinking about the past three agonizing days. "We've been pretty busy working on the potion, Mum came by today for dinner. Things are fine, Harry, don't have to worry," she smiled, sitting down on Ron's bed, crossing her legs under her.
"Oh, but I do have to worry, Ginny," he said, bending to untie his trainers. He removed them and started peeling off his socks, wriggling his toes.
"And why is that, Harry? Worried about big, bad Malfoy? Think he'll do something nasty to the little girl? Make me cry?"
"I'm worried about you. He's not a good guy, it's just not in him. You need to be careful. And keep your distance."
"How ironic," she sighed. Hadn't he told her the very same advice - keep a distance?
"What's ironic?"
"He told me the same thing."
"Well, that goes to show that he may be bad, but at least he's smart. So work on the potion, but don't get attached or anything. He's a Death Eater, for crying out loud."
"He's as much a Death Eater as I am, Harry."
"That doesn't make sense. You don't know what you're - "
"Don't tell me I don't make sense! I do, too! He was forced into it, like I was with the whole Chamber-"
He stood up.
"Ginny, you don't have a damn Mark on your arm! He took that Mark willingly, but you didn't try to give Tom Riddle your soul on purpose."
She unfolded her legs and stood, as well.
"And how would you know, Harry?"
"What?"
"I know I never brought this up, but did you ever think to ask me about it? How I felt? If I ever thought about it? You never cared before - so don't talk about it like you know anything!"
"What? You never told me...I didn't ask because...Well... you didn't want to give him your soul, did you?"
"No, of course not, don't be daft. Anyway, I was saying that he didn't want to take the Mark, either - he was forced into it - Voldemort threatened to kill him," Ginny paused when Harry snorted, "He was trying to protect his family - "
"Yeah, I know all about that. He told me the same rubbish. Protecting his family. As if they're worth protecting! He should have just refused and let them die, it would have saved us all a lot of trouble!"
"How dare you?" Ginny's hands clenched into tight fists. "That's the cruelest thing you could say about someone's family, Harry! And coming from you, someone who's lived without his parents his whole life, I thought you'd have more sympathy than that!"
"You've had the pleasure of meeting his father, Ginny - and you know what a bastard he is – now he's on the loose! And you may not have gotten to know his mother, but she's - "
"Stop it!" she screeched, shoving him in the chest. Harry was shocked for a moment. Then he looked down at her with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry."
"If you hate him so much, why did you vouch for him, Harry?"
"Dumbledore...that night on the ramparts... I was there, Ginny. I watched Draco lower his wand when Dumbledore offered him a way out. It's not something I'd have expected or something I'd have done for Malfoy. I did it for Dumbledore."
Ginny swallowed, her mind reeling. Harry had been there when Draco...
"Listen, I didn't want us to fight over this. I just wanted to warn you."
"Warn me?" Ginny crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head, almost knowing exactly where this was leading.
"Y-yes," he faltered, "Your mum let slip that you two were getting along...what'd she say... 'swimmingly'... and I can't have that!"
"You can't have that! What does it matter to you?"
Harry heaved a sigh. The conversation was apparently not going as he'd have liked. He took a step toward her and lightly put his hands on her shoulders. When she didn't pull away, he stepped closer, letting his hands slide down her arms to take hold of her hands.
"I care about you, Ginny."
She froze at the words, unable to react. Her mind raced, trying to recall him ever using that phrase. The closest he'd ever come to admitting his feelings was 'I like you very much', a phrase over which she'd been ecstatic for a week.
And for a moment, she wished these new words had a greater impact on her than they did.
Before he could lean down closer to her, there was a rough knock at the door and it swung open. Ron bustled in, looking slightly surprised at the intimate stance between his little sister and his best friend.
"I have to go," Ginny murmured, pulling away from Harry. "There are fresh towels in the loo, Mum changed your sheets, should be fine... There's a lantern under there... Of course, you lot can use your wands for light. I'll just go check on Hermione and get to bed as well. Good night," Ginny called as she left the room. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it breathlessly.
---
"What are you doing? Get to bed," Draco said. He was sitting at the kitchen table, thumbing through a Potions text, not bothering to look up at her.
Ginny ignored him, starting to wash the teacups by hand. Her mind was still racing from talking to Harry.
She kept wondering why she wasn't thinking about his shirt riding up, like she had when Draco's shirt had done the same thing. She kept wondering why Harry's delicate touch seemed very inadequate, for Merlin's sake, they'd already snogged countless times. She kept wondering at his choice of words - he cared for her? - and she wondered why she felt nothing about it.
A teacup slipped from her soapy hand, landing with a crash in the sink, where it broke. She swore loudly. A shard sliced her finger, leaving a long, shallow cut.
"Let me see," Draco called. He didn't stand up, but he looked up at her expectantly, holding out his hand.
"It's nothing, I'm fine."
"Just let me see it, Weasley," he drawled, standing up. He walked around to the sink. He waved his wand and the teacup was reformed. "Picked up that spell from my clumsy cousin."
"Tonks?"
"She's frighteningly good at spells of that sort. Tell me what I should do for this," he said, taking her hand in his large one. She swallowed and couldn't stop it from trembling.
"I don't know," she answered, looking up at him. He frowned.
"I thought you wanted to be a Healer. You should know some basic things by now," he said.
"We don't usually get things this minor healed up. And if it's bad, we'd go to the Hospital Wing or at home, my mum usually does the healing. She's got a decent book of simple spells for minor stuff. But it's at the Burrow," Ginny said, looking up to see Draco examining her small wound carefully. She smiled at his gentle manner.
He let go of her hand and summoned a long strip of linen and a roll of tape. He wound the linen around her finger.
"Is that too tight?"
"No, it's fine."
"This is really rather pathetic. For someone aspiring to be a Healer. Having her own wound tended to in this manner. I mean, honestly, Weasley."
She stayed silent as he taped the linen tightly in place. He leaned down over her, inspecting her bandaged finger. "That better?"
"Yes. Thank you," she managed to answer. Their proximity, the tender way he was holding her hand, leaning down close - oh God, was that his cologne? - was all making her a little dizzy.
"What were you so galled about?" he grinned at her, arching an eyebrow.
"I was not galled. I'm not angry," she answered, pulling her hand from his warm grasp. He straightened and stared down at her, eyebrow still arched.
"Right, Weasley," he drawled, sitting back down. "So what did Potter want to tell you? To stay away from me?"
"Yeah, pretty much," she answered.
"And what'd you say? That you'd be a good girl and keep away from the dirty Death Eater?"
"Is that what I should have said? Oh, bugger, and there I wasted all that time defending you," she said, trying to sound casual, as she examined her dressed finger.
"Why on Earth would you do something as stupid as that?"
"It's stupid? To defend your friends?"
"Ah, there you go again, saying we're friends," he smirked.
She swallowed nervously before looking up at him. "So about earlier?"
"Yes?" His eyes locked with hers.
"Are we going to pretend that stuff didn't happen?"
"Well, technically, it didn't happen - "
"You know what I mean, Draco," she cut in, her voice was a whisper.
"Look, it's like you said - we're just stuck here together - that's all. It's not as though you fancy me or anything."
Before she could think, her mouth was open with words spilling out. "And if I did?"
He stared at her a moment, as though taking her in for the first time. He lowered his eyes slowly.
"Look, Weasley," he said in a quiet, patient voice, "You're just interested in me because for months I've been the only male you've had any contact with - who isn't your father or your brother. Or Potter," he added as an afterthought, "Who's actually enough to turn you off to boys all together."
She let out an uneasy breath, hoping it sounded like a laugh. Oh no, now I'll be all nervous around him, oh no!
"It's alright, Weasley. We both know - we both - " He broke off, his voice oddly heavy with emotion, leaving unsaid what they were both thinking.
They were both thinking that they were not meant for each other. Not meant to be together.
And yet, here they were. They were relying on each other in their times of need, depending on one another in times of weakness, and watching as their strange imprisonment developed into an even stranger friendship.
Ginny shrugged. "So what about your father?"
"I'm not sure. He's terrified of the Dark Lord. He may even hate him as much as I do, but yet I imagine he'll be rather angry when he hears that I've abandoned his Lord for the Order. He'll probably be looking for me and... my mother."
"She's safe."
"Yes, I know."
"And you're safe, too," Ginny said softly. He looked at her and smiled. Ginny resisted the urge to hug him.
"Aren't you going to bed? It's late," Ginny said.
"Yes, I suppose we should. We'll try to finish up the moonstone by noon tomorrow. That way there's little left to do when your mother comes around. And maybe if she's free and if I ask nicely, she'll make that splendid roast of hers," he said as he stood and gathered his notes and potions book.
"That's one of my favorites!"
"Judging by your weight, Weasley, you have many favorites!" he said, having to run up the stairs to avoid Ginny's physical attack.
---
"Hermione, what were you all talking about last night? The raid?"
She looked up from the heavy book she'd been flipping through.
"Well, it was all Malfoy - er, Draco's idea. He'd said he probably wasn't the only one who noticed that since the funeral, Harry'd basically disappeared off the radar," Hermione said. Ginny gave her a confused look and she reiterated, "Basically he'd been off the map."
"Ok, so what?"
"So, Malfoy's point was that if we've disappeared like that, where nobody knows where we are, what we're doing, we'll be raising all sorts of suspicions."
"Well, who cares what the Ministry thinks? And most people must realize by now that the papers are all - "
"But, you see, it's not the Ministry or the Prophet that we're worried about. Draco suggested that if we wanted to continue our secret mission without rousing the suspicion from Voldemort and his followers - we should make it appear as though we're only in hiding to try and root out some Death Eaters! That way, there's not much suspicion as to what we're really doing." Hermione looked rather proud.
"And what are you really doing?" Ginny asked, looking hopeful.
"We're - " Hermione deflated a little. "Nice try, Ginny. Anyway, I can tell you that Draco's idea has been pretty clever and it's worked well so far. If we want to go up North, without anyone knowing - we stage a huge raid down South, act like we're planning on sticking around there. Meanwhile, it's been the Order doing most of the dirty work. And it's actually been a lucky coincidence that we actually managed to catch quite a few Death Eaters in this manner."
"What's going to happen to them?"
"A trial, I suppose. But you know how those go. They're all going to Azkaban, regardless of what they say. And don't get me wrong, most of them deserve it. But those who don't - "
"Like Draco."
"They'd need a miracle to keep them out. They'd actually need someone like Dumble - " Hermione snapped her mouth closed, and Ginny sighed. Both girls stared sullenly into their teacups.
"I really miss him. I don't know what we'll do without him," Hermione sighed.
"He was so wonderful to me," Ginny whispered. Hermione looked at her questioningly. "He used to have me up to his office once a month for tea. Just me, him, and some lemondrops. You know, he confided in me that the lemondrops were loaded with Veritaserum."
Hermione gasped. "I'd always suspected something of the sort!"
"That was a joke, Hermione. He sure loved his candy, though."
They both went back to staring into their teacups. It was a few moments before the kitchen door smoothly opened. Draco Malfoy entered, wearing his pajamas and his thick silk dressing robe, looking slightly uncomfortable after seeing Hermione.
"I forgot you were still here," he muttered, his hands instinctively trying to adjust his mussed hair.
She'd seen him like this for many mornings. The pajamas and the dressing robe. His tousled hair. When she had thought about it, cracking eggs over a pan, or watching sausages sizzle, she figured it was a rather intimate thing. Seeing each other every morning, in pajamas, undone. Unmade. Something they shared from the beginning, as though it were rather natural, completely normal.
But suddenly, Ginny felt rather uncomfortable about seeing Draco in this state. It made her feel very hot, her face flushed. Ginny's arm jerked toward her, a nervous twitch, sending her teacup crashing to the floor.
"Oh bugger, I'll get that," she mumbled, leaning down. Her arm other arm swept across the table, knocking over the sugar bowl. Ginny realized she probably was likely to do more damage with each move, so she straightened up, arms at her sides and pleadingly stared ahead at Hermione.
Hermione waved her wand and reformed the teacup on the floor. She righted the sugarbowl with her free hand, and she leaned conspiratorially over the table and whispered, "Tonks? Is that you?" Ginny shot her a glare.
Draco bent to pick up the teacup on the floor. He placed it in the sink. "Nice work, Weasley! Two cups in as many days! Going for a record?"
"Oh, stuff it, Malfoy," she said, determined to sit absolutely still.
"Well at least you didn't hurt yourself this time," he said, smirking.
Hermione stood and shuffled to the door, saying, "I'd better see what those boys are up to."
Draco sat in his place and pulled the plate of toast closer. He reached for a small knife and turned to Ginny. She propped her head up on her elbow and looked at him expectantly. He pressed his lips together and then started to chuckle.
Ginny was momentarily distracted by his musical laugh. She felt something squishy on her elbow but couldn't tear herself away from his sparkling gray eyes to check what it was.
He leaned closer to her, his eyes still full of mirth. He smirked and said, "Can you pass the butter, please?"
Horrified, she realized what was seeping through the elbow of her sleeve.
---
"That's quite a mountain of moonstone powder, dear," commented Molly, opening the door to the oven. She waved her wand and guided the roast to the table, which Ginny had set for six.
"You should see the amount of ginger roots in the icebox," she replied, dryly.
"Yes, well, seems you'll be ready to start brewing," her mum said, placing a bowl of sauteed potatoes beside the roast. She checked the stove, where green beans were boiling in a small pot beside the dragon eggs.
"I suppose so," Ginny said, frowning as she remembered that Draco planned to leave once the potion was brewed.
"I think that's everything. Why don't you call Draco? And the others. I'll open us a bottle of wine," said Molly. Ginny raised her eyebrows, amused, as she went up the stairs to the study, where Draco was reviewing another set of owls that Molly had brought.
Ginny knocked at the door to the study. She turned the doorknob with trepidation.
She found Draco sitting at the desk, leaning over to whisper fervently to Hermione who was sitting in the chair nearest him by the window. They both stopped talking and turned to look at Ginny.
"Erm... Time for your roast, Draco," she said, watching him roll up a parchment.
"Our roast, Weasley," he said, grinning at her. Hermione stood and nervously brushed her skirt with her hands.
"I'll go call the boys," she said, brushing past Ginny with a tiny smile.
"You finished with those?"
"Yes, only just."
"She's opening wine."
"That'll be lovely. I mentioned it last time. That a nice red would go great with her roast."
Ginny grinned. He used the word lovely to describe dinner with her and her mother. It made her heart flutter a bit.
She shuffled behind him, following him back down to the kitchen. They entered to find that Molly had poured the wine and also lit several candles at the table.
"Mrs. Weasley, you really shouldn't have gone to so much trouble," he said as he sat at his place, pulling a napkin across his lap. "Your meals are delectable even without such embellishments."
"Come now, it's the least I can do to change up the scenery for both of you. Please sit. Ginny, here," she directed Ginny to the seat beside Draco. Ginny sat down nervously, because, though she'd managed to avoid further embarrassment in front of Draco since breakfast, she was afraid that she'd have worse luck during dinner.
Hermione entered with Ron and Harry following closely behind her. Harry scowled at seeing Ginny sitting next to Malfoy. Mrs. Weasley vaguely gestured for them all to sit.
"Tonks has been assigned to take you to the Manor tomorrow," Molly said taking a sip from her goblet.
Ginny glanced at Draco, wondering if he'd remembered inviting her along.
"Mrs. Weasley, I'd like to ask your permission to take Ginevra with us," he said. Ron sniggered loudly through a mouthful of roast. Harry clenched his goblet tightly and took a large swig.
"No need with such formalities, Draco. And why would you want to take her? She'll just be bothersome, really," Molly said, taking a bite.
"Mum!"
"No, I've promised her a day out."
"I don't think it's such a good idea," Harry muttered. "Don't forget that your father is on the loose."
"There won't be an issue of safety," Draco drawled. "We'll be going to a private location, with an Auror guard."
Molly looked from Draco to Harry and back. She smiled, wryly.
"She can go."
"Yes!" cried Ginny, sloshing her wine from her goblet as she punched the air with her other hand a little too excitedly.
Draco arched an eyebrow and tucked into the roast.
---
Late that evening, Ginny was sitting on her bed, perusing her paperback novel. From downstairs, she could hear Order members, finally finished with their meeting, coming up the stairs from the kitchen. She heard the front door open and a few voices as people stepped outside.
She put her book down at the sound of several people coming up the stairs to her room. There was a gentle knock at her door.
"Come in, Dad," she said, smiling. He opened the door and stepped through, followed by Bill, Charlie, and George. Ginny stood and went to hug Charlie, who she hadn't seen since he'd returned to England. He chuckled.
"I knew I was your favorite," he said.
"Merlin, I haven't seen you in ages," said Bill, sweeping her up in his arms. Ginny smiled up at his scarred face.
"You're too busy with your little wife, you've no time for the other girls in your life!"
Ginny's father laughed and put his arm around her shoulders.
"How have you been holding up? I'm so jealous of Molly, she gets to see you all the time!"
"I've been fine, Daddy."
"The potion coming along?"
"Yes...but I'm sure you've already talked about it in depth with Draco," she said, watching her father smile and shrug.
"Dad's been breathing down his neck about it, constantly," said George, folding his arms across his broad chest.
"Can you blame him, George? I'm his baby girl!"
Arthur placed a hand on Ginny's hair. "Yes, my baby girl," he whispered, patting her head gently. Ginny frowned at his tone.
"Ok, what's wrong?"
Her father blinked and smiled. "Nothing... I just still get emotional about... Well. It doesn't matter, everything seems to be working out just... swimmingly." His smile widened and his eyebrows went up.
"Oh, no, Mum's told you that, too?" Ginny buried her face in her hands.
"There's nothing wrong with that, Ginny," George said, so sincerely, "Malfoy's really not a bad guy."
Ginny sighed. She felt her face flushing.
"It's not like that. We're friends."
"I know, Gin," her father said, patting her back, "I'm glad for it. He is a good kid and he can use some friends. Merlin knows, Harry isn't trying. Despite vouching for him."
"I've never seen anyone give someone that hard a time," Bill said, half under his breath.
"I think he's just jealous," George said, smirking at Ginny, waggling his eyebrows. Ginny groaned.
"Can we please change the subject?" Ginny begged.
Bill laughed and ruffled the top of Ginny's head. "I'd better go see if Fleur is ready to go."
"I'd better see if I can pull Fred away from Angelina. Or vice versa!" George tapped the tip of Ginny's nose with one finger and followed Bill out the door.
"Bye, Ginny, I'll be back to see you soon. I'll definitely be here when it's time for you to... well... I'll be back before the potion is finished, certainly," said Arthur, pulling his only daughter in for a tight hug.
"Daddy, where have you and Mum been staying? I worry about you."
"Let's just say I'm grateful Aunt Muriel doesn't snore..."
Ginny giggled when her father shuddered. She watched him leave and turned to Charlie.
"I'm glad you're back, Charlie."
"Me, too. I've been away for too long..." his voice trailed off. They stood quietly for a minute.
"Gin, I wanted to talk to you about Malfoy."
She didn't say anything but shrugged to indicate she was listening.
"I don't mean to presume too much, but the way Mum goes on and on about him, I'm guessing he's a decent bloke."
Ginny nodded, refusing to meet Charlie's eyes.
"During dinner, Fred was teasing Malfoy about how he may feel about you... and despite Malfoy's harsh response, I could tell that he cares about you...a lot."
He cares about me. Ginny's heart sped up and her breath hitched in her throat.
"He said there'd never be anything between you two..." Charlie rubbed his freckled neck and smiled. "Mum nearly burst into tears!"
Ginny nearly laughed. "Oh, Mum..."
"When he said that, I just thought... well I could just see the heartache behind his eyes when he said that."
"I don't know what I can do," Ginny whispered.
"Just give him something to believe, Ginny."
Author notes: What are you favorite parts? :)
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