All Harry Potter Characters don't belong to me.
The Source - Chapter Forty Four
"Speaking"
<Thinking>
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There was one more week left until Draco and all the other seventh years would graduate and everyone was very excited except Draco. He managed to take Ginny away from Harry for the afternoon while Harry had some quality time with Hermione. He took her to the roof and sat down on the floor with his legs stretched out in front so that Ginny could hop on the length of his legs. Ginny had grown a bit more now and some of her fluffy feathers were stronger and a deeper red colour. Draco didn't really have to look out for Ginny because she would never hop too far away from him.
"I miss you," Draco said gloomily as he stroked Ginny's feathers. "I hope that you'll remember everything. If you don't, then there would be nothing left for me to live for."
Draco took in a deep breath and looked out at the landscape. "I know it is hard to understand what I feel for you when I don't know you that well, but though I might not know what your favourite colour is or what your favourite book is, I know who you are." Draco looked down at Ginny who had perched herself on his left leg and was now looking up at him. "Can you understand what I'm saying?" Draco asked hopefully but Ginny just used her break to ruffle her feathers. He picked Ginny up in his hands and lifted her up close to his sad face. "You once said that I knew more about you than anyone else did. In return, you are the only one who knows me so deeply. Not another person in this world knows me better than you do, and I don't want to let anyone know me. You're the only one for me Ginny; there will never be anyone else, no matter how things work out."
Draco closed his eyes and pressed them tightly together. "I'd give anything to see you healthy and normal again," He whispered.
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Draco graduated a week ago along with his entire fellow seventh year school mates. His mother and butler had come to the ceremony where his mother had cried and Draco was happy that he graduated. But when it was time to leave, he didn't want to because then he wouldn't know if Ginny was able to turn back into a person or not.
Draco held in his hands a bottle of his medicine. This was his last dose and then he would be cured forever. After he drank this, it would be the end of his bargain with Ginny. The bargain that had started everything.
"Don't worry, Malfoy," Harry said to him softly. "I'm staying at the burrow for the first three weeks, and if Ginny turns back I'm sure she'll contact you, but if she doesn't…well I'll notify you."
"Thanks Potter," Draco said, and only then did he willingly go home. Draco was kept busy the first week back home because he was now officially the owner of all the Malfoy investments. Draco wasn't that interested in business but he loved being rich, so he forced himself to deal with the finances. The book Ginny had given him came in very handy that week.
The week flew by pretty fast and when Draco least expected, an owl came for him. He ripped open the letter furiously and read the words from a trembling piece of paper because his hands were shaking.
On the roof
Tomorrow noon
Draco understood the message immediately. He took a deep breath and held the massage tightly in his hands. He was going to fly back to Hogwarts and go to their roof.
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Draco arrived at Hogwarts early so he spent a lot of time waiting and thinking. He stared out into the landscape and held his hands behind his back nervously. Dumbledore said that if Ginny remembered everything then she would be able to turn back into a person, but if she couldn't then she would forever remain a bird. When it was exactly noon, a dot could bee seen in the distance getting bigger and bigger. It was a bird, but not just any bird, it was a Phoenix. The Phoenix landed on the roof and stood next to Draco. At first Draco thought that Ginny probably lost all her memory and would remain a Phoenix forever, but then it transformed back into Ginny.
Draco could only stare at her. She was here, as a human. That could only mean she had remembered everything. Draco picked her up in a fierce hug and swung her around. Ginny giggled into his ear and he thought it was the most wonderful sound he could hear. He was finally able to settle down and stopped swinging her around.
Ginny was still smiling as she had her hands around Draco and looked into his eyes. "I have so much I want to tell you," she said.
"I do to," Draco answered.
"Let me go first then," Ginny said and he nodded. "I got a scholarship to Medica. They recognised all the help I put in during the war and many of the Healers I worked with put in a good word, so they have given me a full scholarship into the school."
"That's great," Draco said excitedly for Ginny, but she wasn't smiling.
"But I'll be leaving tomorrow and I won't be back for three years," she told him sadly.
Draco's face fell. "What do you mean you won't be back for three years?" He asked.
Ginny took a deep breath. "It's a boarding school somewhere far away and they don't allow students to go back home before they graduate."
"But what about Hogwarts? You haven't even finished school yet?"
"I'm going to finish my last year over there. It'd be better because then I get a head start for my first year."
Draco frowned and his forgotten mask of coldness came back on. "I should have guessed that you would just leave like that," he said disgustedly and took a step away from her.
"Please don't be like this, Draco," Ginny pleaded.
"How do you want me to be?" he said angrily. "I've waited so long for this day and then you tell me you're leaving for three years. Sure, just brush me off like I'm nothing. I probably never meant anything to you in the first place."
Ginny grabbed Draco's arms and looked into his eyes. "That's not true," she said forcefully.
Draco pushed Ginny away and looked coldly at her. "Somehow I find that hard to believe," he said spitefully.
Ginny was on the verge of tears and considered just leaving, but she didn't want to leave on bad terms with him. She stepped closer towards him but he wouldn't look at her, and instead was glaring at the landscape. Ginny placed her hand on Draco's face and moved it so he was looking at her again. She was searching his eyes for warmth. Draco was expressionless but his eyes betrayed him and Ginny kissed him. He let her hands wrap around his neck and he wrapped his arms around her. As angry as he was, he couldn't push her away again. Ginny took her time showing Draco just how much he meant to her and deepened the kiss. They both eventually had to separate for air and rested their foreheads against each others.
Draco's anger had disappeared and was replaced with yearning. He wasn't really angry with her, he was just frustrated with how there were always obstacles for them.
"I…" he began but Ginny stopped him by pressing a finger to his lips. She looked into his eyes seriously as she spoke.
"I love you," She said. "Much more than words could ever express and I don't want you to ever doubt that. I love you for you Draco, and I wouldn't want you to be anything else. You are so much more than what people see and I really wish others could witness the wonderful you that I know."
"Please don't go," Draco pleaded but Ginny shook her head.
"As much as I love you, it just isn't enough for me to be with you."
"Why?"
"Because too many people will disapprove of us."
"Is it really that important?"
"It is to me," Ginny said sadly. "And it should be for you too. Remember what your Father said, Draco. You are a Malfoy, and with that comes specific obligations."
Ginny gave Draco a quick last kiss before stepping out of his embrace. Draco stared at her with longing eyes but he couldn't get his mouth to work as Ginny took slow backward steps further away from him. "You will always be my one and only," she whispered before transforming into a Phoenix and flying off.
Draco was once again left on the roof with his unsaid words. 'I love you' was harder to say than ever.
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THREE YEARS LATER
Ginny stepped out of the long distance floo network with just a handbag. She was wearing a black knee length skirt, low heel shoes and a red long sleeve shirt. Ginny had grown a few inches in height and also fully grown into her womanly figure. She searched the crowd for a familiar face and saw Fred and George jumping up and down waving at her. Ginny smiled at her brothers antics and weaved her way through the crowd. She hugged them both at the same time before they lead her away.
"Do you know how to apparate, Ginny?" George asked.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Of course I do. I told you in my letter two years ago," she said with a smile.
It was now Fred's turn to roll his eyes. "That was two year ago Ginny, how are we supposed to remember."
Ginny could only smile. "Come on, lets go home," she said cheerfully and then apparated to the burrow.
Ginny landed on the soft grass in front of her house and Fred and George were soon standing beside her. Ginny was feeling slightly nervous about stepping inside her home after not being there for three years, but her brothers helped calm her down. Fred opened the door and as soon as Ginny stepped inside, everyone popped out of no where and shouted 'Surprise'. It indeed was a surprise to Ginny and she covered her mouth with her hands. Fred and George prodded her so she would start moving inside. Everyone was here, her parents, all her brothers, Harry, Hermione, Colin, Amy, Sirius, Remus and even Andrew. The first thing Ginny did was to go and hug her parents. Then it was Bill, Charlie, Percy, Ron, Harry, Colin, Amy, Sirius, Remus and Andrew. Ginny left Hermione last because she was heavily pregnant (From Harry) and Ginny wanted to be carefull around her. There were lots of Ginny's favourite foods, many of which she hadn't eaten in three years and she had so much to say to everyone.
Ginny had send letters occasionally, but there were a lot of details that she couldn't write because it was too time consuming. She had graduated top of her class and a lot of time was put in to get that award. It was getting very late and Harry, Hermione, Colin, Sirius, Remus and Andrew were leaving. Ginny was sad to see them leave, but she knew that now she was back; she had all the time in the world to see them again. Ginny was finally able to relax and she sunk into their old but soft couch. Arthur Weasley sat down next to his daughter and patted her hand. Ginny looked at her Dad and smiled at him. He had gotten older, but was still very healthy. Considering how well off the Weasley's were now a day, Arthur Weasley didn't have to work that hard and that certainly help his health.
Though Ginny was away from home for three years, she was very well informed about what was happening with her family members. Within these three years, Bill had moved back to England and opened his own curse breaking store which was quite successful because he was very quick at identifying curses and breaking them. Charlie had opened his own Dragon reserve on the outskirts of England and it was a very good place to learn how to Dragon race. Percy was in a pretty high ranking position in the Ministry and all her brothers had complained to her about how big headed he was, but she was still proud of him. Fred and George had opened a few of their joke stores around the world and were very successful. Ron was second in command at the Strategic Battle sector in the Aurors division of the Ministry, all these years of playing chess really paid off. And lastly, the sector in the Ministry that Arthur worked at (misuse of Muggle artefacts) had risen in importance as well as expanded over the years. Therefore Arthus was finally recognised as an important person within the Ministry and with that came a much bigger pay check.
Seeing all her family members with such successful lives gave Ginny a great feeling of contentment. She was awoken from her thoughts when Arthur spoke.
"It's good to have you back, Ginny," Arthur said.
Ginny smiled "It's good to be back Dad. I missed everyone so much."
Arthus sighed and gave Ginny a weak smile. "I'm only glad that you have no worries Ginny. It's your turn to live the life you deserve; you shouldn't have any more burdens to carry."
"Oh Dad," Ginny said and then hugged her father. "Don't worry about me. I'm perfectly happy."
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Ginny didn't need to work at St. Mungo's until next week so she spent most of her time readjusting to living at home again. It wasn't a very hard task, considering she had lived at the Burrow for seventeen years. Ginny was in the middle of unpacking her study things when she picked up a green leather bound book. She took the book over to her desk and opened it up. There were news paper clippings and written entries in the book that dated back to three years ago.
This was her book on Draco starting from the day she stepped foot into Medica. Draco had lived a very interesting life in the past three years, and Ginny knew every detail about what he had done. He had spent the first three months after he graduated setting up a company that helped the villages that were ruined by Deatheaters to be restored. Draco's company was unique in way that they provided Muggle things to those who were willing to try it. There was electricity and phone lines available to those willing to attempt using it. Not many people wanted to install these weird muggle gadgets, but slowly people started to enjoy it and Draco's company went booming with so much business. After three months of setting it up, Draco left the work for other people to do but he still kept a sharp eye on the business.
He had left to become an Auror and help catch the remaining Deatheaters that were roaming around the world. Draco spent the next six months as an Auror and then when he thought he had done enough, he returned back to his business. Muggle items were becoming more and more popular in the wizarding world and Draco saw this as a good business line. He built a special House in every big wizarding city around the world. That house was a full Muggle house open for people to explore and if they liked it they could order for their house to have some of the items installed. This boost of interest in Muggle Artefacts had enlarged Arthur Weasley's sector in the Ministry to 'enquiries about Muggle Artefacts'. Draco had actually hired people that knew everything about the Muggle world to teach Arthur about all the things in the Muggle world, and it really made Arthur happy. Draco also received an Award for his contribution to development in the Wizarding world. Draco spent the year or so working at his company and then a few months ago had stopped to play professional Quidditch. Draco owned his own team and thought that it would be interesting if he could play seeker in it for a season or two.
Draco had been a popular face in the media because of the very odd reputation he had developed. At school he had despised Muggle borns but now he was the owner of the wizarding world's biggest Muggle artefact producing company. At school he was know as a playboy but reporters were unable to write any bad gossip about his love life. They once stated that he might be gay and expected Draco to throw a fit and sue, but when people asked him about it he just laughed it off good naturedly. Draco's unexpected behaviour made him a subject in the newspapers nearly every day and was very popular with the ladies. That's why Ginny's note book had filled up so quickly. The most recent article was about him and his Quidditch career, talking about how he was travelling around the world. He was now currently in Ireland preparing for a game.
Ginny heard a creek of the floor board and whipped her head around to see Sirius sitting on her bed next to her. Ginny's hand flew to her heart.
"Sirius! You nearly scared me to death."
Sirius smiled. "You're getting rusty Ginny. I came in a long time ago and only now you notice?"
Ginny gave him a smile. "I'll brush up my skills some other time," she said cheekily.
Sirius gestured to the book and raised an eyebrow. Ginny closed the book and blushed.
"Is it out of habit, or because it's him?" Sirius asked.
Ginny sighed and ran her hand over the cover. "It was always because it's him," she whispered but then put on a forced smile. "How is he Sirius?" she asked.
"I think everyone's told you enough about him," Sirius said.
Ginny smiled. "Somehow hearing compliments about him from Ron is very hard to believe."
Sirius also smiled. The whole Weasley family had changed their outlook on Draco dramatically in the past three years and everyone accepted him, even Ron and especially Arthur Weasley. He had proven that he was not the evil man everyone though he was.
"He's good, Ginny," Sirius answered. "Witch Weekly just named him the most sought after bachelor in all of Europe. He's rich, good looking, healthy and has a good family background."
Ginny nodded her head. "I guess he has everything then," she said happily.
Sirius frowned. "All except you," he said, slight annoyed at how Ginny could not have known that.
Ginny simply cast her eyes down. "I know he misses you Ginny," Sirius continued.
Ginny sighed and looked at Sirius gravely. "I doubt he's been waiting for me these past three years. He probably hates me for leaving anyways."
"I don't think he could ever hate you Ginny," Sirius said sincerely and then left Ginny alone.
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Ginny started work at St. Mungo's a few days ago and on a particular day she walked past the Children's ward to see the children huddled on a bed making a lot of noise. Ginny was on her lunchbreak so she walked inside to see what the problem was. There were a few kids holding onto a book and trying to pull it away from the others. Ginny held onto the book and told them all to let go.
"Why are you fighting over this book?" Ginny asked them. All the kids sat back down on the one bed and looked at Ginny with big beady eyes.
"We all want to read it, but there's only one book," One child said.
Ginny smiled at all of them. "Why don't I read it to all of you then?" she suggested.
All the kids clapped and got themselves comfortable on the bed in front of her. Ginny sat down and looked at the cover of the book, then gasped. 'Rosalie' was the name of the book. Ginny looked at who the author was and only found the name Y.O.O. She opened the book to the first page and read the dedication.
Dedicated to the most magnificent girl I have ever met.
Words cannot express the love I have for you, but hopefully this story can.
I anticipate the day I can tell you how I feel.
Ginny looked at the page and noticed that it was published a year ago. She flipped to the first page of the story and read the first sentence out loud. The rest she could recite from her heart. This was the exact story Draco had written for her, and for the past three years, Ginny had reread the story so many times, she had it memorised. Ginny flipped the pages robotically so it looked like she was reading it but her eyes didn't read the words, instead they were clouded over as she reminisced her days with Draco. Ginny finished the story where Rosalie lives happily ever after with her family. But when she finished that sentence all the kids were screaming 'No' and 'what? That's not the ending'. Ginny was slightly confused and didn't really understand what the children were going on about. That was how her story ended.
"Why don't I finish the story properly," a voice said from the doorway. Ginny lifted her head up and saw Draco standing at the doorway. He was there in clean, immaculate black robes and had neatly trimmed blond hair. He was breath taking and even all the children were staring at him. Ginny was so surprised to see him she was frozen in place. Draco took slow steps into the room keeping his eyes on Ginny as he told the rest of the story.
"Prince Drake returned to his castle, cured of his illness of many years. His one flaw had been removed and he was now announced as a perfect Prince. You could say he had everything in the world but deep down the Prince did not feel complete. Time flew by and the King suggested that it was time for Prince Drake to get married. Women all across the land were introduced to Prince Drake but none would catch his eye. On one fateful day, as the Prince was walking in the Market, a shimmer of red caught his attention. Prince Drake followed the shimmering red colour and found that it was the mane on a young woman. The Prince nervously walked closer towards the girl but then she suddenly turned around. He recognised her to be the girl he saved some time ago.
"Rosalie," The Prince whispered.
Rosalie looked up at the prince slightly surprised but then curtsied. "Prince Drake," she said.
"What are you doing here?" Prince Drake asked with a smile.
"I've come to cure people of a plague," she said urgently.
"What Plague?" Prince Drake asked.
Rosalie then told of how other villages had contracted a plague and nearly everyone had died. The disease would be coming soon and she wanted everyone to drink her medicine and become immune to it. Prince Drake believed her and took her to see his father, the King. Rosalie's medicine was distributed within the next day and after a few weeks; all the animals had died of some unknown disease but the village people had survived because they had taken Rosalie's medicine. A Feast was placed in honour of Rosalie, and her family was also invited.
In the days that Prince Drake and Rosalie were together, they found out that they had loved each other the minute they had met and being together these past few weeks had just strengthened their love. Prince Drake announced at the feast his and Rosalie's plans to get married and everyone in the Kingdom cheered for them. An extravagant wedding was held for the Prince and his Princess the following week, and they lived happily ever after."
Ginny had stood up some time during Draco's story telling and they were now both standing in front of each other. The children in the ward looked on quietly at the couple in front of them.
"You changed the ending," Ginny choked out while she was trying to hold in her tears. "That's not how it ended in the original."
A tear escaped Ginny's eye and Draco wiped it away. "The original was incomplete," he said "This is how it should end, and everyone in England knows this ending." Draco took Ginny's hand in his and looking into her eyes. "We should be like that too," he said softly.
Ginny didn't know what to say. She never expected this from him. It was all too good to be true and she was certain it was just a dream. Draco saw the uncertainty in Ginny's eyes and he was determined to get rid of it once and for all. He reached into his pocket and pulled an object out. It was a snow globe. He placed the globe in Ginny's hands and then placed his hands over hers. Tears were streaming down Ginny's face now as she looked at the object in her hands. It was the globe she had wanted thirteen years ago. The exact same one.
"Don't be afraid, Ginny," Draco said as he squeezed Ginny's hands. "If you hope enough, things will always come back to you. I hoped for you, now here you are. I won't leave you, Ginny. No one can ever take me away from you."
Draco wrapped his arms around Ginny and she did the same while crying on his shoulder. He was real, this was real and she started to believe that being with him was possible. A lot had changed these past three years and things were looking less impossible between them.
"Will you live happily ever after with me?" Draco whispered into Ginny's ear.
There was no more cause for doubt in Ginny's mind as she answered. "Yes, I will."
Draco was so relieved and happy to hear her words. He held Ginny's face in his hands and let his emotions pour from his eyes. "I love you," he said before leaning in and kissing her passionately.
All the children cheered and clapped while Draco and Ginny kissed in the middle of the room. The start of their happy lives together.
THE END.
There is still an Epilogue coming so it's not really the END, but an epilogue it just to sum up a few things. Thanks for reading and I hope you review.
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