Draco knew he'd blackmailed her into saying yes to his marriage proposal. He also knew he'd be able to convince her to get married once the ring was actually on her finger.
Or so he thought. It turned out that convincing Ginny Weasley to marry him was harder than he originally thought. She was stubborn as a mule. In the last three and a half months, he'd been shot down forty-three times. Each time the 'm' word came out of his mouth, Ginny would glare and shake her head.
He knew Ginny loved him, he knew she wanted to spend her life with him, but she didn't seem to want to marry him. For three solid months, her mother, her father, and his mother were constantly bringing the subject up. And for three solid months, Ginny had steadfastly refused to cooperate.
Draco knew it was because the baby. He was convinced she felt he'd only proposed because of the baby - which, in part, was true. He'd been in no hurry to get married. He was sure he'd marry Ginny Weasley after the first time she spent the night at his flat. He'd woken up to watch her sleep. She fit perfectly beside him.
Only marriage never came up. In the years since they'd started seeing each other, it was never discussed. At least not between Draco and Ginny. If her mother mentioned it, she was always careful to not bring it home to him. They loved each other, they were together and it was enough for both of them.
But he was a Malfoy. There were certain… rules you followed. Ginny didn't seem to understand that it was unacceptable for the Malfoy heir to be born out of wedlock. And regardless as to what she thought, this child would someday inherit the Malfoy millions. He or she would oversee the companies and manage the money. The child would be in the public eye from day one and it would be their responsibility to guide the child in matters of being a Malfoy.
It wasn't supposed to be this hard. He loved her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He'd put a ring on her finger. So the next logical step should have been marriage. And then the baby. Although Draco knew the last two were interchangeable and it really shouldn't matter, it still mattered to him. It mattered to some of the older wizarding families and it should matter to Ginny.
"Draco, love, will you go to Diagon Alley and get me some ice cream?"
He looked up as the object of his musings set down next to him on the couch. "Ice cream?"
Ginny rubbed her hand over her protruding stomach. "Your child wants some strawberry and peanut butter ice cream."
Draco worked hard to not let his disgust show on his face. "Strawberry and peanut butter?" he repeated.
She nodded at him. "Yes. Will you go get me some?"
"Gin, do you realize it's almost eleven at night?"
"So?" She looked up, her brown eyes questioning his meaning. "I want some ice cream."
"Yes, I understand that. But it's unlikely that Fortescue's is open at this time of night. Why don't you wait, and I'll get you some tomorrow. Or since it's Saturday, we can go to Diagon Alley together and do some more shopping."
"That's fine, Draco. But I want it now."
"Gin-"
Ginny raised her hand to stop him from speaking. "Forget it, then. I'll just go to bed."
"Ginny-"
"No. Don't worry yourself with it. Goodnight."
She shut the door to the bedroom and Draco heard the lock on the handle click. Fantastic. Draco rubbed his hands over his face in frustration before standing.
"Gin?" he asked, knocking on the door. "Let me in."
"Sorry, it's eleven at night, I can't be bothered."
"Ginny."
"Sleep out there, Draco. You know it's not really comfortable for me if you sleep in here anyway."
That was an outright lie and he knew it. She always complained if he wasn't there when she went to bed. "Let me in, love."
"No."
"Gin, don't make me do an unlocking spell on my own bedroom door." When there wasn't a response from inside, Draco took his wand out of his pocket. He muttered, "Alohamora," and the lock sprang open.
She was lying on the bed in her silk nightdress, her hair spread across her pillow. "Leave me alone, Draco. I'm tired."
"Look, I'm sorry. I'll go get your ice cream if you want."
Her right hand came to rest on her stomach. "No, it's fine. I know you're tired. Just come to bed."
"Ginny."
"It's fine," she told him. She turned on her side, facing the wall. "Turn out the light. I'm tired from carrying your heir around all day."
And now she was going to make him feel guilty. Draco knew this routine. First she'd request something of him, he'd refuse, she'd get upset and ignore him. And just when he thought things were over, Ginny would get emotional and he'd end up doing what she wanted in the beginning. He began to refasten the front of his robe.
"Right then. I'll be back soon."
"Come to bed, Draco," she said. "I'll get the ice cream myself tomorrow."
He ignored her, continuing to redress. He pulled his trainers from beneath the bed and tied them quickly. "I'll be back in fifteen minutes, love. With your strawberry and peanut butter ice cream."
"Draco?" Her voice was so small and far away.
He stopped at the bedroom door, but didn't turn around. "Yes, Gin?"
"Thank you."
Draco smiled, even though she couldn't see it. "You know I'd do anything for you."
"I know. Oh, could you bring back some caramel as well? It might be nice on the ice cream."
"Yes. Stay where you are, I'll be home soon."
Ginny turned back over on her back and propped herself up on several pillows. She reached for the Witch Weekly she'd been reading earlier. It was time to find out who her brother was dating this week.
***
"Does this make me look fat?"
Draco looked up from the financial reports he was reading at his very pregnant fiancé. It wouldn't do if he told her she would look 'fat' no matter what she wore. "You're pregnant."
"Yes, I know." Ginny huffed, causing her hair to fly out of her face. "I didn't ask you if I was pregnant, I asked if I looked fat in this robe."
"I liked the other robes better."
"Draco Black Malfoy, I asked you a question."
He glanced up again. "And I gave you an answer. I liked the blue set better."
"Fine." Ginny sat down on the settee Madam Malkin had provided. "We just won't go."
"What?" he asked. "Of course we'll go. It's our company, Ginny, we must go."
"No," Ginny disagreed. "It's your company. There is no rule stating I have to be there."
"All department heads are expected to be there. So, technically, there is a rule."
"I'm sick."
Draco raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "Really?"
The redhead nodded. "Yes. I'm pregnant. It's the same thing, really."
He covered his smile by wiping his mouth. "That's not a sickness. You have to be there, Virginia. End of story."
Ginny's eyes narrowed as she glared at him. "Are you demanding that I do something?"
Draco shook his head. "No. But if you're not going, I'll need a date. I'll have to talk to Blaise to see who's available." He continued to flip through The Daily Prophet as if this conversation was the most natural in the world.
"Why would you need to speak with her?" Ginny asked. She remembered clearly the relationship Draco shared with Blaise during his seventh year at Hogwarts. Anyone who walked through the halls of the school at some point during that year would remember.
"I can't go to the benefit alone, Gin. And if you're too sick to be there, Blaise will know who's available."
"I'm your fiancée!" the redhead cried. "Just because I'm sick doesn't mean you can go out with whoever you please."
"But I'm the CEO of Malfoy Incorporated, love. I can't go stag."
"You also have a pregnant fiancée," she reminded him. "If you'll be there with anyone, it will be me."
Draco didn't even bother to hide his smirk as she disappeared into the dressing room again. He'd have to remember the Blaise card. It worked like a charm.
***
Ginny owed him. She so owed him.
Just have lunch with him, love. Listen to what he has to say. I'm not asking you to give him anything more than a chance… Percy's had it hard since Penelope died, Draco. How would you feel if I died in childbirth? I would hope one of my brother's would give you a chance.
Draco hadn't felt it necessary to point out he wasn't Penelope Clearwater's brother. Nor did he have any relation to the witch. And it wasn't likely she would die in childbirth. But it was still why he was here with the most boring git of them all - perfect Percy, git extraordinaire.
She'd have to repay him with lots and lots of sexual favors, as soon as the baby was born…
"What do you think?" Percy asked.
What he thought was that no one, except maybe Snape, cared about the thickness of a cauldron bottom. No one cared years ago when Percy started researching this and no one cared now. But he couldn't very well tell Ginny's brother that. If he did, she might never sleep with him again.
"You've got a lot of interesting ideas. Have you talked to any of the companies that actually produce cauldrons?"
Percy nodded. "Yes, but I'll need some sort of initial investment."
Ah, so this was what it was about. Money. Of course. Draco reached into his inner robe pocket and pulled out the dragon hide leather chequebook. "How much?"
The Weasley's eyes lit up in excitement. "You don't have to do this, Malfoy."
"Yes, I do. If your sister heard I didn't do it, she'd never sleep with me again." Draco noticed that Percy's face flushed scarlet. "Don't act so shocked. She's pregnant, Weasley. We have sex regularly."
"She is my sister! It's not something I want to hear about."
"Right." He took a portable quill from his pocket. "How much, then?"
Percy started to pack his papers back into his briefcase. "Since we both know you're only doing this for Gin, why don't you wait? I'll shop around, see if I can find some other investors who care about cauldron bottom thickness and go from there."
Draco was about to reply when he felt a vibration in his pocket. That was odd- "Ginny's in labor," he blurted out.
He stood, fumbling for the small trinket she'd charmed for him. Only she could activate it and she'd promised to only use it if she were to start having contractions. Her brother was staring at him, his mouth hanging open. "Well, let's go."
Draco dropped some galleons on the table and reached for his wand. "Tell your family and meet me at the flat," he said quickly. The Weasley nodded and Draco Apparated away.
***
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" he heard her scream.
"Ginny?" Draco called loudly.
"Bedroom," she called out.
He found her sitting on the floor at the foot of the bed, trying to breathe. Fluid was soaked into the carpet and her black silk nightgown. "Gin?" he asked.
"I need a mediwizard, Draco. I need help."
"I sent Percy to get your Mum. She'll be here soon." He knelt beside her. "Let me get you on the bed, okay?"
Ginny nodded. She grabbed his hand, squeezing as pain racked her body once again. "They're coming fast. Must hurry."
"Okay, love." Draco reached around her back, helping her find her feet. They walked around the end of the bed to the other side, where Draco helped her sit. He propped pillows behind her, and then helped her lay back on top of the duvet. "You okay?"
She nodded. "I ruined the carpet."
He wiped her sweat-soaked forehead with a washcloth he'd summoned. "We'll get it fixed."
Ginny accepted his answer with another nod, taking a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "That's right," Draco told her, "Just remember to breathe. Just like the mediwitch instructed. Molly'll be here soon."
"There's one more thing, Draco. Before this baby is born, I need you to do something else for me."
"Anything, love. What is it?"
Before she could respond, there was a loud knock at the door. "Hold that thought. Let me let your Mum in, okay?"
She nodded. "Hurry. This is important, okay?"
Draco kissed her forehead before he left her. Molly Weasley was at the door, along with Ginny's father, the Inseparable Three, and Percy. "Bloody Weasley, I told you your Mum and maybe your Dad."
"We were in Mr. Weasley's office when Mrs. Weasley flooed," Harry explained. "We decided to come along."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Fine. But if you get in the way, you're leaving. Gin's in the bedroom. She said the contractions were coming fast and we had to hurry."
Molly Weasley smiled up at Draco. "Thank you, dear. I'll go check on her."
"She wanted me to do something, so I'll come with you." He glanced back at the other four people. "Don't touch anything."
Molly went right to her daughter's side, conjuring up a basin with some water and placed the wet towel across Ginny's forehead. "Hello, dear. How are you?"
"It hurts, Mum."
The Weasley matriarch nodded. "I know. Your Dad's hear, love. Do you want to see him?"
Arthur Weasley appeared over Molly's shoulder. "Hi Ginny."
"Daddy." Her smile turned into a wince as another contraction hit her. "Where's Draco?"
"Here," he called from the back of the room. "What can I do?"
"I need you to find someone who can marry us."
"What?" Draco asked. "We can do that later."
"No," she told him, "We'll do it now. I'm getting married before this child is born."
"Gin-"
"I know I've been unreasonable and stubborn, Draco, but please do this? I want to be married before our child is born. I don't want anyone to call the Malfoy heir a bastard."
As if that would ever happen, Draco thought. He'd cause serious bodily harm to someone if that word was ever uttered about his child. "Ginny, I'd rather stay here with you."
"I want you to do this, Draco. Please?"
He couldn't refuse her and she knew it. "What if I send Potter?"
"I don't care who, love, just find someone. We don't have much time."
"Right. I'll be back soon, then."
Draco closed the bedroom door behind him. He'd let the Weasley's have some time with her first. Immediately there were four sets of eyes of him. Right. "Potter, I need you to go find someone who can marry us."
"What?"
"Did I speak too quickly for you?" he asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Ginny wants to be married before the baby is born. Go find someone."
"I don't know anyone!"
"Anyone can marry us, Potter. A minister, a judge, a Ministry official. Just find someone."
"Malfoy-"
"When you find them, tell them I'll pay them five hundred galleons. Ginny wants this and it will happen."
Harry didn't understand, but he knew there was no arguing with Malfoy. "Right then. I'll be back soon."
Harry reappeared ten minutes later with Amelia Bones. "Did someone need to be married?"
"In there." Ron pointed towards the bedroom. "Where the screaming is coming from."
The witch adjusted her monocle before hurrying into the bedroom.
Arthur was leaning against the door, watching as his wife did all she could do to make their only daughter comfortable. "Hullo, Amelia. What brings you here?"
"Mr. Potter needed someone to perform a marriage," she explained. "I was the only one at the Ministry."
Arthur nodded. "Over there, then. You'll have to hurry before the baby comes."
Draco was sitting behind Ginny, supporting her weight as she tried to breathe through the contractions. "You'll be the ones getting married, then?"
"Yes," Ginny answered. "Draco and I. Before the baby is born."
Amelia nodded. "Okay." She motioned for the two mediwitches to back away and give them some space. "Do you want the four in there to see this?"
Ginny nodded yes while Draco said, "no."
"Right then." She covered Ginny's legs with a blanket before she motioned for the others to be let in.
They crowded into the bedroom, all gathering around the foot of the bed. Molly wiped at Ginny's forehead once more before she removed the washcloth. "You look beautiful, dear."
"Yeah right," Ginny muttered. "Let's just hurry."
"Bear with me. I've never married anyone before."
She cleared her throat, opening the book she brought with her. "Oh, it seems I've brought the wrong manual. I'll have to Apparate back to the Ministry to get it."
"Just marry us," Ginny asked. She could feel another contraction starting and she gripped Draco's hand.
"It won't be official."
"I don't care," the redhead said through gritted teeth. "I need to hear the words."
The other witch nodded. "Right then. Who gives this woman in marriage?"
"We do," Arthur Weasley said from behind his wife.
"Okay. Draco Malfoy, do you take Ginny to be your wife, sharing with her all that you have and all that you are?"
"I do."
"Ginny Weasley, do you take Draco to be your husband, sharing with him all that you have and all that you are?"
"Yes."
"Does anyone object?"
Ron started to open his mouth, until his sister fixed him with a glare. "What?" he asked. "I was just yawning."
"Stuff it, Weasley."
"Do you have rings?"
"We wear rings already," Ginny answered, gripping Draco's hand harder. "Get on with it. This baby is coming."
"By the power vested in me by the British Ministry of Magic, I pronounce you husband and wife. Kiss your bride."
Draco kissed her cheek.
"Excellent."
"Now everyone get out," Molly said loudly. "My grandchild can't wait any longer."
"I love you," Draco whispered to Ginny. "My wife."
She smiled. "It's time. Are you ready to be a father?"
"Yes."
***
"Do you, Draco, take this woman to be your wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Do you, Virginia, take this man to be your husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
"Does anyone here object to this union?"
The room remained quiet, except for the soft gurgling of the two-month old baby Narcissa Malfoy was holding.
"Very well then. I now pronounce you man and wife. Draco, you may kiss your bride."
He stepped closer to her, lifting her veil from her face. She smiled through her tears at him. "I love you."
Draco nodded. "I love you, too."
Leaning in, he placed his lips over hers. The kiss was simple, meant for only the audience. He'd kiss her properly later, away from the eyes of her family. Draco took her hand in his. "My wife."
"My husband."
Narcissa stepped forward, the young child in her arms. "Your son wants to be the first to congratulate you."
Ginny took Aidan Malfoy from her mother-in-law. "Thank you, Mum."
Draco kissed his mother on the cheek. "Thank you, Mum."
As their families descended on them, each holding a camera and wearing a smile, Ginny couldn't help but notice how much easier it was to breathe. "What're you thinking?" Draco asked from her side.
She looked up at him, smiling. "That sometimes fairy tales really do come true."
He kissed her again, this time not caring that their family was there to see.
finis