***Yeah I've read Sea of Awakening Dreams. It's a great story and I hadn't known it until you pointed it out. I never intended for anything of the sort. Believe me I didn't rip from anyone's story.
Anyway here is another chap…a bit longer than the previous ones. Just a little warning…I want to make Draco happy. Well just for a little while that is. Enjoy and thanks for the reviews.***
He felt extremely self-conscious as he knelt down to her own level. Dealing with children isn't something he has much hands on experience with. Ron has only allowed him so much time with Tory. It seems he didn't want that git Malfoy to rub off on his baby girl. Added to his lack of experience she has a very haunting intense gaze. One with all too familiar brown eyes that he sees in his dreams every night.
"Can you help me?" he asked the young girl.
She cocked her head slightly to the side causing her dark red hair to fall over her shoulder. With her lips press together she seemed to be summing him up. He was guilty of the same thing, as well. She was in fact a dead ringer for Virginia. Even down to the tiny spray of freckles across her nose, and the faint scar on her forehead going into her hairline.
"What's your name?"
"Draco. What's yours?" Her eyebrows furrowed together in a look of confusement.
"What kind of name is that?" He chuckled and shook his head slowly.
"Blame my parents. Who are-"
"I know why you're here," she spoke up interrupting him.
His breath caught surprised at her sudden revelation. Maybe she can explain it to him then. All he knows is that he's supposed to bring Gin back. That's as far as the explanation went. The headmaster nor Snape knew what that would entail. So he's bitterly and rightly so left in the dark to figure it all out on his own.
"She's not going to leave though. She won't even come out and see me. I'm so lonely." Draco understood that. She needs people, and he needs her. He may be surrounded by people but feel abandoned, and she hasn't had anyone in the last four years.
"I'll bring her out. I promise." The little nodded but didn't look convinced.
She turned and pointed towards the left where in the far background stood an elaborate house. He pushed himself up and took in the surroundings. The vast green fields were covered in flowers, grass, and trees. It was a far walk to the house that was encased by his white picket fence. If he squinted his eyes he could even see a dog pouncing around the yard being watchful and playful simultaneously.
"That's your home."
"Is Ginny there?" She nodded.
"She's waiting for you." He felt a rush that ran through him that he hasn't felt in a while. It was excitement combined with anticipation. She's in that house waiting for him. She's waiting for him!
Home.
"I'll bring her out," he repeated and was about to dash away when he noticed another spot.
Opposite the large house and field and on the right side could only describe as offhand a swamp. Everything was dark, damp, and dead. A gentle breeze ran through it blowing around dead leaves and wafting around the prudent smell of death and loss.
"What's that over there?" The tiny girl didn't even look. She shook her head and stared up at him.
"Don't worry. You won't have to go there." He opened his mouth to ask more. His interest was piqued, but then there's Ginny waiting for him. Shaking it off he waved a hand at her as he took off.
"We'll come to visit you. I promise!"
With his back to her the little red head shook her head. Turning towards the swamp she sighed again and dropped down to the ground. Watching the breeze filter through the dead leaves on the ground she felt the suppressed tears fall down her cheeks.
"Home…I just wanna go home…"
He ran the entire way there without stopping to catch his breath. In the yard he had no other choice to stop. The dog took one look and flattened him. Draco almost wet himself but then started laughing when the dog vigorously licked his face.
"What kind of guard dog are you?"
Prying him off was a struggle, but he got to his feet and raced him to the front door. The ferocious licker wanted in as well. He tried to muzzle his way in along with Draco. Shaking his head he pushed the guard dog back and gave him once last pat on the head before slipping into the house and closing the door behind him.
"Sorry buddy. I don't want to end up in the doghouse my first night home," he mumbled to himself.
Without a chance to catch his breath or even gaze around his house he was addressed. It wasn't be his first name and especially not by his last. He didn't expect to be called by his surname in his own home. No, this was defiantly something he didn't think he would hear. Ever.
"Daddy!"
Coming down the elegant staircase at three stairs a step was a teenager. Not just any teenager he guessed. No, this one was special. She was his. He could tell the instant he saw her. Of course the blonde hair and natural good looks and one couldn't forget the tasteful clothes were tell tell signs. That wasn't why, though. It was a feeling in his gut. One that he didn't visit too often yet it felt right.
"Please say I can go. Mom isn't thinking rationally. She doesn't know what it's like being a Malfoy. This is important and-"
"Adrian Malfoy," a furious female voice called out. It made Draco's head snapped up towards the top of the stairs again. "I know you're not asking your father! I already told you no!"
The blonde girl, who was now coined Adrian, mumbled under her breath and stomped away. She didn't even look at the woman upstairs as she departed. On the other hand Draco couldn't seem to make his eyes go elsewhere.
"See what I have to put up with!" she cried coming down the stairs. It made his heart jump into his throat. She's approaching him. "You spoiled her." He swallowed hard.
"I-I'm sorry." She snorted and ran a hand through her hair as she was near him.
"You only say that when you know you're in trouble." He nodded absentminded. Ginny, his Ginny is right in front of him. She's here alive, breathing, talking, cursing him, and even teasing. Those are her nimble strong fingers working on the knot of his tie.
His eyes greedily swept over her. It's the same Ginny he had known four years ago. She looks exactly the same. A bit older though since they have a teenager daughter but nothing drastic. Her crimson hair was still thick and fell to her shoulders. His fingers like always itched to run through it. Those time consuming freckles laid across her nose. He knows how many there are by heart. Even her figure remained slender and supple after all those years.
"Draco luv," she whispered making his eyes raise to hers again. Those damn intoxicating brandy eyes.
"Hmm?"
"What's the matter? Did you have a rough day?" How about four years, he wanted to explain. Instead he shook his head.
"Then why are looking at me like that?" Like what, he thought to himself.
"How am I looking at you?"
"Like we didn't share a bed last night, and you didn't leave like always in the morning."
"You're just so beautiful," he breathed. That brought a small smile to her face that slowly transformed into a grin.
"I love it that you still find me attractive after all these years."
How could he not? After four years she was still constantly on his mind. It's not like because she's not there he could imagine things may have happened better than he would happen in reality. It was just that she consumed everything about him. Putting it simple and bluntly she had ruined him. No other woman would do. Not even a woman for a simple one night stand was something he could comprehend doing.
"I always have." That made her laugh and shake her head at him. He had missed that sound. Not that he got to hear it a lot during the war. Yet it was a musical sound that he could feel in his chest. Almost as if it could make his heart beat again.
"Draco Malfoy who do you think you're kidding?!"
"What?" he cried his eyes wide. He's sure he would have already told her that. If they've been married this long he knows his secrets would all be out of the closet.
"You already used that line on me just last night." He couldn't help the chuckle that escaped. Just like hers was heaven to his ears. His hasn't been one to be heard either.
It sounded like something he would do. Back in school before the war destroyed everything he was a player. He knew exactly what to say and do to get a girl's knickers. The Slytherins and the Hufflepuffs were easy, and he stayed pretty much away from the Gryffindorfs. What was the biggest rush was getting a Ravenclaw. They were proud of how smart they were. Yet how smart could they have been if he only had to use a few choice words and they were throwing their legs around his neck.
"Then tell me what I haven't used in a while." Her cheeks flushed surprising him. How can she blush after all this time?
"Later luv. We have family coming later."
"Family?"
Her fingers continued to finger the knot. He couldn't mind less. She's here, and she's touching him. It's not him holding her cold hand wishing her to wake up. No, it's her, and she's teasing him and even promising later.
"Everyone dear. Harry, Hermione, Ben, Ron, Luna, Harold…you know the bunch." He nodded although he didn't. Later he's going to have to remember not to seemed so surprised. They're going to be older and some will probably have children. He has one of his own.
"Yeah dad. Another one of mom's infamous parties," a voice groaned walking further into the room.
"It's not a party Breck," she shot back at the young man. He groaned and shook his head.
"Come on dad. Tell her it's a party, and you know what that means. She's going to bite our heads off if we take one step wrong." Draco almost laughed but was elbowed in the gut by a very stern looking redhead. "You know…take a right step before the left."
"Watch it Malfoy. You wouldn't want to spend the night in the study again would you?" she hissed so only he could hear. It made him swallow audibly and nod obediently.
"Ha ha dad you are so whipped." Ginny turned her gaze to her oldest.
"Shall I tell Madison you said that?" It made the blonde's smile vanish as if it had never been present and accounted for on his face. Quickly he looked like a little lost puppy. "That's what I thought. Talk about your father being whipped." His blonde son frowned deeply at his mother as if had been mortally wounded by her words. Son.
He felt so many emotions clog his throat. A son, daughter, and a wife. What more could he ever need? Why should he leave here? It's seemly perfect, and he's only been here for a few moments.
Tonight will show the true light. Not just during the party but afterwards as well. Then he'll be alone with her. Alone again to do what he attempted to do once before everything turned ass backwards and was destroyed.
He grinned down at her making her cheeks turn a deeper shade of red. She's perfect and all of his. Later he'll show her that. Right now he gets to be a family man. He'll just have to wait to play the role of husband. Both are new to him but roles he's been dying to play.