Chapter 8 - The Counsellor
Have you ever tried to walk through a huge crowd with a person by your side, who was supposed to be dead?
Well, it really wasn't easy for Ginny and Draco, as you can imagine.
Earlier that morning, they had left Cassie at The Burrow, with a vase of flowers in her hands. Molly Weasley heard her Granddaughter's crime confession.
"I'm sorry Granny… I'm a bad girl! Are you sad with me?" Cassie asked, touching her chest with her chin.
"Oh, my sweet Cassandra!" Molly Weasley wiped the tears from her face, and smiled to her granddaughter. "I'm not sad with you, darling! But you have to promise me you'll be more careful, ok?"
"I promise, Granny!" Cassie smiled that wonderful smile that only children can give you, and threw herself on her grandmother's arms for a tender hug. "I love you, Granny!"
"I love you too, Cassie…" Molly whispered against Cassie's blond hair, watching Ginny crying as well, and Draco smiling lovingly at his sister / daughter.
"Enough crying! I think I've spent enough tears for a life time, already!" Ginny chuckled, and refreshed her face. "Cassie, I want you to behave, and from now on, you'll only fly on a broom when an adult is with you! That means that Uncle George and Uncle Fred don't count, alright?"
"Yes, Mommy!" Cassie giggled, hugging Ginny's legs.
Draco laughed at Ginny's words, and lowered himself to be on the same level as Cassie.
"I want to see you flying… I've heard that you are very good on a broom! Maybe we can go on a ride soon, the three of us… What do you think?" he asked.
"Yeah! Can we go today, can we?" she asked, jumping up and down.
"We'll see about that, later! Now, we have to go, Draco…" Ginny warned, looking at her wrist watch.
Draco hugged her and together they Apparated in Diagon Alley. A few people watched the couple Apparating, and immediately recognised the blond man, as Draco Malfoy.
Soon enough, a huge crowd was surrounding them making a lot of questions, looking very confused and shocked.
It took them quite a while to walk down the street, and when people kept recognising Draco, Ginny pulled his hood over his head, to hide him. Well, let's say that their walk was much quieter that way.
As soon as they arrived at the Ministry of Magic, they went to the security desk to inspect their wands.
"Draco Malfoy's wand? Who are you, and what are you doing with an dead Auror's wand?" the man in charge of the security asked, furious.
Once again, Draco had to show himself, and once again, a lot of questions were asked.
Hood over his face again, the couple walked hand in hand to the golden elevator, which was already crowded, but the two of them fitted in. After a few stops, Ginny and Draco left on the Wizards Legal Advice floor (a kind of lawyer's firm).
They were received by Padma Patil, and it took them the whole morning to explain what had happened, and to plan what to do next.
"I'll try to talk with the people you mentioned, Draco, and if we get them on our side, Fudge won't stand a chance against you guys on court! About talking with Fudge, I agree, but first let me present the charges against him. He'll be notified to go on court and then we can have a nice talk with him… But I must be present if you want to do everything within the law!" Padma said, sounding extremely professional. "Remember that we are fighting the Minister of Magic! He has a huge power over all of us…"
"Can he menace you to drop the case?" Draco asked, holding Ginny's hand in his, and caressing it with his thumb.
"Yes, and I'm sure he'll try! But, don't worry, there's nothing in the world able to stop Padma Patil from getting what she wants, and I want to help you!" she smiled reassuringly. "Draco, did anyone tell you if you could go back to work?"
"No, they didn't tell me anything… They just told me, `You've done your job, now go away!', that was all I needed to hear, to come back home…" Draco said. "What do you think I should do?"
"Well, it would be great if you went to the Auror Headquarters! If they expel you and tell you that you're no longer an Auror, that will be great for your case!" Padma said, excitedly. "That would be another thing against Fudge! And, I have an idea, but first I need your authorisation."
"What is it?" Ginny asked, curious.
"My sister, Parvati, works at the Daily Prophet, and I could tell her everything about your case, and she would write an article (a good one) about how unfair the Ministry of Magic was with your family, we could mention the lost of your baby (if you're ok with that), we could say that little Cassandra had to grow up without her brother, that was now her father, … There's so much we could write on that article, to make Fudge look guilty! What do you think? Are you willing to be the centre of attentions for a while?" Padma asked, looking from one to the other, with a huge smile on her face.
"Draco, I will do anything you want to do…" Ginny said, looking deep into his eyes.
"Ok… We accept your idea, Padma! Ginny, it's going to be hard with everyone on our backs, trying to talk with us, some will even try to destroy our image! Are you ready?" Draco asked his wife, worried.
"As long as we're together, I'm ready for everything that comes on our way!" Ginny smiled and kissed him.
"Gosh, you make such a nice couple!" Padma cooed, blushing a deep shade of red. "Well, let's go to the Auror Headquarters and see what they tell you, Draco! If they do what I think they'll do, then I'll immediately meet my sister and tell her all about your case! By tomorrow morning, all the Wizarding Community in England will now about the Malfoy's sad story…"
The three of them went to the next floor, to the Auror Headquarters, and tried to remain calm and smiling.
"Ginny, Draco! Hey, what are you guys doing here? Hello Padma, looking great as always!" Harry called with a huge smile, as he ran in their direction.
"Harry… You've married yesterday and you're already trying to win other women's hearts?" Ginny laughed, as Harry hugged her. "And what are you doing here? You should be on honey moon!"
"Yeah, I should, but I'm full of work and Jo didn't get the vacation she asked for!" Harry explained, as he shook hands with Draco. "We'll wait a little longer! So, what are you three doing here?"
"We'll explain later, when the whole family gets together at our house! You're coming, right?" Draco asked, smiling.
"Of course! HEY GUYS, LOOK WHO'S HERE!" Harry yelled to his Auror colleagues. Most of them came running to compliment Draco and tell him how happy they were to see him alive, but some remained on their seats, looking worried.
"Malfoy, can I ask you what are you doing here?" Chester, the Auror's captain, asked him, coming closer to the crowed with a furious look on his face.
"Hey boss, I've just came to say hello to my colleagues! I need to come back to work as soon as possible!" Draco lied, trying to get some answers.
"You don't work here anymore, Malfoy!" Chester replied coldly.
"I don't?" Draco's face became genuinely sad and disappointed. "But, I was undercover for the last two years!"
"According to the records, you weren't!" Chester said, smirking evilly. "Now, please, leave this floor… You are no longer welcome!"
Draco stood there, speechless and looking hurt.
"But, Chester, that's not fair…" Harry tried to help, but Ginny shut his mouth with her hand, smiling gently.
"Harry, thank you for trying to help, but there's nothing you can do!" she said, removing her hand. "We'll be waiting for you and Jo tonight, after dinner! About you, Chester, I can't believe you're doing this to one of your best Aurors and one of your best friends! Have a nice day!"
With her arm wrapped around Draco's waist, the three of them left the room, heading to the golden elevator.
"Draco, are you alright?" Ginny whispered in his ear, worried with his pale face.
"I'll be ok, darling… As soon as I destroy Fudge, I'll be perfectly fine!" Draco replied, smiling weakly.
"I know how much you love your job, but don't worry, soon enough you'll be back on action!" Ginny said, reassuringly.
"She's right, Draco! We'll win this case… Now, I want you two to have a wonderful day together, and I'm going to meet my sister right now! Don't forget to read the Daily Prophet tomorrow!" Padma smiled sweetly, before getting out of the elevator on her floor.
Ginny and Draco entered Diagon Alley once again, enjoying the feel of the sun on their faces.
"So, what do you want to do today?" Ginny asked, sighing happily.
"First, I want to have lunch with you in a nice restaurant, then I want to have a hair cut, and then I want to by a present to my littlest Princess!" he replied, holding her in a strong embrace.
"But I like your hair like this! It makes you look so damn sexy!" Ginny winked, kissing his jaw.
"Are you saying that I'm not sexy when I have short hair?" he pretended to be offended.
"I said you look sexier! You can be sexy even if you're wearing rags!" Ginny smiled sweetly. "But, please, leave your hair like this… I like to run my fingers through it when we make love!"
"Your wish is my command!" he laughed at her blushed face and then kissed her passionately, before they headed towards the crowded streets of Diagon Alley.