Greener Grass

Strawberry Shortcake

Rating: PG13
Genres: Drama, Romance
Relationships: Draco & Ginny
Book: Draco & Ginny, Books 1 - 4
Published: 21/03/2004
Last Updated: 21/03/2004
Status: completed

He said that the grass was greener on the other side, but I'm living in a desert.

Chapters

1. untitled

1. untitled

Ginny straightened out the wrinkles from the simple green dress. It was his favorite outfit. He always said she had an air of simple elegance with it. She loved being elegant for him.

“Gin are you ready to go?” Harry asked popping his head into the fireplace.

She sadly shook her head yes and walked over to their floo pot grabbing a pinch. The flames that could do nothing to warm her spirit turned green, and she entered shouting “H&H two parts of the trio.”

Hermione helped her up dusting off the dress. Everyone in the foyer was dressed in black, except for her. He didn't like black it reminded him of death eaters and betraying his father.

Ron walked over and enveloped her in a loving brotherly hug. He didn't like Ron either. However, they tolerated each other for her sake, knowing that if they didn't she would have been split in two. One part for family, the other for love.

Many say that he couldn't love, but they were just looking at his last name. They didn't see the man behind his father's image. The man trying to make a name for himself. The man who she was married to.

Molly came in the room tut tutting about fixing ties and hiding bra straps. She had never been a good person for funerals. Finally she arrived at Ginny. Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears as she brushed imaginary dust off the green dress.

“ You look stunning,” She whispered pulling her daughter into a quick embrace before walking on to the next child. That's what they would always be to her, children. It didn't matter to her if the killed a million dark lords, she would always see them as her children.

Narcissa walked in the room and walked up to Molly. The two mothers embraced each other as Narcissa broke down in sobs. She was crying from the realization that her son was dead. Ginny walked up and handed Narcissa her silk handkerchief.

He had always loved the feel of silk on his fingers.

Narcissa dabbed her beautifully made up eyes before wrapping Ginny up in a hug. They may have had their differences, but now they needed each other for support. If they didn't bend a little their family was a sky scraper waiting to topple.

George (or was it Fred?) entered the room silently. Such a converse from their normal attitude.

“The cars are here,” He said in a downtrodden tone. It is never happy to lose family.

The group of people walked out to the awaiting fleet of cars. Ginny entered a car with Narcissa and Molly. All three of them were in the same boat now, all widows, all single mothers, all traitors for love.

The ride didn't seem to take that long. A mere second in Ginny's mind. Bill helped her out of the black car so she didn't get her dress muddy. It was raining. Heaven was crying at the death of another angel.

Ginny walked to the front of the funeral parlor and sank into the plush gray couch in front of the casket. She couldn't look in the casket, that would only make it real. She didn't want it to be real.

“ Ginny lover of my soul, Ginny I will never let you go.” Ginny giggled as Draco pulled her onto his lap. He continued to strum the acoustic guitar while kissing his way up her arm.

“Ginny I love you, and I would die with out you. Marry me.” Ginny turned around to see Draco pull a ring out from the hollow of his guitar.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Ginny screamed jumping up and down. Draco smiled one of his rare genuine smiles as he twirled her around in the grassy knoll.

The Crabbe's came through, Millicent offered her greatest sympathies as Vincent broke down over the body of his best friend. He kept saying he should have died. He was death eater scum, he should have been the one.

Gregory came in and pulled Vincent into a brotherly hug as he too cried for their loss. They were not only at a loss of a friend, but a loss of their entire lives.

Draco and Ginny had just gotten into another fight. Ginny honestly didn't care what it was about this time. She just needed to cool off. It was raining outside; she loved the rain. She loved how it expressed so many emotions and always seemed to come at the right time.

Paris was especially beautiful during rainstorms. Walking in the park around the Eiffel tower she settled herself on a wet wooden bench. How could it be that they were on their honeymoon and this was their third fight? Weren't they supposed to be in love?

As if painted in by a Parisian bohemian Draco walked up and wrapped his arms around Ginny. What ever fight they had just taken part in was dissolved as the rain molded their clothes to form their bodies and they took comfort in each others embrace.

The Zabini's came next. Pansy looked radiant in all her pregnancy. She sniffled back a sob as she wrapped Ginny in a huge hug. Blaise walked over to Gregory and Vincent, he wasn't as close to them as Draco was but he knew what they were going through. Draco was a brother to him too.

“He died a hero's battle,” Pansy started casting a wistful glance at the casket ahead. “But don't tell him I said so,” She finished allowing a small chuckle to pass her lips.

“Where's Charisma?” Pansy asked looking for Ginny's usual shadow.

“Charlie and Holly decided to take her yesterday. They could tell I needed sometime alone.” Pansy gave an understanding nod to Ginny's statement as she walked over to Blaise, and together they went to the casket.

Ginny sat down wearing a simple mint green dress, fresh in from Rome. Tonight's dinner marked their 2-year anniversary. 2 years of love, 2 years of life, 2 years of learning how to become a team.

Draco walked up behind Ginny and placed a kiss on her exposed neck sending shivers up and down her spine.

“Hello beautiful,” he drawled placing a pink rose on the silver plate in front of her. Walking around the table he took a seat opposite Ginny staring at her with his stunning gray eyes.

“I have some good news,” Ginny started, toying with the rose between her fingers.

“We're going to be parents!” She exclaimed looking up with sparkling eyes. Draco's face looked about to crack from the size of his smile.

“I'M GOING TO BE A DADDY!!!” He shouted as Ginny broke out in a tinkling laugh.

Lavender Jordan arrived toting Lilac, Amethyst, and Violet. Lee wasn't far behind, carrying the triplets diaper bag and holding Ryan's hand. Her fellow Gryffindors were always there to offer support. The Jordan's had gotten married after Lavender's first husband Terry Boot left her for a younger woman with no job a newborn and a minimum child support.

Marietta Edgecombe arrived with Justin Finch-Fletchy, they were dating and it was only a matter of time till they tied the knot. They had met when Colin Creevey (along with his boyfriend Ernie Macmillan) set them up on a blind date. It had been happily ever after since.

Colin and Ernie came a little later. Ginny could tell Colin had been crying as his eyes were rimmed with red.

“You and Charisma can stay with us any time,” Colin assured her as he dropped the hug giving her a kiss on the cheek. It was good to have friends.

Luna and Ron paid their respects as Serena let tears freely trickle down her face. Ginny helped the little girl onto her lap and handed her the silk handkerchief. Serena was what Ginny pictured their second child would look like. Daniel couldn't let his younger sister get all the attention so he too crawled up on her lap.

“Tell me a story Aunt Ginny,” The little boy pleaded. Ginny willingly started.

“Once upon a time….

Ginny sat down on the couch and watched in amusement as Draco played blocks with Charisma. Their daughter. The first of many. The little squirming bundle made the smallest squeak and Draco tried to shove a pacifier in her open mouth.

He was meant to be a dad. She had decided that in the hospital when he cut the umbilical cord and held their bloody bundle of joy like the most precious treasure in the world.

This was how her life was supposed to play out. She might not have enjoyed getting there, but she enjoyed being there.

…and they lived happily ever after.”

“Come on,” Ron called to his two children messing up Daniel's hair as he cam to a stop at his side.

Holly and Charlie walked in with a sad Charisma in tow. She wore a ruffled black dress, green tights, and black shoes. Her strawberry blonde hair was pinned up in a French twist, but all that couldn't hide the little girl that was dieing inside.

At first sight she ran up to Ginny and burst into tears.

“Mommy bring him back! I'm sorry I was a bad girl. I'm sorry for everything I've done. But please bring him back. We need daddy! Mommy we need him!” The little girl wrapped onto Ginny as she to let the tears finally flow freely.

“Honey, I know we need him, but we can't have him. For some reason we were chosen to be the strong ones…”

“I DON'T WANT TO BE STORNG! I WANT DADDY!” The little girl screamed breaking down in sobs. On lookers shook their heads sadly as they saw Ginny fall on the floor embracing her daughter, both crying freely.

Ginny and Draco walked down the bright London streets occasionally swinging Charisma between them. They were returning home from another gallery party. Ginny's paintings were appealing to a new demographic and she was having more showings then ever. This wasn't a section of town the two were particularly fond of, but you can't choose the location.

“Mommy will you paint my room again?” Charisma yawned as her parents swung her again.

“How do you want it now?” Ginny asked looking for their car. She was almost positive it was on this street.

“Blue and flowery!” The little girl exclaimed giggling at the thought.

Out of the alley a masked man with a knife appeared and grabbed Charisma from her parents grip. The little girl began to kick and cry as the point was pressed into her tender neck flesh.

Draco and Ginny both immediately drew their wands and pointed them at the man.

“You do anything and I will kill her!” The man screamed making Charisma whimper and struggle against his strong grip.

“Put down your weapons!” He shouted drawing a drip of blood from her neck. Charisma screamed at the contact. The wands instantly fell to the ground.

“Now I want all your money!” The bandit shouted kicking the wands into the street.

“Please leave my daughter alone,” Draco pleaded stepping forward.

“I'll do anything.” But that wasn't good enough as the knife was plunged deep into Draco's chest. Ginny full of rage knocked the man unconscious as she fell to her knees trying to help Draco.

“Draco!” She cried stroking his silvery hair.

“Don't go I need you!” Ginny let her tears fall down her face letting them fall on to Draco. Maybe there was something they had never head about with lovers tears being healing.

“Gin,” Draco gasped his chest heavily heaving.

“Take care of Charisma. Remember the grass is always greener on the other side. I love you. Tell my mom I love her.” Ginny could tell Draco was fading fast, but he couldn't go. She needed him; Charisma needed him.

“Draco your going to make it. Tell them your self!” Ginny cried trying to get him to believe. If he had faith….

“Remember the grass……” Draco trailed off the last life draining out of him as he died in her arms. Charisma crawled up crying and collapsed on her dad's dead body.

“NOOOO!!!!!” The young girl howled into the night.

Ginny walked up to the church altar, Charisma trailing right behind her. Everyone's eyes were on her as she adjusted the little boom box they had brought with them. Turning on her microphone Charisma began.

“When I was little my daddy would always sing me the same lullaby. Since today he is going do to sleep for a long time, I wanted to repay the favor.” Ginny pressed play on the boom box and the music started.

“Goodnight my angel, time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go, no matter where you are
I never will be far away

Goodnight my angel, now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an Emerald Bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark and deep inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me

Goodnight my angel, now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullaby
Then in your heart, there will always be a part of me
Someday we'll all be gone, but lullabies go on and on
They never die, that's how you and I will be”

Her crystal clear voice reverberated off the cathedral ceilings. Once she was done Ginny walked up to the podium.

“I wasn't going to come today. I was still in denial. I kept saying to myself, that was just a terrible nightmare; Draco fell asleep with Charisma, that's why he wasn't in bed with me. Then I'd wake up walk down to Charisma's room and looking at me, as if searching for the same thing. After the first few days of this we realized, he wasn't in either bedroom. He wasn't going to fall asleep with us any more.

That first day I laid out his work clothes, only to come home from the studio to see them still sitting there. It was like a slap in the face finding out that he was never going to be there again to complain about the clothes I picked out, or how I messed up his hair, or about keeping Charisma up too late. And if he wasn't going to complain about those things, no one else would.

He never wanted to be a hero, but he died one. He died giving the ultimate sacrifice to save mine and Charisma's lives.

His last words to me were `the grass is always greener on the other side.' Well baby, I'm on the other side and all I see is desert. I hope it is greener where you are.”

THE END

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