Synopsis: Ginny Weasley is in Azkaban sentenced to die after Lord Voldemort's defeat of the Boy-Who-Lived. To save her life, she agrees to marry Draco Malfoy.
Disclaimer: Harry and the gang are the property of J.K. Rowling. A few minor characters (Scrubs, Elysia, and other Malfoys), as well as the history of the Malfoy family, belong to me. If you want to use them, just ask. And, hmmm... uh... Any resemblance to people living, or dead, is purely coincidental. "Every Time I Look at You" lyrics by Il Divo.
AN: Here is your next chapter, out sooner then expected thanx to summer vacation and my wonderful beta, rembrandt. I hope you guys enjoy it! A quick explanation: In an early chapter I called Percy and Pansy's children "Aurelia and August". Last chapter I called them "Tom and Callisandra". Instead of sounding lame by saying, "I forgot what I named the kids!" I will attempt to sound clever, and say that the names of the children are "Callisandra Aurelia" and "Thomas August". Why Percy is calling them by their middle names we will never know (I can't think of a reason LoL!), but there is the explanation.
AN2: HBP is out! Hoorah! I read the book immediately after getting it, and finished it in a little under 6 hours. I know some of you were disappointed with the way things turned out in relation to the ships, etc. but I must confess I wasn't surprised. I just want to let you all know I'M NOT ABANDONING THE FIC because of things that happened in book 6! Even though at this point it looks like the D/G ship doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of happening (those of you who read HBP know why), I will continue to write the story. This story was already planned and partially written before the release of HBP, and I haven't allowed to many ideas from the book to work their way into the story. Once in awhile, something may pop up (like Mrs. Zabini's 7 husbands!), but for the most part, this story is pre-book 6. Enjoy the chapter!
A special thanx to all my reviewers: antidarthani, reemy, Katy, Ohmigoddess, monagy3, darkcharlie, frecklegirl37, aliasfreek, Adena Malfoy, blue flame878, missmyrtlemay, slymom, Tomlove01, CzarJane, blissfulzsin, Jane, Property_of_James_Potter, Rembrandt, HermioneandHarryShipper, Kadajwanado, music_of_the_night, irish slytherin, cuteblondebabe, HPfan, Whiteowlswan, and all you Anonymous people for reviewing the last chapter!
Note: Six months have passed since the end of the previous chapter. Fic time, it is around the first week of August. Yes, this means Susan's baby was born a month early!
Chapter X: Every Time I Look at You
~*~
I used to think that I was strong
I realize now I was wrong
'Cause every time I see your face
My mind becomes an empty space
And with you lying next to me
Feels Like I can hardly breathe
I close my eyes
The moment I surrender to you
Let love be blind
Innocent and tenderly true
So lead me through tonight
But please turn out the light
'Cause I'm lost every time I look at you
And in the morning when you go
Wake me gently so I'll know
That loving you was not a dream
And whisper softly what it means to be with me
Then every moment we're apart
Will be a lifetime to my heart
I close my eyes
The moment I surrender to you
Let love be blind
Innocent and tenderly true
So lead me through tonight
But please, please turn out the light
'Cause I'm lost every time I look at you
Lost. Every time I look at you
~*~
"Oh Susan, she's so beautiful!" Ginny lightly stroked the baby's dusky cheek and ran a hand over her dark curls. "She has so much hair."
"Amazing isn't it, considering how early she was." Susan said. "She gets the color from Blaise, of course. I was hoping it would be red, but…" she shrugged.
Ginny made a face. "Be glad it isn't. Draco recently started calling me 'Red', and I can't stand it; and the way he says it, you would think I was ten years old."
Susan laughed. "I'm glad the two of you are getting along."
"Yes… well enough." Ginny looked over Susan's head to where her husband was standing, talking to Blaise. The truth was, they were getting along better then she ever could have imagined. Since the day Narcissa and Lucius had visited, Draco had gone out of his way to be nice to her. He sent flowers up to her room every morning. He removed some of the wards from the house so she could walk about the grounds at her leisure, and, as a final act of trust, he had taken her shopping to buy a new wand.
"Sometimes," Ginny looked away thoughtfully, "when he smiles at me, I can almost forget that he's a Death Eater."
"It comes it time." Susan assured her. She took the baby from Ginny, and handed her to her nurse. "You won't ever really forget, but in time you'll be able to… accept it. When you are with him, it won't matter anymore." She smiled conspiratively. "Besides, once the babies start coming, you won't have time to think about it."
Babies again! It was all anyone wanted to talk about. It wasn't that she didn't want children. She just wasn't sure she wanted to bring a child into the world, knowing it would grow up under the rule of the most evil wizard the world had ever seen.Coupled with this was the fear that her child would be expected to go into the service of the Dark Lord.
Then, of course, there was the fact that she and Draco had not yet slept together. They had kissed on many times, even progressed to her sitting on his lap or on a table while he touched her. But on all of those occasions she had drawn away from him at the last moment, afraid to let him get too close to her.
"You want to have children, don't you Ginny?" Susan asked.
"I love children, Susan. I grew up in a household with six brothers, and between them, my brothers had seven children of their own. If you had asked me a few years ago if I wanted to have any, I would have said 'Yes, absolutely'. Now I'm not so sure."
"Is it because you don't love him?" Susan asked, hesitantly. "Because it takes time for love, to happen Ginny. You and Draco have only been married for six months."
"Love? I've quite given up on that. I think the best I can hope for is thatDraco and I willreach a place where we like each other, and are capable of being in the same room for ten minutes without wanting to strangle each other. Besides… I don't think either of us is capable of love."
"I think you're wrong." Susan looked over to where their husbands were standing, and pulled Ginny closer. "When Ernie was killed, I thought I would die. Without him, my life meant nothing. It was an empty, torturous existence, and all I could think about was finding a way to be with him again. Then I met Blaise," she smiled. "And he saved me. Despite all he has done and everything I had to go through, Blaise and I were able to build something. He was my lifeline, and I was his. I am his assurance that he's a human with human feelings, and he gave me two wonderful reasons to live. Whether you know it yet or not, Draco is the same. He needs to be reminded of his humanity."
"Who says we're human?" Blaise walked over to stand beside Susan. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and grinned at Ginny. "Growing up, my sisters always insisted that I was a worthless troll who should have been drowned at birth."
"Blaise!" Odetta Zabini glided into the room, a frown on her face. "I am quite sure that neither Vela nor Carina ever said any such thing. They have always behaved like ladies, even when you were trying their patience."
Blaise gave a short bark of laughter, earning him another frown. "I have come to collect your daughter. She should have been in bed long ago."
Blaise shrugged. "Take her then, if you want."
Sending one last glare her son's way, Odetta followed her granddaughter and her nurse out of the room.
"Ladies!" Bliase scoffed, as soon as his mother was out of earshot. "She obviously never found out about Vela's adventure with Pucey and Higgs in the north-wing sitting room."
"Or about Carina and Flint during third year." Draco added. "Remember that?"
"Gods!" Blaise laughed. "I can still see Bell, chasing Marcus down the corridor. The fool! If he wanted to shag my sister without his fiancé finding out, he should have picked somewhere more discreet then the astronomy tower."
"Exactly!" Draco agreed "Somewhere safe, like his dormitory."
"I didn't realize that you had any siblings." Ginny said, curiously.
"Oh yes, quite a number." Blaise said. "Let me see… there are Reginald and Selené, from mother's first marriage to Raymond d'Auge. Mensa, Maia, and Merak are from her fourth marriage to Artur, Lord VinEngle, who, by the way, was a Muggle. Vela was the product of her fifth marriage to Archimedes Flint, Marcus Flint's uncle, and Carina and I are the children of her seventh, and final marriage to my father, Rasalas Zabini." He grinned. "So, I do indeed have siblings, but we don't all have the same last name. Only Vela went to Hogwarts with me. The M's were all raised without magic, and the rest of my mother's brood went to Durmstrang."
"You see." Draco tugged Ginny's braid playfully. "Non-magical folk run on both sides of the Malfoy family."
"On that note," Blaise said loudly, "I think I'll go check on dinner. Susan, if you could keep our guests busy?" he kissed her and strode out of the room."
Draco turned to Susan. "Congratulations Mrs. Zabini, on your new arrival." He said. "Although early, she seems healthy enough. I don't believe your husband told me her name. Would you care to enlighten me?"
"We named her Danae Thomasina Zabini." Susan said. "Danae for Blaise's grandmother, and Thomasina in honor of the Dark Lord. It was what my mother in-law wished." She explained.
Draco made a face. "Thomasina? Good Gods! You saddled the child with a name that is sure to make her the laughingstock of Hogwarts."
"You forget that Hogwarts doesn't exist anymore." Ginny reminded him. "It's nothing but a burned-out pile of stones."
"She wouldn't attend there anyway." Susan said. "Blaise and his mother want both girls to attend Durmstrang. There, they will receive a proper magical education, as well as make appropriate Pureblood marriages."
"Your children are still in diapers, and you're already planning their marriages?" Ginny asked.
"Much too early if you ask me." Draco said. "My parents waited until I started school before they chose a wife for me." Ginny glared at him, and Draco laughed, shrugging helplessly.
"How else is the Dark Lord to replenish his ranks?" asked Blaise, entering the room with his mother on his arm. "So many were killed in the purge that the number of Pureblood families went down considerably. It was, of course, necessary to get rid of the Mudblood filth, but the lose of so many Purebloods was an unfortunate. They didn't have to die." he continued. "They chose to reject the Dark Lord, and brought about their own destruction. Longbottom for example! What was his name… Nigel?"
"Neville." Draco supplied. "Neville Longbottom."
"Yes, Neville. Pureblood! He knew what would happen to traitors. He had his parents as an example. But still, the fool joined the Resistance. He paidthough, for his folly. We caught him in a scrimmage, shortly before the Day of Retribution and put him into Azkaban. The Dark Lord promised mercy if he would only sign the document, pledging his loyalty to out Master, but Longbottom refused to sign it! He died, in prison, a short time later."
Ginny's eyes closed. She remembered hearing Neville's screams as he slowly slipped into madness. In the end, he was crying for his mother and begging to be allowed to see his wife.
"His wife died during the final battle," Blaise continued, "and they had no children. The name of a Pureblood family completely gone!" he shook his head in disbelief. "Now do you see, my dear Mrs. Malfoy, why marriage and children are encouraged by the Dark Lord? Every family I know has had at least one child since the war ended, and most have more. The Corners have three, and the Flints have five. In fact, Marcus told me yesterday that Katherine is expecting their sixth child early next year."
"That many?" Ginny was surprised. "But, it has only been four years since the war ended."
"Katie has been having them ten or eleven months apart." Susan explained. "The first four were girls, and Marcus badly wanted a son. This last one was a boy, but he is sickly, so Marcus wanted to have another. Katie hopes very much that this one will be a strong son."
"That is as it should be!" Odetta Zabini spoke for the first time since reentering the room. "It is a wife's duty to provide many strong, healthy sons to carry on her husband's name. I can only hope that next time you will not fail in that regard."
Her voice was like acid, and Susan paled visibly under her mother in-law's scorn. Ginny glanced at Blaise, expecting him to say something in his wife's defense, but Blaise remained tight-lipped and silent, his face void of any emotion.
"Forgive me Aunt Odetta, but I think it is time I took Ginevra home." Draco said, filling the uncomfortable void. "Long hours are still too much for her, and I don't wish her to become ill."
"Of course, Draco, of course. Take her home. Do say hello to your mother for me and ask her to come and see me. It's been ages since I've had a visit from her."
"I will aunt. Goodnight, Zabini. Susan, have a pleasant evening, and my congratulations on your daughter." Draco took Ginny's arm and gently, but firmly guided her toward the door."
"What a horrible woman!" Ginny hissed, as soon as they were out of the room. "Acting like poor Susan was a failure."
"In the eyes of our society, she is." Draco stooped before the fireplace, and took a small bag from the mantle. Reaching into the bag, he threw a small handful of powder into the fireplace, turning the flames a bright green.
Ginny took a handful for herself, and stepped into the fire. "Malfoy Manor!" she said, clearly. Climbing out of the fireplace on the other end, she took out her wand and set about cleaning her robes and hair.
Scrubs instantly appeared at Ginny's side. She added her efforts to rid Ginny's clothing of soot, vigorously brushing the bottom of her mistress' cloak. "Will Miss be wanting to have a bath?" she asked in her squeaky voice.
"Yes, I think I'll have one. Could you also have some food sent up to my room?"
"Would Miss like to have chicken or roast beef?"
"Chicken, I suppose."
"And Master?" Scrubs asked, curtseying as Draco appeared in the fire. "Would Master like some food?"
Draco shook his head. "I don't need anything at the moment. Just see to it that the windows are opened in my study. I have some work to do before retiring, and don't wish to be stifled by the heat."
"Yes, Master! Scrubs will do it at once!" Dismissed, Scrubs bowed her way out of the foyer and then disappeared with a loud 'pop'.
Draco watched her go, and then took out his own wand. "May I walk you back to your room, or would you prefer to go alone?" he asked his wife, as he vanished the last of the soot from his shirtsleeves.
Ginny hesitated. She wanted him to walk her back, but she didn't want to give him the wrong idea. Sex with Draco was something she wasn't quite ready for.
"I won't stay." He assured her, as if reading her mind. "Just… let me walk you up."
"Alright." She agreed.
He smiled. Taking her by the hand, he led her toward the stairs. For the first flight or so they didn't speak. Then…
"I'm not like that." Draco said, suddenly. "I don't expect you to stay locked-up in the house, breeding children that can grow up to produce more Purebloods. Zabini's way of thinking went out sometime in the nineteenth century."
"His way of thinking is the Pureblood way of thinking." Ginny said. "I know that. My grandmother rejoiced every time my mother had a child, because it meant there was another Pureblood in the world that could 'go forth and multiply'. She carried her Pureblood notions all the way. In the beginning, she forbade my mother to marry my father because she was afraid the Weasley's Muggle-loving tendencies had allowed for some Halfbloods to weasel their way into the line. She only agreed to the marriage after my father showed her his family's tapestry, proving the 'purity' of his direct line."
"It's more than likely that all Pureblood lines are somewhat tainted." Draco agreed. "I mean… what exactly constitutes a Pureblood line? How far back does the line have to be 'pure'? Sometime or other, a witch or wizard of questionable lineage is bound to have infiltrated some if not all Pureblood lines."
"Including yours!" Ginny said. "I've heard all about the French pig farmers you and you 'most noble' family descend from."
"Oh, Gods!" Draco groaned. "I can't believe you heard that story! It is meant to be a family secret. Pierre is forbidden to tell it to anyone who isn't a member of the family."
"I am a member of the family." Ginny reminded him.
"Why, yes, you are, aren't you?" smirked Draco, pulling her closer to his side.
They had reached her room, and Ginny turned and smiled up at him. "I had a lovely time today." She said.
"What? At the Zabini torture session?" he asked, amusedly.
"No! Just… being with you, and being able to talk to you."
"I enjoyed being with you too." He admitted. "Do you think that tomorrow we might be able to spend some time together? Alone?"
"Us?" she raised an eyebrow. "Alone? Do you think we will be able to pull it off without killing each other?"
"I don't know." He ran the tip of his finger around her wrist. "I think we might manage it."
"Really?" Ginny was starting to have problems concentrating. "I… maybe…"
Draco tilted her chin up. He was going to kiss her, and Ginny knew she was going to let him. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she leaned forward.
A small cough came from behind them. "Damn it!" Draco swore softly. "What?!" he yelled, turning to face the trembling houseelf.
"Sir…" the elf held out a roll of parchment to her master. "This is coming for you Sir."
Striding forward, Draco took the roll from the elf's trembling hand. He broke the seal and read the note, his eyes roaming quickly over the parchment. His eyes widened in surprise as he reached the end, and read the signature. His eyes shifted back to the houseelf. "How did this arrive?" he demanded.
"A man is bringing it to the house, Sir. He is bringing it to the front door and I is taking it Sir. He is telling Beanie to give it quickly to her Master, and Beanie is doing it."
"He brought it to the house?" Draco was clearly surprised. "Did he say anything else to you?"
"Yes, Sir." The houseelf's eyes shifted nervously from Draco to Ginny, and then back to her Master.
"Well?" Draco was clearly impatient.
"He is saying words Sir. Words that Beanie is not understanding, Sir." The houseelf said softly.
"Right. That will do then. Return to your duties."
"Yes, Sir."
Ginny's heart sank. "Is it important?" she asked.
"I'm afraid so. I'm needed at the palace immediately." Draco said. Taking out his wand, he touched it to the parchment. The note immediately burst into flames. Draco let it drop to the floor and turned back to Ginny.
"I am sorry about this. But, I still want us to spend time together tomorrow. Alright?"
"It's a date." She agreed.
"Good…" he leaned forward, and kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, then."
"Goodnight."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The fire in his study was burning brightly, the flames green. With the floo network being monitored, he needed to be careful. "Knockturn Alley!" he said clearly.
He appeared almost instantly, in a rather dirty pub at the end of a backstreet. It was crowded, and no one saw him slip out the back door and into the alley. It was pitch black. All the better for him. He looked around cautiously, to make sure he was alone. Convinced he wasn't being watched, he apparated and appeared in his chosen destination a few moments later.
The light from the moon illuminated him as he crossed the empty space between the forest and the building. He hurried inside and up the stairs, all the while listening for anything that might indicate he had been followed. He passed a series of other doors, and was careful to make no noise. At last, he came to the door. He knocked softly, and waited. After a few moments, it opened and a pale face peaked out from behind the battered door.
There was a gasp, and a young woman threw the door wide, and flung herself into his arms. "Draco!" She buried her face against his shirt.
He returned her embrace.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back at the Manor all the windows were dark. The Mistress of the house was asleep, and everyone knew that the Master wouldn't be back until the morning. In the upstairs hall, a tiny houseelf named Peachy was busily sweeping the hall. Peachy would sweep up some ashes and a scrap of parchment along with all the dust and dirt, which she would dispose of at the end of her cleaning.
On the parchment, a few words could still me recognized. In delicate, feminine handwriting was written:
…need you,
Cat
~*~
AN: There you have it folks! No idea when next chapter will be out, but it will be soon, I promise. The chapter is done and just needs to be typed and sent of to beta. In the meantime, enjoy the fic, reread it a few times, and invite your friends to read it! Also, (dare I say it?) remember that reviewing is good for the soul.