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. The lyrics to the song "Stranger in the Mirror", belong to Tarnation. 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.
AN: Yes! It is indeed another chapter. And it is out only a tad (ha!) later then promised. Claases (especially Chem. & the Citizen where the Prof. is a complete FUCKTARD) have been getting in my way. I'll try to have another chappie out soon.
Much thanx to Arin, serenity237, werewolfgal4, monagy3, HPlova, XxBandGeekxX, tgimds, PhoenixSong, VioletJersey, Cassie, div, Aube, Dark Illusion, Iced_Faerie, laila, Dracosbaby, Seana, Evil Evor, yvonne, Tears_ofthe_Phoenix, all you Anonymous people, my best friend Laura aka Ohmigodess and to my faithful reviewer, essence. Thanx for reviewing Chapter 6!
Chapter VII: Stranger in the Mirror
~*~
Keep your arms open wide love,
'Cause I'm coming home,
I don't know where I am but I don't care,
'Cause I know where I'm going.
I'm going where the voices,
In my head tell me to
I'd walk a thousand crooked miles,
To try to get back to you
These hands are shaking in the shadows,
Of the old morning sun
That's dripping through the window pane,
Lord, this feeling is second to none
Well I'm weary to the bone,
As I wake here alone,
With a pain that won't let me be
And there's a stranger in the mirror,
Staring back at me,
Oh Lord, could it be, is that me?
I can almost see your smile,
And I can almost hear your voice
Rising high up above,
The flat land of Illinois
Well I'm weary to the bone,
As I wake here alone,
With a pain that won't let me be
And there's a stranger in the mirror,
Staring back at me,
Oh Lord, could it be, is that me?
~*~
She awoke the next morning, feeling as if she hadn't slept at all. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she went over to the vanity, and examined her reflection in the mirror. "Gods... I look old."
"Oh, no. Miss looks very well this morning." Scrubs entered a gold plated tea set in her hands. A laundry basket filled to the brim with brand new robes was balanced on her tiny head. "What would Miss like for breakfast this morning? Scrubs can make porridge, bacon, sausage, many different eggs, toast and marmalade."
"Umm... bacon, eggs, and toast I suppose."
"Yes Miss. Here is a basket of robes for Miss to try on. Then Miss can come downstairs for breakfast."
"Mmm?" Ginny asked, absentmindedly, fingering a dark green robe trimmed with silver lace.
"Master is already downstairs and waiting for Miss."
"Mmm... What? I'm eating with him?!"
"Yes Miss. Master requests that you join him for breakfast, and then you are going visiting."
"Visiting? Who would I visit? I don't know anyone anymore. They're dead."
Scrubs shrugged. "Master is telling Scrubs that Miss has a friend living nearby. But Scrubs must be getting back to the kitchen. Does Miss need anything else?"
"No." Ginny pulled the nightgown over her head, and picked up the green robe.
*****************
"Well, don't you look lovely this morning." Draco said, glancing up from the parchment he was reading.
"Thank you." Ginny said stiffly. "I was wondering... who is this mysterious friend of mine that lives nearby?"
"Susan, Blaise's wife."
"Susan?" Ginny asked, blankly.
"Susan Bones? Susan Macmillan?" Draco said offhandedly. "You know, the one who's aunt was on the Wizengamot. She married that Hufflepuff chap."
"She's married to Zabini?" Ginny asked, horrified.
"Yes, yes. A few years now. They have three children. Zabini and I work together. I thought I'd leave you there today while Blaise and I attended the ceremony."
Ginny didn't hear him. She was trying to absorb the news that a friend and fellow freedom fighter was still alive. Not only that, she was married to one of the Death Eaters closest to Voldemort.
"So," Draco continued. "If you're done eating, we can floo over to the hall."
Ginny looked down at her still untouched plate. She hadn't eaten anything since the previous evening, but she found that she had suddenly lost her appetite. "I suppose"
"Good," her husband stood up, then moved to help her with her chair.
"I can do it myself." She said sharply.
"Fine!" Draco said, quite annoyed himself. Walking over to the stone fireplace, he took a velvet bag from the mantle. "I assume you know how to use the floo?"
"Of course!"
"Just checking. Now then, just say 'Zabini Hall'. You should land in the fireplace in Blaise's study. Understand?"
"Yes," Ginny snatched the bag, and took a handful of powder. She stepped into the glowing flames and threw down the powder. "Zabini Hall." She said clearly.
*************************
She emerged extremely sooty and disheveled, and immediately began to cough. "No problems?" An amused Blaise asked, as he pulled her from the fireplace to make room for her husband. A dirty look was his only answer, and a moment later said husband appeared looking slightly green in the face. "So glad you could join us Malfoy."
Draco scowled, and brushed soot from his black robe. "I would have apparated in, but Mrs. Malfoy hasn't yet been given clearance. Are you ready to go?"
"Nearly. Let me just get your wife settled in, and then I'll be ready." Blaise guided Ginny toward the door. "If you'll come with me Mrs. Malfoy."
Draco took a step forward. "Perhaps I should come with you."
"There's no need." Ginny said. "I'm sure Blaise is capable of finding his way around his own house. I'll see you when you get home." She wiggled her fingers in a mock wave. "Goodbye darling." She called in a sickly-sweet voice.
"Goodbye" Draco ground out.
*********************
"So, how are things between you and my cousin Mrs. Malfoy?" Blaise asked, conversationally.
"I don't see that it is any of your business." Ginny answered.
"Things seem a bit... strained." Blaise persisted.
"As I said, I don't see that it is any of your business." Ginny repeated.
"Look here Weasley, what I really want to know is why Draco married you."
Ginny snorted. "Maybe you should ask him that question, and leave me alone."
"I hope you'll be more pleasant with Sue than you are with me. Otherwise, the poor thing will have a miserable day." He stopped in front of a set of oak doors. "There you are. Right through there. She knows you're coming. Oh, yes, and Draco wanted me to remind you that there are wards all around the house to keep you from leaving. Have a nice day."
"Lovely indeed..." Ginny muttered. She knocked on one of the doors, and then went in. "Hello?"
"Over here, Ginevra." A soft voice answered. "It was very kind of you to come. I don't often receive visitors."
The young woman in the armchair little resembled the friendly girl Ginny remembered from Hogwarts. Susan had lost flesh and color; her cheekbones were more prominent then they had been in earlier years; A look of deep sadness filled her eyes. Her rich, red hair was arranged in a loose chignon at the nape of her neck. A white streak started at her temple, and flowed back to eventually mix with the red.
"I've been dying for company." Susan continued. "Blaise is home in the evenings, but during the day I have only my mother in-law for company. Please, won't you sit?" She asked, indicating a large armchair in front of the fire. As Ginny took her seat, Susan picked up a little silver bell, and rang for tea. An elf entered, carrying a tea tray, and Susan turned back to Ginny. "Well, you are one of he last people I expected to see sitting in my salon."
Ginny nodded. "I didn't expect to find you here either. I didn't know there was anyone still alive. You can imagine my surprise when Draco told me you were married to Zab--er-- Blaise."
Susan laughed, a small smile touching the corners of her mouth. "Yes, I suppose you would find it strange. Me, an auror's wife married to a prominent Death Eater."
"How did it happen?" Ginny asked. "I mean... you weren't friends in school. You never dated anyone except for Ernie..."
"I simply fell in love with him. After the Day of Retribution, I was sent to Azkaban. It was there I learned--" she closed her eyes. "It was there I learned that Ernie, my first husband, had been killed. Death Eaters ambushed his auror regiment. Ernie and six others were killed. Ernie's friend, Terry, died several hours after sharing his information with me. We hadn't even been married a year."
As if sensing that teatime was over, the house elf reappeared to clear away the tea things. When she was sure the elf was gone, Susan continued. "I was in Azkaban a total of five months. While I was there, I found out that I was pregnant with Ernie's child. I didn't want to bring an innocent baby into the world as it is now, so I tried to kill myself. The others would have let me die, but Blaise wouldn't allow it. He loved my red hair you see." She fingered it softly. "He took me from prison, and brought me here, to nurse me back to health. When he found out I was going to have a child, he insisted on keeping me until I had given birth. During the few months we spent together, we got to know each other quite well. By the time Alan was born, Blaise decided that he was in-love with me. I became his mistress."
Susan looked at Ginny defiantly, as if daring the younger woman to condemn her. When Ginny said nothing, she continued. "Six months later, when Blaise found out I was carrying his child, he married me. That was nearly three years ago. Our daughter, Lianna, will be two next week. My son Alan was three in January. I'm expecting my third child in September." She put one hand protectively over her stomach.
Ginny was speechless. How could a woman as sweet and good as Susan ever marry a man like Blaise Zabini? "I-- I just don't understand how you live with the knowledge that the man you are sleeping with took part in the slaughter of thousands of innocent people, including your own husband!"
Susan shrugged. "I simply don't think about it. If I did, I think I would go mad. I loved Ernie, and I always will, but that part of my life is over. I haven't forgotten him, I've simply... moved on. I suppose--" she sighed. "I'm not happy with my life Ginevra, but I'm at peace." She reached across the tea table, and took Ginny's hand. "Make peace with yourself Gin. Your family is dead, and nothing you do can change it. Have a child or two. It will help you adjust."
"Susan!" A voice snapped, and an older woman entered the room. "Why is Alan-- Oh... forgive me. I didn't know Susan had a visitor. How do you do," the older woman extended her hand. "I am Odetta Zabini."
Ginny had stood as the older woman entered the room. Mrs. Amherst Zabini had been an attractive woman in her younger days, but the years had weathered her looks. Her auburn hair was heavily sprinkled with gray, and her face had on it, a permanent look of discontent. This look was currently fixed toward her daughter in-law. Already feeling an intense dislike for the woman, Ginny took the offered hand. "Ginevra Malfoy. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"A pleasure." Mrs. Zabini replied. Then, turning back to her daughter in-law. "Susan, my dear, you really must do something about Alan. I found him again, today in the nursery! He knows he is forbidden to go there when Lianna is having her nap. You must be stricter with him!"
"I'm very sorry ma'am." Susan whispered, submissively. "I try my best, but after all, Alan is only three--"
"That is no excuse! If he were disciplined more often, he would learn not to do it!" She turned to Ginny, a smile plastered on her face. "I am so sorry to have interrupted. Please, enjoy your visit Mrs. Malfoy." Odetta nodded at Susan, and then swept from the room.
"What was that all about?" Ginny demanded.
"She hates Alan because he is Ernie's child." Susan explained. "Even though the Macmillans are pureblooded, their blood isn't good enough to suit her! She treats my son as if he isn't as good as the rest of us. Sometimes... I want to kill her." This last statement was made so calmly, that Ginny was a bit startled. She had never heard anyone speak so certainly about wanting to kill someone... except herself.
"Be glad you don't live with Draco's parents."
"Oh, I'm grateful. I haven't even seen them since we've been married. In fact, I've never met his mother. Lucius, I've met on several occasions. He is one of those that led the raid on my house."
"Let it go." Susan advised. "Try to find contentment in your marriage. And after all, Lucius Malfoy is your father now. Narcissa, at least, is a lovely woman. I met her at a salon given by Katherine Flint. Be glad you have a mother in-law like her." She sighed, and stood up. "Make yourself at home. If you are hungry, Mitzy will fetch you something up from the kitchens. Feel free to explore this wing of the house. I must see to my son."
Susan stood up and left the room, and Ginny was left alone. She settled into her chair, and stared into the flames of the fire. Maybe Susan was right. Maybe she should try to find happiness in her marriage. Maybe she should have a child or two. 'Immaculate conception!' her conscience reminded her. There was another problem she would have to deal with. As much as she disliked her husband, Ginny had to admit he was one of the best looking men she had ever seen: blond hair, chiseled features, toned body. And the way she felt when he kissed her--
"Miss?" A squeaky voice interrupted Ginny's train of thought. She looked down to see the same house elf that had earlier brought the tea.
"Yes?"
"There is a letter coming for you Miss!" The elf placed a rolled piece of parchment in Ginny's hand. Opening it, Ginny read:
My Dear Mrs. Malfoy,
Matters here at the palace are going to keep me longer then expected. Feel free to return home whenever you wish. You might wish to return sooner rather then later, as I have invited my mother over for supper. I shall see you when I get home.
Your Affectionate Husband,
Draco Lucien Malfoy
P.S. - Do not attempt escape. I had the fireplace fixed so you are only able to floo back to the Manor.
"Why that pretentious little bastard!" Ginny hissed. Then realizing the house elf was still in the room. "Please thank the younger Mrs. Zabini for me. Tell her I had a lovely time, but that I needed to return home. Can you do that for me?"
The elf nodded vigorously. "Oh, yes Miss!"
"Tell her I promise to come again soon, all right?"
"Yes, Miss!" The elf replied, and tripped lightly from the room. Walking over to the fireplace, Ginny tossed a handful of powder into the flames. Then, stepping into the fire, she called clearly, "Malfoy Manor!"
Ginny landed with a jolt, and had to take hold of the wall to keep herself from falling. She stepped out of the fireplace, and dusted herself off. She crossed the room, exited into the foyer, and came face to face with one of the most beautiful women she had ever seen.
She was tall, and blond, and bore an uncanny resemblance to Draco. "May I help you?" Ginny asked.
"I am Narcissa Malfoy!" The woman replied, in lightly accented English. "Who may I ask are you?"
***************************
AN: There it be! Reviewing is good for the soul!... and it earns you M&Ms!