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 "Do You Really Wanna Know Me", belong to Alannah Myles. 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: Ta-da! Chappie eight! 1,000 apologies for the long wait! Typing is a pain in my azz, and I have no beta for this story; Not to mention, I had a billion tests, and I'm currently in the middle of FINALS! All these things combined caused the chapter to take forever. BUT itz finally here, and ready to be read. Enjoy this one, and I'll try to have the next one out sometime during the Christmas break!
Much thanx for reviewing: emvee, ferret gurl, pink tomate, Iced_Faerie, frecklegirl87, Ohmigoddess, Evil Evor,
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essence!
Chapter VIII: Do You Really Wanna Know Me
~*~
Do you really wanna know me, do you care what's inside
Can you ever really show me there's no secrets I must hide
If I bare my soul, can you accept it all
My darkest corner's safe behind a wall
Do you really wanna know me at all
I can't accept the pain, my brain screams like a runaway train
Trying to keep my heart on track
The embers turned to flame and I want you back
But I can't trust a memory, can't trust a memory
Oh, I can't trust me
Do you really wanna know me, do you know what makes me smile
Can you ever really promise me this time it's not a lie
I'll believe it's true when you're standin' at my door
I'm always here for you and I'll open it once more
Do you really wanna know me
Do you really wanna know me
Do you really wanna know me at all
~*~
"So," Ginny thought, "this is my mother in-law. She isn't at all what I imagined."
Indeed, Narcissa Malfoy was unlike any mother Ginny had ever seen before. She looked young enough to be her son's sister. Despite having born Draco, her frame was slender. Her blond hair showed no trace of gray, and there wasn't a single wrinkle on her youthful face. "Well?" Narcissa asked, raising a plucked eyebrow. "Are you the new housekeeper?"
"Umm... no." Ginny began, wondering how she was supposed to explain her hasty marriage to Draco. "Well, I'm Ginny. I'm your son's wife."
"His... what? I beg your pardon?" The older Mrs. Malfoy was clearly shocked.
"His wife. We're married. A few days ago, at my brother's house..." Ginny trailed off.
Narcissa Malfoy was quiet. Then, the next moment, she had closed the distance between Ginny and herself, and was hugging her. "Thank Merlin!" She exclaimed. "I have been telling him for years that it was time he sought a wife. In this time of uncertainty, one never can be too careful. Another three killed last week, can you imagine? And the Mont Baton boy was his father's only heir." She clucked her tongue and shook her head. Then, she stood back, as if to appraise her new daughter. "You are a great deal thinner than I would like. A skinny girl does not a good breeder make. But, that can, in time, be corrected. You have beautiful posture, and lovely hair. If only you had arranged it better... braids atop the head perhaps. But, that too can be altered. And you don't seem the type to let my son walk all over you. That is also good, for he would soon tire of you." Narcissa smiled at Ginny, her approval evident. "You should be a nice change from all the over-bred young women flitting about nowadays."
"I-- thank you." Ginny stammered, unsure of what else she should say.
"Yes, of course." Narcissa waved her away, and reaching into the inner pocket of her blue robe, she pulled out a roll of parchment, and a quill. "Come along with me. There are quite a few things to accomplish and we have so little time. Can you cook?"
"Yes, I did quite a bit of cooking--"
"Excellent!" Narcissa interrupted. "You and I shall prepare an exquisite dinner, and have it ready by the time my son gets home. If we find ourselves in need of help, the house elves will be able to assist us."
"Oh God..."
********************
"Hello?" Draco called into the empty foyer. He had apparated to Blaise's house first, only to be informed that his wife had left several hours before. He had felt slightly annoyed, but knowing that there was no way for Ginny to escape the house soothed him somewhat. Of course... having his mother alone in the house with his wife. Perhaps he should have told his her of his marriage? What could he have been thinking? "Hello? Gin? Mum?" He called again. There was no answer. "Dear gods, I hope they haven't killed each other..." He moved toward the salon, his wand out and ready to stop his wife should she prove too much to handle.
"Draco Lucien Malfoy!" His mother's commanding voice came from the dinning room, and Draco winced inwardly. "Come here to me this instant!"
Draco winced, and reluctantly plodded toward the dining room. Although he would never admit it, Draco was secretly afraid of the woman who was his mother. As a child, she had spanked him with a willow switch whenever he threw food, or hid his nanny's spectacles. As he grew older, she used threats of 'no treats' and 'showing baby pictures' whenever he refused to obey her. "Yes mother? What...is it..." he trailed off.
The table was covered with every food he could ever have imagined. Roasted chicken, duck a l'orange, beef pot roast, mashed potatoes, lima beans, carrots, peas, salads, and much more! And to his surprise, standing beside the table was his mother, her beautiful hair coming out of it's due, and her pretty face smudged with flour.
"Well? What do you think?"
"Er... well... I... who made all this?"
"We made it." His mother replied hands on her hips. "Your wife and I. And had a lovely time doing it. Just when exactly were you going to tell me that you had married?"
"Well," Draco replied, and evil smile on his face. "I figured I would have to tell you when the children started arriving. A pack of children running around the Manor would be hard to miss. And I doubt I could convince you that the postman had dropped them on my doorstep."
"Of course not!" Narcissa snapped. "The postman wouldn't be able to pass the muggle-proof enchanted fence!" But, oh, you!" she took his face between her hands and kissed him fondly. "You are a darling! I can hardly stay angry with you."
"So, the two of you made all this?" Draco asked, wiping a smudge of flour from his mother's cheek.
"No," Ginny supplied, as she sat a platter of hour' devoirs on the table. "The house elves helped make the desserts. Your mother and I didn't have the time."
"Ginevra is a marvelous cook!" Narcissa said, glancing fondly at her daughter in-law. "She showed me her family recipe for pot roast. The plum pudding with cheese sauce was her recipe as well."
Ginny colored under her mother in-law's praise. She hadn't expected the woman to be this accepting of her. Nor had she expected to be given gifts by this petite woman who had asked Ginny to call her 'mamma'. The first thing Narcissa Malfoy had done, was to take off her emerald and diamond ring, and slip it onto the fourth finger of Ginny's left hand. "The Malfoy engagement ring." she had said, proudly. "When the son and heir plans to marry, this ring is given to his future bride. When the two are wed, she moves the ring to her left hand. Since you apparently do not yet have a wedding ring, this will have to do."
Now, looking at Narcissa, affectionately holding onto Draco's arm, Ginny was strongly reminded of her mother, and the fun the two of them had had cooking meals for the family.
"Plum pudding with cheese sauce, eh?" Draco, raised an eyebrow. "I'm willing to try it."
"Excellent!" Narcissa clapped her hands together. "We'll give you a few minutes to change and wash up, and then we shall eat."
*************
"So, I take it the two of you became well acquainted while making this meal?" Draco asked his mother.
"No, not really." Narcissa answered. "We were too busy preparing the meal to have much time to chitchat. So, Ginevra, tell me a little about yourself."
"Well..." Ginny began, slowly. "I am the youngest of seven, and the only girl. In fact, I am the only girl to be born in my family for several generations."
"And, what is your family name?"
"Weasley."
"Really!" Narcissa quirked an eyebrow. "How interesting! Then, we may be distantly related. There was are Frederick Weasley who was brother to my Grandmother Black. Is he any relation of yours?"
"Umm... I'm not really sure." Ginny shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "He might be. There are so many relatives, becomes difficult to keep track."
"Interesting." Narcissa took a small bite of her roasted chicken. "I had only two sisters. Both of my parents were only children. My grandmother Black is the only one that I know of to have more than one sibling."
"Oh." Ginny glanced over at Draco and saw they he had barely touched his food; he had merely pushed it around his plate. And now, he was staring at her with a fierce intensity that made Ginny even more uncomfortable. His eyes seemed to burn into, searching her soul, wanting to devour every inch of her.
Dessert?" Ginny blurted, quickly rising from the table, and snatching her husband's plate."
"Oh, yes dear. That would be lovely." Narcissa said, smiling at her son. "Draco, help our dear Ginevra fetch dessert."
"Oh," Ginny looked at her husband, "no, that's all right--"
"I am more then happy to help you." Draco interrupted. Rising from his chair, he made his way to the kitchen through a disguised door in the wall. Ginny was hurrying around, gathering up teacups and saucers for tea, while to dismayed house elves did there best to stop her.
Quietly coming up behind her, Draco put a hand on her shoulder.
She jumped, dropping the cups she held, causing the nearest house elf to run for a broom. "Sorry." Draco bent down and picked up a piece of the broken mug. "Didn't mean to startle you."
"What did you expect, sneaking up on me like that! Honestly!" Ginny snatched the piece of cup from her husband's hand, and angrily tossed in into the dustbin held by one of the house elves. She felt a slight sting coming from her finger, and realized that her finger was bleeding from where the sharp edge of the cup had cut it.
Taking a napkin she moved to dab the blood away, but before she could, Draco had taken her hand in his. Holding up her finger for his inspection, he brought it gently to his mouth... and sucked the blood away.
Ginny's eyes darkened. Never had she experienced anything so... erotic. Looking at him, her finger protruding slightly from his mouth, she was seized with the sudden urge to kiss him. It was as if he read her mind. Taking her finger from his mouth, he pulled her closer to him. Her arms went about his neck, and he was pressing his soft mouth to hers.
And then, there came a crash from the dining room. In a flash, Draco was at the door, wand out, Ginny close behind him. Narcissa stood beside the table, a plate in splinters at her feet. "I'm so sorry! I was carrying the plate to the kitchen, when a head appeared in your fireplace."
"So sorry to startle you Aunt 'Ciss." Came Blaise's cordial voice from the fireplace. "I just needed to speak with the Lord of the Castle."
"I'm right here." Draco said dryly. "Honestly Zabini, you could have apparated, or sent an owl."
Blaise shook his head. "Not for something as important as this. We couldn't have a security breach, now could we? You're needed here at the palace at once."
"I swear Zabini, if this is something that can be handled without me..."
"It can't. This particular situation requires your expertise."
Draco sighed. "Alright. I'll be there as soon as I can. Mother," he kissed her cheek. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Feel free to stay and wait if you like. Ginny... I'll see you when I get back?"
It was a question, not a command, and Ginny nodded. "Goodbye darling!" Narcissa said cheerily. "Don't worry about us. Ginevra and I shall be fine!"
Draco nodded to his mother, cast a last, long look at Ginny, and hurried out into the foyer, calling for a house elf to bring him his cloak.
"Now dear," Narcissa told Ginny, "Please don't feel as if you have to entertain me. Feel free to retire if you are tired. I'll wait up for Draco."
Ginny, suddenly realizing how tired she was, nodded. "Yes, thank you. I think I will. It was so nice to meet you."
"Yes, I also enjoyed spending time with you. Fear not, I'll visit often, so you won't be lonely."
"Oh, I would like that." Ginny replied sincerely. "Thank you again. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight dear!"
While making her way up the stairs to her room, Ginny decided she really didn't want to be alone. Is wasn't that she couldn't talk to Scrubs, but the house elf wasn't one for conversation. With this thought in mind, Ginny made her way to the one place she knew she could find companionship."
**********************
"You're back!" Pierre Malfoy crowed triumphantly. "William-Frances owes me £20."
"You made a bet on whether not I'd be back?" Ginny asked.
"Why not?" he shrugged. "We have nothing better to do."
"Gambling is a mortal sin!" interrupted a pious voice from the opposite side of the gallery. "Pray and ask God's forgiveness oh ye sinners!"
"Montgomery Whipple-Malfoy." Pierre supplied. "Wizard turned Puritan. He was Alden Malfoy's third son, and had no hope of inheriting the title, until an accident with a hippogriff killed his two older brothers. Luckily, he was in the New World, and that barren country killed him a mere thirteen months after he inherited. His cousin's son, Reign Quimby-Malfoy succeeded him."
"Oh! Sweet Reign!" A silver-blond witch cried. "How I loved him."
"Who--?"
"That is the lady Allegra Marguerite Montecrief St.John-Malfoy." Pierre quoted. "Her mother, the Lady Malloria, married Lord Harcourt Malfoy when her first husband, Varian St.John, was executed for treason. Harcourt Allegra off to Reign, his son from his first marriage."
"How do you know all this?!"
"Oh, I've been here for a very long time. One has to do something to keep busy."
"Wouldn't Hazard or Patience be a better distraction?" Ginny asked, amused.
I tried them for a decade, and then gave them up." Pierre said. "Augustine-Alexander never figured out how to play, and Charlotte Bennett-Malfoy and William-Frances always cheated!"
"I never cheated!" cried Charlotte, clearly miffed. "But, in any case, the Lady Elysia would like Ginevra to come to her now."
"Very well!" Pierre sighed. "But," he shook his finer at Ginny. "You must promise to come back and visit soon."
Ginny smiled at the old man, and nodded. "Of course I will. It's very entertaining." With a last wave to Pierre, she walked down the corridor toward Elysia's portrait.
"Back again." Elysia greeted Ginny pleasantly."
"Yes."
"No more escape attempts?" Elysia inquired, a smile playing about her lips.
"No. I've decided to wait a bit before making my next attempt. Element of surprise and all that."
"Ah, I see. Are you sure you do not wait because you are becoming attracted to your husband?" Elysia asked, slyly.
"Oh, honestly! I am not now, nor will I ever be attracted to that... that..." she fumbled, searching for a word that would describe the heinousness of her husband. The husband who had only a short time ago sucked the blood from her finger and kissed her as if his life depended on it. "SLIME!" she finally cried.
"Slime?" Draco asked, sounding both puzzled and offended. "Conceited? Perhaps. Cocky? Most certainly. But slime? I think that's rather harsh. I find myself quite attractive." Swaggering up to his wife, he swung an arm around her, pulling her close, and planting a kiss on her cheek. "Hello Old Woman!"
"Back to that are we?" Elysia chuckled. "Continue to call me by such an obscene name, and I'll show your little wife where your bebe pictures are kept."
"Fine, fine!" Draco held up his hands in defeat. "I merely came to tell you that my mother is about to return home, and would like to have a chat with you before she goes. She is waiting in her private salon for you."
"Ah! Mya malesha!" Elysia straightened her robes, and fluffed her robes. I must see her. It has been so long. Draco, I trust you can see your wife back to her own apartments? Ginevra dear," she blew Ginny a kiss. "Have a lovely evening liebling!" and with that, she sailed out of the painting.
"Her portrait is in the salon?"
"Yes. She must have half-a-dozen portraits hanging in the house. I have one in my study. There is one in the library, the large bath, and my mother's private salon as well."
Ginny was instantly curious. "Why so many? Was she a great witch? Did she find a cure for some poison?"
Draco laughed softly. "No, nothing like that. She was simply rich and beautiful. She's part angel; did she tell you?" when Ginny nodded Draco continued. "She made large donations to St. Mungo's after her husband died. Besides that, she was a great healer. She healed my great-uncle Algernon when he was poisoned. She could also sing beautifully. She even sang at Carnegie Hall, back when it opened in 1891."
"Oh, my... what a wonderful life she lived."
"She lived life to the fullest. She didn't believe in the ridiculous put on women, and did as she pleased. She visited nearly 100 countries and spoke over a dozen languages. She took as many lovers as she pleased after my grandfather died, and never in her life allowed a man to rule her."
"You really admire her."
"I loved her." Draco said, honestly. "Only my mother was closer to me. She died when I was only eight, but I still remember all the things we used to do together. She even climbed trees with me."
Ginny laughed aloud as she pictured the Lady Elysia with her silk gown and perfectly coiffed hair climbing a tree and scraping her knees.
"What is so funny?"
"Nothing. I was only thinking."
"Thinking? A new enterprise for you." Draco drawled.
"That was a cheap shot!"
"What else is a slime to do?"
Ginny tried not to smile, but the look on Draco's face when he said the word, 'slime' was too much. When he crossed his eyes, and touched the tip of his tongue to his nose, she began laughing. Soon she was laughing so hard, that she would have fallen to the floor, had Draco not been holding her up.
"Easy there Missus Malfoy. The Lady of the Manor does not laugh until she makes herself ill. It is just not done."
"I'm not making myself ill." Ginny insisted, steadying herself with the help of her husband's arm.
"Well, it certainly looked that way to me."
"Are you goning to kiss her yet?" a small voice lisped.
Draco and Ginny looked up to see a blond boy of no more than eight staring down at them. "What-- who the hell are you?"
"That," Ginny told him primly. "is Charles-Octavius Malfoy, 40th duc d'Vere."
"And how do you know that?" Draco demanded.
"Because darling... I read it on the bottom of the portrait."
****************
"So, what did you think of her?"
"I thought she was lovely. A bit rough around the edges, but nothing that can't be altered in time."
"You believe then that there is time?"
"I do not know. From what you've told me... perhaps not."
"It is not certain. If they triumph... they may yet be able to make a life together."
"And what chance is there of that? None! He is much too strong. Surely they should not be made to suffer this."
"Do not grow hysterical! He knows the risks! I told you only because I feared you finding out another way! And... I feared for your own safety."
"No. I -- we, chose our way long ago. We will live with the consequences of our choice, even though it means death."
"Very well... 'Deus vobiscum'."
~*~
AN: ok, sorry itz short, but I never pretended to be Cassie Claire with 100 page chapters. Rest assured, there is a plot to this story, it just takes me a bit to actually get there. The end of this story is already written. I have the entire story mapped out, but have to actually write/type the chapters. That is part of the reason why it takes me so long. Forgive the far between chapters, forgive their pitiful length, and attempt to enjoy the story. Oh, yea, reviewing is good for the soul... and it gets you M&Ms from me :p