The speed of this update is thanks to my wonderful & darling beta, sticksrouge11, probably better known as DracoLuver412. Don't we all love him???? ;) Yummy, yummy! Thank you, thank you!!!
CHAPTER 2
"Ginny! Luna!" Narcissa's screams filled the house early one morning. "Come here."
Still in her nightgown, Ginny ran from the room, her heart petrified with fear. "What? What's wrong?"
She and Luna skidded into the drawing room together, and found Narcissa standing in the middle of the floor holding the Daily Prophet.
Ginny bolted forward and grabbed the newspaper. "No!" she gasped, expecting the worst about Draco.
YOU KNOW WHO IS GONE!!! the headlines screamed. Quickly she scanned the article.
Late last night, in what will surely be known as the most epic battle in wizarding history, Auror Harry Potter defeated the Dark Lord. Although Mr. Potter is now seeking treatment at St. Mungo's, he and his work partner Ronald Weasley are both alive and well. Memorials will be help this week for those who gave their lives for this noble cause . . . The article went on and on for nearly five entire pages, recounting each detail of the battle, complete with pictures.
"So Ron's okay," she breathed, rescanning the article. And still, there was nothing. No mention of Draco.
"You're free," Narcissa hugged her tightly, encircling Luna with her other arm. "We're finally free."
Ginny nodded, the realization settling over her as she reread the article.
"Free from what?" Luna asked dreamily.
"From war," Narcissa whispered. "We've been staying here because there was a great war going on."
"Oh," she shrugged. "I like it here."
The next few days were busy, Ginny helping Narcissa make plans to return Luna home. Her father had died during the war, and it seemed her next of kin was Neville's grandmother.
"What are we going to do?" Ginny asked.
"The only thing we can do," Narcissa told her firmly. "I will go and tell her the truth, and if she does not accept it, then Luna will stay here."
"Do you think she will?"
"I don't know. My family has inflicted a great deal of damage to her family. But I will try. I'll go first thing in the morning, and you, will stay here and pack."
"Pack?"
"All your things. You will be going home too."
But Ginny didn't want to go home. Selfish, she knew, but she wanted to stay where she was until she heard some word about Draco, whether it be good or bad.
Ginny spent the next afternoon making sure her few items were in order. Somehow, without ever leaving the Manor, she had managed to accumulate new underclothes, nightclothes, several new robes, and a picture of Draco. Narcissa had given it to her, and admitted that it had been taken only weeks before he had been made an official Death Eater.
"But he looks so happy," Ginny had pointed out.
"Yes," Narcissa had agreed, "I think at that moment he thought he could avoid that life."
It was the only time Ginny had ever seen Draco with a real smile on his face. His photo self looked out of the picture and flirted with Ginny continually.
When she was done, she went to sit in the library and pretended to read, but was really waiting for the fire to flame bright green and Narcissa to appear. The minutes stretched to hours as Ginny waited, finally putting the book aside and pacing the room. She was afraid she was going to pace a hole into the plush carpet and was ready to give up and go to bed when the fireplace burst into green flames.
Ginny stared at Narcissa. Her face was red and blotchy, but Luna wasn't with her. "What happened?"
Narcissa sat down in a chair and rubbed her eyes, pulling Ginny down next to her. "She's a proud woman," she said finally. "A proud, strong woman, with every reason to be. I asked her not to hold the debts and sins of my family against me. It was my sister, you know, who put her son and daughter in law in St. Mungo's. Neville's parents. And I don't know who took Neville's life, but my own son and husband were associated with them."
"But you don't know-" Ginny began.
"Death Eaters were responsible for this. And my family has always been associated with them. I am not innocent."
"What did she say?"
"I told her everything I knew. I told her about Draco erasing her memories and sending her home, about how he saved you, and about Lucius being gone."
"And then?"
"She thought her entire family was gone. She was pleased to have Luna back. I think they're going to try to restore some of her memories. At least, so she can remember Neville. He did so much, in the fight against Voldemort."
Ginny jumped slightly at the name. She had never heard her say it before.
"It's just a name. Just a name." Narcissa stood up and smile a wavering smile.
"So, did she . . . forgive you?" Ginny asked.
"I don't think that a life time of hurts can be erased by one day's apology. Now, are you packed?"
"Yes, but-"
"No, no buts. It's time for you to go home."
"I don't want to go," Ginny pouted childishly. "I want to find out about Draco first!"
"And your family?" Narcissa asked her sharply. "What about them? Do they not matter anymore?"
Ginny looked away, unable to meet her fierce gaze.
"Your brother or Mr. Potter may know something about Draco's whereabouts," she said quietly.
Ginny glanced up quickly. She hadn't thought of that before. She had spent days, tearing herself apart, finding excuse after excuse not to leave the Manor, not to leave Draco's room, and yet her own family may just be able to bring him back to her, giving her more than just his memories.
"I'll go with you," Narcissa said.
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