A/N: I know, I know, you waited FOREVER for this. I do apologize. In an attempt to get in your good graces again, I sent this out unbeta'd. Hope you like.
Disclaimer: Nope, still not her, still don't own it, and still not making any money off of it.
The following morning dawned gloomily over Grimmauld Place. An intense fog had crept in, and enveloped the land with an impenetrable force. Draco, being an early riser, walked over to the window in "their" room to survey the new day.
"Great, just perfect," he sighed to himself. After the disappointing end to last night's conversation, he was truly not looking forward to the new day's events. This relationship thing was new to him.
Never in his life had he held his tongue, and listened, actually listened to another person. He acted interested in her and her thoughts. Heck, he had even respected her reluctance to divulge any guarded memories. What did she then do? She told him that her great work of art, her writing career revolved around Harry Potter. Harry Effing Potter, now there's a name he couldn't here enough times. Why was it that he popped up everywhere? Couldn't anything ever happen in the wizarding world without boy wonder's involvement? Oh, how he hated him.
So Potter had to grow up without parents, big deal! He had to grow up with Lucius. Potter never had to watch his father beat his mum. Potter never had to face the pure look of hatred from strangers simply because of his last name. Potter never had…oh, what's the use. Draco had been through this tirade a million times before, and it never made him feel any better. Sure, it amused him in a sick way, but he never felt better. It hurt now, though. The fact that Ginevra, his Ginevra, wrote about Potter sickened him.
And speaking of Ginevra, Draco wondered just how long it would be before she awoke. It was about 9 am now, and she showed no signs of getting up any time soon. Draco took this opportunity to look at her; really look at her. She looked so peaceful and wild at the same time. She had fallen asleep long before he had last night. He was too upset, no, Malfoys are never upset, rather he was too interested in what she wrote about Potter to sleep. He had heard her breathing slow indicating deep slumber. However, she seemed to be in anything but. She tossed and turned most of the night; abandoning one uncomfortable position only to rest in another that would soon be to her dislike as well. He had expected her to appear worn out, but the picture in front of him showed no signs of her restless night. Her arms and legs were sprawled haphazardly about the bed, with one arm draped melodramatically over her forehead.
Her face was absolutely angelic. She had a heavy dusting of freckles across her cheeks and nose, and several beauty marks here and there. Her little nose had a small bump on the bridge, as if it had been broken at some point. Also, Draco noticed that her nose turned up slightly at the bottom; not that it made her look like a pig, or worse a pug. It was a cute little nose that gave her a, wait what was he doing? He was off acting like a fool again. He was going on about Ginny Weasley's nose! Draco shook his head attempting to gain control over himself. This was a Weasley he was thinking about, for Merlin's sake. She was the youngest brat of a muggle-loving, loud, overbearing pack of unrefined, impoverished, holier- than thou miscreants.
No, she's more than that. A little voice whispered in his head. She's been abandoned, forced to learn about the world on her own. She has character and dignity; not to mention a fiery spirit. These thoughts swirled through his mind as he watched her sleep. She truly was beautiful. He wished she could be this peaceful while she was awake. He would love to have her totally at ease with him.
"Oh, dear Merlin, it wasn't a dream!" She cried out as she opened her eyes, and saw Draco looking at her. "What the hell are you doing? Why are you watching me sleep? It is very creepy, now get away from me!" She lashed out as she pulled the covers up over herself.
"So much for a pleasant morning." He said with a small hint of disappointment in his voice. This was defiantly not how he wanted to start off the day with her.
"Well, what did you expect? I wake up to find you ogling me like a piece of fresh meat" She retorted haughtily.
"Don't flatter yourself, sweetie." He replied with as much disdain as he could fake. Truth be told, he'd have been more than happy to have her wake up and run into his arms. But that was beside the point. If she wanted a battle, a battle she would get.
"Oh, don't deny it, and turn around. The least you could do is act like a gentleman. Didn't your mother teach you any manners?" Ginevra fired, her malicious tone covering her embarrassment.
"Draco quickly became deadly serious. He walked over to Ginevra's bed, and looked her straight in the eyes. "Don't you ever speak of my mother like that, again! I assure you that any short comings on my part are no reflection on my mother's parenting." His voice was low and cold and his eyes bore into her with a burning intensity.
She was quite taken aback by his actions. He was mere inches from her face. It had always been her experience that if she huffed and puffed, people got out of her way. But not this man, no. He was taking her on; daring her to push him a little further. For a brief moment the realization dawned on her that this man might actually know how to handle her. She quickly regained her composure, and shot him a defiant look.
"Well, at least you have one redeeming quality; loyalty to one's mother is quite admirable." Her voice was just as icy as his.
"At least my mother wanted me around." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them, and he knew instantly that he had gone too far. The tiny creature before him went through a quick metamorphosis.
First, she looked as if she had been hit with a stunning spell; all emotion left her face. Then, the realization of his words fully hit her, and it was as if someone had just told her that Christmas had been cancelled. Finally, the most terrifying thing happened. She began to cry. No, cry is not the right word. She violently sobbed, her whole body shook with raw emotion. Draco had seen this reaction before from his mother. Lucius was always the reason his mother lost herself in tears and emotion. It sickened him to know that he caused Ginevra to lose control like that. He instinctively wrapped his arms around the tiny person in front of him. He rocked back and forth trying to soothe her. She fought at first, much like an animal caught in a trap, but eventually resigned herself to the fact that he was not letting go.
"You d-don't k-know what it's l-like." She choked out between sobs. Draco wasn't sure if she was speaking to him, or just getting it off her chest. Either way, he let her go on. "T-hey say they l-love you, and then, t-then they send you away like you're nothing. They forgot about me! I was their child, too. How the hell could they!" She was now screaming. "What was so wrong with me? Why couldn't they see I needed them? Why did I have to grow up alone? I always wanted to make them proud, but they shut me out. How could they love me and walk out on me that easily?" She was burgeoning on hysteria now. Draco simply held her tighter.
"I'll never walk out on you. I will never leave you." He whispered in her ear.
"But you don't even love me." She choked out. Desperation filled her now tiny voice.
"No I don't," he quietly answered. "But I am willing to learn how to."
They sat in silence for quite some time. Draco rocked her gently back and forth, and Ginevra cried on his shoulder. At the time neither saw the significance of the action, but later they would look back on it as the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
"Dumbledore, do you think we will see either one of them today?" Harry asked his former Headmaster. It was nearly noon, and no one in the house had seen or heard anything from the two new arrivals.
"There are many changes taking place for the two of them, Harry. I believe that it is pertinent that we give them time." The aging wizard flatly replied.
"Yes, I know, but they did not have breakfast, I know because Kreacher told me he did not take anything to their quarters." Harry added with a hint of concern in his voice.
"They are both fine, I am sure. Harry, you may not like Mr. Malfoy, but I assure you, he will not harm Miss Weasley." Dumbledore explained with an air of finality.
"How can you be so sure?" Harry asked, with a very uncharacteristic edge. "We have not seen him in so long. How do we know that he is trust- worthy? The Draco Malfoy I know would not pass up the chance to hurt Ginny. She would not stand a chance against him!" Harry was nearly shaking with righteous indignation.
"Harry, I know that you and Draco have never gotten along, but I must ask you to remain calm in this matter. Whether you like it or not, this is the path destiny has dealt. Draco and Ginevra must spend time with each other. They will be married. Their love could help or destroy our cause. You must learn to keep your personal feelings in check." Dumbledore's tone, though calm, held a level of fierceness in it that was uncommon to the normally placid man. "As to Ginevra, and I do believe that is what she wishes to be called, I assure you, she can take care of herself. You have not seen her in many years. That young woman can bare the force of any storm."
"I don't have to like it, though." Harry muttered.
"No, you do not. We must all live with it, though. Remember, Harry, one day these two will shape our world. There is no room for hatred in regard to either of them. How you act towards them may very well decide the fate of the world." With that, Dumbledore reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag of lemon drops. Before popping one into his mouth, he added, "If they have not emerged by one, I will have Kreacher check to see if they are hungry."
Ginevra and Draco spent the rest of the morning in companionable silence. She lazily went about preparing herself for the day, taking a leisurely bath before dressing. For his part, Draco gave her space. He had promised not to leave her, and a Malfoy never goes back on his word. After she showered, he took the opportunity to do the same. He indulged himself to an extended shower. When he emerged from the bathroom, clad in a thick bathrobe, he found her sitting on her own bed writing. Curiosity got the best of him, and he made his way to her side.
"What are you writing?" He asked as pleasantly as he could.
"Nothing, really. Everything. Oh, I don't know. Normally when I am upset I just write about whatever comes to mind. But right now I can't seem to focus on any one thing." She explained, quite exasperated. She usually found her writing to be a great source of comfort and clarity. If she needed to sort out her life, or needed to escape it, she would write. At this moment, however, the words were elusive.
Her life had changed so drastically. Sure, she knew the day would come when she would return to the wizarding world, and take her rightful place as the carrier of such an important destiny. It had not happened like she had ever envisioned, though. There was no fan fare to welcome her home. Her family was not waiting with open arms and apologies for their abandonment of her. No, she was greeted by a small group of people who knew more about her exile and return than she did. She was a pawn to them; a device to be used when she was most important to their cause.
For some indiscernible reason, seeing Ginevra upset for the second time that morning wounded Draco. He carefully sat down on the bed next to her, and embraced the young woman. Concern, a feeling normally reserved for only his mother and himself, washed over him. He wanted to make all of her pain go away. He knew this was impossible. True, he could help her find peace, but in the end, Ginevra would have to make the decision to put all of that pain to rest.
Ginevra was at first a bit taken back by Draco's concern and comforting actions. She was not used to someone being there for her when she broke down. The years spent without her family had taught her to be strong and self-reliant. Just this once, though she allowed him to take on her pain.
"I don't know if you can even begin to understand what I am feeling." She began to explain. "I have come back to a world that I will lead, but I feel no real connection to. I mean, everything has been turned upside down. I guess it is all just hitting me. I have to fall in love with someone I have always regarded as my enemy, and to top it off, I will be responsible for all those whom I have always looked to in this world for guidance." It was her turn to have words fumble out of her mouth. If someone would have told her two days ago that she would be sitting in Grimmauld Place, with a robe clad Draco Malfoy holding her while she sobbed out all of the anger, fear, and pain on her life, she would have seriously considered checking them into an asylum. But, there she was.
You find love where you least expect it. A small voice said in the back of Ginevra's mind. I do not love him, she insisted to herself. But you could. The voice responded. Not liking where this "conversation" was going, she quickly directed her attention to her current problem. Said problem being the fact that she was on a bed with Draco `Sex- God- of- Hogwarts' Malfoy, and he was only wearing a towel. She felt a warm, fluttering sensation taking her over. Instantly, she knew that moving away from him would be the only way from adding to her list of problems. Ginevra inhaled sharply, stiffening as she did so. She felt Draco startle at her change in demeanor. She stealthily maneuvered out of his arms, and held him at arms length.
"I'm sorry, I'm n-not quite sure what came over me, or why I told you all that." She hurriedly spoke. "Thank you for being kind to me." With regained composure, she was now determined not to show any sign of emotion towards him.
The change confused Draco, but seeing the look on Ginevra's face, the familiar look of cool indifference, realization dawned on him. He knew that there was no way he would get any where with her at this moment. She was definitely a formidable woman. Draco had to admit that he was impressed. The little hell cat had lived through a tough experience or two, and she was strong because of them. Strong, but guarded; no, she did not like the fact she'd bared her to soul to him. Deciding he did not want a repeat of the previous crying hysteria, he granted her the desired space.
"Whoa, hold on there, little one," he was tired of the crying, but a small argument wouldn't be so bad. "Don't go getting your knickers in a twist. Just because you can't handle being so close to me, there's no need to become so defensive." His lips curved in to the trademark Malfoy smirk, but there was a bit of a spark in his eye.
"Don't think for one moment that you have had any affect whatsoever on my knickers!" She growled, literally growled, as a response. "I tried to thank you for your momentary display of kindness, and I get nothing but arrogance and innuendo." She folded her arms over her chest and sneered back.
"Thanks, you call pulling away from me like I am diseased, thanks? You are one piece of work, woman." Draco shot back. Yes, he was baiting her now. He figured all of that pent up emotion needed to come out somehow, and he rather it was not in the form of tears. "You should feel damn lucky at the moment. Afterall, you do get to marry me." Draco flashed her his most devilishly handsome, yet arrogant smirk.
"You still think that you are just the most wonderful catch on earth, don't you? You really believe that every female on earth is dieing to be with you." The lunacy of it all was rather funny to her.
"You are just like the rest of them, dear. In the end, you will be begging to be with me." He laughed out.
The words were no sooner out of his mouth than Ginevra had him by the throat, glaring menacingly at him. "I am nothing like the rest of them. You don't deserve me. I have saved myself, body and soul, for the one man I was destined to be with. I'll be damned if you will compare me on any level to your countless, nameless, meaningless whores." Ginevra's voice was low, but dangerous. The look she gave Draco was deadly.
"Hit a sore spot, did I?" His reply was loaded with arrogance, as a thought struck him. He did hit a sore spot. Long ago he's reasoned out that his mate would be a virgin. Afterall, if he had to remain celibate, surely as a female his future wife would, too. The twist was, she did not know that he had the same rules.
"Well, how would you feel in my position?" Her emotions were beginning to take over. "Oh, never mind. You couldn't possibly understand how I feel. Are you hungry? It's past mid day, now. We really should get something to eat." She changed the subject so as not to break down. Ginevra did not like this conversation. She had been at a disadvantage from the beginning, opening up to Draco like that. She may have to marry him, but she did not have to fall all over him, either.
"Alright, let's go down to the kitchen. I am sure that Kreacher will be able to take care of us." Draco suggested, he had an upper hand at the moment, and wanted to walk away with that small advantage.
Harry paced back and forth in the kitchen, checking the time every 5 minutes. Since the clock had chimed 12, forty-five minutes ago, he had carried out a silent watch, waiting for the slightest sound signaling Ginevra's arrival. He only had to wait 15 more minutes before he could disturb them. He had listened carefully to Dumbledore's words. The logical part of him, and considering he was married to Hermione Granger, it was rather large, told him that his mentor was right. However difficult it was for him to realize that Ginevra was not a little girl anymore; he knew the young girl he once knew could take care of herself. Harry knew what it was like to live as a muggle. Not that there was anything wrong with the muggle lifestyle, it was different. He could only imagine how strange it must have been for her to be immersed in such a strange world. Actually, he could imagine how it was; in fact he knew how she must have felt. He figured it would have been much like his introduction to the wizarding world. Yes, Ginevra had experienced quite a lot. He could respect her abilities for that.
Still, this was Draco Malfoy they were dealing with. He was the son of a Death Eater; the embodiment of evil. So what if he never joined Voldemort? The ferret had never been given the choice, and now he was. He was going to be given a choice that would affect the entire world. Harry knew that no matter how he felt about Malfoy, he must try to bring him to the Order's side. As scared as he was for Ginevra, he could not change the truth. She was going to have to marry Malfoy. The only way Harry could keep her and everyone he loved safe, was to win the ferret over. I'd have an easier time convincing Aunt Petunia to attend a Quidditch match with me. He laughed to himself.
Harry heard the top step creak, and realized that Malfoy and Ginevra were coming down the stairs. Bout time, he thought to himself as he hastily took a seat at the kitchen table. When the two entered the room, Harry appeared to be non-chalantly reading a book.
"So, you two finally decided to eat?" He attempted to sound jokingly indifferent, but neither of them was convinced.
"Keeping tabs, are we, Potter?" Draco sneered. "Nothing more heroic for you to get into?"
"Will you two knock it off? I have a headache, in no mood to listen to your squabbling." Ginevra snapped. She made her way over to the icebox, and looked for something to eat.
"Here, Gin, I'll call Kreacher. It's much easier if you let him fix you something." Harry explained. Knowing Kreacher, as he did, the elf was likely to have jinxed the kitchen, seeing as there were new arrivals. The demented little elf got a kick out of setting little surprises for any newcomers to Grimmauld Place. Personally, Harry blamed this new hobby on long term exposure to Fred and George Weasley, but whatever the cause, it never had pleasant effects.
"Fine, if you insist, Harry." Ginevra politely, yet distantly responded.
"So…you two have a pleasant reunion?" Harry awkwardly asked.
"Oh, yes, Potter. After learning that we were destined for each other, we decided to get right to it. Yeah, we shagged like bunnies all night long. Good thing there are silencing spells on these old walls." Draco cheekily responded, while smirking maliciously.
"Why you no good, have you no respect!" Harry shouted, lunging towards Draco. "She is a just an object to you, isn't she. I won't let you use her like that."
"I told you to knock it off!" She yelled while throwing up her hands. Instantly, both Draco and Harry were thrown backwards. They each smacked walls then slid to the floor. The pair simply sat there with stunned expressions on their faces. Harry was the first to speak.
"What on earth just happened?" The stunned young man asked.
"You did that, didn't you, Ginevra?" Draco's tone was neither arrogant, nor accusing. He was awed, and frankly a little scared.
"I couldn't take the arguing any longer. I am not a piece of property. I am not in need of protection. I am a grown woman. Yes, Draco, I did do that. As you can both see, I am a force to be reckoned with." The answer was direct and final.
"And you're worried about me hurting her, Potter? With a temper like that I do believe I might have been better off staying dead." It mattered little that Draco hated the other man with nearly all his being. At that moment they were both in a very precarious spot. They were on the wrong side of a very powerful, very dangerous, extremely pissed off witch. And he'd never seen anything quite as beautiful in all his life.
A/N: Okay, I know you all waited a very long time for this update, and honestly, I am not sure how you will like it. I know that Ginevra is all over the map in this one, and Draco may seem at times a bit too OOC. Much like our heroine, I am going through a lot of life changing events. Usually writing helps me through the stress, but lately I've found no comfort or motivation. I did not plan to have Ginevra lay her cards out so to speak, so quickly. However, I found that I could do a bit of my own ranting through her.
In a way she is truly an embodiment of myself right now, at least in this chapter. Over the past few weeks I have become the head of my family. My father left my mum after 30 yrs of marriage, she was already in a depression, and it just pushed her further. So, mum has attempted suicide four times. My dad isn't in a much better place. And to top it off, my brother is on the run from the police on felony drug charges. Basically, I am running all three of their lives, or I am at least responsible for all of their well being, and everyone in my life who I have ever looked towards for guidance is now looking to me. It's a very difficult role to fill. Okay, I'm sure that this is WAY more than you ever wanted to know about a fanfic writer, but hey, everyone has to vent sometimes! Yes, my faithful readers, you are dealing with a goofy one here!
Okay, all drama aside, thank you for sticking with me. Never fear, the next chappie will be better. Believe it or not, this installment has helped move our little adventure along. Now we have room to build. I promise, the next chapter will arrive soon!
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