A/N: I apologize for the really long wait, and I hope it's worth it. I swear, all future chapters will be out at a much quicker rate, as I now know exactly how this story ends. If you have totally forgotten what this was about, I'm sorry, so here's a summary.
At the end of her 6th year, Draco placed the controlling curse on Ginny and has held her captive since. Her mother has died - at the hands of the Death Eaters, no doubt. Over time, Ginny begins to enjoy Draco's presence, although his seeming mood swings are violent and unpredictable.
CHAPTER 10 The Dinner
When Ginny woke up next to Draco, she felt good. Her entire body was relaxed, her mind was calm, she was still naked with the feeling of delicious soreness in her thighs, and Draco's arm draped over her waist.
And then she remembered that she was going to dinner at his parent's house that evening. The mere fact that she was leaving the Manor - Draco's Manor, her Manor - should have elated her, but it didn't. The peacefulness she hadn't felt in nearly a year evaporated as doubts began to creep in.
She clearly remembered Narcissa's cold demeanor at the Quidditch World Cup the summer before her 3rd year. She recalled the way she had looked at her family, as if the Weasley's weren't even worthy of breathing the same air as the Malfoy's.
What would she say now? Ginny wondered. Not only was she breathing the same air as Draco, she was living in the same house and sleeping in the same bed.
And then there was his father. He'd been directly responsible for her near death in her first year, although later he claimed that he never thought Tom would actually try to kill her. The summer before her 4th year, while shopping for school supplies, she felt hands slip around her back and cup her breasts. Before she could make a sound, she was shoved into a corner with a hand over her mouth, and something suspiciously hard pressing into her lower back.
"It's a shame," a voice breathed hotly in her ear, "that the Weasley's are blood traitors."
One hand stayed pressed over her mouth, while the other roughly massaged her breast and then moved down, trying to creep under her skirt.
"Stop," she hissed into his hand and throwing her elbow into his ribs.
There was one final grind of his pelvis into her back, and her attacker moved away. Ginny whirled around to confirm her suspicion - that it was Lucius Malfoy.
"You bastard," she growled at him.
His lips curled into a sneer as he turned and left her.
"Good morning," Draco's sleep cradled voice shook her from her memories.
"Morning." She rolled over to face him. "Did you sleep good?"
He nodded and yawned. "Better than I have in a long time."
"Me too."
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "We'll have to get you a new dress for tonight."
She nodded.
"You okay? Don't you want to go?"
"I do. It will be nice."
"Then what's wrong?"
"Will your . . . what will your parents think of me?"
"Well," he ran his fingers through her hair, "my father is still in Azkaban."
"Oh." She felt an immediate flood of relief wash through her.
"And my mother will approve of you. What's not to like?"
"The fact that I'm a Weasley."
"You're a pureblood," he reminded her flatly. "And I'd like to think, that given the choice, you would stay here willingly now."
"Of course," she answered without hesitating. She wondered if she really would. If given the choice between staying with him, or returning to her family, what would she chose? Draco, who had consumed her whole life for an entire year, or her family, who she had stopped missing months ago?
The sick feeling that had vanished with the news of Lucius's incarceration returned as she realized how shallow she had become.
"Good." She felt Draco's body relax.
She nodded into his chest.
"I saw this green gown at a Muggle store in Paris," he mumbled, his hands slowly beginning to move across her body. "I tried to get my seamstress to recreate it, but she couldn't get it right, so I'm going to send Sully for it today."
"A Muggle gown?"
"I couldn't get my usual seamstress to make a new one like it on such short notice, so it will have to do."
"Okay."
"Are you nervous?"
She paused. "Yes."
"Don't be. It'll be perfect. You're perfect."
After breakfast, a nervous Sully arrived with a large box. "Theys were not receptive, Master Sir. I apologizes, but I has to erases their memories."
Ginny winced at the thought of Sully facing the Muggles.
Something like a small smile briefly played on Draco's lips. "Of course. Muggles. No matter." He shrugged and took the box. "You did the right thing."
He pulled the dress from the box and held it up. "Here. Try it on."
Ginny took the dress, her fingers reveling in the unbelievable softness of the material. The dress was so soft and smooth, Ginny was afraid her own hands would snag it, even though she received her weekly manicures from Sully. She held the dress to her body and was pleased to see that the neckline was not at all low cut; somehow she felt that cleavage wasn't the best thing to present to Draco's mother.
"Go on," Draco encouraged. "Try it."
She quickly shimmied out of her robed and Sully helped her ease the dress over her head.
It fit perfectly. The neckline skimmed directly over the top of her chest, concealing everything it should, the waist curved inwards in an hourglass fashion, fitting her like a second skin, and the skirt of the dress was A line, widening gently as it fell to the floor. The back of the dress, however, was completely cut out. It bared her entire back, dipping dangerously low.
"Um, this shows my-" Ginny began.
"No it doesn't," Draco interrupted. "It's beautiful. You look amazing."
"Is it appropriate?" she asked, craning her neck to see the back.
"I picked it out, didn't I?"
"Yes."
"So with the right shoes and jewels, you'll be a goddess."
"Oo, do I get new jewelry?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.
"You get whatever makes you happy."
"Okay." She smiled at him, agreeing because it was the only think to do.
"Go on and relax," he told her. "I'm going to shower and go to the office for a few hours."
"On a Sunday?" she pouted.
"There are a few things I need to do." He kissed her cheek. "Things I didn't finish Friday."
"Oh." Her eyes automatically darted to his arm.
"It's not that. So go relax. Swim, have Sully give you a massage, and get your nails done. I'll be back by four and we'll leave here at 5:30."
Ginny made a small grunting noise.
He grinned. "Pouting won't help this time, Princess."
"Fine," she smiled back, giving up. "Then I'll relax."
"Will you really?" he asked, stepping close and picking up her hand. "I want you to be happy. I hope you believe me when I say that I don't want you to feel like a prisoner in your own home."
"I don't," she said slowly. "Not anymore."
"Then what is it?"
"It's not leaving the house, it's . . . meeting your mum."
"Because she's my mother?"
"I think so."
"Or because she's someone new?"
"Maybe both."
"Don't." He shook his head and she immediately liked the way his almost too long hair brushed against his eyebrows. "You're gorgeous Ginny. You're . . . nothing like the way my mother might perceive your family."
Ginny waited for her reaction, to flinch or to be hurt by his statement, but it never came. Instead, she nodded, understanding exactly what he meant.
"And as for her being someone new, you don't have to be concerned with that. You are the only person in my life who means anything to me."
"Okay." She thought she could actually feel her heart soar at his words.
He pulled Ginny close to him, kissed her forehead, and then apparated away.
"I think I will bathe," Ginny told Sully. "If you could draw my bath please."
Sully disappeared with a pop and Ginny slowly picked up her robe and trudged up the stairs. She forced herself to breathe deeply. There was no choice but to be calm and accept what Draco had decided. Attempting to get out of it would most likely result in his wrath.
By the time she'd hung the exquisite dress in her armoire, Sully had the tub nearly filled with steaming scented water and thick bubbles. There was even a fresh bouquet of white roses by the bath. Ginny let the water run until the bubbles reached her chin, and then she leaned back and closed her eyes.
When Draco returned home, Ginny was all but ready. She'd been exfoliated and shaved, massaged, manicured and pedicured, her hair had been curled and piled on top of her head, leaving her bare from the nape of her neck to the near top of her bum, and Sully had presented her with the most beautiful pail of long diamond earrings. They dangled nearly to her shoulders and glittered more diamonds than Ginny had ever seen. The house elf had also brought her shoes, four inch stilettos that would put the top of her head level with Draco's cheekbones. The shoes were impossibly thin and strappy, black and speckled with diamonds that Ginny would have bet her life were real, and laced up her calves.
"Your dress, Missus," Sully asked as the heard the crack of Draco's return apparation.
"Yes." Ginny quickly shimmied into it as she heard Draco's voice.
"I'm back. Where are you?"
"I'll be right there," she called. With a quick glance in the mirror, and brief amazement at the strange woman she saw reflected there, Ginny hurried down the hall.
"You're early," she said, slipping behind Draco as he unbuttoned his work shirt.
"Because I missed you." He turned around to kiss her and then stopped. "You look . . . you look amazing."
"Thank you," she said quietly. "I don't look like myself, do I?"
"You do," he disagreed. "And you look like a goddess."
"You'd better be careful," she teased, a blush creeping across her cheeks. "You might anger the goddesses!"
"It doesn't matter," he shrugged carelessly. "I don't lie."
"Should I get your clothes?"
"The tux is in that closet," he nodded, removing his shirt.
She pulled out the immaculate tuxedo, not failing to notice the Armani label in the jacket. She couldn't remove her eyes from his bare chest, and she wondered not for the first time if it was possible that she was falling in love with him. She lifted the shirt from the jacket and held it out to him.
Draco slipped his arms inside the white material, and Ginny moved in front of him, her hands brushing his skin as she buttoned the shirt. He changed his trousers, and Ginny carefully tied his bowtie and then helped him into his vest.
"This matches my dress," she noted as she fasted the last button on the vest.
Draco nodded. "Sully charmed it."
She handed him his socks and tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach as she then opened the small black box she'd given him the day before and gently attached the cufflinks to his shirtsleeves.
"Ready?" Draco asked, after running a comb through his hair and inspecting his appearance.
She took a deep breath and nodded. "Ready."
"If this goes well, maybe we can plan a holiday for later this summer." His voice was neutral, but Ginny quickly understood the meaning behind the words - if she behaved.
"Really?"
He nodded curtly. "I told you, I don't want you to be a prisoner here. This is your home."
"That would be . . . wonderful." If she was honest with herself, she would have admitted that she was more nervous about sharing Draco with someone than she was about leaving the Manor or even meeting his mother. After all, Draco was all that she'd had for a year.
"Alright. We'll apparate." He stepped closer and wrapped both arms around her waist, kissed her, and then there was a strange squeezing feeling, and a sudden change of scenery.
They were standing in a large, elegant foyer, complete with marble floors, an enormous crystal chandelier, and a gorgeous sweeping double staircase.
"You really do look amazing," Draco told her again.
"So this is your mystery woman," a voice interrupted.
Ginny looked up and felt her chest constrict. Standing before them was Narcissa - tall, slim, blond, and absolutely elegant. She wore a long black gown, gold earrings and a matching bracelet, with her hair swept into a graceful twist. She held a wineglass in one hand and had an appraising look on her face as her eyes took Ginny in from head to toe.
"Mother," Draco stepped forward to kiss her cheek, "this is Ginevra."
Ginny managed to keep her eyebrows from shooting up in surprise. She wasn't even aware that Draco knew her given name.
Narcissa placed her free hand on Ginny's shoulder and air kissed both of her cheeks. "It's lovely to finally meet you." I've heard so many wonderful things about you, and you look absolutely divine."
"Thank you," Ginny smiled, trying to sound sincere and confident at the same time.
"What can I get you to drink?" she asked.
"Wine is fine," Draco answered. "What ever you're having."
Within seconds, a house elf appeared out of no where, holding a tray with two glasses. Draco handed Ginny her glass, and then they silently followed Narcissa to a parlor.
Ginny was too anxious to appreciate the change of scenery. Instead she found herself worrying about what Narcissa though of her. Weasley's and Malfoy's had never gotten along of course, and Ginny was quite sure that Narcissa knew some news of her disappearance.
After what seemed to be an eternity of small talk between the mother and son, Narcissa turned her attention to Ginny.
"Draco says the two of you have been an item for over a year and a half?" she asked, her voice even and soft.
"Exactly," Ginny nodded, even though she'd only been with him for a year. Not arguing with Draco was a lesson painfully learned.
"I have to ask," she continued calmly, "but since you seem serious, I suppose it's not terribly inappropriate."
"Of course," Ginny answered, dreading her next words.
"Why did you leave your family? The last piece of news I saw about your disappearance made the assumption that you were dead."
Ginny desperately wanted Draco to answer for her, or at least to be able to glance at him for assurance. But she knew that not only did the rest of her evening depend on her answer, her entire future with Draco did as well. "Because I knew that my family would never approve. I knew that it was time to make a choice, and this is what I chose. I chose Draco."
"Over your family?"
"I couldn't stay with my family forever."
"Forgive me," Narcissa smiled thinly. "I certainly didn't mean to pry."
Ginny nodded, and finally allowed herself to sneak a glance at Draco. He didn't glance back, but he reached over and gently squeezed her hand, flooding her with relief.
Dinner was an enormous affair. First, there were hor devours, served in the parlor they were sitting in, and then they went to the massive dining room for a strange salad and creamy soup Ginny didn't recognize. By the time the fourth course arrived, Ginny discovered that the only way to make it until dessert was by merely tasting each course, which seemed to be a big waste, since the food was divine and no doubt expensive.
The main course was some sort of thinly sliced meat, garnished with a rich red sauce, artistically arrange on her plate. It was good, but completely foreign to Ginny, despite Draco's efforts over the last year to reeducate her tastes.
She sat through more small talk between Draco and his mother, speaking only when it seemed appropriate, and struggling to maintain the appearance of being truly interested.
It wasn't until a gigantic white birthday cake and dessert wine was brought to the table that Narcissa returned her attentions to Ginny.
"What are you planning to do about your education?" she asked coolly. "I knew I'd never have to work a day in my life, and yet I also knew the importance of an education."
Ginny took a calm sip of her wine while her brain frantically shouted possibilities at her. The several glasses of wine she'd already consumed were trying to take control of her mind.
"Actually," Draco spoke up, "that's something I've been meaning to ask you about. We haven't been able to find a suitable tutor for Ginny. I know how much her education means to her, and I was hoping you could recommend someone."
Ginny wanted to sigh in relief, but instead she merely nodded and gave a slight smile.
"That depends on what you mean by suitable," she answered her son.
"Someone with immaculate teaching abilities, of course," he said. "Someone who will teach her more than just the dark arts, and someone who is discreet."
"I'll see what I can do," she replied.
The remainder of the dinner continued smoothly, and despite her assumptions that she would be thrilled at this new measure of freedom, Ginny found that the only thing on her mind was the fact that she didn't like sharing Draco. She preferred his undivided attention, and the knowledge that she was the only one on his mind.
Ginny would have never, ever told Draco, but she was bored. She preferred the silent dinners where Draco did his office work at the table to this. It was almost amusing, the way her thoughts and feelings had changed. Almost.
Before they left for the evening, Narcissa handed Draco a card. "It's for both of you," she told him, "but the dates are flexible."
"Thank you." He took the card and gripped Ginny's waist.
"Goodnight," Narcissa told Ginny, air kissing her cheeks again.
Ginny felt the again unfamiliar squeezing, and she was back in Draco's room.
"You were perfect," he said, kissing her.
"Was I?"
"Yes," he mumbled, his lips on her ear. "And mother liked you."
"How could you tell?" Her head rolled back, giving him more access.
"Because she told you goodnight. If she doesn't like people, she tells them goodbye."
"Really?"
"Yes, really." He moved behind her and began placing kisses along her bare back. "I've been waiting to do this all evening." He knelt, kissing his way down her back, and then up again, gently sliding the dress off her shoulders. Then green material gathered at her waist and with an additional nudge from Draco, it pooled at her feet.
He cupped her breasts from behind, trailing kisses over her shoulder blades. "You are beautiful."
She turned around in his grasp and removed his jacket and vest. Carefully she undid his bowtie and then unbuttoned his shirt, admiring the firm smoothness of his chest. She ran her hands up his stomach, across his chest, and then to his shoulders, pulling his shirt off in the process. She leaned in to catch his lower lip between her own and savored the taste that was truly Draco. She moved her hands down his perfect arms, determined to rid him of his clothes, but as her hand moved across his arm, she jumped back and stared at her hand. She had grown used to his Dark Mark, but this time as the palm of her hand passed over it, it felt like a fire had been lit beneath her skin. She was surprised to see that her palm wasn't singed.
"Fuck," Draco swore, clenching his arm. "I should have known this was too good to last." He shrugged his shirt back on and aimed his wand at a sealed chest. His heavy black cloak and mask came flying at him. "We'll finish this when I return." He kissed her - something he'd never done before when leaving like this - and disappeared with a crack.
Ginny stood alone in the suddenly empty room. She raised her fingers to the exact spot on her lips that Draco had kissed, and then she walked across the room and sat down on his bed, preparing to remove her shoes. She laid down on Draco's side of the bed, her head spinning from the activities on the past 24 hours.
When Ginny woke, it was to Draco pressing kisses into her bare stomach.
She inhaled before opening her eyes. She was always surprised when he smelled clean. She could smell soap and shampoo and feel the damp strands of his hair brushing her skin. She always expected him to smell like death or blood or even smoke when he returned, but his extracurricular activities never betrayed him. In fact, if it wasn't for his mark, Ginny would have never known.
She reached out her hand to run her fingers through his wet hair.
"I need you Ginny." His voice came out of the darkness, sounding strangled and cracked.
She felt the bed shift as he scooted towards her, and when he kissed her, even his mouth tasted perfect.
"I need you," he mumbled again, his face buried in her neck. "I need you to save me, make me whole."
She wasn't sure if he wanted an answer, or even what he meant, so she stayed silent, stroking his hair, and then moved her other hand to caress his back.
"No matter what happens or what has happened, I'm going to keep you safe. Know that, okay?"
His voice was needy and it was making Ginny nervous.
His hands were skating her body, touching every inch of her flesh, and his mouth followed suit, kissing and tasting between words. "I love you Ginny."
The words were a bucket of ice to her soul, but she immediately opened her mouth, ready to tell him the truth, that she loved him too.
Before she could speak, his mouth covered hers as if he didn't expect an answer.
He loves me, she thought, letting her body automatically respond to him. He loves me.
He settled between her legs, his face resting on her chest, and although his lack of clothing was apparent, he made no move to enter her. "Do you think I'm terrible?"
His breathing was slow and even before Ginny could even think of an answer, and as she stroked his hair while he slept, she noticed that the first rays of dawn were creeping through the window. "No, I don't."
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