"Ginny, why in Merlin's name do you need so many magazines? You only need one gown. There must be twenty in this stack alone."
Ginny put her hands on her hips. "Draco, you know nothing about dresses. It has to be perfect! I can't just pick any old dress!"
Draco tried to smile and be patient as he left the stacks in there place and tried to find the memo from Larimore about the coming visit from the Canadian Quidditch League President. He looked for a few moments, then gave up. Baby barked at him when he grabbed Ginny around the waist and pulled her onto his lap.
"Sshh, hush Baby, good girl." Ginny cooed.
Baby growled, but trotted off to her new pink pillow in Draco's office. Ginny had taken over Draco's office trying to make wedding plans, as well as the library, the long dinning table, and Draco's bedroom. Anyplace with a flat surface. This wedding was turning into the society event of the year.
Ginny cuddled into Draco's side as Baby kept up a low growl. "Have you noticed, Draco? Baby has been acting more jealous than usual lately? I'm worried about her."
"I think it's just that you're spending so much time on wedding plans that,…Baby is feeling a little neglected."
Ginny looked up at Draco and ran her fingertips over his cheek. "Just Baby? Have I been neglecting you too?"
Draco wasn't one to show his vulnerability, but he had been feeling the loss of Ginny lately. After they had announced there engagement to their friends and family, it seemed they rarely saw each other. Ginny was always off with her mum, Hermione, and sisters in law, shopping, shopping, shopping. When Draco did come by, they all descended on him with patterns, samples of centerpieces, and such, and he got out of their as fast as he could. It was quite intimidating to have nine women come at you, talking at once. Ten, if Maggie was with them.
Draco smiled at her, and kissed her softly. "No, of course not. You have a lot to do, and when this is all over, I will have you all to myself."
Ginny leaned her cheek to his, admiring her ring for the millionth time. Sure, it got caught on her clothes, and snagged all her sweaters, but it was gorgeous. "Yes, you will. You and me…and Baby."
Draco almost cringed. He was hoping they would add the other kind of baby to their little family. Ginny and he had discussed having children, and decided that, once they were married, they would, 'let things happen.' Draco hoped that Ginny would be pregnant within the first few months, he didn't see any reason to wait, and while Ginny was distracted with baby things, he would have the chance to properly train Baby.
Draco had decided when he knew that he was going to propose that he would like to take a firm hand with Baby. He doubted that she had ever had any training at all. Well, if she was going to live in Malfoy Manor, she was going to live by the rules.
Draco was staring at Baby over the desk when Ginny grabbed his face. "What are you thinking about?"
"The future," he smiled, it wasn't a lie.
*********************
It was a normal Thursday evening, Draco and Ginny were having dinner at Ginny's flat, when Draco finally had had enough of Baby's behavior, and Ginny's as well, and decided to do something about it.
Ginny was flipping through a designer cake magazine, showing Draco several photos, as she fed Baby bits of food from her plate.
At first, Draco tried to ignore the fact that Ginny was feeding her from the table again, then he imagined trying to entertain at the manor…His beautiful wife at his side, being gracious and charming with his guests, Draco jr. making witty conversation, Ginny jr. smiling sweetly as she put the table at ease with her inherited charm… Then, in runs Baby, yapping, begging. Ginny feeds her right from the table! The children think this is acceptable and do the same…The guests look at each other in horror, and whisper about 'Those horrid Malfoy's' shocked, they shake their heads in unison at Draco…
Draco watched as Ginny said, "Last piece Baby," for the third time, and continued to flip through magazines. He cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Ginny, if you're Baby's mum, then that makes me…" Draco swallowed hard, "Baby's father, does it not?" He didn't wait for a response, but continued on. "There fore, I get to boss her around, and try to teach her some manners. The first thing she needs to learn is that there will be no more eating from the table. And no more human food what so ever. She is a dog, she will eat dog food."
Ginny gave him a mutinous look, but said nothing. He was right. And she was actually pleased that he was taking an active role in Baby's life, and not trying to pawn her off on her parents, or something horrible like that. Even though she did not approve of the tone he was using.
Baby went to Ginny's chair and began begging again. Draco told her in a firm voice, "Baby, NO! You have your own food," scooting his chair away from the table and picking up Baby's dish to show her the dog food. Baby barely gave Draco a glance, and continued whining at Ginny's side. Ginny turned to Baby and was going to say something when Draco cut her off.
"Don't, Ginny. She is going to learn by my rules now. She is far too spoiled. Baby! Come here." Baby stopped begging at Ginny's chair and sat down. She barked at Draco's command, and looked to Ginny to do something. Draco had had enough. He picked up Baby, who sank her sharp little teeth into his hand, and ignored Ginny's protest that he was being too rough, and put Baby in the kitchen by herself to eat, shutting the door behind him.
He cast a silencing charm on the door, but the kitchen door moved slightly as Baby pushed her three pounds against it. He sat down to eat his cold food, "There, now we can have a nice dinner." Baby was still moving the door, wanting to be let out from the kitchen, but Draco ignored her, and tried to engage Ginny in conversation. Ginny picked at her food, not eating, staring at the kitchen doors.
She was so furious she wanted to scream! Poor Baby! She wasn't used to being handled so roughly. Ginny resolved that rather than have a shouting match, that might end up in hot make-up sex, she would ignore him for the rest of the night.
Draco could see Ginny's bottom lip tremble slightly, she was trying not to cry. Had he been too rough? Merlin, he hadn't harmed the bloody dog. "Ginny, have you chosen a dress yet?" he asked as Baby continued to push against the door.
Ginny gave him a dirty look and nodded to the kitchen before she got up and went to her room.
Draco knew she was angry, and that was fine. He was not going to bend. That was no way to start a marriage. So, he had one woman in his life in her room, probably crying, and definitely upset with him, and the other woman in his life, in the kitchen, barking and howling. Draco got out parchment and quill and sat down at Ginny's table, ready to do some work. He definitely wasn't the ladies man he thought he was. He was also testing Ginny, to see if she would come out or not. She didn't after two hours, even after Draco let Baby out.
Baby ran out when Draco opened the kitchen door and went looking for Ginny. She ran to the bedroom, but Draco cast a silencing charm on the hall, and grabbed Baby, keeping her away from the door. He insisted that she sit in the living room, and Baby fought him all the way. Draco finally used magic, casting an invisible barrier to keep Baby from going down the hall to Ginny's bedroom.
After almost twenty minutes of trying to get through, Baby got tired and stretched out on her little futon. She sighed every few minutes, and Draco felt bad, but kept working, sure that Ginny would emerge at any moment. He went to the kitchen, and as he suspected, Baby hadn't touched her food. Draco suspected that Baby would lose a pound or two, before she was trained. She was so stubborn; she might disappear before she came around to Draco's way of thinking.
*********************
Ginny was furious with Draco's high handed approach! How dare he think that he could just walk into their lives and try to change them! She and Baby were fine the way that they were, why did Baby need to change? She wasn't hurting anyone. Ginny agreed that she needed to stop feeding her from the table, and she was…soon. Ginny didn't know why she was bothering to look through these stupid bride magazines anymore; she didn't want to marry a man that would treat a defenseless little dog like that.
Ginny was wondering if she should save Baby, but knew that Draco would never really hurt her, she just didn't like his methods. Ginny's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her door.
"I'm leaving."
Draco waited for several moments, but all he heard were the pages of a magazine being flipped.
"Did you hear me? I'm leaving, Ginevra."
Ginny continued to ignore him, flipping through her magazine. Then Draco said the one thing he knew would get her to speak to him. "We're leaving."
Ginny jumped off the bed and ran to the living room.
Draco yelled, "Baby! Come!"
Ginny saw Draco grab the lead off the wall. Baby who always recognized this as a sign she was going out, ran to the door.
"What in bloody hell do you think you're doing? You are not taking my dog!"
"Technically, she's our dog."
"Not yet! Who says I am going to marry you?!"
"Oh? Then I'll take that ring back then."
Ginny sucked in a deep breath and put her hand behind her back to hide the ring.
Draco smirked. "That's what I thought. Come on Baby, you're going home." Draco looked her in the eye and said, "Someone needs to take a firm hand…With both of you."
"Draco, you bas-"
Draco shushed her like she shushed Baby, and Ginny found herself watching in fascination. He wasn't really going to take Baby…
Ginny watched as Draco attached the lead, and walked Baby to the door. "It's not as if you don't know where she is, and she will be safe. This is for all of us Gin. We can't go our entire marriage putting her under the Lullaby charm. This is for you; I'm doing this for you. Do you think I like knocking Baby out? I don't. She's a huge part of your life, and therefore a huge part of mine now."
Draco didn't look back as he apparated home, Baby with him.
*************************
Draco hadn't expected training Baby to be easy, but it was so much more difficult than he anticipated. She was incredibly stubborn, and he had already lost two nights sleep trying to keep her off the bed, and teach her to sleep on the round pillow that he bought for her. She cried and barked for hours, and Draco was ready to use magic, just to get her to stop crying. He should have thought this through. He should have known that it would take months and months to reverse the habits of a dog as spoiled as Baby.
The only benefit of spending all this time with her was that Draco got to practice all his long forgotten healing charms on himself, when Baby bit too hard, or attacked his feet, and it kept his mind off of Ginny. He hated the way things had ended between them, he knew that they would speak again, they hadn't broken up, but he didn't like that Ginny was so angry with him.
***********************
Ginny stared at the picture of Baby on her desk and sighed. She had decided not to call Draco, no matter how much she missed him, and Baby of course.
Maggie came over and snatched the picture. "Ginny, what is wrong with you? Pining over your dog? When you have that incredibly hot, sexy," Maggie admire Ginny's ring, "Clever man who's mad for you?"
Ginny frowned and looked away, "I do miss Draco…But I miss Baby too. And you don't know how horrible he was to me! He had no regard for my feelings, he-"
"Gin, look kid, I don't want to bring you down…But the harsh reality is that Baby is a dog. Draco is a man. A gorgeous man. Baby can not give you what Draco can. I think it's fabulous that Draco is trying to help convert Baby back into a dog. If I were you, I would go down on my knees and thank that man, if you get my meaning."
Ginny rolled her eyes and said "I have to get back to work." Pleasing Draco was the last thing on her mind…
Ginny decided to go see Hermione that evening; perhaps she could give her some perspective on her problem. It had only been three days without Draco and Baby, but it felt like weeks. Hermione, still angry with the letter she received from Draco accusing Ginny and Harry of being 'Lovers' was touchy about the subject.
Harry avoided eye contact with Ginny, and made sure to give Hermione a kiss before leaving, "Sorry ladies, got to run, meeting Ron down the pub." Hermione smiled at him until he apparated away. Ginny was a little nervous being alone with Hermione.
She and Hermione had talked everything out months ago, and Hermione understood why Ginny had done what she did, but being around Harry and Hermione was still slightly awkward.
Hermione smiled wider at the expression on Ginny's face. "Don't look so worried! He has been so attentive since that whole ridiculous Candy incident! I just wish that he would relax around you. I think he thinks if he looks at you at all, I'll get jealous! I should thank you, our sex life is better than ever! Men…Speaking of, what can I help you with?"
Ginny felt ready to cry, if Hermione didn't support her, she didn't know what she'd do. Hermione and Draco did not get along, that was no secret, if Hermione thought that Draco was doing the right thing, than she supposed she would have to acquiesce.
Ginny told Hermione the full details of Draco's dog-napping of Baby, and was slightly put off as Hermione only raised her eyebrow through her dissertation.
Hermione took a deep breath, and began, "Draco is, can be a horrible man. There is no way around it. I'm sorry that hurts your feelings. But hear me out. Draco," Hermione rolled her eyes and mumbled, "I can't believe I am defending him…But Ginny, Baby is a dog, I know you love her, and you treat her very well, but Draco is a-"
"I know!" Ginny snapped, "Draco is a man! I should run over there this very minute and apologize right?"
"Not exactly. I would let him suffer with that dog, I mean with Baby, not that she's annoying or anything! But let him do what he's doing, it's admirable of him to take responsibility the way he is. Not like other times, when he is supposed to do things and he doesn't…"
Ginny raised an eyebrow in question, and Hermione pretended to be writing. Ginny now knew what it was that Draco hadn't done yet. "He still hasn't written you and apology or told you he was sorry?"
"No," Hermione sniffed, "I'm not bitter. I won't make a fuss at your wedding…If there is one."
Ginny put her head in her hands and cried, as Hermione stroked her hair. "I'm only joking! Don't worry, Gin. Everything will be fine."
******************************
The following afternoon, Ginny showed up at Malfoy manor, with a large box of fudge from Honeydukes. She knew it was Draco's favorite, a small gesture, she had behaved horribly, and she missed him. She missed Baby too, but having a dog to cuddle with, was nothing compared to Draco's love and affection. She missed having Draco to talk to and hold; it wasn't the just intimacy, though that was fantastic, it was the other parts of their relationship. He would call her, or floo her several times a day, and he was always physically affectionate.
Ginny knew he wasn't raised in a loving home, and he was making up for it now, he always held her hand, and kissed, and touched her in some way, and he had made the effort to adapt to the Muggle life she lived in. A gigantic step for him.
To her surprise, it was Draco, and not Mrs. Linton who opened the door. Ginny felt her pulse begin to race, and the tears starting to form. She could smell his cologne from here, why had she been so stubborn?
"Hello, Draco."
"Hi, Gin."
"So, how are you?"
"I'm well, Thanks. And you?"
"I'm…Well, thank you."
"That's wonderful."
"Work alright?"
"Works good, thanks, and you?"
"Good, good, busy."
"Busy is good."
"Yes, isn't it?"
"Yes, better than being bored."
"Too right."
Draco wanted to take her into his arms and apologize for making her suffer. He could see that she was suffering, that she had spent nights crying, that wasn't his intention at all.
"I bought this for you…They had your favorite. Double chocolate fudge with caramel and toffee. I would have bought you some-"
"Do you want to see Baby?"
Ginny burst into tears, and sobbed out, "Yes, please! I miss her." Ginny dropped the fudge and threw herself into Draco's arms. She began sobbing and whispered, "I've missed you so much Draco."
Draco hugged her tight and closed his eyes, inhaling her sweet scent, grateful that she was there. He felt terrible acting so cold to her, but not wanting to back down either.
"There, there love, let me wipe away those tears. That's a good girl. Come on, love." Draco escorted her into the house and set her down on the sofa. Once Ginny was settled in the crook of his arm, he called Baby. Ginny heard the sound of Baby's little paws on the marble in the foyer, and sure enough, she appeared in the sitting room.
Baby stopped in the entry way and cocked her head, looking at Draco and Ginny. Ginny called out to her and she ran to the sofa, every intention of jumping into Ginny's lap, when Draco said, "Baby," in a firm voice.
Baby stopped just short of the sofa and wagged her tail.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked.
"Baby is learning not to jump on the furniture. She is allowed on her own furniture, but not on ours."
Ginny bit her bottom lip to keep from responding.
Ginny wiggled out of Draco's arms and got down on the floor to play with Baby, "I guess you have us both trained, are you happy?"
"That is not what I want. I am not trying to hurt or punish you. I love you."
Ginny bowed her head, then looked back at Draco "I know you're not trying to hurt me, but it does hurt. I know that the way I treat Baby is…Irritating, but I love her, and I know that I have spoiled her but I don't want to live without her or you. I know that I need to stop feeding her from the table and taking her to work in that bag you hate. I am sorry that you had to endure that at work, and I am sorry that I contributed to you being called 'Pinky Malfoy' I am so sorry! I know that I need to adjust to-"
"Wait, wait! What? What did you just say?"
Ginny used both hands to cover her mouth. He didn't know! "Um, I said that I know I need to stop feeding her scraps?"
"No, no, I heard that! But I heard something else!"
"Draco, that's all I said."
"I heard 'Pinky Malfoy' explain yourself."
"Um, well, I heard from someone, I don't remember who, exactly…But it seems, I mean it would appear, that when you took Baby to work that day, in that pink bag? Well, it seems that someone took it upon themselves to um, give you, an um, nickname…"
Ginny's voice was so low at the end that Draco had to lean at the end of the sofa to hear her. How humiliating. He had done a favor for his girlfriend, and now, he was known as 'Pinky.' He knew exactly who had given him the nickname too.
"Would this 'someone' be redheaded, and a Weasley?" Draco asked.
"I am a Weasley," Ginny reminded him.
"No, you are a Malfoy. We may not have been married in front of an official yet, but you are mine."
Ginny smiled, and cuddled Baby close to her. She hadn't meant to upset Draco, and perhaps she better not say anything else.
"I will see to it that this ridiculous 'Pinky' business is taken care of."
Ginny stood and went to kiss Draco when Baby began growling. Ginny put her down and leaned her hands on Draco's knees, kissing him softly. "I know you will, love."