Saturday finally arrived, sunny and warm and Draco spent the morning, and a good part of the afternoon in his office catching up on some of the work he'd slacked off on during the week. He had been so busy thinking about Ginny, staring at the photo he'd managed to take from Ron's desk, until Ron came in the next day and took it back, that he'd missed a fair amount of work. He was grateful for the distraction now. In just three hours he would be surrounded by Ginny's ten or twelve brothers, and all the other Weasley's. He wasn't sure he was up to this.
He and Ginny had owled each other every day for the past week, and they were getting to know more and more about each other. He definitely wanted to continue getting to know her, but wasn't it a little soon to meet her entire family?
"Well, you'd have to meet them eventually" Draco scratched the stubble on his chin. "Wonderful, now I'm talking to myself. The woman has me confused, that's all. Where's that confident Draco? Alright, first order of business; stop talking to myself" Draco straightened up in his chair, and put his head down to work. He wasn't going to let her get him all twisted after a week, by no means.
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Draco apparated himself to the Burrow at exactly 4:00 o'clock sharp, ending up just outside the garden. The noise coming from inside of the house was deafening, and he was sure no one would hear his approach. As he got closer to the house, he saw about ten children, all with redheads, running wild in front of the dilapidated house. The children all seemed to notice him at once, and stopped their game to gather around him.
"Who are you?" one asked.
"Is that two presents for Uncle Harry? I only got one presents from Uncle Harry on my birthday, that's not fair, that's…Twice the presents!" another added.
"Shut up Perce! Hey Sir, would you like a try a piece of candy? It tastes real good, and the tail only last for a few minutes"
Draco was terrified. He dealt with all kinds at the Ministry, but children…
Molly appeared in the doorway, drying her hands on an apron, and said, "I am wondering why my grandchildren are so quiet, what sort of mischief have you gotten your-" she seemed to finally notice Draco. "Draco, welcome dear. Won't you come in? Everyone's inside, or setting up for supper out back."
Draco was grateful to get away from the kids, but they seemed fascinated with him, and followed him inside. Draco spotted Ginny at once; she was in the kitchen, with the rest of the Weasley women, preparing the food. She turned around and smiled at him, and was making her way over, when Harry and Ron walked over to stand in front of Draco.
"C'mon kids" Ron said, scooting them out the back door. He took a moment to ruffle the smallest girl's hair, and Draco assumed that child must be his. "So, Malfoy, you decided to show. What an honor."
Ginny came over and stood beside Draco. She leaned up to give him a kiss on the cheek, then turned to Harry and Ron. "Everything alright here?"
Ron had a look of disgust on his face, but he nodded slowly. All Ginny had talked about all day was "Draco Malfoy this, and Draco Malfoy that" he and Harry had turned to Harry's favorite Muggle beer just to escape it.
"Oh, how thoughtful! You brought birthday gifts" Ginny said trying to make conversation, as the three men continued to stare at each other.
Draco nodded, and then said, "Yes, this one is for you, and this one is for your daughter."
Ginny smiled, and then bit her lip to keep from laughing. Harry, however, who was very sensitive about his birthday, looked open mouthed at Draco.
"It's my birthday, Malfoy."
Draco looked from Ginny to Harry, then said. "Happy birthday Potter, can you tell me where the loo is?"
Ginny, wanting to avoid a scrap, took Draco's hand and steered him away from Harry and Ron, out the front door, where it was now secluded. "Draco, it's not that I don't appreciate the gifts, I do. But it is Harry's birthday after all."
Draco sighed, and said, "I know, but what was I supposed to get him? Besides, I got him and your brother League tickets, out of the kindness of my heart…"
Ginny raised an eyebrow, and then smiled at him. "I want you to come in and meet my family"
Draco wanted to stall for a few more minutes alone with her, and said, "Wouldn't you like to open your gifts first?"
Ginny smiled, gave Draco a quick kiss then said, "I suppose a minute or two…" She winked at him as she started to open the smaller package first, as he instructed her to. "Draco, No. #1 perfume! I love it. You shouldn't have." Ginny opened the large package and pulled out the plush blanket. "This is just lovely, but Draco too expensive for Baby."
Draco couldn't hide the shocked expression on his face. Didn't most mothers want the best for their babies? Maybe Ginny was too new at this parenting thing to understand this.
Ginny took in Draco's expression, and asked if anything was wrong. Draco said that he was just fine, and Ginny thanked him again, and invited him inside.
Draco was introduced to so many Weasley's that he knew he would never remember all of their names. He met her older brother's, Bill, and Charlie? Yes, Bill and Charlie, that was right. He didn't remember Charlie's wife's name, but Bill's wife Fleur was hard to forget. Percy, Fred and George he remembered from school, and their wives he went to school with, Penelope, Angelina, and Alicia.
Ron's wife was also unforgettable, though he had tried. Harry was dating Hermione; though Mrs. Weasley said loudly that it was high time they stopped waiting for Merlin knew what and made it official. Ginny tried to introduce him to her nieces and nephews, but there were so many, and they didn't stand still long enough for him to get a good idea of who was who anyway. Mr. Weasley was used to seeing Draco at work, as was Percy, though they rarely spoke.
When supper was almost ready, everyone was lounging around the living room, and Draco finally asked if Ginny's daughter was there at The Burrow. This seemed to send several Weasley's into giggles, or barely controlled laughter. Ginny glared at the offenders, then turned to Draco. "My daughter?"
"Yes, you know, your baby" Draco wondered if he had missed something. Ron was biting his bottom lip trying hard not to laugh, and Harry's face was a blotchy red.
Ginny's face suddenly lit up with recognition. "Oh, no. Draco…Baby…My Baby's not, not, well let me introduce you two." Ginny stood up and headed up the stairs. She was back in a minute, a small bundle under her arm. It was wrapped in pink. As it got closer Draco thought it looked like an overgrown tan rat with huge eyes.
"Draco, this is Baby, my Chihuahua."
Draco hadn't realized he was holding his breath, and now let out a huge breath. Thank Gods. She didn't have a child, she had a dog! Well not a real dog, a watered down version of a dog.
Ginny held Baby in one hand and extended her towards Draco to hold. Baby immediately stopped shivering, and began a yelping kind of bark directed at Draco.
"Great, there she goes." Ron said, getting up from his chair and heading to the backyard. Harry, Bill, Fred and George soon followed, as Baby continued to bark, and Ginny baby talked to her. "Stop that Baby girl, yes; you're a good girl, aren't you? Yes you are, stop barking Baby."
Ginny sat down next to Draco on the couch, as the living room soon became deserted. The dog was standing on Ginny's lap, and kept up her barking, in what Ginny thought was a cute, ferocious stance. Baby only weighed three and a half pounds, but she thought she was as big as a Fang.
Draco didn't think he could take much more of that irritating little bark, and when he looked at the little monster, he saw that she was wearing a hot pink t-shirt that said, 'Fetch it yourself" and matching pink polish. He wanted to leave now. This was too strange; he wanted to ask Ginny a few questions, if that damn thing would shut up long enough for him to concentrate.
Ginny told him to try putting his hand out for Baby to sniff, so she could become familiar with his scent. Draco wanted to do no such thing, but thought that once he had shagged Ginny, it would all be worth it. He put his hand out, and Baby clamped her sharp little teeth down onto his fingers. When he pulled away, Baby was still attached to his fingers. His instinct was to shake her off, and Ginny was horrified to see her Baby being jerked around. "Draco! Stop! You're hurting her!"
"Her? She won't let go of my bloody fingers." Ginny was trying to massage Baby's neck to get her to release, but she had her jaw locked, and kept her growling up. Draco and Ginny both reached for their wands, but Ginny smacked Draco's away, who knows what spell he would use. Ginny pointed her wand at Baby's teeth and said "Engorgio." Baby's teeth grew just large enough to release from Draco's hand, and Ginny immediately reversed the spell. Draco wasn't bleeding, but there were several holes in his skin where the teeth had been.
Ginny picked up baby and hugged her to herself. "My poor Baby, are you alright?"
Draco looked down at his injured hand and nodded his head. "Yes, I'll be fine, it's nothing."
Ginny held her laughter in, and started to take Baby back upstairs; grabbing the blanket that Draco bought for Baby with her. When she came down she sat down next to Draco, and took his hand. "Can I kiss it, and make it better?" She asked.
Draco put his hand out to Ginny; he didn't need to be told twice. She gave him a look that set his heart thumping in his chest, as she kissed his hand. She asked if he was feeling any better now, and he said that he was sure that Baby had taken a nip "Right here," pointing at his bottom lip. Ginny smiled mischievously, then kissed his bottom lip, then his top, but Draco wasn't in the mood to be teased, and gave her a real kiss. Ginny could hear her mum in the distance, saying that supper was ready. "Draco, it's ready."
"I'm ready too" Draco said, hugging Ginny closer to himself. Ginny laughed and tried to push away.
"No, dinner, it's ready."
"Oh." Draco was disappointed. He'd never wanted food less. He was hungry, but food would not satisfy. He wanted nothing more than to leave with her, but they stood up and headed to the backyard. Draco was surprised at how nice the massive table was arranged. It was amazing that so many people could sit and enjoy a dinner together, even with kids intertwined throughout. Draco sat with Ginny on his right and Fred on his left. Bill was directly across from him, and he had an interesting conversation with him about the changes Draco had made in his department. That seemed to be Draco's 'in' with the Weasley men and Harry, and soon they were all in a loud debate over the best quidditch team in the league.
Ginny knew he would be fine, and headed inside with her sisters-in-law and Hermione, to help her mum clean up the kitchen. The dishes were easy work, a flick of the wand, and they were finished. They put candles on Harry's giant cake, and levitated it, and his pile of presents out the door to the table. The kids gathered around 'Uncle Harry' and helped him blow out his candles, and rip open his gifts. Ginny leaned back against Draco, while he rested one arm over her shoulder as they quietly chatted to themselves.
It was getting late, and the children were falling asleep in their parent's laps, or leaning on elbows against the table, and slowly the Weasley's family by family left The Burrow, until only Draco and Ginny remained. Molly was dabbing at her eyes as Arthur hugged her to him. "It's so strange to have this house empty and quiet." she explained to Draco as she headed to the kitchen to make tea.
Ginny asked Draco to go with her to check on Baby, who was staying in her old room. He would have preferred attempting a conversation with her father, but followed her up the stairs. Ginny's childhood room looked as though it had not been changed since she had last occupied it. He would have looked around more, but Baby ran over from her pink futon couch, and began barking. She was four feet from him, holding herself stiff as a board, and barking for all she was worth.
"Baby, that's enough. You'll love Draco, be nice. Come on Baby girl, no, sweet girl, stop that precious, no."
Draco wanted to rip his hair out. He thought perhaps he could find a way to live with the barking. He could always put a silencing charm on the little bitch. But Ginny's baby talk, that was intolerable. No man would want to put up with that. Ginny Picked Baby up and cradled her under one arm, and she did stop barking, but she was now growling at Draco.
Ginny offered Draco a seat on her bed and was going to put Baby down when she saw something hanging out of her mouth. "Baby, what have you gotten yourself into now?" Ginny pulled what appeared to be a pink string, and looked over the side of her bed, at what was Draco's gift. It was now laying in a tattered, shredded mess. "Baby! Bad girl!"
Draco looked over the side, and thought of all the things he could have used that money on, if he'd known Ginny's baby was a dog. "Perhaps I should leave…Thank you for a lovely evening, Ginny."
"No, Draco don't go yet. I am so sorry. I don't know what has gotten into her; she's usually not so destructive." Ginny put Baby down on the floor where she started barking at Draco's pant leg, and put her arms around his neck. "Please, don't go."
Draco thought he could use this to his advantage, and said, "Well…"
But Draco never did get to take advantage of Ginny. Well, not that night anyway. Draco ended up leaving soon after, but they did make plans for a Saturday date when Ginny got back from Paris the week after next. Draco almost had a heart attack when Ginny asked him with a straight face if he would watch Baby for her while she was away.
"Gods Draco! You should see your face! I'm only joking with you. I'm taking her with me."
Draco would have liked to laugh along with her, but the thought of that little yapper, having to care for her…Wait a sec. He could accidentally leave an upstairs window open, or the front door, or hell, just hex her into-
"Draco? Are you alright? First you looked terrified, and now you look quite pleased with yourself." Ginny looked at him suspiciously, but Draco just smiled.
"Nothing, it was nothing. I better go; I'll see you when you get back." Draco kissed her goodnight, and went home feeling very relieved. Ginny didn't have a baby. She had something he didn't think would be too much competition, it was a tiny dog, after all.
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Draco missed talking to Ginny, but he didn't know if he should send an owl to her posh Paris hotel. After three days without speaking to her, he began to feel gloomy. He was sitting at his desk, smashing the tip of his quill into oblivion, when an owl began pecking his beak against his office door. Draco looked up from his quill-smashing to see the shadow of his secretary, Miss Heywood take the package, and pay the owl. He was walking to the door when he heard a knock. "Come in" he said, rushing to sit back down.
Miss Heywood entered carrying a brown wrapped parcel, and what appeared to be a letter, and set them down on Draco's desk before exiting the office. Miss Heywood was in her sixties, and very no-nonsense, she never exchanged words if it wasn't necessary. In this case, Draco had a delivery, it was obvious it had just arrived, and there was nothing for her to say. Draco liked her, and they got on very well.
Draco ripped into the letter as soon as the door closed. It was from Ginny:
Dear Draco,
I hope this note finds all is well with you. Paris is beautiful, as always, but I wish that I could have some company as I walk through these gorgeous streets and see the couples walking hand in hand. Is that odd? I miss talking to you. You make me laugh, and you make me wonder about all the things I've just accepted in my life. I would never have imagined you and I starting a relationship…That is what we're doing isn't it? I thought we were really different people, and we are, but then we're not. I think this letter probably won't make any sense to you. I wanted to send you a note to say hello, and send you a little something, and now I'm rambling in my letter! I'm sending you two photos: one of me (I am sending this one because Ron says you keep taking his) and one of me and Baby in Paris. It was taken yesterday, and I love it! I hope you like them, and I hope to hear back from you…
Ginny
Draco smiled as he read her letter. There was a heart inside the 'y' in Ginny and he liked the feminine touch. He would like to be with her; she wasn't reading too much into anything, they were in the beginnings of a relationship. If the final arrangements for the league cup weren't this week, he would love to be there with her. He took the brown paper off the elegant black frames and looked at the photos. His favorite photo of Ginny looked much better in the frame Ginny chose, and he opened the back and put that one up. He looked at the other picture, Ginny looked stunning, as always, the only flaw was that she was holding Baby, who was wearing a tee that read 'Fashion hound' Draco put that photo up as well, and began a letter back to Ginny.