Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the story line...sadly. JKR owns everything - including the characters, spells, and the entire world of Harry Potter. I wonder if I could buy it from her for a dollar?
Thanks to my wonderful, wonderful beta - dragonsangel68.
~~~~
Chapter 5
"Take a deep breath. It will be all right. I'll be by your side the entire time." Draco squeezed Ginny's fingers as if to transfer some of his strength to her.
She looked up at him, gave him a small smile and took a deep breath.
They had decided it pertinent to tell Narcissa of the pregnancy first, as she would be less volatile. She would probably yell, scream, screech and throw a tantrum, but she would not send six redheaded hit men to dismember Draco. Both soon-to-be parents decided it would be to their benefit to put off telling the Weasley clan until they were packed and the Portkey was only minutes from activating.
They entered the foyer of Malfoy Manor. Ginny had never felt so intimidated in her entire life. She imagined the grandeur that surrounded them was as intimidating to her as Draco would find her family to be. She was brought out of her thoughts by the sickly sweet voice of Narcissa Malfoy.
"Draco, darling, you haven't been home in a week. I was beginning to worry about… Who is she?"
"Mother, I'd like you to meet Ginny Weasley. We both have something we'd like to speak with you about."
"Oh?"
Ginny saw the resemblance between mother and son in their look of surprise. Their eyebrows arched in much the same way.
"Yes. Why don't we sit down for dinner, Mother? We'll all sit down in the parlor afterwards and discuss business."
"Yes, that would be the way of the civilized, wouldn't it?" Narcissa clapped her hands together to summon the head house elf. "We'll take our meal in the main dining room this evening. Draco has brought a guest." With a flourish of robes, Narcissa had turned and was stalking towards what Ginny could only conclude was the main dining room.
"I wonder what she'd say if I said her rump looked very undignified in those robes and that she swaggers like a drunk when she's angry?" Ginny thought with relish.
------
Dinner was a tense affair. Narcissa dropped several veiled insults in Ginny's general direction. Draco had taken the seat beside her in a chivalrous gesture to keep both women from coming to blows. He held Ginny's hand under the table and squeezed every time her resolve began to slip.
The evening meal dragged on until Ginny thought she couldn't take it any longer. She was used to the raucous gatherings at the Burrow. Discussions were held at the table as a means to enforce family solidarity. One didn't have to wait to tell news, good or bad, until everyone was seated in the proper parlor.
She couldn't take it anymore. She leaned over to Draco and whispered in his ear. Draco whispered back to her, and Ginny removed the napkin from her lap.
Narcissa's steely gaze was focused on Ginny. "It's not polite to whisper, Ms. Weasley. Care to let everyone at the table know what is so important?"
Ginny's eyes grew quite large and Draco sprung to her defense. "Mother, it's a private matter."
Ginny rose in order to leave the table. "Private matters are to not to be discussed at the table, Draco. You've been brought up with proper manners, unlike some people. I'd appreciate it if formalities were respected in this house. Ms. Weasley, please sit down until you are given leave."
Ginny sat back down in her chair.
"Mother, leave her alone. She wasn't being blatantly rude. We run our home differently to the way she runs hers."
"Draco, I'd also prefer it if you didn't challenge me in front of company. If she hasn't been taught how to properly leave a table, perhaps she ought not try to leave one."
Ginny blushed at this comment and stared at the table. Draco had let go of her hand, so she had no choice but to fidget with the edge of her skirt underneath the table.
"Mother, she was merely asking-" Narcissa cut him off.
"I don't care what she was asking, Draco-"
Ginny had had enough. She stood up and slammed both palms against the table causing the table's contents to shake. "Bloody hell, you two! I just wanted to use the loo! For the love of Merlin, I was trying to be polite and, in the attempt to do so, have offended you in some nondescript way, Mrs. Malfoy. I'm sorry, but since you already think I'm a rude, unkempt troll, I'll say it again: I have to use the loo. Please direct me to it before my bladder bloody well explodes!"
"I'll show you where it is." Draco stood and threw his napkin on the table.
When Draco returned to the dining room, he looked pointedly at his mother. "I've never seen you be so rude. That was completely uncalled for. I would suggest you gather the necessary niceties in the parlor immediately, because Ginny and I will be leaving soon." He turned and left the room.
Narcissa let out an irritated sigh and clapped her hands together to signal the house elf once again. "We obviously won't be having dessert, but put a tea service in the parlor."
------
Draco led Ginny to the parlor. They sat on the settee across from Narcissa as she served tea for all three of them.
She began tensely, "So, I believe the two of you have something you'd like to speak with me about."
"Yes, mother, we do. It's a rather delicate situation, but we've already decided the course of action we'd like to take, in regard to handling it properly. This is not a discussion, it is merely a statement of facts." He squeezed Ginny's hand and continued, "It seems as though, through a series of unfortunate events, Ginny has become pregnant with my child. We're going to go away for a few months on holiday, so her pregnancy is as stress-free as possible."
Narcissa's face went from shocked to angry. As Ginny watched the woman's progression through these emotions, she felt the trepidation build up. She knew what was in store. She could count the seconds and feel the air molecules hitting her skin while she waited for Narcissa to explode.
"Do you even know this girl, Draco?" Narcissa's voice was oddly quiet, but laced with malice.
"We knew each other at school, Mother."
"That doesn't answer my question, Draco."
"No, Mother, we don't know each other very well. That is another advantage of going away for the remainder of the pregnancy. We need to get to know each other better."
"You should have done that beforehand. This isn't a game. This is the heir to the House of Malfoy you're playing with Draco. Just wait until I tell your father what you've done."
Draco stood and hovered dangerously over his Mother. "If I'm not mistaken, Father is in Azkaban. He'll die before he finishes serving his sentence. For that reason I am fairly certain he has nothing to say in this matter. This child will create no more blight on the Malfoy name than has already been bestowed upon us by my dear, loving Father. I am the head of this household and what I say is final. I have engaged in the gesture to include you in our decision, but I will not yield. You have no say in this, Mother, so, if you have any desire to see your future grandchild or myself again you will learn how to be polite and congenial to the child's mother. The matter is closed. I will owl you when we arrive at our chosen destination. Come, Ginny. I think you've endured enough for one evening."
Draco offered Ginny his hand. He turned and bid his mother goodnight, before dragging Ginny through the halls of Malfoy Manor to the foyer. He grabbed her around her waist and Apparated.
-----
They Apparated straight into the living room of Ginny's flat and Draco released her.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For standing up for me. I appreciated not having to speak to her more than you know."
"It is my duty to protect my child. That duty extends to you."
"Thank you, anyway."
"You're welcome." He took a step towards her and kissed her forehead. "I'll be going now. You're all right for the evening?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just going to take a bath and go to bed. I'll pack my bags in the morning."
"All right, I'll owl you for lunch tomorrow and we'll go to see your parents."
"Okay, I'll see you then."
Draco bent at the waist and placed a kiss on her rounding stomach. "Goodnight, I'll see you in the morning." He straightened, kissed her on the forehead once more and rubbed her stomach with the back of his hand. He removed his wand and with a popping sound, he was gone.
-->