Draco's visit part 2
Ginny took him inside, showing him where to hang up his jacket and offering him something to drink. He declined and together they walked slowly around the first level, looking at the kitchen, living room and den; he stopped and looked at the pictures on the wall some of which were of Ginny when she was little. Ginny felt strange standing next to him looking at pictures of her when she was a baby: toddling around in a dress on her first birthday, sitting with her brothers for a family picture when she was three being held by Charlie…Draco turned and looked at her.
"You look pretty much the same," he said then looked back at a picture taken when she received her Hogwarts letter almost seven years earlier.
"Thanks, I think?" Ginny peered at her pictures, feeling Draco's hand brush hers and surprising her when he took it, threading his fingers between hers.
"Just a comment, that's all," he said lightly and followed her up the narrow stairs, letting go of her hand as they ascended. At the very top, he stopped and looked at the door in front of him.
"Let me guess, your brother's room," he said sarcastically. There were posters of Quidditch adorning the door which was closed, with music pulsating out of it. "What is he listening too?"
"Hermione bought us a CD player and some CD's---a Muggle thing-and we keep fighting over who gets it. I guess he stole it out of my room," Ginny sighed, pointing out Fred and George's room down the hall. It was filled with boxes and no one dared to go inside of it.
"Where's your room? How do you find anything in this maze?" Draco asked after going down another staircase, where she pointed out what had been her oldest three brother's rooms, now an office and guest room.
"Mine's down the hall from my parents," Ginny pointed to a door that was closed at the top of the main stairs they had originally climbed up.
"Can I see it?" Draco asked. Ginny shrugged, secretly happy that he asked, and opened the door for him.
There were two twin beds, one on each side of the room. A white desk settled in between them, filled with books, Gryffindor, Quidditch and other knick knacks; at the foot of each bed was a large cedar chest; each one a family heirloom from her mother's side of the family.
A closet stood off to the left of the room, the dark door a contrast to the pale yellow walls, a chest of drawers immediately to the right of the door; two multi-colored braided rugs were set between the beds. The beds were adorned with a cream and lilac colored comforter. Two stuffed animals sat on the bed Ginny slept in; an owl and a worn teddy bear that had been given to her, when she was born, by her older brothers.
Draco looked a picture above Ginny's bed, squinting, then following Ginny as she stepped in silently giving him permission to enter her room. He walked over to the picture, which was a dragon, flying in front of a full moon and a range of jagged mountains peaks.
"Where did you get this picture?"
"I painted it," Ginny said self-consciously. He turned towards her, eyebrows raised.
"You did? When?"
"The summer before Hogwarts. I was home-schooled up until then and this was one my mother's art projects for me to do."
"So, you were ten? Eleven?" Draco turned back to it. The dragon looked like a Hungarian Horntail. He took a step closer and touched the wooden frame around it.
"This is a beautiful picture," he complimented her, glancing down at her as she perched herself on her desk. She was blushing and just nodded.
"I didn't know you could paint," he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and glanced at the books lined up on the top shelf of her desk. There were many books on Muggle Art that Hermione had given her over the years. Scattered in between the art books, Draco saw a few old text books. He stepped around her and touched the spine of a book filled with Impressionistic Paintings.
"There aren't any art classes at Hogwarts, so it's really just a hobby," Ginny made sure she was sitting on top of her sketch book, praying he wouldn't see it. She had a sketch book of her family and friends, and she was currently working on the one of Draco. None of her brothers dared to open this book; if she felt like giving them a picture, she would- but she had it charmed to not open unless her hands touched the cover.
"You'll have to show me some of your other drawings," Draco said after walking back from looking at the top of her dresser (all she had on there were a few Hogwarts pictures, her OWL results and a small jewelry box). Ginny swung her legs back and forth while sitting on her desk, hands clasped around the edges. He came over and stood so close his legs touched her knees. She stopped moving her legs and looked up at him, feeling him lightly rest his hands on her knees and almost causing her to slide right off her desk into his arms.
"This is exactly how I thought your room would look," he said, glancing over at her picture again.
"You've been thinking about my bedroom, eh?" Ginny kidded and swore she saw Draco flush a bit as he turned to look at her. She gave him a wide grin and he squeezed her knee, causing her to practically fall off the desk laughing; she reached out to steady herself by grabbing his arms. "I think I actually saw you blush," she challenged and was reduced to giggles again, as she struggled to push his arms away, "Paybacks are hell you know."
"Paybacks? You may have surprised me once, but it won't happen again," Draco backed away as she tried to poke him. Ginny slid off her desk and walked towards him as he took some steps backwards towards the door…she kept her eyes on him, hearing the distant music in Ron's room hoping he would stay in there a bit longer. She was about to do something she never thought she would do.
"I bet I could surprise you again; seeing you caught unawares is something that interests me greatly," Ginny said slyly and smiled as he hit the wall next to the door. He looked at her with open interest on his face as she came up and stopped right in front of him.
"That interests you? Why?" he looked down at her so close but not touching and he so desperately wanted to reach out and grab her, but something was holding him back…mainly the thought that Ron was upstairs.
"Seeing you surprised at something shows me that you don't know everything and don't expect everything; I never thought I would hear you laugh aloud until this year," she tentatively reached out and placed her hands on his hips.
"I never thought that-," Ginny took a deep breath and couldn't believe what she was about to say, but just to see the look on his face would be worth it, "that you, Draco Malfoy, would come crashing into my heart and totally take it over."
She waited a beat taking in the incredulous look that passed over his face and then she ran her hands up his sweater and kissed him, so softly as if expecting him to pull away. For a moment he didn't do anything and as disappointment mixed with embarrassment started to creep in to her head, she made a move to pull away. Quickly, he recovered and pulled her to him.
She felt him tangle his hand in her hair forcing her lips to stay connected to his as she ran her hands through his hair, finally feeling the softness flow through her fingers; slowly bring her fingers down to the back of his neck. Forcing herself, she pulled away so their noses were almost touching. She was pressed up against him, like someone painted her there and wordlessly he pulled her head down to his shoulder and held her, trying to figure out what to say to that.
"Me neither," was all he said so softly she wasn't sure if she even heard him correctly and what started out as a fun, flirtatious moment, ended up in a very serious one between two teenagers.
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Draco managed to sail through lunch quite easily, being able to talk to Ginny's mother and actually had some information for them that no one had heard. There was a rumor that Professor Snape was retiring and that was the topic of conversation for most of lunch. Ron managed to slip in that Ginny had many sketches and asked Draco if he had seen them; he shook his head giving Ginny a thoughtful look and she just gave a small shrug as if to say, 'Oh well!'
After lunch, Ron and Draco found a mutual interest, Chess. Ginny sat watching this Slytherin and Gryffindor play an excellent match. They were so engrossed in their game, they never noticed Ginny having Hermione and Harry floo in to watch for a few minutes, just to get Harry's take on the game. After the initial shock of seeing this unlikely pair together, he said that he wouldn't be surprised if it ended in a draw.
Ginny and Hermione chatted for a few minutes about what Ginny had experienced out in the snow with Draco. After they floo'd back to Grimmauld, planning on returning for dinner later that night, Ginny wandered out to the living room and sat back on the sofa.
For a half hour Ginny watched, entranced, at the concentration her brother and Draco paid to the board.
She was able to study the Malfoy in front of her without the worry of him watching her or knowing what she was thinking. She let her eyes run appreciatively over his shoulders, loving the dark blue sweater stretching over his wide shoulders. Briefly, she wondered if he knew she liked that color on him. His long arms were on the table, hands fiddling with the pieces he snagged from her brother. Glancing down at his dragon hide boots, she saw him jiggling his foot slightly; she loved those boots and it was the only thing on him that gave away he had a fortune tied to his name. Reveling in this relaxed but intent Draco, Ginevra Molly Weasley was completely taken.
Ginny quietly shifted on the couch so she was lying on her back, her head propped up on the arm so she could still watch them. Every now and then one of them would let out a curse. Once Ron even muttered, "Good one," probably not realizing he had said it out loud. Listening to the muted songs coming from the Wizarding Wireless in the kitchen, the smells coming from her mum's cooking and just the general relaxed atmosphere helped lull her into a light doze. She hadn't slept much the night before, feeling nervous and apprehensive about today, so it didn't take long for her to lay an arm over her face and fall asleep.
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Ginny had no idea how long Draco had been sitting on the sofa but when she opened her eyes, she was startled to find him sitting at the other end, his right arm draped casually across the back.
Confused she struggled to sit up and glanced over at the chess board then back at him.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep," Ginny blinked, and stifled a yawn and busied herself with straightening her dark green shirt and smoothing her jeans.
"Don't be sorry. I shouldn't have asked your brother to play in the first place."
"He loves to play, I'm sure he was happy to play with someone who knows the game…unless he lost?" Ginny looked at him and Draco shook his head.
"No, we saw you asleep on the sofa and called a draw, realizing that you probably fell asleep out of sheer boredom."
"No, I liked watching you…and Ron," she added quickly. "It's very entertaining."
She saw him give her a skeptical look. "Really! How long were you sitting here anyway?"
"About five minutes. I think your brother went to pout."
"He does that if he doesn't win," Ginny stood up, stretched and glanced at the clock, seeing she had an hour before everyone arrived at 4 for dinner. She turned to him and set her hands on her hips, looking down at him sprawled out on her couch.
"I'm sorry I fell asleep. Is there anything you want to do before everyone comes over?"
"I think I would like to see some more of your drawings and paintings," he stood up, hands in his back pockets and watched a multitude of emotions cross her face.
Ginny nodded, mentally running thorough which folders she could bring out to show him and which ones were a bit too personal. She led him out of the kitchen and saw her mother sitting at the table, flipping through the mail.
"Finally wake up dear?" Molly smiled and Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I'm going to show him some of my drawings. Call us when Bill gets here?" Bill was always on time and usually the first of her brothers to arrive at any family function.
"Sure will…maybe you should go console Ron, he hates not winning," Molly smiled at Draco as he followed Ginny up the stairs. She led him to her room, leaving the door open, and gestured for him to take a seat.
Bending over, Ginny pulled out two boxes from under her bed and pulled them over to the other side of the room. She sat on the floor and Draco joined her, watching her lift off the top and her fingers crawling over the tops of the edges of paper. Everything was labeled with a date and type of picture. One by one she pulled select ones out and laid them between her and Draco.
She grabbed them and scooted back towards the spare bed and leaned up against it, grabbing the pictures.
"You need to promise not to laugh," Ginny held the first picture to her chest and pointed at him. He held his hands up in mock surrender and gently took the picture from her hands. It was another dragon, a sketch from when she was eight.
"You were eight?" Draco looked at her surprised.
"Yes, that's when Charlie introduced me to dragons, showing me pictures and all. I just fell in love with them I guess."
She handed him another, this one of Hogwarts done in between her first and second year. They sat there silently, her explaining them, answering questions, slowly losing the nervousness that had settled in her stomach upon the prospect of showing these to him. At one point Ron walked by and glanced in holding a basket of laundry. Ginny shook her head when he asked if she had any and he proceeded down the stairs, leaving them alone upstairs. Ginny could hear the distant voice of her mother and Ron talking about the latest scandals in the paper.
A good half hour later, she had shown him everything she had pulled out and her drawings lay scattered around them.
"You know, I never thought you would be an artist," Draco stretched his legs out in front of him, helping her pick up drawings.
"See, I am full of surprises," Ginny said lightly, laying her pile on top of the bed behind her.
"What else don't I know?" he asked thoughtfully, standing up and walking towards her books on her desk.
"I figured you knew everything about everyone," Ginny stood up and walked over to his side, watching him take in everything on her desk.
"Why would you think that?"
Ginny really had no idea why she thought that so she just shrugged, watching him.
"I forgot to tell you to not try anything that Fred and George try and give you," Ginny hoped she could steer him away from her sketch book, she knew it would peak his interest if he discovered she had charmed it.
"Thank you for the warning but I have seen them in action so don't worry."
He turned towards her leaning against her desk, "Though, I'll never be able to tell them apart."
Ginny laughed, "My mother gets confused, too, as do most people."
They studied each other for a minute when Ginny felt him take her hand.
"So, Draco," Ginny said emphasizing his name, "tell me something I don't know about you. You found out my interest in art, it's only fair," she added when she saw him smile and bow his head.
"I thought you knew everything about me," he quipped and Ginny pushed him on the arm, something she never saw herself doing…flirting with Draco Malfoy…in her bedroom! More surprises seemed to surface as the day went on.
"Well…I have no idea what to tell you," they stood there for a moment, their hands between them and Ginny waited for him to think of something.
"Actually, today you learned something new; I can play Chess," he looked up at her, his blue-gray eyes almost twinkling. Ginny shook her head.
"Doesn't count. You need to come up with something else," Ginny reached out and took his other hand, feeling him wrap his fingers around hers. She could still hear Ron talking downstairs and willed him not to come up.
"Fine but, if you tell anyone I might have to hex you," he paused for dramatic effect.
"What? You have a twin brother?"
"Merlin, no!" Draco gave a fake shudder, then paused again, drawing out his answer.
"I play the piano."
"You?" Ginny asked in amazement. "Really? For how long?"
"Yes, ME. About eight years of lessons. Thank my mother for that."
"Depending on how well you play, I might have to do that. To bad we don't have a piano."
"That is too bad," Draco said, but smiled as he said it, he pulled her a bit closer, his face turning serious.
"Are you very nervous about me being here?"
Ginny gave a small sigh, "Mostly I'm anticipating what my other brothers will say or do, especially Bill. Being the oldest he watches over everyone."
"I don't think I'll be asked to play Chess again."
"Oh, you just wait. Ron will probably challenge you all through school now. He hates losing or drawing in Chess and is probably thinking about new moves right now."
"I'll be ready." Draco tugged her closer and she took a step forward, their bodies pressed together. Ginny heard a distant double POP announcing the arrival of Bill and Fleur. A moment later she heard Ron yelling up the stairs at her announcing their older brother's arrival. Ginny yelled over her shoulder she would be down in a second and as she turned back, she felt Draco's lips meet hers softly and felt the familiar squeeze of his hands on hers. He pulled back and in a rare moment of sensitivity, he laid his cheek against her hair, resting it on top of her head.
"It'll be ok, don't worry," he whispered and he felt her nod under his cheek. Slowly she pulled away and led him out the door and down the stairs to meet Bill and see Fleur again.
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Ginny came running down the steps and stumbled when she realized it wasn't Bill at all. She launched herself at Charlie, asking a million questions about the baby and after hearing their appointment had been moved to an earlier time that day she went and gave Katharine a hug.
If there was anyone that was the opposite of a Weasley it was Katharine Warren Weasley. She was small, almost reaching Ginny's five foot five frame, she wore her long dark hair in a pony tail and had the most beautiful olive skin which set off her brown eyes that were usually trying, in vain, to follow the different conversations that took place once everyone was in the room. Katharine was a teacher at a Muggle school, in charge of finding any magical children that might have been born to Muggles and preparing them for their life that was to be so different from their parents, and maybe their siblings.
Ginny and Katharine walked to a corner with Ginny laying her hand on her sister- in- law's stomach, trying to feel the baby move. Neither one would tell her what the doctor said until everyone arrived, but Ginny had a feeling it was twins with as large as Katharine was at this point.
Out of the corner of her eye, Ginny (who was keeping a hand Katharine's stomach waiting to be the first in-law to feel the baby) could see Charlie shaking Draco's hand and asking him how Hogwarts was fairing. Charlie was the most relaxed one of them all and didn't seem fazed at all that a Malfoy was in their midst. Ron wandered over to Ginny and looked at his sister, dividing her attention between their unborn niece or nephew and Draco, now sitting at the table talking to Charlie.
"How was your appointment?" Ron asked giving Katharine a quick hug and receiving the same answer that Ginny was told; he would have to wait to find out with the others.
"Merlin Katharine, this is the strangest feeling in the world!" Ginny's voice was filled with awe as she grabbed Ron's hand and before he knew it, his hand was under Ginny's on Katharine's stomach.
"Ron, get over it and feel this baby!" Ginny held his hand firmly in place and Katharine put her hand over theirs. For a moment no one said anything and Ginny realized they were being watched. For a moment nothing happened and then Ron and Ginny felt it; a bump followed by what felt like a baby dragging their hand from one side to another. A light, almost surreal feeling but Ron jumped back so far everyone laughed.
"How can you stand that feeling inside you all the time?" Ron looked up at Charlie who had come over and reclaimed his wife.
"You get used to it and I love it!" Katharine was beaming; now that the morning sickness was gone she had that one month of pure joy until things started really getting uncomfortable. At this point, she looked glowing. Ginny smiled and realized that Katharine hadn't met Draco so she beckoned for him to come over and made the introductions.
"Please don't ask me to put my hand there," Draco commented lightly making everyone laugh and Ginny saw him smiling slightly, amazed at how this whole visit was going so far. Ginny could feel Draco's hand on her back and noticed that ever since they had that amazing kiss outside, he was standing a lot closer to her, touching her every so often.
"Don't worry. I'm surprised Charlie let these two…he's become very protective," Katharine beamed up at him and they shared a quick kiss. Ron jumped up and took that as his cue to leave the conversation and try to steal a taste of the Shepherd's Pie that was cooling on top of the stove. A double firecracker sounding POP announced the arrival of Fred and George, sans girlfriends, at the front door. They immediately hugged their mother, and carefully hugged and lifted a stunned Katharine off the floor.
Next, they turned to Ginny and Draco standing near the refrigerator. The kitchen was becoming crowded already and Ginny saw Ron and her brother, aka "father to be", disappear into the living room, probably for the first of many games of Chess or Gobstones. Silently, Draco's arm circled around Ginny's waist as the twins came over.
Ginny's eyes met Fred's and she silently pleaded with him to be nice and polite, which was a stretch for either twin.
"Malfoy, fancy seeing you here," Fred said lightly, quickly shaking Draco's hand. George asked how the Slytherin house was fairing without them to play any jokes on the students. Draco replied that everyone was breathing a lot easier knowing that the next piece of candy they ate wouldn't cause them to start involuntarily vomiting all over the place.
"That was great!"
"The best one yet, though you have to admit Potter's "Seamus On You" candy is classic."
"What kind of candy would make that Sunnyvale's class more interesting?" George asked his sister and Draco.
Ginny shrugged and deferred the question to Draco, whom she could see was a bit take aback by the twins' way of talking. Back and forth, each one finishing the other's sentence, asking detailed questions about the topic at hand.
Admitting that he had no idea how to make DADA class more interesting he suggested a new teacher, which got the twins laughing. Fred and George began thinking aloud about a candy that turned you into someone famous, although if you looked into a mirror you saw yourself. Then you would be wondering why everyone was chasing after you, calling you by the wrong name. The twins continued on this new line of thinking for the next few minutes.
As if he heard his name connected with the candy, Harry and Hermione apparated into the living room and came into the kitchen, exchanging a wave with the twins, Ginny and Draco before going back and talking to Charlie and Katharine, whom had joined her husband. Bill walked over and Draco dropped his hand, letting Bill hug his little sister.
"Nervous?" Bill whispered in her ear, catching sight of Draco a few feet away, in the corner nodding at something the twins were saying.
"Very. Gone well so far, if Fred and George don't scare him off. Hey, you're actually late!" Ginny whispered back and stepped back to let Bill through to Draco.
"Wedding stuff!" Shooing the twins away, Bill greeted Draco with his usual coolness, and unlike any of the other's asked questions about his family which Draco readily answered. Bill knew exactly how much The Malfoy's were worth, of course he couldn't tell anyone that, but knew that his sister was seeing a very rich individual.
The first 15 minutes or so of these family dinners were the most hectic. Everyone was always trying to catch up with someone else; people were squeezing past their brothers to get a taste of dinner or to talk to their mother. But when Arthur Weasley arrived, people knew that dinner wasn't usually far away and they would start gathering around the table.
Ginny saw her father walk in the back door and he smiled at her. She walked over and gave him a quick hug, answering yes when he asked if Draco was doing ok.
"I'll run upstairs and change, then come down and say Hello to him."
He squeezed her hand and gave a quick kiss to Molly, "Don't worry, Ginny, you are my only daughter. I'm not going to let you down, even though this will be…different." He disappeared upstairs to change out of his Ministry Robes .
Loud yelling erupted from the living room as Ron must have beaten Charlie at chess again and was doing some type of victory dance. Draco glanced in then walked over to Ginny, meeting her halfway.
"Remind me to never lose to your brother. I don't think I could handle seeing him dance like that ever again."
"I hear you," Ginny smiled up at him as he touched her elbow lightly and let his fingers rest there for a moment. Their eyes met for a second and Ginny was wondering if he was ready to run away from her family yet. There was a constant chatter, laughter, occasionally yelling and swear word floating throughout the rooms. Draco squeezed her elbow slightly as her eyes moved from him to her father coming down the stairs behind him. Ginny nudged Draco as she stood a little closer to him.
"Draco." Mr. Weasley shook his hand as Draco quietly said, "Mr. Weasley, thank you for having me to dinner, sir." Draco let his hand fall to his side, brushing Ginny's who resisted the urge to reach out and grab it, though she did keep her hand still enough so she could feel their knuckles touching.
"Quite welcome. I am glad to see my children haven't scared you away yet." Ginny held her breath waiting for Draco's reply, realizing that all he had to do was pass through this last "test"; The Father.
"No, not yet. They have all been great, though I think Fred and George are concocting another kind of candy," Draco said carefully and Ginny almost fell to the floor with relief at the careful answer and the smile that came across her father's face.
"That's what they do best. Must have gotten that from their mother's side," Arthur joked as Molly protested from her spot at the kitchen sink. She called everyone to the table and after moving chairs around, magically enlarging the table to fill most of the kitchen and filling everyone's plates, the noise changed from chattering to a clattering of forks and spoons being clinked against the plates.
"Much better than the schools version of Shepherd's Pie, huh?" asked Fred, or was it George?
"It's delicious," Draco said in between bites from his spot between Ginny and Fleur.
"Wait until apple pie," the other twin said, helping himself to more bread.
Gradually the talking increased and Ginny listened to the many conversations moving around the table.
By the time dinner wound down, The Weasley's found out that Katharine was expecting twin girls, most likely identical and they would probably be born in early March, near Ron's birthday. Ginny was so excited she kept fidgeting in her chair until she felt a hand on her knee; looking down she saw Draco's hand on her knee and she stilled her self, biting back a squeal as he squeezed her knee then put his hand back in his lap.
Ginny turned to him and gave him an amused look and the only response he gave was raising his eyebrows at her, continuing to eat.
This silent bit of communication did not go unnoticed; Molly Weasley had been watching Ginny and saw them flirting with each other, silently and was amazed to see how Ginny was reacting to him.
By 8pm, everyone had left except for Draco, who was planning to leave in the next hour. Ginny, her father and Draco helped clean up a bit before they were shooed out of the kitchen and into the living room.
Ron had taken residence up in his room reading the latest book Harry loaned him on Quidditch. Ginny was straightening up the table full of magazines as her father and Draco sat down and she had a thought, hoping Draco wouldn't follow through with his threat of hexing her as she turned to her father.
"You know dad, you like Muggle things…well Draco has a piano at home. Didn't you ask one of us how they worked?" Ginny sat down and looked evenly at Draco. She had chosen her words very carefully, not coming out and telling her father that Draco played.
"Really? I have always wondered, what makes the music?" Arthur leaned forward a bit from his chair diagonally from them and Draco gave Ginny a significant look before launching into an explanation on how the key's are attached to a hammer inside the piano and they hit a string to make the noise.
"So the difference in the size of the string gives you a different sound?" Arthur asked.
"That's right; there are also pedals involved so you can hold a note without even holding down the key."
Ginny saw her father's face light up as Draco added that tidbit of knowledge.
"Like a bicycle pedal?"
"Well," Draco paused and scratched his forehead, thinking. Ginny had no idea so she couldn't offer any insight. "More like a lever that you can push down, but with your foot."
"Amazing," Arthur sat back, putting his arm around Molly's waist as she came in and perched on the arm of his chair.
"Why don't you just move some furniture and conjure one up, dear? You know it's going to bother you if you don't see the inside for yourself," Molly suggested, not seeing the narrowed eyed gaze Draco directed at Ginny, who gave him a small smile and mouthed "Sorry." She now knew he was going to get her back for this little maneuver.
Excitedly, Arthur leapt from the chair and asked Draco to help him move the chess table, and chairs around it, out of the way. When Draco agreed that the space was large enough for a piano Arthur stood back pondering about the best way to conjure up something so large. At this point Ron came down, curious about all the noise and Ginny explained to him what was going on. Ron rolled his eyes, but stayed since he was curious to see one up close too.
"Ok stand back," Arthur backed up from the area for the piano. Ron leaned against the doorway, towering over his mother next to him. Ginny and Draco flattened themselves against the wall and Arthur waved his wand a few times and suddenly a beautiful, but green, upright piano sat in the room. They stared at it for a minute then all looked at Draco.
"What?" he asked quickly, surprised they were all looking at him.
"I think dad wants you to open it. We have no idea how," Ginny gave him a push in that direction as they all followed him. They watched him raise the top and point out all the parts and Ginny pushed down a key listening to the low note as her father watched the inside and Molly looked under the piano at the pedals.
"Amazing, amazing. Beautiful piece of work," Ginny's father walked around it, hit a few keys and jumped a little at the loud sound he made. Ron came over and peered over Ginny's head into the piano.
"That is what makes the sound? Doesn't look too impressive." Ron stepped back and Draco gave a small shrug and looked directly at Ginny, his face carefully fixed in a neutral expression. They both knew what was coming next and while everyone was looking in it he mouthed to her, "Payback."
"It depends on how you play it," Draco answered and saw Ginny smile, then put her fingers to her mouth to try and cover it. The truth was she was aching to hear him play. She liked music and had heard some Muggle tunes, mainly from Hermione, but she wanted to see Draco do something to blow her family away.
"Do you play?" Molly asked, reaching around Ginny and touching the 88th key. Ginny moved slightly to let her mother through, bringing her closer to Draco. Looking at him, she couldn't read the expression across his face, so she lightly touched his hand and he wrapped his fingers around hers for a moment, then let go.
"I do."
Ron looked at him startled and was about to say something, but Draco pointed at him and Ron closed his mouth.
"Would you play something?" Arthur jumped back and pulled out the bench. "Do you need music? I could conjure up…?" he stopped as Draco shook his head no and he sat down at the piano, shutting the top first.
Ginny moved back and sat in the chair against the wall, a few feet behind and to the right of Draco as he sat down. 'I wish Hermione was here to see this.' Ginny thought to herself. She was nervous for him even though he looked composed.
"Is there anything special you want me to play?" Draco asked and everyone looked at each other.
"No. Just play something you know," Molly motioned for everyone to sit down and Ron plopped himself down on the floor next to Ginny, wanting to see a Slytherin do something musical. Draco looked over his shoulder at Ginny who gave him an encouraging smile. He turned back around, set his hands on the keys and began to play.
From the first chord he struck, Ginny was transfixed.
It was slow, peaceful and full of emotion and if Ginny hadn't been sitting down she would have collapsed on the spot. She could see his hands move with care, hardly seeming to touch the keys, his body leaning forward a bit as he put more emphasis on one note more than another.
Ginny looked down at Ron whose mouth was hanging slightly open. He glanced up at her then back at Draco as her gaze slid to her parents sitting together on the couch. Her mother looked like she was about to cry and her father was looking at Draco with an expression that Ginny had never seen. 'He's probably dumbfounded, like me,' Ginny thought turning her attention back to Draco and the piano.
She laid her head back and closed her eyes for the remainder of the song, letting the notes wash over her, hearing the deep resonating tones flow through her. She could almost draw a picture of this song as images raced through her head-birds flying slowly over an open lake at dawn; rain splashing in a puddle as a thunderstorm sounds in the distance; the day turning from dawn to night in one fell swoop. Ginny couldn't believe she had never heard songs like this before, that Hermione hadn't introduced her to them.
Ginny could feel the end of the song approaching, the way the notes wound down in their tempo; with the way Draco's arms and hands were moving slower across the keys and the sudden softness and finality of the last keys his fingers touched.
Arthur and Molly stood up and clapped and even Ron clapped reluctantly from his spot on the floor. Ginny just sat rooted to her spot, convinced that she had would have probably jumped Draco at that moment if her family wasn't in the room, (and if she was that kind of witch).
"That was brilliant, what is that song called?" Arthur asked as Draco stood up.
"Moonlight Sonata, by Beethoven."
"I've heard of him!" Arthur held up his finger as he stood up, and at the same time Molly said it was beautiful. Draco thanked them and pushed the bench in under the piano.
After a few more questions about the piano, Draco insisted that he needed to get back home, thanking Ginny's parents for having him for the day. Ron seemed like he was about to say something but just shook his head and gave Draco a quick nod before heading back up to his room.
Ginny followed him out to the kitchen and she put her winter cloak on to walk him down to the gate so he could apparate home. Silently they walked down the short distance away from the house.
"You aren't angry with me are you?" Ginny asked softly, praying that he wasn't.
"Actually, the way you proposed the whole piano topic was almost Slytherin like, very sneaky, Weasley."
He stopped as they reached the end of the walkway and he turned towards her, briefly glancing at her house behind her, yellow light spilling out onto the snow as an almost full moon shown down on them reflecting off the snow.
"Well, I wasn't doing it to make you mad, I was just trying to find a common thread with you and my father," Ginny relaxed against the fence, watching her breath in the cold night air.
"Well, you do realize that you owe me now," Draco tugged on his gloves, not meeting her questioning look. "I played the piano in front of your parents, and your brother, so the whole school might know before we even get back."
"No, he won't tell anyone…well, maybe Harry but ever since he defeated Voldemort, Harry's been pretty laid back so...I don't see him telling the whole school."
"It wouldn't upset me, I could deal with it. The thing is, somehow you got me to play for your family, something I don't usually do. So, now you need to do something outside your comfort zone," Draco draped an arm behind her on the fence and stood hip to hip with her.
"Outside my comfort zone? Don't you think having you here was that?" She looked sideways at him in the darkness.
Draco smiled.
"That doesn't count," he mimicked her voice from earlier that afternoon and she elbowed him in the ribs.
"I think you need to show me that sketch book."
Ginny froze and slowly turned towards him. "Wh-What? Sketchbook?"
"Oh yes, you know the one; the one on your desk. One of your brothers also mentioned how it's charmed closed. Peaked my interest."
"Bastards," Ginny muttered under her breath, shoving her hands in her pockets. "Maybe…but that's like my diary. I don't keep one like other girls do because of the Tom Riddle episode, so I draw instead. There are a lot of personal things in there," Ginny shuffled her foot back in forth in the snow, revealing grass.
"I'm not asking to see your most deep personal thoughts, just something that would…," he paused, "something you…," Draco sighed, frustrated that he couldn't get the words out and Ginny waited patiently, her curiosity arising at him having interrupted himself, something he normally didn't do. "I don't know how to say what I am thinking without sounding like…like a Hufflepuff." Both laughed at that and Ginny turned to him, still laughing lightly.
"Look, just say it. I'm not going to think anything less of you if it doesn't come out perfectly," she held her breath, waiting for his response.
"I guess," he started out, removing his arm from around her and rubbing his hands over his face and not looking at her, "Yeah, you wouldn't understand what I am trying to say unless I just blurt it out," he muttered to himself.
He took a hand out of his glove and buttoned the top of his coat.
"When your father decided to conjure up the piano, a nice green one at that, I immediately started thinking of what I would play, because I knew I would be asked."
He shoved his hand back into his glove, "I wanted to play something I knew you would like, but I had no idea what that would be, so I chose "Moonlight" because it is one of my favorites to play and I was hoping you would like it too; so, I am asking you to go out on a limb and show me something you like in which you have no idea how I will react." He took a deep breath after letting his words fall out in a jumble.
Stunned silence. Then Ginny regained her voice and her brain registered she was supposed to say something.
"I loved that song Draco, I visualized the whole thing in my head and I have never had a song affect me like that," Ginny tried to keep the tremor out of her voice. She felt a pressure at the back of her eyes after hearing what he just said and closed them, taking a deep breath to calm herself. He still wouldn't look at her, completely un-used to pouring out his thoughts.
"Ok, I will show you next time I get a chance to. But, please understand if I don't show you all of them. Some are just not ready for me to share with you, at least not right now," she leaned over and wrapped her arms around his waist and she felt his arm come around her shoulders. More than just a few minutes must have passed because she began to get cold and tiredness seeped into her bones.
"You know, I am really really tired," Ginny sighed.
"I am too. Your family is exhausting. How can you keep up with their conversations?" Draco's voice suddenly acquired a tired quality as he turned Ginny to face him and he took her gloved hands in his. She gave him a tired smile.
"You learn. That's all I can say."
"Don't forget to ask your parents about Friday at Diagon Alley.."
"I won't; I'll ask them before bed tonight."
"Tell your brother to look me up anytime he wants to play Chess."
"He'll love that."
Ginny could sense their time together coming to an end with the fragments of conversation adding closure to their busy day.
"I should go; I have to go the bank early tomorrow."
"Ok," Ginny finally caught his eye and smiled, "Thanks for coming. It was-," she tried to think of the best word to complete her thought.
"Interesting? Nerve-wracking? Loud?" Draco rattled off before Ginny interrupted him by placing her hand against his lips.
"Yes. Though you didn't seem nervous at all."
"I hide it well."
"You do. Wish I could do it that well."
"No, then it would be harder to understand you."
Ginny decided to let that comment pass; she wasn't ready to talk about understanding each other yet, not when her toes were about to freeze off.
"Good night, Malfoy," Ginny whispered up to him.
"Good night, Weasley," Draco looked down at her and brushed a quick kiss along her lips, then having second thoughts he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him, enjoying the way she wrapped her arms around him and stood on her toes to kiss him back.
Ron watched from his bedroom window as his younger sister kissed a Malfoy and if had been anyone else he would have thought it a very sweet kiss indeed, but he was still hitting a wall when it came to the Slytherin. Rounds of "Weasley is Our King" ran through his head. Although he had to admit today hadn't gone too badly, he still was having a hard time dealing with the whole thing.
He watched Draco pull away, say something then apparate. Ginny turned around and walked back to the house tiredly, not once looking up at his window. Ron let the curtain drop back over the window and headed downstairs for a snack and investigate the piano some more with his father.