Green with Envy
Arthur, Molly, and Ginny Weasley walked up the stone steps to Malfoy Manor. It was like something out of a scary comic book. The front of the manor was surrounded by some of the greenest grass that she had ever seen, and very beautiful gardens. Behind the manor stood tall trees with large green leaves that had probably been growing since the manor was built. The Malfoy Manor was something spectacular in itself. From the outside she could see that there were three floors, five towers (nothing like the ones at Hogwarts) and an attic.
Sighing Ginny stepped in front of her parents and reached up, her hand was shaking and she didn't even realize it. Her hand grasped the knocker on the door and she loudly knocked on the door three times. Taking a step back she looked at her mum and dad who were holding each other closely; it brought a slight pang to her heart. Would she ever have that? Going into this, who knew If Lucius would allow her out.
Her thoughts were quickly cleared however as the door began to open, revealing none other than Narcissa Malfoy. Her eyes raked over each of the Weasley's, she didn't look at them in distaste but not in adoration either. "Hello," she said, her voice sounding soft and melodic.
"Good evening, Narcissa," Molly said, thinking back to the days they had each shared at Hogwarts, now look where everyone was. It was strange how things in the world turned out.
"Come in," Narcissa said, taking a step back and opening the door to them.
Ginny took a deep breath before walking into the Manor, the sight that greeted her definitely wasn't one that she had expected. Thinking of the Malfoy's you would expect there to be no color at all, but there was, if only a little. As she looked around she thought that if she had to spend a portion of her life here, she wouldn't mind. It wouldn't be so bad, after all. This was a large place, there had to be many places that she could get away to and ignore Malfoy.
Speaking of Malfoy, she wondered where the bloody git was, she hadn't seen him in quite a few years. The reunion between them, however, would not be a very pleasant one. "Please, sit," came the voice of Narcissa, holding her arm out in the direction of black leather couches.
Ginny took a seat in the middle of her parents, crossing her legs and nervously licking her lips. She had dressed decently this day. Though she didn't understand why it mattered as she wore a long black robe over it.
"Ah, hello Weasley's," Lucius said, walking into the room, for once without his cane. He put on his most charming smile and entered the room. Ginny didn't notice at first but walking just behind Lucius stood someone that could have possibly pass for his twin. Minus the long hair and lines of aging on their face, they looked like replicas.
Lucius walked over to them and shook Arthur's hand, "Lucius," he said, sternly.
Lucius ignored him however and moved on to Ginny, picking up her hand and placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles. "Ginevra," he said before moving over and doing the same to Molly, Draco following in suit. As Draco kissed her hand, Ginny found herself looking up into his eyes. He said nothing, but him looking at her, she felt something course through her body at the moment, but she didn't know what it was, and didn't want to know what it was.
"Welcome to our- and soon to be Ginevra's- home." Lucius said, smiling warmly at them all before taking his seat in a single chair to the left of them, Narcissa across from him and to the right of the Weasley's, and Draco sitting directly in front of them. Ginny tried to ignore him calling her Ginevra, she didn't like it. Her name sounded as if she was born in the time of King Arthur, and though her name came through the name of Guinevere, she much preferred Ginny. "We are gathered here today," Lucius started, making Ginny want to drop her head back on the couch already. It sounded as though they were getting married at this second! Her eyes opened a bit wider, were they? Lucius continued, "To discuss the plans of marriage and how to go about bringing it out to the public."
"Will I be able to plan my own wedding?" She asked, receiving an annoyed look from Draco, who obviously could careless about it all. She looked away from him and at Lucius, she disliked Draco as much as he disliked her, but they could at least attempt to be civil to each other.
"Of course you will dear, your mother and I will help you with anything you need." Narcissa said before promptly snapping her fingers, a short house elf appearing. "Libby, would you bring six cups of tea for us?" The house elf nodded and snapped its own fingers, disappearing with a small pop.
Ginny smiled, she had never planned a wedding before, well obviously as she had never been married before and wasn't a wedding planner. She didn't even know where to start, but one thing was for sure, she didn't want someone having all the say in it. She wouldn't mind help here and there but if she was going to be marrying this wanker then she at least wanted it to be beautiful.
The house elf appeared seconds later with a tray full of six hot tea cups. She placed them down and lingered only for a moment to see if anything else was needed before snapping her fingers yet again and vanishing.
"Now, I can handle the bringing it out to the public bit, well with my various connections it will be a slice of pie," Lucius said, and Ginny was again shocked. She did not know he had the capability of even saying something like a slice of pie.
"I work for Witch Weekly, I could get it out in that…though I'm sure a lot of our Reader's will be very upset as…Draco, here is on our Most Charming Bachelor list. I can hear the howlers already," Ginny joked, wanting to put in that she had a job, and she didn't exactly intend on quitting it.
"Good, so you're a writer then?" Ginny nodded her head as she reached for her cup of tea, glancing at her parents who nodded reassuringly towards her. Lucius was being decent, probably because he saw this as more of a business deal than talking with Muggle-Lovers. "Then that will be another source of advertisement."
Ginny's eyes strayed over to Draco who was looking pretty bored, his cup of tea lay abandoned on the table in front of them. She let her thoughts wander as her father asked Lucius a question about something in the Ministry. He hadn't changed a bit since Hogwarts. Well in a few obvious ways, height of course, he was down standing at an astounding 6'2, she wondered about his muscles. Had he kept up with Quidditch and any training? His hair was still that silver-blond color and his eyes, the cool gray that she remembered from her first year.
"What about children?" Molly asked, bringing Ginny back down to reality and she turned to look at her mother.
"Well they are not a necessity, though people in the community do love children." Ginny's mouth opened in shock at Lucius' reply. "A child is not demanded, unless the two happen to agree on something." Draco scoffed, but quickly disguised it as a cough. "I'm sorry were you saying something, son?" Lucius asked, turning a cold stare onto Draco. "You've remained pretty quiet through this entire thing."
"No, Father, I don't have anything to say. You all have it pretty much under control," he said before standing up from his seat. "I think I could leave now," and before waiting for a reply from either of his parents Draco walked around the table, and leaned forward, kissing Ginny softly on the cheek. "It was nice seeing you all," he said, a false smile on his face before turning around and walking out of the room.
Lucius shook his head, "I think we have discussed everything we need." He said, rubbing his hands together, "If there is anything you all need, feel free to owl us, and Ginevra, Narcissa, and Molly you three should arrange a few dates to begin the planning. Other than that, I bid you all farewell, and I shall see you within a month's time, for the wedding." He stood from his seat and bowed from the waist, "Narcissa, if you would please, show our guests out." She nodded towards her husband who then turned and exited the room.
"I was thinking we could meet this Friday? To start planning, Merlin it's been ages since I've done something like this," Narcissa said, putting her tea cup down on the tray. "We'll have to take you somewhere nice to get a suitable dress for you and your bridesmaids." Narcissa was clearly excited about this all, which only brought a smile to Ginny's lips. She hadn't expected her to care, but she did, and it was nice.
"Narcissa, save it for this Friday," Molly told her politely before standing up, her husband and daughter following in suit. "Ginny or I will owl you about the time. It was nice seeing you again." Molly led her family out of the room and back towards the door, she found that it was quite heavy upon trying to open it but with a large heave she pulled it open and stepped outside.
"Why I never…Narcissa was always a kind woman but Lucius? Oh, I don't know about him…and that Draco, Ginny…he's not half bad looking and he doesn't seem so bad."
"But remember Molly dear, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Arthur said, taking his wife's hand in his and squeezing it softly.
"This is all happening so fast. I'm getting married in a month. It sounds like crazy talk but…I think I just need to go home and get some rest. The next month is probably going to be a rollercoaster. I'll see you soon Mum and Dad." Ginny said before promptly apparating back to her flat.
~~!@@!~~!@@!~~@@!~~@@!~~!@@!~~@@!~~!@@!~~@@!~~
The planning of the party was going a lot faster than Ginny would have liked. It wasn't that she needed more time to plan, but rather with each passing day she was getting closer to adding Malfoy to the end of her name. Ginevra Molly Weasley Malfoy? She was still trying to get used to the sound of it, and the house elf calling her Mistress Malfoy sent chills up and down her spine.
"Would you excuse me for a minute? I'd like to go to the kitchen and get a glass of lemonade," Ginny asked, rising from her chair out on the terrace at Malfoy Manor. It was a warm summer day, so Narcissa had set up for them to be outside.
"Ginny, dear we can have Libby bring it to you," Narcissa said with a warm smile.
Ginny shook her head, though Narcissa was a nice woman she always insisted that the little house elf cater to Ginny's every need, and she didn't want that. She was capable of walking into the kitchen to get something for herself. "I'll be back soon," Ginny quickly left the terrace and entered the Manor, she had been exploring the house quite a bit. It had more than enough bedrooms for her entire family and lavish bathrooms to boot! Merlin knows Ginny could spend an hour soaking in a warm bath.
She found her way to the kitchen pretty easily, only to momentarily regret coming in at this moment. Draco was in there, looking around in the refrigerator for something. She stood still and silent for a moment, unsure of what to do. Walk out and wait until he leaves then come back in? No, she couldn't. This man was going to become her husband soon and they had to communicate at some point, right?
She walked all the way into the kitchen, staying silent for a moment before speaking, "The planning is coming along great," she tried, weakly. She didn't know of what else to say to him, and she highly doubted that he cared what she was saying in the first place.
He closed the refrigerator door and turned around to face her, a blond eyebrow raised. "Good."
Ginny sighed; clearly she would be the one putting all the effort into their conversations. "W-would you prefer lavender or roses? I personally like lavender. It's one of my favorite colors," she said, smiling softly as his eyes raked over her. She felt as though he were undressing her with his eyes and began to regret wearing the short tan khaki shorts and dark blue top.
"I don't really care, Weasley. They are just carnations."
"Well, yes, but it is your wedding too," she said, a slight frown replacing the smile that had once been on her face. She got nothing in return but a shrug of his shoulders, "Marriage means nothing to you?"
"No, not really. It's just a ceremony, some words and two rings. Nothing."
Ginny nodded her head, as if understanding what he was saying. It was a simple thing but she supposed it meant so much more if you were in love with the person. They definitely were not. "It was nice seeing you, Malfoy." She said with a curt nod of her head before walking back out to the terrace, her pink lemonade completely forgotten. She sat down with a sigh, "Narcissa, must your son be so difficult?" She asked, placing a hand on her head.
"Well, Ginny dear you aren't the easiest to work with either," Molly said, patting her daughters leg lightly.
"I know but I tried talking to him and it's as if he doesn't care about anything. I mean, honestly we're going to be married!"
"Don't worry about it, Ginevra, he'll have to come around sometime."
Ginny just looked away from the two older women in front of her and out at the large backyard, where the wedding was being held. She wasn't sure if she wanted him to come around sometime. In two weeks she would be getting married. Not even two weeks, a week and five days! She had done a lot of thinking these past days, mostly about Draco's reputation as a Sex God. Not that she was so interested, but she wondered if he expected something from her on their wedding night? Or perhaps even after the wedding or would he find someone more suitable? Not a Weasley.
She shook her head, scaring herself with the thoughts. It didn't matter right now; she would just have to deal with that when the time came.
"Come now Ginny, we have to be getting back home; the boys are coming over for dinner. We have to tell them about it."
Ginny groaned, this day just wasn't getting any better. "Alright mum. It was nice seeing you again Narcissa." She said before standing from her chair and apparating to The Burrow after her mother.
~~!@@!~~!@@!~~@@!~~@@!~~!@@!~~@@!~~!@@!~~@@!~~
"Alright boys, alright! Settle down, Ginny has some news she would like to tell everyone," Arthur said who had come home to be there when this happened, and take care of any of his Sons who got out of hand, Harry included. It was only the boys of the family, well and Hermione but Ginny didn't want all the relatives there, as she couldn't break it to them all, knowing the looks on their faces would remain in her head forever.
"Well I-I'm"
"Married!" Ginny's eyes snapped to the person who had said it and closed her eyes tightly, it was Ron. "We're not dense Gin, we all know how to read! If you want to keep something like this from is it'd be best not to have it on the cover of the magazine you work for!" He reached into his robe pocket and threw a copy of Witch Weekly down on the table, showing a picture of Draco and the headline read, 'Marriage for the Most Eligible Bachelor.'
She bit her bottom lip softly, "I was going to tell you all sooner but-"
"But what Ginny? How can you marry this brute? Draco sodding Malfoy! He's done nothing but torture all of us! And his family. Mum, dad, surely you aren't going to let her go through with this."
"Ronald, this is not your decision to make for her. We couldn't make it for her either, what she is doing is up to her, not us."
Ginny looked at the rest of her brothers who were silent, Fred and George, for once, actually looked dumbfounded and Charlie looked confused and Bill will, he just had a small smile on his face. She would have hoped that they all would support her and help her through this though they knew not the real reasoning behind the wedding. She thought it would be best not to tell them. At least not now, anyway.
"Ginny," Hermione called out, motioning for Ginny to come over to her. When Ginny was standing at her side she wrapped an arm around her, "You know we'll always be here for you, Gin, no matter what choices you make in life but Malfoy? Are you sure about this?"
"I'm sure. I-I love him." She said, nodding her head, lying even to herself. She knew it wasn't true, how could anyone love something like him? Well, besides for his looks.
"Alright then, if you're sure. You can always come to me or any of the other wives if you need to, remember that. We've all been there before."
Ginny nodded her head at Hermione, smiling. Just then she heard laughter coming from somewhere, she turned around to see Fred and George laughing, together. She wondered what was so funny, "Good one, Ginny." Fred said before he stood up. "Need we remind you that George and I are the pranksters of the family? Leave it to us."
"This is not a joke, Fred!" She said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Hmm, and I'm not funny?"
"Seriously, Fred. I'm getting married to Draco Malfoy in a little over a week, you're all invited but you don't have to come. Although I would like to have you there, it would mean so much to me."
"We'll be there, Ginny." Charlie said.
"Speak for you, brother," Ron said, shaking his head in disbelief, "I can't. I can't watch my father give my sister away to him."
"We'll all be there, Ginny," Charlie repeated, glaring at Ron who knew to shut up. They weren't little anymore but he and his brothers still could fight. Even though now Ron was twenty-six he was still afraid of the beating he could receive from either Charlie or Bill.
She nodded her head, sniffling softly, not even realizing she had begun to cry.
~~!@@!~~!@@!~~@@!~~@@!~~!@@!~~@@!~~!@@!~~@@!~~
Another chapter up, how you all are still enjoying this fic. It was up quick, eh? That's good, hmm? Much thanks to my Beta, Heaven, though she didn't have much to work to do for this little chapter she still go it back very quickly. Again, look at my writing journal. www.livejournal.com/users/x_scriblen_x and you can find my writing place. Don't forget to review =)