Discussions and Decisions
"I'll get the door, Mummy," the little brown haired boy yelled.
"Sirius, look out the window and only open the door for someone you know," Hermione told her little boy.
"Yes, Mummy!"
Six year old Sirius moved the curtain slightly and looked out the window. He jumped to the door, unlocked and opened it. "It's Professor Mc-Gone-a-gall!" he shouted.
His twin sister came running down the stairs. Her long brown hair was in a ponytail and bobbed from side to side as she ran. Harriet reached the foyer as Sirius closed the door behind the two women.
"I know who you are," Harriet stated, smiling at Molly. "You're Uncle Ron's mummy."
"We have the same birthday as you," Sirius added.
"That's wonderful, sweethearts. I'm so happy to meet you both." Molly hugged them.
Hermione walked into the room doing her best to control her shock. "Hello, Professor, Molly. Sirius, Harriet, go eat your breakfast, please." Hermione kissed her children before they walked into the kitchen.
An Apparition pop came from the kitchen and the children happily yelled. "Uncle Ron!"
Ron walked them into the front room. "Hello, everyone. Hermione, if it's alright, I'd like to take the twins to breakfast and then the playground?"
Hermione smiled, but she wasn't happy about her current situation. "Of course." She kissed Harriet and Sirius and watched them leave with Ron. She turned to the two women. "I believe the kitchen would be the best place to have our discussion."
They walked into the kitchen. Hermione poured each a cup of tea.
"Ron has a big mouth, I see," Hermione stated. "I'm only protecting my children. Thuban will be in their class. I don't need Draco controlling him at Hogwarts."
"Hermione, did Lucius need Draco to get Riddle's diary to Ginevra? If Draco wants to get to your children, he will not need Thuban or his other boys to accomplish it. Please, leave the Malfoys be, Hermione. Do not give them a reason to come after you," McGonagall pleaded.
Hermione looked around her kitchen. When her eyes returned to the women, they were filled with tears. "I have to protect them. They're all I have left. My father's gone. Harry's gone. My mother's gone. I'm the only one who can keep them safe." Molly took Hermione's hand and patted it.
"There, there, Hermione, I'm here to help you," Molly said. "You poor dear. You've had a couple of bad months, but I'm here now. You're not alone. You are part of my family. We will always be here to help you."
-----*****-----
Draco, Ginny and the boys landed in the foyer of Black Hall. A number of house-elves came to the family's side and helped them remove their cloaks. "Master's father is wanting him to floo the Manor instantly," said an elf.
"My father can wait," Draco replied.
"Master's father said it is a matter of great importance. Mistress Narcissa insisted Master floo as soon as he returned."
Draco kissed Ginny's cheek. "I won't be but a few minutes, Love. Why don't you and the boys have some tea?"
Ginny nodded her head. Their holiday was over already. She knew it was a family issue. It was likely about Serpens' birthday party. Ginny had contacted the printer to change the location from Malfoy Manor to Black Hall. She had discussed this with Draco and he had agreed, but both knew Narcissa would object.
The boys had begun eating their first biscuit when Draco entered the room, a grave look on his face and Thuban's cloak in his hand. "Thuban, come. We have a matter to attend to at the Manor." Thuban looked at Ginny pleading with her for help with his eyes.
"Draco, what's the problem?"
"Nothing that you need to worry about, Ginevra."
"I demand to know what matter you are dragging my son off to attend to!" Ginny spat as she stood toe to toe with Draco.
Draco raised his wand and placed a sound proofing charm on the parlor, moving them into the hallway. "Father found his missing caldron."
"You are not going to beat my son for a crime he didn't commit," Ginny growled.
"According to Mother, there is proof it was Thuban," Draco said calmly before hissing. "I've never beaten any of my sons."
"Sorry, poor choice of words. Narcissa believes it was Thuban?"
"Yes, Ginny."
"He was brewing a potion?" Her eyes started to tear.
"Yes, Love, and it exploded." He took his wife in his arms. "I haven't even thought about punishment for this. We first need to make sure Thuban understands the danger of his actions."
"You are not building a potions lab in this house. That potions set you got Thuban for his birthday is going back," Ginny stuttered through her tears.
Draco spent a couple more moments calming Ginny before he returned to the boys with her. Thuban looked at Ginny and retrieved his cloak.
"Did Grandfather find his caldron?" Thuban inquired.
"Yes, he did," Draco answered.
"Is he awful mad?"
"I think deeply concerned would be a better description," Draco answered as he lifted the boy into his arms and Disapparated.
-----******-----
Ginny sat on the settee in the playroom. Although she had agreed to let Draco take Thuban to the Manor alone, she wasn't happy. How their children were disciplined was one of the many things she wanted to change. She summoned Tipsy to watch the boys and she walked into Great-grandmother Black's personal parlor. She looked through the desk for a scroll, quill and ink. After removing the scrolls from the bottom drawer, a tome caught her eye. The gold letters imprinted on the black leather cover read "Seven Habits of Successful Society Wives". She removed the book and leafing through a couple of pages revealed a different title. "Making Your Arranged Marriage Work For You: A Witche's Guide." She smiled, collecting the book and other items before she strolled back to the playroom. Maybe this book could help her.
She was surprised to see Narcissa sitting in the playroom. I need to sign that document, she thought. Until she signed it, the house elves would listen to Narcissa and, worst of all, would not announce her presence to anyone. Black Hall was legally still hers.
Ginny walked over to her mother-in-law and sat down. "This is a pleasant surprise."
Narcissa smiled at the young witch. She was pleased to see her daughter-in-law looking so well. "I couldn't help myself, I had to see the boys. Is Leo napping upstairs?"
"Yes, Nan will bring him down when he awakes, which should be shortly," Ginny informed her.
The older witch smiled brightly. It was hard for her, not having her grandsons at the Manor any longer.
"I can't wait to see him." Narcissa smiled.
"Narcissa, do you have time to help me plan Serpens' party?" Ginny wanted to do most of the planning but she knew she'd need Narcissa's help for everything to go well.
Narcissa brightened again. When Draco had informed his mother that Ginny wanted the party to be at Black Hall, she thought she would be left out of the planning. "Yes, I do, Ginevra."
"Good. First thing Monday morning the painters and gardeners are coming. I think the ballroom only needs a fresh coat of paint. And the garden only needs to be trimmed up."
-----******-----
Thuban held tight to Draco's hand as Lucius walked them to a remote wing of the Manor. When Lucius touched the door handle to the room in which Thuban had attempted to make Polyjuice, Thuban released Draco's hand and hung tight to his father's leg.
"You don't need to open it, Grandfather. I'm sorry. I don't know what went wrong. I only wanted to be a full grown wizard for a little while," Thuban stammered with a shaking voice.
"You may be sorry, Thuban, but I feel compelled to make certain you understand the ramifications of you actions," Lucius firmly stated.
"I destroyed the room. It will cost loads of galleons to repair. Plus I need to repay you, Professor Snape, Uncle Rodolphus for the ingredients, and you for your caldron."
"Those are not the ramifications I'm concerned with," Lucius spoke gravely as he opened the door and led Draco and Thuban inside.
Draco's eyes widened in terror, shock overtook him as he looked around the room. He fell to his knees and pulled Thuban into a tight hug, shaking as he tried to contain and conceal his emotions.
Only a few bricks remained in the fireplace. The wall, which had held the fireplace, was gone along with the ceiling above it and the floor below. The side walls were covered with black soot, potion ingredients, parts of Lucius' caldron and bricks. The far wall had bricks and brick pieces embedded into it. Clearly, Thuban had not been in the room when the explosion occurred, for if he had been, he surely would have perished.
"Thank Merlin, you're alright!" Draco whimpered as a sob escaped him.
"I ran when I heard the caldron cracking," Thuban stammered.
Lucius approached the pair. Draco pushed Thuban back a little so he could look into his son's eyes.
"You heard the caldron crack?" Lucius asked. When the boy nodded, Lucius could no longer contain his emotions and a look of horror crossed his face.
Thuban stared at the two most important and impressive wizards in his life. Neither had ever worn these types of expressions before. These were the types of looks that Mummy and Grandmother gave him. Thuban looked around the room very slowly and carefully.
Terror grew in Thuban eyes, "I nearly blew myself up, didn't I?"
Both men tearfully nodded at the little wizard.
A crying Thuban jumped into Draco's arms. "I'll never make potions without a grown-up again. I don't want to die."
"Remember Thuban, bad things happen when a boy tries to perform a man's task," Lucius said helping Draco, who was holding Thuban close, to his feet.
"A fact I wish I would have learned before I was sixteen," Draco whispered to his father.
-----Flashback June 1997-----
Severus and Draco ran through the dark woods, the moon illuminating the night sky. A tall thin figure appeared in the clearing. Narcissa removed her hood. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Thank, Merlin. Is it done?" she whispered.
"Yes," Snape hissed.
"Draco" she called, and held out her hand. He took his mother's hand and felt the cold metal item. He and his mother were instantly portkeyed away to a room with white marble flooring and a black marble fireplace. The early afternoon sun shone through a picture window.
"Mother, Where are we?" Draco spat with anger. "I have completed my task. I have earned my Dark Mark. The Dark Lord was going…"
"To kill you for failing! Did the death curse come from your wand, Draco?" Narcissa asked while crying.
"Snape was too quick. I was going to..." Draco hissed.
"Draco," she drew her son into her arms. "The Dark Lord wanted you to die, to punish your father and keep the other Death Eaters from failing him again. Have you learned nothing in the past months from his treatment and threats? Only the Death Eaters who failed to retrieve the prophecy remain in Azkaban. The Dark Lord could free them if he wished."
"Which is why I need to return to the Dark Lord, Mother. He will free Father. I didn't fail. Dumbledore is dead." Draco pulled away.
Narcissa looked at him. "Dumbledore may be dead, Draco, but not by your wand. The Dark Lord will kill you for that."
"I need to free Father!"
"It has already been done. Your father will be joining us when it is safe to do so," Narcissa stated.
"Does the Dark Lord want us all dead?"
"Yes" Narcissa answered softly.
"Then we can never return to England."
"The Dark Lord is no longer sane, Draco. He will fall."
"If the Order wins the war, Mother, we will be criminals. So we are never returning to England."
"The Order will not win. And we will return to England. It is planned but will take time. Time enough for you to finish your schooling and your last year of childhood."
"I'm a full grown wizard, Mother."
"Draco, do I need to remind you that it was your desire to grow up to quickly that nearly cost you your life."
----- End of Flashback June 1997-----
Serpens' swing swung freely with no effort from the little wizard, while Cam on the swing next to him had to pump his legs to get his to move. Narcissa and Ginny sat on the patio enjoying a cup of tea and discussing Serpens' upcoming third birthday party.
"It's not fair!" Cam objected looking pointedly from his younger brother to his mother.
"Cam, you know the rules. Only children under three can ride the charmed swing," Ginny reminded the boy.
"One more month and you'll have to make yourself go too," Cam said with a devilish giggle causing Serpens to frown.
Ginny turned her attention back to Narcissa. "I'm picking up the invitations tomorrow."
"Would you like me to watch the children?" Narcissa asked hopefully.
Ginny smiled at the older witch. She had planned on taking all her boys. But it would be easier without Leo. "Maybe Leo. Thuban's trainers are a little tight. Cam needs some new slacks. And Serpens needs to be fitted for his dress robe." Ginny sipped her tea. "Draco had planned on meeting us for lunch. If he doesn't mind Leo's absence, I'll leave the baby with you. Would you mind coming here?"
"Of course not, darling. Whatever…" Narcissa was distracted by a noise behind her. Turning to the patio doors she saw Draco, Lucius and Thuban. Her eyes filled with tears and she swept over to the boy and collected him into her arms.
"Thuban, dearest Thuban." She sobbed. After a couple of moments she moved the boy slightly away from her and looked into his eyes. "Promise Grandmother that you will never make potions alone again," she pleaded.
Thuban stared at his grandmother. Never was a long time. Surely she didn't expect him to agree to that.
"Promise me!" Narcissa demanded.
Draco nudged his son's back. Thoughts of refusing drifted through Thuban's mind, but the clearing of his grandfather's voice reminded Thuban that his punishment had yet to be determined. He had avoided the feel of his grandfather's cane across his bottom so far that day and planned on keeping it that way.
"I'm sorry I caused you great worry, Grandmother," Thuban softly said. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I promise not to make potions on my own until I'm of age." For good measure he kissed both of her cheeks lovingly. "I love you. I'm truly sorry." He hugged Narcissa tightly.
Ginny stared at Draco. She had never heard Narcissa use such a demanding tone with any of the boys before. Draco meet Ginny's gaze.
"Thuban, go play with your brothers. Mother. Father. Would you keep an eye on the boys while I have a chat with Ginevra?"
Thuban released Narcissa and ran to the play area. Narcissa got back to her feet and dried her eyes with her handkerchief. Lucius helped his wife back to the patio chairs.
"Of course, Draco. Take your time," Lucius answered.
Draco took Ginny's hand and led her inside the house while in the yard the brothers greeted each other. Serpens gave Thuban a big hug, very happy his brother had escaped a major spanking. Cam was more subdued and looked with amazement of his older brother.
"What was your punishment?" Cam questioned.
"It hasn't been decided. Daddy needed to talk to Mummy first." Thuban started for the slide with Serpens.
"That's not right." Cam folded his arms and looked at the house. "He doesn't need to discuss things with her. He never has before."
"Well, he is from now on. I think." Thuban eyed Cam. "You wanted me to get a spanking, didn't you?"
Cam shook his head. "No, I didn't! It's… Well, Mummy isn't of his class. I love her and all but…"
Thuban pulled his brother behind the slide out of their grandparents' view. He grabbed Cam's shirt with one hand and put his other fist next to Cam's face. "Do I have to hit you?" Thuban hissed. "Our mother is as good as anyone, even better. You listen to Aunt Bella too much."
Thuban released Cam and straighten his shirt quickly. He turned Cam around so he was facing the ladder of the slide. "Come on, Cam. Hurry up, we're waiting," Thuban said.
Lucius appeared at the boys' side. "Is there are problem?"
"Cam's a slowpoke," Serpens answered.
"Cygnus?"
"They're too pushy," Cam stated as he started up the ladder.
Lucius eyed his eldest grandson. "Do not push your luck any farther today, Thuban."
"I won't, Sir."
-----******-----
Ginny paced in front of Draco as he sat on the couch in his study.
"I want to see the room!" she demanded.
"No, Ginny, you don't. It took Father two days to calm Mother after she saw it," Draco answered.
"What was he making? Where did he get the ingredients? How are we going to make sure it doesn't happen again? You're not building a potions lab here. He's not getting the potions set he wants for his birthday. How did we punish him?" Ginny ranted as she paced. She exhaled, sat on the couch and leaned against Draco. His arm went around her shoulder.
"Your parents looked so frightened." A tear fell from Ginny's eye. "Was it that awful? Did we come extremely close to losing him?"
He wiped away his wife's tears and kissed her softly on the lips before answering. "Yes, Gin. Thank Merlin, we didn't." He cuddled his wife close to him. "He was trying to made Polyjuice. He had both Father's hair and mine. He wanted to see what being a grown wizard was like."
"Why didn't he make and aging potion? It's easier," she questioned.
Draco chuckled a little. "He thought about it. But the reversal potion is more difficult to make than Polyjuice. He only wanted to be grown for a short time. He likes being a boy." Draco picked up his cup of tea and took a drink.
"Thuban took ingredients from Father's lab, Professor Snape's and Uncle Rodolphus' labs. My grandfather Cygnus' portrait now hangs both outside and inside of Father's and Rodolphus' labs as it will in my lab here."
"Draco, I don't want a potions lab in this house," she demanded.
"Ginevra, I will have a lab. We can discuss what ingredients I keep and how to safeguard access to it. Potions labs are going to be part of the children's lives." She glared at her husband. "Ginevra, don't look at me like that. I've seen your twin brothers' lab."
"Well, you're not giving Thuban that Junior Potions Master set he wanted for his birthday, Draco."
"I plan on showing Thuban that it was purchased and have him help me repackage it and return it as part of his punishment. His actions proved that he is not ready." Draco took another sip of tea. "The rest of his punishment will be, if you approve: a spanking for lying about the caldron and not informing anyone about the explosion; no potion making or broom riding for a month; and repaying Professor Snape and Uncle Rodolphus for their ingredients. They, in turn, will be allowed to punish the boy for the crimes he committed against them."
"Draco, I don't like…" Ginny started.
"Professor Snape has some cauldrons he wants cleaned. And a good scaring from him could really help. I'll be present the entire time."
"As long as you stay with Thuban," she demanded. "What does your uncle want?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Uncle Rodolphus wants to come along when we visit Professor Snape. He wants to help scare the boy."
Ginny pulled away from her husband. "How do they plan on scaring Thuban?"
"Nothing much, Love. They are merely going to tell tales of potions' accidents loud enough for Thuban to hear as he cleans the caldrons. I'll be there and stop them if their stories get too bad."
"Your father?"
"I believe Father was thinking more along the lines of manual labor. Cleaning the Manor stables and fertilizing the garden for the next two months."
She cuddled back into her husband's side. "I can change any of the punishments?"
"We will agree on the punishment before it is imposed," Draco confirmed.
"I think it's too much." Ginny thought for a time. "Take him to Snape. Tell him why he can't have the potions set, but don't make him take it back with you, and only two weeks without his broom."
"Well, that's a starting point." He sat up and poured more tea into his a cup. "Would you like more tea, Love, before we enter into negotiations?"
~~~~~*****~~~~~
Ginny lay in bed browsing through the book she'd found earlier in the day. She could tell it was going to be a great help to her. She placed it in the nightstand when she heard Draco coming from the nursery. He carried their freshly bathed baby close to his chest. Bathing their babies seemed to relax Draco and he preformed the task every night. He didn't trust a house elf to bathe his children until they were two years old. Narcissa had informed Draco a number of times that Tipsy had bathed both Lucius and himself from birth to age six, but Draco didn't care.
He lay in Ginny's bed, Leo on his chest. "He'll be ready to nurse in a couple of minutes, Ginny. Merlin, he looks like you." Draco kissed the baby's head. "And Daddy is very happy about that. Yes, he is. Leo's Daddy's little gingersnap."
Leo started rooting around on Draco's chest. "Sorry, son. I didn't have anything for you." He lifted the baby from his chest and hand him to Ginny. Leo nursed happily.
"Draco" Ginny spoke softly. "Today was a good start. Thank you. I know it wasn't easy for you to let me have a say in Thuban's punishment."
"Ginny, you've always had a say. I'm just giving it more weight now. Love, I really want this to work between us."
"So do I, Draco. And today was a good start."
"What can I do to make our marriage perfect in your eyes, Gin?"
Ginny turned to face him, the sincerity in his eyes almost caused her to cry. What would make their marriage perfect in her eyes? She gave him a pointed look. "I have to be free to take the boys to my family and friends. We need to make decisions about our family together. Merlin, if the love you show me on Saturday nights was real and you were that romantic most days, it would be perfect. But Saturday nights are just a game, a fantasy life we create once a week."
"Princess, nothing I've done with you was a game. I do it because that's how I feel. It's hard to be romantic everyday. Especially, when I'm the one who always has to get things started. I'll work on being romantic everyday, if you will do the same for me. I'd love to get a goodbye or hello kiss instead of always being the one to give it."
His statement ran through her mind. What was he saying? Saturday nights aren't a game to him. It's real love he's showing her! He couldn't love her. But maybe he did. She thought back to her own actions. She rarely kissed him first. Never did she run to him after a day at the office. Never did she buy him a gift just to say she was thinking of him. He called her princess, love, darling, and even sweetheart both inside and outside the bedchamber. She called him, Draco, and maybe lover in the bedchamber.
She repositioned herself and Leo and kissed Draco. She pulled back and looked at him. "You're right, we both need to change. I'll start showing you how I feel."
Leo finished nursing and Draco took him to his cot and then returned to bed.
Ginny kissed him and cuddled into his chest. "I love being in your arms and lying on your chest. I dream about and long for those moments all day." She kissed him again and started removing his pajama top. "Merlin, you feel good," she moaned rubbing her hands crossed his chest.
"So do you, Love. A little too good, I'm developing a problem."
"Let me help you with that problem," she said seductively.
"We can't do that until you get the go ahead from your midwitch, Ginny."
"I understand but I can still give you a hand."
"Brilliant," he hissed with great pleasure. "I'd love that."
Draco pulled his sleeping wife into his chest. He caressed her arm and touched her hair. He had always loved her red locks; the feel of them on his chest calmed him. He would do anything to keep her and what she was asking was very little. Merlin, he was glad he'd decided to save her from Montague seven years ago. Being married to the former Ginevra Molly Weasley felt damn good. He wouldn't admit it to himself back then, but now he would. He married her because he had strong feelings for her. And after Serpens' birth, he knew he loved her with all his heart and soul. So, as he had been doing for nearly three years now, he kissed Ginny's forehead and whispered to his sleeping wife. "I love you, Ginny."
-----*****-----
Ginny placed a warming charm on Draco's breakfast in their sitting room. He needed to get to the office early this morning and wouldn't be able to eat with their boys. She walked into their bedchamber. Draco surprisingly hadn't woken for Leo's 6 a.m. feeding. Ginny had decided to let him have an extra thirty minutes of sleep and sent the elf away. It was a new day, both figuratively and literally, for the young couple.
She watched the handsome wizard sleep. She couldn't believe all the things he had done for her and how she had treated him. Both Lavender and Blaise had told her years ago that Montague was planning on marrying her for revenge against the twins. Ginny remembered the day Lavender told her clearly.
^^^--- March 2001 ---^^^
"I'm telling you, Ginny, Draco loves you and he always has," Lavender stated. "Greg, Blaise, Draco, Vincent and a number of other Slytherins were out drinking the day before Draco petitioned for you." Lavender looked at Ginny. "You know about Hermione and Harry right?"
"Yes," Ginny replied. "He was dating her and me at the same time."
"Ginny," Lavender took her hand. "They were married." Ginny gasped. "I'm sorry. Draco asked us all not to tell you. He didn't want to see you hurt. He said there was no point in your knowing. But I think there is a point, because it shows he loves you." Lavender walked around the room once and sat back down. "Anyway, Ginny. That night in the pub Montague said that he was going to petition for you the next day. He was doing it to get back at the twins for throwing him into that cabinet their seventh year. He said he couldn't wait to 'fuck her in every hole she has'. He planned on telling you that Harry and Hermione were 'fucking' while you were dating him, and that they were married. According to both Greg and Blaise, Draco was so mad after hearing this, he almost broke the glass in his hand. Draco spent all night outside the Ministry making sure he was the first one there."
^^^---^^^
Ginny still thought it was a strange way to save her. A way she didn't want to be saved back then, but he was a loving man now, at least around his family.
She walked over and kissed him. "Draco, honey. It's time to get up." She kissed him a couple more times from the side of the bed, before his eyes opened slowly. "Good morning, darling," she whispered. "It's six thirty, Draco. Your breakfast is in the sitting room. I'll be waiting for you in there."
Draco moved from the bed quickly. He spun Ginny around and kissed. "Excellent wake-up call beautiful. I…" he paused, "I better get a shower."
-----*****-----
Ginny's three boys openly pouted as they walked down Diagon Alley. None were happy about this shopping trip. Things had gone from bad to worse all morning. It took ages at the printers. A witch, either Muggle-born or Half-blood, rolled her handcart over Thuban's foot outside The Apothecary. He hissed "Bloody Mudblood" a little to loudly, and Ginny wasted no time Accioing a bar of soap into the little wizard's mouth. At the shoe store, Serpens found a pair of trainers with dragons on them, but his pleas only got him a firm talking to. Cam wanted blue trousers but there were only black and gray in his size. His demands for tailored blue trousers earned him a displeased look from Ginny.
There were three people ahead of them at Madam Malkin's. The first was a very large witch, who was very picky about her fitting. The second was a thin wizard wearing witch's robes, who kept changing his mind half way through the fitting. And the third was a bucktoothed girl around ten years old, with a large red nose and big ears. Her mother had her try on robe after robe blaming the garments for her daughter's funny appearance. To the boys displeasure and disbelief, Ginny stuck by her word and didn't let them go to the toy store or Quality Quidditch Supplies because of their rudely whispered comments in the robe shop. All three little wizards wished they would have stayed home with their grandmother or better yet that Grandmother had come along. None of them looked forward to lunch with their father because their mother was sure to tell him about their behavior.
As they hurried down the street to the café, they passed Weasley Wizard Wheezes. Thuban knew it was his uncles' shop. The three times he and Greggy Goyle managed to sneak away from their mothers and visit it, he had seen them. Thuban smiled as Ginny stopped at the café only two doors away.
"Mummy, I need to use the bathroom," Thuban stated.
"All right, sweetheart." Ginny walked with the boys to the back of the café.
"I can do it myself," Thuban said.
"My feet hurt. I want to sit down," Cam whined.
Ginny found a table within eyesight of the bathroom door. She sat the two younger boys down and let Thuban go by himself.
Once inside the room, Thuban crawled out the window. As the window closed behind him, Seamus came out of a stall and washed his hands. The Irish wizard noticed Ginny as he left the bathroom. He looked away instantly.
"Oy, Seamus," Ron Weasley yelled not noticing his sister as he approached his friend.
Ginny glanced at the men and quickly resumed watching the bathroom door. Serpens and Cam kept moving their chairs closer and closer to Ginny staring at Seamus as he talked. When her boys both grabbed her arms, she looked at them.
"What's wrong, sweethearts?" she asked calmly.
"It's him, Mummy," Cam whispered pointing at Seamus. Jimmy joined Ron and Seamus at the counter. Serpens jumped into Ginny's lap, shaking with great fear.
"It's all right. No one's going to hurt you," she tried to reassure her boys. Her Weasley blood started to boil. She wanted to hex the three gits in front of them into next year for the harm they'd caused her sons.
Her attempts to calm the boys didn't work. Both were crying and she needed to get them out of the café, but Thuban was still in the bathroom. After receiving their food the three men turned and took one step in Ginny's direction. Cam tried to join his brother on Ginny's lap. Serpens let out a deafening scream and Cam joined in. Ron noticed his sister for the first time. His look of bewilderment only increased Ginny's anger. He should have known better, but he still loved her and it pained him to see her and her children in distress. Ron stepped towards Ginny.
"Mummy, they're coming to get us. Stop them," Serpens and Cam yelled through their screams and cries.
"What's wrong with them, Ginny?" Ron asked.
"You!" she shouted.
Ginny moved more quickly than anyone would have imagined. Her rage exploded on the men in front of her. In an instant, she had pushed her two boys protectively behind her, draw her wand and hit each of the three men with a hex. Seeing their mother in action caused the boys to climb on the table and yell hexes encouraging her on into battle. A number of hexes had left Ginny's wand before a strong hand was placed over hers.
"Jellylegs, Mummy. Jellylegs," Serpens yelled.
"No, Stupefy. I want to see Stupefy," Cam yelled.
Both boys were looking at the three hex-covered wizards lying on the floor. They hadn't noticed the wizard who was holding onto Ginny.
"Mummy, hex them. They're the bad men," Cam requested before looking at Ginny. When no hex was forthcoming, he turned his attention to his mother. "Daddy! Let Mummy hex them!"
"They've been hexed enough, Cam." Draco looked at his boys. "Get off the table and sit down, please." Once the boys had complied, Draco whispered to Ginny. "Calm down, Love. Calm down." He looked back at the boys and for the first time noticed Thuban was missing. "Ginny, where's Thuban?"
Ginny pulled away from Draco and placed her wand at Seamus' heart. "Where's Thuban? He hasn't came back and you were in the bathroom with him."
"Simmer down, Gin," Fred said from behind her.
"We found something in our shop that belongs to you," George said.
"Thought we should return it," Fred finished as they placed Thuban at her side.
Thuban smiled sheepishly at his mother, and George placed a Basic Blaze Box of fireworks in Draco's hand.
"Thuban, mate. Owl next time you want something."
"It's not safe for a wizard your age to be walking the street alone."
"Yea, look what could happen to you." George said pointing at Seamus, Jimmy and Ron. The three wizards were covered with boils, sported antlers and beaver teeth, and were being attacked by giant bat bogeys.
"We better get this lot back to Mum," Fred said as he and his twin helped the men to their feet.
As the group walked by, Draco stepped in front of them. He glared at Ron, Seamus and Jimmy. "If you ever cause harm to my family again, I will not stop my wife's wand play. In fact, I will join her and treat you to many of the Dark Lord's favorite curses," Draco hissed to them. His expression changed to one of gratitude when he turned and offered Fred his hand. "Thank you, for returning Thuban. Your timing couldn't have been better."
"You're welcome, Malfoy," Fred said shaking Draco's hand.
"But it was your timing, Draco, that was perfect. We saw the whole thing," George stated, to Ron's surprise. "You deserved it, little brother."
The twins continued to mutter as they walked out of the building, "Well at least it's over, Ron."
"You knew she'd get you sooner or later."
"Damn, deadly with a wand, she is."
"Lucky for you lot that Malfoy stopped her."
"No one else was going to help you."
"They'd have to be mental."
"Worst thing there is."
"Irrational as hell."
"A witch is when she's defending her young."
Draco led his family out of the café.
"Wow, Mummy," Thuban stated, his eyes wide with amazement. "You do hurl a great hex. Did you see the size of those bat bogeys, Daddy?"
"Yes, that hex is a specialty of your mother's," Draco replied before mumbling something under his breath that caused Ginny to giggle.
----*****-----
The young Malfoy family stood in Draco's office. There were two fireplaces and they walked to the one on the left side of the room. Draco cast a spell to open the floo.
"I love you, Serpens. Be a good boy for Mummy," Draco said and then kissed the boy's cheek.
"I love you, Cam. Be good, I'll see you soon." Draco kissed Cam's cheek.
"I love you, Thuban. I'll bring the fireworks home this evening. If your mother informs me your behavior was excellent the rest of this afternoon, we will set a few off tonight." He kissed Thuban's cheek.
"I…" he paused, "Take care of them, Ginny, and yourself. I'll be home around five." He kissed her on the cheek before sending the group home. He mentally kicked himself for the second time that day. Why couldn't he say it?
As soon as they were gone, Draco walked to his door and opened it. "Mandy," he addressed his secretary, "Show Mister Green in."
Draco walked to his desk and sat down. A young wizard walked into the room and dropped a large envelope on his desk. Draco opened it and looked through the scrolls.
"Mihailov sent me. He thought this would interest you."
"It does." Draco placed a bag of galleons in front of the wizard. "Thank you." Draco walked Mr. Green to the door. Before opening it, Draco said, "Inform Mihailov, I no longer need the services I arranged with him last week. The men have been dealt with already."
"He will receive your message the moment I leave." Draco showed the wizard out and returned to his desk.
Draco sat looking at the scrolls. Hermione's actions were puzzling to him. Of course she was a Mudblood and not as stable as a pureblood but the way she was going after him was bloody irrational. The words of the Weasley twins shot through his brain. ' "Worst thing there is. Irrational as hell. A witch is when she's defending her young." '
That's the reason. I need to pay Mrs. Potter a little visit. Don't want to do it at her Muggle home. No reason to chance winding up looking like the Weasel did at the cafe. I'll go to her office in the Ministry; she can't attack me there. I wonder what she will say when I enlighten her about the knowledge I have about her, Potter and their children. Hopefully, she believes I mean them no harm. Getting Ginny to stay with me is going to be hard enough without Granger's meddling. But Granger would have wait until the tomorrow. He had five hours worth of work on his desk and only four hours in which to complete it.
------******------
Draco Apparated into Black Hall at five p.m. He instantly had three little boys attacking his legs. Ginny walked over and kissed him. "Welcome home, sweetheart," she said. The boys stepped back and watched their parents interact. Something was very different. Their mummy never greeted their daddy in the foyer. And she never called him sweetheart.
Draco sat the package of fireworks on a table and removed a ring box from his pocket. He placed the ring on her right hand. As he looked at it and her smile, he realized he'd never fully understand the witch in front of him. He'd gotten a mother's ring for her after Cam's birth. It was beautiful, he thought, with a heart-shaped quarter karat diamond for each boy. But she had to have the boys' birthstones in it and in their birth order no less. He immediately had the stones changed to an alexandrite and an emerald. In his opinion the different colored heart-shaped stones didn't match well and made the piece look a mess, but Ginny loved it. And after the birth of each child, he had its birthstone added to the ring.
He kissed the ring, her hand and then her lips. "I still think it would look better if the jewels were all the same."
"Draco, I love it this way."
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. He collected all his courage and blurted out. "I love you, Ginny." He could have kicked himself. He was going for romantic but totally missed the mark. She didn't seem to mind, because she laid a very passionate kiss on him before his mouth could close.
"This isn't right!" Cam stated shaking his head at his parents display. "It's not Saturday!"
"It's great, Cam." Thuban grinned at his parents, who had apparently forgotten the boys where there.
"Daddy!" Serpens pulled on Draco's slacks and was shoed away by his father.
"See, it's not good," Cam restated.
"Yes, it is." Thuban picked up the box of fireworks. "We can do lots of things while they're distracted."
Draco broke the kiss and muttered, "Thuban have Tipsy set off the fireworks." Before returning his lips to Ginny's.
Cam frowned at his parents, while Thuban and Serpens giggled at the pair. "I took the package too soon. I should have let them kiss longer," Thuban stated before summoning Tipsy and going outside.