Disclaimer: I once owned a sane mind, but then I thought moving to North Carolina for law school would be fun! : )
AN: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews!
Chapter 7 - Jam and Lemonade
The sun was warming her face, awakening her senses, as was the scent of strawberries. Ginny cracked an eye open and scanned her surroundings.
Yep, still here.
Draco Malfoy's elegant suite loomed around her, almost distracting her from the scents that had awoken her. Almost…but not quite…
On the nightstand to her right sat a small silver platter, mounded with warm toast and strawberry jam. A glass of pumpkin juice accompanied it.
Ginny stared at the food; much like her brothers she had always had a special affection for food. Granted she appreciated it in a slightly more refined manner than, say Ron, she still enjoyed food. Her stomach rumbled, voicing its agreement with the offerings of the platter. She ruminated, it had been quite some time since she had consumed anything of note, and for once her appetite seemed to be present. Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth Ginny dove into the warm toasted bread and sweet jam.
Three pieces of toast, a glass of pumpkin juice and an angry look at the empty platter, Ginny sat back against her pillows. She hadn't been that hungry since last years sorting feast. Something about the Hogwarts Express always made her ravenous. Maybe it was the lengthy journey, perhaps the excitement, more likely it was the awful lunch Mum packed that Ginny always ignored, that caused her hunger.
Shifting the blankets around Ginny smiled mischievously at the crumbs that scratched her legs. Yes, they were uncomfortable but somehow the irritation that she knew they would cause Draco was more than enough to overcome her slight discomfort. She didn't know what it was about that boy. Despite his somewhat caring demeanor towards her, getting his goat still caused her pleasure. She rationalized that musing his "oh-so-precious" sheets was payment for the years he had mocked her. She had yet to live down "Your eyes are as green…" to this day!
She was in an oddly content mood. The sun was warming her, her stomach was pleasantly full and for the time being she was ignoring any unhappy thoughts.
Taking her time Ginny perused her quarters. Having been unconscious for the majority of her stay this was her first opportunity to study the room. Ginny had always conformed to the belief that how one presented a room could reveal a great deal about a person.
His room was large, that was to be expected. In fact Ginny estimated that she could have easily fit the upper portion of the burrow within his suite. Large windows graced the eastern side of the room, currently lighting the room with the morning sunlight. Long elegantly draped curtains framed all the windows in the room, lending it a finished quality. Obviously a decorator had worked long and hard in this room. A small sitting area lay between the bed and the entrance. A chaise lounge and armchair encircled a mahogany coffee table. The furniture was rich with forest green velvet, complementing the table well.
Atop the table was an empty platter; similar to the one Ginny had just cleared. This one contained the remains of eggs and bacon. Ginny's stomach rumbled in protest to her meager fare of toast.
Well it appears Draco just finished eating, lucky sod had eggs!
A framed photo on the nightstand not currently holding the remains of her breakfast caught her eye. The frame was antiqued silver and lovely. It was composed intricate vine work and punctuated with small flowers. The frame seemed too delicate for a boy's room. She couldn't imagine any of her brothers owning anything with something so feminine as a flower on it. But then again, Draco Malfoy and her brothers had little in common.
Rolling over onto her side Ginny looked closely at the photo. A slender woman stared back at her. She had long blonde hair that was swept up at the sides by jeweled combs. The woman possessed elegant patrician features on a face whose only flaw was that it was a touch long. Her eyes were a mesmerizing blue. Ginny had once seen a muggle brochure of the beaches of the Caribbean; this woman's eyes mirrored her memory of the tropical waters. The woman was adorned in obviously costly robes of the same color.
The more Ginny stared, the more confused she became. Who was this woman? Her first instinct was a sister. Yet in all her knowledge of the Malfoy family there had never been reference to a sister. In fact there were times Ginny recalled a slight jealousy in Draco's status as an only child. Was she a girlfriend? Ginny mused. While the woman in the photo was not old, she was not young either; she seemed well out of school. Perhaps she was a bit naïve but she couldn't imagine a woman as sophisticated, beautiful and well… mature dating Draco, no matter his wealth and bloodlines. Finally a feasible notion came to Ginny's mind, was this Narcissa, Draco's mum? The photo must have been taken a few years ago, for she was youthful. But the similarities were present, the hair, and aristocratic features.
Somehow she hadn't thought that Draco would keep a picture of his mum by his bedside. Throughout her years at Hogwarts Harry, Ron and Hermione had always insisted that Malfoy was the biggest prat to ever grace the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. Her personal experiences with him and his father had never challenged this notion; in fact they had only strengthened it.
Somehow she didn't think that this picture was merely a concession to appearances, she doubted the private suites of the Malfoys were part of the general house tour. Perhaps Draco had felt a genuine affection for his mother… was is possible for a reputed 'evil wanker' such as Draco Malfoy to exhibit a genuine emotion for someone.
Throughout her contact with Draco he had always reveled in the pride of his family, especially that of his father. It appeared to Ginny that in Draco's eyes Lucius Malfoy was a demi-god. While Ginny loved her parents, she also recognized their faults. For example she often felt that perhaps her father should have worked in a job he didn't like quite as much, if only for a spot, in order to help out the family financially. It was especially hard being the youngest and only girl; Percy's hand-me-downs did nothing for her! This did not seem to be the case for Draco; in fact for all intents and purposes Ginny had assumed that Draco was doing everything in his power to become his father.
But apparently her characterization of Draco had been wrong, after all he wasn't the death eater that his father was, and he appeared to be helping a Weasley, all things his father would never had done. Ginny sat and thought about all the times she had encountered Draco and her opinion began to shift. Ginny recalled his anger during her fourth year when Lucius was imprisoned after the attack the ministry. She had watched him threaten Harry, but to Ginny it had seemed hollow. His eyes didn't glint with emotion like they often did when he was truly riled up, as Ron and Harry had managed to cause on several occasions. In fact that entire year after his fathers imprisonment Draco seemed empty. Ron rarely riled him up, and vice versa. Something had changed or perhaps it had always been an image and for some reason Ginny couldn't quite fathom, Draco Malfoy had ceased to project it.
Her curiosity getting the best of her, despite all the problems it had caused for her in life Ginny had been unable to quell this aspect of her personality, she grabbed the picture off the nightstand. The longer she stared at it the more intrigued she became. Unlike normal magical photos, this one did not seem to be moving. Narcissa did not wave to the camera at any time, or leave to chat with others; in fact she sat completely still.
No! It couldn't be, was this was a muggle photo!
Despite her dads obsession with all things muggle she had only seen a few muggle photos. Colin Creevy one of her better friends in her year had quite a collection. It was eerie the way the people were motionless and flat. Why the devil would pureblood loving Draco Malfoy have a muggle photo?
"I assure you the frame is not worth much at hock, so you might as well put it down." The infinitely cold voice of her host interrupted her reverie.
Ginny started, nearly dropping the costly frame.
Draco stalked forward, his features hard and unrelenting. Ginny was familiar with his anger from school, but this seemed different.
"I said put. It. Down." It was clear from his tone that Draco meant to be obeyed. There was no witty insult in this statement, just command.
Ginny slowly lowered the frame, unsure of how to approach this Draco, a truly angry Draco.
Pointedly ignoring the frame that was once again was resting on the nightstand Draco approached the bed.
"Are you done?' Draco inclined his head toward the empty platter that still lay on the bed.
Ginny nodded her agreement.
"Roderick!" Draco sharply called for the house elf.
In moments Roderick had appeared and gathered up both platters. As Draco's eyes followed the small elf out the door, Ginny caught their gaze. His eyes were molten; she had never seen them in such a state. She had tapped some inner reserve of Draco Malfoy by touching that photo she thought.
Draco continued to follow the path of the house elf.
Must find control, must regain control
Draco slowly chanted to himself. He avoided the path of Ginny's eyes, he knew she was watching him, but he was not going to allow her to see that something she did could cause him emotion. Damn! Draco cursed internally, why was he letting this bother him, she was just a Weasley and she was just looking at a photo on his bedside.
Never mind that she held a photo of his mother, the only one he had kept from his father. He clenched his fists in anger; his outburst had made it clear that the photo was worth something. Draco had been schooled for years in avoiding such displays and yet when taken to task he had failed. In fact he thought it was situations such as this that had resulted in his current situation. Hadn't he learned anything from his mother, obviously not for a Weasley lay injured in his bed.
Ginny sat in silence, as Draco struggled to regain his composure. Ginny was fairly certain that not many people had seen Draco in this state. Her keen sense of self-preservation told her to keep it that way and to not inform Draco she knew of his complete loss of control.
As Draco stared at the empty door that Roderick left through a tense silence permeated the air. Ginny never comfortable in such situations, unconsciously began chewing her nails.
"Would you stop that!" Draco seethed out in exasperation, drawn out of his self-reverie.
Ginny dropped her fingers from her mouth, angry with herself for picking up the nervous habit again. After the chamber of secrets incident she had nearly gnawed her fingers off, until her mother had cast an anti-chewing spell on her fingers. Actually it was just a spell that made her nails taste of the worst Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Eventually she had managed to quell the nervous gesture, but apparently all that hard work had been erased.
Ginny stared at her hands, all the light revelry she had enjoyed earlier was gone, and everything it had smothered resurfaced. The reappearance of a former nervous trait reminded her that she was no longer the same girl she had been 3 months ago. Not that that girl was particularity spectacular, but at least she wasn't a broken shell of a human being.
"Never touch anything in this room again." Draco once again donned his mask of ice. He glared at her with hard unfeeling eyes. Anything to regain his composure he thought. She flinched in response.
The coldness that Draco was trying to re-infuse his soul with was halted. Instead of her red hair, she saw gilt blonde locks and instead of a nightdress he saw formal robes. Draco closed his eyes to the image. With an incline of his head Draco quickly whipped around and fled the room.
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Ginny sat staring at her hands for many minutes after Draco left the room. In fact she had barely noticed his absence. Ginny was lost in her own thoughts and hadn't room for contemplating why Draco had left so quietly and quickly.
Ginny moved her hands from her lap to her stomach. She slowly ran a hand over the non-existent curve. She stomach was flat now; after all she hadn't eaten much in the past week or so. But more to the point there was no longer a life within her. Ginny had known as much as soon as she her memory came flooding back to her last night. But she hadn't wanted to face that quite yet, it was enough to remember some of the details of her captivity.
She knew Draco had been itching to find out more, but he hadn't pressed. For that she respected him more than she ever thought possible. Her brothers would never let the situation rest at that. The situation had to be dealt with that she knew, but she was still struggling with it internally there was no way she could have sorted it out if pressed.
Her empty womb loomed large in her subconscious. She hadn't wanted a child, and the circumstances as to its conception were still at large in her mind. It was forced upon her, yet she still felt empty, despite her sense of violation.
She had never felt so alone and empty her entire life, even when she was a lonely first year, writing to a diary. Ginny felt as though ever bit of choice and free will had been taken from, she was drained and hollow. She knew that an act of violation had created the life, but even worse her decision to deal with that creation had been taken away. The child had been taken involuntarily and regardless of her feeling towards keeping the child or not, she wanted that choice. Perhaps what made it all worse was that she had been taken here to Malfoy manner, not to her family. Despite the problems that may have weighed heavily on her family, she wanted nothing more than to have her mother hold her and tell her everything would be all right.
Her emptiness began to be replaced by anger. Somewhere in the back of her mind she mused that perhaps this was a good sign and she wasn't dead inside. She was angry that she was not in control of any aspect of her life. She had been in this position once before and she would be dammed if it would continue to happen again.
Feeling herself tire, in spite of her rage, hopelessness won out. My own body won't even let me say in control she mused. As sleep began to claim her Ginny let a few tears of frustration and despair roll down her cheeks.
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Hermione sat on a flowered sofa; one that looked like in a few years time would be covered with plastic to prevent wear and tear.
Her hair was frazzled and her face weary. This immediately changed as she heard slow footsteps on the stairs.
"Dad! Stay upstairs I'll be right up with the lemonade." Hermione quickly rose from the sofa and scuttled into the kitchen.
"It's okay…I needed to stretch my legs." Hermione's father continued to make his slow path down the stairs.
Hermione laden with a tray, glasses of ice and a pitcher of lemonade met her father at the base of the stairs. Her fathers left arm was heavily bandaged and held to his side by a sling and a walking cast adorned his right leg.
"Dad, you really shouldn't be up on that leg too much… you heard the doctors!"
Hermione's father smiled at his daughter and with his good arm ruffled her hair. " I know, I know. But what sort of man would I be if I actually listened to the old sawbones."
"You sound just like Harry!" Hermione sighed exasperatedly. She set the tray down on the entry table and poured her father a glass. "Here have some I just made it!"
Her father took a long sip, "Its wonderful, just like your mother makes it! How is Harry? Haven't seen the boy in a few days!" After finally acknowledging that his little girl had grown up he had begrudgingly become quite fond of her boyfriend.
"He's been busy, I expect that he will come by this afternoon after he visits with Ron."
"Ahh… Ron, his brother Percy passed on in the war did he not? I remember that family quite nice, the father always asking about plugs…"
"Yes, Percy didn't make it, I believe the services were yesterday." Hermione answered her father a bit of an edge to her voice.
"You didn't go!" Her father sounded surprised. He knew his daughter was quite good friends with the Weasley boy.
"I wanted to be here to help you two home from the hospital. You can't take care of mum quite yet… and you know it!" Hermione scolded her father as she saw a light of protest enter into his eyes as she questioned his abilities.
"Now go sit out in the yard, I don't want to be responsible for any further damage to that foot of yours!" Hermione ordered her father rather imperiously.
He smiled at his daughter understanding that she was only concerned for him. It was to be expected after the battles that she had witnessed. He knew very little of what had happened in the wizarding world; after all he had been holed up in a hospital recovering, yet he knew it had to have been horrific. He had seen the changes in his daughter and in Harry, they seemed years older and hardened. "You know if you ever need to talk I'm always here…"
Hermione smiled at her father, "Yes dad, I know," with that she gathered the tray and headed upstairs.
Hermione knocked on the door to her parent's room, before she slowly opened the oak panel.
"Mum, I brought you some lemonade." Hermione shades had been drawn to allow some light into the room. The bright morning sunlight illuminated the bed and its occupant.
Her mother didn't move in response to Hermione's entrance. For the life of her Hermione couldn't figure out why the doctors had let her come home, she still seemed awfully ill. As smart as she was Hermione knew little about healing arts, she just couldn't stomach the blood, otherwise she would have done anything she could have to help her mother.
Her mother's skin was pale and slack as she lay in the bed; her hair was loosely piled on her pillow. Getting no response Hermione leant forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. "If you want some lemonade later I left it on the nightstand."
Hermione closed the door quietly then quickly ran to her own room, throwing the door closed. She collapsed on the bed in sobs.
It seemed as though everything was collapsing around Hermione.
This isn't the way it was supposed to be she thought. After war everything was supposed to come together not fall apart.
Hermione didn't know what to do anymore. Her mother was desperately ill and no one least her father would tell her what was wrong. In fact her father seemed to act as though nothing was wrong. It was all so infuriating. She wasn't a child anymore, she had probably witnessed more death in the past few months than her parents could ever have imagined. She felt so on edge with her mother so ill and not being privy to the details.
Her fathers mention of Percy and the Weasley family had only made things worse.
Ron
She didn't know what to think about anything anymore. She had forsaken a relationship with the redhead years ago, but yet something still stuck in her mind. She loved Harry, of course she did. What couldn't you love about the boy? He was handsome with his mused black and hair and clear green eyes. He seemed to make up for his lack of loving relationships as a child by showering her with love and attention. How could she not love him…
Yet all she could picture in her mind was Ron lying in his bed as they visited him. A sad wistful expression marred his face and his red hair glinted attractively in the filtered sunlight. She felt unimaginable bad for not being there for him when his parents told him about Percy, and for not making it to the services. She did have her parents to help, but deep down she knew that wasn't the real reason. She was scared to be there for Ron right now. There was simply too much emotion in her right now, emotions she couldn't name or control.
A knock on the door followed by the shuffling footsteps of her father drew her from her tears. Hermione knew Harry had arrived and it wouldn't do for her to be wet cheeked when he came upstairs.
Harry was here now; he had taken the chance and made his feelings known. Ron hadn't. Harry was here to help her pick up the pieces and he would be the one she loved. Finally resolved that there was no place for her redheaded best friend in her heart of hearts, Hermione made her way to the bathroom and proceeded to wash up.
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Thanks to everyone for the reviews! I cannot tell you how much they mean. I believe I have found a beta (as you can probably tell this chappie wasn't Beta'ed but I wanted to get it out before I begin my cross country move - I may be busy for a bit). While I can't promise when the next chapter will be typed out I will promise to get much written while I spend five days in a car driving across the country!
Here is a mini preview of what is to come!
Why Draco stormed out of the room and his apology to Ginny
Some good ol' D/G interaction
and... drum roll... Ginny's return to the Burrow. Should be interesting to say the least!