Disclaimer: I own the plot but the rest belongs to J K Rowling, we salute you!
Summary: Harry puts his plans into action and Ginny sees Draco when she least expects it.
Chapter 7: Invitations and Reunions.
"Just missed him? Just missed him?!" Ginny fumed, throwing her bag down on the chair. "That receptionist
should be sacked for offensive cheerfulness!"
Mrs Weasley smiled at her, recognising the deep disappointment in her daughter's anger. Harry and Hermione had just
left, luckily moments before Ginny returned in this towering temper. Mrs Weasley thought their idea was an interesting
one. She was secretly relieved that Ginny missed Draco at the ministry; it meant the plan would have more effect and
hopefully be more successful. Plus it meant she got to play matchmaker, a roll she played at any opportunity.
She had grown very fond of Draco over the time he had spent at Grimmauld place. She had seen the effects of Moorefield
on many, including Draco. It had pained her further to hear off the suffering and lonely existence he had lead since
being rescued. He deserved to be happy and so did Ginny, if this meant being together then she, Molly, would do
everything in her power to see this happened.
She had not liked keeping the secret of Draco's imprisonment from Ginny but it had been a matter of security. If
Ginny had known, she would have gone looking for him when he disappeared from St. Mungo's. The senior members of
the Order had know of Draco's mission, obviously not the details, just that he was embarking on a mission that
would greatly help the side of light and he would only be successful if no one knew his whereabouts.
He had been unconscious for many days in hospital after the liberation of Moorefield and the news of his disappearance
from his bed had shocked them all. At first they had assumed the worst, that he had gone mad, that he had gone back to
the Death Eaters. Or worse, the Death Eaters had come and taken him, desperate to continue the torture of a man they
considered a 'traitor'.
Mr and Mrs Weasley had decided not to tell Ginny when Draco was found. Yes it had something to do with the seriousness
and brutality of his injuries, but it was also because he was unconscious. They had no idea what he had been through or
what it had done to him physiologically. They couldn't let Ginny get to close to him, not just for her own safety
but to make sure she didn't get emotionally attached to what could be a complete stranger, and possibly a dangerous
one at that!
But for every secret there is a leak and Ginny eventually heard about Draco's presence in her work place. Unfortunately it happened to be on the day of his disappearance. Ginny had been distraught that she had not seen him, that he had disappeared to God knows where, with God knows who.
Mrs Weasley had always felt partly responsible for the depression Ginny had sunk into that night. It has taken many
months of gentle love and support to bring back the daughter they had known and loved. But now the reason for Ginny
distress was back and Mrs Weasley wasn't going to make the same mistake twice. This time Draco was fully conscious
and up to telling Ginny everything himself.
"I'm going to work mum." Ginny said, kissing her mother on the cheek.
"Oh but you've only just got here!" she cried, fussing over the tea pot. "At least stay for a cup of
tea." Ginny smiled.
"I can't mum, I've already been late for work twice this month Morag will kill me if I'm late again." She moved to the front door.
"Oh, of course you don't want to be late. You're still coming to the family dinner tomorrow night aren't you?" her voice was suddenly firm; it was her don't-mess-with-me-voice.
"Of course I am mum," she smiled sweetly, "why one earth would I pass up an opportunity to wind Ron up, especially since he's been keeping secrets from me." The sweet smile wasn't fooling any body but Ginny expected a least a stern look and a demand for a promise to do nothing of the sort. But her mother just smiled knowing at her.
"Fine, just don't be late." Ginny turned to leave but her mother's parting words stopped her.
"Oh, and wear something…nice." Ginny looked at her mother quizzically but only got the same knowing smile.
Ginny nodded in a distracted way and left the Burrow. Once outside she got ready to apparate to St. Mungo's but
couldn't shake the feeling her mother was up to something, and that was hardly ever a good thing!
***
Harry and Hermione apparated to the address Draco had given Harry earlier. Mrs Weasley seemed to think there idea was a good one, and seemed positively excited about the prospect about cooking for even more people. They had both chickened out about telling her that they hadn't actually asked Draco yet, deciding they would cross that bridge if they came to it. Walking up the stone stairs to the front door, Hermione turned to Harry.
"Right, I think I should do the asking, it will seem strange if you ask him to dinner." Harry thought about this for a moment and then nodded, she was right; Draco would find it harder to refuse an invitation from a woman. Hermione knocked twice then stood primly waiting for Draco to answer.
They heard a lot of crashes and muffled grunts until finally a very dishevelled Draco opened the door. Harry was slightly shocked, Draco had been his usual well dressed and groomed self this morning, but clearly he was much worse for wear now.
If Hermione was shocked by this, she didn't show it. She put on her sweetest smile and pushed past Draco into the
flat. Draco looked at Harry, eyebrow raised; Harry just shrugged apologetically and followed Hermione.
Harry knew Draco was not the tidiest person, from their brief stay at Grimmauld Place but this was ridiculous, the flat was a complete tip! Hermione gazed round, clasped a couple of silk boxers between thumb and forefinger and dumper them on the floor, freeing a small square on what could have been the sofa, Harry couldn't really tell.
"This place needs a woman's touch." She said, sitting down.
"You offering, Granger?" Draco asked swaying slightly. Hermione went pink but ploughed on.
"We've come to ask you to dinner tomorrow night."
"Kinky Granger but threesomes really aren't my thing." He smirked as Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Dinner at the Weasleys'." This caught his attention.
"Oh really, and why exactly would I want to go to that shack for dinner?" Harry opened his mouth to defend
the Burrow but Hermione silenced him with a look.
"Because you've been invited." She said sternly.
"Oh yeah, by who, Ron so he can kill me in front of an audience?" he snarled, his temper rising.
"No, by Mrs Weasley, so I can assure Ron will be on his best behaviour. And if you don't accept now you can expect a visit from Mrs Weasley herself. I don't need to remind you," she raised an eyebrow, echoing Draco's trademark smirk. "of her skills of persuasion."
"You mean she'd nag me to death or till I agree to go?" he said, defeat now evident in his voice. Hermione didn't answer just inclined her head. "Fine, what time does this charade start?"
"6 o'clock, and don't be late." Hermione leant down and grabbed a bottle of half empty fire whisky from the side of the sofa. "And don't drink anymore of this." Draco had the grace to look ashamed.
***
Ginny was glad she was only doing a paperwork shift; she dreaded the thought of what she might have done to patients in
this distracted state. She couldn't stop thinking about a certain blond wizard. Leaning back in her chair she
couldn't help but think about the last time she had almost seen him.
She had just arrived at St Mungo's for her healer classes. She had only recently started shadowing a chief
healer after completing her 'hands off' training. She would now be working as an intern for six months using
her training in practise.
She didn't have to report for another 5 minutes and decided to nip to the loo. As she shut the cubicle door the main door opened again, two chattering woman coming in.
"Did you see him?" one asked, moving into the cubicle next to Ginny's.
"No, Sandra told me about him two days ago, apparently he's been unconscious for days now." The other voice moved into a cubicle further down the room. "She said his injuries were the worst out of all those people rescued from Moorefield."
Ginny was trying not to listen but they were talking loudly. She leant closer to the cubicle wall to hear more clearly.
"What ward's he on?" the first on asked.
"He's still in intensive, their not sure he's going to make it!"
"Fancy that Draco Malfoy turning up in the Prisoner of War camp!" Ginny's head snapped up. She didn't wait to hear anymore, she was out of the ladies and running down the halls.
Ginny ran through the ward, panic and adrenalin pulsing through her veins. Lime green and purple flashed past her as she made her way through the hospital. The medi-witch at the end of the corridor gasped, 'Ginny, No please don't-" but Ginny ignored her. She burst through the double doors to an unnerving silence. Her mother looked up.
"Oh gods No" Ginny exclaimed, only her father's arms around her stopped her sinking to the ground.
"Ginny, hello Ginny. Any one home?" Ginny looked up quickly to see Mel standing in front of her desk, grinning.
"Oh hey, Mel. What's up?" she said pushing the parchment away, fed up with paper work.
"Just wondering if you're ready for the big Weasley dinner?"
"Shit, what time is it?" Mel grinned at the look on Ginny's face.
"Ten to Six, I knew you'd forget!" Ginny jumped up, grabbing the summer dress she brought to work with her that morning.
"Bugger, bugger, bugger, Mum's going to kill me! Give me two minutes." She started wriggling out of her robes. Mel had to help her in the end as she got her head stuck in her robes. In reality it was twenty minutes before Mel finally dragged Ginny to the apparition point.
She grumbled as the waited in line, using Mel's pocket mirror to do some hasty glamour spells, not looking forward to being on the receiving end of her mum's famous temper.
***
Draco took a deep breath and nodded at Hermione, who smiled and knocked on the old wooden door. It burst open immediately. A slightly older and more harassed Molly Weasley greeting them enthusiastically.
"Hermione, Harry dear, always a pleasure." She hugged each in turn, moving to stand in front to Draco who remained on the threshold. "And Draco, I can't tell you how good it is to see you." She said with genuine affection and drew him into a tight hug. Harry laughed at the shocked look on Draco's face but quickly turned into cough when Hermione elbowed him in the side.
"Now the others don't know you coming so be prepared but don't worry they'll be fine once you've explained everything." She began pulling him towards the kitchen but he didn't move.
"Is…is Ginny here?" his voice was very hoarse and Mrs Weasley's face softened.
"No, not yet dear. She's late, as usual!" Rolling her eyes, she noticed Draco visibly relax.
"Right into the lion's den, joking!" Harry said, holding his hands up in mock surrender as he received a filthy look from not just Hermione this time but Mrs Weasley as well.
Draco entered the large kitchen last, fingering his wand nervously. All the Weasley children, bar Ginny and Charlie, were standing around chatting nosily. Draco had a blissful moment to take in the kind of warm family atmosphere he had never experienced for himself. That was until Ron saw him in the door way and uproar broke out. Draco didn't hear exactly what the 5 Weasley boys were saying due to the sheer volume but he got that it wasn't anything pleasant.
This didn't surprise him, what did was the look of amusement on the oldest Weasley's face. Mrs Weasley soon shut the boys up, Draco had forgotten her almost comic power over her children. When they had been silenced Mr Weasley stood up and walked up to Draco.
"Welcome." He said simply, shaking Draco's hand. Draco would have smirked at the five open mouths but he was too shocked and over whelmed
by the hospitality of Mr and Mrs Weasley himself.
It was Harry that finally broke the tense silence. "It all smells great, is there anything we can do?"
"It's so lovely I thought we'd eat outside. Hermione if you'd like to take the knives and forks, Harry
and Draco could you take those dishes out?" Draco followed Harry to the kitchen counter and picked up a plate of
potatoes and making sure not to make
any eye contact with anything red he walked out into the garden.
***
Ginny walked through the front door when the scene before her caused the pre-made apology she had rehearsed die on her lips. Her father was sitting at the table calmly flicking through the paper while her brothers were all red in the face and shouting at her mother.
Mel stood open mouthed behind her obviously wandering the same thing as Ginny, what on earth had happened to cause a family row on this scale. Clearing her throat Ginny would have been amused at the way her brothers all shut up at the sight of her if it hadn't thoroughly unnerved her. She was about to ask what the hell was going on when the reason walked through the back door.
"Anything else to go out Mrs Weasley?" when he didn't get a response he looked round, he's eyes locking with Ginny's. It was the first time he had looked at her properly in three years and it caused a lump to form uncomfortably in his throat. The witty greeting he had practised thousands of times never made it to his lips. Even though he'd only seen her days before it had felt like a dream, this however was in the cold light of day…and under the ever present glare of all her brothers.
She looked deeply shocked, as if he had been the last person she'd been expecting to see…then it hit him, she hadn't expected to see him at all.
"Potter!" he snarled, wheeling round on Harry but it seemed breaking eye contact with her, brought her out of shock and into panic. She fled through the open back door into the garden. Draco made a move to follow her, as did Ron, but Mrs Weasley stop her both.
"No, give her a minute Draco, she needs a little time to calm down and take it all in."
"She didn't know I was coming, did she?" he said, running a hand tensely through his hair.
"Obviously Malfoy, and can't you see now why it would have been better if you hadn't come at all!" Ron yelled advancing on Draco but Mrs Weasley stood in his way.
"There will be no fighting in my house Ronald, do you hear me? Draco is an invited guest, if you can't remember your manners I think you should go home." With hands on hips, it was obvious she meant business. Ron stared at her, open mouthed but moved back to the counter, glaring at Draco.
"Right, well dinner will be ready soon, Draco dear I think you should go and talk to Ginny now." Draco nodded and moved towards the door, taking a deep breath he followed Ginny's path out into the Garden.
***
Ginny sat on the tree stump by the stream at the bottom of the garden, a stray gnome streaking past her, screeching when it saw her.
"Come here often?" a drawling voice asked, she didn't look round.
"I used to come down here for hours, thinking about what would happen when I grew up. I had it all mapped out, I would get top grades in all my N.E.W.Ts, become the best healer, marry a nice man who I loved and who loved me, and have hundreds of red haired kids."
"Well, you're halfway there." He said quietly, still standing behind her.
"Yeah, shame about the last two." She said, finally turning round to face him. "What happened Draco?" It wasn't an angry question and Draco sensed a deep sadness in her that hadn't been there the last time he's spoken to her.
"Would you like the long or short version?" he smirked, not comfortable with the emotions he was feeling.
"I want the truth."
***
Author's Note: Thanks again to those that have reviewed. Next Chapter up soon. Only 9 Chapter in this first part, as have decided to make the this story 2 or 3 parts long, with Shame on Me being the first part, so only 2 more Chapters to post. Hope everyone is enjoying it so far.
Azure xx