Chapter 20
I Told You So
A/N: My muse, Maggie, is simple girl. All she likes are plot bunnies and reviews. So be kind to Maggie and feed her review cookies please.
Big thanks to my beta Lbandoly for her hard work. She has spent countless hours editing and providing plot help for my stories. She makes my writing possible.
No copyright infringement intended. All characters are the property of JKR, Scholastic, and any number of other companies with more money than I've ever dreamed of seeing. I didn't make any money off of this, so please don't sue.
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Draco kissed her neck as she sat at the vanity putting the final touches on her makeup and hair. "Are you ready my love?"
"As I'm ever going to be." She turned from the mirror and rose from her seat. "Are the girls ready?"
"Yes. All three of the kids are already downstairs waiting with mum."
"Do they seem excited?"
"Fairly yes. I was worried the girls would both do that calm silent thing they tend to do when they get overwhelmed but they aren't doing it so far. They both seem fairly excited to be meeting what my mother has dubbed `the Weasley masses.'"
Ginny laughed. "We'll we've been called worse."
A quick look of shame crossed Draco's face at his wife's comment. He thought he had covered it, but apparently he hadn't. "Oh don't you start now. I wasn't talking about you." Ginny leaned in to her husband and gave him a quick kiss. "I know you're sorry for all the things you said about my family when we were young. You don't need to start worrying over comments that are over twenty years old now."
"I really am sorry Gin."
"I know you are love." She stepped back and twirled, her dress fluttering around her ankles as she moved. "So how do I look?"
He looked appreciatively at his wife. She truly was a beauty to behold. The soft emerald silk of her dress clung to her every curve. "Like Aphrodite."
"Oh stop. You don't think your mother will be upset that I didn't wear robes do you?"
"I don't see why she would. It's not like I have them on either."
"No you don't and can I just say I told you so."
"Told me what?"
"I told you that shirt would look good on you when I bought it. No, you wanted to be all contrary and stick your nose up at it."
"I'll admit the color has grown on me."
Ginny cut her husband a look. "Please tell me you're not wearing it just because I picked it out."
"I'm not. The shirt looks better on my person than I had thought it would when I saw it on the hanger. Honestly Ginny I do like the shirt."
"Okay point taken. We can't keep stalling can we?"
Draco looked down at his watch. "No. You're family is set to arrive any moment now. I think mother might very well have both of our heads if we leave our guests waiting in suspense."
She took a deep breath and smiled. "Let's go then."
They walked out of the room, down the hall and two flights of stairs hand in hand only to make it to the bottom just as Narcissa was showing the majority of the Weasley family into the entrance hall.
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"Okay mum we're all here dressed to please, now will you please tell us why you have insisted everyone be here."
Molly smiled. "I'm afraid I just can't do that Charlie. You are just going to have to wait and see for yourself."
Bill wanting to know as much as any of his brothers turned to his dad in hopes of getting the location out of him. "Not a chance. I don't fancy sleeping on the sofa because I let the keazel out of the bag on this one.
Hermione smiled. Arthur had never spent a night in his life sleeping on the sofa that she knew of. If he was truly worried about catching his wife's ire then whatever the secret was must be a big one. "So it's not a ministry function then?"
"No dearie it is not. I would simply have told you all to meet us there in that case. Well now, Arthur has a portkey for each of you boys. Your da and I will go last so we know everyone got through the wards properly."
"Through what wards?"
"Well the home we are visiting is warded. Much like our own, random strangers can't just apparate or portkey in, though I daresay their home was done so for a far different purpose than ours."
"Now Molly no such talk. That is in the past witch."
Molly nodded. "Right you are. Now take your portkeys and off you go."
Each of the brothers plus Harry gathered their portkey from Arthur and returned to their wives' side in turn.
"I don't like this Harry. It's not like Molly to be able to keep a secret."
Harry shrugged. "I'm sure whatever it is that wherever we are going is worth the suspense. Honestly Mione I think you're worried over nothing."
Molly was quickly getting miffed. "Well now, off you go. Stop dilly-dallying about already."
Ten minuets later Molly and Arthur were the last to arrive on the front lawn of Malfoy Manor. Just as Hermione opened her mouth to ask what in the name of all things magical were they doing at the Malfoy estate a very regal Narcissa stepped out to meet them.
"Molly, Arthur. I'm so glad you were able to come. I would assume that you were able to convince all of your family to attend."
"Oh just because I was a Gryffindor doesn't mean I can't be sneaky when called for. They are all here."
Narcissa laughed. "You didn't tell them where they were going I take it. Very cunning of you indeed."
"Raising this many children and grandchildren one has to learn to be."
"I would imagine. Well now, there is no sense in everyone standing around on the lawn. Let's move into the house shall we."
Molly walked beside Cissa speaking quietly so the others couldn't hear them. "Are they alright?"
"Very. Isaac has spent most of the day reading to his heart's delight. The girls and I have explored the manor from top to bottom and spent a great deal of time in the rose garden enjoying a nice day out."
"And them?"
"They are well. Draco took her out for a walk just before lunch. I highly suspect they spent the afternoon sitting out in the grove he used to visit as a child. It's very peaceful there, the perfect place for calming ones nerves."
"Good. I'm glad she didn't spend the entire day fidgeting about with worry."
"Oh I highly doubt she did. In fact I'm very sure Draco took her out simply to make sure she didn't. She seemed a bit off kilter right from the beginning this morning. He seemed to know she needed some space."
"He does seem to anticipate her moods doesn't he?"
"You've honestly seen more of them together than I have. In all these years it's only been Ginny and the children that I've seen. I refused to visit their home for reasons that I now know are illogical beyond reason and Draco was usually up to his hips with work when I would pop round to visit the children. One of many mistakes I've made in his life."
Molly nodded knowing full well that she felt the same on many levels. So many things done wrong had led to seventeen years without her daughter and her grandchildren near by.
As they entered the hall Molly and Narcissa were still quietly talking not noticing that at the same moment Draco and Ginny were making there way down the last few stairs.
Ron stopped dead, however as he hadn't miss their entrance. "Bloody fucking hell. Ginny?"
"Hi Ron," she said quietly.
No one else said a word. The many children just seemed to stare at the woman that was obviously the little girl in all the pictures at their grandparent's home. The wives of her brothers didn't know what to think much like their husbands. All except Ron.
Ron's face took on a deep red rage that nearly out shined his hair."Seventeen bloody years and all I get is a `Hi Ron.' Where in bloody hell have you been? Don't you care that we all thought you were dead?"
Molly smacked Ron upside the back of the head. "Ouch Mum."
"Shut your foul mouth right this moment or go home Ronald."
"Mum."
"Don't you Mum me Ronald Bilius Weasley. You may be a grown man, but I am still your mother. I'll take my wand to your arse before you can say cauldron if you don't behave like a rational adult."
Ron gave his mother a flabbergasted look. "No Mum I'm afraid I won't. Its obvious now isn't it? She just took off with that Death Eater scum and let us all think she was dead."
Ginny's heart broke. She had expected Ron to act worse. Truth be told she had expected hexes to come flying her way along with the angry words spewing from her brother's mouth. Still it hurt none the less. Tears were streaming down Ginny's face. "I can't do this. I'm sorry." Ginny kicked her shoes off and ran out the French doors at the back of the hall that led to the backyard.
"Just grand of you Weasel."
"Draco."
"No mother, what's done is done. Have him gone by the time I return. I'm fairly certain I know where she went. Keep an eye on the children please."
"Of course." Narcissa watched the retreating form of her son as he walked out the way his wife had just gone before turning back to Molly. "Molly I'm sorry that didn't go quite the way you had hoped."
Molly wiped her eyes. "You and me both." Molly turned to her youngest son. "I think you had best go home. Padma and Marie are welcome to stay, you are not. Don't you even dare to think this is over. You and I are going to sit down some time very soon to have a nice long discussion and I swear it won't be a pleasant one."
"Mum."
"You Mum me one more time and I swear I'll hex you Ronald. Now go."
No one else had spoken from the moment that Ron had seen Ginny until now. Bill finally caught his brother's arm. "I'll take my git of a brother home then return Mum."
"Thank you dear."
Bill kissed his mum on the cheek. "At least we know she's alive now."
"You'll get to see her. I'm sure Draco will get her to come back."
"I do hope so. I'll be back shortly."
Bill literally dragged his brother back out into the yard as everyone watched. Narcissa gave Molly a weak smile. "I had hoped she would be wrong about him."
"So had I."
Narcissa straightened her back and stood tall once again dropping into her hosting mode. "The children are all welcome to join the girls in the playroom while we wait for Draco and Ginny to return if the rest of you would like to join me in the parlor to sit."
Arthur nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. Go on kids, follow Mrs. Malfoy. You have two new cousins to go play with."
After the parents of most of the children assured their kids it was fine to go they all trooped off following the blond woman.
Fred finally spoke. "Ginny's married to a Malfoy?"
Molly laughed. "Bit odd isn't it? You'll get used to it dear. Draco has grown up to be a fine young man, not a thing like his father."
George shook his head. "Ginbug has kids…"
"She does. Three of them in fact. The girls, Katharine and Serenity are nine and eleven and Isaac is sixteen. I wonder where he is at."
Narcissa rejoined the group just as Molly asked. "In the library. He found some rare tome or another about animagus transformations this morning and has been pouring over it all day. I'll send Uric to fetch him once we've all gotten settled."
"Are the kids okay?"
"They were when I left. I introduced them to Sere and Kat. They were all asking a million questions when I slipped out. I'm sure they'll be just fine."
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Draco could see Ginny's flaming hair billowing behind her as she ran. It had fallen from the chignon that she had pulled it up into earlier. "Ginny stop please," he called. She just kept running. Thankfully he was right. She was heading back to the clearing they had spent a good portion of the day in. "Gin please."
When she reached the clearing she dropped to her knees covering her face with her hands as she cried. Draco was breathing hard when he finally caught up to her. "Oh Ginny." He sat down next to his wife and wrapped his arms around her shaking form.
"I knew it."
"Oh sweet I'm so sorry. I should have punched him the moment he opened his mouth."
"No. He would have only used it against you if you had."
"I can hold my own against your brother."
"But all six of them you can't. They would have joined in if you hit him no matter how much he might have deserved it."
The sound of some mysterious creature howling drew Draco's attention. "Ginny we should head back. At least back into the main yard, the gardens perhaps. It's not safe out here at night."
"I like it here."
"I know you do, but these woods just aren't safe. It's not the Forbidden Forest but it certainly isn't lacking in dangerous creatures."
She nodded and took the hand he had offered to help her up. "I ruined my dress."
"Nothing a good spell or two can't fix."
They walked back hand in hand. Slowly her tears had dissipated into the occasional hiccup. "Do you think they stayed?"
"I can't imagine they would just leave after seeing you."
"Ronald best not stay. I can't promise to not hex him if I see him."
"He'll be gone. I made it clear he's not welcome."
"Thank you."
"For kicking him out? It's what he earned."
"No I meant for coming to check on me."
"I love you. I wasn't just going to let you take off into the night all alone. It can be dangerous out here."
"I don't know that I'm strong enough to face them."
"Yes you are. You're the strongest witch I know Ginevra. You always have been and you always will be. One frightening incident isn't going to change my opinion."
"What if I had insisted we go home?"
"I would take you in a heartbeat if I thought that's what you wanted."
"I love you."
"I love you too Gin." The manor was all lit up against the darkening night sky. "Looks like mum got everyone into the back parlor. Are you ready to go back in or do you need a few more minutes."
She nodded her head. "We might as well head in now. It's not fair to them to make them keep waiting now that they know."
"I'm sure they know most everything by now. Certainly your brothers would have asked questions once I left. Hopefully our mothers saw fit to fill in the details in our stead."
"Probably."
Draco pulled his wand from his pocket and cast a quick charm to clean and remove the wrinkles from Ginny's dress. "See beautiful as always."
"My hair's a mess."
"No it's not. It's beautiful just as it is. Though I could try to charm it back up if you like."
"No. You and hair charms never have been very good together."
"Well you can't say I didn't offer."
Isaac came out the French doors. "Mum, Dad?"
"Isaac is everything okay?"
"Yeah, Grandma Molly saw you out the window and wanted to make sure Mum was okay. I told her I would come and check on you."
"I'm fine sweetie. Tell your grandparents we'll be in shortly."
"Sure thing Mum."
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