A Life Worth Choosing

Sorry it's taking so long, and unfortunately I'm not finished just yet, but here is a special preview to the next chapter, which as of now, I am considering to be the conclusion of A Life Worth Choosing. The remainder of the chapter is still in the works and will take a little more time to complete, but I promise it wont be too long and it will be worth it. Enjoy!

Preview to Finale of A Life Worth Choosing

Exhausted, Ginny dropped back onto the bed and stared up into the green canopy above her.

“What a day,” she thought to herself.

She continued to lie there in silence as she heard the door creak open as someone entered before closing it softly.

“I hate work,” Draco announced crashing down on the bed beside Ginny.

“Another bad day?” Ginny asked rolling over onto her side, kissing him on the cheek.

“I can't take it anymore. It's so boring.”

“Boring? You're an auror!”

“Yea, well, the only thing to do now that You-Know-Who is gone, is to track down wizards playing harmless tricks on Muggles. Today we busted someone for vanishing toilets. This whole job, is-”

“Not what you expected?” Ginny asked.

“Exactly.”

“Then what do you want to do? Go back to selling houses to Muggles?”

“Yes! No! I don't know,” Draco said shaking his head. “All I know is that right now, all I want is you,” he smirked as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down on top of him.

“Draco,” Ginny laughed, pushing herself off of him. “Not right now. We have to get ready for dinner.”

“Or, we could skip dinner for the night,” Draco said sitting up, before running kisses down her neckline.

“I would love to, but everyone's coming to dinner.”

“Another dinner party? Don't you Weasley's have anything else to do?”

“It's Penelope's birthday,” Ginny laughed. “Besides, not everyone will be here. Only a few. Besides, there's still after dinner?”

“Promise?” Draco smirked.

“Promise!”

“Fine,” Draco finally gave in. “Then we better get dressed or we're going to be late. Then again we have been late every day this week.”

“Yes, but not today,” Ginny giggled as she pulled Draco to his feet.

________________________________________________________________________

Ginny, Draco, Molly, Penelope, PJ, Hermione, Lily, Pansy, Violet, Luna, Tallulah, Theodore, Bill.

“About time you two showed up,” Bill called out from his place at the table as Draco and Ginny walked into the dinning room to find the appetizers had already been served.

“I had to work late,” Ginny smiled seating herself beside her elder brother, Draco sitting down next to her.

“Same here. Looks like Harry and Ron weren't able to escape the paperwork just yet,” Draco said noticing their absence.

“Where's Fleur and the children?” Ginny asked, pouring herself a glass of wine.

“Visiting her parents in France. I had to stay behind for work. Besides, I wouldn't miss Pen's big day,” Bill said raising a glass to his sister-in-law who sat across from him.

“Yes, not everyday you turn twenty-three,” Penelope smiled.

“Twenty-three? I thought you were only twenty,” Theodore smiled.

“Awe, so Fleur is going to miss the big match tomorrow,” Pansy sighed.

“No she won't. I'll be video-taping it,” Hermione said matter-of-factly.

“Video-what?” Theodore asked.

“It's a Muggle contraption that records a sequence of photographs to be projected onto a screen with sufficient rapidity as to create the illusion of motion and continuity,” PJ answered.

“Bloody hell P, you're almost as annoying as your father was.”

“Fred! George! Which ever one you are- ah hell, I give up,” Molly said unable to keep up with her sons any longer.

“It's Fred, Mum, and nice to see you too,” Fred said kissing his mother's cheek. “Sorry George and the familias couldn't join us, but there's a charming diner at the Appleton's tonight, and Georgie boy forgot his puke pills. Poor chap. I love those Appleton's but Mrs. Appleton's cooking is worst than Ginnys.

“Hey!” Ginny snapped.

“Well you're not the greatest cook in the family, Gin,” Bill smiled.

“Right so, that means?” Theodore asked across the table to Draco.

“It will record the match for Fleur to watch later,” Draco whispered back.

Percy wasn't such a bad cook, though, if my memory serves me,” Bill added. “Hmm.. I could definitely go for a piece of his homemade Pumpkin Pie right now.”

“Ah, your in luck then, Bill,” Penelope gestured towards her son. “PJ made some for dessert.”

“Yes, I found father's recipe last summer while going through some of his old things at the Burrow. I think I finally was able to make it to perfection this time.”

“And I must agree with you on that one.”

“Awe, Fred, don't tell me you made a pit stop into the kitchen before you came in here?” Molly said shaking her head.

“What? I wanted to make sure I came to the right dinner party before I showed myself. Chicken Dumplings, nice choice.”

“It was Percy's favorite,” Penelope said quietly.

“Look Pen, Percy was a pain in the arse when he was alive, and I know George and I nark on him constantly still, but it's just our way of remembering him. We did love him, you know and we would trade in out whole business just to have him sitting here with us right now.”

“Thanks, Fred,” Penelope smiled. “That means a lot to us,” she said placing her arm on PJ's shoulder.

“Well-um,” Draco said after a short, uncomfortable silence, “If you would excuse me. I'm not feeling well tonight,” he said bowing out of the dinning room gracefully.

“Draco, wait,” Ginny said catching up to Draco in the foyer.

Draco stopped and turned to her.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yea, I'm fine. Just need some rest.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” she asked concerned.

“No, no. You enjoy your family dinner. I'll be fine,” Draco assured her. “Besides, I think Penelope could use her family right now.”

“Alright,” Ginny said eyeing him curiously. “I'll be up after dinner then.”

“Take your time,” Draco kissed her cheek, before continuing up the staircase.

_______________________________________________________________________

Draco ran furiously through the heavily wooded area, frantically searching. His black robes were torn and his mask was lost several yards away. He had no time to turn back. He must keep searching. Green and red lights flashed just beyond the trees behind him in the clearing he had just fled where the battle was occurring.

Order members as well as Aurors were running passed him in the opposite direction, running to the aid of their fellow allies. Few glanced back at him, merely to make a correct identification that would be used later when recording those who were under the loyalty of the Dark Lord.

Draco no longer cared who saw him, his mind was only focused on one thing, and one thing only. So on he searched, deeper and deeper into the forest. He knew what he had seen and he had to get it back before he lost it forever.

`Draco! Draco!' a familiar voice echoed from not far in front of him.

He quickened his pace, but soon found himself at a divided path. He stopped in hope that the voice would call back to him and it did.

`Draco! Draco!'

On he continued through the heavy brush, towards the voice that called out to him. His legs, heavy from tiredness, his eyes blurry from lack of sleep. The salty mixture of blood and sweat lingered on his lips, but he continued on.

He was horribly out of shape. It had been five years since he last could remember running so long and so fast, but he had to keep running.

Then he saw it. Up ahead was his target. A clear shot.

With his wand raised high, he shut his eyes tight as the words rolled off his tongue:

“Avada Kedavra!”

He heard the unmistakable sound of a corpse fallen to the ground.

“Draco!”

His eyes opened and he caught a glimpse of the red hair and glasses. He had hit the wrong target.

“Draco run!”

Draco looked up to see his missed target slowly advancing on him.

“Awe, what have we here?” the target said.

“It appears to be your son, Lucius,” a second man said.

“My son, I have no son, Goyle! No son of mine would betray the Dark Lord and now to be sure that Draco here, doesn't any longer,” Lucius lifted his wand and pointed it at Draco's heart. Draco froze in fear, his grey eyes locked the speckled orbs at his feet. “Avada-”

“Expelliarmus!” Harry called out causing Lucius' wand to fly from his grasp. “Run Draco!”

Harry grabbed Draco's arm trying to pull him away, but he stood there, starring down at the corpse at his feet.

“Run Draco!”

_________________________________________________________________________

Draco awoke suddenly to the sound of his name.

“Draco, are you alright?” Ginny said tugging on his sleeve.

“I did it! I did it! It's all my fault!” Draco cried, his body shaking uncontrollably.

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