A Life Worth Choosing

Chapter 4: Wrath of a Weasley

Draco stood slightly fidgety before his son. It was so easy to talk to the girl, for she seemed to be just like her mother, but the boy, he found to be much more difficult. Junior held his head high and stern, with his chin up, chest out, and his eyes cold and steady just as Draco once had. The boy had a knack for making himself appear more superior than others and was attempting to do the same to Draco. Any other person who would attempt such a thing, Draco could easily retaliate, but a fear of frightening the boy, like his father had done to him, swept through him and he turned to Kaeda.

“Did I hear correctly when I heard Harry saying you made the Quidditch team?” he asked the young witch.

“Yes, I'm Seeker. I was going to try out for Chaser, but I switched to Seeker when Uncle Harry told me that you used to play when you were in Hogwarts,” she answered happily.

“Yes, well I'm sure you would have made an excellent Chaser as well. I do recall Ginny getting a few Quaffles past me at times. Slytherin house, I presume?”

“Well I am, but Junior, he's in Gryffindor.”

“Really?” Draco asked in disbelief. For centuries, every Malfoy who had stepped into the Great Hall of Hogwarts had instantly become a Slytherin.

“Yes, he pouted over it for a few weeks, but he got over it.”

“Wow, and how did my mother take the news?' Draco questioned curiously.

“We were all very proud of the two of them,” Ginny cut Kaeda off before she could answer. “It doesn't matter what house you're in, as long as you keep your marks up. Right Junior?”

“Yes, Mum,” Junior sighed slightly.

“Any Quidditch in your future, Junior?” Draco asked, remembering what he had overheard from the dinner party.

“No, sir. I'm not very good.”

“Yes you are! You just refuse to play,” Kaeda added her two cents. “Father, you must come to one of my matches. We have a match against Hufflepuff just two weeks after break. You must come.”

“Well- I-,” Draco stuttered.

“He can't go. You heard what he told Uncle Ron. He's only here to visit,” Junior cut him off.

“Is that true, Father?” Kaeda pouted slightly.

“Well, yes. I'm only here for the week, I'm afraid.”

“But can't you stay a little longer?”

“Get realistic, Kade, he has another life far from here.”

“Junior, that's enough!” Ginny scolded.

“He doesn't want us,” Junior continued, his face burning such a bright red, that it actually turned his blonde locks a matching color. “The only reason he's probably back is to get what he thinks is his, from his father dying.”

“Shut it Junior, that's not true!” Kaeda yelled back in her brother's face.

“Yes it is! He doesn't need us. He has his own family.” Junior stepped closer as he continued to yell at his sister. Kaeda stepped back until she found herself back against the desk and could no longer move any further. “He's married, Kaeda! I saw them earlier! And he has another son!”

“Draco Arthur Malfoy! Go to your room, now!” Ginny said in a stern voice, but not quite yelling. Junior turned to Draco with his cold grey eyes. His hair back to normal and with a smirk across his now pale face he raised his eyebrows at his father before turning for the door.

Kaeda pushed herself from the desk with her nose in the air as she glared at her brother's exit with the same cold eyes. She waited a moment after watching him disappear through the doorway before she herself began to cross the room after him.

“Kaeda Ginevra Weasley, don't you dare go after your brother.”

“But Mum!”

“Leave him alone. We'll give him a few minutes to cool down, then I'll send Uncle Harry in to talk to him. Now go back downstairs and have some fun before everyone leaves.”

“But I want to stay and talk to father.”

“Don't worry, I'll be here all week,” Draco assured the young witch. “Maybe you can show me how well you fly tomorrow.”

Kaeda gave him a large smile before continuing through the doorway.

“That went well,” Draco smirked.

“Well? Draco, that was a disaster!” Ginny turned to him with a worried look.

“It could have been worse.”

“Really? How?”

“Well, instead of Junior telling me off, it could have been your brother and you and I both know that wouldn't have ended pretty.” Draco's smirk turned into a grin which turned Ginny's worry into a smile.

“You're right.”

“Of course, I'm always right.”

“Well I'm glad to see your Malfoy charm hasn't changed any.”

“Look, Gin, about what Junior said,” Draco began.

“I should go downstairs. Everyone will be leaving soon and I'm sure they are quite interested in what's been going on up here,” Ginny interrupted, walking for the door. Draco sighed as he watched her walk away. He was about to turn to leave for his room, when she peaked her head back into the doorway. “Are you coming?”

Draco stood at the doorway of the Muggle motel room dressed in his usual black traveling cloak with his hood pulled over his eyes. With his back to the door and his hand on the knob, Draco took one more look around to be sure that he wasn't being followed. With the coast clear, he slowly turned the knob and slid in through the small crack before closing the door behind him.

Once inside, Draco removed his hood and looked around for the witch he was meeting, but there was no sign of her. He glanced at his watch to check the time. It was five past one, and he was supposed to be there for noon. It was not like her to be late. He, of course, was always late, for it wasn't easy to slip away from his duties as a Death Eater, but no matter how late he was, she was always here waiting for him.

Draco took a seat on the bed to wait for her. He was late so many times, she was probably giving him a taste of his own medicine. It wouldn't surprise him if she did. For every rude comment he threw her way, she returned one with ease. For every smirk he glared, she returned the fire. He supposed it was time for her to get back at him for always being late.

He waited for a few minutes before he became antsy. “That's it!” he declared to himself. “Malfoys don't wait for anyone.” He stood up and walked towards the door.

Before his hand reached the knob, a loud crash sounded at the window. Draco drew his wand and cautiously crept across the room, his hood over his eyes. As he approached the window, he noticed several feathers fluttering towards the ground. With wand still ready, he carefully opened the window and peered around the empty ally. Just when he was about to give up, he noticed a brown puff of feathers on the ground.

The puff ball sprang to life, startling Draco as it flew back to the window, hooting merrily. The owl landed on the sill and held out its leg for Draco to remove the attached parchment. Swatting the owl away, Draco unfolded the parchment and read the quick scribble.

Draco,

Change of plans.

Meet me at the Burrow.

Ginny

Draco stood cautiously on the road just outside the odd building the Weasleys labeled as the Burrow. He had never before laid eyes on it, though he had heard many stories from his father, including a rumor that all the Weasleys slept in one room. It was a curious building, very small compared to his own home, but appeared to contain several landings, including more than a few rooms though it looked as if it were leaning slightly, as if about to fall.

Draco paced back and forth just outside the gate deciding if he should enter or not. It was an odd place for Ginny to ask him to meet her. It was her home: her family's home, and no one was supposed to know about their secret meetings except for Harry.

“Are you just going to stand out there or are you going to come in so we can get this meeting started?” Ginny's voice called out from the garden. “No one's home,” she assured him, noticing his hesitation. Draco smiled and met her in the garden. “Hope you're hungry,” she said holding up a picnic basket. “I thought we would eat down by the stream.”

Draco nodded and followed Ginny out to the stream, that flowed just outside the forest. “Some weather we are having,” he said, sitting down on a rock just opposite of Ginny.

“Yes, much too warm for March. It feels more like May. Father says it has to do with the war. He tried explaining to me, but I have no idea what he's talking about. Ok, we have Peanut Butter and Jelly, or Ham and Cheese?”

“Hmm- PB and J sounds good. So tell me,” Draco said taking his sandwich from the witch, “Why did you ask me to meet you here?”

“Well, we are having such beautiful weather so I thought we should have a picnic instead of being cramped inside that musty old motel room.” She smiled as she poured them each a glass of pumpkin juice. “Plus, I remembered you telling me how you loved to sit around your lake at Malfoy Manor. Sure the stream is no lake and the Burrow's no manor, but I thought you would enjoy it any how.”

“Thank you. You're right,” Draco said, leaning back on the rock, half-eaten sandwich in hand. “I haven't been home in almost two years now and I can't even remember the last time I enjoyed a picnic with such a beautiful witch.”

Ginny smiled at his compliment. “Who was the last, `beautiful witch' you had a picnic with?” she mocked him teasingly.

“Well, she's older than me. Long blonde hair, and her eyes are blue if I recall correctly.”

“Really? I don't recall you ever having a girlfriend in Hogwarts, except for Pansy Parkinson.”

“No, this lady wasn't my girlfriend. She's married actually.”

“Really?” Ginny smiled, now more curious. “To whom?”

“My father.”

“Oh,” Ginny sighed, a little confused. “Oh, you mean your mother?”

“Yes. She used to take me on picnics like this all the time. Father was always too busy to take her on one himself, so I always accompanied her instead.”

“Awe, that is so sweet. You must be really close to your mother.” Draco nodded with a grin. “My family used to have picnics all of the time when I was younger. That was before I started Hogwarts and everything started to happen.”

“So what were you doing out in the garden before I came?” Draco changed the subject, seeing Ginny's mood change drastically as the topic of the war came up.

“Taking pictures.” She smiled, pulling a camera from her basket. “Colin Creevy taught me a little about photography last year, so I was practicing with the flowers in the garden.”

His eyes fixed on Ginny, Draco reached for his pumpkin juice, but it seemed to have disappeared. “Hey, wait, did you take my drink?” he asked Ginny, already knowing her answer before she shook her head no. “It was right here,” he said looking around. “What is so funny?” he snarled, turning toward Ginny who was red in the face from laughter. Without speaking, Ginny pointed toward the bank of the stream where the solver goblet was heading for the forest. “What the…?” Draco questioned as he stumbled to grab the goblet. “Are you going to help or just sit there and laugh?” he questioned the witch.

Still laughing, Ginny set her camera down on the rock and ran to help retrieve the goblet. “It's a garden gnome.” Ginny laughed as she got closer to the goblet. “Catch it!”

Draco leapt for the goblet, but the gnome darted in under Draco's feet, causing Draco to trip over the gnome and land with a `splash' in the water. Ginny continued to laugh at the now drenched Draco as he sat in the middle of the stream, watching the gnome stick out his tongue at the wizard, before running towards the garden, goblet still in his possession.

“Bloody hell, witch. Would you stop your laughing already and help me up?” Draco called out to Ginny. Ginny held out her hand to help Draco from the water, but Draco had another idea. With his trademark Malfoy smirk, he grabbed a hold of the witch's arm, and pulled her along into the water with him.

“Malfoy!” she squealed, trying to look angry, but a smile showed through her fake scowl. “You will pay for that!”

Draco submerged himself under the water and swam upstream just a bit, before resurfacing and climbing up out of the water. Taking out his wand, he muttered a spell to dry his clothing before sitting down on the bank of the stream to watch the witch as she called out his name, frantically searching for him in the water. Draco splashed the witch to get her attention.

“Didn't think you cared for me that much?” he smirked as she turned to face her.

“Draco Malfoy, I'm going to hex you!” She called out as she fought her way through the splashing to get to the wizard. With her head turned to avoid the splashes, she reached her arm out. As she finally caught his arm, she pulled him into the stream just as a flash of light disrupted their fun.

“What was that?” Draco asked as all the splashing came to a halt and the two stood drenched in the middle of the stream with the wands out.

Ginny started to laugh as the gnome appeared from behind the camera, blowing raspberries at the pair. “It was just the camera. That bloody gnome took a picture of us.” She laughed, turning toward Draco.

For the first time since Ginny had known him, Draco was actually smiling. It wasn't his usual smirk or an evil grin, but an actual smile. She didn't know what came over her, but at that moment, Ginny had taken a hold of Draco's shirt and pulled him into her until their lips met.

Draco, a little disoriented by her sudden actions, found himself easily won over by the witch as he relaxed into the kiss and took her into his wet embrace. The need for air being the only thing to tear them apart.

“I think we should change this once a week thing to twice a week. For the Order of course,” Draco whispered.

“Maybe three times a week would be even better. For the Order,” Ginny whispered back before Draco pressed his lips back to hers.

“Hey, look who finally decided to come join us!” Bill announced to everyone as Ginny strolled into the family parlor, Draco in tow. “Had a nice chat?”

“Just lovely, Bill. Have the children come back down?” Ginny asked.

“Kaeda's in the library with Marcel and Avery, but Junior hasn't come down yet, dear,” Molly answered. “Is something wrong? Kaeda seemed a bit upset.”

“Nothing major. They just had a bit of an argument. That's all. Nothing new.” Ginny gave a fake smile.

Draco glanced around the room. He could feel everyone's eyes upon him. Spotting his mother and Snape in a corner by the fireplace, he opted to join them, in hopes to get out of being the center of attention.

“How did everything go, Draco dear?” Narcissa asked as she threw her arms around her son. Snape jumped to his feet as well to greet Draco.

“She's beautiful,” Draco began. “And he is- well- ”

“A mirror image of you?” Narcissa interjected.

“Exactly. Well except for their smiles. They have their mother's smile.”

“Did you get a chance to talk to them a bit?” Narcissa asked.

“Well, a bit to Kaeda, but the boy, I just didn't know where to start.”

“Now you know how we felt when talking to an arrogant youngster such as yourself,” Snape commented.

“Sorry about that. Would you excuse me? I would like to speak to Harry,” Draco excused himself.

“So you heard the good news?” Harry asked as Draco approached.

Draco nodded. “Yea, I'm still getting over the shock of it.”

“It's a little scary at first, but you'll do fine. Just wait until your first fight. If you think dementors are scary, just wait till you see what teenagers can do.”

“Actually, I think I've already witnessed a sneak peak between the two of them.”

“Ouch. Already?” Harry cringed.

“I'm afraid so. They had a falling out over me,” Draco shrugged.

“Junior I imagine?” Harry inquired.

“Yes, actually. How did you know?”

“Yes, a bit of an attitude that one has. Nothings worse than being on the receiving end of the wrath of a Weasley. That boy has got Gin's attitude.”

“I do recall being on the wand end of some of Gin's hexes.”

“Like her Bat-Bogey?”

“Please don't bring that one up. Bad memories.”

“So, what about you set them off?”

“Well, it was- Addison?” Draco questioned as the red head walked in along side Charlie, Nate hesitantly right behind.

“Hope you don't mind,” Charlie began. “I found these two wondering the halls and arguing with a portrait.”.

“The picture started it,” Nate called out.”

“They said they were with you,” Charlie walked Addison and Nate over to where Draco was standing with Harry next to the large picture window, as the room filled with whispers and murmurs.

“I had to use the bathroom and we got lost,” Nate said to Draco.

Draco led Addison away to an empty part of the room. “There is a bathroom right inside the room,” Draco whispered to Addison.

“How was I supposed ter know that? There being so many doors. Ya said ya were going ter be right back.”

“I'm sorry. I just got caught up in a few things, that's all.”

“A few things?”

“I'll explain everything later. I don't even have all the answers just yet.”

“Is everything alright, Draco?” Narcissa asked.

“Yes, Mother. I was just about to escort Addison and Nathan back to our rooms.”

“Nonsense Draco, let them stay,” Molly chimed in. “PJ, dear,” she called across the room to her grandson who was enjoying a game of wizard chess with his uncle George.

“Yes, grandmother?” the boy responded promptly, leaving Fred to take his place at the board.

“Please escort young Nathan to the play room with the other children.”

“Of course, come along Nathan.” PJ signaled for the boy to follow.

“It's Nate, and I don't want to go. I wanna stay here with you,” Nate whined.

“Don't be silly, Nate. Just go along,” Addison pushed her son along.

“The other kids will make fun of me,” Nate continued.

“Of course they won't, mate. Come on, I'll go too,” Draco said, holding out his hand for the boy and following PJ out the door.

“Addison, dear, I'd like you to meet Mrs. Weasley, and my husband Severus,” Narcissa introduced. “This is Mrs. Malfoy.”

Molly paused for a moment with a shocked look on her face, but quickly covered it up with one of her sweetest smiles. “Hello deary, please call me Molly. Welcome to the family,” she said hugging Addison.

“Thank you. So do you all live here in the Manor?” Addison asked, confused.

“Oh, of course not, deary. We all live here and there. Please come. I'll introduce you to everyone.” Molly began to lead her around the room.

Ginny sat at a table talking with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Pansy and Bill about Junior's argument with his sister.

“So that's her, I take it?” Bill asked looking across the room.

“I guess so. I haven't met her yet. Harry, are you sure he never mentioned her before?”

“We never talked about our personal lives,” Harry assured them. “I'm sorry Gin, if I knew, I would have told you.”

“He must have been married for a while. That boy is what- seven, eight maybe?” Bill added.

“Well he doesn't really look like either of them. I mean, the Malfoy traits are very dominate. Just look at Junior and Kaeda.”

“Pansy's right. That kid has brown hair. He should at least have inherited his mother's red hair, if not Draco's blonde,” Harry observed.

“Actually, it doesn't matter what the parents look like. Genes can skip a generation. It's possible that maybe one of her relatives had brown hair,” Hermione informed.

“Or maybe they adopted him,” Harry added.

“Or maybe he wants his hair brown. When Jacey was younger she went through this whole stage where she wanted pink hair like Tonks,” Ron explained. “Her magic was so stubborn that we had to give in until she changed it back herself.

“I don't think that last part is possible,” Charlie said joining in on the conversation. “I think they are both Muggles.”

“What makes you think that?” Ron asked.

“Well, when I found them, they were arguing with a portrait of Draco's great grandmother. She was shrieking about dirty blood and neither Kayla nor Layla was around. They are the only Muggles in the family.

“And over here, my dear,” Molly was saying as she walked Addison over to the group to introduce them. “We have my oldest, Bill, you met his wife Fleur a moment ago. My youngest son, Ron and his wife Pansy. Ron's best friends who we adopted into the family, Harry and Hermione.”

“Nice to meet ya'll,” Addison drawled.

“Everyone, this is Draco's wife, Maddison.”

“It's Addison.”

“Don't mind, Mum. We have such a large family, I'm surprised she can even remember who we are,” Ginny smiled. “Hi, I'm Ginny,” she introduced herself, knowing her mother left her out on purpose.

“Ginny? Ya mean Draco's Ginny?” Addison asked excitedly.

“How do you know about Malfoy and Ginny?” Ron asked, confused.

“Well, not much. Drae doesn't really like ter talk about ya, but it all makes sense now.”

“What makes sense?” Ginny asked, confused.

“His dreams, the red hair, his ex-fiances, everything.”

“The what?” Ginny inquired further explanation.

“Did I miss anything?” Draco asked, walking into the group.

“No, sugar. I was just talking ter Ginny,” Addison answered.

“Anything interesting?” Draco asked nervously.

“Mummy,” Kaeda's voice interrupted. “May Avery, Marcel and I go to the flying room?”

“Go on dears, but be careful, and don't let any of the younger children near a broom,” Molly answered for her.

“Yes, Grandmum. Oh Father, you're here as well,” Kaeda squealed noticing Draco standing within the group. Addison looked around for a new face to join them, but no one new appeared. “You must come and see me fly and you must meet Avery. He's the captain for Slytherin house.”

“That's sounds like an excellent idea. You go along and I'll catch up with you,” Draco smiled at the girl who was beaming up at him. Draco watched her run toward the two boys who stood in the doorway waiting for her before he turned to his wife.

“I don't recall ya ever mentioning this fact that ya have a daughter,” Addison said cheerfully.

“Then I hope it's not a bad time to mention that I have a son as well,” Draco shrugged.

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