A Life Worth Choosing

Chapter 7: Christmas at the Manor

With his mother by the site, Draco walked excitedly into the family parlor. Addison, Ginny, Charlie, Severus, and Molly were all gathered around the sitting area sipping tea, and talking about the Daily Prophet article. Kaeda and Junior sat by the window, engaged in a game of chess, while Trevor, Travis, and Nate were going through the presents, trying to spot ones with their names on it.

“Nana Cissy's here,” Travis and Trevor announced enthusiastically.

“Can we open gifts, now?” Trevor asked.

“Yes can we?” his brother added.

“Yes can we?” Draco repeated, more excited than the children.

“All right, all right,” Narcissa gave in when she saw the smile on her son's face. She too had to admit there was an air of excitement inside her as well.

“Alright you monsters,” Charlie called out to his sons. “Get away from the tree and let Uncle Severus in to hand out the presents.”

Draco snickered at the sound of hearing his old potion's master being referred to as `uncle'.

“What's so funny, Mr. Malfoy?” Snape scoffed at Draco's reaction.

“Nothing, sorry Severus,” Draco apologized trying to hide his amusement.

Snape took a seat in a chair beside the large Christmas tree and took a random gift from the foot of the tree.

“Ah, lets see who gets to be first?” he smirked. “Looks like a name beginning with the letter T.”

“But Uncle Severus, we both start with a T,” Travis and Trevor said at once.

“Ah, you are right,” Snape smirked. “Then I'll just have to place it back under the tree until we figure out-”

“No!” the twins shouted in unison as they both leapt for the present.

“Ah, would you look at that?” Snape mumbled a few words and the present multiplied into two. “One for each Travis and Trevor.”

The twins each grabbed a gift, and began tearing at the wrapping.

“Honestly, Sev, if you keep that up, we'll be here all day,” Narcissa complained.

“All right then.”

With a flick of his wand, the present began shooting in all directions until they were neatly piled up in front of their addressees.

Draco sat quietly behind his own stack of gifts and watched as Kaeda began unwrapping a large long package concealed in green and silver wrapping.

“Whoa,” she exclaimed when she reached it's contents. “A Nebula,” she said holding the broom in her hands and examining it carefully. “But Mr. Blinko said they wouldn't be out for at least another week.”

“Don't look at me,” Ginny said with a smile. “Ask him,” she pointed to Draco.

Kaeda ran up to him, broom still in hand, and gave Draco a large hug.

“Thank you father,” she beamed before rejoining Junior on the floor. “June, you got one too,” Kaeda said excitedly.

“Yea, wicked,” Junior said half-heartedly before pushing the broom to the side to work on another gift.

“Thank you Gramma Molly,” Junior and Kaeda both acknowledged as they each unwrapped their own knitted sweaters. Kaeda's was green with a silver K, while Junior's was silver with a scarlet J. They threw the sweaters on over their shirts and continued their excursions into more gifts.

As Draco looked around, he noticed that Charlie, Trevor, Travis, and Ginny too were all wearing similar jumpers.

“Mum, makes them every year for Christmas and everyone in the family gets one,” Ginny whispered to Draco. “There's so many of us now, though, I think she spends all her free time working on them through out the year.”

Draco glanced back to Junior and Kaeda just as Junior was opening an elongated golden case.

“A new wand,” he said this time with genuine excitement in his voice.

“Fir, 13 and 1/4 inches. Dragon's Heartsting core. Pliable. Ollivander says it's excellent for Transfigurations and quite useful for Divination,” Draco explained. “You mother was telling me that you are interested in Animangus. Ollivander's says this wand would be much more useful than your last.”

“Thank you,” Junior smirked, trying not to show a full smile.

Nate paid no attention to what was going on around him until all but his last gift was unwrapped. He unwrapped it excitedly, but his smile faded when he saw what was inside.

“Draco you got me a broom?” he asked bewildered. “Is this because I didn't clean my room before we left?”

“Draco? He calls him Draco?” Junior asked his sister.

“No Nate,” Draco laughed. “It's a magical broom,” Draco said taking it into his hands.

“What kind of a wizard doesn't know how to use a broom?” Kaeda whispered back.

Draco took the toy broom out of its case and let it hover off the floor.

“Now hop on,” he said to Nate.

Nate did so cautiously, but the broom ceased to hover, and came crashing to the ground.

“Nate are you alright?” Addison asked jumping to her feet.

“I'm fine,” Nate said standing up. “Was that supposed to happen?”

“No, “ Draco said looking over the broom.

“What is he, a Muggle or something?” Kaeda said a little too loud so the whole room heard her. “ Even a squib can fly a toy broom.”

“Kaeda, that's enough,” Molly and Ginny both proclaimed standing from their chairs, their hands on their hips. Ginny looked just like a younger version of her mother when she did so.

“There is nothing wrong with squibs. Perhaps his magic just has not shown yet,” Charlie suggested.

“But daddy,” Trevor called out.

“He told us yesterday that he wasn't a wizard,” Travis finished.

“Alright everyone, that's enough,” Narcissa said standing up. “The boy is not a wizard at all,” she announced the thing she had secretly been wanting to say all morning.

“What do you mean?” Junior and Kaeda both asked.

“Just because his mum is not a witch, he still has father's wizarding ancestry,” Junior explained.

“Yes, that would be the case, however, if I was his father,” Draco said.

Everyone of the Weasley's present including Junior and Kaeda looked taken aback.

“Then you mean-” Kaeda began.

“Nathan is my son,” Addison announced. “Draco's step son. His father and I divorced about three years ago.”

“Really?” Junior asked a little too excited.

“Yes,” said Draco. “You two are my only children.”

“Yes, of which we know of,” Snape whispered quietly to Charlie who chuckled slightly.

“How about some breakfast?” Narcissa asked trying to change the subject.

Breakfast was a chaotic experience that Draco never had the chance to enjoy as an only child growing up in Malfoy Manor. Everyone was talking loudly, over one another, as the three younger children played with their toys at the table. Draco remembered much quieter meals growing up and must admit that he rather preferred the noise. It made everything seem quaint.

Draco found himself seated between Ginny and Addison, with Kaeda and Junior directly across from him.

“Father are you an animangus?” Junior asked after inhaling his breakfast.

“No I'm afraid not,” Draco answered between bites. “Never had the knack for transfigurations. I was more prone to Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts.”

“Very skilled in both I must add,” Snape said from his position next to Junior. “In fact Kaeda has quite the skills in each too. Junior can do with a little help I'm afraid, but he still manages to bring home top marks.”

“Severus, if you are no longer teaching, who is the Potion's master these days?” Draco asked.

“Theodore is actually,” Snape answered. “Must say, he was one of the more brighter of friends you've hung out with.”

“Yes, he was,” Draco said thinking back. “I'm afraid I know what happened to Goyle, but what about Crabbe?” Draco asked quietly.

“He was sent to Azkaban. Just released about three years ago I believe. No one's herd from him since.”

“Hope we are not interrupting,” Harry said walking into the dinning room to the sounds of everyone's Christmas greeting. “Avery insisted that we come as early as possible.”

“Avery!” Kaeda exclained about to get out of her chair, but stopped abruptly. “May I be excused?” she looked to her mother. Ginny nodded and Kaeda flew out of her chair and ran over to the boy standing behind Harry.

Avery, who was slightly taller than Harry, looked incredibly like him. He had the same messy black hair, and similar body structure, only his eyes were blue and were not obstructed by glasses. If Draco didn't know for a fact that Avery was adopted, he would of swore that he was Harry's biological son.

“Happy Christmas Kade,” Avery said holding his arms out to engulf Kaeda in a hug.

“Ave, you have to see what my father bought me for Christmas. Come on, it's in the parlor,” she said leading him out.

Draco watched as they walked out the door, Kaeda wrapped around his arm.

“Bet they're going to snog.”

“Trevor!” Molly scolded.

“But it's true Gramma Molly,” Travis defended his brother.

Draco looked to Ginny for an explanation. Ginny giggled slightly.

“Kaeda fancies Avery,” she said.

“Should they be alone?” Draco asked thinking back to what he was like at Avery's age.

“Don't worry. They are not dating yet,” said Junior. “They're both Slytherins. Neither has enough nerve to ask the other out. Now if they were Gryffindors-”

“If you are such a brave Gryffindor,” Travis began.

“Then why don't you have a girlfriend?” his brother finished.

Everyone looked to Junior for an answer, but he just blushed.

“You seemed kind of cozey with Macadrian Flint during Care of Magical Creatures last week,” Charlie teased.

“Well, she didn't take to the Teastrals very well,” Junior created an excuse.

“Flint? As in Marcus?” Draco asked.

“Yes, he's her father,” Ginny answered.

“Who in their right mind would marry him?” Draco asked.

“A Muggle,” Charlie answered. “We lost quite a few Pureblood families during the war. Crouches, Lestanges, Longbottoms, Averys, Goyles, Boneses, Smiths, and a few more. Even the surviving Pureblood families have no choice now a days, but to marry a non-pureblood. Most of them have chosen Muggles over blood traitors.”

“What house is she?” Draco asked. “Surely I can't imagine Flint's child in Gryffindor.”

“Oh, no. She's a Slytherin,” Junior answered.

“Our Junior here is quite popular with the young witches,” Charlie said. “Especially the Slytherins.”

“What do you expect?” Junior shrugged. “I'm related to half the Gryffindors.”

“That, you are definitely right about,” Harry laughed. “So, did you two have a nice shopping trip last night?” he asked looking towards both Draco and Ginny.

“Yes we did, actually,” Draco smiled.

“Must we make such a big deal out of this?” Ginny asked annoyed, thinkng back to all the trouble she had receive after news got around about her mothering the heirs to the Malfoy fortune. “It's none of their business. He's only back for a week or so, anyway.”

“Actually, I was thinking we could stay a little longer,” Draco informed.

“We would?” Addison asked. “But Drae, we can't stay here any longer.”

“Why not?” Draco asked.

“Nate has ter go back ter his fathers and he has school. We both have our jobs.”

“Jobs? You mean Draco has a job?” Charlie asked trying not to laugh.

“He flips houses,” Addison answered. Everyone stared at Draco.

“I buy run down houses, fix them up, and sell them to Muggles,” Draco explained.

“I'm sorry,” Ginny said in awe. “But I just can't picture you doing anything that requires actual work.”

“Well it's not that difficult,” Draco defended himself. “I buy these houses really cheap. I meet the people who are looking to buy and using my Legilimency skills, I see exactly what they are looking for, then I transform the house to fit their desires, then I sell it for twice as much as I bought it.”

“What is Leggy-macy?” Addison asked.

“Legilimency. He has the ability to extract emotions and memories from another person's mind” Snape explained.

“You read people's minds?” Addison asked bewildered.

“Basically, so anyways,” Draco said refusing to explain any further. “We can bring Nate home then come back here for a few extra weeks. Work is no big deal. It's not like we need the money or anything.”

“What do you mean we don't need the money?” Addison asked. “How do you expect us to the bills?”

Narcissa, Draco, and Junior all laughed.

“Addy, look around at this place. I don't need money. I never needed money. I'm a Malfoy. Malfoy's are one of the richest wizarding families in the world. The only reason I even have a job, is to keep me busy in that Muggle world of yours,” Draco rambled on. “I mean what else is there to do? No Quidditch, no Wizard's chess, no Gobstones, I can't go flying without having to worry about someone spotting me. The neighbors even get suspicious when the Owl deliver's Harry's letters. At least with my job, I can manipulate Muggles.”

“Draco,” Harry said putting his arm on Draco's shoulder. “Why don't we go up to the library and discus this whole Daily Prophet mess in private.”

“Yes, and we'll discuss which hex I'll be using on Miss Rita Skeeter while we are at it,” Draco said obliging Harry's suggested and following him out of the room.

“Very well then,” Charlie said looking around the quiet dining room. “So Mum, shall we be moving on to Bill and Fleur's next?”

“Yes, that sound splendid,” Molly said standing up.

They bid goodbye to Ginny and Junior and thanked everyone for breakfast before gathering their things into the fireplace and disappearing in a flash of green fire.

“Nathan, how about a tour of the Manor?” Narcissa offered the young boy who excitedly agreed. They left the room closely followed by Snape and Junior who were off to the dungeons to work on a potion, leaving Ginny and Addison alone for the first time.

“So, how did ya meet Draco?” Addison asked making conversation.

“In school,” Ginny answered plainly.

“High school sweethearts?” Addison asked.

“Huh?”

“Y'all dated throughout school?”

“Oh no. We hated each other,” Addison gave Ginny a quizzical look, forcing Ginny to elaborate further. “It's a long story, but Draco was in the same year as my brother Ron who was best friends with Harry and Hermione. Draco and Harry had this whole thing on their first day of Hogwarts which made them hate each other. Draco hated Hermione because she was Muggleborn, and they Malfoys considered us Weasleys blood traitors, so naturally we didn't get along.”

“Then how did you and Draco get together?”

“Well, Draco was originally on the dark side, then crossed over to the good side. I had healed him and took care of him after he was severely injured, then we were bound by a magically contract along with Harry. Draco became a double agent, working as a spy for our side and I was the one who relayed his information to Harry. The contract forced us to see each other often and it just happened,” Ginny explained the best she could.

“What happened to y'all?”

“Draco was forced into hiding after his life was threatened by both sides, especially his father.”

“And you didn't go with him?”

“I just couldn't,” Ginny sighed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ginny paced nervously back and forth around the small room of the Muggle Motel.

“Where is he?” she asked looking at her watch.

A loud `crack' signaled the arrival of the wizard she was waiting anxiously for.

“Where have you've been?” she asked furiously with one hand on her hip. “He's going to be here any minute.”

“Sorry,” Harry said panted, obviously out of breath from trying to run to a safe apparation point. “I came as fast as I could. Are you alright, Gin?” he asked noticing her odd behavior.

Ginny seemed very pale as she continued pacing around the room. Her hands fidgeting with her robes and she was mumbling quietly to herself.

“I'm fine,” she snapped at him.

“You look ill. Are you hungry? I still have half of a bologna sandwich if you-” he didn't bother to finish as Ginny ran out of the room towards the bathroom.

Harry cautiously inched his way over to the open door. Seeing the witch kneeling on the cold tiled door in front of the toilet, Harry rushed in to help her.

“Gin, you should go home and rest,” Harry insisted as he handed Ginny a glass of water. “I'll deal with Malfoy.”

“No Harry,” Ginny argued.

“But Gin. You need to rest.”

“I'm not sick, Harry!” she snapped at him. “I'm- I'm-”

Harry took her into his arms as her eyes filled up with tears.

“I'm pregnant,” she sobbed.

Harry's heart stopped at the sounds of the words. He sat there for a moment, Ginny still crying in his arms, as he gathered his thoughts.

“Who-?” Harry stuttered.

“Draco,” Ginny said looking up at Harry. “What am I going to do, Harry?” she asked, thinking aloud. “Draco has too much on his mind right now. He doesn't need this, but I can't handle this on my own. Plus my family. What are they going to say?” she rambled on.

“Gin, please don't cry,” Harry said rocking her in his arms. “Everything's going to be fine. Your family will understand.”

“But what about Draco? Should I tell him?”

“Look, Gin, about Malfoy-”

“Ginny?” Draco's voice echoed through the empty room.

“It's Draco, you better go,” Ginny said rushing to her feet.

“Wait Gin, I have to tell you something,” Harry said, trying to fight her.

“No, wait he'll hear you leave, you better hide,” she said shoving him into the shower.

Ginny pointed her wand to her face to whip away the tears before walking out of the bathroom and slamming the door behind her.

“You're early,” Ginny said walking towards the wizard.

“I just couldn't wait to see you,” Draco said scooping Ginny into his arms and kissing her softly.

“We have to talk,” the two of them said together.

“You first,” Ginny insisted, buying herself time.

“Alright,” Draco said leading her over to the bed to sit. “Gin, I- wow, this is even harder than I thought it was going to be,” Draco said gazing into her eyes. He decided the easiest way to say it was to look away, so he focused on his hands which were holding her hands tightly. “Gin, after the last battle, not only do I have the Death Eaters after me, but the Ministry, and the Order as well. I can't stay here any longer.”

“But you are part of the Order,” Ginny argued.

“Harry and you know that, but no one else does and who is going to believe it? Normally I would risk it, but I'm in absolute danger, Gin,” Draco said finally looking up into her eyes. “I want you to come with me.”

“I-I-”

“We can leave Britain and find somewhere else to live, at least until the war is over.”

“But Drac-”

“I love you Ginny and I want to be with you. Who needs this place anyway?”

“Draco, this is our home,” Ginny finally said. “I can't just leave my family. They need me. The Order needs me and I need them.”

“Then I'll stay,” Draco suggested. “I can stay here. They haven't found this place yet.”

“No Draco. You have to go. Sooner or later they will find a way to break through the charm. They've already done it before. Harry's right. You have to go.”

“But Gin!”

“You promised me Malfoy!” Ginny said, tears starting to reform in her eyes. “They'll kill you if you stay.”

Draco struggled with his thought for a moment:

“Ok, I'll go, but only until this mess is over,” Draco gave in. “Then the only person I'll have to worry about killing me is your father when I ask for his permission to marry you.”

Ginny lost all of the remaining control she had over her emotions as she wrapped her arms around Draco's neck and kissed him passionately.

“Didn't you have to talk to me about something?” Draco asked as they broke for air.

“It wasn't important,” she lied whipping her tears from her eyes.

“I have to go,” he announced gloomily looking at his watch. “I have to meet Harry for the final plans.”

Draco pressed his lips against hers one final time.

“I love you Ginevra Weasley,” he whispered into her ear.

“I love you Draco Malfoy,” she whispered back.

With one last peck on the cheek, Draco turned towards the door and was gone.

Ginny fell to the floor and began crying her heart out.

Harry slipped out from the bathroom and sat down beside the witch taking her into his arms again.

“You didn't tell him,” Harry stated rather than questioned.

“He wouldn't have left,” Ginny sobbed. “Harry, promise me you wont tell him.”

“I promise,” Harry said kissing the top of her head. “Gin, no matter what happens, I will always be here for you and I promise, that one day he will come back home.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“It was for the best,” Ginny stated slipping back to reality. “So how did you two meet?”

“I bought a house from him,” Addison answered thinking back. “He was definitely a hard one ter catch.”

“What do you mean?”

“It seemed like no matta what I did, he just wasn't interested. Took me a year before he would even go out ter coffee with me.”

“Addison, you mentioned yesterday, something about ex-fiances?” Ginny inquired.

“Ah, yea. There was Zamora and Safara. Safara was four years ago. They were engaged, but neva even set a date before it was off. A year after that, he was set to marry Zamora, but he neva showed at the church. Left her at the alter. From what I hear, he was neva with anyone before that. Seems ter have a thang for red heads. They both had red hair and of course you and I do as well.”

“So how long have you been married for?”

“Three months. He is more interesting than my last husband, I'll tell ya that much. All this wizarding thangs, and then the dreams.”

“Dreams? What dreams?”

“He use ter have trouble sleeping at night. Tossed and turned a lot, and talked in his sleep. That's how I found out a lot about him. Like the whole wizarding stuff. I use ter listen to him mumbling in his sleep then I asked him about it the next day. That's how I heard about ya. He's mentioned your name quite a few times while he was sleeping.”

“You said he `use to'. Has the dreams stopped?”

“Yes. He take this drink every night before he goes to bed to prevent him from having the dreams.”

___________________________________________________________________

Draco paced back and forth through the library, Harry watching him as he mumbled every now and then.

“Are you going to sit still or do I have to hit you with a full body bind?” Harry finally asked.

“Sorry,” Draco said sitting down in the chair opposite Harry, his leg still bouncing up and down. “I snapped. I can't believe I snapped.”

“It's alright. Addison will understand,” Harry assured him. “You've been stuck in the Muggle word for far too long. It was bound to happen sooner or later.”

“I don't know what's gotten into me. I never lose control. Malfoys don't loose control,” Draco babbled.

“Drae, you have a lot on your mind. You have fifteen years of catching up to do. You're going to loose control ever now and then.”

“Addison's right. We have to go home. We have jobs, Nate has school, and I have this whole different life there.”

“But?” Harry asked.

“But there is so much I miss here. The magic, the manor, Diagon Alley, Gringotts, my mother. Bloody hell I even missed you.”

“Gee thanks,” Harry laughed. “Do you want to stay?”

“I don't know. It's just, I've worked for years trying to build myself a new life out there and I finally have and I was happy, but now there's so much more here: Kaeda, Junior, and- and-”

“Ginny?”

Draco stopped fidgeting and looked towards Harry who was starring him down, waiting for an answer.

“So what's the big deal about this Daily Prophet mess?” he changed the subject.

“Basically, it's all for Ginny and the children,” Harry began. “The contract we signed all those years back forbid us to give out too much information. In order to break the contract, we need all three of us once more. Therefore, when pleading your case to the Wizengamott, there was only so much details that we were able to give. The wizarding world only knows half your story, Draco.

“After the twins were born, we hid them naturally, but when the world got a hold of who they were, it was head line news. `Death Eater Fathers the Children of a Member of the Order'. We had every reporter on our doorsteps, asking for information about you and it seriously bothered Ginny.

“She locked herself in the burrow for almost five months trying to avoid everything. It wasn't until after your name was cleared that they left us alone. Now that your back, they want the full story, and I think its time to give it to them.”

Draco thought for a moment. “When do we do it?”

“A week from now. That way, we will all be prepared.”

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