Longing For The Light
A/N: Okay, here's a challenge: there is a famous quote Draco says in this chapter. Email me and tell me what it's from and who said it and you will receive a sneak peak of the next chapter. Have fun!
Chapter 2
***
Ginny groaned as she eyed her brother's red face. Bloodshed? She thought, thinking of Draco's earlier words. More like a massacre!
Ron was seething. He probably would have attacked Draco, had it not been for his nephew. "What do you think you're doing here, Malfoy?" he snapped furiously. "Ginny, why is this git holding Niko?"
Ginny glared. "Shut up, Ron! Draco is here because I invited him, and he graciously offered to carry Niko for me because he was getting heavy! Now do be a grownup, and don't start a fight."
Ron narrowed his eyes at his sister. "'Draco', is it?" he spat. Niko whimpered, and buried his face on Draco's shoulder. "What's next, you shagging Snape?"
Draco drew himself up to his full six foot five frame, shoved Niko at Ginny, and would have lunged for Ron, had it not been for-
"Ron? What eez 'appening? I 'eard shouting." A pretty woman appeared next to Ron in the door. She was petite, with wavy blond hair, and shimmering opal eyes. Oh, and she was very pregnant.
Ginny smiled in relief. "Gabrielle! Thank god! Will you tell my idiot of a brother to relax? He's making me crazy!"
Gabrielle Delacour-Weasley let out a tinkling laugh. "'E eez very good at zat," she agreed. "Ron, I'm sure Ginny can look after 'erself. Leave 'er alone."
Ron gaped at his wife. "Gabby, you can't honestly tell me you're going to let this - this thing come inside, are you? You don't even know him!"
Gabrielle merely smiled at Ron serenely. She turned to Draco and held out her hand. "'Ello. I am Gabrielle Weasley, zis lout's wife. And you are?"
Draco took the proffered hand and bowing over it placed a chaste kiss on the knuckles. "A pleasure, Mrs. Weasley. I am Draco Malfoy, this lout's nemesis," he said with perfect sincerity.
Ginny and Gabrielle burst into laughter. Draco smirked. Ron spluttered indignantly. "T-the look on y-your face is p-priceless!" Ginny gasped, tears rolling down her cheeks, shoulders shaking.
Ron 'humphed'. "It wasn't that funny," he muttered sulkily. He glared when Draco snickered and Ginny elbowed him, clearing her throat pointedly. Draco stopped, but continued smirking.
Gabrielle shivered. "Well, I don't know about you, but it eez getting cold out 'ere. Let's go inside." She waddled back through the door, and Ron, still sulking, followed, shooting a dark look at Draco as he passed.
Ginny made an exaggerated gesture of brushing sweat off her brow. "Phew! I thought we were done for!" Niko, who had been staring wide-eyed at the adults, reached for Draco.
"Dray," he said sleepily.
Draco blinked and gently took the boy from his mother. Ginny stared, surprised. "He never takes to anyone like that."
Draco shifted uncomfortably. "Ah...well, we had better go in. It is a bit chilly. Shall we?" He gallantly held the door for Ginny. "After you, m'lady."
She laughed. He's changed. But...enough that I can tell him the truth? Her smile faded and she walked past him with a pensive countenance.
Draco frowned thoughtfully. "I think your Mummy's keeping secrets," he whispered to Niko.
Niko just smiled, revealing empty spaces where some teeth had yet to grow, then resumed his nap.
***
Ginny was aware of Draco walking behind her, but ignored him in favor of thinking of ways to introduce him to her parents. Um, let's see..."Mum, Dad, I know you never really liked the Malfoys, but Draco's different so I invited him for Christmas"? Uh huh, that'll go over well. "Um, Draco?"
"Hmm?"
"My parents won't...uh...well they won't exactly be expecting you." That's the understatement of the year.
He stopped abruptly, and stared at her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. "Perhaps I should leave. I don't want to cause a rift between you and your family."
Ginny's heart leapt into her throat. "No! I mean uh...no, it's okay. I was just warning you that they wouldn't roll out the red carpet." Great Gin, just fall at his feet and profess undying love to him already!
A ghost of a smile trailed across his sensuous lips. "After your brother's warm welcome, I gathered that."
She laughed lightly and stopped before they entered the living room. Well, here goes nothing. "Draco, wait here for a minute. I'm going to break the ice slowly."
He nodded and shifted Niko. The boy made a small complaining snort and went back to sleep with a small frown on his young face.
Ginny inhaled deeply, but before she stepped in view, she heard Ron's voice talking urgently to Harry.
"...and you'll never believe who Ginny brought for Christmas!"
She hurriedly walked in the room before Ron could say another word.
"Hi everybody! Merry Christmas!"
Her mother bolted over to her youngest and pelted her with questions. "My baby! How are you? Have you been sick this year? Is your job all right? How is Niko?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Mum. No, I haven't. My job is fine. Niko is fine."
Mrs. Weasley beamed. "Wonderful! I'm so glad you're here!" She dragged Ginny further in, chattering all the while. Now Ginny could see how crowded the Burrow was. Fred and Angelina were seated on the couch with their daughter, Sara, and Bill was trying to coax her into snatching a cookie for him. George, who was holding his year old son, and Katie, who was expecting their second child, were squeezed in next to them. Charlie was, of course, in Romania with his wife, Becca. Ron was sitting next to Harry on another couch, glaring at Ginny, Gabrielle glaring at him. Percy and his wife Penelope were nowhere to be seen.
"Arthur!" Mrs. Weasley said loudly. "Ginny's here!"
Mr. Weasley looked up and smiled. "Ginny! I thought you were going to Romania, but I am glad you came here."
Bill and Mr. Weasley came over and hugged Ginny, but Fred and George merely waved a hello. They saw Ginny more often than the others did. Ron remained stoically silent, but Harry smiled and came over.
"Hey, Gin!" he said fondly. "Missed you."
She kissed Harry on the cheek. "I missed you too."
Harry turned red, then looked around with a puzzled look on his face. "Where's my godson?"
"Yes, where is Niko?" Mrs. Weasley echoed.
Ginny bit her lip. "Umm, that's part of what I wanted to talk to you about." They waited expectantly. "Well, it's like this. I was on my way to see Charlie, but all flights were cancelled. I was about to leave when I realized Niko had wandered off again, and was talking to a man. When I came over, I saw who it was, and I felt sorry for him because I know he always spends Christmas alone. So I brought him back with me." All of this was said in rush.
Mrs. Weasley was still smiling. "That's fine dear. Where is he?"
Harry was a little more astute. He looked at her suspiciously. "Who is it, Ginny?"
Ginny was trying to find a way to answer when Draco saved her the trouble.
He walked calmly in the room, Niko drooling on his shoulder, and straight up to Mrs. Weasley. "Hello, Mrs. Weasley," he said smoothly. "I do hope it's all right, but Ginny invited me for dinner, and I couldn't refuse, seeing as I had nowhere else to go."
All through this, everyone had different reactions. Mr. Weasley's mouth dropped open, Harry grabbed his wand, Mrs. Weasley looked flustered, Fred and George raised their eyebrows, and Ron smirked triumphantly with Gabrielle rolling her eyes.
Mr. Weasley recovered himself. "Harry!" he snapped. "Put away that wand! Draco hasn't done anything that merits a threatening gesture."
Ron huffed and muttered darkly "Yet," and Harry flushed and stuffed his wand back in his robes. Mr. Weasley cleared his throat and slowly held out his hand. "Draco, it's um...nice to see you. A friend of my daughter's is always welcome."
Ron choked and the twins snickered as Draco shook Mr. Weasley's hand. Their wives looked bewildered at all the animosity. Gabrielle took charge of the awkward situation. "Ron, why don't you 'elp me in zee kitchen. Zat way we can let everyone get acquainted." It was not a request, obviously.
Ron muttered something and shuffled after his wife. Mrs. Weasley smiled at Draco. "Ginny, why don't you show Draco where he can put Niko? I'm sure he doesn't want to carry him around all night." She gently pushed Ginny in the direction of the stairs.
"All right, Mum, I'm going." As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley thought they were out of earshot, she hissed urgently to her husband, "Are you sure we can trust him? Especially after-"
"Molly, hush!" Mr. Weasley interjected. "This is the perfect time for her to tell him. Besides, Ginny's a smart girl. She knows what she's doing. Now, how about that..." Ginny and Draco got too far away to hear them anymore.
Draco observed Ginny's tense posture. After what? What is she hiding? He wondered. Ginny stopped outside a door at the top of the stairs. "Here. We always stay in my old room. I suppose you can stay in Percy's. I don't think he's coming."
Draco nodded absentmindedly as he placed Niko on the bed. Then he turned and faced Ginny. "What were your parents talking about? What do you need to tell me?"
Ginny's face went white, and she flinched. Damn! Not now, it's too soon! "I...uh...n-nothing," she gulped.
Draco scowled. "Ginny-"
"Ginny! Malfoy! Are you alive up there? Dinner's ready!" Harry shouted up the stairs.
Ginny nearly collapsed with relief. She grinned impishly. "Well, you heard Harry. See you downstairs!" She bolted before he could say anything.
Draco arched a brow. 'Nothing', is it? "'Methinks the lady doth protest too much'," he quoted softly.
***
Dinner was an extremely uncomfortable affair. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley talked to themselves, Gabrielle was trying to coax Ron into having a chat with Draco, Harry was at least attempting to be civil, Bill seemed to be trying to get drunk, Angelina and Katie kept shooting awed looks at the 'sexy Slytherin', and Fred and George thought it was one big joke. Ginny longed to Apparate somewhere else.
Ginny tried to help Gabrielle. "Ron, where's Hermione?"
She winced as she saw her brother's face grow even darker. Oookay, bad topic change.
"She's in Bulgaria with Krummy boy," he growled.
Harry hastily changed the subject. "So, Malfoy. How's Ministry work coming?"
Draco shrugged, face revealing nothing. "All right, I suppose. Nothing new, as always."
"Any future plans of settling down, having a family?"
Ginny choked on piece of turkey, and shot a death glare at Harry. Lord, I'm going to kill him!
Draco darted a glance between Harry and Ginny. "Not in the foreseeable future, no. What about you, Potter? Has a lady captured your heart?"
A dreamy look settled itself on Harry's face. "I'm engaged to Cho Chang."
Draco made an attempt at a friendly smile. "Congratulations. Wasn't she the Ravenclaw Seeker?"
Harry still had that goofy smile. "Uh huh."
George rolled his eyes. "He hasn't talked about anything else ever since he's been here. Cho this, Cho that. Makes us sick."
Draco laughed. "I can see that. I don't think he hears one thing we're saying." As if to demonstrate, he waved his hand in front of Harry's face. Not so much as a blink. Everyone laughed.
Ron apparently couldn't take much more of the friendly Draco image. Ginny thought he was going to explode. "Um, Draco? Why don't we go get the tree?"
Draco obviously saw Ron's face as well. "All right. Let me fetch my coat."
As soon as he left, Ron blew up. "Have you all gone mad?! This is Draco bloody Malfoy! He's a Slytherin! He's practically a Death Eater and here you all are treating him like the bloody King of France!"
Ginny jumped to her feet, eyes flashing. "Ron, just drop it! School was a long time ago; we are no longer Slytherins and Gryffindors! Now that we're a little older, don't you think it's time to forget silly grudges?! Draco and Harry are trying, why can't you?"
Ron slammed his fist on the table. "Because. He's. Evil!" he bellowed. "Do you even remember school, Ginny? Not one day passed without him shooting insults at us or getting us into trouble!"
Ginny snorted. "Ron, he stopped all that in fifth year! No one knows why, but he stopped hanging out with his old crowd, and he didn't pick on Gryffindors anymore. He faded into the background. You know that as well as I do. Now, we're going to get a tree, and when we come back, I want you to at least be civil! All right?"
Ron stared at her a long time. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. But," he held up a warning finger, "only for you. I can't believe I'm doing this," he muttered.
She nodded in satisfaction. "Good!"
Draco came back then with his black leather coat on, and Ginny's brown one slung over one arm. "Ready?" he said, handing her the coat.
"Let's go." Before she was out of sight, Ginny threw Ron a look that clearly said, Remember what I said.
***
Outside, Ginny and Draco walked silently side by side in the forest, boots crunching in the freshly fallen snow.
"Ginny, I want you to tell me what you're hiding from me." Draco spoke this slowly, in an ominous sort of tone.
She shivered, but pretended she didn't hear. "Look, that tree looks perfect!" she pointed. Maybe he'll drop it...
Draco growled and grabbed her arms roughly, shoving her against the tree in the process. "Ginny, tell me now!" he hissed, breath coming in white puffs of steam from the cold.
Ginny's heart fluttered as she realized they were mere inches apart. Draco's nostrils flared slightly as her lips parted, a dazed look coming over her face. He leaned closer and nipped her nose gently with his teeth. She gasped and swayed dizzily.
"Draco..." she moaned. In a single lunge, he pressed his lips to hers. She trembled and pressed herself to him. His tongue flicked over her lips and she desperately opened her mouth, allowing him access. He thrust his tongue inside and initiated a duel of dominance with hers. Ginny longed to loose herself in his passion, but something stopped her.
With every ounce of control she possessed, she jerked away. "No," she panted heavily. "I-I'm sorry. I can't." She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.
Draco dragged his hand through his disheveled hair in frustration. "Ginny-" he began, stepping towards her.
"No!" she cried sounding as though she was in mortal agony. Before he could say anything, she darted past him and stopped at the tree she had been pointing to earlier.
Refusing to look at him, she took out her wand. "Come on," she said softly. "The others will be wondering where we are."
Draco sighed, but took out his wand as well. He muttered a spell and there was a brilliant flash of light, then the tree fell over, appearing as though it had been cut with an axe.
Ginny completed the task, and waved her wand at the prostrate tree. "Wingardium Leviosa!" The tree floated up and they started walking back to the Burrow.
Ginny was the first to break the silence. "Draco, tomorrow on Christmas morning, before the others get up, we'll sit down and talk. Right now, I need time to think."
Draco sighed. "Ginny, all I wanted to know was what secret you're keeping from me. I didn't intend to kiss you, or make you upset."
She gave him a small smile. "I know. It just brought back memories." She gazed at the moon with a melancholy countenance.
He stared at her a long time with an unreadable expression.
***
Later that night as Ginny undressed for bed, she thought back on earlier that evening. As soon as they arrived back with the tree, Ron had made an attempt at conversation with "Hey Malfoy, what's your favorite Quidditch team?" That led to a long, but friendly debate on whose team was better. The tension at the Burrow was alleviated, as if someone had cut it out with a knife.
She smiled as Niko snorted and turned on his side. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. He stirred and sleepily opened his eyes. "Dray?" he said, sitting up.
"No sweetie, it's just Mummy."
Niko's eyes filled with tears. "Want Dray," he sniffled.
Ginny groaned. Wonderful. Now I'll have to go get Draco, or he won't stop crying. "All right, you can sleep with Draco."
Niko perked up and held his arms up to her. She scooped him up and quietly opened her door and tiptoed down the hall. She paused outside of Draco's door, then knocked softly. After a minute or two, footsteps were heard approaching.
Draco opened the door, rubbing his eyes, and with nothing on but boxer shorts. "Ginny?" he asked tiredly.
Ginny's eyes widened a fraction, but she kept her voice level. "I'm sorry for bothering you, but Niko woke up and asked for you. He won't go back to sleep until he gets what he wants."
As if to prove this, Niko reached his tiny hands toward Draco. "Dray," he whimpered.
Ginny rolled her eyes as she handed him over. "Can he sleep with you? He won't bother you, he'll probably go right back to sleep."
Draco yawned. "That's fine. See you in the morning?" he said pointedly.
Ginny sighed. Ah, yes. Our 'talk'. "First thing. 'Night Niko. I love you."
Her son waved at her. "Nigh nigh, Mummy. Love too." Draco carried him to the bed and tucked him under the covers. Niko sighed contentedly and closed his eyes.
Ginny whispered "Good night," to Draco and shut the door.
He listened to her retreating footsteps, picturing her nightgown swaying with every step she took. He pounded his head furiously against the pillows. Damn it Malfoy, get her out of your mind! She doesn't want you!
He violently twisted in the other direction as visions of her in nothing assailed his mind.
This could be a very long night.
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Draco and Ginny belong to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Warner Bros and various other corporations. They are being used here without permission and/or affiliation with the above. None of the authors listed here make any profit from these stories.