Chapter Three

 

Draco had been waiting for more than an hour now, and was very impatient, although he was not showing it. He was sitting outside the Headmaster’s office, while his mother and Ginny’s parents were inside, talking to Dumbledore.

 

Ginny didn’t seem very happy with the situation either. She had avoided looking at him since he had entered, and didn’t know what to do with her hands. She had already tried thousands of different positions to make herself comfortable on the couch she shared with Draco, unlike him, who seemed very comfortable, almost relaxed. She hated his calm appearance, for she wanted to look that calm.

 

But she knew it was just an act. He was dying to know what they were talking about inside the Headmaster’s office, just like she was.

 

“Relax, Weasley,” he said, watching her sit on her legs now. “You’re not very used to having people discuss you, are you?”

 

“Of course I’m not!” she exclaimed, standing now. “It never happened to me before!”

 

“I believe it didn’t. Not many people would go through all the work to curse someone like you.”

 

Before she could even ask him what he meant, the Headmaster’s door was opened and Narcissa came out of the office, smiling at her son.

 

She was beautiful, Ginny realized. Just like her son. Actually, now she could see whom Draco took his beauty from. She couldn’t help but think that if Draco was looking for a girl that matched his mother, she could consider herself dead already.

 

“They are waiting for you inside, Virginia,” Narcissa said, smiling faintly at her. Ginny couldn’t help but think that her name had never sounded so beautiful.

 

She thanked the woman in a murmur, and soon entered the office, where her mother, crying desperately, and her father, who was trying to remain calm, were sitting in front of Dumbledore. The Headmaster smiled at her, and pointed to the empty chair to the left of her parents. She quickly took her seat and he began to talk.

 

“Do you know why we have called you here, Ginny?”

 

“I just know what my mother told me in her letter, Professor.”

 

“So it’s time for you to know the whole story.” He paused, looking at her parents. “Would you rather tell her?”

 

Her mother cried harder, and her father shook his head, holding his wife.

 

“Well, for months there has been a subject being voted upon by the Ministry.” The Headmaster took a deep breath and continued, “We were trying to take the dementors out of Azkaban, and your father was the one who managed to get this cause to be voted on by the Ministry in the first place. Arthur managed to get many votes for our cause, but there is a wizard, Gerald Wakler, who took the matter personally. It seems he can only feel safe because the dementors are guarding their enemies – and he has many in Azkaban. He threatened your father unless he voted against his own cause. Of course, Arthur didn’t listen to him…”

 

“Oh, Ginny, I wish I had…” He caught his daughter’s hands. “If only I had known he would try to harm me through my daughter…”

 

“Arthur, it’s not your fault,” Dumbledore interrupted. “You cannot regret making the right choice. And I am sure we are going to solve this thing very quickly, before it can harm Ginny in any way…”

 

“He cursed me to get revenge? Is that it?”

 

“He cursed you, yes, but through your father,” Dumbledore explained, before anyone could speak. “This wizard cursed Arthur to lose his daughter to his worst enemy by the time she reached sixteen. If his daughter did not love his enemy by then, she would die. As the Weasleys and the Malfoys have never gotten along, and their rivalry has existed for many centuries now; it’s quite obvious who you are cursed to be lost to.”

 

“And that damn Wakler also had something with Lucius Malfoy, an unfinished business of some kind that we didn’t know about. Of course, he decided to take revenge on the Malfoys, too, by punishing them to be connected to the Weasleys by marriage,” said Arthur, still with Ginny’s hands in his own. “It was a very good idea, let’s face it. He knew we would rather die than have any of us connected to…”

 

“Arthur, you shouldn’t say that; at least, not under these circumstances,” Molly finally spoke, her tears still running down her cheeks. “Ginny must learn to love Malfoy…”

 

“We will find the counter-curse before she has to…”

 

“But until we do, Arthur, I believe Molly is right,” Dumbledore said, smiling, trying to calm them. “That’s why we already have an idea we hope you both agree with…”

 

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“So it’s true?” Draco exclaimed, after his mother had explained everything. “She was cursed?”

 

“Wakler finally found a way to get to your father.” Narcissa sighed, smiling. “Unfortunately for him, Lucius is dead. Your father would be climbing up the walls if he knew this…”

 

Draco couldn’t help but laugh, too, with the thought.

 

“But also, if your father was alive, this girl wouldn’t have a chance…” she said, realizing it now. “Anyway, Dumbledore, the Weasleys, and I talked about it, and we agreed upon an idea that could save her life until we can find the counter-curse.”

 

Draco looked at her, curious about what she would suggest.

 

“We think that is it for the best that you both spend most of your time together…”

 

“What?” he shouted, not believing his own mother was suggesting something like this to him. “Why should we care, Mother? She is the one who was cursed, not us…”

 

“Draco, she is only a girl,” Narcissa said with caring voice. “She deserves to live, just like you and me. Perhaps even more, as we know.”

 

She was still very shocked about what had happened to their family. Suddenly, all her beliefs had been destroyed by her husband’s death, and now she was more thoughtful than she ever had been. Draco couldn’t help but think how different they were when away from his father’s influence.

 

“Give her a chance. I’m not asking you to fall in love with her; I’m asking you to talk to her, get to know her. If love happens, then we would all be blessed.”

 

“Blessed for marrying a Weasley?” Draco whispered, still not coping with the news. “You are not thinking straight! I am sixteen, Mother, and you want me to lose my youth with her?”

 

“How will you feel when you know that she lost her life because of you?” Narcissa’s voice was now full of anger, and she looked with disbelief at her son. “And think very carefully before answering me, because your answer will define not only her life, but also yours. It’s now that I learn how I’ll lose my son.”

 

He took a deep breath, realizing now how grave the situation was. “I’m not like my father, Mother. You don’t have to worry.”

 

He saw the door to the Headmaster’s office open, and also saw his mother’s smile at his words. He rose, holding her hand, and said: “Now let’s get inside and see how you intend to join a Slytherin and a Gryffindor.”

 

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“I can promise to make the best efforts to let you spend most of your time together,” Dumbledore said, after everyone had agreed on the arrangements. “But it’s in your hands how you will do it.”

 

Ginny sighed when she looked at Draco, wondering if he would make her days even more miserable. Although, she was shocked by the fact that he had agreed to try…

 

“I’ll ask the teachers to give you less homework than usual,” he eyed both students to see their reaction, and was not surprised when both smiled, “and I suggest you make some trips to Hogsmeade by yourselves, even if it’s not a Hogsmeade weekend.” He smiled when he saw the disbelief on Draco’s face. “I can also allow you to frequent each other’s common rooms. Although I would really like to see this as a last option, for the other students from your houses may not feel very content with this arrangement.”

 

Draco nodded, imagining how Ginny would get killed if she ever entered the Slytherin common room.

 

“Well, then, I believe that’s all. I don’t need to say that we’ll all be working on a counter-curse, and I’ll ask every Hogwarts teacher to help with this matter. Unfortunately, I believe you must explain to the other students what is going on, so we can continue with our arrangements without many problems to both of you…”

 

Ginny looked at Draco, and saw him swallow hard, probably thinking about his reputation. She didn’t blame him. Although her reputation, which was nowadays non-existent, would probably take a very sudden turn and go downhill from now on. No Gryffindor would like to see one of their own with a Slytherin – especially if this Slytherin was Malfoy.

 

“Ginny, we’ll have Madam Pomfrey taking care of you closely, to prevent any problems that the curse may cause… And, Draco,” Dumbledore paused to look at the boy, “I appreciate your willingness to help, and I hope you’ll see this as an opportunity rather than a punishment. Miss Weasley is an extraordinary girl, and I believe you will enjoy your time together.”

 

Ginny blushed at the Headmaster’s words, and smiled when he winked at her. She then caught a glimpse of Draco watching her with what seemed to be interest, and smiling mysteriously after he realized she was paying attention to him.

 

He saw her blush harder for his attention, and smiled wickedly to himself. Maybe the old man was right; it wouldn’t be such a hell. And he could already see all the possibilities…

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