Disclaimer: Harry Potter is from the creative genius that is J.K. Rowling.
I am not her. This is merely a fan fiction to tide us all over until Book
6.
A/N: I want to thank all of you for reading this story. It's become my second most popular one after Bedfellows. I don't know what I'll write next, but hopefully you'll enjoy it. This is the end, and I've tried to make it longer since I've had requests to write longer chapters. I hope you like it and thank you again. =======================================================================
A week later . . .
Draco Malfoy shifted uneasily in his chair in the library. Ginny Weasley sat across from him smiling and giggling every once and awhile from behind her book. The smirking grin she gave him was unnerving.
"What?" he asked nervously.
Ginny put the book down - revealing the gauze around her neck. Goyle Sr. had applied enough pressure to her neck to leave handprints where he touched her. Draco's blood boiled every time he saw that gauze. Greg was ashamed of what his father had done, and vowed to do anything to make it up to Ginny - although she insisted that wasn't necessary.
"I was just thinking about the first time we sat at this table together. Do you remember?"
"Vaguely," he said studying her. "I remember you wanted me to sing some song and embarrass myself, though looking back that would have been better than running starkers out on the pitch when it was freezing out."
"No," she said giggling, holding her side as she did so. "I said I didn't mean the son to humiliate you."
"Stop laughing," Draco said sternly. "I swear you're taking the mickey and it's just hurting those cracked ribs of yours. Now tell me what this is about."
Ginny giggled madly, "I told you if I truly wanted to humiliate you I'd sell tickets, and I did!"
Ginny was nearly in tears from laughing so hard and continued to hold her side. Draco turned paler thinking of how she sold tickets to the Quidditch match and him running out on the pitch.
"Please tell me you didn't orchestrate all this just to humiliate me," he croaked out.
Ginny stopped laughing. Looking up at him astonished, she stared at him.
"I wouldn't knowingly do something that would put others in danger," she said sternly. "Did you think I was capable of doing that?"
Draco smiled warmly and reached across the table to take her hand.
"You got me to run starkers on the pitch during a game, won the respect of the Slytherin house, avoided getting expelled or me getting detention thus far after the incident, and thanks to their reactions neither your brother or Granger get within 50 feet of me now," he said grinning. "You, Miss Ginny Weasley, are capable of anything."
"Thank you, I think," she said blushing as he kissed her hand.
Meanwhile, an interesting discussion was happening in the headmaster's office between Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore.
"He's very angry about what happened - especially in regard to Ginny Weasley," Snape said grimly.
The headmaster looked at the old brass scales in front of him. On each side of the scales sat a tray with opal pebbles on them. One side sat slightly lower than the other. Dumbledore dipped his hand into a container full of pebbles beside the scale.
"And what does Tom plan to do?" he asked solemnly.
"Punish those turning against him, that is, if he can find who all that is besides young Mr. Goyle and Mr. Malfoy."
"We shall have to offer some protection to those in your house, Severus. How many do you suppose?"
Grumbling, Professor Snape took a seat in front of Dumbledore's desk, "All the sixth-years, a few fifths," he sighed. "In truth, all of them."
Smiling, Dumbledore took a handful of pebbles out of the container and held them over the end of the scale that weighed the least.
"And what of Miss Weasley?"
"He still wants her dead, but Potter more so," Snape said. "If Potter's gone, there would be no need to go after her. He's hesitant about killing her a bit. I think he's afraid there would be a backlash of some sort."
Dumbledore nodded his head and one by one dropped the pebbles on the scale, making the scales tip.
"While Harry will be the one to destroy Tom, Miss Weasley has tipped the scales in our favor," he smirked. "He dare not kill her or unleash the fury of the houses of Potter, Weasley, Malfoy and the rest of Slytherin. I'm afraid nothing could withstand that."
"I believe the fury of the Goyle house has already been unleashed," Snape said looking at the headmaster. "Goyle Sr. will probably never leave St. Mungo's. I believe young Mr. Goyle accidentally used old magic when he cast his curse.
"Let me guess - a blood grudge."
Snape nodded. "The curses put on his father can only be lifted if Gregory forgives him for hurting Miss Weasley, since he cast a curse himself on his father."
"Unlikely that will happen."
A smile finally crossed Snape's face as he leaned toward the headmaster. "So what are we going to do about Miss Weasley and young Mr. Malfoy's punishment for THAT incident on the pitch?"
"Oh, I don't think a punishment is in order."
"What! She made Draco do that!"
"I don't hear him complaining Severus," Dumbledore said smiling. "In fact, I think he's rather enjoying it. Didn't you learn that when you read that little essay you made him write earlier this year?"
"How can I forget? 'Professor Snape, I do believe you, like myself, have underestimated what Ginny Weasley is capable of.' Goodness, she got Malfoy to run starkers, humiliating himself in front of everyone. He did a jig out there for heaven's sake. I don't think there's anything she's not capable of."
The twinkle lit up in Dumbledore's eyes. "I think that's an important lesson for all of us to remember Severus."
``````````````Epilogue``````````````
Eight years later, Ginny sat down at the kitchen table holding her newborn son in her arms as she fed him breakfast.
"Up all ready?" her husband said groggily as he entered the kitchen and came up behind her. He smiled down lovingly at his wife and son.
"Greg as hungry," she said as a light smiled crossed her face.
"I can't believe I let you name my son Gregory Neville," sighed Draco Malfoy as he took a seat beside his wife.
"The two of them died saving our lives, Draco. I would think that you'd be more grateful," snapped Ginny quietly, as she raised the baby up to burp him.
Draco rubbed his wife's back, his thumb tracing the scar he knew was there from the top of her shoulder to the bottom of her shoulder blade. It was a powerful severing charm that did that.
It was the final battle and they were to move about in groups of 10, however Ginny, Draco, Goyle and Neville had gotten separated from the rest. A Death Eater got behind them and sent the severing charm. It ribbed her shoulder and would have surely killed her had Gregory Goyle not jumped in front of it. It killed him. Ginny was loosing a lot of blood.
Neville and Draco managed to get her to apparation point, and took her straight to St. Mungo's. Neville had been trying to heal her as much as he could until they got to the hospital. The hospital staff rushed her right in. The battle was still going on, as soon as they got her into an operating room they told the boys to leave.
"We have to take care of this now if she's to make it," a healer had told them.
Anxiety for Ginny's health gave way to anger toward Death Eaters and anger became blind fury. Draco and Neville had apparated out of the hospital straight to the battle. They were on a rampage. The two of them had managed to get near the heart of the battle. Together they were sending out unforgivables together. If Ginny Weasley wasn't going to make it out of this war, neither were any Death Eaters.
The two had gotten hurt along the way, but they didn't feel it. Oh no, they were too full of maddening rage to feel anything until after Harry Potter finally defeated Voldemort and the Death Eaters were trying to surrender. Draco wasn't going to let them. It wasn't until Professor Snape, whom Draco about killed coming near him, took Draco's wand did he stop.
It was then he noticed how bad off he and Neville were. The two of them had been in a clearing for a while -- an open target to any attacks. Neville got the worst of it. They couldn't apparate, so Dumbledore set up a portkey.
By the look on the old man's face, Draco could tell as he lay on a stretcher that Neville wasn't going to make it.
"Malfoy," Neville's raspy voice said as he struggled for breath. "Do me a favor?"
"What Longbottom?"
"Take care of Ginny."
That was the last thing Neville Longbottom ever said. He was dead before the portkey activated.
Looking at his wife and son again, Draco knew that those two men died for what he had. He never would be able to repay them.
As he was contemplating that, the fireplace lit up and out rolled Blaise Zabini.
"Where is that godson of mine?" he said proudly. "I've got a present for him." Ginny rolled her eyes back before shooting a death glare at Blaise.
"I swear if you brought my innocent little baby another Playwizard that shrinking charm I put on you last week will become permanent," she threatened.
Draco chuckled as Blaise flinched.
"That goes the same for you Mr. Malfoy," she turned to him. "I find one of those anywhere near my son sleeping on the couch will be the least of your worries."
That shut Draco up quickly.
"It's even better," said Blaise smiling. "Tada!"
Pulling out a little outfit from his pocket, Blaise quickly showed off a little baby robe, with a Slytherin emblem on it.
"It's enchanted to grow as he does so it will always fit him. Plus its got secret pockets so he can hide his own Playwizards from his mom," Blaise said proudly. "Hand him here Gin, and let's put it on the little tyke."
Ginny sighed heavily before handing Greg to Draco. He and Blaise were working to put the robes on Greg.
"You agreed to let Blaise be the godfather," Draco said to her, putting one of Greg's arms through the sleeve.
"That's because you kept twitching every time I mentioned Harry as a godfather," she said as Draco twitched at her saying Harry. "At least Greg will have one serious godparent in Hermione."
"Did you see what she got him?" Draco asked unbelievingly. " 'Hogwarts: A History pop-up book!'"
Ginny giggled, "She's trying."
"Speaking of books," Blaise said reaching into his pocket and throwing a book toward Ginny. She caught it easily. "I found that in Snape's office when we cleaned it out. I thought you might enjoy it."
Turning it over she saw the title "How Ginny Weasley ruined Slytherin House."
"Lovely title," she said sarcastically.
"Open it," Blaise said smirking. "I think you'll find it very enlightening."
Ginny opened the book, read a few lines and smiled. She began reading out loud. "Upon finding Draco Malfoy exploding everything in the dormitory out of sexual frustration for the lone Weasley female, Ginny, I have decided to catalog what must surely be either the end of Hogwarts or the whirlwind of change of Slytherin House. Below is a essay young Mr. Malfoy had to write after I caught him and Ginny Weasley in a passionate embrace."
"Where we really in a passionate embrace?" she asked.
"Not as passionate as I wanted to be," Draco said admiring his son in the Slytherin robes. "I was afraid of getting smacked again. Your mum has a mean smack."
Ginny read further down the page and laughed.
"What?" Draco asked.
" 'For complete look at what Professor Dumbledore says is the 'Great Streaking Incident of 1997' turn to page 15.' Merlin! I didn't know someone had a camera that day! Why didn't I see these before?" she said laughing.
Draco turned to Blaise in shock.
"The teachers confiscated Creevey's camera," he said nonchalantly playing with Greg.
"Tell me that that's the only copy of that book," Draco said sternly.
"Don't worry," Blaise said, walking over to Ginny to hand her the baby. "That's the only copy. The rest are in the library at Hogwarts and ready for the 10 year reunion," he whispered to her.
Ginny laughed, and Blaise wondered when she would see the epilogue to the book, which simply said, "You have no idea what she's capable of."
Thank you all for reading!
A/N: I want to thank all of you for reading this story. It's become my second most popular one after Bedfellows. I don't know what I'll write next, but hopefully you'll enjoy it. This is the end, and I've tried to make it longer since I've had requests to write longer chapters. I hope you like it and thank you again. =======================================================================
A week later . . .
Draco Malfoy shifted uneasily in his chair in the library. Ginny Weasley sat across from him smiling and giggling every once and awhile from behind her book. The smirking grin she gave him was unnerving.
"What?" he asked nervously.
Ginny put the book down - revealing the gauze around her neck. Goyle Sr. had applied enough pressure to her neck to leave handprints where he touched her. Draco's blood boiled every time he saw that gauze. Greg was ashamed of what his father had done, and vowed to do anything to make it up to Ginny - although she insisted that wasn't necessary.
"I was just thinking about the first time we sat at this table together. Do you remember?"
"Vaguely," he said studying her. "I remember you wanted me to sing some song and embarrass myself, though looking back that would have been better than running starkers out on the pitch when it was freezing out."
"No," she said giggling, holding her side as she did so. "I said I didn't mean the son to humiliate you."
"Stop laughing," Draco said sternly. "I swear you're taking the mickey and it's just hurting those cracked ribs of yours. Now tell me what this is about."
Ginny giggled madly, "I told you if I truly wanted to humiliate you I'd sell tickets, and I did!"
Ginny was nearly in tears from laughing so hard and continued to hold her side. Draco turned paler thinking of how she sold tickets to the Quidditch match and him running out on the pitch.
"Please tell me you didn't orchestrate all this just to humiliate me," he croaked out.
Ginny stopped laughing. Looking up at him astonished, she stared at him.
"I wouldn't knowingly do something that would put others in danger," she said sternly. "Did you think I was capable of doing that?"
Draco smiled warmly and reached across the table to take her hand.
"You got me to run starkers on the pitch during a game, won the respect of the Slytherin house, avoided getting expelled or me getting detention thus far after the incident, and thanks to their reactions neither your brother or Granger get within 50 feet of me now," he said grinning. "You, Miss Ginny Weasley, are capable of anything."
"Thank you, I think," she said blushing as he kissed her hand.
Meanwhile, an interesting discussion was happening in the headmaster's office between Professor Snape and Professor Dumbledore.
"He's very angry about what happened - especially in regard to Ginny Weasley," Snape said grimly.
The headmaster looked at the old brass scales in front of him. On each side of the scales sat a tray with opal pebbles on them. One side sat slightly lower than the other. Dumbledore dipped his hand into a container full of pebbles beside the scale.
"And what does Tom plan to do?" he asked solemnly.
"Punish those turning against him, that is, if he can find who all that is besides young Mr. Goyle and Mr. Malfoy."
"We shall have to offer some protection to those in your house, Severus. How many do you suppose?"
Grumbling, Professor Snape took a seat in front of Dumbledore's desk, "All the sixth-years, a few fifths," he sighed. "In truth, all of them."
Smiling, Dumbledore took a handful of pebbles out of the container and held them over the end of the scale that weighed the least.
"And what of Miss Weasley?"
"He still wants her dead, but Potter more so," Snape said. "If Potter's gone, there would be no need to go after her. He's hesitant about killing her a bit. I think he's afraid there would be a backlash of some sort."
Dumbledore nodded his head and one by one dropped the pebbles on the scale, making the scales tip.
"While Harry will be the one to destroy Tom, Miss Weasley has tipped the scales in our favor," he smirked. "He dare not kill her or unleash the fury of the houses of Potter, Weasley, Malfoy and the rest of Slytherin. I'm afraid nothing could withstand that."
"I believe the fury of the Goyle house has already been unleashed," Snape said looking at the headmaster. "Goyle Sr. will probably never leave St. Mungo's. I believe young Mr. Goyle accidentally used old magic when he cast his curse.
"Let me guess - a blood grudge."
Snape nodded. "The curses put on his father can only be lifted if Gregory forgives him for hurting Miss Weasley, since he cast a curse himself on his father."
"Unlikely that will happen."
A smile finally crossed Snape's face as he leaned toward the headmaster. "So what are we going to do about Miss Weasley and young Mr. Malfoy's punishment for THAT incident on the pitch?"
"Oh, I don't think a punishment is in order."
"What! She made Draco do that!"
"I don't hear him complaining Severus," Dumbledore said smiling. "In fact, I think he's rather enjoying it. Didn't you learn that when you read that little essay you made him write earlier this year?"
"How can I forget? 'Professor Snape, I do believe you, like myself, have underestimated what Ginny Weasley is capable of.' Goodness, she got Malfoy to run starkers, humiliating himself in front of everyone. He did a jig out there for heaven's sake. I don't think there's anything she's not capable of."
The twinkle lit up in Dumbledore's eyes. "I think that's an important lesson for all of us to remember Severus."
``````````````Epilogue``````````````
Eight years later, Ginny sat down at the kitchen table holding her newborn son in her arms as she fed him breakfast.
"Up all ready?" her husband said groggily as he entered the kitchen and came up behind her. He smiled down lovingly at his wife and son.
"Greg as hungry," she said as a light smiled crossed her face.
"I can't believe I let you name my son Gregory Neville," sighed Draco Malfoy as he took a seat beside his wife.
"The two of them died saving our lives, Draco. I would think that you'd be more grateful," snapped Ginny quietly, as she raised the baby up to burp him.
Draco rubbed his wife's back, his thumb tracing the scar he knew was there from the top of her shoulder to the bottom of her shoulder blade. It was a powerful severing charm that did that.
It was the final battle and they were to move about in groups of 10, however Ginny, Draco, Goyle and Neville had gotten separated from the rest. A Death Eater got behind them and sent the severing charm. It ribbed her shoulder and would have surely killed her had Gregory Goyle not jumped in front of it. It killed him. Ginny was loosing a lot of blood.
Neville and Draco managed to get her to apparation point, and took her straight to St. Mungo's. Neville had been trying to heal her as much as he could until they got to the hospital. The hospital staff rushed her right in. The battle was still going on, as soon as they got her into an operating room they told the boys to leave.
"We have to take care of this now if she's to make it," a healer had told them.
Anxiety for Ginny's health gave way to anger toward Death Eaters and anger became blind fury. Draco and Neville had apparated out of the hospital straight to the battle. They were on a rampage. The two of them had managed to get near the heart of the battle. Together they were sending out unforgivables together. If Ginny Weasley wasn't going to make it out of this war, neither were any Death Eaters.
The two had gotten hurt along the way, but they didn't feel it. Oh no, they were too full of maddening rage to feel anything until after Harry Potter finally defeated Voldemort and the Death Eaters were trying to surrender. Draco wasn't going to let them. It wasn't until Professor Snape, whom Draco about killed coming near him, took Draco's wand did he stop.
It was then he noticed how bad off he and Neville were. The two of them had been in a clearing for a while -- an open target to any attacks. Neville got the worst of it. They couldn't apparate, so Dumbledore set up a portkey.
By the look on the old man's face, Draco could tell as he lay on a stretcher that Neville wasn't going to make it.
"Malfoy," Neville's raspy voice said as he struggled for breath. "Do me a favor?"
"What Longbottom?"
"Take care of Ginny."
That was the last thing Neville Longbottom ever said. He was dead before the portkey activated.
Looking at his wife and son again, Draco knew that those two men died for what he had. He never would be able to repay them.
As he was contemplating that, the fireplace lit up and out rolled Blaise Zabini.
"Where is that godson of mine?" he said proudly. "I've got a present for him." Ginny rolled her eyes back before shooting a death glare at Blaise.
"I swear if you brought my innocent little baby another Playwizard that shrinking charm I put on you last week will become permanent," she threatened.
Draco chuckled as Blaise flinched.
"That goes the same for you Mr. Malfoy," she turned to him. "I find one of those anywhere near my son sleeping on the couch will be the least of your worries."
That shut Draco up quickly.
"It's even better," said Blaise smiling. "Tada!"
Pulling out a little outfit from his pocket, Blaise quickly showed off a little baby robe, with a Slytherin emblem on it.
"It's enchanted to grow as he does so it will always fit him. Plus its got secret pockets so he can hide his own Playwizards from his mom," Blaise said proudly. "Hand him here Gin, and let's put it on the little tyke."
Ginny sighed heavily before handing Greg to Draco. He and Blaise were working to put the robes on Greg.
"You agreed to let Blaise be the godfather," Draco said to her, putting one of Greg's arms through the sleeve.
"That's because you kept twitching every time I mentioned Harry as a godfather," she said as Draco twitched at her saying Harry. "At least Greg will have one serious godparent in Hermione."
"Did you see what she got him?" Draco asked unbelievingly. " 'Hogwarts: A History pop-up book!'"
Ginny giggled, "She's trying."
"Speaking of books," Blaise said reaching into his pocket and throwing a book toward Ginny. She caught it easily. "I found that in Snape's office when we cleaned it out. I thought you might enjoy it."
Turning it over she saw the title "How Ginny Weasley ruined Slytherin House."
"Lovely title," she said sarcastically.
"Open it," Blaise said smirking. "I think you'll find it very enlightening."
Ginny opened the book, read a few lines and smiled. She began reading out loud. "Upon finding Draco Malfoy exploding everything in the dormitory out of sexual frustration for the lone Weasley female, Ginny, I have decided to catalog what must surely be either the end of Hogwarts or the whirlwind of change of Slytherin House. Below is a essay young Mr. Malfoy had to write after I caught him and Ginny Weasley in a passionate embrace."
"Where we really in a passionate embrace?" she asked.
"Not as passionate as I wanted to be," Draco said admiring his son in the Slytherin robes. "I was afraid of getting smacked again. Your mum has a mean smack."
Ginny read further down the page and laughed.
"What?" Draco asked.
" 'For complete look at what Professor Dumbledore says is the 'Great Streaking Incident of 1997' turn to page 15.' Merlin! I didn't know someone had a camera that day! Why didn't I see these before?" she said laughing.
Draco turned to Blaise in shock.
"The teachers confiscated Creevey's camera," he said nonchalantly playing with Greg.
"Tell me that that's the only copy of that book," Draco said sternly.
"Don't worry," Blaise said, walking over to Ginny to hand her the baby. "That's the only copy. The rest are in the library at Hogwarts and ready for the 10 year reunion," he whispered to her.
Ginny laughed, and Blaise wondered when she would see the epilogue to the book, which simply said, "You have no idea what she's capable of."
Thank you all for reading!