"I should get back outside. Harry is probably wondering where in Merlin's name I am. And being in a house full of Slytherins can't be good for his health," Ginny said with a chuckle.

"Ah yes, that bloke who's a spitting image of James Potter? Why aren't you climbing him instead of going after Lucius? Lucius is an extremely stubborn man and Potter will guarantee you a great life. You know his father's father was just about as rich as the Malfoys, right?"

Ginny gave him a sad smile.

"Harry was my boyfriend before I was forced to go back in time. I want to love Harry. I really do. I wish I could ignore Lucius. And it shouldn't be that hard considering how much he tried to kill me as I was growing up. But I can't. I can't let him go without trying. I don't know what Narcissa's plan is supposed to be. She told me to come to the ball and let her take care of the rest but as far as I know, Lucius hasn't even acknowledged me."

"You know, Gin. For someone who lived with Lucius and his family for as long as you did, you're not very good at picking up on subtle hints and cues."

Ginny raised an eyebrow.

"What are you talking about, Regulus? I've been studying everyone closely and I've gotten nothing. Narcissa hasn't even talked to him about me."

"Why do you think Narcissa would go through the trouble of finding her dead cousin and bringing him to Malfoy Manor, alive, for a divorce ball?"

Ginny didn't say anything as the realization dawned on her.

She stood quickly, her hands rushing to her face.

"Oh gods, I am such an idiot. She brought you here for Lucius. You were the only person who was ever able to make Lucius visibly angry in front of others. And the only time he was ever angry at you, was when you were flirting with me."

"Ah good girl. For a second, I was afraid that all of my flirting with you went unnoticed. It was actually amazing how much his mood would change when he saw me smile at you," Regulus said, a smirk on his face.

Ginny rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm surprised he isn't breaking down the door and strangling you," Ginny said, her features shifting to one of sadness again.

Regulus laughed.

"Lucius isn't the same hotheaded idiot that you fell in love with. He's learned to deal with some of his outrageous rage issues when you went missing. I'd say in about ten minutes, he will be breaking down the door to get to you."

Just as Regulus finished his sentence, the door to Lucius' study flew open.

There stood Lucius, clutching his cane in his hand.

"I take that back. He hasn't learned anything at all," Regulus said.

His eyes instantly went to Regulus, who was sitting down on the couch where Lucius and Ginny and first began the consummation of their physical relationship.

"Out."

Lucius said the word with an undercurrent of bass she had never heard before. Lucius was the alpha in this situation. And although Regulus could be when he chose to, Ginny also knew that Regulus wasn't an idiot.

Regulus stood from his place, his hands up in the submissive position.

He walked over to Ginny and gave her a full on, unexpected short peck on the lips.

"It was good seeing you again, Gin," he whispered at her.

"Regulus!" Ginny exclaimed

"How else are you going to get your favorite Slytherin?"

With a wink, Regulus left the room.

Lucius looked like he was going to explode. But Ginny was used to that. Whenever Regulus was around paying any amount of attention to her, he always looked like he was ready to explode.

Lucius closed the door behind him, locking it and throwing a number of spells over it.

"Hi Lucius," Ginny said quietly, sitting back down in her seat, watching as he violently wielded his cane.

Merlin, he looked good with it. It was probably the best expensive buy Ginny had ever made.

"What was that?"

Ginny looked at him blankly.

"What are you talking about? I was catching up with Regulus. It's so good to know that he is alive," Ginny said, smiling softly.

"You know how I feel about him with you."

Ginny shrugged a shoulder, suddenly very serene about the situation. This was the moment that would truly determine their outcome. Either they would be together, or they wouldn't.

"It doesn't really matter how you feel about me with him. We aren't together anymore, remember?"

Ginny watched as Lucius fought for control of his emotions. But it seemed that, like always, pure jealousy won over any kind of rational thought.

Lucius let out a growl and threw his cane down to the ground.

He stomped over to her and kissed her hard on the mouth.

He pulled her into his body. "You're mine. And if he ever touches you again, I'm going to kill him."

Ginny laughed out loud before her kiss was swallowed by his lips again.

After all of these years, she couldn't believe that Regulus could still push his buttons.

Not that she minded. If this is what it took to finally be with him, then so be it.

Lucius broke the kiss and picked her up.

"Lucius, what if someone sees us!" she exclaimed as he kicked open the office door.

"I don't care."

He took her down the hallway, toward his bedroom. He was so focused that he ignored the cheering of the paintings on the wall as they passed by.

Ginny blushed but managed to wave at Diane before they turned a corner.

Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck.

She couldn't wait to consummate their relationship after being apart for so long. As long as she was in his arms, she was content.

~~L~~

Lucius never thought he would see the day where he and Ginny would be lying in bed together, naked and happy.

But there they were, after the passionate joining of jealously and pent up sexual frustration, lying in each other's arms with large, warm smiles on their faces.

He had looked for her for close to fifteen years. He had sold his soul to figure out what happened to her. He had wandered, feeling as if a piece of him had gone missing when she left, feeling that his Manor would never truly be a home as long as she was gone.

Lucius didn't know what he had been thinking-that he could resist her after finally finding her. He should have known that resisting her after gaining freedom from a marriage of convenience was futile. Especially when Regulus Black was around, trying to get in her knickers.

Lucius was startled out of his thoughts when he felt Ginny's warm lips kissing his chest. His body began to stir again. Merlin, he hadn't been this frisky in years. Only Ginny could bring that out in him.

"So, are we together, again?" she asked, looking up at him with an impish and knowing smile.

She already knew what his answer would be, the little minx.

Lucius simply chuckled and held her closer to him without answering her question.

He thought of the anger and outrage that would follow upon people finding out he was dating and not long after going to marry Ginny. He thought of his son's disapproving glare, of the pureblood community's snotty attitudes, and of the many ways Ginny Weasleys brothers would try to kill him when they found out about the relationship.

And yet, simply looking into her beautiful brown eyes, and seeing the genuine love and care she had for him made it all fade away.

Ginny was his missing piece. And with her in his arms, he knew for certain, that he was truly and finally home.