Well for those of you who have been awaiting this story, I'm so sorry it took so long to get out. I have eleven classes a day and my life is crazy. By the time I finish work each day, I'm so tired that I can hardly think straight, let alone write a story.
READ FIRST! This story is a sequel to This Is Who You Are. Do not read this story if you have not read the first one. At times you may think that you can get by without having read the first story, but trust me…so many things will not make sense to you if you don't read it. So just go read This Is Who You Are. I'm told it's a good story, so hopefully you'll like it. If you are a Draco/Ginny fan, you should.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Harry Potter.
Chapter 1: Reunited
In the bustling town of Ottery St. Catchpole, which was far inland in Devon, a young woman leaned out of her window and stared dully at her backyard, sighing when she saw the garden gnomes. Her mother would be asking her to toss them over the hedge soon; it had been nearly three weeks since she'd had to do it last, but once again the gnomes were stealthily approaching the house, their leathery backs hunched in concentration.
Sighing again with boredom, Ginny Weasley turned her back to the open window and stared at her bedroom. Everything was in place, exactly how she liked it. The bed was made, her dresser was devoid of any odds or ends, and the carpet covering the cracked wooden floor was clean and in place.
The only problem with the picture was that Ginny wasn't satisfied. Since she had arrived back home with her brother a month and a half ago, her emotions had been on an out-of-control spree for some sense of her old life. First, Ginny had been glum because she had no idea where Draco was. Then she had spent a few days with Ron and was reminded of the days when they would run around outside playing all sorts of games; she missed those days, so free from the harshness of the world.
And then Ron had gotten a letter from Harry inviting him to go stay at Grimmauld Place. Ginny couldn't really blame Harry for not inviting her as well, but to be left home alone with just her parents all summer for the first time in her life was almost too much to bear. At first Molly and Arthur Weasley hadn't wanted Ron to go to Grimmauld, mainly because they wanted to prevent him from joining the Order of the Phoenix, whose headquarters was at Grimmauld Place. However, after much persuading on Ron's side, he was finally allowed to go.
Ginny had watched him Apparate away with a heavy heart. Now who would keep her company? Her parents were almost constantly at Grimmauld Place, the former house of Sirius Black; upon his death two and a half years ago, it had passed down to Harry, Sirius's godson. Molly and Arthur absolutely refused to let Ginny go with them to Order meetings. No matter how hard Ginny begged to be allowed to go, if only to see her brothers, they adamantly refused.
And so here Ginny sat, alone in her bedroom, wishing she had somebody to keep her company; her parents were once again out of the house. When Ginny had pointed out a few weeks ago that if she was left home alone, Death Eaters could easily break in and abduct her (which seemed to be the Weasley's main fear at this point and which Ginny could never comprehend the reasoning behind), she had been ordered by Molly Weasley to go to her room. Though Bill had stopped by The Burrow once to say hello to her, Ginny was still not in the best of spirits.
The main reason she was so down and out of it was because she had no idea were Draco Malfoy was. A year ago if she had known she'd be worried about him and how he was doing, she would have thought she'd been placed under a confundus charm. But Ginny was worried about him. Ever since she'd seen him that last night in the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts, she had wondered where he was, what he was doing, and if he was thinking about her. She hoped that she'd somehow see him before she had to go back to Hogwarts in a month and half for her final year.
Almost inevitably, at the thought of Draco, Ginny's eyes traveled down to her wrist where a silver, starry bracelet hung. She smiled, thinking back to when she had first seen it, and then to when Draco had given it to her. Surprisingly, her parents hadn't asked about the bracelet, hadn't even noticed it, actually. Ginny had been prepared to tell her parents that she had found it lying around at Hogwarts, which, to be truthful, she had, but she never had to tell them. So many times they would come home from Grimmauld Place and be so worried or tired that they simply went to bed. Ginny figured something important must be going on, and to not know anything about it was infuriating. She had only gotten one letter from Ron, but that didn't say much.
Mainly because she was bored and felt the need to do something, Ginny pulled out Ron's letter from her dresser and read through it again.
Hey Gin,
Trust me, you're not missing anything. (Mum told me how frustrated you've been lately.) Life here at Number 12 is just the same as it always was. In fact, it's a little like Hogwarts now for more reasons than one…
Hermione came here a few days after I did and we've all been formerly initiated into the Order…pretty exciting, right? I'm not really supposed to say anything about it though, sorry. Just know that being there is probably more interesting than being here. At least at home there aren't the annoying pests there are here. But again, I'm not supposed to say. I think that boyfriend of Hermione's might be coming here too, you know. Hermione's been saying he wants to join the Order, so who knows what's going to happen there.
Well, I'll see you later, little sister, probably before you go back to Hogwarts. Mum and Dad wouldn't send you off without all of us getting to say bye.
Ron
Ginny rolled her eyes and tossed the letter onto her dresser. Typical Ronald…never revealing too much, yet trying to cheer her up. Ginny loved her brother, but sometimes she wished his letters, the few she was written, told her more.
One other letter had Ginny received that summer, and it was much more interesting that Ron's. Ginny pulled that one out as well.
Dear Ginny,
Oleaney and myself hope that this letter finds you well, and that your summer has proved as uplifting and exciting as ours has.
America is good this time of year, though California is dreadfully hot right now…a record high, I believe. But you don't want to hear about the weather, do you? Well, Oleaney and I visited our old house, the one we lived in as children. I thought that my parents had sold it when we moved to England, but it turns out that they kept it. It's in rough shape. After all, nobody has been in it for so many years. But my brother and I have been renovating it, but whether we will stay or sell it remains to be decided.
As for now, the two of us plan to get reacquainted, catch up on things. So we will be staying here in America for at least the rest of the summer, and by then, we'll know more about what we'll do with our lives.
Well, be sure to write back soon. I would also like to be kept informed on yours and Draco's relationship. Now before you write back and ask me how I knew, remember…I know things. I probably knew of your relationship before the two of you even did. So. I want to know how that turns out. Another thing I'd like to be informed on is Narcissa. Though she is a wonderful lady, she doesn't seem the type to keep up a relationship by owl. So keep me updated on what happens with her, and don't give up trying to get to know her. She doesn't seem at all like what I've heard her husband is like. That Lucius Malfoy sounds like my parents were, and Narcissa is nothing like my parents, so don't give up. She's not lost. There is still hope that the two of you can get along.
Have a wonderful summer.
Your friend,
Reina Juriac
"Ginny!" came Molly Weasley's voice from downstairs, and Ginny looked towards the door. "We're back!"
Quickly Ginny folded up Reina's letter and put it with Ron's before walking out of her room and weaving her way down the rickety staircase until she stood in the kitchen. Her father was sitting at the table and her mother was preparing some tea.
"Hello, Ginny," Molly said, setting the pot on the stove.
"Hello," Ginny replied, sitting down across from her father. Her mother sat down to her right. "Have fun?" She couldn't help but slip in a bit of sarcasm.
Arthur snorted and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "No," he said. He sighed, closing his eyes.
"Something wrong?" Ginny asked.
"No, dear," Mrs. Weasley reassured her. "It's just that we are going to have to spend quite a bit more time at Grimmauld Place now; Albus has been going to the Order with more news several times a day, and when he can't be there, someone else is."
"So what's the problem?" Ginny looked to her father. "Why's dad all upset about it?"
"I'm not upset," Arthur admonished, frowning at Ginny. "I'm just tired." He closed his eyes again and leaned back in his chair with a sigh.
Ginny looked to her mother. "Mum?"
"It's a lot on his plate right now, working for the Order and the Ministry. It's taking a lot out of your father," Molly said, giving her husband a fond look.
"That's why we're going to stay at Grimmauld Place," her dad said. Ginny bit her tongue to hide a grin. "Not having to go back and forth so much will at least make it one bit easier. Harry said it's perfectly fine with him, and a few other Order members have been staying there as well."
"When do we leave?" Ginny asked, trying not to sound too excited. She'd finally get out of the house and back to headquarters! Life would surely be more interesting there.
"First thing tomorrow morning," Mrs. Weasley said. She got up to fix their tea. "So get to packing. We'll stay there at least till you go back to school, but don't worry about taking everything. We'll come back here to get your school things before then."
"Okay." Ginny nodded her head slowly. Inside she was jumping up and down with excitement. Even though she would probably be pushed out of anything to do with Order meetings, at least her family and friends would be there. The only thing that would make it better would be if she could see Draco, but that was obviously not going to happen.
As she declined her mother's offer of a cup of tea, Ginny slipped out of her seat and headed back upstairs. She closed the door to her room and leaned against it momentarily, closing her eyes as she relished the thought of some excitement; her summer had never been this boring before.
A wind picked up and blew through Ginny's open window, causing her eyes to open. The lazy summer sun was lowering in the sky; soon it would be evening. Ginny had always loved night-time. It was her favorite part of the day. When she had told this to Ron once, years ago, he had scoffed and said that "night-time being part of the day" made absolutely no sense, but Ginny still clung to that love. There was something healing in walking outside, the stars glinting tranquilly above her. The very smell of the air on a cool summer night was something Ginny would always treasure.
Then Ginny realized that this would be her last summer-before-school night at the Burrow. Though the thought made her sad, she couldn't help but be excited for what was to come.
Smiling, Ginny moved away from the door and started picking out clothes to pack.
In the morning, Ginny was the first one ready to go. She had woken up halfway through the night with the feeling that it was already mid-morning and that she was late, and it was halfway through the process of getting undressed for a hurried shower that she realized the sun wasn't even up. After that, she hadn't been able to go back to sleep.
So instead of lying in bed waiting for morning to come, she had slipped on some shoes and a robe and quietly snuck out of the house, being sure to step over all of the creaky stairs so her parents wouldn't wake up. Once outside, she had breathed in the fresh night air and closed her eyes as the breeze toyed with her hair. For quite some time, she had roamed peacefully throughout the yard and back into the field behind their house. The moon was bright enough that she didn't need her wand to see; she hadn't even brought it with her. Ginny had sat at the top of the hill, looking down at the house that she was so fond of, crooked stairways and all. She had grown up in that house; there were many memories that she'd hold close to her forever. Though the prospect of leaving made her wonder about her future, she would make sure to come back to this house often, so that its memory, and legacy, would never be erased in her mind.
Eventually she had walked back down the hill, through the field, and into the house, but only when she had seen the sky start transforming from black to a midnight blue. Once in her room, she had made sure that everything needed was in its place – suitcase packed, clothes laid out on the dresser, shoes by the door, wand on her bedside table. When she deemed it reasonable for her to be up and about, she got dressed and walked down to the kitchen. She cooked breakfast for her and her parents, anxious to go as soon as possible.
However, as Ginny stood by the door anxiously, suitcase by her feet, she figured her parents were in no hurry at all. They had finished breakfast nearly an hour ago, but still they were upstairs getting ready to go. The sun was already heading towards the top of the sky; if they didn't hurry, the morning would be gone.
To Ginny's relief, she finally heard her parents coming down the stairs.
"Really, Molly, is it necessary to bring all of this?" Arthur asked his wife, and they came into view, the latter holding onto two suitcases, and the former with another two.
"Yes, Arthur," Molly Weasley said. "Good morning again, dear," she greeted Ginny's frown of impatience before turning back to her husband with a knowing look. "We may not have much, but what we do have is very precious to us. If there is an attack on the house –"
"Oh, psh," Arthur said, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. "It's too early in the morning for talk like that."
Ginny was thinking to herself that it wasn't early at all, but thought it would be best not to mention it. Soon enough, the three of them were standing in the front lawn –all suitcases accounted for– and were ready to Apparate. Ginny, not having learned Apparition yet, clung tightly to her mother's arm. She squinted her eyes as a compressing feeling came over her; she felt like hands were pushing on every part of her, squeezing her through a tube half her size.
She hated Apparating.
Anxiously Draco's eyes narrowed as he gazed at himself in the mirror in his room at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Turning to the left, he shifted his head so that he got a side view of himself. Then he turned to the right, again inspecting his appearance. There were two things on Draco's mind right now – one he did understand and one he didn't.
What he did understand was that at any minute, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, and most important of all, Ginny Weasley would be arriving.
What Draco did not understand was why he was so nervous. Of course, he hadn't seen Ginny in nearly two months, so he had reason to be nervous, or at least excited; she was his girlfriend, after all. But what if things had changed? What if she decided that she didn't want to be with him anymore? What if she thought it would be too hard for a Malfoy and a Weasley to be together? What if she didn't even like him anymore?
Deep down, Draco knew those fears were just that – fears. Nothing to be concerned about. Nothing to sweat over. Ginny herself had told him back in the Hospital Wing a month and a half ago that he didn't have to worry about her running off with some random bloke.
Nevertheless, Draco wanted to look his best when Ginny arrived; and so he had donned a pair of casual black pants, a white shirt, and a pale blue and white over-shirt left unbuttoned. Draco nodded approvingly, grabbing a comb from the dresser and running it through his hair once, causing some of it to fall into his eyes; he shook it aside. Next, since he didn't have a robe on, Draco slid his wand into the strap on his pants so that he wouldn't have to carry it.
Draco appraised himself once more. Yes, everything seemed to be in check. He smirked slightly; Ginny had no idea that he was here. Blimey, is she ever in for the shock of her life, he thought, straightening his shirt. A stunning and dashing shock, if I do say so my–
"Ron!" he heard an irate Hermione shout from somewhere downstairs. "I told you to put those fake wands away! You know how your mum feels about them, and they'll be here any – yeah, see? I can hear them knocking! Put it away!"
Draco hardly had time to revel in the fact that Weasleby got shot down once again. Mentally he thought Granger – 11, Weasley – 2 and then walked to his door, cracking it open so he could hear better. Though his heart started doing its own little tap dance when he realized that his Ginny was just downstairs and that in moments he would be looking at her face again, he forced himself to wait a few moments. He would give her time to see her brother and friends before he made his presence known.
When he could hear her saying hello to her brother, Hermione, and Harry, he stepped into the hallway. The stairs that went down were just a few steps away; down another hallway was another flight of stairs that went up, where Hermione was staying, and Draco assumed that Ginny would be rooming up there as well. His own mother, Narcissa, had a room up there. Must be the "women's" floor, Draco thought. Harry and Ron, much to Draco's annoyance, both had rooms on the same floor as Draco. He wasn't sure whose idea it was to separate the males and females of the house, but he didn't think it had anything to do with Harry, whom the house belonged to. Rather, it probably had more to do with Albus Dumbledore or Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
Even though he knew he was completely out of sight from those downstairs, Draco moved with caution around the stairs. His heart started beating and his stomach fluttered uncomfortably with anticipation. Now, go now, an inner voice urged him. Taking a deep breath, Draco slowly walked down the stairs. Their voices had drifted off; they were probably in the kitchen now. And when Draco made his way to that room, he found them there indeed.
Immediately his eyes landed on Ginny. He stopped in the doorway, preferring to remain out of sight a moment longer while he studied her. His stomach tightened when he saw her. She looked exactly like he remembered…red hair swirling down her back, nose slightly freckled, brown eyes shimmering with content, mouth upturned in a smile. Draco felt the corners of his mouth twitching, and it was all he could do to stop himself from grinning. She looked exactly as he remembered, and there was only one word he could think of to describe her – beautiful.
To his relief, nobody had yet spotted him leaning in the kitchen doorway. It gave him time to compose himself, and as he stepped forward, he tried to plaster a vicious smirk on his face, which he willingly and easily wore around Ginny's brother. However, as he looked at Ginny, his smirk turned into a smile.
"Well, well," Draco began, pulling in the corners of his mouth to give his smile a more sinister feel. "What have we now? Another addition to the family? Ah gosh, and I was just starting to get used to seven Weasley's running around. Now I have to keep track of another? Ah gosh…" he repeated mockingly. Inwardly his heart leapt when he saw Ginny's eyes widen disbelievingly; her mouth even fell open as she stared at him in shock, but it swiftly turned into a smile.
He seemed to be the only one noticing her smile though, for Ron scowled at him, Hermione scoffed, Harry along with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley frowned, and he saw his cousin Tonks shake her head.
"Wotcher, Draco!" Tonks exclaimed, grinning. "Be nice this time, will you?"
"Well, I do try," Draco replied, shrugging. He glanced again at Ginny. Seeing her try to smother her clearly delighted smile was only making him smile in turn, and so he cleared his throat and looked around the room.
"What," he began, "nobody except my cousin is excited to see me?"
Harry and Ron groaned disgustedly and turned away from him as Hermione shrugged her shoulders, her mouth a thin line.
"Wh-what is he – uh…doing – here?" Ginny stammered, looking first at Draco, then to her parents.
"He's been here all summer," muttered Ron. "Unfortunately..."
"Oh, be nice, Ron," Mrs. Weasley said sternly. "Ginny, I'm sure this is very difficult for you to understand, but Draco here has joined the Order."
"What?" Ginny shouted, her eyes widening in disbelief. She stared straight at Draco, who saw genuine shock in her eyes. "Why did he do that?" Draco knew that the question was directed toward anybody but himself, but he felt as if Ginny was really asking him.
"It's complicated," Draco cut in before anybody else could answer. "I don't think a simple mind like yours could comprehend it." He finished his statement with a convincing smirk.
For a moment Ginny's eyes flared with anger, but she forced a bitter smile on her face. Draco grinned back, and he hoped that Ginny knew that he wasn't serious, that he was only putting up a good show for the others. She rolled her eyes and turned to Hermione.
"Why don't you show me where I'm staying, Hermione," Ginny said, picking up her suitcase.
"Sure," Hermione answered with smile. She glanced uncertainly at Draco, as if wondering if he would make some other rude comment, but then walked toward the door. Draco moved out of their way. However, Ginny managed to knock her shoulder into his on the way past him. To someone else, it was the fiery Weasley spirit coming out in Ginny, but to Draco, who alone saw the amusement and happy satisfaction in her eyes, it sang a completely different song.
Too long had it been since Draco and Ginny had had a real conversation. Draco longed to be alone with Ginny, to explain everything to her. And tonight, if all went well, he would get his wish.
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A/N: The first chapter is short, yes. There is not much plot in this one, but that's because it's the first chapter. You'll find out a bunch more in the next chapter, like what Draco has been up to all summer. And because I have so much work, I probably won't be able to update too often, but I hope that you won't have to wait too long in between chapters. I know how much people hate that. And even if it seems like I have forgotten the story, I have not. I already have the ending planned, and I will finish this story. Just like with This Is Who You Are…I promised that I would finish that one – I did; I promise that I will finish this one – and I will.
Please review!
Lauren