When We've Grown Up

When We've Grown Up

Chapter 3

By Charlie Jo

"Well that went much better than I had expected," Ginny remarked as she closed and locked the door to her old bedroom. From the rickety, single bed Draco muttered something incoherently, his face buried in a pillow.

"What was that?" Ginny asked him, now drawing her wand and expanding the tiny bed.

"I said at least Weasley has calmed down." Draco lifted his head an inch off the pillow in order to speak properly, but kept his eyes closed as the bed lengthened underneath him with Ginny's magic. Ginny gave a small smile at the sight of her normally well groomed and refined husband sprawled out ungracefully on her childhood bed. He had managed to remove his shirt before collapsing on the mattress still wearing his jeans, too tired to get fully changed. The trademark blonde hair was tousled and fell all over his pallid face, although somehow it held an elegant grace, which made Draco seem almost innocent. Almost. His back, bare from any clothing revealed the defined bone lines of his shoulder blades, where upon the right one was a patent fancy G. Entwined around the curves was a formidable serpent, its fangs bared protectively.

It was a muggle tattoo. One of the very few muggle things Draco actually liked. He had it done just before they married and began harassing Ginny to get one as well, something she was most reluctant to do. In the end she had it done. No bigger than ten centimeters, across her tailbone was a miniature-sleeping dragon. Its body furled up, wings tucked in while tiny puffs of smoke were exhaled. The dragon looked peaceful and harmless, unless you looked closely at its eyes. They were opened ever so slightly, giving off a wrathful warning.

Ginny failed to suppress a giggle.

"What are you laughing at?" Draco asked crossly, still no opening his eyes but shifting onto his side so as his back was to her. Ginny's smile faltered heavily as her eyes landed on another manufactured mark on his skin. This one however was on Draco's upper left arm, and it wasn't a muggle tattoo. It was a burn. A faint, repulsive symbol that made Ginny want to shiver. The Dark Mark; a skull with horrible, empty eye sockets and a balskit slithering out of the mouth. It contrasted oddly on Draco's perfect, pastel skin. However around the Mark were other self-inflicted scars. Deep channeled cuts that had never healed over properly, done by Draco himself. Ginny had found him. She had told him the day before about her first pregnancy and he had been oddly reserved. The following morning Ginny had gone into the bathroom and found Draco leaning against the sink, knife in hand, blood pulsing down his arm. It ran onto the floor and seeped into the water, turning it red. Ginny was hysterical as Draco cut deeper and deeper into his own flesh, determined to scratch the Dark Mark from his arm. He resolved that their child would not have a father who was branded a Death Eater...

That had been over fifteen years ago, before Voldemort had come after them. Yet no matter how much they both wanted Draco to be free of the Mark, it simple could not happen. For once one had the Dark Mark burned into them, nothing could remove it.

The center of all evil had touched you. Had placed his torturous, murderous hands on you and had left his mark. A small, ugly mark that was feared by the world. That reminded you every day you were bound to the evil that touched you. That you had evil in your very body. You could defy the evil, as many had done but it would always catch up, somehow it would find you again. For if the reign of Voldemort had indeed come to pass, if he was somehow snatched up by the hands of death, he had created an opportunity for somebody else. Kill the leader of such a group, and the followers will be spurred on with vengeance. There were many Death Eaters still free, still angry and probably most determined to take their master's status. As long as wizards and muggles alike continued to exist, power struggle would happen. And power is the source of all evil...

As Ginny continued to stare at the Mark on Draco's arm, her mind traveled back to what Hermione had said earlier.

"You know exactly what you are Malfoy. Son of a Death Eater, a Death Eater that is, until you decided to flee. And some marks never disappear."

Ginny sighed sadly and flicked the light off. It was just past midnight and the adults had sat talking their way through some very touchy topics related to Ginny and Draco. They had made it though the night mostly unscathed, save from a few Weasley screaming matches, complete with many tears, a very near punch up and storming outs by various people who were forced to come back inside by Arthur. There were still a few things to sort out in the next couple of days, but at least now the family knew their story, although many people wore skeptical looks. Molly believed them without question and for that Ginny was forever grateful. Cold shoulders were still being given to Draco, and Ginny knew some of her brothers would never see Draco as anything but the little shit he was during their Hogwarts days. But they weren't completely alone in trying to defend themselves. Blasie gave her two sickles worth when the fact Draco was a Death Eater cropped up, as everyone knew it would.

It was very tiring and Ginny was now sporting a very sore throat from all the screaming she had done. The bedroom was now dark, the milky glow of the moon filtered down through the clouded night sky, creating a very soft light. Ginny removed her shirt and pants but had no pajamas. Her shrunken suitcase was currently with Napaea and so she had no choice but to sleep in her undergarments. Not wanting to disturbed Draco from his sleep, Ginny gently climbed across him to get to the other side of the bed. She managed to get halfway across before she was flipped easily onto her back, her head hitting the soft pillow. Ginny let out a surprised gasp as Draco pinned her down. He was on all fours, his hands on either side of her head. Draco smirked.

"Didn't think I was letting you off the easily did you Weasley?" he said.

Ginny feigned a pout. "I thought you were going to say I looked good in black."

Draco raised an eyebrow and swept his gray eyes down her body, taking in the black lingerie.

"Well yes you do, but everyone knows black suits me best," he smirked again. Ginny snaked one arm up his arm and around his neck.

"I thought you were asleep," she said quietly.

"I was until you climb over me with less grace than a hippogriff" Draco teased, tucking a red curl gently behind Ginny's ear.

Ginny frowned slightly, not concerned at his statement, but rather at the sadness that was seeping into his stormy gray eyes. Draco was so good at keeping his emotions locked away and hidden behind the smirks and sneers that sometimes even Ginny didn't pick up on how he was feeling. It was like trying to read a book with pages of writing so miniscule that you became frustrated with it. Ginny searched his eyes again, but he adverted his gaze, realizing she was trying to figure him out.

"Stop it Weasley," he said quietly, his head bowed. "You wouldn't understand."

"I think I would," she whispered, "it's the Mark." Ginny brought a hand under Draco's chin and lifted his face up so his eyes met hers.

"You know there is nothing you can do Draco," she said, "He's gone now. Voldemort has gone."

"Damn it Ginny," Draco whispered angrily, "nobody knows that for sure, they thought the same when Potter was born." He jerked his head away from her touch and backed his body off hers. Ginny sat up slowly.

"Voldemort's not the only one is he?" she asked gently, her throat tightening sadly.

Draco glared at her furiously. His gray eyes now resembling piercing sheets of metal.

"You're father." Ginny said quietly, keeping her gaze locked on his. She knew this could go two ways. Draco could either get very angry or he could stay quiet and let her calm him. He stayed quiet. They both sat crossed legged on the bed facing each other, the darkness folding around them.

Ginny took one of his hands and brought it to her lips, she kissed his palm and then held it against her cheek.

"My poor little Dragon," she whispered. She closed her eyes as a tear escaped and ran down her cheek and onto Draco's hand. He thumbed the tear away.

"Don't go all soft on me now Gin," Draco said, bringing his hand under her chin and tilting her head up slightly.

"Lucius is behind bars," he added quietly.

"Behind bars?" Ginny sniffed. "Draco, a criminal ward in St Mungo's is hardly behind bars! You heard what Ron said, he's angry."

"He's not running free though is he?" he replied, now grasping her hands in his.

"I just...I just don't know if we did the right thing in coming back," Ginny said, her blue eyes filled with tears once more as she looked desperately at Draco. He tugged her gently forwards until she was in his lap. She was so delicate.

"I thought you were meant to be reassuring me," Draco said, his voice hardening once more. Ginny rested her head on his shoulder; feeling greatly calmed just being so close to him. On the back of his neck she traced little circles gently with her fingertips.

"We're doing the right thing," Draco said huskily into her ear, "Although I did think that arriving here unannounced after 16 years was the equivalent to committing suicide."

Ginny gave him a watery smile, and snuggled deeper into his shoulder, kissing his collar bone.

"It's just hard knowing what's safe anymore," she murmured. Draco shifted underneath her.

"Nowhere is completely safe Ginny," he replied, "but some places are much safer than others." He dragged his fingers lightly up and down her bare arm. "We had to leave Ireland at some time, we couldn't stay hiding forever," Draco kissed Ginny gently on her forehead.

"What's that saying from your big oaf friend that you're always quoting?" He asked.

"From Hagrid do you mean?" she replied quietly.

"Yes him."

"What's coming will come," Ginny recited, "and we'll meet it when it does."

"That's right." Draco nodded. "No need to worry until something that is worth worrying over actually happens. Which is exactly what we are going to do."

"Is that an old Malfoy saying?" Ginny asked.

"No, just something I came up with during Hogwarts days. Mostly to reassure myself that it was pointless studying unless an exam was coming up."

Ginny gave a small giggle, "I hope you didn't share that belief with the kids."

"Hmm, I think I did actually."

"Do you think they'll be alright? Starting in the later years I mean?" Ginny asked.

"They're Malfoy's. They'll be fine once the sorting is over." Draco replied. They sat in silence for a few minutes. Ginny nuzzled into Draco's neck, while he intertwined her red curls through his fingers.

"You do know that it's likely one of them will be in Slytherin," Draco said suddenly. Ginny lifted her head and gazed up at him sincerely.

"I know that," she said, " and the kids know that. But I don't know that they're prepared for it." She closed the little space there was between them by leaning forward and kissing him softly on the lips. He was just starting to respond when she moved back. Draco looked thoroughly put out.

"If the girls are separated, it'll nearly kill Ella." Ginny said, sounding worried again. Draco sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Gin it hasn't even happened yet, so stop fussing," he said.

"But I'm just....."

"No!" Draco cut her off, "We're not discussing this now."

"But.."

"No buts."

"Draco," Ginny cried.

"Weasley if you don't shut up, I'll make you!"

Ginny scoffed. "You don't have your wand, so I'd like to see you try and make me."

Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Go on," Ginny urged, climbing out of his lap and sitting besides him. "Make me."

Draco continued to stare at his wife; amused at the childish way she was sticking her chin out defiantly. It reminded him strongly of Ella.

"Ha! See? I knew you weren't going to do anything. You surprise me sometimes Draco Malfoy, I really would have thought..."

In an instant, Draco had pinned her down for the second time, and just as she opened her mouth Draco covered it with his own.

*~**~*

Siobhan woke the following morning to find she had been sleeping on the dusty floor. Before she even had the chance to sit up, she was overcome by five sneezes, all which made her eyes water and her nose itch even more.

Damn hay-fever! She thought angrily. She stood up, swaying a little because she was still half asleep. Siobhan spotted her enlarged suitcase at the foot of the bed, but with her first step towards it her foot became tangled in blanket. She tripped, fell sideways onto the double mattress where she half landed on a sleeping Gye Potter. He woke with a start as she tried desperately to free herself of the blanket.

"What the hell are you doing?" Gye hissed.

"I tripped you idiot," Siobhan said angrily, frantically trying to pull herself up.

"Get off me!"

"What the hell do you think I'm trying to do?" she snarled, "It's just a little hard when half the bloody blanket is under you." Siobhan pulled with all her strength but the blanket didn't budge from underneath him.

"Help me damn it!" she said through clenched teeth. Gye narrowed his eyes before rolling onto his side, releasing the damned blanket and sending Siobhan backwards onto the other side of the mattress. She stood up and threw the blanket down hard.

"Asshole," she muttered angrily. Retrieving her suitcase, Siobhan noticed there were only two other people still in the room besides her and Gye. Gwen was sound asleep on a mattress near the door and Daymeon was sprawled out nearby, also sound asleep. Siobhan grabbed some clothes and made her way out to the bathroom, and because she was in such a foul mood she whacked Daymeon with her towel as she passed him.

*~**~*

When she finally got downstairs and outside onto the patio, Siobhan was surprised to see her mother talking civilly to Arthur and Ben's mother, Hermione. The small round party tables had been replaced by two huge trestle tables. She sat down next to Ella who was talking with Charlotte Potter.

"Hey Sib," Ella flashed her a bright smile, while Charlotte smiled shyly and went back to eating her toast.

"You slept in," Ella continued, "it's nearly 11:30, most people have gone. Dad went with Blaise and Harry to look at some house."

"What? A house to buy?"

Ella looked at her strangely "No," she said sarcastically, "Just for the fun of it, you know how much dad loves to browse."

"Shut-up," Siobhan snapped, pouring some pumpkin juice and taking a huge gulp.

"What's up with you?" Ella asked, looking at her with an eyebrow raised.

"Nothing."

"You've got huge rings under your eyes, didn't you get any sleep?" she questioned.

Siobhan shot daggers at her younger sister.

"No I didn't get any sleep because I had to share a bloody mattress with an annoying, stuck-up, arrogant, rude person!" Siobhan whispered angrily.

"You shared with Gye didn't you?" Charlotte spoke up.

"Unfortunately yes, no offence to you or anything."

"None taken." Charlotte shrugged, "That's his reputation at Hogwarts," she frowned, "although somehow the word 'sex-god' got in there as well. It's really quite disgusting listening to girls talk about your brother on a more than friendly basis." She shivered in revulsion. Siobhan laughed and Ella giggled.

"It makes it worse that he's Slytherin Quidditch Captain, anyone who's on a house team immediately goes up on the popular ladder." Charlotte grinned.

"You play Quidditch?" Ella asked. Charlotte shook her head.

"Me neither, I get motion sickness. Siobhan and Daymeon do though."

"What do I do?" Daymeon asked as he sat down on the other side of Charlotte, who jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Play Quidditch," Ella repeated. Daymeon shrugged and grabbed some toast off the table.

"By the way, thanks for the wake-up call," he glared at Siobhan who smiled smugly.

"Where is everyone?" he asked thickly, looking up and down the long tables.

"Bill and Fleur have gone home." Ella said. "Steph and Meleri went into London and I think Charlie and Clare took Matt home as well, Jason's going later."

Daymeon looked at her.

"God you're a know-it-all," he said

"So where are the rest of the kids?" Siobhan asked.

"Down at the orchard," Charlotte said quietly, "They're doing some Quidditch practice."

Daymeon stood up quickly, shoving the last bit of toast into his mouth. He looked at Siobhan expectantly.

"You wanna go down?" he asked excitedly.

"We don't have any brooms," she replied, "they're in storage". Daymeon's face fell faster than a galleon traveling by portkey.

"We have a broom shed," Charlotte said quickly, "Molly and Arthur keep some old brooms in there for when we all come over."

She led them around the house to a rusted galvanized shed, while Ella stayed at the table and finished eating. There were two old Nimbus's in there. Daymeon groaned.

"I hate these brooms, dad used to fly on one." He said.

"Shut up Daymeon," Siobhan retorted, "they're fine." They grabbed the brooms and Charlotte led the way down to the orchard. They cut through some thick undergrowth before arriving in a clearing about half the size of a Quidditch pitch. Siobhan looked up and saw seven people on broomsticks, including Ben. He spotted them and waved.

"Time out!" he yelled to the others, before diving towards the ground.

"Wanna join?" he asked, hitting the ground in front of them. Daymeon nodded enthusiastically. Ben looked at the brooms they both held.

"Nimbus's?" he said, "are these from the broom shed."

Siobhan nodded "Ours are in storage."

He sighed. "Well just do the best you can on them, they're pretty shoddy. What brooms do you normally play on?"

"A Wind Stud, I don't think they've come out here yet, dad got mine in Ireland just last month. Daymeon's got a DragonStar."

"Really! A DragonStar? I've heard they've got really good control in wet weather, nice looking broom too." Ben looked around at the others.

"Damn! We'd be able to play five on five if we had another person." He looked at Charlotte. "Just this once Charlie? Can you make it even?" he asked. Charlotte shook her head.

"Come on Charlie," James called out, "don't be a wimp!"

"I don't want to, I hate Quidditch!"

"Doesn't matter, Gye's coming down now anyway," Megen said, who was hovering up high so she could see above the undergrowth.

"HURRY UP AND GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE POTTER!" Dylon yelled as he flew up to Megen's height. Ben grinned at Siobhan, knowing full well what she thought of Gye. They heard him crashing through the bushes and he appeared a few minutes later wearing baggy jeans, a white muscle top and carrying one of the top of the line brooms. A Golden Blade. Siobhan internally swore. She was going to look so uncoordinated on the old piece of junk she was meant to be flying.

"Right what are we playing?" Gye said, coming to stand besides Siobhan, who gave him a filthy look.

"Five on five." Ben replied, "A keeper, two chasers and two beaters per team."

*~**~*

They were all good, but Siobhan had to admit, even if it was just to herself, that Gye Potter was extraordinary in the air. He played chaser, alongside Daymeon, and together they were nearly unstoppable. Siobhan was on the other team, with Ben, Megen, James and Dylon. She absolutely hated playing against her brother, he was so fanatical about Quidditch and whenever he scored, he would turn his broom up vertical and spin around 360°. It was a hard thing to do and warranted many cheers from the others. Siobhan just clenched her teeth and frowned every time it happened.

"What's the matter Sib?" Daymeon teased as he flew towards her with the Quaffle. It was the end of the very short fuse which was Siobhan's temper. She swung her broom around and pelted up the side of her brother. In one swift move her pummeled a fist into the Quaffle, sending it flying from Daymeon's grasp. He swore as it fell down. Siobhan flattened herself against the old Nimbus. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Gye go into a dive and within seconds his state of the art broom was beside her. Just when she was about to grab the Quaffle, Gye swung his foot away from his broom and kicked it hard. The Quaffle came off his foot at the wrong angle and flew back up, smashing into Siobhan's face. She screamed as her broom spun around, blinded by the pain. She took both hands off her broom and put them to her face instinctively, her broom tipped and she slid off the end like a rag doll.

"JESUS SOMEONE GET HER!" a female voice screamed, but they were too late.

Siobhan hit the ground fast and hard, her screams immediately cutting off. Dust rose as her back slammed into the dirt, her head lolling to one side. Her hands, which had been covering her face, sagged limply at her sides..

"SIOBHAN!" Daymeon shouted, speeding to the ground along with the others.

He had barely landed when there was crashing noises coming from the dense bush and before any of the kids could do anything else, Ginny, Hermione, Arthur and Fred appeared in the clearing.

"What's happened," Hermione said quickly.

"We heard screaming..." Fred stopped mid sentence at the sight, Ginny followed his gaze and let out a scream.

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Siobhan lapsed in and out of consciousness for days, not once staying awake long enough to take in her surroundings. She didn't know if people were there or exactly what had happened. All she knew was that each time she went to open her eyes, a terrible pain would wash over her and she would fall back into blackness. Time had elapsed and she wasn't even aware of it. Twice she could recollect hearing whispers but that was about it. She wanted desperately to get out of the darkness, but she didn't know how.

Then it happened.

Somewhere in the darkness, something had touched her. She flailed around wildly, not being able to distinguish anything. She was touched again and it sent Siobhan into a violent state of panic. The darkness was thinning; she thrashed again before her eyes snapped open....

*~*

*

Soft brightness stung her eyes and it took Siobhan a few minutes to realize she was staring at dim ceiling lights. She felt as though a steamroller had run her over repeatedly. Everything hurt, but it was her back and head that made her want to scream in agony. Siobhan raised her head an inch off the pillow, choking back a pained sob as she did so. She gasped as her eyes settled on another bed to her right, its occupant was a small boy, sound asleep but deathly pale and so thin that his cheek and collarbones stood out clearly. She turned her head ever so slightly to the left. Curtains had been drawn around the bed, but Siobhan could hear the faint coughing and wheezing of a small child, followed by the quiet soothes of a parent. By now Siobhan knew she was in a hospital, which one she didn't know.

The door to the ward opened and a female Healer bustled in, followed closely by two younger nurses. They went behind the curtains of the first bed and talked quietly to the people there. After a few minutes the Healer came out and walked briskly over to Siobhan. She looked briefly at the clipboard, which was attached to the foot of the bed, before turning her gaze to Siobhan.

"Finally come round have we?" she said jovially, "I'm Healer Meddings, but call me Reihma." She paused. "You've been out for at least a week! But I'm sure some of that has to do with the potions we've been giving you."

Siobhan swallowed a rather large lump in her throat. "Where am I? Where are my parents?"

"You're in St Mungo's Hospital love." Reihma said, "Your parents have been here almost every day, they must have just left for the night. I can try and contact them for you."

Siobhan nodded her thanks.

"Rightio, Helena and Rhea will be over in a tick. They'll fill you in more on what happened. I'll call in later." Reihma smiled, patted Siobhan on the hand gently and hurried out of the ward.

The two nurses, Helena and Rhea, came over a few minutes later. They helped her to sit up and it was only then that Siobhan realized she had been hooked up to two magical machines. One was a Potion drip, but the other Siobhan didn't recognize. It was a white orb sitting in midair, humming pleasantly to itself.

"That little machine reads the amount of magic that is currently in your blood stream." Helena replied when Siobhan asked her just what it was for. Rhea nodded.

"Yours was dangerously low when you first came in. But its been improving all week, we knew you were on the uptake." Rhea moved to the foot of the bed and pulled the sheets off Siobhan's legs.

"Now lets see how the left one is coming on," she said. "You snapped it in two places, but that was easily fixed."

"Except you're going to have to do some stretching exercises," Helena added, "just to get some movement happening." While Rhea was moving her legs, Helena asked Siobhan if she was feeling pain in a particular area.

"My back," she replied, "it's hell." Helena clucked her tongue sympathetically.

"Yes Healer Meddings said she was going to look at that. You were extremely lucky you didn't sustain more serious injuries." Helena turned to her fellow nurse. "Isn't that right Rhea?"

"Tis', we get lots of kids coming in here, fallen off brooms and such. Some of them ain't pretty, I'll tell you that!"

"You didn't look all that good yourself when the Medi Wizards brought you in," Helena added, now putting a purple liquid in the Potion drip. "It'll help ease your back a little Siobhan," she said, before continuing on with the story.

"You were all bloodied up, your face was more colorful then a rainbow with all the bruising!" she chuckled.

"Not to mention all the broken bones!" Rhea exclaimed, now moving to Siobhan's right leg. "Nose, collarbone, left leg, fractures on both arms, fractured ribs and chipped teeth."

Siobhan gaped at her.

"My teeth?! Are they better?" she cried as the nurses chuckled.

"Yes they're perfectly fine now, however they were the least of your problems," Helena said. "You punctured your right lung as well, that took two Healers to fix..."

They both rattled on for another fifteen minutes, until Siobhan decided she really needed to speak up about her grumbling stomach. They apologized most profusely before hurrying away to get her dinner. What they brought back looked horribly like mushed baby food. It didn't smell all that good either. Siobhan was just putting a spoon into the disgusting stuff when her family came through the ward door.

"Mum! Dad!" Siobhan cried, dropping the spoon and totally forgetting about food. Ginny ran to her daughter, laden with flowers.

"Honey!" she sobbed, throwing her arms around Siobhan, kissing her forehead.

"Ah-um-OW! Mum gerroff me, you're squashing me...my head!"

"Weasley stop squashing our daughter," Draco said, moving around to the other side of the bed. Ginny released Siobhan, which allowed her to see everybody else who had come in. Daymeon came forward, holding a box of sweets.

"Here catch." He threw the sweets at Siobhan who just managed to grasp them before they landed in the mushy tray food. "You look like cra-."

"Daymeon!" Ginny said sharply.

"Sorry," he smirked sitting down next to his mother.

"She's been unconscious for over a week you prat," Ella said hugging her older sister. "Do you really think she's going to look like a super model?"

"What do you mean," Daymeon asked in mocked confusion, "Siobhan never looks like a model!" Draco bit back a smirk at his son's comment, unfortunately Ginny saw.

"He's you all over again Malfoy," she frowned and rolled her eyes.

"He's you all over again Malfoy," she frowned and rolled her eyes. "So how are you feeling sweetheart?" Ginny asked her daughter, her expression changing in an instant.

"Bad."

"You fell 12 meters from a broom," Daymeon pointed out.

"Yes no thanks to Potter's daft son," Draco growled. Ginny gave him a stern look.

"I don't know how many times we've been over this Malfoy," she said, "it was an accident."

"As you said, we've talked about it many times Weasley," he retorted, "but still nobody seems to be able to tell me why exactly the little idiot was kicking the quaffle. I thought that in a game of Quidditch, you were meant to catch and pass it." He finished sarcastically. Ginny let out a quiet scream of frustration, she looked ready to kill but before she could open her mouth, Healer Meddings was back.

"Excuse me everybody." She said. Draco looked to the ceiling and rolled his eyes, praying for patience. Good though this woman was, her questions, queries and announcements over the past week had quickly grated on Draco's nerves. She spoke as though she alone held the gift to bloody life!

"I'm just going to briefly go over Siobhan's injuries," Healer Meddings continued, "and possibly give you a rough idea of when we might allow her to go home."

Draco fixed the plump woman with a glare.

"If you must," he said coldly. Ginny shot daggers at him as the Healer huffed indignantly. She then went on to list every one of Siobhan's injuries; from her broken left leg to her three chipped teeth.

"Correct me if I'm mistaken," Draco cut in after several minutes of listening to Meddings, "but didn't you tell us all this two days ago?" he raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Draco," Ginny hissed. She then turned back to Meddings with a falsely bright smile.

"We appreciate everything you've done for us Reihma." Ginny said "Is their any chance that Siobhan can come home in the next few days?"

Healer Meddings, who was still shocked at Draco's rudeness, blinked and switched her gaze to Ginny.

"I would say give her two more days, I still need to look at her back."

"Thank-you" Ginny replied, Meddings nodded curtly.

"I'll be back to check on you tomorrow morning Siobhan" she said with a smile. "Visiting hours are almost up, might I add. Twenty minutes." Meddings gave another nod before exiting the ward.

Ginny rounded on her husband.

"That was disgustingly rude Draco! The poor woman!" Draco however, looked totally unconcerned and instead he turned to Siobhan.

"What's this about your back?" he asked. Siobhan shrugged.

"It's just really stiff, I can't really move around"

"Have they given you anything for it?" Ginny interjected, her bad mod now replaced with concern for her eldest child. Siobhan nodded towards the Potion drip. Draco stood up to examine it more closely.

"What do you think it is Draco?" Ginny asked, knowing the flair he had for potions.

"Some sort of abate, for the muscles would be my guess."

"A what?" Ella asked.

"A potion that will help loosen the muscles in Siobhan's back," Ginny translated.

"Oh."

Ginny took out her wand and magicked the flowers she had been carrying into a vase and onto the little table besides Siobhan's bed.

"Much better," she said, "We were going to bring them in earlier but thought it was a bit pointless." She pulled her daughter into another hug. Daymeon took the chance to steal a Chocolate Frog.

"So tell me, what's been happening," Siobhan said, pulling away from her mother.

"Mum and Dad brought a house," Ella blurted out before she could stop herself. Daymeon gave her a furious look.

"Idiot," he muttered.

"What?" Ella snapped, "It's true!"

"You have no tact," Daymeon said, shaking his head.

Siobhan looked at her parents, while her younger siblings sniped at each other.

"We moved out of the Burrow a few days ago." Ginny said, "The new place is really great."

"It's massive," Ella said excitedly, turning away from her fight with Daymeon. "Four floors and all the bedrooms have ensuites...it's so cool."

"Ella just likes it because of our next-door neighbours," Daymeon said evilly, watching his sister flush. Siobhan raised an eyebrow.

"Really?" She said. Siobhan waited until her mother and father had started talking again, before leaning in closer to her brother.

"Before you spill anymore secrets," she said in an undertone, "let me just remind you about what I found under your bed last month."

Daymeon glared at her, gray eyes blazing.

"That's blackmail!" he spat angrily.

"I know!" Siobhan smiled smugly, thinking of all the magazines which certainly did not contain recipes on chocolate cookies.

It was great being the eldest. You had so much power.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"She seems in good spirits," Ginny said happily as they left the ward and headed back to the hospital lobby.

"Too cheerful I think," Daymeon muttered crossly.

"What's your problem," Ella asked.

"Nothing so shutup."

"Oooh touchy-touchy," she taunted

"That's enough!" Draco snarled, and they didn't dare speak another word.

They followed their parents back along the ground floor, (Artefact Accidents), and into the reception area. Ginny led them across the other side to a smaller adjoining room filled with fireplaces.

"Are we going home by Floo?" Ella asked her mother quietly.

"Yes. Draco did you bring any powder?"

Draco shook his head. "I'll go buy some from the reception desk." He turned on his heel and walked off. He approached the tired looking witch on the front desk whom he had come to known as Azlin.

"Mr Malfoy," she said, greeting him with a small smile. "How's Siobhan doing? I heard she's awake now?" Draco inclined his head very slightly.

"You need help with anything in particular Mr Malfoy?" Azlin asked.

"Just a bag of Floo Powder."

She reached under the desk and pulled up a small, black tasseled bag.

"Five Galleons."

Draco paid and began to walk away.

"Oh wait right there Mr Malfoy," Azlin said quickly, "I have something else for you." She hurried into a back room and reappeared a minute later holding a folded bit of scrap parchment. She handed it to Draco.

"I don't where in blazes it came from, but it was just sitting on the table in there after I came back from my break.."

"Thank you Azlin." Draco said.

"Don't mention it Mr Malfoy. Goodnight then." She hurried over to an old wizard who had just arrived, his hat seemed to be alive and attempting to suffocate him.

"Oh not again Mr Finsnell," Draco heard Azlin say, "we told you to have it destroyed!"

Draco walked slowly back to the Floo room, his gray eyes fixed on the dirty bit of parchment. On the front, written in red and scrawled very shakily was his name.

Draco L . Malfoy

Draco unfolded it apprehensively. His eyes met three words.

Welcome back...son.

He stopped dead in his tracks, his head snapped up as though he was expecting Lucius to be somewhere in the room.

"DAD! What are you doing? Hurry up, I want to go home." Daymeon had poked his head out of the Floo room. Draco quickly hid the bit of parchment from sight and walked back into the room. He watched as one by one Ginny, Ella and Daymeon took a pinch of Floo powder, stepped into the green flames and disappeared. Finally he was on his own. He took out the bit of parchment once more, stared at it and sneered.

"Playing mind games are we father?" Draco said quietly. He ran his fingers lightly over the words. Then quite suddenly he crushed the parchment in his fist and threw it from him. It landed in the grate of a fire. Draco whipped out his wand.

"Incendio!" he muttered.

He sneered again as the parchment burst into flame.

"Mind games," Draco said, watching as the message furled black, "my absolute favourite."

*~~**~~**~~*

Siobhan left St Mungo's two days later. They would have to have been the most boring couple of days in her entire life. Her family visited every day but didn't stay all that long, having to reorganize everything in the new house. Her father had told her it was in an entire wizarding estate, one of only a few in Britain and that they were five houses up from the Potters and mere streets away from many of their cousins. Siobhan relished in the fact of being around more wizards and witches her age, save from Gye Potter who surprisingly turned up for a visit with his family, although spent more than half the time flirting with a young blonde nurse. James was growing on Siobhan, he was a mischievous child with the curiosity to kill at least multiple cats. It was obvious he didn't hang around with girls too much (unlike his man-whore brother), because he kept relatively quiet during the visit and only answered Siobhan with 'Yeh's or 'Nah's'.

Blaise had apologized for the accident while Harry went to drag his son away from the giggling blonde. The Potters left, Gye only having said one short sentence to Siobhan after Harry brought him back from the nurse.

"Huh...what?" he had said, "Oh yeh! Sorry about all that."

Siobhan was ready to grab him by the collar, shake him and scream in his face. After broken bones, a punctured lung, a week of unconsciousness, chipped teeth, bleeding and bruising all he could say was "Sorry about all that". Grrrrr. He made her so angry! She actually had to clench her fists when she saw him, so her longing to strangle him wasn't noticed. Healer Meddings didn't return, instead Healer Augustus Pye came in to look at her back. Siobhan asked him where Meddings was, he said she was on her break, but Siobhan knew it was probably because of her father's rudeness. Pye gave her a dose of clear potion and was just leaving the ward when Molly, Arthur, Hermione, Ben and the twins came though.

"Augustus Pye!" Arthur exclaimed

"Why if it isn't Arthur Weasley!" Healer Pye beamed, shaking Arthur's hand, "And Molly! Lovely to see you again."

"I hope you're not trying to stitch my granddaughter up."

Pye flushed slightly.

"Don't mind Molly," Hermione spoke up, "we're just here to see Siobhan Malfoy."

Pye nodded.

"Certainly, I've just seen to her. She's right as rain, leaving this afternoon I've been told."

They crowded around her, again she received flowers, cards and sweets. When the adults went to get coffee, Siobhan was left with Ben, Megen and Kieran.

"Sorry we didn't get in to see you earlier." Ben said, "We've been away at one of mum's book launches." Siobhan raised an eyebrow.

"She writes books for school kids," Kieran added, "lots of them are assigned for us at Hogwarts."

"Really? I don't know much about anyone in the family." Siobhan replied, "My mum says Hermione is a really smart witch."

Kieran rolled his eyes. "She is, but its so annoying! Any piece of homework we do on the holidays, she wants to check. She doesn't trust dad to pick up spelling mistakes or anything, she just does it all herself."

Megen nodded, her brown hair bouncing on her shoulders. "Its true," she moaned, "and this year is going to be worse than ever with our OWLs!"

"She wasn't that bad." Ben said indignantly, "I survived!"

"Only because mum sent thirty pages of her own revision notes for you," Kieran shot back .

*~*~~*~~*~*

When her parents came to take her home that afternoon, Siobhan literally sprang from the bed.

"That happy to see us?" her father asked. Siobhan rolled her eyes

"As if! Can we just go? I can't stand this place for a second longer." Together they walked back to the reception area, where Draco and Ginny spent a good ten minutes filling in parchments and finalizing the medical bills. Finally they were free to go.

"Right Siobhan you go first." Ginny said, handing her daughter some Floo powder. "You need to say 58 Witterman Terrace, that's our new address."

Siobhan did exactly that and in a flash she was spinning along the Floo Network, catching glimpses of other fireplaces as she whizzed past. As she slowed down, Siobhan put her arms out in front of her, just before she stopped completely and fell out onto a dark marble fire place. Siobhan stood up dizzily and saw Ella and Daymeon come racing down a flight of elegant polished stairs. There was two tiny pops as Draco and Ginny apparated into the room.

"What do you think Sib?" Ella asked grinning widely, "The house is huge!"

Siobhan looked around, trying to take in the house that had now become her home.

___ To Be Continued ___