Who Followed Who?

Ginny awoke to sunlight streaming in her bedroom window. She stretched languidly, enjoying the feel of the satiny sheets against her skin, and smiled to herself. She'd thought that the first morning waking up in a strange home, in a strange bed, would make her feel disoriented, but she didn't feel that way at all. She felt pampered.

She pushed the covers off and rose from the bed. She grabbed some necessary items from the suitcase she hadn't totally unpacked yet and headed towards the bathroom that was attached to her room. After completing her morning libations, she dressed and made her bed. Convinced she'd done a decent job of tidying up her room, she headed out into the hallway.

The delicious smell of bacon wafted through the corridors, leading her to the dining room with little difficulty. When she entered, she found that Narcissa and Lucius were already awake and eating, but Draco was nowhere to be seen. She was struck with sudden shyness. She was used to Draco and his sometimes abrasive personality, but she was not used to his parents. She'd spent time with Narcissa and was comfortable with her, but was uncertain as to how she should act around Lucius.

He looked up and smiled warmly at her, causing her uncertainty to melt away. She smiled back and stepped towards the table.

"Good morning, Ginevra," he said, folding the copy of the Daily Prophet that he'd been reading. "I hope you slept well." She sat near Narcissa, who smiled broadly at her.

"I did," she admitted, nodding. "I think that was the best night of sleep I've ever had, to be honest." She helped herself to some bacon and eggs, and then began buttering a piece of toast.

"I must apologize for Draco's absence," Narcissa said, her brow knitting slightly as she frowned. "It's not like him to miss breakfast." As if on cue, a very rumpled, very groggy looking Draco entered the room and sat down heavily next to his father. "Darling, are you quite all right?" Narcissa asked, concern etched all over her face.

"Fine," he said edgily. "I just didn't sleep very well, is all."

"So," Lucius began, shooting his wife a knowing look across the table. "What plans do you have for today?"

"None," Draco mumbled, reaching for his mug of chocolate. He sniffed it gingerly, and then raised his eyes to look at Ginny for the first time. "Did you make this chocolate?" She blinked.

"No." She watched with great curiosity as he replaced the mug on the table without taking a drink and reached for the carafe of juice instead. Narcissa had to take a bite of toast to hide her smile.

"Any ideas as to what you might be doing? Are you going to go out at all?" Lucius persisted. Draco sighed quietly.

"I will, Father, if you need me to run some errands for you."

"Actually, I don't need anything today," Lucius said, sipping his coffee. He eyed Ginny over the rim, noting how the color rose high in her cheeks every time she snuck a glance at his son. "I was just wondering if you had plans with Ginevra today. I believe your Mother wanted to spend some time with her as well." Draco's eyes shot up to look at his Mother.

"But she just got here," he protested quickly. Narcissa put on her best innocent look, and shrugged gently.

"It doesn't have to be today," she granted. "But at some point, I would like to spend some time alone with her. We have much to discuss."

"Like what?" he asked suspiciously.

"Well, the wedding, for one."

"What's to discuss? She's already selected a dress to wear, and you said that that was the most important thing," he said, spreading a thick layer of jam on a piece of toast.

"I think she needs to be prepared for the reactions of the other people in attendance," Narcissa said gently, smiling at Ginny. Ginny stared down at her half-full plate of food, trying to ignore the unpleasant sensation of her heart jumping around inside her chest. Draco stiffened.

"What do you mean, the reactions of the other guests?"

"Darling," she said soothingly. "You know what the other guests think about her family. She's going to need to know what's coming, so she can be prepared for it."

"What?" he asked shrilly, his face turning slightly pink in his anger. "Surely no one would dare say anything to her while she's with us!"

"Not when we are within earshot, certainly not," Narcissa agreed. "But we won't be able to be by her side every moment during the ceremony and reception to defend her, so she's going to have to know how to -"

"I will stay with her," Draco interrupted angrily. Ginny stared at him until he turned his eyes to her. When he caught her staring, she dropped her eyes back to her food, confused. Draco was willing to stand up for her? Why?

"Well, now that that's settled," Lucius said pleasantly. "Perhaps you have in mind something to do today, after all? Perhaps Ginevra would like to continue her tour of the Manor and familiarize herself with it?"

"No, we can do that later," Draco said dismissively. "I think I might take her out on the grounds and show her around the stables." Narcissa and her husband exchanged surprised looks. Draco had never even taken his closest friends out there, but now he was taking Ginny Weasley, a girl he'd hated for most of his life, and barely even knew? Ginny's eyes lit up.

"Stables?" she asked excitedly. The faintest glimmer of a smile began on Draco's face, and he nodded.

"If you want to see them, that is," he offered. She nodded.

"Of course I want to see them," she said. Breakfast was finished in amicable silence, and when Ginny had finished eating, Draco stood.

"Ready, then?" She nodded and rose from her chair, pushing it back in as she followed him from the room. Narcissa turned wide eyes to her husband.

"He's taking her to the stables? Perhaps this is more serious than I'd originally thought, Lucius." Her husband smiled gently at her.

"I thought you liked the girl, Cissa," he said. She nodded.

"I do, Darling, but I must admit that I'm rather surprised at the pace that they seem to be growing close. You remember how Draco cut everyone off and pushed people away after that horrible Greengrass trollop. It just surprises me that this girl has broken through that wall already."

"This girl has something," Lucius said, shaking his head slowly. "You're right. It's amazing that she's managed to do what we've tried and failed at for so long, but Cissa, it's exciting, too. Who would have thought a Weasley, of all people, would turn out to be the one? She has so many facets, it's easy to see why Draco is interested. She knows fine art, which we both know is a subject near to his heart. And to think, all of this started with her practicing Ceromancy."

"It is exciting, isn't it?" Narcissa agreed, smiling broadly. "It's so good to finally see him truly happy again. Oh, darling! Do you really think she's the one?"

"I didn't think so at first, but my doubts are quickly fading."

"And you don't mind the fact that she's a Weasley?"

"I don't mind it now. The girl has a mind of her own, and seems to have a decent head on her shoulders. At any rate she's been dabbling in the dark arts when her father clearly disapproves of it, which means that she'd be understanding to our family and Draco. She hasn't told Potter or anyone else that I'm actually still in the Manor, and she defended our son to his face, so she can be trusted. The more I learn, the more convinced I am that she would make an excellent addition to this family." Narcissa squealed excitedly and giggled.

"How lovely it would be if they married right away and began having children!"

"Cissa, don't push too fast," he laughed. "They've only begun getting acquainted. I have no doubt that once Draco realizes how very special she is, he'll decide he has to have her. Why, you saw how he reacted this morning when you said you wanted to be alone with her. Whether he knows it or not, he's already protective of the girl. I'd be interested to know what her family is going to say when they hear of the events unfolding here."

"Oh." Narcissa's face fell. "I'd almost forgotten about her family. Is she close to them?"

"To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure. I'd always thought they were a tight knit group, but if she's strayed from the pack..." his voice trailed off, and he shrugged.

"I just hope that Draco doesn't let his insecurities get the best of him, as he has a tendency to do so often as of late," she lamented, rising from her seat.

"No, Cissa," Lucius murmured, rising from his own chair, and wrapping her in a tight embrace. "I believe this girl is just what he needs to bring his confidence back."