The Kingdom That Is No More

For those of you who wish to read "Thy Kingdom Come" first, which I truly recommend...

look here

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Ginny sat silently, forlorn and tear-streaked eyes watching the countryside go by. Her husband sat across from her, but never looked her way, staring out the window as well. A light misting of rain fell to the brown and barren fields they passed, the gray sky ominous overhead. In the distance, tiny lighting flashes could be seen against the dark horizon.

On the seat across from her, a tiny motion caught her eye. Fear and panic crept back into her heart. Then, as soon as it had come, the fear was gone. It had only been her husband flicking his white-blond hair out of his cold gray eyes nonchalantly. Hatred surged in her heart then. This man was as dangerous as the ones who had killed her family and friends. She narrowed her eyes and continued to stare at nothing.

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Draco saw the emptiness of the land as well, and it only served to darken his mood. He was indignant at the thought of having to marry a Mudblood-loving little excuse for a witch, and a Weasley at that. But the curse had forced him into it. He remembered the sharp pains like daggers that shot through him as they both tried to stall, to buy time for themselves. It was the pain that made them obey the curse.

Draco turned his head slightly to see Ginny. The said Mudblood-loving excuse for a witch was more beautiful than he remembered her to be in his seventh year, during her sixth. He had never admitted it, but Virginia Weasley was not like other girls. She was so much more. Draco sighed quietly and flicked his hair out of his face.

Can't be thinking these kinds of thoughts, Draco. She's no different. You had simply run out of options. This is a Weasley, after all...

It was the same argument he had tried to convince himself with for the past five years, ever since he left Hogwarts. Her face had haunted him in dreams every now and again. But seeing her two years ago at a party had brought back all the memories. Draco pushed these thoughts from his mind. Suddenly, the image of Harry Potter flashed into his head without warning.

Draco hated Harry Potter now more than ever. It was his fault that everything was ruined. The stupid, noble little brat had gone and turned coward at the last moment. The wizarding world had been shocked. Harry Potter the Great hadn't died fighting Voldemort as all thought he would. No, he fell on his knees and begged for mercy, Draco remembered with disgust. He had been there watching, hidden behind the mask and cloak.

And still, he thought it was odd. Harry Potter would have and should have fought. Something had happened that night. Perhaps it had been a trick. Perhaps a spell or curse. Draco supposed he would never know now. Harry Potter had disappeared. Everyone else believed him dead. Draco thought that was bullshit. He wasn't dead. Draco didn't know how he knew, but he knew all the same.

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The car rolled to a stop before the gigantic Malfoy Manor. The black marble stairway up to main door was impressive, Ginny had to admit. Black marble had always been a favorite stone of hers. She liked it better than the white marble, which was always so perfect somehow. Black marble made her think of the world of despair and imperfection in which she had lived ever since the second year of Hogwarts.

The butler opened the door to the car. Draco stepped out silently. Ginny took the butler's hand, and he assisted her in climbing out. Ginny was secretly pleased as she viewed the huge mansion for the first time. She suddenly felt like a princess in a story.

Stop that, this is the Malfoy Manor you're thinking this way about! A little voice in her head shrieked. Ginny headed the warning. Taking a deep breath, she began to climb the stairs a few feet behind Malfoy. The great black doors, which had to be at least 20 feet tall, were drawing ominously closer. Somehow she knew that once she stepped into that house, things would never be the same.

Things never would be the same. Things were already completely wrong and backwards.

As she passed through the great doors, they entered a large hall. No, large wasn't really the word for it. It was enormous. The floors were a checkered black and white marble pattern, like a chessboard. Ginny's heels clicked hollowly against the floor. She looked down and smiled to see that the floors were so polished that she could see her reflection. She heard a noise of impatience from Draco. She looked up to find him on the first few steps of a large sweeping staircase. The carpet on which he stood looked soft and thick and luxurious. It was a pattern of green and silver. Ginny followed Draco up the stairs, resisting the urge to run her hand along the smooth mahogany railing, which would surely smear the polish.

At the top of the stairs ran a long corridor. Ginny felt certain that if she were to run the length of it she would get tired. A portion of it could be seen from the grand entrance hall, but most of it was dark. Large, ornate doors of dark wood Ginny couldn't name lined the hall. Only a few candles in brackets lit the hallway. It was dark and chilled her heart. Draco led her along silently. He stopped in from of the last door in the hall on the right. He turned and looked at her. His eyes were cold and gray, like always.

"This is your room. Go in and look around. You should freshen up for dinner. We'll eat in an hour. Be down in the entrance hall at seven."

He handed her a key, then abruptly turned and walked off down the corridor. She sighed and put the key into the lock. It turned easily. She pushed open the door slowly, afraid that her room would be dark and cold.

Instead, she was pleasantly surprised. The large room was bright. A merry fire roared in a huge fireplace at on end of the room. Tapestries covered the walls. In them, ladies and lords of long ago moved about, somewhat slower than in the painting she was used to, but they entranced Ginny all the same. She looked about, pleased with what she saw.

The ceilings were twenty feet, at least. They and the walls were made of the dark wood that the door was made of. They were ornately carved in the corners of the room, and the walls were smooth and glistened slightly in the firelight. On the walls hung many tapestries and pictures, adding color and life to the room. At the far end was a large fireplace with a black marble mantle, draped in a green silk. Above it was a large empty space on the wall, different from the rest of the room.

Ginny turned her attention to the bed. It was on the near side of the room. The four posters were made of a golden colored wood, polished and shiny. Ginny wondered how much polish the house elves had to use to keep this manor spotless. The coverlet was green. Ginny went to it and ran her hand over the fabric, which felt soft and pleasantly smooth. Near the bed was a vanity. She opened it, and smiled with delight when she saw the great numbers of robes she had to choose from. They were all brand new. True, they were mostly black and green, but there were many other colors as well. Ginny pulled some of them out and held them against her, studying herself in the full-length mirror. She decided on a simple but elegant robe of dark blue to wear tonight. She laid it carefully on the bed.

Ginny went towards a door near the fireplace to see were it lead. To her delight, it was a combined washroom and powder room, almost as big as her bedroom at home. The floor was white marble. So were the counter tops. There was a large vanity at one end of the room. There was an array of makeup, all arranged perfectly and neatly. There were also many drawers. The chair was gold, with a fluffy red cushion. She sat down. A woman's face appeared next to her own in the mirror.

"Hello dearest. You simply must do something about that hair."

Startled, Ginny struggled to answer.

"Well... I..."

"Oh come now dear. If you're to be Master Malfoy's new wife, then I suggest you look the part." The woman was wearing a friendly smile, so Ginny relaxed.

"How do you know about all that?"

"Oh, come on dearest, I may be flat, but I am not stupid." The woman winked. "Call me Zinnia."

Ginny smiled. "I'm Ginny."

"Is that short for Virginia?"

"Yes."

"May I call you Virginia? I love your name, it's perfectly elegant."

"Thank you. And, yes, call me Virginia. You're certainly the first to want to do so. Everyone else insisted on calling me Ginny, dreadful name."

Ginny laughed ruefully. She felt she would enjoy Zinnia's company, even if she was only a mirror. Zinnia laughed along with her.

"Now, dear, go ahead and wash your face, and then I'll show you some real magic."

Once Ginny had complied, she went and changed into her dress robes. The clock on her bedside table told her that it was 6:30. She had a half an hour. She hurried back to her dressing room, all the while enjoying the pampering and the swishy dress robes that were so soft and pretty and new.

She sat down before Zinnia, who nodded at Ginny's choice of robes.

"Blue looks lovely on you, dear."

Ginny began to apply her makeup. She had never really bothered with it before, but all her friends could talk of nothing else sometimes, so she had an idea of what she was doing. And, of course, it didn't hurt that Zinnia helped her along.

"That's right dear, only the smallest bit... Brush that on lightly, careful... No, not that color, it doesn't go with your eyes and hair."

After fifteen minutes, Ginny looked in the mirror, satisfied. She started on her hair. She pulled out her wand. Her old best friend and hair/makeup maven Melissa taught her a few little tricks. Ginny was glad she still remembered this one.

"Enrollamiento..."

Instantly, her hair twisted into elegant corkscrew curls, framing her face. Ginny's smile glowed. Usually, her hair vexed her, but tonight... Tonight, her plain red hair caught the light, and her curls shimmered and glowed golden-red. She smiled at her reflection.

Zinnia smiled back at her.

"Simply gorgeous, dear."

Ginny had to agree. She glanced in the full-length mirror one more time before slipping her wand in her pocket. Then she slid on a pair of stiletto dancing shoes made of black Italian leather. Slipping out of her room, she locked the door behind her and set off down the long hallway.

As she neared the section visible to the entrance hall, she stopped, taking a deep breath. Then, she walked slowly, and as stately as she could towards the stairs. Draco was there at the bottom. At the slight sound of her heels against the carpet, he turned. Ginny smiled to herself as she saw the wave of interest that sparked in his eyes. And she knew echoed in hers. She had not really looked at him at all during the wedding or the long car ride. Now she saw him. His hair fell in his face. Ginny suddenly realized what she had known for a long time. Draco Malfoy was devastatingly handsome.

"And I am his wife..." she realized with a jolt.

He held out his hand. She laid her gently on top of his, and he led her down the last three stairs. Ginny was relieved to find that no wave of coldness came from him, that he had an air of decency tonight. But it didn't last.

As the moved down the large hall, Draco remarked coolly, "I see you've managed to dress yourself decently, at least."

The coldness of the past rushed back between them. Ginny let go of his arm and walked beside him at a distance, her head high. She felt like an idiot for believing he could have changed even the slightest bit from their school days. She now felt sure that she would be miserable for the rest of her life. But she said none of this, showed no outward sign. She did, however, send him a burning glance out of the corner of her eyes as they neared a pair of doors open to show a ballroom with marble floors and very high ceilings. In the middle stood a long table, set for two, directly under a large crystal and gold chandelier.