Will I

CHAPTER-13

As the next few days flew past, Ginny kept praying to Merlin to grant Draco enough leaves to accompany her to the party. All of her brothers were going to arrive with their families, though Bill and Charlie had to leave early the second morning. She was in no mood to go there unaccompanied when everybody would be with their partners. She was especially reluctant because of Harriet, who had now picked up a nasty habit of shooting Ginny stringent smirks whenever she saw her alone in the vicinity of Ron and Hermione (Ginny suspected it was related indirectly to Harry, who was always there) and she didn't want to spend those seven days trying to tolerate that unwomanly woman. But, if she conceded to herself, she was very excited to meet her family after such a long time and easing out her tension at Fred and George's was very, very tantalising.

She didn't even know if they were going to the party which was tomorrow evening, as Draco had been busy at his office, trying to cover his job which he most probably blew up at the restaurant the other day, and always returned very late. Though, she had finally managed to keep a very heavy stone on her heart and managed to convince (well, actually threaten) Hermione to go to the party even if she didn't.

The bell rang, breaking Ginny's train of thoughts, and as quickly as she could; she opened the door and let a disheveled looking Draco enter, glaring expectantly at him. When he gave no answer, she sighed and fetched him a glass of water.

"Well, hello to you too," she muttered despondently, as Draco still made no comment to start the conversation. Suddenly a thought occurred to Ginny and confusedly she looked at her wrist watch.

It was only six in the evening. It was Friday, and Draco never returned on Friday before mid-night, as it was the busiest day of the bank, or so he said. But at present, Draco was already changed into his favourite (and for Ginny -the most amusing) casual -a white shirt, with sleeves rolled up to arms and his black shorts which exclaimed -"SLYTHERIN ROCKS" in silver embroidery. This quirked Ginny.

"You're early," she commented sitting beside him, "did you get a leave?"

He was slumped on the sofa with his eyes closed in misery. "Yes," he said shortly. He sounded appallingly depressed.

"How long?"

He looked at her, pretending to think. "How long will it take to find a replacement for me? I think two weeks, so I guess two weeks it is."

"There's no need for being so snotty with me!"

"Sorry. From tomorrow."

"Good," she said brusquely ad pulled his arm resolutely, motioning him to stand. He obeyed, still looking crestfallen. She picked up the keys of his car and handed them to him, trying not to show him her excitement. "We have an appointment with my Healer at St. Mungo's." Draco quietly followed her down and drove her to the hospital and to her Healer.

"Hi Ginny. You're half an hour late, but luckily I'm free," chirped Joyce, her young Healer happily as she entered her office. Then she noticed Draco. "I see you've a company with you today. I'm Joyce -Ginny's Healer. Pleasure to meet you Mr. Malfoy!" She laughed as Draco seemed surprised. "Don't look surprised I recognised you. Anybody would, with your almost white blond hair and that 'Slytherin Rocks' shorts." She pointed amusedly. Draco also laughed heartily at the joke, but his cheeks turned a very light pink as he realized that he was still wearing his shorts. "If you would please wait here, we'll return after a few minutes." She took Ginny behind the curtains and actually returned back after a quick check-up.

"Everything alright I presume," he said casually when they did.

"Yes, its normal -except for the high blood-pressure I'm afraid," Joyce replied a little worriedly, her eye-brows furrowed. "I've tried potions but it seems they are not working. But no need to worry that much," she said hurriedly and turned to Ginny, "you just need to concentrate on your Weasley temper and your train of dull thoughts -if you want a healthy and less painful birth for your baby."

Draco interrupted thoughtfully, "With that if I may ask, have you made a test for a possibility of twins or triplets maybe, considering the unusual...um..." he faltered uncomfortably and Ginny snickered.

"-bulge?" Joyce supplied helpfully and laughed as Draco nodded. "Well, even Ron asked me the same question probably every time he brought Ginny here. And I'll assure you also, we have checked. It's only a single healthy girl.

"Now if you two don't mind, I have a patient waiting outside," she said, glancing at the intercom box, which was flashing and picked up a bottle from the cabinet beside her table. "Take this a spoonful every morning to help you for the swelling in your legs. And no sugar with this." She handed it to her and ushered them hurriedly out, while at the same time ushering in her other patient.

"She's some Healer," muttered Draco as they sat in the car back. Ginny laughed.

"Yeah, and imagine -she's just twenty."

They reached back to their apartments after a few minutes. Luckily for Ginny, Draco was cheered considerably (or rather pretended to), so he quickly packed their lodgings for the next two weeks and together cooked their dinner, which clumsily consisted of only cheese omelettes, orange juice and popcorns, followed by a muggle movie. It was after midnight when they finished their movie and it was only then that Ginny felt that Draco was no longer pretending cheerfulness. Please, let Draco be normal in the party, was her last prayer as she slept cosily in Draco's apartment's guest room.

What she didn't realise was that she didn't specify Draco's normal behaviour.

***

"HI, WEASLEYS!!!" Ginny shouted happily as she rushed in.

"Hi, Aunt Ginny!" roared the kids and together ran towards her. She gave them all a huge bear hug. And turn-by-turn she gave them their gifts, picking them by their fathers' order. First in the line was Bill and Fleur's son (first one was Arthur-in his second year) Brad and their daughter Samantha. Then were Charlie and his wife Noel's two sets of twins -Mark and Slade, nine and Percy and Richard, five (though his new born girl, only three months old, Ginny, was in Noel's arms). After that she handed the respective gifts to Fred and Alicia's two sons Harry, eight and Sean, seven and their daughter Laura, four. Next and presently last in line were George and Angelina's twins, Bryony and Angelina, eight and son Sam, five. Recently Fred and George had confided in her that they were eager to expand their family. She shuddered at the thought of fourteen children, later accompanied by her and Ron's children, running and playing at the burrow. Imagine what would happen if Fred and George were indeed serious!

As they were getting restless with their gifts, Noel and Hermione wittingly ushered them out into the beach to play. Ginny then took a deep breath of relief and went to her sisters-in-law. Fleur quickly came to her and gave her usual airy kiss on both the cheeks. Noel was warmer though, adding it with a nice hug. Ginny adoringly coo-ed at her goddaughter and her name-sake and moved on to greet Alicia and Angelina. Just then Ron and Hermione emerged from the kitchen, bickering, which Ginny came to know later was on Ron's habit of talking while eating. She just rolled her eyes at them and greeted her brothers with her usual wave and quickly rushed for her father, who was patiently waiting for his chance.

"Hi Da," she said lovingly as she hugged him. "Where's Ma?"

"Here, Ginny!" came the fond reply from the stairs, which Molly Weasley was descending to greet her daughter.

And then Ron proved his thickness. Even before Mrs. Weasley had descended the stairs, he called over loudly for her, even though they were not that far away, "Fred and George told me you'll be having your boyfriend with us during these days?"

If looks could kill, Fred and George would've been dead before Ron even finished his sentence. Hermione elbowed Ron for his insensitive time-picking for such a question, but Ron as usual took it for wrong. "What? I didn't have food in my mouth when I asked her!"

Ginny scanned the room for the stares (or preferably interested gazes), directed towards her. Even Bill, who was always lenient in her favour in the cases of her boyfriends, had his eye-brows in danger of getting lost in his long hair. Charlie had stopped reading the Daily Prophet and was looking at everybody, particularly at her with interest. Fred and George were trying to give her their best 'We-didn't-do-anything' look accompanied by the puppy-dog eyes. Her father looked amused while her mother looked inquisitive. Her sisters-in-law looked ....they looked normal. Only Hermione, who probably knew the answer, looked at her apprehensively.

She cleared her throat to speak and opened her mouth to speak, when her 'boyfriend' spoke for her, making a dramatic (and farce, Ginny suspected) appearance.

"Apparently... Weasley No...6, aren't you?" He pretended to count off his fingers. "Yes, 6 it is. Apparently Ginny has much better choice than yours in the field of boy-friends," he remarked, snickering, "Lavendar Brown, Ha!"

Take a deep breath, Ginny thought resolutely as Draco made that comment and Ron turned red, but didn't punch him only because of Hermione. Look at Fred and George, they're the least likely to make a scene. Now just sit back and wait for the pandemonium.

There was none. Silence prevailed in which she felt her heart beat hard in her chest. One- two- three- four beats, and then George spoke, "Wait, are you serious?"

Despite the tension in her chest, Ginny laughed, a quick, breathless sound. "Yes, I'm serious." She felt a bit relieved. Everything was so still that she allowed herself to believe everyone was taking it calmly.

Unfortunately, she was dreadfully wrong, she realized a second too late as her mother dropped the glass of water she was holding.

That was the catalyst. Instantly the air was full of the sound of several dozen Weasleys shouting and arguing and firing questions at her. She closed her eyes, praying to whatever deity was listening that Draco would make it out of there in one piece. She could tell Charlie was shouting, Fred and George were cheering loudly... She opened her eyes. Bill was smirking, shaking his head. Ron was frowning murderously at his wife, who was beet red and sinking lower in her chair by the second.

"You never said a word to us," Arthur Weasley observed, rather unhelpfully, but considering the circumstances Ginny thought that wasn't surprising.

"Were you invited?" Charlie asked Bill conversationally. "I wasn't invited."

"Why should you be invited? I've not married him!" Ginny cut in.

"He went to our school," Angelina was explaining to Noel, who was a Muggle, "and he was in the Order. He was kind of a... jerk then. I don't know, maybe he's changed."

"Did you know about this?" Ron fired off at Hermione, looking every moment angrier. She shrugged helplessly.

"No, I wasn't invited, but I don't think anyone was," said Bill, still smirking.

"Bill, I haven't married him, for God's sake," she interjected to her elder brothers angrily.

"Congrats," Fred said to Ginny with a grin, and in a far corner of her mind, she was very relieved to see he didn't seem upset. "With all our tricks, we've never put the family into this much of a tizzy before."

Everybody else was still shouting, even Bill and Charlie were trying their best to rile up Ron. There was pandemonium, in which her parents looked dejected at her, and her two eldest sisters-in-law looked confused about the tension, the next two glared at him due to their Hogwarts experience and the last one tried to remain impassive.

Draco casually strolled to Ginny and draped an arm over her shoulders. He leaned into her slightly.

"Don't you dare kiss her, Malfoy!" Ron hollered, pointing his finger dangerously.

Hermione turned him towards her sharply. "Ron, is this how talk to-"

"See," Draco whispered in her ear, eyeing Ron and Hermione fighting, amusedly. "Keep this shocked expression on your face for a minute more, and your brothers will actually kick me out the muggle way, thinking I forced you to bring me."

Ginny came out of her trance and looked at Draco feebly. He sighed dramatically and pulled out his wand lazily, issuing a big, huge BANG! from his wand. The room fell silent again.

Ginny flashed a brilliant but totally false smile to all the occupants of the rooms.

"Why Ginny?" her mother finally broke the quiet that seemed to be new manner the Weasley family was trying hard to learn. Her voice was trembling.

Ginny nodded her head, indicating she understood the flow her mother was taking. "Ok," she started, clearing her throat and scanning the room once again, suddenly noticing Harry's absence, but putting it away for the moment. "Let me now make myself clear. You must be thinking that I've finally gone over the cliff, that too at such an early age. Ma and Da," she addressed her parents. "You don't need to fret so much; I am not on the verge of announcing my marriage to Draco here. And..." She flayed her arms suddenly in exasperation. "What even if I am to? Come on everybody, you have to accept the fact that though he can be a git when he wants to," she said and grinned affectionately at Draco, who scowled indignantly. "Draco is the only reason why our family is so intact...alive... our only casualty being Percy.

"He is the one who after Snape died gave the Order most insight on the way Voldemort works and his plans, when we most needed it after Dumbledore's death. Ask Harry and he'll convince you with enough proof," she said emphatically, trying to curb the sudden inner voice in her head, when he will be the most difficult person to convince.

"He's a Slytherin, for Merlin's sake!" Ron interjected angrily.

"SO WHAT?" Ginny shot back. "May I remind you for that very reason Ronald Weasley, that Peter Pettigrew was a Gryffindor?"

"But -but...his father was a goddamn Death Eater -a Death Eater who -who gave you that diary in your first year at Hogwarts," he retorted back, pointing a finger at Malfoy. "And he's as bad as his father."

Ginny immediately felt Draco's muscle tensing under her hands. She pressed it hard and looked coldly at Ron, furious at him for even suggesting and bringing out that topic. "Well, I may point out the fact to you, which you yourself unnecessarily pointed out my brother, that it was his father -and not him who handed me the diary." She gave him the cold stare, accompanied by the ice cold tone -a trademark of Harry.

She resisted smirking when she saw Ron shrinking back a fraction. "And have you forgotten that he saved my life that last night, when I would've easily jumped myself in front of a Killing Curse happily, and brought me back to The Burrow!" She watched as Ron drank water to stop himself a retort and then she played her trump card. "Accept it brother, Draco's as good as you and me."

Ron gulped water in surprise and coughed violently and Bill grinned at Ginny in amusement, to which Ginny gave no reply. Her mother still looked a bit pale.

Ron still looked unconvinced and opened his mouth to retort when both Mr. Weasley and Hermione interrupted him together.

"Now, there, dear,"

"Of course he didn't mean that-"

Hermione nodded to him, so Mr. Weasley continued, patting his son's hand. "Calm down, Ron. Ginny wouldn't date anyone evil, now would she?"

"Besides," Bill said with a smile, "Draco isn't exactly evil, as Ginny pointed out. I've worked with him at on Order work; he's bloody brilliant with the hexes and at his job in general."

Ginny gave a grateful smile to Bill, while Ron looked scandalous.

"Of course," Bill added, picking up his knife to work at the bread and butter on his plate, "that doesn't mean he won't lose the ability to father children if he hurts Ginny in any way."

"I second that," Ron said, relieved, his voice carrying from the other end of the room. Fred, George, and Charlie agreed as well.

Ginny clapped her hands once, to gather the attention back. "First of all, stop treating as if we're a married couple. He's just a friend whom I brought here to meet my family. And secondly, let me tell you all now itself. If you have any problem with him still, inform me now, and we'll leave this instant."

Nobody said anything so Ginny for the third time, gauged their expressions and body language. Her parents looked relenting, Bill looked amused and encouraging, Charlie looked still somewhat reserved on his judgement -on the verge of trust, Fred and George gave her an enthusiastic grin, Ron looked ready to kill him and Hermione looked calm enough. Most humorous were the faces of her other sisters-in-law, who still looked extremely confused (even Angelina and Alicia) at the tension that still hung in the air.

Ron went to the door past them, brushing Draco roughly with his shoulder, in the process of taking out his mobile phone. No doubt to call Harry, Ginny thought.

Draco gave everybody a terrific smile, which Ginny knew for sure was pretended. "Okay now, are we going to continue staring at me like I'm a Heliopath, or better 'an-imagination-come-true' of Luna Lovegood?"

Bill and Charlie snickered heartily at it while Fred and George grinned even more widely. "Or is someone going to show us our room?" He clearly left the plural, even though Ron wasn't there and waved his wand, lifting the luggage. "Or this place is also like The Burrow?" He looked at people. Then seeing their blank faces, added helpfully, "Are we sleeping in the kitchen?"

Ginny turned to him, shocked at his rudeness, but her twin brothers jumped forwards.

"Surely you don't have to-" started Fred.

"We'll show you the way," joined George and they both stooped in a bow just like a lowly elf.

"After all you are our guest!"

"Follow us." Fred and George looked at each other for second, a look passing between them and then started marching away from them.

Ginny and Draco followed them, while the rest of the family continued their works.

Draco leant towards Ginny. "They give me creeps sometimes. Do they have to always finish each other's sentences? Is neither of them capable to complete their own?"

Ginny just grinned at him. They finally stopped in front of the room at the far end of the living room.

"This is Ginny, your room!" Fred announced.

"You are not staying in this room, Draco!" Fred pointed out as Draco slumped comfortably on the bed and Ginny joined him.

Draco raised his eye brows. "Then where? In the attic? Ginny told me you two were rather attached to the ghoul at The Burrow -planning to make our acquaintance?"

George pretended to think. "No -our ghoul is rather choosy -he doesn't particularly have an affection towards ferrets-"

"-But that's not the point," joined in Fred. "Of course you two love birds-"

"-Friends," cut in Ginny warningly.

George nodded solemnly. "You won't want to stay at a distance of a floor-" he said.

"- and you understand Malfoy, we can't let you alone with our sister,"

"-our brother instinct."

"So you'll be sharing exactly the opposite room-"

"-with Harry," George finished, grinning gleefully.

Draco did a high five in the air. "Yepi! That'll be fun!" he remarked caustically.

Ginny however looked at them. "Isn't Harriet staying with Harry?"

Fred shook his head. "No. She isn't free,"

"-though she'll gratify us by joining us for dinner. In fact, they must be arriving soon."

"Where are Ron and Hermione?" she asked, again.

"Room beside Harry's."

Draco scoffed, but made no effort to move even when Fred and George looked at him pointedly.

"What?" he finally asked them. "Oh, you want to carry my luggage to the room? Sure you do that -but mind it, there's some delicate stuff inside, so be careful."

Fred saluted him smartly. "Sure, Mr. Malfoy!"

Fred and George had just lifted his suitcase when Draco asked surprised, "Wait. Aren't you going to finish his sentence?" He pointed to George and then to Fred.

Fred and George took his lead and both of them grinned. "We regret that we never worked together in the Order. We'll get on nicely Malfoy!" George said and heartily shook hands with him.

Draco smiled for the first time since he arrived there. "I'm glad."

"Well, the dinner will be served at nine-" stated George.

"-so you may enjoy on the beach by that time," finished Fred and all the three men grinned.

"At least they really haven't given me the attic," Draco said gratefully, as soon as Fred and George were out of earshot.

"How do you know?"

"Wouldn't give their darling, lovey-dovey Harry attic to live in?"

Ginny grinned. "Point!" she turned to him sharply and gave a huge punch on his arm. "Tell me, do you really have to be such a prat? Can't you-"

"Well, you prayed yesterday for a normal Draco. And the only normal Draco your family know is this," Draco cut in.

"Um, I guess you're right."

Draco laughed and leant in to tickle her. She was shifting back slightly when the door was opened unceremoniously and Harry stopped at the door, his belongings in his hands. He raised his eye-brows and said nothing.

"Do you really have to stay here darling? Surely we can apparate to your place as soon as the dinner gets-" Harriet joined him but stopped in mid-sentence, noticing Ginny and Draco, with latter bending over the former in a misleading position. Ginny blushed, but Draco reluctantly moved back, and to Ginny's extreme confusion, making a great show of it.

"It seems like I misunderstood the room," Harry apologized.

"Yes Potter, you have." Harry looked up sharply at the old addressing word Draco used for him. "This is Ginny's room -while ours is the front one." He pointed it out to Harry unnecessarily.

Harry raised his eye-brows in surprise. "Our room, Malfoy?"

"Yes," Draco said but couldn't continue as Harriet made a sour face at them and pulled Harry back, shutting the door with a sounding bang.

Ginny and Draco remained silent for a long time. He then made an attempt to start the conversation. "Let's walk on the beach."

But Ginny lost all her will to roam freely on the beach when she saw Harry and Harriet kissing passionately just outside her room. And sure they were in a very compromising position. All of Harry's possessions lying forgotten on the floor, Harriet had Harry pinned to the wall and was kissing him fiercely -with him responding with equal fervour. Her one hand playing at Harry's hair and the other pined between his back and the wall. Even Harry was enjoying it to full extent, with him pulling Harriet hard towards him at her waist.

Harriet freed her arm from his behind and started tugging his shirt out of his jeans. Harry had grabbed her wrist and things were looking like they were going out of control when Draco coughed lightly but clearly, breaking their... intimate kiss.

While Harry jerked back instantly, resulting in his head hitting the wall, Harriet moved back a bit halfheartedly. Harry was dishevelled and flushed, his cheeks a lovely pink from the...Ginny tried to stop her train of thoughts, but still couldn't contain herself from noticing that he was breathing very hard and looking straight at her. This made Ginny realise that she was staring at him too, so she quickly looked at Draco, who was smirking.

He put a hand on his throat and said sardonically, "Sorry, bad throat. Always goes this way at the wrong times," and cleared his throat again as if to prove the point.

Harriet scoffed at him and grabbed Harry's wrist, nearly dragging him to Harry's room. There was a loud bang of the doors closing.

Draco shook his head and laughed. He looked once at Ginny and rolled his eyes, pulling her towards the beach, where they walked bare feet for a very long time, talking and laughing as they recounted some happy memories.

They were gazing dreamily into the sunset, when Samantha, running came to them. Panting, she stood their watching Draco for several minutes.

Ginny looked at both of them. "Sam, you wanted to say something?" she addressed the little girl, when Draco looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Er-yes," she panted and continued, "Father and uncles are playing Quidditch in about an hour, here on the beach. So Uncle Charlie sent me here to ask if you want to play too. Uncle Ron says you play terrible and won't dare insult yourself in front of us!" she added in a rush. "Do you have a broomstick?" she asked as an afterthought.

Draco smirked. He patted Samantha on her head and she blushed. "Ok then, let's see who plays better. Reply to Charlie that I have my own broomstick and will join them in fifteen minutes." Samantha ran back as soon as he finished.

"What was that?" Ginny asked, referring to Samantha.

Draco's smirk widened, looking almost like a grin. He smoothed his ruffled hair as he replied, "I think your niece just took a liking to me. Let's see what your brother says to this."

Ginny rolled her eyes at his vain remark. "But you are not really going to play, are you? You just said that to rile up Ron, didn't you?" She didn't let Draco reply and continued her ranting, "Besides, you really used to play terrible in Hogwarts!"

Draco made a sour face at her at her last comment. "Thanks for your praise! That really boosted my spirits. And to tell you the truth, I wasted all my matches against Gryffindor annoying Harry and later, your brother. Other matches -I caught the snitch in almost all matches," he informed her smugly. "So stuff it. Besides..."

Ginny just grinned and suddenly Draco grinned, donning a dream like expression, and Ginny didn't like it all...

A/N: Review!!!!