Crystal Power

Chapter 16: - Consequences

"Mr Malfoy I believe we need to have a discussion now." Dumbledore's ghost stated. Draco looked at all those present in the room, the Weasleys, Potter, Granger, Snape and Dumbledore. To his surprise not one of them looked angry, he nodded dumbly.

"May we discuss this here, Professor?"

"Of course, Severus escort out guests to my office for some tea." The ghost said.

"No, I want to only have to explain this once. If Lucius can restrain himself I'd like him to be here too."

"We threw him out," the elder Weasley stated. Taking a long look at Vir's body.

"I never intended for this to happen. This summer I changed her; she grew up. Stopped being Potter's bloody lapdog. When I found her, she lashed out and thought I killed her parents, which by the way I didn't. She expected me to kill her; she was scared. I don't blame her, anyway, I gave her a room and had a gown made for her. We were having a party, to celebrate my graduation and I didn't want her to miss out. We had a fight over something trivial and she stormed out. I followed her and we talked and became friends. You." He glared at Harry before continuing. "You were so insistent that I was out to get her that she left you unceremoniously. I'm sure you remember. She stayed with me until term began and she no idea I was here. The first day of term when Snape gave her the detention and left me to run it, we talked got carried away. Then we met in secret not just to have our relationship but also to talk. I often help her with homework. Then at Christmas..." He felt extremely embarrassed telling this to his mentor, headmaster and her brothers. He looked at her closing his eyes. "At Christmas we went that step further. I didn't intend on this happening and I will resign. I apologise that I disappointed you."

Draco opened his eyes and ran a flustered hand through his hair, wincing when his fingers brushed a cut above his right eye. He gripped his paramour's hand and looked at her broken wand. A unicorn hair was sticking out of it. Everyone watched him, saying nothing.

"So, she is pregnant?" one of the twins asked.

"Quite possibly," he replied.

"Wow, our little Gin. Who'd have thought it?" the other said.

"Malfoy, she'll be all right." Granger smiled at him, going as far as to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. Raiding his head, Draco saw Dumbledores eyes hold a twinkle; Snape on the other hand was livid but silently seethed.

"Mr. Malfoy, I can see that you care deeply for Miss Weasley but cavorting with students is unacceptable. However, I am aware that Miss Weasley is only a year younger and I therefore feel your resignation unnecessary."

"But, Headmaster..." Snape began.

"Severus, unless Miss Weasley says anything to insinuate a misconduct then he shall remain as your understudy. However, certain rules must be laid down. Meet with me in my office once Virginia is fully healed. I wish to see her as well." With that the ghost left with Snape following.

*****

Vir stood in the sterile white place with the third opposite her. The third had changed form; instead of resembling the person she had met only once before it looked more obscure.

"W... what happened?" she enquired.

"Your power has begun to manifest itself, you were angry and you unleashed that power on those around you."

"But Draco was unaffected and I was mad at him."

"My child, you are two are members of our circle outbursts of magic will not affect you in quite the same way. He absorbed enough of the spell to feel disorientated."

"But why did I do this?" Her face contorted into a frown.

"We all do strange things when we are in love with someone, you bond to him is more supernatural than most. Stay here for a moment listen and you can hear him then return to him." She vanished leaving Vir alone in the whiteness.

"I assume, one of you is Bill, the other Charlie and the twins are Fred and George. But I don't know which is which." Draco voice echoed...

*****

Hermione sat next to Harry and whispered something to him.

"Malfoy, you know Ginny's brothers don't you?" he said.

"I assume, one of you is Bill, the other Charlie and the twins are Fred and George. But I don't know which is which."

"Even our own mother couldn't tell us apart by sight, Malfoy so we doubt you could," one said. Nodding Draco barely listened but the one with the fang earring was Bill, the other in leather was Charlie. Realising Vir was cold Draco muttered a warming charm on the blankets. He wished she'd wake up and punch him for doing this to her. Pomfrey was buzzing around trying to heal him but each time she approached he shot her an ice-cold stare and she scampered away. Fred and George left along with Harry saying something about an investors meeting and Hermione went with them. So Draco was left in the infirmary with Vir's oldest brothers watching her. He wanted to obtain some of her favourite belongings so she'd be more comfortable but he daren't leave her. He made a mental list of things she loved, her crystal wand, her fluffy slippers and her dragon. He smiled as he thought of that dragon and couldn't help but remember Christmas.

Vir entered the Great Hall beaming, her skin glowed and she wore simple clothes that she'd chosen for a combination of comfort and shape. Draco suppressed a smile as she bounced to the table and sat opposite him. She then placed something he recognised on the table, her silvery dragon. It walked up and down the table and made a grand show of fluttering its wings at McGonagall. It returned to Draco and spat a fireball at him before allowing its owner to pet him. It then tried to eat an owl that arrived for the headmaster and, after failing, flew round in circles above a sixth year Slytherins head before returning to sleep between Vir and Draco.

Draco was pulled from his recollection by a hand gripping his. His eyes snapped to Vir's face she smiled up at him, her eyes open to slits. He pressed his lips to her forehead and gently planted a kiss.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Yes, the baby?" She sounded drowsy.

"It's fine, your brothers are here." She turned her head away from him and saw her red haired brothers.

"Bill, Charlie." She hugged them and smiled, before she returned to Draco. "What did they do to you?"

"Oh, this. It's nothing, I'll be back to my usual handsome self in no time."

"I see that beating didn't deflate the Malfoy ego then?" Charlie grinned.

"Who did it?" she asked.

"No-one, it's nothing. Honestly."

"Lucius, the bastard." Bill replied for him.

"What?" she exclaimed, her hand timidly raised her hand to his skin and ran her fingers lightly over her his injuries. He failed to show any pain as she touched his bruises and cuts; this caused her to cringe. "Oh, Draco. Why hasn't Madame Pomfrey healed these?"

"The brainiac wouldn't let her." Charlie explained to his little sister.

"Since you continue to talk about me I'm going to go and get you something's." Draco grumbled.

"Ohhh, I'll be back in my dorm in no time. There's no need, I'm just tired." She turned to her brothers. "Bill, will you use your charm to get me out of here?"

"All right, but just because it's you Virginia anyone else would be forced to suffer. Charlie and I need to have a long discussion with you so you must be sure you're feeling up to that."

"Second thought, I'll stay here and I'll leave when I'm told. Promise me that you won't touch a hair on his head though."

*****

Eventually Vir was released into her eldest brothers care and was ordered to report to the Headmaster. She sat in front of the desk next to Draco, who held her hand and moved his thumb in comforting circles. Snape stood by Dumbledore's chair with McGonagall; Bill was sat isolated at the back of the room.

"Right, we have a little predicament." Dumbledore began. "Mr Malfoy, Miss Weasley we cannot condone your behaviour but we cannot deny that you care for one another. If this were last year we would greet your relationship with open arms, so to speak. The inter house relationship would have possibly have united the houses ending a centuries old feud that has little relevance today." Snape made a little noise of protest but stayed quiet. "Usually, Mr Malfoy your resignation would be demanded. However, that I feel would be unjust. Your feelings towards one another are quite clear; I believe fate dictated this and who am I to dabble with fate? Therefore the three of us have come up with a set of rules, they be explained to you individually as they are different for teacher and pupil." They were dismissed and Draco went off with Snape and Vir was led away by McGonagall.

*****

Vir sat alone in a chair by the fire, she let each tear drip from her eyes and roll uninterrupted down her face. Making no sound she reflected on what she had lost, her Head Girl privileges had been reduced to nearly all the unpleasant chores. She could no longer see Draco in Potions, (when McGonagall announced this she caused a vase to explode) and she was forbidden to visit Hogsmeade. There was however a positive side, she and Draco had been designated a flat for themselves. Really it was only a dungeon classroom that had a sofa, chairs and a table. The fire was roaring but the damp air lingered, Vir waited in hope that Draco would come to her in their space. A clock ticked, tick, tock, tick, tock, she found the repetitive sounds comforting. Her crystal wand lay on the table in front of her, the firelight refracting on contact with it. She would have done anything to go back a year, to when she thought she was head over heels for Harry and when she had her family. But even if she could she wouldn't, that would mean loosing Draco, loosing their child. A price she would be unwilling to pay. Her eyes closed and she drifted to sleep.