Letting Go

Chapter Five: Undiscovered Feelings and Exposed Paternity

"Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love" ~ Charles M. Shultz (1922~ 2000) (Charlie Brown in 'Peanuts')

A high cruel laugh echoed through the room and Draco saw he was in his father's study. Voldemort, Blaise and Lucius stood in front of him and rows of Death Eaters stood behind them. Draco glared at them all.

"Do you really think we wouldn't have found out?" Lucius hissed menacingly.

"I don't give you that much credit" was Draco's answer.

"Well now you are all going to pay for your insolence boy" Voldemort said.

"Don't worry. We plan to kill you last so you can watch them suffer. We wouldn't want you to die before the Muggle lovers now would we?" Blaise smirked up at him.

Ginny and Jade were brought into his eyesight and Lucius started over to them. Ginny was pushed to the ground by whoever was holding her. Jade went to help her mother but Lucius pushed her aside. As he preformed the Cruciatus the only thing Draco could hear were Ginny's screams...

Draco woke up but did not open his eyes afraid of what he might see. The feeling of a cool cloth on his forehead confused him and he finally opened his eyes. Ginny was sitting beside him on his bed with a bowl of cold water she was using to cool the cloth with.

"You were having a nightmare. I heard you screaming from the other room," she said.

"It's the mark," he told her. "He's calling us to him but I don't go unless my father summons me."

"Does it still burn?"

"Yes" he answered.

The cool feeling of her lips on his forearm shocked him. The pain slowly ebbed away and he looked at her trying to figure out what she was thinking. She looked him straight in the eyes and he could see nothing there. No feeling in her face or posture. He only saw the cold stone that came from being jaded.

Ginny placed the water bowl on the nightstand and made a move to leave. Draco caught her arm and she paused. She wouldn't look at his face now and chose to glance at the wall. He kept a loose grip on her arm but didn't say anything.

"Who is that girl in the painting?" she asked.

"Doesn't she look familiar at all?" he answered with a question.

"Yes but I can't place her in my mind. The name just won't come to me" she replied.

Draco summoned the painting and it glided into the room before he made it float in midair beside the bed. Ginny looked at the girl hard and realization dawned on her face. She couldn't take her eyes off the painting. She couldn't speak at all. She couldn't move for fear of discovering it was all a dream as it dissolved around her.

"I did it after that night when I came home" he said quietly.

"You aren't supposed to do things like this," she whispered. "It makes everything more painful."

"Why?"

"You don't love me Draco. I know that and I have come to terms with it. In fact I don't even know if you like me platonically. So when you do things like this it makes it that much more harder to ignore what I feel" she replied somewhat harshly.

"Ginny..." Draco reached towards her.

"No don't touch me," she snapped getting off the bed. "Just leave me alone." Ginny left the room leaving behind a confused Draco.

Cursing under his breath Draco got out of bed. Looking at the clock he saw it was five AM. Knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep again he headed for the shower. It was going to be a long day just like the past few days had been.

Ever since he had come home from the Order meeting and talked to Charlie he had tried to stem his feelings. It hadn't been easy. Draco hadn't been called for any meetings from Voldemort or Dumbledore. He had been stuck at home with Ginny who insisted on walking around in his boxers and shirts. As he couldn't very well go shopping for women's clothes or get some from Blaise he couldn't really do anything about it.

Then there were the moments when they were in the same room. Usually it was a calm quiet time where they both chose not to talk. A few times they had talked about Jade but mostly they would talk about impersonal things. They had not had a discussion about feelings or the past before this.

After his shower he got out and walked to the kitchen. Ginny was sitting at the table in boxers and a black tank top. She had made breakfast. An English muffin with bacon and eggs made into a sandwich was set on a plate. He thanked her and sat down to eat but Ginny didn't answer she just continued to read the Daily Prophet.

An owl flew in breaking the silence of the room. Draco took the letter from it and handed the owl a piece of bacon. He opened the letter and read it quickly. It was from Dumbledore about another meeting that was going to be held. It didn't say why just when. Draco got up from his seat and placed his plate in the sink.

"Go get dressed in something suitable" Draco told her.

"I don't take orders from you" she answered lightly.

"I know that but neither your parents or your brothers would appreciate you showing up at the Order wearing only boxers. I do not want to deal with five of your brothers trying to kill me" Draco responded.

"I have six brothers idiot..."

"Yes I know that. I said five of them were going to try and kill me. I never said five existed" was his reply before he went to get dressed.

Ginny rolled her eyes having no idea what he was talking about. She cleaned up her breakfast mess and went to get dressed as well. She went to the guest room and looked at the tank top she was wearing. Draco hadn't noticed but it was his shirt transfigured. She took one last glance at the tank top before changing it into a sleeveless blouse and then changing the boxers into a black skirt.

Deeming herself ready she left the room and saw Draco standing at the door waiting. He held two cloaks and when she approached he handed one to her. She put it on drawing it closely to her and pulling up the hood. He looked questioningly at the clothes she wore but chose not to comment.

"You are dead remember so don't take that cloak off at all" Draco reminded before leading her out of the apartment.

~*~

"I know this meeting is important somehow but does it have to be held so damn early?" Ron said his voice muffled against the table.

Hermione rubbed his back with a smirk he couldn't see. Carmen had told her she should stay in bed but she had refused and instead brought the baby with her for her nap. Jenessa lay in her mother's arms curled up in a blue blanket. A small nose and eyes along with a tuft of red hair was sticking out. Carmen came in with a pot of coffee and milk and sugar. Two rows of cups floated behind her. She put the coffee down with the milk and sugar before banishing the cups to the table.

Carmen sat down next to Charlie who kissed the side of her head. Next to him sat Bill and Ron and on the other side of the table sat Fred, George, Percy (who came for a day) and their parents. Dumbledore sat at the head of the table with Jade sleeping in his arms. The girl had decided to be stubborn and refused to wake up. She had opened her eyes for two seconds to glare at everyone and grasp her dragon more firmly.

They sat in silence for a while before Ron finally lifted his head and poured everyone a cup of coffee. Most people just drank to keep their hands busy.

"So what are we here for anyway?" asked Ron.

"You will see," replied Dumbledore.

They didn't have to wait more than five minutes before Draco entered the room followed by Ginny. Nobody noticed her at first and they all said a 'hello' to Draco without glancing twice. Then Charlie dropped his cup.

"Ginny!" he cried walking over to give her a big hug.

Jade stirred in her sleep but did not wake and Ginny left her brother's embrace to go to her daughter. She carefully removed her from Dumbledore's arms and sat down with the girl in her arms. She rocked her back and forth. Whispering into the girl's ear so nobody could hear. Suddenly Jade's eyes fluttered open.

"Mommy?" she asked.

"I'm right here love." Ginny hugged her daughter close.

"You came back! I thought you were going to die." Jade began to cry and Ginny soothed her daughter. Unable to erase the smile on her face Ginny told her everything was all right.

When Jade had finally stopped crying Ginny glanced around. Charlie and Carmen were smiling at her as well as Dumbledore. The rest of the Weasley clan looked ready to start a beheading.

"You have a lot of explaining to do Ginevra Adrienne Weasley" Molly said. A quick glance at her dad told her that she was alone in this. Then she felt Draco place his hand on her shoulder.

"Explain what exactly?" Ginny answered.

"You-him-her. What the hell is going on?" Arthur replied.

"Well you see when two people are attracted to each other they often end up in bed together. I don't know if the rest of the details are innocent enough for your ears" Ginny responded. She knew she was acting childishly but her parents had absolutely no right.

"How the hell did this happen?" Molly demanded.

"You know that night you left for Bill's house to help with the baby? I was downstairs getting some coffee..." Ginny waited for her parent's nods of agreement. "Malfoy was upstairs healing from a fatal sword wound. I healed him and it lead to other things."

"Was it just something fun for you? I understand Blaise wasn't a good man but it isn't right to string him along," Molly scolded.

Ginny's eyes went dark. "Yes mother I enjoyed it all too well. Having Malfoy on the side and Blaise as my husband" her voice dripped with sarcasm. "You have no idea what went on. There is nothing on this earth that would make me put my child in harms way. Do you think I liked being beaten? Do you think I planned any of it?"

The whole room stared at Ginny looking extremely guilty. Save for Draco who was looking amused as well as Dumbledore. Charlie and Carmen who looked at the rest of the family with identical 'I-told-you-so' looks. Molly was blushing a bit but wasn't as flushed as Ginny who was still angry. Draco could feel how tense she was.

"Now if you'll excuse me I believe I have to go back to Draco's apartment. Who knows maybe we'll come back with another kid" Ginny replied nastily. Her expression softened as she glanced at Hermione. "Congratulation she's a beautiful baby" Ginny took one last glance at Jenessa before carrying Jade out of the room.

"Is that all Dumbledore?" Draco asked.

"For tonight" the old man nodded.

"Just so you know" Draco said to the rest of the room "she is thoroughly pissed off and unless you want to be hexed I wouldn't contact her for three days at least."

Arthur sent a glance at Draco that clearly said 'if you touch my daughter I swear to Merlin you won't live to see another day'.

Draco replied with his own glance that said 'if your daughter wishes it and you are the one stopping her she won't take too kindly to it'.

With that Draco swept out of the room and followed Ginny. She was waiting outside with her cloak already over her head and covering Jade. Her whole demeanor screamed anger. The idea of even trying to talk seemed threatening and Draco led her home. They took a Muggle taxicab as it had begun to rain.

~*~

"Well that certainly went well" Fred muttered.

"I think it went rather well," Charlie voiced. He exchanged looks with Dumbledore who looked pleased.

"How so?" Ron snorted.

"Well she didn't hex anyone. Besides I am rather glad she's Draco's kid instead of Blaise's" Charlie responded.

"One evil is as good as the next" George retorted.

"Yes that is true but Draco isn't evil. You have failed to take in account that he is working for the Order. As well as the fact that he is taking care of your sister and their child quite well" Carmen put in.

"So that doesn't mean anything. Look what he had for examples as parents. They were even nastier but he survived. Just because they are taken care of doesn't mean he is fit as a father or anything else" Percy interrupted.

"He cares about both of them. Do you realize what kind of risk he took trying to save Ginny? Remember the day before? When he said he would take Jade if Ginny didn't survive? That was before he even knew he was the father!" Charlie said indignantly. "You are all acting like fools! You are allowing your prejudice of some childhood rivalry cloud your judgment."

"I completely agree with Charlie" Hermione announced.

Ron looked at her with a smirk. "You would too. I can't remember how many times you told us in school to stop picking fights. Or telling us we would regret it someday."

"So Charlie what has got you so defensive over Malfoy?" Bill asked.

"I got to know him. I got to know the real Malfoy that you all chose to ignore. I can see past his name and his father to the man we owe our sister's life to" Charlie told them in a deathly quiet voice.

The room was filled with guilt and silence once again.

~*~

Ginny was sprawled against the mass of pillows in her makeshift room. Jade was telling her all about staying at the Order. The little girl was exclaiming over everything that happened. She was talking about being miserable but she had a huge grin on her face. She was completely happy now that she had her mom back and Draco was wondering around somewhere.

"Do you guys want anything from the grocery store?" Draco asked. Ginny almost jumped. She hadn't noticed him standing at the door.

Jade had just finished with a flourish and she smiled up at Draco. Jade jumped off the bed and raced over to him. He easily lifted her up and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Ginny watched the tenderness that went into the action and she felt a pang of hurt. She was trying so hard to be a cold hard bitch to him but it wasn't working. She wanted the feeling's to disappear. So she didn't want to think about unreciprocated love.

"I want apple juice, bagels, eggs and chocolate chip cookies," Jade answered.

"Ok I will write that down and be sure to pick it up" Draco answered. "You want anything Ginny?"

"No" came Ginny's reply. It was quiet and didn't reflect the shiver that ran through her when he said her name.

Draco nodded and left the room. Jade suddenly got a panicked look on her face and ran after him. When she came back and saw her mother's questioning glance she grinned.

"I almost forgot to ask him to get peanut butter!" the girl giggled.

Ginny smiled at her daughter. She grabbed her and started to tickle her. Jade giggled and squirmed. When she finally got away she was too tired to run from her mom's merciless hands. She was still laughing. Ginny just laughed with her and caught the girl in a large hug. They then set about making dinner.

~*~

Draco set off for Malfoy Manor before he went shopping. His father had needed Ginny's hair for the charm. Apparently they had gotten a hold of Potter's all ready. He didn't see the harm in it, as the charm would not work. He brought a hair with him and gave it to his father before leaving quickly. One of the hairs that he had taken as proof was used.

He spent a considerably long time in the grocers. Just wandering through the isles looking for everything that he needed. Not wanting to go back home yet he did want to be there. He eventually wandered to the checkout and paid for his things.

When he got back to his apartment Ginny was just finishing off dinner. They didn't talk as she set the table and served the spaghetti and he put the groceries away. Jade made most of the conversation during dinner as they ate. She switched from topic to topic as she ate. After dinner she continued to do so until she gave a large yawn.

"I think its time for bed" Ginny interrupted.

"Can I have a story before I go?" Jade asked eagerly.

"One story before you go to bed" Ginny agreed reluctantly.

"Once upon a time there was a gentleman who married for his second wife the proudest and most haughty woman that ever was seen. She had two daughters of her own who were indeed exactly like her in all things. The gentleman also had a young daughter of rare goodness and sweetness of temper, which she took from her mother who was the best creature in the world.

"The Wedding was scarcely over when the stepmother's bad temper began to show itself. She could not bear the goodness of this young girl because it made her own daughters appear more odious..." Here Ginny broke off because Jade had fallen asleep.

Draco picked her up and carried her into the guest room. After that they both went to sit in the living room. The silence was not comfortable at all. Ginny's eyes raked around the room determined to land on anything but him. Draco simply stared at the floor. They hadn't really spoken a word to each other since he had preformed the Fidelius charm. Which he had done as soon as they had arrived from the Order.

"So where did she get the dragon? I remember that from when I was a kid," Ginny asked.

"Charlie gave it to her" Draco replied.

"Her birthday is in a week. I have never been able to give her a proper birthday and I don't think this year is any different," Ginny said trying to continue the conversation.

"Well she can have an extra big one next year," Draco answered.

"I wish I could have given her more though. She deserves better than everything that has happened" Ginny insisted.

"You both deserve more than that," Draco answered. "Blaise is an asshole. It's as simple as that."

"Yes but I was the idiot that didn't think of a way out of the situation while I still could" Ginny said sounding very regretful.

"Gin any decent person would have done what you did had their family been threatened" Draco said.

"I know but I just feel like I should have done something more" Ginny whispered as tears started again.

Draco walked over to the couch and took her in his arms where she cried her eyes out. All the frustration of the past six years came out at once. They didn't talk just held each other. Draco let her cry and cry until she was so exhausted that she fell asleep. Tired he glanced down at her. Even with her eyes all puffy she looked beautiful. He couldn't wake her up now. She was tired and she definitely needed some sleep.

Draco stayed up all night trying not to move too much so that Ginny could sleep. She was facing him with her face up and her arms held against herself. Her head was resting on a pillow and her upper body was in his arms. Her legs were stretched out across the couch. Finally about eight in the morning he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore.

It was at about eight thirty that Jade came into the living room and saw her mom and dad cuddling on the couch. She smiled quite happily and went to the kitchen. Her stomach was grumbling. Ginny had taught her how to cook well as they had nothing else to do over the years. She got out ingredients and began to make breakfast.

An hour later Ginny stretched and began to wake up. She noticed that there was a slight unevenness to her bed. Her pillow wasn't as soft. That fabric definitely wasn't the light sheet she was used to sleeping on. Her eyes opened to see Draco Malfoy sleeping still sitting up. She suddenly remembered that she was on the couch and her current pillow was Draco. She flushed a little but quickly stopped as her stomach grumbled.

"Hungry are you?" Draco's voice asked tiredly. He was a very light sleeper it seemed.

"Just a little" she replied with a smirk.

Ginny's eyes flicked up to the portrait on the wall. She quickly got up and stretched again. She wandered into his bedroom and came out wearing his favorite pajama pants and a white tank top. The pants were Black and made of silk. He thought fleetingly of how much better they looked on her. This thought was encouraged as she walked into the kitchen her hips swaying slightly. This led his thoughts to something else and he suddenly got up and muttered something about a shower. What he didn't mention was that it was a cold shower.

When he got out Ginny and Jade were happily munching away at their BLT's. Jade had made them and was quite pleased at how well they had turned out. Draco noticed there was no actual lettuce on them. He asked Jade about it.

"Lettuce ruins the taste," she said simply. "Why anyone would want to ruin the taste of bacon tomato and mayonnaise is beyond me."

Ginny just smiled at her daughter before ruffling her hair. The little girl scowled and fixed it. Ginny smiled knowingly.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Draco asked.

"All I am going to say is she didn't get her fixation with her hair from me" was Ginny's reply. She wondered how they could go so quickly into easy banter when they were so awkward around each other.

"No that she got from me but her temper is purely Weasley" he answered.

"As it should be. That's our weapon against men. Makes them cower" Ginny winked at Jade. "Nobody has as good a temper as grandma and me."

"Don't I know it" Draco muttered.

~*~

Voldemort waited silently in his throne room. His Death Eaters stood around the throne completely still and silent. The only noise that could be heard in the room was the tapping of his fingers as he drummed them on the arm of the chair. Patience was not one of his traits. That was Lucius' area of expertise as well as calming his anger. He was not here at the moment though. Lucius was helping Wormtail with the charm in the Potions lab.

Just as he was about to loose his temper the door opened. A shiver ran through the Death Eaters to see the sudden malicious smile on their master's face. Lucius walked to the throne and bowed to his Lord before handing the simple charm over to Voldemort. The room was eerily silent as Voldemort took out his wand. Everyone took an intake of breath as a spell was cast. Nothing happened.

"Lucius could you explain to me why this is not working?" Voldemort's question came in an icy tone.

"What do you mean its not working?" Lucius asked sounding outraged.

"I mean the charm is not working. If it was it would have glowed when I cast the spell. It isn't glowing" Voldemort explained through clenched teeth.

Sensing the oncoming explosion Lucius began to think very fast.

Draco said the father was Potter...If it isn't who could it be?

Lucius' face showed almost no emotion as he answered. "I think my son has a lot of explaining to do."

~*~

Tom was sweeping the floor of the Leaky Cauldron when Lucius Malfoy entered the building. He asked the man what he would have to drink not taking notice to the identity of the man. When he did he was surprised to say the least.

"I am not here to drink" Lucius told him with a slight sneer. "I wish to ask about an old employee of yours."

"What would you like to know?" Tom asked in a cautious tone.

"My son came in here six years ago with a wound to his stomach. I wish to know who was working here at the time so I can repay that person" Lucius lied with expertise.

"That would be Ginny Weasley sir" Tom answered. "She was the one that healed your son."

"Thank you" Lucius said with a satisfied smile.

Walking out of the pub he left a very confused Tom behind. Tom immediately grabbed his owl from the back of his pub and sent it off. He hoped like hell that the owl could find Ginny wherever she was. He had a bad feeling about this whole situation. The bad feeling didn't leave him all day.

~*~

Ginny sat on the chair of Draco's living room with a pencil and piece of paper in her hand. Her eyes flicked from the paper to the two people sitting on the couch. Draco had been in pain all day because his mark had been burning him. Finally exhausted he had fallen asleep on the couch with Jade at his side dragon in hand. Ginny had almost let out a loud 'awwwww' when she had walked out of the kitchen to see them. Instead she got a piece of paper and a pencil and started to sketch. She had just finished when a loud tap at the window startled her.

She walked over to the window and let in a large barn owl. She recognized the owl as he had a large black spot on his upper chest. It was Tom's owl. She gave the owl a treat before ripping open the letter.

Dear Ginny

I don't know if this means anything to you but Lucius Malfoy came in today. He was asking about who had healed his son six years ago. I told him, as I did not think it would cause any harm. Just thought you should now.

Tom

Ginny stared at the letter. All color drained from her face. She stayed still for about two seconds before she bolted into the bedrooms. She grabbed her wand and Draco's from his room. She grabbed Jade's things and ran out to the living room. She shook them both awake and let them wake up as she grabbed three cloaks.

"Come on honey put the cloak on. I know you're tired but you got to wake up love," Ginny said to a resistant Jade.

"What is going on?" Draco asked coming out of his stupor.

"Your dad knows. He was just at the Leaky Cauldron asking Tom about that night," Ginny said. "We have to get out of here."

"I think if we can make it to the Leaky Cauldron we can floo to the Order. You can get through if you have been to the Order before" Draco said getting up.

Ginny tossed him his wand and finished putting a cloak on herself. She pulled the hood up over her face and did the same to Jade's. They took the back exit of the building and walked quickly through the streets. Ginny could feel them being followed.

"Jade if anything happens I want you to follow this street. It's a place called the Leaky Cauldron. Ask for Tom and tell him that you need to use the fireplace in the back. Tell him your name and he will know who you are," Ginny explained.

"Zabini?" Jade asked.

"No honey you never were a Zabini. You're a Malfoy and a Weasley" Ginny told her gently.

"Jade..." Draco interrupted. "I want you to run now and go find it. Don't look back ok?"

Ginny turned and saw them coming. Screams could be heard around Diagon Alley as people saw a group of ten Death Eaters walking through the crowd. There was a rush to get inside shops or Apparate. Jade disappeared into the crowd. She ran as fast as she could while trying not to get trampled by the oncoming crowd. She saw a flash of black as a Death Eater tried to grab her. She acted on instinct and kicked him in a one of the more sensitive parts of his anatomy.

Jade didn't look back as she heard a groan and ran on. She got pushed by someone and fell to the ground. She crawled behind some garbage cans to catch her breath. Draco and Ginny were visible from her spot. Nine Death Eaters surrounded them as sparks flew from wands everywhere. Some people came out of shops to help but most everyone was too scared. She watched her mother get stunned and fall from the Cruciatus. Then they were transported by port key. The Death Eaters that hadn't touched the port key Disapparated.

Jade slowly got to her feet with tears on her face. She saw people begin to come out of shops and she ran as fast as she could towards the Leaky Cauldron. When she got to the end of the street all that was there was a brick wall. Panicking she went into the first shop she saw to ask for help it just happened to be Madame Malkin's. Jade looked around and saw a woman leaving the counter and heading towards the door.

"Excuse me miss could you please tell me where I could find the Leaky Cauldron?" Jade asked trying to remember her manners.

"It's just this way," the woman said looking at the little girl with curiosity. "Have you lost your parents?"

"Yes I need to get to the Leaky Cauldron and find Tom" Jade answered urgently.

Jade didn't notice that they walked through the same brick wall she had come to before. She didn't notice anything until she went in and the lady brought her to Tom. Jade burst into tears when she saw the man.

"My name is *sniff* Jade Alexis Malfoy and I *hiccup* need to use the floo powder and the *hic* fireplace in the back. My mom *hic* and dad are in trouble" Jade said through her tears.

Tom looked at the girl and immediately recognized the mini version of Ginny. He told the lady that he would take care of her and the lady looked glad to be done with it. She needed to get home and take care of some matters. Tom set about getting the floo powder without a word to Jade. When he was done he brought her to a private fireplace before he finally spoke.

"Tell Dumbledore I will be here if he needs me" he instructed her. Jade nodded and grabbed some floo powder. She spoke the name of the Order and whizzed off.

~*~

Ron Weasley had just sat down for some peace and quiet. Jenessa had just gone to sleep with Hermione after an hour of coaxing from Ron. The house had been full of her cries for a while so when Ron sat in the living room with a book he was intent on relaxing. What he didn't count on was Jade suddenly popping out of the fire with a face dirty with soot and tear stains.

"What on earth..." he said getting up.

"Uncle Ron! They have them! The Death Eaters got them!" Jade said as soon as she saw her uncle.

Ron stared at her for two seconds in shock before hurrying out of the room. It was a lucky thing that Dumbledore had just arrived. Within minutes most of the Order was assembled in the meeting room. Jade was in her Uncle Charlie's lap telling everyone what happened. She had tears coming down her face still.

"Does that mean we have no one inside the circle anymore?" Ron said after they heard the story.

"We have one more person inside the circle" Dumbledore informed the group.

"Who?" Harry asked.

"Me" a voice answered coming through the door of the meeting room. The room was stunned to say the least.

A woman had just walked into the room. Long blonde hair cascaded down her back. Dark blue eyes surveyed them all as she looked around the room. Her nose, which was slightly turned up, enhanced the slightly arrogant air about her. She was wearing a long black cloak. She was one of the last people anyone had expected to be standing before them.