Letting Go

Chapter Eight: The End and A Beginning

"Everything changes everything falls apart

I can't stand to feel myself losing control

In the deep of my weakness I know"

-Sara McLachlan Stupid

~*~

As Draco lost consciousness Ginny looked up frantically. She needed help. Everything she had learned about healing just seemed to seep out of her mind. Looking around all she found was chaos. The flash of green light had surprised many people making them more vulnerable. Many Death Eaters had been caught but a lot had also escaped. She could see many people had been injured and some dead. Harry looked worn out and about ready to collapse but Voldemort was gone. She wanted to register that fact but all she could think about was the man in her arms. She cradled his head in her lap and whispered in his ear.

"Please don't leave me. I don't know if I can survive without you anymore. I know I did before but that was because I thought you didn't want me. I was so intent on forgetting you that I didn't see what was there. You can't leave..."

~*~

Jade was pacing back and forth between the front door and the kitchen. She hadn't wanted to leave. No one was telling her what was going on or when it was going to be over. She glanced up and saw Professor Snape come out of the kitchen looking disgruntled. He was so preoccupied that he almost ran over her and she had to jump back out of his way.

"They left you here to guess what's going on too huh?" Jade stated more than asked.

Snape turned around to look at her with a surprised look. He hadn't even noticed her while walking through the passageway. "What are you doing here?"

"Pansy brought me here," Jade answered. "She left and now I have no idea what's going on."

"I'm sure everything will be fine," Snape told her before continuing on his way to the living room.

Jade followed him and watched as he sat down in a chair. She hadn't seen him much before as he wasn't often in the order residence but she was sure that no one had ever seen him like this. He looked tired not just from losing sleep but a tiredness that only a war can create. He didn't have the cold look on his face and instead of finding something to glare at he was staring off into nothing.

Jade went to sit beside him but on her way past she was hit with a realization. He was obviously worried about someone who was fighting. Just like Jade was. So, without another thought she flopped down in his lap and hugged him. Snape stared at the redhead before, with hesitation, hugging her back.

They were still hugging a few moments later when Hermione came rushing into the room. She ignored the scene and instead started gasping about St. Mungo's, Ginny and Draco. She listed off a few other words but Jade had already shot out of her seat and fled to the fireplace. She yelled the hospitals name and away she went before Snape or Hermione could stop her.

~*~

Marie the lady on duty at St. Mungo's front desk had been having a long day. She had just sat back to read a magazine when a small hand came over the counter and started pressing the button incessantly. It stopped after a few seconds and the hand disappeared. She stared over the magazine at the bell wondering what in hells bells was going on. The little hand appeared again and started to ring the bell, again.

Marie got up and peered over the counter. She practically had to pull herself over the counter to see who belonged to the hand. When she did finally look towards the ground she was looking into a pair of gray eyes. A pair of unhappy gray eyes.

"Where is Draco Malfoy?" she demanded.

"Where are your parents?" Marie asked incredulously.

"Here. Where is he?" Jade huffed.

"You should learn your manners young lady!" Marie was highly offended at this point.

"I'm a Malfoy. Manners don't matter to me," Jade replied snootily. "Where is my-"

"Jade Alexis Malfoy! Mind your manners." Jade turned to see her mother coming down the hall. If she had thought Snape looked tired... it was nothing compared to her mother. "You have been spending far too much time with your father."

"Is he ok?" Jade asked rushing towards her. Her mother's weak smile did nothing to encourage her.

~*~

Draco awoke in the night with a gasping breath. He had been dreaming about drowning. The water had surrounded him suffocating until he felt pressure closing in so tight that he thought his lungs would collapse. Just before he could die he had left the dream world. His body felt warm and without opening his eyes he moved to take his shirt off. Only...he wasn't wearing any pants.

Draco's eyes flew open to reveal a hospital room. He slowly sat up taking no notice of the pain and looked down to see he was wearing a hospital dressing gown. The room smelled clean. That overly clean, sterile smell that seems unnatural. The walls were blindingly white making him thankful that the moonlight was all that was reflected off them.

As his eyes adjusted to the dim room Draco noted a large lump spread across two chairs in the corner. The moonlight revealed the red hair and a soft smile came to his lips as he recognized his daughter and the woman he loved. He moved slightly towards them but as he turned the minor movement hurt and he winced. The pain was coming back to him now.

Everything was coming back to him and he fell back into the bed with regret as his back and side complained loudly. Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth against the pain he lay there in thought. It wasn't long after when he felt someone climb into the bed with him.

"Dad?" a small voice asked.

Jade had heard her father moving around and without waking her mom she made her way over to him, crouching near the foot of the bed she called to him. She was relieved when he motioned her to come closer. He pulled her into the bed and wrapped his arms around her. Both took comfort in the other.

"How's your mother doing?" he asked.

"She's not sleeping a lot," Jade answered tiredly. "Grandma keeps telling her to eat more but mummy won't leave the room so we have to bring her food."

"How are you holding up?" he asked next.

"I'm ok now. That dumb lady at the front is annoying though. When I came here she kept telling me that I didn't have any manners and asking where my parents were" Jade told him sounding indignant.

"What did you say?"

"I told her that I was a Malfoy and manners don't matter to me" Jade replied flushing a little.

Draco chuckled but winced a little as he did. "What did the lady say?"

Jade yawned a little as she answered. "Nothing. Mummy told me I've been spendin' too much time with you."

"You tired?" he asked. She shook her head even as she yawned again and her eyes drooped.

"Come on lets get some sleep," he suggested hiding a smile as she flopped down beside him.

~*~

Ginny woke feeling a bit cold and disorientated. She sat up realizing that Jade wasn't sitting with her anymore. A quick glance at the hospital bed told her where her daughter was. She raised her cold hands to her face trying to make sense of everything. Then it all came back.

Harry had finally killed Voldemort. The Death Eaters were being sent to jail and those that had escaped were being hunted down. Everyone could stop living in constant fear. To Ginny it felt like the situation wasn't over though. She hadn't discovered what the birthmark had meant. She didn't understand Jade's importance to the dark side. It didn't feel right at all.

She stood and stretched walking towards the door to get some water when she heard Jade whimper in her sleep. Stopping she made her way to the bed and brushed the hair back from Jade's face. She frowned as she watched the girl's eyebrows knit together. Jade began to whimper again and she moved her arm hitting Draco's stomach carelessly. Jade sat up suddenly still half asleep.

"No no no no no...." Jade muttered and Ginny picked her up singing a soft lullaby until she was calm again. She placed her back in the bed and raised her eyes to silver ones.

"You're awake," she stated neutrally.

He nodded without breaking eye contact and she found that she couldn't look away. Everything had been so messed up. She had been in love with him all this time. She had been convinced that he didn't like her. She had been fighting against everything for so long that when everything finally stopped pushing she didn't know how to stop pushing back.

"I'm glad you're ok," she said and moved to get up. She was determined to go get some water. Nothing would stop her from leaving that room...except for him taking her hand in his and kissing the palm.

"Ginny..." he began before pausing. "Do you remember what I said in the dungeons?"

Ginny licked her lips nervously and looked away finally. They both knew exactly what he was talking about. "I think I was dreaming through most of that."

"You weren't dreaming."

"How can you be so sure?" she replied.

He only smiled and pulled her forward by her hand until his lips were near her ear. "Those types of dreams end with two people very naked..."

Ginny put her hand over his mouth but she was trying not to smile as she scolded him. "Shush! Jade will hear!"

"She's sleeping," he pointed out.

"So?" she hissed quietly.

"You're very articulate when you're flustered aren't you?" he goaded.

"I am-" but what she was we shall never know because Draco sealed his lips over hers cutting off any words successfully.

~*~

Ginny left to get her water sometime later after Draco had fallen asleep again. She slowly closed the door to the room behind her trying not to make too much noise. When she finally closed it she looked into the waiting room and saw Pansy slouching in a chair asleep. A picture of Blaise falling to the ground in his last moments of life came to her suddenly and she remembered. Pansy had loved Blaise. No matter how much of a bastard he was to Ginny didn't change the fact that Pansy loved him and he had treated her like a princess.

She walked over to Pansy and sat down in the chair next to her sighing. She shook the girl a bit wondering what she was doing there. Pansy awoke quickly and was very tense until she adjusted to her surroundings and realized what was going on. They locked eyes and neither spoke for a while. The silence seemed to convey everything but Ginny didn't feel appeased.

"I'm sorry," she told the tall stately blonde. She didn't know what else to do.

"It doesn't matter," Pansy waved it off, "he would have died if by your hand or an Auror's and I think both he and I would prefer you."

"I didn't want to kill him," Ginny whispered staring off into nothing. "I'm sure I wished it a million times during our 'marriage' but I don't think I ever really meant it. It was just this one moment where I saw him and he was everything I hated. It was just like the Chamber. All my fears wrapped into this one little ball inside me only this time...I let it out in a different way."

"I understand, Ginny," Pansy said the corner of her mouth lifting into a sad smile.

~*~

Ginny Weasley stood in the middle of Malfoy Manor overlooking decorations of the ballroom. The room still gave her the chills after what had happened that past summer. She was determined to make it look absolutely perfect for the Christmas party taking place the very next day. Draco had dumped the project on her a month ago. She had outright refused to do it. Draco however had shrugged and told her if she didn't want to do it than he would employ Victoria.

Ginny had known Victoria Frobisher in Hogwarts. The girl had been in Hermione's dorm and Ginny and Hermione loathed her. She never shut her mouth and the only topic she knew anything about was boys. If you had asked her what her wand was made of she would probably answer "wood". However her knowledge had expanded to party planning it seemed and just as at Hogwarts she was well endowed. She had a full out hourglass figure and always looked like she had come off the cover of Wizard's Weekly. One of those magazines you "buy for the articles".

On top of all this the dense brunette had a large crush on Draco. In Ginny's mind nobody but Ginny was allowed to have a crush on Draco. Of course, this encouraged her and she set off with the assignment. She began planning a party, determined to make it the best. She was doing a pretty good job of it as well. She had hired a construction crew to take the awful 'throne' out of the room so the floor was on flat surface save for a small raised area where Ginny had set up tables. She figured it would cause less mess to have a designated area for eating.

She had started brainstorming for decorations two weeks ago. Taking in the layout of the room after the construction. Coming in through the large doors you had three-step staircases on your right and left leading up to the eating platforms that circled half way around the room. The ballroom floor was huge and she didn't doubt that if she had doubled her guest list she would have been able to fit everyone. Along the walls there were windows ever few feet with stained glass designs. The far wall had tall windows that reached the floor and opened up onto a porch to the backyard. The ceiling was arched and if one were tempted one could probably make oneself twice the size of Hagrid and still fit comfortably in the room.

Ginny's additions were to place very sheer material on all windows with small snowflakes that glittered set into them. She had set up a tent with a similar gossamer fabric over the porch with a warming charm on the area. Enchanted snow fell from the ceiling but disappeared before it reached the floor. Ice sculptures littered the tables along with candles in silver and gold holders. Stonewalls were covered in fake snow so the room looked like an ice cave. The white marble floor almost gave them impression of ice and Ginny was still considering an illusion charm to make it resemble frozen water. Her favourite part was the mistletoe at each entrance to the room. She had placed numerous bunches at each door and charmed them to hang above the couples' heads until they locked lips. Draco was going to get her for that one but she found he deserved it. If he mentioned Victoria one more time he was sleeping in the doghouse.

Speak of the Devil. Ginny raised an eyebrow as her husband came into the room with a golden retriever puppy. He had bought the animal for Jade last month. He really spoiled her too much.

"I see you made out decently," he smirked as he drew closer.

"Decently?" she scoffed. "I am going to win an award for this party and then lets see you defend that twit."

"Still jealous about Victoria are we?" he asked teasingly.

"No I feel sorry for the poor girl," Ginny retorted. "No one should have to put up with you. It's a fate worse than death."

Draco adopted a hurt look. "You wound me! I shall not be able to bear another word of hatred from my love."

"I'm sure," Ginny raised an eyebrow and drew out the 'u' in sure. "I have to go now and get ready and don't touch anything in this room!"

Draco just snorted. "Want some help getting ready?"

"No every time you 'help' me dress I end up being late," she answered slyly.

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

~*~

Ginny looked in the mirror with a critical eye looking for any flaws. She didn't need to though because she looked beautiful. Her hair was placed up in bobby pins so that it fell around her head in curls in a messy but elegant style. She had placed small snowflakes in her hair with glitter. She wore a strapless white silk gown that shimmered slightly with her movement. The bodice came down into a v and hugged her body. The hems were lined in an inch of lace and the bodice had a design of forest green ivy and blood red roses. The skirt wasn't full but came out in a bell shape with a soft transparent jade green overskirt. The shawl she wore was of the same transparent material only it was a light red. To finish everything she had placed a white choker on her neck that had a piece of holly hanging from it. She had placed pearl drop earrings to match the pearl buttons at the back of her dress. Her make up consisted of a thin line of black eyeliner with silver green eye shadow and mascara and red lipstick that accented the fullness of her lips. When she looked one last time and was satisfied she turned and lifted her skirt slightly so she could put her glass slippers on. They had been a surprise from Draco when he had ordered the attic cleaned.

She nodded at her reflection and headed toward the door, which opened before she could reach it.

"Do you have any...?" Draco trailed off as he saw her and began to stare.

"Well?" she asked nervously. "How do I look?"

"Absolutely beautiful," his voice was soft and Ginny blushed slightly before giving him a once over. He was wearing a black tuxedo with a green shirt underneath. His hair was slicked back, which made her smile. She always had immense fun messing it up.

"Thank you."

"Shall we?" he offered his arm and Ginny took it as he lead the way to the ballroom.

~*~

Jade was sitting in a chair sulking. She had been thrilled with the party idea. She couldn't wait for the food to be served. The decorations couldn't have been better and the guest list was more than to her liking. However when her mother had brought her the dress she was to wear she had almost cried.

It was green and fluffy and frilly. Ginny and Pansy who had become a lot closer both said it looked like something the latter would have worn in her Hogwarts days. Apparently that wasn't a good thing. But did that stop them from getting her to wear it? No. She had even tried the daddy trick and asked Draco to convince her mom not to make her wear the dress. She had stood outside their bedroom pacing for ten minutes before he came back out and told her she was on her own.

She shifted again in her seat trying to move the large bow that sat at her lower back on the dress. The material was itchy and the puffy sleeves got in her way. She glared at her mother who was dancing with Uncle Ron oblivious to her daughter's discomfort. Draco was talking to a tall pretty blonde who was openly flirting with him. A quick glance at her mother affirmed this fact. Though Ginny looked calm and happy dancing with her brother she was tensing and ready to pounce on the blonde lady. This wasn't a good thing at all.

Her mother didn't have the best taste when choosing dresses for Jade but the girl wouldn't stand for some silly woman trying to steal her father after she had waited so long to get him back. Jade stood up and straightened out her dress. With the most angelic smile she could muster she bounced over to her father and the blonde lady. She widened her eyes and clasped her hands behind her back.

"Who is that, daddy?" she asked with an air of innocence.

Draco smirked knowing what she was doing instantly. "This is Victoria she's a party planner."

"Oh... why didn't she plan this party?" Jade asked.

"Your mummy decided she wanted to do it," Victoria answered smiling down at Jade. It was a sickly sweet 'I want your father so be good and I won't send you away' smile. Jade didn't like it one bit. "Despite her lack of skills in the area."

"'Scuse me?" the words came out surprisingly demanding for such a young child.

"I was just saying your mum doesn't have the right training to organize a party this big for this class of people," Victoria waved her hand dismissively.

"I suggest you take that back," Draco interrupted with a smirk.

"Why?"

Jade answered by throwing a pot of pudding near her hand onto the expensive dress worn by the blonde lady. Victoria screeched and started trying to get the mess off her dress. It was quite a scene and all eyes were on the group.

"You little Brat!" Victoria moved toward the girl but before anyone could do anything Ginny was there and had placed herself in front of her daughter.

"I can deal with you flirting with Draco I trust him. I can deal with you telling my daughter I'm inept because she knows it's not true but if you try and lay a hand on either of them you'll be begging for death long before I'm done with you. Got it?"

The blonde stood up with whatever dignity she had left started muttering about crazy redheads in bitchy moods. With her nose pointed to the sky, she walked out with her bruised ego. Ginny glared at her until the last thread of material left the room.

"Now really, Gin dear, you shouldn't have lost your temper," Draco teased.

"Lost my temper?" Ginny sniffed superiorly. "If I had lost my temper I would have broken the perfect little nose of hers."

Draco laughed and led her to the dance floor where he twirled her around. Jade assured herself that no weird ladies were going to steal her dad and headed back to the table to deal with her dress. If she had it her way she would change into her pajamas halfway through the night.

~*~

The ball continued with no more outbursts and Jade had happily changed into some pajamas. She had carried down her dragon and midnight blue blanket that had stars and a moon that actually glowed. She had curled up in a chair and watched the people dance. She was fighting sleep off when her dad came over to her.

"Hey little one" he said softly. "Want to dance before you go to bed?"

Jade nodded sleepily with a lopsided smile and reached up with her dragon still in her arms to clasp her hands behind his neck. He lifted her up and carried her to the dance floor where Ginny was dancing with her father. She didn't realize she had been passed to her grandpa until she felt the scratchy texture of his beard. She opened her eyes once again in her sleepy state to see her mother and father standing in the middle of the dance floor. Draco was leaning forward whispering in her ear.

~*~

Draco had handed Jade to her grandpa and taken Ginny's hand hiding how nervous he was. He spun her out onto the floor and watched her close her eyes, her dress swirled around her feet. She was beautiful and she seemed really happy. Making sure the small object in his pocket was still there he leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

"Gin?"

"Ummhmmm," she had her eyes closed and had her head nestled in his neck. She placed small kisses there as he tried to get up the nerve to speak.

"You know I love you right?"

"Yes." He felt her lips curve into a smile against his neck.

"You know I love Jade?"

"Yes." She lifted her head and gave him a kiss on the lips.

"You know I would do anything for you both?"

"Yes."

"I have one more question-" he began finally getting to his point when a high-pitched scream broke through the calm chatter of the guests.

Ginny paled a bit and whispered 'Pansy' before asking Draco to calm people down and tell them everything was ok. Draco sighed in disappointment, watching as she ran off.

~*~

Ginny flung the door to the bathroom open and quickly knelt down beside the shocked woman. She gathered her into her arms and patted her back while Pansy sobbed in confusion. Ginny tried to contain her questions. Pansy had asked her to use the bathroom an hour ago and Ginny had checked on her a few times but she hadn't moved from her spot near the sinks. She just kept muttering about a spell and playing with her wand.

"Pansy, are you ok?" Ginny coaxed when her sobs had decreased to infrequent whimpers.

"What am I going to do?"

"Pansy, you have to tell me what happened so I know what you are talking about," Ginny exclaimed softly but firmly.

"It was just the one night...we went out for coffee... I was upset about Blaise...He missed that woman the one he divorced" Pansy said sniffing occasionally. "I thought I had preformed a spell... I could have sworn I did..."

"What do you mean, Pansy?"

"Look." She took her wand out and preformed a spell that Ginny recognized as a Pregnancy test. It was positive.

"Who?" Ginny gasped not being able to think clearly.

"Harry," Pansy whispered sadly.

"Harry didn't get divorced," Ginny replied slowly.

"He was going to marry her though and she ran off with that other man," Pansy explained.

"So, what is the problem here?" Ginny asked blankly. "Do you not like Harry?"

"No that IS the problem," Pansy said desperately. "I...I think I... sort of love him but I still love Blaise. It sill hurts to remember him."

"It will always hurt, Pansy. You wouldn't be doing anything wrong if you fell in love again and if you do love Harry what's the problem there?"

"Potter isn't the sort of man that falls in love with a girl like me." Her voice was defeated.

"And I supposed Draco was always the sort of man I would love. Hated my family and me and he was supposedly a Death Eater not to mention the fact that Weasleys and Malfoys are enemies by nature." Ginny's reply was sardonic.

"He didn't come tonight." Pansy pouted thinking that resolved the issue.

"Harry isn't the sort of guy who has a one night stand, Pansy," Ginny said with a small smile. "He probably didn't come because he's realized that you don't want more than that and he doesn't know how to act around you."

"Every man is the sort of guy who has a one night stand," Pansy retorted with a snort.

"Not Harry," Ginny sat down to get comfortable. "In his sixth year he got drunk with Cho and they were having a bit of a heavy snog that was heading in well... certain directions. She sort of hinted at having 'just this one night' and Harry stopped immediately. Even smashed he knew he didn't want to do that."

"Really?" Pansy asked hopefully.

"Yes. On top of that if he found out that you were pregnant he certainly wouldn't just abandon you. Dear god you'll be lucky if you have two centimeters to yourself. Now stop pouting on the ground. You are supposed to be Slytherin's bitch not a pathetic whining idiot. You go tell him and don't back down," Ginny encouraged with a large smile.

"You're right! What the hell am I doing anyways?" Pansy said coming out of her dismal mood.

"I don't know but there is a floo down the hall and Harry should be at home."

Pansy got up off the floor and walked towards the door. On her way out she glanced back. "By the way, Weasley, if you ever call me a pathetic whining idiot again I'll hex you."

"That's the Pansy we all love" Ginny smirked.

~*~

Ginny opened her eyes and searched for the person who had disturbed her slumber. It was Draco. He was moving around and talking in his sleep. She smiled amusedly as she caught some of the things he was saying.

"No not the lettuce.... Peanut butter.... not nuts...the giraffe...its going to eat me..." She tried to hide her laughter but her small chuckle turned into full out laughter causing tears to run down her face as she tried to breathe properly. This woke Draco up who looked confused.

"What is so bloody funny?" he asked still half asleep.

"You...lettuce...giraffes..." she gasped for air.

"Uh huh," his raised eyebrows making her laugh harder, "and the fluffy bunny rabbit with the Easter eggs brought pink peanut butter and chocolate ducks."

When she finally stopped laughing she managed to answer. "No you were talking in your sleep."

"I was not." He looked so indignant that she almost went into another fit of giggles.

"Yes you were."

"No I wasn't."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes!" she exclaimed and sealed her mouth over his before he could answer. She kissed him until both of them were panting for breath and any previous thought was effectively gone from their minds.

"Where's Jade?" Draco asked when he looked over the clock. The hands read six a.m. and on Christmas morning he had expected her to be jumping on their bed at five.

"She tried to stay up all night so she's probably still sleeping." Ginny replied rolling out of bed. She threw a bathrobe over her white silk pajama pants and shirt. "You coming down for presents?"

"What did you get me?" he asked.

"You'll have to come find out won't you?"

~*~

Ginny walked down the stairs and burst into the sitting room where a large tree sat in the middle of the room glowing with charmed candles. She froze in amazement but it wasn't of the tree or the presents that littered the ground around it. It was for the floating scroll that hung in the air before her. In gold writing it proclaimed:

I could name a thousand reasons why I love you

I could tell you how much I need you.

I might have told you how good you are to me

I might have told you how much you've changed me.

You already know all of that...

You see me like nobody else.

So there is only one thing I have left to say

As she read the last word Draco wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned towards her ear.

"Will you marry me?"

Tears of happiness came to her eyes as she tried to get a word past her speechless mouth. While she was struggling to string words together he placed a ring on her hand. A diamond set in a white gold with two small emeralds beside it. She turned in his arms and kissed him softly.

"I've been waiting a long time for you to ask me that," she whispered.

"Is that a yes?" he watched her smile grow mischievous.

"I'll think about it," she marched over to the presents and tossed a package to him. "Make yourself busy while I go wake Jade up."

He eyed her as she waltzed away swaying her hips enticingly knowing he was watching her. That woman was going to be the death of him. He opened his present and found a cologne set. He opened it and almost dropped the aftershave when a house elf Apparated in front of him.

"I is sorry, sir," the house elf bowed. "Miss Ginny is wanting you to know that she is being done making her decision, sir."

"And?..."

"She is saying Master should have known she would be saying yes, sir."

The house elf disappeared leaving Draco to smile in an amused manner. The smile grew as Jade jumped into his lap and threw her arms around his neck. He looked toward the door where his fiancée was leaning looking haughty. His eyes told her she was going to pay for her little trick later. She stuck her tongue out in return and made her way to the tree to start handing out presents.

~*~

Ginny was resting against the kitchen counter for a few minutes trying to get a rest between trying to bake a cake for Jade's tenth birthday big enough to feed fifty people as well as feeding Tyrus his lunch. He was a devil child at one year of age and she would bet her wedding ring that he was just like Draco was at that age. Speaking of devils, Draco had disappeared to Gringotts to go over some financial crap so she was alone in getting ready for the party.

"Tye! Would you please stop throwing your food? Mummy is trying to get your sister's cake ready," Ginny watched helplessly as the infant giggled and threw a banana that landed in her hair. "When I tell your father that I am never having children again you can explain why." She scowled and attempted to get the banana out of her silk mane.

"Why wouldn't you want to have children, mummy?" Jade asked walking into the kitchen. She grabbed an apple and sat down at the small table.

"Oh I was just talking," Ginny sighed. "Your brother is driving me up the wall."

"I can take him into the sitting room if you want," Jade offered and Ginny smiled gratefully as she took Tyrus out of his highchair.

It was later on that afternoon when she was finally done the cake that Ginny wandered into the sitting room to find Jade curled up on the couch half asleep while Tyrus slept in his playpen with her dragon and a blanket.

"He wouldn't give him back to me," Jade told her as Ginny reached in for the dragon. "I didn't want him to cry so I let him sleep with it but he drooled on it."

"Well I think I can fix him," Ginny answered gravely. "I don't know...it might be too late."

"Mom!" Jade scowled trying to hide the grin creeping up on her face. Ginny only smiled and preformed a simple cleaning spell before handing the dragon over to her daughter.

They sat there for a few minutes and Ginny began to think about the other things she needed to do that day. Her thoughts were cut off as a burning sensation began to come from her tattoo. She clutched it trying to will the pain away but it grew and Jade looked at her uncertainly. When Ginny slipped to the ground and curled into a ball still holding her rib cage. Jade dropped to the ground beside her.

"Mum?" she asked frantically. "Mum! Are you ok?"

The only answer she got was a moan of pain. Jade pulled her mothers hair back from her forehead checking for a temperature. Her skin was so hot Jade flinched when she touched it. Ginny's breathing was growing shallow and panicking Jade ran to the fireplace to reach St. Mungos.

"They can't help her," a soft melodious voice made her pause. She turned to see a figure standing over her mother.

Jade would have usually called for help but the woman before her seemed to mean no harm. If she was going to reveal the key to healing her mother she was willing to listen for a minute.

"Can you make her better?" Jade asked urgently.

The caring smile extended to the bright pure blue eyes, which stood out against a porcelain face. She had long hair that seemed to flow around her body in gold strands. Her body had an almost unnoticeable glow to it that seemed to enhance the beauty of the lady standing near Ginny.

"She is suffering from the mark on her," the woman replied. "To keep her alive someone must sacrifice something for her health because something was sacrificed to take it away."

"I have nothing to sacrifice," Jade replied desperately.

"Will you sacrifice your love?" the woman asked.

"If I do not have love to give to my mother she would die of heartbreak anyways."

"No love with another. Each person is destined to have one great love," the woman explained. "If you give up your one passionate time in life then I will grant your mother's health."

"Is there a catch?" Jade questioned warily.

"If you should fall in love despite the promise and admit your love your first born daughter shall be given to me when she turns sixteen. I'll not kill her she will become one of my maidens." Jade looked at her surprised.

"I'll do it," Jade told her trying to keep her voice firm. She looked at her mom and forced herself to do it. She needed to do it.

"Very well." The woman raised her arms and chanted for a few minutes in a language she didn't recognise. She felt emotions running through her mind as a golden line flowed from her heart to between the lady's hands. It was overwhelming her and she began to feel tired and it was hard to breath. A small globe was made and as it grew Jade felt a part of her leave. When the spell ended the lady was still standing there waiting from Jade to catch her breath. "You will understand one day, child."

"I don't care as long as my mum's alright," Jade looked up once again into her brilliant crystal blue eyes.

"Your mother has passed out but she will be fine. Take her to your doctors and they will give her something that will wake her once she is healed. She will not remember what happened here so if you wish to tell her you may," the lady began to fade. "Think about what she should know carefully, child."

"Wait! Who are you?" Jade asked frantically.

The woman was but a shade when she answered. "You shall know when your time comes."

With that the mysterious being disappeared and Jade did as she was told and flooed St. Mungos. She went through the chaos of telling her dad and mom what happened. She left out everything about the woman. She knew somewhere in her heart that what she had lost was worth her mother's life. She didn't think they would agree. Once again it was all a matter of letting go.

~Finite Incantatem~