Destined

Snapshots: Destined

For many generations, the Weasleys and the Malfoys had fought barbarically, killing off only heirs and blatantly cheating in Wizard Duels. However, all that changed when Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy became the heirs to the grand estates of Weasley and Malfoy (Well, the Malfoys had a grand estate. The Weasleys had more what you would call a picturesque cottage for couples. Spectacular views). They became close friends and married young; Arthur was married off to Molly Brookes, a respectable pure blood witch with red hair so the Weasley hair was guaranteed to carry on for the next generation, and Lucius to Narcissa Black, a beautiful toujours pur witch with the Malfoy families trademark blond locks.

As time went on, the Weasleys had several children, named respectively William, Charles, Percival, Frederick and George, all with red hair and thousands of freckles. Narcissa and Lucius had still not successfully conceived a child. It was traditional for Malfoys to have one son per generation and lavish as much care and attention, in the form of money, on him as possible. Finally, on the eighth of June Narcissa gave birth to a son, a boy with blond curls and an adorable pointed chin, which his mother called 'simply cherubic'. He was named Draco Lucas and immediately introduced to Molly and Arthur's youngest son, Ronald, who had been born just a few months previous.

"Next time we must have daughter," Molly declared to Narcissa as she poured her tea. "And our daughter and your son can marry."

Narcissa agreed. A Weasley and a Malfoy marriage would surely show the wizarding world that the two families were no longer at odds.

Molly's wish came true and her next child was a girl whom they named Virginia Elizabeth. Virginia, or Ginny as her brothers affectionately called her, would grow up to live a better life than as a Weasley, Molly insisted. Arthur agreed to meet with Lucius to arrange bonds between Draco and Virginia. And it was done. On the eighth of April when Virginia Weasley was twenty-one, she would be joined in the bonds of holy matrimony with Draco Malfoy.

*CLICK*

This is Virginia, aged five, being chased around the Weasley garden by Draco who is trying to pull her pigtails. Her chubby little legs pump, and she is screaming and shouting as Draco catches up, his legs long and lean. He grabs one of her curls and pulls it. With a cry, five-year-old Virginia spins around and kicks him in the shins with all the force her five-year-old self can muster, causing him to fall over with pain.

"Never," she says, glaring over him. "Pull my hair again."

"Or what?" Draco says, trying to look cool despite the gnawing pain in his shin.

"I'll mess with your hair gel," she replies with some satisfaction. "And turn your hair blue."

*CLICK*

Virginia, aged ten, waving her brothers and Draco good bye as they leave for Hogwarts. She has lost her puppy fat but is still small, her big brown eyes overlarge in her tiny, delicate face. Draco leans out the train window and blows her a kiss.

"Love you, Ginny," he calls, before going back to his friends to comb his hair back.

Virginia catches the kiss and mimes putting it in her pocket.

*CLICK*

Virginia, aged eleven, sitting on the sorting stool in front of the entire school. She looks much the same, perhaps a little taller. Her hair is in two plaits, hanging down the side of her face. She looks out in the audience for a familiar face and sees Draco sitting at the Slytherin table. He gives her the thumbs up and she grins nervously back. She tries to find Ron, her favourite, at the Gryffindor table but cannot see them anywhere.

"Now," says the sorting hat in her ear. "Where shall we put you? Not a bad mind. You have ambition and courage. This is tough. However, you seem intelligent enough. How about RAVENCLAW." She hears her brothers Fred and George groan but seems happy enough as she trots off to the Ravenclaw table. She looks over at Draco and he seems pleased, looking at her while the hat sorts White, Clara.

*CLICK*

Virginia, aged fifteen, comes off the pitch after her first game of Quidditch ever against Gryffindor. She plays Chaser and they have just lost as usual because you can not beat any team with the famous Harry Potter on it. Her red hair is a tousled ponytail tied back with a bronze ribbon and her brown eyes are alive and sparkling.

Draco walks past and stops to talk. "Nice game, Weasley," he says smirking.

Virginia grimaces. "For the last time, Mal fait, it's Virginia."

"Well, Virginia Weasley." He pronounces her name with a mock drawl and she hates him for it. "Fancy coming to Hogsmeade avec moi this weekend?"

She grins. Draco's blond hair and fair complexion shows that he is decidedly embarrassed. "Well," she says, considering it. "Alright."

Although Malfoys never show any emotion, Draco looks delighted.

*CLICK*

Virginia, aged eighteen, cheeks flushed in anger and red plait swinging. Her parents have just told her about the arranged marriage with Draco.

"You did WHAT?" she yells.

Molly tries to calm her. "Darling, you've been going steady for three years, surely you were going to get married anyway."

"I can't believe you did this. What about my wishes? You sold me off to a one-year-old when I was born. You're pathetic, useless."

"Virginia, you're just going to have to live with it. There is no way out. Draco is being informed now too." Molly places an anxious hand on her arm, which Virginia swings off.

"So Auror College goes out the window," Virginia yells. "Forget it. I'm leaving!"

*CLICK*

A distraught Virginia meets Draco at the Leaky Cauldron an hour later. Her eyes are red and she is glumly drinking Ogden's Firewhisky.

"What'll we do, Draco? I don't want to be forced into a marriage," Virginia wails.

"Shh, Ginny," Draco says, holding her and patting her hair. His cold grey eyes are filled with warmth.

"I just...hate them," she says in a hushed whisper.

"Run away with me then," Draco says, smiling.

*CLICK*

A postcard from New Zealand portraying a sheep, a kiwi and a pool of thick burping mud.

Dear Molly and Arthur, Narcissa and Lucius,

We have gone to New Zealand. Don't wish you were here. Draco has a job as a Potions teacher at Aotea College of Magic and I am training at Wellington Wizarding University as an Auror cum Hit Witch. Consider your agreement void and do not think for a second that you will be hearing from us any time soon, if at all.

Virginia and Draco

P.S. Tell Harry to stop calling Mum and Dad, Mister and Mrs. Weasley. It's pathetic. Draco would like to add that he thinks Harry himself is pathetic but I still feel that the pathetic tiara goes to our 'loving' parents. VEW and DLM