Matters of Blood and Connection

Chapter 17: A New Beginning

As Draco reached the bottom of the stairs, his eyes caught sight of his father. Lucius was standing away from the guests, his own eyes narrowed at his son, as he beckoned him with a jerk of the head into the abandoned dining area. When he entered it, Lucius turned to him.

"Theodore says he just had a very awkward encounter with you and your girlfriend, Draco," Lucius said, in a voice stiff voice. "Upstairs in your bedroom. I'm certain I don't have to explain any further than that, do I?"

"No, sir," mumbled Draco.

"Just because you're here for the holiday weekend does not mean you can reproduce with that girl. I would have thought you'd have chosen better as far as a mate. After all, you are my son. How long has it been?"

Draco blinked and counting on his fingers. "A few months."

Lucius' eyes narrowed slightly. "It's hard to see a girl like that being good at anything in the bedroom."

Draco sneered. "That's none of your business."

"Isn't it? You're in my house, boy, remember that."

Draco glared at his father, and his hand trembled at his side. He had never heard his father speak about any woman like that, especially the ones that he dated. But, then he thought about other side, Ginny's side. Her family. They would be beyond furious with her. Her friends and the Trio didn't understand, and Draco couldn't blame them. How could they?

"Why do you hate her?" Draco asked.

"You mean that girl? I don't hate her. I hate where she comes from. Her parents are lower than filth, haven't I told you that before? It would be so easy to break her heart, I assure you, and you may find slight enjoyment in it. The Weasley's are a poor excuse, in more ways than one, for a wizard family."

"Don't you-" Draco started when someone behind them cleared their throat. He whirled around to see Ginny standing there, her eyes wide, and the glass in her hand shaking slightly before it fell to the floor. She opened her mouth to say something, let out a squeak, and Apparated out of the manor.

"Well, this night has been entertaining after all." Lucius drawled. "Perhaps you should go and find your girlfriend. She looked rather distraught."

As Draco exited the room, Nott was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, smirking.

"Such a pity," he Nott whispered. "Maybe I should be the one to comfort Ginny, as you seem to be messing up right and left."

"Don't you touch her," hissed Draco. "She's not yours anymore."

"Right, Malfoy, because the whores belong to you."

Draco's fist collided with Nott's jaw and they both stumbled, one against the wall, the other against the stairs. Draco stared at his long-time friend and felt nothing but betrayal. Then, he simply turned his heel and walked out the front door, the blood dripping from his bruised knuckle.

Draco found her in their large backyard, sitting near the garden of roses, hugging her knees to her chest. She was staring at the flowers when he stopped and looked down at her. She didn't move. It was like that day at the lake after that horrible misunderstanding. Again, he felt like a jerk.

He reached out a hand to touch her cheek, and he felt a single teardrop. He pulled back and decided that resting his hands on her shoulders was better suited for this current catastrophe of a situation. He sank to his knees behind her, his fingers lightly brushing her hair, and placed his chin against the top of her head.

"You didn't even defend them," she said bitterly. "Do I mean that little to you?"

"Of course not," he whispered, moving his hands across her shoulders and down her arms. He was grateful when she gripped his hands and brought them to her chest, then to her lips. Something rushed through him at the feel on her mouth on his skin, and he moaned softly. "My father is a very influential man, Ginny."

She turned around then, her eyes slightly puffy and red as she laid her forehead against his, his hands now brought around her waist. "Theodore ruined our night," she said, trailing a finger down his chest. That was when she noticed his hand. "What did you do?"

"I hit Nott," Draco said lightly. "He deserved it. He was talking badly of you. What else could I do?" He grinned. "Perhaps we can finish what we started before he interrupted us."

"After we talk," said Ginny as she moved closer to him. With her head on his chest, she reached up to stroke his cheek. "I don't know if you noticed; I'm not having a good time."

"Well, after my father-"

"Even before that," Ginny said, cutting him off. Her tone had taken a serious turn and it made him nervous. "When we got here I was so excited to meet your family, but now, I don't know. I feel like I would never survive in your world. And after that little speech your father made, I know that's true."

"My father is a bitter man," Draco said. "If he sees that I really care about you-"

"That's just it." Ginny stared at him and winced at the hurt expression that crossed his face. "I don't think you care as much for me as you do for your own world. You know our lives will be different when we finish school. You'll go back to being a rich, egotistical jerk, and I'll go back to being poor. The only common ground we have is what we are."

Draco pulled his hands away from her body like he had been burned, and he glared at her. "What are you talking about? Common ground. You just told me in there that you loved me."

"I do," Ginny whispered, touching his face, and brushing her lips against his cheek as she moved closer still. "You have no idea how much. I just don't want this to end after we leave school."

"Then we can make sure it never does," Draco said, his eyes flashing suddenly.

"How?" Ginny wondered as her lips caressed his ear. She had positioned herself on his lap with his arms around her waist again. "I'll do anything to make this work." She brushed her lips against his and pressed closer.

He tangled his hands in her hair and rolled her on her back. The grass felt cool beneath his fingers as he hovered over her before crushing his lips against hers.

"Marry me," he whispered as he pulled away.

Ginny's eyes widened and she pursed her lips. "What did you say?"

"I asked you to marry me," he mumbled nervously, sitting up. He brushed a hand through his hair. "You don't have to answer. I'm sorry. I know it was such a stupid idea."

"No," Ginny said thoughtfully after a moment. "It's actually a nice idea."

"Excuse me?" Draco said, blinking.

She leaned forward and kissed him enthusiastically. "I love you, and yes, I'll marry you."