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*Chapter 10*

Revealing Conversations



Ginny made her way back to the Ministry thinking about her encounter with Ian and Draco Malfoy. It was about an hour until she got off work, so she finished her report on Mr. Dimschits. No one else had returned from there assignments yet. She was filing when Colin returned from the Dragon Goods Trading Meeting.

"HeyaGinny." Colin plopped down in his chair.

"Have fun Colin?" She didn't look up form her paper work.

"No not really, just the same old stuff. I don't know why they have those meetings if nothing is going to change," he huffed as he started his report. "How was your day?"

"Well Mr. Dimschits is expected to make full recovery and be out in about a week."

Colin finished his report filed away some papers and told Ginny bye for the weekend before heading out the door.

"Hiya Harry, Ginny's still in the office,"Colin said right outside the office door.

"Thanks Colin."

Ginny was still working on her reports when Harry came in.

"Guess what, I got the evening off, so about diner, do you want to go out or stay in?" he asked nonchalantly.

"Depends, on where we were planning on going?" she replied still scrawling on her paper.

"Well I haven't been to The Blarney Stone, in a while," he said sitting in Colin's propping his feet upon the desk.

"That sounds fine to me. I just have to finish up this report first." She continued writing; after about five minutes she put her quill down. "Finished . . . shall we?" She stood and grabbed her things form the coat rack.

They went to the main floor of the Ministry and exited through the red phone booth. As they were walking down the street towards The Blarney Stone, Harry put his arm around Ginny. "Well how did lunch with Ron go?"

"Fine I guess, Ron wanted to talk about the wedding. I figured as much,"she said as they kept walking.

"And Hermione, what did she say?"

"Oh miss pouty face didn't come. She sent Ronnikinsto face mean old Ginny," she said getting irritated at the thought again.

"Sorry for asking," Harry said teasing Ginny about her reaction.

"Oh I don't know she was just being a big baby if you ask me. It wasn't as if I would have bit her head off, I actually understand the request."

They walked into The Blarney Stone, nobody starting whispering because there was the famous Harry Potter. It was smoky and there was a low rumble of talking and televisions in the background. Ginny liked the television; she always watched them at Hermione's and Harry's house. They were seated in a booth in the back corner of the restaurant. A portly waiter came round and took their orders before dismissing himself to the kitchens.

"So you'll never guess who else I saw in the park today," Ginny said.

"I give up, who?"

"Draco."

"Malfoy?He doesn't get out much since his mom's suicide," Harry commented casually.

"I thought she was murdered?" Ginny was sure the quizzical look on her face was obvious.

"Nah, it was a big cover up. She couldn't take the embarrassment of Lucius being in prison but most of all her son getting involved with aMuggle from America," Harry said crunching a piece of ice.

"Your kidding amuggle-born," she said her mouth gaping.

"No, not a muggle- born witch, just a muggle."

"Harry, are you sure. How do you know this?"

"Oh you hear things being in law enforcement department."

"Did you know he had alittle boy?" she asked.

"Is that right? How old is he?"

"About four maybe five Ithink; he looks just like Malfoy, except the eyes. Ian, the little boy told me his mum, well Ipresumed her to be his mum, was sick and she was here in London to get better."

"Malfoy actually let you get close enough to talk to him? I'm impressed." Ginny could hear the sarcasm in Harry's voice.

"Yah, I've been hanging around you too long. When I saw them Ihad to know what was going on, so I sat a few benches away form them." She took a drink. "The little boy, Ian, came over to where I was, and started talking to me."

"Now that is interesting. Narcissa must have killed her self soon after the boy was born then, because it has only been a couple or so years, maybe three," Harry said taking a bite of the bread on the table. "I am sure his father has disowned him by now."

"Ian said that he did not get to see his father much, but that he was going to be staying with him."

"Well, as much as this is a fascinating subject, we have other matters to discuss?" Harry said, his lips forced in a thin line across his face.

"I'm sorry, your right. Ijust thought it all a bit odd is all." But Ginny was finding it hard to get the Malfoy's off her mind.

The conversation turned rapidly; they talked about when and where they were going to have the wedding and who should attend. In the meantime the waiter brought their food out. The restaurant was beginning to fill up and get smokier by the minute.

"Well we can have the wedding at Grimmauld Place; the Drawing Room is more than big enough to hold everyone. So are the kitchen and the Garden in back," Harry said.

"That is a good idea, now when and who is coming is all that is left," Ginny said.

"Well your family, Aunt Petunia, Dumbledore of course," he answered.

"Of course we will have to invite Professor McGonagall, Remus, Tonks and Moody, what about Snape?"

"Oh, what the hell, he can come if he wants," Harry said shrugging his shoulders.

"Now when. Hermione and Ron are getting married on the eleventh of December. So we have the week before or the week after?"

"Well it should probably be the week after," Harry said. "They aren't going to be gone but about three or four days, Hermione can't get that much time until Christmas. Ron was complaining about it the other day," Harry said taking a bite of his food.

"Well then I guess we will need to tell everyone then," she said.

"Yeah we will take care of all that this weekend." He smiled at her.

Ginny had so many things on her mind when she went home that evening; Hermione, Ron, Harry and Draco. She didn't know what to do with all the information in her head. There was something still nagging her about Hermione, she wished she could forget it all. Maybe after she talked to her all would be better. Then there was Ian Malfoy, she really wandered what was wrong with his mother, and would St. Mungo's Healers be able to help her since she was a muggle? She didn't look any older than she was. Ginny heard a faint knock at the door.

"Com-in."

"Would miss like some chamomile tea?" Dobby came in with a tray.

"Yes, thank you Dobby."Ginny took the cup off the tray.

Dobby sat the tray in the floor by the bed.

"Dobby could tell miss had a lot on her mind."

"Dobby, I have not had the chance to thank you properly."

"Thank Dobby for what miss?"

"For enslaving yourself to me. I know you have been a free elf for a long time, and it really took something for you to do that again."

"It was nothing misses."

"Well I should say it was, Dobby. You are a very noble elf."

"It is my destiny to protect you misses."

"Really how do you know that?"

"Dobby can feel it miss." He blinked at her with those huge orb eyes.

"What about Winky, is it her destiny?"

"Well it is as long as we are bound," he said smiling.

"Bound.I'm afraid I don't understand," Ginny said taking a sip of her tea

"Winky is Dobby's mate now. I believe you call it wife," he said swinging his legs. "Dobby has troubled miss enough." He got the tray and walked to the door. He looked back at her. "Good night miss, sleep well. Oh and Miss, Dobby likes misses hair no matter what her mother says."

"Thank you, Dobby. You have a pleasant night as well."

He nodded his head to her and closed the door behind him. Ginny sat her cup on her night stand and turned on her radio. Wow what a way to end the day, little Dobby and Winky were married; this had been a very interesting day indeed. She didn't know how she would ever go to sleep, thank heavens tomorrow was Saturday and she could sleep in.



Ginny woke up to a very rainy Saturday morning. She could hear the thunder outside her window, it rattled the house as she lay there looking out at the falling rain. She really didn't want to get out of the bed, she rolled over and closed her eyes; the first thing that popped in to her head was a small brown eyed, blonde haired boy. For some reason that just kept creeping back to her thoughts. She did not know if it would be a good idea and she was fairly certain Harry wouldn't like it, but she needed to see this little boy again. Obviously he might loose his mother very soon, if St. Mungo's couldn't help her. Why she was concerned she couldn't say, she knew how she would feel if her mother were sick and could possibly die, and she was a grown woman. She lay there a little longer before she decided to get up and go down stairs. As she was walking down stairs she heard her mother and father talking; she stopped and listened.

"I have told you time and time again Molly; he could be dead for all we know."

"Arthur how you could say that about your own son," said her mother sniffing and wiping her nose with the sleeve of her house coat.

"Molly all I know is that we have not heard from him for a very long time," her father said standing to comfort her mother.

"I know Arthur; I just can't accept that until I see it for my self."

"I am sorry Molly; I did not mean to make you cry." He hugged her tightly.

Ginny cleared her throat loudly as to alert her parents to her coming down stairs. She walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Her mom had already fixed breakfast and sat in on the table.

"Good morning dear, sleep well?" her father asked.

"Yeah, I hated to get up actually. It has been a long week, so much has happened since last Saturday. I feel like I am dreaming sometimes and mum is going to wake me up," she said then took a drink of juice. "Mum are you okay?" Ginny asked her mother.

"Fine Ginny, I'm fine,"Mrs. Weasley said in her high pitched voice.

"Okay, I will let that go for now but if you need me let me know okay." She got up and kissed her mother on the cheek.

"What are you doing today dear?" asked Mr. Weasley looking over the top of the Daily Prophet.

"Oh I don't know that Iwant to do anything," she replied. "But Harry is supposed to come over at some point today; we still have some things to iron out."

Just then an owl flew in the kitchen window it was Hedwig. She dropped a letter in Ginny's hand. Then she perched on the window seal from whence she came. Ginny opened the letter;



Gin,

I have been called to work today, got some big problems in Dublin.

I probably won't be back till Monday or so. Sorry, I can't come to talk to your parents with you today.

I went ahead and told Aunt Petunia and Remus, (he was here when I got up this morning????)

Any way, go ahead and talk to your parents and we will talk to Ron and Hermione together next week.

Have a good weekend.



I Love You Always,

Harry



She rolled the parchment back up and lay in on the table.

"Well will we be seeing Harry today?" her father asked her.

"No. . .He has to go to Dublin for the rest of the weekend said he probably won't be back till Monday or so," she answered him.

"Well your father and Iare going to Diagon Alley today do you want to tag along." Her mother smiled anxiously at her.

"Oh sure why not, I'll go get dressed." Ginny sprinted up the stairs when Dobby met her in the hall.

"Good morning miss," Dobby said bowing to her. "Will miss be joining her parents to Diagon Alley?"

"Yes, I will Dobby, would you like something?"

"No miss, Dobby is quite satisfied." He bowed his head to her and walked down the stairs.

Ginny went to her room and got dressed. She tousled her hair and put on make-up which is something she rarely did. It wasn't long until she joined her parents downstairs again. They were ready and waiting for her.

"Oh I sent Hedwig back for you Ginny," Mr. Weasley said.

"Ready, let's go then,"Mrs. Weasley said before they apperated to Diagon Alley.

They arrived on the cobblestone street of Diagon Alley, it was raining there too. The streets and sidewalks were a sea of brightly colored umbrellas. Ginny told her mom and dad that she would meet them at The Leaky Cauldron for lunch; they agreed and went in the opposite direction. She walked down the side walk she didn't want an umbrella she had put arepelling charm on her. She was just taking in the sites around her and enjoying her day off. She decided to go into the Magical Menagerie; she thought she might find her a new cat. As she walked in the door she saw a familiar small blonde headed boy looking at the owls in their cages. Ginny scanned the room before she walked over to the small boy.

She knelt down on one knee beside him.

"Hello again, thinking of getting an owl?"

"Hi, I don't know my dad says I can buy anything I want in here today. I just don't know what to choose. Do you have an owl?"

"Yes I do, he was given to me by somebody special."

"What's his name?"

"Prince Humperdinck!"

"What a funny name."

"Yes what a funny name indeed," said a voice from behind her.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath; she stood up and turned around.

"Well my son certainly seems to like you Ginny. By the way I like the hair." He smiled at her touching her hair.

Ginny felt her eyes widen as Draco reached out and touched her hair. She didn't mean to but she backed up a bit.

"Sorry, I just came in to find a new cat, and saw him standing there." She felt tightness in her throat."He is a charming little boy." Ginny looked down at Ian still perusing the owls.

"Ah, he gets it from his mother," Draco said in a bit of strain.

Ginny could see his eyes go distant as they reflected pain.

"I would like to meet her and congratulate her for raising such a fine young man," Ginny said not knowing really how to have a conversation with Draco Malfoy.

"I am sure you have more,"Draco began as Ginny's attention was caught by the door chime.

"Oh, there you two are," a very familiar voice came from the doorway.

"Tonks!!" the little boy said to her.

Ginny was really confused now; Draco must really need help if Tonks was in the picture. Now she had more questions than ever.

"Hey there tiger . . . you ready for that ice-cream?" she asked the small boy picking him up.

"Yeah . . . can Ginny come with us?" He smiled at Ginny. "Did you know she has an owl and his name is Prince Humperdinck?"

"I sure did . . . so what do you say Gin; want to join us for ice-cream?" Tonks turned to Ginny.

She looked at Malfoy then Tonks and then Ian.

"Please Ginny!" Ian exclaimed.

"Well okay but I have to meet my parents in a little while."

"Oh, where's Harry?" Tonks questioned her.

"He got called in today, said something about Dublin," Ginny answered with a gloomy voice.

"Shall we get going to Fortescue's ladies?" Draco interrupted at the mention of Harry.

They all walked out the door to Fortescue's Ice-cream Parlor. Draco walked ahead of them trying to keep up with Ian. Tonks and Ginny walked behind out of earshot.

"So Tonks what's the story with Ian's mom."

"Oh, um Ian doesn't really know his mum. Sandra has raised him practically for Draco; but she is very sick now. She has what muggles call breast cancer."

"What's that? Breast Cancer?"

"Well it is like a mass of black that starts in one spot of your body and then moves to other parts eating your tissues as it goes." Tonks sighed, "Sandra is in a lot of pain. Draco thought maybe they could help her at St. Mungo's but nothing has helped her so far. They aren't giving her much time to live. It is unusual for someone as young as her to have this type of cancer, but it happens."

"Poor, Ian . . . that is awful, I even feel sorry for Draco." Ginny had the saddest look on her face.

"Ian and Sandra are really close; it will be tough on him." Tonks shoved her hands in her pockets.

"What happened to Ian's mom?" Ginny questioned Tonks again.

"Not sure, Draco never talks about her, he has no pictures up of her or anything," Tonks answered with a lost air about her voice.

"So why are you helping him?"

"Well for starters I am the only family he has left except for of course his father."

It had stopped raining by the time they made it to the ice cream shop and decided to go to the park to eat their ice cream. They all sat down at a table near the playground. Ginny was just feeling too weird sitting out in public with Draco Malfoy and his son and Tonks there too. Ginny watched the small child and his father as they interacted, you could see the love that passed between them. It was nothing like the way Draco's father had always treated him. Draco was not the pompous jerk they went to school with he was different, he was kind and caring, and something she would have never thought him capable of.

"Ginny come push me on the swings. . . .pleeeeease!"Ian begged Ginny from the swings.

"Okay but just for a little bit, then I have to go okay," Ginny said walking towards the white headed child.

Ginny was pushing Ian in the swing. She could see Draco and Tonks having a chat at the table. She wondered what the conversation was. After about five minutes of pushing she told Ian she had to get going. She stopped the swing and he got out they walked over to the table to his father and Tonks.

"Well guys it has been lovely. Ian I hope to see you soon." She pressed the little boy's nose playfully.

"Okay," he said smiling at her and ran back towards the playground.

"I will see you Monday, kay Gin," said Tonks waving to her as she finished her ice cream cone.

She turned and started walking out of the park. She nearly reached the gate when Draco called to her walking towards her. She stopped and turned to face him.

"I . . . I just . . . just wanted to say . . . to say thanks," he said looking very intent at her.

"For what?" Ginny asked with uncertainty in her eyes.

"I just want you to know that I have changed. I am not who I used to be and I am not my father, we no longer share the same opinions," he said with seriousness that Ginny could not help but notice.

"Life is change, Draco,"she said putting her hand on his shoulder. "When we are through changing then our life will be done." She smiled at him for a few seconds then turned and walked through the park gates. She turned around to see him still standing there starring at her. She turned and kept walking towards the leaky cauldron. Wow she had defiantly been talking to Dumbledore too much. Where did that comment come from? For some reason Ginny was drawn to Ian, she could not explain it, she just was.