You Promised It Would Be Forever - Edit

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 44 ~ Ginny Visits the Manor

Lord Hornswallow was sitting in his parlor in front of the fireplace, sipping on a cognac, and looking quite irritated. He had watched the tearful reunion of the Weasleys and left when he saw Ginny embrace her brother. It was a family moment, not to be marred by him. The look in Molly Weasley's eyes when she saw her son was worth more galleons than he would ever acquire. He had done a good thing.

But of course, Percival was a Slytherin, and a part of him hoped that Ginny Weasley would be exceedingly grateful to him. His heart was in the right place when he forced the Board to release her brother, but to say other parts of him weren't involved would be a stretch. He desired Ginny after all, and true to his creed, saw no reason not to use his power and influence to sway the witch his way. If gratitude was what brought the witch to his arms, then he would settle for that. Given the chance to make love to the witch, maybe he could persuade her to stay in his arms forever

And that was what he wanted to do to Ginny Weasley. Make love to her. Use every skill he had acquired as a lover to bring her to someplace she'd never been. This was not a situation of mere sexual gratification. He could get that anytime in any place for the price of dinner and a drink, if that. Sometime his name was enough to make a witch drop her knickers. No. He wanted to connect with Ginny Weasley…and if possible, to make her love him. Percival believed he was in love with her. She was in his thoughts constantly. Oh, how happy she looked tonight when she saw her brother.

Percival would be quite happy to sit and idly relive the reunion over and over in his mind except for one problem.

Sylvia Covington.

A silky, sexy, slinking spelled-blonde, magically enhanced-breasted socialite witch who just could not understand he was not interested in fucking her at this point in time. They had several trysts over the past several months, but Percival was quite aware he wasn't the only wizard riding that particular train. When he had returned home, he found Sylvia lounging in his parlor, drinking his best champagne like water, waiting for him. She had bullied her way past the servants, browbeating and threatening them until they let her pass. After all, she had been with the Lord before.

Sylvia was determined to find out what was going on with Percival. On the gold-digging scene, the witches kept up with who was sleeping with what wizard, and Sylvia found that Percival had been completely out of the loop for several months as far as sex went. He was sleeping with no one she knew and that boded no good. The wizard was still dating on occasion, but sending witches home at an alarming rate, saying he wasn't interested in intimacy with them and was only interested in company.

Something was going on with the wizard. Sylvia suspected he was in love with some unknown witch, and if he was, someone needed to throw a wand into the works. Sylvia was just the witch to do it.

She rested against the fireplace, striking sexy poses and pouting at the wizard as he ignored her. He had asked her to go home several times but all Sylvia would say was a variation of the following:

"Percival, you know you don't mean that dearest. I've been asking around and I know you haven't gotten your wand wet in ages. Now be a good boy and come to Sylvie."

Percival ran his hand over his face, then peeked between his fingers to see if the witch was still there. She was. At least she knew better than to approach him without his permission. There was a kind of sexual etiquette that operated between nobility. Desire for contact had to be specifically expressed. To overstep those boundaries was unthinkable for the elite. Everything had a rule or a code of conduct that applied specifically to the wealthy.

Percival was wondering how he was going to get rid of Sylvia without bodily throwing her out and causing a scene. Sylvia was a drama queen of the worst sort and had quite an ugly, jealous personality beneath all her apparent beauty. If he threw her out, he could be sure it would be in the Prophet's society page tomorrow.

Percival was looking at Sylvie with a small frown on his face, when a house elf winked in.

"Good evening, Master," the elf said pleasantly, bowing to Percival before sending a small, disapproving glance in Sylvie's direction.

"Good evening, Slapfoot," Percival replied. "Is there a reason you are here?"

The elf bowed again.

"Yes sir. There is a Ginny Weasley at the main gate, asking to see you sir," the elf replied.

All of Percival's house elves spoke with perfect diction. They were initially taught it years ago by his mother, and then passed on by the elves themselves.

Percival sat straight up. Ginny? At his Manor? The witch would never come to his manor before. Excited, the wizard stood up and straightened his robes, running his hand through his hair.

Sylvia looked at the wizard with narrowed eyes. She had never seen him lose his cool at the mere mention of a woman. This much be the bitch occupying his time.

"So, is this Ginny Weasley someone I should know?" the witch asked, "She certainly seems to snap your springs, Percival."

Percival looked at the witch coldly.

"Go home, Slyvie," he said with irritation in his voice. "I have company coming and want some privacy. Now leave my manor."

Now Percival spoke with command in his voice. This was no request. This was a dismissal by the Lord of the Manor. Sylvia had no choice but to go.

"Fine," she spat. "I'll go then. But I don't understand you, Percival. No one knows this witch you are all smarmy about. Which probably means you are slumming. Slumming is fine for a little fun, Percival. Even I put on a glamour and hit the pubs when I'm in the mood for a little lowbrow sex…but you need to move in your own social strata, Percival. Find someone suitable from among your own," Sylvia said, frowning at him.

Percival was tired of the witch.

"Someone like you, Sylvie?" he asked her as he walked toward the main doors. The blonde witch slunk behind him, purposely walking slow.

"Yes. I'm a good match for you," she responded. "I know your circles. I've been bred to be the wife of a wealthy man."

"Sylvie, almost every wizard I know can describe your snatch right down to the last pubic hair. Do you really think I want you for a wife? Or any of these bed-hopping bitches? I can count the strokes until you climax, you're so fucking predictable. You verbally rip and tear every witch you associate with, then join them for tea. You want trinkets that cost a working man two years salary to buy, and for what? To wear once, just to show a wizard spent galleons on you." I'm sick of it. Of all of it, Sylvie. The falseness, the pretense, the coldness. I am in the market for someone real. A real wife, Sylvie…not what you've been bred to be. Now leave my Manor," he said pulling the main door open.

Ginny was standing there. She was dressed in blue jeans, a blue cotton shirt, her red hair a tangle all over her head. She didn't wear a lick of makeup and her nails weren't done. To Percival, she looked beautiful as her eyes met his, glistening unnaturally.

"Ginny," he said hoarsely.

"Hello Percival. I…I wanted to talk to you," she said.

Ginny's eyes shifted to the flawless blonde standing behind him. The witch was scowling at her as if she had interrupted something.

"But if you are busy…" she said, beginning to back away.

Percival quickly stepped over the threshold and caught Ginny gently by her arm, pulling her through the door.

"No, I'm not busy at all. Sylvie was just leaving," he said, looking at the blonde witch, his green eyes flashing a warning at her.

"Yes, I am leaving," Sylvie said, walking past Percival and dragging her hand across his cheek. "Goodbye, lover," the witch purred. You were wonderful."

Sylvie walked over the threshold, bumping into Ginny as she did so.

"I guess you're into sloppy seconds, dear," she hissed, strolling out the door.

Fuming, Percival slammed the door behind her.

Ginny looked at him, uncertainty in her eyes now.

"A friend of yours?" Ginny asked as Percival took her arm and walked back with her to his parlor.

The wizard walked over to a shelf and took down a small bowl, then took out his wand and pulled several silver strands from his head and put them inside.

"A pensieve?" Ginny asked.

"Over the years I've found myself in seemingly compromising situations that were difficult to explain. Now, when it happens, I find it more expedient to share the actual experience. It explains everything immediately. If I were to tell you that the witch that just left here meant nothing to me, and that we had done nothing, and I wanted nothing to do with her, you would have some doubt in your mind as to whether or not I was speaking the truth, Ginny, particularly since I've expressed an interest in you."

He offered her the pensieve, but stopped her before she stuck her finger in.

"You are going to hear me address Sylvie in a less than gentlemanly manner. Sometimes harshness is required when reason is not enough. I want you to keep that in mind, and really pay attention to what she says about me and implies about you. Then you will see why I was so angry," he said softly. "The witch meant for you to think I had just indulged myself with her, when I haven't touched a witch in months, with the exception of that delicious kiss we shared. I don't seem to want them anymore…not even for gratification. I need…I want something more now…" he said, his voice trailing off as he swallowed, looking at the witch.

Ginny stuck her hand in the pensieve and viewed what Percival experienced from the time he arrived home up until the time Sylvie left. Luckily time in the pensieve passed much quicker than real time. It only took Ginny five minutes to view everything. She handed the pensieve back to him. Percival tapped it with his wand, emptying the memories and returned the pensieve to the shelf.

"Sylvie is a piece of work, isn't she?" Ginny asked him in a low voice.

"Sylvie is just one in a long line of Sylvies. Different hair coloring, body types and nail polish, but it seems like all witches are the same witch in this world, Ginny," Percival sighed. Then he gestured towards the sofa.

"Will you have a seat?" he asked her.

Ginny walked over to the sofa and sat down. Percival joined her.

"What do you want to talk to me about?" the wizard asked her, his eyes flicking over the witch. He couldn't believe she was in his Manor. She had not oohed or ahhed about anything. It was as if she was unaware of the opulence. She just didn't care about it.

Ginny looked at him, a little scowl on her face.

"Percival, don't act like you don't know. About Percy. How did you get him out?" she asked him.

"I have a few friends on the Ministry board. I just made a request," the wizard replied.

Ginny frowned at him.

"You made more than a request, Percival. You had his records expunged. He has his job at the Ministry back. It's as if he had never joined the Dark Lord," she said.

Percival sat forward on the couch.

"Ginny, I was made privy to pensieve of your brother's interrogation under veritaserum. He took the Mark, but he was never loyal to Voldemort. After the atrocities he witnessed, and went through…all he wanted to do was leave his service. But they would have killed him. Your brother made a mistake. He didn't deserve life in Azkaban. He paid for his mistake while with the Dark Lord, believe me," Percival said.

Percival wasn't about to tell Ginny that he witnessed the Dark Lord fuck Percy on several occasions, and that the pleasure was not mutual. The young wizard suffered terribly.

Ginny looked at the wizard.

"But why, why did you do this, Percival? You owed my family nothing," Ginny said.

"I did it because I could do it, Ginny. Power and influence has its purposes, and it isn't all bad. I saw how your family missed him, kept a place for him, kept him in their prayers, kept fighting for appeals. I saw your mother's pain, I saw yours when you told me about him. I could do something and it cost me next to nothing to do it. And I got a great reward when I saw your brother reunited with his family. It was beautiful and I brought joy to a few people," he said sincerely.

"You didn't do it because you thought I would be 'grateful' Percival?" Ginny asked him, her brown eyes fixed on his face, looking for the slightest sign of dishonesty.

Percival's green eyes met her brown ones. Gods, he couldn't lie…she would see right through him. Ginny had no truck with liars.

He sighed

"Ginny that wasn't the whole of my reason for helping your brother, but I can't sit here and tell you that a part of me didn't hope that you would throw yourself into my arms as a reward. If I weren't attracted to you so strongly, I wouldn't have helped your brother at all. I am a Slytherin, Ginny. Not as dark as many, but just as selfish, and just as devious. I will do anything to reach a desired end. I want you for my wife. I would release an army of Percys to have you," he said, "Though I imagine my confession has in all probability killed any chance of my having you give yourself to me out of gratitude."

Ginny looked thoughtful.

"Let me ask you something, Percival. Do you think I owe you something for releasing Percival? For making my mother happy? For reuniting my family?" she asked the wizard softly.

Percival thought about this.

"In my perfectly selfish little world, Ginny, you would feel that you did. You would ease my torment and give in to me. You would let me make love to you, and agree to become my wife and bear my children and make me a happy man, in that order because I saved your brother from a life of imprisonment. In my perfect, selfish little world, Ginny Weasley, you would love me because of what I've done for you and yours if not for myself, though I desperately wish you would love me for myself."

Percival blinked his eyes rather rapidly for a moment. He wasn't used to expressing such emotion. It felt like he was slicing himself open and showing the witch the raw core of his heart. It was quite affecting simply because it probably wouldn't make a difference at all. The wizard continued.

" In actuality, you owe me nothing. Well…possibly a 'thank you,' if you are so inclined for politeness' sake. The fact is you did not ask me to retrieve your brother. You had no knowledge that I could do such a thing. I did it on my own. So there is no obligation on your part to reward me at all," he said, slumping a bit.

Ginny looked at Percival closely. He was one of the most powerful, influential and sought after wizards in the wizarding world. He was handsome, intelligent and adventurous. He was kind, but manipulative, still a Slytherin in principles. Witches wet their knickers at the mention of his name, and poured through his bed like water. There was nothing he couldn't afford, nothing he couldn't buy…but happiness.

Percival wanted a real life. He wanted stability, faithfulness and love. He wanted a wife and family to treasure. He wanted her to love him for him. Ginny thought about this and mentally separated Percival from his wealth and power. From his influence. The witch realized that if he had been an ordinary working wizard, they would probably be lovers by now, if not engaged. He was a loveable wizard beneath all the glitz that accompanied his wealth and name. He was painfully honest too. He put it all out straight, even when it was to his detriment.

He wanted her to be grateful, and she was. He wanted her to love him…and Ginny believed she did. He wanted to make love to her, and the witch could still feel the hunger his kiss woke inside her. But if she did this with the wizard she wanted him to know that it wasn't just because of Percy, though that did play a part.

Percival was sitting next to her, staring at the fire. He had poured his heart out to the witch, and she hadn't responded. The wizard was at a loss at what to do now. He was invested. More than likely, Ginny Weasley would break his heart. He had been initially attracted to Hermione, but he hadn't come to know the witch, not like he knew Ginny. He had come to know the witch as a person, a friend and a companion. He valued her greatly. The single kiss they shared held so much more promise…a promise he wished she would let them explore.

"Percival?" Ginny said to the wizard.

"Yes?" he replied, sounding somewhat sullen.

"Remember when I said I was strongly attracted to you? I still am. But it's become worse. Seeing you with my family and getting along so well with them made me more hopeful…and you bringing Percy home to us has made the attraction even more powerful," she said.

Percival turned toward her now, listening intently.

The witch's voice dropped low.

"Do you know why I came to your Manor tonight, Percival?" Ginny asked.

"I presume to thank me," he said, "until Sylvie did her little song and dance."

"In a manner of speaking, I did come to thank you. But the way I thought you'd want me to thank you," she said, her eyes meeting his with a bit of heat now.

Percival looked at her as if he didn't understand. He did, but he wanted her to clearly state it.

"I came here," Ginny said, "To finish finding out just how compatible we are, Percival. I'm ready to deal with wizards again…and currently you are the only one on the list."

Percival smiled at her.

"So, in other words I have the advantage, Ginny?" he asked her, his voice a low rumble.

She nodded.

Percival looked thoughtful.

"When you say 'how compatible' to you mean 'basic compatibility' or 'full compatibility?'

Ginny looked at him. She was not a shy witch at all.

"I mean full compatibility, Percival. Where's your bedroom?" Ginny asked him.

The wizard forced himself to maintain control. Gods, did she mean this?

"I have very many bedrooms," he replied, smiling broadly at her, but not yet sure if he should touch her.

"Fine. Where's your closest bedroom then?" the witch amended.

Percival rose and took her hand. This time Ginny let him kiss it. He helped her to her feet.

"Right this way," Percival said, hoping at least his voice sounded calm as he looped his arm in Ginny's arm and escorted her out of the parlor and into the depths of the manor…because his heart was beating a thousand times a minute.

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A/N: Um hmm. I'm flattened folks. Please review.