Missing Years

Ginny looked out the kitchen window, her daughter's hair as red as her own, was like a curtain as she played on her swingset. The little girl was full of laughter, her bright eyes shining as her father pulled her back and sent her even higher into the air. Her cries of "higher daddy, higher," filtered through the open window along with the scent of honeysuckle from the garden. Ginny smiled to herself as she watched her husband, a smile on his face, as he continued to push Lily even though she was as high as possible.

Ever patient, Harry. It's infinite, it really is.

With a small chuckle she turned away from the window, her firey curls dancing about her freckled shoulders. It was mid-summer and quite warm out, which accounted for her dark green tank top and khaki capris.Moving gracefully into the sititng room, the warm breeze kissed her bare arms as she slid into Harry's armchair and turned on the news. There hadn't been reports of death and mayhem for quite some time, but she always checked anyway. The last she'd seen that had anything to do with Voldemort and the war was some older students at Durmstrangtrying to start a "Death Squad." One of the young men had tortured a woman to death and was in prison. The othershad served time for various misdeeds and were now reformed.

Feet tucked under her, Ginny reached out and picked up her mug of coffee off the side table.The contents were still quite warm and toffee in color.Raising the mug to her lips the redhead blew a slight trail of steam away and took a sip of the liquid. As she did so, she took a long gasping breath and began coughing to try and catch it again.Staring at the t.v. in disbelief, Ginny wiped the remains of her drink from her chin and turned up the volume.

"In other news, today was full of surprises for well known charity woman, Narcissa Malfoy. Widowed in the battle she also had her son go missing, who was up until now thought to be deceased." Ginny's eyes flicked over the old photograph they showed. He was in his Hogwarts uniform, his hair carefully disheveled, and those mercuric eyes as beautiful as always. It had been his final year, she remembered it well. Everything was so chaotic then, but Draco was always calm.

A loud cry of happiness drew her thoughts and attention back to the screen. It was now back to actual news rather than the story of Draco's disappearance. The screen showed a gala event at Malfoy Manor and Narcissa with tears in her eyes embracing a young man who could be none other than Draco Malfoy himself. The crowd was full of reporters, ministry officials, and of course old family and friends. Ginny was about to shut off the program when something caught her eye. Just to the right of Draco stood a little girl, her hair the same brilliant shade as her father's, her complections as pale, but the eyes certainly weren't his. They were chocolate colored orbs with bits of gold in them.

"Could it seriously be?"

"Could it seriously be what, Gin?"

Ginny jumped. She hadn't even heard Harry and Lily come inside and begin to wash up for dinner. She'd been so lost in her thoughts, she hadn't heard the door open.

Is it even possible?Surely not. And yet those eyes are all too familiar. But why?

"Gin, what are you on about?"

Ginny shook her head slightly and pointed to the news report which now had Narcissa giving a statement about how it felt to have her son back. "Apparently, Draco never died. He just turned up today. Story is he's been in Paris all this time."

Harry nodded and toook a seat on the couch adjoining his chair, a slight disturbance in his normally charming features.His lips formed the frown that had become commonplace in their school days.It was obvious from the look that Harry still held a grudge against his school rival. "Hiding no doubt. Any of the former death eaters would want to kill him for what he did and the ministry suspects him in at laeast one murder."

Just as Ginny bit back a remark about Harry being the one who suspected him, the news report continued. "Draconis Malfoy, who had been suspect in a murder as well as other various small crimes, is said to have served his sentence in the French system. As of today he is a free man. He also seems to have extended his family." At this point there was a zoom to the girl Ginny had noticed earlier, who was now hoisted on Draco's shoulders, her blonde hair falling into those dark brown eyes.

Damn. She loooks just like him.

The report wen ton with many trying to get the young girl's name, or the name of the "lucky woman" in Draco's life.He of course, deflected their questions with ease by saying "this si the lucky woman," tickling the little girl and giving a jovial laugh. He always had been good at evading in answering questions.

"Why does that not surprise me? Of course he would run away, he always does, always has," Harry said anger creeping into his voice.

"Oh, Harry. Maybe he's changed. People do change, you know."

"Maybe he's changed? Gin, this is Malfoy we're talking about. There's no way he'd change and he deserves to be punished just like all the others."

"They said he served his time. And maybe he has. He has a family now, maybe he's just trying to be happy," Ginny tried to convince her stubborn husband.

"Yeah, maybe," Harry stated coldly.

Without another word, Harry clicked off the t.v. and walked into the kitchen.As he began preparing for dinner his movements were harsh and he was rough in closing cabinets. He even snapped at Lily to set the table. Ever patient Harry had one area of no tolerance and had since they were kids.That one area, was Draco Malfoy.Ginny knew Harry was upset because she had in a way defended Draco. It was a crime in her husband's eyes and they would fight about it later, but in front of Lily, everything would be fine.


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