Winning over the Weasleys by Emeralds in the Dark Chapter 3
Double Daddy Draco was staring at himself in the mirror.
It had been likely 10, perhaps 15 minutes of scrutinising every
feature. His anxiety churned in a
sickening cavern of his stomach, casting a horrible light on the
fact that he hadn't felt this kind of dread since Voldemort
had lived in his home. Which he knew was an awful thing
to compare to, simply reintroducing himself to his
girlfriend's family. Especially when they had every
reason to hate him for the way he'd grown up.
A bullying, bigoted prat. Drago could admit that now.
He cringed at the hateful things he used to say when he replayed
them. He could hear himself sneering,
calling their home a pigsty, mocking Molly, calling Arthur a
useless loser, all within seconds after that Quidditch
match back in fifth year. George likely hadn't forgotten,
not after he'd clocked Draco in the face for it.
But back then, Draco had been just a boy spewing loathsome
vitriol he'd learnt from his father.
Too ignorant and stupid to form his own opinions.
There was no excuse, though he was still surprised Jeanne even
spoke to him, let alone let him touch her.
But he knew George and Ron wouldn't forget.
Percy had worked at the Ministry when his father had been at the
height of his power, and Lucius had crossed paths with Bill at
Gringot's. The impressions made across the
entire family were horrid. It had been easy living in their
bubble. But what if Jinny's family was
so hard on her, so unrelenting that they cracked open the shell
Draco had been building and reminded her of all the
abhorrence that used to pour from him?
What if she came to her senses and realised she couldn't
forgive him? He had five minutes, 5 minutes
before he'd apparate to the borough.
He'd try not to vomit on their doorstep from nerves.
He bought wine and preserves A hosting gift.
Nothing too showy. There was a fine line tousling
his hair one last time. Draco huffed and adjusted his
sleeves, already sweating beneath his button up and
jacket. He'd put on extra Cologne,
probably too much. Standing in his bedroom, he took
one last breath before stepping into the crack of space and time
that suctioned around him. His knees buckled, his esophagus
flipped and fresh air. The sound of birds chirping in
front of him. An interestingly crooked house,
the centre of home cooked meals and freshly cooked grass.
He heard laughter, jesting shouts, and he was so acutely
aware that he was out of his comfort zone that he glanced
down at his outfit. Should he have gone with a
quarter zip? A polo?
A bloody T-shirt? Stepping up to the front door,
he knocked and it swung open as if she had been waiting.
Jinny looked up at him almost apologetically, nerves vibrating
off her. And of course, just to drive him
up the bloody wall. She was wearing a muggle sun
dress, baby blue with yellow flowers.
Her hair was tucked behind her ear, her bottom lip was chewed
to bits. Just in time she pulled him
through the threshold. It hit him.
Her scent was so familiar, comforting.
Cinnamon, clove, sun dried laundry, Draco's hair.
She called out as they rounded the corner into the dining area.
He tried to take everything in without staring too much.
It was another world, charmed homey as if he'd stepped into a
cup of tea. Mismatched quilts, antique
relics on the walls, family photos.
Not portraits of stuffy old ancestors, but ginger haired
infants on broomsticks, babies bathing in cauldrons.
Yet 8 very grim, very distasteful expressions turned
towards him. Only Arthur and Molly tried to
mask it, but there was no real warmth.
Except Granger who was smiling but not in welcome.
No, it was more of a you idiot kind of smile.
Mum, I didn't know we were having ferret for dinner.
Times must be tough. George broke through the
silence, but Draco did his best to keep his wry grin in place,
but it was waning. Stop it.
Molly snapped a tea towel at the back of her son's head, then
turned to Draco. She offered.
Ah, welcome Draco, it's well good to have you.
Draco knew she was lying, but he appreciated the effort.
Thank you for the kind invitation, Mrs. Weasley.
He stretched out his host gift and Molly took it in a confused
manner before gesturing for him to sit.
He found himself wedged between Ginny and Grainger and directly
across from Arthur and Bill. Bill looked even more menacing
with that scar as he sized Draco up like a dragon assessing it's
next meal. I had thought this might be a
joke. Charlie chortled as ale and wine
began filling up cups. Now, there's no need to make Mr.
Malfoy here uncomfortable in our home.
Arthur finally stepped in, likely out of a sense of duty
rather than genuine concern for Draco's feelings.
Still, there was something jovial about the man, a
lightness to his tone. It gave Draco the distinct
impression that at least Arthur was putting on a face, which was
far more than he could have ever said for his own father.
Why not? He's made me uncomfortable for
years. Ron interrupted with an eye
roll. Stop being a bloody child,
Ronald. Jinny snapped, already on the
defensive as if she'd been fighting this battle for hours.
You could have better taste in men, Jin.
George added, still smirking, and Rico tilted his head toward
the heavens, silently pleading for patience, for guidance, for
literally anything to get him through this.
That's enough. Arthur cut in, this time more
firmly. Draco exhaled, and despite every
instinct telling him to keep his mouth shut, he launched into the
speech he'd practised over and over while pacing his study for
hours. I I know my being here is
awkward, that quite literally nobody in this room wants me
here besides Jinny, and that's a large part of why we've kept our
relationship as private as we did.
I never intended to develop feelings for your daughter, and
when I did, I didn't know how to process them because of the
hateful boy I was. But the people in this room,
deliberate or not, gave me a second chance.
I'm not asking you to suddenly forgive the vileness my family
and I have shown you over the years, but I do appreciate you
allowing me here regardless. Another silence.
All the brothers except Percy, who hadn't spared Draco a glance
since he'd walked in, were still staring at him, each with
varying levels of mistrust and disgust.
Jinny's hand patted his leg reassuringly, and across the
table, Missus Weasley's expression melted.
I should also thank Missus Weasley for offing my aunt.
Unfortunately, you can't choose your family.
Draco said dryly, testing the waters.
Arthur let out an earnest, unexpected laugh, and Hermione
joined in. Even George managed a tired
beam. Oh, don't hold your family's or
your family's actions against you.
You only atone for your own, and I can see you're trying to do
that. Arthur nodded.
Molly let out an exhale, shaking her head.
Enough of this, enough of this, dinner's served.
She clapped, and the table literally bowed under the sudden
appearance of every food item imaginable.
For the remainder of the dinner, Draco was mostly ignored.
Bill and Fleur's daughter kept screaming, sending Fleur
bursting in and out of the room to settle her down.
Charlie and George talked Dragons and Quidditch.
Percy flitted in and out of conversation with his father.
Jinny made an effort, sneaking in moments of conversation with
him, while Ronnie did everything in his power to keep Grainger
talking, dragging out conversations of her weekend
plans, which she kept conveniently private.
Draco was starting to feel more relaxed, his second glass of
wine was helping with that, and since Jinny kept topping him up,
he wasn't about to complain. He hoped he wouldn't have to
stay long after dinner. He didn't think he could endure
another round of berating. His ego could only take so much
before he started wanting to jab back.
Lost in thought, he absent mindedly picked at his roast
while Jinny chatted with Bill about some cursed broomstick
gifted to a Puddlemare player that was all over the Prophet.
He was perfectly fine keeping his head down.
He had almost survived this. Every now and then Grainger
would throw something his way, likely trying to include him.
Arthur had even directed a question or two at him, which
Draco answered as cordially as possible.
But really, he was all right with being ignored, especially
for the first time. There would be more chances to
impress, more moments to insert meaning and thought into their
families casual quips. Tonight was about acclamation,
about them getting used to his presence, a starting point, a
stepping stone. Daddy, can you pass the Pepper?
Draco reached forward the same time he always did when Jinny
asked him for something in that suite angelic tone.
The second he wrapped his fingers around the pepper
shaker, a hush fell over the table.
He felt it. A calloused, wrinkled, very much
not Jinny's hand gripping the other side of the shaker.
Fuck. His head snapped up.
Arthur Weasley was glowering at him before both their hands
locked in an awkward stalemate over the Pepper.
Draco's stomach plummeted. His face must have looked
horrified. He was not the daddy she was
referring to. Apologies.
He stammered, snatching his hand back as Jinny stared at him in
mortification. I thought she said Draco.
Jinny looked like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole, and
Draco, quite honestly, was right there with her.
Did you, mate? Bill all but growled, dropping
his fork. Fuck, absolutely fuck, fuck,
fuck. Arthur had been beet red after
that and hadn't been able to look Draco in the eye.
Grainger, meanwhile, was snorting back giggles, the only
one enjoying herself, while the rest of the table sat in varying
degrees of stunned silence. Dinner ended quickly after that.
Ginny blessedly declared they were leaving, but before they
could escape, Arthur and Molly asked to speak with her
privately. Draco was fucked.
Royally and completely fucked. They were probably in the
backroom now, telling her she'd be locked away in a tower and
Draco would have to climb the bloody garden lattice like some
actual tragic second rate Romeo. Now he stood in their living
room as the Weasley brothers filtered around him like a pack
of wolves circling a wounded deer.
The keep your grubby hands off my sister Energy radiated from
them in every direction. Ron moved from the couch and
suddenly his Hail Mary his backup plan.
How had he forgotten? Draco was at his side before the
man even realised what was happening.
He was startled, jerking away, staring at Draco like he was
some grotesque insect. Though frankly, that should have
been the look Draco was giving him.
I'm going to make you a deal. If he started by admitting he
needed Ron's help, it would be shut down immediately, and there
was no way he was phrasing this as if he actually needed
assistance from the Weasel. No, this was a negotiation, a
trade, and what the bloody hell would I ever want from you?
Ron spat back, exactly as Draco expected.
Draco exhaled through his nose, forcing himself to stay
composed. Listen, Weasley, He started.
You help me, and I'll make it worth your while.
Ron scoffed. You don't have anything I want.
You want Grainger, don't you? Draco went in for the kill,
nodding over to where she stood in the corner, animatedly
talking to Percy about some Ministry initiative.
Ron stiffened immediately. What?
We're, we're friends, and it's
frankly none of your fucking business.
Draco almost admired the attempt at Defence.
If the roles had been reversed, he might have reacted the same
way. Yeah, right, friends, Draco
drawled. Except when she mentioned going
on a date with Wood. You looked as sick as you used
to when I'd rile you up before a match.
Ron's jaw tightened. I really hate you, you know
that? He muttered.
The feeling is mutual, but I can help you get her if you help me
convince your family I'm not a monster.
Draco counted. Ron let out an itchy, humorless
laugh. Then, to Draco's horror, he
started laughing for real. A full, loud, weasely laugh.
Charlie and Bill glanced over, watching with suspicion.
Draco wanted to throttle him. That'll be near impossible.
Ron finally wheezed, shaking his head.
Why not ask me to help your dear daddy break out of Azkaban?
That would be an easier feat, Draco scathed.
I do know at least a dozen witches and Wizards who have
broken out of Uskman, so it's not that much of A feat,
Weasley, But sure. If you'd rather stay around
pining after the bloody golden girl and watch a snog wood all
over the pub, be my guest. Draco took a step back, making a
show of dusting off his sleeve. I'll piss off then.
Fine, what makes you think you can help me?
Ron groaned, rubbing a hand over his face.
I got your sister, didn't I? And she fucking hated my guts.
I can only imagine getting a witch who, for some unfathomable
reason, is already fond of you, to see you as more than a
blundering moron will be easy. Ron glared.
Call me a moron, Malfoy, and I'll make your life hell.
Draco huffed. I'm already in my own personal
hell just having this conversation with you.
So are you agreeing to the deal or not?
Ron hesitated. All right.
Draco followed Ron's gaze as he looked toward Hermione.
Meet me at the Leakey tomorrow at 7:00.
Can you manage that? Draco questioned.
Can't do the Leakey, people are going to think I'm mental.
Having a point with you. Fucking hell, a muggle pub then?
Draco rolled his eyes. I'll owl you the location.
Ron gave a curt nod, and before Draco could say anything else,
Jinny suddenly appeared from the back of the kitchen, her parents
following behind with worry written all over their faces.
Draco, where going? She announced.
Right. Draco straightened, clearing his
throat once again. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, thank you
for the invitation. Dinner was superb and and have a
good evening. Before he could finish, Jinny
all but dragged him toward the front door.
Have a good evening. Molly offered with a faint,
uncertain smile. Arthur just nodded, still
looking troubled, while the rest of the family remained silent,
their eyes flitting between Jinny and their parents.
The only one to acknowledge him was Granger, who gave an
exaggerated wave and a smug grin.
It was really good to see you here, Malvoy.
Her syrupy sweet voice was the last thing he heard before Ji
grabbed his wrist on the front lawn and twisted.
They landed in her flat and Draco felt as though he could
finally breathe for the first time in three hours.
But Jinny looked upset, and that made his chest ache.
My parents, She burst out. They think I'm going through
trauma. She tugged at her hair in
frustration. Draco took a step toward her,
instinctively wanting to comfort her, but she had already begun
pacing. They said I've been making
questionable choices since the war.
That after Harry cheated on me and after losing Fred.
Maybe I should see a healer. Was I really that bad?
He grimaced. The whole daddy thing didn't
help. Jinny huffed.
They actually asked if you and I are being careful if we were
using the potion or the charm. They think I might be developing
unhelpy coping habits and that this is some cry for help.
Do you know what it's like to have your parents comment on
your sex life? She collapsed onto the couch.
Unfortunately, I do. Jacob thought of all the times
his mother had lectured him about a woman's cycle.
Fertility, ovulation, periods, breeding.
Far more than he ever wanted to know.
They didn't even say anything bad about you, actually.
Jinny admitted. They said that you were very
gentlemanly. It's just they're worried about
me. They think I've been off since
the war, and I guess they're pinning it on our relationship
now. Draco hesitated before asking.
Do you want to see a healer? I'm not going to pretend like
what we went through wasn't traumatic, no matter what side
you are on. You saw death, you saw torture,
and a lot of it. Do you think I'm mad?
She asked, looking up at him through her lashes.
Yeah, that shit. He grinned.
Jinny huffed and promptly threw a pillow into his stomach.
He doubled over with a dramatic groan, but use the momentum to
drop to his knees in front of her chair.
All I'm saying, love. He murmured, resting his hands
on her thighs. Is that if you want to see a
healer, that should be your choice.
Or if you'd rather use me as a caping mechanism, whether that
be my tongue or cock, I do that kind of healing pro bono.
He teasingly nudged her knees apart.
Jinny wrapped her legs around his shoulders, pulling him
against the couch with a squeeze of her muscular thighs.
Then let me put you to work, Daddy.
She laughed. Draco groaned, hands sliding up
the curves of her thighs. That's my girl.
It was a bloody circus. I royally fucked it.
Draco downed a shot of fire whiskey, the burns soothing as
he sat beside not Parkinson and Sabini, who all looked far too
amused by his tale of the disaster that was his visit to
the borough earlier that day. This was their usual routine.
He took Jinny into bed, and sometimes his old classmates
would flew over into the drawing room to play cards until the
early hours of the morning. But you said Weasel actually
agreed to help you? Pansy prodded.
Brilliant idea, by the way. Though honestly, the fact that
he and Grainger aren't nauseatingly in love and married
by now is still baffling to me. Every time I see them at the
Leakey, they're making eyes to each other like lovesick
teenagers. She sneered, and Blaze chuckled
into his glass. If you told me even years ago
that I'd be making my life's mission to get Grainger to shag
the Weasel just so I could get the entire Weasley clan to like
me enough to date their daughter in peace, I'd have avarded
myself. Draco groaned.
Potter's told me Granger's going on a date with wood this
weekend. Theo interjected.
So you better work last wood or the fair wood?
Pansy snorted. I've heard the stories.
Apparently his broomstick isn't the only thing he knows how to
handle. Want me to get the Polyjuice
potion out again, baby? Zabini murmured, and Draco knew
he was going to need to purge that thought from his memory
later. Disgusting and morally wrong,
Draco. Now for lecturing us on
morality. Theo deadpanned.
How did you get Jinny anyway? Blaise asked.
You think your charms are somehow transferable to Weasley
so you can use them on Grainger? They're entirely different
people, mate. Draco leaned back.
I watched her for a long time. We all did.
I remember your little crush, Blaze.
He threw Zabini A pointed look and Blaze raised his eyebrows.
You want me to get the Polyjuice potion out?
Pansy whispered conspiratorially into her boyfriend's ear.
I could run up and grab a strand of her hair.
Now, Parkinson, I swear to Merlin, if you steal my
girlfriend's hair so Zabini can fuck you while looking like her,
I'll burn your flat down with both of you in it.
Draco growled. The two of them just Hyena
laughed. Evil, both of them.
Red was angry, and I've always liked her angry, so I just let
her throw me around a bit, let her take a rage out on my cock,
and it was fucking glorious. Then slowly and started doing
things for her. Little things at first, showing
up with snacks, tea, secret flowers.
But when I saw Thomas asking her out, I decided to mark her as
mine. Draco excelled.
There was more to it than that. I'm downplaying, obviously, but
I know that won't work with Granger and Weasley.
You need to make Grainger jealous.
Pansy cut in, eyes gleaming. Tell him to go on a date.
So when she's out with Wood, all she's thinking about is Weasley
out with some other witch. I doubt even Miss Priss is above
envy. You were saying this as if I
know witches who'd be willing to go out with Ronald Weasley.
Daphne. Pansy shouted, as if this were
the most obvious solution. Green grass?
Theo raised an eyebrow. She and Pussy are on the outs.
It's a win win. Parkinson explained.
Make Pussy jealous at the same time as Grainger.
That way there are no expectations beyond what the two
of them are trying to do. Draco frowned, but despite
himself, he knew that this was his best shot.
I still need to convince the Weasel to even agree to that.
Does he have much joys? Pansy scoffed.
One night, with wood between her legs, she'll be like Ron
Weasley. Who?
But if she's thinking about the man the entire time she's on her
date, maybe she'll be too distracted for his charming
smile to actually work on her. She's got a point.
Zabini chimed in, ever the loyal defender.
As if he'd ever admit Pansy had a bad idea.
And you're just hoping that in return Weasley will put in a
good word for you with his family?
Theo asked dryly. They'll think he's gone by me
and checking antimongos. No, I just need them to lay off
me. Draco clarified.
And to give me information on the rest of them.
What would win over Charlie or Bill or George or Percy?
How to get Molly and Arthur to at least tolerate me.
They'll never put me on the pedestal they put Potter on, but
if I can get to the point where when I go over for dinner they
don't think my girlfriend is a complete basket case for dating
me, that would be the bare minimum.
Pansy smirked. So we get Granger jealous, get
Weasley on a date, and somehow you end up with an in law
approval. I like it.
I haven't schemed in forever. It's giving me a new purpose.
Draco narrowed his eyes. Not if you tell Potter.
Theo rolled his eyes. Locked box, my darling Draco,
this one only benefits me in the end.
Harry might finally forgive himself for hurting Jinny, and
Weasley and Granger can let out that unbearable sexual tension
they've been torturing us with for the past year every time
they come over. And you, my best mate, can shag
your girlfriends senseless without the constant fear of
being maimed by one of our older brothers.