** i don't own the Harry Potter world, characters or places. they belong to J.K Rowling. Good, now that that's been said. Check out the SNEAK PEEK to my next story after this one is finished and The New Task is moving along: Red's Heart! I'm certain you'll love, i just know it! Okay, i'm done with that! Now, enjoy the next chapter! ES <3 **

Chapter Twenty ~ Parched

“So… the truth is out.” Ginny whispered as she sat in the middle of her bed, a frown on her face.

“Yes, it is.” Amélie answered as she sat behind her mother, rubbing her back soothingly.

“It would seem so.” Draco answered as well as he stood in front of the bed looking down at Ginny and Amélie. “Not that anything is going to happen now that they do.”

“Exactly,” Amélie nodded. “I’m safe. Besides, they didn’t hurt me or touch me or anything of the sort as they had Thomas and me. I’m perfectly fine. Remember, they didn’t know who I was.” She pointed out.

“This is bad.” Ginny mumbled as she looked down at her hands.

“No, it’s not.” Draco said as he sat on the bed in front of her. “Yes, they know but now we know where they are –” Ginny cut him off.

“They won’t be staying there any longer, Draco, and you know it.” She pointed out. “We discovered their hideout. Now, they will be relocating and we won’t have a damn clue where that will be. Dammit, I should have just ended it while we were there and killed the both of them!”

“Red,” Draco grabbed her chin so she would look at him. “We saved Amélie and Thomas. That’s what we were there for and we even got some answers.”

“Some answers? Like what?” Amélie asked curiously.

“Why Cho Chang wants your mum dead,” Draco said.

“Ah,” Amélie nodded.

“No, we didn’t.” Ginny rolled her eyes at the pair. “She just said that I took something very important from her. I have no idea what I could have taken from her!” Ginny fell back onto the bed, frustrated.

“Red, don’t think too much about it. Chang is mad.” Draco explained as he lay beside her.

“I’m going to… I’m just… I’m going to my room.” Amélie sputtered and then left the room, shutting the door behind her.

Draco smiled, “our daughter is so smart. She knows when we need some… alone time.” He said as he leaned over and brushed his lips against hers.

Ginny moaned softly as electricity shot through her body and straight to her lips where his were. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his body to hers.

Draco deepened the kiss; one hand entangled in her hair while the other caressed her body until he reached one of her legs and pulled it around his waist.

“Oh, Draco,” Ginny whimpered as his lips left hers and made their way down her neck. He nibbled on her neck for a second which caused her to moan again.

“Let me make you forget, love. Let me distract you.” He whispered huskily in her ear as he rubbed himself against her.

“Yes, yes,” Ginny cried softly, “Please, Draco…”

And that was all the incentive that he needed.

An hour later, Draco and Ginny lay under the covers of her bed. He lay on his back, one arm behind his head; the other caressing Ginny’s bare back as she laid on his chest. She had her eyes closed, enjoying the feel of his hand against her skin.

“I hate to bring this up but I think we should talk about it.” Draco finally spoke.

“I know,” Ginny sighed.

“I’m worried…” He said suddenly.

“Draco, don’t –” She started to say but he cut her off.

“How can I not worry, Red? Not only is a mad witch out to get you but Lucius as well, now. Even more so after learning about Amélie,” He hissed.

“Yeah, Lucius wasn’t too thrilled about you shagging a blood-traitor.” She snorted.

“Well, unfortunately for him, I just can’t get enough of you.” He smiled down at her.

Ginny smiled back, “perfect.”

They stared at each other until Ginny sighed.

“What?” He asked.

“We need to protect Amélie better now. Lucius or Cho could get to her easily before. That can’t happen again, Draco. I can’t lose her.” Ginny laid her face against his chest.

“You won’t lose her. We’ll protect her.” He hugged her. “I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”

“I know, Draco.” She said as she kissed his chest then moved to straddle him.

His eyebrows rose as he looked at her then his silvery-gray eyes darkened with lust as he looked over her nude body.

“You are beautiful, Red. So, so beautiful,” he whispered as his hands ran over her soft skin.

Ginny shivered.

“I love you.” Draco whispered as he sat up a bit so that he could kiss her and she remained on his lap, her legs encircling him.

“I love you, too.” Ginny whispered back as she kissed him back.

~.~.~

“Amélie, really? Are you eavesdropping on your parents?” Pansy asked in shock.

“Shhh!” Amélie quieted Pansy.

“What are you doing?” Pansy asked then as she came to stand beside the younger woman.

“They were talking about the situation.” Amélie explained.

Pansy listened for a moment and then her eyebrows shot up in surprise. She smiled wickedly at Amélie. “Well, they certainly are not talking about it any longer.”

“Are they having sex?” Blaise asked as he came out of the kitchen.

“That’s none of your business.” Neville poked him in the back.

“Well, I’m just curious to know if anyone else is getting any these days.” Blaise muttered.

“Blaise!” Neville blushed.

Amélie snorted.

“Problems on cloud sixty-nine?” Pansy asked with a smirk.

“Neville doesn’t want to do it since we’re sleeping on the couch.” Blaise explained.

“We’re not having this conversation,” Neville said quickly, “especially in front of Amélie!”

“I’m leaving!” Amélie said as she went into her room and shut the door but she could still hear them arguing through the door. She sighed as she leaned back against the door. It was nice to be in her room by herself since Uncle George and Aunt Luna slept here at night. She stretched as she pushed off the door and looked around then decided to lay on her bed. She really wanted to see Thomas.

Colm had taken him about half an hour after they had returned from Malfoy Manor in England. She was sad about that but she couldn’t say anything to go against Colm’s word. Amélie closed her eyes. She could really use having Thomas here to cuddle up against or to just hold her. It had been frightening in the cell. Her mom had almost died, multiple times within minutes. Hell, she almost died. Her grandfather had tried to kill her!

Her family was so dysfunctional! Amélie thought in disbelief. No one spoke on mom’s side of the family besides George, Luna, Fred and Analiese. And on her dad’s side, her grandfather was trying to kill her mom, her dad and herself. What the hell had her life become?

Call me, please. I miss you. A voice drifted into her mind and Amélie smiled.

Thomas.

Amélie immediately jumped up from her bed, threw open her door and grabbed the cordless phone from the kitchen. She returned to her room without acknowledging anyone in the living room. She shut her door when she was in her room once again.

She dialed Thomas’ number. It rang twice and then he picked up.

Amélie smiled as she heard, “hello?” from the phone.

“Thomas,” Amélie sighed happily.

“Amélie, I see you got my message.” He joked.

“Yeah, something like that,” She smiled.

“Good, I’m glad.” He said. “I miss you. I want to be with you right now. Merlin, why am I – Colm? What? Oh, hold on, Amélie.” Thomas suddenly said.

She heard them exchange some words and then Thomas was back.

“Amélie? You still there?”

“Yes, yes, I’m still here.” She said.

“Actually, we’re going back over there now. Colm just needed to pick up some things. He got them and now we’re heading back. So, see you soon.” Thomas told her.

Amélie’s smile widened. “Great! Okay, see you soon!”

With that, they hung up.

Amélie fell back against her bed and stared at the ceiling. A sudden knock caught her attention, “come in,” she called out as she sat up. Her smile widened as Thomas stepped into her room.

She jumped up again and ran to him. He caught her in his arms. He held her but Amélie didn’t want to be held right now, right now she wanted to kiss him and she did just that. She kicked closed the door as Thomas deepened the kiss. She sighed but Thomas pulled back way too soon.

“Miss me?” He asked with a smirk.

“Maybe…” She winked jokingly.

“What’s been going on since we left?” He asked curiously.

“Nothing really, my mom and dad are locked up in her room. I think he’s making sure she’s okay, emotionally and physically.” She snorted.

“Like sexual healing? Who knew Marvin Gay knew what he was talking about?” Thomas winked.

Amélie chuckled, “you want something to drink? I think we still have some butterbeer left over.”

“Sounds good, I’m really thirsty.” Thomas said as he pulled her close before they left her room. He lightly brushed his lips against hers. “Parched, really.”

“I see,” Amélie grinned as she opened her bedroom door.

She stopped suddenly, Thomas bumping into her.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

“Why are all of you standing outside my bedroom door?” Amélie asked suspiciously, completely ignoring Thomas.

Amélie looked at all of them; minus her parents who she was certain were still in her mom’s room.

Pansy was smirking while Colm looked a tad bit uncomfortable; Blaise had a shocked expression which she was positive was completely fake while Neville was blushing slightly. George and Luna were watching curiously from the couch.

She got her answer.

“Were you spying on us?” Amélie asked angrily.

“Spying? No, no, we’d never do that!” Neville said quickly; too quickly.

“No, we weren’t spying.” Colm tried to reassure her.

“No, they’re right. We weren’t spying. We were eavesdropping.” Blaise explained to which all the other, excluding Pansy, sighed in disbelief.

“You weren’t supposed to say anything.” Neville mumbled.

“Eavesdropping is just like spying!” Amélie hissed.

Pansy rolled her eyes. “Let it go, little weasel. You weren’t doing anything we haven’t done ourselves.” She shrugged.

Amélie blushed crimson.

“What are you talking about?” A voice asked and all eight looked over to see Draco coming out of Ginny’s bedroom, buttoning up his dress shirt.

No one answered.

“What?” He asked, his eyes narrowing.

“Where’s mom?” Amélie asked trying to distract him away from the previous conversation.

“She’s showering.” He explained as he ran his fingers through his hair trying to settle it but to no avail; he actually made it worse causing the pale blond locks to stand up in every direction.

“Is Weasley feeling better?” Pansy asked with a small smirk.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, she is.” Draco smirked right back.

“Gross, I don’t want to know that.” Amélie frowned.

“Draco, please.” Ginny came out of the room and smacked him on the back of his head. “Not in front of our daughter.”

“Our daughter…” Draco said softly as he looked at Amélie with a small smile. He then turned to Ginny and kissed her softly. “Sorry, Red.”

“Hmm, sure you are.” She snorted as she came into the living room and sat beside Luna.

“So, what now?” George asked.

“Now, I had an idea while I was in the shower…” Ginny stopped as she bit her lip.

“Please, no details if it involved Draco.” Blaise muttered.

“Of course it involves Draco. It involves everyone…” Ginny answered absentmindedly.

“Okay, don’t say that to my mom, Blaise. She’s putting a plan together in her mind. She’s not really listening to you.” Amélie rolled her eyes then huffed.

“What? What did you – Blaise! You know that’s not what I meant!” Ginny said finally when she realized what he had said.

Everyone chuckled.

“What’s your plan, Ginny?” Colm asked, “I need to pay Cho Chang and Lucius a visit for kidnapping Thomas.”

“Don’t we all,” Neville agreed.

“I have an idea how to get Cho and Lucius to us. It’s dangerous and risky but it just might work. Okay, so…” Ginny went on to explain the plan.

Fifteen minutes later, the plan was explained, everyone knew their part and they were ready to put it in action. Ginny looked over to see Amélie speaking with Draco animatedly. She sighed.

“Amélie, I think that you should –” She started.

“No, mom, absolutely not. You and I have a big part in this plan. It won’t work if either of us aren’t there.” Amélie explained.

“I know… but I just don’t like it. I reckon it’ll work with just me but –” Amélie cut her off.

“No, mom; trust me, please. I can do this.” She whispered and Ginny slipped her arm around her daughter’s waist and hugged her tightly.

“I do, baby. I just – I just worry.” Ginny explained.

“It’s a good plan, Red. It’ll work.” Draco said as he wrapped his arms around the love of his life and his daughter.

“I know,” she whispered.

******

Hope you enjoyed that! Thank you for reading and staying with this story! I love you all! :D

Emmalee <3