It's my Friday, and I'll slack if I want to.

[mugglechump]

I've been completely unproductive at work today. I'm a little embarrassed over just how big a slacker I've been. Instead of doing actual work, I've been working on a little story for the challenge lina_granger posted on the FIA forums. <.< >.> Yeah. Bad Kate. I like my story so far, though, so that's good.

Meredith is going to spend the night at her dad's tonight because Becky may need me to drive her to get some embryos implanted in the morning, and if I do that I won't be able to get Mer to her soccer game on time. Becky won't know for sure until the hospital calls her in the morning. It depends on how well the little buggers are developing. *crosses fingers for good results*

*sniffs* Someone in the office burned popcorn. Blech.

My co-workers are marrying and breeding like crazy. Tiffany's baby will be here in a few weeks. Dawn is getting married next Wednesday. Denise is getting married next Saturday, and is due in November. Jeff's wife is recently pregnant with their sixth child. Yes, I said sixth - apparently there's not much to do in Berryville. Becky's trying to get pregnant. I'm avoiding the water.

Time to go home now!

Comments

[shady121.livejournal.com]

Wow. You are a fertile bunch. And I thought it was bad here. We joke around saying in order to graduate from Gilmer High, you must have gotten pregnant at least once.

[heyurs.livejournal.com]

...uhmmmm...that's not good o.O

[heyurs.livejournal.com]

*prays for Becky*

*praying for you*

♥♥!

[lina-granger.livejournal.com]

Erm... hi! I randomly found this post while fooling around with LJ seek, and I got curious: did you ever get to finish the challenge? :D

[mugglechump.livejournal.com]

Wow. Exactly a year ago. Boy, have I been slacking off! I have not finished it, but here's what I have so far. I still tinker with it from time to time.

In silence they ate the feast spread out before them. Conversation was seldom required when they were alone. What was there to say? Surrounded by splendor beyond anything Ginny could have imagined before her marriage, the atmosphere was still as cold as the marble floor beneath her feet.

If her husband noticed the pot of small, purple flowers carefully placed in the center of the table, he did not mention it. The bouquets that usually adorned this room were far more elegant than the simple African violets, but those showy blooms brought Ginny none of the happiness that the Saintpaulia blooms provided. For the past three years, a small container of violets had appeared on the 9th of November, accompanied by a tender note intended for Ginny’s eyes alone. The significance of that day was a mystery to her, but she there was no date on the calendar she anticipated more. Subtly slipping a hand into the pocket of her skirt, Ginny smiled faintly as her fingers traced over the folded paper covered in words of love from an unknown admirer.

******

Draco was aware of his wife’s surreptitious glances at the common little flowers. The contented smile she tried to restrain did not escape his notice, as her hand trailed down to caress the love note she thought she’d kept secret from him. Oh yes, he knew of her mysterious champion. Instructed from the start to watch the young Mrs. Malfoy for any signs of subversive behavior, the house elves had reported every gift and piece of correspondence she received.

Draco knew that Ginny retreated to her private quarters immediately after receiving a letter from her beau. He knew that she studied the notes intently, etching the words into her soul. For as long as she could, she would carry it with her, burning it in the fire when the parchment became too worn to read. As she incinerated the only proof she was not entirely forsaken, a single tear would trail down her pretty, freckled cheek. The house elves’ briefings were remarkably thorough.

*****

Alone in her boudoir, Ginny poured over her treasure, committing every word to memory. This had been her practice with previous missives, and she could still recall each message with perfect clarity. When the reality of her forced marriage became too much for her to bear, Ginny would replay the lines in her head to remind herself that she was not alone.

Five years had passed since Harry Potter died in his quest to defeat the most feared dark wizard the world had ever known. In the blink of an eye, Ginny’s world was turned upside down. With its champion defeated, wizarding Britain had fallen like a house of cards, and Voldemort quickly established tight control over its citizens. The Muggleborns and Half-bloods who did not manage to flee the country were forced into servitude. The Dark Lord decreed that all marriages between Purebloods and non-Purebloods were null and void.

To increase their numbers, eligible wizards of pure pedigree were required to take a wife of suitable age for bearing children. Certain high ranking Death Eaters were granted the privilege of selecting any Pureblooded witch to be his spouse, without fear of refusal.

Draco Malfoy had always been privileged, and this occasion was no different.

Ginny was not surprised when he chose her. Being an attractive young woman from a family known for its fertility was reason enough for him to want her. The fact that she was a skilled Healer who would be able to care for his ailing mother, not to mention the pain that their union brought to her family, those things were icing on the cake.

(continued below)

[mugglechump.livejournal.com]

Initially she fought against it - threatening to kill him, promising to kill herself. When her antics ceased to amuse him, the Dark Lord made it very clear what fate would befall her remaining family members if she did not accept her place as Malfoy’s wife. There was little else to do but go along with it. In what seemed a very short amount of time, Ginny acclimated to her new life. While she found no joy in her situation, the demands on her were not great. She was to make the elder Mrs. Malfoy comfortable as she slowly succumbed to illness and to make herself available to her husband when the chance of conception was at its peak.

Her primary task was not a chore. Narcissa Malfoy had taken a slow acting poison intended for Draco’s father. It had rendered her paralyzed and unable to speak. As Narcissa’s body became weaker and weaker, her mind remained sharp.

The discrete clearing of a throat brought Ginny’s attention back to the present.