Gravity

Chapter 23

"Where is he?" muttered an annoyed and pacing Ron.

"Ron, if you don't relax, I'm going to leave." Pansy's voice was strained. "He saidhe would come, didn't he?"

"Yes, but I sent the letter over an hour ago!"

"Do you want me to force a Calming Draught down your throat? This isn't about you, anyway! Besides, he keeps his word, you know that."

Ron rolled his eyes. "You're right. What was I thinking? His name is practically synonymous with trust and honor," he quipped sarcastically.

"Weasley, I'm going to pretend you were talking about Longbottom in order to keep today pleasant."

Ron and Pansy whipped around to see Draco standing in the doorway of the waiting room, looking quite smug.

"Malfoy! Where have you been?" Ron demanded.

Draco sauntered in, setting his cloak and the package in a chair. "Why, Weasley-miss me?" He sat down gracefully and folded his hands in his lap.

"When did you get here?" Ron demanded.

"Just in time to hear you whine about me not being here," Draco replied.

Ron folded his arms over his chest. "I wrote to you an hour ago."

"Honestly, Weasley, what's the big deal?" He frowned. "Have I missed something? Is she all right?"

"Oh, yeah, she's fine, at least, considering. She went into labor about an hour and half ago. Harry, Hermione and Mum are back there now. Mum is a mess, trying to keep Ginny calm, and Hermione is trying to keep Mum in check. I was in charge of letting everyone know."

Draco crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back in the seat. "And you've done that. I'm here now. However, I was in the middle of a meeting discussing a merger that's been on the table for nearly three months now. The fate of two hundred employees is up in the air, and we are trying to find a way for them to keep their jobs. Nevertheless, I ended it early and made my way here, and I was happy to do it. I think only an hour late is quite good considering what the rest of my day was supposed to entail."

Ron was gaping.

"Hello, Pansy," Draco said, glancing up at her.

"Thank you for showing up and saving me from his fussing," said Pansy, sitting down and grabbing the nearest magazine. When she held it up to start perusing, Draco saw that it was an old issue of Witch Weekly. A picture of he and Sarah with Erin waved at him from the cover.

"My pleasure," he remarked, and then turned back to Ron. "I've toldyou before that I actually do work, Weasley. It is not my problem that you continually choose to ignore me."

At that moment, the door to the room burst open admitting a great raucous of noise, caused by Fred, George, Percy and his wife, Arthur, Charlie, Bill and Fleur Weasley.

Draco looked at Ron with a raised brow. "It would appear I'm not the only one who didn't come immediately when summoned?"

Ron ignored him, greeting his family. The pertinent news was spread, details provided, and the redheaded clan left for Ginny's room.

When just the three of them were left, Ron sighed. "Sorry, mate. I was really getting anxious. Harry put me in charge of alerting everyone, and as you saw, everyone was late. Except Mum, of course, she's been here since the beginning. I'm really glad you're here."

Draco nodded. "Me too."

"How have you been?" asked Pansy, setting aside the magazine. "I haven't seen you in ages, it seems like. Since the night you show up drunk on my doorstep at 3 in the morning, if memory serves ...When was that, anyway? Two months ago?"