Harry stared at the ceiling, Ginny nuzzled onto his bare shoulder. What have I done? he berated himself, looking at the posters on Ginny's ceiling. It was only meant to be a goodbye kiss, a birthday kiss... but, he couldn't help himself... she was so beautiful...

"Ginny, I---"

"Harry Potter, if you dare apologize to me for taking my virginity, I shall hex you into next week." she said, sliding out of the bed.

Harry couldn't help the little grin that tugged at the corners of his mouth then, leaning on his side to watch her get dressed.

"You really are beautiful, you know that?" he said, reaching out a hand to catch her wrist.

"Is that all I am?" she teased.

"Yes." he said seriously. "Beautiful inside and out. Nothing about you that isn't..."

Ginny smiled, coming down quickly to kiss him breathless again, then, pulled back with a sigh.

"What is it?" he asked, one hand on the back of her neck. "You're leaving tomorrow, even still. And, you don't want me to come with you."

"Gin..." Harry sighed, resting his forehead against hers, "your magic still has a tracer on it; you know that. You'd draw them right to us."

Her eyes stung, but, she knew he was telling the truth.

"I know..." she snuffled. "Listen... I love you, all right? I do... But... no one can know about this. We cannot... be together... not until the war is over. I have to protect you---"

"Bollocks!" Ginny growled, standing up suddenly, nearly knocking him off balance. "I can take care of myself!"

And, now it was Harry who stood, neither noticing nor caring about the fact that he was still fully nude, and his anger matching hers. "Not against Voldemort you can't!" he yelled, putting his hands on her arms. "Don't you get it? You're my weak spot; it's the only reason I have to leave you!"

Ginny looked at him sideways, refusing to completely meet his eyes.

"Ginny... if he knows you're... that I love you, that we're together... you will be nothing more than a bargaining chip to him! A pawn! And, he will harm you in ways you cannot imagine just to make me watch!" Harry said desperately, leaning down to look into her face.

Ginny sighed. "I know... It still hurts, though."

Harry pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on top of her head. It did hurt--- more than he cared to mention...

Six weeks had gone by since the trio had left. Ginny occasionally had to check on the ghoul in Ron's pajamas just to make sure he was still there. But, she wasn't doing so well herself. She was getting sicker and sicker. She thought maybe from a broken heart, but... Her Mum knew better.

"Ginerva." Molly said one morning, at the breakfast table, "You and Harry had sex, didn't you?"

Ginny blushed ten different shades of red. "Mum!"

"Don't you 'Mum' me, little girl; I've been with child enough times I know it when I see it."

Ginny's eyes widened, and she didn't look at her Dad. She didn't want to see his expression. Not right now...

"Ginny." Arthur said gently. "It's all right, but, we'll have to take care of this right away..."

Tripping back from the table, Ginny put a protective hand on her abdomen. "No! I won't let you do it!" she shrieked.

"Don't be daft, child; that isn't what your father meant." Molly said, pulling her back to the table. "Is it?" she whispered to Arthur.

"Of course not." Arthur said, exhasperated. "However... we have to ensure that the child has a father in the eyes of the public."

Ginny frowned.

"It has a father..."

"Yes, and that's precisely the problem, isn't it?" Arthur said pointedly. "We cannot have it found out that you're carrying Harry Potter's illegitimate offspring, can we? Death sentence for both of ya."

"But, Dad---"

"No buts, Ginny. I'm sorry, but, you're going to have to wed, and immediately. It's the only way."

"I won't do it!"

"Ginerva Molly Weasley, you are going to be a mother soon." Arthur said firmly. "You must think of the child first, and yourself second. Now, now..." he soothed, patting her on the head. "It's only temporary; once the war is over, you can get a divorce. All right?"

"That's not all right." Ginny muttered wrathfully. "He even tries to kiss me much less... anything else... I will hex his bits off!"

Arthur sighed. "Yes, I know, dearie... I know..."

The war was longer than Harry had hoped, but, he was home. Well, at Hogwarts, the closest thing he'd ever had to a home. All he wanted was a snack and a 3-day-nap... But, he ran into Molly on his way to the stairs, and she finally let go of Ron and pulled him into a crushing embrace.

"I'm so glad you're all all right..." she murmured.

"Yes. Me too." he said quietly, still really just wanting to go to bed.

"And, about Ginny... we're sorry, we are... we only did what we had to do to keep everyone safe..."

Harry frowned, pulling back then. "What about Ginny?"

Molly swallowed hard, unsure how to tell him, but, Ron looked at him a bit sourly.

"You knocked her up, mate. So, they made her marry one of the members of the Order. Cousin of Fleur's. Wanted to hide that it was yours."

Harry whirled around, glaring at Fleur now. "You knew, didn't you? Had to've, and I've seen you... so many times..."

"I... I could not tell you, 'arry..." Fleur whispered guiltily. "She did not wish to marry... she was... 'ery 'ngry..."

The vein in Harry's neck, which was generally prominent when he was angry, was flexing like a rattlesnake about to strike, and his jaw clenched so tight, Ron and Hermione worried his teeth might break.

"It's not a real marriage, Harry. We promise. Just a show for appearances to keep them both safe... She's in Paris." Bill said softly. "Take a rest; you can get there in the morning."

But, to no one's real surprise, Harry's body vibrated for just a moment, and then seemed to pull into itself and out of eyesight...