Ginny Weasley knew when she made a mistake. But she really didn't regret this one.
A couple weeks into her fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry she received a note. It was rather simple, though you could tell it was clearly written by magic, most likely to disguise the handwriting of the sender. All it said was, "Meet me by the tapestry of Barnabas the barmy on the seventh floor at midnight. Don't get caught." Ginny thought this was rather peculiar, though she kept silent about it and she did indeed go to the tapestry at midnight. Waiting to meet her was a mysterious man wearing dark clothes with very good glamour spells disguising his face. He led her into a room she did not know existed and started to kiss her. After trying to resist her hormonal instinct, she eventually allowed them to take her farther than ever before.
She awoke the next morning, lacking clothes, in an empty bed in the unknown room. She redressed and walked back to Gryffindor Tower to change before heading down to breakfast. This is the story following what happened after this one night fling with a mysterious man.
Three short weeks after her fling, Ginny began to feel sick at random times, sometimes even to the extent she was throwing up. A week after that, when the nauseousness had not vanished, Ginny took a trip to Madam Pomfrey.
"Miss Weasley, you must be completely honest with me. Have you ever had sex?" the mediwitch asked.
"Yes."
"When was your last time?"
"Around four weeks ago." Realization dawned on Ginny as she said those words. Could it be true? Her whole life would be ruined. She wouldn't know the father of the baby. She didn't want to be pregnant, but instinct told her she was before Madam Pomfrey even said it.
"Ah, just as I suspected. You, Miss Weasley, have gotten yourself into a bit of trouble. You, my dear, are pregnant."
"No, no, no! This isn't happening. Four weeks ago was all just a dream, and so is this. I'm not pregnant. This is impossible."
"Ginny, settle down dear." Madam Pomfrey soothed. "You can't get so worked up. You could lose the baby because you aren't very far along yet."
"Madam Pomfrey, what am I going to do? I'm only 15, and still learning. Will I be able to stay in school?"
"Well, dear, I do not know. That is up to Professor Dumbledore and your parents."
Ginny groaned. "My parents… I'll have to tell them. What do I say? I don't even know who the father is. I didn't mean to sleep with him. I just gave in to my hormones."
"Well, I'd say tell them what you just told me. I must inform Professor Dumbledore, though."
"Poppy, there'll be no need for that. I already know of her situation. Her parents are on their way to the school, but they do not know why. Why don't we all go up to my office and await their arrival?" Professor Dumbledore said, stepping out of the shadows.
"Mum, Dad," Ginny sighed, thinking this was much harder than she believed it would be. "I'm pregnant." She finally blurted out. Taking a breath, she repeated, "I'm pregnant. Four weeks ago was my first time, and it was with a mystery man. I didn't plan on it going so far, but it happened, and now I want to keep the baby regardless of who the father is."
Molly Weasley was astonished. "Oh, my baby. I'm so sorry this happened to you. Maybe when the father learns of your pregnancy he'll step up and take responsibility."
"Or, we'll wait until he or she is born," Arthur added. "All pureblooded families have a special line trait. Ours is red hair, while the Potter's is black hair. The Malfoy's is blond hair and grey eyes. Other families have other traits that will always be dominant in some way. It shan't be hard to determine once he or she is born."
"But because I'm a pureblood, won't my child have red hair, like me?" Ginny asked, curious as to who would have the answer.
Madam Pomfrey stepped forward. "That's not necessarily true. If you created this child with another pureblood, your two lines will mix. That's why most purebloods stick with people of similar traits, or look to non-pureblood families. For example, every Malfoy bride has been a blonde, pale with blue or grey eyes. Your parents both have read hair, which was both a line trait of the Prewetts and the Weasleys. So if your mystery father was Harry, the child would probably have dark brown or auburn hair, but if it was Draco, your child would probably have strawberry blonde hair."
"I see. But what happens if a pureblood marries a half-blood or muggleborn?" Ginny asked, with a sincere interest.
"Well, as you see between Lily and James Potter, and Harry, Lily was a muggleborn so Harry inherited his father's line trait: black, messy hair. He also inherited his mother's eyes, but her red hair didn't show at all."
"Okay." Ginny was pleased with the information she had just learned. "Professor Dumbledore, will I be allowed to stay at school. I'll be pregnant until the end of this school year."
"I'm sure it can be arranged. I presume you'd like to continue your studies once the baby is born?" Ginny nodded. "I believe I have an idea that will work, but I'll have to do some research to be sure."
"I'm glad. What will we do if we learn who the father is? What if he wants to marry me? What if…"
"Miss Weasley, we will answer these questions at a later date. I believe your friends will be wondering where you've been all morning."
"Right, I'll just be off then," Ginny said, wondering how her friends would react.
"Ginny!" Hermione called. "We were just looking for you. Where have you been?"
"I was speaking with Dumbledore. I have something to tell you guys. Let's go somewhere more private."
Ginny led Hermione, Harry, and Ron to the seventh floor by the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Copying what the mystery man had done a few weeks prior, she paced back and forth three times, thinking she needed a place where her and her friends couldn't be spied on.
"How did you know about this room, Ginny? I thought I was the only one who had found it," Harry said, curiosity strung through his voice.
"Yes, how did you find this room? This is the 'Come and Go' room or the Room of Requirement. It only appears when asked for, in a specific way. It can also be the Room of Hidden Objects, rumored to have a mess of items. I've read about it." Hermione said.
"You'll both find out if you'll just sit down and let me tell you what I brought you here for." Ginny proceeded to tell the story of the note and her mystery lover, of her night filled with hormones up to her upset stomach. She ended with, "This morning, before I went to see Dumbledore, I visited Madam Pomfrey. I'm pregnant."
Four pairs of eyes stared at her incredulously. Hermione then stood up and gave Ginny a hug. "Ginny, if you ever need to talk or need any help, you can come see me."
"Thanks, Hermione. I'd actually like your help in finding some books about pregnancy and parenting. I was thinking of asking Dumbledore to give us access to the restricted section if we couldn't find anything else."
"No problem! I'll be up for it whenever you'd like." Hermione said, happy that someone else actually wanted to go to the library with her.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she realized neither Harry nor Ron had said a word about her impending motherhood. "Harry? Ron? Com on guys, say something."
Harry just shook his head and walked out of the Room of Requirement. Ron glanced at Ginny and stammered, " I'd better go after him," before leaving as well.
Ginny sank down onto a couch and started crying. "I knew they wouldn't understand. Why did I tell them now? I only just found out!"
Hermione smiled at Ginny. "They're boys. They don't understand the wonders of reproducing. I didn't react like that because I'm most likely going to be a mother someday. As a woman, I have a better understanding of what you're going through."
"Thanks." Ginny said, smiling weakly. "I think we should head to the library and start reading up on pregnancy. Are you with me?"
"Always."
A/N: I'm back! Updated the "Prologue" to include the original first chapter I wrote way back when. I hope to keep writing as I have now graduated from university and have more free time!