I must apologise, I forgot to place a disclaimer in Chapter One; this has now been rectified. Here is Chapter Three for you now. Thanks to those who have read, reviewed and placed it on Alert. It really does mean a lot.
A day later, after the news off Ginny's pregnancy had filtered out, an emergency meeting was held. The Order sat around their usual meeting table, centred in the middle of the table, was Harry's wand.
"Ladies and Gentlemen" began Dumbledore, who like always, was chairing the meeting, "Even in the gravest of situations, there is light, there is hope. Hope for peace and love in this world."
"Whilst yesterday we lost our greatest hope in the war to Voldemort, today we learn of a small hope that could yet win us this war." At this many heads perked up, looking at Dumbledore, confusion evident upon their faces.
"There was a prophecy," he continued, "dictating that Harry was the only one with the ability to defeat Lord Voldemort. That Harry or Voldemort must die at the hand of the other…that has effectively been made true. The Harry Potter we knew is dead, what remains is Voldemort's apprentice." This was said very solemnly.
"However, there is another hope, a new hope, of someone that can defeat not only Voldemort, but Harry too." People began looking around wildly, as if the saviour was in the room.
"The new hope we have is Harry Potter's child." At this a minor amount of chaos ensued, with people looking around with confusion and shouting questions over each other.
"Albus!" said Lupin, standing, effectively singling himself out from the others, "What are you talking about?"
"Remus, a few months before Harry left, it would appear that he and Miss Weasley shared a night together. The result of this is that Ginny is pregnant with this child."
He glanced over at the Weasley family; all stood around their youngest, supporting her, having found out the previous evening.
"Now, obviously we are going to have to wait a long time before the child is anywhere near ready. I would estimate when the child reaches the age of fifteen that is when we will begin the training."
"Albus, I have to question the ethics of this…it is one thing to raise a child for the purpose of killing one – let alone two people. But for one of those people to be their own father, I just feel that this is wrong…pure wrong." Said Kingsley Shacklebolt, shaking his head.
"In any other circumstances Kingsley, I would fully agree with you. But look at where we are in this war…if we can even call it a war anymore. Only days ago, we were the ones fighting against a small group of unruly troublemakers, for the sake of the society. It has now been completely inverted; we are the small group of rebels, fighting against the system that Voldemort and Harry control. We are now the ones being portrayed as in the wrong." Dumbledore replied, a certain amount of despair entering his voice.
"If we have only one hope, one tiny glimmer of hope, that is Ginny's child, then ethics be damned – we have to take our chance with this hope." He sat down.
"Very well Albus…but what now, what happens for the next fifteen years?" relented Kingsley.
"We must conserve ourselves and the strength of the light side. I am dissolving the Order. We must exile ourselves from the current administration; create a smaller society of our own. A society where Ginny's child can be raised in relative peace and children of the light can be educated and those who follow our ideals will be safe." Dumbledore answered.
"Severus has informed Voldemort of our 'surrender'…he has also told me that Voldemort has created a pseudonym for Harry, the wizarding society believes their hero to be dead. And that is what we must believe ourselves. That is what Ginny's child must believe; the child cannot know that Harry Potter is its father. It cannot know that the head death eater is its father. As far is they shall know, Harry Potter was killed. And truly…I believe he is." He trailed off.
The silence of reluctant approval echoed around the room. Every single person there knew that the years that would follow would be hard, extremely hard for everyone. But whilst it would be dark for them all, they would be strong, for each other. And if a child could grow, an innocent child in the world and have such a burden on its shoulders, then they could be strong for the child's sake.
Ginny sat, surrounded by her family, her hands placed upon her stomach. Despite the fact she was surrounded by her family and friends, the one person that really mattered to her was not there. The person that had helped create the life inside of her now, the life that had the power to destroy that person…its father. Without Harry, even with his child, she felt empty. Whilst everyone has only one hope, her child, she had another…she knew that deep inside Harry there was still good in him. She clung to that hope. Along with her and Harry's baby, it was all she had.
XXX
Some Months Later
Ginny Weasley screamed in agony as she gripped the hand of her mother and best friend, Hermione Granger. The living room of The Burrow was by no means StMungos hospital, but blood traitors who hadn't sworn loyalty to Emperor Voldemort were not welcome there in these dark days…
If you were of muggle-born, half blood origin or deemed a blood traitor you had one chance to declare loyalty to Emperor Voldemort. If you did so you became a second class citizen, treated like dirt by the pure blooded. If you didn't, the Duke - the death eater captain, and Voldemort's apprentice - would find you and take you to the Emperor himself. No one knew what happened after that.
Despite that happening, Ginny –at this moment in time – would have preferred it to the pain of labour she was currently going through. Her brothers and father sat next door in the kitchen, waiting for Madame Pomfrey to arrive at the fidelius hidden Burrow.
"Mum! Give me something for the pain!" she shouted through, gritted teeth as loose strands of hair flew in her face.
"Calm down Ginny, dear. Madame Pomfrey will be here in a moment, I'm not qualified to give you anything for the pain!" comforted Mrs Weasley.
"She's here!" Charlie's voice came from the kitchen, "In the living room through there."
Madame Pomfrey strode into the room, opening her bag as she did so, pulling out – amongst other things – a vial of potion.
"Take this for the pain Miss Weasley." She said, handing the vial to an eager Ginny, "Molly, how far along do you think she is?"
"I think she is about ready for the big push, but it's your decision, you are the qualified healer, Poppy." Molly replied.
"Well, I think it is best to get it over with. Miss Granger, you may wish to stand by her head and give some reassurance." Hermione complied as Madame Pomfrey and Mrs Weasley began to prepare for the arrival of a baby.
Ginny's brothers were stood anxiously in the kitchen, some pacing, some drumming their fingers on the table, whilst in Bill's case twirling his wand in his fingers. Mr Weasley, despite having gone through similar experiences on seven other occasions stood by the living room door, biting his lip.
Intense screaming was heard from the living room, before there was a lull and a child's cries could be heard. The men stared at the door with a sense of disbelief, waiting until, a few minutes later, a dishevelled looking Hermione walked out.
"Congratulations Mr Weasley, you are a grandfather, to a healthy baby boy" she grinned happily. "Go in, Ginny wants you to meet your Grandson."
Arthur Weasley had been through many births, but this was different. It was not his own child; it was his child's child. He made a vow as he walked in to protect this child like he did his own, as the child lacked its own father.
He walked over to where Ginny lay, and knelt down next to her.
"Hello Gin" he beamed
"Hi Granddad," she smiled back, "there is someone who wants to meet you" she tenderly handed him a bundle in her arms, that contained his grandson.
"Hello there" he said down to the tiny black haired boy in his arms. "What is his name?" he asked.
He was curious, as he doubted if the Potter surname would be carried over. He knew Ginny still loved Harry and he knew she would want a piece of him in her son's name.
"James Albus…Weasley." She said, the smile disappearing off her face momentarily.
"James, after his other grandfather and a link to…to him. Albus as a tribute the sacrifice the Order have made and are going to make for him. And Weasley, because that is what he is. Hopefully a brave and noble dragon tamer, or curse breaker, master prankster…or bad tempered food devouring…" she trailed off as she and her father shared a laugh.
"James Albus Weasley…welcome to the family" cooed Arthur, handing him back to his mother.
And then so only the tiny baby in her arms could hear, she whispered, "Welcome to the world, James Albus Potter."
There you go folks. It would be great if you could review this chapter. Next up, probably tomorrow - I don't have another exam for three weeks now. Next Chapter: 11 Years in the future; James is all grown up!