Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, settings, and events of the Harry Potter realm belong to the creative mind of J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 3: Birthdays and Announcements

After Ginny's visit with Professor Dumbledore, things didn't seem so hopeless. She explained to her parents her plan of continuing her education so that she could provide for her child. Though they were not fond of the idea of a house elf, no matter how well qualified caring for their grandchild they did admit that they were proud of her for getting things sorted out. Molly tried to convince Ginny to allow her to care for her grandchild while she completed her last term. Ginny adamantly refused to be separated from her child for six months. Also, she didn't want her parents around the baby so much that they'd be able to figure out who the father is.

The rest of the summer progressed without incident. Ginny still preferred to spend her time alone. She had refused every invitation from her friends and brothers to spend time with them the entire summer. Instead, she had taken to spending time lounging under a large tree near the stream that ran through the back of her parent's property. She spent countless hours there reading, resting, and contemplating the future. The one thing she refused to think of was the past. That thought was always more trouble than it was worth.

Today was the day that every witch and wizard looks forward to, the day they become of age. Ginny dreamed of this day for years. She was finally able to perform magic outside of school and if she were not pregnant, she'd be able to apparate. As happy as she should be, sadness marred this day. A four-month pregnant Ginny Weasley now had to inform her six over protective brothers of her pregnancy. She had put it off long enough and they'd all be in the same place at the same time, her birthday dinner.

Ginny decided that she needed to look her best. She carefully dressed in a light green floral print sundress and her favorite sandals. She smoothed the fabric over her body and was glad the empire waist design of the dress concealed her growing abdomen as her hand rested there.

Good afternoon little one. She rubbed her hand over the slightly protruding baby bump. I guess I'll be telling your uncles about you today. I really wish I didn't have to do this, but I guess it would be a might strange if I brought you home from Hogwarts after graduation without an explanation.

Ginny took a deep calming breath and descended the stairs into the sitting room filled with a sea of red heads who were completely unaware of the life changing news that would be revealed by the end of the evening.

Ginny stormed up the stairs to here room and unceremoniously slammed the door. The impact caused the windows to rattle, which went unnoticed by Ginny as she started ranting and pacing around her room.

"I knew this was going to be a disaster, a bloody disaster! Oh, everything went fine up until dinner. They just had to bring up quidditch; my brother, Ronald Weasley, git extraordinaire and Harry bloody Potter. The prats just don't know when to keep their mouths closed!

Flashback

The entire Weasley clan plus one Harry Potter and one Hermione Granger were crowded around the magically enlarged table in the kitchen at the Burrow. Ginny had been so happy to see all of her brothers in one place at one time. They had just finished dinner and were being served some of Molly's delicious homemade Weasley special birthday cake, which was magically enhanced to assume the favorite flavor of the eater. Prior to dinner, Ginny informed her brothers that she had something very important to discuss with them after dinner.

"Hey, Gin, so does this announcement have anything to do with school?" Harry whispered in Ginny's ear.

"Some of it," she replied hoping her would just drop it for now.

"All right you two," called Molly. "No whispering at the table."

"Sorry, I was just trying to find out if Gin's announcement had anything to do with the current quidditch captain vacancy on the Gryffindor house team," Harry replied sheepishly.

"Ginny will let you know when she's ready."

Ignoring his mother's comment Charlie piped in, "That'd be brilliant. Two Weasley quidditch captains in the Weasley family." Charlie beamed at his little sister waiting for her to confirm that she would follow in his footsteps.

"Come on Gin, you know you're the best that Gryffindor has," added Ron.

"Well, Ginger are you going to keep us waiting?" asked a doting Bill, her oldest brother.

All of her brothers waited expectantly for her answer. Ginny took a deep breath and smiled at every one.

"Would you lot settle for me being Head Girl instead?" she asked.

"Finally, another Weasley who takes academics seriously," Percy added.

"Congratulations," offered Hermione.

"Thanks"

"So Gins, you really didn't make captain?" asked Fred

George turned to Fred, "Gred, we must speak with Professor Dumbledore."

"Agreed, Forge, this is an outrage. Honestly what was the old man thinking?"

"I never said I didn't make captain…." Ginny wasn't able to finish her sentence before the room was filled with yells of congratulations. "HOWEVER," she yelled over the chaos and they began to quiet down. "I turned it down. I even resigned from the team."

A chorus of incredulous "what?" filled the small kitchen. Everyone began yelling questions at one time; each wanting to know why she wasn't going to play. Her brothers, as busy as they were with their lives knew how much Ginny loved to play quidditch. None of them could imagine her not wanting to play.

"Well," she began sheepishly. "I decided to … um… that is … this year is NEWTs. I need to spend as much time as I can studying."

"Try again," replied Harry.

"This is just going to be a busy year." That's an understatement. "And I don't want to spread myself too thin."

"Come on. You can't quit Gin. Weasleys don't quit. Gryffindors don't quit." Ron was becoming frustrated with Ginny giving dodgy answers. Ginny's temper was staring to flare. "Why are you doing this? Your marks are bloody fantastic and you barely crack open a book! So, WHY?".

She hated it when Ron tried to intimidate her. It wasn't going to work, not today. She could feel her cheeks begin to flush. She glared at Ron as he spoke. Her resolve to keep her temper under control slipped away as she yelled in return, "Because you can't play quidditch when you're pregnant!"

"How--?" asked Charlie.

"Who—?" inquired Bill.

"But,but your weren't even seeing anybody? Who forced you?" asked Harry

"You can't be… what you said. Only slags …and –and whores get pregnant in school," stammered a confused Ron.

Hearing his words, Ginny fled to her room wiping the tears from her eyes as she went before any one else could say anything.

"So much for a happy birthday, little one," Ginny sighed as she sunk into her soft bed and continued to cry.