A/N So. I received a very sweet, very encouraging note from an anonymous reviewer (Raven), that has encouraged me to continue this story. Therefore, I dedicate this chapter to you Raven! And I am so sorry for the two-year long hiatus guys… I'll try to make that not be a thing that happens again.
July 1998
Harry had imagined many different scenarios when Ginny finally told Malfoy the truth. He imagined Malfoy would get mad, stomp off. He, vaguely, imagined that Malfoy would step up and want to be part of the child's life. His most probable theory was that Malfoy would accept it, but only offer money as a way of involvement. Hell, a dark part of Harry imagined Malfoy refusing to admit his involvement. But this? Harry had never imagined this.
"Look… let me fix this. Just let me fix this," Malfoy's voice had never sounded so cowardly before.
"Fix this? Fix this? And how exactly do you think you can fix this?" Ginny's snarl was so low Harry almost couldn't hear her from where he stood behind her.
"I have the money. And I know people. It can be solved and nobody who matters will ever hear anything about it."
Ginny slowly leaned back from the table separating her from the man. "I know you aren't referencing what I think you're referencing.
"Come on Weasley! You can't honestly tell me you want this… thing! You can't tell me Potter will ever have any interest in you if you keep it. Look. If we fix this now, then everything will be fine. It'll be normal again," Malfoy replied calmly.
He seemed to have lost whatever fear he had originally had when Ginny broke the news to him. Now, now he seemed in his zone. He was simply a man in the middle of a business deal.
"Keep your money. And keep your fixes. After today, you will never have to see me or my child again. Normality be damned." As Ginny stomped out of the Leaky Cauldron, Harry couldn't help but be impressed (and slightly disappointed) that she hadn't cursed him prior to leaving.
Harry followed Ginny down Diagon Alley and into the backroom of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezus. It was only there that Harry removed the invisibility cloak.
Harry stood frozen as Ginny paced up and down the small room. "He… that son of a bitch… he-he-"
Ginny whipped around to face Harry for the first time that day. "What gives him that right?" Her voice came out weaker than she expected. And for the first time that day Harry knew exactly what to do.
He swiftly walked over to Ginny and held her tightly. Her head fell to his shoulder as he hugged her. "He has no right. No right at all. But more importantly, he'll never have a right in either you or this child's life."
Ginny pulled away and took a slow step back. "Harry… it'll be a wizarding birth certificate. If I don't physically write a name on the father line the biological father's name will automatically appear in twenty-four hours. He… he will always have a right! And there's not a damn thing I can do about it."
Turning around, she punched the concrete wall as hard as she could. "Ouch! Fuck! Ow ow ow!"
Trying hard not to laugh, because really the situation shouldn't have been this amusing, Harry walked over to pull her bruised fist away from where she was clutching it to her chest. "I know I'm not the best at fixes, but this I think I can fix." With that, Harry muttered a healing spell to calm her bruised hand.
Ginny smiled weakly. "I didn't think that would actually hurt that bad… I guess that's just one more stupid decision I've made."
Taking in a deep breath, Harry looked at the floor as his feet shuffled awkwardly under him. "I know you have a lot to worry about right now, and I know you're stressed and angry and sad and, what I mean to say is, one thing you shouldn't have to worry about right now is him. So, let me actually fix this."
The minute of silence was deafening in a way Harry hadn't imagined to be possible. Finally, Ginny broke the silence. "You can't be talking about what I think you're talking about."
Harry looked up and smiled sheepishly at Ginny. "Let me sign the birth certificate. We had already talked about me being involved with the baby. This is just… making that decision permanent."
Ginny wrapped her hands around his neck. "Harry, I love you, and I love how kind your heart is. But this? I can't let you do this. It's one thing to be the cool uncle, but to be legally required to take care of a child that's not yours? That's too much to ask."
Harry shrugged. "Well, for one you never asked. And second, we both know I'd never be satisfied just being the cool uncle."
Ginny yanked away, paced, and turned back to glare. "And what if we break up again? Harry! You will always be stuck with me. For the next eighteen years, no matter how much you can't stand me, or how much you want to move on with your life, you will always be tied down to me and a child that isn't even yours! Is that the future you really want for yourself?"
Ginny stood in front of Harry, arms crossed, and eyes furious. Harry held the same stance. "I can't tell you that we will last forever. I can't tell you that we won't end up hating each other. I can't tell you that we won't end up with different people. But I can tell you this: I will never let this child feel unloved or unwanted. No matter what happens between us, this child will always have a mother and a father."
For the first time since the day she had learned she was pregnant, Ginny's eyes filled with tears. Because a future with Harry and their child? That was a future she could look forward to.
The day that Draco Malfoy walked out on Haley's life was the day Harry Potter walked into it.
