The Guest

There was a loud knock on the door. The visitor pounded the door repeatedly, impatient for someone to let her in.

An anxious looking Bethany hurriedly shuffled through the foyer, wrapping her robe more firmly around her waist and peeked tentatively out the window.

At first glance, she could make nothing out of the darkness, but the outline of a figure. Her thoughts raced and was instantly reminded of the stories Harry and Ginny once told her and Dudley about Death Eaters and the horrible acts they committed.

Not one to take chances, Bethany hesitated with bated breath, then quickly flicked the porch light on. Ginny Potter was suddenly exposed under the sudden flood of light. Bethany, after realizing who it was, quickly opened the door and ushered her unanticipated guest in.

"Ginny?" She asked, completely baffled as to why she was here, in her home, so late at night.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry -!" Ginny repeated, fidgeting with her hands. "I didn't mean to, it's so late; I wasn't thinking ...! I didn't know who else to go to."

Bethany took in Ginny's ashen face and ushered her into the kitchen, offering her tea and other various beverages. Ginny refused them all with a solemn shake of the head.

"Are you quite sure? Some water, at least?"

"No, no. Thank you, I'm not thirsty, I assure you..." Ginny replied distractedly.

After a moment of silence, Bethany quietly stepped over to where Ginny stood, leaning against the counter and looking at her feet, and placed a reassuring hand on Ginny's tense shoulder.

"Please, Ginny. You can tell me."

Ginny pursed her lips and glanced up at Bethany for only moment before muttering, "I'm pregnant."

Almost immediately after these words were spoken, she seemed to deflate; apparently relieved to have it off her chest.

Bethany threw up her hands, "Oh, but Ginny - that's wonderful!"

Ginny put her head in her hands and groaned, "But my contract! My contract isn't up yet!"

"Contract?" asked a confused Bethany.

"The Harpies!" She moaned in reply. The truth hit Bethany like a boulder. If it were to get out that Ginny, a professional - not to mention valuable - Quidditch player was with child, it could yield disastrous results. There might be legal implications that could potentially harm Ginny and Harry's financial stability.

"Oh, oh no! How much longer have you got?"

"Two years!" Ginny whined.

"Damn." Bethany said resignedly, which was followed by a sigh from Ginny. She was hoping they'd luck out and only have two more months.

"Well, the only thing you can do at this point is confront your coach, Ginny." Bethany spoke out after a minute of silent contemplation.

Ginny pulled herself up from the floor - she had not realized that she had sat down - and replied, "It's not Gwenog I'm really worried about; this has happened plenty of times before... it's an all-woman league, you see... not all that unique of a situation, if you catch my drift."

Bethany frowned. "Then what could it possibly be, Ginny? A child is a beautiful thing."

Her companion nodded, "Yes, yes I know. Pregnancy is the most wonderful experience... life-changing... completely fantastic, I know." She waved her hand about in a frustrated manner. Bethany smirked in amusement.

Ginny ran a hand through her red locks and replied, "It's Harry."

"What?" Bethany felt that at this point, she just couldn't keep up.

"Harry. I don't know how he is going to react. It was only just recently he retained a steady job - he's always been going about doing this or that in the ministry - now, he has a proper office and everything -!"

"Well, that's great!"

"Yes, it is. But, on top of the fantastic job and all... he also has people answering to him, and the stress is really starting to get to him and everything. Can you imagine if I just pop in and say, 'hey Harry, good going on the job - here's a baby!' He'll have an aneurysm, I know it!"

"Bethany?" A voice called from upstairs. It was soon revealed to be Dudley, who started coming down the stairs with heavy footsteps.

"Yes, darling. I'm here, in the kitchen. We have an unexpected guest."

"Oh, Ginny!" Dudley said with a surprised smile. "Always welcome, always welcome."

Ginny wiped at her eyes, and said, "How are you, Dudley?"

He frowned when he saw her face, "I think the better question is, how are you doing, Ginny?"

She smiled at him and replied, "Not so great, Dud."

He patted her on the back reassuringly before heading towards the fridge for a late night snack.

Bethany rolled her eyes and told him, "Ginny's pregnant, Dudley."

He sputtered over the milk he had been swigging back and stared at the girl in question. "Really?"

She nodded her head.

"Well! Why the gloomy attitude? Some wine, champagne for everyone! Not for you, though, obviously..." He looked pointedly at Ginny.

Ginny picked up her things she had previously put down on the counter and said, "Perhaps we better not celebrate before I tell the man who impregnated me first... the bastard." She muttered the last part to herself, but it did not go unheard by Bethany.

"Oh! Well, after you tell Harry - I'm assuming its Harry - the joyous news, come to our house and we'll celebrate one of these nights."

Ginny laughed and assured him that yes, the father of her unborn child was, in fact, her husband, Harry Potter.

The three of them trooped out down towards the front door, but once they reached the dimly lit hall that led to the front door, Ginny suddenly paused.

She looked at Bethany through worried eyes and asked, "Please, will you... will you come with me?"

Bethany stared at her, dumbfounded. "What?"

"I can't do this on my own. I can't tell him without you there!"

After a hurried ten minutes, in which Bethany dressed in more appropriate clothes and gathered her purse, the two set off down the driveway.

"Ginny, before you go to your house and inform Harry of something so life changing... may I ask you a question?"

Ginny frowned and turned towards her questioner, "Of course."

"Well, why me? Out of all your friends, why do you want me to be there for you when you tell your husband your with child?"

Ginny was quiet for a moment, which is a rarity in itself, and replied with a self-satisfied air, "Because I like you. You liked me before you knew the full extent of who I was, and we grew close even though we are so different. I enjoy your company, and the people that I know well enough to do something like this with me... Well, both Hermione and Luna have never been pregnant, like you have, and they just wouldn't understand..."

There have only ever been a few instances in which Bethany was truly touched. Once, when she was but eight, her eldest brother gave her the last piece of a truffle she had been eyeing - even though he had purchased it himself with money he earned at the local postage shop. Also, the one time her usually stiff-upper-lipped mother-in-law shared with Bethany; a recipe which happened to be Dudley's favorite meal. Their relationship tended to be strained, due to Petunia's constant neediness for Dudley, and his sudden depreciation for her since he gained a wife.

But at these words that Ginny spoke, Bethany had to hold herself back from bombarding the younger woman with a hug. Instead, she resigned herself to a quick hand squeeze.

Ginny was startled at the touch, but soon smiled in return.

"Here," Ginny pulled Bethany behind the nearest tree and whispered, "We're going to apparate to Number 12 Grimmauld Place."

Bethany nodded, wide-eyed to this new word.

"You may... feel some discomfort." Ginny rushed to add before spinning, dragging along Bethany in the process.

By the time they popped in front of the old, majestic brick houses, Bethany felt sick to her stomach. She instantly began to regret coming along. She scanned her surroundings, looking for a plaque that said Number 12. She was unsuccessful to do so, but noticed that she could see both Number 11 and 13; but Number 12 remained invisible.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Ginny whispered, "I know, it's not a very pleasant way to travel... I've always preferred to fly, to tell you the truth."

Bethany could understand why.

Ginny quickly murmured something under her breath, which in turn caused the houses labeled Number 11 and 13 to push up against their neighbors - making room for an emerging townhouse.

Bethany stood entranced while Ginny pulled her up the stairs and into her home.

"Ginny? Is that you, love?" Came a deep voice from upstairs. Ginny threw Bethany a terrified stare at the noise; Bethany returned it with a reassuring glance.

"Y-yes, it's me!" Ginny called back, "I have a friend with me."

"Oh?" Harry trooped down the stairs and replied, "At this hour? Why were you out again?"

"I told you, I went out to the store... and I bumped into Bethany!" Just as Ginny announced Bethany's presence, Harry turned the corner into the living room.

"Bethany!" Harry said, eyebrows traveling up towards his hairline. "You bumped into her at the store?" He echoed her, now with a dubious expression.

"Yes, yes..." Ginny said, avoiding his eyes.

Bethany tried to hide her smile, now very amused.

"Where are your bags, then?" Harry asked, crossing his arms.

"Erm..." Ginny squirmed.

"Ginny, just tell him." Bethany said, feeling exhausted and just aching to be in bed. She gently nudged Ginny towards Harry. The former threw Bethany a look of utter despair.

Ginny bit her lip while Harry frowned, glancing between the two. "Ginny? Is something wrong?" His eyebrows furrowed in a concerned manner.

"Wrong? No, not... wrong. That's not the right word..."

"Well?" He sighed, rubbing at his forehead.

"I'm pregnant!" Ginny bursted out. "You got me pregnant!"

Harry stood there, mouth agape, while Bethany looked back and forth at the two, now staring at one another.

"Really?" He whispered, completely flabbergasted. "H-how?"

Ginny threw him a look that dripped with sarcasm. He soon caught himself, "I- I mean, wow!"

He soon crossed the distance that separated them with two easy steps and hugged her, a look of complete happiness covering his face.

Bethany smiled and soon escorted herself out. It took her a few minutes to realize that she had no idea where she was, but didn't feel the need to intrude on the deliriously happy couple. She pulled out her phone and called the local taxi service and waited, completely content with the night's events.

Sorry about the long wait, hope this was worth it! What should I write about next? Ideas?