I woke with a start, sweating and shaking and tangled in my bed sheets. I was still very dark outside; it couldn't have been earlier than three in the morning. If it was early morning, why the hell was I up? I tried falling back to sleep, attempting to ignore the clammy feeling of my skin. After failing miserably, I made my way to the dormitory bathroom. I turned on the sink and splashed water on my face as I looked at my reflection in the cracked mirror. It had been a long time since I had taken a good look at my appearance. I looked dreadful. Dark bags hung under my eyes and my skin had a sickly, pale look to it. Even my freckles seemed faded. My usually fiery orange hair looked dull. I had obviously gained a few pounds on my hips and my breasts were slightly larger. My abdomen was slightly swollen, though it was nothing I couldn't hide under my school robes. I was a mess.

As my stomach grew, so did the rumors. Although I didn't look very pregnant yet, people seemed to make very keen observations. I was eating more. I had left the quidditch team. I spent excessive amounts of time in the hospital wing and people noticed. Although the whispers were slight, they were definitely there. I suspected that they originated from Lavender Brown. She herself had been rumored to be pregnant last year, but no baby ever arrived. She most likely "took care of it." I knew that I had seen her eat excessively and run from the common room looking green after meals. Lavender was known for the notches in her bedposts, and if anyone could recognize the signs of pregnancy, it was her.

The weeks crept up on me sneakily, always taking me by surprise. This baby would be here before I knew it and I felt completely unprepared. I was excited, yes; bringing new life into the world was an exhilarating, yet terrifying thought. I knew that mum wouldn't want me to give this baby up. It would kill her to know that she couldn't watch her first grandchild grow up. Mum and I hadn't discussed that much yet; she was constantly sending me letters to ask how I was feeling, if Hogwarts was providing enough food for me and the growing child inside me. At first, her letters seemed bitter with disappointment; now they had a new tone. Mum was obviously very excited about her new grandchild. But was I? Uncertainty swept through me, making me feel extremely uneasy.

Although I was having some serious doubts, things were looking up slightly. I knew that Draco would be with me through this. I hadn't thought about whether it was going anywhere romantically - did it matter? And Ron had accepted the fact that I was facing motherhood. He knew that I needed him and did a very good job at hiding his disapproval. However, I knew that he was very disappointed in me. And I knew that the father question would come up eventually and I'd had a more than friendly encounter with his arch enemy. The knowledge would kill him.

Suddenly, I started shaking violently. I grasped the edge of the bathroom sink, trying to get a hold of myself. The porcelain was freezing under my hands and my skin felt like it was on fire. I held onto the sink with all of my strength as my legs gave out from under me. The room was spinning fast in circles and I felt the urge to vomit.

As my head swam, I came to a warped conclusion, no doubt due to my worsening state, on what was happening to me.. I was dying. It sure seemed like it. Ginny Weasley, another victim of her own mistakes. The dark tile beneath me was getting closer, too close. And as if I had gotten hit in the head with a bludger, my vision blurred and I saw no more.

"Oh my God, is she all right?"

"Merlin, I think she hit her head. Someone get Madam Pomfrey."

"Ginny? Are you awake?" I heard Hermione's frantic voice among those of my dorm mates. My head was throbbing and tender. I didn't even remember hitting the ground.

"Mione?" I croaked. My throat was parched. I could see blurred faces peering down at me anxiously. How long had I been unconscious?

"We're going to bring you to the hospital wing Ginny," Hermione said. "You're really sick, oh Merlin, are you bleeding?" I touched my head gingerly with my hand to feel a sticky wetness. My head started spinning and I became surrounded by darkness once again.

I woke up squinting into a bright light. I could make out fuzzy faces hovering over me; as my vision came back into focus I could see that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were huddled over my bed. I could tell that by my surroundings that I was in the hospital wing.

"She's awake!"

"I know Ron, I can see her too. I'm standing right next to you." said Hermione.

"Oh, right." I could see the blush creeping up on his cheeks. The sky was dark outside the cathedral windows. I didn't know how long I'd been

here. All that came to memory was a blurry recollection of me grasping the sink like it was my lifeline.

"Hermione, how long have I been here?" I asked.

"We found you in the bathroom at around eight this morning. You hit your head and you've been burning with fever ever since." I did feel awful. Just then a horrible thought hit me. Had my baby been harmed? Had I hit my stomach in the fall? Madam Pomfrey bustled over almost immediately.

"Is the baby all right?" I asked quickly, feeling extremely anxious. There were so many things that could have gone wrong. I knew I should have tried to stay healthier and more active. I wasn't the only one dependent on my lifestyle anymore.

"The last time I checked, your baby was in some distress," she replied. My heart stopped. "But it's normal for that to happen when the mother is ill, or has the flu, like in your case. She seems to be doing fine. It's nothing to be concerned with as long as we keep on eye on you." Thank goodness. The sick feeling in my stomach slowly faded away. She was okay.

Wait. She?

"I'm having a girl?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yes Ms. Weasley, you are having a baby girl."

"Are you serious?" I asked in disbelief, but I didn't here Madam Pomfrey's answer. At that precise moment, a tall, blond figure stormed into the hospital wing. It was Draco. He raced over to my bed, nearly pushing Ron into the wall, and grabbed my hand.

"Ginny, I heard you got sick, are you okay?" Oh no. Not here. Merlin, Ron was here. Please. Not now. Ron was looking at him, a look of shock and anger on his face.

"What gave you the right to come in here and bother my baby sister when she's obviously sick? She doesn't need some git like you coming in here and bothering her! Why the hell are you here anyway?" Ron spat. Draco's fists were clenched in rage. He obviously wasn't going to take Ron sitting down.

"I have every right to be here, just as much as you Weasley," Draco retorted, his eyes flashing in anger. A look of confusion passed across Ron's face. No one spoke. After a few moments, his face dawned darkly with realization. He looked like he was about to fire back at Draco, but then he turned to me. I could see the hurt and rage in his eyes.

"It's his, then? You're baby? It's this git's?" Ron said in almost a whisper. I was silent. I couldn't speak.

"Ginny, tell me. Did he-" he said, pointing at Draco," get you like this," he said, motioning to my stomach, his voice quaking with anger. I could feel the tears already burning in my eyes. My chest started heaving and my body was shaking. I was losing control of everything.

"Ron, I never meant for it to happen like this," I said, the tears beginning to run down my face. Ron's eyes were not focused on me, but Draco.

"Look at me. Ron, look at me, please," I plead. He gave me a look of pure hatred that chilled me to the core.

Everything was silent except for Ron's heavy breathing. And before I knew it, all hell broke loose. In one undetectable moment, Ron was punching Draco in the face with all the force he could muster. Draco stumbled backwards, and in his split second of weakness Ron pulled out his wand and sent him flying across the ward. Draco hit the wall and fell to the floor. He lay on the ground, stirring weakly, holding his head.

"Ron, what the hell did you do!" I shrieked. I jumped out of bed and attempted to run over to where Draco was laying. But as soon as my feet hit the floor, extreme dizziness came over me. Hermione reached out and held me steady as she led me back to my bed. The short trip had me exhausted. I wasn't healthy enough to feel this much.

Madam Pomfrey heard the commotion and ran over to our end of the ward. She levitated the agonized Draco into a bed and, upon seeing how upset I was, conjured a light purple potion. In one quick movement she was pouring the mixture down my throat and I felt drowsy at once. I drifted away from reality almost immediately, drowning in memories of that afternoon. I had fallen literally and figuratively into a world of pain. It would take time and strength to get back up again.

Sorry it took so long to update! My computer wasn't cooperating with me. Ugh. I hope you guys liked this chapter. It isn't one of my better chapters but I think it's necessary to the plot. It's my first every fanfic and I hope that you guys have liked it so far! Please review, your input is always appreciated and considered for every chapter.

-K