Ginny and Draco were still in bed, letting the Sunday sun bleed through the curtains of their master bedroom. They were comfortably snuggled into each other's arms when a harsh knock echoed throughout their house. Draco immediately bolted up in bed and grabbed for his wand on the nightstand. Ginny gasped but he quickly put his finger over his lips, telling her to bed quiet. He bent down and whispered in her ear.
"Grab your wand but stay in here."
She looked up at him to disagree but he was already out of the bed and slowly making his way into the hall. Draco carefully walked down the passageway, reaching the dinning room area. He went to the front door and looked through the peephole. It was Arthur Weasley. Draco sighed and opened the door.
"ARTHUR! Merlin, you nearly gave Ginny and I a heart attack! Gin! Your dad's here!"
"OH!"
Ginny got out of bed, put on her robe, and made her way out to greet her dad. She gave him a big hug but her excitement dissipated when she saw the solemn expression on her father's face.
"Da? What's with the face?"
He reached into the inside pocket of his robe and pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet.
"I thought you and Draco were going to keep the baby a secret?"
He threw the paper down on the side table next to the door. Ginny reached down and grabbed the paper. Her eye's widened as see saw the mini column on the front page.
BABY BLISS!
In these troubled times there is still hope! Powerful couple Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy are expecting a baby! The happy couple, who still aren't married (GASP!), have recently told friends that they are, in fact, going to have a child together. The two went to Hogwarts together but didn't start dating until after the Wizarding War was over. They meant at a counseling group to deal with their post traumatic issues and helped each other heal (HOW SWEET!) by becoming involved. The couple has been together for almost two years now and sources say they are excited about their growing family. Now all we need are wedding bells! More to come as the story progresses… Rita Skeeter reporting.
Ginny's jaw dropped as she read the article over and over again.
"HOW?!"
She passed the paper to Draco so he could read the shocking story. Ginny was flabbergasted.
"Who would betray me like that?! I specifically told all my friends that they had to keep the news a secret! I told them the dangers involved if it became public! Rita Skeeter that…WITCH."
Draco finished reading the paper and tossed it back on the table. He ran his fingers through his hair and sat down at the dinning room table. Ginny followed. Mr. Weasley refused to sit.
"This was a very careless move you two."
"Dad we didn't go to the Ministry and announce it! This was a slip."
"I don't care how it happened. Now we've got a sticky situation on our hands. Ginny, you aren't safe here anymore."
"What?!"
"Greyback has you on a hit list! He wants you DEAD, Ginny. Now you're at a disadvantage! Your mobility is going to continue to decrease and you can't perform powerful spells without hurting the baby inside of you! He'll come for you Ginny."
"I can't just leave Draco! Besides, where would I go? The Burrow is too crowded now that Angelina and Hermione are there. I'm not leaving here. Draco? You've been silent. What do you think?"
Draco nodded his head.
"This is so messed up."
"Draco…"
He looked up at her and made eye contact. How could they have gotten themselves in this position?
"Ginny, you're not safe anymore."
"Draco…I'm with you…"
"And I have to keep going to work if I'm going to support us and this baby. I can't leave you here alone everyday. That'd just be reckless."
"But I don't want to leave! This is our house! I can't stand to go back to the Burrow. I love everyone there, you know that, but I need my space! And I don't need the constant heckling from the boys-"
"You'll stay here than."
Ginny turned around to look at her father.
"But… 10 minutes ago you said I had to get out-"
"No, you'll stay here…but someone will always be here with you."
"Like a god damn babysitter?!"
"No, a protector. Most likely an Auror. You'll have people here to protect you if Greyback decides to attack."
"DAD!"
"That's the only way that I'll let you stay in this house!"
There was a silence that fell on the room. Mr. Weasley wasn't joking around but Ginny wasn't happy. The three of them thought about the whole situation for a while before Draco finally broke the silence.
"I agree with Arthur."
"Draco…"
"That's it Ginny. Someone has to be here at all times. I don't want to take any chances." He turned to her father. "Arthur, is there anyway that we can have two people here at all times? One outside and one in?"
"DRACO!"
"Absolutely. That'll be fine. Ginny is a top priority case."
"I'm not a bloody case! I'm a person!"
"A PERSON WHO GREYBACK WANTS DAD!"
Ginny stared at her father who now had tears in his eyes. He was sniffling and his cheeks were flushed.
"I've already lost one child because of war. I'm not going to lose another one. You understand that?"
Ginny nodded her head and stood up, wrapping her father in a tight hug.
"Okay Dad…okay. I'll do whatever you say. I'll let people stay here with me. I will."
Mr. Weasley pulled away from the hug and kissed his daughter on the forehead. He gave an acknowledging look to Draco.
"Kingsley and Ron will be here tomorrow at 9 am. You can go to work, as usual. Play nice Ginny."
"With Ron here?"
The old wizard chuckled. "Well, just be nice to Kingsley at least." He smiled. "I love you."
She smiled back at him. "I love you too."
Mr. Weasley shook Draco's hand and the couple walked him to the front door. He opened the door, took one step outside, and twisted into thin air.