Disclaimer: I do not own HP, JK does.
A/N: I just wanted to let everyone know that it means a lot to me that you all are enjoying my story. And to everyone who reviewed….THANK YOU! Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 10
Harry walked nervously to the Day Care department of the Ministry. Opening the door, he smiled as Mariska came running towards him. "Shelley," Harry said lifting his child. "I'm not going to need a babysitter this evening. I have somewhere to go and I'm taking Mariska with me."
Shelley nodded as she began to get all of Mariska's things together. "Here you are," she said handing Harry the baby's bag.
"Thanks," Harry replied as he headed out the door. Harry walked to the front desk in the lobby of the Ministry.
A rather plump balding wizard smiled at him. "Ah Mr. Potter," he said digging through a pile of keys. "You will have car number fifty-six," he said handing Harry the key.
"Thanks Harold," Harry replied taking the key from the old man. "I'll have it back first thing in the morning."
Buckling Mariska in the car, Harry walked to the driver's side and got in. "Ready to go?" he asked, looking at her through the rear view mirror. Mariska giggled as Harry put the car in drive. He didn't remember the Burrow being this far from the Ministry before. Taking in the scenery Harry began to go over what he was going to say to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. As he pulled up in front of the Burrow he took deep breaths to calm himself. Relax Harry; all you have to do is tell the truth. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley will understand. Oh Merlin let them understand. Taking Mariska by the hand he walked up to the front door and knocked.
He smiled as Mrs. Weasley opened the door. "Oh Harry dear, how are you?" she asked pulling him into a hug. "And who might this little one be?" she asked upon noticing the little blonde at his side.
"Hi Mrs. Weasley," he said with a smile. "This is Mariska…my daughter."
Mrs. Weasley looked from Harry to the little girl. "Your daughter?" she asked with a look of confusion.
"That's what I'm here to talk to you about," Harry replied nervously. "Can I come in?"
"Of course," she replied stepping to the side for Harry to enter. Closing the door she joined Harry and the little girl in the living room.
"Is Mr. Weasley here?" Harry asked once she entered the room. "I'd rather only have to do this once."
"Of course, he is in the backyard with the boys," Mrs. Weasley replied.
"Well, they should all join us as well. They have a right to know too," Harry said handing Mariska a cookie from her bag. Harry watched as Mrs. Weasley walked toward the kitchen. Deep breaths Harry slow and steady. Harry's heart began to race as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley returned followed closely by the twins and Bill.
"Molly said you wanted to speak to all of us Harry," Mr. Weasley said looking from Harry to Mariska.
"Yes Mr. Weasley," Harry replied. "I want you all to meet my daughter, Mariska," he said indicating the little girl.
"Your daughter," Fred said looking the little girl over. "If you don't mind my asking how did this happen?"
"After I finished school, I moved into an apartment with a good friend from school, Gabriella Hargitay. One night we had gone out with a group of our friends and we each did our far share of drinking and…." Harry paused when the front door opened and Ginny walked in.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" she yelled.
"Ginny, I…."
"No Harry, don't Ginny me. How dare you come into my house and…."
"Ginny, please let me explain," Harry said rising to his feet.
"Explain what Harry?" Ginny cried throwing her hands in the air. "Explain how you lied to me about having work done on your flat, how you cheated on me with Gabriella, or how you didn't even think it was important to tell me that you're a father? Did I miss anything?" Ginny yelled as tears began to fall from her eyes. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say. I don't ever want to see you again!"
Harry watched as Ginny stormed up the stairs. Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a sorrowful look. "Harry, you didn't cheat on Ginny did you?" she asked.
Harry shook his head. "No, Gabriella moved to London so I could be closer to Mariska. I know I shouldn't have lied to Ginny about the flat, it's just that I didn't know how to tell her," Harry replied running his fingers through his hair nervously. "I didn't know what to do. So, I just said I was having work done." Hot tears began to fall down his cheeks. "I'm sorry," he said wiping at the tears.
Mrs. Weasley pulled Harry into a hug. "I know you are, but you shouldn't be apologizing to us," she said motioning toward the stairs. "It's Ginny that needs to hear all of this."
"She isn't going to listen to me," he said taking a seat on the sofa. "She doesn't even want to look at me."
"I'll go talk to Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said patting Harry on the back. Mrs. Weasley walked to the top of the stairs and knocked softly on Ginny's door. "Ginny honey, let me in."
Opening the door Ginny threw her arms around her mother. "I hate him," she sobbed.
Molly brushed the hair out of Ginny's eyes. "No you don't, if you hated him you wouldn't be this upset."
Ginny pulled away from her mother in horror. "You've taken his side haven't you!" she cried. "You actually bought into his story. How can you be this dense?"
"Ginny, stop it," Molly cried. "Have you even attempted to hear him out?" Ginny shook her head. "Why don't you give him a chance to explain what happened, maybe it wasn't what you thought."
"What would you think if the man you loved had a woman staying at his house?" Ginny asked wiping the tears from her eyes. "He didn't even tell me mum."
"Ginny sometimes we don't always say what needs to be said. Sometimes it is best left alone," Molly replied. "Let me ask you something. If you really believed that he was having work done on his flat, then why were you there in the first place?"
"I went to his office and they said he was at home," Ginny said throwing a pillow across the room. "Oh he was home alright. He was there with that little tart!"
Molly lifted Ginny's face. "Why were you looking for Harry?" she asked softly.
Ginny's eyes filled with tears. "I needed to talk to him," she said through sniffs. "I had to tell him about…." Looking into her mother's eyes she whispered. "I had to tell him about the baby."
"The baby?" Molly asked, her eyes filling with tears. "Ginny, you're pregnant?" Ginny nodded as she buried her face in her mother's shoulder. "Does Harry know this?"
"No, I never told him," Ginny replied, wiping her eyes. Ginny watched as her mother walked to the door. "Where are you going?" Ginny asked.
Ignoring Ginny, Molly yelled down the stairs. "Harry, come up here please."
"Mum, I don't want to talk to him," Ginny said facing the window. "I hate him, I don't want to see him."
"Ginny you have to tell him about the baby," Molly said pulling her close. "If not for him, then do it for this child."
Ginny looked in her mother's eyes. "Ok," she whispered as Harry entered the room.
"Ok, I'm going down stairs to finish dinner," Molly said crossing the room. "I think you two of a lot to talk about," with that she left.
Harry looked around the room in an attempt to clam himself. "Ginny, I want to tell you that…"
"Harry, I'm pregnant," Ginny interrupted.
"You're what?" Harry asked a little confused.
"Pregnant," Ginny said turning to face him. "Yes, it's yours," Ginny said answering the questioning look on his face.
"Ginny, why didn't you tell me?" he asked placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell me about Gabriella or your daughter?" Ginny said pushing his hand away.
"Ginny, I'm so sorry. I just didn't know how to tell you about Mariska. I thought you'd think less of me or something….I was going to tell you when the time was right."
"Really," Ginny said placing her hands on her hips. "And when was that going to be, when she was boarding the Hogwarts Express?" she cried sarcastically. "Or when I had our child….hmmmm when were you going to tell me Harry? And what about Gabriella, what was she doing at your flat?"
"Gabriella is just an old friend from Russia. She and I made a mistake two years ago, but don't you stand there and lecture me on telling the truth!" he hollered back. "What about you? When were you planning on telling me about the baby?" he cried running his hands through his hair. "You made me look like an ass in front of everyone. Ron and Hermione didn't speak to me for months! You should have told me," he said taking a seat on the bed. "I never would have…"
"Called me fat?" Ginny cried. "I hope you feel like a right foul git!"
"They know don't they?" Harry asked. "Ron and Hermione." Ginny nodded. "It all makes sense now," he said burying his face in his hands.
"What does?" Ginny asked.
"When I said, you know, at Mango Rubies. Ron got really mad. He and Hermione left right after you did," he said looking up at Ginny. "I'm so sorry."
Ginny spun around to face the window. "So am I," she said choking back her tears. "I should have told you."
"Can we just start over," Harry asked rising to his feet.
Ginny turned and nodded. "I'd like that," she said wiping at her eyes.
Harry smiled and held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Harry Potter and you are?"
Ginny laughed. "Ginny Weasley," she said shaking Harry's hand.
"I'm pleased to meet you Miss Weasley," Harry said pulling Ginny into a hug. "And I was wondering if maybe you and I could be friends?"
Ginny smiled. "I'd love to be your friend. As long as you don't mind having a fat friend," she said looking into his eyes.
"Whoever told you that you're fat is the dumbest man alive," Harry said pushing the hair out of her eyes. "I happen to think that you're the prettiest girl I've ever laid eyes on."
Ginny blushed. "Would you like to stay for dinner?" she asked.
Harry nodded. "As long as you do me the honor of allowing me to introduce you to my daughter," he said stepping toward the door.
Ginny nodded. "I'd love to meet your daughter."
Holding the door open for Ginny, Harry thought. This is definitely not going into the history books.
A/N: Ok, we have made it. This is the final chapter of The Return. However, I do have some ideas for some more chapters, but if you all don't want anymore done than this is it. Let me know what you all think. If I receive at least 20 reviews in favor of another chapter I'll do it. (Truth be told I'd love to write another chapter so I'll change that to 6) I just want to thank everyone who has stuck with me since the first chapter and I hope that you all have enjoyed my story. "But Noelle, you said that they wouldn't forgive each other that fast!" I know, I just wanted to throw everyone off the scent of the trail. I know evil me…So, press that little button and leave me a review telling me if you want another chapter or not. I have enough ideas for this story to make a least 3 or 4 more, but that is all up to you. Much Love, Noelle C. Malfoy