This is a pretty short chapter but necessary to the story. It's been a busy few weeks, so if I didn't respond to your review, I apologize and thank you for your encouragement! To the reviews I can't PM, thank you for your support as well! I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
: I knew this was a bad idea! Sam growled as he looked out the window from under the curtain. I knew I smelled a trap! There's several Aurors out there, Harry, all with their wands ready.
"Come away from the window, Sam," Harry insisted. "Don't let them see you."
: This is your fault! Sam jumped away from the window and growled at Harry, his white teeth flashing and his fur bristling. Got any bright ideas to get us out of this one?
"I'm sure the floo still works," Harry glanced over at the fireplace. He waved his wand and tested for wards. The floo was heavily warded against him. There really was no way out of this house. The only way was to walk out the front door, but he and Sam were outnumbered for that. Harry ran a frustrated hand through his hair as he tried to come up with something, Sam's irritated snarling not helping in the slightest. At least the fox could still mist away.
"Harry," a quiet voice called to him.
Harry turned and looked at Ginny. She was standing in the dining room wearing a pale blue dress, but she was also barefoot. She looked pale and concerned. Harry wondered if she were about to faint.
"Ginny," Harry walked over to her and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Are you alright? You should sit."
They both sat at the dining table, Sam moving to sit on the floor next to Harry's chair.
"I'm fine, Harry," Ginny insisted, summoning a couple glasses and a pitcher of water. "It's just . . . it's been a long day. All those Aurors outside and . . . they were in here earlier. They left this."
Ginny touched a rolled-up parchment tied with a strip of blue string, but didn't pick it up or look as though she wanted to show it to Harry. Harry eyed it suspiciously and he could hear Sam's nose sniffing madly – though he wasn't sure what the fox was trying to detect. Poison, probably.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Ginny pushed the parchment aside and looked intently at Harry, her eyes straying to Sam for a few seconds and then back at Harry once more. Sam huffed and lied down, figuring that this might take a while, resting his head in between his black paws. Ginny took a deep breath and gave Harry a critical look.
"I want you to be honest with me," Ginny began.
"Ginny," Harry sighed. "I can't . . . I'll try."
Harry decided against what he was going to say when Ginny gave him a sad look. He could try – as best as he could. As long as he didn't reveal the alternate universe, he could try to explain as much as he could.
"Thank you," Ginny said, reaching across the table to pat Harry's hand. "You have a lot of charges against you, you know. People are panicking in the Wizarding world. Everyone thinks you're turning into another Dark wizard."
"I can assure you I'm not."
"Can you? Harry, you're looking at twenty years in Azkaban!"
"What!? For what?"
"For what!? Harry, you brought the dead back to life! That's very dark magic and that alone is ten years!"
"I didn't bring . . ." Harry growled in frustration, he rubbed at his throbbing temples. "I'm not quite sure how to explain Snape's presence, but I didn't bring him back from the dead. I found him."
"That's impossible."
"I know it seems like it is, but that is the truth. Can you believe that?"
Ginny looked down at the wooden tabletop. She looked so conflicted and Harry's heart ached for her, but he couldn't risk telling her everything, even if he trusted her the most. Someone could still legilimancy on her to see their conversation.
"It's not me you'll have to convince," Ginny mumbled.
Harry should have known that that would have been her response. And she was right. He had to convince the several Aurors outside that he had not brought Snape back to life. That would be easier said than done, considering he had no supportive evidence.
"But you do believe me, right?"
"I don't know."
Harry sighed. Perhaps it would be just as hard to convince Ginny after all.
"Well, anyway, that's ten years. You were also brewing an unknown, potentially illegal and dark potion. That's another year. The lab analyzed the contents of the potion, but it isn't anything they have ever seen before. They asked potions masters all over the UK but no one knows what it could possibly be. It was incomplete and there was possible contamination when it was knocked over and spilt on the ground."
"Wonderful. And the other nine years?"
"Harboring a Classification XXXXX animal without ministry consent is three years. That . . . fox thing – what is it? The Aurors told me but I don't remember what they called it."
"He's a kitsune. A magical creature native to Japan. He's friendly, just protective."
"He injured a lot of people. That's your remaining six years – attacking fellow Aurors while escaping with suspect Severus Snape. Using a dangerous animal to attack everyone as well. Several were injured with third degree burns – two with fourth degree! Proudfoot had a concussion, one man is blind, and Ron is missing his leg!"
"I never wanted that to happen. Proudfoot should never have interfered with my task . . ."
"It was Gawain Robards idea to have Proudfoot take over your task. He said you were taking too long and he wanted information on the Snape case as quickly as possible. There's too much panic about dark wizards right now, it had to be done."
"He probably had a lot of persuading from Proudfoot."
"Harry, don't you understand what's going on! You're going to Azkaban for years! Twenty years!"
"You have to help me get out of here, Ginny. The wards around the fireplace are against me, but not you. You can take them down, it'll take me a second to slip by and floo away before the Aurors even realize the wards were tampered with. Why are you shaking your head at me? You have to help me!"
Ginny continued slowly shaking her head, tears welling in her eyes.
"Please, you have to turn yourself in. For me, please! There's a deal, they're offering you. You have to take it – for me – for us!"
"What about Ron and Hermione? Have you talked to them? I'm sure they would help me . . ."
"Ron feels betrayed by you. But he's also concerned for you. He and Hermione are concerned. They both believe you need help – hospitalization, not Azkaban. They are trying to fight the warrant for your arrest as we speak, Hermione mostly, but she's not anywhere near winning. Please, hear this deal and think . . ."
"No! I'm not making deals with anyone! I can't –"
"Harry, it's for the better! It's a perfect deal! If you just . . ."
"Ginny, listen to me . . ."
"No! Listen to me – I'm pregnant!"
The world seemed to freeze, the air around them completely still and silent. Harry stared gaping at Ginny, his eyes straying to her stomach. It was almost as if the word knocked every wisp of air from his lungs, and he struggled to inhale, to exhale, to do anything as the word bounced around inside his skull. Sam had lifted his head up, staring back and forth at Ginny and Harry.
Pregnant?
They were going to have a baby?
And he was going to Azkaban for twenty years?
"I didn't want you to find out like this. But I'm pregnant. We're having a baby."
Harry just continued to stare.
"But you're going to be in Azkaban. And I'm going to raise a baby for twenty years alone. But the Aurors – the Ministry of Magic – they've proposed an offer. You turn yourself in along with Severus Snape and your fox – if you confess to everything – you'll only get three years in Azkaban, and everyone else will deal with the Snape case and taking care of your fox."
Ginny picked up the rolled-up parchment, pulled off the string and unrolled it. She laid it flat on the table, smoothing a hand over it. There were hundreds of tiny words split up into two long paragraphs, then a long line at the end waiting for a signature.
"This is the proposal. You sign this, confessing to everything, saying that you will hand over Snape and the fox and that you agree to the three-year term. It just talks about what you are being charged with and why this deal was created, is all."
Harry glanced down at the parchment, then looked back at Ginny. Sam stood to his feet and sniffed at the parchment, using Harry's chair to lift himself slightly to try and read the tiny print, but found it too difficult. He growled as he dropped down to all fours, watching Harry intently.
"How –" Harry's voice cracked and he swallowed. "How far along are you?"
"Eight weeks."
"Eight weeks," Harry repeated softly.
: Harry! Sam barked angrily.
Ginny jumped at the sudden word as it entered her mind as well. She stared in surprise at the wolf-sized, three-tailed fox, unaware that it had been able to talk.
"What?" Harry snapped back.
: Don't you dare sign that parchment! It's a set up! I know it!
"You don't know anything."
: Trust me, I have more experience than you about bargaining – especially when family is involved. Sam jumped up on the table and snarled at Ginny, his fur bristling once more. And I can tell you this: this whole situation – this deal – is bait. Ginny, herself, is bait.
Ginny stared wide-eyed at the fox, tears in her eyes, her entire body stiff. She glanced at Harry and back at Sam, her mouth opening and closing as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the right words. She looked at Harry and simply shook her head slowly at him.
"No, Harry. Don't believe that, I'd never do that to you – I love you."
"Sam!" Harry shoved the fox off the table and away from Ginny. Sam landed on all fours indignantly and he snarled at Harry. "Lay off. You don't know Ginny like I do. She wouldn't."
"Please, Harry," Ginny encouraged. "Sign the parchment. Take the deal. Think of it, the baby. He or she will only be – what, two – three – and he'll get to know his dad. He'll get to be with his dad. Twenty years, Harry. He'll be an adult, by then. And he'll have grown up not knowing how wonderful his father was. Hating you because you were never there for him. You were locked away for whatever selfish reasons, not even thinking about his welfare."
"No," Harry shook his head, leaning across the table and grasping Ginny's slender fingers in his hands. "No, I wouldn't do that to our baby. Is – is it a boy?"
"I don't know," Ginny smiled softly. "It's a little early for that."
"Why didn't you tell me? Before, I mean."
"I wanted to. I wanted the right time but you were so sad all the time and then all . . . well, this happened."
"I'm okay, now. I can't believe it. I'm a dad."
Harry smiled at Ginny and Ginny smiled back, nodding her head slowly as a single tear trailed down her face.
: A word with you, Sam growled, biting down on Harry's wrist and dragging him away from the table.
"Ow!" Harry exclaimed.
Sam released him once they were a few feet away.
"Quit doing that! It's not like you had to drag me away, you can choose if she hears you or not."
: Yes, but I wanted your complete attention – not half just because you were too busy smiling and giggling at her. Have you forgotten that there are several Aurors out there waiting to arrest you?
"Of course not! They're promising a deal – weren't you listening? Three years in Azkaban and I'll be free. And I'll have my baby to take care of and get to know."
: Will you? It's a setup, Harry. And she's the bait. Sam nodded towards Ginny.
"Sam, I'm going to be a father, now! I can't just . . . I need to be here for Ginny and the baby, now. They'll need me."
: Behind bars? Do you really think that those Aurors are going to keep their end of the deal? If there even is one! You're being played!
"You don't know that!"
: Oh, I'm all too aware of how this works.
"I forgot to mention," Ginny called over to them, noticing how tense the air was surrounding the two. "Your fox, he won't be harmed. They told me they're going to transport him back to Japan and release him back into the wild – on a reserve where magizoologists will tend to him."
"See?" Harry smiled. "You'll be taken care of. You'll be back in Japan on a reserve where you can go find your sister . . ."
: You don't get it, do you!? Sam began barking angrily. I have no sister here! She's dead! Killed years ago, because I was never there! I was never adopted here, damn it!
Harry felt terrible. How could he have forgotten that Sam had been forced to grow up alone as a child – or a kit – abandoned by his own parents who were pursued and killed by hunters. Sam was never found by the fox that took him in in the alternate universe.
: You and Severus are all I have left, said Sam in a soft voice, lowering his head and dropping his ears, his eyes closing. And I never even knew you here either. Neither of you.
"We know you now, Sam," Harry said, kneeling to Sam's level and petting the fox's head. "And I promise, I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
: Behind bars? Sam gave Harry a sad puppy-dog look, his voice full of disbelief.
"I know Ginny wouldn't agree to something without making sure it wasn't a real deal. She cares about me and she wouldn't betray me. It's only three years if I take the deal. You'll be fine and I'll come looking for you."
: I wish I could believe you. But I still think it's a trap. And you're falling right for it.
"Maybe," Harry sighed. "I haven't really decided yet. But this baby will need me. I can't just widow Ginny."
: You will if you take this deal. Have you forgotten our shimmering problem? We will disappear without Severus's potion – and who knows how long that potion will even have effect.
Harry had forgotten about the shimmering, considering he hadn't had any problems since taking the potion. Sam had a good point. But the wishing potion was still a process in the making.
"I can always wish to stay, Sam," Harry said.
: And doom your father to a likely death.
Harry's eyes widened. He hadn't really considered what the Aurors would do to Severus if he turned him in. The man had "been brought back from the dead" in the world's eyes. And yes, while semi-true, it would be immoral to just kill the man again – wouldn't it? But Harry wouldn't put it past the Ministry to do just that. Especially with Proudfoot's insistence.
Harry wasn't sure what to do anymore. A baby was on the way into the world, but lives were also at risk. Severus's life, specifically.
And then again, what if Sam was right? What if there was no deal? What if Ginny had been bait? But why would Ginny betray him so? He'd be facing twenty years if he signed the papers or not.
Harry grabbed at his hair in frustration.
What was he going to do?
I'm sorry it's short, but it was all I needed for this chapter. Tell me your thoughts!