Sunday 28th December, 2002.

Still smarting from the loss, they each made their way down the stands, Sirius and Sharon farewelling them and heading down first. Molly and Arthur followed them, while Ron and Hermione lingered behind to accompany Ginny down the many flights, since she didn't want a Levitation charm for her comfort.

"I'll do anything to help bring on labour," she insisted, reluctantly allowing Hermione to loop their arms together as she hobbled down the stairs. "Anything. Walking, stairs, sex, chili, curry, you name it!"

"Castor oil?"

"No that's disgusting."

"A myth any way, no scientific evidence or trials. You poor thing, it must be awful."

"It is," Ginny moaned, looking at the back of Ron's head who was trying not to listen to them. "I feel like everything is going to fall out between my legs, my skin is so itchy...basically it's just a big whinge fest to get Harry to do things for me."

"Like rubbing your ankles?"

"Bugger that," Ginny said. "I need to get shagged again!"

"Ginny!" Ron exclaimed, his face bright red as he whirled around.

"It's true," she laughed. "Sex is thought to bring on labour."

"I don't care," he moaned, speeding up and leaving them behind. "I don't want to hear about it."

"There's a lot of medial support for the theory," Hermione tried to explain. "It's actually thought that climax can stimulate the uterus into early contractions, and increases the levels of oxytocin which is required for the contractions, and thirdly semen-"

"No! No!" Ron cried in disgust, covering his ears. "That's my sister, 'Mione. Do not want to know!"

"You're so juvenile, Ron! This will be us one day."

"And today, it's my sister!"

"Is that all true?" Ginny asked curiously. "I was just using an old wives tale as an excuse. I can't get enough of Harry at the moment. Poor guy's sick of me."

They laughed loudly as Ron took off even faster, calling out only to warn him about not falling down the stairs. Taking their time and chatting idly, they slowly made their way down to the grounds and into the brilliant midday sun, which was so unusual for January. Despite this, the cold wind whipped their hair into messy tresses and bit harshly at their cheeks, making Ginny shiver and readjust her cloak.

"So, are you two trying, are you?" Ginny asked very quietly, seeing Ron well ahead of them. "I couldn't help but notice that major hint you dropped."

Hermione nodded, smiling at Ginny with what seemed like a great amount of strength. "Well, not anymore actually."

"Not anymore? You mean you're-"

"No," Hermione rushed to say. "I'm not, actually. Not for lack of trying though, and there's been a lot of trying. But, we're taking a break from trying to conceive at the moment."

"Why?" Ginny asked in concern, the two of them coming to the fence line that boarded off the pitch. They could see Harry and Teddy on the field, talking to officials and their team.

"Hmm, it's quite a rough blow every month, especially for Ron. He was getting quite down about it all...and I admit, I did treat him a little like a stud, especially with the schedule and the diary and the ovulation charts...and then there was the diet we went on..."

"Wow," Ginny said in awe, though not at all surprised by Hermione's attempt to plan and control every stage of conception.

"Yeah, wow. So we're not trying at the moment, but we're not going out of our way to prevent it."

"I get it. Oh, and I've been such a horrid wench about it all, meanwhile you two are trying," Ginny apologised. "It's really not as bad as I make it out to be...it's just a very long time...a very long time."

Hermione laughed, hugging her tightly with one arm. "It's okay, and it's a relief that you're doing it all first. I like the girls and all, but I can't really go to Fleur, or Ange or Penny about anything like this, can I? They're so good at being mums, I can't ask them about something like this.

"I know," Ginny sighed.

"Do you ever think you're going to be a terrible Mum?" Hermione asked. "Even though you already are a Mum, of course."

"Every day," she admitted. "But then I look at that spectacle over there, and I feel much better."

She pointed towards Teddy, who was now sporting yellow and black hair again, sitting on the shoulders of the Wasps' Seeker. He was smiling and cheering unabashedly, proudly holding a Wasps flag while wearing his Arrows jersey.

"Turn coat," Hermione said in jest. "I'm told our children will be Cannons fans, that's not negotiable. Come on, I'll walk you over there before I leave."

Passing through security, they walked out onto the field where they could be seen by Harry, and they stood there waiting patiently. He was good naturedly speaking to a few officials and a reporter, humbly holding his new Player of the Match medal, which Ginny would make sure had prime position alongside the team photo from the year they had won the league. There were dozens and dozens of people running around them, and it was a little hard to keep track of him, her only point of reference being Teddy who was still on the shoulders of the Wasps Seeker. Wherever Teddy was, Harry would be close by. Without warning, someone large and heavy bumped into Ginny, and she fell against Hermione who caught her as the unknown person hung on.

"I'm sorry miss!" the tall wizard said hurriedly, helping Ginny straighten up. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No, it's okay," she said in shock, catching her breath as she instinctively placed her hands over her belly. Though not threatening, the wizard who had bumped into her made Ginny's heart race uncomfortably, his dark blue eyes boring into her as he held onto her arm. They stood there awkwardly, Ginny leaning away with Hermione on her other side, waiting for the wizard to let go of her arm.

"Sir? You need to step away," another tall bulking wizard said, suddenly appearing in front of Ginny. His voice was low and threatening, and Ginny recognised him as one of the security guards Harry had hired to escort her when she was not at home. What had first seemed like a nuisance had again and again proven to be very handy.

"Oh, yes! Of course, sorry!" the wizard hastened to reply, releasing Ginny's arm and patting her on the shoulder. "Sorry about that...it's been a long morning."

"Ah huh," Ginny said politely, breathing a sigh of relief when the wizard quickly took off.

"Are you alright, Mrs Potter?" the guard asked her in concern.

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you," she said gratefully, looking past him as he checked on Hermione. Harry was making his way over, and he looked furious.

"What was he doing to you?" he asked sharply, coming to her side and looking behind her.

"Nothing, he just bumped into us," she explained, following his gaze. He was watching the wizard who had bumped into her. "Do you know him?"

Harry nodded slowly, thanking the guard who made a subtle disappearance back into discreetly protecting her. "He's the gym instructor who was on duty this morning. He was asking about you, I didn't like it."

"Asking about me? That's not entirely unusual, is it?"

"Don't worry about it," he told her, greeting Hermione with a quick hug and a kiss. "Thanks for coming, sorry we didn't have a win for you."

"That's alright," Hermione smiled, waving to Teddy before setting off. "Should I pick Teddy up tonight?"

"No it's okay," Harry said, glancing to Ginny. "I'll get him ready for bed and bring him by about six o'clock."

"Okay," she agreed. "But we're staying up past our bedtime, the Ninja Turtles are on the telly tonight."

"He'll love that, thanks," Ginny smiled, putting her arm around Harry as they turned away. As she expected, his skin was hot to the touch, and he barely felt the cold. "Sorry you lost today."

"Not as sorry as our captain is," he shrugged, kissing the top of her head as they walked. "Are you really okay? What did that guy say to you?"

"Nothing, really," she shrugged, smiling and waving to a few people she recognised. "He apologised, and asked if I was okay."

"Well why did security have to pull him off you?"

She sighed, knowing he was only concerned about her well being. The trial was tomorrow, and now that the Quidditch match was out of the way, this was currently his main concern. There was still time for the wrong type of people to try and hurt them before tomorrow.

"It was nothing, really. He just bumped into me, that's it."

"Okay," he said, dropping the subject as he skimmed his hand down the front of her belly. "Do you want me to take you home?"

"No, we'll fly home ourselves, but you could walk me to the car if you like."

"It's okay, I'll take you home," he insisted, watching Teddy and wondering how they were going to pry him away from his two favourite teams.

"Harry," she said very patiently. "Get changed, and go to the Ministry. The sooner you get that over with, the sooner you can come home and get some sleep. Has anyone been kind enough to tell you how horrible you look? Or how filthy your uniform is?"

"Only my loving wife," he teased, releasing her from his embrace. "I'll get Teddy, and I'll walk you to the car, okay?"

"Deal."

Surprisingly, it only took a small combination of begging, threats and bribery to bring Teddy down off the Seeker's shoulders. By the time they made it back to the car Teddy had negotiated the terms of hanging a Wasps poster in his bedroom, to accompany his new yellow cap of course, and in his usual demeanour he was talking non-stop.

"Ludo Bagman was a Beater for the Wasps you know," he informed Harry when they finally reached the car, which had been parked far away from the stadium. "He was the best! Not even Kirk or Larry are as good as him now."

"You're on first name terms with the Wasps Beaters?" Harry asked in astonishment, opening the car door and helping him in.

"Well, yeah," he replied, frowning at Harry. "Larry says I can be their mascot. They're my favou-no, second favourite team."

"Right," Harry smiled, buckling him up and giving him a kiss.

"Dad? For my birthday, can I have a Wasps membership for next season? Please, oh please Dad?"

"Membership for the Wasps?" Harry asked, pretending to be hurt. "But they smell!"

"No they don't!"

"Yes they do! Arrows win, Wasps in the bin!"

"No, Arrows in the bin!"

"That's it, you're out of my will," Harry teased, closing the door and coming around to where Ginny was waiting. "Are you sure you don't want me to take you home?"

"We'll be fine," she smiled, kissing him sweetly. "We're just going to hang out, maybe have a nap. Take your time, alright?"

"Alright," he agreed, pulling her into his embrace despite the state of his uniform. They kissed again, lingering for a moment. "Has Ted been good while I've been gone?"

"Mmm, mostly good," she admitted, tracing her fingers along the stubble on his jaw. "He's a demon. Just not listening, a little bit of back chat, nothing out of the ordinary."

Nodding, he kissed her one more time before opening her door, leaving her to fumble about adjusting the seat as he strode back around to Teddy, opening his door and whispering into his ear. Getting the seat right and wedging herself in front of the steering wheel, she made a few more adjustments with her wand as she watched Harry in the rear view mirror, still whispering something to Teddy.

"Okay, Dad. I will," he promised very seriously.

"Bye mate, love you," Harry said, kissing his cheek and closing the door again. "Gin? Call me when you get home, okay?"

"I will," she agreed, starting the car as he began to walk away. Remembering something, she called out and brought him back over. When he came back to the window, she removed his wedding ring from her thumb and held it out to him. "Here."

"Thanks," he said, slipping it back on to his finger after she had looked after it during the game. "I'll be a few more hours."

"I know."

Taking one last moment, she grabbed the collar of his robes and pulled his face through the window, kissing him deeply as Teddy turned up his nose with a giggle. Harry smelled of sweat, mud and leather, an after Quidditch smell that was truly intoxicating, and so she reminded him painfully of what he was sure to get that evening.

"Just a taste for tonight," she smirked against his lips, kissing him one last time before pushing him back out the window.

"Again?" he asked in mock dismay, but unable to hide the slight stagger he now had. "Woman, you're gonna kill me."

Before she could retort, he apparated back to the pitch, leaving Ginny to touch her lips lightly before carefully studying the gear stick. Driving carefully, she turned on the Play School cd for Teddy, and together they sang along to pass the time as she drove a little way, finally taking into flight when the Muggle road seemed empty enough to risk it. What she wouldn't give to be able to apparate again.

The trip home took a little over an hour, and by the time they got home Teddy was fast asleep as she expected, still exhausted from his late night before. She couldn't help but keep looking back at him as she flew, one of the rare times anyone got to see his true appearance. It had taken them quite some time to realise it, but Teddy most often took on similar qualities to theirs, unconsciously mimicking their appearance, and it extended to more than hair. Now however, in his sleep, Teddy was all Tonks. His hair was bright blonde and a little too long around his ears, while his face was heart shaped rather than thin like Harry's. When he would open his eyes, Ginny knew they would be dark brown, just like Remus'.

The quiet was peaceful, and she was almost regretful when the car touched down a few miles out of Tetbury where they lived. Driving through the small village she briefly considered stopping in at the bakery for a deliciously naughty cream bun, which the baby was currently demanding. However she couldn't bear the thought of getting out of the car more than once, and so she continued heading down the road that would take them to their property out of town. Another dusting of snow had fallen since she had left that morning, leaving the driveway slippery and, with her limited driving experience, difficult to navigate. As soon as they rounded the trees and the house came into view Ginny slammed on the brakes in fright, seeing Tank and Vlad come racing out to greet her.

The car skidded frighteningly, but stopped well before she came close to the large oak tree outside her office, but what frightened her most were the pets. Tank was barking ferociously, his teeth bared as he jumped up at the window, scratching at the glass with his claws. In the back seat Teddy awoke with a start, screaming at the vicious sounds Tank made. Ginny was frozen momentarily. Tank was an excellent guard dog, anyone he didn't know with confidence was greeted with suspicion and a low growl, but he had never shown outright aggression, especially not to her. Turning around in her seat, she tried to reassure Teddy who was still crying before rolling down the window a little.

"No!" she shouted, pointing her finger directly at Tank. "No! Down!"

With a low whine Tank jumped back, cowering a few feet away with his tail between his legs. Drawing her wand, she opened the door very slowly and stepped out, watching in confusion as Tank began to relax.

"Stay," she said firmly, seeing him step towards her. Vlad stood to her right, his fur raised and a low growl still in his throat. However he too softened when she spoke to him.

Taking a deep breath, she crouched down as best she could and held out the back of her hand, offering it to Tank. He came over immediately, still cowering with his tail between his legs, and he sniffed her hand and then licked it.

"What's wrong, boy?" she asked in concern. "What's got you spooked?"

Tank whined again, darting away from her and going around to Teddy's door. Following him, she brushed him back before cautiously opening the door, helping Teddy unbuckle his seat belt.

"It's alright, Teddy Bear," she said calmly, brushing the tears off his cheeks as he began to quiet. "We frightened Tank, that's all."

"Why was he so mean?" he sniffed, reaching for her and asking that she carry him.

Doing her best, she swung him onto her hip and closed the door, trying not to trip over Tank and Vlad who were following her anxiously. "He was frightened, that's all," she explained. "He's alright now, he knows it's us."

Walking slowly, she lugged Teddy into the house where he allowed her to set him down, though he whinged a little when Tank came and sniffed him. Taking a few moments to settle everyone down, they sat at the foot of the stairs and allowed Tank and Vlad to relax, petting them kindly as Teddy too began to settle. She regarded Tank intently, his head resting on Teddy's lap as he whined, and she carefully ran her hand down his torso and legs, wondering if he had been hurt by something. He seemed perfectly fine, with no evidence on either pet that they had been harmed, no reasonable explanation as to why they would suddenly be so aggressive. They had been a little off colour that morning as well, barking incessantly at nothing in the back yard.

With a great sigh, Ginny got to her feet and summoned their belongings from the car, placing them on the island bench in the kitchen before picking up the telephone Harry had installed in lieu of the floo connection they ought to have. Having memorized it, she dialled his mobile phone number and carefully put it to her ear, fairly certain she had it the right way around. Watching Teddy come into the kitchen, she frowned as both pets followed his every move, not that it seemed to bother him anymore.

"Hey, Harry, we're home," she recited when she received his message bank. "I know you're busy so don't worry about calling me back. See you soon."

Taking the phone away from her ear, she swore quietly as she tried to distinguish which button she needed to press now, muttering to herself until she finally got it right. She would be so relieved when this trial was over, when they could go back to having a normal bank account and receiving normal owl post, to when she was not known as her Muggle alias Karen Chester, but as Ginny Potter. Even after six months of marriage, she still got a little kick every time she got to use her full name, not that it was often anymore.

"Lunch, Teddy Bear?"

"Yep," he said cheerfully, laughing at Tank who was still following him.

"Pardon, what was that?"

"Yes, please Mum."

"What would you like?" she asked, knowing exactly what he was going to say.

"Toasted sandwich!" he requested. "With ham and mayo."

"Sicko," she teased. "Alright, get some bread. I'll help you make it."

Setting about making some lunch, she watched both Tank and Vlad very carefully, concerned by their strange behaviour. While Tank sat right beside Teddy's stool in the kitchen, Vlad wandered around with his hackles raised, still making a low sound in his throat. In the back of her mind, she felt that something wasn't quite right, but she put it down to Harry's continued absence. The house felt strange even to her when he wasn't home.

With lunch prepared, she sat down across from Teddy and began to eat, stopping only when she heard Pigwidgeon tapping at the kitchen window. He carried a copy of the Daily Prophet Hermione had sent over, the only way to get their subscription without giving out their new location. Unburdening Pig of his too heavy package, she tossed him a few Owl treats and left the window open for him, allowing him a rest as she opened the Prophet to the front page. She flinched when she saw the picture of Harry on the front, knowing he was going to be pissed off. Maybe she could hide it from him.

It had obviously been taken early that morning, when he had left home and arrived at the Quidditch pitch ahead of schedule. Looking at Harry's sullen and exhausted scowl, she knew that the photographer who had snapped this had been well paid for his efforts. Turning to the article, she read a few paragraphs before turning to the cross word at the back, not wanting to read any more rubbish about Harry and his supposedly strained marriage and doubt about the trial. The Prophet had become just as bad as the gossip magazines now, worse even.

"Mum?" Teddy said quietly.

"Hmmm," she said, pondering five down. Third rarest ingredient in the Draught of Living Death (4-4)

"I saw my Dad today."

"I know," she said patiently, filling in the puzzle. N-E-W-T-O-V-U-M.

"Did you see him?"

"Of course I did mate," she said, looking up curiously. "That's why we went to the Quidditch match today."

"He still didn't talk to me...I wish he would," Teddy continued, looking absently at his plate.

"Who didn't talk to you?" she asked now, increasingly confused. "Daddy didn't talk to you?"

Now Teddy frowned at her, his mouth full of bread gaping at her before he understood and began to swallow. "No, silly, not Dad...my other Dad."

"Oh," she said very quietly, unsure of what to say. "Your Daddy Remus?"

"Yeah," he said very simply, taking another bite of his lunch.

Ginny sat there quietly, trying to think of what to say. This wasn't the first time Teddy had told them he had seen Remus...he had said it half a dozen times in the last few months. Harry normally dealt with the questions and queries about Remus and Tonks, he was better at explaining the war without frightening Teddy. He had put Teddy's 'sightings' down to curiosity, down to the fact that he had been asking about them more and more now that he saw Harry and Ginny becoming parents. Everyone around them they had told agreed it was probably quite normal.

"Where did you see Daddy Remus?" she asked quite casually, looking down at the crossword but hanging on to Teddy's every word.

"At the Quidditch."

"When at the Quidditch?"

"On Latham's shoulders."

"Latham the Seeker?"

"Yeah."

"Oh, okay," she murmured, trying to picture the scene. "What did Daddy Remus do?"

Perhaps she had been a little eager with her questions, for Teddy looked up at her with suspicion in his eyes, as though suspecting that she didn't believe him.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she said kindly. "But you can if you do want to. You can tell Mummy and Daddy anything...we won't laugh or think you're silly."

"I know," he shrugged. "He just waved to me. That's all he does."

She nodded now, relieved he was still talking. "Do you ever see your Mummy Dora?"

He shrugged again. "No."

Leaving the conversation at that, Ginny turned back to the crossword and finished her lunch, watching Teddy out of the corner of her eye. He seemed quite happy and content, despite the fact that he believed he saw his dead father. It didn't seem to bother him though, any of the times actually, and so Ginny stopped worrying about it, only reminding herself to mention it to Harry later on. Finishing her lunch she wearily got out of her seat and took it to the sink, charming the sponge to clean and dry it for her.

Merlin she felt domestic.

There was a soft but hurried scurry of claws and paws across the oak floor boards, and Ginny looked in time to see Tank and Vlad go racing outside, passing through the laundry door as though it were thin air. Watching through the kitchen window, she followed their path to the back yard where they began barking aggressively, making Ginny's heart pound. Glancing at Teddy who was still engrossed in his lunch, she rushed out into the living room to get a better view, instinctively drawing her wand as she did so.

Their back yard was bordered by a low lying fence, large enough to keep Teddy and Victoire contained close by the house when they were playing outside. Harry and Ron had built the fence rather hastily when they had moved in, fearing that Teddy would find himself lost in the acres that they now called their land. Tank and Vlad had cleared the fence and were in the trees behind, barking and howling wildly at what appeared to be nothing. Bracing herself for the cold, Ginny opened the back door and whistled loudly, summoning both pets back immediately.

"Get inside," she said sternly, clapping her hands when they both stopped halfway back and tried to turn around. "Inside now!"

As they raced back inside Ginny shook her head at them, not wanting to curse them under her breath lest Vlad understand what she meant. Following them as they went back into the kitchen to sit by Teddy, she looked at his plate of crusts critically.

"That's not finished," she said, raising her eyebrows.

"I don't want anymore."

"That's all there is until dinner. No afternoon tea, no snacks or drinks. Water only until dinner time, unless you eat your crusts."

He whinged at this, turning up his nose and looking down at his plate. "I don't want them..."

"Okay, that's fine. But nothing else until dinner," she reminded him, giving Tank a quick pet. He had begun whinging again, chasing his tail on the spot before nuzzling Teddy's knee.

"I'll eat one," Teddy bargained.

"Four."

"Two."

"You can have four pieces, because you're four years old, okay?"

His face lit up. This tactic worked every time, and was progressively going to work in their favour as he grew up. "Okay, I'll have four."

"Good boy."

"Hey wait...that's all of them...I don't want all of them!"

"You said four," she reminded him kindly. "If you don't eat four pieces, then you can't be four. You'll have to go back to being three."

She was certain he mumbled something in disagreement, but it was drowned out by Tank and Vlad, who took off again with loud ear splitting barks, nearly falling over themselves to get outside again. Sighing loudly, she wandered back into the living room and opened the French doors, stepping outside and intent on calling them back. Stepping out into the cold, Ginny hesitated for a moment, listening to the loud barks and growls of her two pets. They sounded menacing, even from his distance, and very suddenly she began to feel uneasy. Something had been bothering them all day, even that morning from the moment Harry had left.

Whistling loudly she waited for them to come back, but she only caught a brief glimpse of Vlad as he darted along the other side of the fence, jumping at something and growling.

"Homenium Revealio."

Casting the charm she should have used when she came home, Ginny raised her wand high in the air, looking for any signs that someone or something could be detected. Through the trees she could now see the two bright outlines of Tank and Vlad, who were still racing around out of sight, apparently barking at nothing. There was clearly no one out there. Whistling again, Ginny called out to them a few times, and they finally came racing back to her, sensing her nervousness.

"Stay inside," she said loudly, slamming the door closed as they slipped past her. Watching through the glass, she waited for some indication of what was bothering them, but like before there was nothing.

Standing there for a moment, she squirmed a little and rubbed a spot low on her belly where she felt a familiar cramping sensation. Taking a slow breath she waited until it passed, coming to a quick decision and setting off for the kitchen. She didn't like feeling nervous in her own home, but she was not going to feel any better until Harry returned. He was too busy to be bothered by her silly worries at the moment, even though she knew he would return straight away to reassure her. He'd do whatever he had to to make their family safe, a commitment which he had routinely proven over the years.

For now though, she would go and visit her Mum. She and her Dad would both be at home today, pottering around with the odd jobs and chores that came with maintaining a house and land of their size. Being around other people would help her feel better, and soon enough she'd forget about Tank and Vlad's strange behaviour. When Harry returned, she'd laugh and brush it all off, not letting him know how silly she had become in his absence.

"Finished?" she said to Teddy, who was still slowly chewing on his first crust.

He looked at her wide eyed, not believing that she was giving him an out. Swallowing quickly, he nodded. "Yep...can I still have something later?"

"Sure mate," she agreed, grabbing the crusts and throwing them in the bin. Leaving the plate on the bench to deal with later she closed the open window and then checked the lock on the laundry door. Seeing her going to the door, Tank barked at her loudly, lowering his stance and raising his hackles.

"Alright!" she cursed, feeling nervous again. The sooner she and Teddy got out of there the better. "Ted? We're going to see Nana for a little while, go and get the painting you made for her."

"Yes!" he cried, pumping his fists in the air and taking off at a run. Tank and Vlad raced after him, staying close by.

Collecting her handbag and car keys, Ginny looked around for a quill and piece of parchment on which she would leave Harry a note. Beginning to scrawl his name she looked up, seeing a shadow pass the kitchen window. Standing there frozen and hunched over the kitchen bench she looked out the window, waiting for something else to pass by. She was sure she had seen something. Holding her wand she straightened up and walked straight over to the window, looking outside and seeing nothing as usual.

Abandoning the note, she summoned the telephone from the holder and went back to the fridge, checking Harry's phone number and preparing to dial it. Her finger was poised to dial just as the phone began to ring, the shrill sound making Ginny drop it in fright. It clattered to the floor loudly, and her heart raced with a mixture of surprise and nerves, her hands shaking as she hung onto the bench before bending down to pick it up.

"Hello?" she said, her voice shakier than she liked.

"Hello?" someone said faintly. "Hellooo? Ginny?"

"Janet?" she laughed, brushing her hair off her face and shaking her head. "Janet, it's me."

"Ginny? The phone's upside down again! Turn it around!"

"Wh-Oh," she muttered, turning the phone up the other way and putting it back to her ear. "Janet?"

"Ginny," her work colleague Janet sighed, sounding relieved to have caught her. "Thank Merlin, I really need your help."

Clearing her throat, Ginny nodded to herself and filled a glass of water, taking a long sip before she answered. "What's wrong?"

"It's Mariah," Janet sighed down the telephone, sounding very down. "I'm so sorry, I know you've only been on maternity leave for a week, but something's wrong with her."

"Mariah the Jarvey, or Mariah the Krup?"

"The Jarvey."

"Oh," Ginny said, not liking where this conversation was going. Last she had seen, Mariah the Jarvey had been pregnant and nesting. "What's wrong?"

"You know how she was pregnant?"

"Yes," she said patiently, looking back out the window again, just in case.

"Well...she's not now. I'm pretty sure she's delivered, but I can't find the Kits anywhere."

"What does her nest look like?" she asked next, collecting her handbag and keys. Listening distractedly, she slowly walked into the front room and looked up the stairs to the first floor, waiting for Teddy to reappear with his painting.

"Pretty neat, just like always. It's just that now I'm starting to think that it was just a phantom pregnancy, like you know what Madonna had last season?"

"I wasn't in the program when the Jarveys were last in heat," she reminded Janet. "Hold on for a sec...Teddy? Hurry up mate, we need to go."

"Okay," he called out.

"What are you doing up there?" she called next, not really wanting to go all the way upstairs to hurry him up.

"I'm looking for Tales of Beedle the Bard...Grandpa promised he'd read the next chapter."

"Well hurry up! Sorry Janet. Give me one minute to have a look at my notes, I'm pretty certain Mariah was pregnant."

Going into her office directly opposite the stairs, Ginny hastily opened her filing cabinet and shuffled through the folders, finding the right one and hauling it up onto the desk.

"So how are you?" Janet asked inquisitively. "You're still pregnant I assume?"

"Still pregnant."

"I've never seen a human birth," Janet mused. "I've always wondered if it's very different to the ones we see here. Do you have to be licensed to deliver a human baby?"

"I'm not sure," Ginny replied, finding her notes on Mariah the Jarvey and scanning them. "Which Hob did we breed Mariah with? Elton John right?"

"That's right...I'd love to hear them collaborate in real life."

"Okay Janet, back on track here," she said impatiently, pinching the bridge of her nose as she tried to think. "Mariah hasn't had a litter before, it's not unheard of for a Jill to ea-"

"No, don't even say it...we've worked so hard to keep these Jarveys going."

"Was she separate from the others?"

"Yes."

"You haven't moved her in the last few days? Changed her food? Loud noises? The Blast Ended Skrewts didn't get loose again did they?"

"No, no, no and no."

"If she's not pregnant any more then she probably ate them," Ginny said, trying to be kind. She too worked hard to bring up the population numbers of this rare breed of Jarvey, whose outstanding feature was repeating rude musical lyrics they had heard. "My notes said she was definitely pregnant."

"Definitely pregnant?"

"I examined her myself," she said, consulting her notes. "My last entry is two weeks ago, foetal heart beats and movements, estimation of three Kits."

"But the nest was clean," Janet moaned.

Ginny sighed. She really didn't have time to listen to Janet moan and cry over a failed Jarvey pregnancy.

"Comb through the entire enclosure," she said, placating her co-worker. "But I'm telling you, unless she's hidden them in a different nest, she ate them. It's a fact of life, it's nature and it happens. Write up a report and focus on your other Jarveys. What about Celine? Aretha?

"Aretha's still holding on, and Celine delivered yesterday...we've named them Snoop Dog and Eminem...Eminem's already swearing."

"Bless him. Congratulations Janet. Check Mariah's enclosure, and then focus on Snoop and Eminem."

"Yeah, okay" Janet sighed, clearly displeased by Ginny's help. "Can I call you again later? After I've looked around?...I just don't know what to do next."

"Sure," Ginny said, sinking down into her office chair, already dreading the phone call. If she had her way, she and Harry would be having a pity shag that night. "I don't know where I'll be though, I'm about to head out."

"Alright...well… I'll take some pictures of Snoop and Eminem for you."

"Okay, bye," she said, hanging up the phone before Janet could say something else.

Dropping the phone onto her desk, Ginny knew she had been less than helpful, rude even, to her colleague, but she simply didn't have the time. Staying where she was for a moment she pressed hard on her belly, relieving another cramp that was taking hold. She could feel the baby shifting a little, getting comfortable again at the expense of her ribs, and she reminded herself that the Healer was coming to visit tomorrow afternoon, once the trial was over. If she was lucky, she'd be induced tomorrow afternoon.

The prospect of getting up from her chair was exhausting to even think about, and it took all her strength to even reach out and take hold of the desk as an anchor. Even that simple movement left her out of breath, and she stayed in that position shaking her head, listening to Teddy thumping around upstairs. He was making karate yells and cries, and Ginny could just picture him jumping around and attacking his stuffed animals, any thought of finding his painting for Nana gone.

Remembering the open file before her, she straightened up the parchment and closed the file, pushing her wheeled chair across to the filing cabinet. As she bent forward to file it away she took a deep breath and sighed, feeling relief from the pain in her back. Closing her eyes for a moment, she reminded herself that they were leaving, that they were visiting the Burrow until Harry was finished. Listening to the silent house, Ginny felt rather foolish. Perhaps it had been the sobering conversation with Janet, but she suddenly felt much better about being at home, more at ease with her surroundings. Reluctantly getting up she looked out the office window to the front, looking past the car and through the snow in search of Harry. Had he come home before going to the interview? Was that why she suddenly felt better?

Tank began to bark again, and for a moment Ginny smiled, thinking that Harry was indeed home. With a great sigh she sat back down in her office chair, waiting for Tank and Vlad to come racing down the stairs to greet him, to jump all over him and assess that he had really come home. A split second later everything changed, a horrible sense of panic overtaking her as she listened to the pitch of Tank's barking change. There was a loud yell from upstairs, and she didn't need to listen any longer to know that Tank had attacked, the vicious growls and his snapping jaws echoing right down to the ground floor.

Her first thought being for Teddy, Ginny flew to her feet and ran, her overburdened body carrying her faster than it had in months. There was more yelling and a loud scream, but she didn't even have time to realise that it wasn't Teddy, whose voice she would recognise anywhere, but still her thoughts were of him as she raced up the stairs, drawing her wand.

"Ted!" she cried, reaching the first floor and bolting towards his bedroom. Why was it on the opposite end of the landing? Why did it have to be so far away? "Teddy?"

She caught the briefest glimpse of Teddy sitting on his bed beside a masked stranger, another standing nearby and fending off both Tank and Vlad, but a split second later she was overcome as she was grabbed from behind, her arms wrenched behind her back. A large hand slapped across her mouth and eyes as she was roughly dragged backwards out into the hallway, and before she could even fight back they began to push her down. With fear she thought of the baby inside her, of the time she had fallen in the shower a few months ago. She had been lucky not to hurt either one of them then, and with that thought she acted to defend her baby, throwing her knee out to brace herself for impact.

"No!" she screamed loudly, thrashing wildly against her eerily silent attackers. "Let me up!"

"Careful!" an authoritative voice from above her said. "Do not hurt her."

Still they forced her down, and she had only her knee to protect her baby, and nothing at all to protect Teddy. Her knee twisted beneath her belly as her shoulders touched the ground, the only way she could brace and protect her baby from being harmed. Feeling her belly pressed against the floor she stopped moving, crying as they pressed her down even further before stopping. She couldn't breathe, and she gasped for each trickle of air that passed into her lungs, her chest heaving as she trembled beneath what was at least two men, possibly even three. Before she knew it, it was done.

Her wand was gone, torn from her hands before she could even think of utilising it. Using the only senses she had left, she listened to her surroundings, hearing only the heavy breaths of those who pinned her down and the soft growling of Tank and Vlad, who appeared to have backed off whoever they had bitten. There was a brief curse from someone, followed by the soft footsteps of someone coming closer to where she was pinned.

"You're too heavy on her," the authoritative voice said firmly. "Let her up just a little. Let her breathe."

The two men released her just a fraction, the fingers over her mouth parting and allowing her to breathe through them. The baby squirmed inside her, protesting at the strange way her belly had been squashed, but she barely felt it, listening intently for any sound of Teddy. Were they hurting him? One thing was clear, this was not a joke. The very thing that Harry had feared about the trial was happening to them, it was real and had taken her completely by surprise. What she wouldn't give to have Harry walk through the door right now, to save them both.

"Where are we going?" Teddy's voice came softly, sounding both curious and confused.

"Teddy!" she shouted loudly, surprising her captors by arching up against them. She caught a brief glimpse of him standing in the hallway, holding the hand of one of the figures whose face she couldn't see. "Don't! Don't go with him!"

"Mum?" he cried in confusion, watching as the men pinned her down again.

"Don't go!" she shouted again, crying out as one of the men punched her in the face before covering her mouth again.

"Hey! You have to be gentle!" Teddy shouted in outrage, his boots thumping across the floor as he tried to run to her. "You'll hurt my brother! Get off her!"

"Take him before he gets too upset," came the voice again, sounding genuinely concerned.

Watching his feet disappear from the fraction of the floor she could see, Ginny began to cry as she listened to Teddy calling for her, his voice disappearing with hurried footsteps down the staircase and out the front door. In a last attempt to do something, to do anything, Ginny arched up again and tried to fight her captors, but she couldn't move, could barely even wiggle around beneath them as they pressed her even harder against the floor to warn her.

"That's enough," the voice came again, addressing her as the figure came round to stand beside her. "Settle down now. There's no need to hurt you, but we will if you keep fighting us. Do you understand?"

"Get off me..." she managed to force out, begging them for release. "Please get off me."

"You heard her, get off."

Without preamble, her hands were released, with one of her captors carefully bringing them round to her front before helping her sit up. The moment she was free she sprang to her feet and pushed past the figures, barely seeing them as she raced down the stairs, looking for Teddy. She reached the ground floor and burst out the front door, looking for him frantically. He couldn't have gone far...he had to be there.

"Teddy!" she screamed as loud as she could, running into the snowy front yard. Turning in a circle she scoured the ground, looking for footprints to show her where he had gone, but all that were there were the ones she and he had already left. He couldn't have gone far…he couldn't have. "Teddy where are you!"

"He's going to be absolutely fine," the authoritative voice said from behind her, the man having followed her out.

Whirling around, she looked at the four men who had followed her outside. Her right eye throbbed terribly from the punch she had sustained, but she could see them clearly, the main one watching her with what seemed to be genuine concern. They didn't wear Death Eater masks, rather black balaclavas to match their clothing, and they were each armed with wands by their side. The man who had spoken stepped forward, raising his arm and trying to usher her back inside from the cold.

"Where is my son?" she demanded, her voice tight and unsteady. Despite what had obviously happened, she continued looking around for him, a part of her not able to comprehend that he was no longer there. How could he not be there? Why couldn't she see him?

"He's safe."

"Where?" she shouted, starting forward boldly. "Where are you taking him?"

"To a safe place," he replied very calmly.

"You have to bring him back to me!" she shouted again, stopping with the sudden realisation that there was no more barking. Tank was unnaturally quiet. She took a deep breath, trying to think clearly, to rationalise the situation. "Look...whatever you want from us...we'll give it to you."

The man said nothing, watching her patiently as though waiting for her to get it all off her chest.

"We've got money," she continued, heavy tears rolling down her cheeks as she tried to think of what exactly what they wanted. "We can give you money, just please bring my son back. He needs to be with me."

"We don't need your money yet."

Swallowing heavily, Ginny took another moment to think. "So-so this is about the trial? About Malfoy?"

"Got it in one," the man said proudly, looking at the three others. There was a long pause, the man considering her very carefully. "When will your husband be home?"

"When will you bring my son back?" she demanded, ignoring his question. "You're not getting anything until he's back with me, understand?"

"And in order to get your son back, we need your husband," the man replied patiently, stepping forward. "When will he be home?"

Ginny hesitated. "He's not coming home today," she said boldly, hoping that would change their plans.

"Why not?" he asked sceptically, not believing her.

"We had a big fight," she lied, thinking quickly. "He's been staying at a hotel for a week now."

"You two looked pretty cosy when he came home last night. You looked pretty cosy when he saw you off today. Maybe you're not as smart as we thought."

"He won't do anything for you if Teddy's not with us," she argued, trying to buy herself some time, to convince them to change their plans. "He won't trust you."

The man ignored her. "When will he be home?"

She took a slow breath before answering, not knowing what else she could say. "I don't know."

The man sighed now, shrugging his shoulders. "Then we wait."

A/N Thanks to my beta for being able to post this chapter earlier than the weekend. Can't guarantee that ther will be another chapter this weekend also, more likely to be next weekend.

Please review, let me know what you think.