Chapter 10 – The Fear of Things To Come.

Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it.

~Albert Smith

"Oh er, Hi Tonks!" said Ginny brightly, she was surprised to see her favourite Auror in her Aunt Muriel's sitting room, but she was glad to see her all the same.

"Don't 'Hi' me Missy! How could you not tell me you were pregnant? I've been so lonely being the only hormonal nutjob around here!" Tonks whined, with a mock-wounded expression on her face.

"What? Who told you? It was the twins wasn't it? I swear to Merlin I will Bat-Bogey them to-"

"Ginny, calm down, it was Bill. He came to me really upset...Please don't be mad at him, he's just worried about you is all" Tonks finished the last part softly, stroking the redhead's arm in attempt to calm her temper.

Of course it was Bill. She had completely forgotten how close the two young Aurors were. It made sense really, they were so similar in personality. In all honesty, she was surprised they had never become a couple.

Ginny sighed. So Bill was upset was he? Worried about her. He sure had a funny way of showing it. He hadn't spoken to her in at least a month and now he was worried? Well Screw him. He could shove his "worry" up his arse as far as she was concerned. She voiced as much to Tonks.

"Okay fair enough, He was a dick. I get it. But he's your big brother, he loves you, and you know he would do anything for you when it comes down to it. Don't be too harsh on him eh? He's only a man, you can only expect so much" Tonks nudged the angry, teary eyed teenager playfully.

Ginny cracked a smile then. See, this right here was why she loved Tonks. She could always make you laugh, no matter how down you were. She was glad Bill had told her everything.

"So anyway, back to the matter at hand. How far along are you?" Said Tonks, in a manner that was almost businesslike.

"12 weeks. Not far at all" replied Ginny "and the morning sickness is killing me" she added.

Tonks winced then, her hair briefly flashing green. No doubt remembering her own morning sickness.

"Ew. I remember. I don't ever want to even think the words morning sickness ever again" she laughed, although the laugh was humourless.

"At least you've got Remus to help you though" Ginny said wistfully.

" Yeah, I guess..." Tonks seemed lost in thought then, almost sad. Ginny decided not to push the issue any further.

"So, tell me... does it get any easier, pregnancy?" she asked curiously.

Tonks burst out laughing then. Hysterically. Ginny was scared that she would go into labour right there in the living room if she didn't stop.

"B-Better? That's hilarious!... Oh, God, all this laughing... I need to pee. Where's the bathroom? Okay thanks. Oh Ginny , we have so much to talk about when I get back." Tonks waddled away down the hall as per Ginny's instructions, she was still wiping the tears from her eyes and giggling as she went.

So, it doesn't get any better? Oh boy. How fun!

HARRY POV

Harry sighed as he looked at the date on his watch. September 2. This time yesterday the Hogwarts Express would've been leaving King's Cross Station, taking Ginny, Neville and Luna back to the only place that he had ever truly felt at home. He felt a sad longing for the comfort of his dorm room, and his bed. The familiarity of the draughty hallways, and above all he longed for the feeling of belonging which he felt there.

He missed his friends, he worried about them. He worried about Ginny most of all. How was she doing? Was she safe? Was she missing him as much as he missed her? He hoped that she wasn't feeling the same, because it was agony for him to be missing her so much. Ron and Hermione were growing closer every day, and although he was happy for his friends, it just made him heart-crushingly lonely. At least they had found one Horcrux. That made him one step closer to defeating Voldemort and getting back to Ginny.

That was when he decided to dig out his Map. He wanted to look at her for a while. Even if it was just dots on a map, at least he would know that she was safe.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good" he muttered the words just as he had a million times before, and watched the old parchment come to life.

He immediately began his search for Ginny. He looked over all of her usual spots, their tree by the lake, the Quidditch pitch, all of the classrooms and her dorm.

He couldn't find her anywhere. That's impossible. Why wouldn't she be there? Unless she was in the room of requirement? That must be it, he told himself. I'll just check back in a few hours.

Even so, Harry felt in his heart that she wasn't there. He struggled to get any sleep that night.

A few days later

"What do you mean 'She's not there?'" shouted Ron. "She can't just not be there! And you've known about this for days. Days Harry. And you never thought to tell us?" Ron was frantic.

"Calm down Ron, we just need to relax and think." she said nervously. She had a pretty good idea of why Ginny wasn't at Hogwarts, but she didn't think it would be good for Harry's heath if she told Ron.

"What's there to think about? We need to find her and make sure that she's okay!" Ron was running around the tent, packing.

"Ron, you don't think I'm as worried as you are? I want to be running off just as much as you do! But we can't. We're no good to her dead!" yelled Harry angrily.

Hermione felt so incredibly guilty at that moment. Never before had she seen Harry so angry, and obviously in pain. And Ron, she loved him, and it was killing her keeping this from him, especially now, when he was so panicked.

Ron had finally realised the truth of Harry's words. He slowly sank into the old armchair behind him and put his head in his hands. Harry stared blankly at the space in front of them. They both looked so helpless.

Hermione excused herself and went outside for some fresh air. She needed it because, frankly, the weight of this secret was suffocating. So many times she had come close to telling them. But she knew that it would change everything, and she couldn't risk it.

At first she had encouraged Ginny to tell Harry the truth, but now she fully realised what that would mean. Harry would have to either abandon his entire plan and just let Voldemort win ( which was never gonna happen, lets face it) or live with the extra guilt and worry of knowing that he left his pregnant girlfriend alone during a time of war. It was a lose-lose situation really, and it made her want to cry.

She hoped that Ginny was okay. She wondered how she was doing. She must be around 12 weeks by now. She had read in a pregnancy book back at the Burrow that she'd probably be experiencing morning sickness right about now. Poor Ginny. Poor Harry. Poor all of us.

Hermione just couldn't take this anymore, and for the first time in months, she cried. She cried for her parents. For the endless numbers of deaths she heard on the radio. She cried for herself, and for everything worse that was still to come.