Disclaimer: I only own the plot to this story; all characters and places in the book belong to JK Rowling
The Girl Worth Living For
Chapter 11
Ginny was happy. This pregnancy was much easier than the one with James, for one thing she wasn't as big and the baby didn't kick half as much. They had decided at the 6 month scan not to learn the sex of the baby, deciding they wanted this one to be a surprise.
Ginny thought she was having a girl though she had no idea why. She spent her days with Hermione, who was still on maternity leave and the pair would sit and gossip while taking care of Rose and James. Rose was the best behaved baby Ginny had ever encountered, she hardly ever cried and she fed properly and slept through the night. Ginny was almost jealous.
It was a surprisingly warm day in late March and the pair were sat in Hermione's back garden having a coffee. James was playing with his toy cars and Rose was asleep in her pram.
"How are things going with the new nursery?" asked Hermione. They had decided to paint the nursery yellow to brighten it up, but this also meant changing the carpets and furniture.
"Fine, I just wish they'd hurry up, it's due in a couple of weeks" sighed Ginny.
"Do you think Harry will take you to Italy again like he did last time?" asked Hermione.
"I doubt it, he's so busy recently. I swear to God they work him too hard" said Ginny.
"I know I've often felt the same with Ron. I mean considering there are only 10 Death Eaters' left uncaught, they seem to spend a lot of time working" said Hermione thoughtfully.
The situation didn't improve over the next couple of weeks. Ron and Harry were leaving for work earlier than ever and not returning until well after James' bedtime. During the day they were practically unreachable because they spent so much time in the field.
So on the 9th April when Ginny felt the familiar pain in her abdomen, she knew she had a problem.
"Hermione" she called into the floo. The next moment Hermione had emerged through it, a newly bathed Rose on her hip.
"What's up Ginny?" she asked.
"We need to go to the hospital now, I think the baby is on it's way" said Ginny, surprised how calm she was.
"Oh God, ok just let me floo your mum and then we can go. " said Hermione.
"Why do you need to floo my mum?" asked Ginny
"Well we can't do this with James and Rose hanging around, and we also need to get hold of Harry" Hermione frowned, she knew this could be an issue.
"Kingsley, I need Harry to be here as soon as possible please" said Hermione agitatedly. It was nearly an hour since Ginny and Hermione had arrived at St Mungos and Molly was sat with Ginny while Hermione tried to get Harry.
"Yes I understand Mrs Weasley, but the Aurors work with stealth mainly when on assignment and me sending my Patronus could reveal their position and put them in danger. I really want to help you but there is no way I can get Mr Potter before he returns" said Kingsley. Hermione knew it was hopeless and that Kingsley was trying to help her, but genuinely couldn't do anything.
"Where is he? Did Kingsley know?" asked Molly urgently. The situation was getting desperate, Ginny only had 3cm left before she would have to deliver and Harry still didn't know.
"Kingsley says he can't do anything because he could put their lives at risk" said Hermione. "They are on a covert operation and if they are discovered they could be killed." Molly gasped.
"So what do we tell Ginny?" asked Molly.
"The truth, she'll notice that we don't have Harry" said Hermione. She felt so bad for Ginny, having to do this alone. Arthur strode up at that moment
"Still no news?" he asked, though he knew the answer from the looks on their faces.
"No and she's moving along faster than with James, so it looks like Harry is going to miss it" said Molly. Arthur bit his lip; he knew that it would kill Harry to miss the birth of his child.
"There isn't anything we can do except be there for Ginny" said Molly, reading Arthur's mind.
The next couple of hours were hell, Ginny was in a lot of pain and this was made worse by the fact that Harry had no idea where she was or what was going on. Fleur had arrived with Angelina and they were watching the kids in the waiting room.
"Mrs Potter, I think you are ready to go to the delivery room" said Healer Robinson. Ginny looked at him like he was insane and said
"Not without Harry" she said flatly.
"Mrs Potter, though I sympathize we can't wait. Your baby is coming now and waiting any longer could risk its and your lives" said Healer Robinson. Ginny whimpered in fright and Molly glared at the healer.
The door hit the wall with an almighty crash as Harry burst into the room, followed by Ron and Kingsley.
"I'm here Gin" he said rushing to her side.
"WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN?" Ginny screamed. "I have been at this for 7 hours and you had no idea!"
"Ginny please try and stay calm, I'm here now" said Harry, who sounded like he was going to cry. Ginny was stopped from replying by another fierce contraction and Healer Robinson telling Ron, Hermione, Kingsley, Arthur and Molly that they'd have to leave as the room was too crowded. They left with cries of "Good luck Ginny" and "We'll see you on the flipside" (Ron).
30 minutes and much screaming later Albus Severus Potter was born at 1:04 pm. Ginny flopped back against the pillows, drenched in sweat and exhausted as Harry stroked her hair and whispered to her.
"You were amazing Ginny, so brilliant." Harry watched as the healer washed and wrapped Albus. He wasn't yet called Albus as they hadn't discussed boys names, so strong was Ginny's belief that he'd be a girl.
"We have a boy Gin" whispered Harry. Ginny nodded, her eyes were closed and she was flushed.
"Here you go Mr Potter" said the healer gently, passing him the baby. Harry bit his lip to stop from crying.
"Hey baby, I am your daddy" he whispered gently rocking his second son, who started to cry.
"Harry?" Ginny had sat up and was watching him
"Hey Ginny do you want to hold him?" asked Harry. Ginny just nodded and Harry placed the delicate child in her arms.
"What are we going to call him? We don't even have any boys' names" said Ginny.
"I don't know we've used James and Sirius already" said Harry. They sat in silence for a few minutes thinking.
"How about Albus? Dumbledore was as much a father figure to me as Sirius and he did make the plan so that I could live" said Harry. "Without him, we wouldn't have any of this and we'd probably both have been killed by Voldemort."
"Yeah" said Ginny softly "And his middle name can be Severus because the plan would've failed without Snape" she said, smiling.
"Oh God I wonder what my dad would say if he knew his grandson was named for his arch enemy" laughed Harry.
"Can we come in yet?" whispered a voice from the door. It was Hermione and they had since been joined by all of the Weasley brothers.
"Yeah come in" said Harry jumping up to make room.
"So who do we have here then?" asked Molly looking at Albus in Ginny's arms.
"Mum, this is Albus Severus Potter" said Ginny proudly.
"Albus? As in Dumbledore" asked Bill.
"Dumbledore would have been so honoured Harry" said Arthur quietly.
"Yeah maybe one day this Albus will meet the one in Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts" said Harry.
"He's your son so I dare say he'll be getting into his fair share of scrapes" laughed George. They all laughed and Albus was passed around, everyone commenting on how much the adorable boy looked like Harry, with his messy hair and bright green eyes.
Sometime later when everyone had left and Harry and Ginny were alone again Harry made a decision.
"Ginny, I have something for you." He reached into the pocket of his robes and pulled out a long black box.
Ginny opened it and inside lay a white gold charm bracelet.
"Oh Harry it's beautiful but why?" she asked, mesmerised.
"Every charm represents a different significant event in our relationship" he said pointing to them in turn as he spoke: "The snitch is for our first kiss. The rose is for our engagement because at the dinner when I proposed there were pink roses on the table. The champagne bottle is for Ron and Hermione's wedding where we conceived James. The Eiffel tower is for Paris where we conceived Albus. And the wand," he said, indicating the last charm "is the reason we're all here" he finished.
Ginny gave a squeal of delight and kissed him.
"Oh thank you Harry, I love it" she said so happy.
"That isn't all" he grinned. "You see it's a charm bracelet, so every charm does something different, you see." He pointed to the rose, which before had been open and studded with pink diamonds but had now closed into a rosebud.
"And the snitch flaps its wings" said Ginny. She laughed it was just brilliant.
"Yes and it will only do these things when you are thinking of me" said Harry.
Ginny smiled and kissed him hard on the mouth, her hands on either side of his face.
They looked to the baby that lay in the cot next to them and Harry kissed him and said
"Goodnight Albus, we love you."
The next morning Ginny was awoken by a tapping on the window. It was a large grey owl with a latter tied to its leg.
Ginny grabbed the owl and paid it, taking the letter from it's leg. It was addressed to her:
Dear Mrs Potter,
Congratulations on the birth of your second child! I would like to discuss with you a possible career option as I know how much you are missing playing Quidditch. We have an opening for a freelance sports reporter here at the Daily Prophet after my recent promotion to Head of Department. Please let me know within the next week if you are interested and we will set up a meeting.
Yours faithfully, Russel Smith
This is more like it, I think.
My writers block has gone and I really loved writing this chapter, so I hope it's good.
Thoughts, comments? Don't be shy I do take your views into account.
I wanted to show Harry in a slightly more romantic light and I hope that I achieved that!
Exx15