A/N: There is technically four weeks left of class, but it's more like two to three weeks. I'm eager for this semester to be over! That's one step closer to my college degree! I hope to be able to update more often during my break. Anyway, that's all I have to say for now. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Warnings for this chapter: cutting

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Nineteen

Twenty-three Weeks Pregnant

"Areyou sure you should be doing this?" Harry asked helplessly, watching Ginny wade into the lake.

"We've been through this already, Harry. I'm fine. I went swimming two days ago and nothing happened," Ginny called over her shoulder.

"But the water's really cold," Harry said, trying to convince her to leave the water before she went any deeper.

"Harry," Ginny said exasperatedly, turning to face him, "I've cast a warming charm on myself and my swim suit."

She waved a hand at her modest one-piece suit. Now that she was pregnant – and definitely showing – she refused to wear a two-piece.

"Do you want me to join you?" Harry asked, knowing she wouldn't protest.

"Do you really have to ask?" Ginny raised an eyebrow at him. She had expected him to swim with her, as he had changed into his swim trunks before they left the castle.

"I guess not." Harry smiled. He pulled her shirt over his head and began to walk towards her.

Ginny laughed when he shivered as his foot touched the water. Harry scowled at her.

"That's really cold. Maybe you should -"

"Stop right there, Potter. I am not leaving before I've had my swim." Ginny turned her back on him and moved further into the water. She jumped when she felt Harry's arms wrap around her rather suddenly, his hands moving to caress her belly.

"You know I only worry because I love you . . . both of you," Harry spoke softly into her ear.

Ginny's heart softened. "Of course I know."

"Then why do you refuse to listen to me?" Harry asked. Though it was slight, she could hear the hurt in his voice. She turned in his arms.

"Oh, love. It's not that I don't listen to you; I do. It's just things have already changed so much since I've been pregnant. I don't want them to change where they don't have to," Ginny explained.

Harry sighed. "As long as you take care of the both of you, I can understand that."

"You know I take care of us," Ginny told him.

Harry nodded. "I know."

Ginny smiled softly, leaning up to kiss him. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

They were still gazing deeply into each other's eyes when Ron came running across the grounds to them. By the time he reached them, he was out of breath.

"You have to see this," Ron told them, handing out a copy of Witch Weekly.

Curious, Harry and Ginny trudged out of the lake; when they got to Ron, Harry took the paper from him. Ginny gasped when she read the article title.

"Ginny Potter Seeking Treatment for Self-Mutilation by Rita Skeeter

"Ginny Potter née Weasley, 16, is revealed to be seeking treatment for self-mutilation. Two months ago, it came to the public's attention that the teenager is pregnant, and has recently married the seventeen-year-old Boy-Who-Lived, Harry Potter. Now the question is, how is her self-injury going to affect her pregnancy?

"Potter spent last week walking the grounds with her husband. It was then that her scarred left wrist became apparent. A few days ago, Potter was spotted swimming in the Black Lake on the Hogwarts grounds. A new scar on her leg could be clearly seen."

Under that was a picture of Ginny and Harry holding hands, which changed to a close-up of Ginny's scarred wrist. There was also a picture of the new scar on Ginny's calf, where she had accidentally cut herself while shaving several weeks ago.

"It is reported, by a source who wishes to remain anonymous, that Potter has been meeting a Mental Healer for over a year now. This began after two failed suicide attempts. Obviously, the therapy is not working if she is continuing to cut herself, especially while pregnant.

"What kind of mother will Ginny Potter be? Will she be stable mentally to raise a child? And how will the mother's behavior affect the child? These are only a few of the concerns this reporter has for the well-being of the child. Hopefully, these questions will be answered before the child is born in late July."

Ginny collapsed against Harry as she finished reading the article, in tears. That they had gotten the facts wrong about her supposed "two failed suicide attempts" didn't even faze her. How could anyone possibly know about her cutting? Immediately she knew the answer. She had been so distracted by the pregnancy that she had stopped using the Muggle makeup to cover her scars. Of course, someone would have noticed them, especially with all the extra attention she was getting from the pregnancy.

"Come on, Gin. Let's get you inside," Harry murmured against her ear, helping to support her as Ron gathered their things for them and they started back towards the castle.

"What am I going to do?" Ginny sobbed. "They all know."

"Shhh, we'll figure something out," Harry tried to assure her, not knowing what else to do.

"I can't go to class anymore. I don't want to stay here. I want to go home." A thousand thoughts were rushing through Ginny's head, and the one first and foremost in her mind was to get as far away from civilization as possible.

"Let's talk rationally about this, love." Harry knew he had said the wrong thing when Ginny wrenched herself away from him.

"'Rationally?' You want to talk 'rationally?' Everyone knows, Harry! Everyone!" Ginny shrieked.

"Ginny, please. Let's get to our room, then you can yell at me all you want. Do you really want to do this here?" Harry asked, reaching for her.

Ginny opened her mouth to scream at him some more, but then his words hit home and she closed it. She nodded slowly. "Sorry."

"It's all right," Harry told her, grabbing her hand and leading her into the castle.

Once they were safely in the Heads' common room, Ginny let her emotions go fully. Her first instinct was to cry, and her second was to hide. And she did just that. She fell into a chair and cried in earnest while Harry rubbed her back soothingly. When she had finally quieted down, she excused herself and went into her and Harry's bedroom. She knew Harry would follow her, and she didn't mind that. It was Ron and Hermione she was trying to get away from. She couldn't stand their sympathetic looks and words of comfort.

She laid down on the bed, pushing her face into her pillow; she felt tears bubbling back up to the surface. Harry began to massage her back gently, hating how tense she felt. He knew Ginny's back and shoulders were hurting her a lot lately, and he knew giving her a massage was one of the only ways to help.

After a while, Ginny began to relax and her tears subsided once more. She rolled over and looked at Harry helplessly. She didn't have to speak for him to know what she was thinking. She was terrified. She didn't want to face anyone now that her secret was out.

Harry took her hand in his and extending her left arm, placed light kisses up and down her forearm. It always touched her heart when Harry paid such attention to her scars, to know that they didn't bother him as they bothered her. He pulled back, looking into her eyes deeply.

"This isn't who you are," he told her sincerely.

"I know," Ginny whispered.

"You're much bigger than this," Harry continued, ignoring her reply. "You've been through a lot, and yes this is a part of you, but it's not all of you. You are an incredibly strong, loyal, loving, and caring person and that's the part of you that matters. That's the only part of you people should care about. And that's what's going to matter when it comes to raising our daughter. Not your past, but our present, and our future."

Ginny nodded, moving to rest her head on his chest. Harry wrapped his arms around her and held her tight to him.

"What am I going to tell her?" Ginny asked.

He knew without asking that she was speaking of Lily.

"The only thing you can tell her: The truth," Harry answered.

"What if she hates me?" Ginny muttered against his shoulder.

"She won't hate you. She could never hate you," Harry assured her, rubbing her back.

"I don't want her to know. I don't want her to be disappointed in me, ashamed of me." Ginny was on the verge of tears once more.

"Stop. Stop right there," Harry told her, pushing her back so he could see her face. "Lily will never hate you. She will never be disappointed in you, and she will never be ashamed of you. She will know that her mother went through a very traumatic experience at a young age and found a way to cope with it. She will know that you fought to get better, and that you're all the stronger for it. And she will love you for that. She will love you for that gift that you've given her. The gift of a strong mother who is determined and will do the best for her child."

"Do you really believe that?" Ginny asked.

"Yes. I do." Harry looked deep into her eyes as he answered, and Ginny knew he was telling the truth.

Ginny glanced downward for a moment before returning her eyes to his. "Can we really do this?"

Harry didn't hesitate. "Yes, we can, and we will."

H/G

Theday after the new Rita Skeeter article came out, Kingsley Shacklebolt met Harry and Ginny in Dumbledore's office. Though he was very busy as the new Minister of Magic, he had made time to see the couple.

"I'm very sorry that this has happened again," Kingsley told them after shaking both of their hands.

"We know, Kingsley. It isn't your fault. You didn't write the article," Harry told him.

"Nevertheless, I am sorry. Rita Skeeter has escaped from Azkaban, but don't worry, we are almost certain we know where she is. She should be apprehended by this afternoon, in fact. When she is caught, we will be moving her to a high-security cell so she cannot escape again," Kingsley said.

"Thank you, Kingsley. We appreciate it," Harry replied.

"Also, I want to personally let you know that we will take care of any repercussions from the new article. I know you've both been through a lot, and the Ministry does not want you to be put through anything else. So, Ginny, if anyone harasses you, be sure to let me or Dumbledore know. We will take care of it, and those responsible will be punished." Kingsley turned to her.

"Thanks, Kingsley. That means a lot," Ginny said softly.

"Other than the articles, how are you doing? Is everything progressing correctly?" Kingsley asked.

"Yes, everything's going well. I've been sore lately but that's all," Ginny answered.

"I'm glad to hear that everything's going well." Kingsley stood up. "Dumbledore has agreed to give you both a few days off, so I'll let you get back up to Gryffindor Tower. Remember, if there are any problems, let me know."

Harry and Ginny both nodded, saying their goodbyes to Kingsley before leaving the room.

"Do you think he really meant that?" Ginny asked as they stepped out into the corridor.

"It's Kingsley, of course he meant it," Harry answered.

Ginny nodded. "You're right. Let's just hope we don't have any problems that need to be taken care of."

And with that, they walked in silence back up to their dormitory.