Soft
Molly Weasley stood in her kitchen, cutting vegetables for a soup, and thinking about her children, as well as Arthur, who has just left for work about an hour prior. She hummed to herself as she delighted in the warm morning sunshine that poured in through her kitchen window.
There came a small tap at the window, as if something had hit it, and then a ruffling sound outside. Molly looked up from her cutting board and peered out into the bright daylight. There was nothing there. She shrugged and went back to her chopping, assuming that it was probably just a bird hitting the glass.
It was the loud cracking sound coming from upstairs that caused her to place her knife down on the counter and make her way toward the stairs, pulling her wand out of the pocket of her apron as she went.
She could never have prepared herself for what greeted her at the top of the stairs.
xxx
"Its rubbish, but I didn't expect any different," Ginny told Harry of after reading Rita Skeeter's article the morning it came out, about a fortnight after her interview.
"Well, let me see it," said Harry, reaching across the table for her copy of The Daily Prophet.
Ginny shrugged. "It's not that interesting."
"I want to see it anyways."
"Okay," she said indifferently as she passed the paper to him.
Harry's eyes scanned the paper, taking in the words.
Future Mrs Potter Speaks Out About Her Pregnancy
A baby and wedding bells on the way; writes Rita Skeeter, Head Journalist for The Daily Prophet. Harry Potter; The-Boy-Who-Lived, and his expectant girlfriend, Ginny Wilson-
Harry looked up and smirked. "At least she got your first name right this time." Ginny laughed and ate a spoonful of porridge. Harry turned his eyes back the paper.
- have announced that they not only couldn't be happier or more excited about the baby on the way, but also plan on soon tying the knot. 'We understand that we've made mistakes, but we'll get through it. And we just know that getting married is just the right thing to do right now,' Says Harry Potter. Ginny seems to share her fiancé's excitement. 'We're star crossed lovers,' she exclaims. 'We were meant to be together.' Though the young ginger girl may be right, reader's readers might be correct in assuming that their hasty marriage has to do with the shame they feel when thinking of their child's coming to be. 'It was a mistake,' Admits the couple. 'We were both too drunk to really consider our actions.' But darkness may shadow their baby bliss. Ginny seems to be rather dependent on Harry, and perhaps too excited for the baby's arrival. Could pregnant little Ginny be hiding a big secret? Had this all been a plan to trap poor Harry? Only time will tell. But for now, here's hoping for a happy marriage for the young Harry and Ginny, and hoping even more that they'll let us in on the details.
Harry sighed and looked up, folding the paper and placing it on the table next to his plate of toast. "Sometimes I wonder if she's even capable of writing an accurate story without being blackmailed into it."
Ginny giggled. "It's alright Harry, it's exactly what I expected. At least people know now that I'm happy about the whole thing."
"I S'pose so," Harry said, taking a sip of pumpkin juice and watching Ginny cringe as he did so. She'd been absolutely in love with the stuff last week and this week couldn't stand to have it within one hundred feet of her. Harry sighed and put his glass down as far away from Ginny as possible, making a mental note to wash his mouth out before the next time he kissed her. Pregnant women are weird, he thought.
Ron, who was unknowingly sipping pumpkin juice next to Harry as his sister made disgusted faces at him from across the table, spoke with a mouth full of breakfast. "Why do y'reckon she waited two weeks to publish it?"
Harry thought about it. "Good question."
"Well, it's obvious, really," Hermione said, looking up from her book, titled, A Brief History of Magical Education, and Why Ours is Better, by Armando Dippet. "Rita Skeeter likes to have the front page, and with last week's daily articles on the recent Death Eater attacks, this wouldn't have made the cut. Now that everything has calmed down she can publish it and know that she's getting the public's full attention."
"Death Eater attacks?" Ginny asked, looking up from her bowl and wrapping her arms around her stomach.
"Yeah, all last week," Ron said.
Harry shot Ron a look that made him stop talking. Ginny didn't notice. "Why didn't I know about it?"
"Well, you don't read The Prophet..." Hermione said hastily.
"Well this is kind of important, why didn't anyone tell me?"
"We didn't want to worry," Harry said gently. "I'm supposed to make sure you don't, remember?"
Ginny huffed and placed her hands on her hips. "I can handle this one."
"It's nothing serious yet," Hermione said. "There's no need for worry."
"Tell me," Ginny insisted.
Hermione sighed. "They're looking for people right now. No one's been reported dead yet, but a few have been reported missing..."
"So until things get worse it's no big deal, okay?" Harry said, placing a hand on Ginny's shoulder.
Ginny shrugged and ate another spoonful of porridge. "Just don't keep me out of the loop on these things. I'm not that fragile," she mumbled. "And besides, I'm safer if I know what's going on."
Ron took another sip of pumpkin juice, gulping loudly.
Ginny snapped her head up. "Oh, for Merlin's sake Ron, just finish it already!"
"Finish what?"
"That revolting juice!"
Ron gave her a quizzical look, quickly finished his drink, and placed his goblet firmly on the table. "You know," he said, turning to Harry. "I'll be happy when this is all over, and we can all make fun of Ginny about it."
Harry struggled to hide a chuckle. "Come on," he said. "We've got our last Defence Against the Dark Arts class of the year to get to."
"Alright," Ginny said, heaving herself up from the table. The rest of the group followed. "I've got Potions, I'll see you guys at lunch." The friends bid their adieus to Ginny and went their separate way.
It was the last week of school. Today was Tuesday and classes would be out in only three days. Ginny was excited for the summer. Harry would, of course, be staying with her family at The Burrow, and she couldn't wait to be able to spend time with him without having to think about class or homework. All they had to concentrate on was the baby, and nothing else. The idea delighted Ginny, and she had a great mood all through Potions.
"That's one big baby you've got there," Madame Pomfrey commented with a smile. "Very healthy."
Harry smiled at Ginny and gently rubbed her shoulder. The three of them were all looking up at a floating image of a baby- identically resembling an 'ultrasound scan' which Harry had recognized from muggle television programs - shooting out of Madame Pomfrey's wand, which was placed against Ginny's large stomach.
The child on the screen was much larger than it had been at Ginny's last scan two months ago, and she and Harry could see and distinguish every part of his tiny body. It wouldn't be long now before the tiny infant on the screen would be in their arms. Ginny was nearly seven months along now, she only had a few months of waiting left.
"He looks like you already," Ginny said to Harry, smiling up at him.
Harry chuckled. "Really? I think he looks like a foetus."
"Oh, don't be modest," Ginny said. "Look, he has your nose, see?" She pointed up at the floating image.
Harry stared at the image of his son in awe. "Yeah, I suppose he does."
"Alright," Ms Pomfrey said with a smile as she lifted her wand from Ginny's large belly. The image disappeared like mist being blown away. "Since school is pretty much over, you'll have to have your next healer's appointment at St Mungo's. When you come back in September you'll have your last appointment with me, but we'll have you Floo to St Mungo's to deliver because we're just not equipped for a delivery here."
"Alright," Ginny said, standing up and pulling her shirt back down over her stomach. "Thank you Madame Pomfrey."
"Yes, thank you," Harry added.
"No problem dears," Madame Pomfrey said, and she waved them away.
"Harry?" Ginny said as they walked down the corridor toward Gryffindor tower, her hands were crossed over her stomach and while Harry with had his hands in his pockets.
"Hm?" Harry responded.
"You don't...?" She paused. "You don't believe what Rita said in her article do you?"
"Which part?"
"You don't think I'm trying to trap you, right? Or use you?" she asked sheepishly.
Harry laughed. "Ginny, with the amount that you're going through to carry my son, I'd say I'm using you. I mean, I would never be able to handle the swollen ankles or pumpkin juice aversions..."
Ginny nearly gagged. "Don't say pumpkin juice! But seriously, Harry."
"Ginny, love," Harry said, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her in closely. "That woman writes rubbish. You know that, I know that, everyone knows that. And besides," he smiled. "If you are using me," he said sarcastically. "I'm happy to be used."
Ginny giggled. "Well in that case I may start using you more."
"Don't push it," Harry said jokingly. "I can't close down the pumpkin juice company for you."
Ginny smirked. "Couldn't you try?"
"Unfortunately," said harry Harry as he stepped into through the portrait hole, Ginny close behind him. "You're the only freak of nature who doesn't like it."
They made their way up the stairs and into their room, changing quickly into the pyjamas and getting into their bed. The two of them had lost track of time, and it was now near nine o'clock. Normally, they would have stayed up until midnight or at least eleven, but lately Ginny was exhausted by eight or nine, and Harry, not wanting her to feel left out, started going to bed at the same time.
"I can't wait until he's born," Ginny whispered.
"Me neither," said Harry as he reached to turn off the light. He wrapped his arms around Ginny and pulled her small, but swollen body against his own.
Ginny sighed and curled herself closer against him so that his hands came to rest on her belly. "Do you think I'll be a good mother?" she asked him quietly.
Harry felt her warm skin against his, he breathed in the smell of her lavender shampoo and lily-of-the-valley perfume. Everything about her was soft, from her voice, to her touch to her floral scent, to the way she moved. Soft was, to Harry - a boy who'd grown up in a home where everything was harsh - what a mother should be. "Undoubtedly," He whispered, and they drifted off to sleep.