Chapter Fifty-Two

Mothers and Fathers

It was the morning of the first of July in the Weasley household. In just two days Ron and the twins would be back from Hogwarts too. Ginny's father had gone off to work less than half an hour ago. The last few days had been tense in the Weasley household. There was the personal betrayal of Percy that they were all reeling from especially as Bill and Charlie were distancing themselves from the rest of the family and the upcoming war.

Then there was the upcoming trials and investigations that the Slytherins' lawyers and the Ministry were investigating. Due to the allegations levelled against Headmaster Dumbledore he was suspended from all duties in Hogwarts, the Wizengamot and the ICW until he was cleared of all charges. It made Ginny so angry at the stupid sheep of the wizarding word. Didn't they understand what Dumbledore had sacrificed for them so they could be safe!? Didn't they understand that Voldemort's son was just as evil as Voldemort and had to be controlled or he would have destroyed their world!

That brought up the fact that it had been a week since Ginny had had The Procedure as Ginny had taken to referring to it in her head. Ginny's cheeks still burned whenever she thought what had happened just last week. At least it had at least been a week and Ginny's mother had gone to retrieve the pregnancy test potion from Snape ten minutes ago so Ginny could find out whether it had all been for naught or not.

Ginny's mother should be back any second and then finally Ginny would know one way or another whether it had worked. Ginny still had no idea if she wanted to be pregnant or not even if she knew that it would be beneficial if she was. Of course, Ginny wanted to money and power that being Regent Slytherin would get her but did she really want to have to bring up an evil Slytherin bastard?

Suddenly the Floo flared up Killing Curse green which meant that all Ginny's worries and half wishes to delay or speed up the test were moot point. Molly brought out a small bottle filled with a thick pure white potion that seemed almost unnatural. Ginny knew without a doubt that this was the potion which would test whether or not she was pregnant.

'All you have to do is add a bit of blood to it,' Molly said. 'If you are pregnant it will turn bright green and if not it will congeal into maroon sludge.'

Ginny nodded gripping the sterile knife in her right hand that her knuckles began to turn as white as the potion. Ginny's mother removed the cork from the bottle of the white potion which smelt of dew in the morning. Ginny cut one of her fingers allowing the blood to dribble into the bottle. Immediately the potion turned bright green and smelt of apples.

Ginny stared at the small potion vial feeling a kaleidoscope of shock, horror and excitement not knowing what to think or feel at the news that the potion brought. Ginny knew what it meant – that she was pregnant with Slytherin's brat. A week ago Ginny would have been jubilant but after what she had to do to get the money earner Ginny had no idea how to cope.

Molly beamed, 'you're pregnant. I have to tell the Headmaster.'

'What are we going to tell Dad?' asked Ginny.

Her mother gave Ginny a sharp look, 'that you have missed your period. You have finally worked up the nerve to come to me and tell me that you have missed your period. You admitted that you were in a relationship with the Slytherin brat before he betrayed us. You were worried but I had said it was possibly stress after Hermione's death and your lover's betrayal.

'Still I had you checked out a Saint Mungo's and the test comes back that you are pregnant. Then the three of us will have to decide together what to do. We fear that the Slytherins will take your child from you and raise him to be Dark. I'll suggest keeping the identity of the father a secret to protect the child,' Molly continued as Ginny contemplated the future.

That was of course the easy part of the plan as her father had always been easy to lie to and manipulate. The much harder part would be convincing her father not to tell Charlie and Bill that the father was Harry. Ginny wasn't sure what they would do. At least Percy wasn't around as he would be sure to spill his guts to Lord Slytherin if he ever found out whose child it was.

'What do you think he'll say?' asked Ginny quietly.

'He won't get angry at you,' Molly said softly.

Ginny already knew that though. Ginny's father had long ago perfected "the I'm so disappointed in you" look. Fred and George claimed that it scared them more than Mum's shouting ever had. And when Dad did shout all the Weasley children knew that it was serious. However, a teenaged pregnancy was more than a cause for her father to shout at her.

'You don't think he'll be disappointed in me?' asked Ginny quietly.

Molly sighed, 'he won't be happy but he will make it clear that he is very supportive of you and whatever you may choose.'

'Who will I publicly say is the father?' asked Ginny quietly.

'No one,' Molly replied. 'If anyone asks tell them it's none of their business. People will likely think you don't know and call you names. Just remember that you are pure and you will be Regent Potter soon enough – richer and more powerful than they'll ever be - if you persevere for a few months.'

Ginny brightened at that, 'when will I be able to get my hands on the money?'

'Not until after Voldemort is dead,' Molly said grimly. 'Otherwise they'll be able to either take the child away from us or disown him preventing us access to the money.'

Ginny nodded disappointed, 'alright. What will I tell Charlie and Bill?' asked Ginny not mentioning Percy.

'I'll convince Arthur to keep it just between the three of us as I have no idea what they will do with that information,' Molly said. 'That will mean that you, Ron and the twins will have to keep it a secret for now.'

'Now I really do have to go and tell Dumbledore your wonderful news,' Molly smiled at her only daughter.

Arthur arrived back home at one thirty for his lunch hour as he had taken to doing fearing that he would never see them again every time he left. Arthur was surprised to find that his daughter was not there to greet him as she had been ever since she had been removed from Hogwarts. Instead it was Molly who greeted him with bread and homemade chicken soup.

'Where's Ginny?' asked Arthur.

Molly took a moment before answering, 'in her room.'

'Is she ill?' asked Arthur.

'Not exactly,' Molly replied quietly.

Arthur sighed, 'still struggling with Hermione's disappearance.'

Arthur didn't mention Harry's defection to the Dark side. Whenever it was mentioned it caused an argument between his family. Arthur had had enough arguments this week between his wife, sons and daughter to last a life time. And it was all about one person. Arthur didn't blame Harry for defecting even if everyone else did but did blame themselves for ignoring a young boy's plight. Arthur understood how much the young boy had suffered at the hand of his relatives whilst they had been happy to ignore it.

The fact that he had turned to his father for the love care that he had deserved but had long been deprived of from everybody else did not surprise Arthur any but did sadden him that Harry felt that Voldemort loved him more than anyone on the Light side ever had. The Light were supposed to protect the innocent no matter what lineage they may possess but they had never done so with Harry. Dumbledore claimed to judge all people the same but he had hurt Harry so much by his inaction.

And then there were the accusations laid against Albus, Molly, Ron and Ginny. Arthur had hoped that it was just the Dark stirring up trouble trying to further discredit Dumbledore and his allies. However, Arthur had feared that was not the case especially with how eagerly some of the Light were plotting Harry's murder as though that was a perfectly reasonable thing to do because of Harry's parentage.

Molly sighed, 'yes but that's not the only reason that Ginny wanted to be home from school early.'

'What do you mean?' asked Arthur.

'Ginny admitted today that she was scared because she missed her period,' Molly said.

Arthur blanched at his wife's words and what they meant. Out of all the things that Arthur had expected to hear from his wife this was not one of them. Arthur had thought it would be more bad news on the war front. Ginny was only fifteen years old she could not be pregnant. Arthur did not want to believe it but his wife apparently did. Arthur took in his wife's grave look knowing that she wouldn't be telling him this unless Ginny had already tested positive.

'You mean she's-'Arthur could not complete the sentence.

'Yes,' Molly said grimly. 'Soon as she told me I took her to Saint Mungo's who confirmed it.'

'How far along is she?' asked Molly.

'A couple of weeks,' Molly replied.

'You didn't get her in trouble did you,' Arthur said quietly. 'I think Ginny has enough to deal with without you lecturing her.'

Molly pursed her lips, 'I think Ginny understands the consequences of her decisions without me having to tell her.'

Arthur nodded, 'does she think I am going to be cross?'

Molly nodded, 'yes.'

For the first time since the end of the last war Arthur felt the want to curse something. Preferably the boy who had impregnated his young daughter. When Arthur got his hands on that boy-. Arthur closed his eyes letting go of that anger knowing it would do no good. Arthur was going to accept the boy in his daughter's life whether he wanted to or not.

'-that she is engaging in intercourse at the age of fifteen,' Arthur hissed. 'Furious at the young man – or woman – who impregnated her. If I had found out in any other circumstances I would have never let her leave the house again. However, that does not mean that I will not support her in everything. What are her choices?'

Molly sighed, 'I asked the Healer that.'

'What did the Healer say?' asked Arthur.

'That Ginny is young, strong, fit and healthy,' Molly said quietly. 'And as Ginny admitted it was consensual there is no cause for ending the pregnancy. Anyway Ginny put her foot down at that line of questioning.'

Arthur nodded, 'so she wants the baby.'

'Yes,' Molly agreed.

Arthur nodded, 'she does realise how difficult this will be. She'll be doing owls in just over two years with a one-year-old on her hip.'

'I know,' Molly said quietly. 'But she does not want to terminate the child. Doesn't think she will be able to live with herself if she did so. And I can't tell her to even if there were legal grounds to do so. It's her choice. I've offered to raise the child myself as our eighth. We'll have to tell the child one day but hopefully they'll understand why Ginny did what she did.'

Arthur nodded, 'has Ginny considered conventional adoption?'

'The healer proposed it as an option,' Molly agreed frowning.

Arthur sighed knowing that Molly would not agree with that option. Molly had always loved children and had child after child until she could no longer conceive. She had been praying for grandkids for years but neither Bill nor Charlie showed any interest of settling down just yet. Letting her first grandchild go would be something very difficult for his wife.

'It is Ginny's choice,' Arthur said gently.

Molly scowled heavily, 'so we should just send our grandchild away, Arthur? Don't you want grandchildren?'

'Of course I do,' snapped Arthur, 'but not like this. Ginny's too young. She's our baby. This isn't something that should be decided by us and not now. We have to consider all the alternatives. What is best – not for us – but for Ginny and the child.'

'And what if she comes to regret it?' demanded Molly angrily. 'What if she wants to know her baby only to realise that she's given them up? If she hands the child over to me – if she ever wants to know them as more than a sister she has that choice! Rather than it being so final as giving the child up!'

'And what about the child?' Arthur said quietly. 'Will it be good for them to see their birth mother and know she wants nothing to do with them? Know that Ginny just gave them to her parents to look after as if they were an unwanted pet! And what if Ginny does want a relationship in later life but the child does not want one with the woman who gave them up! What will you do then!? Who will you side with!? This is not just looking for the easiest solution but looking for the right one,' Arthur said sharply.

'And what if Ginny wants to keep and raise the child herself?' demanded Molly.

'Then we will help and support her,' Arthur said gravely. 'But we will not decide what happens for her. Now who is the father? Do you know? Has Ginny said anything? Is he going to help her?'

Molly scowled furiously making Arthur more worried than ever before. Clearly this young man was someone Molly did not approve of. Not that Arthur would approve of the man who impregnated Ginny even if he was the reincarnation of Merlin himself! Was he older than her – a lot older? Had he left Ginny to deal with the pregnancy on her own? Merlin she wasn't – she couldn't have been … Arthur couldn't even think the foul word.

'Hadrian Slytherin,' Molly said.

Arthur closed his eyes unable to contemplate the identity of Ginny's baby's father as dread settled down on his stomach. Ginny being sexually involved with anyone at her age made Arthur furious with both Ginny and any partner she may have even if he was better than controlling his anger than his wife it still burned through his veins like a fire. Ginny being pregnant at the age of fifteen was horrifying and not something that would just go away because they wanted it to.

Harry being the father of said child was even worse. A few weeks ago Arthur would have loved it if Harry and Ginny got together when they were a few years older. Arthur had thought then at least the boy would never hurt Ginny. Harry was the kindest soul you could ever hope for in a son in law but that was before he had killed his best friend and betrayed them all.

Before it had come out that Harry James Potter was actually Hadrian salazar Slytherin the son and heir of the Dark Lord. Arthur hadn't believed it at the time when Percy had brought that piece of Ministry gossip home. Arthur had thought that Harry was being Imperised by You Know Who or that the rumour mill had gone drastically out of control as was apt to happen even if Percy said he had heard it himself.

It wasn't until Albus had confirmed that it was true that Arthur had believed it. Yet even now there were moments Arthur had a hard time accept it. Harry had been the sweetest, kindest gentlest boy Arthur had ever met. Now he was expected to believe it was all a lie. That Harry had murdered his best friend in cold blood in the name of his father.

Now, however, Arthur was facing the very real prospect of You Know Who having a claim over his only daughter … his only grandchild. Arthur felt a hysterical laugh burst out from him as he realised that the upcoming trials were nothing on this unexpected - terrifying - news that his family was irreversibly tied to that of the most feared Dark Lord of their generation. How the hell could he protect Ginny and her child?

What a bloody disaster.

'How?' demanded Arthur.

Not that Arthur needed or wanted that for matter to know the mechanics of how it came to be. Arthur may not met Harry often it was true but to Arthur's knowledge it was all a one sided relationship. Ginny thinking Harry hung the moon and all the stars as well for that matter whilst Harry tolerated her for Ron's sake. Actually, Arthur was pretty sure that Ginny embarrassed Harry causing the boy to avoid his daughter as much as possible. Honestly Arthur couldn't say he blamed the boy at all given Ginny's almost obsessive behaviour around Harry Potter which Arthur had hoped Ginny would grow out of eventually. Now Arthur feared that Harry had been leading Ginny on the whole time!

Molly pursed her lips, 'apparently they've been in a relationship for a few months. You can imagine how devastated Ginny is over Harry's betrayal.'

Arthur once again found himself having to close his eyes as he imagined himself in his fifteen-year-old daughter's shoes. The boy that she had fallen head over heels in love with had murdered one of her friends, betrayed them to the monster who had tried to destroy her and was that monster's son. Then she had to face the fact that she was carrying Riddle's child. Arthur was only surprised that she wanted the child given the circumstance.

'Apparently Harry encouraged her to keep it a secret claiming he didn't want Ginny to have to deal with the press! Or at least that's what he's said to Ginny but I wouldn't trust a word that devil said!' Molly ranted.

'It could have been true,' Arthur said gently. 'We all know how the press can turn. We don't know when Harry switched sides. It's possible that he really did care for Ginny-'

'If he did care for Ginny he would have never turned to the Dark,' Molly snorted. 'Not after what his father almost did to Ginny.'

Arthur flinched as he remembered the Floo call informing him that Ginny was missing presumed dead. It had been the worst day of his life believing his baby girl had been murdered by Slytherin's monster. And now Ginny's boyfriend turned out to be Slytherin's heir and had betrayed them to the monster who had almost taken Ginny away from them.

Maybe Molly was right and Harry had been biding his time the whole time because the boy Arthur knew would have never betrayed the people he loved like that. Arthur had previously believed that the Dark Lord had found out about Harry when Harry was at a low. After Ron had betrayed him, when Harry was alone and knowing he would be sent back to his abusive relatives in just a few months. Now, however, Arthur had his doubts because if he had Ginny there for him he couldn't have turned – could he.

'The Slytherin bastard must have been using her or worse trying to turn her to the Dark,' continued Molly.

Arthur's heart froze at that suggestion. Arthur wished he could just say that would never happen but if Ginny's first year had proven anything it was that she was not unamenable to the whisperings of the Dark. She had believed Tom Marvolo Riddle was her friend for months before she realised she was being possessed. And now it was happening all over again with Riddle's son.

'And now she is in prime position to spy on the Order especially with a child in the picture!' Molly snapped angrily.

That brought another worry on a seemingly unending list of worries for the Weasley family. First there were the trials that charged Molly, Ron and Ginny with embezzlement. Then there was Ron and Ginny's friend betraying them and murdering their other friend. Now the older boys were not talking to Arthur and Molly after Molly had kicked Percy out.

And now there was this!

What the hell would the Order do when they found out that Ginny was pregnant with the Dark Lord's grandchild? They had turned on Harry as soon as they had found out his origins. Yes, he had betrayed them but what if they did the same to Ginny? Arthur never wanted his daughter to go through the ostracising which would be sure to follow once this got out.

'Do you think he knows?' demanded Arthur.

Arthur knew that if Harry did know that he could demand the child as the child would be Harry's Heir. The Weasleys were of a lesser untitled House so not even the Head of House could gain the child back by claiming them as the Heir. Not that Randolph Keitch would lift a finger to help them Arthur thought bitterly and would certainly never declare Arthur's grandchild as his Heir.

The Dark Lord could use the child to blackmail the Weasley family into doing what they wanted if they wanted to see the child. Hell Ginny could be refused visitation privileges if that was what Harry wanted. Unless she married Harry which would mean she would be tied to the Slytherin family and unable to go against Lord Slytherin's wishes. She would never be able to breathe one word against the family she had married into.

'No,' Molly said sharply. 'And he nor anyone else will ever know. Not the Order, not the boys and certainly not the Dark side! The secret will stay between Ginny, you, Albus and I. Is that clear?' demanded Molly.

'Dumbledore?' frowned Arthur.

After Dumbledore's treatment of the Dark Lord's son Arthur had serious reservations about allowing the Headmaster knowledge of Arthur's grandchild's father and more importantly the other grandfather. Yet Molly seemed to be convinced that Dumbledore needed to know the truth. A few weeks ago Arthur would have been in agreement with his wife but after recent revelations that was no longer.

'Are you sure that's a good idea?' asked Arthur tightly. 'After what Dumbledore did to Harry do we really want him to know who exactly the child is related to!? I will not have the child hurt no matter who his grandfather is and what Ginny may choose!'

'We have to tell him,' Molly said. 'If something happens to the three of us we need to know that someone else will be able to keep the child from the Dark Lord.'

Arthur was about to open his mouth to say that hadn't worked so well last time before he sighed tiredly. Arthur knew that Molly was right that the worst thing for any of them was if Voldemort caught wind of his son's dalliances and the consequences they wrought. If Voldemort ever found out that his line continued it would come part on their whole family.

Arthur nodded, 'yes, of course. We're going to have to tell the boys – not who the father is,' Arthur said quickly before Molly could say anything, 'but that Ginny is pregnant. This effects all of us.'

'Not until Ginny is ready,' Molly replied.

Arthur nodded, 'naturally but it will become clear soon enough. It's better for us to tell them than they work it out for themselves. And we're going to have to tell Minerva if Ginny's to continue Hogwarts she'll be pregnant next term. Minerva will have to make sure that everything is in order.'

'Yes,' agreed Molly, 'but we have a few months before Ginny has to go back to Hogwarts.

'I'm going talk to her,' Arthur said.

Walking up the stairs Arthur tried to think of exactly what he was going to say to his young daughter who had just got herself in more trouble than Arthur could ever conceive of. What the hell could he do to make this better? How the hell were they going to go on from here? How to comfort her about Harry's decisions? There was nothing that Arthur thought he could say!

'Ginny, can I come in?' Arthur called quietly.

'Yes, Dad,' Ginny called back sofly.

'Dad,' Ginny said worry in her voice.

Arthur sighed, 'hello Ginny. How are you feeling?'

Ginny sat up putting her hands around her middle as if surprised to find it was still flat. Arthur thought about when Molly was last pregnant with Ginny how round she was. In a few months Ginny would look the same but she was so much younger than Molly was even with Bill. Arthur wished that he could protect his daughter from her own foolish mistakes.

'Fine,' Ginny replied.

Arthur sighed knowing a lie when he heard one but knowing that Ginny was likely lying more to herself than she was to Arthur. Arthur sat down beside his daughter on the green covered bed and pulled the girl into a hug like he would have done when Ginny was a child after a fight with the boys. Arthur wished that this problem was as easy to solve as those days when a hug and an ear was enough to bring a smile back to Ginny but a pregnancy and a heart break were not as easy to solve.

'Do you want to talk about it?' asked Arthur.

Ginny shook her head, 'no.'

'I'm not cross with you,' Arthur said.

'So you don't mind?' asked Ginny quietly.

'Mind,' Arthur said with a slight hysterical note to his voice that he tried desperately to calm. 'Of course I mind. I mind that you decided to have sex without adequate protection! I want to demand exactly what the hell the two you were thinking! But that won't help or change the situation any so I won't. I just want you to know whatever happens I will be there for you.'

'Thank you Dad,' Ginny said.

'Are you sure you want to go through with this?' asked Arthur quietly.

'But I have to,' Ginny said quietly. 'The laws says-'

'I know,' Arthur said sighing, 'but if you want to give up the child then I will support you in that decision. Don't just do what your mother wants. It is not her life but yours and you are the one who has to live with whatever happens.'

Suddenly Arthur found himself with an armful of teenaged daughter. Arthur let Ginny cry on his shoulder as she had not done since Harry had pulled her out of the Chamber of Secrets. Since Arthur and Molly had sat her down to talk about what had happened to her. Eventually Ginny calmed down, let go of Arthur and pulled back from him looking a lot calmer.

'Do you want to talk about Harry?' asked Arthur.

Ginny scowled, 'why would I want to talk about that evil traitor?'

Arthur sighed, 'he betrayed you and broke your heart.'

'Better than what happened to Hermione,' Ginny snapped. 'SHE WAS HIS BEST FRIEND! HOW COULD HE DO THAT?'

'I don't know,' Arthur sighed. 'I really don't. I wish I had all the answers but I don't. I know that Harry suffered a lot in his life. That all he ever wanted was a family-'

'He had us,' Ginny snapped. 'We were his family!'

'I know,' Arthur said quietly.

'Do you think he was with him the whole time?' asked Ginny.

Arthur knew what Ginny was really asking. Had Harry known what was going on with her in her first year? Had he really saved her life? Or had that all been an act. It saddened Arthur immensely that he honestly couldn't answer that question. Arthur hoped against hope that the answer was no because if it were not he would kill the boy no matter his age for doing nothing as the life was sucked out of Ginny.

'I don't know, Gin, I really don't,' Arthur sighed. 'Only Harry knows the answer to that.'

'If I ever see him again he's dead,' snarled Ginny.

Arthur sighed knowing that Ginny had the right to her anger at Harry even if it would not help her any if she did not let go of these feelings. Harry had broken her heart and betrayed them all to the Dark Lord his father or not. Of course, Ginny was angry and was going to express it in empty threats and harsh words. Ginny always had her mother's temper Arthur thought fondly.

'I know, Ginny, I know,' sighed Arthur. 'But it will get better. I promise you.'

So Ginny is indeed pregnant and the Light side's scheming has come to fruition or so they think at least. All the while Arthur remains in ignorant bliss and is beginning to buy into Dumbledore's lies.

Next chapter sees the end of the term at Hogwarts.

Thank you for all the name suggestions. There are some I like and you'll just have to wait and see if I use any of them.

Thank you for all the supportive comments. I could not have continued this story without your support.