"Cronus Rising"

"Chapter Eleven: Follow the Money"

Harry stood in the Burrow next to Ginny with Teddy in-between them who was bouncing out of excitement a week after Ginny was released from the hospital. All the Weasleys had been gathered together into the small house. Victoire was sitting on George's lap as she excitedly asked him for a new trick from the joke shop. Percy's little girl sat between her grandparents and babbled on about nothing anyone could understand. Ron and Hermione were sitting on the floor not far from them as most of the chairs had been taken by the time they had arrived. Even Charlie Weasley had come for the announcement and hung in the back of the room talking with Bill and Fleur.

"Okay, everyone!" Ginny called. "Harry, Teddy, and I have something we want to tell all of you."

"Oi, just put the ring on already!" called George playfully. "I got stuff I need to do, and we all know that's why you called us here!"

Harry shifted his weight, the ring was still securely in his pocket. He had not proposed and the news of the baby would certainly shock the Weasleys into silence. They had agreed to tell just the Weasleys and that was it. Nobody else would find out about the baby. Nobody could. Luckily, the Harpies had finished out the season until spring when the finals would pick up once more.

"Listen, what we're about to tell you," Ginny continued as though she hadn't heard her brother, "does not leave these walls. Nobody is to know what we're about to tell you. It's strictly a Weasley secret, okay?"

"Just tell us when the wedding date is already!" Charlie shouted. "I need to know when to put in my vacation days!"

"Harry and I are not engaged," Ginny snapped. "Can I just tell my news?"

"You mean… this isn't about an engagement?" Mrs. Weasley spoke up, a slightly annoyed tone lacing her words, as she brushed her namesake's hair with her fingers.

"No!" Ginny replied in an exasperated tone.

"Just tell them, Gins," Harry whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

"Can I just tell everyone?" Teddy whined as he turned towards Ginny as though he simply could not hold in the secret any longer.

"Harry and I are having a baby!" Ginny blurted out and the room grew very quiet.

"I'M GOING TO BE A GODBROTHER!" Teddy shouted with his arms stretched out wide when nobody moved or said anything.

Harry shifted uncomfortably. He expected the Weasleys to be shocked but not… this shocked. He supposed it had to do with the fact that they were not married or at least engaged while announcing the pregnancy.

"Congratulations!" Hermione broke the silence as she stood up and enveloped Ginny into a hug.

"How far along are you?" Angelina asked as she approached the two with her own belly just starting to show to give Harry an embrace.

"So that makes three Weasley babies coming next year!" Bill announced as he stepped forward to give his sister a hug.

"Two Weasleys and a Potter," George corrected with a laugh as Victoire was hoisted up on his shoulders. "But, then again, isn't Potter just a synonym for Weasley at this point?"

Harry felt the anxiety leave the pit of his stomach. All the Weasleys were rising from their seats to give their congratulations. All except Mrs. Weasley who sat still on the couch with her granddaughter.

"Am I right to assume that you two have talked about marriage?" Mrs. Weasley spoke suddenly and everyone stood still. All eyes were on Harry.

"I, uh… not, not really," he replied nervously.

"You can't expect not to get married after this. You two have a responsibility now. You must get married before the baby comes! How far along are you exactly?"

Everyone turned their attention to Ginny. She reached out a hand to grasp Harry's fingers into hers.

"About eight weeks," she said barely above a whisper.

"Molly, I'm sure this wasn't exactly a planned pregnancy," Mr. Weasley spoke softly. "They're committed to one another. We know Harry, he's like another son to us. We don't have to worry about them not being in this for the long haul."

Is that what Mrs. Weasley thought? That if he didn't marry her that he was going to run off and leave her alone with a baby to take care of by herself? Harry suddenly felt sick at the very notion that his only maternal figure would think that of him.

"I'm not doubting Harry's intentions," she spoke slowly as she flashed Harry a sad look. "The baby deserves to have married parents. It's the proper way to do things."

"I… I never said I didn't want to marry Ginny," Harry supplied as a hand reached down to rest on Teddy's shoulder, who looked absolutely confused by the turn of conversation.

"This is unbelievable!" Ginny shouted. "Honestly, anytime anyone else in this family has announced a pregnancy, you've been over the moon. But with Harry and me? Just because we didn't do things in the conventional sense and get married first? I mean, honestly, Mum, when has anything Harry and I have done been conventional? We're already parents to Teddy!"

"Teddy is different, dear."

"Why am I different?" Teddy spoke up softly with furrowed brows.

"Are you serious right now?" Ginny roared.

Ginny knelt down and pulled Teddy into her arms. He looked between Harry and Ginny like he suddenly felt unwanted and uncomfortable. Harry had never felt more anger towards Mrs. Weasley before. Before he could say or move, Ginny stood up with Teddy in her arms. She announced she was going home and had disappeared through the fireplace.

Nobody moved nor dare speak. Very slowly, Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet blue box. He slammed it down on the coffee table for everyone to see.

"I've been carrying that around in my bloody pocket for a good two months trying to find the right way to propose. I bought a good six months ago. With everything going on with Cronus, I didn't want to do it. I wanted to wait until after that whole mess was taken care of. The baby might have been a surprise but my intention to one day have a family with Ginny never was," he spoke in an even, cool tone.

"Oh, Harry," Mrs. Weasley started.

Harry held up a hand to stop her. With his free hand, he grabbed the ring box and shoved it back in his pocket. He silently left the Burrow in the same manner Ginny had.

It had been a week since Harry and Ginny had told the Weasleys their news. In that time, Ginny's favorite spot had become rooted in front of the toilet. Teddy often sat with her in the bathroom, taking Moony and a book with him to read to her as she wrenched up all of her food.

"I never thought having a baby was so… disgusting," Teddy commented one day as he lounged on the bathroom floor with Moony under his chin.

"Oh, God, Harry, grab Fleur. She's so good at making this-"

Before Ginny could finish her sentence, she started puking once more into the toilet. Harry sat awkwardly behind her, rubbing her back.

Neither one had talked to Mrs. Weasley all week. Harry had been busy at the Ministry and planning for the next Order meeting. Ginny had been busy taking care of Teddy and trying to keep some food down. Ginny's brothers had all sent owls to make it clear they were very excited, albeit shocked, by the news and didn't care when the wedding was or if there was ever a wedding. Fleur had been popping into the apartment almost daily with Victoire to help Ginny take care of Teddy and to teach her some spells to help cope with the morning sickness.

It was Saturday night when Harry ushered Teddy and Victorie upstairs at Grimmauld Place as he waited for the rest of the Order members to arrive. Fleur was with a very green looking Ginny with her wand out.

"Eets more of a flick," Fleur explained very slowly as though talking to a child as she motioned with her wand. "A flick, 'Inny, a flick. Not a jab."

"Fleur, can you just do it before I puke all over the carpets, please?" Ginny asked in a pitiful tone.

"Oi, Ginny, if you're going to hurl, why don't you go over to Sirius' mum's portrait?" suggested George. "I think we may be able to hear Sirius laugh from the great beyond if you do."

Harry smiled widely as George flashed him a grin before disappearing down the stairs to the kitchen with Angelina. Ginny, however, did not seem amused by the joke as Fleur flicked her wand gracefully while uttering the incantation. A look of relief crossed her features.

The rest of the Order members came spilling through the fireplace or through the front door. Everyone chattered as they made their way to the kitchen. Ginny stood next to Harry and he instantly placed an arm around her shoulders. She looked exhausted.

The last to arrive, by no surprise, was Draco Malfoy who was looking even thinner than normal. He did not acknowledge Harry or Ginny and swiftly walked down to the kitchens. Harry sighed and glided his hand down to the small of Ginny's back. They too made their way downstairs.

Harry stood with his back against the counter. His fingers curled around the granite as he surveyed the room. Everyone was situating themselves around the kitchen table, some conjuring chairs to sit along the wall. Mrs. Weasley sat towards the back while Malfoy sulked in the corner. In the very front row, looking paler than pale was Dudley and Claire Dursley.

Dudley had called Harry a few days ago asking to speak with him. He had run to Dudley's house one day during his lunch break to meet with them. Dudley and Claire sat him down in the parlor and asked to be involved in the battle against Cronus. Claire had been watching the news ever since the attack at her wedding, reading about how Azkaban had fallen. She had even hired a personal tutor to teach her the magical lessons she had missed when she dropped out of Hogwarts. Dudley, had surprisingly, been exceedingly supportive.

"Err… if you could keep this from my mum and dad, I'd appreciate it, Harry," Dudley had said before Harry had left that day after telling them about the Order and how to find headquarters for the next meeting.

"Thank you all for coming," Harry greeted in a weary tone. "Cronus has been quiet since releasing the prisoners from Azkaban. Azkaban is still under the Ministry's control and nobody has even attempted to go back there. Malfoy, tell us, what's his next move? There has to be something new. It's been too quiet."

"You want me to reveal information like that in front of a Muggle?" Malfoy's head nodded towards Dudley.

Ginny, who was seated beside Claire, reached out a hand to squeeze her shoulder. Some curious eyes looked around the room until they too landed on the Dursleys.

"Dudley's my cousin," Harry spoke slowly, with his voice even. "He's had Auror protection around him since the attack on Ginny in the market. He married a witch. It only seems fitting they are both here. Besides that, they can give us an indication on what Muggles have been saying."

"I mean, we let a git like you in here, Malfoy, so why not a Muggle?" Ron shot.

"Yeah, I mean, Dudley's kind of a git himself so you guys should get along alright," George added.

"Enough," snapped Harry as Dudley squirmed in his chair with a frown etched on his face.

Sure, Dudley was a ginormous git while the two were growing up. Dudley made his amends, the two were developing a relationship he never thought was possible. He didn't want what progress they had made to be shattered. Especially since Dudley's children would, no doubt, attend Hogwarts with Teddy and his own children.

"I'd expect, Mister Malfoy, if you are here at these meetings, if you agreed to this particular position, you would have let go of some of your more unfavorable ideals," Professor McGonagall spoke up.

"Oh, yes, just because I don't agree with Potter, then I must not have changed." Malfoy stood up and crossed the room. "He's a Muggle, and we are not only telling him about magic but also our plans to fight a dark wizard. Tell me, if this Muggle would get captured, what's to stop him from spilling out all of our secrets? He'll be defenseless."

"What's ter stop any of us from talkin'?" Hagrid roared from the very back. "Yeh think if Cronus figured out yeh been playin' him a fool yeh wouldn't be tortured? What's ter stop yeh from spillin' secrets to get it to stop?"

"I'm a wizard, you big oaf, and have a wand and magic," Malfoy spit back bitterly. "Not that you'd understand what it's like to have a wand."

A chair screeched against the floor. There was a loud bang as the chair collided with the wall and broke. Hagrid took two steps and was standing in front of Malfoy with fury burning in his eyes.

"Hagrid," Harry warned.

Hagrid's fists clenched at his sides. He looked at Harry before taking a step back.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Just like an obedient dog you are," Malfoy sneered.

"Malfoy!" hissed Harry as he shot Hagrid a warning glance to sit down. "Enough! I've had it with all the fighting! We are here because a dark wizard has attacked, has killed, has released nearly all the prisoners from Azkaban! All we seem to do for the first hour of every meeting is fight amongst each other! Malfoy, for once, shut your mouth of unnecessary commentary!"

"If I may, Mister Potter, I'd like to say something," Professor McGonagall said in an even tone. "It would do you well, Mister Malfoy, to remember a man I'm sure you've met by the name of Peter Pettigrew. He joined the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named out of fear. He gladly traded Order secrets and whereabouts of Order members to save his own skin. I'm sure no torture was necessary. Any of us could turn. Any of us could be captured. You really think that Cronus is going to suspect a Muggle in our ranks?"

Malfoy sneered.

"Why don't you give your report, Malfoy?" Harry said with a small smiled aimed at his old professor. McGonagall merely nodded back at him in acknowledgement.

Malfoy nodded curtly as he took his place next to Harry which was no doubt a power move on his part. He stood tall while Harry leaned against the countertops. His cold eyes surveyed the room, avoiding looking at Dudley or Claire.

"He seeks control of Gringotts next."

The room was silent, confusion clouding some faces. Harry frowned at the turn of events. He wanted the prisoners of Azkaban and now he wanted to control the wizarding money.

"Why Gringotts?" Ron's voice was the first to speak.

"Don't you see, Ron?" Hermione said in an exasperated tone. "He wants to take away everyone's livelihood. If he controls the money, what are families going to do when they can't take their money out of their vaults? What will they do when their wages from their jobs no longer come? They'll submit to him, succumb to his wishes. Wizards would bend to his requests in order to put food on the table, to feed their children, to survive."

"Bill, you need to be our liaison with the goblins," Harry said instantly. "We need added security."

"They won't take your help or your security," replied Bill with a regretful tone. "They are proud, they are arrogant. They believe that nobody would be able to get past their precautions or take the bank. You'll have to be clever about it. I daresay, Harry, you're not exactly the most liked amongst the goblins."

"Isn't there a reasonable one within management? Someone who would listen?" Harry inquired, a frown working its way onto his features.

He supposed he should have expected the goblins not to like him. He did break into Gringotts at seventeen and stole from a vault. Anytime he went to Gringotts, which he tried to make as infrequently as possible, they always sneered at him and gave him a hard time. More often than not, he sent Ginny to the bank. He had placed her name on his account a good two years ago.

"I can try but I can make no guarantees. Last time, Dumbledore asked the same of me. It was no easy feat to get them to listen to me, to get them to understand. The Dark Side often has more bargaining chips than we seem to."

"Well, we can set up security in Diagon Alley to patrol," Harry was mainly thinking out loud at this point. "Get Order members and Aurors alike to take shifts."

Cronus could not get control of Gringotts. That much he was sure of. Hermione was right – when people start to starve because they have no money, when they start to hear the cries of their hungry children, they will become desperate and there will be nothing they could do to persuade them on their side at that point.

There were three institutions that could not fall – Gringotts, the Ministry, and Hogwarts. Those were the prized possessions of their Wizarding World, the pillars of their society. If even one fell, it would be catastrophic. It would be the beginning of the end.

The rest of the meeting was spent discussing how to protect Gringotts, ideas and charms were thrown out on the table. Malfoy had no other information on when the attack would happen or how. It was still in the early planning stages. Harry, however, doubted they would ever know that information. The attack on Azkaban had been discussed but never revealed when. Malfoy had stated that they were called one night for a meeting and told the plan only twenty minutes before they set out. There was no way to get a message to Harry or the Order without rising suspicions. Cronus was very cautious in case there was a spy in his midst. Harry briefly wondered if he knew Malfoy was a spy.

Perhaps, he did suspect a spy. Afterall, Kingsley had ordered Azkaban to hire more guards and extend the number of staff on at one time. Vidar had sent at least two Aurors to be at the prison at all times to patrol. They had upped security enough to be noticeable. Cronus knew enough to attack Harry, wait for him to call the Order, and then attack Azkaban when everyone would be somewhere else.

Everyone started to disperse from the kitchen nearly an hour and a half later. Some lingered to chat in hushed tones. Others, like Malfoy, had been rushed out of the musty, old house.

Dudley and Claire had wandered up to Harry. They both looked more nervous than they had when they first entered the meeting.

"I'm, er, sorry, Harry," Dudley started as he wrapped an arm around Claire. "Are we not supposed to come?"

"No, you're fine, Dudley. Malfoy's just… you know how Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon hate magic?" Dudley nodded.

"We haven't exactly told them that Claire's a… a witch yet."

"Well, some wizards hate Muggles. They find Muggles beneath them. Malfoy comes from a very old wizarding family who held those sorts of beliefs. Although, Malfoy is on our side, he still struggles with those beliefs sometimes… or all of the time."

Dudley nodded as Claire wrung her hands nervously.

"I remember the two of you fighting a lot at school," she spoke softly. "He always seemed unbearable."

Harry offered a soft smile as he tucked his hands into his pockets. Ginny had approached the small group.

"It's silly to think you two won't be affected by Cronus," Ginny supplied. "Dudley and Harry are cousins. You've married into the family and are a witch. It's best if you're here to help if you can. You may have point of views as a Muggle or being raised in a Muggle environment that we may not think of as wizards. It could be very insightful and helpful."

"Thanks, Ginny," Claire said with a smile.

"We, uh, ought to be going. Long drive ahead of us," Dudley announced.

The small group bid their farewells. In fact, almost everyone had gone except some of the Weasleys at this point. Molly Weasley walked up to Harry and Ginny. She looked pale and nervous.

"I know I'm not your favorite person right now," she started to say, "I'm sorry about the way I reacted. It's just… in my day, people did things a certain way. There was marriage and then a family. I, I thought a lot about what you said. You're right, your relationship has never been conventional. How could it be? Harry was famous since before he could talk. We had You-Know-You wreaking havoc throughout your childhood. You've had a godson you've looked after since you were only seventeen years old. So, I guess you've been a father for five years already, Harry. I'm just… I'm sorry. I'm so excited for the both of you and I want to be there to help you still."

"It's okay, Mum. I forgive you."

Ginny had tears pouring silently down her face as she embraced her mother tightly. Harry knew the stress of not talking to her mother was getting to her. While Fleur had been an amazing help the past week, Harry knew that Ginny had craved her mother to be there instead.

Mrs. Weasley pulled back, a smile broke out on her face as she ran a hand along Ginny's still flat stomach. She then turned to Harry who too told her he forgave her. The two embraced as well. All was forgiven.

"Harry," Bill's voice called from the kitchen door, "I brought Teddy down. He didn't want to stay upstairs by himself. We're leaving!"

"Thank you. Goodnight," Harry waved as Teddy came bounding over to his guardians.

"Goodnight, you three," Mrs. Weasley said as she gave Ginny's hand a slight squeeze. "You ready, Arthur?"

Harry didn't dare admit it out loud, but he sort of agreed with Mrs. Weasley on the whole marriage debate. He wanted to be with Ginny, wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, wanted to make a family. He never had a proper family growing up. He wanted his kids to have a proper childhood, one with perfectly happy married parents. He wanted Teddy to be included on that – to have married guardians. He wanted a family, a real family. Maybe, just maybe, he was being silly about waiting to propose until Cronus was gone. Hadn't his parents gotten married and had a baby during a time of war?

Ginny, Harry, and Teddy were the last to leave Grimmauld Place. Ginny made sure all the doors and windows were locked before standing in front of the fireplace in the kitchen. She pulled out some floo powder and disappeared amongst the flames. With a look of pure disgust, Teddy stepped forward and reached for the powder. Harry gripped his shoulder to stop him.

"What's wrong, Harry?"

"Do you think you could help me with a special mission?" he inquired as a wide smile spread across Teddy's features.

"A mission? For me? Well, spit it out, Harry! I wanna know!" Teddy couldn't help bouncing on the balls of his feet as Harry crouched down until they were eye level.

"I think I've been carrying this ring around in my pocket too long," Harry said as he tapped his jacket pocket. "Think you can help me find a way to ask Ginny to marry me?"

"YES!" Teddy said in excitement. "You want me to help you plan it? Can I be there when you do it?"

Harry laughed, a wide smile crossing his features. For a split second, he forgot about Cronus, about Azkaban, about Gringotts, about the nearly seventy files on escapees sitting on his desk at work. He forgot about the Order, forgot about having all eyes on him to fix the Wizarding World. For once, he focused on his godson, focused on his girlfriend, focused on his unborn child.

"Of course, you can be there when it happens. You really think I would propose without you there? We're family, Teddy. You'll always be there for everything."

Teddy flung his arms around Harry's neck as a strangled noise of excitement caught in the tiny boy's throat.

I know I said new chapter on Friday, but I am actually ahead of my writing schedule so I thought I'd post a day early. I was worried chapters 15 and 16 were going to be difficult to write, but they've surprisingly come easier than I anticipated. So, I roughly have 20 chapters planned out, a possible 21st epilogue that would be short if I decide it's needed.

I have a questions for everyone. I wanted to write another story after I've finished this one. I had ideas to do a Marauders story, another (unrelated) post Hogwarts story, or part of me wants to continue with a sequel to this story (although I have no idea of where to take it). What would you guys be interested in reading? Please leave a review!