Author's Note: Bit a warning on this one - this chapter may contain a sensitive subject for some. I have tried my best to give it the justice it deserves.

Chapter 57: False Steps to A More Solid Ground


A few days after her birthday, Ginny woke up with excruciating back pain. She must have cried out in her sleep because Brogan and Harry were saying her name and looked relieved when she opened her eyes.

"Gin, you were crying," Harry murmured. The light was just barely coming through the high windows of the bedroom, so she knew it must still be early. She tried to sit up but doubled over again.

"Ugh," she managed to get out before she felt her eyes start to water. She felt a quick warmth and then heard Brogan murmuring his muscle-relaxing spell. She took hold of Harry's hand and squeezed until the spasm eased. When her breathing returned to normal, she looked at them.

"What in the hell is happening?"

"Is it time for your cycle to start?" Brogan asked, starting to check her over. Ginny thought about it and realized it probably was. She frowned to herself. It was unlike her to forget and stranger still for her body not to remind her before it started. In fact, Ginny realized she was relatively late with her monthly honor. Bollocks. She lay back down and released a long breath, the spell Brogan cast starting to remove a bit of the tightness in her back. Harry looked at her, his eyes full of concern.

"Bath?" he asked now, looking worried.

"Maybe later," she breathed out, feeling another cramp coming on. She squeezed Harry's hand and moaned. Brogan moved off the bed and started getting dressed. Harry looked at him.

"I'm going to see if Torin and Kath have any pain potions brewed. Back in a tic."

"It's about 3am in the morning," Harry muttered, grabbing his watch. "I doubt they'll be up."

"I'll look in the Potions laboratory first, and if I can't find any, I'll knock on her door and then wake her up if I have to. If you can, use your wandless magic to maybe heat the area of her back that's bothering her, it should help."

Harry nodded and moved behind Ginny, rubbing her back gently. She watched as he closed his eyes and frowned in concentration. She felt a warmth suddenly start to spread from his fingers. She sighed in relief.

"That's nice, Harry."

"What's going on, Gin?" Harry whispered, resting his head on her side. She glanced up at him.

"I don't know. This is so…unusual for me. I don't know what could be causing it."

"All the great sex?" Harry asked smirking. He sobered as he looked at her. "Maybe we should, er, say something to your Mum or something."

"About the great sex? She does have seven children; I'm sure Dad made her happy quite a few times."

Harry made a face. "Uh, ew, and no, not what I meant."

Ginny closed her eyes, feeling her back start to spasm again. This was much worst than the last time. She grabbed Harry's hand once more, and he made a noise as she squeezed his fingers. When the pain eased off, so smiled apologetically at him. "I'm sorry, love."

"I can take it," he said, smiling as he flexed his fingers.

Ginny tried to take in some deep breaths and slowly released them. It seemed to help a bit. But she suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous. She brought her other hand up to her mouth, feeling as if she was going to vomit. She pushed herself to the edge of the bed and started retching. Harry scrambled behind her, trying to pull her hair out of the way for her. Thankfully, nothing came back up, but she suddenly felt even worse as her stomach seemed to plummet.

"Oh, yuck," she murmured. "Harry, can you get me some water? Like, ice-cold water. Colder the better."

"I don't want to leave you alone," he said, holding her.

"I'll be better with water," Ginny said, closing her eyes. The room seemed to stop spinning when she did that, which was a good thing.

Harry shifted, and she blinked one of her eyes open to see that he was attempting to find his clothes. They all pretty much went to bed wearing nothing most nights. "Bring the light up. It's okay," she murmured and groaned as her body whinged at her again. Now it felt as though her stomach was joining in on the fun.

She kept her eyes closed as the room brightened. She heard Harry leave and then sighed, willing her stomach to settle. She opened her eyes and tried to focus on the floor in front of her, not moving her head. A few moments later, and she heard Hermione's soft voice.

"Ginny? Harry says you're sick, what can I do?"

"Is he getting me that water?"

Hermione's feet came to the corner of the floor Ginny was staring at, and her friend bent down so she could see her. Hermione's hand touched her forehead.

"You feel a bit warm."

"That's why I asked for ice water," Ginny said grumpily. Hermione tsked at her and put a hand on her back, which only caused another spasm to go off. Ginny groaned and knew that this time she would not be able to stop herself. She haphazardly pushed Hermione's feet out of the way and got sick, a terrible feeling coming over her as she retched. Her stomach cramped again, and she couldn't stop the whimper that escaped her mouth.

"Is she throwing up now? Shite." Brogan was back as Hermione was cleaning up Ginny's stomach contents from the floor with a wave of her wand.

"I don't think we should give her that," Hermione said, sniffing.

Ginny tried to move her head but found that she couldn't. She moaned, and Brogan was suddenly by her side, touching her and trying to comfort her.

"Are you sick, or is it the pain making you sick?" he asked quietly, and Ginny murmured out the word 'pain.' He handed her a small black bottle that smelled faintly of licorice. "Drink up then."

Ginny tilted the bottle back as she turned over and swallowed, willing it to stay down. She blinked at her friends, seeing the worry on both their faces. Hermione took the bottle from her. "Where does it hurt, exactly?"

"My back, all over my back, and my stomach, it just…it keeps clenching. It feels like there's a giant hand in there, squeezing everything. Oh, Merlin." Ginny bit her lip as another cramp hit her.

"Is she okay?" Harry had returned, and she heard the door close behind him. She wondered how Harry had got Hermione up, but not Ron. Suddenly, Harry was putting a cold glass of water in her hand.

"She got sick," Hermione murmured. "I hope the pain potion stays down."

Ginny took the water gratefully, drinking it as though she had just come in from a night spent on the driest desert on earth. She sighed as the water traveled down her throat, her eyes fluttering closed. Everyone just needed to leave her be. She felt a strange sort of wetness between her legs, and the strongest cramp yet hit her head-on. Before she could even get a word out, Ginny lost consciousness, the glass falling from her hands.

o-o-o-o-o

If Ginny dreamed, she did not remember. There was darkness and then nothing for a long time. And then there were sounds, so she followed them. There was murmuring but she couldn't make anything out. Sometimes there was singing, a pretty little song sung just for her, and someone was calling her and holding her and offering warmth and love, and so she went to them, wanting to finally end the darkness.

When she did eventually awake, it was early morning again, or perhaps, so late the light had already set. Their bedroom was cast in dark grays and moving blues – shadows growing and shrinking as she watched them. Ginny had no thought at first – she simply breathed in and out, feeling her body get used to consciousness. Her eyes finally focused on the figure sitting next to her bed. His head had fallen forward, with his glasses dangling dangerously sideways on his face. An open book was in his lap, and he looked so uncomfortable that Ginny wanted to wake him just so he could finally uncurl himself and relax. One hand lay flat on the page of the book and the other was next to her, as though he had been brushing the hair off her face.

Ginny released a breath, his fingers twitching as she did so, and then Harry was moving, stretching back as though surprised at himself for being asleep. He blinked at her unseeingly at first, and then he straightened his glasses, his green eyes going wide. Ginny noticed he had at least two days worth of stubble on his face.

"Gin? Ginny?" With a flick of his hand, the light blared into life in the room, and Ginny frowned and groaned, blinking at him.

"Shite, sorry," Harry muttered, and suddenly it was less bright. He moved forward and pulled her into his arms. "Oh, God, oh, thank God you're awake."

A moment later, their door was opening, and Ginny saw Brogan come into the room, looking almost as bad as Harry did, if not worse. He, too, had dark stubble on his face, and it gave him a wild, on the edge sort of look. He had felt them, she knew, or at least, he must have felt Harry's relief. He shut the door behind him and rested against it as though afraid to enter. His face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes. He stayed where he was, with a look on his face that she did not understand. She reached her hand out to him, and he took a tentative step and then stopped, looking indecisive.

"Brogan…" she murmured, her voice hoarse. She needed him, too. Suddenly he propelled himself across the room, and Harry turned to allow him to sit next to him. Ginny sighed as they connected, her anxiety ebbing, and she felt something wet against her cheek and realized Harry was crying.

"Oh, Merlin, it's not that bad, is it?" She croaked out, and Brogan bit back a laugh as he finally looked at her, his eyes blood-shot and full of relief.

Harry shook his head and wiped at his eyes, looking embarrassed. "You've been asleep for days, Gin. You have no idea, no…idea."

He rested his head on hers and breathed in deeply, and Ginny did the same. She reached out with her other hand and pulled Brogan closer.

"We all need a shower," Ginny finally said, and Brogan and Harry both choked out a laugh, looking at her as though she had just announced it was Christmas.

"Do you remember anything?" Brogan finally asked as he brushed her hair away from her face. Harry looked at her, frowning.

Ginny shook her head. "I remember getting sick and throwing up on Hermione. Oh Merlin, hope she knows that I'm sorry for that. And then…you giving me that pain potion and…nothing. Just…nothing."

"No one could wake you. Not even with a spell. Nothing we tried worked. Even when out cold, you're as stubborn as a hippogriff," Harry said, his voice almost reprimanding her.

Ginny frowned. "What happened to me?"

Harry and Brogan shared a long glance, as though silently communicating, and she had a funny feeling in her stomach. "What? What is it?"

Brogan sighed and nodded at Harry. Ginny looked at him, feeling unnerved.

"They er, well, that is your Mum…seems to think…" Harry stopped, and no one said anything. Ginny sighed, knowing she was going to have to pry it out of them.

"Harry, spit it out, for Merlin's sake. You're scaring me. Am I okay, now, at least?"

"She thinks you er, had um…" Harry's eyes flicked to Brogan, and he stopped again.

"You were pregnant." Brogan's voice was low and tinged with pain and something else she couldn't place. He had lowered his head and wasn't looking at her.

"I…what do you mean, were? I'm not any longer?" She looked at Harry, who gave her a sad look.

"Your Mum thinks you had a miscarriage, or…that is, it terminated itself. She thinks you were about six weeks, maybe more."

Ginny felt shocked down to her toes. Had it really been that long? She realized she had not had her blessed honor of womanhood since Thorn Rose Cottage. She frowned at Harry as she realized something else. "But you're on the potion."

Harry met her eyes, slowly nodding his head. "I am."

"But then that means…" Ginny looked at Brogan, who raised his head to look at her, his eyes full of pain. Ginny felt her heart start to erratically thump in her chest. "Oh, my God."

Brogan looked away first, swallowing roughly. Harry touched the other man on the arm to steady him, and Ginny felt…she didn't know what she felt. Confusion, most likely. She suddenly remembered the strange wetness she'd felt before she'd blacked out. She frowned. "I don't understand, I mean, I know how people get pregnant, obviously, but…why did it, why did it terminate? Was it something I did? Did I do something to hurt it, eat something I wasn't supposed to, or did we have too much sex? Oh, Merlin, that's it, isn't it?" She felt a mounting sort of horror begin inside of her at the thought.

"No," Brogan said, his voice sounding gruff. "It just…happens sometimes. It's nothing you did. It's nothing any of us did. You're young, and your body most likely rejected it. And…and…O'Corras have…my family, they just…their partners have a lot of miscarriages. Especially if it is a female baby. Remember how my Mum always told me I was the end of the line? I reckon it's something she just…knew. I suppose that's what she meant about the family curse." He bowed his head, and Ginny looked at Harry, who looked helplessly back at her.

Ginny bit her lip, her mind trying to sort out everything she was feeling. The emotions she was feeling were not all hers. In fact, she mostly just had her confusion and Harry's relief coursing through her. But one of them was a sharp burst of pain and full of self-loathing. She sat up and put her arms around Brogan, and pulled him to her. He stiffened and started to push her away, but she only held on tighter and looked at Harry over his shoulder. He nodded and helped her move Brogan into the bed, climbing in behind him. They held onto him, together.

"I'm just so happy you're okay," Brogan finally whispered, his voice breaking. "I…I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if you... you scared me, Ginny." He sobbed quietly, and she felt her heart break.

Ginny shushed him, rubbing his back. Harry met her gaze, his eyes full of sorrow, too.

"I tried to tell him he was being stupid and shouldn't blame himself, but he wouldn't listen," Harry finally said, hugging Brogan from behind. "Your family all thinks it was ours, er, mine. Hermione might know the real truth because she knows I take the potion. Your Mum was pretty confident you'd be okay once you healed, so everyone has left us alone up here, mostly. Which, thank Merlin for that, because Brogan's been a right arse to live with. And you know me, Gin, I can be an even bigger arse without you to tell me what to do."

Brogan finally chuckled, although it sounded as though it was against his will. He wiped at his eyes, stubbornly. He looked at Ginny, his eyes begging her for forgiveness. "I am so sorry. I should have been more responsible. My Mum always…she convinced me there would be no more descendants after me, so like the idiot I am, I just assumed that meant I could never get anyone pregnant. But I should have started taking the potion, too. I caused you pain…I just...I am so sorry, Ginny." He bowed his head again, and both Harry and Ginny touched him, trying to soothe him.

"I'm okay, Brogan," she said, looking at Harry. "I mean, I am, aren't I?"

Harry shrugged. "Your Mum seems to think so. She wasn't as worried about you as you'd think. Something about how this happened to her when she was with your dad before they were married. The next year they had Bill, apparently. So, hey, let's mark our calendars and do this again."

Ginny snorted and released the breath she had been holding. She knew she was going to be okay if Harry could make jokes. "Can I get up? Can I shower? Or do I have to stay in bed while you two give me a sponge bath and then do each other?"

Brogan sniffed at her. "Oh, Merlin, I've missed you. Harry and I just…we don't do moody, worried vigils very well. I think Harry would kill me within a week if you ever left us."

"Hey, I'm better than that. At least eight days, maybe nine. Tops." Harry sobered as he looked at her. "But he's right. We don't work without you, Gin."

"Except during birthday parties," Ginny said, shaking her head at them.

"I'm taking the potion now," Brogan said, looking in earnest at her. "This won't happen again, I promise."

"Brogan, it's…it's all right. I'm no worse for wear, just incredibly sore and smelly. I just want to bathe and get something to eat. I feel light-headed. Is that normal?"

"You lost a lot of blood," Harry said, reaching for her. "Luckily, Kath and her Dad had started a batch of Blood-Replenishing potions when they first got here. They came in handy. They're also probably why you've been asleep for so long."

"I feel like I could eat an entire cow," Ginny said, laying on her back, her stomach rumbling even as she said it. She knew Brogan was watching her.

"I'm going to get your Mum so she can look you over first," Harry said as he got out of bed. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Why don't you two talk?" He looked at Brogan, his eyes softening. He touched the other man on the shoulder and then quietly left. Ginny moved over on the bed and held her arms open. It pained her heart when Brogan hesitated, and she gave him a fierce look. He gulped and then moved into her arms, wrapping himself around her. She sighed and then held his head to her chest, her hand getting lost in his hair.

Ginny couldn't tell when he started crying for real, but she felt him shake in her arms and hummed at him, kissing his head.

"It's okay, I'm okay, Brogan, I don't hate you, it's okay." Ginny just kept repeating the same words, not sure what he needed. He finally stopped shaking, and she heard him take a deep breath as he gripped her painfully, as though by mere hugging, he could make it all disappear.

When he started talking, Ginny just listened, rubbing his back. She didn't want to interrupt him or stop him from getting it out.

"You once told me to fall in love for real and that then I would understand, and now I do. It's…painful. It's knowing that you could do something to hurt someone forever and never be able to fix it. It's the heart attack you feel when that someone is bleeding and lying there still as death, and then you find out you're the reason and the pain, it's so real, Ginny, it hurts, so much. Why does no one ever tell you how much love can hurt?"

He looked at her then, his eyes full of sorrow, and Ginny touched his face. "Did you want a child, Brogan? Now?"

He blinked at her. "No. But…that doesn't matter. It happened because I was a stupid arse, and you were in pain because of me, and I can't handle that, I can't, Ginny, I can't."

"You can, and you will. Because you're bloody brilliant at being in love, Brogan. You give us so much pleasure. And I'm just not talking about the sex, but you touch us, and we feel things. True, honest things that are beautiful. Between Harry and me and between you and us. You've brought Harry and me closer, Brogan, do you realize that? We are so much more now than we were before, and that's because of you."

Ginny kissed him and put what she was feeling into it, knowing he would sense it. He resisted at first and tried to pull away, but eventually, he responded, and she felt his body relax as he kissed her back. She knew he would be all right when she felt his hands in her hair, touching her tenderly. When they finally broke apart, she smiled at him and touched his face.

"Stubble kissing, ew. But I must say, you look even cuter with a beard. You should keep growing it out; you'll look like a swashbuckling pirate."

Brogan snorted at her and shook his head, his eyes finally losing the haunted look they'd been carrying.

"Arrr?" he asked playfully. "Do I get to wear a costume too?"

Ginny nodded as she chuckled. She studied his face until his smile faded, and his eyes darkened. Ginny suddenly realized that if she had been out of it for days that the Copulatus Spell would eventually be rearing its ugly head soon.

"How did Harry deal with the Spell?" she asked, hearing the breathless quality in her voice. "Please tell me you helped him."

Brogan shook his head. "No. I'm not sure what he did. He's been…he's been amazing. He really did put up with my bad mood much better than he lets on. We were both just so worried about you. He read to you, and then he'd sleep, and I'd take over. I even, er, well…" Brogan glanced at her, and his cheeks turned pink.

"You sang to me, didn't you?" Ginny asked, already knowing the answer.

Brogan nodded his head. "Aye. My Mum used to sing to me, and it always made me feel better. I was hoping you could hear it while you were sleeping."

"I did, and I heard Harry, too. I just…felt compelled to follow the sound of your voices. You were both calling to me with so much love." Ginny felt puzzled and then gave Brogan a sheepish grin. "I sound like an idiot, most likely."

Brogan shook his head. "No, I truly believe you can hear or sense when people are waiting for you to return or wake up. My Mum… before she died, she would slip away into very deep periods of sleep, and she always knew what I'd told her while she was asleep."

"I'm sure that's because she was an Empath, too," Ginny said, smiling.

"You're very intuitive, Gin. I've meant to tell you that, actually. I think…I think Aine has given you more than one gift."

"Oh, I know she has," Ginny said, looking pointedly at him. Brogan's cheeks turned scarlet when he understood her meaning. He opened his mouth, probably argue with her, but just then, Harry's stag came galloping through the room.

"That probably means he's on his way up with my Mum," Ginny said as Brogan rolled off the bed. Brogan nodded and straightened his clothes, which made Ginny smirk since he had already looked somewhat rumpled, to begin with. They really did all need to shower. Hopefully, her Mum would let her get out of bed. Ginny sat up and winced, her back giving a twinge. Brogan looked at her in alarm.

"You still have pain?"

"It's different. It's probably just from laying in this bed for days."

"Ginny!" Her mother's voice rang from the door as it opened, and Molly Weasley was suddenly entering the room and bringing the world with her. Brogan stepped back and was joined by Harry, as well as Hermione and Ron.

After several wand flourishes later, and a few spells to check her diagnostics (Ginny honestly had no idea her Mum knew so many spells, it was like being looked at by a medi-witch, really), her mother finally announced that she could be allowed to get out of bed and shower. But only if Hermione helped her and then she would get her something to eat, but she was not to exert herself. Ginny noticed her Mum looked pointedly at Harry and felt aghast that apparently, her mother thought they would jump on each other the moment they were alone again.

Her mother chased them all out of the room at the end, telling Brogan and Harry to shower first, and sat down next to her.

Ginny looked at her, wondering if she was about to get a lecture about not being careful. It was a testament, Ginny thought, to how much she had grown up that she didn't start talking first. She waited to see what her mother would say, her curiosity getting the best of her.

"Harry told you," her mother said, and it wasn't a question. Ginny nodded.

"He did. We, er, we're usually careful-"

"Oh, daughter, I am not going to lecture you. You are 17 now, and even before this, I knew you and Harry had been with each other, so let's not insult both of our intelligence. I just want to make sure you are okay in your own heart about everything."

Ginny sighed. "I reckon so? I didn't know I was even…well, I didn't feel pregnant, so it's sort of like waking up after a dream and hearing your favorite team lost the World Quidditch Cup or something. I actually just feel stupid that I didn't notice my own body trying to tell me something. I didn't even realize I was late, Mum. That's what is disturbing to me."

"Things have a way of catching up to us when we least expect it," her Mum said softly. "And you had a life growing in you, for a short while. I just want to make sure you've accepted that."

Ginny frowned, not realizing she had wrapped her arm around her stomach protectively until her Mum reached out to hold her hand. "Oh. Well, when you put it like that." She suddenly felt a tightness inside her and met her mother's eyes.

"You have to mourn too, dear. Harry was allowed to while you slept. Now it's your turn."

Ginny looked down, her eyes feeling wet suddenly. Could she mourn? Did she want to? In some small part of her, she supposed…she did not, had not wanted a child, this much was true. And she and Harry had already been through this. Even though it had turned out to be the spell Voldemort had cast on her, they hadn't known that at the time. She looked at her Mum and decided to come clean about a few things.

"Harry and I had a scare like this before, Mum. We, er, forgot once or twice and then remember when I was ill? Madam Pomfrey, she…"

"She gave you the potion," Molly said wisely, nodding at her. "I had assumed she had when they told us you needed to be seen at St Mungo's. Poppy was nothing if not thorough, and she was a fine Healer for that school. But that situation was different, Ginny. This time you really were. How does that make you feel?"

Ginny searched her feelings. She had actually been pregnant. Bloody hell, it hadn't even been Harry's, she thought, feeling her skin heat. She looked at her Mum.

"It makes me feel…scared and ashamed for being careless and... I want to have children, Mum, but not now. Not…not before Voldemort is taken care of. Is that wrong of me? Is it wrong that I also feel relieved?"

Molly shook her head. "No, my dear. And do not feel ashamed. Women since the dawn of time have been having this war with themselves. Men don't actually get it, well, not in the way that we do. They feel just as deeply about it, of course, I don't mean that. But…the child is inside of us. We are its home, and it is a part of you, first. You mustn't blame yourself. It happened to me, and I did blame myself for a while, but your grandmother made me see it as something that made me a better mother when the time came. We were so overjoyed when Bill was born, so trouble-free. And then Charlie-" Her mother paused at the mention of her brother's name, and Ginny squeezed her hand.

"Well, you know the rest," her Mum said, smiling through watery eyes. "And then we finally had you, and I was so blessed, Ginny. You were the only pregnancy that gave me trouble. And some tiny part of me thought I might lose you, and that scared me. I wanted to meet you so badly. It's probably why I have always been so protective of you, you know."

"Aw, Mum," Ginny said, not understanding why she felt sad suddenly. Her mother hugged her tight.

"You are grown up now, and completely your own person, and you and Harry will have more chances in the future. Have no fear of that. He loves you, Ginny. And quite fiercely, too, I might add. Just like any daughter of mine should be loved. And that Brogan cares for you, too. He was clearly distraught. It was touching."

Ginny was glad her mother couldn't see her face and closed her eyes. "Brogan is very…sensitive," Ginny said when she pulled back, blinking quickly at her mother. "He feels everything quite keenly, as an Empath."

"Of course, dear," her mother said, patting her hand. "I am glad he is here to help you."

Ginny nodded but didn't say anything. "Can I shower now?"

Her mother laughed. "Yes, just let me go find Hermione to help you. You might be a bit weak still, and I don't want you falling arse over teakettle in there."

"Mum!" Ginny said, laughing despite herself. It was funny to hear her mother say 'arse,' she couldn't help it. Her mother gave her a big smile as she opened the door. Ginny sighed. Being an adult was definitely less fun than she'd ever thought. She looked down at her stomach and frowned, wrapping her arm back around it. They had created a baby and even though it was now gone, a tiny part of her felt an aching sense of loss. Not because she wanted to be a mother or anything, but…it seemed a shame, in a way. And it seemed weird to miss a thing she hadn't even known she'd possessed. She wondered how Harry had reacted when they'd realized what was happening to her.

Ginny shook her head to herself, thinking about it. He had probably freaked out and then went into full-on Harry-Mother-Hen-Mode of being there for her and then for Brogan. She knew that after everything was said and done, Harry had a generous heart at the end of the day. It was one of the things Ginny loved him for, in truth.

o-o-o-o-o

After showering and eating a healthy bowl of beef stew, Ginny fell asleep before she could talk to either Harry or Brogan again. One of the side affects of needing too many blood-replenishing potions, no doubt, and her body was still healing.

When she woke up again, she was in between the both of them, their arms wrapped around her as though they were afraid to let her sleep by herself. Harry stirred behind her as she moved.

"Hmm, go back to sleep," he murmured. "It's late, Gin."

"I have to use to the loo," she murmured back, and he sighed, popping his head up to look at her. Brogan grunted and pulled her closer to him.

She tried to slip out of his grasp, but he just held her tighter, and she knew she was going to have to wake him up. She lowered her head down and whispered his name. After a few minutes, he frowned, blinking at her in confusion.

"Gin? What's going on? Are you okay? Are you sick again? Do you have any pain?" His tone went from sleepy to alarmed in seconds, and Ginny felt her heart clench. Harry reached out behind her and touched Brogan on the shoulder.

"She just needs the loo," he said softly, and Brogan blinked rapidly and then sighed, shaking his head.

"Sorry," he murmured, moving out of the way, and Ginny slipped past him. She grabbed someone's dressing gown and slipped it over her nightgown.

"Are you good to go alone?" Harry asked, starting to sit up, too. Ginny took a tentative few steps and looked back at them.

"I should be. I don't free as dizzy as I did the first time. I'll try not to fall in," she said with a smirk.

"Take your wand," Brogan murmured, rubbing at his eyes. "Just in case."

Ginny frowned and looked around for it, spying it on the corner of the desk. Harry muttered what sounded like a Lumos spell, and she watched as a few tiny balls of light traveled over to her, showing her the way. She looked at him. "Where'd you learn that?"

Harry looked at Brogan. "This one made me read while you were asleep to learn things that could be useful. Disgusting, really, how quickly I did it, too."

Ginny shook her head and made her way to the door, slipping out of it and going to the loo. The lights went with her, bouncing ahead of her, illuminating just enough to make sure she didn't trip on anything. They stayed with her in the loo too, and after she was finished, Ginny took a long, hard look at herself in the mirror, which was blissfully silent for once.

Her skin was ashen, and she realized it made her freckles stand out even more and frowned at them. Her eyes looked big on her face, and her hair was a mess. She used her wand to try to tame it a bit. She tossed some warm water on her face and then patted it dry, breathing in the clean scent of the soft hand towel. Ginny brushed her teeth and then patted her stomach, frowning at it. It was still unnerving to her, to think about. She sat on the edge of the tub and sighed. She was lost in her thoughts when Brogan's swan Patronus came gliding through the door, shaking its head at her. She smirked at it, and it disappeared the way it had come. She hurried back to their room, Harry's little balls of light hurrying after her, and shook her head as she re-entered it.

"Honestly, can't a woman get some quiet time to herself in the loo?"

They had brought the light up in the room to a soft glow and were both awake, for better or for worse. She slipped her dressing gown off and climbed back into bed.

"I got worried," Brogan murmured, touching her.

Harry gave her a look. "You're going to have to put up with us being worried about you for a while, Gin, sorry. But honestly, I'm not sorry."

Ginny sighed. She didn't even feel like arguing about it. They all laid back on the bed together, and she felt their connection open up wide and sighed as their emotions mingled. Harry rubbed his head against her neck.

"You do not look like utter shite," he said softly.

She turned to him. "I don't look great."

"You'll look better soon, as soon as you start eating more," Brogan said, wrapping his arm around her middle. Their hands met over her stomach and then were joined by Harry's. The three of them looked down at her stomach, and she looked at Brogan first and then Harry.

"We should talk, I reckon," she said quietly.

"Always with the 3am heart to hearts," Harry said, shaking his head at her.

"I've apologized to Harry," Brogan said, looking at her.

"Yeah, and then I told him what to do with that. These things are bound to happen. I told you that, Brogan." Harry's voice sounded annoyed, and Ginny realized they must have discussed it before. And probably more than once.

Ginny sighed. "Let's just agree that if we are going to continue as we have been, then, yes, these things are bound to happen. It's nature. It's life. There's nothing we can do except do the spell and have one or two of us be on the Potion. Actually, I think all of us should be on it, and I feel a complete fool for never even thinking that until now."

"No, you're not a fool. You and Harry were sorted until I showed up and blundered my way into everything."

Ginny sighed and turned so she could face Brogan. "I am going to say this once, and if you know what is good for you, you will listen. I do not want to hear you blaming yourself or feel you hating yourself for this. It takes two of us, Brogan; well, in this case, three of us. I am all right. I am going to be better than all right in a few days. What has happened has been unfortunate and sad, and we all need time to deal with it, together and apart. But it is not the end."

"And if it is anyone's fault, it's mine," Harry said, looking at them. "I probably forgot to cast the spell once or didn't do it quickly enough. We do tend to get carried away when we're together."

Ginny gave Harry a knowing look and realized that was why he had been as understanding as he had been. He had been blaming himself as well. Ginny pulled both men to her.

"Can we just stop feeling horrible for a while and just…be together? Aine joined us for a reason, and it makes us strong."

"You probably shouldn't have intercourse for a few more days," Brogan said. "Have you stopped bleeding yet?"

Ginny shook her head. "Not quite, but it is slowing. And I wasn't talking about intercourse, just, you know, us being together. Skin on skin, if at all possible."

Both men looked skeptically at her, and then Harry shrugged after seeing the determined look on her face and started removing his pajamas. Brogan helped her remove her nightgown and then removed his clothes as well. Ginny reached out for Harry and pulled her to him, feeling as though a part of her sighed in relief. The Copulatus Spell would need to be fed soon; she knew it, and she knew that Harry knew it as well. His eyes were wide and dark as he gazed at her. But for now, she just needed to touch and be touched by the both of them.

Ginny turned and told Brogan to move closer to her, and he finally did, their legs becoming entangled. Harry reached out and took his hand, and she kissed him as she rested her head against his.

"See, isn't this nicer?"

"It's definitely warmer," Brogan murmured.

They lay in silence for a few minutes, and then Ginny felt a flash of need and anxiety pass through her that she knew wasn't hers. She grimaced as it flared again and met Harry's eyes, which seemed filled with longing.

"It'll keep," Harry said, the smallest sound of strain in his voice as Ginny turned and lowered her hand to him.

"You need release," she said quietly. "I can tell. The spell, it's…you're losing control of it."

Brogan sucked in a deep breath behind her. "Is that what that is? Bloody hell, Harry. How have you been keeping it together this long?"

Harry closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. "Very carefully. It was fine while Ginny was unconscious. All my other emotions were being focused on that. But now…"

Ginny shifted, and Harry bit his lip, a moue of pain flashing on his face for a moment. "I'm so sorry, Harry. I didn't think when I said I wanted us to be skin on skin. It's making it worse for you."

"No, I…" Harry paused and took a deep breath. "I can do this. You said you needed to feel us. Let me just…"

Harry paused and looked determined for a moment, and Ginny felt the strange need begin to fade. She understood what he was going through and refrained from touching him again. When he looked at her again, his eyes were no longer dilated, and the only sense Ginny could perceive from him was the worry for her. She shook her head at him.

"I'm so sorry, love."

"It's fine," Harry breathed out. "Like I said, it'll keep. But…hmm….not for too much longer?"

"Can I do something to help?" Brogan asked, watching them.

Ginny looked at him and then at Harry. "I'm not sure. The Spell is designed to make us need each other. It's easier to handle when we're together and not apart, but we've never, well that is…"

"We've never tested it by not being with each other. It's used to being fed," Harry said, his voice sounding almost like his normal one. "While she was at the Abbey and I was at school, I'd have a wank, of course, but it always felt off, and it never appeased the hunger for too long. But it was just enough, I think. To keep me sane. The Occlumency helps, too."

Ginny sighed and looked at him. "Can I…should I not touch you?"

Harry gave her a small smile. "It's fine, now. I think…because I've been so worried about you and tired on top of it that it's kept it at bay, but now…I'm sorry you two. You shouldn't have felt that." He looked at Brogan.

"No apologies necessary," Brogan said, reaching over Ginny to tenderly touch Harry's cheek. "I can't even imagine the control it's taking for you to hold that back. I've felt a touch of the spell when I tried to help Ginny when we were at Aberforth's shack, but her need was different than yours."

Ginny turned and looked at Brogan. "Different how?"

"Yours was more…anxiety-fueled because you didn't know if he was okay or when you would see him again. Harry's is…it's tinged with intense hunger."

"It's because I do know where she's at, and I know she's fine now," Harry said, looking at her. "It's focusing more on the desire aspect of the spell. That's my guess."

"You'd be right, I think," Brogan said, nodding.

"We're not going to get much sleep tonight, are we?" Ginny asked.

"Shh, you two can sleep here, and I'll sleep in the other bed," Harry said, starting to move away.

"No," both she and Brogan said together, and she grinned at the other man and then turned her smile to Harry.

"That's settled then," she said, pulling him back down. "Can we just…hold hands?"

Harry snorted and then nodded as he lay on his back. Ginny was careful not to get her body too close to his and took his hand into hers, squeezing it. Brogan shifted behind her and rested his head on her shoulder. They both looked at Harry.

"I can do this," Harry said, smiling at them. "Come on, you need your rest, Gin."

They settled once more, and despite her worry about Harry and the Spell, Ginny found herself finally getting sleepy again. Harry turned and brushed the hair off of her face. He kissed her forehead gently.

"Sweet dreams," he murmured, and she nodded as she yawned at him against her will, almost. She felt the comfort of Brogan's warmth against her and let her hand find Harry's again and then finally, felt herself relax into slumber.

o-o-o-o-o

Brogan did not sleep much that night – he slipped in and out of consciousness before finally giving up. He knew Harry hadn't slept much either, but now the other man was finally asleep. Brogan sat up in the bed, thinking until the morning light began to stretch across the floor. He watched Harry and Ginny sleep, his heart full of emotion. He let his hand get tangled into Ginny's hair, and he marveled at her. They were both so forgiving. Brogan did not know how he would ever be able to repay them or thank them for their love.

His heart was full, and yet it still ached at the idea of what had happened. If Ginny had actually remained pregnant, it would have, without any doubt, been the most colossal fuck up in his entire life, and yet, the idea of a child with someone he loved was not a bad thing. In fact, it was a fantastic thing. But Brogan knew it was not to be for him – but still, he fretted at the pain he had caused without meaning to.

He made a resolution to be a better person. To be a braver person. And a more responsible person.

He was older than them and should act like it, once in a while, just for the novelty of it. He had never considered himself that immature – he had been alone since his mother had died, in one way or another, and while he had always had people to care for him, he had never had something resembling a parent after his Mum. To realize now that was how his mother had wanted it made him a bit angry as well as melancholy. To what purpose had it been decided that he should grow up an Empath and have not a single clue about how to actually be a human being with feelings of his own?

But then that was where Harry and Ginny were years ahead of him – his emotional maturity had always been lacking, hadn't it? The boy who felt everything from those around him could feel nothing of his own heart. It was funny in a sad sort of way, he reckoned. Being with them opened his heart in a way he had never experienced. And so far, it had been nothing but a good thing – but now Brogan knew the downside as well.

No, he had not wanted a child. But still, he felt the loss. He had assumed he felt miserable because he had caused Ginny pain. A lot of it was that – but he also knew it was because while he had believed in the family curse about him being the 'last of the line,' he had never actually believed it, totally. Which made his non-use of anything that could have prevented what had happened even more frustrating. And no matter what Ginny said, he knew a part of him would never forgive himself.

Ginny stirred next to him, as though feeling his thoughts, and maybe she had. He had an idea that Aine had possibly given her more than a taste of his empathic abilities when their connection had flared to life. Indeed, the three of them were becoming quite adept at feeling the other two. It made his head spin at the best of times, and it also felt amazing. But mostly because, for the first time in his life, Brogan knew what it meant to not be alone. To know someone else's heart was a gift. And he had been given two for the price of one.

Brogan let his eyes move to Harry, and he bit back a small sigh. Never in a million years would he have thought another man could move him so much. And yet, here he was. He had not lied when he had told them that Harry belonged to Ginny, and Ginny belonged to Harry. Brogan understood that deep in his soul. The two of them just…were. And he also knew they loved him as much as they could. And he was selfish enough to take anything they could spare him. His empathic heart understood how it was possible to be in love with two people simultaneously. It was only his mind that seemed to confuse the issue sometimes.

Harry stirred and then stretched, raising his head. He squinted as he looked around and then buried his head into Ginny's hair, taking in a deep breath before raising his eyes to Brogan's. Harry gave him a lopsided smile.

"Still can't sleep?"

"Not really," Brogan said. He watched the other man for a moment, feeling the familiar tug on his heart. "I've been thinking."

"Always a scary thought at the break of dawn," Harry said sagely, nodding his head. He glanced at Brogan. "Please tell me that you haven't come to some odd, yet noble decision where you ride off into the sunset or anything. This bed is much too comfortable, and I won't be leaving it to go after your arse until later."

Brogan snorted softly, shaking his head. "I just decided to try to be a better person, that's all."

Harry looked at him fully then, his green eyes bright. He leaned across Ginny's still sleeping form and pulled Brogan to him. "You are a better person, already, Brogan. Stop trying to be everything. I've done that too in the past, and it just…doesn't work. You can only be who you are and do the best you can."

Harry's lips brushed his, and Brogan wrapped his hand around Harry's neck, pulling him in closer, deepening the kiss. He didn't know what might have happened if they both hadn't heard a quiet "ahem" from underneath them. They both looked down to find Ginny watching them.

"Good morning, boys," she said now, raising her eyebrow at them. Harry pulled away first and lowered his mouth to hers.

"How do you feel?" Harry asked, wrapping his arms around her. Brogan laid back down to be next to her, joining them.

"Tired," she said yawning. "But better. No pain this morning, er, it is morning, isn't it?"

"It is," Brogan murmured. "I've been awake for most of the night."

Ginny turned to him and touched his face, her eyes softening as she looked at him. "Beating yourself up when we're not awake to stop you isn't fair, Brogan."

"He said he's going to be a better person now," Harry said sardonically, watching them.

Ginny shook her head and pulled Brogan closer to her. "Stop blaming yourself. It is what it is. And it is over. I'm fine."

"You feel the loss, and there's an ache," Brogan whispered, his eyes meeting Harry's over her shoulder. "And you feel responsible for all of it. You both need to stop blaming yourselves, too. It's only fair.

Ginny searched his face and then looked back at Harry. When she met Brogan's eyes again, she gave him a small grin. "Okay, being super insightful into us is a given, I reckon. Stop being such an Empath, though, and feel with us, Brogan. It is the only way we will get through this. Together."

Brogan nodded and rested his head against hers, sighing. She wrapped her arms around him, and he couldn't help his body's response to her closeness. Their connection flared into being, and he realized Harry was having similar issues on the other side of her. Ginny chuckled.

"You two, honestly," she whispered.

"We just love you," Harry whispered back, kissing her neck. "And I think we will always want each other. No matter what."

"Let's just hold each other again," Brogan said, feeling exhaustion finally hit him. They both nodded and shifted together so that they could all touch and hold each other. Brogan sighed as he let his eyes close, feeling his heartache from before start to diminish. He would be better – if not for himself than at least for the two of them. He owed them that and so much more.

o-o-o-o-o