A/N: thanks for the reviews, people! Some comments on them:
bluemeanies: you wrote that Arthur should have a fit – well, Arthur won't be mentioned at all – not yet, anyway. I thought he wasn't that important, since it's Molly who actually wears the trousers in the family, isn't she? You also asked how Skeeter got to know. Well, Rita writes in the article that a "watchful student" of Potter's grade revealed the information to her. So just think, and you'll know who it is...
Juliana Black: you really, really think that Draco ISN'T EVIL???? You are quite misguided, then. He IS evil! (Though I like him, truly like him!!! He is one of my fav characters!)
spitfyre: You got that thing with Draco well – I'm happy that at least someone managed to read between the lines… You wrote that you didn't like Harry and Ron being enemies. Sorry, I couldn't leave that out – it was the most obvious reaction Ron could have - but wait till this chapter ends ;-) About Hermione – well, I don't think that she should have stayed with Harry, hugging him and saying that "it's okay, it's okay…" – that is not the reaction I'd expect of her, or of anyone in her place.
All right, have fun, and don't forget to review!
Chapter 7
Nick's lucky day
When Hermione entered the infirmary, Ginny was dressing up, humming some melody. She looked happy.
This WASN'T the kind of behaviour Hermione had expected from her friend. She expected to see a depressed, shameful, pathetic girl. She found a chipper one instead.
"Hello, Ginny." she greeted her.
"Hi, Hermione. How are you doing?"
"Not well… since I read today's paper."
Ginny's eyes widened. "Why? What's in there?"
"You." Hermione replied. "And your pregnancy. But… you aren't the 'sensation' in that article. It's Harry, of course… there will be a terrible scandal – well, there already is…"
Ginny dropped herself on the bed. "Poor dear." she sighed. "He has suffered so much. Don't you think it was time for his torments to come to an end?"
"How… how can you speak of him that way… after what he'd done to you?" Hermione wondered.
"How?" Ginny smiled. "I love him, that's how."
"And don't you care what people would think of your relationship… your illegitimate child, and everything?"
"Our child WON'T be illegitimate." the red-haired girl stood up with a stern look on her delicate face. "Harry proposed to me last night and I accepted." her mouth tucked into a smirk. "And you can be my bridesmaid… and later on…"
"Yes?" Hermione raised her eyebrows. "What will be later on?"
"You'll be mine sister-in-law, this way Harry's sister-in-law, too." Ginny replied with a grin.
Hermione blushed. "Why are you telling me such impossible things, huh?"
Ginny snickered. "'Cause Ron loves ya, doesn't he? And you love him back, right?"
"Oh, well… maybe."
"Herm, Herm, don't play the modest little girl! You two were made for each other, and I'd be happy to have you as my sister-in-law!"
"Thanks." the other girl gave her a sad smile. "But your brother doesn't want Harry to be his brother-in-law."
Ginny knitted her eyebrows. "Why?"
"Because… because… he… he knocked you up… without his… um, brotherly consent."
"Can you picture me asking for his consent?" Ginny giggled. "Imagine: hi, Ron, I decided to sleep with Harry, but we both are going to forget about taking precautions. Well, would you like to have a little niece or nephew? – And then he'd say: if it really would be Harry's, then you have my blessings… isn't it hilarious, Hermione?"
"I don't think it is." Hermione answered. "Um, Ginny, did you really forget to take precautions… or was it your deliberate…"
"Oh, no, of course it wasn't deliberate. We were… we were just… we weren't thinking, that's what happened."
"I see." the other girl smirked. "And, uh… is he good in bed?"
"No idea." Ginny shrugged. "We didn't do it in a bed."
"Where, then?" a clear curiosity appeared on Hermione's face.
"The Prefect's bath." Ginny turned red.
"Wha… Wow, you had the nerve to… holy house-elves, Ginny, how could you… and how did you know the password?"
"Ah, Harry overheard you telling it to another prefect." Ginny chuckled.
"So… I unintentionally contributed to the conception of your baby." Hermione stated. "Whew, had I known it…" she shook her head in disbelief. "Was it your idea to meet him there?"
"Nope, it was his."
Hermione looked shocked. "Did Harry have the intention of seducing you in the Prefect's bathroom? I can't believe he did something like that!"
"Then don't believe it… because he didn't."
"Didn't what?"
"Seduce me there. It was me who seduced him."
Hermione gasped. Ginny? The ever-modest, over-shy Ginny – seducing Harry Potter? For Voldemort's sake, this was incredible!
"Surprised, are you?" Ginny asked. "I can understand that. But please, don't say that you won't be my friend anymore!"
"Why would I say that?" Hermione frowned. "I'm not like Ron."
"Oh, Ron." Ginny sighed. "He'll have to get used to the thought of having Harry in the family." Ginny said. "And I don't think that his fury will be permanent. He is just pretending to be hurt."
"Let's hope that you are right… sister-in-law." Hermione gave her an impish grin, and the two girls embraced.
* * * * *
Harry headed for the greenhouses where the Gryffindors were to have a Herbology lesson together with the Slytherins. The thought turned his stomach, but he decided to face Draco and put up with his malicious remarks. Come what may.
Draco wasn't in the greenhouse, though. Professor Snape had asked Professor Sprout to let Malfoy help him with a difficult potion.
Crabbe and Goyle were also absent, since they never abandoned their precious 'master', Draco.
When Harry entered the greenhouse, no one looked up. No one even cared for him. The students didn't seem to have heard – or read - the news yet. That was a good sign – at least Harry could have another hour without anyone mocking him.
He walked into the farthest corner of the greenhouse and sat down.
Three metres away from him Millicent Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson were sitting at a table, putting their heads together.
"So, what did you exactly dream, Millicent?" Pansy asked.
"It was the strangest dream I've ever had." the ugly and fat Millicent whispered.
"Why are you whispering?"
"Because it's a secret." Millicent said.
"Out with it, what was your dream about?" Pansy looked impatient.
"Well, there was a little goblin telling me that I'd marry the naughtiest boy in England."
"That's all?"
"Well, yea." Millicent shrugged. "I asked him who that boy was, but he said that I'd find it out soon… VERY soon."
"Funny dream." Pansy replied.
About a minute later Ron entered the greenhouse, followed by Hermione. Harry looked up. Their eyes met.
Ron's face contorted into a mask of a blood-thirsty werewolf, but only for a second. He turned away from Harry and sat down at the other end of the small building.
Hermione didn't divert her stare so quickly. Harry saw many different emotions on her face: sorrow, sympathy, and something telling 'don't give up on Ron, Harry!'.
Then she also sat down, next to Ron. Professor Sprout entered, and the lesson began.
Half an hour later Prof. Sprout told them that she had to leave for ten minutes, but they all should carry on with re-potting the 'Loreley's Hair'. (It was a plant that looked a bit like a pink slug with blue fur, but at least it had a good smell.)
Harry was just about to tug it out of its pot when an owl flew into the greenhouse, dropping an envelope on his head. The letter fell on the floor. Harry crouched down and took it into his hand.
The envelope was red. RED.
*Oh my, a howler!* his mind screamed. He didn't know what to do: open it, or not? Let it explode?
By that time everyone's eyes were set on him.
"What are you waiting for, Potter?" one of the Slytherins shouted.
"Open it! Open it!" all Slytherins, and even some of the Gryffindors yelled in unison. They badly needed something to gossip about.
The envelope in Harry's hand started to give out smoke. He gulped, and tore it open.
The sharp voice of Mrs. Weasley filled the greenhouse:
HOW DARE YOU DO THAT TO MY LITTLE GIRL, HARRY POTTER?
A window of the greenhouse broke from the unusually loud voice. Not even the mandrakes could scream that loudly.
ARTHUR, ME AND THE WHOLE FAMILY HAVE ALWAYS TRUSTED YOU, BUT YOU ABUSED OUR CONFIDENCE! HAVE YOU GOT NO SHAME?
Another window broke.
I WILL NEVER, NEVER-EVER FORGIVE YOU FOR DOING THAT TO MY DEAR LITTLE GINNY! WE HAVE BROUGHT UP OUR DAUGHTER IN HONESTY AND MODESTY, BUT YOU MANAGED TO CORRUPT HER, AND BROUGHT SHAME ON OUR FAMILY!
Two other windows broke.
I HOPE THAT THE DAILY PROPHET WAS RIGHT, AND YOU REALLY PROPOSED TO GINNY! DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO FIND EXCUSES, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T MARRY HER, I'LL STRANGLE YOU WITH MY OWN HANDS, UNDERSTOOD? I WON'T LET YOU LEAVE MY DAUGHTER IN TROUBLE, YOUNG MAN! IF IT WAS HER DESTINY TO HAVE YOUR CHILD, THEN SO BE IT, BUT YOU'LL GIVE YOUR NAME TO THAT BABY, CAPISH?
By the time Molly Weasley's tirade ended, all windows were broken, glass splinters scattered everywhere on the greenhouses' floor.
The students didn't notice it, though. They were too dumbfounded by the content of the howler. Harry Potter… impregnating Ginny Weasley?
After a minute's silence, everyone started to speak at once.
"Is this true, Harry?"
"You really knocked her up, Potter?"
"Is she any good, Potter?"
"I thought you were impotent, Potter!"
"I bet you couldn't make a boy!"
"I bet Ginny deliberately got pregnant to be able to leave her miserable family!"
"You happy now, Weasley? You are gonna have a rich relative!"
Everyone was shouting… everyone but Millicent. She was just standing there, her mouth open, an extremely stupid expression on her face.
"What happened to you, Milli?" Pansy shouted to her, trying to out-bellow the crowd.
"It's… it's HIM!" Millicent stammered.
"Who? What?" Pansy yelled.
"Potter!" the stout girl replied in an enamoured, dreamy voice.
"What? I can't hear! Speak up!" Pansy cried. "What is Potter?"
"My future husband!" Millicent sighed, placing her hands on her heart.
"Whaaaat?"
"You heard, what he had done! He IS the naughtiest boy in England! He is the one the goblin in my dream was talking about!"
"You are crazy, Milli!"
The others didn't hear the two girls' discussion. There was such a clamour that no one even noticed when Professor Sprout entered the room.
She made a fanning movement with her wand, sending up red sparkles.
Finally everyone noticed her.
The greenhouse went silent.
"For You-Know-Who's sake, what happened here?" she gaped at the broken windows. "Who did this? I WANT an explanation!"
For a moment a gloomy silence hung in the air, then at once everyone shouted: "POTTER!", pointing their index-fingers at the poor boy standing at the very end of the building.
"Potter?" Professor Sprout turned to him. "Have you broken all these windows?"
"No, Professor… but it's a long story…" Harry drawled. "I admit that it is my fault."
"Then you'll stay here and repair it after class." Sprout scowled at him. "I don't want to see a single splinter here! Not a single one, understood?"
Harry nodded.
"Class dismissed."
All the students swarmed out of the badly damaged greenhouse – all but one.
"Um, may I help you?"
Harry turned around to see Millicent Bulstrode standing at the door, wearing a sheepish smile.
"Huh? Oh, no, thanks. I can manage it alone." Harry answered. "But thank you, really."
*When has she become so kind? And why?* he wondered.
"Then maybe some other time." Millicent smirked. When smirking, she was even uglier than usual. "See you at dinner."
"Sure, bye." Harry muttered and waited until the girl left. *What the hell got into her?* he thought, then shrugged. If Millicent had gone crazy, that wasn't his problem.
He raised his wand, concentrating on the glass splinters, and shouted: "Reparo!"
* * * * *
After having finished the repair-works in the greenhouse, Harry decided to try and talk to Ron. He found only Hermione, though. She told him that Ron had gone downstairs, maybe into the dungeons.
Harry also went downstairs. *What could Ron be doing here? It's so creepy and dark… but I can understand if his mood is also dark now that all the Slytherins know about Ginny and me. It must be very hard for him.*
After walking for about fifteen minutes in the dimly lit corridors, Harry heard steps. He turned right at a corner and bumped into Ron.
"I've been looking for you." he said.
"Why?" Ron shoved him away. "To be able to laugh at me? Poor Weasley, he not only has no money, but his sister is a whore, too! Really, Harry, you'd enjoy hearing people tell me that, wouldn't you?"
Harry's eyes narrowed. "If I didn't know that you are only mad, I'd think that you don't know me at all. I'd never enjoy seeing you suffer. And believe me, I'm suffering as much as you are, or even more."
"Oh, how sorry I am for you, poor, unfortunate Harry!" Ron shouted. "You've got money, fame, talent, respect, dozens of groupies and now my sister too! WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT?"
"I want your friendship back." Harry replied softly.
"To hell with you!" Ron bawled and turned to leave him, but Harry grabbed his arm.
"Wait, Ron, I love your sister, I truly do, and…"
Ron knocked him over, instinctively raising his wand.
Harry jumped up, his wand held at the ready, too. "Listen, Ron, I'm sure we can discuss this like civilised people!"
"Civilised? How dare you utter that world after having behaved like an animal, giving into your dismal desires?" Ron flung his wand.
"Dismal? It wasn't dismal, Ron!" Harry shouted. "I can assure you that my feelings for Ginny are the purest one could think of!"
"You liar!" Ron pointed his wand at him. Harry saw that his friend was at the end of his tether, no longer being able to control his actions. He jerked his wand before himself, into a defending position, when he heard a cackling voice of Peeves shout: 'Good, boy, finish him off! He doesn't deserve your friendship, remember what he'd done to poor, sweet little Ginny!'
"Peeves, you idiot, hold your tongue!" it was Nearly Headless Nick.
But Ron didn't hear him. The desperate fury and the tearing pain because of his friend's betrayal made him deaf and blind. All he could think of was avenge.
"Ron, please, let's talk!" Harry begged.
"Stabbus!" Ron yelled at last, sending a purple streak of light in Harry's direction.
"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted only a millisecond later, ejecting blue shower of sparks. At midway, the purple streak and the blue sparks met, suddenly deviating from their original track. The blue sparks hit the corridor's walls, the purple light swished through Nearly Headless Nick, bouncing into the ceiling, sending a chandelier down onto the floor.
For a moment both boys stood rooted to the spot, neither of them speaking, only panting heavily. Their eyes locked, their wands still in their outstretched hands.
Suddenly a cheerful voice shook them out of their shocked silence.
"Look at this, kids! I'm not nearly headless anymore!" Nick shouted, tossing his head from one hand into the other. "Ronnickie, you severed my head from my body with your curse! Yippieeee! I'm gonna be member of the Headless Hunt! Sir Patrick cannot refuse to accept me anymore! Thank you forever, Ronny!" Nick embraced and kissed the bewildered boy, who felt as if he had been kissed by an icicle. He shivered as Headless Nick swooped towards the ceiling, making loops and howling at the top of his astral lungs that 'Thank you so much, Ronny Weasley, I am headless, not just nearly!', and with a final hop he disappeared through the ceiling.
Ron and Harry followed him with their eyes, only then glimpsing at each other again, when Headless Nick disappeared.
Ron gulped. "Holy Broomsticks, Harry, I could have killed you." he said, shocked.
"But you didn't." Harry replied with a small smile.
"But I could have!" Ron yelled. "I almost did!" he was desperate.
Harry took a step towards him. "Ron, it's okay." he tentatively reached out to place his hand on Ron's shoulder. The redheaded boy was trembling.
"Harry, I…" he mumbled, "Oh, Harry! I thought that you seduced Ginny, but Hermione told me that it was the other way around… I was so foolish…" he pulled his friend into a tight embrace. "Will you ever forgive me?"
"Only if you also forgive me… Brother-in-law." Harry answered.
A huge smile spread on Ron's face. "May I be your best man?"
The two boys went upstairs. They decided to talk to Ginny together. As they entered the Great Hall, Colin Creevey ran up to them.
"Oh, my, Harry, I've been looking for you for ages!" he was panting.
"Why?" Harry raised an eyebrow. Having Colin around never meant anything good.
"Dumb… Dumbledore has arrived… and wants to see you." Creevey said.
Ron and Harry exchanged scared glimpses.
"Okay, thanks, Colin." Harry told the boy. "You may go now."
"I'm happy that I could help you, Harry." Colin beamed and left.
"Whew, pal, I wouldn't be in your place now." Ron stated.
"Thanks for the encouragement." Harry frowned. "What do you think he wants from me?"
"Well, I guess it has something to do with your little romance with Ginny." Ron replied.
"That much is clear for me, too. But what do you think, will he be very angry? Will I be expelled?"
"I wish I knew it." Ron heaved a deep sigh. "Cheer up, Harry, it won't be that terrible! Marrying my sister will be much tougher, I'm sure."
Harry gave him a small smile. "Wish me good luck."
A/N2: well, okay, I invented a curse – I thought that if a ghost could be petrified then it could be severed into pieces, too (when the right curse is used). Since Ms. Rowling hasn't written about a spell that is capable of doing such a thing, I had to make it up.
Hope you liked it. And now, REVIEW!