Chapter 11: Cannons for the Cup!
"Harry. Am I glad to see you!" exclaimed Ron as they reappeared in Harry and Ron's living room at the Eyrie. "I was worried. I know you left a note but."
He stopped as Harry held up his hand for silence. "Ron, enough. I get the picture. I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you but I felt I needed to leave immediately."
"That's okay Harry. What was wrong?"
Ginny, who had been silent since they arrived, and had quietly sat down on the room's only sofa, replied. "It was me."
"What happened? Are you okay?" asked Ron, looking at her searchingly.
Ginny nodded. "I had my last exam yesterday afternoon. Practical DADA. It. could have gone better."
"Why?"
"Well. I freaked out, dropped my wand, did a reflexive transformation into my Animagus form and cracked the monster's head open, that I was supposed to be cursing."
"Ouch. You're right. It could have gone better, but I'm sure you'll pass." Ron assured her. "What was the monster by the way?"
"A Naga Demon." replied Harry with a sigh.
"A Naga Demon! I'm going to kill that werewolf!"
Harry shook his head. "Whoa. Slow down Ron. I'm sure he meant well. But Sirius's is going to have some strong words with him today."
"He'd better."
"I'd better get down to the stadium. We've got a last strategy session before the match. Ginny could you say with Ron?" Ginny nodded. "Ron, if I Apparate over with Conroy and Callie, can you drive Ginny over later?"
"Sure. See you after lunch."
"Bye." Harry gave Ginny a quick hug and a goodbye kiss, ducked into his room for his Quidditch robes, casting a quick Cleaning Charm on them, before heading out the door.
----
"I'll go and see if I can find Harry. I'd like to wish him luck." Ginny told Ron as he stopped the car as close as possible to the stadium. Ron nodded, then they got out and locked the doors. When they got within sight of the stadium, Ginny noticed two wizards wearing the uniform of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad were guarding the door. Ginny glanced sideways at Ron and raised her eyebrows.
Ron sighed, "I know. There was an attempt to disrupt the Arrows v Bats game on Saturday, and Peter McGill, the Bats Seeker got taken out, and the Arrows buried them 300-90. So they've stepped up security for today to try and make sure it doesn't happen again." He walked briskly up to the gate. "Good afternoon."
"Afternoon sir." replied one of the Hit Wizards, instantly recognising Ron. "You're commentating today sir?"
"Yes."
"Very good sir." He turned to Ginny, "Could I see your ticket please miss?"
Ginny fished the universal entry pass Harry had given her before the Prides' match out of one of the pockets of her robes and handled it to him. The wizard nodded and handed it back. "Very good miss." He turned to his partner. "Open the door."
His partner opened the door for them and they were able to slip inside. "I'll see you in the Top Box in twenty minutes Ron." Ginny told her brother. "The game doesn't start for another half-an-hour." Ron nodded his agreement and she ran off to try and find the players' changing rooms where she knew Harry would probably be by now.
Ginny found the Cannons' changing room without too much trouble. There was another Hit Wizard guarding the door. Ginny recognised him, it was Danny Burdock, one of the Ministry wizards that had been assigned to guard Hogwarts after the Hogsmeade and London attacks. "Hi Burdock, how's it going?"
"Fine Miss Weasley. Here to see Mr Potter?" he asked.
"Yeah. Sirius gave me some time off." Ginny told him. "Is he there?"
Burdock nodded. He opened the door and called into the changing room. "Potter, your girlfriend's here to see you!"
"Send her in!" shouted Harry from inside. The Hit Wizard nodded and stepped aside to let Ginny go in.
Inside the changing room, Ginny could see that the team were still getting changed. "I can come back." she offered. Conroy shook his head. "It's okay Ginny. You can stay. Harry's over there." he told her pointing to the back off the room. Ginny nodded and allowed Conroy to return to his conversation with three other people in Cannons' orange, Ginny recognised two of them as Cannons' Keeper Julia Gatsby and Cal Duceus, the teams' mediwizard, the third a large curl-haired man who looked as though he could be Jewish, she didn't recognise. She went over to Harry, who hadn't finished changing himself and kissed him on the cheek.
"Hi Ginny. Did you have a good morning?" he asked, reaching for his short orange robe and slipping it on. Ginny nodded and sat down on the bench. "Who's that with Conroy, Duceus and Kitten?"
"That's Greg Goldstein, he's our Reserve Keeper. Conroy hasn't decided whether to let Kitten play yet. Duceus doesn't like the idea, but I think she'll persuade him." Harry told her, as he strapped on one of his boots and picked up the other. "Any problems getting in?"
Ginny shook her head. "The guards were a surprise but the pass you gave me got me past them."
"Good." Harry replied. "Are you still worried about that exam? Sirius called me about hour ago, he's had a talk with Remus about it."
"Not really Harry." Ginny assured him, "I guess there's not much I can do about it now. So there's not much point in worrying. I'm just going to enjoy the game."
"Well, it should be one hell of game." said Gary Gerard, one of the Chasers. "The last time we played them, there was no score until Harry caught the Snitch."
"Well this time we'll do better." declared Conroy turned out of the huddle he was in. Behind him Gatsby reached for her Quidditch robes. "We're going to make a good showing today. Remember, this is the last game of the season."
"Duh, we know. it's the Final." commented Furnace.
"I know that, Ryan." snapped Conroy. "We've got the best shot at the Cu, the Cannon's have had in decades and I don't want to screw it up. So do whatever you can to score." Callie and Gerard nodded. "Ryan, Parker, keep those Bludgers off our backs. We cannot afford a repeat of the Wanderers game, if we lose our Keeper they could bury us."
"I'll be careful Charlie." said Gatsby reassuringly. The two Beaters nodded grimly. "Don't worry Charlie. We beat them last time after all."
"I know." Conroy glanced at his watch. "Two minutes to game time."
"I'd better go." said Ginny, standing up. Harry stood up too and gave her a quick hug and a kiss. "See you after the game."
"Good luck." Ginny called over her shoulder.
"WE SHALL CONQUER!!!" yelled the team.
Sounds like Roger was right. Ginny observed as she made her to the stairway leading to the Top Box. She flashed her pass at the Hit Wizard and the Quidditch Association official at the door. They let her past and she slipped into the spare seat beside Ron. "How's Harry and the team?"
"Fine." Ginny told him. "Conroy's doing an 'Oliver Wood'."
Ron grinned, then picked up his magicked microphone as the players walked onto the pitch. "Welcome everyone to the Final of the 1999-2000 British and Irish Quidditch League Cup. This year, the Appleby Arrows take on CHUDLEY CANNONS!!!"
The stadium erupted in cheers. Careful brother, your bias is showing.
Shut up Mare.
"Playing for the visitors are. Furnace, Parker, Gatsby, Potter, Moore, Gerard, aaaaaannnnd CONROY!!!" The orange-clad fans cheered even louder.
"The Arrows line up today is. Crater, Shostakova, Fontana, Rage, MacDougan, Morse, aaaaaannnnd BARTON!"
Good luck Lion.
Thanks Mare.
"The Quaffle is in the air. and they're off. Cannons in possession, Conroy with the Quaffle heading for the Arrows goal. passes to Gerard, he shoots, saved by Barton. The Arrows are in possession, Crater has the Quaffle, dodges Moore, ducks a Bludger from Furnace and shoots. Cannons take possession, Moore with the Quaffle, passes Conroy, he shoots, saved again by Barton. Shostakova of the Arrows in possession, trying to get a shot, blocked by Parker, she drops the Quaffle, Gerard takes it for the Cannons. The Cannons score! Gerard scores for the Cannons and they now lead 10-0 and are still in possession, Conroy with the Quaffle."
Harry wiped his forehead, blinking to keep the sweat from his eyes. The day was a little warm for his liking and the unruly thatch of hair that was plastered to his head wasn't helping any.
"Conroy scores again for the Cannons, they now lead 20-0!" announced Ron. "Crater gets the Quaffle for the Arrows, and is speeding up the pitch, ducks one Bludger and a Chaser and shoots. Good save there by Gatsby. Looks like her recent injuries haven't diminished her obvious skill. The Cannons in possession. the Arrows in possession. Shostakova shoots, and scores for the Arrows, they know trail 10-20!"
The next forty minutes were a display of Quidditch at its finest. The two teams were relatively evenly matched and after forty-five minutes they were tied. 30-30.
"Good Porskoff Play by Shostakova and she's got a good chance here.. She shoots and scores! The Arrows now lead 40-30 and the Cannons are in possession. Conroy with the Quaffle, passes to Gerard. Gerard gets hit hard by a Bludger and goes down. Crater, for the Arrows, intercepts the Quaffle and takes a shot! She makes it and the Arrows now lead by twenty points at 50-30."
This is not going well, thought Harry. I need to finish this and fast. Where the hell is it? He began searching intently for the Snitch. Then minutes later, after Conroy and Shostakova had both scored for their team he spotted it. Fluttering about two hundred yards away. He turned his broomstick and flew as fast as he could to avoid it. "Looks like Potter has spotted the Snitch, yes he has. He's speeding towards it, Morse not far behind."
Harry was only about twenty yards from the Snitch when his broom bucked hard. Not this again, he thought. I do not need this right now. "What is Potter doing, he seems to have lost control of his broom?" I have. The Snitch was tantalisingly close, and the Arrows Seeker was only seconds behind him. Harry tried to turn his broom back on course, but it wouldn't turn. A particularly violent jerk nearly unseated him. Actually I might be able to use that.
When the next jerk came, Harry turned with it, so he was dangling from his broom. "What's he doing now, it looks risky?" It is. Muttering a prayer, Harry flung his weight backwards and then forwards, so that he spun around his broom as he reached the apex of his swing he let go and flew through the air. He just managed to grab the Snitch as he flew past it and then landed cat-like on the sandy ground near the Cannons goal. "After an amazing piece of acrobatics, Harry Potter catches the Snitch for the Cannons and they win the game and the Cup with a score of 200-60!"
Fox, this is Lion. Get the stadium locked down now. Someone tried to put a Hurling Hex on my broom. Harry told his friend, then used a Summoning Charm to bring his Firebolt to him. Once he had caught the Snitch it had started acting normally again.
Already on it Lion.
Ginny glowed with pride as Harry flew towards the rest of the Cannons and joined them in a victory circuit of the stadium, before stopping at the Top Box to receive the Cup. They lined up in a three-two-two formation with Conroy in front, flanked by Furnace and Parker, then the other two Chasers behind them with Harry and Gatsby bringing up the rear.
----
An hour later, Harry and the rest of the team along with Ron, Ginny, Goldstein and the Hill brothers, who played Chaser for the reserve team, were in the middle of a loud and enthusiastic victory party when Harry sensed two familiar presences in his flat downstairs. He glanced at Ron and Ginny, they had sensed them too. I wonder what Owl and Padfoot want? asked Ginny curiously.
I don't know. confessed Harry, But we'd better go down and find out.
Ron nodded and knocked back the last dregs of fire-whiskey in his glass and put it back on one of the tables. Harry went over to where Conroy and Gatsby were sitting. "Conroy?"
"Yes Harry?" asked the Cannons Captain looking up at him.
"Something's come up. We've got to go."
"Okay. I'll be in touch soon about practice for next season." Harry nodded and headed for the door, Ron and Ginny slotted in neatly behind him.
Less than a minute later, the three friends were downstairs and Harry quickly unlocked their front door, then lead the way into the living room, Sirius and Hermione were waiting for them there. "What's up Sirius? Is there a problem with the exam results?" asked Ginny.
Hermione shook her head. "Everything's fine on that front Ginny, don't worry. You'll get your results at the end of next week as normal."
"What then?"
"I've got something to tell you all, well Ron really, but I think you and Harry deserve to know before anyone else does too, and I didn't want to tell you in a letter, so." she paused.
"What? What do you want to tell me, us?" asked Ron urgently.
"Ginny isn't the only one looking for results at the minute Ron. And I've got mine."
"What sort of results. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong Ron." Hermione assured him, "I'm pregnant."
----
After that announcement, Ron stood speechless for a while. "When. When did you find out?"
"Two hours ago. I immediately decided I wanted to come down in person to tell you. Sirius was coming down here to see you soon anyway, so he offered to come with me."
"How long are you staying?" asked Ginny.
"Not long. We have to be back at Hogwarts in two days." replied Sirius. "Minerva and Lauren have been covering our classes."
"Lauren. Lauren." Harry tried to remember where he'd heard the name, then he remembered. "Lauren Crawford. Remus' date at the Ball?"
"Yep. That's the one." confirmed Sirius. "She's quite the Potions Mistress, I'm surprised she doesn't do it as a job."
"Maybe she thinks it'd be too tame." suggested Ginny, "She does normally work as a Curse-Breaker after all."
"True."
Harry yawned. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm whacked, so I'm off to bed. See you in the morning. Coming Ginny?" His girlfriend nodded and followed him out of the room, Harry caught Sirius' eye and then looked first at Ron, then Hermione and jerked his head towards the door. Getting the hint, the Potions Master and former Marauder excused himself to Ron and Hermione and followed Harry and Ginny to the door.
Ginny got Sirius some things he'd need for his stay and then joined Harry in their bedroom. "Ron and Hermione. Parents. I wonder what Mum's going to say."
"Probably not a lot." suggested Harry. "They are adults after all. I'm just surprised that she got pregnant before you did, that's all."
"Yeah. Well I use protection charms or the Prophylaxis Potion any time we make love Harry. I've a feeling Hermione doesn't."
"True. Well, our time will come. When we're both ready."
"Yeah. When we're both ready." repeated Ginny, as she drifted off to sleep.
"Harry. Am I glad to see you!" exclaimed Ron as they reappeared in Harry and Ron's living room at the Eyrie. "I was worried. I know you left a note but."
He stopped as Harry held up his hand for silence. "Ron, enough. I get the picture. I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you but I felt I needed to leave immediately."
"That's okay Harry. What was wrong?"
Ginny, who had been silent since they arrived, and had quietly sat down on the room's only sofa, replied. "It was me."
"What happened? Are you okay?" asked Ron, looking at her searchingly.
Ginny nodded. "I had my last exam yesterday afternoon. Practical DADA. It. could have gone better."
"Why?"
"Well. I freaked out, dropped my wand, did a reflexive transformation into my Animagus form and cracked the monster's head open, that I was supposed to be cursing."
"Ouch. You're right. It could have gone better, but I'm sure you'll pass." Ron assured her. "What was the monster by the way?"
"A Naga Demon." replied Harry with a sigh.
"A Naga Demon! I'm going to kill that werewolf!"
Harry shook his head. "Whoa. Slow down Ron. I'm sure he meant well. But Sirius's is going to have some strong words with him today."
"He'd better."
"I'd better get down to the stadium. We've got a last strategy session before the match. Ginny could you say with Ron?" Ginny nodded. "Ron, if I Apparate over with Conroy and Callie, can you drive Ginny over later?"
"Sure. See you after lunch."
"Bye." Harry gave Ginny a quick hug and a goodbye kiss, ducked into his room for his Quidditch robes, casting a quick Cleaning Charm on them, before heading out the door.
----
"I'll go and see if I can find Harry. I'd like to wish him luck." Ginny told Ron as he stopped the car as close as possible to the stadium. Ron nodded, then they got out and locked the doors. When they got within sight of the stadium, Ginny noticed two wizards wearing the uniform of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad were guarding the door. Ginny glanced sideways at Ron and raised her eyebrows.
Ron sighed, "I know. There was an attempt to disrupt the Arrows v Bats game on Saturday, and Peter McGill, the Bats Seeker got taken out, and the Arrows buried them 300-90. So they've stepped up security for today to try and make sure it doesn't happen again." He walked briskly up to the gate. "Good afternoon."
"Afternoon sir." replied one of the Hit Wizards, instantly recognising Ron. "You're commentating today sir?"
"Yes."
"Very good sir." He turned to Ginny, "Could I see your ticket please miss?"
Ginny fished the universal entry pass Harry had given her before the Prides' match out of one of the pockets of her robes and handled it to him. The wizard nodded and handed it back. "Very good miss." He turned to his partner. "Open the door."
His partner opened the door for them and they were able to slip inside. "I'll see you in the Top Box in twenty minutes Ron." Ginny told her brother. "The game doesn't start for another half-an-hour." Ron nodded his agreement and she ran off to try and find the players' changing rooms where she knew Harry would probably be by now.
Ginny found the Cannons' changing room without too much trouble. There was another Hit Wizard guarding the door. Ginny recognised him, it was Danny Burdock, one of the Ministry wizards that had been assigned to guard Hogwarts after the Hogsmeade and London attacks. "Hi Burdock, how's it going?"
"Fine Miss Weasley. Here to see Mr Potter?" he asked.
"Yeah. Sirius gave me some time off." Ginny told him. "Is he there?"
Burdock nodded. He opened the door and called into the changing room. "Potter, your girlfriend's here to see you!"
"Send her in!" shouted Harry from inside. The Hit Wizard nodded and stepped aside to let Ginny go in.
Inside the changing room, Ginny could see that the team were still getting changed. "I can come back." she offered. Conroy shook his head. "It's okay Ginny. You can stay. Harry's over there." he told her pointing to the back off the room. Ginny nodded and allowed Conroy to return to his conversation with three other people in Cannons' orange, Ginny recognised two of them as Cannons' Keeper Julia Gatsby and Cal Duceus, the teams' mediwizard, the third a large curl-haired man who looked as though he could be Jewish, she didn't recognise. She went over to Harry, who hadn't finished changing himself and kissed him on the cheek.
"Hi Ginny. Did you have a good morning?" he asked, reaching for his short orange robe and slipping it on. Ginny nodded and sat down on the bench. "Who's that with Conroy, Duceus and Kitten?"
"That's Greg Goldstein, he's our Reserve Keeper. Conroy hasn't decided whether to let Kitten play yet. Duceus doesn't like the idea, but I think she'll persuade him." Harry told her, as he strapped on one of his boots and picked up the other. "Any problems getting in?"
Ginny shook her head. "The guards were a surprise but the pass you gave me got me past them."
"Good." Harry replied. "Are you still worried about that exam? Sirius called me about hour ago, he's had a talk with Remus about it."
"Not really Harry." Ginny assured him, "I guess there's not much I can do about it now. So there's not much point in worrying. I'm just going to enjoy the game."
"Well, it should be one hell of game." said Gary Gerard, one of the Chasers. "The last time we played them, there was no score until Harry caught the Snitch."
"Well this time we'll do better." declared Conroy turned out of the huddle he was in. Behind him Gatsby reached for her Quidditch robes. "We're going to make a good showing today. Remember, this is the last game of the season."
"Duh, we know. it's the Final." commented Furnace.
"I know that, Ryan." snapped Conroy. "We've got the best shot at the Cu, the Cannon's have had in decades and I don't want to screw it up. So do whatever you can to score." Callie and Gerard nodded. "Ryan, Parker, keep those Bludgers off our backs. We cannot afford a repeat of the Wanderers game, if we lose our Keeper they could bury us."
"I'll be careful Charlie." said Gatsby reassuringly. The two Beaters nodded grimly. "Don't worry Charlie. We beat them last time after all."
"I know." Conroy glanced at his watch. "Two minutes to game time."
"I'd better go." said Ginny, standing up. Harry stood up too and gave her a quick hug and a kiss. "See you after the game."
"Good luck." Ginny called over her shoulder.
"WE SHALL CONQUER!!!" yelled the team.
Sounds like Roger was right. Ginny observed as she made her to the stairway leading to the Top Box. She flashed her pass at the Hit Wizard and the Quidditch Association official at the door. They let her past and she slipped into the spare seat beside Ron. "How's Harry and the team?"
"Fine." Ginny told him. "Conroy's doing an 'Oliver Wood'."
Ron grinned, then picked up his magicked microphone as the players walked onto the pitch. "Welcome everyone to the Final of the 1999-2000 British and Irish Quidditch League Cup. This year, the Appleby Arrows take on CHUDLEY CANNONS!!!"
The stadium erupted in cheers. Careful brother, your bias is showing.
Shut up Mare.
"Playing for the visitors are. Furnace, Parker, Gatsby, Potter, Moore, Gerard, aaaaaannnnd CONROY!!!" The orange-clad fans cheered even louder.
"The Arrows line up today is. Crater, Shostakova, Fontana, Rage, MacDougan, Morse, aaaaaannnnd BARTON!"
Good luck Lion.
Thanks Mare.
"The Quaffle is in the air. and they're off. Cannons in possession, Conroy with the Quaffle heading for the Arrows goal. passes to Gerard, he shoots, saved by Barton. The Arrows are in possession, Crater has the Quaffle, dodges Moore, ducks a Bludger from Furnace and shoots. Cannons take possession, Moore with the Quaffle, passes Conroy, he shoots, saved again by Barton. Shostakova of the Arrows in possession, trying to get a shot, blocked by Parker, she drops the Quaffle, Gerard takes it for the Cannons. The Cannons score! Gerard scores for the Cannons and they now lead 10-0 and are still in possession, Conroy with the Quaffle."
Harry wiped his forehead, blinking to keep the sweat from his eyes. The day was a little warm for his liking and the unruly thatch of hair that was plastered to his head wasn't helping any.
"Conroy scores again for the Cannons, they now lead 20-0!" announced Ron. "Crater gets the Quaffle for the Arrows, and is speeding up the pitch, ducks one Bludger and a Chaser and shoots. Good save there by Gatsby. Looks like her recent injuries haven't diminished her obvious skill. The Cannons in possession. the Arrows in possession. Shostakova shoots, and scores for the Arrows, they know trail 10-20!"
The next forty minutes were a display of Quidditch at its finest. The two teams were relatively evenly matched and after forty-five minutes they were tied. 30-30.
"Good Porskoff Play by Shostakova and she's got a good chance here.. She shoots and scores! The Arrows now lead 40-30 and the Cannons are in possession. Conroy with the Quaffle, passes to Gerard. Gerard gets hit hard by a Bludger and goes down. Crater, for the Arrows, intercepts the Quaffle and takes a shot! She makes it and the Arrows now lead by twenty points at 50-30."
This is not going well, thought Harry. I need to finish this and fast. Where the hell is it? He began searching intently for the Snitch. Then minutes later, after Conroy and Shostakova had both scored for their team he spotted it. Fluttering about two hundred yards away. He turned his broomstick and flew as fast as he could to avoid it. "Looks like Potter has spotted the Snitch, yes he has. He's speeding towards it, Morse not far behind."
Harry was only about twenty yards from the Snitch when his broom bucked hard. Not this again, he thought. I do not need this right now. "What is Potter doing, he seems to have lost control of his broom?" I have. The Snitch was tantalisingly close, and the Arrows Seeker was only seconds behind him. Harry tried to turn his broom back on course, but it wouldn't turn. A particularly violent jerk nearly unseated him. Actually I might be able to use that.
When the next jerk came, Harry turned with it, so he was dangling from his broom. "What's he doing now, it looks risky?" It is. Muttering a prayer, Harry flung his weight backwards and then forwards, so that he spun around his broom as he reached the apex of his swing he let go and flew through the air. He just managed to grab the Snitch as he flew past it and then landed cat-like on the sandy ground near the Cannons goal. "After an amazing piece of acrobatics, Harry Potter catches the Snitch for the Cannons and they win the game and the Cup with a score of 200-60!"
Fox, this is Lion. Get the stadium locked down now. Someone tried to put a Hurling Hex on my broom. Harry told his friend, then used a Summoning Charm to bring his Firebolt to him. Once he had caught the Snitch it had started acting normally again.
Already on it Lion.
Ginny glowed with pride as Harry flew towards the rest of the Cannons and joined them in a victory circuit of the stadium, before stopping at the Top Box to receive the Cup. They lined up in a three-two-two formation with Conroy in front, flanked by Furnace and Parker, then the other two Chasers behind them with Harry and Gatsby bringing up the rear.
----
An hour later, Harry and the rest of the team along with Ron, Ginny, Goldstein and the Hill brothers, who played Chaser for the reserve team, were in the middle of a loud and enthusiastic victory party when Harry sensed two familiar presences in his flat downstairs. He glanced at Ron and Ginny, they had sensed them too. I wonder what Owl and Padfoot want? asked Ginny curiously.
I don't know. confessed Harry, But we'd better go down and find out.
Ron nodded and knocked back the last dregs of fire-whiskey in his glass and put it back on one of the tables. Harry went over to where Conroy and Gatsby were sitting. "Conroy?"
"Yes Harry?" asked the Cannons Captain looking up at him.
"Something's come up. We've got to go."
"Okay. I'll be in touch soon about practice for next season." Harry nodded and headed for the door, Ron and Ginny slotted in neatly behind him.
Less than a minute later, the three friends were downstairs and Harry quickly unlocked their front door, then lead the way into the living room, Sirius and Hermione were waiting for them there. "What's up Sirius? Is there a problem with the exam results?" asked Ginny.
Hermione shook her head. "Everything's fine on that front Ginny, don't worry. You'll get your results at the end of next week as normal."
"What then?"
"I've got something to tell you all, well Ron really, but I think you and Harry deserve to know before anyone else does too, and I didn't want to tell you in a letter, so." she paused.
"What? What do you want to tell me, us?" asked Ron urgently.
"Ginny isn't the only one looking for results at the minute Ron. And I've got mine."
"What sort of results. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong Ron." Hermione assured him, "I'm pregnant."
----
After that announcement, Ron stood speechless for a while. "When. When did you find out?"
"Two hours ago. I immediately decided I wanted to come down in person to tell you. Sirius was coming down here to see you soon anyway, so he offered to come with me."
"How long are you staying?" asked Ginny.
"Not long. We have to be back at Hogwarts in two days." replied Sirius. "Minerva and Lauren have been covering our classes."
"Lauren. Lauren." Harry tried to remember where he'd heard the name, then he remembered. "Lauren Crawford. Remus' date at the Ball?"
"Yep. That's the one." confirmed Sirius. "She's quite the Potions Mistress, I'm surprised she doesn't do it as a job."
"Maybe she thinks it'd be too tame." suggested Ginny, "She does normally work as a Curse-Breaker after all."
"True."
Harry yawned. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm whacked, so I'm off to bed. See you in the morning. Coming Ginny?" His girlfriend nodded and followed him out of the room, Harry caught Sirius' eye and then looked first at Ron, then Hermione and jerked his head towards the door. Getting the hint, the Potions Master and former Marauder excused himself to Ron and Hermione and followed Harry and Ginny to the door.
Ginny got Sirius some things he'd need for his stay and then joined Harry in their bedroom. "Ron and Hermione. Parents. I wonder what Mum's going to say."
"Probably not a lot." suggested Harry. "They are adults after all. I'm just surprised that she got pregnant before you did, that's all."
"Yeah. Well I use protection charms or the Prophylaxis Potion any time we make love Harry. I've a feeling Hermione doesn't."
"True. Well, our time will come. When we're both ready."
"Yeah. When we're both ready." repeated Ginny, as she drifted off to sleep.