Chapter 9: Confusion
Harry took off his Language Listeners and brushed back his hair with his fingers – his ears were sweaty and he wasn't sure if he'd heard right.
"She's WHAT?" asked Ron, his voice shaking angrily.
"She's pregnant," repeated Fred.
"And who, may I ask, is the father?"
"She doesn't know," replied Fred.
"How can she not know?" bellowed Ron. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever – "
"She could have been raped," said Hermione timidly, her hand on his shoulder.
"Raped?" spat Ron. "Well, you going to know if you've been raped, aren't you?"
"Not if they use a Memory Charm," replied Hermione.
Ron stuttered, then fell into silence. After a few moments, he said, "We're going home."
"What do you mean?"
"Ron, it's nearly ten o'clock at night."
"We can't just march straight into the Burrow. They'll all be in bed."
"Ron, I know how you feel, but it can wait till morning."
"We're going home," repeated Ron. "Now." He flicked his wand and the tents haphazardly folded themselves up and tipped out their owners' belongings. Ron picked up his bag and marched in the direction of the Apparition point.
"Ron! You can't!" shouted Harry, but his best friend wasn't turning back. Resignedly they followed.
They arrived back in England fifteen minutes later outside Ron's mum and dad's house, the Burrow. Ron marched up to the door and rang the bell. There was a loud clanging noise and, a few minutes later Mrs. Weasley, a short, plump woman, opened the door looking tired. "Oh, it's you!" she said, attempting a smile. "Come in, hello Harry, Hermione, Remus."
"Ginny's pregnant," said Ron abruptly.
"Yes," yawned Mrs. Weasley. "But the strange thing is, she doesn't know who the father is. Her father had a fit. You know how hard it is for him."
"Let me see her," commanded Ron.
"She's asleep, Ron," replied Mrs. Weasley. "Honestly, at this time of night. You can talk to her in the morning. How did the match go?"
"We won," said Harry, keen to get away from the subject.
"I know," smiled Mrs. Weasley. "Heard it on the WWN. Good game?"
Harry nodded.
"Oh, good. Come in, it's getting cold."
They filed in silently and sat down. "Now I'm going back to bed," said Mrs. Weasley. "Sleep in your old rooms as normal. Remus, you'll have to sleep on the settee. Sorry." She yawned again and set off upstairs. Remus murmured "Good night," and went into the lounge. Everyone else sat down around the kitchen table.
"Why are you all looking at me?" asked Harry. "I don't know anything."
"Are you sure Harry?" said George, coming forward to pretend to take his temperature. "Didn't accidentally Memory Charm yourself as well?" Hermione and Ron glared at him.
"I'm going to bed too," said Harry after five minutes of silence. "Coming, Ron?"
Ron nodded and they stood up. Ron's old room, where Harry slept on his visits to the Burrow, was at the top of house. They walked upstairs slowly without saying a word, Hermione, Fred and George behind them.
Harry awoke at five o'clock the next morning feeling hot and sweaty. He'd just had a dream in which Voldemort had come back to gain his revenge and cast curse after curse on a helpless Harry. He went downstairs to find Ginny, a red-haired, freckly, seventeen-year old, already in the kitchen.
"Hi, Harry," she said.
"Hi," said Harry, adjusting his glasses.
"You look different," said Ginny, smiling.
"Yeah," said Harry sitting down and taking the box of Uncle Kelmius' Krispy Korn. "How are you?"
Ginny put her cup of coffee down. "Fine."
"What about – you know …"
"The baby? Oh, he's doing brilliantly, that's what they said at St. Mungo's. He's twelve weeks old now."
Twelve weeks ago, Harry thought, the world was in terror as Lord Voldemort killed wizard after wizard, witch after witch, Muggle after Muggle. Was it really only three months? "He?"
"Yeah, I think so. Well, the Healers think so. I'm confused."
"Do you really not know – who the father is?"
Ginny shook her head. "No. Not a clue. Oh, Harry!" She put her arms around him and her patted her lovingly on the back. "It's OK."
They heard footsteps coming downstairs. "Get off me," said Harry. The last thing he needed was for Ron to see him hugging Ginny.
Harry left for Saddle Cottage after lunch. He didn't know what to do – it was another seven weeks before he had to go to Andros. He bought a copy of the Daily Prophet from the Muggle in the newsagents' at Godric's Hollow. She also sold various Muggle newspapers including the Times and the Sun and was the sister of a witch, although Harry couldn't have met anyone more different from Aunt Petunia.
He turned first to the back page. A large picture of Oliver covered about half of the lead article, under which the headline 'Debutant Wood Sees England to Semis' was written in large bold letters. There was also a section on the British Swivenhodge Open Championship and something about the Quidditch League – Chudley Cannons had lost to Pride of Portree, although they blamed it on having one of their players at the World Cup, whilst the Scottish team, a few of whose players also played for the Prides, had already been knocked out by Japan in the second round. The article didn't mention that Mark Pugh played for Portree, although a few months ago his five million Galleon transfer from the Lubbock Lapwings had been big news.
Harry turned to the front. 'Weasley Agrees Deal with French Minister Ennuyeux Over Trade' read the headline. He turned the page and a small article near the bottom caught his eye:
"I WANT TO KILL HARRY POTTER"
Wizard Thomas Millstew of Berwick, Northumbria, has been sending threatening messages to the Ministry of Magic recently. Mr. Millstew has been pressurizing the Ministry to lift his twelve-month broomstick-flying ban, which he received after being seen by no less than twenty-one Muggles in June, or let him kill Harry Potter. He said in his letters: "Potter is a freak who should be put down immediately. I believe I am the man to do it." The Ministry are considering giving Millstew a term in Azkaban, but at present he is avoiding capture, but Harry Potter, who has enrolled at Andros Auror Training College, should be careful until this villain is captured.