Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling nor do I own any of the characters in this story except some of those you do not recognize.
A/N: This is a two-parter. Huzzah!
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Of Baby Talk and Speeches
The Ministry Ball, Part 1
Two weeks later the entire wizarding community was in a frenzy. Election Day was only one day away.
It was traditional for the two candidates to give their final speech and entertain questions from the press the day before Election Day. Malfoy and Hermione, now neck in neck, were to meet in the middle of Diagon Alley to give their final speeches at 4pm on Friday. Almost all of the magical community living in or near London was expected to come and support their candidate. Lucius Malfoy, father of Draco and prisoner of Azkaban, had even made a special arrangement to see his son deliver his final speech at the Ministry Candidate Final Conference.
Hermione had been a nervous wreck the entire week. She had gone to her Healer, Ernie MacMillan, for a pre-natal check up to see how the baby was surviving Hermione's stressful life. Ernie had suggested bed rest the entire week before the Ministry Candidate Final Conference to ensure her health for the Ministry Ball the following night after the Final Conference. Luckily for her, Hermione's mother and father in law and husband had finished all of the last minute work for Hermione and tried helping her out in anyway possible,
From Harry and Ron's observations, Draco seemed the least bit nervous. He continued spending time locked in his study working on paperwork for his current ministry position. There were no more afternoon quickies like the one Ron and Harry had reluctantly witnessed and Pansy returned back to her normal unattractive self. She seemed slightly less depressed than she had been. Every time Malfoy said or did something mean to her, she no longer complained about it. She instead kept her mouth shut and obeyed his command with slight glimmer in her eyes that had not been there before.
Finally the day of the Ministry Candidate Final Conference had arrived. Unfortunately for Ron, he had to work and could not stay home to help out Hermione. Ginny had instead taken he day off of work from The Daily Prophet and took Ron's place at home. Ron spent the entire workday in his best wizard robes ensuring that he could apperate to Diagon Alley quickly and would still look his best for the Final Conference.
The day at Malfoy's was slightly more exciting than it had been in previous days. Crabbe, Goyle, Draco's mother Narcissa, and other friends of Draco's and Pansy's had gathered in the Malfoy's living room to further prepare Draco. It was hard for Ron and Harry to remain undiscovered the whole day with so many people in the Malfoy Manor. Towards the end of the day at a quarter to four Narcissa approached her son and the two went upstairs to the study. Harry and Ron followed and managed to sneak upstairs and into the room without anyone knowing. Narcissa closed the door and looked at her son.
Narcissa had the usual Malfoy looks: blonde hair and gray eyes. Even in her old age she would have been considered to be gorgeous if she didn't look like she had something foul smelling under her nose. "I spoke to your father the other day." Said Narcissa coolly. "He's paying two Aurors to escort him to the conference and the ball tomorrow night. He wanted to be there in case there was any trouble with the plans."
"There shouldn't be any trouble. We've gone over this a dozen times."
"Good because if one thing goes wrong you know what he will do. You know what kind of a man your father is." Narcissa said as she crossed her bony arms.
"There's nothing wrong with Father. He's a strong man who will do anything to ensure that the wrong lot doesn't start mixing with people like us." Said Malfoy defensively.
"He may be a strong man but he is just as cruel and horrible as the Dark Lord." Narcissa retorted. "I was talking to Pansy before. She seems unhappy."
"She's always like that." Said Malfoy straightening up some papers on his desk. His mother walked closer to him.
"You must please your wife. She knows too much about you, too much about us! If she wanted to she could tell the Ministry everything and ruin our chances of any Malfoy ever having a good name. You may think she's a nuisance now but she will come in handy later, I assure you. Do you not remember how it is because of me was your father able to lure Potter and my idiot cousin into the Ministry of Magic?"
"I remember." Replied Malfoy quietly. "If it weren't for Potter then Father would have never gone to Azkaban."
"Do not disappoint your father and I Draco! If you do this, you can become the most powerful wizard in Europe and finally carry out your father's dreams and free him once and for all!" Said Narcissa powerfully. "You can finally even out the score with Potter. Draco smiled the most evil nastiest smile ever portrayed on a human face. Narcissa smiled back just as evilly. She knew just what to say to encourage her son.
"I won't disappoint either of you." Said Malfoy intensely.
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Fifteen minutes later everyone at the Malfoy Manor left for Diagon Alley. Ron and Harry quickly apparated to Diagon Alley and tried their best to get to the front of the big crowd.
"I never realized what kind of loony Malfoy's Mum was." Said Ron pushing his way through the crowd.
"She would have to somewhat insane to marry into that family." Replied Harry.
"What do you think about that plan they were talking about?" Asked Ron pushing past former Gryffindors Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.
"I don't know but I don't think it's any good. We're going to have to keep our eyes on him tomorrow night." Harry searched around the crowd looking for a certain red head. He spotted one at the top of the crowd. "GINNY!" Shouted Harry. Ginny turned around on her tip toes and saw Harry and her brother rummaging through the crowd. She motioned for them to come near her and they did so.
"Hey Ginny, how's Hermione?" Asked Ron with concern.
"She's okay. She's up there waiting for you. They said that the candidate's spouses are supposed to sit up on the platform with them. She's a bit nervous though." Said Ginny. Ron rushed up to the platform and up to Hermione's side. Ginny sighed at her brother and her sister-in- law.
"Don't you think they're just the cutest couple, Harry? I mean after all of the time those two spent together in Hogwarts did you ever think they would get married and be expecting a baby?" Asked Ginny in awe and turning to Harry. Harry looked at his two best friends up on the platform and smiled.
"Yup." Replied Harry briskly. Ron sat down next to Hermione and moments later Draco, Pansy, and Narcissa Malfoy took their place on the platform and the current Minister of Magic, Amos Diggory, took the podium.
"Wizards and Witches of Great Britain! As your Minister of Magic I am pleased to present to you the candidates for the 2005 election: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger Weasley!" The crowd cheered and the two candidates waved politely from their seats. "Mr. Malfoy will now deliver his final speech then answer questions from the press. Mr. Malfoy?" Draco rose from his seat and took the podium as Amos Diggory sat down in his own chair.
"Growing up after the supposed defeat of the Dark Lord," began Draco, "I witnessed times of joy and peace. 7 years ago that was all taken away from us when the Dark Lord came back. Once again we all fear for our loved one's lives in this time of crisis. If I am elected I promise change. Change for the better. Our Ministry will be prosperous and will consist of only the best of the best. A vote for Draco Malfoy is a vote for a better Ministry. One that will finally bring a better life to everyone." Most of the audience cheered. The press interviewed Draco as he bullshit-ed his way through their questions. Harry and Ginny looked at each other knowing that he was full of shit. Draco finally sat down. Now it was Hermione's turn.
Hermione took the podium and all of the nervousness she was feeling before was replaced by determination. "My fellow witches and wizards of England, today we stand at a crossroads. With your help we can help make our future brighter. I promise you any person convicted of meddling with Dark Arts will be punished to the full extent of the law. Rest assured Voldemort," there was an instant murmur of fright from the audience, "will be stopped. No longer will fear guide our decisions. Once again we will be able to ensure our family's safety and well being. No longer will there be discrimination in the wizarding community. If I am elected I guarantee you I will follow through on everything I say."
There was an instant round of applause bigger than Draco's. People were standing up and cheering. Hermione smiled proudly and looked back at Ron. He gave her thumbs up and a wink. Hermione blushed.
"Mrs. Weasley, is it true you and your husband are planning to get a divorce?" Asked one malicious reporter.
"Heaven's sake no." Replied Hermione.
"Are you several months pregnant or have you been gaining weight due to the tremendous pressure of the election?" Asked on reporter with an acid green Quick Quill Notes bussing around a piece of parchment. Hermione eyed Rita Skeeter angrily.
"I'm pregnant." Said Hermione coolly. The reporters started chatting excitedly.
"How far along?" Asked another reporter.
"Seven months."
"Is Harry Potter the father? You were seen strolling along muggle London with him a week ago." Ginny looked at Harry and laughed. Harry couldn't help but laugh too.
"No! Harry is just a friend. Nothing more. My husband, Ron, is the father of course." A dozen questions later the reporters were finished and voting officially began. Malfoy, Pansy, Narcissa, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Harry were all among the first few voters to cast their ballot. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all met up afterwards. Ron and Hermione were both glowing.
"How was my speech?" Asked Hermione excitedly.
"It was brilliant Hermione." Replied Harry happily.
"It really was." Ginny said.
"I was a little nervous about talking about the baby but I think I got through it fine." Said Hermione taking Ron's hand in hers.
"Of course you did. They were going to find out sooner or later." Ron checked his wristwatch. "We better be heading home. Bye you two." Ron and Hermione began walking to The Leaky Cauldron to Floo home to their house leaving Harry and Ginny alone.
The next day, the Daily Prophet was chock full of news about the Ministry Candidate Final Conference. It included a large piece about Hermione's pregnancy listing Harry and Ginny as godparents. All four of them took the day off from work to work on the baby's room. Everyone dressed in their worst muggle clothes and gathered in the empty baby room at noon. There were several buckets of paint and an old crib. Ginny, although adorned in crap clothes, looked gorgeous to Harry. She is a natural beauty, thought Harry to himself. He had the urge to kiss her right then and there but knew that he couldn't in front of Ron. They began painting the room blue and chatting happily.
"I can't believe that in two months there's actually going to be a baby living in this house." Hermione said in awe.
"I know. It's kind of weird." Said Harry.
"Yeah." Said Hermione happily.
"My brother is going to be a daddy...that's just...odd." Said Ginny looking at her brother in disbelief.
"I don't know why you three are acting strange about this. I've got no problem with it." Said Ron pretentiously.
"So you think you're prepared to raise a child right now at this very moment?" Asked Hermione curiously.
"I think I am, yes." Replied Ron coolly. Hermione raised her eyebrows. "What?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all." Said Hermione briskly.
"You don't believe me do you? You think I won't be able to care for my own child." Said Ron with his temper rising.
"I never said that Ron."
"But that's what you meant. I know you Hermione, better than you think. You don't have to say anything for me to know what you're really thinking."
"Well that's a bit scary." Whispered Harry into Ginny's ear. Ginny giggled.
"So you think you know what I'm thinking right now?" Inquired Hermione. Ron looked at her face and deep into her eyes. He laughed.
"If you really want to do that you could just tell me so you don't have to fantasize about it." Said Ron with a smirk on his face. Hermione threw a pillow from the nearby crib at him. "Hey!" He shouted. Hermione sighed.
"You're incorrigible."
"So have you two picked out names for the baby yet?" Asked Ginny.
"No. We've been so busy with our jobs. We haven't had the time to do anything." Said Hermione ashamedly.
"Well I hope you pick out a good one. Don't be like my mother and name you kid Ginevra." She suggested. Harry eyed Ginny.
"Your real name is Ginevra?" Harry asked taken a back trying to hold back laughs. Ron, on the other hand, let the laughs pour out.
"Shut up Ron!" Yelled Ginny across the room.
"What? I'm not doing anything!" Exclaimed Ron with a huge grin on his face.
"I'll hex you if you're not careful!" Warned Ginny.
"Alright, alright. Don't get your knickers in a twist." Said Ron shrugging.
"Do either of you have any names you like at least?" Asked Harry trying to make conversation.
"I like the name Keith." Said Ron casually.
"For a boy?" Asked Harry.
"No for a girl." Replied Ron sarcastically.
"Ugh! Keith? That's so plain and ordinary." Replied Hermione making a face.
"Well what names do you like?" Asked Ron sourly.
"Alethea if it's a girl and Delaney if it's a boy." Chirped Hermione happily.
"What? Hermione, are you bonkers? Those names are stupid! Delaney? Alethea? What kind of names are those?" Exclaimed Ron. Ginny and Harry looked at each other sensing a row.
"Alethea is a beautiful name and I happen to love it! Though it's pretty obvious we won't be using any girl names!" Shouted Hermione putting her brush back into the bucket of paint.
"How'd you know the baby is a boy?" Questioned Ron.
"For god's sake you picked out blue paint Ron! How thick can you get?" Exclaimed Hermione leaving the room. Ginny sighed.
"I better go talk to her. Harry, you try to knock some sense into my brother. See if that will help." Said Ginny following Hermione.
"Why does she have to be so difficult all the time?" Asked Ron exasperatedly.
"She is pregnant mate. The hormones are making her go crazy."
"Yes but why does she always have to take it out on me? She doesn't yell at you or Hermione."
"That's because she loves you and Ginny and I didn't get her pregnant." Ron sighed. "Just try to be more sensitive to her feelings. You don't want to have her running off and crying at the Ball tonight do you?"
"No, then it'd be the Yule Ball all over again." Said Ron bleakly.
"Go apologize to her."
"What should I say to her?"
"I don't know! She's your wife!" Ron sighed. Harry felt bad for his best friend. It must've been hard to have a pregnant wife that was busy with her job all the time. "Tell her that you like the name Alethea once you thought about it."
"But I don't like it."
"I know but Ernie said the baby is a boy so you won't have to name it Alethea so you wouldn't have to use that name anyway."
"How do you know so much about women?" Asked Ron surprised at his best friend.
"You pick up stuff when you live with Ginny." Replied Harry just as Ginny came back into the room.
"Well I hope you're happy Ron. She started crying when I went in there and she wouldn't stop." Said Ginny walking over to Harry's side.
"I'll go talk to her. You two better get going. I don't think we're going to get much more accomplished today." Said Ron sulkily leaving the room to go comfort Hermione. Ginny sighed.
"The room looks pretty good, don't you think?" Asked Ginny observing the room.
"Yeah, it's going to look great by the time they have the baby." Said Harry. Ginny looked at him and laughed. "What?"
"You've got some paint in your hair." Harry tried to brush it off but failed. "Here, let me." Said Ginny stepping closer to Harry's face. He could see every freckle on her beautiful face. "Scourgify!" She said and the paint went away.
"Thank you." Said Harry inching closer to her face. Ginny smiled.
"No problem." Harry leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. Ginny stopped him before he kissed her again.
"Ron." She said quietly. Harry sighed.
"Damn him."
"Now you know how I feel." Joked Ginny. She looked down at her watch. "Crap, I've got to go get ready. See you later Harry!" Said Ginny as she apparated home. Harry left the baby's room and walked down the hall. He peaked in Hermione and Ron's bedroom discreetly and saw Ron holding her in his arms rocking her gently. Harry smiled and apparated home as he became more and more excited about the Ministry Ball by the second.
Harry apparated home and got ready quickly, quicker than he should have. The ball began at 6 but he was ready to go at quarter after five. He wore his black and green dress robes that looked extremely good on him. Better than most of his clothes as a matter of fact. He waited patiently in his room reading old newspapers and magazines. He reluctantly started some of his work papers that he needed to finish and hand in on Monday. At six o'clock he walked out of his room and waited in the living room. "Ginny, are you ready?" He asked looking at his watch.
"Just a minute!" Called Ginny from her bedroom.
"We've got to get going!" Shouted Harry so Ginny would be able to hear him clearly.
"Just a minute Harry! We don't want to be too early. We should be fashionably late."
"It's six o'clock now."
"Then we're running right on time, aren't we?" Asked Ginny rhetorically from her bedroom. Ten minutes later Ginny finally emerged from her room. Harry stood up and smiled. He thought she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her dress robes were very similar to a muggle woman's dress. It was black with pink trim on the very top and on the bottom. The top hugged her tightly and had a low cut. She wore a choker with black rhinestone dangles that connected looking like dark spider web. The bottom of the dress flared out beautifully making Ginny look like a princess. "Harry?" Asked Ginny politely. "Harry you're staring."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to just...wow. You like amazing." Said Harry in complete awe. Ginny giggled in a way Harry found irresistible.
"Stop." Said Ginny modestly whose ears were starting to go red.
"I'm serious though. You look great."
"Thank you." She leaned up and kissed Harry softly on the lips. Harry smiled knowing that he had the best looking girl in the entire Ministry.
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A/N: Hope you liked it! This is kind of the 1st part of The Ministry Ball but I decided to give this part it's own chapter because when I imagined the events that will take place next I imagined them in chapter 8. lol I'm weird like that. Oh well. Review and tell me what you liked, disliked, or whatever! Just review! Hehe I love having a full mailbox in the morning.
A/N: This is a two-parter. Huzzah!
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Of Baby Talk and Speeches
The Ministry Ball, Part 1
Two weeks later the entire wizarding community was in a frenzy. Election Day was only one day away.
It was traditional for the two candidates to give their final speech and entertain questions from the press the day before Election Day. Malfoy and Hermione, now neck in neck, were to meet in the middle of Diagon Alley to give their final speeches at 4pm on Friday. Almost all of the magical community living in or near London was expected to come and support their candidate. Lucius Malfoy, father of Draco and prisoner of Azkaban, had even made a special arrangement to see his son deliver his final speech at the Ministry Candidate Final Conference.
Hermione had been a nervous wreck the entire week. She had gone to her Healer, Ernie MacMillan, for a pre-natal check up to see how the baby was surviving Hermione's stressful life. Ernie had suggested bed rest the entire week before the Ministry Candidate Final Conference to ensure her health for the Ministry Ball the following night after the Final Conference. Luckily for her, Hermione's mother and father in law and husband had finished all of the last minute work for Hermione and tried helping her out in anyway possible,
From Harry and Ron's observations, Draco seemed the least bit nervous. He continued spending time locked in his study working on paperwork for his current ministry position. There were no more afternoon quickies like the one Ron and Harry had reluctantly witnessed and Pansy returned back to her normal unattractive self. She seemed slightly less depressed than she had been. Every time Malfoy said or did something mean to her, she no longer complained about it. She instead kept her mouth shut and obeyed his command with slight glimmer in her eyes that had not been there before.
Finally the day of the Ministry Candidate Final Conference had arrived. Unfortunately for Ron, he had to work and could not stay home to help out Hermione. Ginny had instead taken he day off of work from The Daily Prophet and took Ron's place at home. Ron spent the entire workday in his best wizard robes ensuring that he could apperate to Diagon Alley quickly and would still look his best for the Final Conference.
The day at Malfoy's was slightly more exciting than it had been in previous days. Crabbe, Goyle, Draco's mother Narcissa, and other friends of Draco's and Pansy's had gathered in the Malfoy's living room to further prepare Draco. It was hard for Ron and Harry to remain undiscovered the whole day with so many people in the Malfoy Manor. Towards the end of the day at a quarter to four Narcissa approached her son and the two went upstairs to the study. Harry and Ron followed and managed to sneak upstairs and into the room without anyone knowing. Narcissa closed the door and looked at her son.
Narcissa had the usual Malfoy looks: blonde hair and gray eyes. Even in her old age she would have been considered to be gorgeous if she didn't look like she had something foul smelling under her nose. "I spoke to your father the other day." Said Narcissa coolly. "He's paying two Aurors to escort him to the conference and the ball tomorrow night. He wanted to be there in case there was any trouble with the plans."
"There shouldn't be any trouble. We've gone over this a dozen times."
"Good because if one thing goes wrong you know what he will do. You know what kind of a man your father is." Narcissa said as she crossed her bony arms.
"There's nothing wrong with Father. He's a strong man who will do anything to ensure that the wrong lot doesn't start mixing with people like us." Said Malfoy defensively.
"He may be a strong man but he is just as cruel and horrible as the Dark Lord." Narcissa retorted. "I was talking to Pansy before. She seems unhappy."
"She's always like that." Said Malfoy straightening up some papers on his desk. His mother walked closer to him.
"You must please your wife. She knows too much about you, too much about us! If she wanted to she could tell the Ministry everything and ruin our chances of any Malfoy ever having a good name. You may think she's a nuisance now but she will come in handy later, I assure you. Do you not remember how it is because of me was your father able to lure Potter and my idiot cousin into the Ministry of Magic?"
"I remember." Replied Malfoy quietly. "If it weren't for Potter then Father would have never gone to Azkaban."
"Do not disappoint your father and I Draco! If you do this, you can become the most powerful wizard in Europe and finally carry out your father's dreams and free him once and for all!" Said Narcissa powerfully. "You can finally even out the score with Potter. Draco smiled the most evil nastiest smile ever portrayed on a human face. Narcissa smiled back just as evilly. She knew just what to say to encourage her son.
"I won't disappoint either of you." Said Malfoy intensely.
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Fifteen minutes later everyone at the Malfoy Manor left for Diagon Alley. Ron and Harry quickly apparated to Diagon Alley and tried their best to get to the front of the big crowd.
"I never realized what kind of loony Malfoy's Mum was." Said Ron pushing his way through the crowd.
"She would have to somewhat insane to marry into that family." Replied Harry.
"What do you think about that plan they were talking about?" Asked Ron pushing past former Gryffindors Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.
"I don't know but I don't think it's any good. We're going to have to keep our eyes on him tomorrow night." Harry searched around the crowd looking for a certain red head. He spotted one at the top of the crowd. "GINNY!" Shouted Harry. Ginny turned around on her tip toes and saw Harry and her brother rummaging through the crowd. She motioned for them to come near her and they did so.
"Hey Ginny, how's Hermione?" Asked Ron with concern.
"She's okay. She's up there waiting for you. They said that the candidate's spouses are supposed to sit up on the platform with them. She's a bit nervous though." Said Ginny. Ron rushed up to the platform and up to Hermione's side. Ginny sighed at her brother and her sister-in- law.
"Don't you think they're just the cutest couple, Harry? I mean after all of the time those two spent together in Hogwarts did you ever think they would get married and be expecting a baby?" Asked Ginny in awe and turning to Harry. Harry looked at his two best friends up on the platform and smiled.
"Yup." Replied Harry briskly. Ron sat down next to Hermione and moments later Draco, Pansy, and Narcissa Malfoy took their place on the platform and the current Minister of Magic, Amos Diggory, took the podium.
"Wizards and Witches of Great Britain! As your Minister of Magic I am pleased to present to you the candidates for the 2005 election: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger Weasley!" The crowd cheered and the two candidates waved politely from their seats. "Mr. Malfoy will now deliver his final speech then answer questions from the press. Mr. Malfoy?" Draco rose from his seat and took the podium as Amos Diggory sat down in his own chair.
"Growing up after the supposed defeat of the Dark Lord," began Draco, "I witnessed times of joy and peace. 7 years ago that was all taken away from us when the Dark Lord came back. Once again we all fear for our loved one's lives in this time of crisis. If I am elected I promise change. Change for the better. Our Ministry will be prosperous and will consist of only the best of the best. A vote for Draco Malfoy is a vote for a better Ministry. One that will finally bring a better life to everyone." Most of the audience cheered. The press interviewed Draco as he bullshit-ed his way through their questions. Harry and Ginny looked at each other knowing that he was full of shit. Draco finally sat down. Now it was Hermione's turn.
Hermione took the podium and all of the nervousness she was feeling before was replaced by determination. "My fellow witches and wizards of England, today we stand at a crossroads. With your help we can help make our future brighter. I promise you any person convicted of meddling with Dark Arts will be punished to the full extent of the law. Rest assured Voldemort," there was an instant murmur of fright from the audience, "will be stopped. No longer will fear guide our decisions. Once again we will be able to ensure our family's safety and well being. No longer will there be discrimination in the wizarding community. If I am elected I guarantee you I will follow through on everything I say."
There was an instant round of applause bigger than Draco's. People were standing up and cheering. Hermione smiled proudly and looked back at Ron. He gave her thumbs up and a wink. Hermione blushed.
"Mrs. Weasley, is it true you and your husband are planning to get a divorce?" Asked one malicious reporter.
"Heaven's sake no." Replied Hermione.
"Are you several months pregnant or have you been gaining weight due to the tremendous pressure of the election?" Asked on reporter with an acid green Quick Quill Notes bussing around a piece of parchment. Hermione eyed Rita Skeeter angrily.
"I'm pregnant." Said Hermione coolly. The reporters started chatting excitedly.
"How far along?" Asked another reporter.
"Seven months."
"Is Harry Potter the father? You were seen strolling along muggle London with him a week ago." Ginny looked at Harry and laughed. Harry couldn't help but laugh too.
"No! Harry is just a friend. Nothing more. My husband, Ron, is the father of course." A dozen questions later the reporters were finished and voting officially began. Malfoy, Pansy, Narcissa, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Harry were all among the first few voters to cast their ballot. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all met up afterwards. Ron and Hermione were both glowing.
"How was my speech?" Asked Hermione excitedly.
"It was brilliant Hermione." Replied Harry happily.
"It really was." Ginny said.
"I was a little nervous about talking about the baby but I think I got through it fine." Said Hermione taking Ron's hand in hers.
"Of course you did. They were going to find out sooner or later." Ron checked his wristwatch. "We better be heading home. Bye you two." Ron and Hermione began walking to The Leaky Cauldron to Floo home to their house leaving Harry and Ginny alone.
The next day, the Daily Prophet was chock full of news about the Ministry Candidate Final Conference. It included a large piece about Hermione's pregnancy listing Harry and Ginny as godparents. All four of them took the day off from work to work on the baby's room. Everyone dressed in their worst muggle clothes and gathered in the empty baby room at noon. There were several buckets of paint and an old crib. Ginny, although adorned in crap clothes, looked gorgeous to Harry. She is a natural beauty, thought Harry to himself. He had the urge to kiss her right then and there but knew that he couldn't in front of Ron. They began painting the room blue and chatting happily.
"I can't believe that in two months there's actually going to be a baby living in this house." Hermione said in awe.
"I know. It's kind of weird." Said Harry.
"Yeah." Said Hermione happily.
"My brother is going to be a daddy...that's just...odd." Said Ginny looking at her brother in disbelief.
"I don't know why you three are acting strange about this. I've got no problem with it." Said Ron pretentiously.
"So you think you're prepared to raise a child right now at this very moment?" Asked Hermione curiously.
"I think I am, yes." Replied Ron coolly. Hermione raised her eyebrows. "What?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all." Said Hermione briskly.
"You don't believe me do you? You think I won't be able to care for my own child." Said Ron with his temper rising.
"I never said that Ron."
"But that's what you meant. I know you Hermione, better than you think. You don't have to say anything for me to know what you're really thinking."
"Well that's a bit scary." Whispered Harry into Ginny's ear. Ginny giggled.
"So you think you know what I'm thinking right now?" Inquired Hermione. Ron looked at her face and deep into her eyes. He laughed.
"If you really want to do that you could just tell me so you don't have to fantasize about it." Said Ron with a smirk on his face. Hermione threw a pillow from the nearby crib at him. "Hey!" He shouted. Hermione sighed.
"You're incorrigible."
"So have you two picked out names for the baby yet?" Asked Ginny.
"No. We've been so busy with our jobs. We haven't had the time to do anything." Said Hermione ashamedly.
"Well I hope you pick out a good one. Don't be like my mother and name you kid Ginevra." She suggested. Harry eyed Ginny.
"Your real name is Ginevra?" Harry asked taken a back trying to hold back laughs. Ron, on the other hand, let the laughs pour out.
"Shut up Ron!" Yelled Ginny across the room.
"What? I'm not doing anything!" Exclaimed Ron with a huge grin on his face.
"I'll hex you if you're not careful!" Warned Ginny.
"Alright, alright. Don't get your knickers in a twist." Said Ron shrugging.
"Do either of you have any names you like at least?" Asked Harry trying to make conversation.
"I like the name Keith." Said Ron casually.
"For a boy?" Asked Harry.
"No for a girl." Replied Ron sarcastically.
"Ugh! Keith? That's so plain and ordinary." Replied Hermione making a face.
"Well what names do you like?" Asked Ron sourly.
"Alethea if it's a girl and Delaney if it's a boy." Chirped Hermione happily.
"What? Hermione, are you bonkers? Those names are stupid! Delaney? Alethea? What kind of names are those?" Exclaimed Ron. Ginny and Harry looked at each other sensing a row.
"Alethea is a beautiful name and I happen to love it! Though it's pretty obvious we won't be using any girl names!" Shouted Hermione putting her brush back into the bucket of paint.
"How'd you know the baby is a boy?" Questioned Ron.
"For god's sake you picked out blue paint Ron! How thick can you get?" Exclaimed Hermione leaving the room. Ginny sighed.
"I better go talk to her. Harry, you try to knock some sense into my brother. See if that will help." Said Ginny following Hermione.
"Why does she have to be so difficult all the time?" Asked Ron exasperatedly.
"She is pregnant mate. The hormones are making her go crazy."
"Yes but why does she always have to take it out on me? She doesn't yell at you or Hermione."
"That's because she loves you and Ginny and I didn't get her pregnant." Ron sighed. "Just try to be more sensitive to her feelings. You don't want to have her running off and crying at the Ball tonight do you?"
"No, then it'd be the Yule Ball all over again." Said Ron bleakly.
"Go apologize to her."
"What should I say to her?"
"I don't know! She's your wife!" Ron sighed. Harry felt bad for his best friend. It must've been hard to have a pregnant wife that was busy with her job all the time. "Tell her that you like the name Alethea once you thought about it."
"But I don't like it."
"I know but Ernie said the baby is a boy so you won't have to name it Alethea so you wouldn't have to use that name anyway."
"How do you know so much about women?" Asked Ron surprised at his best friend.
"You pick up stuff when you live with Ginny." Replied Harry just as Ginny came back into the room.
"Well I hope you're happy Ron. She started crying when I went in there and she wouldn't stop." Said Ginny walking over to Harry's side.
"I'll go talk to her. You two better get going. I don't think we're going to get much more accomplished today." Said Ron sulkily leaving the room to go comfort Hermione. Ginny sighed.
"The room looks pretty good, don't you think?" Asked Ginny observing the room.
"Yeah, it's going to look great by the time they have the baby." Said Harry. Ginny looked at him and laughed. "What?"
"You've got some paint in your hair." Harry tried to brush it off but failed. "Here, let me." Said Ginny stepping closer to Harry's face. He could see every freckle on her beautiful face. "Scourgify!" She said and the paint went away.
"Thank you." Said Harry inching closer to her face. Ginny smiled.
"No problem." Harry leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. Ginny stopped him before he kissed her again.
"Ron." She said quietly. Harry sighed.
"Damn him."
"Now you know how I feel." Joked Ginny. She looked down at her watch. "Crap, I've got to go get ready. See you later Harry!" Said Ginny as she apparated home. Harry left the baby's room and walked down the hall. He peaked in Hermione and Ron's bedroom discreetly and saw Ron holding her in his arms rocking her gently. Harry smiled and apparated home as he became more and more excited about the Ministry Ball by the second.
Harry apparated home and got ready quickly, quicker than he should have. The ball began at 6 but he was ready to go at quarter after five. He wore his black and green dress robes that looked extremely good on him. Better than most of his clothes as a matter of fact. He waited patiently in his room reading old newspapers and magazines. He reluctantly started some of his work papers that he needed to finish and hand in on Monday. At six o'clock he walked out of his room and waited in the living room. "Ginny, are you ready?" He asked looking at his watch.
"Just a minute!" Called Ginny from her bedroom.
"We've got to get going!" Shouted Harry so Ginny would be able to hear him clearly.
"Just a minute Harry! We don't want to be too early. We should be fashionably late."
"It's six o'clock now."
"Then we're running right on time, aren't we?" Asked Ginny rhetorically from her bedroom. Ten minutes later Ginny finally emerged from her room. Harry stood up and smiled. He thought she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her dress robes were very similar to a muggle woman's dress. It was black with pink trim on the very top and on the bottom. The top hugged her tightly and had a low cut. She wore a choker with black rhinestone dangles that connected looking like dark spider web. The bottom of the dress flared out beautifully making Ginny look like a princess. "Harry?" Asked Ginny politely. "Harry you're staring."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to just...wow. You like amazing." Said Harry in complete awe. Ginny giggled in a way Harry found irresistible.
"Stop." Said Ginny modestly whose ears were starting to go red.
"I'm serious though. You look great."
"Thank you." She leaned up and kissed Harry softly on the lips. Harry smiled knowing that he had the best looking girl in the entire Ministry.
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A/N: Hope you liked it! This is kind of the 1st part of The Ministry Ball but I decided to give this part it's own chapter because when I imagined the events that will take place next I imagined them in chapter 8. lol I'm weird like that. Oh well. Review and tell me what you liked, disliked, or whatever! Just review! Hehe I love having a full mailbox in the morning.