Chapter 27 – News

Ginny had been cleaning the house most of the day. She had been doing it without magic just to keep herself occupied because she was waiting for Harry to get home from work. While cleaning, Ginny thought about the past couple of weeks.

The team had wrapped up the Sam Martin case in short order after the first interrogation. It only took a couple of weeks for them to sort it all out. As it turned out, Sam was dating Romilda Vane, who had become a reporter for the Daily Prophet. She usually wrote lifestyle articles but did the occasional quidditch story. They had met while Romilda was doing a story about wizards immigrating to Britain. Sam was one of the people she interviewed for her article. They struck up a friendship that led to a romantic relationship. She told him rumors that Ginny was no good, a tramp, and was cheating on Harry, but didn't believe them. She also told Sam about how she had feelings for Harry back at Hogwarts and how Harry never fancied her. Romilda also went on to tell him how hurt she was when Harry kept turning her down. Upon hearing all this, Sam got angry. He took it upon himself to use polyjuice potion and Romilda's credentials to gain access to the locker room and plant the note. He didn't think that an entire investigation was going to be launched due to his act. Little did he realize who he was starting trouble with. Since Sam was considered a flight risk, he was held in the Auror Department Detention Center until his trial. If he was found guilty, which there was no doubt, he was facing a long jail sentence. Once everything was revealed, Tom interviewed Romilda and found she had no knowledge of Sam's plan and was cleared of any wrongdoing. Harry thought Sam would probably get transferred to St. Mungo's because most of the department thought he was mentally unstable. Given the lengths that he went to enact revenge on something that happened years ago, Ginny agreed. Romilda had no hard feelings about anything that happened at Hogwarts and had moved on with her life. Since the case was considered closed, Andromeda and Teddy had gone back home but Teddy still spent about half his time with Ginny and Harry.

Ginny had been meeting with Abagail Cook to help her train so the Harpies would resign her once her contract ran out. Abagail was thankful for the help, and she was putting a lot of effort into it. Ginny could see the potential that Abagail had and pushed her just hard enough to unleash it. The training sessions were starting to pay off and Abagail was getting better. Ginny also offered her a shoulder to lean on if she needed it. Ginny sought her out after her interview with Tom and accidentally bumped into her under the premise that she was there to meet Harry for lunch and make use of the auror's gym. It wasn't a complete lie, just the part about being surprised to see Abagail. Over time, the two women got along well enough. They weren't exactly friends, but they became a little more than just teammates. Abagail did apologize to Harry for any issue she may have caused. Harry, of course, waved it off and told her not to worry.

Ginny had taken the day off from training so she could go to an appointment at St. Mungo's. Ginny noticed that her menstrual cycle was late and felt a little off and didn't know why. At first, she thought maybe it was the stress of training for the upcoming season or maybe she was getting sick. Ginny tried a pepper-up potion but that didn't do anything for her, so she made her appointment. The healer Ginny saw suggested that she was pregnant. A test was administered, and it confirmed that Ginny was indeed pregnant, just a couple of weeks along. The healer told her that riding a broom and apparition were now off limits. Using floo powder or a portkey were safer ways to travel. The healer gave Ginny a recipe for a prenatal potion to help the growing baby. She also received literature on what to expect while pregnant along with helpful tips on taking care of herself and the unborn child. Part of her was excited at the thought of having a baby that was their own, but the other part of her was scared.

Ginny took a break from cleaning the bedroom and sat down at her makeup vanity. She looked at herself in the mirror.

How's Harry going to react? Will he be happy? I know the timing isn't great, but I just don't want him to be angry. He just got back to work, and I just made captain. No, this is a blessing. A child is a blessing, and this is Harry. Harry loves me and I know he'll love us having a baby. We've talked about having kids and he wants them too. He's so great with Teddy too. He's a great dad, even if he doesn't realize it. I'm not really worried about me being a mum, I've been Teddy's mum since he was a baby. What am I going to tell Teddy? Will he be jealous? Merlin, I hope not. I'll just have to make sure he still feels just as loved after the baby's born as he does now. What am I going to do about quidditch? I can't play or even ride a broom. It's too dangerous. I guess I'll have to have a meeting with Mr. Smith and Allen. I'll figure something out to help Abby with her training, she's going to need it. She may have to replace me in the lineup. Everything has changed now. What am I'm going to tell the family? Mum probably won't let me do anything. Dad will be thrilled. I just hope my brothers don't do anything to Harry. I mean, we are married.

Ginny stood up and looked at herself in the full-length mirror on her closet door. She stood sideways and looked at her profile. Ginny laid her hands on her stomach.

None of my clothes are going to fit soon. I'll have to get new ones. Maybe Mum can show me how to make my own. That might be fun. My belly is going to get huge and I'm going to be fat. No not fat, pregnant. There's a difference. Will Harry still love me looking all huge like that? Yes, he will, he's Harry. Some women don't gain a lot of weight. I hope I'm one of them. Oh Merlin, what if we have twins? I'll be twice as huge! No not huge, pregnant. There's a difference. The healer said it was too soon to tell if we're having twins or even the sex of it. I wonder if we'll have a boy or a girl. We already have Teddy, so I hope it'll be a girl. No, not it. Baby. There's a difference.

Ginny looked at herself from all angles while she rubbed her stomach. She took in every inch of herself trying to imagine what changes her body was going to go through. The literature said that Ginny could expect her breasts to get larger and her feet may swell. It also explained she might have mood swings due to changes in her hormone levels. Then there was the morning sickness. Ginny was not looking forward to that. She also read that lower back pain was also common.

Ginny finished cleaning the bedroom and called for Kreacher. Kreacher appeared in the doorway, "Did Mistress Ginny call for Kreacher?" He bowed low.

Ginny nodded, "Yes Kreacher. Please clean the kitchen this afternoon for me and do the laundry."

Kreacher bowed again, "Kreacher is always happy to do Mistress Ginny's bidding," and left.

Ginny's head was swimming with what ifs as she walked into the sitting room. She sat down with a glass of pumpkin juice.

How am I going to tell him? Should I just blurt it out or should I build up to it? I can make a game out of it. I could make him guess. How is he going to react? Will he be happy? Will he be shocked? Oh Merlin. I hope he's happy. He will be happy. I know he will. This is Harry and he'll see this baby as a blessing. I know he will. I hope he will. What if he doesn't see the baby the same way I do? What if he leaves me? What will I do? Alone and pregnant? Dam hormones. No. This is Harry. He would never do that. He loves me and he'll love this baby too. I hope. I'm just being silly. Harry will still love me, and he'll love the baby.

Ginny was so lost in her own thoughts she didn't realize that Harry had come home. He watched her from the doorway of the sitting room thinking. Ginny was sitting on the corner of the couch with her legs tucked up underneath her. She was wearing a pair of jeans and one of Harry's old jumpers.

From the doorway Harry chuckled and said, "Now I know where all my old jumpers go." He smiled as he started to walk to her.

Ginny looked up to Harry, but didn't quite meet his eyes, "Oh, your home. I didn't hear you come in."

Harry sat down next to her and placed his arm around Ginny's shoulders, "That's ok. You looked deep in thought. What were you thinking about?"

Ginny settled into Harry and started tracing circles on his chest. She said, "Just stuff."

Harry kissed the top of Ginny's head, "I'd say it was a little more than just stuff."

Ginny looked up at Harry. She asked him, "Do you remember the first time we made love?"

Harry smiled as he remembered, "I do. It was before we got married. You had come over for dinner one night…."

Ginny apparated to the apparition point by the broom shed and walked into the kitchen. She saw Harry putting the finishing touches on the stew he was making for dinner. She just stared at him. He looked so handsome. With his hair all messy and the apron tied around his waist, it was enough to get Ginny's heart racing. Ginny had decided on a simple blue blouse with a pair of jeans and some comfortable flats. Harry turned around and spotted her. He smiled.

"You're early."

"I just couldn't wait any longer. I hope that's ok."

"No, it's fine. Butterbeer?"

"That sounds good."

"You look great tonight."

"Thank you. You're looking handsome as always."

Harry gave Ginny a butterbeer and took one for himself. He kissed her deeply. Before they both knew it, the butterbeers were forgotten and they were naked on the kitchen floor.

Ginny smiled, "It was quite the night."

Harry nodded, "Yea, it was."

Ginny sat up and took Harry's hand, "I have some news." Harry started to interrupt her, but Ginny placed her figure over his lips to stop him. She continued, "I had an appointment this morning at St. Mungo's. Please don't be upset."

This time Harry did interrupt Ginny, "Why would I be upset. What's going on?"

Ginny turned to face Harry. She tucked her legs underneath her again, "I know the timing isn't great, but this is a blessing. I just know you'll see it the same way I do."

Harry took Ginny's hands, "Ginny, what is it?"

Ginny swallowed hard and looked into Harry eyes. Ginny loved those emerald green eyes and how they lit up when he looked at her. She only hoped they still lit up once she told him what she needed to say. After a couple of tense moments Harry said, "What's going on Ginny? Whatever it is, we'll figure it out. You know that."

Ginny asked, "Maybe I'm being silly, but you promise you won't get mad?"

Harry looked at Ginny, certainly confused at this point, "Ok I'll bite. I promise I won't get mad."

Ginny took a deep breath and said, "Harry I'm pregnant." She quickly followed it up with, "You promised."

A look of shock came over Harry's face and Ginny feared the worst. Suddenly, what Ginny had just told him sank in. A wide grin that showed all his teeth appeared on his face. There was a twinkle in his eyes as he asked, "Why would I be mad?"

Visibly relieved, Ginny said, "I don't know. It's just that you're back at work and I'm preparing for the season. For whatever silly reason I thought you'd to be mad."

Harry leaned in and gently but passionately kissed Ginny. Then he said, "This. Is. Wonderful." He took her in his arms and said, "Sure the timing could have been a bit better." Harry broke his embrace to see a small frown on Ginny's face. He placed a hand on her stomach, "This baby is a blessing."

Ginny's eyes welled up with tears as she smiled.