Chapter 4- Molly's dilemma (again)

The days following Ginny's revelations seemed to go by unnoticed by all the Weasley family. Everyone in the Burrow seemed to be in a daze, Ginny more then anyone else. She didn't want to come out of her room all of the following day even though Molly sat for hours outside the bedroom door pleading for her to come out and to eat.

The boys after their initial shock, had seemed to have all calmed down greatly, Molly knew that she owed this purely to Bill for both his words the previous night and the fact that he now continued to keep the boys in check, especially when Charlie and Fred were still demanding to know who the father was.

Arthur had also finally adjusted to the idea that his daughter was with child, Molly knew that he didn't like the idea but he at least accepted that the pregnancy was something that was really happening and as farther of the family he made it his personal duty to ensure that the baby had enough of the things it would need when it came. This meant, despite Molly's protests, longer hours at the office.

Almost forty eight hours after Ginny had told the family of her pregnancy, hunger finally drove her from her room. Molly was seated at the kitchen table a scrap of parchment laid in front of her as she scratched the ink loaded quill over its surface.

"Mum?" Ginny's weak voice said from the kitchen doorway, Molly turned to see her daughter standing in the door frame, dressed in pink chequered pyjamas, pink dressing gown and fluffy white rabbit slippers. Molly smiled at her child; Ginny's face was tearstained and very red and blotchy it was obvious that she hadn't slept and that she had been crying. As she looked at her daughter Molly found it hard to believe that in a few short months the young girl in front of her would soon be a mother herself.

"Come here" Molly said softly holding back tears as she held her hand out to Ginny and Ginny rushed forwards as Molly pulled her into a huge hug.

'A mother maybe' Molly thought as she kissed Ginny's flame red hair and Ginny's small frame shuddered as she cried into Molly's bosom. But Ginny was still every bit a child as well.

"It's all going to be fine" Molly said reassuringly as she stroked Ginny's hair "Your father and I have talked it all through-"

"Dad!" Ginny said in alarm as she quickly looked up at her mother and through the tears Molly saw a deeper sadness in her daughter's eyes "He hates me doesn't he?"

"Oh, no" Molly said tenderly as she wiped Ginny's tears with her free hand "He loves you very much-"

"In spite of -" Ginny said softly as she moved her hand to her stomach indicating that she meant the pregnancy.

"Ginny, your father and I love you unconditionally-"

"He hates Percy, he doesn't love Percy unconditionally!" Ginny said heatedly as she pulled away. Molly could tell by Ginny's shocked reaction at her own words that she regretted it the moment she had said it. Molly had tried to make her expression even to this out burst from Ginny as her hart sank slightly at the thought of Percy's empty room which hadn't been touched since the day he left. But Molly knew that Ginny had realised that she had unintentionally caused her mother pain.

"Percy is…he's complicated" Molly admitted sadly as she pulled Ginny back into her embrace, "But I still love him very much, so does your father, that love has never been in question, Percy just…he wanted more then we could offer. He thinks that in London with the people that he now associates with he will be given the things that we couldn't…I still love him, Ginny, I love all of you and I'll love the baby too"

"Even if the baby's….different?" Ginny asked slowly choosing her words.

"There's going to be nothing wrong with the baby" Molly said quickly but Molly could still see sadness in her daughters eyes even though Ginny now forced a small smile.

"I'm sorry" Ginny said "Are you disappointed in me?" She asked and Molly knew that she was searching for reassurance, Ginny needed to know that she wasn't alone and that things would be normal between them, all of them.

"How could I ever be disappointed in you?" Molly said as she held Ginny close "You're my daughter and I'm proud of you as much as any of the boys" They sat for along time in quite, Molly holding her daughter tightly as both she and Ginny sat in the silent kitchen as all the boys were still at work.

"What have you been writing?" Ginny asked after a time making conversation as she pulled the parchment that Molly had been writing on closer.

"It's a list" Molly said as she took the parchment from Ginny with her free hand, her other still around Ginny's shoulders. "It's the things that we need for when the baby arrives, I think we still have a crib and a box of yours and Ron's baby clothes in the attic, but other things like dummies, bottles and a pushchair will have to be bought"

"Do we have to buy a healer too?" Ginny asked puzzled as she looked at the parchment,

"No, dear" Molly laughed "But you'll have to see one, Arthur's making an appointment for you to visit one at St Mungo's then they'll be able to check you over and assign you a Midwife witch who will visit you every few weeks at first just to make sure your progressing well"

"Couldn't madam Pomfrey do that?" Ginny asked idly as she stifled a yawn,

"You're tired" Molly replied quickly "You should really get some sleep"

"Madam Pomfrey can be the midwife witch for the baby, right?" Ginny asked again and Molly was thankful for being saved from answering Ginny's question as at that moment the grandfather clock chimed and Fred and George apperated into the kitchen with a loud pop.

"So you've ventured out of your room then?" Fred said to Ginny as he strode across the kitchen to the large cooking pot that was bubbling happily on the stove.

"You're looking a little peaky" George said as he followed his twin to the food and began to fight over who was to get the first helping as Ron rolled into the kitchen, literally, from the fire place.

"I feel it too" Ginny replied to George over the clatter that he, Fred and Ron where making and as Molly hurried to retrieve the ladle from the twins' hands before it fell into the stew.

"That'll be the morning sickness" Molly said fondly as she handed a full plate of stew to Fred "When I was carrying the twins I was always being sick, never could hold anything down for the first two months. In fact I was sick that often that I ruptured the capillaries in my cheeks"

"Fun" Molly heard Ginny whisper sarcastically under her breath

"Mum?" Fred groaned from the table "I'm trying to eat!"

Soon after the rest of the family returned home, Arthur was even later then usual but still the whole family managed to eat together. After dinner Ginny headed back to her room and after a while everyone else headed to bed too.

"I've made Ginny's appointment for one o'clock tomorrow, she's booked in with Healer Sedgewick" Arthur told Molly that night as they both lay in bed, Arthur trying to read some important ministry papers by the light of the very dim candles.

"She wanted to know why Poppy Pomfrey couldn't be her healer" Molly confessed sadly

"Did you tell?" Arthur asked in alarm as he turned to look at Molly

"No"

"How are we to ever tell her?" Arthur asked his voice sounding as sad as Molly felt "it's all she's ever wanted"

"I know" Molly said softly "but she's more resourceful, intelligent and capable then we give her credit for, I think that in time she'll understand."

"Shall I go see Dumbledore first thing in the morning?" Arthur said as she flicked his wand at the lights and they faded.

"No, better wait till the healers checked her over first"

"What time is Harry arriving?"

"Noon" Molly yawned sleepily "his uncle agreed to bring him this year, horrid man"

"Molly?" Arthur warned as he placed his papers on the bedside table "He's still Harry's relative and you promised you wouldn't criticise"

"I promised no such thing" Molly said as they both pulled the covers over themselves and instantly fell asleep.