Disclaimer: I own nothing. I just enjoy playing with other people's toys. Thank you JKR for sharing.

Chapter 7: Departure

"No! You can't have it. Harry stop them. Stop them Harry."

"I can't Ginny, I'm dead."

"You're not dead. You're alive. We have a child to raise. We have a family. Stop them Harry!"

Ginny was strapped to a long wooden table in darkened room. The only light permeating the darkness around her lighted her exposed belly, swollen from pregnancy. Small drops of sweat dotted Ginny's forehead as another spasm of pain shot across her abdomen.

"Please Harry, please, please, help me Harry," Ginny sobbed straining against her bonds as the contractions came more swiftly. "You have to help me. You can't let them take our baby."

"Ginny I can't help you," Harry told her drifting slowly away into the darkness.

Others were milling about the room now leaving the misty fringes of obscurity behind and approaching her table. Ginny knew that these menacing figures would happily take not only her unborn child from her, but Harry as well. Ginny fought with all her strength to free herself and her unborn child, but the ropes binding her wrists and ankles cut into her flesh and blood began to run from the wounds.

"NO! You can't have it. You can't. I won't let you take them both! Don't leave me Harry," Ginny screamed.

They were coming closer, masked and robed in black, they moved slowly but surely to where Ginny lay bound and bleeding. The baby inside her kicked and writhed; small feet and fists making lumps appear and disappear in her flesh as it moved. Ginny tore her eyes away from the approaching evil and turned her head looking for Harry. His form was fading and becoming translucent before her eyes.

"Don't go Harry. Don't leave me," she pleaded.

They were upon her now. One of the figures, wand outstretched, muttered an incantation, "Aufero."

Ginny felt excruciating pain as her skin across her stomach began to tear, allowing her baby to float screaming and flailing its tiny limbs from her body.

"Harry! Help me!" Ginny yelled toward the rapidly diminishing form of Harry.

"Goodbye Ginny," Harry whispered as the last bit of him was snuffed out before her eyes.

"NOOOOO!"

"Ginny wake up. It's alright Ginny you're safe."

Ginny looked up into Harry's face with relief. The dream that had haunted her since she had learned of his death was slowly fading as she melted into his strong arms. The familiar tears that always followed the dream began to seep through her closed eyes as Harry rocked her like a child whispering sweet words of comfort into her ear.

"Ginny love . . ." Harry started to say.

"It's alright Harry. It's just a dream I keep having. It's nothing really. You should really try to get more sleep," She told him in what she hoped was a reassuring voice pulling away from him slightly to look him in the face.

"Ginny I'm not leaving you and that was a bit more than just a dream. It looked horrible. You were writhing around screaming," Harry told her as he smoothed her rumpled red hair. "How long have you been having this nothing dream?"

"Since I left home. Since I found out you had died," Ginny replied.

A dark shadow passed over his green eyes at this news, his pain evident.

"Stop blaming yourself Harry," Ginny said firmly. "This isn't your fault. It's mine. If I hadn't run away. If I had only stayed at home. If, well, if I hadn't been so stupid none of this would have happened. I'm to blame and I know it."

Harry looked as if he were going to interrupt, but Ginny put a finger to his lips to silence him. Ginny had so much to say and now that she had started she didn't feel like stopping. She seemed to regain her courage and strength in his arms as though she had just taken a strengthening solution.

"Don't Harry. Please don't be noble. Don't tell me that you could have changed things. I've made so many mistakes in my life and this is just one more. This isn't the first time I've put people in jeopardy. Only now the one in harms way is my own daughter. You've been so wonderful to me, but I don't deserve it. By all rights you should have turned around and walked out of that bar when I told you about Lily. Most men couldn't have taken that information in stride like you did. I owe you so much just for you being here and I know it. There is nothing I can say to make what I've done to you or anyone else better again, but I can at least explain."

"Ginny," Harry started to say.

"No Harry. Please just listen first," Ginny interrupted.

Harry nodded silently as he swept a stray tear from her freckled cheek. Ginny smiled slightly at his gesture before taking a deep breath and continuing her story.

"Dad came home that day, the day you were attacked, and told mum and I that you were," Ginny bit her lip and Harry nodded in comprehension. "Well, I was devastated. Madame Pomfrey had just told me I was pregnant not even twenty-four hours earlier. I hadn't even been able to tell you about the baby yet. I was going to tell you that night. I guess things just sort of snapped in my mind because the next thing I knew I was up in my bedroom packing," Ginny paused to catch her breath before plunging on.

"It occurred to me how much danger our child would be in if the Death Eaters found out you had conceived a child. I was scared about what they might do to it. I didn't know if they would kill it, or kidnap it, or what else they might do. By running I was trying to save Lily. I bounced from place to place by Portkey until I hit Seattle. That is when I sunk myself into the muggle world. I met Lyle in a truck stop on my way to Canada. He and Brenda took me in. I had no idea that Brenda was a witch. They and Camilla have been like my family ever since," Ginny paused in her recital thinking grimly of the danger she had placed them in.

"Two days ago Camilla told me a man in a hooded sweatshirt came to the door looking for me. Then there was a threatening call. I was all set to run again. In fact all of Lily and my things are in my trunk in my car. I was telling Brenda and Lyle goodbye when Brenda told me who she was. She convinced me to stay, to contact my parents, even to call in the authorities. If she hadn't I would have been gone again," she finished unable to look him in the eye anymore.

Harry had listened quietly to Ginny's speech, each word weighing heavy on his heart. He wished she would look at him, wished that she would stop blaming herself for trying to protect their child.

"Ginny, please stop beating yourself up over all of this."

Ginny's head snapped up, fire in her eyes, as she glared at him.

"How can you sit there and be alright with all of this? How can you," Ginny tried to say before Harry cut her off.

"Ginny, I knew you had a child. When you disappeared Madame Pomfrey told Professor Dumbledore and he in turn informed your parents. When I found out I suspected it might be mine and when I saw Lily with your red hair and green eyes, I was nearly convinced," he told her with a small smile.

"You saw her?" Ginny asked quizzically.

Harry nodded and continued his story. "I've been watching you for days Ginny. Ever since Malfoy found you. I know I should have made myself known sooner, but I was scared. I didn't want you to run again. What if you didn't believe it was me or worse what if you believed it was me and you ran anyway. I almost told you once though, the stranger at the door in the sweatshirt that was me. I was even watching you last night. I was in the corner of the bar in the baseball cap."

"What? You've been watching me for days? You knew about Lily? How come when I told you about her you were so shocked then?" Ginny sputtered.

"It's quite something to be told you're a father Ginny, even if you had your suspicions," Harry answered.

"But, why were you watching me? Why were you following Malfoy?" Ginny questioned.

"I guess it's my turn to explain a few things," Harry said running his hand through his wild dark hair. "When I found out, when I came back after the attack, that you had taken off. I struck off after you. I knew it was my fault you had run away. I traveled all over the world looking for you. Your brothers searched as well, but your mum wouldn't let them out of her sight for long. One missing child was enough for her and she was afraid what might happen. We didn't know what you might have gotten yourself into, you see. Your parents took out an advertisement in Witch Weekly. They only got one response worth anything. They thought it might have been from you actually. They couldn't trace it, but it said you were okay and not to worry."

"I lost your tracks once you hit the United States, but I didn't give up. I kept searching vowing to myself and your family that I would find you," Harry sighed heavily. "After two years of looking for you I had to return home. I couldn't find you. I didn't know how I would face your family. How I could live with myself. It was then that I decided that if I could not find you then I would at least try and make the world safer for you, wherever you were. I had only been home a few days when Dumbledore, Lupin, and Tonks came to me and asked if I would be willing to tail Malfoy. They hoped that it would help in uncovering the few remaining Death Eaters still at large. I accepted of course. I was perfect for the job actually. You see, everyone but your family, Hermione, Lupin, Tonks, and Professor Dumbledore believe I'm dead," Harry looked into Ginny's astonished eyes.

"But, you. How come you didn't tell anyone? Why?" Ginny sputtered.

"I arrived at the Burrow, two days after the attack, I was, I was, well, I was hurt," Harry told her lamely.

Harry didn't want to tell Ginny how badly he had been hurt. In truth Harry had stumbled into the Weasley's kitchen broken, bleeding, and barely able to walk.

"I begged not to be sent to St. Mungo's. I didn't think I could handle the prying eyes or the nosey reporters," Harry said trying to smile and relieve some of the concern creasing Ginny's forehead. "Your mum took care of me and did her best to heal me up. It was several days after that when I found out about you and how you had run away. I kept asking everyone where you were, but no one would give me a straight answer. Apparently everyone thought it best not to tell me too soon. They were afraid I would take off after you the moment I found out. They know me too well I guess."

Ginny smiled at him knowing all to well that Harry would not sit still if one of his friends was in danger. She could just imagine him badgering her family about her.

"When I found out that you had gone I tried to leave right away, but they wouldn't let me. I still wasn't well enough. They tried to reassure me that your brothers were looking for you and that I could wait. I think I may have frightened them a bit with how, how insistent I was on going. They threatened to magically bind me to keep me from taking off after you until I explained to them about us," Harry looked deep into her eyes at these words.

"You told them about us?" Ginny asked quietly.

"Yes, well not everything. I did leave out our, um, moment in shrieking shack."

Ginny blushed furiously at him before asking, "What did they say?"

"They were quite please actually. That was when they told me about the, um, pregnancy," Harry said turning pink himself.

"That still doesn't explain how come no one knows that you are alive now," Ginny told him. "It has been two years since then. Surely someone would have seen you. Someone would have said something."

"Before I left it was decided, by everyone, that is was best for me to remain dead. I wouldn't have anyone following me. I would be safe and free to search for you without any extra hassles," said Harry recalling his joy amidst the pain of his injuries and the ache in his heart. "It was just luck that Malfoy, well not exactly luck I guess, that he was after you and Lily or I would have never found you. I found Malfoy easily enough and it was easier still to follow him. I've been using glamour charms to disguise myself. Dumbledore and Lupin taught me how. I was able to blend in with the locals wherever I went then."

Ginny giggled in spite of herself at the thought of Harry with blonde hair, or dark skin, or better yet red hair and freckles.

"What's so funny," he asked.

"Just you with red hair and freckles," she laughed again.

Harry tried to look insulted but failed miserably. She looked so pretty sitting there beneath her blanket, her red hair falling gently over her shoulders in waves. He leaned closer counting the freckles on her nose, freckles that once he thought he'd never see again. His breath on her face stopped Ginny's laughter as she starred into his eyes full of warmth she had all but forgotten. She let out a slow shuddering breath gazing at him with the desire she felt for him. There was no mistaking that look, it was one of love and lust, and it was the look he was now giving back to her. They closed the gap between them in a kiss that told them both how much they still loved one another.

A soft tap on the door behind them made them break apart. Brenda stood framed in the doorway with a soft smile on her lips.

"Sorry to break you two up but Lyle and I are ready to take you to the Portkey Departure Terminal in Seattle," she said before turning and heading out of the room.

"We'd best be getting ready," Ginny said trying to get out of her small bed.

"Not yet we don't," Harry smiled leaning into her once more and capturing her lips in a warm kiss.

Harry and Ginny stood in line with Brenda and Lyle at the bustling Portkey Terminal in Seattle. Ginny stubbornly telling both Brenda and Lyle that they didn't need to come with them.

"We discussed this last night Ginny. We are going and that is final," Brenda told her firmly.

Ginny sighed remembering their conversation clearly. It was not long after the authorities had taken away Draco Malfoy.

Harry and Ginny reentered the living room which was now thankfully empty. Just moments ago the room had been packed with people all clamoring to question both Brenda and Lyle about Malfoy. Ginny and Harry had left the room not wanting to be seen and listened carefully as Brenda told those gathered a rather vague and completely untrue story of how Malfoy was captured and why he was there.

"I think that I should go back to England with you," Brenda told them both as they took a seat on the sofa.

"Not without me you don't," Lyle had chimed in.

"Listen you aren't a part of this. You don't have to come," Ginny said to them.

"We care about you and Lily too much to let you walk out that door without us. Besides you could use some moral support when you see your family again. Really Ginny you are like a daughter to us. Don't push us away now," Brenda expounded.

"What about Lyle, he isn't a wizard. He can't protect himself," Ginny pointed out.

"I can protect myself just fine," Lyle told stoutly.

"No, honey you can't, but you do have me," Brenda told her husband lovingly.

Lyle looked as if he was going to boil over. "Well if that is what you think why did you marry me in the first place?" He asked angrily.

"Honey, I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that without a wand you are vulnerable. You can't get in a fist fight with someone who can send you flying long before you get near enough to touch them," she tried to explain.

Still angry, but slightly pacified Lyle nodded.

"Ginny if they are determined to come with us we can't stop them," Harry said in a tired voice. "Personally I don't think either of you should be putting yourself in harms way, but I shouldn't talk. I wouldn't let you go without me either."

Ginny looked at Harry stunned. "What? You think they should come with us?" She asked surprised at Harry's attitude.

"Listen to me Ginny. I've realized over the years that you can't stop those you love from trying to protect or help you," Harry said wearily.

He was right of course. Whenever Harry was in danger Ron, Hermione, and later she had been beside him against his wishes. She had insisted on accompanying him to the Ministry to save Sirius even though he didn't want her to and then there was the final battle. Ginny shuddered in remembrance.

"Alright, alright, you win," Ginny said throwing up her hands in surrender.

"Okay then. We'll leave tomorrow. The nearest Portkey Terminal is in Seattle. Ginny you and Harry should stay with us tonight and tomorrow, early, we'll drive down there," Brenda said decisively.

They were next in the queue of people to purchase their Portkey. Ginny's stomach was full of fluttering butterflies and that seemed intent on making her sick. She was going home. True she had told Harry everything and he had been wonderful and accepting, but the thought of facing her family and the entire Order was terrifying her. Beside her Harry, who at the moment resembled Neville Longbottom, held her hand tightly.

"You will depart in ten minutes in room twelve B. It's down the hall on my left sixth door on the right," the witch behind the counter instructed them when Brenda bought the tickets.

"Ten minutes and counting," Ginny mumbled to herself.

"What Gin?" Harry asked her quietly as he led her down the hallway behind Brenda and Lyle.

"Just counting down the minutes till I'm home," Ginny said with a waver in her voice.

"Ginny everything is going to be fine. There really is no need to worry. Your family love you like I've been saying all day and the order will help us find Lily. We'll have her back with us and we can be a family," Harry told her confidently.

The mention of Lily caused Ginny to tense as though she had been punched in the stomach.

"Harry what if they hurt her?" she asked.

"They won't hurt her. You heard what Malfoy said. They wouldn't hurt her when they need her," Harry said trying to sound as confident as he had before.

Unconvinced Ginny asked, "What are they going to do to her? How do they think they will be able to get her to do their bidding?"

"I don't know," Harry replied truthfully as they entered room twelve B. "Ginny, I'm sure that if they do anything to her we can fix it. There is Dumbledore you know. Do you think he won't help us?"

Slightly relived by the thought of her old headmaster's help Ginny nodded before placing a finger on the soda can Brenda was holding out. The room's attendant stood near the door starring at her wristwatch counting down the seconds till their departure.

"Five, Four, Three, Two, One."

Ginny felt the tug somewhere behind her navel as the Portkey took effect, whisking her back to her family.

Author's Note: By the way if anyone wanted to know, Aufero means to takeaway by force.