Chapter 7

Draco blinked his eyes open and groaned. He wanted to die. From heartbreak. And from the miserable bout of Flu that had been lingering for the past week. He picked up his wand and said tempus unable to believe he had slept until noon. He was so tired lately that no amount of sleep seemed to make him feel refreshed. With effort, he got out of bed, put on his old dressing gown and shuffled into the kitchen.

It was Sunday, but Ginny wasn't home. Draco was grateful. For the past 8 weeks since his fathers party, his best friend had been trying to snap him out of his depression. But Draco couldn't seem to summon up enough energy or enthusiasm to give into Ginny's prodding to 'get on with his life.'

Opening the cupboard, he reached in for the packet of Bertie Botts, then stopped when his stomach rebelled at his favorite snack. Tears welled in his eyes. Damn, now I'm crying over beans. Draco had been so emotional lately, the slightest, silliest things set him off and made him cry like a baby. Closing the cupboard, he made his way to the kitchen table, sank into a chair and rested his head on the cool wooden surface. He closed his eyes and attempted to relax.
The first two weeks after the party he had spent refusing Harry's calls at the office, listening to his pleas on the answering machine at home and making Ginny turn him away at the door. Then it had all stopped. And the silence hurt worse than hearing the torment in his voice when he'd left his final "I care for you Draco but I Won't call or come round" message on the machine. Draco had listened to that message a thousand times since.
Draco gulped back more tears. He missed Harry so much, and not for the first time wished they could go back to the way things were. Sighing he let his mind drift and the tension ease from his body. He grew lethargic. He was tired, so tired...
A hand settled on his shoulder and shook him gently. "Hey, Dray, you ok?"
Draco woke with a start and lifted his head from the table to find Ginny standing beside him with a concerned expression on her face. "I'm fine," Draco said, his voice hoarse. He glanced at the kitchen clock and saw that he had slept for nearly an hour. "I guess I kinda drifted off"
"Yeah well you seem to be doing that a lot lately" Ginny said "at your desk at work, in the bath, sitting on the couch and now at the kitchen table. At first I took it personally when you drifted off to sleep while I was talking to you, as if I was boring you or something" she gave Draco a critical once-over that made him uncomfortable. And don't you think it's odd that you can't shake this flu you've had for the past week and that I haven't caught it?"
Draco frowned. "I haven't really given it much thought."
"Obviously" Ginny said dryly and she plunked a small brown bag down in front of Draco "but I have and I think I have finally figured out what is wrong"
Draco had a feeling the cure was in the bag, which he eyes hesitantly "What's this?"
"A little present for you" Ginny sat in the chair next to Draco's "go on open it"
Draco did and gasped when he saw the contents "A pregnancy test, I'm sick Ginny not pregnant!"
A red brow rose, enhancing Ginny's dubious expression.
"I can't be pregnant" Draco said reasonably "I always use the anti-conception charm"
"Which is only ninety-nine percent effective" Ginny pointed out "humor me, Dray take the test."
Draco stood, his stomach churning with a sudden dread he refused to acknowledge. "You're wrong" he said. Grabbing the little brown bag, he disappeared into the bathroom, praying that Ginny was indeed wrong.

Less than ten minutes later he walked back into the kitchen, stunned to the point of numbness. Holding the test strip in his hand, he met Ginny's anxious gaze.
"It's positive" he said, then burst into tears.
"Oh, Dray" Ginny stood and wrapped her arms around him in a comforting hug.
Draco wiped the wetness from his cheeks, his shock fading into disbelief. "I just don't understand how it happened"

Ginny's mouth curled into a sly grin "It happens when two people have that recreational activity called sex, not that I recall what that's like. It's been so long I can almost qualify as a born again virgin."
Despite his situation Draco smiled. Staring at the two lines on the strip confirming his condition he shook his head. "I guess I've just became a statistic."
"What are you going to do Dray?" Ginny asked after a few minutes of silence.
"I'm keeping the baby, of course" he said without a second thought
"I didn't doubt that you would keep the baby" compassion softening Ginny's expression "What I meant was what are you going to tell Rodney?"
"Why would I tell Rodney anything? I never slept with him" Draco answered
"So who's the father? You haven't been with anyone else since your fathers party? Have you?" Ginny asked
"It's Harry's" Draco whispered crying again.
They sat down side by side on the lounge "It's not as if I didn't try and warn you." Ginny teased trying to lighten the mood "but did you listen to me OOOHHHH noooo now look at you heartbroken and pregnant" she paused "so what are you telling Harry?"
Swiping the moisture trickling from the corner of his eyes Draco drew in a steadying breath "I'm not telling Harry."
"Why not? she asked gently
For all her brashness, Ginny could be sensitive at times. Usually the right times. "I don't want Harry to feel obligated to a child he didn't want in the first place"
Ginny thought about that for a second the countered with "Don't you think he has a right to know he is going to be a father"
Draco shook his head "If Harry knew about the baby he'd feel responsible to marry me, and I refuse to force him to do something he doesn't want to do. He had his chance to marry me, and instead he let me walk away"
"But you being pregnant might change his mind"
"For all the wrong reasons" he refuted "he made his feelings on marriage and children very clear. I don't want to be an obligation to Harry and this baby be an unwanted burden, one he would grow to resent. This isn't an issue that is up for negotiation."
Jade green eyes held understanding "Well, you have no choice but to tell your parents about the new addition to the family. Not to mention you won't be marrying the baby's father."

Draco's head began to throb at the thought of telling his very old-fashioned parents. Oh they would be pleased that they were going to be grandparents but not so happy to learn he was planning on being a single parent. "Mum and Dad will learn to adjust. This is the nineties. People have babies on their own all the time."

This baby hadn't been planned by any means but it had been created out of love. And his child would know love, Draco though determinedly. Lots of love. From a caring dad, a neurotic godmother and enthusiastic grandparents.

"Wow, a baby" Ginny sighed, a wistful quality to her voice "do you think it's a girl or boy?"
Draco closed his eyes, seeing a little girl with Harry's dark hair and green eyes, then a little boy with similar coloring "it doesn't matter, as long as it healthy"
Ginny grinned "If my vote counts for anything, I hope it's a girl"
Draco groaned, imagining the bond Ginny would form with her god-daughter "and the first words out of her mouth would be 'Lets go shopping"
"Of course" Ginny laughed, her eyes sparkling wickedly "Whatever it is, a boy or a girl, I plan to spoil this baby rotten"

Draco wasn't sure if he liked the sound of that "Do I have any say in the matter?"
"Absolutely not." Ginny's humor faded into a tender expression. "I still can't believe your going to be a Mummy."

Draco rubbed his stomach, already experiencing a fierce protectiveness towards his unborn child "Yeah, though this isn't the way I planned it."
"Some things are better not planned"
Emotions constricted Draco's throat "Maybe you're right" he whispered
"Aren't I always" Ginny said with her regular dose of sass. Then she grew serious "I'll be there for you, Dray, in any way I can."
Draco leant over and hugged his best friend. Damn. More tears. Would they ever stop? "Thanks Gin, that means more to me than you will ever know."

Ginny pulled back, frowning "Hey, what's with all the tears?
"Damn hormones" Draco muttered, though he knew hormones had little to do with it. These tears were for Harry and all the joy he was going to miss not being a part of his baby's life.