A/N: As I'm sure a few of you noticed on the last chapter, I have stopped responding to all the reviews I get. It just gets tedious and lengthens the wait time for ya'll because once I have the story typed on THIS computer I then have to go to the UPSTAIRS computer to get all of ya'll's (I know that's not a word) names and reviews so I can come back down here and type responses and I'm not going to do it anymore, but by all means, review! Oh, and everyone wish me luck on my 2nd try for my permit! Maybe the testing station will actually be quiet, what a novel idea!
Chapter 18
(Wow 18 chapters everybody!)
The Surprises Continue
"Gin, I just can't believe it's been a whole week since you and Harry got married." Hermione said as she sat eating breakfast with Ginny at her new house.
Ginny yawned widely.
"I know! It's crazy isn't it? Poor Mum, she was pestering me something awful about it yesterday. She keeps saying how empty the house is." Ginny laughed. "Poor Harry, she'll hardly speak to him now!"
"Why not?" Hermione asked getting up to pour herself some milk.
"Because he took me away from her." Ginny laughed.
Hermione shook her head.
"She'll get over it, Gin. She just misses you." Hermione sat down a glass of milk for Ginny who looked at it strangely. Noticing this, Hermione sat down her fork.
"Gin? Are you okay?"
Ginny shook her head slowly, her face turning a pale green. In an instant, she sprung out of her chair and flew to the bathroom.
Hermione had just gotten up to follow her when Harry walked into the kitchen.
"Oh, g'morning, 'Mione." Harry yawned, helping himself to some breakfast.
"Good morning, Harry. Is Ginny lactose intolerant?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"Wha—oh…no." Harry said scratching his head, looking confused.
"Then why did the milk make her…." Hermione inhaled sharply.
"What? Why did the milk make her what?" Harry asked frantically.
Hermione opened her mouth, and then clamped it shut as Ginny walked back into the room.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Harry asked, noticing his wife's pallor.
"Yeah…I'm fine. I just don't think I want milk right now." Ginny said sinking back into her chair.
Harry hastened to remove the offensive milk.
"Right, well, if you're sure you're okay, I'm going to go and see Arthur now, okay? I'll be back later tonight if everything goes good." Harry kissed his wife on the top of her head before disappearing with a 'pop'.
"Why is he going to see Arthur?" Hermione asked.
"He might be getting a job as an Auror. He hasn't finished school, but Dad thinks that he's had more than enough training." Ginny said as she cleared the breakfast plates.
"Harry's actually agreeing to use his fame to get a job?" Hermione asked in surprise.
Ginny beamed.
"He's really changed, Hermione. Now that Voldemort's gone, he feels like being marked isn't quite as horrible as it was. He refused to have a position handed to him though; he's going to have to pass inspection today along with other trainees, just to be fair."
"Wow, he really is different."
Hermione got up to lend her friend a hand with the dishes.
"Hey, Gin?" She said tentatively.
"Yeah?" Ginny turned to look at Hermione.
"Have…have you been sick much?"
Ginny thought about it for a moment.
"Erm…a bit I suppose…I think I may have an allergy to something in this house."
"But it's a new house!" Hermione exclaimed looking around at the house. It was something Harry had done the same day he and Ginny had gotten married. It was a small two story house with four bedrooms and three baths, but it was perfect for them.
"Well…I don't know what it is then…I'm sure it'll go away eventually. I might go over to Mum's later tonight and see if she has any Pepper-Up potion I can take." Ginny said thoughtfully.
"No, Gin, you can't take Pepper-Up!" Hermione said suddenly, grabbing her friend's wrist.
Ginny looked at Hermione in alarm.
"Why not?"
"Because—because it has a touch of Firewhiskey in it and," Hermione seemed to struggle with herself for a moment, "Because you're pregnant!"
Ginny stared at Hermione, and then burst into laughter.
"I'm serious!" Hermione said crossly.
"But—'Mione, I can't be! I mean, you don't know for at least a good month or two after, right?" Ginny asked, suddenly uncertain.
Hermione shook her head and Ginny sank to the floor.
"I found out two weeks later, Gin. Muggle women have to wait months, but with witches, the process varies…some witches find out in as small of a time frame as five days!"
Ginny inhaled sharply.
"I…but how can I be certain?" The redhead asked, sounding frightened.
"Well, I suppose you can go to St. Mungo's." Hermione suggested, but Ginny shook her head violently.
"No! I can't! I—I should…shouldn't I?"
"Yes and the best thing to do is to go now." Hermione helped Ginny to her feet and walked over to the fireplace scattering Floo powder into the grate.
"St. Mungo's!" Ginny said shakily and disappeared in a flash of green flames.
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Ginny waited until Hermione was by her side before walking up to the front desk.
The Welcome Witch looked up.
"How may I help you?" She asked in a bored voice.
"I'd like to request a private consultation with Healer Eaves, please." Ginny said.
"Go on to the fourth floor room 412."
Ginny and Hermione left hurriedly.
"Hermione, have you been in to see a Healer yet?" Ginny asked.
"No. I—I didn't want to…"
"Accept it?" Ginny said gently.
Hermione bowed her head.
"I'm a horrible person, aren't I? I've been completely awful this past week, to everyone! I keep seeing what I'm going to have to give up, and not what I'm getting. I just…every time I get close to forgiving Ron I remember that I don't have any living means, nor does he, and I just can't do it."
"You know, I'm sure if you went to McGonagall she'd let you do some more schooling so you can get a job. In fact, I was planning on going to see her about my own schooling next week. You can come if you'd like."
Ginny paused outside the door of her room to wait on Hermione's answer.
"Okay."
Ginny smiled and opened the door. Janet was sitting on a stool watching a pen write things on a paper. She looked up as Ginny and Hermione walked in.
"Hermione! Ginny! It's great to see the two of you again! Wait…you aren't sick are you?" Janet asked, her face growing worried.
"No! Actually, I think I'm here for something good." Ginny hesitated for a moment before looking at Hermione who gave her an encouraging nod. "I think I'm pregnant."
Janet's face spread into a smile.
"Well, let's just see, shall we? Now…let's see here…the spell I'll perform on you is color coded. Yellow is pregnant, green is, well…not. Hmm…I seem to have misplaced my model." Janet waved her wand a few times, but a model didn't appear.
"You can use me for Ginny to see first, if you want." Hermione offered.
"But it would turn green and I'd prefer Ginny see it blue, and notice the effects…" Janet trailed off.
Hermione blushed.
"It won't turn green." She said shyly.
Janet lifted an eyebrow.
"I didn't know that! Well….that does make a difference. Now, do you know the father, dear? Because if you don't, I can modify the spell so it will show that as well."
Hermione shook her head.
"No, I know who it is."
Janet smiled and waved her wand, pointing it at Hermione's abdomen. A yellowish hue seemed to radiate from all around her. The light seemed to pulse and wave.
"Why's it doing that?" Ginny asked.
"That's the baby's heartbeat. Do you want to know the sex, dear?" Janet asked Hermione.
Hermione's eyes widened.
"You can tell that already?" She asked in amazement.
"Yes, as long as you're at least a week along, you can."
Ginny was practically squirming with excitement.
"Well," Hermione took a deep breath and seemed to steady herself. "Okay."
Janet waved her wand again and the light turned a faint colored pink.
"Congratulations, you have a girl. She seems to be healthy." Janet waved her wand again and then pointed it at a wall. A sonogram appeared on the wall.
Hermione looked ready to faint.
Janet lifted all the spells and turned to Ginny.
"Are you ready?"
Ginny nodded excitedly and closed her eyes as a yellow hue encircled her abdomen.
"I assume you want to know the sex as well?" Janet asked, laughing at Ginny's excitement.
Ginny nodded.
The light turned blue.
"A boy!" Ginny laughed and looked at Hermione, excitement shining in her eyes.
"Oh, another Harry!" Hermione moaned.
Janet looked up.
"Harry? Harry Potter?" She asked quickly, her smile fading.
"Yes." Ginny said uncertainly.
"Oh my."
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked.
"Dear, does the public know you're married?" Janet asked, noticing Ginny's wedding band.
Ginny shook her head.
"Well, if you think hiding a pregnancy is going to be easy dear, it won't be. I won't have you going about and using Concealment Charms on yourself either. It's bad for the baby."
Ginny's eyes widened.
"I—I haven't even told Harry what I suspected yet. I—this—" Ginny stopped speaking, looking like she wanted to cry. Hermione patted her hand.
"Well, the best thing is to just, lay low I suppose, but it's really up to you dear. Now, I really have to be going, but come back in…three weeks. Bring Harry if you can. Oh and Hermione, come in two weeks please, and you might want to bring the baby's father." Janet waved goodbye and left.
Ginny turned to look at Hermione.
"Now all I have to do is tell Harry. Do you think he'll be upset?" Ginny looked so worried that Hermione burst out into laughter.
"Upset? Ginny! You're giving Harry a family. I'll be surprised if he doesn't faint from excitement. Now, come on, let's go find that husband of yours."
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A/N: Yes, another abrupt ending, I know! Let me know what you all think. I know it seems WAY too soon for Ginny to be pregnant now, but it is SO important to the rest of the story….just let it unfold. Evil laughI love knowing what's going to happen!
