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Chapter 4:

Wayward Son

It felt like some one had kicked him in the stomach. Harry began to breathe irregularly as Ginny tried to calm him down. Colors were flying by Harry's eyes as a million thoughts raced in his head. The most common was, 'How?'

"W-what? How?"

"Harry, settle down, let me-"

"YOU CAN"T GET PREGNANT FROM KISSING!" Harry shouted out randomly, almost as if he was trying to convince himself of the truth of it.

Ginny had had enough and soundly slapped Harry across the face. "Harry, let me explain," as Harry looked like he was getting his bearings back.

"I wasn't totally honest with you. When you broke us off, it hurt... badly," she explained as tears began to flow down her face.

"I didn't want to make a scene because I knew Dumbledore was like a grandfather to you. So, for some reason, I wanted to hurt you," she sniffed out as Harry barely looked like he was taking it in.

"I met Dean on the train, it wasn't like I planned it out, it just happened," she rambled. She noticed Harry's eyes glaze over even more and decided to continue.

"We got to talking and found an empty compartment, and did... it." She finished meekly. Harry had finally broke out of his stupor as a cold fire burned in his eyes.

"What does this have to do with me?" he asked with venom in his voice. Harry could feel his heart dropping and breaking into a million pieces.

"I haven't told anyone, and you're the only one that can help me!" she pleaded.

"And why would I do that?" Harry asked while crossing his arms.

"Because you're a good person?" She asked meekly.

Harry sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn't mad, but heart broken. He held out hopes for him and Ginny getting back together either when she got out of school, or when or if he beat Voldemort, but he didn't think he could look at her like he used to anymore.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked as Ginny squealed in excitement and hugged him. Harry pushed her gently away.

"I want you to say it's yours." She said.

"WHAT! Why?" Harry asked, thinking of her family's reaction to the news.

"Look, they love you," she inferred what he was thinking, "You're best friends with my brother," she pleaded.

"They'll hate me. Fred and George already want to kill me for breaking up with you. Why can't you have Dean do this? He's well off, he'll be able to take care of... the baby." Harry finally got out.

"Because Dean doesn't know." She told him."I'm just trying to get used to this myself, Harry. What do you think Dean will do?"

Harry didn't really care what Dean thought. It wasn't his responsibility.

"Why are you telling me this now, by the way?" Harry questioned.

"Before we left the train, I could tell something like this happened," she explained. "Don't ask me how, so I thought I would just put a Glamor Charm on my midsection. My feeling was confirmed about two weeks ago. The Charm wore off five days ago, so I've had to where baggy clothing. I can't cast a spell and I'm tired of running around, hiding it."

Harry again pinched the bridge of his nose, as he could sympathize with her... kind of at least. "Fine, I'll do it. But you had better come clean soon." Harry warned.

Ginny Squealed again, hugging Harry again saying "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Harry smelled her hair, remembering the end of last year, and realizing that he would most likely end up alone now that Ginny felt tainted. He hated thinking that, but it was the only thing he could think of.

They decided they would tell everyone tomorrow after dinner. Harry left, feeling like the whole world was once again on his shoulders. The fun he had before Ginny dropped her news seemed so long ago now. Even this didn't compete with Voldemort of ripping his childhood away. Harry couldn't even fathom what Ginny was going through. This was actually her baby. She seemed so strong though, but Harry couldn't help but think it was a release for her to let him know what was going on, and even more to finally have the secret out now. He was more afraid of her family's reaction than anything. Now, when ever he saw a red head passing by him, he just saw his bloody demise at their hands.

Wandering around and looking morose, he finally caught Mr. Weasley waving him over to some other Senior Order members out of the corner of his eye. His shoulder's dropped a little more as he walked over to the group of Remus, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Mad-eye, and Sturgis Podmore.

"Hey Harry," Mr. Weasley greeted, "Remus here just told us about your news."

"Aye laddie, quite the task you're taking on there," Mad-eye commented.

"Yes, well, we were just thinking," Mr. Weasley gestured to the other men, "that the Order would be able to help you more if you let us know a little of your task Dumbledore set for you," Mr. Weasley said as Mad-eye looked a little disgruntled at him.

"I appreciate that Mr. Weasley, I really do, but if Dumbledore never told you, I think it would be safer if I held on to it, for a while at least." Mad-eye looked on approvingly. Harry figured it was because Mad-eye always seemed to have an obsession with the keeping of secrets. Sadly, for Harry, Mr. Weasley didn't look too happy.

"Right, well then. When will you leave for this... task Harry?" He asked again trying to sound like his normal self. Harry could see from his barely there hair that he was quite stressed.

"I was thinking I would start tomorrow after dinner," Harry commented. He noticed some color drain out of Remus' face.

"So soon, Harry?" Lupin asked.

"Well, mainly, I was going to finish investigating some... memories and brush up on some skills. I was thinking of asking McGonagall if I could use the Hogwarts' library for a bit." Many of the faces seemed to regain their color at this, some for different reasons as he caught a glimpse at Moody's good eye and could feel him thinking that maybe he wasn't such a dunderhead as the rest of everyone he's met.

Harry didn't focus on that though. He was more afraid of Mr. Weasley's reaction to the news tomorrow. If the mild mannered Arthur Weasley had a fit tomorrow, what would the rest do?

The reception finally started dying down as the party thinned out. He caught Ron and Hermione snuggling on the couch in the living room. He wondered how they would react to the news tomorrow. Hopefully he would still have his best friends at the same time tomorrow.

Harry woke up the next day, somberly. He didn't wake Ron up, but went immediately out to the grassy knoll by the Burrow. He sat there, basking in the sun until noon, when Ron finally woke up and called Harry in for lunch, or breakfast in Ron's case.

Harry plastered a smile on his face that fooled everyone but Hermione, who, sadly for Harry, excelled at Legilimency. One of the many things Harry hated about Legilimency was that if one was skilled enough, they could detect lies or deception on facial expressions and gestures on even an occulmens as skilled as Snape, but you also had to know the person intimately to detect the falsities.

When Harry wiped his mouth and excused himself, Hermione followed him and asked what was troubling him. Harry merely said, "You'll find out tonight," as he went back to Ron's room to grab his book on Legilimency so he could study Occulmency better so as to fool Hermione tonight. Harry didn't know why, but Ginny didn't want anyone to know the truth about her and Harry.

Dinner came all too fast. Harry felt that he made some ground on Occulmency. He could now block even himself out of his mind as he seemed to float above his body, immune to all emotions, but feeling quick and sharp as ever.

Mrs. Weasley made a great meal for everyone, save Bill who didn't really need his meat cooked anymore. Mr. Weasley was even more stressed than normal after his day at work, as Harry could feel it radiating from him even through his induced state of calm.

It ended all too soon as Ginny said she and Harry needed to make an announcement to everyone in the family room. They all moved into more comfortable positions around the room as Ginny and Harry stood by the entrance.

"I have good news," Ginny started as she plastered on a false smile, "Harry and I are pregnant!" Harry could feel the shock of everyone radiating around the room.

All of the sudden, Mrs. Weasley jumped up and squealed as she hugged Ginny and wiped tears out of her eyes. Fleur also seemed to come out of the shock and smiled and came up to congratulate Ginny. The rest of the Weasley clan had different reactions. They stared holes in Harry's head as Mr. Weasley tried to reign in his anger.

"So, Harry, do still plan on going on your trip?" He asked in a restrained voice.

"Yes sir I do. It is my highest priority at this time," Harry said, which was apparently the wrong answer.

"And how will Ginny be taken care of?" he asked as Mrs. Weasley was still simpering over Ginny.

"She will have full access to my vaults at Gringotts, so she will be able to get anything and everything she needs while I am gone."

"So, just because you have money, you think you can throw your money at this problem?" He questioned as his voice rose. The twins were now on their feet.

"No, I don't. However, there are bigger things in this world than me and this child-"

Mr. Weasley slammed his fist on the coffee table as he yelled, "THERE IS NOTHING BIGGER THAN MY BABY GIRL!" This finally caught Mrs. Weasley's attention.

"Arthur!" she shrieked, "How dare you talk to Harry like that. He brings your first grandchild to this earth and you yell at him. You should be thankful this happened." Mr. Weasley's anger didn't quell any, but he did leave up the stairs as the rest of the Weasley boys rose and began to crack their knuckles. Mrs. Weasley however shooed them out and up to their rooms. She hugged Harry and whispered, "Thank you for this miracle, Harry. Don't worry about Arthur, he'll come around," as she pinched his check and left to go upstairs. Ginny squeezed his arm and tried to give him a reassuring smile, but it just came out like a grimace. She left to her room and Harry was left with Ron and Hermione.

"How could you not tell us Harry?" Ron asked in a miserable, betrayed voice.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked. She looked like she knew something was up.

"Nothing, Ginny didn't want me to tell you guys," Harry lied convincingly.

"Bull Harry," Ron started, "you tell us about the Horcruxes, something only four people now know about, and you can't even hint to something like this?"

"Look, I didn't find out myself until a couple of days ago. If you want anyone to blame, blame Ginny," Harry said stupidly as Ron had landed a punch before Harry had time to dodge it. Hermione thankfully pulled him off before he could do anymore damage.

"Look, Harry, I know something else is going on. Don't hide it from us!" she pleaded. Harry almost gave in, but for some reason, he couldn't spill the secret.

"Look, there's nothing else going on, why can't you believe me?" He pleaded. Harry just wanted the night to end.

"Yeah, right Harry. I'm no good at Legilimency and even I can tell something is off." Ron said as he had tears in his eyes. Harry didn't know if it was because of the adrenaline pumping through him, or the hurt Harry caused him by his deception. Harry honestly didn't know what the big deal was. It was only a baby, and it wasn't even his!

"Harry, until you can be honest with us, I don't think it a wise idea for us to help you with the Horcruxes. When you come clean, we'll help," Hermione said as she dragged Ron up the stairs. Harry hadn't seen that one coming. This wasn't even his lie. And they acted as if they had every right to know everything about him! HA, the self righteous wankers had another thing coming if they thought they could withdraw their resources in hope of squeezing out an apology or confession. Harry pulled himself up off the floor, waved his wand and called for Hedwig as his trunk disappeared from Ron's room before he and Hermione arrived there and he spun on his heel once Hedwig was on his shoulder as he apparated out of the Burrow and out of the lives of the Weasley's for a while, as piece of parchment floated to the ground of where he once stood.

AN: Well, I've started to name chapters from this point, since only one review answered my questio, but no big deal. Now, time to get to know your author!

Pet peeves: Apologist's

By apologist's, I mean all those authors that say, 'this story slash... not that there's anything wrong with that or anything... I love gay people...' and so and so forth. Quit apologizing. I don't like it, and I don't care if I hurt some fruit's (more likely some depressed fourteen year old girl who has an anal and penis fetish) feeling's. Discuss!