(We are writing under the assumption that Ginny is one month pregnant at the beginning of December. Also, the last time my mom, or any one else that was really close to me was pregnant was when I was barely a year old; so I've never really been around a pregnant woman, so bear with me on this. I'm doing my best.)
Previously:
"Make it now or there wont be any Malfoys left on this earth." He threatened. Narcissa knew he wasn't kidding. She made up her mind right then and there.
"My decision is…"' Chapter 20 '
"My decision is…" Narcissa hesitated, standing and holding her head high. When she spoke again her voice gave away an air of self-confidence. "You can go to hell for all I care. My loyalty belongs to my husband, if you wish to kill me for this, I will not stop you."
Voldemort stared at her, shock registering on his face. How dare this… woman, defy him, the one and only Dark Lord. He was not prepared for this; he did not wish to kill her. But why kill her when you could make her suffer a fate worse than death.
"It strikes me that you are loyal to the man who ran and left you behind; fully aware you would be the first person to be asked." Narcissa did not move; she would not give in.
"It was my wish to stay behind."
"Do not speak! My plans were simple, oh yes, they were. I would come in, get what I needed from you, and be on my way to Lucius. You see I rather like having you around. You are an invaluable resource. If I were to kill you I would lose my massage carrier. For that is what you became when you refused my offer." He turned and began pacing. "Now…"
''
"How are Bill and, what did you call her?" Harry asked Ginny as they walked down to the lake together.
"Phlegm?" She pined her hair back into a loose ponytail.
"Yeah, how are they?"
"Ok, I guess, she's not to happy with him right now. He's been working late. I think he's sick of being around her." She shrugged and continued walking.
"Well, that makes sense. I mean she follows him around like an animal follows food."
''
As time passed, lessons drew to a close and Christmas came rushing in to greet the students at Hogwarts. The whole of Hogwarts was decorated in its entire splendor. There were icicles hanging precariously from every stone gargoyle, balustrade and statue in the castle, and fine spruce trees stood around every corner. Snow fell from the ceiling; only to disappear as it hit the floor, which was littered with glitter that fell from the tiny balls of light that flew around above the students' heads. Outside every window fresh layers of snow weighed on the panes, and the sky showed no signs of stopping the constant flurries; which supplied the students of Hogwarts with all the ammunition needed for their snowball fights.
Ginny was sure to stay inside the castle as much as possible, lest she catch a cold, but urged Harry to join his friends outside. Luckily no one else seemed to notice this behavior.
The days crept by and Ron continued on his rant about Ginny's supposed "anorexic" tendencies; and frustration gripped Harry, as Ginny was likely to send him for any kind of food at any time, like chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream at two in the morning. So Harry, being the caring dad he was, just had to get up, walk to the kitchens, only to find out that Winky was very sorry sir, but she was not having that kind of ice cream. So he'd have to walk back and forth a few more times so he could get Ginny a kind of ice cream that Winky could provide him with.
The last day of term before the mini-marauders, as Remus had started calling them, would return home for the holidays found the group sitting around the fire in the common room, trying to get warm after the snow ball fight. Harry had finally succeeded in getting Ginny outside, using the excuse that some fresh air would be good for her. After two minutes her mood, which had been getting steadily worse over the past few weeks, had sky rocketed, and they had heard her actually laugh for the first time in nearly a month.
"I can't wait until tomorrow," Ron said, sliding out of his armchair to sit on the floor instead.
"I just wish we could've stayed here, Hogwarts hasn't looked this good in years." Hermione said looking out at the snow as it drifted past the window.
"I miss home too much. And the homework isn't bad, so we shouldn't need to use the library." Ginny told them from her seat next to Harry.
"Is something wrong mate, you've been awfully quiet lately." Ron said, addressing Harry.
"No, nothings wrong. I've just been… oh, never mind."
''
Ron, Harry and Ginny filed out the gates of Hogwarts grounds, turning as they did so, to say goodbye for the holidays. They had lost Hermione in the entrance hall, but assumed she had gone to find Draco. They continued walking, and as they turned a corner, the Hogwarts express came into view.
"Come on, let's find a compartment, before they're all taken." Harry said, levitating the three's trunks with his wand.
"It's going to feel good to be able to use magic away from the school." Ron smiled; his eyes alight with mischief.
"Don't rub it in." Ginny said glaring at him.
"Take a chill pill Gin, you've only got one more year until you can too."
"Ron, lay off it, or I'll be forced to hex you." Harry shook his head and dropped the trunks at the door, "Every one grab your own." He told the two of them as he lifted his own onto the train.
''
Draco felt someone tapping on his shoulder, and he spun quickly to see Hermione. She was pulling her trunk and looked tired, though a smile stretched across her face. He smiled back at her.
"I'm going to miss you over the holidays." She told him, looking him in the eye.
"Then stay here with me."
"I can't; I promised Ginny I'd spend the Christmas holidays at her house."
"Come, on I'll walk you to the gates." He took her trunk and carried it for her.
''
"Minister, you're not going to believe this." An auror said as he rushed through the door.
"What is so important that you interrupt my only quiet moment I've had in a month!" Scrimgeour said as he turned around to face the young man standing in front of him, only to be shocked when he saw how pale he was, "What's the matter?" He added more calmly.
"Sir, I'd swear on my life its Peter Pettigrew." He said in a loud whisper.
"Nonsense, Gibbons, it's a god damned rat."
"No sir, it's an animagus. We tested it just to be sure; someone said they thought it was. And when the spell hit it, there he was, staring at us, so was stupefied him to keep him from escaping and moved him into a specialized cell, there are guards there now, watching him."
"Well, then there's no time to wait is there." The minister said jumping out of his seat.
''
Professor Remus Lupin sat in his office, lounging in front of a blazing fire, a glass of hot tea in his left hand, a chocolate chip cookie in the other. He let out a long sigh as he leaned back.
"Finally some piece and quiet, no students to constantly bother me. Just me, my tea, and this delicious looking…" Remus began only to be cut off by the door banging open, and a man's voice.
"Heeelllllooooo Remy!" Sirius yelled as he came running through the door like a two year old in a candy store.
"So much for quiet." Remus muttered before addressing Sirius, "Sirius, what's wrong with you? If you're caught, you'll be sent straight to the chopping block."
"Nonsense Remy! Don't you read the paper?" Sirius said as he jumped up and down and all around. "They caught the rat! They found him! I'm freeeeeeeeee!"
"How much sugar have you had today?" Remus asked, returning to his cookie. Sirius didn't answer, but continued his crazy looking dance. "Sirius, you do realize, you're not free yet. And you'll probably have to serve jail time for breaking out."
"I don't care Remus. I have my life back. Or what's left of it." Sirius said finally calming down.
''
"Is it true Albus?" McGonagall asked sitting down in front of Dumbledore's large oak desk.
"It is Minerva. I believe our quiet Christmas holidays are completely over. With Mr. Black in Hogwarts, I believe chaos will ensue."
"He hasn't been proven free yet Albus."
"The ministry has no reason to hold him."
''
Harry, Ron and Ginny had found a compartment towards the back of the train, and were joined not long after by Hermione. The train departed promptly at eight o'clock. The food trolley came by not long afterwards, and was full of Christmas cakes, along with all the usual food. Soon the four found themselves laughing as Harry was beaten brutally by Ron in a game of chess.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione said around two o'clock, "I've been meaning to give you this." She handed him a Prophet, and on the front cover were the words, 'Minister of Magic Shocked; Peter Pettigrew Found to be Alive'.
"They found him." Harry muttered in disbelief.
''
"Our plan has failed. My followers have been captured." Voldemort told Nagini.
"We must be more careful Master. If all our plans fail, we shall most certainly be defeated." Nagini said in response as she curled up on the rug in front of the fire. "I need nourishment Master."
"Hunting does not satisfy your hunger?"
"No Master it does not."
''
"Do you know what this means?" The minister asked the auror, Gibbons.
"What does it mean sir?" He asked, looking quite puzzled.
"Black is innocent of murder on the part of Pettigrew. We have been deceived."
"Sir, what if Sirius wasn't the Potters' secret keeper?"
"Then we owe Black very much."
''
"Minister, where do you stand on the Black case?" The wizened old man asked, sitting own in an old armchair next to the fire in the Minister's office.
"He will be free of the charge of Pettigrew's murder. But I'm afraid he will not be a free man. He still betrayed the Potters, Albus." Scrimgeour told him as he sat down opposite the old man.
"Are you not willing to give Black the trial, which he so rightly deserves?" Dumbledore asked raising an eyebrow and accepting cup of tea.
"Black will have a trial, I, unlike those before me, have some sense of that which is right or wrong." Scrimgeour took a sip of tea and closed his eyes.
"Some would beg to differ."
"I know Albus, but I can't please everyone."