Here it is the chapter you have been waiting for. I worked hard on it… I hope it's something that surprises you, I hope its something that will not cause you to hate any of my characters, and I hope that maybe you can finally understand Ginny, and the fact that she is not selfish just looking out for those she loves. And here it is… Chapter 14… "For Sophie's sake"
"And that's it after a valiant effort by Puddlemore they have lost the championship to the Tutshill Tornadoes!" Ludo Bagman yelled from the announcers booth
"Harry! Harry! Over here Harry!" It was Eddie Skeers, Harry walked over determined to hold his head high.
"Hey Eddie," he said avoiding the other reporters,
"Tough loss out there,"
"They out flew us tonight, Crasper did some amazing chasing, Johns and Ingram had some phenomenal beating,"
"Yet you caught the snitch,"
"Well if I'd caught it earlier we might have won,"
"Mr. Potter as always it is an honor to watch you fly,"
"Thank you Skeers, I will see you in the pre-season"
Harry left for the locker room, it had been a rough three months, and he had run himself down.
"The dedication he has shown these past few months, is incredible, I would almost venture to say he alone is the reason Puddlemore made it to this finals," Skeers commented to Ludo,
"Always knew he was a star, ever since that Triwizard Tournament"
Harry stood at his locker, no one was speaking, they had all had high hopes for the finals, they were the favorites throughout the whole tournament, but they couldn't pull through. They were done for a few months, he would be able to take a break, head back to London, spend time with Ron and Hermione, and do the thing he dreaded most of all… he was ready to see Ginny.
He was ready to talk to her, school was almost ending and after he emptied his locker, he would stop by the flower shop and tell her everything he had wanted to for so long.
"Ginny!"
"Sh! Sophie is taking a nap and is on the tail end of it," she whispered,
"Sorry, how are you doing?" Dane asked
"Good," she said giving him a hug as he kissed her politely on the cheek.
"It looks like I will be in the top quarter of my class at the end of the year I have one final exam left and its in International Beasts and Defense," Dane laughed
"And that is your strongest class," she smiled
"Yes it is,"
"I brought dinner from the pub for you, me, and Julianne,"
"How are things going between you two?"
"Slowly, but it is going well,"
"Aw, well I'm glad for that, here give me the food I'll heat it up and get out the dishes," she said getting dishes out of the cabinet
Suddenly Sophie started crying,
"She's awake," Ginny commented
"I'll get her, I haven't seen her all day," he walked into her room and picked her up,
"Thanks Dane!" the doorbell rang,
"Its okay I'll get it it's probably Jules," Dane called, "Who is at the door Sophie?" he cooed
He opened the door, "Harry," he couldn't say anything else,
Ginny's ears perked up, she hadn't heard his name in months though it had constantly been running through her mind.
"Is Ginny here?" Harry asked, confused as to why Dane was holding a baby and answering the door at Ginny's flat
"Yes, um, I will leave you two to it," he gave Sophie to Ginny, "Jules and I will just go eat at the pub tonight, I'll call you tomorrow, goodbye sweet girl" he added kissing Sophie on the forehead.
Ginny's heart was racing, the time had come, there was no way to deny it now, and there was no way around it.
Harry stood in the entry way, flowers in hand,
"Are those for me?" she asked timidly as Sophie played with her hair
"Yes, um, here," he said handing them to her,
"Thank you, could you hold her for me, I need to go put these in a vase," she handed Sophie to Harry
"Uh, sure" Harry had never really held a baby before,
"Make sure you support the head,"
"So how often do you have her?" he asked staring into the little girls eyes
"Everyday," Ginny said pouring water into the vase
"Wow, get paid a lot?" Ginny laughed,
"Not at all,"
"Then… what?" he asked very confused handing the baby back over to her
"She's mine Harry," his face went pale
"What?"
"She's ours Harry," he stood up and started backing up
"What?"
"The reason I was in the hospital and the reason I haven't seen you much over ht last ten months, is because I was pregnant with our child," she began to hold Sophie closer
"You, you were, I'm a, I'm a dad?" through the tears that were beginning to brim she tried to smile
"Sophie Evan Potter, she has your hair, and my eyes,"
"I have, why didn't you say something?!"
"Because I was afraid, of things I'm not even really sure of anymore, and I was going to come see you next Saturday I wanted to wait until after the season ended so that um you wouldn't be distracted by this,"
Harry's head was buried in his hands, "I have a daughter,"
"Yes you do,"
"I got you pregnant," it sounded so strange hearing it like that
"Yes,"
"You had our little girl…" his eyes were focused on something elsewhere
"Yes"
"Our child? You had OUR child and you didn't tell me??" he didn't seem as mad as he seemed hurt, "Did you think I would hurt it? That because I didn't have a good family,"
"No Harry not at all! It was, I didn't want to leave school and I didn't want the only reason we got together to be because of this little girl, I wanted it to run its course and over the past ten months it has, and we are no closer to getting back together than we were before," She set Sophie down in her little gym, she whacked at the brooms and pretend toads that were hanging from the top,
"Ginny this is our child, my child, I'm a father,"
"I know, and I'm her mother,"
"Your parents are going to hate me, your brothers will kill me," he said putting his hands over his face again
"No they won't, they will glad to finally see me and glad to know we have more of a family, I have proved I can take care of everything this long,"
"Well I'm off the team until November, I don't have to go back as early for try outs and initial training, so I will buy a flat nearby and you and Sophie can come be with me, we will worry about marriage and what not later,"
"Harry what are you talking about?"
"I love you Ginny, and you have just informed me we have a daughter together, do you need anymore proof that we are meant to be together?"
"You're right we do have a daughter, so now if this doesn't work out we don't just hurt each other, we hurt her, we don't just mess up our own lives, we mess up hers, and Harry you and I, nothing is ever just okay, its always hard,"
"Only because we had everything in the world keeping us apart Gin," she shook her head,
"And now again I have school and then you will be gone for four months, I'll see you sporadically and until then we are just supposed to pick up where we left off?" she walked over to the stove and poured herself some tea,
"Do you love me?" he asked simply now standing up
"Always, that's why I don't want to rush this, I don't want to just dive in, I want us to be okay,"
"It won't be diving in Ginny, we have been dancing around this for months,"
"No we have been hurting each other for months, now that's over, now we can focus on being nice to each other, being friends"
"And then what?" he asked walking over to her,
"Do you really need to ask?" she said, he was standing right over her now, his eyes piercing her in a way that only his could,
"I love you Ginny, there is no one else, and there never will be,"
"Then wait Harry, wait until it stops hurting, wait until when you think of me you smile, wait until when you think of me you don't feel angry,"
"What about Sophie?" he asked looking over at his daughter as she was now giggling under the gym,
"You can come see her whenever you like, some weekends if you like you can take her with you, however I think we should wait until you feel like you know what you are doing,"
"I'm still going to buy a flat in town," he said now feeling more calm,
"Good, it will be nice to have you nearby,"
"I came here today… to tell you I'm sorry. For the hospital, for every shred of anger I've had, for not writing more, for not understanding the space you needed, and for not fighting harder for you. I love you and I have loved you and I will wait because you are the only one I have ever wanted," Ginny's back was to him, she couldn't see his face and she didn't want him to see hers, she was crying again, she hadn't cried in months, yet now as his voice soothed her with words, words she felt but had never been able to say,
"Just friends Harry,"
"Okay," Harry started heading to the door, his head hanging only slightly
"Wait, I know I shouldn't but, can I ask you a favor?"
"Of course," he smiled
"Will you go with me… when I go home? When I tell my parents,"
"I would never let you go alone, we are in this together Gin, you have to realize that now, we may just be friends, but this is as much my responsibility as it yours. When do you leave?"
"One week, I have my last final this week, then after that… I told them I would be home on Sunday… with some news" Harry smiled
"Well they will certainly be surprised, can I invite you and Sophie over for dinner once I get my flat taken care of?"
"We would like that very much," Harry nodded at her, he would be able to do this, he would be her friend, for Sophie's sake, for Ginny's sake,
"Alright," he reached in to hug Ginny, it had been so long since he had held her, her hair smelt like honey always, it was something he never forgot, in all his travels if ever he smelt honey he would be drowning in memories of her, he made his way over to Sophie. He picked her up carefully,
"Make sure,"
"Her head, I have it," Ginny smiled,
"Right," she said shaking her head,
He just stared at her, and she at him, she was so tiny,
"You are the most beautiful baby girl I have ever seen, be good to your mother while she studies," he looked up to Ginny, "If you need me to watch or anything like that, just owl me,"
"Thank you Harry, but I'll be fine; I have one exam left and I have done almost all the studying I need to do for it,"
"Okay well then, Sunday?"
"Sunday,"
He gave Sophie back to Ginny, kissing her on the forehead before he let her go completely, then walked to the door and left,
Ginny held Sophie close, she had done it, no more worrying about him accidentally finding out, and he was going with her to tell her parents
What would she tell them? What could she? After all is said and done they missed the birth of a grandchild. And she had been absent, hidden herself, would they recognize her? She hardly felt like she even recognized herself anymore.
She set Sophie in her lap, right after she had Sophie the nurse came in and taught her how to get breast milk in a not so painful fashion (as muggles do), so she had bottles in the ice box to help. However Sophie did not have strong appetite, this Ginny assumed was a trait she got from Harry. She had seen pictures from when he was younger, she remembered him when he was younger, he was basically a jumble of flaming limbs, according to Harry his father was the same way.
On the quite the opposite scale Ginny had the appetite of a teenage boy, it was because she grew up with big brothers. If she didn't hurry up and eat her food, she could be sure some one would eat it for her, and being the competitive person she was, she never let that happen.
She thumbed through The Daily Profit as Sophie cooed at her sliced up grapes, nothing seemed half as interesting when there wasn't a war going on. However she was sure that as soon as paper caught wind of the "child of the chosen one". She had held off letting anyone know for a long time, but it wouldn't be long after she told her family that the rest of the world would also know: She and Harry had an illegitimate daughter together. It seemed so scandalous when you thought of it like that.
Within the hour Sophie had been burped and put in bed
"Days like this make me wonder how I ever thought I would make it," she said stroking Sophie's belly, just looking at her, gave Ginny a peace she had only found with Harry those many years ago,
"Gin?" Ginny jumped
"Holy cricket!" she put her hand over her heart breathing heavily
"Sorry," Dane replied, followed by a giggly Julianne,
"How did everything go?" she asked now very serious
"Okay, he asked me to marry him," Dane's face went blank, Julianne's eyes got wide,
"And…." Julianne asked eagerly
"We have barely been friends over the last ten months, I told him we would work on that first, and then we would see about relationship,"
Dane nodded, "You don't want to rush into something like that, especially with Sophie,"
"That was reason number two, what kind of mother would I be if I knowingly cause her that kind of distress?"
"The kind that has been in love since she was ten?" Julianne added smirking, she always thought there was something so romantic about their story
"That was infatuation, real love takes time to grow," Dane said somewhat defensively
"And when it did it was toyed with for years, and led to many intoxicated nights in the common room"
The rest of the night continued in some what the same fashion, Dane was kind of quiet, Jules and Ginny however were having a lovely time exchanging stories from the school days.
The rest of the week came and went with the same agonizing realization that had been haunting Ginny for the past ten months, she would have to tell her parents. Would they be hurt? Of course they would she couldn't avoid that. Would they be ashamed? How would you feel if your daughter came to you with a child and no husband. Would they be angry? She spent so much time asking herself these questions she had convinced herself they would be furious.
Harry had been over most afternoons, for the most part he played with Sophie, letting Ginny study, or pack her things, or run any other errands that seemed to have alluded her. To her surprise Harry seemed to be handling the idea of friendship quite well, they had avoided the "us" topic, and primarily been discussing the anxiety that Sunday would bring.
Harry had a different belief of what her parents would say, they might be scandalized some what, however he said they loved her and they may be hurt but in the end all that would matter to them was that she was healthy, and they did have a beautiful grandchild. Harry had avoided thinking about what her brothers and father would do to him, he didn't want to think about it, he hadn't seen Ron since he'd found out, he had trouble even thinking about facing him.
Harry was worried primarily of the repercussions of what Sunday would bring. After they told the Weasley clan it wouldn't be long before the entire wizarding world became aware that the "Chosen One" had an offspring. They would ask why he didn't say anything, why it was kept so secret, what were they trying to hide. He didn't know what to say, somehow the truth seemed to harsh, Ginny hadn't told him because she didn't want to leave school and she wanted whatever it was between them to work itself out without adding the complication of a child. How do you explain that to a reporter who only wants to paint you as the poor unfortunate youth?
He had taken it upon himself to help Ginny save face, she didn't tell him for reasons only they could truly understand, it was private and telling her family was no way to keep it that way. He would tell them that they decided to keep it a secret in hopes that when they came to tell the family they would know more of what they wanted to do. Ginny wanted to stay in school and Harry traveled with the team throughout most of the year, and they had both been worried enough without piling on more stressors.
"Harry really you don't have to say that, this was my mess," Ginny said for the nine hundredth time
"No Ginny, you have carried this on your own long enough, besides this way no one can fault you for my ignorance about the situation," they had this conversation almost every time they talked.
"But Harry,"
"Really Ginny, you aren't going to win this argument," he said putting her trunks on the cart, Ginny huffed once and looked at Sophie who was giggling at something or another.
They stepped on the train, Harry awkwardly trying to situate himself as he walked down the corridors of the train with a car seat. They finally found an empty cart and took a seat. Ginny was exhausted aside from taking care of Sophie, she had stayed up almost all night packing up her flat for the summer. Her goodbyes to Dane and Jules took longer than she had originally anticipated, and she didn't get back until almost midnight, which gave her a grand total of five hours of sleep.
They placed Sophie on one side of the car snuggled tightly between a few bags, the train movement and sound were consistent enough to let her sleep quite soundly. Ginny nestled up in the corner, her head leaning up against the window as she started a nap.
Harry on the other hand couldn't sleep if he tried, he was so scared, so nervous, so apprehensive about the whole thing he could barely contain himself. It was all he could do to appear calm and collected.
His mind was reeling at what he was supposed to do or say to them, he looked over at Sophie, sound asleep wrapped tightly in the scarlet blanket, the cart jolted slightly, she didn't flinch. Ginny on the other hand started leaning toward Harry, he caught her soon enough to slow her down, her head rested in his lap, she was exhausted. That fire in her eyes was no where near as strong as what it used to be. She seemed so tired. The time at home would do her good. Mrs Weasley was sure to be a lot of help in taking care of Sophie. If the house got to crowded Harry had offered his flat for Ginny, he didn't have an extra room, but he could take the couch if it meant having Ginny near again.
He combed through her hair with his hands, her face seemed to relax at this. The train ride continued as such for the next hour or so. They arrived at a jolt to Kings Cross,
Ginny sat up quickly with a gasp, "Was I asleep?"
"Like a rock," Sophie had woken up, she was crying,
"Oh come here honey," Ginny said picking her up, Harry still got panicky when she cried,
"What's wrong?"
"She's probably hungry, could reach in my purse and get out her bottle?" Harry quickly dug through Ginny's purse, and came out with the bottle
"Here," he said now gathering up everything else, slighting her purse on her shoulder for her and leading the way to get off the train,
The drive to the Burrow was long, but as soon as they hit the countryside while Sophie seemed mesmerized by the greenery, Ginny looked like she was going to be sick.
"Its going to be fine Ginny," she bounced Sophie on her knee,
"Yeah, I know," they both knew she was lying but they stayed silent the rest of the trip, as they got closer she gripped her leg tighter, Harry reached over and grabbed her hand without even looking at her. She had forgotten how well he could put her at ease.
They could see the Burrow now in the distance. Ginny looked at herself in the mirror, and nodded.
"You ready?" she asked him with some uncertainty
"Ready as I'll ever be," he responded with a smug smile
They stopped the car and Harry unloaded all the luggage, Ginny lifted up Sophie and dusted her off, cleaning her face, and smiling at her tuft of black hair,
"You ready to meet your family sweet girl?" Sophie giggled and tugged at Ginny's hair.
"Lets go Gin," she nodded and let Harry lead the way,
Mrs. Weasley opened the door with a smile and a squeal,
"She's here! Oh hello Harry!" she added kissing him on the cheek, she grabbed his bags which allowed Ginny to step into the house and for them to see the surprise she was holding,
Mrs Weasley turned around and squealed again, "Who is this precious child?" taking Sophie from Ginny and cooing at her,
"She's our daughter," Ginny said, fighting back the urge to cry again
Mrs Weasley froze as Mr Weasley walked up behind her
"Whose this little one?" he said poking Sophie playfully in the belly
"She's our daughter" Harry repeated standing beside Ginny, Ginny reached over and took Sophie back,
"What? How? Why didn't?" they both took a seat at the kitchen table trying to soak in what they had just been told, Ginny sat across the table followed by Harry at her side,
"I found out right after I arrived at school in May, I didn't want anyone to worry,"
"I didn't find out until I went to visit before the season started," Harry interjected,
"We could have helped," Mrs. Weasley said desperately
"I wanted to stay in school and prove that I could, and I was scared," Harry took her by the hand again,
"We were having trouble and we wanted to work it out amongst ourselves, before we said anything,"
"So you two," Mr. Weasley said looking stern, "you are together now?" Harry let go of Ginny's hand
"No sir," Harry responded looking away,
"We want to be able to be friends before we attempt anything romantic and if we get involved we want to know it will last," Ginny said looking at Harry first then to her parents, then to Sophie, "For her sake we can't afford to be fickle anymore"
"So when was she…?" Mrs. Weasley asked looking at her granddaughter,
"December 25, 2000, Christmas night, she was early, by about a month and a half, but she's our healthy little girl now,"
"She has your eyes Ginny, and your unruly hair that she will certainly hate you for eventually," Mrs. Weasley laughed touching Sophie's cheek
"She is beautiful," Mr. Weasley said looking at Sophie, Ginny looked at both of them and the tears just started flowing,
"I'm so sorry I didn't tell you, I wanted to I was just, stupid," Mrs. Weasley got up and embraced her daughter,
"No Ginny dear, you had your reasons, I wish we would have known I could have helped, but you clearly can handle yourself just as you always have been able to," as they continued to have their moment Harry looked over at Mr. Weasley who was looking quite fondly at the two of them,
"Mr. Weasley," Harry said reaching out his hand,
"Come over here Harry," he said motioning Harry to come into the next room,
"Mr. Weasley--", Harry started
"Let me," Harry nodded, "I have always considered you a part of this family, you have had a place on our clock since you left Hogwarts after your seventh year,"
"And Mr. Weasley I appreciate that so much, I love Ginny, over the past ten months I have tried to get past it, but I realized I don't want to, I want to marry her, I want to make our family whole,"
"I also know my daughter and I know that she can take care of herself, its part of what being brought up with all boys will do to a girl. As her father though must tell you, you are now forever bonded to this family, and you have a responsibility to your family, to make them come first, above everything,"
"Yes sir, just so you know I didn't take advantage of her or--" Mr. Weasley laughed and shook his head
"You're a good man Harry and I don't want to know anything besides that" Harry got up and walked back to the front of the house with Mr. Weasley,
"So you are planning on staying here this summer right?" Mrs. Weasley asked wiping away her own tears,
"Yes, if that's all right"
"Of course it is dear! Tonight we are having a big dinner, you can share the news with the family then,"
"Oh yes," Mr. Weasley said, "Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, and I believe George is bringing his current girlfriend Susan?" he said turning his head toward Mrs. Weasley,
"That will be interesting," Harry said smiling and also a little worried as to what his best friend would say at the news,
"Don't worry Harry, I won't let them kill you," Ginny said smiling at him, he had forgotten what that was like, he hadn't seen her smile like that in a very long time, "I need to go put Sophie down for a nap. Harry could you help me get my trunks upstairs?"
He nodded and followed her,
"He loves her," Mr. Weasley said as a matter of factly
"She's stubborn and scared" Mrs. Weasley said with a smile,
"They are going to be okay," Mr. Weasley added
Okay so it took me a long time to get that one out. It was really hard because I have been stressed with stressed with schools. I hope you guys are happy with the chapter and the way it unveiled, the next chapter… the weasley brother's will find out… it should be fun.
So a lot of you are ticked off about Harry's response... i thought i should explain myself. In my mind after Harry finally defeats Voldemort he realizes whats important in life, and Ginny through it all has been there for him, she was always his accountable person, always there waiting for him to be ready. When teh separated it was the first time she took a stand for herself and did something she wanted. And when Harry finds out ab Sophie, he is looking at her, shes not in the other room, he can't be mad, he's hurt obviously, but he is looking directly at a life he helped create. He is almost numb at first, Ginny doesnt want them to be together because point blank she is numb to him at this point to.
They have spent ten months being angry and frustrated with each other, its not gonna happen just like that. Ginny treated him poorly she recognizes that, she knows that, but for years Harry treated her like the expendable friend, the one he could leave and go do other things and come back and she was just waiting, and she started feeling that all she ever did was wait for him. Ginny isn't the type of girl to spend her whole life sitting and waiting for a boy. Even if that boy is Harry. Harry has matured, you guys hav to remember after he defeated Voldemort he spent time running around with the Ministry catching the rest of dark wizards. Nothing with them has ever been easy and beautiful for an extended time. I know you guys are playin pity party for Harry, and he is acting SAINTLY... however realize he did a lot of things in the past to Ginny that weren't too kind either. Harry is a guy of conviction and he will follow his convictions no matter what. And he will go after what he wants no matter how many blockers stand in his way.
PS. Keep the victims of the Virginia Tech Massacre in your thoughts and prayers, here at A&M we don't wear maroon and orange together on principle (our rivalry with t.u) however today… it was different that could have been any school, any campus… always take the time to tell people you love em. Live your life as you, don't attempt to be anyone but who you are for anyone, because life is far far to short.