THE CHOSEN ONE HAS A FAMILY AT LAST!
By: Luna Lovegood
Harry Potter and his Hogwarts sweetheart Ginny Weasley have had a child together, a little girl who is now nearly seven months old. When asked why they decided to keep this a secret Harry Potter stated that they "decided to keep it under wraps for as long as possible in fear of too much publicity to something that was a very private affair," Even members of the Weasley clan were unaware of the birth of Sophie Evan Potter.
St. Mungos said she had a private room for delivery, and the Dean at the Defense League allowed Ginny a house elf to help with her daughter, and Harry was able to visit during home games and breaks of the Quidditch season.
Harry and Ginny dated in the end of their years at Hogwarts Dean Thomas an ex of Miss Weasley stated "She and Harry… it always seemed fitting, her brother is his best mate and all", Harry has even been said to have spent every major Holiday with the Weasley family since his first year. As a good friend of Ginny in my Hogwarts years I can say that this is by far couldn't have happened to two people who loved each other more.
However Harry and Ginny are currently not seeing each other, Harry failed to mention Ginny's name once in my interview with him. When I asked if they were still friends, he stated simply "She is the mother of my child". He is currently seeing someone else but according to recent sources they have broken it off.
Harry Potter never had a family growing up, his best friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley (who are now Hermione and Ron Weasley), were his family and Mrs. Weasley a surrogate mother. We can only hope that Harry is able to find a family in Ginny and Sophie.
Congratulations you two! See page 45 to witness the return of Cornelious Fudge: the Goblin eater
Harry put down the paper and shook his head, it was not the direction he had hoped that article would go, in fact he was furious that Luna had jumped to the conclusions she had. But it was the Quibbler and it was Luna. Owls had been coming in from everywhere requesting interviews and pictures but he was waiting for just one owl. And sure enough Pigwidgeon came later that afternoon.
Ginny was shocked, at what Harry had done, shoving his daughter in the limelight that he despised growing up. It really made her feel as though she didn't know him anymore; then again she supposed he felt the same way about her.
Luckily she had been feeling under the weather so she wasn't going out very much, but when she did it was as though she couldn't take more than two steps with Sophie without someone photographing them. She started leaving Sophie at home and leaving the house less and less. The idea of someone kidnapping Sophie always scared her. Though the Dark days of the past were over they still left a scar that pricked on occasion at the thought of her daughter being out of sight.
Though the worst part of it all was the angry letters she received. The Howlers that wouldn't go away, they taunted her in her dreams, threatening her. She had decided not to tell Harry because in all honesty she felt she deserved it.
"Harry,
I must say I am surprised that you opted to use Sophie as a ploy with publicity, knowing how you always hated it. She is your daughter and it's your life. I am being requested for several interviews, but I will deny them all unless you want me to do one with you. You are the father of my child, and if it will help you then I'm willing to let it be done.
I also wanted you to know I know that most of what Luna wrote was, well, Luna-fied… I have no allusions that you want to be anything more to me than an acquaintance.
I am getting pretty sick, I went to the doctor and they ran some tests, I go back tomorrow, so I was wondering if you could take Sophie for that time, I don't want her getting sick.
Ginny
P.S. I am sorry to hear about you and Claire… I really did like her"
Harry wrote back
"I'll come get her at six"
Harry spent the day responding to the letters he had received. A few from his teammates and a very angry letter from Oliver Wood, demanding to know why he didn't know all of this, and Hermione and Ron had written a letter that seemed very lofty. They told him they read it and commended how he had painted Ginny, but wondered why he had shoved his daughter in the spotlight.
Harry arrived at the Burrow at 6:01 and it was surprisingly silent. He heard steps coming down the stairs and to his disappointment it wasn't a Weasley. It was Dan.
"Hey Harry, Dan Curtis, its good to meet you," he said reaching out his hand and shaking Harry's. Harry just stared blankly at him,
"I'm here to pick up Sophie" Dan nodded
"She is upstairs sleeping still; I was actually hoping to talk to you,"
"Look if this is about the Quibbler I in no way have any intention of getting back with Ginny," Dan shook his head
"No I know that it's just… Ginny is sick, I don't know if she told you but the last few weeks its been bad, dizzy spells, she had a sore throat and she needs to see the doctor tomorrow. I have been postponing business to take care of her but I leave tonight for one and I won't be back for a week, the Weasley's are visiting Bill, Ginny didn't want to bother them but Harry she is a lot sicker than she is letting on. I put an anti-bacterial shield on Sophie so no worries there but… could you… could you check on her the next few days?"
"Did she ask to have you say that?"
"No, in fact I'm sure she would be mad to know I think she can't take care of herself," Dan smiled then his face went straight,
"What about Hermione and Ron?"
"They both work and can't see her during the day,"
"I'll see what I can do,"
"Thanks Harry,"
Just then Ginny came down the stairs with Sophie and Sophie's bags. She looked terrible, her face was pale and she didn't look like she had been getting much sleep,
"Don't look at me like that Harry I'm fine, just a little tired," Dan handed her a bowl of soup,
"Eat Ginny you need to,"
"Gah, I got this Dan you need to leave your train leaves in an hour," Dan looked a little distraught then looked at Harry and nodded.
"I'll owl you the instant I can," he said kissing her swiftly on the cheek,
"Good luck! Be safe!" he smile and threw the floo powder down
"KINGS CROSS STATION", and he was gone, Harry's eyes turned to Ginny, she had always been petite but she was looking smaller than normal, she simply looked sickly,
"Don't look at me like that Harry, I'll be fine after a few days rest," he almost glared
"How many days pray tell have you been resting?" she didn't say anything, "You should be at St. Mungos,"
"Oh what and have people swarming me from the moment I arrive, they don't leave me alone Harry! I get owls all the time from newspapers the second I leave the burrow some one knows! I received Howlers like you wouldn't believe! Saying nasty terrible things, I didn't want to tell you, I'm just stressed is all that's all the healers will say, but I am going today! Just leave me alone! Just let me-" she inhaled quickly and fell on the floor unconscious
"GINNY!" Harry hadn't said her name in months but not he shouted it with the utmost desperation, Sophie began crying upstairs.
"ACCIO SOPHIE!" he held tightly to her with one harm and with the other held Ginny and apparated them to the lobby of St. Mungos.
He was swarmed with mediwitches and healers who immediately reached for Ginny.
"What happened Mr.-" the healer paused and looked at Harry, "Mr. Potter" Harry was panicking staring down at Ginny she was barely breathing, Sophie was wailing in his other arm, he gathered his thoughts quickly
"She's been sick for a few weeks now; um she said something about a sore throat? I don't think she has been eating right," for the first time in months Harry regretted not having anything to do with Ginny
"We will do for her what we can," the healer looked around noticing people beginning to swarm around Harry Potter and his infamous baby, "I'll get you a private room to quiet her down in," he sent for a mediwitch to get Harry a room as he ran to keep up with Ginny's bed
Harry couldn't feel his feet below him as he followed the mediwitch to the room; as soon as they arrived she gave him a bassinet for Sophie. He didn't want to let her go, he didn't want to think that the fight they had may be the last time they spoke. He didn't want to think the stress from his malice filled interview had caused her the stress that led her to this. He didn't want to think that the reason she had kept away from the doctor was because she couldn't go out anymore. He couldn't be responsible for that, he wouldn't be.
Sophie stopped screaming, Harry was a wreck.
"Mr. Potter?" it was the healer,
"Yes-"
"Phillip" he said shaking Harry's hand, "Ginny is in a stable condition, she was dehydrated and as you suspected a little malnourished. We also found she had a long over due case of strep throat and this illness has begun to spread to her other organs, now muggles have yet to find a cure for this fortunately we have remedy to give her though it will require attentive care over the next few days"
"Here?" Harry said looking out the window of the private room, which was now swarmed with reporters
"We would prefer it, but given your situation a home stay might be better. Is there anyone to take care of her?"
"Yes, I can, it's the off season right now," Harry added
"Right well I will have the mediwitch instruct you of the remedy regime we have her on. As soon as she is hydrated we will release her to you" Phillip said turning to leave the room
"Phillip?" Harry asked, "Can I see her?"
Phillip smiled, "Yes follow me,"
This time Harry was prepared for the paparazzi, he shielded Sophie almost completely. He walked with his head down following Phillip into a more private sector of St Mungos. They stopped at room 408 HCU. Phillip opened the door and let Harry in.
"I'll bring in a bassinet for the little one" Harry nodded, but didn't look at the Healer; all he could do was look at Ginny lying there so helpless. Sophie started crying and he sat down in a chair next to the bed, holding her against his chest.
"Calm down sweety, its okay, just sleep" He had forgotten her bag at home with all of her milk and diapers. He was rocking her when a mediwitch came in with a bassinet,
"Would you like me to take her?" she asked, Harry looked outside the room nervously,
"No, I- she needs to stay with me, but I- in the rush to leave the Burrow I forgot her things, do you have anything?"
"I'm sure we do, I'll go get them," within seconds she had returned with a bottle and diapers, Harry started reaching for them
"Let me, sit with your wife, I'll take care of her right here" Harry didn't argue he sat next to Ginny, placing his hand on hers, he was so scared. It reminded him of when Mr. Weasley was attacked at the ministry. He felt sick. This vision had haunted his dreams during the War.
"She, she's not my wife," the mediwitch looked at him and then back to Sophie, "I haven't actually looked at her in months, or said her name but now, she, she is going to be alright isn't she?"
"She made it over the hard part, she'll be weak but she is tough, I'm sure she can handle it," the mediwitch put Sophie back in the bassinet, strolled it over near Harry, and quietly left the room
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" he picked Sophie up out of the bassinet, and started walking slowly to the door,
"There is nothing to be sorry for," he heard faintly, her eyes were still closed, "Harry?"
There was a part of him that wished he could bolt to her side, say everything he had been dying to say, and another part wanted to run. He was so scared, he just left. Within minutes Ginny would be asleep again she wouldn't remember that he hadn't stayed.
Harry brought Sophie back to his empty flat. He didn't want to be alone tonight. He owled Hermione and Ron,
"Harry! We got here as fast as we could what's wrong?" Hermione exclaimed
"Your owl said something about Ginny what's up?" Ron followed
"She passed out. She's been sick for a while it was getting worse. She didn't get help so her body couldn't take it anymore and she collapsed,"
"Why didn't she go to the bloody healer then?" Ron shouted sitting down, putting his hands on his knees,
"She hasn't been able to go out much lately," Hermione whispered,
"Don't say that," Harry said turning towards the window trying not to blame himself.
"The papers, the reporters it's been pretty hectic lately" Hermione continued,
"The story. The interview I gave. She couldn't go out. It's my fault it got this bad. It's all my fault," Harry covered his face with his hands and sat on the couch,
"Is she going to be alright?" Ron asked quietly.
"The doctor said she is over the worst part, she'll be drifting in and out of consciousness for the next few days, but she should be fine,"
"Thank goodness," sighed Hermione,
"Is there anything we can do?" Ron asked. Harry shook his head,
"I just, I couldn't be alone. I feel terrible,"
Hermione and Ron stayed awake with Harry into the night and eventually Hermione fell asleep on Ron's lap. Ron stayed awake, stroking Hermione's hair and watching Harry with Sophie. He was trying to be inconspicuous because he could tell Harry was crying and no man likes to be seen like that. Before long though he too fell asleep and Harry was alone again.
He missed Ginny. He missed the way she could level him with her eyes, the way her hair flew across her face when she turned around in a mock rage, and the way she grabbed the back of his neck with her fingers to pull him in for a kiss when she just felt like it.
Harry had been near death enough to know that life is too short to be angry with people you love. Though he had been very aware of his own mortality it was hers that brought him back to Earth this time. She probably wouldn't take him back, she had Dan, but he would be her friend. They were friends long before they were anything more.
Harry fell asleep his arms holding Sophie closely.
The next morning Ginny awoke at St. Mungo's vaguely aware at what had transpired.
"Sophie!" was the first word she said when she finally came to.
"Is fine. Her father has her. I don't know where he is. He was here the past all yesterday and got here early this morning," no sooner had the healer said that, Harry came in placing Sophie in the bassinet.
"Hey Gin, how are you feeling this morning?" Ginny opened her eyes again looking from the healer to Harry,
"I, I'm fine I think, I feel a little whoozy but I'm fine. Wher-What happened?" Harry watched as the healer explained to Ginny the extent of the toll her body had taken over the last two days. Her jaw dropped,
"I am so sorry, Harry I am so sorry. I should have gone to the doctor sooner, oh my go- can you, Sophie I- that was so stupid of me Harry I know. I didn't mean for it to happen I just I couldn't go out,"
"All is forgiven Ginny," he said placing his hand gently on her forehead, she closed her eyes,
"Really?" her eyes were welling up. His face relaxed and he smiled,
"Yes," he nodded
Ginny was released a few days later under strict orders to stay in bed and regain her strength. Harry offered up his apartment because of its proximity to the hospital and the fact that he could take care of her while her parents were away.
--- And the friendship begins! Its been a while guys, I have been working on this chapter for months and its short, it is the beginning of them being friends. It is the beginning of them finally caring for each other. Though not romantically, their relationship will evolve in VERY interesting ways! Stay tuned! I hope I haven't lost all of you!