Ch.4 The Truth Won't Set You Free
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Harry Potter, but I don't.
A/n: Okay so it definitely wasn't my fault, well completely my fault this took so long. After getting my new compter, I lost my flash drive with all of my fanfiction on it (still can't find it and am very upset about it). After searching everywhere I could possibly think of, I gave up and had to start this chapter over. I had a partial on that flash drive. Then when I tried to send it off to my Beta, it wouldn't actually get to her for some reason so after a week passed, I tried again and now here it is. I liked the original better, but so much time had passed I couln't quite remember how it went.
And also I'm thinking of a new story so...I've been distracted. Much love to all. -Remie
Three weeks pass by peacefully. We hide our secret at every family lunch we go to. September begins and Hermione, Azlyn, and Blaise begin going back and forth to Hogwarts every day. Hermione teaches Transfiguration now that Professor McGonagall is the new Headmistress. Azlyn teaches defense against the dark arts and Blaise is teaching potions now. They are joined with some of our other classmates. Luna is teaching charms and Neville teaches Herbology. Luna and Azlyn are the youngest Professors to ever be hired at Hogwarts, which is a very big deal.
At night when we are home though, I feel wonderful. I am not hiding my pregnancy here. My small baby bump sticks out in everything I wear and my hand is constantly resting over it. Every time the baby moves my heart skips excitingly and also aches painfully for the daughter I never got to know. And for all the others who never stood a chance. I'm getting attached. And now, losing this baby isn't even an option.
Draco hovers all the time. Even at work, I run into him much more than I should in a day. I try to just accept it. I know this is hard for him but I almost wish Calvin would put me on bed rest so I can get away from him.
It's Friday and I am hiding out in my office catching up on some paperwork while deciding which healers will take which of my patients when Calvin finally sends me away from my work. I'm almost finished with what I am doing when someone knocks on the door.
"Come in" I respond without even looking up.
"Wow, you've done really well for yourself Weasley." I look up at the voice I haven't heard in years. Standing in front of me is Draco's ex-girlfriend Kristen.
"It's Malfoy now." I look at her curiously; I haven't seen her since before Merci died. She didn't even return to Hogwarts after the war. "But assuming you keep up with the Prophet, which I think you do since you found me, you already know that."
"I did. I have been living out of the country for the last few years. I came into quite a bit of money right before Dumbledore was murdered. I decided that since I was in town I would visit you. And enlighten you about your darling new husband." She is smirking and it is aggravating.
"What on earth could you possibly know about my husband that I don't know?"
"Well, for one, did you know he isn't above paying someone off to keep you from finding something out?" Her smirk is now a full smile. It's creepy and I want her to go away.
"I doubt that. Draco and I have no secrets."
"Are you so sure about that? Because I have a big one for you, but if you don't want to know what he paid me several hundreds of thousands of galleons to do, I'll just leave." She stands to leave but my curiosity gets the better of me.
"Wait, what is it?" She's won and she knows it as she sits back down all triumphant. This is not what I need today.
"Well right after he dumped me for your pathetic ass, I discovered I was pregnant. And you can imagine how Draco reacted to the news I was having his baby."
"You're lying" I am trying to keep a straight face. I will not let her know that she is bothering me.
"I wish I was. No matter how much of a bitch I am, I'm not a huge fan of letting this secret out. It's not like I want your husband. But I am enjoying your reaction."
"So he paid you to disappear with his kid?" I am now angry at her. Angry at Draco. Angry at the world. And my head is beginning to hurt.
"No, darling, if I had taken off with the kid, I would still be collecting money from him. But Draco didn't want to take the chance of me having a boy that would then become his heir. Now do you understand what I am telling you?" The triumphant look is gone. She is no longer enjoying my pain as she watches me grasp what she is saying.
"He paid you to terminate your pregnancy? How much was your baby's life worth then?" My jaw is clenched and my stomach is starting to hurt. This isn't a good sign.
"Here I'll show you." She pulls a slip of paper out of her bag and slides it across my desk towards me. I pick it up and realize it's an account transfer slip from Gringotts. And suddenly everything she is saying is true. I hand the slip back to her and stand a bit too quickly. A wave of dizziness wraps around me and I have to grab the edge of my desk to steady myself.
"Are you alright?" She takes a step towards me awkwardly as if afraid she has now caused me to become ill.
"I'm fine. I have to go. No offense but I really hope I don't see you anytime soon." I slip out of my office without looking back. My stomach is still hurting and I know I should go see Calvin, but now I am searching for Draco. Normally he is everywhere but today I have to go all the way to his office to find him. The dizziness is still bothering me and I'm seeing spots by the time I walk into his office. The door slams shut behind me and he jumps up from his desk.
"Ginny?" He looks worried and all I can think about is what Kristen just told me. I feel sick so I drop into a chair in front of his desk and try desperately not to throw up all over his office.
"I just had an interesting visitor." I manage to choke out. Now I sound horrible too. I really should have just gone to Calvin.
"Love, are you okay?" He moves to his knees in front of me and places a hand on my leg. But I jerk away from him causing my chair to almost flip but he catches it and gives me a strange look. "What is wrong with you, Ginny?"
"Did you pay Kristen to get rid of your baby?" I blurt out. The spots are now blocking him from my view.
"Ginny, I…" But I don't catch the end because I pass out.
When I wake up, I'm in a hospital bed. Draco is sitting in a chair next to me. He just stares at me when I open my eyes until the door opens and Calvin walks in.
"Ah, my favorite patient who also doesn't take good care of herself." He rolls his eyes sitting on the edge of my bed. "You, my darling, are slightly anemic and also dehydrated."
"So am I now confined to a bed?" I want to just focus on Calvin. I can't even look at my husband. Everything is different. And my heart hurts. You would think I would be used to my heart being broken by now but I guess not.
"Not yet, but you seriously need to keep your stress down and drink more water Gin. I know this job is rough but if you don't take care of yourself, I'll confine you to this hospital."
"Trust me; it has nothing to do with my job." I reply and suddenly I am crying. "Damn hormones. Can you give us a minute Calvin?"
"Sure thing, love, I'll just go and get all your discharge stuff together so you can go home. Rest up this weekend and you can come back Monday but only if there is no pain or dizziness, got it?"
"Yes, thank you Calvin."
Once he is gone I have no choice but to face Draco.
"This is not how you should have found out. I can't believe she just showed up here." He is angry. I can tell by how tightly he is gripping the blanket on my hospital bed. His knuckles are turning white.
"How should I have found out Draco? When were you going to tell me? Or were you not going to tell me at all?"
"She came to me about a week before Merci was born. And back then the only baby I wanted was the one you had. I couldn't stand the thought of her getting all of my money. So I did the only thing I could think of to keep it from happening. I was going to tell you after Merci was born. But everything changed that night. You were hurting so bad and telling you that I had just effectively killed my own child was not an option. And then there was war and you were still so broken. After which you hated me for a while for another secret I was too pathetic to tell. Then you were dying and I did not want that to add on to what was already going on in your head. Every time, we've lost a baby, I have hated myself a little bit more. If I could go back I would change the things I've done. But I can't and I'm sorry." He won't even look at me as he talks which is fine. Because sitting here listening to him just makes me feel sick again.
"Hand me my phone, I'm going to see if I can stay with Azlyn for a while." He doesn't say anything else as he walks across the room to my bag and pulls out my phone.
Azlyn answers on the second ring.
"Ginny!" I can almost see her smile in my head every time she answers the phone. I take a deep breath to steady my nerves and my voice.
"Hey, I need a favor. Actually I need a big favor." Draco is now looking out the window. He is hiding his face from mine. Briefly I wonder how and if we can come back from this. We've done it before and now that we are married with a child on the way, we will have to again.
"Anything for you, if you've murdered someone, I know a few good places to hide the body." She laughed and I can't help but let out a small giggle. Draco flinches as if my laughter is now painful to him.
"I actually need a place to stay for a bit." I choke back my tears and curse my hormones again.
"Of course, Gin. I'll set up the guest room for you." I'm grateful she doesn't ask questions. And I feel guilty for keeping so many secrets from my best friend.
"Thanks Azlyn, I'll be there in a couple hours. I need to finish some things at work then go pack a couple things."
I have just placed my phone down on the bed beside me when Calvin walks back in and hands me a stack of papers.
"I handled everything myself so this wouldn't become tomorrow's hospital gossip. Go home and rest. I'll see you Monday." He leaves the room before a conversation can start and I'm grateful once again for my friends respect for my privacy.
Draco and I don't speak when we arrived at home. I quickly and quietly pack some of my things before walking back down stairs.
"Ginny?" Draco hasn't moved from his seat at the kitchen table since we came in the door.
"I feel like I don't even know you. We have come so far and yet sometimes it feels like we haven't gotten anywhere. I love you Draco Malfoy and I am insanely happy standing by your side. Or I was. How can a man who wanted nothing more than to take care of a child who wasn't even his, be able to just throw away the life of his own child. After all I have been through. After all that we have been through. I don't know if I can ever forgive you for this."
I don't wait for his response before I am gone.
Harry and Azlyn are standing in the kitchen of their flat when I arrive. Harry takes my bags from me while I sit at the table across from Azlyn. We wait for him to return before actually talking.
"I don't want our family to know that Draco and I are…." I can't find the word but they don't need me to.
"We're not going to tell. It's just strange. You and Draco have only been married about a month. After all that's happened what on earth could be bad enough that you are here, Gin?" Harry sits with an arm wrapped around Azlyn's waist. One day they will make wonderful parents. And she will make a beautiful bride.
"Draco's ex came to visit me at work today." I begin and will my emotions to hold it together.
"Kristen? Honestly, I thought she had died or something." Azlyn looks shocked to hear otherwise. "What on earth could she have told you that caused you to walk out on your husband?"
"She told me that he paid her to terminate a pregnancy when she told him she was having his baby." I'm surprised I am not crying.
"Oh, Ginny" Neither of them pry any further so I excuse myself to go to bed.
It isn't until much later in the darkness of night when the empty spot next to me really hits. So I spend most of the night sobbing instead of sleeping.
How quickly it seems that everything changes and just once I would give anything to go back to the happiness that is ignorance.