Chapter Nine

Morning scan

"Hello?" Harry asked as he took a few tentative steps into Hermione and Draco's flat. He hadn't been in the building since the pair had made the announcement they were getting married. In many ways the flat was the same. It still had Hermione's incredible number of books lining the walls and muggle television set in the small kitchen. But it had changed as well, the red pillows on the sofa had been joined by some green ones. The photographs on the coffee table now included one of the happy couple kissing. Harry shook his head. "Couldn't they just stop it for ten minutes?" he wondered.

"I'm coming," Ginny shouted as she turned the corner from the small corridor that held the two bedrooms into the body of the flat.

"Hi," Harry smiled at her.

"I will be one minute," she smiled back. She ran into the kitchen picking up her scarf, a handbag and a set of keys.

"We're not late Gin," Harry said "actually I came over early there is something I wanted to talk to you about." Ginny looked at her friend. "Sit down," he said softy in the manner of someone preparing for bad news. Ginny studied his face to gain an idea of what was going on but she was stumped. She took a seat on the sofa, much to her annoyance she was sat beside the new addition of the green cushions.

Harry looked at his friend. Her stomach was becoming a little rounded as the baby inside her grew. She wasn't obviously pregnant yet but those who knew her would look twice. Her face however was smiling, her long hair loose down her back she turned to Harry.

"What's up?" She tried to smiled but her stomach was in knots as she became convinced he was going to deliver some terrible news.

"Marry me."

"I'm sorry?" Ginny asked. She was sure she had heard wrong because there was no way on earth Harry Potter, saviour of the wizarding world was asking Ginny Weasley, his knocked up friend to marry him.

"I said marry-"

"I heard" she interrupted him sharply standing up and pacing. "Why?"

"Why not? I am worried what your parents will think and it's the right thing to do and you're my friend and-"

"But you don't love me Harry."

"Yes I do."

"But you're not in love with me. Tell me what happens after a year of this platonic marriage when the girl of your dreams turns up and you run away with her? Will I be any less of a laughing stock then? Or when you see this baby and realise you can't love it because it has blonde hair or something?"

"So the baby's dad had blonde hair?"

"I didn't say that," she replied angrily.

"But you inferred it."

"What about you Harry? Hadn't you better check you haven't knocked up that girl you were snogging at Draco's party?" Harry went pale. "See," she shouted "I'm not the only one with secrets Harry Potter."

"But the baby?" he replied weakly "doesn't it need a dad or someone."

"Yes but I don't need to be married to that person. Every family is different and mine will not have less love because my baby only has one parent." The pair sat in silence for a minute. Ginny saw his hand just millimetres from her own, if she stretched a little she could reach it. But she dare not, one part of her mind could hardly believe she had turned down marriage to Harry Potter and the other half knew if he left her it would break her heart.

Harry jumped up, surprising Ginny and making her jump a little.

"Sorry," he apologised giving her a hand up from the deep sofa. She smiled.

"The healer will just be a minute Miss. Weasley." The receptionist smiled at Harry and Ginny. The pair were at Ginny's three month checkup. As Ginny took a seat she heard a soft welsh accent shout,

"Ginerva Weasley." Ginny smiled at Harry as she stood up leaving Harry reading a copy of the Prophet.

"Hello," the healer smiled over brightly at Ginny "you must be Ginerva."

"Ginny," Ginny replied.

"Sorry," the healer said her welsh lilt becoming stronger. "Anyway Ginny take a seat," she pointed to the seat opposite her. "Do you know when the due date would be?"

"Around mid-January,"

"Okay then. Is the father a wizard or a muggle?"

"A wizard." Ginny sighed it was the one question she could answer with certainty about the father."

"And would you like to know the gender of the baby?"

"Err, yes." Ginny said hesitantly. In truth she hadn't given the subject much thought. When she found out she was pregnant most her thinking had been taken up with wondering what her parents and friends would think. In hindsight she realised she had given the baby little thought. "I am going to have a baby, a whole little human being dependant on me." She thought.

"Are you sure?" The healer smiled.

"Yes," Ginny nodded firmly "I want to know the gender."

"Okay," she smiled her white teeth glinting through her lipstick painted lips. "Just lay back a little on the chair and pull your t-shirt up." She whispered a spell and Ginny felt her stomach tingle a little as a pale yellow light emitted from her stomach. Ginny was confused she assumed that the light would be blue or pink.

"That's a boy!" The woman said clapping her hands excitedly. Ginny smiled looking at her stomach as the pale yellow light faded.

"A boy," she thought smiling a little thinking of her holding a baby boy with red curls.

"Is everything ok?" The healer asked.

"Yes," Ginny smiled "it's fine."

"Okay then I will see you in two months but if you have any problems just come in."

"Thank you." Ginny smiled.

"Is everything ok?" Harry asked protectively.

"Yes," Ginny said "you know you really didn't have to come Harry."

"I know, but I can't imagine you coming by yourself and Ron and Hermione are at work."

"Thank you for coming."

"Is everything ok?"

"Yes I am having a boy."

"Merlin that's," Harry spluttered as he grabbed her in a hug.

"Hardly surprising," she said once he had let her go "just look at how many boys my mum had."

"Still," Harry smiled as they exited the hospital into a beautiful autumn day "I am excited."

"Me too," she smiled up at him look for all the world a couple in love.

Notes: I feel completely mean for leaving it there but I promise you the wait will be worth it, next week: 'Morning Hermione'.