A/N1 This was my fave chapter to write. The part where Harry finds out about her pregnancy was taken from the movie 'How to be Single'. This scene in the movie actually inspired the whole story. Hope you like it.
As April was nearing it's end, Ginny realised with a start she was nearly a third of the way through her pregnancy. She now had a nicely rounded belly but her boobs felt so much fuller. She'd always had a slender body and small breasts, so the expansion to her body still took some getting used to.
She had another appointment with her midwitch, which went well, although the healer was concerned when she mentioned the dizzy spells she was having, putting them down to stress. The midwitch asked her if she wanted to know the sex of the baby. She declined, but for the first time she started to think of the baby as a little girl or boy. She also knew she couldn't keep the secret from her family any longer and decided to start by telling her dad. She firecalled him to see if he was home and he was. However, by the time she arrived, half an hour later, the rest of her family were also there, sans Charlie and Percy. As she stepped out of the fireplace, she heard -
"Hey, Ginny's here and – bloody hell?"
Ginny actually winced. "Hey, Ron," she said. "Where's Dad?" She looked over his shoulder.
Ron was staring at her stomach. "Who...when...who...bloody hell!"
Ginny crossed her arms over her stomach protectively.
George came over and peered over Ron's shoulder. "Hey, what's – bloody hell!"
Fred and Bill came over, their eyes bulging wide as they all stared at her stomach. "Is that the 'injury' that's keeping you out of Quidditch?" asked Bill.
"What did you do, trip and fall on someone's di-" Ginny clamped a hand over Fred's mouth.
"Do not finish that statement," she growled.
"Ginny girl, that you?" It was her dad.
"Ginny, ma soér," called Fleur, while Victoire was calling out, "Aunt Ginny, Aunt Ginny," excitedly.
Ginny took a breath, shot her brothers nasty looks and walked calmly into the lounge.
Fleur gasped, a hand over her mouth. Ginny only looked into her dad's face, wondering if she had imagined him paling.
Victoire giggled and ran over to her. "Aunt Ginny's gonna have a baby. Can I play with it, Maman?" she asked.
"Hush, Victoire," hissed Fleur, beckoning her daughter to her side.
"Dad?" Arthur still hadn't said a word.
"How far along are you?" he asked.
"Eleven weeks," she said.
"You've seen a healer? You look pale, worried," noticed Arthur.
"I had an appointment earlier today. The baby's fine," she assured him.
"The father...will he do right by you?" asked Arthur.
"He's a good man, Dad, honestly. I haven't told him yet, he's been away for work," said Ginny. She still hadn't worked out how she was going to tell Harry, but she knew she must do it as soon as possible.
"You're marrying him, right?" asked Bill, coming in to the lounge; the rest of the brothers following.
"No," said Ginny, huffily. "Just because we made a baby together does not mean we'll get married."
Her brother's heads all swivelled to look at their dad. He sighed and looked disappointed, but in the end agreed it was Ginny's choice.
"Who is it?" demanded Bill. "I think we need to go and have a chat with him. What do you guys reckon?"
"Ha, joke's on you, he's not even in town right now, he's away for work," said Ginny, smugly. Then frowned. "Besides, what are you going to do, beat up my baby's daddy?
He's an Auror, you know, he'd probably kick your arse," she said smugly.
"An Auror?" asked Arthur sharply.
Ginny turned to look at him, and sank onto the couch beside him. "He's a good man, Dad, honest," she repeated. "He has a lovely family and everything," she said.
"You've met his family?" asked George, increduously. "Why haven't we met him, then?"
"It wasn't planned, but yes, I have," said Ginny. She stood and glared at all her brothers. "Look, I really have no idea how Ha – he will react. I might very well end up doing this on my own. I need to know right now, will you help me? Can I count on my brothers to help me?" she asked, looking at them all.
The four men stared down at the tiny sister. All their lives she had been theirs to protect, whether she wanted it or not. Nothing, not even a baby would stop that.
"Of course, Ginners," said Fred.
"Anything you need, Gin," assured George.
"A baby, blimey. Wait till I tell Hermione!" said Ron.
"Bill?" Ginny looked at her eldest brother tentatively. They's always had a good bond, youngest and oldest, much as Charlie and Ron did.
Bill pulled her in for a hug. His voice was thick as he kissed the top of her head. "I always wanted the best for you, Gin. I won't lie, part of me wants to grab this guy and shake him till he does right by you. But no matter what happens, I'm there for you. We're here for you," he said, with a nod to Fleur and Victoire. Fleur nodded happily.
"Now can I play with the baby?" asked Victoire.
Fleur hushed her yet again, and asked her to draw a picture for the baby of the whole family. The brothers returned to the kitchen, muttering to themselves and occasionally looking over at Ginny. She was sure they were planning something to find out the father's identity. She threw them an exasperated look, but they ignored her.
"Ginny girl." Arthur held his arms out for a hug, and Ginny fell into them, one of her favourite places in the world.
"Are you disappointed in me, Dad?" she asked, her throat constricted.
"Never," he assured her immediately. "May I?" His hand hovered over her bump.
Ginny nodded, leaning her head on his shoulder as her father felt her belly.
"A baby is a wonderous thing to celebrate," he said quietly. "No matter what happens, no matter if it was planned or not, never forget that."
Ginny's eyes filled with tears. "I wish mum was here. I miss her so much" she half whispered. Molly had passed after contracting Dragon Pox from her Great Aunt Muriel, who she was caring for in her last weeks.
"So do I, sweetheart," sighed Arthur. "She'd enjoy this time with you."
The two sat contentedly, watching her brothers make plans at the table. She thought she heard the word 'castration'. "Daddy?"
"Hmm?" asked Arthur.
"Will you tell Percy for me? Like, in about four or five months?" asked Ginny, never in a mood to hear her stuffy brother's opinions.
Arthur chuckled.
~00~
A week later and she was officially at twelve weeks. She woke early and was up with a spring in her step and felt restless. She cleaned her flat, which didn't take long, and then decided to head to Diagon Alley.
She decided not to go into Quality Quidditch Supplies, as it was still too painful. The Harpies had lost their next three games and were out of the finals. Most critics put it down to the loss of Ginny, and an injury to one of their other Chasers, which added to Ginny's guilt.
She bypassed Fortescue's for now, promising herself a treat later on. She stood outside the Owl Emporium for minutes, debating whether to get an owl or not. Hedwig, Harry's Snowy owl had become a regular visitor, with letters from Mia and Violet, who were looking after the owl in Harry's absence. Ginny couldn't deny how handy an owl would be, especially with a baby coming. She finally went inside, but didn't see an owl she took to.
She bypassed WWW, still angry at the twins when she overheard them talking about putting a tracking spell on her knickers. Only when Bill pointed out it was like shutting the gate after the horse had bolted did they reconsider. Well, that and a well placed Bat Bogey hex.
She wandered into Flourish and Blott's and, without meaning to, found herself in front of the baby books section. After Hermione had turned up unexpectedly to her flat and discovered her secret, she'd gifted her the magical edition of 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' and she'd read up to the end of the first trimester. She wished she'd had the book ages ago, as it helped her to understand the lethargy, the tiredness, the crying jags. Still, there were some things she wished she had someone to talk to...like a mother.
Naturally, Hermione had tried to get out of her who the father was, but Ginny had remained resolute. Hermione had come close, when she asked if it was Pete's, but when a puzzled Ginny asked who Pete was, and had to be reminded he was the drinks waiter from the Christmas party, Hermione knew it wasn't him. Ginny waited for her to mention Harry, but she didn't, having thought he was simply a one night stand.
Ginny picked up a book of baby names and went through it. Lucy, Ariana, they were pretty. But Ginny had pretty much decided if it was a girl, and she thought it might be, she would call it her Molly. If she couldn't have her mum here, she would at least honour her the best way she could.
Ginny put the book back and wandered outside. It was a sunny day and she was in no hurry to return to her flat. Her days now were spent waiting for Harry to return; she had sent a letter to him asking him to come to hers when he could. She just hoped their last words hadn't made him too angry that he wouldn't come. If so, she would have to bite the bullet and go and see him at Godric's Hollow.
Ginny was strolling the Alley, debating whether to see if her friend Luna was home; they hadn't visited for ages, despite keeping in touch by owl. She had just decided to go to Fortescue's for icecream and write a letter to Luna, when she spotted the new store in the Alley.
'Your Magical Baby' drew her in with it's colourful window displays, with owl and Quidditch themes. She hadn't given a thought to where the baby would sleep, or what furniture she would need. Intrigued, and with time to spare, she went inside.
Pregnant women smiled at each other, all at different stages. Some looked at furniture and bedding, others were looking at clothes. Ginny picked up a small onesie, amazed at how tiny it was. She wandered around, picking up a small fluffy Quaffle and a white snowy owl, when she was drawn to the window displays that had caught her eye from the outside.
She eyed the display of wraps, then took a box from the display, unknowingly exposing her to anyone walking past the shop.
Ginny read the box. A breast pump? That sounded...odd. She turned it over to look at the picture on the box. Ugh, she didn't think she could do that!
Tap tap. Ginny looked up and out the window, meeting Harry's eyes, which dropped to her stomach and widened.
Uh-oh.
Harry's POV
Harry was in a brilliant mood. He'd returned from his assignment the night before, written his report and been checked out by the medical staff. He now had three days off, and when he went home, he was very happy to see a letter from Ginny, asking him to come to hers when he returned from his assignment.
He felt relief that maybe she had missed him and had come around to realising she felt as strongly for him as he did for her. He longed to be with her, to see her gorgeous smile and feel her body against his.
He'd firecalled her this morning, giving her a chance to sleep in, but there had been no answer. He needed to go to Diagon Alley this morning and had hoped she might come with him, but he decided to go alone, and then have the rest of the day spare for her.
He went to Gringott's to oversee his personal account, and it had taken longer than he had thought. He was about to go into WWW and look for a present for Teddy, when a new store caught his eye with it's colourful display.
"Your Magical Baby," he read aloud. He supposed he could go and look for a present for Mia and Draco. The colourful window displays drew him closer, and as he was looking in, something was removed from the display and to his utter surprise, it was Ginny, looking at the box she'd just removed from the window.
He tapped twice on the window and she looked up, startled. It was then his eyes dropped and he became aware of her rounded stomach.
His eyes widened as they shot back to hers. "What the Fuck!" he yelled, and he stormed into the shop.
Ginny's POV
Ginny blindly put the box back on the display, not caring that she knocked over most of the display. Her first thought was that she needed to flee, to hide. She ran to a display of baby toys and grabbed an orange giraffe, holding it in front of her.
"Ginny? Ginny!" Harry ran around the store like a mad man. He stopped in front of her. "I can see you, you know."
Ginny peeked out from behind the giraffe. "Harry, is that you? Oh, hi!"
"Hi? That's all you have to say to me, hi?" he asked, increduously.
"Erm, is everything all right here?" asked the sales lady, worriedly.
"All right? Look at her. She's pregnant!"yelled Harry, gesturing to her stomach. He looked at Ginny. "You're pregnant!"
"What-no, I'm not...I mean, well, yeah, I am," said Ginny, getting flustered. She noticed the other people in the store were staring at them, especially when Harry dropped to his knees in front of her.
His hands cupped her belly reverently. She tried to brush him off, not wanting to be the centre of attention. "Harry," she said.
He looked up at her from the ground, but only got so far. "Wow, your boobs got so big," he gushed appreciatively.
A few women in the store chuckled, but one muttered, "typical."
Ginny had had enough. "Oh, right, that's the first thing you notice, my boobs. Well, for your information, yes, they're bigger, and they're sore, so don't even get any ideas, okay?" she yelled.
"You tell him, girl," said the woman, who was suffering from the same affliction.
Harry got to his feet. "Of course they're not the first thing I noticed. That!"- he pointed to her stomach - "was the first thing I noticed. That definitely wasn't there the last time I saw you. You're so big." He gazed at it in awe.
"Uh-oh, dead man walking," muttered another woman to her friend.
Ginny's eyes filled with tears. "Are you calling me fat?"
Harry held up his hand. " You are not fat, you're beautiful, you have always been beautiful to me. But now, you're having my baby and" – he waved his hands over his face - "whew, I'm getting a bit emotional here," – he looked around the store to find women watching them. "I'm having a baby!" he yelled excitedly, his hands in the air in triumph.
Some smiled at him, while a couple clapped. "Thanks," he said, pointing to them and winking.
"No, no, no," said Ginny, shaking her head. This wasn't how this was supposed to go.
"Oh, sorry," he said, his arm over her shoulders. "We're having a baby!" he corrected proudly.
Ginny elbowed him in the stomach, and he doubled over. "What the- are you crazy?" he asked her.
"Could you be any more indiscreet? I mean, don't you think your parents would like to know before most of Diagon Alley?" she hissed.
He straightened, wincing slightly, when something caught his eye. "Hey, look, it's Hedwig," he said, picking up the stuffed owl.
"You're not taking this seriously," sputtered Ginny.
"Sirius! Oh boy, I can't wait to tell him, he'll be so surprised," said Harry.
"Yeah, because he just loves me, " spat Ginny, storming around the store to get away from him.
"You know you're acting a little crazy," said Harry, following her. "Hey, what do you think of a Quidditch theme for the nursery?" he asked.
"Crazy? You think I'm crazy" asked Ginny, he teeth clenched.
"Crazy for me, right?" teased Harry. He looked over at a man and a woman, shopping together. "Guess it's true about those pregnancy hormones."
"Oh boy," sighed a man, shopping with his wife.
Ginny laughed without mirth. "Ha ha, ha ha, grrrr, not funny!" She picked up a sippy cup off the nearby shelf and threw it at him, before storming off.
"Oh, shit!" cried Harry, ducking. Being a Chaser meant her aim was good, real good.
"Shit, shit," mimicked a two year old, shopping with his very pregnant mummy for a present for his new brother or sister. "What's shit, mummy?"
"Shit, sorry," apologised Harry, ducking around them to try and catch up with Ginny. "Don't ever use words like that, and be good for your mum," he said to the boy, then turned around and tripped over a display of nappies, sending them all over the floor. "Fuck!"
"Fuck, fuck, what's fu-" The mother slammed her hand over her son's mouth hurriedly and stared furiously at Harry.
"Sir, you'll have to leave the store," said the sales lady, pointing to the door.
Harry picked himself up. "Can I just buy that, please?" he asked, holding up the small white owl toy he still had in his hand.
"Please sir, just take it and go. Congratulations on your baby," said the sales lady, eager for him to leave. She pointed at the door.
"Thanks," grinned Harry. He leaned closer. "I reckon it's a boy, the way she's carrying it. Oh look, a black dog. Can I-"
"Here, go, now and good luck to your wife," said the sales lady, practically throwing it at him.
"Oh, she's not my wife," said Harry. "Not yet, anyway. Bye. We'll be back," he called over his shoulder, before they saw him run down the Alley in pursuit of Ginny.
"Like hell," muttered the sales lady.
"Hell, hell, what's hell, Mummy," said the boy, who had liked the funny man that just left.
His mother simply sighed. "That poor girl," she said, shaking her head.
"Yeah," sighed another woman, coming up to buy a baby sling, "but he had a cute butt, though!"
"Lucky girl," another sighed, nodding.
"Hey," complained her partner, annoyed.
The sales lady hurried to appease her customers. Even without being here, that couple was disrupting her opening day. She made a mental note to not let them back in her store. Ever!
~00~
"Ginny, calm down, it can't be good for the baby, all this yelling and stuff," said Harry, coming through her Floo from the Leaky Cauldron to her flat.
"Calm down! The whole of Diagon Alley will know about the baby before we tell your parents," cried Ginny, near tears. "This wasn't the way I wanted this to go," she said.
"Aw, it's okay, we can go and tell them now," offered Harry.
"No, we can't. We haven't made any plans, I don't even know how you feel about this," she said.
"Um, hello," said Harry, pointing to the huge grin on his face. "I'm ecstatic," he said.
"Really?" asked Ginny, hopefully.
Harry shrugged. "Sure, I love kids. I mean, I was hoping for a couple of years just with you after we got married, but instead, we'll have a baby. He can come with us on our honeymoon," he said.
"She. It's a she," said Ginny. "Erm, what was that thing you said, about being married and a honeymoon?"
"You already know it's a girl?" asked Harry, excitedly and a bit disappointed he hadn't been there to find out.
"No, I don't, I just sort of feel like it's a girl," she said.
"Oh," said Harry, relieved. "Well I reckon it's a boy. Shall we have a wager, see which one of us is right?" he asked, teasing.
Ginny stared at him in horror. "You want to bet on our baby?" A tear ran down her cheek.
Harry became alarmed. "Oh, no, hell no, don't cry. Please, don't cry," he begged.
Ginny hit him withn the pillow from her couch. "All I've done is cry, you prat! And this is supposed to be the happy part of the pregnancy!" she growled.
"I can tell," he said dryly.
"You don't know anything. I want to sleep all day, or pee. My boobs hurt, and my clothes don't fit anymore. I'm hot all the time, and I'm eating weird food," she exclaimed.
"Yeah? Like what?" asked Harry, interestedly.
"I went through a sweet phase, with pineapple," she said.
"Doesn't sound too bad to me," he said, interrupting, sitting on the couch.
"With jam and cream," finished Ginny. "Totally your sisters' fault."
Harry sat up. "They know?" Mia and Vi hadn't said anything to him last night!
Ginny shook her head. "But now all I want is salami and vegemite," she wailed.
"What the hell is Vegemite?" asked Harry.
"It's a yeast spread, from Australia. It's black and has a weird taste...and I love it," she wailed in despair.
Harry pulled a face, but stood and took her in his arms, closing his eyes at the sensation of having her body flush against him. "It'll be okay," he crooned softly.
Ginny melted against him. "My body is weird, it's totally out of control and I don't understand what's going on," she complained. She farted. "See! No control!"
"Don't you have anyone to talk to about this, a girlfriend, your midwitch or, I know, your mum?" he asked, trying not to laugh.
Ginny clutched him. "My mum died, but, Merlin, I want her here so much," she wept.
He held her tight, stroking her hair and whispering to her that it would all be okay. She didn't stop crying, and it broke his heart. He had to find a way to help her.
She sniffed and pulled away. "I need to pee again," she said, heading to the bathroom.
Harry thought quickly. "Hey Gin, I'll be right back," he called, immediately Flooing away.
'He's not coming back', thought Ginny. 'I've scared him off'. The thought gave her no comfort, so when she returned to the lounge and the Floo flared, she cried out in surprise.
"Here," called Harry, and Ginny saw someone else step out behind him.
"Oh!" gasped Ginny, when she saw who it was.
"Harry, what are we – oh!" Lily looked at Ginny, then down at her stomach.
Ginny felt vulnerable, and her hands rested on her baby bump. "I'm sorry," she said, crying yet again. Merlin, how much could one person cry?
"Mum, she needs help. Please, help her," urged Harry, pushing his mother towards Ginny.
Ginny must have looked at her desperately, for Lily's shock soon turned to sympathy.
"How are you feeling, dear?" she asked gently.
"I don't understand what's happening to me," wept Ginny, and Lily moved to take her in her arms. "I want my mum."
Harry felt helpless as his mother guided Ginny to her bedroom and shut the door. He sank on to the couch and reality set in. He and Ginny were going to have a baby!
Grinning, he used the Floo again.
"Dad, hey Dad, you there?" he called.
James' head appeared in the flames. "Hey son, what's going on? Everything all right?" Harry had simply appeared out of the Floo, grabbed Lily and left again.
Harry beamed. "I've got the best news! Can you come through?"
"You're all right? Your mum?" asked James.
Harry nodded and stepped aside to let his father through, to tell him the biggest news of his life!
A/N2 I realise this is a very weepy Ginny, not the feisty one we all love. But this is a Ginny who hasn't been involved in a war, and was neved possessed, so her feistiness comes from growing up with her brothers, and she was close to her mother. She has just had her life turned completely around and had no idea how Harry would react. Things will settle down as her pregnancy now moves into her second trimester.
