A/N: The chapter title covers it well, it's complicated. Everything is suddenly complicated and they struggle a bit. But they are Harry and Ginny, so they'll be okay, right?

Don't expect the following chapter too quickly as I will be off trotting through Disneyland most of next week!


Ginny's hand came over Harry's, halting his movement. "Just hang on a second."

"Is something wrong?" Harry asked with concern.

She sighed. "I don't know... isn't it weird for you?" she asked.

"What, having sex?" he replied.

"Yes, now we know I am pregnant," she said.

Harry removed his hand from her hip. He thought about it for a moment. "I mean you have been pregnant the whole time, we just didn't know. Really if you think about it, there's a chance that I have never had sex with you where you weren't pregnant."

She covered her face with her hands. "That doesn't exactly help."

"It's just what I am used to, Gin," he said with a slight chuckle.

She shot him a mildly annoyed look.

"Look, if you are not in the mood for it, for whatever reason, that's fine. But don't hold back on my behalf."

Ginny turned back to him and nodded.

"I mean you can't possibly get more pregnant, what's the worst that could happen?" he spoke.

She sighed and rested her head against him. He rubbed comforting circles on her back.

"Let's consider this, are you planning not to have sex until after that baby is born? Like not for the next nine to ten months?"

She looked at him. "That's a really long time." She pulled on his shirt. "Fine, I'll have sex with you."

Harry laughed. "Your enthusiasm is such a turn-on." He shook his head in amusement.

She laughed too. "I am sorry, I guess I am too in my own head about this. It's all I can think about."

"You've got to at least let me try and distract you." He grinned at her and pulled her closed by her hips.

He tickled her sides and she squirmed against him, trying to get out of his grip.

"No, Harry, stop it," she laughed. "That's not the type of distraction I want!"

He paused and looked at her. She caught her breath. Her phone chimed and she reached out for it. She pulled down the notification. She rolled her eyes and showed it to Harry.

He looked at it and back up at her. "Birth control refill?" he read.

She nodded. "Was supposed to. At least I can save on birth control and save up for ... diapers instead."

Harry sighed, his head dropping against her. "So much for distracting you, huh?"

Her arms wrapped around him. "Didn't think you were the type to give up so easily..."

"Am not," he muttered. He pressed a kiss against her neck, his hands coming down to her pants. Ginny remained silent now. She pulled her shirt off and Harry looked at her.

"You got another one of your mystery bras on, haven't you?" he asked. "I can see it in your eyes."

"Go on then," she said, sitting up so he could find the closure of the bra.

Harry softly took hold of her. His hands moved to the back but found nothing. He eyed the front but there was no closure to detect. "It's like a little puzzle, and the reward is boobs."

She chuckled.

"Does it just pull over your head?" he asked, meeting her eyes.

She shook her head. "No. It has a closure, I promise."

His hands came around her again and from the middle slid across it to the front. When his hand came up on the side, he paused.

"Aha!" he exclaimed. "On the side, that's a new one." His hands made quick work opening the bra. "Now how do you get out of it? I am still confused."

She grinned. "Take the strap off too."

"That seems like a hassle but fine," he told her, unhooking the strap. "On second thought, I can see the benefits."


Harry looked up when there was a knock at the door. He looked up to see Dean.

"Hi, Dean," Harry said. "I was just making tea, do you want any?"

"Sure."

"Changed your mind?" Harry asked him, looking up from the mugs; he could guess why Dean was here.

"No."

Harry handed him a mug and they sat down at the table.

"I don't understand why you are not more upset with me," Dean said.

Harry frowned. "Do you want me to be more upset with you?"

"No, but I'd expect you to be majorly pissed off at me." Dean sipped on his tea.

"Ginny told me what happened the day after we officially got together. Then barely two hours later we heard about all the scheming. I couldn't understand why you'd have sex with her if you were trying to get us together though." It's the one thing he couldn't explain.

"That's fair." Dean looked down at the table. "Everyone knew it was a matter of time before you two got together… I just figured it'd be longer; I never had the intention of dating Ginny."

"I figured you didn't..." Harry said.

"Then they told me about the scheme… I just went along because we all saw it, you two."

"Right," Harry said, his thumb running along the rim of his mug. "Obviously I want the baby to be mine, but even if it isn't, that won't stop me from raising it like it's my own."

"Would it make you happy, if it was yours, to be having a baby?" Dean looked at him quite piercingly.

He thought of Ginny, the future they could have. "Yes."

Dean nodded and a silence fell.

"Ginny and I were not together then, neither she nor you did something wrong towards me," Harry reiterated.

"Most men would still… want to set some things right." Dean looked at him carefully.

Harry wondered why Dean was being insistent on this. "I'd rather get along with you. Especially if I need to fit you into my kid's life. That feels like the sensible thing to do." He rested his head on his hand.

"Okay," Dean said. "Does it help if I tell you I was so drunk I don't remember most of it?"

Harry shrugged. "Not really. Then I think Gin was also pretty drunk. She doesn't really do one-night stands."

"So we are cool?" Dean asked.

"Yes, Dean. We've been friends long enough. You're a good guy." He took another sip from his tea. "Oh, the baby's due date is probably January first. They'll confirm after the first ultrasound."

"Good to know."

Harry smiled. He heard the door open behind him. He turned to look.

Ginny looked between the two guys. "You're having a tea party and you didn't invite me?" she said sarcastically. "Does the torture ever end?"

"Dean just came by."

Ginny sighed and came up to Harry and hugged him from the back, kissing his cheek. She sat down at the table too.

"So, what are we talking about?" she asked.

They both looked at her.

"How are you holding up?" Dean asked.

"Well," Ginny started. "I am feeling pretty tired, but I need to cut down on caffeine. Can't drown my sorrows because I can't have alcohol. And I can't eat my feelings because I can't eat half the things I want to eat. So splendid really."

Harry patted her hand. "You're doing pretty well."

She sighed. "I wish I could just … leave my uterus in a different room for a while so I can think freely."

"There are different ways to externalise your thoughts," Dean pointed out.

Ginny's brows furrowed. "Like what?"

"A diary?" Dean tried.

She shook her head. "Nope. Don't do diaries."

"What happened?" he asked.

"My brothers discovered my diary and teased me about it for weeks. I haven't had one since."

"Still, think about it. Writing some things down can really help free up some space in your head," Dean suggested.


Harry walked into Ginny's room and she folded the sheet she was looking at and tucked it away. Harry raised his eyebrows in question. She seemed embarrassed.

She met his eyes. "What's up?"

"So you are not going to tell me what that was about?" he asked, pointing at the sheet. He sat down beside her.

She sighed, eyeing the sheet that was hidden under her leg. "It's the most embarrassing thing I have done."

"I sincerely doubt that," Harry replied in an attempt to lighten the mood.

She chuckled. "Perhaps." She took the paper back out but kept it folded. She looked at him, biting her lip. She groaned. "I just thought about what Dean said, about externalising some thoughts. Which is how I came to build this... sheet of sorts."

Harry watched as Ginny unfolded it.

"Is that a sex sheet?" Harry asked as he looked over it.

Ginny had neatly mapped out the window where the baby could have been conceived and added when they had sex.

"I know," she admitted. "It's bad. I thought it would alleviate my anxiety a little."

"Did it?" Harry asked.

"Not really. Did you know how long sperm can survive once it's up there?" she asked.

"Do I want to find out?" he asked.

"Longer than I would like," Ginny muttered. She took up her pencil and pointed at that Friday. "I think I can estimate ovulation then. But sperm can survive up to five days so ... it proves nothing."

Harry looked over the sheet and pointed. "You forgot one here on Thursday."

Ginny added it to the paper.

"And Saturday we are surely missing one?" he wondered out loud.

"No, it has to be actual sex to make it possible."

Harry cleared his throat. "Right."

"I hate I have to do this, honestly." Ginny's face dropped. "But until we can do a paternity test it will have to do."

"I am sure it is not what Dean meant when he said to write things down," Harry said, looking over the sheet. "But if it helps, it's not stupid."

"As soon as I know for sure, I am burning this thing," she mused.

"Cool. We can do a little ceremonial burning of the sex sheet," Harry said.

Ginny looked up at him, her eyes soft. "Beats a baby shower, I am sure."

They fell silent, taking in the sheet together.

"This sheet does not lie. I think the numbers are definitely in my favour," Harry said after a moment.

"In theory, yes," Ginny agreed. "If I wasn't pregnant yet, Sunday would have done it for sure."

He smirked. "Well, you said you wanted to—"

"No, I remember what I said," she interrupted him. "You don't need to repeat it."

He shrugged. "What, it was sexy as fuck."

Ginny shook your head, her mood shifting again. "I also don't want you to get your hopes up too much because if it ends up not being yours…"

"If it's not mine doesn't mean you lose your chance of having kids with me. I'm sure I can convince you to have more, eventually" He grinned at her.

Ginny took the pillow and planted her face in it, her groan was muted by the fabric. She sat back up, leaning her elbow on the pillow, her head resting on her hand, looking amused. "I hate that I find that incredibly attractive."

"That's the hormones," Harry commented, pulling the sheet from under the pillow.

"I would like to believe that," Ginny said.

Harry put a comforting hand on her knee. "I am not going anywhere. We will raise this baby, with or without Dean and then we can raise some more."

"You say that like it's simple," Ginny complained.

"It isn't. We have to work with the possibilities we have right now. I know you hope you can will this baby into being mine but that's out of our hands. I just want to make sure you know that even our worst-case scenario is not the end of the world." He kissed her cheek. "I love you."

Ginny leaned against him. "I love you too, I just... I want to fix this and I can't."

"I know."


"I need to tell you something," Harry said as they stepped into his room at the end of the day. He couldn't keep this secret from Ginny any longer. She deserved to know.

Ginny looked at him, her eyebrows raising with worry. "Okay."

Harry sat down on the edge of the bed and so she followed and sat across from him

"So you know how both my parents work for the Agency as secret agents, right?" he started.

"Yes. Did they meet there?" she asked him.

He nodded, uneasy with what he was about to say. Her question caused him to stall, avoid it for just a little more as he replied.

"Yes… they were friends for a while. They had an undercover mission and pretended to be a couple. They played 'house' a little too well and fell in love… I was born a little over a year later," he explained.

Ginny nodded with a smile.

Harry took a deep breath and bit through the bullet, finally telling her the one secret he had kept from her for years. "Remember I told you I wanted to become an agent too? Well, I already am one. Have been for years."

Ginny visibly paled. She shook her head, as if she had not heard him correctly. "I am sorry, what?"

"I have been training and have done some missions for them. When I am off for a day or two... that's what I am doing. I am not just travelling," he told her.

Ginny looked dumbfounded. Her eyes searched his.

"I am not allowed to just tell anyone...there's security and protocols," he explained.

"I am not anyone, am I?" she shot back.

He looked down. "No."

"I know that's what you wanted to do in the future, but I had no clue." A deep frown set between her brows. "...Why?"

"Remember that year I went missing? Before we became friends?"

She nodded. "Yes. I know it was about the secret service, but you never said more."

"Someone was pissed off because we stuck our noses too deep into his business. My parents let me make the choice to try and take him down, which involved us moving and going undercover. We failed but that was the first time I was involved... I wanted to learn. I saw how important their work was, so I started training then, at 16." He looked carefully to see her reaction.

She blinked. "Before we were even friends?"

He nodded softly. "Yes."

"You never told me, you were never honest," she replied quietly, her gaze hard.

"I never lied," he tried. "I just ... omitted some things."

She let out a hollow laugh. "Yes, you could say that." She stood up.

"Where are you going?"

She turned back around. "I am going to bed. I can't deal with this right now."

"You're not staying?" he asked softly.

She sighed. "Not tonight, no."

He nodded and let her go. The door closed and he let himself drop onto the bed with a big sigh.

Harry woke up as the door opened. He checked the time; it was still the middle of the night. Ginny crawled into bed with him wordlessly. Confused he turned onto his side.

"I am still angry at you," she clarified as she tucked against him.

"Okay," he responded.

Her hand searched for his. When she got hold of it, she pulled it over her. He understood and wrapped his arm around her.

"Gin..."

"No, I am not doing this right now. Just sleep."

Harry sighed and closed his eyes again with Ginny in his arms. He planted a kiss on her shoulder, but she didn't react. He took the fact that she didn't push him away as a good sign.

When he woke up several hours later, he was glad to find she was still there. She was still angry though.

"Can we go to my parents' house and talk this out?" he suggested.

"Why, so they can take your side?" Her arms folded over each other.

He shook his head. "No. So that I can talk freely. I don't want to keep secrets from you," he told her.

She sighed. "Fine. Let me go get dressed." She pulled the sheets off and stood up.

"I'll come to your dorm in ten minutes," he said.

"Make it fifteen," she said. She stepped outside and closed the door.

Harry put on his clothes, praying they could talk this out properly. He knew the news wasn't going to go over well, but he worried she may not forgive him at all. When he walked out, he found Neville at the table.

"Had a fight?" Neville asked.

"How could you tell?" Harry asked with sarcasm.

Neville shrugged. "Ginny looked like she wanted to kill every guy in sight."

"Not to worry, just me," Harry assured him. He poured himself coffee and drank it quickly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Neville asked.

He shook his head. He put the cup in the sink. "No. Don't think you can help anyway. I am trying to fix it." He walked to the door.

"Well, good luck," Neville said.

"Thanks. I need it."

Ginny didn't say much as they walked to his car. When they got into the car, Harry couldn't take the silence anymore. As he started to drive to his parents, he decided to speak.

"You know, it pays quite well," he spoke.

Ginny turned to him. "So?"

"I don't know." He glanced at her. "How are you planning to provide for a baby?"

"I'd make do," Ginny snipped.

His jaw clenched. "I am not saying you wouldn't. I am just telling you, so you don't have to worry about that."

"I don't get it... you live and study in the dorms. Why bother studying at all?"

"Well, they fund everything. Specified knowledge can be valuable and you have to be able to build up a normal life to stay under the radar of most people." He hated that he couldn't look straight at her to see how she was reacting. Instead, he had to steal glances at her while he focused on the road.

"Right."

Another silence fell and Harry decided to leave it for a while. He pulled up to the house and was relieved to find neither of his parents were home.

When he closed the door, he turned to Ginny. He took her hand and placed the car keys in them. "You can leave when you want to, but please listen to what I have to say."

Ginny looked at the keys in her hand and planted them on the table in the hallway. He walked into the living room and turned to her.

"I have been wanting to tell you for a long time but now with the baby and everything... I couldn't really not tell you," he tried to explain his sudden delivery of this major secret.

"You were going to wait longer?" she bit back.

"Gin, it isn't that straightforward! There are rules and protocols in place for security. I am not even supposed to tell you now. I could perhaps tell you if I knew that baby was mine, but I don't so..."

"Oh, so this is my fault?!" she shot back.

"Well, it isn't not your fault!" he responded, anger getting the better of him.

"This is about Dean, then?"

"No, it isn't!" He swallowed a groan at the accusation. "I am just saying that it complicates things and I am bending rules even telling you now," he explained.

"How terrible of you," she mocked him.

He sighed. "I had been planning on telling you. If I had known we would start dating, I would have told you right away when we became friends. I know you deserve to know."

"So if we had remained friends... I would have never known?" She folded her arms.

"No. I ..." He tried to find the right words to say while also remaining honest. It was a thin line to walk. "Maybe I would have told you eventually. It's complicated. My parents are both in the agency. My mum doesn't keep in contact with her family and my dad's parents are ... dead. I have no example to go of."

"Why did you say it like that?" Ginny asked. She didn't miss a thing.

He pushed through, deciding he could better tell her all. "Have you heard of Fleamont Peverell?" he asked carefully.

"Of course," she replied. "He is a national hero. He died saving a school bus of children from a terrorist... How is that relevant?"

"That's my paternal grandfather," he informed her. "He worked for the agency too."

Ginny swallowed. "... but you're named Potter." Worse than the anger, was seeing the hurt on her face.

Harry glanced down. "Working for the agency, the connection is too dangerous. So it was changed."

"So Potter is not even your real name? How many lies have you told me?" she asked.

Harry hurried to explain it to her, because he had never lied about that. "No, of course it's my name. My dad changed his name shortly after my grandpa died to keep his own identity safe. I was born after that, I've always been named Potter."

"So, what do you do?" she asked.

"I have been training since I was 16. They expect me to become a full-time agent once I get my degree. Right now they're having me do minor stuff once in a while. Blending into student gatherings for minor threats, pubs, stuff like that. It's such a small part of my life that it's easy to hide, even from you."

"Do you have a gun?" she asked.

He nodded. "Several. I keep some here. I keep one in my dorm..."

Her jaw dropped. "You're kidding?"

He shook his head and opened his mouth to reply but they heard the front door close.

His dad appeared a moment later. He paused as he spotted them. "Hi. I didn't expect you home."

"I wasn't... but I told Ginny about the agency..."

His dad's eyes flitted between the two of them, catching onto the situation. "Oh. Can I be of any help?"

"No," he answered quickly.

"Actually," Ginny started, and Harry looked around at her. "Could he really not tell me? We've been friends for so long..."

His dad sighed. "It's complicated. We're not supposed to tell anyone unless you're like ... married or something. Of course, sometimes you just have to tell people if they're close to you. All of us have bent the rules at one time or another. It's a tricky line to walk." He looked at Harry and back at Ginny. "He wanted to tell you as soon as you started dating. He talked to me about it just a few weeks ago because it bothered him."

"Thank you," she said.

He nodded. "Happy to help. I just came by to pick up my laptop. I'll be gone in a minute." He disappeared into the office.

Ginny's voice dropped lower. "How dangerous is it?"

Harry shrugged. "It's okay. You know about me going missing. You know about my granddad. Sometimes things happen, but overall, it's pretty okay. We are trained well." He paused. "In the unlikely event I die, if we are married you are paid out for life. Any baby that is legally mine would be funded until they're an adult."

"Legally?"

Harry's voice dropped to a whisper. He glanced at the office door, but it remained closed. "If that baby isn't mine, I'd have to legally adopt them for that to happen."

Ginny rubbed her face. "Harry, this isn't about that."

"I am just telling you," he said, stepping closer to her. "So you know about all of it. And that you know that I intend to make sure that kid can grow up well, even if I would not be around."

A silence fell.

Ginny sighed. "You lied."

"I know. And I am sorry."

The office door opened and they both shut up again.

"Are you okay?" his dad asked.

Harry looked at Ginny.

"It isn't about him not telling me as his girlfriend. I understand that's not the first thing you say, but as a best friend. I feel lied to."

James nodded. "I am not sure if I can be much help. I met my best friends and wife at the agency. I haven't had much need to tell anyone. You're one of them, though," he told Ginny. "And that was long before you started dating."

"Why did you allow that?" she asked.

James looked at Harry. "To be honest, we had an inkling where it was going."

A tiny smile appeared on her face as she looked down at the floor. "Right, of course."

"Even if it never happened, that would have been okay. You frequented the house often, it was better for you to know," he said. "I must be off."

"Bye James," Ginny said.

"Dad," Harry greeted.

He smiled at both of them and took his leave. They waited for the door to close. Harry sunk down on the couch.

"Telling about them was my way of letting you in a little. I know it isn't much but ... I didn't intend for things to go like this," Harry said.

"I know. And I know the baby complicates things, but I can't help to think how this would have gone if the baby hadn't happened. How long would you have waited?" she asked.

He shook his head. "I don't know. Like my dad said, it was bothering me too."

Ginny sat down, leaving some space between them.

"That's what my whole no-dating rule was about, you know. It isn't about me personally. I just figured... It isn't a super dangerous job, but there are risks involved and not everyone can handle that. The protocols don't allow you to tell a new girlfriend like that, it's too dangerous. And I knew by the time I was in the phase of a relationship where I could tell, it would feel like a betrayal. I was afraid of this happening. I just thought if anyone would understand, it was you."

Ginny's eyes landed on him. "It is not that I don't understand. I do and I knew you were going to do that later in life. Just the fact that you were hiding this big thing from me. It's like a big part of you that I didn't know about. We've known each other for so long, Harry..."

His shoulders sagged. "I know. I feel really bad about it, but I can't undo it." He felt tears well up in his eyes. "I promise you that I won't keep secrets like that from you. If there are things I can't tell you, I will tell you I can't tell you." He bit back his tears. "I don't know what else to say."

Ginny scooted closer to him, her arms wrapping around his waist. His arms came around her too.

"I understand you had to make a choice about telling me that was unfair and there was no right answer," she spoke. "And neither of us could have predicted us getting together and that complicated things."

"I wouldn't have made the choices I did if I knew. And the baby was just ... an added layer. I would have told you more carefully perhaps. I didn't want to spook you right after we found out about the baby."

"That was stressful enough as it was," Ginny agreed.

"And waiting until we have the paternity results, or until the baby was here all seemed like worse options. I was going to tell you soon, but that baby caught me in speed," he said.

Ginny glanced down at herself. "Yeah, caught all of us in speed."

"I promise I'll be more upfront with you." He kissed the top of her hair.

She looked up softly. "Are you crying?"

"I just hate fighting with you like this," he said.

"Me too." Her hands came across his cheeks and wiped his tears away. She kissed him softly. "If I have more questions, will you answer them?"

"Of course. Do you have any?" he asked, relieved they came to some kind of resolve.

"Not currently... Maybe later." She cocked her head. "Although I am suddenly reminded... You know when you were being super secretive about your student job, I thought for a while…"

What?" he asked when she didn't continue.

"Well, someone saw you at a strip club, so I assumed… but you're my best friend, I didn't think you'd be embarrassed to tell me that, so I forgot about it." She looked at him.

Harry tried to keep his expression in check.

"No! Did you really?" she let out, her face lighting up.

"Now listen—" he started. "I was undercover."

Her jaw dropped. "You were undercover as a stripper?!"

"No." He shook his head. "Do you think I can survey a room and take my clothes off at the same time? I was put on bartending."

"Right."

"Shirtless," he added.

Ginny bit her lip.

"I was tipped well," he said.

She snorted. "Oh, I am sure you were."

"So no, I did not become a stripper," he concluded, much to her disappointment.

Ginny shrugged. "I would have come to watch, you know, as your supportive best friend," she teased.

"I was never a stripper! I was there for maybe a week. But the guys were great," he said.

"Were they good-looking?" she asked honestly.

"Well, yes. And they looked like they've been carved out of marble... it wasn't great for my self-esteem, I'll tell you that," he said. "They were all really nice though. That helped."

She shook her head in disbelief. "As secrets go, that's a pretty good one."

"I am surprised you never asked about that before. You just thought I was a stripper and didn't tell you?"

"Honestly, I forgot about it for a long time. I did think it was weird then, but I had plenty of other things going on, it slipped through."

"If I had been a stripper, I would have told you, I think?" he wondered out loud.

"I bet you'd be good at it too," Ginny told him, a hand sliding over his chest.

"If you want a show, you just have to say, Gin." He grinned at her.

She chuckled. "Oh, I will take you up on that."


"Wait, Neville said you two were fighting," Hermione said as they sat down at the table together.

Luna and Seamus also looked on intrigued.

"We were," Harry confirmed.

"And you already made up?" Seamus asked, sounding quite confused.

Ginny shrugged. "Yes."

"How?" he asked.

She looked up at him. "Talked like adults," she replied.

"Okay, but you're... you're..." Seamus said, pointing his fork at her as he tried to find the right words.

"Tread very carefully," Ginny said with a smile.

He took a deep breath. "Your track record with other boyfriends and fights are very different. Usually, that's... the end."

Ginny glanced at Harry. "Well, they were not Harry."

"Because he knows you better?" Luna asked.

"No," Ginny said. "He gets me, and he doesn't force me to talk about my feelings." She shrugged as if it was no big deal.

"No, she just does that all by herself," Harry said with a soft smile.

Ginny stood up to get napkins.

"And if I tell her I love her, she doesn't run away. It's a miracle," Harry said as he looked at her.

She turned around to him and winked before continuing her way. He grinned and turned back to the table. They looked rather surprised.

"What now?" he asked.

"You tell her you love her?" Luna asked.

"Yes. Isn't that what you're supposed to do?" he replied casually.

"Okay but Ginny—" Hermione started.

"—Clearly doesn't mind," Harry said. "You think you'd put us together just to play a little? We don't date to play around. I want to marry her."

That got the table quiet.

"Well, don't tell her that," Hermione said after a moment.

"You're not giving her enough credit," Harry said with a smile.

Ginny sat back down, placing the napkins on her tray. "For what?"

"They're just wondering when I will run you off by talking about my feelings."

She scoffed. "Come on, that's just rude. I am not that bad."

Seamus leaned forward. "When we heard you were fighting, we were already dividing the friend group among you two."

Ginny prodded around her plate. "Who am I getting in the divorce?"

Harry tried not to smile too hard, wondering if she had overheard the conversation, but she had been pretty far away.

Seamus looked a little taken aback. He cleared his throat. "Well, you're getting Ron evidently."

'What?!" she said dramatically. "No, Harry can have Ron."

"Thanks," Harry commented.

"Hermione has declared to be impartial so you can fight over her. Then Dean, Neville and Cho aren't here. I guess Harry gets Neville just to be practical."

"Seamus," Ginny said, her eyes landing on him. "Whose side did you pick?"

"I, uh, bros before hoes!" he said.

"I picked your side," Luna told Ginny.

"Thanks, Luna." She sat back in her chair. "Harry, do you want to fight me over Hermione?"

He quickly shook his head. "Like I'd win that fight. We should have agreed on this when we started dating."

Ginny leaned closer to him. "Well, we were too busy taking our—"

Loud objections came from their friends and so Ginny paused and smiled.

"We get it. You're still happy together," Seamus said.

"I am starting to think you're just in it for the drama," Harry accused him.

Seamus gasped. "I wouldn't dare."


While they were walking to class, Harry's phone rang.

"Hi, mum."

"Are you two okay?" she asked.

"Dad told you?" he assumed. "We're fine. Ginny was a little shocked, which is understandable."

Ginny looked up when she heard what it was about. "Give her to me," Ginny said, holding out her hand.

"Ginny wants to talk to you," he said. He handed the phone to Ginny.

"Hi... No, I am fine. I was surprised is all... Your son is a bit of an idiot you see."

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Yes, I was aware of that when I started dating him. You are absolutely right." She smiled at him. "It's fine, really... And we are fine, all is resolved. You're not rid of me yet." She smiled at the reply. "Don't joke around, I will take you up on that... Yes. Bye." She handed the phone back.

"She'll take you up on what?" Harry asked curiously to his mother.

"That's between Ginny and me," Lily replied cheerily.

"Fine. Don't tell me. You know you don't need to check in on my relationship like that. I can handle my own problems." More problems than they could guess.

"Yes, I know but you never dated and... it's Ginny. She's like family."

Harry smiled towards Ginny at that. "Well, it's Ginny. We talked and we're okay."

"I am glad to hear. Take care and behave yourself!"

"Yes, mum." He tucked his phone away. "What were you going to take her up on?"

Ginny took his hand. "Oh." She smiled. "Something about making daughter-in-law. I think she was intentionally prying."

He nodded. "She does that. Wait a minute, you said you would take her up on it."

"Yes, and?" Ginny replied, cocking her head.

"She's probably off somewhere selecting venues or something," he replied.

Ginny's smile faltered. She pulled him closer so she could talk silently. "If this baby isn't yours, they are going to be so disappointed in me."

Harry shook his head. "No. I won't let that happen. Besides, my mum just said you are family. She doesn't say that lightly, considering she doesn't talk to hers."

"Okay, but I'd much rather give her a grandchild." Her arms slipped around his waist.

"My parents are all about chosen family. I think they'd choose the baby I am raising for sure, if it isn't mine." He tried to offer her a comforting look.

"But it's not the same, is it?" she said.

He nodded, then pulled her a little closer and whispered into her ear. "Maybe we should get married quickly, then it is mine either way."

"Sorry, my schedule is full." She grinned.