Ginny's Fourth Year, Chapter Thirteen

Dec 04, 2006 02:40


Title: Ginny's Fourth Year (13)
Rating: PG-15
Words: 2883

Chapter Thirteen: Some Quidditch, an Accident, and the Plot Positively Congeals

There was a Quidditch match Saturday. Ginny wasn't so sure she wanted to go--she could get a lot of work done, with the castle empty. And it was a little strange to watch Quidditch once she'd played on the team.

But Ginny decided to go to the match after all. Harry was playing, and she, like all other Gryffindors, wanted to see Slytherin crushed. Which, of course, they would do. Gryffindor remained undefeated as of yet. It was nice to get back into the spirit of Quidditch rivalry. Ginny donned her Gryffindor scarf and followed her friends, who were happy to see her out of the library for once, up to the stands.

People all around her were chatting excitedly. Ginny listened with half an ear until she realized they were talking about Harry.

"I heard he's got some sort of bone to pick with Malfoy," said Seamus.

"Ooh," squealed Lavender, who was hanging off of Seamus. Seamus didn't seem to mind.

"Everyone knows he doesn't like Malfoy," said Hermione dismissively.

"But this is special," insisted Dean.

"Yeah, I heard it has to do with whatever happened over Christmas," squeaked a tiny first-year.

"Ooh," squealed Lavender again. "What did you hear?"

"Er--I heard that Harry stayed with the Weasleys for Christmas and that something happened with You-Know-Who, and Malfoy was involved, but I haven't heard anything more..."

Lavender and Parvati sighed in chorus.

"Trelawney's been predicting disaster for ages," said Parvati knowingly. "I'm not surprised that things happen to him."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Trelawney knows only what everyone else knows--that Harry is famous and Voldemort"--everyone flinched--"is after him."

Parvati started to argue, but the whistle blew right then and the players were off.

Ginny saw the Snitch only for a moment before it whisked out of sight. Harry and Malfoy took their standard places above the rest of the game, glaring at each other, while Lee commentated.

"And it's Gryffindor with the Quaffle! Chaser Spinnet passes to Chaser Bell, who's flying up the field there--watch out for that Bludger, Katie!--nice save by Fred , or George, can't tell which, and Chaser Bell scores!"

Everyone cheered, except for the Slytherins.

"Slytherin in possession, Flint junior with the Quaffle. Nice shot, George! Flint drops the Quaffle, and Johnson of Gryffindor picks it up. Some nice Bludger work by the Weasley brothers--Malfoy almost fell off his broom there. Good job! Sorry, Professor McGonagall. Johnson scores! Twenty to zero, Gryffindor in the lead."

Ginny watched Harry and Malfoy, heart thudding. For one, it was exciting to see "her" wizard playing Quidditch. For another, she really wanted Harry to beat Malfoy. And for another, she was anxious being around the snot-nosed Slytherin brat. But he was fifty feet away, and she was surrounded by all her friends.

Ginny saw the Snitch again, but neither of the Seekers had spotted it yet. Maybe they couldn't see it--it was hovering low to the ground, underneath the trio of Slytherin Chasers now making their way towards the goalposts, where Ron hovered, apprehensive. A Slytherin Beater knocked a Bludger at Ron, and he had to roll over mid-air to keep his head on his shoulders. Just then, the Chasers reached the goalpost, and they scored.

"Ten points to Slytherin," said Lee Jordan unenthusiastically. "They had to nearly kill our Keeper to get past him--Sorry, Professor!--but they've scored their first goal, it's now fifty to ten--was that the Snitch?"

Harry and Malfoy had finally spotted the elusive golden ball and were now speeding towards the ground. Ginny, in the front row of the stands, stood up to get a better view. The Snitch changed direction to head towards the Gryffindor stands, and the two Seekers came pelting up the field towards it. All other play had stopped to watch the chase. The Snitch stopped for a moment right in front of Ginny's face, and she had to sit on her hands not to grab it then and there. The two Seekers whooshed towards them, and before Ginny could duck, Malfoy had grabbed her and knocked her over the railing.

This is going to hurt, isn't it, she thought as the ground came rushing towards her.

* * *

She awoke in the infirmary. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and her fellow fourth-years were standing around the bed looking anxious.

"She's awake!" someone called, and Ginny heard the tell-tale patter of Madam Pomfrey's feet.

The witch's face swam into view. "How do you feel, Miss Weasley?"

Ginny groaned. She felt like she'd been run over by the Hogwarts Express, and said so.

"Not unexpected. You took a nasty blow to the head. Can you remember what happened?"

The images were hazy. "I remember falling to the ground--" But from where? "--the Quidditch Pitch--" Wait, what was she doing in the Quidditch pitch? A game of course, versus Slytherin... "--Malfoy! Malfoy knocked me over! He grabbed me and deliberately knocked me over the railing!"

"Now, Miss Weasley, it was most certainly an accident. I seriously doubt--"

"That's what I saw, too!" exclaimed Colin. "And I caught a picture of it!" He held up his camera.

"We were all there," echoed Ingrid, who was very pale.

Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips. "I shall have to speak with the Headmaster. And all of you"--she glared at the Gryffindors--"should leave. Miss Weasley needs rest!"

"But--" started Ron.

"No buts, Mr. Weasley. I understand your concern for your sister, but she had a very nasty fall and needs to sleep! You may visit her after dinner."

They trooped out disconsolately.

"Now, Ginny, I need to ask you a few questions just for your chart," Madam Pomfrey began. "I haven't had you in here since your first year, so I need to create a baseline. First, you are fourteen, correct?"

Ginny nodded.

"Allergic to any particular potions?"

"Well, apparently I'm a Weasley, and there's a thing about dragon's blood-"

"Of course, of course. And you are--ahem--menstruating regularly?"

"Every twenty-nine days."

"Excellent. And when was your last?"

Ginny thought carefully--it had been before Christmas. "It was the Thursday before the last week of term when it ended--so four days before that. December 10th."

"You're running late, then," said Madam Pomfrey absently as she scribbled away. "And--"

"Wait, I'm late? But I'm never late.. I--" Realization sunk in. "Oh, Merlin," she said quietly.

"Miss Weasley, you are not, er, actively involved with anyone, are you?"

"No, I'm not, but--"

"But?"

"But something happened over Christmas, and I could be--I could be--"

"I'll test, dear. It's probably nothing. Have you been under a lot of stress lately?"

Ginny nodded, fighting back tears.

"Then don't worry. Stress can put any woman off her cycles, as can travel--and you went home for the holidays?"

Ginny nodded, but she knew--she knew it wasn't just stress.

She was pregnant. And with Malfoy's spawn.

She buried her head in her hands.

* * *

After dinner, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and everyone else came round to see her. Mela, Ingrid, Zoe, and Colin stayed a short while--Colin had developed his picture, which showed Malfoy's face twisted in concentration as he snatched at her, and her puzzled expression as she pitched over the railing. Hermione and Ron left a little while later, holding hands.

About time she thought, relieved.

Harry stayed and sat on the edge of her bed, toying with the flowers Hagrid had brought in earlier. A few earwigs scuttled out, and he brushed them off into the dustbin.

"So how are you doing?" he asked after a few minutes of silence.

"My headache's almost gone, and Madam Pomfrey says I can leave tomorrow." She thought also of what Madam Pomfrey would know tomorrow, and of the decision she'd have to make.

"That's good." Silence fell again.

"Harry?" she asked after a while.

"Hmm?"

"I need a hug."

She sat up and he put his arms around her obligingly. It felt good, really good, to be holding him again. "I missed this," she said into his shoulderblade.

"Me too," he replied.

"Has Dumbledore been told?" she asked, after they'd separated.

"Yes, I went with Colin to show the picture--I've rarely seen him that mad. He said he'd come around this evening to speak with you--"

"Hello, Harry, Miss Weasley," said Dumbledore, who had just appeared at the end of her bed as if summoned. "No, you can stay if you'd like," he said, as Harry got up to leave. "If Miss Weasley would like you to?"

Ginny nodded.

"Well, then, Miss Weasley, it seems that Mr. Creevey has a picture of Mr. Malfoy's attack on you."

"You believe us, then?" she said.

"Certainly I do. However," he said, and his expression turned serious, "in these times, it is very difficult to go against certain--ah--people's actions..."

"You mean you're not going to punish him?" exclaimed Harry.

"That's not what I said, Harry. Under normal circumstances Mr. Malfoy would be expelled for attacking another student--and if it had been simply accidental, he would be facing serious detention, possible suspension for the rest of the term. You could have been killed, Miss Weasley. That was a good fifteen feet you fell, and head first."

"So...?"

"As you know, Mr. Malfoy's father holds considerable influence in these times, especially with the Ministry--"

"Fudge," muttered Harry angrily.

"--and if his son were to be expelled, Lucius Malfoy would certainly have something to say about it. In addition"--he held up his hand to stem their angry outbursts--"Malfoy would be sent to another school, where we could not keep as good an eye on him."

Ginny understood, but she wasn't happy about it. "So are you going to do anything?" she asked.

Dumbledore gave her a kind look. "Mr. Malfoy is being taken off his Quidditch team for serious mishandling of his broom. He endangered a student's life, whether it was intentional or not."

"It was," said Harry through clenched teeth.

"I know that, Harry, I know. I wish I could take full action against him, but that is unfortunately impossible."

"That's it?" exclaimed Ginny. "He nearly kills me and he's taken off the Quidditch team?"

"I am so sorry, Miss Weasley, but I simply cannot endanger the current political situation. It's too complicated to explain here," he said, gesturing to the surrounding beds, a few of which held the latest round of flu victims, most of whom were sleeping, "but if you will come to my office tomorrow afternoon, I can try. You have a right to know."

Well, it was a small consolation, but Ginny felt a little better.

"Headmaster?" came Madam Pomfrey's voice.

"Ah, Poppy. I take it I am dismissed?"

"Yes, Headmaster, I must insist--"

"Can I stay for a few more minutes?" asked Harry.

"Please, can he stay?" echoed Ginny.

"Five minutes, no more," said Madam Pomfrey, pursing her lips.

Dumbledore left, and Madam Pomfrey retreated to her office.

"Ginny, I--I want to tell you something before--before I lose my courage--"

"What," she teased, "Harry Potter, the famous Gryffindor, losing his courage?"

"Ginny--"

"What brave thing is this, that the great Potter is afraid?"

"Oh, Ginny--" he said, exasperated but smiling. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she said, feeling truly happy for the first time in months.

"At least," he amended, "I think I do. I mean, I've never felt like this before--boy, that sounds cheesy--and it's just, I don't know what else to call it--"

Ginny put her hand over his mouth to quiet him. "It's okay," she said.

He took her hand in his and kissed her palm.

* * *

Her happiness fled the next morning when Madam Pomfrey came to discuss the results of her test.

"You have several options, child," she said kindly.

"I know my options," said Ginny unhappily. "And I can't simply get rid of it. It's a part of me, now."

"No one will think the worse of you, dear--"

"I know, I know." And what if it turns out looking like Malfoy? she thought with a shudder. "But I couldn't live with myself if I cheated it out of life. It isn't to blame."

Madam Pomfrey nodded briskly. "You have a two choices: do you wish to remain at Hogwarts through the pregnancy? Or you could take the next few terms off and catch up on your own. You're certainly intelligent and driven enough to do so, I understand... "

"I want to stay here." Ginny was not leaving Hogwarts. As much as she loved The Burrow--oh, Merlin, her parents! What would her parents say?

"Well, it's a little unusual, since you're not a graduating student, but not unheard of. We'll see about what to do with the baby when it arrives. Do you know when it was conceived?"

"Christmas," said Ginny in a small voice. Images and sensations came flashing into her mind, and she wanted to scream, to run away, to tell herself it wasn't real-

"Why, child, what's wrong?" asked Madam Pomfrey, seeing Ginny start to cry. "Was the encounter... unpleasant?"

Ginny shook her head, tears dripping down her nose and into her mouth.

"Oh, child," Madam Pomfrey gathered her in her arms. It was almost like being hugged by her mother. Almost. The thought of what her mother might say made her cry even harder.

"Shh, shh," said Madam Pomfrey. "It will be all right, don't worry. Do you want to tell me about it?"

For once, Ginny did. She told how Malfoy--"he" to the mediwitch--had Petrified her first, then softened up parts of her body for access, how he'd entered her forcefully, and how much it hurt, oh god, it hurt so much, and how Harry had had to watch and how ashamed she'd felt, how could she have let this happen to her, why did he have to think she was pretty, why her, it wasn't fair...

She trailed off into incoherent sobs as she finished her story.

"Can you tell me who it was, child?" asked Madam Pomfrey.

Ginny shook her head. "I need to talk to Dumbledore," was all she said.

* * *

Madam Pomfrey escorted her up to the Headmaster's office. Ginny carefully kept her eyes to the ground during the trip through the castle. She didn't want anyone to see her face, splotched and swollen, and wonder.

"Well, Ginny, I think you should start at the beginning," said Dumbledore. He set a cup of strong tea in front of her and sat back to listen.

Ginny took a grateful sip and told her story, from the kidnapping to the return to the Burrow, all over again. This time, she could name names. She managed not to cry when she told him that Malfoy had left her a reminder, though she stuttered. Telling of the conversation with Voldemort was tricky. She settled on saying she'd been given a task and could not talk about it.

Dumbledore, however, was not to be deterred. "But can you tell me anything else of the conversation?"

He was good, thought Ginny. Maybe she could get around the Binding, if she went carefully. "Well, he told me how my family through my father's side is pure Hufflepuff, and that Harry is descended from Gryffindor, and of his own relationship to Slytherin. He mentioned powerful magic." There, that worked.

"Ahh, well put, Ginny. Let me guess--he also spoke of a missing person from Ravenclaw?"

Ginny looked at him and swallowed. Experimentally, she tried to nod, but her body wouldn't do it. She settled for not shaking her head. Dumbledore peered at her closely. "Yes, I see. And I have noticed you've been spending some time in the library lately, eh?"

"My own personal project," she found herself saying, but she was staring at him as hard as she could.

"Indeed, indeed," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "And have you had any luck?"

"With what, sir?" Stupid spell, she thought. I sound like an idiot!

"Are you afraid of being overheard in this office?"

"No, sir."

"But you cannot tell me. Ahh, yes, I understand--the Secret-Binding spell. Fortunately, I have learned to guess well." He looked at her seriously. "Now, as for the other matter."

"Malfoy," whispered Ginny.

"I understand that you and Mr. Potter have become quite close, have you not?"

"Yes, sir."

"And were you not together at The Burrow, over the Christmas holidays?"

"Yes, sir."

"This is good news, then. I am sure you understand, Ginny, that bearing a child--Malfoy's child, especially--is a huge risk. Are you absolutely set against terminating it? You realize the kind of world you are bringing it into, and the burden you place upon yourself? If it were not for the simple fact that it is your choice, I almost would--but, I cannot."

"I want to have this child," insisted Ginny. "I know it isn't a smart idea, but something tells me that it's important to let it live. Just a--a gut feeling, if you will."

"Well, then, Ginny, I would advise you to be discreet in your symptoms--please speak to Professor Snape, I will inform him of the situation--and to see Madam Pomfrey every two weeks."

Ginny nodded.

"And I would suggest that you and Mr. Potter become quite an obvious couple, for your own safety."

"Yes, sir."

Chapter Fourteen

written:pre-ootp, rated:pg-15, chaptered:ginny's fourth year

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