Ginny's Fourth Year, Chapter Fifteen

Dec 04, 2006 02:41


Title: Ginny's Fourth Year (15)
Rating: PG-15
Words: 1890

Chapter Fifteen: Nothing Goes As It Should

Exams went much as they had the last three years--a constant pressure of studying and testing, with little time to spare for anything else. It was a nice change, Ginny thought briefly during the Transfiguration practical, to be able to do magic rather than just reading about it.

After her last exam, History of Magic, Ginny went out to enjoy the afternoon sun. She found Harry by the lake, alone.

"Where are Ron and Hermione?" she asked by way of greeting.

"Oh, I dunno... Probably off somewhere together, though."

"How'd your exams today go?"

"Not so bad."

"When do O.W.L.s start?"

"Day after tomorrow."

"You feel ready?"

"I guess."

The conversation was forced, unnatural. "Is something wrong, Harry?" she finally asked.

He sighed. "I just haven't been sleeping."

"Why? Nerves? I know the O.W.L.s are hard, but--"

He shook his head. "Nightmares."

"Have you told Dumbledore?"

"Why would I tell Dumbledore about my nightmares?"

"Er- aren't they usually about Voldemort and Death Eaters?"

"Oh, no, these have nothing to do with all that." Harry reached up and ran a hand through his untidy hair.

"Do you want to tell me about them?"

"Not at the moment." Looking anywhere but her, he found a flat stone to toss at the lake; it went two skips before sinking.

"You know, someone once told me that talking about it makes it feel better."

Harry cracked a wan smile. "I know."

"Then..." Ginny waited.

Harry sighed. "Well, I just have this recurring nightmare--even with Dreamless Sleep Potion--about you."

"Me?"

Harry seemed embarrassed and reluctant to talk. "It's not anything you'd want to know, really."

"If you insist." Ginny tossed a pebble of her own at the lake surface; it skipped three times.

He sighed again. "It always starts out the same way--we're somewhere up on a high tower, and there's this strong, well, smell, of magic. Then you're screaming in pain, clutching at your--your stomach, and there's a lot of blood... It's never a very long nightmare, but it's scary," he ended softly. "I don't like seeing you in pain."

Ginny shivered, but not because of the light breeze.

"Harry," she said slowly, "how do you do in Divination?"

"Huh? You know I hate that class. Why do you ask?"

"There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" he asked, sounding concerned.

"I--I'm pregnant."

"What?"

"Shh! Not so loud!" Ginny glanced around, but everyone else was on the other side of the lake, out of earshot.

"Wait--you--you're... Oh, my god... that means ... Malfoy?"

"Yes."

Harry said obviously the first thing he thought. "Why are you keeping it?" Then he covered his mouth, wide-eyed. "I'm sorry, that came out completely wrong-"

Ginny waved him silent. "Don't worry. I don't know why. I know I should just--just terminate it, it would make my life a whole lot easier. Plus, who knows if it'll come out looking like Malfoy? Yech. But--but I can't. It just feels wrong, somehow. I can't really explain it," she ended miserably.

Ginny couldn't read the expression on Harry's face. It was a mixture of shock, anger, love, worry, and a bunch of other emotions all jumbled into one. He stared out at the lake and tossed another stone in. It fell without skipping.

"Are you--are you angry at me?" Ginny asked softly.

Harry shook his head, but his mouth was pressed in a thin line.

"Say something," she whispered desperately.

"I don't know what to say," he said. "I wish you'd told me earlier, trusted me with it--who else knows?"

"Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey, and Professor Snape. He made some potions to keep my symptoms down," she added, a little defensively. "And Hermione figured it out, of course."

"And you didn't tell me?" he asked, sounding hurt.

"I was worried you'd be angry," she whispered. She felt like adding I guess I was right, but didn't.

Harry seemed to be fighting some sort of internal battle. "Look," he said, closing his eyes, "I know I should be really supportive of you right now, and I know that you're going to need a lot of help when--when the baby comes, but--but I just can't deal with this right now." His tone became slightly angry. "There's a war going on out there, Ginny, and I'm going to be a part of it whether I like it or not."

Ginny opened her mouth to say something, but he barrelled on. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do now! When we were just boyfriend and girlfriend, it was easy enough. But when you're pregnant, and it isn't even mine--" He broke off.

"What?" she asked, barely audible. What did he mean, When we were just boyfriend and girlfriend...

"I can't deal with this right now," he said softly. "I need some space. Just for a while, okay?" He got up and left.

Ginny indulged herself in a short spate of tears before swallowing, drying her eyes, and heading up to the Owlery to write a letter to her parents.

* * *

Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm pregnant. I should have told you earlier, but I was scared of what would happen. Just so you know, it isn't Harry's--it's Malfoy's. From Christmas.

I told Harry today, but I think he's broken up with me.

Love,

Ginny.

There was no point in being flowery or nice about it. Maybe she would drop out of Hogwarts for a while after it was born. Maybe she'd just go throw herself in the lake-- No. Stop it, she told herself firmly.

She tied the letter to the school owl's leg, and it flapped away into the gathering darkness.

* * *

Ginny avoided the Great Hall the next morning. She didn't want to see Harry, especially since her bulge was becoming more and more obvious, even under the voluminous folds of her Hogwarts robes.

But Hermes, Percy's owl, still found her.

Dear Ginny,

How are you? I'm doing well here. The extra money I made over the Christmas holidays is letting me take a brief vacation next week. I know you have one more week of school left, but I also know that you've finshed exams and classes. I'll be at Hogwarts around lunchtime. Meet me in the Great Hall.

Also, Lucius Malfoy wanted me to thank you for the research you helped him with. He didn't tell me what it was about, but it sounded quite important. He said that it would 'change the way the wizarding world worked.' I hope he's right--we need change!

Much love,

Percy.

Things were getting worse and worse, Ginny thought.

* * *

At lunchtime, she made her way down to the entrance hall. Fortunately, everyone was already at the tables, so she didn't have to see Harry.

"Percy!"

"Ginny! It's good to see you," said Percy, hugging her--a little stiffly, she thought.

"You too," she replied.

"So, how have you been?" he asked, leading her outside. "Shall we go to Hogsmeade for lunch?"

Percy treated her to lunch at the Three Broomsticks. They chatted of nothing important--exams, upcoming O.W.L.s, and so forth.

They spent a fairly companionable afternoon in Honeydukes, Gambol and Japes, and the bookstore.

"It's getting late," Percy said eventually, gesturing to the west. "We should get back to school before dark."

Their conversation had steered towards romance.

"When Penelope and I became seriously involved, I initially had some trouble with my grades," Percy was saying as they climbed some stairs. "But she was understanding about me needing time. Let me know if Harry's not giving you your space," he added, sounding so big-brotherly she wanted to cry. But telling him about her current problems was probably not a good idea, considering how close he was to Fudge--and Lucius Malfoy.

She was so caught up in her thoughts that she was caught off guard when, somewhere near the Astronomy Tower, Percy turned to her.

"Stupefy!"

* * *

She woke with a start. Lucius Malfoy was standing over her, holding a battered piece of parchment. Where was Percy? And how had she gotten all the way up to the top of the Astronomy Tower? She shivered in the cold.

"It appears," he said softly, menacingly, "that I am to be a grandfather."

Ginny gasped. "How did you get--"

"All correspondence to and from Ministry officials is closely monitored for--ah--suspicious activity," Malfoy said. "Answer me, girl!"

Ginny swallowed. "I don't have anything to say," she said.

"How did this happen?!" he hissed. "Has my son been sneaking around with a Gryffindor? Has he been--"

"We've been engaged since February," she interrupted sarcastically. "How do you think it happened?"

"Don't use that tone of voice with me, Weasley," he spat, waving his wand. "Tell me!"

"Your son raped me," Ginny said flatly.

"How dare he!" he hissed. "How could he be so careless!? Malfoy seed is valuable, not to be wasted on filthy Muggle-lovers. Every offspring is carefully concieved for the best genetic combination. Draco should know better. This is just carelessness. I've told him what to do to prevent this from happening! Never mind, though," he said, breaking off his tirade and turning back to Ginny. "I can take care of it right here, right now."

Time skidded almost to a halt as he opened his mouth. "Abort-" he began, but out of the darkness surrounding them, a familiar voice cried, "Stupefy!" and Malfoy crumpled into a heap.

"Harry!" Ginny shrieked as he came pelting out at her. "Oh, God, he was going to--"

"Shh, shh, I know, it's all right," said Harry, holding her close. "It's okay. Everything's going to be-" He broke off, looking around anxiously.

"I heard it, too," Ginny said, looking around for the source of the noise. It had sounded like a whimper, a child's whimper. They crouched behind a dark outcropping, watching the entrance hole to the top of the tower.

They had only waited a few moments when a small figure emerged from the opening. It was no one Ginny immediately recognized, but then a gleam of moonlight exposed the tearful face.

Laura Madley, second-year Hufflepuff.

She was crying and clutching a letter to her chest. But it wasn't the fierce cry of someone grief-stricken, or the sobbing of a helpless person. It was almost as thought she didn't even realize she was crying, but was simply expressing an ever-present emotion.

The girl walked slowly and deliberately over to one of the observation posts, a stone outcropping that leaned over the grounds. The accompanying monologue was barely audible, but fierce.

"I won't. I won't let them do this. They say I don't have a choice, but I do. I have this choice--"

Ginny was on her feet too late, the heaviness in her belly slowing her down; but, fortunately, Harry's reflexes were faster. He dived for the girl and tackled her before she could step off the edge.

"What in blazes d'you think you're doing?" he asked her. "And who are you?"

Poor Laura just wailed, collapsing into Harry's arms. Harry looked at Ginny. "What do I do now?" he asked desperately.

"Her name's Laura Madley," Ginny said. "She's--"

But exactly what she was, Ginny was never able to say.

"Well, well, well, isn't this cozy?"

Lord Voldemort had appeared in front of them.
Chapter 16

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

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