Romance Americana

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Kate and Matt managed to get all eleven of them up to the South Tower with out waking up any teachers, or wandering into Peeves. It was a miracle. Although Benny was eyeing Harry, Hermione, and Ron in a peculiar manner; Kate went and headed off the disaster before it could start.

"Benny, not now. No male, egotistical bullshit. Shut up and listen; no bitching."

"Who the hell said I was gonna bitch?"

"Spattz, I know you too damn well. I can read you like a book."

"When did you learn how to read?"

"Bite me, Benny."

"Bend over."

Kate just stuck her tongue out at him. "You know you love me."

Benny snapped his fingers. "Damn it! When did I become so transparent? Quick, when Dani and Matt turn around, I'll call my broomstick, we'll jump the wall, take off, and they won't be any the wiser."

They started to laugh. Hermione watched the two. There was nothing sexual there to be seen, just friendship. It was what she and Harry had had before they kissed. It had been fun, just being friends, but she liked the now better. The now meant kisses and hugs, and no more tension between herself and Harry. Kate and Benny had stopped laughing, and they started.

"First order of business; it's happened people."

"No shit; I thought I was pulled out of a dreamless sleep because..."

"Ben, don't finish that sentence."

"Really, Jarrod? What the hell are you gonna do to me? We're fucked no matter what; either way we've made more work for ourselves by letting it happen."

Ron had been unusually quiet, but had finally spoken up. "What the hell are you talking about? What's going on? I think we have a right to know!"

The silence became strangely uncomfortable. None of the Americans were willing to answer Ron's question. Harry decided to get in on the action.

"Well? Kate, tell us what's going on! You dragged us into this, and you damn well better tell us what we're getting into."

Kate blushed. "Well... Um... It's kinda a long story..."

Benny chose a less tactful way to say it. "Ron's little sister is Malfoy's whore, and now she's pregnant, and about to give birth to what is quite literally the spawn of Satan." He turned to Kate. "Does that about cover it, or do you have more to add?"

"No. Great job, Benny. Remind me to castrate you later. And if you'd remember the rusty butter knife, I'll bring your tetanus booster."

But Ron had gone pale. He was gasping for breathe, and couldn't seem to stand straight. Shannon had to help him lean against the tower wall, but his legs were too weak; his knees gave out, and he slid down the wall to sit.

Hermione turned to Kate. "Kate, tell me he's kidding. Tell me he's bullshitting us, and that Ginny Weasley is NOT pregnant with Draco Malfoy's baby! Damn it, Kate, look me in the eyes." Kate did as was asked of her. "Morgan, what are you looking at me like that for? Oh, fuck. You're serious. Ginny's pregnant." Hermione went and sat next to Ron.

The Americans stood looking at the Brits, who were all now leaning against the same side of the tower. The wind blowing across the ledge above them was making their hair dance and jump. Harry and Hermione were watching Ron with anxious looks on their faces. He seemed to snap out of it though, threatening death on Draco, and promising Ginny a good thrashing.

"I'll kill them; I swear to God. I'll kill Malfoy first, and then I'll smack Ginny and ask her what the hell she was thinking, sleeping with a Malfoy. Dear Lord, dating him is one thing, but I can't believe that my little sister, little straight-A's Ginny slept with him!" Ron was getting to his feet, and was getting angry as well. "That child will not be tolerated in our family's house! I will NOT tolerate it! Either she'll go, or that child will!" Ron looked ready to kick down every door between him and his little sister. Kate headed him off.

"Ron, don't do that. You know that Ginny will just kick you in the balls and ignore you forever if you go see her now."

"Besides," Shannon jumped in, "Ginny doesn't even know."

Kate smiled a sad smile at her friend. "Shannon's right, you know. Ginny won't find out until Draco gets her to the Hospital wing. Then she'll know. And if you go charging in there, wand drawn, ready to kill Draco, she won't listen. She'll follow Draco and accept all he has to offer her. God knows that she's always been susceptible to the Dark Side. All Draco needs to do is make the suggestion, and then we make our play." Kate gazed around the room. "Good. Then we know what we need to do. Goodnight then, and Ron, remember to keep your temper in control when Ginny tells you."

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10:30, Saturday Morning

Hospital Wing

"Um, Madame Pomfrey? Are you in here?"

Madame Pomfrey came out from the back of the Hospital Wing, wiping her hands on her apron.

"What do you need, Ms. Weasley?"

"I need to speak with you. I've been... a bit under the weather lately."

Poppy just nodded. "Very well. Just sit down, and I'll get you checked out." She came back a few moments later with a clipboard. "Now, what exactly is wrong with you?"

"Well, I'm sick all the time. And not just a fever and the sniffles. I'm throwing up. And I can't even eat my favorite foods anymore. And it doesn't seem to me that it's because of changing tastes. Eating them makes me throw up. I can barely keep anything down!"

Ginny stopped talking and watch Madame Pomfrey go over her notes.

"Ms. Weasley, have you missed your... menstrual cycle?"

"Excuse me?"

"Have you missed your period, Virginia?"

Ginny screwed up her face in consideration. "Now that you mention it, my period is a week late..."

"Who was your last sexual partner?"

"My boyfriend."

Poppy rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, but who are you dating, Virginia?"

Ginny wished she'd stop calling her Virginia. Only her parents did that. Oh God. Her parents. If she really was pregnant, what the hell would her parents say? Or her brothers? Would they disown her? Oh shit!

"Virginia, you should probably tell him that you may be pregnant..."

"Yes, of course."

"I have a test I can give you, and when the results come back, you can tell..."

"Draco. I'm dating Draco Malfoy."

Poppy's eyes nearly popped out of her head, and she almost swallowed her tongue. A Weasley dating a Malfoy. That was a new one. She just managed to keep herself under control and said, "Very well then. I'll bring you parchment and a quill, and you can ask Mr. Malfoy to come up."

Ginny nodded, and took the parchment and quill from Madame Pomfrey, and began to write. By the time she was done, Poppy had come back with a school owl, to whom Ginny attached the note, and sent on its way.

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Kate, Shannon, Benny, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and the others were sitting at the Gryffindor table that morning at breakfast.

"Benny, goddamn it, go eat all the food at your own house's table! I friggin' wanted some of that bacon, you asshole!"

"Shut the hell up, Chris. I haven't had coffee for the five fucking months we've been in England, and I really don't think you want to piss me off before noon."

"Boys, boys, just ask the house elves. They'll get you more bacon, and they'll get you your coffee."

Together, both of them looked at Kate and snapped, "Fuck off, Kate."

"Jesus Christ, never mind then." Kate went back to crunching on her cereal while she watched Harry and Hermione cuddle, and Ron and Shannon kiss.

"Dear Lord, do I really need to watch my little sister make out with her boyfriend at the breakfast table? Will somebody get them a goddamn room?"

"Matt, shut up and sit down," Kate said, pulling him down next to her. "I think she can handle herself."

Breakfast went on like that, with the Americans taking what they called "pot shots" at each other. From what Harry could see, they were doing nothing more than teasing each other. But before he could say something, Kate tugged on Matt and Benny's sleeves and nodded in Draco Malfoy's direction.

"Dear old Draco just got an owl, but the post came twenty minutes ago," she whispered, checking her watch. "I think this is it guys, let's do this."

They all stopped eating, got up, and proceeded to follow Draco out of the Great Hall.

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"You! You did this to me, you fucking asshole!"

Draco was greeted by the shrieks of his girlfriend when he stepped into the Hospital Wing. He noticed that Madame Pomfrey had made herself scarce.

Draco did his best to look confused, even though he knew what was coming. He must have done a half decent job, because Ginny's angry face lost its edge. "What is it, love?" he asked in his best, I'm worried voice.

"Draco, Draco, I...I'm... we're..." she was struggling for words. "Draco, what I'm trying to say is... is that we're pregnant. Draco, answer me. Don't just look at me like that. Tell me what you're thinking, please."

'I've got her where I want her,' Draco thought to himself. "Oh my God," he said sitting down. "Are you sure?" 'Now light up your eyes, Draco, look thrilled, not evil or conniving', he coached himself.

Ginny nodded and handed him the test results. "We are Draco. I'm going to have a baby. Your baby." There were tears in her eyes. Draco pulled her close to him, and gave her a kiss.

"I'm forever yours, Ginny. I was then, and am now. Ginny?"

"Yes, Draco."

"Marry me."

"Draco, I'm not going to marry you just so you can think you did the right thing..."

"It wasn't a request, it was a command. You're carrying my child, correct?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to put it up for adoption, or not keep it?"

Ginny became offended at the implications in his voice. "Draco Malfoy, I helped to create this baby and I will keep it! I'll raise it on my own if I have to!" Ginny pulled away from him, and walked to the door.

"Fine. We're decided on that. But the school won't allow you to stay pregnant. And I don't think your parents would help much if they knew it was my child. Virginia, I'm taking responsibility for this. Marry me. I graduate this year, my father can get me a high paying job. What do you say?"

"Your father, the former Death Eater, willing help me and our child? Does he even know about me Draco? Or am I another one of your whores that mummy and daddy don't know dear little Draco is shagging?" she spat the venomous words at him.

"Ginny, enough! Marry me, please, and let me help you! I can get a good job, I can keep our child in clean clothes, diapers, and I can pay for a tutor for you so you can finish your education. You won't lose anything, Ginny; in fact, you'll gain a family of your own, and so much more. Ginny, I can take you to Paris, or any place else that you want if you marry me. I can protect you... please, Ginny, please say yes."

She turned to him, tears in her eyes, and nodded. "I'll marry you, Draco. Yes. My answer is yes."

Draco pulled her into a hug, just before Ron, followed by Harry, Hermione and the others came in.

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"Ron, what are you doing here?"

"Ginny, someone told us you were up here. What's wrong?"

Ginny cleared her throat. "Draco, can you leave us alone? You guys too," she asked, looking back at Kate, Shannon and the others. Draco left, but the Americans mad no move to leave.

"Ginny, just tell me." Ron pulled her to a far corner of the room. They could hear him soon after Ginny spoke.

"GINNY! How fucking stupid can you be?! You shagged Draco Malfoy and didn't use a contraception spell? My God, Ginny! You know how many brothers we have! The chances of us have children by accident is much more likely than anyone else!"

"Ron, please, please calm down! Just please, Ron, don't tell! Mom and dad, or anyone else CAN'T find out! They'll kill me! And Draco, please, for my sake, and Draco's, don't tell!"

"Ginny, you've done nothing to convince me! I kept my mouth shut when you started to date that bastard Malfoy, but mom and dad need to know about this! They have a right to know that their daughter, their YOUNGEST CHILD is about to give them their first grandchild! And Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, and George have a right to know about their niece, or nephew, or what not! And are you going to marry him, or what? He better take care of you, Ginny! I'm already pissed enough to beat the shit out of him!"

Benny heard "beat the shit out of him" and decided that now would be a good time to jump in.

"I'll be more than happy to help!"

He was immediately chastised by a chorus of "Benny, not now!"

"Ron, I'm marring Draco," Ginny stated when she had calmed down. "Owl Mom, Dad, and whoever else you want, but I'm going through with this. I'm going to be responsible, and marry him for he sake of this, our child."

With that, she stormed out, and slammed to door to the Hospital Wing. Ron turned to the others.

"Well, I guess that settles it. We're officially fucked."

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