Betrayal

When Ginny owled him a couple of days later, Harry suspected that he knew what she wanted to see him about--and they made arrangements to meet in a secluded yet more-or-less public place so they would have to control themselves, at least for a time. The Leaky Cauldron, for instance ... or more specifically, one of the more out-of-the-way booths. She was already there when he Apparated in and slid in across from her, a butterbeer sitting at each of their places.

"Well, what's the verdict?" he asked without preamble.

"It's positive," she returned quietly. "Harry, what are we--what am I--going to do? I'm pregnant and not married!"

"Don't worry, Gin, I'll take care of things," he assured her, reaching to take her hands in his.

"You already have a wife and child to think about," she pointed out. "How do you plan to keep this under wraps?" Her eyes pierced him like daggers for a moment even as her hands tightened on his. "Especially from Hermione?"

"She already knows," he reminded her. "And what's more, she's willing to let me go if you and I both wish it. However, I don't think it would be a good idea to instigate divorce proceedings when she's not fully recovered from her pregnancy yet."

"How long is that supposed to take?"

"The Healer said at least three months, if all goes well, but if any complications develop, it may be longer.

I also think it best if you stay near your parents and keep in touch with St. Mungo's, if only for safety's sake."

"You know how far along I'll be if it's six months before 'Mione is fully recovered," Ginny pointed out. "After that, I won't be able to go out in public without some kind of cover story."

"I'm working on that," came the reply. "We should be able to think of something in time, with any luck."

This time his hands tightened on hers. "You would still like to marry me, wouldn't you?"

"Of course, but I can't--at least not right now--for obvious reasons. Even if we can't do it immediately, though, I assume you're going to take full responsibility for both my and our child's financial well-being, so my parents won't have to shoulder the burden."

"As I said, I'll take care of things. I have plenty of money."

"May I also assume that you intend to give the child your name even if you can't give it to me right away?"

The look Harry gave his companion told her everything she needed to know. "But what if I decided not to marry you, or if you decided to stay with Hermione?"

"Possible, but unlikely," he opined. "Of course, in the event of a worst-case scenario, I could offer to look after the babies while you and 'Mione work--or have Molly help me."

"Not necessary, love, although I'm sure 'Mione would appreciate the offer, just as I do. Even at that, some people are likely to think if you were truly responsible, you'd have used a Contraceptive Charm from the get-go, and none of us would have to go through this."

"It's none of their bloody business whether or not we used a Contraceptive Charm. We don't tell them how to live; they shouldn't butt into our lives. What matters is that I am taking responsibility for your--our--child."

"It's not going to stop them from having an opinion," Ginny pointed out.

"I know, but that doesn't mean we have to agree with it." Harry lifted her hands to his lips. "I can hardly wait to see our child."

"I might have more than one," she reminded him. "Remember the tendency toward multiple births in my family."

"All the better," he assured her. "I've always wanted a big family anyway."

"How is 'Mione right now? And your son?"

"Fine, as far as I know. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Ginny returned ambiguously. "What do you want to do now?"

When Harry looked up at her, his green eyes had darkened with desire and that told Ginny more than any words what he wanted to do next. "Then we had best Apparate to the closest possible place where we can be alone."

"No sooner said than done." With that, he put her in one of the customary positions for Side-Along Apparition; they materialised in one of the rooms of the Leaky Cauldron and Harry put both a Locking and Silencing Charm on the door--then it was only a matter of time until the lovers came together ... in more ways than one.

* * * * *

It was for certain that Molly and Arthur were not pleased to learn of their daughter's pregnancy, even at the prospect of having a new grandchild. It was the circumstances of said pregnancy which concerned them, even though Ginny had assured them that Harry intended to take care of her and their child from the get-go. A proper young witch didn't get pregnant outside of marriage if she could help it ... at least that was what Molly Prewett Weasley had always been taught.

Well, there were obviously exceptions to every rule--but the last thing she had expected was that her only daughter would be one, especially after the way she had been brought up. Of course, where young love was concerned, one shouldn't count on the rules being followed ... at least not 100% of the time. And if anyone knew how much Ginny loved Harry and vice versa, despite the fact of his marriage, it was her. So the best
she and Arthur could do was support her in every way possible outside of financially; that was under Harry's jurisdiction.

Molly was also sure that Ginny's brothers would support her too--that is, once they got over the initial shock of the illicit pregnancy and their desire to hex Harry's bits off. And one thing was for sure ... they had to keep this quiet, or else no one in their circle would ever live it down, especially the two most concerned--and Harry had gone through enough without putting him through that ordeal as well. If only he wasn't married; then they could do that and it could be said that they got married beforehand instead of after--especially if Ginny wasn't showing yet--and thankfully, she wasn't. But that wouldn't be the case forever. Right now, the best they could hope for was that circumstances would change sufficiently so that Ginny's pregnancy could be covered up until and if they could manage to come up with a believable cover story ... if not get her safely married, preferably to Harry.

With a part of her, Molly wished that Harry and Hermione would split up, because she knew that Ron still loved her. However, she also knew that he wouldn't approach her until and unless she was single. He simply kept a respectful distance, knowing that she was not only married but married to his best friend. Even at that, Molly wasn't sure if she should tell him that his sister was carrying his best friend's child. The other, older brothers were all living away from home so they wouldn't be as likely to confront him or Ginny on the subject; it was Ron who was not only closest to her in age, but emotionally as well. If anyone would notice something amiss with her other than Molly herself, it would be him. Maybe she wouldn't need to tell him after all; he could just as easily discover it on his own.

Neither did it help matters that Molly also had great affection for Hermione as well as the beautiful little boy she had borne Harry. It made things all the more difficult whenever they visited, and the desire to both have her adopted son's wife and child in the fold as well as her daughter and son happy with the ones they loved (currently married to each other) warred constantly in her mind and heart. Truly, it was one of the most difficult dilemmas the older woman had ever experienced. For the time being, though, all anyone could do was go with the flow until and if circumstances changed.