Secrets

CHAPTER 13

Ginny and Draco were studying feverishly for her upcoming O.W.L.S when Dumbledore's pleasant voice interrupted them.

"Ms. Weasley? I was wondering if we could have a word in my office."

Ginny flicked her eyes up at Dumbledore's gray form. She threw a quick glance at Draco, but he kept his expression blank. "Yes sir."

"There's no need for that," he said agreeably as she began to pack her bag. "We won't be long and I'm sure Mr. Malfoy won't mind waiting for you."

"Sure," Draco nodded carelessly. "I'll be here."

Ginny could see Pansy Parkinson watching her carefully as she followed Dumbledore out of the library. Just two days before, Pansy had hissed in Ginny's ear as they passed in the hall, "If I had to choose between a Muggle lover and a mudblood, I'd choose the mudblood."

"So?" Ginny had shrugged. "Go ahead." She hadn't told Draco about it, but she was sure he knew, because that evening he was in the foulest mood Ginny had ever seen him in. She was jarred out of her thoughts when Dumbledore told a stone gargoyle "Chocolate Santa". She stepped behind him onto the winding staircase and stayed silent until she was seated in a chair across from Dumbledore.

"You are due in about two months?" he asked, peering at her over his half moon glasses.

She nodded. "The end of July."

"Then you will have enough time to readjust before your next term here at Hogwarts."

She nodded again.

"What are you planning on doing with your baby?"

"I was going to give it up for adoption," Ginny began, "to a family who couldn't have children."

"And now?"

"I'm not sure," she admitted. "When the baby started moving, things started to get a little different."

Dumbledore tapped his fingers against his desk and glanced at the stand her Fawkes stood, preening. "At first I assumed Mr. Malfoy was the baby's father, just like everyone else who knows assumes. How ridiculous of me to assume. If I had but thought about it for a moment, I would have known otherwise. But just yesterday I caught a glimpse of you in the Great Hall and I realized that this baby has its father's eyes. There is no denying that those are Harry's eyes."

Ginny sunk low in her seat, her face burning.

"This makes your situation very different," he continued. "Harry Potter, the only wizard who has a chance of defeating Voldemort, has a child. Do you know what would happen if the Dark One found this out?"

She shook her head weakly.

"This is always the possibility that he would get rid of the child as quickly as possible, but an even greater possibility is that he would realize what a powerful tool this could be. Voldemort has had a terrible time trying to get rid of Harry, but imagine the destruction that would happen if Harry's child was used against him."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that you have two choices. If adoption is what you still want, this child will have to go to a Muggle family. It will never learn or practice magic, nor will it ever know anything about witches and wizards. The other option is for you to keep the child and never, ever reveal to anyone who the father is." He folded his hands together and stared into her eyes. "But there is a problem with the second choice. Does Mr. Malfoy know?"

Ginny nodded feebly.

"Who else knows?"

"Ron and Hermione."

"I am not concerned with them."

"I don't think Draco-"

"Not now Ms. Weasley," he said firmly, "but in the future. Mr. Malfoy is used to getting exactly what he wants. If you ever deny him that, the consequences would affect more people than yourself. I'm afraid that since you don't remember what life was like when Voldemort was in the height of his power, you may not be able to imagine what the consequences would be if Harry's Potter's child was raised by one of the most notorious dark wizarding families."

"So, you think I should give it up for adoption?" She felt an unfamiliar tightening growing in her chest. Her brain did not like the words she was hearing. She bit her tongue and resisted telling Dumbledore that he knew absolutely nothing, that Draco loved her, and that changed everything. In an instant, she was glad she had remained silent. The words sounded ridiculous.

"The choice is yours," he reminded her. "I want you to carefully consider this. Remember that Harry's life and the child's life are going to be influenced also."

CHAPTER 14

Ginny stood trembling in the doorway of the Great Hall. The package she had assumed to be her birthday present had arrived, but instead of a present, Ginny found a letter from her parents that read

Ginny,

Your father and I have arranged for you to spend the summer at St. Agithay's Home for Girls. They are capable of finding a Muggle family to adopt the baby. They will pick you up at 1 o'clock on the last day of the term, so you will not have to ride the Hogwarts Express. A Healer named Mary Marshtan will meet you at Hogwarts.

That was it. No happy birthday. No how are you doing. No present. That was where Draco found her; he was smiling and carrying a large package.

"Happy birthday," he greeted her.

"Thank you." She tried to smile.

"What?" he asked, glancing down at the parchment in her hands.

"Oh. Nothing. Just my mum and dad, you know."

"Let me see it."

Reluctantly she handed him the paper and he quickly scanned it.

"Come on." They entered the deserted ballroom and Ginny forced herself not to cry.

"I need to talk to them," she said.

"What are you going to say?"

"I want to keep this baby! It's mine. I know this sounds crazy," she admitted, "but I keep imagining this child going off to Hogwarts and learning to ride a broom and me not being there to see it. I can't stand it."

"If you give it up, it won't ever be going to Hogwarts," he reminded her dryly.

"I know . . . . but that's what I keep thinking."

"And then what?" Draco pressed. "What would you do about school?"

"I'm going to ask them to help me just for next year. If they will keep the baby for one year, I can finish my sixth year, and by then I'll be able to get some kind of job."

Draco shook his head and frowned. "What will they say?"

"I don't know," Ginny admitted softly. "I thought I knew, but I'm beginning to wonder."

"All the fireplaces in the professor's offices have Floo powder," he told her. "But you need to know what you're going to do if they say no."

"I don't know. But I guess we'll find out soon."

"Let's go ask Snape if you can use his fireplace."

"He'll never let me."

"Come on. He'll say yes if I ask."

He did say yes to Draco, although somewhat reluctantly. They left Ginny alone in the room after Draco warned her that he would be back in fifteen minutes if she wasn't out. She knelt on the stones on the fireplace, took a deep breath, and tossed her Floo powder in, saying "the Burrow".

"Mum?" Ginny called, glancing into the kitchen of her home. "Mum?"

Her mother appeared in the entryway. "Ginny dear. What a surprise." She didn't sound particularly pleased to see her.

"I got your letter," Ginny told her quietly.

"Good, good," her mother nodded, not looking at her.

"I'm not going."

"What?" She still didn't look up.

"I want to keep the baby."

"Let's not be ridiculous," she said, fiercely peeling potatoes.

"Don't you even want to see me?" she asked, fighting back tears. "Why don't you want me to come home?"

"It's going to be a busy summer. We'll be in and out of Harry's house, working with the Order, and there isn't time to worry about those kinds of things. Besides, it would be a bit hard to hide."

"Mum, please, just listen to me," Ginny begged. "I need you right now. I need your help."

Her mother let the potato clatter noisily into a small cooking caldron. She wiped her hands on her apron and finally looked at Ginny. "You need my help?"

Ginny nodded, fighting the sensation that her hair was about to over heat. "If you could help me out for just one year so that I could get through my sixth year-"

"You want me to raise your child?" Her mother's voice was rising. "You want me to raise a child whose father you wouldn't reveal to me?"

"No, mum, I-"

"Why don't you ask Draco's mother?" she shouted. "Maybe the Malfoy's would like to take their illegitimate grandchild in, but I would not!"

Ginny fought back tears. "Did Ron tell you that? It's not Draco!"

"You have gotten yourself into a big enough mess, Ginny. Don't add lying to it!"

"At least Draco got me a birthday present," Ginny retorted childishly. "At least now I'll have some clothes that fit! Don't you think it's a little strange that a Malfoy cares about me more than you do?"

"I did not get you into this. Do not expect me to get you out!"

"Mum, please," Ginny sobbed. "I need you. I can do this, but not without you!"

"You didn't need me when you were off getting pregnant!" her mother roared. She turned and left the room, leaving Ginny in silence.

When Draco came back in Snape's office, Ginny was still sitting on the hearth, crying. "She thinks you're the father," she sobbed. "She wouldn't even listen to me."

"Why don't you tell her who it is?" he asked while Snape watched with obvious interest.

"He can," she shook her head. "If he wants to, he can."

"Come on," Draco stood up and brushed his pale hair out of his eyes. "Come try on your new clothes."