How Do You Choose Between What is Right and What is Easy?

Chapter 20

"I want that bastard expelled! Or - better yet - I want him imprisoned!" This voice belonged to Narcissa Malfoy, Draco Malfoy's mother, and by the sounds of it, she was furious.

Dumbledore spoke again, his voice making it plain that he was doing his best to dispel the tense situation. "As I have already said, it is unknown as of now what is to be the boy's punishment, or sentence. I would ask all four of you to be as calm as possible during this. Your children need you now more than ever. Especially in light of the news we have just recently received."

"I just can't believe this happened," Arthur Weasley said, very solemn and morosely. "All those times we had him in our house, after all we did for him.... I just don't understand... how this could have happened....

The voice of Lucius Malfoy spoke was heard next. His words were abrupt and short. "What news did you recently receive, Dumbledore?"

"I believe there is someone outside the door who would very much like to hear that information as well. Mr. Weasley, could you kindly answer the door, please?"

Confused, Ron heard his dad mumble, "Of course," in a low rumble of a voice. He heard the scraping of four chair legs, and footsteps heading for the door. Before he had a chance to go anywhere however (or duck out of sight, like he wanted to), the door opened and his father stood before him.

"Ron!" Arthur said, genuinely surprised. "What - what are you doing here?"

"The other day, I went to see Ginny in the hospital wing. She wouldn't talk to me, and Madam Pomfrey won't let me back in there because Ginny needs her rest. I need to know what went on, and I need to know now." He looked over at Dumbledore, who was staring at him with a look on his face that clearly said he'd been expecting him.

"You may come in, Mr. Weasley."

Ron walked hesitantly into the office, shutting the door soundlessly behind him. Mr. Weasley sat back in his chair, and Ron went to stand beside his mother's chair.

Dumbledore began speaking again, looking at Ron as he did so. "I will recount to you what I have already told your parents, and Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy." He started in again on what he had been telling the four of them, and when he had finished, new tears had formed in Ron and Arthur's eyes, and Molly was sobbing harder than ever.

Dumbledore continued with his story. "What we have just recently found out - today, in fact - by a potion concocted by Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey, we know that Ginny Weasley is pregnant. She is having twins."

The silence that filled the room at that moment was to the point that you could have heard a grain of sand hit the floor. No one said a word. The three Weasleys had stopped crying, and everyone was shocked.

What exactly are you trying to say, Dumbledore?" Narcissa said, scowling and narrowing her eyes.

"Yes, Dumbledore," Lucius said. "Kindly explain yourself immediately."

"The night before Mr. Potter raped Ms. Weasley, Ms. Weasley and young Mr. Malfoy had sexual intercourse with each other - or so we were told by her. Since Ms. Weasley had been raped, Madam Pomfrey thought it wise to have Professor Snape whip up a Conception Potion for her. When she added a few drops of Ms. Weasley's blood, the potion divided into two sections, indicating she is carrying two children. The two sections were also two different tones of pink, which indicates that the two children have different fathers."

"You've got to be joking!" Ron said loudly, a wide-eyed look on his face.

"Are you saying... what... I think you're saying?" Molly whispered, holding her head in her hands.

It was silent again.

"I don't believe this," Lucius scoffed, looking away from Dumbledore in disgust. He got up from his chair and paced for a moment, his hands behind his back, looking down at the floor, before halting mid-step and looking back at Dumbledore.

Arthur got up from his chair as well, crossed his arms, and stood behind his wife's chair. "Dumbledore... I want you to tell me... exactly... what two fathers means... in regards to my youngest child... and only daughter. I'm sure everyone else would like to know that as well, as we are also talking about Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy's only child and son, and Ron's only sister."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment, surveying the five people in front of him. He steepled his fingers, a very thoughtful expression on his face - thoughtful, but solemn. "Two fathers. Ms. Weasley was with Mr. Malfoy intimately, the night before she was raped by Mr. Potter. By all means, gentlemen and ladies, it is not extremely difficult to figure out." He gazed around at them all again before continuing. "The DNA of both gentlemen entered Ms. Weasley's... system... one right after the other. Ms. Weasley is carrying twins. One is the child of Harry Potter. The other is the child of Draco Malfoy."

There was a deafening silence in the room as Dumbledore finished his monologue. Ron stood very stiff and firm behind his mother, his hands gripping the back of her chair so tightly, his knuckles were turning white. He was looking down at the floor, a look of intense fury on his face. All of a sudden, unable to hold his anger in any longer, he stepped back from Mrs. Weasley's chair, snatched a silver instrument up off of Dumbledore's desk, and threw it as hard as he could. It shattered noisily against the wall.

"Ron!" Molly said firmly, though her voice was tearful. Arthur pulled a handkerchief out of the inside pocket of his robes, and handed it to his wife. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes and said, "This is really not the time for you to lose your temper like that, Ronald."

"NOT LOSE MY TEMPER!" Ron exploded. "NOT - THAT'S BULL SHIT!" He turned around and stormed out of the office, slamming the door sharply behind him.

Both Molly and Narcissa jumped slightly as the door slammed. After a few moments of silence, Narcissa said, "We should go down and visit Draco, Lucius. It's getting kind of late."

"Fine," Lucius said contemptuously. "But we're not staying long." He paused for a moment, staring at his wife as if waiting for something. "Well? Let's go."

After they left, Arthur glanced at his watch before turning to his wife. "We should head down to the Entrance Hall. Bill, Charlie, Percy, and the twins should be arriving any moment. Then we can all go and visit Ginny in the hospital wing together."

"Okay," Molly said, dabbing at her eyes again. "That sounds really great."

"Professor Dumbledore, thank you so much for calling us here. I'm sorry we've all taken up so much of your time. And I'm sorry about Ron."

"Not at all, not at all," Dumbledore said, looking at them calmly, his fingers still steepled in front of him. "The trinkets I display here in my office are easily mended."

Arthur and Molly left the office quickly, after one more quick glance at the headmaster. They shut the door behind them, and Dumbledore was left alone.