Confrontations
Chapter 4 of 11
jmlane57Hermione confronts Ginny about her liaison with Harry, just as Ginny confronts him with the news that she is pregnant.
4: Confrontations
Even after Hermione and the baby were home, Ginny found herself helping out as much as she could, but always made sure to leave before Harry returned from work. Otherwise neither of them would ever be able to hide what they had been doing from Hermione. The latest time she had done so and prepared to Floo back to the Burrow, Hermione stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Ginny, I know you and Harry are seeing each other on the side. Don't worry, though. I expected it at some point. Just the same, I expect you both to be discreet."
"I don't mean to encourage him to cheat on you," she returned regretfully. "But I just can't stay away from him."
"I know. I can't blame you ... but don't try to fool me anymore. I know both of you too well. I see what's in your hearts when I look into your eyes and whenever the two of you speak of each other, and even when you don't. Harry still loves you, and you still love him. Not even his marriage to me has changed that. I don't think anything can."
"But he married you," Ginny pointed out.
"For the sake of our child. You're the one he thinks about, dreams about, and speaks about in his sleep."
"I can imagine how that makes you feel. To have his name and his baby, yet know that someone else has his heart."
"It hurts a bit, I admit, but usually I'm too busy thinking about Ron. I'm close to Harry's heart, sure, but you're closer." Hermione gave her friend a knowing smile. "So that makes us even. Which reminds me ... I'm so sorry to hurt Ron like this. I wish I could tell him how I truly feel, but he's been avoiding me ever since the wedding, and it's gotten worse since the baby's been born."
"Well, you know that Ron's not one to go after a married woman. Especially not one married to his best friend."
"But surely he knows why we did it. This is ridiculous!"
"Of course he knows, but he can't shake his lifelong training ... so I doubt he'll approach you again until and unless you and Harry split up." Ginny gave her a hopeful look, not daring to voice her unspoken wish, but Hermione knew nonetheless.
"It's possible, but just the same, don't push it. If it's meant to be, it'll happen."
Ginny knew that Hermione was referring to more than just their secret wishes. If Harry chose to stay married to Hermione, again for the sake of the child, yet keep Ginny as a side dish, both she and Ron would have to accept it, and his pride would keep him a respectful distance from Hermione despite his lingering feelings for her. In fact, Ginny wouldn't blame him if he eventually married someone else.
Ginny also was surprised that her mother was going along with her affair with Harry. It might even be that one puppydog look from him and Molly melted just like Ginny herself did. Well, maybe not precisely like Ginny herself did, but enough so that she overlooked things she would ordinarily never overlook, such as adultery. Of course, Harry was extraordinary, so maybe that had something to do with it. At any rate, the best any of them could do was go with the flow and live with the status quo until and if circumstances changed.
* * * * *
Which they did...but not for the better. It was about a month after Hermione gave birth to Harry's son, whom they had named Solomon Harrison. Harry wasn't too fond of the boy's first name, at least at first, but relented when Hermione told him that it meant "wise" and pointed out the likelihood that the boy would end up inheriting her brains anyway. But unfortunately, he had bigger problems to worry about at the moment, other than being married to someone he only loved as a friend and loving someone he could treat only as a friend ... at least in public.
Ginny had been showing more temper than usual and looking as pale as a ghost, Molly having reported that she hadn't eaten more than absolutely necessary for several days. He recalled that Ginny had not had the chance to use any Contraceptive Charms any of the times they had shagged, even just since the baby had been born (and there had been several), so there was a distinct possibility that she was pregnant. Just what he needed to know when trying to establish himself as an Auror after the vanquishing of Voldemort.
Harry couldn't be sure how Molly and the other Weasleys would end up treating him if it was confirmed that Ginny was pregnant with his child. For that matter, how could he be sure how Ginny herself would treat him once her pregnancy had been confirmed? The last thing she would want was to be reminded of the fact that she had given in to him, albeit against her better judgment. If he did that, she was likely to hex him...and not just the Bat-Bogey thing, either. In that event, maybe he had best learn a nonverbal Shield Charm to protect himself if she tried to blame him for it all and he found himself obliged to remind her that it had taken both of them to put her in the present situation.
He had every intention of acknowledging the child as his own, of course; that had never been in doubt ... but privately, so as not to embarrass Hermione. He was still debating on how to explain Ginny being pregnant and unmarried; one option was to claim that she was a surrogate mother, that she was carrying another child for him and Hermione since it had been determined she couldn't have any more without risking her life and had thus been sterilised.
Not true, of course, but better that than the truth of his adultery becoming public. Also, his willingness to acknowledge the child and support both it and Ginny was likely to be the only thing keeping the male members of Ginny's family, among others, from hexing his bits off. This problem aside, Harry knew that he wanted as many children as possible, if only to make up for his having been not only an only child but an orphan, so he couldn't allow that to happen.
He had even made Ginny promise to see a Healer and let him know the details of what she found out...and pressed his point that he would take financial responsibility from the get-go, starting from the initial diagnosis of her pregnancy. Neither could anyone be sure that Hermione didn't already know of the pregnancy, having been pregnant herself and thus able to recognise the symptoms, even if they had tried to keep it from her. Neither could it improve Ginny's disposition if Harry decided to make love to his wife once the traditional six weeks without sex so Hermione could heal from her pregnancy was up.
Marrying someone to legitimise an unintentional pregnancy was one thing; intentionally resuming sexual relations after the pregnancy was over and one had recovered from it was something else again. Harry was sure that it would prove once and for all that his feelings for Hermione had changed from friendly love to romantic love ... or at least that would be her likely attitude, and he couldn't be sure that she wouldn't be expecting him to at least make the attempt or that she herself wouldn't approach him on the subject.
He had to admit Hermione was a beautiful woman, and he couldn't help but be attracted to her, but romantically speaking, the first person he thought of was Ginny. Harry didn't want to insult Hermione, but didn't know if he could manage to refuse her without doing just that. The situation in which Hermione had originally become pregnant had been a fluke, and if he forced himself, she would likely be smart enough to tell due to the lack of spontaneity, and that would insult her just as much as it would if he refused outright to resume sexual relations with her.
It was a real dilemma...and a dilemma Harry had never dreamed would ever happen to him ... but here he was, right in the middle of it. And on top of that, he had gotten his ... well, mistress was the most accurate word ... pregnant as well. It was really too bad that he couldn't get Ron to go after Hermione, but there were two problems with that scenario. Ron wasn't one to go after another man's wife...or more specifically, his best friend's wife ... nor would Harry ordinarily even consider encouraging another man to go after his wife. But then, Harry had never pictured himself being married to a woman he only loved as a friend, not someone he loved romantically, as had always been his intention when and if he got married.
His own "stupid nobility" had gotten him into this; after all, as had been pointed out to him time and again, he could simply have acknowledged paternity as he was doing in the present situation and supported his child without having to marry the girl in question. Unfortunately the deed had already been done, so he had to think of a way to get through this with both relationships intact ... if he could. Otherwise he might have to let Hermione go and dissolve the marriage, but arrange to continue the child support and alimony for her until and if she found work and/or remarried.
One scenario would be that he would be able to marry the one he truly loved. On the other hand, if she ended up refusing him (he preferred not to think of that possibility, but it was one he had to keep in mind), he would have no choice but to give her child support and request visitation rights from both mothers of his children. There was also no guarantee he would get it, of course, even though technically he should. In the event of a worst-case scenario and both women going to work, maybe he could offer to be a "Mr. Mom" and look after the babies while Hermione and Ginny went to their jobs ... use his inheritance to live on until the children became school-age, then he could consider going back to work.
He knew that Ginny had once mentioned wanting to become a Healer and Hermione a teacher; well, he would gladly support them in both pursuits and knew they both would be excellent at them. He hoped for the best, naturally, but in the event of a worst-case scenario, he would have to keep that as an option. For the time being, however, all he could do was do his best by both ladies...and to do that, he would need to acknowledge paternity of both children and give Hermione and Ginny the proper financial support.
* * * * *
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 birth 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. After Harry put both a Locking and Silencing Charm on the door, it was only a matter of time until the lovers came together ... in more ways than one.
Story Actions
To follow, favorite, like, and more either log in or create an account.
Leave a Review
Log in to leave a review.
Latest 25 Reviews for Betrayal
17 Reviews | 7.0/10 Average
Nice ending.
I think Harry's feelings for Ginny show through the way they are treated. Nothing for them but the best!I wonder how Hermione feels in comparision.....
Well, things are staring to come together. I'm glad Harry is doing the right thing, if there is such a thing in this kind of case. I wonder what Ginny and Hermione's thoughts are.
I think Ginny's brothers have a point.
I guess the question is what happens between Hermione and Harry? We have an extra baby in the mix, how will it be resolved?
Very interesting, I'm wondering what they will do myself.
I just love the AU world, there are so many avenues to explore!
Another painful chapter, I'm hoping for a happy ending.
Very interesting start, I'm having some problems with Harry being a cheater, but it does look promising.
Harry better get off his duff and get them a place to live.
Even within a AU story you are keeping the main characters acting in a way I would expect (Hermione paying attention to detail, Harry being impulsive etc).
Responding to previous reviews: He told Molly he wanted to talk to Ginny. I don't think she realized he wanted to rape her. talk about Out of Character! I really dislike this Harry. Hope Ginny hexes him!This is definitely OOC as well as AU. Not to my taste, so I won't rate it.
Response from jmlane57 (Author of Betrayal)
You are entitled to your opinion, but what Harry is doing is NOT rape. He would not do such a thing to Ginny. He's holding her down, yes, but not roughly...nor is he tearing her clothes off, as is likely to happen in a true rape situation. He knows she's upset and just wants a chance to explain things, show her how he truly feels. If you read the passages in question carefully, I believe you would have realised that.
Response from pookah (Reviewer)
Didn't mean to offend you. Having spent the last week on the phone with a friend who was raped last week, I am perhaps over-sensitive. But holding someone down (with or without molesting them) is no way to make your point that you care. No means no.You have the right to write YOUR story your way, but I was creeped out by it.
Response from jmlane57 (Author of Betrayal)
You are entitled to your opinion, but what Harry is doing is NOT rape. He would not do such a thing to Ginny. He's holding her down, yes, but not roughly...nor is he tearing her clothes off, as is likely to happen in a true rape situation. He knows she's upset and just wants a chance to explain things, show her how he truly feels. If you read the passages in question carefully, I believe you would have realised that.
Response from pookah (Reviewer)
Didn't mean to offend you. Having spent the last week on the phone with a friend who was raped last week, I am perhaps over-sensitive. But holding someone down (with or without molesting them) is no way to make your point that you care. No means no.You have the right to write YOUR story your way, but I was creeped out by it.
Ok I take it this is meant to be AU, otherwise I couldn't possibly see Molly agreeing to let Harry upstairs to have his way with her daughter. Maybe he confunded her!
Response from jmlane57 (Author of Betrayal)
Yes, it's AU. I specifically made it such. He wrote the note to Molly saying he wanted to "speak privately" with Ginny ... and requested they not be disturbed ... the only way he'd be allowed upstairs. Even at that, he didn't want to take any chances.
Many times a talk such as theirs can lead to makeup sex, and at this point in time it's late summer of 1997 (near the end of August), post-DH--so Harry and Ginny are both of age, even if she is still living at home at this point.
Response from jmlane57 (Author of Betrayal)
Yes, it's AU. I specifically made it such. He wrote the note to Molly saying he wanted to "speak privately" with Ginny ... and requested they not be disturbed ... the only way he'd be allowed upstairs. Even at that, he didn't want to take any chances.
Many times a talk such as theirs can lead to makeup sex, and at this point in time it's late summer of 1997 (near the end of August), post-DH--so Harry and Ginny are both of age, even if she is still living at home at this point.
Molly is ok with this? Something is going on here.
Response from jmlane57 (Author of Betrayal)
Molly trusts Harry; she knows he would never physically hurt Ginny--and she would understand if he told her they had to have a private talk to straighten things out, considering the way Ginny came in, all upset.
And all too often private talks can lead to just what ultimately happened between the young couple. Besides, Molly was too busy talking to Ron and Hermione to consider there might be more going on upstairs than Harry claimed. There is also more of the story to come; please reserve judgment until you've read more of it.
Response from jmlane57 (Author of Betrayal)
Molly trusts Harry; she knows he would never physically hurt Ginny--and she would understand if he told her they had to have a private talk to straighten things out, considering the way Ginny came in, all upset.
And all too often private talks can lead to just what ultimately happened between the young couple. Besides, Molly was too busy talking to Ron and Hermione to consider there might be more going on upstairs than Harry claimed. There is also more of the story to come; please reserve judgment until you've read more of it.
I do understand that Harry loves Ginny and he only married Hermione because she was pregnant with his child - but - I find I don't like your Harry. He is totally OC, as are all the other characters. I can't see Hermione putting up with his behaviour or Ginny come to that, and I'm certain that Molly would never allow him to get away with using her daughter.
Interesting concept and I shall endeavour a little longer to see where this is going.
Hmmmmm I don't think I like your Harry.
Man all the drama. Why didn't Harry let Ron marry Hermione and raise the child and then he could marry Ginny? And they could have not told anyone that the baby was Harry and if it had black hair or his eyes she could say someone in her family has them too. I think the Weasleys are taking this way too cooly. And I hope someone exploads.