Life Goes On

5 - Life Goes On

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.

* * * * *

Ginny was a little over three months along when her Healer told her she would be able to find out what gender her child was; she Apparated to St. Mungo's for her appointment and the special procedure which would tell her whether she would have a boy, girl or even twins, which were a distinct possibility, as she had told Harry, because of the tendency toward multiple births in her family. After the Healer had touched her wand to her belly and said a special incantation, the end of the Healer's wand glowed pink for roughly a minute.

With pregnancies such as Ginny's (or any witch's, for that matter), it was necessary for the Healer to touch his or her wand to the belly of the pregnant witch, then say a special incantation to make the end of the wand glow accordingly. If it glowed a sky blue, the baby was a boy; if it glowed pink, it was a girl. For male twins, it would be kind of a royal blue; for female twins, a deep rose colour. For fraternal twins, the end of the wand would turn one colour for one gender for a minute, then the other colour for the other gender.

There was silence for so long that Ginny was hard-pressed not to scream, if only to break the maddening silence. "Well, what's the verdict?" she finally said.

"You are ... fourteen weeks pregnant with a baby girl," came the reply.

"May I have some idea when I may expect to deliver?" was the mother-to-be's next question.

"Well, it's October now. You obviously got pregnant sometime in July, so nine months from then should give you your approximate due date."

"So that would be around April, maybe even about Easter time," Ginny remarked.

"Approximately," came the acknowledgment. "Have you been eating and exercising properly?"

"As much as I can. It's not easy eating when you're nauseated a good part of the time. Maybe you should give me a pregnancy-safe anti-nausea potion or something."

"Your mother is Molly Weasley, correct?"

"Yes. Why?"

"She knows all about that sort of thing. Why don't you ask her? That way you won't have to pay for another office visit or medication."

"That's an idea," Ginny acknowledged. "Meanwhile, I need to know how much this visit is going to cost so I can tell my caregiver how much money to send you."

"The office visit is thirty Galleons, and the special gender detection procedure is another twenty. So roughly fifty Galleons...and if you talk to your mother and find that you still want me to do that anti-nausea potion you mentioned, that will run another thirty-five Galleons for a sufficient amount to take until your morning sickness ends, which is usually around the fourth month."

"What if it goes longer than that?"

"If that happens, I'll give you a larger amount, but I'm betting that you'll be pretty much over your sickness within a month."

"Thank you, Healer. Is that all?"

"I believe so. If all goes well, I'll expect to see you in another three months, then every month after that as your pregnancy advances."

Ginny smiled and nodded, then got up from the table, dressed and left the room, Apparating back home once in the lobby.

* * * * *

Fortunately Harry was there when she arrived home; she looked around and didn't see Hermione or little Solomon. "Where's 'Mione and little Solomon?" she asked after she approached them and joined them at the table, sitting in her customary spot next to Harry. He took her hand, squeezed it and smiled.

"They're at home, having a nap. I would have brought them, but they looked so peaceful, I didn't have the heart to disturb them." He sounded sincere enough...he generally did...but at the same time, she suspected that he was glad for the excuse to get away from them, albeit temporarily, and forget he was married, if only for a little while, and be with the one he truly loved. "But enough of that. What happened at the Healer's?"

"She said I'm having a girl. I'm due next April, around Easter," Ginny informed them.

"Anything else?" he asked, lips brushing her ear while he believed Molly wasn't looking.

"She wanted me to make sure to continue to eat and exercise properly. I'm still feeling sick, so she suggested I mention to Mum regarding a pregnancy-safe anti-nausea potion. Of course, she says she's still willing to make me one if I want ... and by the way, caregiver," she teased with special emphasis on the last word. "It'll run you around fifty Galleons for the office visit and gender detection procedure."

"What about the anti-nausea potion?"

"If I decide to have her do it, it'll run about thirty-five Galleons for the necessary amount."

Molly offered to make the potion she had always used while pregnant to offset morning sickness, but said she would understand if it didn't work for Ginny the way it did for her. Ginny decided to try her mother's potion before making a final decision as to whether or not to get some from the Healer. It hardly seemed possible that time passed so fast, but the next thing they knew, two hours had passed, and Harry reluctantly stood up and said he had to leave. Ginny stood up with him, reluctant to release his hand.

"I've got to get back home now, Molly. I'll kiss 'Mione and the baby for you both," he promised. He then met Ginny's eyes, his green ones asking her to accompany him outside so they could have a moment alone. Molly nodded understandingly, and the younger pair went outside, making sure they couldn't be seen from inside. The lovers melted into each other's arms for a long, hungry kiss and passionate embrace, Harry's hands holding Ginny's lower body close to his obvious arousal. "When can I see you again, Gin? It's been ages."

"How about Wednesday? Mum and Dad are going to be busy with Order business all day."

"Did you want me to get a room at the Leaky Cauldron again?"

"That might be a good idea," she remarked, stroking his lips with a finger, which he promptly kissed. "I've missed you too. It might also be an idea for you to start thinking about what you want to name a daughter."

"How about we discuss it when I see you again?" he suggested, his look at her half-tender and half-lascivious.

"We never talk when we're together these days; you usually prefer to say what you need to say without words," she returned with a cheeky smile and sly wink.

"Well, we'll just have to make an exception," he declared. "It won't be easy, but most necessary things aren't. How does three o'clock Wednesday strike you? That's usually when 'Mione and the baby have their nap."

"Fine," Ginny pronounced. "Which reminds me...how is 'Mione doing? Do you think she's fully recovered from her pregnancy yet?"

"It's been six weeks, but she hasn't been to see her Healer yet for the six-week checkup, so I couldn't say for sure, although she seems to be getting stronger and more energetic."

"Has she indicated one way or another as to what she intends to do once she's given the all-clear?"

"Not to me. At least not yet. I'll let you know when she does. That way we can make a decision on whether or not to continue the marriage."

"Isn't there a minimum time that you have to be married before you can obtain a dissolution?"

"Six months, I think, and it's past that already, so if she and I both agree, it can be done as soon as we know for sure her health status."

"Would you give her alimony or anything?"

"Probably only until and if she gets a job. Enough talk now." He pulled her close for another hungry kiss. "I love you, Gin. Take care of yourself and our child until I can see you again. I've really got to go."

She raised his hand to her lips and kissed it, then put it on her cheek for a moment. The pair exchanged tender smiles, he touched a hand to her gently rounded belly, then Disapparated before he could do anything else. Ginny smiled at the thought of the upcoming tryst as she went into the house; Molly suspected what had happened upon seeing the Christmas-morning smile on her daughter's lips, but since she was of age, she couldn't tell her what to do.

"I'm going to have a nap, Mum. I'll be down for dinner later." With that, and after kissing her mother on the cheek, Ginny made her way upstairs, knowing that at some point she would be unable to climb stairs. In which case, she would need to move to a room on the ground floor.

"All right, dear. I'll call you when it's time." She hadn't mentioned this to Ginny, but despite the lovers' best efforts, Molly had not only heard their conversation but seen them in their passionate clinch and hungry kiss. Her heart ached for both of them, and she could only hope things would eventually work out for everyone's benefit. With that, she set to work making the potion Ginny needed. Once it was finished, she quietly let herself into Ginny's room and set it on her daughter's night table, smiling when she noted the smiling picture of Harry autographed, "To Ginny, with all my love, Harry," cradled in her arms as she slept.

Sweet dreams, darling, she mouthed as she quietly closed the door once again. I hope you can eventually have the one you love, that the two of you can be together as you should be. In the meantime, Daddy and I will be here for you.