Disclaimer: I know, none of it’s mine, yadda yadda yadda.

A.N: This is a rewrite from what is posted on ff.net. I’m fixing up the things that make me cringe when I go back to read this fic...

Breaking The News

~~~~~

“I’m pregnant.� A few moments of silence followed this declaration. And then. . .

“You’re WHAT?�

“You heard correctly. We’re going to have a baby.�

“But. . .wait. . .how?� he stuttered.

“Do I really have to explain it to you?�

“That’s not what I meant, you idiot! I thought we used a Contraceptive Charm!�

“We did. They don’t always work.�

“WHAT?� he yelled for the second time. “They don’t always work?� His face turned slightly pale at this realization.

“Okay, so not the time. It’s obviously way too late to fix that.�

“Yeah, you’re right,� he said, still looking slightly off color.

“So, umm, what do you think? About the baby?�

“I’m bloody ecstatic, but you have to give me a few minutes. I’m still in a little bit of a shock.�

Relief spread over her face. “I was worried.�

“Why? You know that you’re not getting rid of me, ever.�

“I know, but still.�

“What, were you worried I would just abandon you or something?�

“You never know. A baby changes everything,� she commented timidly. Which showed she really was worried. She never did anything timidly.

“The only thing that will change is that I will have two little weasels to love. And that we will perhaps be lectured slightly more than before...�

She chuckled slightly, but then her face suddenly became grim. “Wait a minute...I’ve just thought of something. Your boss won’t exactly be dancing in the poppies when he finds out that a Weasley is carrying a Malfoy’s child.�

“Damn it!� he groaned. “I completely forgot about that...The Dark Lord is going to be in a very Cruciatus mood about this...�

~~~~~

Ginny sat in her potions class, thinking about Draco and the baby. And the way that it was made...a large grin appeared on her face from that memory. But happiness aside, this pregnancy was completely unexpected; after all, she was only sixteen. She and Draco had been seeing each other for nearly a year, ever since a certain dare had forced her to find out whether he wore boxers or briefs. Things were actually pretty good, except for just the one little glitch. He was a Death Eater.

Well, not really. He was more of a spy for Dumbledore, pretending to be a Death Eater. But this pregnancy would blow his cover. If Voldemort or Lucius Malfoy found out about the baby created by one of their own and a Weasley...to say the least, they would be very pissed.

But she didn’t know what to do. It could be her hormones, but she just wanted to settle down and have a family. Screw school and her distinct lack of money....But she couldn’t have her family without putting them all in danger.

She sighed. It was going to be a long potions class.

~~~~~

“Hermione, I need your help.� Ginny asked her the next Saturday when she found her alone in the common room. She was going to take advantage of the rare occurrence that Harry and Ron were not around to talk to Hermione alone.

“With what?� she inquired as she turned away from the essay she had been scribbling out ideas for.

“There’s something really important that I need to tell you...� Ginny began, wringing her hands slightly in nervousness. It was one thing to tell the father, but everyone else...?

“Okay. . .what is it?� Hermione prompted, looking at her expectantly.

“Umm, I think I’ll just come out and say it. I’m pregnant.�

Hermione just looked at her for a few seconds. It was taking her a little bit to process what she had just heard. A first for her.

“Whoa, Gin. That’s huge. When did you find out?� She seemed to still be in a bit of a shock.

“Just a couple of days ago. I’m only four weeks along.�

“Have you told the father yet?�

“Yes, and he’s actually taken it very well.�

“That’s good.� There was a slight pause. “Who is the father?�

“I can tell you, but you must promise to tell absolutely no one.�

“I promise.�

“Seriously, this is a matter of life and death. The father’s, if Ron finds out, and mine. You’ll understand why when I tell you who it is.�

“Okay, I promise. Who is it?�

“Please don’t yell at me.�

“I won’t if you’ll just tell me!� She was getting irritated at the stalling.

“Fine! It’s Draco Malfoy.�

Hermione gasped, “Malfoy?� At the serious look on Ginny’s face she asked, “You’re not kidding, are you?�

“No.�

“Did he force you to? Because if he did, I’m going to–“

Ginny cut her off. “Of course not! I told you he took it well, and apparently I failed to elaborate. We’ve been dating for almost a year–“

“A year?!� Hermione interjected.

Yes. And trust me, he’s different than what you think. He loves me,� she said simply.

“Are you completely sure about that? I’m not quite sure that Death Eaters are quite capable of love,� Hermione asked suspiciously.

“Yes, I’m sure. And he’s not a Death Eater. He’s working with the Order,� Ginny responded in a tone that left no room for argument.

Hermione took the hint and dropped it, but according to the expression on her face, she was by no means agreeing with this quite yet. So she changed the subject. “Who else have you told so far?�

“Just you and Draco. I’m sort of afraid to tell anyone else. Ron will resort to strangling him with his bare hands, and so will Mum and Dad, and so will Harry, and even You-Know-Who...�

“I get the picture.�

“Speaking of Ron . . .� Ginny looked over at Hermione with an expression implying that she wanted something.

“Oh, no you don’t. Just because I am his girlfriend does not mean that I am going to tell him your news for you.�

“Pleeeeeze?� she begged.

“Absolutely not. You got yourself into this, and you can tell Ron.�

“But he’ll get really mad! You know, that kind of yelling isn’t good for the baby,� she said with her famous puppy-dog eyes that always worked wonders with her brothers.

“You’re not going to guilt me into this. And you know that he wouldn’t really get angry at you; he’d wait until had the father to take it out on. And you’re not going to let him in on who the father is,� she paused, and then added, in a slightly worried voice, “are you?�

“Of course not. I’m not that daft. Alright, I’ll tell him about the baby myself. It was worth a shot.� Ginny began to walk away.

“Oh, and Gin?� Hermione said as she was almost out of the room.

“Yeah?�

“Congratulations. And good luck.�

Ginny smiled weakly at her and left, dreading what she was about to do.

~~~~~

Telling Ron

~~~~~

“Hey Ron?� Ginny said cautiously as she approached Harry and her brother in a corridor near their common room. They were just coming back from dinner and seemed very content, so now seemed like a good time to break bad news. Ron was always in a better mood when he had a full stomach.

“Yeah, Gin?� he responded absently.

“Um, can I talk to you for a minute?�

“Sure, I guess.�

“I mean alone.� She glanced meaningfully at Harry.

Ron did a quick check over his shoulder. “But there’s no one here. This corridor is empty.�

Ginny let out a small sigh at her brother’s obliviousness to subtle hints and said, “Yes there is; Harry’s here.� She turned in his direction and added, “Sorry, but I really do have to talk to just Ron. It’s a sibling thing.�

“No problem,� Harry said. “I’ll just head to the common room and wait for you there, okay Ron?�

“Sure,� Ron replied. Harry then walked off toward the Fat Lady with Ginny watched him closely until he was out of sight.

There was a small pause for a moment before Ron hesitantly asked, “So, what’s up?�.

“Okay...how do I say this...um, what would you say if I was in a serious relationship?�

“How serious?�

“Well, we’ve been going out for almost a year--“

“A YEAR? And you’re just telling me this now?� Ron interrupted in a small amount of shock. He’d never liked any of the boyfriends that she dated for just a month; it wasn’t surprising that he didn’t like the idea that this time his baby sister might actually be serious about someone. He looked as though he was about to say more, but Ginny cut him off.

“I’m sorry, but be happy that I’m telling you at all. Anyway, I just thought you should know that we’re in love.� She emphasized this, realizing it might possibly soften the blow of the pregnancy part if he knew the guy was serious as well. Not that anything would really help at this point, but it couldn’t hurt.

Ron’s eyes became even wider than they had at the previous confession, and he began to adopt the overprotective-brother face. “Well, get out of love, because you’re way too young to be that serious about someone!�

Ginny couldn’t help but cringe slightly at that comment; if he thought she was too young to be in love, he would definitely not be pleased about the baby she was carrying. Perhaps if she could really convince him that she was standing firm on this point...

“Well, I’m sorry Ron, but you’re going to have to deal with it. I love this man!� she snapped, her temper starting to rise.

“Don’t talk to me like that!�

“You’re not my mother. I’ll talk to you however I want to when you insult me like that. I despise that you still treat me as though I’m six years old!�

“I’m not insulting you! I’m trying to save you from making a big mistake! And who’s this git you’re in love with, anyways?�

“Don’t you dare call him a git! And I am not going to tell you who it is! I like him all in one piece, thank you very much! You’re not exactly known for being the kindest with my boyfriends, you know!�

“I don’t think that whole one-piece thing is going to be a possibility. Now tell me, who is this bastard that has brainwashed you and turned you against me? I think he is in serious need of some arse kicking!� he said, yelling loudly enough to prompt one of the nearby paintings to shout “Quiet down, won’t you?�. At this point, both of their faces, especially Ginny’s, had begun to turn bright red in anger, and the volume was increasing with each new argument. It was actually quite surprising that no one had appeared to break them up yet; when the two of them really got to fighting, you could actually feel the rise in decibels from several rooms away. And this was about as much as Ginny could take.

“HE IS NOT A BASTARD! YOU ARE THE BASTARD FOR ACTING LIKE SUCH AN IDIOT! HE DID NOT BRAINWASH ME, AND YOU ARE TURNING ME AGAINST YOU ALL BY YOURSELF!� Ginny shouted, her small body shaking with anger. She stomped off, resolved to quit speaking to him. Which meant telling him about the baby would have to come some other time, of course.

~~~~~

Ginny sat at the table the next morning eating her breakfast silently. Ron was sitting across the table from her, and every time he looked up she would look down into her food.

“Gin?� he said timidly. She just glared at him.

“Ginny, I’m really sorry about last night. I should not have insulted your boyfriend like that or threatened to beat him up. It was very wrong of me. Can you forgive me?� At this statement, Ginny stopped staring at her toast, surprised at his willingness to apologize. But then she noticed a proud smile on Hermione’s face. Realizing that she had coached her brother into a peace offering, Ginny mouthed “Thank you� to Hermione. Hermione nodded and followed up with a silent “No problem.� They both grinned.

“Ronald Weasley, I’m still mad at you--and don’t think that I’m not--but I’ve decided to speak to you again.� Ginny said with a stern look on her face. As Ron winced at the coldness in her voice, she smiled quickly to let him know she was just kidding. Sort of.

“Thanks, Gin.� he said, looking very relieved.

“I’ll see you later, Ron. And please refrain from interrogating the males in the school about who my boyfriend is, because I have enough to deal with right now without you making a fool out of me. And yourself.�

“So he goes to Hogwarts? Interesting. . .�

“Oh, stuff it.� Ginny walked out of the Great Hall to head to the common room.

Ron suddenly turned to Hermione, looking slightly confused. “What was that about having enough to deal with right now?�

She just continued eating her breakfast silently.

~~~~~

Ginny took a deep breath. ‘I will just go in and tell him now. No point in putting it off. And besides, what’s the worst he can do, strangle the air to death? He won’t know who the father is, so he won’t have anyone to kill.’ Determined, she slowly walked up to him.

“Ron, can you come outside with me for a minute?� she asked firmly, leaving no room for argument.

“Sure, what’s up? You don’t have a second boyfriend to tell me about, do you?� he responded jokingly. But seeing that her expression was far from joking, he started to get a little worried about what she was about to tell him.

“No, there’s no other boyfriend....� She took his hand and led him out to the garden on the south side of the castle. It was a beautiful night, and the stars were breathtaking. After a few moments, she sat down on a nearby stone bench and he followed suit.

“So, what did you need to talk to me about?� Ron asked, wondering why she had brought them all the way out here.

“Remember the boyfriend I told you about? You know, the one I’m in love with?�

“Yeah. . .�

“Well, we really are in love. I just wanted you to know that. He’s not just using me or anything.�

“Well good. Is that all? Can I go back inside? It’s a little chilly out here.� He started to stand up, but Ginny pulled his arm so that he was sitting again.

“Wait, that’s not it...� she said hesitantly. Wow, this was harder than she thought.

“What else do you need to tell me?� he asked, confused.

“I’mgonnahaveababy,� she mumbled.

Ron did a small double take and asked, “What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you,�

“I’m pregnant,� she finally declared, bracing herself for his reaction.

He was in a bit of shock. The reality of the situation had apparently not struck him yet, as the next thing he said was, “No you’re not. That’s not possible. You have to have sex to be pregnant.�

She just looked at him with a face that clearly said ‘wow, you’re stupid.’ He glanced over at it and took a few moments’ pause....

“You’ve WHAT? You’re WHAT?� he yelled as the news finally started to sink in.

“I know, I’m sorry-“ she tried to say, but she was interrupted by all the shouting.

“HOW COULD YOU DO THIS! IT’S BAD ENOUGH THAT YOU ARE SIXTEEN AND NO LONGER A VIRGIN, BUT NOW YOU’RE PREGNANT TOO? HOW COULD YOU NOT USE PROTECTION?�

“But I did-“ she tried to slide in, but to no avail.

“I’M NOT DONE YET! NOW TELL ME WHO THE FATHER IS! RIGHT NOW! I NEED TO KNOW WHO DID THIS TO MY BABY SISTER! HE HAS JUST WON HIMSELF A PERMANENT PLACE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT ST. MUNGO’S FOR WHEN I’M THROUGH WITH HIM!�

At this point, Ron had to take a breath so Ginny tried to calm him down.

“Ron, please stop yelling, it’s not good for the baby. Besides, as I have told you many times, we love each other. I’ve already told him and he has agreed to stand by me. He’s really being very wonderful about the whole thing. And by the way, we did too use protection. It just doesn’t always work.�

“Wait a minute. . .contraceptive charms don’t always work?� Like Draco, Ron also looked a little pale upon hearing this information.

“Okay, Ron, please focus here.�

“Yeah, right, sorry. But Gin, how could you let someone do this to you?�

“Ron, Hermione and I talk, and you are not really one to judge me for losing my virginity at sixteen.�

At this, Ron’s face turned a very bright shade of scarlet and he began to stutter out, “Yes, well, um, wait, we’re getting off the subject. You’re still much to young to have a baby. Now seriously, who is the father?�

“I’m not telling you that. I’m not completely stupid; you would never let him live.�

“Oh yes I would. I would limit the damage to maiming. He can’t be dead, because he’s got to marry you.�

“Ron, you can’t force him to marry me.�

“Oh yes I can. He got you knocked up, and he can pay the price.�

“Ron! So now being married to me is a punishment?�

“That’s not what I meant.�

Ginny just glared at him. “Ron, you better start begging if you want to stay in contact with your darling little niece or nephew.�

“Sorry Gin, I really didn’t mean it that way. I just meant that he should be forced to realize that there are consequences to his actions. He’s going to have to be a father,� Ron put his face in his hands. He was completely overwhelmed with this whole situation.

“Why are you saying that like it’s a bad thing?�

“You’re just so young!�

“Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now. I’m keeping this baby, and I love it’s father. Now I just need to know if you’ll support me.�

“To support you, I need to know who the father is. It just wouldn’t feel right not knowing whose child you’re carrying. And he needs a serious talking to.�

“I’m sorry. I can’t tell you,� she said in tone of finality.

“Then I can’t support you right now. I have to think about this.� He got up from the bench, turned away from her, and walked back toward the castle.

Ginny watched him leave, and she began to cry. Hard. She couldn’t even remotely control the tears that were falling down her face. ‘Okay,’ she thought. ‘This is so not fair. People should not be allowed to be mean to pregnant women!’

The Howler

~~~~~

Ginny and Draco sat outside, leaning against one of the trees close to the lake. Across the water, they could see the rich colors of the setting sun. It was nearly time to go inside; the teachers had decided Ginny shouldn’t be out after dark for her own safety. Yet they continued to sit in silence for several minutes.

“I told Ron last night,� Ginny said, breaking the peaceful moment.

After the second or so it took for Draco to understand what she was saying, he asked, “How’d he take it?�

“Um, let’s see, his baby sister has been impregnated when he thinks she’s too young to even kiss. I think he was pretty mad.�

“You didn’t tell him WHO impregnated you, did you?� he said with a hint of panic. Even Draco was scared of Ron when it came to his older-brother-overprotection syndrome.

“Of course not. You’d have been dead twelve hours ago. But he couldn’t handle not knowing who to take it out on.. He. . .� she paused, her voice breaking slightly, “he said he wouldn’t support me. I mean, he’s my big brother! He should be there for me no matter what! He made it sound as though I’ve done something awful. Maybe it was a mistake to keep this child in the first place. We are very young, and...�

Draco cut off her rant with, “Shh, it’s okay.� He put his arms around her and they went back to just sitting and watching the sky. This time there were a few small tears running down Ginny’s face.

~~~~~

“Hermione?� Ginny said as she walked up to the other witch. Hermione put down her quill and looked up from the five books she had spread out in front of her.

“Yeah, Gin?�

“Have you talked to Ron since last night?�

“I haven’t had a chance to, I’ve been really busy. Why?�

“I told him about the baby.�

“Oh! What did he say?�

“He said he can’t accept the pregnancy unless he knows who the father is.� She sighed.

Hermione’s previous look of concentration on her studying turned into a frown. “Honestly, he can be so stupid sometimes,� she scoffed.

“Yeah, but I need him. If he stops being so thick-headed, he could be a big help. And I want my baby to have it’s Uncle Ron....Do you think you could talk to him?�

“I’ll try. I know of a few ways to persuade him. . .� she got a goofy grin on her face.

“Okay, ewe. I didn’t need to know that.�

“Sorry.� she said, the smile turning to a serious look. “At least it will be easy to tell your parents compared to him.�

“Yeah. I’m going to write them today. I don’t really want to tell them in a letter, but they need to know. Could you help me write it? You’re much better at that sort of stuff.�

“I hope you’re referring to the writing part, not the telling-my-parents-I’m-pregnant part.�

“Well, you never know,� Ginny said playfully. “With seven kids in the family, we Weasleys are very fertile.� She grinned.

“Don’t say that,� Hermione replied. “If you jinx the reliability of my Contraceptive Charm, I shall be forced to hex you. Now let’s get started on that letter.�

“Do you think we should tell them who the father is?�

“They deserve to know, I guess. But we should ask them not to tell anyone.�

~~~~~

Ginny sat at breakfast several days later, playing with her food. She was having issues with eating in the morning, but she didn’t want anyone to point it out and try to take care of her. Though they meant well, she wished people would stop asking her if she was feeling okay all the time.

Ron still wasn’t talking to her; he would just look down at his food every time she tried to say something. She sighed, feeling very depressed. When she looked up a few seconds later, she saw Draco smiling at her from the Slytherin table. That one look completely turned her mood around; she was having difficulty remembering what was troubling her. But upon switching her gaze to Ron’s cold face, she nearly started crying. Damn hormones.

A rustle of wings sounded throughout the Great Hall as several hundred owls flew in, carrying the mail. Ginny spotted a red envelope, feeling a slight dread as to what it was. A howler. Every time one showed up, she was afraid it was for her regardless of what she had done recently. And this time what she had done was sort of a big thing. She followed its path, watching it drop in front of Draco. This could not be good.

A loud, shrill voice filled the Hall. When Ginny recognized it, she groaned. It was her mother.

“DRACO MALFOY! HOW DARE YOU! WE’VE BEEN TOLD THAT YOU HAVE BECOME A GOOD PERSON, EVEN DECIDING TO GO AGAINST HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED FOR MY DAUGHTER. BUT IF YOU HAVE REALLY CHANGED LIKE GINNY SAYS YOU HAVE, YOU HAD BETTER MAKE IT MORE EVIDENT! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE RESPONSIBLE, AND THEN YOU GO AND GET MY SWEET LITTLE GIRL PREGNANT!�

‘NO!’ Ginny thought. ‘She was supposed to keep it a secret!’ She looked over at Ron, whose face was turning white with shock and gradually growing red with anger.

“YOU KNOW, YOU’RE LUCKY THAT I DON’T HAVE ARTHUR AND MY SONS COME SHOW YOU A THING OR TWO! BUT IF YOU ABANDON MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILD, YOU WILL BE VERY SORRY!

“Oh, and Ginny dear,� she added in a much softer tone, “How are you feeling? Please owl back.�

The letter crumpled itself up and burned into flames. But the yelling wasn’t over yet.

“MALFOY! THE FATHER OF YOUR CHILD IS MALFOY? I AM GOING TO KILL HIM!� Ron bellowed as he ran over towards the Slytherin table.

“Ron! Stop it!� Ginny screamed as she ran to stop him. She reached him just before he got to Draco, and by putting herself in between the two, got him to stop running. He just stood and glared, his eyes glinting furiously.

“Ron, you are not going to kill Draco or I swear, I will personally make sure that you will NEVER see your niece or nephew! And I will hurt you in such a way that you will never be able to have children of your own!�

At this, Ron decided to back off. “Fine. I’ll let him live. For now.� He walked out of the Great Hall, his fists clenched.

~~~~~

“Oh, shit!� Draco said later, when he and Ginny were alone. “Everyone knows! You aren’t going to be safe. The other Slytherins will tell their parents, and it’s only a matter of time before my father finds out. And now that he’s escaped from Azkaban, he’ll certainly do something about it.�

“This is just...argh! I specifically told my parents not to tell anyone. How could they betray me like that!�

“That doesn’t matter now. It’s too late to take it back. The important thing is keeping you safe...� he said, switching into protective-Draco mode. And he’d complained that Ron did it...it was really very funny how alike the two were when they were looking out for her. Ginny broke out of her thoughts to listen to what he was saying, “...To do that, I’ll have to try to convince the other Death Eaters that I still am on their side. I’ll have to say I...um...brainwashed you. Yes, that’ll work,� he mumbled to himself, pacing back and forth through the room. It was almost as though he was simply planning to himself out loud. She wasn’t even sure he was aware that she was listening. “...And I’ll have to tell them that I want to keep the baby to raise myself and do away with you.�

At the sudden hurt look on her face, he quickly added, “I won’t mean any of it. It’s the only way to keep the Dark Lord from killing me, and you. If he thinks that I want to raise this baby as a Death Eater, he won’t hurt you while you’re carrying it. That’s the only thing that I can think of for now. Of course, we’ll have to figure something else out for when the baby is born. But please know that no matter what you hear me say to protect us, I love you and I will always stand by you.� He stopped his pacing to walk towards her and put his arms around her waist protectively.

She returned the gesture and looked up at him. “I love you too. I just hope that this will work...it’s a bit of a stretch.�

“I know, but we’ll figure something out.�

“I know.�

Disclaimer-This is all JKR’s. I kind of used one of her ideas more closely than usual, so I felt I should update the whole disclaimer thing. Not that the rest of it was mine anyways. *sigh*

Advice from the Batty One

~~~~~

Throughout the next few weeks, things changed for Ginny. Whenever she passed Draco and the rest of the Slytherins in the hall, she heard laughter. Including that of her boyfriend. And not the good type of laughing that never failed to lift her spirits; it was the cruel, mocking kind. It was for the best, she knew that, but it didn’t make it any easier. She tried to keep her head up and ignore them, but she was constantly close to tears. She’d heard all of the rumors: she was a slut, Draco was going to just kill her after the baby was born, she was so stupid for sleeping with him, all of it. And the laughter certainly did not help things. Occasionally, she would glance at her lover’s face. Whenever no one else was watching, he would give her a warm smile, making her tears cease. So long as she knew he loved her, she found it much easier to ignore everyone else.

But no one was more furious than Ron. His face had turned a permanent shade of red. He had blown up his cauldron with pure, uncontrollable anger on several occasions because he had to share the dungeons with the Slytherins every week.

During one particular class, it had taken Dean, Seamus, Harry, Neville, and Hermione combined to hold him back from strangling Draco. Though Ginny had told him about Draco’s. . . circumstances, he hadn’t really believed her.

On one such occasion, Draco had been talking to Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle. They were asking him what he was going to do about the pregnancy. He was forced to tell them a lie, keep his premise up, and Ron had overheard.

“Well, I’ll obviously keep the child. It will be pure blood, though Weasley is not exactly my first choice for the mother. I’m not sure what I’ll do with her after the kid is born. Once I’ve taken the child, I’ll probably use Cruciatus or Avada her sorry arse.�

At this statement, snickering could be heard from all of the Slytherins. Ron was so angry at this statement, his potion blew up for the third time that month. His face was so red it looked like it was about to explode as well.

It was the next comment from Pansy that pushed him over the edge.

“So, how did it feel to take that little bitch’s virginity? Was she any good?�

Pansy was extremely lucky the rest of the Gryffindors wanted to keep their house points by stopping Ron, or she would have probably been hexed into the middle of Timbuktu with a very uncomfortable rash and an angry Hippogriff.

~~~~~

Draco met with Ginny almost every night; at least, those when he was able to sneak away from the rest of the Slytherins. Every time, they would brainstorm what to do once the baby came and she wasn’t safe anymore. But neither could come up with anything.

All of the rumors and the front put up by Draco were finally, over time, getting to her. Often, she would start crying all of a sudden. It could sometimes take nearly an hour for him to calm her down. He hated seeing her grow so depressed, but there was nothing he could do. Except. . .

“Ginny, I’m going to talk to Dumbledore.� he said one night as he sat with her crying in his arms.

“Draco, you can’t! What if someone from the other side finds out you asked for his help? Then we’d be in more danger than we are now. I won’t let you,� she answered stubbornly.

“But it’s the only way. We are obviously not coming up with anything ourselves. Besides, if anyone sees me in his office, I can just tell them that he was interrogating me or something.�

“I suppose. But please be careful,� she agreed grudgingly after thinking it over for a moment. “After all, I do still happen to still love you, you little prat.�

“I know. And I will.�

~~~~~

Draco cautiously stepped into the headmaster’s office the next night.

“Ah, Draco Malfoy, please have a seat. What brings you here?� he said absently without even looking up from his desk.

“I need your help.�

“Really? You must be in dire need to come ask someone like me for something.�

“Yes. I am,� he said, not noticing the sarcasm. “It’s about Ginny. I assume you’ve heard the rumors?�

“Naturally. But I have no way of knowing whether they are true.�

“Whatever I say in here will not be told to anyone else, right?�

“Correct. Everything that goes on in this office never leaves this office.�

Draco took a deep breath and began, “I am a spy. I pretend to be a Death Eater in training, as my father would most likely kill me if I wasn’t. But I don’t agree at all with the Dark Bastard. I try to mess up every plan of his that I can without alerting him to my incompetence. It was working well, until Ginny got pregnant.� He paused for a moment before going on with his little confession.

“If they knew that I actually cared about her....� He shuddered, and continued, “So I have to pretend I just want her safe to protect my child, who I will raise to be a Death Eater. I hate having to say. . .� his voice caught slightly as he thought of what he had told people, but he continued, “say. . .the bad things about her, but it’s the only way to keep her and my child safe. The rumors are getting to her right now, and I can’t stand it. But it will be worse when the baby is born, and I will be expected to kill her, or at the very least, torture her. I could never do that,� he said vehemently. “But I can’t think of a way to protect her after she gives birth.

“I want us to all be a family, without He-Who-Should-Really-Be-Dead interfering. And I need your help to figure out how.� Draco sat back in his chair, looking as though a great weight had been lifted off of his chest.

“Well, that is indeed a problem,� Dumbledore said thoughtfully. “However, I don’t think that there is a way that you can be with Miss Weasley and continue to act as a Death Eater. They would see right through it, as she’s got too much fire and too much family history to be a suitable spouse in Voldemort’s eyes.� Draco flinched slightly upon hearing the name, but didn’t say anything. “You will have to make a choice: give up being a spy, or give up being with your family–at least, I assume that is what they are to you.� He nodded his consent, and Dumbledore finished, “Only once you make that decision will a solution be evident.�

“That’s a stupid question. I’d give up anything for her, even my life,� he said with a passion that made his normally gray eyes turn a vivid blue. “I don’t really want it to come to that because I don’t want her to have to raise the baby alone, but you know what I mean. Of course I choose her.�

“Wise decision,� Dumbledore said with the trademark twinkle in his eye, “One way to protect yourselves comes to mind, but the last time it was tried, it failed.�

“Well, what was it?�

“The Fidelius Charm. It is a spell in which a secret is magically concealed inside one person. That secret can only be discovered if the Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it themself. Voldemort and his followers could only find you and your family if your Secret-Keeper wishes them to.�

“Why didn’t it work the first time?�

“There are too many factors for me to completely explain, but when the Potters-“ he was cut off by Draco.

“Wait a minute, the Potters were the ones who used it before?� he said skeptically. “And they failed? I don’t want to do anything that involves Harry, especially if it didn’t work.�

“If you would allow me to finish, the spell failed because the Potters’ Secret-Keeper was a spy for Voldemort and he betrayed them.�

“Wow. They were betrayed by someone they trusted to protect their lives?�

“Yes. Almost immediately after the spell was performed, Voldemort came to their hiding place, and, well, you know the rest,� he finished with a wave of his hand.

“But if the one person they trusted betrayed them, how do I know our Secret-Keeper won’t betray us?�

“You don’t.�

With that, Draco left. He had some major thinking to do.

A Debate

~~~~~

The days were starting to get a little colder as fall was slowly slipping to winter. On this particular late October evening, most of the students were inside. Ginny had wanted to be alone to think, so she was out by the lake.

“Hey, beautiful,� Draco said as he approached her. In his outstretched hand was a single red rose. He gave her a warm smile.

She looked at him suspiciously. “What do you want?� she asked him.

“I am insulted!� he said, faking a look of shock. “Can’t a man do something nice for the woman he loves?�

“Nope. What do you want?�

He sighed. “You know me too well, Ginny.�

“Yes, well, we have been dating for a year. And besides, I like it much better when you’re being your normal, sarcastic, insulting self.�

“Ah, so you like the bad boy thing, huh?�

“You could say that,� she said with a giggle. They stood there for a moment, just enjoying being in each other’s company.

“So, there was actually a reason that I came to talk to you, besides the fact that you’re much better to hang around with than those bloody gits Crabbe and Goyle.�

“And this reason was. . .?�

“I talked to Dumbledore about our problem.�

“What did he say?�

“He thought our best chance would be the Fidelius Charm.�

“Oh, I’ve read about that in Charms before. It’s the one where one person protects a secret within themselves, right?�

“Yep. So, what do you think?� he asked.

“I think that’s a really good idea. We can live wherever we want, and You-Know-Who won’t be able to find us.�

“Unless our Secret-Keeper blabs. Who are we going to trust with something like that?�

“I was thinking Ron.�

“WHAT?� Draco yelled, “I refuse to let him be responsible with whether I live or die. I’ll be gone in a day.�

“No, because he wouldn’t want anything to happen to me,� Ginny argued insistently.

Draco shook his head. “But I’m sure there’s a way around that. He could just kinda say ‘hey, Dark Lord, I’ll tell you where that bastard Malfoy is if you promise not to kill Harry or Ginny’ or something like that. You would be in no way included in the giving of the information that would kill me.�

“Ron knows better than that. I believe I have made it clear that if he does anything to you, he will strongly regret it,� she said, her eyes glinting in remembrance of her last encounter with her brother.

“But he still hates me,� Draco pouted.

“Draco, he understands how horrible this is. He knows that this same charm was involved in You-Know-Who killing Harry’s parents; and that it was because their Secret-Keeper betrayed them. He could never turn around and betray someone else like that, even you.�

Draco snorted. “Well that’s bloody likely. He’ll decide that he wants to be all noble instead of getting payback at the arse who taunted him all through school and knocked up his baby sister. Sure, that’s exactly what will happen.�

Ginny glared at him. “First, do not call yourself an arse. Second, stop referring to the pregnancy as ‘getting knocked up’ because it makes me sound like a slut, and if you say it again I’ll be the one to call you an arse. And I think Ron is the best person to do it. He would do anything to protect me, even die. He’s the one person that I’m closest to in my family. Please?� She looked up at him with pleading eyes.

“Maybe,� he sighed. “I still think it wouldn’t be the best way to go. Maybe we should get Dumbledore to do it.�

“No, he has too much going on right now. I don’t think we should ask him to do something like this.�

“I would insert a very nice comeback at this point in which one of my wonderful family members would be the best person to be our Secret-Keeper, but since I have none, I suppose we’ll have to go with the Weasel.�
Ginny glared at him yet again.

“Um, I mean we’ll have to go with Ron.�

“That’s better,� she said and gave him a small peck on the lips.

“Is that all?� Draco whined before pulling her in for a deeper kiss.