FIC--What You Never Wished For--H/G

[ficsbydeenas]

Title: What You Never Wished For
Pairing: Harry and Ginny
Rating: R
Words: 4049
Summary: What happens when your worst nightmares come true and unfold right before your eyes?
Contains some unexpected news, some laughter, and some tears.

What You Never Wished For

===

She sat alone in the sterile-looking room paging through magazine after magazine, not paying attention to anything in particular. Her world was starting to fall apart before it even began. What would she tell him? How was he going to react to this news, or better yet, how would her parents? Everything changed in one little moment.

"Ginny? What's going on?" Harry poked his head into the room, knitting his brows together as he sat down next to her. His hands went to her face and he looked into her eyes. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

She nodded, but her tears betrayed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sobbed. She melted into him, not wanting to let go.

"Ginny, you're scaring me. What is it?" He pulled away and she saw pure fear in his eyes; they were wide in panic and bright green, with their own tears beginning to form. "Please, Ginny, tell me."

"Harry, I'm sorry," she began. How was she supposed to tell him? He'd be angry and run away, she knew it. "I love you."

"I know, Gin. I love you, too. That's why I'm marrying you. But please, love, tell me what's going on. Why are you in the hospital? Are you sick or what?" He paused, trying to steel himself against the worst.

"I'm not dying, Harry. I'll be fine. It's just that…" The door opened, stopping her words, and a witch in white robes walked in, carrying several pamphlets.

"Mr. Potter, nice to meet you. I'm Anastasia Robertson." She held out her hand and Harry took it, still confused as to why he and Ginny were here in the first place. "I'm to be Miss Weasley's midwife."

All the blood drained from Harry's face and he sunk back into the chair. He turned to stare at Ginny and felt like he was going to be sick. "Excuse me, but what the hell is going on here? Ginny?" His eyes grew wide again and he started hyperventilating.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought she told you. Miss Weasley?"

Ginny turned to Harry and took a deep breath. "We're having a baby, Harry. I'm pregnant." Her voice drifted off as she tried to figure out his expression.

The words hit Harry like a ton of bricks and he stood and vomited into the sink next to him. Ginny put a hand on his shoulder, but he brushed it away. He threw up again and hung his head into the sink. Taking a handful of water, he rinsed out his mouth and turned around. "How long?"

"About two months." New Year's Eve, Ginny reminded herself.

He looked up at the midwife in disbelief.

"I'll leave you two alone for a few minutes." She left the room and closed the door behind her.

"Harry? I was about to tell you when she got here," she said. "Harry, please look at me." He turned toward her, looking green around the gills.

"How the fuck did this happen? We were careful! Shit!" He stood up and began pacing around the room. "I'm not ready for this, Ginny. We're not even married yet." He slid his back down the wall and sat with his knees against his chest. "Your family's gonna castrate me when they find out. Damn it! What happened?"

Ginny wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath. "She said that apparently my body chemistry is incompatible with contraceptive spells and potions." She sounded clinical and detached.

"What? I can't do this, Ginny. I need some air." He got up to leave, but Ginny grabbed his arm.

"And where the hell do you think you're going? This isn't my fault!" She stood toe to toe with him. "How was I supposed to know this would happen? You were there, too, Harry, so take your lumps, right along with me."

He turned around and gathered her close to him, leaving his own tears in her hair. "What are we going to do?"

"We'll have a baby." She looked at him and tried to figure out his expression. Then it hit her. There was a little baby that was a part of both of them. A part of their love. The thought made her smile. "A baby, Harry. Yours and mine." Her hands went to his face and gently wiped away his tears.

A quick smile flashed across his face as he listened to her words. "What are we going to tell your folks? Hell, Ron will end up killing me by himself. Some hypocrite I am after telling him to stop using my house to shag in." They sat down again, holding hands.

"No, you're not. I'll kill him myself if he even tries to touch you." They laughed. "We can tell Mum and Dad later. I won't start showing until after the wedding anyway. Just be glad this happened now instead of four months ago."

"Oh, that's comforting."

The midwife returned and sat back down in front of them.

"Mr. Potter, we've checked her over and she and the baby are fine." Harry sighed in relief. "But at this point, she needs to avoid stress. The first few months are critical."

"We're getting married in two months. How is she supposed to avoid stress while planning a wedding?" He looked over at Ginny. "And she's in the Healer program. She works two nights a week."

"Harry, I'll be fine. I'm having a baby, not dying."

"Mr. Potter, I assure you that she can continue her studies and still carry on with the pregnancy. Many women have done it," the midwife reassured him.

"Okay. But what's this about her body chemistry?" He continued looking at Ginny, searching for answers.

"It's very rare that normal spells and potions have no effect. Now, Miss Weasley, is your mother affected by this as well?"

"How am I supposed to know? How do I ask her something like that? 'Hey, Mum. Can you use birth control? Because I can't. And by the way, I'm pregnant'? Yeah, that'll work with Molly Weasley." Her temper started to flare.

"Well, you need to find out. There are options, other spells that can be used on Mr. Potter."

Harry's head shot up. "Pardon me? I'm not cursing my bits, ma'am. I'm only twenty."

The woman laughed, much to Harry's chagrin.

"No, Harry," Ginny began, "male contraceptive spells."

"Oh, still, just the thought." Harry allowed himself a brief smile and a chuckle.

"Muggle birth control also works. Barrier methods work the best. The Pill is irregular; I would suggest you not use it. However, that's not the issue now. Miss Weasley, your baby is depending on you to eat right, rest and take care of yourself. Now I'll see you again in a month, all right. Floo if you have any questions." She smiled at them. "You'll be fine. Both of you." She handed Harry the pamphlets and left the room.

Harry and Ginny sat in silence for a few minutes, trying to let the news sink in. He glanced at the papers in his hand. "Hey, look at this one: 'Getting Ready to Welcome Your Baby: A Witches' Guide to Prenatal Care.' Sounds like a barrel of monkeys." He handed her the booklet. "Here's one that I bet is just flying off the shelves: 'Muggle Forms of Birth Control: Messy, But Effective.' Erotic, don't you think?" He glanced over at Ginny. She couldn't contain her laughter.

"You're not mad?"

"Why should I be? I'm shocked and I could kick myself in the ass but I'm not mad. So much for wild, honeymoon sex."

"Who says? This one says that the physical act of making love can get better during pregnancy," she informed him.

"Really? I'll have to refine my techniques then, huh?" He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. "Let's go. You had better keep these hidden. Hermione's a snoop and your mum, well…"

"She's mum. Enough said."


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Four weeks later


Ron Apparated into Harry's sitting room with four bottles of wine in hand. His Quidditch team was in the British championship and he felt like celebrating again. Two nights ago, he and Harry really tied one on at the party and the poor chap passed out at The Burrow. Just wait until the Stag Night in a fortnight, Ron thought with a grin.

The house on Grimmauld Place was eerily quiet. Harry should be home already and Hermione had said Ginny had the night off. Ron looked around the room for any sign of Harry, but there wasn't even a carelessly flung rucksack lying about.

Ron took the stairs to the first floor and stopped to use the bathroom. A loud cracking noise at the foot of the stairs signalled Harry's arrival, soon followed by another. Oh good, Ginny's here, he thought. Stepping toward the door to leave the bathroom, he heard Harry's deep-throated laughter and stumbling up the stairs. Someone's body slammed against the bathroom door and he could hear their kisses and moans.

,i>Oh fuck, he thought. Damn it all to hell. He was stuck in the bathroom until they went to the bedroom. If they went to the bedroom.

"Harry, oh gods!" Ginny's voice was raw, making his skin crawl.

"Is this okay? We can do this, right?" What was Harry talking about?

Ginny laughed. "We have before. Come on. I've been horny all day."

Ron felt sick. This was his worst nightmare come true. He was losing the battle with his temper as he tried to count to ten.

"My, my, Harry. When did this happen? And how is our little friend this afternoon?" The sound of a zipper followed and Harry groaned. Ron threw up.

"Come here, wench." They stumbled away from the door and he could hear their laughter as they headed toward the bedroom. Looking at the pocket door that led to Harry's room, he heard the bedsprings as they undoubtedly fell onto the bed.

Seeing his chance to make a graceful and discreet exit, he went to the other door and reached for the knob. It wouldn't turn. "Alohomora!" He tried the door again. Nothing. "Alohomora!" Again, nothing. "You stupid piece of shit. Open up!" He was stuck, and in the worst possible place.

"Gods, Ginny, don't do that!"

Ron turned to the other door and winced. Please, let me out before this goes any further. He sat on the toilet, burying his face in his hands, and then covering his ears when the moans became louder and the bedsprings creaked again.

He cursed Harry Potter's caution, knowing he couldn't Disapparate. Spells had been set to confine Apparition to the ground floor. Harry liked his privacy and now he understood why.

"More, Harry, please! Oh fuck!" He could only imagine what Harry was doing to her and prayed that he'd be able to forget it soon.

Ron moved to the floor near the far door, careful not to make any noise. This was punishment for every mean thing he told Harry about being with Ginny; he finally understood why payback was a bitch.

"Beg me," Harry told Ginny, his voice deep and dangerous. "Beg me, Gin. I could stay down here all night."

Ron found some cotton wool and stuffed it in his ears. It didn't block everything, but he at least didn't feel sick anymore.

"Please, Harry. I need you!" Her muffled moans gave way to a little squeak.

There was a moan and an "I love you" and Ron closed his eyes tight against the mental images.

Quidditch. Think of Quidditch, Ron, he told himself. The Quidditch cup. Quidditch practice. Bludgers, Quaffles and Snitches. Three goals. Seven players. Gryffindor winning the Quidditch cup. World Cup. Sex with Hermione after winning. At that thought, he stopped thinking of Quidditch. The headboard started rattling against the wall and a scream drew his attention toward the bedroom, followed by a low, guttural moan. Ron was thankful they finished and hoped Harry had a long turn around time.

"Nasty, aren't we?" Harry said.

"Fabulous, I'd say."

"Are you okay?"

"Never better," Ginny answered and Ron heard them kiss.

"No, I mean…" Harry began.

"I know what you meant, Harry. We're fine."

What? What did she say? Ron took the cotton wool from his ears.

"The appointment's tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah. Four-thirty. You'll be there won't you?"

"Wild hippogriffs couldn't keep me away. Are you excited?"

"Definitely. I can't believe we're going to hear our baby's heartbeat!"

Ron finally realized what they were talking about and saw red. The little prick knocked her up! Oh, he is SO dead!

"You fucking bastard!" Ron threw open the pocket door to find a naked Harry half-lying across a naked Ginny. "What the fuck are you thinking, Harry? I trusted you!"

"Ron! What are you doing here?" She grabbed the duvet and clutched it to her chest.

"Ron, just listen to me, okay?" pleaded Harry.

"I really don't think I can listen to your shit tonight, Harry." Ron drew his wand and pointed it at his friend.

"Ron, put that away and listen to me…"

"Not now, Harry." Ron took off for the doors. "Fix your goddamn bathroom door!" He stomped down the stairs and Disapparated with a loud crack.

"Hermione!" He looked around her kitchen and spotted her purse. She hadn't left yet. "Mione, get your arse down here!"

"Ron? I thought you were at Harry's." She stared at him as he rifled through the cupboard, looking for his bottle of Firewhisky.

Ron opened the bottle and took a long, hard swig of the amber liquid. His mouth burned, but didn't care.

"What happened, Ron?" She took the bottle from him and set it on the counter. "Ron."

"She's pregnant! Little arsehole knocked her up. If Mum and Dad thought Charlie's mistake was huge, wait until they hear this one."

"Stop it!" She grabbed his cheeks and pulled his face to look at hers. "Tell me what happened."

Ron told her about the bathroom door, the sounds he heard, and the conversation afterward. By the time he finished, he felt beaten and drained.

Hermione just looked at him, unable to say anything.

"Finally found a way to shut you up, didn't I?" He took another swig of Firewhisky and left the room with the bottle, his only friend at the moment.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


One week later


Ron hadn't said a word to Harry since he left. This was worse than fourth year. He was getting married in four weeks and he didn't even know if he still had a best man, let alone a best friend. Ginny wasn't doing well either. She'd been sick the last couple of days and was going to see the midwife today; something just didn't feel right.

There was a green flash in the fireplace and he snapped out of his thoughts. It was Hermione.

"Hey, what's up?" He really didn't care.

"Get down to St. Mungo's. Now." She sounded frightened.

"What's wrong? Is it Ginny?" He waited for an answer, but none came. "Oh shit. The baby?"

"Harry, it doesn't look good." With those words, he closed the Floo and hurriedly Disapparated.

Once at the hospital, he ran up the stairs to the obstetrics floor in a panic, not caring that he caused several people to drop their papers or bags along the way. He flung himself through the door and looked down the hall for Hermione.

"Harry! Over here!" He turned in the direction of her voice, ran past Hermione and found Ginny lying on a bed, curled up in the fetal position.

No. Please, no. He touched her on the shoulder and she shrunk away from him.

"Ginny?" Tears streamed down his face as he knelt beside the bed, stroking her hair. "Ginny, honey. I'm here."

She sat up and he quickly wrapped her in his warm, loving arms. She cried onto his shoulder while he cried into her sweet-smelling hair. He sat on the bed next to her and continued to hold her as they cried, rocking her back and forth.

"Ginny…?" It was Molly. Hermione shushed her and took her into the hall. He could hear her curses, screams and tears through the door, and suddenly it was quiet.

"Ginny. I'm sorry." She looked up at him through messy hair and he kissed her like there was no tomorrow, filling her up with all the love he could find in his heart. "How are you?"

"Empty. I feel empty." She didn't need to explain. He understood. They'd both grown attached to the idea of the baby and now it was gone. Five short weeks is all he'd had with his baby.

"Harry, dear. The midwife wants to talk to her." He turned to see Ginny's mother standing there. I can't do this with her here.

"I'm not leaving, Molly. Please, leave us alone. I'm not up to a lecture right now, okay?"

"Harry…"

"Leave us alone!" He'd never raised his voice to her before, and regretted it almost immediately.

"Fine. Whenever you're ready." Her footsteps led back out the door, and he turned back to Ginny.

"Harry, I'm sorry, I really am." She touched his face, stopping a few tears that lingered. "Don't look so sad, Harry."

"I can't help it. I feel like I've lost a part of myself. Stupid, really." He stood up and turned away from her. "I mean, am I supposed to feel like this?"

"It's not stupid, Harry, and it's okay to feel sad and cry and grieve." He turned around to see the woman that he loved in a completely new light. She was stronger than he gave her credit for and she needed him more than ever. They sat there for what felt like hours, holding each other and rocking back and forth.

"Do you want to talk to your Mum now?" She nodded. "I'll be right outside if you need me. I love you, Ginny." He kissed her gently on the lips and went into the hall.

"She'll see you now, Molly. And I'm sorry." He had to fight to hold back the tears.

"For what, Harry?"

"For disappointing you. For keeping this from you. For being irresponsible. I'm sorry I yelled at you." She took two steps toward him and hugged him as he cried. "You're the only Mum I ever knew, and I hate that this happened." His tears stopped his words again.

"Harry, I don't claim to understand anything right now. I just want Ginny to be all right, and I know you do, too." She smoothed his hair and kissed his cheek. "I won't be long." She entered the room, and he could see through the window that she held her daughter in her arms and didn't say a word.

He walked down the hall, not looking at Hermione, anyone, or anything right now. He felt like a bomb had gone off in his heart and that no one could put the pieces back together. He found a soft armchair in a lounge and looked out the window into the pale London sky as he wiped his face with his sleeve. He didn't move for what seemed like hours, but in fact, it was only minutes. Someone was walking up behind him and he quickly wiped his eyes with his shirt again.

"Harry? You okay, mate?" It was Ron.

"Go away. Leave me alone." Why did I say that? I need to talk to him, but I just can't.

"No. You're my sister's fiancé and my best friend. I've been miserable."

"Good. Now go away," Harry said resolutely.

"I told you no. You need to listen to me." He came up next to him, standing right next to the chair.

"I don't have to do a fucking thing you want me to, Ron. For all I know this is all your fault!"

"That's not true, Harry." Ron was amazingly calm.

"Like hell it isn't!" He rose from the chair and stood in front of him. "Happy now? She's not pregnant any more. Thanks a lot for messing up my family before it even started."

"Harry, I didn't do anything! It's not my fault! How could it be?" Ron grabbed Harry's shoulders.

"Don't you remember threatening me in my own home? Don't you remember ignoring me for while your pregnant sister over there stopped sleeping and hardly ate a thing? Some friend. Now please, leave me alone!" His tears betrayed him again and he fell into his friend's arms as sobs shook his body. He stepped away, ashamed of himself for crying in front of Ron. He looked up when he heard a sob coming from Ron as well.

"Harry, I'm sorry. I was mad. I was shocked. I was hacked off at you. I feel bad enough about it now. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, okay?" Ron sniffed away his tears. "You'd be a great dad, you know that?"

Harry smiled. "Right. I get all blubbery in front of you and that's supposed to make me a great dad?"

"When was the last time you saw Charlie with Christopher? Or Bill with Paulie? They're men who tell people they love them, play 'Ring around the Rosie' with their kid, and hold a baby while he's sleeping just because they don't want to put him down. They look and act different. I saw that in you before I found out, Harry. You'll be great when it happens. I wouldn't want to miss it for anything."

Harry looked at Ron, wondering when he grew up. "Thanks. Want to see Ginny? I think you need to apologise to her."

"No doubt." The two of them walked back toward Ginny's room and saw Molly standing in the hall.

"Harry, can I speak with you now?" Harry felt his heart sink as she said those words.

"I guess. You go on ahead, Ron. I think I saw Hermione in there." Harry took a deep breath and faced his future mother-in-law.

"First of all, I wish you two would have told me. This is not something I wanted to learn this way." Harry nodded. "Then I want to apologize for not telling Ginny about the birth control. I think I was in denial."

"Biggest river in the world." Harry smiled.

"What?" Molly looked confused.

"Muggle expression. 'Denial isn't just a river in Egypt.'" They both laughed. "Ginny didn't want to disappoint you. We were going to tell you after the wedding." He ran his hand through his hair. "It wouldn't have mattered then."

"Harry, don't do this to yourself. It's no one's fault, although I think Ron feels some responsibility." He looked up at her. "Hermione told me. Arsehole."

"Molly!" He had never heard her swear before.

"I guess I've picked up a few bad habits." She smiled and hugged him again.

"Harry, Ginny wants to see you." He left the comfort of the embrace and walked back to the room.

"Hi. Did Ron apologize?" He sat on the edge of her bed, holding her hand. He pushed her hair back from her face with his free hand.

"Yeah. After I thought about it, it was rather comical, don't you think?" Her smile returned and he leaned forward to kiss her.

"I guess so. I never thought about it that way. Poor guy must have been going spare, listening to us. You make too much noise, Gin."

"Me? What about you? I seem to remember you getting a bit loud." They laughed together. "Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to have kids?" He looked in her eyes and lay down on the bed next to her.

"More than anything."

"Can we just forget the other methods the midwife told us about? After the wedding, that is?"

"What? But you'll…" She interrupted him with another kiss. Their kiss deepened and he pulled her close to him, caressing her back through the thin hospital gown.

"I don't care. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. I can't think of anything I'd rather do than have your babies, Harry. They'd be beautiful."

"Just like you."

"And you, Harry. You're gorgeous." Harry shook his head. He'd never understand this woman and he didn't think he ever really wanted to.