The First I've Heard of You

Chapter Six

Everyone who had already heard was silent, waiting for the reactions of those who hadn't, and everyone who hadn't seemed too stunned to speak. That or no one wanted to be the first one to yell at her. That's what Ginny thought anyway.

Finally, Ginny's youngest brother spoke up. "Who's is she?"

"She's mine." Ginny shifted her daughter in her arms. "I just said that."

"You know what I mean. Do you have a boyfriend or husband or something?"

"Not anymore. Ron, think about how long ago I left, then think about how old she is."

The room was silent for another time, everyone either thinking or too nervous to make assumptions. "Is she Harry's?" Bill walked over to his sister, who had set her daughter down. Brynlee was feeling a little more comfortable around the curious family, especially around her "Uncle Billy" who she had met before.

"That would explain the not-Weasley red hair." Charlie spoke for the first time.

"You're right." Molly came over and got down to Brynlee's level. "She looks like Lily." The older woman looked up at her daughter. "Except with your eyes, Ginny. She's beautiful."

"Thank you mum. Anyway, she's why I left. Harry and I broke up right after I found out I was pregnant and I ran." Ginny took a breath, still aware of her family, including all her nieces and nephews, watching her every move. "Bryn, why don't you go meet your aunts and uncles?"

Brynlee nodded eagerly and ran up to Percy first. "Interesting choice," George commented, causing his siblings to snigger. Brynlee was oblivious.

"Hi!" The small redhead began. "I'm Brynlee, but my friends at school call me Bryn."

"Hi Brynlee, I'm your Uncle Percy. I think you met Molly and Lucy, those are my daughters." Ginny hated to admit it but she actually loved how Percy talked to her daughter. It was soft and comforting.

"Gramma Molly is your daughter?" Brynlee's eyes widened in amazement as everyone chuckled.

"No, little Molly is. There's two of them. I know it's a bit confusing."

"Wait, Gin. Why does she sound American?" Ginny had been waiting for someone to notice her daughter's accent. Of course it was her sister-in-law and best friend who noticed.

She took a breath. "That's where she's lived her whole life. I never lost my accent but since she grew up there, she sounds pretty American."

"Why would you go to America?" Arthur questioned, scooping Brynlee up to sit on his lap.

"It might seem irrational now but at the time I had to get as far away as possible, and I had connections there." Her family all looked hurt and she realized how it had sounded. "I promise none of you were the problem. I don't feel like I owe you all an explanation as to what in my relationship made me bolt, but I can tell you that you all didn't have anything to do with it."

"I guess what's important is that you're back now." Ginny was glad someone finally broke the silence. The young mother nodded, swallowing hard, though she couldn't bring herself to believe that that was truly what mattered to her family.

"Who's back now?" Ginny turned, a voice she hadn't heard in five years was coming from the doorway. She looked up and stared momentarily into his green eyes, registered his look of shock, and bolted.

"Ginny!" and "Mama!" A chorus of people called out to her. Ginny cringed. She loved her daughter and would never deny her, but she really had hoped she would be the one to tell Harry about her. Maybe he hadn't heard. The witch refused to turn around. She couldn't face him. Not in front of her family at least. Ginny had spent so much of her time preparing herself to see her family again that she hadn't devoted as much attention as she should have to what it would feel like to see him again. Five years ago, she would have counted on hearing his footsteps run out into the yard behind her, but now she wasn't so sure that he'd follow.