With you in my Arms

38. Yeah, she is a natural in that department.

George was at his wits end. He had been holding his sister for the best part of two hours and was still not really sure what had happened to her.

"Ginny?" Stroking gently over her hair he pulled away just enough to be able to see her face. "What has happened to you? You have never been so distraught in all the years you have been my sister."

She gazed at him. Her eyes were red, puffy and still tear filled. She looked like the personification of all the world's misery.

"George?"

"Yes, Ginny?"

"You have to swear never to tell anybody about this. Please!" Her voice was pleading with him.

"I'm not going to say anything to anybody, sis. But maybe you should tell me what is actually going on here. Why are you home? Why have you not told anybody about it? Why does Harry NOT know that you're here? I mean, I would have thought he of all people would be the one..."

A huge sob escaped his sister. He felt utterly helpless. What did happen to her?

"Oh, George! I can't tell Harry what I've nearly done! He would want to never see me again."

His gaze wandered over her robes. She looked like always, but there was something... He couldn't lay his finger on it, but he knew that something was off. Seriously off.

"Tell me, Ginny. You know, I won't tell anybody."

Despair was the only emotion left on her face. He gently stroked over her hair and then let his thumb run over her tear wet cheek. They had never been as close as she had been to Ron. Fred and George had been mainly in the company of each other. Their bond had put up a barrier to their other siblings, but right in this moment George felt as close to his sister as he had ever felt to his twin brother.

"You swear never to tell anybody?"

"I swear."

She snuggled against him, feeling his arms around her. Bringing a bit protection from the harsh world of reality that was waiting for her.

"I've loved Harry since that morning mum let me come to King's Cross to see Ron off for the first time. It was hard to see him day in day out at school for all those years. He was always so close, but I never seemed to be able to reach him. Hermione told me once to just be my self and not to try to get his attention. Once he would be comfy for me to be around it would be easier for him to notice me and he did."

They both smiled as they remembered the victory party in the Griffindor common room where Harry had just got hold of Ginny and kissed her. Shocking Ron and making Hermione smile.

"It was hard when he was away looking for the Horcruxes. I was afraid he might be caught any day."

She looked at her brother. Deep compassion was showing on his face. He felt the pain his sister felt. He knew what it meant to be separated from people closest to him.

"I'm really proud that he loves me and wants me to marry him, but the evening before I left for France..."

"Your mind was not really able to keep cool enough to think about any consequences that night might have."

Ginny nodded.

"The captain of the Harpies was genuinely happy for me, when I told her the other day, but she also told me, that I couldn't play any longer. It was simply too dangerous. I could train with them, surrounded by magical protection, but it wouldn't be the same. She has suggested that I go back to school and then come back next year. They'll hold my place for me."

"That's great, Ginny. So you'll get your N.E.W.T.s and still be going back to playing Quidditch next year."

"Yes. I really liked that idea as well. I have owled McGonagall and she asked me to come to Hogwarts the day after tomorrow for a chat."

There was a moments pause.

"You will have to tell Harry, sis."

She looked somewhat crestfallen. "I know."

"Just imagine him keeping something important like this from you."

She hid her face against his chest.

"You will tell him, Ginny!" There was a rather stern note in his voice.

In this very moment the young witch knew how her friend had been feeling. Hermione had been trying her best not to let Malfoy know that he was going to be a father. In the end she had to face up to him and confess. Wouldn't it be smarter, if she didn't make the same mistake her friend had tried to make and told the wizard she loved about it as soon as possible? She knew that it would be the smartest move.

"I'm just a bit scared he won't be able to cope with more morning sickness and an utterly upset Kreacher. When Hermione was staying at Grimmauld Place it was pretty hard going at times."

"He'll be just fine. Don't worry. He'll know that it is his son or daughter he is waiting for this time and not the child of another guy."

"I know, you're right, but I'm still scared."

"No need to be scared. He will be ecstatic about it. Might take him a while to realise what it means that he's going to become a dad, but he'll be loving you even more."

"I hope, you are right, George."

"I know that I'm right, sis."

He held her tight for another long while wondering what their parents would say once they found out that their youngest and only daughter was going to provide the next grandchild for them.