With you in my Arms

46. "Don't get any ideas!"

Headmistress McGonagall was surprised to say the least that a healer from St. Mungo's had been asking to see her. Sitting behind the desk she had seen Dumbledore sit behind for years she was wondering, what the healer had so urgently to discuss with her. She frowned. It still felt a bit alien to her, even after more than a year in the position as head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to now regards this as her office and living quarter.

For a moment she was wondering, if the visitor that was sitting in her office now, had come because of Potter having dragged Miss Weasley off somewhere during her last Hogsmead visit. She had been rather concerned when she received an owl explaining to her afterwards that the life of the girl might be in danger and that it was necessary to have her checked in St. Mungo's.

The man perched on the edge of the comfy chair in front of the desk had looked familiar from the moment he had stepped into the office. It had taken her only about half a heartbeat to remember him. He had been a troublemaker and rule breaker on a grant scale, but it seemed that somehow he had chosen a profession she would have never thought suitable for him. A healer in the specially formed Suicide Squat, as it was known.

"So, Mr. Stranelli, Healer Stranelli, how can I help you?"

He took a deep breath before answering.

"I have come in order to speak to you about Ginny Weasley."

Minvera McGonagall was fearing for the worst and her hand flew to her mouth. Nico saw it and tried to quickly explain.

"She is okay. Nothing has happened to her. Well, that is not quite right." Another deep breath. "She has been curse when she was in France with the Harpies. She had the misfortune to stumble across Lucius Malfoy..."

"He's in Azkaban! She can't have met him!"

"Believe me, Professor, she has met him and he cursed her. A very powerful and cleverly modified memory charm. She can't remember having met him, she can't remember having been cursed and she breaks out in cold sweat with just his name being mentioned. There is also the... her being pregnant."

"Yes, I was rather astounded as I heard that Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter hadn't been more careful."

"Well, they were."

He was rewarded with a confused look by his previous teacher.

"What do you mean, Mr. Stranelli?"

"Lucius Malfoy needed to make sure that she left France. ASAP. So, one part of the curse implied her being pregnant. Which would mean her being sent home as playing Quidditch would be out off the question."

"So, you are saying she only thinks she's pregnant."

"She is as convinced about it as she could be. Even if it would be true, her feelings about it wouldn't be any stronger."

He could see that it cost the Professor all her imagination to get her head around the information she had been given.

"Mr. Stranelli, I think we both know that certain... physical changes take place, once a girl is expecting a baby. How can she display these changes, if..."

"Very powerful magic. All magical tests came up positive. It was only went I used a Muggle test that what I had suspected was confirmed."

"This is horribly. The poor girl."

"I have brought her to her parents. What she now needs is familiar faces around her. Rest and loving care will help the most."

"I'll inform the Minister and the Auror Office about this."

"I have just spoken to the Minister. He will take care of everything."

"Good." It was obvious that the headmistress was relieved. Though there was still worry showing in her eyes.

"Shaklebolt thought that it would be best, if she returns here in a day or two. If he finds out that his escape has been discovered he might try and get rid of any witnesses..."

There was no need for him to spell out what would happen, if Lucius Malfoy got hold of Ginny after having learned that she had been able to convey his whereabouts even so he had tried his best to prevent it.

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Harry sat on the bed in Ginny's room. She was huddled against him. His arms encircled her body tenderly. The sobbing had stopped half an hour ago, but he didn't want to let go of her. There was something that she needed to tell him, badly. So far she didn't seem to have been able to do it. He sighed.

Nico had been very kind and re-assuring as he had collected her earlier. Empathising the necessity for her to be with people that loved her right now. Her parents had been worried sick when they learned of her having been cursed. As soon as she felt up to it one of the top Curse Breakers the Auror Office had at its disposal was going to remove the magic that had been placed upon her.

It took him a moment before Harry realised that the girl in his arms was actually looking at him. Her face showed the signs of her crying for ages only too clearly. He gently kissed her forehead.

"Harry..."

"Yes, Ginny?"

"You really want this baby, don't you?"

He opened his mouth to answer and found he couldn't. Of course he wanted the baby. It might not have been planned and it was frightening him senseless to think what could happen to her, but he was also very proud to become the father to her child, their child.

"Yes, Ginny, I really do want us to have this baby. I know, everybody is saying that we should have waited and all that, but I don't care." Another gentle kiss was placed on her temple. "We'll get through everything life can throw at us."

"Even not having a baby?"

He frowned. What was she talking about? Then fear gripped his heart. Was it...? That monster...?

"What are you talking about? Was it...?" He didn't dare say it out loud.

To his utter surprise she smiled at him and her fingers ran over his cheek.

"No, Harry, don't worry. Nothing ever happened. It's part of the curse."

"What? Becoming pregnant and then, somehow, being not pregnant any longer?"

He was at a complete loss.

"There never was a baby. It was part of the spell to prevent me from staying in France. Some excuse for me to go back to England."

"What!"

She nodded. The young wizard was seething with anger. Should he ever get hold of that evil bastard he would be begging for death once he was finished with him. The next moment all colour drained from his face. Hermione! Did she know what was going on?