Growing Pains

Chapter Six

"'Morning my beautiful wife," Harry mumbled as he rolled over, wrapping Ginny's warm body in his arms. 

"Mhm," she muttered, snuggling in close to his body. He planted a kiss on the top of her fiery red hair before releasing her body from his arms and gently lifting the covers as not to disturb her side of the bed. 

"Where are you going?" mumbled Ginny, rolling over on her back to look at Harry. Her eyes were squinted as they adjusted to the light of the room, and one side of her hair was mussed up and sticking all over the place, making Harry chuckle.

"Ginny, darling, it's Friday. I have to go to work. Because it's Friday," smarted Harry, and Ginny lifted a finger to show him her opinion of his comment. 

Harry laughed and shook his head as his wife flopped back down and rolled to her side, giving Harry the cold shoulder. 

"I love you too," he chuckled. 

A few minutes later, Harry stepped out of the closet to find Ginny curled up in the covers of the bed, hugging his pillow to her chest. She stared at him with her wide, doe-like eyes, and Harry gently sat on the end of the bed. 

They sat in silence for a few moments as Harry rubbed Ginny's legs through the comforter. Her eyes fluttered shut and Harry carefully stood up, kissed the top of her head, and quietly opened the door to their bedroom. Before he shut the door again, he peeked back in at his sleeping wife. She looked so peaceful and relaxed that Harry smiled to himself. He remembered a time when nobody looked like that, even asleep. 

But now, there was no more fear. Sure, there were still some former Death-Eaters that would act up every now and again, but that was why there were Aurors, like Harry and Ron. To take care of the few times where fear became a possibility. 

Harry smiled to himself once more and shut the door silently behind him. He quickly patted the pocket of his robes to make sure he had his wand before padding down the stairs and out the front door of their house, locking the door behind him. 

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Ginny's eyes fluttered open as she rolled to her side, automatically reaching for Harry's body. When she didn't find him lying beside her, she sat up quickly with fear before remembering he had already left for work. 

She stood up, stretching her arms above her head in attempt to relieve her sore back. Though she was only about two months pregnant, she was already getting the back pain all pregnant women complained about.

A dull pain throbbed through her abdomen, and she reached for her stomach automatically.

"Shh, hey now," she said, feeling stupid for talking to the baby already, knowing that he or she couldn't hear her.

Another dull cramp pulled at her stomach, but ended quickly. Ginny just dismissed this, and walked downstairs to the kitchen, fixing herself a piece of toast with strawberry jam on it. Her mother's strawberry jam from fresh picked strawberries (curtesy of The Burrow's garden) was one of Ginny's favorite things, and was showing to be one of the baby's favorite, too, because she was constantly craving it.

Another cramp came from her stomach, and she rubbed her belly as she ate the toast, frowning. Was this normal? She didn't want to make a huge fuss over something normal.

A knock at the front door echoed through the foyer. Ginny popped the last bit of toast in her mouth and hustled to the door.

She saw a flash of red hair through the window, and was surprised to see Percy standing on her front step.

"Perce! Come in!" Ginny said, shivering at the surprisingly cool September breeze.

Percy entered the threshold and handed Ginny a teddy bear wearing a yellow bowtie, and gave her a hug.

"Aw, thank you," she said, smiling at the stuffed bear.

Percy shrugged, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his long robes. "You and Harry gave Audrey and I the first stuffed animal for our nursery when Audrey was pregnant with Molly, so we figured we give you the first stuffed animal for yours."

"That's so sweet," Ginny gave her brother a hug, her eyes clouding with tears. Stupid hormones.

"Are you okay?" He chuckled, seeing her red-rimmed eyes.

"Ugh, these damn hormones! They're making me a mess of emotions, I'm telling you," she shook her head and laughed. Suddenly another pain ripped at her stomach, this one the worst of all.

"Ah," Ginny gasped, dropping the bear and gripping at her stomach.

"Ginny, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Percy asked immediately, placing one hand on her shoulder, the other on her arm that was clutching her stomach. He lowered his face to see hers, and his eyes were full of concern behind his horn rimmed glasses.

"M'fine," she said, standing up straight with a grimace, waving it off. "Probably just gas or constipation or some other stupid side-effect of pregnancy."

She wandered into the living room and started absentmindedly messing with the pillows on the sofas.

Percy followed after her quickly, and placed a firm hand on her shoulder, guiding her to sit down.

"Ginny, this isn't normal," he said after making sure she was comfortable on the couch.

"Perce, I'm telling you, I'm fine," insisted Ginny, standing back up. Percy sighed.

"Fine, then you won't mind telling Harry?"

Bingo.

He had gotten her. His stubborn sister was stumped for a moment before rolling her eyes and turning to him.

"Harry is busy at work, I would hate to disturb him," she said, but Percy saw the doubt in her eyes.

Suddenly, Ginny was doubled over again, crying out in pain. Percy rushed over to her.

"Bathroom," she gasped. Percy began to help her to the bathroom, but another pain came, and Ginny was no longer able to walk. Percy picked his sister up bridal style, and carried her to the bathroom just down the hall.

"Gin..." Percy began, but she held up her hand as he lowered her feet to the floor. She just gave him a worried, scared, look and shut the bathroom door.

A few moments later, she reappeared, her eyes misty and tears threatening to spill over.

"Percy... I'm bleeding...."

(A/N: EEK! DON'T KILL ME! Will the baby be okay, or is Ginny having a miscarriage?! Next chapter coming out soon! Hope you're enjoying it!)