MetaFic

Ginny never found out exactly what the whole story was.

She hadn't been allowed to leave the hospital for a week, and even then Madam Pomfrey had loaded her down with enough chocolate to feed all of Gryffindor for a month, so she'd missed the chaos that ensued after the attack on the school.

What she did know was that Minister Fudge was no longer Minister. She knew that it had something to do with the attack on the school and something her brother Percy had discovered in the Ministry files by accident. She knew that Dumbledore had turned the position down again. She knew that, with Dumbledore’s backing, Amos Diggory had been installed as Minister of Magic and was keen to crush Voldemort’s uprising. She knew her father had been placed in charge of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

These changes effectively released Ginny and Harry from their exile. Dumbledore had them continue staying in their own rooms, but they were now free to be with the other students as much as they wished. They had immediately invited several of their friends to their rooms for a visit. Ron had offered the Captaincy of the Gryffindor Quidditch team back to Harry, but Harry had turned it down, telling Ron he didn't miss the responsibility and thought Ron was a better Captain than he had ever been.

As far as Ginny was concerned, things were looking up.

After her release from the hospital, Harry refused to leave her side for more than few scant moments. The knot of Gryffindor protectors tightened around her so much that she finally pulled Ron aside and warned him that if she didn't get some breathing room she would be very annoyed at him personally. The Gryffindor Honor Guard remained, but they stayed at a discreet distance.

When the Christmas Holiday finally came, Ginny found it a blessed relief that the only Gryffindors staying were her, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and a first year named Amber. The older students adopted the little girl, whose Auror parents were currently missing, making sure that she wasn't left alone more than necessary.

Neville's girlfriend Susan Bones was also staying, which gave Ginny an opportunity to get to know the shy girl who had won Neville's heart. Susan was the only Hufflepuff staying over this year, so she had taken to eating with them in the Great Hall over break.

The only other student staying was the enigmatic Slytherin, Daphne Greengrass. During breakfast on the third day of the holiday, Amber had innocently approached the standoffish girl with the purple hair, pale skin, and dark makeup and invited her to sit with them. While Ron and Harry had initially been uncomfortable with the Slytherin, Ginny had engaged the young woman in conversation easily and found herself enjoying Daphne's droll wit and slightly dark humor. By the end of the day it was decided that Amber, Daphne and Susan would spend the rest of holiday in the rooms Harry had been assigned but hadn't used all year. The girls had graciously agreed to allow Neville to sleep on Harry's couch.

On Christmas morning Ginny woke to something different. It took her a minute to realize what the problem was.

She was wet.

It took her still foggy brain another minute to process why this would be. She sat up quickly and shook her fiancé.

"Harry! Harry wake up!"

"Um huh um, yeah."

"Come on Harry, get up. Harry I'm serious, it's time. My water broke."

Harry snapped awake and sprang into action. They had planned for this and even done drills at Hermione’s insistence. In only a few moments Harry gathered up all of the things Ginny would need. He put everything together in a carry bag. He then ran next door to alert the others. He sent Amber to fetch Ron and Hermione and then headed at full speed to the hospital wing.

Daphne and Susan had just finished helping Ginny into some clean clothing by the time Harry returned for the mother of his child, whom he had forgotten in his haste to get her to the hospital.

When at last they arrived, Madam Pomfrey was already prepared. Ron and Hermione were there, and Hermione told Ginny her mother had been contacted and was on her way. Ginny nodded at her friend, but she really wanted to be lying down as the contractions were starting to become a bit bothersome.

By the time Molly Weasley arrived, Ginny's contractions were more than just bothersome. Molly and Harry were the only ones Madam Pomfrey allowed in the birthing area she had created just for Ginny.

Harry, looking a bit green, had taken Ginny's hand. Luckily for him it was the hand he didn't write with, because the harder and faster the contractions came, the more she squeezed.

"Very good, Miss Weasley, only another push or two." Madam Pomfrey sounded calm and serene, as if she assisted births everyday.

Her mother smiled down at her."You're doing wonderfully, dear, almost there."

Ginny gritted her teeth, crushed Harry's fingers some more, and pushed again. "AHHH. I CAN'T DO IT!!! I CAN'T!" she panted.

"Just one more good push, Miss Weasley," the medi-witch assured her.

"You can do it Gin,” Harry coached.

"SHUT UP, POTTER! THIS IS ALL YOUR STUPID FAULT! YOU DID THIS TO ME! I HATE YOU! AHHH!"

Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a smile to reassure him and then turned back to her daughter. "One more, darling, just one more."

Ginny gave one last long push and then felt something give. She laid her head down on the pillow, closed her eyes in exhaustion and waited for her heartbeat and breathing to return to normal.

Ginny heard a tiny voice squalling. She tried to sit up but couldn't. Harry helped her raise herself up a bit. Her mother handed her a well-wrapped bundle with a tiny pink face. "You have a beautiful daughter." The older Weasley woman beamed at the new parents.

Madam Pomfrey came back with a quill and piece of parchment. "Do you have a name picked out?"

"Melinda," Ginny whispered as she regarded her daughter through the tears in her eyes. "Melinda Ann Potter."

*****

Ginny's mother had insisted on staying for the first two nights. She might have insisted on staying longer, but Ginny assured her that she had sufficient help. Molly had looked at the purple haired Daphne a bit suspiciously, but she had known Susan Bones' parents well and trusted their daughter had inherited their good sense. Of Hermione she had no doubt.

It did, however, become apparent to Ginny that she and Harry would need help when school started. They discussed it with their friends, and the decision was made that Ginny and Harry would need to hire someone to help them, at least until term ended. Remembering a conversation earlier in the year, she talked to Katie Bell, asking her if she could perhaps recommend someone.

The day before classes started, Katie showed up at their door with her bags in her hand and wouldn't take no for an answer.

Melinda Potter had her new nanny.