Ginny part 2
“So.” Ginny said. “What can I do to help?”
“I need help figuring out what to do with Delphini during the day.” He sighed, rubbing at his forehead. He’d never regret being a parent, but fuck was it hard.
“What have you considered so far?” She asked.
“Possibly having someone outside Hogwarts watch her, but I don’t know who I would even trust to watch her.” Harry admitted. “I’d rather die than leave her with Sirius and Remus considering their behavior right now.”
“Valid.” She snorted.
“Yeah, and there’s no one on ‘his side’ that I’d feel comfortable leaving her with. I wouldn’t want them to use her against me or hurt her because I’m her other parent.”
It was actually something he’d given a lot of thought to. If things had been different, Snape could have been an option, but he was too cruel for that. In another life, maybe the man could have been kind to him in memory of his mother. Maybe then, he could have entrusted him with his very heart, but he can’t; not when the man is bitter over what he lost and continuously takes it out on children. Harry understands to some degree, knows what it feels like to come from a home with a cruel man who hits, to a Hogwarts house that can’t truly comprehend the damage he’s been dealt, but they are not the same. In the end, Harry will never make the choices that led the other man to becoming bitter and cruel.
Bellatrix, of course, was never an option. Neither were her husband and brother in law. True, the reports of them torturing the Longbottoms were extremely exaggerated and inaccurate, he didn’t quite trust them. Regardless of their firm trust and loyalty to Voldemort, their potential reaction to Delphini’s other parent was too risky. Besides, they had spent too long in Azkaban to truly give them much of a consideration.
Narcissa, though, had potential. She shared the same blood as him and to be quite frank, was a badass, but her marriage to Lucius was rather offputting. He didn’t like the idea of his beloved child being anywhere near Lucius Malfoy, not when he couldn’t cover his tracks well enough to stay out of trouble. While Harry had absolute faith in Narcissa’s ability to keep quiet about Delphini, he didn’t trust Lucius’s ability to keep his mouth shut. He couldn’t risk entrusting him with her when he tended to brag about the gifts afforded to him, especially considering his already elevated position in the inner circle.
Peter Pettigrew was an absolute no. In fact, he had plans to kill the fucker after getting Sirius officialy cleared of all charges. Fenrir was a dead man- wolf? Being? Whatever-
“What about my mom?” Ginny asked hesitantly, pulling him out of his thoughts.
“I did think about it,” he admitted. “but I’d want to be there in a more controlled environment to introduce her, just in case she reacted badly.”
“I’d like to say she wouldn’t, but it is a valid concern,” she sighed. “You never know with Dumbledore.”
Harry snorted. “You can say that again.”
“So?” She gestured at him with a teasing smile, soft and happy in a way he hoped to oneday be. “Continue.”
“So if I want to stay at Hogwarts I need to find people to watch her during the day. Between Ron, Hermione, and I, we’ve got a couple of class periods covered each day but we’re struggling to cover all of them.” Harry said, brow furrowing. “So we were hoping you and maybe a couple others could help us cover the rest.”
“I would love to help watch my niece!” She said cheerily, leaning against him. “What periods do you need help with?”
“When are you available?” He asked, slumping in relief. Harry knew that she would help, knew that she would be understanding, but the confirmation was a comfort all the same.
“I have classes all morning.” She grimaced. “Not that I want to go to half of those.”
“Mood.” He snorted.
“I can do fifth period on Monday, not like I’ll actually learn anything in History of Magic.” She snickered. “I have a free period after that, so I’ll be good to watch her for both periods then.”
“Just don’t tell Hermione that I encouraged you to ditch class,” he teased. “She’d probably beat me.”
“Obviously not.” She rolled her eyes. “I can watch her during first period on Tuesday. It’s an open period for me, so I don’t mind.”
“I can also watch her during sixth,” Ginny continued. “HoM is definitely getting ditched.”
“That’s what I’ll be doing too.” His nose wrinkled. “There’s nothing valuable I could learn there.”
“For reals.” She said, moving to lean more comfortably on him. “I’m swamped on Wednesday, but I don’t have any classes sixth period.”
“Cool.”
“Thursday and Friday I have an open period for 3rd period and HoM for fourth period, but you know me.” She shrugged. “I’m down for ditching.”
“Well,” Harry sighed in relief. “This makes things a lot easier.”
“I didn’t even pick up that many shifts!” She leaned back against the couch. “You must be exaggerating.”
“Ginny, you’re available and willing to watch Delphini for seven periods.” He said with a small laugh, squeezing her hand. “Between Hermione, Ron, and I, we cover fourteen. That’s almost five classes each. You’re a blessing.”
“You’re going to make me blush.” She batted her eyes up at him, nudging him playfully.
“Oh shut up.” He snorted, pushing her off the couch.
“How many more periods do you need covered?” She asked, sprawling out on the floor.
“Nine.” Harry grimaced,
“Well, fuck.”
“Yeah,” he snorted. “My thoughts exactly.”
“So you’re going to ask the twins, right?”
“Obviously.” He grinned boyishly. “Think they’ll like her?”
“Of course. How could anyone not like something that came from you?” Ginny smiled, something soft and content, settled in a way Harry rarely saw. “She’s the first niece and grandchild so I hope you’re prepared for her to be hella spoiled.”
“Grandchild?” Harry asked, brow raised.
“I know you’re worried, but there’s no way in hell mom and dad aren’t going to accept you and Delphini.”
“You really think so?” He asked wistfully. He would love more than anything for Delphini to have grandparents who loved her regardless of her parentage.
“I do, I really do.”
“I sure as hell hope so, but I’ve got to get the twins on board first.” He grimaced.