Chapter 3 The Fallout
Harry and Hermione walked downstairs to find Arthur, Molly, Fred, George, and Fleur in the living room.
'Where have you been?' Molly demanded. 'Ginny's waiting, the guests have been sitting out in the sun for two hours. What have you been doing?'
'Easy, Molly, he's probably just nervous,' Arthur said, trying to soothe his wife.
Molly scowled but it was Fleur Harry was looking at. The part-veela was sniffing the air and her eyes widened as they fell on Harry. Hermione rushed to the woman and whispered in her ear. Fleur nodded and disappeared outside.
Hermione looked at Harry worriedly and he groaned. So Fleur knew... he'd always heard that veelas had an excellent sense of smell. The pregnancy must have changed his scent or something.
And then to make matters worse, Remus and Sirius stepped in.
'Harry, what's...'
Remus trailed off and his eyes widened. He marched to Harry and stuck his face straight into the boy's neck, taking a huge breath.
'Oh, Harry,' he sighed.
'What?' Molly demanded.
'What is it?' Sirius asked.
'Do you want us to stay?' Remus asked.
'No, you'd better go,' Harry said.
'Are you sure?' the werewolf asked, confusion, hurt, and sympathy written across his tired face.
'Yeah, just go,' Harry said.
'What's going on?' Sirius demanded. 'Why would we leave?'
'I think we'd better go, Sirius,' Remus said. He grabbed Sirius' arm and said, 'Harry, come straight home after.'
Harry nodded and watched as Remus dragged his godfather from the room to go find Tonks and Teddy.
'What's going on?' Molly demanded. 'Don't you want them at your wedding?'
'I have to talk to Ginny,' Harry said, ignoring Molly's question.
'You can't,' Arthur said.
'It's bad luck,' Molly added.
Being pregnant with another man's baby is probably worse, Harry thought. He ignored the Weasleys, Fred and George eyeing him with confusion, and marched to the room Ginny was waiting.
Hermione went with him and Harry said, 'Just... give me a minute, yeah?'
'Okay,' she nodded. 'Call me if you need me.'
Harry smiled at her, Hermione giving him a sympathetic look, before the green-eyed Gryffindor opened the door and went in.
Ginny turned from the mirror she'd been staring at. Harry had to admit she looked beautiful; she was wearing a stunning white gown with cream-coloured patterning, a low cut neckline, and short sleeves. It fell to the floor in waves and covered the 'killer shoes' Ginny had shown him.
Her red hair was pinned back and wavy strands fell to frame her beautiful face. She was wearing only a little bit of makeup; pink eyeshadow, black eyeliner, and a dusting of blush. Her brown eyes stood out wonderfully and she gave Harry a hesitant smile.
Yes, she was beautiful. But Harry didn't find her sexually attractive. He compared her to the father of his baby and... yes, Harry was definitely gay.
'Harry, it's bad luck,' Ginny said, 'what are you doing here?'
'We need to talk.'
Ginny nodded and Harry gestured to the seats in the corner. He and Ginny sat down and he sighed, pulling his dress robes aside.
'What's wrong?' Ginny asked gently. 'I know you're nervous, Mum's been a right terror.'
So have you, Harry thought. 'Well... something's happened,' he said slowly.
'What?'
Harry sighed. 'Ginny, I don't know how to say this.'
'Just say it,' the youngest Weasley said.
He groaned. 'Fine. We can't get married.'
Ginny jumped in her seat. 'Excuse me?'
'We can't get married, I can't do it.'
'But... Harry, it's our wedding day,' Ginny said. 'Of course we can get married.'
'We can't.'
'But... we've planned this for months,' Ginny said. 'It's all paid for, all our guests are here.'
'I know and I'll send all the gifts back, I'll pay back your mum and dad,' Harry said.
'Harry, we love each other,' Ginny said and bit her lip gloss covered lip.
'I know we do,' Harry sighed. But not in the same way, he thought. 'Believe me, Gin, I wish we could get married but... we just can't.'
'Why?' Ginny asked, tears pricking at her eyes. Harry looked away; he didn't want to make her cry.
But there was nothing he could do.
'Something... something's happened,' Harry said. 'I can't do this.'
'What?' Ginny demanded. 'Is it someone else?'
'No,' Harry said quickly before thinking of the baby growing in his womb. 'Um... kind of.'
Ginny jumped to her feet and towered over him, Harry sliding back in his seat. 'Who?' the red-head demanded. 'Who the fuck is it, Harry? Lavender? Cho? Hermione?'
'What? No, it's not another witch.'
'Don't bullshit me!' Ginny snarled. 'Tell me who it is so I can kill her after we get married.'
'We're not getting married,' Harry tried again.
'But I don't care,' Ginny said, quickly cupping his face. 'I don't care, Harry, you were just... tired, stressed, curious,' she said. 'We can still get married, I forgive you.'
Harry couldn't believe it. Ginny was really willing to forgive him for sleeping with another person? What was wrong with her?
'Gin-'
'I forgive you.'
'It wasn't another witch,' Harry said, pushing her hands aside. Ginny frowned. 'I... I slept with another man.'
Ginny's mouth dropped open and she stared.
'Um... Ginny?' Harry said when she failed to speak for a few minutes.
'WHAT?' the witch screeched.
Harry winced and stood, taking a step away. 'I slept with another wizard,' he said.
'WHEN?' Ginny demanded.
'Um... on my birthday.'
Ginny's eyes darkened and her fingers curled into fists. 'At that fucking Ministry party?' Harry nodded. 'Why?' she asked.
'I... I was pissed off,' Harry said, 'and I had a bit to drink and... I ended up f-flirting with someone. It got way out of hand, I never meant to do it.'
'But you did!' she shouted.
Harry wondered why sleeping with another witch was okay, but not another bloke.
'I'm sorry, Ginny,' Harry said. 'I never wanted to hurt you.'
Ginny was breathing heavily and she closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly. 'Fine,' she said, 'so you slept with a man... that's fine.'
'F-Fine?' Harry said.
She nodded. 'Was it just that one time?'
'Yes,' Harry said, 'honestly, Ginny, that was the only time I've ever...' He trailed off, not wanting to tell her he'd lost his virginity to a one night stand.
'Fine,' Ginny repeated and opened her eyes. 'We can still get married.'
Harry's mouth fell open. 'What?'
'It just happened once, yes?' Harry nodded. 'So we can get married,' Ginny said. 'I'll forgive you, Harry, but it won't happen again.'
'Ginny,' Harry said and rubbed his face. He felt desperately tired and just wanted to go back to Grimmauld Place and sleep. 'We can't.'
'Yes we can,' Ginny insisted. 'You told me, I forgive you, end of story.'
'Ginny, I'm gay.'
The red-head scowled at him. 'Having sex with a man one time doesn't make you gay.'
'It does when you want to do it again,' Harry said.
'No, I can make you happy,' Ginny said. 'You've never had sex with a woman, how do you know you won't like it?'
'I know I won't,' Harry insisted. 'The thought terrifies me, Ginny, I'm not attracted to women.'
'Since when?'
'Well... since forever, I suppose,' Harry said. 'I just never had time to realise it. I was so worried about Voldemort and so much other stuff, I didn't have time to think about my sexuality.'
'But you kiss me, you touch me,' Ginny said.
'Only when you initiate it,' Harry said. 'It's never been really comfortable.'
'Oh, so I disgust you?'
'No,' Harry said, 'just your body.'
That was the wrong thing to say. Ginny's face darkened and she went for her wand. 'YOU FUCKING PRAT!' she shouted. 'HOW DARE YOU!'
Harry backed up quickly and the door burst open. Hermione ran into the room and flicked her wand. Ginny's went flying from her hand and Hermione caught it.
'What are you doing?' Molly demanded, having run in after Hermione. Arthur, Fred, and George were all crowded behind her.
'GIVE THAT BACK!' Ginny shouted.
'No, you can't curse him,' Hermione said. Harry realised she was thinking of his baby and threw her a thankful look.
'I'LL CURSE HIM ALL THE FUCK I WANT!' Ginny screamed.
'What's going on?' Molly demanded.
'HARRY WON'T MARRY ME!' Ginny shouted and glared at her fiance... ex-fiance... whatever.
'What?' Molly gaped. 'Harry, I know you're nervous, but you can-'
'He cheated on me,' Ginny told them.
All eyes were on Harry and he gulped.
'You did what?' Arthur asked.
'With a bloke, apparently he's gay,' Ginny snarled.
'G-Gay?' Arthur gasped, eyes widening as they settled on Harry.
'We knew it!' the twins shouted and got a few glares for their words.
'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to,' Harry said.
'Oh, so your cock just slipped into another guy, did it?' Ginny demanded.
Harry winced but couldn't help saying, 'Other way around.'
'No wonder you refused to sleep with me!' Ginny growled. 'You'd rather a cock up your arse!'
'Ginny, there's no reason to swear,' Molly said before rounding on Harry. 'Harry, dear, let's be serious, okay? I know you're nervous but that's no reason to make up lies-'
'I'm not lying!' Harry cut her off. 'On my birthday I went to that Ministry thing, flirted with a guy, and slept with him.'
'Harry, please,' Molly said, voice condescending.
She's delusional, Harry thought before saying, 'I'm serious. I'm gay and I let a guy fuck me; it was great, I loved it.'
Hermione moved to Harry's side and grabbed his arm, ready to apparate them. The Weasleys had removed the wards to allow family members to apparate and disapparate and that included Harry and Hermione.
'You can't be serious,' Molly said.
'Harry, please,' Arthur added.
'You're marrying my daughter,' Molly insisted, 'no matter what mistakes you've made. We'll forget this ever happened if you just get married.'
'I can't,' Harry tried. 'Please, you have to understand.'
'I can forgive you, Harry, I know I can,' Ginny said, anger suddenly gone to be replaced by begging.
Harry shook his head. 'No.'
'You have to tell them,' Hermione hissed.
They were all staring at him; Ginny and Molly pleading, Fred and George smirking, and Arthur glaring.
Harry sighed and rubbed his eyes. 'Fine, you want to know why we can't get married?' he asked Ginny. She nodded and he said, 'I'm pregnant.'
There was silence, everyone looking stunned, even the twins.
'I can't marry you, Ginny,' Harry continued. 'I cheated on you, I'm gay, and I'm pregnant with another man's baby. There, now you know.'
Molly whipped her wand out, shrieking, 'YOU LITTLE-'
She didn't get a chance to finish. Hermione disarmed her, dropped Ginny's wand, and disapparated with Harry. Ginny had lunged for them and fell on the floor in a heap.
'NO!' she screamed and slammed her fists into the floor. 'NO, HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MINE!'
'What's happening?' Ron asked, shuffling up behind Fred and George. he watched as Mollly and Arthur both comforted a now wailing Ginny.
'Oh, little brother,' Fred said with a shake of his head.
'You miss all the best moments,' George added.