Disclaimer: I own nothing, just borrowing the world and characters thought up by J.K. Rowling and using some creative license to make some adjustments. Lorelei and Seraphina are mine.
Warnings: Language & references to sexual assault (nothing explicit)
Italics are character's internal thoughts and/or flashbacks.
A/N: I know I have far too many works in progress, but I got an idea and I had to run with it. This story starts the night of the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, June 18, 1996. This story will mostly focus on SS/OFC, but will also have some HP/DM and BZ/GiW.
Harry quietly shuffled down the dark stairs in the middle of the night at 12 Grimmauld Place. Destination: the kitchen. It had been a bad night…no, it had been a shit night. He was lured into a trap by Voldemort, nearly lost his Godfather to that psycho bitch Bellatrix, his friends had been hurt – albeit not fatally, thank Merlin - but worst of all, he had watched as darkness prevailed.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was the epitome of "light." He had fought against Gellert Grindelwald and won. He had helped Harry over the years fight against Voldemort. He was a mentor, a friend and Harry even considered him family. Now he was dead…and it was all Harry's fault.
Harry had been warned about the connection that he shared with Voldemort. The Headmaster himself had told Harry to try to keep the Dark Lord out as much as possible. He warned Harry that if the Dark Lord discovered the connection he could use that connection against him. He even arranged for Harry to have Occlumency lessons with the resident bat of the dungeons, Severus Snape. Not that it helped since Harry deliberately didn't follow the surly man's orders. In the end, Dumbledore had been right and Harry's arrogance and ignorance cost the man his life.
Harry blinked at the tears that were once again threatening to fall. He had only stopped crying a little under an hour prior and his cheeks were chapped beyond belief. The last thing he needed was to cry further.
Taking a deep breath, Harry gently shook his head of the thoughts that were never-ending, hoping a nice cup of hot cocoa in silence would help alleviate his mind of the jumbled thoughts. His hand had only just cracked the door to the kitchen when angered voices slipped out.
"You are not telling Harry anything, Snivellus!" Sirius snapped, his voice deep and angry.
"I don't take orders from you, Black. Perhaps, Lupin, you could mussel your mutt." Severus bit back. Harry could hear what sounded like an exasperated sigh from Remus. The kindhearted werewolf was no doubt standing between the two enemies.
"Mr. Potter has a right to know!" Minerva cut in, surprisingly on Severus' side.
Harry leaned closer into the door, ensuring he kept the door only cracked as to not alert the adults engaging in the heated discussion of his presence. A fleeting thought ran through his mind he should stop listening, or at least change into something more appropriate than his boxers and a gray t-shirt, but then again it was just after midnight, it wasn't like he was expecting to run into anyone.
"There's no proof, Minerva! Harry is already upset, he doesn't need Snivelly here making it worse." Harry's brows furrowed at his godfather's passionate tone. What were they talking about?
"It is true, Sirius Black. I examined the poor girl immediately afterwards." Is that Madam Pomfrey? Why is she here?
"James would never force himself on someone! Let alone that cursed Slytherin bint!" Sirius exclaimed passionately. Harry's jaw dropped. His father was being accused of rape?
Harry swallowed despite the overly dry sensation that was taking over his mouth. Hearing a scuffle, he pushed the door gently a little more, in time to see Severus lunge at his godfather and Remus pushing him away before turning to Sirius.
"Stop it, Padfoot!" Remus hissed loudly, looking back over his shoulder at Minerva who had a firm grip on Severus' arm. "If it's true, why are you just now bringing it up? Seraphina Serpens left school in 1976. Why bring it up now?"
"Because Albus put a memory charm on us." Minerva snipped. "I only recalled this just this evening after Albus was killed at the Dark Lord's hand. I contacted Severus immediately because if memory serves, it was him who caught James Potter violating Miss Serpens."
"He hated James! Of course Snivellus would say that to try to get him in trouble!" Sirius yelled, pulling out of Remus' grasp and pacing the floor agitatedly.
"Enough!" Poppy yelled in a shrill voice. "I examined the girl myself and I can say without a doubt that she was assaulted. She had all the physical and emotional injuries one would expect from a sexual assault."
Harry felt the bile rise in his throat. He knew his father had been somewhat of a bully in his Hogwarts days, but surely he'd never lay a hand on a woman. Let alone in such a disgusting fashion.
"Why didn't Sera press charges then?" Remus' voice was pained.
Severus drew himself up to his imposing height, eyes narrowing dangerously on the wolf. "She was not your friend, wolf, don't you dare call her Sera!" Harry flinched slightly at Severus' deep hiss.
"Surely you aren't buying into this, Moony!" Sirius scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Miss Serpens was forced to keep it quiet by the same man who ran her out of Hogwarts - Albus." Minerva sadly stated. She had been devastated when she heard Albus died, but the sadness was quickly overcome with anger and disbelief when years' worth of appalling memories began flooding back. None more appalling than the rape of 16 year-old Seraphina Serpens and Albus' cover up to protect James Potter.
"Why was she kicked out? I remember she didn't return to school after the holiday break, but no one ever said why." Remus couldn't believe his ears.
"Miss Serpens didn't get kicked out. She fled from the Headmaster and his demand." Poppy winced at the painful memory, turning her head away from the group in slight horror.
"Meaning what?" Sirius snapped, stopping his pacing to scowl at the mediwitch.
"She was pregnant, you idiot! I helped Sera run away because she was pregnant and refused Albus' demand that she abort the pregnancy. Apparently the Headmaster was not fond of the idea of one of precious Gryffindor's fathering a child with a Serpens." Severus seethed, clenching his fists to resist the urge to hex Sirius where he stood. The mutt was absolutely infuriating.
Shocked gasps escaped the mouths of Remus and Sirius, both men staring at Severus with agape jaws and wide eyes.
"What are you saying?" Sirius' voice was a pained whisper.
Harry opened the door fully, stepping into the kitchen and shocking the arguing adults.
"He's saying, Padfoot, that I have an older sibling somewhere out there." Harry calmly stated, turning his attention towards Severus. "Is that right, Professor?"
Severus stared at Harry in complete shock, though his face was impassive as always. How long had Potter been listening?
Sirius stepped forward with a sigh, placing his hands on Harry's shoulders. "Pup –"
"Is. That. Right?" Harry asked again, his voice strained and eyes pleading with his Potions Professor to just answer the damn question.
"Yes. Your brother or sister should be 19 sometime in mid to late July." Severus flatly replied with a nod of his head.
Harry shook his head with an unamused chuckle. "All this time I thought my father was such a great guy - "
"He was, Harry!" Sirius interrupted Harry, gripping his shoulders firmly. Harry roughly pushed his godfather away as the tears once again fell. He didn't even feel remorse when the man fell to the floor nor did he care about all the eyes that were looking on in concern.
"Did you know? Did you know he raped a girl? Did you know I had a brother or sister?" Harry spat in barely concealed disgust at the man who was his father's best friend.
"No! Merlin, NO!" Remus responded when Sirius failed to. The latter still sitting on the floor and staring at Harry in pained horror. "Harry, we didn't even know that Prongs even did what they are accusing him of."
Harry turned towards Poppy, who looked at him sadly. Her shaking hand was covering her mouth and her blue eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"You said you saw this…Sera…afterwards. Did my dad…" Harry trailed off into a shocked sob. He couldn't even say the words, it was too disgusting to even consider.
"I'm so sorry, Harry." Poppy softly responded.
"Did he?!" Harry yelled, clenching his fists.
"Yes. Miss Serpens was both physically and emotionally traumatized. I performed the pregnancy spell myself 2 weeks later. The spell confirmed she was indeed pregnant and a paternity charm confirmed James Potter was the father." Poppy informed him, finding some strength in her normal mediwitch role.
"Do I have a brother or a sister? Where are they? Why have they never come forward?" Harry railed at the stunned adults, looking between them frantically searching for answers.
"We don't know, Harry. We only just got our memories back a few hours ago." Minerva reached towards Harry to comfort the boy she had grown to care for greatly, flinching when he pulled away with a shake of his head.
"I was a friend to Sera during her Hogwarts days. I was the one who helped her run away and secured her a temporary location before Albus performed the memory charm on me. I will begin my search for Sera there. I will track her down, Mr. Potter." Severus calmly stated without his usual bite in his tone.
"How could he keep this from me? He knew what a family meant to me! He knew how much I wanted a sibling and he…he just kept it from me." Harry cried falling to the floor when his shaking knees finally gave way. Harry leaned forward, hiding his face in his arms as the pain consumed him, harsh sobs escaping his throat and body trembling in pain. He trusted Dumbledore with everything he had…only to find out he never even knew the man.