Harry Potter and the Unexpected Family
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe. It belongs to JK Rowling.
Warnings/Author's Notes: This story contains the depiction of corporal punishment and a homosexual relationship. If either of these subjects bothers you, please read something else.
Pairings: Sirius/Remus with reference to Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny
Reviews: Always welcome
Chapter 1: A Secret
Pearl Midgewater glanced over her shoulder nervously as she walked down her street at a brisk pace. Her heart was beating so fast, but she had to remain calm. If the Death Eaters behind her realized that their cover was blown, they would move in faster, and she wouldn't have an opportunity to protect the secret that she was sure they were after. She opened the gate and turned into the front garden of her home, hurrying up the path to the door. She took one last, casual look around, scanning the street, before going inside.
"Kressy!" she called as soon as the door was closed and bolted.
"Mistress Pearl call Kressy?" squeaked the little house elf that came scurrying into the foyer.
"Where's Aethra?" Pearl asked as she hurried past Kressy towards the study.
"Nursery, Mistress. She in the nursery," Kressy replied. "What is wrong? Mistress Pearl is upset! Yes she is!" Kressy was the best house elf Pearl had ever heard of. She was loyal, obedient, and generally cheerful, but when she became anxious her voice became exceptionally shrill and when Pearl was anxious herself, it wore on her patience.
"Kressy, get the emergency bag together," she instructed. "They are outside. It's time for Aethra to leave." She'd been thinking about that fact ever since it was clear she was being followed, but it wasn't until she said the words to Kressy that she realized how much the fact hurt her.
"Ooooooooh!" Kressy wailed, but she didn't argue or fret to Pearl. She disappeared up the stairs faster than Pearl had ever seen an elf move.
Pearl meanwhile stoked the fire. Aethra would have to travel by floo as soon as possible.
"Go, Miss Aethra, Go!" Kressy squeaked as she chased the brown haired four year old down the stairs.
Aethra was frowning. "Why?" she asked, hurrying over to Pearl. "Kressy's bein' pushy," she accused the house elf with a little frown.
Pearl smiled but at the same time she felt her eyes beginning to burn with tears. "Aethra, you're going on a little trip," she said, ushering the little girl to the fireplace.
"Where?" Aethra asked curiously, looking confused as Pearl put the emergency knapsack on her back.
"The Burrow," Pearl replied as she filled Aethra's little hand with floo powder. She knew that Aethra was neither invited nor expected in the Weasley's home, but Pearl just didn't know where else to send the little girl in an emergency and since the fall of Voldemort, she was pretty sure that the family would have removed the strongest protection charms from their home.
Aethra nodded, stepping up to the fire. "You're coming too, right?" she asked hopefully.
Pearl's heart broke. "I can't, darling," she replied. "I will come get you just as soon as I can." Something inside of Pearl knew she was lying, though. It was entirely likely that Pearl would never see Aethra again.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Pearl's heart practically stopped beating.
"Ohhhhhhh!" Kressy squeaked.
"Go, Aethra," Pearl urged. "Nice and loud, dear. Say 'The Burrow'."
Aethra looked doubtful, but she nodded and obeyed. "The Burrow!" she exclaimed, throwing the floo powder down. There was a flash of green flame and she was gone.
Pearl didn't have time to muse over her departure, though. The knocking became a more insistent banging. "Kressy, escape," she said. "You know what to do?"
Kressy nodded. "Oh, Mistress Pearl!"
"Go, Kressy!" Pearl insisted.
Kressy disappeared just before the door was kicked in.
Pearl pulled out her wand and prepared to defend herself.
Harry Potter was sitting at the Weasley's kitchen table playing wizard's chess with Ron, trying not to die of boredom. It was strange. He'd spent seven years either worrying about Voldemort, avoiding Snape, or trying to survive the everyday dramas of going to Hogwarts. With neither school nor stopping evil to occupy his mind, he found himself inexplicably bored to tears.
"Honestly," Hermione said from beside Ron. "That is the fourth game you've played today."
"What else are we supposed to do?" Ron asked her before kissing her cheek. He was doing mushy stuff like that a lot, and even though it had been a year since refusing to be in a relationship with Ginny, Harry was painfully reminded again of what he was missing.
Hermione smiled lovingly at Ron before resuming her usual academic air. "You could start getting caught up on your studies," she suggested.
Harry wrinkled his nose at that. "I don't think I get your meaning," he said. "I mean, what is there to get caught up on?"
Hermione sighed with mild exasperation. "Honestly, what do you two plan to do with the rest of your lives? Play chess?! You still need to take your NEWTs next year and for that you'll need to study."
"We learned a lot this last year and I think we all deserve an automatic perfect score in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Besides, how're we going to take exams now that we're eighteen? It's not like there's an eighth year." Ron argued. "Bishop to knight three."
Harry groaned as Ron's bishop slid forward to clobber Harry's knight.
"Check mate," Ron added with a grin.
Hermione shook her head. "We only learned a lot if we're going to be aurors."
Harry smiled. "That's what I have in mind," he reminded her, though he knew perfectly well that he was neglecting to think about the other subjects he was supposed to need for Auror work.
"Well it isn't what I have in mind," Hermione asserted firmly.
"It doesn't really matter, though, does it?" Ron asked with confusion as he and Harry started to pick up the crumbles of their game. "I mean, we missed our seventh year."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, and Fred and George have done great without their seventh year."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys!" She closed the book she was reading and stalked up the stairs in a huff.
"She's my friend and all, but . . ." Harry said to Ron, shaking his head.
Ron was just grinning after her. "Yeah. . ."
Harry laughed. "You're hopeless, mate."
Ron turned red and shrugged. "Well I didn't see what you thought was so great about Ginny," he pointed out.
Harry frowned. "She's amazing, Ron!" he exclaimed defensively.
Ron smiled smugly and crossed his arms over his chest. "So tell me again? Why are you both single?"
Harry growled under his breath. Ron was his best friend, but Harry hated it when Ron used that to his advantage. "Other than the fact that you pretty much threatened me to stay the hell away from her, I. . . I guess I just haven't been able to find a way to. . . well you know."
"The threat is taken back," he said shaking his head. "So have you heard from Lupin?"
Harry nodded. "He's doing okay. Still trying to avoid Tonks since she just won't take no for an answer, but generally okay. I think it's harder on him now that the war's over because he's not working for the Order anymore. He has to go back to finding people that will accept him and give him a job."
"Can't imagine most people will be too keen to trust him anymore than they did before. I mean, he was the only werewolf on our side. Still, he was on our side so it isn't right," Ron said with a frown.
Harry sighed. "At least Bill's already a respected member of the wizarding world – well that and he's not a full werewolf."
Harry was about to suggest a little quidditch with him playing chaser and Ron keeper when there was a commotion from the fireplace. He turned to see the flames clearing and in their wake was a little girl. She was pretty small, probably not even five years old. She had thin, shoulder length, brown hair, and small features on a small, pale face.
"Uh. . ." Ron said looking from the little girl to Harry and back again.
"Hello," Harry said standing up and walking towards the fireplace. Something about her struck him as familiar and yet he couldn't remember ever meeting a little girl personally before.
"Hi," she replied shyly. "This the burrow?" she asked hopefully.
Ron nodded dumbly, still in shock.
"Um. . . can we help you?" Harry asked her.
The little girl shrugged. "This where Aunt Pearl said to go," she explained.
"Hermione!" Ron screamed at the top of his lungs, walking towards the stairs. "A little help, please!"
The little girl winced at Ron's yelling and immediately started gazing at the fire expectantly.
"Is someone else coming?" Harry asked, squatting down next to her while they waited for Hermione.
The little girl nodded. "Aunt Pearl."
Hermione skipped down the stairs and then stopped in surprise when she saw the little visitor in front of the fire. "Where did she come from?" she asked Harry and Ron.
Ron just pointed at the fireplace.
Hermione sighed and walked over to the little girl purposefully. "Hello. I'm Hermione. Who're you?"
"Aethra," the girl replied. Her eyes were glued to the fireplace and as the seconds ticked by, she seemed to get more agitated.
Hermione looked at the fireplace. "Who are we waiting for?"
"Aunt Pearl," Aethra answered quietly. She bit her lip and wrinkled her nose. It looked to Harry like she might be on the verge of crying.
"I see," Hermione replied. "Where were you two going, maybe you've gotten lost," she suggested. Harry remembered his first trip by floo and the resultant trip to Nocturne Alley. At least Aethra wound up in The Burrow.
"The Burrow," Aethra insisted.
"Hmmm. . ." Hermione said standing up. "We'd better find a way to get your mum or dad, Ron."
"I could apparate to the Ministry," Harry volunteered. "It could take forever to find Mrs. Weasley in Diagon Alley."
Hermione nodded. "Good idea, Harry. We'll wait here with Aethra. Maybe Ron could teach her chess or something."
Ron just about choked on his own saliva. Harry had never seen Ron interact with a little kid before, but he hadn't been expecting a reaction similar to terror. If it wasn't such a disturbing situation, Harry would have had a good laugh.
Instead he just grinned, nodding. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Before he could pull his wand out, though, there were several soft pops as Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, and Remus all apparated into the Weasley's sitting room.
"It's just a shame!" Molly said shaking her head as she went into the kitchen, presumably to start a pot of tea.
"Pearl wasn't exactly the militant type. I can't understand why they'd be after her," Remus continued. "Hello, everyone," he added, nodding to them. When his eyes fell on Aethra, he looked visibly surprised.
"With an extra. . . one," Arthur said with equal surprise.
Molly was still fussing in the kitchen.
"Well who have we here?" Arthur asked Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"This is Aethra," Hermione reported. "She says she's waiting for her Aunt Pearl."
Harry thought Aethra looked like her best friend had died. She was still staring at the fire, but there was less expectation in her expression.
Arthur and Remus exchanged looks and then nodded to each other.
"That explains why Pearl had a children's room in her home," Remus finally said with a sigh.
Arthur went over to Aethra and put out his hand. "Your Aunt Pearl isn't going to be able to come after you," he said softly. Harry didn't think his approach was very tactful, but when he thought about it, he couldn't think of any better way to phrase Arthur's news either.
A few silent tears slipped down Aethra's face as she bit down on her bottom lip.
"Does every. . ." Molly trailed off as she walked into the room and finally realized the small visitor. "Oh my goodness!"
Arthur, his hand still outstretched, took more initiative and picked Aethra up. "There, there, little one. You're welcome to stay right here until we know who is supposed to look after you."
Aethra still seemed emotionless except for the tears rolling down her cheeks. Her silent crying reminded him of his own childhood when it was better to cry quietly, if at all.
"I'll take her," Molly said walking over to Arthur with her arms open. Aethra neither reached for her nor refused the transfer when Arthur put her in Molly's arms.
There was another pop and Harry found himself standing right behind Professor McGonagall. "I just heard about it from the portraits!" she exclaimed. "The child, is she. . ." but she stopped when she saw Aethra in Molly's arms. "Oh thank goodness."
"I didn't know Pearl had a daughter," Remus said, watching as Molly took Aethra out of the room.
Professor McGonagall shook her head. "She didn't," she replied. "Well. . . it's an awkward situation." She sat down in one of the Weasley's chairs and everyone else sat down too. She looked sideways at Remus as if she were deciding whether or not he should hear what she had to say, but then she took a deep breath and began.
"Pearl was two years behind Remus, James, and Sirius I believe," she started, clearly for Harry, Hermione, and Ron's benefit. "She was not a particularly exceptional student, rather like Neville in many ways, but like all members of Hufflepuff, she was very hardworking and exceedingly loyal. For some reason, and I never could understand what it was, she became completely enamored with James, Sirius, and Remus. Don't misunderstand me," she said quickly, as Remus's eyebrows had lifted in disturbed interest, "it was nothing like a romantic crush. No, Pearl was convinced that the three of them were destined to become very special, very powerful, but very good wizards. At some point, she got it into her head that they should each have a child as a way of protecting good wizards, muggle-borns, and muggles alike from the likes of Voldemort and Death Eaters for generations to come. If you ask me, the girl read a few too many stories of knights and chivalry. Regardless, she began to create this potion. In the end, like the Polyjuice Potion, it called for a hair of the subject to be reproduced so Pearl very carefully procured one hair from each of them."
"I had no idea," Remus said in disbelief. "You can't suggest that she managed to clone us."
Professor McGonagall shook her head. "No, Pearl didn't want you to be cloned, she wanted you to have children, and she didn't attempt to actually make the potion for a very long time. In fact, when Harry was born, she got rid of James's hair, content that he'd managed to have his own child."
"Did she destroy Sirius's when he went to Azkaban?" Harry asked.
"No," she replied. "Pearl never did believe that he was guilty. It was part of why she became an outcast amongst other witches and wizards. They all thought she'd lost her mind or been bewitched. She waited, too anxious to try the potion, until Voldemort reemerged during your first year." She nodded at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "I don't think for a moment that she understood Voldemort was making a move to come back, but she was smart enough to see that something fishy was brewing. It was then that she decided the world, and you Harry, would need help. So, ignoring the possible consequences, Pearl brewed her potion. Why Pearl only made one, we'll never know, but instead of creating both a young Remus and a young Sirius, Pearl put both hairs into the potion and drank it. She became pregnant and in relatively short order, gave birth to Aethra."
"Are you suggesting that Pearl Midgewater is the mother of my child?" Remus asked in disbelief. He almost chuckled.
Professor McGonagall shook her head seriously. "No. I'm telling you the fact that Pearl Midgewater was the birthmother of yours and Sirius's child."
"But how can you be sure?" Harry asked. "I mean, who's to say that Aethra's father isn't some random bloke that Pearl took a fancy to – no disrespect intended."
"It's called a parentage charm, Harry," Hermione explained. "When it is directed at a living subject, the forms of its parents appear beside the subject for a short time."
Professor McGonagall nodded. "Exactly. Albus performed the charm on Aethra when she was only a few days old. Besides, we know she wasn't created naturally because her birth did not register with the Ministry's New Persons department. They are notified whenever a wizarding family welcomes a new member and sometimes when a particularly powerful child of muggles if born as well." Her eyes rested for a moment on Hermione.
Remus was silent for what seemed like hours. Finally he spoke. "Professor, I am. . . well I'm not exactly accepted by society. It isn't the easiest thing in the world to support myself. That's a large part of why I won't give into Tonks's pleas. I understand that Aethra is technically my responsibility, but how could I possibly care for a small child? Professor Dumbledore had to realize that or he would have told me before now, right?"
"No, Remus," Professor McGonagall replied. "Albus decided not to tell anyone but Poppy and myself about Aethra because of the manner in which she was created. Even the ministry does not know the truth about Aethra. If anyone found out about Pearl's potion. . ." the professor trailed off, but Harry could finish the thought. All anyone would need to bring Voldemort back would be a single hair, and he just wasn't up for Voldemort round 8. No, he quite agreed with Professor McGonagall that the potion used to make Aethra should never be aired to anyone.
"If you're worried about money, Remus, Molly can tell you everything there is to know about raising a family on next to nothing," Mr. Weasley said proudly.
Remus managed to smile gratefully at the Arthur. "But you do have a regular income, Arthur," he pointed out. "And a house. An unemployed werewolf in a run down one room flat is not exactly a proper environment for raising children – certainly not my child."
"Well we'll need a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher as usual," Professor McGonagall said suggestively.
"What about the curse, Professor?" Harry asked. "Remus has already been our professor."
Professor McGonagall shook her head confidently. "Several years ago," she answered. "Professor Quirrell is an excellent example of the fact that the curse only prevents a teacher from serving consecutive years. I was rather thinking that a teaching team would work nicely, trading subjects every year. At the very least, it would be one year worth of employment," she finished looking at Remus who was staring at a spot on the carpet.
Remus eventually shook his head, though. "I think we all know how well that would go over with parents, Professor. It wouldn't be the best way to start your tenure as Headmistress for you to hire a werewolf as a professor."
Hermione shook her head. "The world has changed. People need to change with it!"
"Besides," Ron put in. "Hogwarts doesn't need the type of folks who'd have a problem with it anyway."
Harry had to laugh at that. "Somehow, as much as we hate them, I don't think Hogwarts would be the same without the Slytherin. Just think, if Godric Gryffindor had wanted to run the school without that house, he could have disbanded it when Salazar Slytherin left. But he didn't."
"That's right, Potter," said Professor McGonagall in a voice that almost sounded prideful.
Remus didn't need to say anything. The expression on his face conveyed the sentiment loud and clear. "Your mother would be so proud of you," he said. Then he paused and glanced back towards the kitchen. They could hear Molly talking softly to the little girl, but they'd yet to hear Aethra utter a sound since being told about her Aunt. Remus turned back to Professor McGonagall and swallowed hard before asking, "Is she. . . ?"
Professor McGonagall smiled and shook her head. "Albus had Poppy look at her, and Poppy insists that the only symptom of the lycanthropy she is likely to exhibit is a short and volatile temper."
Suddenly, a terrible scream came from the kitchen.
Remus jumped up from the sofa and hurried into the other room. Harry watched as he took Aethra out of Molly's arms and began to rock her back and forth. It seemed so instinctual.
Molly hurried into the sitting room tears in her own eyes. "The poor child is in shock!"
"Perhaps we should floo the school for Poppy," Professor McGonagall suggested warily.
Even as they were taking a silent poll about that suggestion, Harry could hear Aethra's scream die into what sounded like the normal sobbing of a little girl. Maybe Remus had it under control. Based on his own experiences with the man, Harry was fairly certain that Remus was a natural at parenting.
"Where is Ginny?" Mr. Weasley asked, getting up to stretch. Evidently, the matters needing to be settled had been settled, and he didn't see the immediate need for Madame Pomfrey.
"Spending her birthday money with Luna," Hermione replied. "She said she'd be back in time for dinner."
"Ah," he replied as he stoked the fire a little. It was only then that Harry realized the room had gotten chillier. Despite the fact that the dementors had all been sent back to Azkaban, it was still an unusually cold summer.
"Well," Professor McGonagall started, rising.
"Oh, you will stay and have supper with us, won't you?" Molly asked hopefully.
The professor smiled and nodded. "I would be delighted," she agreed. Harry imagined it could get a little lonely at Hogwarts when the students were all gone, especially since the castle wasn't exactly the same anymore. After the destruction of the battle with Voldemort and his Death Eaters, people had volunteered to help rebuild. All sorts of talents would be needed, but it was clearly going to be a long project and Harry wasn't sure that they'd be finished by September the first.
"Professor," Hermione said, turning to Professor McGonagall.
"Yes?"
"What about our seventh year and our NEWTs? I mean it was our decision to chase the Horcruxes as opposed to getting on the train, but. . ." It was clear to Harry that Hermione was devastated by the idea of not finishing her education.
"Oh yes! They can't live forever as junior aurors!" Molly exclaimed before returning to the kitchen. "And they'll need their exams scored to get good, respectable jobs!"
"George is respectable, mum," Ron argued, but Mrs. Weasley waved him off.
Professor McGonagall nodded. "For the first time in Hogwarts history, we will have eight years in the school, two of them first years. Anyone who has not committed a crime worthy of Azkaban will be invited to return to complete their education. Unfortunately, even the students who did attend last year didn't get much of an education in anything but rubbish. Several people will be repeating that year."
"Not a lot of point in Hermione going," Ron said with a mix of disappointment and pride.
"Of course there is!" Hermione exclaimed. "Not everything is written in books." Harry thought that even if Hermione could have aced her NEWTs right then and there that she'd still want to go so that she could be near Ron.
Professor McGonagall nodded. "And I would like for Hermione to serve as a teacher's assistant in Transfiguration."
"But who will be teaching it, Professor?" Hermione asked.
"Until a replacement can be found, I will. Though I do hope to find a suitable candidate quickly. Albus always said it was a near impossible task to teach and serve as the Head."
While they were discussing the planned teaching staff, Mrs. Weasley fixed them all a hearty supper, and Remus took Aethra out into the garden for a talk.