Title: Lineage Ligno: A Family of His Own
Summary: It started out as a simple summer assignment; it ended up changing his life forever. After using a lineage potion as part of a combined potions and history project, fifteen year old Harry Potter finds out he is not a Potter after all, and that his father is a self-proclaimed Sociopath who committed suicide nearly three years ago. Harry wants answers so he goes to the one man who knew his Dad best, Dr. John Watson.
Rating: T
Warnings: Mentions of Abuse, possible violence, possible mild language, possible light/non-graphic slash
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my ideas for the AU plot, as well as any and all errors in spelling and grammar. I do not own Harry Potter J.K. Rowling does. I do not own Sherlock; that right goes to Steven Moffat, Mark Gattis and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Any recognizable lines, characters, or places in this work are from or inspired by the Harry Potter books and Movies and the BBC Sherlock Series.
Previously: "Because the man my Mum had an affair with is dead; the man that I think is my father was Sherlock Holmes."
Chapter 3
"I'm sorry, I think I misheard, can you repeat that?" the blond doctor said with a forced calm.
Harry took a deep breath and repeated, "I'm almost positive that Sherlock Holmes is my father."
Harry eyed Doctor Watson warily as the man took in his statement, and he prepared to flee or fight if the man reacted poorly.
Harry would usually categorized Doctor Watson as the calm, cool level headed one, the kind of person that hardly anything ever fazed, the one that it would take a lot to get him riled up. After reading the doctors blog however, Harry learned that the ex army doctor had a fierce side full of steely determination, protection, and fire.
It was clear that once you made him angry or hurt someone he loved, you would really wish you hadn't. After all Harry was nearly ninety eight percent sure that Doctor Watson was the person who shot Mister Hope in the Study in Pink case; Moriarty would have used a sniper rifle like he did in the case The Great Game, and it was highly unlikely that a cab driver had any enemies that were that good with a gun. How the police didn't catch on Harry would never know.
Focusing back on the task at hand, Harry cataloged the Doctors reaction to his admittedly abrupt and shocking announcement.
Doctor Watson's shoulders were tense, fists balled, legs shoulder with a part, his jaw clinched breathing rapid, and eyes narrowed; not good. Harry felt his anxiety rise and his fight or flight instincts kick in full stop. It was clear Doctor Watson was angry and didn't believe him.
The Doctor's fiery side was showing, his body language revealing strain, defiance, anger and to Harry's surprise pain and betrayal.
"No, no it's not possible, he would have known, he would have told me! Who put you up to this?" The doctor asked taking a threatening step forward.
Harry couldn't help his instinctual step back, something that seemed to register with Doctor Watson as the man shook himself slightly and step backed, his fists slowly uncurling and his breathing slower.
"Who put you up to this, why would you agree to do it?"
"No one put me up to this" Harry said quickly raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I was working on ancestry assignment for school, and I found ... one of my mum's diaries."
Harry hoped doctor Watson would think his hesitation was caused by overwhelming emotions and not because he was making that little tidbit up.
"Some of the diary was illegible because it had been in a fire, but my mum said she had an affair with a man in the autumn of 1989. That man was named Sherlock Holmes and when I was born on July thirty-first, 1990 she believed that I was his son and not James'; I don't think she ever told either man about her suspicions…or the affair. " Harry finished sadly. He didn't understand why is Mum would cheat on his dad, everyone always said they were deeply in love.
Harry paused glancing at Doctor Watson. The man looked calmer and reason was returning to his storm gray eyes. Harry couldn't help but wonder why the man had such a strong reaction to the possibility his flatmate had a child; perhaps the rumors about them being a couple were more fact than fiction.
Either way Harry prayed that this man would be able to confirm that he was actually Sherlock's son and maybe if he was really lucky, Doctor Watson could help him find out if he had any other blood relations that would take him in and away from the Dursleys. Taking a deep breath Harry waited anxiously as Doctor Watson decided what he would do next.
HPWHJWHSHMH
John stood still as stone as he thought through everything he had just been told. It seemed an utterly ridiculous notion that Sherlock Holmes had slept with a woman, a married woman no less, created a child and that knew nothing about said child. It just didn't make sense, there would have been a birth announcement or a first birthday picture in the paper and while the detective didn't usually bother himself with such trivial things, John knew that Sherlock would have taken notice of any mention of the girl he had slept with.
As much as the tall man denied it, he did remember the names of the few people he had slept with and even kept tabs on their lives occasionally. It had bothered John at first, Sherlock's stalking of his ex's and one night stands, until he had realized that in his own way, the detective was showing that he cared, that even his brief dalliances had meant something to him.
It was because of this that John could not imagine Sherlock would have hidden the fact that he child from him, especially after they… John quickly shoved that painful thought away; he couldn't think about it right now. On the other hand Sherlock not knowing about the boy seemed impossible.
Then there was the fact that the teen before him was quite clearly abused. The marks on the boy's body spoke for themselves and John had not missed the way Harry had flinched away from him when he had taken an angry step forward. There was no way Sherlock would have missed the signs if he had been keeping tabs on the teen, and John knew for a fact that Sherlock would not have left any child of his in an abusive household; he hated abusers and felt they were one of the worst criminals.
John supposed this could be one huge setup or scam but neither Harry nor anyone else would gain much by lying about the teen's parentage, especially with the way the public viewed Sherlock at the moment. Anyone claiming to be a relation of Sherlock's would become a pariah; he himself had several nasty run ins with people who believed that Sherlock was a liar and a kidnapper.
The Doctor looked at Harry again and he couldn't deny that the teen looked like Sherlock; even some of his mannerisms reminded him of the late detective and John felt his face soften involuntary. He heaved a sigh and rubbed at the tension building at his brow.
The only way John would be able to say definitively that Harry was or was not Sherlock's son would be through a paternity test, which as Harry said, would be impossible to do without Sherlock's DNA. John thought for a moment before a smirk crossed his lips. He may not have access to Sherlock's DNA but he did have the next best thing.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his mobile and pushed the number one on his speed dial automatically dialing a number he had not used in nearly three years. It was the number of the only man that could help him figure this out; Mycroft Holmes. After two and partial rings Mycroft himself answered briskly.
"Holmes."
"Mycroft its John, I have a problem that needs your delicate touch; how fast can you get to the Barts clinic?"
"I can be there in fifteen minutes if it is truly needed, but I am in the middle of a rather tremulous situation, can't it wait?"
"No Mycroft it really can't." John said resolutely.
"Very well I will be there in fifteen minutes." the man replied and John detected a bit of worry in his tone that no one else would be likely to pick up on.
"Right, see you then." said John as he hung up.
"Okay Harry here's what's going to happen." John said as he carefully helped the boy secure his arm and shoulder in a sling. "I called...a friend to come and help me figure out what exactly is going on, he can help us find the the truth."
John saw the teen open his mouth to protest and quickly cut him off "Now I am not saying that I don't believe you, mind you I'm not saying that I do, but we need to find the truth and Mycroft can help with that."
Harry looked deep in thought his brow puckered I middle of his forehead.
"Mycroft...he's Sherlock's brother right?"
John's eyebrows roes in surprise the fact that Sherlock and Mycroft were related was not common knowledge, it was restricted to government officials, Mycroft's security team, Mrs. Hudson, and Lestrade. Mycroft constantly worried that someone would hurt Sherlock in an attempt to get to him, and therefore had kept the fact they were related as quite as possible.
"Yes he is; I'm surprised you know that it's not common knowledge." John said trying to keep the suspicion out of his voice.
"Really? Hmm, I must have read it somewhere; I did a lot of reading up on you and Sherlock before I came. I wanted to make sure I had the right person before I made contact." The teen said with a shrug before focusing his seaweed green eyes on John, making him feel as if the teen was seeing deep into his soul.
"You really trust and care about Mycroft don't you Doctor. Watson?" the teen asked with a calculating look. John shivered at how much that look favored Sherlock and even Mycroft.
"I should hope he is at least somewhat found of me considering he is my brother in law Mister Potter. Now John, what on earth are you doing with the Boy-Who-Lived and why does it require my immediate presence? "
HPWHJWHSHMH
Harry had watched and listened carefully as Doctor Watson pushed number one on his mobile and talked to the person who answered. It amazed Harry how much the man calmed. Though the ex army captain still held himself at the ready, it was slightly more relaxed the stress lines fading a bit form his face. Perhaps he saw the man as a commander who had his back?
When Doctor Watson brought up the name Mycroft, Harry realized that the man he talked on the mobile to must have been Sherlock's brother, he clearly remembered the name from his Lineage Ligno assignment, after all it wasn't everyday you saw the names Mycroft and Sherlock.
Harry had just asked the Doctor if he was close with Mycroft when the man in question walked through the door.
The man was tall Harry estimated him to be two meters or so, with a simultaneously slender and sturdy build. The man's thinning red hair somehow made him more imperious, and the black umbrella he was using nonchalantly to balance his leaning stance gave the impression that he had all of the power and could take whatever you threw at him.
To Harry he felt cold and dangerous, impressive and commanding, he clearly worked for the government and had to hold a position of power, overall Harry didn't know what to make of the man that was his biological Uncle.
It Harry had just finished his examination of the man when the redheaded dropped several bombs Harry was not expecting. First was the news that some point Sherlock and John had gotten married, and second was that his uncle already knew who he was, at the man knew he was The-Boy-Who-Lived.
'Why couldn't things ever go right? Harry thought angrily. 'This was supposed to be a quick expedition to find out more about his father and whether or not he had any living relatives he might call upon. Instead it turned into a discovery of his abuse and the finding relative that already knew of his existence in the wizarding world and who may or may not be a threat to him.
Harry cursed in his head as he realized he had left his pack out of reach and was therefore unable to get to his wand. He started to edge slowly over to his pack, but Mycroft must have realized his intent and spoke up.
"Now, now Mister Potter do you really want to incur the wrath of the ministry for yet another use of underage wizardry? In the current political climate I really wouldn't recommend drawing attention to yourself." his Uncle said with a condescending drawl.
Taking a step towards the man Harry forgot to be afraid as his anger at the man's tone took over.
"How do you know who I am? Are you a wizard? I thought your family was Muggle?" Harry said aggressively stepping a bit closer to the man.
"Woah, hold on." Doctor Watson said moving to separate the two. "What exactly are you two talking about?" the Doctor asked looking confused.
Harry unintentionally looked to Mycroft to answer as he was clearly the one with the most authority in the room, and Harry did not want to add to his troubles by breaking the Statute of Secrecy. He regretted it a moment later however when he saw the man's slight smirk and the man's emotions clearly shown with amusement.
"We are clearly discussing the fact that magic is real and Mister Potter here is a wizard. Do try to keep up Doctor Watson." Harry looked at the man that was his uncle in shock; that really was not the most gentle or tactful way to tell the man who was now looking at the both of them as if they should be institutionalized as soon as possible.
The well dressed man turned back to Harry, "and to answer your question, I am neither a Muggle nor a wizard, but a squib descended from a nearly forgotten line of wizards." the redhead took a step closer to Harry who in turn backed up closer to Doctor Watson.
"Now you will answer my question Mister Potter, what is the savior of the wizarding world doing in a Muggle clinic and why does it require my presence?" the man's tone a combination of menacing and polite.
Harry did not know how to tell the intimidating man that he was his dead brother's son, and Harry was grateful when Doctor Watson answered for him after a few seconds of silence.
"Mycroft stop with the menacing British Government act and sit down." the doctor said pointing to a rolling stool until the man sat. It was Harry's turn to smirk as Mycroft grudgingly followed orders.
"Good," Doctor Watson said with a nod. "Now Mycroft I need you to open your mouth, don't talk just do it." the man said firmly.
When Mycroft did as asked Harry watched with interest as the Doctor ran a cotton swab around the other man's mouth. "Wonderful, your turn Harry." The doctor said as he capped off the used swab.
Harry obediently opened his mouth and allowed the doctor to swab for his DNA. It was a strange sensation and it tickled a bit as the swab ran over the roof of his mouth.
"Excellent, now if you two will follow me to the lab, we can get this cleared up." the doctor said as he briskly walked out of the room.
Harry quickly scampered off of the exam table not wanting to be left behind with only Mycroft as company. From behind him, he heard the man sigh in frustration.
"I am still unaware of what we are clearing up, Doctor. Clearly you just took samples of our DNA, so what exactly is this about?"
"Well Mycroft we are clearly checking to see if Harry's claim that Sherlock is his father are true, do try to keep up." the doctor said with a mischievous smile.
Harry looked back at Mycroft and couldn't help but chuckle at what he saw. The big bad government official was standing in the middle of the hall stock still, mouth agape, clearly radiating disbelief and shock. Harry felt it served the man right.
HPWHJWHSHMH
Mycroft observed and listened as John and Mister Potter interacted while the Doctor preformed what he now knew to be a paternity test. He had been utterly perplexed when Doctor Watson called him saying he needed him to come to the clinic, he had not heard from the man in years and he knew it had to be important. When Mycroft had walked in on the Doctor he had expected to find out the man had discovered Sherlock's secret, or that he was being threatened, or held at gun point; he had not expected to find Harry Potter in his exam room, and he had been shocked to his very core when the man said the boy might be Sherlock's.
It was no secret to Mycroft that his brother had had several encounters of an intimate nature with members of both sexes before he had married John. However it was nearly inconceivable that one of those trysts may have produced an heir that went undetected and the fact that said heir might be Harry Potter was hardly within the realm of imaginable.
Having said that, the boy certainly had traits that resembled his dear brother; from the dark messy locks too the way Harry had challenged him, they all positively screamed Sherlock. The teen also seemed to be reasonably intelligent for a fourteen year old as the boy seemed to have no trouble following the Doctors explanation that he would be looking at, and comparing the Y chromosome from his and the boy's DNA in order to establish if they were in any way related.
At this point Mycroft would have been surprised if the results came up negative, especially with the way the teen was hanging on the doctors every word, his eyes roaming over the laboratory equipment, his hands twitching as if he had to keep them from touching.
Yes, the boy reminded Mycroft of a younger Sherlock in more ways than one now that he was looking for similarities. Mycroft was glad to see that the boy, if he was indeed Sherlock's, had not inherited his brother's atrocious social-emotional skills; in fact, the boy seemed oddly perceptive about the emotions of others if he was able to pick up on the fact that John had positive emotions for him with only the brief telephone conversation. However, only time would tell if he had inherited the Holmes gift for observations and deductions.
Mycroft was startled from his inner thoughts, not that anyone would have been able to tell, by the sound of Doctor Watson cursing breathily.
"Bloody Hell it's true; Mycroft its true, Harry is Sherlock's son!" Mycroft observed that if John hadn't already been sitting, the poor man probably would have been on the floor. Well he supposed it was a bit astounding to find out that your "dead" husband had a son that no one knew existed.
Mycroft sighed heavily before turning to the teen; this was certainty going to complicate matters.
"Well Harry, it seems that we have a few things to work out doesn't it?" he said. "Doctor Watson please take the boy to your flat. I will have the necessary paperwork drawn up to remove him from his current abusive environment and into your custody as soon as possible and meet you there shortly." He ordered as he headed towards the door.
"Wait, What?" the doctor exclaimed.
"Take the boy to your flat John certainly you can understand the English language."
Mycroft opened the door as John sputtered, before turning around to address the teen that started this fiasco.
"Oh and Harry?"
"Yes sir?" the teen replied nervously.
"Do accept my welcome into the family; I shall see you shortly nephew mine."
As Mycroft closed the door, he pulled out his phone and hit the number five.
"Anthea, activate the locater my dear brother, its time he and I had a little talk.
HPWHJWHSHMH
Eight Days later
Mycroft sat heavily disguised in a cold, hard steel chair in the middle of nowhere Serbia, as his brother trussed up like a Christmas day turkey in a wet dungeon, traded sarcastic and witty remarks with his torturer. Eventually after seeing his brother bashed in the ribs yet again Mycroft sighed and decided he'd had enough; standing he grabbed a heavy rusted metal pipe and smashed it his brother's torture's skull. Hopeful it was not hard enough to kill the man but if it was…well it would be no great loss.
Mycroft stepped over the man on the floor, stood in front of his brother and firmly but gently pulled back on the messy ebony locks to make sure he had Sherlock's attention.
"It looks like it is just you and me. Now, listen to me, there's been an unexpected development in London that very heavily involves you and your past exhibitions. Sorry, brother mine but the holiday is over; it's back to Baker Street with you Sherlock Holmes."
A/N: Okay so here is chapter three, I hope you guys are not to upset about last chapters cliffy and that this is a more acceptable ending. ; ) Anyway, You guys are absolutely amazing! I didn't expect so many wonderful reviews or for so many people to follow, favorite or add the story to a community! It really is heartwarming and humbling! Also sorry for the delay in this chapter and I apologize if I did to respond to your review this go around (something I always try to do) My Great Grandmother passed away suddenly (well suddenly for a ninety year, old we were not expecting her to pass on so soon) and I had to make a frantic turn and burn drive to Memphis Tennessee for her funeral, so I thank you all for waiting patiently. The next chapter will have some more explanations a bit of the wizarding world and maybe Sherlock's introduction back into Harry and John's lives
Happy reading and thank you again,
Godiva9