AN: I feel like I am constantly letting down readers with lagging updates. I am SO very sorry! Now that it is winter break, hopefully I can get this story up and running again. I'd also like to let you all know that I have started writing a few other fics, and have recently posted them on profile. So please feel free to take a look at them. I'm trying to branch out with my writing style, so we'll see where those go. :) I'd like to thank everyone for all the support. You guys are the best. Every time I add a chapter I'm shocked by the number of favorites/alerts I get. (But remember, reviews are much appreciated too :D ) Anyways, on with the story! Please R&R!

Disclaimer: JKR owns.

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Chapter 8: The Troubling Truth

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"Lily…sweetheart…it's not what it seems…" I began, trying to come to terms with the dilemma suddenly in before me.

Lily shot a disbelieving glance in my direction, sharply looking away as her shoulders quivered with her every trembling breath.

I could understand her pain. The feeling of betrayal, the idea of your entire world crumbling into pieces. But what wrong had I done? I was indeed her father, a man who raised her with all the love in the world. But with every wizard, comes his mistakes, and under the oath of morality, loving Hermione had been the biggest one of all.

I reached out towards her, and was pleasantly surprised to see that she did not bolt in the other direction. I could feel her shaking against my chest as I murmured soothing words into her vibrant hair. It was just like it had been when she was younger, all those years ago.

"Lil, your mother and I truly are your paren…" I was cut off as Lily pushed away from me yet again.

"How can you continue to lie to me like this?" she questioned, her voice a voice rising with every word. I couldn't bear to look her in the eye. The fiery anger in her gaze brought out the uncanny resemblance between her and Hermione even more. It was almost unnerving.

I gulped, shifting awkwardly in my seat. I noticed McGonagall looked a bit unsettled and confused by the recent string of events. I didn't blame her. I felt like I had been suddenly swamped into a muggle soap episode myself.

Lily stood up; staring down at me, her anger crumbled. I could see the sadness that swamped her hazel eyes; even she didn't want to be in this predicament anymore than I did.

"Dad, I love you…I could never bear to hate you," she whispered. I nodded, tears clouding my sight. "But you have to tell me the truth, it's only fair," she continued, I could almost sense a feeling of foreboding in her voice, an unspoken warning of some sort.

I nodded half-heartedly, looking away. Lily, so like Hermione, always the voice of reason, even in the heat of an argument.

"Dad?" she prodded, her small hand on my shoulder. I gazed back into her eyes, I just couldn't do it. How could I tell Lily before Hermione, or even Ginny? I felt as Lily's hand slipped away in defeat, her face was now clouded with an expression I couldn't quite read.

"It's no use is it?" she asked, "you'll never tell." And without another word, Lily took her final leave, wandlessly placing her belongings back into her day bag and retreating from sight. I watched her disappear into the spiral staircase adjoining the headmistress' office. So many times before, had I used it, with questions of my own. I couldn't bear to recognize the irony of the situation. Year after year, I had yearned to learn more about my parentage, and now when my very own daughter asked me the same question, begging for the truth, I had denied her that exact right.

"Harry…" McGonagall called from across the ornate desk. "I'm not entirely sure what it is that Lily is implying, but whatever it may be, she deserves to know."

I nodded, clasping my hands in anxiety.

"It is always better that the ones you care about the most hear the truth from you before they learn of it from another source. You will only inflict more pain on them, by withholding what is rightfully theirs."

McGonagall was now at my side, a comforting hand placed on my shoulder. I watched as she poured me a steaming cup of tea, placing it before me with a knowing gaze

"It will help soothe your nerves, Harry." I nodded, thanking her as I took a sip. I had to go home and talk to Ginny, she was my wife and I had played her for a fool for far too long. Hermione would be next; it had been 12 years, 12 years that I had taken away from her knowing Lily as a daughter. My heart thudded heavily. I could feel the guilt settling in all over again, it was far too overbearing.

McGonagall watched me with a wary eye, a pained expression marring her wise features. I couldn't thank the woman enough, she had always played a matronly role in my life, providing me with words of wisdom throughout my childhood and even to this day.

"I should go," I said, standing up from my seat. McGonagall nodded, clearing away the tea with a flick of her wand. I noticed she did not pry. Anyone else would have been curious as to the meaning behind Lily's words, but I sensed the aging professor knew that one day the time for her to know would come, and until then she would wait.

I glanced up at the portrait of Dumbledore in the headmistress' office, he winked at me cheerily, and I could help but send a small smile back. I had to man up and do the right thing. I had been hurting those around me for so many years now. Ginny had to know, Hermione had to know, and Ron; Ron would despise me with all the hatred in the world. He would never forgive me, for what I had done to Ginny, to his family, to his wife. I could only hope that he would not hold anything against Hermione, none of this had ever been her fault. It was always mine.

I stepped onto the staircase, gazing up as I spiraled down. I needed a good walk to clear my mind before arriving back home. I needed to figure out how exactly I would tell Ginny about my horrible feat, my miserable lie, my crushing defeat.

Walking off the stairwell, I hastily rushed into a professor who was heading towards the headmistress' office.

Odd, a professor who smelled uncannily of vanilla and parchment.

"Hermione?" I almost yelled as the person in question pulled away from me in the dim light.

I could feel my heart beat uncontrollably. What had she been doing here? Had she seen Lily on her way in?

"Harry, I came to your house in search for you…Ginny redirected me to Hogwarts and I arrived just in time to hear you talking to Lily." I could feel my stomach plummet as she spoke, this couldn't be happening.

"I couldn't help but listen, Harry…," she continued. I clenched my eyes shut. This couldn't be happening; my worst nightmare had suddenly become a reality.

"I don't understand...Is this why Lily's arrival came as such a surprise to us all those years ago? Because Ginny had never been pregnant with her to being with?

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AN: Dun dun dun…and the story continues! :) Please Review!