Can anyone tell me when school lets out in the Harry Potter world, so I can make sure I've got the pregnancy timed right? I've been tweaking earlier chapters, and before I update any errors or such, I want to make sure I have the timeline accurate.
Chapter 9 – Truths and Explanations
Draco, Ron, Ginny, Millicent, Blaise, Neville, Fred, and George all arrived into the room at exactly the same time in a cacophony of grumbles and twisted limbs. Somehow, Ron and Draco ended up at the very bottom of the pile, trying hard to wiggle away so they could breath.
"Would the person with the death grip on my hair please let go!"
"Oy! Someone get off me. I'm being squished to death!"
"Ronniekins? What are you doing here?"
"Someone's foot is in my face."
"Ow!"
"Whoever's nose is sticking my breast had better move, now." That one was said with deadly calm.
"You lot make enough noise to raise the dead."
Everyone froze. "Harry?" Light suddenly flooded the room, and with it came relief. Harry, though pale, was propped up against the headboard of a bed, smiling somewhat tiredly at them. His eyes had dark circles, and he looked like he'd been through Hell, but he was sitting up, softly laughing at his friends still sprawled on the floor. They scrambled quickly to their feet, and Harry arched an eyebrow when he saw Fred and George.
"I perhaps do still know a bit more than you, Mr. Potter. And I know Fred and George's loyalties. They're simply too Slytherin to follow Dumbledore whole heartedly." Everyone, save Harry, jumped and turned towards Severus who had been lurking in the shadows. Five minutes passed after that, without a word being said, and Harry looking anywhere but at his friends. Severus growled in annoyance, strode forward, and jerked the covers away from Harry. If the boy wouldn't say anything, they would simply have to be shown. The swelling in his stomach was immediately noticeable. No one moved. The only one not staring was Draco, and he was looking around uneasily.
Harry glared furiously at the man before turning the glare to his hands.
Ginny was the first the first to break from her trance, slowly crawling up onto her surrogate brother's bed and placing a hand on his stomach. She jumped when she felt a slight movement, and then frowned when Harry refused to meet her eyes. Carefully she lifted his head and when she saw the pain in his eyes, a tear slid unbidden down her cheek and she hugged him tightly. The room was completely silent as she kissed his forehead and made him lean against her side. "I think you have a lot of explaining to do."
Everyone else nodded and Neville waved his wand, conjuring several plush recliners for all of them to settle into. Ron sat down on Harry's other side, leaving one free and after a moment of silence Neville spoke quietly. "Professor, since you seem to know what's going on, perhaps you should sit with us too."
Draco stared at Neville with surprise. The Gryffindor had grown and matured, but still he usually avoided saying anything to Professor Snape. Glances were exchanged all around, and Harry gave a long sigh, apparently snuggling against Ginny's side. "It's going to be a long night."
"I can't believe him! Wait, yes I can. He's so selfish! I knew he was going dark. I knew it! But why didn't I see it sooner? The Parseltongue, the unknown strength defeating so many people, willingly allying himself with werewolves and an escaped convict, without knowing the convict was innocent! Usurping the attention at the Tri-Wizard tournament. Getting Sirius killed because he was so selfish, so damned self righteous and cocky, he could do anything he wanted to and there would be no consequence." Hermione ranted as she paced faster and faster in front of the fireplace.
A deep, long sigh answered her as she finally wound down enough to sit at his feet. His long fingers immediately began to thread through her hair, the touch causing her eyes to glaze even more and her shoulders to slump as she leaned back against his legs. Her eyes dimmed a little further, as though a spark had died. "You miss him, don't you child? You miss, Sirius?"
Her head bowed and tears slowly leaked past her eyes. "He killed him. As far as I'm concerned that's the day Harry Potter died. He killed Sirius with his pompous actions. He killed him." She kept repeating it over and over like a quiet mantra, until his arms slid under her, lifting her.
"Do not worry, Hermione. You have me to take care of you now, right?" She nodded slowly, slipping her arms around his neck. "We will make him pay for all of his treacheries, and for all of the pain he has caused you."
Harry shifted again, incredibly aware of all the gazes fixed on him. Ron had stood long ago and was pacing the room at random. The twins seemed to be debating whether or not to hex him in place. Ginny remained on the bed with Harry, her fingers rubbing the tightness from his shoulders with his head resting on her lap. He was curled up as tightly as possible, his eyes closed so he didn't have to meet anyone's gazes. He had lain in that position almost the entire time that he had retold his story, very glad for Severus's presence when the older man would finish a sentence he hadn't been able to. "Harry?"
"Hm?"
"Why did you go back to school this year? After what happened…" Fred's voice trailed off uncertainly, but no one missed the burning in his eyes.
"If I had stayed away it would have shown Dumbledore that something was wrong, wouldn't it? He would have known instantly that the memory charm hadn't worked. He would have come after me, and I don't think I was strong enough at the beginning to be able to force him away. I would have fallen to him if only to keep him from costing me the child."
Draco frowned, tilting his head as he regarded the raven-haired boy. "I don't understand how you could want that baby. I don't understand how you could even let it grow inside you." The room shifted awkwardly, looking back and forth between Draco and Harry. Ron was positive that Harry would explode, but he remained exactly where he had been, the same position he'd been in since he started to explain.
"Because the only thing I've ever wanted was family. I cannot blame this child for the sins of its other," his voice faltered, "other father. I want this baby. I want to have someone to love. I want to raise it right, with love and compassion." He sat up on the bed, moving away from the Ginny as he stood and moved over to the window. "I want to give it what I never had."
Ron's eyebrows went up and he finally stopped pacing. He wasn't sure if Harry realized what he'd just said and he moved to stand next to him. "Harry, you don't feel like it's your responsibility, do you?"
A small smile touched Harry's lips, though he never turned so everyone could see. "No. I want this baby simply because I want it, Ron. I love it already, and it's not even here yet. That's why I was able to force Dumbledore away. He thought that I would feel responsible, he thought I wouldn't truly want the baby, but I do. If – If he had made me lose it last night…" He drew a long breath. "Let's just say the battle he has coming, would be nothing compared to the way he would have died if he killed my child."
George suddenly chuckled, causing all eyes to turn to him. "I just realized, Harry. You really and truly are a Weasley. I've never heard anyone speak so fiercely about their children other than Mum and Dad."
Severus glanced at his watch and shifted in his seat. "You know of course that Mr. Potter will not be able to return to the school after this." They all nodded. "Neither will I, as it will be obvious that I've been with Mr. Potter simply because we vanished at the same time." They nodded again. "The question becomes what do you wish to do with yourselves now? Dumbledore will be watching the students closely, especially those he believes to have had any sort of relationship with Mr. Potter. Do you wish to subjugate yourselves to that, or do you wish to terminate your studentship at Hogwarts?"
Ron paused, chewing his lip. "What will happen with our NEWTs if we are no longer in school? We have no way to take them to become properly trained. And those who return, will they not be under extreme suspicion? It's nearing morning and the teachers will be wondering where we are. Dumbledore will look at who's missing and put two and two together."
"Tutors will be provided for those wishing to not return to the school. As for the ones returning, they will be given portkeys to get them back to their rooms set with an automatic time turner to take them back to the exact moment you were transported here."
"Then there is no way in Hell that I'm going back. I won't leave my brother when he needs me most."
Snape nodded his head once, showing his agreeance. "I don't think I shall be returning either sir. Something tells me Father will be nearly losing his head, or Mother will be trying to take it off when she finds out what all has been going on." Draco's voice was calm, almost bored, but he allowed his emotions to flicker in his eyes. "Besides, there's no way I'm going near that old pervert ever again."
Ginny seemed to be debating with herself. "I suppose I'll have to go back. We need informants on the inside to know what's going on in the school as well as to get a feel for who's really on what side of the war."
Neville nodded in agreement. "That makes two of us. Dumbledore thinks he has Gran completely under his thumb anyways and that I'm a fine back up savior should anything happen to Harry."
Harry snorted. That had been one of the conversations they had summer before sixth year. Everyone else looked between them curiously but Harry only smirked, finally turning towards them. "What about you Blaise and Millie?"
Millie shook her head. "We need more than just the two Gryffindors getting information. I know a lot of students and the ways they believe. I can help better from there than here."
"That and the fact she's squeamish. She'd probably have a heart attack if she was around and you went into labor or something." Blaise ducked the pillow that was blasted at his head. "I think I'll go for the tutoring. My parents were talking about pulling me out before Christmas break anyways, and given my father's profession, I think he'd agree that it won't hurt to have another set of Healing hands close by."
They all nodded, and Harry suddenly yawned, finding himself exceptionally tired of a sudden.
Snape stood instantly. "All right. Everyone who is staying is to follow Mr. Malfoy, as I'm quite sure he'll know where to take you. Everyone else please follow me. Potter, if you're still up by the time I get back, I'd like a word?" He let the last word tilt in question, and Harry nodded. Ginny slid off the bed and once more threw her arms around him, hugging him extra tight.
He said good night to them all until only Fred and George were left, both fixing him with identical looks. "What?"
"You forgot to explain something -"
"Very important in your story, Harry."
He frowned. "What's that?"
"Why you didn't come to us. You could have come to the Burrow straight off, or gone to Ron as soon as you got back to school."
"I didn't want any of you to know. I didn't know how you would react. I wasn't sure which would be worse, to be turned away for being a slut, or to put you all in danger if you took me in."
The twins exchanged looks. "Harry – "
"You're family."
"You wouldn't be putting us in danger."
"We're already there."
"And no one at the Burrow would ever,"
"Ever think of you as a slut. None of this was your fault."
"Don't you get it by now? I meant what I said earlier Harry. You are a Weasley. You might not have our name or the infamous red hair, but you're one of us, just as sure as if you were born one. We don't turn our backs on family, ever." George finished up as he stood and moved over to hug the smaller wizard, Fred hugging him from the other side.
"Ever since we first met you, you've been like another kid brother. The tiffs you and Ron get into are even stupid stuff that the Weasley boys have been known to fight over. In short – "
"You're stuck with us." They said together, and Harry couldn't help but to grin. "Just wait til Mum learns about the baby. You'll never be rid of her."
The Gryffindor table was quiet the next morning, their eyes resting on not one, but two empty seats. Both Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley were missing. Ginny kept glancing at the two places with a worried crease between her brow, and Neville had his arm protectively around her shoulder, whispering quietly to reassure her. Hermione looked like she didn't know whether to be pleased or worried. On the one hand, Harry hadn't returned, but on the other hand Ron was now gone too. Nothing could have happened, could it?
Her eyes scanned the hall, narrowing when she saw Slytherin was missing two students as well. Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini were nowhere to be found that morning either, though no one seemed particularly concerned about it.
The hall fell silent as the Headmaster stood, his expression grave and his eyes missing their usual twinkle. "You all may have noticed that we have a few students missing this morning. Firstly, I received two owls early this morning informing me that both Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini would no longer be students at this school. Their families have decided to withdraw them and finish their education at home, so those of you who are friends with them, nothing has happened and you will still be able to write them." The Slytherins traded looks, an arched eyebrow here and there. That seemed long-winded to just say the two seventh years were continuing their education at home. "Secondly, I'm sure you've noticed that both Professors Snape and Potter are not with us this morning. It would seem that they have vanished." He bowed his head. "We can only hope that we find them before anything terrible happens, and urge anyone with information to come forward."
Ginny's eyes narrowed slightly as she stood. "What about my brother, Professor? He's nowhere to be found this morning either. He wasn't in his dorm this morning, and we've looked everywhere."
Dumbledore honestly looked startled by that, and Ginny had to suppress a smirk. "Then let us hope that the three are together. I believe Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley have proven time and again that they can get out of nearly everything."
The Gryffindors look at each other, no one sure what to say. On the one hand they knew their friends well enough to know that when it came to danger they could get out of it, but on the other… what if they'd been caught? The thought was chilling. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws seemed to be having similar thoughts, and Luna's usually starry gaze found Ginny's questioningly. Ginny could only shrug a little. She would take time to talk to Luna later. Right now her mind was going over what Dumbledore had said.
Why had he not said that it was suspicioned Harry had turned? Or that the Potion's Master had swayed him? Or any other number of things that he could have woven so that the students would place their undying trust in the Headmaster. Heaven knew they had proven enough times that they would turn on Harry with the drop of a hat. He was leaving the door open. Was he planning something else to bring Harry back to him? What, and how seemed to be the most important questions at that point.
"You can come in you know, I'm not going to throw anything." Harry's voice carried through the doorframe, causing one surly looking Potion's Master to freeze in place.
"How did you know I was there, Potter?"
"I could see your shadow moving under the doorway, and there's only one person I know, even here, that walks without making a single sound, sir."
"Potter, we are no longer at Hogwarts –"
"Obviously."
He scowled slightly. "So you can drop the Professors and sirs if you wish. Just Snape would be fine." He hesitated for a moment. "Or Severus, considering that's what everyone else here will call me as well."
"Only if you can stop calling me Potter. I am not my father."
There was a pause, and Snape finally sneered. "Fine."
Harry grinned as though he had just won something monumental before sobering. "I'm sorry I fell asleep last night, Professor, what is it you wished to talk about?"
"There's no need to apologize, Po-Harry. I'm sure last night was very trying for you, and would have worn anyone out." He pulled a chair up next to the bed, watching Harry closely. "I'm not sure how to start this conversation other than to tell you that… additional information has been found pertaining to altering the child's parentage."
Harry froze for a split second, his eyes going wide, then normal, then casting with worry, and a barely there hint of hope. "I won't do anything if it might cause harm to my child."
Snape nodded in agreement. "I know that, Harry, I wouldn't bring this to you if there was a worry for the child. I am however worried about you."
"Me?" He looked startled. "Why?"
Snape's eyes locked with the younger man's, and he saw a nervousness flare within them. "We found a spell that goes along with the potion, that completely nullifies any risk to the child, but there is a ritual that has to take place as well."
"What ritual? What is it that you're not wanting to tell me, sir?"
His words when they came, were somewhat stilted in his attempt to keep any inflection from his voice. "The one you choose for the second father must have intercourse with you, as though it were the first time and you were just then being impregnated."
Harry's face drained of any color, his fingers curled into his palms until they bled, his entire body tensing as he began shaking his head. Images of the first time started playing through his head and he began to tremble. "No, no, no, no, no. Please. I can't. I can't. Please." They were only half uttered, but they drew Snape from his chair.
He wrapped his hands around Harry's wrists, pulling them up sharply to gain his attention. "Pot-Harry! Look at me!" He had to repeat the order three times before Harry's eyes finally focused on him. There was so much fear in those eyes. At that moment he was hit with the strongest urge to pull the distressed young man into his arms, but resisted. He moved both wrists to one hand, carefully and slowly lifting the other to Harry's face. "Calm down. You don't have to do it, but if you do the other father is your choice, Harry. You choose him. It will be someone you trust unconditionally, someone you know won't hurt you."
"But I trusted him too. I trusted him, Severus. He hurt me though. He hurt me so much." The trembling was coming back, and Severus cursed. Reservations be damned. Harry was going to go completely to pieces. He moved up beside Harry and carefully slid an arm around him.
Harry's restraint broke, and he turned his face fully into Snape's robe and cried. He cried for the pain he had endured at the hands of someone he trusted, someone he loved. He cried for all the manipulations that had torn his life apart. He cried for the innocence he had lost, for the way his child had been conceived. He cried for the fear that he wouldn't be able to give the child another father. And he cried for himself.
Hurray, I'm back! Sort of anyways. I didn't abandon the story, just so y'all know. I've been having computer issues. Very very bad computer issues, and as I've still not located a flippin job, that means I don't have the $$$ to get it fixed. Anyways. I'm sorry this has taken so freaking long, but yeah, I've not quit writing.
Um, about Harry crying at the end. I know I had him cry a couple times before, but he never actually grieved for what he'd been through, for what he'd lost. I'm not trying to make him weak or anything, it's just that crying is a natural part of healing. You can't deal with it if you don't go through all the stages, and mourning/grief is one of those. Just the same that you don't simply 'get over it' all at once. Uh, I'll shut up about it now.
Review responses –
Shenigami – Did you HAVE to tell me that? I've not got to read HBP yet.
Jadeglider – I'm so glad someone thinks I can spell lol I'm not the best at it. I think I'll have to go back and fix Beauxbaton's cause I don't think I got it right lol
Brianna – Nope, that's not my intention, nor can I really explain without giving stuff away.
Lady-Bloodrose – No murder please? I like living!
And you know, those are really the only ones I can reply to without saying too much. Wow, you guys are too good to me. I got so mad at my computer cause I couldn't get on here to update or even into my email to check reviews for quite a while, and I nearly deleted the story I was so mad. I'm glad I didn't though. Thank you all. I'll continue working on it, I'm not going to desert it, I promise. Just don't get mad if I don't update for awhile with the way my computer is behaving.
