Chapter Nine

Elaine and Harry sat in her office, three days before Christmas. Dumbledore sat in the corner, hands folded as he watched the siblings. He was there for support, to explain what Elaine couldn't. Remus, too, was expected, but he hadn't shown. Harry had no idea why he was there, and judging by the look on his face, he was losing patience with the silence. Elaine finally sighed, sitting forward.

"Harry, I brought you here to have a -" she paused. "-somewhat personal conversation." She bit the inside of her lip, watching him. His face hadn't changed. "I... Well. We were waiting for Remus Lupin to get here, to be honest, but-" she shook her head. "I'm going to come right out and say it, Harry, because I can tell you're confused as hell right now." Elaine took a deep breath. "I'm your sister." Harry let out a small gasp, staring at her. "I know this comes as a shock-"

"Of course it does," Harry snapped. "I don't have any family."

A knock on the door caused them all to jump, and it slowly opened to reveal Remus. "Sorry I'm late," he murmured, taking a seat next to Dumbledore. Harry eyed them both suspiciously. "What've I missed?"

"Professor Davies was informing me I'm her brother," Harry snapped, going to stand. "I have things I need to do."

"She's not lying, you know," Remus said mildly, causing Harry to whirl on him.

"How would you know?" the sixteen year old demanded.

"Harry, if you please just sit down-" Dumbledore tried, but was ignored as the boy who lived continued to stare at Remus, breathing heavy.

"Harry." Elaine spoke calmly, and he slowly turned to face her. "If you sit back down, we can discuss this like adults. Please?" Harry shook his head, but he didn't make any move towards getting up. "I know this is a surprise. It was a surprise to me, too, and I was angry when I first found out. I don't blame you for being angry too."

"Harry," Remus spoke up. "I think I should have a part of this conversation."

A fifteen year old Lily Evans sat across from Remus Lupin in the Hogwarts library, both teenagers unable to continue the conversation Lily'd started, during which she'd informed the werewolf she was pregnant, and it was his child. Remus had briefly considered asking whether or not the child was indeed his, but he knew Lily.

"What do you want to do?" he asked the redhead finally, fidgeting with his wand. Lily didn't respond, tears silently falling down her face. "Lily." He reached out, putting his hand over hers, but she pulled away, using the hand to brush away the tears.

"I've already talked to my parents. And to Dumbledore. My parents don't want me to raise this baby, and Dumbledore says it's too dangerous with you-know-who out there."

Remus watched her, confused. "So, do you want to get rid of it?" Lily shook her head violently. "You're going to give it away?"

"Yes." Lily looked him in the face for the first time. "Dumbledore's found a home for - for the baby to stay in until the war's over. If it ends soon," she added bitterly. "I'm due right after OWLs. Madame Pomfrey says there's spells that can conceal the pregnancy from everyone else, so..." she took a deep breath. "We're not supposed to tell anyone. It's the baby of a werewolf and a mudblood, after all."

Harry sat back in his chair when Remus stopped talking. The room was silent; not even Dumbledore dared to speak while the boy who lived processed that he had a sister, one that had been hidden from him his entire life. "I don't-" he said finally, standing up and knocking the chair over. "I -" and then he was gone, Elaine's office door slamming shut behind him.

"I knew this would not go well," Dumbledore commented, rising to go.

Elaine narrowed her eyes at him. "If you hadn't arranged that boy's entire life, he would have known about me from the start. Tell me. How far back did you go to control his future? Because it seems to me it began with my life." Elaine stormed out of her own office, unsure as to where to go.

Her feet, somehow, led her to right outside the doors that led to the potion classrooms, and Severus's office. They still hadn't gone on their date in the two months that had passed, both had become extremely busy with work and duty - in fact, they'd barely spoken.

Nothing had changed. She and Rowan hadn't heard from Chester since the single letter before his third birthday, and both Ben's brothers had been silent other than lessons. Even during them, they'd barely spoken, and Elaine had no idea what had happened. She suspected Chester was behind it, but there was no way to know for certain without confronting them.

She turned away, heading out of the dungeons and back up to her office. She pulled parchment and a quill towards her and she looked at the blank sheet, thinking. And then she began to write.


Elaine crept slowly through the snow, Rowan snug in her arms as they headed down to the Hog's head where they were to meet Chester and the boys. She wasn't sure how this meeting was to go; she just wanted it over with so her son would have his uncles. Every child needed family, especially since there was no way of telling who would make it out of this war.

She took a seat in the corner, smiling briefly at Aberforth Dumbledore and ordering a butterbeer for herself for the wait. She'd barely taken a sip when the door to the pub swung open and Chester entered, Roger and Kyle two steps behind him. Chester barely acknowledged her presence before ordering a firewhiskey, drinking it in a single chug before looking over at Elaine. He gestured for the boys to follow, and the three of them sat down at her table in silence.

"Well then," Chester said finally, his voice cold, as he eyed Rowan. "He looks well."

"He is," Elaine said softly, looking at her son. "He's been learning a lot. Dobby - that is, the house elf that watches over him when I can't - has been playing catch with him. He seems to enjoy-" She broke off at Chester's withering stare, and looked down at the table, chewing on the inside of her mouth. "He's well," she finished, her tone soft.

"Roger, Kyle, why don't the two of you take young Rowan around to some of the shops?" Chester snapped at the boys. "Your sister in law an I have some decisions to make."

"My son stays with me," Elaine snapped back. "However, Roger, Kyle, why don't the two of you go, anyway? I'm sure this isn't how you want to spend Christmas eve." They looked toward their uncle for permission, and he nodded. The boys rushed off, Kyle sending Elaine one last look before the door slammed behind him. Elaine lifted her head, staring Chester directly in the eyes. "What is it you feel we need to decide about my son?"

"You will receive the letter shortly, I'm sure," Chester began, staring her down. "I've petitioned the ministry of magic to gain custody of young Rowan."

Elaine felt her heart sink deep into her chest. "You wouldn't," she whispered. "He's - he's my child! You cannot do that!"

"I can if I feel he isn't being taken care of," Chester retorted. "From what I gather, he is rarely in your care as it is - you have filthy house elves watching him, for Merlin's sake! That is inappropriate! Not to mention you running around with known death eaters - Severus Snape, for example."

"Severus Snape was acquitted after the Potters died," Elaine hissed.

"Still-" Chester fiddled with his mug, eyeing her. "Less than six months after your husband died and you've been seen with another man. What would Ben have to say about that?" Elaine couldn't speak, she sat there staring at Chester in horror. "You've really no shame, do you?"

"I will not let you take Rowan from me!" Elaine whispered, standing and yanking her son up, holding him to her. The poor boy had no idea what was happening and began to cry. She stroked his back, still glaring at Chester. "You have no rights to him."

"I am his blood, Elaine, and you would do well to remember that," Chester informed her, rising as well. "I believe you will receive the notice after the holidays, but I wanted to let you know in person. Merry Christmas."


It was a shaking Elaine who knocked on Dumbledore's door an hour later, Rowan still in her grasp. The headmaster bid her enter, and began to rise when he saw her pale face, concern evident on his.

"I need your help," she whispered, letting out the sob she'd been holding since leaving the Hog's Head. "I'll do anything. Chester's going to take Rowan from me."

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