In The Midst Of It All 9

The Birthday Bash Part 2

"DAMMIT HARRY, HOW CAN YOU SIT THERE DENYING KISSING CHARLIE WHEN I SAW IT WITH MY OWN EYES!" Bill roared. The lights in the kitchen flickered on and off.

"I can deny it," Harry said with forced calmness, "because, I did not kiss him, he kissed me." Harry said trampling down the emotions that were beginning to flash through him as Bill's eyes gave a flash of their own. Deep within those eyes Harry could see the betrayal, the fury, the madness, all stirring together, all wanting to consume Harry. Harry felt his blood run cold. He had honestly, even with the threats from and the confrontations with Voldemort, never felt fear in such a way.

"Now, Harry," His voice had taken on the calmness, chastising, and maniacal tone of a monomaniac seeking Harry as his prey, "I saw you fall when your eyes landed on me in the doorway." Harry did not correct his statement, there is no point. He had actually fallen before he saw Bill in the doorway, but it was not as if Bill was going to believe him.

Harry squashed all feelings of fleeing that had entered his mind. He had to speak up for himself. Well, speaking up for himself, and the fact that the door to the kitchen and the garden were shut and most likely sealed, were reasons why he squashed all feelings of fleeing; the window was in the shut and most likely sealed as well. And, Athena and Ares had long since left him at his own devices, so he could not use their transportation method. There was no point in wanting to escape when there were no means of escape. He felt like a deer left in some lions' den with his legs tied together and his mouth gagged, as not to call for help.

If he had the opportunity to run, he could have easily, and quickly, left the room without being caught, yet he would not. And he had a point to get across. He could see that Bill believed that he, Bill, was the victim, and Harry was the one at fault. His next statements corroborated Harry's theory.

"I saw," He said, speaking in the dangerously calm tone, "you follow him out of the room." Harry resisted the strong urge to pale. "He did not ask you to follow, judging from the way you ran after him. However, I do believe he was expecting you. I will have words with him as well." Harry could help but felt a little happy when he heard Bill was going to have 'words' with Charlie. What on earth, had Charlie playing at? And those eyes. . .

He did not have time to think about it as Bill went into a rant about Harry's involvement in the kiss. From his angle, instead of it looking like Harry was pulling away, which he was, it looked like he was passionately enjoying it. And Harry knew better than to comment as of the closeness between the two of them at the moment. Harry did not have his own safety to be concerned of at the moment. In his 'condition', as Athena had phrased it hours before, he had to be careful of dangerous situations. He considered Bill to be a dangerous situation.

He sighed again. Bill began to rant on about Harry's relationship with Kevin, and the brief circumstance of Pete, all the while making comparisons to Charlie. Harry put his head in his hands and thanked Merlin that he had told someone about his... rendezvouses. Harry was happy that he had not completely discussed with Hermione, in depth, his rendezvous. He skimmed the surface, and he told her that there were two guys that he had in any way at all expressed sexual attention to, and that he only slept with one. He was a bit surprised at how well she had taken it. But there was one other person that he had told of his rendezvous, he was happy that he had . . .

Earlier that evening

"What are you doing, Charlie?" His answer was a rough kiss on the mouth. Harry tried to pull away but Charlie's arms were holding him tightly. Harry used his magic to pull away. He fell backwards onto the grass. He opened his mouth to yell at Charlie when he saw Bill in the doorway. His stomach sunk to his knees, as did his heart.

"Well, well, well." Bill said, coldly staring at Harry.

"Bill, this isn't what it looks like." Harry said picking himself up off the ground while pleading with Bill.

Charlie looked incredulous and disapproving for a moment, he seemed to want to say some but Bill cut him off.

"Really Harry, it looks to me that you were kissing my brother." Bill said his eyes flashing dangerously; his jaw twitched.

"And what if he was." Charlie said walking over to Harry and wrapping an arm around him. Harry quickly pulled out of his embrace, but Bill did not seem to care. "He wasn't happy with you, William, it's time he had a real man in his life." Harry did not know who to be more shocked by. But as Bill take a few steps forward, Harry soon did not care. He knew he had to put distance between Bill and himself.

"He has several real men in his life and a few boys, I might imagine. I'm sure you can add yourself to the list." Bill said smugly.

Bill and Charlie began to trade verbal blows. Harry could tell immediately that they had a bit of bad blood between them. They both used Harry as a bridge to the past. Charlie, saying that Bill took everything that he receives for granted. Bill, saying that Charlie had always been a bit jealous of his accolades and accomplishments.

Harry soon began to move further and further away from both of them. Their voices were getting louder, and Harry was afraid that a bit of physical violence was in the near future. And it was all because of him ...

I should have foreseen Charlie's motives. I should not have followed him out here. I should have-.

His name was suddenly being mentioned by the two on a continual basis, drawing him out of his thoughts.

"-know more about him than you do, Charlie!"

Charlie went quiet for a moment. "So this is why he hesitated when I asked if you loved him." He said thoughtfully. Bill snorted, Harry's heart sunk. Charlie looked at Harry, he seemed to want to say something but Bill cut him off.

"And let me guess, he didn't hesitate when you asked if he loves me." Charlie nodded stiffly, as if hating to add more fuel to the 'Bill fire'. Bill gave a laugh that made Harry feel sick. "With love," He spit the word out as if it were a curse, "there is faithfulness and honesty, both of which I have yet to see from him."

"And trust, which I don't see in you, obviously." Harry murmured. Harry instantly wished he had kept his mouth closed. Bill's attention snapped to him immediately. He turned and took a step toward Harry.

Charlie yanked him back around. "If you have anything to say to him you say it to me." He said. Bill pushed him off of him, Charlie barely faltered in his stance but did let go. "You're right, he doesn't deserve you." Bill paused, unsure how to take the latter statement, but before he could respond Charlie spoke. "He deserves much better than you." Bill's jaw twitched. The vein on the side of his neck bulged a bit.

Harry saw Bill's wand hand twitch, and so did Charlie. Harry had not even blinked an eye before both of them had their wands on each other. Harry jumped between them. "Don't do thi-."

Charlie grabbed Harry roughly and pulled out of the way. "Don't get in the way. You and I both know that he's no-good. We both know how faithful you were to him, and he's-."

"WHAT! You think he's faithful, righteous Harry Potter! He's not!" Bill lowered his voice dangerously. "Well guess what Charlie, that slut cheated on me, if you want him, you can have him!"

He turned and stomped off in Harry's direction, with a bone-chilling look thrown at Harry, he left. Harry immediately rushed after him.

A hand grabbed his arm again. "Let him go Harry. You don't-." He was stopped short by Harry's fist connecting with his face.

"You asshole! You set me up didn't you!" Harry did not wait for a response before he left and walked into the kitchen.

Mrs. Weasley was shuffling everyone out of the room. Ron and Hermione seemed to be putting up a bit of a fight. Harry saw Ginny standing in the doorway and he nodded to her. She returned the gesture. He sighed, the plan was going off as it should. He realized now what was going on, well, at least a bit of what was going on as Ares eluded from telling him everything. Ginny was a big part of the plan, Harry assumed from Ares' urgency in getting her involved. It was plausible that she knew more about what was going on than Harry did. She does have Ares' pendant around her neck, which would allow direct communication.

Hermione gave Harry a scrutinizing look, after finding something satisfactory, she nodded and began pulling Ron from the room. Ron protested but Hermione was resolute. When all were gone, Mrs. Weasley turned to Harry with a strict, no-nonsense look on her face.

"Sit." Harry immediately followed orders. "Now, I don't want any beating around the bush, I want you to tell me what-." She was interrupted by Charlie staggering into the room. Mrs. Weasley immediately jumped up to assist him, though he pushed every attempt of assistance away.

Harry tried to seize the moment, to leave. But he was too slow and Mrs. Weasley saw his attempt of escape, as did Charlie.

"Sit, Harry." She turned back to Charlie. "Charlie- stop moving!- would you let me look at- Harry, don't you dare lift a foot- Charlie, if-. Both you STOP!" She exclaimed causing an instant lull in the room.

Charlie suddenly made a wild-dash at Harry. Mrs. Weasley caught him and managed to hold him back. Harry saw into his eyes... That look. That crazed look, he remembered it from somewhere, he could not put his foot on it. Mrs. Weasley seemed to be making a decision.

"Charlie, out of the room!" He blinked at her, strained against her hand holding him back, then finally yanked away. Mrs. Weasley cried out indignant, but her wand was in sight. Charlie looked at it, and all the while glaring at Harry, stalked from the room.

Mrs. Weasley took a moment to calm herself before sitting herself down at the table. She looked at Harry expectantly, and threw confused glances out the door Charlie had exited.

Harry sighed. As much as he did not want to do it, he knew that there was no way around it. He took a steady breath and exhaled slowly. He began his story, starting not with the beginning of the summer, but with his rendezvous with Kevin. He told her the version of the story that he had somewhat emitted from Hermione. It was more of a view into his private life than he was comfortable with having even his best-friend know.

Ironically though, he was telling this story to the mother of one of his best-friends.

He told her the truth of his and Bill's relationship. When he told her the truth, that they were not together the night Harry had left the Dursley's, he made sure to not look at her at all. He could not bear to face the disappointment and anger expected to be on her face. He heard her intake of breath and that was all he needed.

"So all of that, you and Bill, at the meeting the other day, was fake?" Harry nodded. "So what else have you been lying to us about?" Harry turned his eyes to her and saw what he had expected to be there. He held back the sobs that threatened to release themselves.

"Please, don't make me feel any worse about this than I already am!" He wept.

"I'm sorry dear, it's just not something I expected from you!" Harry winced. "Sorry dear, forgive me."

"It's all right," Harry said in the barest of voices. He took another deep breath and went on about the living arrangements of Bill and himself. He made a brief comment about he and Bill having premarital sex, though he did not say where. He told her about the letter from Kevin, and Bill's reaction to it. By the time he was at the scene in the backyard, he was crying.

Her arm slipped around his shoulders and Harry let cry on it. When the tears had abated, he thanked her. He needed to get back to Bill's house, he was feeling a little queasy and needed some rest.

"Are you all right, dear? You look a bit peaky." Harry was going to respond but she already had her wand out. He jumped up instinctly and tried to dodge the spell, which he afterwards realized was a diagnostic spell, but it was too late.

A sheet of blue light covered his whole body, but when it reached his stomach it turned red, with a dark emblem on his shirt that he could not see, Mrs. Weasley's eyes widened in shock. Harry was beginning to worry.

"What was that? What's going on? What's wrong?" She pointed numbly at his stomach which was still glowing.

"Y-you're-."

xX Pregnant. Xx Athena and Mrs. Weasley said at the same time.

Time seemed to slow down. Harry did not comprehend what she had said. "What, I can't be pregnant, I'm a boy!" Mrs. Weasley shook her head slowly, as if not registering his response. I can't be pregnant, guys don't get pregnant!

xX Harry, it's possible in the Wizarding World. I'm sorry you have to find out this way, but I was ordered not to tell you. Ares as well, so don't take your frustration out on him either. Xx Harry shook his head. xX But, now that you know of your... 'condition', I expect you to be particularly careful in what you get yourself into... Xx

A feeling of utter dread washed over him. His knees felt weak and his head was a little light. He swayed hazardously on his legs. Mrs. Weasley caught him before he fell. It can't be, it just can't be. I'm too young to be a father! I can barely take care of myself. What if Bill finds out- BILL! Oh Merlin, have mercy, Bill is going to flip. And what if it's not his...

Harry whimpered. "That spell never lies, Harry." Harry continued to shake his head.

"It- It- I- Bill, he's- a baby..." Harry's mind teemed with the number of reasons that this was not a good situation.

Voldemort, a cold sensation rose from his stomach, what if Voldemort finds out? I'm going to have to go into hiding like my parents did... Look how that turned out. And Bill-

"I'm a grandmother. After all of these years." She said with tears brimming on the edge of her eyes.

Harry fell into another round of weeping, he mumbled what he could to her, but it came out incoherently. He took a deep breath. "W-w-wha-what if i-i-it's not B-b-Bill's?" He asked mournfully. Her head snapped in his direction. One word tore down her tearful happiness, "Kevin."

They descended into a brief silence before Mrs. Weasley wrapped an arm around his shoulders again. "Who would you like to be the father?"

"Why?" Harry asked immediately and openly showing his suspicion. What was she getting at?

"I know who the father is, it's a wizard, obviously, but I saw a family's coat of arms... I repeat, who do you want to be the father?" Harry's breath caught his throat.

"Me." He said pushing his chin up. "Both 'could-be's aren't ready for such a responsibility."

"And you are?" She questioned.

Harry took a moment to think about it. There is so much to consider, especially on the child's safety . . . "Yes." I will figure a way out. I'm going to have this baby at whatever cost. And it will live a happy, healthy life with its father... me.

xX Everything shall turn out fine, Harry. Xx Athena said.

"Good." Her arm around him squeezed. "It's Bill's, definitely. Our family crest was on your stomach. Unless there is another male in this family..." She said with a soft smile.

Harry was willing to play along with her. "Don't worry it's not Arthur." Mrs. Weasley jumped slightly at her husband's name. They looked at each other for a moment before bursting out with laughter. After a while, Harry had to get ready to leave, though he did not want to because of the great conversation he was having with Mrs. Weasley, but he wanted to get back to Bill to tell him the good news. Mrs. Weasley assured him that Bill would calm down once he heard the news. He hoped she was right and that Bill would like the news. But there was that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Athena took him home with the gods' method of transportation.

As soon as he landed in the kitchen, he knew something was wrong. It was too quiet. Just like before...

He walked into the living room. Moonlight ominously and suddenly came in through the window. Harry jumped as he saw Bill sitting there waiting for him, the moonlight making him even more portentous...

Back to the present

And they had been arguing ever since. Well, Bill's been yelling at Harry ever since-.

WHAM

Bill's fist hit the island counter. Harry jumped. "Wow, you've only been back for what two hours, and already you're daydreaming about him. You do jump around a lot, don't you Harry!" That is the last straw-.

xX Don't do or say anything that will cause you to regret it later. Xx Ares said.

xX Now, you want to give advice, after I've already been on my own trying to-. Xx

xX Harry, it's not our fault! Xx

xX I don't want to talk about this right now. Xx

"Look, Bill, I'm going to go to sleep, if you feel the need to shout, feel free to indulge it. Because I will not sit here and listen to your nonsense." Harry said preparing to stand up. Bill jumped up and hissed-

"Sit down." Harry's knees buckled, but he stood resolute. He turned to leave, when Bill's hand landed with a vice-grip on his shoulder. "You will sit down and listen to what I have to say." There was an immediate spike of pain down his body. Get him off of me. His magic responded immediately.

Bill's hand sprung away from Harry as if it had been burnt. He looked frightened momentarily, then surprised, and finally angry beyond fury.

"You... bitch!" He yelled, holding a bleeding hand. Harry saw his eyes turn stone and a massive twitch in his jaw. There was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Bill reeled his good hand back-.

SLAP

Time slowed for Harry. He watched the hand in disbelief, and felt the impact in even more disbelief. His whole frame moved in the direction of the slap and slammed against the floor. He had barely protected his stomach from the fall.

His mind exploded with stars. He could not register the fact that he had been slapped. His face was burning; he held a hand up to it. He felt as if he was going to cry, but he would not allow it. He was shaking with fear and fury at the same moment. With a shaky breath, he picked himself up off the floor and turned to face Bill ...


I'm evil aren't I! I'm talking about the cliffhanger. The other part... cries don't worry Harry I'm going to make sure you're all right, as long as it goes along with my preplanned plot!

Snippet of next chapter (which I am halfway done with!)

"It's fine, Mrs. Weasley." He said in his soft voice. "Just... can you show me where the presents are so that I can go-."

"And your voice. It's so... dead." She stepped closer to him. Harry resisted the urge to step back. "Has he done this before, Harry?"

Harry did not answer immediately. There was the thigh thing under the table, and the face clinching thing before they even got together, a little arm bruising, but no slapping, which was what she was asked. "He's a nice guy, he just-."

"HAS HE?" She yelled. Harry jumped and opened his mouth but he could not answer her immediately.