Summer Fling
Chapter 21
Scorpius didn't return to classes right away after Leo was born but was still tutored by Professor Lupin, James and Albus. Ancient Runes was the only subject none of them could help him with, so he asked Rose for help.
Albus actually liked his 'punishment' to babysit Leo and did so for one or two hours every day so James and Scorpius could get a break. Victoire came by on a regular basis to check up on Leo and to answer any questions the two young fathers had.
James was sitting in the Gryffindor common room with his friends when Hugo came over to him.
"Hey, James, could I talk to you for a minute?" he asked.
"Yeah, sure," James replied and they went to a quiet corner of the common room. James quickly cast the Muffliato-spell so no one could listen in on them.
"I suppose this is about Lysander?" James voiced his assumption.
"Yes. I don't know if he even likes boys that way and I have no idea how to find out," Hugo admitted.
"Hm. As far as I know you have three possibilities. The first – and easiest – would be if it was common knowledge, then you would just need to ask around the school. Second option would be to directly ask Lysander himself. And the third – and riskiest option – you act like a true Gryffindor and just kiss him or flirt with him," James explained.
"And if he doesn't like men that way?" the younger Gryffindor asked uncertainly.
"Then he will tell you that. You and Lysander have been friends for a long time now, I'm sure he would be nice about it and not ridicule you for it. You always risk rejection no matter if you ask a boy or a girl to go out with you," the older one told him sympathetically.
"I don't think I'd have the guts to just kiss him or ask him out and I have no idea how to flirt with someone," Hugo said disheartened.
"Then you will just have to ask him. Why don't you start with telling him that you are gay, to test his reaction. Maybe he will do the same," James suggested.
"Okay, thanks James," Hugo said. "So how's it going with Scorpius?" he changed the topic.
"What do you mean?" James asked playing innocent.
"Come on, everyone can see you still fancy each other. You do want him back, right?" Hugo stated.
"Yes but I don't want him to think I only want him because of Leo," the Head Boy admitted.
Hugo nodded sympathetically but had no advice to give his cousin.
On the 19th October James celebrated his 18th birthday. Leo was only a few weeks old so the party was quite small with only his family. They couldn't invite anyone else because no one else knew about Leo. Many students wondered why James didn't throw a big party like the year before but he easily dealt with them.
After Halloween, Scorpius started to return to some of his classes. He started with Herbology, Charms and Potions in which he had received Es on his OWLs. While he and James had classes Victoire took care of Leo. Since she was working in the Hospital Wing again some students had noticed the baby and some wild rumours spread around the school.
One of the more harmless rumours said the baby was found abandoned in front of the Hogwarts gates and the Lupins had adopted it. Another rumour said the baby was Professor Lupin's child from an affair, some even said with a student. None of the rumours came even close to the truth.
The teachers soon tired of the questions and speculations of the students and Professor McGonagall decided to address the subject one evening at dinner. She wanted to clear some things up before the rumours got even more absurd than they already were. When all of the teachers and most of the students were assembled in the Great Hall she stood and asked for their attention.
"It has come to my attention that Madam Lupin and some of the other teachers have been asked about the baby Madam Lupin is currently taking care of. Since there seem to be going around some nasty rumours I'd like to rectify some things," the headmistress began.
"The child is the seven-weeks-old son of two of our students whose identity we won't disclose," she announced.
"This does not mean however that our school approves of or supports teenage pregnancies. This is a special case and I hope it will stay the only one," Professor McGonagall warned her students with a stern gaze.
"Please stop bothering Madam Lupin and the other teachers with further questions, they won't be answering any," she ended her speech and sat back on her seat at the middle of the teachers table.
Immediately the Great Hall erupted into loud whispering. On all of the four House tables the students puzzled over the identity of the two students. Every known couple was scrutinised by their peers.
Fortunately no one made the connection between Scorpius supposed illness and a pregnancy. James and Scorpius were both present in the Great Hall. Albus had offered to look after Leo while they ate dinner.
"Did you know McGonagall was going to do this?" Fred whispered to his best friend and cousin.
"Yes, she asked my permission this morning after Transfiguration," James answered in a whisper as well. Although they were surrounded by family you could never be careful enough at Hogwarts.
"The rumours were really getting ridiculous," Roxanne commented.
"I wonder who the parents are?" her boyfriend Alexander Wood – who wasn't privy to their secret - mused loudly. "Do you think it's someone from Gryffindor?"
"No idea," Alison Jordan, Fred's girlfriend, answered. "But why all this secrecy?"
James, Fred and Roxanne simply shrugged, unsure what to say.
"You are unusually quiet," Alison remarked. "Do you know more than we do? Professor Lupin is after all practically James' older brother and Madam Lupin is your cousin."
"Yes, we know who it is but we are not allowed to tell anyone," James confessed. "But I can ask if I can tell you," he offered. He felt guilty that Fred and Roxanne had to keep secrets from their partners because of him.
"Okay, thank you, James. It has to be a really juicy story for the teachers to keep it under wraps," Alex said.
"If I get the permission to tell you then only under the condition that you promise to tell no one – and I really mean no one – else about this," James warned them. Wood was known for his big mouth and often inadvertently spilled secretes – his and other people's.
"How did the Gryffindors react? Has anyone come even close to the truth?" Scorpius asked after dinner when they had returned to their quarters.
"No, not as far as I know but Alex and Alison know that I and my family know the truth. I was feeling guilty because Fred and Roxanne weren't allowed to tell them although they are dating," James answered.
"You want to tell them?" Scorpius shouted upset.
"Yes. No. Would it be alright if I tell them that it's my child but not with whom?" the Gryffindor asked nervously.
"You really want to risk someone blabbing about it or eavesdropping and it ending up in the Daily Prophet?" the Slytherin asked incredulously.
"Alex and Alison are my friends, I don't want to lie to them, Scorpius," James said upset.
He knew the more people knew the greater was the possibility the rest of the school would find out. And then there would surely be headlines about them in the Daily Prophet. The Daily Prophet still published articles about the Saviour of the Wizarding World and his family on a regular basis. They would have a field day with the story about James' son. However he couldn't lie to his friends any longer but he would at least try to protect Scorpius from the scandal.
"Okay, it's your decision. Tell them if you must as long as you keep me out of it. I'm not ready yet to deal with all the insults and stares I'll get as soon as this gets out," Scorpius said.
"You are aware we can't hide Leo forever, aren't you?" James cautiously pointed out.
"Yes, I know, but not yet, please," the blonde begged.
"Alright, I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to," James promised.
"Thank you, James," Scorpius said relieved.
The next day after their last lesson, James, Fred, Alison, Roxanne and Alex went together to Gryffindor Tower. They searched for an unoccupied table in a quiet corner and started on their huge mountain of homework. After they had all completed two essays they decided to leave it at that for the moment and take a break. Fred suggested going to dinner in the Great Hall.
"You two go ahead," James said to Fred and Roxanne. "Would you mind if I borrowed Alex and Alison for a moment?"
"No, we'll be waiting in the Great Hall for you," Fred answered.
Fred and Roxanne went down to dinner together while James led the other two into an abandoned classroom.
"Why did drag us here?" Alex asked.
"You wanted to know who the baby belonged to, didn't you?" James replied.
"Yes, does that mean you're allowed to tell us?" Alison inquired.
"Yes, but only part of it. I can only tell you the name of one of the parents," James told them.
"Why?" Alex asked.
"Because I had to promise," James answered.
"Alright, shoot. Shock us!" Alison prompted him.
"Oh, I'm sure you will be shocked but first you need to swear not to tell anyone what I'm going to tell you," James demanded.
"I swear," they both replied impatiently.
"Okay, Leo belongs to me. He's my son," he revealed and enjoyed their shocked faces.
"You?" they both shouted in obvious surprise.
"You are having us on," Alison accused him.
"I thought girls didn't do it for you," Alex remarked confused.
"I didn't even know you were in a serious relationship," Alison complained.
"If you would let me finish I would explain it to you," James said half amused and half irritated.
"It was a potions accident – one I had nothing to do with by the way. Ironically we broke up exactly on the day it happened. We haven't been together for quite some time now," he told them the short version, carefully avoiding all clues towards Scorpius.
"Okay, so you've got a two month old son whose name is Leo together with – another boy? – from Hogwarts who you've broken up with nearly a year ago," Alison summarized the situation.
"Pretty much, yeah," James confirmed.
"It's a wonder the press doesn't know yet. That would definitely be front page material," Alison commented.
"I know, that's why you needed to swear not to tell anyone. No one besides our families knows," James stressed again.
"James, we are your friends, you can trust us," Alex assured him.
"I'm trying to remember who you were dating last year but I can't think of anyone," Alison remarked confusedly.
"We kept our affair a secret," James confessed.
"Why? You were never overly discrete about your love life," Alex remarked.
"Come on, I'm sure Fred and Roxanne are already wondering where we are," James said to change the subject.
Reluctantly the two other Gryffindors followed him to the Great Hall. They knew they would get no more information out of him although they were now even more curious than ever. But when they sat down next to Fred and Roxanne to eat dinner they talked about other things.
After dinner James returned to Leo and Scorpius in their quarters.