Disclaimer: don't own.

That's what happened in chapter 24:

After Tom had hung their cloaks up, they were ushered into the cosy living-room where a fire was crackling merrily in the old fireplace. "It's comfortable here." Jana said delightedly.

"Thank you." Tom Sr said. "I live here with my wife, but my parents live upstairs."

Tom jrs head jerked, but he didn't comment.

"Now, would you like some tea?" Tom Sr asked.

"Yes, please." Jana said and Tom Jr nodded stiffly.

"Be a bit more outgoing." Jana whispered when Tom Sr was in the kitchen preparing tea.

Tom Jr nodded at her. "It's just the nerves." he whispered back.

When Tom Sr arrived with a tray full of tea and biscuits, he settled himself in the nearest armchair and looked at Tom expectantly. "I'm quite surprised." he said, his eyes shining with curiosity. "I didn't know I had a son."

On with the story:

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Uncomfortably, Tom shifted in his chair, looking at his father with a surprised expression. "You didn't? I thought my mother – Merope – told you she was pregnant."

"She told me, I admit that and then I left her, because I felt too young to be a father. A few months later, I regretted my decision and I wanted to get to know my baby." Tom Srs eyes were far away. "However, I couldn't track her down. No Merope Riddle was ever found. I thought she either left the country or hid in the wizarding world. Yes, Merope told me about your world as she was my wife and if you are married, you are allowed to tell your partner."

Tom nodded; he had heard that before, but Jana blinked surprised. This was news to her.

"So how is Merope?" Tom Sr asked friendlily.

"She died giving birth to me." Tom Jr said coldly.

"Ah…" Tom Srs face fell. "So… where did you grow up?"

"At an orphanage." Tom Jr spat.

"At an orphanage? Oh no. That must have been horrible for you. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you, but I didn't know of your existence, son." Tom Sr said in a thick voice.

Tom Jr said nothing, just gazed at his father.

"Believe me; if I had known of your existence, or that you lived in an orphanage, I would have taken you in immediately." Tom Sr said sadly. "I'm sorry."

To Jana's great surprise, Tom Jr nodded. "I understand. I first have to get used to this situation before your apology is accepted, but… well… we've known each other for about twenty minutes so far."

"Right." Tom Sr said, a smile gracing his features. "So, I think it's time to get to know each other better."

Jana comfortably leaned back in her chair, sipping her tea and half listening to Tom and his father talking about everything. She was really happy for Tom and felt that he was relieved and surprised of the outcome. Jana suddenly felt drowsy and tired and she decided that the two men could very well talk amongst themselves – she wasn't needed anyway. This was a moment between father and son. And thus, Jana closed her eyes, grateful for the opportunity to nap.

In what seemed like seconds later, a door slammed and Jana woke up with a start. Tom and his father were obviously still talking as they were both sitting on the same chairs, chatting away.

"Darling, I'm home." a voice trilled.

Jana, Tom and Tom stiffened.

"Tom… this is my wife. Would you like to meet her or rather leave?" Tom Sr asked anxiously.

"I think, we will stay." Tom Jr said nodding and turned to Jana. "I'm sorry… are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine… I had a nap." Jana answered smiling at her boyfriend.

"You know… my father and I we had a lot of catching up to do. Did you mind?" Tom Jr asked anxiously.

"No, not at all. I'm happy for you." Jana smiled at him reassuringly and Tom squeezed her hand in thanks.

Tom Sr and a blonde-haired woman walked into the living-room.

"Tom, this is my wife, Cecilia." Tom Sr said gesturing at his wife.

Cecilia gave him a quizzical look. "And this, Cecilia darling, is my son, Tom Riddle."

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Harry wanted to catch up on his sleep now that Malfoy was at his manor, terrorizing the houseelves. Instead, however, Marc seemed to occupy their dorm forever and keeping Harry awake by a steady outpour of complaints, sorrows and problems, mostly about Jana, Tom Riddle, Jana, Malfoy, Jana, Slughorn, Jana, arithmancy homework, Jana…

"Can't you just shut up?" Harry said through gritted teeth when Marc was telling him about Jana kissing Tom in the middle of the Slytherin common room. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to rest."

Marc fell silent at once, still pondering.

Two minutes later, Hermione walked in, preventing Harry from napping again.

"Sorry Harry, aren't you awake yet?" Hermione wondered.

"No, I haven't even slept." Harry spat.

"Oh." Hermione looked from Marc to Harry, guessing the reasons why. "Why not?" she still asked.

"Because Marc decided to share his problems with me." Harry said angrily.

"Oh yes, Abraxas complains about that too." Hermione grinned.

"Oh shut up, both of you." Marc said embarrassed. "I'm only worrying about my sister. Why aren't I allowed to do that?"

"You are allowed, Marc. And believe me, you'll find out tomorrow." Hermione said softly. "Just do me a favour, okay?"

Marc looked at her with wide eyes. "Sure?"

"Don't overreact, ok?"

"Overreact? What if it's something dangerous or life-threatening?" Marc stormed.

"It's nothing life-threatening. But please please PLEASE I'm begging you… don't throw a tantrum!" Hermione said pleadingly.

Marc nodded, looking at Hermione surprised. "Yeah… I'll try not to."

"Good." Hermione looked satisfied.

"Can't you tell me beforehand… so that I'm warned?" Marc asked hopefully, being the model Slytherin.

"Nope." Hermione said seriously. "That's Jana's job, but don't you worry, it's nothing dangerous. As long as you are not acting like an overprotective brother."

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"Your son?" Cecilia 'darling' asked faintly. "I didn't know you had a son."

"I didn't know I had, either." Tom Sr admitted sheepishly, his cheeks the faintest pink.

Cecilia looked from Tom Sr to Tom Jr and back to Tom Sr again, obviously astounded by their uncanny resemblance.

"Who is the mother?" she addressed Tom Sr in a sharp voice.

"My first wife, Merope." Tom Sr answered. "The one I told you about."

"Ah… the one you left me for." Cecilia said through narrowed eyes. "Very well. And why did she send him over NOW? And not before? He is almost an adult."

"She's dead." Tom said and Cecilia's narrowed eyes widened. "Tom obviously didn't know of my existence and now he found me. Merope died giving birth to Tom and poor Tom grew up in an orphanage."

"Did he?" Cecilia asked coldly. "Well… why didn't you tell me you had a child?"

"Because I didn't really know… I admit, I knew Merope was pregnant and that's why I started looking for her, but I never found her. Obviously, because she was dead. But I didn't know that at the time and since no child ever came looking for ME and since no one contacted me, I didn't think about it anymore. I never knew I had a son called Tom." Tom Sr said with a bit of affection in his voice.

"You know why Merope called me Tom?" Tom Jr asked in a soft voice. "Because she still loved you. It was her last wish."

Tom Sr had the grace to look slightly ashamed. "I didn't know, I've already told you."

"Thanks for telling me NOW when your son turned up at your doorstep. Really witty, Tom." Cecilia spat. She narrowed her eyes at both Toms and stormed out of the room, the door slamming behind her.

"I'm sorry about that… she will get used to it, it's a bit of a shock for her, too. She is always like that." Tom Sr said apologetically.

"Well, I can understand, it's a bit unexpected, but I must admit, you are taking the news quite well." Jana smiled.

"Thank you, Jana. You know that Tom is like me in many ways – we are both calm and try to keep a blank façade, but inside there is a storm." Tom Sr said with a wry smile. "Now, Tom, would you like to meet your grandparents? They live upstairs…" Tom Sr said and to Jana's surprise, Tom Jr's eyes beamed.

"Yes, that would be lovely." Tom said with so much warmth that Jana stared.

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"Thank you Jana." Tom picked her up and whirled her around, grinning ecstatically. "Thank you for your wonderful idea and thank you for taking me there." They had already arrived back in Hogsmeade and were now walking back to the castle.

"I'm glad I could be of assistance." Jana smiled, interlacing her fingers with Tom's. "And I told you that your father didn't know about you. AND we're even invited to spend Christmas with them."

"We'll first have to talk to Dippett about that. But hey, I finally have a father. AND grandparents thrown in the mix." Tom grinned. "I have a family." Then he frowned. "But this Cecilia is a cow."

"She is horrible." Jana pretended to shudder.

"My mother was much better than her." Tom pouted.

"Probably." Jana smiled. "But she was nice enough in the end… she even gave us sandwiches."

"Yeah… and they were quite good – for muggle sandwiches." Tom admitted.

"Which reminds me – I'm hungry." Jana said.

"Again?" Tom asked disbelievingly. "How could you STILL be hungry after the ton of sandwiches you ate?"

"I'm carrying a baby. YOUR baby, Tom." Jana reminded him.

Tom laughed out loud. He slowly patted her stomach and gave Jana a kiss on her forehead. "Fine. I'll join you at dinner."

When they arrived at the Slytherin table, Hermione was busy reading a book, her plate discarded in front of her.

"Good evening." Jana smiled. "What are you reading, Hermione?"

"Oh." Hermione jumped out of her seat. "Something about time travel."

"That must be interesting." Jana said approvingly. She suddenly saw that Marc and Harry were sitting next to each other, talking intently. "Are these two new best buddies now?"

"No." Hermione gave a jerky laugh. "Marc's just kept following Harry like a young puppy – don't ask me why though. Ah, good evening, Tom."

"Good evening, Hermione." Tom beamed.

Hermione looked taken a back.

"We've just visited his family." Jana said, interpreting Hermione's expression.

Hermione looked even more shocked. "Really?" she finally managed to say.

"Yeah." Jana said oblivious to Hermione's shock. "His father and his grandparents and we are invited for Christmas dinner."

"That's wonderful." Hermione tried her best to smile naturally. "And how did you like his parents, Jana?"

"Just his father… oh… he is nice; he looks so much like Tom it's almost scary." Jana grinned.

"Enough." Tom hissed quietly, giving Jana a significant look. He wasn't ready to tell everyone about his father. And he certainly wasn't ready to tell them he was a half-blood. Yet.

"Okay… sorry." Jana smiled at her boyfriend and kissed him full on the lips, not noticing that Marc shot her a dark look.

"Hermione… we'll do it tonight." Jana had turned back to her girlfriend.

"What?" Hermione asked completely thrown – she had no idea what Jana was talking about.

"We'll tell Marc tonight." Jana said stoutly.

"Awww… Jana…we said tomorrow night." Hermione pouted.

"I want to do it tonight, though, because I'm in a good mood." Jana said stubbornly. "And I need to be for that kind of torture."

Hermione nodded against her will. "Fiiiiine."

"Hermione will be there as well – invisible of course - she's going to disillusion herself in case something gets out of hand." Jana explained for Tom's sake who looked relieved.

"Still, you'll be careful, okay?"

"Marc is not going to hurt me." Jana shook her head, appalled.

"You never know… why do you want to take Hermione with you then?" Tom asked, raising a single eyebrow.

Jana had no answer to that.

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Hermione was waiting.

Jana and Marc were sitting in the now empty Great Hall, where about a hundred house elves were scurrying around, tidying up here and cleaning there.

Hermione was waiting.

The twins were facing each other, both of them not daring to speak first.

Hermione was waiting.

"Now, Jana…" Marc said in a patient voice. "You know you can tell me anything. I'll be there for you and help you with your illness."

Jana looked onto the floor, a single tear escaping her eye. "No, Marc, you won't be there for me. And you won't be relaxed… in fact you'll be very angry at me and… at someone else."

Marc closed his eyes in agony. "It's the f…ing headboy, isn't it? Did he hurt you?"

Jana gave out a hollow laugh and Marc opened his eyes, relief written all over his face.

"No, he didn't hurt me… but you are right, it has to do with the headboy. And it's no illness." Jana added in a choked voice.

"What is it? Jana, I promise, I'll do everything for you." Marc said so desperately that Jana gave in.

"Fine." she said through gritted teeth. "Marc, I'm pregnant and Tom is the father."

She looked him straight into the eye…. and Marc just laughed.

"Oh… funny joke, little sister. Or not so funny actually. Now what is it really?" Marc wiped his brow.

"Uhm… I was actually telling the truth, Marc." Jana said, perplexed.

Marc just stared at her wide-eyed, disappointed, disbelieving and hurt. He sat down on the bench, put his face into his arms and cried fat hot tears.

Jana hadn't expected that reaction – at all. She had expected him to scream at her, to curse her, to curse Tom, to run off, to be furious and to storm out of the Great Hall – but she certainly hadn't expected THAT. She had no idea if Hermione was still there, but it was important that she, Jana, now remain with him. So she sat down next to him, patting his back and hugging him close to her.

After a while, Marc's tears subsided. Jana felt extremely sad as well – she hated causing her brother pain. They still hugged each other tightly and both of them never wanted to let go.

A little while later, Marc was the first to speak. "So you are pregnant from the headboy?"

Jana didn't trust herself to speak and just nodded.

"I can't believe it." Marc said dejectedly. "And are you happy? Was it planned? Are you going to get married?"

"Only yes to the first one. It wasn't planned and I'm not going to get married – not now at least – but I'm extremely happy. I'm so looking forward to the baby." Jana half-smiled.

Marc just nodded. "Do you love him?"

Jana was taken aback. "Whom?"

"The headboy, of course."

"Oh, him. Yes, I do." Jana said surprised.

"Ah…" Marc looked even unhappier. "Well, Jana, as unfortunate your news are – they are not life-threatening at least."

Jana stared. "Sorry?"

Marc smiled at her and hugged her closer. "I mean, I'm relieved that you don't have a life-threatening illness. I was really worried, Jana. Of course, I hadn't expected a pregnancy, but hey… I'll be there for you and the baby."

"Really?" Jana couldn't believe her ears – was that really her brother, Marc?

"Yes, really. And don't worry, I'm not mad at you – it's Riddle's fault after all." Marc said.

Jana wanted to correct him, to say that it was her fault as well, but she didn't want to ruin the moment. "Thank you."

"Jana, I promised you that I would be there for you." Marc said, rolling his eyes. "I don't really like it that RIDDLE is the father, but there is nothing I can do. And Jana, I just want you to be happy."

Jana smiled at her brother and hugged him. "You are a star."

"But since we are so open and honest to each other… I would like to tell you my secret." Marc said.

"Yes?" intrigued, Jana leaned closer.

Marc hesitated. He wasn't so sure about that any longer, but he had to tell her. She had to know.

"Jana, I love you." There. He said it. Simply. Bluntly. Truthfully.

"Oh Marc, I love you too." Jana smiled, giving her twin a kiss on his forehead.

"You don't understand me." Marc said quietly. "I am IN love with you."

Jana stared, completely nonplussed. "You are kidding, right? It's not funny, brother."

"No, it isn't, Jana, especially since I'm not kidding." Marc said seriously.

"You mean… you are in love with me?" Jana shrieked.

"Yes." Marc mumbled, embarrassed. "I know it's all wrong, but I thought you should know."

"When did this start?" Jana moved away from him, sitting about a meter from him.

"I don't know, it just came gradually. And when you were dancing with the headboy, I couldn't control my jealousy." Marc admitted.

"I should have known. All the signs you gave me." Jana muttered. "And it was jealousy. You loved me."

"I still do."

"But you are my brother – you are my twin brother." Jana said matter of factly.

"I know… I just wanted you to know…and ask you, if you have the same feelings?" Marc asked hopefully.

Jana stared at him, appalled. "Marc… you cannot be serious… you are my brother… my everything! There never were any romantic feelings involved! Why do you have to destroy our relationship?" Jana had tears in her eyes again. "How can you do that to me?"

Marc just sat there, opening and closing his mouth. Jana gave a strangled sort of cry and stormed out of the Great Hall. She ran as fast as she could to the Slytherin common room. How can Marc do that to her? She loved him dearly – in a brotherly way and she needed him – as a brother. But now that he had romantic feelings, everything would change.

It was just sick. She opened the portrait hole and went into the common room, plopping down on the sofa nearest the fire. It was only then that she noticed that Harry was sitting next to her…

Marc just sat there, sobbing into his hands and Hermione removed her disillusionment charm. She put a cold hand on his shoulder and hugged him.

"Sssshhh, Marc, I'll help you."