Haunted Jaded Eyes

Chapter 62

The next month was overwhelming to say the least, for everyone concerned. Between trying to keep Harry's condition a secret, and of course, the actual symptoms of pregnancy that Harry endured, and was having to endure secretly. Ginny's own symptoms would still be firmly enmeshed in people's minds, and so Harry couldn't take the chance of someone figuring it out.

The moment they had all been waiting for happened during charms. Harry who as usual sat nearby Ron and Hermione, practicing their spell work, since they were doing practical work, which they did a lot, it was important after all, since it was NEWT year.

The simple spell backfired, and cotton candy of all things blasted out of Harry's wand. Not just a little bit, no, it swiftly overtook the entire classroom at an alarming rate. Causing everyone to laugh in amusement, as they tried to escape the pink cloud of the sweet treat.

"Make for the exit!" cried out the excited but muffled voice of the diminutive professor, as he tried to contain the pink mess encompassing his entire classroom, but like shovelling snow while it was snowing…it was a useless endeavour as more quickly replaced it.

One by one, the students stumbling all over each other tried to make for the door.

"It tastes lovely!" one seventeen-year-old claimed with laughter deep in her voice, evidently she had tried it. "Try it!" she told her friends as they finally got out the door, their clothes covered in little bits of pink spun sugar.

"What the hell happened?" grumbled the voice of other students, "How did someone manage to muck up that spell?"

"I know right? Was it you Seamus?" Seamus was renowned for mucking up spells, from day one onwards, although the reality was, Seamus had not had such an accident since his first year, where he'd admittedly messed up a lot of his spells. Blowing up his feathers and his goblet while trying to make his juice into rum.

"It wasn't me!" he protested, annoyed by the constant reminder that he had screwed up spells when he was eleven. Merlin, they never let him forget it either, it was ridiculous.

"It came from the Gryffindor side," Draco Malfoy said haughtily, "Typical, Gryffindors, always screwing it up for everyone."

"Shut up, Malfoy!" Ron spat out, as he Hermione and Harry managed to get the damn spell to stop malfunctioning and joining everyone outside. "I wouldn't be surprised if you somehow caused it!" as always deflecting for Harry, so long as nobody realized it was him that's all that mattered.

"It was one of you three," Zabini declared, "It began at your table." Staring at the three teens suspiciously.

"Did not!" Ron protested, glaring at the teen.

"Ron," Hermione said shaking her head, "Don't engage in their pettiness, I'm sure the professor will figure out what happened." as always the voice of reason, even if it was feigned, Ron was nowhere near red enough to truly be angry at the situation.

"You pregnant, Granger?" taunted Parkinson, "Nobody should be having that sort of accidental magic at Hogwarts. Not at our age, Weasley…no wait, Dumbledore did something similar, nearly flooded out the Greenhouse apparently, before Sprout managed to get a handle on it."

Harry and Ron were tense around the eyes but other than that, there was no sign that they were uncomfortable with the conversation currently happening. They did not like the speculation happening right now, it was much too close to the truth.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Do I look pregnant to you?" she asked bluntly, "Honestly, you need to grow up." They all did, it was simply ridiculous this house prejudice at their age.

"You shut up, Granger!" Parkinson spat, her face screwed up in hatred, "You uppity little Mudblood."

"Fifty points from Slytherin, Miss Parkinson!" Flitwick called out from behind her, causing all the students to jump, they'd forgotten a professor was anywhere in the vicinity.

"Fifty?" Draco cried out at the ridiculous amount of house points that Pansy had just cost them. Worse still, he knew when their Head of House found out…that they would gain detention and more loss of house points because of the fact they said that dratted word in public.

None of them were aware that Severus loathed that word for an entirely different reason. He could only say it was because they were in public, his spying duties had taken a great deal from him and he hated that.

"Do you need it to be more, Mr. Malfoy?" Flitwick gave the teen a look, staring up at the boy with a steely gaze.

Draco swallowed, "No sir," he said, none of his usual displays appearing, he knew Flitwick didn't care for any subtle threats of telling his father or any such nonsense, plus Flitwick to be fair was a good teacher and didn't play favourites, not even with his Ravenclaw's.

"Good," Flitwick stated firmly, "Now head to the library, you'll spend the rest of your class there, reading the next two chapters of your grade 7 Charms book. You will behave and I shall be by to ensure you are adhering to the rules of the library."

"Yes Sir!" the class echoed, already beginning to move.

"Not you, Granger, Weasley, Potter, remain here," Flitwick stated before the trio could make a move to leave.

"What? Why? We didn't do it!" Ron protested, while the Slytherin's laughed, assuming they were going to get into trouble.

"I'm well aware you didn't do it Mr. Weasley," Flitwick said dryly, "Go on now or more points will be removed," glancing back at the lingering students, giving them a pointed look.

They failed to realize the 'you' in that particular part of that statement.

"I think perhaps it's time you spoke to your partner, Mr. Potter, do you not?" Flitwick gave him a knowing look as he cast a spell to ensure their privacy. He could not only tell that Harry was bonded to Severus but that he was pregnant. "You've passed the time you can remain at the school, for yours and everyone's safety you must stop using magic and remain safe." From Voldemort went unsaid but definitely understood by all three teens – or rather two teens and one masquerading as one – who were smart and didn't need him to spell it out.

"The professor has a point, that's pretty mild when you consider all your other bouts of accidental magic," Ron chortled, unable to help himself, grinning wildly now that the incident had passed.

Hermione struggled to stifle her own amusement.

Flitwick just grinned at the trio, considering what he'd heard over the years, a truer statement couldn't have been made.

Harry pouted, "It was hardly my fault," it wasn't like he'd actually wanted it to happen…okay, he did, unconsciously, but not really.

They all chuckled in amusement at Harry's expense.

"You need to inform Remus," Hermione sighed, the amusement short lived. As it usually was nowadays, but that was life during a war, you learn to have fun while you could, but for the most part…it was a difficult life to live. War was not nice or easy.

"Yeah," Harry sighed, nodding resignedly, "How did you know…professor?" how did he know who his partner was?

"That's for me to know and you to find out," Flitwick said, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Now off you go! enjoy the rest of your day!"

"Thanks professor," Harry murmured, the teacher could have outed him in front of everyone but he hadn't for that he was grateful.

"You just take care of yourself and that baby," Filius said, his voice unusually soft without it's usual cheerful squeak or serious demeanour depending on who he was dealing with.

"I will," Harry said sincerely, and with that Flitwick lowered the privacy ward, and re-entered his classroom, and begun to deal with the mess that Harry's magic had caused, the pink residue left behind was less easier to deal with than the dreaded sweet. He might just be lucky enough to have it dealt with before his next class.

"Well… I guess we best get going," Harry sighed, "I'm starving!" he added, suddenly feeling like he could eat anything and everything in front of him. Of course, it didn't help that some smells still made him want to be sick.

"We going to the rooms to get ready?" Hermione suggested quietly.

"No, Dobby can get everything," Harry shook his head, he was for the most part, already packed and ready to leave at any given moment. He had known this day was coming, even if he was in no way prepared for it.

"Well, let's head for an early lunch then," Ron suggested, as always up for eating when he had the chance.

"Lunch won't be out yet for another fifteen minutes at least," Hermione pointed out, "But let's go, I didn't get to read the newspaper this morning." They were still looking for Macnair, they were having zero success despite offering over a thousand galleon reward for any signing or information on him.

Of course, they wouldn't, Severus wasn't going to leave witnesses around after all.

"Bloody Slytherin's making everything complicated," Ron grumbled, as they all turned and headed for the direction of the Great Hall.

Hermione just shook her head, Ron was progressing, but there was still some prejudice left.

"Doesn't make their assumptions any less wrong…they were all probably thinking it, both Slytherin's and Gryffindors." Hermione pointed out, which was no doubt very true.

"Yeah, true enough," Harry sighed, he'd have been thinking the same thing himself in reality.

It didn't take long for them to reach the Great Hall, and unsurprisingly it was empty, but people would start coming in soon, since lunch would be served. They ambled over to their usual seats and claimed them, Hermione immediately spreading out the newspaper and obsessively begun to read everything, in order to see things that weren't always obvious.

"Huh, I wonder why mum and dad are getting in touch," Ron said, as the owl landed in front of him. Reaching out he took the missive from the bird, as Hermione added water to Ron's goblet, letting the owl drink from it. "Oh, wow, I guess I'm an uncle then," not sure how to feel about it.

"She gave birth?" Hermione perked up.

Ron nodded dumbly, "Twins, girls," the first Weasley girls since Ginny herself to be born into the family for seven generations.

Hermione winced, looking solemn.

"What? What is it?" Ron asked, frowning, staring at the photos as if he could observe what made Hermione wince.

"Mione?" Ron asked, his tone a little more tense now.

"Heirs Ron, which means boys, three boys is what the contract demanded…" Hermione pointed out, she wouldn't be free of the obligation until Dumbledore died or she gave birth to three boys.

"Oh!" Ron murmured, biting his lip, honestly this whole thing was horrific and he didn't like thinking about it overly much. "Well, in Azkaban hopefully he wont last much longer." He declared, it was the only upside to this entire situation that Ginny would have. When Dumbledore died and she was widowed…nobody would want her, she'd already had two children, and nobody would want to marry someone with children…not to forget how many more she had trying to fulfil the contract before he croaks it.

"What did she name them?" Hermione asked, trying to peer at the letter and photo the Weasley's had sent.

"Harriet Ginny Dumbledore-Weasley and…Lillian Molly Dumbledore-Weasley," Ron read off the letter, wincing and grimacing at the same time. Giving Harry an apologetic look there was no doubt who she had in mind when she chose those names.

Harry just shook his head, he and Severus had already decided not to use family names on their child. So Lily, James, Eileen were all out of the question, and Severus was vehemently against Tobias, so those were out of the running. "It's fine," he sighed, "Do you think she'll ever be normal?" as in stop deluding herself, it was ridiculous really. She'd lamped those kids with those names just because of him, it was awful how deluded she was.

"It's gone on too long," Hermione informed them, "I think one way or another she'll always be this way," despite the wish to the contrary.

Ron stared at the table, not even reacting when the food came, he wanted Hermione to be wrong. He would like for his sister to realize the errors of her way and have a normal happy life. Instead of constantly imagining a life she just wouldn't have. She was not going to be Lady Potter with all the trimmings that came with it. He wondered what went wrong with her…and just desperately wished for things to be normal.

"Mum and dad said sorry too, they couldn't talk her out of it," Ron added, still feeling at fault for what his sister was doing despite the fact you couldn't get farther from the truth. No doubt his parents were feeling pretty much the same.

"Red hair," Hermione pointed out, they babies were adorable really, "Definitely Weasley hair."

"Actually the Dumbledore's were known for their red hair," Ron confessed with a grimace, "Dumbledore had red hair before his went grey, there's a picture of him in the staff room actually, during his professor of Transfiguration days," he'd found it while cleaning the room during detention.

"Oh," Hermione murmured, she had never known Dumbledore to have anything other than white hair, so she honestly was surprised by this knowledge. Surprised, but not overly concerned or bothered. Not after everything Dumbledore had tried to do to her best friend, and what he'd forced upon Ginny, even if the girl had been a devious manipulative little girl, and that's all she was, a shielded stupid manipulative girl, who failed to realize what she was doing to herself and Harry.

"There's going to be a celebration once we get home," Ron murmured, lips pursed, as he finished reading the letter, "You've been invited despite the fact they realize and understand you wont want to come. They won't blame you and well, that's it really." That's basically the gist of the letter.

"Definitely not," Harry scoffed, he was not going to spend the entire time trying to avoid Ginny in a small setting. Not likely, and that went without saying whether he actually survived or not, since something was guaranteed to happen, and Harry was determined to see to it that this was final battle, swore to end Voldemort whether by killing him or seeing that he was arrested and spent the rest of his life behind bars with his magic bound.

"Thought as much," Ron sighed, "I don't blame you,"

"Maybe you should," Hermione said thoughtfully, "Think of it as a coming out occasion, have both you and your partner there as well as you know…" the baby went unsaid, there were no silencing charms up.

"Rub it in Ginny's face that she doesn't have a chance?" Ron said dryly, shaking his head, who would have thought Hermione could be so vindictive? Wait, he already knew that, a vision of Hermione smacking Draco across the face filled his mind's eye. Oh, that had been when he had been well and truly caught, despite their arguing he had worshiped her.

"Well, not solely for that reason, it might give her the push to wake the hell up and realize she doesn't stand a chance with Harry." Hermione shrugged, "That he's happy, in love with someone else, and you know…" had a child.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Ron asked, his face a mask of sincerity, he'd do anything for his best friend. It might have taken a while to let go of the anger and jealous, which had jeopardised his friendship…but he'd gotten there and his friendship with Harry was stronger than it had ever been since they first met on the train that first day.

Hermione gave Ron a look that suggested she wasn't happy with him. She understood, she wanted to as well, but NEWTS were so important. They both had dreams they wanted to see come to fruition, so to hear him offer…caught her off-guard.

"It would mean having to pay to take your exams at the Ministry," Harry pointed out shaking his head, it was nice of Ron to offer, but it would be a costly mistake. He'd offer to give Ron the money, but he doubted the boy would take it, for his family he would…but himself? No.

"For each exam, both practical and written, I did my research," dismay and disapproval in her voice, "How they can charge that much is diabolical. I mean not everyone who is home-schooled can afford that kind of money…"

"Oh, no, they come here for their exams too," Ron was swift to correct Hermione, still amazed him when he knew things she didn't. It was nice to be able to prove he wasn't a complete dunce though.

"I've never seen any…" Hermione protested, only Hogwarts students had been in the exam hall, she was sure of it.

"Well, no, you wouldn't, they sign in and sit and take their exams in McGonagall's office with McGonagall and a Ministry official. Sign out when they were done and get escorted out. You aren't allowed to just wander around the school, as far as I am aware they begin ten minutes ahead of us and obviously leave before we're done." Although, if they missed the appointed times, they'd definitely need to head to the Ministry take them though.

Well, that explains why she hadn't seen anyone.

"Anyway, your parents would go mad if you went missing and we can't tell them," Harry said getting back to their original topic. "So, no, it's a nice offer though…" and the only person he really wanted there was Severus and he wasn't going to be.

Ron paled at the thought, crap he didn't think of that, "Good point," his mother would absolutely murder him when she found out the truth if he did. Then smother him for doing something good. His dad would be proud regardless of what happened but still make him feel bad for worrying them.

Harry just grinned at Ron as they ate, people began trickling in for their own lunch. It wasn't until class was over when the horde descended in droves.

Seamus was still annoyed, as he sat down, everyone apparently was still blaming him. Harry bit his tongue, the urge to apologise strong despite their differences over the years. Unfortunately, he couldn't apologise without raising suspicion so he kept quiet and kept eating.

"Did you see who did it?" Seamus asked Hermione, exasperated beyond belief at the constant mocking from his fellow Gryffindors.

"No, sorry," Hermione said apologetically, "I was reading," which wasn't strange, when she succeeded in casting her spells she normally did begin reading.

"Just ignore them man, they're doing it because you're letting it get to you," Ron said in sympathy.

Seamus just huffed but eventually nodded and began piling food on his plate.

"One more class then we're done for the day," Ron said, grinning he loved when he had less classes. Even when Hermione wanted to study and tried – and succeeded – in getting him to study too.

"Yeah," Harry said thoughtfully, thankfully it wasn't a practical class, otherwise he would have had to refrain from using any spells. He didn't want to risk another outburst, at least Flitwick understood.

"It's time," Severus informed Lupin coolly, as he claimed his own seat in the Great Hall. Those were the only words he said to Lupin, as he gave him a look.

Lupin's eyebrows rose, "So soon?" thankfully they'd already informed McGonagall what was happening. So, him leaving wouldn't come as a shock, but it had only been a month, not months, like they thought.

"Does it surprise you, Lupin?" Severus said dryly, Harry was powerful, it stood to reason that his outbursts would begin sooner. He didn't want his husband to be away from him, didn't want to be away from his husband and unborn child, it would be torture but their safety had to come first.

"Well…I suppose not," Remus conceded tightly. Wondering what had happened to make them decide today was that day. He hadn't had a chance to make the syllabus he wanted enacted written out, it seemed it would require being hastily done unlike how he wished. He'd had a month though, so it was his own fault. "When?"

"Tomorrow morning, five am," Severus declared, deciding he wanted to have his bonded with him tonight if he was going to be away so long. It would be worse for Harry, of course. Since time would be a longer stretch down in the time bubble.

"Where?" Remus asked, they were talking low enough so that nobody could hear them.

"Head boy's room," Severus declared, it was simple and easy to get back and forth from his rooms to Harry's Head Boy room so it wasn't a hardship. Plus, the Head Boy room was closer to the chamber than his.

"Okay," Remus said, nodding, at least he'd have time to make that syllabus after all. Then get some sleep tonight before he heads down to the chamber, it took all of a few minutes to pack. "I'll inform Minerva later," he did not wish to leave without informing her, it was the least he could do after she gave him a job. Admittedly, everyone still believed he was a werewolf, even Minerva, it was only until the end of the war, and then the antidote would be presented to the world…allowing those who did not wish to be a werewolf…to become human again. He couldn't imagine many people electing to remain a werewolf when there was a cure for them, and it was being made for them and they weren't going to charge much. Knuts compared to what it was actually worth, but Harry and Severus were aware that werewolves did not have the kind of money that was required to sell the potions off at their correct price without even getting a bit of profit.

They were…amazing, Remus was proud to be able to say he knew them both well.

"What happened though?" Remus asked deeply curious.

"Haven't you heard?" Severus asked, a slight sneer in his voice. Even he had, the students were constantly talking about it. Given he had felt a powerful pull of magic and sheepishness through the bond, he'd known the second he heard the rumours that Harry was definitely involved.

"About?" Remus asked, he rarely listened to the students, he found it rather evasive.

"An incident in charms," Severus said dryly, "A Mispronounced spell, it covered the entire room in candy floss, I do believe Filius spent near enough the entire class period trying to disperse the spun sugar from everything."

Remus' lips quivered in amusement, "Lily did something similar," he confessed, "Only it was bubbles, completely covered the safehouse in them." before Harry was born, James and Lily had been on the run, going from one safe house to the other, until they decided to try the Fidelius Spell, unable to cope with the mental strain of constantly running with a child to look after. They were determined that Harry needed stability, a life, a bed of his own. He'd gotten that for all of a week before their world was torn asunder.

"Harry would love to know that, I'm sure," Severus stated quietly, nobody told him much about his parents. Severus had regaled Harry with everything he knew, but when he'd learned that Harry knew so little despite having Lupin and Black in his life – however briefly – it had infuriated him. In the end it was mostly information about Lily's younger years that he'd told Harry, before their falling out, but Harry had been so very grateful for the information. So happy, that regardless of the hurt he felt talking about her, he did it anyway.

Remus sobered up at that declaration, eyes gleaming sadly, well aware that he had let Harry down a lot. "I'll tell him a few things," he promised.

Severus nodded, pleased that Remus had understood his subtle reprimand. If he could put his heartache aside, he was sure Lupin could as well.

And with that their conversation was over, both men digging into their lunch. Mentally and physically fuelling themselves for their next classes, the students needed to learn everything they could to aid them in their exams which were looming impossibly closer.

Remus felt gutted that he was leaving even if only temporarily. This was the first stability he'd had in a few years, since he'd taught before in the past. He would do anything for Harry though, and this was the first thing he'd ever asked for. He was aware that he wasn't the first choice either, Harry would probably prefer Severus down there with him. Or his friends for that matter, but it wasn't doable.

They had their exams to do, technically Harry did too, but the life of his baby came first.

He was distracted from his ruminating by Filius beginning to go into details – yet again – about the eventful morning he'd just had, finding the entire thing hilarious, and no doubt Remus was already aware of whom was truly behind it.

"It appears as though Mrs. Dumbledore had given birth," Minerva informed the staff, none of which were actually interested.

"Oh? What did she have?" Remus asked, feigning interest out of sheer politeness, plus, he was fond of Arthur and Molly, despite what their daughter had done.

"Two daughters," Minerva informed them, "Harriet and Lillian Weasley,"

"Weasley?" Filius squeaked in surprise, "Not Dumbledore?" pondering on what that meant, had they worked their way around the contract or was it because they were girls that the contract didn't care for their names?

"No, not Dumbledore," Minerva stated, none of her feelings on the matter showing on her face.

"Harriet and Lillian?" Severus sneered mockingly, if that wasn't an attempt to get his husbands attention he didn't know what was. "How…original," and thankfully he knew Harry didn't want to reuse or recycle names from the family trees, or parents names and he agreed wholeheartedly. It was a lot to put on a new baby, expectations and such. No, he or she deserved their own identity.

"Do you think Harry knows?" Remus asked.

"Do you think I care, Lupin?" Severus' lips curled in disgust before going back to his food. He wondered if Nicolas had received his missive yet, it's the first time he had contacted the wizard since the potion had been a success. Hedwig had been grateful for the exercise though, judging by the grateful hooting it had been doing before swooping off in a graceful gentle arch. It was a beautiful creature, Hagrid had chosen well for Harry. The owl was as unique as Harry was, he allowed a small smile for a second before it vanished.

"I'm sure Harry won't be offended," Minerva reassured Remus, giving Severus a look that was supposed to convey disapproval, the worst thing was she didn't know whether it was for show or not. "A lot of children will probably be named after him," truthfully, it wasn't only Ginny that was doing that, others were, it was a surprise there wasn't a surge of Harry's in the school a few years after Harry joined Hogwarts, due to the baby boom after the war was over.

Severus barely refrained from snorting, Minerva truly did not know Harry at all. Whether he planned on using the name or not, he was going to be offended. He hated having someone so blatantly interested in him when he had made it more than clear he didn't want her. It made him uncomfortable, despite the progress they'd made…and how much Harry had aged, there were still things that made him step back. It was the same with him really, and PDA and emotional stuff made him uncomfortable, not as uncomfortable as it used to.

He wasn't looking forward to informing Harry about this latest news regardless. Completely forgetting that Molly Weasley would have informed everyone she possibly could in order to brag about being a grandmother.

Salazar Slytherin DID not refrain from snorting when he heard what McGonagall had said, and that was the Headmistress of Hogwarts...and Harry's professor of near enough seven years...distasteful. "If you say so," he drawled lazily.

There we go! As you can see we're approaching the end of this story! It's over triple the size it used to be, double in chapters but the chapters are twice the size than I used to make them for Haunted Jaded Eyes back in the day :) it's been fun re-writing it though and I'll miss it a little! I'm sure you will miss it a wee bit too. Hummm would you like to see more of anything before it's done? like the founders? R&R