Well, it's been a while but here is the resolution of Hermione's problem.
Thanks to Kristine Thorne as ever for the wonderful betaing.
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Chapter Forty Four - The Kin Child
Harry and Severus went straight to Severus' desk and retrieved Albus' letters from the secure drawer where they were kept. Harry laid both the parchments out on the desk and studied them. He could tell that Severus was studying them too and knew that he would find something first.
Severus frowned though, "I can't see anything in my letter which would explain why Hermione and Albus would do what they did in the Astronomy tower, what on earth could explain that." He grumbled.
Harry pondered telling Severus about the hidden part of his letter that only he could read but he couldn't imagine why Severus having been lonely could be relevant.
"Why would Albus say he was giving Hermione a truth potion and then he obviously didn't?" Harry pondered.
Severus scanned over Harry's letter and then another frown appeared on his face. Harry was just about to ask his Kin what he was thinking about when he suddenly dashed across the room and disappeared into his potions room.
Harry quickly followed and found Severus thumbing frantically through a very large potions text of Severus' own making.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Severus paused, "This is my potions journal, the definitive reference of everything I have ever made, ever. I started it soon after I came here, it contains my exact recipes, and not those you find in the books. If Albus made any potion he would have taken the recipe from here, knowing that it would be the best." He explained before he began to search again.
Harry didn't want to disturb his Kin again; he seemed so determined despite his recent protests.
A light lit in Severus' eye and he suddenly thrust the potions text across the table towards Harry. Severus' hand remained on the page apparently covering up the name of the potion.
"What does that say?" Severus asked pointing to one of the lines in the ingredient list.
Harry glanced at the words; they were on a page quite near the front and had been written with an unsteady hand and a splotchy quill, he could not read them and he had to look closer.
"Is that a three or an eight?" Harry asked after a short while.
"It is meant to be a three," Severus announced with a wild look of triumph in his eye.
"And that means what?" Harry asked still not understanding.
"A truth potion acts by creating an element of trust," Severus began to explain, "But how far is it between trust and lust?"
"I don't understand," Harry said feeling a little inadequate.
"In a potion, how far between trust and lust, about five grams of Dragon's blood as it happens." Severus explained.
"Why are you so happy about this?"
"Doesn't Albus specifically apologise for this in your letter, the potions accident?"
"Surely it wasn't this? Surely he would have been more explicit considering the consequences."
"But he didn't have the time, he left Hogwarts that night, probably not long after he realised what had happened in the tower."
Harry began to smile, "He said he hoped that nothing would become of it, but something did, it left Hermione pregnant."
"I believe it did."
Harry was dazed again, he could hardly get his head round it, "But who is the father when the polyjuice is effective, is the child Albus's?"
"No," Severus replied without hesitation, "The child is mine."
"So Polyjuice can change a person at a very basic level, except that they would still reveal themselves to a map, although Hermione might not have had a map or at least she didn't have the time to consult it," Harry frowned, "Which leads us straight to seeing the boggart in the Pensieve and Hermione's greatest fear, a fear for her child's parentage and what it might mean."
"I don't want the child from her," Severus scowled, "It was not my doing."
"Are you sure you don't want the child Sev?" Harry asked.
"Of course, I will want to provide, it would be only right," Severus continued with every word drifting into his own little world, "I could look after him while she taught at least, he needs a father don't you think. It is still not certain that your friend Ron will ever get round to making up with her. He needs a stable life, I am not sure at all about the name Kieran, I will have to discuss this."
"You are forgetting one thing," Harry pointed out.
"What?" Severus asked truly bemused.
"She hates your guts and this is exactly why she doesn't want you anywhere near her child and probably why she is calling him Kieran too."
"Well this potion incident business still doesn't explain how Albus could be in two places at once!" Severus pointed out huffily.
"Two places at once?" Harry pondered searching in the depths of his memory for a time when this happened before, then like a lightning bolt he remembered, "Hermione! She was taking extra classes, she used a time turner."
"You can't exist in the same space with yourself," Severus argued.
"You can, but you shouldn't, we did it in third year. It would cause confusion, and that in turn could lead to trouble, and it wouldn't in this case because Albus wasn't himself once he took the Polyjuice, he was you."
"That must have been exhausting, Albus must have been living each day twice."
Harry smiled, "No wonder that he messed up the truth potion."
"Now what?" Severus asked.
"I suppose we should go back to Hermione and give her memories back and have a little chat." Harry replied.
"When has talking to Hermione ever been like a 'little chat'," Severus grumbled.
Harry went through to the spare bedroom and retrieved the Pensieve then he had Severus follow him back up to Gryffindor.
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The first challenge once they reached the door to Gryffindor tower was to gain entry. Knocking produced no results whatsoever.
"Do you suppose that she has gone somewhere?" Severus considered.
Harry took his map out and gave it a discrete perusal, Hermione was still in her room and he could tell that she wasn't asleep because he could see her moving around.
"She's there."
"Well if we have to go away, I for one will not be coming back up here." Severus grumbled.
"I agree with you in a sense, she is going to talk about this now," Harry added, "She can't just give us all those memories and then lock us out."
Severus folded his arms in irritation, "Apparently she can. I will have to do something about this, we are the Headmasters and we are stood out here like a couple of Slytherin first years."
Harry shrugged, "Speak for yourself."
"I will demand the password from the next Gryffindor I see." Severus asserted.
"Maybe I should do it." Harry suggested instead.
Rather than wait around Harry set off in search of someone and quickly returned with a senior student, young enough to be persuaded, but not so young that he was frightened of taking on the responsibility of passing the information on.
"She's upstairs," Harry announced once they were standing in the common room, "It may make the situation less volatile if I go up there myself, at least at first."
Severus had already sat himself down on the sofa by the fire, "I won't argue with you."
Harry ascended the stairs without further delay, the common room was empty so he was quite happy to leave Severus there. He knocked on Hermione's door once he reached it but he was quite determined that the matter was going to be dealt with so when he received no response he opened the door and entered anyway.
Hermione didn't notice Harry enter, and Harry suspected that she hadn't heard the knock either. She had a trunk out on the bed and she was busy packing whilst Kieran slept peacefully in his cot.
"You're not leaving." Harry announced, it wasn't how he had planned to begin.
"I must." Hermione replied without stopping, though she began to cry when she realised that Harry was there and what that meant.
"You really don't." Harry countered.
"Do you really think that I can stay here? Or is Snape leaving? Have you renounced your Kin Harry?"
"You know that I can't," Harry confirmed, "But I don't even think you have a reason to think that I should." He added before Hermione had a chance to react.
Hermione ceased her packing and stared at Harry with more disbelief and shock in her expression than Harry had ever thought possible, "You did watch it all didn't you?" She asked.
"Yes, I did," Harry said solemnly, "And I am sorry that it happened, I can appreciate that I can't appreciate how it has been for you. But my Sev was not responsible for this, I only had to figure out how that it could be possible otherwise."
"How can you be so sure that he wasn't?"
"When we join with the swords we are as one, there is no mechanism by which he can hide from me then, just as I can't lie to myself," Harry explained, "He was not responsible."
"So what happened Harry? What is it that I am missing?" Hermione demanded, "You've seen it as it happened, what is your explanation for that?"
To Hermione's surprise Harry demanded a cup of tea and a seat by the fire and then he told her everything that he and Severus had figured out.
"And what about the Boggart?" Hermione asked eventually.
"A Boggart is a representation of your own fears, not a prophecy," Harry reminded Hermione.
"So I am not part of this weird Kin Bond thing then?" Hermione asked almost snappily.
"Probably, yes," Harry had to concede, "Something has changed since Kieran became old enough to be born."
Hermione slumped despondently in her chair, "Then I can't leave then can I? I must stay here or you will take Kieran from me, and I can only be with people whom the Kin approve of. But I won't be as much of a Kin as you both are, I can't be slavishly devoted to either of you and there won't be any more children for me." She sighed and was silent for a minute, "At least you get to sleep with someone."
"Well even if all that is true, you want to get back with Ron and we want you to too, so there isn't a problem is there, not really? You can have more children with Ron if you like." Harry tried to reassure.
Hermione looked at Harry for a minute, "I suppose not." She replied without seeming at all convinced.
Harry wondered if it was too soon to mention Severus, but he knew he could only leave his Kin waiting outside so long, "Although the conception took place in Severus' absence, he is quite willing to acknowledge the child in some way."
"I am quite sure he is." Hermione snapped cynically.
Harry sighed, "I didn't mean it like that. The way you have treated him lately, I think it is incredibly honourable of him to offer assistance, especially since he believes he will never get any consideration in return for his kindness." He snapped back.
"Does he think I can't look after my child?" Hermione continued.
"Fine," Harry snapped, "I will go. You can look after Kieran twenty four hours a day seven days a week, you can buy him everything he needs and provide all of his education. I am sure I can keep Severus occupied well enough till he has his own child to care for."
Harry stood up and headed for the door content at least in the knowledge that he had done his best. Hermione grabbed his arm as he was reaching for the door handle.
Harry turned round to face her, "What do you want me to do?"
"Just hold me for a bit," Hermione said launching herself at Harry and bursting into tears once more.
Harry didn't know what else he could do, he wrapped his arms around her and did as she wanted.
"You know I don't even believe it myself now," Hermione sniffed into Harry's collar after a while, "After you left with the Pensieve I felt so awful, though barely minutes before I had meant every word, I don't even know what happened."
"It really isn't that bad you know," Harry tried to reassure Hermione, "It will be the three of us back together again only now we have Severus too."
Hermione wasn't at all consoled, "I feel I want to do absolutely anything that will prove I am still my own person but even the thought of it is too much."
"I haven't regretted a single day since I became Sev's Kin," Harry continued, "Why don't you come and sit with Severus and I downstairs and we can talk things through without you saying anything hurtful to him."
Hermione couldn't seem to stop crying but she nodded against Harry's shoulder.
They both went to check on Kieran and found that he had woken up but was lying peacefully without a care. Hermione picked him up and wrapped him in a shawl. Without a word, and without any further encouragement from Harry, Hermione headed for the door. Harry followed quickly behind.
As Hermione and Harry descended the stairs Severus heard them and as they crossed the common room he stood waiting. Hermione walked straight up to Severus.
"Take him," Hermione said holding Kieran a away from her chest, her face still streaked with tears.
Severus was surprised and didn't know what to do, he stood still and didn't reach out for the boy.
"I think Hermione means that you can hold him for a little while," Harry interjected.
"Yes," Hermione agreed trying to gather her wits together, "For a little while, I didn't mean that I wanted you to take him away from me."
Severus still looked a little stunned but he got closer to Hermione and took the wrapped up bundle from her. Hermione watched him carefully as he cradled the baby so that he was resting on the moderate sized mound that was Severus' own pregnancy.
"Shall we sit?" Harry suggested.
Harry was quick to take an armchair and Hermione, wanting to stay as close to Kieran as she could, had no other choice but to sit next to Severus on the sofa.
Severus looked down at Kieran and allowed him to grasp a finger and Kieran seemed to stare back at Severus with as much intensity as a newborn could.
"The Potions schedule and Healing schedule do not overlap as I have taught them both in the past, I could look after Kieran while you teach," Severus suddenly suggested Hermione and Harry when they all thought he was too engrossed to still know that they were there.
"Meg has already agreed to sit for me and a few others have volunteered as well." Hermione answered.
"I see," Severus replied, the hurt clear in his voice.
"Although I have no rota arranged yet and to ask more than one day of anyone would be unfair," Hermione hastily added before Harry could say anything, "You will be teaching and being the Headmaster too. Maybe the Kin could share a day between them."
"That would be nice," Harry enthused, "Though you will have to be clear if you have any preferences, I don't want another outburst if we do something different to how you would like."
"I will compose a list." Hermione offered.
"That would be quite acceptable." Severus added, though he didn't take his eyes off Kieran once.
"I think it would it would be a good idea if all three of us connected with the swords, that way Hermione could easily see everything." Harry suggested as the idea suddenly occurred to him.
"Yes, that would be a good idea," Severus replied, "How exactly do you come to the conclusion that it is achievable?"
"Something changed today," Harry explained, "Hermione said some very provoking things and you just ran off and when you had left we did just argue."
"Hermione is not a Kin now."
"No, I know," Harry agreed, "But there is something."
"We could give it a try but who is going to look after Kieran?" Severus agreed.
"If I asked anybody I would have to explain why," Hermione added.
"Why don't we go visit Will?" Harry suggested, "He wouldn't mind and there would be no disturbances there."
"We could visit his house?" Hermione enthused, "That was where you were staying while you were away wasn't it?"
"Yes," Harry replied, "And we can persuade Will to let Sev here cook us a meal on his nice big range."
"Hmm, tell me, when I join you with the swords, do I get a recipe for casserole as well as all of Severus' potions knowledge?" Hermione asked.
Harry smiled and looked at his Kin but Severus wasn't even listening.
Harry stood up and crossed the room to Severus, "Sev, we're going to see Will now."
Severus stood up and turned to Hermione, "Would you like to take Kieran now?"
Hermione stood up too, "Actually no," She replied, "I would like to get changed first."
Harry and Severus watched Hermione go back up to her room and then Severus let Harry hold Kieran while she was gone.
When Hermione returned she was wearing one of the dresses Harry remembered from before the war, fortunately it seemed to still fit well enough despite the fact that she was still a bit bigger than she used to be. She also wore a long dark cloak and carried a velvet drawstring bag over her shoulder. Harry noted that she had brushed and tied up her hair with just a few strands teasingly framing her face. He had to reflect on whether this visit to Will was actually still a good idea.
Hermione also had a large and thick shawl to wrap Kieran in. After Harry and Severus had both picked up their cloaks, Severus created a portkey from a baby's rattle that he had in his desk for some reason and they were able to transport themselves to the gate of Sgoil Dhubh.
Hermione stood outside the gate to Will's garden looking around in fascination.
"This isn't too unlike Hogwarts but it is different in some way." Hermione said.
"Yes, it is," Severus replied, "This road is regularly traversed by Muggles and has completely no ward protection whatsoever, shall we go in?"
They crossed the garden and Hermione wrinkled her nose in distaste, "I see he doesn't really take care of the place," She commented.
"He had a flourishing garden last year, but things changed and it was largely a wizard matter, you'll find all this out if we get the connection with the swords, it'll be more straight forward than trying to explain it." Harry informed her.
"There's a story about the garden being ruined? What did you two get up to while you were here?"
"Stand back," Severus told Hermione and Harry as prepared to approach the back door.
"I don't think it's going to be the same as it was last time Sev," Harry mentioned.
"Maybe not, but still."
"Why do you get to risk it?" Harry complained, "You're carrying my child too you know."
Hermione decided that this must be another thing that she would find out about later and didn't ask.
"You're right," Severus admitted, he stepped back and drew his sword, using a little bit of magic to undo the door handle so that the back door swung open.
They found Will asleep in the armchair in front of the range, he was slumped in quite an uncomfortable looking position.
"Will," Harry said touching a hand to Will's shoulder.
"Will looked blearily up at Harry, "Oh, it's you two." He said sounding a bit slurred.
Severus still had his sword drawn and he raised it speaking the words 'bi sobarra' as he did so.
Will's expression hardened but he didn't say anything.
"Will?" Harry prompted, unnerved by the friend's silence.
"Maybe the whole point of drinking is to get drunk and since I had obviously achieved a good level of drunkenness by rather determined effort, you might have concluded that I wanted to remain drunk. If you want to know." Will replied grumpily, almost with anger Harry thought.
"We wanted to ask a favour," Harry said gently hoping that Will wasn't really as annoyed as he sounded.
"Oh well, that explains everything," Will snapped standing up from his chair and making Harry back away warily, "What is it then that is so important?"
Hermione came into the kitchen from her position by the door and as she moved she caught Will's eye.
Will was instantly unsettled and drew a hand through his unruly hair, "Hermione," He acknowledged, "How is the wee fella?"
"He's fine, thank you," Hermione answered pleasantly, "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine," Will now insisted a little too brightly, "Just not expecting my afternoon nap to be interrupted by our two friends here."
"We do need to ask a favour," Hermione continued, "Although it isn't so much a 'need' as a 'want'."
"You don't have some more dead bodies to store do you? Because I'm all out of freezer space at the moment, just been shopping."
"What did you say?" Hermione asked looking a bit alarmed.
"Oh, they don't tell you these lovely things either? Never mind, I am sure Severus and Harry can explain it to you better than I can."
Hermione glared at the two Kin, "Yes, I will be sure to make them do that."
"So, what do you need?" Will asked.
"Could you look after Kieran for maybe an hour?" Hermione asked.
"You want me to baby-sit?" Will asked as if it was the only thing he hadn't considered.
"Would that be all right? Only, the other day, he seemed to like you." Hermione attempted to persuade.
"Yes, not a problem," Will said looking as if he did think it was a problem, "Just give me five minutes."
Without further explanation Will rushed from the room and disappeared up the stairs.
"He didn't seem this mad when he was at Hogwarts." Hermione commented.
"I do believe that Will has rushed off to get smartened up," Harry commented with amusement.
"Indeed," Severus agreed, "Come Harry, we will go set up some seating in the living room. Hermione, you may join us when Will returns."
Once left alone Hermione took Will's seat in the armchair by the fire. Kieran lay in her arms, awake but entirely content. They both waited for Will.
When Will returned it was obvious that he had had a quick wash, his hair was wet and he had changed into fresh clothes. He had brushed his hair and because of the wetness it was slicked back over his head.
"There," Will said brightly as he approached Hermione, "In a much better state to take care of a delicate little baby now."
"Those two," Hermione began to confide in Will, "They drive me nuts too."
"I was having a low time," Will tried to explain, "Though I'm not sorry that I snapped, I'm sorry that you and the bairn had to see it."
Hermione stood up with Kieran in her arms, "I'll not hold it against you."
Hermione came to stand in front of Will and she transferred Kieran into his arms.
"I'll look after him as if he were my own," Will reassured Hermione.
"I can see that you have already made some effort," Hermione replied referring to his hasty dash to the bathroom.
"What are you doing to need my help today, if that's not too much of a question?" Will asked.
Hermione suddenly felt a bit daunted at the prospect of having to explain to a Muggle, "Well it is quite a question in a way, although not because I mind you asking at all. Somehow I have become a part of the Kin and Harry wants me to know everything they did whilst they were away. We're going to join with the swords."
"So this would have something to do with Severus being the father of your child somehow, though I believe he was wandering about with Harry at the time of the conception?" Will asked, although he already knew the answer.
"You are a Gifted after all I see," Hermione replied, "It would appear so, give me an hour or two and a large coffee, and I'll explain it to you sometime."
"You seem more settled in Severus' company today," Will observed.
"Yes, it might seem that way," Hermione replied suddenly feeling as despondent as she had felt earlier, "Having Kieran changes everything in every way, practically and magically, Severus wants to play at families and I am trapped."
"How on earth are you trapped?" Will asked, his shock apparent.
"Every relationship I have now has to be by their consent. I don't know what the consequences of refusal would be, but knowing the Kin, it would probably have something to do with the pointy end of one of their swords. I shouldn't have told you."
Will was stunned, "No, I'm quite glad that you did." He said to himself after Hermione had left the room to join Severus and Harry.
Ron watched Draco, who was still looking remarkably like Oliver Wood, moving around their furnished attic, tapping his way with the crutch with every step. Ron was feeling in no mood to be disturbed by a repetitive noise or anything else. He was supposed to be thinking and he couldn't, Draco seemed the easiest one to blame.
"Can you not use my hover walker thing? Or maybe sit down and settle to something for five minutes?" Ron complained after a while.
"I would be able to settle in my own home if it wasn't for you sitting there with the worst case of sullen ever." Draco complained right back.
"Might have known it would end up being my fault." Ron grumbled.
"What is the matter with you anyway? You were fine before." Draco asked whilst now deciding that he definitely wasn't going to sit down just to keep Ron happy.
"Hermione didn't cheat on me," Ron mumbled by way of reply.
"I don't see your problem, you don't have to forgive her now."
"No, it's much worse than that."
Draco smiled a wicked smile, "You've lost the moral high ground."
"You don't have to find it quite that amusing." Ron warned.
"But I will anyway," Draco continued, completely unruffled, "So the baby is yours then after all?"
"No." Ron replied without further elaboration.
"What then? I don't get it."
"It doesn't matter," Ron said not wanting to have to explain it.
"Quite clearly it does," Draco persisted.
"Well I am not talking about it."
"Fine, but what are you sat here for? Isn't there somewhere you should be?"
"Like where?" Ron said, continuing to be difficult.
"Go see Hermione, then it's done. If that's what you want, just do it."
"I never wanted all this baby stuff," Ron wailed, "Not yet, you know, maybe later when I'm too old for anything else."
"You're a man, you won't have to look after it that much."
"Fine," Ron said springing to his feet, "I'll do it."
"Good," Draco said as Ron left, "Come back with a straighter face."
Only a minute or two had passed, however, when Ron returned.
"That was quick," Draco commented from his seat by the fire that he had now lit for the evening.
"They've gone, Severus has left us a note on his desk, nice of them to tell us, they've taken Hermione with them," Ron told him looking every bit as bemused as he felt.
"Where have they gone?"
"They have gone to Will's house, who knows why, they won't be back till the morning."
"What is so weird?"
"They were having this big argument earlier, I don't get it." Ron moaned.
"You know what this means," Draco said with a glint in his eye.
"What?"
"You have no choice but to leave Hermione for now and you have the best chance ever to work up some dutch courage," Draco explained.
"What do you mean?"
Draco produced a bottle of whiskey that he had been hiding behind the cushions on the sofa, "Party time is what I mean, didn't you say they would be gone until morning?"
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Next Chapter: Draco and Ron got very drunk the night before and now Ron doesn't remember much about it, something is very different though and it will alter everything.