A/N: Sorry for the delay in updating – my computer's been down. Hopefully I'll be able to update fairly regularly from now on. Only a few more chapters after this – let me know what you think!

Chapter 28

Not what I was Expecting

Harry had his wand pointed directly at the man's throat before Hermione even realised anything was wrong. The man looked shocked and raised his hands in a submissive gesture, but stared at Harry and seemed unable to speak. Hermione looked up from Harry's neck and seeing him angry turned to face what he was staring at. Harry was more than ready to strike; an intense rage seemed to wash over him as he realised there was an intruder in his house, with his family, in his house. But when Hermione saw him she yelled – but she yelled his name-

"Euan!" She left Harry and ran up to him and gave him a hug. Harry knew he ought to feel better that Hermione knew who this intruder was, and the fact that she was hugging him clearly showed he was no threat to them. But it didn't make him feel better. It made his blood boil. She hugged him and he hugged her back, old friends Harry thought. He didn't like it.

"Hey Hermione... er- didn't expect such a welcome." Euan said, looking at Harry who still had his wand pointed directly at Euan's throat. Hermione turned around, a puzzled expression on her face. She saw.

"Harry! Put that down" she said, half-laughing like he was being ridiculous. She turned back to the man as Harry lowered his wand. He didn't however, put the wand down.

"It's so good to see you Euan. How've you been? How's the new job?" Hermione was clearly pleased to see him, but looked confused when she realised he was still staring at Harry. Harry was staring back.

"Euan?" Hermione said.

"Sorry" he said turning his attention to her "I-erm. Well- I." He breathed out. "Well- Mary told me of course. That you were living with Jamie's father." He was staring at Harry again. "I just- well I didn't expect him to er... well be Harry Potter!"

"Oh" Hermione said, realisation hitting her. "Yeah – well. Oh Sorry Harry – this is Euan Reeves. He's an old friend of mine from Paris."

"Right" Harry said, not half as enthusiastically as Hermione had.

"And Euan this Harry – Jamie's father." The two men shook hands uneasily.

"Wonderful to meet you Harry – read all about you of course. Brilliant." Euan seemed genuinely dumbfounded and impressed at meeting Harry; Harry was not feeling impressed at Euan being there.

"Sorry about the fright I must have given you – thought you would of heard me calling ahead from the fireplace. But you were obviously- er – well busy." Euan flushed as did Hermione. Harry, however, was simply irritated.

"Don't worry about it Euan honestly. Is Mary following you on?" Hermione asked brightly.

"Yeah – she'll be here in an hour or so – just finishing off at the Prophet." Euan replied.

"Ok – I'll fetch the boys while you guys get to know each other. Harry can you sort out drinks?"

"Sure" Harry said, and turned to Euan "So- Euan. What can I get you to drink?" He knew his voice was forced, but hoped Euan and particularly Hermione, wouldn't notice. It seemed Euan didn't.

"Firewhisky if you've got it Harry thanks."

"Sure – here you go" Harry said pouring the drinks. "So- is Mary you're girlfriend?"

"Oh goodness no – we've been happily married for nearly fifteen years now."

"Oh" Harry said, warming to Euan. "Did 'Mione say she was fetching the boys? – is your son here too?"

"Yes – Jonathan. He's playing with Jamie no doubt – best of friends they are, despite the small age gap."

"Yeah – Jamie's mentioned Jon a couple of hundred times." They laughed. Maybe this won't be so bad after all thought Harry.

xxxxx

Harry had managed to get through the hour without grinding his teeth too many times. Euan seemed nice enough; pleasant to talk to, even if he was a definite 'boy who lived' fan. That didn't mean that Harry felt any better when Jamie came to greet Euan and threw his arms around him like some long lost father-figure.

Ron, Luna and little Arthur arrived, bearing a Quiche that Luna assured all that she had made herself. Harry introduced them to Euan and Jon and explained (twice to Ron) that they were waiting for Mary to join them before they ate. Once Harry let himself relax he found himself having quite a good time. Euan was a bit bookish – but then that quality had never really bothered Harry. Jon was delightful – he, and thus Jamie, took to trailing Harry around asking for stories about Hogwarts. Harry had indulged them until Hermione had found him telling them about the time he and Ron had taken Ron's fathers car and drove themselves to Hogwarts. Hermione was not impressed and told the boys to go play in the garden until it was time for dinner.

The drama of the evening was provided by Mary's arrival. She had flooed in and was immediately enveloped in hugs from Jon and Jamie and then Hermione. Then Euan gave her a big hug and kiss. And then she saw Harry.

"Bloody Hell!" She yelled. "Harry Potter!"

"Er- Hi." Said Harry, he'd half been expecting something like this but that didn't mean he was looking forwards to it. He went to shake her hand.

Mary looked totally flabbergasted. She looked towards her husband for confirmation that this was really Harry Potter; he just carried on smiling and nodded. Then she looked at Hermione, who seemed to be busy watching her feet. "Hermione?" Mary said accusingly.

"Glad you could make it Mary." Hermione said brightly.

"Yeah its really could to see you Aunt Mary." Said Jamie; Hermione used the excuse as a diversion to go check on the dinner. Since Euan had begun introducing Mary to Ron and Luna, Harry followed her. He'd expected that Mary wouldn't know about him, since Euan clearly hadn't, but he'd not expected that Hermione would be bothered about it. Like she was ashamed of him or something.

He found her in the kitchen-

"'Mione?"

"Yeah I'll be out in a minute – just checking on the dessert."

"The dessert's fine – you know it is. What's going on? Why doesn't Mary know that I'm Jamie's father – I thought you were best friends?"

"I didn't tell anyone Harry – you know that."

"So I wouldn't find out?" She nodded guiltily. He felt sick; he wished they'd all go home so he could have a nice evening in with Hermione.

"Harry?" said Mary's voice from the doorway "There's Professor McGonagall's head in the fireplace – she needs a word with you if that's ok. Oh- and you'd better tell Jamie – he keeps calling her Aunt Min... Although to be honest I don't think she minds."

"Right – thanks" Harry said to her, and with a last look at Hermione he retreated to the living room.

"Did you know your son – the boy I've known all his life, is calling our old Professor Aunt Min?" Hermione nodded, willing the ground to open up and swallow her. "And then of course, he's talking about some Grandpa named Albie that I've never heard of either."

"That's what he called Dumbledore." Hermione said quietly.

"Professor Dumbledore! Professor Dumbledore! Bloody hell – why am I surprised – he is Harry Potter's son!" Mary was clearly upset that her friend had not told her about a substantial part of her life.

Hermione didn't know what to say- "I'm sorry I didn't tell you" was all she could manage.

"Why didn't you – were you afraid I'd splash the news all over the wizarding world?" Mary, like Hermione, was a reporter, who now worked for the Daily Prophet. "I mean its going to come out – it'll be a scandal just because it's 'the boy who lived' – you do know that don't you?"

Hermione nodded. She knew it alright, she just didn't want to deal with it that's all.

"You really thought I'd do that to you?" Mary said hurt-

"No!" Hermione said "I-just meant that I know its going to be a scandal – of course I don't think you would do that."

Mary sighed – "So all those times you talked about Jamie's father – how you left him to give him a break and everything – it was really Harry Potter all along." She said it more for her own understanding than anything else, but Hermione nodded anyway.

"So you're still in love with him?" Hermione nodded.

"Blimey Hermione. You do know how to surprise a girl don't you." Mary sighed again, and then smiled at her. "Come on – lets get on with this dinner, then we can send the blokes out with the kids and really talk about this." Hermione smiled and started to follow her out of the kitchen.

"Just one question though" Mary said, stopping.

"What?"

"Are you guys-" But she didn't need to go on – Hermione had a huge grin on her face that spoke volumes.