Standard Disclaimers Apply

Chapter 9: Discoveries

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Visitors Tower

November 16, 2003

0830 Zulu

Bud tiptoed into the ladies dormitory, careful not to make noise. He had awakened Harriet without warning before, and the result wasn't pretty. He didn't even dare to think about what Mac could do to him. His fears were unfounded as he discovered that Harriet's bed curtains were already open. She was sitting up in bed, looking a little green.

"Good Morning, honey. I brought you some tea and toast. You too, Mac, since Webb was still dead to the world and snoring. And AJ said to tell you that you are heading to St. Mungo's in an hour." Bud set the tea tray on the nightstand between Harriet and Mac's beds.

"Thanks" both women said, reaching for the teacups. After some toast to settle their stomachs, the women got dressed and met AJ downstairs to Floo to St. Mungo's.

St. Mungo's – Maternity Unit

November 16, 2003

1100 Zulu

"Everything looks just fine, Miss MacKenzie. Mrs. Roberts, everything looks good, but you know what symptoms to watch for. If you see ANY of them I want you back here immediately, considering your history. Now go home, take your vitamins and just use common sense. I'd like to see you both in a month. See the reception witch for an appointment." Healer Honoria Hippocrata showed both of them out of the exam room after their appointment.

The witch at the reception desk said, " Appointments December 16th, reminder owls will go out on the 15th."

They headed back to the main wing of the hospital and out the door into the abandoned shopping mall. They could see the dummy in the ugly green dress standing in her entrance window, but elected to head out through the fitting room, which took them directly into Diagon Alley.

Diagon Alley

November 16, 2003

1115 Zulu

As soon as they sat down in the café, Mac asked Harriet "Why did the doctor sound so concerned about you? And what are these symptoms you are supposed to watch for?"

Harriet drew in a slow breath before answering. "This goes back to when we lost baby Sarah. That was due to a rare wizarding disease – but it isn't so rare anymore. There is so much inbreeding among purebloods, that it has become common. It causes a baby to sicken and die only minutes after birth. Molly Weasley lost two of hers that way, and prominent families such as the Malfoys, the Pruitts, the Bones' the Diggers– they are struggling to survive, mothers losing five children before having one survive. I thought I'd escape it because I'd married a muggle – but I didn't. And after AJ came out fine, I let my guard down with Sarah and didn't watch for early symptoms, which can sometimes, but very rarely, be treatable."

"Oh, Harriet! No wonder you were considering not trying to have any more kids. But how can I find out if this is a possibility for me?"

"You need to contact any relatives, as many as you can find. We'll look you up in Warbeck's, but you probably need to contact your father and Uncle Matt."

"My father? I guess I I'll have to whether I want to or not. I'll do it tonight. This is too important to let my pride and insecurity stand in the way. "

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Library

November 16, 2003

2230 Zulu

"MacAllister…MacGonagall…Mackenzie! Here we are. Sarah, born to Deanne O'hara?" Madam Pince inquired. At Sarah's nod, she said, "Have you seen your mother since you came to England?"

"England? Mom's in England?" Sarah asked dumbfounded.

Madam Pince answered, " The recorded address is Ottery-St-Catchpole, Rosewood Cottage. Must be reasonably near the Weasleys, that's their village. I'd ask Molly. Now,

It says the magic is through the maternal half of the O'Haras, so we'll have to go generation by generation. O'Hara – Matthew, graduated Salem in 1963, Sarah, graduated 1965, died a few months later. Deborah Anne (Deanne), graduated 1966."

"I didn't know Mom had a sister. Must be her I was named for."

"Says the mother was magic, married a Muggle, but only daughter was the result of an affair with an Adalbert Chegwidden. So that would make you a pureblood on your father's side, half on your mother's according to the charts." Mac's mouth dropped open in shock, seconds later she slumped to the floor in a dead faint.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hospital Wing

November 16, 2003

2345 Zulu

AJ came running up the stairs, stopping in front of the hospital wing door to catch his breath. He opened it and crossed the floor to Sarah's bed. She glared at him, saying only, "nice of you to come, DAD. I'm fine, you can leave now."

He stood there in puzzlement, finally turning to Madam Pomfrey. "What is she talking about? Is she delirious? I have no idea what she is saying."

Wordlessly Madam Pomfrey handed him the heavy book. "This is what she had just read when she fainted."

AJ sat down in the chair beside the bed and started reading at the entry Madam Pomfrey had indicated. "What the…" He lapsed off into silence, then turned to Sarah. "I once dated a Deborah O'Hara, secretary to the base commander at Treasure Island. I was transferred to someplace she couldn't go. She promised to write but I never heard from her again. You can rest assured that if I had any inkling that there was a child involved, I would have gone after her."

"So you really didn't know?" Sarah asked timidly.

"No, baby, I didn't. Did you think I had known all this time and hadn't told you?"

She could only nod, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks. He sat on the side of the bed and gathered her to him. He held her until she fell asleep, then pulled the covers under her chin and kissed her cheek. He thought to himself, 'I've missed out on so much of her life, but that ends now. I wonder what Francesca's going to say? And now I think I need to have a word with my son-in-law…' He sat awhile longer, watching his newly found daughter sleep.