AN: well, this isn't the story I wanted to be up-dating, but beggars can't
be choosers too. And right now, my Muses are *really* making me beg.
Disclaimer: I dream every fanfic author's favourite dream: that she actually *owned* these characters. Than I wake up and realise that it isn't true.
Reviews (or the responses to):
Lady FoxFire: both good guesses, but........ you'll have to wait and see ^_~
Nabiki: I don't think Harry would like someone hovering over him like that, but, rest assured, his friends will be looking out for him.
LadyAlyce: *glomps* *trembles in her boots* Yes, oh toga-wearing one! I will write more. Awww, who could resist puppy-dog eyes like those? I'll see what I can do.
Teigra: *grins* maybe I could just sick you onto this poor hapless muggle? It sounds like you'd have a think or two to say to him about abandoning Harry. As will Hermione, Ron, Blaise and Draco when they catch up with him.
frizzy: thank you for your wonderful review. I can't seem to help giving people that impression about Sev. *mystic look* All will be explained.
npetrenko: Thanks. The being is important to the rest of the story, don't you think?
louise: Thank you for the compliments. As for your suspicions, I love cultivating a good conspiracy, so I'm afraid you won't get any straight answers out of me. I hope to explain about the whole '*muggle*' thing next chapter, okay? =P
kapies: Heh. Okay. Well, I did mention that this chapter wasn't really about action, more about explanation. Unfortunately, I'm afraid you'll find this chapter much the same. It has to be done tho, I have to establish my story. I hope you like it better.
Fair Lady Ravenclaw: I'm on your favourites list? Thank you! I'll read your stories soon. I like the idea of Harry being a father as well. What a warped pair we are. ^_^ There'll be more about both Jason and Snape as we go along, but not quite yet.
Antia: *grins* Thank you so much for re-doing your review. I really love it. Oh, I SO want to hear you theories about Sev's involvement. It could even give me inspiration! *snickers* But. I have a very definite idea of what Snape has to do with the whole situation, and I'm stubborn and I'm sticking to it, come hell, or poor reviews. Let's see if I can't respond to all the points you raised. Dean: I wanted to give Harry a friend that wouldn't be distracted by a significant other, someone who understood what it was to be gay........ My so-called 'subtlety': I'm very very VERY flattered that you compared me to JKR. Although, I'm not sure if I want people reading my story literally - taking it at face value - or reading things into it......... eh. The 'muggle' thing: will be explained. The treating Harry as normal: I hope you like what I've done to him this chapter. Okay, I think I've blathered on enough for now....... *sheepish grin*
SlytherinAtHeart: Just for you, I've amended my closing statement. ^_^
Saavik: I like twists. Twists are fun. And I'm always looking for twists too. We'll be hearing more about Jason as the pregnancy progresses.......
Ayame: *glomps* Happy Birthday for tomorrow! Ahem. To your review: I hope this chapter will start to clear up that problem we where talking about. If it doesn't and you have any suggestions, I'd be abjectly grateful to hear them. And what's Draco done to Harry now? ^_^
venus4280: *takes the insinuation as a gift* why thank you! *L* Seriously, thank you. Thinking about it now, you might be right about that. *G* I was actually quite proud of the gravity/magic thing. Thank you for mentioning it. Oh, it'll drawn out all right.
* * * * * * * I've decided to dedicate this chapter to me three friends: Anita (Insane1), Ayame (Tiger of the Fire) and LadyAlyce.
Ayame, because it's her birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday!
Anita, because she gives the best reviews.
Alyce, because she was my first internet slash-lover friend.
* * * * * * *
Chapter Four.
* * * * * * *
Dawn the next day found Harry getting re-acquainted with the toilet bowl.
Just as the first pale-pink rays of sunlight were stroking the sky outside, the churning of his stomach had woken him and sent him barrelling to the bathroom. When he had emptied his stomach of its entire contents and was reduced to dry retching, he collapsed against the wall of the cubicle, too wretched to even wipe the sweat from his brow or the spit from his lips. That was how Neville Longbottom found him half an hour later.
"Harry? Are you alright?"
Harry started at the voice behind him and twisted around to face the other boy.
"Hi Neville," Harry gave him a tired grin, "What're you doing up so early?"
Neville leant Harry a hand and hauled him to his feet. Over the years, Neville had shed his puppy-fat and timidness, and grown into a quietly reserved young man; albeit one who was still an abysmal failure when it came to potions.
Once Harry was standing on his own two feet, Neville dropped his hand and shrugged, "I was thirsty," he said, gesturing idly towards the sink where sat a tray of drinking glasses. He peered into Harry's still wan face, "Are you okay?"
Harry grimaced, "I've been better."
Harry grabbed one of the glasses from the sink and filled it with water. He swilled the first mouthful about his mouth and spat it out, removing the taste of bile from his tongue. Only when the taste was completely gone did he allow a fresh mouthful of water to slide soothingly down his burnt throat.
Neville was watching him, cradling his own glass of water in his hand, a concerned light in his eyes. Harry smiled reassuringly, "Just a stomach bug - a summer flu. It'll be gone in no time, I'm sure."
Neville downed the rest of his water and set the glass aside, "Maybe you should get a anti-nausea potion off Madam Pomfery. It always helps with my air-sickness........"
Harry turned back to the sink and splashed cold water over his face and neck. Of course that would be the one thing both he and Madam Pomfery forgot about. And he should have known better. It wasn't like this was the first time he'd woken to morning sickness.
"Yeah, thanks Neville. I'll probably do that before breakfast today," Harry replied, fighting down his nausea at the mere mention of the morning meal.
"Yeah," said Neville absently as he headed back into the dorm, "they usually serve kippers the first day back."
Harry groaned and grabbed his toothbrush, attacking his teeth with the soothing minty taste of the toothpaste.
* * * * * * *
By the time Harry had detoured to the Infirmary to collect a morning sickness potion and endured Madam Pomfery's impromptu lecture on not getting one the night before, Neville and the rest of the seventh year Gryffindors were at the table in the Great Hall, looking - Harry thought - much to cheerful for the first day back at school. He slipped into a seat between Ron and Dean and reached for the nearest jug of pumpkin juice. Even with the potion, he couldn't bear the thought of kippers or the bacon Ron was gleefully piling onto his plate.
As Harry spooned some scrambled eggs onto his plate, he looked up and caught the eye of Hermione, sitting opposite. His best friend was watching him steadily, her knife and fork arrested in the motion of fastidiously cutting her toast into bite-sized pieces. Harry raised a black brow at her.
"Neville said you were sick this morning," she stated bluntly. On either side of him, Dean and Ron paused to hear his answer.
Harry shrugged and reached for a piece of toast, "It was nothing a short visit to Pomfery couldn't give me the cure to."
"You've been sick like this before?" Dean voiced to concern of the three of them and earned himself guarded looks from both Ron and Hermione.
"Yeah, a couple of times," Harry shrugged again and looked at Ron and Hermione, still eyeing Dean, "He knows. He found out last night."
Harry's two best friends looked between him and Dean for a moment before nodding their acceptance. The evening before, Harry hadn't had the chance to tell Ron and Hermione that Dean now knew that he was pregnant; when they'd reached the common-room, they had been greeted by the chaos of nervous first years and overly-exuberant older students. Nor had Harry had much of a chance to talk to Dean on their trip back from the hospital wing; the halls had been crawling with people: Snape striding past as they climbed the stairs, Filch and his cat peering suspiciously at all passers- by, a trio of lost first years, a harried looking prefect from Hufflepuff.........
Harry could tell that Ron, Hermione and Dean were dying to ask him all sorts of questions, but the Gryffindor table wasn't the place for it, so they held their tongues on the topic. Instead, they began to study the class schedules that were being handed around.
"We don't have Potions until Wednesday afternoon........ And then again on Friday afternoon. What a way to end the week!"
"Care of Magical Creatures with the Slytherins again."
"Does that surprise you? History of Magic is with the Ravenclaws. That'll be fun."
"Maybe you three will actually pay attention for once. Oh no!"
"What?"
"I have Arithmancy with the Slytherins."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"No! Draco always tries to distract me."
"I bet he succeeds too."
"Ron!"
"What? We have Divination first thing this morning. I wonder how you're going to die this year, Harry."
"Honestly, I don't know why you still take that class."
"Because it's easier than Arithmancy or Ancient Runes?"
"You know perfectly well that Trelawney's a fraud!"
"What's that got to do with an-"
Fortunately, the owls arrived with the morning post at that point, cutting off the impending argument between Ron and Hermione. Harry scanned the birds hopefully, looking for the white plumage of his Hedwig. He hadn't been in contact with Sirius all summer and thought maybe there'd be a letter for him this morning. But Hedwig wasn't among the owls that swooped low over the Gryffindor table: Hermione received her copy of the 'Daily Prophet', Ron got a letter from his brother Charlie in Romania and a barn owl dropped the latest edition of 'Which Broomstick?' in Dean's sausages, but there was no mail for Harry.
Harry shrugged it off, resolving to write a letter to Sirius that evening; he'd have to tell his godfather that he was pregnant sooner or later anyway. Instead, he peered over Dean's shoulder as the boy thumbed through his magazine, drooling over the latest Nimbus-class racing broomstick. He listened with half an ear to Ron as the redhead related the news from the Romania dragon-colony.
"-Norbert's a daddy! His mate's clutch hatched two days ago. Charlie says to tell Hagrid that he's welcome to visit them whenever he wants -"
Harry grunted absently in response and was about to ask Dean to go back a page to the article on Silver Arrows when Hermione piped up.
"Hey listen to this:
" 'This summer past, the ancient castle of Tintagel welcomed a new master. Long held by the noble wizarding line of the Dellits, that name died with the last female heir, Europa. Deceased five years, Europa was the wife of the late noted wizard-Doctor, Egelbert Swefling. Dr. Swefling and Mrs. Europa Swefling both died without issue, and the historic estate now passes to Dr. Swefling's heir, the son of his younger sister: Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, aged 36. Dr Swefling died peacefully in his sleep on 13th July, this year at the age of 94.
'As executor and primary beneficiary of his uncle's will, Professor Snape saw fit to keep the death of his uncle from the public knowledge until just yesterday evening, when he called a brief press-conference at his new home. The Potions Master let it be known that he had spent the weeks since his uncle's death in the execution of Dr. Swefling's Last Will and Testament.........' "
Hermione trialed off at that point and looked up Ron, Harry and Dean, "Snape owns Tintagel!"
Harry blinked, "Isn't that the castle that King Arthur was supposed to have been born in?"
Hermione nodded eagerly.
"I thought that place was in ruins," said Dean, "My parents took me there when I was nine; I remember it."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "It probably has an anti-muggle charm on it. Although -" she paused and tilted her head, "- I wondered how it is that muggles can still visit the 'ruins'?"
She shook her head and shrugged, "Who would have thought someone like Snape would inherit Tintagel Castle, though!"
Ron snorted and made a derogatory comment that Harry only half registered. He was remembering the conversation he'd overheard between Snape and Dumbledore the evening before. Snape was lord and master of the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur? Well judging by what he'd heard last night, he didn't seem too enthusiastic about the idea. Harry had just opened his mouth to tell the others what he'd overheard when a voice behind him interrupted.
"Mr Potter."
Harry turned in his seat and looked up at his head of house.
"Professor?"
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and looked at him over the top of her wire-framed glasses, "If you are finished with your meal," - she nodded at the rearranged mess Harry had made of his food - "I would like to speak with you. Privately."
Three guesses what this would be about. Harry nodded and stood up.
"See you in Divinations," he muttered to Ron and Dean, "Bye Hermione. See you at lunch."
He followed Professor McGonagall out of the Great Hall and up the stairs, to her office by the Transfiguration classroom. She closed the door behind him and gestured him to a seat as she rounded her desk to take her own.
Harry glanced superstitiously around the office. In all the years he'd been at Hogwarts, McGonagall's office hadn't noticeably changed. There was a bookcase on one wall, the same number of books stacked precisely in what Harry has no doubt was first subject, then alphabetical order. The desk was placed in the exact centre of the room and the two chairs facing it were always precisely offset from it. The desk top was bare expect for a tray of neatly stacked scrolls, an inkwell, two quills and pristine blotter. Harry had no idea how she stood it, year after year in the same room.
His straying attention was brought back to the woman behind the desk when she cleared her throat.
"Professor Dumbledore has told me about your........ condition," McGonagall didn't look quite sure of how to address the issue, which, strangely enough, actually reassured Harry. It made him realise that he was actually dealing with a human being here, not a machine designed for efficiency and exactitude. Sometimes it seemed too easy to forget that with Professor McGonagall.
Harry smiled gently and rested a hand on his abdomen, "My pregnancy."
"Yes," the professor's expression softened minutely, "your pregnancy.
"Now, I assume you don't wish the students to know just yet?" Harry nodded silently and McGonagall continued, "Naturally, the staff has been informed, but that was necessary to ensure you were not made to do anything potentially harmful to your child."
Harry groaned silently and closed his eyes. He had expected Dumbledore to tell the other Professors, but still........ Snape would have a field day with this - covert allusions and pointed digs........ And Trelawney! Harry could see her now: predicting dire fortunes for all his offspring for generations to come. Even Hagrid would be treating him differently now - with the kindest of intentions, the half-giant would be hovering over him in class, Harry knew this without a doubt.
Harry sighed. There wasn't anything he could about it, however. He opened his eyes again. Professor McGonagall was watching him with an understanding look in her eyes. But instead of commenting like Harry half expected her to do, she continued.
"You will remain in the Gryffindor dorms. Madam Pomfery said there was no real need for you to be given a private room and since you turned down the position of Head Boy -" Harry couldn't help feeling she was a little disappointed about that; not that Harry had turned it down, but that now it was unlikely that both Head Girl and Boy would be drawn from Gryffindor and she wouldn't be able to stick it in Snape's face - "the boys' dormitory is where you belong. Of course, as you draw close to term, you will probably be moved into a room closer to the Infirmary."
Harry was a little disappointed that he wouldn't be getting a room of his own, but at least he wouldn't have to come up with an explanation for the apparent favouritism.
"You may wish to visit Professor Flitwick at some point this week. I believe he mentioned something about concealing charms that would come in handy," McGonagall smiled at Harry and he smiled back. That was one less thing to worry about as his pregnancy progressed.
A short silence enveloped the pair. Professor McGonagall glanced at the clock.
"You'd best be off to class now."
Harry nodded and stood up.
"Thank you, Professor," he said, not quite sure what he was thanking her for, and turned to go.
Professor McGonagall's voice stopped just as he reached the door.
"One thing, Mr Potter........" Harry turned back to face her, "Dumbledore said........ a muggle?"
That was it. He was going to the library this evening. He wanted to know why people were continually surprised that the father of his child was a muggle.
To Professor McGonagall he said, "Yes. Jason Phillips."
The Head of Gryffindor blinked and said, "Hmm."
Harry barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes as he turned away again.
He was definitely visiting the library tonight.
And he'd ask Hermione to come to.
* * * * * * *
TBC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
AN: Again, not the most eventful chapter, but it's build up. It should get better after this. I hope. =D
I have been informed that the review button isn't blue, it's purple. Press it anyway?
Disclaimer: I dream every fanfic author's favourite dream: that she actually *owned* these characters. Than I wake up and realise that it isn't true.
Reviews (or the responses to):
Lady FoxFire: both good guesses, but........ you'll have to wait and see ^_~
Nabiki: I don't think Harry would like someone hovering over him like that, but, rest assured, his friends will be looking out for him.
LadyAlyce: *glomps* *trembles in her boots* Yes, oh toga-wearing one! I will write more. Awww, who could resist puppy-dog eyes like those? I'll see what I can do.
Teigra: *grins* maybe I could just sick you onto this poor hapless muggle? It sounds like you'd have a think or two to say to him about abandoning Harry. As will Hermione, Ron, Blaise and Draco when they catch up with him.
frizzy: thank you for your wonderful review. I can't seem to help giving people that impression about Sev. *mystic look* All will be explained.
npetrenko: Thanks. The being is important to the rest of the story, don't you think?
louise: Thank you for the compliments. As for your suspicions, I love cultivating a good conspiracy, so I'm afraid you won't get any straight answers out of me. I hope to explain about the whole '*muggle*' thing next chapter, okay? =P
kapies: Heh. Okay. Well, I did mention that this chapter wasn't really about action, more about explanation. Unfortunately, I'm afraid you'll find this chapter much the same. It has to be done tho, I have to establish my story. I hope you like it better.
Fair Lady Ravenclaw: I'm on your favourites list? Thank you! I'll read your stories soon. I like the idea of Harry being a father as well. What a warped pair we are. ^_^ There'll be more about both Jason and Snape as we go along, but not quite yet.
Antia: *grins* Thank you so much for re-doing your review. I really love it. Oh, I SO want to hear you theories about Sev's involvement. It could even give me inspiration! *snickers* But. I have a very definite idea of what Snape has to do with the whole situation, and I'm stubborn and I'm sticking to it, come hell, or poor reviews. Let's see if I can't respond to all the points you raised. Dean: I wanted to give Harry a friend that wouldn't be distracted by a significant other, someone who understood what it was to be gay........ My so-called 'subtlety': I'm very very VERY flattered that you compared me to JKR. Although, I'm not sure if I want people reading my story literally - taking it at face value - or reading things into it......... eh. The 'muggle' thing: will be explained. The treating Harry as normal: I hope you like what I've done to him this chapter. Okay, I think I've blathered on enough for now....... *sheepish grin*
SlytherinAtHeart: Just for you, I've amended my closing statement. ^_^
Saavik: I like twists. Twists are fun. And I'm always looking for twists too. We'll be hearing more about Jason as the pregnancy progresses.......
Ayame: *glomps* Happy Birthday for tomorrow! Ahem. To your review: I hope this chapter will start to clear up that problem we where talking about. If it doesn't and you have any suggestions, I'd be abjectly grateful to hear them. And what's Draco done to Harry now? ^_^
venus4280: *takes the insinuation as a gift* why thank you! *L* Seriously, thank you. Thinking about it now, you might be right about that. *G* I was actually quite proud of the gravity/magic thing. Thank you for mentioning it. Oh, it'll drawn out all right.
* * * * * * * I've decided to dedicate this chapter to me three friends: Anita (Insane1), Ayame (Tiger of the Fire) and LadyAlyce.
Ayame, because it's her birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday!
Anita, because she gives the best reviews.
Alyce, because she was my first internet slash-lover friend.
* * * * * * *
Chapter Four.
* * * * * * *
Dawn the next day found Harry getting re-acquainted with the toilet bowl.
Just as the first pale-pink rays of sunlight were stroking the sky outside, the churning of his stomach had woken him and sent him barrelling to the bathroom. When he had emptied his stomach of its entire contents and was reduced to dry retching, he collapsed against the wall of the cubicle, too wretched to even wipe the sweat from his brow or the spit from his lips. That was how Neville Longbottom found him half an hour later.
"Harry? Are you alright?"
Harry started at the voice behind him and twisted around to face the other boy.
"Hi Neville," Harry gave him a tired grin, "What're you doing up so early?"
Neville leant Harry a hand and hauled him to his feet. Over the years, Neville had shed his puppy-fat and timidness, and grown into a quietly reserved young man; albeit one who was still an abysmal failure when it came to potions.
Once Harry was standing on his own two feet, Neville dropped his hand and shrugged, "I was thirsty," he said, gesturing idly towards the sink where sat a tray of drinking glasses. He peered into Harry's still wan face, "Are you okay?"
Harry grimaced, "I've been better."
Harry grabbed one of the glasses from the sink and filled it with water. He swilled the first mouthful about his mouth and spat it out, removing the taste of bile from his tongue. Only when the taste was completely gone did he allow a fresh mouthful of water to slide soothingly down his burnt throat.
Neville was watching him, cradling his own glass of water in his hand, a concerned light in his eyes. Harry smiled reassuringly, "Just a stomach bug - a summer flu. It'll be gone in no time, I'm sure."
Neville downed the rest of his water and set the glass aside, "Maybe you should get a anti-nausea potion off Madam Pomfery. It always helps with my air-sickness........"
Harry turned back to the sink and splashed cold water over his face and neck. Of course that would be the one thing both he and Madam Pomfery forgot about. And he should have known better. It wasn't like this was the first time he'd woken to morning sickness.
"Yeah, thanks Neville. I'll probably do that before breakfast today," Harry replied, fighting down his nausea at the mere mention of the morning meal.
"Yeah," said Neville absently as he headed back into the dorm, "they usually serve kippers the first day back."
Harry groaned and grabbed his toothbrush, attacking his teeth with the soothing minty taste of the toothpaste.
* * * * * * *
By the time Harry had detoured to the Infirmary to collect a morning sickness potion and endured Madam Pomfery's impromptu lecture on not getting one the night before, Neville and the rest of the seventh year Gryffindors were at the table in the Great Hall, looking - Harry thought - much to cheerful for the first day back at school. He slipped into a seat between Ron and Dean and reached for the nearest jug of pumpkin juice. Even with the potion, he couldn't bear the thought of kippers or the bacon Ron was gleefully piling onto his plate.
As Harry spooned some scrambled eggs onto his plate, he looked up and caught the eye of Hermione, sitting opposite. His best friend was watching him steadily, her knife and fork arrested in the motion of fastidiously cutting her toast into bite-sized pieces. Harry raised a black brow at her.
"Neville said you were sick this morning," she stated bluntly. On either side of him, Dean and Ron paused to hear his answer.
Harry shrugged and reached for a piece of toast, "It was nothing a short visit to Pomfery couldn't give me the cure to."
"You've been sick like this before?" Dean voiced to concern of the three of them and earned himself guarded looks from both Ron and Hermione.
"Yeah, a couple of times," Harry shrugged again and looked at Ron and Hermione, still eyeing Dean, "He knows. He found out last night."
Harry's two best friends looked between him and Dean for a moment before nodding their acceptance. The evening before, Harry hadn't had the chance to tell Ron and Hermione that Dean now knew that he was pregnant; when they'd reached the common-room, they had been greeted by the chaos of nervous first years and overly-exuberant older students. Nor had Harry had much of a chance to talk to Dean on their trip back from the hospital wing; the halls had been crawling with people: Snape striding past as they climbed the stairs, Filch and his cat peering suspiciously at all passers- by, a trio of lost first years, a harried looking prefect from Hufflepuff.........
Harry could tell that Ron, Hermione and Dean were dying to ask him all sorts of questions, but the Gryffindor table wasn't the place for it, so they held their tongues on the topic. Instead, they began to study the class schedules that were being handed around.
"We don't have Potions until Wednesday afternoon........ And then again on Friday afternoon. What a way to end the week!"
"Care of Magical Creatures with the Slytherins again."
"Does that surprise you? History of Magic is with the Ravenclaws. That'll be fun."
"Maybe you three will actually pay attention for once. Oh no!"
"What?"
"I have Arithmancy with the Slytherins."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"No! Draco always tries to distract me."
"I bet he succeeds too."
"Ron!"
"What? We have Divination first thing this morning. I wonder how you're going to die this year, Harry."
"Honestly, I don't know why you still take that class."
"Because it's easier than Arithmancy or Ancient Runes?"
"You know perfectly well that Trelawney's a fraud!"
"What's that got to do with an-"
Fortunately, the owls arrived with the morning post at that point, cutting off the impending argument between Ron and Hermione. Harry scanned the birds hopefully, looking for the white plumage of his Hedwig. He hadn't been in contact with Sirius all summer and thought maybe there'd be a letter for him this morning. But Hedwig wasn't among the owls that swooped low over the Gryffindor table: Hermione received her copy of the 'Daily Prophet', Ron got a letter from his brother Charlie in Romania and a barn owl dropped the latest edition of 'Which Broomstick?' in Dean's sausages, but there was no mail for Harry.
Harry shrugged it off, resolving to write a letter to Sirius that evening; he'd have to tell his godfather that he was pregnant sooner or later anyway. Instead, he peered over Dean's shoulder as the boy thumbed through his magazine, drooling over the latest Nimbus-class racing broomstick. He listened with half an ear to Ron as the redhead related the news from the Romania dragon-colony.
"-Norbert's a daddy! His mate's clutch hatched two days ago. Charlie says to tell Hagrid that he's welcome to visit them whenever he wants -"
Harry grunted absently in response and was about to ask Dean to go back a page to the article on Silver Arrows when Hermione piped up.
"Hey listen to this:
" 'This summer past, the ancient castle of Tintagel welcomed a new master. Long held by the noble wizarding line of the Dellits, that name died with the last female heir, Europa. Deceased five years, Europa was the wife of the late noted wizard-Doctor, Egelbert Swefling. Dr. Swefling and Mrs. Europa Swefling both died without issue, and the historic estate now passes to Dr. Swefling's heir, the son of his younger sister: Professor Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, aged 36. Dr Swefling died peacefully in his sleep on 13th July, this year at the age of 94.
'As executor and primary beneficiary of his uncle's will, Professor Snape saw fit to keep the death of his uncle from the public knowledge until just yesterday evening, when he called a brief press-conference at his new home. The Potions Master let it be known that he had spent the weeks since his uncle's death in the execution of Dr. Swefling's Last Will and Testament.........' "
Hermione trialed off at that point and looked up Ron, Harry and Dean, "Snape owns Tintagel!"
Harry blinked, "Isn't that the castle that King Arthur was supposed to have been born in?"
Hermione nodded eagerly.
"I thought that place was in ruins," said Dean, "My parents took me there when I was nine; I remember it."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "It probably has an anti-muggle charm on it. Although -" she paused and tilted her head, "- I wondered how it is that muggles can still visit the 'ruins'?"
She shook her head and shrugged, "Who would have thought someone like Snape would inherit Tintagel Castle, though!"
Ron snorted and made a derogatory comment that Harry only half registered. He was remembering the conversation he'd overheard between Snape and Dumbledore the evening before. Snape was lord and master of the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur? Well judging by what he'd heard last night, he didn't seem too enthusiastic about the idea. Harry had just opened his mouth to tell the others what he'd overheard when a voice behind him interrupted.
"Mr Potter."
Harry turned in his seat and looked up at his head of house.
"Professor?"
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and looked at him over the top of her wire-framed glasses, "If you are finished with your meal," - she nodded at the rearranged mess Harry had made of his food - "I would like to speak with you. Privately."
Three guesses what this would be about. Harry nodded and stood up.
"See you in Divinations," he muttered to Ron and Dean, "Bye Hermione. See you at lunch."
He followed Professor McGonagall out of the Great Hall and up the stairs, to her office by the Transfiguration classroom. She closed the door behind him and gestured him to a seat as she rounded her desk to take her own.
Harry glanced superstitiously around the office. In all the years he'd been at Hogwarts, McGonagall's office hadn't noticeably changed. There was a bookcase on one wall, the same number of books stacked precisely in what Harry has no doubt was first subject, then alphabetical order. The desk was placed in the exact centre of the room and the two chairs facing it were always precisely offset from it. The desk top was bare expect for a tray of neatly stacked scrolls, an inkwell, two quills and pristine blotter. Harry had no idea how she stood it, year after year in the same room.
His straying attention was brought back to the woman behind the desk when she cleared her throat.
"Professor Dumbledore has told me about your........ condition," McGonagall didn't look quite sure of how to address the issue, which, strangely enough, actually reassured Harry. It made him realise that he was actually dealing with a human being here, not a machine designed for efficiency and exactitude. Sometimes it seemed too easy to forget that with Professor McGonagall.
Harry smiled gently and rested a hand on his abdomen, "My pregnancy."
"Yes," the professor's expression softened minutely, "your pregnancy.
"Now, I assume you don't wish the students to know just yet?" Harry nodded silently and McGonagall continued, "Naturally, the staff has been informed, but that was necessary to ensure you were not made to do anything potentially harmful to your child."
Harry groaned silently and closed his eyes. He had expected Dumbledore to tell the other Professors, but still........ Snape would have a field day with this - covert allusions and pointed digs........ And Trelawney! Harry could see her now: predicting dire fortunes for all his offspring for generations to come. Even Hagrid would be treating him differently now - with the kindest of intentions, the half-giant would be hovering over him in class, Harry knew this without a doubt.
Harry sighed. There wasn't anything he could about it, however. He opened his eyes again. Professor McGonagall was watching him with an understanding look in her eyes. But instead of commenting like Harry half expected her to do, she continued.
"You will remain in the Gryffindor dorms. Madam Pomfery said there was no real need for you to be given a private room and since you turned down the position of Head Boy -" Harry couldn't help feeling she was a little disappointed about that; not that Harry had turned it down, but that now it was unlikely that both Head Girl and Boy would be drawn from Gryffindor and she wouldn't be able to stick it in Snape's face - "the boys' dormitory is where you belong. Of course, as you draw close to term, you will probably be moved into a room closer to the Infirmary."
Harry was a little disappointed that he wouldn't be getting a room of his own, but at least he wouldn't have to come up with an explanation for the apparent favouritism.
"You may wish to visit Professor Flitwick at some point this week. I believe he mentioned something about concealing charms that would come in handy," McGonagall smiled at Harry and he smiled back. That was one less thing to worry about as his pregnancy progressed.
A short silence enveloped the pair. Professor McGonagall glanced at the clock.
"You'd best be off to class now."
Harry nodded and stood up.
"Thank you, Professor," he said, not quite sure what he was thanking her for, and turned to go.
Professor McGonagall's voice stopped just as he reached the door.
"One thing, Mr Potter........" Harry turned back to face her, "Dumbledore said........ a muggle?"
That was it. He was going to the library this evening. He wanted to know why people were continually surprised that the father of his child was a muggle.
To Professor McGonagall he said, "Yes. Jason Phillips."
The Head of Gryffindor blinked and said, "Hmm."
Harry barely restrained himself from rolling his eyes as he turned away again.
He was definitely visiting the library tonight.
And he'd ask Hermione to come to.
* * * * * * *
TBC
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AN: Again, not the most eventful chapter, but it's build up. It should get better after this. I hope. =D
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