Papers and Parents – Harry's PoV
February 1997
"See you in the future," Rhia said as she gave Andrea a hug. I watched as Andrea didn't seem to want to let go of Rhia. The last few weeks had been awful. Rhia still didn't know if she was pregnant or not. Nothing had come from Draco's knowing that she could be pregnant. The only thing that seemed to be going right at the moment was that we'd finally managed to catch Sam for long enough to send him home with Andrea. Andrea was actually crying as she let go of Rhia. She turned to look at me then looked at Sam. Sam came to me and gave me a quick hug.
"I'll hopefully see you soon dad." He said to me. I felt a chill run down my spine. Dad. That's what I could become in about seven or eight months. I went to Andrea and gave her a quick hug. She wiped her eyes and gave me a smile.
"Remember what I told you," Mum said as she handed them the time turner. Andrea nodded. She threw the chain over her head then over Sam's. "And I'll see you in the future." Andrea nodded and silently began turning the time turner.
"Wait," Rhia said suddenly. Sam looked up from watching Andrea turn the turner, it was too late for her to stop now.
"What?" He asked.
"I need to know something, do I have any other children apart from you two?" Rhia asked.
"Sorry, we can't tell you." Andrea said. She'd just finished turning the time turner and then disappeared. Mum and April turned to look at Rhia curiously.
"Why did you want to know that?" April asked.
"Nothing." Rhia said quickly. "Can we get back to school?" She asked. I wanted to get back as well. I don't know how we were going to tell mum and dad about the baby, if there was in fact a baby. I didn't want to tell them. Me and Rhia could just disappear, Jenny had done it when she had Bo so I'm told. If Sirius finds out that Rhia might be pregnant then I'm dead. Worse then dead, I'm going to be in living hell!
"Sure," Mum said, "I'll take you back."
Rhia sat on my bed the next morning looking at me with a look I hated to see on her face. It'd been on her face a lot recently. She looked helpless, upset, angry, I don't know what emotion that was.
"What are we going to do Harry?" She asked. I took her hand in mine.
"I don't know, maybe find out if you're actually pregnant or not?" I suggested.
"I don't want to take another test." She muttered. She wasn't looking at me.
"You've already taken one?" I asked.
"Yes, I took one during the holidays." She said, "It said negative."
"Which is good!" I said with a smile.
"No, it's not good, I've missed two periods since!" She said. I looked at her confused. And that meant what? The pregnancy test said that she wasn't pregnant, that was good enough! Rhia took my hands and sighed. "Harry, if I'm pregnant it means I won't be having periods for nine months." She told me. I scowled. Ok, that made a little more sense.
"Well, no point in worrying about it at the moment, wait until we know for sure." I said. "Come on, lets go to lunch." I said. Rhia got up reluctantly but followed me as I led her to the great hall. As we walked through the hall I noticed many people staring at us. I looked directly at a group of third year Hufflepuffs who I noticed were staring at Rhia. When they saw me looking they hurried off.
"What was that about?" Rhia asked, looking after the Hufflepuffs.
"I have no idea," I muttered. I looked at a group of Slytherins who were staring. Everyone was staring at us. What had happened? What did I do this time? I felt Rhia's hand get tighter as she held mine. We walked into the great hall and it seemed to go quiet. I felt very self conscious as I walked to some seats opposite Hermione and Ron who were bickering over a newspaper.
"No, hide it, he's coming!" Hermione hissed at Ron. Ron shoved the paper under the table as I approached.
"What was that?" Rhia asked.
"Nothing." Ron said quickly.
"You're a very bad liar Ron," I said as I sat down and held my hand out.
"Harry, why didn't you tell us?" Hermione asked. Uh oh.
"Tell you what?" I asked innocently. My heart was thudding. I managed to get under the table and snatch the paper off Ron. I opened it up and stared at the headline. I couldn't do anything except stare at the headline.
"Oh god." Rhia muttered. God had nothing to do with this. Malfoy. He's the only one who knew. I just couldn't tear my eyes away from that headline.
HARRY POTTER AND RHIA BLACK EXPECTING BABYHarry Potter, 17, and Rhia Black, 16, will be expecting an addition to the Potter-Black line later this year reports Rita Skeeter. Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, and Rhia Black, daughter of acclaimed Auror April Black and Holyhead Harpies manager Sirius Black, have been a couple for well over a year, with their romance suspected to have started in their early childhood. Their relationship temporarily ended last year in order to let Harry Potter concentrate on defeating You Know Who but they soon reconciled any differences in time for Harry Potter's last year at Hogwarts, where he is head boy. Despite constant rumours that the two have slept together it had always been unconfirmed until today.
"I have received information from a very reliable source that Rhia Black is indeed pregnant," says Rita Skeeter. This report comes at a bad time in Rhia Black's blossoming career as a singer, musician and model. Her career started early last year with her performing at the Holyhead Christmas Ball with Catcher Stevens. Black at only sixteen years of age is barely old enough to partake in such activities, which could have resulted in Harry Potter being charged for sexual assault. When Holyhead Harpies Manager Sirius Black was asked about his view he gave us the following statement:
"If my daughter was indeed pregnant I would know, trust me because Harry Potter would be in his grave"
When Ex-minister James Potter was asked what he knew about Rhia Black's pregnancy his publicist told us that he had no comment. The Daily Prophet would like to be the first to congratulate Harry Potter and Rhia black on their new arrival and wishes them all the best.
My mind had gone blank, I felt numb. No one was supposed to know, but of course people would know if Malfoy knew! How stupid was I? I let Malfoy know, I should have cursed him, erased his memory, anything! There's no point in that now, it's too late.
"Why didn't you tell us Harry?" Ron asked.
"I want to know that too," Emma said behind me. I turned to look at Emma.
"Um," I looked at Rhia, this was bad. Everyone was looking at us.
"What are we going to do?" Rhia asked me desperately. "Dad's found out, everyone's found out." She looked as though she wanted to cry. I was panicking; I didn't know what to do! I could barely handle this with just Rhia and myself knowing. But with the whole world knowing…I don't know if I can cope!
"HEY POTTER!" Shouted Malfoy from the Slytherin table. Rhia and I both turned to look at him. He was holding his jumper as a baby bundle, he rocked it from side to side mocking us. He grinned and laughed.
"Harry, don't." Hermione said quickly and sternly. I knew I should listen to her.
"Harry, don't let him provoke you," Rhia said but before I knew it I was over at the Slytherin table with my fist colliding with Malfoy's face with a satisfying smack.
"Harry!" Ron shouted as he ran to pull me off Malfoy. It took the combined efforts of Ron, Saemus and Dean to finally drag me off Malfoy and back to the Gryffindor table. Malfoy looked a mess when I was finally pulled off. I wanted to hit him more, he'd pretty much ruined my life with that story!
"What is happening here?" Demanded Professor McGonagall. She walked into the great hall followed by Snape and the new nurse. The nurse went to Malfoy and revived him. McGonagall turned to stare at me.
"Harry you shouldn't have done that." Rhia said, holding my arm.
"Explain this to me, now Potter." McGonagall said waving towards the Slytherin table where Snape was helping to get Malfoy to the Hospital wing. I felt anger flare up in me again. I took a step forwards but Rhia held one of my arms and Ron held the other.
"I can't professor," I muttered.
"Headmaster's office now Potter!" McGonagall snapped.
"Harry, I don't understand, why?" Dad said as he paced up and down in front of me. "I understand if he'd attacked you first, I'd even understand if he'd attacked your sister or your friends but all he did was taunt you." He said. I knew he was skirting around the real reason why he was upset with me.
"He did more then taunt me." I said, "He told the papers."
"He what?" Dad asked, "And why did Malfoy know about…about…" Dad was too angry to continue.
"About the baby," Mum finished for him quietly. She was sitting in a chair by the TV with Phoebe in her lap.
"Yes, about the…about it." Dad asked. He looked straight at me. I couldn't look my parents in the face. Where Rhia was allowed to stay at school, Ron, Dean and Seamus had lost twenty points each, I'd lost a hundred points, had my head Boy status stripped, Quidditch captain taken away and I'd been suspended for a few weeks.
"He heard Rhia and me talking about it," I said, I might as well tell them the truth. "And we don't even know if she's pregnant or not, she had a pregnancy test and it said negative but she's missed two periods since so that's why she thinks she's pregnant."
"That's pretty much a sure sign Harry." Mum told me. I couldn't look at my mum at all, she'd been the one who'd supported my relationship with Rhia, she didn't care as long as we were responsible but we hadn't and the disappointment on mum's face was what made me feel really really bad, worse then before.
"Sirius is going to talk to Rhia, she's getting rid of that baby." Dad told me. I looked at him.
"What?" I asked him. Rhia couldn't get rid of the baby if she was indeed pregnant. "No, I can support them, we want the baby." I said.
"You don't know what you're talking about Harry, you've gotten a girl pregnant before she's even taken her owls! My best friend's daughter! Do you know how much self restraint Sirius has put on himself so that he doesn't come here and murder you himself because you're my son. If you were anyone else he would be here in a second. If Rhia is indeed pregnant you will be getting married to her, understand?"
"We were probably going to do that anyway, no, we were going to do that, you heard Andrea." I said to him. Dad was at a loss for words there. He just left the room and marched up the stairs. I heard the door of his bedroom slam shut. I closed my eyes for a moment.
"I'll go and talk to him." Mum said as she stood up, "You know how your dad gets." She handed Phoebe to me and made her way out of the room.
"Mum," I said. She turned to look at me. "You know it's an accident right?" I asked her.
"That's what makes it worse Harry," She said. "Harry, I know you two didn't mean to get into this situation, even less to let the world know but the world knows, whether Rhia's pregnant or not you're still in a lot of trouble. And though I privately agree with you doing what you did to Malfoy it's wrong." She said, "Look after Phoebe for a while, I'll talk to your dad." I waited until I'd heard mum and dad's bedroom door close before I got up with my youngest sister in my arms. I crept up the stairs and went to their door.
"James, it's really not that bad," Mum said.
"I know! I'm overreacting. I'm just stressed, it's just another thing on top of lots of bad things that have happened," Dad said, "It's nothing to do with Harry, it's just it's topped off a bad month,"
"What's happened?" Mum asked concerned. I wanted to know that too, everything seemed to be going great since Voldemort died.
"Someone has started up some little group. The minister doesn't want to worry the public, though I think if he just told people it wouldn't be so bad," Dad said.
"What's happening James?" Mum said in that voice that got anyone to tell her the truth.
"A few attacks on Muggles, Moody got attacked and Malfoy got out of Azakaban,"
"How?" Mum asked like the wind had just been knocked out of her.
"A technicality," I looked at Phoebe. It was obvious from dad's voice that he didn't believe that. I didn't either, something strange was going on. Phoebe looked at me with her cute little face.
"You think it'll get worse?" I asked her. She frowned slightly then gave a small smile.
"This business with Harry and Rhia has just topped off an already stressful month. Our family just doesn't need the publicity at the moment," Dad complained. I seconded that opinion, we really didn't need the publicity at all. I stood up again and went to the kitchen. I was feeling a little peckish. I wanted to see Rhia but I knew until the next Hogsmeade weekend it was an impossibility. I could have snuck in but Orion had the Marauder's map. No doubt trying to find a way to get into the Girl's Dormitory. Doesn't he know that you can fly up the stairs? I plopped Phoebe in her seat and went to the fridge.
"Food?" I said to her as I held out a little pot of baby food. I was surprised that mum had her on mushy food already but then I guess that teeny weeny tooth in Phoebe's mouth must be painful when mum breastfeeds. I shivered, ew, mum breastfeeding. Phoebe shook her head and grinned her sort of toothless baby grin. I turned back to the fridge, fair enough. I picked up a piece of cake that happened to be in the fridge and a bottle of milk. I warmed it quickly using my wand and gave it to Phoebe. I sat down and just thought about life. Malfoy, what was I going to do with him, he was the bane of my life. He just tries anything he can to ruin it doesn't he? He tried to beat Emma last year, he curses me when he can, he told the world Rhia's secret.
Rhia's secret, not so secret any more. What if she really was pregnant, what was I going to do? She wouldn't take another pregnancy test, I needed to convince her to. I'd get Emma on it. That brings me to something else. Emma's been strangely quiet recently. I hate trying to decipher my sister because she's so complicated. I'll talk to Bo, see if her letters have been any different.
I sighed and finished off the cake and looked at Phoebe who was in the process of trying to destroy her bottle against the edge of the table. I took it from her as mum walked into the room. She gave me a small smile then set to getting dinner ready.
"Are you going to start working again at all?" I asked her.
"No," She said, "Well, not until Phoebe gets into Hogwarts." Phoebe looked up at the mention of her name.
"Oh, is dad really angry with me?" I asked her.
"No, he's just stressed, don't worry about anything Harry," She said. She sat down opposite me and took my hand. "Remember, I'm your mum and even if Sirius or James may want Rhia to have the baby aborted April and I are on your side," Mum said.
"Dad wants Rhia to have an abortion?" I asked her uncertainly.
"I'm afraid so." Mum told me.
"She's not going to," I said defensively.
"Harry, calm down, I understand that. Remember, if need be April and I will sneak you out and let you go and live somewhere, we've got plenty of money." Mum said. I scowled at her but she just patted my hand and got up again. "Besides, I quite like the idea of being a grandma, even if I'm barely 40" She said pointedly at me. I smiled at her sheepishly and took my plate to the sink. Mum had a way of cheering me up sometimes.
I sat with Bo in The Three Broomsticks having a drink with him. Mum had managed to get dad round to agreeing that I could at least go out while I was at home so come Valentines day I was sitting in the pub in Hogsmeade waiting for Rhia to get out of Hogwarts. I quite enjoyed not being at school but I missed Rhia, Hermione and Ron. I'd still kept in contact with them, obviously, but it wasn't the same.
"Ron! Hermione!" Bo shouted across the pub, I turned and saw the two walking into the pub hand in hand. Hermione grinned and ran over. She hugged me and kissed my cheek.
"Harry! How are you?" She asked.
"Ok." I said with a smile. Ron came over and sat down next to Hermione. Hermione promptly took his hand again.
"We got a date for our wedding," Hermione said with a grin, she seemed to glow. Ron rolled his eyes and slouched in his seat.
"Oh, when is it?" Bo asked.
"Two weeks after school finishes, isn't it exciting?" Hermione asked.
"Very," Ron muttered. Hermione looked at him slightly annoyed.
"You could show some more enthusiasm Ron, it was your idea to get married after all. You haven't done anything except say yes and no when it comes to the wedding plans," Hermione said.
"What's the point? You got everything sorted anyway," He said, looking to Bo and me for support. Bo and I looked at each other and shook our heads.
"You got to help Ron." Bo said with a slight laugh. I could see that Ron wanted to moan but if he did the trouble he'd be in with Hermione wouldn't be funny in the least…for him anyway.
"Ok, how about if I organise the honeymoon?" Ron asked.
"Ok," Hermione said with a smile. Ron looked as though a weight had lifted off his shoulders for a few moments. I looked towards the door to see my sister walking into the pub with Rhia. Rhia was absolutely beaming about something but Emma just didn't look as happy about whatever it was. I looked at Bo, who looked really concerned at Emma.
"Oh yeah, guys," Hermione said quietly, "About Emma, there's something going on with her, I think she's in some kind of trouble."
"No way?" I asked her sarcastically. Hermione narrowed her eyes at me. "What?" I asked her with a laugh. She hit me on the arm then ordered Ron to get them some drinks. Ron got to his feet grumbling as he went. When he left Hermione grinned.
"He's so obedient isn't he?" She asked. I nodded and turned to look at Rhia. She grinned when she saw me and came over, pulling Emma along behind her. She put her arms around my neck and sunk onto my lap.
"I have good news!" She said,
"What's that?" I asked.
"I'm not pregnant!" She said happily.
"What!" I asked her. I got suspended for nothing!
"Her period started last night." Emma said as she stood by the table. I looked at her funny as she didn't greet Bo. In fact, she looked a little scared. Of Bo? Bo would never hurt her.
"Hey," Bo said taking her hand. She looked at him and managed a weak smile.
"Hi." She said as she sat on his lap. Bo gave me a funny look but then seemed to brush it off.
"Anyway, I need to talk to Rhia, so I'll be back soon." I said standing up and managing to pick Rhia up at the same time. She started slightly but then put her arms around my neck. I took her out of the Three Broomsticks before I let her down.
"What was that for?" Rhia asked me with a kiss.
"I don't know." I said. I took her hand and made my way towards some fields just outside Hogsmeade. "So you're not pregnant?" I asked. As I said that I felt slightly uncertain. I had been kind of looking forward to having a baby, even if it meant having to hide from Sirius.
"No, isn't that great!" Rhia asked me happily.
"Um, yeah." I said. Rhia stopped and looked at me.
"You wanted me to have a baby?" She asked.
"Sort of." I said. She looked at me surprised.
"But you're eighteen, I'm only sixteen and you wanted me to have a baby?" She asked.
"Yeah." I said. Rhia looked at me but then carried on walking. I followed her until we got to a field that had a rather nice view of Hogwarts.
"When are you coming back to school?" Rhia asked as she sat down on the grass. I Sat next to her and shrugged.
"I quiet like not going to school," I said, "And even if I don't do my NEWTs I can get any job I want, I'm the boy who lived." I said to her.
"But that would mean that you wouldn't be with me," She said slightly annoyed.
"Yes, I know that but Emma and Bo can manage it, I'm sure that we can."
"We've been dating for longer then them." Rhia said.
"So?" I asked.
"I'll miss you," Rhia pouted. I laughed at her and pulled her closer. "Don't laugh at me!"
"Why not?" I asked as I gave her a kiss.
"Because I'm your girlfriend!"
"Even more reason to laugh," I said. Rhia smiled and leant against me. "Is there something wrong with Emma?" I asked Rhia seriously. I felt her tense in my arms. I let go of her and looked at her, "Rhia, you know something."
"I don't." She said quickly. "I don't know anything,"
"Rhia!" I said to her.
"I don't know much, all she'll tell me is that she doesn't want to live any more," Rhia said.
"She what?" I asked her.
"And she's serious about it. I didn't tell you but last week I found her in the shower, fully clothed but the sleeves of her school uniform were all red, when I rolled them up I saw she'd cut herself. She begged me not to tell anyone. We got Hermione to heal her up."
"Hermione didn't tell me that." I said. Why didn't either Hermione or Rhia tell me?
"She made us promise," Rhia said weakly. "There's something really wrong with her, I'm worried Harry."
"And you think I'm not?" I got to my feet. Rhia looked up as I stood up.
"What are you going to do?" She asked uncertainly, "don't talk to Emma about it, she'll know that it's me that told you" I looked at Rhia for a moment before turning to go back down into Hogsmeade. I needed to talk to Emma before things got too out of hand, or more so then they were already. "Harry!" Rhia said as she followed. As I walked onto a path that went back into Hogsmeade someone stepped into the middle of the path and blocked my way. There was no mistaking that peroxide blonde hair! Malfoy and his two goons Crabbe and Goyle. I stepped to the side to walk around him but Crabbe walked into my way. I tried to go the other way when Goyle blocked that way as well.
"Get out of my way Malfoy," I said testily. Rhia took my hand as if to steady me. I was boiling up inside, just the sight of Malfoy made me want to curse him! Part of his face was still bruised from where I'd hit him a while ago.
"Or what Potter? Going to cause another fight?" He asked with a smirk as I made my way round him.
"Not unless you provoke me Malfoy." I said. Rhia gave me a smile as I walked away from Malfoy, determined not to hit him or curse him even though my fingers were itching to hold my wand. I felt something hit me in the shoulder. I fell to the ground clutching my shoulder, it screamed in pain. I looked at my shoulder to see it swelling in size. I grabbed my wand and turned to look at Malfoy, who had his wand in his hand. Rhia took her wand out as well but Malfoy cursed her wand out of her hand before she could say anything.
"Go and get Hermione and Ron!" I hissed to her. She looked at me uncertainly but decided not to argue.
A/N:-sorry this chatper wasn't up sooner, my internet in my dorm room went down and i kept forgetting to take my USB stick with me tot he PC lab. Anyway, home now and can't see the comp screen properly (the optician put something yellow on my eyes and now everything is kinda yellow). The next chapter will be Emma's PoV. I think that chapter is gonna be a little darker, it's gonna have some more explicit stuff in it...possibly a death...hehe...and some sexual stuff maybe, i haven't quite written THAT Much yet. Anyway a big hey hoo to Hiba, love ya will try and update again soon