Chapter 4: Dumbledore's Mistake
Remus lunged at the headmaster and the young woman at his side. Snape and oddly enough Authur restrained him. Remus growled at the red-head, a spitting image of her mother except for the eyes. They were a deep blue, the type that most men would lose themselves in. Her grandmother's eyes.
"Calm yourself, Moony." The girl said almost flippantly. "Mother didn't remember me. Remember the car accident she was in."
Remus growled. James, that jerk, had an older child with Lily. He trusted James to be honest with him. That year he had been stuck in the hospital because of silver poisoning and they had a child before Harry!
"I refused to take her in, Headmaster." Remus growled out. "You wouldn't let me take Harry in and now you're turning saying I can take in her."
He jabbed a finger in her direction. He could of sworn she twitch in revulsion. He was about to go visit his pup and now this happens.
Dumbledore sighed. "Remus, Ms. Potter just needs a guardian as hers have recently died. You'll have her for a month at best."
'She probably killed them herself.' He thought sourly to himself before repeating. "No."
"I have to agree with the werewolf on this one. You cannot drop her on his or my lap either, Albus." Severus said, releasing Remus's arm. "Mr. Potter may have been annoying but at least he was tolerable."
Albus Dumbledore knew a lost fight when he saw one. He was hoping to give Remus some sense of purpose since Harry left. He himself was surprised at the end of last year when Maria appeared on his doorstep, claiming to be Harry's elder sister. Despite the fact being true, he himself had been unable to tell Harry about her. Harry had for the entire time before Voldemort killed himself brushed him off for training. Granted forcing one's memories back unnatural had only broaden the gap between them.
He didn't quite understand why Remus and Severus had such a negative response to her. Was it because she looked so much like her mother?
"Very well. Authur, would you mind taking another houseguest in the Headquarters?"
"No, sir. Molly seems to enjoy her presence." Authur said with a bit of a reminiscing smile.
Maria smiled brilliantly at Authur. Albus finally dismissed the group. He picked up a picture from his desk drawer. Harry's expressionless face stared right back.
'Why did you leave, Harry? We could have help you live a normal life.'
Remus downed a few glasses of red wine as he sat before the fire. Severus was in the middle of refilling his.
"Lily used to claim that James didn't quite care for Harry much. She never understood why." Remus said, reminiscing. "Hell, after the initial rush of parental instincts died down in James, he was rarely there with Harry. Hell I and Sirius were there more often than not. James missed his son's first step you know."
"You don't think…" Severus said suddenly.
"I hope not." Remus looked worriedly at Severus, apparently on the same trail of thoughts. "Why?"
"He stopped looking like James and more like Lily." Severus muttered. "We may have to find him before his eighteenth birthday if it's so."
"But I know where he is." Remus protested. "Tomorrow we'll go see, right?"
Severus nodded quietly. "Of course, the soon we confirm it, the more chances he'll live past nineteen."
The next morning found Severus Snape yelling bloody murder at his godson. Draco looked back flatly.
"Why not?" Draco asked. "I mean, maybe Harry like to know some people haven't abandoned him. Beside I miss having Potter around. Too boring."
Severus's mouth snapped with an audible click.
"Fine." Severus snarled as he stalked out the room.
Remus covered his mouth as Draco rolled his eyes. Draco raised a brow.
"Severus need several cups of tea before he can think up a proper argument." Remus replied.
"O-kay." Draco said after a moment.
Kurama watched as Kenshin interacted with his visitors. Only the slight quaking indicated he wasn't completely well. The werewolf smiled at Kurama as he came up.
"I've never seen my pup so content." The werewolf said gently. "Thank you."
Kurama watched as Kenshin allowed the Potion Master take a blood sample though warily. The blond, Draco was speaking about something which caused Kenshin to softly frown. Kurama and Remus drew closer. Snape poured something into the vial of blood which turned it black.
"I'm not angry or particularly upset. I kinda knew about it. I just couldn't bring myself to try and be a family with her." Kenshin said, leaning back in the chair. "I really don't feel connected to her."
Kurama caught the look that passed between the two adults. He didn't like the look of sorrow that passed between them.
"Kenshin." Snape said. "I'll be blunt. You may not live past your nineteenth birthday."
"What?" asked Kenshin.
"James did something that isn't frown upon by the wizarding community but it's considered tragic." Remus replied. "And only so because you're male."
"Does this have to do with the girl's my sister?" Kenshin closed his eyes.
"Not really, your father before you were born rejected you magically." Severus looked down at the black vial. "Before the Dark Lord. Apparently he never repealed his rejection."
Kenshin looked mildly horrified as did Draco. Kurama's blood ran cold.
"Your magic is solely from your mother. It seems it was strong enough to ensure you would live comfortably had she lived. When the father magically rejects a male during pregnancy before the last stages, the infant usually are born premature and die within days or even a few years after birth." Severus paused, hesitating.
"Is there something else?" Kenshin sat up.
"In normal situations, generally if the mother choose, she can find a substitute 'father' to compensate for the rejection. However Lily was unaware of the rejection and then Voldemort…became magically your father."
"Bloody shite." Draco croaked. "That is beyond screwed up."
"...And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.." Kenshin muttered.
"But?" Draco stopped when Kenshin raised a shaking hand.
"I wasn't expecting to live past him actually." Kenshin said breezily then he laughed bitterly. "Killed my own life-support. Brilliant."
"There is a way to cure it." Remus said quietly. "I and Severus agreed we'd perform it if you're willing."
"Eh?" Kenshin's green eyes leveled into Remus's golden one.
"Because I and Severus are not completely human, we have to combine our magical essence or you may ended up a werewolf by default. Granted we aren't sure if your mother was completely human either." Remus said.
"So you could give me the magical essence I need to live without leeching off someone else?"
"That's correct. You and Voldemort had a strange bond but since he was finally exorcised and your foster brother and his friend has been substituting for it.
Kenshin screeched. "What!"
Kenshin glared at Kurama who backed away a step. "Well we figured if I and Hiei placed bonds where the spirit had reside, it prevent him from coming back. I had no idea that you were the Rejected."
'Man, Kenshin is scary when upset.'
'Youko, I need to concentrate.'
Kenshin laughed. "I've never seen you lose your cool like that, Kurama. You're babbling."
Kenshin sighed then and went quiet for a moment. "Professor Severus, why are you willing to do this? Is this something to get back at my fa- James."
"No." Severus said frankly. "You are not James, I realized that now. You…you are too much like your mother. I loved your mother. I… hated James for destroying our friendship. I apologize for my behavior in that past."
Kenshin looked past him. "You were forgiven months ago. I know I didn't make it easier with my hero complex and I had invaded your privacy. You had the right to hate me."
"Kenshin, do you honestly think you deserved it?" Kurama asked.
Kenshin didn't look anyone. Kurama blinked.
Draco made a general mess while they prepared for the ritual. Finally Kurama managed to get Yusuke to take the curious wizard. After they finished the preparations, they promptly kicked Kurama out much to his dismay.
'Hn. Where's Kenshin?' Hiei asked from outside Kurama's bedroom window.
'Performing a ritual so his body doesn't outright fail him.' Kurama replied evenly. 'He's sort of the Wizarding World's version of a forbidden child.'
'Don't want to deal with that hyper-curious wizard.' Hiei came through the window, referring to Draco. "The detective looked like he was about to rip out his hair.
"We could stare at the door that they're doing the ritual until they come out." Kurama commented completely bored.
"Hn."
Kurama found himself feeling like a young child or kit again doing it. Hiei fell asleep sometime during the third hour. Kurama smirked as he finally got up just to rummage through Kenshin's chest. Quietly, using the spell book he wanted, he began 'pranking' Hiei.
Finally the other bedroom door opened to reveal two smirking men and a very young-looking and effeminate Kenshin. Kenshin looked tiredly at the waiting pair and then burst out laughing.
Hiei snorted awake and looked at Kenshin. Hiei had a nice evil smirk on his face. Hiei got in Kenshin's face. Kurama hide a smile. Hiei hadn't noticed the increasing in height.
"Hello, princess."
Kenshin gave a pouting scowl. "Then that definitely makes you Link."
Hiei made to turn around to look in the mirror. He fell, his limbs now lanky.
Hiei swearing managed to stand back up. He nearly stumbled back. He did look like the character. He turned to Kurama careful not to fall and glared. Snape looked impressed. Kurama snickered.
"Full moon is too close." Kenshin said mildly. "Youko seems to be active."
"Hn."
Kenshin merely looked at Hiei not really seeing him. Hiei moved an inch to the see under Kenshin's emerald gaze. An evil smile appeared on Kenshin's face. Everyone immediately moved a foot away.
AN: Kukuku….it seems I have a fondest for using a mysterious sibling thing in my unique stories. Anyway, soon the Wizarding World will be left behind for a while but our favorite male team and the flattering ferret willstay more or lessas they will remain an important part of Kenshin's life.
Yes, Snape is probably OOC but hey, about eight months had past and Voldemort has been defeated. People change.