Harry read Theo's owl and frowned. It wasn't that they weren't friends, they were, despite his initial surprise, but it was unusual for Theo to request to meet during the week. The fact that it was Thursday, and he appeared not to be able to wait until the following day when he was due to see him anyway was concerning. He replied quickly, Theo did nothing without good reason, the man never made a decision without looking at it from every angle possible, so whatever this was it was important.

He met him after work in a muggle pub they'd been to several times and immediately noticed the man was fidgeting. For a man as composed as Theodore Nott, it was massively disconcerting and it sent a ripple of unease down Harry's spine.

"Theo." Harry greeted, tipping his head watching the man exhale slowly as if attempting to force himself to relax.

"Harry."

They descended into an uncomfortable silence that was no longer their norm before Harry couldn't take it any more and broke it abruptly, making Theo jump.

"Theo what's going on?"

"I….I don't know how to say this." The man looked at him with worried eyes, making Harry's stomach drop.

"Is there something wrong with Mione?" he demanded, unable to think of anything else that would put that look on Theo's face and cause the man to seek him out.

He watched as too many emotions to catalogue flashed over Theo's face before he laughed humourlessly.

"Not yet."
Not yet? What the fuck did that mean?

"Why would there be something wrong with Mione, Theo?" he asked, his voice hard as his mind flitted through possibilities, none of them pleasant. Dear Gods he hoped this conversation wasn't heading the way he thought it was, although surely Theo was smarter than to seek him out if he'd been cheating on Hermione. He must know he'd be honour bound to murder him, the woman was practically his sister. Although, maybe he was hoping for a mercy killing, if he had been cheating, Hermione would annihilate him and it wouldn't be quick.

"What would you do if you knew something, something she's been desperate for the answer to for ages but you knew telling her would likely hurt so much more than her never knowing?" Theo responded instead.

Harry looked at him, attempting to turn that question into something that made sense and coming up blank.

"I don't follow, Theo. I'm a Gryffindor. We don't speak in riddles. Just tell me."

"I know who Hermione's birth family is." he whispered as Harry's eyes widened. Of all the things he'd expected Theo to say, that hadn't even made the list. He felt fleeting relief that he wouldn't be forced to murder Theo for hurting Hermione, he was quite fond of the man really, before the implications of that statement slammed into him.

"How long have you known?"

"A couple of days?" Theo ran a hand agitatedly through his hair. "I don't know how to tell her."

"I mean unless it's someone ridiculous like the Malfoy's or the Lestrange's, mate, she'll just be glad to finally know. I don't understand why you're so worried. She's hardly made any secret of the fact that she's pretty desperate to find out anything at all." Harry laughed before he realised that Theo was not looking any less tense. In fact, the man had paled further.

"Theo. Who is Hermione's birth family?" he asked cautiously, all of a sudden dreading the answer.

"The Malfoy's." Theo whispered.

Harry gaped at him, as he realised exactly why Theo looked as he did, wishing he hadn't told him. He couldn't lie, not to Hermione. He mentally began planning how to avoid her for a bit, just until Theo told her so he didn't blurt it out. As abruptly as that thought came, another thought occurred to him. If Theo was telling him, he had a reason for it. And knowing the man as he did, it wasn't just for reassurance.

"Theo. Tell me you don't expect me to tell her?"

"I don't know! You're better at this than I am! She's less likely to hex you."

Harry laughed despite his unease, knowing that Theo had been threatened with Hermione's wand more than once this pregnancy as her hormones had taken over. For a smart man, he had developed an unfortunate habit of saying precisely the wrong thing at the wrong time at the moment.

"Ok, that's probably fair. Your tact has been non-existent lately. How about we tell her together. She'll need to be told Theo, she'll never forgive us if we don't. Who told you?"

"Draco. Apparently Narcissa insisted the family tapestry be put back up, Lucius had it removed after Cassie was taken as she wasn't coping."

"Cassie?"

"Cassiopeia Narcissa Malfoy, twin sister to Draco. Gods, I remember her from my childhood. She was a tiny powerhouse, bossy and determined, she adored Draco, and he adored her. She was taken when she was eight while out shopping with Narcissa. The aurors had no leads and the case was dropped a year later, despite Lucius throwing obscene amounts of gold at it. They were devastated. I remember seeing Narcissa after it and wondering why she was clinging to Lucius. She had always had such a strong presence, and the difference was noticeable, even as young as I was. Draco thinks someone applied a glamour to Hermione. Cassie was as blond as he is."

Harry nodded numbly as he tried to process that.

"He looks so broken." Theo continued softly, almost as if speaking to himself. "The last time I saw him look like that we were eight….." he trailed off, looking at Harry. "He wants to see her. He says Narcissa is desperate, and already showing signs of dealing with this badly. But Hermione's pregnant...And I'm worried about the effect of all this on her and the babies."

Harry sighed as he looked at Theo across the table. "We have to tell her. And then, we give her the option to meet them. Maybe we should speak to Andromeda. She adores Hermione, and maybe having her there will make Hermione less stressed."

Theo nodded at him, relief evident at having a plan.

"Thanks, mate. I'm genuinely worried about what effect this is going to have. I know she's strong but Lucius….her father, he suggested Bella just murder her. Fuck, her Aunt tortured her on the floor of her ancestral home. How is she meant to process that?"
"I don't know, mate, but if I've learned anything about Hermione over the years, it's not to underestimate her." Harry replied, hoping that he sounded somewhat reassuring, despite privately agreeing with Theo, the man looked close to unravelling and he didn't want to push him further.

"What if the twins look like them?"

"Look like who?" Harry looked at Theo in confusion.

"Draco and Cassie. What if she has to look at our children and see Draco Malfoy's face."

"She'll love them. She'll love them no matter what they look like Theo." Harry replied softly. "And maybe you'll get lucky and they'll look like you. Although hold on, you know what the twins are?"

Theo smiled slightly. "Yes. One of each. And Harry, those Malfoy genes are strong. I wouldn't rule out the twins looking exactly like their predecessors."

Harry snorted. "Gods, pale, pointy little Malfoy's. Just what the world needs more of!"

"Oi! That's my children you're talking about!"

"I know. Which makes it even funnier!" Harry laughed.

Theo scowled at him across the table. "I'm going to tell Hermione you said that." he muttered, smirking slightly as Harry paled.