Harry Potter and co. belong to ROWLING.
Albus has a talk with a more mature Harry. Unruly Wizards and Witches are discussed. Someone needs a best man.
Chapter four. The Fire Side Chat. The Best Man.
Albus stood by the door waiting for Harry who sat reading near the fireplace to notice him. The teen sat unmoving holding the Daily Prophet. Albus sighed and slowly walked in. The room was in complete shambles; except for a large sofa all, the furniture was broken.
"May I Harry?" He asked pausing in mid step.
Harry looked up from the paper. His green eyes bright.
"Yes Professor." He replied offering Dumbledore a seat next to him.
"Headmaster who is she?"
"Well…I believe she is one of Professor Snape's daughters. He has two."
"Two? That has got to be the best kept secret! I mean I would have never thought it."
"The mother died two days after they were born. Professor Snape gave them over to the care of his family. For obvious reasons he has had very little contact with them. They were taken underground when the first War broke out and remained there until recently."
"Underground?" asked Harry puzzled.
"Muggle England." Answered Dumbledore briefly.
"I don't think it's such a good idea. Professor Snape and I don't get along and for me to marry one his daughters well I don't know what to think." Commented Harry almost to himself.
Albus was worried about him, Harry knew that. But he could not do anything about it not yet anyway, the Porfessor would just have to wait.
"You're taking this rather calmly Harry."
"Well you should've seen me this morning before I went down." Chuckled Harry waving his arm around the room.
"Indeed!" Observed the Headmaster biting his tongue Harry needed time and he would give it to him.
"Let's just say Professor I've had time to vent! Besides if Snape hasn't had that much contact with the girls maybe they are not so bad. Hey! wait a minute what about the other one who got her?"
"Professor Lupin"
"You're joking!" laughed Harry.
"Professor Snape's exact words I'm afraid."
"Oh boy. And who did he get?"
"Professor Snape?" Asked Dumbledore when Harry nodded he simply answered. "Ms. Granger."
"Hermoine. I don't know what to say. How's she taking it?"
"Like only she could. Researching. I saw her with a copy of the Snape Family Tree under her arm"
Harry smiled ruefully. Hermoine, she could give everybody a lesson or two on control and responsibility.
"Harry are you really ok with this?"
"No Professor I'm not. But unless I plan to live my life in Azkhaban or as a squib I have no choice, do I?" replied Harry with an edgy voice and cold eyes before he threw the paper in the fireplace and exclaimed, "Incendio".
"We are all called to make sacrifices Harry."
"Not everyone seems to agree with you."
"The Order will come around."
"Oh, they had better!" Harry said harshly as he stretched his legs before him. "I assure you right now. Nothing will make me happier than to let off some steam and go on a hunt. I didn't face off with that maniac just to have our world brought down because of a baby shortage. They will marry if I have to drag each one of the people on the list kicking and screaming to their respective ceremonies."
Harry had grown up too much andtoo soon.His sense of responsibility was now bathed in weariness and a strong sense of loss. Harry had never been allowed to be a child and now when he had finally fulfilled his duty, he was being asked to give up his freedom and enter a marriage with someone who until this morning did not exist. Things were just not fair.
"I would like you to do me a favor Harry."
"Yes, Professor." Said Harry looking at the fire.
"Would you stand with me at my wedding?"
"What? You too! Is no body safe?"
"Nope." Answered Dumbledore laughing popping a life saver in his mouth and offering one to Harry.
"Yes of course, who's the lucky girl?" Harry asked rolling the candy in his mouth.
"Minerva."
"You are a lucky man, she's a lady indeed"
"My thoughts exactly. My thoughts exactly."
"Do you think my bride is a lady too."
"Well the Snapes have always been strong disciplinarians with a strong sense of duty and the women have a fame for being pleasent enough."
"You're right Professor maybe it won't be so bad. Hope is the last thing to go." Harry said resting his head back. Adjusting his legs infront of him. His right leg was almost healed but the damage to the left was irrepearable, he would walk with a slight limp for the rest of his life.
"I just realized something Professor," whispered Harry.
"Yes Harry?"
"I'm going to have a family. I've never had one before. I won't know how to go about it. Do you think I'll be ok?"
Albus closed his eyes briefly. Oh Harry! You poor child!
"Yes Harry it will." Albus replied looking Harry firmly in the eyes. Harry smiled satisfied and drifted off to sleep. The headmaster rose making his way out of Grimmauld Manor.
(I apologize for any typos regarding any of the characters names an or places. Hope you enjoy it.)