Chapter 9:

Time just seemed to go by quickly. It was already the week before Christmas, it had been roughly a month and a half since she found out Alastor was her grandfather. It was funny her 21st birthday and Harry's 20th had passed without either of them acknowledging them. They'd just been working on making places for themselves in this time. She hated that they still hadn't actually made a plan for retrieving the horcruxes, but since it wasn't until Halloween of 1981 that Voldemort had been defeated for the first time she figured making connections mattered more for now. They needed the people of this time to trust them.

The good news was that Harry was due to go to his first Order meeting. He couldn't outright tell her he'd been chosen, due to the privacy charms cast on the invitations, but she'd known him long enough the words he didn't say were very telling. Hopefully he'd be able to get them on track and earn the trust needed to accidentally stumble on the knowledge of the horcruxes. It would be a thin line for him to maneuver without having the Order become suspicious of him, but they needed to do something!

No what really made it hard to believe how quickly time had gone by was that she had been so absorbed in work she didn't realize she was late. Not until she had heard the news about the Apothecary Scandal, the place she had gotten her contraceptive potions from was currently being investigated by the Aurors. One of the brewers had decided to switch the contraceptive potions for fertility potions, no one was sure exactly how far back they brewer had gone, he'd disappeared the moment he was under investigation. So far there had been at least 30 witches coming in unexpectedly pregnant, the first 15 had all claimed they were on the potion which is what led to Aurors investigating the apothecary.

Now Hermione was one of those witches. She didn't know what to do. It's not that she never wanted children, she just hadn't wanted to be on her own when she did. Maybe it was cowardly, but she didn't plan on telling James, she just knew he'd insist they do the honorable thing and marry. There was no way she could marry Harry's father! For now she'd just continue her training and just hope she'd finish before her baby was born.

At least she wasn't a big spender. With Alastor refusing to let them pay rent or much grocery wise they'd been able to save up quite a bit, although a lot of Harry's money went towards taking care of Teddy. They'd already paid back Dumbledore, now it was just a matter of saving and investing wisely.

At least her child would have a close cousin to play with in Teddy, they'd be close enough in age they'd hopefully become good friends. It was something she'd always hated before Hogwarts, was being alone. Even though the Alain family was quite large, she hadn't had any cousins her age, they were either much older or much younger than her. Until she started Hogwarts, Hermione had been very much alone. It was hard for a child who sailed through school so quickly to make friends. She just prayed her son or daughter wouldn't have that problem.

"An Min sad?" Teddy asked his little hand clutching her pant leg. Looking down at him she was filled with so many indescribable emotions thinking about her own future child. Would her child resemble her or James? Maybe even be a mixture of both of them? Hermione wasn't sure who's hair would be worse for their child to inherit, both were unmanageable in completely different ways. She just hoped the child got her eyesight.

"I'm ok Teddy bear," she said lifting him up smiling as his hair turned brown and curly, it was always easy to tell when Teddy was content. An advantage she wouldn't have with her own child. "Would you like to play a game?"

"Yes pwease!" He looked so happy, he was more articulate than she expected a child of his age to be, she wondered if it was an advantage of his father having been a werewolf, or if magical children in general were more advanced then muggles. It was like he skipped the crawling stage completely and went straight to toddling around the house bumping into things.

In less then four months total Teddy would be turning two, his birthday on the 4th of April seemed to be both so far away and so close. When you were raising a small child, it was like time couldn't make up its mind, it went by seemingly slowly and then next thing you know they're walking and talking. Hermione wondered if it would seem so odd time wise if she didn't spend so much of her time working.

There weren't really a lot of games she could engage Teddy in, so she'd taken to playing checkers with him, he didn't quite get the rules completely yet, but it was something he could do on his own. Besides it was cute watching his face scrunch up as he tried to figure out how to move the pieces. At his age all that really mattered was that he spent time with the people he loved. Positive attention helped children thrive.


Harry's POV

It was kind of weird going to an Order meeting where they didn't know who he was. Harry hadn't expected he'd be recruited on his own, it was odd coming here without Hermione, that he was a part of the Order and she wasn't. Although with how tired she'd been as her training intensified maybe it was best she didn't have something else to add to her plate.

"Harry mate, glad you could make it," James said clapping a hand on Harry's shoulder. It had surprised Harry that the guest house on the lands of Potter Manor was the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. He wondered if maybe that's why he didn't know of Potter Manor in the future, if maybe at some point it was destroyed during an attack on the Order.

"Good to be here. Those Death Twats give us enough hassle at work, I'd like to take them and their deranged leader down."

Maybe he shouldn't be talking like this, it was unprofessional, but he just wanted this all to be over with. He thought he'd been done with fighting, but he was never the type of person to sit back and watch other's get hurt or die. Harry would fight and then just retire once the war was over, he didn't know what he'd do for work since he no longer had the fortune his parents left him, but he wasn't going to keep fighting darkness once Voldemort's forces were taken care of. He'd already been fighting for half his life, he didn't want to spend most of it chasing darkness.

"Harry dear it's nice to see you, is your sister watching Teddy tonight?"

"Yes Dorea, Hermione took the night off, she's seemed a little under the weather for the last week. Most likely just run down, Hermione wouldn't dare go near her patients if she thought was ill, but she's never been the greatest at taking some time just to relax. Always looking for something new to study. Teddy's happy to get some time with his Auntie Min, they were playing checkers when I left, or at least that's the game they were using. Teddy's smart for his age, but the rules for checkers is still a little difficult for him to manage just yet."

"Children that age are a joy, I'll have to make sure to have a checker set in the living room for the next time the both of you visit. Speaking of visits when are we going to meet your sister? I get you couldn't invite her tonight since she's not been invited to join the Order, but it's been a few months. You and Teddy visit, but she always seems to be busy."

"That's the life of a healer trainee. Even when she's not at work she's busy researching any healing texts she can get her hands on. Hermione hates not knowing things other people do. Really it seems she only gets out of the house when she's forced out, she's been a bit on edge lately though, and I'd rather not be on the wrong side of her wand. She makes time for Teddy, but everything else kind of falls to the wayside when she's like this, she has some kind of test coming up. Apparently it's a big deal it's to decide whether she'll be allowed to continue on in her healing training."

Only Alastor seemed capable of getting Hermione out of the house for anything other then work these days. She seemed to hex first if Harry disturbed her without Teddy being with him. She was aware enough that she'd register if Teddy was in the room, as soon as she was certain he wasn't, she'd just keep sending spells Harry's way until he stopped interrupting her studying. He knew she had an evaluation coming up, but she was testy even for her. She hadn't even acted like this during OWLs, their NEWTs she'd mainly just been happy that both of them had survived the war.

"Evans good you made it, enough chitchat, the meeting is due to start soon." Mad-Eye had become warmer to Harry the longer they lived together, but he was still very gruff. Harry would go back and forth between thinking of him by his name before forcing himself to think of him as Mad-Eye. He just felt it kept him more professional when they were at work since that's what everyone else called him, other then Robards.

Following Mad-Eye, Dorea, and James he was kind of shocked to see Severus Snape standing beside Lily. He hadn't heard anything since that first night out at the pub, but it seemed from the besotted look Lily was giving Snape that they had gotten together. Sirius and Remus were glaring at Snape, but James just gave him a nod before he pulled Harry over to stand by his friends. Harry had to force himself from stiffening since Pettigrew was here today, it wasn't the first time he'd met the rat, but usually he was able to stay away from him. Only really interacting with him when it would seem suspicious if Harry ignored him.

"As you can all see we have two new recruits tonight. Severus Snape, who's turned his back on the Dark realizing the error of his youth, and Harry Evans a young Auror Trainee. Alastor vouches for Mr. Evans, and I am personally vouching for Mr. Snape. I do understand that there are some youthful issues between Mr. Snape and some of you, but we are all on the same side. Please do not fight amongst yourselves."

Harry could feel curious eyes on him from the members who hadn't met him, but since he had walking in with two of the Potter's they weren't hostile. That or since it was so rare for Mad-Eye to vouch for someone they were going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"From intel we've learned from Severus the Death Eaters are currently planning some large-scale attacks. No definite dates are set yet, but they are planning to definitely attack Diagon and St. Mungo's. Hogsmeade will be safe since they have their own children attending Hogwarts, all Severus has been able to learn is that the attacks will be after term resumes from the Winter Holidays."

That fit with what Harry could remember Hermione mentioning about timelines. She hadn't been able to provide dates, but she did remember the attacks. They had to discuss the timeline when Mad-Eye wasn't home, Hermione was too afraid to write it down, she said that would cause them to be caught. There were three attacks, all based in January, but the dates had been missing from the newspapers she had examined in the future. They'd been torn off, not just the ones about the attacks, but every paper from the time period between 1977-1981 had been missing the dates. Only the Halloween of 1981 when Voldemort had attack Harry's family had the date been left on, almost as if someone been afraid of long-term time travel.

St. Mungo's and Diagon had been attacked, but there had also been an attack on the International Confederation of Wizards, it had been deadly enough that the international community had pulled back their support. They hadn't wanted to risk another war like with Grindelwald, meaning the British Ministry of Magic had been left to its own devices.

Hermione was most likely going to kill him, but Harry just couldn't sit on that kind of knowledge, not knowing that the death tole had been in the thousands. "Was Snape new to the Death Eaters before he came over as a spy?"

"Why does that matter?" Lily sounded defensive, not that Harry could blame her if Sirius had been making snide remarks about Snape.

"I'm not trying to insult him Lily, look the reason I'm asking is if he's new he most likely wasn't told the whole plan. Strategy wise attacking St. Mungo's and Diagon Alley put fear into the masses, but they'd also make people more willing to fight against Voldemort. He'd seem like a terrorist. The fear wouldn't completely deter people from fighting against the Death Eaters, especially if they thought they had more numbers and the upper hand. Right now I'd be concerned about an attack on the ICW conference. The Ministry is supposed to be petitioning for help from the international community, hit wizards, specialized healers for dark magic, things like that. There will be a lot of representatives and civilians hoping to make themselves heard from the 5th of January to the 17th. I believe the Death Eaters and Voldemort may attack during that time frame, that the other attacks will happen at the same time to maximize damage. We should have discrete teams watching all three locations and tighten security in those locations."

It took all of his will power to not fidget, he needed to seem completely confident in what he said if he wanted to be heard. If they didn't listen to him there would be a huge loss of life. He would just have to worry that Pettigrew would report back to Voldemort that Harry had caught on to their plan. He doubted Voldemort would change his plans, the arrogant bastard would believe he could still win, but it would bring Harry under scrutiny.

"Evans is right. It would be the most damage. Even if Voldemort isn't planning to attack the conference it's too big of a risk to leave it undefended. Constant Vigilance!"

One of the older order members narrowed their eyes at Harry, "how do we know we can trust you aren't a double agent? Alastor maybe paranoid, but it would be easy for someone living with him to gain his trust, play the long game."

"Look I get most of you don't know me, but trust me I'd never work for the Death Eaters. My adopted sister had the word mudblood carved into her arm. I will never forget her screams as I was forced to listen, we lost a friend of ours in the escape, don't know whether it was Death Eaters, but they've done similar things. I will never support those who think she isn't worth anything. She's saved my life countless times, her magic is powerful, she deserves to have rights. Hell she deserves to live!"

He hated using Hermione's pain like this, but Harry needed them to listen to him. Needed to save a lot of lives. It hurt him to even speak of when she was tortured. He'd been so afraid that he'd never see her again, that his last memories of her would be her screams. Ron had gone completely crazy bashing his head into the bars, trying anything to get free, anything to get to Hermione. Harry hated that he had to act like he didn't know whether the attack was by Death Eaters, but he couldn't tell them it was Bellatrix when he couldn't prove it, and if those rumors reached Bellatrix things would become complicated.

Unfortunately, Harry and Hermione were walking against a very tight line. There was so much they had to be careful of, potholes they had to maneuver around, it was exhausting. At least the reward would be worth it.

Lily walked up beside Harry her hand placed against his shoulder, "I get that Harry's backstory seems fishy, but he's a good person. Maybe that won't mean much, I'm a recent member myself, but do any of you really think anyone is capable of pulling the wool over Mad-Eye's eyes? If Mad-Eye had any suspicions he would have laced Harry's drink with veritaserum to vet him. Out of everyone here Mad-Eye has only recommended three people to my knowledge. Give Harry a chance, have your doubts, but if he's right there's a lot of potential for massive casualties."

"Charlus and I trust Harry as well."

"I can verify the sister's arm having that despicable word carved into it. She's a trainee healer under my supervision. Bright girl, has a bit of an issue with not trying to work herself to the bone," Augusta Longbottom spoke up. "If I wasn't worried that she'd burn herself out or get herself admitted to the hospital herself I would have brought up inviting her. She has a lot of obscure knowledge, she'll be an asset to our cause, when she finally learns how to juggle things properly."

Despite knowing that Hermione could juggle everything without burning herself out, Harry hoped she didn't join the Order. Yes it was weird being in the Order without her, but he just wanted her to be safe. If she joined the Order she'd be on the front lines again. Harry couldn't live with himself if she died. He also knew that if she was invited there was nothing he could do to stop her from participating fully as a proper member.

"Does that alleviate your concerns Demican?" Mad-Eye asked looking annoyed, but holding his tongue quite well.

"For now."

"Good then maybe we can actually discuss what we're going to do about the potential attacks. Fabian, Gideon, Alice, and Frank you'll be stationed near St. Mungo's, we can't station you in the hospital without concerning patients, you'll take it in shifts. We'll need a few more volunteers for protection detail, Augusta is fierce, but she'll be holding the fort down at the hospital.

"Sirius, Remus, James, Harry, Marlene, and Peter you will take shifts covering Diagon Alley. Lily, Dorcas, Alastor, Amelia, Edgar, Gordon (that was Demican's first name), and Charlus I'll have you taking shifts protecting the ICW once the conference starts."

Dumbledore continued giving out assignments, discussing with other members Harry didn't know who else would take shifts at each location. Harry was annoyed he wasn't on the St. Mungo's rotation, but he did understand why having family members on protection detail at a work place might be an issue. Out of everyone, other then Augusta, Harry would have the best cover for being around St. Mungo's. It's not like he didn't try to take Hermione out to lunch at least once a week when his schedule allowed it, it was actually getting Hermione to sit down and eat a larger lunch that was an issue. Hermione would usually just pack a sandwich to eat when she got hungry, but he knew how she could be about eating when she was deep into her research.

After the details for protection rotations were sorted, they went on to talk about other points. The activities of known Death Eaters, a list of suspected Death Eaters, another list of those expected of helping without being marked, one for who was on the fence. Just a lot of knowledge that was a little hard to retain, Harry had never really done well with large info dumps.

He could only sigh in relief once the meeting was over. Almost everyone left immediately not wanting to stay around and chat, but the Marauders, Lily, and Snape stayed. He could see the tension around them, but it was clear that Lily wanted to speak to him.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you Harry…"

"It's fine," he cut her off not needing to hear an apology. "I get why you feel protective of him. Bit redundant to do now, but Hermione would kick my arse if I didn't do this properly. It's nice to meet you Severus Snape, I'm Harry Evans, most people call me Harry, do you prefer being addressed by your first or last name?" It felt odd extending his hand to shake Snape's, but Harry wanted to make sure Lily didn't think he had an issue with her boyfriend.

"You may call me Severus. It's nice to meet you Harry." Severus sounded stilted, but he did accept Harry's hand so he figured it all worked out.

"Well we have plans, I just really wanted to make sure we were ok, have a nice night everyone."

Once they were out of sight Sirius leaned against Harry, "I can't believe you shook his hand! You're ok with being friends with Snivellus, but you keep a barrier between us. Why?"

"Maybe because you're constantly flirting with me and pushing yourself into my personal space. I'm not interested Sirius."

Instead of looking put out Sirius had that glint that said he found Harry intriguing and a challenge. "Me or guys in general?"

"You. I'm Bi, you're just not my type."

He laughed! Sirius actually laughed at that. He was still leaning on Harry, so his breath tickled Harry's ears as he did making Harry flush. "My dear Harry if you didn't react, I'd believe you, but I'm the only one of us you have that pretty blush around. Not to mention I've caught you checking out my lovely arse quite a few times."

Snarling Harry shoved Sirius off of him. Yes the other man was attractive, but it was just too odd. He was supposed to be Harry's godfather and now he was actually younger than Harry by two years, the entire situation just was hard to accept. Before he hadn't known whether he was straight or gay or bi, but he'd had a lot of time to reflect on that. If Sirius hadn't been his godfather, Harry might have given him a chance, but he had been and unlike everyone else Harry couldn't really separate that relationship. Perhaps because Harry had only had a relationship with Sirius, sure Remus had cared for him, enough to make him Teddy's guardian, but they just didn't have the bond Harry had had with his godfather.

"Physical reactions don't mean anything Sirius, I'm not interested in having a relationship with you. If you'd stop the excessive flirting, I'd be fine being friends, but I don't want anything more."

"Sirius leave the poor boy alone, he's made himself clear, now stop being an arse. You're acting like James with Lily all over again."

"At least I grew out of it mum, I'm not sure if Sirius ever will."

Sirius pouted, but he respected Dorea enough to drop it for now. Harry knew that he wouldn't stop, not as long as Harry wasn't dating anyone. Sirius would push the boundaries, but he'd never force the issue, just make himself a nuisance.

"Do you want to stay for dinner Harry dear?"

Since their first meeting Dorea had invited Harry over countless times. It was nice, she treated him like a part of the family. It was everything Harry had ever wanted. Yes Hermione was great and had a tendency to mother him, but it was just different getting that warm family feeling from someone much older then you.

"Not tonight Dorea. Until her evaluation is done I need to make sure Hermione takes breaks. Teddy's probably already asleep, I need to make sure she has her own dinner."

"Do please try to invite her to come with you soon. I really wish to meet her."

"I'll try, but she's quite stubborn." Although with this it was different. Harry wasn't sure why, but Hermione just didn't seem to want to meet the Potters. She just got this look in her eye anytime Harry brought them up. She'd shoot him down anytime he brought it up, but he knew he wasn't imagining it.

"Dorea, oh Harry and the boys are still here, it's good to see you lads, but I need to steal Dorea and James for a bit. Family business, it might take a while, I apologize." Charlus really did seem a bit put off, so Harry just said his goodbyes and headed out. He just hoped everything was alright.


James POV

"Sorry Sirius not you today," it was the first time since they took Sirius in that his dad hadn't involved Sirius in family business. James was afraid he'd be upset, but he just followed the rest of the Marauders out.

It had been a long time since James had seen his da this serious. His eyes glinted in an odd way, but when James went to speak he held up a hand stopping him, just spinning on his heels after motioning for James and mum to follow him. Da seemed tense and James didn't understand why as he was led into the family tapestry room.

His mum tensed beside him, "Charlus I don't…" his da gave his mum a shake of his head cutting her off.

Something seemed odd about the tapestry, just the magic felt a little off, but despite that the magic reaching out a broken line from his name was crystal clear. It was one that glinted in and out, meaning an unborn heir, and the broken line showed the child wasn't legitimate. For a moment James just stared at the line with the blacked out box, the way it would remain if he didn't add the child's blood to the box after it was born, he was going to be a father!

"Da I don't …. I mean I swear…. I didn't know." A child. He hadn't wanted one just yet, not because he didn't love kids, but because he was afraid of bringing a child into the current world. He hadn't wanted any child of his growing up in a war. Now he didn't have a choice, but he didn't even know anything about his child.

James was fairly certain Lily wasn't pregnant, it would be obvious with how far along she'd have to be since their breakup, but at the same time she was amazing at Charms. At the same time she wouldn't keep something like this from him, even after they broke up, but again she might wait until a child was born healthy to admit it. That or she had wanted to wait to tell him until after she was sure he wouldn't try to convince her to marry him, even if she was with Snape now, Lily knew that James had never wanted a child born out of wedlock. Not with how the wizarding world tended to treat unwed mothers. He had never wanted his child to grow up with that stigma.

Even with being certain that it must have been his mystery witch, James needed to double check with Lily. He just wished he had known before she left. Hopefully she wouldn't hex him to horribly when he brought it up to her.

"You need to fix this James. If the child is born without being exposed to your magic around their mother they won't have the family magic." It seemed even his dad knew it was very unlikely Lily was carrying his heir.

"How did this happen James?" his mother looked so disappointed in him.

"It was one night, she was on the potion, Merlin the potion! Robards has had some of us going over the legwork, the NightShade Apothecary had a brewer switching the potion with a contraceptive. You know how similar those potions are, even a master brewer would have trouble telling the difference after they brew. She might have gotten hers there!"

Even if he looked over the records he might not find her, not if she didn't pre-order it every month. Besides that wasn't what he was doing for the investigation and he wouldn't be allowed to look at the records. Basically James was screwed unless she came to him or he met her again by chance.


Pacing in front of Lily's door James was a little nervous. It had been two days since he found out he was going to be a father, but with both of them being busy with work this was the earliest he could meet with Lily. He had told her it was personal and that he wanted to meet up alone somewhere private. She'd been fine with it, he just hoped Snape wouldn't think he was trying to win her back. That ship had sailed.

"James come in before my neighbors wonder who the weirdo on my porch is." She teased as if her neighbors wouldn't recognize James eccentrics.

"Sorry Lils, I'm just going a little crazy."

"Sit please, tea?"

"No I just need to get his out." Despite saying that he froze looking at her with wide eyes. He really didn't want her upset with what he was asking.

"Whatever it is just say it James, you're worrying me."

"Lily I'm sorry about what I'm going to talk with you about, considering we broke up it might be a bit inappropriate, but this just isn't something I can go to the guys with. Plus it's something I need to double check, just to be sure, please just listen!" James pleaded looking at the woman he had thought he would spend the rest of his life with. He had thought since 1st year that one day he would make her his wife. Yet he knew now they wouldn't have lasted long term. Now she was with Snape and he's backed off their friendship for a bit, not wanting to upset the other man. Not when Lily had finally gotten Snape on their side, he couldn't afford to upset their spy. James was just glad Lily was happy.

He hadn't moved out that long ago. Only after Lily and Snape got together, so it just felt a little odd right now. Things were still tense between him and Snape, but he was hoping that they could reach some common ground for Lily's sake. She was still one of his best friends. He was no longer in love with her, but he still loved her. He'd do anything for her.

They had planned not to let their breakup affect their friendship, but this felt different. He hadn't expected that he'd be with someone else so quickly, even if Lily had moved on herself, although technically his one-night stand was before Lily got together with Snape. It might have only been a one-night stand, but if he had known anything about his mystery witch he would have ended up pursing something more between them. Especially after how easy it was to talk to her that night, even if most of what they discussed was her problems with her grandfather, it still felt like a deeper connection then anything he had ever experience before it. Just a mutual trust and attraction.

James had never expected he would mess up so badly, to not even know the name of the witch he slept with. He didn't know why he had done it, but the way the witch had looked at him after he had actually listened to her troubles, it had just warmed his soul. It had felt right in a way he had never experienced before. James didn't even know how they had gone from talking to her inviting him upstairs. That had been almost two months ago, however unless if Lily was hiding something since before they broke up, and his parents hadn't looked at the tapestry in almost four months then he was in trouble.

"I haven't seen you look this serious since you told me about Sirius's stupidity in fifth year."

"Lily I'm going to ask you something, and this isn't me being a git, I really need you to answer this question because I might have messed up really big. Even if the answer is a yes, I still messed up, I slept with another witch a while back, it's relevant I swear, and happened after we broke up obviously. I'm not being crude or trying to upset you."

Instead of being pissed Lily looked at him with pity in her eyes. He wondered what exactly was going through her head right now. "Go on."

"You aren't pregnant, are you? I don't mean recently, but far enough along it might have happened before we broke up?" he braced himself expecting even with his warning that Lily would hex him, but instead the pity in her eyes grew even more.

"No James, I'm not."

Pacing James tried to figure out what he was going to do. He wasn't married to the witch and the child wouldn't be born for approximately 7 months, he had no way to find her. No way to support the mother of his child. No way to be there for every appointment from the start. To make sure his child absorbed magic from both of them, a magical child bonded with magic used by its parents in its vicinity. It helped shaped the family magic for the child, showing the child was a part of that family. Not even a magical adoption could give the family magic as strongly as the original bond.

After he had told her his name, she had bolted looking stricken and he'd never even asked her name. Alastor had glared at him when he asked if the witch he had talked to during the exercise was one of them, telling him no that she'd just been a random civilian, but there'd been something in his voice. Alastor was mad at him about something, James rather thought it was him not taking the exercise seriously, even if he'd been the only one who hadn't been made.

That wasn't the point. What was, was that he was going to be a father. Yet he might never meet his child! The tapestry would show there was an illegitimate child, but unless the father claimed the child their name wouldn't show on the tapestry just their date of birth. His child would never know him unless the witch reached out to him. James had a bad feeling that she wouldn't, that she'd just continue on with her life, raise his child alone. At least he hoped it was alone and that she didn't have a wizard waiting in the wings to marry her and offer legitimacy to her child.

"Lily I slept with someone else, sorry said that already, but it's just according to the family tapestry I have a child on the way. I'm going to be a father! Other then you, she's the only person I've slept with since the end of 6th year. It was just a one-night stand after that training exercise, I felt guilty after, I didn't take off the disguise before we uh, anyway I was just too enamored with her, so before she left the next morning I told her who I was. A look of sheer panic crossed her face, I guess even though I didn't recognize her she knew us because she asked about you. I told her we broke up, but she still left. I never even got her name!"

"Oh James," she said holding her arms out and he collapsed into them crying. He just wished he knew what he was going to do. He didn't have any answers, so he just got held by one of his best friends and cried his eyes out.