IMPORTANT: Okay before you read this chapter, for those who have already ready the chapters before, I have changed and added a lot of things in EVERY chapter. I was just reading through them and just started adding stuff. It's a lot better now, I promise. So read that and come back. Okay?
EDITED: 8/5/17
Meant To Be
Chapter 8
The next day Harry gathered up his courage and went to see Dumbledore with Ron and Hermione right by his side. He had stayed up all night thinking of what he should say to him when he went the next morning. Obviously not the complete truth, but he had to tell him something, a baby did not just appear out of nowhere.
A baby. He couldn't believe it. Probably wouldn't completely believe it until he actually started showing, which hopefully wouldn't be for a while. But it was true and he had to accept it whether he liked it or not.
They apparated to the front gates of Hogwarts and started the long trek up to Dumbledore's office. His sense of dread deepened with every step closer he took, and the squeezing of Hermione's hand on his arm was not reassuring him a bit. If anything it made him more nervous and sick to his stomach than he already was. Just thinking about what he was going to say to Dumbledore was disturbing and if not that, then his reaction. Would he be disgusted with him? Angry? Sad? Harry had no idea what he was going to do and if the headmaster turned him away…
"Are you okay Harry?" Hermione asked softly. Harry shook his head, not trusting his voice. "It will be fine, okay, you'll see." She reassured him.
"Are you ready?" Ron asked, "'Cause we're here."
Harry looked around and saw that they were standing in front of the entrance to Dumbledore's office. The walk was too fast for Harry's liking, he wasn't ready yet! But he had to do it. He took a deep breath and managed to croak out the password "Peppermint Toads."
Harry knocked on the door and entered when he was granted permission.
"Ah, Harry, my boy. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Dumbledore asked with a bright smile and twinkling eyes a sharp contrast to the way Harry was feeling at the moment.
"Um…I have to…tell you something," he managed to get out.
"Of course," the headmaster said suddenly serious. It was like he already knew, "Have a seat."
Harry's mind was racing as he took his seat in front of Dumbledore's desk with Ron and Hermione on either side of him. He didn't know if he could do this, but he had to.
"I-I wasn't entirely truthful about what happened when I was captured." Harry began.
Dumbledore sat up and leaned forward, "Oh?"
"I didn't mean to keep it from you, I was just…scared, I guess," he said looking anywhere but the older man's face," It isn't anything important though," he said in a rush. At Hermione's tightening grip on his arm, he said, "I mean, it is important, but…not…" he finished letting his words fall flat.
"I see, well, no matter. You have come now, yes? No harm done. Now, what is it that you wish to tell me?"
"Well, I didn't lie about anything. I just…"
"Carefully omitted?" Dumbledore offered kindly.
Harry nodded looking down at his hands, "Yeah…" This was harder than he thought it would be. It didn't help that this time he was outright lying. "When I was in that room…someone else did come, there was no one else just him. I-I think he came to give me food but or something I don't know. I tried to get out, but I couldn't do anything without my wand. But I tried anyway…I tried, but I couldn't use my magic. He pinned me down…" Here he paused, clutching his hands into fists and fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. "I tried to fight it," Harry choked out remembering what it felt like being pinned down, being trapped within himself, wanting it and not wanting it. "I tried…I couldn't…" Hermione covered his hand with hers and clutched it tight giving him courage, "He raped me," he finally choked out.
The silence in the room was deafening after he said the words. The only sound was a consistent ringing sound in his ears that grew louder as the silence went on. He chanced a look up at Dumbledore and he didn't like what he saw. The headmaster actually seemed to look his age; his eyes were sad and full of pity. Harry looked away.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, then said it again louder to cover up the ringing, "I'm sorry."
"Harry, my boy…" Dumbledore started, but Hermione squeezed his hand reminding him of why he had come.
"That's not all," Harry said cutting the headmaster off, "…I'm pregnant."
Silence again.
"I'm so, so sorry," Harry said the tears spilling from his eyes, "I tried to fight him, I tried…"
"I know Harry, I know," Dumbledore said at last. He got up and walked around his desk to stand in front of Harry, "I do not blame you, Harry."
"You don't?" Harry asked looking up.
"No, I do not. I can tell that you fought as hard as you could…I can also see that you have been hurting because of it all this time." At this Harry said nothing and bowed his head. Dumbledore placed his hand on top of his bowed head in silent comfort. "Have you thought about what you are going to do?"
"I'm going to keep it," Harry replied softly.
"I thought you might," Dumbledore smiled and patted his head before moving to stand at the window, "Though it does present a problem."
"What do you mean?" Ron asked.
"Voldemort," Dumbledore replied and Harry winced.
"What does he have to do with it?" Ron asked again.
"He would come after Harry wouldn't he, sir," Hermione said.
"Yes. Ms. Granger. He would," Dumbledore turned toward them again, "With something as precious as a child. He would more than likely use it against you, Harry."
Harry gripped his stomach tight and looked up at him, "But it's innocent, it…it…"
"It wouldn't matter. If it is important to you, a part of you, he will use it to hurt you."
Harry looked down at his flat stomach. He hadn't thought about that, but…there was the tiny little fact that Tom—no, Voldemort, was the father. What would he do then? He shuttered to think. "He must never know," Harry whispered.
"That is correct," Dumbledore said making Harry jump, so lost in his thoughts as he was. "We need to prepare ourselves," he said moving back behind his desk, "For when you give birth."
"What about when he starts showing?" Hermione asked, "It would be obvious because he's a guy."
"And he's Harry Potter," Ron put in.
"Yes indeed. You are both right."
"Then what do I do?" Harry asked.
"We will have to send you away," Dumbledore said deep in thought, "Into hiding."
"B-but what about my training?" Harry asked, "I can't just leave."
"I am afraid, at the present time, you will have to. For one, as Ms. Granger pointed out, people will find out when you start showing. And for another, it is not safe for the baby for you to be moving around so much. Male pregnancies are quite a bit more delicate than normal ones."
"I see," Harry whispered. He hated the thought of having to hide while others were fighting; to give up his dream. But he had his baby to think about now. "But what do I say; I can't just up and leave without a valid excuse."
They fell into silence as they thought about it.
After a few minutes, Ron spoke up, "How about we say that Harry is going to go off for special training. I mean, everyone knows that he's the Chosen One, so it would make sense for him to leave." When no one said anything, he blushed and looked down, "It's just a suggestion."
"No Mr. Weasley it is an excellent idea," Dumbledore said.
"It is?"
"Yes. It is entirely plausible," Hermione said looking impressed which made Ron puff up with pride.
Harry smiled, then looked at Dumbledore, "Do I have to leave now?"
"Hm, no not just yet," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, "Until you start showing I think. It should give you enough time to prepare yourself."
"Okay," Harry said nodding, "Where will I go?"
"I will make arrangements, my boy, do not worry," Dumbledore said with a kind smile.
"What about after the baby is born professor," Hermione asked, "Harry can't hide forever. They'll notice."
"Indeed, they will. I suspect that they will see Harry here and there to let them know that he is still around, but we still have time for that."
"So…I'm going off for special training to defeat Voldemort," Harry said aloud.
"Yes, that is the plan."
"Okay. I can do that." I hope…
Yay! I'm finally back! Sorry for the long wait but I learned that I can't focus on two stories plus school at the same time. So I finished up the Kitty Series and now I'm back! I hope you all enjoyed the new changes.
I'll see you all next chapter!
phoenix
