Harry was pretty sure he was in shock.
'Kady was pregnant, and she left his dad—just because Dumbledore told her she had to—and she was pregnant, and he wasn't an only child.' He thought to himself frantically.
As he was digesting the news, Kady had taken a seat on a nearby bench and waited for the barrage of questions that would no doubt follow. She knew that she had just dropped a huge bomb on the shoulders of the 16 year old boy, but honestly, if he was anywhere near as similar to James on the inside as he was on the outside, this was the best way to tell him. However, if he was like James, there was also about to be a LOT of anger directed at her for keeping a secret this huge.
"I, wha, you're…I can't deal with this." Harry finally bit out. "All this time, I've thought I was completely alone, a poor orphan boy who would never know his parents, and now I learn that I had family—real family—I could have relied on, but you kept them from me!"
Kady sighed, anger she could handle, anger would eventually burn out.
"Harry, I am not going to belittle you and tell you that you couldn't possibly understand what I was going through at the time, because I know you've been through some pretty crazy and difficult situations, but I was barely 18, and honestly, it seemed like the only thing to do at the time. Your father was so unfailingly loyal to Dumbledore; I know it would have torn him apart to have to make this decision, so I made it myself. It was wrong, and I know that, but it seemed like the only way." Kady explained.
"That wasn't a decision for you to make! He was happy with you! He wanted to marry you! And you just left because Dumbledore said he had to marry some other girl? From what I know, my mother didn't even love my father—she spent every day telling him no and hurting him like you did." Harry raged, unable to believe she could ever do such a thing.
"Who told you that Lily didn't love your dad?" Kady asked, honestly shocked at the revelation. "Lily loved James; she just figured it out too late. She despised me our seventh year because I 'wasn't worthy' of your father. "
Harry was shocked again into silence. "But everyone tells me he loved you. That he stopped loving her when he became involved with you."
"Honestly, I don't know that your dad ever stopped loving Lily entirely, I mean he spent most of his Hogwarts days being completely infatuated with her. Don't misunderstand me, Harry, your father was devoted to me—and I to him—but I imagine there was always the thought of 'what if?'" Kady wasn't entirely sure she was getting to Harry, but she knew she had to try.
"I just don't understand why my dad would just give in like that." Harry sighed.
"Well, I didn't leave him much of a choice. I left the moment he told me of what Dumbledore said. I was so afraid the next words out of his mouth were going to be that he didn't want to be with me anymore, so I left. I am a complete coward, and I know I was completely in the wrong, but I really did what I thought was best." Kady said, a tear falling down her cheek.
"I guess I still don't understand. I mean, all anyone ever tells me about is my mom and how brave and kind she was—no one ever tells me about my dad. Then I discover this secret life of his that no one ever thought to mention, and instead of bringing me closer to his memory, it pushes me farther away." Harry replied, shoulders slumped, feeling defeated.
"Oh, honey, this wasn't supposed to have that effect!" Kady began, but was soon cut off by Harry.
"I don't see how it would do anything else, I mean, all I have learned so far is that my dad was so devoted to Dumbledore that he was willing to abandon the woman he supposedly loved instead of going to find her like he should have. I shouldn't even exist!" Harry ranted, running his hands through his already messy hair in frustration.
Kady slipped an arm around his shoulder.
"He did try to find me, Harry. I made sure he wasn't able to. I mean, there's a reason it took your dad a few years to marry Lily after I left. He had to grieve and learn to love Lily the way she loved him. It would have been unfair to have handled the situation in any other way. "Kady soothed. "Now, I know you have a ton more questions, but it is nearly dinner time, and I think I have a few people that you need to meet. If you're ready to meet them, of course, you don't have to do anything you aren't ready for. "
Harry sighed. He still had about a thousand questions to ask, but he also knew that Kady was more than happy to be completely honest with him. Also, he really did want to meet his brother—and his sister now that he knew that she was his sister. And like the last time he found himself walking towards the home of one Kady Ashfield, he was nervous.
'What if I'm a bad brother? What if they don't like me? What if their happy being siblings the way they are and they don't want a little brother? What if…'
Harry was unable to continue his thoughts since they had arrived at Kady's home and there were two dark-haired twins sitting on the porch swing awaiting their return. It was officially time to meet his brother and his sister… Merlin, he hoped he was ready for this…
I have gotten such an amazing response to this series and I am forever humbled. I know a LOT of you have questions from BestKept secret, and all I can tell you is: stay tuned. Kady has a story too, and she is probably more willing to tell it than Sirius or REmus would have been. I hope that over the course of this, all of your questions will be answered and you will be happy with the way things turn out!