The Friday Boy

CHAPTER 47

Harry stood sideways staring at his reflection in the mirror. The distinctive bump that had become his stomach now just defined beneath his school robes. With a heavy sigh Harry turned away from the mirror and glanced back down at the torn magazine page he had clutched in his hand. It had seemed silly at the time, ludicrous almost to have even bothered reading the article not least having torn the page from Ginny’s magazine. He’d berated himself for even thinking about the possibility; surely his life couldn’t get any worse. After all, he’d just stretched a muscle cleaning Severus’ damn shelves, or so he’d kept telling himself until now. It had been so easy to ignore the signs but this was something that wasn’t going to go away. Tentatively Harry placed his hand on his rounded stomach as if wishing it was just his imagination but the bump was sadly real. Carefully Harry passed his hand over the bump before jumping in surprise as the clock tower struck ten.

He was going to be late for Potions. Not that it really mattered. Snape’s summons to the Ministry was today, and rumor had it Remus Lupin had offered to fill in for the Potion Master, while he attended the Ministry of Magic hearing.

Hurriedly Harry pulled on his robe grateful of its forgiving billowing fabric. Folding the magazine article haphazardly, Harry shoved it into his diary before collecting his bag from the bathroom door where he’d dumped it when he’d first come in. The hallways were relatively quiet already; only a few late students like Harry were darting towards their classrooms. Taking the stairs to the dungeons two at a time Harry skidded to a halt as he rounded the corner and came face to face with Snape.

For a brief moment Harry met Snape’s gaze, the elder wizards obsidian eyes staring almost sadly into Harry’s very soul. Harry swallowed convulsively, the awkwardness practically radiating off the walls around them. Snape looked immaculate, in a full- length midnight black robe buttoned to the neck and knee, his hair washed and brushed back in a singular ribbon tied at the base of his neck. Even his boots that would normally be discolored with splashes of potion, were polished and shined. Harry doubted Snape would have dressed up this well for a funeral, let alone a Ministry hearing. The moment however was broken by someone clearing their throat, and Harry blinked long enough for a face to appear over Snape’s shoulder.

“Harry, late to class aren’t you?” Bill Weasley smiled crookedly down on Harry over Snape’s shoulder, the red heads hand coming to rest almost protectively on Snape’s other shoulder.

“Yes.” Harry whispered simply his gaze dropping to the floor as he stepped out of the way. Without even having to look up from the floor Harry knew the rest of the party wouldn’t be far behind Snape and Bill. Dumbledore tailed a sulky looking Draco, and behind them came Mad-eye Moody and Sirius. Harry didn’t look at any of them as the passed him, not even acknowledging his godfather who patted him supportively on his shoulder as he passed.

“Come along Gentlemen or we’ll be late too.” Dumbledore’s voice filtered back down the corridor as he urged the party forward leaving Harry standing staring at the floor feeling decidedly empty.

“Are you coming in Harry?” A familiar voice broke Harry’s misery and the boy managed a smile as he looked up at Remus who was standing in the open doorway of the Potion’s Classroom. Of all the wizards and witches involved with the debacle that had become Harry’s life, Remus Lupin had remained the only impartial witness to it all. In a way, Remus was the only friend he could trust anymore. Dumbledore had managed to manipulate everyone else to his own ends, only Remus seemed steadfastly indifferent to everything.
With a nod Harry followed Remus into the classroom and took his seat beside Hermione, who welcomed him with a beaming smile that he returned silently.

Class passed relatively quickly. As his school records attested Remus’ potion skills lacked in all the vital areas. Severus would have undoubtedly been disgusted as Remus ‘demonstration’ potion burnt through the tabletop and left a purple stain on the stone floor. The class had been amused by the werewolf’s curses as he’d tried to clean up the spill; his comment about being skewered with Snape’s wand not lost on the class who at one time or another had been on the receiving end of Snape’s wrath. After the disastrous start Remus had settled to simply watching the students make a mess of their own potions. Harry had obligingly helped Hermione with their potion but after a while Harry had become acutely aware of Remus’ stare. Lupin’s stare was piercing, of no fault of his own but a wolf’s stare simply sent chills down the spine of those under scrutiny. Harry had tried to ignore it but as it continued through the class, Harry began to feel self-conscious. Worried he was doing something wrong Harry finally looked up and acknowledged Remus stare with a slightly nervous smile. Remus didn’t smile back and Harry dropped his gaze back to the bench where he was fumbling about with his diary. Unnerved by Remus’ stare Harry stumbled to find his page in his diary, and inadvertently knocked the magazine page out of its safekeeping and onto the floor. Harry watched on horrified as Remus stood up to retrieve the paper that had fallen within reach of his desk.

In the split second it took Remus to bend down for the paper, Harry was already there his hand clamping down on the item and snatching it up before Remus could even touch it.

“You didn’t have to get up.” Harry whispered as he smiled at Remus, in what he hoped was a calm expression despite his racing heart. Harry stood up quickly when Remus frowned at him.

It was too quickly apparently.

A familiar shooting pain in his abdomen robbed Harry of breath, his grimace not going unnoticed by Remus who’s frown deepened even more as his gaze fell on Harry’s hand that had gone automatically to his stomach. Realizing what he was doing Harry snatched his hand away, and with a nonchalant shrug returned to his seat beside Hermione and their bubbling cauldron. Remus followed Harry back to his bench, and Harry gritted his teeth around the pain in his stomach as he pretended to go straight back to work as if nothing was a miss. Remus hovered over his shoulder for a good ten minutes before at length he moved away, allowing Harry to relax and console himself a little.

Remus circled the classroom for the rest of the session adding humorous comments where necessary and generally taking the entire class no more serious than a morning tea with friends. Harry was relived that Remus had stopped staring and when the clock struck one for lunch he thought he’d escaped relatively unscathed.

“Harry, please stay behind.” Harry froze halfway towards the door of the classroom. Swallowing awkwardly Harry smiled at Hermione, who indicated she’d see him in the great hall for lunch. “Close the door.” When the classroom had emptied, Remus gestured to the door and Harry obediently closed it before turning to face the temporary professor who was leant against the front of Snape’s desk, his arms folded across his chest and his expression unreadable.

“What do you want to see me about?” Harry inquired innocently as he went to sit down on the stool at the backbench.

“Come here.” Before Harry could sit, Remus had crooked his finger at Harry indicating for him to come forward. Reluctantly Harry obligingly came to the front of the classroom to stand directly in front of Remus who was still staring at him with that unreadable expression. Harry swallowed nervously as he watched Remus close his eyes, the werewolf taking a deep breath in his nostrils flaring as he smelled the air. “I couldn’t pin point it before, but it’s definitely you.” Remus opened his eyes again, his chocolate, yellow-flecked eyes refocusing on Harry. “I thought you smelt differently, any idea why?” Remus inquired his arms still folded across his chest as he tilted his head sideways in question.

“I’m wearing new deodorant.” Harry muttered with a careless shrug of his shoulders, his gaze not quite meeting Remus’. Remus huffed in mild amusement but shook his head.

“No, that’s not it. Anything else?” Remus pushed his expression not betraying an inch of what he was thinking. Harry shrugged his shoulders as he shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other in front of the elder wizard. “It’s your magic that I can smell Harry, you always smelled fresher, cleaner than other wizards but your scents mellowed, become woodier. To be honest you smell more like Severus does.” Harry feigned a look of mild surprise but shrugged his shoulders again in silent reply. Remus pursed his lips together in patience waiting for Harry to make an effort in replying, but when it was obvious Harry wasn’t going to say anything more Remus continued. “I know your keeping something Harry, and either you tell me what it is or I’ll take a shot at it and tell you something you perhaps don’t want to hear. There are only certain things that change a wizard’s scent, and in my time I’ve been witness to many of them. It’s your choice.” Remus finished his eyebrows rising in expectation of a forth-coming decision from Harry. Harry sighed heavily finally giving up the pretense of being completely baffled by what Remus was suggesting.

“If I tell you something, you have to promise me that you won’t tell another soul.” Harry put his bag down on the floor and perched himself up on the nearest stool to where Remus was still leaning against the desk.

“You know I can’t make that promise Harry, if this is serious, as I suspect it is, I will have to tell whomever is best suited to handling it.” Again Harry sighed heavily his conscience torn between telling Remus and keeping shut about it. Whatever the case in a few months time it’d be impossible to hide anyway.

“We only discussed it once, when we were playing a game. I didn’t think about it again, I thought the whole fucking idea was stupid.” Harry whispered as he tugged on the sleeves of his robe, purposefully avoiding eye contact with Remus. “I should know by now that the Wizarding world is different.” Harry shrugged his shoulders guiltily still avoiding eye contact with Remus who was dutifully listening carefully to what Harry had to say. “He doesn’t know I did it. I was going to tell him but I guess I lost my nerve, plus he was summoned and he came back in one of his moods. When we discussed that sort of thing, he just said he’d take care of it. I should have learnt the spell, I just got carried away and forgot about it completely.” Harry sighed as he remembered just how stupid he’d been when he’d taken advantage of Snape the night he’d been drunk. “He said there was only a 2% chance, he said it was rare.” Harry whispered, beginning to feel his iron control slipping as his emotions took over.

“Harry.” Remus muttered dangerously as he eyed Harry in concern. “What are you saying?” Remus sounded strange and Harry couldn’t hold his tears back any longer as he glanced up at the elder wizard.

“I think I’m pregnant.”

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A/N *skips in whistling a mindless tune* Thought I\'d drop in with some chappies, \'yay Potter\'s up the duff\' but then again that was predictible.....but not what comes next......*winks*

Cheers & thanks for all the reviews.

RIFFRAFF