The Next Generation

“Another month Mr. Ikin, should you ever speak to me like that again I’ll make sure the detention is served with Hagrid while he goes hunting in the forbidden forest for the unique diets of our menagerie occupants.” Harry stated coolly and calmly gesturing for the boy to leave. He did looking properly abashed and Harry buried his head in his hands. What had made him take on the boy’s detention? That was going to be hell.

Chapter 7:

Raveal woke up and hurried to dress, he had thought of something during the night. He and the other’s went down to the great hall, which was moderately empty it was still rather early. Itzal sat at a table, for the moment alone, reading.

“Itzal, can I ask you something?” Rave asked sitting down, his sister and Ione giving him strange looks he hadn’t discussed this with them.

“Anything.” The older boy replied with an easy smile. Rave returned it with a hesitant smile of his own before trying to articulate his question.

“Um well why only me? Vera’s my twin…I mean…” he stuttered. Vera looked startled then thoughtful, that was true neither Inheri had even given her a passing glance that indicated anything besides polite interest.

“I don’t know. Your aura has something unique, not shared by your sister. No offence.” Itzal replied looking at her and shrugging turning back to Rave. The younger boy shared a glance with his twin; there was only one difference between them besides sex, his empathy. Could that be what showed in his aura? But he didn’t feel anything from either Inheri, or see even a blurry indication of aura, which was strange considering they seemed to be able to see whole auras let alone sense them. He shook his head and sat down to eat, a little while later Sterling came in too. The younger Inheri looked annoyed, and went to his brother.

“I can’t retract them.” He sated angrily. It took Rave a moment to realize that he must be referring to the wings, although he couldn’t see them. Itzal rolled his eyes, and snapped his fingers impatiently; Rave was startled to see a flash of something that no one else seemed to notice. The younger looked instantly relieved and sat down to eat too.

“You can control his powers?” Rave asked aloud without thinking, both Inheri looked at him curiously. Itzal answered first;

“In a way, it’s hard to explain.” He said looking pensive for a moment, “I guess it’s sort of a safety measure, the older members of our family have a small amount of control over our powers but only until we reach maturity then their control dissipates.” He continued eventually, with a shrug. Rave nodded, and started eating while watching both brothers cautiously out of the corners of his eyes. They were anxiously awaiting their second day of classes. They began the day while Harry watched his eldest children laugh and make new friends from the head table. He was inexplicably depressed this morning and desperately wished that Severus wasn’t so stubborn! He could’ve made rooms for his mate and their other children within Hogwarts; he refused to acknowledge the scandal that would create. He sighed slouching slightly waiting until the students had all filtered out of the great hall before he stood again. Returning to his office, though there was always a lull in things to do in the first few days until everything got back into the regular swing. Harry surveyed the wall of headmaster’s, eyes lingering on the empty frame that should contain Dumbledore’s picture. He sighed, there must be something in the air today, and he felt weary and slow. Guilt over what had happened to the old headmaster, no matter how corrupted the man had been, still ate at his heart. Dumbledore had never recovered from the trauma of having the piece of foreign soul removed from his body; he remained an emotionless hush at Mungos.

“I want to go home.” Harry whispered aloud to the empty room, it was a silly and childish thought yet it lingered. He wanted his husband and children near him, to play with the younger ones, babble with the second set of twins, coo over his youngest, he wanted to find Rave and Vera and hold them close. But the eldest twins were in class, they wouldn’t appreciate it if he interpreted because he needed a hug. That brought a smile to his face, after all the times they had burst in on meetings or ‘private’ moments with Severus he couldn’t return the favor.

‘This is ridiculous!’ he thought standing to pace along his office, there was no need for his mood to be so sour. None at all… the floo flashed green and he turned around in surprise, almost letting the hope that it would be his mate fill him. It wasn’t. Minerva stood there looking sour as ever and Harry wilted a little, of course it wouldn’t be Severus, Harry himself had closed the link unless absolutely needed so that Severus wouldn’t suffer from Harry’s stress. Never had he longed so much to reach out and touch Severus through the link, just to feel his presence.

“Headmaster, are you alright?” Minerva asked she always made his title sound like something rotten when she spoke it. Harry never could figure out why the she wanted to stay, she obviously blamed him for Dumbledore’s predicament and hated him for it yet she remained.

“I think I may be coming down with something, I’ll visit Poppy later.” He said untruthfully he wouldn’t bother the med-witch unless he was sure he was ill.

“Very well, I wanted to get your permission on a few things…” she began and Harry strove to listen but his mind wandered ceaselessly. Finally he rid himself of the transfiguration teacher and was left alone to sulk again. However his perceived peace didn’t last that long, the floo flared again and Poppy stepped out.

“Minerva told me that you were acting strange and insisted that I come to make sure your not starving yourself again or something equally silly.” She said with a smile.

“I told you I wasn’t starving myself I just lost track of time…” he muttered.

“For a week, yes I know. Come on let me cast the diagnostic.” She urged, already worried by his lethargic disposition. Harry reluctantly stood while she cast the full diagnostic array of spells. She frowned, looking at him worriedly,

“Didn’t you and Severus agree on not having anymore children for a while?” She asked and he looked at her suspiciously, moving slowly he felt like every limb weighted a ton.

“Yeah,” he said lifting the small charm on a thin chain around his neck, “Az gave me this it’s a special Ander anti-pregnancy charm, or talisman or something to that effect.” He murmured. She looked instantly worried and guided him back the chair,

“Don’t move, you’re pregnant again Harry but since you aren’t acting anything like you did during your other pregnancies I’m going to give Az and Draco a call.” She instructed kneeling by the fire. Draco was currently with Az and Ron at the Ander center, she wouldn’t be able to reach them Harry thought. He felt very odd though and didn’t trust his abilities to call through the link but tried anyway.

-Az…Can…can you here me? - He called fuzzily.

-Ry what’s wrong? You feel weird. - Az replied immediately with a surge of worry. Harry was steadily beginning to realize that there was something wrong with him beyond not eating all that well and sleeping less then that.

-Poppy, Madam Pomphry says I’m pregnant again but I’ve been wearing the charm thing you gave me and I feel really heavy…- his thoughts drifted into each other making it impossible for him to hold the link. He distantly heard Az assure him they were on their way before fading off again. Draco, Ron and Az flashed into the office, Draco immediately going to his adopted ‘mothers’ side. Ron went over to assist in anyway he could while Az looked to the med-witch for an explanation.

“Do you know what’s going on?” she asked after giving him a full synopsis of what had happened. Az looked extremely worried,

“I haven’t the slightest clue.” He replied.

AN: OMG I have had the worst writers block ever! >.> and two research papers I’m sure that didn’t help much either. So um yeah. My apologies for the epic lateness and shortness and over all failing of this chapter. T.T