Thicker Than Water: Year Six

Chapter 13 - Revelations

Fleur lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling. Bill rolled over, unable to block out the morning any longer, and noticed that she looked as if she'd lain awake for hours. Still beautiful, though...

"What time is it?" he muttered blearily, squinting at the alarm clock on the dresser.

"A quarter to seven. Bill, I can not breathe!" Fleur began to shift awkwardly in the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position.

"Hmmm?" he inquired. She replied, "It's the baby; he's taking over my body."

Bill groped around, managed to free his arm from the tangle of blankets, and gently patted the swell of her abdomen. "Good morning, baby. Rise and shine," he mumbled, semi-coherently.

"Actually, he's just gone to sleep," Fleur corrected him. "I've had two hours of kicking, that's why I'm up so early."

Bill's eyes had closed again and he began to drift, but Fleur's voice penetrated his doze nonetheless. "You know, my grandmother is descended of Veela royalty. Her great-great-grandfather was youngest of the Abla line, who moved from Romania to marry a French Veela during Napoleon's reign. She said the blood of princes runs true in our baby."

"Sounds very impressive, but if he has red hair, we'll know he's a true Weasley," replied Bill drowsily.

"When my grandmother comes next month, she wants to run some tests on his aura to determine how much of the Veela magic he possesses," Fleur continued, and began to describe male Veela powers to Bill. Eyes snapping open, Bill ignored what she was saying and replayed her first sentence in his head a couple of times.

"Wait a minute," he interrupted. "Since when is your grandmother coming to stay with us next month??"

"Really, Bill!" exclaimed an exasperated Fleur. "We talked about it over and over when we visited them, don't you remember? I'll need help in my third trimester, and my mother is too busy working and taking care of Gabrielle! Grandmaman has also assisted in many deliveries, she agreed it would be perfect. She'll come at the start of December."

"Well, excuse my French!" Bill said, thoroughly annoyed. "When were you planning on telling me she was coming - when I wake up one morning to find an extra Veela in my bed?! We don't even have anywhere for her to sleep!"

"She'll sleep on the sofa - I thought we agreed on all this! You smiled and nodded every time we talked about it. I thought you understood!" said Fleur.

Bill looked at her in amazement. "She's a Veela, Fleur! Of course I smiled and nodded; that's all I could do in her company!"

"Bill!" said Fleur, shocked, her voice beginning to waver with emotion. "You have your family, but I - I have no one, no mother or sister to turn to! I'm the one who's sick and tired half the time: carrying this baby, holding down a job, keeping this flat neat while you're off roaming - I don't even know where! Saving the world or fighting those Death Eaters!"

"You're right, Fleur, you're right," assured Bill, trying to quiet Fleur who was rapidly becoming hysterical. "I know your grandmother will be a great help! Don't worry, we'll find room for her. I might even look for a bigger suite!"

Fleur still looked so disconsolate, Bill just had to go on. "And as for my being out there fighting every day - that's nonsense! Most of the fieldwork I do is just routine curse breaking for Gringotts, not anywhere near as dangerous as the work I did in Egypt. Some of the other stuff - my meetings with Charlie - it's just scouting out rumours, following leads... Would it make you feel better if I let you in on a little secret?"

Sniffling quietly, Fleur dabbed at her eyes with the tissue Bill had handed her, and nodded. Bill leaned in close to her and said, "Last summer - that explosion at Harry Potter's muggle home - Harry didn't die. Some of the work I'm doing includes taking care of him, training him up a bit..."

Fleur gasped, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at Bill. "Harry - he is alive? Mon dieu, I thought.... He is all right? Where is he? How come nobody else knows about this?"

Bill pulled her close to him, resting Fleur's head on his bare torso. He stroked her long silvery hair as he explained that Harry was a particular target for Voldemort and - as such - it was decided to pronounce him dead. "He's okay, Fleur. He lost his muggle family, but Harry's unharmed and in disguise at Hogwarts. I go to see him there sometimes, teach him some duelling, keep an eye out for him. My family knows, and you were bound to find out..."

Smiling, Fleur pulled Bill's hand back down to her abdomen, which gave a violent jerk. "This is such wonderful news you have told me! Even the baby is excited - look, he's woken up again!"

A rush of love filled Bill, cradling the lovely woman in his arm, their child listening to their voices from within his sheltered cocoon. Bill's other hand moved down over her bare shoulder, fingertips dancing over soft skin, as he leaned in to nibble her earlobe. She turned herself towards him, and responded with a few well-placed kisses of her own.

In no time at all, Bill and Fleur had stopped thinking about Harry or the Veela grandmother altogether. It is still debatable whether the baby was thinking about anything at all.

*

Back at Hogwarts, Ginny continued to badger Harry about the deception he maintained with his best friends. Harry protested that he couldn't utter a word in earshot without Ron growing red with irritation. Confirming that she knew how childish Ron could be about certain things, Ginny still insisted that her brother would be reasonable and listen if Harry expressly asked to take the time. Harry answered with a snort, "Not from what I can see! He's really got it in for Leo the Usurperer!"

The youngest Weasley threatened to spill the beans if Harry didn't say something soon, and he assented. At the next D.A. meeting, Harry managed to corner Hermione, and said, "Will you partner me?"

Hermione looked surprised, but quickly agreed and took her duelling position opposite him. Ron found himself partnered with Cho Chang and glared nastily over at them. Before Harry had a chance to start speaking, Neville called out the first curse and counted down for the row on the left to start. Hermione wasted little time in sending an engorgement charm that Harry blocked with an impatient flick of his wand.

"Tsk, Tsk," muttered Hermione, stepping out of line to Harry's side. "You really should be holding your wand a little bit higher if you want that block to be accurate when you're duelling."

She took hold of Harry's hand, and jerked it into a better position, swivelling his wrist to point at the precise angle across. Hand still on his arm, Hermione said, "Why don't you try that block again."

Distracted by Hermione's proximity to Harry, Ron inadvertently put too much force into his hex, and Cho suddenly began to shriek. Her nose was beginning to swell as Neville hurried over to see what had happened. He got a glance of Cho's partially concealed face, and quickly blurted, "Here! Let me fix that! Minutiaie!"

But Cho had started to turn away, and the spell grazed her shoulder and struck her long, black hair. Like a retracting wig, it began to shorten. By the time it had reached her shoulder, her nose was spilling out of her cupped hands. Cho began to sob inconsolably, shouting almost incoherently, "Incompetent idiots! If only Harry were still here, none of this would happen..."

Almost bald, she ran out of the room, Ron and Neville staring apologetically after her. Harry watched her leave, wondering if she really believed things would be okay if he were still around. Cho had forgotten about him pretty quickly when things didn't work out last year, and now that he was presumed dead, it irritated him to hear her invoke his name. He gave a wry grunt as Michael Cormer indicated that he would see her to the hospital wing, and quickly left to pursue her.

Neville turned to quiet the rest of the class and said in a shaken voice, "Okay, maybe we should continue. Maybe we could try the Impenetrable Shield we worked on last week - take turns hexing your partners."

Harry leaned in close towards Hermione; she looked directly up into his brown eyes and he said softly, "I have to tell you something. I'm not really..."

At that moment, something rammed into his side and Harry stumbled, just managing to keep himself from falling by grabbing onto Ernie Macmillan's arm. Harry looked up, startled, and Ron stood there looking impassively at him. In a voice that didn't sound remotely apologetic, Ron said, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I must have lost my balance - didn't mean to knock you over. Are you okay?"

Hermione gave an angry huff, and reached over to give Leo a hand. She angrily ignored Ron, whom Neville dragged further down the line to duel with Eloise while he supervised the rest of the class. Hermione asked loudly, probably intending to be overheard, "What were you saying, Leo? If you're worried about not keeping up with last year's class, I think you're doing marvellously!"

Harry didn't try to broach the subject of his identity again, irritated as he was with Ron's dirty looks and Hermione's falsely positive prattle and helpful suggestions. Fortunately, Neville kept them busy and the evening curfew arrived quickly, ending the class. Harry walked moodily over to the door, listening as Ron accosted Hermione. The bushy-haired brunette had her hands on her hips and was lighting into the redhead, her eyes flashing. "I'll work with whoever I wish, Ron, you have no right..."

Luna intercepted Harry at the doorway of the Defence classroom and gave him a smile. He began to smile back, but suddenly an arm linked with his and Ginny was at his side. She gave Luna a friendly wave and dragged Harry away, out into the corridor. Leaning in, Ginny asked, "Well, did you finally tell Hermione? What did she say?"

"She and Ron were too busy sniping over my every move. I didn't stand a chance of telling her," Harry fumed, relating his perspective of the D.A. meeting to Ginny. She looked troubled but listened quietly, holding on to his arm all the way back to Gryffindor tower. At the Fat Lady's portrait, she said, "Maybe it would be help if we both talked to them together. Temporal Invertus!"

The portrait hole swung open, and they climbed into the common room. Ginny sat down next to Harry as he pretended to read his Charms notes, waiting for Ron and Hermione in agitation.

*

The Defence class cleared out as Hermione was indignantly telling Ron to mind his own business. "Lay off about whom I choose to work with! Just because you don't like Leo, doesn't mean it's my problem!"

"Well, you certainly seemed to be getting friendly there!" fumed Ron. "And I'm surprised you can stand Leo at all, after he's waltzed into Gryffindor and taken Harry's place in the dorm. Guess it doesn't matter to you that Harry's off somewhere, in isolation..."

"That was uncalled-for, Ron! You're not the only one who misses him," said Hermione in a hurt voice, her eyes getting misty as she turned away.

Ron stared stupidly at her, then reached over apologetically. "Oh, Hermione, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

"This isn't the first time..." She turned back suddenly to continue telling him off, and Ron's hand unexpectedly grazed her hair. Hermione froze when she noticed the look on his face. Ron pulled his hand down through her hair, enchanted by the feel of it. Hermione let out a small gasp, as he reached back up and continued to stroke her hair slowly, forgetting about their argument altogether.

Ron's heart pounded as he stood fixated by her hair and her proximity. Hermione leaned in, her eyes closing, and a mesmerised Ron lowered his face. They locked suddenly together, an earth-shattering spark coursing through his blood. He was surprised by the intensity of her kiss, and felt as though he had just fallen through a hole in the universe and into another dimension.

Startled, Hermione broke away, breathing heavily. Ron wasn't satisfied with one taste, though, and he pulled her back towards him again. The second kiss lasted a long time, as Hermione groped at his back, and Ron buried his hands inside her bushy hair.

"Aha!" came a nasty voice as the door swung open suddenly. "What have we here, my pretty? Prefects hanging about after the house-curfew has passed!"

Hermione broke away, flushed and distraught, as Ron began to stammer excuses at a smug, leering Argus Filch. Mrs. Norris stood rubbing against the caretaker's leg, her lantern eyes glowing smugly.

"We'll have to see what your Head of House has to say about this behaviour," smirked Filch cruelly. He led them out of the class, Ron in a state of bemused shock and Hermione crimson with embarrassment. When he tried to touch her shoulder reassuringly, Hermione jerked away, and refused to meet his eyes. To make matters worse, Peeves - attracted by the scent of students in trouble - followed them all the way to Professor McGonagall's office, vociferously flinging taunts at the couple.

The Gryffindor portrait hole burst open at around nine-thirty and the obnoxious, lippy fourth-year boy burst into the common room, calling excitedly over to his friends, "McGonagall's coming... Filch caught 'em snogging in the Defence classroom...!"

Just then an angry McGonagall marched Ron and Hermione into the common room, stopping at the open portrait hole. "...And I don't think I need to remind you that - as prefects - you two are expected to set an example to the other students!"

McGonagall swept away sternly, as whispers and an amused tittering filled the air. Hermione, crimson faced, marched off to the stairs of the girl's dorms without a backward glance at Ron.

Ron turned, and caught Ginny and Harry staring at him with amusement. Vexed that the best moment in his life had been abruptly ruined by Filch's appearance, and that the moment was now a source of public mirth, Ron pushed Harry aside and said, "What now, Evangy? You want something to laugh at?! I'll give you something..."

"Don't you dare blame him just because you got caught!" Ginny whipped out her wand and shook it with fury under Ron's nose. "Take your stupid threats elsewhere! If you would take a moment to look twice, you might find someone you like under this surface! Neither of us is responsible for your being in a compromising position!"

Ron glared at her, then tore away in anger and confusion up to his dorm room. Harry stared at the back of his friend as he disappeared up the stairs, and said bitterly, "You see what I mean about him?"

"Whatever Ron's issues are with Leo, you don't have to make them yours," replied Ginny vehemently, disgusted by her brother. But the next moment, a smile was tugging at her lips, and she said, "Caught snogging Hermione in the Defence classroom by Filch! I can't wait to tell Fred and George about that one...!"

*

November came to a close with chilly gales and the first signs of winter frost. The end of term exams were rapidly approaching, and Harry found himself spending more time trying to keep up with his studying and assignments.

Luna was already seated at their usual table when Harry arrived at the library after the day's classes. Harry said hello, and Luna replied with a long groan, "Bleahhhhh!"

"Pardon me?" he asked. Luna levelled him a squint and said, "Don't talk to me right now, I feel soooo crampy..."

"I know what that's like," said Ginny knowingly as she approached from behind, swinging her bag onto the table. "I just finished a couple days ago."

"Today has been just miserable!" Luna moaned. Ginny nodded sympathetically and said, "You know, there's something you can take that helps a lot. My mother bought me a good supply before I came back to school."

"I wish I had a mother! Dad usually just laughs nervously when it's my time of the month, and finds some excuse to leave the house!" Luna lamented. Harry looked from her to Ginny and asked, "Do I really want to hear about this?"

"Case in point!" said Ginny acerbically, and she turned to Luna. "Men are all daft! Trust me, I have six brothers. Come on, Luna, I've got some pain relief up in my dorm room."

Luna packed up her books and, arm in arm, the two girls left the library. Harry rolled his eyes and pulled out his homework; he was soon concentrating on a chapter in his Herbology text. A sudden distraction arose, the sounds of somebody arranging themselves at the next table. Looking up, Harry saw Ron and Hermione pulling out their books and quills for a study session.

Harry scowled irritably at seeing them, and was unable to refocus on the magical properties of oceanic plant life. His attention shifted instead to the interplay between his two friends. Hermione had thrown herself eagerly into her Arithmancy homework. Ron had an open book and blank roll of parchment in front of him, but he seemed more interested in Hermione's work than in his own. After leaning forward to peer at her notes for the umpteenth time, Hermione flicked a sudden freezing charm at Ron, and hissed at him, "Cool it! Mind your own homework!"

Ron apparently got the hint, and began to make some headway on his essay. Drifting back into his Herbology studies, Harry concentrated on memorising the different habitats colonised by various members of the Rhodocystic family; these rare plants were at the bottom of the food chain for reef-dwelling krill, and could confer magical properties on fish feeding at the top of that chain. Magically enhanced fish were thought to be at the heart of muggle tales about catching fish that could grant wishes.

Halfway through the chapter, Harry was suddenly interrupted again by the sound of Hermione's shrill protestation. "No, Ron, I cannot tell you the proper way to transform porpoises into land mammals! Check your own notes. I've already done my Transfiguration essay, I'm not doing yours as well!"

Harry's irritation at the continuous interruptions was exacerbated ten-fold by the fact that he was seated at the next table, excluded from their interchange. The next time Ron peered at Hermione's notes and she responded with an annoyed "Ron," Harry snapped.

"Would you two quit bickering for just five minutes!?" he lashed out at them. "It's the same old argument over and over again, and I'm getting sick of it! How am I supposed to get any studying done here?"

Ron drew himself up in righteous indignation and began to tell Harry off. "Just who do you think you are, Evangy, talking to us that way? Maybe you should just..."

But Harry, who had been glaring at Ron, at that moment caught sight of Hermione's expression. She had clapped one hand over her open mouth, and her eyes were as big as saucers as she looked at him.

Harry slammed his books shut and shovelled them into his bag, saying in a demure voice, "You're right, I was out of line. Sorry for disturbing you."

He practically sprinted out of the library, but had only gone a few meters when a fist closed over the front of his robes. Hermione stood in front of him, speechless, her eyes filling with tears as she stared up at him.

"Oh my god, Harry, is that you?" Her voice broke as she spoke the words.

Ron burst out of the library, his fury redoubled when he saw Leo's proximity to his Hermione. "Look here, Evangy! First you insult me and my girlfriend, and now you're making moves on her..."

"Ron, let me explain!" hissed Hermione.

"What do you have to explain? This prat here thinks he's..."

But Hermione didn't let Ron finish his sentence. Thinking of the only way to shut him up quickly, she grabbed his collar and pulled his face down. Planting a firm kiss on his lips, she only let go when Ron had stopped struggling and calmed down for a moment.

Releasing his robes, Hermione whispered in an urgent voice, "Ron! It's Harry. That's Harry!"

But Harry had had enough; he turned away and stormed angrily down the corridor. Hermione turned to pursue him. Ron stood rooted to his spot in front of the library, immobilised with shock, trying to process what Hermione had just told him.

Harry made it to the end of the corridor and down two flights of stairs before Hermione caught up with him again.

"Harry! Wait, please...!" she pleaded in loud whispers, trying not to shout his name aloud.

He stopped and stood still, back towards her, panting like an angry dragon. Ron appeared at the top of the stairs and shuffled numbly down. Harry rounded on his friends and said in a low growl, "You two haven't bothered with me all term; don't feel you have to start now!"

"We didn't know! We just didn't know!" cried Hermione contritely.

Ron continued slowly down the stairs, staring at Harry, his face white beneath his freckles.

"Harry? Harry! Dear Merlin, what an ass I've been!" Ron sank onto the bottom step and put his head down into his hands in anguish.

"You sure have!" snarled Harry back, nearly three months of accumulating frustration fuelling his anger.

"If only you'd told us..." said Hermione pleadingly, trying to assuage his anger.

"Told who?! Neither of you would have anything to do with me! I've tried loads of times, Hermione, excuse me if you two only have eyes for each other!"

"That's not true, Harry..." began Hermione, but Ron interrupted her. "You're right. All this time you've been sleeping beside me, and I resented you because I thought... He's right, Hermione. I've totally missed the obvious!"

With a groan, Ron lowered his forehead back into the palm of his hand. Harry turned to him and said sarcastically, "Maybe you'd like a pat on the back? Some comforting? Poor oblivious Ron!"

He turned angrily and walked away from them. Hermione looked desperately from Ron to Harry, but by the time she decided to go after Harry, his longer legs had outpaced her and he was nowhere to be found. Returning to Ron, Hermione reached out for him but he gently pushed her away.

"I've been such a jerk, Hermione!" moaned Ron. "How will he ever forgive me after the wave I've treated him? I think I just need to be alone for a while."

Ron left her standing on the stairs, looking small and defeated. He climbed to a hidden nook in the Divination tower, and slid to the floor, battling waves of disappointment in himself. Ron didn't return to Gryffindor tower at all that night.

*

Harry caught up with Luna at breakfast the next morning. He walked past the Gryffindors to where she was sitting at the Ravenclaw table, talking to Terry Boot. Touching her shoulder from behind, Harry said, "May I have a word?"

Luna excused herself, picking up a couple pieces of toast before following. As they walked the length of the table towards the entrance Hall, Sean waved over at his older friend. "Hi Leo! I was wondering if..."

Harry gave a shake of his head, his grumpy expression halting the first year's query. Sean looked down at the rebuff, and Harry felt a twinge of regret for his rudeness. Nonetheless, he hurried out of the Great Hall with Luna at his side.

They had ascended two flights of stairs and were heading down a corridor when Luna finally asked, "Are you taking me somewhere specific?"

Harry stopped and shrugged forlornly. "I just wanted to talk. I... er, I looked for you last night: you weren't with Ginny anymore, and I couldn't find anybody going to Ravenclaw house, but..."

He shrugged his shoulders again, and Luna gave him a sympathetic look. She led him into the nearby History of Magic classroom, closed the door for privacy, and handed Harry a piece of toast.

Harry began to pace, taking bites of his toast without even realising that he was eating. Turning to Luna, he finally asked, "How did you know who I was, when you saw me at the Hogwarts Express on September first?"

"It felt like you - your sadness and your anger. I could feel it when I looked at you, even though the face didn't match up. I didn't know why you had been declared dead and had a funeral; I didn't know why you were standing there pretending to be someone you weren't. But I never doubted it was you, Harry."

He had stopped pacing and stood listening intently to her, shoulders sagging. Harry heaved a few deep, emotional breaths, before speaking. "All this time - three whole months - Ron and Hermione haven't had a clue. We've been best friends for years, and they didn't even listen when I tried to tell them. How come you knew me, but they didn't?"

Luna slipped over and put one arm around his back. "Don't judge them harshly because of me. We each have our own gifts, and mine is reading emotions, the present state of things... I am no yardstick by which to judge your closest friends. Do they know you now?"

Harry stared sullenly at the floor and said, "Yes. Hermione figured it out last night, when I snapped at them in the library. Same old moody Harry...!"

"And?" asked Luna, holding him loosely. Harry put his arm around her shoulder and let out a deep sigh. "What do I do now? How can I trust them again?"

"Just let them into your heart, and you'll find you can trust them," said Luna reassuringly. "They didn't get to be your best friends through neglect. We all make some mistakes; give them another chance. It's obvious you didn't ask to be killed last summer by those Death Eaters. Don't let them come between you and your friends or take away your happiness now."

Harry nodded, and drew her in close for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he pulled away and said shakily, "Maybe I should go find Ron. I was pretty hard on him last night."

Hand in hand, they walked towards Gryffindor tower. Halfway there, Luna squeezed his hand and gave him a supportive smile. She slipped away, and Harry went on to the common room alone. He found a bedraggled Ron standing listlessly in their dorm room, looking a bit like a zombie.

Ron looked up alarmed when Harry walked in, but for a few moments, neither one spoke. Harry thought back to the time Ron had come around after his first task at the Triwizard Tournament in their fourth year. They had avoided each other for a few weeks after Harry's name came out of the Goblet of Fire, as the fourth champion in the Tournament. When he had seen the dragon his friend had to face, Ron had apologised for ever doubting Harry, and the two had easily slipped back into their close friendship, with relief.

But not this time. Harry had been through too much in the ensuing two years: a witness to the deaths of Cedric, Sirius, the Dursleys; the ressurection of Lord Voldemort, and his possession of Harry at the Ministry last June; the staggering realisation that a prophecy linked him to Voldemort's demise. Harry had lost too much of his life to easily forgive his friend as though they had only had a minor argument. Though he had recognised Ron's concern over the past three months, his blindness also invoked an inevitable sense of betrayal.

"I'm... I'm really sorry about my behaviour all term. I guess I've just been too wrapped up in my own feelings... I should have been able to see it was you," stammered Ron. Harry levelled him a sharp look and Ron returned a remorseful one. Harry nodded briefly at the apology.

"Harry, how have you been all this time?" Ron asked timidly. And now that his friend actually asked the question he had been waiting months to answer, Harry found he was unable to. He shrugged his shoulders, and choked back the words, It's been hard.

The silence deepened, and Harry's gaze finally moved back up from the floor. Ron anxiously scuffed the carpet with his foot and said, "Maybe we should go find Hermione. She's been looking for you this morning."

"Fine," Harry said, and the two went down to the common room together. Morning classes were just beginning, and the room was empty except for them. At that moment, the portrait hole swung open and Hermione entered. She wore a troubled look, and appeared eagerly relieved to find Harry there.

"Harry!" she said, walking right up to face him. He looked at her, and she returned the stare undeterred. "Don't ever go doing that to us again!"

And she wrapped her arms around him, pulling Harry into a tight embrace. Ron put one hand lightly on his shoulder in agreement. Harry was suddenly overpowered by all the emotions he'd been holding back; surrounded once more by his closest friends, he felt an uncomfortable prickle as the tears welled up in his eyes.