Albus, I\'ve Knocked Up a Weasley

A/N It’s a little shorter than normal and I’m not entirely happy with it. I may go back and edit it when I post chapter 7. Please let me know if there are any improvements anyone can see helping. I think it’s gone a little sappy on me LOL.

Chapter 6 – Coping With Reality, When Reality Refuses to Cope

Hogwarts was empty of students and Severus found the castle to be, once again, blessedly quiet. Once Voldermort had been defeated, he had seriously considered moving into a private home for use during the summer, at the very least, but once he found he had the freedom to do so, the desire to do so had dwindled. He liked his dungeons and he loved the peace.

His usual summer routine was to relax the first couple of days, doing nothing more strenuous than taking a walk and breathing in fresh air; something he would deny doing with his last dying breath if he were to ever be cornered by a student with the information. After that, he would get the urge to take up some of his peseaesearch projects in earnest. He always found time to work on them here and there during the school year, but it was nice to be able to give them his undivided attention.

During the rest of the summer he would get ahead on his stocking of the hospital wing potions, his own potions for the next term’s classes, his lesson plans for said term, replenishing his ingredients, meetings with the other staff as well as meetings (and the horrid social calls) with Albus, all at his leisure. He always managed to find time to catch up on his reading and his correspondences with other potions masters and mistresses. It was a full, but pleasantly quiet and relaxed summer that he never failed to enjoy, in his own snarky way.

Too bad that summer wasn’t going as planned.

Severus was three days into his vacation and one day into his usual research time. He hadn’t taken any walks and he hadn’t so much as cracked any of his personal journals. He hadn’t done anything but sit in an armchair in front of his fire, staring atly Wly Weasley’s parting gift to him. An invitation to visit them any time at all, no call ahead necessary, during the summer, a reminder schedule of Ron’s now weekly appointments and the Wizard World’s version of a sonogram. A moving black and white picture of the baby that was currently residing in Weasley’s abdomen.

He had been ok with his fascination of the picture, at first. After all, it wasn’t very clear and he had spent a great deal of tiurniurning it this way and that, spelling it into stillness then back into motion, trying to figure out what on earth he was looking at. Slowly, the vision of arms, legs, a head and other parts began to take shape until he could see clearly now, every time he looked at it, a baby.

His baby.

He couldn’t tell if it would have black eyes or brown, or the shape of the nose, or the color of the hair, but he knew it was his child he was looking at. Everyone had told him so, especially people he trusted to know for certain.

He couldn’t take his eyes away from the wobbling picture. At one point he even tried to throw the damn thing into the fire, but it wouldn’t leave his hand, and he knew that if he did manage it, he’d just go after it before it burned. This was getting serious and all the whiskey in the world wouldn’t help. He had to do something.

What, though, he wasn’t sure.

***

It was May 15 and Ron had officially hit his sixth month. He had only been back to the Burrow for a few days, but already he was bored and itching for something to do. If only his body would allow him to do anything. He could walk around his parent’s property, but going up the street was out of the question. Muggles actually lived in their village and he couldn’t be seen. He didn’t look fat, he looked pregnant.

Both Bill and Charlie were out of the country again, Percy had finally gotten his own place and the twins lived in the apartment above their shop. Ginny still lived at the Burrow, of course, but she was out almost daily with friends. Hermione planned on visiting before he had the baby, but she was currently off on her last vacation with her parents before she headed off to University.

As for Harry, he decided to take a summer internship with Oliver Wood’s quidditch team, Puddlemere United, before making any long-term plans. That last decision had thrown Ron, a bit. He had been so used to Harry being by his side constantly that he thought for sure he’d take up the invitation to stay the summer that had been extended by his mum. Part of him had been relieved that his friend had chosen to give him some breathing room, but at the same time, Ron really missed him.

His mum and Ginad gad gone to town early that morning, determined to find Ginny a swimsuit she’d be willing to be caught in, so Ron was puttering around the kitchen by himself when the owl carrying the Daily Prophet arrived. He yawned, took the paper, paid the bird and opened the paper to see a photo from before the accident of himself and the friend who had been so recently on his mind.

If the headline was to be believed, he had the answer he was looking for to why Harry wasn’t making himself available anymore. Actually, it cleared up a lot of things.

***

“Mum, dad, I have to go back. Immediately.”

“Hermione, whatever for?” her mother asked the young woman who was currently flinging her wardrobe from the hotel closet back into her suitcase with the aide of her wand.

“One of my best friends has just been outed by the Daily Prophet and another best friend is going to need me once he sees it.”

***

Albus had arrived just in time to relieve Severus of his burdensome thoughts, but the news he had arrived with was… well, it wasn’t good, but Severus was having a really hard time seeing what the big deal was.

“’Man Who Defeated You Know Who’s Secret Heartbreak’” he quoted from the headline. “Well, I admit, they should have run that one by a copy editor. It’s hardly a secret if it’s the headline. Honestly, I don’t see why you’d think I’d be concerned. Mr. Potter is young. Of course he’s had his heart broken, probably not just this once. It’s bound to happen again. You can’t protect him from life, Albus.”

“Harry isn’t the young man I’m wanting to protect at this moment,” the headmaster sighed. “Read the entire article, Severus.”

Snape glared at the man behind the desk and flicked the paper out, settling down to read.

‘MAN WHO DEFEATED YOU KNOW WHO’S SECRET HEARTBREAK
by Erma Boomslang

Harry Potter, savior of the Wizarding World and recent graduate of Hogwarts School of Witaft aft and Wizardry, may be the world’s most eligible bachelor, but his heart is already spoken for. Unfortunately, said heart has been smashed to pieces.

It all started with Ronald Weasley, the Miracle Boy whose story this reporter has been bringing you. It seems that Harry’s preference is for wizards (sorry ladies!) and for this wizard in particular. According to an anonymous source, he’s been smitten with Ron for quite some time.

“They’ve been inseparable since they met,” their former classmate informed me. “Potter wouldn’t give anyone else the time of day. I’m surprised Granger managed to weasel her way in there.”

It was also reported that Harry’s affectionate and protective behavior towards the other young man increased at the start of Ron’s pregnancy by their potions instructor, Professor Severus Snape.

“Oh, Potter’s just devastated that Weasley would have someone else’s baby. He’s also not happy that Weasley won’t marry him, so he’s run off to play quidditch while Weasley goes home to have the baby.”

Harry Potter, rejected by his true love. Ronald Weasley, abandoned by both the father of his child and his best friend in his time of need. When will either of these poor dears catch a break?’

Snape tossed the paper back onto the headmaster’s desk and raised an eyebrow.

“We both know it’s a load of rubbish. Even if Potter does fancy himself in love, he’ll get over it. That’s the only part that even has a chance of being remotely accurate.”

“The abandonment part of it isn’t?”

“You will not try and make me feel guilty over a decision that both that boy and I have agreed on,” Severus fumed. “He does not want me there any more than I want to be there. He has his friends and his family. And don’t try to give me any crap about him raising the child alone. He’s not even going to be raising the child. His parents are. The boy is fine.”
erhaerhaps,” Albus mused, leaning back in his chair and stroking his beard. “But I imagine that he’s seen this article and it’s been a bit of a shock. Wouldn’t you say?”

“How can it be? Potter hung all over him.”

“Yes, but Mr. Weasley is notoriously dense on matters of the heart.”

Snape rolled his eyes.

“Still don’t see why I’m here having this conversation.”

“Now Severus,” Albus smiled, not bothering to hide a chuckle. “No need to get petulant. I do think it would be wise to visit Mr. Weasley and make certain that he and the child are doing alright.”

“And you’ve called me to your office to let me know you’re going and I’m in charge while you’re gone?”

Albus just smiled.

***

Harry crumpled the paper up in his hand and threw it, hard, at the door of his locker. With a shudder, he dropped his face into his hands and groaned. This was not how he wanted Ron to find out about his preferences, and he had hoped to be over his infatuation with his best friend before he told him.

“Alright there, Harry?” a welcomed, but not at that moment, voice asked.

“Yeah, Oliver, thanks for asking,” he replied without looking up.

“Saw the Daily Prophet,” Oliver continued, sitting next to Harry on the bench. “I know you were raised by muggles, but you do know that this is no big deal in the Wizarding World, right?”

“Being gay? Yeah, I know,” Harry sighed, finally looking up. “But I didn’t want Ron finding out this way.”

“Ah, so that part is true as well?”

“Yeah, well, kinda. I’m not happy, but I don’t consider myself as horribly heartbroken over it as the Prophet seems to imply and I don’t think Ron was my ‘one true love.’ At least, I hope not.”

“Glad to hear that!” Oliver grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. “There’s someone I think you should meet.”

***

“You knew, didn’t you?” Ron accused the moment Hermione walked through the door of the Burrow.

“Now, Ron, Hermione just got here,” Mrs. Weasley admonished. “Give her a chance to get settled into her room. You have Percy’s old room, dear.”

“Thank you,” Hermione acknowledged before turning back to her long-term friend. “Knew what?”

Ron’s only response was to wave the Daily Prophet for the morning before in her face.

“Oh, that,” she said, having the decency to look embarrassed. “Yes, I did, but you didn’t return his feelings and he didn’t want you to know. I thought it would cause less harm to tell you than it would if I had. I didn’t know the paper would get a hold of the story.”

“Please! They’re always getting a hold of anything we don’t want them knowing about. Is the color of your knickers a secret? Cause it might be tomorrow’s headline! Besides, how do you know I couldn’t return his feelings? No one asked me.”

Hermione looked completely gob smacked.

“Do you?”

“No! I’m straight! But I still should have been asked!”

“He’s feeling a little emotional lately,” Molly interjected. “Between the hormones, the swelling ankles and not being able to see his feet, he loses it every now and then.”

“He’s in the room!” Ron shouted and then huffed up the stairs in a snit, as fast as his bulk could carry him.

***

“Ron, please, I’m sorry.”

“Go away, Hermione,” the young man said from the other side of the door.

“Ron, just let me in. I swear, I didn’t do this to hurt you!”

Finally, Ron opened the door and let her into his room.

“I know,” he sighed as he sat down on his bed. “It was just such a shock. Why didn’t he tell me himself?”

“He didn’t want to risk losing your friendship.”

“He’s gone now…?”

“Because he couldn’t bear watching you anymore. Oh Ron, he does hurt, but he’ll get over it. He really will.”

“I hope so,” Ron said as he accepted the comfort of Hermione’s hug. “Because I really need both of my best friends.”

“Ron!” Molly called from down stairs. “Come down, dear! Severus just arrived to see how you’re doing!”

A dark, insistent voice sounded from below, not loud enough for them to make out the words, but the annoyed tone of voice came in clearly. Ron heaved another sigh and rolled his eyes.

“Now him, I don’t need.”

“Yeah, sure,” Hermione laughed. “I know you don’t mean that, after spending the last two months of school teamed up to avoid Harry and The Book.”

“True,” Ron cracked a smile. “He did know a lot of good hiding places.”

***

“Have you seen the article?”

“Yes,” Ron replied to the clipped question.

“No harm came about?”

“Non
“
“You seem to be progressing adequately.”

“I’m as big as a house.”

Snape paused.

“Yes. Not long now, though.”

“Nope.”

“Very well. I‘m through here. Good day.”

“Severus, stay for dinner,” Molly cut in before he could so much as turn towards the door.

“No thank you, Molly.”

“Oh, now, Severus, you haven’t seen Ron in awhile. I insist.”

“I’ve seen him quite enough, thank you. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

***

“So, Severus, how is your summer holiday going?”

Snape did his level best not to glare at Arthur Weasley as he accepted the bowl of mashed potatoes that the girl Weasley was passing. He still couldn’t figure out how he had been talked into staying for dinner and he wondered if Molly had cursed him. One moment he was insisting that he didn’t want to stay and was heading out the door, the next moment he was sitting at the table.

“Not as expected,” he replied. “I’m assuming you are glad to have your family back under your roof.”

“Oh, yes,” Arthur smiled, squeezing Molly’s hand. “It’s a little emptier than usual, what with Percy and the twins moved out, but we’re really looking forward to the birth of our grandchild.”

Severus snorted lightly; fully aware he was probably being very rude and not really caring.

“Perhaps you should accustom yourself to referring to it as your child, seeing as Ronald will be handing him or her over.”

“Oh, Ron didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me? What?” Severus turned his attention back over to the household’s youngest son who was studiously ignoring the glare he was receiving. Snape couldn’t help but notice he was an interesting shade of red.

“I’ve decided to raise the baby, after all,” he said, still not looking up.

Severus promptly passed out.

TBC