Who's My Daddy?-Chp9

CHAPTER 9: GETTING THE CHILD BACK

“This is bloody hell outrageous! Why did Harry run out on us again?”

“Maybe because he couldn’t stand looking at your carrot top or your weasel looks.”

“How dare you say that to my fiancé! Aren’t you even the slightest bit worried about where Harry might have gone to!”

The older men watched a little in amusement at the three young adults as they bickered and argued with each other like school children in Dumbledore’s office. The entire St. Mungo was in an uproar when they found out their VIP patient had disappeared yet again. Reporters from all newspaper and tabloid magazine companies, including The Quibbler and Daily Prophet, were there asking dozens of questions as to where Harry Potter the Boy Who Lived might have gone to. The hospital staff went all over the building, searching high and low in vain for Harry. Winnie took the blow rather seriously. In tears, she kept blaming herself for not watching over Harry more closely. She kept saying that she should’ve noticed signs of Harry wanting to leave and was babbling about him not supposed to move when his female parts have not fully recovered and disappeared. Albus Dumbledore had to hold her tightly and assured her over and over again that Harry would be alright and that he would do everything in his power to find Harry. The world cannot afford to lose him again now that he’s back.

“What are the chances of him going far?” Severus asked, practically ignoring the bickering trio while Remus tried to break them up.

“With his state, I doubt he’ll be able to go any further,” Dumbledore replied as he walked over to his desk. “Winnie said that he is not fit to move at all. He has to be bedridden for at least 2 months before he’s allowed to even stand. She’s worried that traumatizing his female parts before they disappear might make his hermaphrodite anatomy permanent.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Remus asked worriedly as he finally separated Draco and Ron who were ready to lash out at each other violently.

“Maybe,” Dumbledore sighed. “But then again, we can’t take any chances. Harry is after all originally male. The imbalance of hormones in his body might be a threat to his health. Some magically changed hermaphrodites are known to live no longer than 30 years of age due to chemical imbalance.”

“You’re Kiaran Featherworth, right?” Draco asked when he realized that Sirius-Kiaran had been with them ever since he helped with the search of Harry in the hospital. “I’ve seen you often during Auror missions. What exactly are you doing at St. Mungo, anyway?”

“Oh, I’ve been a very big fan of Harry ever since I heard he defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I only came to visit him to pay my respects and meet him in the flesh. Guess I arrived a tad too late.” Sirius-Kiaran surprised himself with such fluent lying. Well, he wasn’t actually lying. Part of the memory he had on the original Kiaran told him that he really was a big fan of Harry Potter.

“I can see that,” Ron eyed him suspiciously before continuing, “So what are you doing here with us anyway? Shouldn’t you be at the Ministry reporting to anyone in charge to find Harry?”

“I, uh, kinda figured that since you’re in a mix here, you might as well need all the help you can get. After all, I am serious about wanting to meet Harry in the flesh.”

While the others took in whatever Sirius-Kiaran said, Dumbledore looked at everyone with a knowing eye. He noticed that of all the people to show up, they were the first to arrive. He had no doubt that Ronald and Hermione would show up to see their best friend regardless of where he is or what happens to him, and that Remus, although his grief over Sirius’ death that made him a recluse was understandable, had an obligation to look out for Harry’s wellbeing for Sirius, but Draco Malfoy who wished nothing more than to see his archenemy gone? Severus Snape who despised him five thousand times worse than other students and would rather teach dunderheads than the Boy Who Lived? A young Auror who was a total stranger with no connections whatsoever with Harry? Of all people, why them? Even the public took their time to come over to St. Mungo in fear that they were given false hope of their saviour’s return, so why did they show almost immediately after hearing the news? Suspicions grew and Dumbledore was determined to get to the bottom of this.

“While we’re all here, answers to my questions need to be first satisfied,” Dumbledore said as he leaned back on his chair. “Since you all are the people who at least knew Harry more than anyone else, perhaps one of you can tell me who do you suspect the father of Harry’s child might be? After all, I do believe you all showed up to visit Harry isn’t just to wish him well now, am I right?”

Hermione made her guesses almost immediately. Severus was looking away with a very slightly flushed face, pretending to think. Remus muttered “I’m not so sure…” and looked down, pretending to be very interested at his hand-me-down shoes. Ron nodded at every guess Hermione made, pretending to agree with her. Draco had his arms crossed and refused to say anything. Sirius-Kiaran fingered the broom he was holding, practically at lost of words. Dumbledore suddenly had this weird twinkle in his eye after seeing all their reactions.

“Your guesses are possible, Ms. Granger, but I doubt they’re really true. Well, since we’re not sure, I’ve decided to do a little sleuthing of my own.” So saying, Dumbledore searched inside his robes and fished out a picture of a baby sleeping in his crib. He had got it from Winnie who took that picture a few hours after he was born, bathed and clothed. He took out his wand and waved it around the picture, whispering a few magic words. An almost transparent image of Harry floated above the picture, hugging himself and smiling his usual innocent smile. Everyone felt touched seeing him. That was the exact same smile he had when he first came to Hogwarts—the smile that was innocent and naïve, without worries, untainted and untouched by the cruel fate he had endured in the past. That was the Harry they remembered. That was the Harry they liked.

Then, one by one behind Harry’s image, five men emerged. First it was the grinning redhead Ron, then the greasy shoulder-length hair Severus, then the proud and vain blonde Draco, and then the chocolate-brown hair Remus with his clothes that have seen better days, and finally the strikingly handsome Sirius. Everyone in the room held their breaths as they saw their image appear and coming closer towards Harry’s image, ready to hug him. Guilt swept in and overwhelmed them like a huge tidal wave. Before they knew it, another bigger image that dominated their images emerged from behind them and held out a hand. Harry’s image turned around and watch with a small trace of fear as the bigger image pulled Ron, Severus, Draco, Remus and Sirius’ image towards him and held them tight in his grasp. The image was no other than the evil, overpowering tyrant: Lord Voldemort.

“Oh…my…God…” Hermione breathed her words, her face going as white as a sheet of paper. Ron’s knees wobbled and almost gave way, his eyes unable to meet his fiancé. Draco shivered at the sight of the Dark Lord his father had been praising about ever since he was born. Severus’ face may look expressionless, but his heart was pounding furiously in fear at the aura of Voldemort that threatened to tear down the walls of Dumbledore’s office. Sirius-Kiaran was fighting hard not to lose himself in rage upon seeing his archenemy. Only when Dumbledore whispered a spell to make the images disappear that the tense atmosphere around them slowly subsided.

“What is the meaning of this…?” Severus’ words came out barely a whisper.

“Albus, I don’t understand!” Remus turned to Dumbledore. “Why is Sirius in the image? I thought he was supposed to be dead. Why…?”

“That you’ll have to ask our Kiaran Featherworth here,” Dumbledore turned to look at Sirius-Kiaran. “He seemed to know something.”

Sirius-Kiaran was taken aback. He didn’t think that he would be found. But then again, it was Albus Dumbledore he’s dealing with. He closed his eyes and willed himself out of Kiaran’s body, but he only allowed half of himself to emerge. He didn’t want to have the feeling of nausea again while he’s away from the Ministry building. He needed to have the feel of Kiaran on him to keep him on track.
As expected, everyone was shocked to see him. Severus looked at him as if he saw Sirius the Man Who Just Bloody Won’t Die. Both Ron and Hermione burst into a mixture of sad and happy tears seeing their old friend back, and Draco was looking at Sirius in silent awe. Remus was speechless, watching his love reappear in front of him eyes with tears flowing uncontrollably. His love. How long has it been since he last saw him disappear into the Veil? To see him here even in his spirit form was a miracle, a dream come true.

“Sorry I couldn’t find you anytime sooner, Remy,” Sirius said awkwardly as he slowly returned back to Kiaran’s body, becoming Sirius-Kiaran once again. “And sorry you had to see me like this and find out about me cheating on you…”

Remus silenced him by hugging him tightly. His tears wet his shoulder as he whispered, “I have wronged you too. I’m sorry…”

“Looks like a happy reunion for lost lovers and old friends,” Severus muttered as he watched Ron and Hermione rush over to hug Sirius-Kiaran and sob all over him as well. He turned to Dumbledore and said, “So, what exactly is this image showing? Who is the real father then?”

“Sorry to say that the child belongs fully to Voldemort. It looks like Voldemort has been using all of your essence to create a child with Harry Potter,” Dumbledore rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “For what reasons, we’ve yet to know. I didn’t know Harry had been leading such a colourful life, and I didn’t know all of you have been indulging into it.”

“An inevitable act of emotion, that’s all it is,” Draco replied coldly, not wanting to meet the glares of others. Hermione let go of Sirius-Kiaran’s arm she was hugging and turned towards the old headmaster.

“Albus, do you think that maybe Voldemort has taken Harry away? Since it’s his child, he must’ve known the news of Harry giving birth. Could he have kidnapped Harry and the baby?”

“Most possibly. He is, after all, a very ambitious man. He must’ve had a big plan up his sleeves to be creating a child with his archenemy. If it’s true that Voldemort has taken custody of Harry and his son, we’ve got our work cut out for us. Voldemort is notorious for having secret hideouts and secret meetings. Without Harry to tell us where he could be through his visions, our hands are tied.”

“Maybe not.”

Everyone turned towards Severus who was clutching his left wrist, his face showing a slight pain. Between the gaps of his fingers, everyone saw something glowing like hot coals on his wrist. Those who knew the Death Eater traits well knew what this meant.

“Voldemort summons?” Dumbledore asked.

“A convenient way for him to use the Dark Mark,” Severus nodded. He removed his hand to show everyone the Dark Mark glowing as if there was a fire within his wrist burning through his skin that bore the mark of a skeleton with a snake for a tongue. Almost simultaneously, everyone had the same idea.