Harry Potter- The New Prophecy

Lily's Secret

Harry found that it was impossible to sleep that night. He couldn't get the words of the newest prophecy out of his head. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the pale face of Albus Dumbledore and the sympathetic eyes of Minerva McGonagall as they shared the news that shattered his and Ginny's hopes for the future. He could still hear the gut-wrenching sobs of his wife as the words that their old headmaster spoke sank in. He could still feel the unbearable knots in his stomach, which hadn't gone away since he exited McGonagall's office earlier that day. For hours, he tossed and turned, unable to fall into the peaceful slumber he so desired. After hours of failed attempts, Harry accepted defeat and headed downstairs for a glass of firewhisky. He didn't expect anyone else in the house to be up, so he was surprised to hear voices coming from the kitchen.

"You have to tell him." He heard his godfather say.
"Harry deserves to know."

Harry stopped just as his hand reached the handle of the door. He considered announcing his presence, but then he heard his mother's voice, and the words that she spoke kept him rooted to the spot, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"I want to tell him." She sniffed. "Trust me, I do. But...it's just that he already has so much going on, first with our unexpected return and then with the newest prophecy. And I can already tell that he is clearly uncomfortable around us. I'm afraid the news will just make things more awkward between us."

Harry frowned. Was his discomfort with their return that obvious? He tried to hide it. He tried to act as if everything was fine, even though it was far from fine. He already felt guilty for his lack of excitement at his parents return, but knowing that his mother could sense it made him feel even worse.

"You just have to give him time, Lily." Sirius said softly. "He really is happy to have the two of you back, but circumstances are a bit...strange. None of us should be here right now. It's a lot for someone to take in."

"But he's comfortable around everyone else, Padfoot." James sighed. "Take Fred, for example. He returned the same day as us, and Harry was cracking jokes with him. And he's obviously comfortable around you and Remus."

"Well yeah, but he knows..." Sirius trailed off. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."

"No, you're absolutely right." Lily said sadly. "Harry knows you. He doesn't know James and me."

"We don't blame him." James said. "Does it hurt that our son can barely look at us? Of course it does. But we understand."

Harry ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He should be ecstatic that his parents were here. He should be spending his free time getting to know them, not trying to avoid them. But every time he looked into their eyes, he couldn't help but notice how young they were. They should be nearing their fifties, not just starting out in their twenties. When he looked at them, he didn't see his parents; all he saw were the young couple who died for him.

"We just don't want to make things worse." Lily went on. "We want him to get to know us, but I'm afraid that if we tell him, he'll just push himself farther away. I don't want that."

"But trying to keep something like this from him is just going to hurt him in the end." Sirius reasoned. "Besides, you aren't going to be able to hide it much longer. You're pregnant, Lily. You're going to start showing."

Any urge Harry had to stay hidden vanished as soon as those words left his godfather's mouth. He pushed open the door with such force that three sets of eyes turned to look at him, clearly gobsmacked. Harry couldn't help but think that they resembled deer in headlights.

"Harry!" Lily gasped. "How long have you been...how much did you..."

"I heard enough." Harry said shortly. "How long have you known?"