When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 76

The Serpent

Having returned to Britain after receiving Minerva's letter, Harry was at a loss at what he should do. He knew that he needed to speak with Minerva but doing so whilst the revelation was fresh, and he was overwhelmed, could prove to do more harm than good.

Thus, he had arrived at his house, his emotions still hard to decipher.

Harry was exhausted from a full day of defending their position, the smell of war was upon him, and he needed just a little time to come to terms with what he had been told.

Before speaking to Minerva, he needed a clear head.

Still, the only thing he could focus on was that he was going to be a father.

The thought was terrifying as it was exciting, and though Charlus, Arcturus, and the others had insisted it was a good thing, it was not them that now had to face the prospect of fatherhood that had not been planned.

Of course, Harry certainly did not blame Minerva, nor would he change anything that had happened between them, but he was not so foolish to ignore that the timing was rather poor.

As he stepped into the shower and revelled in the feeling of hot water beating down on his tired, aching body, he realised what it was that made him hesitate in experiencing the same joy as the others had.

He was scared.

Harry had known fear throughout his life, but nothing like this.

Being a father was not something he had ever considered much, but when he did, it wasn't whilst the world was in the throes of war, or a time that he wouldn't be there to raise his son and daughter.

It seemed that life had other ideas for him, a thought that elicited a sigh from the young man.

The timing wasn't right, and he was scared of the unknown to come, but he would do as he always had when facing adversity.

He would take it in his stride and do whatever he could to make it work, for him, for Minerva, and for the baby they were bringing into this world.

An unwitting smile crested his lips.

Harry had never had a family to call his own, but soon, he would have, and though the circumstances could be more favourable, the thought warmed him, nonetheless.

Stepping out of the shower, he felt calmer than he had, though there was no shifting the sense of trepidation he felt in its entirety.

This would be a new challenge for him, something he had no experience of whatsoever.

Where did someone even begin taking care of a baby?

Harry hoped Minerva was not as clueless as him.

He knew of the basics; the feeding, changing nappies, and the like, but he was undoubtedly lacking knowledge of the plethora of other things a child needed.

Once more, he felt a wave of uncertainty crash over him.

Could he really do this?