True Reflections: Scars Saga 3

The Compromise

Chapter 31

The Compromise

3 January 1997

I walked through the silent and empty halls alone. A few weeks ago the suits of armor were all singing Christmas carols. Now they were silent, apart from the occasional shuffling or sneezing.

I'd arrived earlier that day, flooing straight to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was there waiting for me. She examined me, congratulated me, and gave me a few tonics to help with the morning sickness.

The morning sickness had begun a few days ago. Prior to that I was only ill when I traveled by floo or apparition. After visiting Madame Pomfrey, and swearing her to secrecy for twenty-four hours, I headed to my office to get some work done. Now I was on my way to see the Headmaster with letter in hand.

The letter was a compromise I'd made with Remus. He didn't want me returning to Hogwarts at all, but I was able to convince him that I had to, in part at least.

1 January 1997

"I have to go back, Remus," I insisted.

"Kate, please reconsider this. I know you dislike the idea of leaving mid-year, but you have to consider the risk," he argued back.

We'd been having the same argument for nearly a week now, ever since Michael showed up half-dead on our front stoop. Remus hadn't wanted to return to the cottage, and we knew we couldn't stay with Tonks or discuss everything we needed to at the Burrow. So we went away. We ended up staying at a small hotel in Northern Ireland while Harry and Jonathan stayed at the Burrow. I guess you could say we took a honeymoon after all.

A good bit of our time there, not all of it mind you but a good bit, was spent arguing over whether or not I should return to Hogwarts. Remus didn't think me and the baby would be safe there.

"You saw what Greyback did to Michael, and I can't bear to lose you the same way."

"You won't, Remus. How would Greyback even get to me? Do you think he's going to attack me on the Astronomy Tower? He can't get into Hogwarts. I'll be safe there; we both will be."

I placed a hand over my stomach. I wasn't showing yet, but the meaning was still there.

"Don't you see, Remus? He's part of the reason why I have to go back. Him and all the nay-sayers of our union. I won't let them think I didn't return because I was afraid or ashamed of us. I want to show them all who the new Professor Lupin is. I don't want our child, our children, thinking I turned away from something out of fear of what others might think of me."

"Pride? You're going back because of your pride?"

"Not just my pride, Remus, but yours as well. I have to go back because of our pride."

I took his hand and placed it over mine on my stomach.

In the end, a compromise had been met. I would return to finish out the school year and then I would resign and spend the time with our new expanded family. It was a good compromise, definitely one I could live with. I decided it would be best to inform Dumbledore sooner rather than later. I knew he was extremely busy this year and this would give him plenty of time to find a replacement. I had to inform him of my pregnancy anyways.