Unexpected

Chapter Eighty Eight: Unexpected Secrets

For Harry, the dinner of 24th December was a mixture of baked ham, nervousness, laughter and lots of unexpected secrets.

The Potters, it turned out, had a tradition of having baked ham along with fish pie every Christmas Eve. The manor's huge table was filled with all sorts of dishes, including burritos, steak and chips and, of course, the very famous butter beer. The eight friends, along with Charlus and Dorea Potter sat around the round table, chatting and laughing as they ate their food.

Harry sat in between Fleur and James, who was sitting next to Lily. Charlus and Dorea sat at the heads of the table, whereas Remus, Jacques and Blaec, along with Remus and Sirius sat at the other side with their mouth filled with pie. Harry and his friends joked about random things and incomplete homework.

"I hate doing homework at the last moment," Sirius admitted at one point. "But then again, I hate doing homework at any time, so its not that big of a deal."

Everybody laughed at that, including the two Potters, who were shaking their heads at Sirius.

Everybody seemed to be in a good mood today, including Harry, who had pushed his fears to the back of his mind and would face whatever happened in the moment. He thought about Hermione's disapproval at his decision and couldn't help but miss his two best friends.

Harry wondered what they were all doing for Christmas?

It wasn't until they'd had their dinner and were waiting for dessert, that Willy the house elf came in with a frown on his face. He paused mid-way to give Harry an unreadable look, and the boy immediately knew what was going to happen. 

A feeling of dread settled over his chest, something which he'd been trying to bury through the whole dinner. 

"What is it Willy?" James asked, seeing the house elf shift from one foot to another nervously.

"Master James," said Willy, clearing his throat. "Willy wants to speak something, but o-only if his master allows him to."

"Of course you can," said James, who had no idea the extent of what Willy wanted to 'speak'. "What's the matter? Why are you so tense?"

"Thank you," said Willy, then he turned around to look at Harry. Beside him, Fleur squeezed his hand, sending a silent 'I'm here for you' message to him. "First of all, Willy would like to apologize for snooping through his future masters's clothes. Willy is really sorry, and he promises to not do so in the future."

"Future master?" Charlus gave him a curious look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"In a minuet, Master Charlus," Willy turned around to look at James. "How many Potters from the wizard Potter family do you think are in this room, Master James?"

"Three," James spoke without hesitation.

"Wrong," Willy shook his head.

Very unexpectedly, Willy turned around to look at Jacques and Blaec, who stiffened, as though they knew what was going to happen next. 

The next words which left the house elf's mouth froze Harry in his place, making him stare at the Topfer brothers in disbelief.

"There are three other Potters in this house," said Willy. 

"Harry Potter, son of James and Lily Potter. And Albus and James Potter II, his two sons."

A/N: (Important, please read) MUHAHAHAHAHA! The BIGGEST cliffhanger in the HISTORY of time. I'll bet you Dumbledore's whole beard that you definitely didn't see the whole 'Albus and James' Potter thing coming in. Now, I guess I deserve your forgiveness for updating late, 'cause this chapter needed a bit of planning. And I also think that I deserve your forgiveness for what I'm about to say right now: I'll be GONE for some time, and won't be able to update. I know, I know, I've left you at a cliffhanger and that I can't do this...but please understand. I have to go somewhere XD. I'll update ASAP, promise.