James looked horrified for a moment as Harry rolled his eyes, "Unless Sirius gets arrested between now and September then stages an escape all to say 'hello'. Of course, all considering I wouldn't put it past him."
The man snorted, before laughter overtook him and echoed through the morning air. It took him several minutes to calm down before redirecting his full, still grinning, attention towards the younger person. "You aren't worried? We would understand if you were, hell we are worried and we aren't going to Hogwarts anymore."
Again, another shrug, "I've been worried most of my life, hasn't stopped me yet. If I turned around or gave up anytime something was difficult or dangerous… well, I wouldn't have gotten very far."
"Are you going to tell us? About everything from your other life, I mean. Your mom and I… well we are both terrified and desperate to know more."
The boy-who-lived hesitated, "Dumbledore said…"
"To hell with what Dumbledore said, she isn't your parent or guardian."
James was right, but still Harry didn't like the idea of being entirely honest, at least not yet. There was still the concern that things might change for the worse, or that the two adults might act responsibly and freak out, pulling all three of them from school.
Regardless of what happened to him, they needed the education, and the friendship, offered by the school.
"Maybe after fifth year, once I know we aren't going to break anything or accidentally get Sirius turned into a woman or something."
Once more James grinned before laughing, and this time Harry joined him.
****
It was a question she had been dreading, a conversation she had hoped to never have, never need to have with her son. But then again, hadn't the past two school years already been full of moments of dread that she never could have imagined?
Still, the look on her husband's face told her everything she needed to know. They couldn't put it off any longer and no matter what the consequences would be, Harry deserved to know what to be careful of, what society had become so nonchalant about thinking towards him and other men.
"Why don't you have a seat?" She requested, before taking one herself, James ever the thoughtful one immediately began heating up water in preparation for tea. "It's a… complicated question, and one that requires a bit of a history lesson to truly understand."
The older wizard snorted from nearby, earning him a sharp glance as he muttered out his own response, "Oh yes, because that's what will make this better."
Harry looked concerned, more than he did a few minutes prior, and Lily let out a sigh before continuing. "Those terms… 'donor' and 'breeder' originated a very long time ago, back before James and I attended Hogwarts, maybe even before Dumbledore went to school. Back then Hogwarts was just for witches, the little 'formal education' given to men was…" she trailed off, before the other adult in the room chimed in.
"I would say it was lacking Harry, but that would be kinder than deserved. Most were taught at home, a few of the richer 'higher ups' in society such as those who would be bartered off in arranged marriages would be allowed to attend specialized 'domestic schooling'. These taught boys to be 'proper', things like raising children, house duties, 'caring' for their spouses, things like that."
The boy nodded slowly in understanding, an obvious frown upon his face. Lily took up the conversation, to steer it back onto the original topic. "It was from this time, from these awful mindsets, that those two terms originate from. Men weren't just treated as second-class citizens; they were seen more like property or chess pieces. Arranged marriages, especially in the upper echelons of society, weren't just common they were expected. The problem remained the disparity in numbers, and it was this gap that created these roles."
James cleared his throat as he sat down with three steaming cups, passing the other two towards those already seated, "The biggest distinction is probably the status of the one involved. A 'donor' is usually of a higher social class. Sirius would have been one way back when…" he trailed off, possibly thinking about whether to admit it might still apply, but ended up shaking his head, "Anyway, for this a contract is written up and formalized that establishes the creation of a child for whatever the wizard's family negotiates for."
Harry Potter stared in disbelief, and the man flinched.
Lily took a steadying breath before explaining the rest, "As for 'breeders', well it is probably as bad as it sounds. There aren't any contracts involved for this, it is an individual that is seen as useful for creating children and nothing else, regardless of their own desires or consent."
"So, they are raped." The redhead flinched, and James found his own cup far more interesting to look at than the disappointment in the child's face. "Why isn't anyone doing anything about this? Why doesn't Dumbledore… or McGonagall… why was Snape allowed to become a professor after trying it!?"
She didn't have an answer for him, at least not a complete one. "Because those old habits never seem to die. Regardless of how far we've come, regardless of the bits of equality we have forced through in both the Wizengamot and the hearts and minds of the people there is still those lingering biases and traditions that those in power cling to. Some are still convinced, despite how utterly absurd, that the old ways are still the best."
"And boys should just smile and let it happen."
Her husband sighed, "Things are getting better Harry, I know it doesn't sound like it, I know there are still problems and inequalities in the world, but we are on the right track."
Their son nodded, but it looked more like one of understanding than agreement, "Maybe in a few more generations things will be okay."
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