Sorry for the massively delayed update. After not writing for so long (because of my trip) I was left with writer's block. But I'm back on track with a new chapter :D. And for those following Into Oblivion, I'll update that one soon.
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers!
His Guiding Light
Chapter 2: The Book
Two Years Later
Ron cradled the cup of tea in his hands while he slowly sipped the hot liquid. He stared out the window absently, watching a couple of chickens pecking at the ground.
"What are you doing up so early?" asked Harry as he grabbed a mug and leaned over the counter for the jar of coffee beans. Ever since Harry started Auror training he had become more inclined to drink coffee than tea.
"Couldn't sleep."
"This doesn't have anything to do with the whole daycare thing, does it?"
Ron shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno…what if he hates it? That would be awful. He'll think that I abandoned him."
Harry rolled his eyes. "Don't be stupid, Ron. It might take some adjusting to but he'll love it. It's good for kids to be around other kids their age."
"I guess," muttered Ron.
xxx
Ron didn't even remember how he'd gotten out of the hospital and back to the Burrow with Davy held tightly in his arms.
The baby was crying now. Ron made soothing noises but the child kept wailing.
He made his way up to his mother's room. She would know what to do. Ron tried to ignore the fact that his mum was in a fragile mental state as he pushed past her door.
"Dear me, honey, why is that child crying so?"
"I don't know," Ron said, trying to control the anxiety in his voice.
"Tut tut, Arthur, haven't you learned anything from taking care of Bill. Pass him here. Come here Charlie baby," cooed Molly.
Ron wanted to scream. He wanted to shake his mother and scream, 'I'M RON! NOT DAD! RON!!!' But he didn't. Instead, he passed the crying infant over to his mum and looked at her expectantly.
"He's probably hungry. Be a dear and go downstairs and heat up a bottle of milk for him, Arthur."
Ron sighed sadly and left the room.
By the time he returned, Molly was sitting on the bed, staring intently at the baby cradled in her arms.
"Sorry it took so long. I had to go up to the attic and find a baby bottle."
"Ron?"
Ron sucked in some air. "Yes mum?" he said tentatively.
"Where did this baby come from?" Her voice sounded shaky and confused.
Ron gripped the bottle tightly, feeling a mixture of joy for being called by his name and dread for having to tell her that the baby was her dead son's child.
xxx
There was a knock on the door.
Harry put down his mug and headed for the front door.
"I knew you'd be up," said Dean cheerfully as he walked into the kitchen, followed close behind by Neville.
"How would you know that?" asked Ron.
"Davy boy's off to daycare today, right? That's got to have you all nervous," said Dean.
"We thought we'd swing by for some moral support," said Neville, chuckling softly.
The four boys—Ron, Harry, Dean and Neville—had become exceptionally close friends since the end of the war and the loss of their fifth roommate, Seamus. Even the rivalry between Harry and Dean over Ginny was trivial in the face of all their losses.
"Oh very funny," muttered Ron as he got out of his chair. "You want anything to drink?"
"I'll never get over our domesticated friend, here," said Dean, smiling.
Ron rolled his eyes and groaned.
Harry kicked Dean from under the table.
Dean laughed. "But I didn't come here for your famous tea, Ron. I've got something for you."
Neville nodded and pulled out a book. "You're officially published, mate!"
Ron spun around and grabbed the book out of Neville's hand.
Pawn to Queen
Ronald B. Weasley
Illustrated by Dean Thomas
Ron held the book tightly, shaking his head in disbelief. Maybe now, with royalties from the book and a chance to work for half a day while Davy was at daycare, he could start paying people back.
xxx
"Of course I'm paying for groceries, Ron, don't be dense," exclaimed Harry.
"It's not you responsibility," shot back Ron as he paced up and down the living room floor.
"Of course it isn't," agreed Fred.
"That's right," said Ron. "It's mine."
"No, it's ours," snapped George.
"Shut up or you'll wake the baby," hissed Ron.
"We'll take care of the finances," said George in a whisper.
"You two don't even live here. I'm not a bloody charity case. I'm going to figure it out," Ron said, trying to control his voice..
"I live in this house, I don't pay rent, it only makes sense that I pay for something," reasoned Harry.
"That's bullshit, Harry. You're family, you don't have to pay anything to stay here, this is your home. And you're not responsible for the three of us."
Ron flopped into the couch. His head hurt. He never expected to be in this situation. Suddenly, he was a teenage boy with a newborn baby, a dependent mother, and no time to hold down a job to support them.
"If I'm family, than I can carry part of the financial burden. You can't treat me like a guest forever…family aren't guests, Ron."
"I can't mooch off of others like some sort of bum," muttered Ron.
Fred knocked him over the head. "You're not mooching or being a bum. You're taking care of OUR nephew and OUR mum…you're making a big sacrifice for OUR family and we're not letting you go it alone."
Ron sighed, feeling defeated. He'd pay them back somehow.
xxx
"Mum brought me the book yesterday. Thought I'd like to bring it here myself. Looks pretty good, doesn't it," said Dean.
Ron nodded mutely as he flipped through the colourful pages. Dean's illustrations were stunning.
He couldn't believe that he'd actually written a book—even if it was about chess.
xxx
"Why don't you write a book?" suggested Dean.
Ron and Dean sat in the Burrow kitchen nursing cups of tea. Harry and Neville had already started Auror training but Dean wasn't starting at the Ministry for another few days.
Ron laughed bitterly. "Write a book? This isn't the time to be funny."
"I'm not being funny. Seriously, think of something you really like."
Ron shook his head, feeling the hopelessness of his situation.
"You like chess. Write a book on chess. Write one for beginners or kids…you won't believe the number of parents who want their kids to play chess but don't know enough to make them good players."
"You're insane Dean. I can't write a book. I don't even read books." Not like Hermione. He shook his head, trying not to think of his deserter girlfriend.
"You don't need to read books to write them…you just got to be passionate about the topic and driven enough to pull it off—it's not like you're writing about potions or fiction—now that's hard. Chess is like breathing to you."
"Yeah, but it would take a while to write…I wouldn't see a knut until after it's published, and that's if I could even find a publisher."
"Ah, but that's why I mentioned it. My mum works for a publishing company—pretty high up too. Granted it's a muggle company but muggle chess is practically the same thing. So what if you don't earn something 'til after it's published…at least you'll be doing something besides changing nappies."
"I dunno."
Dean could tell that he was warming up to the idea.
"And I could illustrate, I've always had a knack for drawing."
xxx
Harry glanced at his watch and groaned.
"All right, we've got to get going, Neville. Meeting's in five minutes," said Harry.
Neville sighed. "Who is their right mind calls meetings at 6:30 in the morning?"
"Kingsley's got you two working like house elves," chuckled Dean.
Harry nodded. "After two years of training, we're still the butt of the operation."
"Only one more year," said Ron before the two boys disappeared.
"You had breakfast yet, Dean? Making sausages and eggs."
"Sounds delicious but I have to head out. I'm meeting Kerry for breakfast. She's always asking to pop into my office for lunch, so I've made breakfast plans with her instead."
"You two've been going out for a year now; it's about time you tell her, Dean."
"And have her freak out and then forced to modify her memory, I don't think so."
"If she loves you, it won't matter."
"Oh, very cliché, mate."
Ron chortled. "Just trying to help…oh shoot, Davy's up. Do me a favour and make sure the sausages don't burn."
He sprinted up the stairs and into George and Fred's former room, which Ron had turned into Davy and his room.
Ron slept in George's old bed and Davy slept in Fred's bed, with protective bars placed around it.
Davy was standing against the bars, holding onto them while he cried. When he saw Ron he sniffled loudly and held out his arms for his uncle.
"Shh, Davy boy, what's the matter," Ron cooed as he scooped the boy into his arms. Davy quickly snaked his tiny arms around Ron.
"Mean dream."
"You had a mean dream?"
Davy nodded solemnly as he nodded his head against Ron's shoulder.
"What about?"
"Bad ghoul."
"Oh that bloody ghoul!"
"Bloody ghoul," squealed Davy suddenly, giggling and clapping his hands.
Ron groaned. Even after two years, he sometimes forgot to watch his language in front of his nephew. "No, no, don't say that Davy."
Davy giggled louder and pushed himself away from Ron, demanding to be let down. Ron put him down and Davy ran out of the room.
"Bloody ghoul!" he squealed again.
"Shh, Davy, don't be so loud. You don't want to wake up grandma, do you?"
Davy stood in front of Ron. "Shhh, bad Uncle Ron, shhh," he said as he put a finger over his mouth.
Ron rolled his eyes and chuckled softly. "That's enough now, time for a bath."
"Nooooo, bath yucky."
"Well, you don't want to be stinky for your first day at daycare, do you?"
Davy's eyes widened. "No daybare! NO DAYBARE! Stay Uncle Ron."
Ron sighed. He was dreading this. "It's dayCare, Davy, dayCare."
"NO DAYBARE!"
"Don't you want to meet other wizards and witches your age?"
He shook his head stubbornly.
Ron picked up the protesting boy and headed for the bathroom, feeling the dread of leaving his boy at the daycare sinking in.
xxx
Hermione stood in the back of the bookstore under an umbrella as the rain poured down heavily.
It was always raining in London.
"Come on," she muttered as she hopped slightly on her feet, impatiently.
Finally, a small truck pulled up to the store.
"About time, Danny," muttered Hermione as a man opened the truck door and stepped outside.
"Sorry Miss, but the traffics real bad." He went to the back of the truck and opened the back.
"Jimmy, come on out here, the shipment's arrived," called Hermione.
A tall, scrawny kid of about sixteen ran out from the store and immediately started unloading boxes, placing them on a trolley and rolling them inside.
Danny handed a clipboard to Hermione and she quickly signed the shipment order, eager to get out of the rain.
"Thanks Danny."
"Always a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Granger," he said with a smile.
Jimmy had already started unpacking the first box by the time Hermione reentered the store.
Hermione picked up a book. "Ella Enchanted," she read. She flipped through the book and suddenly felt her heart tighten at the word magic that kept popping up on the pages.
"You all right, Miss Granger?"
"Just fine Jimmy, put these books in the fantasy section, will you and leave one out for the window display."
Hermione knelt down and opened the next box before stumbling onto her backside. She remained seated as she pulled out one of the books.
Pawn to Queen
Ronald B. Weasley
Illustrated by Dean Thomas
"It can't be," she whispered as she stared at Ron's name printed on the cover. She closed her eyes and then reopened them, only to be greeted by his name again.
"Jimmy," she called with a shaky voice.
Jimmy was at her side in no time. "You all right?"
"Read this, the author's name."
"Ronald B. Weasley?" he said uncertainly.
Hermione closed her eyes. She wasn't imaging it.
She took the book back from her employee.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm…I'm fine. Just fine."
She held the book tightly against her chest and felt a tear run down her cheek. Brushing it away roughly, she opened the book.
To Davy,
For making all my struggles worth it.
Who was Davy, wondered Hermione. She was inwardly glad that he hadn't dedicated the book to a woman. She bit her lip. Maybe Davy was a nickname for a woman.
Hermione clenched the book, suddenly feeling an intense sense of loss.
Somebody knocked on the front door.
She heard Jimmy unlock the door and let the man in. "Hey Jeff. Miss Granger's in the back."
"Hey beautiful," whispered the man as he wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist.
Hermione turned her head and kissed him lightly on the lips.
"You ready to head out? We don't want to miss those dinner reservations. Jimmy will finish up for you."
Hermione nodded mutely.
"Give me a second," she said.
Jeff nodded and left the room.
Hermione placed one of the copies out for Jeff to put in the window display before straightening out her skirt and trying to push Ron out of her mind.
Ron was of the past.
Yet, she found herself slipping the book into her purse before leaving her bookstore.
xxx
Ron stood in the storage room of Fred and George's Diagon Alley joke shop, looking around it aimlessly.
"Ron, have you been listening to a thing I said?" asked George.
"Huh? Yeah, I've got it, don't worry."
"Davy will be fine, Ron. Besides, it's only a half-day daycare."
"Mum never put us in daycare," murmured Ron.
George frowned. "We had tons of siblings. Davy doesn't know other kids. He needs to play with kids his own age."
"I guess."
"Well, stop dawdling. You've got a store to run. I'm off. The new shipment is arriving at the Paris location today. I'll see you later. Good luck."
Ron nodded. Life really hadn't worked out the way he had planned.
He was worried about Davy. He was worried about his mum. She hadn't been left alone for such a long period of time and even though she said she'd be fine, he worried.
And to top it all off, he'd spent the last two years under Fred, George and Harry's charity.
And now that he finally had a chance to work and start paying them back, he had to accept a managerial position from the twins because no other boss would allow him the flexibility to continue caring for his nephew and mother.
xxx
"Mr. Weasley, there's someone at the back fireplace for you," said the cashier, Nancy.
"Who is it?"
"I don't know, someone from the hospital saying that some woman is looking for you."
Ron gaped at her as a sense of déjà vu came over him. Two years ago, he had a similar call, which turned him into a surrogate father.
He dashed into the back room and instantly recognized the man to be a healer who worked on Bill's floor.
"Danny, what's going on? Is it about Bill? Fleur?" he said in a panicked voice. Even though Bill had been comatose for the past two years, Fleur visited him everyday and remained an important member of the Weasley family.
The man smiled at him. "Mrs. Weasley could probably do with some support or someone to share her joy with. She's a bit ecstatic."
Ron gasped loudly and leaned into the hearth.
"Is…is Bill…is he awake?"
Danny nodded happily.
Ron let out a shout of joy.
"You tell her that I'm right behind you!"
xxx
"What you reading there, Minzy?" asked Jeff.
Hermione suppressed a flinch at her boyfriend's annoying nickname.
"Oh, uh, a book on chess," she replied, closing it quickly and tucking it under her pillow, somehow feeling like she was cheating on him by reading it.
"Never fancied you for a chess player…you've never mentioned it before."
"Oh, um, it's a casual interest, really. A shipment of the book came in today."
"A children's book on chess, then?"
"Obviously," she said, forcing a smile on her face.
Since she had pulled her disappearing act on the wizardry world, she'd bought a small children's bookstore in London after selling her parent's dentistry office and moved into the apartment above the store.
Jeffery Winslow was the real estate agent who sold the office for her.
"Well, we'll have to test your skills. I might add, I can play a mean game of chess," he said as he scooted into bed.
All Hermione could think was that Ron would wipe the floor with that smug smile if Jeff ever played him.
Hermione inwardly scolded herself.
Jeff leaned over and captured her lips with his own.
"Hmm," murmured Hermione as she moved her head away from his grasp. "I'm feeling a bit hungry. Fancy a sandwich? I'll be right back."
Hermione nearly ran out of the room. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, images of Ron running through her mind. She fanned herself with her hand as she felt herself heat up.
"Merlin," she muttered, baffled that the mere appearance of a book written by Ron brought back so many repressed feelings.
She shook her head and headed for the kitchen. "It's been two years. You're the one who broke his heart," she whispered to herself. "So get over him."
Disclaimer: I don't own anything…JKR does.
Annnnnd now we know when HP7 is coming out! I'm so excited. I can't wait for July 21st!