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Disclaimer – not mine

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The Children and Ron

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When the port key activated, Davy spent some time helping Uncle Hagrid and Ron corral and calm his brothers and sisters. Jimmy kept hold of Lily and Abby's hand, and Davy caught hold of Evan and Kit while May looked after Beth. Uncle Hagrid was generally in charge, and Uncle Ron spent some time wandering around the edge of the Herd, administering hugs and kisses as needed. Even though he was the oldest, and didn't really need it, Davy liked that Uncle Ron didn't leave him out of his share of hugs and kisses too.

"Don't worry," May whispered, "Mr Dobby and Missus Winky are with Daddy."

The faces of the younger children brightened at the news, because they all knew that Mr Dobby and Missus Winky were very protective of their Daddy, and would make sure that he didn't do anything silly, like getting hurt. Sometimes Daddy was asked to sort out what he called 'a spot of bother' and came back with cuts and bruises; but when Mr Dobby or Missus Winky went with him he always came back completely unhurt and cheerful. The Herd wished that they would go with Daddy all the time, but Daddy preferred that Missus Winky and Mr Dobby stayed to look after his children.

"Uncle Ron, are you and Uncle Hagrid staying with us forever?" Kit piped up after a moment and Jimmy rolled his eyes. Kit had a wandering attention span, and could pounce from one subject to another completely unexpectedly. They'd all had to learn to accept that little trick, though Daddy was the best at spotting the connections that Kit was making. Daddy sometimes pounced from one subject to another too, which Uncle Ray and Aunt Frannie complained about all the time. Davy thought that it was because they weren't pouncers.

"I'll be headin' back to my school sooner or later, little Kit," Uncle Hagrid rumbled as Uncle Ron finally settled down beside them, "I've go' my studen's to think abou' see?"

"I'll be staying," Uncle Ron added, giving them a hopeful smile. Beth smiled back happily and climbed into his lap, dragging May along with her. Uncle Ron made room for them both, and Davy reflected that it must be handy to have such long legs. Uncle Ron was much taller than their Daddy, not that Daddy seemed to mind. Davy wanted to be tall, but it was so hard to measure up against the others in the camp because there wasn't anyone his age living there at the moment. Not that he minded, because he was taller than Jimmy, and Jimmy was the closest to him in age. Davy thought that there was something wrong with Jimmy, that he was sick or something because of where he'd lived before joining Daddy's Herd. He'd overheard Uncle Armando talking to Daddy about it once, and Daddy had given Jimmy some very sad looks once or twice. Davy only vaguely remembered helping Daddy to decide to bring Jimmy and Lily into the Herd, and it had been Davy's suggestion that his new brother and sister been named after Grandmother and Grandfather.

"Cool! Will you let us try out all your new broom designs Uncle Ron?" Jimmy enthused, and his Uncle laughed at him, tipping him a wink.

"If your Daddy says that's ok, then I will," he agreed, and Uncle Hagrid looked relieved. Lily was sure that Uncle Hagrid had worried that Uncle Ron would say something that would upset Daddy when he heard about it, and wondered what that might have been.

"I'm sleepy," Evan announced in his straightforward way, "Can I go to bed now?"

"Yer bed isn't here, Evan," Uncle Hagrid pulled out his wand and waved it carefully. Uncle Hagrid was not as quick at casting as Daddy was, but May loved watching him make magic. Sometimes he made mistakes, but he always laughed them off. A big bed popped out of nowhere, and Uncle Hagrid started putting Evan and Abby to bed, with Uncle Ron changing their clothes into pyjamas and giving them a cleaning spell. The youngest ones went right into the middle of the bed, and Davy could see that there would be plenty of room for all of them eventually. It wasn't the first time they'd shared a bed to nap in, and wouldn't be the last. Sometimes Daddy even joined them in their 'nest' as he called it, snuggling up and napping too. May loved it when their Daddy would do that, it made her feel even safer and cosier.

All the parents around them were making beds appear to put their children to sleep in, and by the time Jimmy cuddled up to Lily and Davy all of the children in the city were tucked into some form of bed. Although he was supposed to be asleep, Jimmy kept an ear on Uncles Hagrid and Ron, wondering if they would let slip any information about where Daddy was and what he was doing. Although Daddy thought he'd forgotten, Jimmy could still remember the very first time they'd met, and the love and caring that his Daddy had showered on him in that awful tent. He'd seen Lily taken off to safety and then been sent himself, knowing that the man with green eyes would make sure that he could never be hurt by their Master again. Jimmy didn't like it when his Daddy wasn't right nearby at bed time. Daddy was the only one who could stop the Blue Dreams.

Uncle Hagrid and Uncle Ron were discussing some bloke called Merlin and his little boy. It sounded as if this boy had been very naughty and Daddy had gone to make him behave. Jimmy drowsily wondered why Merlin didn't do something about his own son, but then again Daddy was the best Daddy in the whole world and it made sense to Jimmy that other dads asked his for help. After all, if Jimmy was ever a Daddy he would still want his own to help him out.

0o0o0o0

Harry had rejoined them at daybreak, completely unscathed and looking quite calm. Ron kissed him for what felt like ages, while Harry's babies and Hagrid slept nearby, and when they came up for air Harry was almost laughing at him.

"Silly git," the affectionate scold and thump to the shoulder didn't seem to bother the green eyed man, "You had me worried!"

"Sorry, it took a bit longer than I thought to wrap things up. The battle itself only lasted half an hour tops. It was the processing and the transportation of prisoners that took the most time. I sent Dobby and Winky back to the camp – they're getting a communal breakfast ready, while the rest of the team double checks the wards and tents. Once everyone's up I'll reverse the port key. We'll feed the kids and then have a meeting."

"I have to wait that long to find out what happened?" Ron feigned indignation well, and Harry rolled his eyes lightly. His friend had never been taken in by Ron's acting abilities, something that had made Christmas and birthday presents difficult to lie about. On the other hand, if you were going to spend the rest of your life with someone, you wanted it to be someone who knew you well, and Ron was more than happy to know that of all the people in the world Harry still knew him the best.

"No, I'll tell you now if you want," Harry offered, but Ron could see that his lover, and although they hadn't had sex yet that title still applied as far as the redhead was concerned, was tired.

"Nah, I can wait," Ron pulled Harry into another hug and rubbed his back idly to soothe and comfort him, "No point in repeating it a million times."

"Thanks," Harry mumbled, leaning more heavily against the redhead as he relaxed, "My babies?"

"Slept the night through without a worry," Ron murmured, accepting the weight happily along with the trust and love it implied, "Hagrid sat up the first part of the night, and then I took over. We wanted to make sure that everything went smoothly for you. Where are we, by the way?"

The port key had dropped them into a large echoing space, with high dusty windows, featureless walls and a roughly finished floor. The wards on it hummed with fierce protective power, and Ron had enough experience to know that wherever they were, they were unplottable, silenced and reinforced. Exploration of the large space had revealed a well stocked kitchen, brimming with potions and food, and a bathroom set up rather like the dorms at Hogwarts had been. If they had to, the whole city could stay here for a month quite comfortably.

"Warehouse I bought in Rome," Harry sighed, snuggling even closer and sounding a bit drowsy, "It seemed better to make sure I sent you all somewhere you could live for a while without outside interference."

"Good plan," Ron nodded and together they waited for the others to wake. Jimmy was first, and he let go of his sister and older brother to wriggle from the pile of Potters and come sit on his Uncle's lap, because his Daddy was dozing comfortably on Ron's shoulder.

"Is Daddy alright?" Ron smiled down into worried eyes and kissed Jimmy on the top of the head, nodding quietly.

"He's a bit tired that's all. Once we're all up we're going home, and we'll put Daddy to bed, alright?" he promised and Jimmy smiled approval of the plan. Ron had already picked up that Harry's children liked to take care of him in little ways, and that Harry allowed them to do so, within reason. At the end of the day he was in charge, and his children knew it.

It took another hour for everyone to wake and be ready to go home. The extra furniture was banished and Harry activated the communal tables and chairs to take everyone back to the city of tents. Mere seconds after their arrival there was a mound of breakfast foods on the tables and the rest of Harry's team were hugging their families and allowing themselves to be fussed over. Harry had been buried under his children when they'd first spotted him, and it had taken Hagrid's strength to fish him out, before the half giant enveloped the green eyed man in his own hug.

Once the children had eaten and were playing happily, Harry stood up and told the adults of the city precisely who had attacked them and what had happened. From the look on Hagrid's face, the half-giant was as shocked as Ron that the British Minister of Magic was the father of a self declared Dark Lord. A visibly pregnant Neville actually got the hiccups in rage upon hearing that news and had to be led off by Luna to calm down.

"After the way he's treated yer, Harry…" Hagrid trailed off when Harry shook his head, and sighed, "Ah suppose yer righ' lad. Be'er to be th' bigger man an' all…"

Ron smiled and traded looks with his love that promised they would speak about this in private. Harry deserved a good gloat, even if no one else ever knew about it.

0o0o0o0

Daddy was very tired when he got back from making the nasty man behave, so Davy organised his brothers and sisters to help him put Daddy to bed. Uncle Hagrid thought this was very funny, but Uncle Ron promised to make sure that Daddy didn't sneak out of bed once they left, and settled onto the mattress beside him. Daddy cuddled right up to Uncle Ron, so Davy left them to it and shooed his brothers and sisters out. Jimmy and May hunted down Mr Dobby and Missus Winky to make sure they were alright too, and sent them off to bed as well, telling them that the Herd would manage to make their own lunch with Uncle Hagrid. Missus Winky looked a little worried about that, but May promised that they'd only make sandwiches, and then insisted on tucking the green lady into her bed.

Uncle Hagrid suggested that it would be a good idea for them all to play outside for a little while, and Davy suggested that they finish the tree house they were building. There was a tree leaning out low over the water near to where Daddy let them swim, with branches spread out in a way that was perfect for a tree house. Uncle Hagrid agreed to come and supervise, and brought along a stack of papers to look at while the siblings got together the last bits of wood they needed to finish their new plaything.

Beth was in charge of the ladder, as she was the best weaver with the vines that they'd gathered, and Evan and Abby spent most of their time clambering around the roots of the tree, looking for flowers and pretty leaves to decorate with. It was agreed that they were too little to really help, and Kit volunteered to stay with them, as he was the next youngest. He didn't get to be in charge much, so they let him, with the understanding that someone would be keeping an eye on him as well from the older siblings.

Headmaster Snape wandered by at one point with Uncle Moony, and leant his wand to Beth's weaving, making the ladder grow flowers. From the way he scowled that wasn't what he'd intended, but Beth liked the new additions and wouldn't let him banish them away. Davy resigned himself to a girly ladder and Jimmy muttered that they could always just climb across from the next tree anyway, which wasn't too hard to scale. Uncle Moony thought that it was funny and Headmaster Snape pulled him away, muttering under his breath.

After that it was lunchtime, so Davy and Beth got all the things they'd need to make sandwiches out of Missus Winky's kitchen and onto the dining room table. That way they wouldn't make a mess that Missus Winky felt she had to clean up – she was very particular about her kitchen and the state it was left in, and she wouldn't be able to rest if they made a big mess of it. They had planned to be quiet for lunch, so as not to wake Daddy, but he got up anyway, and he seemed a lot better. Uncle Ron hauled him off to have a shower and clean up when they'd all finished eating, and Beth and May went to find some friends while the three littlest ones had a nap and Lily, Davy and Jimmy went back to the tree house.

Brightfeather showed up, and Uncle Hagrid spent a lot of time talking to the beast, which eventually lured him off to see the rest of the flight. Davy promised that they would stay in the tree house or go back to the tent, and Uncle Hagrid cast a spell to stop them from falling into the water. The magic felt warm and gentle, just like Daddy's spells did, so Davy and his siblings were not worried about being left to play alone. After all, they'd done that once or twice before and knew what they were and weren't allowed to do. Daddy trusted them to behave, and no one wanted to let him down.

Just as Jimmy and Davy were putting the finishing touches on the railing that was to run along one side of the tree house, there was a chuckle from the ground. Lily was actually higher up in the tree, trying to find leaves broad enough to make a roof of sorts for one part of the tree house, so Jimmy felt that it was ok for him to go over and have a look to see who was chuckling.

"There you are," said the man at the bottom, his voice creepily familiar, "I've been looking all over for you, my little Canary!"

"No!" Jimmy squeaked, taking in the rough clothes, the scarred face and the wild hair, just the same colour as his own, "No! Go away!"

The man from his nightmares stood at the bottom of the vine ladder, a wand in his hand, one foot poised to climb up. Jimmy felt cold and sick, his hands shaking wildly as he reached for the knot that would untie the ladder and maybe keep them a little bit safer for a bit longer. The man at the bottom of the ladder yelled something and Jimmy jumped back from the spell, whatever it was before trying for the knot again.

"Hey!" Davy yelled from behind him, "Leave my brother alone!"

The bad man roared at this and threw another spell at them. Jimmy screamed as he dodged, turning his head he watched the spell hit Davy instead, sending him flying off the edge of the tree house and well out over the water, landing with a terrible splash.

"Davy! No! Davy!" Jimmy watched as his brother's body half floated half sunk, Davy not moving at all to stay on top of the water. His Blue Dream! It was all coming true! Jimmy dove determinedly for the knot and this time a little spark flew from his hands and cut the vine, sending it down to the ground and making the bad man, who had started his climb, tumble back down to the dirt.

Up in the canopy of the tree, Lily clutched the branches she was hiding in tightly, horrified at the scene below. When Davy went into the water she knew it was time to get help, but how? She wished her Daddy was here, but couldn't go to get him because if she left Davy like that he'd drown. A little white bird flew from her chest and arrowed away towards their tent, and Lily gulped for a moment then clambered quickly across to the next tree. Jimmy was shouting and throwing things at the bad man, who was trying to hit him with some mean sounding spells, but Lily lost track of them as she cleared Uncle Hagrid's spell and slid into the water, striking out for her big brother and hoping that she was strong enough to get him to the shore. Daddy had made all four of the eldest siblings practise what to do if there was an accident in the water, though he never let any of them swim unless he was there to keep watch. Lily was glad of the lessons now as she turned Davy onto his back and tugged him towards the shore. Once she could get her feet down she stood up and towed her big brother along, sobbing in fright as she watched the bad man finally get up onto the platform where Jimmy was. Her big brother was frozen against the tree trunk, and she could hear him crying as the man stepped towards him.

There was an almighty crack, and Uncle Ron appeared on the shore, lunging forward into the water to help her with Davy. Lily tried to be strong, but Uncle Ron wrapped her in his arms as well, pulling them both onto dry land. Lily twisted her head to see if Jimmy was alright and gave a little cry of relief. Daddy was standing between her brother and the bad man, his wand at the ready and a fiercely angry look on his face. Everything would be alright now.

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Ron didn't think he'd ever been so terrified in his life as when the little bird message zoomed in through the tent wall and started screaming for its Daddy. Harry sat bolt upright, as if he'd never been slouched on the couch reading a book, and it took Ron a moment for his ears to catch up with his brain.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! The bad man is hurting Jimmy and Davy!" Lily's voice was raw with terror, and Harry's face took on a grim cast. He was up on his feet and grabbing Ron's arm.

"They're here, at the tree house," Harry said flatly, and the location was pushed into Ron's mind, Harry's fingers squeezing a brief apology to him. It was usually considered bad manners to push knowledge into another's head without asking first, or at least warning them.

"I'll head for the shore," Ron volunteered, knowing that he could very well splinch himself if he tried to apparate directly into the tree house with that brief burst of knowledge. They disapparated at the same time, and Ron immediately spotted Lily, wading towards the shore, towing her unconscious big brother. Davy was turning blue, and the sight made Ron recall suddenly the Blue Dream that Jimmy had suffered through not long after the Weasley's had arrived in camp. He was in the water in a flash, scooping up both children and pulling them onto dry land. A glance at the tree house showed Harry between the red head and his son, and then Ron was setting up a protective barrier, just like they had learned to on the battlefield when they were teenagers, and was trying to revive Davy. A quick spell showed that the boy had some internal damage, and this was preventing him from breathing properly. Ron sent a quick summons off to Armando, reluctant to move the child and make his injuries worse. He also fired off summons to Trinket and Hagrid, hoping that they'd get here in time to back Harry up. Lily was clinging to his back, sobbing in fright, but Ron couldn't spare her much thought, everything he had was going into keeping Davy alive.

A stray spell impacted on the shield and Ron risked glancing up. Jimmy was sealed behind a protective bubble of Harry's magic, and Harry was fiercely duelling the redhead that had attacked his children. Ron thought that he could see the family resemblance between Jimmy and his attacker, but was too busy to really ponder on it. His lover was at a disadvantage, as he was trying to protect himself and his sons from someone who would clearly be happy to see them all dead.

There was a pop and Armando apparated to their side. Ron had not set his shield to block such actions, knowing that it was the quickest and safest way for them to get help for Davy. The Healer took over the spells that Ron was using to maintain Davy's breathing and Ron backed off carefully, turning to spell Lily dry and gather her into his arms. She was very bedraggled and buried her face in his neck, sobbing in fright and reaction.

A glance outside his shield showed that Trinket and Severus were at the foot of the tree house, trying to gain access to the two duellers. The redhead, whoever he was, had evidently erected a block to stop reinforcements from arriving, and Harry was too busy duelling and protecting his son to assist those that wished to help him. Harry's face was set in hard and unfamiliar lines, a harshness about him so opposite from his usually open and loving expression.

This was the expression of a man who would kill for someone he loved.

Armando tapped Ron on the arm. Some of the blue had faded from Davy's face, and the Healer's movements were quick but no longer frantic.

"Davy is stable enough to be moved," the Healer said quietly, "You'll need to take your shield down before we go, which will leave me vulnerable as I leave. Cover me, and then bring Lily with you."

"Ok," Ron nodded and got the girl and his wand into place. Lily clung tightly to him, and Ron took a moment to whisper in her ear, reassuring her that her brother was alright and they were going to the hospital tent. Then he collapsed the shield and raised his wand to a defensive posture. With the shield gone the fury of the duel in front of them washed over them all, the noise almost incomprehensible for a moment as his ears struggled to adjust to the sudden influx of sound. Armando popped away with Davy and Ron straightened to his feet, preparing to follow, his eyes glued to the sight in front of him.

Just as he disapparated he heard the two words he hoped never to hear in relation to his lover ever again. The deadly green spell hit Harry on the shoulder as the world disappeared in the familiar displacement of the travelling spell.

"Avada Kedavra!"

0o0o0o0

Jimmy cowered behind his Daddy's shield, watching as his former Master battled to get to him, to hurt him like he used to. Daddy had placed a strong spell on Jimmy, and it was keeping most of the noise away, but he could see the spell flashes and see the effects they were having on the world around him.

The bad man had tried all sorts of spells that used the tree house against Daddy, but Daddy was quick to put a stop to that. The Herd's tree house would likely never recover from this battle, but Jimmy never wanted to come back here again. He couldn't imagine playing where Davy had been so badly hurt.

Movement on the ground beyond the tree house caught his eye, and he saw Uncle Ron kneeling over Davy while Lily cried nearby. His brother was out of the water at least, and from the state of her clothes, it looked like it was Lily who had pulled him out. He was grateful that his sister wasn't stuck in the tree above them and had Uncle Ron to protect her. A stray spell was sent their way but rebounded off Uncle Ron's shield, which reassured Jimmy that his Uncle was taking no chances with his sibling's lives.

Daddy cut off his view of the trio on the shore, dodging a blue coloured spell, and Jimmy shivered at the hateful expression on the bad mans face. He shouted something at Daddy, but Jimmy could see that Daddy was ignoring the taunts, just as he'd told his children to do. Returning taunts just made the situation worse, or that was what Daddy said. Jimmy could see that Daddy only wanted to end the fight as soon as possible, and that was alright with him. He needed to feel his Daddy's arms around him, he needed to see Davy and Lily and be hugged by the rest of the Potter Herd.

Daddy stepped away again and Jimmy could see that Uncle Ron had been joined by Uncle Armando, who was taking care of Jimmy while Lily cried on Uncle Ron's neck. Jimmy was terrified that Lily was crying because Davy was going Blue, just like he had in Jimmy's dream. Things that went Blue usually died, like Madge had when Jimmy dreamed about her fighting off a serpent that was after the twins.

After a bit Uncle Armando touched Uncle Ron and Uncle Ron looked over at Jimmy and Daddy before nodding and gathering Lily closer. He waved his wand and Uncle Armando disappeared with Davy. Uncle Ron got to his feet with Lily, and looked over one more time. He got a very horrified look on his face just as he disappeared and Jimmy twisted to look up at his Daddy just as a green spell hit him.

For a moment everything was still, even the leaves on the tree didn't move as if the tree was waiting for something to happen. The spell had hit Daddy on the shoulder and Jimmy sobbed inside his warm bubble of magic, unable to help his Daddy or himself.

Then there was a loud rushing noise, so loud that Jimmy put his hands over his ears and cried out in surprise. Daddy began to glow green all over, his body stiff, his eyes fixed on the bad man. The bad man stumbled back in surprise, shouting something that Jimmy couldn't hear over the noise, and then the green light rushed away from Daddy and hit the bad man.

The bad man disappeared, fading bit by bit until he wasn't there any more. The bubble around Jimmy popped and he sobbed in fright as Daddy fell to his knees, his wand dropping to the ground.

"Daddy!" Jimmy squeaked and rushed to catch him as he slumped sideways, falling heavily over Jimmy's legs.

"Potter!" Uncle Trinket's voice shouted and then Uncle Trinket himself appeared, followed by Headmaster Snape. Jimmy was patting his Daddy's face, the way they all did when they wanted to wake him up, and calling his name anxiously. Daddy didn't move, didn't wake, and as Jimmy watched his lips began to turn Blue.

"NO! DADDY!" Jimmy screamed, terrified that Daddy was dying and the hysterical boy shook his father desperately, the dark head rolling in his lap. There was a small jolt as magic flew from Jimmy into his Daddy and then Daddy coughed, and the Blue went away.

Headmaster Snape had to carry Jimmy to the Hospital tent after Uncle Trinket took Daddy there with magic. Jimmy was in no fit state to manage it himself.

0o0o0o0

Ron smiled gently and stroked Harry's hair from his face as tired green eyes fluttered open. It seemed that whatever it was about the son of James and Lily Potter that allowed Harry to take and rebound the killing curse, returning Hate with Love, was still very much in effect. Davy was potioned and asleep in the next bed, clutching Jimmy who was under the same potion. Lily was with her siblings under Hagrid's watchful eye, and had been for the past three days.

Ron had been too busy dealing with Lily and then Jimmy's hysterics to spare much worry for Harry. His lover had been breathing, though unconscious, when brought to the hospital tent, and Armando had pronounced him to be in no danger. The Healer had still been working frantically to heal Davy's injuries at the time, and Ron had been grateful that Snape was there to give the children calming concoctions.

Harry had been suffering from magical exhaustion, which was unsurprising given the amount of magic he'd expelled repelling the most feared of the Unforgivables. Armando had stated it was best to let him sleep it off, though Harry himself had woken only hours later, struggling through his exhaustion to check on his children, and only letting go when Ron had held him up from the mattress long enough to see the now stable Davy and unconscious Jimmy.

The boys had been too ill and too upset respectively to leave the hospital tent, though Armando was sure that by the time Harry had regained his strength the boys would also be able to go home. Harry's children came every day to see the three in the hospital tent, and each of his children spent some time giving their sleeping Daddy kisses and hugs, trying to make him feel better by giving him their love. The process was repeated with the still terrified Jimmy and the weakened Davy, and Ron had to admit that the boys seemed better after the loving attention lavished on them by their siblings each morning.

Apparently the man who had attacked the children in the tree house was called Hans Gustav, known in the trade that Harry had mastered as the Tomb Raider. He was one of the biological parents of Lily and Jimmy, and the abuser that had allowed Jimmy to suffer so badly with spell damage. Harry had seen him committed to a German prison, and had not expected that the man would be released within his lifetime. Gustav had murdered the prostitute that he'd used to help create the two children now named for Harry's parents, and on top of that his crimes against his children, not to mention the International laws he'd violated on several occasions when robbing tombs or smuggling Dark artefacts, should have kept him in gaol until he was nothing more than a faded memory.

Inquiries with the International Unspeakables revealed that the man had escaped only days before the Son of Merlin had attacked the camp and news of the capture of the self-styled British Dark Lord had led him to the camp and his former children.

It seemed that Lily had no memory of her biological father, and hadn't seen enough of the man or the duel to stir too many unpleasant memories, beyond the fears she held for her father and brothers. Jimmy had a much better recall of his time spent with that particular monster, and Armando was looking quite grim about his chances of recovering without Harry's loving help. It seemed that Harry had put his son back together once before, and Jimmy was relying on him to do so once again.

Davy had been too weak to really work himself into a state, and careful questioning had revealed that the boy recalled very little of the events that had led to his injuries. Ron had spent most of his time with both of the boys, soothing and cuddling as best he could, well aware that he was coming in a poor second for Jimmy.

"Hey there, Harry," Ron whispered softly, "They're alright, everyone is ok. We're all safe now."

The confusion and worry cleared from Harry's eyes and he gave a weak smile of relief. Ron whispered that Gustav was no threat any more – he wasn't sure how much Harry remembered of the final moments of their duel – and that Davy and Jimmy weren't hurt.

"Jimmy… he's afraid," Harry muttered, "I heard him crying in my dreams."

"I know," Ron nodded, "He wants his Daddy."

"Papa isn't enough at the moment," Harry finished the sentence that Jimmy had astonished Ron with. All of the Herd were calling him Papa now, as if Jimmy's acceptance of him as a parent was enough for them to include him properly in the family. Ron smiled and kissed the scarred forehead, much as the Herd did, his fingers tracing over the new lightning bolt on Harry's upper shoulder. Harry shivered a little, but leaned into the kiss, making a pleased sound.

"I love you Papa," he murmured and Ron chuckled.

"I love you too, Daddy."

0o0o0o0

Next – Harry wraps it up for us (in a very short epilogue)