A/N: Hey guys, so I updated. Sorry for the wait, school and stuff. It's kind of short but I hope you like it:)

Disclaimer: I still own nothing but Ethan. :(

Chapter Ten

Harry surveyed the room that they had just spent the last hour clearing out and furnishing. Every surface had been dusted and polished, the carpet had been cleaned and all the sharp or dangerous objects had been removed. The window had been finally been cracked open after a lot of force and a soft yellow glow from the street lights crept in, as the air cleared of the old musty smell. He and Hermione had basically baby proofed the entire space as Ron watched with a bewildered expression at their paranoid actions.

Once Harry had explained the entire story to them, they were quiet for a while, Ron still very shocked and Hermione thinking deeply. Harry watched them anxiously as they continued to keep quiet. Eventually Ron stood and walked over to and clapped him on the shoulder.

"You're mental mate" He chuckled "But you sound like you love him, so just do a good job and don't fuck the kid up" Harry smiled at his best friend and shoved him playfully and they fell into a companionable chatter. The exchange seemed to break Hermione out of her pondering, but instead of launching into a second rant or lecture as was expected, she simply walked over and pulled Harry into a hug.

"We're with you Harry" She spoke softly into his ear. Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around her back. He'd never been more grateful to have the two of them.

Harry was putting Ethan's blanket on the cot that had been transfigured, when he heard the front door swing shut from downstairs. Then a few seconds later there was a child's cry followed swiftly by the screeching of Sirius' mother. Harry immediately shot out of the room and ran down the stairs, Ron and Hermione right behind him. The hallway was slightly chaotic, with various adults milling about unsure what to do. Near the door stood Kingsley, Ethan's backpack and nappy bag in his hands. Sirius was stood in front of his mother's portrait, attempting to shut her up with others helping him. Some were clustered in a small group staring curiously and stood in the middle of it all was Mrs Weasley, desperately trying to shush a balling Ethan.

The group quieted as he walked through them, so the only sounds were Mrs Black and Ethan. He walked over to Mrs Weasley.

"Oh Harry dear, he just won't seem to stop crying" She told him, seemingly confused. He held his arms out for the child and she reluctantly passed him over.

"How long has he been crying for?" Harry asked turning to Kingsley. He walked over to the tall man and took Ethan's things of him. Supporting Ethan against him with one hand, he shouldered the nappy bag and slipped the backpack onto the crook of his elbow freeing his other hand for Ethan once again.

"Since Mrs Katte handed him over to me, she told me to tell you that he'd slept the whole way but got a bit restless just as they were arriving. Getting out of the car woke him up and he's been upset since. I had to place a silencing charm around us"

"Did you have a nice sleep in Linda's car?" Harry asked the child, His crying paused for a moment at Harry's voice and everybody let out a sigh of relief, until it came back just as strong, Harry frowned. "Now what's got you so upset hmm?" He turned and thanked Kingsley then walked back over to Ron and Hermione, who both just stared at the infant. "Ethan this is Ron and Hermione, Daddy's friends" Hermione crouched down slightly so she was at Ethan's level.

"Hey there Ethan, my name is Hermione" She said softly. His crying died down as he stared at the girl and Harry smiled thankfully. "Can you say Hermione?" She coaxed him. The young boy tilted his head slightly and scrunched up his nose as if thinking. Harry chuckled at the expression.

"Her-Herm" He tried and the young witch smiled at his attempts.

"Your name's kind of hard for a fifteen-month baby to say Hermione" Harry said, still chuckling, to which she glared at him.

"He's almost got it" She pointed out as Ethan continued to try and say the word. Finally he gave up and decided on a much easier way of saying it.

"Mi-nee!" The young boy exclaimed proudly, a wide grin on his face. Hermione clapped as he repeated it

"Oh Harry he's adorable!" She ruffled the young child's hair

"He is quite cute" Agreed Ron, poking at his chubby arms and face. Hermione huffed and moved the child away.

"Honestly Ron, don't just poke him" The witch admonished. Harry chuckled and took Ethan back into his arms, much to Hermione's reluctance.

"Do you want to hold him Ron?" Harry offered but Ron quickly shook his head.

"Probably end up dropping him Harry" Harry snorted and turned towards the adults still watching the trio.

"Right I know you all have a lot of questions, so I'm going get Ethan settled then I'll come back down" The Order nodded their agreement and Harry smiled at them then turned and walked up the stairs, Ron and Hermione following behind him.

Harry sat at the Kitchen table, a mug of hot tea in his hands. The rest of the household were all sat watching him, waiting for an explanation. After a long, sip he rested it back on the wooden top and launched into his story.

"About two years ago my cousin Dudley had this girlfriend, they dated for a good few weeks and then she disappeared, moved house, school, changed her phone number. She didn't say anything to anyone and no one could contact her-"

"Potter, what has this got to do with that kid?" Moody asked impatiently, Harry scowled slightly but answered.

"If you let me finish, you'll find out. So we had no idea why she'd left, Dudley soon moved on and we mostly forgot about her until two months ago, when Ethan turned up" Realisation began to dawn on most of the faces around the table as the story went on. "The Dursleys were out one day and I was in my room and someone kept ringing on the door, I went to answer it, nobody was there, then I noticed him left on the steps in a basket with a letter" Harry wore an amused smile at the slightly incredulous looks.

"That's just like…" Molly spoke mostly to herself, but Harry replied anyway.

"Exactly, so I couldn't just leave him there, so I brought him inside and read through the letter and had a good laugh"

"Why? What did the letter say?" Somebody asked, the others around the table giving looks of curiosity.

"Ethan's Biological father is Dudley-"

"Then why do you have him?" Harry huffed and answered Remus.

"There's no way Aunt Petunia would admit that her precious Dudley had knocked some girl up and I know Dudley can't handle the responsibility. If I'd left it to them there's no doubt that he would have either been chucked into foster care and forgotten about or grown up like I did, especially considering recent discoveries" Harry explained and they grimaced at the reminder of his less than pleasant childhood.

"What discoveries?" It was Kingsley who spoke up this time and Harry suddenly gained a proud look.

"Ethan's a wizard" He stated happily "He managed to unlock the cupboard door and sent his toys flying when he had a tantrum, Freaked Linda right out" The adults looked surprised and pleased with the news, Things would be less complicated than if the child was a muggle.

"Oh Harry dear, that's fantastic" Exclaimed Molly, already planning to give some of her children's old toys to the child "Now he'll grow up around magic"

"I know, it made me even surer that taking him in was the right thing to do. Even if he was Dudley's son, he would never have been accepted. But now I can give him an opportunity I never got" Harry was grinning now, pleased for his son and some of the older wizards nodded in approval.

"So you're back to school in a few days, what then?" Pointed out Remus and everyone nodded at the question, wondering the same thing. Harry scratched his head and shrugged slightly.

"Well I have to talk to Professor Dumbledore first and probably Professor McGonagall, but I'm sure I'll work something out, like take him into the fairly safe classes and then get somebody to mind him in like potions or something"

"I'm sure Molly and I could look after him sometimes Harry" Offered Mr Weasley

"Oh, we'd love to get to know the little dear" Supported Mrs Weasley, Harry sent fond smiles in their direction, unsurprised that they were the most accepting of the situation.

"I might just take you up on that"

"I'll help too, would give me something to do around here" Interjected Sirius.

"That would be great Sirius!" Harry accepted gladly and his Godfather grinned at him in return. Harry was about to continue when they were interrupted by a wailing cry. Harry sighed and stood from the table. "And that ends this meeting, thanks for listening and I hope you can all accept that Ethan's my responsibility now and how much he means to me" Smiling at those he knew and nodding at those he'd just met, Harry walked towards the door.

"DADDY!"

"Coming baby!" They heard the young wizard call as he climbed the stairs.

The adults stared at the door he just left through, then at each other.

"Well I wasn't expecting that" Tonks said, voicing everyone's thoughts.

After some more discussion various members said their goodbyes and left the safe house.

Harry reached the room he shared with Ethan to find a flustered Hermione holding the still crying infant in her arms. She was rocking him and trying to calm him by singing, unfortunately it wasn't working. She looked at him as he entered the room and sighed in relief.

"Oh Harry thank goodness. He started crying and you were still in the meeting so I thought I'd try to get him to sleep again. I don't seem to be doing a very good job" She explained looking put out at her failure. Harry just smiled gratefully and took the child into his arms cuddling him.

"It's fine Hermione, thanks for trying" Her expression brightened at his gratitude and watched as he bounced Ethan and stroked his hair. The child continued to cry but looked less distressed now that Harry was carrying him.

"What's up with him?" She asked.

"Not sure, might just be restless, poor kid's been moved pillar to post" Harry answered kissing his cheek "I feel bad about it"

"You were just doing what's best for him" She let out a yawn as she replied.

"It's okay Hermione, go to bed"

"Are you sure? I can stay up with you if you like?" She objected but he just shook his head.

"Honestly, I can handle it, go get some sleep"

"Alright, night Harry, night night Ethan" She gave Harry a hug and Ethan a quick kiss on the cheek then left and headed to her own room.

After she left, Harry paced the room for a while to relax his son, trying to keep his cries quiet for the rest of the household. Once it had mostly died down, Harry sat on the bed and settled against headboard, Ethan snug against his chest. He alternated between singing, humming and whispering stories until they both fell to sleep like that.

A/N: Hope you liked it, Review and favourite. Love you all :D

-Caggyxx