11
The night before Easter break, Arthur walked up the steps and saw that Ron's bedroom door was ajar. No doubt Molly was inside. He pressed open the door further and sure enough, sitting on the bed, was Molly. Her eyes were trained on the crib that they had set up. After getting a call from Albus and speaking with both the old Headmaster and Poppy they set up their son's room to accommodate for the baby that was due at the end of the month. A whole pregnancy had gone by and Arthur felt flustered. How had this happened and why had he been unable to stop it? By the time he truly realized that Ron had been sneaking off and doing who knows what (honestly he did not wish to know) it had been too late.
The members of the Order who got them random assorted baby things were appreciated. Those were the things which they placed in the room. Arthur had been as helpful as he could be given the circumstances. It was hard for him to be accepting of what was happening. If Ron had been around during the whole or majority of his pregnancy then maybe it would have been easier to wrap his head around. For months he had sat there contemplating what his son had been thinking. At no point did he come up with a justifiable answer. Ron had lied and now Arthur was afraid of what might happen because of it. Obviously, the baby was an immediate and imminent conclusion, but at the same time who was the other father? Arthur had seen him that day in the rain, but he did not recognize him. Not a muggle… If that man knew what he had done then Arthur had every intention of hexing him. Even if Ron admitted it was consensual. Ron was only a boy—he didn't know any better.
Arthur stepped inside the room and crossed the small area toward the bed. He sat beside her and placed a hand around her waist. "It's going to be alright, Molly."
"He's coming in tomorrow. He'll be having the baby soon, Arthur. What do we do?"
He did not understand what she meant. He only decided to say, "Help him through it."
So many things were going to be taking place. Ron was going to be unable to return to school so assignments were going to be sent to him and sent back. After the baby's delivery he was going to have to have special permissions to get through the O.W.L.s and then he was going to have to take care of the child. Arthur never could get his mind to take him further then the baby's arrival. There was going to be a new born in the Borrow. While Arthur felt a pang of grandfatherly like affection at the idea—he was troubled. This wasn't Bill's child, Charlie's, and it was not even Percy's. No, his youngest son had gotten pregnant at fifteen. It hardly mattered that he'd turned sixteen. He was still under-aged and quite naive.
Just as Ron had not wanted to discuss it with them, Arthur did not want to discuss it with Molly. Molly was very tender hearted. This was no fault in this, but she would get teary eyed at the prospect of being a grandmother, because she was happy. At the same time she was upset with her little boy having a baby of his own. It was a heavy burden on his heart, but he had to ask; "Has Ronald said anything about adoption?"
Molly's eyes widened and her face reddened. "Arthur! How could you ask such a thing?" She reacted quite how he expected. There was a twinge of guilt for his inquiry, but it was a possibility. Ron may have realized that he was too young for a child. Perhaps it would be for the best. "He wouldn't even tell me the sex," Molly murmured.
"You know that things are going to be very different, don't you?"
She nodded sullenly. "I'll make sure he's comfortable."
Sometimes, Arthur felt like he could just take a picture of his wife and send it to Ron and pose the question: See what you have caused? He never did this. He felt like a villain for thinking of putting more strain on the boy. The only problem he faced was that he felt like the baby was not punishment enough for his actions. At the same time he knew he could not wave the poor infant over Ron's head and say: This is what happens when you lie to your parents. It would be unfair. Ron had genuinely been sorry for his actions, yet they had still transpired. Arthur knew Ron had been lying when he said there was nothing else. Arthur could tell, because he used the same tone as the morning he lied about seeing the man.
"Healer Pinkerton is coming in the day after the others return to school. I think Charlie wants to come in soon as well."
Arthur sighed. There was nothing else on his wife's mind to get her out of her slump. Until they arrived the next day she would sit there in worry and sorrow. Arthur pressed a kiss to his distraught wife's temple and told her that they should retire for the evening. "Will you be going with me to pick them up?"
Upon asking the question, Molly started crying. "I think I should stay and make sure everything is ready." The room had been ready for days now. The house had been less of a wreck than some time before he could recall. He said nothing and they left the room together to get settle into bed and then the morning to come would dictate how the rest of their lives went in regards to Ron.
Ʃ
One last night. This night would be no different than the others. He would go into the dungeons to find Snape. He'd been feeling quite sickly for some time and it was hard to maneuver about the large school. Most of the time he was left to rest in bed and then he would go as far as the common room to work on written assignments. He was achy almost everywhere and trying to take his large self anywhere was more chore than leisure. If Harry did not get food to him for lunch then McGonagall or Pomfrey made sure he ate. It was only common to see him leaving in order to get to Snape's office or quarters. This night, however, he had someone watching him. Harry looked up from his book—as he tried to finish as much homework as possible before going to for break—and asked, "Where do you think you are going?
Ron had not moved from his seat in front of the hearth since Harry had arrived. Harry knew Ron was in little state to move. "I want to take a little walk before having to say goodbye to Hogwarts. I won't be back until… well, I'm not so sure." He felt like he might return for his sixth year, but had a fear that he would be unable to. Harry watched him with a glint in his eye. He did not believe Ron was simply going for a "walk".
"Where do you go every night?" Harry asked. "You've never told me."
Ron gave a slight wave. "Out."
Harry let out an agitated breath. "We've had this discussion, Ron. You need to let people know things. You need to quit hiding every little thing."
"Some things are my own. I don't have to tell everyone every little detail about my life."
Harry didn't want to argue. He knew that it would be dumb to have Ron mad at him right before they went for break. He knew that Ron was in a shaky mood with the baby business. He was so close to having a child and Harry sometimes couldn't wrap his mind around him. He watched his friend rise slowly and cautiously from the chair. His very large stomach held no secrets. Sometimes, he wondered how things would have gone if Umbridge had not spoiled this little bit of information. Ron was already out the portrait and Harry shook his head.
Ron had been anticipating this final visit with a lot of apprehension. It would mean the last time he could openly express himself and talk about everything. Snape had told him that he should reconsider all of his more recent visits since he was having a harder time getting from one place to another—especially in such a large establishment. Ron may have been less able every night to make the journey, but he had made sure to be prepared for this one. He took his time and paced himself and took several rests where he smiled as he patted at his stomach. The baby was due to turn so that he would be better situated for birthing. Whenever Pomfrey would go about explaining the birthing part he got squeamish.
Down in the dungeons, Ron waited for an answer from the Potions Master's chambers. It was a relatively short wait. Snape shook his head at him, but said nothing as he allowed Ron to enter. He could tell Ron whatever he wished, but that did not mean it would stop him from doing as he pleased—even when he was so far gone.
"Good evening, Ronald," Snape said as Ron made himself immediately comfortable on the couch.
"Evening, Sir."
"How are you feeling?"
Ron was happy that the man asked, because that meant it was time to dispel all fears and doubts. "I'm going to have a son soon. I'm going to have a baby…"
Snape nodded and sat down at the other end of the couch. "That typically happens when you get through a pregnancy." His tone was kind and Ron smirked a little. The other students would kill for this sort of comfort from the greasy dungeon bat. Ron sighed and tried to keep his other emotions at bay. "Are you scared?"
"I'm worried. I'm more worried about what everyone is going to think. I'm worried about Lowell."
There was a grimace on the man's part. Did he know something? Ron waited to see if he would say anything on the matter. Snape watched him to see if there was more to the worry than those simple words. Finally he settled on saying this, "As far as I know, you are completely safe. Lowell may attempt nothing at all. It is not for you to worry about. You're parents will be there. Members of the Order have been going to your home to check on them and I am sure once you are there they will continue to visit."
Ron was not watching himself close enough and let slip, "Will you visit?" Instantly his face was blushing and he had to divert his eyes.
"I will see what I can do." Ron felt like his heart was going to stop beating right then, but the man added slowly, "It will most likely be after classes have ended."
He nodded at this answer. It was an acceptable answer. The only thing he was keeping from Snape was his inability to control his sighs, his heart, and his feelings whenever they spoke. Ron had tried everything in his power to quell the feelings, but the more he visited the more it seemed to rise. He bit back on any and all wishes for the night. He should expect a visit after classes ended and that needed to be good enough.
The rest of the evening was idle chit chat. Prof. Snape was in fact capable of such a thing. Ron listened with readiness and candidness to all of the man's offhanded commentary on an assortment of topics. Ron even talked to him about Quidditch. Snape openly admitted to being unskilled at the sport, but he still found it exciting to watch all the same. "Those who play it have certain skills. If someone is good at what they do than they should hone such a talent."
Ron snickered. "You always speak about things as if you're reciting them from a text book." He gaged the man's reaction to this comment and saw the hint of a smirk. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing, though. I'm only making an observation."
"Observe all you like; I shall continue to talk in whatever way makes me comfortable." Snape leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest in mock defiance. There was something in his manners that made Ron feel so at ease. Before that year, Ron would have laughed hysterically in the face of anyone who told him he would grow close to the Dungeon Lord of Hogwarts. Now, now, he was infatuated.
The continued their evening with more talk of the baby, but this time it as different. This time Ron was excited, because Snape said, "I can hardly imagine how Ambrose will behave when he gets older considering he has Fred and George as Uncles and Potter filling in a Pseudo-Uncle."
Ron laughed and replied, "I already told the twins that they could not experiment on him. Harry wants to be Godfather. I told him only if he changes nappies."
"Are you ready for changing nappies?" Snape's brow rose in curiosity.
Ron quickly shook his head. "I don't think that is something people can ever be ready for. Certainly, I will have to do it, but I won't want to."
They went silent again and Snape began to rise from his seat. "I have a present for yourself and Ambrose." Ron chuckled slightly, it was still funny to hear the man say the name—though he told Ron he rather call him Ambrose than Barry a week or so ago. Ron had laughed at him then too; all because the man said it sounded too much like "Harry". Snape was out of the room and Ron had to wait patiently for the man to return with the gift.
As the man walked around with a small box that was neither wrapped nor sealed at that he had a simple smirk on his face. He was proud of himself apparently. Ron thanked him several times over for the thoughtfulness, even if he did not know what was inside. He held the box on his lap and Snape sat on the other end of the couch. "You can see what it is now. Or you can wait till you get home."
Ron looked at him then back at the box. "I think I'd like to see it now so I can thank you again after seeing what it is."
His fingers trailed over the flap and he pulled it back revealing two little stuffed animals. They were amphibious little frog animals. One was relatively large and the other was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. He glanced at Snape as if confused. Simple stuffed animals had not seemed like the type of present to be given from a man such as Severus Snape. He was right in such a presumption because Snape began to explain, "It's a monitor for the baby. You place the larger one in the crib and then keep the little one just around the area. It will even find you if you are not around if the baby cries. It will alert you. That sort of thing," he said with a wave of his hand.
Ron started to tear up, but only a little, and it was because he was unreservedly happy. "Thank you so much."
Snape bowed his head as an acceptance for the millionth thanks of that evening. "Now, I think it is time you head back to your dorm. I will carry the box and escort you myself to make sure you make it. I'm still quite upset with you for coming all this way."
"I couldn't be stopped."
Snape rolled his eyes and helped Ron up from the couch and then they were both going back to the Gryffindor Tower. Snape was a very patient man and was better able to remain closer in step with Ron than Harry had ever been able to do. As they ascended further up and into the school, Ron noticed the man's closeness in proximity. Before they finally got to the corridor that led down to the portrait of the fat lady, Snape's hand was at the small of Ron's back. The man even stopped and waited on him with his hand rubbing over his back as if to relax him. He was accepting of these gestures. Just don't get carried away, he thought to himself.
It was too late for such a thought. He was already swept off his feet. Ron told him that he hoped he had a good break and a good rest of the term. Snape nodded and told him that everything would be okay. Snape then asked if he could feel Barry kick one final time and the way he said it was with great hesitation; a tone that the man was not known to use. Ron smiled and flushed as Snape reached down and placed his hand over the taut fabric on Ron's stomach. There was the usual movements and then a stronger kick. Snape looked up and Ron realized their faces were so close that he could smell the man's hair. He began to have irrational thoughts, but couldn't stop himself from following after them. He quickly leaned in and place his lips roughly and hastily over the man's own.
When Snape drew back from the assault. He did not appear furious. He did not even look the remotest bit angry. He placed a hand on Ron's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. Neither of them said a word. Ron knew that it was time to rush the remainder of the way and through the portrait as Snape released him and turned away with his robes billowing behind him as he took off toward his chambers. Ron's heart and head were pounding violently and he felt dizzy. Why had he done such a thing? Was he mad? But, then again, Snape had said nothing. No, rather, he placed a hand on his shoulder as if to tell him that was alright too. What did it mean? Ron sighed and told the Fat Lady the latest password and was admitted into the Common Room where no one else was seated. They were probably busy packing. They would be leaving tomorrow. Ron had never been so sad about leaving the place to see his family.
