13

The immediate day following the removal of his siblings and Harry, Ron was paid a visit by Healer Phyllis Pinkerton. His parents showed her to his room where he sat with a book in hand. It was a novel and he was reading for leisure and while he read some parts aloud he made sure not to read any dirty scenes or obscene words. He glanced up from the page when he heard the door knob rattle. The three adults all entered the room and the Healer looked absolutely genial. "Good to see you again, Ron. How are you doing today?"

"Tired and sore," he said closing the book and setting it on the stand by his bed. "I assume you're here to check on the baby?"

She nodded and pulled out a small case from her pocket—which she then enlarged and set up on a tripod table that similarly appeared from his pocket. "You're getting so close to delivery day."

"In a few weeks. I'm nervous," Ron confessed.

"It's normal for a new parent to be nervous about their baby. Once he's out and you get to see his little face you'll fall in love instantly." Ron kept it to himself that he already loved Barry beyond a doubt. "Can you pull up your top for me so I can do a quick little scan?"

His parents were still in the room and he felt self-conscious. He was so fat and bulbous. It was embarrassing. He pinked and slowly began to raise the hem of his shirt. Healer Pinkerton did waved her wand and got several different soft glows from his stomach and she fawned over him the whole time. "You're getting a long splendidly. Now, Ron from here on out I need you to start taking these. One a day until you have the baby." She pulled up a small case. Inside were three rows of vials. All of them were the same color, but as they proceeded from one level to the next the color became more concentrated. "This will prepare your body for the birthing. Since you are male you'll need a little extra help in the process. Don't worry, plenty of male wizards have used these potions and all of them had healthy beautiful babies."

There was little left to say. Healer Pinkerton and his mother left the room, but his father stayed. "She says it will be sometime in the next three weeks," Arthur said as he sat at the foot of the bed. "Poppy messaged us a few times and told us how you were fairing, but kept most of it confidential. I'm sure you're happy about that."

"Dad, I really am sorry about everything. If I could go back I don't believe I would want to change anything. I want to have the baby."

Arthur patted Ron's foot. "I don't expect you to feel guilty about the baby, Ron. I'm satisfied with the way you've been handling yourself through the whole thing. You'll have a lot more responsibilities to attend to, however, but your mum and I are going to be here with you. We will help where we can."

"Thanks, Dad."

Ron stayed in the room for the remainder of the day and only left to use the bathroom. He had his meals brought to him. He heard some talking downstairs several times. Mostly his Mum talking to his dad. The day to follow would just be his mum and him. If he got too bored then perhaps he would ask to learn how to knit. Maybe. He still wanted to do something more masculine. He was up later than usual reading and only went to bed when he noticed that the sky was completely obscured in darkness. "You're getting closer and closer, Barry. Have a good night."

Every morning at breakfast for the first week Ron took the pale colored potion and felt the tingling sensation fill his stomach and roll into his pelvis with incredible stirring and something like butterflies. He could then feel the baby move around some more. His mother would check on him to make sure he was not in the throes of labor; to which he would snicker and say "nope", but the idea frightened him. What was he going to do when he did go into labor? How would it feel? Where was the baby going to come out? He wanted to faint on several occasions and thought best to take it all in stride.

On the second week he was miserable. He was starting to think that the inevitable arrival was closer than before. Then, his brother Charlie came in to visit with him. Ron was happy to see his brother despite feeling like an invalid. Charlie had made sure to take time out of his busy schedule to check in on his young brother and brought him some bric-a-brac to hang around the room. Mostly Quidditch or Dragon themed things, but Ron found this acceptable. While Charlie could not stay long he was staying over the course of several days and Ron was glad that he had someone other than his mother to keep him company.

Charlie had come in with a large smile plastered on his broad face and a pocket full of surprises when he came through the hearth through floo. "Morning, Mum."

Molly nearly had a heart attack—having not known when exactly her second son would make his appearance. "Oh, Charlie, don't do that."

Charlie hugged his mum and then handed her a little gift as well. "Where's the father to be?"

"He's been feeling under the weather. The baby's due any time in the next two weeks."

Charlie's brows rose as his eyes widened. "I wasn't aware of it being so soon. Good thing I got to come in when I did."

She shook her head as the man took off and toward his brother's room. Charlie knocked several times before Ron finally shouted, "What in Merlin's Name do you want from me!" With a snicker and a grin, Charlie pushed on the door and peeked in to see his brother still under the covers with a book tossed aside on the floor. "Oh, Charlie?" Ron mumbled as he started waking up from his interrupted sleep. "You made it. Mum said you'd come by."

"Sorry I couldn't sooner, Booger." Charlie entered the room and noticed the backside of the room all done up. "I guess I can place my gifts with the rest?" Ron nodded and began to rise from the bed. Charlie observed the large girth and smiled brightly still. "You're close to popping."

"Any day now." Ron reached over and pulled the small case over so that he could have his potion and maybe get this dreadfulness over with. He downed the vial in a single gulp and then put the empty vial back in the slot and closed the top hastily. "I think that Potions makes you so sick that you just get to it."

Charlie was amused and set up some of the items; like another mobile and a stuffed owl. "You can't be too off put. My little…"

"Nephew," Ron said.

"Little Nephew is on his way and that's exciting."

Ron shrugged and clambered out of the bed finally. He tried to pull his night shirt down, but it had stopped fitting some time ago and there was hardly a need for a bigger one when he was so close. "You staying long?"

"At least a few days."

"How are things with the dragons?" Ron asked.

Charlie said that he could not complain, but then proceeded to complain about some of the people he had to work with. Charlie was an animal and creature person rather than a people person, but everyone in the family was aware of this. Then, Charlie left Ron to get ready so that they could have a delicious breakfast.

Molly was delighted to have two of her children still there with her. She made a large spread of food and basked in their appetites. She took to her needle and yarn and made several little scarves. Then she made Charlie a pair of mittens and when he protested that it was too warm for those especially with summer on the way she shushed him and placed them in his hands. Ron had laughed, and then found himself the new proud owner of two sets of socks that were an ugly shade of puce.

On the second day of Charlie's visit, the two brothers played chess a few times and even attempted to play some Gobstones, which was not a favorite to either of them. Molly went down to the village to grab some groceries and left the two there for some bonding. As their game had continued it appeared that the state of Ron was dwindling. Every so often he would place a hand at his stomach and just freeze. Then after a moment he would regain his composure and try to continue on, but the more time they sat there the more Charlie felt like something was slightly amiss. "Do you need some fresh air?" Charlie rose instantly when he noticed Ron's shifting legs like he couldn't get comfortable. "Ron?"

"I'm fine. I think I'm just getting stiff. So, yes, I'd like to go outside for a bit." Charlie helped Ron up and then they walked over slowly toward the door. Ron kept his face down and his lip drawn. It was easy to tell he was having some discomfort and pains. Charlie hoped that his mother would arrive soon. He had an inkling of a notion as to what was transpiring.

"How long have you been having these feelings, Ron?"

"Dunno, since yesterday night I guess. It's fine."

Charlie tried not to smile too much, because this was the easy part of labor. He guided Ron toward a chair in the lawn and told him to sit. "Just rest right there."

He made his way into the house and used the floo to call on the Healer from St. Mungo's. Ron was left to sit with his aching pelvis. The pain came in waves and then would vanish—leaving him with a bit of time to get over the pain, but then it would return. It was a lot more frequent now. He figured it was the potion at work. It had given him a strange gut feeling from the beginning. Then he noticed his pants were wet. He hadn't peed himself had he? He didn't dare move in case something was wrong. Barry? Was Barry going to be okay? He placed a hand on his stomach for comfort and closed his eyes as he tried to think of something else. Soon, his mother appeared with some bags in her hand. She saw her son sitting there by himself. Quickly she drew her wand as a precaution. It had been explained to everyone that Ron being outside alone was dangerous. Charlie was nowhere in sight.

"Ron, are you alright, sweetheart?" Molly came close and saw that Ron was seated with his eyes closed and a wet spot down the inside of his legs. "Oh, Ron, get up and let's take you inside."

Ron said, "I think… I had an accident," his voice was weak and he was pallid. "Am I in trouble?"

Molly smiled and said, "Not in the slightest. That's why you need to get inside. Where did Charlie go?" Her question was answered upon arrival and she felt Ron twist in her grip as another pain hit him. Charlie was back through the floo and inside the living room where Healer Pinkerton was coming through behind him. "Great timing. I think Ron's on his way."

"Where am I going?"

All the other occupants of the room began to watch him as he tried to stand back straight, but had to lean over on his mother. Charlie quickly went to remedy this situation. Ron was taller than their mother and Charlie was muscular enough to keep the boy upright. "Come on, Brother. Let's try to get you up to your room. You can get comfortable in there."

The trip up the stairs was murder for Charlie as he had to take the brunt of most of Ron's pains as the boy would go nearly limp against him and force all his weight over. Healer Pinkerton was in the room right behind them and assisted in getting Ron in the bed. She began to tell Ron that everything was okay and acting like a nurturing grandmother. Ron did not respond with words more than he did with grunts or groans. "Do you need anything?" the healer asked the boy. "Do you want an ice pack or something warm to place on your back?"

Ron's face twisted in another rough contraction. He shook his head and tried to stay seated up on the bed. "Is the baby coming? Am I having the baby?"

Healer Pinkerton glanced over at Molly to prompt her to go to her son for some affectionate and serene words. Molly took Ron's hand between the two of hers and said, "Yes, Ronnie. It looks like the baby is going to be coming. It could be a few hours yet. Maybe more or less. Get comfortable and don't worry."

"That potion you were taking helps produce a canal so that you can have the baby. If you would like something for the pain then that's fine too. I have plenty of supplies to get you through, Ron. You are entering your transition stage and it's going to be hard, but you need to be strong."

Ron gritted his teeth this time. "It's awful. I hate this. I bloody hate this!"

Charlie got on Ron's other side and placed his hand on Ron's shoulder and rubbed. "Come on, Booger. You need to calm down."

"Don't shout at me!" Ron snapped.

There was a lot of time spent with Ron returning to a relative calm and quiet and then suddenly there would be a moan and the boy would shift and place shaking hands over his stomach. Healer Pinkerton said they had to wait. At some point his pants had gone missing. Molly had many children of her own and knew how this worked. Charlie seemed enthralled and was appreciative that he was given permission to stay. He read aloud from Ron's book and tried his best to keep him relaxed.

Molly went down stairs and Charlie was asked to go grab Arthur after another hour had passed. When Molly was returning she heard the Healer calling for her to return to the room. Ron was going to start pushing. Molly clasped his hands again and Healer Pinkerton coached him through breathing and gave him some draughts to decrease the pain, but it did not stop the feeling of pressure.

Ron felt like he was being ripped apart from the inside. He even vomited at one point and was told that it was normal. All of this was normal. Bloody normal his left buttock. That pain that rolled over his stomach and down to his pelvis was the worst of it. He had kept quiet and still long enough before he felt the need to push. That pain that pressure. He gritted his teeth and hoped everyone was happy, because he hated himself right then. He hated Lowell too. He didn't want to see that nasty prick for as long as he lived. He'd have a son and that man would have nothing.

He was pushing. He was pushing. The numbing of the draught made it harder to tell what was happening and everything seemed so surreal. His father and Brother had arrived as some point and Healer Pinkerton had his feet up telling him he was brave and doing just fine. The angst and worry on his father's face vanished when Ron felt release. He slouched back and felt a cool cloth roll over his face. There was a strong silence that befell them and he was watched as Healer Pinkerton went to wrap the mass in her arms with a blanket.

In his hands moments later lay the small bundle. His mother was seated right beside him and a small little cap was placed over his head to prevent and loss of heat. Ron was crying so hard he couldn't even barely see the little face that was situated inches from his own. Healer Pinkerton was explaining something, but he left it to his parents to keep track of it.

Ambrose Leopold Weasley was right there. Little Barry was in his slightly trembling arms. He was smiling so wide it hurt his jaw and cheeks. "Hey, Barry. I'm very happy to get to meet you."

Ʃ

Ron sat on the couch. Ambrose was in his arms, but that was the usual now. The wonder was still there and his parents were still transfixed by the little baby every time they would walk by and notice him. While he did not cry often or all that loudly, he still cried and Ron got to play the guessing game each time over what the problem was. His mum was usually there with a check list of things for him to look for. Most of the time Ambrose just wanted to be held and have Ron tell him, "It's alright. Papa has you." Sometimes, thought, he had to change nappies.

Molly and Arthur would sit in the dining room and listen to Ron talk to the baby. They'd hear him ask questions and then hear him shuffle about the house. They talked in quiet voices and Molly praised his behavior and attentiveness. Ron was doing his absolute best to make sure he did right for his infant son. He would lay him to rest in his crib and make sure he was asleep for several minutes before going to sit on his bed across the room where he would often doze off himself.

Ron had the ability to breast feed, but he rather not discuss that part.

Entering the second week of Barry's life, Ron kept his monitor frog in his pocket and the other one right beside his son. Ron noticed a few changes in himself—his body did not need to keep his magic around and stored up for the baby in an artificial womb any longer so Ron found his magic coming back. Sometimes it came back in bursts and he would break things in close proximity. One of those things was a glass plate. For the longest time Ron was hesitant about being around his newborn because of these spikes in magical mishaps. Molly assured him it would be fine and he went back to tenderly caring for Barry in his usual manner.

Ambrose was on the floor on his stomach while Ron sat close by with a book on his lap. He'd changed him recently and the baby had napped not so long ago either. He was quiet and flailed about every so often and Ron would chuckle as the baby seemed to try swimming across the floor. Ron made that his parents knew where the baby was every time they entered the room so they wouldn't step on him.

Molly would often come in while Ron would be passed out on the couch with Ambrose nearby in a small bassinet that they passed around the main floor. She snuck off with her grandson often and would coddle him and keep him pressed tightly to her bosom as she repeated "I'm your Nan." If Ambrose made any sort of faces or if she found his eyes blinking to focus in or her face she'd repeat herself and nod at him saying, "That's right. Nan."

Arthur was much fonder of Barry than Ron had initially expected him to be. On the first day of Barry's life there were plenty of pictures taken and Ron actually allowed for them to put up the one where he first held onto Barry; even while he looked all pale and sweaty with a newborn in his arms. Ron had his own copy of the picture and it was stored away in a little journal he planned on keeping. He wrote it in nightly to express any sort of feelings. All of them jovial. Almost all of them Barry related. Sometimes he wrote his name and then drew a heart with the initials S.S. inside. He couldn't wait to show off his son to the broody man.

Ron was receiving letters from his brothers and sister. Ginny said that they needed to take plenty of pictures and if it was allowed then they needed to send them to her immediately. Fred and George sent pictures of themselves so that Ron could show them to their nephew. Harry sent mail as well along with some more money which Ron stashed with the money he'd been given for Christmas. If Harry kept this up then Ron could buy Barry a broom in no time. He snickered showed the picture of his brother's to the baby as he was laying down for the night. "See these two? They are your crazy uncles. We don't act like them. They are bad."

Ambrose stared up at him with nearly crossed blue eyes. If there was one thing that set Barry apart from all the other Weasley's it was his small bit of dark hair on his crown. Ron had thought nothing of it at first, but whenever he would look into his son's little face he saw Lowell. It saddened him, but he quickly scraped those conversations he'd had with Snape and Harry. That man did not mean anything. Barry was Ron's and that man would have nothing to do with him. Ron wasn't sure what happened to those gifts he'd received some time ago, but he was certain that Snape had discarded them since Ron had insisted.

That was over with, he promised himself. Everything was great. He had the baby. He successfully carried the baby to term and now he got to be happy with him. He leaned in and placed a kiss to Barry's forehead and pulled the blankets close around him to keep his warm and snug. He watched him for a moment more before going to his own bed and falling asleep for as long as he was allowed to until Ambrose would decide to wake up and cry.