14

Ron was the recipient of a long letter from none other than his best mate, Harry Potter. Hedwig came to him close to the end of term and explained several heavy topics. One of which he was completely aware of; Fred and George had fled from school with a bang. That was only a small portion of the goings on at Hogwarts. Umbridge was gone—Harry was rather uncertain about what happened to her, but apparently teaching was not her forte. She had been teaching one day and then gone the next, but Ron could read between the lines that something dreadful had befallen the woman. At least he knew that the next year would bring a potentially competent teacher. Next on the list of absurd coincidences was Harry's premonition about a Death Eater invasion at the Ministry of Magic. He had told Dumbledore and the Headmaster used his magic and human resources to make sure that wizards such as Kingsley Shacklebolt were about and able to catch them. Ron nearly cried upon reading this. Several had been apprehended, but few escaped. Ron could only hope and wish that Lowell had been amongst those sent to Azkaban.

After all of the heaviness that came with such news as the aforementioned; Harry had changed the subject to Ron. He inquired after him and also after Barry. Ron was stunned by this change of emotion and had to brace himself. He was shocked to hear much of it, but Harry had only taken one letter to emit all the troubles and thoughts. Ron took little time to pick up parchment and quill to reply once he felt at ease again. As he wrote he asked his son for help and would chuckle whenever the baby's stunted fingers would flex at the feathery end of his quill. "You don't know how to write yet," Ron said with a smile. After finishing his reply he rolled it up and gave it to the beautiful snowy owl and watched as she took off to return to her master. Now, Ron needed to give Ambrose a bath, because he'd managed to get ink on his hands and in turn on the side of his face. Ron scolded himself because he could have just as easily found it in his mouth.

Ron clucked his tongue and hoisted the baby from the bed and went in search of the basin that his mum had instructed him to use when bathing Barry. When he had procured the basin he took it to the bathroom and set it inside the main tub. He filled it up slightly and made sure that it was warm. Barry did not necessarily enjoy baths. He got finicky and would cry for the first minute of it. It was not like Ron subjected him to hours of water torture. He picked up a rubber duck (which he'd stolen from his father's collection of miscellaneous—and useless—muggle things) and squirted some water at Barry's stomach and this got the newborn to make less rancorous faces. Bath time was over and Ron got Barry prepared for the remainder of the day.

He took Barry downstairs with a quilt snuggled up under his armpit while Barry squirmed and played with his shirt. "Mum, I'm going outside."

Molly had been disgruntled at the thought at first, but she told him to be careful. "If you see someone coming then bring Barry back inside."

"Who would come?" Ron whispered the question, because as far as he knew they were safe from the likes of Lowell Avery.

Ʃ

Ron was expecting the visit any day now, but kept it to himself. This secret was still his and if the man did come for any sort of visit than it could be easily disguised as Order business or what have you. Ron's mother had the baby and what she was doing with his poor son he did not know, but he was given to some time to himself to just lay on the side of the hill and stare up at the beautiful blue sky. Ginny had returned from school and there was little to be said about school business. Ron had managed to get his written assessments for the O.W.L.s taken care of over the course of the week. A ministry official came with special parchment and quills and instructed him.

Ginny had been exceptionally happy to see the new member of the family and wanted to take the baby with her wherever she went, but of course Ron could not allow that all the time. He did find it relieving to see his family all accepting Ambrose into the family as if he had always been some integral piece in their lives. Even his father would sit with Ambrose in his arms on the couch and read the Daily Prophet every morning and talk to him about muggle things he had recently found.

Ron closed his eyes and when he next opened them there was a body hovering close by. He sat erect and glanced over at the approaching figure. He was able to breathe easy. It was him, the one he'd been waiting on. Snape approached him with his hands clasped behind his back. He was in wizarding robes, but they were far enough from the village that no one would see him. His mum boasted about how well hidden their little home was. "Good evening, Ronald," his velvety voice (like music to Ron's ears) stated as he drew close. "I have just come out of a very long conversation with your father. Sorry to keep you waiting."

"I thought you'd come today. It felt like a day you'd come."

Snape stood beside him and asked, "Is that so?"

Ron nodded and patted at the ground beside him, but the man did not appear comfortable enough to sit in the grass. Ron tried to hold in the stints of tittering when the man finally gave in and placed himself on the crisp lawn. "You really should have worn trousers." Ron mentioned while trying not to appear as if he was overly consumed by the man's appearance.

"I should have, but I did not." He said he would on his next visit.

Ron sat there silently and twiddled his thumbs. What was he supposed to say now? He still felt like the man was going to lay into him for their abrupt leave some weeks ago. Ron figured now was as good a time as any to mention Barry. "Um, I had Ambrose, as I'm sure you've heard."

Snape nodded. "I was aware."

"Have you gotten to see him?" Ron's head perked at the opportunity that could arise. If not then Ron could show off his son.

The man shook his head. "As I've said, your father was detaining me inside the kitchen for some time."

Ron got up and reached down grabbing Snape by the arm and trying to hoist him to his feet. Snape did not speed up for Ron's sake and Ron supposed if he had his way with everything then he would become spoiled. The man did however let himself be led by the arm back toward the house he had left only a few minutes prior. Inside was much the same as either of them had left it. Arthur was in the kitchen, but when the two came in he said nothing and Ron made sure to let go of the man's arm so he didn't raise questions or get scolded for hanging on the Professor in a childlike fashion.

"Mum," Ron called up the steps. "Where is Barry?"

"Ginny put him back in his crib," he heard from his parents' rooms. "Do you have the monitor?"

Ron nodded. It was always in his pocket. He made it a habit to shove the little figure in his pocket once he was up in the morning, whether he had Ambrose in his arms or not. Ron smiled cheerily at Snape and entered his bedroom, but not before zipping his lips. If Barry was asleep it was best to hope he stayed that way. The baby's two mobiles were both spinning lazily over top of the crib. One of them played slow lullaby type music. Ron padded softly to the cribs side and Snape realized the boy had not been wearing any shoes. His pale and freckled face watched the man cross the room from the other side of crib. Both of them were not close enough to look down upon the sleeping infant. Ambrose, or Barry much to Snape's chagrin, was sleeping lightly with the assorted stuffed animals all around him and plenty of blankets. He even had on a small knitted cap—most likely Molly's making. Snape couldn't help by stare at the babe with a stifled pang. His eyes rose to observe the baby's father who was smiling down gently and sweetly at his son.

His hand reached over and he placed it over top of Ron's and he saw the sudden change of color in the boy's nose all the way out to his ears. "Sir?" Ron glanced up at him.

"Severus," Snape replied unflappably.

This did not make it any easier for Ron. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't just accept the ability (or permission) to call the man Severus. He was still his Teacher after all—if he got to return to school. "Are you sure?" His heart was beating his breast. He felt his mouth drying.

"I'm positive."

Ron's fingers fidgeted under Snape's and the man smirked slightly as the boy struggled to find his words to proceed. "That night when I…" Snape bowed his head to acknowledge that he was on the same page. "You were okay with that?"

"I was not opposed to it. Although, I was astonished that you would do such a thing."

"Sorry," Ron dropped his gaze back on Ambrose. Wasn't having Barry supposed to stunt his attraction to men? Especially older men? However, through the weeks that had proceeded he found his mind drifting toward the broody man in wonder of how he would like to see his son. Ron supposed that if he was not going to have a traditional family then he may as well go all out and swoon after Severus Snape.

"He's a beautiful child, Ronald."

Ron was smiling again. "I'm glad he's to your liking." With a blush he added, "I'm glad I am too."

Severus quirked a brow and snickered at him. "I must say I was hesitant about coming to see you, because I knew this would happen." By this he meant the small bit of affection he showed. It wasn't much, but it made Ron's heart flutter.

Ron was good at keeping secrets and could assure Severus that no one would know of it. He did not want his family to know he'd already found someone else. He'd attached himself to Severus months ago, but now it seemed like the man was attaching himself back. Ron turned and buried his face in the man's chest and just took in his bouquet. He smelt like spices. The man's arm wrapped around him and they stood like that for some time until there was a small cry from the baby in the crib before them. Ron was released and he took up his son. The child fell silent and reached out with small grabby fingers. Ron offered him to the man. "Would you like to hold him?"

Severus was more hesitant about this than his decision to accept Ron's feelings. He held his arms out with reluctance and allowed the baby to be placed in his hands. Ron began to move his arms for him so that he could more effectively hold Ambrose. "He's very small," Severus noted aloud. Ron chuckled.

"He's a baby."

"Still small," Severus said cheekily.

Ron rolled his eyes and placed his hand on his cheek and patted the man's face playfully. "I'll take no sass about my son."

Severus said, "Then you are an excellent father."

"I think I want to be called Papa."

"Do you?"

Ron began to nod. "I think I look more like a Papa."

This seemed to intrigue the man. Almost everything that the boy told him was stunning and Severus could not place a finger on how or why it made him feel this way. He could only stand there with Ambrose in his arms and listen to the explanations. Ron's argument was not convincing in the slightest, because having nice bone structure did not equate to being called "Papa", but maybe Severus was looking at this all wrong. He wasn't a father he couldn't possibly understand. He'd never been permitted to hold a baby before this moment. Things were so different now.

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Severus had enjoyed a meal with the Weasley clan and found that he did not hate the idea of them loudly bustling about as he would have primarily thought. Even the twins behaved themselves. Molly insisted on him taking several helpings because he was too "weedy" and she had the remedy which involved a lot of Yorkshire pudding. While all of them had been apprehensive with the man eating with them, they too found that the man was as harmless as he found them to be. "He can't give you detention, Ginny. He's here on personal business with the baby," George had whispered rather loudly to Ginny who was hesitant to sit across from him.

"Sir, have you had a chance to hold him?" Ginny asked tentatively.

"Actually, Ronald allowed me the honor of holding him earlier."

Severus pretended not to hear the remark made by the twin—even when his whispering was audible for the whole room to hear. Molly gave her son an admonishing look. Severus tried to ignore that as well. Ron could not help but go a little pink by hearing his siblings make comments about the man. They all took a few more bites of dinner in relative silence.

"You really ought to visit more often, Severus. You don't have any relatives to enjoy the holidays with do you?" Arthur stated.

Molly scolded him by shouting, "Arthur Weasley!"

Severus assured her that it was fine and admitted that he did not have family to spend Holidays with. Ron seemed to perk up at his side when he heard the man being invited to join them more often. "That is very kind of you and I think I may oblige the offer." His eyes fell on Ron's hand that sat particularly close to his own on the table and then he looked back at Molly Weasley. "However, I need to get home soon tonight. I have potions that takes about twelve hours to brew and if I leave them much longer I may become homeless." It was hard to tell if he was only playing, but Ron caught what appeared to be a wink as the man stepped toward the hearth once the meal was through. Ron knew his family could be overbearing—it filled his with loathing that Severus was going to be subjugated to their loudness and sometimes blunt rudeness for his sake. He waved and told Severus to have a good night to which the man told him and the rest of his family to do the same.

Ron was elated. His emotions were not for naught. He lay on his bed with Barry in his arms and a smile tugging at his lips. "You're not going to believe this Barry, he likes me back." Barry was not impressed and blinked at him a few times before closing his eyes for good (meaning an hour or so). Ron kissed his little nose and then got up to place him in his crib. He pushed the stuffed animals away from the center and swaddled the baby up nice and snug. "Don't worry. You're the number one little man in my life, Ambrose. I love you. Sweet dreams."

Ron then went over to his bed again and placed the little monitor on the stand by the bed and changed into his pajamas. The lights were out and he was nestling into bed with a calm sweeping over him. Everything was going to be fine. Everything was great and okay. Ambrose was sleeping soundly at the other side of the room and Ron was nuzzled into his own bed. His eye lids grew heavy and he fell asleep.

That was the start to his summer; it only seemed to get better from there. The second visit enacted by Severus Snape was possibly more entertaining. He appeared in the afternoon on a particularly nice day Arthur Weasley had been out on some sort of business with his job and Severus found himself with little to do at the present. He bid his regards to the man of the house to the lady of the house and Molly Weasley had nearly squealed with glee as he handed her a small garland of flowers. "Good afternoon, Molly."

"Severus, I did not expect to see you again so soon." In fact she had not planned on seeing him at all after his first visit. She placed the garland on the back of the backdoor and asked to what she owed his social call.

This was a little harder to explain. He could not outright tell her; "I'm here to see your son." Or couldn't he? In a very convincing, and matter-of-fact, tone he said, "Ronald was out at the end of term and I have come to give him a little instruction for the upcoming school year."

He had no books in hand and he was dressed in a pair of trousers and a plain button down—so he did not necessarily fit the description which he had described, yet there was little reason as far as Molly could conjure as to why he would not be telling the truth. "Ron is in the yard with Ambrose. I am making tea. If you go on out I'll bring it out on a tray."

"I believe that sounds satisfactory." He bowed curtly and showed himself out leaving a curious Molly Weasley to watch him through the kitchen window while the daunting professor walked outside into the delightfully sunny summer day. Severus found Ron and Ambrose both on the quilt. Ambrose was on his stomach with a rattling band around his wrists and every time he would move it would make a soft chirruping noise that made him coo with glee. Ron was on his back with a magazine in one hand, but he would look over to make sure Ambrose was still there and out of harm.

Ron rolled onto his stomach and placed the magazine on the ground and picked up a finger puppet and started talking to the baby in a high pitched falsetto type voice; "Are you hungry, Barry? Papa is getting kind of famished. Do you want to go inside and get a snack?" Ambrose's eyes darted up to the finger puppet and he tried to take it from his dad's finger. "Come on, Squirt." Ron collected the baby in his arms and once he was standing up he saw his professor standing close by with an amused expression. "Hullo, Sir." He colored and looked down at Barry.

"Your mother was making tea when I left her. She said she would bring it out."

"I could do with some tea." Ron chewed at his lip. "Do you want to sit with us?" He started to chuckle, "You're in trousers."

Severus glanced down at his legs and said, "I was advised to wear trousers by a certain someone, though I can hardly remember who. Guess they aren't important."

Ron gave a smirk and said, "I guess they won't let you sit on their quilt with them; so that you can get grass stains on your nice pants. Oh well." Ron shrugged and sat back down and replaced Barry on the blanket and the baby began to fuss, but Ron tickled at his feet and this seemed to pacify him.

"You seem to be getting along quite well."

Ron smiled. "Sometimes it's fun, because he'll be crying and I'll have absolutely no earthly idea what he wants. Most of the time he's hungry or needs changing." Severus found a place on blanket and Ron reached out to take his hand and slipped one of the finger puppets onto his index finger. "Since you were being mean you can only talk to Barry with one of those on."

Severus rolled his dark eyes and was getting ready to pull it off, but Ron grabbed his hand and shook his head like a rebuking parent to a child who has misbehaved. Severus knew the boy was a parent now, but it was hardly possible for him to already have taken up such behavior so soon. Severus' brow furrowed in amusement and acknowledgement. "Fine."