Chapter ten

Over the next week, Harry was still quiet, but he was eating. Charlie would make him sit outside in the sun, they would sit together and talk. At first Harry would just look at the ground and not say anything, finally Charlie was able to slowly get Harry to talk.

They started with his life as a child, Charlie listened and tried not to get angry when Harry would tell him what had taken place in that house. Charlie realised that Harry was an abused child, but he never saw it because that was all Harry knew, he thought the way he was treated was normal. It still took Charlie a lot to coax the information out of Harry, any information out of him, he just didn't like to talk. When Charlie heard that if he tried to say anything he'd get a backhand from his uncle, Charlie really wanted to go and curse some muggles. Then Harry explained that when he was locked up in the cupboard, he would talk to his parents, he used to ask them to help him, to come and rescue him, but they never did, so he realised that he would have to live with whatever the Dursley's dished out.

Charlie realised that it started a habit for Harry, putting up with that made him put up with everything that he came up against. He learned to live with the danger, live with being stressed all the time, lived with the fact that his life was always going to be painful and he was always going to be in danger.

Over the next month, Harry had finally put on enough weight to satisfy everyone. He kept asking Charlie to make love to him, but Charlie kept saying not yet, to have a bit more patience. But Ron had contacted some of their friends to come over and have a friendly game of quidditch.

Harry finished in the shower, gave Charlie a smile as he stepped out. 'You don't have to stay with me anymore Charlie, I'm fine.'

'You're not fine, you still have a long way to go. So until we all think you're fine, someone is always going to be with you, which means me in here with you, so put up with it Potter,' Charlie handed Harry a towel, then stripped off his own clothes and got into the shower.

Harry stared at Charlie while he washed, 'Oh god you look good in there.'

Charlie chuckled, 'Stop ogling me Potter, I said have some patience.'

'I've put on weight so why won't you fuck me?'

'Oh so crude Harry,' Charlie smirked, 'Soon, but not yet.'

'Oh your so blasted stubborn Weasley,' Harry growled then pulled his clothes on before sitting down, 'I really want to Charlie, not need to like before, I want you, in every way there is. I was never going to date anyone, but when I looked at you, my feelings were fighting. I wanted to try, yet I felt it wasn't worth trying. I'm so confused, yet right now, I know what I want and that's you.'

Charlie noticed Harry's voice, it was softer, full of emotions and he realised that Harry just might be ready for them to make love properly. He finished washing, then got out and grabbed the towel Harry was holding, then he dressed.

'Maybe we will later, let's see how you are playing quidditch and against me.'

Harry lifted his head as he chuckled, 'We're both the type to want to win, so it'll be interesting.'

'Let's go have breakfast so we can see who the better seeker is,' Charlie put his arms around Harry, then walked down the stairs. Charlie noticed Harry hesitate then let him go and walked over to Andromeda Tonks who was holding Teddy.

'Hello Harry, I thought you might like to meet your godson,' Andromeda smiled.

'He's beautiful,' Harry said softly then smiled as the small baby boy smiled at him, so Harry gently took his hand, 'Hi Teddy.'

Everyone in the kitchen stared at Harry while he stared at Teddy, then they laughed when Teddy changed his hair to match Harry's.

'You're like your mum,' Harry said and again his voice was soft, 'She used to make us laugh,' Harry slowly looked up, 'I'm sorry.'

'Whatever for?' Andromeda asked looking confused.

'They turned up for me, they should have thought of Teddy, now he has no parents and you lost a daughter.'

'They might have turned up to support you Harry, but Dora was an auror, it was her job to deal with those types of people. Remus, well, I think we all know that he would have felt like he betrayed your father if he never turned up. So please don't blame yourself Harry, you've given Teddy a chance at a normal life now, something both his parents wanted, just like I want for my grandson. Would you like to hold him?'

'Um, okay,' Harry took Teddy into his arms and sat him on his lap, 'How old is he?'

'Just turned six months.'

Harry laughed as he stared down at Teddy as the little boy reached up and grabbed his glasses pulling them off Harry's face and straight to his mouth.

'Looks like he either likes my glasses or he doesn't want them on my face. But you know what Teddy, I hate them as well, but I do need them to see properly.'

Andromeda gently pried the glasses from her grandson's hands, cast a cleaning spell on them then gently placed them back on Harry's face.

'He grabs everything, so he'll probably try for your glasses again.'

Just then Neville, Hannah, George, Angelina, Katie, Lee, Luna, Ernie, Seamus, Dean, Padma, Parvati, Susan, Bill and Fleur stepped into the kitchen.

'Blimey, you never told us you had a kid Harry, who's the mother, not Ginny,' Seamus said making all the Weasley's laugh, even Harry laughed.

'He's my godson, Teddy Remus Lupin.'

'He's mother, Tonks or Nymphadora Tonks Lupin was a Metamorphmagus, she could change her appearance at will. She could change her hair and nose, she always had us laughing when we were together at Grimmauld Place,' Ginny said.

'What do you mean was?' Hannah asked.

'She died during the fighting, along with Remus,' Ron said but watched Harry.

'I wish I could have kids, but being gay that's impossible,' Harry kissed Teddy on the forehead, then handed him back to his grandmother before sitting with Charlie.

'Harry, it is possible, didn't you know that?' Arthur said.

Harry slowly lifted his head, 'What's possible?'

'Harry love,' Charlie grinned, 'wizards can get pregnant, we need special potions right through and to help us fall. You also have to bottom it all the time as it does take longer for us to fall, but we can.'

Harry's eyes widened, 'Really, can you get me pregnant now?'

'Blimey Harry, give us a chance, we haven't been together that long. But why now, don't you want to work, be an auror?'

'I'd rather have kids,' Harry chewed on his lip.

'Then we'll talk about it soon, but not yet, give us a chance first and you still need to get well.'

'Then I will,' Harry said and everyone heard how strong and forceful his voice was and the ones that had been seeing and hearing everything that Harry had been going through, thought this might be exactly what Harry needs, to have his own family. Now he has something to look forward too, something to aim for, something to live for, his own children.

Once everyone had breakfast, the group headed down to the orchard ready to play quidditch. While Ron grabbed all the old brooms apart from his good one, Hermione, Molly and Arthur pulled Charlie aside.

'This might be what Harry needs Charlie,' Molly said anxiously.

'Yeah, I get that, but we haven't been together long. Fine, I love Harry, but he hasn't said how he feels about me, so I think we should wait before we have kids.'

'Charlie, Harry might not be able to say how he feels, if he loves you I'm talking about. I think he does, but he will be too scared to say those words again,' Hermione said sadly.

'Why, what would make him scared to say something?'

'Harry has only ever said those words once, to Sirius and not long after he said that, he died.'

'Oh shit,' Charlie glanced over at Harry who was standing with his friends, but Charlie also noticed that Harry wasn't talking and he kept glancing at him, 'I've been getting a strong feeling that Harry does love me, but he never said it, so I wasn't sure, now I get why.'

'It's like what you told us Charlie, about how he doesn't want people to love him because they die. He's finally accepted that you love him, but to say it back might take him a while,' Arthur said, 'But seriously consider having kids, it might make all the difference.'

'Yeah, I think about it, but come on, their waiting to play.'

After a long game where Harry ended up getting the snitch before Charlie, making the dragon handler growl in anger which of course made the other team laugh loudly, then headed inside for lunch.

'Harry never missed the snitch Charlie, well, only when he had no choice, like the dementors turning up to a game,' Ron said.

'Or when McGlaggen slugged Harry in the head with the beaters bat,' Ginny chuckled, 'Gave Harry a cracked skull, otherwise he always got it before the other seeker, just like now,' Ginny smirked at Charlie making him growl again.

'You know that noise you make turns me on,' Harry whispered to Charlie.

'Really,' Charlie raised his eyebrows but gave Harry a very seductive look, 'I have to remember that babe.'

'So how did this happen?' Neville waved his hand at Harry then Charlie.

Charlie noticed Harry didn't want to answer, like normal, 'When he was staying at the Hogs Head, he had a heap of people turning up to shag him, but he found out he liked the blokes more.'

'So that was true, about you shagging a heap of men and woman?' Seamus asked.

Harry shrugged, 'They kept turning up.'

'Why?' Angelina asked.

Harry shrugged, so Charlie answered, 'They wanted to thank him and thought shagging him was the best way. None of them realised he wasn't well at the time,' Charlie put his arm around Harry and pulled him closer, Harry put his head on Charlie chest, then his hand was on Charlie's thigh, moving slowly up, 'No you don't Harry.'

Harry huffed, then moved his hand, 'Patience, I know.'

'What are you on about?' Ron asked.

'None of your business Ron,' Charlie raised his eyebrows.

'I don't think I want to know,' Ron shook his head, but grinned at Harry before he turned to talk to his friends.

Charlie felt Harry relax as everyone started to talk amongst themselves, so he knew they weren't going to keep asking him questions. Charlie had gotten Harry to talk, but Harry still only talks to him and he still need coaxing.

When Andromeda was ready to leave, Harry took Teddy into his arms again, kissing his forehead and again Teddy grabbed his glasses making Harry laugh, but Charlie was watching Harry with the small baby boy. He noticed straight away that the tenseness around Harry's eyes left him when he looked at Teddy, he seemed calm and more like his old self. Maybe having children is what Harry needs, but is he ready to have kids. He never thought he would, he never thought he'd get into a serious relationship, but now he is, with Harry. Could they have kids together, he still thought they needed time, time to themselves, so maybe it was time to move out to see how they would go being together.

That night after their showers, Harry finally got Charlie to agree to making love to him properly and he couldn't believe how wonderful and fulfilling it was. Harry had never felt pleasure like it and couldn't wait until they made love again.

'Could you think about it seriously Charlie?' Harry asked as he ran his fingers through the hair on Charlie's chest.

'Give me more to go on babe, think about what?'

'Kids, I really want to.'

Charlie sat up and stared down at Harry, 'I'll think about it, but let's move in together first to make sure we're going to make it. You don't want kids then for us to separate because we haven't given ourselves a chance to be together as a couple. We need to learn how to compromise, to talk, to get to know each other properly.'

Harry smiled, 'We can do that, but I already know we'll be okay. I'm not a talker, you are, so you will always keep the conversation going. You don't let me brood or feel guilty. You show me how you feel all the time, that makes me feel better knowing you care.'

'Care, I told you I love you, that's more than care,' Charlie put his hand to Harry's face, 'How do you feel about me?'

'You know,' Harry shrugged and tried to look down but Charlie kept hold of his face.

'Tell me because we can't go having kids if you just like me, it wouldn't work. So I need to know how you feel about me.'

'I can't,' Harry forced his face away from Charlie's hands then turned over so he was facing away, 'I'm too scared.'

Charlie sighed but he realised Hermione was right, he lay beside Harry, wrapped his arms tight around him, then pulled him close. He had to make Harry realise that it was safe now, that no one was going to die because of what's been going on for so long. To Harry, it's still there, all the pain and suffering caused by Voldemort is still there and making Harry feel like he could lose others. One way or another he had to make Harry know it was over and everyone was safe.

'Okay, you don't have to say the words, just nod or shake your head. But do you love me Harry?' Charlie stared at Harry and could see him biting his lip but after an agonising long minute, Harry nodded, 'So because you only said I love you to Sirius and he died you're scared if you say those words to me, I'll die?' again Harry nodded, 'Are you scared we might not make it?' Harry shook his head, 'Are you scared I might leave?' again Harry shook his head, 'Are you scared I might cheat?' Harry shook his head, 'Nothing else is scaring you apart from saying you love me,' Harry nodded, 'I would never cheat, I would never leave and I know we'll make it, I just needed to know. But now we'll have to work on that because if we have kids, I want to hear those words before we commit to kids.'

Harry turned his head and looked back at Charlie, 'So if I say them you will?'

'Yes, but I don't want you to say them just because I said that, I want you to say the words because you want to and you feel deeply enough to let me know. I still think we should live together for a while first, get used to each other. Right now we're surrounded in people, all the family. It'll be so different with just the two of us.'

'Can you give me an idea how long you think we should wait?'

'You really want to be a parent right now, don't you?'

'Yeah, I can't explain it, but it's like having kids will give me something that's missing, something I need to fulfil my life. You know how I feel and to have your kids, a bit of us in them is just something I want and can't describe how that makes me feel.'

'So you'd be happy to stay home with the kids when before you were going to be an auror?'

'I want to Charlie,' Harry sighed but sat up, 'I can't explain it, the moment I heard we can it's like something is telling me this is my purpose in life, it's what I'm meant to do. Maybe it's just the fact I don't have any family, but it's in here,' Harry put his hand over his chest, 'Deep, it's right, I can feel this is meant to be, you, me and our children, lots of them.'

'Lots, let's start with one and go from there,' Charlie felt a bit overwhelmed, 'I need to ease into this Harry. I've always been by myself, I never thought I'd be in a proper relationship where I would want to settle down. We get together not long ago and we're already talking kids, that's a lot to take in right now.'

'Do you want kids Charlie?'

'I do I just never thought it would happen, never. Now we're serious and talking about it. So even though I can see this is something you really want and it is something I want, I still believe we should take our time.'

Harry looked down, 'Give me a minute,' Harry sat there thinking, 'It's like this is where my life has been leading me, to you, a life with you, a family with you. I can see it Charlie, see us as a family and I'm different. I say the words to you all the time, I'm happy, I'm content. It's like, okay,' Harry slowly looked up, 'It's like the prophecy, I was born to see that through, but I would have everything I want if I did and trusted the people around me. Hearing that we could have kids, it's like the pain that has always been inside me is slowly going away, it's not as strong as it was. Something is telling me this is what I'm supposed to do, you, kids, everything, it's right, it's what's meant to happen. I don't think I'm explaining this right. It's feelings, something is telling me to do this and it's what will make us work, what will make sure we have a life together, a long happy life together.'

'I'm trying to understand this, so like the prophecy, you or him had to kill the other. With this you are supposed to have my kids to fulfil some purpose in your life. I know it's not just that, you want it, I can see it and hear it in your voice. It's like this is meant to be, like if it was prophesied. You finish him, we get together, we have kids, we have a long and happy life.'

'Yes, I know that's hard to understand, I was like that when I first heard the prophecy, it was right after Sirius died. Everything finally made sense for me, about my life, even about how I was treated at the Dursley's. Being brought up like that is what let me toughen up enough to get through all the shit he put me through for years. All that was getting me ready to kill him. Then you, then us, how we are now. Like McGonagall coming to see me that day Charlie, it was meant to be,' Harry looked down, 'I was about to end it that day, I was thinking about everything, then read the diary and it was like something was telling me that it was time. But it wasn't time to die,' Harry looked up, 'It was time to find the one, you, it went how it was supposed to. If McGonagall had just been ten minutes later, it would have been too late. If Kingsley hadn't turned up and said those things, if you hadn't been sitting right beside me, if I didn't hear your voice when I woke, if Andromeda didn't turn up, if male pregnancy's hadn't been mentioned, things would have been different. I know this is hard to hear and to say, but I wasn't going to make it Charlie, I could feel it. I tried, I've been trying so hard because I knew how you felt and how I felt, but I didn't want to put you through what I did when Sirius died. I know that's a little different as I thought of him as a father, not a lover. Everything went how it was supposed to because even though I enjoyed that game, saw all my friends, it still wasn't giving me what I needed to get through this. The moment I heard that, I knew I could do it, I would do it, it's what was supposed to happen. Seers, prophets and prophecy's, I used to think they were full of shit, but I've seen firsthand their not and for all I know there's one out there that has all this in it. Because when I heard the prophecy, it fell into place, everything made sense, my life seemed to make sense, even if I'm not making sense right now. This is it, I know it and you know why I know it Charlie?'

'Um, no but I'm shocked because you've just spoken more than I've ever heard. But it's your face, I can see right here in front of me, you're healing, you're okay, there's this feeling emanating from you right now. You're eyes are alive, they have been so dead. You had dead eyes, now they're not.'

'I am alive and it comes down to you, I love you with all my heart Charlie, with every fibre of my being,' Harry grinned hugely, then the two men sat gazing at each other. Charlie in shock because he finally understood. Harry was happy because he had the man he loved and thanks to him he would have a good life, a family, everything Harry ever wanted he would have, finally.

The end: