Chapter 16

Compassionate Ron

Of course Harry had only asked so Hermione would offer him the spare room. He'd checked and they did have one. She offered, as he knew she would, and he accepted – he hoped not too eagerly.

So they'd spend two nights and three days in each others company – Harry getting to know Jamie during the day and tossing and turning wanting to reacquaint himself with Hermione by night. He'd loved it. Even the frustration was an improvement on his usual life. But when the time was up, it was up.

He'd tried, of course, to get someone to cover for him at the ministry. There was no-one spare, he knew already, but he'd tried persistently since he learnt of Jamie - they're just wasn't anyone. So he'd had to leave.

It nearly broke him saying goodbye to Jamie and he couldn't look at Hermione's eyes; instead he prayed she wouldn't leave for America, like the brochures he'd seen in the bin. He felt the worst he'd ever felt and was more than tempted to resign from the Ministry just so he could make sure they both moved to England; to Grimmauld Place with him.

He was elated when she said yes, although it took a few minutes to sink in. But he wondered if she said yes too quick, and then regretted it. He was so scared that when he said goodbye it would be forever – it was like seventh year all over again.

When he reached his house he decided to drink. The rooms he'd cleared by magic and each looked presentable; Hermione would have his room since that would be closer to Jamie's which Harry had thoughtfully decorated in all things Quidditch, and Harry would take a room down the hall – he would have given it too Hermione but he wanted her to have the best. So now there was nothing – a few days before Hermione and Jamie would join him, no work for seven hours and nothing to fill the void.

He was halfway through the fire-whisky when a head appeared in the fire-

"So – you're bloody home then, you selfish git! – Do you know how worried I've been?" Ron Weasley's head disappeared from the fire and seconds later he appeared in the living room, in front of the fire as Harry continued to sip his drink.

Ron sighed.

"So since you didn't make the meeting in Italy, I take it you and Hermione talked?"

"Yeah"

Ron waited.

"AND!"

"Well... Hermione's moving back to England... she's coming to live here-"

"Harry that's great! Mate that's brilliant! – WOW! I knew you guys were meant to be together – its kind of like fate – don't you think!" Ron said enthusiastically. "What's the matter?" He said, when Harry remained silent.

"Nothing – just... when I went to see her I didn't expect she'd come home-"

"Me either- but she is - that should make you happy mate?" Ron said interrupting again.

"It does." Harry said. "I just wish she was coming home for me... not because she feels guilty about keeping my son from me."

From Ron's expression Harry knew he was as surprised as he'd been.

"WHAT! Your-Son?" Ron said, wide-eyed and reaching for the bottle of fire-whisky to pour himself a large drink. "Blimey... Hermione was... a son... she kept him secret? How... I mean does Ginny know? Wow-"

Harry knew he shouldn't be, but he was really irritated by Ron's babbling as he tried to piece the picture together. He sighed and continued drinking hardly listening to what Ron was saying.

"But at least she's coming home right? With her son-"

"OUR Son!" Harry interjected harshly. "He's mine too!"

"Yeah Harry. Sorry-I... its just gonna take some getting used to-you know?"

"Yeah-sorry... Just..." Harry said lifelessly.

Ron looked uncomfortable. He could see the pain in Harry's eyes and he cursed Hermione for leaving him. He just didn't know how to help.

"So... What's his name?"

"What?" Harry said coming out of his trance-like state.

"Your son – what's his name?"

Harry smiled and Ron knew then that it would be ok. "Jamie. James actually, after my Dad, but we call him Jamie. She named him after Sirius and me as well."

There was a pause. Ron smiled, he already knew Harry would continue talking; he already sounded like Ron did when he was going on about Arthur. Content. More than that; Happy. Harry's happy, Ron thought to himself, I never thought I'd see that again.

Harry was talking again, all about Jamie – what he looked like, things they'd talked about, how wonderful he was, the ways he was like Hermione and the different ways he was like Harry. Ron just smiled in amazement – he couldn't fully appreciate how much Harry had changed since meeting his child, but he knew better than to underestimate it; after all he remembered how much he changed when he found out Luna was pregnant.

Hours later, Ron finally interrupted Harry-

"So when are they arriving?"

"End of the week- three or four days Hermione said. I only left them a few hours ago and it already feels like weeks..." Harry's happy mood changed quickly. Ron saw it, but was too experienced in dealing with Harry's mood swings to take any notice-

"We'd better get this place smartened up then, hadn't we?"

"It's ok – I cleaned the rooms – they'll do." Harry said.

"Is 'just good enough' good enough for Hermione? Good enough for Jamie?" Ron asked.

"NO." Harry said, the alcohol leaving his body and being replaced by a new desire to make his house a palace. "I can tidy it though – make it really nice – I've got time."

"I'll help." Ron said simply. "But tomorrow, after work – it's too late now we need to sleep so we can at least function in a few hours time. You sleep mate – I gotta go home and explain myself – you don't mind if I tell Luna do you?"

"Course not."

"Cool – hopefully Luna will be so pleased about Jamie and Hermione moving back that she won't kill me. Even so – she's gonna be mad – she absolutely hates it when I stay out and don't tell her – makes her start talking about brains killing me and her not being there – goes on for hours I'm telling you. Count yourself lucky you don't have to explain that after half a bottle of firewhisky."

"Yeah – real lucky" Harry said quietly. Ron didn't notice the pain behind that statement.

"I'll see you first thing, assuming I'm still alive and we'll sort out the house tomorrow after work ok?"

"Yeah-Night Ron"

"Night mate"

"Hey Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks – for being a mate – it's helped talking about it."

"Don't mention it." Ron said "Just wish me luck- I'll need it."

"Good luck" Harry said, watching as Ron disappeared through the fire. Wish it was me going home to a row with the woman I love. She'll be here soon though, with your son. Wrong Potter – she's coming because of Jamie – not because she wants to be with you – she's sorry for keeping him from you – that's it. At least I'll have Jamie, he thought as sleep tugged at him, he loves me.