Authors Notes: As like the original, this too will be a long story. It will contain a lot of twists and turns along the way. It is also a very adult story, so no kids please, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Please R & R too! I love to get them! This chapter will be pretty uneventful, but it is the beginning, I promise the next chapter will begin our action. hee hee. Hope you like it!
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Chapter 2: Ron's Suprise
Ron Weasley woke up screaming as a light was turned on in his room.
"Ron! Are you alright?" said a deep voice from behind his curtains. He opened the curtains of a large four-poster bed and looked into the eyes of his best friend.
"I…. I…just had a nightmare. That's all Harry. Just a bad dream." He held his head between his hands, trying to push the images of the dream out of his mind.
"Well, you almost woke up Daniel from the west wing, that was how loud you were. I thought someone was trying to kill you. I am surprised you didn't wake up your brothers. They are right next door!"
Ron smiled weakly. "They sleep like the dead. Always have."
Harry smiled and turned to leave. Ron looked up at him. "Harry?"
"Yeah Ron?"
"Do you ever have dreams about You-Know-who?"
"Say his name Ron, he has no hold on this world anymore…"
"Fine, Voldemort. About Voldemort?"
Harry turned back and looked at Ron. "Sometimes. But I don't let them get to me anymore like I used too. Hermoine has them too, but they are not as bad as they were at first. That I am thankful for. He really left a mark on her Ron. Of all of us she was the most affected. But, it's over now, so don't worry about it."
Harry said goodnight and closed the door. Ron leaned back in his bed, thinking of the dream he had. It was so real, he thought to himself. So real…
He shook his head and turned over, falling back asleep…
The next morning Ron awoke with sharp pains in his head, like a knife was stabbing him in his forehead right into his skull. He winced and grabbed up his wand, muttering a small spell to ease the pain. Finally it took affect and he was able to stand and get dressed for breakfast. Grabbing up his robes for work, he pulled them on and looked into a mirror, taming his flaming hair. He looked at his ministry robes and smiled to himself. His work as the Head of Magical Games and Sports had made him a success in his department. He had finally done something that no one in his family had done. He was in charge of all the national and local Quidditch matches, and the national Wizard Chess tournament that had begun when he took over the department. It had become an instant hit all around the wizarding world and Ron was to thank for it. He had finally become famous, like he always wanted.
He walked down the long flight of stairs toward the hall leading to the main dining room. It was a long table with full plush chairs at each setting. It filled the large room and reminded Ron a little of the great hall at his old school. But the Hogwarts hall had an enchanted ceiling; something Albus Dumbledore did not have done in his personal manor home. Upon his death, he had given it to Harry and Hermoine in his Will. They decided in his honor not to change anything he had done with his home, and it remained the same beautiful old-fashioned manor as it always been. And he loved it that way…
He also loved the fact that Harry had insisted he and his family could live there as well, since his family was the only family Harry had ever really known and loved. The Dursleys never again contacted him after graduation, though sent him a note and a single cotton swab. The note stated that if Harry came within five hundred feet of any of them, they would send the muggle police after him. Ron thought this was awful but Harry had to laugh at them. "Like I wanted to come back to them anyway. I hope I never see them again."
Ron had never felt more at home then he now. It was like a dream he never wanted to wake from. No one made fun of his family again, nor teased him about his past of being poor. Everything was finally going well for him and his family. And soon another surprise will make their lives even better. He had a plan up his sleeve for his steady girlfriend, Lavender Brown. She had been the love of his life for almost two years now and he had planned a wonderful evening for her tonight, including all of his family and friends. It was Daniel's first birthday and it was definitely going to be eventful.
"Ron! Where are your brothers?" yelled a beautiful woman from the other end of the room. Her long dark brown hair was up in a loose bun and her cinnamon eyes looked at Ron angrily.
"What's wrong Hermione? Did they switch your wand with a fake one again?"
She snorted and placed her hands on her hips. "They switched my bag of pastries with Canary Crèmes and Daniel ate one!"
Ron tried to hold back the laughter that was about to erupt from his throat at the thought of Hermoine's son covered in feathers.
"Oh Hermione….(pfht)…. I am…so sorry!" He couldn't handle it anymore. A fit of giggles came over him and he lost it completely. Hermoine was not amused.
"I'll have you know Ron, that I had to spent half the morning picking feathers off my son and sweeping them off the kitchen floor!!"
Ron was now doubled up with laughter and didn't notice Harry had entered the room with the Weasley twins Fred and George. They all looked at Ron puzzled then to Hermione, who looked like she could spit nails.
"FRED AND GEORGE WEASLEY! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!"
They were startled at her sudden outburst and how they were immediately reminded of their own mother.
"What's the matter sweetheart?" replied Harry, walking towards Hermione. She held up her wand and pointed at her husband's chest.
"Don't you sweetheart me, Mr. Potter!" Harry now knew he was in trouble. Whenever Hermione called him Mr. Potter, he knew she was mad. And he loved it when she said it. She was so cute when she was angry.
"What happened Hermione? What did…"
"Your friends, Mr. Potter, switched my bag of pastries with Canary crèmes and Daniel ate one! I have spent the entire morning molting our son!"
Harry chuckled but quickly stopped at the look Hermoine gave him. "Oh, come on Hermoine. You know it is funny. They didn't mean any harm. Come on!"
He hugged her and she melted. She knew she couldn't stay mad at him for long.
"Oh, I…guess it was funny, but you should have seen him Harry! He was tickled pink that he was a canary. He absolutely loved it! Honestly! He is your son, always getting into trouble with a Weasley not far behind."
Harry laughed and so did Ron and the twins. Hermione left the room and went to tend to little Daniel. Harry smiled and took his seat along with his friends.
"We were hoping she would eat it, but this is even better!" snickered Fred, smacking George square on the back. Fred was already laughing so hard he was crying.
They all were laughing hysterically again by the time Ginny Weasley, Mrs. Weasley and Hermione came out of the kitchen and brought plates upon plates of wonderful breakfast items. Harry dived into a plate of his wife's wonderful cooking as he read the Daily Prophet.
"Looks like dad is making great progress with the ministry on the arrangements for the next Tri-Wizard Tournament. Wouldn't you say so mum?" remarked Ron as he looked over Harry's shoulder.
Mrs. Weasley smiled at Ron and handed Harry a plate of buttered toast. "Toast Harry dear?"
Harry took a slice and thanked her as he heard Mr. Weasley come in. He looked quite rushed as he was pulling on his robes and stuffing a piece of toast in his mouth. "I am late Molly dear. I will be home tonight for the party though."
She straightened his robes and kissed him as he headed to the study to use the main fireplace. Ron then finished his plate and stood as well. "I have to go too mum, I have a lot of work to do before Daniel's birthday party and I still have to go to Gringotts and make a withdrawal."
And with a swish of his cloak, he was gone.
"The food was excellent honey," Harry remarked to his wife as she and Ginny picked up the plates left by Ron and Mr. Weasley.
She smiled and continued until she heard two loud Pops! from across the table. She pointed and laughed as Fred and George erupted in a mess of bright yellow feathers.
"I don't get mad Harry, I get even. Hope you boys enjoyed those pancakes. Quite tasty huh?" She couldn't help but giggle as they looked at her stunned.
The rest of the day went uneventful for the Potter manor as the rest of the men and Ginny headed to work. Hermoine tended to her son as Mrs. Weasley help her with the housework. Hermoine knew she had house elves, but she always wanted to let them have a day off, and today happened to be the day. So she had her hands full with the house, the food and refreshments for tonight's party, and trying to give her son a bath. She smiled at him as she walked into the nursery. He was crawling around in his playpen that her parents had given him for Christmas and smiling brightly. He was so cute, she thought to herself. The dark hair and bright green eyes looked so much like his father's but his facial features, not to mention his quick wit, came from his mother.
"How are you today Daniel?" she said as she picked up her squirmy boy. He cooed and laughed as she tickled him. He held onto her close as she placed him on the changing table.
She was so happy. Her son was the most precious thing Harry could ever have given her. She spent the rest of the day playing with her son and preparing for his first birthday party.
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After a long day at the ministry, Ron left and headed to Hogsmeade to pick a present for Daniel and something for Lavender. He arrived in Hogsmeade about an hour before the party and went into the jewelry shop.
"Well, if it isn't Arthur's son! How are you Ron?" the owner said. He was an old man with a short beard and barely any hair. He smiled at him and handed Ron a small package. Ron nodded and gave him a bag of Galleons and left the shop, heading to the toy story for Daniel.
"I hope she will like it," he thought to himself as he picked up Daniel's gift and headed home.
Ron arrived in the fireplace to a room full of people. His entire family was there including Percy, Charlie, and Bill. Fred and George were showing Charlie and Bill new catalogs of products they had invented for their shops. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Inc. was one of the biggest joke shop circles in the wizarding world. Harry's prize money from the Tri-Wizard Tournament he gave them in his fourth year had went a long way.
"I don't find a fire breathing every-flavor bean funny at all George!" remarked Percy, who was still steaming a little from the ears. They were still laughing at him.
"Who told you to take one? You know better than that Percy!" laughed George.
"I thought you would have grown up some over the years George!" He stomped his foot and went to another room, a trail of smoked following him.
Ron stepped out of the fireplace and dusted himself off as he notice the staff of Hogwarts had arrived too. Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Hagrid were all talking with some friends from his years at Hogwarts. Lavender was among the huddle, as beautiful as ever. He was starting to get nervous now as he looked at her. Her long hair and gorgeous eyes was making him melt on the spot. His attention then turned to Harry and Hermione as they entered the room with their son.
"Thank you all for coming!" Harry spoke, smiling to the room.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," replied Remus. Every nodded and mumbled in agreement. Daniel cooed and began reaching out to the crowd. Hermione knew he was about to say something, something that was going to bug her. For months now she had tried to get her son to say mommy or daddy but the first and only word he knew was…
"Sevry! Sevry!" he yelled, reaching for Severus Snape. Snape smiled and took his godson into his arms.
"Of all the words he had to say first…" Harry grumbled. Snape could only smile and shrug as he tickled the little boy in his arms. His whole persona changed into that of a normal happy man when Daniel was with him. But he kept his old ice-cold ways any other time. It was quite interesting.
Hermoine came in with the cake and everyone was amazed. It was about eight layers with mounds of silvery icing that was showing pictures of Daniel's life for the past year. The enchanted icing got a lot of approvals as the cake was passed around.
"You have outdone yourself Hermione!" mumbled Sirius through a bite of the moist cake. Hermione could only smile as she served out the slices.
Ron enjoyed his as well, though his mind was somewhere else. He was about to do something that would change his life forever, but he had to wait for the right moment.
The perfect moment….
They all moved into the ballroom which was decked out in birthday decorations and tiny fairies flying this way and that humming happy birthday and filling the air with sparkles.
Daniel was placed amongst a pile of presents by Severus and preceded to tear through them happily. Snape helped him a little as toys begin to appear on the table in heaps. Remus moved to the center of the room with a goblet in his hand.
"A toast. To Harry and Hermoine! May their son have many more wonderful birthdays before all of his family and friends!"
Everyone drank as Sirius moved to Remus, taking his goblet. "Now, I think the parents shall entertain us with a dance. Sirius, play that muggle song Hermione likes so much on that contraption she bought."
Hermoine had to laugh at Remus's words. The 'contraption' was a Stereo that she had magically altered after she bought it to play any song she wanted on command. Sirius pointed his wand at it and the song, "Truly, Madly, Deeply," by Savage Garden began to play. Harry grasped Hermoine's hand and they began to slow dance to the song that brought her so much happiness.
Ron watched them dance and finally realized that this was his moment. He winked at Remus and Sirius and they smiled. They knew what he had planned.
"Lavender…. er…. would you like to dance too?" he mumbled, stumbling on his words. She smiled and he guided her out to where Harry and Hermoine were. She placed her arms around his neck as they moved slowly across the floor.
After a few minutes the song was over and was replaced by another. This one was "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You," by the same muggle group. Ron smiled as he looked into Lavender's eyes. Muggle song or not, it was his favorite. Suddenly, he stopped dancing and kissed her. She held him close and as he pulled away, he took her hands into his. "Lavender, I love you so much."
"I love you too Ron."
He was shaking now. Why did he have to turn red when he was nervous?
"I…. I have never loved anyone as I do you. You have been my life and everything my life stands for. I would have been lost without you so many times. You were there when I came back from the final battle. You were there when I began my career. You were there through everything. You have been with me and beside me for so long, that I could not imagine life without you. And like the song says, I have been waiting all my life for you. I KNEW I loved you for many, many years. And will you, Lavender Brown..…."
All eyes were on him as he dropped to one knee slowly in front of her.
"Complete my life…" He pulled out a small box and opened it, revealing a large Amethyst ring, her favorite stone.
"By becoming my wife?" He held out the ring to her, looking into her eyes.
The room was completely silent as they all waited…
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I am sorry! I am vicious! I know! Please don't hate me! It's just that the answer will fit so much better in the next chapter. What will Lavender say? Well, I will update as soon as I can, remember, it may be further between since I have been so busy, but I will let you know! PLEASE R & R! Love to get them!
