Hermione's screams echoed throughout the hallway. Quite a while later, Ginny walked out of Hermione's room to a crowd of anxious eyes. Everyone was sitting in the lobby, pacing, peering and twiddling their thumbs. When Ginny came in they all stood up almost naturally.

She was grinning from ear to ear, "It was beautiful...and it's a BOY!" she said, wiping a tear from her eye. They all started cheering and chattering. Miralda's frazzled expression came around the corner. She hissed at them to keep their voices down.

Mrs. Granger held Ginny's hand, "Can I see my new grandson and my daughter?" Ginny nodded ushering them all to the room. Hermione hugged her mother with one arm as she came to her. She held her new baby boy with the other arm and kissed him softly, tears leaking out of the corner of her eyes. Victoria, Isabelle and James were close by, ogling at the new arrival. Victoria planted dozens of kisses on her brother's small cheek and triumphed.

"I told you Mummy! It is a boy!" she said lifting up her chin defiantly. Hermione nodded, thinking that she had a fifty-fifty chance anyways. Hermione gave the baby to Ron, who held his son, wrapped in a fuzzy blue blanket. He stared at him with the most love a father could give a child. He held his little finger and smiled.

Hr. Bitmop smiled, "Hermione was great, she would get an 'outstanding' were this a test! Congratulations to all," he said warmly and left the room.

Hermione beamed and Mrs. Weasley herself was on the brink of tears, "So, what did you name him then?" she asked looking at both of them simultaneously. Ron looked up from the baby and looked at Hermione and smiled.

She returned his smile and cleared her throat, "Well, we named him Andrew, after Ron's grandfather," she said, rubbing his arm. Mrs. Weasley let out an exclamation of joy.

Ron puffed out his chest, "The name Andrew means strong, manly and courageous, wicked eh?" he stated, looking at Fred and George.

Fred laughed, "Yeah, I hope he's more manly than you...I think Ron means 'Dainty git,' he said snorting.

Ron narrowed his eyes, "Yes have your laugh...I'm too excited right now." The nurse Miralda came in.

"Hello dears, I'm afraid that I'll have to take the wee one to the baby room now," she said, extending her arms. Ron nodded and handed the baby to her. She smiled and walked out, cradling him carefully. Ron walked over to Hermione, sat there for a while and just hugged her.

He kissed her forehead looked into her eyes, "I love you," he said stroking her cheek.

"I love you too," she replied, holding his hand. Some time later, a loud crack delivered Harry. He was out of breath and looked panic-stricken.

"Where...is...your son?" he said between gasps.

Ron looked up, "How'd you know? He was just delivered!"

Harry raised his voice, "Where is he!" he said, his nostrils flaring dangerously.

Ron was taken aback, "In the baby room," he said quietly , "...what's up mate?" he finished, staring at Harry's odd behaviour. A worried look came over Hermione, as the atmosphere became foreboding. Harry darted out of the room, Ron at his heels. Harry didn't stop till he reached the baby room. He looked frantically at Ron.

"Ron is your son in here?" he asked quickly. Ron looked around the room and he saw the baby basket for 'Weasley.' It was empty.

"No, he's not here," Ron said, a lump forming in his throat. Harry dashed off and spoke to the nurse.

"Where is the Weasley's son?" he asked loudly.

She looked surprised, "Well, I thought you knew? Your father—," she pointed at Ron, "took him out of here a while ago...said the mother wanted him."

Ron gulped, "Harry...dad's in Hermione's room…so then who…" he trailed off, looking at Harry wearily.

Harry slapped a hand to his forehead and sighed deeply, "Okay, Ron, listen, I went to check out the paper with the wounded tree at the ministry. It was tested for hexes and things and well...when we were testing it, it started to bleed again, but this time...it was bleeding words on the back—"He who is born tonight is the one with the power to reign." I immediately thought of Victoria and Nick telling her omens. I think your son is in dan—," he stopped when they both turned around to loud breathing. Hermione stood there behind them, breathing heavily, her face white and terror in her eyes. She felt like someone had clutched her heart. Ron immediately reached out to her. She pushed him away, the gasps of air now colliding with her choking sobs.

"Where did they take him!" She screeched, staring madly into Harry's eyes. Harry looked down at the floor.

Ron spoke to her gently, "Come here my love it'll be alright." She kept backing away and yelling over and over again for her child.

"Where...oh god...my poor Andrew," she whispered, the tears started to flow like a dam being released. She buried her face in her hands crying, taking large gasps of air. She was trembling. Ron ran to her and pulled her against him, not allowing her to go. She eventually gave in sobbed on his chest, her hands around his neck. He stroked her hair and back, gently soothing her and consoling her. The sobs died down and she was somewhat calm. He led her back to the room and sat her down on the bed. He told the elders what happened in a hushed voice, and ordered them to stay with her. Ron went back outside to Harry who was leaning his face against a room window. It felt cool on his hot cheeks and forehead.

"Harry, tell me something, anything...what do we do?" Ron asked, clearly shaking himself.

Harry turned around and put a hand on Ron's shoulder, "You know that you guys are like my family and I'd do anything for you."

Ron gave a half-smile, "Yeah and you've been great mate. By the way, we named him Andrew."

Harry looked at him, his heart aching for his friends' pain, "I know it hardly seems appropriate but congratulations…" he said hugging him, solemnly. Ron thanked him, and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"We just don't know where to start...I mean, who took your son? And what do they want with him? It just doesn't make any sense..." Harry said exasperatedly.

Ron pressed his fingers against his temples. It was hard for him to think like Harry, like an Auror, "Okay, so we know that there's this Nick fellow, that talks to Victoria and tells her things that are to happen. And every time he hears something new the tree bleeds right? and now—what was it—someone born tonight with powers to reign...what does that mean?" Ron said, raising a hand in the air.

Harry looked furtively at Ron, "It means that a baby that was born tonight, your son, has the capacity to be a great ruler. But then, how is that and Nick connected?" He strained, racked his brains but...nothing.

"He asked me questions...about mummy..." said a quiet voice behind them. Ron and Harry simultaneously turned around, staring down into the face of Victoria.

She continued, "He told me mummy was having a baby...and you told me she was going to, Daddy...and then he said that she was going to have a boy...and I believed him—I told you didn't I daddy?" she said frowning.

Ron knelt down infront of her, "Yes you did honey and I was wrong not to believe you."

She smiled, "It's okay," she said twirling a loose strand of hair in her fingers. Harry came down beside Ron and coaxed Victoria into telling him more.

"Well, he said that bad things were going to happen, the tree was bleeding again...and that someone was to hurt our family. But he said he'd keep us safe, Uncle Harry...and I believed him, so I didn't tell you...and now baby Andrew's gone!" Her mouth trembled as she spoke.

Harry shook his head, "It wasn't your fault love, there are bad people in this world...did—Nick tell you anything else?" he asked, grasping as straws.

She shook her head and looked at him, "Why don't you talk to him?" Harry and Ron exchanged glances.

"Is Nick..a boy?" Ron asked, looking in her eyes.

Victoria nodded, "Just a little boy."

Ron strained to understand, "But...where does he-he—live?" he questioned, his head hurting.

She chewed her lip, "Erm...he just talks to me, sometimes in my mirror and sometimes he appears in my closet. He's really nice you know?"

Ron sighed, "He may not be darling, next time you see him, you call Uncle Harry or me alright?" he told her clearly. She furiously nodded and headed back into the room.

Harry held his chin, "Hm...if we can get this boy to talk to us, we might just save Andrew, "Harry thought hard, "I don't know whether to say this Nick child is good or evil...I'll send an owl to the ministry right away, you go with your wife—and don't leave my best friend alone for a minute." He smirked and walked down to the hospital's owlery. Ron walked into Hermione's room, reluctant to see everyone's faces. They all looked at him for answers.

"Harry's looking into it...it'll be okay," he said lamely, not wanting them to be scared.

Mr. Weasley got up, "Well, good god, it has been a day hasn't it? Shall I take the children home Ron? Ginny?"

Ron ran a hand through his hair, "Yeah...just keep with them all the time."

Arthur Weasley smiled, "They didn't make me Minister of Magic for nothing you know?" Ron nodded. The room slowly emptied until only Ron, Hermione and Ginny were left. Ginny, sensing that they wanted some time got up. Hermione looked up from her tear-streaked face.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

Ginny pointed at the door, "I think I'll go see Harry, where is he?"

"In the Owlery," Ron answered. Ginny left and Ron hugged his wife. They both lay on the bed while he held her twitching figure. She let out a tear now and then.

Ron kissed her forehead, "It'll be okay love, if anything, Harry'll find our son...I know he will."

Ron hugged his wife as Harry turned around to see his. Ginny's silky red hair swished around her shoulders as she walked to Harry. Dozens of different owls fluttered in and out of the windows of the Owlery. She said nothing, and simply wrapped her arms around him, sighing deeply. They just stood there for a minute of two, calming their nerves.

Ginny looked up into Harry's sullen green eyes, "Hermione told me what happened...it's horrible," she painfully said. Harry broke away from her and sat down on a bench, burying his face in his hands. He let out a long breath, then resting his chin on his hand, he motioned for Ginny to sit beside him. She walked over and sat next to him.

Harry held her hand and stared at the floor, "You know, Ron is my best mate and so is Hermione. I feel just like I did when I saw you lying in the chamber of secrets...tense...I just have to find Andrew and...I just have to," he repeated, his eyes focused on the window. He had the sort of look where you could tell his brain was in overdrive, but he didn't show it in his eyes.

"I know, I know Harry," Ginny soothed, "and you will...my heart tells me that you'll go to any lengths to save our new godson." Harry looked at her in amazement.

"Oh, did Ron not tell you? Yes, they made us his godparents," she said warmly. Harry smiled weakly. Ginny paused for a few moments.

"So, what do you think of everything? Who has taken baby Andrew?" she asked, not knowing how much Harry would tell her.

Harry bit his lower lip, "Well, I think there's more to that tree...and Nick...it's all so confusing. I really need to keep a close watch on Victoria. Maybe we should stay with them for a while."

Ginny nodded in agreement, "Definitely, I think Hermione could use my help. And you could watch over Vi—" At that moment, a fluttering grey owl came swooping in and landed on Harry's lap. Harry pet the massive bird and untied the letter from its leg. He scanned it, his eyes darting from one side to the other. He stared straight ahead after reading it, hardly breathing at all.

He looked at Ginny, "The ministry is notified of the disappearance and I need to go at once to meet with the other Aurors."

"Do you have to go now?" Ginny asked.

Harry nodded, "Yeah I do...the bleeding paper is gone, it's disintegrated." Ginny covered her open mouth as she gasped. And just like that, Harry was gone in a loud crack that made the birds twitch.