Chapter twelve

Harry and Charlie both walked up to James' room, 'Still reading I see,' Harry smiled as he sat on the bed beside his son.

James stared into his dad's eyes, 'You're a hero, why didn't you ever tell me about all this?'

Charlie could tell Harry was feeling a little uncomfortable, 'Your dad doesn't see himself as a hero, he never has. But he has never liked to talk about himself or what he had been through. You would have read by where you are in that book that his life was always hard and always painful, very sad in a lot of ways. Usually when we were all together, it was Hermione or Ron that would talk about your dad, he never liked to.'

'You said earlier that you knew you would have to tell me, when?'

'Probably soon, you look so much like me James that if anyone spotted you they would know who you were and you would have heard them say things about me. I always thought around nine or ten maybe, but you are so smart, so intelligent that I knew it was going to be a lot sooner than that. But I will answer your questions son, not tonight, it's late, but tomorrow if you want to talk about any of this, then we'll sit down together and talk.'

'You won't keep anything else from me?'

'No, nothing,' Harry leant forward and placed a kiss on his son's forehead, 'This,' Harry lifted his hair, 'You've seen it, I normally cover it, but you notice me doing it and you asked me about it. Now you know why but there's a lot more I'll tell you.'

'So have you and father worked things out?'

'We're getting there James. The main thing with us, your dad has to feel like he can trust me again. That is a big thing for your dad, trust. I never broke that trust, I just never talked to your dad about what I was feeling.'

Harry stared at his son, 'You were listening, weren't you?'

James nodded, 'I had to know, I was hearing all this stuff about someone I don't know, my dad, that has this whole other life and another father that you still love, I just had to know.'

Harry ran his hand down his son's hair, 'You do and it was a good way to hear things that Charlie and I might not have said if we knew you were there. Just know we both love you, I've told you so many times that you are the most important person in my life, that is still true, nothing will change that. But I do love Charlie and he loves me, so if this works it will be the three of us, there will be times when Charlie and I will want to spend time alone, I don't want you to feel left out in any way. But now though James, you have a large family to spend time with and not feel so isolated from people.'

'Do we live like this because you didn't want father to find you?'

'Partly and part is to do with how I'm thought of by others. I have been talked about and stared at since I first set foot in the magical world. I hate it, but I did get used to it. You can see by those early pictures how uncomfortable I was having my picture taken. But it's late, Charlie has to get back to Hogwarts and you need to sleep,' Harry took the book from his son's reluctant hands, closed it and placed it on the bedside, 'You can read again tomorrow.'

'Okay, so are you going to swim before you go to sleep?'

'I always do, but now sleep, I love you James,' Harry kissed his head.

'I love you too dad,' James looked up at Charlie and gave him a small shy smile.

Charlie smiled down at his son then kissed his head, 'It's fine James, just know I love you, but that doesn't mean you have to love me. Get to know me first, okay?'

'Okay and I can see you're a nice man as long as you treat dad good, then I'm fine with you.'

'He really does say what he thinks and feels,' Charlie smiled, 'I will see you the day after, tomorrow night I have to patrol and have two detentions to deal with.'

'Okay, night father, night dad,' James moved down into the bed and let his dad cover him then extinguish the lights.

Harry and Charlie left the room, closing the door behind them then headed back downstairs.

'I suppose you should go.'

'James said you swim before you go to sleep.'

'I swim every night, it's been my way to exhaust myself so I can sleep.'

'Let me swim with you then I'll go?'

Harry stared into Charlie's brown eyes, 'Okay,' he gave a small smile then headed down another corridor and unsealed the door, 'I keep this sealed, James is a good swimmer, but he knows not to swim without me being here. There's shorts in the small room over there, you might have to enlarge them to fit. I'll just change,' Harry moved into another small changing room then took a deep breath, 'Charlie,' he said to himself, then stripped off and pulled his shorts on then stepped out and saw Charlie standing in the shallow end of the pool. Harry takes another deep breath then dives in and swims towards him but when he opens his eyes before he surfaces he notices that Charlie is naked. He comes up quickly and stares at Charlie, then they were in each other's arms and Harry's shorts had disappeared, 'Oh god Charlie.'

'Please don't stop this, don't think, feel baby,' Charlie started to kiss Harry's neck as his hand circled him, 'See, your body is telling you it wants me.'

'I do, I just don't know if we should. But you know what Charlie, I can't fight this, fight you. Sit on the edge, I need you.'

Charlie smiled then lifted himself up and sat on the edge of the pool with his legs in the water and he instantly moved them apart. He watched Harry stare at him then looked up into his eyes before he stepped between Charlie's legs. Harry's mouth closed around him and sucked, he sucked hard, holding his hips tight, his fingernails digging into his flesh. Charlie knew Harry wasn't going to stop, he fisted Harry's hair and just felt his head moving back and forth. Harry sucked hard and fast, his tongue circling the whole time then Charlie threw back his head as he let go with a loud groan. But Charlie didn't stop, he jumped off the edge and lifted Harry onto it and pushed his legs apart and instantly closed his mouth around Harry's erection and he suck, hard. Both men knew this is what they wanted, they wanted to feel each other. They wanted that to prove they were really there, together. So even though Charlie had a long day tomorrow, he was going to have a long night first.

Over the next week, Harry sat with James and talked about his life. Since James was intelligent, he didn't leave anything out, he explained everything. Harry spoke about things that he never thought he would, but he knew he couldn't leave anything out. Charlie had visited twice in that week and both times they had ended up in Harry's bed. Harry had given Charlie a note giving permission for the family to get through his enchantments whether by apparition or by the floo.

James was sitting on the floor with Padfoot while Harry and Charlie sat on the settee watching their son play with the large dog, when the fireplace turned green. Hermione and Ron stepped out first, then one by one all the Weasley's and their children arrived, but so did Neville, Hannah and Luna. Neville raced over to Harry and hugged him the moment he stood up then Luna did, then Hannah.

'When Hermione let me know you were back I almost fainted,' Neville said softly.

'Yeah, I've wanted to come back for a while, I just couldn't,' Harry shrugged, 'James,' Harry called and his son stood beside him, 'These are more friends of mine, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and Hannah Abbott.'

'Luna Scamander and Hannah Longbottom Harry,' Neville grinned before staring down at the boy, 'Hello James, if you had black hair, you'd be identical to your father,' Neville stuck his hand out.

James looked up at his dad who nodded, so he shook his hand, 'Hi,' he said shyly, 'you killed the snake.'

'Snake,' Neville looked at Harry.

'He's been reading about everything.' Harry shrugged.

'Oh, yes, I did, you're dad told me too.'

Luna knelt down and stared at James, 'You are very wise, smart and very brave, like your dad. Do you know I'm mad at your dad, he made me sad and I don't like to be sad.'

'Dad was always sad, you're very pretty.'

'Thank you and you are cute.'

Harry noticed the other kids staring at Padfoot, 'He's gentle, he won't hurt you, Padfoot,' Harry called then walked him slowly towards the kids, 'James used to ride him when he was little.'

'He still could, that dog is enormous,' George said as he watched his son and daughter pat the dog.

'Yep, he is, I knew he would be big when I bought him though. Let's get everyone a drink and then I'll show you around and the horses of course,' Harry gave everyone a smile then went to his kitchen, poured juice for all the kids and made tea for all the adults.

'This is a big house Harry, why did you want something so big?' Ron asked as he looked around.

'I can't really say why I wanted it so big, but there's an indoor pool at one end, the library which is about the size of this room. There's an office, dining room, another living room and four bedrooms, then a room that I use to work out in,' Harry heard a couple of the kids laugh which made him smile, 'They seem to get over their fear of Padfoot.'

'Kids will pretty easily,' Bill said, 'There's a lot of land by the look of it.'

'Twenty acres, surrounded in trees, there's another pool outside.'

'Okay, well, we're all here, but where is here?' Hermione asked.

'The outskirts of Godric's Hollow.'

'Harry said he didn't want to cut himself off from everything or everyone,' Charlie gave him a smile, 'That's where he went when he first left, to his parent's house.'

'But that would have been dangerous Harry, the roof is down in there,' Molly said anxiously.

'It wasn't that bad actually, but I put a couple of charms on my old room, sealed it and only used the bottom part of the house and the spare bedroom. If you look around, you'll see a lot of pictures, I brought them from the house. But there's a lot of things here that belonged to my parents. Like my tea pot, that was my mothers, some of her crystal is here, my father's desk and their books are here.'

'So if we're in Godric's Hollow, how is it that you didn't know about the statue?' George asked.

'I never went into town after I left that house. James and I always went to muggle towns to shop. That's basically how we lived, like muggles, but sometimes I went into magical town, not often though.'

As the adults talked, they watched the children with the large black dog. But one thing all the adults noticed was Charlie seemed at home at Harry's house, so they knew the two men had been spending a lot of time together. After a cup of tea, Harry led everyone outside and down to the stables. James automatically saddled Spooky, a large grey horse, Harry saddled the other three, then between all the adults the kids had a ride on the horses. Harry ended up on a large black horse, left the others with their kids and raced James down to the end of the paddock and back making everyone smile, but they noticed Charlie looked wistful.

'Okay Charlie, you're turn,' Harry handed the reins to him.

'Um, I've never ridden a horse.'

'Well Trumpet is well trained, he won't bolt on you. Maybe you want me to go with you?' Harry smirked thinking about Charlie, a dragon handler that looked nervous at the idea of riding a horse.

'I know what you're thinking Harry, I can handle dragons and I'm worried about a horse,' Charlie shakes his head, then slowly and clumsily gets up on the horse, 'I've never ridden a dragon either.'

'Well, I have, horses are better. But so you feel safe, I'll use Spooky and stay with you,' Harry turned to his son, 'We'll be right back son.'

'Okay, make sure father doesn't slip sideways.'

Charlie stared down at James but saw the same cheeky smile that Harry gets sometimes.

'I noticed Charlie, Harry tried that look on me, James is doing the same to you,' Hermione smirked.

'Yeah, he is, they are so alike,' Charlie shakes his head in amusement then slowly walks off with Harry beside him.

'I was reading about dad flying the dragon out of Gringotts with Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron.'

'That was Aunt Hermione's idea, but it all worked out in the end. So how are you feeling now you're reading everything your father has done?' Ron asked.

'It's sad, I keep wondering how he didn't ended up going crazy with all he went through. But did his aunt and uncle really do that to him?'

'Yes, they did, we never knew until we were twelve. You would have read in the book that uncle George, his twin Fred and I flew my father's car to surrey because we hadn't heard from your dad. There were bars on the windows that we pulled off with the car. When we got home to the Burrow, mum yelled at us, then I told her how they had Harry locked up and were starving him. Mum instantly hugged Harry then made him have four helpings of breakfast.'

'That's probably why dad tells me to finish all my dinner, he doesn't like it when I say I'm full or I don't like something. He never yells at me or anything, but he gets this look that tells me he's not happy.'

'We've seen that look James,' Hermione gave the boy a kindly smile, 'So has your father been staying here or just visiting?' Hermione saw everyone glance towards her and knew she was fishing for information but it seems James knew what she was doing as well.

'He's stayed twice because I went to go into my dad's bedroom but it was locked, he never locks his bedroom door.'

'At least he locked it,' Molly said.

'So how are you and your father getting on now James?' Arthur asked.

'He's nice and funny, he's been telling me about the dragons he used to work with. I would love to see a real dragon, so father said he might work it out so I can go visit where he used to work. Dad's not too happy about that though.'

'Not happy about what son?' Harry asked as he climbed down off the horse, then laughed as Charlie climb down off the horse then he ended up falling on his backside. But everyone laughed as they saw Charlie sitting on the ground.

James walked over to his father, took his hand and helped him to his feet, 'Did you hurt yourself father?'

'Not really James, just my pride, but your dad could have warned me.'

'Where's the fun in that,' Harry smirked, 'So James, what wasn't I happy about?'

'That father said he would work out for me to see a dragon.'

Harry grimaced, making everyone laugh, 'I've had two bad dealing with dragons, I don't fancy a third,' Harry waved his hand and tables and chairs flew towards them, 'Can you sit Charlie or is your arse too sore?'

'Harry, language,' Hermione scolded.

'Sorry, it's hard to remember there are other kids around. James has heard me let loose a lot, but he knows not to say those words.'

'So when you cursed Charlie's name and pictures you swore at them as well?' George raised his eyebrows.

'Yep, a lot too.'

'And no, it's fine Harry,' Charlie smirked.

'That's not what I meant Charlie.'

'So Charlie thought you were asking for a specific reason,' Ron chuckled.

'Dad and father like to have sex, so father probably did.'

'James,' Harry shook his head, 'Private remember.'

'Sorry dad, but it's true.'

'He's right, it is true,' Charlie grinned.

'Yes, James was just telling us that he went to go into your room but it was locked and you never lock the door,' Hermione said.

'Okay, Charlie has stayed, twice.'

'You said no and now you are, what changed?' Bill stared over at Charlie.

'Charlie,' Harry shrugged, 'I swim every night, it's been the only way I can sleep. So Charlie decided to swim with me that first night, but he had other plans.'

'I was standing in the pool, naked.'

'No details Charlie,' Molly stared around at all the children.

'So you couldn't resist Charlie or just decided to change your mind?' Ron asked.

'I couldn't fight it anymore, so we've been doing a lot of talking, working things out,' Harry gazed at Charlie then down at James.

'What, we know that look Harry, what's going on?' Hermione asked.

'I'm giving up teaching, I've already told Minerva so she's got a few months to find a replacement.'

'But you love teaching, I'm sure you could work out times to be here with James and Harry,' Molly said.

'I could have but I didn't want to, I want to be here always, but there's more,' Charlie took Harry's hand in his, 'I'm pregnant.'

'Already?' Ron blurted out. Everyone went over to congratulate Charlie, Harry and James, they noticed James looked happy about having another brother or sister.

'When Charlie told me I was shocked, then angry then I just finally gave in.'

'Why were you angry?' Fleur asked.

'I just thought it was too soon, we still have a lot of talking to do.'

'So father didn't do the charms then he bottomed it to make sure he did,' James said straight forward.

Harry closed his eyes for a minute, 'Yes, he did but I didn't know you read about that James.'

'I read about everything including gay sex.'

'I think you're a bit young to be reading about sex, any type of sex,' Molly said but smiled kindly at her grandson.

'He is but that's just James, if he hears about something he has to read everything there is about that and his memory is like Hermione's.'

'He definitely doesn't get that from Charlie,' Ginny smirked.

'Hey, I am a teacher at Hogwarts little sister, so I do have some smarts.'

'You're very smart,' Harry smiled.

'Is that all I am, smart?' Charlie raised his eyebrows.

'Smart, funny, gorgeous, sexy, insufferable, rash, stubborn, you have a wide range of things that make you who you are, someone I love.'

All the Weasley's, their partners and their children all watched Harry and Charlie as they stared at each other. James smiled watching his parents because he could see like everyone else how much his dad and father loved each other. But James now knew he would have a family, two parents and either a brother or a sister, lots of aunts and uncle, cousins and there would be more of them, a lot more. Even though he loves his dad, it has been a bit lonely, now he has this huge family and it's just going to get bigger and he loved it.

'So apart from Ginny and Seamus, who are still yet to give us a grandchild, we're about to have another grandchild. Are you going to find out what you're having?' Molly asked.

'We're talking about it, haven't decided yet. There is one thing we've decided to do and would like to next week, with just the family and a few close friends,' Charlie said as Harry sat on his lap.

Hermione could see the look on Harry and Charlie's face, James smiled at both his fathers.

'Oh, I know what you want to do.'

Harry and Charlie laughed, 'Then if you do why don't you tell everyone miss no it all,' Harry smirked.

Hermione scowled, 'Don't call me that Harry.'

'Oh Hermione, you should be used it to by now. How often did you tell me to stop getting upset or angry about the names I've been called, you don't take your own advice.'

'He's right Mione, you used to tell Harry that all the time, but you don't ignore it and it's not like Harry means it in a bad way. He's teasing you like he's always done,' Ron slipped his arm around his wife's waist.

'Ron's right, you know I wouldn't say anything hurtful Hermione.'

'Alright, I know you wouldn't, but others did say that in a hurtful way, so it became a habit to get angry when I hear it.'

'Tell us what Harry and Charlie want to do?' Neville asked.

'They want to get married,' Hermione smiled at her friend who nodded before he wrapped his arms around Charlie's neck, then stared into each other's eyes.

The family could see Harry healing before their eyes, he's eyes lit up where a week ago they were dull unless he looked at James. Harry's whole demeanour has changed, from quiet and cautious back to his normal self. As Albus Dumbledore said so many times, if you have love, everything else can be worked out because love is the most powerful magic there is.

Harry has finally given into that love but more importantly, he has forgiven Charlie. They knew that Charlie got pregnant for two reason, naturally he wanted a child, but it was his way of showing Harry he was with him for good, that he could completely trust Charlie. Everyone that knew Harry knew he was big on trust, once he had that, Harry Potter was you're friend, for life.

The end: