Disclaimer: Yes I own Harry Potter . . . Ok not really.
Voldyismoldy: thank you for all of the reviews and alerts and favorites. I still can't get over how many people like this story its amazing and I am deeply grateful to everyone reading this story and my other ones. I am sorry it took so long to update this chapter and my other stories but I have been busy job searching and helping my brother and sister-in-law get their new house ready for them to move into so I haven't had much time to write. But now here it is the chapter you have all been asking for and dying to read the meeting of Ron and his infant son! What's going to happen you will just have to find out by reading so let the chapter begin.
Warning: Ron and probably Hermione too.
Chapter 9. A Father After All.
The last two weeks of the holidays passed far to quickly for Harry who wasn't at all sure that he was ready to return to school. He no longer flinched when others touched him but he was still uncomfortable with it and the only one he felt truly safe with was Draco but he was getting better slowly. With the help of Snape and the others he was beginning to believe that what had happened to him wasn't his fault and that he didn't deserve it, that his uncle was just a very sick man who had no right to do that to him.
It was still hard for him to fully believe it but he was trying to for Draco's sake and for his son's who needed an emotionally healthy and available father. Siri was his greatest joy though he only beat Draco by a little and he loved to watch him grow. The child had begun crawling just before they were to go to the school and he loved watching him scoot around on the floor, Draco did to though he tried to deny it saying it was unbecoming of a Malfoy or a Black to be amused by such things.
They returned to the school the day before the students were to return in order to give them a chance to settle in before everyone else arrived. Harry was welcomed back warmly by the teachers who were glad he had returned to the school where he belonged and fell instantly in love with his son. Siri giggled happily as he was passed from one teacher to the next while Harry watched them carefully not wanting his child to be accidentally harmed with the passing.
Once everyone had seen and held Siri he was given back to his father and McGongall lead him and Draco and Narcissa along with Snape to the rooms they would be using. She lead them to an area near the dungeons and stopped before a portrait of one of the old potions masters. The headmistress said the password of poly juice, as that was what this potion master was face for and lead them into a cozy looking sitting room that had four doors leading to other rooms.
"These are the old rooms of one of the greatest potions master Augustus Prince, ancestor of our own potion master Severus who suggested these rooms for you." Minerva told him as he stared around the room in awe. It was of course done up in Slytherin colors of green and silver but Harry found he didn't mind after spending so much time with Slytherins the last few weeks. "Augustus was also one of the youngest potion masters and lived here with his family for sometime which is why he didn't use the rooms Severus does now. There are three bedrooms one of which has been made into a children's room complete with play area and a bathroom. More than enough room for you and Narcissa and your son."
"This is wonderful professor thank you," Harry told her as he walked around the room that consisted of a small kitchen area, a fireplace where a fire had been made, a table with several chairs, a couch and a couple of arm chairs by the fire. "Which room is which?"
"The room on the far right is yours Harry and right next to it is the one for Siri so you'll be able to hear him at night," The professor explained leading him over to the rooms. "Next to his is the bathroom and then the room Narcissa will be staying in and I hope they are all to your satisfaction."
"I am sure they will be Minerva as I recall the rooms here have always been quite comfortable here," Narcissa told her before disappearing into her room. The house elves had already brought up their things for them and put them in the appropriate rooms.
"Well I will just leave you to get settled then Harry and please let me know if you or your son need anything I will be happy to get it for you or help in any way I can." The woman told him before leaving the room to let him explore the rest on his own.
Harry nodded and then decided to go into the nursery first as Siri would need a nap now and was amazed by what he saw. The crib had been moved there from his room at Black manor and each teacher seemed to have bought a toy or book of some kind for the baby filling the room and bookshelf. Harry was deeply touched and made a note to thank them all as he put his son to bed draping the Weasley blanket over him. After he got him to bed he left the room and found Draco and Snape there waiting for him.
"Thank you Sev for letting me and my son use these rooms there wonderful," Harry told him gratefully as he joined them in the main room.
"It is quite all right I am sure my ancestor would be happy to know his rooms are being used again," Severus told him with a small smile of his own that surprised both of them as he wasn't one to smile often. "Now I need to return to my rooms and my lab there are some lesson plans and potions I need to finish before school begins tomorrow. Send for me if you are in need of anything both of you."
"We will Sev we promise," Draco told him and Harry nodded in agreement before the man left leaving them alone together. "Well Harry why don't we check out your room now then."
Harry agreed and they went into his room where they found a large bed, bigger than the one he had in the dorms, and a bookshelf full of books. His trunk was at the foot of the bed and the elves had already put his clothes in the closet. The room had been in the red and gold colors of Gryffindor and Harry was sure Severus had changed it for him to make him feel more at home. It was wonderful and Harry loved it.
He turned to Draco and grinned his delight and the taller boy smiled at him before wrapping his arms around him. Only a few weeks ago this simple action would have sent him running into the nearest corner, shaking, but now he relaxed into the embrace feeling safe and wanted. He didn't even get upset when the boy kissed him and not a chaste kiss but a deep passionate one that sent them falling back onto the bed. He wasn't even afraid then and even though he knew he wasn't ready to do anything else with Draco yet he was sure he would be soon as he continued to heal.
XeXeXeXeXeXeXeXeXeX
The term started without incident, Harry was welcomed back happily by nearly everyone in the school with the exception of some of the Slytherins, that Draco hadn't convinced to befriend him especially Pansy, and some of the Gryffindor's. Luna, Neville and Seamus and Lavender were the most happy to see him and he was given hugs by all of them including Dean to his surprise who Seamus had convinced of the truth. The only ones who weren't happy to see him were Ron, Hermione and Ginny but he didn't let them bother him as he sat with his friends at their house table while glancing every so often at Draco.
The classes for the next few weeks passed quickly as Harry, thanks to Snape's tutoring, was not only where the others were but actually ahead of them in some cases in the classes. Narcissa was doing well with Siri and every evening Draco came to the rooms to study with him and do homework and of course the occasional make out session too. For the first time in his life Harry was happy and content and it was surprisingly with the one he had once considered his biggest rival.
The only damper on his happiness were the tricks his former friends tried to play on him in and out of class. He was constantly being tripped or losing things and more than once he had found something put in his cauldron during potions that he hadn't put there. Snape however didn't take points off him for that and had become considerably nicer in class to him though he still enjoyed terrorizing the Griffindor's in his class. It wasn't only his former friends that bothered him though there was also Pansy who glared at him whenever she saw him and said whatever mean things she could about him until Draco got fed up and cast a silencing charm on her refusing to remove it until late that night.
Despite all of that there were no serious problems and by the beginning of February
Harry had introduced all of his friends to his son. They all adored Siri and were constantly asking to visit him on the weekends and at night. Harry was more than willing to let them come and see his son whenever they wanted and they sometimes brought treats for the baby. He also received letters and gifts constantly from Siri's uncles, four of them anyway, and was glad to know that he had them and the others.
The only thing he really worried about was Ron seeing Siri. So far the red head hadn't said anything to him at all and seemed to have no interest in the child. Harry hadn't allowed Siri to be taken out of his rooms for the exact reason that he didn't want Ron to see him. He was afraid of what Ron might do if he saw the child that was so obviously his and couldn't bare it if the man tried to take him away from him or did something to harm his son.
However as the first turned slowly into the second and that one moved slowly toward the third his fears began to abate. Ron hadn't done anything more than petty bulling and hadn't brought up his son at all. He was now certain that the other boy wanted nothing to do with his son and had no intention of ever admitting it was his which he would have to do if he ever saw him. With this thought Harry was able to ease into school and for the first time in a while feel some what normal without the fears and worries he had held for so long.
By the time what he was expecting to happen actually happened he was no longer expecting it and was thrown off guard. It was a Thursday afternoon and his final class, potions, ended without any real problems. Draco was asked to stay after by Snape so Harry agreed to meet him in his room and hurried to see his son. Narcissa had a meeting at the ministry that afternoon so Siri had been left with one of the Hogwarts house elves and he was eager to get back to him.
After saying goodbye to his friends and promising to have them down to see his son soon he rushed down to his rooms. The portrait opened the moment he said the password the old potion master smiling as he watched the boy he had grown fond of hurry inside. Harry knew the moment he got inside something was wrong as no house elf popped in to greet him with his son as they usually would. He immediately went to the nursery where his son should be and was surprised to hear voices coming from inside the room.
The voice was not Narcissa's or an elf and he knew it wasn't Draco's or Snapes as they were in the dungeons still and one of the voices was most certainly female. Feeling his heart clench with dread and his stomach drop he opened the door and slipped inside unnoticed by the those inside as they had their backs to him. He froze when he saw the familiar backs of Ron, Hermione and Ginny standing in a half circle near the crib and staring down at something being held in the boy's arms. He knew at once it was his son and his fear grew as he watched them talk quietly to each other.
"He is cute like they said," Ginny told them her voice sounding thoughtful. He couldn't see her face so could only listen to them speak to each other. "He has your hair too Ron but Potter's eyes, that's unfortunate, if not for that he could probably pass as your's and Hermione's kid you know."
"Yeah he does look a lot like me lucky for him," Ron agreed haughtily. The baby made a soft sound and his arms shifted as if adjusting its weight. "What do you think Mione?"
"He's cute I suppose I just don't understand why you slept with Harry," the other girl said. She sounded somewhat angry and a little hurt and Harry felt his heart lift slightly as he wondered if maybe she was angry at the way Ron had treated both of them. "I mean I know he was our friend but whatever possessed you to do something that stupid. You never even hinted that you were attracted to boys at all and now you've slept with and had a child with one. What am I supposed to think about that?"
"Oh come on Mione I already told you that night meant nothing to me. You're the only one I care about," The red headed boy told her unaware that Harry was standing behind him listening to them, not that he would have cared if he did. "I was upset with you that night, remember we got in that fight, and there was Harry proclaiming his love to me and wanting me to kiss him so I thought why not try it and get some enjoyment you know. But the whole thing was awkward and not anywhere near as pleasurable as making love to you is. That was just a quick fuck you know but leave it to Harry, the stupid hero of the wizarding world, to get pregnant by it."
"He did always have to make things harder for himself and anyone else around him didn't he," Ginny said and he could hear the sneer in her voice as she spoke. He was stunned by the amount of hatred and anger he heard in her voice. "Just like in my second year with Riddle. If not for him I wouldn't have almost died. To bad Cedric wasn't so lucky or Sirius."
"Yeah and just think what will happen to my son if he keeps him especially with that Slytherin boy friend of his and I thought Potter couldn't sink any lower," Ron agreed. Despite the fact they were no longer friends Harry felt tears fill his eyes as he continued to listen, barely daring to breathe, and not understanding how they could hate him so much. "I bet you anything the only reason he is with Malfoy is for his money now that he's lost most of his. Malfoy probably just wants him for his fame and a good fuck. Probably the same with Snape and Zabini, Pansy's said as much and she and Malfoy have always been close so she would know."
"That's not true," Harry said softly before he could stop himself. The three of them turned to look at him in surprise and glared at him. "I don't want Draco's money and he doesn't care about my fame or. . .or my body. He . . .he loves me."
"Sure Potter if that's what you want to think," Ron told him with a sneer as Siri giggled upon seeing his papa and reached out toward him obviously wanting to go to him. "It doesn't matter anyway you can fuck whoever you want to or let whoever you want fuck you and I wouldn't care except that you have my son. My child who you are allowing to be in danger by being surrounded by a bunch of slimy Slytherins and death eaters."
"Siri isn't in any danger here. Narcissa, Draco, Blaise and even Sev love him and would never hurt him," The green eyed boy told them angered by his insults of the only people who had ever cared enough to help him. "Draco and Blaise saved me and Siri from my aunt and uncle and Narcissa gave me a place to stay while Severus has helped me to heal from what was done to me."
"Say what you want but we know what they are really like and I won't let you hurt or kill my child. Even though Voldemort is gone now that doesn't make him any safer with you," the red headed boy replied coldly. Siri started to cry in his arms desperately wanting his papa and he gave him over to him. "Enjoy what time you have with him Potter it won't last."
"What are you going to do Ron?" Harry asked as he took his son in his arms holding him close against him in fear as Siri stopped crying now happy in his daddy's arms. "I won't let you hurt him."
"I wouldn't hurt my child Harry I'm not a Slytherin or a death eater," Ron snapped insulted by his accusation. Harry had to struggle not to flinch at his words and the anger in them. "And I'm not you either."
"I would never hurt Siri he means everything to me," the smaller boy replied kissing the child on the forehead who giggled and looked adoringly up at him. "I would protect him with my life."
"Just like you wouldn't let me or Ron and Hermione get hurt or Cedric and your godfather," Ginny sneered at him. Harry's face paled and he felt the usual feeling of guilt well up in him over what had happened to them because of him. "Your son won't be safe with you and we will make sure everyone knows that."
"What do you mean what are you going to do?" The boy asked his hold on his son tightening as she and Ron laughed and the three of them moved to leave the room.
"You'll see Potter," Ron told him stopping to run his hand over the baby's head and kiss Siri on the forehead just as Harry had done before him. "Bye Siri Daddy will see you again real soon."
Siri stopped smiling after the red head kissed him, he didn't like him as much as the others and he seemed to make his papa upset. Siri didn't like it when his papa was upset and wet stuff came from his eyes like it did sometimes from his own. He was holding him to tightly now to and he started to cry as the others left the room. His papa loosened his grip a little and brought him over to the rocking chair where he rocked him and made a bottle appear with his brown thing(his wand).
Harry sat rocking his son for a long time while he sucked happily on his bottle his tears long gone. Yet Harry's own distress wasn't so easily taken care of, he was afraid and uneasy about what his former friends had said and were planning. What would they do if they tried to take Siri from him? His son was his life and he couldn't let him be taken from him. What would he do without his son? Who would he care about then and who would care about him?
Siri was the first and only family he had ever had since he himself was a baby and he couldn't lose what little family he had after finally getting it. But what if they were right and Siri would be safer without him. What if he would end up getting him hurt or killed like he had his former friends and his godfather and Cedric. He couldn't bare it if anything were to happen to Siri and it was his fault but then he also couldn't bare to lose him. Either one would destroy him and it left him unsure of what to do as he held his son rocking him gently and singing to him.
Siri eventually fell asleep and Harry put him in his crib tucking the blanket around him and then returned to the chair to sit and watch him as he slept. It was there that Draco found him an hour later sitting in the rocking chair and staring at his sleeping child. He went over to him knowing at once that something was wrong especially when he looked up at him with red rimmed eyes that sparkled with tears.
"Harry what's wrong?" He asked softly kneeling in front of him in concern. Harry stared at him for a moment and then before he even knew what was going on the smaller boy was in his arms and sobbing against his chest. "What happened Harry tell me?"
But Harry seemed unable to speak as he wept in his arms and fearing he would wake the baby he lifted him carefully in his arms and brought him out to the couch where he sat with him. For a long time he held him while he cried and tried to regain control of himself while Draco grew more and more worried about him.
Harry had been fine during class not that long ago and after and he had been eager to return to his son, He remembered how brightly he had smiled when Draco had told him to go on without him so what could have happened after that? Was something wrong with Siri? But he had looked fine and sleeping peacefully so what else could have upset him. It had to be something big to have upset him this much and he wanted to know who or what had hurt his little love.
However until Harry calmed he wouldn't know as he was the only one who could tell him. So For now all he could do was hold him and let him cry himself out until he was ready to tell him. Eventually his mother came in but seeing what was going on remained silent and went into her room to give them some privacy even so he could see the concern on her face as she disappeared into the room.
Eventually Harry managed to calm himself and with some coaxing from Draco told him about what had happened. How he had found Ron and his sister and Hermione in the nursery crowded around his son and the conversation he had over heard. How he had defend him and his family and friends and how they had accused him of being responsible for the things that had happened to them and others.
Draco felt himself growing more and more enraged as he listened to the boy and he wanted nothing more than to kill the two little weasels and the muggle born for doing that to his Harry. The only thing that stopped him from rushing out of the room after he told him how they had said the baby would be in danger from them and him was the boy clinging tightly to him. Harry needed him more than he needed to hurt them so he stayed and listened to him and tried to comfort him as best he could once he finished.
"Harry I won't let them take Siri from you," He told him as he held him in his arms and ran his hand over his hair. Harry sniffled and buried his face deeper into his chest. "He belongs with his papa and I will make sure he stays with you."
"Promise?" Harry asked his voice muffled by his shirt and sounding somewhat childish. Draco chuckled a little and nodded as he peered up at him. "But what if he isn't safe with me. What if I get him hurt or . . .or k killed?"
"You won't Harry none of those things that happened were your fault. They were the fault of an insanely dark wizard who was trying to kill you," Draco replied angered that Ron and the others would blame him for those things and make him think this way. "You would never do anything to hurt your son and you and I both know that. You shouldn't believe anything they say. They are jealous and spiteful idiots."
Harry sniffled again and nodded though Draco was sure that he didn't yet fully believe him. That was ok though he would do what ever it took to make him believe him and would keep telling him the same until he did. Eventually he would know it was true and not be hurt by them anymore.
Meanwhile he would talk to his mother and Severus about what he should do about the three of them and whatever plans they had for Harry and Siri. They would certainly know what to do to stop them from getting there way and he would talk to the house elf his mother had left in charge while she was in a meeting and find out why it left Siri with them. He would see it dealt with and make sure that all of the house elves knew not to let those three into the nursery even though they couldn't keep them out of the rooms since they obviously knew the password.
That was another thing Harry would have to change his password so they couldn't get in here again. He was sure it was Hermione who had figured out what it was it would have been easy for her to research about the wizard in the portrait and find out what he was famous for. So it would have to be changed to something less obvious and he would do that as soon as he could. He didn't want this happening ever again or something worse.
Harry had already suffered enough and he didn't want him to suffer anymore. It wasn't fair that he should have so little happiness in his life and then have someone try to take it away from him. No he wouldn't let that happen he would protect Harry, his son and his happiness and keep the little family he had taken in together for their sakes and his own. He loved Harry and Siri and didn't want to lose either one of them ever. Not as long as he could help it.
A/N: all right there it is the next chapter and I hope it was good and worth the wait. I am not sure how happy I am about it so I may end up changing it even though I actually already have. The first time I wrote it Ginny and Hermione weren't there but I thought it would be better with them in it I hope you like it to. Weren't they jerks and what do you think they are planning. Well you will just have to wait to find out. I will try to have the next chapter out a bit sooner but no promises. Life is really crazy right now and I am desperate for a job. Anyone want to hire an out of work writer? Anyone? Didn't think so oh well. Any way please review and tell me if you liked it or hated it I want to know.