Chapter 10: Home Again.
Ace and Sara woke up from Hailey jumping on top of their bed.
"Wake up! Wake up!" Hailey screamed. "It's my birthday."
"Oh really." Ace said slyly before catching Hailey and started to tickle her. "And what does our big girl what for her birthday?"
"A pony." Hailey said after Ace stopped tickling her.
"Well I don't know about a pony but…" Sara said winking at Ace. They had decided what they were going to get for Hailey and they knew that she was going to go wild once she found out what it was.
After they all had breakfast they headed out to the town and took Hailey to the park just like she asked. Today was her day and she could do anything she wanted, within reason. They were just getting ready to leave the park to show Hailey her surprise when Ace noticed something in a tree; an owl.
He recognized the owl. It was his owl but he hasn't seen her for two years. Ron hadn't tried to contact him for two years, why now? He did say that if it was an emergency Ron could contact him but he hadn't heard anything that might relate death eaters and a major tragedy. What could possibly be wrong? Ace didn't realize that he wasn't the only one who recognized the owl.
Sara caught Ace looking up into the tree and spotted the snowy owl as well. She recognized it instantly but what would she be doing her. She figured that Ron and Hermione would look after Hedwig. Maybe they were trying to contact her, but why? But she couldn't go back. Her life was here now and she couldn't stand all of the stares that everyone would give her if she returned. Everything had changed after Harry and Caden died. All she had was Hailey and now Ace. She missed her family but they wouldn't understand.
"Mommy! Daddy! Come on." Hailey yelled beside them. "I want my surprise." Ace and Sara both broke out of their gazes. Neither one of them intended to reply to their past. Not yet at least.
The problem with the shop that they were going to was that it went past a part of town that Sara would try to avoid even if it meant an hour detour through the city. It held strange people in cloaks which she was familiar with but wanted to avoid. Ace was a different case. He would come by this place as often as possible because he wanted to hear the news that some of these strange people didn't care if muggles heard.
"Mommy! Mommy! Look at all the funny people." Hailey said noticing all of the funny cloaks that some of them wore.
"Now Hailey, that isn't very nice to say!" Ace said. After all he used to be one of those people and just because he wanted to forget his past doesn't mean he could.
"Sorry Daddy!" Hailey said then her eyes lit up. She had spotted the shop that they were going to, the pet store. She went straight to the window where there were a dozen kittens all cleaning their paws, napping in the sun or playing around with other kittens. They all looked so cute.
"Pick one." Sara said picking up her daughter so she could see all the kittens properly.
"That one!" Hailey said after small consideration toward the other kittens. She pointed toward a black cat in the corner all by herself. She looked to be the smallest kitten in the pen but she was beautiful. The kitten's eyes are what caught Hailey's eye. They were green just like hers. That's when it hit Ace. Hailey had eyes just like him. He hadn't seen his real eyes in four years but now that he thought about it the resemblance was uncanny.
After they purchased the kitten and made sure that Hailey could keep a good hold on her they made their way back home. When they made it back to the apartment there was Hedwig, sitting on the lamppost outside. She just stared at the three intently but didn't make her way toward Ace. She seemed to be waiting for Ace to come to her, not the other way around.
Ace wondered what was in the letter even more now. He missed his friends and wanted to know what was going on in their lives. Four years away from your life almost seemed like a lifetime. Was Hermione still at the department or did she finally decide to stay home with Bella? Was Ron still an Auror or did he find a less stressful job? Was the twin's shop still doing well? Was Mrs. Weasley's cooking still as good as he remembered? Was Mr. Weasley still obsessed with muggles? Did Percy finally make up with his family? Did Charlie finally settling down? And how many more Weasley had been joined into the family?
So many questions and all he had to do to get the answers was probably open that letter and hope it didn't have bad news. But could he do that and go back home if he needed to? Could he leave his life behind again? No, he couldn't leave Sara and Hailey. They were his everything. But what would he do if that letter said that Ginny had finally come home and was waiting for him? What would he do then?
"Ace?" Sara noticed he had stopped. "Is something wrong?" She was looking back and forth between Hedwig and Ace. He had been staring intently at her for the last minute with curiosity but not like he was wondering why an owl was perched there. That didn't make sense; maybe she was just misreading his expression.
Now she looked at Hedwig. Why was she here? Why would they try to contact her now; four years later? It didn't make sense. They had tried to contact her before when she had first run away but she always dodged the owls and Aurors in search for her. They might have been the best trackers but she was better at stealth and disguise. No one could find her unless she wanted them to. She had even let a young Auror see her before she hid in the crowd a couple of years ago just so that her family would know that she was all right. That was all she was willing to risk. She couldn't turn back now. She couldn't uproot her life now and she couldn't uproot Hailey's either. Not unless she had a reason to go back and that reason had died before she left. There was nothing to go back to and nothing in that letter that would please her. All they wanted was for her to come back home and she couldn't do that. She lived here now.
The rest of Hailey's birthday was uneventful. Hailey had decided to call her new kitten Star. Hailey had chased her all night until she became smart enough to hide under Sara and Ace's bed. She stayed their all night until Ace tried to get her out in the morning. He got a nasty scratch on his arm from the attempt.
A week later Star seemed to be getting used to her surroundings and Hailey had stopped chasing her all over all of the time. Star was actually sleeping with her now instead of underneath Sara and Ace's bed but that's not what was bothering Ace or Sara.
Hedwig still didn't leave her post. She was still waiting for one of them to come to her but this time she wasn't going to give up. She would sit here for weeks until one of them came and opened the letter. Hedwig had indeed stayed with Ron and Hermione and being the smart bird that she is knew that Caden was getting depressed.
Caden might have only been three months when he was taken from his parents but he had heard a lot of stories about them and missed them. He knew that they were still alive because his aunt and uncle had told him so. Caden didn't blame them for leaving either. Uncle Ron had explained their reasoning but he still wanted his parents. He just wished they would come home soon. Caden was the one who sent the letter. He was just learning how to write and he thought if maybe he sent a letter they might come home. He knew Hedwig would get it to them where ever they were and he was right. She would do anything necessary for that little boy to see his parents again. If only they would cooperate.
Ace woke up a week later and the first thing he did was look out the window to see if Hedwig was still perched out on the lamppost. She was starting to attract attention to herself and everyone was starting to come look at the snow owl. If she wasn't careful she was going to end up being killed because she wasn't acting like a normal owl. Not to mention she wasn't even in her natural habitat. Snow owls were very, very rare around here. But she wasn't going to leave until he took the letter from her and probably not until he answered either. He had no choice; he had to read the letter. He kind of wanted to anyways. He was really starting to get homesick.
After Sara went to work and Hailey was safely at Karen's Ace left the apartment and went to the park. Hedwig followed him. She perched in the same tree where Ace had first spotted her. He sat underneath her. He held out his arm and she flew down to him and landed with a little more force than she probably would have four years ago.
For the first time in four years Ace felt like Harry again, back into the magical world where he belonged. It was almost a shame he had to go back so soon but for the next couple of hours he could be Harry again.
"So, how is everyone doing Hedwig?" Harry asked his old friend. She just nipped at his hand before she let him stroke her then take the letter from her. Harry didn't open it. He couldn't face it yet. Little steps at a time. "It might take me a while to respond to this. Maybe you should stick around. I'll see if I can get you some owl treats the next time that I'm by the wizard's ally." Hedwig just nipped him again but this time almost affectionately.
True to his word Harry made a stop at the wizard's ally downtown. He couldn't believe how busy it was. The last time he was in Diagon Ally it had been almost deserted. Everyone was still afraid to go out at that time. In fact the last time he had been to Diagon Ally it had been with Ginny. How could he forget? He had to drag her out of the house because she didn't want to leave Caden. He was only a couple of months then but Harry wanted to celebrate their anniversary out of the house and get away from the plans for the final battle. Merlin that seemed so long ago. How was he going to go back now? Little steps, remember, little steps.
After getting Hedwig's owl treats Harry sat down at the ice cream parlor that was across the Quidditch supplies shop. There were children barely old enough to attend school begging their parents to buy them the new broom that was on display. There were teenagers fighting with their parents about what they needed to buy for school. He could remember those days like they were yesterday. Everything was so complicated back then and he was right in the middle of it. Harry was happy they didn't have to deal with a war like he did. That brought him back to the letter safe in his pocket.
It was only one sheet of paper but for all he knew it could be announcing that a new war was starting and they were in need of his help. But then again what else could it be. He had only said to contact him in case of an emergency. Is there such a thing as a good emergency? Maybe they just wanted to see if he was all right, make sure that he was still alive. The least he could do is reassure him of that by just opening the letter and answering it. It couldn't be that hard, could it?
Harry started opening the letter but before he could take the letter out something caught his eye. Aurors and they were looking right at him. They would see behind his disguise. He wasn't ready to be found yet. He wanted to be found on his own terms not just because he wasn't on his guard. Harry slipped out of the ally and went back into the muggle word becoming Ace once again and slipping the letter back into his pocket.
Ace went home after he left a small pile of owl treats out for Hedwig. When he got home Sara was changing out of her uniform and Hailey was chasing Star around the apartment again.
Later that night Ace was sitting at the table with the letter opened in front of him. He had yet to take the letter out of the envelope but he was going to do it tonight. Hailey and Sara were currently fighting about Hailey's bedtime. Hailey wanted to stay up and watch the next movie coming up because it was one of her favorites but Sara had already let her stay up past her bedtime last night and Hailey had already seen the movie twenty times.
"But I don't want to!" Hailey yelled at her mother.
"Hailey, either you go to bed now or your going to bed early for the rest of the week and there won't be any television for you for a week. Am I understood?" Sara punished. Hailey just looked at her mother angrily then something happened none of them expected. The vase exploded behind Hailey into a million of pieces.
Ace stood up a little startled. He hadn't seen that happened since he himself had made one explode when trying out his first wand. Was Hailey a witch? With the way Sara was looking at the vase and Hailey she had figured it out to, but how? Was Sara a witch also?
"Hailey go to your room." Sara said still a little shocked. Her little girl had shown her first signs of magic but how was she going to explain to her that she couldn't use it. And how was she going to explain it to Ace? He looked confused but was looking at Hailey as she walked away with a little mix of pride in his eyes. That didn't make sense at all. Did he already know about what Hailey was? Did that mean that he was a wizard or had some kind of contact with wizards? This was so confusing. Sara was just about to try to explain when Ace interrupted her.
"You don't need to explain." Ace said now totally confusing her. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. I'm not going to ask and you don't have to explain. I understand about secrets. I have a few myself. We'll share them in time but for right now lets just be content with what we have." Sara just shook her head in agreement.
"Aren't you going to open that?" Sara said pointing at the letter that still lay on the table. He had been staring at it all night and she didn't even know where it had come from. Then it clicked. Did Hedwig bring it to him? No, that wouldn't make sense. If he was a friend of Ron and Hermione's then she would have known it also. It was just a coincidence.
"Yeah." Ace said then reached for the letter. He took the letter out of the envelope and opened it up. Sara watched as the look of horror came over his face and then confusion and finally anger. He looked furious at the letter. What had it said that made him look so angry.
In truth it didn't say much. It was written in green crayon and it was very short and many of the words were misspelled. It read:
Deer Mommy and Daddy,
Pleez come home. I mis you. I love you.
Your sun,
Caden
How could someone send him this? It was cruel and mean. His son was dead. How could Ron send this? Did he really want him to come home this bad? He had to do something about this.
"Are you alright Ace?" Sara asked concerned but not really wanting to get at the bad side of his temper.
"No," Ace said putting the letter back into his pocket and turning toward the door. "I have to go. I probably won't be back for a couple of days. Say good-bye to Hailey for me."
"You're not leaving, are you?" Sara asked in a small voice. Ace recognized it. She thought he was leaving and not coming back.
"I'm coming back Sara." Ace said coming back to her and taking her in his arms. "I'll only be gone for a day or two. There's something I have to take care of back home. One of my old friends needs some straitening out. I promise I'll be back." He kissed her before heading out of the door.
!#$&()!
Harry made his way into the British Ministry of Magic. He went into the elevator and went the second level. He knew this level well enough to know exactly where Ron would be now if he wasn't on a mission.
As Harry made his way through the Auror headquarters many of the Auror that he used to work with stared at him. They could tell he was mad but none of them knew why. They didn't even know who he was but they knew one thing. They weren't about to interfere with him and whoever he was mad at.
Ron was sitting at his desk filling out reports and glancing at the clock wondering when lunch was when a man turned his chair around rather roughly.
"How could you send something like that to me?!" The man said in rage. Ron didn't recognize him and was totally confused.
"I'm sorry. Can I help you with something?" Ron asked still trying to make sense of the man yelling at him.
"No, I just wanted to be left alone." Harry threw the crumpled letter at Ron. "If you really wanted me to come back you might have tried asking first."
"Who are you?" Ron said starting to un-crumble the letter and opened it. Ron read the letter quickly and something popped into his head. There would only be one person who would be made about this letter. "Harry?"
"Who the hell did you think it was?" Harry shouted. "Now, since we were best friends at one point or another maybe you can do me the courtesy of leaving me alone and stop writing me letters from my dead son." Harry was just turning away ready to go back home when Ron's next words stopped.
"I didn't write this Harry." Ron said needing to get Harry's attention back. This was his only chance for him to get Caden his father back.
"Then who did?" Harry asked still angry.
"Caden." Ron said sincerely. "Your son."
Harry was flabbergasted. He didn't think Ron could lie so smoothly. Clearly he had changed since Harry last saw him. Harry just turned back around determined not to see this man he used to call a friend ever again.
"Harry! We used to be friends the least you can do is listen to me for a minute." Ron said getting desperate for Harry's attention.
"You have sixty seconds."
"Caden is alive. We found him after you left. He's been living with us for the past four years. I tried to tell you but you sent back all of our letters without opening them. I was going to leave you alone. I understood you needed time and space but Caden needed a father more." Harry finally turned around ready to listen.
"How do I know your telling the truth?" Harry said not wanting to get his hopes up but then Ron was his friend. Why would he lie?
Ron turned back to his desk and picked up one of the many frames that were sitting on it. He handed a picture to Harry.
"That was taken just a couple of months ago on his fifth birthday." Ron explained as Harry looked at the picture of his son blowing out his birthday candles. "You want to know what his wish was. He was wishing for his mum and dad to come home. He has been ever since he understood that you weren't dead."
Harry just stared at the picture. Caden looked exactly like him but there was also some of Ginny in him. He didn't know what to think. Harry almost wished that Ron was lying because he didn't want to think that Caden had gone for almost five years without his parents. Without him, his father. But Ron was telling the truth and he had abandoned his son even though he didn't mean to. How will Caden ever forgive him? Well one thing was clear. He wasn't going to be gone any longer. Ron was right, Caden needed his father and Harry was going to be their.
"Where is he?" Harry choked, tears threatening to fall.
"At home, with 'Mione, Bella, and Conner, my son." Ron said not sure if his best friend was going to finally break down or not. Ron would never be able to handle what Harry has been through and not break down. Hell, he had broken down a few times with what he had experienced. "Do you want to see him? I'm sure he would love to see you. It's funny, he might have been taken from you at three months but he remembers you like it was yesterday. He remembers the last words that you said to him. He thinks about you two constantly and he's always asking questions about you and Ginny."
"What's he like?" Harry asked sorry that he had to ask the question.
"He's exactly like you and Ginny. Constantly getting in trouble but always getting away with it. He's the smartest five year old I've ever met. I think he's taken after Fred and George though. He uses most of his talents to cause trouble. I'm just glad he can't fly yet. I don't want to think about the mayhem that he could cause on a broom."
"Why doesn't he fly? I figured you would have him up on a broom the same day he learned how to walk." Harry said regretting that he didn't get to see his son's first steps but he would be their from now on.
"I tried, but he refused." Ron explained leading Harry toward the elevators. "He always said that he wanted his father to teach him. He's always thought of you as his father Harry and he always knew that you would come back. He said that you promised him that you would teach him how to fly."
"Well, that's a promise that I'm going to keep." Harry said wondering again if Caden would accept him back again.
The rest of the way to Ron's house Ron told Harry about his son. Harry asked so many questions that Ron couldn't keep up with them. When they finally reached Ron's house Harry stopped in his tracks.
There were three children in the front yard playing tag. Harry recognized two of them. Bella and a small boy, Conner who was probably around three years old, were being chased around by the one that Harry was entranced by.
"Daddy!" Connor said realizing his father had come home. Ron picked up his son and looked toward Harry, who had taken off his disguise before they came. But Harry wasn't paying attention. Caden had locked eyes with him and seemed to realize who he was. After a few seconds Caden had a huge smile on his face and was running toward his father for the first time. Harry dropped to his knees and embraced his son, never wanting to let go. With Caden in his arms everything felt right again.
"I knew you would come back." Caden whispered in his father's ear. "I love you."
"I love you too." Harry said the tears finally coming. He had his son back. Everything was perfect again, almost.
"Harry!" Someone squealed from somewhere but Harry recognized who it was in an instant. Caden just got out of the way before Hermione collided with Harry with a huge hug. Then she hit him over and over again. "How could you leave us like that? You had us worried sick. Now come inside and have some dinner. It should be ready in a few minutes." Then she walked away taking Bella and Conner with her. Caden stayed right by his father side.
"When did she start acting like your mother?" Harry said kind of frightened of two Mrs. Weasleys.
"I don't know but sometimes it's scary." Ron admitted.
"Dad," Caden said beside Harry bringing Harry's attention back to his son. "When are you going to teach me how to fly?" Harry had to laugh. He was in a very good mood.
"As soon as you find a broom." Harry said finally taking a good look at his son. He had the same messy black hair and green eyes as Harry. It was his eyes that had Harry enchanted though. They looked familiar but not because they were his own but because another four year old he knew had them, Hailey.
He had almost forgotten about Sara and Hailey in all the excitement. How was he going to go back now? He had promised Sara that he would come back but now everything changed. His son needed him and Harry wasn't about to turn his back on him again. But Hailey and Sara needed him as well. He had promised Hailey that he would never leave her and if he stayed he would be doing just that. He would have to go back and explain. Maybe they would come back with him? Wait, he couldn't ask them to uproot their lives just for him. They wouldn't come back with him, would they?