A/N: (Disclaimer in previous chapter somewhere...) Finally, I have Chapter Four up! Sorry for the huge delay...but chapter five should be on sometime next week. Again, sorry for the gap, I'll do my best to get the chapters up on time. Thank you to any readers, and, as usual, let me know what you think and leave a review. Thanks to readers! Thank you.
Eating breakfast at the Burrow later on seemed much more of a reception for the baby than anything else. After Molly and Arthur had briefly been introduced to their grandson, she had joyfully reported what he looked like to the family and anyone who would listen. People were repeatedly Apparating into the kitchen to offer congratulations, while Molly performed some of the best cooking spell work Harry had ever seen. "Oh yes, he's a handsome little boy, definitely a Weasley boy. Seven pounds, perfectly healthy…" Molly was overseeing several sausages frying in a pan and telling Nymphadora Tonks all about him. Absently, she flicked her wand and the sausages flew onto a plate as she talked happily. Tonks raised her glass of pumpkin juice, grinning.
"Well, cheers then, Molly. Any idea what they'll name him?" Tonks asked before draining her juice and standing to leave. She inattentively pulled a curled purple lock out of her face before pulling on her traveling cloak, fastening buttons with a preoccupied look on her face. Tonks would be busy, Harry reminded himself. Remus Lupin had finally-finally-proposed half a year ago, only four weeks after Ginny and Harry's engagement was announced, and their wedding was coming up in three months in August.
Fred smirked at his mother. "Ickle Ronnikin Jr., perhaps?" he asked, pretending mock consideration. Tonks grinned at them both before heading out the front door, whistling cheerfully. George joined in next, unable to keep a straight face.
"Or the fine name of George, after the successful and caring uncle?"
"Perfect role model," said Fred. "Because of course we want a nephew to inherit George's dashing good lucks and clever charm…" He considered George with a grin, before smoothing his own hair smugly. "Though, I am by far the more handsome twin."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "I think Hermione had a name in mind," he said, a memory stirring. He frowned, remembering something she had said at her father's funeral a few months ago.
Ginny laughed. "Well, it doesn't matter what you lot think, it's Ron and Hermione's baby," she pointed out. To add to their impatience, none of them (besides Molly and Arthur) had actually seen Ron and Hermione's child, and Harry found himself more than a little impatient to meet the son of his two closest friends.
"Fair point," Fred replied to Ginny, sitting down. "But even I didn't take as long to name my offspring as Ron and Hermione are taking…" Fred had married Angelina Johnson before the Second War had ended. Angelina and Fred had proudly welcomed their daughter, Isabelle 'Izzy' Olivia Weasley, who was now nine months old. Izzy was a miniature of Angelina, with graceful and friendly features, but for her inherited brown eyes and penchant for mischief.
"Well, at least they were married before their boy was on the way," Molly suddenly growled from the stove.
Fred groaned. "Oh, please, Mum, stop griping; Angelina and I would have gotten married anyways, wouldn't we? It's not like we had Izzy straight out of Hogwarts…"
Molly sniffed and returned to her cooking, and Fred added in an undertone, "Ron and Hermione had a whole two months over us, yes, huge difference you see," he said, rolling his eyes.
A sudden crack made all of them jump out of their chairs, but. "Hello," Ron said, grinning in a sort of embarrassed but proud way. His eyes were circled and weary, but he seemed exuberant. Molly exclaimed happily and hugged her youngest son, but Ginny and the rest of the table seemed to be sitting in apprehensive excitement.
"Well?" George asked impatiently.
"Well what?" Ron asked suspiciously, eyeing George and Fred as though at any moment they might jump him.
"What did you name him?" Ginny asked excitedly, just as the fire roared green flames from the fireplace in the corner.
"David Allen Weasley," Hermione said affectionately as she stepped carefully out of the fire, holding a swaddled bundle close to her chest. She looked tired and in much need of a rest, but like Ron; yet there was an air of undeniable joy to her. Ron immediately went to her side, and helped into a seat at the table, but instantaneously the whole kitchen was gathered round Hermione.
It was in this moment that Harry could finally see why his mother could die for him; why Hermione had been so hysterical over her overdue pregnancy, and why Ginny had been so overcome with worry just hours ago. David Weasley blinked up at them all calmly; wisps of bright red hair covered his scalp and his tiny balled fists shook up at them ever so slightly. His tiny, serious face seemed quite unperturbed despite the delighted cries and laughter from the people crowding over him. The gentle, dark blue eyed gaze turned to look Harry in the face; and Harry was suddenly reminded incredibly of Albus Dumbledore. "He's something, isn't he?" his best mate's voice sounded behind him.
Harry turned to face Ron, who was gazing at Hermione and his son, getting a faraway, tender expression. Harry grinned. "He's brilliant, mate," he said quietly, clapping Ron lightly on the back.
"He is brilliant, isn't he," Hermione softly. "He's got Ron's hair alright; and he'll probably get freckles later on, but he kind of has my face, don't you think? My nose and mouth…" she smiled lovingly down at her son before beaming at Harry.
"Well, that's a shame he didn't inherit our good looks," George said, pretending disappointment, before grinning at Harry. "It's lucky he doesn't look too much like Ron though, blessed little fellow." He ducked a swat from his youngest brother good-naturedly.
"Hello, David, I'm your Dad's sister. That'd make me your Aunt Ginny," Ginny said, laughing. "That is an odd idea…your Auntie, eh?" Her eyes shone with laughter and excitement. She traced his little hand with a smile as bright as the sun. "He's clever like you, Hermione." Ginny said softly, offering her fingertips to the baby, who caught them tightly.
"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked, though she blushed slightly. Ginny smiled.
"It's in his eyes, the way he looks at you. He's learning," Ginny winked, but maintained the contact with her nephew. George stepped in to enthusiastically greet his brother's child, while Fred conjured a colorful ring toy for the baby.
Hermione raised her eyes rather suddenly, looking first at Ron, who nodded. She then looked hesitantly at Harry. "And, Harry, well, Ron and I were wondering whether…" she said somewhat shyly, then went on hastily, "We wondered whether you'd be his godfather."
Ron and Hermione looked at him anxiously, while the rest of the Weasleys' and Tonks looked on. For a few seconds Harry stared dimly at them, echoing stupidly, "For real?" Molly laughed, but Ron was nodding with a sheepish grin, and Hermione was staring at him hopefully. His throat was rapidly constricting and he was forced to look down at the floor for a few moments. It wasn't entirely unexpected, but they wanted him to be David's godfather…what Sirius had been to him, Harry. When he looked back up, Hermione looked pink but didn't turn away, and Ron's ears were red, but they both met his gaze steadily.
"Yeah." He said, looking down at David before grinning at Ron and Hermione happily. "Yes, I want to be his godfather."
Hermione flushed but looked delighted, and Ron seized Harry round the neck and cuffed him roughly. "I thought you were going to say no for a minute there," Ron said, grinning widely.
Harry returned the grin, then Hermione carefully offered little David out to him, smiling. Harry hesitated, looking at Hermione uncertainly. She rolled her eyes. "Honestly, must I show you two everything?" She laughed as he flushed, then turned a more gentle tone on him. "It's alright Harry, just support his head with your arm and take his body in your other, like this…" Hermione nestled David into Harry's arms, smiling. Marveling at both the baby's surprising heaviness and warmth, Harry studied the baby silently. He bore the distinct red hair as common to a Weasley, but David did undoubtedly resemble Hermione, with her mouth and shape of face. And yet his eyes were so like those he had seen so many times-the twinkling, serene gaze of blue so similar to Hogwarts' former headmaster.
"Dad and Mum said he looked like someone they hadn't seen in a while," Ron was saying, frowning. "His eyes, Dad said."
Instantly, Harry sought Molly's eyes. She was beaming down at her grandson, and then she looked at Harry. She nodded; her eyes understanding, her face knowing.
"He looks like Dumbledore, your father said," Molly said, looking at Ron and Hermione. Ron looked taken aback, but Hermione didn't. She just smiled as Harry handed David back to her, raising a finger to David's soft, chubby cheek.
"Dumbledore's were different blue, though," she said quietly. She placed a kiss on David's head softly. "But he does have the same kind of calm look," Hermione spoke thoughtfully. Ron shuffled closer to his child and slipped a hand on Hermione's back, looking protectively down at both of them. The baby's eyes blinked and he gave a little squirm as he looked unfalteringly at the circle of people around him. Hermione's grip remained steady on him as she considered him. "But maybe all babies have that peaceful look..." Hermione concluded in a whisper. David yawned in her arms, perfectly at ease as he looked heavy-lidded up at his mother. Within a few moments of silence throughout the Burrow, he was asleep and breathing evenly. Hermione and Ron breathed sighs of relief.
"Now that he's asleep, we're off for some sleep as well." Ron explained hastily as he helped Hermione stand. "We'll see you in a bit, I suppose, unless this one sleeps for a while." He grinned, gesturing at his son.
"Well, bye then," Hermione said with an unsuccessfully stifled yawn, already looking sluggish just heading for the fire. She held David tightly to her, brandishing a handful of powder into the fire as the flames licked green. She stepped in, calling, "Number sixteen twenty-eight, Mediuan Place!" and she spun away, eyes tightly closed (Hermione had never liked travel by Floo). Ron grinned faintly to the kitchen and turned on his heel with a crack.
Fred sat back into his chair, smiling slightly. "David Allen Weasley. Has a nice sound to it," he yawned. George looked at Harry steadily for a moment before chuckling.
"Thought they'd name him after you, Harry, but you're his godfather…bonded for life, you get to be the proud recipient of so many golden moments…" George grinned, looking at Fred.
"First time you change his nappies and all that…" Fred laughed at Harry's expression.
Harry groaned, but he was feeling better than he had in weeks when he stood up. "I'm going home," he told them, "Catching up on some sleep sounds pretty good…" Across the table he caught Ginny's eye and felt his face start to get hot. "See you later," he muttered and Disapparated before Fred or George figured out where Ginny would be Apparating to.
Ginny appeared in his apartment in only a few moments, grinning as he pulled her to him. "So. Godfather."
He laughed. "Yeah. Sounds crazy, I know…" He thought again of the red haired boy who had looked up at him…Ron and Hermione's son…his soon-to-be godchild.
Ginny shook her head at his comment, red hair shaking back over her shoulders. "No, it seems…right. For you and them, I mean."
Harry was quiet for a moment. "Your dad was right, you know. His eyes are like Dumbledore's." Ginny looked up in the dark, but he could only the dark outline of her face.
"I know," she said simply.
His fingers grazed her back gently, and then caught slightly in her hair when they kissed. When they broke apart, Ginny clasped her hands at the back of his neck. For once, he wasn't just the one who defeated Voldemort or the chosen one. He was in love with Ginny Weasley, and he was the godfather of his best friends' son. Thinking of what Fred had said about changing nappies, he couldn't suppress a grin.
"What?" Ginny questioned.
"I love you," Harry said, and with a smile, he kissed her again.