Hello everyone. It's me again. I just wanted to thank all you who reviewed for me again. I honestly wasn't planning on turning out another chapter so soon but after some of the responses I got I was inspired and I couldn't stop despite myself. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me so far. I know it's frustrating when I don't update regularly but I do my best. Thanks again and Happy Reading.

Chapter Seven: Baby's First Magic

Ron's eyes focused on the nib of the quill, his eyes moving in and out of focus the longer he stared. Slowly he began to roll the quill between his fingers and watched as the feather blurred together as it spun. Taking a deep breath he redipped the tip in the inkwell and prepared to set it to paper. It touched for a second before he pulled it away, leaving a dark stain. He hadn't realized how hard this was actually going to be. Once he signed his name it would be final. Just a few strokes of the quill and the entire ordeal with the Blythe baby would be over.

"Mr Weasley." The door opened and Fern stepped through the gap. "It's almost ending time. Do you have those documents ready to go out?"

"What?" Ron dropped the quill as he scooped up the papers, tapping them on end so that they settled into a neat pile.

"You said you had some papers you wanted me to deliver before I went home tonight. Are you done with them?"

"Actually, why don't I just take care of it?"

"Are you sure? I'd be more than happy to stay…"

"No, no." Ron set the stack on the side of his desk. "You go home. I have to pick the baby up from the nursery and Resourcing and the International Law Office are both on the way. There's no point on you making the trip when I have to head in that direction anyway."

"Are you sure?" Her face scrunched in concern. "Papers have to be dropped at Resourcing and I know you have family dinner tonight."

"Don't worry about me Fern. I know how to handle myself. Besides my mum will forgive me a lot easier for being late because of Ollie than Jackson will you."

The barest hint of color swept becomingly across her cheeks. "Thank you Mr Weasley."

"Have a nice evening Fern."

"You as well, Mr Weasley."

Ron watched the door close. The second he heard the latch click into place he pulled out the stack of papers he had been working on before Fern had come in and not allowing time for his nerves to get the better of him he took up his quill and quickly signed his name at the bottom of the page. That done Ron sighed with relief as he felt the heavy weight he had been carrying on his back for the past month(?) ease away. It was done now. Just a few more formalities and his life would be so much less complicated.

Ron glanced at his watch and jerked forward in his seat. He had better get moving. He had a few more errands he needed to run before he picked up the baby. He quickly sorted the stack of papers on his desk into four piles. Those he could leave until tomorrow, ones that he had finished with and that needed to be filed, the packets for Resourcing and the International Law Office and those that he needed to bring home with him that evening. Ron summoned his shoulder bag from its hook across the room and quickly slipped the appropriate files inside. Patting himself down to make sure he had everything he needed Ron moved to the door and cast a strong locking charm before leaving the office behind. He stopped to say goodbye to the few members of his squad still in the office as he moved through the cubicles and made his way toward the lifts. Ron waited patiently for the lift to stop at his floor and climbed inside the empty compartment and rode it to the sixth floor where the Resourcing Office was located. He stepped off when he reached the correct floor and moved to the right, stopping in front of the solid wood door with the name plaque reading Olaf Hamlin charmed to the door.

Sighing heavily Ron lifted his hand to rap at the door. Olaf Hamlin was one of the nicest men ever to work at the Ministry. He had worked for Resourcing for the past fifty odd years and made it his business to befriend everyone who came into his office. Ron had first met the old man when he had come to work with his father as a smile child and remembered liking him. He had allowed Ron to choose a sweet from his stash in the bottom drawer of his desk. And when Ron had arrived at his office door nearly twenty years later, Ollie had recognized him instantly.

Ron glanced at his watch again. If he knew Ollie, which he did, he could expect to be in there for a half hour if the old man had his way. Unfortunately Ron didn't have the time for a full out chat tonight. Perhaps if he played his cards right he could be in and out in twenty.

Ron knocked briskly on the door before opening it and stepping inside. "Ollie." Ron said in his most conversational voice. "I've got some papers for you."

"Ron Weasley." The old man struggled a moment to get to his feet. Knowing Ollie would resent his offer of help Ron remained where he was and waited for him to find his feet. "How are you my boy?" He hurried around his desk and took Ron's hand. "Come in. Come in." He motioned Ron to the spare seat across the desk from his. "Take a seat."

"Actually Ollie. I'm in a bit of a hurry so I can't stay long. Family dinner tonight and everything."

"Of course. Of course." He sank into his seat and folded his hands over his stomach. "You'll be seeing your father tonight I suppose. Good man, Arthur. You'll send him my greetings won't you?"

"As always."

"Good boy. Good boy. What's Arthur up to these days? Keeping busy I hope."

"Yes sir, Dad's just got his hands on a Muggle computer. He's spent the past week taking it apart and is currently trying to put it back together."

"Is he having trouble?"

"Doesn't he always? It's driving Mum spare. I heard she threatened to burn the shed down earlier this week if he didn't come out for dinner."

Ollie slapped his knee with laughter. "Your mother is a treasure, I tell you. A real treasure. Sometimes I don't know how she puts up with your father."

Ron shrugged, "Me either." Ron reached into his bag. "Anyway," he pulled out a stack of papers. "These should all be in order. If you have any questions you know how to get a hold of me."

"That I do." Ollie struggled to his feet again and took the documents from Ron and set them on a growing stack that always sat on the end of his desk. "My Bernie came to see me last night."

Ron forced his face to remain pleasantly neutral. "Did you? How is she?"

"She's fine. She's fine. A little tired. Healer training takes a lot out of her, but she enjoys it. She likes looking after people."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "I remember you mentioning that."

"You could use someone looking after you Ron. In my opinion every man should have a woman to look after him. Between you and me, we men get more careless as we get older."

"I think I'll be fine looking after myself."

"Yes. Yes, I'm sure you will. But it's also nice to have someone to look after as well. Having someone to look after fills that empty space in your heart. Yes it does."

The slight annoyance Ron had been feeling melted away at the reappearance of sorrow in the old man's eyes. "Are you doing all right, Ollie?"

"I'm fine. I'm fine." He tried to force his lips into a smile. "My children come every few days to keep me company and to help clean up the house."

"Do they bring the grandkids with?"

"It's the only reason I let them through the door. I might be getting older but I can still take care of my own house. I don't need their help."

"I never doubted it. I just think they like doing it for you. You and Mary did a fine job raising them and now they want to return the favor by taking care of you."

"Well," he admitted begrudgingly, "I might grumble when they come around, and don't you tell them this, but I got it perfect. I get to play with my grandchildren while my children clean my house. It doesn't get much better."

"No." Ron agreed with a laugh. "I'm sure it doesn't."

"You understand what I'm saying, don't you? Wouldn't you rather be spending time with that baby of yours over cleaning?"

"Yes sir, I would. But I also can't stand to have a dirty house and I don't have anyone to do the cleaning for me. So I guess I got to do it myself."

"If you wanted I could have Bernie come over and take care of that for you."

"That's all right Ollie. I don't mind cleaning when it's my own house."

"You sure? It would be no trouble I assure you."

"Nope," he shook his head. "I can do it myself. Look Ollie," Ron glanced at his watch, "I would love to stay and chat, but I still got another stop to make before I leave."

"Of course. Of course. You're a busy man." Ollie led Ron to the door. "You hurry on home now and give another thought to what I said."

"Good night, Ollie." Ron said as he slid through the door and closed it behind him. Sighing heavily he turned and made his way to the lifts. He was a few steps away when the golden gates began to slide closed and he jumped inside just in time to miss having them close around him. He rocked forward on to the balls of his feet and back onto his heals as he waited patiently for the elevator to travel the two floors to his next destination. "Finally." He muttered as the lift slowed to a stop and he jumped through the doors as soon as they were wide enough for him to fit.

Quickening his step, Ron bound down the hall, nodding at the people he recognized and offering greetings to the people he knew. Reaching the end of the hall he turned right down one of the side corridor and smiled when he recognized Parker's form sitting in the International Law Office on the corner of one of the desks.

"Parker."Ron walked into the room and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "What are you still doing here?" He asked while his partner spun around, still sitting on the corner of the desk, to face him.

"I could ask the same about you. It's Thursday night and I know you have family dinner. I would have thought you'd have left by now."

"I had to make a stop in Ollie's office to drop off a few files."

"Ahh…" Parker nodded. "Say no more. How is the old man?"

"He's doing all right I think. He misses Mary…but"

"What else can you expect?"

"Exactly. He tried to get me to meet Bernie again."

Parker shook his head a broad smile on his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest. "That man doesn't give up, does he?"

"Apparently not."

"So why don't you just meet her and get it over with. If it doesn't work out he'll leave you alone and if it does you couldn't ask for a better father-in-law."

"Not interested."

"It was only a suggestion." Parker kicked his legs forward giving himself the momentum to rock off the desk and onto his feet and in doing so revealing the woman who had remained hidden behind his back. Hermione sat frozen in the chair her fingers gripping the arms of her chair so tight her knuckles were white. Her mouth was open as if arrested in mid speech and her eyes were wide with something that looked like fear. "Ron!"

Ron's chin stiffened. "Parker," he wrapped his hand around his partners arm, "can I speak with you a moment? In the hall?" he asked through gritted teeth as he pulled him out of the room. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Parker pried Ron's fingers from around his arm. "What does it look like? I'm talking to a pretty girl. You might try doing the same."

"Hermione? You're chatting up Hermione?"

"Na." Ron's stance remained stiff. He didn't like the twinkle lingering in his partner's eye. "She's already turned me down. Some nonsense about not wanting a boyfriend. Do you know what I say to that? Bullocks. Every girl wants a boyfriend."

"Not her." Ron nodded his head toward Hermione's office. "Trust me. Save yourself the effort and steer clear of her. She's not worth it."

"That's too bad, because I think she's great. Besides," He turned so that he could see her through the doorway. "She can't resist me forever." Inside her office Hermione was keeping herself busy by straightening papers and rearranging the contents of her desk. She kept her eyes lowered but he could see how she glanced up at them every so often. "She pretends she's not interested. Try's really hard not to laugh at my jokes, but she always smiles. We had a great time at lunch the other day. You should have seen the sparks flying." A mesmeric smile slid across his lips. "She's one hell of a spitfire, there's no doubt about that."

"Really?" Ron's eyes narrowed. "I think she's a big pain in the arse."

"It's just her spirit getting the better of her. There's a lot of passion hidden inside that tight, little body of hers. I bet she'll be amazing in bed."

"Excuse me?" A vain throbbed at ron's temple while hot blood rushed to his face.

"Don't worry. I haven't shagged her. Not yet. And don't give me that look. That's not what I'm looking for either." He interrupted when Ron opened his mouth. "You know me better than that. I'm interested in getting to know her as a person. But I'd have to be a blind, impotent old tool not to imagine what it would like to get to know her that well." Parker leaned close to Ron. "Don't tell her I told you all that. I don't recon she'd appreciate knowing I think about her lying naked in my bed."

"No worries there." Ron jammed his hand roughly inside his shoulder bag. "Here, hand these off for me." he pulled out a thick stack of parchment. "I still have to go pick up the baby." He thrust the papers into Parker's hands before turning and marching stifly away.

"Not to worry." Parker called after him. "I'll see that she gets it. Say hello to your family for me."

Parker watched Ron's retreating back until it disappeared around the corner. Laughing audaciously he reentered the office and held the documents out to Hermione. "Here. Ron left a present for you."

Hermione rose to her feet. "Where did he go?" she accepted the stack. "I was hoping to speak with him."

"He had to leave. I think he's late picking up the baby."

"Oh." Hermione caught her lip between her teeth as she tugged on a strand of hair that escaped the high knot she wore it in. "He didn't look very happy."

"He's not." Parker plopped down on the edge of her desk once again. "So where were we?"

Watching the door reluctantly Hermione lowered herself into her seat and crossed her right leg over her left, her robes splitting open in the middle to reveal her leg to the knee. "Well," she slowly wound the lock of hair around her finger, "I had just finished saying that after how our last meeting ended it was probably best if we simply cut our losses and left it at that and then you were trying to convince me that it wasn't as bad as I remembered and to please give you another chance."

"That's right." He popped his fingers. "I remember now. So how about it?"

"I think my answer still has to be no."

"Are you sure?"

"Did you not see Ron's face when he saw me?"

"That?" Parker waved his hand dismissively. "Forget about it. He's just stressed. Come on Ms Granger, I'd really like to know you better." Her face contorted with indecision and a hint of exasperation. "I'll have to come back tomorrow and ask again."

"Are you going to make this a daily habit?"

"Not every day. I'm not desperate. But maybe every other."

Hermione shook her head, a disbelieving smile on her lips. "You can be terribly obnoxious sometimes, did you know that."

"If you agree to have dinner with me I won't be anymore."

"I don't believe you."

"No it's true. I promise. After one meal with me you'll be begging for me to take you out again."

Hermione sighed softly. "Good night, Parker."

"So its Parker again is it?" He hopped off the desk and offered her a hand up.

Hermione allowed him to pull her to her feet. "You did say Mr Gale was your father."

He held tight to her hand. "Does this mean you've forgiven me?"

"Let's just say that I agree to disagree."

"I'll take it." He lifted her hand and pressed her knuckles to his lips. "Have a pleasant evening Ms Granger."

"You too Parker."

"Ottery St. Catch Pole." Ron held tight to the baby and pressed his feet firm to the ground as the Knight Bus came to a sharp and sudden stop. He looked down at the baby cradled securely in his makeshift sling and sighed when he found her still asleep. Moving as smoothly as he could, Ron rose to his feet and stepped off the bus taking care not to jostle the sleeping child. As soon as he was a safe distance away the bus started moving and with a loud bang it jumped to its next destination.

The baby jerked and blinked awake from the noise, her dark purple eyes blinking up at him. "Sorry little girl." He apologized. "I tried." Her mouth gapped open in a yawn and her lips chapped several times but the she didn't cry. Instead she found her mouth with her hand ad sucked contently at her knuckle. Ron chuckled softly as he brushed the soft tuff of black hair off her brow. "I'm so glad you like me." Her eyes darted up to him when he spoke. "It makes my life so much easier." The baby pulled her hand from her mouth and chattered back at him her eyes following his face as her body swayed while he walked. Ron chuckled. "You are such a magpie. You're going to drive me crazy with all this chatter. Yes you are." He snuck his fingers under her arm and wiggled them around causing her tiny body to shake with laughter. Ron pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I think I like having you around. What do you think?" The Burrow came into view ahead of him. "Do you like staying with me?" He bounced her playfully. "Huh little girl? Do you?" She made a raspberry sound with her lips causing Ron to laugh. "I think I'll take that as a yes."

Ron continued on his way while the baby chattered incessantly, playing with the clasp of his cloak or the knot of the makeshift sling. "Here we are." Ron untied the knot holding the sling together when he reached the front door, lifting her and cradling her close to his body freeing one arm. "All right, are you ready?" she popped her lips. "Me too." He knocked on the door. Almost instantly it was flung open.

"Ronnie!" Molly reached through the door and hulled him inside. "I was wondering when you would be getting here."

"Sorry mum." He let her take the baby out of his arms. "I thought it'd be better to feed her before we came so I wouldn't have to deal with it during dinner and we had a little mishap with exploding milk."

Molly's face brightened instantaneously. "Her first magic?"

"Yep." Ron beamed. "I was trying to get the last of the groceries put away and she was crying and I didn't get to her fast enough and the top of the bottle flew off. Threw milk everywhere. Had to give her and the entire room a through scrub down."

Molly was busy pressing hundreds of kisses to the baby's lean cheek. "That wasn't very nice of you to do sweetheart. Giving daddy all that extra work." She smoothed back the soft locks of her hair. "But I thoroughly approve of the way you went about doing it. I wish I could have been there to see it. I was there for all of the first accidental magics of you and your siblings. Oh well, perhaps I'll be there for the next one. Come on you two, dinners ready. Maybe if we're lucky your daddy will let you sit with your Grams tonight. Would you like that sweetheart?"

Molly pushed open the door to the kitchen and Ron followed her through, "Look who I found at the front door." There was a chorus of hellos from his family. "Come along everyone, now that we're all here we can eat." And Molly began to shoo them toward the back door.

"Harry," Ron called to his best friend. "Percy's not coming tonight?" He asked when his friend arrived at his side.

"Err…no. Molly said he had some official dinner or something he couldn't get out of."

"I doubt he tried very hard."

Harry looked at his friend with puzzlement. "Are you disappointed?"

"I was just hoping the whole family would be here tonight."

"Really? Well at least there will be more room around the table."

The two men followed the pack of redheads as they squeezed through the door. Once through they stepped to the side and let their family settle into place. Sometimes it was easier to just let everyone else find their seats before they tried to find a place for themselves.

With a tender smile on his lips Ron watched Molly talk candidly to the baby as she swayed smoothly back and forth, nestling the baby gently in her warm arms.

"Your mum really loves that baby. It's going to kill her when you have to give her up."

"Yes, it would. If there was a chance in hell that was going to happen."

"What?" Harry slowly turned to face Ron.

"I have some papers I would like you to go through. Greene thinks it'll look good to have your recommendation as part of my application. He said he'll give me his as well, but he thinks, all things considering, it would be better to have as many people with influence at the Ministry as possible indorsing my application."

"Your application for what?"

Ron's lips twitched at the corner. "Adoption."

"You're going to adopt her?" Harry dropped his voice so that his voice wouldn't carry to the rest of the family.

Ron no longer tried to hide his smile. "Greene called me into his office on Monday to tell me they had closed her case and that someone would be coming to my house later in the week to take her away. I told him that would happen only over my dead body."

"Wait a minute." Harry stepped in front of Ron blocking his view of Molly and the baby. "I thought you were trying to find a family member to send her home with."

"Not bloody likely." Ron snorted.

"Then why have you been acting like a mental case going through her family history?"

"Because I decided weeks ago there was no way in hell I was giving up that little girl without a fight. I went through those documents to make sure no one could show up somewhere down the line with a claim to her and try and take her away from me."

"I had no idea."

"No one did."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to get anyone's hopes up in case it didn't work out. Especially my mum's."

Harry turned his head to face Molly. "She's going to be so happy when you tell her."

"I was hoping to tell everyone tonight. That's the only real reason why I wanted Percy here. I wanted him to find out with the rest of the family."

"You could wait and tell everyone later." Harry suggested.

"Could you keep it a secret from Ginny?"

"No." Harry laughed. "She'd be able to tell right away that I was trying to keep something from her. And right now I need to keep her calm for the baby's sake."

"Then maybe we shouldn't tell her."

"Are you kidding? Throw me a bone here Ron. Give her anything but a clean house to obsess about for a while."

"Are you willing to indorse me?"

"Ron, you should know you didn't even have to ask."

"Thanks, mate." Ron clasped his hand and squeezed it firmly. "I appreciate it."

"Don't even think on it. That's my nice we're talking about."

"Yeah." Ron smiled. "It is."

"What are you two still doing standing there?" Molly asked sideling up to them. "The food's getting cold."

"Sorry Mum." Ron turned his smile on his mother. "We were just talking Ministry business."

"There'll be time for that later. Come on, you too Harry."

"Mum," Ron held out his hands. "Can I have my daughter please?"

"Ronnie…" her eyes widened when she spotted the knowing smirk on his face. "Does that mean what I think it means?"

Ron lifted the baby out of his mother's arms before kissing her cheek. "Maybe."

Molly pressed a hand to her cheek for a moment before turning with a hop. "Ronnie!" she hurried after him. "You can't say something like that to me than walk away. It just isn't done. Ronnie!"

"Umm." Ron pulled out a seat and sat down, setting the baby on his lap so that she was cradled against his chest. "Everything smells wonderful. You've outdone yourself Mum, like always." Will someone pass the chicken please? I'm starving."

"But…"

Harry put a hand on Molly's shoulder. "Why don't you sit down Molly and enjoy the fine meal you've made?"

"But…"

"Trust me." He too pressed a kiss to her cheek before leading her to her seat and pulling it out for her to sit down.

"You're a good boy Harry." She patted his cheek. "I'm so glad you're a part of this family."

"Me to Molly."

Harry hugged her briefly before turning and making his way to Ginny's side. "What?" She asked when he took his seat beside her. "No kiss for me?"

Harry leaned forward and captured her lips in a long kiss. "Hello beautiful."

Ginny smiled happily. "That's better." She took his hand and twined her fingers through his. "What were you and Ron talking about?" She shifted awkwardly, her eyes narrowing on her plate.

"Err…" Harry glanced across the table at Ron who was bouncing the baby lightly on his leg while chewing a morsel of chicken. "He was asking me a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

Ron swallowed the chicken as he cut another piece of the bone. "Oh nothing." He lifted another morsel to his lips. "I just asked him if he would indorse my application for adoption."

There was a moment's silence as everyone watched Ron chew ad swallow as if he hadn't just made a life altering statement.

Molly finally broke the silence when she squealed with delight. "I knew it." Her face practically burst with pride. "I knew you wouldn't give up that baby."

"I recon you were right, Mum." He pressed a kiss to the baby's crown. "I could never give up my little girl."

"Zat iz vonderful, Ron." Said Fleur, leaning over and stroking the baby's cheek tenderly. "Ze iz very beautiful. You ahr very lucky."

"When does it become official?" asked Cat, setting down her silverware with the rest of her family.

"I don't know." Ron shrugged. "I'm still filling out the paperwork and then I'll have to be approved. It could take a while."

"But still," asked George, "are you ready to be a Dad?"

"Yeah." Ron's arm tightened protectively around the baby. "I am."

"Wow." Harry glanced at Ginny out of the corner of his eye. She let out a shallow breath. "I realize I've watched this all happen. You'd have to be blind not to see how much you cared for that little girl. But it's still strange to think that you're the same Ron who was terrified of babies not that long ago."

Ron nestled the baby closer. "Yeah, it is kind of strange."

"Please tell me that if you're planning on adopting her you're also planning on giving her a real name." Ashken said. "I hate calling her baby all the time."

"As a matter of fact I am."

"And?" She prompted.

"And you'll have to wait until the Naming Ceremony to find out what I've picked."

"I'm sorry. The what?"

"The Naming Ceremony. It's a tradition in the Blythe family. I've decided that even though I don't agree with what her family did for a living, I want her to know where she comes from. I don't want her to ever be ashamed of who she is and I don't want her to go through what Harry did not knowing his family. So excluding the more barbaric or unsavory traditions and beliefs, I want to pass down her heritage. And I'm going to start with the Naming Ceremony."

"I think that's a fine idea Ron. Very admirable of you."

Ron smiled gratefully at his dad. "Thank you."

"This is so exciting." Cat cut into her chicken. "We'll have another member of the family very soon."

"Ouch." Heads spun to see Harry turn with concern toward his wife, his hand clasped painfully in hers. "Ginny are you all right?"

"Yeah."Her face contorted with pain. "We're going to have a new family member sooner than we thought." Her nails dug into Harry's skin. "I think my water just broke."