HI! Don't hurt me, sorry it took so long to update. Fanfic is my hobby, not my day-job. Also, I had a hell of time trying to figure out how to make an entire chapter on the two sentences that end this chapter. Then I had a lightbulb moment. And you'll see what it was in all of ten seconds when you start to read...go on, READ, READ, READ!(And review. :P)

Chapter Nine: The House That Harry Built

A month had passed since Ron's death. Right now, Harry was at Potter Manor, getting a few last minute things fixed up before the grand opening, when he would share his creation with Severus and Hermione.

Hermione seemed to be coping alright. Emily had been an amazing support - any feelings she had toward Severus seemed to have been put way on the back burner - out of respect for their loss, he supposed.

"Nice place, mate."

Harry spun on his heels and fell flat on his rear, facing the likeness of none other than Ron Weasley. "RON!"

Ron smiled, a ghost's smile. "I could just leave you, not without a goodbye. I've only got a few minutes, and then...well, I've gotta move on."

"How are you here?" Harry asked. He was thinking about Nearly-Headless-Nick, and how he'd once explained that at death, you had to choose to be a ghost forever, or to move on. How was Ron appearing like this if he wasn't going to stay as a ghost? "I thought you had to choose."

Ron shrugged. "I do. I did. The rules for being a ghost is that you have to be 'gone' for seventeen years, before you can actively exist as a ghost. It gives loved once time to move on, so to speak. That's why wizards come of age at seventeen. I always wondered about that."

"So, you're saying that in another seventeen years, you'll be back, as a ghost, forever?" Harry asked.

"Yup," Ron said. "I wish I could just stay now...for Hermione. I'm an idiot, Harry, I shouldn't have been pulling a stunt like that...if I'd known..."

"Known what?" Harry asked. He could tell my the sadness in Ron's voice that he wasn't talking about knowing he'd die.

"Harry, Hermione is pregnant. She didn't tell me...I found out because, well, I'm here. As a rule, if you die and choose to be a ghost, then you are gone-gone for those seventeen years before anyone sees you again. The only exception is if there was something in life that you should have known about, something that might change your choice of being a ghost or not," Ron explained.

"So because you know Hermione is going to have a baby, you're going to be a ghost so you can see your kid when it gets older? So your kid will know you?"

"Pretty much. And it's kids. She's bloody having twins," Ron said. "Apparently, almost the exact thing happened to Nick. His betrothed was with child. Professor McGonnagal is actually his great-great-granddaughter. With Moaning Myrtle, she didn't actually stay to haunt the kids that teased her, she stayed because she didn't know that the man she called her father wasn't actually her real father - Albus-bloody-Dumbledore was. Ever notice that he never did no near that bathroom? Bloody idiot never did claim Myrtle. All the ghosts that remain at Hogwarts are tied to a living person there. All ghosts only exist so long as there is a blood relative to attach to. Since McGonnagal had no kids, she's the last of her line, Nick will fade when she dies. Myrtle will fade when Alberforth dies, which wont be much longer, I reckon. Binns is still around because he had, like twelve kids when he was living, and they all had kids. There's still a bunch in his line. I doubt the Weasley line will ever end."

Harry sat silently taking in all this information. "You know your kids will be considered bastards, right?"

"Yeah, about that..." Ron said. "Harry, I know this is alot of ask, but I want you to claim them. Call them yours...you don't have to really marry her, because you can't actually, being with Severus and all, but I don't want my kids to think they're missing out on having a dad. Not like you did. I want...I want them to be happy."

"Sure Ron, but how will I talk Hermione into it?" Harry asked. "Or Severus?"

"I already talked to Hermione and Severus," Ron chuckled. "Your bond mate already knew I'd come back. He knows alot about ghosts, too. As for 'Mione...well, she agrees with me that the kids should have a dad. She's worried that you wont like living with her, but I told her that you'd have plenty of room - you'd hardly even notice her there."

"You told her about the Manor!" Harry exclaimed. He'd wanted it to be a surprise. He'd been planning on inviting Hermione to stay even before all this business about babies had come along. Harry knew without a doubt that Severus would be fine with it.

"No, I didn't blow it, mate,"Ron defended himself. "I just let her imagination guess. She knows you have money. She knows you own several manors, not even counting this one. I bet she figured you'd go back to Number Twelve."

Harry sighed. "Alright. You have my word."

"Thanks Harry," Ron said. "I am sorry; sorry I left you guys in this mess."

"It's okay Ron," Harry said. "Thanks for being my best mate, through all of it."

"I wouldn't change a thing," Ron smiled.

Hermione was hiding in the library. Her very favorite place. She needed to be alone right now, to think about what had happened a few hours before. Ron - Ron the Ghost, had appeared to her, and told her some very interesting things.

Seeing him had been terrifying, and yet amazing at the same time. And overall, a sad thing, to know he wasn't staying, to know that it would be seventeen years before she saw him again. He's told her to more or less marry Harry. To let Harry claim her children as his own. To live with Harry and Severus, who were evidently going to be just fine with that. And, Ron had said, at some point, she'd have to move on.

Well damn him. She didn't want to do any of those things, though once her pride was in check, she realized it was best for the children. Even the moving on bit, though she had no idea how on earth she'd explain any of it to anyone besides Harry and Severus.

Severus Snape had heard stories. Stories about the process of becoming a Ghost. However, this morning had been the first time he'd actually been witness to the beginning. As a rule, it was preferable not to be a ghost. And as a rule, you only had about a minute to make the choice. People like Ron Weasley, however, had a month to consider, and chosen he had.

"Snape..er...Severus."

Severus just about had a heart attack. There was Ron Weasley, white as snow, and transparent. A ghost.

"Sweet Merlin, what the hell has possessed you to remain as a ghost, Weasley?" he'd asked in awe.

"Hermione is pregnant, with my twins. I want my kids to know me. I wont leave them like James Potter left Harry," Ron replied quietly.

"I see," Severus had said. And he could understand. "Well, what can I do for you?"

"Allow Harry to claim my kids, for now. I want them to grow up being called bastards even less than I want them to grow up without me. At least this much, I can control." Ron answered.

"Very well, I can handle that," Severus had consented, that very thought having already crossed his mind. Emily had let it slip a few days prior that Hermione was pregnant. Severus had already been thinking of suggesting to Harry and Hermione to opt for the very arrangement Ron was suggesting. "Anything else?"

"Nope. Just take care of them, both of them," Ron had shrugged. "Bloody hell, I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I am trusting you not only to be good to my best mate, but to be good to Hermione and my kids. I think I can trust you that much."

"I swear I will look after them, all of them," Severus promised.

"Good," Ron said. "Now all I have to do is talk to the other two. See ya in seventeen years, Snape."

Harry held Hermione's hand in his right hand, and Severus' in his left. He felt the surge of magic has their wedding bands touched. "You two ready?"

"I don't know why you wont tell us where we are going, Harry," Severus whined. "I really don't want to get splinched."

"Oh, trust Harry," Hermione said.

"Yea, trust Harry." Harry echoed, laughing. One deep breath, and he side-along apperated them to the front door of Potter Manor.

Harry wished he'd though to rig a camera to take a picture of their expressions as he heard the two let out gasps. Hermione and Severus both knew where they were. Hermoine had been here, to Godric's Hallow, once before with Harry while out Horcrux hunting, and Severus came to Godroic's Hallow every Halloween to visit Lily's graveside.

"I had it rebuilt. This ground means something to all of us. Welcome home, guys," Harry said quietly.