Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

Updated 1/22/2021

Chapter Fifteen

Anger

Neville was feeling much better almost immediately after he had some of the potions (which like almost every other healing potion teased horrible) and was able to be moved into his own tent a few hours later. It was decided that Frank would stay in the Potter's tent because Hannah didn't think she could handle having him there if something happened to Neville during the night. The five-year-old Frank was happy enough to go because he love playing with Lily, who was two years older than him and he always looked up to and enjoyed copying Albus (and James).

Despite Neville's injuries, most people were pleased with the results of today's events, just happy that no one was permanently hurt and they had captured twenty-two Death Eaters. Though Harry didn't know how this really affected the Death Eaters; they didn't care about each other, but least there were less of them out there. There was a sort of celebration in the kitchen, though Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't seem that happy – they would have rather that they had gotten the leader (they were disappointed).

"Good morning Arthur," Hermione smiled at her son, it was ten o'clock and she had just gotten up, she was still physically and magically exhausted my yesterday events (which was why she slept in so late). Ari looked up from his book he was reading and smiled brightly at her and was once again struck that there was something different … something more about her. "What is it Arthur?" Hermione shifted uncomfortably because of the look that he was giving her.

Ari just kept looking at her, what he was feeling; it seem to be getting stronger everyday (though it wasn't too noticeable of a change until today), but today it just seem all the more powerful to him. He got up and walked to hug her and with every step he came closer the realization of what this was became clear, until he put a hand on her stomach and then looked up at her smiling.

Hermione looked at him, shocked by his usually behavior but when she looked in his eyes she knew what he was trying to say. "What? No way," was her very emotional response as she looked at him in complete disbelief and shock. "That can't be." She couldn't be … she checked after her discussion with Molly about Concero Animus canceling out all magic and she was clear. But then there was the other time … and she hadn't been able to check (or ever think about anything because she's been too busy); it was only a few days later it … It can't be.

While Hermione was panicking Ari was smiling, sitting back on the couch, he didn't understand how he knew, but he was sure he was right. He had always wanted a sibling (he never told his Mum this, though he was sure she knew; he knew she struggled with being alone without him saying anything) and he couldn't wait to meet his brother or sister. He remembered when James was first born when he was five and how protective he felt, and knew it was exactly the same, but also knew that it was something he wanted to be for real. And he supposed now was as good as time as any, since he already knew that his parents … he shook his head and quickly changed his thoughts to something less disturbing.

In the mean time, Hermione recovered from her shock a little, at least enough to cast the charm to see if it was true, and found there was no doubt … she was pregnant. She went to the couch and sat next to Ari who pulled her into a hug and smiled brightly. Then he gave her a look. 'I guess more than one good thing happened when you saved me, huh?"

The look and meaning behind it brought her out of her numb shock and she was able to smile. "I guess."

'This is a good thing, right,' Ari gestured looking his Mum over closely. 'I thought you always wanted two kids.'

"And how would you know that?" Hermione asked almost amused but still too shock to really feel it. It was true that whenever Ron and her had talked about the future and children (it only happened a few times but each time was precious to her) that they agreed that they wanted two, hopefully one boy and one girl. As she thought about this she picture Ron's face when she told him, he would be surprise, there's no doubt about that; but he would be ecstatic of having another child (one where he would really be able to raise). And then he would tell her that she would have to be on the sideline for the rest of this war, she sighed, it was inevitably going to happen and she didn't know if she could take that.

When she looked back to Ari he smile (a little confused by her last reaction) and then pointed at her, did the signed for Ron and her, and then added a point between them when she didn't seem to understand what he was trying to sign. She laughed, "My parents," and Ari nodded.

'They told me you always wanted a sibling.'

"Well that's true," Hermione smiled. "Especially, after meeting the Weasley and seeing the advantage of having a big family. I always thought it would have been more exciting if I had a little brother (which I basically made Harry). I'm pretty sure you wanted that too."

Ari nodded. 'Yeah … but I had Teddy and the Potters so at least I had that.'

"That's true … really, I only had my parents," Hermione said thinking about her childhood. "Until I meet Harry and Ron …"

'You are happy about this, right?' Ari asked again concern about the way she was reacting.

"Of course I am, like you said; it's what I always wanted," Hermione smiled holding her stomach. "Though maybe not in the order I had hoped it would be … I wanted at least one of my children conceived after wed lock."

'Ew,' Ari made a disgusted face and shook his head as Hermione laughed hysterically at him. 'I don't need to hear that.'

O

It had been five days and there were getting back to normal or at least as normal as it can be with twenty-seven people in such a close proximity for the last month now. All of Neville's wounds were healed now and the healer said that he should be back to himself in another day or so. After three days his wounds healed, but he was still feeling weak because of the backlash of the curse had drained his magical energy. He was however, still strong enough to give all the kids their Herbology lessons, which all the mothers insisted that they do because they didn't want their children to fall behind. Mostly Molly and Ginny were handling this part, Molly took care of Potion, Charms, and before this week Herbology and Ginny took care of Transfiguration and Defense (no one did History but since Binns was still teaching they didn't think this hurt them any and just had them read the book to keep up). The younger kids were free to play, but most of the time they joined the others (James causing plenty of trouble whenever he could).

Ari was finding this all frustrating, of course he would go to the classes and sometimes they would even go over spells that he hadn't worked with (that was mostly when he was listening into what Teddy was studying), but he was unable to practices anything, since he was unable to say anything. At first he thought that this would give him a chance to work on his non-verbal spells for next year, he was even excited about that (and was beyond pleased when his Mum gave him his wand back). However, it was very difficult to master and he wasn't even sure if he would be able to do that either, but after three days of hard work he was finally able to do something (he levitated a feather) and the effect of this efforts was to nearly knocked him out and left him weak for the rest of the day, (which was enough to make his Mum forbid him from trying again for the time being).

That wasn't the only thing that was frustrating Ari though, everyone seem to be treating him differently than they did before. The adults were fine, though he didn't like the overly concerned looks they showed him (except for his grandma, he figured she would always be this way and it was okay), but he didn't really know them so it didn't make him feel uncomfortable (well for the most part at least). His younger cousins that went to school were another story; Dominique, Louise, and Molly didn't know what to do when they were in the same room. They had looked up to him when he was at school, he was prefect and was helpful and kind to the younger students and they always seem to enjoy (and in Louise case even helped) when he pull pranks on either Teddy or Fred. But now, they were all wary of him and could never look into his eyes; it didn't help that they couldn't understand him at all without a translator and he looked like an idiot whenever he tried. Fred was another story though; he was working hard on never allowing anyone became too depress. He spent most of the time trying to make everyone relax my doing what he does best, causing mayhem, but after the first few days Ari could tell that he no longer had to force himself so much (that made him feel better).

Ari relationship with the Potter kid was the one that he was most worried about, and indeed he could see the changes there. They knew him as the funny, know-it-all that usually picked on or played with them (depending on his mood at the time) and it was harder for them to see him like this than anything else. He could tell that James and Albus tried their hardest to remain unaffected, but it was no use, it was awkward being around them. However, his relationship to Lily, though completely different, had only become stronger than it was before. She had taken it as a habit to sit next to him whenever she found him reading on his own, just taking in his presents. Sometimes she would talk to him about whatever was on her mind other times she just sat there in silence and though she couldn't understand him she always seem to know his mood.

Teddy tried his hardest to keep the guilt off his face whenever he saw Ari and after a few days he was able to do it easily enough. Though, it was easy to dwell on all the negative, Teddy had been able to see that his friend was every much there and their friendship was now stronger than it ever was before. Teddy had gained such respect for Ari after everything that he went through during the days they were held captive. For Ari's part, he was equal impressed by Teddy and (though he rather it wasn't so) was happy that he had someone so strong to lean on during that time, someone that help him to keep fighting with everything he had.

Tori had an easier time than the other understanding Ari, they had been good friends since they started school together five years ago, and in the last two years they had become even closer (which was when he started calling her Tori instead of Vicky as everyone else besides Teddy and Ryn called her). The way that he constantly tried to improve his situation and worked hard was just so Ari, that it was easy for her to see him like she had always seen him. As the other saw all of the outwards changes that had affect him (making him seem weak) she was able to see (and appreciated) the strength it took him to do all that he was doing, their relationship hadn't changed at all. The only thing that changed was that Teddy and Tori were spending a lot more private time together (much to Bill consternation).

His relationship with Ryn, however, was what was really making him so frustrated and nervous; she seemed so normal and happy to see him, easily able to understand whatever he had to say, but she refuse to be alone with him. It was really unnerving how she could seem so calm and collected, smiling and laughing along with him (and whoever they were with) but would leave immediately when they were alone. He feared what that meant. He feared that she was just putting on a front for when everyone was there and knew she wouldn't be able to do that if they were alone. He knew that was probably it, and wondered what the meaning behind that was.

At first, he thought she was just nervous and wanted to work out her feelings before she 'talked' with him, but it's been a week and she should have come to him by now. Was she unnerved by him now that he could no longer be who he once was? Would she want to walk away from him now that he was like this, after all who wanted a mute best friend that couldn't do magic and more importantly couldn't really argue with her anymore? He didn't think this was the case, not only because it was extremely painful to think of (not having her by his side), but also he knew her better than that. It would take more than that to make her leave; at least he thought it would. He knew that there was nothing that would make him walk away from her … but that was the problem wasn't it. He didn't know how she felt about him … how strong she felt for him.

At that though, as if he had summoned her, Ryn walked into the living room where Ari was sitting on the couch. Their eyes meet, Ari inviting her in with all he could, and she turned to leave the room. The disappointment and hurt was written all over his face and it became harder to think that she was unaffected by this and that their friendship was equally unaffected.

O

Ryn walked into the kitchen and bagged her head on the table. She felt horrible at the way she was treating Ari, but she didn't know how else to handle him. She was so excited when he first came and hugged her; he was so Ari that she knew that he would be okay, maybe not now but someday. She was even more thrilled that she was able to understand him, really understand what he wanted just my reading his face. It wasn't just understanding hand gestures, no Ari mostly communicated by his looks and it took someone that really understand his face, to understand him (he used the same look to portray so many different things); it was almost like reading his mind.

She sat there, nearly in tears after the last time she refuse to be alone with him. Before she had gotten to the kitchen she had to pass Ari; he gave her his usual invitation to sit with him, but she walked away again (ran like a stupid coward). This time she caught his expression as she left and it made her feel worse than she was already feeling. He was so hurt and confused by her action, she couldn't leave him like that but she didn't know what to do.

"Hello," someone said making Ryn jump to find that it was Ron and he was making himself lunch.

"Oh hi," Ryn said, she had trouble looking at him; he looked so much like Ari.

Ron looked at her calculating, continuing to make his lunch, and long after she looked away kept staring at her. This girl reminded him so much of Hermione; though there were a lot of different not the least the way she look (thank Merlin) she had blue-green eyes and dark hair (okay it was a little wavy but it was not the unmanageable mess that was Hermione's). However, Ryn was kind, smart (she and Ari were always fighting for the top grade in the class over all and she was a close second to him), had a temper not to be messed with and she cared deeply about her best friend. That's why he really couldn't understand why she was avoiding his son.

"So why have you been avoiding Arthur?" Ron asked; direct was always the best way to deal with things like this (at least it was the only way he knew how to deal with things like this).

"Er …" Ryn said jumping again when he talked and was now looking at him shocked and scared. "I'm not avoiding him."

"That's true I suppose," Ron smiled, after all she had been in his present a lot over the last week. "Why don't you want to be alone with him?"

"I … I can't right now," Ryn said looking down; she couldn't look into his blue eyes. "I'm trying, but it's hard."

"You can't stand what happened to him?" Ron said looking skeptically.

"What?" Ryn said looking outraged about what he said (just like Mione, Ron thought). "Don't be ridiculous; that's not it."

"I had a feeling that wasn't it," Ron smiled at her. "You don't seem like someone that would ditch your friend when they need you most (Ryn flinch at that taking it as she was abandoning her friend). However, if it was me in Arthur's positions … though I'm not sure he would feel the same because he is so much more confident than I was back then … he might think that you were. If you don't talk to him soon he might have to conclude that's the reason."

"He's my best friend, he should know me better than that," Ryn said angrily, because that last look showed her that he was starting to think that.

"He does Cathryn, but it's hard for him right now and he can't think of another reason why you would avoid him," Ron sighed.

"It's Cathy," Ryn stated. "And I guess you're right, I really can't avoid him any longer; but I still don't know what to do."

"What do you mean?" Ron asked suddenly confused. "I really don't get why you're avoiding him."

Ryn leaned back in her chair sighing and pinching her nose. "I'm just so angry with him," she hissed.

"Angry?" Ron said, the corner of his lips twitching (yes, so like Mione).

"Yes," Ryn and nearly sobbing (wiping the smile off Ron's face); she was balling her fist looking both sad and angry.

"And you think you shouldn't yell at him right now," Ron said. "I'll tell you a secret. Right now, he would rather you yell at him until your turn blue instead of giving him the silent treatment like you have been."

"I'm not giving him the silent treatment," Ryn said shocked biting her bottom lip; she could see in a way she had been.

"I know, you didn't want to yell at him because what happened," Ron smiled warmly at her. "But from what I've heard from Harry, you two enjoy arguing. So just go in there and tell him how you're feeling, if nothing else at least he'll know the really reason why you've been acting weirdly towards him."

"You're right," Ryn sighed. She was being ridiculous staying away from him like this and the sooner she yelled the sooner thing would go back to normal between them. "Thank you, Mr. Weasley," Ryn smiled at him and he smiled back at her.

"Don't mention it, and please call me Ron," Ron said; he didn't like how old it made him feeling having this girl call him Mr. Weasley.

"I'll try," Ryn shrugged and then she voiced one of the theories she had. "Mr. We … er … Ron (she had a hard time saying it and she knew that she was unlikely to use it again). I've notice that you're having trouble talking to Ari …"

"Yeah," Ron said looking dejected. "That's what happens when you missed so much of someone's life."

"Maybe, but I think there's a little more to it," Ryn said, not sure how to say this. "You and Ari look so much alike, but you can't take that as a referenced … I know that Mr. and Mrs. Potter use that to help them."

"And what about you … and Mione, too?" Ron asked raising his eyebrow, but he liked this new theory; it made him a little less guilty.

"Arthur's my best friend; of course I'm going to know what he's thinking," Ryn said proudly (forgetting that she had been worried that she wouldn't be able to understand him at first). "And Ms. Granger … er … Hermione (it was extremely difficult to call her idol my name) is his Mum; she doesn't really need the extra help of the similarities the two of you have, though it probably doesn't hurt."

"You have a point there," Ron smiled. "I guess I should go stand in front of the mirror now and practice my facial expression."

"That's a good idea," Ryn choked out through her laughter; she was laughing harder than the joke warrant but it reminded her so much of Ari that she couldn't help it. "I guess I now know where Ari got his wit from."

"I think it's now my turn to thank you," Ron said, she really did make him feel better about his situation with Ari; and he vowed to learn how to communicate with his son someway.

"You really help me more," Ryn smiled and then sigh and got a seriously look again. "And now I think I need to find Ari." And with that she left the kitchen and headed for the tent she was sure he would be in. She wasn't surprise that he was there reading his history book (looking a little gloomy).

"Hey," she said; startling him and causing him drop his book and then look at her seriously before looking down and not making eye contact with her. This made her really nervous. "I think we need to talk."

Ari head snapped to her and raised an eyebrow before glaring at her 'I can't 'talk' and you haven't seemed to want to in a while.' Ah yesm defensive and argumentative, our normal response to something like this, Ryn thought.

"I'm sorry," Ryn sighed, looking down gathering her strength so she could yell at him properly.

Oh crap, oh crap, she doesn't want to be my friend, I never thought it would come to this, Ari thought distraughtly.

"It's just," Ryn went on not noticing Ari worried or the fact that he was leaning closer to her, on the edge of his seat. She then looked at him, glaring angrily and practice shouted. "I'm so bloody angry with you!"

Ari startled and stumble off the couch again looking at her totally confused 'What?'

"Don't give me that look, you know what I'm talking about!" she continued to yell.

His express was still confused and he started shaking his head. 'I really don't have a clue what you're talking about.'

"Argh … that's just makes me even angrier you know!" Ryn groaned. "How can you go run off like that without me?"

Ari's look of confusion vanished immediately and he smiled broadly, and before she could even say something about that (she looked infuriated that he would think of smiling at what she just said) he got up and embraced her, like he never has in the past. He felt like almost weeping at the relief he felt by this, that she didn't feel uncomfortable around the new him. He pulled her tighter to him (and she seemed to be holding him as closely to her as she could too). He imaged doing something more, but he wouldn't risk his friendship with her on anything, not even his own feelings, not when she was angry with him like this.

"I'm sorry that I've been avoiding you, I just didn't think I should be yelling at you," Ryn smile watery at him; she had been crying in his arm, and then she wiped them away angrily. "Though, how you could think I would do that …"

'You didn't talk to me … er … alone for a week, how am I supposed to know what you are thinking?' Ari glared back.

"A week, you lose faith in our friendship in a week!" Ryn shouted, poking him in the shoulder.

'Of course not, but you didn't give me away reason and I've been through a rather crazy time recently,' Ari glared.

"And that reminds me why I'm really angry with you," Ryn said pulling away from him and started to pace the room. "How could you just leave me like that? You know I wanted to go with you!"

'I couldn't let you come,' Ari sighed and Ryn didn't like that she was force to look at him when she was yelling at him if she wanted to understand him (he could use so many weapons to make her anger evaporate). 'It was too dangerous for you to be anywhere near there.'

"So you don't think I can handle myself," Ryn scream and shot a murderous glare of him. "I don't need you to protect me Arthur … I'm quite capable of doing that myself, thank you very much."

'That's not it,' Ari growled shaking his head madly. 'I know how capable you are. It wasn't enough this time!' she tried to interrupting but he shook her off 'let me finish.' And then he sighed and tried to portray the vital information. 'This wasn't a fight we could win; none of us were ready to fight them. I wasn't going out there to fight … I went out there in the hopes I could get to Teddy and transport us out of there.'

"And I could of help you do that," Ryn shouted unable to stop herself. "And don't give me that eye roll; you know that it would have been more doable with two people. I could have given you cover fire if nothing else."

Ari glared at her so fiercely at that that she became silent immediately. 'Which means that you either would have been captured - and that would be a much worse torture than the one that I just went through - or they would have killed you because you aren't a Weasley and you weren't needed for their plans. If you think I was going to let something like that happened you're crazy.'

"And you don't think I feel the same way!" Ryn shouted back regaining her anger, but the fight ran out of Ari completely. The pain in her eyes and voice were so much that it froze him. "Do you have any idea how hard it's been for me these last few weeks?" she said sobbing her anger gone replaced by intense pain. Ari didn't hesitant in pulling her down on the couch and wrapping her into his arm; her head buried in his chess (his shirt soaked in her tears in seconds) and he resting his head on hers. She just stayed there for a long time just listening to his heartbeat and thanking Merlin it was still there. Her voice was controlled but strain when she continued, "I imagined what they were doing to you when you were first captured, all I could think about is what was happening to you, if you would ever come back and what stated you would be in if you did," she broke down again after that and he squeezed her tighter to her.

"And then you were back, you couldn't speak and I know that I'm going to miss that, but I'm so glad that you're all right and still you," she looked up at him and they smiled at each other before she went back to crying in his chess. "Then the images of what they really did to you …" she shuttered and sobbed harder than ever, "I can't really get that out of my head."

"Sh …" Ari said, pulling her closer to him. 'I'm here,' he thought and though she wasn't looking at him she knew what he meant.

They stay like that for a long time, both talking comfort in each other arms. "You know you've never used to be able to stand me crying like this … I'm surprised that you haven't run for the hills by now."

'Sorry, I think I might have change now,' Ari sighed.

"I've noticed, you're all toughie feely now," Ryn smirk and buried her head in his chest again. "This new Ari that has to express his emotion … I could to learn to like that."

'Shut up,' Ari made a face.

A/N: Okay so there are only two more chapters and an Epilogue of sort (which basically means they're three chapters) left after this. The next chapter should be the big fight and I really hope that I write it well.