Chapter 21
James A. Weasley

You were beautiful, love. The moment I saw you with Harry, I knew you belonged to him as much as you belonged to me. Your mother was fantastic with it all. I'd never seen a woman that accepted the role of a mother as perfectly and smoothly as your mum. From the moment you were born, it was as though you'd always been a part of her. There was no adjusting to the lifestyle, she just was your mum, like she'd never known anything different. It was intriguing and brilliant to see. Your mother loved you, James. I understand if you blame me for all that occurred, but through all that happened, she loved you. I swear it.

Jennifer sat next to Ron on his bed, her back resting against the headboard, her hair up in a loose ponytail, a tiny baby boy held in her arms. She rubbed and patted at the baby's back, having just fed him a bottle.

"Let me," Ron suggested, calmly sitting up next to her and taking the baby gently.

Harry entered the room a moment later and stood in the doorway, watching Ron with his little family. Fatherhood was treating the redhead well. It had been a fortnight since James had been born, and Harry had watched as Ron continued to get better. There was no medical explanation, but he had more energy, the color had returned to his skin and cheeks, the brightness to his hair and smile, and the hope to his eyes. Harry had watched in silent wonder as it all happened, thanking Merlin each and every day for helping his Ron recover and for the beautiful little blue bundle of love that the redhead was currently holding. He wasn't Harry's and the raven-haired boy knew that. But the way that he felt about the baby contradicted that fact, as deep down Harry felt more connected to that child than he ever thought he could be. He knew the baby belonged to the man and woman sitting in his bed, but he couldn't help but feel that James also belonged to him…somehow.

Ron glanced towards the door, mindlessly, looking subconsciously for Harry, and smiled broadly when he saw the man standing in the doorway. Harry's heart melted all over again.

"Ginny's going to pop any day now! I'm going to go visit her, okay? I'll give her your love!" Jennifer squeaked from excitement. She'd gotten really close with Ginny, both of them bonding over their pregnancies. Hermione would always take Jennifer to visit Ginny at the Burrow when she wanted to see her. Harry smiled and nodded at Jennifer as she passed him to leave the room. She squeezed his hand tightly as she passed.

"Grab a nappy, yeah? He smells awful," Ron told Harry, chuckling.

Harry laughed and crossed the room to the changing table, grabbing wipes and a nappy and bringing it to Ron. As Ron laid James down to change him, Harry sat by the baby's head and stroked his tiny hands and cheeks softly.

"Looks like his daddy, doesn't he?" Ron asked Harry.

Harry knew that Ron was referring to the green-eye'd boy, as James had dark black hair and soft green eyes. Knowing his eyes were a deeper green than James' were, he shook his head. "He looks like his mum,"

Ron chuckled. "He may have her eyes, Harry, but he resembles you to the T. I, personally, would have it no other way,"

Embarrassed, Harry tried to pat his hair down and hide his blush. He stared at the small healing scars that lined his hand from the bomb. He chanced a small glance out of the corner of his eye and saw that Ron was smirking. He sighed dramatically, but made it clear to his partner that he couldn't be happier with the way things were.


A week later and Ron had felt well enough to actually leave the apartment. He'd been walking around the flat for a few days and wanted to visit Ginny before she had the baby. Jennifer, of course, insisted on going as well, which made Harry feel better about Ron traveling. Harry decided to stay at the flat with the baby, not wanting Ron to have added stressors for his first trip out.

Alone for the first time in what felt like years, Harry settled himself down on the sofa and started to read a book about Quidditch. Remus had given it to him on his last birthday. With everything going on with Ron, Jennifer and Ginny being pregnant, and the random and annoying threats from the Wizarding community about Ron and Harry being a couple, birthdays hadn't really been focused on in a while. Each birthday that came around got a dinner and sometimes a small cake, if Mrs. Weasley or Hermione had time to knock one up, and few gifts were really exchanged. Christmas was right around the corner, though, and being that everything seemed to be settling down again, he hoped they'd make it a big celebration. A celebration that not only would acknowledge Christmas, but one that would acknowledge the hardships they had all made it through.

Harry put together a bottle and fed James, abandoning his book to spend some quality, quiet time with his adopted son. Harry whispered to James about all his hopes and dreams for the baby.

"I will forever be in debt to you for helping to heal your father. I know you aren't doing it purposely, but you're healing him. You're a miracle, James. I'll never let you forget it," Harry whispered, running his hand along the three-week-old's cheek.

When the bottle was finished, Harry burped James and put him down in the bassinet he'd moved to the front room next to the sofa. He wanted to read, but wanted to keep his son in the same room. He opened his book and turned to where he'd left off. It was a chapter on flying technique. He heard the wind blow and glanced out of the window, seeing the darkness and flying leaves. A storm was coming. He looked at the clock and was surprised it was only four.

He nearly jumped out of his seat at the yelp coming from the fire. Mrs. Weasley's face appeared in the flames.

"Harry! Harry, come quick! It's happened! Ron – he was…he was here…and then – and it happened! Harry, come quickly! Ginny isn't taking this well!"

Harry didn't have time to think. He jumped up and Apparated to St. Mungo's. Surprised at how fast he'd reacted he tried to calm himself down and Disapparated back to the flat to grab the baby. His heart was racing and his adrenaline was pumping, but when he picked up the now crying James from his bassinet, Harry took a deep breath and tried to think clearly. He grabbed James' diaper bag and walked to the fireplace, holding tight to his son as he went back, much more calmly, to St. Mungo's.

When he arrived, everyone was already there. Mrs. Weasley was panicked. The look on her face scared Harry and she was trembling slightly. Harry handed James to Mr. Weasley and took Hermione aside.

"Another bomb, Harry. It was meant for Ron, I think, but it hit them both. Ron and Jennifer. Ginny was so panicked, she fainted and the Healers are doing an emergency delivery. Harry, sit down," Hermione's voice was calm on the surface, but every word was lined with pain and fear. Harry sat down and she knelt in front of him, grabbing his hands. "I have to tell you something,"

I told you someone died in this story, love. I know that you already know who, I just feel that this is the hardest part of my story. How do you explain to your son the death of his parent? Please don't blame me, James. Your mother and I will always love you.

A/N: I've got about two more chapters until the end of this story, but this chapter ties back into the very first chapter of the story. Leave me a review to let me know what you think!