A/N: Probably just an epilogue after this chapter. This sort of all sums everything up. I hope you all have enjoyed this story. I've somewhat put my heart and soul into it.
Jessica682: Thank you so much for always reviewing, you are amazing and I'm so glad that you've enjoyed the story!
lialovegood: Thank you for not giving up on this story! I know that hiatus was quite a long while, but you've no idea how much I appreciate that you've come back to it to finish it out!
talley67: Thanks for your review, I'm so glad you feel that way :)
athieisademon: Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Hope you like the ending! :)
Chapter 22
Continuing our story
When I started this story, I started from this point. I told you that I would go back and start from the beginning of our story. From the beginning of Harry and I as we are now. It was a journey to get here. As I told you at the very beginning, being gay is absolutely not accepted in the Wizarding community. It seemed that to some people it didn't matter that Harry had saved the world, he still deserved to die for being with me. We wouldn't give up, though. We'd already spent far too much time apart. We have been through a lot, James. Harry and I. And you. Your mother loved you, son. She loved you like only a mother can. You didn't deserve what happened. You deserved to know her and have her in your life. It's my fault. I know that I was weak by going back to Harry. If I hadn't gone back, if I'd just let Harry live his life, your mother wouldn't have died. I know that it is my fault, James. I only hope that you don't blame me forever. Each day that I see you with your father, I realize that Harry loves you with his whole heart. I'm glad that you were still able to be raised by two parents. I'm sorry that I made such selfish decisions that took your mother from us. I'd have given anything to switch places with her just so that you could have had her in your life. But I'm glad that I did get to watch you grow up. I love you, James Weasley. I know that when you read this, you'll be much older and I hope that by then it will all be easier to understand. I'll never stop reminding you about your mother. Before I get ahead of myself, I'll continue the story. For you, this will be the hardest part of the story to hear. For me, the hardest to tell. Let's stay strong, son. For each other.
Change in POV
"Jennifer is dead," Hermione told Harry, a sob following her words.
Harry's heart dropped into his stomach and he grabbed onto the arm of the chair he was sitting in to stop the world from spinning around him. It didn't help; he was still dizzy and felt as though he would be sick. He tried to remember how to breathe. One word repeated itself in his mind over and over and he closed his eyes tight, whispering, "Ron?"
"He's in critical condition, the Healers are working on him, but Jennifer took the brunt of the explosion. It looks like he'll make it," Hermione explained through her tears.
Harry jumped up, his body moving before his brain. Before he knew it he was running toward Ron. He hadn't been told where Ron was and he didn't stop to think about it, it just seemed that his body knew where his partner was, so he let his body take full control as it ran toward his redhead.
"Mr. Potter, I'm afraid we can't let you in. Mr. Weasley is unstable," a Healer tried to explain, standing in the way of the door to block Harry from entering.
"I need to see him!" Harry cried. He looked into the eyes of the Healer, desperation shining in his green orbs, and the Healer's head dropped and with a sigh, he moved out of the way.
Harry ran into the room and nearly fell to his knees when he saw Ron lying lifeless on the bed. He walked slowly to the side of the bed and ran his hand over Ron's face. He put his hand gently on Ron's chest, needing desperately to feel something pound against it. It was slight, but his hearbeat was there and a wave of relief hit Harry stronger than he expected and he started to sob, finally letting himself fall to his knees.
A month later found the Weasley family at the Burrow, gathered for Christmas. Harry was sitting on one of the sofas with James in his arms. Ron entered from the kitchen and sat down next to Harry, handing him a warmed bottle for James. Ginny and Dean sat on the sofa across from them with a blue bundle in Dean's arms, sleeping. Ginny had kept her promise and named him after Ron. They called him David Ronald Thomas, and Ron already spoiled him rotten. The rest of the Weasleys surrounded them, opening gifts and wearing each of their hand-made sweaters from Mrs. Weasley. Mr. Weasley walked over to Ron and Harry and sat on the chair of the sofa, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"You boys sure you're ready to do this, tomorrow?" Mr. Weasley asked.
Harry shared a look with Ron and they turned to Mr. Weasley confidently. "More than anything," Ron told his father.
Mr. Weasley nodded and then joined the two men in staring down at James, silently.
The next day, Harry and Ron held hands tightly, standing behind a curtain at the Ministry, nervous but ready. They waited until the Minister finished speaking before joining him and Mr. Weasley on stage, their hands still intertwined strongly. They stood between the Minister and Mr. Weasley and waited anxiously for Ron's father to begin speaking.
"These men have given up a lot of things for our world. They have saved each and every one of us. They've saved our families. They have saved our children, wives, husbands, mothers, and fathers. And we repay them by killing the mother of their child? We repay them by not criticizing their love, but denying it completely. No more. From this moment forward, we make it possible for all those in our world to marry anyone whom they love. I, the father of Ronald Weasley, fully support his life with Harry Potter. Should they want to marry, I will officiate it. Should they expand their family, I will stand beside them and help. I ask you all to join me,"
Ron was shocked to hear these words come from his father. He felt the sudden urge to hug the older man, but didn't want the press to have more photos than necessary.
"I, the Minister of Magic, declare any same-sex marriage legal in the Wizarding World. Should anyone disagree or make life harder for any couple, despite their sexual orientation, they will be speaking directly to me. As for the unfortunate event that killed the mother of Ronald Weasley's child, he has been captured and is now residing in Azkaban. My deepest condolences to you, Ron, and my sincerest apologies to you both for the way you have been treated," the Minister told the men, shaking each of their hands strongly.
Harry noted that this new Minister was not even posing for the cameras and looked each himself and Ron in the eye when he apologized, letting them see that he was truly sorry. Harry nodded at the man and waved at all of the people watching the conference, before pulling his partner back behind the curtain again. Once Mr. Weasley had joined them, Ron threw himself at his father and hugged him for a long while. Afterwards, Harry hugged Mr. Weasley as well, whispering a small but emotional, "thank you" before pulling away. Quickly, the boys left the Ministry and retreated back to their flat in Everwood.
Hermione and Ginny were sitting in the kitchen, Hermione holding James and kissing his head lightly and Ginny feeding David a bottle.
"Perfect timing!" Ginny told them.
"Hurry, go get changed out of those robes and into your suits. I've laid them out on your bed," Hermione directed them.
They ran into their room and changed swiftly into their suits, helping each other with their ties and stealing a few content kisses. They heard a woman's voice in the kitchen and Ron smiled, excited. He ran to the kitchen to find Amanda dressed in her beautiful white dress. The dress fit her personality, that was for sure. It came down to her ankles and exposed her white flip-flops with flowers on the straps. Her hair was done up with her veil short and simple. She saw Ron and ran to him, hugging him tightly.
"Ready?" he asked.
"You have no idea," she told him, impatiently.
"I think I do," he said lightly, holding her at arm's length and offering a wink. "Let's get going, then?"
She sighed, thankful and anxious. "We will. Go check on Cam, okay?"
Ron nodded his okay and Apparated out of the apartment to Amanda's apartment where he knew Cam would be getting ready with Jay, Dean, Bill, Fred, and George. Cam's face relaxed a little when he saw Ron.
"How is she, dude?" Cam asked, anxiously.
"She is ready. How are you?" Ron asked as he started to fix his friend's tie.
"I'm ready, too," Cam told him, happily.
Ron chuckled. "I'll bet,"
"How did the conference go?" Jay asked Ron.
"Yeah, it went well. The Minister seemed genuine, really. Dad can give a mean speech, let me tell you!"
Dean nodded, having been there, standing in the crowd with Bill. "Yeah, he about made me tear up a bit,"
Bill nodded his agreement. "Honestly," he assured the room.
The twins laughed, and muttered comments under their breath.
"Let's get this wedding started, shall we?" Ron asked the room.
Cam smiled broadly and clapped his hands together in excitement. "Let's,"
