Thank You for your reviews! :

DoctorMarthaJones, ashie-slytherin-greenflames, KabIndigoandBasalWormwood, Mika the Dark princess,

Hikory (I like that Sirius was okay with it, too. :) I don't know about Remus. Maybe I'll get to that next time. We'll see. :) I think I planned that his Inheritance was hidden in Potter Manor somewhere. They'll probably find whatever it is when they go to stay there. :)),

FlameOfIllumination, Yana5, ShadowXMoonlight, Angelusdeath, sakura-misao

Author's Note:

First, I am SOOOOO sorry that it took me so long to finish this, and, yes, I know it kinda sucks.. And not in a good way.. I'll try to do better about updates, content and length..

Second, I'm SOOOO SORRY... :(

~Sweet-Hearted SilverEars~

Chapter 40 Visitors And Surprises

Draco, Harry, Ron and Sirius stared in shock at the three men sitting across from their chairs on the couch. They had showed up at the castle barely an hour ago, asked to see the Headmaster, asking Dumbledore about the students, and the shell cradle, and had been sent to Harry, Draco and Ron's room by him.

"Which one of you activated the shell cradle?" Neptune asked softly in inquiry.

"I did," Harry answered him calmly.

"You are with-child?" "Yes. I'm Harry. This is my mate and husband, Draco, my best friend, Ron, and my Godfather, Sirius."

The other man smiled and shook the Gryffindor's hand, followed by the others in the order that they had been introduced. "I am Neptune, the Ruler of Atlantis. This is my mate and lover, Jason, and our nephew, Daniel."

"Call me Dani."

"This is good news for both of our peoples," Neptune said seriously. "Merchildren are rare, and becoming increasingly rarer as the years pass. Do you know if there are any more like us in this castle?"

There might be one.." Ron spoke up now, flushing red when everyone in the room turned their heads to look at him. "My little sister, Ginny. She was interested in Harry, you see, but he had to turn her away, because he loves Draco."

"Yes, I see," Neptune said. "How certain are you? Did you ever see her transform?"

"No, but, I'm pretty sure."

"Of course. And.. She is unattached?"

"As far as I know, yeah. She's fairly young, after all. We're not exactly getting along because of Draco and Harry, and.. Viktor."

"Viktor?" Dani inquired, causing his uncles to look at him in surprise, as he so rarely spoke around others at all.

"My lover."

"Oh..," Daniel said, his face falling at Ron's confident answer, turning toward Neptune and Jason with a small bow, keeping his eyes on the floor. "May I be excused, uncles? Please? I shall wait for you outside the door."

"Of course, Daniel," Neptune said, glancing at Jason in confusion, then back to Dani's crestfallen face. "We should not be much longer."

"Thank you..," he said quietly before slipping out of the room and closing the door behind himself.

"Well," Neptune said, returning to the matter at hand for the moment. "If your sister is one of us, there will be many from Atlantis who will wish to Court her once it becomes common knowledge there. Someone will have to discuss the ramifications with her.."

Daniel stood outside the door, partially hidden in an alcove as he shook with sobs, weeping into his hands as he hung his head and cried sorrowfully. His Mate was taken. He could feel their connection, but whether the redhead knew or not, he couldn't tell. But he was taken. By this.. Viktor. Daniel jumped when he felt a hand reach out to touch his shoulder lightly, lowering his hands and raising his tear stained face to stare in shock at Ron's concerned face.

"What's wrong?.. Why are you so upset?.."

"Can you not feel it?"

"Feel what?" Ron asked in puzzlement.

"Our connection. We are Mates. I felt it the moment that I saw you in there."

Ron's expression became shuttered, the emotion leaving his face as he pulled his hand back quickly as though burned. "What I feel does not matter. I love Viktor."

"You deny me, then?" he whispered, another shudder wracking his frame as he leaned back against the wall to avoid falling to his knees and begging him to touch him again.

"No, I deny what I know I could become. I've watched Harry, and he's happy as he is now, but I do not want it. I want to be a normal wizard. I want to grow old with Viktor and his family, to have his babies. To love, and be loved, with him. No one else could ever take his place in my life."

"I'm not trying to take his place!" Daniel hissed softly. "I want my own place with you. I need you!"

"You don't even know me. And besides, even if I was interested, and Viktor was inclined to share me, you live in Atlantis. We'll be living in Bulgaria. It just wouldn't work."

"You don't know that! I could live with you in Bulgaria. Please!"

"Why are you so insistent about this? Can't you just find another mate?"

"Because it's not that easy! I've been searching for my Destined One for.. A very long time, and now that I've found you.. My heart is breaking.."

Dani broke down in tears again, sliding down the wall to sit on the floor as he wept, turning his face away from Ron's in shame. "This is so unfair.."

Ron sat down next to him, reaching out to grip his chin in his hand, pulling his head back to face him gently. "Life isn't fair, Dani.." Ron said seriously as he gazed into his eyes steadily. "I'm sorry. I will send a letter to Viktor, but it's all that I can promise. The best that I can do."

"Really?.." he asked softly, moisture glimmering on his lashes in the dim light of the alcove as he looked up at him hopefully.

"Yes, but, if he says yes, I still won't become one of your people. I've suppressed the change because I don't want it. So you would have to understand that, and not tell anyone. Also there is to be no trying to convince me to change my mind, in any way. Is that understood?"

"Yes, I understand... I just want you to love me.. And.. I want only for you to be who you are, who you want to be, be happy... because I love you.."

Ron smiled, pulling Daniel to his feet by the hand gently, brushing the drying tears from his eyes with the other, pressing a brief, chaste kiss against his lips before leading him back inside. "Come on, Dani.. I'll get started on that letter now."

"I have to stay with Ron," Daniel said, wincing at the looks of shock on Neptune and Jason's faces at his announcement. "He's my mate, uncles."

"And has he accepted you?" Jason asked sympathetically. "His place in your life?"

"Not exactly.. He said the choice is up to his Viktor.."

"And you think you can handle that?" Neptune asked softly. "Having to share him with another?"

"No, but… What choice have I? I don't want to live without him.. And I can't wait another five-hundred years alone.. I would never make it.. This is it.. If it doesn't work.. I can't hold on anymore.. I.. I lost a scale yesterday while I was bathing.. It's too late to flee.. There's nothing I can do.."

The other two mermen looked at him, and each other, in horror at his words.

"Oh, Dani…"

"We are so sorry…"

"You should never have accompanied us here…"

"No, uncles, I'm glad I did. Whatever happens… It's okay, really. I couldn't have continued on how I was for much longer. Either way, it has to end."