Ron sat across from me at my kitchen table sipping his coffee. The silence stretched thin enveloping us in its folds. I studied the table to avoid looking at him. To be honest I had nothing to say to him in my mind I had said goodbye to Ronald Weasley eight years earlier. At least the coffee was good that was something to be thankful for I suppose.

I was perfectly content to just stay quiet but then Weasley spoke. "Why...why did you leave? Please just... at least give me a reason, you just left without any explanation..." He said tiredly, I ran my hand over my face. How did I start to explain this? His expression started to annoy me though. He was looking at me as if I had let him down badly, like I had... I don't know ...betrayed him. It made my blood boil. Just because I hadn't stayed to die for him!

"Why did I leave Weasley why?" I hissed at him." Why the hell do you think?! I was a child who had lost everybody and everything, I was abused by my relatives and did anybody care? No of course they didn't. It was all hey Harry come fight the guy who killed your parents and has been after your blood since you were a child. Harry go on, sacrifice yourself for us whilst we sit back and watch you get hurt," He made to interrupt me but I held my hand up and carried on, "Shut-up, so I run around nearly getting killed at a school which was supposedly SAFE. I mean what kind of school had a deadly snake in the basement, a three headed dog, dementors which suck out your SOUL and BLOODY DRAGONS AND MERPEOPLE AND ...ARGH!" I took a deep breath aware that Eden could probably hear this and I didn't want him to have to hear me shout. Breathing deeply I carried on, " Its a miracle that that school hasn't been shut down already!" I laugh sarcastically. "Are you starting to see my point yet Weasley? And then and then there is Dumbles, the guy who was always pushing me into danger. He could have got me out of the Tri-Wizard tournament. Did he? No of course not. He could have helped me during fifth year, but no he didn't! He was pushing me to be the boy hero, moulding me to think of him as though every word out of his mouth was the gospel truth, to think of him as a kindly old grandfather whilst all the time he was grooming me to be a bloody weapon!. He used me. Well I left, what did I have to lose, it's not like I had any family or any commitments is it?" I finished and I felt the old anger bubbling up inside of me.

Ron looked at me, "You had the war... the prophecy, and you had commitments. You're the one who has to kill Voldemort, and yes it has been hard for you ...Evan. But you had friends, we tried ... we tried to be there for you. You've never had it easy and I'm not denying that you've had it rough. But you're the saviour whether you like it or not, you can't just run away!"

I looked at him sharply. "I don't give a damn about the war and seriously...does Dumbles really expect me to believe that? That I'm meant to be the only one who can kill Snakeface, I mean I wasn't ever that powerful was #I. Face it it's a load of crap. I'm not a saviour. I was never a powerful wizard. Face it any wizard with moderate power has a much a chance of killing Voldemor as I do"

He stood up. Looked at me. "You've changed... No," He held up his hand as I started to speak. "No, it's my turn. I'm sorry ...you feel like that... sorry that you obviously hate me so much, but... but if you think you can leave you're wrong. Harry...Evan. You can't run anymore. Dumbles as you call him, he, he has worked out how to find you're magical signature. He can find you anywhere now. You can't run anymore Evan, I'm sorry but...but you can never leave, he won't let you." He stood and made to leave. "I'm sorry that you hate me and well our world so much,"

I didn't know what to say. If Dumbles could track me then I was screwed. I knew that once he got me within his claws again he wouldn't be letting me go. I heard the door bang, it snapped me out of my musings. I then heard a cry of pain and ran tot Eden's room.

My heart stopped when I found him on the floor. I knelt down and he looked up,

"Daddy!" He threw himself at me. I held him close in a way that was instinctual, you couldn't learn how to be a parent, it just...happened.

"Eden, tell me what happened," I said to him softly whilst standing up and moving to sit with him on the bed with him on my lap.

I heard him mumble but couldn't catch what he said. "What did you say?"

This time I heard him clearly "The floor was lava Daddy I jumped but then I fell!" His voice turned to a wail on the last word. I smiled at him though he did not see me and hugged him closer. He was clearly upset but I didn't know whether that was from the actual fall or the fact that he didn't make his jump. I held him close as he sat curled up on my lap. I set him on his bed and moved to his drawers pulling out his clothes. We were going out today so I chose warm cloths. It was cold this October. I wanted to laugh at myself, one day I'm worried about having to kill as bloody dark lord and now I'm picking out warm clothes for a four year old. I decide and turn around to my son.

"Can you put these on yourself or do you need help?" I asked.

"I can do it Daddy!" I smiled and walked to the door.

"Shout if you need help,"

"Okay Daddy," I smiled and walked to my own room to get dressed. I decided on a blue polo shirt, jeans and a gray hoddie. Yeah, okay I'm meant to be a mature Father and all that. But I am only twenty two, so give me a break. As I pulled my hoddie on somebody knocked, no somebody started to smash my door. I felt calmer after being with Eden. With him it was so simple and relaxed. I could just let go and that was exhilarating.

"Evan open up! Evan...Evannnn...EVAN" I heard Will shout.

I walked to the door, "Sorry no psychos permitted here, landlord's rules,"

"So when's your eviction date then," I grinned

"Touché," He smirked and sauntered in.

"Well what do you want then?" I shouted following him into the living room.

"I have just come to take my favourite godson..."

"Only godson,"

He glared at me. "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, I have to come take my favourite godson out to play football."

"Really that's why you're here?"

"Evan just because you cannot respect the fact that Sunday mornings are for football. I may not be able to save you but I can save Eden. Now are you going to make me a drink or do I need to do it myself?" He finished with a long suffering sigh. I smirk.

"Go thirsty it might shut you up," I reply.

"My friend, if you can ever shut me up I will give you whatever you demand,"

"Well, that could be interesting,"

"You and I both know it's never gonna happen,"

Before I could reply Eden ran in and jumped at Will. "Uncle Will!"

"Hi midget, go get your trainers. Its football time!" He replied.

"Will I never said he could go," I interrupted.

"But you won't say no," He told me.

"Will mate, he can go any other day. But not today, please don't get him wound up. Any other day, but not today."

"This is about last night isn't it," he said looking at me sharply.

"I will tell you later, just please. I need to go," He looked at me and nodded.

"Eden I will see you later," he clasped my shoulder "See you later mate," I nodded and watched as he let himself out.

"Daddy are we going out today,"

"Yep, have you got your shoes on?"

"Yes daddy," I pulled him onto my knee and put his coat on him. He started squirming on my lap trying to get down. I held him and he laughed as he tried to break my hold.

"Daddy! Let go! Let go Daddy!" I chuckled.

"Ok, ok" I dropped him gently on the floor. "Go wait for me by the door," I flopped back against the sofa as he left the room. Maybe it would have been better to let Will take him today whist I attempted to figure out what I was going to do.

"Daddy, come on," I heard Eden whine. I stood up and stretched, I hadn't slept well. My nightmares had returned for the first time in nearly eight years and I was suffering the consequences. Grabbing my wallet and mobile off the coffee table I made my way to the front door where Eden was waiting for me. I reached over him and unlocked the door simultaneously pulling on my shoes. I stepped onto the landing. I looked at Eden who was staring at the kitchen for some reason.

"Eden...Eden come on," He jumped and shook his head. He came to stand by me. "Go call the lift," I told him and I watched as he ran off. I reopened the text that I had received from Petunia the previous morning and ran my hand over my face. I hadn't seen her in around seven years. Vernon had told me to get out of their lives for good now that I had left that "freaky school" and didn't need to stay at privet drive anymore. Anyway she wanted to meet me and I couldn't find it in me to ignore her. She was the one who lent me money behind Vernon's back whilst I got myself sorted out.

"Daddy! The lift" I heard my son call. I put my phone in my pocket and walked down the hall. The lift pinged as I got to it. I leant against the back wall as we got inside. I realised Petunia didn't actually know about Eden. Then again the Dursley's weren't exactly on my Christmas card list for some odd reason. I smirked at that thought.

"Daddy where are we going?"

"We are going to meet your Aunt Petunia,"

"Ok," he looked deep in thought. "What's she like daddy?" I chuckled as I though how I could describe Petunia to Eden.

"Well, she has a neck as long as a giraffes, and she is very nosy,"

"Really Daddy?"

"Yep," I said laughing at his disbelieving expression

"Is she scary," He mumbled. I picked him up.

"No, anyway you know I wouldn't let scary people near you," He nodded and I placed him back down. I was going to have to stop carrying him soon. It sent a pang to my heart to realise that my little boy, my son, the one person who I loved above all others was growing up. I wished I could keep him this young, innocent and carefree forever. To stop the world that we lived in making him grow up as fast as I had to.

We reached to ground floor. Nodding to the security guard in the lobby of our building I grabbed Eden's hand and walked outside. It was raining so after checking Eden's coat was properly zipped up. I grabbed his hand and jogged with him to the bus stop.

On the bus I leant my head against the cool glass of the window. My scar had been prickling for the first time in eight years. Why couldn't anything be simple? They just had to turn up and ruin my nice, simple, safe life.

I jerked upright as I realised we had neared our stop. I put my hand on Eden's shoulder and guided him to the front of the bus, making sure that the jerking movements of the bus didn't make him fall over. We were meeting Petunia at a Costa Coffee shop in central Manchester. We stepped off the bus and I grabbed Eden's hand. There was a main road and I was taking no chances.

I pushed open the door of the cafe with numb hands. As we stepped insider I spotted Petunia. She was sat towards the back of the shop in a secluded alcove. She hadn't seen me yet so I guided ~Eden to the back of the store.

"Petunia, hi," She looked up startled.

"Evan hi...who's this," I smiled and pulled Eden out from where he was standing behind me. I pointed to the chair and he sat down. It was quite funny. Petunia was shocked and her face... I wish I had had a camera.

"Petunia, this is my son Eden, Eden this is your Aunt Petunia," Eden ducked his head; he was always shy around new people. He was like me in that way.

Petunia looked at Eden cautiously. "It's nice to meet you Eden," Eden mumbled a reply. I nudged him.

"It's nice to meet you too," he said more clearly. I put my hand on his back as he looked up at me for reassurance.

"Do you want anything to drink?" I asked Petunia.

"A cappuccino please," I nodded

"Anything else," She shook her head. "Come on Eden let's get these drinks," He slid out of his chair and followed me to the counter. I stepped up to the server.

"Hi what can I get you?" The woman behind the counter asked me, she was giving me that fake smile that they use to try and tempt you to buy more.

"Um... two cappuccinos and some orange juice please,"

"Sure," I could see the woman checking me out and I gave a crooked smile in return. I turn to Eden and handed him the orange juice and the glass.

"Can you carry that without dropping it?" he gave a frantic nod in return. I picked up the tray with our drinks on and walked carefully to our table. I am still a clumsy idiot at times.

"So Evan how are you?"

"I'm well thanks, you?" She gave a wan smile.

"I'm ok, I just wanted to see you, it's been seven years now,"

I smile. "Time flies doesn't it? How are Vernon and Dudley," She looks upset as I ask.

"Evan...Vernon died about three years back. His weight caused a stroke; he died in hospital a week later and Dudley... well. He ended up in prison for GBH," She seems to choke back a sob. "To think, ~I spent eighteen years under the delusion that he was perfect,"

"I'm sorry," I say honestly She smiles.

"How have you been? I mean everything seems to have changed for you." She smiles at Eden.

"Yeah, I mean obviously there's Eden now," I say ruffling my sons hair. "I'm good, I like my life now. It's simple and I like that. No dangers or deaths. Just simple,"

"I thought you would have gone back. That you would have missed it," I smile and give Eden my phone as I do so. The mobile should keep him quiet for a bit.

"No I'm ... happier I guess, I'm not worried about dying every other day. Its simple normal and ... I mean I have Eden and that just...I never thought about having a kid but now...It's everything to me."

"I know what you mean but I hope your son turns out to be better than mine," I smile sadly.

"I'm sorry about Dudley," She smiles.

I feel a tug on my arm. "Daddy it's locked," Eden whines, pointing to my phone.

"Shouldn't there be something on the end of that sentence?" I ask him.

"Please Daddy," I take the phone from him and unlock it before handing it back. He gives a grin and returns to playing angry bird or whatever it was he was on.

"Anyway Evan I just wanted to see you... make sure that at least one person in my family was doing ok for themselves, but I need to go now,"

"Oh ok," I'll admit it I was taken aback by this turn of events. Though I guess it was awkward for both of us.

"It was great to see you and it was nice to meet you Eden,"

"Nice to meet you too," He answers politely. I smile at him.

"Bye Petunia," she stands

"Goodbye Evan," The goodbye was very final. I felt as though she was saying goodbye for good. I watched as she walked off.

"Come on then," I said standing up. I help Eden on with his coat before walking to the front of the store with him.

"Daddy can we stop at the park on the way home?" Eden looks up at me with hopeful eyes, I can't refuse.

"Sure," I walk holding his hand to the bus stop down the street. The nearest park to our apartment it a five minuet journey. I take Eden to the children's play area there. I watch as he runs off towards the slide. At the entrance of the park is a bench so I decide to sit down and wait. Eden will want to be here for quite awhile. He loves to play outdoors.

I'm looking at the sky so I barley register it when a man sits down beside me but then,

"Hello Evan," Startled I turn to the figure next to me. In as steady a voice as I can mange I say

"Tom,"

Well that took ages. Sorry I made you all wait so long for that! * Runs away from all the death glares* Anyway I wanted to say THANK YOU. I have had such an amazing response to this story it's really overwhelming! 112 followers and around 60 favourites. You guys are great!

Anyway I want to know if you want this to be a Dark Harry story or not. Yes there will be eventual slash, however I want to know whether it should be a redemption fic or a dark Harry fic.

Let me know! How do you guys like Eden. I wanted to show a bit more of the father son relationship in this chapter.

Anyway please review and thank you for an amazing response!

Darth Tardis xxx