A/N – This is the sequel to Troubled Waters and updates will be Mondays and Thursdays. I am still writing this story and so far have 16 chapters done, but I know exactly where the story is going and it's currently my main focus writing wise. I hope you all enjoy the story and are ready for more crazy Weasley shenanigans.
Prologue.
As the owls started their morning swoop into the Great Hall, Daniel Granger wondered how many would be heading his way. He regularly received several owls a week, but he was expecting several owls that morning as it was his birthday. And not just any birthday, but his seventeenth. Present wise, he had brought them back to Hogwarts after his Christmas break and had opened them that morning, but he was fully expecting several cards from his loved ones.
Ten minutes later, Daniel's expectations had been borne out and he had almost a dozen cards sitting in front of him. Sorting them out, he was able to work out who the cards were from by the handwriting. But then he came across an envelope that clearly didn't contain a card, and even more puzzling was the name on the envelope. It was addressed to Daniel Potter. Although the letter had clearly found him as even though he didn't use the name Potter, it had been his father's name and a one he could have used if he'd wanted to.
In actual fact, it was Daniel's choice to still be called Granger. Obviously it was the name he'd been given when he'd been born as it had been his mother's name. However, she'd then married and changed her name to her husbands, but she hadn't changed Daniel's. Instead Daniel had been given a choice about his surname once he was old enough to fully understand the situation. His mother, Hermione, had sat him down and explained to him that if he wanted to he could change his name to Malfoy, which was the name of his stepfather, Draco, or he could use the name Potter, which had been the name of his biological father, Harry.
Truth be told, Daniel had seriously considered both options. To change his name to Malfoy would mean he was the same as the rest of his family and even though he wasn't a Malfoy by blood, he was part of the family in every other way that mattered. And ultimately, that was what made him decide not to change his name as he knew it didn't matter if he didn't carry the name Malfoy, he was still a Malfoy in the eyes of his family. It was the same situation with the name Potter, and even though he ultimately decided against using his father's name, he knew it didn't make him any less of a Potter. Instead, he chose to stick with the name Granger as while he was a Malfoy and a Potter, he was also a Granger and he was proud of being his mother's son.
Despite keeping the name Granger, Daniel still occasionally got called Potter as it was no secret who his father had been. However, people didn't usually write to him using the name Potter. In fact, he wasn't sure he'd ever received a letter from a stranger. All the owls he received were from people he knew, so who could be writing to him was a complete mystery. Although it was a mystery that would have to wait as Daniel only had time to open his birthday cards before breakfast was over and it was time for the days lessons.
Daniel's birthday had fallen on a weekday, and sadly lessons weren't cancelled for students whose birthday it happened to be. Luckily for Daniel the days lessons were all ones he liked. His first lesson of the day was Herbology, with Daniel's godfather and the head of Gryffindor, Neville Longbottom. Neville was by far the most popular member of staff and his lessons were always fun, and Daniel couldn't have wished for a better lesson to start the day. He then had a couple of other lessons he quite liked, but the afternoon was his absolute favourite afternoon of the week, double potions with Professor Theo Nott.
Theo was actually a friend of his father's, although they weren't as close as they'd once been, meaning Daniel knew him outside of school. But it wasn't Theo that made the lesson Daniel's favourite, it was his love of Potions that made it his favourite lesson. Daniel's love of Potions stemmed from his childhood and the close bond he'd always shared with Draco's godfather, Severus Snape. In fact, Daniel was hoping that when he finished at Hogwarts, Severus would agree to him going to work for him in the Potions company he ran for the family company.
By the end of the day, Daniel had almost forgot about the mystery letter, and he only remembered it when he unpacked his cards and displayed them around his bed. Taking advantage of the fact his dormmates were all elsewhere, Daniel settled down on the bed and tore into the letter. Since he didn't recognise the writing, Daniel's eyes immediately went to the bottom of the letter to find the name of the sender. However, the last thing he expected to find was that the letter was from Ron Weasley. Even though Daniel had never met Ron, he knew all about him, and quite honestly he didn't know what on earth the older wizard could have to say to him.
"Only one way to find out," he muttered, taking a deep breath before he began to read the letter.
Dear Daniel,
First of all, I want to wish you a Happy Birthday. I can't believe you're seventeen already. Your Dad would be so proud of you, and it breaks my heart that you never got to meet him. He was a wonderful wizard, and I would love nothing more than to tell you all about him. To tell you about the amazing friendship we shared, and everything we meant to each other.
No doubt, you know all about me, or rather you think you know all about me. But really, all you know is what other people have told you. You're an adult now, and can make your own decisions, which is why I am requesting that you agree to lift the restraining order that is keeping us apart. Please Daniel, just give me the chance to talk to you. Please make your own mind up about me, rather than being swayed by what others have said.
At the end of the day, we're family, Daniel. Your Dad was like a brother to me, and if I'd been given the chance, I would have been like a father to you in his absence. I know it is what Harry would have wanted. He wouldn't have wanted us to be kept apart as we have been. He would have wanted us to be in each other's lives, and it's not too late for us to have that.
Family is the most important thing to me, and Harry was my family. He was like another brother to me, and like another son to my parents. We were the only true family Harry had in this world, and as such, the only real family you have in our world. I beg you, Daniel, please just give us a chance to show you how much we love you.
All I ask is that you make your own decision, Daniel. You've had no say in matters before now, but now you can be heard. You don't have to listen to what other people say, and you don't have to do what they want. You can do your own thing now, Daniel. You can get to know the people who loved Harry the most. I look forward to hearing from you, and most importantly I look forward to making up for lost time. I've got so many stories to tell you about your Dad, and I can't wait to share them with you.
Your ever loving Uncle Ron Weasley.
By the time Daniel reached the end of the letter, he was grinding his teeth in anger. Even though Ron had never said anything negative about his family, his entire letter was dripping in inuendo and sly digs. There was not one apology for what Daniel knew had happened seventeen years ago, not one word of remorse. In fact, Ron sounded every bit as delusional as he'd always thought he must be. Even after seventeen years, he still didn't seem to understand that how he and his parents had carried on all those years ago had been wrong. One thing was for sure, the letter had done nothing to change Daniel's opinion of Ron. And it had certainly done nothing to convince him to lift the restraining order.
With a growl, Daniel balled the letter up and threw it towards the bin in the corner of the room. Vaguely he was aware of the screwed up letter bouncing off the rim of the bin and dropping into his open trunk, but his mind was on other things. He was silently vowing to never back down and lift the restraining order. He wanted nothing to do with Ron Weasley, and nothing in the world was ever going to change his mind.