Family Ties
Chapter 10
They frantically searched in different places to no avail. The snow was falling faster than they anticipated and Arty's tracks were covered before they could get any further. Harry told Hermione to go back inside and call the cavalry. The Weasleys, all of them, would be a great help and they'd be able to cover more grounds.
"Arty!" he yelled out as Hermione trudged back towards the house. "Arty!" he screamed. No answer. Fear was never an issue, but at that time fear crept into Harry like a lightning bolt. He'd never felt the immensity of such fear even facing Voldemort hadn't come close to what he felt at that moment. The fear of losing a child overwhelmed him like no other feeling he'd felt before. At that moment he knew what his mother must have felt when Voldemort pointed his wand at him when he was in his crib and helpless to defend himself. The protective instinct of a parent finally kicked in for him. He'd finally realized what Ron was working so hard to protect, his child, just as his own mother protected him from death.
Tears started to fall from his eyes, but were immediately frozen because of the snow and the wind.
"Arty!" he yelled out once more as he knelt on the snow feeling defeated.
In the darkness Arty remained motionless except for his slow even breathing.
"Arty?" the voice called out to him. The voice sounded familiar but so distant. "Arty" the voice called out again. "Wake up."
Arty slowly opened his eyes. The tears he'd cried were frozen on his face and he felt miserable. He'd looked towards the sound of the voice. "Dad?" he exclaimed.
"Yes, Arty it's me."
"How'd you get here? Never mind. I'm glad you're here. Harry and Hermione want to give me away already."
"Are you sure? It doesn't sound like them." Arty stared at his father quite confused. He wondered why he hadn't grabbed him and hugged him in his tight ear hugs, the ones he always gave him after he'd arrived from a mission.
"I head it with my own two ears. They're finally getting married and having their own baby. They don't know what to do with me."
"Well, I'm happy that they're finally getting married and having a baby," he smiled at his son. "But Arty, I told you many times how rude it is to eavesdrop, haven't I?"
"Yes, sir. But they were talking about me."
"Of course, they were, but it was a private conversation that wasn't meant for you to hear, right?"
"Yes, but.." Arty insisted.
"No, buts Arty. I think your mom and I have taught you better than that. The other part is you only heard part of a conversation and drew your own conclusion, which isn't good either, right?"
"Yes sir," he said defeated. He sat wondering why his father was lecturing him instead of coddling him. He'd been away for such a long time, but he was on time for Christmas.
"Arty, you know that your mother and I lover you, right?"
"Yes sir. I love you too, dad." Tears began to fall from his eyes.
"I know Arty, but you have to let me go, now."
"What do you mean?" he wiped away his tears.
"Arty, I'm in a different place now."
"No!" Arty screamed vehemently. "You're here. You're standing in front of me."
"Yes, Arty, but only in spirit. Why do you think I haven't touched you at all?"
"No." Arty sobbed shaking his head side to side. "I want to be with you and mum."
"You can't Arty. You still have your life ahead of you. Please promise me you will try your best to be a good son to your uncle Harry and aunt Hermione."
"No. They don't want me!"
"That's not true Arty. But you can't know that unless you give them a chance. You've closed your heart out to them and made up your mind even before they started." Arty noticed Ron's figure fading away. "No, don't leave me!"
"I'll always be with you here," Ron touched his heart. "Give them a chance Arty, please." He faded away smiling at his son and mouthing "I Love You."
Arty sobbed louder. Then he felt his shoulder being shaken gently as another familiar voice called out to him, "Arty?"
Arty opened his eyes to find himself staring at green eyes. "Uncle Harry?"
Harry grabbed him and hugged him tight. He was so relieved that he was alive. He didn't quite know what to make of him when he was lying still and sobbing. "All right, there Arty?"
Arty nodded. He was confused at the amount of emotion Harry was showing. That wasn't something someone did when someone wanted to send you away.
"Do you feel any pain anywhere? You took quite a fall from the looks of thins. Here you'd better put your cloak on. I've put a heating charm on it to help warm you up faster."
Just then Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys walked into the cave where Arty had fallen into. They each gave him a great big hug and told him how glad they were that was okay.
"Well, why don't we move the party not the house," Harry announced as he wiped a tear away. Arty saw him and was even more confused.
They all walked back to the house except for Arty who was being carried by Harry. He wanted to protest, but was stunned speechless at the gesture. He didn't want to add to the ordeal he was sure he'd already caused all of them.
As soon as they entered, Dobby and Winky rushed towards Arty to make sure he was all right. They brought him his slippers and his robe to replace the wet cloak. They also gave everyone hot chocolate to warm their inside and melt away their cold wind reddened noses and cheeks.
Arty was a bit perplexed at all the attention and the emotion he was feeling from them. He hadn't felt them before. He hadn't felt them in a long time, not since his mom and dad were alive. After his mom died, he noticed a lot of changes. He knew his father adored him, but the environment was different after his mom was gone. Now sitting in the midst of his relatives and his supposed new family, he had the same warm fuzzy feeling he thought he'd never feel again. He was confused by it but at the same time reveled in the wonderful feelings. He'd missed feeling that way, but he was worried about how long it would last.
After making sure Arty was really okay and the plans were set for the following day's Christmas celebration, the Weasleys left. Harry offered them shelter for the night, but Molly seemed to have an understanding that Harry, Hermione and Arty needed to talk some things through so she ushered the rest of the family back to the burrow.
When they'd gone, Harry and Hermione looked at Arty to make sure he was up to some heart to heart talk, but they decided to save the talk for later and let him rest. He looked worn out and they seem to know he had some things he had to work out in his mind after the events of that day. Their parental instinct seemed to have kicked in as they became more aware of the signs a child would send out when the child needed some alone time without having to say it verbally.
"All right there, Arty?" Harry asked anyway. Arty nodded. He didn't trust his voice at that point. He was all choked up inside he didn't know whether he could form coherent words at that time. "Well, why don't you get to bed. It has been a long day and I'm sure you're all worn out."
Harry wanted to give him his alone time, but it seemed Arty didn't just want to leave without an excuse so Harry gave him an out. He and Hermione gave him a hug goodnight and let him go to his room. "We'll come by to tuck you in in a bit."
Arty kept walking as if he hadn't heard what Harry was saying. He neither acknowledged with a nod or a verbal reply.
Arty spent the night dreaming wonderful dreams about being part of a family.
Harry and Hermione on the other hand were getting little sleep if at all. They were busy talking, cuddling and making passionate love in between. They talked about everything in their lives and what they both want for the future. They were both excited about their impending marriage as well as the impending arrival of another member of their family.
Harry never felt happier or content. It had taken him a long time to realize exactly what was missing in his life. He knew he wanted a family, a big one if he could manage, but the only thing that was missing was someone to share his dreams with. Now he had that too and he couldn't be happier. The only problem left to solve was Arty and who was responsible for Ron's death. That still ate at him, but was careful not to show too much of his grief to others. He hadn't shared all his plan of action as head of the Order, but at that point, he didn't want to worry Hermione too much especially in her condition. He knew, however, that he would tell her eventually.
Hermione was still in a daze. Her dreams were finally realized. She'd almost given up on Harry, but even if she had, she knew she would never have gotten over him as long as she lived. She was thanking whatever unseen powers that helped her. She was happy, but a little worried that because everything was going so well that something bad was bound to happen. She pushed those thoughts far away from her mind. She told herself it was bad for the baby. As a healer, she knew that her emotional and physical state will affect the baby growing inside her. She didn't want anything to happen to her or him.
As soon as the sun appeared in the endless sky, Arty was up and about. He wanted to make breakfast for Harry and Hermione as a thank you for what happened yesterday and the trouble he'd caused. But as soon as he stepped into the kitchen, there was Harry and Dobby already preparing breakfast. He felt a stab of disappointment, but didn't show it.
Harry caught the disappointment in Arty's eyes. He was getting better at catching the different emotions. "Hey, you're up. Do you want to help? I wanted to surprise Hermione with breakfast in bed."
The invitation alone made Arty smile. He was almost sure Harry was going to shoo him away, but he didn't. "Okay," he heard himself say.
"Great. I do have to warn you that Dobby is very possessive of his kitchen so we have to make as little a mess as possible." Arty nodded in acknowledgement. "Why don't you beat the eggs and take care of the toast and I'll do the bacon?"
Arty took his job seriously and began his task of beating the eggs and preparing the toast. When they were done, they prepared a tray to bring up to Hermione. Arty poured the juice and milk and suggested a flower. Harry conjured a single long stem red rose and placed it on the tray. He thanked him and asked him to accompany him upstairs for the surprise then joked with him telling him that he would use him as a shield in the case when Hermione tried to throw something at him for waking her up.
Arty chuckled. He'd never seen Hermione show any violence. He'd only seen her very loving side. He couldn't imagine Hermione ever being a shrew. He looked up at Harry's smiling face and knew that he was only joking.
When they arrived, Hermione was sitting up waiting with a huge smile on her face. The sight of Harry and Arty made her heart melt. She felt content for the first time in her life. Although, Ron was no longer with them to share in the joy she knew was radiating out of every pore in her body, she was glad that she had a part of him in Arty. It was worth the wait she thought.
"Hi," she breathed out almost like a sigh. She had little sleep, but felt exhilarated at the sight of Harry.
"Hi, yourself," Harry answered with a wink. He loved waking up next to Hermione that morning. Well, if you could call what they did sleep. He just loved having her next to him and looking at her at that moment made his heart soar as when he flies in the sky in his animagus form.
"Good morning, aunt Hermione," Arty said sheepishly. He still felt uncomfortable about yesterday's events, but the adults seemed oblivious to what happened. It was as if nothing ever happened the day before.
"Good morning sweetie, did you sleep well?"
"Yes, ma'am,"
"Good, because there is something Harry and I want to talk to you about."
Here it goes thought Arty. They're giving me the boot for sure.
"Er, okay," Arty answered nervously.
"Arty, Hermione and I have been talking about our situation and we want to make things permanent."
Arty looked clueless with what Harry just said. He knew that he wanted to marry Hermione, but what does it have to do with him.
"Since, Hermione and I are to be married soon; we wanted to know if you would consent to us officially adopting you?" Harry continued.
Arty wasn't sure he heard correctly. They wanted to adopt him and all that time he was thinking they wanted to let him go. How wrong was he? Too shocked to answer, he just stared at the two of them as they waited for an answer from him.
"Arty? You don't have to change your name or anything. We wouldn't mind if you kept Weasley for your surname. We just want to officially make you our son on paper and everything." Hermione added all the while being nervous at the unreadable expression on Arty's face. She didn't know whether he was ill at ease or if he was just surprised.
"Arty? Do you want to think about it a while? I know it was probably not something you wanted to hear so early in the morning, but we couldn't help it. We were dying to ask you. We'd have done it last night, but you looked worn out."
They wanted to adopt him? was all he kept thinking about. He was going to be part of a family again. He wanted to jump up and scream. He knew his heart was doing somersaults inside his chest. "Er, no"
"You don't want us to adopt you?" Hermione asked.
"I meant no I don't want to think about it. Yes, I would like to be a part of your family."
Hermione jumped up and grabbed Arty. She hugged him tight. Harry wrapped his arms around both of them, well the three of them including the baby inside Hermione. He couldn't be happier.
Ron and Luna looked on at the three of them. Luna shed a tear of joy while Ron displayed a huge grin on his face. They knew there son was in good hands and they would be able to rest peacefully.
A/N: Sorry for taking so long with the update. I appreciate your patience and all your reviews. The epilogue will follow, so stay tuned. It was a bit rushed, but I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It's hard to get back in the swing of things after a vacation and lots of work.
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