Family Ties
Chapter 2
It was September 1st once again. Ron and Hermione stood on Platform 9 and three quarters and waived at Artemis as the Hogwarts Express began to move away from the platform. Ron couldn't help but worry every time he was away from his son, but it helped that he knew Harry would be there to keep an eye on him as well as the others.
"Oh, Ron. He'll be okay, you know he will?"
"I know, but I just can't help it. I guess it comes from being a parent. I finally understand what my parents went through every time we were away from home."
"Harry won't let anything happen to him and you know Hogwarts is still the safest place he could be. Now that Dumbledore's gone, Harry had taken it upon himself to protect and serve the students and staff at Hogwarts. You know that."
"Yeah, I know. I also know that being put in charge of the Order when Dumbledore died was the best thing that could have happened, but I just wished he was by my side fighting against the bad guys like we did before."
"Ron, you know he made a promise to Dumbledore. You also know that when Harry makes a promise he never breaks it."
"Yeah, I know that's why I made him promise that if anything ever happens to me you and he will take Artemis in and raise him as your own." He knew he was sounding a bit morbid, but even last wills and testament didn't mean anything when he didn't have the words of his best friends to go with it. "I need you to make the same promise, Hermione."
"Ron, nothing is going to happen to you. You're a highly skilled auror not to mention a member of a very prestigious group headed by Harry." Ron looked at her as if telling her to indulge him a bit. "Oh, all right. I promise. I do mean it. If anything should happen to you, which I doubt, I promise to raise Artemis with Harry as my own. Happy?"
"Very. Now we'd better get back to work as I know you've been getting a lot of patients. I think I'm getting close to finding the leader in the England sector." He told her as if he was trying to tell himself and convince himself that he was right.
"That's great, Ron!" she answered with as much enthusiasm she could muster up to hide her confusion. Ron never talked about his missions before unless it was part of order business. She was pretty sure his comment didn't have anything to do with Order business. "Do you want to talk about it over coffee, I have some time yet."
"No, I need to get back to headquarters. I still have some information I need to go over before tonight."
"All right, then. I will see you later this week for dinner?" she asks though Ron didn't seem to be paying attention to him. He looked as if he was preoccupied with other things especially after the train pulled away.
"Um, yeah. Sure." He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek and disapparated leaving Hermione a bit perplexed. She made a mental note to ask Harry if Ron had confided in him about anything that was bothering him. She was getting worried.
As soon as Hermione arrived at Grimmauld, she decided to contact Harry. She loved living at Grimmauld, although she was alone most of the time since Harry had to live at Hogwarts and even when he was home he was busy with Order business to truly live in the house that Sirius left for him. Other times he'd spend more time at Godric's Hollow doing a bit of renovating. She'd only agreed to live at Grimmauld if Harry promised to let her re-decorate the house to her liking.
"Hermione, you could do whatever you want with this place. This is your home now after all," Harry told her after they graduated from Hogwarts and she was looking for a place to stay.
"Okay, then. You and Ron cannot comment on anything I do. Of course you can decorate your own rooms if you'd like." Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to live together shortly after graduation. For the first year Ron wasn't home since he was away at training. Harry was hardly home since he had to be at Hogwarts to prepare for his first school year and he wanted to start looking into Godric's Hollow. Hermione loved the privacy it offered and she felt safe in the old house especially with the extra protection charms the three of them had put in place.
The second year was about the same except Ron had been back from his training, but discovered Luna. They were married and he moved in with Luna, but they kept his room in tact just in case he and Luna were to visit.
During the years she'd stayed at Grimmauld, Hermione had never brought any of her male friends home. She would spend the nights at their place, but she never let anyone go home with her.
It was the same for Harry. He dated, but he never brought anyone home to Grimmauld or to Godric's Hollow. For some reason they both felt funny bringing anyone home into the home they shared or in Harry's case out of respect for his parents' home. He usually took them to hotel rooms for the night or go home with them.
So in a sense they stay in the same home, but never actually lived together. Hermione removed practically everything that belonged to the Blacks, especially Mrs. Black's portrait in the parlor. They kept Kreacher for a while until he died, but they kept a very close eye on him. Harry couldn't go against Hermione's SPEW, but Hermione couldn't undo the nature of Kreacher. He was no Dobby. After Kreacher died, they decided to hire Dobby and Winky as their house elf.
They'd made many upgrades and sometimes the renovations on Grimmauld took Harry away from the renovations at Godric's Hollow. Grimmauld was renovated with Hermione's help, but Godric's Hollow was a project that Harry did by himself in honor of his parents. Luckily all the upgrades they'd made to Grimmauld allowed them to contact each other without any worries about their communication being intercepted.
"Harry, you there?" Hermione asked as she tapped into a portrait of Harry in the parlor. The portrait of Harry was a link to Hogwarts. The portrait of Hermione was a link to St. Mungo's. The portrait of Harry's parents was a link to Godric's Hollow. The portrait of Ron was a link to Ron's home. Each portrait in their parlor was a direct link to a place of importance and could only be initiated by the correct password that only she, Harry and Ron know. To anyone else who chanced a look at the portraits, they were merely portraits.
"All right there, Hermione?" He was worried. She never called him in the middle of the day unless it was important.
"I'm worried about Ron. He was acting a bit strange after the Hogwarts Express left the platform."
"This is Ron we're talking about. You have to be specific when you say he was acting strange."
"Well, for one thing he was a bit morbid. Did he ask you to promise to take care of Arty if anything happened to him?"
"Yes, he did. Of course I told him not to worry because nothing will happen to him."
"Exactly what I said. Then he said something in passing about being close to capturing the head of the brotherhood here in England."
"That's great, isn't it?"
"It would be if he was excited about it. He seemed preoccupied. Has he told you anything?"
"Nope. I know there is some information that I have other Order members looking at. But I think Ron is looking at other information that was brought into the Auror Headquarters."
"All right, then. Maybe I'm overreacting a bit."
"No, It's okay. During these times we can't be too careful, can we?" He smiled then. "How are you?"
"I'm doing fine. Busy at work, but other than that all is well."
"Hmm. No dates lined up this week?" He joked.
"Shut it Potter. You know very well that I've practically no time nor the inclination for dating since Jason." She smiled despite the aching reminder of her failed relationship. "What about you?"
"Teachers don't date, you know that?"
"Uh-hmm. You have a date, don't you?"
"Wouldn't you like to know? Can't stand not knowing, can you?" He joked. They both knew he hadn't gone out with a woman for over a month. They joked to mask how pathetic their love life was.
"Well, I'd like to chat more about your love life, Harry, but I've more important things to do," she answered with a smile. In truth, she could spend the whole day talking to Harry about anything and she'd be content, but reality took precedence over fantasies.
"Talk to you soon. We all set for Saturday?"
"Yes. See you then."
The portraits went back to normal and Hermione left for work. Still there was a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach about Ron's state of mind. He hadn't really fully recovered since Luna's death, but he put on a great act for everyone else.
The months passed by so fast no one noticed November looming around the corner. It was quidditch season and like father like son, Artemis loved the game. He was looking forward to watching the first game of the season, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. No one had been able to beat Gryffindor with the house cup since Harry's time. He'd befriended a muggle born boy named Nicholas who was fast becoming his very best friend.
On the way to the pitch, someone had called out Artemis' name. He didn't hear the first call since he and Thomas had been immersed in their quidditch conversation.
"Arty!" It was Harry.
"Hello Professor," Nicholas first acknowledged his presence while Arty looked a little annoyed that he was being prevented from continuing to the pitch since they were running a little late.
"Hello, Thomas. Arty, I'd like a word with you in private, please."
"Can't it wait, Professor?" Nicholas goggled at Artemis's insubordination.
"No, Arty. I've got news that you need to hear, but in private."
"Oh, all right," he huffed. "I'll see you there Nick." He waved to his friend.
"Let's go. We need to go to St. Mungo's right away, it's your dad." Harry was trying to stay calm, but he was anxious.
"What's wrong with dad?" Arty asked feeling his heart drop to the pit of his stomach fearing the worst.
"He's been hurt. Hurry Arty!" He was losing the battle with himself slowly. He was worried about Ron. He was his brother in all sense of the word except biologically. They'd been through a lot together and there was nothing they would not do for each other, but Harry felt helpless at that moment.
Harry started walking faster and faster and Arty was in a small jog trying to keep up. He wished he could just go to Hogsmeade and apparate to the hospital after Hermione got a hold of him, but he knew he couldn't leave Arty behind. By the time they arrived at the opening of the castle they were both running to reach the headmistress' office.
Professor McGonagal left the door opened for him and awaited their arrival with a worried look on her face.
"Any news?" Harry asked.
"No. Hermione and a team of healers are still working on his injuries."
"I'll let you know what happens, Headmistress. In the mean time see that there will be a substitute teacher for my classes. My lesson plans are on my desk, however, I will be available for consultation if need be."
"Of course, Harry. Now you two run along."
They did as she asked and flood to St. Mungo's. McGonagal sat and bowed her head. She'd remembered as if only yesterday when Ron and Harry walked into her class tardy in their first year. She remembered how much he'd changed. He'd grown into a marvelous young man and a great auror. She'd never told anyone except for Dumbledore, but she had a special place in her heart for the three children who'd grown up so fast and into great people despite all the adversities they all faced even at a young age.
She sat and hoped that Ron would be okay. Hermione looked a fright when she contacted Harry through the portraits in Harry's office. She never asked them what they did to the portraits, but it didn't seem so important compared to what might be happening to Ron at that moment. All she could do was hope for the best.
As soon as Harry stepped out of the fireplace, Hermione ran to him in tears. As expected, the Weasley clan was there for immediate moral support. Harry had always been amazed at the closeness they'd shared and how he became part of that family. The twins were trying hard to console their mother; Ginny was in the corner being consoled by Bill. All around, people were consoling each other.
"Oh Harry, we stabilized him, but he's still a bit weak."
"Can I see him? What happened?" he choked out.
"Yes, I'll take you and Arty to his room. Everyone else has been in to see him. You can't stay long. He needs rest." Harry nodded and followed Hermione to Ron's room while holding on to Arty's hand.
Arty was in a state of shock. People were crying for his dad. That could only mean that he was dead. He didn't want him to be dead. He was all he had left. He felt his eyes burning, but tried bravely to hold back his tears.
Then he saw him, just lying on the bed. His face was badly bruised. Most of his body was bandaged up. He looked like a helpless child, no longer the formidable auror he was. He looked frail and pale.
"Ron? It's me Harry," he placed his hand on Ron's. He felt Ron squeeze his hand weakly as an acknowledgement. He tried to open his mouth to talk. "No don't try to talk. We'll talk more after you get better."
Ron tried to talk again so Harry brought his closer to Ron.
"Remember your promise," he whispered.
"I remember, but don't worry. I don't have to fulfill it yet. You're going to be all right." Tears were starting to fall down on his face. "I brought Arty with me." He placed Arty's hand in Ron's.
"Dad? You're going to be okay, right?" Ron let out a faint sigh. Arty moved closer to his face so that he could hear.
"I Love you, son."
"I Love you, too."
With those last words Ron's hand fell limp and his breathing stopped.
A/N: Ah well. There you go, one more requirement down and a few more to go. Stay tuned. Thank you for your reviews. Please try to re-read Chapter 1 since I added a few words in there. It's optional; I don't think you'll get lost if you don't re-read though. Thanks again for your reviews. They are all very encouraging.