Family Ties
Chapter 4
Ron's funeral went wonderfully well as far as funerals went. Although it was a somber occasion it was full of emotions and fond memories for those who attended. The other Weasley children were excused for two days to attend the funeral and since it was nearing the Christmas holidays, Harry had requested for Arty not to return to school until after the Christmas holidays. Of course he'd talked to Arty first and he agreed whole-heartedly. He didn't think he was ready to face all the looks of pity and false condolences.
McGonagall agreed with the condition that Arty still received his class work and Harry and Hermione had to help him keep up to speed with the rest of his classmates. Although McGonagall was a bit doubtful that Harry would return to his DADA position, she didn't mention it. She only agreed to keep Remus as his substitute until his return. But she saw a fire in Harry's eyes that she'd never seen before. Not even before he'd faced Voldemort.
Because not all the staff members from Hogwarts were able to attend, they'd decided to hold a memorial for Ron in the great hall on the next day following his funeral. McGonagall attended and left Deputy Headmaster Snape in charge of the school. Hagrid, Remus, Tonks, a number of other aurors, ex-Gryffindors and many others whose lives Ron touched. Harry was asked to say the eulogy.
Harry looked around as he stepped in front of all the people sitting in while lawn chairs underneath a small tent in the Weasley's backyard. He saw a pool of people all wearing their black dress robes. It was a great feeling to see all those people paying their respects to Ron. He'd always thought he wasn't rich, but if he only knew how rich he truly was with friends who care about him, maybe he would have thought differently. Not one face in front of him was a stranger. He saw Oliver, Dean, Neville, Parvati, Lavender and other Gryffindors in their year and some who were not in their year but became friends nonetheless.
Harry looked at the family section. The Weasleys. They've been the only family he knew aside from those people in Gryffindor. He felt honored to be asked to speak on their behalf. He saw Hermione sitting next to Arty looking at him encouragingly. She'd given him a pep talk before the service, but he'd still had butterflies in his stomach. She kissed him on the cheek and told him to speak from his heart. Harry took a deep breath.
"I've known Ron for quite a while and if you know Ron, you know that his one constant passion was food." Harry smiled as he heard a bit of chuckles in the background. "Today, I'd like to celebrate his life as a father, brother, a son and a friend. He touched everyone's lives in one way or another because of his zest for what he believed in." Harry paused a bit and looked at his audience while he tried to compose himself. His voice was starting to break, because he felt like crying all over again.
"He was a wonderful son to Molly Weasley and the late Arthur Weasley. He'd never really given them anything to worry about, well except the one time when missed the Hogwarts express and drove the enchanted Ford Anglia to Hogwarts with me. Let me tell you. Ron was more afraid of his mother than facing expulsion from school. But he made them proud when he became a prefect in our fifth year. He was a bit shocked thinking he was going to follow in his brother Percy's footsteps, may he also rest in peace. Hi parents were surprised, but very proud. Ron, who wasn't very passionate with his lessons, as Hermione can attest to, became more studious after the honor was given to him. He'd become a model student then, well almost but there are some things that can't be said outloud." He looked over to the Weasley brothers and Ginny.
"Ron was also a great brother. Of course there were times when he'd complain about them, but he loved his brothers. He even loved the fact that they'd tease him and call him names. To him that was an understanding of their affection for him." He saw the Weasleys all nod in agreement. "They all teased each other or bicker with each other, but in the end they would stick together. Ron was always the brunt of a lot of the twins' pranks, but it always awed him how brilliant they were in their creation. Sometimes he'd be the first customer. Anything his brothers did from dragons to curse breaking always left him in awe and always left him feeling as if he'd have too big a shoe to fill. He'd learned to be his own man after a while, however. Being an older brother though was one of his best roles. He'd looked after his baby sister very well until the end." He looked at Ginny who seemed to be sobbing louder.
"He was also a great father. He took very great care of his son, Arty, and loved him dearly. He did everything in his power to show him everyday how much he loved him. He was always praising him and encouraging him with whatever he wanted to do. I believe out of everything that's happened in his life, the birth of his son was one of the major crossroads in his life. He was thrilled to become a father, even more than when he'd become a husband. Nothing could take away the smile off of his face when he was near his son, or looking at him or even just talking about him."
"As a friend, Ron was the most loyal friend to have on your side. He'd stick by you through thick and thin. He would always be there to help you eat your chocolate frogs and Bernie bott's every flavor bean." A few more chuckles from the audience were heard. "There are times when he would come up with the most ridiculous things, but it didn't faze him when his ideas were rejected. He'd come up with more. That's just the way he was. To me, he was more than a friend. He was my brother, the best brother a guy could hope for."
He paused a moment again to catch his bearings. He looked at Hermione for a bit of inspiration. She saw him and smiled to encourage him to keep going. "To me the greatest thing that Ron did was to become an auror. He knew it was a dangerous line of work, but he'd made up his mind after the birth of his first nephew what he wanted to do. We'd just barely graduated from Hogwarts and he'd had offers from a few Quidditch teams to play second-string keeper, but he'd turn them all down. He'd even turned down an offer from the Chuddley Cannons. If you know Ron, you know of his passion for Quidditch and for the Cannons. Had it been any other time, I believe he would have taken that position, but because of the things that were going on around us, he decided to become an auror. He wanted to help in ridding the world of the evil that surrounded us and surrounds us still. He wanted his nephew, his future nephews and nieces and his future children as well to have a better life, a peaceful life. That was the type of man Ron was. His love for life, for a better life was his passion and he would not have let anyone or anything get in his way. I will remember him everyday of my life and I will believe that he is watching over us now and having a feast in the heavens above."
Harry step aside and resumed his seat in between Arty and Hermione. After his speech no eyes were left dry. Each person had their private memory of Ron that Harry's speech stirred into each person's minds. The procession continued until Ron was lowered into the ground next to his father and brother, Percy. Harry, Hermione and Arty stayed at the reception following the services and waited until every last guest left. They then said their good byes to the rest of the Weasleys and floo'd to Grimmauld place.
They were exhausted physically and felt emotionally drained. They'd stepped into the parlor and all three collapsed on the couch. After a few minutes of no speaking and none movement, Hermione got up.
"I'm going to run a bath. Arty do you want anything before we tuck you in?" Arty merely shook his head and remain seated next to Harry. Harry's arm was still around him. "Okay, then." Hermione made her way upstairs and left the boys alone on the couch.
"You want me to carry you to bed?" He shook his head in response. He seemed thoughtful for a moment as he looked up at Harry.
"What you said? About dad, were they all true?"
"Yes, they were. I think when I met you're dad we made an instant connection and I think it was just as strong as being blood related, we had a sort of soul connection so to speak." Harry sighed and looked as if he'd was remembering the things they did together.
"Did they really tease him as a show of affection?"
"Funny isn't it? Some people like to touch and say nice words to show each other they love each other, but not the Weasley brothers. No, they liked to tease and bicker with each other. They even did it to me, and it made me feel like a member of the family."
"So, when my cousins do that to me, does it mean that they actually love me?"
"Of course, what made you think they don't?"
"I don't know. I guess I thought families were always supposed to be nice to each other and such. Mum and Dad were nice to me and you and Aunt Hermione are nice to me, so I thought they hated me and I hated them too. And I don't like the names they called my mum. They called her Loony." Harry chuckled at the memory and felt Arty tensed.
"I'm not laughing because of your mum, Arty. Just the name that seemed to found its way out of Hogwarts. See, your mum was a bit different from most. She'd come up with strange things and she'd always had a dreamy look about her, but I'd found out later that it was because she was in deep thought and no one understood that. So they made fun of her. What was great about your mum was she didn't let it bother her. She knew who she was and was comfortable with herself, that's all that mattered."
"Well, what about Aunt Ginny marrying dad's enemy from school."
"Is that why you don't particularly like your Aunt Ginny?"
"You've noticed. And besides that, it's her fault dad died. If he didn't try to save her, he'd still be alive."
"Is that where you're dislike is coming from? First of all, yes it's true that Ginny married Malfoy who'd given us all a hard time back at school, but your dad was the first to recognize the change in Malfoy and the first to show support for their relationship. He was the one that convinced the rest of us that Ginny's choice in husband was okay. Secondly, if you need to blame someone for your father's death, blame the person who cursed him, not the person he saved. If it had been anyone else with your dad, he would still have tried to save the person. That's the kind of man your father was. Always remember that. His selflessness was his greatest trait."
Although Arty heard what Harry said, he wasn't actually listening. He needed to blame someone he could see and Ginny was it. He couldn't fully grasp everything that Harry told him, but he thought Harry wouldn't understand so he just nodded in agreement.
Harry thought he got through to him, but somehow he knew it couldn't be that simple. He knew there were some things yet to resolve and he knew he couldn't force him to resolve it until he was ready. The only thing he could do was be there for him when he needed him.
"Why don't we see if Dobby can fix us a bit of snack?"
"I'm not hungry, thanks."
"Okay, so why don't you get ready for bed and I'll take a quick shower. I'll meet you in your room."
"All right. Will you finish the story about the little boy?"
"Sure." Arty grinned up at Harry.
They both trudged up the stairs into their own rooms. Harry went to his room to take a shower and Arty went to his room to get ready for bed. Hermione was still soaking in the tub.
Harry walked to Arty's room as soon as he was done. He donned on a regular white t-shirt and his pajama bottoms. Since the fireplace was already lit in his room, he didn't feel much like wearing a robe. Dobby and Winky do a great job of warming the house in the winter. He knocked until Arty gave him permission to enter.
"All right there?" Arty nodded, but stayed seated on his bed with his back on the headboard. He looked at Arty and noticed the dark circles under his eyes for the first time that day. He became worried and felt a bit neglectful for not noticing sooner. "You'd better get some sleep then. We'll finish the story some other time."
"I'm not sleepy."
"You haven't been sleeping well?"
"Not really."
"Been having nightmares?"
"A bit."
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"Didn't want to be a bother."
"Arty," he wanted to be mad at him, but he couldn't. He understood too well what he was going through. He'd had many sleepless nights in his childhood with no one to comfort him. "Don't think that. Hermione and I are here for you. You're not a bother. We love you." Arty nodded as a noncommittal acknowledgement.
"Why don't we see if Hermione has anything to help you sleep without any nightmares?"
"Okay. But I still want to hear the rest of the story."
"I'll be right back." Harry walked one door down to Hermione's bedroom. Her bedroom was in between Harry's and Ron. They wanted it that way to better protect her just in case. They'd always been protective of her, but laid off a bit when she showed them she could take care of herself by hexing them both.
Harry knocked on the door. "Hermione?"
"Hang on," Hermione answered. She opened the door with a mere towel wrapping her body. Harry took a mental gulp. The past years had been torture for him knowing that she was so close to him, yet still so far away. He saw her shoulders still glistening from the water. Her hair was pinned up with loose tendrils around her face and her neck. "What is it, Harry? Is something wrong?"
"Sorry, I'll let you dress first. I'll be in Arty's room."
"Okay, I'll be right there." She seemed perplexed with his actions. He'd seen her that way loads of times. She brushed it off as her imagination, though she hoped it was something more.
She put her light green colored nightgown that probably was useless as far as covering her body was concerned. It was so sheer that one could see through the material. She preferred to wear Harry's shirt to sleep, but since he was home she didn't want him to see. She donned her robe and put on her slippers then walked to Arty's room where she found Harry and Arty sitting on Arty's bed.
Harry looked like he was in deep concentration, while Arty laid asleep resting on Harry's shoulder. Harry felt Hermione come into the room. Actually, it was her scent that he smelled first. Though the smell of vanilla was not strong, his sense of smell seemed to have been heightened by something more basic. Something he thought he'd been able to control.
"What's wrong?" she whispered careful not to wake Arty.
"He's been having nightmares. He hasn't been sleeping well."
"Why didn't he tell one of us?"
"Said he didn't want to be a bother." Hermione's heart broke for the little boy before her. He looked at Harry and she knew that must have been what Harry went through as a child. She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. "Do you have any dreamless drought for him?"
"I've seen research in the muggle world that showed that inhibiting a person's dream could actually drive a person insane. The act of dreaming is a way for the subconscious to release a lot of things that people can't do during the waking hours," Harry looked a bit frightened at her explanation. "Don't worry Harry, you'll only go insane if you do it often. That is why in the muggle world, doctors don't want people taking those medication to help them stay up because it disrupts the REM sleep, which is the dream state. Anyway, I've come up with a different drought; I call it the dreamwell drought. It will only let you dream good dreams." She smiled then. Harry was once again amazed at the intelligence of the woman before him. Her face was so close to his, he wanted to kiss her. They were staring at each other. Getting closer and closer, then Arty screamed.
"Dad!" He was shaking and crying. Harry held him closer and Hermione went to other side of him.
"Sshhh! You're all right Arty, we're here." Harry comforted him.
"I'm sorry."
"For what, sweetheart? You have nothing to be sorry about," Hermione assured him. "I'll go get you some milk and a special potion I'd created so you can sleep better."
"No, I don't want to sleep," he protested.
"Oh, don't worry honey. It's a potion that will only give you good dreams. But when you do have bad dreams, you have to remember that you are in control. It's your dream. You can make your dream turn out the way you want." Harry was amazed at how Hermione was handling her sudden motherhood so well. He guessed it was innate for women.
Hermione stepped out and came back a few minutes later with milk laced with the dreamwell potion she'd created. She'd created it for herself a while back when she was haunted by nightmares of the showdown with Voldemort. She never thought to tell anyone until she'd witnessed patients in St. Mungo's who were troubled with recurring nightmares. She never got around to telling Harry or Ron about her discovery. Everyone was so busy and when they'd see each other they'd be busy talking about other things that it just slipped her mind.
Arty drank his milk and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Thanks, Aunt Hermione."
"You're welcome sweetie. Now, you rest well and we'll see you in the morning." She gave him a kiss on the forehead and fixed the blanket. Harry gave him a kiss on the forehead too and bade him goodnight. Harry and Hermione walked out of the room when they were sure Arty had drifted off to sleep.
When they arrived at Hermione's door. They stood face to face and for the first time in their relationship they were at a lost for words, until Hermione broke the silence.
"That was a great eulogy you gave, Harry."
"Thanks to you."
"I didn't write it for you."
"Yes, but you gave me confidence and great advice." She put her hand on his cheek. She felt the stubbles from the five o'clock shadow. A tingling sensation went up her spine. He always had that kind of power over her, but she'd learn how to hide it well.
"Good night, Harry." She tiptoed to give him a kiss on the cheek but Harry turned to meet her mouth. He placed his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. The kiss became more passionate.
Harry wasn't exactly sure what he was doing, but if didn't taste Hermione's lips soon, he was going to go mad. He'd never felt such a strong urge before, well, he had but he'd always been able to contain it. For some reason, he'd just reached his limits tonight. He heard her moan, or was it him? He wasn't sure, but he was enjoying the fireworks from the kiss. He urged Hermione to open with his tongue and she opened up willingly for him. The kiss exploded with intensity neither one had never experienced before.
Hermione was lost in the kiss. She felt weak at the knees and felt as if she was drowning. Her heartbeat was erratic and her body's response to the kiss was intense. She'd never felt such intensity with anyone before. She'd always wondered what it would be like with Harry, but she'd always stood in the background behind all the other girls he'd dated.
They were both lost in the moment. No one else and nothing but the two of them mattered at that moment. Harry lifted Hermione up and carried her to his room. No words were exchanged merely kisses and moans. Clothes were practically ripped apart; they both seemed like people possessed. Their animal instincts were on overdrive until they'd reached the pinnacle of their own mating ritual. Then they lay sated and drained and slept in each other's arms.
After a few hours, Harry stirred. He thought he'd had the most amazing dream. It felt so real and though he'd dreamt about Hermione many times before, it wasn't the same. Harry sat up when he realized he was naked and was sleeping next to his best friend who was also naked. His action woke Hermione who looked up at Harry's face that was in a state of shock. Harry came to the realization that he hadn't been dreaming after all.
"Hermione, I'm s…" Hermione got up quickly and donned on her robe.
"Don't Harry. Don't you dare apologize! Let's just leave it at two adults looking for comfort." With that she left Harry's room before the tears started to fall. She went inside her room and locked her door and cried the rest of the night.
Harry let out a scream of frustration. He put his hands to his face and let his body fall back on the pillows. But all he smelled was Hermione and the scent of their lovemaking. He got up in frustration and took a cold shower. He got dressed, left a note for Hermione and disapparated.
A/N: There's another chapter. I am just so into this story right now that it's just flowing like crazy. So I hope you like all the updates. Thanks for your reviews. Again for those who don't understand why some of the things are happening the way they are, please read the requirements for the challenge. Thank you.