A/N: My apologies to NICK who pointed out that Australia is also a continent. However, no need to be so crass about the whole thing. I have added Australia in chapter 1. Although, I didn't write Australia in the first time, I did say that each continent was represented except for Antarctica, which includes Australia. I just failed to list it. Thanks for your colorful language in your display of anger and showing your patriotism.
Chapter 6
When Harry stopped near the entrance where the Fountain of Magical Bethren stood in the atrium, he looked at all the possible places Arty could have gone. He asked the watchwizard at the front if he'd seen Arty passed by. The watchwizard on duty didn't know what he was talking about since he'd just started his shift. It seemed that Arty could have passed by during the shift change they wouldn't have noticed. He turned at the sound of his name to find Hermione running towards him, out of breath.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Arty is our responsibility, not yours alone," she told him simply and he nodded in agreement.
"Sorry," he apologized.
"Any idea where he went."
"No, and Ernie, the wachwizard, didn't see him pass by."
"Well, let's think of this a moment. Where would you go if you were upset?"
"The one place where I would feel safe."
"Exactly!"
"The Lair!" Arty's home. Ron and Luna named it the Lair to follow the Burrow but with a slight flare. Ron wanted it to sound more for a gryffindor, hence the lair. Luna didn't really have much to say. She didn't really care what they named their home as long as they were together. "Let's go then."
Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and practically dragged her to the safe apparition zone. They immediately apparated to the Lair.
Harry used his key to enter. He held the door open for Hermione while calling out for Arty.
"Arty! Are you here?" Silence.
"Arty?" Hermione tried.
"Go AWAY!" came a muffled sound coming from his old room. They walked to the bedroom to find Arty face down on his bed sobbing. They both went to him. Hermione laid a hand on his shoulder and he shrugged it away.
"Arty, come on honey. What's the matter?"
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Arty screamed.
"Arty, come on. You know you can tell us anything." Harry tried calmly but inside he was in a panic. He hadn't dealt with anything like this before. He knew what to do as a teacher, but as a parent he was at a loss.
"Right! So you can tell me you understand what I am going through. No thanks!"
"Arty?" Hermione gently said as she tried again to touch his shoulder. He shrugged her hand away for the second time. "Sweetheart, we can't help you if you don't let us know what's wrong." Arty turned over and sat up. He looked ready for battle instead of ready to be comforted.
"What are you going to do? You can't heal everything. You couldn't heal my dad."
"Now, wait a minute Arty." Harry was quick to Hermione's defense.
"It's okay Harry. Arty, I am well aware that I can't heal everything and no one is more sorry than I for not being able to cure your dad. All I can say is I did the best I could and you don't have to remind me because I still carry that failure deep in my heart. I want to make it up to Ron, by taking care of you, Arty. You're the only one that's keeping me tied to my best friend, my brother. " Arty looked smug for a moment and then inside felt a bit guilty. He didn't mean to hurt Hermione, but the anger inside him was just overwhelming. He wanted to lash out at everyone. He didn't care who was hurt. He wanted his parents back and no one in the world would be able to bring them back.
"You can help me by leaving me ALONE! I don't need your kind of help. You wouldn't understand."
"Try me." Hermione attempted as Harry stood still thinking of how to deal with a pre-teen in rage. Arty snorted.
"Go on then, tell me how I am supposed to feel better. Tell me how you understand what I am going through. Tell me everything will be all right. Go on." Hermione stood quietly. "You can't can you. You've always had parents who loved you and cherished you. You bloody still do. You don't know what I am going through."
"I do." Harry finally blurted out.
"Oh sure. The great Harry Potter knows what I'm going through. You who grew up with more fame that anyone I know. You whose name either makes a man quiver in fear or smile in admiration. Sure you know what I'm going through. You don't have a clue."
"I need to do something," Harry told Hermione. Hermione looked into his eyes and saw the rage burning. He needed to get away from the situation and let off some steam before he blew the place up in cinders. Harry had never wanted the fame and had never understood why people would assume his life was so great because of it. He knew what was written in books, but they didn't write everything.
"That's right. Run away!" Arty screamed when Harry stepped out. He had to meditate a bit or fly around a bit to let out some steam.
"Arty, you should understand that out of all of us who care and love you, Harry is the only person who can tell you he understands what you're going through."
"Please spare me the drama. He wouldn't know."
"Arty, don't you remember that Harry lost his parents when he was one." Arty was slapped in the face with the realization that he'd been wrong. How could he have forgotten what he'd read about his Uncle Harry. He'd remember reading how he defeated the dark lord when he was one, and then again when he was seventeen, but nothing else was written in between. The only other information was that he'd become the youngest quidditch player of the century back when he was eleven and that he'd competed in the triwizard competition and he'd graduated from Hogwarts. It was written that he'd received the Order of Merlin, first class for his defeat of the dark lord and then he'd been given a teaching position at Hogwarts soon after graduating and has been teaching there ever since. But that was it. Still how could he understand?
Arty nodded to acknowledge that he'd remembered, but was still adamant about no one being able to understand what he's going through. "Sure, but he was probably raised in a well kept secret place in the lap of luxury where he was given everything he wanted."
"You're wrong Arty. Harry was raised by his Aunt and Uncle who didn't love him at all. They made him live inside a cupboard until his second year at Hogwarts. His cousin Dudley used him as a punching bag from time to time. He was yelled at and practically pushed about like a slave in that house." Hermione was crying remembering the time that Harry had told the truth about his situation. She knew that he wasn't being treated well, but she didn't know all the details until he broke down one day while they sat talking about their past and their future in the common room. Her heart still ached for the little boy.
Arty didn't believe what Hermione was saying. It sounded like the story Harry had told him about. He figured it was just a story.
"Arty, the difference between your situation and Harry's situation is that you have people who are willing to love you and cherish you. He didn't. You were able to spend time with your mum and dad. Harry didn't. You have memories of what your dad and mum look like and how it felt when they held you. Harry only has one memory that still keeps haunting him at night. He remembers his mum's scream when Voldemort killed her as she leapt to protect Harry. Arty you have so much more than Harry ever did."
Arty felt ashamed then. He looked up and saw Harry standing in the doorway. He'd been listening to what Hermione was saying. He wanted to gather her in his arms and tell her that he was okay. He knew how much it hurt her to think about his childhood. He knew it hurt her more than it did him.
"The story? Were you telling me about yourself?" Harry simply nodded. Arty felt a whole new connection with Harry. He knew then that he wasn't alone. Someone else understood the emptiness he felt inside his heart.
Arty ran to Harry and gave him a hug. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"No one does Arty. That part of my life wasn't written in the books. I don't think anyone is interested in my life as a boy."
"But you're famous. Doesn't that count for anything?" Harry crouched down to look at Arty eye to eye.
"Arty, you have to understand. I never wanted the fame. I never understood why people put me up on a pedestal for something I don't remember doing. I would give anything at all to give up that fame if it meant I would have my parents back."
"Do you still feel the same way? Do you have any regrets?" Harry noticed Hermione leaving the room. He grabbed her hand to let her know it was okay for her to stay.
"I still miss them sometimes. But I accepted the fact that I can't undo the past and that some things were meant to happen in order for life to go on. I've also accepted the fact that their sacrifice was for me to have a better future and in my heart I know that they will always be a part of me. It took me some time and it wasn't easy, but I learned to deal with it. As for regrets, I only have one or two, but it has nothing to do with my parents. I accepted the fact that losing them was out of my control. I only try to change things that I have control over, like myself and my decisions." He looked up at Hermione who was looking down at him and still holding his hand.
"Do you feel as if a part of you is missing?" Arty asked.
"I did for a long time, and in some ways I still do, but some of the holes in my heart were filled with family and friends who love me for who I am and not what I did. One of them was your father and he will always have a special place my heart. The others are the rest of the Weasleys and Hermione. They've filled my heart with more love than I could have never imagined. They made my life whole and made me become truly part of a family, a real family. I told you before, you're part of my family now. I was part of your family before, but now you're part of mine."
"What's the difference?"
"You're mine and Hermione's responsibility. You're our son now. We're a family, the three of us." He looked up again to check if Hemione agreed. He didn't mean to say what he did, but that was what he was feeling and he just couldn't stop it from coming out.
Hermione was overwhelmed with emotions. She couldn't believe what Harry was saying. She knew that they shared the responsibility for Arty, but being a family had a very different meaning. It meant marriage to her and she didn't think Harry was going to ask her to marry him anytime soon or later for that matter. She hoped that he would one day, but she wasn't holding her breath. One night of passion did not equal a lifetime commitment.
"Come on. I want to take both of you somewhere."
"Where?"
"Godric's Hollow." Harry said simply and led them to the fireplace.
"You go first Hermione, Arty will be next. I'll go last. I want to make sure everything here is secure before I leave. I also need to contact the family to let them know you're all right."
"They won't care. You're the only ones that came looking for me."
"Only because I stopped them. They all wanted to go looking for you, but I told them I would do it." Arty didn't seem to believe Harry. "Arty, they love you. You have to remember, everyone else in the world may come and go, but family will always be there for you. Never ever turn your back on them, Arty." Arty nodded though he was still hesitant to accept it.
"Go on," Harry told them. "Make yourselves at home, but be careful. Some of the rooms are still under construction."
Hermione went ahead followed by Arty. She'd always wondered what Godric's Hollow looked like, but Harry never invited anyone there. For as long as he'd owned the place, he never brought anyone there. Well not that she knew.
Harry contacted the Weasleys and told them everything was all right and that they'd found Arty and to stop worrying. He then remembered why he needed a few moments alone. He'd wanted to read Ron's letter. He took it out of his pocket and unfolded it.
Dear Harry,
If you're reading this, then that means I'm no longer among the living. I had hoped to be there to watch my son grow up, but since I'm not there I know that you will live up to your promise to raise him as your own. I had never had a doubt in my mind that you would be a great father, Harry. I know that Arty will be happy in yours and Hermione's care.
Speaking of the witch, when are you finally going to admit to her that you love her? Well, first of all when are you going to admit it to yourself? I knew you were in love with her since fifth year. I also knew that you didn't want to get involved with Voldemort hanging over as a threat to your future, but what I don't understand is what happened after Voldemort was destroyed. You had plenty of chances to tell her how you felt. I'm just sorry I won't be there to share in your joy when you finally realize how much you love her.
Take it from me mate, don't wait too long to tell her how you feel. Life's too short to think about "what ifs". Know that I am grateful for having you as a friend and brother and now as the father to my son.
Love,
Ron
Harry was wiping the tears from his eyes when he looked up and saw the image of Ron smiling at him. It was a faint outline of what used to be Ron, but it was Ron nonetheless.
"Ron?" Harry asked the ghost. It nodded in acknowledgement. "I miss you, mate. Arty misses you. Everyone misses you." The image of Ron mouthed `I missed you too' and Harry was taken aback for a moment because he heard what Ron said in his head.
"Thanks for the letter."
"Thank you for looking after Arty. Do me a favor and do as my letter said for once," Ron told him and then faded away.
"Ron, wait. Come back!" But Harry screamed to no avail. Ron didn't return and he was standing alone in the dark room. He hadn't even realized that the room was dark. He put the letter back in his pocket and proceeded to the fireplace where he floo'd to Godric's Hollow instead of just apparating.
A/N: There. Now we can move on to more important things like getting H/H together. Thanks for your reviews.