Authors' note: Thanks to everyone who keeps reading and reviewing. For those of you who were waiting for something big to happen, it does in this chapter. And if you know us, you'll have an idea with how it ends… mwhahahhahaha. And a big thanks to all of you who showed support for us and our story when someone plagiarized the Dirty Dancing series. It really made us feel good that so many of you stood up for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Ethan followed his fellow Auror trainees into the large meeting room. He could hardly believe that he was in the final bit of training- he had pestered his father all week to let him know who his partner would be but Harry had remained tight lipped, only saying he'd find out today.
None of their instructors had arrived yet, so the trainees stood and chatted among themselves while they waited.
"I hope I get Harry Potter," one of them was saying. "Could you imagine how great it would be to learn from him?"
Ethan smiled. He would have loved to get teamed up with his father but he knew it probably wouldn't happen.
"So who do you think you'll get?" Ethan's good friend Justin asked.
"I don't know," Ethan replied. "I'd love to have my dad or Neville but they won't let us choose."
"Sterling said that the instructors throw all our names in a hat and choose that way," Justin said. "Maybe you'll get lucky. You never know."
"Who do you think you'll get?" Ethan asked, changing the subject a bit.
"I don't know," Justin replied. "I just hope it's not Stevens. He was brutal. But knowing my rotten luck that's probably who I'll end up with."
"When my dad was training they had this guy named Thackeray- I guess he was a complete arse," Ethan said.
"I've heard some stories about him," Justin said shaking his head. "Lupin said he made Stevens look like a saint."
"If you'll all take a seat," Lupin said coming into the meeting room with some of the other instructors. Harry nodded at his son before taking his seat beside Neville.
Ethan crossed his fingers as Lupin gave them a short speech before starting to read off the list of names.
"Natalie Worthington and Justin Tate," Lupin called out.
"Oooh," Justin whispered to Ethan. "An older woman..."
"My dad trained her," Ethan whispered back. "She's pretty hot." he joked.
Lupin continued to call out name after name and so far no one had been paired off with Harry much to Ethan's delight. But, he wasn't about to get his hopes up. Stevens was still free and Ethan thought it would be just his luck to end up with that tyrant for the next few weeks.
"Ethan Potter and Harry Potter," Lupin paused to smile a moment at the young man and Ethan grinned, pumping his fist at his side.
Once Lupin was finished calling out the list of names, Harry made his way over to his son.
"I thought I'd come over and see what kind of hand I've been dealt," he joked.
"This is great Dad!" Ethan said excitedly. "I was hoping I'd get partnered up with you but I didn't think they would since you're my father!"
"They drew the names over three weeks ago," Harry explained. "I was excited as you were when I found out. You don't know how hard it's been to keep the secret."
"You mean you've known all this time?" Ethan asked. "How come you couldn't tell me before?"
"I couldn't," Harry said. "It's against the rules and you know what a stickler I am for following the rules."
"Yeah I know," Ethan replied. "I can't wait to tell Mum and Julie and I'll have to owl Saffy."
"Well," Harry said looking sheepishly at him. "The thing is...they sort of already know..."
"So everyone knew but me?" Ethan asked. "What about Maddie?"
"I didn't tell her," Harry answered. "But if you ask me, I think she might have seen it..."
Ethan raised his eyebrows. "Maybe she did," he shrugged. "This is still great. I've always wanted to go out in the field and work with you."
"Since you were about this big," Harry said bending over and holding his hand to his knee.
"That's right," Ethan grinned. "What's our first assignment?"
"Did you hear about that case in Surrey?" Harry asked.
"The one about the witch casting charms all over the place in a Muggle area?" Ethan nodded.
"That's the one," Harry said. "Care to help your old man with that one?"
"Definitely," Ethan agreed enthusiastically.
"Come on up to my--I mean--our office," Harry said. "I'll brief you on what we know so far."
"Great," Ethan followed his father upstairs.
"You do have to owl Saffy," Harry said as they walked. "She made me promise."
"I'll do it later tonight," Ethan said. "I owe her a letter."
"You might want to send her some tips on how you dealt with Snape while you were in school," Harry said.
"He's been giving her a hard time aye?" Ethan asked as they rode in the lift.
"To put it mildly," Harry said explaining to his son the incident at Hogwarts.
"He is definitely a piece of work," Ethan shook his head. "Nothing I ever did could please that arse."
The lift pinged open and Harry and Ethan stepped out.
"Your mum seems to think that Dumbledore will finally get through to him, but I'm not so sure."
"He'll never change," Ethan said. "Anyway- tell me more about this witch and what we have to do."
Harry held his office door open for his son. "The case files are on your desk. That will give you the specifics. We have a couple of leads, but nothing concrete."
"All right," Ethan said sitting down and perusing the files.
Harry sat down in his desk chair and waited for his son to finish reading. He couldn't begin to put into words how great it would be to work side by side with his son.
"All right," Ethan said as he set the files aside ten minutes later. "So we have to do some memory modification and some cleanup."
"Exactly," Harry said. "But we'll have to be discrete. Discretion is very important when you're dealing with Muggles."
"Tell me about it," Ethan said.
"How are you on memory charms?" Harry asked.
"Pretty good," Ethan said. "They weren't my strongest, but they held out."
"If you're ready we can head on out to Surrey now," Harry said.
"Great," Ethan said. "I can't wait to get started."
"I'm proud of you Ethan," Harry said smiling at his son. "You've done really well in the program."
"Thanks Dad," Ethan was happy that his father was praising him. "I wanted to make you and mum proud."
"You have," Harry told him.
"I can't wait to tell Maddie about this even though she already seems to know," Ethan said.
"Things seem to be going well then with Maddie?" Harry asked.
"Everything's fantastic," Ethan said. "She's really something Dad."
Harry smiled. "I seem to remember a certain young man who used to cringe at the thought of spending time alone with little Maddie Weasley."
"Back when I was young and stupid," Ethan laughed. "And I swore I'd never like girls."
"And we all told you you'd change your tune when you were older," Harry teased.
"Right, right." Ethan said. "I know we've only been together a few months but I can't imagine being without her Dad."
Harry knew how Ethan felt. He'd felt the same way about Hermione.
"I'm not saying I want to marry her yet or anything," Ethan continued. "But she's really amazing." he told his father about her and that girl Jackie in the cafeteria. "I've never seen her get angry before that."
"I didn't even know Maddie could get angry," Harry commented.
"I didn't either." he replied. "She said she has Uncle Ron's temper."
"That's scary," Harry said shuddering. "I'll be sure to say some prayers for you."
Ethan laughed. "Well she told me that's why she doesn't get angry that often. A lot of things that bother people don't bother her."
"She's more like Luna than she is like Ron," Harry said. "So that's good for you."
"She's just really fantastic," Ethan said as they reached the department where they'd get a portkey to Surrey.
"You should bring her over to dinner some night," Harry said. "Your mum and I are quite lonely in that house by ourselves. We'd love to have you two come over."
"Sounds good to me," Ethan said. "I'm sure Maddie would love that too."
"It can be a celebratory dinner," Harry suggested. "To celebrate how well you're both doing in your new jobs."
"I'll talk to her tonight," Ethan promised. "And I'll owl you."
"Okay then," Harry said. "Now, how about we go and work your first case?"
Ethan nodded eagerly. "Sounds good."
*** *** ***
Chiaki struggled to open the door as she was laden down with so many shopping bags. At Lavender's boutique, her mother had bought her some new maternity clothes even though Chiaki had protested that she wouldn't need them for a few weeks. It had been lovely to spend that time with her family and now she was ready to share the big news with her husband.
While she had retired from professional dance, Toshio was still very much involved. Male dancers had a much longer shelf life than their female counterparts. A couple of years ago, Toshio had turned their basement into a home dance studio and it was one of her favourite parts of their home.
It was there that she found him, stretching before he began his practise. She grinned mischievously as he bent over and touched his toes.
"There's the best looking arse in all of Britain," she called out.
"And it's all yours for the touching," Toshio grinned at his wife.
She laughed as she carried her shopping bags down to show him what she'd bought.
"Are we broke?" he teased. "Do I have to take on extra time or did you spare us some money?"
"Mum bought most of it," Chiaki explained setting the bags down. She gave him a kiss hello. "If you think this is bad, you should see what Frankie talked Mum into buying for her."
"Considering it's Frankie, I'm not sure if I want to know," Toshio kissed her again. "We miss you at the company."
"That's because I'm irreplaceable," she replied winking at him.
"Especially to me," Toshio said softly.
"Sweet talker," she said taking his hand and dragging him down to the floor. "I know you hate shopping, but I want you to see some of the things Mum bought me."
"All right," Toshio laughed.
Chiaki grinned as she started unloading one of the heavier bags. She lugged out two canisters of paint and some paint brushes. She tried not to smile as she looked at her husband.
"She bought you paint?" Toshio was confused.
"For the remodelling we'll have to do," Chiaki said as if he should have known the answer. "And wait until you see this..."
Toshio watched as she pulled out a small yellow blanket.
"That's a bit small for our bed," Toshio's brow was creased.
"That's because it's not for our bed silly," Chiaki said handing him the blanket. "And it's in yellow which is a nice neutral colour...since we don't really know, you know?"
"Know what?" Toshio asked and then his eyes suddenly popped wide open. "Chi are you... are we...?
Chiaki giggled. "Are we what?" she asked innocently.
"Are you pregnant?" Toshio asked.
Chiaki nodded unable to contain her excitement. She launched herself at her husband embracing him with gusto that would have made Molly Weasley jealous.
"Merlin Chi this is fantastic," Toshio whirled her around. "How long- I mean how far are you?"
"About three months," she answered.
"This is really wonderful," Toshio said. "We're going to be parents!"
"We sure are, Dad," she said softly.
"I can't wait to tell everyone!" Toshio said excitedly.
"My mum and sisters already know," Chiaki said. "And Caroline, too. So Jon probably already knows and I imagine when Frankie comes up for air, Will will know too."
Toshio laughed. "We're going to have to have a celebration dinner soon so we can spill the beans before your mum does."
"She promised not to say anything to Daddy, but I imagine he knows already," Chiaki laughed.
Toshio hugged his wife tightly. "I love you so much," he said. "You make me so happy Chi."
"I love you too," Chiaki said hugging him back. "And we're going to have our own little girl or boy."
"What do you think it is?" Toshio touched her stomach.
"Girls do seem to run in my family," Chiaki said.
"A little girl that looks just like her gorgeous mother," Toshio said.
"Or a little boy who looks as handsome as his father," Chiaki countered.
"What if you have twins," Toshio joked.
"Twins?" Chiaki asked, shaking her head.
Toshio leaned in and kissed her again. "This is really the best news ever." he said softly.
"Yes it is," Chiaki said smiling at him. "I'm so happy."
"We'll have to figure out what room we want to use for the nursery," Toshio said. "Sod practise for tonight."
Chiaki laughed. "I don't think I've ever heard you say that."
"It's a once in a lifetime thing," Toshio joked. "I'm too excited about this."
"Me too," Chiaki said. "There's so much to plan!"
"Let's get started," Toshio grabbed her hand.
"Don't you want to tell your parents?" she asked.
"Of course," Toshio said. "One of many, many things we have to do."
"Right," Chiaki said nodding. "Lead the way..."
*** *** ***
It was a few weeks after Ethan and Harry had started training together and he and Maddie had finally found an evening they were both free to have dinner with Harry and Hermione.
"Mum your lasagne is still the best I've ever had," Ethan said, going for a third helping.
"Thanks sweetheart," Hermione said smiling at him. "It is the one thing I can make and make well."
"The one thing she doesn't burn," Harry interjected cheekily.
"Watch it you," Hermione said glaring at him.
Maddie smiled. "It really is fantastic," she said. "I know I've always loved it."
"Thank you Maddie," Hermione said warmly. "But don't get too filled up on this. I bought a lemon pie from that bakery down the street for dessert..."
The telephone in the kitchen rang and Hermione excused herself to go and get it, figuring it was a phone call from her parents.
"I wonder if she'd notice if I snuck the rest of this home," Ethan said. "I really need to get down to the shops- I have almost no food."
"That's not true," Maddie said laughing. "You have that awful green stuff that we haven't been able to identify. We think it was once cheese, but we're not so sure."
Harry made a face. "Even Ron wouldn't eat that--" he began but was interrupted by his wife's cry.
Ethan, Harry and Maddie both hurried into the kitchen to see what the matter was.
"What happened Mum?" Hermione was holding her hand over her mouth and looked horrified as tears gathered in her eyes.
Harry took the phone from Hermione and put it back on the hook.
"My...my father," Hermione was able to choke out.
"What is it?" Harry was worried- her face was positively ashen.
"He---he's had a heart attack," Hermione said shakily.
"No," Ethan said shaking his head. "Not Grandpa Robert. He's not..."
"He's not dead," Hermione leaned against her husband as her knees threatened to give. "But Mum said the outlook isn't so good." she shook her head. "This can't happen- my dad is healthy as can be!"
Harry nodded. "We should get to the hospital. Do you know which one they took him to?"
"The general one in London," Hermione wiped her eyes.
"Mum, how about you and Dad go on ahead," Ethan suggested "I'll let Julie and Nick know. Should we say anything to Saffy?"
"Not yet," Hermione said, reaching for a tissue. "We'll get her if he... if Dad..." she faltered.
"He's going to be fine, sweetheart," Harry told his wife, wiping a tear from her cheek. "Your dad is a fighter."
"I hope he'll pull through," Hermione said, her voice shuddering. "We'll meet you at the hospital Ethan." she said.
Ethan nodded and watched as his mother and father hurried out of the house.
"Ethan," Maddie said gently. "Everything will be okay."
"He can't die Mads," Ethan said, clearly upset.
Maddie hugged him. "Do you want me to call Julie for you?"
"Would you Floo her?" he asked shakily.
Maddie nodded. "Of course."
Ethan sat down hard in one of the kitchen chairs as he heard Maddie go into the sitting room and call out to Julie. His older sister came rushing into the kitchen moments later.
"Ethan?" Julie asked. "What is it? Maddie said I need to get over here straightaway..."
"It's Grandpa," Ethan said dazedly. "Mum said he's had a bad heart attack."
The colour drained from Julie's face. "No..."
"Grandma said they don't know if he'll make it," Ethan looked up at his sister. "We need to get over to the hospital."
Julie nodded. "We should go."
"Will you come?" Ethan turned to Maddie, who had remained in the doorway.
"Of course," Maddie said.
In the hospital waiting room Elinore paced wishing that her daughter and niece would get here soon. She needed them now more than ever.
"Mum," Hermione came rushing in, trying to hold back her tears. "What's happening with Dad?"
Elinore shook her head. "I don't know. They haven't told me anything. Oh, sweetheart, I'm so scared!"
"I am too," Hermione buried her face in her mother's shoulder.
"I couldn't get in touch with Lavender," Elinore said sadly. "I left a message on her voice mail."
"I'm sure she'll get it and be here soon," Hermione tried to be comforting even though all she wanted to do was curl into her mother's arms and cry like she would if she was five.
In the meantime, Harry had walked over to the desk. "I wonder if someone could give us an update on Robert Granger's condition?" he asked quietly.
The nurse looked at him. "Are you a member of the immediate family?"
"I'm his son in law," Harry said. "If you'd like I can get my wife over here or my mother in law. We just want to know what's going on."
"No, that's okay," the nurse said keying in Robert's name in the computer. "He's still being examined sir. I'm sure his doctor will be out to give you a report soon."
"Thank you," Harry sighed and went back to the two women.
"We'd just had dinner," Elinore was telling Hermione. "And Robert was clearing things away. I was in the sitting room..."
Hermione squeezed her mother's hand and let her continue.
"And I heard this awful sound," Elinore said. "The...dishes...he'd collapsed...I didn't know what to do."
"You did the right thing by calling the ambulance," Hermione tried to be reassuring.
"He's been so tired lately," Elinore said. "He kept saying it was because he was just getting old. I should have made him get a check up. But you know how doctors are..."
"Doctors think they know everything," Harry joked gently, sitting down on the other side of his wife.
Neither Hermione nor Elinore could bring themselves to laugh.
"He was so pale Hermione," Elinore said weakly. "So pale."
"He's strong though Mum," Hermione hugged her mother.
Elinore nodded. "And stubborn."
Julie and Ethan arrived not twenty minutes later, followed by Lavender about ten minutes after that.
"We still haven't heard anything," Hermione said after hugging her cousin tightly. "Not a damn word."
"Someone had bloody better tell us what's going on," Lavender said hotly.
"I tried to get information but all they said was he was still being examined," Harry said apologetically. "Where's Seamus?"
"He's coming," Lavender said. "I had to get him off the set. He promised to come straightaway."
"Gran?" Julie asked sitting down gingerly beside her grandmother. On the way over, she and Ethan promised each other to be strong for their grandmother, mother and aunt, but seeing her grandmother like this, Julie couldn't follow through. She hugged Elinore tightly as tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Sweetheart," Elinore hugged her back. "I'm so glad you're here."
"I love him so much, Gran," Julie sobbed. "I don't think he knows..."
"He knows love," Elinore kissed her forehead. "He knows..."
A solemn looking doctor came into the waiting room and everyone froze.
"Elinore, I'm Dr. Stephens," he said extending his hand.
"Hello," Elinore wiped her eyes after shaking the doctor's hand. "What can you tell me about my husband?"
"Robert's had a massive heart attack," Dr. Stephens told her. "We've managed to stabilize him for now, but he's going to need a quadruple bypass."
Elinore's legs buckled. "Oh my," she whispered. "When can I see him?"
"You can see him now, but only for a few moments," the doctor said. "He's really weak."
"Thank you," Elinore said.
"You go on in first Mum," Hermione said, still holding her mother's hand.
Elinore nodded and gave her daughter and niece a hug before following the doctor.
"He can't die," Lavender whispered. "He has to be okay, Hermione. He has to be."
"I know Lav," Hermione huddled on a hard bench with her cousin. "I'm scared."
"I don't know what I'd do without him," Lavender said softly. "He took me in and raised me like I was his own daughter."
"He's always cared about you so much," Hermione said quietly.
"I should have visited more," Lavender said. "I should have spent more time with them. I'm so selfish, Hermione."
"You are not," Hermione said. "You're busy and you live overseas now."
"If he gets through this, I promise I will visit all the time," Lavender said looking up. "I will be a better niece."
Elinore came back out in tears. "Hermione, Lavender if you girls want to go in you'd better do it now- they're going to prep for surgery in a few minutes."
"I'll sit with Gran," Julie said putting an arm around Elinore. "You go ahead, Mum."
"Thank you dear," Hermione looked at her husband before going into her father's room with her cousin.
Robert's eyes were closed and he was hooked up to all sorts of machines that were beeping and blinking.
"Daddy?" Hermione asked uncertainly.
Robert's eyes blinked open and he gave her a slight smile. "There's my girl." He saw Lavender hovering beside her. "Both my girls."
Hermione couldn't control her tears. "Daddy we're so worried about you." she whispered.
Robert reached out and patted her hand. "Don't you worry about me, sweetheart. I'm going to be fine."
"I hope so Daddy," Hermione said. "I love you so much."
"Me too," Lavender said. "More than you know."
"I love you both very much," Robert put a hand on his daughter's cheek, then to Lavender's.
Lavender started to cry and hated herself for not being strong for her uncle. She'd just never seen him like this.
"You're going to get through this," she said as stoically as she could muster. "And when you do, we're going to have a big party."
Robert chuckled softly. "I'll keep that in mind."
Hermione kissed her father's cheek. "I'm so sorry for all that I put you through when I was younger. The worst time of my life was when you and I were arguing and..." her voice trailed off as a fresh set of tears rolled down her cheeks.
"And it all worked out for the best," Robert said. "I'm so proud of both of you. You both have excellent careers and husbands that treasure you like I always have."
"We do," Hermione said. "I know Ethan and Julie want to see you, Daddy. I just--I don't want to leave you without letting you know how much I love you. "
"I know sweetheart," Robert squeezed her hand gently.
Hermione and Lavender gave him one last hug.
"I'm going to be fine girls," Robert promised them. "I wouldn't lie to you now, would I?"
"Of course not Daddy," Hermione forced a smile onto her face. "I'll send in Julie and Ethan okay?"
Robert nodded. "I-I'd like to see Saffron too."
"I'll get her back from school," Hermione promised.
"Okay," Robert said and he watched as his daughter and niece walked out of his room.
Somehow Hermione and Lavender made it back to the waiting room.
"Harry," Hermione said shakily. "We need to get Saffy. He-he wants to see her."
"I'll go," Harry instantly said. "You stay here with your mum and Lav."
"Okay," Hermione said. "Please hurry, Harry."
"I will," he touched her cheek before heading to the loo to Apparate out.
Saffron was asleep when Harry arrived at Hogwarts. Professor McGonagall went to fetch her while Harry waited in the common room for his little girl. Saffron had always been close to her grandfather and unlike her father enjoyed playing golf with him whenever she got the chance. Harry had no idea how he was going to tell her what had happened.
"Daddy?" Saffron rubbed her eyes. "What's going on?"
Harry hugged her. "Saffy, something's...something's happened to your Grandpa. I need you to come with me to the hospital."
"Why?" Saffron asked, suddenly alert. "What's wrong with him?"
Harry led her over to the sofa in front of the fire. "He's had a heart attack. He's going to need major surgery. And he's asking to see you."
Saffron's lower lip trembled. "Is he going to die?" she asked.
"He's got some really good doctors," Harry said squeezing her hand. "They're going to take really good care of him, baby."
Saffron began to cry. "I don't want anything to happen to him!"
Harry hugged her. "I know sweetheart. I know."
Saffron felt her father pick her up and say something to McGonagall.
"Let's go to the hospital so you can see him all right?" Harry said gently.
"Okay," Saffron said quietly. "Let's go."
Harry Apparated them both down the street from the hospital; he was still carrying his youngest daughter when they came back into the waiting room.
"Hi baby," Hermione said coming over to join them. "I'm sorry we had to get you out of school."
"It's okay Mum," Saffron answered, sniffling. "Where's Grandpa?"
"Waiting for you," Hermione said wiping a tear from Saffron's cheek.
"How about I take her back there?" Harry asked.
"Sure," Hermione forced another smile onto her face.
Harry and Saffron quickly made their way down the hall and into Robert's room. A nurse was standing by his bed marking some things down on a chart.
"You must be the famous Saffron," the nurse said smiling at her. "Your grandfather here was just singing your praises."
That made Saffron smile a little bit as she tugged her pyjama top down. "Hi Grandpa," she said softly.
Robert gave her a big smile. "This is my partner in crime. Only person in the family to beat the trousers off me on the golf course."
Saffron smiled at him. "And I'll do it again when you get better Grandpa."
"You should really help your dad out," Robert joked. "He needs all the help he can get."
"I know he does," Saffron said. "We'll have to give him lessons next holiday."
"Yes we will," Robert said with a cough. He looked at his youngest granddaughter. "You remind me so much of your mother, Saffy."
"I do?" she asked, pleased.
"You look just like her," Robert said. "But it's not just that. You have this way of wanting to know anything and everything. And you also have this way of bringing out the best in people that you care about...just like your mum."
"Thanks Grandpa," Saffron whispered, kissing his cheek.
"Will you look out for your grandma while I'm in surgery?" Robert asked her. "She's going to need lots of hugs. You think you can do that for me?"
Saffron nodded. "I'll stay with her the whole time I promise." she sniffled.
"That's my girl," Robert said squeezing her hand. "I love you very much, Saffron Grace."
"I love you too Grandpa," Saffron said as the doctor came back into the room.
"Robert," Dr. Stephens said. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's about time..."
Robert nodded. "I'd just like to have a quick word with my son-in-law, if that's okay."
"Saffy, baby will you wait just outside for me?" Harry asked gently.
Saffron nodded and gave her grandfather one last hug and kiss on the cheek before walking out of the room.
Harry turned back to his father in law and tried to smile. "If you just wanted to ask if I'll go easy on the golf course with you from now on you're out of luck," he joked weakly.
Robert gave a little laugh. "You can admit that you were throwing all those games now. You aren't really that bad, are you?"
"Fraid so," Harry said sheepishly.
Robert smiled. "Well, it is good to know you're actually bad at something."
"That's the only thing," Harry said smiling back.
A sombre expression came over Robert's face and for the first time that evening he let his guard down. He hadn't told anyone else how scared he actually was.
"Listen," Robert said quietly. "There's a really good chance that I won't make it, Harry..."
"You shouldn't say that," Harry said.
"The odds aren't in my favour," Robert said. "And I'd never admit that I'm afraid to Ellie or to the girls or to my grandchildren..."
"For what it's worth I think you'll pull through," Harry replied supportively. "And I know you've got a room full of people out there rooting you on as well."
Robert nodded. "I didn't want to like you, you know?"
"Yeah I know," Harry said ruefully. "We didn't have the best first impressions of each other did we?"
"No, we didn't," Robert admitted. "But you've made my little girl so very happy. And you've given me three beautiful grandchildren."
Harry opened his mouth to respond, but Robert put his hand up.
"You and I have had our differences over the years and I just want you to know that..." Robert said with his voice catching in his throat. "That...that you're a good man, Harry. Hermione and the kids are lucky they have you."
"Thank you," Harry said with a smile. "That means a lot to me Robert. And for what it's worth, you're a great father in law and grandfather. I couldn't have asked for anyone better."
Robert smiled and shook Harry's hand. "If something should happen to me, promise you'll look after Ellie for me?"
Harry nodded. "I promise." he said as the doctor entered again.
"We need to prep you for surgery now Dr. Granger," he said.
"Right," Robert said stoically. "I'm ready."
"Good luck," Harry said. "We'll all be waiting for you."
Saffron was trying valiantly to hold back her tears but when she saw her father come out they began to flow in rivers. "Daddy I'm scared!" she said.
Harry scooped her up in his arms as if she were five years old. "I know baby. I know. We all are."
"I don't want him to die," Saffron whimpered as she buried her face in her father's shoulder.
"I know Saffy," he said softly. "Sweetheart, I wish I could tell you that everything was going to be okay. The truth is that I don't know. But you know what? Your Grandpa is in one of the best hospitals in the country and he has some really good doctors who are going to do everything they can to make him better."
"Okay," Saffron whispered. "Will you hold me for a little while?" she felt a bit silly asking that when she was fourteen years old but she needed her father right now.
Harry smiled at her. "Of course sweetheart. Do you want to go back to the waiting room or do you want to stay here?"
"Can we stay here for just a few minutes?" Saffron asked. "And then go back with everyone else?"
Harry nodded and sat down with her on a chair in the hall. "Your grandpa loves you very much, Saffy."
"I know he does," Saffron said in a shuddery voice.
"And you have had him wrapped around your little finger from the moment you were born," Harry said softly kissing her forehead.
"I just want him to be okay so bad Daddy," Saffron hugged her father tighter.
"Me too baby," Harry said holding his daughter while she cried. "Me too."
She cried again into his shoulder for a few minutes before pulling away and wiping her eyes. "I promised Grandpa I'd take care of Grandma while he's in surgery." she said.
"You ready to go back?" Harry asked her.
Saffron nodded and held onto her father's hand as they walked back together into the waiting room.
Seamus and Nick had arrived while they'd been back there and they were both trying to comfort their wives.
Hermione wiped her eyes when she saw her daughter and husband come back into the room. Hermione knew now it had been the right decision to pull her daughter out of school. Without a word, Saffron sat down beside her grandmother and gave her a big hug.
Elinore hugged her young granddaughter back tightly. "Thank you sweetheart. I needed that."
Hermione walked over to Harry. "How did she do with Dad?"
"Okay," Harry said. "She had a hard time not crying in the room with him."
"Me too," Hermione said hugging her husband.
Harry kissed the top of her head. "He'll be all right Hermione," he said quietly.
"I want to believe you," she whispered.
"He's strong," Harry said, as he'd been saying all night so far. "It's a tough surgery but he's going to pull through."
"He needs us to be strong," Hermione said. "And I'm really trying..."
"You're doing a great job," Harry said soothingly. "He knows you're out here thinking about him love. He knows."
"Mummy," Saffron came over to her parents and wrapped her arms around her mother's waist.
"Sweetheart," Hermione said smiling down at her. "I'm so glad you're here."
"I'm glad Daddy came and got me," Saffron said. "Just in case..."
"Come on," Hermione said not wanting to think about the worst case scenario. "How about you sit with me and your dad?"
"We have a long night ahead of us," Harry said.
"I'm kind of tired but I don't want to sleep." Saffron said as Ethan put an arm around his sister.
"Do you remember how much fun we'd have when we used to go over to Gran and Grandpa's house?" Ethan asked his sister. There was that secret stash of chocolate that he hid in the..."
"Secret stash of chocolate?" Elinore asked. "What secret stash of chocolate?"
"Er..." Ethan grinned sheepishly. "It was always a sort of secret between me, Jules, Saffy and Grandpa."
Julie smiled. "The cat's out of the bag now."
"I always wondered where all that chocolate disappeared to," Elinore shook her head.
"And he always made the best milkshakes," Julie said fondly. "Old movies and chocolate milkshakes...those were the best with Grandpa."
"He loves spending time with you kids," Elinore said wistfully.
"I remember he was the first man I ever danced with," Hermione said softly. "I used to stand on his feet and he moved around with me."
"So I wasn't the first person whose toes you smashed," Harry teased gently.
Hermione hit him on the arm. "No, that honour goes to my dad."
"He did that for me too," Lavender said, wiping her eyes.
"He scared the bloody hell out of me," Harry said shaking his head. "Still does sometimes."
"Especially on the golf course right Daddy?" Saffron asked with a trembly smile.
Harry nodded. "Especially there, Saffy. And I think you like seeing me lose, don't you?"
"It's fun to see your face when you lose," Saffron managed a small giggle.
Harry laughed. "No wonder you and your Grandpa get along so well."
The next few hours were tense for the group- doctors came out periodically to give them updates but none of them really knew if Robert would pull through quite yet. Ethan had been pacing across the waiting room and had finally gone outside for some fresh air.
"Mind if I join you?" Maddie had come out and was standing next to him.
Ethan smiled. "I'm glad you're here, Mads."
She smiled back at him and wrapped her hands around his arm. "How are you holding up?" she asked softly.
"I hate feeling like this," he replied. "I have no control over what's going on, Maddie. I wish there was something I could do, but all I can do is wait and hope for the best. It just doesn't seem like enough."
"I think it's enough that you're here, and your grandfather knows it," Maddie answered. "I keep wishing I could get some sort of vision about his fate but nothing's come to me."
"It's okay," Ethan said squeezing her hand. "I'm worried about my Gran."
Maddie brushed his messy hair out of his eyes. "Saffy seems to be taking good care of her," she said softly.
"That's another thing," Ethan said. "I'm worried about Saffy too. We're all really close to Grandpa, but Saffy's...she's..."
"I know," Maddie said. "It's sort of like how I am with my father, and even with Nana. I know how she feels."
"I don't know how any of us would handle it if something happened to him," Ethan said quietly.
Maddie hugged her boyfriend to her. "It'll be okay," she said soothingly.
"You don't have to stay you know?" he told her. "It's really late and you have to work tomorrow..."
"I know but I want to," Maddie pulled back and rested her hands on the sides of his face. "I want to be here with you Ethan."
Ethan smiled. "I want you to be here with me, Maddie."
"I'm certainly not going anywhere," she gave him a soft smile. "I love you so much. I always want to be here for you."
"I love you too," he said kissing her.
Maddie could tell his kiss was more needing in comfort than passion as she caressed his cheek. "Should we go back in, you think?" she asked when they pulled apart a few moments later.
"Sure," Ethan said nodding.
He was holding her hand tightly as they slowly walked back in a comfortable silence. Everyone inside was still in the same positions they'd left them in and a quick word with Seamus told the young couple that there had been nothing new.
"Julie?" Nick asked his wife. "Sweetie, why don't you try and get some sleep?"
"I can't sleep," Julie pulled the blanket that one of the hospital staff had given her tighter around her shoulders. "Not until I know what's going on Nick."
"Are you hungry?" he asked. "I could go and grab you something out of one of the machines..."
"I'm okay," Julie leaned against him. "Just keep holding me."
"I can do that," Nick said softly.
"We should let Greta know what's going on soon in case one of the girls wakes up and wants to know how Grandpa is," Julie closed her eyes as Nick kissed the side of her head.
""How about I pop home for a few minutes to let her know what's going on and check on the girls," Nick offered.
"Don't stay long," Julie squeezed his hand. "Come back as soon as you can okay?"
"I will," he promised, giving her a quick kiss. "Do you want anything from home?"
Julie shook her head wordlessly.
Nick smiled sympathetically at her. "I'll have Greta ring the school to let them know you won't be in..."
"That would be lovely," Julie managed a slight smile. "Thanks Nick."
Ethan took Nick's empty seat beside his sister. "How you holding up?"
Julie shrugged. "I'm okay I guess. I wish they'd bloody let us know what's going on."
"I've never seen Mum like this," Ethan said motioning over to where Hermione was sitting with Lavender.
"I know," Julie agreed. "But I suppose I'd be the same way if this was Dad and I was in Mum's position."
"I know," Ethan said. "I feel like I've sort of taken it for granted that they're always going to be here. It takes something like this to put everything into perspective, doesn't it?"
"Just a bit, yeah," Julie nodded. "I'm still scared though Ethan."
Ethan hugged his sister. "Me too, Jules."
"I'm glad Saffy's asleep," Julie said. "She was more upset than the two of us put together."
Ethan looked over at his baby sister who was sleeping on the sofa with her head in her grandmother's lap. Elinore was running her hand through Saffron's curls looking listlessly ahead.
"I know," Ethan said.
"She's not going to want to go back to school until we find out Grandpa will be okay." Julie added quietly.
"He will be okay," Ethan said stubbornly. "He has to be."
Julie nodded slowly. "He has to be," she echoed.
At around eight in the morning, nearly everyone had fallen asleep despite their best efforts not to. Dr. Stephens entered the waiting room looking completely knackered himself. Hermione looked up from the magazine she hadn't really been reading to see the doctor.
Her eyes widened as she shakily got to her feet. "Is he... is my father..."