With Arms Wide Open

Well I just heard the news today

It seems my life is going to change

I closed my eyes, begin to pray

Then tears of joy stream down my face

"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, you're the proud parents of a new baby boy," the doctor told them holding out the newborn infant to the pale Hermione. Gladly, she took the infant from the doctor and cradled it in her shaking arms. She reached over the bar of the hospital bed, gave Ron's hand a squeeze, and smiled faintly.

Ron brushed his wife's hair off of her forehead before leaning in to see his newborn son.

"Oh, Ron," Hermione breathed. "He's so beautiful. Look at him!" The baby had a fringe of brown hair so dark it almost looked black; pink, healthy skin and a small smile on his contented lips. His eyelids were closed, and he seemed to be sleeping.

With arms wide open

Under the sunlight

Welcome to this place

I'll show you everything

With arms wide open

With arms wide open

"Where'd he get the hair from? Certainly not my side of the family," Ron said distractedly.

"I don't know," Hermione replied. "I guess someone in my family might have had really dark hair like that. But Ron, doesn't he, well...with the dark hair and all...doesn't he remind you of...Harry?"

Ron didn't answer because he was thinking the same thing. And it was causing him the most pain he had ever felt in his entire life.

"This should be the happiest day of my life," he thought. "But Harry's not here to see it. He's not here. And my son reminds me so much of him. How can I live with this?"

Well I don't know if I'm ready

To be the man I have to be

I'll take a breath, I'll take her by my side

We stand in awe, we've created life

Ron looked again at his wife and son. He smiled at Hermione and reached over to take his son's hand. He really did look a lot like Harry.

"Oh, God," thought Ron as fought back tears...

"Harry, let me come! You may need help. Who knows what You-Know-Who has in store for you!"

No, Ron!" Harry yelled back. "I have to do this by myself. Really. I don't want to put you in danger."

"I'm already in danger. I've always been in danger. Since the day I met you practically. Being your friend is dangerous, Harry! And being a friend means you never let your mate walk head first into jeopardy!" Ron shouted.

"Ron! You can't come! It's not that I don't want you too, but you can't! Voldemort will just kill you. He doesn't have to bother with you. Remember what happened to Cedric?" Harry was getting annoyed now. The Dark Lord was coming closer and closer and he, Harry, had to confront him. Ron was holding him back.

"You know?" Ron snarled. "Maybe Hermione's right. I think you do have a hero complex, Harry. You can never let anyone else have the limelight!"

"Ron, this isn't some silly play or Quidditch game! I-

"Never mind, Harry. It doesn't matter. I can see I'm not wanted. Let me know if you survive." Ron turned and ran down the hallway to Gryffindor tower regretting the words that had flung from his mouth.

With arms wide open

Under the sunlight

Welcome to this place

I'll show you everything

With arms wide open

Now everything has changed

I'll show you love

I'll show you everything

With arms wide open

With arms wide open

I'll show you everything ...oh yeah

With arms wide open..wide open

Ron grabbed Harry's invisibility cloak and followed Harry anyway, ready to help his friend if he needed it. There was no way a 17-year-old wizard could take on Voldemort without the support of friends, even if it was The Boy Who Lived.

"Please let Harry live! He thinks I'm still mad at him but I'm not. I understand now and I need to apologize!" he thought. "Oh please don't let him die!"

Ron found Harry on top of a muddy hill somewhere at the foot of the mountains that surrounded Hogwarts. Harry stood there, his wand out, looking positively frightened. Yet there was a determined glow in his green eyes. The gusty wind tousled his already messy, jet black hair; a storm was coming. The sky was a deep, menacing gray. The clouds swirled angrily overhead.

All of a sudden, he was there. Voldemort.

If I had just one wish

Only one demand

Voldemort had just Apparated not even three feet from where Harry stood. The two rivals stood facing one another for what seemed like an eternity. Then Harry shouted above the roaring wind: "One of us has to die! It was said in the prophecy."

"Yes, I'm aware of that, Potter," the cold menacing voice responded. "So prepare to die." He raised his wand but Harry had already started:

"STUPEFY!" he bellowed. The spell flew toward Voldemort but ricocheted off the air some six inches from Voldemort's head and came whizzing back toward Harry. Harry dived just in time; he felt the spell rustle his hair.

I hope he's not like me

I hope he understands

Voldemort chuckled maliciously. "You can't kill me, Harry. It won't work. I've experimented too much with immortality; I'm invincible. Every existing part of my body is protected!" He laughed again.

Harry was at a complete loss. He stood there, concentration furrowed his brow and beads of sweat were trickling down his neck. Ron, standing under the invisibility cloak, grasped his wand and prepared to help his friend. But Harry seemed competent. There was something about him that Ron couldn't really place. It was as if Harry knew some secret that he was going to divulge to no one.

That he can take this life

And hold it by the hand

"You're cruel, Voldemort," spat Harry. "Cruel and heartless," he added with a twisted smile.

"You're right for once, Potter. I am cruel and heartless," Voldemort said, and Ron was pleased to see that whatever Harry was playing at it was working. Voldemort seemed slightly confused.

"And," Harry continued. "That means that I can do this. AVADA KEDAVRA!" There was a flash of green light so bright that Ron threw his hands up to shield his eyes, and the invisibility cloak fell to the ground. The spell hit Voldemort in the only place where he was not invincivble; his heart. He didn't have one, and therefore was vulnerable. For as Voldemort himself had said, "Every existing part of my body is protected."

And he can greet the world

With arms wide open...

Voldemort opened his mouth in shock as the spell collided with him. He looked surprised for a moment, followed by an anger that radiated in pulses from his drastically pale body. Then there was nothing; just a kind of vacant, mildly puzzled expression. He was dead before he hit the ground.

But some of the Unforgivable Curse had hit the invisible force field of immortality surrounding Voldemort. It bounced off and headed back towards Harry who had no intangible shield of his own. He didn't even realize that his spell was coming back at him; he was too shocked at what he had just done.

But, Ron saw the spell come at his friend and ran toward him waving his arms manically, screaming; "Harry! Look out!"

Harry became aware of the spell coming at him one second too late. It hit him square over the heart and knocked him backward as if someone had swung a bag of bricks at him.

With arms wide open

Under the sunlight

Welcome to this place

I'll show you everything

It seemed to take Harry ages to fall as Ron watched helplessly.

"Anyone sitting there? Everywhere else is full."

"Are you really Harry Potter?"

"What is a wizard's duel? And what do you mean, you're my second?"

"Well, a second's there to take over if you die."

"I've just thought,-Hermione."

"What about her?"

"She doesn't know about the troll!"

"Yes...it's the only way...I've got to be taken."

"NO!"

"It's a bit small...I'm right underneath the ghoul in the attic; he's always banging on the pipes and groaning..."

"This is the best house I've ever been in."

"Harry! The car!"

"What about it?"

"We can fly the car to Hogwarts!"

"You're a Parselmouth. Why didn't you tell us?"

"I'm a what?"

"Ron! Are you okay? Ron!"

"I'm here! I'm okay-this git's not, though-he got blasted by the wand-"

"Right, you've got a crooked sort of cross...that means you're going to have 'trials of great suffering'-sorry about that-but there's a thing that could be the sun...hang on...that means 'great happiness'...so you're going to suffer but be very happy."

"You need your inner eye tested if you ask me."

"Harry, whoever put your name in that goblet-I-I reckon they're trying to do you in!"

"Harry, we saw Uranus up close!"

"We'll see you soon, mate."

Harry looked once at Ron with a vague expression of shock on his face before he fell down in the mud. Dead.

With arms wide open

Now everything has changed

"I never got to apologize. If only I hadn't been so stupid. If only I could know if Harry forgave me." Ron reached down and took the baby from Hermione's arms just as a nurse came in the room.

"What'll be the name of the child?" she asked.

Hermione answered without hesitation: "Harry. Harry James. In honor of our friend." Ron nodded his agreement and held the small hand of Harry James Weasley in his.

I'll show you love

I'll show you everything

Holding his son close to him, Ron let a tear slide down his cheek. It was a tear of both joy and heart-wrenching sadness, and it fell softly on the baby's cheek. Harry James Weasley opened his eyes for the first time and smiled at his father. Suddenly, Ron knew everything was alright again. He knew Harry forgave him.

The baby's eyes were green.

With arms wide open

With arms wide open

I'll show you everything..oh yeah

With arms wide open....wide open