Reunion

Friends & Old Friends

by Icarus

The sky was blue and clear with fast-scudding clouds, the air still wet with rain. Ron stepped out onto his front porch, scuffing aside some chips of peeled paint. He heaved a happy, misty sigh, and scanned the street, hoping the day would stay like this so they could be outdoors.

The top of a familiar dark head bobbed along the hedge to his left, but a staccato of little feet turned the corner of the walk -- far ahead of Harry. The door shut behind Ron with a hiss and a click as he trampled down the short wooden stairs, but the two red blurs splashed across the wet lawn and beat him to the walkway.

"Daaaaaaaad!!!" they yelled as they pummeled into him.

He hoisted his eldest son Jason in the air with a whoop, and had the giggling ten-year-old dangling upside down over a puddle in seconds. His ever-loyal younger brother leaped and hung off the back of Ron's collar, trying to pull Dad off-balance; but the skinny, freckled nine-year-old was nowhere near big enough. Ron straddled the mud puddle solidly.

"He's slipping! He's slipping!" Ron warned. He deliberately let his squawking son slide a few inches, and his brother Alec let go his stranglehold.

Red-faced and laughing, Ron spun his eldest around, then flipped him right-side up to land on the sidewalk. Then they launched another attack, splashing excitedly.

"All right, all right -- settle down," Ron fended them off. The two were little terrors. He ruffled the hair of his littlest son Lars, who'd trotted up but veered clear of his older brothers.

Then Harry rounded the corner with little Cassandra in his arms. She was dolled up in a pink fluff of a dress that was way too nice for playtime. Damn that wife of his. Where did she think they were going?

Cassandra wriggled and squirmed the moment she spotted her Daddy, and Harry had to set her down or drop her. Ron scooped her up in one quick stride with her feet still kicking the air -- before they had a three-year-old's disaster, face-first onto the concrete.

"Where to?" Harry readjusted his glasses. There were tiny fingerprints on them. He reached again for Cassandra, but she was having none of it and clung to her Daddy like a barnacle, his jacket clamped in her fists. Which said more than he liked to think about the divorce.

"Necromancer's park," Ron grinned, dragged Lars to his side and bounced Cassandra to a more comfortable position. "What do you say, boys?" he yelled, and was met with a howl of approval. The two older boys went racing ahead, trainers squeaking as they tore around the corner, shouting at the top of their lungs.

"I think they'd level the house," he commented to Harry, following more slowly.

Harry shaded his eyes. Alex tripped and sprawled on the pavement, then bounded up after his brother. Indestructible. "I can't see how Fred and George got all the mellow kids while you wound up with those two."

"Yeah, I feel kinda sorry for Hogwarts when they get their letters." Ron glowed with pride. "Though Lars here is pretty quiet, aren't you?" He shook his shoulder. Lars held onto his Dad's belt loop and blushed at the ground.

Ron would bet any money the other two picked on him when Dad's back was turned, and vowed to keep an eye on that. As much as he could now, anyway. It was tough. The other two consumed every ounce of energy just to keep them out of trouble, and with the divorce... He began to see why Fred and George got so much attention when he was a kid.

"Say, Harry. If you go get the brooms, we'll see if we can fit in some 'flying lessons'."

Harry sparkled at him. "You mean Quidditch?"

Any excuse would do. Ron beamed.

~*~*~

Several hours later, the little pink dress was well on its way to total destruction as Cassie played mud pies at their feet. Exhausted, Ron and Harry wafted slowly back and forth on the swings. Their brooms leaned against a pirate ship a few yards away while Ron kept a weather eye on his kids. The pirate ship was starting to shift suspiciously.

Harry hadn't commented on Draco's broom in the closet, though he had to know only one person could afford an ebony Quantum 5000. But he'd been really quiet, so Ron decided to tell him everything, except the, uh, baby stuff. It didn't make sense to tell anyone yet. Until it worked. If he had just been honest with Harry, years ago, Draco would never have been such a problem.

Harry looked up at the sky as he listened, and then exhaled. He didn't look at Ron but he also didn't seem too surprised.

"I was afraid it was something like that. Your mum always told me the stuff with Draco was just... a phase of some kind."

"It was. Back then, I guess. But it's different now --" Yes, that pirate ship was definitely moving. "-- Oi! You two! Watch the brooms. And the ship stays where it is!" Ron turned back. "But me and Draco, we're more settled now. Know what we're looking for."

Harry squinted at him. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"No -!" Ron bellowed at Alec, though likely his older brother put him up to it. "No broom flying without me! That's Daddy's broom -- put it down. Put it down. I mean it! I... thank you. -- Of course I'm sure, Harry. Kids are great," he added with a laugh. "So when are you going to find a nice girl, to go with that house of yours?"

He watched carefully as Cassandra scampered over to her brothers. They were assembling a suspicious armament of mud. His eyes narrowed.

Harry had a slightly scattered look. "Oh, I don't know...."

"Hold on," Ron interrupted as he saw a pinkish bottom bounce onto the dirt. And the crying started... little girl down. He knew that mud was trouble.

"Hey! Time-out!" He strode over and grabbed Jason. "Do Not put mud in your sister's hair!" Spun him around. Hand on the chin. "Look at me -- Look at me. I know she started it, but now I'm finishing it." He scooped up his crying little girl and returned to Harry, continuing over her sobs, "I mean, Harry, is this process of elimination? Try out them all till you find one you like?"

Harry snickered and dug at the ground.

Ron drew his wand carelessly, a spurt of water washed the mud out of Cassie's hair as she wailed. But she was more mad than anything else, he thought.

"There, there; I'll protect you from the big, bad boys...." A jet of hot air billowed his girl's strawberry blond curls and she settled down. She liked having her hair dried, and tipped her face into the warm air. "All better now? You wanna go play?" She shook her head and blew spit bubbles, kicking her feet. She burrowed her head into her Dad's chest. "I've been waiting for you to have kids, you know?" he told Harry brightly. "Guaranteed baby-sitting."

"I think you have my share, Ron," Harry said dryly.

"And somebody else's too." Ron grinned. "Though not so many that I forget their names." He mocked a blank look at Cassandra. "Um. Uh-oh... what was your name again?"

"Stoppit! You know my name!" she shrieked.

"Oh yeah -- yoooou'rrrrrre... Honey-bunny!" And he cuddled and tickled his muddy little girl until she was giggling madly, muddy hands everywhere, her fury momentarily forgotten.

Harry smiled, a quick flash in his eyes, and shoved his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Good thing you were always a slob, Ron," he said. Ron wiped the smears of mud off his face with his sleeve.

"Slob," Cassie said. Ron ignored it.

"You don't have to be a slob to have kids. Look at Draco. I've never met such a neat freak, but his daughter worships the ground he walks on." Cassandra restlessly put her hand up Ron's nose; Ron grabbed her and pulled his face away.

"Like he worshipped Lucius," Harry observed.

"No. I tell you, Harry, when your life's for shit and everything's going wrong, there's always your kids. You think: well at least here's one thing I've done right in my life." He stuck his tongue out at his daughter.

"SLOB!" Cassie yelled.

"Harry, look what you've taught her."

"Nothing but the truth," Harry nodded to Cassie and said, "Daddy's a big, fat slob."

"FAT SLOB!"

Hey! "Uncle Harry's a skinny, four-eyed runt --" But she started shaking her head, her curls flying violently. "She's in love with you, Harry." She gave a loud screech of denial, curled up into a squirming, giggling ball in Ron's lap. He laughed. "Can't say anything bad about you. Me on the other hand..." he shook his head. And opened his knees, catching her before she fell through. "Whoopsie! -- You should have a little girl. They're the best. Boys are great, but they wear you out."

Harry made a noise of disbelief. "I'm watching you go through a hellish divorce, I have to pick up your kids so you and your wife won't fight in front of them, and you say I should get married?"

Ron ran his hands through his little girl's hair. Somehow he and wife thought that having Cassie would mend things.

"Okay then. Just father a few illegitimate children -- skip the marriage."

"Is that what you're gonna do? With Malfoy?" Harry's eyes pinned him.

Ron froze. Then continued to rock his little girl.

"I heard from Neville," Harry explained. "Do you seriously think you can hide something like this?"

"How'd Neville find out?"

"School." Harry shrugged. "Snape needed some special herb or something, and Neville was curious. Hermione figured he was either trying to turn himself into a giant flying tarantula or he was brewing an extra strong sex potion; heavy on the female parts. Both options were scary. With Draco in and out of there we thought maybe, you know -- Snape and Draco. Remus said no. But it's you, isn't it?"

Ron made a face. "We were like this at Hogwarts, weren't we? Damned annoying. I think this world is way too small."

"So who's going to be the father?"

Ron couldn't think of an answer right that second.

"Shit, Ron!" Harry spluttered.

"Well, you see, his daughter can't inherit...."

"He's using you! Again. It's one thing that you're... 'with' him. I don't understand it, I never will. But that's your choice. With your wife gone, well, okay. I know. But it's a completely different thing to expect me to stand by and let him use you. I can't do it, Ron. I won't."

"He's not using me! I know what I'm doing, I've thought it through."

Harry started to speak again, but Ron cut him off with a sharp gesture.

"Haven't you ever wondered what it would be like? On the other side of this?"

Harry gave him a strange look. "No. Of course not. I haven't even wondered what being a father would be like."

"Okay... neither had I," Ron admitted. Cassandra leaned back against his chest with a hard thump. "But when Draco mentioned it I started thinking. This is the one thing that girls can do that we can't. It's uncharted territory."

Harry snorted and rocked forward on the swing. "I don't think that's the only thing girls can do, Ron."

Ron gave him a meaningful glance.

Harry put his hands up in defeat. "Just forget I said that. I do not want any details." He sighed and stopped his swing with a slow skid. The dust settled around his feet as he peered at Ron. "I dunno, Ron. What if -- what if you change? Turn into a woman somehow?"

Ron laughed. "I already have. In all the important areas anyway. You could roll me over and fuck me right now."

"Fluh!" Cassandra chirped.

"Ron. That's more than I ever want or need to know."

"Fluh! Fluck!" Cassandra kicked her muddy little feet. Her buckle shoes were just covered. Ron snickered.

"Now look what you're teaching her." Harry grinned.

"Fuck," Ron said to her, enunciating carefully. Cassie looked up at him with big blue eyes.

"Fluh."

He tried again, "Fuh-kh."

"Fuckh."

Ron grinned. "There you go." He patted her bottom as she squirmed out of his lap. "Be sure to tell your mum that."

"Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck--" she said as she scampered off, sounding like a duck with a lisp.

Harry burst out laughing.

"You're going to get in trouble, Ron."

"Nah," Ron shaded his eyes as he watched her, beaming with pride. "I'll just blame Fred and George."

She bounced to the sandbox where they could see Lars making magical carriages roll over rocks and twigs.

"Oi! Lars! Watch her will you?"

The seven-year-old glared at his father under his cowlick, clearly annoyed, but he complied with a patient nod. He was good with his little sister. Ron scanned the grounds for his older boys, who were nowhere in sight. Why wouldn't they play with him? Three years wasn't that big of an age gap. It was torture watching this and being helpless.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at the sky, rubbing his neck. "Thank god. Maybe we can talk for ten minutes now without being interrupted."

"Interrupted?" Ron blinked, uncomprehending.

"Never mind." Harry rolled his eyes. "Ron, this is... what you're doing is crazy. You're messing with magic. I don't know. Magic makes some weird things possible, but maybe some things aren't supposed to be done."

This was the last conversation Ron wanted to have. "You're such a Muggle sometimes, Harry."

"No one knows what makes the differences between men and women."

"I think it's pretty obvious." Ron chuckled and rocked on his swing.

"No! What I mean is, well," Harry paused, gathering his thoughts with that intense look on his face. "What if you start caring more about your hair, or liking make-up, or... what if you wake up and find you, oh, say, don't like Quidditch any more?"

"That's crazy. I'll always like Quidditch. That's not a girl-boy thing anyway. Look at Ginny."

"All right, Ginny -- I'll give you that much." Harry winced. "But what if you're not you anymore?"

Ron stopped cold. And was silent a moment.

"I don't know, Harry. If I'm still me after four kids, my wife, Voldemort, and Draco --" Harry snorted. "-- then I'll still be me after this. Don't you think?"

Harry looked thoughtful. "But aren't four kids enough? Why do this for Malfoy? He just shows up out of the blue and you'll do anything for him."

"I have to make up for your lifetime share of kids, don't I?" Ron joked.

"And so if I have kids you'll drop this plan." Harry raised his eyebrows like he'd scored a point.

Ron didn't answer.

"Did Malfoy pressure you into this? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"There's no pressure! Damn it. Harry." Ron ran his hands through his hair and looked up with wide blue eyes that looked just like his daughter's.

"I'm just tired, all right? I could use nine months off. If anything, this is a little selfish." He leaned back in the swing and huffed, blowing a lock of hair out of his eyes.

"I'm never gonna be rich, Harry. I'm almost thirty-two and I have to admit it could happen but... not at this rate. Maybe if some long-lost uncle appears out of nowhere and conveniently kicks the bucket," he said with a wry grin. "When I was twenty I thought, 'sure, I can do it all.' But it's always been a struggle."

"Money isn't everything, Ron."

"I hate it when people with money say that. I just thought maybe this one will be a Malfoy and be taken care of like that. And maybe... my kids will get along, and look out for each other. You know? When I'm gone? I can't take care of them forever."

"You're not that old, Ron," Harry pointed out, "or if you are, then I am too."

He shrugged, philosophical. "When you're a father you think like that."

Harry was silent a long moment, then said, "That's the first thing you've said that makes sense to me." He shook his head. "I just wish you'd fallen for Mrs. Malfoy."

"You haven't met her. Trust me: you don't. Draco's a much nicer person."

"Sorry. I can't put 'Draco Malfoy' and 'nice' in the same sentence," Harry said, squinting against the bright sun. "Not and keep a straight face."

"Maybe nice isn't the word. It's just... anyway." Ron trailed off.

He stood up, brushing the dirt off his trousers. "Well. I reckon it's time to check the heathens -- and survey the destruction. Those two have been waaaaay too quiet for anyone's good."

Harry laughed. "If nothing else you're going to need bail for them."

"Oh God, Harry. Don't frighten me like that!"

Finis.