He's My Son

He's My Son

Harry and Hermione had been married for about two years and Hermione was pregnant.

~

The promises that they made to each other on that blue, blue day remained with them forever, and they spent the rest of their lives living and loving each other. And one day when they were older, they went for a walk in the park. And the sky was as blue as the bluest blue once again.

"Harry?"

"Yes, 'Mione?"

Hermione placed her hands on her lower abdomen, her diamond ring catching the sunlight.

"There's going to be some changes around here. I've got some good news..."

~

Hermione's pregnancy was like all pregnancies; painful to the woman and all the poor souls around her when she went through her mood swings. Ron and his wife, Natalie, and Ginny and her husband Draco were all there to support her (not Draco so much, though). Hermione was... irritable at times to put it in kind terms. No matter how much of a terror she was, though, Harry never left her and for this Hermione was ever thankful.

Once Hermione's nine months was up, the gang took her to the hospital where she successfully delivered a pair of beautiful twins, they named the boy Nathan and their daughter Emily.

They grew up very fast. Harry and Hermione would enjoy taking baby Nathan and Emily to the park and pushing him around proudly in a little blue stroller like everyone else. Emily was very sickly as a young child and she was smaller than most children her age. She was very thin and not very strong. As they grew older and Emily's strength grew, Emily became more adventurous while Nathan got quieter. While Emily would be up in the top of a tree, Nathan would gladly play with his plastic fire truck on the ground. Harry and Hermione almost broke down on their first day of school (a Muggle school). The twins were very close. Nathan had had to get glasses when he turned six but Emily seemed to have fine eyesight so far. Nathan also inherited his father's black hair, though his eyes were brown like his mother's, along with his father's eyesight. Emily on the other hand, had Hermione's bush brown hair and Harry's green eyes.

Life for the Potters was perfect. There was no more Voldermort, although evil will never be totally gone from the world. There were no more lights up late worrying about being attacked. For the first time in his life, Harry was just like everyone else with no more battles left to fight. His son's battle, however, was just beginning. Nathan would be in for a fight for his life against an invisible enemy.

It all began when the twins were eight:

-_-

"What do you want for dinner?" Hermione called from the kitchen to Emily. Emily's head poked up from behind the sofa where she was playing with her figurines.

"Pizza!" she screamed, right before ducking down again. Hermione rolled her eyes, that's what Emily said everyday. A 'pop' from the living room announced Harry's arrival.

"Daddy!" Emily screamed and pounced on her father as he pulled on his coat. Harry laughed and gave her a hug.

"Hi, Princess."

"Harry, what do you want for dinner?"

Hermione called, tired of pizza. Harry thought for a moment and then decided that he couldn't decide.

"I don't care."

He walked into the kitchen. Hermione was yanking pots out from under the stove. Harry walked over to her and hugged her from behind. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"Why don't you start up the grill?" she asked. Harry rolled his eyes and extracted his wand.

"Why can't we just do it with magic?"

"Because you have to do by hand to prove you're the man of the house. That and it's fun to make you do work."

Harry gave up and picked up some tongs and steak on the counter and headed out to the back porch.

"Emily, can you go tell your brother to get out of the shower?"

"Yes, Mommy!"

(a few minutes later)

"He's out." Emily said plainly as she plopped back down on the couch. After a few more minutes, Nathan stumbled into the kitchen, holding something in his fist.

"Mommy," he said. Hermione stopped stirring her rice and turned to him. Nathan held out his fist and opened it. In his hand was a very large clump of jet-black hair.

"That's disgusting, Nathan. Did all that come out of the drain?"

"No, Mommy, it came out of my head."

Hermione dropped her spoon.

"What?"

Nathan turned his head to reveal a slightly bald spot on the side of his head. Hermione knelt down next to her son and touched the side of his head gently.

"Peculiar," Hermione murmured.

"Harry! Come in here!" Hermione yelled. Harry burst in through the door.

"What is it?"

"Look," Hermione said and turned Nathan slightly.

"Peculiar," Harry said, just as Hermione had.

-_-

After Hermione and Harry had first noticed his hair falling out, they called the doctor immediately. A year later and after a few tests, they found out why. Nathan had Leukemia. Hermione was devastated. Harry was too, but he had to stay strong for his children and wife. Emily didn't know what was going on. She didn't realize her brother was dying, she just knew that he kept going to the hospital, no longer had hair, and was very sick. One day, Nathan had to go to the hospital and they wouldn't let him go home.

-_-

"Harry!" Hermione called, tugging on Emily's hand as she ran through the muggle hospital corridors. Harry looked up from his hands.

"Where is he?" Hermione asked, her face pale. She and Emily had been at ballet class when Harry had called her and you couldn't very well apparate into a muggle facility.

"In there."

Harry jabbed a finger over his shoulder at the door behind him. Hermione dropped Emily's hand and went racing in for her son. Emily went to follow her mother, but Harry wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her onto his lap.

"Daddy, what's wrong with Nathan?"

Harry bit his lip and gave her a squeeze. He took a deep breath.

"Princess, Nathan is really, really sick..."

(A couple nights later)

Harry was up at the hospital again. Uncle Ron had already come and gone, he had to get home to his family. Hermione was in with Nathan right now. Harry was out in the waiting room with Emily. They hadn't been able to find a babysitter for her this night, so he took her with them. She knew now. It was hard for her. Nathan wasn't just her brother but her best friend, too. Emily was sleeping on one of the waiting room chairs, Harry's coat draped over her like a blanket.

"I can watch her if you want to go in to see your son."

The nurse behind the front desk offered. She had seen them there so much and had great sympathy for them. Harry smiled and nodded 'thanks' before going into Nathan's room.

It was very, very dark in the room. Moonlight streamed in from the window and poured onto the bedspread. Hermione was slumped over in her seat. Her hand was wrapped around Nathan's hand and her head was buried in her arm. Nathan was fast asleep like always.

Harry walked quietly over to Hermione and picked her up. He carried her over to a more comfortable chair and laid her down in it. He went back to the chair Hermione had been in and sat down in it. For a while he just stared at the sleeping form of his nine-year old son. He was so small and pale. Harry choked on the sobs. His son was going to die soon if they couldn't find a donor to save him. Harry and Hermione had tried, but not been able to donate their own marrow.

Harry watched as his son's chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. Harry was so scared, more so than he'd ever been in his life. Slowly, Harry slid down the ground to his knees, like he had two nights before, and began to pray. Harry had never really been religious, although Emily was a Sunday School regular and was very religious. Somehow, over the last couple of days, Harry decided to try praying. Maybe God would hear his prayers.

~

I'm down on my knees again tonight

I'm hoping this prayer will turn out right

See there is a boy that needs your help

I've done all that I can do myself

~

Harry glanced over at Hermione as she slept in her chair. Her eyes had dark circles around them from nights she'd gone without sleep. Her face had lost its blush and her hair was limper than usual. This was tearing her apart. It was tearing all of them apart.

Harry resumed praying.

~

His mother is tired

I'm sure you can understand

Each night as he sleeps

She goes in to hold his hand

And she tries not to cry

As the tears fill her eyes

~

Harry looked down at the bed. Oh please, don't let him die. Oh please, don't let him die. Kept repeating over and over again in his head. Harry didn't know if there was a God, but it couldn't hurt to pray to Him if there is. Harry reached out and took Nathan's hand. It was ice cold. Oh please, don't let him die. At that moment, Harry would do anything to make Nathan live, even if it meant taking his place.

~

Can you hear me

Am I getting through tonight

Can you see him

Can you make him feel alright

If you can hear me

Let me take his place somehow

See he's not just anyone

He's my son

~

Harry watched Nathan sleeping. He was sitting back up in his chair again. It was very, very late and Harry was very, very tired. As Harry sat watching Nathan, flashbacks rolled in front of his eyes like a movie. Nathan dressing up as a cowboy, Nathan pretending to be a pilot, Nathan playing doctor with Emily, and Nathan bringing home the writing assignment he'd gotten an A on and proclaiming he wanted to be a writer all ran through his head. He had always been so proud of Nathan. Harry suddenly remembered a song he'd heard on the radio a couple months ago.

"Sometimes late at night I watch him sleep. I dream of the boy he'd like to be. I try to be strong and see him through. But God who he need right now is You," Harry halfway sings and halfway speaks.

"Let him grow old. Live life without fear. What would I be living without him here? He's so tired and he's scared. Let him know that You're there."

The small voice from behind him, singing the rest, startles him and makes him jump. Emily is standing behind him with Harry's coat draped around her shoulders making her look even smaller than she already is.

She runs over to her father and throws her arms around him. Harry hugs her back, not caring if he's crying anymore.

~

Can you hear me

Am I getting through tonight

Can you see him

Can you make him feel alright

If you can hear me

Let me take his place somehow

See he's not just anyone

He's my son.

Can you hear me

Can you see him

Please don't leave him

He's my son

(My Son By: Mark Schultz)

~

Harry wrapped his arms tighter around his little girl. They sat there like that for a long, long time.

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"I want to donate my marrow."

Harry pulled away from Emily and stared at her face. Emily was the only possible donor for Nathan so far, but it was too risky to take it from her. See, because of all the illnesses that Emily had had as a child and because of her very small size, the transplant might very well kill her. Harry and Hermione hadn't even told Emily that she would be able to.

"You can't, honey."

"But daddy, I asked the lady out there and she said I'd be able to," Emily protested. Harry's hands squeezed her shoulders.

"No, baby. The transplant could kill you."

"But daddy, won't Nathan die soon if I don't?"

Harry's breath caught in his chest. She was right. Nathan would die soon, very soon.

"If I die during the transplant and Nathan gets my marrow, you still have one child left. If I don't give my marrow, Nathan will die and you will only have one child left. If you let me donate and I live, then you have two children and we all stay a happy family. One of us is probably going to die, daddy, and you'll be left with only one child either way. Wouldn't you rather have a chance at having us both and keeping our family whole? I want to donate daddy. Please. Nathan is my friend."

Harry stared at his daughters face. She had been thinking about this for a while apparently. What was he supposed to do? How is a parent supposed to make a decision like this, deciding which one of your children gets to live and be happy? Harry didn't know what to do. Finally, he made a decision...

Ending 1

It is summer again and the sun has come out. Harry and Hermione drove slowly down the splotchy dirt road. Nathan was sitting in the back of the car, staring out of his window.

Nathan was fifteen now. He had made a full recovery after his sister's donation. Emily, however, never recovered. They were on their way to visit her. It was Nathan and Emily's birthday and Nathan had bought her a special bouquet of flowers, lilies.

The car slowly turned into Chatom's Cemetery. Nathan stared out the window at all the headstones bearing the names of the deceased. Harry parked the car and they all got out to make their way to the grave where Emily was buried.

Nathan's feet dragged along the ground. He fiddled absent-mindedly with his wand in his pocket. After a short walk, they were there. Nathan laid the flowers in front of her tombstone and the three of them stood there, whispering "Happy Birthday to you". Hermione was crying, leaning on Harry, who was also crying.

When it came time to leave, Harry and Hermione began to make their way back to the car. Nathan stayed behind for a moment. He crouched down and ran his fingers against her name, which was engraved in the stone.

"Thank you," he whispered before running off to rejoin his father and mother.

Ending 2

It was summertime at the Potter household. The sun was shining and the butterflies were fluttering against the wind. In the backyard, two children were playing tag while their parents watched from the porch.

Nathan and Emily's transplant had been a success and both had survived. It was Nathan and Emily's eleventh birthday and the two celebrated their life by romping around in the grass.

Later that evening, as the two of them blew out the candles on their cake, a rap sounded at the window. Puzzled, Harry opened it.

A large barn owl swooped in and deposited two very familiar letters on Emily and Nathan's plates. Emily tore it open eagerly and read aloud:

"Dear Ms. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry..."