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Our Last Summer	By : starstruck86 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Ron Views: 3906 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor do I make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
***

The Healer
had come good in her promise to Ron, and to his immense relief he was escorted
into Severus� living room on Friday evening.

�Bill, let me go, I�m fine to walk by myself.� Ron muttered, trying to pull
away. He looked around, the living room was the same as he�d last seen it.
Everyone seemed to think he might flip out revisiting the scene of the crime
but he felt nothing but his usual affection for the room.

�Oh just
pipe down and put your arse on the chair,� Bill grinned, lowering Ron onto the
sofa protectively.

Severus
watched nervously. One wrong cough and I
am taking you straight back.

�Right. My
job is done here,� Bill grinned. �I need to get back to Fleur and check she�s
okay. She was unwell this morning. You�ll be okay?� He looked at Ron.

�I was okay
fifteen minutes ago when you insisted on walking me around like a fucking
invalid.�

�I�m so
glad you�re back here swearing at me, really I am,� Bill rolled his eyes. He
gave a smile to Severus and walked into the fire place, leaving them properly
alone for the first time in over a month, since the night before the attack.

�I can�t believe you�re finally back here with me,� Severus said, falling down
on the sofa next to Ron with a sigh of relief.

�Neither can I, I really thought they were never going to let me out,� Ron
half-smiled. He�d never admit it, but the transportation had tired him out.

�Now that
you are here, I have something to show you,� Severus sat up and looked at him.

�Please
tell me it�s not a party,� Ron raised an eyebrow. �I told you, no celebrating.�

Severus
laughed. �No, I think you made yourself pretty clear when you threatened to
kick me in the balls, don�t worry. Watch.� He looked down at his hand in the
sling and in one fluid movement managed to flex all of his fingers at each
knuckle.

Ron�s
beaming smile hit him like sunshine in his face. �I�ve missed you so much,� he
leant in for a kiss. I want to shag you.

�Can we
talk about something?� Ron asked gently, reaching over and taking up the hand
which wasn�t in a sling.

�Mm?�
Severus raised his eyebrows.

�In the hospital, the day I woke up. You said that you wanted to marry me. You
didn�t mention it again. Do you still feel that way or was it just something
bought on by the emotions of me being� well, alive?�

Severus
thought on his answer. He hadn�t mentioned it again because he hadn�t wanted to
overload Ron with information. Married.
You. Married. I don�t know. �When you were asleep,� Severus said carefully,
�I was very aware of the fact that had your parents not been so good willed
towards me, I might have found myself without access to you. And any decisions
about your care� about your life� would have been made solely by them. It
scared me. So I made the decision that if I could, I would take steps to
prevent us being in that situation. So that we would have legal power in each
other�s lives. It made me realise that if something happened to me, I have no
next of kin, and they might not necessarily take you as it. If we were married,
that wouldn�t happen.�

�And there
is some stuff about love in there too, right?� Ron raised an eyebrow with a
smirk. �Just so I know you�re not marrying me to stay in the country or
something.�

�You know
what I mean,� Severus groaned. �So� how do you feel about it?�

�I think
there�s no doubt I�m bonded to you for life already anyway,� Ron shrugged, and
went on when Severus gave him a quizzical look. �Everything is so tightly woven
together. Right from the start with the dreams, I was predicting your
movements, your alcohol choices, I was seeing things from your past
unexplained� the control I have over you to calm you down, and the influences
you have over me.� He squeezed Severus� hand. �And when I was unconscious, and
I was on that miserable beach, it was your car that was tying me to life. That doesn�t
just happen, Severus.�

�You�ve
never properly explained to me� about the car.� Because I didn�t want to hear it.

Ron
swallowed. �All you need to know is it was the alternative to death. And when I
finally managed to get into it, I came back to you.�

�So��

�So my answer is clearly yes, if you want to get married, then I would love
that.�

�But
nothing big or showy?� Severus bit his lip childishly.

�Just me,
you, the registrar and our witnesses. If you want to do it that way� I mean, I
know we can do it ourselves.�

�I think we
need to make it official,� Severus shook his head. �You deserve to have it
official.�

�I�m not
wearing a suit,� Ron said defensively and Severus laughed.

�But you
look so delicious in a suit.�

�I am not
wearing a suit,� Ron stared back levelly.

�Fine.�
Severus kissed him again. �I don�t care what you wear, as long as you�re mine.�

***

�What do
you think you�re doing?� Severus froze in the doorway, looking at Ron who hand
one hand on the fridge door, the other wrapped around a bottle of butterbeer he
was pulling out of it.

�Nothing?�
Ron put the bottle behind his back.

�No
alcohol. You heard what they said, it�ll conflict with your medication and send
you loopy.�

�They did
not say that,� Ron scoffed, but put the bottle back in the fridge and closed
the door.

Severus
walked over and put both his arms around him, his right moving slowly, and he
slid his hands down onto a bum cheek a piece. �Come on. You�ve been home two
weeks and I still have to watch you like a naughty schoolchild.�

�I wish
you�d treat me like one,� Ron�s breath hitched as he felt the pressure between
their bodies on his now super sensitive groin. �Dress me up in a uniform and
put me over your desk and teach me a lesson.�

�Stop it. You know we can�t do anything until that cut is healed.�

�It is
healed!�

�It came
open again yesterday!�

�Oh so you
noticed that, huh?�

�You bled
all over the shower. Of course I fucking noticed Ron.�

�Dammit.�

�I don�t
know why the skin isn�t taking,� Severus said quietly. �Unless it was never
meant to. Bitch of a place to be cut, it must hurt you?�

�It does,�
Ron admitted, kissing Severus� neck, �But in comparison to some of what I�ve
felt, it�s not unbearable.�

�I thought
you couldn�t remember anything more than the basics?�

�You know
when you just �know�? I have that. Don�t worry, I�m not feeling it or anything.
I just know my body has been through worse.�

�I want to
kill him for what he did to you.�

�He did it
under instruction from someone who is now dead. That�s good enough for me. And
he is locked up.�

�I could
get in to Azkaban,� Severus shook his head. �They only care about stopping you
from getting out. Getting in is a piece of piss.�

�Don�t use
that phrase,� Ron didn�t know the words were tumbling from his mouth until
Severus looked at him funny.

�Why not?�

�He called
you that� when he was� he called you that and I got angry. Don�t use those
words please.�

�Okay,�
Severus murmured gently, embracing Ron more comfortingly.

�Have you
decided on your witness for the bonding yet?� Ron asked in his ear.

Damn you Weasley. I was trying to
avoid that subject.
�Yes.�

Ron pulled
back and stared at him expectantly. �And?�

�We need to
talk about it,� Severus said. �Another time.�

Ron pulled
away from him and moved stiffly to pull out a chair at the kitchen table, and
eased himself into it. His body was still recovering from the torture and he
wasn�t sure he would ever be as lithe as he once was. �Now is as good a time as
any, spill.�

Severus did
not sit, instead he remained standing up, twisting his fingers in the way Ron
noticed he did when he was nervous. �You remember ages ago when we got in the
bath together?�

�Vividly,�
Ron hooked an eyebrow up with a sultry smile.

�Before we got to that part,� Severus said sarcastically. �When I was telling
you how Remus and I ended up sleeping together?�

�Yes. Broom cupboard lovin�.�

Severus
rolled his eyes. �Well. I might not exactly have told you the whole truth in
that that wasn�t the last time we were together�.�

Ron looked
at him expectantly. �Are you telling me you�ve been with Remus recently, is
that what you�re trying to say?�

�No!�
Severus groaned. �Do you really think I would?�

�Just tell
me what�s going on then.�

�That
encounter in the broom cupboard wasn�t our only� rendezvous, if you like.�

�Don�t you
get all French on me, speak English.� Ron teased.

Severus
groaned again in frustration. �After� Lily died, and Sirius went to prison� we
had a��

�Fling?�

�No, it was
longer than a fling.�

�How long?�

�About two years��

�I think
that qualifies as a relationship.�

�It does
not. We never lived together.�

�So, you
don�t have to be living together to have a relationship, look at Harry and
Ginny.�

�The only
reason Harry hasn�t moved your sister in with him is because he�s scared of
your mother,� Severus put his hands on his hips. �It�s not the same� it was
just� sex.�

�How do you
�just� have sex with someone for two years and not start to feel more for
them?�

�I�m not
saying I didn�t care for him,� Severus faltered. �Because I did, and I do. He
was really supportive when you were in the hospital. And a friendship came back
that I�d forgotten.�

��. The
kind of friendship where you sleep with him?� Ron�s voice held the first traces
of alarm.

�No, not
like that� I would never cheat on you and he would never cheat on Tonks, and
anyway, the issue never came up. I�m just saying. I�d like him to be my
witness, but I didn�t want that to happen without you knowing the truth, and
checking you�re okay with it.�

�I�m fine
with it,� Ron shrugged, with a smile. �Remus is a nice guy and he�s been good
to me, and he�s been good to Harry. And you too, apparently.�

�You�re
sure?� Severus searched for further confirmation. Why aren�t you freaking out? I�d be freaking out?!

�Yep,� Ron
nodded, and stretched his torso and grunted a little at the ache in his ribs.

�Good.� Are you abnormal? An ex being a witness at
the wedding? What?

�Look,� Ron
said pointedly. �I trust you with my life, and I trust you with my heart also.
After everything we�ve been through, if I thought you were sleeping with Remus,
you�d know.�

�How would
I know?�

�All of
your stuff would be in the road, for a start.�

�Okay,�
Severus smiled tentatively. It felt nice, that amount of trust. �So who�s your
witness going to be?�

�There was
never any question, Harry.� Ron fiddled with the cuff of his jumper. �Hey, you
didn�t flinch when I said that!�

�Harry�s
alright,� Severus rolled his eyes. �I spent enough time with him over your sick
bed.�

�I�m glad
my convalescence had some good come of it,� Ron winked.

�So. We just
send each of them the same notice of where to turn up and not tell them why and
that they can�t tell anyone else?� Severus picked Ron�s hand up in his bad one.

�I think
that�s the only way to get this done quietly.�

�Are you
sure you don�t want to have all your family there?� Severus murmured.

Ron shook
his head fervently. �No. I quite like the idea of this being personal. Just me,
you, those two. It�ll be peaceful and perfect.�

�Are you sure I can�t budge you on the suit?�

�Nope.�

***

�Remus?�
Harry asked incredulously. �What are you doing here?�

�What are
you doing here?� Remus asked suspiciously.

�I got a
note from Ron, asking me to meet him here�� Harry stared blankly at the plaque
on the wall which said �Marriage, Birth and Death Registrar. Please make an
appointment�.

�I got the
same from Severus,� Remus pulled it out of his pocket. �And he asked me to
dress semi-smartly.�

�Me too,�
Harry indicated the shirt and trousers he�d found for the occasion. �What on
earth�s going on?�

Remus
stared at the plaque on the wall. �Harry, you don�t think��

He was cut
off by Ron walking round the corner wearing a suit, pulling irritably at his
shirt collar and Severus at his heels, looking a little green.

�Right you
two, what the fuck�s going on?� Harry folded his arms across his chest and
moved to stand next to Remus.

Ron looked
at Severus and grinned. �We�re going to get bonded, and you two, if you
consent, are our witnesses.�

�Bonded?�
Harry�s head looked round at the sign. �Do you mean married?�

�Yes, but�
after someone may have had a �minor� freak out about it, we no longer use the
word married but bonded,� Ron jerked his head twice in Severus� direction, who
made a �harumph� sound in his throat.

Ron wished
he had a camera to capture the looks on their friends� faces as they digested
the information. Harry was doing his best goldfish impression and Remus was
staring at Severus in shock.

�You know,
normally people lead with congratulations,� Ron prompted them.

Harry
stepped forward and gave Ron a tight embrace that was unusual for them, as
friends. �Blimey, congratulations mate.�

Remus put
his hand on Severus� shoulder. �I thought you were anti-marriage, Severus?�

�It was his
idea,� Ron shrugged. �I just said yes,�

�Did you get down on one knee?� Harry asked, a smirk playing about his lips. He
stepped back with wide eyes when Severus turned a well-practiced glare on him.
�Okay, no, so, guessing you didn�t get down on one knee.�

�It was a
mutual decision made when I got home from hospital,� Ron informed them. �Which
one of you wants to look after the rings?�

�You have
rings?� Harry asked.

�Of course
I bloody do, you can�t be bonded in wedlock without rings Harry, not in the
magical world, because the bond seals into them.� Ron pulled them out of his
pocket and unlaced the pouch.

�Why don�t
we take one each,� Harry turned to Remus. �I�ll take Ron�s and you take
Severus�?�

�Sounds
good,� Remus smiled, and accepted the thin gold band that Ron handed him. He
turned it over in his fingers, looking at Severus, who was being extremely
quiet.

�Are you
sure about this, Severus?� Remus had to ask.

�Oh you
can�t ask him that,� Ron shook his head. �He goes a little bit greener each
time you do so.�

�I�m fine,�
Severus finally spoke and exhaled. He straightened his suit jacket and looked
at Ron with a smile. �And I�m also sure.�

�Your
family are going to hit the roof when they find out you�re doing this without
them,� Harry looked at Ron. �They�re missing the chance for a shindig.�

�And that
is precisely why you two are here and you knew nothing of the arrangement,�
Severus explained with a wide grin.

The door to
their left opened and Harry recognised the registrar that had married Bill and
Fleur the summer before. �Weasley-Snape bonding?� He asked with a smile.

�Yes,� Ron
nodded, a wide grin lighting up his face.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck
fuck fuck. I don�t know what I was thinking. Fuuuuuck. Severus cleared his throat and tried
to not look at Remus.

�Are you
nervous?� Harry asked Ron quietly, looking a little incredulous at what his
friend was about to do.

�No, why would I be?� Ron frowned. �All I have to do is walk in, say yes, put
the ring on his finger, look at the pretty sparkles and sign my name on a piece
of parchment. What�s nerve wracking about that?�

�Doesn�t
being bonded to the same person for the rest of your life freak you out a bit?
You�re only eighteen?�

�Not one
bit,� Ron shook his head with another grin. �It�s not like there�s any other
path for us, Harry.� He shrugged.

And with a
smile, he took Severus by the hand and walked into the office after the
registrar.

Harry took
the chance when both their backs were turn to mouth �Oh my God!� at Remus who
looked stunned back at him. Harry walked in and was surprised at how beautiful
the inside of the office was. Light and airy, with gold embellishments, it had
a domed ceiling and a beautiful desk at the centre with four chairs with red
fabric and gold frames seated on one side and a bigger chair on the other side.

�Wait!�
Remus said. �Silly, I know, but did you think about the traditions at all?�
Both Ron and Severus turned to look at him, shaking their heads. �Well.�

He rummaged
in his pockets. �You both have to have something old and new.�

�Remus,
that�s not necessary-� Severus said.

�Ha, no wait. Right, this is a shopping list from three years ago, that�s old,
and so is this handkerchief, it was my Dad�s.� He shoved the list at Ron and
the hanky at Severus.

�These are
both new,� Harry dug into his pocket and pulled out two galleons. �I just got
them out of Gringotts this morning, they�re a new mint, celebrating the fact
we�re not all cowering in our beds any more.�

�Ready?�
The registrar asked with a smile. �If you could all take your seats then,
witnesses by your corresponding side.�

�Any other
last minute traditions to subject us to?� Severus snarked.

�If you�d given us time we could have dunked you in a pond for cleansing of
sinful impurity,� Harry grinned, remembering when they�d chucked Bill in the
duck pond near the Burrow.

Severus
ignored him and turned back to the desk.

�Here we
go, then. Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to bond in matrimony these two
men.�

Ron was
ashamed that a giggle was rising in his throat. He�d never been to a gay
wedding before, and never assumed that his first would be his own.

�Have you
got your rings?� the man asked gently, and Ron turned to Harry and held out his
palm face up, and Harry placed it in the centre, grinning somewhat like a loon.

Remus
looked Severus in the eyes as he put his ring on Severus� hand, full of warmth
and encouragement.

�Excellent.
We�ll go alphabetically by first name. Ronald Bilius Weasley, do you take this
man to be your bonded soul companion, in all that may come to you, as long as
you both shall live?�

Ron�s lips
smiled wide as he replied, �I do.� He slid the ring on Severus� bad hand�s
third finger with ease.

�And do
you, Severus Rafaelle-� Oh shit, I forgot
he�d mention that� �-Snape, take this man to be your bonded soul companion,
in all that may come to you, as long as you both shall live?�

Ron was
looking at Severus with an amused smile on his face. Severus hadn�t told anyone
in the room his middle name. Bitching
Italian loving grandmother. �I do,� he put the ring on Ron�s finger with a
trembling hand.

�Please
join hands,� The registrar indicated, and Severus found Ron�s warm hand clasped
in his and found he wasn�t nervous anymore. �By the power vested in me by the
Magical Registrar of the Ministry of Magic Authority, I now declare you bonded
for life.� He waved his wand, and shower of white sparks fell around them,
sinking into the rings.

With a grin
wider than an ocean, Ron threw his arms around Severus and squeezed him tight.
�There, done,� he whispered.

�If you
could just sign both of your names here, and here, and I�ll need signatures
from the witnesses also.�

Ron turned
and picked up the white quill with gold tinged feathers and scrawled his name
quickly, before turning and handing it to Severus who hesitantly took it in his
right hand which shook with the effort of simply holding it. He put it lightly
to the paper and managed a passable replica of his signature but the pain in
his hand was immense. He hadn�t spoken a word since �I do�.

Harry and
Remus moved forward to sign their names, and then the Registrar made an instant
duplication of the certificate, wax sealed it and handed it to Ron with a
smile. �Congratulations, I hope you�ll be very happy together.�

�Oh, we
will,� Ron grinned again, Severus still unable to locate his vocal chords.

Outside in
the corridor, however, he found himself forced to speak when Ron, Remus and
Harry all looked at each other, and Ron said, �Okay� I�ll go. Raphaelle?� He
raised an eyebrow at Severus.

�Ah, yes. That. Do you know? I think I need to go to the bathroom for a
moment.�

Ron grabbed him by the arm and laughed, pulling him to his side to nuzzle into
him.

�Husband,� he said coolly, �I don�t give a damn what your middle name is� But I
might have to use it a few times to get used to it.�

Harry
choked with laughter and Remus was chuckling.

�My grandmother, like I said, taught Italian and French at a Muggle university.
My grandfather, I didn�t tell you, was actually Italian. It�s where the dark
hair comes from.�

�But not the complexion?� Remus bit his lip.

�No. But Raphaelle was the middle name of my maternal grandfather. It means
�healing god�. Satisfied?�

Three pairs
of amused eyes laughed back at him.

�Oh fine. At least it�s more interesting than yours.�

Harry was
laughing again. And Severus was surprised to find he didn�t care that Harry
Potter was laughing at him.

�So what
are your plans now?� Remus asked them, as they neared the ruined atrium. �Are
you going on a honeymoon?�

�Italy
perhaps?� Harry giggled and Ron smacked him on the arm.

�Stop
mocking my husband.� He grinned. �I like saying that. Husband.�

�I was just
thinking� maybe us three and the quarter-Italian Stallion could go for lunch
somewhere.� Remus shrugged, a grin playing about his lips.

�I am going
to hex you if you don�t shut up,� Severus hissed and all three broke out
laughing again. �Husband,� Severus called Ron that for the first time and his
spine tingled. �These reprobates are laughing at me� show some honour, won�t
you, and deal with them?�

Ron was
about to open his mouth in reply when a silver wolfhound came galloping towards
them and spoke to him in George�s voice. �Spawn of Bill has arrived! At The
Burrow. Come quickly.�

�That means
Fleur�s given birth!� Ron said excitedly.

�Lunch can
wait then,� Remus grinned. �Do you think your family will mind if Harry and I
tag along, Ron? I have to confess� I�m impatient to be around all things baby
at the minute.�

�You sap,�
Harry rolled his eyes. �I�ve never held a baby before.�

�I held
Ginny,� Ron led the way out of the atrium to the Floos. �But I dropped her.�

�I�ve never
held a baby either,� Severus volunteered.

�What,
ever? You�re thirty nine!� Ron exclaimed.

�I didn�t
have any brothers or sisters and never saw my cousins.�

�The last
baby I held,� Remus said with a grin and turned to Harry, �Was you!�

�Poor you,�
Ron winked, and scraped up a handful of Floor Powder, and then stopped dead.

�What�s
wrong?� Severus asked immediately, seeing his back tense.

�This� this
was the Floo I used when�� His voice wobbled.

Severus
closed his arms around Ron from behind and kissed him on the side of the cheek.
�Use another one then, my love.�

�I�ll go
first,� Harry said gently, taking his own handful of powder. �Now, just
quickly, are we telling family about the clandestine bonding that just took
place or not?�

�They�re
going to ask about the suits,� Severus said in Ron�s ear. �It�s done now. We
might as well.�

Ron nodded
at Harry, and watched him disappear, and then Remus after him. Ron lingered in
Severus� arms, savouring the touch. �You�re my husband now,� he smiled.

�I know,�
Severus kissed his cheek. �It feels� good.�

Ron stepped
forward, threw the powder in the flames and stepped in, seeing Severus whizz
out of sight as the Burrow came into vision. He stepped out and waited for his
new husband, who arrived within seconds. He held out his hand and helped him
off the grate.

�So where�s
the delightful spawn of Bill?� Ron called out, heading into the kitchen,
loosening his tie as he went. Heh, that
lasted longer than I thought it would, Severus smiled.

�In here!�
Came the answering squeal, and Severus followed Ron�s footsteps to the kitchen,
which was packed beyond capacity with Weasleys.

Slightly
embarrassed, Severus stood behind Ron with a hand on his hip, taking in Fleur
sitting at the table, a bundle in her arms and Bill looking as proud as punch.
He felt as though he were intruding.

�Do you
want a cuddle?� Fleur asked Ron, who flushed and went forward to take the baby
off her.

The sight
made Severus� heart miss a beat. Ron took the child in his arms and became
transfixed with it, eyes never leaving it as he eased himself into the chair
George vacated for him. �She looks like you both,� he breathed, bouncing her
ever so softly in his arms, supporting her head, to be rewarded by a content
gurgle.

�You�re the
first one of us she hasn�t screamed at,� Ginny said in disgust. �Why are you so
special?�

�Awh she�s
falling asleep,� Ron�s voice was full of care and love and Severus felt his
stomach constrict as Ron leant forward and sniffed.

�That�s
right,� Bill said nonchalantly, �You smell the child that�s been inside my wife
for nearly nine months.�

�She smells
so sweet and powdery though,� Ginny grinned.

�Why do you
two look so smart?� Molly suddenly asked of Harry and Remus, standing by the
oven. �And why are those two,� she nodded at Ron and Severus, �wearing suits?�

�We got
married,� Ron said quietly, eyes still focused on the baby in his arms.

�YOU
WHAT?!� Fred�s eyes went wide.

�Shhh, you�ll wake the baby,� Ron hissed with a smirk, and Severus realised
that he had seen the perfect opportunity to tell them when they couldn�t talk
loudly.

�You got married?� Molly whispered loudly.

�I can�t
believe you didn�t tell us!� Ginny hissed.

�Shhh, you
will.wake.the.baby,� Ron repeated, and leant forward to place a kiss on the
tiny bundle�s forehead.

Shit, Ron. Now is not the time to
get broody. Really and truly.

�We
thought, if you�d like� we could name you godfather?� Bill said quietly to Ron.

�Me?
Really?� Ron looked up in surprise, then back down to the baby. �Of course. I�d
love to.�

�You will
make a wonderful godfather to �er,� Fleur beamed at him.

�You
realise that means you have to babysit,� George grinned. �How do you feel about
that, Severus?�

�Please,
feel welcome to hold her,� Fleur gestured. �You are apparently now my
brother-in-law, one of ze family!�

Ron looked
at Severus who shook his head. �No, I�m� Ron�s holding her just fine.�

�Wise
move,� George nodded. �She spat on me.�

Ron jiggled
the bundle again and smiled into it, and Severus wondered if it was just him
that saw the sadness in his eyes.

�I can�t
believe you got married,� Molly whispered again. �In secret. I�m assuming you
two went?� She glared at Harry and Remus, who both blushed.

�I am going
to take �er upstairs for a feed,� Fleur said gently, and stood up and held her
arms out to Ron.

Severus was
alarmed to see that the sadness wasn�t just in Ron�s eyes any more, it was all
over his face, dripping down onto the baby. He handed her over to Fleur and
walked quickly out of the room. With a hand gesture of explanation, Severus followed
him into the Weasley living room, hearing the soft murmurs of concern behind
them in the kitchen.

�Ron?� He
asked tentatively, not wanting to approach without warning.

Ron was
standing by the fireplace, biting his thumbnail whilst tears ran down his face,
his mouth in a kind of grimace. He looked desperately at Severus in the mirror
who knew that was his cue to embrace him. And when he did, Ron let a torrent of
sobs into his neck. All Severus could do was to slide his hand under his suit
jacket and rub his back soothingly. He had no words of comfort, because if Ron
was crying for the reasons he suspected, he couldn�t even empathise as he had
never, ever wanted children.

�Oh God,�
Ron breathed, sobbing harder.

�Let it
out,� Severus said in a soothing tone. Whatever Ron was feeling, it needed to
come out rather than be kept in.

�I will
never have one,� Ron howled into his neck. �Not because I�m gay, but because I
can�t�� He sobbed some more.

�Ron, it�s
okay,� Severus breathed. �It�s okay.�

�He
mutilated me,� Ron sobbed, finally letting go.

�I know.�

�Fucking
son of a whore,� Ron gasped, and Severus felt tears running down his neck.

�Ron, I
love you. You�re my husband now. It�s my duty to take care of you and love
you.�

�I�m so
glad you are,� Ron was clutching him with such strength that his shoulder was
keening with pain. �I would have given up if it weren�t for you.�

�Promise me
you�ll never give up,� Severus managed to hold him with renewed vigour. �I
couldn�t� Ron, I love you.�

�I love you
too,� Ron kissed him tearfully on the lips. �I feel so, so awful, I�ve ruined
their afternoon by acting the drama queen.�

�They will
understand,� Severus framed his face in his hands. �They know what you�re going
through.�

�It�s
unforgiveable.�

�Ron, shut
up,� came a different voice, and Ron opened his eyes to see Bill striding
towards him.

Severus let
go of Ron reluctantly as Bill swept him up in a hug. �I am thrilled you�ll be
Victoire�s godfather� but please� go home with Severus, and cry. It�s about
time you did.�

�No,� Ron
sighed. �What good will crying do? It doesn�t change anything. Just know you
will have the most spoilt daughter you could ever have.� He wiped his eyes and
nose on his hand.

�Between
you and Mum and I don�t think I will see my daughter until she wants to start
dating by which point you will both hand her back for me to handle the hard
part,� Bill smiled, patting his back soothingly. �Everyone knows Ron, that
often you don�t want something until you really can�t have it. But you have
four brothers with child-bearing capability, and Charlie could come straight
yet, and then there�s always Harry and Ginny. It�s not like you�ll be without a
selection of sprogs to look after. And, if you really want to, there�s always
adoption��

Stop encouraging him! Christ,
married is enough for one day, do you really think I�m in any fit state to
raise a child?! Severus
hoped he was keeping his face under control.

�Anyway, you�ve had a pretty big day yourself! Tying the knot without telling
any of us. Congratulations.�

Ron laughed
and Severus felt relief wash over him as the demeanour of his face had
lightened considerably. �Yeah,� Ron held up his hand with the very plain ring
on it.

�I�m
jealous. Do you know the stress I went through with our wedding? If I could have
done it your way, I would. But being the first son really does suck some times,
trust me.�

�Is
everything alright?� Arthur asked from the doorway, looking anxiously in.

�Yeah Dad,
I�m alright now,� Ron smiled, looking at Severus with a rush of love.

�I have a
son-in-law�� Arthur thought on that.

�Who�s only ten years younger than you are,� Bill added unhelpfully.

�I�m not
going to start calling you Dad, if that helps,� Severus grinned.

�Someone
who can turn my son�s face around like you just have can call me what ever they
want to,� Arthur smiled, and held out a hand which, so different to the first
they�d shaken months ago, was warm and friendly. Then he turned round and
called back, �You can come and shout at them now.�

�Oh, Dad,� Ron groaned.

But he
didn�t have time for anything else, because his mother was on him then, kissing
every square inch of his face and hugging him tightly, telling him off for not
letting her arrange everything and getting tearful. Ginny had cornered Severus
with Fred and George. Molly released Ron and he found himself being swept up by
Charlie who, despite saying he was going, had never quite made it back to Romania after
Ron was injured.

�Congratulations,�
he whispered in his ear. �And thank you, for paving the way for me. My
boyfriend is coming to stay with me over Christmas� and I think it�ll be easier
now.�

�You
corrupted my son!� Molly teased loudly over the chatter and Ron looked up to
see her hugging Severus and him flushing with embarrassment at all the
attention he was receiving. �And you didn�t give me the chance to plan the
wedding!�

�We didn�t
want that, mum,� Ron said, making his way over and putting an arm around
Severus� waist. �We just wanted a quiet bonding with minimal fuss.�

�I think
that�s sweet,� George said supportively.

�You didn�t
want as at your wedding,� Fred winked unsupportively. �When I get hitched your
invitation will end up conveniently lost.�

Their
conversations were interrupted by a cry on Fleur�s baby monitor, which she
grabbed and looked at Bill from where she was sitting.

�I�ll go,�
Ron offered, and everyone looked at him, remembering his tears in the kitchen.
�I�m fine. She�d my god-daughter, might as well start now.�

He left the
room and headed up the stairs to Bill and Charlie�s old room and crept inside.

�Shhh,� he
whispered, carefully picking the baby up and cradling it like he had before. He
sat down on the freshly changed bed and gasped as his chest gave protest.
�Sorry, I�m a bit battered. They probably should have chosen you a godfather
who could run around after you.�

Looking at
the little being in his arms Ron found his head properly confused. He felt
amazed by the life there, but sad also because he would never produce one of
his own, but then further confused as to why that upset him, considering he had
actively chosen to be gay before this had all happened. And he was certainly no
less gay now, he still found Severus more attractive than anyone else he could
remember and he still had sexual thoughts about him. The Hospital had warned
him he might suffer from hormonal changes and depression, maybe it was
starting, just when he thought he was doing so well and people were starting to
lay off flinching every time something looked like it might be the matter.

Victoire
gurgled at him and blinked with her beautiful grey eyes. �Your mummy is
half-veela which means you�re now a quarter-veela. Yes. And that means that
every boy in school is going to fall in love with you.� He kissed her forehead
protectively. �But trust me, they only want one thing so you have to tell me if
you want any of them beaten up.�

He couldn�t
help but laugh as her eyes surveyed him in what he would have said was an
amused glance if she wasn�t only a few hours old. �You look like your daddy
when you do that, yes you do. And you got his nose. That�s not so good. But I�m
sure it�ll look a lot better on you than it does on him.�

She gurgled
again and opened and closed her mouth contently, eyes sliding shut as she moved
her fist about.

�Sleep is
good, I�m tired too,� he smiled, rocking her gently to see if it would get her
to sleep quicker. �You�re so very cute.�

Ron was so
engrossed that he didn�t realise that he�d been under surveillance for a good
few minutes. Severus leant against the doorframe and watch Ron cradling the
baby with a lump in his throat. A creak under his foot betrayed his position
and Ron�s head snapped up to look at him, but his face broke into a smile.

�Do you
want to hold her whilst there�s nobody else to see?� Ron got to his feet and
walked over.

�I� um�� Can you actually be allergic to baby?

�Come on,
it�s not hard,� Ron said quietly, and transferred her so that the majority of
her weight and her head were supported by Severus� good arm.

�She�s
heavier than I thought she�d be,� he murmured, looking down into her sleeping
face. �Merlin this is weird.�

Ron smiled
and folded his arms over his chest. Seeing Severus hold her was even worse than
doing so himself for his confused hormones. It�s not like they could have ever
made a baby if they�d wanted to!

�Are you
okay?� Severus walked further into the room softly, tightening his grip on
Victoire as he went. Dropping the baby
really would fuck up all the good family relations you�ve built.

�I don�t
know,� Ron shook his head. �I don�t know what I�m feeling.�

Severus
gently placed her back in her moses basket and turned to face Ron.

�You held a
baby,� Ron smiled.

�I did.� For you. I�m not making a habit of it.

�How can
you look at her and not want one of your own?� Ron�s lip wobbled a bit.

�Because�
she�s very beautiful, and I�m thrilled for your brother and Fleur but it�s just
not something I�ve ever let myself want, because� I didn�t foresee I�d ever be
in the position to get what I wanted.�

�Am I being
stupid, then?�

�No, you�re
not,� Severus shook his head.

�But if you can feel that way, why can�t I?�

Severus
walked close and held his chin firm in his fingers. �Because, Ron, I know that
I could find a woman, sleep with her, and still produce the goods to make a
baby. You don�t have that luxury� and it�s making you long for what you didn�t
get the chance to use whilst you still had it.�

�Other eighteen year olds aren�t thinking about babies.�

�The way
Harry was looking at your sister I wouldn�t be so sure.�

�Yuck,�
Ron�s face screwed up.

�You�re going
through a lot right now, Ron, don�t be too hard on yourself. You�ll just create
an eternal uphill battle for yourself. Trust me on that.�

Ron
swallowed and nodded. �Can I ask for a sympathy kiss?�

Severus looked round at Victoire, still asleep. �I don�t feel comfortable doing
that in front of the baby.�

�It�s just
a kiss,� Ron laughed.

�She�s a
baby,� Severus blushed.
- 7
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Our Last Summer