Avellino groaned as he saw his two boys throwing mud at the walls. Well, Athen was throwing the mud and Aren was glaring at anyone who dared to stop his brother. Harry was going to kill him, them, all three of them.
They turned and saw Avellino. Both looked caught. But Aren regained his composure. He was going to have a word with Draco! The dude has taught his godson a lot of stupid Malfoy shit like bloody 'posture'.
"What are you both doing?" asked Avellino.
"Well, we were going to practice the vanishing charm on the wall," said Aren who was now thirteen and Athen who was going to be 11 soon nodded.
"Brother is right," said Athen.
"Good, so I hope you both can explain that to your dad when he tries to kill me. Because I am not losing my husband over two brats like you both," said Avellino, in a matter of fact tone.
Aren snorted.
"Dad wouldn't leave you because we are brats. That man would die before he leaves you for anything," said Aren as a matter of fact.
Avellino smiled.
"How am I going to explain this to him, your highnesses?" asked Avellino.
"Well, you could always vanish this before dad gets back," said Aren.
Avellino snorted then.
"Oh no, I am not going to cover up your idiocy from your dada. Big parenting decisions we have taken," said Avellino.
Both scowled.
Harry walked in soon, with their younger triplets, three girls. All three were now 6 and their younger son who is four now. Avellino always tells Harry that he was getting old to be running around them.
Harry glared at the three of them.
"I leave them with you on charge for what, one hour Ave and they have made a mess. I trust you asked them to play and then sat and watched as they threw mud on the wall," asked Harry.
"I had gone to make them a milkshake and when I git back, they were glaring away the maids," said Avellino.
Harry growled and looked at his sons both of whom looked down.
"We are sorry dad," said both.
Harry sighed.
"Go inside," he said.
Harry looked at Avellino who pecked him on the cheek and Harry blushed a bit and hit the man on the chest!
"Now, if you don't want to be a father in your late forties, off you go," said Harry, his cheeks red.
"I am sure I can manage," said Avellino making Harry hide his face a bit on Avellino's chest.
They stood there and watched as Hera, Hesa and Deme played with their brothers who simply enjoyed being the older brothers.
Avellino took Arte, their youngest who was a miniature Avellino! Their daughters looked more like Harry and behaved like Avellino and have his hair while it is Arte and Athen who got Harry's hair.
"Well, you are not my actual dad, so you would say that," screamed Aren before he stormed off. Avellino came down hearing this and stood behind Harry, letting him lean back on him as he cried.
"Did you hear what he said Ave?" asked Harry sobbing.
"He is 16, Harry. It's the tumultuous period. He doesn't mean it. He knows it will hurt you and said those things. It's his way of being vindictive. I think, even every great children go through that rebellious phase," said Avellino.
Harry sobbed and once he calmed down he looked at Avellino.
"I am not a bad dad, am I? Did I do something which showed a difference between them? I must be the one who went wrong," said Harry.
"It is nothing you did. You are the best father in the world. Trust me when I say he is going to come running by nightfall," said Avellino.
Harry was still crying but he kept a strong face.
Avellino found his oldest in the yard. He was kicking off things in his sight as he sat on the lawn bench. He sat down next to him.
"I know I shouldn't have said that," mumbled Aren.
"Well, but you did," said Avellino.
Aren looked away.
"What happened?"
"I - My friends always say that I am not his real son, So don't try to be too good," said Aren after ten long minutes of silence.
"Then, they are not your friends," said Avellino.
"I wish he gave birth to me too," said Aren.
"Did he ever, even with a word show any differentiation?" asked Avellino knowing the answer.
"No" sobbed Aren looking away to not let his Papa see him crying.
"It is not fair. I- I should have been too," said Aren.
"Maybe next time, if you believe in rebirth. But, you should be happy that irrespective of the fact that he did not give birth to you, he loved you the same, if not a bot more," said Avellino.
Aren smiled a soft smile.
"Athen always says that," said Aren.
"He is an idiot but you know your dad loves you all the same," said Avellino.
"I know," said Aren.
"You know, if Harry did not come into our lives, we would have been a disaster. I had not even properly held you before he came. I was so scared. He was like a storm. He changed everything about my life and I did not even realise till the day I held Athen in my arms. Harry is magic and he loved me without expecting anything back because I was his," said Avellino.
Aren smiled.
"He chose to love me irrespective of the horrible person I was. He lived with me away from the limelight and I am glad I could make him happy and give him the peace and solace he so badly wanted," said Avellino.
Aren nodded. He knew all this.
"So, my point being, we would have been two losers and you would have grown up hating me and the world if Harry had not come into our lives and we wouldn't have those seven people in there in our lives. I still think I might wake up and realise it was all a dream and I was still having that miserable existence. Your dad has that fear too. We value this so much and we value you all so much," said Avellino.
Aren nodded. He knew all this too.
"It was stupid. I know I shouldn't run off to Africa when I hate the bloody climate and actually want to learn Wizarding law in Paris," said Aren.
"That is what your dad said," said Avellino.
"Well, he knows me too well! Didn't you hear him ask where am I running too!" said Aren looking away.
"Yes and you snapped that he is not your actual parent," said Avellino.
"Fuck, he is going to hate me now," said Aren.
Avellino laughed.
"You know your dad hates megalomaniacs but you could turn into one and he would still love you," said Avellino.
"I would rather not be one- ugh- yuck," said Aren smiling as he hugged his Papa.
Avellino smiled. At 16, he would never have been this close to his own parents. Every moment of the day, he was thankful that he had Harry in his life. Without him, he would not have had this life. Nor would he have his 16-year-old son confiding in him!
Avellino smiled.
"Now go talk to your dad about this," said Avellino.
Only one more chapter left! Hope you all enjoyed. This is an old story I had published in Wattpad. I do not have much patience with the posting procedures of which is why it took me over a week to post this all. This story is one year old! :) I love them both. Hope you all do too.