The rhythmic clatter of the train wheels passing over the rails served as background noise.
Nyx screeched as she jumped between the seats, with the two little direwolf pups chasing her from the floor.
Arya was kneeling against the back of a seat as she watched them with a smile.
"Are you trying to burn a hole in my face?" Harry said, unable to bear Val's stare any longer.
"I can't help it, I still find it incredible how everything happened," Val said with a smile.
"I'm just glad everything turned out well," Harry said with a sigh. They really had almost rebelled; if it hadn't been for their fear of magic, things wouldn't have been so easy.
"It was really amazing. Your voice echoed like thunder, and the way that gigantic doorframe appeared with a movement of your hands, everyone seemed to tremble. Even when you refused passage to more than half of them, they didn't dare rebel," Val said excitedly.
Although the tornado of fire had been absolutely impressive, she remembered that it had pushed him almost to his limit, but now he had seemed to simply shrug and do it.
Harry only smiled wryly. The way they had gripped their weapons said otherwise. Maybe, as Val said, they had other options besides simply fighting and perhaps dying there.
"I'm sure more than one of them must have wet their pants. I wet mine," Val said, giving him a half-smile.
"Arya can hear you," Harry said, giving her a look.
"I just hope we haven't made ourselves an enemy," Val said, shaking her head.
"Forget it, let's not talk about that," Harry said, shaking his head. His gaze was complicated; the frame he had created for them to pass through only read their intentions.
It was ambiguous, but it was the best he could do.
"Then do you want to talk about your unborn child? I wonder if it'll be a girl or a boy," Val said with one leg crossed over the other, her foot moving restlessly as it occasionally bumped Harry's knee.
"Are you jealous?" Harry said, looking at her as he grabbed her boot.
"Of course, because gaining 10 kilos must be incredible," Val said, rolling her eyes as she struggled with Harry, trying to free herself.
Suddenly, her boot came loose, freeing her foot.
Looking at the black boot in his hands, Harry suppressed a smile before covering his nose with a feigned expression of disgust.
The indignant expression on Val's face was priceless to him.
"Idiot," Val said angrily as she planted her foot directly against Harry's face.
"Val!" Harry said, bursting into laughter as he quickly grabbed her ankle and stopped her foot.
"Come on, say it smells bad," Val said angrily.
"It doesn't smell bad, but it doesn't smell good either," Harry said, looking at her mockingly.
The two quickly became caught up in a physical struggle all over the seats.
Arya simply turned her head and watched them curiously. They always seemed to be playing.
Their laughter echoed through the carriage, bringing a smile to her face as well.
Her brother always seemed happy when he was with Val.
She liked the blonde a lot too.
….
The journey continued peacefully for several more hours.
However, the peace disappeared as soon as they reached Winterfell.
Harry hurried off, followed by Val and Arya, each of them carrying a pup in her arms.
Instead of going directly to Barbrey, Harry reached the stairs of his tower and, after making sure no one was around, handed Nyx to Val so she could take her to the room.
"Let me know when the baby is born," Val said, looking at him before heading upstairs with the little dragon, who rested her head on her shoulder while looking at Harry.
A small screech of confusion came from her throat, making Harry feel bad for her.
"I'll take care of your pup," Arya said before Harry could say anything to her.
"Hmm," Harry said, ruffling her hair before running to Barbrey's room.
He found her sitting calmly in a rocking chair with Lis beside her.
When she saw him, her eyebrows rose slightly as a small curve appeared on her lips.
"You made it," Barbrey said, looking at him. For a moment, she had thought he wouldn't make it in time for the birth.
It could happen at practically any moment.
"Just barely, it seems," Harry said, approaching and looking at her large abdomen.
"He doesn't seem to be in a hurry," Barbrey said somewhat helplessly as she stroked her belly.
"It's all right, I'm here now. Don't worry about anything," Harry said, sitting beside her and extending his hand.
"Hmm," Barbrey said, nodding slightly as she took Harry's hand.
Hours passed, but Harry didn't let his guard down, watching Barbrey sleeping and Lis nodding off drowsily.
Harry waited patiently as his mind wandered between his responsibilities and his plans for the future.
It was close to dawn when Barbrey woke up in alarm. Harry immediately lit the candles and looked at her.
A large dark stain had appeared on the sheets.
"Lis, go call the midwives," Harry said loudly, waking her immediately.
Seeing the situation, Lis got up disoriented and ran out with her hair disheveled.
Harry pulled a potion from his chest before approaching Barbrey, who was touching her abdomen with concern.
"Open your mouth and drink this. It'll make you feel better, and everything will be fine," Harry said nervously as he moved to her side and held the potion near her lips.
His hands trembled slightly as he brought the potion to her lips.
Barbrey looked at the suspicious-looking liquid before looking at Harry.
She hesitated for a second before bringing the potion to her lips and drinking it. She could doubt anyone, but she couldn't allow herself to doubt Harry.
Feeling the liquid go down her throat, a warm current ran through her entire body. She felt the pain lessen and became incredibly relaxed; she had never felt so well.
It wasn't pleasure, but rather a feeling of well-being.
"I'll be outside waiting for you. I trust that everything will be fine," Harry said just as the midwives entered and immediately tried to throw him out.
Although it bothered him, with the potion everything should go well. In any case, he could force his way inside if the situation seemed bad.
His mother gave him a smile and kissed his cheek before also pushing him on the back and getting him out of the room.
Harry rolled his eyes and simply went outside, leaning against the wall across from the door.
It was then that his father arrived. He said nothing and simply leaned against the wall beside him.
Harry only looked somewhat amused. His father really wasn't good with situations like this.
Several hours passed in silence until screams began coming from the room.
Harry assumed it had started.
The situation was fairly calm, at least compared to what he remembered from when his mother had given birth to his siblings.
The potion was obviously helping quite a bit, and he only regretted not having had the ingredients back then so his mother could have had an easier birth.
It was around half an hour later when the cries of a baby could be heard.
Smiling slightly, Harry let out a sigh of relief he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
His mother came out first and smiled at them, approaching Harry and hugging him with a smile.
Although she felt a little young to be a grandmother, at this point it no longer mattered.
"Congratulations, son, it's a boy," Catelyn said with a smile.
"Hmm," Harry said with a smile as he adjusted his mother's hair and entered the room.
Inside, he immediately saw Barbrey, who couldn't take her eyes off the baby.
He was wrinkled, purple, and ugly, but to her there was nothing more precious at that moment.
Her vision blurred as her fingers gently stroked the baby's skin.
"It's all right," Harry said, crouching beside her and stroking her back.
"I have a son," Barbrey said, turning to look at Harry with tears in her eyes.
"Hmm, and he's very handsome," Harry said against his better judgment.
Barbrey laughed through her tears as she gently cradled the baby.
"Thank you, Harry," Barbrey said, looking at him.
"What are you talking about?" Harry said with a smile as he shook his head.
"Here, you hold him," Barbrey said, looking at Harry before carefully extending her arms.
Harry was surprised for a moment before quickly leaning forward and gently taking him in his arms.
The little one didn't move much, and his eyes barely opened a little.
At that moment, Catelyn entered the room again and approached Harry's side. She rested her face beside his shoulder and looked at the baby as well.
"What do you want to name him?" Harry said, looking at Barbrey, who was watching them with a content expression.
Barbrey remained silent for a few seconds, simply watching Harry interact with his son. Everything still seemed like a dream to her.
"How about Artos?" Barbrey said with a smile.
Harry raised his eyebrows as he looked at her.
The Stark family tree immediately appeared in his mind, and there had indeed been an Artos.
"Sure," Harry said softly, looking at the baby as he moved and let out small cries.
"The baby must be hungry, give him to his mother," Catelyn said, noticing that the baby was starting to grow restless.
She still didn't know whether to call her Lady Dustin or Barbrey. The whole situation between them still felt a little strange to her.
Harry smiled and returned the baby to Barbrey, who looked at him with incredible tenderness.
Placing the baby against her chest, she gently encouraged him to eat. It was a basic instinct, so there was no need to insist; he immediately began eating eagerly.
Suddenly, the sound of running footsteps came from the doorway. Arya entered, dodging the midwives' hands before grabbing Harry's clothes and looking toward the baby.
"Whoa, he's so ugly," Arya said, looking in amazement at the small, wrinkled baby.
"Arya!" Catelyn said with a frown.
Harry, on the other hand, only let out a small laugh as he lifted Arya into his arms.
She naturally wrapped her arms around Harry's neck as she got a better look at the baby.
Barbrey looked up and met Arya's large, curious eyes, and a small amused smile appeared on her face as well.
"I'm sorry," Catelyn said, looking at Barbrey with embarrassment.
"It's all right," Barbrey said, shaking her head as she gently cradled her son's head.
"Come on, let Lady Dustin rest, you're too noisy," Catelyn said, almost pulling Arya away from Harry before taking her away.
"But Mom, I want to hold him," Arya complained as she was dragged away.
Harry simply watched them leave and stayed by her side.
Artos ate contentedly for a while until he fell asleep. It was then that Harry took the baby and cleaned him before laying him in the crib.
With magic, things really were convenient.
"You should rest too," Harry said, looking at her. Her black hair was a little messy, and a sleepy look appeared on her face.
"Hmm, don't take your eyes off him," Barbrey said, nodding slightly before reluctantly falling asleep.
Harry looked at Lis, who immediately sat beside the crib to watch over Artos, so he simply smiled and sat down as well.
His head rested against the wall as sleep began to overtake him too after barely sleeping the night before.
With a new member in the castle, things became a little noisy again. Fortunately, Harry was there and silenced the room so the others wouldn't be disturbed.
The next day, Barbrey was already feeling much better and got to her feet without any trouble, looking at her baby in the crib with a smile.
"So, Artos. Everyone will think of Artos Stark," Harry said, standing beside her.
"Do you think it's possible to hide who this baby's father is?" Barbrey said, looking at Harry with a mocking smile before looking at her baby. Those intense green eyes—her son had inherited them exactly.
Harry chuckled as he looked at his first son. He was really small and blinked sleepily.
"Harry, dear, your sisters want to see the baby. Is now a good time?" Catelyn said after knocking on the door.
"It's fine, let them in," Harry said.
The door opened immediately, and in an instant the room filled with people.
Arya, Bran, and Sansa immediately stood beside the crib, looking at him intently.
Val and Dacey followed them, looking at the baby with interest. Even so, neither of them mentioned anything about holding him.
After several minutes of looking at him, Harry sent everyone out since the room had become crowded with people.
The days passed slowly until the baby was a week old. Barbrey took him out for short walks around the castle.
Catelyn also really enjoyed holding the baby, looking after him while Barbrey took a break.
That also gave Harry time to do his own things.
As he went up to his tower, Harry saw the little wolf, who actually wasn't so little anymore at just over two months old.
He was the size of a medium-sized dog.
"What's wrong, boy?" Harry said, extending his hands and roughly rubbing his fur.
The direwolf barked at him while his tail wagged happily.
"Your fur is getting blacker and blacker, and your green eyes don't help. We really match, don't we?" Harry said with a laugh.
"You look like the illustrations of Fenrir... if I gave you that name, Hermione would have made fun of me endlessly."
"But she's not here anymore, and no one in this world knows that name, right? Fenrir," Harry said, stroking his elongated snout as a momentary look of sadness appeared on his face.
Fenrir whimpered as he sensed his sadness and rubbed against Harry, trying to comfort him.
"Grow big and strong. If you don't manage to grow taller than me, you'll be a disappointment to your name," Harry said with a laugh as he hugged his neck.
Fenrir barked a couple of times, making Harry laugh as he understood what he meant.
"Go play, I have work to do," Harry said with a smile as he stood up.
Connecting to the bond he shared with Nyx, he sensed her in the forest a couple of kilometers away.
He hoped she wasn't getting into trouble.
Shaking his head, he began going through the letters that had arrived for him.
The research on Bear Island was almost finished. It was feasible to establish a cement factory, although there were still challenges involved.
The island was dangerous, and the volcanic stone deposits weren't close to the settlement. There was plenty of limestone nearby, but the humidity could be a problem.
Without hesitation, he took out a quill and ordered the construction of the factory anyway. He would do everything he could; the rest depended on Dacey and her people.
Whether they could create a truly profitable business depended on them.
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