It was a sunny day and Hermione whistled while she walked into her back yard. She, Ron and their children had moved a few days ago, and she couldn't get enough of their new back yard. It was a huge, beautiful, overgrown trees and brush and a hidden pond in the middle of it. For years no gardener had tended to it. It reminded Hermione of a forest where her parents had taken her to when she had been little, and she had taken two very important members of her life to when they had no where to go.
She stood on the small porch just in front of the house. It was the only safe place to stand. Ron and Harry had struggled to make it free of plants earlier that day. A small table with a book on top of it, a bench and a few chairs stood on one side of the porch.
Hermione took a satisfied breath. She walked over to the table and sat down in one of the chairs, picking up the book about dragons and she began to read. She looked up into the overgrown backyard from time to time, making sure it was real and not a memory come to life through her fantasy.
After an hours of reading, Hermione had moved to the bench and was lying there, half asleep with her book on her lap.
"Honey, I'm home!" The cheerful voice from Ron wafted through the door. Hermione jolted upright at the sound of his voice. The book slid from her lap onto the floor. Reading had always made her sleepy, even when she had been younger.
"Dada!" A high voice came from inside the house, followed by a loud thump. Hermione quickly picked up the book and tried to fix her hair before Ron found her like this. She liked that he rarely saw her uncomposed. Her right arm was still sleeping when she went inside to great him.
A small girl was hugging Ron's leg while an ever smaller boy was tugging at her hair, trying to make her let go of their father so he could hug his "dada". Ron laughed and picked up his daughter, swirling her around in his arms. Rose laughed out loud in delight, her little hands grabbing at Ron's nose and hair.
"How was your day, sweetheart?" Hermione asked, taking Rose from Ron and giving him a peck on the cheek.
Ron picked up Hugo, who was impatiently tugging at his robes, with one arm and rubbed his eyes with the other. "Exhausting. You have no idea what it is like training a few eighteen year old brats to be responsible and reasonable."
Hermione laughed and hugged Rose tightly. "Not yet. I will though."
Ron admitted a tired smile. "If they take after you, you won't have to teach them anything. They'll probably educate lines vanished from his face as he thought about it and he planted a kiss on their three year old son's head.
"I hope at least one of them will take after me, though."
"Dada!" Hugo squealed delightedly, grabbing Ron's hair, like rose had done before him. Ron chuckled and began tickeling the little brat, much to Hugo's delight.
"We better go change. We're invited over to the Burrow." Hermione said, gently placing Rose on the floor. And pushing her gently in the directing of the living room. "Can you turn the TV off, Rosie?" She asked. Rose ran into the living room squeling, almost tripping several times.
"Just us or are there others coming?" Ron asked, putting Hugo down as well.
Hermione grabbed Hugo's hand and led him to his room so she could dress him properly, instead of the mess he was wearing now. "Just us." She said over her shoulder.
In Hugo's room, Hermione helped the stubborn three year old get dressed, meaning that she tried to help him and he refused and tried to dress himself. A skill he hadn't quite mastered yet. Hermione laughed when Hugo sat on his bed, half dressed with his arms crossed and cheeks puffed out.
"Can I help you now?" She asked. Hugo nodded reluctantly, uncrossing his arms and letting his mother fix his appearance.
Hermione started humming under her breath again. She was so happy, she couldn't help it. She and Ron had moved into their dream house a few days ago. She had two beautiful children, a boy and a girl, Three and four. Her eldest would become five in a week. She had a big loving family and a job she loved. How could she not be happy?
"There, all done." Hermione said, satisfied at Hugo's appearance. Hugo sniffed. "Could've done myself." He said confidently, and jumped down the bed, ran out of the room and into the living room. Probably to turn on the TV Rose had just turned off. Hermione's suspicions were answered when the sound of music and voices came through the open door.
"Honey, I'm all done, how do I look?" Ron said, appearing in the door opening in his normal robes. Hermione smiled and threw her arms around his neck. "You look very handsome, Mr Weasley." She said, before kissing him.
"What was that for?" Ron asked blissfully when they broke apart. Hermione sighed and leaned against his chest, not wanting to let go just yet. "I'm just so happy Ron. Everything is so perfect."
Ron chuckled and it reverberated through his chest, making Hermione even more reluctant to let go. "Don't jinx it, love." He said playfully. Hermione laughed and inhaled deeply, drinking in his scent.
"Let's go. Where is Rose?" She asked, letting go of her husband so she could look him in the eye.
"She ran to the TV when it was turned on." Ron said, his blue eyes twinkling. Hermione pouted. "Perfect, minus the TV addiction of our children." She said and went to the living room, turning off the TV dispite the protest of Rose and Hugo, and flooing over to her parents-in-law's house
~~~~O.0~~~~
Rose sat in front of her birthday cake with the biggest smile smile she had ever had on her face. Her birthday was her favourite day of the year, not only because of the birthday cake, and the presents, but also because she could see all her favourite people in the world on one day. She saw them on more days than this one, but this day also had a birthday cake, and presents, so it won. She did mention that, didn't she?
She returned her attention to the cake in front of her. It was a huge, chocolate coloured mess, with five burning candles on top of it. Rose took a deep breath, and blew as hard as she could, trying to blow out all of the candles in one time.
It was hard, five was a lot, but when she was almost out of breath, the last fire went out and Rose closed her eyes tightly to make a wish. She peeked through her lashes and saw her parents, aunts, uncles and cousins looking at her. She giggled and opened her eyes. "You make me nervous." She squealed out in delight.
"What did you wish?" James, her one year older cousin asked, looking at the cake in hunger.
His little brother and Rose's best friend in the whole wide world, Albus pushed him. "She can't say, stupid. Then it won't come true." He said. Rose laughed and nodded. "I won't say." She said. Her father looked at her with a pleading expression. "Not even to me, Rosie?" He asked, pouting. Rose shook her head. "Nope." She said, popping the p.
"Who wants cake?" Her mother said cheerfully, brandishing her wand and pointing it at the cake, cutting it in many slices with a spell. Rose looked at her mother's wand in longing.
"So, what did you wish?" Al asked quietly, sitting down next to her while the rest of their ridiculously large family fought over the cake. Rose smiled happily. "That it'll always stay like this." She sighed, looking at her family.
Al laughed. "What is that for wish. Of course it will." Rose puffed out her cheeks at the insult to her wish. She had thought it over carefully and had found this was her deepest desire, just that life would always be this wonderful, and Al just insulted it.
"You know what I would wish?" Al asked. Rose shook her head.
"I would wish that we could go to Hogwarts already." Al said, looking dreamy.
Hermione approached Al and Rose with two plated with cake and gave one to each. The one with the biggest slice to Rose. "Here you go, birthday girl." Hermione said with a wink.
"Thank you, mum!" Rose said, smiling from ear to ear.
"We're going to open presents next, so don't run off." Hermione said and gave Rose a kiss on top of her head. Rose nodded obediently and started eating her cake.
"Why do you get the bigger piece?" Al pouted when Hermione had re-joined the adults by the fireplace.
"Because it's my birthday." Rose said and stuck out her tongue.
Anticipating Al's actions, she jumped up, cake in hand and ran away, laughing, while Al followed her, determent to get her cake.
~~O.0~~
Rose was laying in her backyard looking up at the sky through the roof of leaves that hung over her. It was a beautiful summer day. She had been five for an entire week already. Just six more years and she would go off to Hogwarts, like Al wished they could do now. Rose sighed and sat up, looking around and saw her book, half hidden away under a bush.
She crawled toward it and pulled it towards her, starting to read slowly, tracing her progress with her finger.
~~~~O.0~~~~
Hermione ran after Hugo, cursing the day they had learned him to walk.
"Stop! Hugo, stop!" She yelled after him, as he ducked under the coffee table and crawled out on the other side, immediately running again.
Dodging various pieces of furniture Hugo had crawled under or climbed over, Hermione finally caught him. She snaked one arm around his belly, restraining him while he struggled to get free. She bent over, gasping for breath.
"Give- the- cookie- back." She managed to wheeze between her gasp for air. Hugo giggled and shook his head, his auburn curls tickled Hermione's face. "Hugo!" Hermione said exasperated, holding out her hand expectantly. Hugo struggled harder against her arm, the cookie still in his hand.
"But mummy, I want cookie." Hugo whined, bringing the cookie to his mouth. This was the moment Hermione had been waiting for. She quickly snatched the cookie out of his hand. "No, Hugo. I told you, we are going to eat in half an hour."
Hugo pouted at her and Hermione lifted him into her arms. "No." She said sternly.
The doorbell rang loudly.
"Ron!" Hermione shouted. "Harry is here." A loud thump from upstairs told her that Ron had heard her. Hermione looked down at her son. "Hugo, do you know where Rose is?" She asked. Hugo looked up at her with a smile on his face that told her he was up to something.
"Why should I tell you?" He said gleefully and looked at the cookie that was still in Hermione's hand. Hermione sighed. Was she seriously about to be blackmailed by her three year old son? Was she seriously considering giving in?
"Fine. I'll give you the cookie back if you tell me." Hermione said as she heard Ron stumble down the stairs and open the front door.
Hugo grabbed the cookie and nibbled at it. "She's in the backyard, reading." He said. Hermione sighed and put Hugo down. She could have figured that out on her own. Rose had the same love for their overgrown backyard and reading as Hermione, and had spent most of her time outside.
"Hermione!" Ginny said, rushing into the room and engulfing Hermione in a hug. Hermione smiled and hugged her back.
"Ginny! It's been too long."
Ginny laughed, releasing Hermione. "A week isn't so long, though it certainly seems longer." She stepped back so Harry could hug her next. Had it really only been a week?
"Good to see you again, Hermione." Harry said when he too had let go of her. Hermione nodded. "you too Harry." She looked over to their three children. Lily, their youngest, had wasted no time and was already playing with Hugo. James, their eldest, was telling Ron a story. Ron let out a bark of laughter at times, startling Al, Ginny and Harry's middle child. He was pretending to listen to James and trying not to look around the room too openly, probably looking for Rose.
"I'm going to get Rose. Excuse me for a minute." Hermione said to Ginny and Harry, nodding to Al, who looked a tiny bit lost.
Harry nodded and chuckled.
The back yard was large, and it took some time before Hermione finally found Rose, curled up on the ground, fast asleep and clutching the translations of Beadles the Bard. Hermione gently nudged her awake. Rose shot up. "No, don't trust death!" She yelled out. Hermione laughed and Rose looked around in embarrassment when she realised where she was.
"Oh, hi mum." She said shyly, letting Hermione help her up.
"Sweetie, Al is here. He looked a bit lost without you." Hermione said, dusting Rose's clothes off.
Rose's eyes became big. "That's tonight?" She asked. Hermione chuckled and nodded. "Yes, they are coming over for dinner tonight, yes."
Rose ran off, shouting. "Where are we waiting for then?"
"Wrong direction!" Hermione shouted. Rose curved to the left and began running into the direction of their house. "I knew that." She said as she passed Hermione. Hermione sighed and followed her daughter, wondering where her children got their energy from. Most likely Ron.
~~~~O.0~~~~
"Al!" Rose shouted and ran directly into her cousin, tackling him. Al grunted. "Auch, Rose. What are you doing!" He said irritated, rubbing his head.
Rose held her head slightly askew as she watched him stand up, glaring slightly at her.
"What is it, Al?" She asked, wondering why he wasn't glad to see her like he normally was. Al turned around, ignoring her.
"Al!" Rose said indignantly. She wasn't used to being ignored, especially by Al, her best friend in the whole wide world.
"Did you have to tackle me?" Al said, an irritated edge at his voice.
Rose frowned. "Yes. We always tackle each other in greeting." She said matter of factly. They did. He had even started the tradition.
Al ignored her response and pretended to listen to his parents talking to dad about their work. Dull conversation. Rose pouted and tugged at his T-shirt. "Al?" She said, trying to get his attention. Al shook his head and pulled his shirt out of her grasp.
"Al!" She whined.
"Shush, Rose. I'm trying to listen." Al said, not bothering to look around. Rose's confusion grew even more. Al thought just like her that their parents always talked about boring things. Why was he acting so strange?
"Al. Why are you acting so weird. If you won't tell me… I'll… I'll…" Rose thought for a moment with a trouble expression, then her face cleared up. "I'll tell James you broke his toy." She finished victoriously.
Al gaped at her for a moment, then put a hand over her mouth. "Not so loud!" He said hurriedly. Rose smiled into his hand. This was the Al she knew.
"James said boys and girls aren't supposed to be friends." Al said, still covering her mouth with his hand. Rose frowned again, and looked over to Lily and Hugo, who were playing tag.
"whmt lly d hggo?" She said into his hand. Al looked at her in confusion
"What?" He asked, still not removing his hand. His actions sometimes, were so stupid, that Rose was convinced he was secretly just as idiotic as his older brother.
She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue.
Al yelped and removed his hand. "Rose!" He said, frantically rubbing his hand clean at her jeans.
"What about Lily and Hugo? They are friends." Rose said, finding it weird boys and girls couldn't be friends.
"Yes." Sighed Al, rolling his eyes. "But they are children." He continued, talking very slowly as if explaining to someone stupid. Rose scowled.
He sounded far too much like James for her liking, and his explanation made absolutely no sense to her.
"We are children. And Mum and Uncle Harry are friends too." She countered.
"No, they are brother and sister." Al said stubbornly and turned around. "We just can't be friends, Rose. We are too old. Just go away." He said with a finality in his voice.
Rose looked at him and shook her head stubbornly. "No." She said, and tugged at his shirt again.
"Rose. We can't be friends. We grew up. Go away." Al said more forcefully, still not looking at her.
"Albus Severus Potter, don't listen to your brother." Rose said, fighting back a sob at his words. They hurt deeply, coming from him.
"Just go away Rose. Just go away, and don't come back!" Al shouted by the end. Rose felt tears springing into her eyes. A sob escaped her lips as she turned around and ran back out the back door and into the overgrown backyard.
She curved around the trees and didn't feel the brush cutting her legs and arms. Tears obscured her vision, so she didn't see the low hanging branch until it was too late. She ran straight into it and fell on her back, Everything became black, the sound of laughter in her ears. It wasn't a voice she knew.
So this is an intro chapter thing-y, just so I can justify this ridiculous story. one more intro chapter like thing-y to come and then the "real" story kicks in. I hope you liked it. Please let me know what you think!