Chapter 1 - The Unexpected Visitors
Harry couldn't bring himself to the fact that Mad-eye was no more, and so was his beloved owl, Hedwig. The muggle Britain was in chaos with increasing number of innocent victims becoming a casualty everyday. He was frustrated beyond reason, being stuck at the Burrow and was itching to get away to start hunting Horcruxes. He couldn't care less about Bill-Fleur's approaching nuptials if it weren't for the trace on him, which wouldn't break until his 17th birthday.
Ron and Hermione insisted they would come with him. He was touched by their concern and commitment, but it made him scared for their lives.
"We know the stakes mate, and the risks involved. It'd always been the three of us since our first year. I see no reason why we must break that tradition!" Ron said lightly.
They were sitting on the floor in Ron's bedroom, the Ghoul sleeping peacefully in the attic. Ron and Hermione had just told him of the measures they'd taken to keep their families safe.
"I don't know what to say." Harry admitted truthfully, failing to come up with words to convey how much they both meant to him. "Thank you."
Hermione flunged her arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug while he awkwardly patted her back. She pulled away, wiping her tears with the back of her sleeve.
"Ok, before this gets really soppy, we must head down for dinner. Remind me to stock up a bunch of handkerchiefs for the hunt, Harry." Ron said, looking pointedly at Hermione.
In response, she smacked Ron playfully on the shoulders but not before Harry caught a hint of a smile playing at her lips. Harry got up to his feet, mentally shaking his head at their stubbornness to admit their feelings for each other.
As they made their way downstairs, the trio were greeted by a mixture of unfamiliar voices. When he entered the living room, Harry came face to face to a hoard of newcomers who looked back at the trio with blind shock written on their faces.
Mr and Mrs Weasley, Bill, Charlie (who'd come a day earlier), the twins, Ginny, and Fleur were already seated in the living room, looking equally distracted and startled by these intruders.
There were totally seven in number; all of them appeared to be in their pre-teens, teens or late teens. The eldest looked slightly older than Ron and had turquoise hair. He looked vaguely familiar but Harry couldn't place him exactly. Next to the boy was a pretty blonde whom he could have sworn was Gabrielle Delacour if it hadn't been for the fact that the blonde girl was about the same age as himself.
He saw Bill and Fleur take a tentative step towards the mysterious blonde, their eyes glazed, while the newcomer stared back at them with equally awestruck look.
He continued scanning the seemingly younger lot. The teenager beside the blonde woman had the same jet black hair as himself, except it was curly and he has brown eyes. The boy was gaping at him, blinking rather rapidly at himself and Ginny.
Harry turned to Ginny, but she was watching someone else and his gaze followed hers to the boy standing beside the teenager. An audible gasp escaped him before he could stop himself.
He found himself staring at the face of his replica; only without glasses, the scar, and looking much younger. The boy was gawking back at him with those green eyes; his mother's eyes...his eyes! Harry suddenly felt dizzy, like someone hit the back of his head with a bludger.
It can't be. But, he had a younger brother? Was it possible? Every nerve in his body screamed he was being irrational about this. There were few things impossible; even in a magical world. But every time he looked at the boy, something stirred deep within him.
Harry forced himself to tear his gaze away from his young replica to the girl on the other side of the turquoise haired boy. A slow smile spread across her features as she looked at him, and something about the way she watched him; through those big brown eyes and flaming red hair tugged familiarly at his chest.
He turned to Ginny again and this time she met his gaze head on. He found it hard to hold her steady gaze as she had that same hard blazing look about her before they shared their first kiss. Maybe, she had a younger sister who looked like her too. It was possible, wasn't it? After all, Mrs Weasley was known to be a fertile woman! He blushed crimson at the thought.
Harry saw his best friends wearing identical expressions of confusion and dizziness about them, but they weren't looking at Harry's replica or the other kids. They were staring at a ginger colored, bushy haired girl, who looked about the same age as his replica, and a younger boy who hid behind the girl, his face flushed at the audience before him, but he, like the bushy-haired girl, had eyes only for Ron and Hermione.
If Harry was shocked a moment before, it was nothing compared to seeing these strange set of intruders who either resembled him or Hermione or one of the Weasleys or seemed vaguely familiar like the turquoise haired boy.
Everyone in the room were speechless, perhaps taking note of that fact like himself. It was a photographic, yet almost comical moment in which the two groups took each other in.
Finally, it was the eldest boy who broke the silence, although the question he asked surprised Harry.
"Which year is it?"
When every one seemed too confused to venture a response, Harry answered him, "1997"
"20 years" the boy muttered in disbelief, "20 years"
A murmur of whispers rang amongst the newcomers who wore identical expressions of disbelief, but Harry could also see a trace of fear in them. Besides him, he could hear Ron ask Hermione accusingly, "You never told me you'd a younger sister!"
"I don't!" she shot back but her voice lacked the usual steam as she stared at the bushy red head before her, "At least not that I know of."
"Oi, Gred and I are supposed to be the only twins around here!" George said in a tone of mild amusement. He seemed to have recovered enough to find the situation funny.
"Maybe, these people took Polyjuice potion spiked with youth potion to make themselves the younger versions of Fleur, Ginny, Ronnie, Hermione and Harry here!" suggested Fred half-heartedly, squirming uncomfortably under the scrutinizing gaze of the newcomers who stared at him as if he were a ghost, their faces visibly going pale.
"-and perhaps transfigured later, so they may not look their exact copies!" added George scientifically.
That remark caught Mr Weasley's attention who along with Bill and Charlie, pointed his wand at the strangers.
The turquoise haired boy spoke calmly, "Mr Weasley, we mean no trouble. Give us a chance to explain and you may decide."
"Arthur, they're just kids!" Mrs Weasley said aghast, her eyes not wavering from the woman who resembled Fleur so much.
"Not all of them." Bill mumbled darkly, watching the turquoise haired boy and the blonde girl suspiciously.
"We are from the future. Our Aunt invented a time-turner which could travel years-"
"Impossible!" Hermione cut in sharply, wearing an expression somewhere between disbelief and curiosity.
The boy gave her a strange look, his lips curling into a tiny smile. "Not for our Aunt, I believe. She's absolutely brilliant!"
Hermione flushed at the looks she kept receiving from the visitors at that statement, although for what, she wasn't sure.
"Anyways, these boys" he pointed a stern finger at the jet-black haired boy, Harry's replica and the shy one behind the bushy girl, "found the time-turner and thinking they could turn back the time by a day or two, spun it two turns, not realizing it was the newly invented one, and that they had in fact, set the time two decades into the past. Nothing happened for a while, that's when I came in, along with the girls, to reprimand them when we were transported back in time." he finished gesturing to the surroundings. "Well, here we are!"
"We're very sorry, Teddy. We didn't know it was the newly invented one." Harry replica tried in a placating tone at the eldest boy, who was called Teddy.
"Sure, you didn't realize it, but playing with time-turners in itself is dangerous." Teddy hissed, "Look where it's landed us Al and now, we're stuck in 1997! You boys are going to have a lot of answering to do to your parents when we get back!" he threatened.
So, Harry's replica was called Al. He wondered what the full name was. The threat seemed to be working wonders on the boys, as they had to grace to hung their heads in shame.
Arthur Weasley finally taking things into control demanded Teddy, "How do we know you're telling the truth? Your story is too ludicrous to be feasible, and the times are getting dark, son. Unless, you've a way to prove it, we will be forced to believe you're not what you claim to be."
Mrs Weasley gasped loudly, realizing something. "Arthur, they came to the Burrow. They must be related to us!" she said, watching all the red-head children, who grinned back at her with affection.
Mr Weasley, although caught off guard by that revelation, didn't lower his wand. For one thing, Harry supposed it was totally disconcerting, if he were completely honest with himself, to see the supposed future Weasleys if that was even true, but the resemblances were hard to be mistaken.
Teddy looked at the blonde girl, silently communicating with her before finally speaking, "We will reveal snippets of your life known only to you, and that will settle any doubts you may have in regards to our story. Using the truth serum will reveal too much, and may jeopardize the time-line."
Mr Weasley nodded in agreement, "I guess that's fair enough!"
"I will go first, Ted!" the blonde girl said cheerfully, walking towards a surprised Bill and Fleur, and stopping a foot away from them, "You hooked up with your curse-breaker colleague Deborah Robbins, whom you never had any interest in, just to make Fleur jealous!"
Harry had never seen Bill Weasley turn red before. He had to say it was kind of creepy. He also couldn't help wondering where the Weasley men got their weird idea that making their loved ones jealous was the way to go about winning their affection.
"And you," pointing at Fleur, "were so furious with that woman and hated her that you slipped Puking Pastiles into her morning juice, and then made poor Bill propose to you seven times before you finally accepted!" the girl went on with a knowing smirk.
Fleur couldn't hold back her surprise. "'ow did you know zat? It was our special secret!"
The blonde girl turned back to Teddy once again, and when he gave her a reassuring nod, she answered Fleur with a huge grin on her face, "It's lovely to see you again, Mum!" looking at Bill she said, "and Dad, don't you look dashing!"
To say they both were shocked would be an understatement. Fleur looked unsteady on her feet while Bill stood dazed. Here they were being greeted by their 17 year daughter, even before they got married.
"You're my daughter." Bill said blankly. It wasn't a question. He looked faint.
"Sorry, Dad. I just had to blow your secret." the blonde said, looking not at all regretful. She swiftly turned to her mother, taking both her hands in hers, "I don't know how long I will be here, but if I make it till your wedding day, can I do you up, Mum? I swear you will look tres magnifique, and I don't think if any daughter ever gets such an opportunity! Please?" she pleaded, eyes alive with excitement.
Even from a fair distance, Harry could make out the Veela charm working it's magic as Fleur accepted the girl's offer with a weak smile.
Mrs Weasley teared up at the touching scene, "We have a grandchild, Arthur. Such pretty one too!"
"Yeah, we have." Arthur Weasley mumbled. Harry supposed after preparing for days to have his eldest son married, it would have come as a shock for Mr Weasley to have become a Grandpa; and being one so soon and so abruptly must be overwhelming to take in.
"If your satisfied, then we can establish that we're indeed from the future and if anybody still harbors any doubts regarding it, we will be obliged to quell the fears to rest by imparting our knowledge of your deepest secrets!" Teddy said brightly.
Nobody contested fearing their embarrassment. It was clear these kids were from the future; the expanded Weasley family by the looks of it.
"Well, before we begin the introductions, we must inform the Order members. They will want to hear this." Mr Weasley said quietly.
"I will message them in." Bill said, making a hasty exit. It was obvious he was in very serious need of some air. Fancy being called a father by a beautiful young woman even before admitting 'I do' to her mother.
Harry noticed Teddy's face drain of all color at this announcement. He seemed to be fighting for composure, fisting his hands at his sides until his knuckles turned white. The blonde girl seemed to have noticed it too as she walked upto Teddy and placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. It didn't take a genius to tell they were a couple. Teddy tried to smile at her but faltered. Harry looked away. It felt as if he were invading an intimate space.
Mrs Weasley couldn't contain herself anymore, "I know we have to wait for introductions, but there's no harm in knowing a little bit. Just tell me how many of you are my grandchildren."
To Mrs Weasley's absolute pleasure, all of them except Teddy raised their hands. She looked at him in polite inquiry.
"I'm not one of them, but I still call you, grandma!" Teddy supplied looking uncomfortable, "In fact, the kids who're here are only half of your grandchildren present. You have more back in our time."
That answer seemed to satisfy Mrs Weasley who smiled warmly at all of them and beckoned them to the kitchen. Once there, the timid boy filled his plate to the brim in a gesture so reminiscent of Ron, while the bushy haired redhead looked at the boy with unconcealed disgust.
"What? I'm hungry!" the boy defended himself, while munching on his food reverentially, "by the way grandma, your cooking is as delicious as I remember!"
Mrs Weasley flushed happily at being called grandma so much so that she further filled the young boy's plate. It had been a while since anyone had seen her look so happy.
The girl was plainly annoyed and when she caught sight of him and Hermione staring at her with their mouths wide open, she grinned, flashing her teeth that were a bit larger in the front. Ron looked just about ready to faint, because the resemblance between the woman standing next to him and the young girl was striking.
That young, bushy haired, red head had to be Hermione's daughter and the horrifying possibility of the father being one of his own brothers occurred to Ron. It was like being trampled by a herd full of elephants. He felt suffocated.
An aching pain washed over his chest, the intensity like no other he'd ever felt before. It was the agony of heart-break that threatened to overwhelm him. What was he even thinking? Vying for her attention, trying to woo her. She was too smart, too beautiful and too damn kind to belong with someone like himself who lost his temper at the least provocation, had self-esteem issues, and constantly swore.
No, Hermione was classier than that. She had chosen one of his brothers who'd all excelled in their own away. Charlie was strong and adventurous, Percy although admittedly a prat, but has knowledge and skill to challenge her, the twins were hilariously funny and were smart enough to manage their own business and lastly, there was him with his lanky profile and countless freckles, wanting to become an Auror just because his best friend wanted to be one too. He was pathetic, there was no way Hermione would've chosen him.
Blinking back tears threatening him, he turned to face Hermione whose gaze was fixed on the young boy hogging the food. It was like looking at a younger version of himself. She caught him staring at her, and looked at him with a burning intensity in her eyes that made his throat go dry.
Ron tore his gaze away from her to his younger version. Only then, did it hit him. He had a son. Blimey, a son! He barely registered that fact when something else occurred to him. He was a father which meant there was a woman involved. A woman who was clearly not Hermione. He had a sudden urge to throw up. He was certain of his eternal love for Hermione, and yet his future-self had still went on and had...well...relations...with another woman, and as a result fathered a child.
He didn't know what sort of a monster his future-self was. He felt disgusted with himself. He had to be a scarlet man. Why had these kids come? He'd hoped, at least a little, that he'd a chance with Hermione. But, all the dreams he'd built around her had come crashing down. Ron could hardly breathe. He needed to leave and quickly stormed away from the living room, mumbling some incoherent excuse.
Harry was surprised by Ron's sudden exit and was about to follow him, when a gentle hand on his shoulders stopped him.
"I will talk to him." she said softly, and Harry understood she needed to this. He nodded with an encouraging smile.
As Hermione approached closer and closer, she heard the unmistakable sound of Ron crying from the room. Her heart wrenched painfully and before she could stop herself, she pushed open the door to find Ron on his knees, lying on the floor. His fringe hair stuck to his forehead, his eyes bloodshot from crying, tear streaks visible on his face.
"Hermione?" he called out hoarsely.
She made her way to his bed, throwing her arms around in a tight hug, "Ron, what's wrong?" she asked concerned. He felt warm and she placed a palm on his forehead.
He pulled away from her looking at her with unconcealed pain. For some reason, Hermione felt like she was the cause of his misery, and whatever it was she was desperate to take it away. She'd hardly ever seen him crying except at Dumbledore's funeral.
"Please tell me, Ron. What's wrong?" Hermione implored.
Ron just stared at her for a full minute before he spoke. And when he did, he was relieved his voice sounded steady.
"You married one of my brothers!" he said in matter-of-fact tone before he lost his nerve, "I mean in the future. That makes you my sister-in-law. You shouldn't be here comforting me like this, Hermione!"
Hermione froze in front of him. Her eyes went wide and her face became white as sheet. Her eyes were glistening with unshed tears and after what seemed like ages, she finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper, "W-Why do you say that?"
"Because the girl with the bushy hair looked so much like you, only she had red hair and blue eyes. The girl's father had to be one of my brothers." Ron said quietly, not meeting her eyes. Even to him, his voice sounded so emotionless and flat, "and the boy opposite to her resembled me so much. He had to be my son." his eyes closed at the thought. A very minute part was happy that he had a kid but the major part of his brain was distressed that it wasn't Hermione who mothered his child.
"But...but I thought the two kids were s-siblings!" Hermione said in a trembling voice.
Ron laughed humorlessly, "Good one, Hermione. You thought wrong. They are not." he looked away, "I mean, they can't be!"
Her eyes flashed dangerously at him. He saw hurt there, and even anger in them. He felt a pang in his chest, but beyond that he was confused, and heart-broken.
"You don't know or you don't want them to be, Ron?" Hermione demanded furiously, tears leaking out of her eyes. His heart ached for her and he reached over to brush away her tears, but she beat him to it. Before he knew, she left the room in a huff and slammed the door shut with a loud thud.
Ron stared at the door feeling confused and hurt. Why did he have to fall in love with a girl for whom he would never be good enough? Worse yet, she was going to be his sister-in-law. She was going to be his family, but not in the way he wanted her to be part of. Sure, he used to like Fleur and for a while was even infatuated with her but it didn't hurt him when she fell in love with his brother, Bill. He was happy for them.
This was different. This was Hermione, the girl he loved for three years, the love of his life, his soul-mate or at least, so he thought. Shut it, Ron. Stop thinking about her like that. But, his heart and his brain felt disconnected. He felt jealous of his brothers one of whom caught her fancy and her heart. For his own selfish reasons, he hoped it was Charlie. At least in that way, he would be seeing her less and less...
Tears burned his eyes and he let them fall freely. Nothing made sense anymore. He felt his life wasn't worth living, there was nothing to look forward to. Sure, he had a kid but he didn't feel anything for him. What sort of a father was he, anyway?
Which girl would've taken him in the future? Was it Lavender? He immediately brushed the thought away. The kid didn't even look remotely like her. Coming to think of it, the only feature which was different from himself was that the kid had curly red hair. He tried to remember the color of his eyes but couldn't. He was tall like himself, pale and unbelievably freckly, but there was a maturity in his face that Ron couldn't place. He was incredibly shy and had his monstrous appetite. Ron smiled a bit thinking about the boy. His son.
Hermione felt like she had been slapped. She had officially been rejected by Ron. He couldn't even stand the possibility of the thought of having kids with her. The agony was too much and her vision went blurry. She blindly made her way towards her bedroom. On the stairs, she ran into someone.
"I'm so sorr- Oh Harry!" she cried, throwing her arms around him.
"Hermione, you look dreadful!" Harry's face was filled with concern as he held her. "What happened? Where's Ron?"
She looked aggravated at the sound of his name, "I'm never going to be good enough for him, Harry. He doesn't even like me." Hermione cried out angrily. She felt hollow inside, and her heart was shred into thousand pieces. She had never admitted her feelings for Ron directly to Harry although she was certain he already knew about it. He seemed surprised by her outburst.
Harry pulled her into Ginny's bedroom, locking the door behind them.
"You know that's not true. The bloke's crazy about you, Hermione!" Harry assured her but she backed away.
"Don't LIE to me Harry Potter! Don't you DARE lie to me! I know the truth, now. So, spare my feelings!" Hermione sobbed as she said this.
Harry ran a helpless hand through his hair. "Hermione, tell me what happened?"
"I suggested to him the kids who resembled me and him might be siblings but Ron was thoroughly repulsed by the idea. He didn't even favor it." Hermione's knees gave in and she collapsed on to the floor, "He ac-accused m-me of marrying one of his b-brothers in the future. It was aw-aweful, Harry!" Hermione sobbed harder, curling her knees upto her chest and resting her head down.
Harry was too shocked to say anything for a while. He couldn't believe Ron had said that.
"You don't know what it feels to love a person who didn't love you back in return." Hermione's voice came out muffled that Harry had to strain closer to hear. Harry felt bad for her, because despite what Hermione believed he did know how it felt.
"I will never lie to you, Hermione. At least not in matters as these, Ron loves you. I know he does." Harry insisted but when she didn't reply, he moved closer and whispered, "Besides, I think the two kids are yours and Ron's as well!"
If nothing had affected her, that did. She turned to him with a tear-stained face, a faint blush making it's way to her cheeks.
"Why do you think that?" she asked in a small voice.
Harry grinned at her, "Because of the way Hermione Jr. looked at Ron Jr. while he ate or the way he hid behind her timidly. All these actions are so reminiscent of you and Ron. There was no way they could be anything except siblings. The boy looked younger, and the girl is a perfect blend of you two. Besides, there's no denying the girl kept throwing meaningful looks at you and Ron!"
"I suppose so." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"Come off it, Hermione. You practically had kids with the bloke and you're doubting his love for you? This is getting ridiculous." Harry said in exasperation.
Hermione's face burned in embarrassment, "Technically, we didn't have kids yet. And just so you know, even if I do believe the kids were siblings and were indeed ours" her cheeks flushed pink, "I'm sure Ron would want to change everything in this timeline."
Harry started to feel annoyed, "Hermi-"
"No Harry. You listen to me. You didn't see the way he looked when I talked about kids. He was thrown off by the idea. He wouldn't want me, let alone my kids. If you really want to help me, then just leave me alone!" she snapped at him. All the resentment and rejection bubbling up inside her was ready to burst through the surface.
Before Harry could argue further, a knock was heard, and he got up to undo the locking charm. Ginny was standing at the door, seeming surprised and a bit uncertain.
"Can I come in, Harry?"
"Of course, it's your room anyway. Umm...I was just..me and Hermione were talking!" Harry stammered, allowing her in. He didn't know why he felt so nervous. His heart beat sped up rapidly, and heat burned his neck.
"The Order members are here. Kingsley, Remus, Tonks, McGonagall and even Hagrid. I have never seen this place more cramped. Everyone's in the garden and Dad's giving them a recap of everything. I was asked to fetch you both. Are you alright, Hermione?" Ginny asked, looking concerned.
"Yeah..I'm...I'm good." Hermione said. Her eyes were bright but otherwise she looked fine, "Did you call Ron too?" her voice rose an octave higher as she said this.
"He's already in the garden, actually." Ginny informed her, looking unconvinced but she didn't press further.
Hermione nodded and left the room. Harry was about to follow her when Ginny stopped him.
"Harry, just a minute" Ginny said, stepping closer to him.
He turned around to fully face her and his breath caught in his throat at the hard blazing look she was giving him, "Yes?" he croaked.
"Do you believe them, Harry? About the time-turner? About the future? About everything?" Ginny asked, her caramel brown eyes were boring into him.
"Superficially, the answer is too good to be true but deep in my heart I think I believe them, yes." he answered her truthfully, "and you?"
She smiled wryly, "As much as I like to think my Mum's contraception potion had failed, I know it is not the truth. The girl happens to be my future daughter and I very well know who the father is!"
Harry looked at her carefully, "And if all of this is the truth, are you afraid of it's implications?"
"Are you?" she countered.
"I asked you the question first but to answer you, no, it's everything I dreamed of and more!" Harry admitted truthfully.
"Damn it, Harry. Yes, I want this. Merlin, I want this so badly it hurts. I want all of this to be true, I literally pray for it!" Ginny said, "I love you, Harry and regardless of what the truth is, I will always love you!"
Before he could stop himself, Harry leaned forwards and kissed her. She matched his fervor with her own as she fisted his hair, and deepened the kiss further. They broke apart just as quickly, resting their foreheads together.
"I love you too, Gin" Harry whispered, holding her face, "I love you so damn much! There's nothing in the world I crave for more than to be with you"
A single tear escaped her lids, which he kissed it away. The atmosphere between them was still charged, still intense but they let go off each other.
"Promise you'll never give up on us, Harry?" Ginny asked him beseechingly.
He kissed her forehead tenderly, "If there's anything that's worth fighting for, it's us, darling!"
Ginny closed her eyes at the sweet endearment. Her heart constricted painfully but she held on to the hope these future kids presented. She had asked him not to give up, there's no way she was going to do otherwise.
They left the room quietly, fearful of what the future withheld for them but at the same time, drew comfort and strength from each other's presence.