I used the prompt 5. Ask
Contains spoilers from Cursed Child
Summary: Hermione has something really important to discuss with Ron
A Kiss Gone Wrong
Hermione had put the niggling topic aside for the past few days. With everything that had gone on with Albus and Scorpius, she thought their own lives of little importance. But now that the Time Turner had been destroyed once and for all, and the boys were safely back at Hogwarts in the right time and reality, she needed to confront him about it.
Ron was at the kitchen bench, clearly embracing his day off work, for he was not yet dressed. The morning's issue of the Daily Prophet was lying to his right, while he was eating from a bowl at the same time.
Seeing Hermione enter, he smiled. "Hey," he said.
Hermione smiled at him.
"Seems that Ginny's power at the Prophet has more influence than the sports section, after all." Ron indicated the paper. "The front page is all about the potion explosion in Diagon Alley yesterday."
"The Ministry may have had something to do with that to," Hermione said lightly, coming to sit on the stool beside him. She'd not yet put her formal robe over top, making it a lot easier to do so.
"Money?" Ron asked, taking another bite of his cereal.
Hermione shook her head. "A threat that anyone who even thought about putting it in would be out of a job the next day."
Ron grinned. "You know, sometimes I do like you as Minister for Magic."
Hermione shrugged. "There's no point in putting them through any more than what they've been through. Besides, imagine seeing one of our children plastered on the front page for an error."
"A big error," Ron reminded her. "One that almost had us hating each other, me married to Padma Patil, and our wonderful children non-existent. What a world, huh?"
This seemed the perfect time to bring up the topic. "Ron," she said slowly, "there's something I need to ask you. About that visit you paid me at work the other day."
"The one about marrying you again?" Ron asked. "Yeah, I don't mean any time soon. I'd like the kids to finish school so they can be there. And both of us have work commitments and all."
Hermione shook her head, unable to hide a smile. "No, that topic is up for discussion some more," she said. "Definitely wait for the kids, though."
Ron beamed.
"No, this is about that other discussion we had. Well, it wasn't really a discussion, because you just told me, you know?"
When Ron didn't seem to understand, Hermione sighed. "Listen, Ron, I know this is a delicate topic, and I'm sorry if I upset you in anything I have to say, but… I think having another baby is out of the question."
Ron choked on his spoonful of cereal. "Hermione, what the –"
Hermione held up a hand. "Let me finish first. If you'd come to me five years ago, then it might have been an option, but we're in our forties now, and I know we technically live longer than Muggles, but it's still pretty old to be having more children. I mean, Rose and Hugo are teenagers now. Do you think they want a little brother or sister running around and annoying them?"
Ron's breakfast sat forgotten on the bench in front of him. "You have Wrackspurts in your head, Hermione."
"Ron, I just don't think it's possible," Hermione continued. "You obviously feel strongly about this, but… my job is very demanding, and having to care for a newborn as well as the whole wizarding population in Britain… I'm not that organised. But, I'm willing to take you up on that offer of a holiday."
"A holiday?" Ron said, frowning. "You never want to take holidays."
"Yes, but if it's the consolation for not wanting another baby, then I'm sure I can squeeze a week in somewhere."
Ron nodded, and then shook his head. "Wait. Okay, so let's set this straight first, before I agree to anything. You think that we should go on a holiday, because you feel bad for me, because apparently I want another baby?"
Hermione nodded.
Ron frowned, thinking. "Is this some delayed reaction to the baby we lost after Hugo?"
"What? No. Of course that is something I still think about, but I've made peace with that. This is about you coming to me the other day and telling me you'd really like another baby… or a holiday."
Ron's eyes widened. "I said that?"
Now it was Hermione's turn to be confused. "Yes. You stopped me out the front of my office. You were quite adamant about it, too, actually. And I felt awful afterwards, because I kind of brushed you off. You said you wanted another baby or a holiday."
A moment of silence fell over the couple, and then suddenly, Ron burst out laughing. "I think it must have been a dream, Hermione! Listen, our kids are great. Two of the best ones out there and I love them. But another baby?" He laughed again.
Hermione frowned. "So… you don't want one?"
"Ha, no! We're too old for that. Even I'll admit it."
"Then what was all of that stuff you were telling me the other day? When you cornered me near my office?"
"I didn't do that, Hermione. That definitely wasn't me. Either you've been dreaming, or you've got me confused with another bloke."
Hermione frowned again, her confusion apparent. She was watching the floor when she said, "But I remember. I'd just finished a conversation with Harry, and then I'd turned and you were – oh."
"Oh what?"
Hermione looked up at him, her face suddenly pale. "I think we need to have a chat to Albus and Scorpius again."
"Bloody hell, Hermione! One minute you're talking about babies, and the next you're talking about kids who aren't even yours. Did you get enough sleep last night?"
But Hermione was no longer listening to him. She was on her feet, her robes in hand. "Ron, get dressed. We need to pay a visit to Hogwarts!"
"Again! Hermione, I thought we were shot of that place!"
"Just get ready, Ron! We need to talk to our nephew!"
…
A cry of surprise escaped Minerva McGonagall as two people fell into her office from the fireplace. She clutched her chest, looking at the intruders.
"Hermione? Ron?" She looked between the couple. Hermione had that look of determination about her that told Minerva she had come here for a purpose. From the look Ron was wearing, his wife had not explained anything to him.
"We need to speak to Albus," Hermione demanded.
"Albus? Is everything okay? I considered the matter of… the Time Turner resolved?"
Hermione shook her head. "This is a more personal matter." She looked down at her wrist watch. "I must be at work in thirty minutes, so I'd like to deal with the matter quickly."
Stepping forward, Ron nodded. "Don't worry, Professor," he said, "I'm just as confused as you. I have to live with this."
Hermione shot her husband a warning look, but Ron only grinned.
"Please get him," Hermione said.
Sensing the urgency, Minerva nodded. "Very well. Though, I doubt it will do good for his self-esteem being called away again."
Hermione heeded the headmistress little attention, instead moving to an armchair by Minerva's desk. "Harry and Ginny will be arriving soon, too."
Looking questioningly at Ron – whose only response was to shrug – Minerva left the pair in her office. When she returned with the Potter boy, Harry and Ginny were also in there.
"What's going on?" Harry demanded, looking between Minerva, Albus and Hermione.
Hermione got to her feet, staring at her nephew.
"Albus," she said, and the boy's eyes widened. "That day you and Scorpius took the Time Turner –"
"Is this necessary, Hermione?" Ginny asked.
Hermione ignored her. "This is important, Albus. I need to know, did you disguise yourself as your father, or Ron?"
A silence fell over the room. Albus had briefly mentioned taking Polyjuice Potion, though it'd been something he'd avoided going in to detail about.
"I, er –" His cheeks were a bright pink as he attempted to avoid his aunt's eye. "I was Uncle Ron." His shoulders sunk.
"Hermione, what does this have to do with anything?" Ron asked.
Hermione turned to the other four in the room, folding her arms across the chest. "I believe," she began slowly, "that your son," she looked at Harry and Ginny, "took Polyjuice Potion to transform himself into Ron. Just after I finished a conversation with you, Harry, who I thought was Ron cornered me by my office." Now it was her turn to look embarrassed, but Albus' whole face was the colour of sunburn now. "He was… rather affectionate with me. I didn't realise until Ron appeared to have no idea what I was talking about when I asked him about the conversation we supposedly had."
"You mean all that gibberish you were rattling on about this morning was actually Albus?" Ron said, turning to his nephew. Albus appeared thoroughly defeated.
"Albus?" Harry asked.
"Did you kiss your aunt?" Ron said.
When the boy said nothing, the reactions in the room were completely different.
Minerva was standing with her arms folded, a look of slight amusement on her face. Harry and Ginny both had their mouths slightly open, looking between a red-faced Hermione and an even redder Albus. A laugh erupted around the room as Ron doubled over.
Hermione frowned at him. "Well, that settles it," she said. "At least I now know that Ron isn't planning to have another baby. It really worried me, you know!"
"Another baby?" Ginny said. "You told Hermione you wanted another baby?" She was staring at her son, who nodded.
Ron roared with laughter.
"Well," Minerva interrupted. "I think that settles the matter then. Albus, I suggest you return to your breakfast before class starts. As for the rest of you… you have jobs to go to, don't you?"
Albus couldn't leave the office quick enough. He said nothing to his four family members standing in the room, but hurried through the door, most likely to tell Scorpius what had happened.
Still chuckling, Ron was the first to move to the fireplace. "But the holiday is still on offer, right?" he asked Hermione.
Hermione looked at him, confused. "I… sure," she said.
Ron grinned.
"Certainly not what I expected to hear this morning," Ginny mumbled, standing behind her brother. "Honestly, that boy…."
"Clearly desperate," Ron said. "I mean in finding that Time Turner!" he added hurriedly after everyone else gave him a look.
"I suggest you leave," Minerva said.
They entered the fireplace one-by-one, Harry and Ginny returning home, and Ron and Hermione returning to their own place.
When he stepped out of the fireplace, Ron turned to his wife. "You know," he said, "I may not want any more kids, but it doesn't mean I'm against the process of making them."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm late for work," she said, kissing him. "I'll see you tonight." She grabbed a handful of Floo Powder as she stepped in again.
"Well, there's always tonight!" Ron called as green flame spread about his living room.
"Keep dreaming," came the reply.
Ron smiled briefly, before returning to the kitchen and to his breakfast. He shook his head. "Another baby," he said. "What on earth was Albus thinking?"
I just really felt like this scene needed to be written. I mean, Hermione could not have let something like that go undiscussed. It was one of my favourite scenes in Cursed Child - which, yes, I did like!
