Unexpected
Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the Harry Potter franchise. I am just an overly obsessed fan who likes to borrow the characters for my own little thrills. The rights belong to the very talented J.K. Rowling, who is responsible for the literacy of a generation with the creation of Harry Potter. I will put back the characters when I am done with them, perhaps even use an obliviate charm for good measure.
Chapter Three: A Little Less Than Expected
"Chloe Ann!" Hermione yelled. At once, a bright faced little girl appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Coming mommy!" a small, lively voice called. A young girl bounded down the steps. As her little feet rushed, her abundance of curly brown hair swished in every direction. Chloe reached the last step, out of breath and a little red in the cheeks, looked up at Hermione.
"It's almost time to go! I thought you wanted to stay at Aunt Ginny's to play with Lily?" Hermione said. She scooped up her daughter and hugged her tightly.
"I was just finishing packing. I have my licorice wands, my chocolate frogs, my drubles, and my coloring books. I also packed a few books for Lily and me to read," Chloe said vivaciously as she returned her mother's hug.
"My dear daughter! You are staying for a night! You need pajamas, a pillow, a blanket, and your toothbrush! If your grandma and pappy could hear you talking of all those sweets, they would have kittens!" Hermione laughed.
Chloe sighed exaggeratedly. "I'll repack," she said reluctantly.
"I'll help you baby doll," Hermione laughed. Chloe and Hermione climbed the stairs and entered Chloe's messy bedroom. The little girl's room was covered in unpacked clothes and books. Hermione smiled warmly as she grabbed Chloe's favorite pajamas, her Chudley Canon themed ones that Ron had given Chloe for her fourth birthday. Hermione folded them neatly and placed them in the little suitcase embroidered with Chloe's name on it. Chloe was unwillingly taking out the many chocolates and other candies out. She hid some chocolate frogs under the pajamas, and Hermione pretended not to notice. Hermione also added a few more outfits in the suitcase, along with Chloe's Gryffindor themed pillow and blanket. Chloe placed a few of her favorite fairytale books in the nearly over packed suitcase. Hermione zipped it up, and Chloe struggled in lifting it up.
"There you go baby. Did you forget anything?" Hermione asked, glancing around the room. Chloe also looked around, and her eyes landed on her favorite stuffed dragon sitting on her bed, half hidden from view thanks to the clothes flung over the dragon.
"I almost forgot Norbert!" Chloe cried. She ran to grab the green dragon with the missing beaded eye. Hagrid had given that to Chloe when she was first born. As Chloe grew, Hermione told her stories of Hogwarts, and the story of Norbert, Hagrid's dragon, came about, and the name just stuck. Chloe hugged Norbert close to her.
"Now, remember what I said. Uncle Harry is probably going to be in a sour mood. From what Aunt Ginny's told me, Harry and your Uncle Ron are having trouble tracking down a potentially dangerous dark wizard, and Harry is really upset. So make sure you and Lily are extra good," Hermione said, kissing her daughter's forehead. Chloe looked up Hermione with eyes, eyes like her father's, still unknown to everyone but Hermione.
"Yes mommy," Chloe said impatiently. She was anxious to get going. Lily was waiting for Merlin's sake!
"Okay, let's go!" Hermione said. She grasped Chloe's little hand in her own, and apparated to Ginny and Harry's flat that was right down the road from Hermione and Chloe's house.
A loud pop sounded as Hermione and Chloe came out of the suffocating darkness of apparition. The Potter house was running amok, and Hermione and Chloe's arrival went unnoticed.
"JAMES SIRIUS POTTER! YOU GET THAT AWAY FROM YOUR SISTER'S HEAD!" Ginny shouted. A particular rambunctious four year old was holding a bull frog close to a crying girl. James' devious smile flashed, and he released the frog on his twin sister's head. Lily let out a great scream and ran around like mad, trying to get the frog out of her red hair. James laughed and ran away from his mother's hands. Hermione rushed over to Lily and snatched the frog from Lily's tangled hair. Lily calmed down, and ran to hide behind Chloe. Ginny finally caught James, and fear leapt into his wide brown eyes. Ginny sighed and carried him off to a little stool in the corner of the sitting room.
"Ten minutes in time out James! Stay put!" Ginny said. James jutted his lower lips out in a pout, but turned to face the corner. Ginny rolled her eyes and gathered Lily in her arms. "Kids," Ginny muttered.
"Hey Gin," Hermione said in a soft hello. Ginny smiled warmly at her best friend and goddaughter. Chloe was a spitting image of her mother, only her eyes were not of Hermione's color. They belonged to the unknown father.
"Hey 'Mione. What's up?" Ginny said, hugging her Hermione.
"Not much. Thanks so much for taking Chloe tonight. The minister called me and said I would be needed tonight to help prepare for the big case against Mundungus Fletcher for trafficking house elves for rare and stolen goods. Then on Monday, I have to defend Hagrid! It turns out he snuck yet another dragon onto school grounds. The ministry is looking to have him fired! It's shaping up to be a long case!" Hermione said. She worked as an expert lawyer in the fields of Magical Creatures and the handling and mishandling of them.
"Well, at least you have an exciting job! I get to chase two kids around all day!" Ginny said. She then smiled at Chloe. "And you don't have to thank me for taking my little Chloers! She's always welcome here!" Ginny crouched down, and drew Chloe into a fierce hug.
"Well, I have to get going soon. I need to go back to the office in about two hours. I am going to go home and eat before I am forced to leave," Hermione said. She was about to apparate before Ginny grabbed her arm.
"Stay for dinner. Ron is bringing Hugo over to play for a little bit, then he and Harry have 'business' to attend to," Ginny said. Chloe perked up at Hugo's name. Hugo was Ron's two year old son. Ron, after becoming an auror, married Lavender Brown. A grave mistake it turned out to be. A year into the marriage, Lavender became pregnant. She did not want to have a baby, so after giving birth, she packed up, signed over her parental rights, and moved onto other things. Last time Hermione had heard, Lavender was living with some guy known for inexhaustible drug use. Ron was heartbroken over Lavender's abandonment, but loved Hugo more than anything. Chloe also thought Hugo was the cutest thing. At five years old, Chloe was like a big sister to little Hugo.
"Please mommy! Stay!" Chloe begged.
"Okay, I'll stay," Hermione smile to her daughter.
It was not even twenty minutes later as Ginny and Hermione were in the kitchen, making a large supper of steak and kidney pie and treacle tarts. As dinner neared being finished, another pop resounded in the flat. Harry appeared, silent and solemn. He smiled a bit as he kissed Ginny and hugged Hermione.
"Hello Harry. Dinner's almost done. Where's Ron?" Ginny asked.
"He went to the Burrow to pick up Hugo," Harry responded making his way into the sitting room. James shrieked at his seeing his father. James ran and hugged Harry's leg tightly, and Lily mimicked his actions claiming Harry's other leg. Chloe laughed in glee. She ran up to Harry and he picked her up and hugged her.
"How's my little bookworm?" he whispered to Chloe.
"I'm good. I am staying tonight! I have loads of new books my mommy bought me. Can you read them to me and Lily? Please, oh please?" Chloe asked.
Harry chuckled as he set her down. He nodded and tousled her uncontrollable brown hair. He picked up the twins and hugged them as well.
"Dinner!" Ginny called from the kitchen. The kids and Harry bustled to the kitchen table. The kids sat at a small table reserved just for them. Hermione took a seat opposite of Harry. As Ginny was setting down plates and goblets, another pop broke the dinner clamor. Ron appeared with a sleepy eyed little boy. Hugo was rubbing his blue eyes with a little hand. Before Ron could even take a step into the kitchen, three pairs of little feet rushed over to him.
"Uncle Ron!" James, Lily, and Chloe shouted in unison. Ron gave them all a big one armed hug as he precariously balanced Hugo. Ron set his son down, and the little boy toddled to the table where the other children were sitting.
"Hey guys," Ron said. He hugged Ginny and Hermione, and clapped Harry on the back. "What's for dinner? I'm hungry?"
"That's nothing new," Hermione teased gently. Ron smiled warmly at her. Ginny served the dinner, and there was small talk and light laughter. After the meal concluded, Hermione stayed long enough to dress Chloe and hug and kiss her goodnight.
"Nighty night baby doll, I love you," Hermione said kissing Chloe on the cheek. Chloe responded with a big hug.
"Goodnight mommy. I will see you tomorrow! I love you too!" Chloe said.
"Goodnight Lily and James," Hermione said, hugging the twins.
"Night Aunt Mione!" Lily yawned. James waved goodbye. Hermione hugged Harry, Ginny and Ron goodbye. Hugo was already fast asleep on the couch. Hermione gave the small red head a kiss on his freckled forehead. Hermione was about to apparate when Ron grasped her hand.
"Wait 'Mione," he said softly, "let's walk."
"Okay," Hermione said softly. Ron picked Hugo up. After another farewell hug, Hermione and Ron and Hugo left.
"I see Chloe's wearing the pajamas I got her for her last birthday," Ron commented.
"Yeah. They are her favorite pair. You should see her when I try to wash them. You would think I was threatening to kill her dearest friend!" Hermione said, a small giggle rising in her throat.
"Ah, a young Canons fan in the making!" Ron said smugly.
"You know she has not the slightest idea who the Canons are! She likes them because you got them for her!" Hermione laughed.
"Listen 'Mione, the reason I asked you to walk is because, well, you see, the Ministry is having it's annual Christmas Party, and well, I was just wondering, if you, would, you know, want to go with me, as my date," Ron said in a jumble of stuttering and pauses. Hermione was pleasantly surprised. She stopped walking, and Ron followed suit. She smiled at him.
"Yes Ronald, I would love that very much," she said. She looked up at him with darkening eyes. He gazed down at her with a reciprocal lusty look. He leaned down and grazed his lips of hers, soft and chaste. She moaned against his mouth, and tried to deepen the kiss by weaving her fingers through his soft red hair. He placed his free arm around her waist. The kiss only lasted a few minutes as Hugo began to stir.
"How about we finish this at my place?" Ron asked as he nuzzled his nose in her brown hair. She moaned slightly, but sadly had to decline his very tempting offer.
"Oh, how I wish I could. I have to leave soon. Big case I need to work on tonight. Maybe tomorrow night?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"I don't know. Harry and I are going out of town for a few days on business. I will return on Wednesday. How about then?" Ron asked.
"Sounds like a date," Hermione said. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on his full lips.
"Wednesday it is then," Ron said. He hugged her briefly, and unfortunately had to let go.
"I better get going. This little guy is so tuckered out. I need to put him to sleep for the night," Ron said, giving Hermione one last goodnight kiss.
"Yeah, I have to go to. See you on Wednesday then," she said. He waved goodbye, and apparated to his flat. Hermione walked the short distance to hers, and grabbed an overnight bag. She hurriedly packed it, apparated to the Ministry, and began working. Thoughts of Ron swirled in the back of her mind, and a small smile appeared on her lips from time to time.