Disclaimer: I own nothing
Chapter 4
"This is a fabulous park" Hermione gushed as she looked around it. Just as promised the following weekend Ron took Hermione over to Bill and Fleur home to look around the neighborhood. Hermione couldn't stop gushing at it.
They found a house about 2 blocks away from Bills that was for sale and Hermione fell in love with. It was a modestly sized house with 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. It had a decent back and front yard with a basement and garage. As soon as they returned to Bills house Hermione quickly called her parents to help get in touch with the Real-estate agent to go about looking more into the house and possibly purchasing it.
By that time Dominique and Louis had woken up from their afternoon naps and Fleur suggested that they take them to the park a few blocks away so she could get some of the cleaning in their rooms done. Ron and Hermione happily took them.
The kids were excited to go with Their Uncle and his finance (who they called 'aunt Hermione' despite them being unmarried) and had grabbed their hands eagerly and dragged them in the direction of the park. Once there the kids ran off to play with the various other kids already there.
Ron and Hermione stayed at the sidelines watching all the children play with the other adults.
"what in the world is that?" Ron pointed at some kids swinging back and forth.
"It's a swing" Laughed a woman next to them. "Have you lived under a rock?" Ron looked over looking offended but Hermione next to him coughed into her hands to cover up her snickering. He glared at her and she immediately stopped, but couldn't hide her smile completely.
"Sorry Ron." The woman laughed again next to him.
"I'm sorry too. I'm Laura, by the way, I'm Michaels mom" She reached her hand out to shake theirs.
"I'm Hermione, and this is my Fiancé Ron. We're Dominique and Louis aunt and uncle." She introduced them.
"Oh, yeah the new kids. Michael says they are very polite. Unusually so. I find that so refreshing."
"Well they come from a great family" Hermione said. Ron grabbed her hand next to his. "we're actually looking at that house on Bloomsberry RD to buy."
"Aww you going to start a family? This is a great place to do that." Laura proceeded to tell them more about the neighborhood which had many bonus features such as neighborhood watch and block parties. "I live right off of Bloomsberry RD actually, just a few houses down. You should stop by sometime after you move in for some tea."
"We'd love that Laura, thank you. This really sounds like a nice neighborhood to live in. And the school isn't too far away either isn't it?" Hermione questioned her more about the area, but Ron had tuned them out. He was staring across the playground looking out for his niece and nephew, when he saw a streak of long messy black hair jump off the top of the jungle gym screaming in delight.
He smiled as he watched her run around the other side and climb up to do it again. She seemed fearless, Again and again she repeated the process, Jump off the jungle gym, run around a circle, climb up and do it again. Dominique decided to join in the fun as well and started following the girl around and jumping too.
"That really doesn't look safe Ron, go tell them to stop." Hermione stated, breaking him out of his thoughts.
"Oh come off it, its only like 3 feet. Let them have their fun." He protested. Though smiled a bit at her annoyingness. He knew she'd be a great mother, she always had the obnoxious over protectiveness of one.
"Its all fun and games till someone breaks something." Laura said. Hermione nodded in agreement and gently shoved him off the side of the curb they were standing on.
"Oh alrighty. You don't need to shove. That's not safe either you know" He mocked. He moved quickly away before she could punch him in the arm. Ron approached the girls and grabbed Dominique mid air as she jumped off the side. She giggled and wiggled to be put down.
"Again uncle Ron" She squealed. Ron Lifted her to the top where she was jumping off and tickled her a bit.
"its not safe, so no" He stated. She pouted started to cry at being denied her fun. "Don't cry Dom."
"Don't worry. Lots to do here." The little girl with black messy hair came up the steps and sat on her knees next to Dominique and patted her on the shoulder.
Ron looked over at her smiling, and froze. The little girl looked up at Ron and smiled at him, unfazed by his sudden stillness. Staring back at Ron was a pair of almond shaped emerald green eyes.
Rons breath seemed to halt in his chest as he looked into those familiar eyes. One name repeated in his skull over and over again. "Harry"
"Its not polite to stare Mr." The little girl said firmly.
"This is uncle Ron. He's my uncle" Said Dominique.
"It's still not polite to stare." The little girl stood up and climbed down the steps behind her to run off to the swings. Ron snapped out of the trance he seemed to be in once she was out of view.
"No more jumping Dom" He said, giving her a peck on the cheek and running off towards Hermione. He was unable to shake the image of the little girl's eyes from his mind, and he had to tell Hermione immediately.
Laura and Hermione were still chatting up about the school system when he approached them. He didn't know if he should mention the little girl to Hermione in front of Laura or not but was having a hard time trying to get her attention so he could pull her aside. Hermione looked over at Ron curiously as he was unusually silent. He was staring off across the park at the swings where the little girl was swinging higher and higher next to Dom."
She reached her arm around him and put his head on his shoulder.
"Looks like your niece found a friend." Laura commented.
"so it does. I don't believe she's had much of a chance to make too many so far" Hermione said.
"Oh she will soon. Evelyn is pretty popular."
"Evelyn?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, the girl she's playing with. Her names Evelyn. She's with me" Laura responded. Ron looked from Laura to Evelyn several times, not seeing any resemblance at all.
"Is she your daughter?" He asked curiously. Laura gave a slight laugh.
"Oh gracious no. But I wouldn't mind. She's an exceptionally kind and intelligent little girl. I watch her twice a week while her father goes to classes."
"You watch someone else's kids? what about her mother?" Ron was confused. Why would this girls parents need someone to mind her?"
"Not everyone has a stay at home mom Ron. Remember?" Hermione said, trying to smooth it over. Minding someone else' children for them while they worked was something Hermione was sure would confuse him. Wizarding families normally had the mother stay home, or had another family member mind them.
"I don't know anything about her mother" Laura said. "Its just her and her dad.
He teaches kindergarten at the local school. Anyways, I must be going, I need to get these two to their naps. It was nice meeting you." She said. She walked off shouting for her son and Evelyn who ran up to her immediately.
Ron and Hermione walked over to a bench nearby and watched the children play some more. Ron was trying to come up with a way to broach the subject of Evelyn to Hermione, and Hermione sat there contemplating what could be running through Ron's head. Eventually Ron gave in and decided it was best to dive in.
"That Evelyn girl, has green eyes." He stated simply. Hermione looked at him curiously, not sure what he was getting at. "They were the same shape as Harry's"
Hermione's face softened at that. She bit her lip a little as she thought of what to say. She really didn't think this girl had anything to do with Harry but for some reason it seemed to have shaken Ron up.
"Ron, I..."
"She looks like him too." He interrupted her. He was still staring at the swings where Dominique was pushing Louis. Hermione put her arms around him tightly and turned his head to look her in the eyes."
"Its not him Ron." She said simply. Ron stood up and walked a few feet away from her. He felt really exasperated, his heart increasing a bit in his chest at the annoyance of her denial of what he saw. He turned around to face her again.
"And why not? Why cant' it be him?" He demanded.
"What makes you think it can be? A few minutes ago you were confused about the fact someone else is watching someone's kids, Now you believe that this girl could be Harry's." Ron averted her eyes and took a few deep breaths, trying to keep his temper.
"I don't know Hermione, maybe he got married, had a kid, moved on with his life."
"Without us?" She said. The other implications that came with that statement hung mutely between them, not needed to be said. They had put their lives on hold, hoping their best friend would come back to them. Could he had moved on without them, started his own life, his own family? Neither of them really wanted to know the answer to that.
"Oh my, this place is beautiful. You two will be quite happy here." Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as she walked around the new home. Ron and Hermione had decided it was a perfect place to start their family and had dove right in to purchase it. Thanks to her mothers connections they were able to get a good price on it and moved in as soon as possible.
They both decided to not mention the little girl to anyone else. Even though it wasn't exactly a contributing factor, or at least one that Ron would admit to in the purchasing of the house, but Ron felt that he was closer than ever in finding Harry. The house felt right, the area felt right, everything was falling into place. He knew something big was going to happen very soon, he just wasn't sure what.
He walked to the living room following his mother with a tray of drinks that Hermione had handed to him from the kitchen. He passed them out to everyone before sitting down next to Ginny on the couch, who was flipping through a Witch Weekly, handing her the last drink.
"This is a nice place you got Ron." She said, putting down the magazine. "I like how you decorated it. Especially the baseboards." They both looked over to the bottom of the nearest wall where the baseboard was a shocking color of Chuddley Cannons orange.
"I told Hermione that something in this house is going to be that color and I let her pick." He stated with a grin. Ginny laughed at that. Ron must have really put pressure on her to actually give in. She wondered to herself what it could have been, and made a note to talk to her about it later.
"How's work been?" Ginny asked him. Ron sat down and put his arm around the back of the couch.
"Pretty good. Now that the Easter rush is out. Now its smooth sailing till the summer crowd. People wanting to buy and test their pranks over the summer before going back to Hogwarts"
"Sounds extremely exciting" she said sarcastically.
"It is exciting! And what about you? How's the Harpies? They won the last 3 matches. They could have a shot at the championships yea?" He inquired. The doorbell rang interrupting her answer. Ron got up and went to the door, unsure on who it would be. Everyone they invited was already there by apparition into the backyard. With the backdoor wide open people just walked in and out.
Ron opened the door to see Laura standing there with a pile of cookies on a plate.
"Welcome to the neighborhood!" She said loudly, smiling. She handed him the cookies. Ron's heart kind of leapt a bit. She was a Muggle and he had a whole house full of wizards. Ron smiled at her and thanked her for the cookies, wondering if he should invite her in. Luckily Hermione came up behind him, and he decided it would be best if she made the decision. She smiled at Laura in greeting.
"Hey, come on in Laura, the whole family's here, you should meet them" She said. Laura held up her hands in protest.
"Thanks but I got to get going, I need to pick up Michael and Evelyn from preschool" Hermione put a small frown on.
"well feel free to stop by anytime" And with that Laura left. Ron closed the door behind them and looked at Hermione.
"Come on in? Are you trying to expose us?" Ron said exasperated. Hermione tuttered and walked away, Ron following her. They entered the living room to see everyone sitting here perfectly, looking as any other Muggles. No tricks, or flying cups or anything.
"I saw her coming up the walk and once you went to answer the door I told everyone. Honestly Ron. You think I'd just invite her in without prep." Ron looked at her, face starting turn red in embarrassment. "But this is a good lesson. We'll have to keep this place somewhat Muggle friendly."
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Ron had been gone for four days and Hermione was both lonely and annoyed. They had only lived in their new house for two weeks when Ron had gotten a message from Dean at the ministry that there was a sighting of harry in the highlands of Scotland.
He had gone off without delay. Ever since that day at the park when Ron saw and believed that little girl was Harry's, his obsession for finding Harry seemed to have doubled. Ron's claim of going off was that he wanted to finally move on with his life and had to keep searching as long as possible. Hermione knew he just couldn't shake the image of the girl from his mind and was desperate to prove something now.
She missed him dearly, and though he communicated frequently by sending Owl's and flewing, it wasn't enough. She wanted him home. And though she was ready to admit it to herself now, she wasn't quite ready to tell Ron yet, but she wanted him t stop looking for Harry.
Hermione was reclining on the couch in the living room reading a book comfortably when the doorbell rang. She jumped slightly from the sudden loud sound and annoyed with herself she answered the door to see Laura standing on the other side looking somewhat frazzled.
"Oh, I'm so glad you're home Hermione." She said breathless.
"Is everything alright?" Hermione asked opening the door wider to allow her in.
Laura stepped into the door, followed by too little children standing close behind her. Hermione looked down at them smiling, thinking if she had any sweets In the house to give them"
"I'm really sorry to ask this Hermione, but, my mother, she's elderly and there was some accident at the home where she's at and I need to get to the hospital. And I couldn't get a hold of anybody else to help. And I know you don't have children or even know me or the kids well but would really owe you one if you could watch the children" She spat out in one breath.
Hermione looked at her alarmed. She's never watched children alone before. She was about to decline, stating she couldn't possibly take care of them. Trying to come up with a quick believable reason to get out of this, but Laura looked really desperate, and Hermione felt kind of sorry for the woman.
"Yeah, I'll be happy to take them" She said resigned. Laura's face split from the anxious expression to a bright grin. Hermione couldn't help but notice that the difference really made her look much prettier when she smiled.
"Oh thank goodness." She said relieved. She quickly reached into her purse and pulled out a pen and paper and started scribbling, talking as she did. "Ok, here is my cell number. its the best to reach me at. and here is the number I'll be at. Evelyn's father will pick them up after his class, which will be about sixish. Here's his cell number if there's an emergency or something. I'll leave a voicemail on where the kids are." She handed Hermione the paper with all the numbers on it.
"I really do appreciate this." She turned around and pulled both children into her arms and gave them a big hug and a kiss on the top of the heads. "Now you two behave. If you don't Hermione will tell Evelyn's dad" She threatened, squeezing them again. "Thanks again" She said once more before making a quick exit.
Hermione looked down at the two children. The boy, Michael, she remembered, looked up at her expectantly, while the little girl, she knew was Evelyn looked towards the living room curiously. She didn't know what to do at that point. They didn't have many toys considering Ron and her didn't have any children.
"Did you guys eat lunch?" She asked, grasping for a starting point. Michael looked brighter at the prospect of food and Hermione couldn't help but smile at him. He was a typical boy. "Come on, I'll make you something to eat" She said and started walking to the kitchen.
Both children followed her into the kitchen, she could tell that Evelyn was less enthusiastic about staying with here than Michael was, but she tried not to let that get to her. She never was much of a person for children, however being with Ron all these years with his family extending quite quickly had broken her out of that for the most part fairly quickly.
Both children sat at the table politely waiting for lunch while Hermione went behind the counter and took out some bread. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were a staple in the Muggle world, from what she remembered of being a child and proceeded to make three. She gave each of them a handful of chips and a glass of milk each. She couldn't help but feel a flutter of happiness as she saw the excited looks on their faces as they dug into their sandwiches happily.
Hermione sat across from Evelyn and picked up her own sandwich. But she paused mid bite as Evelyn looked up at her briefly and she saw the little girls green eyes. Her heart stopped for a second.
Ron was right.
That's all that would run through her head over and over again as she watched the little girl eat her lunch. She reached for her milk and Hermione saw how she grasped it carefully with both hands tightly around it and brought it slowly to her lips, taking little sips instead of big gulps just the way Harry drank.
As she lowered her glass Hermione was brought back to her senses. Telling herself to calm down. This couldn't be Harry's child.
Or could it.
Could Harry really be this close for weeks and she not even know it. Could they have found him weeks ago, but her determination to deny who this child was stopped them? So many questions ran in her head. She took a bite of her sandwich, willing control over herself. She was Hermione Granger, She would think this out logically as always. Always look for answers before jumping to conclusions.
Now that she had that out of the way the next question was if she wanted to wait for her father to show up after six or if she should try to find out some information before he arrives. But she didn't quite know how to interrogate a little girl. She debated trying to get a hold of Ron to help her, but quickly nixed that idea, afraid that Ron's desperation to find answers may scare her.
Michael finished his meal first. And looked at her with sticky hands. Evelyn she noted was a slower eater, kind of like Harry was.
'stop that' she chided herself. 'don't go making leaps and comparing them'
"Why don't you go to the bathroom down the hall and wash your hands then you can watch some TV" Hermione suggested to Michael, deciding she may get some better answers with him not lurking around interrupting. Michael cheered and leaped from his chair and rushed down the hall. She could hear the water running in the bathroom and had a sinking feeling that there would be a mess for her to clean up later. She sincerely hopped this would be worth it.
"So Evelyn" Hermione started, trying to think of a few easy questions first. "um, how old are you?" She asked. Evelyn put down her sandwich and looked straight at Hermione with a piercing looking, almost suspiciously. She had to use a lot of willpower to not shiver. Defiantly like Harry. The doubt was slipping further and further from her.
"Four" She said simply. Hermione gave a small encouraging smile, trying to seem friendly.
"Oh, so your what? in kindergarten? or preschool?" She asked.
"Preschool" Evelyn picked up her glass of milk again and took a gentle sip. Hermione also took a sip from her glass, trying to come up with some more questions. The child didn't seem to want to talk much, which dismayed her a bit.
"Do you like to read?" She grasped out, trying to break the silence and keep her talking. But the little girl had seemed to have lost interest and pushed her plate away.
"can I go watch TV with Mike?" She asked. Hermione let out a small silent sigh of disappointment before nodding yes. Evelyn jumped from her chair and ran to the bathroom to wash her hands. Hermione just sat there, her head resting on hand, trying to think of what to do.
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The children were well behaved, and Hermione was eternally grateful for that fact. They sat nicely together in front of the TV watching some children's programming. Aside from some audience participation where they both would shout at the TV, it was a good afternoon.
Hermione sat behind them on the couch with her book. She couldn't concentrate on reading, she wanted to question Evelyn some more but couldn't figure out how to broach the subject with her. She seemed quite happily content to watch the TV show with Michael. She sat there just staring at the back of their heads for the most part.
The phone ringing brought her out of her thoughts. Both kids looked back at her expectantly as she got up to go answer it.
"Ill be right back" She said, walking into the kitchen. She sat on the stool by the phone and answered it knowing who it was. The only people who would call would be her parents. She spent about 20 minutes talking to her mother. She tried asking her how to go about getting answers from a kid without actually asking her mother what she wanted to know, which frustrated her to no end when she finally hung up with her and didn't have any new ideas. She wished she had time to go to a bookstore to pick up some books on it.
When she walked back out to the living room she was startled to see only Michael sitting in front of the TV.
"Where's Evelyn?" She asked him. He didn't even look at her, just shrugged his shoulders. Hermione walked down the hall and saw the open bathroom door. She looked all around the bottom floor before heading upstairs. She looked in the first two bedrooms with no sign of Evelyn. Finally she found her sitting on the floor of the bedroom she shared with Ron.
"Evelyn you scared me. What are you doing up here?" Hermione said loudly coming in the room. She was slightly nervous about what might be up here, as they kept most of their magical things upstairs. Evelyn looked up from the book she was looking at, it was a photo album full of wizarding pictures. "Hey, how about you hand me the book sweetie" she said calmly, trying to come up with an explanation that may satisfy the girl.
"Its dad!" She exclaimed. Hermione's arm dropped at that, and yet again her heart skipped a few beats.
"Dad?" She asked hesitantly.
"Its my dad, he's here see." She tipped the book upside down a bit as she could, as the book was very heavy and was pointing at a picture. Hermione Dropped to her knees and scooted towards her and looked at the book. She was pointing at a picture of Harry.
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TBC