Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. This writing is for pure entertainment only.
Summary: Set in the distant future, happily ever after would not last, and Hermione is no longer safe in a dangerous world. Will her children find a way to save her before everything in their world is destroyed?
Chapter 21
Rose and Scorpius left Ron in the living room of the Burrow and moved quickly up the stairs to join the rest of the teens from the future. They found Albus, Hugo, James, and Lily all in the room the boys were sharing.
Rose and Scorpius quickly shuffled in, closing the door behind them and turned to meet eager looks.
"Did you speak with your father?" James asked.
Rose glared at him, her eye still swollen. She was still made about her injury and turned her head, ignoring him.
"Come off it, Rose." Albus spoke up, motioning to James. He was still mad at his brother too, but he knew it was nothing they could deal with right now. "We've got bigger things to worry about right now…"
"Yes." Rose said swiftly, her voice almost angry. "I spoke with him."
"And?" Hugo asked, clearly anxious to know if his future was going to be tested.
"He agreed to come." Rose said.
The range of emotional reactions to this statement was wide. Albus looked pleased, while James and Hugo looked uncertain, and Lily looked upset.
"He also agreed not to tell the rest of your parents." Scorpius added.
"Well that's pointless, isn't it?" Albus asked, running a hand through his brown hair.
"Why?" Rose didn't understand why Albus would think that was a bad thing. She thought it was good to keep her mom and aunt and uncle out of the loop.
"Because the second Aunt Hermione notices Uncle Ron's missing she's going to ask a million questions." Albus knew his aunt so well.
"Oh…right…" Rose sounded defeated. She had not even thought about that.
"Well then, we will have to tell them." Lily said finally.
Hugo nodded his head in agreement, his red hair moving up and down. "We should wait though…until they are all gone. That way, mom can't stop them."
"Well, you won't have to wait very long then…" Rose sighed, nervously shifting her hand through her brown locks and pacing a bit.
"Why not?" Hugo asked, turning to his sister.
"Because we are leaving tonight." Rose said.
"Tonight? That's so soon!" Lily panicked. She thought she would have more time to take Rose out of, what she considered, an idiotic plan.
"It was my Dad's idea, actually." Rose said.
"Well, at least we know he is on board then." James commented.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rose snapped. She had been waiting for a chance to have a go at James since before dinner.
James felt his face go a bit red but kept his head held high. "I just mean…its good to see your father's priorities are in order…"
"They are always in order!" Rose seemed to growl, taking a step at her older cousin. She knew James thought too highly of himself and often criticized his Uncle Ron for presents he would give his children, such as real broomsticks at a far to young age, and how he would sometimes put his children in dangerous situations, like the time he and taken Rose to see a dragon for her ninth birthday and nearly burned her hands off.
"I just meant…he's young right now." James explained. HE knew he could be rude toward his uncle's behavior sometimes, but he did love his Uncle Ron at the end of the day. "Its good to know…he cares enough to do this…"
"Just shut up, James." Lily glared at her brother, seeing how upset it was getting Rose.
James just nodded, his face still red as he looked away from his brown-haired cousin.
"Let's just focus on the task at hand…" Scorpius put a hand on Rose's shoulder to calm her down. "We are leaving at midnight tonight…so we have some packing to do…"
"Very little." Rose told him. She had been packed for days, ready to leave. "Just food."
"I'll go ask Grams for some…" Hugo offered. He knew his grandmother knew Rose would be leaving to look for horcruxes, and was certain she wouldn't mind giving up some food for the trip. He also wanted to get away from the tension in the room. He quickly moved out the door.
Ron knocked on the door to Ginny's bedroom, knowing Hermione was in there alone. He had passed Harry and Ginny on the stairs in deep conversation.
"Who is it?" Hermione's voice rang from the other side of the door, though she sounded tired.
"Its me." Ron answered.
"It's open." Hermione said.
Ron jolted Ginny's door open to see Hermione busily grabbing a blue t-shirt and white pajama pants from her drawer. She was tightly wrapped in a white towel, which hugged her small baby bump, her hair still wet from her shower.
"Oh…sorry…" Ron's ears went red. He had not meant to walk in on Hermione like that, not that he himself minded. She was gorgeous, and he couldn't explain why, but the bump in her belly made her look even more beautiful to him. "I'll just…wait outside…"
Hermione gave a tired laugh, smiling softly at Ron. "Relax, Ron. It's not like you haven't seen any of this before…" She motioned to her naked body under her towel.
"Well…actually…technically…I mean, I don't remember…" Ron reminded her, his eyes not meeting her brown ones.
"Oh…right…" Hermione nodded, the humor from her voice as she turned her back to Ron, slipping the pants up under her towel before tossing the towel aside and slipping the shirt on. Ron, of course, saw nothing, her back to him.
Ron winced. He hated reminding Hermione of how they had gotten into the pregnant situation; how neither of them could remember it. Though, he now knew it was meant to be; he knew the child Hermione was carrying had the potential to save the world, even if she didn't know that yet.
"Hermione…I am sorry…" Ron started.
Hermione turned, a small fake smile on her face. "Its quite alright, Ron. I don't remember either, remember?"
Ron moved over, wrapping his arms around Hermione's waste and feeling her slightly protruding belly touch his stomach. He knew this was the last time he would see her for awhile, he knew he would be leaving to hunt horcruxes and she wouldn't understand where he had gone. He did not want his last memory of her to be her upset. "It doesn't have to be like that, Hermione…"
Hermione's tired brown eyes locked with Ron's, and she could feel her breathing hitch as she stared into his blue eyes. They were beautiful. She was so happy Rose had inherited them. "W-what?"
"I love you." Ron whispered, moving and kissing her neck gently. "You know that…don't you?"
Hermione pulled slightly away so she could look him in the eye. She studied his face for a second and could see he meant every word. It made her smile. "Really?"
"Of course, silly girl…" Ron kissed her forehead. "How could I not?"
Hermione looked down at her slightly swollen stomach and Ron followed her glance. He shook his head, knowing Hermione was thinking about all the trouble she had caused him by getting pregnant. He gently put a hand under her chin and lifted it so they were eye to eye.
"Hermione…we are in this together…I mean that, no matter what…no matter where we are or what we are doing or how far apart we may be…" Ron told her, almost desperately.
"Ron…" Hermione breathed his name.
Ron didn't know what had come over him, but suddenly being with Hermione, knowing every inch of he, seemed so important, in case he never got the chance again. He kissed her lips softly. "I want to remember this…"
Hermione's breathing hitched even more, and her hands moved to Ron's chest. "Y-y-you do?"
Ron nodded, his eyes full of desire. "If you want…"
Hermione seemed nervous but slowly nodded, whispering. "Just…be gentle…"
Ron grinned at her widely. He wouldn't imagine being any other way. He kissed her softly and leaned her back onto her small bed, using a silencing charm on the room and his wand to lock the door in one swift second.
Hermione laughed a bit.
"What?" Ron looked surprised, glancing down at himself. What was so funny?
"You really know spells when you need them, don't you?" Hermione laughed as Ron straddled her, careful not to put any pressure on her small hump of a stomach.
"Killing the mood, Hermione…" Ron teased her back.
Hermione just smiled a little more, reaching up and lacing her fingers through Ron's hair before pulling him back down for a kiss.
Ron enjoyed the kiss more then anything and noted that their first time should have been like this, not some drunken haze that neither of them could remember. This felt right to him; even if there was a chance he would nto get to see Hermione for weeks now, what they were doing at that moment was everything he could have ever wanted. He leaned down, kissing her again before gently pulling his own shirt over his head and seeing her smile even wider.
Hugo moved into the kitchen where he found Molly cleaning some plates and George and Arthur sitting over tea, discussing the Quidditch World Cup that was coming up shortly. All three of them glanced up at Hugo when he entered.
"Hugo…" Molly smiled at her redheaded grandson. "Can I get you something, dear?"
Hugo looked around nervously for a moment. "Where is everyone else?"
"Everyone went upstairs I think." Molly said, and then lowered her own voice. "Is something up?"
"Uh…well…you know about what Rose is doing…right?" Hugo wanted to double check.
"You mean the horcrux hunt?" George whispered through a devilish grin. "We know all about that…"
Hugo just nodded.
"Is there something the matter, dear?" Molly asked, her voice filled with concern.
"Well…she and Scorpius are leaving tonight…" Hugo started.
"Before Christmas?" Molly seemed disappointed.
"Come now, Molly…I think what they are doing is a little bit more important then Christmas…" Arthur spoke up.
"Yeah, plus it will save us many more Christmases." George added.
"Oh true…" Molly nodded, and then turned back to Hugo. "Did she ask you to come tell us that, dear?"
"Uh…no…not exactly." Hugo shifted his feet; very similar to how Ron did when he was nervous.
"I am telling you, a miniature Ronald!" Molly clapped her hands together at Hugo.
"Rose needs some food…for the trip…to start them off I guess…" Hugo busted out, suddenly.
"Of course, of course…" Molly nodded, very serious again. "I should get on that…enough fro her and Scorpius?"
"And my dad…" Hugo added softly.
Molly, who had turned to begin to make sandwiches, stopped and glanced back at Hugo. "What?"
"My dad…he's going with them…" Hugo suddenly found his shoelaces very interesting.
"And leaving Hermione?" Molly sounded suddenly alarmed.
"They think it's smarter if he goes…he's done this all before…" Hugo explained, slowly glancing up at his grandmother.
"Might be safer for the two kids…" Arthur added.
"That's what Rose thinks…" Hugo told his grandfather.
"She is a smart girl…" Arthur nodded.
"Or an idiot. Depending on if they all get killed or not…" George said, sipping the last of his tea.
Molly glared at George, causing him to duck his head a bit and then shifted her attention back to Hugo. "So Ronald knows about everything then?"
Hugo nodded. "We are going to tell my mom and Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny once they all left…"
"So tomorrow?" George reasoned. "That should be interesting…I'll have to take off work…"
"How could Ron just leave Hermione like that?" Molly was shocked.
"Because he knows what's at stake…" Rose entered the kitchen, her voice causing Molly to jump a bit.
Hugo smiled slightly; he was relieved to have someone else explain what was going on.
"Of course." Arthur agreed with his granddaughter immediately.
"Don't worry, Grams, I'll keep dad safe." Rose grinned at Molly, knowing Molly was worried.
"I don't doubt that, dear." Molly went back to making the sandwiches, easily able to tell that no one was budging. Ron would be leaving with Rose and Scorpius in a few hours and Hermione would be alone and pregnant.
"You just need to keep an eye on mom…" Rose glanced around to everyone in the room.
"Of course, of course we will…" Molly nodded, bagging the sandwiches she had made quickly and moving to gather more food. She knew now that the responsibility of keeping Hermione and her unborn child safe would lay in the hands of everyone at the Burrow, which, in a few hours, would no longer include Ron. She knew, given the circumstances, there was no way Hermione would handle that well.
Ron could feel the warmth of Hermione's skin as her naked form lay across his own, the covers tightly around them both, just barely covering Hermione's small, but round breast. He sighed, running a hand through her curls. She was asleep, he could tell by her steady breathing, and he wanted nothing more then to stay with her, just like that, forever.
He glanced down at her mass of curls, wondering if the child she was carrying, the child he now knew was not Rose, would have her curls. As he sifted through her hair he thought about the previous hour they had just shared. They had actually done it; they had made love, and it was every bit as wonderful and exciting as he had hoped it had been when they both couldn't remember it; when the child growing her Hermione had been conceived.
Ron glanced at out the small window to the moonless sky. He didn't want to go, he didn't want to leave the warmth of the bed, or Hermione's side, but he knew it was near midnight; he knew he had to leave soon and meet Rose and Scorpius to begin the horcrux hunt.
Ron sighed; he could delay no more. Slowly, he tried to lift Hermione off of him and wiggle out of the bed without waking her. That, of course, didn't work, and she rolled over, sleepily smiling at him as he threw his pants on.
"Where are you going?" Hermione whispered, a content smile on her face, though her eyes were half close. She was still very sleepy.
Ron panicked. He had to lie now. He couldn't tell her the truth. "Uh…back to my room. Before mum comes up…." Ron remembered that they were in Ginny's room, the one Ginny shared with Hermione, and the story of needing to get back to his own before they were caught would be believable.
"Hmmm…" Hermione nodded, already drifting back to sleep.
Ron knelt down in front of her, kissing her forehead and whispering. "I love you, Hermione…"
"Love you too…" Hermione said half asleep.
Ron just gave her a little sad smile, gently placing a large hand on her baby bump for good measure before moving out of the room. It was easier if he didn't look back. He hated leaving her, especially now, but he knew, in the long run, he was doing the right thing.
Ron quickly scurried down the stairs, noticing that all the lights were out in the Burrow. It wasn't easy to navigate through the cluttered house without light and still not make a noise, but he managed. Finally, Ron was outside, running through the marshy water, his bag swinging on his back as he slowed down, seeing two small lights ahead of them.
"Dad?" Rose's voice was a raspy whisper in the night. She held up her wand, which she was using as a light.
"Yeah." Ron moved and joined Scorpius and Rose who had clearly been waiting for him while, the button of their pants soaked.
"Where the hell were you?" Rose hissed. "We were supposed to leave a half hour ago…"
"Sorry." Was all Ron could say. He certainly couldn't tell his daughter where he had been or what he had been doing.
"Let's just get going…" Rose turned to Scorpius.
"Right." Scorpius nodded, taking Rose's hand and Ron's before Ron could even register what was happening and they disapparated.
A second later, Ron, Rose, and Scorpius fell in a dingy patch of dirt and mud. It was nighttime wherever they were, and the sky offered no light from the moon. However, it was bright where they had landed.
"Where are we?" Ron stood, brushing the dirt off his shirt and glancing up at the source of light. When he saw what was giving off such a strong glow he felt his heart fall into his stomach. He knew exactly where they were; he had been there before, and he hated that place. It was the place he had heard Bellatrix torcher Hermione. It was…
"Malfoy Mansion." Scorpius said, almost proudly. He was glad they had apparated with no difficulties.
"I know." Ron's jaw was firm and set.
Rose looked at her father and realized why he was glaring at the Mansion, which was a good mile away so fiercely, and then she remembered. She knew what had happened there; she had asked her mother about the mudblood scar on her arm many years ago and been told the entire story.
"We need to get the door knocker first…" Rose said. "But for now we should sleep. It would be dangerous to walk up there with no light…"
Ron had to agree with his daughter. He would be suicidal to do that.
"There's a tent in my bag…" Rose glanced to her backpack. "Lets set it up…put some charms up so no one can see us."
Ron looked at Rose hard for a moment, realizing she had listened clearly to all the stories of him, Hermione, and Harry hunting horcruxes now when she was little. He had always thought they had bored her, but he knew there was no way she would be so well prepared for the hunt it she hadn't been paying attention. She was exactly like Hermione.
Hermione slowly made her way downstairs. She was completely drained an she had only been up a half hour. She was tired from the morning sickness she had just dealt with and her body was rather sore. Though, she didn't mind the soreness, as it was clearly only from the night before, the night she had shared with Ron, the best night she had experienced in her entire life.
When Hermione entered the kitchen she found Hugo, Lily, James, Albus, Molly, Arthur, George, Ginny, and Harry all sitting around eating breakfast.
"Good morning dear!" Molly's voice rang, a little to high, a little to fake. Molly was nervous; she knew that Hermione had no idea what was really going on, or that Ron had left.
"Good morning…" Hermione smiled weakly back, taking a seat between Ginny and Hugo. She glanced around the table, a small frown on her face. "Where is Ron?"
"Well, I've got to get to work!" George stood suddenly. He had originally wanted to stay around and see his future niece and nephews tell Hermione all about Ron, Rose, and Scorpius leaving to hunt horcruxes, and about her child being important, but now, upon seeing Hermione's face, George had a feeling things could get ugly, and he did not want to see it.
"Oh…alright then, George…" Molly kissed her son goodbye.
George slide past the table, ruffling Albus' hair and winking at Hugo for good luck before moving out of the room.
Silence filled the room as Hugo, Albus, James, and Lily passed nervously glances to one another, occasionally catching the eye of Arthur and Molly.
Hermione tried again. Maybe no one had heard her the first time. "Where is Ron?"
"I thought he was with you…" Harry said, unfazed as he took a bite of cereal. "Haven't seen him at all…he didn't even come to bed…"
Hermione blushed. She remembered Ron leaving her room late.
"Maybe he's with Rose and Scorpius…" Ginny observed. "They aren't here either…"
Hermione noticed this fact too, for the first time. "Oh, right..." She turned to the children from the future. "Do you know where they are?"
"Well…" Albus glanced at Hugo before giving a nervous smile to Hermione. "Uncle Ron is with Rose and Scorpius.
"Outside?" Hermione glanced out the window to the empty garden, wondering where her boyfriend and daughter were. It was early in the morning, typically Rose wasn't even up yet, but Ron never gave a chance to miss breakfast. Hermione found it strange he was not there, especially if he was awake.
"Outside…somewhere…" Lily nodded. That was not a lie. She knew that her Uncle and cousin and Scorpius were outside and they were somewhere.
Hermione glanced at her niece, raising an eyebrow. Why was everyone acting so cryptic?
"Hermione, would you like some eggs?" Molly diverted Hermione's attention from her niece.
"Uh…sure…thank you…" Hermione watched as Molly piled eggs onto her plate.
"So, any plans for today?" Arthur could see the children were being deadly quiet. He wanted to focus Hermione's attention elsewhere, until Hugo was ready to tell his mother what happened.
"Harry and I were going to head over to Hogsmeade…" Ginny said, taking a bite of her toast. "To Christmas shop."
"That sounds lovely, dear." Molly smiled at her daughter, though her smile was clearly strained.
Ginny nodded, glancing at Hermione. "Do you think you and Ron want to go?"
Hermione shrugged. She wouldn't mind getting out for the day. "I'll have to ask Ron…" Hermione ut her fork down, looking around. "Honestly, where is her?"
James, Albus, Hugo, and Lily exchanged looks once more all four nodding a bit.
Hugo cleared her throat, his eyes down on his plate. "Um…mom?"
Hermione focused on Hugo now, her eyebrows raised. "Yes?"
"We…we've got something we need to tell you…" Hugo said finally.
"Okay…" Hermione said slowly when Hugo did not say anything else.
"Maybe we should go sit in the living room…" James suggested.
"What's wrong?" Hermione could tell instantly that something was not right. It was written on all of the children from the future's faces, but also on Molly and Arthur's face.
"You should all go sit in the living room…" Molly motioned. "I'll clean up in here…"
"What's wrong?" Hermione's eyes frantically searched for someone to give her an answer as she stood quickly.
"Mom…just…" Hugo motioned to the living room.
"No!" Hermione could feel her hormones taking over as she yelled in desperation and her chest heaved quickly. "Someone answer my question! What is wrong? Where is Ron?"
"That's what this is about." Hugo said, sounding defeated. "Mom…dad left…"
"W-w-what?" Hermione stuttered after a second, trying to understand what Hugo had just said. She could instantly feel the tears prickling her eyes. She had made love to Ron the night before, they had conceived a child together two months ago, and now he had left her.
"With Rose and Scorpius…" Hugo could not look his mother in the eye. "They left last night…"
"Left to go where?" Ginny asked, rising from her seat and gently patting Hermione's back as tears began to roll down the pregnant girls face. She gently pulled on Hermione's sleeve and with little effort got Hermione to slide back into her chair.
"It's…complicated…" Hugo glanced at his cousin's for some help.
"Well…you see…" Lily chimed in, hating to see Hugo squirm, but not really knowing what to say herself.
"Look. We are all big fat liars." Albus cut in. He, like Rose, could be blunt when he needed to be.
"What are you talking about?" This time Harry spoke up.
"I'm saying…we lied…to you all…" Albus spoke slower as if his father had just not heard him the first time.
"Lied about what?" Hermione croaked.
"Oh dear…" Molly moved around, placing a comforting hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"We lied about why we are here." Hugo said, his voice quiet and his brown eyes looking down at the table in front of him. "We didn't come as an assignment from Hogwarts…we came because we needed to change things…to save our future…"
"Change things?" Harry's brows furrowed under the rims of his glasses. "What things?"
"That kid…for starters…" Albus pointed to Hermione's bump.
Hermione placed a hand over her stomach as if to protect the life in it. "What about Rose?"
"Its not Rose in there…" Albus said.
"What? Of course it is. She is my first…" Hermione stopped when she saw Hugo, Albus, Lily, and James shaking their heads.
"She's not your first…" Hugo glanced up at his mother, his brown eyes meeting her matching ones.
"W-what do you mean?" Hermione was shocked, her hand still firmly on her hump.
"There was a child before Rose…" James decided to explain now. "And, well, it had special powers…it could defeat Voldemort…"
"Voldemort's dead." Ginny said, matter-of-factly.
"No. He isn't." James shook his head.
Harry snorted at his son. "Of course he is…"
"If he's so dead then why is there a Third Wizarding War?" James shot back. He hated to be called a liar, or wrong about anything.
"Alright…relax." Hugo patted his older brother's chest. "Look…Voldemort managed to figure out a way to live on…Draco Malfoy is helping him...he made horcruxes for him…and in the future he using Aunt Hermione to give birth to Voldemort…or what's left of him…"
"At least that's what we think." Lily added quickly. "Aunt Hermione still hasn't had the baby in our time…"
"Wait. What?" Ginny shook her head as if her children were talking crazy.
"Its confusing…we know…but its true." Lily said. "Draco kidnapped Aunt Hermione…and got her pregnant…with the spawn of Voldemort."
Hermione's mouth opened a little in shock, but then she closed it again. She had no words.
"McGonagall sent us back here…to stop Draco…and to save that baby…" Albus pointed to Hermione again.
"Save…what?" Hermione was trying to understand what was being said.
"The first time around…that baby dies…" Albus said, still pointing.
"Or is murdered." James corrected his little brother.
"What?" Hermione now had both hands on her stomach, protectively.
"Yeah." Albus nodded. "Fucked up, right?"
James rolled his eyes at Albus' mouth. "That's why McGonagall sent us here…to protect the child. Which we have every intention of doing…"
'You're…you're lying…" Hermione said slowly. "You've got to be…"
"They aren't, dear…" Molly spoke up from behind Hermione. "McGonagall came to talk to Arthur and I about it weeks ago…"
"You knew?" Hermione pulled away from Mrs. Weasley, feeling betrayed. "And you didn't tell us…"
"We were only doing what was asked of us…" Molly tried to reason.
Hermione's mouth hung opened and her eyes narrowed accusingly at Mrs. Weasley, though tears were starting to creep into them again as her hands rubbed small circles on her stomach. She couldn't believe the life inside of her was threatened.
"Its not Grams or Grandpa's fault, mom." Hugo told Hermione.
Hermione turned her attention back to her son; her son that shared Ron's red hair. The thought of Ron crossed her mind and immediately she was thinking of him. "Where. Is. Your. Father?"
"That's the other part of this…" Hugo sighed. He had seen his mother this angry only a few times in his life and, up until now, it had never been at him, always Rose.
"They went to go look for the Horcruxes…" Albus sighed. "Rose, Scorpius, and Uncle Ron."
"What?" Harry spoke up this time. Even in the middle of everything he was finding out, he was slightly hurt Ron would go do that without him. "Why just them?"
"Because we weighed it out." Hugo said. "If any of us die here…before we are born…we don't get to exist. We are just…erased…and if any of you die…well then those kids don't get to live, so we figured, since Rose was risking her existence already, and the baby was already on its way…" Hugo motioned to Hermione's stomach. "Then…if my dad got killed with Rose…then just I would be screwed…"
Hermione felt the tears overcome her eyes as she soaked in Hugo's words. Ron had left her, risking his life and their future's in the process, and he had not even said goodbye. Even worse, her own child had gone off and done the same, leaving her and Hugo alone, and if anything happened to Ron, she wouldn't even have Hugo.
Hermione stood slowly. She knew Hugo was telling the truth; she knew everything she had just heard was true, and in some ways, it made sense, looking back on the behaviors of the children from the future, and their interactions with McGonagall as well as their parents and each other. Still, it was all too much too take. She quickly made her way out the door and toward the stairs. She just wanted to crawl in bed and sleep away the nightmare.