Disclaimer: don't own.
That's what happened so far:
"I've missed you too." he said huskily, looking into the beautiful eyes of… Draco's twin sister. Well….
She giggled again and put her lips onto his. Harry didn't know what came over him, but he pulled her nearer and kissed her back passionately. All thoughts of Ginny were driven out of his mind.
"Mmmhhh…" Ella moaned, pressing herself nearer to Harry. To enjoy her company would be an understatement. Harry still hated himself for "betraying" Ginny like that. But otherwise… it was the future… and so much had changed. He kissed Ella back with much more heat, being immensely happy and carefree for the first time in several years.
On with the story…
"Let's go to dinner, Ella, I'm starving." Harry announced breathlessly. "Good idea." Ella smiled and they walked to the Great Hall hand in hand.
Ginny was still shaking when she arrived in the Gryffindor common room. To nobody's surprise, Ron and Dean were playing chess.
"Ron…" Ginny said softly, happily. She hadn't seen him for months now.
"Ginny…" Ron smiled back as well. "Why are you so red? What happened?"
"Oh… nothing…" Ginny answered frowning. She couldn't deal with her brother being a know-it-all right now. "I'm going to dinner."
She had to walk not more than three minutes when she bumped into someone much more welcome. "Ginny what happened?" Luna said airily. "I can see that the Plimpies are flying around your head."
"Oh Luna…" Ginny half-smiled. "I'm just stressed out about something."
"What happened?"
Before Ginny could stop herself, she started to rant. "Malfoy and Harry. Snogging as if there was now tomorrow." she scowled, but Luna laughed. "Ella and Harry are THE dream couple, Ginny. Of course, they snog everywhere."
Ginny couldn't believe it! Had the world turned upside down? She had been Harry's girlfriend for years now! How could he suddenly dump her for that blonde-haired bitch?
Together, they entered the Great Hall and Ginny couldn't help but glance over towards the Slytherin table, where Harry and Ella were cuddling together and kissing now and then. It made Ginny sick to even look at it. Sighing, she tore her gaze away to Luna who was heading for the Ravenclaw table.
"Well, that's it then…" Ginny smiled. "See you later. "
"Why? You always sit with me at the Ravenclaw table." Luna laughed and pulled Ginny with her. What else didn't she know? Ginny didn't like this new future one bit. True, it was peaceful, without Voldemort or Dark Abraxas strutting around, but it still seemed unpleasant enough.
Sighing she fell onto the bench next to Luna.
"Hi Ginny." a voice said on the left of Ginny and she turned around – and almost lost her breath. A breathtaking young man, dark hair, blue eyes, pale skin and a dazzling smile. "You are late." he smiled.
"Yes, I ran into somebody." Ginny smiled back, slightly flushed, piling potatoes on her plate. Who was that mysterious guy?
Harry saw that Ginny was talking to a gorgeous young man he didn't know. He furrowed his brows and glared at them.
"Into who?"
"Ugh…" Ginny waved her hand dismissively. "My brother. He was quite annoying actually."
"I thought you two get along well?"
Oh really? Since when?
"We usually do, but sometimes it gets on my nerves." Ginny smiled.
The boy laughed as well, showing row after row of pearly white teeth. "Same with me and my twin sister. We love each other and can't stand to be far away, but sometimes it's just plain annoying."
Ginny noticed that he was looking towards the Slytherin table in the direction of a girl with dark brown, frizzy hair, smiling to Blaise Zabini. "By the way, I've got the head dorm all for myself tonight. Parvati is away on business." he smirked. WAIT. Ginny knew that smirk from somewhere. And WHAT? Head Boy Dorm? Alone?
"Uhm, that's very good." Ginny flushed deepest scarlet, not knowing what to say.
"Pffff, come on Riddle," the voice of Terry Boot scolded – Ginny noticed that his hair was longer than she remembered – "I wouldn't make it that obvious." Terry and Anthony laughed loudly at that.
Ginny sat in still shock, her face going from red to white. WHAT? That was Hermione's and Tom's grandson?!?????????
"I'm saying the same you said to Cho two days ago." Riddle smirked. "You told me that it was great and it landed her – where? In Roger's arms, I think."
The whole table laughed and Terry's face purpled, but he didn't say anything. "Aww come on, Alex, we are allowed to make some fun." Anthony grinned.
"No, you aren't, quite frankly." Riddle, or Alex, scowled, his features so much like his grandfather. Scary, really.
Ginny patted his arm. "Come on." she said quietly. "I wanted to ask you something about your grandparents."
Oh. Alex Riddle put his fork aside and looked at Ginny, his attention full on her. "My grandparents?" he laughed. "Why would you want to know about them?"
Ginny said nothing but looked at him pleadingly. "Alright, if you promise to come to my head dorm tonight." Ginny sighed. She didn't have another choice anyway. "Fine." she growled.
"Okay, their names are Hermione – my grandmother and Tom Marvolo Riddle." he laughed. "They live on the countryside and just live their lives. Nothing exciting really. Elderly people, if you know what I mean. My grandfather used to work in the ministry, your father was his apprentice, that's why he changed the department, probably didn't get along too well with my grandfather." Riddle laughed again and Ginny listening closely.
"My grandmother worked at Gringotts for a while. But I don't know more about that."
Ginny smiled. Yes, that would seem typical for Hermione. "And what about your parents?" Ginny just couldn't believe it. Of all the people who had to be in Ravenclaw, it had to be Riddle's grandson.
THTHTH
"I can't believe it's our last day!" Hermione shook her head a bit sadly.
"Yes, isn't that weird? We are going to lead totally different lives." Sarah said sighing heartily.
"And I thought that seven years were LOOOONG." Richard grinned. "Oh look, the house elves are collecting our luggage already. And I thought everyone was still asleep at 5 o clock AM."
The Ravenclaws sniggered but fell quiet to listen to the elves' instructions. To Hermione's surprise and anger, Minerva McGonnagal was there as well, explaining how to work.
"I can't stand her voice." Hermione grumbled when she was gone and the foursome heading to their table for the last breakfast. "I mean, she doesn't have any talent."
"Aww, don't be so hard on her, Natalija. It's our last day. You probably won't see her again." Richard exclaimed proudly.
"But my child will. She is going to be a transfiguration teacher. Did you know that?" Hermione asked half-smiling.
"Yes, I did. That's gonna be a blast."
"I'm sure it will." Sarah grinned. "So what are you going to do as soon as school is out, Natalija?"
"Tom and I rented a flat in the outskirts of London. It's quite cosy actually." Hermione smiled. "And tomorrow we are going to do some last-minute shopping for the furniture."
Sarah, Richard and Matthew nodded. "And you are going to be at home until the baby's… well… here?" Matthew asked blushing to his roots.
Hermione and Sarah laughed loudly. "Yes, that's about right. Tom meanwhile will be working in the ministry – thanks to Slughorn. I think the department is called Magical Misinformation."
"He is going to work with my father! What a blast!" Richard exclaimed to everyone's chuckling. "What about you guys? You already know that I'm going to work there as well – though in the department of Magical Sports and Games."
"That suits you, Richard." Matthew grinned.
"Well – that's it then." Hermione hugged everyone with a promise to write them and left with another Ravenclaw the portrait hole.
THTHTH
"Tell me, Ginny…" Alex laughed lightly. "I forgot. How long have we been together now?"
Ginny looked at him flabbergasted. Together? She and the Dark Lord's offspring? No, surely…
"4 months and 5 days to be precise." Luna said in a bored voice. "Honestly, you ask every week." she rolled her blue eyes.
Luna and Alex sniggered into their hands, whereas Ginny couldn't even force a smile. What kind of future was that? She and Harry were meant to be together, but instead, he was with that blonde-haired Barbie and she was with Riddle's grandson. Ugh, Hermione's grandson. Ginny couldn't suppress a shudder. She needed to contact Hermione NOW!
But Riddle had different plans.
"Let's go now, Ginny, we still need to finish our project together. It needs to be handed in tomorrow." Alex explained and Ginny looked lost. What kind of project? Which subject? And why was she doing that project with him?
Alex dragged her up and more or less commanded her into his head dorm. He sounded a lot like the original Tom Riddle, to Ginny's dismay. And that was the person she actually wanted to forget – NOT spend time with him.
And that meant, no letter for Hermione today.
"Who is Weasley talking to?" Harry asked Blaise Zabini evenly who was next to him.
"Her boyfriend, Alex Riddle, he is in our arithmancy class. You should actually know him." Blaise rolled his eyes. "A little know-it-all and a typical Slytherin if you ask me. At least his twin sister is quite the catch." he winked at Harry whose face suddenly turned green.
"What's the matter with you, Snape?" Adrian smirked from opposite Harry. "You seem very… interested. Besides, I saw you talking to Weasley today. You never talk to her. What happened?"
To Harry's dismay, Blaise and Adrian leaned closer, keen on knowing the whole story. Harry groaned. At least Ella wasn't listening in. She was talking to Riddle's sister.
"Look, Weasley and I BOTH had to see Dumbledore, that's why we were both there and talking together." Harry said, eyeing the two boys with a hard glare. "Besides, what's it to you?"
"Don't be offended, man. I was just curious" Adrian shrugged half-heartedly and helped himself to another éclair. "By the way, have you already talked to Flint? He was furious that you didn't come to practice." Adrian grinned.
"No, not yet." Harry sighed. He had to send a letter to Hermione – ASAP – though Flint was the most important, inevitable obstacle that held him from going to the owlery right now.
THTHTH
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Hermione gasped, hugging Tom tightly.
They were in their flat now, had furnished the flat and were now sitting on their balcony, admiring the view.
"Yes, it is." Tom said stiffly, though his face said more than words. "By the way, did you notice something?"
Hermione looked around. "WHAT? I can't believe it. You are totally right! It's just like the flat we had to design together in charms!" She jumped up. "Exactly like that!" Even the colours were the same.
Tom smirked his famous smirk. "A little slow on the uptake, aren't we?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes. "You run around with a belly that big and not be slow on the uptake! I'd like to see that!"
"No offence." Tom laughed loudly. "By the way, that reminds me. Maybe now we can open the box, Professor Du Reau gave us, because we are now in sync AND we even have the same flat. It should open now."
Hermione seriously doubted it – she hadn't told him about their time-travel and the future didn't plan on doing so until they were old and wrinkly – but she kept the key nevertheless.
Tom stood in front of the box and eagerly took the key, putting it in the lock and turned it. Hermione and Tom both held their breaths.
Nothing happened.
Nothing whatsoever.
"Ugh! I can't believe it!" Tom said furiously, slamming the key onto the floor in frustration. "I thought we were completely in sync?" He looked at Hermione accusingly. "Are you hiding anything?"
Hermione gasped, but quickly pulled herself together. "No, how can you even think that!" she said outraged. "Maybe you are hiding something?"
Tom hadn't told her about the former death eater meetings. He didn't want to worry her and the times were over anyway. It was a stupid school-boy thing, those meetings – Tom assumed – and so he didn't see any need to tell her.
"No, of course not." Tom answered, his mask perfectly in place. "Maybe it will never open and it was just a joke."
Hermione nodded, although she was unconvinced. They COULD open the box – sometime in the far future. Hermione would make sure of that.
THTHTH
Draco Malfoy was wandering through the streets, alone and thoughtful. His graduation from Hogwarts wasn't what he expected it to be. His friends were either travelling the world or they were busy tonight – like Hermione and Tom.
He hung is head. It had even started to rain heavily.
Draco sighed again and noticed that he was in the Muggle world. 'Not to worry.' he told himself. He still had some muggle money left and decided to go to a café. He needed something to warm him up and to distract him, and being in the wizard world didn't make it easier for him.
He walked into a beautiful, rather posh café – it wasn't out of the ordinary for him to dine like that – he was already used to it. Although he felt a bit out of place with all the muggles, he quite liked the atmosphere and sat down at a nearby table.
"Good afternoon, sir. What can I do for you?" a waiter wearing a black suit asked, smiling brilliantly at Draco.
"Could I have a cappuccino please?" Draco asked him, equally friendlily.
"Sure. Would you like to have a look at the menu as well?"
"No, thank you." Draco shook his head and the waiter left. Draco leaned comfortably back in his chair, noticing the glamorous interior of the café. He was astonished to say the least – especially since it was in the muggle world.
It was then that he noticed a girl at the table next to him, who was alone and unmistakably shaking with silent sobs. Immediately, Draco felt sorry for her.
The crying girl looked up when she noticed that someone was watching her. She immediately blushed and wiped her tear-stained eyes.
Draco couldn't help but stare. She was very pretty, despite her watery eyes and smeared make-up and he immediately felt drawn to her.
Tentatively, Draco smiled at her. He couldn't lose anything, could he?
"Hello." he said quietly. "Can I help you, Miss?"
The girl smiled back weakly. "Hello… and sorry for…that." she motioned at her eyes and smiled a bit more. "No, actually, I don't think you can." she sighed again.
"What happened?"
The girl's mouth sagged again. "My fiancé left me today for another woman." she said quietly. "He met me here, and – well – told me everything." she started crying again.
Draco immediately felt sorry for her. Although she was a muggle, but he couldn't just leave her in that state.
"Would you like to sit with me at my table? Then we can talk a little bit – it might make you feel better."
What had gotten into him? He acted like a bloody Hufflepuff.
The girl's whole face lit up considerably and her blue big eyes sparkled. "Really? You would do that? That's wonderful!" Smiling happily and showing a row of perfect white teeth, the girl sat down with Draco at his table.
"Another cappuccino." Draco said to the waiter, obviously even forgetting to add 'please' which caused him to look sour.
"Now tell me, I would like to know everything. By the way, my name is Maxim Krum and I'm from… Russia." Draco said imperiously.
"Russia? Wow! My name is Jessica and I'm from London."
THTHTH
It was late in the night and Alex Riddle was snoring beside her. Grumbling angrily, Ginny gave up on sleep and decided to write a letter for Hermione, in order to send it off tomorrow.
Good idea. Ginny smiled grimly and got up.
She walked into the head's common room and picked some paper and a quill.
But where would she start? Luckily, Hermione and Riddle were still alive. And so were their grandchildren and his parents.
Dear Hermione,
Ginny thought, biting her nails nervously. She had absolutely no idea what she could write. Hermione had been one of her best girlfriends for a long time, but she couldn't write anything. Ginny huffed. She was a Gryffindor after all and could master everything. Furiously, she dipped her quill in the ink and completed her letter within a short time.
Hm, it couldn't hurt to send a letter to Harry as well. Her lip curled and she angrily dipped the quill into the ink again. He was probably cuddling with Malfoy right now. Ginny snorted and saw Riddle's owl perched on her little stool, eyeing Ginny with something like haughtiness. Well it would do. Ginny shrugged and sent the owl away to Harry who indeed was sleeping in the Slytherin dorm, Ella next to him, his arms slung around her.
A loud knock made Harry wake up.
What? He turned towards the only window and saw a beautiful owl. Sighing, Harry took the letter and gasped. It was from Ginny. He smirked the Slytherin smirk he had adopted from Tom. Well, that could wait until tomorrow.
Sighing dreamily, he went back to bed, pulling Ella again into his embrace.
THTHTH
A/N: In the next chapter, you'll here more about Hermione and Tom and about their child, also Draco and Jessica will be mentioned. Maybe Harry and Ginny will be planning to visit Hermione. Chapter 38 will be the last or the second last chapter… Stay tuned…