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 35
It was dark out, when Hermione woke up from a deep sleep. She must have slipped off into her dreamless state shortly after Ron had left her in their make-shift room. She had been exhausted from the stress of Rose but also the pregnancy.
Hermione stretched out, noticing Ron was not next to her. She assumed he had gone off to get food, and so she got to her feet and waddled out into the tent to check on Rose and Hugo.
"Ron?" Hermione stopped when she saw her boyfriend asleep in a chair, next to Rose who was still laying on the kitchen table, wrapped in some blankets and breathing shallow, but steady.
Ron immediately shot up, practically falling out of the chair and looking widely around. His eyes stopped on Hermione's pregnant form instantly. "Hermione…"
"I thought you were going to get food." Hermione was annoyed instantly. Had Ron forgotten so quickly that Rose's health depended on that?
"I was but…Hugo went instead." Ron said.
"What? Why would you send him out?" Hermione put her hands on her hip, making her three-month pregnant stomach stick out even more.
"We discussed it…him and I…if I went and something happened Rose and Hugo wouldn't exist anymore…and you'd be out here alone…I couldn't risk that." Ron stood now.
"So Hugo's life was worth the risk?" Hermione could not believe Ron had allowed their son to go out on such a risky mission when their daughter was already in such a state. How much more worrying did he think she could take?
"No. He will be fine. Less recognized then me. It was the smartest move." Ron defended himself and the decision he and his son had made together.
Hermione sighed. She knew Ron had a point, she just wished her family could be all together and safe.
"Hugo will be fine. He's a smart kid, Hermione." Ron told her.
"I know…" Hermione nodded, calming down a bit as she walked over to Rose. "How is she doing?"
Ron shrugged. "I got some water in her earlier but…she really hasn't come around yet…"
Hermione gently ran a hand through Rose's hair and over her forehead, checking for a fever. "Well, her temperature is normal. That's good…"
As Hermione continued to stroke Rose's hair, Rose began to come to a bit, slowly moving her head a little.
"Rose?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"Hmmm…" Rose grunted a bit, her eye flicking under her eyelids.
"Rose…" Hermione's voice was a little more frantic.
"Ugh…" Rose's eyes flickered open.
"Get her some water!" Hermione order Ron immediately.
Ron jumped practically across the table, grabbing a glass of water as quickly as he could. By the time he turned around, Rose was sitting up a bit.
"Rose? Sit down…rest…" Hermione urged.
"I'm…fine…" Rose said, grabbing for the glass of water Ron had poured her and drinking it greedily. After she was done, she flopped her head back down, breathing heavy. "What happened?"
"Don't know. Found you under a tree practically frozen to death…" Ron told her.
"Ugh…" Rose shut her eyes, remembering the last memories she had, of Greyback chasing her. "Right…"
"Rose what happened?" Hermione asked, as she moved to the stove to make one of the last two cans of soup for Rose.
Rose did not open her eyes. "I was down by the lake…I wanted to take a bath…I must have walked out of the enchantments…"
"Were you seen?" Ron asked, having a feeling he knew what happened.
Before Rose could answer, Hermione was standing over her with a bowl of soup she had heated up quickly with magic.
"Rose, sit up…eat this…we need to get something into you…" Hermione urged.
Rose looked at the bowl of soup and immediately shook her head. "Don't want it."
"Rose, you have to eat." Hermione said sternly, sounding eerily to Ron like his own mother.
"I'm fine…" Rose grunted.
"You are absolutely not fine! You are wasting away! Now eat before you starve to death!" Hermione yelled, startling both Rose and Ron.
"You need the food…" Rose's voice was rather raspy.
"Hugo went to get more. Your mum's right, Rose. Eat something…" Ron moved next to Hermione, backing his girlfriend up.
Rose glared at Ron as if he had betrayed her in the worst way. "You let Hugo go…"
"We had to." Hermione spoke for Ron. "Just like you need to eat…" She pushed the bowl at her daughter.
Rose clenched her jaw as best she could and smacked the soup out of Hermione's hand before getting off the table as quickly as her weakened body would allow.
"Rose Molly Weasley!" Hermione roared, shocked and hurt.
Rose ignored her nineteen-year-old mother, and instead busied herself around the tent, gathering up her coat and gloves.
"Rose, where do you think you are going?" Hermione marched over, ripping the gloves from her daughter's hands.
"To get my brother…." Rose tried her best to focus on Hermione's face, but she was having a hard time, feeling dizzy again.
Hermione's anger changed to concern as she watched Rose sway a bit. "Rose?"
It happened so quickly; Ron was surprised at his own reaction. He watched Rose saw a bit more and then she fell, backwards, and he lunged forward, catching his daughter's head before it collided with the edge of a wooden chair.
Hermione screamed.
"Rose?" Ron gently placed her down on the floor. She was unconscious.
"Ron…" Hermione's voice was shaking as she grabbed for the table to lean again, suddenly feeling light headed herself. She had never seen someone go down so hard before. She steadied herself on the edge of the table, one hand on her growing baby bump.
"She's still breathing…" Ron checked. "I think she just passed out…"
"Get her into her bed…." Hermione said.
Ron nodded, gently picking Rose up and moving her to the bottom of the bunked bed. He eased her onto the bed and quickly stepped out of Hermione's way, as Hermione tucked their daughter in under some blankets.
"We have to keep an eye on her…and get some food in her…put some water on…and maybe the last can of soup" Hermione said, brushing Rose's hair from her face.
Ron nodded and held back the sigh in his throat as he moved into the kitchen to follow Hermione's directions. He felt like he was failing his family all around. Maybe he wasn't ready to be a father; maybe he wouldn't be any good at it. Hermione seemed to be such a natural at the parenting thing, but the further they got into it, the less sure Ron was that he was acceptable father material.
Scorpius and the Potter's gathered in the central hall of the Potter's secret home in Paris. They were all packed and ready to begin their search for Ron, Hermione, Rose, and Hugo, though now that they were standing there, they were all pretty silent.
"So…how do we start this?" Albus finally spoke up.
All eyes turned to Scorpius.
Scorpius shrugged. "I…I don't have a clue where they would have gone…"
Harry sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Logically, I think our best place is to start somewhere that Ron and Hermione would think to hide…"
"Somewhere you three hid last year?" Ginny deducted.
"I think it might be our best place to start." Harry nodded.
"Alright so…where to first?" James spoke up.
"I think somewhere in London…its not to far from anywhere they wouldn't feel safe…possibly Grimmauld place…" Harry said.
"I thought Yaxley knew where that place was…" Ginny said.
"He knows Sirus owned it , which means he knows that I know how to get there…but I doubt he would think that Ron and Hermione would go there without me…not to mention he doesn't know exactly how to get in there…" Harry said.
"Still…" Ginny said.
"I changed the password in…he can't break in there. Only Ron and Hermione know the new one…" Harry said quickly, avoiding eye contact with her.
Ginny seemed slightly offended. Why wouldn't he tell her the new password?
Lily recognized the look on her mother's face but knew they did not have time for it. "Look…lets just get going."
"Right." Harry nodded, holding his hands out.
The Harry, Ginny, their future children, and Scorpius Malfoy all grabbed a hold of each other and Harry disapparated them all to the infamous Grimmauld Place, hoping that when they opened their eyes, they would find Ron, Hermione, Rose, and Hugo.
Hugo apparated to the snow covered, deserted roads of Hogsmeade. It was late at night, and few people were even attempting to move in the wind and snow. Hugo figured that was a good thing, as he made his way to the Hog's Head Inn. He knew the place was usually empty and he figured stealing food wouldn't be such a big deal in such a place.
Hugo slipped into the dingy inn and saw an older man at the bar and a few hogs running around. The man was sipping a big glass of Firewhiskey and hardly paid any attention to Hugo at all.
Hugo glanced around, not seeing the bartender, and deciding it was a good time to run to the back of the kitchen. He slipped into the kitchens double door's to find it empty as well, allowing him to let out a sigh of relief. He moved quickly, gathering as much food as he could, and throwing it in the backpack he had brought.
"What do you think you're doing?" A big voice filled the kitchen.
Hugo froze, his heart racing.
"Turn around…" The voice called.
Hugo slowly turned to come face to face with a wand and a man who looked like a dirtier version of Santa Claus.
The man studied Hugo very hard for a moment and then lowered his wand. "Red hair…freckles…a stupid look like that…you must be related to that Ron Weasley kid…"
Hugo nodded slowly. "He's…my…well…he's my dad…"
"Your what? He's hardly old enough…" The man bellowed.
"I'm from the future, sir…" Hugo said.
The man nodded again. "Ah yes…Minerva did mention something like that to me…she said you were American."
"You know McGonagall?" Hugo slowly got to his feet. If McGonagall trusted this man, he knew he could.
"Of course I do…" The man shook his head. "And from what I heard, I thought you would have all gone into hiding. I hear it everyday in here…people looking for that Granger girl."
"She's my mom." Hugo nodded.
The man nodded again.
"I'm sorry…but…who are you?" Hugo asked.
"Aberforth Dumbledore." The man said.
"Related to Albus Dumbledore?" Hugo asked. This was definitely someone he could trust.
"He as my brother." Aberforth nodded.
"I'm sorry…." Hugo knew in this time that Dumbledore had only recently died.
Aberforth just gave a slight nod and then pointed to Hugo's bag. "Stealing from me?"
Hugo glanced down at his bag, then back at Aberforth. He knew he could trust the man in front of him, but it didn't change the fact that he was intimidating. "I…I'm sorry…I would have never but…well…we need it, badly. My mom's pregnant and…"
"I heard. I heard the whole thing. Hear about it everyday in this town…old death eaters walking about…they don't think I hear them but I do." Aberforth said.
Hugo nodded. "Well, we are hiding in the woods. My mom, dad, and my sister…and we are running out of food. My sister's practically starving herself to death to make sure my mom has enough food and I just…I came because we can't stay like that. I wasn't taking anything I didn't think we would need."
Aberforth took Hugo's story in for a moment before giving him a slight nod.
"We all got split up…my family, The Potter's…my grandparents…and Rose, that's my sister, she's sick…she needs food or she's going to die." Hugo went on.
Aberforth glanced sideways at Hugo. "The child that Hermione, or that your mum is carrying is the one to defeat Voldemort for good?"
"Supposedly…but you know prophecies…" Hugo said with a shrug.
Aberforth gave a soft chuckle, nodding. "Well, I guess you should pick up that bag…and we should get going…"
"We?" Hugo was confused as he picked his bag up.
"I reckon helping you keep your family fed is in the best interest of all of us." Aberforth used his wand to summon his own bag, which he filled with a few more food items before moving out of the kitchen.
Hugo followed the older man who was grabbing a few other things from around the front of the inn.
"You really don't have to come, sir. I mean…I don't want to burden you…" Hugo said.
"You know I helped your parents and Potter out a few months ago?" Aberforth asked.
Hugo shrugged. He had heard many stories about his parents and his uncle's travels during the Second Wizarding War, but the only Dumbledore he remembered was Albus.
"Well, I did. My brother might have been an arse but he trusted Potter, and Potter proved himself worthy as did your parents. So I will help them all whenever I can." Aberforth said.
"Thank you, sir." Hugo nodded, smiling for the first time in a long time. Not only was he going to be bringing food back to his family, but he would be bringing so welcomed help.
Ron moved out of the tent to get some air. He needed some space, he wanted to scream and punch something or someone, but he couldn't, so he would settle for a walk down by the lake.
He couldn't believe everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.
He was beyond worried about Rose. He knew she couldn't stay like that much longer and he couldn't believe he had allowed her to get in the condition she was in. He knew it was his fault; parents don't let that sort of stuff happen to their kids.
Ron was also worried about Hermione. He couldn't imagine the stress of what had happened to Rose would be good the baby at all and he knew Hermione was stressed whether she would admit it or not.
He also felt like he had disappointed Hermione, or would eventually. She was such a good mother already, a natural, even if her children were currently practically her age. She was so nurturing, like she had always been with himself and Harry. He, on the other hand, was certainly not the father of the year. He wasn't sure he would ever be the best parent. Hermione deserved someone more like herself.
Ron took a deep breath as he made his way to the edge of the lake. His thoughts were now moving from Hermione to Hugo. In the back of his head, he thought Hugo should have been back by now, but he also knew it could have just taken a little longer then he expected. He didn't know where Hugo had gone, and the weather was turning for the worse.
Ron walked along the edge of the lake when he heard a familiar voice. He stopped immediately. The voice was a little muffled, which allowed him to know he was still in the enchantments. Still, he would recognize that voice anywhere. He had heard it at the Malfoy Manner making suggestive comments to Hermione months earlier.
Ron moved around the edge of the enchantment, closer to the death eater's camp where he saw Greyback talking to two other snatchers. He stopped walking to listen.
"Because I just talked to Lucius! He wants us to stay here…he thinks that filthy little half blood was running around here for a reason." Greyback snarled.
"You said it yourself, she could have apparated…" One of the snatchers said.
"But why was she in these woods in the first place?" Greyback questioned with a growl.
Both snatchers remained silent.
Greyback turned his attention to the rest of the snatchers now, speaking loudly. "So we are going to scan the area for any kind of magic or enchantments. I was given a spell to detect anything. In case they are playing tricky…"
Ron swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat before turning on his heel and taking off back to the tent, his mind reeling. If what Greyback had just said was true, then his family was not going to be safe in those woods much longer. They needed to get out of there.
Scorpius, Harry, Ginny, Albus, James, and Lily all apparated into the long kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place. Before anyone could more from their tight little circle, Ginny used her wand to flick the lights on.
"They're not here. This place is freezing and the lights haven't been turned on in months." Ginny said immediately.
"That's an understatement." Lily rubbed her arms to conserve her own heat.
"Alright so the first place wasn't what we were looking for." Harry shrugged.
"We just need to keep trying. Where to next?" Scorpius turned to Harry.
"We should rest here tonight. We're tired and it's late…" Ginny said.
"Fine, but where do we look tomorrow then?" Scorpius continued to look at Harry for an answer.
Harry thought for a moment. He knew there were a few different forests he, Hermione, and Ron had hid in months earlier. The idea of them hiding in Godric's Hallow also popped up in his head. He sighed. "We could try the forest or Godric's Hallow."
"You really think they'd be stupid enough to go to Godric's Hallow? Even my brother's not that dense…" Ginny said with a smirk.
"Could actually be a good idea. Why would anyone look for them there?" James reasoned.
"Yeah…that'd be the last place I'd go…" Albus added.
Harry smiled at his two sons while Ginny made a face at the boys.
"I don't think they would have gone there. Rose would have thought it was dangerous." Scorpius said, noticing just how alike Rose and her Aunt Ginny were.
"There. And he knows her…we should listen to him…." Ginny pointed to Scorpius and then moved out of the kitchen her arms folded.
Harry followed after his girlfriend immediately, catching up to Ginny and whispering in her ear. "We should listen to Scorpius? Didn't you just say early today you don't trust him?"
"Just because I don't trust him doesn't mean I can't agree with some of his ideas." Ginny said with a slight grin before turning on her heel and moving up the stairs, leaving Harry standing there smiling slightly at his beautiful girlfriend.
Hermione sat next to Rose's bunk running her hands over Rose's forehead and making sure her daughter was still warm enough. She sighed to herself as her free hand snaked around her three-month-pregnant belly. She felt old; and not just because she was getting older. She felt old because at nineteen she had seen more then anyone else should have to see. She had seen death, she had seen life, she had become a mother to teenagers, and she was pregnant.
Every time Hermione looked at Rose she saw all the good and beauty and potential she had Ron had. She knew Rose was short-tempered, but she also knew her daughter was fiercely loyal and would do anything for the people she cared about and those were two things Hermione was grateful her daughter understood.
As Hermione continued to rub the side of Rose's cheek in the smoothing way only a mother could, she began to wonder if the baby inside of her would be the older sister that Rose would have to look up to, or if Rose would always be her only little girl.
Hermione's drifting thoughts were interrupted by Ron rushing into the tent, completely out of breath, his eyes searching around the tent frantically. Hermione stood, immediately, knowing something was clearly wrong.
"Ron, what is it?" Hermione stood as quickly as she could.
"We've gotta get out of here." Ron said, suddenly starting to move to pack up everything he could grab.
"What? Ron, what are you talking about? We can't just leave. Rose isn't in any condition to move and Hugo's not even back yet." Hermione reasoned.
"Hermione. Trust me. We've got to go." Ron told her, trying his best to be patient.
"Ron, what's going on?" Hermione asked as she watched Ron throwing as much as he could into his bag.
"I might not have told you everything…" Ron said, continuing to clean up the kitchen.
"What do you mean?" Hermione moved toward Ron, one hand on her back the other on her baby bump.
"I mean…the reason we haven't left…and haven't been able to get much food is that Rose and I discovered Greyback and some other snatchers staying on the hillside of the lake. I heard them talking tonight…Greyback saw Rose out there…he must have something to do with what happened to her but he's going to start looking for enchantments. We need to leave before they find us or we are as good as dead." Ron said, as calmly as he possibly could.
"What?" Hermione's eyes practically bulged out of her head. "How could…why…why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"Rose and I thought it would be best not to worry you more then you needed to be…" Ron said, moving to Hugo's sleeping bag off the top bunk.
"Ron! We are supposed to be a team! You're supposed to tell me—" Hermione was angry.
"Hermione, this is really not the time! I'll apologize later…right now…we've gotta go." Ron told her.
Hermione opened her mouth to say something but then closed it, taking a deep breath before speaking. "What about Hugo, Ron? He is going to come back here…"
"I don't know. We will figure out a way to give him some sort of direction, but we need to go now or we are as good as dead. I know you are not supposed to, but do you think there is anyway you can apparate?" Ron asked.
Hermione nodded after a moment. "In an emergency…but I am getting late in this pregnancy…"
"Hermione can you do it or not?" Ron asked. He didn't want to risk the baby's life, but it was a bigger risk staying there and being discovered by the snatchers.
"Yes. Yes. I'll be fine." Hermione nodded swiftly.
"Alright then lets get this place together." Ron said.
"But Ron…Hugo…" Hermione tried again.
"Hermione, I need to get you out of here. I will do my best to get some word or sign or something to Hugo but we need to leave." Ron told her.
Hermione just nodded, knowing that was the end of the conversation and feeling sick about it. Rose was practically on her deathbed and Hugo was about to come back only to find they had left without him. Her family was falling apart.