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 44
After what seemed like forever, Hermione and Ron finally arrived at the Room of Requirements; opening the picture and walking in to what appeared to be the same scene they had nearly a year ago. Makeshift beds hung about, and tired, battered, students sat below.
Instantly, however, a familiar voice could be heard across the room.
"Mom? Dad?" Hugo's voice filled the air as he came running toward his parents who were moving to the floor of the room.
"Hugo?" Hermione was relieved to see him in one piece, and looking relatively unharmed.
Hugo launched himself at his mother, practically knocking the pregnant teen over. He hugged her fiercely, not realizing before that moment just how much he had grown to love the teen version of his mother.
"Easy…" Ron held Hermione upright.
"Sorry…" Hugo let Hermione go and grinned, grabbing Ron in an equal embrace.
"I'm so glad you're alright…" Hermione gently stroked Hugo's hair as Ginny approached them.
"Ron? Hermione!" Ginny grinned, also quickly moving to hug her brother and best friend.
"Ginny!" Ron picked his little sister up so happy to see she was all right as well.
"How did you find us?" Ginny asked.
"Aberforth." Ron explained.
Ginny and Hugo nodded simultaneously.
"Where's Rose?" Hermione glanced around.
"Outside with Harry and the boys…what are you doing here?" Ginny raised a suspicious eye at Hermione.
Hermione didn't like Ginny's accusing eye but before she could respond, the door to the room of Requirements busted open and Scorpius sprinted in followed by Harry, Albus, and James.
"Help!" Scorpius barked.
All eyes turned to face the young Malfoy and everyone quickly realized he was holding a rather limp corpse in his hand. Instantly, Hermione registered it was Rose.
"Rose?" Hermione pushed forward, toward her daughter.
Scorpius glanced up, surprised to see Hermione, but his body automatically doing what it needed to, quickly placing Rose on a blanket on the floor.
"What happened?" Hermione snapped, looking between Scorpius and Harry for an answer.
"She got attacked." Harry offered, not really knowing what else to say. He was, in all honesty, shocked to see Hermione there.
"What kind of spell?" Hermione asked, already going to work as she ripped Rose's sleeve from her shirt.
"Uh…uh…dunno…" Harry wracked his brain.
Hermione glanced over to Scorpius for an answer, but all he could offer was a slight shrug.
"Brilliant…" Hermione mumbled under her breath, slightly irritated, but upon seeing Rose's injury knew it was nothing she couldn't handle. Without another word, she quickly got to work patching her daughter up.
Ron stood a few yards from Hermione, watching her work over their daughter when, suddenly, Harry was yanking him out of the Room of Requirements and into the hallway.
"Bloody hell, Harry…" Ron shrugged his friend off of him. He was certainly happy to see Harry, he just was more worried about Rose at the moment.
"What are you two doing here?" Harry seemed to almost growl at Ron.
"Came to be with you guys of course…" Ron said simply, glancing back toward the Room of Requirements, worried about Rose.
"Hermione doesn't belong her." Harry said.
Ron snorted. "Don't I know it…but you try telling her that…I'm lucky she didn't hex me."
"Ron, still…the baby…" Harry started. Hermione had no business being there, as far as he was concerned, especially because the child she was carrying was the reason they were all fighting so hard. If something happened to her or that baby it would all be for nothing.
"I know, I know…but she insisted. She didn't want to leave Rose and Hugo here alone." Ron explained.
"They aren't alone, they are with us." Harry said.
"And you've got no bloody idea what you are doing." Ron reminded him.
"Oh, and you do?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Well…I mean…no…but…Hermione insisted on coming…and honestly, good thing she did because Rose needs her right now." Ron said.
"You need to get her out of here." Harry shot back.
"I know that…but she doesn't listen. I tried to get her not to come, Harry…I tried to get her to see my side of it, but she wasn't having it. You know Hermione; her mind is set. She wants to be here and she wants to help so the only thing I can think of is to keep her out of the action as much as possible." Ron explained.
"And end this as fast as possible." Harry added, knowing that Ron had said more then a few things that were probably true. If Hermione had it in her head that she was coming to Hogwarts there was no way Ron could have stopped her and so the only thing Harry could think of was to end the fight; destroy the horcruxes.
"Yeah, well I agree there…" Ron nodded with a sigh.
"So we gotta get going on the horcruxes then." Harry said.
Ron took a deep breath, thinking about what had happened when Rose had destroyed the last horcrux. He didn't know if he could let anyone else go through that, including himself.
"Rose destroyed one, didn't she?" Harry asked.
Ron snapped out of his thoughts and gave Harry a quick nod. "Did she tell you?"
Harry shook his head. "No, she gave me a look though when it was brought up…how bad was it?"
"Pretty bad." Ron said. "I don't think any of the kids should destroy anymore of them."
Harry nodded. "Alright, then you and I—"
"We need to get started." Ron finished Harry's sentences, knowing it was the only way. He and Harry would have to destroy the horcruxes if they had any chance of keeping Hermione, the baby, and their futures safe.
The Malfoy house was astir with Death Eater's coming and going at record speeds. Ever since the news had broke that Rose Weasley had been spotting at Hogwarts, Lucius had been making preparations to get to the school. He knew it was only a matter of time before Hermione and Ron arrived there if they had not already.
"We need to get up there as quickly as possible." Lucius told Yaxley who had been helping him order the snatchers and death eaters around.
"And we will. We are nearly ready." Yaxley assured him, glancing back at Draco who was sitting in the corner with Narcissa.
Lucius too glanced back at his son. "Son, you should be moving to help us. You have much to do."
"I do?" Draco asked, swallowing hard.
"Your blood-trading son is up there with them. It will be your job to destroy him. I refuse to allow him to carry on our name." Lucius said.
"Lucius, we don't know he is involved. He could be under a curse or some sort of force…" Nacrissa spoke up, seeing how white Draco's face had done.
Lucius just snorted. "Yes, well…if he isn't, it will be your responsibility to rid our family of such a plague, Draco."
Draco just swallowed hard, his mind racing. He couldn't even wrap his brain around what his father was asking him. He knew he hardly knew Scorpius, but it was still his son, and even if he had betrayed them, Draco could not imagine hurting Scorpius, let alone doing anything he knew his father had in mind. He knew, if it came down to it, he would have to figure something out to help Scorpius, yet the bigger part of Draco's mind simply refused to believe that Scorpius would betray them like that. Especially for the Weasley's and Potter's. He may have raised Scorpius well in the future, but surely he never became friends with such children. It made no sense.
Hermione sighed as she sat over Rose who lay sound asleep on a cot in the corner of the Room of Requirements. Hermione had patched her daughter's arm up enough, but it reminded Hermione of the injury Ron had received months earlier when they were disapparating from the Ministry of Magic. He still had some scars from it, and Hermione had a feeling Rose would from her injury as well.
As Hermione watched Rose sleep her hand slipped to her swelling stomach and Hermione realized that Ron had been wrong. Hermione belong here with her family; if she hadn't come what would have happened to Rose?
"Hermione?" Ginny asked softly, coming up from behind her pregnant friend.
Hermione turned around to face Ginny. "Yes?"
"How's Rose?" Ginny asked, nodding toward the sleeping teen.
"Better. She'll be fine." Hermione said softly, not wanting to disturb Rose.
"Good." Ginny nodded, shuffling her feet a bit.
Hermione gave a small smile. She knew Ginny well enough to know the other teen was hiding something from her and so she turned around in her chair the best she could with her pregnant stomach and folded her hands in her lap. "What is it, Ginny?"
"Huh?" Ginny glanced up.
"You have something to say…what is it?" Hermione asked.
"I just…what are you doing here, Hermione? This is the last place you should be." Ginny said finally.
Hermione took a deep breath and shook her head. "You sound like your brother…he said the same thing…"
"Well, maybe for once Ron was using his head…" Ginny said.
Hermione glanced back at Rose who was breathing steady. If she hadn't been there, who knows what would have happened to Rose. No one else had moved to try and help her daughter. "I'm exactly where I am supposed to be, Ginny."
"Hermione, if something happens to you or that baby—" Ginny started.
"If something happens to any of our kids, I won't be able to live with myself, and neither will you. You can't tell me your not attached to them already…" Hermione never took her eyes off of Rose.
Ginny sighed. She knew exactly what Hermione was talking about because she too already felt over protective of James, Albus, and Lily. That overprotectiveness was why Ginny felt Hermione should not be at Hogwarts. If something happened to Hermione or the baby she was carrying none of their children would have a future. Ginny, however, could not say this to Hermione without being selfish.
"Just, please be careful, Hermione…" Ginny said. It was all she could think of really.
Hermione nodded, glancing back at Ginny and instantly straightening up in her seat. Scorpius Malfoy was making his way over.
"Mrs. Potter…Mrs. Weasley…" Scorpius gave a small nod.
Ginny nodded back. She had grown to like Scorpius in the past few weeks and had a feeling that Scorpius just wanted to see Rose and so she quietly moved away.
Scorpius gave Ginny a grateful smile as she walked away before clearly his throat and focusing his attention on Hermione who was watching him carefully. "How…how's Rose?"
"She's doing alright. We should know better when she wakes up, but I think she'll be okay…" Hermione said as he gently ran a hand over Rose's cheek.
"Good." Scorpius took a deep breath, his gray eyes focused only on Rose. He was glad she was all right; the thought of losing her was far too much. He had only just gotten her back.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, seeing the blank look on Scorpius' face.
"Huh? Yes…fine…" Scorpius directed his attention off Rose for a moment and focused it on Hermione.
Hermione just nodded. She had seen the look on Scorpius' face many times before; only it had been on Ron's face. Scorpius was clearly distraught over Rose.
"She really will be fine. It was good you got her in here when you did…" Hermione told Scorpius.
Again Scorpius nodded before swallowing hard and stealing a glance at Hermione. "Do you mind…if I stayed with her…until she woke up?"
"I certainly wouldn't mind the company…" Hermione said simply.
"Thanks." Scorpius nodded, a little relief in his voice as he took a seat next to Rose.
Hermione studied the way Scorpius looked at Rose for a long moment before speaking again. "You care a lot about Rose, don't you?"
Scorpius took Rose's limp hand in his and nodded, not bothering to glance back at Hermione. "Yeah, I do…its just…more complicated then that…"
Hermione just nodded, and then furrowed her brow. It was so apparent that Scorpius cared for Rose and that Rose felt something for him and so, Hermione needed to know one thing. "Scorpius…in the future…do you and Rose…struggle because of myself and…Mr. Weasley?"
Scorpius looked surprised at Hermione's comment and then quickly shook his head. "No. I mean…Mr. Weasley gave me the whole threatening-dad speech, but you two are honestly brilliant. Its my father really…that caused all the problems…"
Hermione nodded, not really knowing what else to say.
"You've always been fair with me." Scorpius added, briefly making eye contact with Hermione before switching his attention back to Rose. "Even when I make mistakes with Rose…"
Hermione leaned back in her chair, not sure if she liked what Scorpius was implying. He may be a nice enough boy, but Rose was still her daughter.
"I just…well…I dunno how much Rose has told you but…I am the reason she has some issues at school in the future…" Scorpius said.
Hermione fidgeting uncomfortably as she felt her cheeks flush as she realized what Scorpius was talking about. Clearly, he was bringing up the reason Rose was thrown out of Hogwarts. "I…I believe I know what you are talking about…"
Scorpius' face went a deep shade of red as he ducked his head. "Oh…well…right…well…in the new future…if we get there…I'll make a point of trying not to do that…"
Hermione nodded, clearly able to tell that Scorpius was being genuine and that he liked Rose a lot. "Thank you…"
"I just…that caused a lot of problems with Rose and I…I don't want those again. I never really wanted to lose her…" Scorpius said, his voice very serious now as he turned back to Rose.
"Lose her?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. She knew that Rose and Scorpius had obviously dated, but Rose had told her little about it.
"She broke up with me after that. I mean, made sense…her moving back to America and all but I told her we could work it out…I mean magic and all but…" Scorpius just shrugged.
"But what?" Hermione pressed.
"I don't know." Scorpius sighed.
Hermione wanted to learn more about her daughter and Scorpius was clearly someone who could tell her but she could tell he did not want to talk any more so she did not push. However, she had a newfound respect for Scorpius. He was a nice kid.
Ron followed Harry down the hall and into the potions classroom, which was empty and relatively untouched, unlike the rest of the school. The death eaters had yet to ruin that classroom.
"Is this a safe place to be doing this?" Ron asked as he watched Harry spread the horcruxes out on ne of the tables.
Harry shrugged. "As good as any…"
Ron nodded and tossed a Basilisk fang toward Harry who was holding up the door-knocker of the Malfoy Mansion.
"You don't want to do this?" Harry asked, a small smile on his face.
Ron swallowed hard. "You know those things don't bloody like me…"
"Yeah, but you've got Hermione…what else do you have to worry about?" Harry asked.
Ron shot Harry a dirty look until he realized that Harry was being completely sarcastic.
"I'll destroy this one, you do the next?" Harry asked.
"Lets do it together." Ron said.
Harry nodded, tossing Ron the doorknocker, which Ron set on the floor, swallowing hard before glancing back up at Harry. "Ready?"
Harry nodded, taking one quick step forward before slamming the fang down on the doorknocker. Instantly, a large black cloud filled the classroom.
"Harry…Potter…" The horcruxes creepy voice called.
"Not happening!" Ron said, slamming another fang down onto the horcrux. Instantly, the black cloud disappeared, but the entire castle shook violently.
Harry reached for the wall, steadying himself until the shaking stopped. He then glanced over, wide-eyed at Ron.
"Well…that's not bloody good…" Ron said simply.
"Lets get back to the Room of Requirements." Harry said.
Ron nodded and quickly followed Harry out of the Potions classroom, kicking the broken remains of the destroyed horcrux into the corner of the classroom.
Lucius, with Draco and Narcissa at his side and Greyback in front of him, led a large group of death eaters and snatchers toward the Hogwarts Castle. He was ready for a fight; he was ready to watch Hermione, Ron, Harry, Ginny, and all of their future children crumble.
As they approached the castle, dark smoke from fires around the grounds filled the air.
"Ahh, destruction." Lucius said with a satisfied grin.
Suddenly the earth shook and Draco winced in pain, feeling as if he had taken a blow to the gut. He stopped and doubled over, catching Lucius' attention.
"Unbelievable. Another horcrux down, I suspect." Lucius spat his words as he glared at Draco.
Draco just watched his father as he tried his best, with the help of his mother, to stand back up straight, the pain in his abdomen slowly starting to subside.
Lucius then turned his attention to Greyback. "Charge, now. Take no prisoners…kill them all…"
Greyback grinned widely. "As you wish."
"Destroy them all…and this dreadful school…" Lucius said.
Greyback nodded before racing his high and letting out a roar, his wand shooting green sparks into the air as the army of death eaters and snatchers cheered behind him. They were ready for the fight; they were ready to destroy Hogwarts.
Albus, James, and Hugo stood outside the Room of Requirements, none of them really wanting to be in their with a bleeding Rose and a bunch of other hurt and starving students all looking to their families for an answer; for a ray of hope.
Hugo kicked a piece of rubble across the hall and it collided with the other wall. The second it did, the walls of the castle shook and Hugo's brown eyes grew wide.
"I didn't do that…" Hugo said.
The shaking stopped and James shook his head. "Of course you didn't…"
"What in the bloody hell was that?" Albus asked, glancing around.
A loud roar now filled the air and Hugo rushed toward a window of the castle. His eyes grew even wider and he stepped back.
"What is it? What do you see?" James asked his cousin, stepping toward Hugo.
James too, upon seeing what Hugo saw, stepped back, only making Albus step up.
"What in the bleeding hell…" Albus stepped backwards with his brother and cousin, unable to believe the massive amounts of death eaters and snatchers running toward the school, with Greyback in the lead.
"That's a lot of them…" Hugo said.
James nodded. "We better get back to the Room of Requirements…"
Hugo and Albus nodded in agreement and the three of them ran toward the Room of Requirements, ready to tell all inside what was coming directly at the school. They needed to be ready to fight, and they needed to be ready right now.
