The Prodigal Son
(part two)
A/N - Okay, this is the second part of my series. Hell, it's not that great. Pretty sad actually. but It's got a couple good scenes. What happens when Hermione meets Ron. It's like when Harry met Sally. And no, for once I am not talking about Harry Potter. I had a hard time thinking of names for my characters, so right now I am on a Brigidoon spree..the only person not from Brigadoon is Adrian and Mranda, because Miranda came too early, and I ran out of names for Adrian. I wanted to name him Harry, because there is a character in Brigadoon named Harry, but I thought that might get a bit confusing. Talking about names, did you ever notice that J.K.Rowlings has a small obsession with flowers. I really hope I'm not the only one who noticed this. We have Lily, Petunia, and Lupin. I'm just waiting for her to come up with a character named Rose, or Lilac. And for those of you who doubt me, Lupin is a flower, a very pretty flower in fact. I used to have a book called the Lupin Lady. Great childrens book. Okay, I'm done rambling. On with the show
Disclaimer: J.K.Rowlings creó a Harry Potter. Cualquier cosa no creada por ella, fue inventada por mí. Usted hace su mejor juicio
preview of last part : Ron has been living in this village for the last thirty odd years. If you want to find out how and why he is in this village go read my other story "The Blizzard" Okay, Ron runs into Adrian in the village, who just so happens to be Hermione and Seamus's son..what are the chances. Miranda's (Ron's wife) father tells him that he has to go with this boy, and so the three of them, Ron, Miranda, and their daughter Fiona find themselves in the Forbidden forest all alone. This is where our last story leaves off.>
They arrived in Hogsmade late in the afternoon. Normally this wouldn't have been a big deal for the people of Hogsmade, except for the fact that this was the only truly wizard community in all of England, and these three strangers had smuggle clothes on. Ron could sense the people watching him from the windows. There was not a soul in the streets. If he was muggle he could say it felt like he was in some cheesy Spaghetti western showdown scene, but he wasn't, so he couldn't make that analogy. Finally he saw Adrian come running out of one of the building.
"Over here!" He cried, waving at them. They headed that way. He was standing in front of a side door of one of the buildings. "We live right up here, or at least my mum does when I'm at school." He held open the door so the could enter. Inside was a small set of stairs that led up to a landing. They followed him up the stairs and through another door. "Mum, the visitors are here" He yelled out as they entered the small apartment. Ron looked around the apartment quickly. Not much had changed in thirty years, or at least in the wizarding world anyway.
"So does your guest have a name Adrian?" He heard Hermione call out from the other room. She sounded exactly like she did back in their sixth year, or at least he thought so.
"His name is Ron.." He looked over at Ron. He had never been told his last name.
"Weasley, Ron Weasley" He heard something break in the other room when he said that.
"Okay, whoever you are, this isn't a very funny joke, and the whole James Bond bit didn't help much either." he heard her say, he voice sounding like it was about to crack.
"This isn't a joke Hermione." He heard footsteps running towards them and Hermione appeared in the doorway.
"Oh my god" She just stared at him. " I don't believe you. You're just trying to trick me. You're not really Ron."
"How can I prove it to you." Hermione looked over at him for a couple moment longer. He didn't really look like Ron, but yet he did. He did sound like Ron, well, she didn't notice it at first, but now he did. Its funny how when you don't see someone for thirty years, at first they don't look familiar, but then, after not to long they meld into their old selves, like nothing had changed. But yet Ron said he wasn't coming back, so this must be a trick, it didn't seem rational, and she was the rational one, right ? She stained her mind for something that only Ron would know, or at least something that only Ron and Harry would know, for there wasn't much that one knew that the other didn't, or before he left anyway. Finally she thought of something.
"In our second year, we used a potion to try and trick Malfoy into giving us some information, do you remember what it was?"
"That's easy, the polyjuice potion. And you turned yourself into a cat" 'Ron' replied, without a pause and with a little grin.
"Harry could have told you. That's it, Harry must have told you." She replied, still trying to rationalize it. She didn't want to believe it was Ron. She didn't know why, but she just didn't want to believe it.
"Hermione, quit trying to rationalize it like that." He said, knowing what she was doing. He put his hands on her shoulders.
"No, you're not Ron, no" She kept repeating, closing her eyes and shaking her head back and forth. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Oh my god, Ron" She sobbed into his shirt. He led her over to the couch and sat down beside her.
"Mum, I'm going to go back to Hogwarts, okay?" Adrian suddenly said from the doorway.
"Okay" she replied softly.
"Come on," He grabbed Fiona's hand and pulled her out of the door and down the stairs.
"Where are you taking me?" Ron heard her ask, her voice filled with curiosity. Then they were gone.
"I think I'm going to lay down, this is too much" Miranda said softly. She looked over at Hermione, "Is there anywhere?"
"Of course, around the corner and the first door" She replied, trying to do her best to keep her voice from choking again. Finally they were alone. " I thought you said you were not coming back?"
"Well, plans change you know."
"Yes, they certainly do" She replied, barely in a whisper.
"You certainly did pretty well for yourself" He commented, looking around the small but nicely furnished apartment. "A lot better then I did" He laughed silently to himself. He really was in a pathetic situation. No money, no house, no job, not even a full 7 years education at Hogwarts. He couldn't even apperate, sure he could learn, but that's beside the point.
"What do you mean, a lot better then you did?" He looked at him like he had just said he was crazy. "You did pretty well, have a beautiful wife, and your daughter looks just like her." She paused, wiping her eyes."Anyway this is all Seamus's...I'm only working at Hogwarts because I was running out of his savings."
"How did you and Seamus..I would have never thought"
"Me either, but it just happened. After school finished, we both started working for the ministry. I never saw Harry and we just got close I suppose. He was so kind. I still can't believe he's been dead for ten years now." She quickly wiped a tear from her eye. "I really don't know what I'd do without Adrian. He really is all I have. When he used to be away at school" she paused. " That was the main reason I took the job at Hogwarts, to be close to Adrian. I suppose he told you about the war."
"A little" Ron replied.
"He doesn't know much, he was too young. It's not something that's widely talked about. It's too close to home for a lot of people. I know that first hand. Of course Harry saved the day as always."
"Of course I think he might have a complex. A save the world complex." She forced a laugh. "So have you seen Harry lately?"
"I haven't..I haven't seen him in over eight years. He's gone into hiding I think. I can't think of anyone who would know where he is." Ron tried to hide a yawn, but it escaped and Hermione jumped up suddenly. "Oh I'm sorry..I've been a terrible hostice. You must be hungry. Come, I have some food left over in the kitchen." She hurried off. Ron reluctently followed. He was hungry, now that she mentioned it. The kitchen was same, but was big enough so two people could move about with room. It had a refrigerator in the corner and counters around the outside. It was all white and clean. You could tell it was Hermiones. Everything had a place and everything in it's place. "Sit down" she pointed to the table in the center of the room with a red and white checkered cloth on it. He moved the pile of papers that were sitting on the chair out of the way and sat down. "Sorry about that, I was grading some papers earlier today. Finals were today, or at least for my class anyway."
"What do you teach?"
"Muggle studies. It doesn't involve much work, and I can be close to Adrian." She was hurried around the kitchen, putting together a dish of food. Placing it in front of her, she waved her wand, and saying a few choice words, it started to steam. "There you go, all heated up" Pushing it in front of him, she placed her wand in her pocket and sat down beside him. She couldn't stop herself from just staring at him. She was so afraid that if she dared to look away he would be gone again, and she would be back to having no one. It was true that Adrian was all she had. Before the war she had tons of friends and acquaintance, but not anymore. Ever since Ron had left, she had lost contact with his family, and when they graduated, she only saw Ginny at social functions. All she knew was she had a daughter who was a year younger then Adrian. Then there was Harry. They kept in touch after Graduation, spending time together, and then things changed. She got married to Seamus, and he started becoming more and more secretive. Fifteen years past, and when the war started she didn't even know if she knew him anymore. Then the war occurred, and everyone's world was thrown up in the air and the people who survived were left to pick up the pieces. All because Voldemort, yes she wasn't afraid to say his name anymore, decided he wanted to regain power. They stopped him, or should we say, Harry stopped him, but things were never the same. Everyone lost someone. Hermione lost Seamus, her husband of ten years. She knew the Weasleys lost Fred, Bill, and Bill's son Michael. She went to her twenty-fifth class reunion, and the amount of people who were there compared to who graduated was decreased so much. Out of the nine Gryffindors, not counting Ron of course, only five of them survived. Four of the girls and Dean Thomas, who ironically had not been killed, even though he fought on the front line. Some of the other class's were worse off, only two of the Ravenclaw's survived, and there was only one Slytherin. No one trusted anyone anymore. But enough on the past, here he was, in the present.
Ron finished his meal in silence, and when he was done, and the dishes were washing themselves, Adrian and Fiona had returned. Ron was feeling very tired by the time. It was an understatement to say that this had been a very long day.
"Mum, I better get back to the school. They are expecting me." Adrian said, when the clock stuck ten.
"Of course Adrian"
"You will be fine without me?"
"Of course, now hurry. I don't want to hear how you were late when I get to school tomorrow."
"Yes Mum" He got up and kissed her on the check before leaving them. Hermione turned to Ron and his daughter. " I suppose you are tired. I know I am." Fiona turned to her father.
"I am tired, where may I sleep?"
"You may sleep in Adrian's room I suppose. It's right down the hall and to the left." Hermione replied.
"Thank you Ma'am" Fiona replied, as she turned and left. Ron stood up.
"I think I shall turn in, you will be all right then?"
"Yes, I will be fine. It's so good to see you you know." She stood up as well.
"Goodnight"
"Goodnight"
Ron made his way to the bedroom where Hermione has said Miranda could sleep. It was a small room, but nicely furnished. There was a double bed and two chairs, which was where their bags were sitting. The room was somewhat bare besides that. There were two pictures on the wall. Turning on the lights he went over and sitting on one of the chairs he took off his shoes and socks. What a long day this has been he thought as he laid down in the bed beside Miranda and put his arms around her. She sighed and rolled over. Twenty-four hours ago he was sitting in his house, in the small village of Mason, never imagining that the next day he would find the son of an old school friend, and rejoin the world he left thirty years ago.
I was about a week later when Ron decided it was finally time to go visit Ginny. He really needed his wand, and according to Hermione, she was the one who had it. He borrowed a couple of Sickles for the Knight bus, wrote down the address of where his sister lived and was on his way. It wasn't long before he arrived at this address. It was a small brownstone in the middle of Wizard London. Walking up he rung the doorbell. The door slowly opened and out peeked a small boy with light blond hair and black eyes.
"Yeah?" he said suspiciously
"Is this the Fraser household?"
"Charlie, there is someone here for you?" The book yelled to back of the house. Soon a voice replied,
"Coming Bryce" A couple seconds later another boy came to the door. This one had light skin, but red hair.
"Can I help you?" He asked, looking at Ron annoyingly, like he had just been dragged away from saving the world.
"I need to talk to your mother, is she here?" Ron replied, trying to sound as convincing as possible.
"No, Mum's busy right now. Why?" His expression turned from annoyance to suspicion.
"I need to talk to her, Can you just tell her that an.." he never got to finish his sentence because another voice called down from the stairs.
"Charlie, is there someone at the door?" He saw a girl come up behind Charlie and looked Ron up and down. She looked exactly like Ginny did the last time Ron saw her.
"Ginny" he whispered.
"No, I'm Bonnie. Ginny is my mother. She is not seeing anyone right how How may I help you?" She emphasized the word I, glaring at him like he was coming to arrest her.
"Can you just tell her that Ron is here to see her? Please?"
"all right, I'll ask her" she was still glaring at him. "But I know she'll say no" She slammed the door in his face and Ron just sat down on the door stoop to wait.
"What do you think he want's with Mum?" Charlie asked when the door was shut.
"I don't know, but I guess I better go and tell her. He seemed pretty insistent." She sighed and trudged up the stairs, her mother was not going to be happy about this interruption. Stopping at the first door at the end of the landing she knocked softly and waited for an answer.
"Come in Bonnie" Slowly opening the door, Bonnie slipped in. Her mother was a small woman, with generic Weasley hair as everyone in their family had. All her cousins and Uncles. She had it, and so did her brother. So did that man at the door. The idea flashed into her mind. No, it couldn't be true. She brushed the idea away quickly, it was too crazy to dwell on for long. Her mother was energetic, and even though she was in her later forties, still lived and worked like a someone so much younger. She was always busy, well, not all the time, but she was now. She had a large report due to the Ministry in a couple of days, and she had been working on it nonstop since Bonnie had gotten home from Hogwarts a couple days earlier. Right now she was sitting on her window seat going over some papers. She also had some papers spread all over the desk and bed as well.
"Someone with the name Ron said he was here to see you. I said you were.." Ginny interrupted her.
"What did you say his name was?" She looked up quickly.
"Ron, he didn't..." but she was interrupted again.
"What did he look like?"
"He was about as tall as Uncle George, but had Muggle clothes on."
"Did he have red hair?"
"Yes, but"
"OHMYGOD! RON!" She jumped up and spraying papers everywhere ran past Bonnie and out the door. Bonnie just stared after her. Ginny dashed down the stairs and to the front door. She stood there for a couple of seconds before she got up the courage to open it. What if it really was her brother? what would she do then? Hermione said he wouldn't come back. Slowly opening the door she looked out into the stoop and saw a man sitting with his back to her. "Excuse me Sir, you asked to see me." She said, loud enough so the man could hear her. He stood up, slowly turning around.
"Hello Sister" He said in a voice she knew quite well. She was speechless, absolutely speechless. A thousand things were rushing through her mind. How could he do this to us. She had thought of what she was going to say to him if she ever saw him again over and over in her mind the last thirty years, but now that the opportunity presented itself, she couldn't think of what to say. She wasn't as angry as she thought she would be. She should have been furious. He left when she needed her older brother the most. Her mother never really got over his second disappearance. Her close knit family fell apart. The only one she sees on a regular basis was George, but that was because he lived right up the street. She hadn't talked to Hermione or Harry since her graduation. Then the war did a number on her Family as well. Thank god her husband Frank had not been killed. Enough people were lost in the war. After what seemed like hours of silence he spoke again. "May I come in, I'm getting quite a number of stares out here."
"Yes, of course" she finally spoke. She led him into the living room where Charlie and his school friend was playing. "Charlie, darling, can you please take this up to your room please"
"Yes Mum" he replied, picking up his material and hurrying upstairs with his friend, but not before giving the stranger a weird look. Bonnie stood in the doorway and watched as the stranger talked with her mother. She couldn't hear exactly what they were saying, but she still didn't trust this man. She didn't know why, but she did. She had never seen this man before, and he seemed way too familiar with her mother. Suddenly they started arguing. Not knowing what else to do she ran out the door and over to her Uncle George's house which was three doors down.
"Uncle George" She cried, throwing open the door.
"Yes Bonnie dear, what is it ?" He said, jumping up from the couch.
"Uncle, there is a strange man at the house and he is arguing with Mum. I didn't know what else to do" She stopped to catch her breath.
"We better hurry over then." He pulled on his shoes and followed Bonnie out the door. They arrived at the house and it was silent. George ran into the living room and found Ginny sitting on the couch with her head in her hands. "Ginny, are you all right?" He bent down and took her hand.
"George, it was him" She whispered, not looking up.
"Ginny, it was who?"
"Ron, it was Ron"
"Ron" he gave a loud gasp. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure" She glared at him. "Do you think I'd lie about something like that ?"
"No, of course not. I'm sorry Ginny." He sat down beside her. "Where is he?"
"I don't know" she sobbed. "He left in a huff. I mentioned something about.." She laid her head back in her lap. "Oh George, I am such an idiot. I can't believe I did such a stupid thing. Now he is gone, and all I know is that he is staying at Hermiones. I haven't talked with her in twenty years. I don't even think I know where she lives."
"Hermione, you mean Mrs. Finnagan?" Bonnie asked from the corner.
"Yes, I think that's her name. Why do you know her?" Ginny looked up.
"She is our Muggle Studies Professor. Her son is a year ahead of me in Gryffindor." She blushed, thinking of Adrian. She was sure that he didn't even know she existed, and then there was the fact that he graduated, but still she had had a crush on him as long as she could remember. She didn't even know her mother was friends with Adrian's family.
"Do you by any chance know where she lives darling?"
"She lives in Hogsmade during the school year. I think anyway"
"To Hogsmade we shall go" George said.
"But what about Charlie and Bryce"
"Bonnie can stay and watch them"
"Mum, no..I want to come too" Bonnie heard Charlies voice say from the hallway.
"Well then, I guess we have two more travelers. Come on boys" George motioned for them to come into the room. "We shall go find your other Uncle"
"Bryce, you don't think your mother will mind this do you?" Ginny looked over at Charlie's little friend.
"Of course Mrs. Fraser, she wouldn't mind at all" Of course his mother would mind, but in Bryces mind, what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her. He had never seen Hogsmade, or Hogwarts for that matter. It was still two years before he would be a first year. He smiled sweetly.
"All right then, lets go" Ginny took Bonnies hand, and George took Charlies and Bryces hand, and with a poof the five of them were gone.
Okay, I am finally finished with this part. YEAH for me...clap clap> It took me forever to finally write the end of this. YOu would think because I was on summer vacation that I would get it done in a flash, but it is amazing how much less time I spend on the computer now that it is not class, and the fact I do so much of my writing in class. I still believe that Chem is my muse, how strange or odd that might sound. I'll get the next part out as soon as I can, hopefully before school starts up again in the fall.>
Copyright 2000 Mollyco~