Disclaimer: Well I would've been in a mental hospital if I thought I wrote Harry Potter, wouldn't I?
You know what I realized...less than I week till I go to Asia! Which is awesome for me but badish for the story! I mean people will have to wait for a LONG time for me to review! I wonder...I think I can manage about two more updates after this one before I go 'cause you guys sort of deserve it for being so great to this story! Speaking of that actually let's get to the thank-yous!
trikkity: Kill me? Oh come on, he isn't going to read this! LOL. I know! George is going to be a DAD! My god all the things that are going through my head about the kid are wild! LOL! So is tomorrow Monday? Possibly Tuesday? LOL. I love you and thanks for reading my fic! (It's not gang, it's gangSTA!)
Leslie: Hey thanks! I'm glad you like the way I write. I'm still sort of coming into my own with that. I may be biased on whether Hermione is going to end up with Harry or Ron but I know what you mean. But there are quite a few Ron/Hermione fanfictions out there. Good ones too if you look hard enough. I personally think that it's so totally going to be R/Hr. It just depends if I'm going to make it that way in this story..hmm..lol
gonzogirl: Wow thank you so much! I love Hr/R fics too. Yes I've read from many reviewers about my Thanksgiving mess-up. LOL! Goes to show I don't always have my facts straight!
I heart Snape: You'll understand the Harry becoming an Auror so quick thing. It sort of has to do with the Second War. Same with the Hermione thing but less then in Harry's case. If I don't make sense ignore it lol. You'll find out soon enough. 19 and 20 are young ages to be getting married but I know a lot of couples that have done it. Even in HP world there's Lily and James who got maried pretty young. Thanks for reviewing and the questions because I love giving clues! (sometimes)
bethzc: Woot! lol yeah Daphne was pretty unexpected to Ron too. Haha nice guesses. It's nice it was a surprise; I like doing that. Thanks a bunch for reviewing too! It really makes my day!
lindsey-31: Thank you! I'm glad you liked the ending because I was racking my brain for about a minute to come up with that! Which is pretty longish for me! I like putting a magical twist on Muggle things like instead of a 'Kick me' sign a 'Hex me' sign. It's fun to imagine up that they do sometimes! I can totally see why JKR likes it.
Bhekie: Thanks it's good to hear that you liked it. Yeah no recent break-ups! And when there is a break-up I hope all of you don't assume it's Hermione and Seamus because you know me and my love of sudden twists! Haha I'm glad you enjoyed the ending!
QueEnfullofDrama: Wow wow wow! Thanks for being so kind to this story! Yeah I try but sometimes reviews are nice to read to make you feel good! Like someone out there is actually reading about what you've (or in my case, Ron) has got to say! Love me, love the story, whatever! Just as long as you read it's awesome!
Silver Ice: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you liked it! I think almost all the readers were skeptical about Daphne and George and it was no different in Ron's case. But I'm happy that you like Ron discovered they're not such a bad couple! Yeah they've finally escaped the Peasegood's rain of terror! I'm glad you mentioned the Hermione/Seamus thing. Yes it's quite true that something fishy is going down. It's good for some, bad for others.
MeryKey-7: Yeah not so many Ron/Hermione moments. But the chapters following will include more. I'm happy you were open to the George/Daphne pairing. It was an interesting mix. But I dared LOL. Thanks for reviewing too!
Chrismukkah-hunnie: Uh huh it was not what most people were thinking! I'm glad you liked it though! And oh yeah thank you for your review, it was greatly appreciated!
airhead14: Hey! Yeah it was quite the SHOCKER for some people. Hehe nice to hear that it was fun! George's kid will be half/half of course. George is safe and purely wizard! (which is pretty cool on it's own!) Thank you for the review also!
Jerri: Oh wow so far that makes 4 Canadians I've met through fanfiction. Which is awesome! Thanks for reviewing too! I'll try to update as much as possible before I leave.
Brooke Monica: Thanks so much! lol..I liked the chapter too! Ron was a prat but sometimes I think he just can't control himself. Yup she is pregnant! It's pretty cool and intriguing! Later plot foreshadowed!
Miss-Court-A-Doo: Thank you! Wonderfulness! Yup I like hearing that! Don't worry I'll give you more R/Hr action in this chapter since the last two were sort of...flat lol.
Mijy: Hehe the last part was sort of cute. Thank you for reviewing it's greatly appreciated!
Nandinha Shinomori: I'm glad you thought Daphne was the right choice in the situation! Yeah there was some hidden fluff with George/Daphne and Ron's chat with George. George's baby will be half-vamp. The description you've got is pretty accurate actually. You're brazilian? (hey cool I have a brazilian fan!) That's awesome because my cousins lived in Brazil for a long time and can speak portuguese too! But somehow I haven't caught on! It's sounds like a beautiful language though! Understanding you was easy you're pretty good at English. Thanks for the big review!
Siriusfan9: Haha that's cute! Thank you so much! I'm glad you gave me the thumbs up or I guess betterly put the smiley!
soonerchick117: LOL I'm happy to see the 'Hex me' bit and the 'jelly and cheese sandwich' part was so appealing to you! My dad actually does eat jelly and cheese sandwichs and likes them! Bleach! Odd taste! Anywho thanks for reviewing!
reihino2003: Aww thanks for the sweet review! Makes me feel GOOD. I hope you like this chapter as much as the last!
hikaru: Haha..WOW. I don't doubt for a second that you knew it! Yup her, not all things are perfect in my head haha. I'll try not to accentuate on the drinking blood part lots. I'm not hindu either but yes KARMA. Thanks for reviewing and being so "wow" lol. (you shy? noo...) And I think werewolves are pretty damn cool too!
AmyChris: Thank you! I'm glad you read all the chapters and liked the story! And thank you for saying I'm an amazing writer. All of your compliments are really flattering!
LunaAqua: Hiya, I'm happy to hear that the last part was liked on your behalf. I'm pretty sure everyone had doubts about Daphne but I'm glad I managed to get most people to convert and like her! Thanks for reviewing too!
Wow wow wow! All of you reviewers kick ass! Thank you SO much for reviewing! It means so much to me! Encourages me to go on each time!
The first snowfall of the year came a three days before Christmas (Author's Note: I know this one is celebrated in England!) and Ron found himself roaming the streets of Diagon Alley aimlessly in search of Christmas gifts for everyone. He hadn't gotten hardly anyone a gift yet because, as usual, he'd waited till last minute to go Christmas shopping. The streets were filled mostly with men like himself who had also decided to be tardy this year.
Ron rubbed his frost-bitten nose with his frost-bitten fingers and decided to warm up with a coffee from Diagon Alley Cafe. The cold winter winds played with his hair as he struggled to walk against the direction of the snowfall. His hair was the brightest color in the whole of Diagon Alley. His feet crunched the snow as he passed the mostly empty shops. Some were even closed this close to Christmas.
They probably thought no one would be out this close to Christmas either. Only pathetic losers like himself. He wondered when he'd become one of them. A pathetic loser that is. It seemed just a few months ago he'd been completely content with his life. Just happy with being famous, having thefamily everyone was envious of, being friends with the types of people most would die to touch, and dating witches any wizard would want. But somehow ever since he'd met Hermione his perfect world didn't seem so perfect anymore. 'Perfect' didn't seem right anymore either. He wanted something more. He wanted love.
He laughed at himself. It was an unaturally high cold laugh coming from him. Icy, cruel. It didn't suit him. It wouldn't have suited everyone. And yet he found himself racking his brain over who it had one belonged to. When it came to him, it came so quickly he was almost frightened. It was the high-pitched laugh of Lord Voldemort he'd just immitated. A chill crept over him which was more overwhelming then the wintery breeze. It shrouded him like a dark veil and he almost found it hard to breath. His sudden adreneline rush caused his heart to start beating faster and he dared to shoot a look over his shoulder.
No one was there but it didn't calm him at all. Somehow, no matter how crazy it sounded he'd almost felt as if Lord Voldemort had been lurking behind him. He tried to laugh at his own absurdity but ended up shoving his fist in his mouth to choke it out. The cold laughter was about to come, he'd known it. He picked up a mad dash to the Diagon Alley Cafe and got curious stares from passers-by who were all wondering where Ron Weasley was running off to. Ron vaguely picked up the chit-chat of a father and son as he whizzed by in a hurry knocking some of their shopping over.
"Where does the bloody hell he think he's going?" a father grumbled angrily commencing on stuffing his gifts back in his shopping bag.
"It's Ron Weasley, Dad!" a boy defended him valiantly, "He's probably going to save someone with Harry Potter."
Save someone? Right now the only person he felt he needed to save was hismelf. After all wasn't he going insane? Thinking evil overlords who were supposed to be dead were creeping up on him. He grateful when he reached the door to the Diagon Alley Cafe. The warm glow of the cafe washed over him and he let out a sigh of relief that was cut short when he noticed Hermione and Seamus in a corner of the coffee house. They began waving him over. He hesitated but somehow found himself sitting at their table anyways.
"What are you doing out in this cold?" Hermione asked him with an arched eyebrow. She looked so warm and cozy in her red sweater as opposed to him.
"I should be asking you two the same" Ron said not truly replying.
"Came out for a cuppa. And you?" Seamus explained forcing him to answer the question.
"Shopping for presents" Ron admitted holding the hot mug of coffee in his hands, "Aaah the the feel of warmth."
"Ron you really need to learn not to wait last minute" Hermione said frowning, "You should've made a shopping list of what to get everyone at least a month or two ago. That's what I do and it helps a whole lot."
"Hermione are you talking about exams or Christmas shopping?" Ron asked rolling his eyes.
Hermione sniffed and shut up. After glaring at Ron for the period of a minute she got up and headed off to the bathroom.
"Did you buy anything yet?" Seamus said sipping his own coffee.
"Erm, I bought this pocket watch for my Dad since he's always late" Ron said pulling out the only gift he'd bought in the two hours he'd been here. It was a beautiful silvery antique which he'd paid a lot of galleons for so he was hoping it would help his father's punctuality even in the slightest way.
"Mmm...this says it's three. You'd better set it to the right time" Seamus said.
"It is set to the right time" Ron clarified, "I remember asking the store owner to do it because I was in a rush."
"It's three already? Damn it! My watch must've stopped! It still says one-thirty!" Seamus cursed profusely, "I have to go. Tell Hermione I'll meet her back at home around seven."
"Where are you going in such a buzz anyways?" Ron inquired curiously.
"Still planning things for the big proposal" Seamus began, "I want it to be perfect, you know? I want it all finished up so I can propose in the New Year."
Ron merely nodded because there were too many thoughts fluttering through his mind at the moment. It was too confusing to speak. Day by day the engagement just seemed to be dawning closer and he couldn't stop it. He thought forward to how this time next year Hermione might even be married. It was too vivid and scary a thought for Ron so he quickly pushed it to the back of his head.
"Where's Seamus?" Hermione asked sharply. Her voice cut through the air and practically made Ron jump out of his skin.
"Don't-do-that!" Ron scowled, "I could've dropped my coffee you know!"
"God forbid that" Hermione said shaking her head, "Now where did Seamus go off to?"
"Business meeting" Ron yawned. Hermione took her seat at the table and a dreaded silence followed. Something felt strangely different between them today. As if they were almost shy and embarrassed to be sitting so closely knit.
Ron cleared his throat, "So what are you doing for Christmas?"
"Well Seamus has to go to Ireland to visit his grandmother" Hermione started, "But I decided to skip that so your mother invited me to spend Christmas at the Burrow."
"Why did you skip spending time with Seamus?" Ron implored hoping he didn't sound too eager.
"Well to tell you the truth I don't know why" Hermione mused, " I guess I almost was hoping I would get asked to come to the Burrow because I miss the way we all used to be. You know before fifth year started. I-something strange keeps coming over me lately. "
"What would that be?" Ron said dropping his voice lower.
"I believe I'm tempted to do something horrible to someone I love dearly as a friend. But only as a friend." Hermione said dropping her voice lower too.
Ron pulled his face back and gave her a good long look. She looked nervous and twitchy as if she didn't know what was to become of her.
"What can be that tempting?" Ron whispered. He didn't know why he had suddenly accustomed to whispering but in a way the situation had him feel as if he should.
"If only you knew" Hermione mumbled playing with her fingers, "But it's one of those things you can't help. It's-it's there. Envy, greed, infidelity, love. Would you be able to resist it?"
"Depends on what I'm being tempted with" Ron said slightly breathlessly. His face was awfully close to hers and if he 'accidently' leaned foward just an inch or so he would've plummeted mouth first into a deep kiss.
"Well, this chat got surprisingly serious, surprisingly fast" Hermione worded, "I should probably get going."
"Right" Ron said nodding sensibly, "I should be going too."
Neither of them moved.
"This is silly" Hermione finally pulling away a tad giggly, "I'll see you on Christmas, bye."
Ron bid her farewell and felt the Diagon Alley Cafe too. After the warmth of what he'd just felt inside the great winter weather seemed even more colder than usual. He bitterly restarted his search of the perfect Christmas gifts.
After five hours of vigourous work he'd managed to all his presents but one. It was Hermione's. He had no idea what to get her. What would she want anyways? She'd gotten her star. She'd gotten her perfect little world.
He thought back to the Diagon Alley Cafe. All she'd mentioned was she'd wanted everything to be like it was before. A blast from the past evidently but how was he supposed to get her that. As if on cue, he passed by a store named Past Photography. Oddly enough he'd never noticed it before even though he'd been past here many times before. Perhaps he'd been in a rush all those times or there'd been to many people around. Whatever the reason was, the store had definitely caught his attention now.
He headed in and found the store barren and empty aside from a frail old wizard behind the counter. Ron made a beeline for him and waited for the man to acknowledge his presence.
Two minutes later when he still hadn't been noticed Ron cleared his throat. It promptly caught the old wizards attention.
"Anybody there?" he hacked out.
"Err yes. My name's Ron Weasley." Ron said, "And I-uh-want to know what exactly your services are here Mr-?"
"Mr. Imago. Inigo Imago" the wizard puffed, "Your eyes are blue then?"
"Uh yeah. Yeah they are" Ron said utterly confused. It was then that Mr. Imago looked up into his eyes that he realized the old wizard was blind. He had no iris' only two aquamarine pupils.
"Shocked? It doesn't bother me. Actually it makes all the other senses sharper" Mr. Imago explained, "So back to business. Here at Past Photography we help people photograph their past by sending them back in time through a safe precedure."
"But-what if someone changes the course of history?" Ron asked incredulously.
"Hmm...maybe I misused my words. When you are 'sent back in time' you are sent time to your body, your old form. And you are given the time of half an hour within your former body to shoot a picture of whatever you want." Mr. Imago went on.
"Really? So I could go back being a teenager for half an hour?" Ron inquired excitedly.
"Precisely. But you must sign a contract before you do so promising not to alter the sequence of events. Especially in your case Mr. Weasley for it can alter not just your live but the history of the Wizarding World" Mr. Imago said and Ron thought for a second his pupils widened seriously.
"Alright, alright, I'll sign" Ron said carelessly. He wanted to go back. To where it all started. Before he'd had the scars of fending off Voldemort or losing Hermione. When there was just the trio and their friendship between them. A time where Sirius, Lupin and Tonks were still alive. A time when Dumbledore lived in all of his might.
After signing the contract he was asked which time in his life he'd actually wanted to go to.
He pondered over this for a moment before responding, "The summer before my fifth year. Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, at around seven when there was a party to celebrate Hermione and I becoming Prefects."
The particular day he chose wasn't the best day of his life, nor was it the happiest or the most perfect. But it was the only day he could think back to when they were all together, all healthy, all sane.
"I'll need to get that particular time in a Pensieve Mr. Weasley" Mr. Imago stated holding out a rather dirty brown pensieve, "Call me when you're ready."
Ron nodded and thought hard. In order to place a thought into a pensieve you needed to concentrate on that certain memory. He thought hard back to the party. The sign reading Congratulations Ron and Hermione, New Prefects, his new Cleansweep, and the delicious food. He stuck his want to his hairline and an ooze of silvery memory came pouring out into the pensieve.
"Ready I see" Mr. Imago commented, "Alright then take this and this and this."
Mr. Imago thrust a time turner around his neck, a self-taking camera and handed him a potion.
"Now as the time turner begins to take you back you must sip his potion no matter how time-sick you feel" Mr. Imago explained, "Or there'll be two Ron Weasleys in the past and that could lead to great catastrophies."
Ron nodded trying to take it all in.
"Now let's see. Seeminly to coordinate with the memory you must turn the Time Turner around seven times" Mr. Imago said briefly.
Ron responded with a gulp and began to turn. It was nerve-racking knowing that he was about to see everyone when they were five years less what they would be now.
Quickly and ever so surely his surroundings began to grow into a blurr. He popped the cork off the potion vial and forced the liquid to his mouth. It washed down his throat easily enough although it had a queer taste. A sudden feeling began to rise in him as if his soul was leaving his body.
But as easily as the feeling came it went also and soon Ron found himself sitting at the dining table in Number Twelve Grimmauld Place reaching his hand out to a platter of brownies. The camera was in his lap. He sat there for a second barely taking it all in.
"Ron can you pass me some roast beef?" Ginny asked him casually. Ron's neck swung around and he faced his younger sister. She was only fourteen in this time fold. Ron felt as if it were only yesterday that Ginny had celebrated turning nineteen.
"Ron, hello? Are you alright?" Ginny said sounding worried.
"Uh I'm fine" Ron said finding his voice. Yet it wasn't quite his. It was the crackly, young voice of fifteen year old Ron. He looked down upon himself and saw the gangly, thin body of a Ron who hadn't become a Quidditch player yet.
"Well are you passing me the roast beef or not?" Ginny questioned getting irritable.
"Oh yeah right" Ron nodded and he handed her the roast beef. After that he was done being hassled he stared around the room. Sirius and Lupin were alive. They chatting between themselves. And Ron found himself almost wishing he could tell everyone especially Sirius what was to come by the end of their fifth school year. He bit his tongue and kept quiet. Instead he looked around the rest of the room. Fred and George were in a corner with Mundungus obviously making some kind of black deal. Harry was sitting at the table rather silently with only one scar. He was sure to get many more in the span of the next five years. Mad-Eye and Kingsley seemed the same and Tonks was her usual bubbly self. Bill and Charlie were a likeness of their future selves except here they looked older and more worried about what was to come. Mrs. Weasley was bustling around the room making sure everyone got something to eat in her usual fashion and Mr. Weasley was looking more healthy than Ron had seen him in years.
"What are you thinking so hard about?"
Ron turned to his other side and saw Hermione sitting there. She was just as beautiful. Perhaps shorter. He almost wanted to touch her, to hold her. But he knew that would alter history a great deal.
"Erm, my new broom" Ron said lamely.
"You boys and your Quidditch" Hermione sighed, "All it does is get you worked up."
Ron was about to back down but he knew his fifteen year old self wouldn't have taken that shot at Quidditch sitting down.
"It's the same with you and books" Ron replied.
"You're impossible" Hermione frowned.
"I'm going to take that as a compliment" Ron said hoping he was keeping up his act well.
"Right" Hermione said with an eyeroll, "Do you realize you're a Prefect this year? You can't go messing off all the time. You are a role model."
"Ugh" Ron scowled, "Being a Prefect isn't about being a role model. It's about giving Slytherins detention whenever the bloody hell I feel like it."
"Ron you cannot undermine the Prefect Policy. Dumbledore made you Prefect because he obviously thought you would've made a good role model. Or else he would've chosen Seamus or something" Hermione said aimlessly.
"Seamus? Why are you talking about Seamus? Do you like him or something?" Ron said all in one breath. Could it be that her infatuation for him went back this far?
"Of course I don't like Seamus. I'm just saying" Hermione sniffed, "Why would it matter to you who I like?"
"It doesn't. I'm just saying" Ron smirked.
Hermione shook her head, "It's practically seven thirty, shouldn't you be arguing with someone else?"
Almost seven thirty? He only had half an hour here and he was wasting it!
"Hey Everyone" Ron called over the noise, "How about a group portrait?"
There was a mumur of approval.
"What a wonderful idea Ron!" Mrs. Weasley said elated.
"Alright all of you get ranged together" Ron grinned. He was really going to get his picture.
"I'll skip" Harry said gruffly.
"Aw come on mate" Ron moaned. He should've known Harry would be complicated. After all this was one of his most rage-filled years.
"No Ron, just you go at it. Leave me out" Harry retorted.
"Harry please" Ron begged, "Do it for me?"
Harry glared daggers into him and eventually marched over to the group that was huddled together. Ron smiled at him and set-up the camera. He then joined the happy group and squeezed between Harry and Hermione. He threw his hand around both of their shoulders causing them to give him odd looks. But they also joined the procession and threw their arms around him too.
Mrs. Weasley held out her wand and called, "Portraito."
A blinding flash was Ron's last memory of the past as he felt his soul and body merge together. He tripped over a trunk in Past Photography and crashed to the floor. He brushed himself off and handed Mr. Imago the camera.
"Did you get all you wanted?" Mr. Imago questioned him in a whisper.
"And more" Ron added.
The corner's of Mr. Imago's mouth twitched as he took the time turner and potion vial from Ron.
"Young sir, can I suggest something of you?" Mr. Imago said turning away fromh him and ripping the film out of the camera.
"Course" Ron shrugged following him.
"Have you been feeling dark presences lately?" Mr. Imago continued dipping the film in a potion.
"Why yes. Yes I have" Ron said awestruck. The presence of Lord Voldemort but how could Mr. Imago know?
"Those presences are not of who you think they are. The dark presence you feel comes from you yourself. It comes from a black heart" Mr. Imago said thoughtfully, "You like every other strong man have your faults Mr. Weasley but the greatest one is yourself. Your desire to hide your heart will eventually destroy it and therefore you will destroy your own being single handedly."
Ron bit his lip, "Are you done with that picture?"
Mr. Imago turned to face him hurriedly, "Here."
Ron took the envelope all his pictures were in and paid the man. He commenced his leave but he felt a light hand on his shoulder.
You will listen to what I have worded to you Mr. Weasley?" Mr. Imago implored.
"Yes I will think it over" Ron responded heading outside. Once he was back in the cobbled street again he pushed Mr. Imago's advice to the far reaches of his mind and the dark presence he'd felt returned once again.
Author's Note: That was almost a flash-back chapter! Except not quite! I hope you liked it! It was a darker chapter! I'll follow it up with a lighter one! Oh and I hope to hear from you all again!
love
Winky