Temporal Flux
Chapter Eleven: A Trap
Jared was enjoying his afternoon at his wizard grandparents home in Southern England. He was only four years old and everything was so new to him. His grandmother was watching him for the afternoon. Part of the reason why he enjoyed being at the Burrow was because he could freely use his magic there. His mother's parents were fun, but in a different way. There was more people who dropped by at his wizard grandparents' house. Jared loved his uncles and aunts.
It was late in the afternoon, but it wasn't dinner yet. His father finally returned to pick him up. Jared immediately came rushing to him. His father picked him up and embraced him. His father was the tallest of all of them. "Daddy!" declared Jared with a giggle as his father bestowed a kiss on his cherubic-like cheek.
"How's my mate?" asked Ron as he kissed Jared's other cheek. "Have you been good to your gran?"
"Yes, Daddy," answered Jared with a grin that could only mark mischief.
"Yeah, right," said Ron sarcastically as his mother walked.
"He was an angel today, Ron," insisted Molly as she walked up to him with a smile.
A round of pops sounded the arrival of Fred, George, and Ginny. Ron put Jared on the floor because he was squirming too much. Jared bounded towards Ginny first who gave him a hard hug and wet kisses all over his cheeks. "Yuck! Auntie Ginny's kisses are wet!"
"You don't like the way I kiss you?" teased Ginny as she ruffled his hair and passed him onto his Uncle George.
"You're looking good, Jared," observed George as he poked Jared just below his ribs on one side. Fred poked the other side, causing Jared to emit high pitched giggles. "You're looking more and more like your dad everyday. Let's hope you act more like your mother."
Ron rolled his eyes at Fred's comment. The adults started talking to each other and when that normally happens, a child has a tendency to feel ignored. Jared was an only child who was used to having a room of adults focusing on him. So, he walked up to his father and tugged at Ron's pant leg. "Daddy, I want a biscuit," said Jared very softly. Ron gestured with his hands for Jared to quiet down and wait.
"I want a biscuit," repeated Jared, too young to understand Ron's gestures.
"Not yet," said Ron finally after five minutes of Jared's pleas. "We're going to have dinner soon and your mum's going to meet us here."
"But, I'm hungry," insisted Jared stubbornly. It was moments like these where it was next to impossible to figure out where Jared's stubbornness came from. He had a very determined look on his face.
"You can wait," said Ron, very patiently and gently. In time, he had learned how to keep calm. He had to learn because of his line of work and in dealing with his son and wife. "And you're not even using the magic word that even Muggles know. Don't tell me that you don't know it."
"I want a biscuit."
"Jared, you're not asking the right way. You just have to use the right word and I might consider giving you a biscuit."
Jared look thoughtful for a moment. Molly pursed her lips to keep herself from saying anything. It was best to allow her son to discipline his own child. Fred and George wore identical looks of amusement, while Ginny was trying to keep herself from mouthing the right word. "I want a biscuit."
"What do you have to say in order to get one?"
"NOW!"
Ron's lips were in a thin line as he regarded his son. He willed himself not to yell at him because Jared was just a small child, practically a baby. Fred and George sucked in their breathes, while Ginny shook her head. Molly immediately stepped in, "Ron, don't get angry. He's just a baby."
"That's not the right way to ask. And no, you cannot have a biscuit," said Ron as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You're going to sit down right now." His voice sounded very stern with anger teeming.
Jared knew he had done something wrong because normally Ron would just yell, but his father not yelling was something else. His big brown eyes filled with tears and his bottom lip started to trembling. He started sobbing and gave way to full blown crying.
Molly's first impulse was to comfort her grandson, whose sobbing was heartbreaking. "Ron—"
"Leave him alone," said Ron. "I want him to figure out what he did wrong."
The sobbing and crying went on for a good five minutes before it became soft sniffles. Jared sat still the entire time. At first, he kept glancing at his father who wasn't looking at him. Pretty soon, he was afraid to look at him. He folded his arms on the table and laid his head down. The soft sniffles gave way to heavy tears again.
Another pop filled the empty silence aside from Jared's crying. Molly and Ginny busied themselves with dinner, while Fred and George left because Jared's crying made them uncomfortable. "Am I late?" asked Harry as he shrugged off his cloak. "What's going on? What did you do to my godson?"
"Jared, why don't you explain to your godfather what you did," ordered Ron as he got to his feet and walked out of the room. Jared turned his head when his father walked out on him. He whimpered as Harry picked him up.
"Come on now," said Harry soothingly as he carried him into the backyard. When they got outside, they settled on the large picnic table. "All right, tell me what you did that made your father so mad."
The whole story came out in sobs and whimpers as Jared explained everything, but he left out the one thing that was bothering him the most. Harry listened patiently and wasn't all too surprised that Ron had gotten angry, yet it wasn't his job to chide and discipline Jared. Harry normally left that to Ron and Hermione. He explained Jared in a very soft voice, "You know what you did was wrong, right? You shouldn't say things like that to anyone, especially your daddy. He loves you very much and what you did was disrespectful. The first thing you have to do is apologize to your daddy and then when you ask for a biscuit you have to say please. You're a good lad. I know you can do it. And you're a bright lad, too." Jared nodded as Harry wiped away the tears and kissed the top of his godson's head.
"Okay," whispered Jared.
"Let's go back in and set it right, all right?" asked Harry. Jared nodded. "Do you want me to carry you in or do you want to walk by yourself? I'll hold your hand." Jared answered by jumping off his godfather's lap. Harry took his hand and they walked back into the warm kitchen together. "Where's Ron?"
"He's in the living room," answered Ginny. Harry led Jared into the living room. Reluctantly, Jared went up to his father and looked up at him with his teary eyes.
"Excuse me, Daddy," whispered Jared, reaching out to tugging on Ron's pants like he normally did, but withdrew his hand without touching his father.
"Yes, Jared," said Ron coolly.
"I'm very sorry," stated Jared. "I'm sorry I didn't ask for a biscuit like I was supposed to. May I please have a biscuit?" The last part was almost inaudible because Jared didn't partly believe that Harry was right.
"Yes, you may," answered Ron. "It's close to dinner, but you can have two biscuits." Jared followed behind him, mimicking his father's long gait. Ron reached into the cupboard and handed two biscuits to Jared, who wiped the corners of his eyes, before timidly accepting the biscuits. He turned around and immediately ran to Harry. "Here, Uncle Harry! You get one, too," announced Jared as he gave one of the biscuits to his godfather.
"Thank you," said Harry as he watched Jared scamper off to the living room. "You see, Ron, you've got to tell him what he's done first. Sometimes he's just too little to know any better."
"I know," said Ron. "But sometimes he just learns better this way." However, Jared walked back in, still looking very sad. "What's wrong, love?"
"Do you still love me, Daddy?" asked Jared in a whisper, causing Ron to soften almost immediately. The child really had a way of getting to one of the top Aurors in all of England. Ron was a man who's reputation rightly so preceded him. Ron went down to his son's level and gently scooped him up into his arms. Ron kissed him tenderly on the cheek.
"You know I love you, Jared. Listen to me now. There is nothing in the world that would ever make me not love you. It doesn't matter how much of a brat you are. You are my child and I'll love you no matter what. Why did you ask me just now if I still loved you?"
"Because you were so mad at me, Daddy. I thought you stopped loving me. That you wouldn't be my daddy anymore," answered Jared.
Molly, Ginny and Harry were listening intently, but saying nothing. Molly was having the hardest time not reaching out to her grandson to comfort him because his father was already doing it.
"Silly imp," chided Ron with a soft laugh. "Just because I get mad at you for doing something wrong doesn't mean that I don't love you. Or that I stop being your daddy. And sometimes when I get mad at you for doing something, it's for your own good. I will always be your daddy no matter what you do. Just remember this day when you get mad at me later on, all right?"
"Why would I get mad at you? You're my daddy! That's silly!" exclaimed Jared with a giggle as he adjusted his body so that his knees where on Ron's lap. Jared placed his hands on his father's broad shoulders and planted a kiss on his nose. "My daddy!" he declared as he threw his arms around Ron's neck.
"Yes, he is," agreed Molly with a smile.
"I can't stand him, Hermione," muttered Ron as he looked towards Jared who wasn't doing anything, drinking some water while watching Harry and Neville make a fire.
"You don't even know him, Ron. And what did he do now that annoys you?" asked Hermione exasperatedly.
"I feel like I know him sometimes," admitted Ron almost reluctantly. Hermione gave him a quizzical look, but didn't say anything. The rest of the Gryffindors were keeping busy by setting up the rest of their camp. They were talking amongst themselves just like Ron and Hermione. Jared resisted the urge to look at them from time to time, and if he did, Harry was sure to stop him.
The campout proceeded as soon as Professor De Luca had a chance to look over the tents. The Ravenclaws did the best job out of all of the campers, while the Gryffindors came in at a close second. Hufflepuff did decently, but Slytherin had the most problems. Draco and the rest of his housemates had the hardest time because very few of them wanted to do the work and they had spent most of their time arguing with each other. Therefore, they had gotten very little done.
Jared wasn't used to camping anymore than Ron was. Sure, his Muggle grandparents took him camping before, but that was a long time ago and it was when he was much younger. He and Harry stuck together, while Jared left Hermione and Ron alone for the time being again.
"For tonight, each camp will be receiving a bundle of food that you will have to prepare for yourselves. You must decide how it will be prepared. If some of you can use your wands, then do so. If not, then I suggest you figure out how to cook it. Just make sure no one gets sick," instructed Professor De Luca with a smirk on his face that Jared really wanted to wipe off. "Get started. Some of you will need more time than others." Professor De Luca didn't bother to look towards the Slytherin, but there were some mocking snickers from the other houses.
Each house received a bundle of food, which Jared immediately snatched away from Hermione's hands. "Jared!" she exclaimed indignantly.
"I don't think so," said Jared forcefully. Harry coughed to signal him to let go of the bundle. Jared countered him with a glare.
"Give me that!" ordered Hermione as she grabbed the bundle from Jared's hands. She stalked off in the opposite direction.
Harry whispered in Jared's ear, "You know better than to disagree with her. Shouldn't you know that by now?"
"Why do you think I was trying to get the bundle from her? She can't cook," answered Jared in an equally low whisper. "You don't know that yet. You should cook. You're a better cook than either of them."
Harry gave him a wry smile. He was about to say something, but Ron was walking up to them. "What are you two whispering about?" he asked, casting a look at both of them.
"Nothing," replied Harry and Jared in unison.
"Yeah, right," muttered Ron as he squarely looked at Jared. "What are you really up to?" His question was directed towards Jared specifically, who didn't look at all fazed. In fact, Jared was giving him an innocent grin.
"What he said," answered Jared as he jerked his thumb towards Harry.
"Why don't you go and help Hermione with the cooking?" suggested Harry to Jared, knowing what would happen next.
"No," interrupted Ron before Jared could respond, "I'll go and help her. You just stay here."
As soon as Ron was out of earshot, Jared asked, "What's wrong with him?"
"He thinks you're interested in Hermione," replied Harry.
Jared gave him a wide eyed look and hung his tongue out in disgust. "But she's—that's just sick! That's just wrong!" Harry was beside himself with laughter. The others were staring at them as he continued laughing. "Blah!" spat Jared.
"What are you two doing?" asked Hermione as she and Ron looked at them. "Harry, you need to stop laughing. And what's really wrong with you, Jared?"
"Nothing," repeated Harry and Jared in unison again.
When the meal was prepared the only two people smart enough not to consume any of it were Harry and Jared. Ron was the first one to eat some of Hermione's cooking and he nearly choked on it. "Ugh—I mean…um…" stammered Ron as he glanced at Hermione. She gave him a sharp look. "It's good."
"Really?" asked Hermione.
Jared avoided Hermione's gaze, so did Ron. Harry was chuckling under his breath because of the striking similarity between the father and son. Hermione wasn't noticing Jared's body language at all. All of her attention was focused on Ron, who was practically squirming under her gaze. "Yes," answered Ron.
"Harry, why aren't you eating?" asked Hermione. Harry looked down and gingerly spooned up the mixture. He closed his eyes and attempted to swallow it without tasting. "Well?"
"Um…it's interesting," answered Harry neutrally. "Isn't it, Jared?"
Jared nodded without verbalizing anything. Hermione placed her hands on her hips as she eyed him. "You didn't eat any of it," she pointed out.
"How do you know that?" asked Jared as he spooned around the bowl. "You were too busy with Ron to see me eat it."
"Why don't you eat more of it?" asked Ron.
Jared glanced at both his parents and cast a pleading look towards Harry to rescue him. "Look, most people can tell if something is good or not by smell. After all those two senses are tied together very closely. I'm sorry, but I can't eat this."
Hermione looked absolutely furious for a split second before she calmed herself down and managed to say, "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. One person isn't enough for me to get upset."
"How about a whole sick camp of people?" quipped Jared thoughtlessly. Hermione glared at him, but he stared at her innocently. "Or something like that."
"Hermione, calm down," said Ron bracingly. He was getting ready to stop her if he needed to. "Why are you listening to him?"
Before anyone could say anything else, Professor De Luca summoned them all together again. This time his announcement was short. He explained the next day's activities, which turned out to be a different obstacle course than the one that Jared had tested out for him. He sent the different houses off to decide how they would be paired off.
When they got back Harry decided that he would pair off with Neville and Jared, leaving Ron and Hermione together. Lavender and Parvati were one pair, while Dean and Seamus were the last team. Jared made an odd number of people, so there had to be a three person team.
Everyone went to sleep, waiting anxiously for the next days activities.
The following morning was somewhat difficult for everyone. The first people up were Jared and Harry. They quickly got out of their sleeping bags and went towards the edge of the forest under the pretense of gathering more wood for the fire. It was there that they were able to have another conversation.
"So, do you have any idea how much time you have?" asked Harry, stooping down to pick up a piece of dried bark.
"Time is relative for me, isn't it?" answered Jared. "I don't know why you put them together for the obstacle course. They're not going to get together for a couple more years, so there's really no point in forcing them together now."
"I didn't really force them together," insisted Harry with a shrug. "They went together on their own."
"After you gave them no choice," countered Jared with a smirk. "I guess we'll have to see if they'll kill each other or not. Of course, in the future, they really still argue a lot."
"Really? I thought that they'd settle things before you come along."
"Not really, but it's really my dad just teasing her."
"I figure as much. That's really how they are."
"Let's head back."
When they came back, Ron and Hermione looked like they were having a private conversation of their own. They gave Harry an accusatory look; as if he was he was consorting with the enemy. Harry merely dismissed it.
Professor De Luca was already up and giving them instructions, "Today each house will go into the obstacle course. As you can see, Hagrid was nice enough to construct part of this maze with the assistance of Professor Sprout. That was how the obstacle course was arrange so easily."
"If there's something of Hagrid's in there…" started Neville in a whisper to Jared, who was nodding. He signaled Neville to be quiet.
"Each house has to go through the different entries. The order of which house goes first will be based on the number of points thus far. The order is as follows: Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Let's begin."
Everyone held their breath waiting for their turn to go in. It didn't take long. Jared watched as Ron and Hermione were summoned up. Jared, Harry, and Neville would be last. He should have spent more time watching them.
Because they wouldn't be coming out for a while.
AN: The flashback is important because it establishes the type of relationship that Jared and Harry have. Would anyone out there disagree with me when I think that Ron and Hermione's verbal tussling is a form of flirting? Yes, they have just gotten into a trap. It won't be long for them to figure it out.
Please go to my web journal if you are interested in some pictures that I made in Sims 2. I made up the Weasleys as I have written them for this story. Jared's a baby in the game. He's causing a lot of trouble…you can read some of Jared's antics in the journal as a Sim.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This story belongs to me and cannot be posted anywhere else without my permission.
