Temporal Flux

Chapter Eighteen: Unforeseen Complications

Weeks began to pass without anything coming to light. Jared was getting more and more frustrated, while Ron, Ginny, and Harry were getting more and anxious about not knowing what was going to happen next. It took a while before Ginny could refocus again on things, but she forced herself to because three people's lives were in danger. The only reason why Jared left her alone during that time was because Ron told him to.

"It's been weeks and there's nothing on Magus," said Jared. "It's like he's just waiting."

Harry had a sudden realization that came to him. "The first attack was at the Forbidden Forest right?"

"I'm not so sure myself," said Ron as he nodded. "But why are we going over that again?" Suddenly, Ron had an epiphany when he realized what Harry was getting at. "Every year Dumbledore gives us the warning to stay out of there. There are a lot of things in the forest that could harm us. But it isn't just that. The protection that's available on the campus doesn't extend to the forest."

Jared got up. "That's right. I mean every year McGonagall gives us the same warning."

"McGonagall becomes Headmistress?" asked Ron.

Jared nodded. "After Dumbledore retires. I met him once when I was very little. I kept calling him Bumblebee. You just laughed, but Mum was horrified when I did it in front of everyone. But Dumbledore didn't mind at all. He just laughed."

Ron laughed, too, "I figured that Hermione would get upset over something like that. It's just funny. She's your mum."

"She's your wife. You married her. I mean you will marry her." He made gesture that was completely unique to him. Ron noticed something that he didn't notice before because before he didn't want to look at him directly. There was a faint scar along Jared's neck, close enough to the jugular. Ron impulsively grabbed Jared's wrist, alarming him. "What's that on your neck?" asked Ron roughly.

"It's nothing," mumbled Jared without pulling his wrist away. "I don't know where I got it. Let me go, Dad." He sounded frightened. It was the last part, calling Ron, "Dad", that got Ron to release Jared's wrist. Jared ran his thumb against it. He looked away from Harry and Ron as he said, "It was there when I was eleven. I don't know how it happened either. Ari and Alex seem to know, but I never really wanted to know how it happened."

"Ari and Alex?" pressed Harry.

"Oh, Aristotle and Alexandria, my friends in Hogwarts," answered Jared. "Ari's family is all Muggles and he was sorted into Gryffindor. Alex is in Slytherin, but she doesn't really fit in there. She's a sneaky one though."

"You have a friend in Slytherin?" asked Ron, utterly surprised.

Jared nodded. "Her father was a Ravenclaw and her mother was a Gryffindor. She hates being called Alexandria. She's okay with Lexy or Alex. She prefers Alex. She's a bit of a tomboy and she's the Slytherin seeker after Professor Malfoy pushed for her to be the seeker on a second year. It made it so that they won the cup for three years in a row."

Now Ron was going into sheer shock, "Malfoy becomes a professor?"

"Well, someone had to replace McGonagall when she becomes head of the school. There's also Professor Longbottom, he teaches Herbology. And of course, Harry. You're the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher along with being head of Gryffindor. It limits my trouble making immensely. Although, I have found ways around you, Harry." Jared had a smile that could only be a Weasley trademark for mischief making.

"Great," muttered Harry. "I can't believe Malfoy becomes the Transfiguration Professor."

"He's fair, but he's always telling you that your students aren't studying enough. Actually, on our first week, he took two points off for each student who didn't do the reading. I was the only one who did the reading," said Jared. "Then again, I did the reading during the summer. I always do the reading during the summer. It's boring otherwise."

Ron rolled his eyes. "You really are your mother's son." He shook his head. "You're also just as stubborn as her. And you're really good at changing the subject, aren't you? I want to know how you got cut on your neck." He sounded angry.

"I told you. I don't know!" exclaimed Jared just as angrily. "I don't remember what happened."

"Does it tingle?" asked Harry quietly.

"No," answered Jared. "It doesn't. It's just a normal scar. I don't think there's anything magical about it. I don't know why Mum insisted on not getting rid of it. I'm sorry, Ron. I didn't mean to get mad about it. It's just that you don't really say much about it. You got really mad when I insisted on carrying out this plan and tried to stop me."

"It looks like something that could bleed a lot," murmured Ron. "Are you sure it's nothing? I mean why can't you remember how it happened?"

Jared shook his head. "I wish I could tell you, but I honestly don't remember. Most people don't notice it until they get close enough to." He looked at Harry. "I mean you didn't notice and Ginny didn't notice either." He turned to look at Ron. "Figures, you'd notice. You've been looking closely at me for a while now. Mostly at my face though. And I try to not draw any attention to it. Sometimes I forget that I have it."

Ron couldn't help, but be alarmed at the scar on Jared's neck. Harry knew it, too. "Besides, it was you who asked about McGonagall being headmistress. You changed the subject first. Now what were you two saying about the forest?"

"Oh, yeah," said Ron. "You see the forest only neighbor the grounds of the school. The protection that's over the school doesn't extend as far as into the forest. The maze that Professor De Luca set up was still on the grounds, but Magus must have tampered with the maze to get me and Hermione into the forest."

Harry continued, "The maze itself was built too close to the grounds. He won't kill you, Jared, because it's all he has to really do is kill Ron or Hermione and you're out. You'll never exist. That's why he hasn't gone straight for you."

"I won't let anything happen to you or Hermione," said Ron solemnly. Jared nodded because he knew that he was serious.

"I can take care of myself. You and Mum taught me how," said Jared. "Of course, you're the most overprotective father alive. You never let me do anything. I'm surprised you let me go for the Quidditch team last year. You and Mum agreed not to let me go for my third or fourth year. On my second year, there weren't any open positions on the team."

"What position did you make?" asked Harry.

Jared grinned as he replied, "Keeper. Just like my dad."

Ron was sort of confused about him being such a strict parent. He was sure that he would have told his child to go out for the team as soon as there were open slots, but to force Jared to wait until fifth year to go out. Ron was sure that Hermione wouldn't hold Jared back that much, especially if Jared liked playing Quidditch as much as Ron did. Ron didn't like that he sounded so much like his own mother. She was the strict one. "So, you can play Quidditch?"

"You took me to my first game when I was ten days old," said Jared. "Mum got plenty mad about that according to Grandmum. It was you and Harry who took me. Mum made you promised her that you wouldn't take me to another game until I was old enough to sit up on my own. I'm a born and breed Chaudley Canons fan."

"Grandmum? Which one would that be? You've got four grandparents," said Ron.

"Well, your parents are called Grandmum and Granddad. While my other grandparents, the ones that I don't have to share with anyone else, are called Nana and Papa," clarified Jared. "I sometimes help Granddad with his tinkering in the shed. I'm the only helper he's got. I don't mind fiddling with all of those Muggle contraptions."

"Oh," said Ron.

"I guess we just keep veering off topic," said Jared with a sigh. "Anyway, I guess what you two are trying to say as long as we stay on the grounds we should be plenty safe. The three of us, I mean."

Harry nodded and sighed. "I guess we'll just have to stay close to the castle and the rest of the grounds. I mean it's not just Jared or Hermione, Ron. It's you he's really after. I mean we don't know how you'll catch him even."

"Maybe, we should just tell Hermione," said Ron quietly. Jared shook his head furiously as Harry gestured for him to be quiet. "I mean she might be able to figure something out. We can't just rely on her diary. It's obvious she doesn't know what's really going on. And she's not stupid. She's probably thinking it's unlikely that you're her son anyway because she's got too much common sense to think otherwise."

Jared nodded as Harry spoke, "Isn't all of this somewhat illegal? I mean I remember Hermione warning me about the punishment for tampering with time."

Jared shrugged. "You can't be the son of an Auror without learning how to avoid the law."

Ron shook his head. "I've created a monster." As he gazed at Jared who could only grin.

Sticking close to the grounds was something that was relatively easy to do while school was in session. As the holidays rolled around, it became apparent that it wasn't going to be possible. When Christmas break came along, and the list was being past around to be signed, Hermione made the announcement that both Jared and Ron seemed to have forgotten over time.

"You're not going to be here for the holiday?" asked Ron as Hermione nodded. He was looking at her as if her head had popped off suddenly. "Where are you going?"

"Ron, I've been talking about this for weeks. My grandmother is planning a huge ball. I'm expected to attend. There's no way out of it. Even my dad tried, but he couldn't reason with my mum or Nana," she replied, saying it slowly as if Ron had lost most of his facilities.

Ron sputtered, "B-but you've spent every holiday break with me and Harry since our second year."

"And I haven't been with my parents for that long, Ron," countered Hermione.

Jared and Harry were playing chess nearby. Or at least they appeared to be playing chess. Ginny was sitting in an armchair, curled up with her textbook. They weren't the only ones listening to Ron and Hermione's conversation.

Hermione put her arms over her chest, "Ron, I've spent more time with your family than my own. I feel like I haven't seen my parents in ages." It was the first time that she ever really mentioned anything like that, leaving Ron a bit put off.

The other Gryffindors were listening closely with their attention absolutely rapt. Almost everyone was doing the same thing because Ron and Hermione sounded so much like a couple. And a married one at that. But the silence from everyone else didn't last that long, it was Ginny who broke it, "You know, Ron, she's right. Hermione does spend a lot of time with our family. It's different with Harry. He doesn't have a decent family to go home, too. Sorry about that, Harry." She didn't even glance up from her textbook.

"No problem," muttered Harry.

Ginny continued, not looking at the look on Ron's face. "And it's not like we won't have extra company anyway, right Jared? You're not going back to America for the holiday, so you won't have anywhere to go, would you?"

"I was going to sign up to stay over," admitted Jared.

Hermione turned and looked at him. "Why aren't you going home? I mean I'm sure that your parents miss you, don't they?" She was trying desperately to get someone on her side.

Jared looked at her and sighed. "I'm not going to get in the middle of this, but no. I don't think my parents really miss me. My mother hardly knows I'm here."

Hermione's brows furrowed as she said, "That's a terrible thing to say. I'm sure she's worried about you being in England."

"So, you're going off into the Muggle world to attend a party?" interrupted Ron. She was unwittingly making things difficult for him. He did everything he could to make himself as friendly as possibly. He even kept up with the boring prefect work for her. He was about to say think of Jared, but Hermione didn't know that he was her son. "Great."

"Why are you so mad?" asked Hermione. "I very rarely get to see them as it is. I'm sorry."

"Maybe, we should go home for the holiday, Ron," suggested Ginny as she closed her book.

Ron gave her a wide eyed look. He knew that Ginny knew what the plan was and she was purposely messing it up. "What about Jared? He'll be here by himself for the holiday," pointed out Ron.

"Leave me out of this," pleaded Jared as Harry's piece destroyed one of his. "Hey!"

Harry said, "You should pay better attention."

"Hey, Jared, would you like to come along with us for the holiday?" invited Ginny. "The more, the merrier."

Jared froze and looked at Ginny. "Well," he cleared his throat, "that would be nice. I suppose." He took a hasty look at Ron who was shaking his head. "If that's okay with, Ron," concluded Jared.

Hermione demanded, "Why are you shaking your head like that, Ron? You were the one who said he'd be alone and you don't even want to invite him yourself? That's horrible." She sounded utterly appalled. "That does it."

"What does it? What are you going to do?" demanded Ron, not liking the tone that she was using.

Hermione turned her head toward Jared, who couldn't ignore what was happening. "How would you like to join me and my family for the holiday? You said you've spent some time in the Muggle world."

Jared now was trapped. He could go with his father's family or his mother's family. That wasn't an easy decision to make. He wanted someone, anyone to intervene at this point. He glanced at his father who looked a mad, while his mother gave an expectant look. He knew that Fred and George knew who he really was and he could only imagine who else they told. "I'll do whatever Harry is doing," concluded Jared, passing off the responsibility to someone else.

All eyes were now on Harry. He could simply just say that he was staying at the school. Jared could see the quick thinking going on inside Harry's head. He sighed and asked, "Ginny, does your invitation extend to me?"

"Yes," answered Ginny promptly.

Harry nodded, "Then, I'll join you and Ron."

"I guess I'll go too," agreed Jared.

"What about you, Ron? Do I have to invite you to come home?" asked Ginny sharply.

Ron was backed into a corner. He could tell that now everyone else was looking at him, but it was the look in Hermione's eyes that made him decided quickly and impulsively. "We'll go together." He looked at Hermione again. She seemed a little hurt. Perhaps, she felt left out. At the moment, Ron just didn't care. He was furious at Harry at the moment.

When everyone else had dispersed for the night, Jared was still forcing Harry to play another game of chess with him. He didn't take to losing very well, something that he obviously got from his mother. Ron watched them for a few minutes before getting on his feet and walking over to them. "Why did you just agree to not being on the grounds? I thought we decided that this was the safest place," demanded Ron to Harry.

Harry looked up at him, "Hermione's very stubborn, Ron. She was going to go whether you liked it or not. At least if we're not on the grounds, we can still go into the Muggle world and check up on her."

"I was wondering what was going on in that head of yours," muttered Jared. He glanced at Ron. "You're mad, aren't you?"

"What was your first clue?"

"That vein in your head."

"What vein?"

"You two are so much alike," said Harry. "Ron, Jared's a pain in the arse because you're a pain in the arse. And it wasn't fair to force him to choose between both sides of his family. I don't know the Grangers that well, so it wasn't that hard for me to decide. You can go into the Muggle world with two guides rather than one. I mean I'm not much for the city, but Jared was raised in London."

"I know the city, but it might be different than what I remember. I mean it's got to be different," said Jared.

"You do know where your grandparents' house is there, right?" asked Ron. Jared nodded. "Then, this could work. Assuming that my parents will let us go into the Muggle world."

"Don't worry about it. I'm an expert at that sort of thing," said Jared almost proudly, but the look Ron's face wiped the look off his face.

"You'll be a handful, won't you?" asked Ron. As he got to his feet, he continued, "Yet, I can't help but blame myself for it. I should go home, if not to apologize to my parents for all the stuff I put them through. You'd better be one cute baby when you come along."

"I think should be insulted by that," retorted Jared as he followed Ron towards the staircase. Harry shook his head and followed the Weasleys up the stairs. Neither Jared nor Harry knew why Ron was really upset about not seeing Hermione during the holidays.

One would think that Ron would tire out after spending so much extra time with Hermione. His prefect duties allowed him close proximity to her. He spent more time with her than anyone else, yet never found away to get away from her. Nor did she. The thought of not spending the holidays or even seeing her bothered him more than anything. Ron got into bed with that thought running through his mind.

He had been very good for the past few weeks about not thinking of Hermione other than just his friend that he needed to protect. Every once in a while, Jared did an excellent job of reminding that she was so much more. At those times, Ron would just think of Hermione as the mother of his child. He stared up at the canopy. In a few days time, he wouldn't be seeing her for a while, not until the next year. There was no denying that he was in love with her. He wanted to be with her all the time. With her, everything was always fascinating and never boring. At first he assumed it was because they were allowed to spend more time together because of Harry's crazy relatives. He was uncomfortable with just being with her alone, but soon he didn't mind it so much.

Hermione had a way of getting and keeping Ron's attention. He wondered if she ever thought that way about him. Ginny had decided not to tell anyone about Hermione's thoughts on Ron that she discovered in the diary. Ron sat up and saw that Jared was sleeping soundly. He had managed to kick off most of his blankets. It gave something for Ron to do at least. He got to his feet and quietly padded over to Jared's bed. Slowly, he put the blankets back on him.

Ron got back into bed and thought about when, how, and why he didn't notice it before. Why didn't he realize that he was in love with her? He must have been pretty dense because it took Jared's presence to get him to notice. He was about to go to sleep, but suddenly Jared turned fretfully as if he was having a nightmare. Ron sat up again and watched as Jared seemed to shake like he was cold. Ignoring everyone else in the room, Ron got up again and gently shook Jared awake. Ron shook him until his brown eyes shot open. "You're having a nightmare, Jared," he whispered loudly. Jared was gasping for air. "It's okay. You're fine."

"It's all right. I'm fine," said Jared. "It's just a reoccurring dream. That's all. I'm fine. I don't want to talk about it, Dad. " Ron saw the scar on his neck as clear as day under the moonlight. He remembered over the last couple of weeks hearing Jared thrashing about in his sleep, but not doing anything about it. Ron reached out to touch the scar on his neck, but decided against it.

Ron sat on Jared's bed, rubbing his back. It was enough to comfort Jared and induce him to go to back to sleep. It was only then that Ron was able to go to sleep.


AN: The conversation at the beginning has a couple of hints about what happened to Jared. The reason why the scar on Jared's neck wasn't brought up until now was because he had forgotten about it. The scar is there, but somewhat faded. There is a reason why Jared was kept from playing Quidditch until his fifth year. And there's a bit time leap here, especially for the next chapter. The perspective kind of changed to Ron's end of things.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This story belongs to me and cannot be posted anywhere else without my permission.