Author's Note: I got more wonderful reviews on my last chapter and I can't thank you all enough! Everyone should definitely go check out Tina101's stories, they're awesome!
"Mom, wake up. Mom? WAKE UP!"
Hermione jolted awake and fell out of her bed. She rubbed her head and untangled herself from the covers. "Ow, that hurt! What'd you do that for?"
Jessica laughed. "Because you told me to last night remember? You've got to work breakfast this morning."
Hermione lay back down on the floor. "I don't want to get up. Come wake me up again in five minutes, Jess."
Jessica shook her head. "No way, you're getting up now or else." Hermione looked up at her now eleven year old daughter. "Or else what?" Jessica got a very devilish grin on her face.
"If you don't, then I swear that I will tell George that you will go out with him."
"AH! Jessica Nicole Granger! Don't you dare!"
Hermione got up and took off running after her daughter. She finally gave up and went back into her room. "Jess, go tell Tom I'll be down in five minutes."
Jessica nodded and went into her room. She threw on a pair of blue jeans and a Chudley Cannons t-shirt. Even though the shirt was bright orange, it somehow didn't clash with her long, smooth red hair. Hermione told her that she got her hair from her father. She hadn't ever seen her father, or even know his name for that matter, but she never asked why. She could tell that her mom still loved her dad and it hurt her to talk about him. Her mom had never even gone out on a date since her dad, no matter how many people tried to set her up.
Jessica went down the stairs into the almost empty Leaky Cauldron's pub and looked around. Only five or six customers were in this early. She spotted Tom handing old Ms. Smithson her morning pumpkin juice. "Hey, Uncle Tom! Mom's coming down in a minute, can I help?"
"Good morning to you too, sweetie. If you want to help out today you can, will you go get Mr. Stuart a pumpkin juice too?" Jessica gave Tom a quick good morning hug, then quickly walked off to fix a pumpkin juice for Mr. Stuart and brought it over to him.
"Morning Mr. Stuart, how are you?" she asked when she got to the table. He looked up from behind the Daily Prophet and gave her a smile.
"Good morning, Jessica. You're up earlier than normal." Jessica nodded. "Yeah, they have a new shipment of brooms in down the street and I can't wait to go see them. Plus the bookstore has a shipment of books coming in today too."
Mr. Stuart chuckled to himself. "Like mother like daughter, though I don't know where you get your love of flying and Quidditch from, you're mother can't stand flying."
Just then Hermione came down the stairs pulling her hair back as she went. She had on her blue jeans and a white blouse. She took a few customers orders and put them in to the kitchen then walked over to Jessica and Mr. Stuart.
"Good morning you two, what are we up to now?"
Jessica had her stubborn face on and said, "I'm trying to convince Mr. Stuart that the Cannons will win this season. They get better each time, so they're bound to win."
Mr. Stuart had an equally stubborn face. "I don't think so. The Cannons may be getting better, but the Tornados have always been great and near impossible to beat."
Jessica stuck out her tongue playfully then walked back to the bar and started talking to the cook, Sam.
"Well Hermione, people certainly do love Jessica. We're all going to miss her when she goes to Hogwarts. After all, we've watched her grow up," Mr. Stuart said.
Hermione nodded sadly. "Yeah, I know. Her letter should be coming soon, probably today. She's excited though and she can't wait to go. Everyone says they have a great staff now. They've gotten new Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers since I was there. They're all supposed to be great. I'm just dreading her going because I won't get to see her."
She and Mr. Stuart talked for a while longer until the owl post came. Tom sorted through the mail and gave Hermione her letters, then came across one that made him stop. "My lord, it's here."
Hermione looked curiously over his shoulder. "What are you looking at? You okay?" Hermione looked at the letter in his hands and smiled. "Hey Jess! Get your skinny butt over here now!"
Jessica slid off her stool and marked her page in her book. "Geez Mom, I was sitting four stools away! You don't have to be so loud, you know. What is it anyway?"
Hermione handed her a faded yellow envelope with writing in green ink. It was addressed to:
Ms. J. Granger
Apartment 12, Leaky Cauldron
206 Diagon Alley
London
She turned it over and saw the envelope sealed with red wax and a crest with a badger, snake, raven, and lion.
"Cool! Mom, it's my letter! It took long enough to get here!" Jessica hurriedly opened it and read the letter:
Dear Ms. Granger,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Jessica smiled and did a small jump of excitement. "I'm going to Hogwarts! Finally! But couldn't Aunt Minerva have just brought the letter later today? I mean, it's just wasting the use of an owl."
"Well, I'll be sure to remember that next year."
Jessica and Hermione turned around and saw McGonagall standing there with a slight smile on her thin lips. Jessica hopped over the bar and ran to give her a hug. She and McGonagall were extremely close and always had been.
"Minerva, I didn't think you were coming until later today or I would have started cooking lunch earlier," Hermione said. Over the past few years Hermione had become a huge fan of cooking on her own. McGonagall waved it aside. "Oh, don't worry about me dear. I just came early to help Jess get some of her school supplies, mostly her books."
Hermione nodded and agreed. "Oh, Jess, you'll need some money. Go up and get however much you need out of my purse. You can get extra if you want to get a cat or owl or something."
Jessica said thank you and ran to get the money from Hermione's purse. Once she was sure Jessica was up the stairs she turned to McGonagall. "Minerva, you seem preoccupied. Are you all right?"
McGonagall knew she had given herself away too easily. She had been thinking for months about Jessica coming to Hogwarts and had been thoroughly looking forward to it, until she remembered one thing. Ron Weasley was a teacher at Hogwarts and he had no idea he had a daughter and Hermione had no idea that Ron was a teacher.
McGonagall had just about gotten up enough courage to tell Hermione, but then Jessica came sliding down the stair banister with her beautiful red hair flying out behind her. "Okay, I'm ready to go!"
Hermione had been taking the order from a customer at the bar and seemed to have forgotten about the conversation. "Okay baby, be careful and don't go overboard." She gave Jessica a hug, then went back into the kitchen to place the order.
Jessica and McGonagall walked out of the pub and went and got all of the basic books and supplies. They picked her wand after trying at least twenty. The wand they finally found her was Holly, 15 inches in length, and contained a phoenix feather. They also walked into the Magical Menagerie to pick out an animal for Jessica. They wound up with a small white owl with some spots on its wings. Jessica decided to name the owl Nymphadora just to make Tonks mad (which, trust me when I say it did. Tonks and Remus had given their son the very likeable name, Tristan).
The next month passed slowly for Jessica. She couldn't wait to go to Hogwarts and see everything her mom had told her about and see the Quidditch matches. For McGonagall and Hagrid however, the nights went by quickly. Finally it was September 1st, the day that Jessica would be arriving at Hogwarts.
"Oh, what are we going to do!" wailed Hagrid. He knew this was going to be trouble.
"Calm yourself, Hagrid! There's nothing we can do now, we'll just have to let the events play out as they come!" McGonagall felt extremely guilty, as if she was betraying Hermione, which she would never want to do in her life, but couldn't help but smile as she thought of something. "Who knows Hagrid? Maybe its time Ron found her."
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"Jessica are you sure you've got everything?" Hermione asked for the hundredth time.
"Yes, Mom, I've got everything. Now how the heck do I get on to this platform thingy?"
Hermione smiled. "Ah ha, I know something you don't know!" She stuck out her tongue at Jessica.
Jessica rolled her eyes and laughed. "Oh yeah Mom, real mature."
Hermione showed Jessica how to get through the platform, but tried not to attract too much attention. Once they were safe through the barrier, Jessica saw her mom look around cautiously to make sure she didn't see anyone that would recognize her from when she was in school. Once she saw that no one did, she turned back to Jessica.
"Okay, you're really sure you have everything?" Hermione asked again. Jessica couldn't help but laugh at her mom worrying so much. "Mom! I promise you I have everything! If I did forget something, you can send it with Nymphadora when you get one of my letters!"
This seemed to satisfy Hermione. "Good, so now I have an excuse to make you write. You know, you should write to Tom, Sam, Mr. Stuart, Ms. Figg, and Mrs. Smithson because they're all gonna miss you too." Jessica promised she would write to all of them at least once a week, depending on her work load, in which case she would just write a letter to Hermione.
A few minutes later, the train whistle blew. Hermione wrapped Jessica in a huge hug and helped her on to the train. "Okay, please be careful!"
Jessica laughed. "No of course not! Love you Mom!"
"I love you too, Jess."
Jessica walked down the corridor of the train and finally found one that wasn't full. The only occupant was a girl that looked about her age with dark brown hair that was pulled back into a simple ponytail. "Do you mind if I join you?" Jessica asked.
The girl looked up from her book and smiled. She had an attractive face with hazel eyes and a thin figure. "Sure, I'd love some company," she said.
Jessica gratefully sat down across from the girl and was delighted when she saw that the girl was reading Quidditch Through the Ages. "Oh, are you a Quidditch fan?" Jessica asked eagerly.
The girl shook her head modestly. "No, I'm afraid not. I'm muggle born you see, so I was reading up on it because it sounds fascinating. I played soccer back at my old school, apparently Quidditch is supposed to be a bit like that."
Jessica nodded. "Oh, it is. Not too much difference. Well, there is really, would you like me to explain?"
Jessica spent the next hour explaining Quidditch to the girl and they bought sweets from the trolley when it came by. Jessica was sure that the girl had a good understanding of the game now. "What's your name by the way?" she asked.
"Oh, I forgot all about names. I'm Natalie Green. What's your name?"
"Jessica Granger, but most everybody calls me Jess."
Natalie smiled. "Alright, Jess it is. Do you have a favorite Quidditch team?"
"Of course! The Chudley Cannons are my all time favorite. They may not be the best team out there, but they get better each year."
"Oh, I'm sure they do. Or is it that you're just a very stubborn and loyal fan?"
Jessica blushed. "Probably a little of both."
Soon, Natalie and Jessica put on their robes and they got off the train at Hogsmeade station. They walked through the crowd and went to where Hagrid was calling for first years. Jessica gave Hagrid a small hug before many people got over to them so they wouldn't accuse him of having her as a favorite before she even started classes. But since today was a Friday, she wouldn't have to worry about classes until the following Monday.
The first years gasped in awe as the boats they were riding in glided across the lake to Hogwarts. They walked into the entrance hall where McGonagall met them and explained the sorting. McGonagall's eyes met Jessica's and they both smiled at one another, but Jessica could have sworn she saw something worrisome in her eyes.
The first years entered the hall and waited in line. This was it; this would decide where they would spend the next seven years of their lives.
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At the staff table, only some of the teachers watched with much interest while McGonagall respectfully listened to the Sorting Hat's song and began calling first years to be sorted.
Harry, Ron, and Ginny were passing notes about the latest Quidditch standings and Ron was as usual standing up for the Chudley Cannons.
They're getting better!
That's what you say.
Hey, guys, what's wrong with Hagrid?
The three of them stopped passing the note back and forth and looked at Hagrid who had just walked in and sat down beside Ron. He looked pale and was drinking more wine than normal, very quickly.
"Hagrid, you alright?" Ron asked.
Hagrid jumped a little at Ron's question. "Me? Why wouldn't I be?" Hagrid said in a bit of a strained voice. Ron noticed that he didn't meet his eye and he seemed much more reluctant to look at him than Harry or Ginny.
The line of first years had gotten somewhat shorter and Harry, Ron, and Ginny decided to actually pay a little bit of attention. They finally got to Freedman, Justin who was sorted into Hufflepuff. Then McGonagall paused. Everyone looked at her expectantly, but for a few seconds no sound came out. Ron and Harry could have sworn she looked at them before finally saying, "Granger, Jessica"
Ron's mouth fell open. The girl that walked up had long red hair, brown eyes like Hermione's, and a face that was shaped exactly like Hermione's. He jerked his head towards Hagrid who was staring fixedly at Jessica Granger without blinking. Was that why his eyes were watering? He looked over at Harry and Ginny who had similar dumbstruck expressions. Ginny took her hand out from under the table and reached to hold Harry's hand. Ron looked back at the girl right when the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted in applause as Jessica Granger went over to join them. Natalie Green followed her to Gryffindor and sat down beside her not long after.
"Oh my god," Ron croaked. Harry and Ginny nodded in agreement. When the sorting was over and the feast appeared Ron, Harry or Ginny didn't touch their food. When McGonagall took a seat beside Ginny Ron leaned over to her.
"Who is that Jessica Granger?" he asked forcefully. McGonagall pretended to be in a very intense, animated conversation with Professor Sprout. "Minerva! Tell me!"
McGonagall turned around to face the three of them sternly, but they saw another emotion they couldn't quite place in her face. Before they could really think about it, McGonagall said, "If you want to know who she is, I suggest you find out yourselves." With that she turned back around, her lips drawn in a thin line.
The entire feast, Ron watched Jessica Granger. Her back was to him and as the feast ended and the tables were dismissed to their dormitories, Ron practically launched himself out of his chair to catch up to her. When he did, he clapped a hand on her shoulder. She turned around, somewhat surprised.
Ron's voice caught in his throat, but he soon found it again. "Could I, uh, speak to you in my office, Ms. Granger?"
Jessica looked surprised by this question. She agreed and gave a quick wave to her brunette friend and walked off with Ron. They reached his office and Jessica immediately noticed his Chudley Cannons poster.
"You support the Cannons? Finally someone who has some taste in Quidditch!" Jessica said before she could stop herself. She had forgotten she was talking to a professor. "I'm sorry, I, uh, forgot my manners for a moment." Jessica said embarrassed.
Ron waved his hand to show that it was alright. "No, its fine, I'm glad to hear you support the Cannons as well." Ron cleared his throat nervously and started pacing around the room. Jessica thought he was acting quite odd. "Is everything alright Professor…"
"Weasley. Professor Weasley."
Jessica nodded. "Okay, Professor Weasley, is everything alright?"
Ron nodded. "I, um, think so. I'm not quite… well yes, everything is fine."
Jessica, even though confused by it, accepted this answer. When Professor Weasley didn't show signs of sitting down or saying anything anytime soon, Jessica began looking at the Cannons poster closer. As she was doing this, two pictures framed beside it caught her eye. One of the women in the picture looked very familiar…
Jessica got up to take a very close look at the pictures. One was a group photograph, and the other had two people in it. When she got close enough to make out the faces, Jessica let out a short scream and jumped back as though it had shocked her.
Ron whipped his head around to see the girl standing looking at the picture of him and Hermione. The young girl had her hands clapped firmly over her mouth and she was breathing deeply. After a minute, she finally said in a very, very soft and weak voice, "Mom… that's my mom…" She turned around to look at Ron and studied his face closely.
"Oh god," she said more audibly this time. She looked like she was either about to get sick or faint. Ron quickly ran to her and helped her sit back down into her chair. He turned her face to look at him so he could see her face closer. She did look like her mother, but she looked like him too.
Just then, McGonagall burst into the room. Jessica turned around and saw her. She couldn't have been happier to see her. "Aunt Minerva!" She ran to her and threw her arms around her. McGonagall patted her head, telling her that it would be alright. McGonagall looked at Ron who was about to explode.
"YOU KNEW? YOU KNEW HERMIONE HAD A DAUGHTER?" he yelled. McGonagall nodded solemnly. Ron sank down into a chair, then asked, "Is she my daughter, too?" McGonagall nodded again.
Ron was overwhelmed with emotion, then thought of another question. "Hermione… is this why she left? She didn't want me to know?"
Before McGonagall could answer, Harry and Ginny ran into the room. They saw Jessica sitting in a chair somewhat in a trance, McGonagall looking as bad as they had seen her in a long time, and Ron looked like he was about to burst with many different things. Ginny went over to Jessica and began trying to calm her and get her to feel better, while also listening to the conversation.
"Ronald, I'm sorry that you found out like this. But Hermione didn't want you, any of you, to know. She was scared, and afraid. She saw your entire career going down hill if she told you, but then again, she would never give up her child. So she left." McGonagall turned to Jessica who looked like she was finally putting the pieces together. Jessica looked at her father.
"So that's why Mom never talks about you. She's scared, even though she loves you. She didn't want you to find out about me, so that she could save your future plans and stuff," Jessica looked like she was starting to take it all in; she was even smiling slightly.
Ginny smiled at Jessica. "So I guess that makes me your aunt! You have a little cousin you know, she's four. I had to take a year off to have her. Oh, yeah, this is your uncle, Harry."
Harry shook Jessica's hand and smiled warmly at her. Then Jess turned back to Ron, who was looking at her with a shocked look on his face. "Did you say that Hermione loves me?"
Jessica nodded. "Of course she does. She's never even gone out with a guy since you I guess."
Ron didn't know what all he was feeling, but happiness was there most of all. And he knew one thing, that was his daughter sitting in that chair, and he had only known her for a hectic fifteen minutes, but he loved her immensely.
Ron got up from his chair, walked across the room and enveloped Jessica in a hug, taking her in. Jessica hugged him back, feeling that even though she didn't know her dad, she still loved him in a way that only a daughter can love her father. Only then did she realize she was crying happy tears. She looked around the room and saw that McGonagall was crying happily too, along with Ginny.
Jessica and Ron broke away from each other and he said, "I want to see your mother." They looked at McGonagall, wondering what she would say. She sighed, obviously having a conflict of emotions. When Jessica looked at her pleadingly, she sighed reluctantly. "The only reason I'm doing this is because I love you and your mother very much, you too Weasley, and that tomorrow is a Saturday. Ron took that as good enough of an answer. "Where to?" he asked her and Jessica said to go to the Leaky Cauldron. He told Jessica to hold on to his arm, and with a pop, they apparated to the Leaky Cauldron.
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Hermione hadn't bothered taking off her blue-jeans and black tank top. The only thing she had done was pull her hair back into a neat ponytail. She was in a very interesting part of her book when somebody began knocking on the door furiously.
"Who on earth could be here this late?" she wondered. She got up from the couch and went to the door and opened it. Jessica was standing there in her Hogwarts uniform looking quite tired and happy at the same time.
"JESS! Oh my god! What are you doing here! Why aren't you are at school? Are you hurt?"
Jessica shook her head no. "Mom, calm down. McGonagall gave me permission to leave so that I could bring you a surprise."
"Jessica, what are you…" Hermione almost choked on her tongue when she saw a tall, handsome man with red hair come from around the corner.
"Ron…" Before Hermione could say anything else, Ron took her hands and said, "Hermione, I love you." The next thing Hermione knew, Ron's lips were crashing onto hers.
A/N: Well did you like it? I hope you did!