Hermione and Ron slowly separated and went into the bathroom. Hermione was just in the middle of brushing her teeth when she had an idea. She quickly rinsed out her mouth and turned to Ron, who was covered in shaving cream in front of the next sink.
"Ron, maybe I should call Harry and see if he wants to bring James to go shopping as well!" She said cheerily. Ron contemplated this and agreed with a smile.
Hermione squealed, kissed him on the cheek and then realized her mistake. She laughed and wiped off the shaving cream with a towel. She wrote the message on a scrap of parchment she pulled out from her dresser. She left the room and walked downstairs to the sunroom near the garden.
A large barn own chirped as she walked in, "Hello Achilles, give this to Harry straight away--you'll have an extra treat waiting for you," she said, stroking his wings. Achilles flew towards the owl-flap and tore away into the wind with the letter tied to his leg.
Everyone eventually stood ready to go near the gigantic red-brick fireplace, on which the mantle held tons of quidditch trophies and pictures of the family. A tapping noise made them turn.
Victoria pointed, "Mummy it's killy! it's killy!" she shouted.
Hermione laughed, "Sweetie, it's A-chill-es, why don't you go get the letter from uncle Harry?" she asked. Victoria took no time in deciding. Isabelle warned her to be careful and she furiously nodded. She scrambled over to the door, went outside and retrieved the letter. Hermione read it:
"Dear Hermione and Ron, I think I will bring James, and my lovely wife will come along as well, it'll be a lot of fun! Just like the old days. See you soon. Love Harry."
Hermione clasped her hands together, "Oh great. Well Ron we'd better be off to the portkey."
"Do we have to take the portkey again? it's so far," Isabelle whined.
"Well you know until the baby comes, we have to take it because floo powder isn't good for mum. So come on!" Ron said, taking her hand. Victoria jumped up and down.
"I know that floo powder isn't good for Mum, Daddy, Nick told me. And he also says he will meet me today at Diagon Alley," Isabelle said with glee. Ron picked her up on his shoulders.
"Did he? Well I suspect he's very smart then," he said throwing a wink at Hermione. They walked down the street and the day wasn't too great. Giant clouds billowed and looked like pillows that had been blackened in a fire. No trace of sunlight was visible and the trees rustled in an eerie movement as if to warn of something. It was the end of July but did not seem so. They reached the portkey at the end of their street. It was an old shoe sitting in an alleyway. They all touched it at once and were transported to the mysterious madness of Diagon Alley.
They were transported into a mystical craze of broomsticks, potions, charms and odd bits and bobs that got more advanced each year. Ron had to keep a hold of his young ones real tight, it was easy to get lost. They walked in first to Madam Malkin's Robes of all Occasions. Isabelle got measured and fitted with a trim new robe. Next came Flourish and Blotts. Ron and Hermione walked into the shop with handfuls of memory escaping their ancient trunks and floating in front of their eyes. It looked just as it did when they were young; books falling out their crowded shelves, paper airplanes whizzing past to go find books that were trying to be found, and scared-looking clerks serving the millions of kids. Hermione welled up, and grasped Ron's hand. He understood, and held her shoulders. Isabelle walked out of the shop, her arms laden with tons of books. Ron followed with his arm around Hermione.
"Isa, darling, come here. Levitextus," Hermione said. The spell caused Isabelle's book to trail behind them, floating in mid air. They were just about to walk into Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, but something else caught Hermione's eye. A familiar scar followed by flaming red hair surprised them.
"Harry! Ginny! How good to see you!" Hermione said as she leapt from Ron's arms and threw herself over Harry.
"Oh it's all about me but as soon as your best friend comes it's all about Harry," Ron joked, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione smiled as she parted and hugged Ginny, "You know it is," she said winking at Harry. Harry looked the same as he did before, same messy jet black hair and cool green eyes. He was holding Ginny, who was sporting long layered red hair. A shorter tuft of jet black hair came scrambling up to them.
"James!"Isabelle yelped as she hugged her lifelong friend. They were inseparable since they were toddlers. Ginny looked around, taking in the bustle of Diagon Alley, and her eyes fell on Hermione's stomach.
"Well, you're getting very big!" she said, rubbing Hermione's tummy.
"Yes, well…it's going to be very soon." Hermione beamed and held on to Ron. Ginny looked lost in memories, and she turned to Harry.
"I want another one," she said, smiling.
"That can be arranged." Harry said as he kissed her neck. Ron looked somewhat uncomfortable and coughed slightly. Hermione gave him a 'you're hopeless' look.
Ginny giggled and resisted him, "Harry—the kids are right here." Harry laughed and turned slowly to look at Hermione, who looked white as a ghost.
"Hermione, you all right?" he said cautiously.
They all stared at Hermione. Her face fell as she squeaked, "Where's Victoria?" Her eyes darted back and forth and welled up with tears. She squeezed Ron's hand and sniffled. He tried to calm her down, but his own heart was racing. James and Isabelle noticed the panic and came over. They too, had not realized that Victoria was missing.
"Have you left her in Flourish and Blotts?" Harry asked, his eyes scanning the crowded street.
Hermione started breathing heavily, "No, at least, I don't think so...oh Ron she's so small," she cried.
Ginny came around and held her shoulders, "Now Hermione you've got to think of the baby, calm down, we'll find her," she said soothingly.
"No you bloody well won't!" Hermione retorted as she stormed into the store. Ginny looked taken aback.
"Sorry... it's her hormones," Ron said apologetically. Ginny nodded. They all hurried into the store after her and the scene made them uneasy. Hermione was nose to nose with a man with platinum blonde hair and pale skin. Ron's hands immediately clenched into fists,
"MALFOY!" Hermione was burning with rage as she interrogated their childhood enemy, "WHERE IS SHE!I know you did something to her you foul—you evil loathsome little cockroach!" Her hand flew up and Ron caught it.
Malfoy sneered, "I have no idea what you're talking about Weasley! What would I want to do with your foulness?" he spat.
Ron's eyes narrowed, "Watch your mouth Malfoy..."
Malfoy looked around as Pansy Parkinson came around into his arm, "Still, I can't say I married a crazy mudblood like you." Ron leapt at him, pinning him to the floor. This probably wouldn't have hurt much in their Hogwarts days, but quidditch practice for twelve years had paid off.
"I've held myself back too long," he said, punching Malfoy straight in the nose. Ginny turned James and Isabelle away from the scene. Hermione didn't even try to stop Ron, tears trickling down her red cheeks.
Malfoy reached out to Pansy, "Call the authorities!"
Ron laughed, "Maybe you haven't met my friend the Auror."
Harry walked up giving Ron a hand up.
"That's right, I am the authorities," Harry said confidently. Malfoy staggered up, his lip and nose bleeding.
A little boy walked up to him with the same blonde hair, "Father, what happened?" Malfoy and Pansy grabbed him by the shirt and steered him out of the store. Malfoy paused just before he walked out.
"This isn't over Weasley," he hissed. He gave them a look of pure disgust before leaving. Ron straightened up his robes before he walked up to Hermione who was leaning on Ginny, crying.
"Why don't we look around honey, she must be here." Ron said quietly. Hermione nodded and began looking around piles of books. Her eyes frantically searched for the sight of Victoria's red pigtails. Harry had disappeared to the upper level, while Ginny sat James and Isabelle down and explained things to them.
Only just minutes after, Harry came down huffing, "I've just been checking upstairs, look what I've found," he said short of breath. Hermione swallowed, and nodded, her cheeks glistening with tears. They all climbed the stairs to the upper level and the sight shocked them.