June 30th 1998
42 Wallaby Way
This was the right house right?
Hermione Granger studied the little cottage in front of her as the ocean breeze teased her hair gently and the scent of salt water met her nose.
The grass and the weeds in the yard looked unkempt as if nobody tended to them in months. The mailbox was stuffed to the brim with unopened mail.
Wendell and Monica Wilkins did live here right?
Hermione really hoped that they did she didn't come all the way to Australia to restore their memories and identities as Mr. and Mrs. Granger for them not to be here.
Hermione rung the doorbell at least five or six times before an elderly woman walked by to help her out.
"Are you lost my dear?"
"I'm not sure" Hermione replied honestly "do you know if Wendell and Monica Wilkins live here? Are they home?"
"You knew the Wilkins?"
Hermione's head immediately began spin at the response but she remained calm.
"I'm their daug-I'm a close friend of theirs"
The look on the elderly woman's face was of shock and it did alarm Hermione
"You didn't hear? The Wilkins were killed in a boating accident"
"What?"
"About six months ago a few days before Christmas" the woman explained "the boat they had wasn't up to protocol and they ended up drowning"
Hermione's heart sung at that point in time she was with Harry in the Forest of Dean searching for Horcruxes; Ron had already left them but she stayed to help her friend.
She had no idea that her parents were dead for the past six months. Ironically enough Hermione went with Harry to visit his parents' graves in Godric's Hallow at the time.
"It's sad really" the woman went on to say, "they were a sweet couple it's a shame they didn't have any children"
A huge knot tied in the pit of Hermione's stomach but she nodded
"Are you going to be alright dear? I'm sure it's quite a shock"
"Yes I'll be fine"
She wasn't going to be fine.
Her parents were more than just dead; they were completely erased.
They died without their original memories and identities.
They died not knowing their own daughter Hermione Jean Granger came back looking for them.
"You're going to be a good boy for your aunt Hermione today aren't you Teddy?"
"I love Mione"
"She loves you too you little charmer" Harry chuckled ruffling the child's wild hair "finish your breakfast we have to get going soon"
Teddy took another spoonful of oatmeal followed by a bite of toast. Aside from his metamorphmagus and werewolf roots he seemed to be a normal little boy with a ravenous appetite. It was his second bowl of oatmeal and he was still going.
There was a knock at the door just as Harry finished his breakfast. Winky quickly went to answer the door only to be knocked down.
"Harry!"
Harry frowned when he saw Ginny Weasley step over Winky as if she were just a piece of furniture. Much to Ginny's annoyance Harry went right to Winky to help her up to her feet.
"Are you alright Winky?"
"Yes Master Potter I apologize"
"No you're fine Winky you didn't expect a mad woman to barge through the door"
Winky looked over at Ginny who looked like she wanted to rip her head off and it scared her.
"I'll be getting back to my chores then"
Once Winky was out of earshot Harry finally acknowledged his unwelcomed guest
"Ginerva"
"Harry I need to talk to you-"
"Is it that important that you had to barge into my home unannounced?"
"Uncle Harry more oatmeal?"
Harry didn't even notice Teddy come into the living room holding up his bowl for a third helping.
"No Teddy that's enough you'll get a tummy ache" Harry replied "go get your backpack we have to get going"
"Okay"
As soon as the toddler was out of earshot again the tension grew thick. Ginny couldn't stand Teddy
"What's he doing here?" Ginny asked rather rudely
"Teddy is my godson you know that"
"Yes and why isn't he his grandmother?"
"Andromeda died two months ago"
"The Blacks aren't available to take him in?"
"No" Harry said getting annoyed now "I have full custody of my godson why are you asking me this Ginny-"
"I'm pregnant"
"What?"
"I'm pregnant with your baby Harry"
"How the hell is that even possible?" Harry asked looking at Ginny like she grew another head "we ended our engagement six months ago in December-"
"I'm seven months due in August" Ginny said "I conceived in November"
Harry looked down to see Ginny's belly round and swollen. It was already the end of June what the hell was Ginny even thinking?
"How do I know it's mine?" Harry said "or are you forgetting that you cheated?"
"It's yours" Ginny replied tightly "I can't raise this baby alone besides you always wanted a family now you have one"
"Stop trying to manipulate me I do have a family I consider Teddy my family"
"He's not your blood relative" she argued, "he's not your biological son I'm carrying your real child who isn't some little werewolf"
"Get out"
"You aren't going to deny my baby Harry"
"Ginny get the fuck out of my house right now!"
"We're meant to be!" Ginny barked back "we're supposed to be together! We should be married right now! That brat should be with the Blacks-"
"I SAID GET OUT!" Harry bellowed now taking out his wand; he was seeing red and he damn near was about to hex her. She was lucky she was with child because he would have done it too.
"Go away!" Teddy cried peeking around the corner scared clutching Beaky close to his chest "leave Uncle Harry alone!"
"You stay in a child's place you little beast!" Ginny spat back at him
Teddy stuck his tongue out at her; which infuriated her and she made two fast strides over to the child.
Harry was quicker though and placed himself in between Teddy and Ginny.
"So you're pregnant and yet you're going to attack an innocent toddler?"
"He's not my child," she said coldly
"Leave" Harry said through clenched teeth meaning it this time
"This isn't over Harry you are the father you can't deny that"
Ginny slammed the door behind her making the walls shake and one of the portraits fell.
Tears fell down Teddy's cheeks and cried out now. Harry scooped the little boy up and soothed him. Ginny was definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with.
June 30th 2001
Today was the third anniversary of her parents' death.
Well at least the anniversary of her trip to Australia to find them.
It was a day she would never forget but Hermione knew she would have to move on.
The thing that hurt the most for the past three years is Hermione never told Harry or Ron the truth about her parents. Instead she lied and said her parents were happy in Australia and she kept in regular contact with them.
The two of them had enough on their plates already to deal with her parents
Luckily Hermione had her bookstore to keep herself distracted by today's date. The shop didn't open until noon but she was there early for Harry to drop Teddy off for the day.
Needless to say Hermione was surprised to have an earlier guest show up before Harry and Teddy.
"Ron!"
"Hermione!"
"Come in please you would you like some tea?" she said excitedly "how long are you in town? This is perfect! Harry is on his way over too!"
"Bloody hell calm down Hermione!" Ron Weasley chuckled "I'm actually here to see Harry too it's off season and I was hoping to catch up anyway"
It amazed Hermione how all three of them went off into vastly different careers.
She was a bookstore owner
Harry followed his passion rightfully so in becoming a Auror
Ron followed his childhood dream of playing for his favorite Qudditch Team Chudley Cannons as Keeper.
"He's going to be so happy to see you"
"I have news for both of you I'll wait until he gets here to tell you-"
"Tell me what?"
The two of them turned to see Harry walk through the door and Teddy bolted over to them immediately
"Won!"
"Is that Teddy?" Ron beamed welcoming the toddler in his arms "he's getting so big I can't wait for Luna to have our little boy-"
"Luna's expecting?" Hermione beamed
"Due in August" Ron said proudly as Teddy pinched his nose
"That's interesting" Harry said, "you have a niece or nephew due around the same time"
"What?"
"Harry what are you talking about?"
It was serious because the tension in the room grew thick and Ron put Teddy down.
Harry clenched and unclenched his fists in anger and annoyance.
"Teddy could you be a good boy and go and read a book?" Hermione asked kneeling down to his eye level
"Is Uncle Harry mad?"
"He just seems a little upset we have to talk about grown up things okay?"
"Okay Mione"
"I'm hoping our son is going to be as well behaved as Teddy" Ron chuckled trying to lighten the mood
"I hope so too Ron" Harry said "I hope your son takes after you and not his aunt"
"So this has to do with Ginny then?"
"This morning your sister barged into my house and claimed that I'm the father of her baby"
"Ginny's pregnant?"
"Obviously"
Ron was taken aback by this and felt conflicted. Hermione reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder as he crossed his arms.
"Well are you the father?" Ron asked, "I mean you two were engaged for months-"
"Ron are you fucking kidding me right now?!" Harry exclaimed, "she cheated!"
"Harry calm down" Hermione shushed him "you don't want to upset Teddy-"
"That's another thing she threatened to hurt my godson!"
"Ginny wouldn't do that-"
"She called Teddy a beast because of his werewolf blood!"
Harry didn't want to yell at his best friend or even tell him what Ginny told him these things but he wasn't about to lie either.
It put Ron in a tough spot about this since Harry was talking about his sister.
Hermione found herself stuck in the middle of her childhood friends not wanting to further upset either one of them.
"Ginny's my sister mate" Ron tried to reason with Harry "if she believes you're the father then I have to stand by her"
"There's a difference between believing and knowing" Harry shot back
"What are you trying to say Harry?"
"That your sister doesn't know what she's talking about I haven't touched her in months!" Harry said "how can you blindly believe Ginny when there's a possibility that Dean is the father it was her cheating that made me call off the engagement!"
"Uncle Harry!" Teddy came back over to them and tugged on his godfather's leg "don't be mad at Won!"
Harry hadn't even realized how upset he had gotten until the little boy brought him back down to earth.
"Shh!" Hermione soothed him "its okay Teddy"
The child didn't seem convinced he had already seen enough adults arguing for one morning and he didn't want to see anymore.
"Harry trust me I want believe you" Ron said sincerely "but Ginny's family-"
"Yeah because family is so important" Harry said "or at least according to your sister only blood family is"
"You know what I don't have to take this" Ron said "I'm leaving I have to go see my parents anyway"
"No Ron please don't go" Hermione begged, "Harry's just a little upset-"
"Hermione quit defending him" Ron said "you're too kind and you're always doing that. Harry's not a moody teenager anymore he's a grown man"
Before Hermione could say anything more Ron apparated and Teddy began to cry.
Ginvera Weasley knew damn well that Harry James Potter was not the father of her unborn child. However she wanted to make things right she still wanted to be his wife. What better way to make up than with a baby?
A child who was Harry's real heir not some half werewolf brat who could didn't have a drop of Potter blood in him at all.
What Harry didn't know wouldn't hurt him because when she was seeing Dean behind his back they still made love a few times during their engagement. So there was still the probably that it was in fact his seed. Or at least she was toying around with that idea.
Ginny still had another month before she had to deliver and she was going to make sure the baby was Harry's child. It would require some dark magic but she was willing to make it happen.