A/N: Happy Christmas to everyone. Yes, it's been a while but life got in the way. However this update fell in my lap this week and I was able to get it to the printers before Christmas. So for those in Keswick, I hope you enjoy it. - DG
"Daddy! I want to see it."
"You do?" Ron looked over the newspaper and saw both of his adorable kids looking at him like he could unlock Pandora's treasure chest with one answer. Hugo, looking so much like his Mum, with big brown eyes and auburn brown hair but thin as a fence post and lots of freckles, was bouncing on his toes. Rose, who was so much like him in personality that it was almost frightening, even if she looked like her Mum – but with his blue eyes – was shaking in her shoes, too.
"It's muggles talking about Magic. I'm sure they will get it all wrong."
"We don't care," they yelled in unison. "Dragons, Daddy."
Ron listened to the information on the commercial and his ears perked up higher. "Him? They made a sodding film about him?"
Hugo jumped up on the couch. "Daddy said a bad word! Daddy said a bad word."
Rose pointed at Ron, sitting on the other end of the couch. "You know the cost. Pay up!" She gloated, much like her Mum when she was right.
Ron grumped some and pulled 2 galleons out of his pocket and pointed his wand at them. One incantation later and the coins floated across the room to the jars for the kids. It was his idea, those long years ago, that he'd have to cough up a galleon every time he used a bad word in front of the kids. Two kids meant twice the cost. Thankfully it didn't apply to private time with Hermione. He'd stay a pauper if he had to watch his words with his wife in the privacy of their bedroom.
"So you want to go see it, eh? Let me see if we can take a few hours and go see it today, before Mummy comes home from work."
"Yeah," his two energetic children whooped in their living room while dancing in their pyjamas.
"There better be dragons in this," he said to himself. "Wonder if the Daily Prophet has a review in it."
Ron picked up the morning edition and saw towards the back that there was a small blurb of a review, saying how it wasn't very accurate accounting, according to Luna Lovegood Scamander, the granddaughter-in-law of the protagonist.
"Figured they'd ask her what she thought," Ron said to himself before going to the kitchen to make lunch for the kids. They'd be in a spot of bother if he didn't feed them before they went to the movie theatre.
"Kids, if we eat lunch here and hurry, we can make the 1:20 showing today in London."
"Daddy, can Puff go?" Hugo held up his stuffed Dragon.
"Let's leave Puff at home. I don't want you losing it at the theatre or while we are in London."
"Dad, where's my coat, the one that Grandaddy Granger got me?"
"Mum hung it up in your wardrobe," Ron yelled back while trying to find his trainers and wallet he used when he took the kids out into Muggle London. He heard Hugo bounding in his room, echoing mighty on the floor and instead went to Hermione's office – what would have been closet in their loo was magically expanded and changed to Hermione's work space – with a door to the hallway. Her desk along with comfortable chair, for those nights she was up very late reading case files and other legal tomes, and three bookshelves, organized just right for her, kept their flat comfortable. He picked up a sheet of parchment and quill, dipping it into the inkwell she kept on the desk, and wrote a hasty note for her.
Hermione,
Taking the kids to see that new Muggle Film. You know, the one with supposedly magical creatures and Rolf's Grandfather. Yes, I know Luna said it's rubbish but Hugo thinks it has dragons in it so he wants to see it. Rose is coming with us, even if she's not thrilled about it.
We're going to make the half one showing, and should be home 'round time you leave work. I'll make dinner when I get home and we can talk about it then.
Love,
Ron
Ron folded the parchment and then rolled it, sealing it magically. "Bugger, how to get it there?" Their owl stayed at Hermione's office, and –
"We'll send it from the owl post at the Leaky. Hannah won't mind if I tip her a galleon for it." Ron shoved his wallet into his trousers and went to look for his unusually quiet children. "Rose… Hugo, shake a leg! There's pasties to eat before we go."
He went to the den and saw his two children sitting on the couch, looking well-mannered and surprisingly dressed for their day out, inhaling the ham and cheese pasties he kept made for the kids. "Wow. Sorry. I thought you two were up to something."
Hugo giggled and opened his jacket to show Puff hiding inside his coat.
"Alright. Bring him. But if you lose him, he's not going to be replaced." Ron looked at Rose who had a book in her hands. "Bringing that with you?"
Rose looked up from the book in her hands. It was one of Hermione's old children's books, about a very special little girl who finally found a home where she was wanted. "Mummy said I could read it now for Christmas Hols."
"Fair point. But keep it in your pocket until we get to the theatre. We are going by Floo to the Leaky where I need to mail this to Mum before we go to the cinema." Ron put one of the pasties in his pocket, too.
Rose went to the fireplace first and grabbed a handful of Floo powder. "The Leaky Cauldron" she spoke in a confident voice and swirled away in the ashes.
"What do you want to do? Ride with me or go by yourself?"
Hugo looked at the fireplace then back at his Daddy. Ron saw the hesitation on his face before stepping up next to him. "It's ok. Uncle Harry bungled it a few times, too. So you'll ride with me. And put your face into my jumper, so you don't breathe in the ashes."
Ron grabbed a handful of powder and waited until Hugo hugged him tight around the midsection. Ron silently cast a shield charm on Hugo's jumper, to protect him from bumping into anything on the trip over before yelling "The Leaky Cauldron." Off they went in green flames, spinning harder than a broken broom. Ron kept his eyes closed and his wand covering Hugo's back while they swirled between fireplaces from their flat into London.
They landed with a thud and Hugo tumbled backwards onto the floor of the pub, making a second loud thud. Ron dashed out, not giving a shite about the ashes on his face and in his hair, only that his son was possibly hurt and injured.
"Hugo?" His moppet sat up and Ron saw his bottom lip trembling, which he got from his Mum. He had about four seconds before he'd start crying loud, like a banshee would – another thing he picked up from Hermione. Ron scooped him up, as long and lanky as he was at that age, and hugged him.
"Daddy, is Hugo ok?" Rose asked first before Hannah came over to check on them.
Ron muffled the crying that had erupted from his dear son. "He still hates traveling via Floo. He'd rather side-along apparate than go via Floo." Ron saw Hannah holding her bar rag in her hand and appraising him.
"Let me tidy the two of you," she insisted and banished all of the ash and soot from his face, robes, and hair, including Hugo in her magical scrubbing.
Ron felt the magic wash over him first before seeing to Hugo. He was still looking a bit puny and refusing to look at Hannah. "Hannah, can you send this via owl to Hermione at the office? I was going to ask but – "
"Sure. Want me to add a note about Hugo?"
"Nah. She knows that he hates Floo travel. But it was the only way we could make it on time. But we'll be back 'round half five and will pick up dinner. Say, what's on the menu tonight?"
"Tonight's special is steak, jacketed potatoes and ginger carrots. But there's also some other fare you'll prefer." Hannah chuckled. "And I keep some lighter fare in the back for Hermione."
Ron felt Hugo finally settling down. He might be similar to Hermione, but he shared his daddy's appreciation for food and had an insatiable appetite, especially right now.
"Hannah, we'd starve without you. You know that, right?" She waved them off and Ron made his way towards the door with Rose taking the lead. Her long strides, fast paced like her Mum but with his long legs, made it easy work dodging all of the chairs and tables.
They walked to the alley alongside the pub and Ron lowered Hugo to the ground. "Hugo, look at me, please?"
Hugo looked up from Ron's jumper, holding Puff, and biting his lips. 'He's so Hermione's child,' Ron thought. "You ready to walk to the theatre? It's only about four blocks." Hugo nodded and still held onto Ron's hand while Rose took off towards the brick wall, tapping the proper order of bricks. The opening broke and she scampered through first, followed by Ron and Hugo. They walked the few blocks in Muggle London towards the theatre and made it with time to spare.
Ron was a pro at interacting with said Muggles and when they wanted to visit the cinema, they came to this particular one. The staff was friendly to the kids and if the movie got too much for Hugo, he could leave Rose in her seat and take him outside for a spell until he could calm down.
They made it to the front window and the lady behind the glass smiled. "Back again, sir?" She sat up taller and saw Rose grinning and Hugo hiding slightly behind Ron's arm. "Two for the Magic beasts movie, please, and one adult." Ron handed over the paper money the muggles insisted on using and received back change. They scampered inside and shrugged out of their jackets and mufflers since it was considerably warmer inside the cinema.
"Now, if we get fizzy drinks and snacks, you might miss more of the movie. But that's up to you."
Rose looked at Hugo. They both looked at Ron and they grinned in unison.
"Alright then. One fizzy drink for both of you, one for me, and a tub of popcorn for me, and two bars of chocolate for the two of you." Ron pulled his wallet out and smirked. 'Good thing I got my Christmas bonus from George last week,' he thought before pulling three tenners out of his wallet.
After a trip to the loo for both of them, and juggling the items in question, they made their way to their seats in the theatre. It was still early and they found seats close to where they wanted and settled in. Ron looked at his kids and smiled at them, gladly chomping away at their bars of Cadbury's dairy milk and getting some on their cheeks. "Now you know what to do once the lights go down, don't you?"
Two precocious heads nodded.
"Blimey," Ron growled and pulled the mirror from his pocket. Only his family knew how to get a hold of him in Muggle London. Fortunately, George made his look like an old fashioned brick phone, courtesy of Hermione, so it didn't appear too awkward. He tapped it with his finger and Hermione's face popped up.
"I got your note," Hermione said without preamble.
"Yeah. I figure it'll be a fun few hours for the kids since we've not gone to the cinema much these past few months."
"Well don't dawdle. We're meeting my parents for dinner tonight up in Bicester."
"Sorted. We should be home no later than half four," he saw no one else was bothering to pay attention to him at the moment. "We'll stay out of trouble, dear."
Hermione grinned. "I hope their fizzy drink was clear."
"Yes, love. I remember the last time Hugo got a hold of dark brown fizzy drink and wouldn't sleep a day." Ron's ears still rattled from Hugo's crying because he couldn't fall asleep no matter how hard he tried. "I made sure it was lemon flavored fizzy drink. They like it well enough, I reckon."
"And Ron? Once the kids are tucked into their beds, I want some quality time with you. Work has been a chimera this week and I need my husband."
"Yes dear," Ron winked at her through the mirror before watching her break the connection in the mirror.
"Mummy says we're going to dinner at Gramma and Grandpa Granger's tonight. It might be that place that serves chicken balls that you two like or something similar. Sorted?"
Both nodded and were watching the commercials on the big screen before squealing as the lights dimmed.
"Now try to keep it down so the other people can watch."
Ron settled back in his chair with his own brown fizzy drink and tub of popcorn to enjoy the movie.
Hermione flooed into their flat and shook off the ashes from her trip and banished all of them back into the fireplace. The living room was quiet and Ron wasn't in the kitchen. "What gives?"
Hermione dropped her satchel and purse and went to go look for the family. She went to their bedroom first and saw that no one was in there. She went down the hallway to Rose's room and she wasn't in there, either. "Where are they?"
She heard voices, ones that she loved more than her heart could sometimes stand, and went to the cracked door to Hugo's bedroom. Sure enough, Ron was propped up in the bed, with Rose and Hugo sitting there next to him, listening intently as he read from the book she received so many years ago. She smiled, seeing Ron in Hugo's bed that was entirely too small for Ron and quickly growing to be too small for Hugo, too.
She heard about nifflers, bowtruckles, and even the entry of leithifolds.
"And Luna's husband's grandfather wrote about them in his travels. See, this book is like a school book and travel guide, unlike what you saw on the screen earlier. That movie was codswallop, frankly."
Hugo smiled. "Yeah, and no dragons were in it."
"That's right. We spent the afternoon watching a movie and no dragons were in it. I felt cheated."
"I liked it but I didn't like what happened to that young wizard."
Ron stole a glance up and saw Hermione standing in the shadows of the doorway.
"No, I didn't like it either. And it's quite fortunate that Uncle Harry didn't know he was a wizard until Hagrid came to see him on his birthday when he was 11, just like Professor McGonagall did for Mummy. It would be completely wretched to stifle who you are when you are young. I'm glad witches and wizards don't do that to their kids anymore." He refused to mention Neville's upbringing, how he was treated like a squib until his magic erupted.
"Is that why you don't get mad when we have accidental magic?"
Ron nodded. "That's right. I rather deal with the aftermath of something you can't help than stifle your magic. Gramma Molly taught us that. I know I can be a pain sometimes," Rose snorted, "and you get mad at me over some things but I rather you make mistakes and learn from them, safely, than anything else."
Hermione slipped back further into the shadows and smiled.
"Now, since Hugo didn't get to see Dragons today, I reckon we'll have to take Mummy with us, since she was working and couldn't come with us to the cinema, and see real dragons tomorrow."
"Real dragons?"
"That's right. I owled the Welch Dragon Preserve earlier and they replied back straightaway. We can visit tomorrow and maybe get to see one or two of them."
"We will!" Hugo replied with enthusiasm.
"Maybe. It's no guarantee. See, they don't keep dragons on leashes or cages like they do in Muggle Zoos. No, they are free to fly around and forage and eat, without visitors bothering them. We'll go, give our galleons so they can keep taking care of dragons, and if we're really fortunate, we'll get to see one. And if we're really fortunate, they'll have a hatchling for us to see."
"Can I get another stuffed dragon?"
"Possibly," Ron winked towards the doorway. He never agreed but when it came to caving into Hugo's occasionally wants of more stuffed dragons. Hermione was the sucker parent. "But we'll have to ask Mummy first."
"Dad?"
"Yes Rosie Posie?"
"Who was Grindelwald?"
Ron's face turned dark and Hermione decided to turn the conversation for the better.
"Kids," She yelled before pushing the door open to their bedroom. "Go wash up and put your jumpers on. We need to leave shortly for Grampa Granger's house."
They sprung out of the bed and scampered to their rooms to get dressed. "Whew, I'm glad you changed the subject fast enough."
"They aren't ready to know about the nasty wizard known as Grindelwald, or how close he was to Dumbledore," She spoke quietly so the kids couldn't possibly overhear her. She went to the closet to change out of her work robes into something a little more casual. "They won't learn about Voldemort until third year. I know because I asked McGonagall when James started Hogwarts."
"But it's not like they don't know about us," Ron finally got up from the bed and went to the closet behind Hermione. "We've held back plenty, but not everything. But they will eventually learn."
"They will," Hermione stood up on her toes to give Ron a peck on the cheek. "So I take it the movie wasn't what you expected?"
"No. I thought it would be like that show you had the kids watching a fortnight ago, about animals in the wild. What was on the screen was, well, darker and a little hard to swallow. I mean, had Harry known he was a wizard growing up and forced to repress it, he could have turned out like the bloke in the movie."
"It's sweet you worry about him as much as you fuss over me," She pulled the jumper over and ran her fingers through her hair, giving it up as a lost cause. "And we are fortunate that Harry, for all his faults, never succumbed." She smiled and wrapped her arms around her husband's neck. "I really like to think that it was all your fault that he turned out as well as he did."
"Me? You kept us alive. You knew way more that first year, unlike us two gits."
Ron heard her mutter about trolls and lies and grinned. "Yeah, maybe, but you showed him that life was worth living for. You gave him a family who loved him first and was there for him when no one else was." She kissed him softly, falling into the moment before pulling back. "And you've not really left his side since that first day on the train."
"Well, I did forsake him for you," Ron cheeked and she blushed, "but he was never my type. I mean, I love him, like a brother and all. But he's like a hen with a clutch of eggs, brooding too much. Ginny's much better, tending a brooding Harry. I mean, her chore growing up was tending the hens and birds, way more than I ever did."
"And I'm glad you do." Hermione leaned back in for one more kiss until she heard fake gagging from the doorway.
"Ok. We'll quit since it's making you sick," Ron cheeked and turned towards the now-dressed kids. "and no puking pustules or ton tongue toffee at dinner tonight!"
"Yes Daddy!" They yelled back in agreement and Ron smiled at Hermione's smirk. He went after them, to check pockets for no illegal treats to give to Grampa Granger.
Hermione laughed. Ron tried so hard to teach the kids it was rude to use on Muggles. But she was thankful that her kids had that mischievous streak, like Ron's family, and that they'd never be stifled for what they wanted to do – or who they truly were.