Second time around

by Billybob - csagun36

It is said that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. What if this old saying was applied to Harry and Hermione? What if, in an attempt to protect Ron and Ginny from the Death Eaters, Harry and Hermione had concocted a plan which although su

10. Chapter 10

Title: Second Time Around

Author: Billybob

Chapter: Ten

Chapter title: Checkmate: Part one - Divine Intervention

Category: AU alternate universe - PGFH Post Graduation from Hogwarts

In other words; it takes place after J. K. Rowling's - seventh and last book

Word count: 18,070 (plus or minus a word or two)

Pairings: HP-HG, CC-OQ, HP-GW and HG-RW

Rated; PG-13, for adult language, UK slang and profanity, with "implied sexual innuendo" (especially in this chapter, nothing graphic at all - but implied up the Was-zoo). Please recall that the main characters in this tale of mine are all in their mid-twenties, meaning adults in both worlds - Muggle and Magical.

Author's disclaimer: This story is based in the wonderful magic world created by J. K. Rowling, she owns all legal rights to the characters, setting, etc. - I am merely borrowing the contents of the JKR world for my own amusement and that of my readers. In other words…her characters…my plot - savvy?

Author's writer's block: I know it has been a long time between postings; this was due to my growing fear that JK will be doing a 300 Spartans on all us HP fans so as to prevent any more HP books from being written. For those of you who haven't seen the film it is a story of courage, bravery and self-sacrifice, the only problem is that in the end, all the Greeks are dead. My goal, which is now unlikely to happen - was to finish my tale with a happy-ending before book seven comes out and a lot of the characters in my story (if not all) end up taking a dirt nap.

Author's explanation: Any true addict of HP Fanfiction cannot help but be aware of the concept of alternate universes. As my humble tale is one and as my long suffering betas are happy to note that this is my second to last chapter on this story. I thought I would take this opportunity to pay tribute to two of my favorite Fan Fiction authors as well as the entire concept of alternate realities.

Ron Weasley in cannon is not the victim of Maxima fireball hexes nor is he all but blind. The Luna Lovegood you will read about in the chapter below will not be strictly in cannon either, this is intentional. I needed Luna's help in my story and as I have been told repeatly by someone I respect that I don't write Luna well, and so I went looking for someone who did. So I burrowed - with full permission - another author's alternate reality version - of Luna - out of cannon characteristics - because I greatly enjoy the way he writes her. So be warned

Story Contest: there will be a gift certificate awarded from 'Dragon End Products Ltd.' Fine importers of the world's best dung - to the person or persons who can correctly identify my tribute in this chapter to two of Fan Fiction best writers. This is a blatant plug for their great storytelling work – which is a lot better than mine – 'hint-hint.' I've also been told I'm addicted to dialog to which I plead - - guilty as charged.

Author's thanks: to Dennis, Mark and BuckNC for the patience they have shown beta-reading this wordy chapter.

PART ONE: Divine Intervention

Six days after leaving Hogsmeade and three days into the European Wizard Chess Championship, Jon was facing the most difficult competition of his career. It's not as if his fellow chess master's games had dramatically improved over the previous twelve months, oh-no, the problem wasn't that simple. The painful truth was that Jon was distracted with thoughts of a long lost love, and with thoughts of Hermione competing for his mind's attention, poor Jon couldn't give the proper focus to chess.

Jon had argued with himself that nothing had really changed all that much in his life, even with the newly found knowledge of who he had been those seven years ago. He was still the little chess shop owner that he'd been a fortnight ago, with one unofficially adopted shop-sister now engaged to be married to Daily Prophet photographer Colin Creevey. Soon enough all the excitement of the last fortnight would fade and Jon could resume his quite life as old Mr. Spooky, the nickname his fellow shopkeepers had given him.

Clearly, his peers in the Shopkeepers Guild didn't think Jon knew about his nickname, obviously believing that his fireball hexed burned flesh had somehow diminished his hearing. It was ironic that this demeaning nickname had originated with the same twins who had been the source of too numerous to count similar humiliations in his 'previous life.' It was kind-of odd proving that old saying true, that "no matter how much life appears to change, it still remains the same."

After several harder than expected chess games, Jon had progressed to the semi-final round. After spending the last twenty-four hours revising old chess strategy guides, He had decided to clear his head with a short walkabout in early evening streets of Roma. With no wish to be hounded by either his Italian security detail or rabid World Chess fans and with his trademark full-covering-robes stuffed into a duffle bag, Jon had left his hotel suite wearing one of his most successful blend-into-the-crowd Muggle disguises. He casually exited the hotel without a second glance by any of the Aurors on-duty in the lobby.

Wandering about Roma and acting like a stereo-typical British Muggle tourist, Jon was able to acquire a fine set of Italian crystal wine goblets for Orla's upcoming nuptials and a few outlandish tourist dishtowels for his favorite house elf.

Satisfied with his purchases and smiling for the first time in days, Jon was on his way back to the hotel, refreshed in mind and spirit, when suddenly his newly acquired calm was shattered, by a vaguely familiar humming voice.

"- - He didn't let the Quaffle in, Weasley is our King. Weasley can save anything …Ronald - - Oh, Ronald - - Come over here and join me for a glass of wine!"

Looking about, Jon saw a woman in her early twenties with a 'wand' stuffed behind the right ear of her dirty blonde hair, setting at a small side walk café waving at him from a few feet away.

No, Jon thought. There is no way that anyone would recognize me in a brown wig and brown contact lenses. I must have misheard what this woman said…

"Hello – Ronald Weasley?" The attractive young woman said as she waved at him from a nearby table. "The Brown hair is a nice change, I must say, but I would go back to using the blue contacts, I really liked your blue eyes. They match the color of the German Erkling eyes during winter

"Ron looked completely complex at both how she knew who he was and or rather what in blue blazes an Erkling was. Excuse me Miss, but I think you have me mistaken for someone else… I'm…"

"Yes-yes - I know - You're also Jonathan Veselkin, the owner and operator of the only wizard chess shop in Diagon Alley, located directly across the way from your twin brothers slightly funny joke shop --"

"How do you know all of this?" Ron hotly interrupted like a wounded animal cornered.

Luna, completely ignoring his rude interruption and question continued on without directly answering him. "-- and England's reigning Wizard Chess Champion."

"Excuse me Miss, but what exactly do you want from me?" Jon asked in a practiced shopkeeper's forced polite tone that he only used with particularly trying customers.

"Oh - Ronald, I see things, I always have. That was the primary reason that people always thought of me as a-bit crazy. Even you once called me 'Looney' for a period of time at Hogwarts."

Suddenly a repressed memory reconnected inside his mind as a name linked to the face of the woman in front of him as a light went on in a dark corner of his mind. "Sweet Merlin's beard, I do remember you …Luna…Luna Lovegood, how have you been, you look fantastic. You were the only one out of my old friends at school who didn't make fun of me after…my breakup with…" Jon's voice faded to nothing unable to say more as the horrible memory of that painful time filled his thoughts.

"With Hermione …yes, Ronald, I remember" Luna said reassuringly with a distant look on her face. "Speaking of her, I was told, well…more like I asked – to come here and explain a few things to you. I came all the way to Italy to meet with you at this nice little café and get you both back on track."

"What?" Jon exclaimed stunned and rather gob smacked. "You came all the way to Roma, just to explain something?"

"Of course, Ronald, you see I'm a bit of a Seer, just like my Mum. I see things, lots of things. I also sometimes hear voices too, when people speak to me, people that none can see - not even me. I'm not like a Seer in the traditional sense, because they are far more limited than I am. Registered Seers are only able to predict things that will happen in the universe that they actually live in. My Mum and I were gifted…or cursed - depending on your point of view - by the magical ability to see several different alternate universes or parallel realities at the same time. Each one containing copies of all of us, you-me, Harry, Neville, Lavender and Seamus, but each reality having a slightly different destiny than its neighbor.

Jon, still standing at the side of Luna's table was completely mystified by Luna's admission.

"I was considered an odd-duck at Hogwarts, primarily due to my inability during my teenage years, to differentiate between the other realities that I see and the one we are living in now. My Mum warned me that my gift would be really confusing until I reached adulthood, as it had been for her, and she was so spot-on about that. She also told me that it would take a very special man to be able to cope with me and my gift - she proved right about that too.

"So you found someone special?" Jon said, more than a little curious at what had happened to one of the few people he actually remembered from his 'other' life.

"Oh yes, I am not longer a Lovegood, I'm married now, to a Hogwarts Professor in fact, and I'm also a mother.

"Jolly-Good for you Luna," Jon said, genuinely delighted. So when Luna nodded at the empty chair at her table, his automatic reflex was to sit down.

"Care for a glass of wine?" Luna said looking about for a waiter.

"No - thank you, Luna, I don't indulge in hard spirits during a tournament." Jon said politely.

"Really, I would think it would help you relax? Any road, I can't tell you how much I enjoy being a mother. I find my son to be full of all sorts of delightful surprises. I so hope that when my son grows up that he'll have the same kind of sharp-wit that you displayed at school. Did you know that Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure?"

"I hadn't heard that one before, actually." Jon said politely as he once again began to recall why he used to refer the young woman across from him as Loony.

"It's true. - - Where was I, oh yes, I remember now. My Mum passed on a special warning – back when I was a child - just before she died. She told me to never interfere with the various goddesses of 'Destiny' or the three sisters the Greeks called 'The Fates.' I had to get special permission from a whole lot of immortals to be able to speak to you about your children," Luna said in a surprising mature and deeply serious tone.

"The Fates, spoke to you about my future children? How can that be?" Jon said surprised, as he tried to brace himself mentally - for the wild story he feared that he was about to hear.

Luna didn't seem the least bit phased by Jon's skepticism; in fact she looked as if she expected it. "Yes, Ronald they did. It seems that you managed to make a few of the goddesses hearts fluttered when you saved Hermione's life a few weeks back."

"What," Jon asked amazed, for he hadn't saved Hermione's life, when all he really did was return his ring to her.

"Oh you should've heard Themis go on and on about it was the most romantic thing she's seen this century. You got quite a following of --"

Ron interrupted her rambling with a question, "And who is this Themis?"

But Luna kept right on talking and didn't even bother to answer's Jon's question.

"- - among the goddess watching you."

The truth was Jon didn't fancy at all, the idea that a woman or in this case a number of women watching him. His burn scars were always the source of his desire to be unseen and unnoticed, especially by the opposite sex. Innocent flirting with female customers was relatively harmless compared with the thought of a woman making a nauseated face when confronted with his real appearance. The real fear of the look of unqualified disgust on a woman's face when she saw him was what compelled Jon to stay fully clothed or in disguise at all times.

Luna smiled at Ron as if the answer to Jon's concerns was the simplest thing in the world. "Any being that watches over humanities fate for century after century would certainly enjoy a good romance story. And Ronald you have to admit, yours has everything. Intrigue, Undying love, Foolish mortal regrets, Heroic actions …"

Jon sarcastic wit gets the best of him as he chimes in about himself, "I was just a stupid chump git back then - who thought that actions spoke louder than words. Besides, I really don't see myself getting married anytime soon. And considering my burn scars, only a woman who is totally blind, deaf and dumb, would ever consider reproducing with me," Jon said with a sad pathetic chuckle.

"Honestly Ronald, it's been seven years since I've seen you and some things haven't changed at all! I have watched your alter-ego Doppelganger's, which is, just so you know, a German term for magical duplicates of people. - I have seen these copies of Ronald Weasley in over a hundred parallel realities and in each and every one of them you always underestimate your attractiveness.

"I can't spare the time now to try to convince you otherwise so I'll just cut to the chase. You are destined in this universe to conceive children. Your offspring's will have destinies of their own, for they are fated to do great things in the future, important things. However, that won't happen if I don't get you back in queue, because frankly, Ronald, your injuries have put you way behind in your reproductive duties."

"If I'm behind as you claim, why didn't you approach me before now?" Jon asked curiously - humoring his old friend, for he didn't really believe half of what he was being told.

"I wanted too, Ronald, but my god-mother insisted that I wait until you recovered your lost memories before I approached you. The last battle of the Second Death Eater Uprising threw the whole time-line of our universe out of queue."

"Uprising? …I thought it was a war, and a bloody costly one," Jon said with surprising heat.

"Calm yourself Ronald, I was there too remember?" Luna said in her normal dream-like serenely. "The late 'War' has many names, but don't fret about it, I'm sure the Quibbler will sort out the name eventually."

"Luna, please forgive me. I'm sorry that I snapped at you, my only excuse is - the ruddy horrible fortnight that I've just gone through, it's turned my world arse-over-elbows and even now, things are still a bit up in the air. Now you come to me here in Roma, literally out of nowhere - and tell me that I have to hurry up and start making babies. Come to think of it, you haven't even told me who the mother of my future children is to be."

"Really Ronald," Luna exclaimed exasperated. "Just off the top of your head, who do you think 'The Fates' would choose to be the mother of your children?"

"Hermione?" Jon asked in an astonished whisper.

"Of course, - Hermione! Don't act so surprised, she and you are paired together in more parallel realities than The Fates can count. You're her soul-mate Ronald, and she ends up with you ten times more often than anyone else."

"Anyone else, what do you mean by that" Jon asked, suddenly suspicious.

"Countless alternate realities, each one slightly different than our own, so it's only natural for Hermione to be paired with different people now and again."

"How many blokes does Hermione hook up with in these alternate universes?" Ron asked unable to refrain from feeling a sharp twang of jealousy.

"A fair few, but relax Ronald, the multiple pairings applies to you as well!"

"Really?" Jon asked somewhat stunned.

"As shocking as this may be to you to hear, Ronald, you were considered a prize catch during your Hogwarts years. In fact, when fate pairs Hermione with someone else in one of these alternate universes, you and I are paired together as a couple more often than not. The number of times fate puts us together is secondary in the rate of occurrence to those romantic pairings of Neville and I."

"Alright, I'm sorry. I suppose that Harry and Hermione get paired together a lot in these alternate-universes that you see, after all it happened here!" Jon declared with bitterness.

"Yes, you're right, there are even some realities where Hermione starts out with one boy only to end up with another, of course that happens almost as often as her hooking up romantically with Draco…"

"MIONE, GETS INTIMATE…WITH THE FERRET?" Jon screamed outraged.

"Calm yourself, - yes its true - I have seen them paired together. In fact, in one particular reality you catch them snogging during seventh year in a first years Charms classroom. Hermione and Draco are head boy and girl in that alternate reality. Totally disgusted, you leave Hogwarts to study Dragons with your brother Charlie in Romania, sending back hilarious letters to Ginny, who of course, reads then to the entire school in the Great Hall and then…"

"…I never got the chance to finish Hogwarts," Ron admitted sadly unintentionally interrupting Luna's tale, "Spent the year after the battle in hospital. And while I was there, Hermione wrote her lovely book. "

"It was rather odd - wasn't it? She'd go on and on – making all kinds of disparaging remarks about the 'Quibbler' not being truthful, when--." Luna said in a sympatric tone.

Ron passionately agreed with Luna's observation. "The Quibbler was ten times more accurate than her rubbish."

Luna sipped her Gillywater, grateful for the compliment before finishing her story about the different dimensions. "Hermione is actually not paired with Harry as often as you might think Ronald. In fact, when its Draco that she's paired with, he has to undergo an all but complete personality transformation, just to adjust to be even half-way worthy for your Hermione.

Jon snorted in obvious contempt that Draco Malfoy was able to be anything other than a completely spoiled, evil git.

"If the truth were told, I doubt that you'd recognize Draco Malfoy if you met him in the realities were he is romantically paired with Hermione. He doesn't behave like himself at all, for as you and I both know, Crumple-Horned Snorkacks cannot change the shape of their spots by force of will alone. For you Ronald, although it may seem to the casual observer at first to be an unnatural combination, somehow or other, you and Hermione always seem to fit best as a couple, it's as if you two complete each other. The 'Yen and Yang' of Hogwarts, two incomplete halves when combined make a whole. In most of the realities that I've seen, the main problem between you and Hermione most often boils down to your inability to find the courage to actually tell Hermione that you loved her…"

"That wasn't the problem here Luna." Jon declared loudly with obvious bitterness. "I did tell her how I felt! I told her several times that I loved her, loud and clear, before our first kiss or we began to openly date. Not that my true love confession did me any good, because she never - - not once - - said those three important words back to me!

"That's the conclusion that I have come to, that Hermione never told me she loved me because she was killing time until she could whisper her utter devotion into the National Hero's ear …behind my back, while she cheated on me. I should hate her, really I should, sweet Merlin above, why can't I hate her? - -" Jon asked softly, more to himself than to Luna, as a tear dripped down the side of his cheek.

"That's pure rubbish, Ronald." Luna declared in a tone that broke no argument. "Hermione Jane Granger, never loved Harry Potter, she was destined since birth in the universe we live in, to love and be loved by only one man. I have this on unimpeachable authority and from more than just one source. Face facts Ronald, the only boy she ever fancied or will ever fancy - is you!

"- - but Luna," a distraught Jon declared, as if Luna hadn't spoken, "taking what you have said to me so far - as fact - and just for the sake of this discussion – mind you! I think you might have the alternate universes you've mentioned - a bit mixed up here! Ask any casual shopper in Diagon Alley right now, and they'll all tell you that the very idea of Hermione Granger being in love with Harry Potter's sidekick-clown is utterly ridiculous. Her book also makes that point absolutely clear; she didn't love me at all in 'this universe' and never did. She was always 'Fated' to be Harry's wife - not mine," Jon said with regret,

"Ronald, you have it all wrong!" Luna said getting upset

"Do I – do I really? To be honest with you Luna, I don't even know for sure how I feel about her nor do I think myself physically capable of making children in this universe. So I can't help but wonder if you're confusing me with dear ol' Potter and that it's Harry and Hermione who are the ones that are out of queue in baby production. The nippers with the fantastic futures that you spoke of so fondly - may well be destined to come out of Granger - - but with Harry as the daddy - not me!

"You've always had a hard time seeing the truth in front of you - Ronald," Luna said with disdain.

"I have to disagree, Luna," Jon said - trying hard to remain objective about all of this rubbish. "The truth that you refuse to see - is that its Harry who's mucking-up this time line of yours - he's the bloke you should be talking too right now, not me. Let's review the facts, shall we? One, the goddess of Destiny you mentioned was the one which 'allowed,' Harry and Hermione to get married in 'this' alternate universe - right after Graduation! Two, - Destiny again, was the one which then 'permitted' the newlyweds to stay married for six ruddy years which gave the "Potters" plenty of time to put Hermione into the pudding club several times. For the average couple that translates to one bun in the oven, every two years.

If, Harry - the Chosen One - Potter, didn't do his marital duty in the bedroom and has mucked-up the future by getting his marriage to Hermione annulled, why in the blue blazes do you come and complain about it - to me?" Jon declared, shaking his head in patience-strained, righteous indignation.

"Freyja said you would be too stubborn to listen to reason," declared Luna.

"Freyja, what in Merlin's name - are you going on about, Luna?" Jon said trying hard to be reasonable

"To be honest Ronald, I don't pretend to understand all of this, but my god-mother insists that you and Hermione are fated to be together, but then again Miss Granger always did have the really bad habit of taking you for granted - - Harry did too, come to think on it! All your friends saw it happen over the years, again and again. It's sad really, that they would do that to you; after all you did for them. Although, speaking from what I remember of Hermione, this Half-Baked Protection-plan that Harry spoke of definitely sounds like something that the smartest witch of our age would come up with. Of course she would put Harry's happiness ahead of her own with you and you'd do the same given half the chance."

"She played me for a fool, Luna!"

"Wake up and smell the rosés, Ronald, it's not like you were attacked by Nargles. Girls have been making boys look foolish since the dawn of time; it's what we do, as a time honored tradition of the courting ritual! Besides, we girls don't make boys look foolish half as often as you blokes do all by yourselves.

Jon grunted in frustration

"We need to get back on task right now. - So try to be practical for a moment and think about this plan Harry mentioned. For example; …If a Death Eater shot a killing curse at your sister during the last battle, you would have stepped in front of it, without hesitation, I know you would. You would have thrown your life away without pausing to think of how much your dying for her would torment your sister for the rest of her days?"

"At least she would be alive to be tormented" Jon snorted.

"Exactly, and you would have done the same thing for Harry, as you did for Hermione, you would have taken a thousand Fireball Hexes to save your best mate's life."

"Before he betrayed my trust in him, yeah I guess so."

"Rubbish Ronald, you're too nice a bloke to just stand by and let anyone get hurt, its part of your nature to help people. Anyroad, as I was saying, isn't that what Hermione did with this protection plan, for both your sister and Harry - - the same kind of sacrifice. She deliberately put at risk what she had with you, after waiting years for your confession of loving her, and admit it Ronald, it did take years for you to work up the courage to tell her how you felt. Merlin knows we all saw you struggling with it.

Then after finally hearing what she had been waiting years to hear, she'd need a ruddy good reason to abruptly tossed it all aside and the way I see it, saving the two people who had been an surrogate brother and sister to her, well – it fits the bill rather nicely - don't you think?"

"Okay, for the sake of argument - I concede your point; after all, something of little value is an ease thing to dispose of. However, if Hermione always regarded Harry as her brother, as you now claim, - I am still waiting for an answer to my earlier point. If I was the destined to be the love of her life - why - did she end up married to said brother…Harry - - eh?"

"That's a good question, Ronald, and I strongly suggest that you get a straightforward detailed answer to that one, from Hermione herself - - before you start making babies with her."

"What makes you think I'd ever want to make…"

"Mother of Merlin, you're stubborn! Please – Ronald, - try to accept this, the Goddess of Destiny – the immortal witch Necessatis, or Themis as her friend and family call her. This powerful Roman witch, mother of three other immortal witches Clotho, Lahesis and Atropos, which the Greeks at one time called The Fates, have told me in no uncertain terms that you and Granger are going to be together, in this universe…really – really soon!

"You've spoke with the Roman Goddess of Destiny?" Jon declared clearly gob-smacked.

"Of course I have, Ronald, the immortals speak to me all the time, just like they did my Mum. Hogwarts the castle is a magical living entity as well and she and I use to have long chats while I was at school." Luna said as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

"Does your husband know that you have had chats with Hogwarts 'the castle' as well as the gods of ancient Rome?"

"Oh Ronald don't be silly, it's not just the Roman immortals that I chat with. And, by the way, they don't like to be called gods." Luna said in way of warning. "They started out just like you and me as normal witches and wizards; they just became powerful enough to conquer death, like Voldemort tried to do. They didn't like him at all, and although they are mostly beyond direct intervention with humankind, they did try to arrange things so that his attempt to join the other immortals failed. They still keep an eye on things. That's why I say that you and Hermione are destined to be together, that's why I had to ask them to let me talk to you, so that I could ease you into what 'Will Happen' - really-really soon."

In response, Jon simply raised an eyebrow in disbelief

There was a big discussion among the immortals about you, Ronald, which took place around the time that Trelawney made her first real prophecy about Tom Riddle…"

"You know that Voldemort's real name was Riddle…How? It wasn't in her book - The Golden Trio!"

"I see things, remember"

"Oh, right you are!" Jon said in an half amused half worried tone, having forgotten for a moment that he was in the presence of a most unusual Seer.

"Anyway and just to demonstrate how far ahead the immortal arrange things when Themis's daughters saw what was going to happen. They decided amongst themselves that the Chosen One would need a lot of help in getting ready for his fight with Tom. They foresaw that he would have the courage and the immortals arranged for Hermione to cross his path to provide him with the knowledge to win, and that you, my dear Ronald, would be around provided the Chosen one with a living example of the good side of the Wizarding world and a reason to survive the battle."

"Oi, - hold-on there! - That wasn't my job! The whole reason I went through all of this was to protect Harry's girlfriend…wasn't it?"

"Well-yes, your sister was always destined to end up with Harry, just as Hermione was always destined to be with you."

"Okay," Jon said, in a determined to keep his temper tone, becoming increasing frustrated by a lack of straight answers'. "Lets just move things along then, - shall we? I'll tentatively - agree with all you've said - up to now – if for no other reason than to avoid a row! However, with that said, I have to ask, if these all powerful immortal wizards are controlling things, why is this particular 'reality' out of queue?"

"They have Influence on events, Ronald, not absolute control. They nudge things in the general direction they have foreseen, but that still allows us mortal's 'freedom of choice' and add to that, the affects of Murphy's first law and sometimes things get mucked-up.

"They have waited as did I, until you had settled down into your new life as a shopkeeper and chess champion. They waited until all of your self-worth…self-confidence issues were settled by a series of successes unhampered by git brothers or a more famous best mate. They deal in long term solutions to problems, Ronald, and now the time for patience has passed. The Celtic, Norse and Roman immortals have combined their powers to get things back on track in this universe. Your finding Ginny on the old battlefield was no accident. The Gods didn't have to do anything to get Harry and Ginny married, your natural inclination to help you sister did that for them without any input on their part. It was a lovely ceremony by the way, and you were so sneaky with the two way mirror…"

"How did you know about…oh right…never mind!" Ron said answering his own question.

"Harry and Ginny are where they're supposed to be, with bun number one already in the oven. That just leaves you and Granger behind in this time line."

"The Celtic, Norse and Roman…'goddess' of Destiny knows how you and Hermione have suffered for the sake of Love," Luna declare in an all but disembodied tone, as if being controlled and acting as the voice of others. "Danu, sometimes called Morrigan, the Celtic raven haired witch-mother 'goddess' of all the Celts, with Medb the rather lustful and somewhat bawdy Celtic 'goddess' of war, have combined forces with Branwen the immortal witch sometimes called in Welsh folklore as the 'goddess' of love and Freyja the Norse witch-goddess of sexuality. These extremely powerful witches have combined their power with Necessatis and her daughters to personally see to it that a successful romantic ending is what we have here."

"We'll see about that! Now, won't we," Jon retorted defiantly.

"Ronald, listen to me, you have no choice in this. You will talk with Hermione; you will listen to her explanations with an open mind. The moment you see each other the urge to promptly rip-off each others clothing and franticly shag each other brains-out like a pair of Blibbering Humdinger's in heat - right there and then - will be all but overwhelming. The immortals that I spoke to, have all foreseen that your first meeting with Hermione, will occur in a wide-open public park in the heart of London. By the way, if I were you - I'd have a plush hotel room reserved and waiting nearby. That is, unless you actually want to be arrested by the Muggle's police for doing 'it' in a public park." Luna said with a lustful leer.

"Luna, I'd never, well that is - she'd never let me … do that … to her…not in public!" Jon said feeling embarrassed as well as a little excited at the wicked thought.

"You don't really know that as a fact - now do you, Ronald?" Luna replied with a big smile "There is an old wives tale that says that intensive intellectuals in the arms of the right bloke can be exceptionally - naughty. My god mother has also predicted that for years to come you two won't be able to keep your ruddy paws off of each other …every …bloody …second …you're alone together!

Jon gulped a bit from the randy visualization in his mind.

"This is going to happen Ronald! Destiny decrees it and The Fates will see to it that it gets done. You have to understand that there are very powerful entities pushing this, Ronald. Beings of such immense magical power that they make Voldemort appear to be nothing more than a cheap conjuror. Besides, I mean honestly - - its not as if I condemning you to a Dementors kiss, this fate of spending the rest of your life in the arms of the woman you love, can't be as bad as you're making out.

"Rod nodded in defeat as he explains his feelings. I guess you're more spot-on about how I feel about her, than even I realized. I'd be lying if I said that it would be a problem being with Hermione for the rest of my life. Especially if she truly loves me, as you claim. But that's the sixty-thousand Galleon question – isn't it? How would I ever know…for sure?

Jon paused a few seconds in self-depression before he looked up at the concern look that Luna was giving him.

"I was lousy at Divination, Luna, I remember that - thought it all a huge pile of rubbish in fact, and it's all this prophecy stuff, which is making me mental now - you know? I remember Harry hated knowing his fate before hand, and now that I'm in the same boat, I understand better his resentment at having his freedom of choice taken away.

"You still have a choice, Ronald, if you're willing to pay the price for denying fate. In walking away from this future with the girl of your dreams, you must realize that you are in fact, declaring to the entire world - that you don't want to be with Hermione?"

"Why me Luna and why all of a sudden…why did Destiny make me fall in love with Hermione all those years ago only to rip her out of my soul and give her to Harry! Why make me suffer like that? Wouldn't it have been better - for all concerned – including Fate for me to never have been part of the Hogwarts Trio? Harry didn't need a clown by his side to face Voldemort; I was already dead when that happened. Why couldn't Destiny just wait - until after these past seven years of not knowing who I was were over and behind me? Why go to the bother of destroying my name and my body and then move Hermione into my path for the love at first sight bit, like some perfectly aimed Bludger?"

"I don't have an answer for you Ronald". Luna said sadly "Destiny doesn't tell me all the reasons that she has for doing what she does. You just try keeping the time lines of a thousand different realities on their proper course for a little bit and we'll see what happens…eh?" Luna said in an angry tone.

"Sorry Luna, I'm just frustrated"

"Its alright, I'm a bit oversensitive where my god-mother is concerned"

"Your god-mum is a Goddess?"

"Yes, that's right. Her name is Necessatis and she is an immortal witch – not a goddess, I'm warning you Ronald, for the last time, my godmother really hates being called a goddess and if you get 'royally hexed' over this it's your fault not mine." Luna said giving Jon a stern look to make sure he understood that she was serious.

"My Mum's family was originally Italian, coming to England with the Roman fourteenth Legion in 60 AD. That is the reason the Roman deities are involved in this, otherwise it would an almost pure Celtic show. The Granger family came originally from Norway with one of the Viking invasions of England; I don't recall which one, which is why the Norse immortal witch Freyja is involved. She is the one pushing for Hermione to shag your brains out because – well…she was regarded as the Viking goddess of sex."

"Do I have any immortals on my side in this? Where did the Weasleys come from?"

"Oh, sweet Merlin Ronald, don't you know your history? You're as English as any bloke can ever hope to get! The roots of your family tree in Britain go back to way beyond the first written record of English history. You have all the Celtic immortals firmly in your corner, which I might add is the primary reason you survived those three Maxima Fire Ball Hexes.

Keep in mind though, that everything I'm telling you must be kept in the strictest confidence. You have to promise me with an unbreakable vow not to tell anyone about the 'immortals' I've mentioned. Chat all you want out my predictions, with me as the source no one will believe you anyway. But then again, I wouldn't be having this little chat with you at all if - Themis herself - wasn't absolutely sure that you could be trusted. That's a high compliment to your sense of honor as a man, Ronald. The trust of my god-mother isn't easy to get."

"An immoral witch for a god-mum, Sweet Merlin" Jon said shaking his head in amazement.

"Really Ronald, it's no big deal! In ancient Greece a lot of people can claim the wizard Zeus as their daddy. Any-road, if I'm already 'in for a Knut then I might as well be in for a Galleon' as they say - as I have already been rather indiscrete about the important stuff." Luna declared with a shrug of her shoulders. "So, I might as well tell you that the Fates are pretty much finished with Harry Potter. His highpoint in ultimate fame and glory came at the moment of Voldemort's death. Nothing he does for the rest of his life will compare to what he did seven years ago during the final battle. Generations of Potters to come will be overshadowed by that single historical event.

"Hermione Granger, also has peaked when it comes to glory and prominence, she will not become Minister of Magic like everyone thinks. The press has turned against her since the annulment. Instead of climbing higher within the Ministry, she like Ronald Weasley will only be remembered due to her Hogwarts association with Harry the Chosen-One Potter. In fact all of your mates from Hogwarts will share that same thing in common when their obituaries are written, "Friend, dorm mate, or went to school during the Hogwarts tenure of the hero Harry Potter."

"Yes, I can see that happening," Jon said in a shaking his head in sad regret "after that bloody book came-out, it doesn't take a ruddy Seer to predict how historians will see me fifty years from now. My so-called 'fame' as the comical sidekick to the great National Hero and his beautiful and brilliant first wife has already been set in stone."

"Really Ronald, don't be silly, Hermione won't be remembered as Harry's wife! The marriage was annulled – remember? It's as if it had never happened and history books of our time will never acknowledge that it ever took place. In fact Doctor Granger has only one chance left to leave a lasting mark on the Wizarding world beyond what has already happened and that is as the mother of your children.

"That's pure bullocks Luna," Jon shouted loud enough to startle people at nearby tables. "Hermione is bloody brilliant, smartest witch of this or any other age, there is no way in that I'll ever accept that her destiny has been reduced to the bare-foot and pregnant wife of a lowly shopkeeper."

"Very good, Ronald, and you're at least partially right, a simple homemaker was never to be her total fate. She'll have a fulfilling career doing important Arithmancy and Runes research, which will keep her busy all her days, but none of her discoveries will make even the back pages of the Daily Prophet.

Luna smiled a rather generous grin toward Jon.

"Hermione in my view always had one great weakness, a flaw that even the great Harry Potter never acknowledged. Every great Castle like Hogwarts requires a solid foundation to set upon, without it, the structure will crumble and fall. It has been your destiny all along to be Hermione's foundation Ronald; her corner stone. You have always been her rock in times of trouble, the emotional sanctuary that she could depend on when tragedy struck. I didn't have to be a seer to know this Ronald, a lot of your classmate saw it too! That's why your break-up came as a shock to so many of your friends for Hermione herself never really acknowledged how much she needed you until it was too late and you were gone.

"Without you forcefully coming back in her life right now to ground her, my godmother has predicted that Hermione will literally work herself to death within the next ten years.

She is what the professor of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts calls a workaholic, becoming so obsessed in a work project that she forgets to take the time to cultivate friends or even eat or sleep.

"It was you Ronald at Hogwarts and not Harry or anyone else for that matter - that managed to persuade a certain class work compulsive student away from her studies - long enough - to have what little human interaction that she had during her seven year stay at Hogwarts. She needed you then and she needs you now a thousand times more than she'll ever admit publicly! It is her biggest fault, but doesn't make it any less true.

"Bugger" Jon replied too stunned to say anything else.

"I realize that this is a lot to take in at one go, but there are forces at play here that have far too much momentum to be stopped or diverted." Luna said in uncharacteristic seriousness. "I have had to pull-in a lot of favors to try to ease you into your fate."

"Not that I want to sound ungrateful and all, but why are you going to so much trouble for a bloke who use to call you Looney?"

"Oh, don't make me out to be so noble, I have a very selfish reason for doing this." Luna said with a warm chuckle. "In this universe, the one we are right now, your first born, a girl – which you will name Nimue will grow up to marry my adopted son Nicholas. Meanwhile - in a parallel reality right next to this one, my Nicholas will marry an American girl by the name of Sara Solo. So you see it has been real hard for me sometimes - to separate this universe from all the others, especially if they're really-really similar."

"I'm going to have a daughter?" Jon said as a far away look filled his face and he smiled.

"Yes, Ronald, according to my god mother, you're very fertile," Luna said smiling in return.

"We're going to be in-laws in the future?" Jon said trying to change the subject - feeling rather embarrassed all of a sudden.

"Yes and my baby girl Jennifer, who will be conceived on September sixteenth two years from, now, will grow up to marry Harry and Ginny's second son Sherman. We'll all live just outside of Hogsmeade. We'll be helpful neighbors and really good friends, although you'll never allow my Professor husband anywhere near tools…especially power tools.

"Neville becomes a professor?"

"Yes, he did - as a matter of fact, he teaches Herbology now. He took over from Professor Sprout when she retired three years ago.

"So are you and Neville happy together?"

"Oh Ronald, I am sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned how often I'm paired with Neville in other realities. I understand what made you to come to the conclusion that I married Neville but in this particular alternate universe he and I married other people – both of them outside of our normal circle of Hogwarts classmates.

"But you said you married a Professor so naturally I assumed…" Jon began, clearly confused.

"…And so I did, my husband however teaches Muggle Studies at Hogwarts and writes stories – freelance - for the Quibbler. I went for a man of letters and Neville married a fellow Herbology fanatic. She's a brilliant girl he met on the Island of Bora-Flora, whose maiden name was Stickworth. By the way - one of Roslyn's and Neville's future offspring's will also be looking to you and Hermione as in-laws one day. For the Veselkin family will provide them with a book-loving spouse for the Longbottoms as-yet unborn baby girl, a boy which will share the same knowledge obsession, as his bushy haired mother.

"I'm going to have a son some day?" Jon said utterly stunned.

"Yes Ronald, and don't act so surprised. My godmother had no intention of allowing the name of Veselkin to fade away by just giving you girls. She has big plans for the Veselkin bloodline."

"Thank her for me; will you - Luna…please?"

"You're a good man Ronald, and my sweet husband has many of the same kindhearted qualities that you possess and is as much in love with the written word as I am. He considers himself a bit of a humorist in comparison to my more serious inclination for investigative journalism. His writing style is more along the lines of Will Rogers or Mark Twain, than a more traditional reporter and his columns in the magazine are very…useful.

"My daddy always reserves a space for him in every issue. Usually his column appears above the half page advertisement for Dragon End Products ltd. - A Dragon dung Fertilizer Company. Daddy says as no one wants the space above dragon dung advert, so he puts my husband's column there because they are so similar in content, - whatever that means." Luna declared in a dreamy tone. "My husband says he doesn't really mind all the much, because at least he's being published. In gratitude, my lovable spouse is even willing to help me run the Quibbler when my Daddy goes off on holiday each year in hunt for the elusive zebra-striped 'Albanian' one-horned Mooncalf.

"So, if I understand you correctly - Destiny matches us all up with people who we share things in common with. You with a …writer-professor - - Well - - that sort-of makes sense. Harry and Ginny because they both love to fly and play Quidditch - that's a no-brainer too. Then Neville hooks up with…what's her name again?" Jon said trying to sort it all out in his head.

"Roslyn, and her maiden name was Stickworth." Luna said, hoping that Ron's attitude indicated a growing acceptance of his fate.

"This husband of yours, did I know him from Hogwarts? What house was he in?" Jon said as he searched his fragmented memory for such a bloke with a writing ambition.

"No, Ronald, - you and he haven't met – yet! Enrollment at Hogwarts was way down right after the war, so low in fact, that the Board of Governors opened the school to students from outside of Great Britain. My husband was one of those, an American, from the uncharted wilderness of a far off in a place called 'Oregon'.

"He's rather a lot like you Ronald, in the fact that he didn't think that any Ravenclaw, especially a brilliant 'down to earth' girl like me" Luna said with a smile at her own pun, "could ever fall-in-love with a not-worth two-knut, poor as dirt, storyteller.

"Just so you don't feel too bad about thinking that I end up with Neville one day. He and I did do a little dating near the end of his sixth year, my fifth. We had a bit of a falling out over an Quibbler article that my daddy wrote about the effects of the Cruciatus Curse that mentioned his parents…and well, we broke up and my American spent a good part of Harry and Hermione's seventh year trying to get Neville and me back together.

"I take it he failed?"

"Oh he helped me find my true love, but it took me - what felt like forever, to get him to acknowledge that it was he and not Neville that was my soul-mate for life."

"Okay, - okay, your poking fun at how long it took me to spill my guts to Hermione, I get it, alright?" Ron said holding up his hands in surrender. "All blokes, everywhere, are romantically clueless; we all need a little nudge now and again…okay! I swear sometimes I now wish that the whole Gryffindor common room during my fifth year would have just gotten up and said to a nervous bloke like me - all at the same time - 'Don't just stand there…Kiss her you idiot'."

"Really Ronald, as if that would ever happen in real life?" Luna said chuckling.

"It sure would have made my life so much easier - that's all. Just out of curiosity though, having never experienced it myself, exactly, how long did it take for you to tell… in loud and clear terms, verbally that is…that you were in love with your American?"

"From the moment I first met him to public confession, - maybe…three months!"

"Your Yank is a lucky sod; the girl I fancied never did get around to telling me," Jon then became deadly serious as he asked. "Do you think she will ever tell me she loves me?"

"She'll tell you sooner than you think if you just sit down and let her chat-you-up." Luna said as if stating the obvious. "Hermione always had issues on expressing her own emotions. I was as close a friend to her as anyone ever got and I saw it. She was more than willing to give romantic advice to others, like me for example when I dated Neville. However, when it came time to 'practice what she preached,' she just really stank at it. She never was very good with dealing with people, she liked books far better.

"You said the press has turned against her, what did you mean by that?"

"Honestly Ronald, don't you read the Quibbler or that Ministry mouthpiece the Dailey Prophet?"

"No, not really"

"Well if you did, you'd know that the wizarding world press has been crucifying your lady love something horrible during the last five days." Luna said genuinely surprised. "Its taken all my influence to keep Daddy from piling on with the rest, and even he has written several critical editorials on her stewardship as chief negotiator of the Foreign Office.

Luna then reached into the bag, resting on the ground next to her chair and pulled out the latest Quibbler. She opened it and then handed it to Jon to read.

"Doctor Granger's brilliance in the technical details of treaty making is only surpassed by her abrasive style of management. Her indiscrete bluntness in the area of foreign affairs has made the United Kingdom as many enemies as friends. According to unnamed and yet highly reliable sources deep within the Ministry. No less than twenty employees under Dr. Granger authority have been sacked, demoted or transferred to other departments under her brief autocratic tenure."

"Hold-on a minute. Since when is telling the truth, plain and straightforward a bad thing? We got nothing but lies from Fudge from what I've read."

"In politics and the affairs of state, lying is an art-form and plain speaking can lead to a diplomatic disaster." Luna said with surprising insight.

"I'm so glad that I never got into Politics."

"I imagine Hermione regrets it as well by now. Politics is a dirty cut throat game, my daddy taught me that." Luna said with a sigh as she reached down next to her seat and brought up a thick book which she pushed across the table toward Jon. "Look, Ronald, I've made and brought a scrap-book worth of newspaper and magazine clipping concerning the vilification of Doctor Granger in the British press for you to look over."

"Thank you very much and all that, but I just can't understand why the press would turn on her so abruptly?" Jon couldn't help but wonder.

"Oh Ronald you can be so naive at times! I've co-edited my daddy's magazine for a few years now and it's shown me the grimier side of the body politic. Hermione is no longer Mrs. Potter, and the moment her name changed and Ginny took over the title of Harry's spouse, Hermione instantly lost the protection that being the wife of a National Hero provided her.

"Must I remind you yet again that Hermione had trouble making friends at Hogwarts? Haven't you ever heard the old saying that goes "Boy's don't make passes at girls who get A's in all of their classes? I was a girl in Ravenclaw and I heard it all the time. For Hermione it was a thousand times worst, I overheard a lot of gossip about her relentless drive to make all O's."

"What are you going on about Luna? And what does a girls marks in class, have to do with anything?"

"Oh, you are sweet; it never made a difference to you…did it? That Hermione was smarter than you! Luna asked smiling big in genuinely delight.

"It wasn't her brain that I wanted to – shaa - ah…snog, - Luna!" Jon declared - instantly becoming intensely embarrassed by his near Freudian slip. "It always amazed me that there weren't loads of other blokes in our year constantly pestering her for dates. Well, then again, maybe there were and I just don't remember - especially those brainy gits in Ravenclaw! She was so beautiful; her bushy brown hair framed her face - bringing out the fire in her brown eyes. She carried herself with such …grace and - when she had on my borrowed Weasley jumper, my fourth year one that was way too small for her, especially when she had her temper up …Sweet Merlin, she could look so downright - sexy… I just wanted to - -"

"Still insist that you don't love her, Ronald?" Luna asked smugly.

"Alright, Luna - so, you caught me out! You know better how I feel about my ol' school flame, than I've been able to admit, either to myself or to you. But how I feel about things - well - it's just not fair to her, can't you see that? I appreciate what your god-mum and her special friends are trying to do for me, taking pity on the burned-up trio clown. But why force someone as beautiful as she is, to spend the rest of her life stuck with a shrived up half-charred Weasley"

"For one thing, - Ronald, and I want you to actually listen to me for once - very carefully! You're the one and only wizard in all of the British Isles as well as the European mainland, who has ever thought of Hermione as either beautiful or sexy. And before you open your pie hole and mention Victor Krum, that arrogant pureblood nobleman only fancied Hermione for her potential as a breeder of highly intelligent children. He openly admitted it in an interview in 'Quidditch Monthly' just before he married some Hungarian pure-blood heiress. So he never really loved her, got it?"

"Okay-okay"

"Secondly, and I hope you won't take this the wrong way. Well you clearly haven't seen yourself starker's in a mirror lately, now have you?" Luna asked bluntly tilting her head slightly and running her eyes up and down Jon's body, before openly staring at his groin area."

"No, I haven't Luna, in fact I can't see my reflection in any kind of mirror, Muggle or magical."

"That's a pity, really, because if you could - you would have noticed the little thing that the Celtic immortal-witch Medb and the Welsh immortal Branwen did for you seven years ago. A little gift that goddesses provided that will make things more than alright for Hermione and will easily make-up for the burn scaring that covers the rest of your body." Luna said with a growing smile as she continued to stare at Jon's mid-section.

Even fully dressed - Jonathan suddenly became very self-conscious about where Luna was staring.

"Luna, what are you doing?"

"I told you, Ronald. I can see and hear things that other people can not." Luna said with in a matter of fact - nothing unusual about it tone.

"Are you by any chance, trying to imply that you can see through the table we are sitting at, as well as my clothing?" Jon said uncomfortably attempting to make a joke.

"Why yes, Ronald as a matter of fact I can," in a casual tone of voice as if she had been asked if she could see the color red. And from what I have seen, when you're – relaxed," Luna said with a small - appraising smile. Well, let's just say that your Hermione will be one very happy witch when she finally gets her hands on – things!" Luna said in complete candor to a totally gob-smacked Jonathan.

"This is impossible" Jon said, thinking out loud.

"Not for me it isn't?" Luna said with an extra bright smile. "By the way, Ronald, where-ever did you get those Chudley Cannons boxers? My little Nicholas is only five, but he's already a huge fan. His love of your favorite team will undoubtedly earn him huge points with his future father-in-law!"

"Bloody hell Luna - look somewhere else - will you please!" Jon said as he covered himself.

"Honestly, Ronald! How can you possibly feel embarrassed about this? We're both in our mid-twenties; we're adults - for Merlin's sake. I have a husband and a child, so quit acting like a never been kissed teenager! Any-way, as I was saying - I have always had the ability to see through clothing and it was always kind of fun, listening to the boastful boys back at Hogwarts, knowing full well, who did and did not have anything to actually boast about."

"Luna – Sweet Merlin - Please!"

"Relax Ronald…you have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about, believe me! By the way, I take it you and Hermione hadn't gone very far…physically, before she came up with that dumb protection plan of her's?

A totally embarrassed and yet somewhat pleased and reassured about his manliness, Jon, could do no more than nod in agreement.

"Well lets just say, that if she had let her hands do a bit of…wandering when you were…in the mood" back then," Luna said in a tone that indicated high regard. "That stupid plan of hers would have never seen the light of day."

"Oh Merlin" Jon moaned

"I just think that you owe Celtic and Welsh immortals a huge debt of gratitude for the pains they went through to see to that your bits remained totally untouched by three powerful fire-ball hexes.

"Alright, I get the point…" Jon groaned.

"No, Ronald, it will be Hermione who'll get the point, as often as she can - I'll wager! I really didn't understand at the time, why my god-mother had insisted that you and Hermione will shag like a pair of rabbits for a solid week, but I do now. It's like the story of 'Goldilocks and the three Bears,' not painfully too big - nor too small to feel…but just right!"

"Luna - please! You're killing me here!"

"Oh yes, I must remember to thank my god-mother for pairing us in alternative realities Ronald…yes - must thank her for that." Luna said thinking out loud.

"I'll get you a dozen sets of Cannons underwear if you just stop"

"Alright – Ronald – I'll stop teasing you! But in exchange I'll want a half-dozen sets of Boys 'Y' style briefs, sized for a five year old, please, standard cut" Luna said with a smug look.

"Anything," Jon said surrendering to the inescapable.

"Well, it looks like my work is done here! I have done what my god mother wanted me to do. You have now come to accept that your feelings for Hermione aren't as unclear as you first thought, in fact; your love for her hasn't changed at all. So you have no valid excuses for not taking advantage of the nudge The Fates are about to provide you with. Good Luck Ronald - to both of you.

"Yeah-yeah, thanks - I think?" Jon said his head beginning to pound with a rapidly growing headache.

"I really don't understand why you feel uncomfortable about this, Ronald" Luna said slightly confused as she stood up. "I have just assured you that you will become romantically involved with the same girl you have been in hopelessly in love with since fourth year. At the same time I have reassured you that there is no anatomical reason which would prevent a physical relationship that will be extremely satisfying to both of you. Finally, I have passed on a prophecy which states that you'll have healthy children in your future who will simply adore you. Honestly, Ronald, what more do you want from life?"

"I not ungrateful Luna, and please pass on my thanks to your god-mum and her friends, but why isn't there anything they can do to clear my name?"

"Sorry Ronald, but both Destiny and the three Fates agree, that the world view of the youngest Weasley as the sidekick clown of the Golden Trio of Hogwarts must remain for the most part unaltered. The old you - had his part to play in history and you have fulfilled that role very well," Luna said this and then she beheld Jon's shoulders slump in disappointment. "However, I can also tell you that although fate is finished with Ronald Weasley, the road to ultimate fame and glory for Jonathan Veselkin Wizard Chess Champion of the U. K. has yet to be reached."

"Really?" Jon said his head lifting and his eyes filled with hope.

"Yes - Jonathan," Luna said calling him by his new name for the first time - as if on switch had been turned off and another turned on. "The old Ronald is a part of you, and always will be, but he is also - most definitely - in your past. Veselkin is your future, Jon, and it will be that name that Hermione will joyfully share."

"I want to believe you Luna, you'll never know how much."

"Then don't fight Destiny," Luna said with a smile. "Read the clippings I gave you, Hermione is rapidly becoming isolated as the most publicly despised person in England. Someone had to be blamed for her failed marriage with Chosen One and as Harry is the great National Hero and therefore politically untouchable. The press and the media have decided amongst themselves that Doctor Granger would take the fall for the failure of the marriage."

"Honestly, Luna, how bad has been for her?"

"Several unsigned letters to the editor in the Daily Prophet has contained death threats!" Luna said once again serious. "Her lack of people skills has made her many enemies and very few if any friends within the Ministry. No longer a Potter, those envious of her power her backstabbing co-workers are undermining her accomplishments by claiming that Hermione plagiarized their research.

"That's an outright lie,"

"Well of course - it is! I'm an assistant-editor of a popular magazine and I know. Politics like public opinion changes with the wind. At the moment there is a full court press to get Hermione sacked, both from within the Ministry and without. The good reputation of the National Hero is vital to the well-being of the country; Hermione's reputation is being sacrificed to keep Harry's clean."

"What's the Great and Mighty Potter doing about all this?" Jon said becoming angry again.

"At first nothing, but then that was your fault as I understand it. You're the one who gave your little sister and her new husband a five day all expenses paid honeymoon." Luna said. "Once Harry and Ginny came back, his protests concerning his share of the blame for the most part went unreported.

"You know everything – don't you?"

Luna didn't even make a different facial expression before she answered him. "Like I told you, Jonathan…I see things."

"Yeah, sorry about that, I keep forgetting!" Jon said with a smile.

"Hermione needs you more than ever now, almost as much as you need her. You have felt empty inside for far too long and she has suffered that same incompleteness that you have. End the pain - fulfill your destiny Jon and fill the empty places in both your hearts."

"Easier said than done, Luna"

"Ruthlessly hounded by the press, Hermione has been forced into hiding for her own safety."

"Where, do you know?"

"Yes I do, but - I 'm not going to tell you. You love her, so seek her out - remember Destiny helps most - those that help themselves." Luna said as she rose from the table walked around it to hug her old friend. "Goodbye Ronald, you were a good friend to me at school and I will miss you. And with that sad farewell behind me, I can now happily say - Hello, Jonathan! We have only just met, but I can see a time when you and I will be even closer friends and great neighbors, and I mean very soon."

Luna wait, what's your married name now?

"It's Hemmingway, Jon; in this particular alternate universe I married - Spenser Robert Hemmingway.

Meanwhile back in England

'Galatea – The Wizarding version of Pygmalion'.

"Frankly Orla, I don't know how you talked me into this." Lavender declared with overstrained patience mixed with a healthy dose of frustration.

"Oh that was really easy, Colin told me that your advert in the Prophet proudly boasted that your; 'Brown & Patil, Beauty and Fashion Emporium Ltd.' Of Diagon Alley London, could and I quote: Turn the most hideous Hag alive into a beautiful fashion model."

"Yes, I know," replied Lavender clearly embarrassed. "However, even an ugliest Hag living can offer me something to work with! They were at one time normal girls and turned into Hags by a random vicious hex which only targets girls suffering from extreme vanity. At least they had, at some point, a clear idea of what it is like to be an attractive woman.

"Granger here, never cared about 'feminine wiles', because being as brilliant in Runes and Arithmancy as she was in everything else. She didn't really require looks to influence marks in a Professor's class. Not needing boys to stroke her ego either, she never needed any detailed knowledge of make-up or how to turn an ordinary Hogwarts girls uniform into something that looked even remotely sexy. You wore those hideous things yourself Orla, so you know how hard it was to get a boy to notice you while wearing them". Lavender said lecturing Orla with scorn and contempt in her voice.

"With the uniform disadvantage, it took Patil and me several years to work out that getting the blokes attention really boiled down to presentation and attitude. Thinking about ways to be attractive to boys was a full time chore for most Hogwarts girls fifth year and up, but such girly nonsense never entered Miss perfect-Prefect's head.

Lavender crossed her arms over her chest in a show of defiant refusal to help Orla.

"To be absolutely honest about it though, drat it all, the flat chested bint, Know-it-all, didn't need to waste any time to figure out her femininity - not really. Right from the off…and without any visible effort on her part, Granger had the two best looking boys in our year wrapped around her baby finger." Lavender said in a soft growl of resentment.

"You don't still blame her for what happened between you and Weasley, do you?" Orla asked, for by now she was a bit exasperated with Lavender's attitude. "Colin told me that you were all over Weasley, like marmalade on a crumpet, when he was your boyfriend. 'Clingy' Colin called it, something Ronald obviously didn't desire in a woman, but luckily for you, that kind of obsessive possessiveness was exactly what Seamus Finnigan wanted. So it all worked for the best in the end."

Lavender refused to see Orla's logic, preferring instead to hold on to a seven year old grudge.

"Didn't end all that well for Weasley - now did it," Lavender snapped back suddenly all defensive. "She stole Ron back from me out of spite and then promptly dumped him within a fortnight. After that - I really felt sorry for the poor sod. He lusted after her all those years - - and for what? He never got anywhere with her. And if even half the rumors I've heard are true, the great Harry Potter didn't either. I've been told our National Hero can get into any bird's knickers in England - except for his wife's."

"This thick resentment I sense pouring off of you - is it over Potter or Weasley?" Orla asked in a semi-growl with her claws clearly out. "The only two boys, you didn't get to shag while at Hogwarts. The great Hero as we know married - Granger, and the other one got away from you without first being dumped by you first. Is that what this is all about? You never bunked up with either of them and it's tearing you apart. All these years later, and two missing notches on your bed-post is driving you mental and you still resent that fact don't you?" Orla asked, finally understanding Lavenders attitude at long last.

"In point of fact Quirke, I didn't bunk-up with everyone in Gryffindor, that's just a vicious rumor that's been spread by girls jealous of my good looks. But we aren't discussing my love-life and even you can't deny that Granger's lack of normal female urges was to Ginny's ultimate benefit in the end. And my carnal favors which that stupid clown Weasley turned down, my Seamus gets more than most married men do! Merlin knows - I've had five nippers in six years as proof." Lavender said in a more cheerful tone.

"The Irish are a fertile lot, aren't they?" Orla replied with chuckle.

"Can't keep his hands…and other things off of me," Lavender replied with pride and a knowing smirk. "But in all honestly - Orla, I'm a witch, not a bloody miracle worker. You've tied both of my hands behind my back here. Just take a moment and consider what you want me to do here. Look at her, for Merlin's sake! – She's in her mid twenties now; she was married to the best looking National Hero this country has ever produced, shared a bed with this adorably sexy man for over six bloody years and yet she ends up - childless. I'm sure it's not Harry's fault either, I've chatted with some of the birds that shagged him, and apparently he was a really good bloke to get a leg over with.

Lavender carried a knowing smirk on her face as she was in her element – gossiping.

"So if it isn't him it had to be her, right?"

Orla didn't even bother to respond to Lavender's salacious accusation. Not that it would have stopped Lavender's rant anyway, she kept on - straight away - gossiping about as if fully knowledgeable about the intimate details of Harry Potter's and Hermione's love life.

"- - We both know that she doesn't have a clue on how to be sexy, or what to do with a bloke if she got one. Yet you ask me to turn this asexual bookworm into a Love at-first-sight, drop-dead gorgeous… red hot seductress? Who are you trying to kid Orla - and besides, don't you feel more than just a little bit sorry, for the poor pillock your hooking this cold-hearted bint up with?

"Her – boyfriend is a really nice man and - -" Orla began

"- - And nice guys finish last or we girls use them for doormats," Lavender interrupted. "I understand all that. Besides…a boyfriend - when did this happen?

"She hasn't had her marriage to Harry Potter annulled for a solid week - and yet - all of a sudden…she's single again and chasing after some bloke that she actually claims she wants to do 'the nasty' with. And then - like icing on a cake, she has the gall to ask her replacement in Potters bed for help in pulling it off. This is so far out from normal behavior it's not funny. The Granger I remember wasn't sexy – couldn't be sexy to save her life, and I mean --" Lavender paused for effect before finishing with a definitive – "Ever."

"If you hate her so much why then did you accept my makeover challenge?" Orla asked more than a little bit miffed.

"Curiosity, more than anything else – I imagine," Lavender said with a shrug. "The mental image of Granger trying to look seductive was a sight I simply couldn't resist seeing with my own eyes. I knew that even with the best outfits from my shop, it would be impossible to transform a bookworm into a seductress. This truth prompts the obvious question - this new bloke she fancies, is he perhaps - starting to lose interest?" Lavender speculated to Orla who correctly interpreted the question as a less than subtle attempt to gain more gossip

"Jonathan Veselkin has the required interest, I assure you. Sometimes however, the flame of passion needs a little push to really heat up." Orla diplomatically stated to Lavender.

"Bloody Hell - Orla," Lavender replied honestly shocked. "Why would you be in favor of hooking up your poor burned up employer, with the most fridge bird in England? I thought you liked the man."

"Watch it Lavender, Jon is like a brother to me, and I all but worship the ground that man walks on. I have known for awhile now that he has always fancied Granger…from afar that is. Jon has read everything in print about her over the last few years and now that she's single again, I just thought I'd get them together and see if any sparks fly." Orla said bending the truth.

"I had heard you were a big fan of pulling pranks at Hogwarts, Quirke, but don't you think that doing this is a bit too much? He might enjoy the thrill of being in the presence of the formerly famous, for a bit, before going back home 'alone' to the comfort of a cold shower?

"But what does Granger get out of this? This lavish London townhouse that Granger lives in is beautiful and Veselkin's a nice bloke and all that. I've even chatted with him a few times at the monthly Shopkeeper's Guild meetings, and for a physical wreck he has a cutting wit and a razor sharp mind. But that's just the point – now isn't it? He's just a poor as dirt - wounded war veteran, a lowly shopkeeper – a social nobody. Of course at this point living in a huge and empty townhouse, I imagine any man's attention toward Granger would be welcomed."

Orla rolled her eyes at Lavender's suggestion, but she had to admit Lavender had a point.

"If you're not going to help here, you can just leave?" Orla demanded of Lavender in an effort to get past Lavender's need to gossip.

"Don't be hasty - I'm thinking it over - trying to grasp the big-picture here. Lavender replied waving Orla off. "Has Granger suddenly realized at long-last that she's most likely to end up living here a lonely old-maid for the rest of her life – is that the cause for this sudden desperation to act sexy?" Lavender said in a; 'revenge is sweet' kind of satisfied chuckle. "I'll give her top marks for effort, but how am I to do anything with her, especially when you three denied me my usual tools!

"You've told me I can't use plunging necklines, forbidden to use what little cleavage she ever had, and without that particular small amount flesh clearly on displayed…how is she suppose to inspire...your employer's – arousal?" Lavender said twisting the knife. "No skin-tight jumpers' employable for their first meeting, you said, nor extra short skirts. Sweet Merlin on a bike - Orla. Make-up and perfume will only take her so far!"

"What about her expensive new undies, won't they help?" Orla protested.

"She did surprise me with that, I must admit! Who knew she had such good taste in sheer lace knickers." Lavender said, for so odd reason strangely impressed. "But then again, what chance is there that your boss is ever going to see them – zero, nada –zilch.

"Even if Seamus, my constantly randy husband is actually right when he claims, 'be careful of the brainy birds, they're the really naughty ones'! What chance does any bloke have of getting any naughtiness out of Granger here," Lavender said laughing at the very thought!

"I can't wear this? Hermione declared, interrupting the conversation going off to the side of the lavish, if cheerfully decorated bedroom of Grimmauld Place, the new home of Dr. H. Granger where a depressed Hermione stood examining the latest in a long series of outfits in a full-size three-way mirror, "I look like a ruddy dried-up, frigid…Librarian."

"You're the one who agreed to my Mums terms for this meeting. She didn't want you to use your sex-appeal to win him over!" Ginny whispered to Hermione as she chuckled softly.

"Sex appeal in this outfit, - what sex appeal - I don't see it?" Hermione said her eyes filling with tears. "It's not funny Ginny Potter, not for me anyway. I'd wear an outfit like this to work in the Foreign Office, where 'dressing-for-success' is required as the only way to have those randy Ministry types take a girl seriously. But this outfit wouldn't help me to seduce a bloke who'd spent the last ten years in Azkaban

"You agreed--" Ginny stated to Hermione firmly with some small satisfaction of the stiff terms of her agreement with her Mum.

"Yes I did, I was desperate and your Mum took full advantage of it." Hermione stated as she gave up on finding a half-way reasonable dress that she could impress Ron with. "It's hopeless, I'll never get him to see me as a desirable woman again and then my clear shot will be over." Tears started to roll down Hermione's face as she cried out. "Then, those horrible prankster's newspaper advert will appear in the Daily Prophet, and I'll have hundreds of beautiful witches to compete with and--"

"- - Oh I wouldn't worry all that much about Fred and George's 'wife wanted advert'." Orla advised, interrupting Hermione's rant, with an evil smirk on her face. "I did after all, have final approval on the wording of it."

"Orla - what did you do?" Ginny begged to know before giving her shop-sister a predatorial smile.

"Changed the wording - ever so slightly," Orla said with a huge smile. "I put a hex on the parchment which will change the wording of the advert, but only after the Twins turn it over to the advert department of the Prophet for printing. The Ad originally read:

"Wife wanted: A single mid-twenty gentleman shopkeeper, injured in the war, owner of Black Knight Chess Shop, seeks a spouse of appropriate age and beauty. Apply in person at number 92 Diagon Alley, the morning following the publication of this advertisement takes place."

"

"This ad will transform on its way to the printing press into:

"Wives Wanted: A pair of mischievous shopkeepers and owners of the most famous joke shop in the Wizarding World. Have decided to settle down at long last and give their long suffering Mum the grandchildren she has always craved. Lovely ladies wishing to apply for the position of spouse must do so in person, at Number 93 Diagon Alley - the morning following the publication of this advertisement"

"Orla, that's bloody brilliant! Fred and Georges shop will be swamped with spouse hunting witches like sharks in a feeding frenzy. It'll take that pair forever to sort it all out!" Ginny said laughing hard."

"You're buying me extra time…why?" Hermione asked wiping away tears. She was as clearly confused at Orla and Ginny's generosity in their offers to help her.

"I'm a mixed blood Dr. Granger and my Muggle Mum, rest her soul, - was a great fan of the amateur theater productions and she took me too them as a child. In the musical 'My Fair Lady" Henry Higgins needed more than five months to pass off Eliza Doolittle as a Duchess at the embassy ball and you'll need more than one meeting with my employer to restart the flames of passion." Orla said softly. "So, baring the personal intervention of the Greek goddess of love - Aphrodite herself, or several arrow shots from Aonghus' the Celtic version of Cupid, I decided - strictly on my own, mind you - to stretch-out your one and only clear-shot to beyond just the few hours that Mrs. Weasley envisioned.

"Ginny, what does your Mum have to do with any of this?" Lavender asked in a suddenly suspicious tone. "Why does Molly Weasley get to put dating restrictions on Granger here?"

Neither Ginny, nor Orla, responded to Lavender's question right away. That was until Lavender looked over toward Orla with a look of growing mistrust - as if to say - if they really wanted her help with Hermione's wardrobe, they'd better find an answer for her right away. So, Orla reluctantly spoke up.

"Jonathan, my adorably kind hearted boss is a ruddy babe in the woods when it comes to romance," Orla began thinking fast on her feet, "but there are times I just want to smack him a good one on the side of the head, because he is so thick when it comes to the ladies.

"I was chatting-up my boyfriend Colin a few days ago, about how much Mr. Veselkin fancied Doctor Granger here - and he suggested getting a hold of Ginny - an old classmate of his from school, you know - for advice on how to bring Jon and Hermione together. She in turn mentioned to her Mum that Colin and I were afraid that due to his war injuries my boss might be a bit of a push over for any know-it-all bird that are desperate to not end up living alone with their pet Kneazle. To help us out, Mrs. Weasley came up with strict rules for their first contact."

"Oh I understand now, nice of your Mum to do this for a total stranger." Lavender admitted with a smile toward Ginny.

"Yes it is, but we're not total strangers, Colin and I have been friends for years, and when he introduced me to his girlfriend, we became great friends - right from the off. I kind of treat Orla as my sister these days," Ginny said smiling fondly at Orla, who smiled right back, blushing slightly.

"Jon will make a right proper husband and father someday - of that…I'm absolutely sure." Orla proclaimed. "However, I refuse to allow him to be swept off his feet by the first Scarlet Woman that he comes across."

Orla said seeing Hermione cringe at the title. "So, even if Dr. Granger here can come off looking hot-to-trot, and randy-as-hell - literally arching-for-it! Getting my ol' gaffer - Jonathan - to a binding ceremony, of his own free will, is going to be a task of Herculean proportions."

"Hermione, hot-to-trot? Now there's a laugh!" Lavender said chuckling excessively loud, while Hermione with hands on hips - glared at her with clear displeasure. Orla – you I can see pulling it off, oh-yes…most certainly! Ginny as well, if she dropped a few pounds - -"

Now it was a pregnant Ginny's turn to stop and glare, and if looks could kill – Lavender's next stop would have been the Ministry Morgue.

"-- but you, Granger - no bloody way!" Lavender said - laughing even harder now. "I'm sorry to publicly admit a fashion failure – but I've clearly been unsuccessful here. Miss perfect-Prefect Granger is destined to be the first witch in living memory of the Brown-Patil Beauty Emporium that we have been unable to make appear even remotely - sexy." Lavender smugly admitted, as if rather proud of her defeat.

"Don't believe I can pull it off - do you - Mrs. Finnigan?" Hermione hotly demanded to know. Her anger was growing fast, almost as if invisible claws were coming out – as if in preparation for a long-overdue cat fight.

"Not in you wildest dreams Granger," Lavender said with obvious scorn as she pulled out her wand and charmed all the outfits she had brought for Hermione to try-on, back into a shrinkable trunk. "Look, - I not saying that you couldn't 'chat-him-up' a bit. After all, nice blokes like ol' Spooky, are just the type to listen to the never ending ramblings of the kind of bird, which would rather chat for hours about some Arithmancy nonsense, instead of expressing real romantic feelings in words."

An accusation to which made Hermione and the other girls all cringe …for it was, after all – a bulls- eye, shot on target. "Hells-bells Granger, I'll even bet you five golden Galleons that within a fortnight - Orla here will be looking for a new, warm-blooded, and definitely more 'romantically demonstrative' lady-friend for her employer than you'll ever hope to be!" Lavender defiantly admonished a seething angry Hermione.

"I'll take that bet - Finnigan," Hermione replied without missing a beat. "But let's make it say…an even twenty Galleons instead, that's a real wager. Stuffed the gold in a small silk bag, and you can give it to me at my wedding, - when I become Mrs. Veselkin"

For some reason that Orla couldn't even imagine, Hermione looked grimly determined to beat Lavender.

"You're barking mad Granger, completely mental. However, I accept your wager, for if that day ever comes, I'll double the lolly in the silk pouch as my wedding gift to you both."

Another flick of her wand and the trunk closed and floated up next to her as with a near hysterical laugh, Lavender Finnigan swung about and strutted over to the door of the master bedroom. She took hold of the handle of her trunk as an elaborately dressed house-elf appeared and instantly took hold of the hem of Mrs. Finnegan's robes. Then without another word, the house-elf duel-apparated the woman and her trunk - out of Grimmauld Place in the exact same manner in which she had arrived.

Lavender Finnigan had barely disappeared and the massive doors to the extra plush bedroom had barely closed when suddenly the sound of knocking was heard.

"Enter" Hermione said without turning her head as she tried to calm down. The door opened and a very ancient looking house elf, dressed in a large doll sized version of a mans dress tuxedo - jacket and tails, complete with ruffled shirt and a bow tie - around his waist was seen a matching colored dish-towel style loincloth. Entering the room with immensely exaggerated dignity, the tiny elf carried a silver platter, upon which rested a single parchment envelope.

"What is it Sobey?"

"Mistress Grangy, Lady Finnigan has been returned to her shop, with her memory modified so that your location here will remain secret - as you ordered. Secondly, there is a free house elf…" Sobey declared with obvious disgust. "…in the employ of your ex-husband, who brought this message for the Lady Potter and is waiting down in the entry hall for a reply"

"Harry sent me a message?" Ginny said taking the envelope off the tray and looking at the front. Reading it she smiled before turning the envelope over to a surprised Hermione. Orla, looking over Granger's shoulder read the words on the front of the envelope in hand writing that she easily identified, the address on the envelope read:

To: Lady Ginevra M. Potter

Godric's Hollow,

Scotland. U.K.

Please forward this letter as soon as possible to your predecessor

With thanks

J. V.

Hermione eyes went wide when she read how the envelope was addressed and she wasted no time in tearing it open. She stood there gob-smacked and read the letter – paused - and then read it again more slowly…then her eyes rolled to the back of her head…her body began to tremble and shake and then without warning, she fainted dead away, dropping to the thick carpet like an collapsing 'imploded' Muggle building.

Orla rushed to Hermione's side concerned for her welfare, Ginny however, being a Weasley through and through - went straight away after the cause of the collapse rather than the affect. Swooping down on the dropped letter, she picked it up, and began to read aloud for her equally curious shop-sister to hear.

To: Hermione Jane Granger,

Doctor of Ancient Runes,

Chief negotiator for the Ministry of Magic's Foreign Office

London, U. K.

From: Jonathan Veselkin

Shopkeeper and owner of; Black Knight Chess ltd.

Diagon Alley, London U. K.

Forgive me, but I am at a loss as where and how to begin this letter. Normally, when a lowly shopkeeper of Diagon Alley such as myself, writes a letter to a high Ministry official of such importance as you - requesting a brief meeting, it is customary for the shopkeeper to give a brief description of himself, providing such things as his name, where he lives and what he does for a living, as well as the reason for requesting a small portion of the Ministers valuable time. However, and I think you'll agree with me that in this particular case, providing such trivial background information would be redundant.

My personnel memories of you are somewhat fragmented as you no doubt know by now, but your reputation as a researcher, is far too well established in the mind set of the wizarding population for me too believe that when it comes to the back-story of the Chess-Player, Jonathan Veselkin. No stone has been left unturned, no record unexamined, until everything there is possible to learn about my life, from its start up to now - is at your fingertips.

It is not difficult for me to imagine, that you have already visited my tiny shop, examined my tax records, interviewed my neighbors within the Shopkeepers Guild and interrogated my shop-sister, Orla Quirke. With the more than willing assistance of your former-husband as well as all the assets of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at your disposal, there is little reason to doubt that the two of you know full well the exact extent of my financial holdings, the contents - down to the last Knut, - of my Gringotts vault.

If by some wild circumstance the wards I paid so much for have somehow managed to keep you and Harry out of the interior my cottage near Hogsmeade. I am reasonably sure that by this point you have in your possession the architectural blueprints of the floor plan… somewhere nearby.

"Not a bad bit of deductive reasoning big brother," Ginny commented proudly out loud. "Seven years out of touch and you still have our Miss 'have to know it all' pretty well pegged."

Hermione made a frowning face toward Ginny as she confessed, "He's wrong you know. I wasn't able to get past his wards and the architectural blueprints I sent for have yet to be delivered to me."

Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione's point-by-point argument against Ron's theories.

"What else does it say Ginny?" Orla asked still trying to stir a barely conscious Hermione.

"Oh Yeah, sorry!" Ginny said turning her attention back to the letter.

"Your habit of collecting 'all' references material covering a class assignment, has undoubtedly lead you - in your investigation of Jon Veselkin - to my St. Mungo medical records. I do not know whether they contain a photographic depiction of my injuries, I do seem to recall a matron mentioning pictures at one time, but I'm not one hundred percent sure.

Anyroad, even without the pictures I am sure that the highly technical medical jargon has not prevented you from getting a rather graphic - if somewhat gory - mental image of my current physical appearance. This alone would have made any other witch, extremely reluctant to have further contact with me." Ginny read.

"I'm going to have to get use to calling him Jon now," Hermione mused to herself as she listened.

"However, I also recall that you had a rather - a peculiar personality trait, which I'll politely describe as - 'determined.' - Once you had your mind made up, come what may, you'll see any class project through to the bitter end.

Harry verbally passed on your message requesting a face to face with me and I fully accept the eventuality of it happening. You were and probably still are, relentless in the pursuit of a goal. Knowing, that I shall not be able to avoid you for long, nor being foolish enough to try to fight fate, I have accepted the destiny of us coming together for a chat.

Ginny stopped reading again to glance over at a very smug looking Hermione who was smiling at herself for being annoyingly determined when it came to wear down any resistance. Being that it was her brother's stubborn pride that had to be overcome in this case, Ginny had to admit it was by no small feat that Hermione had somehow prevailed in arranging a meeting.

In fact I had an unusual visitor today, someone who saw through my best disguise and called me by a name that I refuse to answer to anymore, not to you or anyone else, a name that is dead and will remain dead for all time. You must accept this new identification for me or I will not meet with you. I am Jonathan now, or Jon to close friends and Family and I will respond to no other name.

My visitor this morning informed me to events back home, and how the press has treated you. She also gave me some amazing insight into how my future will turn out. So, before we meet, I suggest in the strongest terms, that you have a very along talk with the former Luna Lovegood.

A really confused Orla interjected – "Loony Lovegood, what does she have to do with this?"

Her insight into future happenings as they concern the two of us, I warn you will be very unsettling. However, after thinking it over carefully - over the last few hours - her view of the future is one I have come to fully embrace. I know that in the past I was the first to take what she told me with a large gain of salt and an even larger dose of healthy skepticism, recent events however, have compelled me to take her stereotypical bizarre ramblings far more seriously.

So I really must insist that you speak with Luna, for I do not want us to meet with me in procession of information that you do not have. To see you on anything less than a level playing pitch is unacceptable. What she told me- she should tell you, it's only fair.

As for the meeting itself, I will be finished here in Roma, - one way or the other, - by tomorrow evening. I'll then rest for a solid day after that, - my health being somewhat frail these days, as you probably know already from reading my medical records. After I've recovered a bit, I'll then head out by Portkey the day following. With a bit of luck I should be in England in two days time. I'll take another day to unpack - recover from the trip and catch up on things and after a good nights rest I should be well enough to see you the day following or three days from now.

My conditions for this chat are simple, broad daylight, Kensington Park, near the statue of Peter Pan. Come alone and no tricks - mind you! No Harry, no Aurors, no members of the press, and if I see any red haired twins lurking about, the meeting is off.

You will find me sitting on the park bench facing the front of the 'Pan' statue starting at eleven in the morning; I will be in disguise of a conservatively dressed Muggle shopkeeper on his lunch-break. I'll be wearing a brown haired wig and blue contact lenses. I will wait for you to come for one hour only. If you haven't shown by noon, I will conclude that you have had a change of heart after reading my medical file and have decided that the Ron you knew is really dead and gone. And he is, believe me!

Jon

P.S.: Luna showed me the various press clipping concerning the brutal treatment you have received at the hands of the wizarding media, and I fully understand your desire to get away from them until the mob finds a new victim to concentrate on. Your former husband as you may recall was also vilified by the Daily Prophet many years ago and he may be able to consul you as to how to deal with bad press.

I can't help but feel ashamed of the British people mob mentality, and for the fickle nature of being a public figure, popular one minute crucified the next. I can only wish that some ridiculous news event will soon appear that will draw the public's attention away form you, so that you and I can both get on with our lives.

Hermione with the help of Orla got up off the floor and staggered over to a writing desk where she took quill and parchment to make a brief reply. Knowing there were no secrets to be had in this she showed her reply to her two more than willing co-conspirators, the reply read as follows.

My dearest Jonathan

MY-my you have gotten wordy over the years; haven't you? One would think you are a whole new man.

Okay lets have at it – right from the off. I cannot being to apologize for forcing you to take a new name, due to a book that I'm fully ashamed to admit that I wrote. However, I will respect your wishes and hopefully you will allow me to someday call you Jon as your shop and blood sisters do.

Still, I must say that In spite of what I have done I have always viewed the Weasley surname as the best pure-blood family in all of England. In spite of what you or others might believe, I have nothing but the up most respect for your parents and your family.

I will also refrain from commenting on your logical conclusions, concerning my investigative skills; beyond saying that you were wrong about me getting past the wards surrounding Chess Master's Cottage.

You may feel that my research has put you at a disadvantage, that your knowledge of me is hopelessly outdated. However let me point out the fact that neither of us are the people we were as teenagers. We are adults now – people who can hopefully put my huge teenage mistake behind us.

My own research up to now has shown me a warm, kindhearted shopkeeper and chess champion that I desperately want to know better. I've only scratched the surface of what I wish to learn about you - as who you are, here and now. I pray that you feel the same way about getting to know the 'me' that I have become.

I will only admit to one thing. Yes - I did read your medical file, and yes there were pictures. I know what you looked like during your entire recovery and Orla with the help of a pensive has showed me the memory of her brief glimpse of how you looked without you disguise a few months ago. She insisted on doing this for me saying that you would have wanted me to know everything about the physicality of your injuries - before we met!

I seen it all Jonathan, and I can't lie to you and claim to be un-phased by it. Your scaring - although very bad - doesn't cover everything and the plastic surgeons of Muggle medicine have preformed a miracle in restoring your face. The lack of body hair isn't a problem for me and your frail heath is something we can cope with - together.

I am confessing to having read your medical file so that you know that there will be no physical surprises for me when we meet. I've seen it all and as far as I am concerned your medical condition, will not be a barrier for any relationship that you may be contemplating for us, and I most definitely - do want a romantic relationship with you.

I know that Harry tried to tell you that I am still very much in love with you. I know you have excellent -chess player style logical reasons to back up your belief that I don't. Please keep an open mind on my feeling for you until I can verbally express them when we meet and nothing I have seen in my inquires has changed my feelings toward you one knut.

Finally, I will as you request have a long in depth chat with Luna, it's important to you so I'll do it without fail.

I will be there at eleven, rain or shine

Counting the moments until I see you again

Yours and only yours

Hermione

"Oh sweet Merlin, Hermione, you're not pulling any punches are you?" Ginny said as she took her friends written reply into her own hands to examine more closely.

"I can't afford to waste time on subtleties," was the reply. "He is coming home after the European tournament instead of going straight on to Tokyo Japan for worlds. Luna must have said something profound to him to change his normal procedure so dramatically".

"Yes - - I sense that too" Orla said.

"Give this to Dobby please," Hermione said to her elf butler as she handed over the envelope she had hastily addressed. "And Sobey - in future I expect you to show more respect for free house-elf visitors to my home."

"Yes Mistress"

"I've got just one shot, one battle of the sexes to determine my future happiness." Hermione said in a fiercely determined tone. "I can't afford do anything else but to attack with everything I have. For this witch has no intention to lose Jon's heart - the second time around!

---------------------------------------------

To be continued (one last chapter)

Comments are welcome, hexes are not.

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Authors post chapter notes:

ONE, Right from the off, the discount coupon goes to Arkie Philpott of Hogsmeade Scotland who can expect a real live Dragon to perch on his roof and deliver a full load of extra fresh Dragon fertilizer directly from the production facility onto his yard.

Arkie correctly identified the brilliant work of 'Eric B.' – who uses the pen name- Spenser Hemmingway to hide from those with tar and feathers at the SIYE site only. His stories, which cover those things somehow overlooked… (Left out – deleted for continuity - cutting room floor stuff) of Harry Potter's official autobiography as written by that English female Muggle whose name for some odd reason escapes me at the moment.

This tongue-firmly-in-cheek outsiders view of the Wizarding world can be found as I said, at Sink-Into-Your-Eyes (hey - I'm not your mum, look it up on the internet) read them in order for they are a hoot. (That means they're funny)

The storyteller who tells the tales of Luna's power-tool 'disadvantaged' American spouse gave me full permission to tell Luna's part of this tale - in this alternate reality.

I believe that I got this permission in the futile hope that his critics will treat me like they did 'The Water Buffalo and I' - Spenser's first novel (found in good garage sales everywhere). To Eric B. - I reply, - Oi, who says I have any readers, - - followed by a very mature sounding raspberry. Mischief managed

TWO, I also made reference to 'BUCKNC' great tale DragonHeart. Find it at Fanfiction dot net - read it…that's an order!

Just a few days to DH, may Merlin help us all.

Nuffsaid………..