Disclaimer: I own the plot and characters and sceneries you don't recognize, J.K Rowling owns harry potter. ©
A/N I have been having writers block so I am hoping for reviews so that I can develop ideas and present them in the story for you. BTW it is no where near finished.
Chapter four
Third person
"Okay class, today we will be learning about the Fanged Geranium. This is most likely to come up in your OWL examinations and I feel you will find this subject particularly challenging. Any questions?" Professor Longbottom asked; being head of Gryffindor definitely gave him the advantage of students liking him.
"Yes sir, are there any things we should know first before we proceed with this?" Ruby asked, standing along side Scorpius and Alice; she was standing a little away from the snapping shrub sitting in the clay pot in front of them, staring at it sheepishly. Of all the plants this one was the one chosen to be studied…
The look on her face made both Alice and Scorpius burst into hysterics, which reminded them of where Albus could be. The last place he was seen was when he was laughing too hard at the Gryffindor table. He was already twenty minutes late and the fifth years were working in groups of four, so the threesome had to work with Savannah Goyle who happened to be a Slytherin and whose father was very close acquaintances with Mr. Malfoy. Scorpius practically loathed the unnatural blonde.
"Nice of you to finally show up Al, I was curious as to where you go off to," smiled Professor Longbottom with his all-knowing eyes boring into his. He chuckled: "Well today we are working on the Fanged Geranium and I was just about to explain the safety procedures that are required. You can be in a group with Miss McLaggen, Zambini and Miss Bullstrode."
"Oh fantastic Uncle Nev- I mean Professor Longbottom. So what are the safety instructions?" Albus prompted as he strode over to Sandra McLaggen.
"Ahh yes, well you must where safety goggles and at all times must not become distracted by the mating scent that it produces to mystify its prey. Breathe through your mouth. Now we will be the plants dentists, as a muggle would say. The plants have teeth like us and you must where your dragon-skin gloves because their saliva is a very strong acid. One person of the group will hold their jaws open, one will have their wand drawn at the ready in case the person holding the jaws looses control; the other two will help one another clean the teeth and examine for any decay or cavities. Okay off you go."
It was very apparent that Albus was annoyed he was unable to communicate with Scorpius. Scorpius was his best friend, and vice versa. Ever since their first grade, the night on the train, they had been conjoined at the hip. It was usually just Rose, Al and Scorpius, sometimes Emma that were seen together where ever possible. During the summer holidays Al and Rose invited Scorpius to their homes, they lived five minutes from each other in Godrics Hallow. Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Potter invited Mrs. Malfoy over for dinner along with her husband and at first it was awkward but now Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley have accepted their pasts and usually enjoyed a fire whisky together after work at the Leaky Cauldron.
While holding the Fanged Geranium's mouth wide, Albus lost track of time and soon Professor Longbottom was telling the class to pack up and to write a twelve inch essay on the properties of the plant. Albus waited for Scorpius at the beginning while he washed his hands and put his gloves away and then the questions poured out of Albus' mouth:
"Rose? Rose Weasley? My cousin Rose? Out of all the girls at this school? Seriously?"
This continued for several minutes as they walked towards the edge of the lake where Emma, Freddie, James and Sam sat waiting for them. They sat under a willow tree and the huge white marble tomb of the greatest head master Hogwarts has ever seen, reflected of the water opposite them. Scorpius couldn't help but smile as Albus asked these questions; these were questions he found he asked himself every time he caught himself admiring her.
"Are you going to answer?" Albus laughed when he caught Scorpius smiling. "I suppose I don't really mind but you could have at least told me first... I mean I am your best friend… right?"
"Of course you are! And no I won't be answering because I don't know the answer to those questions myself. Now shut-up because I don't want Fred to know," and so Albus did.
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Fred's POV
Would it be wrong if I punched him square in the jaw right now? He may possibly be the most irritating wizard I have ever met. James said Rose had dated guys before but nothing serious; she did it to 'pass the time' he quoted her words to me. I guess for her sake I should act like I don't suspect a thing…
"What's that smell? It's disgusting!" I complained. "It smells like James' late-night farts!"
"It's probably the acid that the Geranium squirted at me," Scorpius smiled. We were still sitting by the lake, watching the giant squid swim around lazily. Lily and Hugo had joined us and James and Hugo were enjoying a game of wizard's chest. A group of fairly attractive girls in Ravenclaw had caught my attention and I was too preoccupied in attempting to catch their attention in return that I didn't notice Rose and Ruby stroll up.
"Something caught your attention Fred?" Ruby sneered, as she approached her arm linked with Rose's. I took a double take at the girls who weren't wearing their school robes anymore: Rose wore Purple skinny leg jeans and a white tank top and Ruby was wearing Denim shorts and a bright yellow top.
"Yeah, as a matter of fact it has. But right now it has changed to the fact that you ladies are wearing muggle clothing that seems to make you look rather flattering, if I do say so myself," I said. I didn't let my eyes travel to Scorpius who I was sure must have been goggling at my nicely dressed cousin. "So care to tell me why you're so fancily dressed?"
"In muggle studies we are going to a muggle shopping mall to see what life is like without magic and we had to look the part. We decided to tell you guys before we left since we thought it would almost be definite that you wouldn't have checked the notice boards."
"And also we thought you may have panicked when we didn't show up for dinner; Professor McGonagall has agreed to let Ruby and I stay in Godrics Hallow for the night with mum and dad. Fred have you unpacked yet? You know I haven't even seen Beth yet. She is in Hufflepuff isn't she?" Rose inquired her hands moved to her hips and she reminded me oddly of Aunt Hermione years ago when she asked me if I had finished my homework from Muggle School.
"Yeah she's in Hufflepuff, I owled mum about her shyness but she just said it's because she doesn't know much about the family and is finding settling down difficult. She said let her settle and edge our family on gently," I sighed, turning back to face the lake.
"Merlin, Fred I forgot you had a sister! Hufflepuff? That would explain her shyness I suppose… Rose if you see my mum and dad tell them I love them," James said. "Be good and always keep your wand with you."
"James we are going to the heart of London for crying out loud, it's not as if someone would try and attack us there," Ruby said, her arm was still linked with Rose's and her eyes were out of focus staring towards the Horizon.
"C'mon we have to go Ruby. I'll owl all of you once we have left the mall. Love you all," and with that I watched my fifteen year old cousin and her best friend turn and stroll back towards the castle giggling and stumbling.
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Third person
Ron's smile couldn't be erased from his freckled face as he was overwhelmed by all the good news he was receiving. George and Charlie came back from Romania, his baby girl was coming home for a night with Ruby and above all of the things he didn't expect to happen, Hermione was expecting a child. Only Ron and Hermione knew and it was approaching twelve weeks soon. Tonight their quaint cottage, that was only five minutes walk from their Best friend for thirty plus years, would house all their siblings, parents, in laws, daughter and friends. Their guests believe the occasion to be for Rose and her unexpected visit, but tonight he and his wife have decided to share with them the news.
"Ron, come quick!" Hermione called; Ron raced from the couch towards her. His arms fluttered around her in a hectic but somehow comforting way.
"Are you okay? Is something wrong?" but her face didn't house the worried look he hadn't seen for many, many years, but the smile it housed nearly every single day.
"It's moving; quick, put your hand here," she took his left hand that was huge in size compared to hers, and she placed it on the small bump that was theirs. Ron turned so that she was standing in front of him but with her back towards his stomach and let his right hand join his left upon her abdomen. His chin rested on her brown hair and they just stood there for a moment or two in their yellow and blue kitchen, hugging from behind.
"I love you 'Mione, and always will," whispered the balding ginger haired man.
"I love you Ronald Bilius Weasley, and will continue to for the rest of our eternity."
Smiling at her use of his middle name they stood like that for several minutes, they would have continued to stand like this if they weren't interrupted by the sound of the bell that informs a wizarding home when someone has apparated near and that someone will be arriving in a few minutes.
Hermione sighed and moved towards the oven and examined the cakes that were baking and her husband sat down at the table. Shortly after there was a knock on the door and Ron left the table and walked out the room, through the hall and answered the door.
"Daddy!" Rose plunged her arms around her fathers waste and giggled. Hugging her back, Mr. Weasley chuckled the chuckle his father had always chuckled at him, and then they stepped apart and smiled.
Her hair had grown longer and more attractive over the past three or four weeks and her cheeks were a little bit flushed. Ruby was standing beside her smiling, her hair too had grown. On the ground were two rucksacks and Ron was a little confused as to why they were dressed up in muggle clothing but didn't question them. They weren't leaving for the mall until tomorrow.
"How are my favorite Gryffindors?" questioned Ron, who had pulled out his wand and silently summoned the mail.
"Good, Professor McGonagall apparated us. Now can we go inside? I'm starving," Rose complained, picking up her rucksack she pulled Ruby inside by the hand and walked towards the stair case.
"Okay well I put a mattress down in your room Rosie and I made the bed. Your mum is baking you a butter beer sponge cake," Ron called as he walked back to the sitting room that was joined to the kitchen.
The Weasley's cottage was a four bedroom two bathroom building that looked very small from the outside but was quite roomy within. The interior designs were very pretty, so pretty that you couldn't put it into words. The walls were all painted soft, warm tones and white shutters subtlety lined the windows. Collections of wood furniture's were throughout the house and the mantle was lined with wood framed photos of their family and friends. One photo was of Ron, Hermione, Rose and Hugo in the snow, all smiling and waving out the portrait.
Rose Weasley lead Ruby to her bedroom and plonked herself on her bed, her red hair contrasted with the blue and green floral print of the quilt.
"Merlin, I'm exhausted," Rose sighed. She rolled onto her stomach and faced Ruby who was sitting on the mattress cross-legged admiring the posters on her walls. Some were of Alex Pettyfer, a muggle actor, and there were some of famous quidditch players and one was of the Weird Sisters. "Wanna go see my mom?"
"Sure, maybe she can give us some advice for our OWLs," Ruby pondered. She could just picture all her books waiting for her in her dorm. Going to a muggle mall would put them back a day, Rose had most definitely finished all her essays so she wouldn't need to face a pile waiting for her when she got back.
Making their way back towards the kitchen in their bright colors of yellow and purple they passed MR. Weasley's room. The door stood slightly ajar and from inside the girls could faintly make out the sounds of Gorgeous Gnomes, a band that only played love songs, coming from within.
"Is your dad always so… well like that?" Ruby giggled and so did Rose, who had put her hair up into a loose high bun as they walked, she had elegant strands of red hair playing around her face.
"Yeah, but that's why everyone loves him," Rose continued to walk down the hallway to the stairs descending them with Ruby.
"Do you think your mum and dad have invited anyone over? It'd be nice to see Teddy and the Potters again," said ruby, they were walking down the hall to the sitting room now. Hermione's cakes were sitting on the coriander bench tops and she was curled up in the arm chair reading Wuthering Heights- a muggle book.
Hearing the girls enter, Hermione looked up from her novel; it took her a while to leave that time of life, where life was very different to now. Standing up from her seat, her face light up at the sight of her brown-eyed daughter. Hermione outstretched her arms and Rose easily entered them and kissed her mother's cheek.
"Hi mom! How are you?" she questioned pulling Ruby onto the seat beside her.
"Oh, I'm good. A little tired. How are you two ladies?" she beamed, returning to her armchair and placing her book in her lap.
"I'm good, a little worried I might fall beh-"
Ruby was cut short by a flash of silver that flew through the open window and continued up the stairs. The girls held their breaths as they tried to listen to the stag that held Harry Potter's voice. They heard words like 'quick' and 'urgent'. Once the message was complete Ron apparated to the sitting room.
Immediately Hermione knew something terrible had happened; she jumped up and stood looking up into Ron's eyes.
"Some people are attacking Diagon Alley. Ginny and Harry have gone with the rest of my department to help stop it. The girls need to go to your parents. You need to get to work. I'll turn the lights off," he turned and faced the girls. "You need to Floo to Nana Granger and Grandpa quick. Grab your rucksacks. I love you Rose. Hurry!"
The girls raced to Rosie's room and hurried back downstairs with heir rucksacks and faced the Weasley's fire place. They linked arms and ruby took a handful of the white powder sitting on the mantle. Rose turned, smiled at her mom and dad and stepped into the green flames.
A tear ran down Mrs. Weasley's face. She hugged her husband and turned on the spot into space and time and with a loud pop she was in the crowded muggle street outside a rundown old shop. Hurrying past the muggle decoys she entered the unusually hectic waiting room of St. Mungos.
Roughly twenty people covered with burns to their bodies, were lying on seats around the room. A lady was yelling at Miss Tamalar about something to do with the blast.
An old man staggered up to Hermione as she stood in a daze turning in circles. All these peoples were contort with fear and pain, looks that hadn't crossed the peaceful minds of the wizarding world for more than two decade
"Help… me," the man choked out, falling onto Hermione. Pulling the witch back into reality she drew her wand.
"Accio Dittany Essence!" a small phial zoomed towards her and she put it into the wounds that covered his skull and arms. "This will sting. Share it around. I'll be back!"
She ran to the stairs, taking two at a time; she entered the long ward full of people who had had an unforgivable curse used upon them, she ran to the first bed and looked at the blonde witch lying on the bed. She gasped and Luna ran over to the bed, her breath leaving her mouth. The girls leaned on each other for support.
Lying on the bed was Eleanor Malfoy.
**
"Levicorpus!" cried Ginny Weasley as she chased after the black robed man. The male was hoisted into the air by his ankle and he swore several times. With a flick of her wand the stranger fell and landed on his head, knocking himself out.
There were flashes of light everywhere and it was hard to tell who was who. She was standing outside Flourish and Blotts and books were lying all over the floor. She turned away from the unconscious body lying on the floor and ran towards Gringots – the last place she saw her husband and brother.
"Protego!" she cried, aiming her wand between a cloaked man and some children who were crying for their mothers. The man faced her and growled. "Reducto!"
The man was blasted off his feet, to where Ginny did not see land because she continued to run towards the bank. Ahead of her she saw the back of a black-haired man who stood at 6"1 and a red-haired man who stood at 6"4. Black smoke appeared behind the two oblivious men who were dueling two people with bright purple hair.
"Harry, look out! Expelliarmus!" Ginny aimed her wand at the dark figure that was knocked back a few feet and his wand flew into the air and was caught by Bill who charged out of Gringots.
Managing to stun his opponent Harry turned and saw Bill and his wife throwing protective charms and Disillusionment charms at any innocent person they could see. He ran to his wife and grasped her had. He positioned himself so that they were back to back and they continued protecting people.
Ahead of the three outside Knockturn Alley, a trash-can-sized hand was lying on the floor, the rest of the body covered in rubble. Rubeus Hagrid was lying on the floor, half of Quality Quidditch Supplies shop lying around him. A pink umbrella was lying on the ground next to his hand. Duels were occurring all around him but the half-giant was lying as if frozen in place, unable to move.
For several hours Hagrid could not move and he watched as he was friends and foes falling to the ground. He watched his friends dueling for the lives of others and then send the injured people to St. Mungos where young Hermione and Luna Thomas-Lovegood would be overwhelmed by the scenes before them, surely.
"Harry there's someone here. Merlin, quick!" a voice proclaimed once all the dark cloaked people had been captured or disapparated. "There's someone here!"
"My dear Merlin," Ginny sobbed when she saw who was lying on the floor. Her hand covered her mouth and tears traced down her face.
"Hagrid! Christ, don't worry we'll get you out of this mess. Win-Wingardium Leviosa!" Harry Potter stuttered, lifting a boulder sized chunk of rubble off his friend's body, revealing his bruised and bleeding face. Ronald Weasley, Ginny Potter and Harry Potter continued to lift the mess off him.
Ginny kneeled down next to the bearded man's face who they loved. With her apron she hadn't removed after leaving the kitchen, she wiped his face clean and smiled a weak smile. "It's okay we have you now. Piertotum Locomotor. I'll take you to Mungos, Okay? 'Get you some medical attention." She faced Harry, winked at him, took Hagrid's thumb and turned on the spot thinking of St. Mungos. Taking a gulp of air the two say the devastation unfold before them. There were even more injured witches and wizards in the waiting room. Healers were running around everywhere, and unconscious bodies were lying on the floors and conscious people were trying to distract themselves by reading theQuibbler and the Daily Prophet. Ginny left Hagrid and raced to the Info desk where Miss Tamalar sat looking sick. "Ginny Potter, second in charge of the Auror department. I need some parchment and a quill ASAP. Hurry!" she demanded of Cynthia who responded for once, by doing as she was told. When she handed Ginny the stationary she scribbled on the parchment: Hermione, I have Hagrid with me and he needs medical help quickly. We're in the waiting room. Ginny x She folded the parchment in half long ways and again until a rough airplane lay before her. She touched the tip of the plane's nose; whispered 'Hermione Weasley' and it zoomed in the air and up the stairs. A/N: long but worth the weight? I know where I'm going to take the story now (; review it.