Title: Time Changes Everything

Rating: M
Warnings: Non-explicit slash, non-HBP compliant
Disclaimer: JK Rowling Owns Harry Potter and its original characters. I came up with this plot, but if anyone can do it better- please go ahead, I'd love to read it!

A/N: This chapter is longer than the others and I enjoyed writing it. I am especially proud of Potter's t-shirt and I hope you find it as amusing as I did! Once again, Thanks for the reviews. Keep them coming, You all rock!

Chapter 6: Reactions

Potter didn't end up going back to bed that day. He was dragged down the steps by Harry who promised to fill him in on Ron and Hermione's life if he promised to go to the party in the afternoon.

Over breakfast, Harry told Potter and Malfoy that Ron and Hermione got married shortly before Harry and Draco's wedding. Much to Ron's chagrin, they had four daughters ages 9, 6, 4, and 1.

"I get tired of being the only girl in my house so I love spending time with the Weasley's," Lila told the boys. "Aunt Hermione does all these pretty things with my hair and I play dolls with the girls."

"Lila, don't you like the way Daddy and I make your hair?" asked Draco.

"First of all, please call me Dora today, Poppa. And no, you do a great job with my hair, but Aunt Hermione knows how to braid it with ribbons through it and she also knows how to make twists and stuff," she explained not wanting to hurt her father's feelings.

Potter pulled Harry aside and quietly asked him, "Does it bother Lila that she doesn't have a mum?"

"Honestly, it has never come up. This is the first time she has ever said anything like this. I know she wouldn't mind having a sister and that is why she likes to play with the Weasley girls, but I don't think she is lacking in the parent department, especially not this month," Harry told his younger counterpart while Malfoy listened in.

The three looked up when they heard Jamie taunting his sister, "Li, I heard that you might not be going to Emily's birthday party this afternoon. You just had to keep eavesdropping on Poppa and Dad's conversations, didn't you?"

"Well, if I don't go, Lucky isn't going either," Lila said looking pointedly at her younger brother, "and besides who will baby sit for us while everyone else is there?" she asked her fathers.

Draco and Harry huddled together whispering.

"We decided that you two will be able to attend the party this afternoon, but the decision still stands that Poppa and I will talk to both of you after breakfast and decide on an appropriate punishment for disobeying us," Draco looked at Lila, and to Lucky he said, "and for tattling on your sister."

Both children looked relieved and subsequently nervous.

After breakfast, Potter and Malfoy went upstairs to get dressed while Harry and Draco had their discussion with Lila and Lucky.

"Wizard or muggle?" Malfoy asked Potter as he stood in front of his clothes closet.

"Um, definitely muggle, everyone else is dressed already and they are wearing muggle clothes," replied Potter who was secretly starting to appreciate how Malfoy looked in muggle clothing; especially jeans.

Malfoy settled on a pair of boot cut jeans, a black t-shirt that he transfigured to say, 'My husband killed the Dark Lord and all I got was this stupid t-shirt', and a pair of trainers.

When Potter saw the t-shirt he tried to conceal his amusement and asked, "is that really necessary, Malfoy?"

"Oh yes, if I have to spend the afternoon with the 'Gryffindor Golden Trio', or I guess the 'Golden Sextet', the least I could do is freak Granger and the Weasel out with our future relationship," he explained.

Potter decided that two could play that game and transfigured his own green t-shirt to read, 'Save a Broom: Ride a Dragon.'

When Malfoy saw Potter's t-shirt, he burst out laughing. The two were crying with hysterical laughter by the time Jamie came up to gloat at the punishments his brother and sister had received.

Harry and Draco were quite amused at the transfigured t-shirts. They took them to mean that Potter and Malfoy were getting more comfortable with each other and their future relationship.

Potter was thinking more about Malfoy since his discussion with Harry. He found himself peering at the blonde out of the corner of his eye during lunch. He blushed when Malfoy passed him the water pitcher and his fingers brushed against the Slytherin's hand.

Malfoy also considered everything Draco told him about Potter. He secretly admitted to himself that it was hard to keep thinking of Potter as a big headed prat knowing that the Gryffindor didn't like being considered the savior of the wizarding world.

He and Potter still goaded each other with insults but they were less mean spirited than in the past and the two boys found their arguments more invigorating than aggravating.

When it was time to floo to the party, Potter felt like he had swallowed a large hippogriff and tried to get out of going.

"Really, I am not feeling well. Maybe I should just stay home," he told Draco and Harry.

After Draco, Malfoy and the three children flooed to the Weasley's, Harry pulled Potter towards the fireplace and said, "Sorry, mate. You have no choice. If it makes you feel any better, Ron and Hermione are our closest friends. They are ok with Draco's and my relationship."

"Now they are," complained Potter, "but you are forgetting that the teenage Ron is quite unforgiving."

"It will be fine. Let's go," and Harry took some floo powder from the decorative urn next to the fireplace, threw it in and called out, "To Ron and Hermione's!"

Potter did the same and found himself looking into a nicely decorated yet very comfortable looking family room with a lot of blurry looking red heads in it.

He wiped the soot off his glasses and stood up to look around the room. Standing there were an adult Ron and Hermione who Potter had to admit looked fantastic. Ron really grew into his tall frame and Hermione was a stunning adult. Fred and George were there as well as Katie Bell and a woman Harry didn't recognize. He saw Fleur and Bill, and Ginny stood there looking positively radiant. Molly Weasley wore an apron and stood near the kitchen. There were a dozen or so little red headed children running around and the Potter- Malfoy kids joined in with them.

Finally, Potter saw the sixteen year old Ron and Hermione. Both looked confused and irritated.

"Tell me it's not true, mate," said Ron as he made his way over to Potter, "Say its not so. I haven't been able to sleep since Ron senior told me the news."

"Ronald, calm down, Ron and Hermione senior only told us yesterday so it isn't as if you have been loosing sleep for the last week," Hermione said knowingly. "But Harry, is it really true?" she asked with a tone of voice that showed that she hoped it wasn't.

"Of course it's true, look at their bloody t-shirts!" Ron said, his face turning ghastly white color.

Just then Malfoy made his way over to the trio and put his arm around Potter's shoulder. Potter blushed when Malfoy said, "It is true Weasel and Granger. Potter and I are together. We even have kids."

Potter admitted to himself that the deliberate contact between the blonde and himself sent chills up his spine. By the looks of things, Malfoy felt the same way as evident by the blush that slowly crept up his pale skin.

"Malfoy, don't rub it in their faces, "Potter told his future partner. "Think about how long it took us to come to terms with this."

"So you're ok with this, Harry?" Ron asked. "This is bloody Malfoy. And since when are you gay?" He asked in an offended voice.

"Ron, I swear to you, I had no idea I liked guys. I haven't been interested in anyone since the Cho thing. This," he pointed at the older Harry and Draco, "came as a shock to me as well."

"Ron, Hermione, Potter, Malfoy, come and meet everyone," Harry called to the group just in time.

"OK, if I am not mistaken, you guys are calling the older Ron and Hermione, 'Ron and Hermione senior', is that correct?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.

The two nodded and Harry explained how they were referring to themselves and Potter and Malfoy for the remainder of the month.

Harry and Draco introduced Ron and Hermione to their children and Ron and Hermione Senior introduced Potter and Malfoy to their children; Ari (which was short for Arielle; she was named after Arthur Weasely who died during the war), Emily; the birthday girl, Lindy who was four, and the one year old, Minnie (which was short for Minerva; obviously named in honor of Professor McGonagall who was Hermione's personal hero). The girls all had flaming red hair. Ari and Minnie had curly hair like Hermione's, but Emily and Lindy had straight hair which was actually pretty well managed.

Potter and Malfoy found out that George married Katie Bell and they subsequently had three children; twins named Artie and Wally and a daughter named Jana.

Fred introduced Potter and Malfoy to his wife, Stacie. They found out that Stacie was an American witch who Fred met when he was opening up a branch of the joke shop in New York. They had two sons; Arthur who ironically was quite serious, and Daniel. Stacie appeared to be pregnant with their third child.

Bill and Fleur had been married since the summer before Potter and Malfoy's seventh year at Hogwarts. They had four children; Laurent, Adrien (also named after Mr. Weasley), Cécile, and Nicole. The children had all inherited some of their mother's veela genes and Potter and Malfoy both felt breathless as each child was brought before them.

Ginny announced that she was happily single although she had been dating an irish wizard on and off for several years. She told Potter and Malfoy that she worked as an agent for up and coming wizard rock and roll groups and loved every minute of it. Potter was not surprised at this revelation as he always knew Ginny had a wild streak in her.

Mrs. Weasley told Potter and Malfoy that Charlie was in a long term relationship with a Wizard he met in Romania. Potter hadn't known that Charlie was gay but this came as good news to him because he always thought that Charlie was one of the most masculine wizards he knew.

When Potter asked about Percy, everyone grew silent and Mrs. Weasley looked down at her hands. Ron senior informed Potter that Percy committed suicide shortly after the war was over. He still had trouble coming to terms with the fact that the Minister of Magic who he had originally worked for could have prevented Voldemort's complete return and he felt he was partially to blame for his father's death. Potter was appropriately subdued after hearing that piece of information.

After the introductions were made, the children went to play outside.

"Hey Ferret, shall we?" Ron Senior asked Draco, pointing to the game of wizard's chess that was sitting on a nearby table.

"Sure Weasel, I believe I am one up on you in our little tournament." Draco said haughtily.

Potter, Malfoy, Ron and Hermione all looked shocked at the easy camaraderie the older Ron and Draco shared. Apparently Ron senior had come around to liking Draco shortly after Draco and Harry began dating when Ron realized that Draco was not only on the light side of the war, but was also a really good wizard's chess player. They both enjoyed the competition between evenly matched players. As their younger counterparts noticed, they still called one another by the pejoratives they gave each other in Hogwarts but the malice they once had when using the names was replaced with a joking affection.

Molly, Hermione, and Hermione senior went into the kitchen to get the cake ready and Malfoy sat and watched the chess game. Potter and Ron decided to go for a small walk.

"Ron, your kids are really cute," Potter said as they passed the children in the backyard.

"I know. It is hard to believe that Hermione and I made anything so precious, let alone four children who are so wonderful. You know? Well you must, since your kids are really cute as well," Ron responded. "Hey, Harry, did you or Malfoy have the kids?"

"Apparently we took turns. Malfoy had Jamie and Lucky and I gave birth to Lila. I wonder what pregnancy will be like," Potter mused. He then continued, "Hey, did you know I become a professional quiddich player? Apparently I play for the Cannons until I become pregnant with Lila."

"The Canons? That is wicked, Harry!" Ron said excitedly. "I will work for the ministry in the magical games department. Ron senior says my work is pretty fun."

"By the way, I am sorry to hear about your Dad," Potter stopped walking and said this in a sober voice.

"Thanks. It was quite a blow to hear about it when I came to the future," Ron explained.

"Yeah, the same thing happened with Malfoy's father," Potter told Ron, "At least they both died heroes, right?"

"I guess. It doesn't make it any easier though."

"I wouldn't think it would."

"I still find it hard to believe the Malfoys were on our side the whole time, you know?" Ron asked as the two made their way around the block.

Potter responded, "I know. But knowing it has made the knowledge that I will end up with Malfoy more tolerable."

"So Harry, do you see it?" Ron asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Potter mulled it over. He knew what he had to respond to Ron whether Ron wanted to hear it or not.

"I know he is a poncy git who has made our lives miserable until now, but over the past week, I have been able to separate that Malfoy with the Draco he will become. I can honestly say that the older Draco is fantastic," Potter said truthfully.

"But what about Malfoy?" asked Ron. "I mean you didn't even know you swung that way until you went into the future!"

"I know. Believe me, I know," said Potter with what he hoped was a tone of voice that let Ron know that he didn't want to continue this discussion.

Ron evidently got the hint because he started talking to Potter about the same Quiddich World Cup that Draco had told Malfoy about the other day at Hogwarts.

Luckily, Ron barely came up for air as he animatedly gave Potter the details of the game (according to his future self) because Potter was busy thinking about their previous discussion.

Could he see himself being with Malfoy? Well, if the tingly feeling he got in his chest when he thought of the blonde boy was any indication, he had to think that maybe he could. And that scared him more than anything else that he learned since he traveled to the future.