Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter 8

This Complicates Things

"Okay what was that?" Ron asked as Hermione sat down at her sit before she run outside.

"I just remember where I read the potion Ron." Hermione said excitedly as she began flipping the pages in hope of finding the right page.

"Really?" Ron and Ginny asked at the same time.

"Yes and don't talk now. I need to find the right page. I need to concentrate." Hermione said as she noticed both Ron and Ginny opened their mouths starting to ask her questions. "AHA! Here it is."

Not a second later, almost everyone in the room surround Hermione. She didn't pay them any mind as she read ingredients and procedure of the antidote of the de-aging potion used. Their constant mumblings, murmurs and shifting of one foot to another distracted her but not to the extent on having her snap at them all in leaving her alone to read in peace. She doesn't like to be surrounded when reading a book. They will know about this later after I read it Hermione thought but then, her thoughts began to wander to Harry and how everyone else is worried including her so she just let them be.

After about an eternity to everyone but Hermione though only four minutes passed in reality, Hermione close the book and put it in her lap and face them all. Expectant faces met her before she said simply, "It would take us about until more or less at the middle of summer to finish brewing the antidote for the potion."

She waited for their outburst. Glad that they are not shock when she heard Ron, Ginny, the Potter children, Professor McGonagall, and Teddy shouted "WHAT!" Her children on the other hand looked at them confusedly.

"Is there any other way Hermione?" Ginny asked in horror.

"I'm sorry Gin but there is no other alternative. It's either this or just let Harry be a child permanently and just wait for him to grow in the natural way." Hermione answered.

"Aunt Hermione, are you sure that there are no alternatives? I think I've read something about de-aging potions and if I remember correctly, there's an antidote for this that can be brewed not more than a week." Teddy said

"Yes you're right about that Teddy but the one that you are talking about is for a regular de-aging potion not the illegal one which James and Al did. The potion that they did is only use if you want a person to be de-aged permanently. We are just lucky that someone tried to make an antidote for it or else it would be up to us to create our own antidote. That is why it is in the restricted section and not in any parts of the library." Hermione explained.

"There are other kinds of de-aging potion that is not illegal and the ones that you have chosen is the one that will most likely end us up in this mess, James." Al whispered to James

"No need to rub it in, Al. I should have read the whole procedure before doing the potion. There happy." James whispered back.

Albus would have answered back if it wasn't seeing his mother looking at them that says you are in so much trouble already so just keep quiet look. Both Albus and James gulped and stayed quiet fearing what their mother would do if they'll continue.

"Then let's start now so we should be finish earlier." Ron said hopefully.

"I forgot to mention that the antidote can only be started by the beginning of sunrise in the winter solstice until the end of the sunset in the summer solstice. And in this case we only have one chance to avoid this becoming permanently." Hermione said

"Say what?" Ron asked

"Do you want me to repeat what I have just said Ron?" Hermione asked

"No. No that's not what I mean Hermione. What I mean to say is that why should it start at the beginning of sunrise in the winter solstice. What does that particular day have to do with this? Besides I've never heard of a potion being brewed in a specific day for it to work." Ron said

"Well because in the winter solstice, it is said to be the-" Hermione started explaining but was cut off by Ginny saying, "We all like to hear you explanations for that Hermione but as you can see it is now quarter to ten and it's past their bed time." Gesturing their children who are in the room.

"Yes you are right Ginny. I got carried away as you can see. I'm sorry." Hermione said to Ginny. She then looked at her children, Rose and Hugo who were yawning in their seats. "It would be best if we stay here for the night at Hogwarts. Your mum and dad still need to talk to your Aunt Ginny, Professor McGonagall and to Teddy. We will tell you everything that you need to know tomorrow."

"Okay mum but where will we sleep?" Rose asked

"Will James, Al and Lily sleep here too?" Hugo asked excitedly at the prospect of sleeping at Hogwarts as it will be his first.

Before Hermione could answer her children, Ginny said to them, "James, Al and Lily will sleep here-"

"YES!" Hugo and Lily shouted at the same time before Ginny could finish what she is saying.

"Professor McGonagall, can we sleep at the Gryffindor tower?" Rose asked

"Yes Rose. The password is Dimzy nimsy. You know the way I presume. Oh and one more thing, I don't like you all to wander, go straight to the Gryffindor tower." Professor McGonagall said with a smile.

The children in the room except James and Albus moved towards the door. "Come on."Rose said as she noticed both James and Albus looking at their mum.

Ginny saw James and Albus looked at her. She gave a soft sigh and went to them. "You can go with them James, Al. It's past your bedtime too. We will have our talk tomorrow. Goodnight."

"Goodnight mum." Both James and Albus said.

James run toward where his cousins and sibling are but Al remained and looked at his mum and asked quietly, "Mum can we tell Lily, Rose and Hugo about what happened to dad?"

"Yes you can tell them Al but promise me this; you cannot tell this to anyone except them and also tell them to keep this a secret too. Can you do that?" Ginny gently said as she placed a kiss at Albus forehead.

"I'm sorry mum." Albus said softly before he run towards the door where his siblings and cousins are.

Ginny smiled once she heard the door shut. Al, her sweet son; just like Harry. Oh how I'll miss Harry in the following months to come, Ginny thought. With a sigh, she took her sit beside Ron who is once again bickering with Hermione.

AN: I'm sorry for not writing for almost six months. It's just that I'm having problems with my studies and all. I'll try updating as fast as I can though.

Thanks for all those who reviewed