Chapter 1: The Envelope

Two months ago

"Hurry up, Hugo!" exclaimed Hermione, grabbing her purse that was sitting on the coffee table. She glanced at the clock beside her, seemingly slightly annoyed. "Hugo, please hurry up. We'll be late!" This time, Hermione was getting irritated by her son.

Hugo's footsteps soon became audible. "Mom," he said sleepily. Apparently, he had just gotten out of bed. "If it already time to pick up Rosie?"

That did it. It was already time to pick up Rosie half an hour ago. Hermione stormed up the stairs and grabbed Hugo by the arm. Hugo squealed in pain. Hermione had grabbed it a little too tight for comfort.

"What's going on up here?" Ron asked, coming out from the Master's bedroom all neat and tidy and ready to go. He looked at Hermione gripping Hugo's arm tightly. "Hermione!" he cried, quickly pulling Hermione's hand off of Hugo's arm. A red hand mark was visible. Hugo began to cry. Ron swept the child off his feet and carried him on his shoulders. "Now, Hugo, Weasley men don't cry," he said gently. Ron looked at Hermione sideways before heading to their son's room to help Hugo change.

Hermione let out a tired sigh. She didn't mean it. She didn't know what has gotten into her lately. It was like everything irritated her, the littlest of things. Of course she wasn't really all that angry with Hugo, but something constantly snaps within her. For a bit there, grasping Hugo's arms, she was scared of herself just as her son was.

"Hermione?" Hermione turned and saw Ron standing right behind her. She was so deep in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed that her two boys were already done and ready to go. Ron moved one step closer and pulled Hermione into a tight hug. "Don't worry," he whispered to her ear, "Hugo was only a bit shaken up. We can talk all about this tonight." He let go of Hermione and smiled at her. "For now, we're going to meet our daughter an hear all her adventures about Hogwarts."

Hermione simply nodded. Ron took her hand and they both went downstairs. Hugo had been patiently waiting. The moment he saw his parents, he jumped off. Might be because he was afraid his mother would have to grasp his arm again.

"I'm sorry, Hugo," said Hermione softly as she held out her hand for her son to hold. "Mom's just a bit out of it." Hugo shyly took it. Hermione smiled at him. "Come on now, let's go meet your sister."

They went the old fashion way. Hermione was proud to see Ron driving, even though Ron did admit that he Confounded the person during the driving test. All was well. He deserved it, as Hermione said, much to Ron's surprise after he admitted to her what he had just done.

"I just don't want any secrets, Ron." Was all she said before walking off to the kitchen that night? Ron had smiled and agreed to that.

It wasn't easy finding a parking space with the station packed. Ron mumbled that they should have flown instead, though he did not let Hermione hear it. He could sense that his wife was already in enough of a bad mood to hear him complaining about something shallow.

The train had just arrived. Students poured out of the Hogwarts Express. Others looking very sad while others looking very jovial. People went thru and fro the platform with their own agenda.

Ron peered over the people, trying to look for his daughter who had just come home from her first year. Surely the girl had a lot to say about it, knowing how Rose was like her mother, having much to say about the most trivial of things. That was one of the things Ron loved about his daughter though.

"Coming through. Let me pass!" It sounded familiar. Hermione turned and expected to see Scorpius Malfoy, son of the most insolent man she had ever met in her life. Much to her surprise, it was a rowdy young Ravenclaw who seemed to have an attitude. No, it wasn't Scorpius.

Ron suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see a jolly face looking back at him. "Ronald Weasley!" Neville Longtbottom exclaimed, shaking Ron's hand furiously. "I thought I wouldn't catch you. It's nice to see you again." He turned and gave Hermione a bright smile. "Same goes to you, Hermione. Or should I say, Mrs. Weasley."

Hermione blushed. "Neville, it's great to see you too," she countered."

Hugo took a peek from behind his mother. "Uncle Neville," he said in a low voice, barely audible.

But Neville heard him. "Hi there, Hugo. Not giving your parents any trouble are you?" Hugo shook his head. Neville beamed and looked back at Ron and Hermione. "Have you seen Rose yet? Oh, she's wonderful. You both should be very proud of her. As comical as her father as and as clever as her mother!" he praised.

Hermione couldn't restrain herself. "Anything we should know about, Neville?" she asked. She was really excited. Rose, after all, was her first child to go to Hogwarts.

Neville thought for a moment before saying, "Odd that Rose would be best friends with-"

"Mum! Dad!" Rose came running, arms wide open. Ron caught her and gave her a tight hug. After letting go, Rose took a step back. "Mum, Dad, this is Scorpius," the young girl said, presenting the boy who stood beside her, "he's my best friend!"

Ron gulped, but Hermione had already slightly expected this. "Pleased to meet you, Scorpius," she said in behalf of Ron and herself. "How was Hogwarts? It was your first year as well, wasn't it?"

Scorpius nodded with glee. "It was great, Mrs. Weasley," he replied.

Ron finally found his voice. "We best get going now," he said. He looked at Neville. "Don't forget our get together next weekend. You, me, Harry, and the other Gryffindor boys. It would be really bloody brilliant if all of us could make it," he pointed out.

"I'm sure," countered Neville. He gave Hermione a nod. "I best get going too. Have a good day, all of you," he said.

"Scorpius!" That was a voice Ron and Hermione were not found of hearing. Draco walked up to his son and met eye to eye with Ron. "Weasley," he said curtly, gripping Scorpius's arm quite tightly.

Ron forced a smile. "Malfoy," he countered.

Rose watched as Draco practically dragged Scorpius away from them. "Daddy?" she said, looking at her father. Ron cocked his head and smiled at Rose. "Aren't you friends with Scorpius's Dad?" she asked.

Ron took his daughter's hand. "It's a long story, Rosie," he said. He took Rose's trunk by his other hand. "Let's save that story for another time."

Rose smiled. "All right," she agreed.

Before the family could walk off from the platform, they heard a call. "Ron! Hermione!" Ron turned around and saw his younger sister, the wife of his best friend, Ginny. She practically ran to Ron and Hermione. "I was worried I wouldn't catch on with you two." She was smiling, but Ron could tell otherwise from the look in her eyes that there was something behind that smile of hers.

"Hi Aunt Ginny," Rose said brightly.

Hermione walked up to them. "Hi Ginny," she greeted then gave shy Hugo a little push to do the same. Hugo gave Ginny a little wave before letting his mind wander off somewhere. Hermione looked at Ginny. "Is everything all right? Where's Harry?" she asked.

"Not coming," Ginny replied curtly. She took out an envelope from her pocket. "Harry asked me to give this to you," she said to her brother, holding out the envelope. "I better go. Albus and James must be waiting for me by now. I can't leave Lily alone with Harry all day." Ginny smiled, nodded, and left Ron and Hermione dumbfounded where they stood.

"What was that all about?" asked Hermione.

Ron held the letter quite tightly. "I don't know," he said in a low voice as he watched his younger sister walk off.

A/N: Thank you very much for your reviews. Please tell me what you think about this chapter.