Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. This writing is for pure entertainment only.

Summary: Set in the distant future. Hermione and Ron are about to get married, though Hermione isn't sure if Ron is ready. However, when she is given the chance to see all of her options, Hermione must choose the right path for herself.

CHAPTER 5

Hermione opened her eyes to find herself standing in the middle of a hallway in St. Mungo's with Lupin at her side. She knew where they were instantly because she had visited the hospital many times, as all of Ron's nieces and nephews had been born there. She was, however, confused about what they were doing there. Did something go horribly wrong in the future?

"What are we doing here?" Hermione asked carefully, unsure if she wanted the answer. If something happened to Ron in this future because she had caused him so much pain she would never forgive herself.

Lupin seemed to be able to read Hermione's thoughts and gave her a soft smile. "Relax, no one is sick…come on, I want to show you part of your future…"

Hermione nodded and allowed Lupin to lead her down the hall. When they turned a corner, the familiar sounds of her own cries of pain filled the hall.

Hermione froze, instantly. Whatever they were doing at St. Mungo's it had to do with her, and she was in pain in this future.

"Come on, Hermione…" Lupin gave her a little push toward one of the doors on the right.

Before Hermione knew what she was doing, she and Lupin were entering a hospital room with only two people in it. Hermione instantly recognized the large man by the bed, blocking their view of whoever was in the bed. It was clearly an older version of Viktor Krum.

Hermione and Lupin moved against the wall as Krum straightened up from his hunched over position in the bed, allowing Hermione and Lupin to see that a slightly older version of Hermione sat in the bed, sweating profusely as a thin blanket lay across her stomach which was swollen.

Hermione had to blink twice as she stared at the older version of herself, who was clearly in the middle of labor.

"This future is almost one year after the last one we were at. You and Krum are expecting your first child…" Lupin said.

"Almost one year?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. She had never planned, with Ron anyway, to get pregnant so soon after they were married. Clearly, with Krum, she had a different perspective on it.

Lupin nodded. "You got pregnant a month after your wedding. Krum wanted to start having a family right away…"

Hermione shook her head; she couldn't imagine jumping into a marriage and then a baby so quickly. She and Ron had already talked so much about that; she had told Ron she wanted to wait to have a family after they got married because she wanted to focus on her career a bit more. Why, in this future, wouldn't she tell Viktor the same. Why wouldn't she want the same?

"You were in such a rush to move on from Ron that you never gave yourself much time to think about any of this…everything with Vitkor happened so quickly…" Lupin seemed to be able to read Hermione's mind.

Hermione glanced away from the older version of herself who was grunting in pain and looked at Lupin. "Was I over Ron when I reconnected with Viktor?"

Lupin shrugged a bit. "Pride is a funny thing, Hermione. It's not my place to tell you if you were over him or not…but sometimes you let your head take over your decisions…you always have. Its what makes you so rational…but maybe sometimes your heart needs to make the decisions…"

Hermione went to say something else when the older version of her let out a loud yelp.

"Viktor…I really think you need to find the doctor…I think I need something for the pain…" Older Hermione yelled.

"You are fine. You are almost done. Pain is good…makes you strong…" Viktor said, giving Hermione a quick pat on the head before retreating.

Hermione took a hard look at the older version of herself. She could easily see that the older version of herself was completely drained, sweating and beyond tired. She thought that was all fair, considering she was in labor, but her eyes also looked sad as she sighed and gave Viktor a small nod.

"Am I happy with Viktor?" Hermione asked Lupin.

Again Lupin shrugged. "I think that part of you will always hold a place for Viktor in your heart, even if you decide to have a future with Ron."

Hermione nodded. She had a feeling Lupin was right; Viktor had been the first boy to show any interest in her, and she did care deeply for him, as a friend.

The older version of Hermione again broke Hermione's thoughts, grunting once more.

"Viktor…get the healer…I think its time…" The older Hermione propped herself up on her elbows as she bore through another contraction.

Viktor gave a slight nod and moved toward the door, though he did not even have to open it before the room was filled with two healers, causing Lupin to shoe Hermione futher into the room so she could watch the events unfold in this future.

"Ready to have this baby, Mrs. Krum?" One of the healers asked as he placed himself at the foot of bed.

"I think so…" The older Hermione said.

"Good…" The healer gave a nod and examined Hermione before glancing back up at her. "Because you are ready to have this baby…Mr. Krum…if you would just help her through this…"

Krum looked a little surprised, his brow furrowing, but he quickly took the older Hermione's hand in his, causing Hermione to give a little sigh of relief that she had not even realized she was holding in. At least Viktor seemed attentive, though a little unsure of himself. However, Hermione assumed that was because Viktor had never been great with showing his emotions, maybe even the birth of his child would not change that.

"Lets get going, Mrs. Krum…" The healer called out.

Hermione watched, slightly in horror, slightly in awe, as the older version of herself grunted and moaned and, after what seemed like a rather long time, brought the life of her first child into the world. By the time it was over, Hermione was sharing the same tears of pride and awe as the older version of herself. Regardless of who the father was, it was amazing to see herself have her first child.

"Congratulations! It's a girl…" The healer said, cleaning the crying baby up and placing her on the older Hermione's stomach.

The older Hermione cried tears of joy, gathering the baby in her hands. "Viktor, look! Its your daughter…"

Viktor only gave a slight nod, a small but almost regretful smile on his face, causing his wife to seem a little sad, though Hermione could tell that the older version of herself was trying her best to hide her disappointment in Viktor's reaction, focusing back on the little girl in her arms.

Hermione noticed the look on the older Viktor's face and her own face furrowed in confusion. He did not exactly seem happy; but hadn't Lupin said only moments earlier that Viktor had been in a rush to start a family?

Lupin seemed to again know what Hermione was thinking and again spoke. "Viktor really wanted a son…he wanted his name to be carried on…"

Hermione gave a small nod, though she did not exactly understand. Sure, it was important to a man, and she could easily see how it would be even more important for someone like Viktor, for his name to be carried on, but how could Viktor be so cold to his own flesh and blood, regardless if the baby was a girl. Hermione was anger; anger with Viktor for acting so primitive, and angry with herself in the future for allowing him to act in such a manner.

"What should we name her?" The older Hermione spoke softly, her eyes never leaving the baby she was holding.

Viktor shrugged, seeming almost uninterested in the name of his daughter.

"Viktoria?" The older Hermione suggested.

Hermione realized that the older version of herself was already trying to get Viktor to see how important their child was, even if she wasn't the son he wanted, and she was trying to do that by practically naming the child after him. Hermione felt sick; she should have been stronger in the future, she should have demanded Viktor get over the fact that the beautiful baby she would have was not a boy.

Viktor shook his head quickly. "I vant my son named after me. If ve name her that…ve cannot name our son Viktor."

The elder Hermione nodded, the soft smile on her face seem to fade as she bit the inside of her lip, looking back down at the baby in her arms before speaking softly. "Billie…"

"Isn't that a boy's name?" Viktor asked quickly.

"It can be both." The older Hermione spoke, seeming satisfied with her decision.

Younger Hermione, however, felt a little sick. She knew where that name had come from; Ron's middle name was Billius, and Hermione knew that he did not exactly detest the name because he loved his dear uncle. She knew that he wouldn't even be opposed to naming a child it; they had discussed it one night. It was clear that even in this future with Krum, that conversation with Ron had just weighed heavily on the future version of herself's decision to name her first born daughter.

As Hermione's thoughts turned, she felt Lupin's hand on her shoulder and she found herself tearing her gaze from the older version of herself to her professor.

"Come on, Hermione…we have a few more stops…" Lupin said, squeezing onto Hermione's shoulder as the pair began to disappear.


Hermionet felt her feet hit the ground and the familiar scent of sweet vegtables and flowers invaded her nostrils as the sound of frogs invaded her ears. She took a deep breath, not wanting to open her eyes. She knew where they were without having to look, and she had a feeling she wouldn't want to look anyway. The sound and scent instantly told her they were at the Burrow.

"Come on, Hermione…we've got a lot to see together." Lupin's voice spoke over the sound of the frogs.

Hermione let her breath go and slowly opened he eyes so that the image of the Burrow stood in front of her. The home had not changed an ounce from what she could remember, and she wondered how far in the future they were now.

"This is a few months after you had Billie…" Lupin told her, wordlessly reading her mind.

"What are we doing here?" Hermione asked.

"Though it would be best for you to check in on Ron…see how his life is going right now." Lupin said, motioning Hermione into the Burrow.

Hermione allowed Lupin to lead the way and they slowly found themselves in the middle of the Burrow's living room, the sound of Molly cooking in the kitchen. Hermione glanced around; everything seemed in order. Maybe Ron was doing better then she was; or maybe she had left Viktor and that was why Lupin had brought her here.

The sound of a babies cries only seemed to confirm what Hermione had hoped and she couldn't help but smile.

"Mum! Could you heat up Jean's bottle?" Ron's voice came into the kitchen as he carried a small bundle of pink.

Hermione's heart sank. There was the name again; her middle name. Jean. And that was not what she had named her child with Viktor.

"It's right here, Ron." Mrs. Weasley moved out of the kitchen and handled the bottle to the older version of Ron.

Ron gave his mother a quick nod before gently moving to the couch, attempting to feed the baby who instantly stopped crying when food was near. Yep, that was a Weasley.

Hermione wanted to ask whom the babies mother was, but she was afraid of the answer she would get, especially as Ron repositioned the child and Hermione had a clear view of a baby with blonde curls.

"Ronny! Did you get her bottle?" A familiar voice that caused Hermione's heart to sank rang from the top of the stairs.

"Yeah, Lav. I got it…" Ron shouted back up the stairs.

Hermione wanted to throw up, or pass out. She was unsure of which yet. She felt like she had been punched in the stomach rapidity. Lavender Brown was upstairs in the Burrow. Lavender Brown was the mother of the child in Ron's arms.

"Ron…and…Lavender…" Hermione managed to get out, glancing up at Lupin.

Lupin nodded, motioning to the baby in Ron's arms. "Jean is their daughter…the product of a one night stand after Ron found out you were pregnant…"

"What?" Hermione managed to breath out, her eyes back on Ron as he gently moved the small child to his shoulder to burp her.

Lupin just nodded as an older version of Lavender came down the stairs to meet Ron.

"Time for bed, Little Jeanie-weenie…" Lavender squealed, taking the baby from Ron's arms.

Ron gave Lavender a tight-lipped smile and Hermione could tell the nickname she had just used for his daughter was not something Ron was fond of.

Hermione and Lupin watched in silence as Ron gently handed the baby over to Lavender, carefully supporting her head, before bending down to kiss the child softly and run a hand over her curls. Lavender then turned to go up the stairs, leaving Ron smiling behind her. He looked happy; it made Hermione sick to her stomach.

"He looks happy." Hermione commented.

Lupin nodded. "He loves his daughter very much…and he tolerates Lavender…"

"Tolerates?" Hermione was confused by the word Lupin used for Ron's feelings toward Lavender. "One should hardly tolerate their wife."

"Lavender and Ron aren't married. They are trying to sort out what they are or could be right now…but they aren't married." Lupin explained.

Hermione nodded, for the first time since she had arrived at the Burrow realizing that Ron's smile was not because of the woman in his life, but rather because of the little girl in it. He seemed head over heels in love, but it wasn't with Lavender, it was with his daughter, with Jean. Hermione could see it in Ron's eyes; something was different. Those were the eyes of a loyal and proud father, and Hermione wanted nothing more then to see those eyes every day.

"Come on…we've got one more stop before my time with you is up…" Lupin said, taking Hermione by the hand and pulling her away from the smiling image of a slightly older Ron.