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 6

The next thing Hermione knew, she and Lupin were standing in the middle of the Great Hall, smack in the center of what appeared to be a large party, or at least some sort of press conference. Hermione twisted around to see tons of reporters about, including none other then Rita Skeeter herself, and a few others as the Gryffindor colors hung proudly from the ceiling.

"What is this?" Hermione asked, glancing up at Lupin.

"One of the Hogwarts students just was signed to play Quidditch for the Vratsa Vultures…" Lupin explained.

Hermione screwed up her face. She knew what Quidditch was but she certainly didn't follow it. "Who?"

"Team from Bulgaria…" Lupin explained.

Suddenly, the roar of the room fell silent and an older version of Neville moved to the pulpit that Hermione remembered Dumbledore speaking from.

"Is that…Neville?" Hermione was shocked.

Lupin nodded. "He just became Headmaster of Hogwarts two years prior to this time period. The students adore him."

Hermione gave a small smile. She was proud of Neville.

"We would like to thank all of you for coming to this exciting day. As you well know, we are here to celebrate a huge change at Hogwarts. Yes, the Gryffindor House will be losing one of the best seekers it has ever seen, and Hogwarts will be losing a vital member of its student body, but the Vratsa Vultures will be gaining a phenomenon." Neville spoke as the crowd cheered.

Hermione glanced around the room, trying to figure out why Lupin had brought her there.

"If everyone could appauled the efforts of Billie Krum. We are so proud of her accomplishments and we will miss her dearly." Neville continued, as he and the crowd clapped and roared.

Hermione quickly scanned the room, everything clicking. Lupin had brought her here because it was her daughter that was about to be the Quidditch Star.

As Hermione's eyes roamed, a light seemed to come from nowhere and shine on large round table, near the front of the room. A rather pretty girl with dark, curly hair, and brown eyes stood, waving slightly. She was almost a clone of Viktor, except her had Hermione's build; Hermione knew it was Billie, and was slightly shocked that someone that petite could be such a fierce athlete.

"Is that…" Hermione began, though she knew the answer to the question she was about to ask.

"That's your Billie…and there you and Viktor are." Lupin pointed to the table Billie was standing at.

Hermione followed Lupin's finger and saw an older version of Krum and an older version of herself each sitting on one side of Billie, both smiling proudly, though Hermione could tell her own smile was strained.

"You're not exactly happy about Billie leaving school to play…" Lupin explained.

Hermione nodded, she could understand that.

"Come, see the rest of your family." Lupin pulled Hermione toward the table as Billie sat down.

"The rest?" Hermione was confused, but stopped short when they reached the table and Hermione saw three other girls, looking to range from ages fifteen to three sitting there. All looked eerily similar to Billie and it was clear they were all sisters.

"Are those mine?" Hermione was shocked. four kids? She had hardly pictured herself with two, let alone four.

"All five. That one is Ronna, and Geneen, and Harriett. " Lupin nodded, pointing to the girls as he named then in age order.

"Five?" Hermione raised an eyebrow both at the choice of names of her children and the number Lupin had said. She could do math. Billie, plus the three at the table…

"Mother…please pass the vater." The oldest girl besides Billie asked.

Hermione watched as the older version of herself stood slightly to reach the jug of water on the table and Hermione noticed instantly what Lupin had meant about five children. The older version of herself was beyond pregnant.

Hermione shook her head in disbelief, glancing at Lupin for some sort of explanation to what was going on.

"I already told you…Viktor desperately wants a son…" Lupin motioned to all the girls at the table.

Things then clicked for Hermione and she gave a small nod. "And we have all girls…"

"That one too…" Lupin pointed to the pregnant Hermione's stomach. "You just found out a few days ago…but you haven't told Viktor yet…"

Hermione glanced over at Viktor to see if he was disappointed with the lack of a son, but instead he seemed proud, though the look on his face was stern his eyes were beaming up at Billie who was still standing.

"Now, if Billie would come say a few words…" Neville said.

The crowd cheered and Billie walked swiftly toward Neville. Hermione noticed she moved exactly like Viktor, a proud, quick walk, her hands obedniantely at her side as if she were a soilder.

"Thank you." Billie began as she reached the pulpet.

The crowd cheered again and Hermione heard a hint of a Bulgarian accent in Billie's voice.

"Hogvarts has been like a second home to me. I vill miss it very much, and vill always be proud to have shared the colors of Gryffindor. I hope that I vill make you all proud." Billie said and then gave a nod as the crowd cheered.

Hermione noticed Billie was not one with words, very similar to Viktor. Her speech had been short and to the point.

Hermione watched Billie move back toward her family and Hermione had to know…

"Do we live in Bulgaria? Billie's accent…" Hermione glanced at Lupin.

Lupin nodded. "Viktor insisted on living in his home nation…plus he still played Quidditch there so you moved there right Billie was born. You rarely come to England anymore…and it was an arm twister to get Viktor to allow your girls to come to Hogwarts."

"I hardly come to England? But what about my parents?" Hermione asked.

"You rarely see them." Lupin said, his eyes fixed on the older version of Hermione and her family.

Hermione's face screwed up in confusion. Of course her parents would never fully understand the Wizarding World but she had a hard time swallowing the fact that she rarely saw them. She loved her parents and she was certain she wouldn't just cut them out of her life.

As Hermione was trying to wrap her brain around the information Lupin had just given her a particular redhead caught her attention.

A boy, a little younger then Billie walked up to her. He was wearing the Gryffindor Quidditch uniform and had strawberry blonde hair and the most familiar blue eyes Hermione had ever seen. If she didn't know any better, she would have easily called the boy Ron's lighthaired twin.

"Congrats, Billie! You are going to be great!" The boy patted Billie on the back and smiled at Hermione's second oldest daughter.

"Thanks, Herman." Billie smiled at the redhead.

"Who is that?" Hermione asked Lupin, curious about the boy.

"Its Ron's son…Herman. He is two years younger then Billie…plays Quidditch with her." Lupin said.

Hermione's jaw dropped at what Lupin had just said as a familiar laugh filled her ears. She turned quickly to see an older version of Ron walking into the Great Hall with an older Lavendar, Harry, and Ginny with him. He was laughing at something Harry said, and Hermione couldn't help but notice that Ron had aged significantly better then Viktor.

Hermione watched as Ron approached his son and Billie. She was a little hurt that neither Harry nor Ginny even acknowledge the older version of herself but that was short-lived as her focus was on Ron and what he was doing as he made his way to Herman. He quickly patted Herman on the back and then put his hand out to Billie. Billie respectively took it and shook it.

"Congratulations but it's certainly going to be hard to watch Gryffindor without you." Ron smiled warmly at Billie, though Hermione noticed his eyes quickly dart to the older, pregnant version of herself, who had made a point of studying her nails.

"Thank you, Mr. Veasley…Herman vill be a good replacement…" Billie said.

Ron went to go say something else but Lavender interrupted him.

"Ron, Jean and Harry's family are sitting over here!" Lavender called out from across the room.

Ron nodded and smiled, rolling his eyes at Viktor who merely laughed. Ron then turned his attention to the older Hermione who he had caught looking at her and gave her a small nod which she returned before he headed off with Herman, toward Lavender.

Hermione wanted to throw up. So Lavender had stayed in the picture longer then she had hoped.

"Are Ron and Lavender…" Hermione started.

Lupin nodded. "They got married when Jean was a year old and then had Herman."

Hermione nodded, watching Ron who sat down next to Lavender, his hand gently on her back as he leaned in to say something to Harry. It made her want to cry. She should have been sitting with Ron and Harry and Ginny, smiling like Lavender was. Instead, she was sitting at a table with Viktor who hardly looked at her and their kids, who Viktor hardly acknowledged.

"Krum!" A familiar voice that sent chills down Hermione's back broke her train of thought and she wheeled around to see none other then Draco Malfoy walking with a tall woman and a teenage boy who looked exactly like Draco himself, walking toward her future family.

Viktor gave Draco a wave and motioned for his family to join them at their table. Hermione was mortified as she watched the pregnant version of herself move her children around the table to make room for Draco's family.

Draco and his wife and son sat down, his son sitting rather close to Billie who seemed to ignore the blonde boy completely.

"Congratulations, Billie." Draco grinned.

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy." Billie nodded politely.

"Now if we can just get the rest of you out of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw…" Draco joked with Hermione and Viktor's other children, causing the group to give a stifled laugh.

"Herm-own-ninny swears it is the best house…" Viktor joked with Draco.

Hermione rolled her own eyes as she watched the older version of herself simply duck her head. She was livid at her own behavior. First, her husband still could not pronounce her name correctly and she never even tried to correct him, second she did not defend the house of Godric Gryffindor at all, third she was sitting with Draco Malfoy, and fourth, as her eyes darted across the room, she saw Ron laughing with Lavender, Ginny, and Harry and realized she was envious.

"I want to get out of here…" Hermione mumbled under her breath.

"Are you certain?" Lupin asked, though he seemed to already know the answer to his own question.

"I can't watch this anymore…" Hermione admitted.

"Very well…then this is all the time I have with you. You're next visitor will come shortly." Lupin explained.

Hermione nodded, giving Lupin a hug. Despite how awful this future seemed, she was happy she had gotten to spend time with Lupin. "It was good seeing you…"

"You as well. Give Teddy a kiss for me, will you?" Lupin requested.

Hermione nodded and closed her eyes, everything going black.