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 12
Hermione felt the world seemingly turn around her and suddenly she and Lily ended up in the middle of the street in a well-kept Muggle neighborhood. Hermione quickly glanced around.
"Where are we?" Hermione asked.
"This is a distant future from your time right now. A few weeks after your wedding to Ron." Lily said simply.
Hermione glanced around when suddenly she saw herself being led up a driveway, her eyes covered by Ron who was grinning madly.
"Ron…where are you taking me?" Future Hermione asked.
"Relax, love…almost there…" Ron said, his smile never fading.
Hermione raised an eyebrow and was about to ask Lily what was going on when Ron's voice filled the air again.
"Alright…" Ron let go of future Hermione's face, allowing her to see the surroundings.
"What? Where are we?" Future Hermione glanced around.
"Home." Ron said simply.
Future Hermione's eyes went wide with surprise and she was suddenly launching herself into Ron's arms, hugging him and kissing him.
Lily leaned over, whispering in Hermione's ear. "Ron was listening when you said you wanted to live in a muggle neighborhood…"
Hermione gave a slight nod. She had recalled having the conversation with Ron a few weeks ago but he had merely grunted and nodded before heading off with Harry to play Quidditch. She was certain he had not heard a word she said, but maybe she was wrong.
"This was just a first glimpse. Would you like to see more of this future?" Lily asked Hermione.
Hermione quickly nodded, not even having to think about it. So far, this future seemed amazing. "Yes."
Lily gave a nod and a warm smile before offering Hermione her hand, which Hermione gladly took, and the pair was quickly off to another part of this future.
Hermione opened her eyes to find herself standing in the middle of a beautiful and comfy kitchen with Lily next to her. She glanced around and saw a wedding picture of herself and Ron on a half wall that divided the kitchen from the den. She then swivled her head as a buzzard went off and found a future version of herself running into the kitchen to pull a pan out of the oven. Hermione instantly noticed that the future version of herself was rather dressed, in a small black dress with her hair pulled up into a bun.
"Where are we?" Hermione asked.
"Inside your future house. It's your second wedding anniversary and you are making Ron dinner…you have a few surprises for him tonight." Lily said simply.
Hermione then noticed that the kitchen table was set for two and there were candles on the table between the two plates. She smiled to herself, watching the future version of herself seemingly gliding across her kitchen. She could tell the future version of herself was blissfully happy.
As Hermione continued to watch herself, the sound of someone apparating filled the room and both Hermione's and Lily turned to see future Ron moving into the kitchen, a smile on his face and a bokay of Rose's in his hand.
"Happy Anniversary, love." Future Ron moved and picked Future Hermione up in one arm, twirling her around.
Future Hermione giggled as her husband twirled her around before he placed her back on her feet and kissed her passionately, handing her the Rose's at the same time.
"I look so happy." Hermione whispered, her eyes never leaving the scene in front of her.
"You are. For more then one reason…" Lily smiled as well.
"Ron, they are beautiful!" Future Hermione smiled down at the rose's in her hand.
"They reminded me of you." Ron admitted with a smile and then his eyes moved to the kitchen table. "Dinner looks like it was made for a king!"
"Well, it is our anniversary…" Future Hermione continued to smile.
"That's true." Ron smiled.
"And I've got another surprise for you…" Future Hermione said.
"You do?" Ron cocked an eyebrow, his smile matching hers.
Future Hermione nodded.
"Well…out with it then…" Ron told her, his laughter contagious.
"Well…I think we are going to need to clean out the spare room…" Future Hermione said.
Ron made a funny face. "What? Why?"
Hermione also made a face and turned to Lily about to ask her what was going on, but Lily only pointed back to the scene in front of them and Hermione immediately returned her gaze to her future self.
"Because, we are going to need to put the baby crib somewhere…" Future Hermione smiled.
"Crib? What? Hermione—" Ron started but then his eyes went wide as the impact of her words hit him. "Hermione, are you…are we…"
"We're having a baby!" Future Hermione squealed with a smile.
Future Ron immediately burst into a contagious laugh as he lifted future Hermione in his arms and twirled her around again. "Hermione! Really?"
Future Hermione giggled and nodded into the crook of her husbands neck.
"This is the best anniversary present I could have gotten!" Future Ron said, still holding his wife tightly.
Hermione felt as if she were on the verge of tears. This future was amazing. This was what she wanted. She glanced over at Lily. "Is there more?"
Lily nodded. "Of course. Come on…"
Hermione smiled and took Harry's mother's hand, so excited to see the next part of this future.
Hermione felt Lily let go of her hand and so she opened her eyes to find herself in an adorable room, painted a soft shade of green. She glanced around and immediately recognized it as a baby's room, or a baby-to-be's room, as the crib was still in pieces, though a future Ron was bent over the wood, trying to put it together, while a Future, and very pregnant, Hermione sat in a rocking chair, watching her husband.
Hermione glanced over her future self. She was hugely pregnant, though Hermione couldn't help but notice that she was at least a cute pregnant woman, or so she thought.
"This is a few months from the last place we stopped." Lily said, though that explanation was not needed given the obvious pregnant state of the Future Hermione, Hermione could easily deduct that much.
"Why do I need to do this the bloody muggle way?" Ron grumbled from the floor.
"Because I want you to be able to do things without magic, Ron. I want this baby knowing both of its worlds…" Pregnant Hermione said.
"I doubt it will care how I put its crib together." Future Ron said, glancing between the hammer and screw driver in his hand, clearly not able to tell which was which.
"Oh, let me help!" Pregnant Hermione struggled but eventually got out of her rocking chair.
"Hermione! The doctor told you to stay off your feet." Future Ron said, concern in his voice.
Pregnant Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, Ronald…"
Hermione noticed, however, that the pregnant version of herself suddenly looked alarmed, and her eyes trickled down to the floor. Hermione followed her future self's eyes to see a small puddle of water at her feet. Instantly, both Hermione's seemed to realize what was happening.
"Uh…Ron?" Pregnant Hermione said, her voice a bit shaky.
Ron's eyes immediately snapped up, able to hear the worry in Hermione's voice. "What is it?"
Pregnant Hermione only glanced down at the spot between her legs and Ron's eyes went there as well.
"Bloody hell, Hermione!" Ron was on his feet in a second.
"I think the baby's ready to be here…" Pregnant Hermione smiled.
"How…how can you be so calm? Bloody hell! We've got to move!" Future Ron was frantic.
Ron's behavior caused both Hermione's to laugh a little. Hermione could tell the future version of herself was very calm and she only assumed it was because she had researched this moment since she had found out she was pregnant. Hermione knew that's what she would have done, to be prepared.
"Ron, relax." Pregnant Hermione continued to smile, a hand on her pregnant stomach.
"Relax? Hermione! We've got to get to St. Mungo's!" Ron was frantic, glancing around as if he were looking for something on the floor.
"Yes, we do…but we have time yet, Ron…" Pregnant Hermione said.
"How do you know?" Ron asked, his eyes wide.
"Because my contractions are still twenty minutes apart…" Pregnant Hermione said.
"What? How do you know? How long as this been happening?" Ron asked.
"A few hours now. I just didn't; want to panic you…" Future Hermione giggled a bit.
Ron shook his head wildly. "Well…now I'm panicked. What do we do?"
"Ron, we've gone over this a million times. Go get my bag from our room…then come get me and we can floo to St. Mungo's…" Pregnant Hermione said, ever the rational.
"Oh, right!" Ron said, bolting out of the room.
Hermione watched the pregnant version of herself laugh, wince in pain a little as it appeared another contraction passed, before standing straight back up and calling out to Ron. "Also! Owl our parents!"
"On it." Ron said, coming back into the room with a bag in his hand. He quickly moved toward his pregnant wife and wrapped his arm around Hermione supporting her toward the door.
Pregnant Hermione smiled at him as Ron suddenly stopped. "What?"
"I love you." Ron said, kissing Pregnant Hermione before helping her to the door.
Hermione watched the future version of herself and Ron exit the nursery and couldn't help but smile at how supportive and caring Ron was. How had she ever doubted she wanted a future with such a loveable man?
"There's more. If you want to see it, Hermione." Lily spoke up.
Hermione turned and nodded feverishly "Of course. This future is…"
"What you expected?" Lily asked.
"More." Hermione admitted.
Lily only smiled to herself before giving a little nod and taking Hermione's hand.
