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 14
Hermione felt her feet connect with a stone, uneven floor, and she instantly recognized it. She did not need to open her eyes to know they were in a hall at Hogwarts. She had walked on those uneven floors for nearly half her life, and would never forget how they felt.
However, when she did open her eyes, she found herself and Lily in a much different Hogwarts then the one she remembered. In this one, students were bustling down the hall in street clothes and older people were following the students around as well.
Hermione's brow furrowed and she turned to glance at Lily for an explanation.
"Its family weekend here at Hogwarts. Rose is in her fifth year, Hugo in his third…" Lily said.
"Family weekend? We never had that…" Hermione said.
Lily nodded. "A few years the war McGonagall thought it would be best to educate the muggle families as well as invite back the Wizarding families every year. It kept a better sense of community."
Hermione nodded, knowing that if McGonagall came up with the idea it must work.
"Come along…lets go see your future family…" Lily motioned for Hermione to follow her out into the courtyard.
Hermione did so, and once outside instantly recognized an older version of herself, Ron, Harry, and Ginny. She laughed at the scene, as Ron and Harry seemed to be entertaining some students with their broom skills.
Hermione quickly glanced around to see a redheaded boy and a blond girl walking up to the future version of herself. The boy looked familiar, a miniature version of Ron and she had a feeling it was Hugo.
"That is Hugo." Lily smiled, as if reading Hermione's thoughts. "And he's walking with Harry and Ginny's youngest, Lily. They are the same age."
"Wow, Hugo looks so much like Ron…" Hermione commented.
"There you two are!" Future Ginny's voice silenced Hermione as Hermione watched her friend motion toward Lily and Hugo. "Where are your brothers, Lily?"
Lily shrugged. "Haven't seen them since the morning…"
"Brilliant. We came all the way here and they aren't even around…" Future Harry laughed lightly.
"At least you saw them…I still haven't seen Rose…" Future Hermione scanned around the crowd.
"She's with Scorpius." Hugo said simply.
"Bloody hell…" Future Ron mumbled, moving toward his son and wife.
"Who is Scorpius?" Hermione asked Lily.
"Rose's boyfriend…" Lily said casually.
"Ron doesn't like him?" Hermione guessed.
"Its Scorpius Malfoy." Lily said.
Hermione's mouth gasped open before she closed it suddenly. "My daughter is dating a Malfoy?"
"He's nothing like Draco. You're quite fond of him, actually. Ron just dislikes any boy around Rose, but he finds it hard since Scorpius is actually a nice boy." Lily explained.
"Sounds about right…" Hermione said, remembering how Ron had acted when Ginny had started dating.
"Ronald! Really…" Future Hermione scolded her husband.
Ron just shrugged.
Hermione smiled a bit at Ron's action. It was typical of him, and yet so enduring. Before she could think about it, however, a beautiful redhead, with hair the deep shade of Ginny's came walking up, her hand locked in a blonde boy's hand. Hermione instantly knew this was her Rose and, therefore, the boy must be Scorpius Malfoy.
Hermione studied her daughter. Rose was beautiful; a perfect mix of her parents and Scorpius was rather good looking as well, with the same grey eyes as Draco, though his hair was a bit darker.
"Hey!" Rose called out.
Future Hermione and Future Ron both glanced up, each with a huge smile as they quickly moved toward their daughter. Ron even pushed back Harry to engulf Rose in a huge hug, knocking her hand away from Scorpius in the process, as future Hermione came up behind her husband, giving Rose a quick kiss on the cheek.
"You haven't seen Rose in a few months. She spent the summer with her Uncle Charlie in Romania, and came straight here after." Lily explained why the future version of Hermione and Ron seemed too ecstatic to see their oldest daughter.
"We missed you, darling!" Future Hermione said, patting down Rose's hair.
"Missed you too." Rose smiled at her mother, her hand regaining Scorpius' without a glance at her boyfriend, clearly knowing Ron was not exactly happy about it.
Future Ron gave Scorpius a funny eye, and Scorpius glanced at his feet.
Hermione laughed a bit as Rose then proceeded to glare at her father until Ron's ears went beat red and he cleared his throat.
"Scorpius, how was your summer?' Future Ron asked, strained.
"See…he doesn't;'t mind Scorpius…" Lily motioned to Future Ron. "And Rose has always been a daddy's girl…"
Hermione laughed louder. This was evident, as Rose's once glare caused Ron to go red.
"Uh…good sure. Spent most of it…well…traveld a bit…over to France." Scorpius stuttered out.
Rose rolled her eyes at Scorpius. "Oh relax, he can't hex you. Right, Daddy?"
Ron gave a smug smile and just glanced at Scorpius before turning back to Harry and Hugo.
Hermione then watched her future self move forward, toward the young couple. "Glad you had a good summer, Scorpius…"
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley…I just wanted to say hello, but I am going to go find my own family…" Scorpius said, his voice genuinely thankful.
"I'll find you in a bit…" Rose gave Scorpius a quick kiss on the cheeks, much to Ron's disapproval.
"Okay. Great." Scorpius smiled and walked off, leaving Future Hermione and Rose alone for a second.
Future Hermione then pulled Rose in for a hug, kissing her on the forehead. "I'm so glad you're back. We missed you in the house this summer…far to quiet…"
"Well, get used to it. Two more years and it will be permanent." Rose grinned.
Future Hermione frowned a bit. "I hope not…"
"Rose has it in her head that she is going to move to the U.S. and work for the Ministry over there…" Lily explained.
"I don't seem happy about it." Hermione noticed, though she was surprised. Why would she want to stop her daughter from any dream of hers? Surely, her parents had never done this to her.
"You're not…but you know she will be fine…its just hard to let your children go and move like that. You will see someday…" Lily said.
Hermione just nodded, knowing Lily was probably right. How could she possibly know what it felt like to be a parent quite yet?
"Mum, you know I will be fine." Rose gave future Hermione a little gab in the side. "Plus, not something we should worry about this weekend…come on…lets go down to the Quidditch pitch…we just got some new goals, dad will love them."
Future Hermione just nodded, and linked her arm with her daughter's before moving back toward her son and husband.
"We seem like a happy family." Hermione noticed.
Lily nodded. "Would you like to see a bit more?"
"Do we have time?" Hermione asked, hopeful.
"A bit…come on…" Lily offered her hand and Hermione took it.
A second later, the familiar scent of fresh cookies and pine needles filled Hermione's senses, and she knew exactly where she was without opening her eyes. She was at the Burrow.
However, when Hermione opened her eyes, she noticed the Burrow looked slightly different; larger then before.
"Molly and Aurhtuer had to put an extension on the Burrow with all the grandkids that came along." Lily explained without Hermione needing to ask.
"Its Christmas?" Hermione asked, though she knew it was from the blinking lights and the sounds coming from the kitchen.
Lily nodded. "A bit in the future from the last one we saw…Hugo is in his last year at Hogwarts and Rose did move to America, though she is moving back now…"
"Really? Why?" Hermione was curious as she followed Lily toward the kitchen.
"She and Scorpius just got engaged…" Lily explained.
Hermine was shocked and her mouth hung a bit open as she moved into the kitchen to find all the familiar faces of the Weasley's, plus a few more that Hermione could only assume were her nieces and nephews, as well as a future version of herself, Ron, and Hugo.
"Uncle Ron? When is Rose getting here?" A small blonde girl that looked like Fleur spoke up.
The future version of Ron smiled at the girl and then gently squeezed future Hermione's hand on the table. "She should be here soon…"
"Well, are we waiting to eat or…" An older version of George glanced at an even older version of Mrs. Weasley.
Hermione laughed at how the older Mrs. Weasley gave a glare to the older version of George that quickly caused the twin to duck his head. Some things never changed.
"No, we should eat. Merlin knows when she will get here." Future Hermione spoke up.
"Are you sure, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
Future Hermione nodded. "Absolutely."
Everyone then moved to dig into their plates, though future Ron, instead of digging into the food in front of him, took future Hermione's hand and led her out of the kitchen. Hermione and Lily followed.
"Ron? What are you doing? Everyone's about to eat…"Future Hermione said.
Hermione noticed that both herself and Ron were clearly aged now. Ron's hair was even turning a bit grey, though their small wrinkles were endearing, and the smile lines around their mouths signaled to Hermione that they had a happy life together.
"I got you something…well I wanted to show it to you really, make sure you were okay with it before Rose got here, but not in front of everyone… Future Ron explained, pulling a small box from his pocket.
Future Hermione's brow furrowed as she took the small box from Ron. "What is it?"
"Just open it." Future Ron seemed giddy.
Hermione watched the future version of herself quickly open the box and her eyes instantly filled with tears.
"What is it?" Hermione asked as she watched herself lift a very familiar ring from the box. Instantly, Hermione knew what it was, though Lily had already begun explaining.
"Its your engagement ring…" Lily said.
Hermione nodded, glancing down at her own left hand which held the same ring; the beautiful engagement ring Ron had given her nearly a year ago.
"I…I got it reset for Rose…if you wanted to give it to her. Scorpius said he bought her own, obviously, but he thought what I thought…that having yours would be more important to her." Future Ron explained to his wife.
Future Hermione nodded feverishly. "Of course…" And then her eyes turned up accusingly and yet playfully at her husband. "You let me think I lost it! I was going crazy over this ring!"
"I know I took it. I wanted it to be a surprise…" Future Ron admitted, and then fished in his pocket again, pulling out another small box.
"Ron? What is that?" Future Hermione asked.
"You're real gift. I figured if you gave Rose that engagement ring, well then I'd buy you another ring…" Ron said, lifting a small ring from the box with a single diamond.
"Ron, you know I only wear my wedding band…" Future Hermione said.
Ron nodded. "I do but…well…this ring is important…it's your mum's."
Future Hermione gasped and took the ring from Ron with trembling hands.
"Your mother passed away last year…" Lily whispered to Hermione.
"How did you get this?" Future Hermione asked her husband.
"Your dad. He wanted you to have it." Future Ron said simply.
"Ron! It's perfect!" Future Hermione quickly kissed Ron square on the lips, vigorously and lovingly, as if they were still teenagers.
"So you like it?" Ron asked, releasing his wife.
Future Hermione nodded as a snort filled the room.
"Get a bloody room, you two!" Rose entered, followed by Scorpius.
Hermione could tell Rose was about her age now, though her daughter looked far older, with her eyes beautifully lined in black eye liner, and her rich red hair long and smooth down her back. Hermione was in awe at how she and Ron, both with features that could easily mesh horribly together, had created such a beautiful woman.
"She's beautiful…" Hermione whispered.
"You've said that everytime you have seen her…" Lily smiled softly.
Hermione nodded. "Because its true."
"All mothers say that, but in this case, I would say you are right." Lily said.
Hermione again nodded as she watched Rose embrace the future versions of herself and Ron. They all looked happy; Ron even shook Scorpius' hand with a smile.
To Hermione, this future was perfect. It was everything she could have asked for and more. It was the only future which truly felt right in all aspects, and she was angry with herself for ever doubting Ron in the first place.
"Hermione, I hate to do this to you, but your time is up with me…" Lily spoke after a moment.
Hermione turned to meet Harry's mothers gaze and she gave a nod and a smile. "Thank you so much for this, Lily. I…I could have never imagined…"
"You couldn't have?" Lily cocked an eyebrow with a smile that told Hermione she knew something that Hermione didn't.
Hermione wanted to ask what it was, but before she could, Lily was giving her a tight hug.
"Let my son know I love him dearly…if you ever tell him about this little adventure." Lily told Hermione.
Hermione nodded into the older woman's chest, wondering if she ever would tell Harry what she had seen and done. She had a feeling Harry would be uspet with her for doubting Ron in the first place.
"And take this chance to make a good decision about your life." Lily advised.
Hermione pulled away and smiled up at the woman. "I already know what I am going to do."
