A/N - Hello Everyone. Life has been a bit crazy and while I posted this sometime ago on AO3, I just realized I didn't cross post it. So I'm correcting that error now. Visitors is six chapters and I will likely post chapters two times/week.
As always, this is AU. For the ease of back story, assume the books are pretty accurate up to year three. From there things changed and those changes are explained as the story moves forward. This is not a story for fans of Albus or Lucius. They are pretty awful and neither have a redemption arc.
Without further ado ...
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Hermione Granger heard a pop and looked up. In fact, everyone in the classroom looked up. The boy who now stood at the front of the room looked around a bit anxiously before his eyes landed on Hermione and then on the person sitting next to Hermione, Draco Malfoy. Once he saw Malfoy, a slow smirk crossed his lips. The boy's pale grey eyes twinkled in relief followed quickly by amusement. The children standing behind the smirking boy peeked around and they too began to look at those in the room. None of them moved more than to get a peek at who now were in front of them.
"What's this?" Professor Flitwick jumped from his stack of books and walked to the new additions. "Who are you?"
The boy, who kept alternating his attention between Hermione and Malfoy, turned his focus toward and gave a genuine smile to the professor. "Hello Professor Flitwick, you don't know us, at least, you don't know us yet. We really shouldn't say too much in front of, —" The boy's hand waved around the room. Flitwick blinked a few times before understanding dawned in his eye, "— Maybe we can go to your office."
The professor's head bobbed up and down, the boy, now obvious to everyone older than the rest, herded the group of six other children toward the door. He only stopped when a young girl, with curly brown hair and chocolate eyes lifted her arms. "You're getting too big for this." She shrugged and once in his arms she set her chin on the blond boy's shoulder. The little girl made eye contact with Hermione and held it until they were in the office and the door closed.
At the click of the door, the students began to whisper furiously. Hermione didn't, she was too surprised, had that been… "I think Granger, you and I just saw our respective children. It seems even in the future, Granger women are taken care of by Malfoy men." She batted at his arm.
"Do you really think?" She whispered while her eyes remained trained on the closed door.
"Yes, yes I do." Draco, also watching the door, waited for the professor to return and dismiss the students. Only that didn't happen or not right away. Fifteen minutes after entering the office, Professor Flitwick stepped out and dismissed everyone except Hermione and Draco. As head students, they would be expected to do something.
The pair packed their materials and leaned against the wall waiting for those in the office to exit. Only after the classroom emptied, did the children and three professors reenter the classroom. Well, two professors and the headmistress. Hermione still struggled with the new title.
"Hermione, Draco, we will be moving this discussion to the head dorms, due to the number of people and certain things we've learned, it's felt your dorm is the most secure." The pair blinked at the Headmistress. How could their dorm be more secure than her office or any of the professor's offices?
The little girl with curly brown hair and chocolate eyes, who couldn't have been older than five, pushed through everyone and ran to Hermione. Smiling brightly, the girl didn't say anything, but she grabbed Hermione's hand. "Hi there sweetheart, I'm Hermione, do I get to know your name?"
"Not yet Mu…ma'am, —" The blond boy in charge spoke instead of the young girl, "— the Headmistress knows who we are and decided now isn't the right moment." The boy's eyes skirted along the wall and paused for only a moment before coming to rest on Hermione again. Draco watched the boy he knew was his son and realized the portrait on the far wall caught the boy's attention. While Draco did notice the boy's reaction to the portrait, he didn't hear when the boy stumbled over his words.
"Of course, well, let's get the show on the road." Draco waved the group out the door before anyone asked how the pureblood scion knew about the muggle idiom. The little girl with curly brown hair and chocolate eyes kept her hand tightly gripped in Hermione's. Almost as if she was afraid to let go. It was another thing Draco locked away as Hermione and the young girl passed him.
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Once everyone arrived in the common room of the head dorms, Hermione's new shadow snuggled up against her on the couch and started to nod off almost immediately. Hermione summoned one of her light blankets and tucked it around the little girl. Hermione smiled when the girl relaxed and pulled herself more securely against the older girl.
While Hermione watched the little girl, the head boy and the rest of the visitors spread around the room in an uncomfortable silence. The children looked at each other, obviously holding back on saying anything. Eventually they all turned their eyes to the young boy who seemed to speak on behalf of them. Hermione and Draco watched as the Headmistress cast a number of unknown spells. When she appeared to have finished, she stopped and sighed. Looking at the boy she said, "And you are sure those are sufficient?"
The blond boy shrugged, "That's what Mum said." Only then did the Headmistress step back and wave the boy to speak. His eyes landed on Hermione and the little girl on the couch, "She had her fourth birthday a month ago, she's the youngest and the trip took a lot out of her. I expected it, she should be right as rain in the morning. If you want, once she's asleep I can move her to a bed, if we've figured out our accommodations." The blond boy watched the young girl with curly brown hair and chocolate eyes with relief.
"So you are obviously related to me, a Malfoy I assume." Draco stood next to the other boy looking closely at him. There were some slight differences in appearance between the two. One thing that wasn't different, the smirk.
"Sort of, I'm a Granger-Malfoy. Mum didn't want to give up her name and you still pout her name is first. But otherwise, you're correct. Lyra and I, —" Draco suddenly realized the little girl with curly brown hair and chocolate eyes was his daughter. He wondered, he even hoped, but didn't say anything in case something happened and his dreams didn't materialize. Spinning he walked to the couch and dropped to his knees in front of the two on the couch. In front of his daughter and her mother. His wife. Lyra gave him a smile through half-closed eyes as he gently ran his hand over her cheek. "Anyway, Lyra and I are your children."
"What's your name?" Hermione looked at her apparent son, smiling at him and stretching out her hand for him to step closer. When he reached the arm of the couch, he perched and grabbed his mum's hand with a bit of a shake. Hermione felt his grip was just as tight as Lyra's. It was quickly apparent he didn't want to let go either.
"Scorpius," the boy blinked as if he was trying to stop his eyes from tearing up, "you picked Scorpius. At least that's what I've been told growing up. Dad wanted some truly Merlin awful name and in the end you compromised." Scorpius, as they now knew his name, smiled, "I think Dad always wanted Scorpius, but thought you wouldn't agree to it off the bat. I believe the original name he put forth was Arcturus Hyperion Orion. You settled on Scorpius Richard for my full name." Hermione's breath stopped, her dad's name. She named him after her dad.
"It's one of the reasons we showed up now." Hermione knew that would mean her dad died, all people die, but her dad was recently diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer. Scorpius saw the concern and remembered what else he was told about this time in his family's history, "It's not his time and he's still the dad you remember growing up."
Scorpius looked at Lyra and the little girl, now more awake, started to cry. Hermione, not knowing what caused the change, pulled Lyra mored tightly against her side and looked to her son. Draco slid next to his daughter and wrapped both her and Hermione in his arms. "Memories are all we have." Scorpius looked at Lyra trying to hold back is own emotions.
In midst of the emotional moment a staid voice said, "Young Mr Malfoy, please get on with it." Severus Snape, still in shock over what he learned after Scorpius finished the reasons why the children appeared when they did, wanted the boy to get on with it. Apparently Miss Granger and Draco could stop what would otherwise happen.
"Yes, well let me finish the introductions. Over here, —" Still not letting go of Hermione's hand, Scorpius pointed to three boys, "— We have the sons of the infamous Harry Potter." In turn each boy stepped forward and gave a little bow. Hermione looked at the three boys and immediate knew which two belonged to her best friend. No denying that mess of black hair.
"First off is James Sirius, he hates being called either name so we call him Jimmy. He'll be ten on his next birthday. Next to Jimmy, is his younger brother Albus Severus. Uncle Harry has or had or will have, I'm not really sure what tense to use, —" Scorpius stopped and started to mumble. Hermione and Draco smiled at the boy while Severus scowled even more.
"Mr Malfoy."
Scorpius rolled his eyes, "— Anyway, Uncle Harry has some father figure issues and saddled both of his boys with names drowning in pain and history." Scorpius suddenly stopped and scrunched his nose, "Sorry Uncle Sev, I don't mean to say there's anything wrong with the name, it's just … Uncle Harry, there are a lot of unresolved issues."
The boys all nodded sadly before Scorpius shook it off and continued. "So he's decided he is ok with being called Al, but recently said he liked to be called ASP." Scorpius chuckled when his mum's expression shifted to the same as it was when Al first mentioned his new preference. The Potter sons saw the expression and looked at each. They shared the same thought, everything would be ok this time. She really was Aunt Hermione. "Someone, —" Scorpius looked at Jimmy who shrugged, "— told Al his initials spelled asp which is also a snake. Al really likes snakes so he decided to go that route. He's five and a half. Dad and Uncle Harry have a long standing bet on what house we get assigned. Uncle Harry was not impressed with the new nickname since I believe the pot is rather large."
Hermione wondered if Scorp's emphasis on his age was an attempt to tell them something. Hermione didn't know what, but maybe Al's fascination with snakes was because he's so young. Scorp didn't stop his introductions to allow anyone to respond to the snake comments or about the apparent betting pool going on between their friends, "Next to Al we have Charlie Longbottom. He is one of the few whose parents didn't hate him." Hermione and Draco both sent their son a glare. "I like my name, Charlie, Lyra and I got the good names." Smiling like Draco did, when he knew he screwed up, Scorpius popped up and walked to where the two girls stood holding hands.
"Charlie and Jimmy were born three days apart, so Charlie will be ten in a few months as well. This is Lily Luna and she is Jimmy and Al's younger sister. She's six months older than Lyra." The little girl with bright red hair and her father's famous green eyes waved and when Hermione beckoned her, Lily Luna ran to the couch and claimed the small space between the couch arm and Hermione. "She's your goddaughter, so yeah. Anyway, like with her brothers, being named after your grandmother who was murdered in front of her infant son, who incidentally is your father, is rough. We call her Ells."
The remaining girl, older than the other girls though younger than the older boys, stood very still watching the display in front of her. Scorpius took the few steps until he was in front of the girl Hermione now suspected was her other best friend's child. The red hair was a bit of a giveaway really. Scorp held the girl for a moment murmuring something quietly in her ear. At her firm nod, she stood straight and looked at the people she knew as her Aunt Mione and Uncle Dray. "This is Rose Weasley. She's Uncle Ron and Aunt Lavender's daughter…only child."
Hermione noticed the girl worrying her lip and like with Ells, Hermione motioned for Rose to join her on the couch. Not that there was a bunch of room left, but Rose picked up Ells and slid in the open spot ensuring all of the younger girls were next to Hermione.
"Scorpius provided us some basic information and also a letter the pair of you apparently wrote. He has letters for the each of you." The head students nodded in understanding, "The identity of these children is to remain secret…" Minerva paused and looked to the now smirking Scorpius, "remain as secret as possible."
Minerva waved toward a large door that appeared on the far wall. "Until we have figured out what to do, let's see what we can provide for them." The group followed Minerva to the now open door.
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The dorm the castle created for the children appeared behind the newly revealed door. Hermione noted the access to the head dorm would allow for the two common rooms to act as one large area if the door remained opened. The children's dorm provided each of the newly arrived visitors a room of their own. The large, in its own right, common room included age appropriate activities.
Hermione seemed overwhelmingly pleased with what the castle provided. In addition, each child's closet included a few outfits with Scorpius also having uniforms in his own. Hermione huffed at the green edging and patch on the robes. He smirked and shrugged, when Hermione looked to Draco she noticed his response mirrored her son's. She mumbled something about having to live with two snakes now. Draco leaned toward his son, "How much did I win off Potter when you were sorted?"
Scorpius chuckled, "Nothing, Uncle Harry claimed it was a sucker bet and knew since I was really young how I'd be a snake. He's be trying to work with Lyra to get her a bit more lionlike. I don't know, she's pretty cunning when she wants. But she is really like mum, so it's a possibility." Draco nodded, he'd need to work with his baby girl a bit.
After ensuring the space would work, Minerva looked from the unexpected arrivals to her head students. "Since it's Friday, I think we can get some sort of plan in place by Monday. I'll get with the other prefects and have them cover your rounds and other duties this weekend. I don't know if the children are hungry now, but the elves are probably already sorting a special menu. I'll swing by the kitchens and have them send it up. I think, for the next couple days at least, it would be better if you all remained here." The pair of head students nodded and waved as the true adults left.
A couple of hours later, after the elves provided a light meal the children loved and lavished praise on the elves much to their delight, Hermione and Draco hadn't read their letters. It quickly became apparent they kept putting it off. Both knew the only way they'd allow their children to time travel decades into the past was if something very bad happened. If their friends allowed for their children to be sent away as well, it could only mean the worst. That was what they didn't want to know. Knowing the future only harms you in the end.
Scorpius watched his parents torment themselves. He smiled as both spent time with all the children and got the youngest ones in bed. They were read stories and tucked safely into their new beds. As the number of children dwindled and the hours passed, Scorpius sighed. He knew his parents would endlessly debate on and fret about the letters.
After waiting the length of time his mother said, the boy walked over and sat with his parents. "So Mum said you'd both do this. Said you'd go on and on about disrupting the course of history or the future. It's why we waited as long as we could." At the curious look on his parents's faces Scorpius shrugged. "Mum said if we came now, to this moment, you would have enough time to stop it. She knows you'll figure it out and be able to do what she and dad couldn't. If we waited until after you graduate, after you announce your relationship, it would be too late."
Both Hermione and Draco paled at the ominous words. "Too late?" The boy let out a deep sigh at the anguished sounding question.
"You didn't know for sure, you suspected the announcement was one of triggers. It wasn't until years later, but when you had time think about it, you believed it to be the case." Scorpius looked at the much younger versions of his parents. They were similar but Scorp couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever be able to see these two as his parents.
Not wanting to focus on something he couldn't fix, he started again, "I learned at a very young age to never doubt my mum, Dad made sure it was one of the first lessons I learned. Right after learning to ride a broom, —" Scorp laughed at the glare Hermione directed toward the smirking Draco, "— she told me why she selected this moment. I didn't, and still don't fully understand, but she did." Scorpius thought about explaining a bit more, but knew the moment wasn't quite right yet. They needed to understand more before he told them everything he knew. Everything his mother told him the last time he saw her two days ago.
"Well, you are right in trusting Hermione. She is the most brilliant person I know. But let's get back to what happened. You said Hermione told you things, what about the others? How much do they know about the reasons?"
"Rose and I know the most. I'm the oldest now and Rose, well, Rose may be the most impacted." He paused, Hermione wondered if he would elaborate. "I mean we're all impacted, we all know things, but Rose may have the most painful tale of all us. The future we lived was messed up."
Scorpius didn't want to get into it, he was having a difficult enough time accepting it for what it was. "The future is a fucking shit storm and yes I know Mum language." Scorpius actually began to shake and the words fell from his lips, "Someone, someone changed history and caused countless ripples that destroyed the future. You and dad spent from when you figured out something was wrong until just before we arrived here trying to figure out what happened and when. You tracked what was supposed to happen, what did happen and finally found where everything crossed."
Hermione nodded agreeing with what they apparently did, or will do. When Hermione and Draco thought he finished, he quietly said, "But you couldn't fix it. You sent us here, all of us, to keep us safe and to help you fix everything this time. You suspected who did it, I heard you and Dad talking. You didn't say the name, but you were both positive on it. I have my own suspicions." Taking a calming breath, Scorpius held his mother's gaze, while Hermione and Draco knew whatever he needed to say was difficult.
"We can't go back, as soon as we arrived the future we knew changed, it's why we are all here, we couldn't bare to lose anymore." Hermione grabbed the boy and pulled him into her arms. "Mum" his broken whispered cry tore something in Draco.
Standing he grabbed his letter and opened it. "No fucking way I'm letting that happen. Hermione, you have to read yours, mine said you were going to write out more details. Give more instructions in what we figured out before. Tell us what we still need to do now, in this time." Scorpius chuckled, slowly the tears were replaced by the memories of happier times. They really were just younger versions of his parents. As Scorpius felt Hermione loosen her hold, he realized the hug was just like the ones his mum always gave him.
Hermione, with a shaking hand, opened her letter and couldn't stop her tears from falling at the contents. She nodded, closed her eyes and handed it to Draco. "Well, yeah, that's, that's just great. You know, telling yourself I was afraid to make my move is a real shit way to close the letter Hermione." She tried to smile, she suspected she included that as a way to break the tension she knew would be hanging over them after listening to what Scorpius told them and reading the letters.
She looked at her apparent future husband and shrugged. "Don't shrug at me Hermione Jean Granger, I was barely fifteen asking a beautiful almost-sixteen year old woman to go to Hogsmeade when the rumors were swirling about a nineteen year old quidditch star still writing you! Still asking you to visit him over the Yule holidays in Bulgaria."
"I would pick you every time." Hermione slowly stood and gave Draco a sweet kiss. After understanding exactly what happened, who they suspected and suggestions she provided herself, the Hermione of now needed a moment alone. Turning, she gave Scorpius a squeeze and went to her room.
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After hearing Hermione close her door, the two Malfoy looked at each other, "So I told you how I got to name you Scorpius huh? What did you think initially? Impressed with my skills in getting Hermione to go along with me?" Draco was actually more than pleased to discover he ended up with the naming rights for the their son.
"I think she suspected you would have a better name. She said something about you telling her you never liked Arcturus Black and it would take an imperious curse to get you to name your son that." Draco scowled, he just made that comment to Hermione over the spring holiday when they were discussing kids.
"Still, I got the name I wanted." Draco nodded after making sure Hermione's door was still closed. "What year are you Scorp?" The boy smiled at the nickname he'd not mentioned.
"Fourth year, though I'm fifteen. The rest are still too young."
Draco gave the boy a look, "We'll get with the headmistress soon and get you sorted with classes, I don't want my son to fall behind in his studies." Scorpius lost his mask for a moment and hugged his dad, Draco always pushed the importance of education.
"Mum taught us all, not that I could have gone to Hogwarts anymore. We moved into the safe house right before classes started my second year. But she tried to make it sound like I had the option. She never said it until right before we left, but admitted to me she figured it was more important to make sure we were ready for this world than risk Hogwarts." After reading both letters, Draco understood.
"That sounds like Hermione. It's getting late, do you need me to tuck you in?"
"No Dad, I'm a bit too old for that. I think Lyra and Ells are going to have a very difficult time living in a world where their parents are teenagers. I think, to an extent at least, the rest of us will too." Draco held the same worry.
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When Hermione returned she found Draco alone in their common room with both letters and a few books she didn't recognize. As Draco started to flip between various pages his expression grew dark. It was an expression Hermione came to associate with Draco when Lucius Malfoy was involved. "Hermione what do you think is worse … allowing someone to meddle with the past and ensure darkness reigns or killing someone before they figure it out?"
"We don't kill, I have an idea and I think it's what I worked out in the future." Draco gave her a dubious look, "And if that doesn't work, then we brew an undetectable poison and inject it into his miserable body." Hermione placed a chemistry and biology book on the table next to the stack of items Draco pulled while she was in her room.
"I'll agree to those terms only if you agree to the condition the poison also causes extreme pain." Hermione didn't answer; however, she didn't reject the idea so Draco took it as her tacit agreement. Instead she started to glance at the open books in curiosity. "From the Manor, my letter, I made a couple comments, clues to myself, on what we need. I had Kitmu grab them. I suspect these are what he used or will use or whatever."
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