Disclaimer: All Characters and things associated with Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. This writing is purely for entertainment only.
Summary: A tragedy unravels the Weasley Family and the Wizarding World forever, but with the use of a time turner can one Weasley save them all?
Chapter 17
Hermione woke up, pleasantly surprised to not find herself immediately sick. She smiled, knowing that her three month appointment at St. Mungos was that morning. She was excited to see how her pregnancy was progressing. She certainly was starting to visibly look pregnant now and her clothes were all growing tighter making her anxious to know she would need to go buy new clothes soon.
Hermione had rarely left the house, despite what Ron had said about them trying to live normally and the thought of having to shop for anything seemed daunting to Hermione. Prior to the attacks, and ever since the war, they had already been somewhat popular figures and being in the public eye had been hard at times but Hermione could usually handle the attention. Now, knowing that any of the attention could also be coming from someone who wanted her child or her was a little too much for her.
Hermione rolled over in bed, wanting to discuss when they would leave for their Healer appointment with Ron only to find his side of the bed empty.
It was rare he was up before her so Hermione assumed he must have been downstairs already. She quickly got dressed, fussing as she tried her best to pull her jeans on and then, out of sheer frustration that they wouldn't button over her small baby bump, tossed on jogging pants.
Once she was semi satisfied with her outfit Hermione made her way downstairs to meet Ron in the kitchen, only to find Lex sitting at the table alone, eating a small pastry.
"Morning," Lex looked up at the younger version of her mother.
Ever since the night a few weeks ago that Ron had told Lex Hermione was jealous of the time they had been spending together, Lex had made a point to really only focus on keeping Hermione safe and rarely talked to her father in front of her mother. She could also tell Hermione was trying her best to incorporate Lex into more conversations making for a very awkward dynamic in the house.
"Good morning," Hermione gave a tight lipped smile and then looked around. "Is Ron awake? He wasn't upstairs..."
"Oh..." Lex seemed visibly surprised by her mother's question. "He...well he went into work this morning."
Hermione felt her stomach drop. "He what?"
"Yeah he...he had a big meeting with Kingsley this morning." Lex explained. That morning Ron, Harry, and Scorpius were meeting to discuss the next steps with Draco and Goyle. Ron wanted to be there to hear everything so Lex had offered to stay at home and keep an eye on Hermione.
Lex could tell Hermione was upset Ron wasn't home, but she wasn't sure why. Hermione rarely left the house anyway, which made for boring days for Lex
"Did...did you need him for something?" Lex asked.
"I...well...I mean today is our three month check up..." Hermione managed out as she felt her hormones betray her and her eyes tear up.
Suddenly, Lex realized the gravity of the situation. Her father had completely forgotten about Hermione's healer appointment, the one thing Hermione seemed genuinely excited for over the last week or so. She knew Ron hadn't done it on purpose, that they all had been so wrapped up in everything else but Lex also knew that wouldn't make her mother feel any better in the moment.
"I'm sorry..." Lex gave a sympathetic smile. "But...I'll be with you. I know I'm not Ron but...I mean, I can take notes or whatever and let him know what he missed. You don't have to go alone."
Lex wasn't sure if reminding her mother that she would have to go with her to keep watch would make her mother feel better or worse.
Hermione just gave a tight lipped smile and Lex could tell her mother was not at all happy about the circumstances.
Ron, Harry, and Scorpius made their way to the Three Broom Sticks. It was early and they knew the place would be quiet and easier to meet with Draco. The three of them had decided not to tell Kingsley they were potentially going to work with Draco in case it ultimately blew up in their faces, they didn't want it tied to official Ministry work.
The three of them slide into a back booth and barely had time to order tea when they saw Draco enter quickly. He glanced around as if to make sure the place was empty before he approached the two Aurors and the son he did not know was his.
"Malfoy..." Harry gestures to the seat across from him.
"Potter..." Draco spewed back with the same distain as he unbuttoned his jacket and sat.
Silence filled the air for a long moment.
"We want to thank you for coming..." Scorpius said slowly, his eyes darting between the three men around him who clearly all had issues with each other.
"Well...I'm not exactly here willingly but Astoria...well and I...we feel I do owe you all something for saving my life at Hogwarts," Draco could barely get the words out of his mouth as he spoke to Ron and Harry, as if the words were poison.
"Well, at least your wife's a good person...whatever she sees in the likes of you..." Ron smirked and shook his head, clearly testing Draco.
"At least she isn't a-" Draco started but Ron was quick on his feet.
"You say one word about Hermione and I'll curse every one of those teeth out of your mouth, Malfoy," Ron's hands were in fists.
"We aren't here to do that," Scorpius reminded them quickly.
Ron's jaw was set but he did eventually take his seat.
Again, a round of silence filled the air.
"I suppose I owe Granger too..." Draco said, avoiding eye contact with Ron and Harry.
"Well, she did also save your life..." Harry reasoned.
"Even after you let your bloody aunt torture her," Ron added quickly, his anger for Draco boiling over at the memory of him outing Hermione at the Malfoy Manor.
Draco's eyes turned to Ron quickly and Ron could see something dancing in them. Remorse? Regret? Neither made any sense.
"I'm here to help you so let's focus on that before I change my mind," Draco said dryly.
"Right...we need to know who Goyle met with...who ordered the attack on Hermione," Harry said.
Draco nodded. "I was able to get Goyle to arrange another meeting and take me along. Apparently, whoever it is, wanted to meet to discuss how Goyle failed."
"Because he's a bleeding idiot..." Ron snorted.
Draco couldn't help the small smile that crept on his face. Ron was very much right about that.
"Well, then I think I should go with you. Whoever it is won't recognize me...and then I can be certain of what I've heard." Scorpius said.
"I'm not sure they would be willing to meet if I brought a complete stranger," Draco said honestly.
"We could use the cloak, Harry," Ron suggested.
Harry nodded. The invisibility cloak would work. "Yeah, easy enough."
"Alright, then that is settled. I'll be meeting with him a week from today," Draco stood.
Scorpius nodded. He would be there.
"After I help you with this...well I expect we are even then," Draco spoke to Ron and Harry now.
Both Ron and Harry looked at each other and then back at Draco with a simple nod each. That was fine; they couldn't imagine another time in their lives where they would ever need Draco Malfoy's help.
Lex escorted Hermione through the secret entryway to St. Mungo's that Hermione used for all her appointments. At first it was to just avoid the celebrity status she and Ron had among the Wizarding World, but after the attack a few weeks ago it was a safety issue.
Once they reached the room they had been directed to by the front desk, Lex cleared her throat.
"I can check the room out and put up some enchantments and then leave you alone in there if you would like?" Lex offered. She didn't want to make her mother feel like she had to be right in the room with her, invading her privacy.
Hermione hesitated for a moment. She hated that Ron wasn't there. He was her husband. He was the father. He should have been there. She couldn't believe he had forgotten.
Still, Hermione didn't want to be concerned with any attack in the room, even though she knew it was safe and Lex would be right outside. Some part of her wanted some company for the appointment. She didn't feel it was something she should do alone.
"No...why don't you come in? That way you can hear everything they say in case I forget something to tell Ron since he can't be here," Hermione said eventually.
Lex seemed surprised by her mother's words. It was about the only time Hermione had ever seemed to want her around.
"Oh...sure," Lex nodded and followed Hermione into the room where they were met by Healer Verna.
"Hermione! Wonderful to see you!" Verna smiled and looked past Hermione to see Lex who she was shocked to see looked so much like Hermione . "Hermione, I didn't think you had a sister."
"Oh...I'm not... I'm just her security." Lex waved her hand, dismissing Verna's assumption.
Hermione bit the inside of her mouth. Here was yet another person comparing her to Lex.
"I'm sorry... I didn't realizeā¦" Verna turned her attention to Hermione again. "Will Ron be joining us?"
Hermione shook her head, suddenly very interested in her hands. "Not today. He's stuck at work."
Verna just nodded and then motioned for Hermione to get on the exam table and lifted Hermione's shirt.
Lex who had been standing in the corner of the room was caught off guard by the Healer's action and shocked to see the small baby bump of Hermione's lower stomach that she knew contained her older sister. She realized in that moment she had been avoiding really looking at her mother the last few weeks. She had not noticed how much her mother's body had changed already.
"Well, let's hear that baby's heartbeat and check out your vitals," Verna said, waving her wand over Hermione's mid section.
Immediately the quick fluttering of a heartbeat fill the room and Lex was surprised how overwhelmed she felt knowing that it was her sister's heartbeat. The sister she had looked up to her whole life; the sister she had lost.
Lex felt a few tears prick her eyes and she looked away, not noticing that Hermione had caught her wiping the tear. Hermione thought it was strange to see Lex seemingly moved by the baby's heartbeat but it also felt oddly comforting.
"Heartbeat is perfect..." Verna waved her wand again and suddenly a projection of Hermione's womb filled the space above her abdomen and a small image of what could only be the start of a baby filled the room. Verna quickly took some measurements and vitals and then smiled, letting the image fade.
"Everything look good?" Hermione asked, slightly nervous to hear the answer even though she had no reason to think anything was wrong.
"Perfect. Baby is measuring perfect and vitals all look good on both of you. How have you been feeling?" Verna asked.
"Still a little sick...but it's less and less," Hermione said as she sat up.
"Good, that should settle out soon. Now, I want you back here in another month. In the meantime...I can tell you what the baby is if you would like," Verna said.
Hermione was taken back by that information. She did not think that was something she would be able to find out that day, and she certainly didn't want to do it without Ron. Suddenly she felt overwhelmed and frustrated all at once. She couldn't help it, she felt tears swell in her eyes.
"Hermione...are you alright?" Verna reached out gently to touch Hermione's shoulder.
Hermione nodded, a small laugh escaping her throat. "Just...a little overwhelmed...stressed...I just...I don't know..."
"Hormones...this is normal...but try not to stress yourself out...it's not good for the baby," Verna explained. "I know it's easier to say that then implement it but do try."
Hermione nodded fiercely, feeling silly now. She wiped her eyes and took a deep breath. "Could you...could you tell Lex what the baby is?"
Lex looked up, confused at her mother's request. Verna also seemed a bit confused.
"That way, maybe Lex could tell Ron and I together?" Hermione explained.
"Oh...sure...I can write it down," Verna nodded, moving to grab some paper off the small desk behind her. It took her a minute and then she handed a note to Lex.
Lex took the paper feeling strange because she already knew Hermione was having a girl; Rose. She also felt bad because Ron did too. She had told him by telling him about Rose. It would not be the surprise Hermione was hoping.
"Please try and keep her calm. My assumption is, if she now has private security, things are not calm at home," Verna whispered to Lex as she handed her the paper.
Lex nodded and then looked back a Hermione who was off table and ready to head home.
Lex led Hermione toward the exit of the private wing where they could floo home. Lex noticed her mother even seems quieter then she was prior.
"Are you alright?" Lex asked finally.
Hermione turned to look at Lex, feeling slightly vulnerable. "Honestly, just wish Ron had been there."
Lex nodded. That was understandable.
"Are...are you alright?" Hermione asked after a moment.
Lex looked at her, surprised by the question.
"It's just...back in the room...you seemed..." Hermione didn't want to tell Lex she thought she had been crying in case she misunderstood.
"Oh...that...yeah...I...well it was just really incredible to hear a baby's heartbeat is all. I'm usually on the other side of a heartbeat given my job," Lex gave half the truth. It was incredible to hear her dead sister's heartbeat. It was also true that she had taken plenty of lives. She had the tattoo to show it.
Hermione nodded. She sort of saw where Lex was coming from and could empathize a little.
After a long pause, Hermione spoke again. "I'd...I'd like to go to a Muggle town...maybe get something to eat. Would that be alright?"
Lex was shocked. It had seemed her mother had been afraid to leave the house lately but Lex also knew it would be good for her to get out a bit. Might help keep her stress levels down.
"Uh...sure. I mean, my job is to go wherever you want to go," Lex said. She was confident she could keep Hermione safe in a small Muggle town.
Lex allowed her mother to lead her out of St. Mungo's where they waved down a Muggle taxi.
Hermione was surprised at how well Lex navigated the Muggle travel system to a small Muggle town nearby and when they got out felt the need to mention it.
"That was impressive. Most wizards don't handle the Muggle world so well." Hermione commented.
"Oh...yeah...I guess so. My...well my Mum was Muggle-born, and has made a point of us seeing our grandparents. I learned it fairly early on," Lex told as much of the truth as she could without telling Hermione that she was in fact the mother she was referring to.
"Oh, I didn't realize you were a half-blood," Hermione admitted.
"You didn't ask," Lex shot back quickly without thinking. She added a quick smile to let Hermione know she was merely kidding.
"No, I suppose I haven't asked much," Hermione admitted. She was now starting to see why Ron was at ease with Lex. Hermione felt like she had weirdly know the stranger her whole life the more they spoke.
"It's alright, you have a lot going on," Lex told her, keeping an eye on their surroundings as they walked past an ice cream shop.
Suddenly Hermione stopped, taking in the sweet smell of sugar coming from the shop.
Lex laughed to herself. Her mother had always had a sweet tooth as had Rose. In fact, Lex remembered her father always teasing her mother about how much ice cream she and Rose would consume. Hermione chalked it up to that being her biggest food craving when she had been pregnant with Rose.
"I take it that ice cream may be our early lunch?" Lex asked.
Hermione's cheeks grew red, embarrassed by the request since it was in fact very much morning still. "Do you mind? I think it's what the baby wants."
"Lead the way," Lex motioned to the shop and followed Hermione inside after glancing around to make sure they weren't being followed.
Once inside, Hermione went straight to the counter and then suddenly looked upset.
"You okay?" Lex asked.
"I'm not sure what I actually want," Hermione said, as if it was the biggest dilemma in the world.
Lex's lips curled into a smile. She knew what her mother's favorite ice cream was because it was the same as hers. She stepped around Hermione and ordered.
"I'll take a scoop of salted caramel with hot fudge," Lex ordered.
Hermione's face lit up. "Oh, that actually sounds delicious. Salted caramel is my favorite. Make that two!"
The girl behind the counter nodded and quickly gave them their orders. Hermione paid, always having Muggle currency on her, and then the two took their ice cream and left.
"No one ever likes salted caramel...Ron always picks on me for ordering it," Hermione said causally as they walked.
"Well, not everyone has an impressive pallet." Lex laughed a bit as she took a bite, continuing to keep an eye on their surroundings.
Hermione noticed exactly what Lex was doing and narrowed her eyes at Lex, actually impressed more than anything. "How do you do that?"
"Do what?" Lex asked.
"Pay attention to what I am saying and still keep your guard up like that. It's just...rather impressive." Hermione said.
Lex shrugged. "Years of being an Auror, I suppose...you mix that with losing your family and..."
Lex's eyes grew wide as she realized she probably had mentioned far too much.
"You lost your family? In the war?" Hermione assumed.
"Um...something like that," Lex dismissed Hermione with a wave of her hand. "I honestly don't like to talk about it. It was a while ago...I've just learned to move on."
Hermione nodded, and after a beat felt really sorry for Lex but also sorry for bringing it up. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," Lex smiled at Hermione, knowing the words held so much more weight to her than Hermione realized. She never wanted her mother to ever be sorry for what happened. She knew her mother in the future felt the same way and I just felt like more of a connection for her. The younger pregnant woman next to her with absolutely her mother and Lex was grateful to have time with her..
They walked back to the Granger-Weasley house in a comfortable silence. Hermione, for the first time really since meeting Lex felt comfortable around the other woman. She realized Lex wasn't such bad company to keep after all, especially if she would be hanging around the next few months.
It was late when Ron arrived home. Aside from meeting with Draco that morning he had also been called into two hearings for Death Eaters he had arrested months earlier and the last one dragged out longer than expected.
Ron flooed back to his home expecting to it quiet, except for the Aurors that were on duty at the front door. Lex had taken to spending most nights there since the attack but occasionally she did go back to the apartment she shared with Scorpius to really rest. Ron figured she would have done that tonight since she hadn't gone at all that week and since it was so late so he was surprised to see her half asleep on the couch, the Muggle television on to a sporting game that Ron had come to know as football on the screen.
"Hey!" Lex sat up groggily when she saw Ron, flipping the television off.
"I thought you may have left already," Ron said.
Lex shook her head. "I didn't want to leave Mum until you got home. She went up to bed a bit ago."
"How was she today? Bored of working from home..." Ron assumed. He knew it was driving Hermione a bit mad to be stuck in the house all day and he could tell in her temperament lately.
"Well, no...we went out. She had her three month appointment at St. Mungo's today," Lex tried to deliver the news softly.
Ron's entire face went white and his jaw nearly dropped to the floor. He wiped his face at his own stupidity at the realization Lex's words caused.
"Bloody hell...I completely forgot that was today," He shook his head at himself.
"Yeah..." Lex said carefully.
"Is she bloody livid with me?" Ron asked.
"She seemed more sad...but everything looked good. She let me in the room with her." Lex said.
"She did?" Ron was surprised.
Lex nodded. "I just think she didn't want to be alone."
Ron shook his head. He had really messed up. He had been so focused on meeting Malfoy that he completely forgot about the healer appointment. Worse than that, Hermione had reminded him about a dozen times in the last week.
"They...they know what you're having. She didn't want to find out until you were home so, I'm supposed to tell you guys when you're together. Act surprised since you already know," Lex told him.
Ron nodded, realizing that surprise was taken from him the second Lex told him about the future. He hadn't thought it was a big deal at the time but now he saw it was just another moment taken from him and Hermione to celebrate together.
"What happened...with the meeting?" Lex asked, switching topics and bringing Ron's thoughts back to the conversation.
"Draco was able to get a meeting set up with Goyle and the Wizard again and he's going to go with them. Scorpius will go too, under the invisibility cloak," Ron explained.
"Well, that's good right?" Lex seemed relieved.
Ron shrugged. "Well, it requires trusting a two Malfoys so.."
"Scorpius isn't like his father. I promise you," Lex said.
"So you keep saying," Ron sighed.
Lex rolled her eyes and glanced at the clock, realizing how late it was. "You should probably get up to Mum. I'll stay tonight and keep an extra set of eyes on things."
Ron nodded and made his way up the stairs to the bedroom he shared with Hermione. He quietly entered, not bothering to turn the light on. He did not want to wake Hermione. She looked so peaceful, sleeping on her side with one hand draped over her tiny baby bump.
Ron smiled at the image of his wife. She was absolutely beautiful and he would do whatever it took to keep her and their children safe.
As Ron stripped out of his clothes and fumbled in the dark to put his things away he heard Hermione shuffling in the bed. He stopped moving for a moment, hoping she was still asleep.
"Ron?" Hermione's voice was soft and groggy.
Ron sighed. He had not meant to wake her up. "I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's late," The sleep from Hermione's voice seemed to fade and now Ron could hear a coldness take its place.
Ron moved to the bed and quickly took Hermione's hand in his. She allowed it but her hand was limp.
"Hermione...I'm so sorry I forgot about the healer appointment today. I don't know what I was bloody thinking..." Ron said quickly.
"I doubt you were," Hermione mumbled.
Ron could feel his ears grow red in the dark room. "Fair enough..."
There was a long moment of silence before Hermione spoke.
"Ron, are you really sure you want this baby?" Her voice cracked as she spoke.
Ron was dumbfounded by the question. "What? Of course."
"It's just...you don't seem interested in it at all. Sure, we talk about it but it's always just about the situation of it...not you actually engaging with me about it." Hermione explained.
Ron sighed, knowing Hermione was right. He has not been the dotting father-to-be he had hoped he would be but to be fair, the baby wasn't exactly planned and they were the target of an attack and a prophecy, not to mention that his entire future where he and two of his three children had been laid on him by his only surviving daughter. He definitely had a lot on his mind. However, he knew he couldn't tell Hermione that.
"I'm...I'm sorry about that. I'll try to be better because I am really excited and happy," Ron told her, gently placing a hand on her small hump of a stomach and relieved when she didn't move away.
Hermione just nodded, though even in the dark Ron could tell she was very upset.
"I really wanted to be there today...I can't believe I forgot. I just have been so focused at work and everything going on with you and this prophecy..." Ron rambled.
Hermione reached out squeezing his hand. "Just don't miss the next one, okay?"
Ron nodded feverishly, sure Hermione was only being so forgiving because she was tired.
"What did the healer say?" Ron asked after a moment.
"That everything looked perfect. She could tell what the baby is. I had her give the note to Lex so she could tell us together," Hermione spoke softly.
"So Lex went with you?" Ron asked.
Hermione nodded, sinking her head down back into her pillow. "She was oddly comforting. It was nice not to be alone."
"See? She's not so bad," Ron smiled a bit though the alone part did cut him up. He should have been there.
Hermione nodded her head in agreement though she kept her eyes closed and Ron could tell she was drifting back to sleep. He gently leaned over and kissed her forehead before wrapping his hand around her bump and climbing down into bed next to her.
