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 14
Scorpius and Harry arrived nearly at the same time after receiving Ron's owl and found Ron, Hermione, and Lex all sitting in the kitchen over cups of hardly touched tea.
"What happened?" Scorpius sounded panicked when he entered the room and quickly moved toward Lex to make sure she as alright. He had no idea why, but he felt the need to make sure she was safe.
Lex was shocked to feel Scorpio's grab her shoulders, nearly shaking her.
"I'm fine...we're all fine," Lex gave Scorpius a look and then motioned her eyes toward Hermione.
Scorpius nodded, letting go of Lex's shoulders and relaxing a bit upon seeing Hermione was alright as well, which meant Rose was.
"We were attacked," Hermione spoke next, not exactly agreeing they things were fine but acknowledging that no one was hurt.
"Do you know who did it?" Harry glanced around.
"It was Goyle," Ron said, one of his hands clenching in a fist while the other reached out to hold Hermione's hand on the table.
Now that it has been a few hours since the attack and he could focus more on Hermione, Ron could tell the attack had shaken her deeply and it bothered him. He hated seeing his wife scared in the home he was trying to build with her. He felt so violated.
"Goyle? Why would he attack you?" Harry was genuinely confused. Goyle didn't seem smart enough to be involved in stealing a prophecy.
"Said someone paid him. Someone he believed worked at the Ministry but...wore a mask when he met them so he didn't know who it was," Lex explained.
"And he attacked because he said they wanted Hermione's blood..." Ron sighed.
"Someone from the Ministry. Was he sure?" Harry was even more confused now.
"Well, we don't know but...we didn't want to take a risk which is why we called you both rather then the Ministry right now," Lex said.
Harry nodded, understanding what was saying. He glanced around. "Where is Goyle now?"
"I... took care of him. He's not dead, but I don't think he'll be back to bother anyone or open his mouth about this for a while." Lex said. Once Ron had secured the locks earlier she had disapparated with Goyle to the Forbidden Forest and let him there making it very clear he would pay with his life if he ever went after Hermione again.
"Well, what do we do now?" Scorpius asked.
"I reckon we need to tell Kingsley but other than that, I don't want to say a thing to anyone else, in case someone at the Ministry is involved," Ron explained.
"Agreed," Harry nodded with a sigh.
"We also need to keep Hermione away from the Ministry...for now," Lex said.
"Obviously," Ron agreed.
"Really keep her close to here...she could be a target anywhere she goes," Harry added.
Hermione felt her temper flaring. She hated that they were speaking about her as if she wasn't even there, making decisions that directly affected her without her consent.
"I refuse to sit here and let my entire life be controlled, in case anyone cared what I thought," Hermione spoke up, the annoyance in her voice clear as day.
All eyes turned to Hermione and it was clear she was not happy.
"Hermione, we need to keep you safe," Ron said.
Hermione shook her head. "No...we spent years looking over our shoulders but living our lives. I refuse to stop doing that now...especially now."
"Hermione, you're pregnant, it's different now." Harry said what everyone was thinking.
"That's especially why I won't be held captive in my own home. This is supposed to be a happy time for Ron and I and so far we have barely enjoyed it. I haven't even gotten the chance to tell my own parents and my life and this baby's life have already been threatened. Now I understand taking precautions and I will but I refuse to just sit here." Hermione's voice shook the longer she spoke, her own emotions betraying her as she felt tears of frustration, anger, and fear threaten her eyes.
"Hermione, calm down a bit...we aren't holding you captive," Ron tried gently.
"No, but realistically keeping you in one place would be a bit easier for us all," Lex sighed. She knew her mother to be strong willed. After all, she had been told it had been one of the strongest traits Hermione had passed to Lex, but Lex didn't expect her to be so brazen about it.
Hermione glared at Lex and Harry knew that look was one no one wanted to be on the other side of.
"Let's just calm down for right now. Let me go talk to Kingsley and figure out what we should do," Harry offered, feeling the tension rising.
Being told to calm down was enough for Hermione and she slammed her fist on the table before pushing herself back and storming off, up the stairs to her and Ron's bedroom.
"Oh bloody hell..." Ron chased Hermione up the stairs leaving Harry, Lex and Scorpius alone in the kitchen.
After a moment, Lex spoke up, ignoring the slamming of the bedroom door upstairs.
"I want to come," Lex told Harry. She knew she needed to speak with Kingsley about everything they had learned so far. Obviously this was the attack Ron had stopped the first time, but this time they knew who the attacker was, and that was the first thing she had come to the past to fix. Now they needed to figure out the next step.
Harry nodded. "Alright."
"I'll stay here," Scorpius offered, knowing they needed at least one extra set of eyes on the home and Hermione.
Lex nodded, although she knew Scorpius was not a real Auror he was better than nothing, and she felt a little more ease, knowing there had only been one attack in the past on her Hermione's life. She didn't expect any other events to be altered simply because they had figured out that the attacker had been Goyle, at least not that evening.
"We will be back as quickly as we can," Harry told Scorpius as he and Lex got up to floo to the Ministry.
Ron followed Hermione up the stairs only to have their bedroom door slammed in his face. He sighed, taking a deep breath before opening the door to find Hermione ripping her clothing drawer apart to find a pair of pajamas.
"Hermione, please calm down for a minute," Ron said which only seemed to anger Hermione more.
Hermione let out a grunt of annoyance as she slammed her drawers harder, not even sure what she was looking for anymore.
Ron winced but then decided to add the one thing he knew would calm her a bit. "Come on now, Hermione...being this upset isn't good for the baby."
Upon mention of the baby Hermione stopped and slowly turned to glare at Ron, causing him to shrink back wondering if he made a mistake.
"Don't you dare do that, Ronald. Do not use this baby as an excuse to order me around," Hermione said.
Ron sighed and nodded to himself. Yes he had made a huge mistake. "I didn't mean it like that, Hermione. I just meant...well the Healer said to take it easy."
"Oh...good to know you were actually paying attention at the appointment. It's been hard to tell if you are even interested in any of it," Hermione took the cheapest shot she could. She knew it was a bit unfair, that Ron had explained to her that he was excited to be a father but had just been overwhelmed by everything on top of the surprise pregnancy. In that moment, though, she was frustrated and scared and she was letting her emotions take over her rationale side.
"Hermione...that isn't fair," Ron said simply.
Hermione sighed in frustration, fighting back tears and folding her arms across her body. "I know that."
And in that moment Hermione broke down, sobs uncontrollably wracking her body. The last few weeks had hit her all at once. She was tired, scared, overwhelmed, and more than anything felt like Ron was not treating her as an equal team member. She hated feeling so out of control of her body and her life the pregnancy compounding on the prophecy and now the recent attack.
Ron instantly moved forward, gathering Hermione in his arms and kissing her forehead over and over again, trying to calm her down as he eased down onto the bed with her.
"Hermione, just take a breath..." Ron said, gently running his hand over Hermione's back as he felt her shake against him.
"I'm sorry..." Hermione said after a long moment. She gently leaned back, rubbing the tears from her eyes.
"Don't be sorry, I just hate to see you upset. I know this is all...it's stressful," Ron said.
Hermione laughed at Ron's word choice. "Stressful is an understatement..."
"Well, you were always the one with a better vocabulary," Ron teased her a bit which caused her to smile a bit.
"I just...I hate feeling like we are being trapped again. We spent so long worrying and watching out for ourselves...I just thought that was behind us and...I just want to enjoy this time with you," Hermione spoke from her heart, looking down at her stomach that held the baby she was trying to focus on and placing a hand on her flat midsection for emphasis.
Ron smiled gently and placed his hand over Hermione's. "And we will...we still have so much time before this baby gets here...before you even look like you're growing a baby in there."
Hermione laughed again, thinking about what she would look like with a pregnant stomach. "You think you will still like me when I'm that round?"
Ron smiled at her, thumbing her stomach and nodding. "Yeah, I reckon I will. After all, I don't know a time I didn't like you."
"I'm sorry what I said. I know...I know you're trying to wrap your head around the baby still, along with everything else," Hermione said softly, looking at his hand on her stomach.
"Well, after the mere thought of someone wanting you or this baby's blood...there's nothing left to wrap my head around. I'm going to do everything and anything to keep you both safe. I mean...I love it already..." Ron said, swallowing hard on the last bit.
"You do?" Hermione couldn't hide her own smile.
Ron nodded, matching her smile. "Don't you?"
"Of course," Hermione responded. It was a silly question. Without even realizing it, she had fallen in love with the baby she was growing the second she found out she was pregnant.
"Well and so I am going to do everything I can't to keep you both safe...because I'm bloody excited to be a dad," Ron told her.
Hermione smiled wider and nodded, leaning against Ron's chest so that she could relax a bit.
"But that's why we have to trust Lex right now. I can telll you aren't her biggest fan but...she's here to help and she genuinely seems like she wants to." Ron said.
Hermione sighed. "I just don't know her, Ron, and even I'll admit I didn't love the idea of you spending time with another woman right now."
Ron laughed. "Well first of all, I'm married to the smartest, prettiest, and most famous witch there is. Secondly, she is likely going to be with you more than me...but it's nice to hear your worried about someone snatching me up."
"Oh shut it..." Hermione playfully slapped Ron's chest, realizing now how silly any concern she had sounded, especially in the grand scheme of things.
Ron laughed back at her and the pair lapsed into silence for a moment.
"Do you really think you can trust her? We hardly know her..." Hermione said finally, referencing Lex.
"I do," Ron nodded, knowing Hermione was right. They hardly knew Lex but he oddly felt like he had known her his entire life. Without anything other than a feeling, he trusted Lex. "I can't explain why but...I do."
Hermione sighed, closing her eyes as she nuzzled closer to Ron's chests suddenly feeling exhausted beyond belief.
Lex and Harry made their way to Kingsley's office. It was later in the evening and nearly everyone had gone home for the day at the Ministry but the Aurors Department was still buzzing. Lex and Harry found Kingsley at his desk. They quickly close the door behind them.
"Everything alright?" Kingsley asked immediately upon seeing Harry and Lex.
"Not exactly..." Lex started.
"Hermione and Ron were attacked tonight," Harry said.
Kingsley passed a knowing glance at Lex. This is what they had been waiting for, the attack on Hermione.
"Is everyone alright?" Kingsley asked.
"I sent the two Aurors who had been watching the house to St. Mungo's, but other then that everyone was fine. I'm surprised you haven't received a report yet," Lex said, genuinely surprised.
"As am I," Kingsley responded. "Do you know who attacked them?"
"Gregory Goyle," Harry spoke up.
Kingsley seemed as surprised as anyone by this news, Lex assuming he felt the same way they all seemed to about Goyle. He was too dumb to have done this.
"He claims he was paid by someone who...may work for the Ministry," Lex added to give some context.
Kingsley seemed to straighten up at this information. "Who? Did he say who it was at the Ministry?"
Lex was unsure why Kingsley seemed so stiff, her eyes narrowing at the Minister. "No...he said the person was wearing a mask when they met."
"How did he know they worked for the Ministry then?" Kingsley asked.
"I think it was just an assumption. He met the person near here and he was dressed like he worked here," Harry explained.
Kingsley relaxed a little now. "Well, could have been set up to just seem like he worked here..."
"Yes but this information plus the attack that somehow managed to happen in the Depwrtment of Mysteries...I don't know sounds like it is pointing to someone who works here," Lex pressed, her mind slowly putting the puzzle together.
Kingsley nodded slowly at Lex's deduction.
"There are some former Voldemort supporters working here, if it's at all connected to that. Certainly people that don't like Hermione anyway," Harry reminded Kingsley slowly.
Kingsley nodded again, clearly understanding where Harry was going. "You think it's Draco Malfoy."
"I'm just saying that he does work here," Harry said. He knew if he pushed too hard he would get the response he got from nearly everyone every time he tried to blame Draco for anything - that he was still blinded by anger toward the former Slytherin.
"Indeed he does, so you could be right, Potter. At any rate, we already have eyes on him," Kingsley nodded.
"Really?" Harry seemed surprised.
"Scorpius has been a watching him, but so far nothing has signaled his involvement," Lex reminded Kingsley and informed Harry.
"Doesn't mean he couldn't be from afar," Kingsley said, which Lex found weird. Other then having Scorpius follow Draco, Kingsley had not pointed a finger at him her but now he sounded eager to agree with Harry's point.
"What about the prophecy?" Lex decided to switch gears, feeling this was much more important.
"What about it?" Kingsley asked.
"Goyle said they were after Hermione's blood," Harry said.
"Which technically they already have if they had gotten into St. Mungo's. Her blood samples were never recovered," Lex reminded them.
"It wasn't the right sample," Kingsley said quickly.
"What? How do you know that?" Lex was surprised by Kingsley's words.
"I just meant...if that was correct they wouldn't have come for Hermione again," Kingsley tried to explain. "It's not about her blood, obviously..."
"It's about the baby's blood," Harry said slowly, following Kingsley's train of thought as Kingsley nodded in agreement
Lex looked between the two men, confused "What so you mean?"
"They stole Hermione's blood which would have confirmed she was pregnant but it wouldn't have been enough blood, not if they need the baby's blood, to confirm the prophecy and induce the curse." Kingsley explained.
"If it's an actual curse and now just some far fetched prophecy," Lex said. She thought of prophecy's similar to how Hermione did, that many were self fulfilling. She knew curses were different but until they could confirm this curse was real they didn't actually know what they were dealing with.
"Assuming it is, it's why they still came after Hermione. Even if it isn't real, they would only be able to be certain of that with the blood. They don't need Hermione's blood, they need the baby's blood. At least, that is a theory that certainly works and explains all of this so far," Kingsley said.
The room grew silent for a long moment.
"Could we substitute the blood? I mean...if we were able to find the prophecy, could we substitute the blood to figure out what the prophecy is about?" Lex asked, her thoughts in real time as she spoke.
"Substitute it with what?" Harry was confused.
Lex ignored Harry and looked directly at Kingsley. "Would a siblings blood work to open the prophecy?"
"In theory it would be the closest thing to the actual baby's blood...so yes it could work, if the prophecy is about the child," Kingsley said slowly, obviously able to see where Lex was going with her thoughts.
Lex nodded, feeling a sense of resolve. She knew what she could do if they could get a hold of the prophecy to hopefully stopped the events that would kill her father and siblings before they even started. Her blood could be the key to keeping everyone safe, especially Hermione and Rose at the current moment.
"Well, that's brilliant but we don't have siblings blood so it's not really relevant..." Harry said, clearly confused.
"We do, actually," Lex turned to look at Harry. "I mean...we could use my blood."
Harry shook his head in confusion, looking between Lex and Kingsley. "What's that got to do with anything?"
Lex looked at Kingsley and then back at Harry. "Well...because I am Ron and Hermione's youngest daughter..."
Harry shook his head in disbelief. "Sorry?"
"It's true, Harry. She was sent back here to...well to stop certain events. I can confirm this," Kingsley said.
"Events? What events?" Harry was still in disbelief, though he had to admit that the more studied Lex the more her eyes did remind him of Ron and the more her nose reminded him of Hermione. She weirdly did look like his two best friends.
"My father and two order siblings are killed in an attack and my mother goes mad...all because of, well, we think because of this prophecy. In the future, we were never able to figure it out, so I came back to see if I could figure it out and then stop it all from happening," Lex explained in one long breath, fearful she wound never get the story out completely if she didn't all at once.
Harry stared in disbelief, unable to say anything for a long moment. When all of the words registered he slowly turned back to Kingsley, looking for confirmation.
Kingsley nodded at Harry. "It's all true."
Harry said nothing, yanking the chair out across from Kingsley's desk and plummeting himself into it, staring straight ahead, still trying to process things. Finally he shook his head, looking back at Lex.
"Bloody hell you do look a bit like your Mum," Harry said softly. "Just not your-"
"Just not my eyes. I've got my dad's eyes, or so everyone says," Lex smiled at her uncle, knowing he has also spent his life being told he had a particular parent's eyes.
Harry just nodded, still trying to sort everything out in his head.