The house was quiet as Hermione made her way to the kitchen. Through the window, she spotted Harry outside with Dobby and Bill, deep in conversation.
She placed the glasses in the sink and set the little remaining dittany on the table. Fleur's voice drifted from one of the rooms upstairs, and Hermione assumed the others were resting or being taken care of.
Her thoughts weren't on the rest of the house however—Luna, Dean, or what had happened to them. She wanted answers, of course, and to talk to Harry. But right now, her mind was solely on Ron.
Taking a deep breath, she steadied herself and headed back 's fine. Totally normal, she told 're just going to have a conversation with your friend. In a bathroom. While he's naked.
She knocked lightly on the door.
"Come in," came Ron's voice.
Carefully, she pushed the door open and stepped inside. Ron was in the bath, bubbles hiding everything but his head, shoulders, and a bit of his chest. His arm draped over the side of the tub, while steam curled around him, and he looked more relaxed than she'd seen him in months.
Not wanting to overthink her movements, she walked over to the tub and sat on the floor beside it, positioning herself so she faced him. She hesitated for a moment before settling, feeling awkward under his watchful gaze.
Ron's lips twitched into an awkward grin. "Is this too weird?"
"No," Hermione replied, a little too quickly. She cleared her throat and tried again. "It's peaceful."
He nodded, the grin fading as his expression turned serious. "So, Hermione, what actually happened?" His eyes met hers, earnest and unwavering. "Please… tell me the truth."
She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling as she tried to gather her thoughts.
"When the Snatchers came," she finally began, clearing her throat, "I didn't realise it at the time, but the one who grabbed me kept me separated from the rest of you on purpose. It was so frantic that I didn't notice. He even stopped Greyback from Apparating with me. And then… he Apparated me here."
She glanced at Ron, who was watching her intently, his jaw tight. She took a steadying breath before continuing.
"When we landed, he let me go, and I ran."
Ron muttered under his breath, "Good girl," but she barely registered it as she pressed on.
"I didn't get far—when this is all over, remind me to work on my fitness," she added, attempting a nervous smile. Ron's gaze remained so focused, so intense, that her smile faltered. "He caught up with me quickly. And when he did… he showed me he'd altered his appearance." She paused, locking eyes with him. "It was you."
Ron blinked, bewildered. "What?"
"It was you," she repeated quietly, her voice trembling slightly. "From the future. You came back… to save me."
Ron inhaled sharply. "Are you sure it was me?"
Hermione nodded. "He told me things—things only you would know."
They stared at each other, the silence heavy with tension.
"Why did he come back, Hermione?" Ron asked at last, his voice low and measured.
She hesitated, her heart pounding in her say it. Just tell him.
"Because in his future, I died," she said softly. "Not here, not now, but as a result of what happened to me at Malfoy Manor."
Ron's face drained of colour. "How?"
Hermione shifted uncomfortably. This was harder to explain than she'd expected. "In his timeline, Bellatrix knew who I was—what I was. She tortured me. You got me out, but she'd already done… damage. Not enough to kill me right away, and not enough for us to notice. But later, in the future, I got pregnant. And I died giving birth." She swallowed hard before continuing. "That's why he—you—came back. To stop me from getting hurt in the first place. He said it worked—his memories started to shift while he was here. Although," she added, attempting a weak joke, "I'm still annoyed you apparently never listened to me about the dangers of time travel." She reached over and lightly tapped his arm.
Ron didn't smile. He stared at her, his expression raw and unguarded, and it unnerved her. For the first time, he looked so much like the older Ron she'd met.
"Ron, say something. Please," she whispered after several minutes had passed.
Ron shrugged, his voice low and steady. "I'm glad he did it. I would've done the same. Hell, Hermione, when you didn't Apparate with us to Malfoy Manor and Greyback started making those disgusting comments about the other Snatcher wanting… fun first," his voice cracked, and his face twisted in revulsion, "I wanted to kill them all with my bare hands."
Hermione shivered at the thought. "Ron, please. Don't put yourself in danger for me."
"I can't promise that," he said simply, shaking his head.
She reached over and squeezed his hand. He closed his eyes and leaned back in the bath, steam curling around his face.
"Ron?"
"Hmm?"
"I really am glad you're back," she whispered.
"I'll never leave you again," he replied, his voice quiet but resolute.
She squeezed his hand one last time before standing. "I'll let you wash. Just… don't fall asleep in there, all right? It's dangerous."
As she turned to leave, she noticed the bubbles had started to thin and quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks burning. She slipped out of the room, shutting the door softly behind her.
Her stomach twisted with guilt as she made her way downstairs. She hadn't told him—it was his child. She'd chickened out. But surely, he'd picked up on the hint…
She rolled her , of course he hadn't. He had never once gotten any of her hints.
With a deep breath, she walked into the kitchen to join the others.
That evening, they enjoyed a much-needed dinner of homemade chicken soup and fresh bread. Fleur gently cautioned them against eating too much, worried their stomachs wouldn't handle it well. Hermione didn't mind the light meal, though Ron had been reluctantly shooed away when he attempted to ask for a third helping.
Later, once the cottage had fallen quiet and everyone else was asleep, Hermione slipped out of the room she was sharing with Luna. Before bed, she'd asked the other girl if she'd mind Dean using the room as well, to which Luna had replied in her usual airy tone, "Why would it bother me? He's my friend just like you are."
In the living room, Hermione found Dean sprawled across the sofa, his legs dangling awkwardly over the arm. She leaned down and gently shook him awake.
"Hmm? Hermione? What's wrong?" he mumbled groggily.
"Nothing. Go upstairs to Luna's room and sleep in a proper bed," she said softly.
Dean blinked at her, still half-asleep. "Are you sure? Luna won't mind?"
Hermione smiled. "She's fine with it."
"Thanks," he murmured, squeezing her arm lightly as he passed her on the way to the stairs.
Turning back to the room, she spotted Harry and Ron asleep on the floor. Harry was curled up tightly on his side, while Ron lay on his back, limbs sprawled out in every direction. She couldn't help but smile fondly.
"Harry. Ron," she called quietly.
When neither stirred, she grabbed a cushion from the sofa, set it down between them, and plopped down. Reaching over, she shook Harry gently. He stirred, groaning softly, so she turned to Ron. He needed a few rougher shakes—and a slap to the arm from Harry—before he finally woke.
"Wha's goin' on?" Ron mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "Hermione? Harry? Everything alright?"
Hermione smiled. "I couldn't sleep. We didn't get a chance to talk earlier, and I need to know what happened."
"Yeah," Harry added, sitting up. "And I need to know what happened toyou, Hermione."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione explained her encounter with the older Ron, leaving out some details she wasn't ready to share with Harry. She told him she'd died of complications, omitting the pregnancy entirely.
When she finished, Harry stared at Ron, wide-eyed. "Honestly, I'm impressed you figured out how to time travel that far."
He barely dodged the pillow Ron hurled at him.
"Stop it!" Hermione scolded, though she couldn't help laughing. "You'll wake Bill and Fleur. Now tell me—what happened at Malfoy Manor?"
The smiles faded. Harry and Ron exchanged a glance before Harry began. "It wasn't great, Hermione. Ron sort of… lost it when you didn't appear with us."
"Sort of?" Ron shot Harry a look, his ears already glowing red. "Fine, I lost it. Can we move on?"
Hermione smiled softly, reaching out to squeeze Ron's hand. To her surprise, he didn't pull away; instead, he turned his hand to interlace their fingers and held on.
Harry recounted their capture, escape, and Dobby's intervention. Hermione listened intently, frowning when Harry mentioned the house-elf.
"Dobby?" she asked. "The other Ron said something that made it sound like… like Dobby didn't make it in his timeline. Is he alright?"
Harry hesitated before answering. "He's fine. He's gone back to Hogwarts, with Winky."
Relieved, Hermione nodded. She considered mentioning the older Ron's comments about Percy and Fred but decided against it, not wanting to worry Ron further. She'd handle that when the time came.
Finally, Hermione and Harry filled Ron in on the task the older Ron had assigned Harry—retrieving the wand and some hair. Harry wanted to talk to the goblin tomorrow, but they agreed they'd likely need to go to Gringotts and would need Polyjuice Potion.
As they finished, Hermione stifled a yawn.
"I sent Dean upstairs," she said. "Do you mind if I stay here?"
"Of course not," Harry said, already lying back down, his back to Ron as he shifted over to make room.
Ron, still holding Hermione's hand, grabbed another cushion from a nearby chair and lay it down beside his. Then, tugging her hand gently, he signalled for her to lie down beside him.
She settled in, smiling as he draped his blanket over them both.
"You sure you're alright?" Ron whispered.
"I'm sure. Are you?"
"Much better, than I was."
There was a moment of hesitation before Ron let go of her hand and carefully placed his arm over her. "Is that okay?" he asked nervously.
Hermione smiled, shuffling closer until her head rested against his chest. His familiar scent was comforting.
"Much better," she murmured, echoing his words.
She felt him rest his chin lightly atop her head. For a fleeting moment, she thought he might have kissed her hair, though it was so soft she couldn't be sure.
Finding courage in the dark, she whispered, "Ron?"
"Mmm?" he murmured sleepily.
"The baby, in the future. It was yours."
He pulled her closer, his hold tightening protectively.
"Good," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "I'd hoped it was."
This time, she knew he pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
As Ron's breathing evened out, Hermione stayed awake a little longer, reflecting on the whirlwind of the past 24 hours. She'd started the day in a tent, upset and barely speaking to the boy whose arms now held her. He'd saved her life, told her they were together in the future, with a child.
And, honestly? That suited her just fine.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt hopeful about the future.
Letting that hope settle in her heart, she drifted off to sleep.
They'd be alright. All of them.