WHO: Ron, Hermione, Rose, & Hugo WHAT: Meeting the kiddies WHEN: Saturday afternoon [backdated] WHERE: Room of Requirement WARNINGS: TBD STATUS: Closed / Incomplete gdoc; to be continued
Hermione was minding the shop when the bell rang out over the front door, signalling new customers. She looked up from where she'd been reading from the checkout counter and didn't necessarily think anything of it when a redheaded boy walked in. When she caught sight of the girl immediately behind him though, she knew exactly what was happening. That girl was most certainly her daughter, the resemblance was far too strong. The red hair meant it was very likely that they were also Ron's children.
"Hullo," she greeted, this time without her customary 'how can I help you' because she didn't want to give the kids the wrong impression just yet.
Hugo lit up as soon as he saw his mum and ran toward her. He went around the counter to be able to give her a tight hug. "Mum! Where's Dad? What are we doing here? Why aren't we at home?" As he caught a good look at the shop, he added, "It's Christmastime?"
Hermione took a deep breath. "Let me send for him," she replied, and conjured her Patronus to take the message that he was needed as soon as possible because their children had arrived in Madison. That done, she turned to the boy and girl.
"Come on, let's get comfortable. I've the Room of Requirement we can use. Your father and I have some things we need to explain to you both." She was definitely a little stiff with them because it was just so weird for her. Still, she got them settled in an approximation of the Gryffindor Common Room with snacks and such while they waited for Ron.
***
If he hadn't been awaken with a giant spider by his twin nephews that morning, Ron would've been quite confused by the sudden appearance of Hermione's Patronus and the message he received from it. But as such, Fred and Weiss had explained to him that every once in awhile, children from the future and/or an alternate universe would appear for a week or so. It was typical Dome stuff, which he was quite used to by now.
Even so, it was a bit strange to think about. While he and Hermione did date and at one point loved another (well, he had), they never once discussed children. Now their future children had shown up and it was something he never thought he'd have to deal with. But apparently, now he was. Once he was ready, he Apparated to the Room of Requirement, not surprised that it was the Gryffindor Common Room again.
"Dad!" Rose beamed as she dashed towards Ron, giving him a hug with enough force to make him go 'oof'. "Uh, hey," he said, awkwardly patting her on the head. This was so strange. "So... these are our future kids, huh?" he glanced up at Hermione.
***
“I hadn’t quite gotten to that part just yet,” she admitted as she set her teacup down. Hermione hasn’t been sure how to tell them, truthfully, so she’d hoped to buy herself a little bit of time to get them settled. Seeing the Room of Requirement and the Gryffindor Common Room has been exciting for the children, though now their attentions were solely focused on the pair of them.
She cleared her throat. “But yes, right now it’s 2018 here in Madison Valley, but Ron and I are from 2000 in our world.”
Hugo’s eyes went wide. “So you’re not even married yet?” he asked, totally surprised. “It’s like we used a Time Turner!”
Hermione could tell that he was excited by the idea and looked over to Ron as if asking for backup.
“Sort of. But we’re also in a...different reality.” Which complicated things.
***
Rose had grabbed Ron's hand and dragged him over to the sofa where she sat close to him. It was obvious she adored her dad and while it was a bit strange seeing both him and her mother so young, she still wanted to be close to him.
"What do you mean 'sort of'?" she asked her mom. "A different reality? What is going on?"
She was asking so many questions that she reminded Ron a bit of Hermione. Always asking things, wanting to know all the answers. She may have his red hair, but she certainly had Mione's brains.
"It's kind of hard to explain," he began. "I'm not sure I even understand it completely, but apparently this town is in another reality altogether. And here... well," he trailed off, not quite sure how to go about this. But because it was Ron and he didn't always use tact, he just ended up blurting it out. "Here, we're not together."
***
Hermione could easily see both herself and Ron in their possible children and a part of her wanted to race for the copy of the book series they were based off of to see if this truly was their future. They had far more pressing things to deal with though, like the look of confusion on their children's' faces.
"Ron and I are still very much part of each others' lives," she assured them before they could voice any of their questions. "But Madison Valley works quite oddly. I was brought here over two years ago, after your father and I broke up."
Hugo nodded, familiar with the story of how it took a few tries for his parents to really commit to one another.
"Well, in that time, I met someone here. Oz. He and I own Magic Alley together, and we'd been dating for some time when Ron was brought here," Hermione continued. "We're still good friends, of course we are, we always will be, but that's what we mean when we say it's something of a different reality. But when we're returned home, it will be to exactly the same point we left, without any of our memories. It'll be like we never really left London at all."
***
Ron wanted to get a copy of the book as well. Usually he tended to stay away - it was so strange to think of himself as some character in a children's book series, not to mention Fred's death was in the final book apparently - but right now, he was kind of tempted. Now was not the time for reading, however. He had more important matters to attend to.
Rose was about to say something, but stopped when her mother began speaking. Like her little brother, she knew how it took their parents to finally get together for good. And while it did upset her that they didn't work out in this world, she had to remind herself that they did back home.
"Well, it's strange but at least we can always just go back where you two are together," she said but then she glanced at her parents, a look of worry on her face. "Uh, we do get to go back, right?" Suddenly, her mind was filled with questions and doubt. What if they couldn't go back? What if they were stuck in this strange universe where their parents weren't together?
***
Hermione nodded quickly. “Yes, of course you will. And you likely won’t remember this unless you’re returned here again, and even that isn’t a given.” The rules governing the Dome were mercurial at best and Hermione couldn’t wrap her head around them on a good day.
“This has happened once before, future children coming here. It lasts around a week,” she added.
“So an extra week of vacation!” Hugo was optimistic, which was much appreciated.
“Yes exactly. Though I should warn you both of a few things. First off, Uncle Harry is here, but he’s just a toddler. His parents were brought here shortly before their deaths, so he’s got a very different life here. Please just remember to be respectful, as they know the gist of what happens to them.” Hermione waited until both children agreed.
“And the second is that Oz and myself have a little girl that arrived for us this morning. Her name is Miranda, and I hope that we can all spend some time together.”
Hugo glanced at his sister and father and then asked, “Is she littler than me?”
Hermione nodded. “She’s six.”
“Woohoo! I’m not the youngest!” Hugo did a little fist pump in the air and then stuck his tongue out at Rose.
***
*** Rose let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She was quite relieved that she'd be able to go home. Even though this was her mother, it was also not her mother but she believed Hermione was telling the truth all the same. "Okay. Well, that's good. No offense, but I'd rather go back to a world where you two are together and not be in this one," she told her.
"None taken," Ron shrugged. If he was honest, he didn't want her or Hugo around permanently but even he knew better than to say that out loud.
While Hugo was looking forward to a vacation, Rose was actually kind of sad. "What, no school for a week?" she frowned. Ron muttered something about wondering how she was his daughter. The more he got to know her, the more she was definitely like a mini Hermione with red hair.
Both children nodded and listened, Rose a bit shocked that Uncle Harry was a lot younger than she remembered and that his parents were alive and well. "That's... well, crazy," she didn't know any other word to describe it. "But don't worry, we won't say anything."
She turned to Hugo and rolled her eyes at her younger brother. Ron grinned a little but it faded as he spoke up. "Your Uncle Fred is alive and here too. He has twin sons with his fiance," he told them. "They woke me up with a giant spider," he grumbled, still annoyed by the rude awakening.