Hermione was definitely not hiding from her problems. She was so decidedly not hiding that she didn’t feel like a naughty child stealing a cookie when Ginny found her in the library that evening.
“There you are! Didn’t you say you were going to meet me after practice?”
Hermione swivelled around in her chair, trying to hide her guilt. “I know, I know, but I just got—”
“Caught up in your work,” Ginny finished for her. “Hermione, come on! You can’t live like this!”
“Live like what?”
“You can’t possibly avoid the common room just because of my idiot brother! It’s your turf too!”
“Ginny, don’t be ridiculous! I just had some work to finish, and I prefer to do it here in the peace and quiet.”
“Well, that’s it. You’re done for today.” With that, Ginny grabbed Hermione's books and shoved them into her bag before literally dragging her outside the library and up toward Gryffindor Tower. “About Ron…”
“This has nothing to do with Ronald,” Hermione interjected.
“Hermione, I know he’s my brother, but I care about you like a sister. Right now, you need a sibling, not him.”
“Ginny, I told you I’m fine.” She said this more forcefully this time.
“You’re not! And you know it! What happened to all the stuff you told me over the summer, about how this year was finally going to be you and Ron’s year—”
“Well, it’s not, okay? You need to accept the fact that Ronald prefers to eat Lavender’s face than talk to mine.”
“Hermione, it’s my fault—”
“How are things with Dean?” Hermione suddenly blurted out.
“Things are good…”
“Good? The honeymoon phase finally wear out?”
“Hey, I’m only going out with him because you said it would help me get over Harry!”
“And did it?”
“No, if anything, it made it worse.” Ginny admitted. “You know, before, he never noticed me, and now it’s like he wants to talk to me and hang out with me, but I’m stuck with Dean.”
“Look, Ginny, if that’s how you feel, then you should probably end things with Dean.”
“I know, I know I should. I’ve tried, but what if Harry still doesn’t want to go out with me then?”
“Well, if he acts the way you say he does, then I doubt that will be a problem. You know, I see him watching you sometimes.”
“Really?”
“Ginny! That would normally put most girls off!”
“Well, I’m not most girls,” Ginny said defiantly.
“That’s true.”
“And he’s not most guys!”
“Ginny!”
“Look, Mione, I know I sound crazy, but I just wish for a sign!” Ginny started. “I really wish I could get a sign or an omen—something, anything!—to let me know that everything with Harry will be okay! Oh, don’t look at me like that! I know you’d love the same sign for you and Ron—”
At those words, a bright, blinding light filled the corridor in front of them, and two figures appeared. At this, Hermione and Ginny both drew their wands and adapted their duelling stances.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Ginny called out at the boy and girl. “She’s a prefect, you know!”
At the sound of her voice, the boy and girl turned to face them, looking just as shocked to be there as Hermione and Ginny were to find them. The girl closest to Hermione looked like a female Weasley version of her. She was tall, with hair that had the same texture as Hermione’s but the classic Weasley red colour. Her face was dotted with freckles, and she had the bluest eyes Hermione had ever seen—well, she had to admit they looked an awful lot like Ron’s.
The boy next to her was just as tall, if not taller, and looked like a slightly younger version of Harry. Both Hermione and Ginny had seen that distinct messy black hair many times, but instead of Harry’s typically piercing green eyes, the boy had ocean-blue eyes much more similar to Ginny’s. Another noticeable difference was the lack of Harry’s lightning scar on this boy's forehead. They were both wearing Gryffindor jerseys and looked as if they were about to be sick—until they caught sight of Hermione and Ginny.
“Mum!” they both called before running toward the girls.
“Hey! Get back!” Hermione shouted, her wand now pointed directly at the boy while Ginny did the same to the girl.
“Mum! What are you doing here and why are you wearing a uniform?” the boy called to Ginny as the girl held back.
“James, something is very wrong,” the girl said to the boy.
“James?” Hermione repeated, shocked.
At this, the girl seemed to catch on and quickly blurted, “What year is it?”
“1997,” Ginny scoffed, answering.
“Rose, did you hear that? 1997!”
“I’m shocked, not deaf, James.”
Hermione and Ginny watched the exchange with a mix of curiosity and fear.
“Who are you?” Ginny demanded.
“Look, Mu—Ginny, I know you’re scared, but we’re not going to hurt you!”
“Then tell me who you are!”
“I’m James Sirius Potter,” the boy said before turning to the girl. “And this is Rose Granger-Weasley.”
“James! You shouldn’t have told them our full names! You’re gonna freak them out!”
This did, in fact, freak both Hermione and Ginny out. They had just learned that the children—though they could hardly call them children since they looked about the same age—who had just called them “Mum” were related to them and their current crushes.
“Prove it!” Hermione said, finding her voice first.
“Well, um, in your second year, you accidentally polyjuiced yourself into a cat while trying to figure out who was the Heir of Slytherin,” the girl—Rose—said.
“And you,” Ginny said to the boy.
The boy looked at her dumbfounded before he began to sing, “His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad—”
“Alright, alright, that’s enough!” At this, both Hermione and Rose began to snicker.
“What year do you come from?” Hermione asked, finally lowering her wand.
“2021,” the boy answered.
Both Hermione and Ginny stared at them, shocked.
“And you’re my—my—son?”
“Yeah,” James replied, ruffling his hair in the same way Harry did.
“And you’re my daughter?”
“Yep!” Rose replied. “And look, I know you’re going to get mad at me, Mum, but I swear it wasn’t our fault! You taught me better than to mess with time. We were just walking back from Quidditch practice when this light transported us here!”
At this, Hermione turned to whack Ginny on the shoulder. “This is all your fault! ‘I just want a sign!’” She said, pointing at her. “You summoned our future children!”
“What?” James and Rose cried in unison.
“Look, Ginny, go to the common room and get Harry and Ron. I’ll take these two to the Room of Requirement, and then we can decide what to do!”
“Why do we need them?”
“Oh come on! Are you really gonna stand there and act like he”—she pointed at James—“is not a perfect hybrid of you and Harry? And she”—she pointed at Rose—“is not the same for me and Ronald?”
“Okay, fine! I’ll go get them!” Ginny said before disappearing.
“I’m assuming you both know where the Room of Requirement is?” Hermione asked. James and Rose nodded. “Come on, let’s go.”
The trio walked in silence as Hermione willed her mind to stop racing. It couldn’t be true, could it? Could she truly have a kid with Ron? Her thoughts were interrupted when James spoke.
“So what did Uncle Ron do this time?”
“Sorry?”
“You only call him Ronald when he did something wrong!”
At this, Hermione guiltily glanced at Rose, who was eyeing her with curiosity.
“I’m not telling you.”
“Why not?” James whined.
“Because you’re children!”
“So are you!”
“Well, I’m not telling you!” Hermione huffed.
“What year did they say it was?” Rose asked.
“1997.”
“Oh, I know what it is!” Rose exclaimed.
“What?” James eagerly asked.
“You know what your mum said!” Rose said, turning to James. “They’re in the middle of their weird jealousy games!”
“Our what?” Hermione screeched.
“Aunt Ginny always said that in the winter of sixth year, you and Dad were in the middle of this weird jealousy game!”
“Ginny said that?”
“So you admit it!”
“I’m not!” Hermione huffed.
“Oh, come on, Aunt Hermione! We already know! Dad likes to joke about it all the time!” James added.
“Well, does your father also mention how he was hopelessly pinning after your mother during that time?”
“No! But you always do!” Rose added, causing both her and James to burst into giggles.
“Stop it, you two! Before someone hears you! Get inside!” With that, Hermione pushed them into the Room of Requirement.
~~~
Ginny climbed through the portrait hole, calling out for Harry and Ron.
“They're not here! They’re upstairs!”
“Thanks, Neville!” Ginny replied, already making her way up to the sixth-year boys’ dormitory.
“Harry! Ron! I need you now!” she called as she burst into their room.
Harry, caught off guard and topless, flushed pink as he hastily pulled on his hoodie. Ron, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by his sister's sudden entrance.
“What do you want?” Ron huffed, glancing up from his bed.
“Come with me! It’s urgent! Please!” Harry jumped up, concern etched on his face.
“Is everyone alright?” he asked, moving towards her.
“For the moment, yes, but I need you two to come with me!”
“Ginny—” Ron started, but she cut him off.
“Ron, please! It’s urgent! I left Hermione alone with them!” Without waiting for a response, she dashed back down the stairs and through the portrait hole, with Harry and Ron hot on her heels.
“What do you mean ‘alone with them’?” Harry asked, trying to keep up.
“Faster, come on!” Ginny urged, glancing back at them.
“Ginny, is Hermione in danger?” Ron asked, worry creeping into his voice. Ginny didn’t answer but led the boys toward the Room of Requirement. When they reached the entrance, Ginny turned to them and whipped out her wand.
“I understand this will be shocking, but you better not even think about being rude to either of them! Do I make myself clear?”
“Ginny—”
“Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes!” the boys replied in unison, and Ginny pushed open the doors.
The Room of Requirement resembled the Gryffindor common room but felt emptier. Hermione stood awkwardly by the fireplace as two figures on the sofa turned to face her.
“Hermione, is everything alright?” Harry asked, stepping forward cautiously.
Just as she was about to respond, the boy launched himself into Harry’s arms while the girl did the same with Ron, both shouting, “Dad!”
“Dad?” Ron spluttered, though he instinctively hugged the girl tighter.
“Do you want to explain, or should I?” Hermione asked, looking at the girl.
~~~
“So what you’re saying is that you were wishing for a sign that everything would be alright with you and Harry, and you accidentally summoned your son from the future?” Ron asked, incredulity written across his face, making Harry’s ears turn pink.
“And the same thing happened to Hermione, summoning your daughter!” Ginny shot back, anger flaring.
“Hey! Don’t pin this on me!” Hermione protested.
“Will you all please shut up!” James bellowed, cutting through their bickering.
“That is no way to talk to your aunt and uncle!” Ginny retorted.
“Ginny,” Harry said, placing a hand on her knee, immediately calming her.
“He’s right!” Rose chimed in. “Can you please reverse whatever this is? We have a Quidditch match tomorrow!”
“Wow, you really are Ron’s daughter!” Hermione exclaimed.
“Mum!” Rose shot back.
“Alright! Alright! Let’s think this through. You two were summoned here by Ginny—yes, Ginny, your plea for a sign! So now that we have the sign, how do we send you back?”
“Maybe our sign needs to be acknowledged!” Rose suggested, her expression mirroring her mother’s when she had an idea. “That way, the whole sign-omen thing can be completed!”
“But how do we do that?” Harry asked.
“I don’t know! Just acknowledge Mum!” James urged, looking exasperated.
“Stop saying things like that! You’re going to give me a heart attack!” Harry shot back, his voice cracking under the weight of disbelief.
“What? Because the thought of having a kid with me is so horrible, Potter?” Ginny snapped, her cheeks flushing.
“No, not that!” Harry said quickly, his words tumbling out. “It’s just… he’s living proof that I survived the war!” His voice softened, the realization hitting him like a thunderclap.
Ginny’s anger melted into guilt. “Harry, I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize—”
“No, Gin, it’s okay,” Harry interrupted, managing a small, shaky smile. “You couldn’t have known. Honestly, it’s like… a weight has been lifted. Knowing there’s a future to look forward to.”
“Harry—” Ginny began, her voice thick with emotion. But instead of finishing her thought, she pulled him into a tight, fierce hug.
Harry held her close, his hand brushing gently against her back. “And for the record,” he murmured, pulling back just enough to meet her eyes, “I’d never think having a kid with you is horrible. Never.”
Ginny blinked up at him, her lips parting in surprise. “You mean that?”
Harry nodded, his cheeks tinged pink. “Actually, the thought of it is… nice. Really nice.” He dropped his voice to a whisper, glancing nervously at Ron. “If you get what I mean.”
Ginny’s face lit up like it was Christmas morning. Without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed him full on the lips.
“Ginny!” Ron’s outraged voice cut through the moment like a knife. “That’s my sister!”
“Ewww, Dad!” James groaned, covering his face with his hands.
Ginny pulled back just enough to smirk at her brother. “And he’s my future husband. Deal with it, Ron.”
“Not here!” Ron protested, his ears blazing red as he gestured wildly at the scene. “There are witnesses! Me! Hermione! Him!” He pointed accusingly at James.
“Alright, you two, stop it!” Hermione’s sharp voice rang out, effectively silencing the bickering. She crossed her arms and gave them her signature no-nonsense glare. “We have bigger things to focus on!”
Ginny turned to James, her expression softening. “I’m sorry, darling,” she said, pulling him into a hug. “We didn’t mean to make this harder for you.”
“It’s alright, Mum,” James said, his voice muffled against her shoulder. He straightened and glanced at Harry, holding out an arm. “Come here, Dad.”
Harry stepped forward, wrapping an arm around James and Ginny in a warm embrace. “I wish you could tell us more,” he said quietly, his throat tight. “But I understand.”
James gave a rueful smile. “You know the rules. Terrible things happen to wizards who meddle with time.”
Harry and Ginny exchanged a bittersweet glance, echoing the words with him. “We know.”
“We’re just happy you’re okay,” Harry added, his voice steady despite the ache in his chest.
“I am,” James assured them, his grin wide and genuine. “Thanks to you.”
Before they could respond, a bright light burst from James’s chest, enveloping him in a golden glow. Ginny gasped, clutching Harry’s arm as James began to fade.
“Goodbye, Mum. Dad,” James called, his voice echoing as the light grew brighter.
And then, in a blink, he was gone.
Ginny buried her face in Harry’s shoulder, her fingers gripping his sleeve. “He’s really gone.”
Harry tightened his hold on her, his own eyes shining. “Yeah. But at least now we know—we’ll have a future. Together.”
“Well, go on, Mum! It’s your turn!” Rose urged, her voice light but her gaze expectant.
“My turn—?” Hermione echoed, blinking in confusion.
“Your turn to acknowledge me so I can go back,” Rose clarified as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“Rose—” Hermione started, her voice faltering.
Before she could gather her thoughts, Ginny nudged Harry toward the door. “Hey, Harry, how about we leave these three to sort things out for themselves?” she suggested with a knowing smile. As she left the Room of Requirement, she called back, “Grow up, you two! And, Rose, it was so lovely to meet you!”
As the door shut behind them, Ron stood frozen, his mind reeling. His best mate had married his sister and had a son. But somehow, the revelation that he had married Hermione and fathered a daughter was even more shocking.
Rose sighed dramatically, breaking the silence. “Do I need to remind you about tomorrow’s Quidditch match? It’s against Slytherin, you know…”
“Rose, stop acting like Ron!” Hermione snapped, clearly frazzled. “There are more important things than Quidditch!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ron cut in defensively.
Hermione shot him a glare. “Oh, I don’t know, Ron. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we haven’t talked properly in months!”
“You’re acting like you haven’t been part of this!” Ron fired back.
“Fine!” Hermione threw up her hands. “You want accountability? I’ll give you accountability! We haven’t talked because I’m upset, Ron. Upset that the boy I lo—” She stopped, her voice catching. Then, with a deep breath, she plowed ahead. “The boy I love has been snogging another girl for months. Even after I invited him to a party with me!”
Ron blinked, thrown off balance. “You never said the party was a date—wait, you love me?”
Hermione’s cheeks flushed, but she refused to back down. “Yes, Ronald. I love you. I might as well admit it now, considering we have a daughter.” She gestured toward Rose, whose amused expression was growing harder to contain. “I know you must find that shocking—and probably disgusting—but—”
“Shocking?” Ron interrupted, his voice rising. “Blimey, Hermione! Of course, it’s shocking! But not because it’s disgusting. It’s shocking because I never thought you’d feel the same way!”
“The same way?” Hermione whispered, her defiance crumbling into vulnerability.
Ron ran a hand through his hair, looking sheepish but determined. “Merlin, Mione, I love you so much it’s not healthy.”
Hermione stared at him, stunned into silence.
“Now’s not the time to be shocked!” Ron added, flustered. “We have a kid together! Of course, I love you!”
“Then why—” Hermione’s voice wavered. “Why have you been with Lavender all this time?”
Ron’s ears turned crimson. “Because I thought you wouldn’t want me if I was a bad kisser!”
“Ronald!” Hermione cried, half-scandalized, half-exasperated.
“Dad! Even I know that’s rubbish!” Rose piped up, finally unable to hold back. Both adults suddenly remembered they weren’t alone.
“Rosie, I’m so sorry!” Ron said, scooping Rose into a hug and dragging Hermione into it as well. “You should never have had to witness all that.”
“Oh, don’t worry!” Rose giggled, her eyes sparkling. “Nana Molly is going to love hearing about this at Easter!”
“Well, your father and I are sorry, sweetie,” Hermione said, her voice soft and full of love. She shared a glance with Ron before looking back at Rose. “We just want you to know that we both love you very much.”
“We do!” Ron chimed in earnestly.
“I love you too!” Rose said brightly, squeezing them both tightly. As she did, a brilliant light began to radiate from her chest, growing brighter by the second.
Hermione gasped, clutching Ron’s arm. “It’s happening.”
Rose’s smile was radiant, her voice steady. “Bye, Mum. Bye, Dad. I’ll see you again… someday.”
Before they could respond, the light enveloped her, and with a soft shimmer, she vanished.
Ron exhaled a shaky breath, his hand still gripping Hermione’s. “Blimey, Hermione. We did it.”
Hermione nodded, her eyes wet with tears. “She’s safe,” she whispered. “Back where she belongs.” Her voice broke. “I already miss her.”
Ron turned to face her, cupping her cheek as a tear slipped free. “If she’s anything like you—and she is—she’ll remember everything that matters. She’ll remember us.”
Hermione managed a faint, bittersweet smile, the ache in her chest easing slightly. “It’s strange, isn’t it? Loving someone you haven’t even met yet.”
Ron chuckled, his grin returning. “Well, I reckon we’ve got time to get ready. Properly meet her one day.”
Hermione laughed through her tears, the sound like a balm to both their hearts. “We’ve got time.”
Ron smirked, leaning closer. “Good thing, too, because I’m going to need all the time in the world to grow up before I can handle being a dad to a teenager.”
Hermione rolled her eyes, but she kissed him anyway. “You’re impossible.”
“And you love me for it,” Ron teased, his grin widening.
“I do.”