A mother-in-law’s intuition
December 26th, 1980
Potter Cottage, Godrics Hallow
The five children were arguing while four bemused adults watched on. As she gently sipped on her tea, Evans wondered how long it would take for the kids to remember that they were there; the oldest of the bunch, Ted, was talking to low tones to her husband and his manchild of a best friend…but he hadn’t said much that would help her figure out what was going on. She hoped that the calming draught she’d dosed the tea with would kick in soon, the headache the children were giving her was only growing.
As she waited, there were several things about these children that just stood out to her. The two kids with identically messy black hair kept her attention more than either of the red heads or the bushy haired brunette: especially the one with emerald eyes. Al, as she had heard him called multiple times, looked like what she imagined Harry could look like when he went off to Hogwarts. Meanwhile, the one called James (who also appeared responsible for their present predicament) was a slightly skinnier, taller, and older version of Al but with brown eyes. Hell, he looks like a miniature version of my husband. But the red headed girl who had the same first name as her didn’t look anything like her two brothers, yes she had the same eyes as Al…but she looked too damn much like Molly and there was only one reason she could think of for that.
“Well,” She muttered, “it looks like Molly finally gets that daughter she’s always wanted.” At this, the argument between the children stilled as they stared at the elder Lily with awe and a little bit of trepidation. “I’m not stupid you know.”
“What do you mean, Mrs. Potter?” Ted asked quietly as the other kids began to watch the byplay between the adults.
With her finger pointed at her namesake, Evans started to list off her observations. “She looks too much like Molly Weasley, but she has Harry’s eyes. While Al, I still want to know your full name by the way, looks exactly like I’d expect Harry to look when we send him off to Hogwarts, and James looks like my husband but with Molly’s eyes. The only way I could see that happening is if Molly and Arthur finally get that daughter they’ve been trying for and she marries Harry. On top of all that, Hugo has that infamous Weasley red hair…since he and the one called Rose have a similar face, I’m guessing they’re father is one of the Weasley boys?”
“Are you saying they’re from the future, Lily-love?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying Black.”
Silence permeated throughout the backyard as everyone tried to absorb and understand what Evans had just stated. That silence was broken up by a wolf whistle, “Damn, Gran…you’re good.” James Sirius had a smirk on his face, but it didn’t last long as he was rapidly but under the full body bind by Teddy.
“And that’s enough out of you,” The children, and even Sirius, started to snicker as Teddy put his wand away. As James turned to Teddy, he eyed him with a pensive look, “So that’s why you kept talking about a Time Turner then.” Lupin nodded at his father’s best friend but refused to say anymore. The atmosphere in the backyard of Potter Cottage was tense, and it seemed like the calming draught Evans had slipped into the tea was unable to overcome the present situation.
“I see why Auntie Minnie is always comparing my Mum to you, Mrs. Potter.” Hugo whispered quietly as he looked at Evans in a slight bit of awe. “Both of you are muggleborn witches who are the brightest witches in their class.”
“Auntie Minnie?” The glee in Sirius’s voice was hard to miss. “She slapped me with detention whenever I tried to call her Minnie.”
“That’s because you were her student Padfoot.” Rose said fondly, “Just so you know, she absolutely adored you and your merry band of troublemakers.”
“HA!” Sirius jumped up, “Pay-up Prongs! Wait…how do you know our nicknames?”
“Uncle Fred and George nicked the Marauders Map from Filch’s office in their first year, they gave it to Dad at the beginning of his third. Us next Gen kids have been unable to nick it from him despite our best efforts.” Albus said with an eye on his granddad, the Potter genes were clearly strong since three generations of Potter men looked like carbon copies of each other…minus there eyes.
“And why won’t my godson give you guys the map?”
“He doesn’t want us to get into the same sort of adventures or trouble that we did when he was at Hogwarts.” Hugo kicked some dirt up as he paced around, “Kinda unfair, don’t yah think?”
“Hugo,” Ted pulled his wand at the younger kid. “You are not going to manipulate these two into pressuring Uncle Harry to give you the map when he comes to get us. Is that understood?”
“Spoil sport.” Teddy started to growl at him.
“You can’t scare us with that anymore wolfie!” The mischievous glint in Lily Luna’s eyes meant trouble for anyone she set her sights on, and this case it was her godbrother. “Or should I call you Edddwardddd” Her singsong voice carried around the yard.
“It’s a good thing your cute Lily-Lu…otherwise I’d hex you into the ground right now.”
“It’s a good thing me being cute meant I easily wrapped you around my little finger when I was a baby.” Ted growled again as Sirius barked with laughter. Before the conversation could move any further there was a brilliant flash of light from the front of the house and another thud.
“Son of a bitch!”
A chorus of “AUNT GINNY/MUM!” rang out from the children gathered in the back yard. They quickly sprinted down the narrow path to the front yard. Once they got there, they were surprised to see Ginny Potter and only Ginny Potter as she looked around with her mouth set in a bewildered frown; but that quickly changed once she saw two of her children along with her niece and nephew in a full-on sprint towards her. At least I found them, even if I don’t know how I did.
“There you are…wait, where’s James?”
“Which James?” The glint was back in her daughter’s eye. “Do you mean the one who’s in a full body bind in the backyard…or your father-in-law?”
“The on…wait, what?”
“We’re back in time Aunt Ginny,” Rose whispered softly. “James and Lily are right behind us, along with Sirius.” At this point the three people in question managed to catchup to the eager kids. Ginny’s mouth flapped without making a sound before her brain finally engaged.
“Hello, Mrs. and Mrs. Potter,” Then she smirked. “And to you too, you mangy mutt.”
“Oi!” Sirius brought his hand up to his heart, “I resemble that remark.” As the playful banter between Sirius and the older redheaded woman continued, Evans carefully eyed her. Her hair was the Weasley shade of red, and her eyes were the same brown as the James that was laying face first in her backyard; the younger Lily was clearly her daughter as well…which meant this was her future daughter-in-law. But the formality with which she greeted her, and her husband, grated on her nerves, for reasons she couldn’t wrap her head around; especially since she was teasing Sirius with an ease and familiarity that she clearly lacked with her and James.
Before Evans could begin to voice her suspicions there was a brilliant flash of light from the sky and there was a beat up blue car was struggling to stay airborne.