2/14/15

P.O.F.

A few days had passed ever since Hermione had found out about Lily's boggart. Staying at Grimmauld Place was a very strange experience for the next generation.

Teddy and Victoire mostly kept to themselves, but what else were they going to do? James had joked that it would be cool for Gran to meet her Great-Grandchildren a few years early as well. That resulted with Victoire hexing James. He said nothing more after that.

It was very fun for everyone underage though. Since none of them were born yet, they didn't have the Trace on them, allowing them to do magic freely. Fred and James were having the time of their lives with Fred and George. It was the only time they would ever get to meet their deceased uncle....

Lily, Rose, and Roxanne mostly stuck around with Ginny and Hermione. Lily was more careful around the house as well, she did not want to meet anymore boggarts. Al, Hugo, Harry, and Ron would mostly chat about Quidditch and other things. Though, it was difficult to talk about most things, because it usually just was plain awkward.

Ginny and Harry tried to avoid each other as much as possible due to pure embarrassment. The same with Ron and Hermione. And Tonks and Lupin. Plus, it was difficult for Bill to talk about work without Victoire to ask about Fleur.

Soon enough, it was time for Harry's hearing. The night before Molly approached Harry in the kitchen, "I've ironed your best clothes for tomorrow morning, Harry, and I want you to wash your hair tonight too. A good first impression can work wonders."

Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny all stopped talking and looked over at him. Everyone from the future just rolled their eyes at their parents.

"How am I getting there?" Harry asked Molly.

"Arthur's taking you to work with him," said Molly gently.

Arthur smiled encouragingly at Harry across the table. "You can wait in my office until it's time for the hearing," he said.

"Er-" Albus says, "You may want to get there a little early."

"Why?" Harry asks curiously.

"Instead of the original plan," Albus turns to Arthur, "His hearing is going to be at eight o'clock at Courtroom Ten. Just thought you should know...."

"Courtroom Ten?" Arthur says suddenly very interested, "Why would they-"

Albus was just smiling, obviously he wouldn't tell his Grandfather anything.

"So...." Harry says looking at Sirius, but before he could ask Molly answered.

"Professor Dumbledore doesn't think it's a good idea for Sirius to go with you, and I must say I -"

"-think he's quite right," said Sirius through clenched teeth.

Molly pursed her lips.

"When did Dumbledore tell you that?" Harry said, staring at Sirius.

"He came last night, when you were in bed," said Arthur.

"Did he have any news on how to send us back? Or forwards, I guess," Victoire asks.

"No," Sirius says a little irritated.

"When are we even going to meet Dumbledore?" Hugo asks without thinking.

"What do you mean?" asks Hermione.

"Hugo means when are we going to be able to talk to Dumbledore," Rose says a little too quickly.

"Oh," says Hermione. "Well, in that case, I don't know."

George gasps, "Forge, did you hear what she just said?"

"Yes I did, Gred. And I don't believe a word of it."

"I mean, it's 'Mione. How could she not know something?"

"I have no clue," Fred says.

"Shut it!" Hermione says.

Roxanne and Fred start laughing. They could tell how much happier their dad was when Fred was alive. It hurt them to think how their father had changed after his twin's death.

After dinner the kids were forced to spend the rest of the night in their bedrooms.

"So," said Harry. "You must know how my hearing goes."

"Er-" Albus says.

"Please tell me."

"I'm really sorry dad- Harry, but you know the risks about knowing too much. Well, at least you do in my own time," Albus adds quietly.

"Look, I just want to know what happens."

"Please tell him so I can go to sleep," Hugo groans.

"No," Albus said keeping his ground.

"Why not?" asks Harry again.

"It's for the best," Albus says turning off the lights.

But Harry couldn't stop thinking about the hearing that would occur the next morning. He finally decided that he shouldn't lose sleep over it. Though, he could be expelled from Hogwarts. But nobody from the future seemed concerned about it. It probably went just fine.

***

Days turned to weeks and eventually even Fred and George had stopped chanting 'He got off'. The future generation still hadn't found a solution to their time travel problem. Rose was starting to get worried. Her mother was said to be the brightest witch of her age... and even she hadn't found a solution. Rose wasn't the only person worried, surprisingly, Fred was also stressing out.

The first few days spent in the past had been exciting for Fred. He had finally got to meet his namesake! Though- he couldn't let anyone know that this was the first time seeing his deceased uncle. But after so many games and jokes, he began to realize what the war had taken away from his father.

It wasn't just his father either. All his uncles and aunts seemed a little more happy. He could prevent so much sorrow in the future, but he was forbidden.

As for the other children.... James was still acting careless. After landing them in this mess, all he wanted to do was to have fun! He didn't care that he was twenty-five years in the past. James saw this as an advantage. Lily was outraged at this. Three days before they left for Hogwarts- she finally couldn't stand it anymore.

All of the future children were in the kitchen by themselves. James was attempting to give Hugo some chocolate. Though Hugo did not realize, that as soon as he would take a bite, it would turn into smoke and splatter all over his face. Though Hugo ate it anyway.

"James Sirius Potter!" Lily screeched. "What did you do?!"

"Ahh come on Lils-"

"I WILL HEX YOU I SWEAR!"

"Whoa, someone's inherited mum's loud voice. Congratulations."

"James," Al said, "cut it out. That was not funny."

"Ot asn't," Hugo said wiping sticky chocolate sauce off his face.

"What?" James asked.

"It wasn't!" Hugo says again.

"Look James, I know what you're attempting to do. It's not going to work," Rose says.

"What am I trying to do then. Huh?"

"Do I really have to explain?" Rose says.

"Yeah," Hugo says.

"Anyone with brain cells can tell. James told me the other day that he doesn't want to go to Hogwarts this year."

"So? None of us do. I mean- it's just awkward. Plus with everything that happens...." Roxanne says.

"James thinks he can get out of going," Rose says suddenly. "Think about it. In our time, how many times has Gran threatened to let him stay home for the school year? He thinks if he acts out enough, he will actually be kept from going to school."

"Nice theory Rosie, but you're wrong. Why would I want not to go to Hogwarts? Are you mad Rosie?"

"Do not call me Rosie!"

"Oh yeah. I forgot Scorpion is the only one allowed to call you that-"

"His name is Scorpius! And I swear if you tell anyone fom this time about him, I will hex you. Everyone knows about the Malfoy's history with out parents!" Rose yells at James.

"Okay. If you keep your silly little theories to yourself, I won't tell anyone. Well except maybe Peeves- he likes gossip."

"No! Not Peeves! Not anyone," Rose says with fear in her eyes.

"Rosie and the Scorpion. It's like Romeo and Juliette, right? Forbidden love, Gryffindor and Slytherin...." Fred says laughing.

"Shut up! We are just friends!" Rose says annoyed.

"Doubt that," Al says quietly.

"What?!" Rose asks.

"Nothing!" Albus says quickly.

"Can we just talk about something else?" Rose says frustrated, "How did this even become about me?"

"Dunno," James says with a sly smile.

"Just please, don't tell anyone."

"Fine," James said. "If they don't ask."

"What do you mean?" Rose asked.

"If they ask about the Malfoy's I could hint about Scorpius, but maybe not."

"DON'T!" Rose says.

"Wow, someone can't take a joke," Fred says.

"Look, we're leaving for school in three days.... We'll obviously have to come across Scorpius's dad at some point. From all the stories that dad has told- I expect he'll be all over us. It's not everyday Hogwarts gets new students in the middle of their magical training. Can we just lay it low this year?" Lily suggests. Everyone turns back to her.

"I guess. But we all know that'll be hard for James," Roxanne laughs. Fred shot her a look that said 'cut it out'. She stopped laughing.

"So, should we get to bed then? It's rather late," Victoire says suddenly as if she hadn't been listening to hardly any of the conversation. She probably hadn't.

"Fine," Lily huffed. "But if school wasn't in three days, I would be staying up all night."