Meet the Kids

Previously: Malfoy, obviously unaware that it was a Time-Turner, held it up to the light from the nearest torch . . . Hermione clamped a hand on the bottom half of the hourglass just as Malfoy turned it over completely . . . Just as her eyes began to close she saw a face bobbing around the corner of the farthest passage, brown hair, and worried blue eyes staring at her . . . The last thing Hermione saw before black oblivion swallowed her was his frightened face, his gleaming blonde hair seemingly like a halo . . .

Chapter 2

Meet Your Children

Hermione slowly sat up, groaning as sharp pain shot through her head. She touched her temple and winced at the ache. After realizing they hadn't left the dungeon, she began to lie down, willing to let her pounding head relax for a moment, but jerked up when her head touched something soft. Hermione, fearing what she might see, peeked around her shoulder and almost laughed.

Draco Malfoy lay on the dungeon floor, his golden hair askew and his mouth slightly open, almost as if he were snoring. The soft thing she'd almost laid down on was his stomach. Hermione, very relieved to see he was still unconscious, decided this was a detail she would never tell anyone. It was then she realized she was still clutching his hand and, to her annoyance, her own hand was numb from doing so. She released him in disgust, wiping her palms thoroughly on her robes, and dearly hoping he wouldn't remember that when he woke.

She eyed his face, which actually looked peaceful in sleep, surprising considering his personality. The word 'angelic' came to mind, and Hermione almost wretched. She couldn't believe she had thought he was an angel. Draco Malfoy was anything but an angel, more of a demon, really. If he were an angel, and he was leading her to her new home after death, Hermione contemplated, she would probably kill herself.

Well, if she wouldn't already have been dead, that is.

Hermione shook her head, trying to clear her mind of all thoughts of 'heaven,' 'angel of death' and 'Draco Malfoy.' That name did not belong with the other two words. Except for 'death,' maybe. Besides, those thought were just silly. Right now she had to concentrate on what had happened to them. She sighed, stared around the dungeon, looked down at him, and then froze. Hermione gave another long glance around the dungeon, and she realized what she had not before. The dungeons were considerably lighter, and there were beautiful tapestries of coiling snakes of all different sizes and colors along the corridor. A table with an empty blue vase and trailing ivy around its legs stood against the wall. The dungeon had never looked cheerier, which was the first sign in Hermione's mind that there was something seriously wrong.

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and counted to ten, hoping that when she opened her eyes everything would be back to normal. When she opened them, the gorgeous tapestries still decorated the formerly barren walls, and the ivy was still wrapped around the tables' legs. The final straw was when she felt the soft carpet underneath her. Hermione jumped up, trying to keep from going into complete panic.

The first step was to wake Malfoy up. After all, he knew the dungeons better than she did, and once he was awake they could try to get out of whatever mess they were in.

Hermione kicked him in the leg, too impatient for a more pleasant and less painful way of waking him up. Malfoy gave a loud grunt, his leg twitching where her foot had connected with his shin. His eyes fluttered open and then closed again, his face relaxing once more.

Hermione sighed loudly and gave him another, harder kick. "Wake up, Malfoy!"

He jerked awake, shooting up. "W-what? Mum?"

"What a revolting idea," Hermione said, disgusted. "No, you idiot, it's me!"

Malfoy blinked at her, realized who it was, and then gagged. "You're a terrible sight for sore eyes, Granger," he informed her, getting to his feet and wincing. He rubbed his leg, very annoyed. "And why in hell did you kick me? I'm not a heavy sleeper. At the very least you could've shaken me."

"I beg to differ," Hermione said coldly. "I've already touched more of you today than I ever thought I would in my life." Malfoy glared at her, rubbing his hand absent-mindedly along his side, as if he subconsciously knew that she'd been holding it.

"Where are we?"

Hermione gave him a contemptuous look. "I would've thought you of all people would recognize it." She allowed her words to sink in, and couldn't resist smiling as his mouth opened in horror. "I didn't know you Slytherins were quite so homely."

Malfoy glared at her fiercely. "What the hell did you do, Granger?"

Hermione felt her temper rising. "I didn't do anything, Malfoy! You got us into this mess!"

He turned red with anger. "I did? You found that blasted hourglass!"

"It was a Time-Turner!" Hermione responded. "If you weren't such an arrogant jerk and you spent a little more time paying attention in class, maybe you would've known that before you turned it over and sent us back in time!"

Malfoy paled. "We're where?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "I'm almost positive we've gone back in time and that's why everything looks so different." She held out a shaking hand. "Give me the Time-Turner. I think you only turned it once which means I can probably send us back."

Malfoy's eyes widened. "I don't have it! You grabbed it from me!"

Hermione had a foreboding feeling in her stomach. "Y-you don't have it?" she whispered.

Malfoy shook his head irritably. "No! You started yelling at me and then grabbed it."

"I don't have it," Hermione said, showing him her empty hands in proof. "And we were both holding it. Then I let go . . ." Her voice trailed off as she realized what must have happened.

"And I dropped it, too," said Malfoy grimly. "Which means the hourglass is still in the present."

Hermione groaned. "What are we going to do? Who knows how far back in time we went!"

"Well, at least we're still at Hogwarts," snapped Malfoy. "But we do need to get out of here. What will the current students think if they see us?" Seeing that Hermione was too paralyzed by fear to do anything, he sighed and seized her arm, dragging her forward.
Just then the door closest to them opened with a bang and students began pouring out into the hallway. Hermione and Malfoy both jumped. They stepped against the wall to avoid the oncoming onslaught of happy, chattering students. Hermione desperately craned her head to look into the Potions classroom. She could just make out a brown haired boy at the front standing in front of a black haired teacher. Wait a minute . . . the teacher looked oddly familiar.

"Snape!" she whispered in disbelief.

"What?" Malfoy hissed in her ear.

"It's Snape!" Hermione said urgently. "In the classroom."

Malfoy took a step sideways so he could see where she was looking. "But that's impossible!" he said. "We've had to have gone back at least seven years, probably a lot longer from the looks of things. He doesn't look any younger."

"Well, that's definitely Snape," Hermione said, pointing out the obvious. She blushed as Malfoy rolled his eyes. Her eyes stopped on the sight of a tall blonde standing next to the Potions door; it appeared she was waiting for the boy Snape was reprimanding. Hermione flushed as the girl stared at her. There was something familiar about the blonde, but she couldn't tell what. Instead she pulled Malfoy down the hall, and away from the girl's piercing, questioning gaze. There were still several students mingling around the hallway, and Hermione tried to blend in with them.

"They're Slytherins," Malfoy whispered in her ear.

Hermione caught sight of a red and gold emblem. "And Gryffindors." She and Malfoy gave each other identical looks of dislike. Even in the past their two Houses were sharing Potions classes, Hermione thought, disgusted. Similar thoughts seemed to be going through Malfoy's head. Just then the Potions door banged shut and the students began to disperse.

"Follow them," Malfoy urged. Hermione instinctively headed for the group of Gryffindors, who were on the their way up the stairs. When she turned, though, Malfoy was heading for the silver and green clad students.

He shook his head when she beckoned, his arms crossed and an obstinate expression on his face. "We're going with the Slytherins."

"Gyffindors," Hermione argued angrily.

Malfoy shook his head. "Slytherins."

Hermione sighed, wondering what she had done to deserve being stuck in the past with Malfoy of all people. Why couldn't it have been her night to patrol with Hannah? She was still waiting to hear how Hannah's date at Hogsmeade with Terry Boot had been.

"Fine, you go with whomever you want, I don't care," Hermione snapped. "I'm going with the Gryffindors." And she whirled on her heel and marched up the stairs, hurrying to keep up with the students. She was deeply gratified to hear the pounding of footsteps on the stairs behind her and his annoyed sigh.

"I hate you, Granger."

"What a surprise, Malfoy." She hurried to catch up with the Gryffindors, eyeing the front hall with interest as they passed. Nothing much seemed to have changed except for the amount of light; obviously it was early afternoon. She caught sight of a ghostly shape drifting down the stairs.

"Not him again," Malfoy groaned from behind her.

Hermione watched Nick say hello to some of the other students before floating towards the Great Hall.

"C'mon," Malfoy urged, seemingly afraid that she would try to follow the ghost. "I think they're going to History of Magic."

That was indeed the classroom Hermione and Malfoy found themselves in when the clump of Gryffindors had finally stopped moving. The two looked at each nervously and then found seats at the back of the room. Hermione gasped when she saw the ghostly form of Professor Binns emerge from the back wall and seat himself in his usual chair at the head of the class.

"What year is this?" Malfoy moaned from beside her. Hermione gave him a disparaging glance, but was surprised by the sight of his blonde head lying facedown on the desk.

"You know you look pathetic," Hermione whispered as Binns started speaking.

"I don't even have to look at you to tell you how terrible your hair looks, Granger," came his muffled reply. Hermione glared at him but he didn't see.

After a few, tense minutes, she began to relax. They could not have had a better class to be in. Professor Binns didn't know the names of his own students, much less that he had two extra ones in the back of the room. As for the students, it seemed the past generation had been just as bored with History of Magic class, for there were whispered conversations all over the room, and Hermione saw one brown-haired boy aiming a rubber band at the nearest window. The black haired boy next to him whispered something in his ear and the other student reluctantly put the rubber band down. With a start, she realized the first boy was the same one Snape had been talking to. There was something oddly familiar about him as well, and what made it all the stranger was that she hadn't even seen his face. To her surprise, the blonde girl was seated next to him, whispering in his ear.

Nothing seemed to have changed in the History of Magic classroom, and Hermione slowly found herself immersed in Professor Binn's lecture. To her surprise, it was one she remembered hearing just the other day, which made her surmise that the Gryffindors they had followed were seventh years as well. She found herself wishing for a quill and parchment so she could take notes. Harry and Ron had been more distracting than usual their last lesson, and she hadn't heard everything Binns had said.

"You're insane, did you know that?" Malfoy whispered in her ear when he saw her looking longingly at a piece of parchment on the desk in front of them.

When the class had ended the students got up, immediately energetic. Looking at the clock on the wall, she saw it was the end of lessons for the day. Sighing, she reset her watch.

"Where do we go?" Malfoy asked as students began filing out.

"We go see if Dumbledore is here," Hermione whispered back. "He'll know what to do." She caught sight of the blonde girl and her friend. Hermione jerked her head in their direction for Malfoy's benefit and then hurried after them, eager to discover what was so familiar about them.

"Granger . . ." she heard Malfoy groan, but ignored him. Hermione tore her Head Girl badge off her robe as she ran and stuffed it in her pocket.

"Excuse me," she called to the pair as they were about to go up the stairs.

The girl turned around, her eyes sparkling mischievously. Her enthusiasm faded slightly when she saw the strange girl. "Yes?"

Hermione stared in shock at the silver grey eyes that met her. Unable to speak she wheeled around to look at Malfoy, more specifically, his eyes.

"What?" he asked rudely, seeing her gaze. His eyes flickered coolly to the girl and boy before returning to Hermione.

"Look at me," Hermione ordered.

"What?" Malfoy asked again in a patronizing tone.

Hermione grabbed his chin and forced it down until she was staring him in the eye.

"Gra- argh!" Malfoy jerked away as she placed a firm hand over his mouth, stifling his shouts, and more importantly, her name. She was able to get a good look at his identical silver gray eyes as he seethed at her. Hermione released him, turning back to the girl. She forced a smile onto her face, hoping to ease the nervous looking Gryffindors. The girl looked as if she couldn't decide whether to amused or cautious with the newcomers and muffled a smile when she glanced at the indignant Malfoy.

"Can we help you?" asked the boy at last, looking wary. He gave a sideways glance at Malfoy, who looked outraged at what Hermione had done.

"Do you know where we can find Professor Dumbledore?" Hermione asked immediately.

The girl and boy shared a look. "He's probably in his office," said the boy. "We can take you there."

"Are you new?" the girl as bluntly.

Hermione, not knowing what else to do, nodded. The girl gave her another questioning glance and then shrugged.

"I'm Elizabeth." She indicated the boy. "That's Dave."

"But she also goes by Lizzie," Dave interjected. The girl frowned at him, as if her nickname were a personal, private matter.

"Dave!" Hermione heard Elizabeth hiss. "We don't know them!" Hermione flushed, and Malfoy glared.

Hermione frowned. Well, that destroyed one theory. For a moment she had thought that the girl might've been Malfoy's mother. It was unlikely considering Elizabeth was a Gryffindor, but now they knew for sure she wasn't. Malfoy's mother's name was Narcissa.

Elizabeth began running up the stairs, not waiting for the "new" students. Dave gave them an apologetic glance and indicated for them to follow.

The three joined an impatient Elizabeth at the top and began walking silently down the hall together.

"I'm Mia Johnson," Hermione said after a few minutes of uncomfortable silence. "And this is . . ."

"Drake Cobris," Malfoy intervened smoothly, giving a very fake smile.

Dave nodded politely, while Elizabeth looked at him in disdain. "Dave Malfoy," said Dave.

"Elizabeth Granger," Elizabeth said immediately after.

Hermione and Malfoy froze in shock. Elizabeth and Dave, not noticing that they'd been abandoned, kept walking.

"W-what?" Hermione said, dangerously pale.

Malfoy looked just as surprised. "Did he say- that's not- I'm related to him?" he said, looked flabbergasted. "But that's impossible! All Malfoys are blonde!"

"Maybe he's your grandfather?" Hermione said, though even she knew it wasn't likely. She, too, was in severe shock. It was just as impossible for Elizabeth to be related to her. True, that was her mother's name, but her mother wasn't a witch!

"Dave!" called Malfoy, leaving Hermione and running up to the boy. "What's your father's name?"

Dave looked surprised, but tried not to let it show. "Draco. Draco Malfoy."

Hermione leapt forward just as Malfoy stumbled back. She gripped his arm, for once glad that she had him. Even though he was her greatest enemy, it was nice to have something familiar.

"Is he ok?" Dave asked, sounding worried.

"He's fine," Hermione said quickly. "He hasn't had anything to eat in hours, though- he's a little light-headed. We'll catch up," she said, waving for them to go on. Not to her surprise, Elizabeth bounded away first; Hermione was finding it increasingly hard to believe that the girl was related to her. Perhaps, she wasn't, she found herself hoping. After all, Granger wasn't exactly a unique name.

"That's my son?" Malfoy asked in a ragged whisper as soon as Dave and Elizabeth were out of hearing. "But that means-"

"We must be in the future," Hermione breathed out softly, her eyes widening as it hit her. "That's why we saw Snape! He was that teacher we saw, because it's the future!"

That was why the girl had looked so familiar, Hermione thought to herself. She was- no, she wasn't Malfoy's daughter, she was Hermione's daughter. Then why did her eyes look just like his?

"My son's in Gyffindor," Malfoy moaned, sagging against the wall. "And he's friends with your daughter!"

"I'm starting to think they might be more than that," Hermione said grimly. "What if they're going out?"

Malfoy gave a muffled yelp. "We'd have to share grandchildren!"

Hermione glared at him, feeling the urge to kick him again despite the fact that he was already awake. "You're getting ahead of yourself. Maybe I'm wrong!"

"Since when are you wrong?" Malfoy asked dubiously, looking like he sorely regretted admitting her intelligence. Hermione blushed, but only for a moment.

"Let's go find Dumbledore, and then we'll find out what's really going on." She dragged Malfoy away from the wall and even then she had to have a firm grip on his arm to keep him going up the stairs.

I really hope we don't have to share grandchildren, she thought. For their sake and mine!

They hurried down the hallway where Dave and Elizabeth were waiting in front of a large gargoyle.

"Blood lollies," said Dave patiently, and the gargoyle sprang open. Hermione stared in distaste at it.

"What kind of password is that?" she asked.

Dave shrugged, a lopsided grin on his face. "All of Professor Dumbledore's passwords are candy related."

"How do you know it?" Hermione pressed. "Are you Head Boy?"

Dave laughed, and Elizabeth gave a small giggle. "No. Lizzie's Head Girl, though. But we've been in here enough times that we could guess what the password is off the top of our heads." They exchanged mischievous grins that reminded Hermione faintly of Fred and George. Was her daughter a troublemaker? she wondered, looking at them in disapproval. At least she was Head Girl.

"She is definitely your daughter," Malfoy whispered in Hermione's ear as they stairs began to revolve. They stopped in front of a large door. Dave gave them one more questioning glance and then knocked.

"Come in," came the familiar voice of Albus Dumbledore. Dave pushed open the door and held it for the other three. Hermione and Malfoy walked in. Dave began to close the door, with him and Elizabeth on the other side, when Dumbledore spoke.

"Miss Granger? Mr Malfoy?" he asked in amazement.

"Yes, Professor?" said Dave, opening the door again. Dumbledore looked from them to the girl and boy by the doorway and then back.

"Hi, Professor." Hermione's voice came out as a squeak, and she cringed.

"Professor, did you want us?" asked Lizzie, slightly impatiently. She pushed her head under Dave's arm, her blond hair falling in waves.

Dumbledore looked from her to Hermione and then started to chuckle. He took off his half-moon spectacles and wiped them with a handkerchief. "No, my dear, I was speaking to this Miss Granger and this Mr Malfoy."

"What?" asked Dave, his forehead creasing. "Sir, this is Drake Cobris, and Mia Johnson."

Dumbledore looked quite near to hysterics, and Hermione and Malfoy shared a look of alarm. Surely Dumbledore wasn't about to tell their children their real identities?

"No, Dave, this is Draco Malfoy, and this young lady is Hermione Granger." His smile widened. "Dave, Elizabeth, meet your parents."

There were simultaneous gasps from all around the room. Lizzie fell over onto the ground very dramatically, and Dave looked close to doing the same. Hermione awkwardly started to help her daughter up and then paused. Malfoy gave a loud groan and leaned against the nearest table. Dumbledore, giving them all a very serene smile, clasped his hands and beamed.

"I knew you looked familiar!" Lizzie cried, bounding suddenly to her feet. She stared at Hermione in awe. "You look just like the picture!"

"What picture?" Hermione asked immediately.

"The picture of you and Dad at your wedding!" Lizzie exclaimed in reply.

"You can't be," said Dave weakly, looking shocked. "It's impossible." He glanced from Hermione to Malfoy but neither of them could deny it.

"Dad!" Lizzle squealed, flinging her arms around Malfoy's neck. Malfoy stumbled back, looked very surprised and alarmed at the girl suddenly hugging him. Lizzie let go and eyed him interestedly. She turned to Hermione and giggled.

"You're right, Mum. Dad was a hottie in school!"

"Excuse me?" squeaked Malfoy.

"Lizzie!" cried Dave in half horror, half amusement.

If Hermione hadn't been in such a state of utter shock she would've remarked on the un-masculine sounding squeak in Malfoy's voice. As it was, she was dangerously close to falling over as Lizzie had done moments before.

"Aren't you- aren't you Dave's girlfriend?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"Please tell me you're going out!" Malfoy implored at the same time.

Lizzie's eyes opened wide, and Dave's mouth fell open.

"Eww!" Lizzie cried, making gagging noises.

That was all the answer they needed. Hermione and Malfoy whirled around to face Dumbledore, identical looks of horror on their faces. If possible, the old man looked even more delighted. This seemed to be the part he was enjoying the most.

"Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy, may I introduce you to Dave and Elizabeth Granger-Malfoy."

"Can you believe they thought we were going out?" Lizzie howled in amusement, leaning on Dumbledore's desk for support as she saw the horror-struck faces of her parents.

Dave, still in shock, looked from Hermione to Malfoy. "Mum, Dad," he said, almost apologetically, "Lizzie and I are twins."

Dumbledore gave them another benign smile. "Hermione, Draco, meet your kids."

For the second time that day Hermione fainted.

Luckily, her "husband" was there to catch her.