Prologue

November 24, 2025

"I know that Ron is actually laughing at me right now. He knows how much I hate public speaking. However, this is Ronald Bilius Weasley I'm talking about. Of course I'm going to say something.

We knew Ron by many names; 'That ginger one who's always with Potter', 'That ginger married to Minister of Magic', 'That bloke who owns Three Double Yew with his brother George', 'One of the Hogwarts trio' and many others.

I knew Ron as my best friend and my brother. He was brave, not because he was a Gryffindor, or a former Auror, or formed the DA, but because he stood by me when things were tough. He was kind, joyful, moody, and loving. He always knew how to make Hermione angry, which was brilliant cause it stopped her being angry at me and then she became angry at the both of us."

Harry sighed. He looked up from his notes. The sun had decided that because it was Ron's funeral, to make an appearance, which was very strange for a Scottish winter. Rather than blame global warming, he liked to think that the sun was saying thank you to Ron. The wizarding world were definitely saying thank you to him.

The age of 45 was considered a very young death for a wizard. What was more surprising was that it was from a typically Muggle disease: stage three Lung Cancer. After two weeks of persistent coughing that worsened so badly he couldn't finish a conversation properly without falling into fits of coughing, he woke up one morning coughing blood.

By the time Hermione managed to drag him to St. Mungos, the Healers were not able to do anything. Ron spent his last few days with his family in a private wing of the hospital. He died while listening to the radio, approximately 10 minutes after Chudley scored their first win in three years. The president of the club would rename the South Stand of their stadium the 'Ronald Weasley Stand' in honour of their biggest fan.

Hermione and Percy were drafting a bill to ensure that when all wizards and witches do health checks in the future, they would be checked for both Wizarding and Muggle ailments. Harry was sure they'd be able to get it passed within a matter of months.

Harry had been to quite a few funerals in his life. However, nothing prepared him for Ron's. Next to the emotional fact that his best friend died so young, he knew, but was mentally unprepared, for how many people would be there. The whole Chudley Cannons team and management were there, along with Dumbledore's Army, the remaining members of the Order of the Phoenix, most of the students of Hogwarts as well as a couple of hundred different associates and friends from Ron's life. There was also the usual gaggle of redheads, mixed with a few black and curly brown hairs thrown into the mix. However, the Weasleys were unusually quiet and solemn. Harry's wife, Ginny, and Mother-in-law, Molly were sitting each side of Hermione, who was silently crying.

It was with a heavy heart that Harry decided to continue.

"Ronald would have hated this as well. Hundreds of people being sad over him. He would have absolutely hated it that the Cannon players are wearing black, because that would be a Magpies colour".

There was a smattering of sad laughter.

"I miss you mate. Have fun on your next adventure. We'll join you someday."

Harry gave the signal and the coffin was lowered. The Flourish and Blotts radio hour choir started singing a hymn. As Ron's headstone was placed magically on the mound, the choir stopped.

They then started to hum a familiar tune. As their humming grew louder Harry recognised it as the William Tell Overture. Dudley's daughter was a fantastic singer and would hum along to it whenever she and James would play when they were little. He found it strange though, that a wizarding choir would hum a Muggle song.

As the choir reached a crescendo, explosions were heard around the grounds. Instinctively, Harry, along with the dozen or so Auror's stationed around the grounds, took out their wands. He breathed a sigh of relief, however, when he saw what was happening.

George, true to form, had decided to give Ron a proper sendoff. The firework show lasted for 10 minutes. They were beautiful. Scenes of Harry and Ron running from Aragog, Ron destroying the locket, his wedding day with Hermione were some of the highlights magically shown in the background of the fireworks. That's why George wanted those memories in the Pensieve, Harry realised.

Harry saw Ginny half-heartedly glare at George. She was holding in a smile. It was funny how to him how torn she looked between being a mother and being a sister.

Christmas Day, 2025

There was something reassuring that even though her youngest son died just a month before, Molly was still able to cook up an amazing Christmas Day dinner. The mood was slightly quieter than most Weasley Christmas celebrations. However, this was a Weasley Christmas celebration. That still meant utter chaos.

"It's very much not like a Malfoy Christmas dinner at all", Scorpius mused. Fred Jr. had just turned Rose Granger-Weasley Pink and was currently being chased around by miniature dragons. Rose certainly inherited her mothers' skills at Transfiguration.

"Indeed it isn't. Draco's not much on Christmas cheer is he?" Harry asked, taking another sip of Butterbeer.

"He was a bit when mom was alive, but not so much after."

"Well hopefully Gabrielle can bring some life into him. Any word on their travels?" Harry asked.

"He sent me an owl with some pictures. Looks like they're having the time of their lives". Scorpius replied.

"You know, technically if you married Albus and your father married Gabrielle, your step-mother would also be your aunt-in-law", Harry teased. Scorpius reddened and mumbled something along the line of 'ugh'.

It was announced last Christmas that Draco was dating Fleur's sister, by appearing at last year's Weasley Chistmas bash. There was, for a lack of a better term, a mixed reaction. The positive reactions was unexpectedly, Molly Weasley hugging Draco and welcoming him to the Weasleys, much to Harry's amusement. He also remembered how Ron wanted to force feed him Veritaserum.

Harry felt a pang thinking about Ron. He looked at the corner of the tent where a "Ron Weasley Corner" was erected. Hermione was there talking to Luna and Rolf. Behind her were blown up moving pictures of Ron. Ron and Ginny as babies in a bathtub, Ron and Hermione's wedding day and Ron and George opening their second branch of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes (now known as Three Double Yew) were some of the larger pictures hung up. Throughout the night various Weasleys and guests added pictures of their own.

"I think we all miss him", Scorpius piped up. He had seen Harry staring at the corner. Three years of dating Albus, as well as a summer working at 3W, meant that Scorpius and Ron became quite good friends. He was quite touched when Arthur Weasley asked him to be one of the ushers at the funeral.

"That we certainly do", Harry replied.

"How's Hermione taking it?", Scorpius asked.

"She's working harder than usual, which for Hermione is saying something. It seems she's been spending a lot of time at the UK Department of Health discussing ways of trying to introduce the Muggle equivalent of cancer checks to the wizarding world. It's a bit of an uphill battle as wizards think they're invincible to such things", Harry shook his head.

"Really?", Scorpius asked, surprised. "I thought that was a done deal?".

"What do you mean?", Harry asked.

"Well she's visiting Level Nine a lot. I've must have shared a lot of elevators with her on my way to MMR", Scorpius replied. He was working under Arthur Weasley as a member of the Ministry of Muggle Relations. Lucius Malfoy surely must have rolled in his grave.

"The Unspeakables".

Even though Harry was the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, he very rarely had any dealings with The Unspeakables. The Unspeakables were so secretive that even the Minister of Magic had no idea what they were doing. Thus hearing that the Minister herself was visiting them on such a regular basis so soon after her husband's death worried him.

Harry shrugged, "It's probably just Minister stuff". He didn't think he convinced Scorpius. He wasn't convinced himself.

"The house is empty. James, Albus and Scorpius are here. Lily is playing Quidditch with the brood of monsters we call our nieces and nephews. Come on Harry! Just a quickie!", Ginny pleaded. She looked at Harry straight in the eye. His spine tingled with anticipation.

"Harry, Ginny, can I talk to you?", Hermione popped up out of nowhere. He held in a strangled sigh and turned to look at his oldest friend. She looked pale and thin, but her eyes seemed steely and determined. The word SPEW came into his mind. He shivered again, but for a different reason.

"Sure Hermione? What do you need?" Ginny asked.

"Not here. Let's go upstairs", she moved without waiting for a reply. Harry and Ginny followed her.

They traversed up the Burrow to Ron's old room. Harry prepared his eyes for the blinding orange that would attack his eyes. True to form it was still brilliantly Chudley Cannons all throughout the room. Ironically, it felt sad.

Hermione sat down and looked straight at Harry and Ginny.

"I know how to save Ron".

August 20th, 1991

"This is madness" the greasy haired man said.

"Yes, we know" replied the red-haired woman.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" The old man asked, nervously.

"He's actually nervous! Can you believe that Gin?" The black haired man said.

"His portrait did not say anything about this!" Ginny giggled.

"Don't worry you two. The worst that could happen is that it wouldn't work and we'd live in this paradox for eternity. At least Voldemort would be dead." Harry assured them.

Dumbledore and Snape exchanged a look and brought up their wands.

"I love you Gin".

"Love you too".

"Avada Kedavra".

"Avada Kedavra".

And Harry and Ginny Potter were no more.

Author's notes: Time travelling paradoxes give me a headache. Chapter 2 when I can be bothered. I will not abandon this story without telling you lot. I promise. Cross my heart and hope to eat pie.