Borrowed Hearts
Disclaimer- This is a Hr\R fic based to the plot line of Borrowed Hearts. I do not know all the people who are affiliated with this movie, but I do not own it. I do not own Harry Potter either. A\N-For those of you who are not familiar with the plot line of Borrowed Hearts, Ron is the owner \ CEO of a company that single mother Hermione works for. When a business deal puts Ron in need of a family, he "rents" Hermione and her children. This fic takes place 12 years after Hogwarts, and Hermione hasn't seen Harry and Ron since Dumbledore's funeral 10 years before. Ron is the owner of Quality Quidditch Supplies, and Harry is a famous Quidditch player who sponsors Ron's merchandise. These matters and others will be addressed in time. In addition, my knowledge of British customs and language and such are limited, so be nice! Read and Review!
************************************************************************ Polish and Presto Broom Assembling Area, Quality Quidditch Supplies, 7:39 PM ************************************************************************
Hermione Granger pushed her curly brown hair out of her eyes as she polished yet another Lunerwiz broom handle, the newest Quidditch broom from Quality Quidditch Supplies, where she worked.
"'Mione?" "'Mione?" A familiar voice called from faraway. Hermione paid no attention as she quickly muttered a spell to make the pale lettering on the broom turn different colors.
"Hermione!" the voice said louder.
"Whoa! What?" Hermione looked up at last as she sent the broom handle to the tailing department with a quick flick of her wand.
"Hermione Granger I've been standing here yelling at you for ten minutes. It's after seven thirty." Emma Ridges told her best friend, amusement and concern playing on her face.
Hermione's face automatically took on a panicked look. "I promised Padma I'd pick up the boys by seven fifteen."
"Don't worry about it 'Mione. You work too hard. You really ought to ask Mr. Weasley for a raise."
Hermione clucked. "Ask Ron? For a raise? He doesn't even know I work here. We haven't spoken in 10 years. He'd never let me hear the end of it."
The two woman walked quickly to the Apperating area of QQS.
'"Mione." The slightly older woman said in a long-suffering voice. "When are you going to let down your pride? Those boys deserve better than a little apartment and hand-me-down toys every Christmas."
The look on Hermione's face told Emma that she may have gone to far. "My boys and I are doing fine Emma. I've done quite well all by myself thank you."
"I know you have 'Mione. I didn't mean anything by it. Really." The anger faded off Hermione's face, and for a moment, she feared she was going to cry. She hadn't allowed herself to cry since the funeral. "Alex asked me for a broom this year for Christmas. You'd think that with all the brooms I make, I'd be able to get one for my son."
"Everything's gonna be fine Hermione. You have great kids. Now you just need to go and get them."
"You're right Em. I'll see you on Monday." As she began to Apperate, she heard Emma calling her. "Have a good weekend 'Mi… And... do think about talking to Mr. Weasley. He gave Susan a raise last month. Merlin knows you deserve it more.." Emma's voice faded away as Hermione Apperated.
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Longbottom House; Kitchen, 7:45 PM
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Just as Emma's voice faded away, Hermione found herself face to face with a slightly annoyed Padma Patil Longbottom, who appeared to be doing the dishes with a few swishes and flicks of her wand.
"Padma! I'm so sorry, I didn't realize how late it was getting!" Hermione rushed. "How were the boys today? Where are they?"
"Evening 'Mione. It's not that I mind keeping your boys later, but I need to know those things. What if Neville and I had had plans?"
"I'm so so sorry!" Hermione stated again. "Things got so hectic, and I thought you know if I finish a few more brooms I'll double my usual quota. And then all the sudden it was seven forty two…and…"
"Hermione, it's ok!" Padma began. "You work too hard. Sorry I sounded irritated it's been a long day. The boys are in the living room with Neville and Jessie. We went ahead and fed them. Chicken Pie and Pumpkin Juice...It's been a good day, but Alex fell out of the tree again. I don't know what you're going to do when he gets a broom."
"Is he ok?" Hermione asked anxiously, concern for her oldest son filling her eyes.
"He's fine." Padma assured her. "Broke his ankle to begin with, but Neville fixed him up. You know he had plenty of experience in that field. We've kept him on the couch for the rest of the day anyway."
Hermione smiled and nodded. "And Rion?" She asked.
Padma smiled. "You know the drill. He did fine until naptime, but then…"
"Mummy!" a tow-headed toddler ran into the room and latched himself onto Hermione's knees. Hermione picked him up and she, Rion, and Padma walked into the living room where Alex was lounging on a sofa watching Neville and his raven-haired daughter trying to turn Trevor back to his original green color.
(He was currently bright pink. Eight year-old Jessie had just received an early Christmas present from an aunt, one of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes trick wands, and had promptly decided to show off her new toy by turning her fathers beloved pet different colors.)
When the others entered the room Jessie looked slightly contrite, Neville appeared torn between laughter and tears, and six year-old Alex was looking both amused and exhausted.
"Evening Neville." Said Hermione upon entering the room.
"Hi 'Mi." Said Neville, prodding the toad gently with his wand. "Alright! Blue is closer to green than pink and-" he stopped in horror as the toad disappeared. Alex suddenly began to giggle, and Trevor, now green, leapt from his head and into his master's hand.
"Trevor!" shrieked both Jessie and Neville.
Hermione laughed and "walked" over to the sofa, Rion still stuck to one leg. "How are my boys?" she asked as she sat down, pulled Rion into her lap and held one arm out to Alex who scooted over to her and laid his brown- haired head on her shoulder. "Tired?" she asked him with a motherly smile. Alex shook his head, which was quite a feat since it was still laying on her shoulder.
"Rion's the one who missed his (yawn) nap."
"Right." Hermione agreed dryly. She turned to the 3yr old on her lap. "Is that right Rion? Did you miss your nap?"
Rion grinned at her. "Yeas." He replied slyly. "Mummy I seed Daddy today!" Alex felt is mother tense. "What are you talking about Rion?" Hermione asked, her voice shaking ever so slightly. "I seed Daddy!" Rion repeated, not understanding his mother's sudden fear. Hermione looked at Padma and Neville, who looked just as lost as she was.
"I have no idea." Padma mouthed.
"It's nothing Mum." Alex spoke up at last, very quietly. "He just thinks he saw Dad. He doesn't even remember what he looks like."
"I did seed him!" Rion repeated again stubbornly, his lower lip trembling.
"Shhhh." Hermione whispered soothingly, standing up and balancing the boy on her hip. "Get your coats Alex. We're going home now." Alex is right. She thought to herself. Rion just thought he saw him. He'd never come here. Never.
"Do you need me to walk home with you 'Mione?" Neville's voice broke into her thoughts. Both he and his wife and daughter were staring at her with sympathetic expressions.
"No, Thank you Neville. We'll be fine. It's not far."
Neville smiled. " 'Course not Hermione. But you better hurry or you'll be carrying both those boys home."
Hermione managed a tired laugh. " Good night guys. Thank you so much. See you Monday."
" G'Night Hermione."
Hermione fumbled for her wand as she walked down Padma and Neville's front steps. It was quite a task because she managed to get it out of her robe pocket without letting go of Alex's hand, or disturbing Rion, who had already fallen asleep.
"Lumos." She whispered, the dim wand light illuminating the frozen side walk, and bouncing "magically" off the snow covered ground. She and Alex walked along in silence for a while, the crunching of snow under winter boots and Rion's soft breathing. After about ten minutes however, Alex stopped dead in his tracks, his tiredness forgotten.
"Mum look!!!" he squealed, pointing to a large stone mansion with twinkling fairies sparkling from the ice covered trees, and a very well decorated, but open door. Hermione felt her stomach began to drop around her feet, especially when her son continued, pointing to a fancy looking car. "Mummy! It's HARRY POTTER's CAR!" With that announcement he dropped his mother's hand and ran up the long curving driveway and in the open door on the mansion.
"Alex!" Hermione called desperately. When the six year old did not respond, Hermione determinedly shifted Rion to her other shoulder and stalked up the long driveway after him.
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CEO Office, QQS, 7:00 PM
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"Mister Weasley?" the head of Susan Bones, Ron's new secretary called from the large marble fireplace in his office. "Mister Weasley?"
"Yes?" Ron, who at that moment was playing a game of chess with his friend, advisor and sponsor, Harry, answered, obviously concentrating on his next move and not his secretary.
"Mister Blancoeeb wishes to speak with you sir." Susan told him. Ron was automatically more attentive.
"Checkmate." He told Harry carelessly. "Send him through." He told Susan's head. At once, Susan's head disappeared, and the torso of Allan Blancoeeb, the American head of Quality Quadpot Supplies, a "sister" company appeared.
"Mr. Blancoeeb." Ron greeted the man, standing. "It's quite late in America isn't it?" "Ronnie boy!" Boomed the middle-aged man heartily. "It's good to see you again! I'm not at home you fool! I'm in Scotland! On my way to visit you!"
Ron paled slightly. "Oh that's right sir! We were going to discuss…"
"That's right Ronnie boy!" Blancoeeb boomed. "I'm stopping over here for a while, but should be to your place by Monday. Looking forward to it my man! Can't wait to meet the family!"
With that, the fireplace was empty once more. Ron looked from the fireplace to Harry, suspicion growing on his face. "Harry." he began slowly, (Harry began to look antsy.) "When Blancoeeb said "the family" whose family did he mean?"
Harry looked even more uncomfortable. "Well, I knew how much this deal meant to you mate, so, in order to make Blancoeeb more anxious to do business with you… I told him you had a family. You know, a wife, couple of kids." his voice trailed off miserably, then picked back up. "It's all propaganda mate. I was just trying to help."
"HELP!" exploded Ron, "YOU HELP ME BY RIDING MY MERCHANDISE! BY PRANCING AROUND AT MY SALES! YOU DO NOT HELP BY SUDDENLY GETTING ME A HOME LIFE."
Harry looked contrite. "Calm down Ron. I'll fix everything."
Ron put his head in his hands in defeat. "I'm ruined. He'll take my company away from me," he moaned. "I haven't been on a date in six years! How'm I s'posed to get a girl, marry her, and have kids with her by Monday?!" Harry didn't answer at first, and when Ron looked up his eyes had taken on a mischievous glint.
"Whoa Harry!" began Ron. "I don't like that look. That's the look you had when you found the Mirror of Erised, that's the look you had when you wanted to go chase down Sirius, and when you wanted to run around in the Forbidden Forest countless times and…I don't like that look that look is trouble." His complaining ceased and he grinned helplessly. "Such is life. What do you have in mind this time?"
"We'll rent someone." Harry replied. Ron banged his head down on his desk once more.
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Weasley Manor, Entry Way, 8:00pm
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"What about Parvati?" Harry asked, in a long-suffering voice. He had been making suggestions about Ron's wife since they had arrived at the manor at 7:15.
"Nope."
"Lauren Holmes?" "
Ummmm. Nope."
"Lavender?"
"No!"
"For the love of Mike why not!" exclaimed Harry
"She told me I had big ears."
"That was in fifth year Ron!"
"Doesn't matter. NO NO NO."
"Sheesh. Cho?" Ron looked at Harry suspiciously. "You just want to see her again."
"I do not! Now how old are we?"
"Nearly Thirty Harry. Don't act as if I'm the only one who forgets it. Cho's a nun now by the way."
"Cho! (Cough) FINE! OK boss, would Ginny do it? I know it'd be strange, but it's pretend...and you could trust her. Besides, she likes acting."
"Harry that's borderline insane! Not to mention gross...immoral and… Besides, we look to much alike."
"Fine." An unusually young look crossed his face. "Moaning Myrtle."
"That's your forte Potter." Snickered Ron, and he and Harry burst out laughing. Just then Harry felt a small hand tug at his robe. He looked down and saw a small boy, who looked oddly familiar.
"Are you Harry Potter?" squeaked the boy excitedly. Harry looked at Ron. "Who is he?" He whispered. Ron shook his head.
"Yes." Harry replied finally. "That's me."
The little boy stared open mouthed for a moment, in awe, not realizing the two adults were trying to figure out where he had come from. Then another person entered the room. Harry and Ron looked at the woman. She was a very pretty woman, with sleek curly brown hair and equally dark eyes. She looked tired however, and an even younger boy was sleeping on her shoulder.
"What is this!?" demanded Ron, "an open party?"
"Alex!" hissed the woman.
"Mummy!" cried the little boy, (Alex?) running to the woman. "It's Harry Potter! He's the best seeker ever!"
"I know." The woman said softly.
"Please Miss," began Harry, looking worriedly at a fuming Ron. "This is a private home. I often sign autographs at Quality Quidditch Supplies." he broke off as the woman looked up at him, and he and Ron saw her clearly for the first time. Shock replaced all other emotions on their faces, with an ever so slight touch of reminiscence.
"Hermione?" Both men gasped
Hermione hugged her boys closer to her.
"Hullo Harry, Ron."
*A\N-And there you have it folks. Hope you enjoyed it. For those of you who usually read my D\G fics, I'm still working on them, and recently put out a new chapter there as well. GO READ IT! The next chapter of Borrowed Hearts will be up soon. Read and Review! I'd love to discuss particulars with you. Howlers are ok, but no Bubotuber pus please.
*A/N 2 (December 27, 2003) I am currently looking for a beta reader.