*Here it is! After a little over a year, I finally present to you the last chapter of Time Turner Mishaps. I hope you all enjoyed it!*
June 26, 2019
It took a minute for anyone to realize the time turner had stopped. Everyone continued clutching the chain, either fearfully wondering if they landed in the correct year or grieving the loss of their loved ones for the second time.
All Cole could do was blink at the faces of those who had just returned from the past. Harry's haunted eyes seemed just a shade lighter, and whether or not he realized it, George still wore a soft smile on his face as he stared blankly at the seat Fred (I) sat in as he was obliviated.
As he looked around, he realized everyone looked a bit more at peace than they originally were. Even the kids who never knew their relatives, no matter how distant or blood-related, wore an air of contentment around them as they felt more connected with their late family.
Cole himself felt lighter than he had in years, no longer weighed down by the guilt and grief of losing his first wife and best friend. Yet, as his gaze fell on his kids, his smile dimmed slightly as he saw Davina turn her body into Ty's side to get away from him.
The kitchen doors burst open before he could even open his mouth to ask her what was wrong.
"Thank Merlin, you're all ok!" Fleur cried as she rushed toward her children. Angelina and Ron followed close behind.
Hermione quickly gathered the time turner, cast a spell to retract the chain, and placed it into a secure box Ron handed her. No one would go on this little "adventure" ever again, and she made sure of it when she cast multiple wards on the box.
Angelina began directing people into the sitting room so there was more room and everyone could reunite with their family.
The Potters were the first to rush through the door, eager to see their mother. Despite the trouble James was in, even he was anxious to see Ginny. Although he had a blast meeting his deceased relatives and landing the girl of his dreams, a part of him was scared he had messed up so bad that he'd never see his parents again, let alone return to 2019.
Everyone seemed to pile out after them, leaving the privacy of the kitchen to the Granger-Weasley family. From the corner of his eye, Cole could see Rose and Hugo tightly hugging their father's waist, refusing to let go, as Ron ran his hands through their frizzy hair.
It's always been difficult for the redhead to show affection to his loved ones or admit his feelings. Yet, as Cole watches him lean down and kiss the top of his kids' heads as Hermione beams with tears in her eyes, Cole can honestly say with no doubt in his mind that Ron loved his family.
Feeling a bump to his side, Cole looked down to see Davina squeeze past him in the doorway, throwing him a disappointed look over her shoulder as she put an excited Benji down, quickly running towards his mother's waiting arms.
Davina silently trailed after him, not even hesitating before engulfing Nina in a big hug, ignoring her little brother's cries. The two women chuckle as he dramatically gulps for air and kisses his chubby cheeks apologizing for smushing him.
Cole sighed at the sight, realizing he had more apologies to give. Ty's pat on the back only confirms he messed up as the two men join their family's hug. Both give Nina a kiss on the cheek in greeting as the woman looks over her children for any scrape or bruise her eyes may have missed when they first came in.
"We're fine, Mum." Davina smiled fondly, "Promise. Not even a scratch."
"That's not true. I really hurt my back when I landed in the past." Ty pouted.
Nina gasped and began fussing over the auror, whose smile only widened. His love shone in his eyes as he looked down at the blonde who raised him.
Davina rolled her eyes as Nina shoved Benji into her arms, "You're fine. You just want to hog Mum all to yourself!" Ty only smiled wider, "Are you at least going to try to deny it!"
"Why would I do that?" Ty asked petulantly, "You get Mum's affection all the time since you still live at home. I have to live in my cold, lonely flat with nothing but the memories of warm cuddles to get me through my days."
"That is absolute-"
Nina shut down the impending argument as she pulled them both into another hug. The siblings were shocked into silence as they felt their mother's shoulders shake from tears and quickly wrapped their arms around her again.
"We're sorry for fighting, Mum." Ty apologized, running soothing circles on her back, "Especially after worrying you so much."
"I don't care about that." Nina wept, "You can bicker as much as you like, as long as you still call me M-Mum. I was so scared that..."
Davina blinked back tears hearing the pain in Nina's voice, "Of course we would call you Mum. You r-raised us a-and love us so much. No matter what, we'll a-always see you as o-our mother."
Nina began to cry harder, and all she could manage to get past the lump in her throat was to whisper I love you's repeatedly. Her children relished each time it passed her lips.
Cole tore his eyes from the scene. He was so happy for his wife, but he never realized the pain and uncertainty Nina lived with regarding her role in the children's lives. It probably didn't help that he asked her to keep Davina's birth mother a secret. She must have been so anxious knowing that they would meet Lena and the truth would come out.
Cole sighs. I really messed up.
Looking away from such an intimate family moment he felt unworthy to be a part of, Cole looked around the room and smiled as Ginny enveloped her kids in her arms like Molly. Quickly kissing Harry for keeping his promise and bringing them back. Cole can only snort as he watches the relief leave her face and be replaced with an all-consuming rage.
"James Sirius Potter! I told you to do one bloody thing! Do you even know what it was? Were you even listening to me?"
"To stay out of Dad's study," James mumbled, looking regretfully at the floor.
"To stay out of your father's study! What you did was beyond reckless and dangerous. Have you any idea of what could have happened if we didn't find a way to bring you back? You may never have been born!"
"I'm sorry!" James cried, his eyes glassy, "I truly am sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"It doesn't matter if you didn't mean to. You still did it, and it still happened. I expect you to take your punishment without complaint if you really are sorry, do you understand? That means no Quidditch for the rest of the summer, no visiting Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, no pulling pranks, and no hanging out with Davina!"
With each new punishment, James looked like his heart broke more and more until it shattered at the last one. Cole couldn't help but grin internally, knowing the troublemaker wouldn't be able to go near his angel for the rest of the summer. He ignored the panic inside when he realized they'll be seventeen and alone at boarding school together in two months.
Harry took pity on his son, wrapped an arm around Ginny, and ran his hand down her side, "I'm sure the rest of his punishments can wait till tomorrow."
"The rest...?" James whimpered.
"Let's just go home and enjoy having our family back together," Harry offered sweetly before pointedly looking at his eldest, "After James apologizes to everyone in the room."
Ginny sighs tiredly, nodding in agreement before raising an eyebrow at her son. James gulped, noticing everyone's eyes on him after hearing Harry's order.
"I-uh-I want to apologize for getting everyone involved in my mess." James began, flashing everyone a sorrowful smile, "Fred, for convincing you to help me break into the study when you said it wasn't a good idea. Teddy, for not listening to you when you warned me it was dangerous. Dad, for not trying harder to convince your past self to get a haircut. I mean, it was absolutely horrid-OW! Ok, I'll get back on track, but I am really sorry for that. No! Don't hit me. I'm moving on.
"Anyway, I also want to say sorry to the rest of the cousins for sweeping you all into the past and the parents for all the worry I caused. Thank you for saving us and cleaning up my mess. I was reckless and stupid, and I should know better now that I'm going into my seventh year. So, I think after this thrilling adventure, I'll ease up on my pranks and trouble for a while. This was enough excitement to last me the rest of my life, if I'm honest. I've learned my lesson when it comes to messing with time. I hope you can all forgive me for this Time Turner mishap."
No one could deny the sincerity in the boy's words. You could see he meant everything just by looking into his eyes. He truly was sorry for what he'd done, and they could only hope he held true to his claim of causing less trouble. Although, he was fooling nobody when he apologized to Fred. They all knew they liked to egg each other on, but this one time, they'll let it slide, much to the redhead's relief.
George sighed. He used to be a troublemaker when he was James' age, too, but never has he put anyone in harm's way before on a large scale. Was he angry at his nephew for endangering himself and the rest of the family? Of course, he was! He even had a prank planned to teach him a lesson, but George was also grateful that his nephew's trouble also brought him closure with Fred (I). For that, he can easily forgive the boy.
"It's alright, James, but never again, yeah?"
James nodded, and he quickly reassured anyone who offered him forgiveness.
After giving him a piece of their mind, Bill and Fleur decide to head home and spend some time with their family. Victoire agrees to accompany them after kissing Teddy's cheek and asking if he'll be ok. He waves her off, saying her family needs her with them as much as the Potters need him right now too.
Percy is relieved everyone is alright and that he had the foresight to let his children visit their mother's family instead. He quickly says goodbye to Harry and Cole, who thank him for his help before he floos home.
As the green ash clears from Percy's departing, Cole hears Fred and Roxanne excitedly sharing their memories of Fred (I) with their parents as they head towards the floo.
"George," Cole calls out, pulling the ginger to the side, "Sorry, I know you just want to be at home with your family right now, but...thank you."
George looks at him confused before understanding crosses his features, and he gives his best friend a tender smile.
"You were right," Cole smiled back, "about getting closure. I'm really glad you talked some sense into me, and I hope you were able to get it too."
"I did," George grinned, "I made peace with his passing a while ago, but I think you understand the need to say goodbye to your best friend, don't you?" Cole nodded, "Now, what are you standing around here for? You'll make your wife jealous talking to such a dashing man!"
"I can't help it! The heart wants what the heart wants, Georgie!"
"Oh, my lump of Cole!"
"Black, quit trying to steal my husband!" Angelina glared playfully.
The two men snickered as George placed his hand on his wife's lower back, leading her to the floo, "Go spend time with your family, Cole."
Not having to be told twice, Cole returned to Nina's side as she slung an arm around his waist.
"Alright, kids," Nina prodded, "Go say thank you to Uncle Harry and Aunt Hermione."
Benji gives his aunt and uncle a sleepy kiss before snuggling back into Ty's neck, and Cole squeezes Nina's waist as he sees Davina kiss James on the cheek leaving the poor boy dazed.
Nina gapes and looks up at her husband, who groans, "My worst nightmare has come true."
"You poor baby." She crooned and mockingly patted his back, snickering as he gave her a pout, "Come on, let's go home."
After making sure the kids made it through the floo alright, the two finally stumbled out of their own fireplace, and it was finally over.
Well, for everyone but Cole, that is.
As his daughter refused to look at him, Cole sighed, "Davina, keep your shoes on and grab your robe."
Davina furrowed her brows. On the one hand, she was still quite upset and would rather just ignore the man who lied to her for sixteen years until she calmed down, but on the other hand, she wanted answers.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
~ ❈ ~
With a thud, the father and daughter land in a meadow filled with smooth aster and foxglove beardtongue flowers as far as the eye can see, following a path clearly carved out with mossy stone slabs the two don't hesitate to follow.
As they walk the trail, Davina can't help but be surprised the sun is only just beginning to rise. After everything that happened, she assumed they returned in the middle of the night, but then again, who knows how time travel works.
Cole comes to a stop halfway down the path and crouches down. Davina takes a moment to breathe in the crisp morning air and brush off the dew clinging to the grass by her feet. Wondering why they are here even more when her father stands back up, clutching a bouquet of freshly picked flowers.
With a silent nod, the two continue down the trail until they reach a small clearing lined with a cluster of plots. Only when Cole places his flowers on the tombstone marked for Lena Beauregard does she understand she's at her mother's grave.
"It's beautiful here."
"It is," her father agrees, "She wanted to be surrounded by nature. Would have haunted me from the grave if I didn't give her a view."
"I'm surprised she didn't haunt you for doing a lot less." Davina sniped, clearing the weeds off her birth mother's grave, "You should have taken me here sooner."
Cole nodded, neither looking at the other, "You're right. I'm sorry I never told you about her. Though, I didn't exactly think you'd find out by time-traveling to meet her."
"No, you just thought I'd be kept in the dark forever."
"Davina-"
"Well, it's true, isn't it?" Davina asked, finally looking Cole in the eye. "I'm almost seventeen! Were you ever planning on telling me? I deserved the truth."
Cole sighed, rubbing his hands down his face. His eyes found Lena's plot again, and he couldn't help but wonder what she would say. How she would have handled it so much better than him because she'd never keep it a secret in the first place.
"I- you were so young, and by the time you realized what a mother even was, Nina was already in your life. It would have confused you, and- no, that's not fair. The truth is I promised Nina that we'd tell you about Lena in your second year."
"Why wait until I was twelve?"
"We thought you'd be old enough to understand without lashing out at Nina, and we didn't want to make your first year difficult for you. But then you came home for the summer, and I chickened out," Cole scoffs, "Not very Gryffindor of me, eh?"
Davina just stares at him, and he wishes he could find some of that Gryffindor courage he used to exude so much in his youth. Did he use it all up during the war?
"If I'm being honest, Lena's passing was very difficult for me. You see, we were best friends in Hogwarts when we fell in love. She's been with me through so much, from people calling me a death eater to my father's death and the war. She was my rock, and when she died, it was so sudden it felt like the rug had been ripped out from under me. I thought I had so much more time, we had so many plans and so many promises left unfinished. I forgot what it was like to live my life without her, and I unfairly took this out on you.
"Each time you came home from school, Nina would get out my old picture album, ready to tell you everything, and I'd just say, 'Next year.' Eventually, I kept saying it so much I wondered if I had to tell you at all because even saying her name was so hard for the longest time. I don't think I'd be able to say it now if I hadn't finally said goodbye to her not even two hours ago. But, I realize what I did was wrong, and it's not just because I got caught. I genuinely feel terrible for keeping this from you. I am so sorry, Davina."
A single tear fell down the point of Davina's chin and joined the dew in the grass. She was so angry when she found out her father had lied to her for her whole life, and she still is, but then she heard the agony in his voice and saw the ghosts in his eyes.
Davina's glad he finally opened up and told her the truth, but she can't help but still be slightly resentful. Now it's just mixed in with pity. But, taking a deep breath in, she can admit the wound is still fresh, so of course, she's still angry. The point is, he's trying now, and holding this against him forever would only bring them pain when she can at least try to move on. Start the long process of forgiving.
"I'm still mad at you," Davina admits, "You robbed me of so many memories of her. You lied to me when I asked why I didn't look like you or Mum and said I take after your grandmother. I'm sorry you went through that, but that doesn't excuse the pain you caused me. I'm not sure I'll be able to forgive you for a very long time."
Cole looked away from her, chastised. What kind of father brought their daughter pain like this? His own mother told him his father was in Azkaban before he even began Hogwarts. That must have pained her, yet why couldn't he overcome his own pain for Davina?
"But," Cole looked up hopeful, "I think if you could tell me a little bit about her every day, I'll be able to. One memory at a time, yeah?"
"Yeah," Cole wrapped an arm around her and smiled, "As long as we keep her memory alive and spread her love, she'll always be with us. It's when we forget that she's gone."
Davina looked up at him and grinned, "I like that."
"Me too."
[FIN]
[Edited 6/9/2022]