Chapter 3: Mummy?

                                    

                                          
The woman's confused gaze wandered over the familiar faces of her friends, but if she was looking for an answer, she would not find it there. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Molly all stared unblinking, mouths agape, at the curly-haired witch.
                          
"Guys?" She tried again to get their attention.
                          
"Mummy, uppy!" the toddler insisted desperately.
                          
"I'm sorry, love, but I'm not your mum," the witch answered with remorse. She was not really used to being around small children and felt very uncomfortable, but she couldn't help but feel pity for the sad, pleading little boy.
                          
"Er… Hermione…" Harry said in a flat, stunned voice. "I-I think you might be…"
                          
"Sorry?" Hermione asked in confusion.
                          
"Merlin… I didn't see that one coming," a dumbstruck Ron remarked.
                          
"Mummy, please?" Aurelian pleaded.
                          
Hermione took pity on the boy and, though irritated with her friends' lack of helpfulness, picked the child up.
                          
"Merlin," she gasped. "He's covered in blood. What happened? Are you okay?" She took her hand off of his cloak and stared at her blood-covered hand.
                          
"M'ok, Mummy. You okay? You okay, Mummy?" the boy asked with a pathetic pout.
                          
"Uh… er… yes. I…" Hermione couldn't finish her thought. She was puzzled and grew increasingly worried by the situation. The boy seemed unconcerned by her stuttering and, instead, appeared to take comfort in her presence. He laid his head on her shoulder and nuzzled against her neck. "Hello? Some help?" she demanded irritably to the four adults before her.
                          
"Aurey, dear, I think the grown-ups need to talk. Why don't you come with me to the kitchen and I'll get you a snack? Would you like that?" Molly offered pleasantly.
                          
"Mummy?" Aurelian asked as he looked to Hermione for permission. Hermione looked at Molly with a desperate, quizzical expression.
                          
"I'm sure she doesn't mind, do you?" Molly prompted.
                          
"No… of course…" Hermione agreed slowly in her state of bewilderment. Molly held out her hand as Hermione gently lowered the boy to the floor.
                          
"Mummy stayin'?" Aurelian asked as he stared expectantly at Hermione.
                          
"Yes. She's not going anywhere," Molly assured him. "Now let's get to the kitchen. I just made some biscuits today. Would you like some?"
                          
The conversation became nothing more than mumbling as they left the room.
                          
"What's going on?" Hermione asked uncomfortably.
                          
"I-I don't know where to start," Harry admitted.
                          
"How about with telling me who that child is?" Hermione suggested petulantly.
                          
"He… we… well, see, I guess that's the tricky part," Ron answered.
                          
"Try, Ronald," she insisted as she placed her hand on her hip.
                          
"Well, we think he's yours." Ron swallowed hard and waited for another flare of her temper.
                          
"What? That's ridiculous," Hermione scoffed, certain that her friend had truly lost his mind.
                          
"Nice, Ron," Ginny said sardonically. "He… His name is Aurelian. He… See, we're not exactly sure where he comes from. He just kind of showed up. He… well, he's wearing a Time-Turner."
                          
"What? Where on earth would he get a Time-Turner?" Hermione gasped.
                          
"He said that his mother gave it to him," Ginny answered.