Giant's Gulch
May 2008
Harry and Hermione were sitting under the shade of a tree, watching Teddy run across the red rock clearing ahead of them with a dog barking at his heels. When Teddy reached the pool of water, he dove straight in. The dog leaped in after him, changing into what looked like a small dolphin in midair before splashing into the water.
Teddy emerged from the pool with his arm draped over the dolphin, who was nudging his nose into his cheek. Teddy laughed, then turned his hair from blue to raven black. "Don't forget, you're not the only one who can change," he told the creature, who clicked back at him in approval.
Teddy pulled himself out of the water and the animal followed him, appearing in the form of a small horse now. Teddy and the horse ran to a nearby tree and when Teddy began scrambling up the limbs, the creature became a monkey and followed after him.
"He's going to be exhausted tonight," Hermione commented.
Harry laughed. "I'm exhausted just watching him."
"Tearing them apart from each other is going to be hard."
"Yeah, but he's old enough to understand now. Nothing like that fit he threw when they first met."
Hermione winced. She'd never forget the two-hour-long tantrum from the time they'd first brought Teddy here. He'd been five years old and completely enamored by the chamologue, who he'd promptly named Morph. When it was time to leave, he'd started screaming at the top of his lungs, his appearance changing wildly as he shouted in agitation.
Harry was forced to carry him all the way back to their campsite. Once there, they'd tried every method of distraction they could think of but weren't able to calm Teddy. Ultimately, he'd just passed out from exhaustion.
Harry looked over at Hermione. She was lying back on her elbows with her eyes closed as a breeze shook her curls, which were still damp from their earlier swim. The air was cool and refreshing but Harry knew that would change in a few hours. Once the sun seeped into every crevice of the canyon, the temperature would rise quickly and all the breezes would be warm.
They'd been visiting Giant's Gulch every year since that first time they'd come with Teddy and had come to know the Sanctuary and a few of the giants well. The first thing they did was find Morph, who seemed just as enamored with Teddy as the boy was with him (or her, they didn't know Morph's gender). They'd asked one of the giants if the chamologue usually latched on to children and were told that this behavior was rare. It seemed to sense a kindred spirit in Teddy, who could also change his appearance at will, and would follow him around the Sanctuary during their entire visit.
Hermione let out a small, contented sigh, drawing Harry's attention back to her. Damn, she was beautiful. His eyes drifted down her form, which was covered by a simple black swimsuit and shorts, and stopped at the slight almost undetectable swell of her belly. If he didn't know her body so well, he would have missed it.
Harry reached over and placed his hand on top of the small bump. She smiled as her eyes fluttered open. "Hi."
"You're gorgeous."
She beamed back at him, which further improved her appearance, something he hadn't previously thought possible.
"When are we going to tell Teddy?" she whispered.
Harry looked over at Teddy, who was currently running toward them. "Now?"
Hermione just shrugged and pulled herself to a sitting position as Teddy approached. Morph had transformed into a colorful snake and wrapped himself around Teddy's thin torso and neck. "Do you have any snacks?" Teddy asked, out of breath.
Hermione reached for her backpack and unzipped the smaller pocket. "You know me well enough by now to know that I always have snacks, Teddy." She tossed him a bag of cheese crackers, followed by a bag of grapes. She pulled out a second bag of grapes and put it on the ground between her and Harry before zipping the backpack up.
Harry and Hermione watched Teddy devour the food, acting as if he hadn't eaten in weeks, while they shared the other bag of grapes, attempting to model how civilized people ate, though Teddy wasn't paying attention.
"Psst," Hermione hissed.
Harry dragged his eyes away from Teddy, who was feeding Morph a few of the crackers, then back to Hermione.
She lifted her eyebrows and tilted her head toward Teddy.
Harry shrugged.
Hermione glared at him and they had a brief silent conversation. "Tell him," she said with her eyes.
"Why don't you do it?"
"You're his godfather!"
"You're the one who's pregnant!"
Hermione sighed, then turned to Teddy and said without fanfare, "Teddy, Harry and I are going to have a baby."
Teddy froze. Morph, as if picking up on his shift in mood, changed into a white cat and climbed into Teddy's lap. Teddy began petting him absently as he frowned, focusing on the base of the tree. "When?" he asked.
"October," Hermione replied. "Probably a week or two before Halloween."
"So, you're―uh―" He cut off and looked down at Morph. "You're going to have a new baby around during my last year before Hogwarts."
"Yeah," Harry said, watching Teddy carefully.
"I understand," Teddy said, his voice devoid of its usual energy. "You're probably going to be pretty busy."
"Teddy―" Harry began.
Teddy's eyes snapped to meet Harry's. "I get it, Harry. It's going to be hard for you to practice flying with me on the weekends and―uh―have me round the house all the time. I under―"
Harry placed a hand on Teddy's bony shoulder. "None of that is going to change," he said firmly.
"It isn't?" Teddy looked to Hermione, who nodded in agreement.
"Yes, we're going to be busy with the baby," Harry continued, "but that doesn't mean we're going to stop seeing you. We love you too much. Remember when your Grandmum took you out of town for two weeks last winter? We were beside ourselves."
"He's right," Hermione chimed in. "We missed you terribly. Harry was reduced to a puddle of tears, couldn't get out of bed for a solid day."
Teddy rolled his eyes, a habit he'd picked up from Hermione. "Now you're just joking."
Hermione smiled. "Maybe, but the point stands. You're a part of our family and that's not going to change."
Teddy turned to Harry. "So, we're still going to practice flying together?"
"Yes."
"And you're still going to take me to Diagon Alley to get my stuff for Hogwarts next summer?"
"Yes."
"And King's Cross Station? You'll be there to drop me off?"
"Absolutely," Hermione chimed in. "We'll bring the baby."
Teddy bit his lip and Harry could tell the following question was the one he was most nervous about. He looked back at Morph, who was purring loudly, as he asked, "And this trip? We come every year but―with a baby―"
"We'll bring the baby," Harry said.
Teddy's eyes brightened. "Yeah?" He looked to Hermione again for confirmation.
She nodded.
Teddy beamed as the last of his concerns melted away. "Cool. That's going to be pretty cool, having a baby around. Almost like a little brother or sister." He blushed. "I mean, I know it's not the same―"
"I think it's going to be exactly like that," Harry said, giving Teddy's shoulder a final squeeze before dropping it.
Teddy nodded distantly. "My friend Padraig has a baby brother. He doesn't seem to like him very much, though. Says he just poops and cries all the time."
Hermione let out a laugh. "Well, our baby will be the same. But not for long. Or, well, I hope not."
Teddy shrugged. He handed Hermione the empty plastic bags from his snack and placed Morph on the ground before standing up. "I still think it's cool. And I'm happy for you. You're going to be brilliant parents. Sort of already are."
"Sort of brilliant or sort of parents?" Harry asked. "I think the distinction here matters."
Teddy rolled his eyes before running back into the clearing. "Come on, Morph!" The creature turned into a small rabbit and hopped after him.
"Well, he's fine," Hermione said, lying down on her back with her head propped up on the backpack.
"All that worrying for nothing."
She smiled up at him.
Harry shifted so he was lying on his side and resting his head on her stomach. She reached down and began threading her fingers through his hair. Harry closed his eyes and focused on the swirling sounds of Hermione's insides. There was a tiny baby in there, growing more and more each day. He couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of witches and their ability to create life. Why didn't more people talk about how incredible that was?
"Hey," she whispered.
Harry opened his eyes and saw Hermione looking down at him.
"I know the gender."
Harry's eyes widened. "What? When did you find that out?"
"Just before we left. Do you want to know?"
He lifted his head. "Yeah. Absolutely. What is it?"
"It's a girl."
Harry's heart stopped. He looked back at her stomach and the slight bump there. "A girl?" he breathed.
"Yeah."
Harry exhaled heavily. "Bloody hell." He leaned forward and dropped his forehead against her abdomen. A girl! They were going to have a little girl. Would she look like Hermione? With bushy brown hair and green eyes? Or would her hair be dark, like his? Maybe she'd have Hermione's eyes. Would she be smart? Merlin, he hoped she took after Hermione in that department. But with his flying ability, of course. A girl!
He smiled as several tears fell down his face onto Hermione's swimsuit. She started raking her fingers through his hair again. Harry wanted to say something brilliant. To tell her how much he loved her. How much it meant to him that they were starting a family together, and how he was completely devoted to her and their daughter and would do anything for them. But he couldn't make the words come out. Though he could tell by the look in her eyes that she knew.
"She's going to be the luckiest little girl with the best father in the entire world. In all the worlds," she added with a grin.
Harry had to take several deep breaths before he was able to respond. "I can't wait to meet her. But I'm probably going to be a mess that day―a puddle of tears, as you said―so I hope you weren't looking for any support from me."
"Good to know," she replied with a smirk. "I'll plan to have a backup there."
Enchanted Forest
June 2018
"My legs hurt," Rose complained.
Harry looked over his shoulder at Hermione. They shared an exasperated look before Harry turned back to Rose and said, "You'll live."
"Why can't we just Apparate?"
"You know how to Apparate, Love?" Harry teased. "Since when?"
She sighed dramatically. "You know what I meant, Dad."
"We already explained, Rose, that we can't Apparate where we're going," Hermione said from behind them. "We need to get there by solving these little puzzles and, if memory serves, the last one is coming up soon."
"Fine," Rose sighed. "I wish I could be carried like Hazel." She looked toward her youngest sister who was on Teddy's back with her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Hazel's five," Alex, her younger brother, pointed out. "You're nine. You should be able to walk a few miles. I think you're just bored."
"I didn't ask for your opinion, did I, Alex?" Rose snapped.
"Here we are!" Harry said, pointing to the clearing just ahead. He gave Hermione a look that said, "We're losing them."
"I know," she mouthed as she pulled her wand out of her pocket, ready to solve the puzzle of the final toadstool. This one was perched between four paths. She crouched in front of it, looking for the spot on the toadstool that looked most like the rune for Wunjo.
Alex, who had been fascinated by all the puzzles she'd solved today, crouched next to her. "What are you looking for?"
"A rune," she replied.
"There's one." He pointed at a shape that looked like either Fehu or Ansuz.
Hermione shook her head. "That is a rune, though it's hard to tell exactly which one, since it's a bit distorted. Either Fehu, which stands for prosperity and beginnings, or Ansuz, the rune of the divine. Neither of those fit, though."
Alex nodded as he took it all in. Hermione couldn't help but smile. Out of their three kids, he was the most similar to her, with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. But when it came to his looks, he was just like Harry, but with brown eyes and no glasses. He was actually closer in appearance to James, though the resemblance was less obvious when Alex was wearing his typical serious expression.
"She's just giving him a lesson," Rose whined from the side of the clearing.
"Quit the whining, Rose," Harry snapped, "or we're going to leave you behind while we all go visit the fairy colony."
"You wouldn't leave me behind."
"Would he really leave her behind?" Hazel asked Teddy from Hermione's other side, sounding a little worried for her sister.
"Maybe," Teddy shrugged. "I wouldn't push him."
"No one's leaving anyone behind," Hermione said. "But can you all be quiet so I can focus? We're nearly there."
Just then, she spotted the rune she was looking for. "Look here, Alex. I was looking for this one. Wunjo. It means happy endings. Fitting, right?"
Alex's brow furrowed. "What if you don't know it's the end of the puzzles? You only know 'cause you've been here before."
Hermione smiled. He was only seven, but had immediately caught on to the primary difficulty with this puzzle. "If you don't know this is the last toadstool, you have to find all the runes on its surface, determine their meanings, and choose the one that fits the best. Which is made especially tricky by the fact that a lot of the shapes look like multiple runes."
"That would take a long time. And you have to know all the runes," Alex murmured, sounding awed.
"You have to know runes, yes, but I have a spell that helps with remembering what they all mean."
"What happens if you choose the wrong rune?"
"I imagine the wrong path would be highlighted."
Alex hummed.
Hermione held her wand out for him. "Why don't you tap it?"
His brown eyes went comically wide. "Really? Will it―will it work?"
"I don't know. Couldn't hurt to try."
He took her wand, holding it awkwardly in his small hand, and tapped the shape she was pointing to. There was a rush of wind in the clearing, which swirled in place as it picked up the leaves on the ground. Then, with a final gust, the wind spread the leaves along two of the four paths.
Alex jumped up and let out a whoop of delight as Hermione took her wand back. "I did it! Did you see me, Teddy?"
"I did! That was brilliant."
Alex turned around. "Dad! Mum's wand worked for me. I made the leaves swirl around."
"I want to use your wand," Rose cut in.
"Maybe later," Hermione said noncommittally. "Let's go on to the fairy colony."
They split up, since they knew by now that they had to use both paths simultaneously to make the colony appear. Harry took Rose and Alex down the path on the right while Hermione went with Teddy and Hazel down the other path. Before the forest swallowed up the sounds of the other group's voices, she heard Rose say, "Let's race them!"
Hermione smiled to herself. Rose might look the most similar to her, but her personality was all James―the constant joking, the unlimited stores of energy, and that impatience that drove Hermione and Harry mad. She was clever, too. Far too clever for her own good. Hermione knew she'd get into loads of trouble once she went to Hogwarts in a few years and had already warned McGonagall to keep a close eye on her.
"You know, I've never seen the colony in the daytime," Teddy said.
Hermione nodded. "Me neither. But you know the kids, they get grumpy at night."
"I don't get grumpy," Hazel grumbled from Teddy's back.
Hermione reached out and pushed a dark curl behind her daughter's ear. "Sure you don't. I was talking about Alex and Rose."
This was a lie. Hazel completely shut down after 5:00 pm, transforming from her usually sweet self into an absolute monster―overly sensitive about everything and bursting into tears at the slightest provocation. That's why Harry called her his little changeling, a reference Hermione had explained didn't quite fit, but it was cute, so it stuck.
Hermione shared a knowing look with Teddy before turning back to the path. "Thanks for coming," she said. "You know we always appreciate an extra set of hands."
Teddy stopped and hiked Hazel up higher on his back, then continued walking next to Hermione. "It's good to get away. Plus, when have I ever missed a family trip?"
Hermione smiled. "You didn't have trouble getting time off? I know how demanding the Auror Training Program is."
Teddy shrugged. "The Chief pushed back at first, but I threw Harry's name around. Figured he's not using it for any special treatment, so I may as well." He gave her a wicked grin so reminiscent of Tonks, it made Hermione's heart clench. "Plus, it's just three days and if anything urgent comes up, I'll go right back."
Hermione squeezed his arm. "I'm so proud of you, Teddy. Have I said that?"
He smiled shyly. "Pretty much every time you see me."
"Good. So there's no question."
Before Teddy could reply, there was a shout up ahead that seemed to echo throughout the whole forest. "MUM! You have to come see this! It's so cool!"
"Can you stop shouting, Rose?" Harry asked. "You're going to make the poor fairies go deaf."
"Teddy! Mum!" Rose bellowed, ignoring Harry. She appeared at the end of the path, her curly hair wild around her flushed face. "You have to see this!"
"We have seen it, 'cuz," Teddy said calmly, stifling a laugh as he set Hazel down on the ground. "Several times."
"You were right, Mum. This was worth the boring hike." The next moment, she'd run out of sight. Hermione, Teddy, and Hazel walked the rest of the way up the path and when they appeared in the clearing, Rose was already jumping through the airstreams while Harry watched with his wand raised, ready to break her fall, if needed.
Hermione looked around for Alex and spotted him near a large toadstool where a group of fairies was sitting around a circular table. He was holding something in his hand, then began raising it to his mouth.
"Alexander James Potter! What on earth are you doing?!" Hermione cried. "You know better than to put strange foods in your mouth."
He slouched and looked immediately ashamed. "But the fairies gave it to me, Mum," he said softly. "You said they weren't dangerous."
Hermione felt guilty for shouting. She'd just been scared. The kids didn't know how dangerous the world could be or about the truly awful things that could happen if you stumbled across the wrong type of magic. "Sorry, Alex. I just want to check it for―" She cut off, not wanting to say 'poisons' in front of the fairies.
"I've got it, Hermione," Teddy said, clapping her on the shoulder before running to meet up with Alex.
Hermione let out a breath. Teddy would know how to check for poisons. And he'd be tactful about not offending the fairies. He was already crouched down next to the toadstool, waving at the small creatures while wearing a charming smile.
Hermione's attention was drawn to Hazel, who had wrapped her arms around Hermione's middle. She ran her hands through the girl's dark-brown curls. "You okay, Honey?"
Hazel nodded as she scanned the area, carefully taking in the scene around them. Hermione smiled. Hazel was always wary around new people and sights, but after she got comfortable, she'd probably be running through the air after Rose.
Hermione took Hazel's hand and walked to the tree Harry was leaning against. "Is Alex going to live?" he asked when they reached his side.
"Looks like it. Teddy's over there with him."
Harry just nodded, not taking his eyes off of Rose. She stumbled and Hermione winced, but Harry caught her with a well-placed Levitation Charm, then sent a gust of wind to push her back on course. Rose continued jumping as if nothing had happened, fearless like always.
Hermione shook her head, thinking about how Rose was going to give her a heart attack one day, but Harry just smiled. Rose was exhausting and when she was in a bad mood, it was hard to keep from getting sucked into it, but there was no denying her charisma: that ability she had to draw you in and how she could light up a room just by entering it. Watching her now and the way she was enjoying herself so fully, it was impossible to keep from smiling.
"Mummy?" Hazel asked softly, tugging on Hermione's shirt. "Where did Daddy ask you to marry him?"
Hermione smiled. Hazel was very interested in love stories these days but her favorite one, without question, was Hermione and Harry's.
"Right there," Harry said, pointing to a tree near Alex and Teddy. "But it looked very different. It was nighttime, for one, and winter, so everything was covered in a layer of snow."
"Wow," Hazel replied.
Harry looked at Hermione and cocked his head toward Rose. She nodded and raised her wand, taking up 'keep Rose alive' duty so Harry could crouch down and talk to Hazel.
"What did you say?" Hazel asked.
He let out a small laugh. "A lot of things, and it was mostly nonsensical. I was really nervous."
"Why? Mum wasn't in love with you?"
"She was. But it was a big step and she's a very remarkable witch. I was surprised she wanted to be with me."
"That's silly. Of course she wanted to be with you. You're meant to be together." The way she said that, so matterof-factly, made Hermione's heart stop. She looked down at Harry and could tell by the expression on his face that he'd noticed it too.
Hazel looked mostly like Hermione, with brunette curls a few shades darker than Hermione's, and a heart-shaped face. But her piercing green eyes and full mouth were Lily's and every so often, she'd say something, like now, that made her seem exactly like her grandmother. Their personalities were similar too, which seemed fitting, since her middle name was Lily.
Hermione suspected with time, her resemblance to Lily, both in looks and demeanor, would only grow. Harry reached up and ran a hand through Hazel's hair. "We are meant to be together," he said, his voice rougher than normal. "You're right about that."
He looked up at Hermione and smiled and she had to work hard to pull her eyes away from that stare of his that even now, years later, completely captivated her.
"He's right. We're soulmates, after all," Hermione told Hazel as she moved her eyes back to Rose, ready to catch her if she fell.
Song of the Stars
August 2022
"Oh, and don't forget―"
"Hermione." Teddy placed his hands on Hermione's shoulders, turned her around, and marched her out of the tent, where Harry, Ron, and Nora were waiting outside. "I know how to take care of your kids. I've done it a hundred times."
"But this isn't just our kids, it's Ron amd Nora's too and―"
"Our kids are teenagers who can take care of themselves," Ron chimed in. "Honestly, it's just Hazel who's young enough to need looking after, and even then, she's loads more responsible than any of our kids were at nine. She'll probably be the one doing most of the babysitting."
Teddy nodded. "Now go. Enjoy your night. I'll send a Patronus if anything crazy happens, which it won't."
"Or the―"
"Coin," Teddy finished for Hermione, tapping his pocket. "Got it. Seriously, Hermione, why are you so on edge? You've been like this the whole trip."
"Don't interrogate me, Auror Lupin. I used to change your nappies. Now go back to the kids before they burn the tent down."
Teddy shook his head and wished them good night before disappearing into the tent.
"He has a point," Ron said, studying her. Hermione glared back at him, officially sick of being picked apart by law enforcement officials. "What's wrong?"
"I'm fine," Hermione sighed, then plastered a smile on her face. "Let's go."
Harry wrapped an arm around her and kissed the side of her head. He knew exactly what had her on edge.
He knew it was because Alex was leaving in a few weeks for Hogwarts, and she wasn't ready to say goodbye to him. Because work was busy and it hadn't been the best time to leave and she was worried about Clara's ability to run things while they were gone, but was trying hard not to think about it and trust the witch. But most of all, she was uneasy because they were on Hølen Island for the first time since their trip to the other world.
Harry and Hermione had visited all the Wonders of the World since their trip, some of them several times. And they'd seen the Songs of the Stars five times since. But they'd never come to Hølen Island. They never talked about it, but there seemed to be an unspoken agreement between them that visiting the last place they had stayed with Lily and James would be too much. Just like how they always walked straight past their ruined house in Godric's Hollow without a second glance any time they visited their graves.
Look at what had happened at Pacifica. They'd barely managed to make it through that trip and had never gone back to the underwater city. But Hølen, they knew, would be worse. Yet here they were.
When Nora had insisted she take over planning the annual trip their families took together every summer, Hermione didn't think anything of it. She was relieved to have one less thing on her plate. But when Nora had announced the details of the trip a few weeks ago over dinner, Hermione had nearly thrown up, right on the table.
Harry had gone completely pale and the air in the room seemed colder. Even the kids had picked up on the change in atmosphere. Harry was quicker on his feet and was ready with an excuse, she didn't remember what, while Hermione ran to the loo. It had hit her so suddenly, her grief.
She'd thought it long-buried and healed and then, to be confronted with it so unexpectedly―memories of working with Lily to heal the other Hermione's wound, finally telling Lily how she felt about Harry, dancing with James at the restaurant… They weren't even her parents! But she'd loved them deeply, nonetheless. And poor Harry. It would be so much worse for him.
Hermione had no idea how she'd made it through the rest of that dinner with Ron and Nora. If it hadn't been for Harry gripping her hand under the table, she wouldn't have managed it. But they'd decided to go along with Nora's plan, reasoning it would probably be good for them to visit the place, since they clearly had some repressed feelings about that part of the trip.
And they'd survived so far, though Hermione had been, as Teddy said, 'on edge' the whole time. Harry had been too, but he was better at hiding it from the others. At least they only had one more night here.
"Are you sad about sending Alex off, next month?" Nora asked, leaning into Hermione as they walked down the path to the base of the mountain.
"Yeah," Hermione said. "Honestly, I'm a little worried about him. Rose couldn't wait to leave the house but Alex, well, you know him."
"He adores you―both of you―and is probably having a hard time wrapping his head around not getting to see you every day," Nora provided.
"That wasn't exactly what I was going to say―but yeah―pretty much. And it goes both ways. We have no idea what we're going to do without him."
Harry tightened his grip on her.
"It gets better," Nora said kindly. "And you still have Hazel. Wait until you send your last one off. That year is going to be especially hard."
It had been two years since Nora and Ron had sent their youngest daughter, Gwen, to Hogwarts, the same year Rose started. And Hugo, Ron and Nora's eldest son, was going into his Sixth Year, so they were well-practiced at Hogwarts drop-offs by now. More so than Harry and Hermione, who had had kids later than all their friends, besides Neville, who had a son Hazel's same age.
"Nora cried for a solid day after we dropped Gwen off," Ron said.
"Thank you for that, Ron," Nora said snippily.
"They don't care. They cry all the time."
"Can we talk about something else?" Harry suggested.
"Yes, please," Hermione agreed.
"I have something," Ron said. "What's going on with Teddy and Victoire? Did you ask him?"
Harry and Hermione shared a smile. "He says nothing," Harry replied. "Apparently they're just best friends. That's it."
"You two were just best friends," Ron pointed out.
"That's what I said," Harry replied.
"If this relationship is as inevitable as you all think, it would be nice if they could figure it out before getting engaged to other people," Nora teased.
Hermione snorted while Ron said, "Oi! Too soon."
"Too soon?" Nora said. "We've been married for almost twenty years. Is there something you want to tell me? Actually, you're off the hook for a second. We need to pause to Disapparate. We can pick this up at the restaurant."
"Restaurant?" Harry and Hermione said at the same time.
"I thought we were going to see the Song of the Stars again," Hermione added, clutching Harry's arm tightly.
"We are. There's this lovely restaurant I found. It's at the base of a mountain and wraps around―"
"I know it," Hermione said quickly, cutting her off.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked, studying her face again. Why couldn't she keep her feelings from playing across her face like Harry could? She looked over at Harry. His face was mostly blank, but there was a torrent of emotions in his eyes. She wanted to talk to him but couldn't say what she wanted to with Nora here. The contract they'd signed for Kingsley precluded them from discussing any details from the other world around anyone besides Ron and Ginny.
She squeezed his arm, then said with her eyes, "Are we really going to do this? I can come up with an excuse if you need me to."
Harry's brow knit as he looked at the ground. Nora was watching them, confused, and Ron pulled her against him and whispered something in her ear. Hermione wondered vaguely what it was, but was too focused on Harry to put much thought into it. After several moments, Harry lifted his head and gave her a curt nod before turning to Nora and saying, "Sounds lovely. Do you have the coordinates?"
Dinner was fine. Wonderful, actually. A lot better than Harry expected. It helped that Nora and Ron were content to carry on the conversation, since neither Harry nor Hermione were in the mood to talk. Ron had probably already guessed what was going on, but knew they couldn't discuss it, and Nora was too polite to ask.
She was used to this by now, being kept out of secrets shared between Ron, Harry, and Hermione, though they came up a lot less frequently lately. People rarely discussed the war these days and had long since given up speculating about the "secret mission" the three of them had gone on that had led to the defeat of Voldemort, which was fine by Harry. He was just as eager to move on as everyone else.
"Let's dance before it gets dark," Nora suggested once the waiter had cleared their plates.
"No, thank you," Harry and Hermione said in unison.
Ron, who was already standing, went to Hermione's side and pulled her forcibly to her feet. "Come on. You two can't sulk all night. You'll feel better after a few dances."
"I'm sure I won't," Hermione grumbled. She looked over at Harry, who just shrugged as he stood and offered his hand to Nora.
"What is it?" Ron asked when he and Hermione were on the dance floor, out of earshot of the couples around them. "Did you come here on your other trip?"
Hermione nodded, blinking fast to keep her tears from falling. "This is where we said goodbye to them," she said in a broken voice.
Ron swore. "Shit. Sorry, Hermione. You could have said."
"It's fine. It's Harry I'm most worried about. I'm fine."
But she so clearly wasn't. Ron certainly didn't know her as well as Harry did, but he knew her well enough to know she was barely holding it together. It was hard seeing Hermione, who was usually so composed, falling apart like this. He swore again. How were the emotions still so raw?
"That was 20 years ago, Hermione," he said gently.
"21," she corrected, then added in her head, "The amount of life they got to live before it was cut short." She wiped away a few tears that had gathered on her lower lashes.
Ron was watching her with a pained expression. "I get it. It just―hits you sometimes, doesn't it?"
"Yeah," she breathed.
"I'm sorry about this. You really should have said some―"
"It's fine," Hermione cut in. "Harry and I talked about it and it's―it's good, remembering. We usually take time every few months to read the journal and talk about his parents but, well, life seems to get busier every year and that was the first thing to go. But I think it's good we're forcing it now. Bloody painful―" Ron chortled, since she never swore, "―but good."
"Okay. I'm going to give you back to your husband now. We both know you'd rather be with him."
"Yes," she said, matter-of-factly. "That point's been well-established."
Ron let out a laugh. "As the kids would say: solid burn."
Ron guided them to the other end of the patio where Harry and Nora were laughing about something. Well, Nora was laughing and Harry was smiling politely. "Cutting in, Mate," Ron said, pulling Nora unceremoniously from Harry's grasp, then waltzing with her to the other end of the deck where he and Hermione had been dancing.
"Déjà vu," Hermione whispered as she stood in front of Harry.
"No fucking kidding." That made her smile, which eased the tension in his chest slightly. He opened his arms. "Come here."
She stepped forward and melted into him. As Harry wrapped his arms around her, the emotions he'd been holding in all night finally released. The night they'd spent here with his parents had been one of the most emotional ones of his life and now, without warning, he'd been forced to relive it.
He took deep, ragged breaths as a few tears fell down his face. Hermione linked her wrists behind his neck and smiled up at him, her eyes warm but sad.
They'd stood just like this that night, clinging to each other to keep from falling apart. They'd been lost, she more so than him, which had been a feat in and of itself, because Harry had been unsure of everything about his future, besides the fact that he wanted Hermione to be there. And now, everything was so much better than he could have imagined.
He had Hermione by his side and they were closer than ever before. They had three perfect children, a remarkable godson, incredible friends, and jobs they loved. Harry never would have imagined during all those years of unemployment that he'd end up running a small company, and he especially wouldn't have thought he'd like it. But he and Hermione had created something great.
It was small, just six employees besides him and Hermione, but it was enough. They'd become like a little family and Harry had learned that it didn't matter how fun the work itself was. Somedays, when he was testing new products or helping Hermione in the lab, it was really fun, but on other days, when he was balancing their books, it was incredibly dull. But it didn't matter when you loved the people you worked with and believed in what you were doing.
Even with all that, there was a heaviness in his heart that would never go away. A longing for what might have been and every time he acknowledged it, he felt guilty. His heart dropped when he looked back at Hermione and saw the sorrow that was still swimming in her eyes. Was she missing his parents? Was that why she was sad? Or was she disappointed that he was? That even after all these years and everything she'd given him, he wanted more?
Harry reached out and stroked her cheek. "Hey."
"Hey."
"I don't want you to think that because I still long for them in the other world, that I'm not happy with the life we've made in this one, or that it's not enough. Because it is. I need you to know that."
"I know, Harry. You can be perfectly happy and still long for the things you've lost. I feel the same. You don't have to feel guilty about being sad."
Harry pulled her into a soft kiss. "I love you just as desperately now as I did then," he whispered. "More so, actually."
She smiled against his lips. "Same."
Harry took another deep breath, then straightened and pulled her against his chest. Once again, she'd managed to quell something that had been bothering him for months in a second. He should have just gone to her first; that was always the best option.
"I wish you could see us," he thought. "We're really, really happy and my only regret is that we weren't able to show you just how well it all turned out."
Hermione nuzzled her head into the crook of his neck. Harry just continued to breathe deeply as he held her close, placing one hand on her waist and burying the other in her hair. He hugged her until long after the music stopped and everyone had returned to their seats to see the lights.
It was the same thing he'd done 21 years ago in another world. His heart was less shattered than it had been that night, but it was still broken, and he still needed Hermione's support to stay upright. He clung to her for strength as he forced himself to remember them, without guilt this time, just as he'd promised Lily he would while they'd danced on this very patio.
London
September 2024
As Hermione walked into the study, she spotted Harry sitting in the green armchair by the fire, tapping his quill against a notebook. He was lost in whatever he was doing and hadn't noticed her walk in. She leaned against the doorframe and watched him for a few moments.
There were countless strands of grey in his dark hair and several more lines on his face than there used to be but still, when she saw him like this, sitting in his chair by the fire, she was always brought back to Hogwarts. She could imagine him rushing to finish up a homework assignment before passing it to her to look over.
They were old now, with three children at Hogwarts (as of two days ago) but sometimes he was still that same boy she'd fallen in love with, denied her feelings for, followed to the ends of the earth, watched die, then come back to life, and dragged to another dimension.
Lily told Harry once that he and Hermione had been through more together than most people would in a lifetime, and that was before they'd started a company, had kids, fixed up a house, and done all that other stuff adults did. And still, a part of her felt like they were just getting started.
"Harry."
He jumped, his hand flying toward his wand on the side table. He pointed it at her while that familiar fight burned in his eyes. "Shit, Hermione," he said, lowering his wand.
She held her hands up as she walked into the room. "Please, don't shoot."
He placed the notebook he'd been writing in and his wand on the table, then rubbed his eyes under his glasses. "You need to announce yourself if you're going to start creeping around like that." He dropped his hand from his face and cocked an eyebrow at her. "Hang on. Since when do you sneak around? You usually pound around, making as much sound as a giant."
She rolled her eyes and said automatically, "I do not pound around like a giant."
"For a small woman, your footsteps are surprisingly loud."
"Because I walk with purpose."
"So I've heard," Harry smiled.
She looked over at the notebook he'd been writing in and saw it was the ledger. And since he hadn't been holding his wand when she walked in, he must have been balancing the books by hand again. "There are spells for that."
"I know. I like this way."
"The way prone to errors."
"You can check it when I'm done. Just like you always do." He sounded annoyed, but she could tell by the amusement flickering in his eyes that it was just a show. They'd had this conversation a hundred times and would probably have it a hundred more times, and she liked that.
Hermione climbed onto his lap, sitting with her legs hanging over the edge of the chair, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're very old-fashioned."
He pushed a stray curl behind her ear. "I know."
"Or maybe just … old," she teased.
"Well at least I'm not―" he lowered his voice, "―forty-five."
She slapped his chest. "Take it back! No one in this room is forty-five."
"Maybe not now but in a few―"
She silenced him with a kiss.
Harry smiled as he leaned back. "You realize you're just motivating me to say more things that upset you."
"I'll only put up with it for so long before I leave."
Harry wrapped his arms around her, holding her firmly in place. "Stay. I promise not to say anything else about birthdays."
"Actually, I wanted to talk about your birthday."
"What about it? It's done. We had everyone over for dinner, there was a cake, you planned it all, so I'm surprised you've already forgotten."
"I remember all that, but I never got you a gift."
"Oh. I don't need anything."
Hermione kissed the side of his mouth, then planted kisses along his jaw and neck. "But I got you something," she whispered in his ear.
Harry grinned and a chill ran down his spine as she nibbled his earlobe. Brilliant. It was going to be that type of gift. Well, he'd never say no to that. He grabbed the back of her leg and moved his hand up her skirt. "What did you get me?" he asked in a low voice as he squeezed her bum.
Hermione climbed off of his lap. Where was she going?
She didn't say anything. She just gave him a mischievous grin, then parted his legs before kneeling between them. Fuck. It was going to be that sort of gift. He felt himself harden just at the thought of it.
She took her sweet time undoing his trousers, pausing to tease him several times by stroking him through the fabric. When she finally had his trousers and underwear off, she grabbed him firmly. Harry threw his head back and had to bite his lip to keep from crying out. Shit, it had been too long since they'd done this. Well, this, yes, but anything, really. Getting all the kids off to Hogwarts had consumed their lives over the past few weeks.
Luckily, she seemed to be finished teasing him and lowered her mouth onto him, gripping the base of his shaft firmly as she bobbed her head. Harry clutched the armrests of the chair to keep from thrusting into her erratically. Fuck. He rested his head back and looked up at the ceiling since he knew if he watched her for too long―those big, brown eyes looking up at him, her gorgeous lips stretched around him, wet from sucking him off―
Dammit. He wasn't supposed to be thinking about it. Focus on the ceiling. Count the panels. One, two, three, four... She pulled her head up slightly and began circling her tongue around his sensitive tip. Fuck. Then, she stopped. He chanced a look down at her. She was beaming at him. Then, she enveloped her mouth around him again.
She was so beautiful and when she met his eyes, he couldn't drag his gaze away again. He could feel his control slipping. Tension was building in his lower abdomen and he couldn't hold it in much longer―not when she was looking at him like that. "Hermione. I―I'm…"
"Mmm-hmmm," she said with her mouth still on him, then moved her hands to his balls. That was it. He groaned as he came, slamming his head back. His release spilled into her mouth and he felt her swallow it, then lick him dry, but didn't have the wherewithal to lift his head and watch her. He figured it didn't matter, since his vision had gone temporarily blank.
She returned to his lap, kissing his neck and jaw as he fought his way back to consciousness. As soon as his strength returned, he turned his head and kissed her deeply. It was the only thing he could think to do to express his gratitude.
"That was a really good gift," he said a little breathlessly.
She grinned. "There's more."
"I'm not as young as I used to be. I'm going to need a few minutes."
She swatted his chest. "Not that. I have an actual gift." Hermione turned around and picked his wand up from the side table, then used it to summon something wordlessly. The next moment, a box in silver wrapping zoomed into the room. Hermione caught it, then turned and handed it to him. "Happy Belated Birthday."
There was an odd look in her eye. Apprehension, fear, almost, and she was biting her lip. She was never nervous. Well, not when it was just the two of them. Harry looked down at the box.
"Should I be fully clothed for this?"
She let out a laugh, but it was forced. Not a good sign. "Um, sure." Hermione climbed off his lap and handed him his underwear and trousers. He pulled them on and after fastening his belt, motioned for her to rejoin him in the chair. She hesitated, but eventually resumed her spot on his lap.
"Why are you so nervous?"
"I'm not nervous. I'm excited. I've, uh, had the gift for a long time."
Harry eyed her warily. "You look nervous."
"Just open it!"
Harry tore the paper off, moving quickly to avoid Hermione's wrath. He set the box on her legs and carefully lifted the lid to reveal deep red fabric. He pulled back the fabric and saw Ron's Deluminator.
"This is Ron's," he said, confused. He reached for the silver object. "I don't think this is yours to―" He cut off when his hands brushed against something else in the box. He pulled back the fabric, then swore. "Merlin."
The air left his lungs as he wrapped his hands around the familiar jade amulet. It was cool in his palm and he could almost feel it pulsing, though that may have just been in his head. His heart stalled, but his mind raced as he struggled to put the pieces together. "Wha―? How―?"
"Remember when I was really poor after our trip? This is why."
"You bought this?" Harry asked, staring open-mouthed at the necklace in his hand. He remembered how much it had cost back in the other world. Fuck, she must have needed to empty her entire vault. No wonder she'd been so concerned about money. "So, you always planned― Does this― Does this mean what I think―?" He was stuttering, unable to form the words.
She nodded slowly. "We can go back, Harry. Once. It's too dangerous to make a habit out of it, because surely someone will catch on and Obliviate us but … once … especially now that Kingsley has stepped down. That's what I was waiting for, actually. That, and for the kids to go off to Hogwarts, so we could focus on breaking into the Department of Mysteries without distraction. I also thought it would be best to wait to ensure their kids were all at Hogwarts, since we wouldn't want to run into them or anything and I think it's safe to assu―"
His lips crashed into hers and he kissed her fiercely. He moved a hand behind her head while he gripped the amulet in his other hand, entwining his tongue with hers. Fuck, he loved her. She'd obviously been thinking about this for a long time. For twenty-three years, to be exact. And she was willing to take that risk again. For him.
At the thought of risks, and everything that could go wrong, he pulled back. She watched him patiently, watching the different emotions play across his face.
"How dangerous is it?" he asked. This wasn't like before. They had so much more to lose.
Hermione nodded understandingly. "I've been planning the break-in to the Department of Mysteries for over twenty years. I'm confident we can make it without getting caught. And if we don't―well―Robards owes us. I think we could beg for forgiveness and he'd let it slide, just this once."
Harry's brow furrowed. She was probably right. They'd helped the Auror department immensely over the years, providing them innovative protective gear at almost no cost. And now Robards was the Minister for Magic. If they were caught, they'd be brought to him and the man would probably let them go. Once, like Hermione had said. And they'd probably have to turn over the amulet and the Deluminator. His heart pounded as the possibility of seeing his parents again solidified in his mind.
"The only other danger," Hermione continued, "would be getting back to this world."
That was too big of a risk. They had no idea where the amulet would be twenty years later. Or the Deluminator, for that matter. And they couldn't risk getting stuck there, unable to come back to the kids. The hope that had been building in Harry disappeared, leaving an empty feeling in his gut. No. They couldn't do it.
Harry was about to open his mouth to say so when Hermione said, "James was planning to buy the amulet and retrieve the Deluminator again after we left."
"What?"
"He told me, right before we left Godric's Hollow. His intention was clear. He wanted to give us a safe way back in case we ever decided to return. I never made any promises but, I don't know. I bought the amulet, so we'd have the option if we wanted it and―well―what do you think?"
Harry leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers. He placed his hands on her neck and began rubbing gentle circles with his thumbs. "I think I don't deserve you," he said hoarsely.
"You do," Hermione said simply. "This is just as much for me as it is for you. I think it will be good for us to get closure with them. Everything was so rocky between us when we left and I know you wish you could tell them about us and the kids and―and everything else."
Harry could not believe this was real. This had been his dream since the day he'd married Hermione, to be able to see his parents one more time and tell them it had all worked out. That he'd got everything he wanted and more.
He'd nearly cracked several times and gone to the Forbidden Forest to find the Resurrection Stone. Or considered revisiting the Tear in the Veil. But he knew if he did that, he'd only see the dead version of his parents. Those versions of James and Lily already knew. He wanted to tell the version of his parents that were alive and well, growing old together in another world. The ones who had promised to remember him and think about him every day.
Trust Hermione to know the deepest desire of his heart, then do everything in her power to turn that dream into a reality. Fuck, this was so much better than her other gift, which was saying a lot.
"It seems too good to be true. Doesn't it?" he asked.
"Yeah. I know what you mean. But―what if it works? What if we get to talk to them again? I―I want to try. Will you come with me?"
Harry nodded as he stared into those beautiful brown eyes. "Where you go, I go."
Godric's Hollow
September 2024
Lily was cataloging their potions ingredients, jotting down the missing items on a piece of parchment so she could pick them up from the Apothecary later, when a brown barn-owl tapped on the window. She placed her quill and parchment down before going to open the window.
"What have you got for me?" she asked the owl, turning to summon a treat from the other room. She traded the letter in the owl's beak for a treat and watched the owl fly out of sight as she opened the envelope, smiling at the familiar handwriting on the outside.
"Ruby?" James asked when he walked into the room a few minutes later.
Lily nodded as she continued to read the letter. James went to stand behind her, placing his hands on her waist as he read over her shoulder.
"She's four days into her Sixth Year and is already worried about N.E.W.T.s," Lily said.
"Can't imagine who she got that from," James quipped.
When Lily was finished reading their granddaughter's note, she leaned back against James, who wrapped his arms around her and propped his chin on her shoulder as he finished the letter. He let out a laugh when he reached the end. "Ravenclaws for Better Laws?"
"It's some type of activist group she started last year. But I think it only has two members: Jessie, her best friend, and that Adam bloke, who Harry thinks has a crush on her."
James shook his head. "That girl is her mother."
Lily nodded sadly as she placed the letter on the table.
"Anything from Silas?"
Lily snorted and turned around so she was facing James. "That boy can't be bothered to write letters to Harry, let alone his grandparents."
"Then maybe I can't be bothered to take him to Quidditch matches during his breaks from school."
Lily smirked. "Do you not already see him enough?"
He shrugged. "Still. A letter now and then would be nice."
"How diligent were you about writing letters when you were at Hogwarts?"
"That's different. I'm on this side of things now."
She opened her mouth to retort when the doorbell rang. "Are you expecting anyone?"
James shook his head.
Lily walked out of his arms and went to answer the door as he followed behind her. When she opened the door, she found Harry standing outside. "Oh, hey. Did you tell us you were―?"
Her heart stopped when Hermione came up the steps behind him. "Merlin," she whispered. It was them.
She threw herself at Harry first, wrapping her hands around his neck tightly. She didn't know if she'd ever see him again. She and James had hoped―they'd bought the amulet and kept it safe, and they never moved, so Harry and Hermione would know where to find them, just in case. And now, miraculously, they were here. Both of them. Sobs began to shake her body.
Harry held her firmly in his arms as he whispered in a shaky voice, "Hi, Mum."
As mother and son reunited, James stepped past them until he was standing in front of Hermione. He studied her intently, half-expecting her to disappear if he looked away. "Took you long enough," he said, voice strained.
Her expression softened, then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his middle. The familiar feeling of her tight embrace threatened to break him. "I missed you too, James."
He stood frozen for several moments and Hermione almost stepped back. Then he wrapped his arms around her and she sighed with relief.
A few moments later, before Hermione was ready for it, she was standing before Lily. The witch was undeniably older―which made sense, so was Hermione. But Lily was just as beautiful as ever. Her thick red hair, streaked with grey, was down, flowing over her shoulders. Her eyes were bright and she was beaming widely as tears streamed down her face. Hermione's heart caught. Damn, she looked like Hazel. It was so much more apparent now that she was seeing the older witch in person.
Lily reached out and brushed her fingers through Hermione's curls. "I don't―Oh Merlin―I just can't―" She paused to take a long breath "Did you keep your promise?" she asked, her words hard to make out through her tears. "Did you stay by him?"
Hermione grinned. "I married him, Lily. We have three gorgeous kids who are all at Hogwarts now. We have incredible friends and great jobs. We made a beautiful life together. That's what we came to tell you. And I know a spell that can turn memories into pictures, so I can leave behind a pile of photos, if you want."
Lily let out a teary laugh. "Of course you know a spell." She struggled through several more shaky breaths, then placed her hands on Hermione's shoulders. "I know this is probably years overdue, but welcome to the family, Hermione."
The tears Hermione had been holding in finally fell as Lily pulled her into a crushing hug.
The End
