Hermione watched as Harry stood at the grave head bowed. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she walked over and wrapped an arm around him gently. "Harry?"

"How many more Mione?" Harry asked after a moment of staring at the new headstone over the fresh grave.

Colin Creevey
Born May 31th 1981
Died May 2nd 1998
He died so that others might live.

"A few more Harry, w-we don't have to go to every funeral you know that don't you? People will understand if we miss some." Hermione frowned as Harry refused to look at her. They were both dressed in black Harry wearing a new muggle suit and herself in a sedate black dress and flats. "Harry…"

"You know I can't do that. Everyone is expecting the great Harry Potter to show up. It's the least I can do since."

"You better not finish that sentence Potter. Harry… If you even think it I promise you I have a hex waiting for you." Hermione smiled softly as Harry peeked up at her through his fringe.

"I just, I don't know if I can keep on… Every service seems to be the same. They are melding into my mind. All of the sorrow the pain. The worst is funerals like this. Colin's mum and Dad they don't understand why Colin died. Not really, and I don't know how I could explain it to them in a manner which would make sense. At first, I tried to say that I was so sorry for their loss. I told them that Colin knew what could happen and that he had chosen to fight even after he was forbidden." Harry shook his head. "Seemed to help his Dad at least… I'm certain his Mum wishes he'd never gotten his letter. Probably has even thought of pulling Dennis out of Hogwarts."

Hermione frowned considering as she read the epitaph again. "You spelled that on didn't you?"

"I did, there was nothing there just his birth and death date I-I just wanted people to know that his death had a reason you know?" Harry kicked at the ground.

"I'm certain that they will appreciate it, Harry." Hermione gave him a light squeeze. "Come on Harry lets go home the next service isn't until tomorrow."

Harry's shoulders slumped. "I-I don't think I can do this 'Mione. Tomorrow is Tonks' and Remus' double service. How am I going to talk to Andromeda! And Teddy…" Harry trailed off.

"Andromeda knew what could happen. Harry, she does not blame you and she certainly does not regret that you were asked to be Teddy's Godfather. Nor that I was asked to be his Godmother." Hermione smirked as Harry's head snapped up. "You didn't think Tonks was going to trust just you a Marauder's son, did you? She figured with me added to the mix he might just make it through Hogwarts without being expelled due to his antics."

"I had no idea…" Harry shook his head. "Though I should have figured I mean it wasn't as if Tonks had very many friends." The smile that seemed to tug at his lips refused to reach his eyes though as Hermione stared up at the sky. A few clouds passed by but altogether it was a beautiful day.

If things were different I could see Harry and the others having a pickup game of Quidditch with Colin taking his pictures and Remus showing his son how good his Godfather was at the game. She could even hear Tonks in her head warning Fred and George about letting a bludger get too close to the baby. A single tear rolled down her cheek surprising her. She had been certain she could not possibly have any more tears left to cry.

"What I want...What I think we all need is to celebrate."

Hermione turned her attention back to Harry and considered. "I think, I think you are right Harry. A celebration is what we all need. All that these funerals are doing is reminding us that the ones we loved died. We need to be reminded that they lived."

Both Harry and Hermione looked up as one and Harry tentatively reached for Hermione's hand who took his hand in hers squeezing softly.

"I have a few ideas, Harry. Can you handle another week?" Hermione spoke after several moments of silence. She looked over to Harry and smiled as he nodded.

"A week? I've handled the previous two. One more won't kill me. Besides, I'm fairly certain you and I have some business at the ministry." Harry pulled a scroll of parchment from his suit jacket. "I am assuming you received the same summons for this afternoon?"

Hermione simply nodded and glanced at her watch. "Speaking of which I think we should head directly to our appointment."

Harry snorted as he raised an eyebrow. "Sans robes?"

"Honestly Harry! Do you really think anyone is going to complain if we come in muggle clothing? We could walk in starkers and no one would say a bloody word." Hermione let out a small giggle causing Harry to smirk. As one both placed a hand on the cool marble gravestone.

"Bye Colin…"

"We'll see you again Colin."

They stepped back and with a half turn vanished with a small pop.

Harry and Hermione appeared at the apparition point to see everyone nearby turn and begin to applaud. It was the same whenever they went anywhere in the Magical world. They were heroes. Two of the Golden Trio. The two of them stayed just long enough to be polite before heading to the Minister's office.

Percy stood up from his desk as they walked in the door shutting it behind them. "Harry, Hermione. Wasn't certain you'd both make it." He smiled gently at them. "It was Colin's funeral then today?" He guessed taking a look at the black muggle clothing.

Hermione simply nodded as Harry glanced around. "Where's…" He trailed off.

"Mrs. Tonks in already in the minister's office along with the social worker." He nodded to the door "Go in they are expecting you both after all. Oh, Harry? Hermione? Don't tell Ron or Ginny but… I always thought it would turn out like this."

Harry glanced down at Hermione who just gave a half smile as he opened the door ushering her inside. Waiting was Andromeda Tonks her long curly brown hair now streaked with grey that had not been there the only other time Harry had seen her. Beside her was a pram and sitting across from her was a young witch in her mid twenties with blonde hair. Sitting at the desk was Kingsley who rose as soon as the door opened.

"Harry, Hermione I'm so very sorry about this." He glanced at their clothes and winced. "About what I expected, we didn't call you away from a funeral did we?"

Harry shook his head in the negative.

"No Colin's ceremony ended about thirty minutes ago Kingsley but, thank you for your concern." Hermione nodded politely to the social worker.

"Well thank Merlin for that at least sit down and let's get this all figured out. Harry, Hermione this is Miss. Laine, she's a social worker with the MCPS."

"Magical Child Protective Services." Hermione supplied before Harry could open his mouth. Harry simply nodded and they both sat in the waiting chairs.

"I apologize for having to summon you both so suddenly, especially as you are both in mourning but I'm afraid I feel we need to move quickly. While the Dark Lord is gone corruption is not. I found that several purebloods were planning to contest both Professor Remus John Lupin and Auror Second Class Nymphadora "Tonks" Lupin's wills when it came to the custody of Edward Remus "Teddy" Lupin on account of Remus having been a werewolf. At least that is the excuse they are planning to use." Miss Laine shook her head obviously upset. It was nothing however compared to the furious look she saw on Harry's face as Hermione simply looked outraged.

"Obviously when she let me on this little plot I felt it necessary to expedite the custody hearing and transfer of little Teddy. We had planned to wait until after the funerals but… My hands are tied when it comes to interfering with the family court. It seems though that all of us were lucky to have Miss. Laine assigned. The floor is yours, Miss. Laine." Kingsley nodded to her folding his hands on top of his desk.

"Thank you, Minister, this shouldn't take much time but even with two of the golden trio. The law must be followed."

Hermione shook her head. "No, believe me, Harry and I perfectly understand and thank you for doing your job without pause. We'd hate to lose Teddy because something wasn't signed correctly.

Miss. Laine smiled and took out a red quill setting it on a piece of parchment "Testing this is Social Worker Miranda Laine." The quill quickly wrote exactly what she said much to Harry's relief he'd been a bit worried when he realized it was a dicta quill.

"Very good, Now we have Harry James Potter age seventeen, half-blood and Hermione Jean Granger age eighteen, muggle born correct?" Miss. Laine watched as both teenagers nodded. "The record will show that both prospective parents were of age when the wills of both Remus John Lupin Pureblood and Nymphadora Lupin half blood were filed with both Gringotts bank and the Ministry of Magic. When it comes to said wills both read identical when it comes to their wishes for Edward Remus Lupin's guardianship. Harry James Potter was to be his Godfather and Hermione Jean Granger was to be his Godmother. Am I incorrect on anything?"

Harry shook his head as Hermione licked her lips "No, Ma'am that sounds like exactly what we were expecting."

"Let the record show that both prospective parents agree with what I have stated as fact. Miss Granger both you and Mr. Potter dropped out of Hogwarts after the end of your sixth year. Is this true?"

"It is, but, there were extenuating circumstances that led to our choice to miss our seventh year." Hermione hesitated her hand resting on Harry's thigh trying to cool his short temper before it could rise.

"If I may Miss Laine?" Kingsley spoke up.

"Of course Minister, please."

"Headmistress Minerva McGonagall has informed me that due to the necessary absence of Mr. Potter and Miss Granger as well as Mr. Ronald Weasley that all three have been invited to complete their education in the new year. And if they were to choose not to return for their seventh year I have already offered the three of them jobs as Aurors no questions asked for their role in our civil war."

"Thank you, Minister, Well that answers my question about having the means of caring for a child as young as Edward. Were you both not to return to Hogwarts do you have a safe residence?"

Harry smiled with a nod "Yes, ma'am I was left my Godfather's ancestral home in his will. I'm certain that Minister Shacklebolt can vouch for its safety."

"I also imagine you have at least one deed in the Potter vault Harry. I just can't see your Grandparents living in Godric's Hollow." Hermione smiled as Harry considered before nodding.

"Well, for now, the ancestral home of Black will be just fine. So you have the means of caring for Edward, but what about the both of you what is your relationship?" Miss. Laine smiled gently at the teenagers grown far before their time.

"Harry and I? We've been best friends since our first year. I've always been by his side…" Hermione smiled as Harry wrapped an arm around her. "Maybe we'll become more. Things are still so new… to fresh from the war."

"I promise you, Miss. Laine, you do not need to worry about Hermione and I having a falling out whether we raise Teddy as best friends living together… Or, if it becomes more. We've been through so much I can't imagine my life without her."

"Nor can I imagine my life without him." Hermione smiled as she laid her head on Harry's shoulder.

"Mrs. Tonks do you have anything to say regarding the choice your daughter and son in law made about the choice of guardianship of your Grandson?"

Andromeda sighed and smiled at Harry and Hermione. "I don't know you both as Nymphadora and Remus knew you. But just sitting here and listening to you. I can easily see they were right to choose you both. While originally I worried because of your ages I think I speak for everyone in this room when I say that they are only the ages of your bodies. I am certain you both will raise Teddy into a wonderful, caring if mischievous wizard. All I request is to see him when I can? I want him to know who his Mother was."

"We both want that too." Hermione smiled a tear running down her cheek "Never fear that we would hide Tonks or Remus from him. He will grow up knowing that he has two sets of parents who love him more than anything. One set who holds him tight, kissing him when he slips and falls. And the other in the sky watching with joy as he succeeds at anything and everything in his life."

Andromeda smiled before hugging the young bushy haired witch tightly silent sobs causing her shoulders to shake. Hermione gently wrapped her arms around her. "We love them too, we'll never let them be forgotten."

"Never, I swear it to you, Mrs. Tonks. No one will ever forget any of them." Harry stood and embraced both witches as Miss Laine wiped away a single tear before smiling and standing up. She walked to the pram and lifted one-month-old Teddy out he was fast asleep his hair a bubblegum pink stuck out this way and that. She gave a simple nod to Kingsley who smiled.

"Harry James Potter, Hermione Jean Granger with the power vested in me from the Sovereign Queen of Great Britain and Magic itself I am proud and honored to approve this guardianship and adoption and would like to present to you your son. Edward Remus Lupin." He stood taking Teddy in his arms. Smiling as Andromeda released Hermione.

"Go on dear, take your son." She whispered to the startled witch.

Hermione took a step forward with an uncertain smile "Harry and I were certain this would be a guardianship…"

"Normally it would be." Kingsley agreed "But, in this case, both Tonks and Remus worried that such an arrangement could be overturned. They requested in person that if something were to happen well." He shook his head as Hermione held out her arms.

She could not hold back her tears as the tiny boy was placed into her arms wrapped in a soft blue blanket. His eyes opened and they stared at each other his hair switching to match hers in color.

Harry placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder as they both simply stared at the tiny boy whose eyes had shifted to match the emerald which lay behind Harry's glasses.

Hermione swallowed even as she smiled brightly "Hullo Teddy, I-I'm your Mummy… I love you so very much."

Harry gently touched Teddy's soft stuck up hair. "And I'm your Daddy… You've got another Mummy and Daddy too. They are two of the bravest people I've ever known and I can't wait to tell you all about them."

Andromeda wrote down her address. "Send me an owl when you three are ready for visitors." She nodded to Kingsley and hesitated a brief moment before wrapping Harry and Hermione in a gentle hug. "You both will do just fine. Nymphadora knew you would and so did Remus. You can't get a better referral than that." She then left the room.

The next thing Harry knew both he and Hermione had signed the adoption paperwork taking a copy as the original was going to stay with Kingsley, another copy held at Gringotts, and a final copy which Miss. Laine would hold onto.

Harry pushed the empty pram from the office as Hermione followed with Teddy our son in her arms.

Percy looked up "How'd everything go? How you wanted it to?"

Hermione looked up from Teddy's sleeping face and opened her mouth before shaking her head tears pouring down her cheeks.

"Oh no, what happened? Were we too late? Is Narcissa trying to claim him?" Percy stood up accioing a box of tissues.

"N-no, everything went brilliant! I-we are just in a bit of shock." Harry shook his head still not quite believing his dream was coming true.

"What in the name of Merlin does that even mean?" Percy frowned still holding the box of tissues out to Hermione who turned to fix him with a blissful smile.

"It means… It means I'm a mummy."