Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series, it belongs to my Queen, J.K. Rowling *bows down*

Author's Note: Sorry I couldn't put this up quicker! I still don't have power (this is my fifth day without it) because of Hurricane Irene, but a friend has generously allowed me to use her computer. So, without further ado, Happy September 1st, and please enjoy!


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After vainly trying to get a decent amount of sleep for the past several hours, she finally gave up and opened her eyes. The room was basked in a warm glow from the morning sun. She looked over to the bed's other occupant, who was still asleep. The corners of his lips were curved up. He must be having a nice dream. It made her happy since every once in a while they would have nightmares mainly about their experiences during what was supposed to be their seventh year at Hogwarts. For Ron, they usually had to do with the locket and the battle; especially Fred's death. For Hermione, they usually had to do with being tortured by Bellatrix, Ron leaving, or any moment from the battle. Well, except for her and Ron's first kiss. That was something she liked to dream about a lot. She was happy he was having a nice dream because she didn't want anything to put a damper on today. Today was September 1st and Rose would be starting her first year at Hogwarts.

She felt strange. Could this really be happening? She had a similar feeling mainly during the holidays and on birthdays when they really celebrated being a family, and she would have a goofy looking grin on her face for most of the day, but this was different. Yes, she was excited for her daughter, but she was somewhat saddened at the same time. Rose was going away and she wouldn't see her again until Christmas.

Hermione shook her head. Rose wasn't going away forever; it was just school, and not just any school. Rose was going to Hogwarts, which was much safer than when she herself attended it. She had nothing to worry about. She wanted her children to have the best education and that meant sending them to Hogwarts. She was being selfish. Ron and Hugo would still be at home with her, and they would be missing Rose as well, but that didn't mean they were going to mope about the house until the holidays and neither was she.

A good splash of water to the face should wake her up and clear her head a bit. Hermione got out of bed as quietly as she could so she wouldn't wake Ron, and headed to the bathroom.

When she exited the bathroom, she was slightly annoyed that she still felt…well, gloomy. She walked over to her dresser and picked up a photograph of Ron and her with Rose and Hugo. It wasn't a magical picture that could move, but a normal muggle one. Ron had grown to like non-moving pictures because of the fact that the people in them couldn't leave or change. He could look at a picture like this whenever he wanted to and see their smiles without having to worry if they would even be there.

The photo was taken on Christmas several years ago. They were all wearing their sweaters from Ron's mum. The two 'H's were on the right side and the two 'R's were on the left.

Hermione laughed inwardly; Rose and Hugo might as well been wearing her and Ron's old sweaters. In fact, she kept the first Weasley sweater she had ever received in a box in the closet.

The picture made her think of all the times, and not just during the hunt for horcruxes or the battle for Hogwarts, where she thought she or Ron was going to die, and she wouldn't be standing here, looking at a picture of herself and Ron with their children. She wanted to cry she was so happy she was indeed standing there.

Her eyes welled up and a sob escaped her lips. She heard the bed sheets rustle. She turned around and saw that Ron was stirring.

"Ermione?" he said, his voice gravelly.

She went over to the bed and shushed him, "Go back to sleep."

He looked at her with half-closed eyes, but when he saw that hers were red and watery, he opened them fully. "What's the matter? Why are you up already?"

"Oh, I just couldn't sleep." She said as nonchalantly as she could.

He saw straight through her though. "Because of what we're doing today?"

Hermione pursed her lips and nodded.

"She'll be fine, don't worry."

"I know she will be. But you know me, I always worry."

"You are the Queen of Worry."

"And you," She poked his chest, "my King, can go back to sleep."

"Not without you!" Ron said as he grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her down onto the bed.

"Ron!"

He drew her close to him and closed his eyes. "That's better."

Hermione didn't even try to escape his grasp, she knew from past experience it would be no use, and she was perfectly comfortable there anyway.

She laid there and tried to relax for the time left before the alarm went off. When it did, she patted Ron's arm. "Okay, now it's time for you to get up."

He grumbled a little but released her. She gave him a light kiss in return and then stood up.

She walked back over to her dresser to look at another picture. It was her, Ron, and Harry. And in this picture, they moved. It was taken by Colin Creevy in their second year when he was constantly taking Harry's picture. Colin had offered the picture to Harry to sign but Harry waved it away. Hermione had liked the picture and asked if she could keep it. She and Ron had managed to get into the shot. The three of them were sitting by the Black Lake. She had a book in her lap, Ron was re-taping his broken wand, and Harry was staring out into the distance, probably thinking about the Heir of Slytherin. Hermione watched as her younger self put the book down to help Ron with his wand. She was very thankful for the chain of events that caused Ron's wand to break and inadvertently save him from having his memory wiped by Lockhart.

"That hypocrite." She murmured to herself about her ex-professor. How could she have allowed herself to be tricked by him? She was so young. "So gullible."

She heard the bed creak slightly and a few seconds later she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist.

Hermione leaned back into her husband and rested her head on his shoulder. "I just can't believe it's been almost twenty years since the battle. And almost thirty years since our first train ride to Hogwarts."

"And what a train ride that was." She could tell he was smirking.

Hermione smiled at the memory of their meeting and then suddenly realized something. "Ron!"

"What is it?" He asked with concern.

She turned around to face Ron with wide eyes. "Oh Ron, what if it happens to Rose?"

"What, she makes friends? I sure hope that happens. I mean she already knows James, Albus, and her other cousins, but it would be nice if she talked to oth—"

She had to stop his rambling, "No, what if she meets her…future husband…you know, like—"

"Like you did." Ron finished for her; his blue eyes boring into her.

"Yes." She blushed slightly under his gaze.

He put his hands on her shoulders. "Well you don't have to worry about that. It will be a long time before I let some bloke take my little Rosie away from me."

Hermione smiled faintly, "You can't really do that."

"I know. But it won't stop me from trying."