Well, even though almost everyone seemed to hate my last story, especially the ending, I still got asked for a sequel so here we are again. This is the seventh of my post-epilogue fictions so reading of the rest of the series is recommended. This saga does its best to stay in continuity with the seven Harry Potter books and eight Harry Potter films. Anything else is ignored. Unless I like it.

It's getting to the point where I need an introduction to keep track of what's happened to all the characters so here's a partial recap of what's been established about the Potter family.

Harry and Hermione married following the death of Ginny and Hermione's divorce from Ron. They have a daughter, Nymphadora, who is about to start her third year.

James Potter married Emily Longbottom, the daughter of Neville and Luna and younger sister of his best friend Martin. They have two children, Tracey and Joshua.

Albus Potter was killed as a young adult during the uprising by the True Way. At the time, his girlfriend Melissa Dorrans was pregnant and later gave birth to his son, Albus Jr.

Lily Potter married a Muggle, Gordon Preston. They have one daughter, Amy.

Rose Weasley became pregnant and married Scorpius Malfoy while still at school. As a result, her daughter Gemini is only a few months younger than Nymphadora. They also have a son, Balthasar.

Hugo Weasley is unmarried and childless. He has a girlfriend, Marie Lucas.

Aside from Gemini, Nymphadora's closest friends are Bradley Wood (the grandson of Oliver Wood and Katie Bell; his mother is a muggleborn whose older sister married Martin Longbottom, making him a distant relation by marriage), Beverly Cardogan (muggleborn), Flavia Lupin (daughter of Teddy and Victoire) and Maxwell Jordan (grandson of Lee Jordan and Angelina Johnson).

Now...on with the story!


CHAPTER ONE: We Begin Again

Harry Potter felt rather nervous as he stood outside his house, leaning against the car that the rules of the wizarding world would soon require him to drive. His wife Hermione came out and joined him, standing in silence with him for a moment. She knew what he was thinking, of course. Perhaps she was thinking much the same herself. "Do you think he'll be there?"

"I'd imagine so,"Hermione noted. "His only grandchildren taking their first trip on the Hogwarts Express together."

Harry knew she was right. Ron Weasley. Once his best friend. For the last fifteen years or so, more or less a friend. At worst, someone he could be civil towards. But the events of the last year, when for the best of reasons they had ended up on opposite sides in a civil war, had changed that. It was a war that Harry had to all intents and purposes lost and he still wasn't sure if he'd done the right thing starting it. Even though he and those who had fought with him had received a full pardon, even though there had been public gestures of reconciliation, there were bound to be resentments.

"Does this feel more or less awkward than when we first got together?"Hermione wondered.

Harry smiled at that. Ron had also been Hermione's first husband, of course. The fact that she had basically left Ron for him had been the cause of the initial cooling between them. "Is there any chance we can send Nymphadora on her own and the two of us go to Hogwarts by floo? It's not like teachers have to go by the express. I could lend her a broom."

"Dora will be crushed if we do that,"Hermione pointed out. "Come on, we haven't missed the Hogwarts Express since…"

"Three years ago?"Harry suggested ironically. His first family had finished school several years ago. Nymphadora had been an after-thought.

"You know what I mean."

"Well, I suppose the Minister won't want to curse us in public. It might affect his chances for re-election."

Nymphadora, their daughter, came out of the house at that point, laden down with trunks. "Are we going then?"

Harry and Hermione exchanged smiles. "Yes, we are,"Harry confirmed.


Nymphadora led the way onto the platform. She scanned the crowd of faces and quickly picked out Gemini Malfoy, the daughter of her half-sister Rose. Gemini gave a cheery wave, showing only slight annoyance at the fact that her brother Balthasar was standing next to her: It was his first year at Hogwarts. Her parents, Rose and Scorpius, were with her…as was her grandfather, Ron, the Minister of Magic.

Bradley Wood detached himself from the crowd and came over to her. "So, are we hoping for a quieter year this year?"

"It would be nice,"Nymphadora agreed.

"Well, unless someone else is going to start a war against the Ministry…" Bradley suddenly seemed to notice that Harry was there. "No offence, Professor."

"I hope you've done your holiday reading, Bradley,"Harry remarked mildly.

"Of course, Professor Potter. And Professor Potter Junior gave us a few lessons in defensive spells last year." Bradley nodded towards Harry's son James, who was standing with his family further along the platform.

"Have you seen Beverley?"Nymphadora asked, looking around for her best friend from Gryffindor.

"Maybe she's on board already,"Bradley suggested.

Nymphadora nodded in agreement. "See you there,"she told her parents as she and Bradley headed for the train. Gemini took the opportunity to detach herself from her own family and join her two friends, Balthasar just a step behind her.

"Dora, Gemini!"James called. The two girls stopped. "Can you keep an eye on Tracey to start with?" His daughter, who was also starting at Hogwarts that year, looked at them hopefully.

"Sure, James,"Nymphadora agreed. She gestured to the girl who came running over to join them. Then they all climbed on board.

Harry and Hermione found themselves standing near Ron, to the point that not talking to him would be rude. They wandered over. "Makes you feel old, doesn't it, having grandchildren at Hogwarts?"Hermione asked.

"It's a new experience for me,"Harry agreed.

"I guess having a child there as well makes it easier,"Ron commented.

Hermione coughed slightly. "I saw your last address. It was very good."

"Thank you."

James had been saying a quick farewell to his wife Emily and seemed to decide to come to his father's rescue. "Dad, Hermione, should we get onto the staff carriage?"

"Please,"Hermione agreed.


Two more pairs of eyes watched the three Potters head off to the carriage: A mother and son. "That's his son,"the boy noted.

"Yes, Philip,"his mother confirmed. "Our paths have crossed a few times."

"He was our head of house last year. But it's going to be Harry Potter again this year."

"Then you should be seeing quite a lot of him this year, shouldn't you?"

"Yes. And I won't miss this opportunity."

"Well…if you do, there'll be another opportunity, won't there?" The mother hesitated. "Philip, you are sure you want to do this, aren't you?"

"I'm sure, Mother,"Philip confirmed. "It's time Harry Potter got what's coming to him."