A/N I think that this fic will be mostly dialogue – sorry if you don't like that sort of thing but that's where my brain is leading me There'll probably be 3 days in each chapter, though these days may be months or just weeks apart

"Harry James Potter!" Hermione cried as she finally caught up with Harry, who was beaming at her, "Honestly, we're 37, not fourth years anymore!"

"I should hope not, I was a scrawny little thing in fourth year,"

"Don't flatter yourself, you're still pretty scrawny,"

"Still faster than you," He stuck his tongue out at her and ducked his head as she made to hit him

"Hey, I caught up with you, didn't I?"

"I stopped for you," Harry stated indignantly

"If you say so…" Hermione pushed the door open, causing a bell to tinkle. The aroma of soup and herbs began to wash over them, beckoning them into a corner of the café. They ordered some coffee to start and browsed the menu. Harry placed the chart on the table and skimmed it.

"Harry, that's confidential and you know it," Hermione reprimanded him and reached over to grab it

"I'm sure it's fine," Harry hugged the chart to his chest

"Yeah, they'll let the almighty chosen one casually read patient's data," Hermione registered how Harry winced at the name

"Ugh, alright," He gave in and tossed the metal clipboard back into Hermione's satchel, "What I can offer is some conversation while you ponder your conundrum," he leant forward theatrically, "How's Ron been since I last saw him?"

"Harry, you saw him last night,"

"Still, he could've contracted the plague within the –" Harry glanced at his watch-free wrist, "– 14 hours since he left my place,"

"He hasn't been suddenly gripped by any illness but a hangover. What did you guys get up to last night anyway?"

"A gentlemen never tells," he tapped his nose

"So, how's Ginny?"

"Great, I think. I don't know if she's coping with the promotion as well as I thought she would. She never talks to me these days," It was true that Ginny rarely talked to him about her feelings anymore and vice versa

"I'm sure she'd open up if you sat down with her and two mugs of hot chocolate," Hermione smiled in a way that always assured Harry

"In other news, I hear from Al that a certain Scorpius Malfoy has become friends with Rosie and him,"

She laughed, "Yes, well I'm sure our children are good judges of character,"

"Yes…" Harry trailed off

"How is it? Without Al and James?" Harry had always been close to his sons in particular, not that he didn't love Lily with all his heart but they were just…his boys.

"I guess…I guess I'll have to get used to them both gone, what with Lily going soon as well. I just miss, well, I just miss being their dad,"

"Harry, you're still their dad! Just in a different place. You can write to them, can't you?"

"I can, I do. But it's not the same," He rubbed the back of his neck, "Anyway, enough about me. What about you?"

"Hugo's not been much trouble, really. With Lily still there to play with him, I expect it's not affecting him as much,"

"Hermione, I asked how you are,"

"Oh," She groaned and buried her face in her hands, "We've become typical parents. Do we seriously have nothing to talk about except our children?"

"And to think I was under the illusion it was my breath that was causing the decline of my social life,"

"I think it might be your breath, which, if I may say, is horrendous,"

"Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment. How's the party planning going?"

"We're not having a massive do. Just a few friends and family – not the entire Weasley clan mind you – and obviously Ron is ecstatic about the prospect of my parents coming over,"

"I bet he's looking forward to that,"

"I honestly have no idea why my dad doesn't like him. He doesn't show it, but you can tell that he gets a bit…iffy, I guess you could say, around Ron,"

"I'm sure Hugh means no harm," Harry had always gotten along with Hermione's father, having been there when Hugh and Emily had their memories restored and had helped to heal the void between Hermione and her parents

"You and Dad always leap to each other's defence. Is there some illicit gay affair that Mum, Gin and I need to be made aware of?"

Harry sighed a dramatic sigh of relief, "Oh, Hermione, you have no idea how good it feels for Hughie and I to have our relationship out in the open like this!"

"Shut up you daft sod, I need to finish this soup and get back to the hospital, my break ends in 5,"

19th September 2017

"Auntie Ginny! Uncle Harry! LILY!" Hugo pushed through his parents and flung his arms around Harry's waist, immobilising him.

"Hugo, hey there buddy,"

"Hi, hello, good evening! Did you know that Teddy's coming? And Uncle George! And Mum says that I can stay up late tonight, 'cos it's a special occasion," Hugo babbled excitedly and grabbed Lily's arm, dragging her into the house. The adults rolled their eyes good-naturedly and exchanged hugs and pecks on the cheek.

The Weasley house was decorated in a way that was bright but not overwhelming. Balloons embossed with 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' in less than classy fonts were scattered here and there, and paper chains that Lily and Hugo had painstakingly made were hung from the ceiling. George was knelt down by a muggle sound system, scratching his head. He waved Harry and Ginny over.

"Now, do either of you have any idea how to operate on of these contraptions?

"Dad would be most disappointed in you," Ginny joked as he jabbed at random buttons

"Dad is currently in the garden trying to use a 'barb-eye-cue', some sort of oven apparently," George's eyes glinted and Harry suspected that Arthur Weasley shouldn't really be allowed within a 3 metre radius of any barbecue.

"Gin, I don't think that your old man should be trusted with anything remotely flammable, I'll sort out this stereo, you go and keep an eye on him," Ginny nodded and flashed a smile at the surrounding family members as she stepped onto the patio. Harry surveyed the room, spotting a CD rack. '80s Jams and Vibes' sounded perfect. He slid the disk into the player and turned up the volume. Merlin, he loved muggle music.

"Harry!" Hugh Granger approached him, dancing in an arguably insane manner

"Hey!" Harry shook Hugh's hand and nodded at the stereo, "Groovy tune, opinions?"

"I'd say on a scale of 1-10 of enjoyment, where 1 is stepping on an upturned plug and 10 is…funky times with the missus –" Harry grimaced and covered his ears, "– I'd say a solid 8," Hugh chuckled and slapped Harry on the back

"Does this call for a dance-off?"

"I believe it does,"

Emily Granger appeared at the doorway before anything catastrophic could occur, a glass of champagne in each hand, "Hugh, what have you been harassing Harry about?" she passed a glass to Hugh, who pulled a faux-sheepish expression

"Well…I was…dancing," He sipped his champagne and winked at Harry, narrowly dodging a slap on the wrist from his wife

"Don't worry about it, Em. He was just telling me that he thinks that this song is nearly as good as funk –" Before he could finish, Hugh had clamped a hand over his mouth


"Teddy, fancy seeing you here," Harry ruffled his godson's hair, receiving a raised eyebrow and a hug in return.

"Couldn't miss out on Aunt Hermione's birthday party, could I?"

"Well, I thought you were off gallivanting round the world with that mate of yours, Josh,"

"Wouldn't miss a chance to see you and the kids for all the tea in China, which, I might add, is nice tea,"

"I thought you'd forgotten about us," Harry wiped an invisible tear away

"Don't worry Harry, I'll always be here to put you to bed when the tequila gets too much,"

"So kind. Anyway, I hear that things with you and Victoire are…hotting up,"

"Don't you start, I'm getting enough glares from Uncle Bill," Teddy tilted his head in the direction of Bill, who was eyeing him suspiciously

"He's bound to be wary, you're after his baby girl,"

"What if he thinks I'm not good enough? What if she thinks I'm not good enough?"

"Teddy, you'll always be better than enough," Harry said sincerely

"Thanks," Teddy said quietly


Harry threw his arm around Hugh's shoulder and slipped the other around Ginny's waist as they all sang a cheery 'happy birthday' to Hermione, her eyes shining like fire in the light of the candles on her cake. Her brown curls had been turned a slight gold and Harry found himself lost at the sight of her for a moment. He was brought back to reality by Ginny's lips on his cheek and her hand on his chest. He could tell she was on her way to being rather inebriated. He pressed a kiss into her hair and told Hermione that Ginny was getting tired, so they'd be heading home. Ginny went upstairs to seek out Lily and tell her that it was time to leave.

Harry fished a small box out of his pocket, handing it to Hermione. It was a small charm for the bracelet he'd given her the first birthday she'd had after Rose had been born. It had become a tradition between them, with Hermione getting Harry a new pair of cufflinks with a significant charm on it each year. This year, his gift to her was a miniature diadem, much like the one they'd sought out on the hunt for the horcruxes.

"Harry…it's beautiful," Hermione's eyes spoke louder than words ever could

"A beautiful charm for a beautiful girl," Harry replied without really thinking

"Thank you Harry," she smiled warmly

Ron came up behind his wife and began to sway her hips with his hands, laughing and kissing her, "Bye Harry, see you and Ginny soon!" Harry felt a pang of jealousy as Hermione leant into Ron's arms.

1st October 2017

"Any updates on the Oswald case?" Harry asked Ciaran as he read their file. Jemima Oswald was a muggleborn witch who had defied Clarence Avery, the grandson of a former death eater. Avery Sr. had taken a little holiday down in Devon, where the Oswalds lived. George, Martha and their son Jonathon were subjected to the cruciatus curse and Jonathon had sadly lost his life. Jemima had been pulled out of Hogwarts and Harry sighed, he'd thought this type of pureblood supremacy had been abolished with the last war. There had been a series of muggle murders in the void between the Battle of Hogwarts and the appointment of Kingsley Shacklebolt as Minister of Magic but everything had been rather quiet in the 'muggle hatred' category since.

"No, but I'm sorry to have to tell you that a similar case came through while you were 'relieving your bowels'. The Cartwrights, Aberdeen," Ciaran handed him a ring binder full of information.

Pierce Cartwright, a muggleborn shopkeeper in Diagon Alley, had his shop raided and was held at wandpoint whilst the shop assistant, another muggle, was repeatedly kicked in the head.

"Fucking hell," Harry whispered as he studied the list of injuries sustained by the assistant.

"Dad says that with things carrying on like this, it'll be like the last war,"

"Well, your dad has some crazy theories sometimes but I think this time, Seamus might be right,"

"I heard that there'll be a new dark lord rising if we don't keep things under control,"

"Highly unlikely but we'll be there to bring them down,"

Ciaran puffed out his chest and posed like a body builder. In all seriousness, if things continued to get worse, they may as well have a 3rd war on their hands.

A/N please review, I'd like to hear honest opinions about this