Hermione was a bit early, she could have stayed at work a bit later, but was anxious. She had gone into the office early, clerking as well as her studies, so she'd not feel guilty about leaving. Her boss was good about such things, and would have let her go as long as she got her work done, especially if he knew why. Hermione was an over achiever, both in law school and clerking, as she had been in school. She had every intention of finishing law school top of her class, and wanting private law, hoped to be offered a job at the firm when done. Her boss had hinted already, if she continued as well as she had, it would not be a question. Viktor would joke, that she never left work early for her, and was jealous of Harry. It would be good natured, she knew Viktor understood, especially after all her and Harry went through in the last year.

Hermione had come up the stairs, she could hear voices, and knew he was home. She was not sure what to expect, but when she came into the hall, she was shocked. She had a feeling, that Harry was interested in someone, but she had no idea.

It took a moment for her to find her voice, after clearing her throat to get their attention. "Harry?"

He turned to look at her with worry in his face. "Hermione."

For the time being she ignored Charlie and went to hug Harry. "Welcome home, I've missed you a lot."

Harry returned the hug and kissed her on the cheek. "I missed you too Mione."

Hermione looked at Charlie. "Welcome back. I'm sure your family will be happy to see you."

Charlie nodded and kissed her on the cheek. "I saw the twins, but I promised Bill I would come see him."

Harry saw the comment was more for him and nodded. "I'll come join you later."

Charlie knew he was not tricking them, they knew he made an excuse, to leave them alone. He would have stayed, if he thought it would help, but he knew it wouldn't. The two friends needed to talk, and it was better they do it alone, without Charlie. Charlie hoped for Harry's sake that she took it well, he knew how much Hermione meant to his boyfriend, and her support. Harry meant it, he'd not break up with Charlie if she didn't approve, but it would hurt him. Harry had stood with her when she was with Ron, even when Ron was a git to him, hopefully she'd do the same.

Harry took Hermione down to the den to talk, knowing Tonks was in the kitchen, and wanting to be alone. She had said she would try to support him, but he was nervous, especially seeing as how she had found out about them.

Hermione turned to look at him when he was in the den. "How long have the two of you been together?"

Harry smiled. "We kissed when we were in Brazil, but we never began dating, until after I broke up with Ginny."

Hermione didn't doubt that for a moment. "That is why you broke up with her soon after you got back?"

Harry nodded. "I owed her better than a Dear John letter, I thought. After the first kiss, we didn't kiss again, until after I broke up."

Hermione was just trying to get the basics down so she could deal with it. "How serious are you guys?"

Harry smiled. "We said I love you, when he took me on a romantic weekend for Valentine 's Day. We both see marriage and kids one day."

Hermione asked to hear more, and Harry took it as a good sign, she was taking this well. He told her how it started, about the twins trying to play match maker, and more about the first kiss. He was smiling the entire time he told her, other than when he mentioned Molly's visit, or Ginny. He was so happy about the man he loved, he hoped Hermione could be for him.

Hermione smiled as she listened, there was no missing how not only happy but deeply in love, Harry was. She had never seen him like this with Ginny, and she wanted him to be. She could see he was obviously with the right red head.

Harry looked at her when he finished. "Mione? You told me, before I left last time, you'd try…."

Hermione smiled. "I don't need to try, I can see how madly in love you are, and Charlie is a good guy."

Harry was relieved. "I was a bit worried, considering Ginny. You are my best friend, and I really want you by my side, if we marry."

Hermione hugged him. "When you marry, I will be proud to be by your side, I promise. But I get to give him the third degree still."

Harry broke into laughter. "I wouldn't have it any other way, but be too hard, and I'll have to take another go at Viktor. He is still around?"

Hermione confirmed it. "He is. He'd like to see you soon, perhaps the four of us can have dinner tomorrow."

Harry agreed. "And maybe the two of us can have dinner tonight. I'd like to catch up more."

Hermione reminded him about Bill, but Harry shook his head. Bill would understand, and Charlie would, he'd not be surprised at all. Harry had the weekend, and then would be returning to practices for the National team, on Monday. The nationals were until August some time, and then the United would start mid-September, and run until April. Draco and Pansy were to marry on Sunday, and of course Harry had been invited.

Harry suggested going out for dinner. "It will be nice to see a bit of London again."

Ginny was excited, she knew Harry must be returning soon, quidditch try outs would start next week. She knew she would soon be able to give up her work, as she knew Harry would marry her, and they would start their life. The job was not all that bad, he took good care of her, and the money could keep her for decades. She of course wouldn't need the money, Harry was rich, and the house she would let her brother live in. She knew she would prove to Harry she was what he wanted. He was away from school, and people like his dad and Neville, who were against her. Remus was just going to have to get used to the fact he was going to have her as a daughter in law one day.

Her boss had come for his early afternoon visit. Ron was at work, so it was clear for the two of them, without any wards. Ginny thought her brother was a fool, he had come home to them many times, but never seemed to catch on.

John slumped on his back when done. "I should be getting home."

Ginny rolled onto her side to look at him. "You don't have to go so soon."

He stopped her hands. "My wife and children will be waiting for me. Millicent and her husband have news, I assume I am to be a grandfather."

Ginny surprised him with a question. "And if I were to make you a father again?"

The man looked at her in shock. "You are not pregnant are you?"

Ginny shook her head. "No."

He held her face in his hands. "If you ever get pregnant, you can be sure there will be a paternity test."

Ginny reminded him. "I assured you that you were my only partner."

The man climbed from the bed. "Best you remember that. If you bear me a child, he or she will be taken care of."

Ginny stopped him. "Just them?"

He turned to look at her. "You are well taken care of aren't you? I will see you tomorrow."

Ginny watched him go, and went to the bathroom, to take a shower. She thought for one brief moment about the mishap a few months ago. She shook away the thought, what was done was done, no need to think on it. The only child she wanted was Harry's, and she would have it soon enough, she told herself. Though a child from John, may bring Harry to her too if she did become pregnant, he'd want her child to have a real dad. John could not divorce his wife, and he'd not be in the child's life, it had possibilities indeed.

Ginny finished her shower, and got dressed and did her hair. She clasped the beautiful diamond necklace around her neck, her most recent gift. She had been at work that morning, the few hours she spent at the office, reading his mail. The world needed to think she had a real job.

Ginny headed into town and she was surprised when she bumped into another Bullstrode, this time his daughter. "Millicent."

The girl was accompanied by her husband, married that spring, and to Ginny's surprise Pansy. "Out of our way."

Ginny sneered at her. "Just because you are some spoiled rich girl, doesn't mean you own the road. Some of us earn our money."

Pansy sneered at her. "I work for a magazine, how exactly do you earn your money? Or better yet with whom?"

Ginny looked at Millie and was reminded she had sworn not to tell John's children, to keep it quiet. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Millicent smirked when she heard that. "Your life is as interesting to me as a Binn's history class. Now get out of my way."

Ginny grumbled as she went to go past them. "You'll eat your words when I am Lady Potter."

Pansy heard her and laughed. "Still holding on to that delusion are you? I for one know Harry is bringing a date to my wedding."

With that the other three left, Marcus escorting the girls, who were meeting some friends. Ginny was left stewing, sure that Pansy was lying, about Harry having a date. She knew Pansy and Draco were to marry, it had been in all the papers, and Harry would attend. Harry's dad was to marry Draco's godfather, and Harry was family on Draco's mother's side, after all. Ginny reminded herself they would be her family too, but all families had members you wished were not there, and Harry sure did. She wondered if Harry planned to invite her, to try and make things right, and had told the couple he had a date. He'd have been told he could bring a date, and he must have said yes, when invited. Harry had been out of the country for most of the year, he'd have not fond anyone else to date, unless he planned to bring Hermione.

She had been going for food but decided to need to shop. "The wedding is in two days, I need something to wear, to be Harry's date to it."

Harry and Hermione had a quiet night the night before. Harry and Hermione opted to go muggle, and have dinner, not wanting to run into anyone. Though Harry had missed home, and he would be happy to see Diagon, that night they opted not to. Charlie had assured him that he expected it, and had already told Bill, he was coming alone. Bill had his suspicions thanks to his wife, and Arthur and Percy basically admitted they knew, but like Hermione they'd tell them. They were dreading Molly, Ron and Ginny finding out though.

Charlie and Viktor were both told, by their other halves, about dinner tonight. Harry was spending the morning with his dad, as he missed him a lot, and was helping with some pre-wedding things as well. His dad would not marry till August but still.

Harry was still with his dad past lunch time and they were in Diagon alley. "This place seems to change every time I see it."

Remus smiled and nodded. "Not as much as Hogsmeade, but still. Hogsmeade keeps sprouting new homes and businesses since the war."

Harry had been told that by the twins. "I guess with seniors able to leave whenever and Hogsmeade weekends every second month, it helps."

Remus agreed. "By the time you come and teach in a few years, it might be a city."

Harry laughed. "I don't see it getting that big, but I am sure it will continue to grow a lot more."

Remus reminded his son. "Since the war ended, and muggle items are being introduced more, more people are living in our world."

Harry always thought it was odd. "I would have thought the movement would be the other way, more people living among muggles."

There was that too, in other parts of the county, there was not a large amount of wizarding towns. Most of the towns were a mix of the two, but even then the wizards seemed to have their own area, like in the town the Burrow was near. But a lot of muggle borns had returned to their old neighborhoods after school, and working in this world, missing muggle items too. Now there were televisions and more introduced here.

Remus was not disappointed his son was ditching him, he understood, besides he had his own plans. His life had changed a lot since the war, not just in adopting Harry, and his romance with Severus being in the open. He had a lot more of a life, writing and teaching, and friends.

He reminded his son when Harry apologized for leaving. "I am heading to your house anyways. Tonks and Moody will be waiting for me."

Harry laughed and kissed his dad on the cheek. "Should I remind you that I'd like my house back in one piece?"

Remus smirked at his son. "Who is the father and who is the only recently teenage son here? Besides two of them are aurors."

Harry headed off but he called. "Considering how clumsy my cousin is, that may not be as reassuring as you seem to think it is."

Remus called back. "You are the one who invited her to live there for the past year. Last I looked, the house was still in one piece."

Harry shrugged and could not deny it. "Maybe I really was hoping she would burn it down. I can't even seem to give it away."

Remus shook his head. "The house actually always belongs to Lord Black, as well as Black manor. You couldn't give it in dowry or anything."

Harry was reminded he knew that, but he would still allow Tonks to live there, and not him. He was fine there now, but when he wed and had kids, he could not see it as a permanent home. He had many others, and perhaps would use it, like the Malfoys used their townhouse in London. He had not been sure about living there at all, but he was reminded he had memories with Sirius there, good ones. And the home had once been home to his dad, and his mum and father had lived there from time to time, with the order.

Harry was to meet the others in about a half hour, so he stopped to see Fred at his shop first. He had been mad at their meddling, sure they were wrong about Charlie, but he could not thank them enough now.

Fred smiled when he came in. "Hey little brother, thought I might not see much of you until after quidditch season ended."

Harry snorted. "I saw you plenty during last summer's quidditch season I remind you. I have only been home for just over a day."

Fred shrugged. "But you ditched us at dinner, and now you are off again. And a wedding tomorrow."

Harry nodded. "You know I'd have liked to be at dinner, but it had been a while since I saw Hermione."

Fred looked towards the doors. "And out for dinner tonight with her again? Well at least tonight you are not ditching your boyfriend."

Harry had an odd smile on his face. "I don't know, now I am back, maybe I need to play the field a bit."

Fred put him in a headlock. "If I didn't know you were joking, I would hex you little brother."

Laughing, Harry assured him he was joking, he was madly in love. Charlie had him to himself months at a time, so he had more than understood, last night. He had been busy last himself today, he had his own friends to see, but was meeting Harry soon. Charlie had not spent one night in his room, he moved into Harry's room, as soon as Hermione had known.

He was about to leave when Alicia appeared in the door. "Harry you may want to use the floo. I don't think you want to see who just came in."