Disclaimer: I do not in any way own "Harry Potter". This story was made purely for entertainment purposes.


*******************************************************.*...*******************
*******************************************************.Z8**.*******************
******************************************************..DOO..*******************
****************************************************...+OZZ...******************
***************************************************...8OZZ...******************
***************************************************...O$$$O:...*****************
*************************************************...O$$$$Z=...*****************
************************************************...Z$$$$$Z+..******************
**********************************..*.*******...OZ$$ZZ$$Z~..******************
**************************************..***...OO$$ZZ:Z$$O...*****************
************************************.*.*..*..ZOZ$$$OZ.+O$ZZ...************
****************************...*+8ZZ$$$$OO+...OZ$OZ+,...***********
****************************.ZZZ$$$$$$$$$$$$ZOO+...+Z$$$$$ZZOOZ8~..***********
****************************.O$$ZOOOOOZOZOZ=...ZOZZ$$$$$$$$Z...***********
***************...*****...8$$O...*******...~8$$$Z$...**********
******...=O$O...:,...O$$Z...*..*************...OO$$OO..*************
*...O$$$$:.8$$$$$OO7,O$$Z:.******************..*O$$$OO...************
*..IZ...~8$Z~...8$ZZ...8$$Z...**************.*$OZ$$$$ZO8...*********
**..8$8OOZ8OZ$O,..$$8$Z...+OZ$Z$..7Z$Z..**************.*...$ZZ$$$ZZ=...********
***.,O$OOZOO~...+?Z8+$...,8$Z.********...:7OO$$ZO+..********
***...$$$O...Z+8.8$$..O+...O$Z.******..DOOOOOZOOZZZ$$$$$ZZ...********
****...Z$Z...*..I..O$=**.7ZOZZ$Z,***.I...OO$$$$$$ZZZI...*********
******.8$O...*****.**..8Z.***...$...IOO7...8O$OZ+..****.**************
*******.Z$$8...*.*******..OO*.*********..OO..,Z8$$$OOOOO$$$8..******************
*******..,$$...:O.*..D*.*.8$I...*..****.8OOO.,O$OOOZ$$$$$ZO~.*****************
*********.$I?ZO$$.$Z.O+.*..ZZ$$OO...*.**.:O$ZOO$Z$...*****************
*********.OOZZIZ7O$Z.$O.***?8=$$OOOZO$...8Z..ZO$$$Z=.**************...********
***************?$$Z8$$7****.O.=O,..O,.*...*..IO...OOZ8.*************************
***************.=...OZ..+,.8$...*.8*.$.*******.~OO...*************************
*********************..87O,*~I7...ZO..Z...*...7O$:...********************
************************Z.O...$,..Z7II7..OI8.***.8?..OOZZ...*..***************
******************************...D?$7.****O*...$OZOZ$...*********
*********************************.88Z..Z8...O.8Z****,OZ*...?OZ$Z$OZOZ?:...***
*********************************..*.7.****.*O=.Z*.*..~O7..*...+8O8II7IOZ+..**
*********************************************,$.**.*IZO...787II7OOZ8:.******
*********************************************.+OZ.:Z$..**.*$$O..Z88O...********
*********************************************..O$=..ZO..****.O$Z$.ZIZ..*********
*********************************************..ZIO..,OO,.***...=OI8OOOZ..*******
*********************************************..8IOII77OIZ...**..Z8.$$7IZ..******
**********************************************.ZZ=..O7I$7$.8O*..*.ZO+.OOZ..*****
****************************************************...OIIZ..8O...OIO.*...*****
*************************************..**************...O,...87O..?IZ~..******
**************************************************.*********.**..$II:O?$Z.******
*****************************************************************..Z$+8+?Z******
********************************************************************..O=+Z7..**.
*********************************************************************...8.$..*.*
************************************************************************...Z****
********************************************************************************

Forevermore

Defiantly, confident – it didn't matter which, Lily Potter strode up the steps, and placed herself down on the stool.

The last thing she saw before the hat was lowered on her, shakily, she noticed, was of the movement in the Hall, or rather, the lack thereof.

'Ah … What do we have here?' said the hat in a joyful tone.

'I was beginning to think your family would never come back! Ah, anyway, let's see …mmhm. Oh, how interesting … cunning, I see …' it mused.

'Not Slytherin, not Sly- ' she thought quickly.

The hat gave the equivalent of a sigh, and said out loud, 'Very well, I've learned not to try and reason with your line. GRYFFINDOR!'

After a momentary lapse of silence, the students at the Gryffindor table recovered from their shock of hearing that a Potter had come to Hogwarts, and was going to their house, and started rejoicing.

Wincing slightly at the noise, Lily whispered a goodbye to the hat, gently pulled it off, and placed it back on the stool.

Ignoring the looks of many people – including teachers, she strode towards an empty spot on the Gryffindor table, and sat down.

The rest of the sorting continued, though no one really paid attention much, everyone just kept starting at her. And she hated every second for it.

Finally, when the hat shouted 'GRYFFINDOR!' to a Carolyn Weasley, everyone stopped staring at her and turned to the Headmistress.

Lily had clearly seen the shock on the headmistress' face when she called her name, but she was glad to see that she also immediately recovered. She felt a sense of relief, that perhaps not all of the teachers would single her out immediately.

'Well,' said an amplified Minerva McGonagall's voice, 'to all our returning students, welcome to another year at Hogwarts! As for our newest additions, we as the staff of Hogwarts would like to give you all a warm welcome!'

The staff of teachers behind her joined her in applause, and the hall erupted with thunderous applause. She turned to look at her colleagues, she was so proud of them. Everyone single one of them, handpicked.

Two of them in particular, caught her eye: Neville Longbottom, who was now the Head of House for Hufflepuff, and Ginny Weasley. When Harry had disappeared from the Wizarding World, Ginny had cried day and night, and in the following years, bluntly refuse to date or marry anyone, because she was so certain that Harry would come back for her. Now, she wondered if her decision to make her the Head of House for Gryffindor had been correct. Hopefully, she wouldn't become another Severus Snape.

Filius Flitwick, had taken up her former post as Deputy Head of Hogwarts, and Hagrid had returned for another year as the teacher for Care of Magical Creatures, as he always had at his home. With another smile, she turned back to her audience, and spoke, 'rules and other important notices will be addressed afterward, but, without further ado, let the feast begin!'

Smiling, she sat down, and watched as rows of food appeared on the tables. She could barely eat though, as the food stuck to her throat. Her mind was obsessed with one thought. The Potters have returned.

She would see her two favourite students again.

/_

/

Lily Potter prodded moodily at a plate of food in front of her. At first, people had looked eager to ask questions about her parents, but when she didn't even give them the slightest reaction that would tell them they had been heard, they scowled and left her alone.

'So,' a voice said from her right, 'how do you like Hogwarts?'

Surprised, she gave a yelp, and her fork went flying into the air. Inwardly cursing whoever had surprised her, she glanced upwards, and simply stuck her hand out, like a seeker would, and caught the fork as gravity took hold of it.

She bit back an insult, as she turned to her right – only to see that it was empty, just like before.

'Oh leave her alone!' hissed another voice to her left. Lily quickly snapped her head to the left – only to find no one there as well.

'Let her enjoy her first meal,' the female voice continued.

'No…could it be?' thought Lily Potter.

Something clicked in her mind as she made the connection.

She brought her hand to her face and said out the corner of her mouth, 'Couldn't you two have given me even one day alone?'

Disillusionment spells were lifted, and two familiar figures emerged. Thankfully, no one saw them, as they were too preoccupied with eating. If they were seen, it would undoubtedly cause chaos. Her parents had arrived in Hogwarts in plain sight. Not even a glamour charm of any sort.

Harry chuckled, as he said, 'Don't miss me?'

Blushing, she replied, 'I-I do! Just not like … wait, what are you doing here anyway? Where are Har, Mel, and James?'

'Oh, Dobby can take care of them for now, he practically begged us to let him anyway,' said her mother, who was picking at some food in front of them, 'We're here, because we need to see the Headmistress, and because we missed you.'

'Your mother couldn't stop crying,' Harry whispered in her ear. He winked at her, and poked a bit of potato into his mouth.

'Did not!' said Hermione indignantly.

Ignoring the bickering of her parents, Lily Potter looked up at them, and noticed that they both were in there Hogwarts robes.

When their 'argument' had subsided, Lily said, 'I still can't believe you decided you could walk in here. You two would are just asking for trouble!'

'Well, not really trouble, but for that matter, we've decided to stay here for the time being. We've taken up residence somewhere on the seventh floor,' said Harry, winking at her, 'Remember what I said? If you want to hide, hide out in the open.'

'Wait till the Headmistress gets a word of this,' Hermione said, 'it's the return of the Marauders!' she said sarcastically.

Seeing a gleam in Harry's eyes, she sighed inwardly, and said in a blatant tone, 'I just gave you some sort of idea, didn't I?'

Harry only smiled, and said, 'Yeah, but I'm going to need a new target … '

'Just see who I don't like, Dad!' said Lily jokingly, 'Then you can prank him all you want.'

'Lily's personality is certainly a strange one,' thought Hermione, 'she inherited my 'smarts', she inherited Harry's 'Marauder' side, yet she inherited my sense of abiding to the rules. Sort of like me, actually, abiding to the rules, but bending them when necessary.'

Smiling at her daughter, she simply stated, 'Poor teachers.'

Harry let out a laugh, and happily chewed on a treacle tart.

'So, where's the Potter Watch at now?' he asked.

'Oh, somewhere in America, I think,' Hermione stated, 'They're about four countries behind us.'

/_

/

After Headmistress McGonagall had given her words to the students of Hogwarts, including notices, rules, and other business, she sent them off to their common rooms, to retire for the night. Likewise, Harry and Hermione went to retire in the Room of Requirement. The moment they stepped out of the hall within the throng of students, they disillusioned themselves, and made their way to the seventh floor.

'So, Dobby,' said Harry, after they had reached the room, 'did they behave?'

A genuinely exhausted Dobby gave Harry and weak smile, and attempted to respond energetically, 'Mistresses and Master were great!', but the moment he finished the sentence, he dropped to the ground, fully asleep.

'That bad, huh,' commented Hermione dryly.

She picked the elf up, and conjured a small bed for him, and tucked him in.

'So, my dear husband … 'she started.

'So, my dear wife …' replied Harry in kind.

'What are we going to do for the next couple of days?'

'Oh, I think I'll lay low and play a game,' seeing Hermione cross her arms in mock distaste, he quickly continued before she could send something flying at his head, 'it's called "How long will it take for them to notice us"!', he said with a grin.

Rolling her eyes at her husband's sense of humour, she went and checked on her sleeping children, who resided in the room adjacent to theirs.

'The Room of Requirement really has outdone itself this time! It's like a house!' thought Hermione.

She smiled, because a sight had just given her a new sense of happiness. Harmony, Melody and James were all fast asleep, with James in the middle, embraced protectively by his sisters.

Hermione felt an arm wrap around her, and she looked up to find Harry also staring at the sleeping trio.

Giving a sigh, Harry whispered in her ear, 'Almost makes me jealous …'

She captured his mouth with a kiss, and gently closed the door. 'You've still got me.'

/_

/

The next morning, Dobby awoke fully energized, his magic and body fully recharged by Hogwarts herself.

When he literally bounced into the master bedroom, he saw his master and his mistress, peacefully asleep, in each other's arms.

Beaming, he squeaked, 'Dobby has helped Master Harry! Master Harry is truly with Mistress!'

The elf gave a wide smile, and left the room.

The sleeping pair, awake now, groaned, and Harry groggily replied, 'You call throwing a bludger at my head helping?'

'Morning love,' said the muffled voice of Hermione, who had her face in the pillow.

'Good morning…' replied Harry in kind.

A few minutes later, Dobby had been assigned to babysitting again, and this time, Winky came along.

'Winky will help Dobby protect Master's children!' she said with a determined look on her face.

The elf had an apron, a chef's hat, and a frying pan in her arms, as well as a pair of mismatched socks.

Even Hermione couldn't resist laughing at the strange sight.

'So,' said Harry while walking down towards the Great Hall, 'our plan for today?'

Harry had long since given up on making plans, and had informally delegated planning to Hermione.

'Let's see, according to this,' she said, while retrieving a piece of parchment containing Lily's schedule from her pocket, 'Lily has charms first. After charms, she has transfiguration, DADA, and Herbology.'

'Wait – how did you get her timetable before she got it?'

'Dobby.'

'Oh…'

'Are we going as firsties?' Harry said after a while.

'Yes, I suppose I'll just use a mirage charm. We wouldn't fit in a first year classroom since we look so much older, and since you wanted to make it utterly obvious to who you are when someone recognizes you, we'll use our younger forms.'

'You think of everything, Hermione!' said Harry chuckling.

'I know, and that's why you love me!' replied Hermione, giving him a quick kiss. 'Just remember to tone down your magic a bit.'

With a simple wave of her hand, Hermione placed a charm that would give Harry his younger look back, until she herself lifted it. Nodding to Harry, he did the same to her.

'Well this is fun, I'm a midget again!' said Harry with a laugh.

Needless to say, they were in for an interesting day.

Turning the final corner, they walked the last few meters to the massive doors, and tentatively pushed them open.

Beside her, Hermione felt Harry breathe a sigh a relief. For once in his life, the hall's inhabitants were not immediately looking at him.

They quietly took a seat next to Lily, who was hard at work reading a third year's charms book.

Breakfast was already on the table, but the hall wasn't even half full yet. The teachers had all gathered, and were quietly chatting between themselves.

Harry sighed contently as he bit into some bacon.

'I told you not to work yourself so hard, Lily! Couldn't you have waited a week?' he said.

'You were the one who told me that first impressions were important!' she replied with a glare.

'Yes, but there's no need to overachieve!' he replied, feigning hurt.

'Well, considering your 'first impressions' you've given your teachers…let's see, for Madam Hooch, you flew off into the air on your first lesson even though she explicitly stated that no flying was allowed…' Hermione stated with a smirk.

'But it got me on the Quidditch team!' he protested.

'Still not allowed, but anyway, Snape, you got yelled at…' she continued in a bored tone.

'For taking notes!' replied in an even tone, 'and, because he's Snape.'

'Not to mention Umbridge, Trelawney… '

'Umbridge was out of line, and Trelawney said I was going to die!'

Finally, Lily couldn't hold it in, and just started laughing. Thankfully, they didn't catch anyone's attention, as the hall had gradually begun to fill up, and most people were busy greeting others.

The rest of breakfast was uneventful, as Lily did nothing, but read. Harry and Hermione, however, did what any first year would do. Eat, and talk about magic.

After breakfast, timetables were handed out, and after Lily got hers she left the hall with her book bag, and immediately left for her first class.

'Oh look, Lily!' said Harry with a grin, 'we have the exactly same timetable!'

'As do I!' said Hermione, who approached her while munching on a croissant.

'I can't believe you two are actually doing this,' said Lily.

'We're allowed to be over protective parents!' said Hermione.

'Yes, but you don't see any other parents here…' muttered Lily, highly embarrassed.

'Oh calm down, no one will be expecting this!' said Harry with an excited expression. 'Also, I get to fly again!'

Rolling her eyes, Hermione just smiled and led the group towards charms.

/_

/

'Welcome, students!' cried the ever excited Professor Flitwick, 'I am your professor, and deputy headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Flitwick!'

'Before you ask, yes, I am half-goblin. Now then, welcome to Charms!'

The professor trailed off, beaming at the students. 'Today, we're going to learn the rudimentary basics of spell casting, so let's start off with a simple hovering charm! The incantation is 'Wingardium Leviosa', and the hand motion is like so!' The professor demonstrated by waving his wand with a swish, and a flick.

'Don't forget, that the most important part of spell casting, is intent. Visualize what you want to do, and go!' he shouted.

As students attempted to try the charm, the shouts of 'Wingardium Leviosa' grew to a roar.

Lily, however, had taken the time to copy down every motion Professor Flitwick had done.

After copying twice, she reviewed it over in her mind, and muttered things to herself over and over until she was certain that she had it memorized.

'She's worse than you,' Harry commented, as he faked a little wave with his wand.

'I told her that copying the notes came later! Take down things first, try it in class where you can ask a professor, and then copy it later…why didn't she remember? I told her!' Hermione said worryingly, glancing back and forth between her daughter and her own feather.

Finally, Lily, her face holding a satisfied grin, raised her wand – made of vine, with a phoenix tail feather core, 9 inches long, and with a swish and a flick, shouted 'Wingardium Leviosa!'

Immediately, her feather took flight in the air, and with her wand, she made it fly in a lazy arc.

'Wonderful, Ms. Potter! Simply wonderful!' shouted an ecstatic Professor Flitwick. 'Ten points to Gryffindor!'

Smiling brightly, she allowed her feather to settle down in front of her again, and only then, did she realize that the entire class was silent. Their expressions filled with anger, jealously, but some of them, were obviously impressed.

She looked down, embarrassed by the attention.

'Harry,' whispered Hermione, while jabbing him in the side. Harry had been lazily poking around his feather, but he turned to face her.

'Yes?'

Hermione gestured towards Lily, and he understood immediately.

Intent on breaking the silence, and allowing the attention to get off their daughter, Harry and Hermione shouted in unison, 'Wingardium Leviosa!', and their feathers took flight.

They quickly glanced at each other smiling, as the whispers began again, but this time, directed at them.

Lily shot them a look of thanks.

/_

/

'Take another ten points each to Gryffindor! Congratulations Mr. – er…'the professor hesitated. His mind said one thing, but his logic said another. His mind told him that it was Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.

'Mr. Potter?' he said incredulously.

Leaning back on his chair, Harry sighed, 'Ah, damn. The gig's up.'

Harry's statement earned him smack to the back of the head.

'Language!' cried an indignant brown-haired girl beside him.

Crossing her arms, she attempted to look away angrily, but everyone could clearly see she was suppressing a smile.

/_

/

The entire classroom seemed to have fallen into a realm of shock. Some muggleborns - or now, called Newbloods, looked merely confused, and looked awkwardly around, while the majority of the class had their jaws wide open.

'What?' said Harry, feigning ignorance, 'is there something on my face?'

He quickly used his sleeve to wipe his mouth. Seeing that they were still looking at him in awe, shock, or confusion, he continued speaking, 'It's still there?'

Finally, Professor Flitwick recovered.

'Mr. – Mr. Potter?' he shouted, 'Is that you?'

Smiling wanly, Harry bowed his head slightly. 'Harry Potter here, at your service!'

'D-Does that mean, that that's …' he trailed off uncertainly, looking at the brown-haired girl next to him.

She looked at him with a smile. 'Hello Professor Flitwick, nice to see you again.'

It was too much of a shock to take. The poor deputy headmaster was already overjoyed to be able to teach the first magical class of Harry Potter's daughter. But now, Harry Potter himself, and the long lost Hermione Granger had made an appearance in his class, after many, many years.

He fell to the ground with a thud.

Harry only looked mildly surprised, and he jabbed his wand in the professor's direction, casting a silent reviving charm.

'Right, Lily, would you mind taking care of the professor? Your mother and I have to go do something.'

'Cause a distraction!' Harry whispered desperately into her ear.

Lily nodded, and with a wave of her wand, shot a rainbow of colours towards the sky.

Most of the students were just making the connection between the Boy-Who-Lived and the brilliant girl that sat next to them, and had been gawking at her.

Not one student noticed Harry and Hermione disillusioned themselves and step out of the classroom.

'Why – where did they – what happened to – Ms. Potter! What happened to Harry Potter and Hermione Granger?' Professor Flitwick asked, bewildered.

'My parents had to do something, apparently,' she said with a small grin.

Flustered slightly, the charms professor shouted, 'Sonorus!' over himself, and shouted loud enough so that the entire school could hear.

'This is your deputy headmaster speaking, all teacher students and staff; please meet immediately at the Great Hall.' The diminutive professor took a deep breath, cancelled the charm, and looked at his students.

'Sorry about this, but I'll have to cut this lesson short; off you go!'

/_

/

'This is your deputy headmaster speaking, all teacher students and staff; please meet immediately at the Great Hall.'

'Fudge,' muttered Harry as the pair of them ran away from the classroom , beside him, Hermione was muttering silently, waving her wand over him and herself, removing the mirage charms. 'Expecto Patronum!' they shouted, and along with Hermione's patronus, which had morphed from an otter to a doe years before, his stag burnt a brilliant white into the air, and the pair of them charged outside, circling the castle. (A/N : This was to create a distraction)

When the pair entered the Great Hall, there was a large mass of students up near the windows, they watched as the stag and the doe pranced along the castle walls.

A rather stressed group of teachers were attempting to control the student body – to no avail.

They removed the disillusionment charms upon themselves once more, walked calmly into the room, and sat down.

'Be silent!' shouted the Headmistress who had just entered the room, looking rather flustered, 'TO YOUR SEATS!'

Immediately, the crowd dispersed into their house tables.

With a commanding voice, the Headmistress said, 'Professor Flitwick, did you have an announcement to make?'

Shaking, the deputy headmaster stood up.

'Harry Potter and Hermione Granger have – have returned.'

His statement was met with an uproar.

'They were just sitting there in my classroom!' he continued.

'Don't be ridiculous! Why would Harry be in your classroom? If Harry returned, he'd have visited me first!' shouted Ginny.

Inwardly, the Headmistress let out a groan.

The Headmistress was about to question Flitwick more, but before the question could be formed on her lips, a voice interrupted her.

'Ginny Weasley, you overestimate your importance to me.'

Every eye turned to find the person who had spoken.

A black-haired boy stood up from the Gryffindor table.

'H-Harry?' cried Ginny, 'it-it's you! I knew you'd come back for me!' she started to get up.

Another person rose from beside Harry.

Harry embraced the person with one hand, and kissed her.

A gasp escaped from the Headmistress' mouth. Tears of joy threatened to escape the Headmistress, but she blinked them away, as she recognized the other.

'Ginny, don't you get it yet? It's been years since I left. I left with one person who I could not survive without. That one person was someone who I couldn't live without. Not one person who only cared about me because I was the Boy-Who-Lived.'

Shakily, he took a breath. 'That person wasn't you, Ginny. It was Hermione Granger.'

Just then, a white owl, purely white, flew in, accompanied by the two patroni.

The stag and the doe nuzzled their noses against each other once, and dissipated.

The owl, flew over and landed on Harry's shoulder, and raised its foot.

The girl reached over and untied the letter from the owl.

'The letter has the ministry seal on it!' thought the Headmistress.

A pen was conjured from thin air, and landed neatly on Harry Potter's palm.

The Boy-Who-Lived picked up the elegant pen with one hand, and signed the parchment with a flourish.

Harry pressed a ring on his finger onto the parchment, and the sheet disappeared.

/_

/

When the owl – that Harry named Sierra – flew into the Great Hall, it flapped its wings once, and glided gently down to Harry's shoulder.

Hermione gently removed the piece of parchment from its leg, and handed it to Harry.

This parchment would change her life, from here on in.

Her husband, legally married in the muggle world, conjured a pen and without looking twice, signed the parchment, and pressed the Potter seal onto it. With this, he would be legally married in both worlds.

With a yellow flash, the parchment disappeared.

Within seconds, the parchment reappeared, landing gently into Hermione's hands. Smiling, she handed the piece of paper over to Harry.

Harry took it and read it, 'This certificate of marriage signed by Hermione Jean Granger and Harry James Potter has been approved.' Beneath those words, there was a small note. 'Congratulations, Harry, Hermione. – Luna Weasley'

Looking up at the still silent crowd, Harry tucked the sheet into his pocket.

'W-what was that, Harry?' asked Ginny.

'That, was a marriage contract.'

Whispers grew in the hall.

'You were denying it? Right?' said Ginny in a slightly seductive tone.

'Au contraire; that was the marriage contract between Hermione and I. This sheet, is the approved form.

'Ginny Weasley, we will never be together. Hermione was with me from the very first day, and she protected me, she saved me, and she loves me not for being the Boy-Who-Lived, but as Harry Potter.'

Giving Harry a sickly sweet smile, Ginny said, as if explaining to a child, 'But Harry Potter and the Boy-Who-Lived is the same person!'

'No, no they're not. The Boy-Who-Lived is dead. I left this world because no one would leave me alone. When I left this world, the Boy-Who-Lived died,' he said taking a deep breath.

When Ginny looked like she was still going to protest, Harry cut in once more.

'I love Hermione; not you.'

He kissed her once more, and Hermione replied in kind.

'Hermione has always been at my side, and I will always love her. We will never be separated, till deaths do us apart. When that time comes, we will go on to life's next adventure, and as always, together.'


Endex