Disclaimer - Harry Potter and all the rights to it are owned by JK Rowling and her licensees. I make no money from this pastime.
A/N I don't particularly like Ron and Mrs. Weasley. While I have been kind to Ron in this story, it will not be the case with Mrs. Weasley and Ginny.
Wails
12 Grimmauld Place
London
Hermione was standing in their bedroom doorway looking in at her husband, "We need to talk about what happened at the ball. Considering just how many people at the Ministry we actually trust, we need to ward the house so the Ministry can't track the magic inside, the whole property for that matter."
"Your mum and dad need to stay with us, Hermione. We can work something out so they can go back to dentistry, but at least until we know about their new baby they need to stay with us. Kingsley said there was a magical birth registry. We will have to find out if he or she is on it. Do you know how to do the wards you are talking about?"
"I think so. I'll talk to Professor Flitwick first, but it isn't like it is something the ministry wants the general population to know. I doubt that the spell would even be in the restricted section."
Harry looked around their bedroom and said, "Hermione, is the magic here detectable?"
"I don't know. Why?"
Harry frowned in thought. "I don't think that it is. Once Voldemort was able to take over the ministry he was able to break through all of the protections placed at the Burrow and places like that, the Death Eaters knew when someone said the taboo, but not when we were here, we said all the time. I wonder if this is some sort of magical vacuum."
"Maybe it is time I visit our library. I moved what looked questionable out into that other room so Emma didn't come across them, but it might be a good place to start."
"Muggle repelling charms aren't necessary though," said Harry.
"It isn't the Muggles I'm worried about." Hermione sighed then tried to sit on the bed. Harry refrained of making comments about how his wife walked of late and how she looked like an upside down turtle when she sort of fell onto their bed and had to flail about to get situated. He would help, but that irritated her more, so he let her be. The end was in sight as it was.
They emerged from their room the following morning to find Dotty explaining house elf enchantments to Emma. The young girl was watching with rapped attention. Hermione smiled at the elf. She was wearing a crisply ironed pleated shirt and a white blouse that bore the Potter family crest. On their way home from Hogwarts they had all stopped at Gladrags in Hogsmeade and picked up several outfits for Dotty. She was outfitted with two skirts and blouses, a dress similar to the one she already owned, a winter cloak, several pair of socks and a pair of shoes. As they neared the kitchen the couple groaned in unison. It was obvious that Mrs. Weasley had invited herself over yet again and was trying to talk Jane into letting her host Harry's birthday.
Knowing she was going to have to put her foot down, Hermione walked into the kitchen before even saying 'hello' said, "We appreciate your offer, Mrs. Weasley, but I would really like to do this for my husband. Like we said the other night, eighteen is a big birthday in the Muggle world and it is important to us to do this. It is as significant as seventeen is for wizards. The whole family is of course invited, but Mum and I are doing the planning."
Visibly affronted Molly Weasley sniffed then said, "Of course, dear." Two bound books were opened and she started on the wedding plans. "Now of course I chose these colors when I thought it would be my Ginny that would be getting married next, so the colors I've chosen won't look as nice on you. Of course Ginny will be your attendant."
Hermione blinked. "Actually, Mrs. Weasley, Harry and I are already married and other than Ron, if he is willing, we don't really need anyone else standing up with us. According to the research I have done, there will not be a license since the ministry already recognizes our marriage as binding and legal. In fact we don't really need anyone with us, but as Ron is our best friend we would like him to be."
"That is just not done and what will Ginny think? You already stole..."
It was at that moment that it dawned on Harry that while Molly Weasley might accept Hermione as his wife because it was presented to her fait accompli, she was not happy about it and believed that Hermione and the Grangers had stolen him from Ginny and the rest of the Weasley family. Before a shocked Hermione could answer, Harry replied, "We weren't expecting you this morning, Mrs. Weasley, and unfortunately the family has other plans." Hermione tried to cover her surprise at this news. "And I think that it would be better to discuss anything mildly upsetting when Lily is not in the room."
Startled that Harry was dismissing her Molly Weasley said, "Oh, of course, Harry dear. I am just trying to make it a special day for you regardless."
"Mum, I'm sure that their wedding was special. What are you doing here?" No one had seen Ron walk into the room.
"I just came by to talk to Mrs. Granger about the wedding."
"Well, I'm sure that it can wait. Like Harry said, we have some things to do."
"I will see you later?" asked Molly.
"We will be there, Mum. The letter we got from the goblins was very specific." Ron showed her out.
After they left the room Hermione looked at her mother who said, "I don't think that Molly Weasley approves of your marriage."
"Yeah, I kind of got that. Well obviously she has no say over my relationship with Hermione. It's like she can't let up on her big happy family dream," said Harry.
"Fred's will reading is this afternoon so she is probably a bit edgy and I have never really been her favorite person. I think she tolerated me when she thought that Ron fancied me, but now, she doesn't really feel like she has to put forth the effort." Hermione kissed Harry on the cheek as she watched him begin to feed their daughter breakfast. "So Harry, what plans do we have this morning?"
He smiled at her then looked at his mother-in-law and asked, "Jane, how would you like to go to Wales this morning?"
"Are we driving? I thought you needed to be at the bank this afternoon and just what is in Wales?"
"Well, I haven't really worked out how we are getting there, but we have a house there."
"It's the Potter family estate, Mum. The one Dotty came from." She looked at Harry and said, "As long as we know exactly where it is, we can Apparate. Between the two of us we can get everyone there eventually."
Dotty who heard her name and popped into the kitchen said, "We can use the Floo, Mistress."
Looking at Emma, Harry was concerned. He remembered his first trip by Floo. "What if they get lost in the Floo, take a wrong grate or misspeak and end up somewhere else?"
"Dotty can find them sir, Master and Miss just need to call Dotty and Dotty will come to them."
"Hermione?"
"You and I can take the girls and Dotty can take Mum, which just leaves Dad for the Floo."
"Okay, how about an hour?" Everyone just nodded.
Ron walked back into the room and said, "Sorry about that. She is at home alone with Ginny listening to her complaining about her lost dreams. Mum hasn't been the same since Bellatrix cursed her and then Fred... She's taken to calling George, Fred sometimes."
"We will make it through," said Harry. "We're going to figure out how many elves we have. Are you okay here with Luna today?"
"I'm taking her down to the Ministry to get her Apparition license and then maybe we will have lunch to celebrate," replied Ron.
"Then we'll just see you at Gringotts." Harry spoke to the room aloud. "Kreacher"
"Master called Kreacher," his deep voice croaked out.
"Yes, we are going out today to look at the other properties. We will not be here for lunch."
An hour later Dotty popped back into the room and smiled. Richard had already been given a cursory lesson on Floo travel and was eager to give it a try. He threw the powder in and called out "Potter Hall" as he stepped into the grate. At the same time Harry holding Emma, Hermione with Lily, and Dotty with Jane disappeared from the front step.
Dotty let Jane go and scurried into the house to find Richard. Hermione gasped as she looked around. Two hundred meters away was the Irish Sea. The surrounding hills and countryside were green and covered in purple wildflowers. A squeaky voice called out from behind them, "Welcome to Potter Hall masters and mistresses. I is Twiddle and this is Gubby. We is the elves here."
Coming back to himself, Harry looked at them and smiled. They were both wearing little trousers and jumpers. "I'm Harry and this is my wife, Hermione." Hermione smiled at the small elves. "The little one Hermione is holding is our daughter, Lily. I think Hermione's father came through the grate so you have already met Richard and this is Hermione's mother, Jane, and their youngest for now, Emma."
Taking hold of his hand Hermione whispered, "Harry it's-"
"Why don't we go in and have a look around?"
The three Potters and the three Grangers walked into the house together and it was all Hermione could do to not cry. The entrance was large with a staircase that led to the upper floors. They were directed to studies, drawing rooms, and dining areas. When they got to the kitchen Hermione gasped and said, "It's modern."
"Mistress Lily insisted, but if it pleases Mistress Herminnie it can be put back."
Shaking her head at the house elf mutilation of her name, Hermione said, "No, no, it's better this way. Updated is better. Um, the toilets, are they modern too?"
"Mistress Lily made many changes when she and Master James returned from Hogwarts," replied the elf.
"Were you expecting what was at Grimmauld Place before we changed it?" asked Harry.
"Actually yes or worse the Burrow."
The next room they wandered into was the library. It was huge. At least five times the size as the one in London. It was not quite as large as Hogwarts, but for a private collection it was very impressive. As she ran her hands over many of the bindings, Hermione realized that not all of the books were magical. "Harry, there are Muggle books here too. Look, Emma, Pride and Prejudice..." She pulled the Sense and Sensibility volume out of its assigned area and gasped when she realized just how old the book was. "Harry, I think this is a first edition."
Jane was immediately at her daughter's side and she carefully set the book down on one of the oak reading tables.
"Those be Mistress Lily's books. Master James is giving them to her for presents," said Twiddle.
Leaving his wife to stare at the rare book Harry wandered around the room then asked, "Are all the Muggle books my mother's?"
"Oh no, Master," explained Twiddle. "Master James and Master Harry were not the first Potter's to marry Muggle-born witches and I's been told that Master Henry Potter was liking Muggle literature."
As he was about to laugh at the elf when an almost frightened "Harry!" came from the other side of the room.
He was immediately at her side, "What's the matter?"
She just swallowed hard and pointed at the large portrait hanging above them. "Hermione is that... are those..."
"Welcome home, Harry. We've been hoping that we would see you soon," came a soft voice from the portrait.
Slowly Harry approached the painting and reached out and gently touched Lily's cheek. The woman in the portrait closed her eyes and it was obvious that she was trying not to cry. "Mum?"
She beamed at him then said, "Stand back and let me see you properly." Harry took several steps back. "You look just like you father."
"Dad?"
"It's good to see you, son. Now who do you have with you?"
"Oh, um, this is my wife, Hermione, and our daughter, Lily. She just turned a year old."
Lily turned to look at Hermione and smiled gently. "Come closer, Hermione, I would like to see you and bring my... my granddaughter with you."
"She has your eyes, Lils," observed James.
"She's beautiful," Lily whispered.
Harry blinked and took in the surrealness of the situation. There had been so many times in his life that he wished to speak with them. "Oh, um, Mum, Dad, these are Hermione's parent's Jane and Richard Granger and Emma."
Lily furrowed her brow and said, "I'm sorry, I don't remember you from Hogwarts. Are you any relation to Miranda Granger? She was in the year above us."
Embarrassed, Hermione said, "I'm Muggle-born."
James chuckled and said, "I don't see why that should surprise anyone." All of a sudden he grew serious and said, "We were transferred right before we headed to Godric's Hollow. The elves have been good at giving us information about you as it came to them, but when you are ready we would like to hear about it."
Harry nodded, "Um, when I can. It is over and we lost so many, so many friends. In fact we can't stay long today, we have to go to Gringotts in a bit for a friend's will reading," he said despondently.
"You'll come back won't you, Harry? You'll come back and see us?" asked Mrs. Potter with a pleading tone.
"Of course. Libraries are always Hermione's favorite room in the house so you will be seeing quite a bit of her. We... we are living at Grimmauld Place in London right now, but plan to move soon, but wherever it is, we will take you with us, that is if it is okay with you."
"We'd like that, son. So you are staying with old Padfoot. Bring him 'round soon, we'd like to see him too," said James.
Harry's face looked stricken. He didn't know how to tell his parents that their old friend was gone, both were gone and it was their other friend that sold them out.
"Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, I..."
"Please call us Lily and James, Hermione."
"Yes, Lily and James. Um, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but Sirius died several years ago, at the end of our fifth year. He was in a duel with his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, and she... she killed him."
"Padfoot. He went down fighting, that was how he would have wanted it." James held Lily to him as she began to cry. "What about the rest of our old friends? Remus or Peter? Have you met any more of them?"
"Remus and his wife were killed the night Harry defeated Voldemort," supplied Hermione.
"His wife?" James smiled. "He finally got enough courage to marry someone. Who?"
"Sirius' cousin's daughter, Nymphadora Tonks. She was Andromeda Black Tonks and Ted Tonks daughter," supplied Hermione.
"Yes, little Dora. I do remember her."
"They had a little boy, his name is Teddy," said Harry. "I'm his godfather."
"You'll bring us a photo won't you Harry? Do you know Peter?" asked Lily.
Harry didn't know what to say. "Yes, I knew him."
"Is he gone too?" asked Lily sadly.
Harry looked away. He took little Lily from Hermione and held her tightly to him. Realizing that she was the one that needed to tell them she said simply, "Peter... you made him your secret keeper. He turned over the information to Voldemort fairly quickly."
"He was the spy?" James shouted. "He was the mole?"
"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered.
"He was our best friend! He... Lily used to tutor him. He stood up for us at our wedding."
"I'm sorry," she whispered again.
James closed his eyes and shook his head. "Please don't be sorry, Hermione. We... we made a terrible mistake. I thought that I could trust the three of them with my life, with the lives of my wife and child. Who else is gone?"
"Mad Eye was killed about a year ago; Voldemort himself killed him along with Amelia Bones. There was also Emmeline Vance, um, Snape turned Dumbledore's spy and spent all this time getting on Voldemort's good side. He killed him right before the final battle."
"He turned round?" asked James in surprise. "What made him do that?"
All Harry said was, "Love."
James was confused. "Who was she?"
Neither Harry nor Hermione answered they only looked at Lily and smiled. "There were several others, um, the Longbottom's were tortured and have been in St. Mungo's for the last sixteen years, but their son Neville is a good friend of ours, and of course, Dumbledore was killed a bit over a year ago."
"Albus is gone?" asked Lily.
Harry and Hermione both nodded.
The subject matter was changed to happier ones as soon as they heard about Dumbledore. For the next thirty minutes they all chatted with the figures in the portrait and Hermione found herself wishing that she was able to meet her mother-in-law in the flesh. She knew that she would have found a kindred spirit in Lily Potter.
"Why don't we help give you a tour of the house? Lily worked on most of the changes herself."
Richard looked around and asked, "Um, I'm sorry, I don't understand."
"They can travel into other frames, Dad," explained Hermione. "If we had another enchanted portrait of them somewhere, they would be able to go from one location to another. Like that one we have of Pineas Nigellus in London. He was Headmaster of Hogwarts for a brief amount of time and we are able to communicate to Professor McGonagall through him."
"Is Minerva still teaching?" asked Lily.
"She is the headmistress. This year she will teach the fifth through seventh years and I will take first through fourth," replied Hermione.
"Transfiguration?"
"My wife scored a perfect score on her Transfiguration N.E.W.T. I will have you know. We still need to go back to finish up some of our classes. We both need to take Potions and Herbology and Hermione is in Arithmancy also, but we've finished everything else. In fact Hermione took the Transfiguration, Charms, Defense, and Runes N.E.W.T.s and between the four of them only missed one."
"Runes?" asked Lily.
"Yes, I wish I knew what it was too."
"Why didn't you complete your education last year?" asked James looking confused.
"We weren't able to attend school. Well, I couldn't as I'm Muggle-born and Voldemort had taken over the Ministry. Things were really bad. Harry wouldn't have been safe either so we..." She looked at her sister and smiled, "We had some things we needed to do, then Harry was finally able to defeat him."
"Did it work?" asked Lily.
"Did what work?" asked Harry confused.
"My charm, did it work? I was working on a protective charm. Is that what happened? The elves never said."
Harry blinked at his mother and said, "It was intentional? You..." He lifted his hair and said, "This is where the curse hit me. It rebounded and delayed him for ten years, but yes it worked."
Hermione brushed tears from her cheeks and snuggled into Harry. "It worked perfectly." She swallowed hard and said, "I'm sorry we'll never get a chance to meet. I think we might have been great friends."
"I'm sure we would have been. Now you don't have to worry about your mother-in-law butting in."
"It would have been a small price to pay; at least you are the real thing, now I have to deal with Mrs. Weasley."
"Molly Weasley nee Prewett?" clarified Lily.
"The very one," said Hermione as she rolled her eyes.
"She and I... we never really saw eye to eye," said Lily with a small smile at Hermione's display. "She is very, shall we say, traditional and I wasn't. She and Arthur were already out of school before we started, but her youngest brother was a year ahead of us, Fabian Prewett. We dated a little a while."
"A little while? It was almost a year," contradicted James.
Lily continued on as if she'd not heard him. "We got on well enough while we were dating but she became fairly vocal about her disapproval of me after I ended things with him."
Harry looked down at his watch, the one that had been Fabian Prewett's, and wondered if it was given to him intentionally.
"Her youngest son, Ron, is our best friend and Harry was able to spend quite a bit of time with them on holidays. Mrs. Weasley feels that she knows what is best for Harry and it is her daughter, not me."
"Hermione, you know better," said Harry. "I would never have made it without you."
Hermione raised her eyebrows. "She came into my house, my kitchen and was upset that your wife and mother-in-law, your family, was planning your birthday party. She got upset that we only want Ron with us at this bonding that we were talked in to. We're already married, we have a baby and another on the way, and we're in the book, Harry, yet she sat there and said I stole you from Ginny. Who has thrown herself at you on a number of occasions and she is telling Witch Weekly that you are not our baby's father or that I trapped you into marriage. That is not even taking into account she told the Ministry, the Prophet, and Witch Weekly that I was married to Ron and not you."
"You're in the book?" asked Lily.
Blinking suddenly realizing that there were others listening to her rant, Hermione answered, "Yes. Hagrid told us that you were too."
"We were," said Lily nodding. "You can go see it, or at least you used to be able to. How did you discover it?"
"My wand, Harry could always use it well, but it was lost during a situation with Bellatrix, Lucius Malfoy, and Fenrir Greyback." She heard Lily gasp. "I got a new one; the core changed. It's a twin to the one Harry has. Willow, ten and a quarter inches-"
"Phoenix feather," said Lily.
"Yes"
"Was mine found?" the woman in the portrait asked.
Harry nodded, "It's in our vault."
"Get it out and see if Hermione can use it. It isn't a bad idea to have a spare. You are right Hermione, I am sure we would have been great friends and I hope that we can be in this limited capacity. Don't worry about Molly, she is closed minded. She always put on airs because she was pureblood. Make sure next time she says something that she knows we spent the morning getting to know each other and how well we are getting on."
"Thank you."
"Now," said Lily, "about this bonding, you were married, in a Muggle ceremony? How long ago?"
Harry finally replied, "About a year and a half ago. Hermione was already seventeen, but I was still sixteen. We had it done in Scotland so we didn't have to convince Aunt Petunia to sign consent and Jane arranged for the vicar. Dumbledore and McGonagall were there and the Ministry and Gringotts both certified it, but we've been talked into a bonding ceremony."
"Why would... you were sent to Petunia?"
"That is a story for another day," said Harry. Talking to his parents' portrait was taxing enough; he didn't think that he would be able to add Aunt Petunia to the story as well. Harry ran his hands through is hair and didn't see his father smirk at his mother. "We don't really have the time to do it justice."
"Well, I have nothing against Muggle ceremonies. James and I had both. My grandparents insisted on it. Grandmum didn't think that anything that was done in the wizarding world could possibly be legal. If you weren't in the book, I would say that what you have is enough, unless you want to do a bonding ceremony, but because you have already soul bonded, this will complete it. Trust me it is worth it."
"I didn't realize," said Hermione.
Lily smiled indulgently at her. "Hermione. Is that from The Winter's Tale?"
"Yes."
"It was Richard's favorite when we were young and I've always liked it," said Jane. "Her middle name is Jane. Not just as it is my name, but for Jane Austen."
"So Emma…?"
"Yes and her middle name is Virginia."
"Virginia Woolf?" asked Lily.
"I think your mum liked to read Harry."
"She was a bookworm," chuckled James.
"And my granddaughter. What is her middle name?"
"Jane. Lily Jane Potter," supplied Harry.
Smiling Lily said, "Well Miss Lily Jane Potter, you are absolutely lovely and Nan loves you very much." The toddler giggled.
James smiled then said, "Let's go see the rest of the house, Lils."
They looked at the guest wing first. All of the baths had been modernized. "There are so many. We don't know this many people. I can't imagine when we would need ten guest rooms"
"From the looks of the ball the other night, I would say that this many people want to know you," said Jane with a grin.
"Yes, well the ones who would ever be invited for an overnight can be counted on one hand," said Harry.
"Two, the Weasley's are great in number," pointed out Hermione.
"I usually only count them as a single unit," he replied.
They looked at rooms and Hermione found very little that she would change in any of them. "When did you update them and how long had it been?" she asked Lily who was waiting in a frame of children playing in the water. She was sitting off to the side on the grass as to not get wet.
"We were the first in five generations to live here. They all chose Brighton or London instead so things were about two hundred or more years behind."
"London?" Hermione frowned and looked at her mother. "I don't remember a London property."
"Oh, that went to your grandfather's cousin, James. What was his name?"
"Alexander Bones. He had a son and daughter, Amelia and Parker."
"That must be where Susan lives," said Hermione. "We have a classmate, Susan Bones, Amelia was her aunt or I think, great aunt. Madam Bones was killed shortly after Sirius. I've always thought it was so she couldn't become minister. She was the head of MLE at the time. We will have to tell Susan that she is your cousin, hmm, third or fourth maybe."
"Beats Diddykins."
"Who is Diddykins?" asked Lily.
"Dudley. Petunia's son," replied Harry flatly.
Lily didn't miss the tightened pained expression on Hermione's face and decided to speak about the subject later when Harry was not around.
Lastly they made it to the family rooms. Hermione smiled as she walked into the nursery that was no doubt set up for Harry. The red and gold colors dominated the walls while little snitches zipped around. A magical mobile was hung above the cot. Hermione gently laid her sleeping daughter in the cot and smiled sadly at her husband.
"Was I born here?" asked Harry.
"Yes," replied Lily. "We left when you were ten months old. I... I've not been in here before. It was too hard. Not knowing what was happening to you, how you were. I'm glad the little one is able to use it."
Dotty appeared instantly. She hopped up in the rocking chair and smiled at Hermione. "Dotty will listen out Mistress. Dotty will let Mistress know when Miss Lily is awake and needing you."
"Thank you Dotty," said Hermione.
They left the room and began to wander the floor. It was when they entered the master bedroom that Hermione had made up her mind. The windows looked out over the water. A large bay window with a window seat sat perfectly situated to watch a sunset. "I've been to Brighton, Harry. It is lovely and fun to visit, but it is very busy with tourists. We'll look of course, but..."
"Are we home Hermione?"
"We're home Harry, we're home."
After a few minutes Harry guided his wife out into the hall and said, "So, I heard a rumor that you have a telly."
Lily laughed; it sounded so much like Harry's that Hermione gaped. "Follow me."
Hermione looked at a second large room and asked, "Are there two masters?"
"The house in designed for more than one generation, which is why there are so many bedrooms. We used the far one as a lounge. Come see."
The couple chuckled as they looked onto what looked like a Muggle teenager's bedroom. It was filled with beanbag chairs, a telly, a telephone, and lava lamp. "You won't mind if we add a sofa. Maybe we can make a playroom and move the beanbags."
"I think it needs a Playstation, Hermione."
"I wouldn't mind an office. The more rooms that get electricity, the better. Just think a computer."
Harry looked at her skeptically, "It would blow. You will have to ward the room." Hermione nodded.
After saying goodbye to Harry's parents they were shown the out buildings. There was a pool house and carriage house. A fairly spacious two bedroom apartment was on the grounds. According to Twiddle it was built as a guest house for one of the cousins. Hermione left instructions to update everything and to look into permits from the ministry to have it wired for electricity. Her parents would need it. If they would consent, it was the perfect solution for her parents. The baby wasn't due for a while yet and after, they would arrange a room for Emma inside the main house once she returned from school.
*~*HP*~*
They returned to Grimmauld Place and sat in the study. "What did you think of the house, Mum?" asked Hermione.
"It was lovely. You've never really liked Brighton, Hermione. It would still be prudent to visit the others, just to be sure. Maybe even the Black properties too, but I have a feeling that you are going to tell me that you are moving to Wales."
Hermione nodded.
"We'd like you to come with us, Jane," added Harry. "With Emma's situation and the unknown status of the new baby, not to mention all the Death Eaters and Sympathizers still lurking around, we just want to keep you safe. I don't know what we can do about work, but-"
"Actually Harry," broke in Richard, "we have been considering another offer. Something far more interesting and given our current situation, practical."
"What is it?"
"Never you mind right now, but when we decide for sure, we will let you know. Regardless, we will take you up on your offer to go with you. We weren't able to spend much time with you while you were in school, with the Riddle situation as it was, we missed quite a bit. Your mother and I have enjoyed spending the time with you these last few months and getting to know Harry better."
"Thanks, Dad," smiled Hermione.
"When are we moving?" asked Richard.
"It won't take long to pack up, but within the next few weeks. Maybe by Harry's birthday, if that's okay with you love?" she asked the last looking at her husband.
"It would be a great way to celebrate. Where exactly were we, by the way?" asked Harry.
"Your mum told me there was a Muggle village about ten kilometers away," said Hermione, "but it was very small. Driving over when we do move would be a good idea. We should probably get a Muggle post box too."
"We should be leaving for Gringotts soon," stated Harry looking at his watch once more and frowning.
*~*HP*~*
Hermione packed Lily's changing bag and they stepped out onto the front step. Holding tightly to their daughter, Hermione found herself just outside the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley. "Will you get the passageway, Harry?"
He pulled out his wand and began to tap the bricks. "We haven't read the paper since the ceremony, who knows what Witch Weekly has printed about us."
"As long as it is true, it doesn't matter. That solicitor we hired in May is supposed to be on the lookout for that sort of thing and Kreacher has been instructed to burn or banish any Howlers that come for us and I believe that he has taken it upon himself to screen our mail. He asked me for a list of people we wished to receive post from. I haven't asked further, but there is a pile of other names to go through. Let's go."
They made their way through the crowed shopping corridor to the snowy white building at the end. As soon as they entered the goblins bowed and said, "Greetings Mr. Potter, Mrs. Potter and Miss Potter. Welcome, please follow me."
As he was leaving them Hermione said, "Thank you and may all your ventures be profitable."
Harry leaned over and asked, "Is that the standard salutation?"
"I think so. I have a book on Goblin customs, but it is vague and I'm having trouble finding something better."
"I think he smiled at you after you said it."
"Come on let's sit down. Look there's Ron." They slid into the chairs next to Ron and looked around. Other than Lee Jordan who was in a fairly heated conversation with Ginny from the way the pair was gesticulating, they were the only non family members in the room.
Molly and Arthur arrived and took seats at the front. Mrs. Weasley was already crying. A small goblin stood in the front of the room and began to speak, "Welcome clan of Fred Weasley. I will begin by reading the will of Fred Castor Weasley."
"I, Fred Castor Weasley, being of sound mind (hush George, Harry, there is no call for that) and having a complete body, do decree this to be my last will and testament. I am writing this and posting it with Gringotts solicitors as opposed to the Ministry. As of this date, the Ministry fell just over a month ago and we have no idea when control will no longer be with You-Know-Who. If I have left you in the state in which he is still at his power, I bid you luck my friends and hope that the endeavors of Harry, Ron, and Hermione turn fruitful.
First to my brother, George Pollux, I leave all my possessions. He knows the ones I wish to pass on to someone else and I trust that he will do so without a written directive. Are you 'earing me George? I also leave him five percent interest in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. To my parents, Arthur William and Molly Prewett Weasley, I leave to each of you five percent of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. To my good friend Lee Jordan, I leave to you one percent of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. For my sister, Ginevra Molly Weasley, and brothers William Arthur, Charles Gideon, and Percival Ignatius Weasley, I leave to you one percent of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. If Percy has chosen not to attend this reading, then his one percent will revert to George Weasley. My good friend, Harry Potter. I can't say enough about what knowing you has done for me, for my family. We all owe you a great deal of gratitude and now you, along with my brother and Hermione are on a quest to be able to defeat You-Know-Who. I wish you well and good luck. If you are currently living then I leave to you five percent of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. If Harry has preceded me in death, then I leave his five percent to his wife, Hermione Granger Potter, and upon her death, their daughter, I was not able to discover the child's name, but Minerva McGonagall will be able to provide the necessary information. I know that my knowledge of your marriage and child will surprise you Harry, but it is amazing what is picked up with Extendable Ears. I have kept what I learned to myself, not even divulging it to George. I hope my secret helps keep her safe. If your marriage is not public, the goblins had instructions to discuss these terms with you privately. Lastly, Ronald Bilius Weasley, I want you to know how proud I am of you. It was my honor and pleasure to call you brother. I wish you good health on your quest with Harry. A true Gryffindor is what you are. I know that you fancied being an Auror for a while, Ron, and if that is what you want to do, I believe that you should do so, but I also want to provide you with an alternative. Perhaps when all of this is over, you will have had enough fighting dark wizards. To Ron, I leave you twenty percent of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
I hope next time you hear someone laugh you will think of me. Yours sincerely, Fred Castor Weasley."
The goblin continued, "Upon completion of reading of this testament, the appropriate shares were entered into Gringotts ledgers. No disbursements from Mr. Fred Castor Weasley's shares have been distributed from his date of death until today. All gold has been transferred to the appropriate vaults. Miss Weasley and Mister Ronald Weasley will need to see an account manager about setting up individual vaults before leaving the premises today. Good day."
George came to sit next to Ron and said, "Welcome aboard. I do hope that you will stay on after school."
"I think I would like that. I don't much fancy being an Auror anymore. Is that why you had me around all summer?" asked Ron.
"We talked about it. I knew what he planned to do, I supported his decision. You are the second highest share holder, just above Harry and Hermione."
"Mum and Dad got five too."
"They were already a ten percent owner."
Ron turned and looked at his friend confused, "Why, er, how?"
"He was our financial backer and Hermione has been looking over some of our formulas for us off and on when we have a question. That reminds me," George turned to look at Harry. "Ginny came in to visit and Verity noticed that several of the Love Potions were missing after she left. They are very weak and cause only five or ten minutes of moony behavior, but just in case, you should probably stay away from Ginny while you're eating or drinking something for a while."
"She's already tried."
"What?" exclaimed Hermione, Ron, and George.
"Sixth year, I think she has already tried. There were odd moments that I couldn't figure out why I was staring at her or upset that she was with Dean. It occurred to me after she brought up that Hermione must have used one on me. I checked Hermione's book, she picked up one from the Hogwarts library, and it said that love potions won't work because of the soul mate thing. She was wasting her time. It's bothersome and I doubt that we will ever be able to repair the damage, but…" Harry shrugged. "I'll be on the lookout."
"Harry, Hermione," came a voice from behind them.
"Hi, Lee. How are you?"
"Good, things are good. So this is the little one? George talks about her constantly. He thinks that she is quite special. I only saw her briefly and from a good distance at the awards ceremony."
"What are you doing now days?" asked Harry.
"I'm still working for WWN."
"That's great."
"Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you. I hope what I did during the war helped."
"It was brilliant Lee, thanks," said Harry.
"So Ginny isn't really happy with the two of you."
"I never led her on, she just wouldn't take no for an answer," stated Harry.
Lee chuckled then shook his head, "We all knew that the two of you would end up together. There was no way some other witch was going to become a higher priority than Hermione in your life. Ginny just doesn't get that. I feel sorry for whoever ends up with Ron. She is going to have to share that top spot. Most women don't like to do that."
"Ron'll be okay," said Hermione while smiling at Ron across the room. "I have a feeling we already know who he will get with and she respects our relationship."
"Congratulations again. I've got to get home, Katie is making dinner."
"You and Katie Bell?" asked Harry smiling.
"We hooked up after the war, the old team except you was spending quite a bit of time together and she..."
"How's Alicia?" asked Harry.
"She's gone to stay with her family in Kent. Hopefully that helps."
"It was good to see you Lee."
After he left Harry looked at Hermione and said, "Why don't we get home and then talk about a timeline."
"Sounds good."
Just to be sure, Harry and Hermione spent the next day visiting their other properties. The Brighton house was lovely and Hermione could see the appeal, but not as a home. They would come on holiday, spend time with friends, let the children visit the sea or play at the pier, but it would not be where they lived. A cottage near a border town was pleasant, but not nearly large enough for their family and fairly isolated from any Muggle communities.
Two of the three Black properties were developed. A large dark house twenty kilometers from Hogsmeade and another in the north west of England were the sort of places that dark wizards congregated. The house in the North West even had dungeons. Each location housed one elf, Kreacher's brother and sister. Both were as foul as he had been up until a year ago. Deciding that they didn't want to live in either house anyway, they would wait until out of school before making plans to deal with either situation.
*~*HP*~*
12 Grimmauld Place
London
"I found it!" exclaimed Hermione. "Or at least I think I found it."
"Found what?" asked a confused Harry.
"That spell that will alter the wards and make the house untraceable. I'm taking the Muggle repelling charms off, but leaving it Unplottable. As long as the magic recognizes me as your wife, it should work. If not, I think I can teach you how to do it."
"What protections are we putting on it?"
"Um, I've talked to your mum, she was quite brilliant in charms, and she had some suggestions. I've been practicing the spells with her help."
"Hermione, the two of you have spent hours shut away together. Dad was complaining that she kicked him out of the frame so the two of you could work. He and Richard were watching football on the telly together. It was the oddest thing." Harry shook his head at oddity of the situation. "Did those journals we got out of the vault help?"
"Yes and she still had several at the house too. She didn't know about anything she was working on at Godric's Hollow of course, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to figure out a way that we can search the house safely for anything that we can use, anything that Sirius missed. If you're not ready, then I'll go after the baby is born. She said that if I use her wand I should be able to make the wards acknowledge me. I can take Ron with me."
"Her wand works for you?"
"Really well actually. Not as well as my own, but not any different than when you would use my old ivy one. Lily picked it up this morning and gold sparks shot out of the end. We can teach her with it until she is old enough to have her own."
Nodding in thought, Harry said, "Tell me about what you are going to do to the house."
Adopting her lecture tone, Hermione began, "I'm making magic untraceable and securing the wards so they respond only to us. Certain people will be able to Apparate inside, just inside the front door. All others will be funneled to an Apparition point that will act as a gate. The Floo will work the same, except we will have to open it temporarily for non authorized users. We will leave it Unplottable and since Mum and Dad can see it, it doesn't have any Muggle repelling charms."
"Did we get those permits from the ministry? How does it work?" asked Harry.
"We aren't the only ones who want a CD player. Muggle-borns have been working on this for a while, so we are reaping the benefit. It just uses magic and runs the device, but there is no electricity. We can get a microwave too. It's a fairly complicated charm and we can try to do it ourselves, but there are people at the ministry who do it on a regular basis and that might be easiest, at least I can watch how it is done and if we need to expand I can do it myself later."
"We're all packed up here, so when you are ready to go, we can. I was wondering if we could talk about Lily," said Harry with a bit of nervousness.
Concerned at her husband's tone, Hermione asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just that I would rather we give her a different room than the nursery that is already set up. If this baby is a boy then we can use it, if not, then, I don't know, but..."
"But you want your daughter to have something a bit more feminine and you don't want to change the room."
"Yeah"
"That's fine, Harry. It isn't like we are hurting for space. I think I will be ready tomorrow. I just need all of us inside the wards when I set them and probably Ron and Luna too. I don't see why anyone else needs to be able to come and go at will."
A/N: Taboo. Since this is not a rewrite I haven't taken it out, but my actual view of it is that it is absurd. If the Ministry was able to track the usage of a word, then they would have done so for the Unforgivable curses. It was created as a way to get Harry, Hermione, and Ron into Malfoy Manor and to give Harry another reason to feel guilty about something. In this case it is saying the word that leads to Hermione's torture. Of course we did get to see Ron's ineptitude displayed once again, so it wasn't a total loss.