3 October, 1997

He rolled over on the thin cot that was his bed as he sighed quietly. He wasn't really sure how it had all happened. He knew, in his head, that it was partially the Lockets fault. He also knew it was partially his own temper. But that still didn't make the fact that Ron had left any easier. His best friend had once more just left him. Him and Hermione. He had left them in the middle of one of the most important tasks any of them had had in their short lives.

Sure, he could admit, the conditions weren't great. They had little food to go around. He was used to that though, living with his relatives. But he saw how it wore on Hermione and especially Ron, neither of whom he was pretty sure had ever gone a day without at least two good meals. Mrs. Weasley made sure of the latter. And the tent they were living out of wasn't great either. Only just large enough for two cots on either side of the main table and a small wood stove.

Turning over again, he closed his eyes shut a bit harder, trying to make himself fall asleep. Only to hear a bit of rustling behind him. Slowly reaching under his pillow, he grabbed his wand ready to attack just in case they'd been found. The footsteps got closer, softly making their way to him. Tensing his body, and his hand, he got ready to turn over.

"Harry? You awake?" The sound of her voice caused him to still. It was Hermione. Relaxing slightly, realizing that no one knew where they were. He didn't even know where they were exactly. So, it made little sense anyone else would.

"Yea." He answered after a moment, not turning to face her.

"Are you alright?" Her voice was soft, but he could hear the concern. She'd always been like that. Concerned for him. For Ron. For a lot of people really. Honestly, Hermione was probably the most caring person he knew.

"…Not really." He said hesitantly. He wasn't but he was too exhausted to lie to her. "Are you?"

"Not really."

The silence permeated the tent after that. Neither one talking but both aware that the other was there, in Harry's case, or still awake in Hermione's. He could hear her shift on her feet so he knew she was nervous about something. Course, she had just said she wasn't alright so she may not feel well either. After a moment he began hearing her walk again, but for some reason, it sounded like they were getting closer.

"Do you…do you mind if I sleep here? Just for tonight?" She asked, and he could hear the desperation in her voice. She was sad, probably a bit angry, and tired.

"Do you want to?"

"Yes." Once the word left her mouth he rolled over and flipped up the covers inviting her in.

He scooted back a little to make room, though the cot wasn't all that big, and saw a bluish blob plop down softly next to his head as she put down her pillow. He watched as her purple and red blob self sat on the edge and took off her shoes before sitting back up and looking back at him. Slowly, she moved one foot and then the other under the blankets and shimmied down before pulling them up. He could just make out her hair turn as she rolled over to face him. He wasn't really sure what to do at this point. Luckily, and sadly, it was answered for him as he heard her sniffle as she began to cry. Reaching over her slowly, he pulled himself closer so he could hold her and the strongest woman he knew let the damn burst as she cried into his chest.

10 October, 1997

It had been seven days now since Ron had left them. They'd moved several times now and were now living just outside Dartmoor National Park. Unsurprisingly, Ron hadn't come back even though they stayed in the same place until noon the next day. And hadn't been back since either. Though, to be fair, they usually left wherever they were at the crack of dawn every day anyway.

Shifting in his bed, he felt the now familiar body of his friend as he undid her hands around him and turned over to face her. Her face was still blurry, but he was able to make out enough that he could see her eyes had opened. She was probably looking at him questioningly. After that first night when she had cried herself to sleep in his arms, he awoke to see that she was already up, some porridge for them, and had packed most everything up. In some ways, he thought he had dreamt it up. Only for that to be nixed when she again asked to sleep in his bed that night. And every night since. Though, they didn't do anything but sleep, it got him wondering why she did.

"Hermione, can I ask you something?" He finally asked after a moment of looking into her eyes. What he could see of them without his glasses anyway.

"Hmm." She responded, snuggling a little closer to him, having gotten comfortable leaning against his back.

"Why?" He whispered, putting an arm around her and feeling her freeze. "Why are you here? In my bed?"

"Harry…I…" She stuttered and got quiet. She shrank into herself, as much as she could being in such tight quarters. "Please, don't make me answer that." He only barely heard her.

"Hermione…" He said questioningly.

The two laid there, silent as a graveyard, for several minutes. The tension between them having become thick enough it would match dragon hide. He felt her straighten out and he withdrew his arm as she rolled away from him, thinking she was going to get up. Only, instead of that, she reached back over and grabbed his hand, pulling it over her body and holding onto it tightly. With a sigh, and knowing he wasn't going to get an answer, despite what he could infer from her holding his hand, he would let it go for now and closed his eyes.

31 October, 1997

He laid awake, waiting for her to come over, just as always. After the night he questioned her on why she was coming to his bed every night, she had steadfastly remained in her own bed for four days. He regretted that she didn't come over, having gotten used to her being there. However, it didn't last long as on the fifth night, she returned, apologized, and snuggled up to him. She did refuse to answer him though. But he didn't ask again for fear she would leave; not just his bed, but entirely. Looking over as the curtains ruffled and the familiar blob of purple made its way over and into his bed, he lifted the covers for her as she scooted in and pulled his hand to her chest.

"I was scared." Hermione said after a moment. "I was really scared Harry. I still am."

"I am too, Hermione. I'll-"

"No, Harry. I…I can live with being scared of what we're doing. But…" She held off from speaking for a moment, burying her face in his chest as she rolled to face him, her arm slinging around his torso. "I got scared. Ron left Harry. And…and I was afraid you would do something foolish; that you'd run off on your own."

"I wouldn't just leave you out here Hermione. I-"

"You have quite the irritating, and a little frightening, decision making skills that often leave you doing whatever it is that needs doing all on your own Harry. Aside from first year, you fought a Basilisk on your own, tried to fight Dementors with a malnourished and un-wanded Sirius and a half complete Patronus, admittedly getting into the Tournament wasn't your fault but you still tried to keep me out of as much of it as possible at the start, you tried taking on Umbridge on your own until we started the DA and then you tried to take Malfoy as well last year. I-" She ranted at him, balling his night shirt into her fist.

"Hermione…" He whispered a moment later when he realized she was crying again. She did it often since Ron had left. Usually when she didn't think he could hear her. Though, having all their adventures laid out like that, even he could admit she did have a point. Pulling her closer he rested his cheek on her head and rubbed her back. "I'm sorry."

"So am I." The brunette said after a moment, her voice hitching slightly as she tried to control her tears. "Did…does me being here…with you…make you uncomfortable? With you and Ginny…"

"A little." Harry admitted, as he became aware of her being a woman and not just his friend. "At first it did anyway." He conceded as it was true. The first few nights had been really awkward for him as she was his best friend and he was, well not at the moment but somewhat promised to, going to get back with Ginny after; However… "But with the close calls we've had. And R…on our own, in spite of it all, I…I'm not sure if I'm going to survive this. And holding you, well, at least I know you're there."

"Yes, you are." She said, her voice clear despite the tears still streaming down her cheeks. Looking up, hesitating a bit, she craned her neck and gently placed her lips on his. It was brief, but the two didn't resist. "Sorry." She whispered when she broke the chaste kiss and if there had been any light her red cheeks would be easy to see. "You're my best friend Harry…one of the few, true, friends I have. I promise, you'll live." With that, she rolled back over so her back was to him, scootched back into his arms, and held onto his hand as she fell asleep.

18 November, 1997

He looked over at the girl he had just finished dancing with, his breath a bit short. For the first time in weeks, months even, they had just stopped worrying for a few minutes. They danced. And smiled. And, Merlin forgive them, they had a little fun. As he continued looking at her, her own breathing getting under control, he couldn't help but notice her lips. A little chapped from the cold weather, but still looked good. He often found himself looking at her, and her lips, when he had little else to do. And they often had little to do. Since that night she had kissed him, and not really talking about or even acknowledging it happened, his thoughts had turned to her more often. He hadn't really thought of it until then, but Hermione was pretty. Well, he knew she was, but it had always been his friend Hermione was pretty, but now…now it was this woman he shared a tent with that he thought was pretty. As he stared at her, he noticed after a moment she was also looking at him, somewhat relieved.

"Thank you for that Harry." She said as she stood and hugged him. "I really needed that."

"No problem." He said, returning it, smelling the scent of leather and old parchment on her.

"D'you remember, a few weeks ago, you said you didn't think you would live?" She asked after a moment, pulling back some but still holding him.

"Yeah." He said, his voice cracking a little, causing her to smile. "You said you'd help me live. And I'll help you."

"I know you will." She responded, looking down at his chest and laid her head on it. "But it got me thinking. Despite finding that Horcrux, which was great, we've…we've not done much else. We're running low on supplies, all on our own, and it's made me think of what my life would be like…if I weren't here. Weren't a Witch."

"Do you regret it…like…" He didn't finish his question, hoping she would say no.

"Oh, Harry, no. I don't regret coming with you. Or having magic. But with everything having happened as it did, I had to wonder. I'd probably be studying for my A-Levels right now, trying to decide between Cambridge or Oxford." Harry snorted at that, thinking of course she would be aiming for the top Universities in the country. "Maybe…maybe have had a boyfriend or two."

"What about Victor?" He couldn't help but ask, knowing they had been exchanging letters since the Tournament and had danced at Bill and Fleurs wedding.

"Victor's nice, and a good conversationalist, but he's got a girlfriend; Irina. She was that black haired girl he danced with for most of the night." She said, and Harry vaguely remembered seeing that. "Besides, it's hard to date at Hogwarts already. Being your friend didn't help that."

"What? Me?" He was shocked at that, pulling back some so he could look at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You, um, you can be a bit…intimidating Harry." She edged out. "Even if you don't mean to."

"…Sorry, I guess." He muttered, not really sure how to take that.

"It's fine. Really. It also kept away some of the more…irritating boys I would never have even considered. But…" She suddenly looked sad, and bit her lip showing him that she was nervous. "It brings me back to what I said before; about not living through this. And it's made me think of things that I regret. That I could have done better. And…and…" She paused, stuttering a bit, once more biting her lip. "Oh, it's silly, but…but I'm a girl…a woman Harry."

"I, uh, know that, Hermione. Very aware of it." He blushed, not knowing where this was going now.

"Sorry, I'm not saying this well, am I? And I feel so foolish and not me saying it either, but…" She asked, looking up at him, but seeing him blush made her as well. "I wanted to know…would…would you…consider having sex…with me?" She asked hesitantly, trying to gauge his reaction and seeing his eyes widen and mouth drop open like a fish, caused her blush to deepen as she felt the heat on her cheeks at what she just asked. "I mean, I'd understand if you said no. You've Ginny after all. But I just thought, well, you're a really good friend; someone I don't mind having sex with. And I know it's more an automated response, but I could feel you in the morning…poking me and it made me wonder." She stopped as she realized she was babbling nervously. Taking a breath, she tried to move away. "Never mind, please, just for- "She couldn't finish as she found her lips rather busy with a kiss.

"Hermione." He breathed out pulling away, still close enough that their lips were nearly touching. "Sorry, you know, for…for poking you." He blushed, speaking about that. He hadn't realized he had been. Of course, being unconscious when it happened likely contributed to it. "If…if that's what you want though?" He asked, looking into her brown eyes, seeing how worried she was. Seeing her head move, he backed away causing her to frown. Only to for her eyes to widen as he slowly pulled his jumper over his head, shivering slightly at the sudden cold.

"Harry." The brunette whispered his name, looking, for the first time in a while, at her friend and seeing just how much weight he had lost. Reaching out, she touched his chest, feeling a bit of his ribs. "You're all bone."

"It's fine. I'm used to it." He said, taking her hand in his as he brought it to his mouth and kissed it.

"You shouldn't be though." Hermione replied, pulling her hand back and holding it to the first button on her own shirt. "Suppose…suppose I should get undressed then, too." She said quietly, looking down and undoing the buttons slowly, before sliding her arms, one at a time, out of the sleeves which left her in just a beige bra. She felt her cheeks heat up when she glanced up and saw that he was staring at her, crossing her arms over her chest. "I know they're not very big, but…" She muttered, embarrassed he was just staring at her and not saying anything.

"I…I think they're fine." He replied, his voice only just barely kept from cracking. He reached out, removing her arms gently before touching her just under her bra. "I hadn't realized you'd lost so much weight." He clarified, touching one of her visible ribs. She had never been a heavier girl, he thought as his fingers brushed along her rib; she'd been rather thin since he'd met her. Not in an unhealthy way, but just didn't seem to gain weight despite eating healthily. Now, though, with her shirt off and seeing it, it made him feel a bit guilty about all this. About what she was going through. For him.

"Thank you." She said, responding to his semi-compliment of her breasts. She'd always been a bit self-conscious of them. "This is rather embarrassing." She paused as she took his hand. "Just standing here. Let's…let's go to my bed." And she turned, pulling him to her cot bed since it was closer.

Sitting down, and pulling him to sit next to her, they sat in silence for a moment before she reached over and pulled his head down to her. Just like their previous kisses, it was chaste; nothing more than the mere touching of their lips. However, it didn't end after one or two seconds. Leaning back, and pulling him with her, she laid down on her back continuing the kiss for another few seconds before breaking it off. Looking into his eyes, and seeing how intense they were, as she always saw them, she went in for another kiss, ready for what was to come.

10 July, 1998

Harry sat quietly at the table in the kitchen of 12 Grimmauld Place, setting down the plate of eggs and toast that Kreacher had made for him. Thanking the, still somewhat insane, house elf he began digging in.

It was just over two months since the final battle at Hogwarts; now called the Battle of Hogwarts. Not the most creative name, but most names of battles weren't. Besides, he didn't really care about that. He only really cared about the fact he had only just gone to the last funeral, Colin Creevey's, just a few days prior. After Fred, Remus, and Tonks, that was the hardest one. He'd been the youngest to die. His parents glared at him the entire ceremony. He knew it wasn't his fault. McGonagall had ordered the younger students to evacuate, but he had snuck back in. But it was his fault that he brought the final battle to Hogwarts. To a school full of children.

Leaning back in his chair, his thoughts drifted to other things. He and Ginny had gotten together after the battle. And it was nice; good snogging, good sex, and they talked a lot. But after only a few weeks, and especially after seeing his mother so clearly due to the Stone-which he glanced at as it sat in a new ring on his right hand-he couldn't help but compare Ginny to her and how similar they looked. It quickly killed any sex life they had. Ginny had been, very understandably, upset when he had broken up with her towards the end of June. His nose still felt like he had a bat trying to crawl out of it on occasion. Once she had calmed down though and let him really explain, she understood and even admitted she felt a bit distant from him after the last year but had been trying for his sake. Things were a bit awkward now between them, but they were at least friends again. His thoughts on the matter though were interrupted when Kreacher popped in next to him.

"Master Black's Muggle-born friend be at the door." He said, gaining Harry's attention. The elderly house-elf had surprised Harry the first time he had come back to this place. For one, it was actually clean. Spotlessly so. And he was much more polite; though he still mumbled from time to time about mudbloods and disgraceful masters. He supposed, being as old as he was, that was something that wasn't going to change. It was also a bit of a shock the first time the elf had called him Master Black and when questioned Kreacher only said he was the Head of House Black and was calling him by proper title.

"Thank you, Kreacher. The eggs were good today." He said as he stood, taking his plate to the sink.

"Kreacher will clean, Master's friend impatient as always." The little elf said, pushing him out of the way and towards the door.

Taking the hint, Harry made his way out of the kitchens and up to the ground floor and into the main hall. The walls were still painted a dark green, almost black, but now had much better lighting. The picture of Walburga had been taken down when Harry had removed part of the wall a few nights after he moved in. He allowed Kreacher to keep it in the room he had given the elf; he had plenty after all. Opening the door, he saw that, just as the elf said, it was Hermione. She was just as he remembered, having not seen much of her since the Battle between fixing the school, the Ministry and general hub bub his presence caused whenever he was in public. Any of them really.

She was wearing a white blouse with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of tan khakis. Her hair, still as frizzled as ever, was pulled back into a pony tail. But something was wrong. She wasn't facing him when he opened the door. In fact, looking in the same direction she was, he saw she was watching several children playing footy in the park across the street.

"Hey Hermione." He said after a second, startling her from her trance. She turned to him and before even returning the greeting, hugged him tightly.

"Harry. It's so nice to see you." She held onto him, probably a bit more than necessary, but considering this was the third time he'd seen her since, outside of a funeral, he let her hug him as long as she wanted. "Can…can I come in? There's something I need to talk about with you."

"Sure. Come in. If you're hungry, I can have Kreacher make something." He said, stepping aside and letting her in.

"No. No. I'm all good." She said a bit flustered. "Probably shouldn't eat much now anyway." She muttered, though he ignored it; he was concerned though that she was not eating much. He'd let it go for now and hope he could bring it up during whatever she wanted to talk about.

Making their way to the drawing room, the place now looking like a picturesque manor from the Victorian age, it was very nice. The walls, like much of the rest of the house, were the same dark green color with stars and their names. The lower half of the walls were covered in intricately carved wooden panels. On the left side of the room was a large fireplace and throughout was period furniture, also in darker colors; mostly black. And finally, the crystal chandeliers that hung from the ceiling sparkled in the light of the candles, and fireplace, that lit when they walked in. Seeing her take a seat in one of the armchairs, Harry took the other and just waited for her to talk.

"How are you Harry? I've heard about you and Ginny." She stared out, hoping for a relatively safe topic. Turning to look at her best friend. "Ron and I have broken up too, in case you hadn't heard yet. You've done pretty well at staying away from the public eye as much as possible."

"I'm fine. She was a bit peeved, of course, but after a few days we talked it out. With our tempers we left our wands with Mr. Weasley though; just so there weren't any foolish wand waving or silly incantations sent about." He said with a small smile, mimicking the words of Severus Snape from their first class. "Although, she certainly got a lot better at the Bat-Bogey Hex." He was glad to see her smile at that as he chuckled. "I hadn't heard about you and Ron though; how long?"

"We didn't last as long as you and Ginny, actually." She said, fiddling with her fingers as she watched the fire. "Ron's a good friend, but when I tried to think of him as more? It made me wonder, you know? His solution to things he finds difficult is, well, to run off. Would that be our entire relationship? Would we argue, in ten or twenty years, about whose turn it is to do the dishes and it turn into a fight where he runs off for a few weeks? Or even just the possibility of me not wanting to go to a Quidditch match with him because I was tired; would that set it off? I told him this when I broke up with him and, unsurprising, he did get angry and rush off." She curled her legs up to her chest. "He hasn't talked to me since."

"I'm sorry. I can talk to him if you want?" Harry asked, looking over to her.

"No, it's alright. Ron's just…being Ron. Besides, I don't think it would have lasted much longer anyway."

"What? Why?" He was a bit shocked, they seemed good the last time he saw them together. "Before you said anything, I thought you two were good."

"We both know that Ron can be…jealous." She admitted, not looking at him. "Especially, at times, when it comes to you." She could see the questioning look from the corner of her eyes. Taking a deep breath, and preparing herself mentally for what she was about to say-not like she hadn't been doing as such for the last day and a half-before letting it out slowly. "I've not had my period since April."

Harry stared at her, owlishly, as he took in that statement. Not having much instruction on bodily functions growing up, and he didn't count the crude things Seamus said in the dorms, after their first night together Hermione had given him a bit of a crash course on how things work. She told him he had the reaction she expected when she told him about periods, and that she didn't think any less of him for it. He had gotten used to it pretty quickly, though, when she became comfortable talking about it with him after a few months; privately of course and once Ron returned, away from the red head. So, when she said she hadn't had hers since April, he quickly came to the conclusion she wanted him to have.

"It's mine, isn't it?" He asked quietly, looking at her.

"Mmm." She nodded slightly. "I went to Tesco for a few tests last week; I got three to be sure. When they came back positive, I went to see a doctor at the clinic yesterday; I'm about two months along."

"So…" He sat back in his chair as he thought about how to take that news. "It was when we at Shell Cottage, then?"

"Yeah." She responded quietly, pointedly staring into the fire. "Though, seeing as how I wasn't on a contraceptive and we didn't have condoms for you to use…I suppose this was a possibility; we'd been having sex frequently enough since November." She was quiet for a moment, and Harry was about to say something when she continued. "I'd thought about an abortion, you know." That had stopped anything Harry was going to say as he was a little shocked at the statement. "I'm only eighteen. I'm not married, much less have a stable relationship. I haven't finished school and I don't have a job. Not even the money to raise a child. But…" She paused as she stood up and walked over to the fire as if in a trance. "I went to the clinic for one this morning, before I came here. I didn't even make it in the door before I changed my mind."

He stood from his own chair, and quickly made his way over to his friend. The moment he did, he brought her into his arms and she began to sob. He felt her shake a little as she cried, rubbing his hand on her back. After a moment, her arms wrapped around him and he felt a small wet spot on his chest. She was taking this hard. How could she not? She had made valid points. Neither of them was in a relationship, not even with each other, nor had they finished school. She had spent nearly every cent she had on supplies for the Hunt. He certainly had money though, if only due to a bit of luck and Ministry intervention with the Goblins; they still took every piece of Goblin made equipment and jewelry from his Vaults-not that he cared for such things, especially when most of the Black's stuff was cursed in some way or another- and this was his child so he could certainly take care of it. He could also take care of her.

"Do you want to get married?" He asked, not really realizing what he said until he did.

12 July, 1998

Harry and Hermione stood in the somewhat crowded room, nervously holding hands. He was wearing a simple white collard shirt with black slacks. His hair, as much as it could, had been combed as neatly as possible. In one hand he had all of their documents; birth certificate, proof of address, and passports and a few other documents they may need. In the pocket of his shirt was a black box. Next to him, Hermione had on a simple white dress she transfigured from some of her other clothes. It wasn't anything fancy; if one saw her in it at the park, they would think it just a white sun dress. Three buttons on the front at the chest and sleeveless while going down to her knees. She had done the same magic-Harry suspected a number of hair products-on her hair as she had done at the Yule Ball and now had it styled in a trendy updo with a curl of hair framing the left side of her face. Around them, a good number of people looked as they did. Most probably for the same reason.

They had spent the rest of Saturday, going back and forth, after he had asked her to marry him. The first thing she asked, and was really hurt by, was if he only wanted to marry her because she was pregnant with his child. His initial reaction had been to completely deny it. Vehemently so. Until he looked at her brown eyes that were looking at him frightened; he caved, not liking her look at him like that, and admitted that it was a part of the snap decision. She had smacked him for it; not hard but enough that he knew she was angry at his reason. Of course, he spent the rest of the day arguing his case with her. She was an amazingly intelligent and beautiful woman. That she cared, sometimes a bit too much, but that he loved that she did. That he had the money to help raise his…their child. They could do it together. Most importantly, and what got her to say yes, was that he admitted that being married to his best friend didn't sound like such a bad thing.

The following day, he'd had Kreacher go to Gringotts, they never closed apparently, to withdraw five hundred Galleons worth of muggle money-about £2500 worth- and then took Hermione ring shopping. They lucked out, Sunday being what it was many shops were closed, but they found a little hole in the wall jeweler who was open. They were only in there for about an hour, mostly discussing the engagement ring he wanted to get her, picking things out. In spite of him being able to get her a nicer ring, she had stated in no uncertain terms, that the silver banded ring with a 1/8 carat diamond was perfectly acceptable. After getting the ring sized to her, they quickly picked out a pair of simple gold wedding bands.

"Number 138." A call came from one of the windows. Harry jumped a little from the shout, looked at the ticket Hermione held, and seeing the number that was called on it the two moved forward. "Welcome to the Islington Council Registrar. How can I help you?"

"We'd…we'd like to get married." Harry said nervously, squeezing Hermione's hand. He was comforted a bit when she squeezed back.

"Congratulations. I'll need birth certificates, addresses and proof of nationality. If either one of you is a foreign national, please also present identification from your country of origin." The woman behind the counter said as she got on her computer. Harry watched for a moment as she did, they had come a fair way since he'd seen Dudley's. Before snapping out of it and pulling out their documents and handing them to her. "Thank you." She said looking at them and entering information. "Harry James Potter of 12 Grimmauld Place, Islington-that right?"

"Yes, Ma'am." He replied, knowing she was just confirming things, but it still brought forth a small memory of his Underage Magic trial and how they asked questions.

"It says here you were born 31 July, 1980. That makes you seventeen?" She looked up from the documents. "I'm afraid you'll need parental consent young man."

"Oh, um, sorry. Just a mo'" He said, reaching into the folder again and pulling out another sheet. "This is my Documentation of Emancipation; my godfather set it up when he died. I've been recognized as an adult since I was fifteen." It was a complete forgery, but they wouldn't be able to tell since he'd made it with magic. A slight, wandless, Confundus from Hermione when no one was looking also didn't hurt.

"Right then. Seems that's in order." She said, filing the document. "And you are Hermione Jean Granger of 13 South Hill Park Gardens, Hampstead?"

"Yes, Ma'am." She replied curtly, not wanting her nerves to make her answers misinterpreted.

"And you were born 19 September, 1979?" Hermione nodded at that. "Right then. And you both understand that you are being married?"

"We do."

"And have you got your witnesses?" At that, he turned to Hermione who paled a bit.

"We…we don't have anyone. I'm the last of my family and Hermione…"

"My parents don't approve." She said, lying on the spot. They were actually hoping to go get them and reverse the memory charm on them in a few days. Hopefully, they will approve.

"I'm sorry to hear that." They really didn't sound like it. "However, you must have two witnesses and employees of the Registrar Office cannot be them. Please come back when you do." At that she collected their papers and began handing them back.

"Hold on." A voice behind them said. They all turned to look and saw another young couple, probably about the same age, dressed very similarly to Harry and Hermione. Only the bloke was much taller, close to six and a half feet with a buzzed head of brown hair and blue eyes. And the woman was about Hermione's height but had very long, straight blonde hair. "We didn't know 'bout the witness thing either. We'll stand in for you if you'll be ours?" He offered, holding out his hand. "Johnathan Kowalski and this is Amber." Harry reached out and shook his hand, introducing himself while Hermione did the same with Amber, then switched.

"Is that alright?" Hermione asked as she turned to the office worker, hoping they could.

"It's not the first time a young couple didn't have witnesses and someone stepped in; so, yes, it's fine. Please come over here so the Superintendent Registrar can perform your ceremony." The lady indicated, pointing to a small area off to the side with a sign clearly marked 'Marriage Ceremonies Here'. "Congratulations, you two." She said as the four walked over. It didn't take long before the two magic users were standing face to face, having decided to forgo trying to come up with personalized vows; not that either of them thought they actually could without possibly breaking the Statute of Secrecy anyway.

"We are gathered here today to bear witness to the Civil Marriage of this man and this woman. Are there any present who wish to object one final time?" The man asked as he looked at the couple in front of him and the couple bearing witness. When no one said anything after a minute, he continued. "Very well. Please repeat after me." He requested, looking at Harry.

"I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Harry James Potter, may not be joined in matrimony to Hermione Jean Granger. I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Harry James Potter, do take thee, Hermione Jean Granger, to be my lawfully wedded wife." Harry said, repeating the words of the Registrar, but looking directly in his soon-to-be wife's eyes as he slipped the wedding band he had gotten her onto her finger

"I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Hermione Jean Granger, may not be joined in matrimony to Harry James Potter. I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Hermione Jean Granger, do take thee, Harry James Potter, to be my lawfully wedded Husband." Hermione repeated, mirroring his actions in putting his ring upon his finger.

"Then I, Joshua Turner, as the Superintendent Registrar of the Islington Registrar Office and in witness of those here, hereby declare you now Mr. Harry and Mrs. Hermione Potter. You may kiss the bride."

Harry leaned forward, a bit of nervous smile on his lips, though he hoped it was confident enough looking for her. He watched as s small smile appeared on her mouth, her eyes watching him closely. It felt like forever, closing the space of only a few inches, but once he did, they shared a rather chaste kiss, having discussed it beforehand; it was not a proper place for a full out snog after all.

"Thank you, Harry." Hermione whispered in his ear after the kiss as they held each other.

3 January, 1999

It had been nearly seven months since their wedding and Harry couldn't be much happier, despite the circumstances that caused it. After standing witness for Johnathan and Amber, the two magic users had returned to Grimmauld Place, Harry carrying her across the threshold-which earned him a yell of shock when he did from his now wife- and they had proceeded to have a sensual romp. If Harry was honest, he liked it a lot more than their previous affairs. They had much more room in his bed, they had been able to make as much sound as they wanted-a perk of living on his own- and most importantly, he saw that she had mostly recovered from their months of semi-starvation.

Within a week of their marriage, they had quietly filed the proper paperwork with the Ministry and had her name changed formally to Hermione Jean Granger-Potter. She wanted to keep her maiden name as it gave her a sense of independence from Harry, even if she, somewhat, enjoyed being his wife. Once that was settled, and she had a new passport, nearly a week and a half later-magic having sped the process up a fair bit-, the two had taken an airplane to Australia to pick up her parents. When he questioned her on how they would do that, she admitted that she had put a compulsion charm on her mother's wedding band to sit on one of the benches at the Sydney Opera House on the first Sunday of each month at Noon for an hour.

They had easily followed her mother to their home in Double Bay; Hermione had been absolutely nervous the entire train and then taxi ride to follow her parents. She had admitted to him, only on the flight over, her parents hadn't been completely sold on the whole thing. They thought she was blowing the situation out of proportion and that she just wanted to go gallivanting off with her friends. Her two male friends. And so, had Obliviated them without their knowledge and sent them on their way. He had wisely kept his mouth shut on the fact her parents had some cause for worry as she did end up pregnant during the Hunt. With his child no less.

When she had restored their memories, well, Harry was pretty sure he'd rather break in to Gringotts again than see the absolute fury on Mr. Granger's face. He was yelling and screaming to the nines at Hermione. At him. About what she had done to them. About her getting pregnant. And their marriage. It was easy to see where their daughter had gotten her righteous temper and ability to give long winded speeches without the apparent need to breathe. When Harry had looked over to his Mother-in-Law, he had seen she wasn't angry, necessarily. Upset. Disappointed. Worried. All of those. Her eyes constantly flicked from her angry, shouting husband, to Hermione who was also angrily shouting back, to him. If her dad is where she got her temper and linguistic skills from, then her mother is where she got her incredible patience and kind, generous nature. While the father-daughter pair were having their screaming match, Harry had reached out and gabbed Mrs. Granger's hand, rubbing circles with his thumb. She had given him a silent thank you before she pulled her hand back and went to try and calm her husband. It hadn't helped much as the neighbors had called the police for a Domestic Disturbance. All in all, not the best to have to be told to leave by the police and then have to console his angry, upset, and crying wife that night.

Unsurprisingly, it had been Helen that had reached out with an olive branch. Two weeks later, but still. Hermione had been in a right state that entire time; crying, shouting, depressed and cycled again. They had agreed to meet again and gone over to the Grangers', or Wilkins', house for tea to try and talk everything out. Hermione hadn't been able to look her father in the eyes for most of it, usually leaning against Harry as he held her and did most of the talking. He explained, in excruciating detail, that Hermione hadn't been lying when she tried to get them to leave the previous year. That of the roughly four hundred muggle-borns, many of whom hadn't even started Hogwarts, that had been targeted for execution by Voldemort and the Death Eaters, only a handful survived. And those that had died, their entire family had as well.

Following that conversation, and several similar ones over the course of August, the Granger's had simmered down a fair bit. Don't get him wrong, they were still angry that Hermione had just wiped their memory of their precious daughter and that she had come back into their lives not only married-and to one of the boys she went around the country with-but also pregnant with his child. At eighteen. They admonished her for being reckless but he had stepped in and told them he was partially to blame; it was his child too after all. But with the approaching school year, and the special classes being offered to any that wanted them for NEWT and OWL students especially, the two of them had bid farewell and hoped that they would come back to England.

School had been…awkward to say the least. Many of their friends who had returned were shocked they were married and that Hermione was pregnant already. Not that they hadn't expected it, apparently, after hearing of the two's breakups from their respective Weasley suiters, but that it had happened so fast. Ginny, who had returned for her final year, had questioned if Hermione and her pregnancy was the real reason, he had broken up with her; if her resemblance to his mother was just a lie. Hermione took to answering that and told her that she had only told Harry she was pregnant after the fact. It took a bit of convincing, but the red-haired girl eventually accepted that. Though she was a bit cold to them for a bit. Ron had found out from a letter Seamus sent him seeing as he had decided not to come back to school and took up with George as a shop clerk for Weasley Wizard Wheezes, and had sent an angry, and subsequently ignored, letter to both of them.

To even further disappointment for Hermione, she hadn't been able to continue with NEWT Potions, Transfiguration or Care of Magical Creatures. She was certainly smart enough to have taken them, but even she had to consider the fact she was now carrying a child. Potion fumes weren't all that great for a pregnant woman to inhale in general, much less some of the dangerous concoctions they had to brew for their NEWTS. Transfiguration focused a lot on Human Transfiguration for their NEWT levels and with her pregnancy, neither the new Professor of said subject-Professor Harkner- nor Headmistress McGonagall wanted to take the chance of a spell going wrong and causing her to lose the baby. And the less said about the dangerous creatures in Hagrid's class the better. She had only really been mollified by the fact she could study on her own after giving birth and take her NEWTS for those classes with the Wizarding Educational Authority.

Speaking of giving birth, Harry sat by his screaming wife as she swore up and down that she wanted their child out of her body. He was laying slightly on the bed with her, his arm around her shoulders and one hand in hers being squeezed. The doctors and nurses, as they had agreed on a muggle hospital for the birth so her parents could meet their first grandchild right after they were born, were incredibly patient with the vitriol his wife was spewing at them to hurry up. Honestly, Harry thought it was sort of hot seeing her be so vulgar.

"AHHHH, GOD, JUST GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME YOU USELESS FUCKING PILLOCKS!" She yelled at them, and he caught the eyes of one nurse and mouthed a sorry to them. She just shrugged at him and indicated this happened a lot. As soon as he turned back to his exhausted, sweaty, loud and in pain wife, he watched as she gave another push and seconds later the doctors were scrambling to clean off a bloody, mucus covered little human. They called Harry over and had him cut the cord, pointedly keeping his eyes off his wife's nether region; she had told him she didn't want him to see her down there like that and he would keep his word.

"It's a boy." The doctor told them. Harry walked back over and leaned down to Hermione who was smiling and kissed her, happy it was over.

"Alright, Mrs. Granger-Potter, just need another good push or two to get the placenta out." A nurse told her and with a deep breath and one more push, it was removed. "Good. Now, just so you know, there was a bit of tearing so Dr. Faraj is going to put some stiches in. Don't worry, it's perfectly normal and happens quite often. There's no need to worry." She assuaged seeing the woman's fearful look as she said the word stitches.

A little over half an hour later, Harry and Hermione, after telling her parents about the successful birth, were laying in the bed together. It was a bit tight, but they had laid in a tighter space before. In her arms, suckling on one of her breasts, was their new baby boy. He was, well, a wrinkly looking thing, but absolutely adorable. Harry reached out and ran a gentle finger along his son's cheek, happy that his son was finally with them.

"So, we're naming him James Oscar Granger-Potter, right?" Hermione asked, knowing they had picked out the names for his father and her grandfather.

"Yeah. It's a good name." Harry agreed. "I love you, so much, Hermione Jean Granger-Potter." He said, leaning over and capturing her lips.

1 September, 2010

Watching as the familiar red steam engine pulled away, Harry found himself waving to his oldest, James, as the brown-haired, green-eyed boy hung out the window waving at their family. He waved back too. Happy to see the energetic little ball of energy going off to Hogwarts for the first time. And looking around the platform he saw quite a few of his friends.

Neville and Hannah, as well as their youngest Lionel-who was seven- watched as their oldest Hector waved from the train; Hannah having gotten pregnant in their last year and given birth just a few months after Hermione. George was with Angie waving as their first two, Fred who was born just as the war ended and named after his now deceased uncle-May 15, 1998- was going off for his Second Year, and their next child Roxanne who was born August 7, 1999 and thus was leaving for her first year as well. And their youngest, Lucy who was only five cried in her mother's arms as she watched her older siblings leave.

Harry knew many of his friends, who weren't here now, would certainly be here in a couple years. Ginny, after playing six seasons with the Harpies, even being scouted to the English National Team and getting to the final 16 of the 2002 Quidditch World Cup, had settled down with a bloke she had met in Spain during one of the team's practices; Mateo De Leon. He and Harry got on well enough with their mutual appreciation of going fast on a broom. The two had two children and another on the way in the next few months.

Dean Thomas had married an Italian girl, Harry wasn't really sure on her name though as he had only met her at the wedding. They lived in Italy with their daughter who would be going to Hogwarts, if his guess was right, in 2013.

Bill and Fleur also had three children since the war, but had decided to send their eldest, Victoire, to Beauxbaton instead of Hogwarts, not because of which school was better, but because Victoire wanted to be an Enchanter and the school had a really good program for its upper Arithmancy and Ancient Runes students. Dominque, their next oldest, would be joining her sister the next year and Louis, their youngest, hadn't been decided but Harry wouldn't be surprised if he chose the French school too.

Seamus, the crazy fire loving Irishman, had started his own alcohol business to rival Ogdens and was actually doing well for himself. He had married Katie Bell, which was a bit shocking to most of their friends when they started dating, as neither had shown much interest during or the immediate years after graduating. But they seemed pretty happy with their eight-year-old son, Marcus.

Luna, the ever-fascinating girl that she was, had gone to travel the world after she finished Hogwarts continuing the search for her new magical creatures. It also led her to meet, and eventually marry, Rolf Scamander-Grandson of the famous Newt Scamander-on a hunt for something in the dense forests of Eastern China. The two had twin sons, Lorcan and Lysander, just last year. And though the twins had put a damper on their adventures for a bit, they were looking at going to Norther Russia for some other new animal. Luckily, Ginny had convinced her friend that the twins were a tad young to go on such a trip, and offered to watch them for a month or so which Luna had been very happy about. Harry was certain the interesting blond would be coming back pregnant once more; they'd have to see.

Ron had ended up with an American witch, Alison, who he had met during the 2006 World Cup Finals. The two, oddly enough, made a cute couple. Even with their equal, fiery tempers. Unfortunately, as Hermione had predicted, Ron had run out on Alison after she had given birth to their only son, Robert, and she had divorced him. Harry and Hermione still saw the two on occasion when they visited the Burrow, a place Ron had become essentially persona non grata because of what he did, and she was doing well for herself. Robert was going to Ilvermorny in 2018, and Alison had started seeing another American wizard-Greg or Josh…something. Neither he nor his wife had met the bloke and only heard his name in passing.

Looking down over to Hermione as the train finally left his view, he still found her as beautiful at nearly 31 as he did at 18. She had grown her hair out in the last few years, now reaching down to her mid back, which ironically, allowed it to be a lot less frizzy looking but more like curly waves. She had on a light blue blouse and a yellow cardigan as well as a pair of jeans; he snuck a quick glance at her bum and stared for a moment in appreciation of it. Nearly twelve years of marriage and he still liked looking at her. Feeling a tug on his own black pant leg, he looked down to see one of his younger children. It was a bit ironic when he thought about it.

After James had been born, Hermione had studied like a Witch out of hell, and took her Potions, Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures NEWTS that spring at the Ministry. She had gone on to work in the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures-she had just been made the Assistant Director last year and they were already eyeing her for the Director position in a year or two. Harry, despite having five NEWTS and the experience to do it, had started out being an Auror after finishing training in 2001. He enjoyed his time, having been on the force until 2006, when all sorts of things just fell into place.

The first of them was that the last of the Death Eaters had finally been rounded up; in Canada of all places. Harry had gotten tired of his name being published for every little thing that he did; which was also a primary incentive to, although keep 12 Grimmauld Place, they had moved to an entirely muggle neighborhood and shopped nearly exclusively in the muggle world to avoid them. And finally, Hermione wanted to take a promotion in her department to Senior Administrator but with the time commitment needed, couldn't due to their children. And so, since they had the money-not only from the Black and Potter fortunes- but with Hermione's raise with her new position, had decided to quit the force and be a stay-at-home father; something he very much enjoyed. It was the one title he was proud to have.

Speaking of his children, James being his oldest, was eleven and off to Hogwarts, as just evidenced by the train leaving and why they were on the platform. However, he was far from their only child. His very loving, and patient, wife, had brought another six children into the world-though, the last two weren't expected. Hugo Sirius had been born 5 April, 2001 and was just as rambunctious as his brother and looked like a miniature version of him. His next child, or children really, were born 8 November, 2005 when Hermione had painstakingly given birth to his beautiful twin girls; Lily Titania and Miranda Emily. Both girls were much like their mother; smart, loved books, and had a knack for knowing things they shouldn't. Though, where they differed was the fact, they had his black hair and green eyes, but they had their mother's frizzyness. After giving birth to them, once Lily had been pushed out really, she had turned to him in the delivery room and pointedly told him if he wanted sex with her again, he was getting a vasectomy.

Well, he really did enjoy sex with her, so before they had even left the hospital, he had the procedure done; though he walked with a bit of limp for a few days after. It was at this time he decided to take care of their children and became a stay-at-home father. However, the real surprise had been just the previous year, right after making Assistant Director, Hermione had announced she was pregnant-again. It had been quite a surprise, and some, the ones who knew he had been snipped, had accused Hermione of cheating on him. He would admit, the thought did cross his mind as it hadn't made sense; he wanted to believe her, but at the same time they had been having a bit of fight about how many hours she was putting in at the Ministry, so he was a little worried. Not until she had gotten an appointment as quickly as she could to do a neo-natal paternity test did Harry fully believe her that they were his, and apologized to her. That had put a bit of a damper on their relationship as she couldn't help but feel a bit insulted that he thought she would cheat on him. He spent a fair amount of her pregnancy making it up to her as well. However, to get to the bottom of the issue, he had gone to see the doctor who did his operation a couple weeks later, and lo and behold, he had been, quite literally, the one in a thousand where the vasectomy reversed itself naturally. He had subsequently gotten another the following week. And just two months ago, 14 June, 2010, they had welcomed their two newest additions to the world: Sebastian Alexander, Rosalind Kathrine and Cordelia Elizabeth; they had triplets- identical twins and a fraternal brother with Rosalind being the oldest by four minutes. Through consultation with their OBGYN, since they were already in an operating room Hermione had had her tubes tied to make doubly sure there weren't any other accidents. She pushed out seven children, she was done.

"Well, the trains gone Mione. You ready?" Harry asked as he picked up Miranda who had tugged at his leg. Then having to grab Lily too as she was jealous of her sister getting their fathers attention.

"Yeah. Let's get home. I'm still a bit tired." She said, facing him, showing the bags under her eyes from being up with the twins for her turn the night before. She shifted them, being that they were in a triple child carrier- the girls on her back and Sebastian on her chest-, on her shoulders slightly to get a better hold on them as they looked around as much as they could.

"Sure." He said, leaning over to kiss her.

"Eww, dad, we're in public." Came from Hugo as Harry kissed her.