"Be good. I better not get any letters from your Aunt Minerva," Hazel warned, giving her daughter a hug.

"Mum, you never do," Eileen laughed. She was right. Eileen had always been well-behaved, and now she was Head Girl. She was preparing for a lot of N.E.W.T.s - surely she'd get one in Potions, and she had a secure Defense Against the Dark Arts background. Her mother had spent the summer helping her review Charms and Transfiguration, and her father had taught her all of the Herbology he knew (a substantial amount, given the amazing garden they had).

Nearby, a group of younger adults was whispering and pointing. Their own children were already on the train, at least those who were old enough to go to Hogwarts. "Harry, look! That's got to be him. We saw him last year, remember?" Ginny elbowed her husband, pointing him towards where Eileen's father was coming through the Platform 9 3/4 barrier. He was dressed in Muggle clothes, and his hair had started to grey a little, but there was no mistaking him.

The two of them watched as he met up with the woman Ginny had noticed a few minutes ago. A girl with dark hair stood between them with her trunk and an owl, saying goodbye. "There's no way..."

"You saw him die," Ron objected, rubbing at his eyes. "Harry, you said you saw him die."

"Oh, there they are." Luna floated over, her eyes on the couple that was helping their daughter onto the train. "I haven't seen them in ages. I do need to send over my bread pudding recipe."

"Wait, what?"

All eyes were on her now as Ginny asked what she knew. Luna gave them a look that asked how they couldn't have known. "Of course they're alive. They have been living in a little town on the coast. You never knew? I see them every Christmas. Professor Ashmore was best friends with my parents when they were in school. She's my godmother. Well... hardly Professor now. Aunt Hazel."

"Luna, how come you never told us?" Ron asked. He turned to his wife, his eyes widening. "Wait a minute, Hermione, did you know?"

Hermione gave them a knowing smile. "Working for the Ministry has its perks."

"You knew?" Harry and Ron were incredulous. Ginny knew better than to suspect any less, though. "And you never told any of us?"

"I did some digging when I got there, first to make sure my parents weren't on the list of Muggles that were reported dead," Hermione explained, looking between all of them. "But then I found this other list, and... they went undercover for a while, assumed Muggle names, and started writing books. Their daughter - Eileen - she's doing really well at Hogwarts. Neville has her in his N.E.W.T. class this year. We - everyone who knew - just kind of agreed to keep it quiet until they're ready to tell everyone themselves. Give them a quiet retirement and a bit of peace, you know?"

So much for a quiet retirement. As they watched, Draco Malfoy and his wife went up to the couple. They exchanged a few words before Harry led his group over. "Professors?"

Malfoy stopped talking, glaring at them all. "Hello Aunt Hazel," Luna interrupted pleasantly, cutting the tension between them. "You're all looking well."

"Hello dear," Hazel smiled, giving her a hug. "How are the twins?"

"Excited for their first year. So excited that they hardly care about what house they end up in."

The Malfoys made an excuse to walk away, and after a little while, Hermione dragged Ron away too. Luna followed, Ginny trailing in her wake to make sure their younger kids weren't getting into trouble on the platform. Besides, she knew Harry wanted to talk to them alone. Hazel drifted away for a moment going to say hello to an old friend from the Auror Office, understanding that they needed space. "Professor -"

"Potter, I am no longer your teacher," Snape reminded him as they all waved to the scarlet steam engine. He had grown less vindictive over the years but still held Harry at an arm's length. But as they talked, Harry came to see how he had changed.

"Sorry, sir, er, how did you... I have to ask... You gave me all of those memories of my mother, but -" He glanced back to where Hazel was standing, Snape understanding immediately.

"Your mother was my best friend for years," he told Harry candidly. With a soft smile, he too looked down the platform, watching Hazel talk animately with her friend. "But that was something that could never be. It would have been wrong if it was, at least according to the best Seer of our age. I soon came to understand that as well. And I'm sure you know, Potter... some things are just meant to be." Hazel reappeared at his side, Snape reaching for her hand. "Because of the regrettable thing I said to your mother, I met the love of my life." Harry knew this was coming, but he was still a bit taken aback at Snape's candor. The years had certainly changed him. "And in spite of all of the choices I made, she found her way back to me. We were married after the Battle of Hogwarts, and we have a wonderful daughter." He turned to give Hazel a kiss to underscore his point. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Sev is right," Hazel smiled. "It has been... quite the life, but things that are meant to happen will find a way to happen. Now Harry, Sev and I have been talking, and Professor Slughorn is retiring next year. We will be returning to the school to teach, but until then, if you and your friends could keep this fairly quiet for a bit, we would appreciate it."

"Umm, yes. Not a problem," he agreed, still in awe of the fact that someone he thought was dead for years was now standing in front of him. "Of course."

As they went their separate ways, the strange encounter stuck in everyone's minds. On the way home, Harry and Ginny had to explain to their younger children who the two people were and why they were so surprised to see them. Ron was a little cross, but he understood why Hermione couldn't tell him. The Malfoys knew, of course. As did Luna and her husband Rolf. And Minerva McGonagall. And the now Professor Neville Longbottom and his wife Hannah. And most of the other professors. Truth be told, most of their little village knew too. It didn't take them very long to put together the man's appearance, the tattoo on his arm, and the missing-but-presumed-dead man who was both slandered and heralded as a hero by the press.

When they eventually returned to Hogwarts, both of them were famous. For now, though, they would enjoy another quiet year of semi-retirement on the Scottish coast, keeping themselves as anonymous as possible.

A.N.: Okay, executive decision, I'm going to think on it for a few days, but I might start rewriting this whole thing from scratch bc I'm rereading the books and there's so much that I want to add. Thought?