Hermione Weasley had known that many influential people would be present in the graveyard today, given that it was the funeral of the last living member of two ancient bloodlines, so any type of extreme reaction would be recorded as a weakness. Despite knowing and understanding what it meant, she couldn't stop the tears from appearing in her eyes as the oak coffin containing the body of one of the most important people of her life was opened for the last time. Her husband, Ronald Weasley, pulled her closer, but from the shaking she could feel, it was clear that he, too, was struggling for control. The ceremony continued on, but she didn't remember any part of it. Her eyes remained fixed on the relaxed face of her friend lying in the coffin, not moving even when she was being called to say something about the departed. Ronald briefly left her side after that, her son taking his place, but it still felt like she was empty inside. She finally started paying attention when Ronald shook her.
Seeing the coffin closing at it started lowering, broke the dam inside her. The tears which had just stayed in her eyes started flowing freely. She was not alone as a few tears fell on her face from above, indicating that Ron was crying too. When marble pillars started closing upon it to form a tombstone, the truth finally settled inside her.
The golden trio was no more, for Harry Potter was dead.
People started leaving soon after, but she remained seated in her place, her husband right next to her. Memories of happier times flowed through her mind, of a few days ago when she had Harry had a argument, of the dinner that night when both had forgiven each other. She would have stayed in the same position for a long time, if not for Ron tensing behind her. She turned to see where his eyes were pointing at, and the guilt hit her like a truck. A lone figure was stepping out of trees, a wand in their hand. Neither she nor Ron reacted to it, for they knew who the person was. The person waved their wand, and a massive garland of lily formed over Harry's gravestone. Another shaky wave of wand later, the figure turned around to look at them. Hermione could see the teary and red eyes, and after a nod towards them, the blonde-haired woman turned and left. Once they were alone, she turned to look at the gravestone, for a small, near-invisible addition had been done to the marker. It was at the end of the long list of titles that Harry had earned in his life, but unlike others, the loving part was not a part of it. For Harry had been a loving brother, father, friend, but he had never been a loving husband.
When the sun started going down, Ron finally managed to pull his wife to leave. Glancing at Harry's grave for one last time, he walked away, knowing he would never have the courage to return here again. Hermione remained silent and unresponsive for the rest of the day, always staring at something unseen. He was thankful for it, for caring for her gave him something else to focus on other than the grief that was threatening to overtake him. In the evening, their son came to take them to will reading, which was going to happen in Gringotts. As the procedure was, The Longbottom-Bones family, The Lupins, and they were the ones sitting as last, with minor recipients at the front. An unfamiliar goblin started reading from a page after their arrival, handing out things to the recipients as Harry had requested. George and Angelina were the last to leave before them, giving back Harry's share in their shop. Once it was just the six of them, the Goblin called them up front.
"Mr. Potter had decreed that the last part of the will be read in front of named seven people together. Wait for a moment while the last person arrives. He closed his eyes, trying to suppress the regret. The last person, whose all six already knew the identity of, entered the room soon after, taking a seat next to Susan Longbottom.
"Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom-Bones, Mr. Potter, had left for a few letters, the two mothballed greenhouse compounds, a small collection of books, a few more personal items, and a request to share the maintenance fees of Peverell vaults along with House Black. May I know your response?"
At Neville's affirmation, the Goblin spoke again.
"Should House Balck assets ever fall beneath the required level to pay for their part, House Longbottom would have to cover the entire cost. Do you agree to that?"
"Ye, I do," came a determined reply.
"Very Well. Mr. And Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Potter has bequeathed his entire broom collection, all the books in the Potter and Peverell library which are not blood locked, his share of ownership in the Quidditch team Chudley cannons, his Pensieve, and two locked trunks. You can collect the papers and the items after we are done here."
With that, the Goblin turned towards Teddy and Victoire, both of whom looked tired.
"Mr. Lupin, Mr. Potter had declared you as his heir a long time ago. With his death, the Lordship of House Black passes over to you. According to Mr. Potter's instructions, all the money in Potter Vaults is being transferred to the Black Vaults, while the ownership of all properties except one has already been transferred. Anything that remains of House Potter except the blood-bound books or artifacts is also under your ownership. There are also a few trunks and letters for you, which would be handed over soon. Do you accept to bear half the cost of House Peverell vault maintenance?"
"I do," Teddy replied in a weak voice.
"Your agreement is recorded. The rings of Lord Black and Lady Black."
The Goblin passed a ring to each Teddy and Victoire, both of whom closed the boxes and pocketed it. Finally, the Goblin turned towards the last person.
"Mrs. Potter, Mr. Potter has left specific words in his will to be read for you."
The blonde-haired woman nodded.
"Should she choose to accept it, the control of the seats of House Potter and House Peverell would pass on to my wife, Daphne Potter knee Greengrass. These rights would remain with her until her death, after which the controls for House Peverell would be passed over to Teddy Lupin or his children, while the seat of House Potter would be relinquished back to the Winengamot, on condition that never again a claim based on Potter blood would be allowed to take up the Potter name."
A heavy silence filled the room as Teddy shouted with a surprise.
"W.. what...Aunt Daphne...What do you mean by Mrs. Potter? Tell me."
Daphne looked at Teddy with a blank face for a moment before looking back to the Goblin.
"I accept."
With that, she stood up and left, ignoring a furious Teddy behind her, who rounded on them. Victoire calmed him down when they didn't reply, but he knew that a secret long hidden would finally be out in the open soon. '
Once they had received everything that Harry had left them with, they left the Bank. Teddy and Victoire left for their home, but not before informing them that he would be visiting their home soon. Hermione, who had muted down after Daphne had arrived, shrunk a little at that, but his mind was still on Harry's will.
Everyone knew why Harry had made the last request for House Potter. Too many times, his friend had lost his blood in the hands of unsavory people during his 33 years of life working in DMLE. There was a real chance that someone might have stored that blood and would use it to make a claim on House Potter in the future. With his terms, Harry had ensured it would never happen. The Wizengamot would accept his request easily, for it would open up a seat that could be allotted to whoever they wanted. What he was surprised about were the Peverell Vault and seat. According to Harry, there was no one left with enough Peverell blood in them who could make a claim for those vaults, so why didn't he do the same thing he did for Potter Vaults and seats? That was a mystery.
Three days had passed, with them handling the letters of condolences and other things when Hermione reminded him that Teddy had yet not visited them. He inquired about it at Burrow, the Shell cottage, and the 12 Grimmauld Place, but there was no information where Teddy and Victoire were. Even their son, Leo Lupin, and daughter, Lily Lupin, were looking for them. All they had were a Patronus from the missing couple, announcing that they were taking a break from everything for a few days.
Five days later, their world shattered again. Ron had just started to put up a kettle of tea when his wife gasped before running out of the room. He would have followed after her if not for the glaring headline on the newspaper. An old photo of Daphne adorned the front page, but it was the words above it that brought his heart to a stop.
"Greengrass Heiress found dead in her manor. Murder or suicide?"
His legs failed him as he fell down. The emptiness was all he felt, his mind unable to think anything. Another name was added to the list of people killed by him, but this one did not deserve its name there. Ron had killed two innocents in less than a month, and there was nothing he could do about it. Pain bloomed inside his right hand, but before he could even draw his wand, he found he was unable to breathe. His entire right side was paining, shivering, and soon, blackness overtook his vision.
When his eyes opened the next time, he was not in his home anymore. A quiet sobbing caught his attention, and with great effort, he turned to look at the tired visage of his wife.
"Herm..Hermione..."
Hermione jumped out of her seat and rushed towards him.
"Ron, you are okay; you are awake..."
"Yeah, I know, a miracle," he added dryly. As expected, a smack hit his hand, but not with the strength he used.
"Don't joke, you buffoon. You...you."
Knowing she was about to cry again, he gathered her in his arms.
"Sh, Sh, love, I am okay, I am here; it's okay."
She continued to sob in his arms for some time.
"No, Ron, you are not okay."
"What do you mean?"
"Ron, it has been two weeks since you were admitted here in St. Mungo's."
"But, I just fainted because of..."
He couldn't say it out loud. Hermione seemed to realize that as she took a deep breath before speaking.
"It was not simple fainting, Ron. It was a heart attack that you had."
"But you said that doesn't happen to magical people."
"There can be many reasons for a heart attack, Ron. It can not happen to Witches and Wizards due to eating habits, but it can happen due to a high amount of stress."
"Oh"
Hermione informed him how the family had reacted to his condition. Even Rose, who had been estranged from them for a long time, had come to check on him.
"She won't talk to me, Ron..."
He knew what his wife was saying.
"Does she blames us for Daphne?"
The silence was answer enough. Since the debacle of her runaway marriage, during which Rose had learned about his and Hermione's role in Harry and Daphe's failed marriage, she had refused to talk to them anymore.
"Anything else?"
Hermione hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Daphne's will was read a week ago. She passed over the control of the Peverell seat to Teddy and of Greengrass seat to Scorpius. Everything else was merged with Malfoy's family on the condition that it would eventually be passed over to Scorpius. The house in Godric's hollow is an exception, which is to be turned into a magical orphanage that will be presided over by Draco.
Bitter memories came back in his mind as he thought about the house his wife was talking about.
"Rose would be Lady Greengrass."
When she remained silent, Hermione looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"She had made it a condition that should something happen to Scorpius and Rose; their children can never be passed in our care, and should Rose take up the position of Lady Greengrass, she is not allowed to let her children have any contact with us till their majority."
He thought about his little granddaughter, who he had only seen twice, and his grandson, who he had only heard how he looked like. Rose had refused to bring them back after their argument at Thea's second birthday.
"We brought this on our, love. She and Daphne have made the decision, and now we have to live with it."
"But, it's not right."
"Neither were we all those years ago," he replied softly, which made Hermione quiet down.
Later, he was discharged from the hospital with strict instructions to take care. His house became an open ground with frequent visits from the rest of his family for the next few days, but eventually, it mellowed out. The absence of Rose was nothing new, but Hugo and his wife, Prachi Weasley, knee Patil's behavior had stumped both of them. They knew both Hugo and Rose were close to Daphne via Teddy, but their son had been somewhat indifferent in past days. The reason became apparent a few weeks later. They had just sat down for dinner when a knock came from the front door. He looked at the tired face of Hermione, who shrugged before moving towards the door. Since he had been resting for the past few days, Hermione had locked herself in the library, researching merlin knows what.
The severe expression of Teddy, Rose, Hugo, and their partner's face was enough for him to check up on his wand. Once they were all seated in the guest room, Teddy spoke to him, glaring at them with anger.
"So, Uncle, mind explaining what your muttering meant when we visited you in the Hospital?"
Hermione stiffened at her seat on his side while he looked at Teddy in confusion.
"What muttering?"
Teddy leaned a little towards him as he answered.
"That you killed my Godfather and his wife."