Minerva stood on King's Cross Station on September 1st, 1991 clinging to her children. Tom stood there grinning at his wife. "It's not like they are leaving you," he tried amused by the situation. "You will meet them as soon as they get off the boats. Have you forgot you are the Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts?"
Sirius was laughing at Minerva and the horrified expressions on Harry and Hermione's faces. Remus stood next to him quietly chuckling at the situation. "Momma," both 11 year olds whined. "Please stop."
They finally managed to break away from their mom and hugged Tom. "Have fun on the train," he said. "Remember it doesn't matter to us which House you get sorted into. All Houses have good points."
"Yes Daddy," they said in unison.
Hermione moved to Sirius and hopped up on his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I will miss you Siri," she said in his ear then kissed his cheek.
"You shall see me this weekend," he revealed with a smirk. "Your parents have graciously invited me to afternoon tea biweekly on Sundays."
"Really," she said happily.
"Really Mione," he answered. "If anyone on the planet understands soul bonds and the need to be close to one another, it is them."
"Thank you Daddy and Momma," she said smiling as she kissed Sirius again.
The steam engine gave a loud cry and the two rushed to the Hogwarts Express and hopped on it in just the nick of time. They were laughing as they waved bye to their family.
"You didn't tell them about their private room I noticed," Remus said with a grin as he looked at Minerva.
She grinned back before admitting, "I figured it would be a surprise for them. Of course, they will have to share a suite if they get sorted into the same House and I didn't want that to influence their sorting. What house do you think they be be sorted in?"
"They are Gryffindors through and through," Sirius answered.
"Hermione is," Tom agreed. "Harry is more Slythrein in nature but he is attached to his sister. I haven't decided if he will be a Slythrein or if he will ask the sorting hat to put him with Hermione."
"My guess is Gryffindor for both," Remus volunteered. "Minerva will be the deciding factor for them. They will want to be near her since she's pregnant."
"They will," Minerva agreed with him. "I also overheard a conversation between them and Albus. He pretty much told them they could pick their House if they were so worried about it, worried about being too far from me." She winked at them and apparated away.
"She just played us," Sirius complained.
Tom clapped him on the back before admitting, "She has been playing me since she was 2 years old." Remus and Sirius laughed as they watched the Minister of Magic follow his wife with a crack of apparition.
Minerva and Tom walked into the Heart of Hogwarts as requested. Earlier tonight, they had watched Harry and Hermione be sorted into Gryffindor and showed their private suite near Gryffindor tower. The children were excited by it and have a bedroom to themselves.
"I'm glad you came," Lady Hogwarts said.
"Hello Lady Hogwarts," Tom greeted with a huge smile and hugged her tightly.
"What did you want to see us tonight about," Minerva asked.
Lady Hogwarts smiled radiantly. "When Tom was sent back in time to atone for his actions, Fate, through manipulations, sent you as well to keep him on the straight and narrow. You both have managed more than I could have imagined."
"Really," Tom said bewildered. "I feel like I still have so much to do."
"That's because you are a completely different wizard," she said, a smile plastered on her face. "I didn't calculate how much having a true father and extended family would affect you. Albus offered you an unconditional love that I misjudged but then he suprised me once again by accepting Minerva as his daughter. She was never seen as a daughter-in-law in his eyes and those actions made all of the difference."
"What difference," Minerva asked curiously.
"Tom has already accomplished things Hermione was expected to," she answered. "She still has plenty to do when she takes over the Ministry. Did you know she is destined to be Minister of Magic?"
"Truly," Tom asked confused. "I thought she was meant for Hogwarts."
Lady Hogwarts smiled and shook her head negatively. "Hermione still lacks the ability to balance learning and having fun which is very important for growing children. Harry was always meant to follow in Minerva's footsteps, he just doesn't realize it yet. But you already knew that, didn't you Minerva?"
"I did," she admitted. "Harry is a natural born leader but balances work and fun effortlessly. He has made suggestions for the school without realizing it and I implemented them without telling him. They have all been successful."
"He has changed dramatically from the past timeline to now," Lady Hogwarts admitted. "Last time he wouldn't have heen ready to run Hogwarts until he was over 100 years old. Being your son, not in the Dursley's care, has been the difference for him. He is confident, self aware and willing to solve whatever problem he sees when he can."
"How young will he be now to take over," Minerva asked curiously.
Lady Hogwarts smiled brightly at her. "I have already planted the idea of retirement in Albus' head," she admitted. "It will take years for him to actually retire but when he does, Harry will move into the Deputy Headmaster role just as you did when you first arrived to teach."
"And he will be accepted in the role because he is the Gryffindor heir," Tom reasoned.
"Naturally," Lady Hogwarts answered. "I wanted to thank you for how you changed the wizarding world. The others might not remember but I do and you made such wonderful progress. I would tell you that you had fulfilled your destiny and could rest now but I doubt either of you would listen to me. Fate has smiled down on you both and decided to give you a boon of sorts."
"A boon," Minerva asked confused. "Wasn't the point of coming back in time to fix the timeline and save Tom's childhood, to save our children's chance at life?"
"Yes it was," the redhead answered. "Your outstanding results are to be rewarded. You both desire a large family and you shall have it. This pregnancy won't be your last or even close to the last one. You will be the example for centuries to come that having a large, close-knit family can be wonderful."
Minerva smiled teary-eyed at Lady Hogwarts. "Don't cry my dear," she cooed as she wrapped the Deputy Headmistress up in her embrace. "You will have your heart's desire and so much more."
"Thank you for this chance at atonement for me," Tom finally said as he realized his wife simply wasn't able to formulate a reply. "Thank you for giving us the chance to fall in love and build a better world. We are settled with the wonderful family we have now. Any additional children we will count as blessings to this incredible life you have given us. Thank you Lady Hogwarts for insisting on another path!"