I had hoped to get more of this story written before I started posting it, but I'm about to start posting a non-HP fic, so I thought I'd better get this one started so people know I haven't abandoned this saga.

Reading of the first series is recommended but a quick refresher. This series stays in continuity with the seven Harry Potter books and eight films. Anything else is ignored unless I choose otherwise.

Two years after the epilogue, Ginny was killed and Ron and Hermione separated, after which Harry and Hermione married. They have a daughter, Nymphadora.

James married Emily Longbottom, daughter of Neville and Luna and younger sister of his best friend Martin. They have two children, Tracey and Joshua.

Albus was killed in his late 20s. His girlfriend Melissa Dorrans later gave birth to his son, Albus Potter Dorrans.

Lily married a muggle, Gordon Preston. They have one daughter, Amy.

Rose married Scorpius while still at school. They have a daughter, Gemini, the same age as Nymphadora, and a son, Balthasar.

Hugo married in his late 20s to muggleborn witch Marie Lucas.

Harry has another son, Philip Nave, conceived when he slept with Romilda Vane under the influence of a love potion.

Nymphadora and Gemini's prominent contemporaries include Bradley Wood (Nymphadora's boyfriend, grandson of Oliver Wood and Katie Bell, and nephew of Martin Longbottom and his wife Susannah), muggleborn Beverley Cadogan, Maxwell Jordan (grandson of Lee Jordan and Angelina Johnson), and Flavia Lupin (daughter of Teddy and Victoire).

CHAPTER ONE: Empty House

Harry had a moment alone. He didn't know whether to be pleased or not, especially given where he was. It was hard to believe that it was over forty years ago now since he had first come to the Burrow. And for most of those forty-odd years, even after he and Hermione had got together after her split with Ron and relations with the Weasleys had become more strained, it had been a happy family home. If Hogwarts had been the first place that had felt like home, the Burrow had been the first place where he'd felt like part of a family.

But it was nearly three years ago now since Arthur and Molly had both passed on. Even though the Burrow was still full of people, spending the last weeks of summer together before the children, and the adults who were still on staff, would have to go to Hogwarts, it didn't feel like a home. Arthur and Molly's four surviving children, Charlie, Percy, George and Ron, had inherited equal shares of the house. But with Charlie spending so little time in the country, and the others having their own homes and lives, none of them had moved in there. In much the same way as Grimmauld Place since Harry and his family had moved out of there nearly twenty years earlier, it had become more of a meeting place than a home.

Hermione came up behind him and put her arms around him, shaking him out of his thoughts. "You're looking as though you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders again,"she commented.

Harry gave a slight smile. "Sorry."

"That's okay. But can we just have one last day without you feeling like the wizarding world's going to come to an end?"

Harry patted her hand. "I think it'll get along fine without me."

The two of them moved further into the living area. Harry's eyes ran over those present. Ron was there of course, with Parvati Patil, his deputy in his role as Minister of Magic, by his side as always. Neville and Luna were there too, along with George and his wife Lisa. Harry's two remaining children from his first marriage, James and Lily, were there with their respective spouses Emily and Gordon. Emily's brother, Martin Longbottom, was there with his wife Susannah. And Teddy and Victoire were there. The younger members of the family had obviously got bored and were no doubt now running ragged throughout the house.

Neville noted Harry's presence and held out a glass. "Fire whiskey?"

"Thanks." Harry accepted the glass from him and took a welcome sip. "Any surprises to come at Hogwarts this year?"

Ever since Harry and Hermione had gone back to Hogwarts as staff members, the school had hit trouble with a frequency not known since he was a student there…or at least since their children had been there . Neville's tenure as headmaster would probably leave him prematurely grey. Neville gave a small laugh at the question. "Well, I hear we're going to have another Potter there."

Harry nodded. Their mutual grandson Joshua, James and Emily's son, would be joining his older sister Tracey at the school. "You're going to be overrun with us soon."

"I can't remember a time when I haven't been. But no, with any luck this year will be a quiet one."

Next to him, his wife Luna sighed theatrically. "I've warned you about saying that. There'll probably be an infestation of wrackspurts now."

Hary and Hermione's daughter Nymphadora was wandering one of the upstairs levels with Gemini Malfoy, her classmate and niece. "It's a shame your parents couldn't be here,"she remarked.

"Someone has to keep the ministry running,"Gemini answered tartly. Nymphadora's half-sister Rose and her husband Scorpius worked under Ron, Rose's father.

Nymphadora let the comment pass. She'd been hoping to spend time with more of the family before going back to Hogwarts, even though there were advantages to going back there. "It'll be good to see everyone at Hogwarts again,"she attempted.

Gemini arched an eyebrow. "Sure you aren't just upset that you haven't seen much of Bradley this holiday?"

Bradley Wood had been friends with the pair since first year…except now he was Nymphadora's boyfriend. Nymphadora didn't deny the accusation. Instead, she fired back one of her own. "And you aren't missing Verity?"

Verity Higgs was Gemini's fellow Slytherin and girlfriend. The blonde Malfoy girl coloured slightly at the comment. "I'm going to see where Tracey's got to. Some adult conversation."

Tracey, the daughter of Nymphadora's half-brother James, was two years below them, but Gemini's comment was probably deliberate. Nymphadora smiled at getting her niece's hackles up and headed downstairs. Which was the point at which she heard an odd noise and looked over the bannister to see two of the other soon-to-be Hogwarts first years kissing: Tony Longbottom, the son of Martin and Susannah, and Andros Lupin, the son of Teddy and Victoire.

Nymphadora coughed pointedly and the two boys looked up at her awkwardly. "Do your parents know about you two?"she asked.

They shook their heads.

"Better tell them before they walk in on you."

Neville turned towards Ron. "So, minister, you're up for re-election this year. What are your plans?"

Parvati shot him a wry look. "Have you been possessed by Rita Skeeter or something?"

"I've had a good few years in office,"Ron noted. "I haven't decided yet whether I want to continue."

Hermione looked surprised. "I thought you were settled."

Ron shrugged. "I guess you can be too settled. Kingsley was dynamic when he first took over, but barely anything had changed for years when I was elected. Anyway, you can't talk. You left the ministry."

"So what would you do if you left?"Harry asked.

"Don't know." Ron looked across at George. "Maybe I should ask you for a job."

"Yeah, we have a lot of openings at the shop for ageing firebrand politicians,"George quipped.

"What about Philip Nave?"James asked.

Harry hadn't wanted to ask the question but it had been preying on his mind. The discovery that he had another son, raised to hate him, still shook him to the core. Nothing had been heard of him since he had infiltrated Hogwarts in an attempt to kill Harry the previous year.

"I guess if we don't find him before I'm replaced, it'll be up to the next minister to find him,"Ron answered. He patted his nephew on the shoulder. "Or maybe you and the Order could do it."