A/N: See? Not so bad huh? Didn't have to wait too long. Just the weekend. Must have been unbearable I know...

Anyway, late in this chapter there is a hint at future events. Kinda a big deal. It'll happen in the next Chapter or Two.

As Always: Like, Subscribe, Favorite and REVIEW!

18

Harry and Susan were on their way back to the Hufflepuff Commons when Susan spoke up.

"Um….so earlier this evening Hannah and I were joking around and she was teasing me about us being married…"

"Oh the irony…" Harry interjected.

"Right. Well anyway I told her that if I ever got married she would be the first to know….and since we are married…I'd like to tell her first…"

"Sure. I don't have a problem with that. Professor Sprout would we be able to meet Hannah and Neville first and in private," Harry asked.

"Of course, I understand. Why don't you two head to privacy room nearby that is used for studying and I will meet you in the common room when you're done. Please don't take too long though because this needs to be brought up in a house meeting. The aging thing I mean. Not the marriage. That is yours to disclose if you wish."

"We won't." With that Harry sent a patronus to Hannah Abbott asking her and Neville to meet them in the privacy room. They parted ways with Professor Sprout and headed into the privacy room. Harry took a seat in one of the chairs while Susan paced back and forth nervously.

"Sue…" Susan didn't hear him and kept pacing lost in her own thoughts.

"Susan…" She still didn't hear him.

"SUSAN POTTER!" She stopped dead in her tracks and slowly spun to face him, her face flushed from blushing.

"Did…did you just call me…"

"Susan Potter? That's your name isn't it," Harry asked with a grin.

Susan turned a deeper shade of red. "I…I suppose it is now. Susan Potter… That is going to take some getting used to."

"Come here," he said holding out his hands to her. She walked over to him and took his hands. With a quick movement he pulled her onto his lap. He felt completely different to her. He was strong. It was almost like he had been working out. She was sitting across him staring into his eyes when the door opened and Hannah and Neville walked in.

"Errr…sorry. Wrong room…" Neville started.

"Actually it's not Neville," Harry said as Susan stood up. "Why don't you guys come in and close the door?"

Hannah walked in behind Neville after closing the door but came to a quick halt after seeing her best friend. Well it looked like her best friend but she was…older.

"Uh…hey Hannah," Susan started as she held out her hands to show off the new her. "Surprise!"

"Wh…wh….how…what," was all that Hannah could manage.

"Yeah. What she said," Neville added.

"Come in and have a seat. We've got…a lot to explain…" Susan reassured.

Hannah and Neville slowly entered and sat on the couch next to each other. Neither one could take their eyes off their friends.

"I guess that it starts with the fact that…we're um…I mean to say…that is Harry and I…" Susan stumbled out nervously. Harry stood up to join her.

"What Susan means to say is that we're married. Her and I. Apparently it happened a while ago without our knowing. We can show you how and when later if you want but that has been what is affecting our magic. Although, we're not really sure how or why. Anyway, earlier this evening we discovered we'd been having trouble with our magic as both of you know. Sue was the smart one and went to see Madam Pomfrey and that's when we found out…"

"They were talking about us getting a divorce and stuff," Susan continued, her eyes starting to tear up, "but…Harry...Harry ignored them all and he proposed. I said yes. Honestly thinking about it, it was the easiest choice I've ever made."

"Really," Harry asked from behind her. Susan turned to face him.

"Really," she replied affirmatively before turning back to their two younger friends. "Well after I said yes, we…appeared…before Marion again. That's what Death calls herself. She congratulated us, snapped her fingers, made us older, and disappeared."

"That's the long and short of it," Harry added. "We wanted you guys to be the first to know. We should probably be getting back to the common room though. Professor Sprout wants to make an announcement before next week. Keep the marriage thing to yourself for now though. We just don't have any secrets from you two."

"It's not fair," Hannah cried. They looked over and saw Hannah was in tears. "We were supposed to grow up together Sue but you've left me behind. Not only did you grow up without me but you grew up AND got married to Harry Potter nonetheless." She tore out of the room. Neville looked at his friends before chasing after her.

"Hannah wait!" They heard him yell.

Harry walked up and put his arms around Sue.

"Are you alright Sue?" She turned around and he could see the tears forming in her eyes.

"She's right Harry. I'm a bad friend. We were always looking forward to growing up together and now I've left her behind. I got so caught up in my own turn of affairs that I didn't stop to think how this would impact them." Tears began running down her face. Harry reached up and gently wiped the tears away.

"I know how you feel Sue. I feel like I've been an awful friend to Neville. I got so wrapped up in getting Sirius free, reliving the past and getting to be with you that I've forgotten about making other friends. I mean I was best friends with Ron and Hermione in the past life and this time we barely know each other. It should bother me…but it doesn't. I guess it's because I have you. You're all I need Sue…and…I…"

There was a knock on the door as Professor Sprout came in. "Is everything ok? I saw young Miss Abbott run out of here in tears and Mr. Longbottom was right behind her."

"Uh..yes Professor," Harry explained "Hannah just didn't take the news as well as we were hoping and I guess she felt left behind."

"Poor girl. I'll check on her in a bit. Are you two ready to get this over with?" They both nodded and followed Professor Sprout through the hole and into the badger common room where all the other badgers were waiting, except for Hannah and Neville. They were nowhere to be seen. Many of the other badgers gasped as Harry and Susan entered behind Professor Sprout. "As many of you can already tell something has happened to Harry and Susan. Somehow they have managed to age and are now 14. Dumbledore has told me that they will be advancing to 3rd year where they will be tested in each of their classes for competency before they officially move into those classes. Dumbledore will be making the announcement Monday. Until then please try to keep this within House Hufflepuff. You may take the weekend to talk with them but right now I'm sure they would like to rest. Growing can be tiring."

Harry and Susan smiled as he took her hand, they waved goodnight to everyone and disappeared into their room. As soon as they had entered and had shut the door they both made their way into the bedroom and collapsed on the bed out of pure exhaustion.

"It's been a long day," Harry sighed as he kicked off his shoes, allowing himself to get more comfortable.

"You can say that again," she said as she copied his actions and kicked off her shoes. Both were laying on their bed staring at the ceiling.

"It's been a long day," Harry repeated with a grin as he turned his head to look at her. She turned her head to look at him and smiled.

"Ok smart alec." They looked at each other for a moment before their faces grew serious. Both of them staring at the new found features of the other. "I can't believe it," she whispered, "I would have never thought in a hundred lifetimes that I would be married at 14 much less to Harry Potter."

Harry looked at her quizzically for a moment before speaking. "Well to be fair I never thought I would be in love at 14, much less married…"

Susan's eyes widened as Harry felt her heartbeat pick up. "Wh..what did you say?"

"I said I never thought I'd be married at 14 either," Harry said trying to hide a grin. He knew what she meant. He had been thinking about it a lot recently and he meant what he was about to say. He really couldn't picture spending his life without anyone else. He knew it was strange because of how young they were and maybe it was one of the effects of coming back in time together but he didn't care. This felt right for all the right reasons and he knew that without Susan there was no life.

"No…before that," Susan asked nervously.

"What you mean the "well to be fair?""

"No. After that."

"Oh you mean the part where I said I never thought I'd be in love at 14?" Susan gulped and nodded her head. "What about it?"

"Do…you mean that? Do you…" Susan trailed off

"Love you with every fiber of my being? Why yes Mrs. Potter, I do." He looked her straight in the eyes and dropped the kidding around. "Susan Amelia Potter, I love you more than I can ever express. More than I can ever show. I know that we've gone so far in such a short amount of time and I don't know if it's the time stream or coming back together but personally I am prone to believe that this is the way it should have always been. It should have always been you and I. I'm sorry that I didn't see that before…"

By now Susan's eyes were streaming with tears. They were happy tears though. She reached forward and pulled him closer. He put his arms around her and drew her closer as well. They leaned in and their lips met in the middle. This was their first kiss, both individually and as a couple. Fireworks exploded in their minds and time lost all meaning. The kiss was only broken when they both needed to breath. She looked deep into his emerald eyes and whispered. "I love you Harry James Potter." She felt Harry's heart skip a beat as her pulled her closer and reignited the passion of their kiss.

The following morning Harry slowly awoke with a smile. He reached over and grabbed his glasses from the side table taking care not to wake Sue who had fallen asleep with her head on his bare chest. He looked down at the mass of red hair that had exploded on his chest and grinned. He couldn't believe he had gotten so lucky. He had never felt this way in the other time line. Despite being surrounded by his friends he always felt alone. He knew Ron fancied Hermione and that part of her even fancied him so he always felt like the third wheel. He could never have imagined being this happy before. Of course, he didn't really get to know Susan before either. Maybe that was his problem. Maybe it was her. Maybe it was always meant to be her. He reached down and gently brushed the hair out of her face. She smiled in her sleep and gently stirred.

Susan Bones slowly awoke from her dream with a smile on her face. She dreamed that she had become older and actually married her best friend Harry Potter. As she regained consciousness she noticed she wasn't laying on a pillow but rather a person. A fairly muscular person who had obviously been playing a ton of Quidditch. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up to see a very familiar pair of emerald green eyes looking down at her with a smile. It wasn't a dream!

"Good morning Mrs. Potter," he said with a grin.

Sue blushed before replying with a smile of her own. "Good morning Mr. Potter." She paused for a brief moment before continuing. "I still can't believe we're married. I thought it was a dream."

"Thankfully no. This beautiful dream is actually reality."

With a good morning kiss they got out of bed a few minutes later and started getting ready for the day.

"Hey Harry," Susan called out as she was getting ready in the bathroom.

"Yea Sue," he replied from the bedroom.

"Are we still planning on going to Diagon Alley today? You know, taking Neville down there to get a new wand and all?"

"As far as I planned but…hang on! I have an idea." Harry looked up to nowhere in particular. "Marion…oh Marion! I know you're watching me. Can I have a word please? I have a favor to ask."

In the blink of an eye they were both standing in front of Marion again, fully dressed. "Did you miss me already?"

"You know we did," Harry grinned, "however I have a favor to ask this time."

"I already know what you're going to ask and while I can do that I have to be careful messing around with timeline stuff. This isn't a freebie unfortunately. If I do this for you, I may ask for a favor in the future. Do you agree," Marion asked.

Harry looked at his new bride who was looking at him curiously. "Do you mean…?"

"Yep," he replied.

"Oh Harry! You don't have to."

"I do for you." With that he turned and looked Marion in the eye. "I agree. A favor for a favor."

Marion smiled. "For the record, I think what you are doing for your new wife is incredibly sweet. Just like another Potter I knew some time ago. By the way, check with Dumbledore. I believe he still has your cloak but for now. Let's get on with it shall we?" Marion held up her hand and with a snap of her fingers there was a flash of light and when it dimmed Neville and Hannah were standing there dressed. "Hope you don't mind me giving you proper clothes. Might be a little embarrassing to show up in your pajamas still," she spoke to the newcomers.

Hannah and Neville looked terrified and then confused. They were in a clean version of King's Cross Station with Harry and Susan and a woman that they didn't recognize.

"Neville. Hannah. I'd like you to meet Marion," Harry introduced.

"M…M..Marion…like from your story? As in Death," Neville stuttered.

"The one and only. You don't have to be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you or eat your soul or anything. I brought you here as a request from young Mr. Potter here," Marion stated.

Both Hannah and Neville looked warily at Harry and then back to Marion and finally over to Sue who just smiled in reassurance. Marion smiled at them and then snapped her fingers and in the blink of an eye Hannah and Neville were their 14 year old selves. Not only that but they remembered everything that 14 year old them knew, which would easily help them get through their classes.

"Thank you Marion," Harry replied with a bow.

"You know how to find me," she replied with a smile and a snap.

Next thing they knew there were back in Harry and Susan's living room.

They stood there staring at each other dumbly for a minute. Hannah and Neville looking over themselves and trying to hide that they were looking at the other. After a minute Hannah spoke up.

"So…um…what exactly just happened?"

"Well to put it shortly. Harry made a deal with Marion to make you both 14 as well so that we could all grow up together. You were absolutely right Hannah when you said we should be growing up together and I've been an awful friend to you. Harry and I have been so caught up in our own lives that we haven't taken the time to hang out and be there for you as much as we should. I won't make any excuse but I will say that I'm sorry and I hope that you can forgive me.

"I apologize too. To both of you. We've been so caught up in the events of our past and comparing them to this that we forgot to include our friends. A mistake we certainly mean to rectify, starting with a double date to Diagon Alley, our treat. We've got some business to take care of, we can do a little shopping and we can get Neville that new wand."

"D…double date? You mean you guys and me and Hannah? B…b…but we're not even d…dating. We've been 14 for all of 5 minutes."

"Please. I see the way you two look at each other. The way you were checking each other out when we got back. You've got it bad," Susan teased.

"Yeah well this one problem with that," Hannah stated with her hands on her hips. "He hasn't exactly asked me out." Neville turned bright red and looked like he may pass out from all the excitement.

"Hannah, why don't you take Neville in the bedroom and you two can talk privately. We should probably notify Professor Sprout of the new developments before we leave."

"Come on Longbottom. Let's chat," Hannah said as she took Neville's arm and led him towards the bedroom to talk. In the meantime Harry had sent a patronus to Professor Sprout asking to speak with her in their room when she got a moment. Then Harry and Susan cuddled up on the couch talking about the day ahead and what they wanted to accomplish in Diagon Alley.

A few minutes later there was a knock on their door. Susan got up to open the door and Harry was right behind her. Susan opened the door and let Professor Sprout in.

"Good morning Miss Bones…err….I mean Mrs. Potter. Sorry. It hasn't quite kicked in yet. I got Harry's patronus. What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Good morning Professor," Harry greeted, "I actually brought you here to talk to you about Hannah and Neville. You see…they've changed too. Aged a little bit. They're the same age as us with all their previous knowledge up through 3rd year so Professor Dumbledore will probably want to move them up as well."

"Why does that not surprise me," Professor Sprout asked curiously. "I won't even ask how. Where are Mr. Longbottom and Miss Abbott at present? I would like to see them to verify this, not that I don't trust you mind you."

"Sure Professor. They are just talking in the bedroom."

"Are they getting married too?"

Susan giggled and Harry stifled a laugh. "I don't know about that Professor. I think they're gonna try that dating thing first." With that Harry pushed the door to the bedroom. Harry, Susan and Professor Sprout all gasped at what they saw. Neville was on his back and Hannah was on top of him. Their lips were joined together in a furious frenzy and they didn't even hear the door open.

"Well I guess that settles that," Harry said loudly as he leaned against the doorway with a grin.

"HANNAH MARIE ABBOT! What are you doing," Susan exclaimed.

After the new young couple had a brief start Hannah looked up at Susan with a grin. "The same thing I reckon you two were doing last night."

"What we do is none of your business," Susan retorted.

"If you two are quite finished," Harry interrupted. "Professor Sprout would like to see Hannah and Neville."

"She just did. We all did!"

"I don't think that is what she had in mind Sue."

"I should say not Mr. Potter. Mrs Abbot. Mr. Longbottom. Can I get you two to stand up so that I may have a proper look at you," Professor Sprout asked. Neville stood up, blushing red as a Weasley's hair, and Hannah stood next to him with a grin on her face. Professor Sprout looked them over for a minute. "My you two really have grown up, especially from that sort of display. Do you really have all the knowledge needed to move up with the third years?"

They stood there and scoured their minds for a moment before Neville went over the third year Herbology stuff and Hannah proceeded to list out third year potions.

"Speaking of Professor, do we get to pick our elective classes," Harry interrupted.

"Why of course. Just try to let me know what they are today so I can speak with the teachers," Professor Sprout responded.

"I'll do Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes this go around I guess."

"Same for me," Sue added.

"Us too," spoke Neville before turning and looking nervously at Hannah. "That's ok right?"

"It's fine Neville," she replied.

"Look at them. Haven't even been together half an hour and they are already speaking for each other. It's so cute," Harry teased pretending to wipe a tear from his eye.

"Shut it you," Hannah teased back, "You're one to talk. The way you've been carrying on with my best friend…tsk tsk. Sleeping in the same bed…going everywhere together…"

"Falling in love…getting married…I know we're such a bother."

"Alright. We'll I'll inform Professor Dumbledore of your decisions. Don't forget to buy new books while you're out in Diagon Alley," Professor Sprout reminded.

"But we don't…" Hannah began.

"I'll take care of the expenses. Don't worry about it," Harry insisted, "I've got to stop by Gringotts anyway. Actually now that I think about it…you may want to as well Neville. You're the last of your line and if you claimed Lordship of your house then you could have a fancy suite too."

"Really? Is this true Mr. Longbottom," Professor Sprout asked.

"Uh…well…I guess so…but what about Gran," Neville responded.

"I believe she would still be considered the matriarch of the family and would still have control of lands, any seats of power you held and the majority of the money. Essentially this would just let you have the privileges of a Lordship such as a suite. That is…if I'm remembering that all right," Susan stated.

"Very good Mrs. Potter! 10 points to Hufflepuff for correct knowledge of Lordship laws," Professor Sprout exclaimed, "Following in your Aunt's footsteps I see?"

"Trying to Professor," Susan replied with a smile. With that Professor Sprout left, presumably to talk to the Headmaster.

"Everyone ready to go," Harry asked as he grabbed the jar of floo powder from on top of his fireplace. Neville and Susan looked down, forgetting that they had already gotten dressed courtesy of Marion then they looked at each, shrugged and took a handful of floo powder before stepping into the fireplace.

"DIAGON ALLEY," they shouted and threw down the floo powder. They disappeared in a green flame.

"Shall we my dear," Harry asked Susan holding out his arm for her to take.

"Why of course Mr. Potter," she replied before taking his arm. They each took a handful of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace. "DIAGON ALLEY!"