-

All was quiet inside a large castle many years later, hidden somewhere in Britain.

A woman sat in an empty classroom, sorting through papers quickly. Thin glasses perched on her nose, she murmured, "Come on...page 345..." Finally, she pulled out a piece of parchment and skimmed through it.

"---Harry Potter was a favorite of the tabloids, called a crazed rumor child. . .it was proven that what he claimed was indeed true, authorities-"

The woman threw it down angrily, " Dammit!" Her frustration boiled over.

Surprising her, came a man from the outside, putting away his wand he had casted out at the last second, "Hermione? What are you doing?"

23-year-old Hermione Weasley looked up to her husband with plain brown eyes coolly, "Nothing."

Ronald Weasly frowned, his fiery red hair lit under the torchlight, "Are you looking through those files again?"

She nodded firmly, her frizzy brown hair had been tightly pulled into a unmovable bun on the top of her head, "Yes."

His hazel brown eyes and pale freckly face softened, "It's nearly midnight, shouldn't you be heading to bed?"

"I thought I had a lead. I was sure that---"

Ron rolled his eyes, trying to control his anger, " 'Mione, it's been seven years. Stop coming here and wasting your time. He's dead."

She pointed an accusing finger at him fiercely, "See! You won't even say his name Ronald Weasley! You act like he never existed!"He slammed his fist onto the desk, papers flying.

"How dare you say that! I've been praying since day one that he'd come back! That life would go back to normal but Harry isn't coming back Hermione! YOU NEED TO COME BACK TO REALITY AND GET OVER IT!"

Her lower lip quivered and she dropped to her knees, frantically scooping up the fallen scattered papers. Ron took in a breath and wrapped his arms around her, she allowed him to hold her.

"I'm sorry Hermione. Think of our son, he needs a mother. You've been so distracted lately. . .it's like you are gone too."

Hermione looked up alarmed, tears in her eyes. Ron brushed them off her face, "Think of the baby. I don't want you to worry over things that don't need the energy for them. I can do that enough for the both of us if you'd like." She laughed, more tears slipping free.

He kissed her mouth, "Come on. Let's hit the sack."

Hermione murmured as they stood up, "I just don't want to give up on him, that's all."

"We never will."

They closed the door behind them as Hermione locked it, the door disappeared from sight and he wrapped an arm around her waist as they walked down the corridor hall. Hermione looked back.

I'm not giving in.

-

"Mommy!"

Hermione glanced down at her son Johan as he held up his piece of clay, "Puppy?" The clay was mushed so terribly that it didn't look like much.

She smiled at him, "It's beautiful, darling."

Satisfied, the five-year-old walked back the table with the other children.

"Hermione?" She looked up alarmed to a dark plaited woman. The stranger smiled widely, "Oh my gosh! It's good to see you."

"Parvati Patil?"

"I just got here. Can you believe we're back at Hogwarts?" Parvati smiled.

Hermione shook her head, "It's very hard to believe, nice to see you too." Parvati spotted someone across the way and took off in a rush. Ron returned to her side with Johan in his arms, her son had clay hardening on his fingers. He cocked his head at his wife questioningly.

She took her auburn haired boy and cleaned his hands with the flick of her wand. Johan whined, "Mum!"

She laughed, letting him down and kissed his nose sweetly despite his displeased frown. His dark brown eyes lit up as he ran away and Ron asked concerned, "Are you alright this morning?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, accepting his kiss, "Yes, the morning sickness has passed."

He placed a strong hand on her soft flat belly, "I wonder what it will be."

She responded thoughtfully, "I was hoping for a girl."

Ron smiled, "How about Jamie?"

Hermione punched his arm as he sat down, "Hey, you got to name the first one. It's my turn. I like Fiona Jamie."

"It's good."

"Just good?"

Ron chuckled at the warning look, "If that's what you want darling." He and Hermione looked out into the Great Hall, where lots of the regular House tables now were scattered with Wizarding community families and students refuged and sitting together talking, eating breakfast.

"How long will this go on Ron?"

He shrugged, "I don't know."

"We can't stay here forever."

"I know. Things will get better..."

They sat in the middle of shouting children and gossiping adults. Hermione's mind wandered away.

I hope...