EPILOGUE
This is a non-profit tribute to the works of JK Rowling who, together with her publishers and licensees, owns the characters and situations elaborated herein.
A/N: Spoilers. Thanks to all my reviewers who made this such an enriching experience.
He wiped the smooth wet bottom, powdered deftly and did up the clean nappy, banishing the used one to the nappy bucket. Then he wrapped the screaming squirming bundle in a soft blanket and hoisted it to his shoulder for burping.
The same old words whispered softly – he was too hoarse to sing the child to sleep but a gentle even rhythm was more important than pitch or tune. Another ten minutes and he was able to place his snuffling burden down in a cot next to her older sister. He removed the soiled burping cloth from his shoulder and banished it likewise just as the front door opened.
Hermione was home. In moments she was with him, her shopping bags discarded in the lounge, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his nape. He relaxed into her hold and sighed.
"How were they?" she asked, peering over his shoulder at two peaceful little faces, one framed in black curls the other in dirty blonde.
"You remember telling me that our children would be the horridest creatures in the history of the universe?"
"How could I forget with you reminding me every day?" She nestled closer.
"You were right as usual. Know-it-all." He turned in her arms and dropped a kiss on her hair before pulling her out of the room. He'd spent too long getting them to sleep to risk conversation waking them up.
"That bad? Never mind. Callie and Frank will be back in two days and we can hand them back. Then you'll be complaining you don't see enough of them."
"I still can't believe one of my daughters could be so lacking in judgement as to marry a Longbottom," he grumbled.
She chuckled knowing he got on very well with Neville these days, so well that he'd even recommended him as Sprout's replacement thirteen years ago.
"You've told me that every day for the last five years. But if the little ones inherit their potions ability from the wrong set of grandparents you'll just have to learn to keep your temper in the classroom. You don't want to be your granddaughters' boggart."
Not even the prospect of breaking the Gryffindor monopoly to become the first Slytherin headmaster since Phineas Nigellus had been able to drag him from his Potions classroom when Minerva and Amory retired last year. He'd stayed in the Deputy Head position and let the Ravenclaw Arithmancy professor leapfrog over him.
He made a grumpy noise in his throat as they walked to the kitchen. She put the kettle on and sat down next to him at the table.
"Anything else happen?" she smiled.
"Cammie floo-called from Salem. They've offered her a 5 year contract."
She sat very still. She'd been counting the days till her younger daughter returned.
"Will she take it?"
He scowled.
"She's not sure. She says she wants to discuss it with Janus first."
"Oh." So that was serious. Well there were worse boys than Minerva's grandson, even if he was a bit lightweight for her taste. And at least the international floo connection had finally been opened so they wouldn't be quite cut off from her.
"Anything else?"
"Your parents rang. They want us to take the children over tomorrow. And your mum's talking about a surprise party for your dad's eightieth," he grimaced.
The kettle boiled. She shook her head as he got up to pour the tea. He still hated partying crowds.
"I'd talk her out of it if I could," she offered, "but -"
"I know, I know," he sighed, "she's even more obstinate than you. I'll live."
He handed her a cup and sat down cradling his own between long pale fingers. He'd met his parents-in-law only a day before he married their daughter at the Ministry with Ginny and Neville and Minerva and Amory the only other witnesses. They'd been a little wary at first but before a year had passed Helen had been ordering him around as casually as if he were really her son.
"We've lived through much worse," Hermione reminded him
"Hmmm. Those times are almost like a dream now. Sometimes I wonder how I ended up like this – friends, family, everything I never expected to have."
She smiled.
"And?"
"Everything I've ever done has brought me here. I'd hate to live some of it over but if I had to," he gave a surprised snort at the realisation, "I wouldn't dare change a thing."
A/N Most of the epilogue (and most of last chapter's "proposal") was written around Ch 4. It's great to finally reach it.
Out of several unfinished SSHGs I've chosen to next post "Post-mort" as the least likely to need major revision after HBP comes out. If you're waiting for "Betrayals" I'll update after HBP when I'll have had a chance to see whether it can remain canon-compliant or has to become an AU.
