Chapter 6. Luna, Love, and the journey home.
Dreamscape.
Hermione walked through a garden made of giant flowers of an infinite variety of shapes and colors. Small bunnies with curious horns, like furry earthy narwhals, showed their faces, and a strange song filled the air.
Only after she reached the center of a table in the garden, a tea service became visible. A figure stepped out and dissipated the last of the fog. A beautiful woman of long blond hair, and eyes of crystalline blue, greeted her. She smiled and her butterfly wings fluttered to a close. "Welcome to my garden Hermione, my name is Luna,"
"Oh God, I'm dead," said Hermione.
A laugh followed that statement. Hermione raised her eyes and Luna had one hand covering her mouth. "You truly are a delight," She poured a cup of tea and offered it to Hermione. Hermione nodded and said, "Thank you," The hostess smiled and said, "If I can read your face correctly, you're wondering what you are doing here, and why are you talking to Harry's first wife, right?" Hermione nodded. "Well," said Luna, "I wanted to say, congratulations on your engagement and motherhood, what else?" Asked Luna and then drank her tea.
"So, you're not trying to stop us from getting together?" Asked Hermione.
"No, and you shouldn't fight magical compatibility, you don't need to repeat the mistakes of others," said Luna.
"What mistakes?" Asked Hermione.
"Oh, magic, from the beginning it was and is a gift. But, humanity has a tendency to abuse gifts, and magic was not an exception to the rule," said Luna as she took another sip of her drink.
Hermione nodded and waited. Luna smiled. "Magic has a will, and it chooses a magical mate. I think Harry described it better when he said that being around you, pulled by you, felt familiar, like what he had felt when he was being fitted for a new wand. Well Hermione dear, Magic chose you to be Harry's perfect mate, his perfect fit and yours." Luna said as she got up and started walking. She added, "I opposed magic's will, I had a soul mate, but I was in love with Harry, and in my rebellion, I hurt magic, and magic is a force of nature, as a result, my heart got damaged, and my time in that dimension was forfeit, still, I was happy, and, I educated my Lily to be mindful of Magic."
Hermione listened in rapt attention, while Luna stopped and caressed the bunnies with the strange horns and continued with her conversation. "Magic has made an example of so many that kind of difficult to keep track of, so I'll just keep it simple, the examples closest to our family."
"Oh, I've heard about the Potters," Said Hermione.
"No, in the base of Potters, it was their ancestor, Ignotus Peverell who played hide and seek in an engagement with a Bones ancestor, and Death cursed him. So, that wasn't magic's will, it was a family feud, the Bones are related to the Grim Reaper," Said Luna as she shook her head in shame.
"I heard she was a muggle-born," Said Hermione.
"Back then the Bones were muggle-borns," Assured Luna.
"Ah, I see, oh boy, what a way to make a lasting impression on the Grim Reaper, huh?" Asked Hermione.
"Tell me about it, I carried the last name Potter, so it was awkward when it was my turn to start on my new adventure," Shared Luna.
Hermione laughed, and Luna continued. "Your good friend Sal, they conceived her under magical compatibility, but her mother abandoned her and her father after Sally was born. It was heartbreaking for Sally to learn her mother had died in a freak accident after a hurricane assaulted the Bahamas where she was vacationing."
"Oh, my God, that's terrible," agreed Hermione.
"Let's not talk about Theodore Nott, let's just say it's sad. Neville and Daphne are a magical change, those happen too, and then we have the ones that got turned into creatures, by magic, for just being too selfish, case in point, Sirius Black," added Luna.
"Who?" Asked Hermione,
"The big Grim dog that my baby Lily calls Paddy," answered Luna.
"What? There is a big grown man in the shape of a dog around my children?" Hermione inquired, scared.
"Hermione, think, who does the babysitting for the children?" Asked Luna while raising an eyebrow.
"Winky and Tim, oh, I see, they also act as magical filters, keeping the children safe." Breathed Hermione.
"Yes, so let me ask you, why are you afraid of tying the knot with Harry?" Luna probed.
"I don't know. No, wait, I do, I feel inadequate, unprepared and, I find it hard to believe that Harry will still love me when advanced pregnancy is upon me and I end up looking like a mix of an Inferi and a whale." Replied Hermione.
"You keep thinking like a child, even though you're an adult. Motherhood is something you learn as you continue with your everyday life. And let's not forget, you're insane while preparing for a new season of products and fashion at HJP, I'm sure motherhood will be a breeze in comparison. Plus, give Harry some credit, please? He feels awkward around you, and pregnancy will level ground." Countered Luna.
"I," Hermione stopped and bit her lip.
Luna bumped Hermione's forehead and added. "Stop thinking, please, just stop, you're a pretty amazing woman, trust Magic and just love Harry, everything else will fall into place."
"Ouch!" cried Hermione, after Luna bumped her above her head. After a second Hermione felt Luna embrace her and whisper something. Hermione instead asked, "Luna, what are those furry rodents with unicorn horns?"
"Oh, they're my spirit guides, the Crumple Horned Snorkacks." Answered Luna.
"The what?" Asked Hermione.
"Wake up Hermione," said Luna.
"What?"
End of Dreamscape.
An alarm made Hermione wake up, while a brushtail of ginger hair seemed to dance like a furred serpent, next to Hermione's face.
"Seriously Crooks, you know I'm up," Then it hit her, morning sickness. She ran and barely made it. After a while, she mumbled, "I wish Winky was here."
"Mistress Hermione called?" Replied Winky in a cool tone.
"I'm sorry Winky, did I wake you up?" Asked Hermione.
"Mistress, why are you apologizing?" Asked Winky in return.
"Did I summon you out of your chores?" Insisted Hermione.
"No, you didn't," Winky snapped her fingers, and Hermione felt herself being refreshed by house-elf magic. In the kitchen, Crooks blinked, from the sudden change of scenery, but yowled in agreement to his bowl of water and dry food being served.
Hermione felt like crying. She thought to herself. "Stupid Hormones," To which Winky snapped her fingers, summoning a teacup filled with a chamomile infusion and giving it to Hermione. "Don't cry mistress, Winky knows you are a big and bright lady. But, you're also quite scared of the changes in the big mad world."
"Yes Winky, the big mad world, my body changing all of it scares me. I'm Not brave because I charge ahead in a cloud of adrenaline, I'm brave because I Have no choice and I charge ahead, but I always have a plan, this coupling, slash, romance, slash event is so, well, sudden."
"What does your heart tell you, mistress?" Asked Winky,
"Answer the question, Hermione," said Emma Granger, as she stepped into the room quietly.
"Mom, what?"
"Look, I know you're an adult, and I know that I'm still overprotective about you, but I worry when you shy away from the world and you use magic to disappear," added Emma.
"I'm sorry mom, I'm sorry Winky, I must seem like the world's biggest Prima Donna, I, my heart is his, that's what it tells me Winky when I ask my heart, my heart is his, that's the answer, I love him, I want to marry him, but I know so little of him, and, as soon as he's in range, just his scent, drives me insane, I mean, self-control, a cool mind, clothes, become optional and, he's so sexy, with those perfect green eyes and his perfect arse, and I, I don't want to become pathetic, dependant and ultimately discarded,"
"You're afraid of being vulnerable?" Emma sighed, she smiled and added, "Oh dear, I'm afraid that no one can relay on how to skip vulnerability in a relationship," Winky snapped her fingers and an extra cup of tea appeared, Emma nodded took the cup, and drank, after she said, "Trust, is the first part you must work on, be brave, open yourself to heartbreak, be aware, that after the phase of crazy coupling, you will get to meet every day Harry, and if by the end of that phase in which every day Harry and sexy Harry and chef Harry and Daddy Harry and just plain Harry will be one rounded human being that, one, attracts you, or two, will repel you, but you will have the full version,"
Hermione remained quiet for a couple of seconds and then nodded, got up, and said. "I love him,"
"Head's on mistress, this time its heads on, be brave," said Winky.
"Okay, Winky, could you work your magic on me, and take me to Harry?"
In a whirlwind of magic, Hermione landed in the garden. She tiptoed and noticed young Lily was in conversation with her father.
"Daddy, you really don't think that the Fairy Queen will reject you, do you?"
"I, uh," said Harry, before Lily continued. "Because she really is, what did mommy call it? Uh, oh yeah, goofy in love with you."
"You really think so, bunny?" Asked Harry, "Yeah, I mean, she just has so many chores, and servants and everyone are so keen on her every move, yet, she is so afraid of disappointing others and you, but she looks at you, just like mommy used to do, and when she does, she glows, it's easy to notice, magic grows around both of you."
Harry smiled and kissed Lily on her forehead, "You're a very smart bunny, what else have you noticed?"
"Well, Magic is also weird, I mean, I had a dream, in this dream I met a Black Prince, and he said he's going to marry me, but first, he has to get rid of the fleas."
"Oh," Said Harry while scratching his head, then Paddy walked into the garden, and Harry added, "Oh, so, you are going to marry Paddy?"
"Yes, but his name is not Paddy, it's Sirius, he's a prince that, uh, got cursed by his own actions, he betrayed his brother and the family magic cursed him to be a Grimm until he met his soulmate, Mommy knew of this, and before leaving us, she called Paddy to come to our home in Scotland and be with us, the Blacks and the Potters were once, uh, good friends."
Harry nodded and looked to the massive mutt, "Listen here Paddy, promise me you will guard my bunny as though I made her of gold, otherwise, no more steaks or flea powder for you,"
Lily giggled and said, "Daddy, you're so silly, Paddy hates flea powder, he has a magic flea repellent collar that reads, if lost, please return this big Black Grimm dog to Lily Maia Potter."
Hermione stepped in and noticed Harry saying, "Oh, then I guess you have that already covered, good."
Both Lily and Harry took notice of Hermione entering, and Lily added, "See Daddy, the fairy Queen always keeps her promise, come along Paddy, Daddy and the Queen need a moment alone." Lily walked away, while the Grim dog followed.
When alone, Harry added, "She is so much like her mother, but, unlike her mother, I understand everything she says, and she scares me, because of her gifts. Oh well, we Potters' do nothing as other families do, we are larger than life."
"So our courtship is small potatoes, then?" Asked Hermione. Harry smiled, and answered, "No, nothing about us, magical or mundane is trivial, but, I understand now, that Lily is right, fright is a big factor in our relationship."
"Yeah, I am a big scaredy-cat, but I want to be brave. Will you Marry me, Harry James Potter?" She smiled at Harry's face of shock.
"I, uh," Hermione continued. "When things get difficult, and I have a meltdown, will you continue being married to me, will you love me even when I get old and I resemble Baba Yaga, more than a Veela?"
"Well, I promise to take cover when you have a meltdown and wave a white flag before approaching enemy lines, and I think, that if I am lucky enough to see you go into the old Crone phase, I will still be the old fart that would follow you around making sure you are happy, in a word, yes, let's get married, Hermione,"
They hugged before kissing, then they heard a quiet sniffing, Harry said, "Winky, stop crying you are going to be a maiden of honor,"
"Master and Mistress make Winky so happy, thank you for your kind invitation to the wedding celebration."
"Winky, could you please keep the crowds away for a while, I need to…" Hermione could not finish her sentence. Since Winky snapped her fingers and a dome of magic kept the eyes and ears of non-wanted persons and pets away in a barrier. The magical aide stepped away, leaving the couple to their antics.
"Okay, I have a question, do I really affect you as much as you affect me, or is this one-sided?"
Said Hermione as she unzipped her dress and made it slide gently on her skin revealing her nude body. Stretching her neck as the light from the ceiling window covered her in a rosy glow. She then raised her soft brown eyes and winked at him, while drawing a lopsided smile, in perfect imitation to Harry's at his first-night seduction.
Harry realized he was a very lucky man. From the moment she shifted from a shy damsel in distress to power lady, was a turn-on. She was amazing when she felt loved. He was a lucky bastard because Hermione felt comfortable enough to uncover and be vulnerable, to be so powerful, yet so inviting. He started tearing up. He lowered his head and in one hard tone of voice. "Do you know how beautiful you are? Here surrounded by a landscape of flowers, light, and you? Wow, the word beautiful… seems short, inadequate, you are divine."
Hermione took his head in between her hands, took his glasses off, and dried his tears, and hugged him while saying in a whisper. "I love you,"
She pulled his shirt off his back, and he kissed her in an effort to hold on to sanity. He then snapped his fingers, and his clothes vanished, while saying. "It's magic dear, remember, we can use it," She raised and pulled his face in another kiss while saying, "I knew I love magic for a reason," Harry chuckled and fell on his arse, as she jumped on top of him and Harry eloquently added, "Oomph," While Hermione said, "Sorry," Harry laughed and added, "Nah, it's okay, ooh, wow, so beautiful, wait, before I forget, uh, yeah, I uh, stop Hermione,"
Hermione was on top swaying her hips while smiling, she slowed her sway, she took his hands and kissed the tips, then asked in a playful tone, "Yes, Harry?"
"You are going to be the death of me, but, to answer your previous question, yes, you affect me, you affect me as bad," Then he pulled her for another kiss and said in a Sotto voice, "I love you,"
"I love you," Her hips resumed her rhythm, as Harry raised halfway towards her, meeting her, in a perfect hug. Hermione closed her ankles behind Harry's back, as she felt herself and him in this dance, heart to heart, no longer just herself, but a part of a divine entity with a dual heartbeat, that poured their joy, love, and magic, to the universe in gratitude.
Both Hermione and Harry were thankful to the stars for that miracle. They both could rest, they had found their home.
-oo0oo-
Nine months later. Magical General Hospital, Maternity Ward, Magical district Sydney, Australia.
"I hate this, I mean, why, why did he have to be so prolific? I swear, I will snip his privates, if he gets me knocked up again, this I…" Winky's napkin dabbed Hermione's mouth. "Now, mistress, swearing upon one's magic in a moment of labor is wrong and usually it backfires, don't tempt the fates, now drink your birthing potion and your skin tightness potion. The babies are coming and Harry is not allowed in the birthing chamber until you do, now be a dutiful mother and drink up," ordered Winky.
Hermione started shedding tears, "What if I fail at being a good mommy?"
"Oh, for heaven's sake dear, we already had this conversation, you are going to be a brilliant mother you have me, with at least four decades of experience on you, and the Potter's who just can't wait for the Quidditch team to be a reality," said Emma Granger.
"Oh yes, that plus, the entire world being your oyster as you will travel on maternity leave and enjoy the wonders of growing pains. Plus the kids adore you," said Daniel Granger.
"You of course will visit Potter Glen, and get an idea of why Potter men are so fond of flying," said James Potter,
"Yes, because, the stupid ones, can't seem to stop pissing dragons, the fates, and even the Grim Reaper, a proud tradition, indeed," said Lily Potter.
"Enough, mom, dad, Mr. and Missus Granger, my poor bride and mother of my kids is getting paler by the minute, come dear, let us leave these insensible bunch of eager grandparents and concentrate on the newest set of Potters," said Harry as he took the wheelchair and led her to the birthing room assigned for them at the hospital.
"Harry," said Hermione,
"Yes dear," answered Harry.
"I love you, but if you get me preggers again, I will cut your testicles with a dull spoon, okay?" Said Hermione with a very serious expression.
"Worry not my fiery woman, I will help you choose the spoon if I do, now, let's get your panties off, and wait for the Healer to say push, I love you," added Harry,
"No, no fair, why do you have to be such a sexy husband, I hate this, I get to look like a whale and you are the perfect mate, I hate this," Hermione shed tears,
"You don't hate it, you love it, and your husband is a charmer, hi, I'm healer Rose, Mr. and Missus Potter, well, I think this is going to be the easiest birth on my daily run, now that you have taken the potions. Oh, I just had a couple of fun ones, first this very fashionable lawyer, and his wife, a very dangerous military woman, she basically scared her husband and all the nurses until Mack, her assistant Stupefied her, and dozed her with the birthing potions and then her boy was born, followed by a beautiful baby girl. The father was shedding more tears than an American eating raw jalapeno peppers. Oh, how do you feel, no more painful labor pains, now, where was I, then there was this very handsome bloke who had sphinx Animagus for a wife, she reminded me of Cleopatra with her hair cut, and her very sophisticated manners, still, she broke his hand on labor pains, I had to petrified the woman, in order to detach his hand, then give her the birthing potions, and minutes later, they were praising each other with their baby girls. Oh, there you go, beautiful, here's a baby girl for the nurse, oh great set of lungs, she will make a great opera singer, and now, here's her baby brother, oh yes, beautiful set of eyes, and he's smiling, oh, you will be a heartbreaker won't you?" Said Healer Rose as she delivered the tiny beings to the nurses and then moved on. The hospital was in a frenzy as more babies needed to be delivered.
Harry could not believe he could love Hermione more, she was looking at the babies with joy and waiting for the healer to finish. They placed last the babies in the nursery, and the dads and grandparents along with the siblings made their inspection.
Lily Maia Potter said to her siblings, "Welcome to the light, I'm glad my dad and mom, got the good baby catalog, you guys look like dolls, and I know you will be the most wonderful baby brother and sister ever, we loved you from before you got here, I know you will feel the love every day from now on. My mommy told me, I would love all, but you two would have a piece of my heart, just like she promised, I do, mommy was never wrong, I do,"
Lily Potter and Emma Granger held Lily Maia's shoulder each, and stared at the twins and all the other babies and silently gave thanks, to a stupid elevator, failing, and making magic tangible again.
The End.