Happy Wednesday lovelies!

There are a lot of exciting things coming up in the next few chapters, but this one is kind of a nice break in between!

Please leave a review and let me know what you think x

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me

Wednesday, June 2nd, 1999
Orkney Islands, Archipelago of Scotland, UK
Longbottom Manor's Grounds
Awarnach House

"You have magic hands, Mione," Alice sighed.

A sea of stars shimmered above the three witches. After the mirthful meal with the others, Alice, Hermione and Riley had snuck off to the Northern part of the house.

Frank, Augusta, Minerva, Draco, Sirius, Remus, Kingsley and Valerie were gathered in the main living area, drinking and exchanging warm pleasantries. The evening had been delightful, and hours had whizzed by feeling like minutes.

Tonks was pulling a double shift, covering for an Auror who was out-of-country on brief protective detail for the Head Auror. They hadn't been given any other information as Tonks couldn't discuss an active assignment.

Teddy had been doted on by Augusta the entire evening. A telltale glimmer of enchantment was in the older witch's eyes. She'd made several blatant remarks to her grandson in passing weeks about him making his courtship of Pansy official.

"Give the girl a ring. It's only proper, and hopefully you will be giving me grandchildren sooner rather than later."

Neville blanched, "children might have to wait a few years, Nan."

Hermione was struck by Valerie's beauty. The woman's silver hair was like starlight, her ice blue eyes were surprisingly bright and filled with mischief. She carried herself with practised poise and perpetually appeared to float a couple inches off the ground. The woman had settled easily into conversation with Augusta and Minerva, two of the hardest witches to impress.

Kingsley and the Potters were serious about re-strengthening the bond between their houses and families. This was a small step, one of many to come in the future.

"It's a gorgeous night," Riley said, voice twinkling with awe.

Alice had spread out a thick, black knit blanket on the ground, and the witches sat close together, their faces inches away from the rounded glass wall. Augusta had dutifully maintained the ivy that climbed along the outside face of the building so it didn't obscure the view.

Riley was on the left, Hermione in the middle, and Alice on the right. Alice was twisted to the side, her left leg partially bent and resting in Hermione's lap. Hermione was thoroughly massaging Alice's calf.

Early that morning, Alice went for a light jog around the Manor's grounds. The Longbottom's Healer had given her permission to begin light strength training. She'd pushed herself to the edge of her limits. Now, her entire body is sore.

"Please be careful, Alice," Hermione implored as she worked her fingers into Alice's taut muscles.

"I am…it's just, I've been stagnant for years. My body has practically wasted away. It's frustrating not being able to do things that used to be effortless," Alice grumbled. She leaned forward and brushed Hermione's hair over her shoulder. She winced and hissed as Hermione worked out a tough knot.

"You should stick to your stretches for the next few days," Hermione said. Alice nodded glumly. She combed her fingers through her cropped hair. Unlike her best mates, Alice had grown weary of her long hair after a few weeks, and she'd enlisted Augusta's assistance in cutting it a couple days ago.

"You don't want to end up injuring yourself, Allie," Riley said, leaning around Hermione to pat Alice's right thigh.

Alice nodded, her gaze shifting to the outdoors, her warm brown eyes were dark and glittering with starlight. "I won't," Alice swore.

Alice's lips curled in a furtive smile. She artfully pivoted the conversation. "On another note, we have another wedding on the horizon."

A tinkle of a laugh left Hermione's lips. "Alice. It's almost a year away."

"It will pass quicker than you think," Alice said sagely. "Have you both agreed on a spring affair?"

"Draco would prefer a winter wedding, but he conceded that a spring one is more practical and will be just as lovely," Hermione said. She patted Alice's leg and gently stretched it out. She began kneading Alice's other one.

"Spring would be divine," Riley grinned. She'd had her own impromptu spring wedding, and she'd loved every second of it.

"We discussed April, but Draco suggested May, so we'll have to decide."

"I think it's lovely that your Mum left behind ideas for all her children's weddings," Riley said softly.

"There are all kinds of handwritten notes in the margins. The level of detail she went into is impressive. I gave Narcissa all of it, and I trust that she'll honour Mum's ideas whilst adding her own," Hermione said quietly, tender affectionate notes clinging to her words.

"How's Neville, Allie?" Riley asked, artfully pivoting the conversation. "I can't even imagine what you and Frank are going through."

Alice drank in a steadying breath, and tipped her face to the sky.

"My son is old enough to soon be thinking about children of his own," Alice murmured. She fell forward and dropped her cheek onto Hermione's shoulder. Hermione rested her head against Alice's.

"It's bizarre. Especially when I say it aloud. For me, he was just learning to walk and talk…now he's—he's a man," Alice said, trying to articulate her conflicted feelings on the matter.

"And how's Frank managing?" Hermione asked, stroking Alice's back through her silk shirt. The pointed collar was neatly pressed, and the top two buttons were undone, it was tucked into a knee-length, loose skirt.

"Better than me. He was lucid more often than I was. The gaps weren't as big," Alice said. She absently scratched her chin.

"My grandchildren might be at Hogwarts at the same time as your children," Alice said as it dawned on her.

"Does that bother you? That our children will be so much younger than Neville or Harry?" Riley asked. She swivelled her body so she was facing the other two.

A blanket of Hermione's warmth enveloped Alice as Hermione pulled her friend closer. The witch shook her head. "No. It's not how I envisioned things, but no."

Another topic that had yet to be broached tickled Alice's mind. She grinned wickedly at Hermione. "Also, I still can't believe you had a covert relationship for years without any of us noticing."

"Well, it's not like you had any incentive to look deeper into Draco and I's relationship."

"We are best mates. I should have figured out something was going on with you. Even if I didn't figure out who, I should have been able to see how bloody happy you were."

"Eh, there was an impending war. I think you're excused."

"You started dating in sixth year," Alice pointed out astutely. Hermione's shoulders rose and fell nonchalantly.

"It was also tediously tiring hiding it from those we cared about. We did discuss telling you and Frank, but ultimately we decided against it. The less people that knew the better," Hermione said. Alice nodded in understanding, she wasn't upset.

Alice lifted her head to peek at Riley, "you found out back then. It must have been a shock."

"I spent an entire night questioning everything," Riley confessed. She carefully uncrossed her legs and placed them on either side of her friends. The blanket was large enough that her bare feet didn't touch the cold, slate grey, stone floor.

"I thought you might hate us when you found out. Cause we'd lied to you for so long. I knew I had to tell you and Lily, but I was terrified about how you two would react."

Riley thoughtfully twirled some of her hair between her fingers. "I needed time to process after Draco told me the truth…but it made sense."

Riley continued to fiddle with her hair, curling it and playing with the strands as she elucidated her thoughts. "I spent the entire night, lying awake in bed, piecing together all the secretive glances, Draco's indignation towards Smith, how in sync you are with one another…it made sense."

Riley rubbed her hands together absentmindedly. Her milky white eye was covered by her hair as she glanced down at the small gap between her legs. She poked at the spot. "Besides, seeing you two together? You're so undeniably in love, and it's beautiful."

Alice made a noise of assent. "It was a bit of a shock when you both explained everything, but the way you two look at each other…"

A touch of pink brushed Hermione's cheeks. She smiled wistfully. A sadness lingered in her eyes. Alice twisted to look at her friend. "Hermione?"

"Sometimes I wonder if it's okay to be so happy when we've lost so many people."

"Yes," Alice said without an ounce of apprehension. "Yes, if anyone deserves to be happy it's you, Mione."

"But—"

"No buts, Hermione Potter," Riley interjected. "They may be gone, but it would do their memories a disservice if we didn't live our lives to the fullest. It's the least we can do."

Alice had struggled with the loss of so many dear friends since her and Frank's recovery. She'd wondered the same things for a few weeks, but now she'd made her peace with reality. They couldn't afford to waste any more time. She had had enough stolen from her.

"It's okay, Mione. You're allowed to live your life," Riley said. It was a sentiment she had reiterated more than once to the witch. Hermione nodded, fresh tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

Alice witnessed the moment a leaden weight lifted from Hermione Potter's shoulders with a laboured, trembling exhale. Alice saw the moment when she escaped the clutches of debilitating demons that had been plaguing her since her return.

Hermione drank in a steadying breath and slowly released it. She gathered her two friends close, breathing in their warmth. And finally, Hermione was ready to look towards the future instead of being consumed by the past.

I managed to finish off chapter 214, and also write the entirety of chapter 215 since Monday, SO, I will be posting on Friday as scheduled x

There were a lot of guesses about pregnant witches in the reviews on the last chapter and they all made me smile, I guess you lot will just have to wait and see ;)