This is the end of a beautiful friendship,
It ended a moment ago.
This is the end of a beautiful friendship,
I know,
For your eyes told me so.

We were always
Like sister and brother,
Until tonight,
When we looked at each other.

That was the end of a beautiful friendship
And just the beginning of love.

"A Beautiful Friendship" sung by Susannah McCorkle

Friday, August 1st 2014

He awoke to the scent of vanilla and salt, something silk-soft and warm tickling his nose. He inhaled, taking in the deliciousness that was her smell, his vision blurry from the absence of his spectacles, but still he could see the bedroom awash with golden light. His chest was pressed against her bare back, his arm holding her gently against him.

"Wake up, sleepy witch…" He whispers, pressing a sweet kiss on her bare shoulder and tickling her delicate skin with his beard.

"Sod off, Harry—the one morning I get to sleep in late…" She mumbles, without daring to open her eyes, tightening her hold on the precious pillow. He can't help but laugh.

Laugh because of his sheer luck, laugh because with her it was so easy to just be. He laughed because she is the cutest in the morning, her curls a wild, messy bush that no explorer but him could possibly dare dive into. Harry laughed for the sake of laughing and feeling legitimately happy—blissful even.

"But it's seven, love." He reminds her, imagining that the bit of information would be enough to have her jump out of bed and straight for the bathroom, but instead she just shrugs and yawns dramatically, stretching her legs beneath the covers like a lazy cat.

She turns around, facing him and idly snuggles into his chest, her hand sliding around him, fingernails beginning to gently trail along his back. She closes her eyes and hums in satisfaction when he relaxes into her touch and goosebumps rise upon the skin her fingers touch. He plays with the baby curls right above her ear, his thumb then tracing her jawline and caressing her rosy cheek, her skin pale and almost translucent. He kisses her forehead, taking his sweet time.

"Bookshop won't open today…" She informs him, voice just above a whisper, only because she knows he's wondering. "The town is celebrating and I dare say Celia is probably setting up a party as we speak—she really loves event planning."

"You were brilliant at the trial—powerful, electric, witty, smart, sexy as hell…"

"You listened through the wireless, Harry." Harry snickers and lets out a hoarse chuckle—it vibrates against her cheek.

"Aurors have imagination too, you know…" He trails off and she leans back to take a good look at his lopsided grin. Her lover's eyes are shining and Hermione knows she's just a blur to him right now. "I bet you were in the blue robes—you look your best in the blue…" He tells her, a dreamy far-off look in his eyes. Hermione huffs and rolls her eyes, giving him a gentle shove—there's no denying the satisfied smile she's trying to hide with the biting of her bottom lip, though. "Many visions I've had, of ripping that blue right off of you in that old office of yours at the Ministry, remember? Looking out at the park and the cherry trees?"

His fingers are softly trailing down her shoulders and arms until his hand cups her cool breast and though she wants to, Hermione cannot resist closing her eyes in pleasure, the familiar warm sensation arousing her. She captures his lips with hers and throws her leg across his waist, gluing herself against him, feeling his hard member press against her pelvis.

When they hear a door forcefully close, probably due to the wind, from the hallway she whispers to him:

"Let's make it quick—little monsters are up…" He kisses her again and moves, pinning her against the mattress, his lips trailing kisses and suckles along her skin, a hand kneading her breast while the other parts her legs. She gasps out of pleasure when he slides deep inside of her, hips fast at work as Hermione's pleasure only grows, her nails digging into the flesh of his shoulders and back, as she bites her lips as to keep her moans low so the children won't hear. She sees an explosion of beautiful, exquisite stars when he finds that spot within her that always does the trick, he feels her womanhood tighten and tighten around him. Harry captures her lips as she trembles forcefully and wildly—grunting, buckling in her orgasm as he continues to thrust into her, deeper and faster, his hands holding a fistful of her hair, lips pressing against that delicate spot below her ear.

"Come for me, Harry…" Hermione whispers, her voice breathless and husky and desperate—it's enough for him to come completely undone inside of her and she covers his lips with hers to hide the expression of his delicious release. Moments later, he slides out of her and reaches for his glasses on the nightstand. After slipping them on everything is clearer, less like a dream and more like perfect reality. He looks at her, cheeks red, lips swollen, eyes dark with sheer desire. Both their chests still wildly heaving when he presses his forehead to hers.

"That good enough for you?" The corner of her lips curve upwards and he watches as her eyes sparkle, a big smile of delight illuminating her features. Gods she is beautiful—he still can't believe his luck.

Before she can respond they hear the whispered bickering of children outside their door as well as thumping and shuffling against the corridor's carpet. He presses a quick kiss to her lips and the show-off that he is, accios his pajama pants, slipping them on. Hermione slips on her silk camisole that had been discarded by the bed and then silently turns to face him. She presses her finger against her own lips, motioning for them both to be quiet.

"Let's pretend we're asleep…" He whispers and she rolls her eyes, unable to hide the cheesy smile or the cheesy happiness. She does as he says and buries her head in the pillow, eyes closing and lips relaxing. Harry follows suit and indeed, just a split second later come the knocks, and then the children barge into the bedroom hopping up the bed.

"Mummy wake up!" Hugo calls and Lily wiggles herself between her daddy and her mum. Albus climbs on to the edge of the bed, tugging at his father's leg.

"Dad!" He calls, using all the strength he can muster to try to get his father to budge.

"Hmm—I'm tired…" Hermione drawls out lazily, pressing her eyes closed. Hugo tickles her toe and she can't resist pulling her leg up with a giggle.

"Five more minutes, please!" Harry pretends to beg as Albus climbs on top of him and tries to shake him away.

"You never give us five minutes!" Albus cries out with a devilish grin. "Breakfast's on the table!"

"Breakfast?" Hermione asked a single eyelid opening wide, brown eyes seeming interested. Albus chuckles because she looks funny squinting like that.

"Yes, indeed!" The raven-haired boy confirms with a grin, pulling back her covers in the hopes that she'll get up. Parents could be such children at times, he thought, rolling his eyes dramatically.

"Merlin, how efficient, they even serve breakfast! You hear that, Harry?" She turns, pushing him lightly on the shoulder enthusiastically.

"Minus these dreadful alarm clocks, I think this hotel is très elegant, don't you think, 'Mione?" She smiles at his use of French and kisses a giggling Lily on the cheek, bopping her nose adoringly.

"Why is there sand all over the bed?" Albus inquires, showing the adults the bit that he grabbed in his hand from the top of the covers.

While Hermione drops her act and flushes a deep beet red from embarrassment, Harry can't help but laugh at their little adventure at the beach last night—the patrol guard nearly catching them in the act. Before she can ruin everything with a lame excuse he devilishly puts on an expression of annoyance.

"I swear it's that crack on Hermione's window—I told you to fix it, you'll catch a cold during winter and last night a sand storm nearly buried us alive!" Hermione immediately catches on to what he's up to and huffs, sitting up, feet searching around the hardwood floor for her fluffy slippers.

"Oh, put a sock in it, Harry! You fix the crack then…" She exclaims and the children begin to slip out of the bed, giggling and teasing the older wizard. Albus takes Hermione's hand ushering her out the door while Hugo and Lily jump on top of Harry, who trudges out of the room and down the stairs with them hanging with arms around his neck, conversing loudly and giggling while imitating Hermione's admonishing of him.

Harry's stomach grumbles when he catches a whiff of eggs and bacon in the air, coming from the kitchen. Lily and Hugo both slide off him and take their places around the long wooden table, laid out with utter shabby care by the children. Mismatched teacups, mugs, plates and cutlery are laid out for each person and a lovely porcelain pitcher is filled with flowers and dandelions picked from theirs and the neighbors' gardens.

Teddy is by the stove wearing an apron and a white dishcloth on top of his bright blue hair to pose as a puffy muggle chef's hat. He waves them good morning with spatula in hand.

"Welcome to the Happy Gryff Restaurant where fine eating joins fine drinking!" He jokes and they all laugh.

Harry and Hermione share a look and she bites back a grin, her eyes sparkling as the chosen restaurant names spark memories of two seemingly fearless teenagers flying on the back of a hippogriff over Hogwarts many a moon ago. Merlin, they have so much history… and each day there is more.

"'Morning, mum!" Rosie calls out pulling a bright red wooden chair for Hermione to sit on. "Please take your seat.

"Thank you, darling…" Hermione places a furtive kiss on her ever-growing daughter's cheek and Rose blushes, continuing on her duties.

"And this is your seat, sir." James exclaims with great pomp in his voice, as he bows to his dad with a flourish, pulling out his own chair next to Hermione.

"Albus—orange juice!" Rose bossily calls out and the boy quickly fetches the large pitcher from the refrigerator, setting it on top of the table.

"All right, Potters & Grangers—breakfast coming through!" Teddy rounds the kitchen island carrying a large plate with eggs and bacon in one hand and chocolate chip muffins in another. Rose carries in a basket of warm Italian breads bought very early in the morning at the bakery, while James sets a large pink bowl with cut fruits on the table.

They all take their places and though a little bit tight, the dear table fits them all—the entire room colored golden from the sunlight pouring in from the large window facing the sink.

"Well, you kids sure know how to prepare a feast!" Harry compliments them, giving Hugo a high-five, while Rose smiles proudly, brown eyes sparkling with joy. He looks to his godson and shakes his head in utter awe. Thank you he mouths to the teenager, who rolls his eyes and shrugs.

"Daddy, try the muffin, it's delectable." Lily tells him, proud that she's making use of a big new word Teddy taught her.

Harry takes a warm muffin and bites in. Indeed, it tasted heavenly and so he made a show of his reaction.

"Hmmmm, it's absolutely scrumptious—thank you, Lilypad."

Once they are all eating, sipping their teas, pink milks, coffees and orange juices, the sound of animated chatter and goofing around filling the kitchen, Hermione finds it necessary, nay, the best moment to get it all over with. She rises from her seat and by clanking her spoon to her cup several times calls her family's attention to her. Because that's what they were now, wasn't it?

"Attention please, thank you ever so much! Well, so all of you have eyes and can see perfectly fine, right?" She starts out asking, taking in the curious eyes staring back at her.

"All except, Harry!" Teddy jokes and the boys especially snicker, finding it funny. Hermione rolls her eyes at his goofy comment and continues:

"What I meant to say, Edward, was that you lot are all well aware that things are different now, aren't you?"

"Yes, mum." Rose confirms, quietly now.

"Why are things different?" Hermione asks, eyeing the children like a professor would her students.

"You're all gooey eyes and kiss, kiss, kiss now!" Lily exclaims. It wasn't quite the response Hermione was going for, as she paused, surprised—but it did the trick because immediately the children began to debate and talk over each other, louder and louder and all at once.

Harry finally finds his Gryffindor courage and also gets up, motioning for the children to quiet down and listen.

"I suppose we are all kissy, aren't we, Lily, but that's because we are in love." He turns to Hermione and laces his fingers with hers, "and that means there will be quite a bit of change in our lives from now on—for starters, we are all one big family now."

"A crazy, loud and weird family!" James contributed with a smile, "I rather like it." Hermione's eyes fill with happy tears upon his remark and she blows him a kiss across the table, making him blush ever-so-slightly.

"Yes—a crazy, loud, weird, messy, but happy family and I think that even though it may not be easy, the changes in all our lives will be for the good. For starters, I think we'll be bunking here with Hermione, Rose and Hugo for the rest of the summer," Harry's eyes shift to Teddy, who is all of the sudden very quiet in his corner of the table next to Hugo. "and hopefully Ted will stay with us until he has to leave again for school."

Teddy immediately lights up, his hair turning a bright magenta and he smiles hugely, barely containing his happiness—it was all he wanted without even knowing it.

"I knew I'd win you with the bacon!" He jokes and Hermione chuckles whilst wiping a tear away.

"Oh, don't be silly, Teddy-bear, we love you, bacon or not." She replies with that matter-of-fact tone of hers that reminds Teddy a bit of 'Mary Poppins', a film he'd seen many times and that had once been his late mum's favorite.

"Uncle Harry, will Lily, Albie and James come to our school?" Rose asks, knowing that they'd always attended St. Anne's Primary School all the way in Godric's Hollow.

"We don't know yet, Petal, your mum and I are just taking things one day at a time, yeah?" Rose nods, though for her it's quite a sight to behold, her mum not really having a plan.

"Can we go to the beach then, family?" James asks, eagerly.

"Technically you should be grounded," Harry reminds him, "and you too Lily Luna—yesterday was no joke. However, we're far too happy today so will let it slide." James and Lily were all smiles, "Though be warned that any further misbehavior and law-breaking will be severely punished." James and Lily complain but begrudgingly agree with their father's terms. Quite pleased with himself, Harry turns to look at Hermione, "Did I do it right?" She huffs dramatically and shakes her head in a faux display of dismay, pinching the bridge of her nose—their children all laugh.

…

It took all of them about an hour after breakfast to put all the leftovers away, do the dishes and prepare for their little beach trip. The children were especially excited to show Teddy around, as he'd never been to Tenby and had only seen the ocean once before when he was little, during a trip to the Côte d'Azur with Andromeda.

Harry and Hermione followed the children hand in hand, all but Teddy knowing the twenty-minute path by heart. It was first of August and the day was as beautiful as a day could possibly be, with plenty of sunshine and not a single gray cloud in the sky, a luxury when it came to the British Isles. They passed the winding roads of colorful row houses with flowers at the windows and friendly neighbors who waved to them and wished their 'good mornings'.

"I love it here." Harry said after a few minutes of silence, just taking in the lovely town around them and the bubbly happiness and skipping around of their combined boys and girls. "I really do…"

"This is my home Harry, and Rose and Hugo's too—but I do think that just about anyplace could be our home if you, James, Lily, Albus and Teddy were there."

"You think so?" Hermione squeezed his hand and nodded, looking up towards the blue of the sky, biting her bottom lip in the way that suggested she was thinking hard about something. Moments later she finally told him what it was:

"Kingsley came forth with a proposition yesterday—a huge proposition, one that I'm not so sure of." Harry furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Hermione, her face slightly worried, but still the picture of beauty in her ochre summer dress, which brought out the natural golden-brown shade of her hair and skin. "He wants me to run for Minister," she blurted out, releasing her hand from his and running it nervously through her curls.

It was indeed huge, but Harry was also aware of just how much this meant to his best friend—this was her dream and he would never in a million years stop her. Still, he didn't know quite what to say, it wasn't something he'd been expecting. Hermione had been living and working in Tenby for so long now and seemed so happy… He didn't think she would want to change from that so suddenly.

"Say something, Harry, or I might go bonkers…" She told him, eyes pleading.

"If it's your dream and what you want Hermione, you should take it. If it will bring you happiness and fulfillment, take it."

"You bring me happiness and fulfillment…" She replies and he takes her hand in his once again, stopping her in her tracks. The children continued along, oblivious to Harry and Hermione, distracted with their own conversations.

"'Mione, you and I both know it's a different sort of happiness and fulfillment—I know it's different, and I support you one hundred percent. Sometimes I think you forget I've known you most of our lives… You are the most brilliant woman I know, hell, Rowena Ravenclaw would have nothing on you. If there's one person in all of England perfectly capable of being Minister—and the best Minister—in this country's history it is you. I'll be with you each step of the way, I want you to know that." Hermione's lips tremble and her eyes fill with tears. She can't hold it in much longer and throws herself into his arms, holding on to him with dear life. Harry nearly loses his balance but nevertheless holds her, for as long as she needs, burying his nose in her hair.

Hermione buries her face in the crook of his neck, taking in the scent of him, a mixture of sunshine, freshly mown grass, wood and the cinnamon from the buns he devoured during breakfast. Harry smells like home, like the only thing other than their children that she wants and needs right now. In his arms she feels at peace, as though with him at her side she can conquer and do anything. With Harry she is fearless and as complete as two entirely complete people can be when coming together—two odd balls that simply fit… And Merlin did it take them a while to get here, just about twenty-three years.

"I love you." She blurts out in between sniffles, leaning back to gaze into his eyes, emerald orbs exquisite and unique, staring back at her with so much love and devotion that she feels like she might disappear into them.

"And I love you…" He wraps an arm around her shoulders and pulls her into his side as they continue their path to the beach, the children having already arrived there, the older ones setting up their parasol while Hugo and Lily wave towards them, calling their names.

"Did you bring the wine?" She finally asks and Harry chuckles, the corners of his eyes crinkling and he pulls the top of the bottle out of the large whicker beach bag for her to see. "Good."

"We need to work on your drinking problem, witch." Hermione guffaws and rolls her pretty brown eyes at him—cheeks a bright pink.

…

When Teddy looks back towards their parasol from where he's standing, cool sea water up to his waist, he sees aunt Hermione nursing a glass of wine as her back rests against his godfather's bare chest, Harry's arm wrapped loosely around her midsection, chin resting on the top of her head. He knew aunt Hermione didn't believe in divination in the slightest, but Teddy did and he also believed in fate and destiny. Looking back towards them he could only hope that one day he would find his special someone and that they would stick together through thick and thin, like those two always had, like his parents and grandparents as well. True love was a rarity and oftentimes it seemed to only really exist in the realm of novels, legends and muggle movies, but his godfather and Hermione were now all the proof Teddy needed to know that it did exist and that against all odds, sooner or later everything just fell into place.

"Teddy, look! The boats are coming in!" James shouted with excitement, pointing to something in the horizon. Ted turned to look as well, the waves splashing against him, making balance a tad difficult.

The view was undeniably spectacular, the boats with their pristine white sails, fishermen arriving with the day's catch. Teddy dove into the cold blue water and swam towards the shore where Lily and Hugo had managed to cover Albus entirely with wet sand, only his face and raven-hair visible. Rosie was near the rocks with her bucket and pail, searching for shells and sea glass to decorate her sandcastle.

The sun was hot and the breeze gentle, which helped the freezing Teddy and James recover after their swims. The two sat down facing the blue ocean and horizon, James resting his arms and head on his knees.

"I think I know now why my mum wasn't so fond of aunt Hermione…" James confides, still facing forward. Teddy is caught off guard from his comment and turns to look at him.

"Why's that, Jamie?"

"Dad loved mum, but they weren't like that." James replied, "I don't think I've ever seen my dad smile so much…"

"Yeah, he's always broody like that." James nods in agreement. "Does it make you sad?"

"No—I like it here, and I really like aunt Hermione, I just—I suppose I feel a bit guilty…"

"Why?"

"Because it turned out to be good that my mum left us." James was now pushing the wet sand with his feet, back and forth, eyes locked on his own repetitive movement.

"Oh." It wasn't at all the response Teddy had been expecting.

"I love my mum and I miss her a lot…" Teddy nods. "It's just—things changed, this is my home now and Lily and Al's too."

"I'm sure aunt Ginny understands…" Teddy replied. "I always like to think that my parents would just be happy seeing me happy, period. But I never met them like you did your mum."

"I think she might be happy too…" James said finally, giving Teddy a little smile before running back into the water.

…

Rose was about to grab a beautiful lilac scallop shell when her eyes caught sight of white fabric stuck against a large stone. She quickly threw the scallop inside her pail and curiously examined it, thinking it looked awfully familiar. She gently tugged on the fabric until it was completely free and holding it up, though difficult because of the wind, she knew just who it belonged to. She folded it in half and with her other hand picked up the purple pail and made her way towards the parasol, where her mum had her nose deep in a novel while uncle Harry just admired the scenery and kept the look out for all the kids.

"Mummy?" Rose called, trying to catch her attention.

"Oh, right—time for more sunscreen." Hermione exclaimed, marking her page and setting the book down on the beach towel, burying her hand in the whicker bag, n search of the bottle of sun lotion. Rose rolled her eyes, hand on her hip in a position very similar to one her mother often wore.

"I think this might be yours." She showed her mum the fabric.

When Hermione's eyes landed on the delicate silk of her favorite robe, a bit dirty from the sand, with its delicate lace trims she knew there was no denying it or hiding it either. Her cheeks burned a bright red and she could feel the vibration of Harry silently laughing with his chest to her back—the old sod.

"Must've flown out the window—how strange…" Was Hermione's lame response.

Harry snorted and only laughed harder and harder, a true fit, his belly even hurt and tears escaped his eyes. Rose was far too clever to believe her mum, but from the way Harry laughed she figured it had just been a silly prank.

When Rose wandered off again after Hermione insisted she spread on the sunscreen, she whacked Harry on the head with her book.

"Arse!"

"Oh come on, 'Mione—" he replied, rubbing the spot on his head where she'd hit him with a pain-filled expression. "Like you weren't the slightest bit flattered when the old guard called you a kid? I know I was!"

"I was a lot more flattered when you went down on me, Harry James." That shut him up completely and Hermione smiled victoriously, downing the rest of her wine in one gulp.

…

October rolled around so quickly that it was hard to believe. Towards the second half of August and the entire month of September Hermione had been completely busy with campaign duties and meetings in London, while Harry held the ground at home in Tenby. Today was her first morning off in a long time and she'd been gifted the marvelous luxury of sleep until past eight by her lovely family.

She sighed pleasantly into her pillow as she felt his soft fingers graze the delicate and cool skin of her arm as she lay with her back to him. Goosebumps arose on her skin and she finally felt completely rested.

Minerva McGonagall had won the ministerial race the former evening and now Hermione's job was complete, with only the already finished proposal of Tenby's new Statute of Secrecy act to be turned in the next week.

"You know what day it is, don't you?"

"Brunch at the Burrow—I'm aware." Harry smiled and lay an affectionate kiss on her shoulder, his fingers tracing a path under the old t-shirt she slept in toward her breast.

"Kids are all excited to meet the new baby—you know what Hugo asked me yesterday?"

"What?"

"When we'd have a new baby too." Hermione bit back a hoarse laugh.

"Don't you think five kids plus Teddy Lupin are enough?" Harry shrugs.

"I know—babies cry a lot and there's also the dirty nappies to deal with, teething, rashes, drool and such—yeah, I am so over that…"

"You're a terrible liar, that's what you are." He chuckles because he knows she is right.

When they arrive at the Burrow it's just after ten o'clock. Hermione takes in the lovely yellows, reds and oranges of the tree leaves, still yet to fall, and the path of burnt-gold grass drawing them a path towards the front door.

Hermione still had a tough time coming here, firstly because it brought back so many memories of when they were younger and secondly because once upon a time, she was here almost every weekend when her name was still Mrs. Ronald Weasley. Though always kind and courteous towards her, Hermione knew that Molly still had difficulty seeing her with Harry, as if Hermione had usurped her daughter's place in the family and her three children as well.

"It'll be fine…" He guaranteed her, squeezing her hand reassuringly. As oblivious as he could be, Harry hadn't been blind to the tension between Hermione and his former mother-in-law, and though he really tried to avoid these confrontations in the past couple of months they both owed it to Ron and Luna to be here, for the formal presentation of their baby girl to the family.

"Mummy…" Lily tugged on Hermione's jacket and the curly-haired witch pulled her up into her arms, taking in her sweet smell of lavender and kissing her plump rosy cheeks. Rose's hand held on to Harry tight, they all knew just how emotionally difficult the arrival of a new sibling was being for her—even if now it was four siblings and not just Ron and Luna's little sprog.

"It'll be fine, Petal, you'll see—your new sister will love and look up to you and it doesn't mean you are loved any less…" He reassures her and Rosie nods. James grabs her other hand for extra support while Albus and Hugo run ahead of them and open the front door.

"Granny, we're here!" Albus calls out, pulling off his dirty boots by the door and walking about just in his socks. Hugo follows his lead, as well as James and Rose and soon Arthur's head of graying ginger hair greets them with rosy cheeks and a warm, welcoming smile.

"What a wonderful day it is—I'm happy you're all here, he admits." Patting Harry on the shoulder in that shy way of his. He turns toward Hermione and kisses her cheek as well as Lily's and claps his hands together. Almost everyone's in the parlor, waiting for Ronald and Luna to arrive. Why don't we all have some tea and biscuits?"

"Granddad, do we have cake instead?" Hugo asks and Arthur wraps an arm around his shoulders.

"Of course we have, lad—pumpkin flavored just as you and your dad like it!" Hugo jumps out of happiness and follows Arthur into the dining area. James and Albus share a look and the older boy tugs are Rosie's hand, still wrapped around her loving stepfather's.

"Come on, Ro, let's go eat some cake before Hughie ends it all!" Albus calls her and she sighs heavily, acquiescing. Harry squeezes her hand and nods her off, their eyes locking for a moment.

"I don't remember her being so nervous when Hugo was born…" Hermione shares, while Lily is still wrapped in her arms, not caring for cake in the slightest, only wanting to snuggle with her mum who'd been too busy the last few weeks.

"Well, she was three wasn't she?" Hermione nods.

"Yeah, I see your point…"

"James was a mess of his own when Lily came around—but now he loves you with all his heart, doesn't he Lily?" The little ginger nods and smiles at him, her fingers playing with Hermione's curls peacefully.

When they finally arrive in the parlor, they're greeted by all the other Weasley sons and wives, most of their kids away at Hogwarts.

"Hermione! You must be thrilled with McGonagall's win yesterday—we know we are!" George exclaimed from his spot on the sofa, arm wrapped around his wife Angelina's shoulder.

Hermione couldn't help but smile—she was both thrilled and extremely proud.

"73% of the ballots… Merlin, I don't feel sorry at all for those little shits." Bill admits, only for Fleur to swat him playfully for his use of a bad word in front of Lily.

"Yeah—neither do I," Harry agrees, gazing at his lover with bright green eyes that help to melt away her discomfort. It didn't escape Hermione that Molly still hadn't appeared to say her hello's.

Before anyone could say anything else the floo roared and out came Ron carrying a little bundle in his arms, extending his hand to help Luna who wore a lovely blue dress with hand embroidered constellations in silver thread, signature bottle-cap earrings and her pale blonde hair held in a single long braid behind her. She looked tired, as every new mother did, but also a great deal happy.

Everyone got up and the women especially cooed over the sweet, tiny baby. Percy jumped out of the arm chair for his sister-in-law to sit in it and a great feeling of pure joy warmed Harry's heart at the sight of his best mate's pure joy and excitement, looking onto his wife and child with nothing but adoration.

"Are her eyes still gray?" Hermione asks, once she gets the chance to approach, after the other ladies give the couple and child some space. Hermione had managed to peeve Mrs. Weasley once again by being inside the birthing room with Luna the day baby arrived. Apart from the healer, Hermione and Ron had both been the firsts to catch sight and hear the loud cries of the newest little Weasley.

"I think they're starting to turn blue…" Luna replies with a tender smile, her finger softly caressing the girl's chubby little cheek.

"Look, Lily—isn't she a beautiful little baby?" Harry asks and Lily nods from her seat on Hermione's lap, eyeing the tiny creature with curiosity. Up until now she and Hugo had been the youngest members of the family, so she hadn't ever been around a baby before. "Have you decided on her name yet?"

"Oh, you know how it is Harry, those mischievous horntails getting into the way of decision-making…" Luna tells him with a contented smile. "Where're Molly and Arthur?"

"Oh, Luna! You've arrived, how wonderful! How's our little angel?" Molly arrived just on cue wearing her good Sunday dress and a genuinely happy smile. Luna gently lays the baby in her grandmother's awaiting arms and Molly admires her tiny and pretty little face. "Goodness, she's beautiful… Look at her, Arthur."

Ron got up from his seat once he saw Rose, Hugo and the other kids follow their grandparents into the parlor and kneeled in front of Rose and Hugo with blue eyes filling with joyful tears. He kisses both of their cheeks and pets Rose's curly hair affectionately.

"Come see your new baby sister…" Hugo is the first to take the step and sits next to his granny on the sofa. He looks at the delicate pink little thing and decides she looks very different from his sister's play dolls. "Rosie, come take a look. She reminds me an awful lot of you when you were born, though your hair is darker." He takes his eldest daughter by the hand and guides her towards the sleeping baby.

When Rose looks at her new sister her heart beats wildly in her chest. She is so tiny it's hard to believe she is real at first, but when she opens her mouth wide to yawn, only for granny to gush, and her eyes open wide she is absolutely the cutest and most wondrous creature Rose has ever laid her eyes upon. Her eyes widen as relief washes over her. The new baby is loved, but not only by her daddy and auntie Luna or her grandparents, but by Rosie herself too.

After a long few moments of just silently staring she looks at her anxious father with those clever brown eyes of hers and smiles.

"May I hold her?"

When she hears those words Hermione immediately grabs Luna's hand and squeezes it. They'd both been very worried, but everything seemed finally okay. They watch, hands laced together as Rose sets on the other side of her grandmother and Molly carefully places the baby in her arms.

"She's so soft…" Rosie marvels and Ron nods in agreement. Rose's eyes turn to Luna and she asks, curiously: "What's her name?"

"We're calling her Opal—Opal Ginevra Weasley." Upon hearing her late daughter's name Molly gasps in surprise and her eyes fill with tears. She lays her eyes upon the quiet and peaceful baby and smiles, a few tears escaping her eyes.

The mixture of pure joy and anguish she feels are indescribable, but for the first time in a very long time she finally feels the once familiar feeling of hope creep into her very core.

"Rose, Hugo and Opal—I love it." She says with a tender smile, tucking one of Rosie's curls behind her ear.

"I love it too," Rose replies. "Opals are for love!" Luna chuckles and nods as it was she who had taught this to the little girl.

"Yes, they are!" Ron kisses his older daughter on the top of her head, beyond relieved.

…

After they'd all enjoyed the celebratory brunch and Luna escaped to Ron's old bedroom to nurse the baby away from the ruckus, accompanied by Fleur, Hermione found herself wandering out to the garden, the cold autumn wind brushing against her cheeks. Her feet lead her all the way down to the apple orchard, near the small river stream.

This was perhaps the loveliest and most peaceful corner of the Weasley family home. She stood for a while, looking on to the hills and tiny village houses in the horizon. Just like the seasons were changing her life had also changed and so very drastically. She couldn't at all complain, but the fear was still there no matter how hard she tried to get rid of it.

She sighed heavily and turned around, coming face to face with the stone tombstone that held the name Ginevra Molly Weasley-Potter in fine letters. It was disconcerting to be honest… She hadn't been here since the funeral.

Hermione liked to think that she and her former sister-in-law had once been great friends. Of course their bond wasn't as strong as the one that she shared with Harry or Ron, no, that one came with a lot of hardships and challenges over the years, countless sleepless nights, tears, but also shared joys and victories. It also wasn't as strong as her own bond with Luna, which managed to be a great one, despite their many drastic differences… One day Hermione was leaving the library in tears during 7th year and the next moment she and Luna were embracing and laughing in the recently re-built Ravenclaw common room, by the fire. Hermione's relationship with Ginny was quite funny. They were brought together through their ties to Ron, that was obvious, but it took a lot of work for them to grow closer from there. Ginny had changed a lot with the war and through her participation in the D.A., and it was through that respect that Hermione began to make an effort—or so she thought.

But as Hermione watched with a heavy and confused heart as Ginny and Harry became closer and closer, she felt the need to become closer to the redhead as well—she was her boyfriend's sister and her best friend's love after all. Then and there Hermione decided she better become closer friends with Ginny or in one point or another she would take her place in the trio… It was rather silly and absurd, in retrospect, but as long as Ginny Weasley lived Hermione felt threatened in a way, as though the ties that held her to Ron and Harry could so easily be cut away.

This didn't mean that she hadn't liked Ginny, she did like her a lot and when they were together, they almost always managed to have some fun or at least a few laughs over bottles of butterbeer or glasses of wine. They shared the joys and woes of marriage and motherhood with one another and also the challenges of building their respective careers midst a society that until just a few years before looked down upon them. Change never came fast…

Hermione read the younger witch's name written in stone again and from the corner of her eyes spotted a single yellow rose in a thorny bush near one of the apple trees. She made her way to it and with a simple spell and the help of her wand perfectly cut it off. She lay the rose before Ginny's tombstone.

"I have a lot to thank you for…" Hermione starts saying, "I have to thank you for James, Albus and Lily, because they are such beautiful children and so smart… Lily looks more like you every day. I want you to know that I love them—no more and no less than I love my own kids… As long as I live and breathe I'll look after them for you and give them all the love and support that they need." Hermione wipes a stray tear away and sniffles. "I also thank you for showing Harry, all of those years, that he was deserving of love and happiness all along. He wouldn't be the Harry he is now if it weren't for you, Ginny. And also, "Hermione exhales, her breath unsteady. "I know it's odd and twisted in a way, but I also have you to thank for this…" Her hand slides to her own belly, finding a comfortable resting place there.

"I knew the minute I laid eyes on you…"

Hermione jumps from the shock of hearing that voice coming from behind her. Despite its contents, they are said with tenderness and a slight tinge of sadness.

"Molly—I…" The Weasley matriarch waves her hand for Hermione to stop talking and places her warm hand on her shoulder.

"I know I haven't been easy on you for a while, and I do wish to apologize. You must understand, Hermione, that it's so difficult for me to see you with Harry and now raising my grandchildren—they are happy, so very happy—and though it is a huge relief to me and a blessing, it makes me think that they could be just as happy were my daughter still here."

"I know." Hermione responds. "I would feel strange if it were someone in Rose's place too. I love them Molly, the children and Harry…"

"I know, I've always known that—it's always been in your eyes." Molly smiles and runs her hand through Hermione's curls like any doting mother would. "And there's no one I trust and respect more to be their new mother and his new wife or partner, or whatever it is you both are calling it, more. So, I suppose I also have to extend my thanks to you." Hermione can't help but throw herself in the woman's arms, wrapping her in one of her famous bear hugs.

"Your baby will be so loved…" Molly whispers, "By you, by Harry, by his or her siblings, by your mum and dad, by all of us Weasley's—even little old me." Hermione's lips quiver and she can't help but cry into Molly's shoulder. She blamed it on the blasted hormones.

…

When they arrive at home the children all retire into their own bedrooms, tired from all the outdoor playing while at the Burrow and the giant feast their grandmother always puts up.

Harry watches as Hermione falls onto her favorite arm chair facing the window looking out to the ocean and moans in satisfaction once she slips off her shoes and puts her feet up on the pouf. She grabs the book resting on the antique wooden side table and begins to read. Harry could never tire of watching her—eyes dancing across the pages, the expressions on her face depending on what part she is on—sometimes tears escape her eyes, sometimes she lets out a little gasp which is the most endearing and lovable thing in the world; sometimes she laughs until her cheeks are red… He loves this about her, how transparent she is with her feelings and thoughts, how genuine she is.

After a while, he slips out of the living area and up to the bedroom they now share. The room is quiet and peaceful, with its light blues and white tones. Her scent of vanilla that permeates everything now mingles with his own—they are home now and it's an indescribable feeling.

Hermione didn't know, or maybe she did but didn't let it on—she was Hermione after all, and he was Harry, therefore a great deal oblivious—but nearly every day that he had a nice, quiet moment, he would sit on the bed and dive into the watch she gifted him with on his birthday. Each day an intimate memory of hers became his and he felt truly honored… It took trust and a whole lot of courage that he was certain he lacked when it came to these things. But Merlin, how he loved her for it.

He opened the watch and ran his thumb over the inscription: 'I carry your heart with me'. He turned the first delicate clover-shaped handle and then the second.

"Ostende Memoriam" he mutters and soon he feels the watch become gradually warmer and glow an ethereal golden, soon the flames of the memory are dancing and twirling and front of him until they begin to cast the images, like a projector casts a film onto a screen.

He sees his twenty-something self round the corridors of the Ministry's atrium, walking towards the department of Law Enforcement. He barges into her cubicle of an office and she's reviewing a pile of papers while laying on her small couch. Her delicate hand is covering the swell of her womb, her curls cascading over and down the arm of the sofa where her head is resting.

"You're naming her Rose." It is not a question.

She lets the papers fall from her hand and doesn't even both to sit up, she probably couldn't if she wanted to anyway, so she simply turns her gaze onto him, dark eyes electric, defiant—so unnervingly beautiful.

"I think it's a lovely name…" His eyes turn up in slight annoyance before they lock with hers once more. He exhales deeply.

"I think I once told you it would one day be my daughter's name, because flowers are an Evans family tradition…"

"Name your future daughter Zinnia or Hyacinth, then." Hermione responds, returning to her papers. Harry huffs in annoyance. "Nor you nor Ginny have ownership over a name… And don't even get me started on Albus Severus—honestly, Harry. That poor child!"

"I'll name my son Albus Severus if I want to, Hermione." She raises an eyebrow at his remark and the corners of her lips curve into a mischievous smile.

"And I'll name my daughter Rose if I want to, Harry."

"That's my daughter's name!" He fights back and Hermione rolls her eyes.

"No problem, Harry, she can be your daughter too if you like. I have no trouble sharing…" She winks at him flirtatiously and for a moment he is taken aback.

"You'll drive me crazy one day, Granger." He mutters, before storming out, as quick as he entered, Harry's temper in those days still nearly incontrollable.

Present-day Harry chuckles at the memory and of the little spats they had here and there. The big battle of names between them, and also each of their prides lead them to indeed name their children the dreadful Albus Severus and the lovely timeless Rose—their names were given completely out of spite, but it was a testament to just how much Hermione and her sometimes infuriating ways were something he could not live or imagine himself without. Even the smallest of things could come to have great significance when it came to the two of them, even if it wasn't something noticeable in the beginning.

He remembers holding the wailing Rose Helena with her angry-red tufts of hair, born with brown eyes wide open and so very beautiful, like her mother. When he held her in his arms for the first time, she stopped crying, choosing to stare back at him instead, curling her tiny hand around his finger.

Hermione wasn't wrong—Harry did have a daughter named Rose. He knew it was her the moment he held her, the moment his heart soared at the sight of her, but also hurt because she would never be fully his. Her mother was taken, he himself was taken.

He closes the watch and stores it carefully back into its black velvet case, inside the nightstand drawer. He thinks he knows why the watch decided to show him that memory today. Soon there would be a new baby to name.

Harry could hardly contain his excitement as it dawned on him and he bounded down the steps of the stairs, rushing toward Hermione busy reading on her chair.

"You're pregnant." Her eyes immediately leave the book she is reading and meet with his. She tries to hold back her smile but it's no use. He pulls her up by the hand, into his arms and into his passionate kiss.

I hope this has been just as an enjoyable and heartfelt journey for you as it has been for me. I don't think this story will ever be fully complete, but it is for now and it has to be, because real life beckons and I was in desperate need of exorcising it from me.

Please leave a REVIEW, it means the world to me to know what my readers think and to just receive the words of support. This story is complete now, but there's never an excuse not to leave a comment when it's something you've thoroughly enjoyed, no matter how much time has passed. Thank you all so much!

*Credits the the name "The Happy Gryff" go to DeliverMeFromEve from her story "Life N.E. ."*