* ~ The Eighth Year Universe ~ *

Love Wins

The Future of Us All Rests on the Shoulders of Your Heart

The chapter title is from the song:

Pioneer by The Band Perry.


ELECTION DAY

Six hours until the announcement…

"Pops! Where are you?"

"In the study!"

Almina walked in with two pairs of heels in her hands, "Which says 'official and important'?"

Theo looked up and raised an eyebrow, "Don't you have two mothers to ask that question?"

"Yes, but one of them is crying because she thinks she's going to lose the election later today, and the other is trying to calm her down, with whiskey, I think," Almina replied matter of factly.

Theo chuckled, "Fair point."

He looked at the shoes and said, "Your question entirely depends on what you're wearing them with, by the way. If you do red heels and a red dress, your outfit will say 'desperate hooker'. But if you go red heels, black dress and red lipstick, it will say 'important, official and classy as fuck' Ask Aunt Daphne for further details."

Almina grinned, "Can I just say I love how metrosexual you are?"

Theo snorted, "Metrosexual? What does that even mean?"

Almina sat down on the edge of his desk, "It's basically a word for a straight guy who has an interest in feminine things, like fashion in this case."

Theo shot her an amused look, "Mina, you know about the relationship between your dad and me. I'm not straight."

Almina shrugged, "Still, you get the point."

Theo smiled slightly and looked back down at his paperwork.

"And you are also a lifesaver, Pops, thank you," Almina said, reaching across the desk to kiss him on the cheek.

"Anytime," Theo promised, smiling up at her, "I've gotta wonder why you're dressing up so much for the after-party though. Do you know something I don't know?"

Almina smiled slyly, "I have a feeling Teddy might be asking me an important question soon."

Theo put on his best poker face, "That so?"

Almina cocked her head at him, "I know he asked you and Dad for permission, Pops. I'm not stupid, you know? I pieced it together, and he's been acting odd all week, which means he's hiding something. You did give him permission, didn't you?"

"Of course we did," Theo said softly, "He's the love of your life. We would never get in the way of that."

Almina smiled broadly, "Thanks, Pops, you're the best!" she said as she flew out of the room.

Theo's hand hovered over the page he was signing for a moment. It shook, and he took a breath to steady it. This was happening more and more lately, and he knew he should talk to someone at the hospital about it. But like every other change brought about by what Lucia had done to him, he was scared to find out what it was.

Anyway, all it took was a deep breath, and the shaking stopped, so it wasn't too serious, for the moment…

"DAD!"

Theo rolled his eyes when he heard the distinctive voice echo up the spiral staircase.

"DAD!"

"Charlus, we have house-elves," Draco's voice said from down below, "You don't actually have to announce yourself so loudly."

"Whatever. Where the hell are you?"

"In the library," Draco's voice floated back.

Theo smiled and shook his head, finishing the form he was working on and shoving it in a drawer under his desk. He got up and grabbed the cane that he used these days – he hated to call himself frail, but he was. Some days were harder than others, but he was pretty sure he understood how Remus Lupin had felt now.

He walked to the doorway and made his way down the spiral staircase into the corridor that led to the library and ballroom.

Outside the library door, Charlus was arguing with Draco.

"Do I have to come to this lame thing tonight?"

"To the election party?" Draco was asking, raising an eyebrow at the boy, "Uh, yes, Charlus. Considering that your mum is probably going to win and therefore, it's a big deal."

Charlus rolled his eyes. He was every inch Theo's son. His hair was dark brown, his eyes were hazel, and he was covered in tattoos and piercings. He was the rebel that Theo would have been if it hadn't been for his father and all those strict rules.

He was currently wearing patched-up jeans and a leather jacket, meaning he'd come here on his flying bike. Theo couldn't tell him off for that though, he and Draco had given him the bike after all.

Charlus sighed, "Dad, I hate all this official stuff. I'm never gonna be the son you can shove in a suit who says the right things."

Draco smiled slightly, "Your Pops never was either. I'm not trying to make you something you're not, Charlie. You know we all love you, regardless of what you wear, what reckless decisions you make or what awful taste in women you have."

Charlus snorted, "You say that like I'm a ladykiller, Dad. I'm on my second girlfriend, and I got the impression you were pretty happy when I broke up with the first one."

"Nobody said that," Draco argued, "Skye was just a little…."

"Unhinged, that was the word Pops used," Charlus reminded him.

"Well, I was going to go with mentally unstable," Draco said, giving Charlus a knowing look, "And while you might only be on girlfriend number two, are we going to talk about the whole Blake Fletcher situation?"

Charlus sighed, "Yeah, well, I didn't end that one, he did because of all this," he motioned around him, "His mum poisoned his head with all this shit that us Black-Notts think we're better than everyone else because we live the high life, and him being from the Closes."

"Hey," Draco cut in, "It ended, and you acted like you were fine. It's okay to be cut up about it Charlie, and if Victoire is your rebound-"

"She isn't." Charlus cut in.

Draco cocked his head, "Blake was your best friend."

"Nah," Charlus said. He shook his head, "He wasn't, Dad. Yeah, we were on the Quidditch team together, and we dated, but Angel is my best friend, and she has been from day one."

"Yeah," Draco agreed with a smile, "She was always a good kid. You know we like her. We would never let her stay here otherwise."

"I know," Charlus said, he shrugged, "But sometimes I feel like you want me to be with her, even though we don't see each other that way."

"No," Draco promised, "It's not like that at all, Charlie. It's just that your Pops when he was young and stupid, he played the field, he hurt a lot of people, and he regrets it. We don't want to see you feel that way."

"I won't," Charlus said, slapping Draco on the shoulder, "I'll be alright, Dad, I promise."

Draco bowed his head in acceptance, "And for the record, you can wear whatever you want to this thing tonight. Wear a dress for all I care, but just be there. It will mean the world to your mum."

"Alright," Charlus agreed, "I'll be there in my best leather!" he added as he slipped into the ballroom, most likely to take the secret passageway down to the ground floor.

Draco glanced along the corridor and caught sight of Theo on the staircase. He shook his head, "You might have thought they'd have moved out by now, bloody 21-year-old teenagers."

Theo chuckled, "Ah, Charlie basically has moved out. I mean, he's staying on the grounds still, but he has his own space. Mina's alright though. She can stay here as long as she wants."

"Course you'd say that; she's the apple of your eye."

"Like Ella isn't yours," Theo chuckled.

Draco smiled, "Did you hear what I said to him?"

"I did," Theo said, smiling at Draco, "Nice speech, but then again, you've always been the one who can get through to Charlie when I can't."

"What can I say? I'm used to dealing with rebellious teenagers who like burying their heads in the sand," Draco said, grinning at Theo.

Theo chuckled, then winced.

Draco noticed, and a frown knitted across his face, "Bad day?"

Theo smiled, but his heart wasn't in it, "Bad week."

Draco rested his hand on his shoulder, "Too much stress. You need to take a holiday after this election."

Theo rested his head against the cold stone wall, "Why? Because you're worried about me again?"

Draco's eyes met his, "I always worry about you, Theo."

"I know," Theo returned without breaking eye contact.

Draco sighed and leant forward, kissing Theo lightly.

"Guys," Sadie's voice cut in as she announced her presence with her high heels, clicking loudly along the hall, "Could we have less soul-searching moments and more campaigning, please? Hermione is having a meltdown in the kitchen."

Draco shook his head at Theo, "I can't wait for this to be over."

"You and me both," Theo replied, leaning heavily on his cane and following Sadie down the stairs.


Five hours until the election announcement…

"Angie! You here?"

Charlus had just strutted into a cottage on the grounds of the castle. When he and Almina had left school, their parents had given them a choice – stay in the castle, move into a cottage on the grounds or move out. Neither of them had chosen to move out completely, but Charlus had been pretty eager to get some space.

He loved his family, but there were a lot of them, and when all of his siblings came home in the summer holidays, the main house was hectic. That didn't bother Almina; she just warded her room when she wanted to read in peace, but for the most part, she was a social butterfly, so she was in the drawing-room with the adults or helping the wonder twins with their homework.

Charlus wasn't quite as outgoing. Almina had been in Ravenclaw, and by all accounts, she was perfect. Head Girl, little miss popularity, surrounded by friends. Charlus knew it wasn't quite true though, a lot of people talked to Almina, but she had very few real friends.

It had been different for Charlus. He had been in Slytherin for a start. Maybe that house lent itself to anti-social ness, but he had made a few friends and had been quite happy with that. And as much as he loved his family, sometimes it just got too loud.

So while Almina had opted to stay in the castle, Charlus had jumped at the chance to move into the Garden Cottage. He told his friends it was because it was next to the shed where his flying motorbike was kept, but really it had a lot more to do with how peaceful the gardens were.

"I'm here," Angel Strang said as she stepped out of the kitchen, "Hey, did you know that apparently, your mum is running for minister tonight?"

Charlus grinned, "Is she? Huh, can't say she ever mentioned it."

"No, she's like never brought it up," Angel joked.

Charlus laughed. Angel was his best friend; she had been since first year. He and Almina had always been close, so when the sorting ceremony rolled around, and the hat yelled out, "Ravenclaw!" the minute it hovered above her head, he began to panic because he knew he wasn't going there.

Surely enough, it had yelled, "Slytherin!" for him, and when he sat down at that table, he felt completely alone.

Almina had shot him a smile from the Ravenclaw table and mouthed, "It's okay'. But until Angel Strang sat down next to him, it had not felt okay.

They had known each other at primary school, but Charlus had always clung so closely to Almina that he hadn't paid much attention to the other kids.

She had nudged him and said, "You're the Nott twin, right?"

Charlus had nodded and said, "You're the Strang kid?"

And that had been the start of their friendship. Angel had grown up in Lupin House, and while it was fine, she still preferred Hogwarts to the orphanage. Charlus had understood why. He found his home too busy, and Lupin House was even worse.

It wasn't until they had known each other for a little while that Angel talked to Charlus about her origins in life. Her mother had died when she was two years old and her older half-brothers, Kane and Abel, were four. Up until that point, Angel had been raised in The Closes by her squib mother, who was a 'woman of ill repute'.

Charlus had sort of known that anyway, but he had never judged Angel for it. The unique name and her appearance gave it away. Like the children of many 'fallen women' Angel's eyes and hair colours were extreme. She had dark, coffee-coloured skin and pure white hair, and her eyes were amber, bordering on yellow. In third year, Charlus had said it was cat-like, and she had somehow gotten the nickname Kit-Kat.

Angel had asked him if he cared, that 'Strang' was a squib version of Lestrange, and Charlus had come back with, "I'm made up of Nott, Black and Malfoy. Not exactly got a stellar lot of ancestors myself."

She had laughed, and just like that, any divide hadn't mattered. It was why Charlus had been so angry when Blake broke up with him citing 'prejudice' for the cause. He loved Angel enough to ask his parents if she could be his roommate (not an easy question to ask a group of very paranoid people who were constantly refreshing their wards and changing their floo passwords).

A kiss on the cheek brought Charlus back to the present day.

"You're deep in thought," Angel said.

"Yeah," Charlus admitted, "Dad and I talked. Well, it was more like one of those lectures that Dad tries to cover up as a heart to heart, actually."

"About?" Angel asked, raising an eyebrow and putting a plate of lunch in front of him.

Charlus shrugged, "He thinks I'm not over Blake, that Vic's a rebound or something."

"Charlie, that man is perceptive," Angel snorted, "You aren't over Blake."

"Look, Angie," Charlus snapped, "I don't know if I'll ever be over Blake, alright? He was…he was a lot of firsts. You know, getting the courage to tell someone I love them, that's big for me, and he fucking threw it in my face so…."

He shook his head, "But Vic is not a rebound."

Angel cocked her head at him, "So she's just some girl you met at a party, two nights after Blake broke up with you."

"Some girl I had an instant connection with," Charlus added.

"Uh-huh," Angel said, unconvinced, "So why is it still just sex? It's been weeks, Charlie. The girl has to want more, but you can't commit, so you gotta ask yourself – why?"

Charlus sighed and shook his head, "I don't know."


Four hours until the election announcement…

Harry was finishing a proposal for Draco – as Head Auror and Head of the DMLE, they worked quite closely together. It was a good partnership, but then again, Draco had been Harry's Assistant Head for the best part of a decade before he leapfrogged him to get the top job.

The papers had speculated at the time – the end of an era? The end of a tentative friendship? So Harry and Draco had taken the kids out to a Puddlemere game together and made sure plenty of reporters saw them to put an end to that bullshit. Harry told one reporter he'd never wanted the job and that he was happy for Draco, which was every bit the truth.

Around the same time, Hermione had left the DMLE – having worked her way up through the ranks of lawyer, to juror, then to senior juror. When she got bored, she took on the role of Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and in the five years since she had taken the reins, she had revolutionised the department. It was now called 'The Department for the Care and Protection of Magical Creatures', and Charlie, her Assistant Head, completely shared her vision to use that position of power for good.

Harry had broken two records now – he wasn't just the youngest Head Auror ever, he was also the longest-serving. Reporters frequently asked him when he would stand down, but he always brushed off the question with a vague "when I can't do this job anymore, I'll stop," and he meant that.

Knock. Knock.

"Come in!" Harry called, looking up curiously.

It was nearing the end of the day. His mind was elsewhere because of the impending election tonight.

The door was opened by Ben Smith, who had worked his way up the ranks and led Homicide with Owen for a few years before taking on the role of Assistant Head after Draco left.

"You got a minute, Harry? Your kid wants to talk to you," He said.

"I've always got a minute, Ben," Harry said with a smile, "Send him in."

Ben nodded and did so. It was odd, in a way – the 'kid' Harry had trained up 15 years ago was now referring to Teddy as a kid. It was all swings and roundabouts, but by Merlin, it made Harry feel old.

"Hey, Dad."

Harry got up and stretched, wincing as a ten-year-old curse wound in his leg sent a stab of pain through his body, "Hey Ted. Everything alright?"

Teddy shrugged and shut the door behind him. He hovered for a moment before stepping into the room properly, "Lot of gossip out there right now about The Statute Saboteurs."

Harry sighed and looked out of the fake window, with its fake view of London, "There's a lot of gossip about that everywhere. You of all people should know not to listen to it."

"I don't when it's workplace gossip," Teddy admitted, "But when people in the Closes start talking…."

Harry looked up sharply, "What have you heard in the Closes?"

The Closes had improved drastically in the past fifteen years. The squalor of the past was gone, and squibs were about as accepted as they ever had been. Theo's school had opened up a new wing, just for squibs. When several of the children attending the school had reached Hogwarts age and had not shown any signs of magic, the last thing Theo had wanted was to turn them away with no formal qualifications or opportunities to better themselves.

As such, he and Susan had gotten their heads together and opened a separate wing – a secondary school for squibs. They couldn't be taught physical magic, but they were given a good education which gave them the chance to get a good job in the muggle world without forcing them to leave the world they knew and their families.

It had been hailed as a huge success. Theodore Nott was quite the household name these days.

The caretakers that Harry had hired to look after the Closes had done a brilliant job. They maintained hygiene in the Closes, and Lilly's maternity hospital had gone from strength to strength, reducing infant and maternal mortality rates in the area. The sacking of Alexander Beckett had done wonders too. St Mungos went through health reform after health reform, most of them pushed through by Neville and Lilly. The hospital was now headed up by Carson Beckett, who had eventually given in to calls to take over and run the hospital the way his father should have.

Neville Longbottom was known as much more than the boy who beheaded the snake, and nobody cared about Lilly's 'dark' heritage. She was the nation's princess. They absolutely admired her in the Closes and beyond.

Looking at those whitewashed buildings now, from the outside and the inside, nobody would ever believe they had been a hive of squalor fifteen years ago. The people who lived in them had jobs – some in the wizarding world and some in the muggle world. Squibs didn't go to Hogwarts, but they didn't get spat on in the street anymore either.

Diagon Alley was thriving, there wasn't a single empty shop on the street, and Knockturn Alley was quite a different place. Where there had been dark magic stores and illegal dealings, there were now restaurants, cafes and even a nightclub (the one building Harry did not approve of on account of the number of fights and duels that broke out there every weekend). Unfortunately, "The Weasel's Den" was part of the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes franchise, and Harry had made sure George and Ron had a proper license, so there was nothing he could do about it.

Ironically enough, Lucia burning down Knockturn Alley had turned out to be rather a good thing.

It wasn't perfect. If it were, then Harry wouldn't have a job, after all. There were still houses of ill-repute, illegal sub-letting within the flats in the Closes. There were still thieves and opportunists. And, of course, there were those clinging onto the old order who attacked squibs or werewolves because they didn't like the new reforms.

But it was a changed world, and as such, the whisperings of the Closes had become less about the illegal world underneath wizarding London and more about what Mrs Smith downstairs with doing with Mrs Jones husband upstairs.

Teddy rested on the edge of Harry's desk, "That it's just the beginning. The cursed objects at each scene, with that mark they leave?"

"Of course it's just the beginning," Harry said darkly, "Voldemort didn't start with mass murders. He started small – cursing muggles, then killing them. No dark lord, or in this case, rebellion, starts off big Teddy. Something big is coming, but nobody knows what to expect or when to expect it."

"Well," Teddy said, "Nevee-"

Harry raised an eyebrow and interrupted his son, "Nevee? As in Nevaeh Hall? Your high school girlfriend?"

"Yes," Teddy said with a roll of her eyes, "She lives in the Closes these days."

"Does she?" Harry asked curiously, "She was a Ravenclaw, right? What's she doing with herself now?"

"Helping people mostly," Teddy replied, "You know, she and her sister were raised in Lupin House because their mother died when they were kids. She died from a totally treatable sexually transmitted disease, so Nevee works with us at CPS and with Aunt Lil at the hospital to promote awareness. She's training to be a Healer, but she does that in her spare time."

"You seem to know a lot about the ex-girlfriend you supposedly haven't seen in years," Harry said, smiling slightly, "Does Mina know you still talk to her?"

"No, but Mina has a tendency to get a little icy when she feels threatened, and as she is not threatened, because Nevee is totally in my past, I don't see much point bringing it up," Teddy said matter of factly.

Harry snorted, "You know that phrase? That boys fall in love with women that remind them of their mother? I think that might be true in this case."

Teddy chuckled, "Yeah, maybe so. Anyway, the point has nothing to do with Nevee. She was just the person who brought it to my attention."

Harry watched Teddy expectantly.

"We were talking because she was picking some supplies up from CPS," Teddy explained, "And the subject of The Statute Saboteurs came up because it's all anyone is talking about right now. While we chatted, she mentioned how odd it was that every country that their attacks had targeted had a liberal Minister for Magic."

Harry frowned, "That is odd."

Teddy nodded, "She said you would have thought they'd have targeted traditionalist countries, but it seemed like they were targeting the more liberal ones because then, they stood a chance at getting their point across to someone who could help."

Harry nodded slowly, "Okay, that is a very valid point, and it makes a lot of sense. But…we have a liberal Minister for Magic."

"Do we, though?" Teddy asked. He shrugged and looked at Harry, "Grandad is a good guy, don't get me wrong. He's pushed through a hell of a lot of reforms that benefit the liberals, but arguably, he's still a traditionalist."

"Trust me, compared to when I grew up, he's a liberal," Harry pointed out.

"Yeah, but in the nicest possible way, Dad, your generation is middle-aged now," Teddy pointed out, "These Statute Saboteurs are trying to grab the attention of my generation, and to us, he's a traditionalist."

Harry looked over at Teddy, "You don't agree with what he's done in office then?"

"No, I do," Teddy admitted, "But when you compare us to some of the more liberal countries that have been targeted – Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, etc. – we still enslave house-elves. Werewolves only became marked as 'human', not 'creature' five years ago. In Italy, that happened decades ago. They have muggle-borns or half-bloods leading their country. But if you look at our record of Ministers over the past fifteen years, it's not very liberal or open at all."

"Kingsley-"

"Was a pureblood, from an old family," Teddy cut in, "One of the Sacred 28. Then Howie Abbott, much as I like the guy, was a pureblood from an old family. Then we got Tiberius McLaggen, alright, yeah, not part of the sacred 28 but still a pureblood and most definitely a traditionalist."

Harry sighed. Teddy was making a fair point.

"And now Grandad, a pureblood from an old family," Teddy finished, "It's only with the possibility of Aunt Hermione getting elected that we might see a truly liberal Minister – a muggle-born, who married into an old family but come on, they are nothing but liberal. Everyone knows about the Black-Notts, and Hermione will be the youngest Minister for Magic ever if she is elected. Dad, I think if they are going to strike, they'll do it after she gains office, and we gotta be prepared for that."

Harry smiled slightly and crossed the office, "Come here, Teddy," he said.

Teddy frowned but followed him to the back of the office, where Harry pulled on a window shutter. It snapped open, and behind it was a large board, full of photographs and reports of crime scenes tied into The Statute Saboteurs.

"I'm already working on it because I always like to be prepared," Harry confessed, "But thanks for the intel. Your taste in women is pretty handy."

"That wasn't what you said when I told you I was dating her," Teddy pointed out, giving his dad an amused look.

"I didn't say anything," Harry pointed out, snapping the shutter again to close it, "I believe it was your mother who didn't hit it off with Nevee."

"Because she's way too protective," Teddy said, leaning against the wall.

"Yes," Harry agreed, "But her heart is in the right place, which is why you love her."

Teddy looked at Harry thoughtfully, "She wants me to marry Mina because she's a Nott."

Harry snorted, "That's what you think? Teddy, your mother spent her entire youth trying to avoid any sort of relationship with Mina's Pops because they are cousins, and she didn't want to be that pureblood. She would never try to push you into a marriage based on who your other halves parents were. We don't care about family names or any of that bullshit. The real reason your mother didn't like Nevaeh Hall was because Cheryl reliably informed her that Nevee was a loose cannon, and as you found out two weeks later, when she dumped you for your best friend, she was right."

"Nick said no when she asked him out though," Teddy said, smirking at Harry.

"Course he did. Nick would put you before any girl. You know that," Harry said with a chuckle, "I've not seen two Auror partners as joined at the hip since Draco and Theo worked in the department."

Teddy chuckled, "Yeah, he's a pretty great friend. He even took a gap year to let me finish school so we could go through training together."

"I know," Harry smiled, "Rob reminds me of it all the time because he funded it."

With a smile, Teddy pushed himself off the wall, "You're not worried then?"

"Not yet," Harry promised, "But if anything changes, I'll let you know."

"Alright," Teddy said, and he began to head for the door.

"Oh, and Ted?"

Teddy turned around, "Yeah?"

"When you gonna give that big rock in your pocket to Mina?" Harry asked knowingly.

Teddy laughed, "I don't know. When the time feels right, I guess."

Harry smiled warmly at his son, "Well, when you do? Good luck."

Teddy smiled back, "Thanks, Dad."


Three hours until the election announcement…

Daphne rapped hard on the office door marked 'Assistant Head', then she stepped inside.

"I come bearing lunch."

Susan looked up and smiled, "Hey, Daph."

Daphne sat down opposite her friend and placed a brown paper bag on the desk.

"So, are you trying to escape from your office, or are you checking up on me?" Susan asked, taking a sandwich out of the bag.

"A bit of both," Daphne admitted, shrugging her cloak off, "My office is hectic, and I'm also a little worried about you."

Susan gave Daphne a pointed look, "I'm fine, Daphne. It's been years."

"And yet you still avoid the Burrow on the anniversary of his death," Daphne said, looking at her friend carefully, "Everyone grieves, you know? You could do it with us instead of being all alone at Bones Manor."

"I'm not alone," Susan said, rubbing her eyes and sighing, "I have Addison."

"Addison, who spends all of her time gallivanting around with Rob's daughter?" Daphne quipped.

"Look, I just don't like being around his family," Susan admitted, "They mourn differently from me. Call it unhealthy if you want, but I'd rather drown myself in a bottle of firewhiskey once a year rather than sit around a campfire singing kumbaya and talking about all the happy fucking memories."

Daphne nodded and sipped her coffee, "Fair enough. I would be with you on that one."

Susan looked at a photograph on her desk. It was of Percy wearing a Christmas sweater, with Addison and Alyssa both sitting on his lap. Alyssa was only a baby in the photograph.

"Ten years," Susan said, frowning at the photograph, "Alyssa barely remembers him. She was five when he died, Daphne."

"I know," Daphne said sympathetically, "But you know what, you brought those girls up to be strong and capable. Look at Addison, 20 years old and making waves in the DMLE already."

Susan smiled sadly, "Ally is more like Percy. I mean, I knew before Addison was sorted in Hufflepuff that she was like me, but when Alyssa went into Ravenclaw…."

She shook her head and swallowed, "I knew she would be like Percy, and she is – in the best way. She's so smart, Daphne, smarter than I ever was."

"Well, that wouldn't be hard," Daphne joked, grinning at her friend.

Susan chuckled and threw a quill across the desk at her.

"You know, it has been ten years, though," Daphne said, cocking her head at Susan, "And I know why you didn't want to date when Ally was young, but she's in third year now, Susie."

"And I'm old," Susan said, giving Daphne a pointed look.

"You're 41. Look at my father and Narcissa. They found love later in life." Daphne pointed out, "And you're still hot, so you have that going for you."

Susan raised an eyebrow, "No, I'm not."

And maybe she didn't think it, but Susan was still hot. Her dark red hair did not have a hint of grey in it, which Daphne had told her several times was entirely unfair. She had a few more age lines on her face, and her freckles were a little more pronounced, but she still turned heads at parents evenings.

"Yes, you are," Daphne said, "You need to get out there again, find some happiness. It's what Percy would want, not for you to be miserable forever."

"I am not miserable," Susan objected, "I have a job I love and a lot of friends."

Daphne gave her a knowing look, "Maybe it's time for one of those friends to become something more. Maybe like a friend with benefits."

Susan rolled her eyes, "Don't start this again."

"I'm just saying," Daphne said in a sing-song voice, "Maybe you don't go out there to try and find love again because you've already found it, and you're just too scared to admit that."

"I'm gonna curse you."

"I'm a Curse Breaker, sweetie. I'll deflect it ."

"Call me sweetie one more time, and we'll see about that."

Daphne just grinned and took a bite out of her sandwich.


Two hours until the election announcement…

Harry met Daphne in the entrance hall of Potter Manor. As usual, it hadn't taken long for him to get his hair under control and change into dress robes – Daphne joked it was easier these days because his hair was thinning, and he glared at her in response.

It wasn't thinning, but he did have more grey in his hair than Neville did, which the women frequently teased him for.

"Four kids and Daphne will do that to a person," Harry would joke, smirking at his wife as he did. She would roll her eyes with an exasperated smile because she'd heard it countless times before.

Daphne stepped into the room, looking flawlessly beautiful. It didn't matter if it was a wedding, a charity event, an official ball or even just a Wizengamot event like this – she looked gorgeous.

Tonight's dress was black, full-length and figure-hugging. It was accompanied by black high heels and a white faux fur throw. She wore her signature red lipstick, and she looked every inch Marchioness Potter.

"Are you ever going to age?"

Daphne smiled and took his arm, "Why would I do that when I've got you to do it for me," she teased.

"Oh, so that's why you keep me around?" He asked, smiling warmly at her.

"Well that and, other reasons," Daphne said, giving him that look. After over 20 years together, that look still meant the same thing. When the party was over tonight, he knew exactly what his wife wanted.

Harry chuckled, and they began to head outside together, "So it's finally here, the big night. God, how much have the Black-Notts gone on about this for the last six bloody months?"

"I know," Daphne agreed, "How do you think she feels right now?"

"Who, Hermione?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow, "Oh, she will be freaking out, no doubt and probably feeling like she's gonna throw up too."

"I wouldn't like to be in Draco, Theo or Sadie's shoes right now," Daphne confessed, "Have you spoken to Lilly recently, by the way?"

"Not in a few days," Harry admitted, "Why?"

"Thea turned up in the hospital a couple of days ago," Daphne said, giving Harry a long look, "She broke her leg jumping into a moshpit."

Harry snorted.

"With Zach Smith," Daphne added.

Harry stopped laughing, "Zach Smith? What's she doing hanging around with him?"

"He's 17. He's apparating her to nightclubs and gigs," Daphne said with a roll of her eyes, "Just like Leon Jamieson did before him, and Clark Berry did before that."

"Does she have any friends in her own year?" Harry quipped.

"Plenty, but none that can apparate," Daphne said dryly, "Andrea must be sick of finding her little sister in broom closets with boys in her year."

"Andie's just sick of her bullshit, let's be real," Harry said, slipping his hand into his wife's, "They all have their place – Teddy was the good kid, the Hufflepuff, Head Boy, could do no wrong in the teacher's eyes. Alastor is the Gryffindor; he's the rash one who gets in trouble for stupid but noble stuff-"

"Your double, in other words," Daphne added,

Harry smiled slightly, "Andrea is the smart one – the Ravenclaw who cried when her best friend got Head Girl over her."

"She didn't stand a chance against the daughter of Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy though, did she?" Daphne said, raising an eyebrow.

Harry smiled, "The point is Thea is the rebel; she's the baby of the family. The Slytherin, with an urge to prove herself. She's got the best of you and me in her, but the worst too. We need to cut her a little slack. You didn't turn out all that bad after all."

Daphne shot him an exasperated look, "She's sneaking out of school with boys twice her age. She's 15, Harry. Maybe you don't understand the gravity of that because, at 15, all you were doing was exchanging wet kisses with Cho Chang, but some of us were having sex in potions classrooms at that age."

"Some of us have dignity, though," Harry teased, shooting her a grin.

"And some of us have good enough standards that we don't date a Malfoy," Lilly's voice said.

Daphne looked over as Lilly and Neville joined them on the path, "Says the girl who was shagging her step-dad at that age?"

"Oh, do I need to remind you that you were shagging your step-brother back then?" Lilly asked, raising an eyebrow.

Neville shook his head in disbelief, "All I cared about at 15 was plants."

"Yeah, I didn't really understand why Cho liked me or what to do with the fact she did," Harry admitted, "I pretty much only cared about ousting Umbridge, getting justice and winning at Quidditch…."

Daphne and Lilly shared an exasperated look and shook their heads.

"Boys," They said in unison.

They hooked their arms together and walked ahead of Harry and Neville down the gravel path. Harry surveyed them as they did so, and his thoughts ran away from him for a moment.

Lilly had gotten better at playing the part of Countess Longbottom. She knew how to dress up and look the part for events like this one – as such, she was wearing a dark blue gown, similar to Daphne's, and she was also wearing the highest heels she could comfortably walk in. Neville was in formal dress robes, just as Harry was – there was something easier about being male in this situation.

Neville had aged about as well as Harry had. Both men had grey in their hair, but beyond that, Neville looked much the same as he had at 25. The biggest difference was in his posture, he tried to remain upright, but it was difficult, even with his cane.

The four of them were all Wizengamot members – the election system engineered by Neville after the whole Lucia Cross fiasco had stuck, and Harry and Neville continued to be elected every year because of who they were and how frequently they were in the press. More recently, Daphne and Lilly began to get nominated as well, with Potter & Weasley Cursebreaking taking off and Lilly's name and face getting more well known around wizarding Britain.

"So I suppose Lilly filled you in on the Thea situation then?" Harry asked Neville.

Neville nodded, "She did, and honestly, Harry, I think she's just acting out because she doesn't know what she wants to do with her life."

Daphne nodded in agreement, "Lilly spoke to her about everything, and it turns out, she has no idea what she wants to do with her life, and she feels inferior compared to everyone else in the family."

"You know who should talk to her about that?" Neville asked sarcastically, "How about the guy who felt like he was never going to live up to his parents' reputation and only wanted to be an Auror because he didn't think he was good at anything else?"

"Touche, that description could literally be you as well," Harry pointed out smugly.

Lilly chuckled, "He's not wrong, Nev."

Neville made a face, "The point is, talk to her, Harry. When she's home for the summer, help her figure out what she wants to do with her life."

"And be grateful that she's not going through the phrase James is right now," Lilly added, "Tell them what he did, Neville."

Neville shot Lilly an amused look, "You're really pissed off about that, aren't you?"

"Oh Merlin, who did you catch him in a broom closet with?" Harry asked, grinning at his best friend.

"Bonnie MacDougall," Neville replied.

"You know, Hannah the bitch Abbott's daughter," Lilly remarked coolly.

"You have been married to Neville for like 20 years, Lillian," Daphne teased, "You have to stop being petty about that at some point."

"You are not the right person to lecture anyone on being petty, Daphne Greengrass," Lilly quipped in response.

"I'm not petty," Daphne said calmly, "I don't hold grudges. I just set up strategic, vindictive curses against those who wrong me."

"Right, not petty at all," Lilly said sarcastically.

"Seriously though," Harry said, grinning mischievously, "You better be over the grudge before Jamie brings her home for dinner."

Neville shot him an exasperated look, and Lilly punched him in the arm.

"Ouch!"


One hour before the announcement…

Hermione was pacing the floor of a small antechamber attached to the Wizengamot courtroom. Draco and Theo were perched on desks, watching her warily, waiting for the explosion. Sadie leaned in the doorway, glancing out at the room as it filled up with Wizengamot members.

"She's been pacing silently for half an hour," Theo whispered to Draco, "When is Mount Hermione gonna blow?"

Draco watched Hermione as she breathed in sharply, "3…."

Her eyebrow twitched, "2…."

She shook her head and looked up, "1…."

"Now," Draco whispered.

"I can't do it!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Wow," Theo whispered, glancing at Draco in amazement, "That was amazing."

Sadie ignored them and stepped forward, "Yes, you can do it. You were born to do it, Hermione. You are a natural leader. It's perfectly normal to get cold feet now, but that's all this is."

Hermione shook her head tearfully, "No, you don't understand. I've wanted to do this since I was 11 years old. I can't mess it up!"

Theo frowned, "Wait, you wanted to be Minister for Magic in first year? When you had just found out about the wizarding world?"

"Yes!" Hermione exclaimed as she struggled not to burst into tears, "I wanted to be Prime Minister before that!"

Theo smiled fondly, "Course you did."

"Look, Hermione," Draco said, standing up and gripping her by the shoulders.

Hermione looked up and met his eye.

"You have never failed at a single thing you've done," Draco said confidently, "Yes, you've had setbacks, but you have never failed. So why would this be any different?"

"The stakes are just so high now," Hermione whispered.

"Yeah, Princess, they are," Theo agreed, cocking his head at her, "But they were high during the war, and you aced it then too. You know you can do this, and you want to do this, don't you?"

"So much," Hermione said, nodding fervently.

"The only person telling you that you can't is yourself," Theo said, "So shut down those doubts and walk out there with your head held high. Every opinion poll is in your favour. You are an admired and respected member of the Wizengamot and the Ministry. You got this, princess."

Hermione smiled tearfully and stepped forward to hug him, "Thanks, Theo, you give the best inspirational speeches."

She stepped back and composed herself, then she hugged Sadie and kissed Draco on the cheek.

"You've got this," Draco promised, smiling proudly at his wife.

With a final nod, Hermione stepped out into the chamber.

Theo blew out a sigh of relief, "Wow, I can't believe that worked. That's the same speech I use on the kids who don't think they're capable of making the jump from the junior school to Hogwarts."

Sadie shot Theo an exasperated look, and Draco smacked him around the back of the head playfully. Theo grinned and got to his feet, shifting his weight and leaning on his cane.

"Come on," Sadie said, pushing open the door to the courtroom, "Let's watch Hermione Black make history."

Draco shook his head, "Granger. She worked her way to this from the beginning. She carved her own way here. None of this is because of anything she got with my name. She earned it for herself, so right now, she's Hermione Granger."

"Merlin Draco, you're such a supportive husband," Theo muttered teasingly, "Quit making me look bad."

- TBC -