A/N: And here we are at the end, my lovelies. What a lovely little journey we've been on. Thank you all for joining us.
And, Thank you to Lib McGranger for making this as awesome as it had been and for pushing me to finish it and post it.
-0-
Christmas had been everything that Hermione had missed since they had fallen out of sync. Minerva was present and engaged but allowed Hermione time as well, especially after their long, emotional night. Minerva had made sure to include her in their games and brought her tea and corralled the twins when they were at their most rambunctious. It was, perhaps, the nicest Christmas that Hermione had enjoyed in a while.
As in other years, their Christmas tree rivalled the one in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. When lit, it brightened the entire library. Hermione sat on their new sofa while she sipped her tea slowly. The new furniture had Minerva waxing lyrical for a good while as she saw what it was capable of, without the use of magic. Hermione had been glad of the approval and made quiet plans to christen it properly after the children were asleep. In the meantime, however, she laughed as she watched Minerva trying to control the twins and stop them from literally diving right into the enormous pile of presents.
The unwrapping was perhaps the twins' favourite thing in all the world. In previous years, they'd just ripped the paper off any present that was put in front of them. However, it seemed that with their added year, came a little added emotional intelligence. In fact, Hermione had taken quite a few photographs of Minerva sharing her unwrapping with Cat and of Alex sitting with Eòghan between his little legs, helping him unwrap his little presents as well. Not that Eòghan could unwrap anything, but Alex had fun moving his hands across the paper and anything Alex did, his little brother loved. The twins had bikes that were summarily carried downstairs and out of the house after they nearly went into the bookshelves. Eòghan had a new box of blocks and Minerva left them playing together while she crawled onto the sectional and settled between Hermione's thighs.
"One for you, my love?"
Hermione slid off the ribbon and opened the little box, staring at the contents.
"I thought these were -"
"You didn't think I'd forgotten, did you?"
"But -"
Minerva smirked at her and Hermione realised how blind she had been.
"I love you," Hermione mumbled, cupping Minerva's chin and kissing her. "I cannot believe you got tickets to this lecture!"
"I did have to call in a few favours," she chuckled. "But," she smiled, producing an envelope from mid-air. "It's a two-part-er."
"Min, I," she blushed. "Your present isn't anything -"
"My presents are all around us love. And I got my present last night and if I'm lucky this afternoon and -"
"Hush," Hermione blushed. "You're incorrigible."
"You set my soul on fire, Hermione Granger, it's only natural for me to want to explore you at every moment."
Hermione bit back a smile and turned back to the envelope. Inside was a brochure for a hotel in -
"Florence!" Hermione squeaked. "Florence?"
"I know you'd like to go back, and I have already asked Jenny if she will have the twins. Poppy said she'd take Eòghan."
Hermione was floored.
"When?"
"The night after the lecture. Ten days."
Hermione gathered Minerva into her arms and kissed her deeply.
"I don't even want to give you the present I got for you. It's pathetic. I'm getting you something else."
"I don't need anything," Minerva reiterated. "I have you four. But, I also want you to find something to occupy your time, other than the children. We have both made mistakes, we both got caught up in what we were doing. We're going to do better though. You have looked after the tiny children better than anyone I know, but it's time to get back to who we are. Find a project to champion, a charity, whatever you want. Paid or not, you know we don't need the money. Whatever it is, love, we will make it work. And if you need a break, call on us. All of us. Any of us."
"I will," Hermione breathed. "I promise. I," she sighed bashfully. "Have a few things in mind that I've been following."
"I can't wait to see your brilliance in action again. The world has been darker for it."
Hermione made a face but at that moment, Alex got their attention.
"Mama, Eòghan is stinky."
Hermione nearly groaned at the prospect of the job, but Minerva chuckled and kissed Hermione once more before getting up energetically. She swung the baby into the air and turned back to Hermione with a wink.
"I mean it. The world misses you, Hermione. I, for one, can't wait to stand beside you and watch you fly."
She strode off to the bedroom without a single complaint and Hermione was left breathless at those words. She stared at her hands for a long time before she remembered they had eight whole weeks of Minerva, all to themselves.
"Right," she said, turning to the twins with renewed excitement. "What are we building?"
They had played until they could play no more and by the time the afternoon rolled around, the kids dropped like flies into exhausted naps. Hermione sat in Minerva's arms, tucked in the window talking about what they might do in their next eight weeks and about Florence and very carefully dared to dream of the future. They talked like they had in the beginning. Of chances they might take. Of things they might read. Of new things. Of togetherness.
And they reaffirmed their love once more when Eòghan fell asleep. They left the three kids tucked under blankets in the library and escaped to their room. Christening the sofa would wait. After a shower and another round of loving under the water, the twins came looking for then and family life resumed.
Eventually, as the evening drew nearer, Hermione was more than happy to see Minerva and the twins go for a walk to watch the fairies emerge. She and Eòghan lazed in the library together, one on one, and she felt everything slowly but surely, click back into place.
-0-
Boxing day brought a quiet morning as Hermione woke before the rest of their Clann and got up to enjoy the time on her own.
"Good morning," Minerva whispered sometime later, wrapping her arms around Hermione's middle.
"Good morning," Hermione sighed, leaning back against her. "How did you sleep?"
"Very deeply," Minerva chuckled. "As you well know. How did we make it to bed?"
"With the proper leverage," Hermione smirked over her shoulder. "Everything is possible. You surely didn't imagine that you could do what you did to me Christmas Eve and get away scot-free? My beautiful Scot?"
"That was a poor attempt at humour, even for you," Minerva laughed, though she nibbled on Hermione's shoulder.
"After all these years, I'm still not very good at it."
"I disagree," Minerva mumbled. "With exceptions."
Hermione reached round and squeezed Minerva's backside.
"Tea, then?" she grinned.
"Yes please."
Hermione poured and gave Minerva a cup, sliding their hands together and following her up to the library. She aimed for the sofa, but Minerva redirected them and she ended up where they always did in their window seat, Hermione settled across Minerva's lap, enjoying the quiet.
"What time is everyone coming?"
"Two I think," Hermione shrugged, twirling Minerva's hair around her fingers. "Doesn't matter. Dinner is at six. They all know that."
"Are Ron and Kelly coming?"
"Oh," Hermione shook her head. "No, sorry I meant to tell you. They're going to Kelly's parents. I said we'd see them in the New Year."
"The usual crowd then," Minerva smiled. "Ooh, don't tell Lucy, but Adie has a girlfriend," she whispered conspiratorially. "She's in the year above but they are utterly adorable. She's incredibly polite and very bright," she grinned. "I've already introduced myself as Aunt Minerva."
"Poor girl," Hermione chuckled, tracing Minerva's ear. At some point, she'd put in her new stud from Adie - a cat that seemed to be walking through her ear. Minerva thought it was hilarious.
"I just wanted her to know where things stood."
"Mhmm," Hermione smiled, kissing her softly. "Lucy will be fine with it, no?"
"Of course she will," Minerva snorted. "I think Adie is enjoying her space, no doubt how Lucy now enjoys hers as well."
"I'm glad I have you," Hermione whispered, imagining the opposite. "I know," she placed her finger over Minerva's lips as she went to speak. "I know I could have done this without you. Things would have been very different, of course. But I'm glad I don't have to, I am happy, Min. And watching you care for the children of our lives is rather delightful, you know."
"Rather delightful?"
"Alright," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Downright sexy. Probably in the same way you feel about me," she smirked. "With child."
"That's better," Minerva smirked. Hermione shook her head and kissed Minerva instead. "I will have to be in the kitchen for a long time," Minerva continued eventually. "Will you be alright?"
"I don't want, or even need, to be apart from our children, Min," Hermione smiled. "I just need some support. Which you have, you are giving me. In spades! And everyone else will be here, I probably won't even see them until we eat," she chuckled.
"Well then maybe we should find some time for us as well," Minerva suggested and banished her mug to the kitchen. She pulled Hermione closer just as Eòghan announced he was awake. "Saved by the babe," Minerva snorted, nuzzling under Hermione's chin.
"You are insatiable, Minerva McGonagall.
"I will never get enough of you, Hermione Granger."
They kissed languidly until Eòghan insisted.
"I shall get him," Minerva muttered against her lips.
"You wait here," Hermione rolled her eyes. "I will bring your little prince to you. Then perhaps I will attempt a trifle while they are not underfoot."
"Ooh, I can't wait," Minerva said gleefully. "I remember a time when you insisted you couldn't cook. And look where we are now. You are very good at things that aren't easy to set on fire."
Hermione turned around, scandalised but Minerva just chuckled and pinched her backside before she walked away.
-0-
It was Harry that came to her first, before dinner, while she was deciding how the room was best set up with so many guests. She could hear Ginny and Lucy wrangling most of the children upstairs and she could hear little Lily in the kitchen - probably settled in her favourite spot: standing in front of her Aunt Minerva's body while they cooked together. Poppy and Will were arguing good-naturedly with each other about something or other while they sat at the breakfast table, probably while sipping on a glass of red, with Minerva chiming in on occasion.
"Hey there," Harry said, as she set out the cutlery in the formal dining room.
"Hi," she smiled genuinely. "How are you?"
"Fine," he shrugged. "How are you?"
Hermione stopped and looked up at him, softening as she saw the worry.
"I'm fine," she nodded. "I wasn't," she admitted. "I -" she sighed."I am now."
"You could have asked for help."
"I know," Hermione nodded. "I was so," she groaned. "Do you ever feel like you need to be better at everything you do, because of who we are?"
"Yes," Harry said easily. "And I nearly always fall flat on my arse."
Hermione snorted and walked around the table to hug him tightly.
"I'm not very good at that," she chuckled. "Admitting I need help. But I am ok. We talked and things are going to get better. They already have."
"You're sure?"
"I promise. She wants to tell everyone at dinner, but our lives are going to change again."
"Are you pregnant again?"
"No," she chuckled. "Nothing like that. Just moving to a different phase, I guess. I'm going to get a job or something, she has something planned as well."
Harry opened his mouth to ask, but they were saved by her beautifully precocious daughter.
"Unc'a Hawwy!"
"Yes, Kitty Cat?"
"Quidditch!"
"Quidditch?" Hermione interrupted, wide-eyed. "In our library?"
Cat giggled and Hermione scooped her up and pretended munch on her belly to riotous giggles.
"You tell Aunty Lucy and Aunty Ginny that if anything gets damaged, especially my nice new sofa, Mummy is going to be very upset."
Cat giggled evilly.
"Bloody hell, she's definitely related to the both of you," Harry groaned. He opened his arms and Hermione rolled her daughter into them and waved as they walked away.
Two strong arms encircled her, resting over her belly button.
"Maybe once I'm retired, I'll find a way to keep you barefoot and pregnant for the rest of our lives."
Hermione laughed and turned her head to kiss her lover.
"I told you, I'm not opposed," Hermione shrugged. "In a year or so? Did you speak to Poppy?"
"No, I was teasing. And I am not worried. I think once you get back out there, you'll get busy and change your mind," she cupped Hermione's cheek. "And I will not be sad about it. We have everything we need."
"We do," she whispered, cupping Minerva's cheek over her shoulder. "One more wouldn't make too much difference, though?"
"You seem suddenly much keener than you were when we found out about Eòghan?"
"I was not unhappy about Eòghan," Hermione clarified. "Perhaps a little concerned. But after such an easy pregnancy and," she smirked. "Now I am seeing things with new eyes, as it were," she muttered, making Minerva chuckle.
"Is that right?"
"Mhmm."
"Next New Year, afterwards, we can discuss it again. How about that?" Minerva asked. "The children will be little people, you will be elbow deep in your latest research paper, no doubt and I'll be," she thought about it. "Trimming bonsai trees."
Hermione threw her head back and laughed.
"You're hopeless."
"Alright, maybe I'll be coaching the Little Snitches."
"My children will not be beaters," Hermione growled. "So you had better get that out of your head, right now."
It was Minerva's turn to laugh this time and she pulled Hermione in and rocked them to a beat that Hermione could not hear.
"What do you think of a movie night in the garden after dinner? We could set up a tent and use a projector? Do your parents still have theirs?"
"I don't know," Hermione snorted. "You'd know better than me, but they'll be here in," she pulled Minerva's arm closer to her face. "Twenty minutes."
They both paused, seeing Minerva's grandmother's watch beside a blood-red ribbon. They replaced them every year before Minerva went to Hogwarts and Minerva didn't know, but Hermione kept every one of them in a box beneath their bed.
"Can you imagine how good our life is going to be, if this is the beginning," Minerva muttered.
Hermione sighed happily, running her thumb over the ribbon and feeling the corresponding shiver as Minerva pressed her front against Hermione's back again. Even after so long, it still gave her a thrill when it happened, but she knew now was neither the time nor the place to get Minerva worked up, again. Instead, Hermione slid their fingers together and relaxed against her lover's chest as she absently twisted Minerva's rings on her fingers. It was a habit she'd picked up somewhere along the way. It had started as a nervous tic but had developed into one of comfort, especially as Minerva became a lot less strict with her appearance. She regularly wore her rings these days and more than one student had stopped and stared when she'd arrived at Hogwarts in January of 1999 wearing a silver hoop in the top of her ear as well. It had tickled most of the staff immensely.
"I want you to have something," Minerva muttered, capturing Hermione's fingers between her own. She slipped a ring from her finger, Hermione's favourite; the delicate loop of intertwining vines and leaves. Minerva rolled it between her thumb and index finger before she caught Hermione's left hand and slid it on her ring finger. "I know we've spoken about this, and that between us we are unbothered by old-fashioned, archaic ceremonies. But that doesn't mean that your finger should be bare."
"Min," Hermione gasped as she understood. "That's your favourite!"
"But so are you," Minerva insisted. "And I adore seeing you in it." There was a pause before she spoke again. "And I quite like the idea of people knowing you're mine."
Hermione turned again and wrapped her arms around Minerva's neck.
"Is that right," Hermione chuckled, kissing her appreciatively. "As if people can't tell by the army of mini-Mins we have between us."
Minerva laughed and picked Hermione up, spinning her around.
"There's my woman."
A loud crash from above bought their time to a close as Minerva rolled her eyes.
"I love you," she whispered before running up the stairs with her Professor McGonagall voice calling for order.
Hermione chuckled to herself as she flicked her hand and sent the rest of the plates to their respective settings. And it wasn't long before she returned to the kitchen to find Poppy, and a glass of wine, waiting for her.
"I'm fine," she sighed, seeing Poppy's look.
"I shall be the judge of that," she smirked. "Sit, or I'll turn Will on you."
Hermione smiled.
"Where is he?"
"He took Eòghan for a walk," Poppy said sternly. "Sit." Hermione laughed and joined her sister-in-law at the table. She sipped her wine and smiled as Poppy looked her over. "You do look better."
"I am. I spoke to Minerva already. We," she sighed, turning her glass. "Spoke truth."
"Good," Poppy smiled. "I was worried."
"I heard," Hermione smirked. She reached across and took Poppy's hand. "Thank you," she whispered. "For telling her. I," she sighed. "Could not find the words."
"That is what family does, Hermione," Poppy said gently. "And we are, all of us, family now. Surely you know that?"
"I do," she nodded. "I really do."
"GAMMY!"
"Oof," Poppy muttered as Cat crashed into her middle. Despite the fact that Poppy was only as old as her mother, Cat had latched onto her cousin Adie with a vengeance and anything Adie did, Cat did too, even with the twelve-year age gap. And so, Poppy had become Gammy and Will, Gramps, just like Adie. Hermione was sure nobody minded. In fact, she quite thought it tickled Min to hear her children call her sister-in-law Grandma.
"Be on wi'cha," Poppy muttered as she got up, poking Hermione in the arm. "I know what you McGonagall women think about them calling us that," she grinned.
Hermione chuckled and sat back, enjoying the quiet for a moment when the Floo activated. Rolling her eyes at her parents' timing, she got up and met them as they emerged.
"Goodness," Jenny hugged, dusting off her clothes. "I'm not sure it gets any easier."
"You love it really," Hermione said, waving her hand and removing the soot. "Dad on his way?"
"Yes," she nodded, turning to look. "Unless he's fallen out somewhere?"
It had happened before, but Hermione waited a beat before getting worried. As assumed, her dad emerged from the flames with a massive grin and soot all over his face.
"I'm pretty sure I saw someone having a very lurid party," he said, wiping his eyes. "Hiya peanut!"
"Hiya, Dad."
"Everyone upstairs?" he muttered, holding up a bag as Hermione banished the spot from him too. "I bought the projector. Min called."
"Oh did she?" Hermione said, wondering when she'd found the time to do so. "Good. We'll set it up later, just leave it by the door." She smiled as he left in search of Will and turned back to her mum and found her looking at her sideways.
"Not you too?"
"I have no idea what you mean," Jenny smirked. "Other than if you are referring to the wonderful coffee date I had with Poppy and Lucy last week?"
"Urgh," Hermione sighed, wrapping her arm in her mother's and walking her to the kitchen. "I take it you want wine?"
"Please," Jenny grinned. "So?"
"So, she came home and we talked. Properly." Hermione shrugged and handed over the wine. "It's like you said, right at the beginning. Honesty will get you through all of the other stuff. I had forgotten while I had so much other stuff to deal with."
Jenny hummed around her wine. Hermione rolled her eyes again.
"Well, I'm glad you have worked it out. Now, get on up there and go play with your family. I'll watch the food. Lord knows Min won't let anyone else do it."
Hermione chuckled and hugged her mum tightly for a moment before stepping back.
"Thank you," she whispered. "For pushing me. Then and now."
"Who knew my telling you to go home to your love would have achieved all this, hey?" she chuckled.
"You're not taking credit for the leagues of family we all now have, are you?"
"You know what?" Jenny said introspectively. "I think I might be."
"I -"
"MAMA!"
Jenny pulled her into a hug and squeezed her gently.
"Go. Mama is wanted," Hermione turned then glanced back at her. Jenny smiled and took her hand. "Mama can be just as exciting as Mummy, she's just been tired for a long time. Go and show them why Min fell in love with you; why we have all fallen in love with you, over and over, my beautiful daughter."
"I -"
Hermione stared at her mother and realised just how right she was. She'd put herself away when the twins were born. To heal and to enjoy them as babies. But then, she'd done so again, even more so, when Eòghan came along. It was time to change that. It was time to find Hermione Granger again, separate from Mama.
"I love you, Mum," Hermione said, hugging her again.
"I love you too. Go," Jenny ordered. "Between your dad this morning and this lot mobbing me in a while, I'll enjoy my wine in peace."
Hermione ran up the stairs and found Minerva, Ginny, Harry and Lucy looking sheepish as Poppy cradled Alex in her arms, smoothing paste on a red mark on his forehead and wiping his tears. The rest of the kids crowded around them, offering their Aunty Poppy words of pointless encouragement. Hermione glanced at Minerva who bit her lip and nodded to Harry, who looked terrified for a moment and pointed at Ginny, who laughed and wrapped her arm around Hermione's shoulders.
"Why don't we take this outside," Hermione said finally. "That way we can all play and nobody will damage my library."
The kids, including Alex, scrambled down the stairs and out of the front door calling their hellos to their Nanna Jenny as they went.
"You are all doing dishes," Hermione quipped, before hugging Lucy hello and linking her arm with Ginny. They followed the children out of the house as Will, Eòghan and her dad met them by the front door.
Poppy gathered the coats and hats and scarves and handed them out to all the children before taking the baby.
"Go on," Poppy told her husband with a smile. "Off you go. Jenny, Eòghan and I will hold down the fort."
Hermione watched Will kiss her and run after the little children like he was barely older than her, let alone a few years younger than Minerva. It wasn't long before he had James on his back and Alex on his front while Albus stood on Will's toes as he stomped around the garden like a troll.
"You're alright, right?" Ginny asked once they were outside. "I've been avoiding asking cos," she looked around. "I doubted I'd be the only one."
"I'm fine," Hermione smiled, watching Minerva race after Adie and swing her around like she was much younger than the 15-year-old-going-on-18-year-old that she was. Adie didn't see to mind. "Really. And yes, everyone else has also asked."
"We love you," Ginny smiled. "All of your family do."
"I know," Hermione grinned. "It's," she sighed, looking out over her beloved mountains. They'd floated the idea of moving occasionally, but this was her haven. This was their home. "Sometimes I'm that only child in a new world full of magic," she glanced at her best friend. "You know?"
"Thinking you know everything, but finding the opposite to be true?" Ginny laughed. "I was like that after Albus. Thankfully," she glanced at Harry who had Cat on the front of his broom. "I snapped much earlier than you. And then we had Lily," she chuckled.
"The idea has been proposed," Hermione grinned wryly. "Though we're not talking about it for another year or so. Poppy has said it is ill-advised."
"I think Poppy loves to fuss," Ginny chuckled.
Hermione laughed as Ginny dragged Hermione closer so she could join in the slower, somewhat safer version of Quidditch that they played to include all the little ones. Ginny moved to help Lily onto a broom while Hermione watched the boys come racing in to join them.
"Minerva McGonagall," she said without turning, her tone made everyone stop in their tracks. "Put that bludger back in the box."
"I was only -"
Hermione looked at her now, her eyebrow hitching as all of the children - and quite a few of the adults - dissolved into laughter. Minerva rolled her eyes and did as she was told and threw the Quaffle to Harry as she walked back to them.
"I love you," Minerva muttered, pulling Hermione in and kissing her hair. "You okay?"
"Yep," Hermione beamed. "I am. And I love you."
"You promise?" Minerva asked, cupping her cheek and kissing her sweetly before they got interrupted.
"I promise."
Fin
