Chapter 23 - Epilogue

Epilogue - 4 Years later

Hermione entered the bedroom, kicked off her shoes, flopped onto the edge of the bed and began brushing her hair. Moments later Neville appeared in the doorway. He watched her for a while then crawled up behind her and started kissing her neck.

"Careful," purred Hermione. "Best mind your manners or people will talk."

"They already are. Don't tell anyone but there's a rumor going around that I'm sleeping with the Charms teacher."

Hermione's hand clutched an imaginary set of pearls at her neck. "Scandalous! However, I hate to inform you but your secret is about to be revealed."

"Drat! What's given me away?"

She held up her left hand to show off a pair of rings adorning her fourth finger. "Other than the fact that we've been married for three years?"

Neville rested his chin on her shoulder. "Hmmm. Think they've noticed that, have they?"

"They're bright kids. I think they've picked up on the fact that the Herbology professor and the Charms teacher share a name and a residence."

"Might have been a clue, I grant you," said Neville as he began nuzzling her earlobe.

"If that hasn't keyed them in then I'm guessing the news of my upcoming maternity leave may be a clincher."

Neville stopped mid-nibble. "News of wha-what?"

"Maternity leave. Surely you've heard of it. It's a period of absence from work granted to a woman before and after the birth of a child."

Neville turned Hermione slowly around to face him.

"Wait. Maternity. You mean – I...you…we…"

Hermione smiled and took his hand. "Yes, Neville. I…you…we… are going to have a baby."

"Really?"

"Really."

"How? Sorry. I mean… I know how. I meant…when?"

"I'm about two and a half months along. Which means in a little over six months you'll be a father."

"I'm going to be a father," Neville repeated, still clearly trying to process the words.

Hermione nodded patiently as her husband tried to get his head around this fact.

"Yes, Neville."

A huge grin slowly crept across his face. "I'm going to be a father?"

"Yes, Neville."

The enormity of this revelation then more fully descended on him and his eyes grew wide. "Merlin's beard. I'm going to be a father."

"Yes, Neville." Hermione paused then asked, "So…how do you feel about that?"

"Feel? I'm happy, of course. Anxious. Scared. No, strike that. Terrified. Overwhelmed." He took a deep breath then his face beamed. "Overjoyed. We're having a baby."

He placed his hands gently on her stomach as he looked her in the eyes. "How do you feel?"

"Happy. Anxious. Scared. Terrified. Overwhelmed. Nauseous. Overjoyed. We're having a baby."

The pair laughed softly then Neville asked, "Do you know what we're having yet?"

She shook her head. "I did the confirmation charm but not the gender one. I wanted to tell you first and see if you wanted to know or be surprised."

Neville caressed her cheek. "Whatever you want, love. I'm just over the moon that we're going to be parents."

Hermione pondered for a moment then summoned her wand and recited the incantation. A few seconds later she looked at Neville and announced, "It's a girl."

"A girl," Neville kissed his wife's forehead. "A brilliant, beautiful little girl - just like her mother."

He took Hermione in his arms and situated themselves among the pillows at the head of the bed.

They lay snuggled together until Neville asked, "Got any ideas for her name?"

Hermione nodded. "For a girl, I was thinking Alice Rose might be nice. Alice for both of our mothers and Rose for my favorite flowers."

She glanced at the bouquet at their bedside and thought back to the night Neville proposed by filling the Hogwarts clock tower with planters filled with Rosebay and the roses her mother thought smelled like the future. Hermione carried a bouquet of those same flowers two months later when they got married in a small ceremony in the Janus Thickey ward so Neville's parents could be present.

"Alice Rose," Neville whispered. "Sounds perfect. I love it."

He took her hand and raised it to his lips, then laced their fingers together. "So, when can we tell people?"

Hermione thought carefully then said, "Let's wait for now. Keep it to ourselves for a while."

"Think there's a bet going on about this as well?"

Hermione giggled. "They've wagered on everything else we've done for the past four years. Why should this be any different?"

"Whose turn is it for us to tip off this time - Malfoy or Potter?"

"Merlin. I've lost count. I suppose we'll give one the due date and the other the gender?"

"Good idea. Think they've clocked that we've been deliberately messing with them all this time?"

"No, which is really funny because I think even Scorpius has figured it out by this point." Hermione kissed her husband on the cheek. "Oh well, maybe they'll have caught on by the next one."

"Next one? I like the sound of that."

"So do I..." Hermione sighed contentedly. "So do I."

xxx

Neville made good on his promise to hold back Hermione's hair when she was sick during all three of her pregnancies. They remained at the school until the children graduated and in their spare time they developed a magical study facility along the lines of Kew Gardens on the grounds of the Longbottom ancestral home. Along the way they created a potion which greatly extended both the length and quality of Astoria's life for which Draco and Scorpius were eternally grateful.

xxx

The End

NOTE: If you've read this far I give you my wholehearted thanks. I've never written for this pairing before but I really enjoyed imagining their relationship. As always, kind and constructive feedback is always welcomed. :)

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