Epilogue (one year later)

Hermione leaned back against the Headmistress' desk, crossing her legs. The informality of the gesture made her feel itchy, but she needed to establish the right tone. She wasn't a student anymore. 'Hello Professor Snape.'

'Miss Granger,' he said with a nod. 'Are you here to brag about winning the Halliday Charms Prize?'

'Oh, no,' she said with a laugh. 'I've only been nominated. The ceremony isn't for another two weeks. That isn't why I'm here.'

She and the Portrait Snape stared at each other for a few moments, neither wanting to speak first. In the end, Hermione gave in. His mouth was only painted on after all. 'I wanted to share some other news. I'm pregnant.'

'What a rare achievement.'

Hermione ignored the sarcasm. She had been braced for it. Her own weapon was much pointier. Sympathy. 'I don't know whether it ever bothered you. To not have any family. But this baby will have a big one. '

She could sense another biting comment on its way, so she forged on with her speech before he could release it. 'You wanted fame and wealth. And Draco's accomplishing that with your journals. Princely Potions is the number one potions development company in London right now. I'm sure he has stopped by to brag. But I think that this is the bigger legacy, common achievement though it might be. And I thought you should know about it.'

He didn't reply, and his face was a blank wall. She had expected that. Part of her preparation for this meeting was coming to terms with the fact that Snape probably wouldn't give her what she wanted. It wasn't in his nature as a man, and as a portrait perhaps he was incapable of it. But she needed to say her piece, for herself.

'One day, a little girl will walk into this room. With Draco and I as parents, it's inevitable that she ends up here, probably on her first day at Hogwarts. She'll see your portrait and know you as her grandfather Snape. I know that day will be hard for you, so I'm giving you over a decade of warning. Try not to be too scary. Draco is certain she'll be a Slytherin, so she might not have that famous Gryffindor bravery.'

Hermione ruffled through her bag for a manila folder, just like the one she had given Theodore on the day she had told him she was his sister. She liked to recycle them, so perhaps it was even the same one. She placed it on Professor McGonagall's desk.

'This is my paper that was nominated for the Halliday Prize. I've included all my notes and research, all the extra stuff I couldn't squeeze into the word limit. Professor McGonagall will read it to you if you ask. I know you didn't exactly love teaching, but I'm sure there's a part of you that really misses marking essays, tearing them to shreds.'

'I will ask her,' he said plainly, without a snarky comment.

Hermione smiled. It was like an involuntary reflex. She felt a little bit of triumph. It was such a small thing, but coming from Snape it was everything. She gave an awkward wave at the portrait, and then admonished herself for ruining the cool image she was trying to project. 'Well, goodbye. I'm late for Sunday lunch at the Potters.'

She couldn't resist one last look as she walked out the door. Portrait Snape was regal and gloomy, like a sullen prince on an uncomfortable throne. But his eyes were glued to the folder on the desk, and for a moment she thought she detected something a little like pride, pride for his daughter. She shook her head. It was just a portrait.

Hermione stumbled out of the elevator and then leaned her forehead against the stone wall straight ahead. She breathed in and out deeply, trying to calm her thoughts. 'Thank you for coming. For letting me do this alone, but not alone.'

Theodore stood next to her, and placed a warm hand on her shoulder. 'I don't think either of us will be alone again, no matter how hard we try. I don't know yet whether to curse you or thank you for that.'

Hermione laughed shakily. 'Our circle has gotten pretty big these days. And to think I once thought Harry and Ron were too much to handle.'

'They are,' Theodore said. 'But now you have more sane people around to help you manage them. Saneish. I think Longbottom's the closest one to normal, but even he talks to plants. What on Earth have you gotten me into?'

'Family,' Hermione said. 'The real kind. The best kind.'

'Speaking of,' Theodore began with a sideways glance. 'How did it go with the bat?'

Hermione straightened up to give him a startled look. 'I don't think I've ever heard a Slytherin call him that before.'

Theodore winced. 'I thought it might cheer you up. But now I feel like I'm going to be smited or something. We all did really respect him, in spite of his quirks.'

Hermione smiled. 'I always used to remind Harry and Ron to call him Professor Snape.'

'So? Are you going to keep avoiding the question?'

'It went better than I expected. He was interested in the paper. And there might have been just a smidgeon of sentimentality in all that paint.'

'And how do you feel about it?'

'Terrified. I thought I was closing a door, but now I feel like I've just opened one.'

'Will you go back?'

Hermione sighed. 'Some day, maybe. Once I've recovered from this little chat. I can't form a relationship with a portrait, even if I wanted to. He isn't real. But there is something there. And my damned curiosity will eat at me if I don't find out what it is.'

'The theory on magical portraits is woefully incomplete. Just the sort of thing for an ambitious up-and-coming Charms research fellow to stake her career on.'

Hermione shrugged. 'There are lots of portraits out there. I wouldn't need his for that.'

Theodore gave her a knowing look. 'Do you really think that you, Hermione Granger, are going to be able to pass up an opportunity to unravel the mystery of Severus Snape?'

She gave him a weak shove. 'Well, I suppose it worked out well enough the last time.'

Hermione watched with a smile as little James Potter rolled over on the picnic blanket. Ron leaned forward to tickle his tummy, making ridiculous cooing noises. She signalled to Luna, who snuck over from the other side of the yard and snapped a picture with her camera. Luna had decided to take up photography as a hobby. Her photographs leaned towards the abstract. It actually put her subjects at ease. Many of the war survivors were still camera-shy, but when the end photo was likely to be blurry with the subject overshadowed by a passing bird, they decided to let Luna have her fun. Hermione suspected that for every abstract photograph Luna collected, she had two more that were clear as day.

Harry plopped down next to Hermione, passing her a plate of danishes. 'Courtesy of Narcissa Malfoy', he said.

Hermione barely had a chance to grab one before Ron snatched the plate out of her hand.

'These are the best,' he mumbled, crumbs spilling everywhere. 'Don't tell Mum I said that.'

Hermione sighed. 'How long do you think we can hold out before we start inviting her? She sends something more elaborate each week. And Draco tells me she's been baking these herself. In an actual apron.'

Harry gestured over to where Andromeda was trying to clean up Teddy, who was covered in either mud or chocolate. 'Andromeda said to give it two more weeks. She thinks if we wait Narcissa might step up to pies. There was an old family recipe for blackberry pie that she wants to get her hands on.'

Harry took out a notebook and pen and started to scribble.

'Harry,' Ron asked slowly. 'Is that a book?' He backed away slightly, as though he thought Harry was contagious.

'A journal,' Harry said, his face turning red. 'For James. I wish I'd had something more from my parents, some of their old stories and adventures. If anything happens, I want James to know about the time we fought a troll in a bathroom, and about the Sunday lunches we used to have. I want him to know where he comes from.'

Hermione put her hand on his. 'Harry, that's really sweet, and I'm sure James will love it. But he won't need a replacement for you, because you will be there. I promise. James will grow up with a mum and dad who love him, even if I have to move Heaven and Earth to make it happen. And there will be no excuses for getting out of Sunday lunch, so James will experience plenty of those first hand.'

Hermione tried to sneak a peek at the journal, but Harry shifted it behind his back. 'And you should include the story of how we saved Buckbeak.'

Ron punched Harry in the arm. 'I would listen to her mate. You know how scary 'Mione can get when she's angry. I guess we'll just have to suffer through this mountain of food every week. James here can help us out. He seems to take after me in the stomach. He's a magnet for food.'

'More like a magnet for trouble. Like father like son. I'm going to spend the next eighteen years worried sick aren't I?'

Hermione casually picked at some blades of grass. 'Well, I suppose my daughter will be the same way. They could get into trouble together, if James can keep up with her. Adventures are always more fun with friends. Even if they are silly boys.'

Harry and Ron gaped at her. 'Really?'

She nodded. 'But don't make a big deal out of it, because I swore I wouldn't cry today. If Snape couldn't break me down, then this certainly won't.'

After a few moments of suspicious sniffling, Ron left with the excuse that James was hungry, taking the baby with him.

Hermione leaned her head on Harry's shoulder, making a failed attempt to grab the journal. Harry's Quidditch reflexes thwarted her plan. 'I just wanted to see some of your fatherly wisdom. You're the expert on parenthood now, and I'll need all the help I can get. But if you or Draco put my daughter on a broom before I say so, I will hex you so hard you'll land on the moon.'

Hermione stood next to Pansy, watching as Luna entertained Teddy with a flute that shot out colourful sparks. They swirled into the shapes of strange creatures, dancing to the music. Luna had no sense of tune, but she made up for it with rampant enthusiasm, and Teddy seemed happy.

Hermione thought Pansy had gestured for her to come over, but she hadn't spoken a word, so perhaps she had just been stretching. After a few minutes, Hermione decided to grab something to eat from the buffet table. Pansy grasped her arm to stop her.

'So, I've been working with these kids,' Pansy said. 'Kids with shitty parents or no parents, finding them homes or a box of tissues or whatever.'

Hermione glanced at her in surprise. It sounded like something Pansy had been involved in for a while, but this was the first she had heard of it. Slytherins and their secrets. Pansy had never mentioned her parents, but Hermione had gotten the impression from Draco that they could win an award for 'shitty parents'.

'I'm not doing it for sappy reasons,' Pansy said quickly, misinterpreting Hermione's surprise. 'It's a good networking opportunity. Orphans can turn into influential people. Look at Potter.'

'I think that's great Pansy,' Hermione said. 'For your social climbing. Sounds like a solid scheme.'

Pansy stared at her fingernails. 'Anyway, there's this little girl living with Muggles. Nine years old, and she just found out her biological parents were wizards. They sent her away as a baby because they thought she was a squib. Now that she's showing signs of magic, they want her back.'

'Can they do that?'

'Not a chance in hell. I have an army of lawyers and politicians in my pocket, and they'll make sure the wizarding parents leave the kid alone unless she wants to see them. '

'Well, it sounds like you have it covered. But if you need any help, I'm here.'

Pansy finally stopped avoiding eye contact. 'That's the thing. I thought maybe you could talk to the kid. Help with all the touchy-feely stuff. Give her your perspective.'

'Oh,' Hermione said. She only took a few bars of Luna's melody to think it through. One, two years ago she would have said no. She had been bitter and confused about her own messed-up situation, and the idea of helping anyone go through that would have been laughable. It would have felt like rubbing salt in her wounds. But now she had made it through the storm, and the other side actually looked pretty bright. She knew exactly who she was now. She was Hermione Granger. She was the daughter of the Grangers, but also the daughter of two shadowy figures that she would never know. Even though they weren't around, they were all still with her in their own ways.

'Yes,' Hermione said. 'I'll help the girl. And any others you want to send my way.'

Pansy let out an almost inaudible sigh of relief. 'Of course you will. You're a bleeding-heart lion. Like taking candy from a baby. I won't pay you anything, by the way. And I still get all the PR credit.'

They both jumped when Luna popped up between them. They hadn't even noticed when the music stopped. 'Hermione, would you like a batch of my chilli brownies? Ginny ate a truckful when she was pregnant. The chilli wards off Flumdingers, creatures that amplify anger.'

Hermione wondered whether Ginny had actually eaten the brownies or discreetly thrown them away. Ginny had a powerful temper during her pregnancy. Harry had spent a lot of time hiding from her wrath in her apartment.

'Luna,' she said. 'Draco and I wanted to ask you something. Will you be the godmother of our baby?'

Luna dropped her flute. It was the first time Hermione had seen her surprised. She was usually either ten steps ahead of everyone else, or really good at bluffing.

'Really? Me?'

'You see more than anyone else I know, and somehow you have a big enough heart to fit all of it in. I have no idea what kind of person she'll turn out to be, but if she's even the tiniest bit like you, we would be really proud.'

Luna gave her a bone-crushing hug. She was surprisingly strong for someone who looked so delicate. 'I have so many adventures to plan for her. The fun kind, not the scary kind.'

Hermione disengaged from the hug. 'It was really early to ask, but you know how I like to plan things. You have some time before your godmotherly duties begin.'

Luna smiled. 'Our friendship is never off-duty. If you head towards the gardening shed, I think you'll find Draco. I'll cast a Muffliato charm.'

Hermione shook her head at Luna's implication and the innuendo Pansy called after her, but didn't bother protesting about the charm. It would come in handy.

She found Draco leaning against the shed. It was half-hidden by a big tree, so she didn't see him until she peered around the corner of the shed.

'What are you doing hiding back here? Up to no good?'

'Luna sent me here ten minutes ago. Told me to look for some kind of weird purple mushroom, but there's nothing here. I think she was just messing with me.'

'Oh, what a shame,' Hermione said, stepping in close and running her fingers up and down his chest. 'What other possible use could we find for a place like this?'

Draco took a step backwards, holding out a hand as though to ward her off. 'I object to his bold attack on my virtue.'

'Virtue?' she choked out with a laugh.

'Yes, virtue. I want a proper courtship. Flowers, compliments, an elegant ceremony with legally binding documents…'

Hermione gave him an incredulous look. 'Draco, we're having a baby in eight months. And you want to get married? Now?'

'Well, not right now. I imagine you might want a few months to do some research. I bought an interesting little book on European wedding rituals. It has primary sources and twenty pages of references…'

'You devious snake. You know that I can't resist reading a good book.'

'And once you read about the rituals, how could you resist trying them out? In your entry for the Halliday prize you said that ideas should be seen through to the end, that there is a bridge between theory and practice that must be constructed of solid foundations…'

'Shut up,' she said, elbowing him in the stomach. 'I'll marry you.'

He kissed her with enough force that her back hit the shed hard. Within seconds his hands were trying to unbutton her shirt.

'Uh uh,' she said, holding his hands in place. 'What about your precious virtue?'

'I'm a Slytherin. I have no virtue.'

She kissed him again, enjoying the way the sun warmed his lips. She kept an iron grip on his wandering hands, and soon he was agreeing to everything from cooking dinner to wearing a wreath of lilies at the wedding. They boosted the strength of the binding spell, or so she had read in the book she had discovered in the cupboard last week. His look of surprise when she told him that was so adorable, that she finally gave into his begging and released his hands.

She was braced for his revenge, but instead he just brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, and whispered about all of his plans for their beautiful life together between soft kisses. She melted under the sunlight and his passion, and by the time they heard Molly calling that the roast was ready, she felt like she could float away on the summer breeze.

Hermione told Draco to go ahead without her, as she wanted a moment to compose herself. He just smiled smugly, and walked off whistling a jaunty tune. He was as tone-deaf as Luna.

Hermione moved over to the tree and leaned back against it as she watched everyone bustle around the roast. She put her hands over her stomach, imagining that the sun felt just a little bit brighter as she did. 'So, alone at last. Sometimes a girl just needs a minute to herself. You'll learn that soon enough.'

Hermione watched as Molly scolded George for some silly prank on Percy, while the remaining Weasleys made faces at him behind her back. Theodore was flirting with Parvati. Since being named Bachelor of the Month by Witch Weekly, he had started flirting with anything that moved. Last week it had been Blaise Zabini. Hermione just shook her head, and tried to convince herself to stay out of her brother's love life. Pansy was sneaking Teddy a slice of cake, while Ginny tried to wake up a sleepy James for a more wholesome lunch. Luna and Neville were talking quietly in a corner. Neville had a guilty look on his face, which meant that Luna was trying to convince him to take part in a crazy scheme. Harry, Draco and Ron practically inhaled their food, and then took off on their brooms in a race.

Hermione stroked her stomach. 'You have one crazy family, kid. I hope you love them all as much as I do.'

Hermione walked forward to join the party with a smile on her face.