A/N All my thanks to my amazingly gifted beta Karatekid-Ninja who just has a way of knowing what I'm thinking and giving me language I need to make it work. I can't express how grateful I am to her.

A/N2 Thanks to all of you sticking with me through this and thanks for all the encouragement

Ch 32

Saturday 10 October 1998

After everyone had finished lunch, Harry took Penny back to LAR promising he'd see her again next month. When he got home, he went up to the game room. "Hey everyone." He said as he flopped down on the sofa.

"You look cheerful" Sirius commented.

"Penny does that. I'm always more cheerful after I spend time with her." He said as he pulled Hermione close and gave her a kiss on the temple.

"Teddy does that too I've noticed." Emma grinned. "Are we going to have grandbabies soon?"

"Not that I'd mind, but I think Hermione wants to get out of school first." He laughed at the dumbfounded look on Emma's face.

"Yeah, Mum no getting your hopes up. I need my NEWTs first." Hermione admonished her mother with a smile as Emma got a big grin on her face.

"So, are you kids ready for the fight that I'm sure will occur tonight?" Sirius grinned.

"What about?" Luna asked.

"Representation. What else? The old fogies in our alliance are convinced you guys have gone barmy and are going to bring the Wizarding World down around their ears." He laughed, thinking of the more progressive oldsters he'd talked to trying to gain support for the idea.

"We are." Luna shrugged. At Sirius' astonished face, she continued. "You guys didn't clean up the mess from the first war, which led to the second. If we don't bloody well fix the problem now, we'll have a third on our hands and this generation would rather leave Britain than go through that again." She ended emphatically.

"Wow. You need to say that exactly tonight Luna." Sirius was stunned at her conviction.

"Would you actually leave?" Dan asked.

"Dad, we've already talked about it" Hermione answered at the fallen looks on her parents' face, she said, "We don't want to. It's actually the last option on the list but if we have to, we will."

"Oh" Dan said softly.

"By the way, I changed the time from seven to six tonight. Us oldsters need to go to bed earlier." Sirius said as he tried to look old, he held the face for half a second before the family burst into laughter.

"I think I'm going to hop in the pool before they get here, anyone want to join? or are you too old Sirius" Harry said with a laugh as he jogged out the door laughing.

"Sounds like a good idea." Hermione got up as well and followed Harry to their room with a laugh.

"Pup, I'm wounded you would sling such slanderous statements about!" Sirius shouted after them "Why don't we join them and show them how us old folks really play?" Sirius asked Jaime as he held out his hand.

HP

A little while later, Hermione and Harry were cuddling on the seat in the deep end. Just enjoying being together after a long week. Hermione was wrapped in Harry's arms and they were snogging as Harry heard a door open. He turned to the door and saw Sirius and Jaime coming in.

"Great. I just want a little time alone with you and they have to barge in." Harry groaned as Hermione laughed.

She slipped off the bench. "You're the one who antagonised him, come on love, let's go see what they're up to." Hermione laughed at the disgruntled look on his face. Eventually, the rest of the family joined them in the pool and they kicked off a game of water volleyball, it started off as Harry and Hermione vs Sirius and Jamie, before devolving into boys vs girls once Luna and Nev joined in, if you asked the boys they allowed the Women to win, the girls, of course, would disagree.

Sooner than anyone thought, Dobby was telling them it was five o'clock and that they should get ready for dinner. Everyone got out of the pool and headed for a shower, once Harry was ready, he went up to get Teddy dressed and ready as well.

Being the first one ready he headed downstairs with Teddy arriving just as a mop of red hair arrived through the floo. "Hey Bill" Harry greeted the older man.

"Hey Harry, ready for tonight?" he laughed at the look of distaste on Harry's face.

"Did I tell you I hate politics?" Harry commented drolly.

"Yeah, you might've mentioned it once or twice." He laughed.

Harry started to lead Bill to the meeting space when the rest of the family arrived downstairs, it was decided Harry and Nev would stay to greet the guests. Soon, everyone was there, the heirs were at one table with the elders at another. "You know, this is fun. We should do this aside from the monthly meetings." Hannah laughed at something Luna said

"Maybe when we're not teaching, studying or practising sure." Harry replied.

"How's the teaching going?" she asked.

"Great, I just wish I wasn't doing so much other stuff as well, I think we are all just feeling a little overloaded really" He took Teddy from Dora. "At least I get to play with this guy." He tickled his little man to punctuate the statement.

"Are you sure we can't clone him?" she asked Hermione.

"Sorry girls but Harry's all mine." She laughed as she came back to her seat. "I know. I got lucky, huh?"

"Yep." A few girls responded.

"Okay, okay." Sirius said loudly. "It's time to get started or Harry is going to die of embarrassment over there," He laughed as his boy got even redder. "Anyway, things have gone pretty smoothly this month. They're going to be ready to report about the tax system next week. I doubt we'll get a vote before our next dinner because they'll want to talk it to bloody death beforehand."

"There is one thing that was brought up to me while at Gringotts last time. My account manager was saying that he heard we were making reforms. Why weren't we including them? It's something I think we should give consideration to." Silas said.

"Finally." Everyone heard Hermione mutter, causing anyone who knew her to laugh.

"Let's get other things through first Mione." Nev responded.

"Is there anything you heirs would like to talk about?" Augusta looked at her three: Neville, Harry and Hermione.

"Yes. We would like to continue the talk we were having about the representation in Wizengamot." Harry stood. Nearly all the older folks groaned. Harry could see that King, Sirius and Gran were on their side but the others didn't seem to be.

"I can't believe you want to make the Wizengamot more convoluted." Macmillan groaned.

"It's not that we want it more convoluted. We want every wizard to have a stake in our government so the minister can't just be replaced." Nev rejoined.

"Nothing like that will ever happen again." Ernest Sr. responded pompously. Ernie learned it well, Harry thought.

"Bet that's what you said when my parents died and my godfather went to jail on false charges." Harry was pissed. "You didn't do shite about it then, you let him gain power again and a 17-year-old had to save your arses once again. What would you fools have done without us?" He paused as he put his hand to his lips. "Oh yeah. That's right-die! First a pair of 21-year-old kids, then a trio of 17-year-old kids. Fucking grow up!" He plopped back down on his seat as Teddy was handed to him. Everyone else was silent.

"I would've used more polite words but the essence of what my Godson is saying is right. We collectively fucked up. Now is the time to fix it." Sirius began. He summoned diagrams he'd obviously put together for this presentation and gave an impassioned, charismatic speech that had everyone on the edge of their seats. He continued his presentation for a good hour talking with so much fire and passion in his voice. It was weird for the four youngsters to see the always laughing, never serious Sirius, so well excusing the pun but being so serious.

At one point, Nev whispered to Harry "He'd make a brilliant used broom salesman." They both laughed. "I think we need to call for a vote while the hob is hot."

Harry nodded and stood. "I'd like a vote to see where we are." Harry suggested. "Lit is yay unlit is nay."

Nev took the count. "Yay passes." He said loudly. Then in a lower voice, he said to Harry. "We got all the heirs on that count. We're gonna change the bloody world!" The two young men smiled in triumph.

After that vote, the meeting ended very quickly. "I don't think they want us bringing up something else." Melanie Doge quipped and everyone laughed. "By the way, I'm glad your godfather's on our side Harry. He can talk anyone into anything. Brilliant." She shook her head as she left.

HP

After everyone left, the family went up to the game room. Dora was feeding Teddy and Harry was looking at her grumpily, she laughed "Sorry Harry, he needs some bonding with me too, ya know."

Harry just huffed good-naturedly as he racked the balls. "I knew you were an amazing wizard Sirius, but you were a truly brilliant speaker tonight." Jaime shook her head as he let out his barklike laugh.

"Ask Minnie how I learned to talk my way out of things!" he smiled playfully.

"I was wondering where you think we should go for our next history trip, Hermione?" Jaime asked, settling down to talk to her friend.

"Well, I was thinking about the Tower next?" she replied hesitantly.

"Why?"

"Because it is not only significant in muggle history but wizarding history too. But I won't reach that part of the curriculum until about December, so I was thinking, maybe the first Saturday in December we could go. That way if they want to see it again after they've learnt about it, they can do it over the break."

"Okay, I think that's a very sensible plan. You'll want to do a lesson about the witches that have been queens." She informed Hermione.

"Yeah. Like Catherine of York?" she smiled when Jaime's eyes lit up.

"Yeah and Eleanor of Aquitaine."

"And Elizabeth I."

"Okay," Sirius said. "It's too late to be talking about history. I'm going to bed." He got up and Jaime, giving a fake pout, followed after him before laughing.

After they were gone, Nev commented "Those two are good for each other, they remind me of you two, sort of. They balance each other's extremes out."

"That they do," Harry responded with a smile as he cuddled Hermione closer to him. "And she makes him happy. That's the important thing." He kissed his fiancée gently.

Sunday 11 October 1998

Since the family was at home this weekend they decided to invite everyone over for an early dinner before they had to head back to Hogwarts for the week. It was beginning to get a little chilly in the evenings, so they were eating in the kitchen at an enlarged table, instead of outdoors like they normally would. The boys were still playing Quidditch but, as Hermione told Neville, that was more because of the Weasley's influence. Meanwhile, the elder generation had the impetus to stay indoors and talk politics or children.

"I'm really worried about Ron," Molly said at one point to the other ladies in the group. "I'm getting letters from Ginny saying that all Ron does is sit around and play chess. I've also gotten calls from Minerva about his behaviour in class. Apparently, he has become a bully and she is about to take away his Captaincy and his Prefect's badge."

"I know you had him working at WWW this summer because Dan saw him several times when he and Sirius went in." Emma began. "I was hoping that would help him straighten out. Dan said he was very good at being a salesperson."

"It's just that all my boys have wanted something of their own. I mean Bill went into curse breaking, it's a hard job but he loves it, he's even learning more about how Gringotts works, now that he's back in London." Molly sighed as she thought about her kids' lives. "Charlie has dedicated his life to those dragons of his, Percy has found himself at the Ministry and the twins… well, they own a successful shop. While I may not approve of the toys they make, they are successful. Ron doesn't seem to want anything."

"That's not true. He wants everything, he just doesn't want to work for it." Arthur cut in. "That's his problem." Not long after this, the boys came inside and dinner was served.

After everyone had eaten, they called it an early night with everyone going home, or in the family's case, going to their second home.

Thursday 15 October 1998

On Thursday, two first-year Gryffs found their way to the head students' rooms looking for some help, they knocked at the open door, Harry waved them in as he finished grading the last of his papers. Putting his quill down he turned and looked at the kids smiling, he asked, "Can I help you with something?"

"Yes sir. We were wondering if you could help us with some charms homework we have. We got the spells right away but we don't understand the theory well enough to write it down." Jane asked.

"Of course," He cleared off his work and set up space for them "let's see what you're working on. Oh. Alohomora." He smiled as he thought of the first time he'd seen it used, by Mione, of course. He sat down and helped Jane and her friend Summer with their paper.

About an hour in, Mione came in and looked at the papers. She looked around for a pen, she began to make a small note "The only thing you forgot was this." She said as she finished writing. Both girls looked at Harry uncomfortably.

"Don't mind Mione. She checks over everyone's work. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have made it through all these years. She's the most brilliant witch you'll ever find."

She ruffled his hair as she put the pen down. "He's just saying that because he wants to keep his editor. Moi." She laughed at the girls' expressions of awe. "If you add a sentence here." She pointed to the paper, "it should be done."

Summer just shook her head as Jane collected their stuff. "I never thought I'd ever see someone correct The Harry Potter. Not with the way my dad talks about you." She said quietly, not wanting to get in trouble.

"Look at it this way, he's just a normal 18-year-old. He makes mistakes, just like anyone, in fact probably more than most" Mione replied with a wink. "If your dad knew Harry, he wouldn't be that impressed."

"Hey! That's not fair." Harry said with a laugh, "I'm not that bad… anymore…" he adjusted when Mione sent him the infamous look.

She looked at the girls. "He's just an annoying man. Now you should go." She scooted the kids out of their flat as Sirius came bounding in as Padfoot.

"Hello, Professor Black." Both girls giggled and he barked as they left. The school had gotten used to seeing Padfoot around at all different times and just took it as another normal part of life at Hogwarts.

"Hello kiddos." Sirius transformed.

HP

A little while later, as Harry and Hermione were laying on the couch together, Jane and Summer came back to the door. They knocked. "C'mon in girls." Harry rubbed his eyes as he and Hermione had almost fallen asleep together on the sofa. "What can we do for you?" Hermione asked.

"Well, we were wondering how to report a Prefect?" Jane asked timidly.

Harry couldn't hold in a sigh. "Who was it and what'd they do?"

"Ron Weasley. I accidentally ran into him as I was coming into the common room. He took fifty points from us! We had gone to the library to check out a few books for light reading-"

Harry couldn't help but snicker, knowing Hermione's version of light reading. "When we got back, my book stack was so high, I couldn't see over it and I ran into him. He's a pain! He's always turfing out younger students from the seats near the fire." Jane replied.

"And have you seen the guy eat? He's a pig." Summer added.

Mione smiled at that. "Yes, I have."

"Okay. We'll take care of it." Harry grimaced. He went to Nev's room and knocked. It took a minute but both Nev and Luna came out. "Heads meeting guys." He muttered as he sat back down, the young girls had left before he came back.

"Is it Ronald again?" Luna asked.

Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly, he closed his eyes and laid his head on the back of the couch. He really didn't want to make this decision. When he opened his eyes, he said. "Yes, Luna."

"This is his third infraction." Nev reminded everyone.

"We know but who do we get instead?" Mione asked.

"Well, not Seamus." Nev replied with a laugh, "the idea of him enforcing rules, especially about drinking, is preposterous" they all gave a small chuckle.

"Then it has to be Dean" Mione stated, getting back to the business at hand.

"I think you're right but we better get McGonagall in on this" Nev added.

"I'll go get her." Luna offered as she got up. She wanted to make this as easy on Harry and Hermione as she could.

HP

When Professor McGonagall arrived at the game room, she found the three Gryffindors laying on the couches. "Why are you just laying around?" She asked in her firm 'teacher's voice'.

"Waiting for you" Harry replied with a cheeky grin.

"Well, now that we're here we need to talk about Mr Weasley. This is his third violation. Have you come up with a replacement?"

"Dean." Nev supplied.

"Of the two left, he is the logical choice." She concurred as she got up. "Come along. We'll have to meet in my office." As they left, she sent a portrait to let the Weasley boy know to come to her office. When they got there, they sat talking about anything but Ron. "So, how are you enjoying teaching?" she asked.

"Very well." Hermione smiled. "I like to see the kids actually understand a concept. It's fun."

"Yes. That's why I still do it." She smiled back.

When Ron knocked on the door, Minerva got up to open it. "Come in Mr. Weasley." She had him sit next to Nev and Luna.

"What's going on?" He asked in his brash way.

"Well, we've had another complaint. This time it was from some Gryffindors." Luna began.

He held up his badge "You know what, I'm sick of being hounded by all of you about how I go about my job. Take the badge and give it to someone who gives a damn!" He threw the badge at Harry then, in a nasty tone, he said, "I expect you on the pitch Saturday at 8. There I make decisions, not you!"

"If you use that tone with your players and they complain, you'll lose that badge as well" Minerva replied.

"Yes, ma'am." He said sarcastically as he stalked out of the office.

HP

The rest of the month was very normal for the Family. The four Heads got used to the routine of teaching, being students, and practising quidditch. Of course, on most practice days, either Sirius or Hermione would take Teddy out to watch Harry. When Harry would dive-bomb, Teddy would let out this string of giggles that had Harry laughing as well.

Teddy became a fixture at practices and enjoyed all the attention by, not only his Godfather but all his teammates as well. On the few times he was asleep during practice, everyone complained.

So of course, it was breakfast on the 30th of October, that things started to go a little bit counter-norm. Towards the end of breakfast, Sirius cleared his throat. "I'd like to go home today." He began. "Tomorrow is the 17th anniversary of James and Lily's death and I would like to go visit their graves. Whoever wants to come with me can, I'd also like to just spend time as a family this weekend, no extras. I've never been to their graves and I know Harry's last visit was less than successful." Harry and Hermione just chuckled. "What do you all think?"

"I think that's a great idea Padfoot" Harry responded.

"Yeah. I'd like to say a proper hello to them." Nev whispered, thinking this was the only time he'd ever get to see his godparents.

"That sounds wonderful. You guys need this." Jaime said with a sad look on her face.

Sirius' head popped up. "You're not coming?" he asked in a hurt voice.

"I didn't know if you'd want me to, you said no outsiders." She replied with a sad smile.

"Oh Merlin, I put my foot in it. I didn't mean you, love! I meant like the alliance and the rest of the family, also excluding the Grangers because they are always invited." He said with a chuckle looking at Hermione

"Oh, I would love to if that's the case! I've heard so much about them, it'd be nice to see where they are buried." Jamie said with a small smile, feeling much more certain about her place in the family.

"Good" Sirius responded.

Saturday 31 October 1998

On Saturday morning, Harry woke up before dawn. Not sure why he was awake, he turned to his fiancée and ran his fingers through her hair.

"Gods, I love you Mione." He whispered to her.

"I love you too." Hermione mumbled as her eyes slowly opened. "Why are you up so early, love?" She put her hand on his bare chest.

"I don't know. I just can't stay asleep." He replied with a confused expression.

"Maybe you're worried about going to the Hollow today." She smiled gently at him as he burrowed his head into her breasts.

"Maybe I just wanted to enjoy you." He mumbled as he nipped at them and she giggled.

"You really shouldn't do that unless you want me to do something." She responded breathlessly as he began to explore her.

"Maybe I want to." He smirked as he began a slow but brilliant assault on her body. By the time they were done, they were each extremely satisfied and enjoying the post-coital cuddle as they lay together.

HP

Later that morning, as they all sat down to eat, Jaime took out her wand and started recording. "So, we've talked about how your parents died and how your Godfather was incarcerated. What happened to you during the next ten years?"

"Well, I stayed in my mum's sister's cupboard beneath the stairs for most of that time."

"What?" She nearly shrieked as she dropped her fork. She looked to her lover with surprise. "And you haven't killed them yet?"

"He won't let me" Sirius whined bitterly, "Says I'm better than that or some such rubbish."

"You are and we're not having this discussion-again, I also like having a free godfather not one in Azkaban!" Harry replied forcefully as his green eyes flashed to an almost incandescent emerald.

They spent the rest of the morning discussing the Dursleys.

HP

After a very quiet lunch, Sirius suggested that they go to Godric's Hollow. Apparently, the celebrants go there in the evening, Sirius had been informed by Remus. He wasn't sure if because the war was over, people would still celebrate the first downfall of Voldemort or not but he didn't want to take the chance of running into anyone.

Herry,, Hermione, Dora, Jaime, Sirius, Nev and Luna all apparated to the centre of town and walked silently towards the church. "This is where your parents got married, Harry. Did you know that?" Sirius asked.

"No."

"They had bought their place before they got married so they got to know the people here. When Lily was planning the wedding, which was a bloody nightmare, she decided she wanted a church wedding and that's where it was." Sirius informed them

"Where were my parents married?" Nev asked.

"Oh, where every Longbottom is married. Longbottom Estates." He chuckled. "Alice was just a little pissed that they couldn't have a church wedding. The number of arguments between Augusta and Alice was up to 148 when I just stopped counting."

They went through the kissing gate and Harry headed through the maze of old gravestones in the even older cemetery. He began wandering through but because he had only been there once, he couldn't remember where exactly the graves were. Hermione though knew exactly where she was going, she took Harry's hand and led him to the grave. The rest of the family stood back while Harry talked to his parents. "Hey guys, thought you'd like to know that the bastard who killed you is dead. Yes, I was the one who killed him but not without a lot of help from a lot of people. This witch right here is Hermione, she's my fiancée now and she's the reason I'm alive. She's been my best friend since our first year, unlike the two of you, she's been beside me through literally everything you could imagine. We had no clue we loved each other as more than friends until after the battle. We're now living with Sirius, Tonks and Teddy and we're getting married this summer. Anyway, she's bloody brilliant, just like you mum, Sirius is always comparing you two." He took a deep breath and let out a shuttering breath. "I found out Nev is my godbrother, he and his fiancée live with us as well. You'd like him dad, He's a true Gryff. He killed one of Voldemort's Horcruxes with the Sword of Gryffindor. We didn't know we were Godbrothers until after the battle, don't worry we're making up for lost time now. I just wanted to tell you it was over and that I love and miss you. Could you tell Remus, I'm taking care of Teddy for him? I really do love you guys but Sirius and I are finally building our own family." He waved his wand and a bouquet of lilies landed on their gravestone. He backed up and let Nev through. He then turned to Hermione and held on for dear life as the tears fell.

After Nev was done, everyone else headed out of the cemetery to give Sirius some space to speak to his best mate, Jaime stood by his side being his strength. "Hey there Prongs, Lils. I know I screwed up by going after Pete and letting him get away. I know I wasn't there for Harry when he needed me most but I'll be with him from now on. I'll make sure he has a better life than he has had." He sank to his knees as he wiped his tears away. "He's turned into an amazing young man Prongs, just like you. He won't let me go after your family Lils because he doesn't want me to go to Azkaban again." He thought a moment. "He's got a bloody brilliant fiancée. You'd like her Lils. She finally got your muggle stuff to work with magic-well, her and Nev's fiancée Luna. Luna may be a Claw but she's a lion at heart. She came to save me in the Ministry at the end of her fourth year. That takes spunk and bravery." He looked over at Jaime and motioned her forward as he stood. "Come here love," He smiled at his girlfriend "Yes Lily, I finally have a girlfriend, her name's Jaime actually." He chuckled at that. "I know, I know. You think I'm Imperioused but I'm not. She's amazing and I do love her Prongs, like you love Lily. You know me, I never got attached to any bird, but this beauty has actually gotten me to go to Hampton Court and Stonehenge. Crazy, huh? My voluntarily learning history? Well, I just wanted to say that you are loved and missed, so much more than you would ever think, I love you both so much. I'll talk to you again soon."