April 3, 2011
Harry could scarcely believe how time had flown by. He gazed at his wife of one year, across the table from him, in an intimate but swanky restaurant in the magical quarter of Paris. For the rest of their lives, he would make sure that Hermione would only have the best.
"One year, can you believe it?" she asked, echoing his thoughts.
"The happiest year of my life," he said.
"With many, many more to come," she said, tapping her champagne flute against his.
"Qu'est qu'un couple doux jeune!" an older witch commented when she walked by. "Mon dieu, c'est Harry Potter!"
Harry looked questioningly at Hermione, who smiled at the woman and thanked her in flawless French.
"Vous devez avoir un grand nombre de ses enfants," the woman said in a conspiratorial manner.
"Oui, merci madame, bon soir," Hermione replied.
The older witch left and Hermione took a large sip of champagne and smiled at him.
"What was that all about?" he asked.
"Well, she gushed about seeing you, what a sweet young couple we are, and that I should give you many kids," she said.
"She did, did she? I certainly agree with her," Harry said with a wink.
April 12, 2011
In her study, Hermione smiled when she at looked the Paris anniversary picture on her desk. The floo sounded from the foyer and Hannah started barking. Ron and Katie's voices were heard.
"Hermione? Harry?"
"Coming!" Hermione called out and met them in the foyer, shushing Hannah when she walked by. "Hello you two! Great to see you!"
She led them into the main parlor and sent her patronus for Harry, who was somewhere on the property with Maddie, planning what he was calling The Maidstone Quidditch Pitch.
"Let me some tea going, help yourself to the biscuits and crackers," she said, gesturing to the sideboard next to the bay window.
"Where's Harry?" Ron asked.
"And the baby?" Katie asked.
"They're somewhere out there," Hermione said. "He has grand plans for his very own quidditch pitch."
She left the parlor and Katie marveled to Ron about the manor. "I still can't get over this place. It's amazing!"
Harry came into the parlor with Maddie. Katie held her arms out for the baby, who gurgled at her. Ron tickled her cheek when she was settled in Katie's arms.
"She looks like a mini-Hermione, but with green eyes," Katie said.
"What brings you by? Want to stay for supper?" Harry asked.
Ron and Katie looked at each other, shrugged, and nodded.
"Sure, sounds great," Ron said.
Hermione returned to the parlor with a tea. "Supper tonight is steak and ale pie. I'm using turnips from my hopeful little garden."
When they all had steaming cups of tea, Ron cleared his throat and spoke. "Now, the reason we're here."
He nudged Katie, who held up her left hand with a shy smile. Hermione gasped and Harry choked on his tea.
"You two? When? Wow, this is fantastic!" Hermione exclaimed and gave the two frantic hugs.
Harry shook Ron's hand. "About time, mate."
"I need a matron of honor, and I thought of no one else but you," Katie said.
"And you as my best man, of course," Ron said and chucked Harry on the arm.
"I hope this doesn't sound too forward, but I was wondering...if we could have the wedding here. You know, in that spot in the front garden by the big oak tree and the creek?" Katie asked.
"Oh my God, that would be perfect! Of course you can have it here!" Hermione exclaimed. "When's the big day?"
"In June, on the solstice," Ron said.
The rest of the summer turned out to be an eventful one for everyone.
On June 20, 2011, forty guests gathered in the picturesque grove in front of Potter Manor and witnessed as Ronald Bilius Weasley wed Katherine Marie Bell in a touching ceremony. Hermione and Ginny practically cried their eyes out, and even Harry had hard time keeping his own tears at bay. The celebration lasted until sunset, when the newlyweds departed for the honeymoon in Egypt. No one was the least bit surprised when they returned from their honeymoon a week later and announced that Katie was pregnant.
On August 1, 2011, The Unbreakable Vow by Harmony Rivers was sold out 2 hours after Flourish and Blotts opened for business that day. No one would ever believe that Hermione was Harmony Rivers. She had already signed a deal for another book with Love Spell Publishing, "Purveyors of Quality Magical Romance for the Discerning Witch."
On August 6, 2011, the day after Maddie's first birthday, Hermione felt so ill that Harry had a Healer make a house call so that she wouldn't have to leave the bed. It turned out that she was a month pregnant, and was prescribed a series of prenatal potions that had her feeling well in no time. To say that Harry was thrilled with his expanding family was an understatement. Eight months later, while Hermione was penning her second novel, The Italian Curse, she went into premature labor. With the help of Molly and her mother, who arrived at the manor before the Healer, she gave birth to Ian James Potter in her study. It was also how Harry and Molly discovered who Harmony Rivers was, but they never said a thing.
September 1, 2021
King's Cross Station
"But mum, what if no one likes me?" Maddie asked.
How many times had they had this conversation with her?
"Sweetheart, I'm certain that won't happen. I don't care what Uncle Ron said, you're not me, understand?" Hermione said, tucking away a strand of hair behind her daughter's ears. "You're much more likeable than I ever was. I promise."
She was going to have a word or three with Ron. Maddie didn't need to hear all of Ron's embellished "Hermione was a know-it-all little swot in school" stories. His school and wartime exploits always rose to epic proportions when he had an audience.
"Why can't I go to Hogwarts with her?" Ian asked for the tenth time that morning. "I'm just as smart as she is!"
"Are not!" Maddie exclaimed.
"Am too!" Ian returned.
Harry mumbled something unintelligible and stepped between the two to break up the argument. Hermione chuckled and adjusted two-year-old David Potter on her hip, while keeping an eye on seven-year-old Patrick Potter, who was staring at the sweets in the vending machine across the platform.
Ginny and Wayne appeared on the platform with their twins, third-year Wayne Jr. and Molly. Their third child and second-year, Hermione, joined Molly.
"Molls!" Maddie exclaimed and dashed toward her best friend, her argument with Ian forgotten.
"The madster!" Molly returned and they started a hushed conversation.
"Dad, can I see your wand?" Ian asked.
"No."
"I just want to look at it."
"No."
"Mum?"
"I second your dad's motion."
"I promise not to blow anything up!"
"No."
"But mum, it was just a bottle of milk!"
"What if it had been the cat?" Hermione asked.
He huffed in indignation and joined his little brother at the vending machine. Families of former schoolmates soon filled the platform, and cries of "Good luck!" and "We'll miss you!" and "Take care of your sister!" echoed throughout the platform. Maddie returned to her family and looked solemnly at her parents.
"Well, this is it," she said.
Harry drew her into a hug. "You have no idea how much I'm going to miss you. You're going to do so well," he said, his voice wavering.
She moved to Hermione, who hugged her. "I love you very much, sweetheart. Listen to your teachers and do all of your homework, all right? Now, one last check. Wand?"
Maddie held up her wand.
"Book bag?"
She held up Hermione's old book bag.
"Quills and parchment in the book bag?"
Maddie's eyes went wide. "Gosh, how could I have forgotten that?"
Wayne Jr.'s voice was heard behind them. "Don't worry, Aunt Hermione. I'll give her some to use."
"Don't worry, we'll send you a sheath and some quills as soon as we can," Harry said.
Harry and Hermione fell into exhausted lumps into bed that night, after the circus that was feeding, bathing, and putting to Potter boys to bed.
"One down, three to go," Harry said.
The next morning, Harry greeted Xavier, Maddie's falcon. He had a message attached to a small message carrier around his neck.
"Thanks Xavier, she doing all right?" he asked.
Xavier gave a loud caw in return and waited in his usual perch until his return to Hogwarts.
"That from Maddie?" Hermione asked, coming into the parlor while putting in an earring.
Harry nodded and opened the letter, Hermione reading over his shoulder.
To Dad, Mum, and anyone else reading,
Ravenclaw! I get to be in the same house as Molly! Auntie Minnie was surprised at my placement, you should have seen her face! We have flying class first, I'm so excited! After that, it's Charms, Potions, Transfiguration, lunch, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy, History of Magic, and Herbology last.
I know almost every girl in my dorm, except for a couple of girls who came from outside the U.K. because their parent's jobs transferred them here. There's only one I don't like, and she doesn't like me, so I'll do my best to stay out of her way.
Wayne gave me a whole bunch of parchment and a couple of quills, and he says that he'll pick me some up when he goes to Hogsmeade this weekend. There's some fifth year that's asking me about Wayne because I think she likes him. He's only third year! The other girls want to turn out the lights, so I guess it's time to go to bed.
Love,
Maddie
