A/N Hola! Only two more years to go in this story before we're onto Girl No More! Those of you who've read My Little Girl might recognise this scene from the ending...
Thanks as always to all of you readers, followers and reviewers! Pianomouse; he's certainly not being pleasant is he... Hermione J Krum; I love the idea of magical mob justice, hehe :) Crossy70; these last few chapters are all going to be kind of teasers for the next story that definitely will be happening! This one's just a lil story to show what happens over the years :) bookworm; your chocoholic 3 year old sounds like the perfect punishment :P
Hope you all enjoy!
Year 12
Holding Rose's hand tightly and waving a goodbye to her own parents, who had come to see their granddaughter off, she stepped through the barrier onto Platform 9 ¾, followed closely by Ron and Hugo, who's young voice sounded miserable as he once more complained that he wanted to be going to Hogwarts too. His sister hugged him lightly, promising with a wink that she'd be sure to sneak him a charmed helmet from one of the carol singing suits of armour when she returned for Christmas, before the foursome met up with the Potters. James, now in his third year, seemed to have already disappeared to find his friends, and as the parents greeted one another, eleven year olds Albus and Rose stood seriously, muttering under their breaths and looking anxious, whilst nine year olds Hugo and Lily looked around with a mixture of wonder and envy at the students getting ready to depart.
Ron started making joking comments regarding the childish house rivalry the rest of them had long ago left behind, and as she watched Rose and Albus pale dramatically, she became more and more tempted to snap at him to shut up. But before she had the chance, Rose suddenly called, "Uncle Bill!" And ran around them, into said man's waiting arms. Out of the corner of her eye, as her husband looked dark and Ginny attempted to distract him, she saw her daughter talking in hurriedly hushed tones while Bill looked increasingly irritated. He threw a scowl at his youngest brothers face before crouching down to meet her at eye-level, and even though she couldn't hear him, she could imagine the soothing tone of his voice, and found herself smiling faintly.
He hugged her and pressed his lips to her hair, before she came running back to the group, just as James came over exclaiming about Victoire and Teddy kissing. Hermione and Ginny rolled their eyes at one another in exasperation at the reactions of the men, but the movement made her inadvertently lock eyes with Bill, blue eyes boring into brown intensely. Almost without realising it, her hand flew to touch the rose ring around her neck, and she watched his face soften slightly, in a seemingly bittersweet way, as she gave him a small smile. Harry's laughter broke through her frozen state and, though she wanted nothing more than to leave their small gathering, turn her back on her husband and kiss the sadness from his brothers eyes, she instead forced herself to turn away and gave an overly cheerful laugh, not knowing what on earth had been said.
"Hey, 'Mione, where did you get that?" Ron suddenly pointed to the ring that she was still absently running her fingers over, and she smiled slightly.
"It was for my twenty-fifth birthday, from my Muggle friend, remember?"
He frowned. "I've never met them." She shrugged in reply, muttering something about busy lives. "How come you don't wear it on your finger?"
She gave him a bemused look. "What's with the third degree about my ring?" When he simply looked pointedly at her, she racked her brain quickly for a decent lie; she could hardly say that it was because his brother and her ex-lover had given it to her as a promise of marriage, and it seemed far too bitterly ironic to continue to wear it on her hand. "I didn't want to distract from my wedding ring." She said sweetly, wiggling her digits and making the large (too large, gaudy in fact, in her opinion) diamond sparkle.
"I like mum wearing it around her neck, it looks nice." Rose added, whilst Hugo nodded enthusiastically next to her.
"Yeah, dad, it means you can see the wedding and engagement ones better." The young boy chirped, and though she was somewhat unnerved by the way they both seemed eager to pacify their father, making her wonder how much they suspected about the turmoil in their parents marriage, she was grateful nonetheless.
Ron gave them a tight-lipped smile, and in an far-too-bright voice, said, "I just wanted to make sure no other man has been giving your mum jewellery!"
"So it wasn't from your mystery man then 'Mione?" Harry teased. He was met with looks of horror from the two women and a quiet demand to know what he meant from his best friend, and started shuffling slightly. "It was years ago, mate. Remember, Hermione, you said you were seeing someone, and we'd find out at George and Angelina's wedding?"
Ron suddenly became an unattractive mottled red, Ginny was glaring daggers in her husbands side, and the children were all shuffling awkwardly. But to everyone's surprise, Hermione gave a loud laugh. "Really Harry, you actually believed that? It was a way to get you off my back about my dating life!" She leant over and kissed Ron's cheek lightly. "Ron's the only guy I've dated since Hogwarts, the only guy I've ever dated really. Maybe I wanted to make him a bit jealous by making up some random man..." Despite her lie, said man turned to her looking uncertain, so she pressed her lips against his chastely. "I love you." She murmured reassuringly, and to her relief he relaxed and returned to the conversation looking happier than she'd seen him in months.
Soon, the warning hoot from the train sounded out, and they were all hugging goodbye. "I'll write to you." Rose whispered as mother and daughter held one another tightly. "Every week."
Hermione kissed her forehead and gazed at her with tenderness, wiping the nervous tears that ran down her eyes. "My darling." She murmured lovingly. "You're going to have the best time."
"What if I am in Slytherin mum?"
She gave her a slight smile, noticing Harry seeming to have a similar conversation with Albus nearby. "Rose, your father and I will love you no matter what."
The girl gave a small chuckle, sounding so much like her father that Hermione nearly cried. "That's just what Uncle Bill said." The small crease that likened her to Bill as much as her red hair reappeared between her eyes, and it very nearly sent her mother over the edge. "I don't want to let you down mum." She whispered, sounding terrified.
She pulled her back into a tight embrace, rocking her back and forth as she reassured her. "Sweetheart, there's no way on earth you could ever let me down. I'm so, so proud of you, and I always will be. I love you so much."
"I love you too mum."
"Hurry up now, they're getting on!"
She watched as she, Albus and James hurried to get on, feeling Ron's arm wrap around her as they watched Hugo and Lily race after the train, waving to their siblings until the Hogwarts Express turned round a corner and out of sight. She looked sadly in the direction, already missing her eldest, and pulled her son into a tight hug when he walked morosely back to them. "Hey, cheer up." She said, noting how upset he seemed at losing his sister. "It'll be Christmas before you know it, and she'll be back."
"I want to go too." He mumbled, making her chuckle.
"Only two years to go, and then you'll be on your way too." He gave a small nod, before instantly perking up at Molly's offer of apple pie at the Burrow. She quickly waved him off, accepted Ron's kiss on the cheek when he said he and Harry had to return to work, before returning, alone, to gazing at the place her daughter had disappeared from her sight.
"It's hard, isn't it? Seeing your first one go." Ginny's voice came from beside her, and she turned to see her best friend also looking somewhat sadly in the same direction.
"Yeah." She breathed. "I just wish..." Ginny didn't seem to need her to finish the sentence, she already knew what Hermione was wishing; that she had seen her daughter off with her real father, with the man she loved, with the right person. The family she wanted. "She's grown up so quickly." Hermione added after a while. "Before I know it she'll be getting married."
Ginny chuckled. "Your little girl."
She said the comment without looking around, so couldn't have known he was there, but Hermione still wasn't entirely surprised when a warm hand rested on her shoulder. "Our little girl." Came Bill's soft voice from behind her, as his front pressed into her back lightly. She rested her hand over his, and as his arm wrapped around her front in a hug from behind, their cheeks touching as they looked down the now deserted station, and she could almost believe that her wish had come true.