AN: I don't own Harry Potter, or any other characters.

Thanks so much for the reviews, for following, and for adding to your favorites. I've been doing this a while, but I still get tickled when I see the notifications in my e-mail about one of my stories.

I know it's been a while since I updated, and I'm not going to give any excuses except for this - RL happens. If I could, I'd do nothing but write my stories, but I can't.

Okay. I have a question for you, my dear readers - How do we feel about a little Harry or Hermione? There's a part toward the end that really could go either way, and I need your help for the next chapter. Read and let me know.

Alrighty...On with the story! Enjoy! (heehee! That rhymed!)

"Oh...wow." Harry panted, trying to catch his breath.

"Yeah." Hermione agreed, laying her head on his chest as he pulled the blanket up over the two. "I think that was our best yet."

"Trust me, Mione," he laughed, "if I had a diary, I'd definitely be writing about that."

Hermione chuckled, running her hand up and down his abdomen as she turned her head to look at him. "I'm sorry I've been so busy lately, love."

"Well, if that's how you're gonna make working so much up to me..." Harry smiled, lightly kissing her forehead.

"It won't be all the time, but maybe every now and then." she laughed. "But, really, I am sorry. It's just been..."

"Mione, sweetheart, I understand." he said, gripping her tightly to him. "I know it takes time to get a business started, let alone a restaurant. It's really okay." he said, reassuring her. "Besides, since you've been so busy, I got a little ahead in my assignment for Kingsley."

"You got your books for the Aurors?" Hermione asked excitedly, leaning up on one elbow.

Harry nodded, smiling as her enthusiasm spilled over to him. "Yep. Kingsley brought me every one I'm gonna need." he said. "The only downside, Mione, is that these chapters are like a hundred pages each. Procedures, laws, bylaws...all in extreme detail, by the way." he added, frowning.

"Well, it may be detailed, but it's stuff you need to know." she said, rubbing his chest. "Besides, if you ever need a study partner, you always have me." she smiled.

"Yeah, but it wouldn't be fair to ask you to help me, love. You're not becoming an Auror."

"True, but I'd still love to help you if it meant you'd kick arse on the exams." Hermione said. "And, for the record, you didn't ask me for help, I offered it. I'd get to help you succeed like I did back at Hogwarts. It'd be like old times."

"Alright, alright." he laughed. Sobering, he added, "But, it's not really like old times. I mean, back in Hogwarts you'd help me with my studies so I could focus more on Voldemort than Divination or Charms. You made it so I could focus more on living another day rather than learning how to identify different constellations, or learning to tell my future through tea leaves."

"I always told you Divination was absolute shite. But, this time, I'll be helping you learn things you'll need to know for your career, your future." she said. "Trust me, love...now is the time you're going to be grateful for my study habits."

"Hermione, I always appreciated you helping me study. Even if you did become obsessive about it." Harry said, smiling at her. "Besides, your color coded charts are going to become legendary at Hogwarts."

"What?" she asked. "Oh, wait. Are you talking about the new Students of Honor wing that the Board wants to build?"

"Yeah." he nodded, laughing as she groaned. "And, she mentioned that ol' Pince found and kept one of your charts, and it's going up in your section."

"Harry, be nice." Hermione chided. "Madam Pince was always lovely to me. You and Ron just didn't like her because she wouldn't let you two sneak food into the library."

"One time when I was a firstie, and she wouldn't let it go." he grumbled. "Gods, you got along with everybody at Hogwarts, didn't you?"

"You know that's not true." she said, putting her head back on his chest. "I didn't get along with Malfoy, for a start. Or Lavender, for that matter. Even you and Ron at first." she said. "Hell, I didn't get on with Professor Snape until after he woke up from his coma, and that's still a bit iffy."

"Love, nobody got along with Snape until then, so technically, that doesn't count." he said. "I mean, he and Sirius are somewhat friends, and yet they still get into arguments."

"Well, yes, but in fairness, I think Sirius starts most of their arguments for kicks. I mean, I was there when Sirius started an argument out of nowhere with him over their animagus forms and which one was better, Snape's bird or Sirius' dog."

Harry chuckled. "I think you're right. Sirius said one time that fighting with Snape is the highlight of his day." he said, making Hermione laugh.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think they fancied one another."

"Hermione." Harry groaned. "Just...no." he said with a grimace, making her laugh harder.

At the feel of Hermione's naked body jiggling against his as she laughed, Harry decided to distract her from those thoughts and soon the room was filled with their moans, squeals, and shouts of completion as they finished their third round of lovemaking.

-TWO WEEKS LATER-

"So, where are you off to next?" Hermione asked as she chatted with her mother while looking through design proposals for the restaurant. It was getting close to the time when the contractor had assured her the restaurant would be done, and she still needed to choose one of the design options submitted for the interior. Which, it turned out, wasn't that easy a decision, as they were all fantastic. She was just thankful she didn't know who had sent in which designs, and wouldn't know until after she'd chosen.

If she ever did, that is.

"Oh, I can't remember, but it's in Nebraska somewhere." Christine said. "After a while, all these towns kind of blur. Especially after twenty odd years of it." she laughed. "But, enough about me. How's the restaurant coming?"

Hermione sighed, blowing her bangs out of her eyes as she let out her breath. "Slow." she said. "Well, not the construction, anyway. That's actually right on schedule. But, I have to choose a design for the interior, and it's extremely difficult to do."

"Oh?" her mother asked. "Why's that, dear?"

"Well, every design submitted pretty much hit the mark of what I'm looking for." she said miserably. "I just...I don't know which one to choose, Mum."

"Why not ask Harry for his opinion?" Christine asked.

"Mum, I've already done that, and according to him, they all look alike." Hermione said. "Everyone I've asked has a different choice than the others, and that was before I got it narrowed down to just the ten I have now." she added. "But, I've decided that I'm gonna use the time I have tonight to make a decision."

"Oh? Got the night off from Harry, huh?" her mother teased.

"Yes, actually, I do. He's with Sirius and some of the others." Hermione said. "Sirius got word of his official pardon, and he wanted to celebrate by getting pissed, so they're all on a pub crawl." she laughed.

"I thought Sirius was pardoned a while ago?" her mother questioned.

"Well, he was. But, that was unofficially. Kingsley just...made it official." Hermione said.

"Oh. I see." her mother said. "And you weren't invited on this pub crawl?"

"No, I was. I just didn't feel like babysitting a bunch of drunks tonight." she said. "My stomach's been bothering me lately. So, instead, I'm babysitting an actual baby, and watching little Teddy for Remus and Tonks." she said.

"Hmmm." Christine hummed. "And are you getting those warm baby feelings, Hermione?" she asked.

Hermione rolled her eyes at her mother's question. Even an ocean and half a country away, and she could see her mother's face lighting up at the thought of grandchildren. "While I will admit that Teddy is adorable, I'd prefer to be married before having a baby, Mum. And have the restaurant up and running."

"Well, you never know, love. Sometimes, Mother Nature doesn't care what you want." Christine said. "Oh, alright." she said to someone off to the side. "The plane's about to take off, so I've got to go, Hermione. I love you, and I'll call you later."

"I love you, too, Mum. And give Daddy my love, will you?" Hermione said, smiling sadly.

"I will, love. Bye." her mother said, hanging up.

Hermione sighed as she heard the line go dead. Hanging up, she looked down at the scattered pile of designs on her coffee table. Now, with no more excuses, she had nothing to do but finally make a decision. Out of the ten, she could only choose one, and she wasn't lying when she said it was a difficult choice.

After ten minutes, she had eliminated two options. Both were nice, but not really what she had in mind. Not long after, she had eliminated another three. Again, both were nice, but didn't fit her vision. Another forty five minutes later, and she had her choice. It was elegant, but not too elegant. It had an upscale feel, but still felt intimate. She felt it, in her bones, that she made the right choice.

And with that, she went to check on Teddy.

Review please.

Til next time!

XOXO - Onyx Obsidian