Harry stepped from the ensuite into the bedroom. With one towel he dried what remained of his hair, another was wrapped around his waist. He paused in the doorway. The autumn was sun still low and caught his wife's hair and made it seem on fire.

She was sitting at the dressing table brushing her long hair, adding to its shine she was humming a half remembered tune as she brushed she kept pausing and returning to phrases as she hummed. It was a perfect moment of piece before the chaos that would descend once the children were awake.

He stepped forward and kissed the creamy white skin of her freckled neck.

"What are you humming?"

She paused before answering in her brogue. "A bad song, a rebel's tune, certainly not a song to sing in front of an English man."

"In case you've forgotten I'm an English man."

A smile beamed from her face and wrinkled her eyes. "Ah yes but you are an out and out rebel, so you shouldn't mind."

"I'll have you know I'm a friend of the minister and a respected auror." He drew himself to his full height.

Lilith returned to brushing her hair." Lets see, destabilised Fudge's government, publicly argued with Scimgeour, was public enemy number one under Thicknesse, who you helped to overthrow. Once your rebellion won you were quite friendly with Shacklebolt and now Grainger. So you only rebel when the minister isn't one of your friends. Besides you're not that respected as an auror anymore."

Harry shrugged "Well I was never keen on paperwork it's more fun staying here with you and the kids."

"There'll only be Lily here after tomorrow. It's going to be quiet."

"Plenty of time to add to the number."

Lilith rose from her chair. Harry took a half step back. "Are you certain?" Her green eyes bored into his. Harry swallowed and nodded allowing the towel the towel to fall. Lilith pulled her negligee over her head and the two of them moved quickly to their bed.

After wards they lay wrapped in each other's embrace. "This was a good day to change your mind."

"Um what?" Harry was too distracted to understand what she meant.

"Unlike those girls who turn up here worried, I do know how to count."

It was one of the constants of their life. A late night knock on the door and a worried looking teen or young woman. When they had discussed their future plans post Hogwarts all those years ago Harry had been surprised on Lilith's career choice.

She was the villages witch. What this meant in practice was first aider, midwife, marriage councillor and dispute arbitrator. She was also constantly visited by teens who had sown their wild oats and were hoping for a crop failure. There was very little magic involved. The majority of her potions were one part placebo and one part paracetamol. In her spare time she kept up on case law of boundary disputes.

The family was confined indoors during the afternoon as they rain was coming down sideways but Harry loved the noise and chaos of them being together. Tomorrow they would be up early to floo and then walk to platform nine and three quarters. James was an old hat at this now but it was Luke's first time away. The boys both named after their grandfathers.

They sat facing each other playing chess with Lily running from one side to another offering her advice. A knock on the door caused quiet to fall across the room. Harry glanced around, the doors to their expanded sleeping rooms were shut. The size of their bedrooms might be hard to explain in their little croft. He tapped the chess set with his wand causing the pieces to freeze.

Lilith rose from her chair near the fire. "Someone better be dying to interrupt today."

Lily was looking out the window. "It's Hennessey and McCann"

"If they are still arguing about that bloody pig." Lilith jerked open the door.

McCann was stuttering his apologies, Henderson was standing hard eyed. He wasn't keeping to her ruling.

"What is your problem Henderson?" Lilith asked of him.

"Well Mistress Moon."

Harry smiled to himself it was always Mistress Moon, never Mrs Potter, The previous witch had been her grandmother and a Moon so she would always be Mistress Moon.

Henderson explained his problem with her judgement but she cut him off.

"You have options, accept my judgement or get your arse over to Limerick and go to a small claims court."

Harry had risen and stood behind her. "Or you can hear my judgement." The two men paled as Harry approached.

Lilith glanced back with amusement then hardened her eyes to look at the two men. "Or you can hear the warlock's judgement."

He was the Warlock here, not Harry Potter although it brought its own notoriety. Lilith seldom performed magic and almost nothing that could be seen, but the story of the night he had was told and retold in the local pub.

It had been as cliché demanded a dark and stormy night. A group of men had come calling for the Witch to investigate, something was going on. They had all felt scared. These were big burly farmers. They weren't the sort to jump at noises. They knew enough to bring one of their daughters to watch the children so Lilith went out to investigate.

They could all feel their effect but Lilith could see them too. Dementors off the coast looking for a village of people to feed upon.

She had sent Seamus back, he was the youngest and the fastest. He was to wake James and tell him to call his father. Seamus's message was one word. "Dementors."

His eyes were wide as Harry stepped out of the fire. "Where?" was Harry's first word.

Seamus began to babble directions but Harry cut him off. "Just think of it." He looked the youth in the eyes.

He led him out of their croft and took him by the arm. "Hold on to my arm if you fear for your life."

It was closer to a bang than a pop when he double apparated them to the spot Seamus had left Lilith. He could feel the cold and the despair from the dementors. Harry took a moment to remember holding James in his arms then sent Prongs to find Lilith. She was in a nearby barn. Lilith couldn't cast a corporal patronus but had filled the barn with a silver mist that kept the dementors from entering. Prongs scattered the foul things to the winds running on air and pushing them back to sea.

Form that day forth he was the Warlock and his reputation had grown with each retelling. He scowled at Hennessey, who paled even further.

"No sir," he touched his forelock. "Sorry to intrude sir. I'll be leaving now."

The boys kept their laughter in check until the men had got to the edge of their property. Lily had started to snigger as soon as the door was closed.

This to Harry was heaven, this little croft next to the Atlantic on the far side of Ireland. Days like this with a house filed with children's laughter. It was a shame that tomorrow was September the first and the house would be a little emptier.

But if the Witch was right and she usually was, maybe in another nine months it would be noisier again.

No this would do indeed. All was well.