{a/n}: This is probably the longest Chapter I've ever written. Why? I realized that it's fun to jump years into the future. Everyone is there, but not quite the same. And you just have to imagine what made them who they are. Also trying to give everyone a part, or at least a mention.
48 – Fifteen Years Later
A new generation was coming of age in the Magical World. The Voldemort Wars were becoming part of the History Books. Actually, now Professor Binns taught Ancient Magical History. Hannah Abbott Longbottom, after retiring from the Messenger Corps took up the position as Professor of Modern Magical History and Current Events. The date was December 20, 2014, the Hogwarts Express would leave for London and Christmas Break tomorrow. No matter the day of the week, the train would never make that trip on December 23 again. Professor Longbottom, then, was handing out essentially the same assignment to all Years. The Fourth Years, due to the presence of a redheaded, brown-eyed girl of some notoriety will be looked in on "Is there something particularly fascinating about Mr. Thomas? Miss Potter!" demanded the Professor.
Lily Amelia Potter blushed "Yes… I mean NO! I mean…err … sorry Godmother. What were you saying?" The girl had found that her crush, Slytherin Dean Thomas Jr. was quite amenable to exploring that.
"None of that in this class, as you are well aware." Hannah ordered curtly "That will be three points from Gryffindor. For the Holidays I want you to consider the Voldemort Wars. Everyone, except Miss Potter, will write a theme. The topic of which will be an event that, fictional or factual, will have occurred during that time. As long as it has a basis in reality, indulge yourself. It must be two thousand words. Miss Potter, yours shall be two thousand five hundred."
The giggling only lasted for the time Professor Longbottom's back was turned.
Elsewhere, specifically in Professor George Weasley's Potions classroom a pair of Second Years had suddenly begun to excel "Draco Dursley, Chistopher Creevey!" he exclaimed "If this is not a perfect brew, this is as close as it gets. Well done!" The pair had discovered a book notated by someone called The Half-Blood Prince and had not told a soul.
"So we conclude another semester." announced Headmistress McGonagall "Some few older of you may remember Miss Malfoy. As Professor Grimes is expecting, Professor Malfoy as part of her apprenticeship will be taking over the Wizarding Law and Government course."
Joanne Kathleen Malfoy stood to be seen and said briefly "I look forward to working with all of you. Headmistress, thank you for that warm greeting." This young woman was the same person who, as a child had lost every last blood relative in the Hogwarts Express derailment. Who had been so mistreated by St. Mungo's. She would one day, still in the future, step into the Wizengamot honor her adoptive father for raising her, and claim the Slytherin name as her own. And with the only known portrait of Salazar Slytherin offering his full support.
"I now bid you all a Happy Christmas and a Joyous New Year." The Headmistress went on "But do not, in the Season, forget your homework assignments. I should be highly disappointed in any who receive detentions on January Fifth. Am I clear? Good! Then to The Express with you!"
x
To understand fully the occurrence that took place just as the Hogwarts Express arrived, we must go back to events of nearly two decades ago. Specifically, a pair of seemingly unrelated moments in The Second Voldemort War.
First: The last moments of Malfoy Castle
Enough of this!" ordered Amycus Carrow, who then turned on Hermione and added, suspiciously "I do not know you. Your arm! Show me!"
That had been planned for, but Dobby did not know and magically blasted both men. The noise was attracting attention and brought the curious.
"Dobby! Get us out of here!" Hermione yelled. She tossed the burden that had been hitched to her hip all day and it spun to a stop at the feet of several Death Eaters. A curious one picked it up, turning it in her hand. All the preparation, complicated spells and planning, the whole thing came down to a simple "Finite Incantatum!"
The problem with the micro black holes in the Large Hadron Collider always was that they winked out of existence almost before they were created. The Time Tuner and Hermione's spell changed that. Deep inside that magical device, this one lived and grew for a full day. But it grew slowly. With normal time resumed everything within its pull was sucked in. Before the two escapees vanished, they saw the Time Tuner and the hand that held it get sucked into oblivion. The witch screamed as madness took her. She attempted to run, but that was useless. Gravity run amuck caught the others in the room, not even allowing them to scream as they died.
Second: After the duel with Voldemort ended and Gindelwald was advancing on an exhausted Harry
Ginny's Bat Bogey Hex had as little effect as Susan's bone-breaking spell.
"Confringo!" came from Sirius, who'd taken a position in front of Susan.
This spell was deflected into the stands, which had not yet been fully protected by the returning Wall. The explosion killed people on the level it hit and more on the one below when it collapsed.
"Accio Teeth!" it was Ron who ended this battle after the Battle. Harry's teeth came out of his mouth at high speed, circled Ron once, then raced toward Grindelwald.
The Dark Wizard was distracted, thoroughly amused by seeing his Grandson's murderer writhing about on the ground. He ignored the tiny bits of white bouncing harmlessly off his body.
"Sorry Mate." Ron said, but he did not let himself be distracted. The last desperate act meant to finish Voldemort was now used. He did just as his Father-in-Law explained, lifted the red cap, pressed the blue button under it, then twisted the red dial left-right-left. AndB O O M!
Magical traveling, whether Apparation or with House Elf Magic does not occur in zero time. It just happens so fast none have ever perceived it. Dobby and Hermione escaped Malfoy Castle in the barest fraction of a second before it collapsed on itself and was sucked into the black hole. However, they were NOT unaffected The pair received, identical to one of our robot probes exploring the Solar System getting a gravitational assist from Jupiter on its way to Pluto, a nearly infinite boost to the speed of Dobby's spell. And, thanks to time dilation, they have been circling the Earth for a few seconds.
"Missie Myknee, Dobby can use that fire to slow us down!" the Elf exclaimed.
Hermione had known exactly what happened, and why, but knew no way to help. They were traveling at almost the speed of light. Going round and round the Earth over seven times a second. "Whatever you can, Dobby!" she shouted "Do it!"
The fire Dobby was talking about was the tremendously violent explosion of Harry's plastic explosive teeth. They raced through the blast so fast no harm could be done, but Dobby gathered the energy and used it to essentially slam on the brakes. It took time, much time, whole seconds. But however Dobby did it, it worked. They stopped, against a pillar, in fact partially embedded in one of those supporting the roof of Platform 9¾.
x
Families of the young witches and wizards attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry gathered on Platform 9¾ awaiting their loved ones. Nothing untoward had happened in two full generations of students, nothing untoward was expected this day. Aurors, nonetheless were on duty and on guard.
The Blacks, Luna and Sirius, arrived at 4PM almost an hour before the Express was due. It had become custom for the family oriented Quibbler that they gather the children of the staff and bring them to Quibbler HQ. Some modest changes had occurred in company management, Xeno Lovegood was now CEO and Head Reporter. Doing what he truly loved, getting the news. Luna was COO and ran the day to day operations. Sirius was CFO and self-appointed Senior Foot Rubber, though he performed that duty only when the CEO was in the field. Their oldest son, Leto, had just started Hogwarts. Their second son, Lysander was two and Luna was pregnant.
"Remus! Nymphadora!" Sirius bellowed enthusiastically "It's been what? A week almost?"
The couple nodded an affectionate greeting, but kept their eyes on business. They had a son, Joseph, of whom Sirius was Godfather. This lack of additional children was highly disappointing, but due directly to the fact that Joseph had inherited his Father's 'time of the month' It was very rare, there being only fifty recorded cases in history and Joseph the only living example. Remus had convinced Sirius they needed a 'men's night out' and promptly visited a Muggle hospital where he underwent a Muggle procedure that frankly horrified Sirius "Anyone gets near my…UH-UH… with something like that!" he'd declared "I'll AK them so hard their whole family will die!"
Others arrived and waited, forming different clumps depending on who was friends with whom. One, a fixture of the last two years, wanted nothing to do with the Magical World or anyone in it, but his third son received the same letter his older brothers had. Mr. Creevey could not deny the boy's greatest wish. But, on every occasion, without saying a word he conveyed his clear desire to be left alone. Over the years, he'd developed a bad taste for participating in Neville's revenge attack on the Death Eaters. From snatches of conversation, apparently his "wives" had come to pick up his child? Was it? Or children? But he made no effort to identify them. He still bore a grudge over what happened a week after he'd put down markers for his sons.
"Mr. Creevey, I hope you remember me? Harry Potter?" said the visitor "We wanted to come by offer our condolences."
Even sitting, he was almost as tall as Harry "Of course, I remember. And the funeral was four days ago." He said, bitterly "Do you know what your people told me? HUH? Nothing to bury! We're sorry! Well I spit at them! And I spit at you!"
"That isn't fair!" Susan snapped to her still weak husband's defense "Harry has only been out of hospital a day. And this is the FIRST place he wanted to come!"
Mr. Creevey got to his feet, towering over the couple "Your opinion was not asked for, or welcome, bitch!" he growled "I spoke with my lawyer. I want you out of my business. And he said this is a substantial premium on the value of your original investment, plus growth." He handed Harry a thick contract. Part of the cover page was a check for £1,500,000.
"IF I was half healthy, I'd give you a faceful of broken teeth." Harry growled "Never talk to Su—"
She whispered in his ear then spoke "You cannot possibly expect an instant decision on a significant investment. Our lawyer will contact your lawyer in due course." The couple left at Harry's reduced pace.
"This is almost more than I can afford." Mr. Creevey complained as he signed a check for £2,210,000 some three weeks later. They had negotiated back and forth, coming down from the utterly impossible £3,500,000. "It will take me ten years to get out from under this."
Harry smirked as Remus, who was unknown to Mr. Creevey and had been simply following Amelia's instructions in the matter, signed a receipt for the agreed amount. Harry signed the shares in Creevey Enterprises and spoke for the first time since that first encounter "Do you know something? I would've accepted that first offer, but you had to go and call my favorite witch a bitch. Have a nice life."
It was not hard to look angry after that episode, even fifteen years later.
Ron, still with the crippled walk he'd been left with defending Harry and Susan from Justin Finch Fletchley's murderous attack, arrived with arms around his oldest daughter's and wife's waist. The twins from Hermione were already out of Hogwarts, Rose joined her Aunt Ginny as a Harpy. Hugo declared a year off to tour America. He, Rose and Romilda were here for Ron Jr., Sally (after Romilda's Mum), and Fabian (after Ron's Uncle). Romilda was a bit behind where Mrs. Weasley had been, but #4 was only a few months away.
Harry and Ginny showed up together, before Ron, and signed autographs for a while but that died down as the scheduled arrival time drew near. They brought Harry's younger kid. You might have expected a Harry Jr., but both parents agreed on Susan's father, so their first boy was Neil James Potter who would start next year. That was the extent of the Potters to date. Witches had children into their eighties even, there was plenty of time for more if they chose.
Ginny still had not married. After Dennis' death she did not even date for a couple years. When she started back up, she immediately drew Mrs. Weasley's ire. Even a threat of Discommidation, except only the Head of House could do that.
The argument was brief "I will not do as you ask, Molly." Declared Arthur.
"Ginevra brings shame to this family with her wanton ways." Molly countered.
Arthur shook his head "A double standard, from you, a woman?" he shot back "What about Charlie and his 'girl in every town' ways? Shall I Discommidate him too?"
"I am not requesting, Arthur." She crossed her arms over her chest. Molly was appalled when her husband of nearly four, decades at the time, brought out his wand, crossed his wrists and clenched his fists. Horrified, she squealed "Me!? Merlin Arthur! NO!"
Arthur's demand was simple "You shall make peace with our daughter. I will not discuss this further."
Molly, within a day, realized that meant her husband would not speak to her until then. And it did not happen until Ginny's first child was born. As adorable as her Mother who would start with Harry's son and named Molly. The father, a likable wizard named Rolf, who she just did not see herself marrying. A second birth, twin girls, Bonnie and Francesca occurred three years ago by an associate of Susan's, a wizard named David who Ginny was still seeing, when she was home, that is. All three girls lived with their fathers.
Susan only arrived as the light of the Hogwarts Express could be seen in the distance "Oh good!" Her case did not seem to want to wrap up. The defense attorney had his client testifying right until the dinner bell sounded in court. And she did not even take time to grab a snack.
"You're late!" Harry complained.
Susan swung her hips his way, settled her arms on his neck and kissed him, declaring "There! All better. Lily won't even know the difference."
"WE could've snuck away for a bit." He whispered in her ear, then "HA! Made ya blush!"
She pressed her forehead in his chest and said "Uh-uh!"
"Liar. But I love you anyway." He said just for her.
Ron, nearby, teased "Don't you quit?"
"No more than you, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley." Retorted Susan "That's number six, right Ron?" as she eyed Romilda's belly.
Ron took deep offense if anybody made a distinction between Hermione's children and Romilda's. This, while a serious point in the long running tease-war, was fair game. Romilda licked her forefinger and ticked off a point in the air.
Quite suddenly, every Auror on the Platform drew his/her wand. Anyone with serious dueling skills also had theirs out. All the Magicals could feel it, there was something in the air. There was a crack like Apparition, although this sound was different. After a solid minute, nothing happened and everyone slowly relaxed. In another minute, wands began disappearing. And that was when the Express entered the station. It screeched to a halt, let loose a loud long whistle and after a last blast of white smoke was silent.
x
Hermione Granger-Weasley had no concept how fast she and Dobby had traveled, or for that matter, how many millions of times she had circled the Earth. She would, much later, estimate it at 749,010,116,880,000 times. Right now, her feeble consciousness was concerned with her fellow traveler. She felt around, blindly and called "Dobby!" What seemed a scream to her went unheard over the noise of a train arrival.
"Father, Mother" Joanne greeted Draco and Astoria with cool embraces. And her adoptive parents returned them in kind. Public displays of affection were not tolerated in the Malfoy family. In fact, it was assumed the couple did not even have sex, at least until Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy, a First Year Slytherin (of course) was born. Nor did the boy's appearance leave any doubt as to his parentage.
Scorpius had forgotten his discipline in the months at Hogwarts, ran up and flung himself at his utterly worshipped Father. Then stopped after barely a moment. It was not, however, a scolding from Draco that stopped him. He pointed at the ground and exclaimed "Father! LOOK!"
"Well, there's no doubt who the Elf is." Draco scratched at his goatee. He flicked the ragged shirt off the bruised face with his walking stick and observed "That leaves little doubt who this is. But I could be wrong. Joanne, get your Godfather NOT Weasley."
Mrs. Malfoy sent their son off to join his sister, and as soon as they were out of earshot, commented "You could kill her, Luv. No one would know."
"Are you mad woman!?" Draco hissed at her.
Astoria smiled "I just want you to reason it out. Make sure you know why it is a bad idea. And not torment yourself later." Much like Ginny, who outgrew her crush on Harry, the former Greengrass had grown into her husband's equal. And they, and their Ancient and Noble House, were better for it.
"Honestly. Stori, that's unnecessary" complained Draco in a whisper "For one, there would not be many suspects to the crime. And for another I can gain much more political capital out of being the one to return a war hero to her family than the momentary satisfaction I'd gain from AKing her. It's her appearance that gives me seriously to think."
x
Publicly, Joanne Malfoy's relationship with her Godfather was the polar opposite to that with her Father, "HARRY" she yelled "AUNTIE SUE!"
"Hiya cutie!" it had been some months since Harry had seen his Goddaughter. No matter that Joanne was noticeably taller than Harry, he lifted her off her feet and spun her around. They whispered quietly to each other for a bit.
Susan coughed severely, if one did not know them, one would assume jealously. But Joanne embraced her and again there was the almost magical effect of the now much taller, younger, witch seeming small in the redhead's arms "Taken over the world? Yet?" asked Susan.
"Nah! That's still thirty or forty years off." Joanne countered, playfully "OH! Godfather, I almost forgot, Father wants to see you. Now, he said. Something about an elf and a witch. He and Mother were acting very peculiar."
Harry did not make any special connection, so felt no particular urgency "Sure Jo, just as soon as we get Lily. Neil! Stay put until we find your sister!"
"Sure Dad. I'm not going anywhere." Said the boy who would be a duplicate of Susan at that age, except for having his Father's eyes and utterly black hair. Nor was he moving. Unnoticed by the absorbed adults was his sudden fascination with Joanne, whose nickname 'cutie' by her Godfather did not even begin to describe her beauty.
They found Lily readily enough. What raised Harry's ire was the sight his daughter in the arms of a black boy. He snarled and doubled his pace "What?" he glared at his wife as his foot stuck to the floor.
"You know very well who that is, Harry." She scolded him "And you have to accept the fact that Lily is growing up. Now close your eyes, no envisioning mayhem upon the boy either. Count to ten. Proceed."
Lily saw her parents approach and quickly separated herself from Dean "Hi Mum, Hi Dad. AH JO!"
"Mr. Potter" the boy gave a highly uneasy greeting to the man who killed the most evil wizard of all time. And whose daughter he was just snogging.
Harry was unable, and did not really try, to keep a sneer off his face, Susan intervened "I think that's your Father's head I see. Leave the angry Daddy to me."
"Yes Ma'am." Dean said quickly, gave a quick half bow to Susan and darted away.
Susan then addressed her not exactly niece "Joanne, you said your Father needed us?"
"Well, Godfather to be specific." Answered the young woman "But he didn't exclude you. Auntie. Only Ron, but that'd be normal. Except, he was not normal when I left."
Harry glared at his daughter and said "We have not even begun to have a discussion, young lady." And with that, they were off on Joanne's trail.
x
"Lucius!" gasped Hermione as she focused. She went for her wand, found it and swung it into line. "Impossible!"
Draco lashed out with his foot and pinned wrist and hand to the hard concrete "Wrong Malfoy, Granger" he snapped "Make you a deal, you can keep your wand if you promise not to use it on me or my wife."
"I guess you do look more like your Father than you did back then, Draco." Astoria acknowledged.
In a rare moment of public teasing he said "And you still stay with me, Luv?"
"You cannot be Draco!" Hermione declared "You're too old." She began struggling to her feet. Slumped back and recoiled from the extended hand "Don't Touch ME!"
A familiar, but not quite welcome voice, intervened "Honestly Draco, causing public scenes? And aren't you too old to be harassing young girls?" Then he got just a quarter-profile of the face and the outfit clicked, so did the still limp form of the Elf "Dobby? Hermione?!" he gasped. He had not seen either in almost twenty years but was utterly certain of who he was looking at, except it was impossible.
"Harry? No?" this girl declared "You look like him. More or less. But not really." For this man did not exactly look like the Harry she knew. He did physically, there was facial hair that could not possibly have grown in the time (two minutes perhaps) that had elapsed since she was in Malfoy Castle. But, it was not just superficial, she knew Harry Potter for half her life and there was a maturity in the man's very presence that no boy of eighteen could have. Her wand began rising again.
Draco struck again, not lightly, and her wand clattered away "I said you were allowed to keep your wand!" he said coldly "NOT use it!"
"Overkill Draco!" Harry snapped, then to Joanne "Go find Ron (there were too many Mr. Weasleys here today) bring him here WITHOUT telling him why. Or what's going on."
She gave an annoyed look and replied "Yes Godfather. NO problem Father. Couldn't tell him anything anyway. I don't have a clue anyway. This better be bloody good."
"Who was that?" the teenage Hermione wanted to know.
Draco, with a mischievous look only to be matched by Fred or George, quite honestly whispered "The Heir of Slytherin."
"WHAT!?" squealed Hermione.
Harry silenced him with a look "First let's make sure you're who you seem to be. For instance, who's that?"
"Dobby, of course." She answered "And how do I know you're who you claim to be?"
No teenager had spoken to him like that in half of Harry's life, he snapped as if to his daughter "Enough back talk, young lady. No, in fact, I've not said who I am. You have only been assuming I am Harry Potter in your thoughts. Well, fact is, I am. Now how do you prove you're actually Hermione Granger? After over seventeen years?"
"We can do both. A simple, common memory." She replied logically "Our first meeting, if you are really Harry Potter. But as far as I know, it has been something just over two minutes, not decades."
Lily put in "She looks like the pictures of her."
"I know she does!" Harry snapped "Now hush! Twenty-five years is a long time. Let me concentrate!" Wand on temple he brought it back and he could see eleven year olds Ron and Hermione in his mind as clearly as if it was yesterday. "You pushed our door open, without knocking, by the way, sat yourself down without a 'By Your Leave' watched Ron try his phony rat spell on Scabbers… pick it up from there. Oh, and you can identify Scabbers."
Draco put in "Come off it Harry! That doesn't prove anything. Every witch and wizard on Britain knows that!"
"Good point" Harry nodded "Right. What was his Marauder name? And the real Granger won't need to ask what they are."
The girl noted "First name basis? I find that highly improbable for you two. And I certainly would not characterize myself as you just did, sir. However, Scabbers was the Weasley pet rat from the time Percy entered Hogwarts to the time Ron, Harry and I were trapped in the Shrieking Shack by Professor Lupin and the then criminal Sirius Black. Scabbers was the Animagus of Peter Pettigrew AKA Wormtail. As for the next moment in The Express I told my future husband his spell was not very good and introduced myself. Then noticed your scar and said "Holy Cricket! You're Harry Potter!" Next I used a spell. Can you name it?"
"I can indeed" Harry laughed at the memory "Not exactly wise of an eleven year old to be pointing her wand so cavalierly at another child. Would you agree?" He laughed harder at her offended expression "Be that as it may, the spell was Oculus Reparum which fixed my Dursley spectacles." He now expected her to continue.
But the response came from another source, male "And then you told me I had dirt on my nose. Hello Hermione, it's wonderful to see you again."
"That's exactly why I sent for you, Harry." complained Draco "He's entirely too gullible."
Hermione spun in delight "I know that voice!" And paused, then shock set in. Her hands flew to her throat. The voice absolutely was her Ron. But the man she saw. Like the old Harry, this was and was not, her husband. His shoulders were bigger, his chest more massive. His face rather more like the way she remembered Bill's.
"I heard enough, Malfoy." Declared the mature Ron "Nobody could possibly imitate that voice so exactly."
That was the first sign of normalcy "Ron and Malfoy arguing" she smiled "This I believe." Then more of her brain started working. Anger, jealousy, began to boil up. She got to her feet without the slightest assistance "You cheated on me!" she flared "A whole bloody harem!"
"You're right Dad. She does have a temper." A thoroughly amused girl her own age stepped between her Father and raging Mother "But you said she never cursed. You're sure?"
Ron nodded "Yeah Rosie. No doubt."
"Dad also said you were the smartest witch he ever knew. Now take a good look… A real good look… at me." Rose smiled and just stood there.
Hermione wanted to slap the hussy, who mockingly blocked her path, but something the strangely old Ron said clicked. Then looking at her face, instead of a slap she gently pushed a few strands of hair behind an ear and asked wonderingly "Rose? My Rose? My baby? All grown up? My God, you're older than me. And taller."
"Sorry Mum, Weasley genes."
Susan spoke up "There is a crowd of the curious. We should retire to someplace private. Might I suggest The Keep?" In rapid succession, she produced half a dozen Portkeys to Harry's home. "And, Harry, I will help Dobby. Your place is working out this mystery."
x
Between the kids and adults, nearly a hundred people were at Kiln Keep. Not yet present, were Ian and Michelle Granger. It was a sore subject. While Harry encountered both Grangers semi-regularly, and was quite fond of the twins, Mrs. Granger had never offered an apology for her attack of over twenty years ago. And while Harry had a polite relationship with Mr. Granger, a suggestion that Hermione's mother might come to his home was rejected with a flat "No."
"Long term, Dobby will be fine." Susan was back from St. Mungo's "The Healer says he has the worst possible case of magical exhaustion. He'll be up and around in a few days. They don't know if his magic will come back. So what have I missed?"
Hermione answered "Harry gave us some private time. I'm really disturbed that Ron remarried. To me, I was only gone for two minutes. It's too soon to absorb all this. I never imagined being part of a multi-wife household. But, in a way … well, I don't know how to sort this out. All evidence to the contrary, it is hard to believe so much time has passed."
"That's the Hermione we remember." Harry chuckled lightly "So, I reached Hugo in the States. He finds it hard to believe. If anyone inherited your brain, it's him. He won't be able to join us until tomorrow. Crossing the pond is well…"
Rose glared at him and complained "Thanks Uncle Harry!"
"Oh you know what I mean!" Harry threw a pillow at her. And they all laughed.
Hermione, replying to Susan, said "I'm glad Dobby will be alright. If there's anything I can do, let me know. That he got us out of there means a great deal to me. That it was seventeen years … well, means more. He is a very special person."
"Uh-oh, here comes SPEW." Ron gasped fearfully "Let's run Harry!"
Hermione flushed in both embarrassment and anger, then abruptly smiled "I suppose I really should be mad. But that means you have talked about me over the years. I have a million questions, but the last few hours have been tiring. I almost feel I should call you Mr. Potter … Harry, from the moment Malfoy brought, by the way that reminds me who … no forget that for now, this is more important … Even that night, we were hostile to each other?"
"What changed?" Harry put in then answered "I did, I suppose … about the time we found out Sue was pregnant. Remember that game Gin?"
Ginny smiled "I do. Remember the next time we met?" She was joined in laughter by everyone EXCEPT Harry.
"WHAT?" Hermione protested
Harry cringed "Off subject. Anyway! Me and Ron were talking about you. At the time, we'd given you up for dead. And that day, I just decided I couldn't carry on a grudge against a dead person. Besides, if nothing else, I really did and do love Hugo and Rose." He winked at the girl who now had a Mother with whom she had little, if any, age difference.
"On a similar subject, then" asked Hermione "Why- " and again, she stopped, not wanting to give offense.
Again, Harry went on "First, let me say, Ian and I get along fine. Friends might be overstating a bit, but he helped out a lot. That's a story for another time. Your Mother, on the other hand, has made no effort. And I see no reason to."
"I see." That left a bad taste, but what bothered her was "Are you using Legilimency on me?"
To that, again they all laughed "Honestly Mum! Even the kiddies have been told this." Rose put in "We just don't take sides. Not our business."
"Can I do the next one?" young Neil Potter asked from his perch, Harry's original gift from Sirius which just did not cut it in the pros. To top off his Mum's anxiety, he was upside down. Nor did he wait for permission "She'll wanna know what that's gonna mean for her?"
Susan sighed "Forgive him. He hasn't learned manners, nor the-"
"Essentially, he is correct" Hermione admitted, although if anything she was even more disturbed "I apparently have no secrets."
Ron reached across Rose and squeezed her knee "Really, Hermione, they all know about all of us. How mean I was to you in First Year, right up to how you about jumped my bones that - oops, sorry Sue. They know how you testified against Harry at the trial and him calling you a Mudblood."
"So have any of you figured out what happened?" the question came from the Floo in the other room.
Harry called back "No Draco! Isn't it past your bedtime?"
"Well, I popped in on Dudley. We looked up Black Holes and such on Wiki. Got some interesting answers." Came back from Draco "We know what, how and why. But if you -"
The surprise and interest in everyone's eyes mirrored his own "Since you went to the trouble, I suppose you can come over." Harry tried to sound uninterested. Knew he probably did not with someone who knew him so well.
"Answer me this, Malfoy." This from Ginny, who never could forgive Draco for the sins of Lucius "You were Obliviated. How do you know about that?"
Draco had no more love for Ginny than the reverse "In fact, I was Obliviated four times by our mutual friends, Weaslette. That spell is not especially effective on an Occlumens. It does not wipe out a memory, in that case it merely suppresses it. And I am a VERY GOOD Occlumens if I do say so myself. Now I also have a backup for all my memories."
"Err… sorry Draco…" Harry looked embarrassed "It was… for the-"
Draco cut him off and finished the sentence "Greater Good… Well don't trouble yourself Harry. I don't think we could pull that off again, anyway. So let's talk some good old Muggle science. If you please Big D."
"How did you two end up friends?" Hermione asked in amazement.
Dudley found her shock amusing "With Harry to bind us, it was a natural. Mum wanted to adopt him. Named my boy after him. Anyway, my thanks, Your Grace. So Black Holes? How about Time Dilation?"
Blank stares were the only response. They were talking to the Wizard educated after all.
"Sounds familiar, but I'm tired." Hermione yawned.
Dudley continued "We'll not bother with the formulae, but the faster you go, the slower you age."
"No wait. I did read this." Hermione interrupted "It's that Delta T Formula. We must have been going about 99% of the speed of light."
"We guess it was 99 and at least eleven 9s." Draco added "And since it was in a circle, you went no where very, very fast."
Ron stopped them "Cut it! All of ya! In English PLEASE!"
"Imagine going around the Earth." Dudley let that sink in "Now do it seven or eight times a second. And for seventeen years. And that is why Hermione and that other guy only thought it was two minutes."
Harry scrunched up his face "That don't make sense, cuz." He complained "No! Forget it! I was going to ask you to prove it, but I think I'll pass."
"Actually, if it's OK with Hermione, I think I will anyway." He went on "You see Lloyds of London offered a prize of a billion Pounds about fifty years ago to anyone who encounters a singularity and comes back. Hope they've got a few Magicians on the payroll or they'll never believe this tale."
Hermione yawned, prodigiously this time, and waved her permission "Now I'm really sleepy. Harry, can I … Do you have a spare room in this place?"
"You belong home with me." Said Ron.
She shook her head "I'm not sure I do. You remarried. Romilda is nice, but I don't know her, not really. I missed seeing my babies grow up. I can't even imagine what I'll tell my parents. But I'm not ready to see them." She watched Harry and Susan look at each other, briefly, then nod.
"Xiddy?" Susan called out "Please take Hermione to the room by the stairs. The one with a loo. Point out our room to her. Your other duties are secondary to a call from Hermione."
Hermione blinked in surprise "How…how did you do that!?"
"Been together twenty years. Go to bed." ordered Harry "Before Xiddy has to carry you."
Ron shot to his feet "Wait!" he insisted "Hermione, it's been so long. Can I…can I hold you?"
"I guess." She said. She'd always felt small next to Ron. But as this man put his arms around her, as old as her Father is … was … err should be, she shivered. Hermione did not object, even slightly when the embrace ended, and retreated. Another part of her brain thought it was odd that second wife showed not a hint of jealousy.
x
It was very early in the morning. It had taken some convincing to get all their guests to leave. Ultimately, the most reluctant (Ron) had to be ordered out. A still vital, young couple was engaging in sex. Susan had mounted her husband as his hands massaged her breasts. Dull lighting showed them each other's expressions. Susan's hips were beginning to buck as Harry's body also pumped. And before they could quite finish, there was a banging on the door and "HARRY!"
"That is DEFINITELY your kid." Susan complained, as she dismounted Harry. "Bloody!"
Harry called out, with as little frustration as he could manage "Give me a minute!" He pulled open the door, shut it behind him, asked "What?"
"Then it was real." Hermione sighed "I woke up, looked in a mirror, saw my same face. But you still look the same." She took in his appearance "Why do you look so flush? And that does not fit."
Harry stood there in a robe monogrammed with both family crests "No wonder it felt tight." He shrugged "It's Sue's. As to why, you interrupted us having sex."
"Oh" she blushed royally "Sorry. Gee! The Harry I knew hardly knew the word."
To this, his shrug was indifferent "No worries. Been woken up by everything from dirty diapers and dragon pox, to first boyfriend breakup. Let me change, first."
"I must say, you look very pretty." Came from the bed.
He tossed the robe at Susan and growled "Quiet woman." Exchanged her petite woman's for his men's large. Then back to his guest "You need to talk, I assume? Xiddy! Two hot chocolates in the dining room. Please." The Potter/Bones Elf did not bother acknowledging the order, but two very large mugs were floating to the table when they arrived.
"I'm alright, really." But Hermione sat in the luxurious chair anyway. She wondered "Nobody else stayed?"
He chuckled "Weasleys, my young friend, are overwhelming. Especially in numbers." But then took on a stern look "I want you to know that Ron was truly hurt when you pulled away as you did. Even if we all understand why."
"That annoys me the most!" she snapped "Everyone so understanding! So accepting! I feel like I've fallen into an alternate universe."
He nodded "Oh yeah. Star Trek. I saw that one. Had to watch everything Dudley wanted to."
"There is ANOTHER example!" she complained "Is there really a Draco Dursley?!"
Harry laughed out loud "Vernon only acknowledges Chrysanthemum who is 'normal' by his definition. Well except for what he calls her 'unfortunate skin tone' I still think it was a bad idea bringing those two together. But they actually like each other."
"Oh! And then that woman. She looks a bit old to be Malfoy's daughter." Hermione observed "He'd have to have been about nine when she was born. And I know that's not the case. Nor could she possibly be your Goddaughter."
Harry's mind flashed through everything to do with that particular girl and he could not help grinning. She would, in perhaps another twenty years, prank the entire Magical world "There is more to Joanne than meets the eye." He admitted with a smirk "You might even figure it out, with your brain. The publicly known facts are Draco adopted her after the Hogwarts Disaster, that story is for another time. Second, yes I'm her Godfather. Luna, she married Sirius by the way, is her Godmother. If you do, I expect you to come to me at once."
"Yessir." She replied, unable to resist his authoritative voice "Harry, will you go when I see my parents?"
He shook his head "No, that is not my place. Even forgetting how your Mother and I feel about each other, which has not changed in twenty years, that's Ron's job. And I don't envy him that either. You better make sure you know that stuff Dudley and Draco explained. By the way, about Ron, he had it real hard after you vanished. He left Hugo and Rose to others to raise, did nothing but look for you for two years. Got all skinny and scruffy."
"I could feel … he wanted more than just a hug." She complained.
Harry rolled his eyes "Probably" he acknowledged "But he did not act on it. And you'll notice, Romilda thought nothing of it. There aren't a lot of multiple marriages. If you want to talk to someone, I'd suggest Neville. He married Pansy Parkinson and about five years ago, Hannah Abbott."
"PANSY!" Hermione exclaimed "Hannah I can see, but Pansy? They were decidedly NOT friends."
Harry was about to respond when he glared upstairs. He ordered "Stay here!" and Disapparated.
One of Hermione's secrets was that she had developed a spell to track Apparation. She did not feel up to using Apparation but, up the stairs was not worth the magic it took to cover the distance. She simply ran. And found the parents pointing wands at their daughter.
"Get behind me, Neil!" ordered Susan. If anything, she was more frightening than Harry "Get in the bedroom, in fact! And lock the door!"
Hermione was about to mention the illegality of an underage boy using magic, but noted young Lily's eyes "She's possessed!" she declared "I read all about it!"
"We know!" Harry snapped "And I told you to stay put!" Then he ignored her, focusing on his daughter.
Lily's fingers crackled with magic and her hair was a riot of flaming red "There is nothing to fear." The girl declared "I am me. You remember, Mother? I met you before I was born."
"Why?" Susan demanded "That horrible future you showed me … It can't happen."
Harry learned the story of Lily from the Future, years later "Obviously you wanted to make sure we stayed together. But that gives you no right to our daughter."
"You are the Dad I loved." Lily smiled at him "Before the Dark Times. Before you worked with the Dementors." She got a far away look and continued "OH! That's how you defeated Voldemort."
Hermione yelled "St. Mungo's Fourth Floor!"
"I'm an incorrectly applied charm?" asked Lily "I think I'm insulted. OH! Auntie 'Mione! In my timeline you and Uncle Ron killed a thousand Dementors before sacrificing yourselves so we kids could escape. I was four. Aren't you too young for this time period?"
Hermione gasped in horror at the thought, but then "That body is not yours, whoever you are. Leave it and you can talk about whatever you like."
"Sorry, not possible." Said Lily "Already I feel my self disintegrating. Mother, I was harsh to you, and I apologize. Even if you did need it. This has always been my destiny, I now know. My knowledge will be there. You should not trouble yourselves, the worst memories will only surface in emergencies. If nothing untoward happens in the future then I am a gift to me." The glow in Lily's eyes vanished and she started to fall.
Harry was there even as his daughter's eyes faded to normal. He caught her by the shoulders, then picked her up and carried her to her room. There, he tucked her into bed and called the others. Then, "How do you feel Lils?"
"Like I should be running from here to Mum's." she replied "Not laying in bed. I feel like that first ever gulp of Fire Whiskey. Aww! Bloody!"
Susan crossed her arms over her chest and declared "You're grounded for the cursing, and apparently, drinking. Starting December 26. Two days."
"Yes, Mum." Lily looked all but bereft at the thought of being in her room for Christmas, but this almost pleased the teenager. "I remember everything that just happened. I also know everything that happened between you and Lily from the Future as you named her. I'm me, not possessed. She's gone, just her memories and her magic … WOW … I could take on a Mountain Troll! And win! And OH I've got a story for Professor Longbottom's assignment!"
Susan acted to protect this secret. She seized her young son, pressed her wand against his temple and drew out the memory of the last few minutes.
"It might be useful if she knows." Harry said, referring to Hermione "But you cannot be allowed to ever discuss what just happened. I give you a choice, an Unbreakable Oath, or Obliviation."
Hermione backed away fearfully from the utterly ruthless tone. She was, however, outnumbered and trapped as she backed into Susan who had not been there a moment earlier. She nodded her acceptance "I pledge on my life and magic never to in any way convey the events of the last fifteen minutes to any living person or thing."
"Thank you, Hermione." Susan sighed, in relief "Lily is so precious to us."
Hermione backed away, to the room they'd offered her for the night and closed the door. As she drifted off to sleep, she wondered what that meant to the future, just how powerful would Lily become? And why did that ghost believe such power would be needed? And this, on top of how would she get on with her own life?
x
"Liar." said Susan without the slightest heat.
He looked her up and down, smirked and said "Get out of that robe."
"After you answer the question." she countered "Come on Harry, you didn't need to leave her memories intact. Any more than we did Neil's."
Harry shook his head "What I learned, back then, was never to underestimate Hermione. If we ever get to the bottom of what that other Lily said, we'll need her. To be honest, I hope it's MANY years, because Hermione won't be much use if it happens next week. She' s nearly twenty years behind the times.
"You still could've Obliviated her." Susan still persisted.
He nodded "Yeah, and see how well that worked out? Draco? How long do you think he's known? About both the how, and the Obliviations?"
"There's that." she admitted "But, developing a soft spot for 'Granger' as you called her for five years straight?"
To which he countered "To quote a smart witch 'Why bother with that when we should be screwing ourselves into oblivion? Mrs. Potter?"
"Weeeeeyheeeeww!" she whistled lightly, opened her robe, put his hands exactly and only on her waist "Ah-ah, I'm up here." she scolded playfully "Nice memory there, Mr. Bones. And every once in a while, this smart witch wonders about the wisdom of freeing a certain wizard from Azkaban. Then he makes such dead sexy remarks like that!" And with that, she hopped up, wrapped her legs around her husband's waist and practically jammed her tongue in his mouth.
THE END
{a/n 2} There will also be an afterword that looks in on Harry and Susan decades later. It's already written I'll just delay posting it for a week and comments on all the reviews that come in here. Cheers readers!