It had been just over a week since she and Neville had begun their official courtship, and what a week it had been.

Not only had their relationship been leaked to the public, via Rita bloody Skeeter, but Ronald and Draco had announced their impending nuptials, and Padma had gone into labor a month early due to accidental magic, which left Hermione without an assistant for the foreseeable future as she refused to allow Lavender to come into work when she had a sister-in-law and baby in the hospital.

Although the photograph that Skeeter had gotten of her and Neville kissing in his shop was actually quite nice and she had sent a note to the annoying witch to ask for the original copy, she was quite annoyed that they were robbed of the ability to announce their relationship to their friends and the public themselves. Of course, this had also come on the heels of her sitting down with Neville to explain that she would be adopting Teddy when Andromeda passed, with Ginny taking the title of godmother. This meant that if he wanted to continue courting her, he would need to come to terms with the fact that he would be gaining not only a wife but a son as well. To say she had a hard time keeping her panicked state under wraps was an understatement.

Neville had done an admirable job in calming her. He wasn't as upset about their relationship being public as she seemed to be and hadn't minded in the least that he would be getting a veritable two-for-one deal. When he had asked her if she was upset that the world now knew that she was with him or if she was worried that he wouldn't be a good father figure for Teddy, she realized that he must have thought she was embarrassed about being with him and she adamantly refused to let him think that, so she'd made him dress up and took him out to dinner at one of the newest upscale restaurants in the wizarding world. She lavished him with so much love and attention while they were out that he was completely flustered. When the papers came out the next morning and their pictures were covering the front pages and many of the society pages, his fears were quelled and he couldn't help but visit her at the Ministry to hand deliver the largest bouquet of red roses he could carry.

Checking the time, Hermione sat up in her bed and stretched. The Ministry was, officially, closed for the next three days for Samhain, today was Thursday and the big celebrations would begin tomorrow. Many wizarding communities, such as those that live in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and other small villages scattered around the country, would be holding local festivals and would follow the tradition of setting a community bonfire that everyone would then use to light their own hearth when they went home. Others who lived apart from a wizarding community, such as the Weasleys, would be hosting for many of their friends who didn't have anywhere else to celebrate.

Hermione would be attending the celebrations at the Burrow, as would the rest of the Weasley children and their families. Hermione had been told that the Shacklebolts and the Longbottoms had been invited as well. She also knew Ronald and Draco would be in attendance, as Arthur had wanted to give her a heads up so she didn't feel ambushed when she arrived and found them there. She'd thanked him and told him that she would be fine and he'd just nodded, giving her one of his understanding looks.

The most important part of her day would be lunch. She, Ginny, Harry, and James were going to Andromeda's to meet with her and Teddy. Andromeda wanted to get all the legal documents signed and dealt with sooner rather than later in case she didn't make it to the new year. She also wanted Harry and Hermione there to explain things to Teddy with her. He was more observant than Andromeda would have liked, but knowing who his parents were no one was surprised when he began asking where he would live when his grandmama passed.

She only had an hour to get ready for lunch, so she took a quick rinse in the shower, wrapping her hair beforehand so it wouldn't get wet. Her curls actually looked somewhat manageable today, so she wanted them to stay that way. Once she had washed and dried herself, she dressed in a pair of well-worn light-washed skinny denims and an overly large black sweater. She decided against makeup and stuck her wand in her wrist holster before slipping on a pair of trainers.

Leaving her home, she was met by Harry, who had been just about to knock on her front door.

"Ready?" He asked, a bit of desperation bleeding into his tone. He couldn't do this without her, Teddy had always taken bad news better when Hermione was around.

"I am. Are you?" Hermione asked, with some concern in her voice.

He gave her a stiff nod and she nodded back. They made their way to where Ginny was waiting in the park across the street, holding a squirming James. When they reached them, Hermione took James from the pregnant witch. Harry offered Ginny his arm.

"We'll see you there. I already told your Aurors that they don't need to be with us. They are going to stay here until we get back," Harry said before he and Ginny popped out of sight.

Hermione looked at the toddler in her arms, "Ready, Jamie?" When he nodded, she smiled and turned, popping out of the park and landing a few moments later in front of a cozy-looking cottage.

Harry and Ginny stood at the edge of the property wards waiting for them. Hermione joined them, James playing with her hair to distract himself from being sick, a trick he'd taught himself after the first few times of side-along apparating (it helped that many of the adults in his life had unique hair). Together, they all stepped into and through the wards and started making their way to the front door. As they neared it, the door was flung open from inside and the turquoise-haired pre-teen ran out to greet them, slowly followed by his grandmother.

"Harry! Mimi! Ginny!" Teddy exclaimed excitedly, "We've been waiting all morning!"

Harry chuckled and Ginny hugged the boy, apologizing for taking so long to get there. He forgave them easily and the group moved into the house and towards the kitchen. Andromeda started to get everything ready for lunch, but Harry and Ginny made her sit at the table with Hermione while they cooked. Teddy took James into the sitting room to play, he knew the adults needed to talk about things.

"Hermione, Harry, did you two discuss everything?" Andromeda asked in a strong, no-nonsense tone that didn't seem to match her frail physical state.

Hermione sighed, "We did, and with your blessing, we've decided that I will adopt Teddy in the event of your passing and Ginny will take the title of being his godmother. I live down the street from Harry and Ginny so he can easily go between our homes whenever he wants."

Andromeda studied the young adults in her kitchen, nodded, and said, "Of course, you have my blessing. I put the decision to the two of you because I didn't want you to think I was being biased and I didn't want Teddy to make such a big decision at his age. I'd like for us to go over my will while you're here."

Ginny nudged Harry away from the cooking area and towards the table, "I don't need help cooking, go sit with them and go over the legal stuff before lunch."

Harry took a seat between Andromeda and Hermione, "Let's go over that then and we can tell Teddy after lunch."

Once Hermione and Andromeda had both agreed, Andromeda pulled a sheath of parchment out of a leather pouch.

"I've gone over my will with my lawyers, and they've set a charm to it that will update it as we discuss things," she said as she handed it to Hermione.

Hermione read it aloud, "In the event of my passing, I want it known that my grandson, Edward Remus "Teddy" Lupin, will be adopted by [blank] and his godparents will be [blank] and [blank]."

"Place your wand on it and re-read it with the correct names, and it will update it," Andromeda said.

Hermione nodded, setting the parchment down and drawing her wand. Touching the parchment with her wand she stated, "In the event of my passing, I want it known that my grandson, Edward Remus "Teddy Lupin, will be adopted by Hermione Jean Granger, and his godparents will be Harry James Potter and Ginevra Molly Potter."

She moved to the next paragraph and read, "When he comes of age, Edward Remus "Teddy" Lupin will inherit Tonks Cottage and the surrounding ten acres of pasture. He will also inherit my Black family trust vault. He will inherit the trust vault set up for him by his parents, Nymphadora Tonks Lupin and Remus John Lupin when he completes his OWLs. He may inherit the Tonks family vault when he graduates from Hogwarts. Until this time, [blank] will have primary control of all assets listed. There will be a yearly allowance sent directly to Hermione Jean Granger and Harry James Potter on their birthdates, September 19th, and July 31st, respectively, in gratitude for honoring my family by caring for my grandson."

Hermione re-read this under Andromeda's instruction that she replace the blank in this paragraph with her own name as she would be Teddy's primary carer.

They went over a few more paragraphs that didn't have to do with Teddy and mostly had to do with Andromeda's funeral and burial. She wanted to be interred in the same cemetery in a plot next to her husband and daughter. That cemetery happened to be the same one her parents and sister, Bellatrix, had been buried in. She chose it after the war to spite her parents. The Black family would be rolling in their graves if they knew her muggle-born husband, half-blood daughter, and werewolf son-in-law were buried in the same ground as them. She didn't want an over-the-top funeral. She wanted Narcissa invited but didn't expect her to show up. She didn't want a wake, just a burial. As Minister of Magic, she asked that Hermione say a few words and leave it at that.

They went over the last few bequeathments, namely the ones having to do with Hermione and Harry themselves. She was leaving each a magical portrait of Tonks, Remus, Ted, and herself. She explained that she'd had the connected portraits made when the war was about to begin, in case any of them didn't make it. Tonks, Remus, and Ted were all active in the portraits, which she kept in two separate rooms of the cottage, but they were waiting for her. She explained that she had told the portrait-selves of her family that she would be with them soon. Her portrait family wasn't overly happy, but she seemed to have been a bit relieved and at peace with things. Harry knew how she felt, and Hermione had an idea of how she might be feeling. The war may have been a decade ago, but they still felt the effects of it on their lives and in their world.

She'd also left Harry a few Black family heirlooms she'd taken with her when she'd left home to marry Ted. She left Hermione her family photo albums to show Teddy as he grows up. She left the pair of them in charge of what would happen with the furnishings in the cottage. She knew when Teddy was an adult the furniture and things would be outdated, so she figured they could donate everything they didn't keep. She informed Hermione that while not all her clothes were "in" nowadays, the fabrics and clothing themselves were mostly designer pieces, though she never wore the expensive things. Her everyday clothing was mainly muggle, but also designer pieces. She gave Hermione full control, saying that she could donate it, keep it for herself, or sell it for what it was worth. She told her she had no need to care about any of it anymore. She left her entire library, which took up the entirety of Ted's study, to Hermione. Most of them were old and rare texts she'd taken from her parents' home.

Lastly, as her parents' eldest living daughter, their estate fell to her. In her will, she listed that if Hermione nor Harry wanted it, they could allow it to pass directly to her younger sister, Narcissa or Draco Malfoy. As her sister had gained the Black family Wizengamot seat, Andromeda was not required to leave the estate to her but figured that if Harry and Hermione didn't want it, she might appreciate having it in her repertoire.

By the time lunch was ready, they had gone through the entirety of Andromeda's will and agreed to all the terms. Harry and Hermione signed it, and Andromeda signed it after them, with Ginny signing as well as their witness. Andromeda packed the will away again and sealed the leather pouch with her magic and her family seal. Hermione was not unaware that her family seal was comprised of the outline of a chrysanthemum and a marigold. She thought it was fitting that Andromeda's family seal was that of the sacred flowers of Samhain.

Lunch went well and they adjourned to the sitting room. James went back to playing while Teddy sat between his grandmother and Hermione. They calmly explained everything that had been decided. He asked a few questions but seemed to understand more than they expected. He knew his grandmother was sick and that she wouldn't be getting better. He knew that Harry and Ginny loved him but weren't his parents. He knew that Hermione loved him and would be adopting him, he knew that she would be his adoptive mother but that she wouldn't be taking his birth parents away from him. They explained that Harry and Hermione would each have a family portrait in his rooms at their homes so that he could always talk to and see his parents and grandparents. He thanked them for loving him and taking care of him when his grandmama wouldn't be able to anymore. The conversation was a bit heavy for him, and his hair turned dark as he processed how he felt.

Eventually, Teddy asked them to go so he could spend some private time with his grandmama before the Samhain celebration at the Burrow. He hugged Harry, Ginny, and James. He clung to Hermione the longest, and she kissed his head and whispered to him how much she loved him and how she would be a floo call away if she needed him anytime, even if she were at work. He nodded his head, which was in the crook of her neck, to let her know he'd heard him before he stepped back and opened the front door for the small group.

Ginny, Harry, and James apparated away after telling Hermione that they would be going to the Burrow to help get everything ready for the celebrations that evening after they visited the cemetery in Godric's Hollow and that they would see her there. She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck before apparating to the park across the street from her home on Grimmauld. She noticed the Aurors that had been given the weekend day shift but paid them no attention when she saw Neville sitting on her front stoop.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Hermione smiled at him.

Neville grinned at her from his seated position on the stairs, "You said you were going to Andromeda's for lunch to go over everything with Teddy. I wanted to check on you. I figured it'd be a bit emotionally draining."

Walking over to him, Hermione stepped between his knees and let his large hands encircle her hips as she kissed him.

"That's very sweet, thank you. It was a bit draining. But it was necessary. Andromeda's not getting any better and I feel sorry for Teddy. He seems to be handling things well for now, but he's still a child and it will be hard on him when she does pass. I remember how hard it was for you in our first year. I don't want him to think he's alone in this," Hermione sighed sadly.

Neville nodded, "Just be there for him like you were for me in our first year. He won't forget who was there for him in his time of need."

Neville kissed her on the head and let her go so she could open the front door. He picked up the little bundle he'd had sitting beside him on the stoop and handed it to her.

"It's just a few sprigs of Rowan. The branches and berries, for Samhain," Neville shrugged, knowing he didn't need to explain because she probably knew more about wizarding traditions for Samhain than he did.

"That's perfect! You can help me hang them above the doors and windows!" Hermione smiled brightly at him.

He nodded with a small smile, of course, she knew that they were hung above doors and windows to keep evil spirits out of the house. She probably even knew that if you cut one of the berries in half, you'd see that the insides made a small pentagram.

And of course, she spoke again as they walked into the house, "Did you know that if you cut a rowan berry in half it'll reveal a pentagram?"

Then she laughed, "Of course, you probably knew that, being a herbologist!"

He chuckled, shaking his head at her, and hanging one of the sprigs above the front door before following her into the kitchen.

They spent about twenty minutes making sure they hung a spring of the rowan he'd brought her above all the doors and windows in her home.

"Is your gran coming to the Burrow tonight?" Hermione asked as they rejoined each other in her office. She'd left the fire burning when she'd left that morning after locking the floo network so no one could show up while she was gone, and it had gone down a bit but hadn't burnt out yet. She knew it would burn itself out before they left for the Burrow. They sat together on the sofa in front of the hearth.

"Surprisingly, she and my uncle Algie are coming for the feast and bonfire. They did gripe about Ron and Draco being there but I explained that you had already told the Weasleys that it was fine with you and that their engagement hadn't bothered you in the least," Neville said, wincing slightly at having told a partial lie to his elder relatives.

Hermione smiled, "I'm not bothered by their engagement or about them being there. I am bothered by the fact that they sent me a bloody wedding invitation."

Neville gave her a smile in thanks for not making him a liar, but snorting, "They sent you an invitation?"

"Not only did they send an invitation, but they asked me to officiate as their Minister of Magic," Hermione huffed.

Neville almost choked on his laughter when she told him that. She shoved him slightly and rolled her eyes. Eventually, he stopped laughing and wrapped his arms around her.

"Have you responded?" He asked after a few minutes of silence.

She could hear the barely contained amusement in his voice and scoffed before she stood up and walked over to the dry bar next to the fireplace. She poured a glass of what looked to him to be muggle scotch. She downed it.

"I agreed," she said after the burn of the alcohol in her throat subsided. She poured herself another glass and offered him one as well. He accepted it and she moved to sit back down beside him.

"You agreed to officiate your ex-husband's wedding to your ex-assistant whom he cheated on you with?" Neville asked, stunned.

Hermione nursed her second glass of scotch, "I did."

After a while, Neville seemed to realize something, "How come I didn't get an invitation to their wedding?"

Hermione snorted, "You did. It just wasn't a wedding when you got the invitation. That happened after Molly invited everyone to the Burrow for Samhain."

Neville was in disbelief. It was almost an indecent insult to Hermione that not only would they ask her to officiate their wedding, but they would have it on Samhain. He understood the significance. It was like the death of the past giving new life to the future. Ron was saying that his past with Hermione was completely dead and his new life with Draco was being born. It was a popular choice for people nowadays to marry during Samhain or Beltane, but this was a whole new level. How could Hermione be okay with being insulted in such a way?

"Calm down, Nev. It's fine," Hermione said, as she watched Neville clench his fists and jaw. She reached out to soothe him, running her hand along his strong jaw. She felt him release his anger as best as he could in one deep breath, and let her hand fall to his hand, which he grasped firmly.

"You're just going to let them insult you like this?" Neville asked, unsure how to convey the severity of the situation.

"I'm not insulted. If I were, I wouldn't have agreed to officiate. Neville, I'm putting my past with Ron to death. I'm letting it die so that my life with you can truly begin." She took a breath and then dropped a small bombshell, "Besides, they're not insulting me, it was my idea. If anyone should feel insulted, it would be Ron, but he and Draco were too grateful to even realize how insulting this whole situation could be."

Again, Neville was struck by how in love he was with this witch. He could hardly believe she was his. He kissed her then and pulled away with a brilliant smile. She stroked his hair with a grin and allowed him to hold her on his lap as she finished her scotch.