Hermione watched as her husband of 7 years was sitting on a racing broom. Next to him on a training broom was their 6 year old son, James Sirius. Harry was wearing the racing suit that he had worn, 8 years ago.
Having won the 2022 Broomula One Monaco Grand Prix, he had managed to get podium finishes in the remaining 16 races in the season, much to the favourite of that season, Max Verstappen.
And then he promptly retired, announcing that he was going to spend time with Hermione.
That lasted all of a week before he signed up to work at a junior broom racing league near the home they had moved in, a modest 2 bedroom house in Brackley, Northamptonshire, citing how he was going stir crazy.
Hermione didn't mind though.
And then they had got married that Christmas. Hermione and Harry had a small ceremony, with just her parents and the Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt as witnesses.
It was exactly one year since they had reunited when Hermione had realised her period was late, that she was pregnant.
And Harry told her that he'd soon make a broom racer of their child, be it a boy or a girl. That they would join the Dark side.
Hermione had to laugh at that. But in a way, he was serious. And now he was teaching their son the fundamentals of broom racing.
"Broomsticks are like cars," said Harry, "they have different speeds."
James nodded. He hadn't been paying attention to the lesson; his head was full of plans on how he was going to follow in his father's footsteps and go into racing.
"The thing is, unlike the race cars you see on your granddad Dan's television, a broom racing Grand Prix has a lot more variables than just speed. For example, it can be windy out there, so you need to know how to handle that. And then there's Monaco, where you have tunnels to race through too. So yeah, you've got to learn how to control your broom properly."
"Are we gonna do that?" asked James, eyes wide open. It was obvious he couldn't wait to try it out.
"Well... really we need a proper circuit to try some things out..." replied Harry. "But maybe we should practice first. Let me show you something."
Harry took hold of his broomstick and began to fly around the garden. James followed him, the smile on his face as though it was in place with a sticking charm.
Harry flew around and around, stopping once or twice to hover in front of James.
Finally, Harry decided to land near the trampoline which stood by the back door.
"What are you doing?" asked Hermione.
"Practising my landing," Harry replied, flapping his arms, then letting go and falling onto the trampoline.
"I'm not sure that's what I meant, love," said Hermione. "You've got your old Alpine race suit on, Harry. You're going to break your neck if you land like that."
Harry rolled over on the trampoline and laughed.
"No, no, no! We're going to put some padding on this trampoline!" he shouted. "We're gonna get some of those foam pads from the sports shop, and then we'll jump on them. Okay?"
Hermione looked at her son, James, and shook her head, silently informing him that he better not consider doing what his father had done.
Unfortunately for her, she watched as James promptly copied his dad's actions.
"JAMES SIRIUS POTTER!" yelled Hermione. She then turned to her husband with a look that meant only one thing... he was going to be sleeping on the sofa!
Harry was laughing as James landed on the trampoline without breaking anything.
"What did I tell you?" said Harry, "this is going to be fun."
Later that night, after dinner, while Hermione tidied away the plates, Harry sat down with James on the sofa.
"Look, I know you only copied me to wind your mum up, and I laughed whilst you did it, but its time for me to be serious. I know your mum hasn't punished you, but I am. No trip to the course for a week."
James looked disappointed.
"I want you to read up on racing," continued Harry, "so you can understand the rules. Your granddad James used to be a broom racer, just like I was, and he was in Broomula One, just like I was. But he pulled a crazy stunt in the middle of one race, and ended up falling off his broom. He ended up in hospital and died. I was only a baby then, and then when your nan died, I was alone. It was only when I met your mum at Hogwarts that I felt happy.
"But the day I was the most happy was when you was born. Well, that and marrying your mum, of course."
James smiled, but he knew Harry wasn't finished yet.
"Now, I want you to promise me that you won't do anything stupid like I did. Because if anything happens to you, it's going to hurt your mum and I. I don't mind teaching you broom racing, but I don't want any stunts being pulled. Do you hear me? James?"
James nodded. He understood exactly what his father meant.
"Good," said Harry. "I'm glad we had this talk."
Then he gave James a hug and kissed him on the forehead.
"You're a great lad," said Harry. "Don't ever forget it."
"So, who do you think will win today?" asked Harry.
It had been six months since the two Potters had had their talk, and James had kept his promise. As a reward, Harry had managed to get tickets to the Broomula One British Grand Prix. It was the last season for his old teammate, Esteban Ocon, and Harry had been offered tickets to the private stand above the Alpine broom shed.
Teaming up with the Frenchman was a former Hogwarts student named Scorpius Malfoy, who had signed with Alpine Brooms that season.
"I'm not sure," replied James. "But I hope it's not Max Verstappen. I mean, he's the fastest racer in the world, but he races like an idiot sometimes. And I hate the way he talks about his fans. It's not right."
James' words made Harry laugh.
"You've got a good head on your shoulders," Hermione told James. "I used to think that broom racers were prima donnas, well, except your dad, and later Esteban, but Verstappen... he was as big a prima donna as they came."
Hermione had never liked Max Verstappen, whom she considered arrogant, and had always been upset by his lack of respect toward his rivals. That was why she was grateful that her son had chosen another broom racer to support instead of the Dutchman.
"I think it might be Lando Norris, or Scorpius Malfoy you know." Harry said, sipping a butterbeer.
"Why?" asked Hermione.
"Well, with Lando, its obvious, his McLaren broom is one of the fastest this season, and as for Scorpius, he may be a rookie, but even rookies can get a win in their first year."
Hermione nodded.
"Okay, so who should be our money on?" she asked.
"That's easy," said Harry. "Lando."
"Same here." James said. "I reckon he could be World Champion this year."
"And next year too," added Harry. "Although I do think Alpine will finally get another title. Eventually!"
They all laughed at Harry, the last Champion for Alpine.
"Yes," said Hermione, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "Eventually!"
The three of them settled back into their seats, awaiting the start of the race.