Daniel paused for a moment. "Em, I found this in the jeans you were wearing that day. I don't know why I decided to go through our old things earlier today. Feeling nostalgic I suppose." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a folded bit of parchment. "It's a letter to you from your Dad. I don't think you ever got the chance to read it." He paused at her horrified look. "Don't worry, it's nothing bad. Just talks a bit about how excited he is to have you home. I-I knew it might make you sad so I tossed it into the fireplace. It didn't burn. In fact, the fire spat it back at me. If I may use my wand in your bank Director?"
Ragnok gave a single nod almost as curious as the Lady Potter was about what would be revealed.
Daniel pulled his new wand out and touched it to the parchment. "Incendio." Slowly new words began to form under the touch of fire. He nodded and passed it over to Emma. "Go ahead, read it."
To Hermione and Mr. Harry Potter:
You can guess this did not 'happen' to be secretly written, attached to a rather ordinary note from a father to his daughter, in whom we hold every feeling of affection, faith, pride, and trust in.
Listen very carefully…
All of this has happened before. The accident in the Department of Mysteries, yourselves, and Neville tossed back in time. I snapped my wand the same as you did Harry. Because of the rage at being told to stand by and let terrible things happen, knowing that it won't stop with the death of James and Lily Potter, we KNOW the things that will happen, the crimes that Albus Dumbledore allowed to happen… The crimes we have been made complicit in by agreeing not to interfere.
The question you must ask is 'why''. Because I definitely have been. And it comes down to one old man's fears about no longer being able to control the game. Dumbledore knows one certain way to beat Moldywart and he won't deviate from that course, no matter what the damage and no matter what other possibilities that may suggest themselves.
We've played along and what good has come of it? You know the score. Are those lives worth it? Cedric Diggory… Sirius Black… Are their lives a fair trade so Albus Dumbledore doesn't worry overly about the shape of things to come?
I've made that trade. I'm telling you it's a fool's bargain. Trust in your own ingenuity. Put simply, if this were chess, the good guys have three extra pieces for the asking and not pawns but knights, rooks, and queens! What would Ron do with that edge?
Take a chance Harry, Hermione. If you do this, then, you'll know the pain you'll save those kids. Make the choice and I only hope you'll forgive us for not making the right choice ourselves.
Sincerely, Daniel James Granger/ Harry James Potter.
Daniel took the parchment back once Emma had finished reading it out loud. Gently he brought her hand up to his lips. "I know you hate the bloody game." He smiled as a giggle escaped her lips. He turned back to Ragnok "I am here to make my first move. I want to take full custody of Harry James Potter."
Ragnok rubbed at his chin in thought as he watched Lady Potter hug her husband tightly. "I see no legal problem with it. After all, you have a greater relationship to the boy than Petunia Dursley does. Anything else tonight?"
Daniel smiled showing far too many teeth. "Yes, would you send Headmaster Dumbledore a note?"
"I have no problem doing so, what is it you'd like the note to say?" Ragnok looked up as one of his underlings brought in custody request papers.
Daniel and Emma both signed where they needed to as Lord Daniel James Potter and Lady Emma Jean Potter. After signing they took their copies and Dan wrapped his arm around his wife's waist "Check."
Emma snuggled into Daniel's bare chest with a happy purr. As he wrapped his arms around her bare back. "We haven't needed each other that badly since the first time we took Hermione to platform nine and three quarters." She glanced up at him to see he was raising an eyebrow at her. "Not that I'm complaining mind…"
"Of course not my love. So, what is today's plan?" Daniel ran his fingers through his wife's sweaty and wild hair.
Emma sighed happily "Why are you asking me?"
"Because you know I'm pants at planning Mrs. Brightest witch of the age." Daniel grinned as she rolled her eyes.
"I do believe that title is now our daughter's But you aren't wrong about you being pants at planing." Emma kissed his forehead revealing the lighting bolt scar once she pulled back. "Mr. Boy-who-lived."
Daniel groaned as his wife began to laugh. "Come on Em, I think at very least I'm too old to be known as the boy-who-lived anymore. Can't I be upgraded to the Man-who-refused-to-die?"
"We'll talk about it. Now as for our plan for today. We'll be needing robes and wizard clothes I also need my wand." Emma rolled off of Daniel her hair covering her breasts as she chewed her bottom lip.
"You mean this?" Daniel pulled the vinewood wand from the nightstand drawer.
"How on earth? You had it with you before we left the house didn't you!" Emma sat up piercing her husband with a glare as he grinned.
"I thought you might want it." Daniel shrugged "I may be pants at planning but I'm fairly good at knowing what my beautiful wife is thinking even before she knows it."
Emma laughed as she took her wand from his hand and got out of bed and stretched.
"Merlin Emma, are you trying to get me up or get me up." Daniel burst out laughing as she threw his shirt at his head.
"Prat…" Emma shook her head and got dressed. "Do we have enough galleons to go get our new clothes or do we need to go to the bank first?"
Daniel pulled his shirt on before he stood up and pulled on his pants. "We're good. Ragnok had Griphook give me a thousand from our vault." He watched as Emma nodded before she ran a brush through her brown mess of curls. Dan didn't bother with the brush and just ran his fingers through his black locks, having given up ages ago of it ever laying flat. He did, however, pull out a tube of concealer and rubbed it over his scar until the lightning bolt once again vanished.
"Are you wearing your glasses or contacts?" Emma called over her shoulder as she was slipping on her trainers.
"I figure we'll be seeing the Wizengamot today. Might as well go with my glasses." Daniel reached for the rectangle framed pair beside his side of the bed. Without a thought, he pulled them on. "Breakfast?"
"I don't think I could eat right now. Is this how you felt before the first task?" Emma did, in fact, look a little green. Dan was about to answer before his wife's eyes widened as she vanished into the bathroom. At the sound of her heaving, he quickly was at her side holding her hair out of the way. Soon she let out a small groan as she rested her forehead on the toilet seat. "Not again…"
"Again? What do you mean again?" Daniel gently rubbed her back concerned.
"I've been getting sick in the morning for about a week now Danny, I didn't want to worry you. It's probably just a bug." Emma turned her head and smiled weakly.
"Bug or not we're going to be stopping by Saint Mungo's before we go to the Ministry." Daniel helped her to her feet kissing her forehead. "You don't get sick Em I haven't seen you sick like this since…" He trailed off a bit sadly as Emma shook her head.
"Danny I turned forty last September. I assure you the chances are almost non-existent." Emma rolled her eyes. "I haven't had my… monthly visit in over three months. I actually have an appointment with my doctor. She believes I'm going through perimenopause."
Daniel groaned into his wife's sweet smelling hair. "Yes love, if we really were muggles you'd be of age for menopause or perimenopause. But Em...Honey? We're a witch and wizard. A type of human that lives sometimes double or more the lifespan of a muggle. That means you my love shouldn't hit either peri or menopause until you are closer to eighty." He raised his head to see Emma's eyes widen and her hands going to her stomach.
"Y-you mean?"
Daniel held her tight to his chest. "We'll know for sure at Saint Mungo's but if I was a betting man I'd say in roughly six months we'll have a brand new witch or wizard in our arms." He kissed the top of her head "I love you, Hermione…"
"I love you, Harry." Emma whispered. It wasn't often they used their real names. But at a time like this. It just felt right.
Getting the proper clothes they needed hadn't taken near the amount of time that Dan worried it might. After they put more money in their meter they walked to the muggle entrance to Saint Mungo's Daniel's arm wrapped firmly around Emma's shoulder they were both wearing new emerald green robes as they waited for the admittance witch to notice them.
She finally looked up as Daniel cleared his throat. "Yes?"
"My wife needs to see a healer for a pregnancy detection charm." Daniel smiled feeling as giddy as he had when Emma had taken the at home pregnancy test seventeen years prior.
She gave the couple a smile "Take a seat I'll have a healer out in just a moment."
Daniel led Emma to the comfortable chairs and sure enough a few moments later they were fetched by a nurse and led into an exam room.
A male healer in light green robes followed a few moments later. "Just the pregnancy detection charm today?"
"That's right." Emma smiled resting her hand on Dan's which was on her shoulder. "If you wouldn't mind Healer?"
"Brighton. Not a problem just need a bit of information I need to fill out if that is alright?" Both of them nodded much to his relief. "Great I need your name age and if you have any children."
"Emma Jean Granger I turned forty last September. We have one child who we adopted at birth a daughter. She's fifteen. We had a late-term miscarriage just prior" Emma shook her head "We were just so lucky to be matched right away."
"Very good she's at Hogwarts then?" Healer Brighton's dictaquill filled out all the relevant information as he saw his patient nod.
"Fourth year she's a Gryffindor we're both very proud of her," Daniel answered as they watched Healer Brighton take out his wand and perform a complex wand movement. A few seconds later Emma's belly began glowing blue and Brighton smiled.
"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Granger it's a wizard."
Emma and Daniel walked towards the Ministry hand in hand giddy grins on both of their faces. Emma had been prescribed the normal prenatal potions but Healer Brighton had assured them both repeatedly that the baby, that their son was growing well and was one hundred percent healthy.
"A son…" Daniel whispered again quietly so only Emma could hear him. "What on earth are we going to name him? We can't name him Harry… Any ideas?"
Emma considered before nodding "I think we should name him Cedric Sirius."
Daniel paused and smiled down at his beautiful glowing wife. "I think… that is a wonderful name Em." He kneeled and kissed the small bump that was their son "Hello Cedric Sirius Granger. I'm your Daddy. Your Mummy and I love you so very much." He looked up as he felt Emma's fingers run through his hair and grinned.
"Come on Danny, we still need to deal with the Ministry today. Get up you and Cedric can have a long chat later just as you and Hermione did. When she was first placed in your arms." Emma smiled as she gestured him into a broken phone booth he picked up the receiver and dialed six, two, four, four, two. He waited a moment before they both heard a female voice.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."
"Daniel Granger and Emma Granger here to seek custody of a family member," Daniel replied firmly Emma's hand clasped in his own.
"Thank you, Visitors please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes." Two badges slid from the coin return. Daniel and Emma both picked up their badges which said their name and Seeking Custody of Magical Child.
"Visitors to the Ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium."
At that, the floor shuddered and they were taken down to the atrium. Daniel kept hold of Emma's hand as they went through the search and registration of their wands. They paused at the fountain and Daniel smiled. "What do you think Em another ten galleons?"
Emma nodded smiling "From both of us if this plot of yours works." It didn't take long to find an auror who was happy to lead them down to the MLE waiting room. They took a seat and looked up as a younger witch offered them tea which they both accepted.
After around twenty minutes A large male auror of African descent came into the room causing both Emma and Dan to smile recognizing him at once.
"I apologize for the wait, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. I'm afraid that it'll take just a few minutes Madame Bones has insisted that you both are part of a restricted case file and as such only she is allowed to deal with you. I hope you understand?"
"Of course, we don't mind waiting a few more minutes." Emma smiled as Daniel nodded He leaned back to see into the Bullpen hoping to catch a glimpse of his favorite pink haired auror.
The Auror nodded and left the room shutting the door behind him a few minutes later just as Emma had finished her tea the door reopened and a young witch with bright pink hair stood in the doorway. "Wotcher Mr. and Mrs. Granger. My name is Auror Nymphadora Tonks. Madame Bones assigned me to stay with you until such a time she deems it no longer necessary."
Daniel chuckled "That is just fine Auror Tonks. Please call me Dan this is my wife Emma. Is Madame Bones ready for us?"
"Yes, Sir er sorry Dan. Follow me to her office?" Tonks looked a touch nervous. This was to be her first big solo assignment. Though she wasn't exactly certain why her boss was so sure the couple needed Auror protection but she sure as hell wasn't going to question her. She led them both to Madame Bone's office and knocked twice.
"Come in all three of you."
Tonks looked at the couple who shrugged and they all walked in Dan and Emma took a seat in front of Madame Bone's desk while Tonks stayed next to the door shutting it firmly behind her.
Amelia Bones simply nodded at the couple before turning to her young Auror. "Auror Nymphadora Tonks. I've requested you to be this couple's protection detail for reasons which will become apparent during today's discussion. I must, however, impress how very sensitive the details you will learn in this room are. Worth more than your job if I found them leaked. Am I understood Nymphadora?"
Tonks blinked once before she firmly nodded. "I Nymphadora Lily Tonks hereby swear upon my magic that I will never reveal the information that I learn within this room unless given permission to do so. So mote it be." She quickly cast a Lumos to show that she still retained her magic smiling as her boss gave her a firm nod.
"Alright then. Let's begin. First of all, I'd like to welcome you both back to the Magical world. Everyone was certain we lost you permanently when you snapped your wand. Mr. Granger." Madame Bones smiled at the black haired man and shook her head wizards truly could be very blind.
"If it was my choice I'd likely never had returned but my daughter needs me," Daniel replied after a moment.
Madame Bones nodded as she opened the file in front of her "Yes Young Miss Hermione Jean Granger. Gryffindor fourth year best mate to Ronald Bilius Weasley and Harry James Potter." She steepled her fingers and looked into Dan's emerald green eyes. "Let's cut the dragon dung. What are you planning to do Mr. Potter?"
Daniel smiled as he heard Tonks swallow hard behind him "If I may first?" He nodded towards Tonks.
"As you will. She is your guard detail." Madame Bones shrugged as she read the newest additions to the Granger file.
Dan stood up "It's amazing to see you again. I know this will be difficult to believe but my wife and I and my brother are not from this time. We are from the future where we were known as Harry James Potter and Hermione Jean Granger. And yes before you ask, I am that Harry Potter." He rubbed the back of his hand over his forehead revealing his telltale lighting bolt. He smiled as Tonks' eyes got huge.
"Bloody hell… you weren't joking about this being worth than my job… Blimey…" Tonks shook her head in shock. "Why are you so old?" She quickly covered her mouth as Emma began giggling.
"That's what happens when you are sent back to nineteen sixty-nine from nineteen ninety-six. I'm forty now and Harry will be on July thirty first." Emma shook her head. "Please call us Dan and Emma though or things will become very confusing very quickly."
"Yes, it seems Ragnok sent a message that you are planning to break a stable time loop. Why have you decided to do this?" Madame Bones held up a copy of Dan's letter to himself. "Because your father requested it?" She turned to Emma
"Partly, but mostly because we're so very tired of just standing back and being helpless. That is why we're here today Madame." Emma smiled as Dan placed his arms on her shoulders. "We want to take over guardianship of Harry."
"Dumbledore would never agree to that you know." Madame Bones kept a blank look on her face though internally she was cheering at the fact she'd have reason to get Harry away from both his abusive relatives and that meddler of a headmaster.
"Bollocks to what he wants. Trust me there is no love lost between him and I. His only defense for Harry being there is the blood wards from Aunt Petunia. Well, I've got that same blood." Dan held his hand out with a very tooth-filled grin. "If you'd be kind enough to perform the blood test to confirm my familial relation to the young man?"
Madame Bone's finally chuckled and took a small dagger from her desk drawer and slit open Daniel's palm allowing his blood to fall on the proper seal on the custody request. It turned Gold signifying a match and with a simple spell she healed Dan's palm and handed over the approved custody paperwork. "Congratulations. Daniel, Emma. It's a wizard."
Emma beamed "The second time I've heard that today!"
Madame Bones beamed at the couple she was becoming fond of. "Congratulations are in store it seems then! If there is anything else?"
Both Emma and Dan shook their heads. Madame Bones stood up and shook both of their hands. "Auror Tonks stick by them. I don't think I need to explain how important their safety is?"
Tonks just nodded not trusting herself to talk she followed the couple out of her boss's office and back up into the atrium where her charges paused and both reached into their pockets and tossed a handful of gold each into the fountain. Tonks found herself smiling as they left the Ministry. Guarding Harry Potter and his wife… Mum and Dad wouldn't believe me even if I could tell them.