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Friday, October 31, 1998

Hermione loved Samhain. Although there was no formal school that day, in respect to the ancestors, Narcissa and Andromeda set up a festival for the Muggleborn families.

Myrna and David sprinted over when they saw Hermione and Theo walking through the crowd. "Professors!" Myrna panted. "They're here!"

"Who's here?" Hermione asked.

"Our parents!" David shouted, "They want to meet you."

Hermione and Theo were dragged towards the altar that had been set up. All around the altar were spirits of passed loved ones. Hermione grinned, with the thinking of the Veil, the spirits, especially Muggle ones, had an easier time coming through.

"Oh, you must be the professors Myrna has told us about," the woman said. "We're so grateful that you made sure she got to her brother."

"We appreciate you watching over them," the man said, holding his hand out to Theo. Theo attempted to shake it, but his hand passed through.

Both chuckled awkwardly. "I'm still getting used to that," the man said. "Good luck with everything, maybe we'll see you next year and this will all be over."

"We can hope," Hermione said, leading Theo away from the family.

Hermione slid her hand into Draco's as they made their way towards the festivities. Theo had picked up Ginny so that she could participate with the family, a special accommodation given to Seventh Year students. If the new Hogwarts was doing anything right, it was celebrating the ancient holidays.

The first part of the evening was solely for immediate family members. Hermione, Theo, and Draco had agreed to celebrate at Headquarters so that everyone could be surrounded by their loved ones. As they made their way to Headquarters, Hermione smiled softly. The house was oddly quiet, out of respect for those who had passed in the last year.

When they made their way to the table, it was already crowded with the Weasleys, sans Ron, the Blacks and Remus, as well as Harry and Neville and his Gran. Hermione sat between Draco and Theo, dropping her glamour. Over the past weeks, Kingsley and Remus had been quietly telling some members of the Order about her survival. All of those at the table knew her secret and were sworn to silence.

As the eldest male at the table, Arthur stood over the food and spoke the words as he had probably done every year since his own father had passed away.

"Tonight is the first of three nights on which we celebrate Samhain. It is the end of the harvest, the last days of summer, and the cold nights wait on the other side for us. The bounty of our labour, the abundance of the harvest, and the success of the hunt all lie before us. We thank the earth for all it has given us this season, and yet we look forward to winter, a time of sacred darkness."

Heremione grasped her own mug of cider and followed the group outside to the back garden. Oldest to youngest, they each poured a bit of their drink out and said, "Summer is gone, winter is coming. We have planted and we have watched the garden grow, we have weeded, and we have gathered the harvest. Now it is at its end."

They stood around and gathered small amounts of plants that Neville had collected. Each family made their own straw man or woman for their own homes. When they were done, they filed back inside and sat all the little straw people at their own, miniaturised table. A large straw woman was made for Headquarters and sat at its own seat. The straw version of the Goddess was served first and then each member of the group silently broke a piece of dark bread. The meal was taken in silence, out of respect for the dead.

When the food was finished, they all returned outside to sprinkle the breadcrumbs for the birds and leave the remaining food for the dead. Hermione sighed, she was almost allowed to speak again. The entire group stood in front of a window as Remus, who was the Secret Keeper for Headquarters lit the white, seven-day candle to guide the spirits in. "O little flame that burns so bright, be a beacon on this night. Light the path for all the dead, that they may see now what's ahead. And lead them to the Summerland and shine until Pan takes their hands. And with Your light, please bring them peace, that they may rest and sleep with ease."

They left Ginny with her dad and brothers for a bit so that they could connect with Fred, bringing their own straw woman back to the house. They set the figure on her own pedestal in the dining room and moved to get ready for the bonfire they were supposed to attend in Wiltshire. Technically Draco was hosting the event, but it was a bit less formal than some of the other Sacred Days.

Hermione took a deep breath of the crisp air. She let a shiver run down her spine, it was cold. She had brought her thickest cloak as well as her thick gloves and fleece leggings under her dress. She made her way towards the central fire. Each family brought the bones of something they'd slaughtered this week. They refused to ask what the bones belonged to, although most should be from an animal. All the Magical Houses had put out their fires, awaiting fresh coals from the Samhain Bonfire.

Hermione, Ginny and Jean made their way around the large pile of wood and bone, creating a Sacred Circle. They prepared the space to be a beacon for the ancestors who had passed. Theo, Draco, and Richard used sticks to create the first sparks to light the large bonfire. Once the blaze began, candles were lit from the flames, moving towards altars that each family had made around the glen.

Their family huddled around their own altar that had pictures of all of their families, although Theo's parents, Hermione's Mimi, and Lucius had prized places. As they lit their central candle, Hermione and gasped as both Mimi and Theo's Mum appeared hand-in-hand.

"Oh Jean," Jacinta, Theo's mum cooed, wrapping her in a tight hug. "I cannot tell you how glad I am to have you there watching over my boys. You'll tell Narcissa and Shahd I say hello and that we're all watching over the boys as well."

"Of- Of course," Jean said, a few tears slipping from her eyes.

Mimi stood in front of her daughter beaming with pride. "Now I know I can't hold you," she said, "but I surely can look at you. I'm glad that you and my son-in-law are back. That girl needs you more than she'll admit."

She turned to Richard, "And those boys need you. You're their first good example of a good man and a good father. I know you won't mess them up, but don't be afraid to call them on their shit."

Richard chuckled, wrapping his arm around Draco, who was staring at the old woman in awe. "It's… It's nice to meet you, I er, I'm not sure what to call you," Draco said awkwardly.

"Mimi will do nicely," she said, "You'll be a good father, don't worry, I can see good things in you, even if you don't always see them yourself."

"Teodoro," Jacinta whispered, holding her son's cheeks. "How I have missed you. I know your father only called the male ancestors, but I've been waiting my turn. You have made me so inconceivably proud, tesoro. You have picked two wonderful partners, although even I could see that you and Draco were meant for more when I was still on the mortal plain. Do not get in your head about being a good papa, you'll be excellent. You have fabulous suegros (in-laws), all three of them will treat you like their own and all of the grandchildren even better."

Theo was crying completely now. This was the first year he'd been allowed to call his Mum. Every other year, his father had not allowed her to come, not wanting Theo to appear weak. When they'd been at Hogwarts, Dumbledore banned the celebration of things like Samhain and didn't allow them to celebrate at school.

Hermione stood in front of her Mimi and grinned. "Did you ever think I'd be here?" she asked.

"I had no doubts, my girl, none at all."

By the time the family arrived back at Mitternacht with their fresh coals, Hermione felt like she was on the verge of sleep. When they created a new fire in their central fireplace, Hermione practically collapsed into her bed, not intending to wake up until the sun was far, far in the sky.

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