And we're done! Thank you for all the comments and thoughts on this one, as always its massively appreciated.


1991

Molly Weasley stood on the platform with her children. Ron was beside himself, finally old enough to go to Hogwarts after him waiting for years. Down the other end of the platform stood her brothers. True to their word, they hadn't spoken to her in over six years. She knew they'd gotten married after reading the announcement in the paper and now they had a stepson the same age as their eldest daughter.

Their twin boys looked to be around three, she'd never set eyes on them up until now, and perched on their wife's hip was a smiling toddler that she had had no idea existed.

She wasn't sure if it would ever not hurt, but nothing could take back what she had done. So she watched, trying to get a glimpse of the life her brothers had built for themselves, wishing things were different.

And while Arthur stood by her side, talking in a hushed voice to Ron, her marriage had never been the same; he had stayed but he looked at her differently now, the trust irrevocably broken. She had a feeling he was just biding his time until Ginny was of age. She knew without any of them telling her that he told her children a version of the truth once they were old enough, that he answered their questions truthfully as they aged. She saw it in the way they looked at her, the disappointment, the disgust. Surprisingly the twins had been especially furious; they adored their cousin and if the snippets of conversations she caught were anything to go by, the little witch was every bit as mischievous as they were. And based on their complaints to Charlie, she knew that they were both desperate for Hermione and Theo to get to Hogwarts to aid their chaos.

And while no one said anything overtly as long as she was with the children, the looks from other parents on the platform each year told her all she needed to know. There were few who didn't know what she'd done. While they had quietly disowned her from the family, a move that if she were honest, had devastated her, her brothers had never officially levied charges against her, but the court of public opinion had found her guilty and they made sure she knew it. She no longer left the house alone, the stares and the whispers far more pronounced when there were no little ears listening. All she had were her children, and given how quickly her eldest two had fled once they were able, she wasn't convinced she'd even have them in the end.


"How are you old enough for this Princess?" Fabian whined, tugging Hermione close. "Can't you just stay home for another few years? Just ten or so…."

"Daddy!" she laughed, pushing against him. "Papa, make him stop!"

Gideon sighed, turning to Fabian, "We could say that we've decided to homeschool…."

"Mother!"

Cassia Prewett, previously Nott, sighed, tugging her eldest daughter to her, wrapping her in a hug, just as upset at the idea of her eldest children leaving as her husbands. Only the very real apprehension on her children's faces prevented her from showing it. "Your fathers were always going to be ridiculous, my girl, we knew that. Unfortunately, darling, you are just going to have to accept it. Think of the rest of us, you get a break until Christmas!"

Hermione smiled, but it was slightly wobbly at the thought. In silent support, Theo took her hand, not needing her to say what she was thinking. "Go on," Cassia urged, "give them a hug before they really do change their minds."

Hermione darted forward, hugging Gideon tightly as Theo hugged his mother.

"You're going to have so much fun, sweetheart," he murmured into her hair.

"I'm going to miss you." she whispered, "What if Silias, Elijah and Lydia forget us?"

"Never!" he promised, "They'll send pictures and we'll read your owls to them. And Princess, it won't be long until Christmas."

"Promise?"

"Promise. Now go and give your Daddy a hug before he cries and makes a fool of himself in front of everyone."

With one last squeeze, Hermione moved to Fabian as Gideon said his goodbyes to Theo.

"I don't want you to go," Fabian admitted, "But I loved Hogwarts and I don't want you to miss out on it either." he paused, "Uncle James has promised to help us sneak in."

Hermione gave a wet-sounding giggle, "All of you?"

"Probably Princess," he agreed, turning his body slightly, "See Uncle Jamies already crying."

Hermione laughed, wiping her eyes, "Harry looks so embarrassed…."

"Indeed he does. Auntie Lily looks like she's going to hex him."

"She probably will," Hermione agreed.

"Do you think she'll let us watch?" Fabian grinned as Hermione rolled her eyes at him, looking so startlingly like her first mother that it took his breath away for a moment.

"Our turn!" two voices demanded petulantly, making Hermione and Theo laugh as their brothers stood, hands on hips and a pout on their tiny faces demanding their attention.

With a glance at each other, they moved as one, scooping up a twin quickly making them giggle.

"Right that settles it, They're not going!" Fabian announced watching them, looking close to tears.

"Hush, of course, they are." his wife corrected. "And no doubt you two and James Potter are going to sneak in and embarrass them while sending Minerva into a rage."

"Of course, we are." he agreed before stealing his youngest from his wife, "You won't ever leave me will you Lydie? Not like your cruel siblings who keep insisting on growing up? Tell me you'll stay this small forever and ever and ever and… oi!"

Hermione laughed, snuggling her sister close. "I'm going to ask Uncle Jamie to sneak you in."

Despite continuing to tease her, Fabian revelled in their closeness. He hadn't been sure how Hermione would react to siblings that got to be with them from the beginning, but she adored them all and at all of eighteen months, Lydia thought her big sister hung the moon. He was more than a little concerned about how she'd react when they returned home without either Hermione or Theo if he was honest.

They all jumped when the train whistle sounded. Surprising them all it was Cassia who broke first, her lip wobbling as she fought tears, sweeping Hermione and Theo into a hug so tight that they squawked. "I expect you to write!" she demanded. "At least weekly, do you hear me? And even if you're in different houses, I expect you to look out for each other."

"Mum!" They whined in unison as Gideon and Fabian extracted them gently, stealing one last hug before Fabian handed her Lydia to cuddle, his own eyes suspiciously glassy.

"We'll send you an owl," Theo promised, smirking at his brothers, "And maybe one of Hagrid's hippogriff's….Buckbeak should be due her foal."

"You will not…."

"Oh or a bowtruckle," Hermione picked up where Theo left off, cutting over her father, "We'd need to send at least one each so they warrant lonely…."

"Yes!" the twins crowed as all of their parents rather frantically attempted to convince them that their elder siblings were absolutely not going to send them something live through the post.

"Ready?" Susan grinned appearing beside them.

"Gods please say yes," Harry groaned, "My dad is embarrassing!"

"Bye!" they called, laughing at the increasingly bizarre justifications they twins kept coming up with for why they were allowed a hippogriff kit.

They waved at their startled parents as the last whistle blew, Hermione smirking when Gideon mouthed, "That wasn't nice." at them.

"Necessary," she mouthed back, knowing they'd distracted them from a spectacular breakdown as the train slowly started to pull away.

"How long until they break in?" Harry mused.

Theo snorted in response, "If they're not there for the sorting I'll eat my broom."


Auntie Lily,

Please hide Uncle Jamie's invisibility cloak. He arrived for the sorting with both Daddy and Papa- We'll let Harry tell you what house he got in his letter but Theo and I both got Ravenclaw. I doubt any of them will be able to tell you any time soon. Professor McGonagall was vicious! They do not know when to keep their mouths shut! But before they wound up Prof. McGonagall, they cried, Aunt Lily! Loudly! And then hugged us all in front of everyone! It was so embarrassing! We've also written to Mother. I imagine she'll have some creative punishment of her own, but Merlin…I think those tentacles will give me nightmares for weeks! Apparently, she'd been wanting to try the spell for ages but a human/ squid hybrid isn't something I ever wanted to see. It sort of reminded me of Ursula if Ursula also had no mouth. Anyway, she said that she'll reverse it eventually and the giant squid seems to be pleased with his new friends. Just don't expect Uncle Jamie home any time soon.

Hermione & Theo.