EPILOGUE

Though everyone in the Weasley family thought Hermione was mad, she loved taking the tube around Muggle London with Rose in her stroller. She was determined that her daughter would be well versed in both worlds and there is nothing wrong with starting that process when she was still in diapers. Though she was insistent on using Muggle transport from time to time she was struggling at the moment. She was fighting a losing battle between her stroller and the door to the tube. If her battle led to a delay, the commuters of London would not be happy.

"Here," said a kind voice, "Let me help you with that." A blonde woman lifted up the end of Rose's stroller that was stuck and helped Hermione get the rest of the way on.

"Oh my," Hermione said with a grateful sigh, "Thank you so much." She looked up at her good Samaritan and had to swallow the gasp that threatened to come out. The kind London commuter was Christine Magnussen.

She and Christine took seats next to each other with Rose's stroller in the aisle as the train took off.

"Of course, I can only imagine how flustering it must be. And she is such a beauty," Christine smiled at waved at baby Rose who seemed thrilled with the new attention.

"How old is she?"

Hermione, still shocked to be having this conversation with Ron's ex-girlfriend, "She's 14 months old. Rose is her name. Our miracle baby."

"Well, Miss Rose, you are simply adorable." She giggled with the baby while Hermione calmed her breathing.

"Oh, I do love a ginger," Christine said, "Prince Harry is my favorite royal." She winked and laughed, totally obvious to Hermione's discomfort.

"Daddy is a ginger and there was no fighting those genes."

Christine laughed, "I suppose not. I wish I could have a ginger baby but with my fiancé being Greek, I think chances are slim." Hermione suddenly felt much better. She always worried about Christine, that something went wrong with the memory charm and she was going through life confused, searching for a faceless ginger man. But when she glanced down at Christine's left hand and saw a sizable diamond on her hand, she felt better.

"Congratulations!" Hermione said, "When's the wedding?"

"Coming up in July. I'm so excited."

"And how did you meet? If you don't mind me asking?" Hermione asked.

"Of course not! Well, a few years ago I was in an accident, taxi side swiped me and I landed in hospital with a head injury," Sure Hermione thought, that's what she thinks happened. "And as cliché as it sounds, Nick was my doctor. Months after my recovery, when I went in for a follow up, he asked me out. And the rest, as they say, his history."

Hermione smiled, genuinely happy for Christine. "That's a lovely story. I mean, not the accident but there was a silver lining."

"Absolutely. Though planning this wedding has been insane. I'm not a girly girl, if we could just elope to Monaco or something, I would be fine with that. But the mothers want a big affair and you can't disappoint the mothers, can you?"

Hermione smiled remembering a similar feeling when she and Ron were getting married. In a different time and place, she had no doubt she and Christine would have been friends. But at least she was happy and healthy.

"Well," Christine said, "This is my stop. It was nice to meet you Rose and your mommy. I'm so sorry, I didn't get your name?"

"Hermione," she responded. And Christine cocked her head to the side.

"I've heard that name before," she said, trying to place it but not able to. "I'm Christine."

"It was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for your help and good luck with the wedding." The train came to a stop and Christine smiled warmly at Rose and Hermione. There was a moment of near recognition on Christine's face but she shook her head and exited the train. Hermione let out a deep breath and thanked Merlin again for bringing Ron back to her.

The next stop was the closest to Diagon Alley, "Come on Rosie, let's go surprise Daddy at work. Mommy has quite a story to tell him." She kissed the beautiful ginger baby's head and exited the train.