Epilogue.

Recovery

In the years that followed Harry and Hermione's fleeing of and coming to living in the States, they came to truly love their new lives. Life might have been much different from how Hermione or Harry had known it. Yet for the pair it was a major change, it was one that they loved fully. The changes for Harry were the biggest and he was not been quite sure what to expect. Yet the quiet loving life with the Grangers was one he could get used to. While he did enjoy the Weasley's life, it was just too full of insanity with Molly always watching over them all. Living at Hogwarts was nice, but it was always a coin flip on how his classmates would be treating him. And the less said about the Dursley's the better.

Home schooling for the pair began without too much difficulty and continued till the pair graduated gaining both their Highschool diploma, but also N.E.W.T.s thanks to private testing's. While Harry and Hermione were willing to attend public or even private school. The simple fact remained, explaining why Harry was living with the Granger would lead to a few questions none of them knew how to answer. And there were very few answers they could give while dancing around the truth.

That was not including the fact that they had bonded. Something neither would regret, but neither had ever read anything about the downsides of the bonds before. Some of which had left the pair glad they had been talked out of going to school. As when the books had said you would feel everything from your bonded mate, it meant everything. Emotions, pleasures, and pains. The first time Hermione's period had come around had left both teens moody as Harry's own emotions were thrown out of whack.

Harry nor Hermione complained to much as they slowly learned to take both the good and bad in equal measure. It was a learning experience, yet one they both happily worked at. Learning both more about each other but also themselves. The bond likewise, though now complete, did change as they changed as well. And slowly but surely, they learned out how to tune out certain parts of the bond, till those shared sensations faded to more a mild buzz in the mind, rather than a full shared experience. They were not gone, just sectioned off enough that the pair could walk into a music hall without getting blasted by the music in stereo.

If their control slipped however, things would fully return as they had begun. Harry knew all too well, what it meant to have a female body, and Hermione that of male body. The 'Talk' was even more embarrassing as well for the pair as they got both sides of it, even if the parts the other was not meant to hear. Harry and Hermione were sure Sirius and Hermione's parents had done that on purpose to make sure the newly bonded couple would forego any ideas of sex for the near future. Something they might have succeeded in, had Harry and Hermione not already been aware of each other's own body through the bond.

Still, even with their teenage lives rapidly coming to an end, and their adult lives before them. The pair, moved forward without hesitation. Hermione decided to stay in the magical world for her job, while Harry went for a local job. Harry founds his job first, working at the coffee shop that serviced the nearby ski resort. During the summer it was slower, but when winter came back around, it became one of the busiest places in the town.

Hermione on the other hand, started working in the regulation and control of magical creatures in the Mountain district of Macusa, the State version of the Ministry of Magic. Unlike the British version which only got called in during extreme cases. The States side mostly dealt with keeping creatures hidden, and helping those who owned them. On a very rare occasion, they would also have to deal with a No-Mag, States word for muggle, that had got their hands on a magical creature. For the most part, this branch did not seem to worried about trying to kill magical creatures, just keeping them hidden unless they had no other choice.

It was during one of the few times Hermione and her teacher, Steven Jackins, got in over their heads. That Hermione and Harry found out a very interesting ability that their bond had given them. Steven and Hermione had realized they were had stumbled into a group of people dealing in illegal dragon eggs. And the traders had gotten a ward up catching Hermione and Steven before either could escape. It might have ended badly if Harry had not appeared a moment later, with fire in his eyes.

If Hermione was surprised by Harry's appearance, it was nothing to that of the traders as he had just seemingly broken their Anti-Apparitions wards. That was to say nothing of the spells he rained down on them. Striking quickly and effectively. He knocked down half of them before they even realized they were in danger, or how dangers it had become for them. He was like a dragon given human form, and still just as dangerous with how fast and quick he struck. Hermione and Steven joined a few moments later, and the rest of the band was soundly beaten.

Hermione and Harry had to explain to Steven a little bit of what was going on. Which he thankfully said he would keep quiet on. Afterwards it was actually thanks to his help, they were able to test what Harry had done to see its limits. It was apparition, yet it was different as the feeling for Harry and Hermione was different from the normal versions travel. Yet using it, with their bond they could travel to each other's location no matter how far the other was away, and even through wards. The farthest they tested was an east to west coast jump. There was no sign Harry was remotely bothered by the extra-long journey that normally required ten to twenty jumps for a normal witch or wizard to make. Hermione was the first to admit, it was nice knowing if either of them had to escape, or jump to the other neither could be stopped.

They bought their first home not long after they accidently busted up the Dragon egg trading group. Not because they got a bonus, rather because of what was on the way. Hermione had missed her period, and the pair had found out they were going to be parents. This led to a bit of an awkward discussion with Hermione's parents. They were both thrilled to hear Hermione and Harry would be having their first child soon, yet a little disappointed the couple had not gotten married yet.

Marriage had been something Harry and Hermione were a bit on the fence about. Not that they were against it, but since the bond had been completed the idea that they had to be married felt almost as an afterthought. A wedding was proclaiming you would always be together, yet completing a soul bond was in many ways the same thing. There was also the question of who they would even invite to such a wedding if they had one. So, the pair had decided to put it off and get on with their lives, which now seemed like an odd misstep.

So, after getting a house, Harry and Hermione decided to have a little bit of fun, and made a trip to Vegas. There with Hermione's parents watching they got married as Mr. and Mrs. Potter. And while Hermione's mother and father did agree, they could have done with a better wedding. In the end it was the thought that mattered, as even they admitted that Harry and Hermione had been married since they had bonded all those years ago. Plus, it helped that they were able to have some fun in Las Vegas.

Harry's and Hermione's first child was born in late December. A young girl, who Hermione and Harry named Julia Lily Potter, after Hermione Grandmother. She was a beautiful baby girl, with chocolate brown eyes much like Hermione's own, and with dark red hair that would one day grow out in long wavy curls. Harry was overjoyed, and as happy as any father could ever hope to be. He had to be wheelchaired into the room, as he had felt all the pains Hermione had felt while going through labor, and was just as tender as she was.

Raising a child, was a learning experience for the pair, yet with Hermione's parents, and Sirius's help they began their new life as a family of three. Hermione was happily, yet that was almost nothing compared to Harry. A mother was often said to glow when they held their child. Harry though seemed to gleam out a joy each time he beheld his daughter. And he took to the roll of a being a father with a gusto only Hermione could have understood. It reminding her more of her school studying habits at times. Through Harry's studies, Hermione soon knew about raising a child, or at least how the books would have you do it. Yet they still knew when it came to kids, books smarts were one thing, yet reality was often different.

By the time Julia turned one. Harry and Hermione were looking to have a second. And soon Rosia Lily Potter came into the world. They had been debating a different name, but when they saw the green eyes open for the first time, the pair knew Lily had to be part of her name. Raising two kids did not dampen the pairs spirits though Harry did end up quitting his job so he could be a full-time father for the children while Hermione still worked. Not that the pair was worried about money, as Harry's family had enough money to keep them happy for many years to come, and that was even if they added another ten or so kids.

Harry and Hermione though while they did not add ten more, they did add one more child to their family. A young boy, who ended up having Harry's messy black hair, and Hermione's brown eyes. His name was Charles James Potter, named after Harry's own grandfather and father. The couple was finding themselves to be very happy with their kids by this point in life. And Harry was finally reaching his limit on what he could easily take care of, at least without needing magic.

Not that it mattered, they were happy. Harry had Hermione. He had three amazing children. Julia, Rosia, and Charles. Sirius now free thanks to the trial of Peter, could visit whenever he wanted. And Hermione's parents were doing well as the heads of the dental practice. It was all he could have ever dreamed of happening.

Late one evening, after getting the kids down to bed, Harry was staring out as the sun slowly set behind the mountains. It had been another long day, yet a day with his family no matter how long was something Harry loved. Hermione was already back, and came up behind him giving him a tight hug that reminded him of how she used to hug him years ago. Though so much could be now said in their minds, the pair still spoke sometimes, as speech seemed to have a finality to it their thoughts lacked.

"It's been nineteen years since we left," Hermione said.

Harry chuckled a little bit, "Yes, it has. And Nineteen years, we have lived together."

"You ever wonder what it would have been like… had we not left?" Hermione asked, she knew the answer of course as her mind was forever now mixed with his own.

"Sometimes," Harry admitted before answering the unasked question, "But there are no regrets. That was our past, and this place is our future. A future I am happy to see one day."

Hermione smiled and leaned forward, and kissed Harry deeply. Their bodies sung once more as the bond was renewed. It was one of the oddities of the bond, that even now completed and mostly settled. Each kiss would bring forth that feeling they felt all those years ago when they completed it for the first time.

"Harry, I know I say it all the time. But I love you, and thank you again for choosing me," Hermione said, after she finally pulled back.

"My love. My sweet chocolate love, there was never any other choice I could have ever made," Harry said, and held Hermione tightly to him, "You are my world, my life. We now have three children; would more could I ever want?"

Hermione smiled and gave him another shorter more fleeting kiss. The pair was soon once more staring out the window as the clouds slowly moved in and the snow once more began to fall. To them, indeed everything was as prefect as it was going to get. They were free, they had each other, and they had a family to raise. And for pair, that was all they ever needed.

(Hi All Espo Here

Thus we have reached the final curtain call. The end of the story. Been a run ride, but this is where i officially bow out. To answer the question, i did know how it would end, and even where. Only Dumbledore's fate was unknown to me when i began the finishing parts to this story. The only unknowns that now remains is who if anyone from harry and Hermione's past know the pair survived.

Of them, i can only guess Tonks and Amelia for semi certain. But pass that no clue. However, if you wish to continue, or take try at this story. I wish you luck. Chapter 1 is yours to copy as you wish to start your own story.

Till the next story. Espo out. And as always Leave your reviews and thoughts below.)