a/n: Thanks poka and Time Keeper for the reviews on that last chapter. Very grateful for the continued support.

Prompt: Catching first snitch

Chapter 20: Vying

Hermione walked down the footpath from Hogsmeade to the Hogwarts grounds. It was a strangely nostalgic walk. A reminder of simpler times. Not for the first time, Hermione found herself envious of Harry's career. Their time at Hogwarts as students hadn't exactly been easy. They just hadn't known how complicated life outside the enchanted refuge could be. As her feet followed the well-trodden trail, she thought about all those in her life that had come and gone the same way. The Marauders, Dumbledore's Army, her own children. Her past and her present. With all three kids now enrolled, her house was lonely while her heart was full for the promise of their life. The thought caused her to stumble. A sharp pain shot through her chest and a terrible sadness washed over her. After nearly twenty years it still surprised her how much it hurt to think about Shiloh. The promise they lost. Taking a moment to compose herself, she wiped at her eyes with the sleeve of her Gryffindor jumper. It wasn't the day for sadness. She was on her way to watch Maddy play her first ever Quidditch match.

Guilt pressed down on Hermione. She loved all three of her kids fiercely. There was something about the girl she never knew that held a special spot in her heart. One she kept mostly to herself. Harry knew. He knew how painful that particular scar was. She didn't need to hide it from him. For some reason, she often did. Walking forward again, rounding a sharp bend revealed the castle rising up from the forest. It would always be a home for her. The place that forged love and friendship. Even from the distance, she could see the crowds pouring into the pitch. She was going to be late if she didn't leave her walk down memory lane behind and pick up her pace. Within a few minutes, she was funneled into a small group of students rushing to make it to the stands before the match started.

Out of habit she turned toward the Gryffindor section, but caught her mistake before she climbed the stairs. Rushing toward the staff stand, she was nearly running. She wanted to see Maddy take the pitch.

"Miss Granger. You're almost late," a voice caught her attention at the top of the landing.

She smiled and felt joy being surrounded by so many familiar faces—Hagrid, Flitwick, Sprout. She was surprised by how many faces she didn't recognize. "Sorry headmaster," she said, climbing to the top row and kissed him. Pulling back, she saw the flash of surprise in Harry's eyes. "And it's Mrs. Potter," she corrected, hoping he wouldn't be put out by an open display of affection.

Harry took her hand, and motioned for the seat he had saved for her. "I'll overlook your tardiness just this once. I was afraid you might have gotten tied up at work."

Hermione scowled. She had nearly been held up. "I don't think we're going to stop this civil war within MACUSA," she whispered. "Negotiations broke down. We'll try once more tomorrow. It might be time to pull British magical citizens from the country."

The announcer got the attention of the crowd, introducing the teams. Hermione recognized the voice of Luna and Rolf's daughter immediately. She was a carbon copy of her mother. She wasn't the only familiar face on the pitch. Several Weasley's took to the air, a Longbottom, and a Malfoy. It was surreal. When Maddy was announced riding the famous firebolt once owned by her father, the crowd cheered. Their youngest, for her part, ate up the attention. She did a few loops in the air to show off. Hermione noted the second Maddy spotted her in the stands and her heart swelled as the second year Gryffindor's face lit up. She waved enthusiastically at her parents before circling the pitch to get a higher vantage point.

"I can't believe she didn't want a new broom," Hermione said to Harry, trying to calm her nerves.

"Are you kidding? That broom is a legend. She lets the team take turns riding it in practice."

Rolling her eyes, Hermione whistled and clapped once the balls were released. The movement of everyone always looked like organized chaos to her. Ravenclaw scored ten points almost immediately, eliciting cheers and jeers.

"Are you going to the states then?" he asked when a penalty paused the play.

"I'm not sure how I'll avoid it. We can't make progress from London."

A random bludger suddenly crashed through the canvas of their stand. It was expertly stopped by Professor Flitwick, earning the charms professor his own round of cheers.

Hermione shifted to give Harry more attention. This wasn't how she planned to tell him she'd be leaving the country for a few weeks. At least. "I was going to talk to you about it tonight after the game. I know you have your hands full here." She stopped short of suggesting he had big shoes to fill in his first year taking over the headteacher job from Minerva. He was already nervous about the transition. Part of her hoped that if she was away for work, he'd feel free to stay at the school without guilt over leaving her home in an empty house.

He shook his head. "They need you. You should go."

A bludger flew dangerously close to Maddy's head. The crowd collectively gasped. Hermione gripped Harry's knee painfully. "This game. Honestly," she said and reminded herself that the matron was very skilled with patching up quidditch injuries. The Gryffindor seeker recovered quickly from the close call and continued to search the pitch for the elusive golden snitch. "I'll be in New York. Mostly. If we need to find a more neutral meeting place, I'll let you know."

Harry took her hand again, prying it from his leg. He was worried about her getting involved in another country's magical war. He'd never tell her not to go. The situation happened to be one of the rare moments he would have a passing regret over not joining Tonk's team as an auror. Then he might be in a better position to work with her. The headmaster of a european magical school had no business negotiating centuries old complaints between colonizing wizards and Native American shamans and seers. "When would you leave?"

" It looks like Potter has her eye on the snitch. Malfoy has been caught unprepared. She'll be no match for the firebolt ," Venus Lovegood's voice rang out from the announcer's box. Everyone was on their feet to see the action.

Maddy was in a steep nose dive above the staff stand. Hermione covered her mouth. She was a bundle of fear and excitement. She'd seen Harry attempt similar feats many times. Reminding herself that her husband spent hundreds of hours with their kids at the English national training center, Hermione took a small breath. All three of their kids knew how to handle a broom safely. And Maddy was particularly adept at mastering difficult maneuvers. Doing her best to not close her eyes, Hermione saw Draco's daughter gaining, using the wind to make up for the lack of speed. It was going to be close.

"She's got," Harry said.

In the middle of a blur of scarlet, gold, blue, and white a small hand's fingers curled around the golden snitch. Hermione didn't celebrate. She leaned over the stand to make sure both girls were able to safely pull out of the dive before crashing into the ground below. Maddy smoothly landed on the pitch while Lyra angled her broom up to take to the sky again. "Ooh, poor Lyra. She was really close," Hermione commented, genuinely disappointed for the Ravenclaw seeker.

" Madeline Potter has caught her first snitch! Gryffindor wins, 210 to 80 ," Venus informed the crowd. The masses were already emptying onto the pitch to celebrate.

Hermione fondly remembered the nights after a quidditch game. The party in the common room was always a good time regardless of who won or lost.

She turned toward Harry who was smiling, laughing and clapping his congratulations. "What a great catch! Way to go Maddy!"

Hugging his arm, Hermione took a moment to enjoy the love Harry had for their kids. Each was so different and he had managed to tend to each relationship in a way that reflected those differences. Hermione admired his ability to be the dad each one needed. There were many times Hermione had been inclined to treat everyone the same in order to be fair only to be convinced by her husband that it would be inherently unfair to think they were the same. "You should go celebrate with them," she told him, pulling away.

He stopped her with a touch, pulled her closer. "I'm not the head of house anymore. That would be favoritism," he explained, turned her toward him. "When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow," she told him, running an affectionate hand through his unruly hair.

"Stay the night," he said.

Recognizing the wicked twinkle in his eye, she laughed. "In the headmaster's quarters?"

"Did you have somewhere else in mind?"

She slapped him. "No. Have you been thinking about that?"

"Mrs. Potter. Not only have I given proper consideration to all the possible locations one could enjoy a night of passion, it's a topic of great debate in the boys dormitory in every house," he informed her, leading her toward the stairs.