A/N: I do not own any character references by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter series or agree with her comments. This story is a product of my pure imagination.
Seems like there's always someone who disapproves.
They'll judge it like they know about me and you.
And the verdict comes from those with nothing else to do.
The jury's out, but my choice is you.
So, don't you worry your pretty, little mind.
People throw rocks at things that shine.
And life makes love look hard.
The stakes are high, the water's rough.
But this love is ours
~ Ours by Taylor Swift
*~*~* October 31, 2008 *~*~*
Stepping through the floo into her mum and dad's house, Hermione frowned when she caught sight of boxes floating out of the living room. Sirius stood in the doorway with his wand aimed at them, floating the boxes to the hall.
"What's going on with the boxes?" Hermione asked as Teddy came through the floo behind her.
Harry stepped behind her, brushing the soot off as Sirius spun around, startled. "You're early!"
Hermione raised an eyebrow as she looked at the clock, "It is five past seven. We said we would be here at seven."
"Oh, uh…" Sirius trailed off, "Juliet! They are here!"
"Already?!" Juliet's voice echoed as she walked into the room, her hand resting on her growing bump. "Hey, you're early."
"That's what I said," Sirius told her, "But apparently, we are running behind."
Hermione looked at them suspiciously, "What are you two up to?"
Juliet sighed, "With the baby coming, we realized this house is full of junk we do not need. So, we are going through it while I am feeling good. Call it early nesting, I guess."
Hermione nodded, "I get it. I drove Harry crazy those last few months before Jamie came."
"I think she washed every single thing we owned at least three times," Harry stated as he set Jamie's carrier down and took Jamie out, kissing his chubby cheek. "Everything you need is in the bag: bottles, diapers, Teddy's pajamas, toothbrush."
Juliet walked over and took Jamie, "Don't worry. They will be fine, and if you want to take the day for yourself tomorrow, we would be thrilled."
Hermione laughed nervously, "One night is already a big step for me, Mum, much less a weekend!"
"Honey, it is good to have some space, and tomorrow is only Friday. It is not the whole weekend," Juliet said gently, "Enjoy yourselves and have fun. Tell Luna and Ron congratulations from us."
Sirius reentered, handing Teddy his game, "Be careful during the witching hour. Molly has probably lit up the whole property like a beacon, but Luna is choosing to get married at midnight on Halloween. Even for her, that is unique."
Harry laughed as he took Hermione's hand, "We'll be lucky if we're still awake for it."
Hermione snorted, "Do you think we have time to go home and nap?"
Harry yawned, "If we sneak off to the Burrow early and they don't need us, maybe we can nap there?"
"Good luck with that," Hermione told him as she kissed Teddy's head, "Be good for Grandmum and Papa, okay?"
"I will," Teddy promised as Sirus waved them off, and they walked through the floo to the Burrow.
As soon as they stepped into the Burrow, the buzz of last-minute wedding preparations surrounded them. Ginny was in an armchair, looking exhausted as she sipped on a glass of wine.
"Welcome to the crazy train," she greeted, "Why, oh why, did they decide to get married at midnight?"
Hermione yawned as she sat beside her on the sofa, "Same as her wedding to Rolf. The veil is thin so that Luna's mum can be there, and something else about the moon and a ritual. You know how Luna is. If Ron is okay with it, that is all that matters."
"It's also an old-fashioned fertility ritual and handfasting," Ginny told them, rolling her eyes, "She wants us all to rinse with some special cleansing soap and wear white robes for the ritual to stay pure."
Harry raised an eyebrow, looking at Hermione, "At least we're not naked."
"Ron talked her out of it. Thank Merlin," Ginny grinned as they both yawned. "Go sneak up to my room and nap. No one's even noticed you're here yet."
"Bless you, Gin," Hermione said gratefully as she tugged Harry by the hand, and they crept upstairs to Ginny's room.
Collapsing into the bed, Harry pulled Hermione close, and she laid her head on his chest.
"Only forty-five minutes," she mumbled.
"Deal," Harry mumbled, already halfway asleep as his arms tightened around her.
Hermione smiled at Harry's heartbeat, and the familiar sounds of the Burrow lulled her to sleep.
Hermione shot up in bed as the door slammed onto the wall behind it, and Ron burst into Ginny's room.
"When did you two get here?!" Ron asked as he came in and shut the door behind him, throwing himself onto the bottom of the bed at their feet, "I'm getting married today, you guys."
Harry looked at his watch as Hermione rolled back over, rubbing his eyes, "Hermione, who said that three hours before was when he would start freaking out?"
Hermione rolled onto her side, "No, I said four hours, but we slept through it. Were you freaking out beforehand?"
"Yeah, but Ginny just told me you guys came here to nap. So, I freaked out on my own for an hour before she took mercy on me and told me you were up here," Ron told them. "Do you think I can hide up here, too?"
Hermione nudged him with her foot, "It's your wedding, Ron."
Ron sighed, "But you're our witnesses and binders."
Hermione sat up, "Say what now?"
Ron looked at her, surprised, "Oh, Luna didn't tell you. She wants you to perform the binding spell because you are a recently married and fertile woman or something."
Harry laughed, looking at Hermione's face, "Is Luna wanting to get pregnant?"
Ron shrugged, "No clue, but I wouldn't mind our kids being close together in age. If we get pregnant sooner than later, our kid can go to school with your sibling, Hermione. If it makes Luna happy, that is all I care about, and we don't all have to be naked."
Hermione looked at him surprised, "Who IS going to be naked?"
Ron looked at them, "Luna. Well, she will only be covered by leaves of some plant she had Neville get for her."
Hermione ran her hand over her face, "Jesus Lord, help us."
The door opened, and Ron shot up, relaxing, when he saw it was only George. "Oh, it's only you," Ron said, lying back down.
"Do you three do this a lot?" George asked with a grin, "Or is it the four of you now with Luna?"
Ron kicked him in the leg, "Don't give Luna ideas."
"Ideas for what?" Luna asked as she walked in behind George, "Joining Harry and Hermione in the bedroom? They aren't interested in that, my dear."
Ron looked at her, surprised, "But you are?"
"No, but some people enjoy the concept of multiple lovers," Luna said as she sat at Harry's feet, "Did you get some rest? When you came through the floo, I could tell you were both exhausted."
Hermione hugged her knees to her chest, "We must have slept through Harry's wand alarm."
"I thought YOU set a wand alarm," Harry told her.
"And this is how we have Jamie, ladies and gentlemen," Ron said with a grin, "Harry assumed Hermione was protected, and Hermione assumed Harry was."
Hermione glared at him, "Technically, it was part George's fault."
"How'd I get pulled into this?" George asked innocently.
"A month-long potion that does not last a month ring a bell? How many babies are there now?" Hermione asked.
"You gave me the idea… and it's only five," George told her. "We helped increase the wizarding population, thank you very much. Thankfully, you and the others were happy about it, but we now market it as a two-week potion instead of just the daily."
"Where HAVE you all been?"
Ron gasped, "Mum?! We were just talking in here."
"Ronald, there is so much to do still. Get downstairs, now," Molly said as she left with Ron following her like a wounded puppy.
Luna sighed, "All I wanted was a simple ceremony and the reception with friends tomorrow. Then Molly took it over."
"Mum does that. Welcome to being a Weasley," George said as he left the room.
"Want me to talk to Molly?" Hermione asked Luna.
"No, at least tonight is close to what I planned. Oh, did you both get to take a shower yet?" Luna asked.
"We will do that right away," Harry told her.
Luna grinned, "Thank you both."
Hermione shook her head as Luna pranced out the door, "Poor Luna, Molly is going to eat her alive." Flopping back on the bed, Hermione groaned, "I swear, our best mate is the only person who could just casually tell me I'm performing a fertility-adjacent binding spell three hours before his wedding and then just lie on my feet like a cat."
Harry chuckled, "You have faced worse. A magical binding spell should be a piece of cake."
Hermione shot him a look, "Don't remind me. I just hope Luna doesn't expect me to chant in some ancient language while she is covered in leaves. Wait… Ron said he wouldn't be covered in leaves, right?"
Harry smirked as he pulled her up, "Come on, get in the shower. I will wash your back and help wash the idea of Ron covered by leaves from your brain."
Hermione swallowed hard, "Don't tease me. You know how sexually frustrated I am."
Harry kissed her neck, "Jamie is a cock blocker, he was from the womb, and it continued." Harry groaned.
The two of them made their way to the bathroom upstairs. Molly's voice carried up the stairs as she ordered Ron to check for the place settings for tomorrow and asked George where the centerpieces had gone.
Once inside the bathroom, Hermione locked the door, "Privacy at last."
Harry started the shower, "You know, a part of me wants to hide up here until it starts."
"I need to ask Luna what I need to say for the binding," Hermione told him with a sigh, "But don't tempt me. A shower that will not get interrupted?"
After a quick shower, they dressed in the robes they had provided, and someone knocked on the door saying they wanted the loo. Smoothing out her hair, she glanced at Harry, "Ready for this?"
Harry adjusted the belt around his waist, "Ready as I will ever be. I might put a sticking charm to keep this robe together. It is thin."
Descending the stairs, Ginny was counting candles while George and Charlie debated on the placement of the tent.
Molly spotted them, "Hermione, could you check on the flower garlands in the garden? Ron is out there handling it with Luna."
Hermione stepped outside and found Luna sitting in the garden under the large tree, tying wildflowers together. Luna looked up and said, "Hermione, you look radiant."
Hermione sat beside Luna, "Luna, what do I need to do for this binding spell?"
Luna's eyes sparkled in the fading light, "I figured it would be a lovely surprise. You and Harry have the kind of love that inspired the spell. It is perfect. I have it all written from my mother's grimoire."
"Where is Ron?" Harry asked, looking around.
"He went to set up the altar. You can go help him," Luna said, "Fairies enchant the trees over there, so I picked over there for the circle."
Harry opened his mouth, then nodded as he headed in that direction.
Hermione took some flowers and started weaving them together, "Nervous?"
Luna looked at her, "Not at all. We were destined to be together. I just needed Ron to be ready and grow up a bit more. By the time the baby comes, he will be."
Hermione looked at her wide-eyed, "Are you pregnant?"
Luna laughed, "No, that is why we are doing the fertility ritual. That way, she and Jamie will only be a year apart. Well, a year and a handful of days."
Hermione just inhaled and nodded, going back to the garland.
After leaving the Burrow, Harry and Ron walk up to Hermione next to the altar. "Know what you are saying?"
Hermione nodded, gesturing to the book on the altar in front of her. "Her mother's grimoire has both handfasting and fertility spells." Glancing at Ron, Hermione grinned, "Are you ready?"
Ron smiled, "I am glad this will be over soon. Luna Weasley has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
Hermione smiled, "I'm just glad you are happy, Ron."
Ron nodded, "Happier than I've ever been."
The rest of the Weasley family came out of the Burrow, and Hermione was surprised to see Rolf's parents with the twins.
"Is that the Scamanders?" Harry asked, surprised.
Hermione nodded as the Weasleys, the Scamanders, and Theo entered the circle. They all sat on their rock around the circle. Hermione glanced at Harry as he took his seat, then looked at Ron, who stood before her. "What time is it?"
Ron looked at his watch, "23:50."
Hermione nodded as the candles spread on the opening of the marsh lit, making a pathway toward Lovegood's home. Their flames spread from the path to the candles surrounding the circle. "I guess it's time."
Everyone stood as Fleur started singing a French love song as Luna appeared with Xenophilius through the reeds. The Scamanders stifled their gasps as they saw Luna's attire. Xenophilius aided Luna over the candles, entered the circle, and then led her to Ron, "Blessings to you."
Ron nodded, "Thank you."
Luna took his hand, holding the bundle of some plant with her left hand, and turned to Hermione, who cleared her throat.
"Welcome family and loved ones who have come in peace to witness the union of Luna and Ron. We are here today to celebrate with them."
The flickering candles cast a serene glow over the family as they sat on their rocks. "This circle represents the unbroken bond of love and trust that Ron and Luna are pledging to each other tonight. The stones around us are symbols of unyielding strength and permanence, just as their commitment to each other will be." Hermione glanced at the grimoire, "Tonight, we honour both the Lovegood and Weasley families as we call upon the elements to bless this union."
Hermione raised her wand and drew a pattern in the air of runes. "Air, fire, water, and earth. We invite you to this space to witness and bless the joining of these two souls. Legends say that on this night, the veil between life and death is the thinnest, and we also invite those we have lost to join in spirit to join us tonight."
A gentle breeze stirred around the circle, and the candles flared brighter momentarily before settling. Hermione glanced at Harry wide-eyed as he tried not to laugh. With a slow breath, Hermione smiled as she felt the magic in the air around her grow.
Turning to Ron and Luna, Hermione said, "Now, Ron and Luna, please join your hands."
Luna threw her bouquet over her shoulder and glanced behind her with a smile, "Did Ginny get it?"
Ron chuckled, "She looks like she will destroy it."
Ron and Luna faced each other, and Harry stood up to cast a soft silk cord around their hands. "This cord represents the ties of love and commitment you are making to each other. By binding your hands, you are symbolizing the strength and unity of your partnership."
Hermione took out her wand and began weaving a stronger cord through the silk, making a gentle knot over their ring fingers. "Ron and Luna, you have something to say to each other?"
Luna and Ron stared at each other and then recited, "Heart to heart, soul to soul. I am my own, but also yours. Our union will grow from kindness and caring, of trust and love. Heart to heart, soul to soul, this love is a home of our very own."
Hermione nodded as they looked at her. "Do you, Ronald Bilius Weasley, pledge to love, honour, and cherish Luna for all your days in this life and beyond?"
"I do," Ron said with a smile.
"Do you, Luna Marie Lovegood, pledge to love, honour, and cherish Ron for all your days, in this life and beyond?"
"I do," Luna replied.
"Will you share in each other's pain and seek to protect and ease them from it?" Hermione asked.
"We will."
"Will you share in each other's joy, rejoice for each other and look for the best in each other, always?"
"We will."
"Will you share in each other's hardships and toil so that you may continue to grow together?"
"We will."
Hermione tapped the rope with her wand, and the cords glowed bright gold. Shooting out from their hands, the gold cage surrounded the gathered family members, the candles flaring again as the gold sparkled around them as it broke.
"You are now bound together in love," Hermione said with a smile as she looked at the book, "Oh, Ginny, can we have the flowers?"
Ginny quickly hurried them over to Luna, who took them.
"Luna, you carry a token of growth and fertility, a symbol of your hopes for the future. Will you offer it to the fire as a sign of your shared journey?"
Luna walked over to the group of candles next to the altar and placed the flowers on top of them. The flames flared green, sending sparks into the night sky as they burned and filled the area with a pleasant scent.
"Before the witnesses here, I now invoke the final blessing of the grimoire," Hermione said as she raised her wand and traced glowing runes in the air over Ron and Luna, "May your union be fruitful, your love unwavering, and your journey together be blessed with joy and adventure."
The runes glittered above their heads and then fell on them like gentle falling rain.
"By the power vested in me by magic, the magic of the night, and the love you share. I now pronounce you husband and wife. Ron, you may kiss your bride."
Ron smiled as he pulled Luna into his arms. Their kiss was met with cheers and applause from their family. The twins giggled, watching Ron kiss their Mum, and Fleur started singing again.
Hermione cleared her throat, "Thank you for coming and sharing in this night with its magic and love. We are now going to do a fertility ritual, so if you wish to depart but still wish good tidings to the couple, now is your time to do so."
Percy and Audrey, the Scamanders, and the twins all left and went back into the house.
"It's nothing… too much, is it?" Molly asked.
"No, Molly, but if you think you will be uncomfortable, it's all right," Luna told her.
Xenophilius approached Molly and said, "I think they are adults. It is time for us to let them grow and leave the nest. Would you join me in the house?"
Molly smiled as she took his arm. Arthur walked beside them, and they all walked back to the house.
"No one needs her negativity," Fleur said quietly.
"Fleur!" Bill said, laughing.
"Hey, I was going to say it," Theo said, chuckling, "She just beat me to it."
George rubbed his hands together, "All right, let's get Luna pregnant."
Angelina hit him, "That sounds so crude."
Hermione turned to the fertility ritual page, "All right. Everyone have a seat and join hands, let yourself fill with positive feelings for Ron and Luna, and their future offspring. Luna and Ron join hands together. It says to close your eyes and mentally visualize the beautiful shimmering lights of the candles surrounding you. This is your sacred space. Concentrate on your breathing. Pull the air surrounding you into your lungs and fill your bodies with the healing light of life. Luna, imagine it filling your womb with its healing warmth and making it a perfect place for your baby."
Hermione turned the page, "Keep visualizing and say with me, angels to my left, angels to my right. Angels above me, angels below me, angels before me, angels behind me. Angelic and family spirits be with me now and help me manifest my will." Luna repeated it with her and then smiled.
Hermione took the piece of wax that Luna had set out, and Luna held her hand over her head for Hermione to place it within.
"Hold that wax high above your head and say with me, "From wax to living flesh, I name you my baby, I name you my darling child to come." Hermione read, "Now work the wax. Shape it with just your hands. Fashion it into the shape of a baby. This will be a representation of what you desire, and it knows what it is. As you work on it, name it and talk to it. Tell it how much you want to see it manifest and how you long for a healthy baby to live and breathe in your arms soon."
Hermione stepped down onto the rock next to Harry and sat as Ron and Luna passed it back and forth between each other, warming it with their hands and molding it. Hermione laid her head on Harry's shoulder, lacing her fingers within his.
"How long will this take?" Harry whispered.
"Until it takes shape," Hermione shrugged.
Hermione was nearly falling asleep when Luna held up the wax form in her hands between her and Ron. Harry nudged her, and Hermione cleared her throat as she stood and walked over to the altar. She pulled out a silver candle and placed it next to the square of fabric Luna had sat beside her.
"Now kiss the baby and lay it gently on the square of fabric. Light the candle and repeat this spell I am about to tell you nine times. Getting gradually faster and faster each time. Put your pain, your longing, and your wishes into words. Call upon the universe and make it hear you. You may cry as you repeat it, but that is the power of the universe calling to you. Now repeat after me." Hermione read, "Lady Goddess, I call to thee. Send my baby here to me, and so I call you three times three. As I have willed so mote it be."
Ron and Luna repeated after her three times, then continued their own six more.
"Gently wrap the baby in the fabric, leave it next to the candle, and let it burn out. When the candle burns out, the spell is finished." Hermione told them as she looked at them, "Until then, say with me, "Angels to my left, angels to my right. Angels above me, angels before me. Angels behind me. Angelic and family spirits, thank you for your presence and support. I bid thee farewell with love." Hermione stated, and they repeated. With Luna's final word, the silver candle blew out.
Hermione cleared her throat, "Come the new moon, bring the baby out and light a candle and say these words. "Lady Goddess, fill my womb with strong new life and grant me fertility." The book suggests taking your creation with you everywhere until the full moon. Daily holding it against your belly and visualizing life creating." *Based on a site called Fertility Friends, I found.
Hermione closed the book, "Congratulations, Ron and Luna."
Hermione hugged Ron as Harry stood up. Luna walked over to Harry and hugged him. Hermione laughed as Harry stood with his arms at his sides and looked at Hermione wide-eyed, "Luna, honey, Harry is a bit uncomfortable."
"Oh!" Luna said as she stepped back, "I forgot."
"Not that… I just… I…" Harry said, flustered, "You are attractive, but I think of you like a sister after all this time, and you being basically naked is just too much." He spit it out.
They all laughed as Ron put his arm around Harry's shoulder, "I will not say that I think of Hermione as a sister. It's just too weird."
Harry hit him as Luna took Hermione's wand and transfigured the cloth on the altar into a robe.
"Thank you," Luna said, handing Hermione's wand back to her as she put it on, "Will we see you in the morning?"
"Are you staying here tonight?" Harry asked.
"No, going home then returning," Ron told him.
"Mum and Sirius have Jamie and Teddy for the night, so I think we are going to go home and enjoy our night alone," Harry said, looking at Hermione, who nodded.
"I am just going to go inside and get my bag. Do you have anything left in the house?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Other than my clothes in your bag? No," Harry told her.
Hermione started walking back to the house when she heard Ron ask Harry, "So, are you doing it tomorrow?"
"Doing what? Coming to the reception? Of course, we are," Harry laughed.
Hermione shook her head, smiling as she walked into the warmth of the Burrow.
*~*~* November 1, 2008 *~*~*
Hermione opened her eyes and saw Harry lying beside her on the couch. Last night, when they had flooed home, it was the farthest they got. Licking her lips to wet her mouth, she swallowed, "Harry, Harry, honey. I have to get up and pee… and pump. My breasts feel like they are about to explode."
Harry rolled over and fell off the couch onto the floor, "Shit!"
Hermione looked over the edge at him, "Are you okay?"
Harry rubbed his eyes, "I forgot we slept on the couch." He groaned, "Shit, I still have my contacts in. My eyes are dry as fuck."
Hermione stood up, pulling him off the floor, "Come on."
Together, they walked upstairs to the bathroom. Hermione used the toilet, and Harry took his contacts out to put his glasses on. "You know, I wonder why there isn't a spell to heal vision," Harry commented.
Hermione flushed and came up next to him to wash her hands. "Wait, you never knew that there was? It is just a little risky. It can worsen your vision if it goes bad, just like the muggle surgery can also go bad."
Harry stared at her, "Seriously?! No one thought to tell me that it was even an option?"
"Most wizards don't even do it. It is done more when children are young and their vision needs to be corrected. At our age, there is less likelihood of working," Hermione informed him, "On any adult, that is."
"Damn," Harry sighed, "Well, you go ahead and pump, then get dressed, and we will head out."
Hermione frowned, "To go to the Burrow? The reception isn't until this evening."
"Oh, I know. I want to make a stop before heading there tonight and get the kids," Harry told her, "Go get dressed."
Hermione looked at him suspiciously, "All right."
Hermione came down the stairs of their home late in the morning and held her arms out as she spun for him, "Is this appropriate for whatever we are doing?" Letting him see the outfit she was wearing.
Harry walked over and kissed her. "You look wonderful, as always. Close your eyes, and I'll disapparate us," he told her, wrapping his arms around her.
Hermione closed her eyes.
"Don't peek until I tell you to," Harry told her as he disapparated them out of the house.
Hermione felt her feet land on a solid surface, "Can I open my eyes now?"
"Before you do, I want to beg of you. Please don't be mad at me."
"Fuck, Harry. What did you do?" Hermione asked, breathing in and smelling the scents of books and fresh wood.
"Open your eyes."
Hermione opened her eyes and found herself in the middle of a two-story library. Books surrounded her on shelves that were mostly only partially full. Hermione looked at him wide-eyed, "No! You bought me a bookstore?"
Harry laughed, "It would have been cheaper. Come here."
Taking her hand, Harry walked her over to a large bay window with a built-in couch, "Look out there."
Hermione glanced outside and saw the houses they had seen in the Forest of Dean. "I am confused. What…?" Hermione trailed off as she looked at him and gasped, "Oh my god... Harry?"
Harry smiled at her, "Back when I thought I wouldn't live. You said something to me when we camped here, right on this spot. You asked me if we could stay here and grow old together. I never thought I would have the chance to grow old… now we get to, right here in the Forest of Dean for the rest of our lives, just like you asked. What do you say?"
Hermione ran and threw her arms around him, sobbing, "Oh, Harry!"
"I love you," Harry said, hugging her back tight.
Hermione took his face in her hands, "I love you more. How did I get so lucky?"
Harry smiled, "You came into my compartment and changed my life for the better."
Hermione pulled him down for a kiss, "What are we going to do about our house?"
Harry smiled, "Well, I may have told Dean and Seamus they could leave their little apartment and have it if you were okay with this one."
"Am I okay?" Hermione said in disbelief as she gasped, "We can have sex again! Jamie is in his own room!"
Harry laughed, "I made the room next to ours a nursery."
Hermione looked at him wide-eyed, "This house was huge. How many bedrooms does it have?"
"Well, I figured when your dad comes to stay, he needs a room, then… I am planning for the future, Hermione Potter," Harry said, pulling her close to him and grabbing her backside. "I plan to fill all six bedrooms… well, five, not counting ours."
Hermione pushed him away with a laugh, "You are crazy. There is no way I am having three more kids. You can push them out." She told him, heading for the door.
"It doesn't have to be three more. One room is for your dad," Harry told her, following her out to the landing to head down the stairs.
"What about the other houses over there?" Hermione asked, pointing out the window.
"Mum and Sirius have the one with black trim. Ron and Luna have the house that you thought looked old," Harry told her, "Luna thought it needed charm."
Hermione smiled as he wrapped his arms around her, "Of course she did. We get to grow old here together, and so does our family. We can be here for Mum and the baby. Then all our kids will be able to enjoy the property together."
"See over there, Ron requested a Quidditch pitch. Thanks to the forest, the trees are tall enough to hide it. Behind the Quidditch pitch, see how I left the meadow?" Harry asked as Hermione nodded, "I checked my memories. That is where we camped. I wish you could have been here this summer to see it. It had these beautiful purple flowers, and the trees were mossy. It was beautiful. I couldn't touch it."
Hermione turned in his arms, smiling, "I cannot wait to grow old here with you, Harry James."
Harry grinned as he kissed her, then grinned against her lips, "Want to practice making future Potters?"
Hermione looked up at him, "Is there any furniture?"
Harry pulled her closer and whispered, "Since when do we need furniture?"
Hermione moaned, "Bedroom now!"
Harry picked her up, making her squeal, and ran her upstairs to the top floor. Hermione opened the door for him and gasped when she saw what was inside.
"It is the only room I decorated completely. I found this set in the Potter vaults and fell in love with it. If you do not like it, we can change it," Harry told her, setting her down.
Hermione walked over to the four-poster bed with built-in curtains, marveling at the intricate woodwork.
"What do you think?" Harry asked.
Hermione looked at him and said, "We will have to do magic to tie my hands now. There are no posts above my head to access this bed easily."
Harry growled, making Hermione squeak as he ran at her, picked her up, threw her on the bed, and made her giggle.
Harry frowned as she giggled, "I just growled at you and pounced on you like a wild animal, and you giggled!"
Which sent Hermione into a bigger fit of giggles, "Your sexual prowess still awakens something within me. Don't worry. It is just that this mattress is so comfy."
Harry kissed her hard, "I'll show you just how comfortable it is."
Hermione's giggles quickly turned into moans as Harry and Hermione christened their bed in their home where they would live until they departed the Earth together, old and grey after living a long, healthy, and happy life, turning the pages of their story together for many years. But that is a story for another day.
A/n: And that is it. Enchanted is now over. When I thought of this story, I was still working on my Bucky Barnes/OC & Steve Rogers story, Semi-Charmed Life. I was driving by myself to Washington DC, from where I live in Ohio, and I asked my Auto Alexa to play me some music. It somehow got stuck in Taylor Swift mode. At the time, I was not a huge fan of hers. I'd seen her perform in person years ago when she opened with Brad Paisley, and I wasn't impressed. I was driving, and I'm not a person who uses their device while driving, so I ran out of skips and was stuck. Then I heard Enchanted... immediately thought of a blind date in the magical world between Harry and Hermione being stubborn came to me. Suddenly, the other songs that played afterward brought other ideas. If Alexa and Google Assistant had been real, they would have been so annoyed by me saying, "Google, send me a message with..." with an idea. My text messages were filled with ideas, and most of them came to be within the story. Sirius coming back, them leaving for New York, I was going to do a bigger thing with Draco to All Too Well... but that got trashed. I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Follow my Author Alerts to be notified when I post Die With a SmileandTurning Pages (the trilogy's end).
A little later this afternoon, I will post a little interlude/epilogue, which will be a smutty interlude to the ending showing this cute house I found within the Forest of Dean. I want to thank each and every one of you who read this story, some from the very beginning. Those who read, commented, and have stuck with it with the drama in the middle of the story. I truly appreciate each and every single one of them.
Die With a Smile,the Enchanted sequel, will be posted at the end of the month. I'm leaning toward January 30th in the evening EST. Of course, it may end up being that weekend. I want to finish it before posting it. I currently have chapters one through four finished, with three, possibly four, to go. So, halfway there (living on a prayer).
So, thank you to the new followers this week: Draco'sBabe96, Appleman2750, and Maraudersgal1989!
If you don't want to read the interlude, you can view the house here: . /properties/149685044#/?channel=RES_BUY
Last but not least, a preview ofDie With the Smile, chapter one: In the End, Everything Collides
The air shimmered behind her in her peripheral vision as another door appeared, opening to admit a tall, dark-skinned man with an immediately commanding presence. He strode into the room with two others, wands at the ready, following. His deep purple robes showed his significance in the room as he smiled at her.
"I demand to speak to the Minister of Magic," she stated.
"At your service, ma'am," he said in a deep, calm voice, "I am Kingsley Shacklebolt, the Minister of Magic."
She gasped as she recognized him, "Kingsley Shacklebolt? The Ravenclaw Prefect?"
Kingsley hesitated, "One and the same, who am I speaking to?"
She stood up, swallowing hard, "I must speak with Auror Potter. Immediately."
Kingsley stared at her, "Auror Potter is already on his way. I must ask again. Who are you? To my knowledge, Unspeakable 53 no longer exists."
The woman felt her heart sink, but she steeled herself as the door reopened, revealing a tall, dark-haired man. She nearly yelled out his name when she saw his sharper features, shadowed with confusion. When their eyes met, the woman froze, her breath catching in her throat.
"It worked," she whispered as her knees buckled beneath her, "The spell worked."
The dark-haired man frowned as she did the math in her head. He had to be nearly twenty-nine years of age if her calculations were correct. If Kingsley demanded a presence as he entered the room, Auror Potter demanded attention and had it.
Glancing at Kingsley, Auror Potter stated, "Minister, report."
