Thursday, 31st July 2025

It was utterly unnecessary to travel by car but it was tradition. At least this was what Ron had argued to Hermione that morning over breakfast. The tradition had been necessary when the children were underage and simply too young to side-along apparate. But now that it was just them, Hermione thought the short car ride from their house on the outskirts of Budleigh Salterton to The Burrow could have easily been journeyed by apparition or Floo, at the very least. Hermione looked out the open car window at the fields of green that were dancing in the wind as they drove through the Devon countryside. There was a distinct smell of summer in the air and a faint scent of freshly mowed grass which made Hermione smile fondly.

In all honesty Hermione had thought that perhaps the drive was an excuse for Ron to say whatever had been on his mind these last few weeks. Hermione was not ashamed to say that she had thrown herself into work after Harry, or rather Ginny, had shared his diagnosis. The Ministry had launched an inquest into the previous Auror missions as well as an assessment into the general health of all those who had participated. The team had been instructed to conduct the enquiry quietly as neither she nor Harry wanted the entire ministry or, Merlin forbid, the Daily Prophet to find out that he was sick. Hermione had called over to see the Potters, several times since that day in the Burrow. She wasn't sure what she had expected but Harry had looked, like, well like Harry. She had offered to go with Ron but he refused to join her. She had also tried to share her visit with him but he had pretended he hadn't her by changing the subject and asking her if she'd chosen her campaign manager yet and to make sure they know how to counter Rose's inflammatory articles. Perhaps Hermione could have pressed the issue harder but she truly didn't have the extra mental capacity to argue with Ron with everything else going on.

The Weasley house was in full party panic mode. Arthur was nowhere to be found. Hermione suspected he was in his workshop outside hiding from his wife. All of Ron's siblings had, most reluctantly, been roped in to helping with some aspect of Molly Weasley's plan to pull off the perfect birthday party for Harry Potter. None of Hermione's nieces and nephews were trusted enough to complete Molly's vision and so they had been shunned to the farthest corners of the property and tasked with de-gnoming the garden. Somehow Hermione and Ron had been drafted in to decorate the inside of the Burrow. Ron had tried to argue with his mother that the kitchen and the sitting room were not necessary as the party was taking place outside in the garden which had every table on the property laid out in two rows. His exact words being 'It's not like we're having the party in the sitting room.' Unsurprisingly, Ron was unsuccessful in his argument with Molly Weasley. And so the couple were lazily decorating the two rooms and listening to the radio which was thankfully not playing Celestina Warbeck and instead shout casting the Tutshill Tornados and Chudley Cannons Quidditch match. It wasn't Hermione's first choice but it was a heck of a lot better than Warbeck's wobbling woes. The Cannons scored the last goal of the match but unsurprisingly to anyone the Tornados caught the snitch and won the game in record time.

'Well that's a bore. Why play the sport if you just want to end it in under fifteen minutes?' Ron said as he waved his wand at the radio to turn down the commentators' post match analysis. Leon McMorrow, the coach of the Tutshill Tornados was giving a pitchside interview, defending the teams quick and decisive play.

'Why indeed.' Hermione muttered back in agreement. She was focused on her task at hand. She couldn't get the decoration to land on the exact right spot on the display cabinet.

'Do you think they'll come?' Ron asked as he sat down on the armchair that looked out at the driveway. He pretended to be engrossed with the fraying threads of the armrest.

'There!' Hermione exclaimed with a flourish. There was nothing quite like a perfectly decorated fireplace. 'Wait, what? Do I think who'll come?'

'You know. Harry. And Ginny.'

'Well I bloody hope so! It's his birthday party and I didnt decorate this room for nothing.' Hermione said as she took a seat on the couch beside Ron.

She looked around at the room and had to admit it was a shame that the party was outside as they had done quite an exceptional job on the interior.

'I haven't seen him , you know.' Ron said, looking down at the armrest again.

'I know, Ron. I know.' Hermione reached out and squeezed Ron's hand.

'What's he like, 'Mione?'

'Remarkably, like himself, really. The way Ginny had described him at the last dinner I thought he was on death's door but when I went to visit that first week. He looked just like, well, Harry. I would even argue he looked better than he did when we were hunting horcruxes.' Hermione said with a smile.

Ron laughed at the memory.

'You know, Rose would argue that it was more of an extended field trip.' Ron said.

'Field trip?' Hermione exclaimed. 'Is she serious? We were trying to defeat… We had to break into-'

'I know, Hermione. I know. I was there, for most of it anyway.'

Hermione laughed wryly, shaking her head. Where her daughter came up with these summations of the worst year of her life were a mystery to Hermione.

'It's just so surreal.' Ron said after a pause.

Hermione knew they weren't talking about their daughter anymore. Hermione sighed.

'Tell me about it.'

'Are we supposed to just celebrate his birthday like it's no big deal?' Ron asked, looking at Hermione searchingly.

'I just can't imagine what Ginny's going through. I can't imagine her without Harry.' Hermione said. She avoided Ron's pained gaze by checking the clock above the fireplace, it read twelve fortyfive. Ginny had told her during the week that they would be there at one, which would be closer to half past if the Potter's track record was anything to go by.

'I can't imagine a world where he doesn't exist.' Ron whispered back.

'It'll break her.' Hermione replied. She found her voice catching in her throat.

'No. No, Ginny is strong. You saw her last week at the shop. Absolutely, unphased.' Ron said, smiling at the ground.

'Really?' Hemione questioned. 'I, I thought she looked, I don't know, broken.'

'Hermione.' He said exasperatedly. 'Come on. It's Ginny. The woman survived a twenty something hour labour with James. If she can survive that, she can survive anything.'

'It was twenty-eight.' Hermione corrected. 'And, no, Ron. I don't think she can. Harry and Ginny, they're like soulmates. They're so aligned, so in tune with each other.'

'Oi and what are we then? We've only been married for almost twenty one years!' Ron shouted in indignation. Hermione laughed at his remark.

'Oh you know what I mean.' Hermione reached out to swat at his arm. 'Ron, I love you to bits. With all of my heart. But they're different. You know? They're so... Well, they're soulmates. I just… I don't think she would survive losing him.'

Ron smiled sadly and nodded. He took a deep breath, stood up and reached out a hand for Hermione.

'Well, I for one am glad that it's something that we can push off for some far off distant future day.'

Hermione smiled up at her husband before taking his outstretched hand to stand up.

'Me too, Ron. Me too.'

'Ron! Can you bring out the pumpkin pasties?' Molly yelled from the garden.

'Yes, Mum. Of course, Mum.' Ron muttered under her breath.

Hermione laughed and followed him out to the kitchen.

Hermione never ceased to be surprised at how Molly could wrangle even her adult children to pull off an incredible party. Hermione couldn't even get her daughter to not publish a defamatory article on her. The garden was set out with a delicious roast dinner and every side imaginable. Sweet treats were also set out on every flat surface from pumpkins pasties to butterbeer cupcakes. The only request Harry had had was a Tri-Chocolate Pumpkin cake from Turner's Treats, a newly opened bakery on Diagon Alley, which Molly had reluctantly agreed to. The magnificent three tiered pumpkin shaped cake sat in the middle of one of the tables and glistened in the sunlight.

The five Potters plus Marguerite, arrived at the Burrow at about a quarter past one, a record for the family who were notoriously late to all events. All of the extended Weasley family had congregated at the Burrow along with long-time family friends such as Kingsley Shacklebolt, Neville and Hannah Longbottom, Luna and her husband Rolf Scamander. Hermione exchanged a glance with Ron when James' girlfriend stepped out of the fireplace. James had been dating Marguerite for the last six months but had somehow avoided bringing her to any family functions in all that time. Though Harry had been quick to point out to her and Ron that she had been invited on a number of occasions but something would mysteriously crop up, making her unavailable. As she worked at the ministry in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Hermione had seen her, albeit infrequently. Hermione made it a point not to interact with that department all that much as she has yet to have a civil conversation with the department head, Myles Lancaster. Hermione was simply waiting for a good enough reason to replace him as department head without having to face an unfair dismissal case. He was far too troublesome to keep in his current employ for another ministerial term.

Marguerite was not at all the typical kind of person she would have imagined James to go for. James even in adulthood had a boyish nature, he had a kind face with dark, unruly hair, who found himself at ease in any scenario. A goofball and a sweetheart were the most common words used to describe James by his family. From what Hermione had heard of Marguerite, she was harsh and came across cold. She had been hired through the International Ministerial Cooperation Program from the Canadian Ministry but she was anything like the stereotypes. Perhaps that is just her perception at work, Hermione had thought. Perhaps she's a much warmer, kinder person in her private life.

Marguerite was beautiful, she had a stunning smile and embraced Molly Weasley with a kiss on each cheek when Ginny introduced her while Harry was hugged by the rest of the family and friends in attendance. Hermione met Harry's eye and had to stifle a laugh at the look of suffering on his face as he rolled his eyes at Marguerite's antics.

'I don't think he's too fond of his possible daughter-in-law.' Kingsley Shaklebolt muttered to Hermione.

'I'm sure he has a very valid reason, Kingsley.' Hermione replied, trying hard not to smirk. Harry narrowly avoided a flick of Marguerite's hair as she turned to greet Arthur Weasley. The look on his face was like he had just smelled hippogriff dung.

'Oh, but of course. When has Harry Potter ever been known to irrationally dislike someone without any cause or reason.' Kinsley shot back. Hermione turned to look at Kingsley and couldn't contain her laughter any longer.

'What are you two gossiping about?' Ron asked quizzically.

'Oh nothing.' Kingsley said. Ron went to open his mouth in protest.

'I'll tell you later, Ron.' Hermione cut in as she noticed Fleur turn to glare at them. She had not forgotten the cool welcome from her and Bill's early days.

Hermione was grateful that there was no need to sneak firewhiskey or elf wine past Molly Weasley as it was a birthday party. Artemis and the Billywigs latest album was playing on the radio, which Hermione was thankful for. She was not partial to the band but anything was better than Celestina Warbeck, anything. Hermione found herself sitting between Ginny and Luna, the latter of which was retelling the two about her latest travels in search of some rare beast in the Arctic. Hermione's main take away from Luna's story was that she was very very cold, and that polar bears are indeed very interested in wizards and muggles alike for a midnight snack. As much as Hermione liked the great outdoors, Care of Magical Creatures had not been her favorite subject at Hogwarts for a reason, and she was not partial to animals that were prepared to murder her.

'No but all joking aside, the sky at night was unbelievable, all those stars. And the Northern Lights were so incredible. You simply can't see anything like it this far south of the pole.' Luna said as she sipped her elf wine.

'I'll take your word for it, Luna. I don't see myself and Harry going that far north anytime soon.' Ginny said as she took an extra helping of the rhubarb crumble.

'Why not?' Luna asked, looking at Ginny earnestly, who widened her eyes just perceptible enough to be alarmed.

'Oh, Harry is so busy at the Ministry at the moment.' Hermione cut in to distract Luna. Ginny quickly stuffed a forkful of crumble into her mouth to avoid comment. 'No one truly understands just how much unappreciated work gets dumped on your desk as you get higher up the ranks.'

'Oh of course. You poor things. I could never be tied to a desk like that. I just love the freedom of discovering the next big adventure.' Luna said whimsically.

'That's what I'm saying.' Rose cut in from just further down the table.

Hermione had to physically bite her tongue to refrain from snapping at her daughter. Luna however shot Rose a very uncharacteristically Luna look, some would even call it a dirty look.

'I wouldn't call your temper tantrums in the Bitch Weekly as anyways freeing or furthering of self-discovery.' Luna said sharply. She turned her nose in the air and shifted herself in the seat angling away from Rose.

Rose stared at Luna, mouth agape unable to splutter out any kind of retort. Hermione herself could not help but to let her mouth fall open slightly in both shock and admiration at her dear friend's comment. Hermione knew she shouldn't be happy at her daughter being taken down a peg but was proud to hear her friend defending her all the same.

Luna leaned closer to Hermione and whispered.

'Lorcan went through a phase like this too only he chose to try to argue magizoology, in our household, can you believe it? Anyway I sent his great-grandmother on him because anything I said to him went in one ear and out the other. It was the best thing I ever did in all my years of parenting because let me tell you Tina Scamander put manners on him quicker than you can say Bowtruckle.'

Hermione nodded her head at the advice.

'It's a little different. He didn't try to publish articles discrediting your work and achievements.'

'No.' Luna agreed, taking another sip of her wine. 'He tried to. I think he just forgot his father was the Chief Consulting Magizoologist at the Daily Prophet and so they ran the article by him first.'

'Hmm. The grandparents won't work, I don't think any of them have successfully reprimanded her in all their years.' Hermione said as she squinted down the table and sizing up her family members.

'It's true.' Ginny said as she grabbed a third helping of crumble. 'I think they just forgot how to parent when the third grandchild came along.'

Hermione narrowed her eyes at Harry who was seated at the other end of the table and was laughing at the latest Weasley Wizard Wheezes product that George had just presented him with.

'Percy on the other hand has always kind of scared Rose.'

'Really?' Ginny asked sceptically, eyeing her brother who was grimacing at the mess the toy had made.

'Anytime I sent her to their house Aubrey was always telling me how well-behaved Rose was. And I was like: Really? This Rose? But yeah if Percy said to stop jumping out of trees or hanging out of windows, she listened.'

'Huh. Didn't think Percy would be the most terrifying parent out of all of us.' Ginny said.

'It's not about who's the most terrifying, it's who's the most terrifying to her.' Luna quipped.

'Exactly, so Percy!' Hermione said, causing the three women to laugh. Rose shot her mother a look at their laughter and Hermione had to force herself to ignore her daughter and focus on the conversation with her friends.

'No fucking shot you just said that, Fred!' Molly Weasley junior shouted from the opposite table. Her outburst attracted

'Language, MJ.' Aubrey shouted back.

'And what, Ravenclaw never won a house cup when I was on the team and you know it.' Fred said back animatedly.

'Are you actually braindead, Freddy? Or did playing mediocre Beater for Gryffindor cause memory loss? We hammered you lot in my sixth year'

'Louis Weasley.' Bill scolded.

'That's only because Colin Mackey CHEATED.' Lily yelled.

'I'm not even going to scold her, I'm just happy she's passionate about Quidditch.' Ginny said to Hermione and clinked her wine glass to Hermione's.

'Mackey didn't cheat, he's just better than your dumb brother.' Dominique scoffed.

'Who's side are you on Dom?' Lucy cried.

'Besides, Felicity Clearwater bewitched the bludger and you know it.' MJ said.

'Felicity Clearwater didn't even play Quidditch.' James shouted, slamming his hand on the table.

'She still bewitched the bludger because there's no way Simon Spelter could ever score a goal without someone helping him.' MJ shot back.

'OH so that's why Mackey cheated?' Fred asked, raising his eyebrow at his cousin.

'Ah ha! So you admit he tampered with them.' Louis said.

'Nobody tampered with the bloody bludgers, you idiots.' Victoire said as she aimed a half eaten cookie at her brother's head.

'He did because I would have scored that goal against Weaver if that bludger hadn't come straight for me.'

'I know the Quidditch gene skipped a generation with you, James. But that's kind of what bludgers do.' MJ said condescendingly.

That was the wrong thing to say because suddenly the cousins erupted into a cacophony of shouting and yelling. Every so often Hermione could make out the words 'Gryffindor' and ' Ravenclaw' and even the phrase 'You lying piece of…'

Harry and Ron walked over to three ladies' side of the table and they all silently observed their children with various levels of confusion and amusement.

'You know I don't think I've ever seen them get this loud.' Ginny stated loudly to the group.

'Remember that one easter, when they were kids?' Ron asked.

'That doesn't count, they were just crying. No words were actually used.' Ginny dismissed him with a wave of her hand.

'Should we do something?' Harry asked.

'Probably.' Hermione replied, though neither she or the other four adults moved a muscle to intervene.

MJ and Fred were standing in front of each other now and MJ was pointing her finger into Fred's chest. Marguerite was trying to grab James to seat him in the vacated seat beside her and was looking very alarmed at the Weasley's antics.

'Why don't you put your talent where your mouth is?' MJ said loudly, She raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms at Fred.

'Fine' Fred said back.

'Fine.'

'See you on the pitch, Weasley.'

'That doesn't work, you're a Weasley too, dumbfuck.'

'MJ!' Aubrey cried.

'Do not knock, the drinks table.' Bill's voice boomed over the noise of the excited younger generation.

Arrangements were quickly made to tidy away the extra tables and chairs as two haphazard teams were divided out. George was quick to grab the brooms and balls from Arthur's shed and declare that he would be the referee to ensure there was no foul play.

'You know, I think this is the perfect place to watch the kids attempt to play my favourite sport. Seat, love?' Ron asked as he conjured up a chair for himself and Hermione.

'You know what, yes Ron, thank you. It's someone else's turn to be the adult tonight.' Hermione said as she took the seat beside her husband.

'I've made a new cocktail with the Romanian Firewhiskey I brought home, it's sweet yet peppery.' Charlie said as he levitated a tray of vaguely flaming drinks. Hermione tentatively took a glass.

'Want a seat Gin?' Harry asked as he conjured a cushioned seat to sit in.

Ginny took a glass from Charlie and downed it in one, wincing as she reached the end. Hermione thought she could see steam coming from her ears.

'Are you kidding me Harry? MJ just questioned my Quidditch genes, I'm going to make sure she regrets it.' Ginny said as she pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

'I don't think that comment was aimed at you in particular, love.' Harry said as he sipped at the smoking drink.

'Oh please, Harry. I've got to show these prats how the professionals do it.'

'I love it when she calls our offspring, prats.' Harry said, shaking his head at his wife as she stormed over to the quickly assembling Quidditch match.

'So I hear you're going to try and off yourself again?' Ron said in a conversational manner as he took a drink of his beer.

'Ronald!' Hermione exclaimed in outrage, smacking Ron's nearest arm to her.

Harry smiled before he took a swig from his glass of firewhiskey.

'Well, we'll see. Maybe there's some dark lord I can take out beforehand. Maybe it will kill me first.'

'Harry!' Hermione exclaimed again, this time hitting her best friend's arm.

'As long as we don't have to go hunting inanimate objects for a year, I'll be your second.' Ron reached out his beer across Hermione to Harry who clinked it with his own glass.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

'Oh you both are unbelievable.'

The trio settled into a peaceful silence as they watched the Quidditch match that was following the rules less and less with each passing year. Freddie used his bludger to try to knock Teddy off his broom, which resulted in Victoire aiming her bludger straight for Freddie head, although the quaffle and the snitch were on the opposite side of the garden.

'I'm sorry I didn't tell you both sooner.' Harry said breaking their silence.

'Mate. It's fine.' Ron said.

'No. No. I, I, I should have told you sooner. I should have told everyone. I don't know, I guess, I, well. I guess a part of me thought, if I didn't tell you, it wouldn't be real yet.'

'Harry.' Hermione said, reaching out to grab Harry's hand. She could feel tears springing in her eyes. Harry squeezed her hand and looked at her. She saw his eyes were also filled with tears. 'I just wish we could go on some idiotic plan of yours and find a cure.'

Her comments made Harry chuckle wryly.

'For old times sake, eh?' Harry joked, squeezing her hands again. 'Try not to worry too much, Hermione, you won't need to be replacing a head anytime soon. I still have so much work to do there.' He finished with a wink, causing Hermione and Ron to laugh.

'Well, I do appreciate that Harry. You don't know how hard it is to find a head that I actually get on with.' Hermione joked conspiratorially.

'Happy to be of service, Minister.' Harry smiled, then leaned in closer to Ron and Hermione. 'Now, listen. I need your opinion on something. What do you make of James' girlfriend?'

'Marguerite. She's alright, I guess. Why?'

'I don't know. Something doesn't sit right with me. I don't know. Reckon I can pull the 'I'm dying card' to get the to breakup?'

Hermione raised her eyebrow in disbelief.

'Harry.' Hermione warned.

'I'm kidding. I swear.'

'I've got to admit, though. Even I agree with you. She seems a little…' Hermione's voice trailed off as she tried to find the right words. Lily succeeded in that moment at knocking a bludger in the direction of James. 'Oh, I don't know. She's too harsh for James, you know?'

'Yes!' Harry cried in agreement. 'Like her view on werewolves.'

'What?' Hermione and Ron exclaimed.

'Thank you! Yes. She made an offhand comment about Teddy the other day. It was just me and her in the living room. She said how lucky he was not to be a werewolf because she wouldn't feel comfortable to be in the same room as him otherwise.'

'No!' Ron exclaimed in shock.

'Get out.' Hermione said in disgust.

'Yep. But, Ginny loves her so…' Harry said raising his shoulder in a what can you do attitude.

'Did you tell Gin about that?' Ron asked.

'Of course not. Are you crazy? She'd make James break up with her and then he'd resent her, and you've both seen James Potter in his strops. Then they wouldn't talk to each other and what if they never make up? When you get diagnosed with a terminal illness you have to think about these kinds of things. You don't want your first born and your wife to hate each other when you're gone.'

'Harry.' Ron said.

'She also knows I don't like her because she backed the IWC's proposed Hippogriff culling plan, which, you know, I was vehemently against. Thank Merlin it didn't pass. So she'd probably say I misheard or something.'

'She backed that?' Hermione asked in shock. Her government had been one of the biggest campaigners against that proposal. Her stance had almost cost her the head of the Department of Magical Transportation, though she had put him on notice when he threatened to go to the Daily Prophet about his opinions.

'Oh yeah. Besides, James is a big boy. He needs to come to these decisions on his own. I mean remember you and Lavender?'

'Don't remind me.' Ron groaned.

'Oh, Harry. Do you remember how he avoided breaking up with her because it was 'too stressful'.'

'What are you three skulking in the corner for? Come on, get up, get up. It's a beautiful afternoon and besides I think Teddy is up to something.' Molly Weasley said. Ron looked relieved not to be talking about his dating escapades. The three followed Molly in the direction of the rest of the family who were in an intense argument about who was keeping track of the scores of the Quidditch match and which side had won.