October 2006
Hermione had showed up the last week in September. While it was great for Harry to have his dear friend close by, she was irritating the shit out of him.
What have you tried, Harry? Why doesn't the wizarding world know about this, Harry? You need to talk about your feelings, Harry.
It was all too much. And then there was the fact that Ron was mad at him. Had been mad for years. Apparently, he thought Harry gave up his life in Britain on a whim. And Harry could admit, it had been a fast decision and he regretted not making time for his friends. But he wouldn't give up the family he'd made here in Montana.
Ron also didn't understand how he could forgive Severus or even want to be close to him. What Ron didn't get was Severus was a new man after the war. Everyone deserved a second chance; that's what Dumbledore had taught him.
He walked around town for a while to cool off from Hermione's latest attempt to question him on the question of muggle diseases in wizard patients. She had actually asked Severus once before getting a telling off that Harry would always remember. She was brave, he could admit, asking a dying man why he was dying and if he wanted to be experimented on. Nevertheless, they stayed in different rooms now.
Harry returned to the house about an hour later; he had stopped by the diner and had a cup of coffee and chatted with Connie. The older woman always knew how to cheer him up. In a better mood, Harry found his friend being taught a clapping game Teddy had picked up at school.
"Hey 'Mione."
"Harry." She replied stiffly.
"Why don't you tell me what's new with everyone back home?"
Her brown eyes lit up and she moved to the couch and patted the seat next to her for Harry. Grinning, he sat and turned towards her, ready for a massive debrief.
"So obviously Ron and I are married now," she showed off her ring. "We have a daughter named
Jean after my mother. George and Lee are eternal bachelors, running the shop together. I think Angelina helps too. Bill and Fleur have five little girls now. Charlie moved to Wales to work with the Welsh Greens, still devoted to dragons."
She paused to sip at a bottle of water Harry hadn't noticed.
"Ginny's being the pro seeker we all know. Percy married a girl from International Cooperation; her name is Audrey and she's lovely. Maybe too lovely for Percy." They laughed. "Mr. Weasley retired from the Ministry last year, Forty five years! Mrs. Weasley still does a Sunday meal. I believe she still sends you sweaters?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, until Harry chuckled and nodded.
"Ones for everyone in the house. I had to take Severus' measurements secretly. Do you realize how difficult it is doing anything secretly when you live with a former spy?"
Hermione just rolled her eyes at him. "Anyways, um…Luna and Neville! They have some long distance love affair going on. I don't really understand it but they're happy. Oh and Professor McGonagal! She's still Headmistress."
Harry leaned back on the couch to process. It was nice that everyone was safe and happy. He was debating with himself now. When it finally came time, when Severus…passed, what would he do? He could keep living off the Black coffers for years still. And there was the work he had just started with the kids. What would a future without Severus look like? He didn't know yet and was a little afraid to find out.