Sunday, 17th August 2025

Hermione had come to realise over the years as Minister for Magic that the Ministry of Magic usually had some sort of scandal brewing that could threaten to spill over at any moment on any given day. She left the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic's office, Imelda Heavenesbee, trying hard to ignore eye contact with any of her staff. She was determined to get to her office and get home in as quick a time as possible so as not to be late to Sunday dinner at the Burrow. It was rare that Hermione needed to be in the office on a Sunday but some documents could not wait until Monday to be signed off on. She was thankful that Rita Skeeter's last op-ed on the government was an entirely non-starter. If Hermione were to give it a grade she probably would have given it a T for Troll. Some scandals needed an extreme case of crisis management but on this occasion Hermione was relieved to find out that the intended defamatory article was so irrelevant that the launch of Farah Spinnet's and the Bowtruckle's world tour completely overshadowed Skeeter's piece. Not that Farah Spinnet and the Bowtruckle's World Tour was not a worthy announcement, it had just ceased to be relevant in the Granger-Weasley household after Rose and Hugo had each turned about ten years of age. Skeeter had tried to suggest that the Ministry was actively trying to force members of its staff to retire early. Hermione had to laugh at the mere suggestion of such a policy. A representative of the Law Enforcement Union had approached the Minister for Magic's office to offer a supportive system to enable staff in high risk careers an early retirement option such as Auror's and Hit wizards. Harry had actually spearheaded the campaign having first broached the subject to Hermione some four years ago when their dear friend, Phoebe Goldstein, had been wounded in an operation by the Hit wizards to apprehend a Deatheater. Early retirement at Phoebe's age would have left her in financial difficulty and without any kind of magical healing support even though she was unable to continue in the department. The topic, however, had been shelved as both Hermione and Harry agreed it would look bad coming from either of them, given their position, and so they set about planting the seed in other departments in the hope that the LEU would advocate for some similar redundancy package. It may have taken a few years longer than either she or Harry would have liked however Hermione was relieved that it was finally coming to fruition.

Hermione took a quick glance over her desk, out of habit, to see if any new urgent documents had been delivered in the last thirty minutes. Her office was peacefully quiet, something she could so rarely appreciate during the weekdays, just the soft ticking of the clock that hung over her door. Satisfied that any pending work could be completed Monday morning she walked over to her personal fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo powder. Hermione stepped out of her fireplace into her sitting room to a not so quiet house.

The sound of raised voices was carrying through the house, though the exact wording was difficult to comprehend as she got her bearings in the room.

'Have you ever considered that you are wrong, Rose?' She heard her husband's voice shout. The conversation seemed to be coming from the direction of the kitchen.

'Seriously? Me, wrong ? Have you ever considered your wife is wrong?' Rose shouted back at him.

How did we get to this point? Hermione thought as she entered the hallway and slowly approached her kitchen.

'You mean your mother.'

'Oh whatever, Dad! She has no regard for anyone else's opinions or for promoting the welfare of the rest of the witching kind-'

'You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.' Ron cut in. Hermione could hear his anger through the half closed door of the kitchen,

'Oh believe me I do, I've done all this research-'

'Research? Is that what you're calling it? Those are inflammatory magazine whose sole purpose is to spark drama, never mind the lack of any reason or facts-'

'Facts? You want some facts? Okay, there are forty wizards who are being forced into an early retirement in her ministry by her decree.'

Hermione could hear the rustling of papers on the kitchen table.

'Those are hit wizards whose union have lobbied for an early retirement because of injuries sustained in the line of duty.'

'That's what they want you to think, Dad.'

'One of them is Seamus. You know, my friend , Seamus, from when I was in school. Sean's dad. Really Rose, I can't say I'm not disappointed. I really thought you would know better than to believe everything you read in the paper.'

'Aunt Ginny, works for a newspaper.'

'Yeah. The sports section.' Hermione could imagine Ron rolling her eyes at this. 'It's a bit hard to lie about that. What is she going to say Chudley Cannons actually stand a chance in the league this year?'

Hermione decided she was done eavesdropping and pushed open the door to walk into the room. Ron was leaned back in his chair , he had a mug of tea in his hand. Rose was stood with her back to the door and countless magazine and news article clippings in front of her.

'Hello, dears.' Hermione said in the best attempt at a cheerful-definitely-wasn't-eavesdropping voice.

Rose snapped her head to look at Hermione. Her face was bright red, which always happened when she argued about anything even remotely passionately. She looked her mother up and down and rolled her eyes.

'Ugh, whatever. I'm late.' Rose said and flicked her wand a the papers on the table. They nearly piled themself into one stack and slipped into her open handbag.

'To Nana and Grandads?' Hermione asked, confused. She checked her watch, they had plenty of time before they needed to leave.

'Um no. I've a date with Scorpius.'

'Lovely.' Ron muttered.

Rose stormed past her mother and banged the front door as she left.

Hermione stared at the hallway where her daughter had just vacated in shock.

'Okay, I know it wasn't something I said this time but what exactly did I do to warrant all … that?' Hermione asked as she turned back to her husband.

Ron took a long drink of his tea, or at least Hermione hoped it was tea.

'She needs to move out.' Ron said finally.

'Ron.'

Hermione grabbed a cup of tea for herself and sat at the table.

'I'm sorry Hermione but it's way past time that she learns how to fend for herself. I don't know how to parent that. She's completely past reason.'

'I don't disagree that she's run away with herself, Ron, but she's Rose. Our Rosie. She's our little girl.'

Hermione looked at the most recent family photo that the four of them had taken the summer of Rose's O.W.L'.s which was conveniently located on the wall behind Ron. The four of them were smiling and laughing, every so often the Ron in the photo would tickle the teenage Rose and Hugo.

'She hasn't been our little Rose for a while now, 'Mione.'

She furrowed her brow.

'I just keep hoping one day she'll wake up and be herself again. Is that so wrong of me? To wish her whole personality just goes back to how it used to be, Ron?'

Ron reached out across the table to grab her hand and squeezed it lightly.

'No. Maybe it's in there somewhere. Maybe some time apart will be good for all of us. I don't know about you but I dread coming home on the off chance I run into her on a ranting day. I've slept at the shop, like, how many times this last month?'

Hermione chuckled despite herself.

'Oh Merlin. I really birthed myself, didn't I?' Hermione said.

Ron cracked a smile at her comment.

'Maybe, just a tad, love. Now, I best go wake up Hugo or we'll be late for Mum's.'

'Oh okay.' Hermione said absentmindedly as she stared at the family photo again. Then the word Ron said registered in her head and she checked her watch again in horror. Teenage boys were a different breed, for all of Rose's faults at least she woke up at a respectable time even during her younger years. Hugo seemed to be keen to wake up as close to midday as possible all summer break.

They were the last to arrive at the Burrow, which was entirely Hugo's fault. If Rose was her copy then Hugo was one hundred percent Ron's. It took thirty minutes for Ron to get Hugo out of the bed, before he eventually gave up and just poured water over him to wake him up. The sitting room and kitchen of the Burrow were already filled with people. No matter how stressful life seemed to get, Hermione always felt at ease the second she stepped foot in her in-law's house no matter how busy and chaotic it could be. Hermione was glad that Bill and Arthur had finished the extension on the house the week prior and they were able to accommodate the whole family in the new dinning room rather than in tents outside as it was pouring rain in Ottery St Catchpole.

'Rosie with you?' Albus asked, handing a glass of wine each to both Hermione and Ron.

'No, she said she had a date with Scorpius.' Ron said, downing the glass of wine in one go.

Albus looked at him strangely, taking the empty glass back from his uncle.

'I'll get you another. You know, I think I liked it better when they didn't speak to each other.'

'You and me both, son.' Ron replied, patting his back and moving further into the kitchen.

'Any chance you could take her with you when you go back to …' Hermione motioned her hands as she tried to recall her nephew's latest station as a Cursebreaker.

'Jordan.' Albus supplied as the two headed back into the kitchen.

'Ah yes, Jordan.' Hermione replied, she vaguely remembered Ginny offhandedly mentioned it to her.

'That bad, eh?' Albus asked. He placed Ron's empty glass in the sink. 'Lily had mentioned something. Give her time, Aunt Hermione, she's young. She'll grow up.'

Hermione raised her eyebrow in amusement at Albus.

'She's older than you, Albus.'

'Yeah but not up here.' Albus said pointing to his head.

Hermione laughed. If you had told her fifteen years ago that Albus would be the more mature of him and Rose she would have laughed in their face. But here she was having a more logical and calm conversation with her godson and not her own daughter.

Albus leaned in in a conspiratorial manner to Hermione. She felt obliged to lean in too.

'Well between you and me, Aunt Hermione, she's going to really regret this dinner.'

Hermione widened her eyes at this tidbit of information and grabbed his forearm.

'Why, what's happening? Al, tell me everything.'

'I can't, I'm afraid. I've been sworn to secrecy.' He replied dramatically and loudly, drawing attention from some of his cousins. Then he leaned into Hermione again and whispered. 'All I can say is, make sure you have a good view of the orchard.'

'The orchard?' Hermione stated loudly. Albus shushed her looking around him nervously.

'Albus it is pouring rain.'

'Hey don't shoot the messenger.' He said and held his hand up.

As it turned out Albus had told half the family to get a good view of the orchard. Whoever thought Albus was good with a secret was very ill informed. Which was why Hermione, Ginny, Percy, Bill and about four of her nieces and nephews were peering out the window facing the orchard of the new floor to ceiling windows in the dining room.

'What, in Merlin's beard, are you lot doing?' Molly Weasley asked from behind the group, hand on her hip and eyebrow raised.

Hermione looked at Ginny for a response. Ginny raised her eyebrow and made a face, and turned back to the window but not before elbowing Percy. Percy went to open his mouth and say something but for once no words appeared to be found and he simply did a spectacular job of impersonating a fish out of water. Finally, Bill stepped forward and cleared his throat.

'The, uh, the trees, they just look, just… so spectacular in the rain, Mum. Have you ever noticed?' Bill said. Lucy looked at her uncle incredulously.

'William Weasley.' Bill winced. 'You are up to something.'

'Me? No, never, Mum.' Bill replied. Molly went to reply but was interrupted by Ginny.

'WAIT, wait wait. Someone's there, look look look.' She cried pointing at the orchard.

And sure enough someone was there. A man dressed all in a light blue slowly approached the Burrow from the orchard. They appeared to be gliding and as if he was completely unphased by the pouring rain as if it was impervious to him. Hermione thought she could see what appeared to be fairy's hovering around him as he got closer to the house.

'Is that… is that Teddy?' Hermione heard Lucy say from behind her.

Hermione squinted her eyes through the rain stricken window, trying to make out the features of the man. He raised his wand to his throat.

'Victoire Weasley!' a voice boomed from the garden.

'It is Teddy.' Lily hissed.

The entirety of the Weasley's dining room fell silent, which was a shocking feat in and of itself.

'Victoire Weasley.' Teddy's magically loud voice said again.

There was commotion from behind Hermione and Victoire appeared to her right as if pushed forward by another family member. Her face seemed to be frozen in shock

'Oh dear Merlin.' Dominique said as she glanced frantically at her sister and Teddy.

'Go on. Go, go, go.' Roxanne said, opening the double glass doors and pushing her cousin outside roughly. Someone muttered a spell to keep her dry.

Teddy walked closer to the house so that he was only a few yards away from both Victoire and the open dining room door. Hermione could see he was wearing a pale blue suit. In fact she was certain it was one of Victoire's favourite colours. And he had a bouquet of bluebells and lavenders in his hands, her two favourite flowers. Up close Hermione could see the fair's appeared to be dancing around Teddy but upon seeing Victoire decided to surround her. Teddy dropped to one knee and pulled a small dark box from his pocket. The dining room collectively gasped and then quickly fell silent.

'Victoire Weasley, I have loved you for the last ten years.'

Victoire stepped towards him. She was smiling serenely at Teddy. One could be forgiven in thinking that it was her Veela gene's that made her look so beautiful in that moment but Hermione knew that feeling and she knew it was the love she had for Teddy that made her shone.

'I knew from the moment I met you that you were someone special. It took me far too long to realise just how special you would be to me.' Victoire giggled at this, clearly remembering some inside joke between the two.

'Not long enough.' Bill muttered at Hermione's side. She elbowed him in the ribs causing him to hiss.

'They have been the best ten years of my life. I want to continue loving you for as long as I live. Victoire Frederica Weasley would you do me the absolute privilege and honour of becoming my wife?

Hermione did not hear whatever Victoire's response was but she assumed it was a yes as Victoire crashed into Teddy's arms and he twirled her around. The dining room erupted into applause and cries of joy and the family burst onto the garden to congratulate the two lovebirds despite the pouring rain. The fairy's did not seem to appreciate the sudden intrusion to their dancing and floated high above the group.

'Oh will you all get inside?' Molly shouted from the dining room doors, both hands on her hips. 'It is lashing rain. You'll all catch a cold. In. in, in. Get in.'

Hermione felt arms around her and turned to look at Ginny, who was crying while she smiled.

'Oh I can't believe it. Oh finally.' She cried as she hugged Hermione.

Hermione maneuvered herself and Ginny back inside the Burrow as the group slowly dispersed after congratulating both Victoire and Teddy who were still locked in each others arms.

Hermione muttered a hot air charm to dry off each person as they entered the dining room.

'Oh Teddy, Victoire, congratulations. Oh, a wedding. How exciting.' Molly said hugging the newly engaged after they were dried off.

'Thank you so much, Mrs Weasley.' Teddy shouted, the sonorus charm still amplifying his voice.

Everyone flinched, some even dramatically covered their eyes, and started shouting at Teddy to be quiet and suggesting the counter charm. Teddy went red in the face and muttered quietus before following Victoire to their seats at the table. Hermione took a seat beside Ron and Ginny, the latter of whom was dabbing at her eyes with her napkin.

'Well now that that excitement is out of the way, why don't we all just dig in.' Molly suggested as she was the last to sit at the table.

No one needed to be told twice to eat at that table and everyone quickly helped themselves to Molly Weasley's exceptional cooking.

'That was painful.' Ron said in her ear.

'It was sweet, Ron' Hermione hissed back, lightly slapping his stomach. 'Just because you proposed over ice cream at Florean Fortescue's.'

'Oi, I had him bring back your favourite flavour for that!' Ron shot back, attracting the attention of those around them

'You blurted out that you loved me and threw an empty ring box in my face.' Hermione argued.

Ginny who was sitting beside them and had heard this story many times, sniggered at her words.

'Well what was I supposed to do? The ring was in the ice cream.'

'Oh no, I remember. I almost broke a tooth.'

'Your proposal is it?' Harry asked, sitting down beside them with a smile.

'How'd you guess?' Ginny laughed.

'You knew about that?' Ron asked, nodding to the back garden.

'Of course. Who do you think had to go to Paris to get the suit? Or teach him that drying charm? Or convince the fairy's to dance?' Harry joked, he had such a proud smile on his face as he watched Teddy from across the table who was getting congratulated by James and Albus.

'I can't believe you kept it from me.' Ginny said as she helped herself to an extra spoon of roast potatoes. She furrowed her brows and then turned to completely face her husband. 'Wait, how long exactly have you known?' She demanded.

Harry cleared his throat and pretended to not hear her.

'Harry James Potter.'

'A couple of months.' Harry muttered just loud enough that those sat close by could hear.

'Months?' Ginny cried.

'Remember when you were happy about the proposal, Gin?' Harry asked as he minutely shifted away from Ginny.

'Before or after you got sick?' She asked as she narrowed her eyes.

Hermione eagerly took a sip of her wine. Usually she and Ron were providing the entertainment.

'Well, technically, love, if you ask the healers, I've been sick for a very long-'

'Harry.' Ginny cut in.

'Well, um, let's see I got diagnosed in May. And Teddy first spoke to me about it at Christmas-'

'You've known since Christmas?'

'-last year.' Harry said and took a drink of his glass of wine. Ginny was utterly gobsmacked as she stared at her husband.

'I don't want to hear it when I forget to tell you something anymore.' Ron muttered to Hermione. She chucked at his words.

'You either.' She joked back.

'Well, now. I see how it is. Oh, I'll remember this one, Potter.'

'Ginny.' Harry started to say.

'Oh no, no, no. There'll be a day, Potter, mark my words. It may not be today, it may not be tomorrow, it may not even be anytime soon. But there will be a day and you'll know, okay? You will know that I have had my revenge.' Ginny said coolly.

'Ginny, love, I couldn't tell you.' Harry pleaded. Freddie who was sitting across from them raised his eyebrow at the argument between his aunt and uncle.

'One day, Potter. One day.'

'You would have never left the poor lad alone. Do you know how long this took me to convince him to finally do it?'

'Sprouts, Hermione?' Ginny asked, raising the largely untouched bowl and offering it to Hermione.

'Sure.' Hermione said and shared an amused glance with Ron.

Ginny leaned in closer to Hermione.

'I am happy, but I can't let him think he's off the hook.' She whispered. Hermione sniggered.

'I wouldn't expect anything less from you.'

Sunday, 31st of August 2035

Hermione couldn't sleep. She had tried everything. She had tried counting sheep, but that didn't work in fact it frustrated her more than anything as it seemed to be the most useless task to attempt to complete while one chased sleep. She had tried counting to one hundred, she had then tried counting backwards from one hundred. She had even tried recalling all the Tales of Beedle the Bard from memory in Ancient Runes. Upon this also failing to help her fall into slumber, she had resigned herself to a night of sleeplessness and thus tried to figure out its cause. Ron was snoring softly as he slept, his peacefulness seemed to taunt her. It crossed her mind that his snores while not loud may be the source of her insomnia but quickly brushed this aside as it never been the cause of her unrest in the over twenty years of marriage. It did irk her that he could always sleep so peacefully any concerns of the previous day far from his mind. Work was always stressful, and while it was true that some days were more stressful than others, there was nothing that was troubling her mind, at least not in the past week. Ron turned in his sleep, his back facing towards her.

If she was truthful with herself, which was always easier to do in the darkness of night, Hermione knew deep down what was troubling her. Tomorrow was the 1st of September, which meant herself, Ron and Hugo would be travelling to King's Cross Station one last time. Hugo would be entering his seventh and final year of schooling at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The reality of her baby going to King's Cross for the last time had weighed heavy on her head. It was the end of an era! Not often did Hermione feel like she was getting old, but both of her children graduating Hogwarts and becoming full fledged adults was a terrifying reality to stomach. It really did not feel all that long ago that she was teaching them to walk or how to write in cursive. And surely it didn't feel like that long since she had taught them to not levitate and or set each other or their cousins on fire when they hadn't learned to control their magic. But now they were adults and they didn't need her help or guidance as was very evident with Rose these days. Hermione loved her job and her work as Minister for Magic but her favourite job in the world had been becoming Rose and Hugo's mother. And it seemed that tomorrow was signifying the end of that job that she had held for the last twenty years.

'Hermione?' Ron's voice mumbled from beside her in the dark.

Hermione waited a moment before she answered, unsure if Ron was talking in his sleep.

'Mm hmm?' She replied.

'Go to sleep.' He muttered.

'What a wonderful idea, Ronald. Why didn't I think of that?' She said sarcastically.

Ron let out a sigh and turned on to his back, Hermione could imagine him staring at bleary eyed even in the dark.

'Why you awake, love?' Ron said roughly.

'If I knew that I don't think I would be in this predicament.' Hermione snapped back. Her eyes were starting to burn in her head. She was certain she would have an unmerciful headache all day tomorrow.

They lapsed into a prolonged silence. Hermione felt it was wholly unnerving sitting in their dark bedroom with Ron evidently awake beside her.

'I can hear you thinking from here.'

Hermione huffed and sat up in the bed.

'I'm not their mother anymore.'

Ron did not answer straight away. Hermione honestly thought he may have fallen back to sleep. This thought really irked her and she was seriously considering shoving him off of their bed.

'What?' He asked incredulously.

'After tomorrow, I won't be their -'

'No, no. I heard you. But like what … I mean why do you bloody think that?'

'They're adults, Ron. They don't need me or you, for that matter, anymore.'

'They're bloody idiots, Hermione.' He cried.

'Ron.' Hermione admonished.

'Come on, Hermione. Let's be honest with ourselves. Hugo would have left packing for school until tomorrow morning if you hadn't been nagging him this whole evening. And Merlin knows Rose could use all the parenting and pestering she can get.'

'But they're adults, Ron. They'll be moving out or in Rose's case forced out and starting their own lives. Their focus won't be our little family anymore, you know?'

'Hermione, if you think you're off the hook from mothering those two, you are very much underestimating how much they need you.'

Hermione smiled, somehow Ron's words had brought tears to her eyes.

'When did they grow up so much? I swear it was just yesterday we were putting out literal fires when they had a meltdown.' She said.

'Oh, Merlin. Remember when Teddy accidentally locked Rose, Lily and Rox in James' room?' Ron said and chuckled to himself.

'Oh, I forgot about that day.' Hermione replied. 'I actually had to go out into the garden to laugh so I wouldn't do it in front of the kids when you were giving out to them.'

'I had to do that when Hugo decided to dye Rose's clothes all hot pink that one Christmas.'

'Oh, I miss it. I miss those days.'

'They'll be fine, Hermione.' He said and squeezed her hand.

'I know.'

'And when they fail, because they will, we'll be there for them. okay?'

'Okay.' Hermione whispered back into the dark room.