Hello my lovelies,
I'M BACK! The next chapter is going to be a LONG one, so I might not be able to post it on Monday, but I am aiming to get it done for then.
Please leave a review and let me know what you think x
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Disclaimer: As always, Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling, only the storylines and any OC's belong to me
Wednesday, December 8th, 1999
Potter Manor
Hermione rubbed at her brow in annoyance. Daphne had officially moved into Potter Manor, which meant Hermione was subjected to regular floo calls from Missus Greengrass. The witch loved to hear her own voice, and she regularly whinged about how improper Daphne and Harry's pre-nuptial co-habitation was.
Draco had diplomatically soothed Missus Greengrass's nerves and assured her that Daphne would be living under his roof, and that she had nothing to worry about. Regardless, Daphne was meant to move in soon since their wedding was set for the cusp of spring and summer.
Missus Greengrass allowed it but bemoaned and complained thoroughly that her precious daughter would be living in sin. Hermione had struggled to keep an impassive expression. Daphne had primly informed her mother that she and Harry would be shagging regardless of where they lived, so wouldn't it be better if they didn't need to sneak around. Her mother had fainted.
Daphne's addition to the manor meant Astoria visited at least once a week. The first visit was in the middle of breakfast when the entire manor was gathered in the dining area, devouring stacks of fluffy, buttermilk pancakes with blackberry compôte.
Astoria had wordlessly sat down and daintily ate two pancakes without making eye contact. Draco broke the silence, "morning Astoria. How are things at home now that Daph has moved out?"
"More or less the same, quieter in the mornings," Astoria shrugged. "Although Daddy caused quite a fuss a few nights ago when he realised which Charlie is courting me."
"Oh?" Hermione asked.
"Oh. Daddy got over it once Mummy reminded him that although the Weasleys are 'blood traitors', they are also Purebloods. Which appeased him. I'm sure Daphne being betrothed to 'the chosen one' helped." Astoria said and then remained silent for the remainder of the meal, her expression rarely changing.
Presently, Hermione's thoughts shifted to a conversation she'd had with Remus the prior weekend. He once more expressed his desire to open a sanctuary for werewolves with nowhere else to turn. Especially during the full moons. Hermione suggested Lupin Den, they could renovate, add additional rooms, and there was plenty of room for the wolves to run during the full moons. Remus asked if they need to request permission from the Ministry for this new venture. Hermione scoffed and said the Ministry can kiss her arse. It was his land, his home, he could do whatever he chose with it.
Hermione wandered past Charlus and Dorea's room, passed a couple more doors before arriving in front of Charlus's old study. The door was ajar. Hermione slowly pushed it open, and peeked inside, finding Sirius at the desk on the far side of the room. A quill scratching against parchment, a floating tome off to the side, and Sirius rubbing his temple, his brow furrowed deeply.
Sirius and Remus had begun using Charlus's study as their home office for class preparations, marking papers and so on whenever they were home on the weekends. Supper was soon, so she thought she would go and fetch him.
Sirius's grey eyes flicked upwards as he noticed her presence. He made a grunt of acknowledgment, but did not stop his scribbling. "Sorry, Mione. I'm just plotting out my lesson plans for next week. I need to make a few adjustments since the seventh years have been overwhelmed with mock examinations the past couple weeks."
Hermione hummed as she headed over to him, she rounded the desk and leaned against it beside him. "You said you've got a couple things left to cover, right?"
"I tried to get the more challenging spells out of the way at the beginning of the year. That way they would have more time to practice, and it won't be as terrible next term." Sirius mumbled, his frown deepening.
"You're doing excellent, Professor Black," Hermione said reassuringly. She leaned forward to brush his hair out of his eyes.
Sirius chuckled softly. "Professor Black huh?"
Sirius sighed heavily. He stopped writing and placed his quill down. He fell back in his chair and rubbed at his eyes with the heels of his hands. "I'm trying desperately to live up to Minnie's enormous legacy." Sirius absently gestured to the floating tome. "They are gigantic shoes to fill, and I am doing my best whilst trying to colour in my own picture."
"You're doing a brilliant job." Hermione grabbed hold of one of his hands and carefully kneaded her thumbs into his palm. Sirius pried open his eyes and smiled languidly.
"Am I? I wonder sometimes…were we this much trouble? We can't have been," Sirius said with a fond shake of his head.
"We were undoubtedly worse," Hermione chuckled.
Sirius nodded. "Undoubtedly." He gripped Hermione's hand and gently tugged her towards him. She carefully sat sideways in his lap, her legs hanging over the side of the armchair, her hands intertwined and resting on her abdomen. Sirius pursed his lips, gazed in her direction, but staring straight through her. "There's something about that look on their faces."
"What look?"
"When they accomplish a tricky bit of transfiguration. The unadulterated awe and triumph on their faces, it's well, it's magical."
Hermione blinked twice, head lolled to the side as she considered her friend. "Sometimes I forget how grown up you are."
Sirius guffawed. "Because I go to incredible lengths to ensure I never lose my sparkle." Sirius winked.
Hermione's smile only grew wider. "I'm proud of you, Pads." Sirius patted her shin, his nose twitched as he sniffed hard. His eyes were shiny, unshed tears threatening to fall.
"Me as a professor. Who would have thought? And that I would be kind of decent at it as well," Sirius said softly.
"I would have bet good money on Moony when we were younger," Hermione teased.
Sirius scoffed. "Because you were a cheat and had all the answers. I feel like I deserve reparations for some of the coin you swindled from me."
"I was simply well informed, and there weren't any rules against it," Hermione retorted.
Sirius tugged on a loose curl that had escaped her messy ponytail. "On another note, Dray told me Cissa has been here almost every day this week."
Hermione groaned. "Final wedding decisions."
"Less than a fortnight away now. Are you excited?"
Hermione nodded firmly. "In spite of all this fuss, I am. We've had to wait so long, and we're finally going to have our binding ceremony. I…I just wish they could all be here." Hermione doesn't have to say who, for Sirius already knows, the list of their fallen friends and family were always kept folded up in sections of their hearts.
"Speaking of bets, James once bet me that your children would have your wild curls and Draco's eyes," Sirius said quietly. Hermione sat up a little straighter. Sirius squeezed Hermione's shin and cast his eyes upward, fighting off thick emotion as he continued. "It was around the time we found out Lily was pregnant. He said it out of the blue, like a man possessed. He was convinced you two would come back, and he said maybe you would have kids soon too, so Harry could have a friend to play with growing up."
Hermione swallowed, gently rubbing her belly. "It would have been nice. Us, you and Riley, James and Lily, and Frank and Alice all having children around the same time. We would have had to wait for Moony of course…but it would have been nice."
Sirius smiled tightly. "In another world. Regardless, I will be putting down some coin on my darling Prongs's behalf that your firstborn child will have your hair—" Sirius pulled on her curl once more, "—and Draco's eyes."
"So you've abandoned the blond curls idea?"
Sirius gasped, as if affronted. "That will be the next one."
Hermione almost choked on her laugh as she sat up and swung her feet down onto the ground. "I haven't even had the first one yet."
"With the way you and Paws go at it, like rabbits in heat, it won't be long before you have a whole litter."
"We're not that bad—" Hermione faltered as Sirius rolled his eyes and fixed her with a knowing look.
"Rabbits. In heat." Sirius patted her waist, nudging her to get up. She obliged. "Now, Missus Hare, shall we go scrounge up some food? I'm famished."
"Missus Hare," Hermione grumbled as Sirius tidied up his desk. "Getting ahead of ourselves, it is still Miss for the moment," Hermione said under her breath. The pair swiftly departed, and Hermione spent a significant portion of their walk admiring her engagement ring. It wouldn't be long now; in less than two weeks she would be Missus Hermione Potter. She couldn't wait.
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and for everyone that left a review on the last chapter, I love you x
Tiny sidenote, I'm going to finish (not sure when, but I WILL do it) my main WiPs: Fall Through Time, A Dalliance in Time, Time Travel? Piece of Cake, and Return to Regulus Black, but the others I probably won't? I really don't fussy or support any of the stuff JKR stands for these days, but I do really want to finish out my main stories because HP has been a massive part of my life for so long, and I want to finish them not only for me, but all of you lovely people who have read my stories over the years.
I'm not sure about I Never Said I was Sorry because I've been thinking about taking it down, and using the basic time travel premise for that one to create an entirely unique/separate standalone story. I'll of course keep you all updated on that, but the more I look at it, the more I wish to do it.
Love,
Indie