Reborn

by Douglette

Summary:

What if Lily wasn't ready to be a parent? What if Snape finally got the girl? What if the war could be over before it began?

Chapter 1

“Hermione?” Gloria Evans eyed the back of her youngest daughter, spotting her standing completely still at the front door. “Hermione! For goodness sake, shut the front door!”

Hermione spun, her eyes wide and shocked, the arms that held the tiniest person she’d ever seen shaking badly.

“Hermione love?” her mother's eyes met hers in horror, “Where did you get a baby?”

“A baby?” Petunia's voice sounded as she rushed frantically down the stairs. “A baby! Mya, what the hell!”

“He's not mine!” Her voice sounded shrill and panicked even to her own ears.

“Then whose is he!” her eldest sister demanded, rushing forward to wrap her arm around her shoulders.

“Lily's,” Hermione murmured, her eyes on the baby.

“Lily's!” Gloria cried, “Lily's! But she was here yesterday! She wasn't bloody pregnant yesterday!”

Juggling the tiny boy, Hermione handed her mother the note that had been affixed to his blanket.

---

Hermione, 

You’ve been grown up since before you could walk, so I'm entrusting him to you. I can't do this, Hermione. I'm getting married in a week, and all I feel is panicked. It was easy, almost , to give in to James, to give in to someone who loved me completely. But he doesn't really, he doesn't know me. We spoke, and we were going to call off the wedding and then, then things started getting more serious, and we spoke about just doing it anyway. He seemed to think it would give me some sort of protection. He was going to try and convince one of the Prewetts to marry you for the same reason. I talked him out of that; we both know what you'd have done to him if he'd tried. 

And then I found out I was pregnant, and it was like a noose. I was never going to escape. Not with a child involved. And I love the baby. Abstractly. But every time I thought of him, I couldn't breathe. James isn't grown up enough for a child, but you, you, my fearless, wild sister, will give him everything I can't .  

You, Hermione, love with all of you. You just have to watch you protect Pandora and Barty to know that. And I know it's so unbearably selfish, but I honestly don't trust anyone else.

I'm leaving for a while. Severus has finally realised how wrong he was, and I have never stopped missing him. We’ve reconnected over the last few months, and I know now why James and I never worked. 

Take care of my son, Hermione. And hopefully, when I return you won't hate me as much as you surely deserve to. 

Lily.

---

“What are you going to do?” Gloria whispered, her face showing all the horror she was feeling. “Why…why didn't she tell us? Why didn't she trust us?”

Petunia scoffed loudly, “Perfect Lily, admit she’d made a mistake?”

“Tuney,” Hermione whispered warningly.

“No! No, don't you Tuney me! She's just dropped off her baby like yesterday's rubbish! Not only that, she's expecting you to fix it!”

Hermione let out a choked sob when the tiny boy opened his eyes, still unfocused; there was no mistaking the emerald green that he shared with his mother and grandmother. Forcing herself to keep it together, this times memories of the sister she wanted to hug and strangle in equal measure warring with the memories of this tiny boy as an abused teenager, Hermione straightened her spine. “Harry. I'm going to call him Harry. And I imagine I'm going to have to owl James.”

Her mother and sister stared at her, “Mya love, babies are…hard,” Gloria attempted a watery smile. “We can…we can find a good home for him, you're barely nineteen.”

“No!” The word left her sharply. “No, we will not find him a good home. We will make him one if it's the last thing I do.”

Her mother froze, running her eyes over the child she knew was the most stubborn of her three daughters, taking in the fierce eyes that matched her husband's, the curls that came from god alone knew where that appeared to be sparking and the stubborn tilt of her chin that unfortunately came from her and deflated. “Are you sure, love?”

“How can we give him up, Mum?” she murmured, stroking a hand over Harry's tiny head, “look at him.”

Gloria sighed, edging closer to her grandson, stroking his downy cheek softly, before her eyes darted to the resigned acceptance on her elder daughter's face. “Very well, love. Owl his father then.”

---

James stared dumbly at the witch who was supposed to be his sister in law, not moving to take the baby. Harry. His son. His son, whose mother had abandoned him to the care of his aunt. 

“We’ll need to get married.”

“Pardon?” Hermione blurted. 

He blew out a breath, meeting her eyes steadily despite how rapidly his heart was beating and how confused he felt. “Married. Us. Assuming you want to take care of him.”

“Of course I do!” she hissed, cuddling Harry closer.

He smiled, a faint stirring of hope fluttering somewhere near his heart. There was no mistaking how much she loved his son. “Well then. You know that the wizarding world is like, how he’ll be treated…how you’ll be treated if we don't.”

“But…but he's not mine!” she stammered. At any other time, it would have been funny seeing the balshy, brash Hermione Evans sound unsure. Now, though, it was a painful reminder of how fucked everything was.

“He could be,” he offered with a shrug instead of voicing anything else, not entirely sure why he was so desperate for her to agree. “Merlin knows Lily isn't entirely wrong about my capabilities. Mum will help obviously, but I don't blame you if you want to just remain his Aunt. I think he needs you not to though.”

Hermione glanced down at Harry, wondering if she could do this. James was forever linked to Lily inside her head; she’d never allowed herself to consider him as anything else. But Harry was here and Lily was nowhere to be seen. If anyone deserved a decent childhood this time around, it was this child, and really, she’d sworn to protect him at twelve, it was as much part of her as her curls apparently were. So was there any point in prevaricating when she knew what her answer would be? 

“Ok,” she whispered, forcing herself to look at him. “Ok.”

He blew out a breath, a slow smile appearing on his face as he finally stood, moving to sit next to her so he could look at his son, his finger finding its way into one of his impossibly small fists. “Ok then,” he murmured, impulsively dropping a kiss onto her temple, politely ignoring the way she startled. “Sirius’ll be godfather. Pandora for godmother?”

Hermione gave a slightly hysterical sounding laugh, “Christ. One of them will have blown him up before he can walk.”

James snorted, nudging her, “Nah, his mother's terrifying, don't you know. She's the only witch i've ever seen scare his godfather.”

“I do not scare Sirius!” she protested.

“Yeah, little witch, you do.” he contradicted. “Me too to be honest, so if you fancied vowing not to murder me when I'm inevitably stupid beyond all reasoning, I’d really appreciate it.”

“Or you could just not be stupid.” she grumbled, giving a reluctant smile when he laughed.

“Never going to happen. Now, who's telling Mum?”

Hermione's eyes went wide. “You! Absolutely you!”

---

Euphemia Potter stared at her only son in stupefied shock. Next to her, her husband appeared to be imitating a fish. “A baby?” she wheezed finally. “You have a baby, so you're marrying Miss Evans’ sister? James Fleamont Potter, make sense!”

James grimaced, running an agitated hand through his already messy hair. “Lily entrusted Harry to Hermione, and well…you’ve always said she was more grown up than the rest of us despite being younger.”

“Harry?” Fleamont managed sounding strangled.

“Oh. Hermione named him. She was quite adamant and well..I don't hate it and she agreed to using my name as his middle name.” he paused, knowing Hermione was going to curse him until he cried, blurting, “She's in the library with Harry.”

He had never seen his mother move so quickly. His father, though, remained seated. “Are you sure?” he asked softly.

“No,” James admitted, but forced himself to continue. “Lily and I were only getting married because it gave her some protection. She said Hermione would geld me for trying to talk her into a similar arrangement with one of the Prewetts or I would have. We’ve been…friends for a few years, once I stopped being such and idiot. And Remus and Peter adore her. She terrifies Sirius which perhaps isn't a bad thing. I think…I think we’ll be alright. She’ll be a good mum, at least.”

“You cannot build a marriage on that!” Fleamont protested.

“Purebloods have been building marriages on an awful lot less for centuries.” James muttered mulishly. 

“Not. us!” Fleamont hissed. 

“Dad. It's done.” James sighed. “Harry gets a mum who will protect him with everything she has, I get to ensure Hermione is as safe as I can make her given the current war. She's stubborn, you know. Determined to do things her way and Merlin knows that she was never going to back down from this war.”

Fleamont frowned, ““It sounds like you like her more than I thought.”

“She's a friend.” James shrugged. “And up until three hours ago, I was going to be her brother-in-law.”

“And come next week you’ll be her husband.” Fleamont noted.

James tried not to show how much that statement suddenly hit him leaving something close to abject terror settling in his stomach.

---

James Potter married Hermione Evans in a tiny, intimate, and permanently binding ceremony on the grounds of Potter Manor a week after learning of his son's existence. Her parents and sister watched as stony-faced as his as they promised themselves to each other in surprisingly steady voices before Hermione adopted her nephew in an ancient ritual that made him her son. None of them voiced the rising worry that they had made a huge mistake. 

Chapter 2

Notes:

TW- brief mention of previous miscarriage.

“Well then, madam wife, what now?” James turned to look at his bride, dressed in flannel pyjamas, rocking their son, her dress long since discarded somewhere in her room. A room that was not shared with her new husband. 

“Now?” she checked slightly sarcastically, “Now I believe I'm going try and convince Harry that sleep is not actually something to avoid. And then…then I'm really hoping that he sleeps long enough for a bath rather than a two minute shower.”

He snorted slightly, running a finger down his son's soft cheek. “I could watch him, you know.” She arched a brow disbelievingly. “I could!” he paused, “at least long enough for you to have a bath.”

She gave a loud snort as she rolled her eyes. “One day soon James Potter I am going to go and stay with Dora and Xeno for a night and leave you to it.”

He blanched dramatically, “But not soon right? He's tiny and…and …breakable!"

“Hes not breakable!” she protested, moving him to her shoulder to pat his back. 

“He looks it! He's tiny!”

Hermione laughed slightly, “James Potter you are going to pull your weight or I swear to god I will go for a week!”

“No! No! Right I’ll…help me?” he finished pathetically.

“Merlin Potter!” Hermione groaned, holding out the baby. He looked immediately panicked, “Jesus. Sit down!”

He complied automatically, watching warily as she rose, before setting the baby in his arms, showing him how to support his head. “He doesn't feel like a real person,” he whispered, terrified he'd wake the baby and his brand new wife would then murder him. Or worse, leave him to figure it out on his own. 

“Well, you're all good here,” she bounced back from him. “Call someone who's not me if you need help.”

At that, she disappeared into the bathroom, leaving James sitting completely still, almost too scared to breathe as his son slept soundly, completely unaware that he terrified his father to the point of heart palpitations. 

---

 

“So. New wife,” Sirius eyed him over the kitchen table a week after his wedding. “New baby.” 

“Pads.” James sighed. 

“No invite to any of your friends…..”

“Pads…”

“Wrong Evans sister.”

“Merlin Sirius, I know! I know that quite a lot has happened.”

“Quite a lot,” he scoffed, turning to Remus and Peter. “Nothing to add?”

“Wheres Hermione?” Peter checked. 

“With Harry in the nursery. Top of the stairs and second on the right.”

He nodded sharply, standing and disappearing up the stairs.

“I think we're all just a bit worried.” Remus hedged just as James was coming to the conclusion that yes, actually, he did feel slightly offended that his friend was clearly more concerned about his wife than him.

“But not about me,” James retorted wryly, managing to only sound slightly miffed.

“A little bit about you,” Sirius protested. “Mainly about Kitten though. She was adamant she wasn’t getting married. And now apparently she's married to the person her sister was meant to marry and raising their kid.”

“Who's raising who now?” Barty stepped out of the floo, his eyes trailing around the room, his eyes widening in surprise at the people he found there. Sirius almost laughed. Apparently, Hermione hadn't warned him of her marriage when she’d invited him. 

“Mya is raising James and Lily's son.” Pandora answered, stepping out behind him and tugging him forward, “Come along, they're upstairs.”

Remus blinked, “How does she do that?”

“No idea.” James muttered, "Merlin, we’re about to ask her to be godmother to our kid.”

“Are you sure that's wise?” Remus checked hesitantly.

“Not in the fucking slightest.”

“Great,” he nodded, deciding that he did not have the fortitude to push that thought any further. “Now. You were explaining how this had happened?”

“What more do you want? Lily dropped ur kid off and asked Mya to raise him.”

“So you married her,” Sirius finished.

“So I married her,” he agreed.

“And, ah…. how's that going?”

James choked slightly, “I …we’re friends?”

“Just friends?”

He whined, “We sleep in separate rooms and she looks at me like I'm insane if I so much as kiss her cheek.”

Sirius snorted, a look of unadulterated amusement on his face, "Merlin Prongs,” he muttered, not finishing the thought as James’ head connected heavily with the table. Above his head, Remus and Sirius exchanged a knowing look, the latter passing over a handful of galleons with an exasperated smirk.

---

“How are you Mya?” Pandora checked softly, coming to a stop just inside the doorframe of Harry's room, Barty peering over her shoulder.

Hermione let out a slightly hysterical sounding laugh seconds before it turned into a choked sob. Pandora hummed, stepping in so she could wrap her in a hug as Peter and Barty's eyes blew wide in alarm. “Better?” She checked several minutes later when Hermione was calm.

“No.” Hermione whispered, “What the fuck was I thinking Dora?”

“You were thinking of Harry,” Pandora nodded to the baby in Peter's arms. “Now, then….he’s been your focus for a long time.” Watching her warily, Hermione nodded. “And now its time to tell us the truth. You’ll need help.”

“The truth about what?” Barty demanded. “Is this where you explain how the fuck you managed to get yourself married to your sister's fiance and raising his kid? You seem to have missed that out of your owl inviting us to your new house!”

“Is this the whole you being from the future and reincarnated thing?” Peter checked at exactly the same time.

Barty froze, his jaw dropping as his eyes darted between them “What?”

With a sigh, Hermione gave in to Pandora’s pointed stare, conjuring a seat and casting wards around the room. “This is going to be unbelievable…”

---

The stunned silence that fell following her story gave her the time she needed to regroup, fortifying her determination before the questions started. “Why did you tell Pettigrew?”

Hermione's expression softened at the hurt on Barty's face. Against all the odds, she adored him and had worked hard to ensure he wouldn't have the same fate as before. “Because he didn't trust me in the beginning. I was just Evans’ swotty little sister. And he…before, he was the catalyst to it all. I really didn't want you all involved! I was meant to do this on my own, quietly, without anyone else knowing.”

“And now things have changed,” Pandora mused.”Before Lily married James, not Severus. Severus was the spy. And now, because that didn't happen we all needed to know. You are going to have to accept the help, Mya.”

“Whos the spy this time?” Barty checked as Hermione pulled a face but nodded at Pandora nonetheless, knowing enough to know she’d be stupid to ignore the other witch’s advice but silently vowing to keep their participation to a minimum.

“Regulus,” Hermione admitted softly with a wince.

“Well then,” Barty blew out a breath, continuing bracingly, “What do you need?”

Hermione let out a slightly hysterical giggle, “Just now? I need help figuring out what the fuck im doing. Jesus Christ, I'm married to James Potter.”

“Yes,” Peter looked faintly amused, “he won't have a clue what to do with you, you know?”

“I don't think I know what to do with him either!”

Peter's answering smirk was wicked, “I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” he murmured, glancing at the baby in his arms, “My nephew will need siblings after all.”

Hermione's answering look of utter horror made the rest of them howl, Pandora patting her arm despite the mirth on her face, “You’ll get there. He's not exactly unpleasant to look at, now is he?”

“Hes James Potter!” she howled. 

“Yes,” Pandora agreed, “And you just bound yourself to him for eternity. Perhaps enjoy it just a little?”

Hermione groaned in response, stealing her son back from Peter, “I hate you all,” she muttered. 

“No, you don't," Barty contradicted, with a smirk, “You adore us.” Ignoring her scowl, he took the baby from her, whispering quietly, “Merlin Curls, you’re a mum.” 

She stilled, nodding, “Seems surreal.”

“Yes, that's what's surreal,” he retorted dryly. 

“It is,” she insisted. “I have…memories of him as a teenager. Merlin he was a fucking nightmare at points. I’ll need to do something to cure him of that.”

“Good luck, if he's anything like Prongs, it's never going to happen,” Peter laughed. 

“Christ.” Hermione cursed, “Although I suppose this time around I won't have to witness most of it. He’ll be Minerva's problem.”

“Like you won't be the Mum crying on the platform when her baby goes to school,” Barty chided. 

She rolled her eyes, “Perhaps in first year. Third onwards though? I imagine I’ll be thrilled to get a break from his dramatics.”

He laughed in response before asking hesitantly, “Why did you come back?”

She sighed heavily, “I…I wasn't sure what would happen, but…desperation? I was supposed to come back at the age I was, none of us expected me to be reborn as someone who hadn't existed before.”

“You know this version of you didn't exist?” Peter checked. “There isn’t a chance there was meant to be a third sister?” He grimaced slightly, not sure how to end his sentence, but they all knew what he meant. 

“I…not exactly. I understand from diaries we found that mum had a miscarriage after Lily before . This time, she didn't."

“Interesting,” Barty murmured. “Why was she so desperate? The you before?”

“Our world was decimated.” she whispered. “The second wizarding war left us almost extinct. And then..” she blew out a breath, reaching for her son, needing to feel his tiny chest moving as he breathed, “and then Harry went on a mission to help round up the last remaining Death Eaters. He didn't come back.”

“Merlin Curls…” Barty breathed, reading the very real grief on her face.

“Its generally not hard to separate the memories, the ones from before are…muted almost. But that one, the feelings that come with that one are sharp. They have been since I was old enough to understand what was happening.”

“It won't happen again.” Pandora murmured.

“I don't intend for it to, no.” Hermione agreed.

With a slight smile, Pandora inclined her head, “Such love surrounding one tiny boy,” she mused, “So many changes.” The room stilled as everyone stared at her, barely daring to breathe. “An aunt who retains her humanity, a cousin delayed but improved. Next year, I think. Parents who live…a godfather who remains free. Honorary aunts and uncles less broken than before. He was loved before , but this time it will be tenfold.” She reached for Hermione, squeezing her hand, “And you, you won't believe me yet, but you are exactly where you are supposed to be. You just need to let him in.” She cleared her throat, “Now, will we go and let Sirius meet his godson properly?"

No one moved for several seconds before, slowly, Hermione nodded, standing to follow Pandora down the stairs. Barty caught her arm before she could leave the room.

“I’m glad you're here,” he murmured. 

She smiled gently, balancing Harry in one arm so she could squeeze his hand. “Me too.”

“Its seriously fucking strange though, Curls.”

With a huff of laughter, Hermione just smirked, gesturing him forward, “Before Sirius decides to take matters into his own hands?”

Rolling his eyes at her, he sauntered through the door, “I dibs the next one.”

He cackled all the way down the stairs at her spluttering.

---

“Well, that went reasonably well?” James voiced, settling himself on the other end of the sofa from his wife, having finally convinced Sirius to go through the floo. 

“No one hexed anyone and no one outright called us insane, so I suppose you could say that," she agreed.

He grinned, "It's still a bit strange though isn't it?”

“Little bit,” she agreed, her eyes darting down to Harry when he began to fuss. Unconsciously, a small smile appeared on James’ face as he watched her soothe the tiny boy. His tiny boy. She made it look easy, although he knew from limited experience it was anything but. It was mind-blowing every time he thought about it too hard. He was married to Hermione Evans. The witch who was not scared to stand toe to toe with him and berate him for his behaviour. Who was fierce, compassionate, stubborn, and so surprisingly soft. He had had no idea she was hiding such a soft underbelly until he had been gifted this glimpse into her behaviour on a daily basis. It made him want to scoop her up and protect her from the world. And that feeling terrified him. 

“Let's play a game.” he demanded impulsively, startling her.

“A game?”

“Twenty questions. Lets…let's get to know one another properly. Things you'd never have asked or admitted to when we were just friends."

“Alright," she agreed slowly, and he grinned. 

“Ladies first…”

Chapter 3

“How long until he's gone completely?” Sirius mused, eyeing Remus with a slightly wicked grin. They had hidden themselves in a little corner booth in a muggle pub in order to unwind from the madness of their world.

“I think he's there and hasn't realised it.” Remus shot back.

“Quick though…given Evans…ah the other Evans.”

I don't think so.” Remus replied thoughtfully, taking a long pull of his pint. “He…listened to Hermione. Has for years and he tempered some of his more…outlandish ideas based on what she might think.”

“Or do to him,” Sirius interrupted with a smirk.

“Or do to him”, Remus agreed with a grin. “He was flashy with Lily. And he enjoyed the chase. But you know they almost called the whole thing off, and then when things started getting worse for muggleborns, they agreed to get married to give her some protection. But do you remember his rant after Lily warned him Mya would geld him for attempting to talk her into a similar arrangement?”

“He was so…panicked,” Sirius murmured, remembering the dramatics they’d all witnessed far too well. James had been almost unhinged as he ranted about how she was going to get herself murdered, and that she’d provoke or stumble into the wrong person and have no backup. It had been amusing and slightly sobering; his fear wasn't misplaced. Unfortunately, they had all thought he was putting too much faith in the protection of an old name; blood traitors were hardly much more protected than muggleborns. However, he wasn't to be reasoned with, and only several well timed silencing spells had prevented Hermione catching wind of it. 

“Yeah.” A silence fell before Remus spoke again, “How long until she falls for him?”

“Kitten?” Sirius blew out a breath, "She's a stubborn one. I think he’ll need to confess everything before it’ll even cross her mind. And then she’ll be confused and do that overthinking thing she does so well. It’ll hit her eventually that she loves him and just didn't realise.”

“This is going to be fucking awful.” Remus groaned, well able to imagine that. James was going to be an ungodly mess by the time Hermione came to her senses.

“But potentially funny,” Sirius offered.

Silently, Remus sent a stinging jinx his way, careful not to alert the muggles. “I’ll remind you that you do not cope well with depressed Prongs.”

“She won't break him completely…” he didn’t sound sure.

“She might if she's oblivious long enough for him to get lost inside his own insecurities."

“Fuck.” Sirius retorted succinctly, downing his rum, holding up the glass. “Another?”

“Get me something stronger than beer,” Remus whined, “I’d like to forget we’ve got this nonsense to look forward to on top of everything else.”

“Shots it is.” Sirius clapped him on the shoulder and all but bolted to the bar.

 

---

Hermione eyed the Headmaster warily, she had not wanted to join the Order, but logic told her it was the most sensible plan. She could hardly keep track of what little information was shared if she didn't. Despite that, no part of her trusted Albus Dumbledore, something she was yet to share with her husband.

Listening with half an ear, she waited for the reports to be given, her mind working over her next steps. It was almost September, the Prewett twins' date of death flashed insistently in her mind. She hadn't yet worked out how to convince them to listen to her warnings, but she knew she needed to do something about it soon. Harry stirred in her arms, drawing Albus’ attention, and she had to fight the urge to hide her son from sight. She knew that originally the prophecy had been overheard at the beginning of the year. She knew from Regulus that Tom was demanding a list of all children born in July, meaning someone had passed it on to him. What she didn't know was whether Dumbledore knew this time around. Could she have changed things that much? Could he have missed it, walked away from Trelawaney before she spoke? If not, he had sat on it for months, and if she found out that was true, she’d make his subsequent death slow and painful.

She had already secretly gone to Alice and told her half a story, convincing her to fortify the wards at Longbottom Hall, thankful that she was friendly with the witch and therefore trusted. She had also ensured that her own home was as strongly warded as possible, convincing James that it was necessary given that they were at war. Despite looking slightly concerned at her vehemence, he had humoured her, roping in the boys to help. It was all she could do at that moment without seeming paranoid. As it was, she had a further plan to discuss with Alice and Frank once she had sorted the Prewetts, part of her wondering if she needed to tell them the truth. Although Merlin knew if that was the road she chose, she’d need to speak to James first. 

“Remus, if you could remain behind, along with the Potters and the Longbottoms.” Hermione tensed at Albus’ words, drawing a searching look from James. 

Making a split second decision, knowing she could not allow Remus to be sent to the packs, allowing his self hatred to grow, Hermione met Peter's eyes. They widened, realising her intention before he nodded sharply once, turning his attention back to the headmaster so as not to draw attention. “The rest of you may go. Thank you as always for your continued support as we navigate these dark times. Remus, you first if you please.”

“Remus.” Hermione interjected lightly, “If you could go to Godric's hollow afterwards, we need some witnesses for the Godparent ritual.”

“Mrs Potter, unfortunately, Remus is unlikely to have time,” Albus interjected, his eyes twinkling.”

“I’ll take an hour, Albus.” she chided, “Surely you know the ritual is stronger when the witnesses are invested in a baby's future happiness.”

He blinked, a flash of annoyance on his face, “It is imperative….”

“Is it life or death?” she checked, “if so, Remus surely cannot be going alone?”

“Hermione!” James hissed. She ignored him, spotting the calculating look on Euphemia's face. 

“I assume grandparents are also invited?”

“Of course,” she murmured, not seeing a way out. “Although if you could acquire my parents and sister I'd be most grateful.”

Effie nodded once, “I’ll can. Albus, I trust you won't be long?”

He masked his irritation poorly, “No,” he finally agreed. “An hour at most then, Mr Lupin. The need for haste is rather pressing.”

Looking confused, Remus nodded, following him into another room briefly. Effie, to everyone's confusion, remained seated.

“Hermione, what was that?” James hissed.

She kept her face blank. “I’ll explain at home, not here.”

He faltered, his eyes drifting around those left, landing on Peter, the only one who didn't look curious, “You know?”

“Yes,” he admitted, turning to Hermione, “Barty and Dora?”

“Barty and Dora,” she agreed.

“And ah…” his eyes darted to the Longbottoms.

“Unfortunately likely a necessity,” she mused.

“I'm going to double check with Drora,” he muttered, leaving the room quickly.

“Feel like joining us?” Hermione attempted to smile at Alice. 

The witch looked wary before she sighed, “Why do I feel like you're about to say something that would usually come from Pandora?”

Hermione offered a wan smile but didn’t comment. “Merlin's tits Kitten,” Sirius grumbled, “You bloody are, aren't you?”

“If my son's first word is tits Sirius Black I will remove your tongue.” she threatened idly, not even bothering to look at him. He blanched.

“Hes too young for that yet though!”

“And you're too fond of that particular curse,”

“Right seriously, what is going on?” James demanded.

“Later,” she murmured as a pale-faced Remus and a serene Albus appeared back in the room. 

“Ah now, if i could just have the Potters and Longbottoms if you please.”

Sharing a look with James, Sirius stood reluctantly, reaching for Remus, “Lets go wait on this lot finishing here.” he commanded. 

Albus looked faintly surprised when Effie, Fleamont and Augusta remained, “I ah…meant the younger Potters and Longbottoms.” he explained.

“No.” Augusta's tone was hard.

“Mum it's alright…” Frank started.

“I said no,” she cut him off sharply, her gaze never wavering from Albus’ face “Whatever you want to say, you can, but you do so in front of me.”

Looking momentarily nonplussed, Albus attempted a smile, “Very well…seeing as you live with Alice and Frank, but …”

“Will you please go and get my parents and sister?” Hermione murmured, her eyes on her mother-in-law.

Effie's eyes narrowed questioningly, seeing her daughter-in-law shake her head minutely. “Very well,” she agreed slowly, surprising both her son and husband.

“Well..” Albus looked around the room once they had gone. “I’m afraid to have to tell you that there was a prophecy given to me by a Seer from a great lineage.”

“When? Is this new information?” Hermione asked quietly, her eyes boring into him. She spotted the moment he faltered slightly, barely keeping a lid on her rage. The timeline was the same, clearly. And he had kept it to himself for over six months.

“Earlier this year.” he admitted, “I wasn't sure who it might refer to until I did some research. After I heard about Alice's pregnancy, and then the birth of young Mr Potter…”

Frank sucked in a sharp breath, all of a sudden understanding Hermione's question. “You’ve known for months?”

“I knew about the prophecy, but not who it pertained to.”

“And yet you kept it to yourself.” Augusta murmured, “You didn't ask, what if there are more it might cover?”

“It's unlikely”, Albus replied placatingly, “I almost discounted Mr Potter until I realised that Mrs Potter is not, in fact, his mother.”

“She is,” James retorted, his voice quiet but steady. 

“Not quite. You are in fact his Aunt are you not?” he pushed, his eyes on Hermione.

“No.” she replied blandly. “Harry is my son.”

“Mrs Potter…Hermione, do be reasonable,” he chided.

“If you check his lineage, I am listed as his mother,” she retired, her voice still blandly even as she maintained steady eye contact.

“I see that…that might change things.”

“Oh?”

He sighed, the picture of grandfatherly disappointment, "The prophecy was quite specific.”

“Do share with the room, Albus.” Augusta snarked. “Or are we to be here for the rest of the night?”

“Very well,” he grumbled before reciting, “The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal. Hermione, you have not, to my knowledge, defied him three times.”

“I see.” she murmured, wondering what counted as defiance. She was hunting his horcruxes, she was handling a spy in his ranks and she had stolen a follower. Could it be that simple? Although born to could mean Lily still counted, he had, after all, been born to her sister and James, not her. “And that's it in its entirety?”

“Its not!” Alice hissed, seeing the flash of surprise on the headmaster's face.

He sighed, “The remainder is not important.”

“Then it won't hurt to share it.” Hermione did not miss the flash of fury on Albus' face, given the way he stepped closer to her, neither did James.

“I really believe….”

“Albus,” Augusta barked, “If you believe this prophecy pertains to Neville and young Master Potter then we have a bloody right to know!”

“Very well,” he sighed exaggeratedly, as if this was a massive imposition, “I really do believe that this would be better left unsaid.” he waited a beat as if expecting someone to jump in to let him off the hook. Instead, there was silence. Eventually, he began to speak, “The prophecy in its entirety is as follows: the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...”

“Neither can live while the other survives." Augusta repeated in a whisper as Alice hugged Neville tighter, a pale faced Frank moved closer, wrapping an arm around his wife, looking like he wanted to be anywhere else. 

“I want you to consider extra measures of protection,” Albus continued, “The fidelius would perhaps be best. I, of course, offer my services…”

“I think we’d like some time to process this,” Hermione interrupted. “We’ll let you know. Frank, Alice, you know our floo.”

At that she turned away from him, leaving Albus gaping, tugging James with her, a shell shocked Frank, Alice and Augusta trailing out after them.

---

“Hermione, what in the name of magic was that?” James hissed the moment he stepped out of the floo. Ignoring him, she ran her eyes over the room. 

“Mum, Dad, Tuney.” she smiled, noting the way they were watching her warily from their uneasy perch on her sofa. Her sister sent her a wry smile.

“We are not going to like whatever it is you're about to say, are we?”

“Likely not.” Hermione allowed, “However, I need a quick conversation with James before I start anything else.”

“Wise decision,” Pandora murmured, stepping out of the floo before she pinned James with a look. “You get one chance to react appropriately. Do not fuck this up.”

The entire room visibly startled at her unusually candid statement. “Right,” James muttered, running an agitated hand through his hair. 

“Upstairs then,” Hermione gestured him forward, trying to pretend her heart wasn't beating out of her chest. “Dora if you could…”

Pandora hummed, accepting Harry. “I’ll have Peter organise the drinks, yes?”

“Lots of them,” Hermione muttered before following James up the stairs. She found him in her bedroom, looking around curiously. 

“I don't think I've been in here since our untraditional wedding night,” he mused, making her flush.

“Well…” she tucked a curl behind her ear self consciously, “I’ll admit I hadn't quite envisaged you here under these circumstances but here we are.”

“You ah…pictured me here?” he checked with the ghost of his signature smirk.

Rolling her eyes, she gestured towards the bed, choosing to sit in her dressing table chair, trying to find the words. 

“There is no easy way to say this.” he stilled in anticipation. “And I imagine it's going to be beyond unbelievable. I…I have no proof to offer you. I wish I did. Although.” she hesitated. “Dumbledore asked Remus to infiltrate the Packs tonight. Specifically the one that roams the land near Loch Rannoch.”

“How could you possibly know that?” he checked, looking bewildered.

She sighed. “I am going to have to go downstairs and have this conversation again, but you deserved to know first.”

“Hermione, you're scaring me.” he admitted. 

“Yes well… I was originally born in 1979, your son. Our son. Was my best friend. And that abomination of a prophecy we’ve just heard was used as an excuse to manipulate him his entire life. Tom Riddle chose you and Lily, Harry , and he marked him. We…we won the Second Wizarding War, but it was brutal and it destroyed us.”

James' face was pale and faintly disbelieving, his thoughts running at an alarming speed as he tried to make sense of what his wife had just said. Had it been anyone else, had she looked any less terrified, he would have thought it was all an elaborate prank. “I think…I think you'd better start at the beginning,” he murmured faintly. 

Swallowing harshly, Hermione nodded, telling the story she knew was utterly unbelievable, almost hating herself for causing the look of utter devastation on his face.

“Well…” he tried once she was finished, trailing off when it became clear he had no idea how to finish that sentence.

“I understand if you want me to go back to my parents,” she murmured. “I can…look out for Harry without being here.”

He let out a faintly hysterical laugh, his face incredulous. “You couldn't have told me this before the wedding?”

Hermione flinched without meaning to, guilt shooting through her. “I probably should have.” she admitted. 

“What now?”

“What do you mean, what now?” she checked cautiously. 

“I mean exactly that, what is the plan now?”

Blowing out an unsure breath, Hermione realised she had no idea what he was thinking. “I know how to cast the fidelus. I can seal you, Harry and I imagine Sirius in here. Alternatively you could go back to your parents. It might be better to be honest, ancient wards and all. I can also put that under fidelius if that makes you feel better.”

James nodded thoughtfully, “And while we’re all hiding out, you’ll be doing what?”

“Finishing this,” she replied, her voice utterly even.

He nodded thoughtfully, appearing for all the world as if he was giving it serious consideration. “I see,” he murmured, before he stood abruptly, startling her when he hauled her to her feet, his mouth crashing down onto hers before she could comprehend what was happening. “No.” he growled.

“No, what?” Hermione asked, slightly breathless and completely confused as to what was going on. 

Ignoring her, he kissed her again, his mouth insistent against her own, leaving her feeling muddled as she desperately tried to regain her bearings. “No,” he repeated.

“James, for the love of Circe, no what?”

“You will not be shutting me up all nice and safe in the house while you fight a fucking war Hermione. Gods damnit! You are my wife! You are Harry's mother! Not some fucking solidier.”

“But I was.” she murmured softly, stopping his rant dead, her head falling onto his chest in resignation. “I was a soldier. A child one, but a soldier nonetheless. I know what this looks like if this doesn't end. I cannot let that happen.”

He wrapped his arms around her tightly, “I’m really fucking pissed off that this is the first I’m hearing about this because I imagine youve been quietly dealing with things without help but…Merlin Hermione. You loved Harry enough, twice to give up life as you know if for him. I…he is beyond lucky to have you. Am I the first person you told?” she tensed in his arms, feeling him release a breath above her head, his tone resigned as he asked, “Who else knows?”

“Dora,” she admitted, “Barty. Peter.”

“ Peter?” he exclaimed, his voice laced with hurt. “He knows everything you've just told me?”

“He was the first,” she murmured, “He had to be. Before, he was the catalyst for everything, I couldn't let it happen again.”

“Fuck,” he swore softly, before pushing her away from him, holding her in place by her arms, “No more secrets, Hermione.”

She stilled, reading the uncommonly serious look on his face before nodding reluctantly. “No more secrets,” she murmured, “Although if that's the case I should probably tell you that Regulus is a spy.”

“Regulus, Sirius brother? That Regulust?” he checked incredulously.

“Yes. Before it was Snape and Regulus died at the end of ‘79 trying to take down Tom. I couldn't let that happen.”

“Mother of Merlin, he whispered. “And these horcruxes, how many do you have?”

“One. Regulus has plans to get a second at some point in the next month. He mentioned Tom checking all the protections though so we waited a bit. I had intended to get the locket before now but well… working out the best purging potion has taken a bit longer than anticipated. In my time the two people who drank it died, not because of the potion but we don't know if they would have or not. It wasn't a risk I was willing to take.”

“Right,” he let out a long, slow breath, the worry clear on his face. “This is dangerous.”

“We’re at war,” she retorted dryly. “Of course it is. It is infinitely more so if Tom Riddle sets his sights on our son.”

“And he might.”

“Harry or Neville,” Hermione murmured. “Hes not getting either of them.”

“No,” James agreed slowly. “You’ll forgive me if I check what Dumbledore said to Remus?”

She shrugged, “I expected you to. I expected you to be a lot less calm to be honest.”

“I don’t particularly want to believe you. It sounds insane. More than insane. But…” he blew out a breath. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look that scared. It's not…you hide your feelings better normally so I knew whatever it was, it had to be big. I wasn’t expecting ritual magic and some warped version of time travelling,” he gave a strained laugh. “Never a dull moment with you, darling wife.” He let silence fall for a beat, trying to assimilate everything his wife had just told him. It was beyond anything he had even considered. But he knew she wasn’t lying. Finally, he gestured towards the door,” Shall we get this over with then?”

Hermione nodded once, “I'm going to make them take a vow,” she whispered.

He sucked in a deep breath before letting it go slowly, "That's probably wise.”

“Right. And James?”

He arched a brow questioningly, “If you ever try to shut me up by kissing me again, I will hex you.”

Letting out a disbelieving bark of laughter, he took a step back towards her, tilting her chin up. “You jump every time I touch you,” he whispered, his eyes scanning her face. “I think that was the first time you didn't."

“You were Lily's," she offered by way of an explanation.

“And now I’m yours.” he dropped a kiss onto her lips softly, “I’m going to keep kissing you Hermione, until you tell me to stop.”

“Why?” she checked, sounding so genuinely confused he wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry.

“You’re my wife. and…I’ve decided I quite like kissing you.” he dipped his head, kissing her again, his mouth centimeters from hers as he murmured, “and I don't think you're as against it as you first thought,” he pressed another fleeting kiss to her lips before straightening, pressing another onto her forehead, murmuring, “Lets go and turn everyone else's worldview on its head.”

---

“Took you long enough,” Sirius chided, “Remus is about crawling out of his skin.” His eyes narrowed, James’ arm wrapped tightly around Hermione’s waist and the way she was leaning into him rather than pushing him away, his face lightening with a smirk, “Well…that must have been one hell of a conversation, Kitten.”

She scowled, sending a silent, wandless stinging jinx at him, making him yelp. “Are we doing the ritual now?” Remus checked, fidgeting.

“Not quite,” Hermione admitted, “Sit down Remus, you're not going anywhere tonight.”

“But Dumbledore….”

“Is wrong,” she cut him off, “You cannot sway the Packs, Greyback has too firm a hold."

He paled dramatically, “How did you….?”

“Which Pack was he sending you to?” James checked almost idly.

“The one near Loch Rannoch,” Remus muttered after a beat, his shoulders dropping in defeat.

James’ eyes fell shut, a brief flash of disbelief mingled with fear crossing his face, “Well fuck.” he muttered.

“James?” his mother checked. “What in the name of all that is magic is going on?”

Opening her mouth, trying not to second-guess herself, Hermione told them.

---

“Well,” Petunia breathed, eying her youngest sister with an unreadable expression. “That's…well quite frankly Mya, it's insane.”

“I know,” she groaned.

“Although at least I understand why you were so vehemently against Vernon now.”

“Gods Tuney! Anyone with sense would be vehemently against Vernon! He was a fucking nightmare. What did you see in him?”

“I don't know," she murmured, her eyes on her shell-shocked parents.

“We weren't meant to have you?” Gloria whispered finally.

Hermione flinched. “No.”

“My God,” Malcolm Evans eyed his youngest child, looking for all the world as if he was waiting for someone to announce it was a huge joke. “This is a bit much to take in Poppet.”

“Yes,” Hermione agreed, “I imagine it is.”

“Neville never knew us?” Alice's choked, devastated voice had Hermione whirling to look at her. 

“No. He…he visited you frequently though. He adored you.”

“But we were in the Janus Thickey ward,” Alice finished bitterly, a flash of rage on her face. “Why did we lower the wards?”

“I don’t know definitely, but it was believed that you lowered them to get to Harry,” Hermione admitted, “You were his godmother last time around and you’d heard about Sirius."

She hummed. “I see. I…” she looked down at her sleeping son. “I know we’re meant to say something brave and self sacrificing but…I can't. I can't help when everything is screaming at me to accept your offer to be our Secret keeper.”

“I don't blame you,” Hermione agreed gently. “But Alice,” she waited until she had the other woman's attention, “Do not dare leave that house before I come for you. If something happens to me,” she ignored the way James' hold on her tightened, “you don't let anyone in without the password.”

“What's the password?” Frank checked, a white knuckled grip on his wife's free hand.

“We’ll discuss it when I do the fidelius. It’ll reveal itself to the first person on the list who is alive if I am incapacitated. If it's not over, they’ll reset the fidelius in my place, I intend to teach a few people.”

Blanching as the implications of what Hermione was suggesting finally hit her, Alice nodded, darting forward to clasp her hand tightly, “For Harry won't you…”

“For Harry, I need to end this,” she interrupted with a finality that had her mother and sister letting out an involuntary whimper.

“Right,” Alice whispered. “And Dumbledore?”

“The less he is aware of the better.”

She nodded slowly. “Right…well. I…”

“I’ll visit tomorrow,” Hermione offered, tossing a galleon at Frank. “Use this if anything happens tonight.”

“How?” he frowned.

“It has a protean charm on it, I’ll get the message.”

“You think something will happen tonight?” Augusta checked, her face composed, but her hands shaking.

“No. But I cannot guarantee the timeline in light of the changes. Neville and Harry are here. Before…before everyone was already hidden by this point.”

“Why did it change?” Augusta murmured musingly.

“I don't know. Maybe there's another variable, maybe he doesn't yet know.” She shot Peter an apologetic look. “Peter told Tom about Lily and Alice's pregnancies last time. Obviously, that hasn't happened.”

“So he hasn't yet worked out that the boys fit,” Frank finished thoughtfully.

“No. Perhaps not. I imagine it's only a matter of time though, so we really do need to make sure the boys are safe sooner rather than later.”

“What about you and Prongs though?” Sirius checked, speaking for the first time. He was uncommonly pale as he eyed them. 

“I have offered to cast the fidelius on Potter manor.”

“But not stay there yourself,” Sirius finished pointedly.

“Well no.” she agreed. “But you could join James and Harry," she shrugged, “you all could.”

“I thought we;d established that wasn't going to happen, Mya,” Pandora eyed her seriously. 

“But it could.”

“You are not doing this on your own!” Barty growled in frustration. “For Merlin's sake!”

“Look…its dangerous. I don't want any more people involved than is necessary. All of you knowing is a massive risk in itself. Mum, Dad, Tuney, I need your permission to put some protections on you and your house.”

“You think we’ll need them?” Petunia checked.

“I don't know. Before…Lily was all but estranged from what Sirius said. I'm not. If he chooses Harry again, then yes, you might be in danger.”

“So what do you suggest?” Malcolm asked with the air of a man who was rapidly losing his fight to remain calm.

“You can move in with us,” Effie offered. “I understand it's not ideal, but Hermione is not wrong. Now,” she pinned Hermione with a look, “Your friends are also not wrong, dear. You are not doing this alone."

“I don't want Dumbledore involved.

“No. I appreciate that. However, he is only one wizard, not involving Albus allows a rather large amount of room for manoeuvre. What's next on your list?”

With a look of utter exasperation, Hermione sat down, drawing faint smiles despite the tension when she tugged James down with her. “The Prewett twins. Their date of death is coming and I very much intend for it not to happen again. Caradoc, Benjy Fenwick, the Mckinnons and the Boneses are soon too. Dorcas Meaddowes slightly after them.”

“Merlin's tits,” Sirius muttered. “How long?”

“For the Prewetts? Four weeks. Caradoc and Benji around five, the McKinnons another few months, the Bones a week after them and then Dorcas a fortnight after that.”

“Then I suggest we start planning,” Monty interjected, his tone leaving no room for argument. 

“Peter, Remus, Barty, please escort the Evans’ home and help them pack.”

Barty opened his mouth to object and shut it again with a clack as he watched Hermione lean into James Potter's side when he wrapped an arm around her. It was quite possibly the most surprising thing he’d ever seen.

“Right,” he murmured, smiling tightly at Malcolm, “If you’ll come with me?”

---

Inside his office, Albus quietly seethed, the portraits uncommonly still as they watched him. Remus hadn't checked in as expected. Now, he was aware it could mean the boy was incapacitated or dead, but something told him that wasn't the case. The new Mrs Potter had been…confrontational in her manner, and he didn't trust her at all. Silently vowing to give the boy until the next moon, he quietly stewed. Seven years of cultivation for nothing. All thanks to an irritating chit who was barely old enough to be out of school, let alone a married mother. Who in the name of all that is magic did she think she was?

Chapter 4

Hermione stepped out of the floo at Longbottom Hall only to be engulfed in a hug so tight a jolt of fear shot through her. “Alice! Is everything ok? Has something happened?”

Silently, Alice shook her head, holding the hug for several more seconds before admitting quietly. “No I just…i can't thank you enough.”

She blew out a breath, eyeing the older witch. “Neville deserves to have you as he grows up. You deserve better than the bloody Janus Thickey ward.”

Alice took in a shaky breath, taking a step back from her. “I’d quite like to avoid an extended stay there, yes.”

“Good. Now. What were you thinking about a password?”

“Trevor.”

Hermione's heart gave a painful little lurch, a bittersweet feeling filling her, “Trevor it is.”

“Although maybe this time, Trevor will be a much more useful owl,” Alice muttered, making her laugh. 

“Perhaps. Now. You're all here?”

“We’re all here,” Alice confirmed, a brief flash of something unreadable crossing her face.

“I’ll get started then shall I?” Hermione pulled a rueful face, "I've Potter Manor to do later too.”

Alice squeezed her arm, offering a sympathetic look, “Will you still visit? The boys…”

“Of course.” Hermione agreed. 

With a look of profound relief, Alice squeezed her arm, “Good I’ll go stir crazy otherwise.”

“I can let others know.”

“But it weakens the protection…” Alice finished.

“Yes. It does. But if there's anyone you particularly want...”

“My parents and my sister.” Alice interrupted quickly.

“We can do that.” Hermione agreed. “And if you want, we can give you the location of the Manor so you can visit us. You're safe, you're not going out, so…” she shrugged.

“Gods, yes please.”

“Right then. Let's get this moving.”

---

Alice eyed her with worry once she was done. Hermione was pale, shaking and panting slightly. “Is it done?”

“Yes.” she agreed, fighting the urge to sleep. The amount of magic needed was immense and she was exhausted. She was going to need several pepper ups and probably a nap before attempting this on her husband's ancestral home. 

“Are you alright?”

“I’ll be fine,” she murmured, downing a pepper up, feeling the potion settle her shaking slightly. Taking advantage, she wrote the address on three scraps of parchment. “For your parents and sister. Make sure they burn them. Now. I'm going to go before I fall asleep on your floor. I’ll visit in a day or two with our address."

“Hermione…I… Thank you. Just thank you.”

She nodded, a faint smile on her face. “He was my first friend, you know? Neville." 

At that, she headed for the floo, all but collapsing on the other side, scaring her husband half to death.

 

---

Gideon and Fabian Prewett followed the elf down the hallway of Potter Manor, wondering why they'd been summoned. 

“Mistress, the twin Prewetts," the elf announced.

“Thank you Mave,” Effie smiled, “If you could let James and Hermione know they're here?”

“Ah not to be rude, Mrs Potter, but why exactly are we here?”

She shot them a chiding look that had them shutting their mouths, “Did I not just say that James and Hermione were to be told you were here?”

“Yes, Mrs Potter,” Gideon sighed.

“Well then. Perhaps we should let them appear before we delve into reasons for your visit, no?”

“Yes, Mrs Potter,” Gideon sighed, trying to rein in his impatience.

“Ah, there you are,” Effie smiled ten minutes later as James and Hermione walked in, Harry peering out at them from his mother's arms. It was all Gideon could do not to blurt out questions. Both Potters looked exhausted, but while he was used to seeing Hermione sporting the look, seeing James look older, more wary, his arm banded tightly around his wife's waist was a shocking surprise.

With a smile, Monty swooped down, stealing his grandson who kicked his legs in excitement, a wide gummy smile on his face. 

“Well now we’re all here,” Fabian prompted before his face creased with concern, “I must say, H, I’m not sure marriage suits you love. When did you last sleep?”

She gestured wearily towards Harry, all but slumping into James’ side. “Properly? I imagine some time before he was born, I can't quite remember.”

“Right.” Fabian allowed, “But…that's not it.” She fidgeted slightly as he squinted at her, “You forget I know you. That husband of yours spent quite a bit trying to work out how to convince you to marry one of us without it ending in his untimely death, and now , you appear to be married to him. And don't get me wrong, I dont think its the worst match in the world, but the baby was a bit of a surprise given that I'm sure one of us would have noticed a pregnancy."

“Not if I'd glamoured it.” she offered.

“H, love, pull the other one. You'd have had a breakdown of epic proportions if you'd slept with your sister's fiance and that's before we consider what you’d have done if you'd discovered you were pregnant.”

“Fine, " she grumbled, “It's not like it's a huge secret. Harry was originally Lilys.”

“Originally,” Gideon mused, “I see. Its permanent?”

Hermione nodded, “Its permanent. I love my sister but there is no way I was leaving a loophole for her to come back and be able to just take him.”

His face was thoughtful as he nodded, “Which meant marriage to this prat.”

“Oi!” James protested.

“Yes. Apparently they were a package deal.”

He sighed heavily, “I imagine they were. I expect an actual conversation after this H. We shouldn't have had to find out via the sodding grapevine.”

She grimaced, “Sorry. Its…well. Did I mention Harry doesn't really sleep? I'm not sure I remember my own name half the time.”

“And someone couldn't take him for the night?” his eyes slid to the elder Potters who were eyeing Hermione pointedly.

“Apparently I have control issues?” she shrugged.

“Tell us something we didn't know,” Gideon muttered. “However, you look like you're about to fall asleep standing up, so maybe let them go a little.”

“Bit hard to do,” she admitted, “Which brings us nice and neatly to the reason we requested your visit."

“It does?”

“Yes. I need you to not agree to any missions a week on Thursday.”

Gideon and Fabian both laughed, the noise falling off sharply when they realised she was serious. “Why?” they hedged.

“Well, because you’ll die. I also want you to take a portkey. It's a bit..um…well. It's not entirely legal, being able to cut through wards and all, so only use it if you have to. I’ve keyed it to take you to St Mungos but you can adjust that if you want,” At that, she chucked two necklaces at them, a flat disc dangling from the chain. 

“H. I say this with the utmost love,” Gideon began with clear bafflement, “But what the fuck?”

“Language!” Effie hissed sharply. 

“Mrs Potter. I…I feel like I should apologise but ah, i’ve just been told i’m going to die so…”

“Well hopefully you're not,” Hermione corrected, “we’re trying to prevent it.”

“Trying to prevent it,” Fabian repeated. “How exactly did you come to the conclusion that we are going to die a week on Thursday?"

The twins watched with fascination as she shared a look with James, having a silent conversation that apparently she won given the way his face fell into a scowl.

“So I'm going to need a vow and ah then im going to tell you something unbelievable. Tell me you actually listened to Moody during the occulmency lessons?”

“Of course we did!” 

“Splendid, and you're proficient?”

“H, we’re bloody aurors, we have to be!”

“Not all of you.” she protested, “Dawlish’s minds wide open.”

“Fuck is it?”

“Yes!”

“Right well.. Ours aren't so…” he looked at her expectantly, but it was James who spoke.

“Vow first.”

“To who?”

“Oh, me,” Hermione attempted a smile. 

“Is it really necessary?"

“Unfortunately. I’d quite like to prevent my death too.”

They all blanched, noting the way James pulled her tighter into him as if he could keep her safe with sheer proximity. 

“Right then, vow it is.” Fabian agreed bracingly.

---

They sat in stunned silence once she had finished speaking, their freckles standing out sharply in contrast to their pale faces, both of them staring at her in genuine shock. 

“You’re from the future.”

“Ah, yes,” she agreed. 

“The actual future.?”

“Still yes.”

“But…but…the future ?”

“You know,” Hermione mused, “I suddenly realise how subdued everyone else's reactions were.”

At her side, James gave a huff of laughter, “Silently stunned might be more accurate.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, watching Fabian and Gideon closely, “Do you need a calming draught?”

“Yes please,” Gideon rasped. 

Hermione looked at Effie, who summoned an elf. 

Once the draughts were drunk, the twins looking more in control of themselves, Fabian pinned her with a look. “What's the plan?”

“What! No! No, the plan is you don't die!”

“Hermione Gloria Ev…Potter!” he thundered, startling Harry, who began to cry.

“Oh for Merlin's sake!" she grumbled, taking her son back from Monty who looked faintly alarmed with the screaming. Glowering at Fabian as she shushed Harry, bouncing him slightly as she walked, Hermione hissed, “I’ve a good mind to hand him to you to deal with.”

“We’re well practiced H, as well you know.” he replied smugly. 

“Go on then.,” she deposited Harry on Fabian's lap. He looked momentarily startled by this turn of events before he sent her an insincere smile, standing as he resumed rocking Harry. 

“Can we hire him, do you think?" James asked as Harry's eyes began to close. 

“You can't afford me,” Fabian retorted. 

“A manny,” Hermione mumbled, sinking further into the sofa cushions as her exhaustion came back in full force. 

“A what?” Gideon checked, looking at her with clear worry.

“Manny,” she replied, attempting to convince herself that remaining awake was a good idea.

“H for the love of magic, go and nap for an hour or two, we’ll come back. I'm sure Mrs Potter is more than capable of keeping a sleeping baby out of mischief.” he pulled a slightly rueful face, “And it gives us time to get our heads around this a bit.”

She mumbled something inaudible, losing her fight with her tiredness. 

James gave a soft huff of laughter. “I’ll take her up. Come back for dinner, maybe by then she’ll be awake.”

 

---

“Feeling better?” Gideon wrapped Hermione in a hug several hours later.

“I don't know,” Hermione admitted.

He hummed, “Right so, we’re going to have to do something with the fact that jr doesn’t sleep, you know. Continue like this and someone's going to manage to murder you.”

James blanched at his words, looking even more distressed when Hermione mumbled, “Probably.

“No,” he blurted, tugging Hermione back, “absolutely not. No one is dying!”

“Were hoping some people are dying,” Fabian countered with a laugh. 

“Right fine,” he exclaimed, “but my bloody wife isn't!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, looking at him seriously. “I might.”

“I’m loath to agree with your husband H, but I'm with him on this.” Fabian cut in. 

“And none of us can control that.”

“No but let's at least attempt something close to a fighting chance, yeah?”

“What do you think I'm doing?” she demanded. 

“To be fair, H, we’re not sure. You fell asleep before you could explain,” Gideon smiled insincerely.

“Arsehole,” she mumbled, just as Effie and Fleamont walked in with a wide awake Harry.

“Boy loved the abraxans,” Monty announced, studiously ignoring the way his daughter-in-law froze. 

“Did you take him for a fly or a ride?” James asked. 

“Both.” Monty smiled, “he was happiest in the air though.” he turned, looking at the giggling twins in surprise. “Why is that funny?”

“It's just…we hope it was the best flight of your life.” 

“Why?” 

“Because as soon as H remembers she’s a witch, shes going to avada you.”

“Ah well, “ Monty began, “it's just…”

“You say tradition,” Hermione growled.

“No wands drawn before dinner.” Effie commanded.

“But after it's ok?” Gideon checked with a grin. 

Effie sighed heavily, “Go and sit down. Now!”

With narrowed eyes, Hermione walked to the table, muttering under her breath. Monty decided that he really didn't want to know what she was saying. Trying to hide his amusement, James held his arms out, “Give him here before Hermione really does decide to curse you. I wouldn't want Harry caught in the crossfire.”

“Right plan,” Fabian spoke loudly, cutting off Hermione's retort.

“There isn't one,” she replied succinctly.

“Try again,” he retorted flatly. 

With a heavy sigh, Hermione took a long drink from her wine glass. “We have one. Hopefully really shortly we’ll have two.”

“Horcruxes?” Gideon checked.

“No, owls.”

“That wasn't even a good attempt at sarcasm, H,” he chided, “this lack of sleep is killing off brain cells."

“Take that back!” she demanded immediately, ignoring everyone else's amusement.

“No.”

“Take it back!”

With a sigh, James silently accioed her wand, making her whirl to glare at him. “You can't hex me, I'm holding the baby!” he held up Harry. With a wonderful sense of timing, Harry grinned widely at his mother. 

“Its a good job you're cute,”

“Why thank you, darling wife.”

“Not you.” she bit back quickly.

James smirked, “I’m told Harry looks just like me.”

Rolling her eyes, Hermione forcibly turned her attention back to Gideon and Fabian, ignoring their smirks. “We should have two horcruxes soon.”

“And do you have a plan for the rest?”

“Regulus thinks he can get a third within the next few weeks.

“And then?”

Hermione groaned, "I'm not altogether sure how we’re getting the last one. Breaking into Gringotts once was enough.”

Fabian promptly choked, wheezing, “You broke into gringotts?”

“Yes. It wasn't pleasant.”

“For the love of magic H!” 

“Anyway, we’ll figure that one out at some point soon I imagine. We’ll have to.”

“Hav you tried…asking the goblins”? Charlus hedged.

“No, however it was on the list.”

He hummed, "It might be the safest option.”

“Probably,” she sighed heavily. “I’ll do it…”

“We’ll do it,” James interrupted pointedly.

She froze, “I actually thought Dora…the goblins adore her. I suspect it's because she's part fey.”

“That’s just a rumour.” Gideon frowned.

“Is it?” Hermione smiled blandly, “My mistake.” His jaw dropped. “Anyway, she might be our best bet at cooperation.”

James scowled, “I don't like the idea of you going alone.”

“I won't be alone, Pandora will be with me.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it. It's not safe…”

“Well I intend to leave Harry here. Petunia is climbing the walls so it’ll give her something to focus on,” she paused, “Where exactly is Petunia?”

Effie looked immediately amused. “Well, Peter heard that your parents were going for dinner with friends and so he offered…”

“Peter offered….” Hermione trailed off, looking contemplative. “Well then.”

“Is that safe?” Gideon checked, “Your parents…”

“Have an elf with them, Mr Prewett.”

“Ah.” 

“Now. shall we eat?” 

Hearing the clear order in Effie's tone, they complied. And if their hugs were a little tighter and lasted a little too long as they were leaving, no one mentioned it.

---

 

“So…I know we’re sort of stuck and we can't really go anywhere but…have dinner with me?” 

Hermione blinked up at her husband, “What?”

“For your birthday,” he fidgeted slightly, looking awkward, ”And I can invite the boys, Dora and Barty and we can do something if you want but…I wondered if you'd have dinner. With me.”

“Oh.” she adjusted Harry when he grew slightly restless on her shoulder, giving herself a moment to think that through. “Ok?”

“Ok…thats…thats good. Just leave it to me.”

She watched him leave with a slightly confused frown on her face, wondering what had him looking so awkward.

---

Two days later, Hermione handed Harry over to a delighted Effie, having had a day of being spoiled. James, it turned out, had invited her friends for lunch, and it had gone some way to alleviating the feeling of claustrophobia that had set in since she'd moved into a house containing both her parents and her in-laws. He had shuffled them back into the floo almost an hour ago, Alice and Frank dragging their feet, clearly glad to have escaped their own home for an afternoon.

And now, looking uncommonly nervous, James led her to one of the small sitting rooms near the kitchen where the elves had hung little glowing orbs, a picnic blanket and piles of cushions littered the floor. “Oh,” she breathed, missing the pink tinge to James’ cheeks as he guided her onto the floor.

They spent the rest of the night surprisingly easily, and it terrified her. James and Lily were intertwined in her mind, and despite the kisses, the increase in casual touches, a part of her truly believed it was because he had no other choice. He was stuck with her for the rest of their lives, so of course, he would try to make the best of it. 

And it would be so easy to give in. James was funny, a bit of an idiot at times, but he was also unfailingly sweet. He paid attention, who else would have realised that she’d enjoy a picnic far more than a sit down dinner? And underneath the goofiness, he was clever, startlingly so.  It helped that it didn't exactly hurt to look at him. But she was terrified. It would be so easy to fall in love with him, but if she did that, he’d break her. Because she wasn't her sister. She wasn't a witch that drove someone to make grand declarations; she was…pretty perhaps, but she had nothing on jaw-dropping, fieriness of Lily, all red hair and porcelain skin, or on Petunia's blonde perfection. She was just Hermione. Wildhaired, stubborn, inkstained and, if she was to be frank, often too much for most people. 

And maybe, once the war was won, once Harry was less reliant on them for absolutely everything, she’d find the words to tell him he had her permission to…find his happiness outside the marriage. He’d be offended initially, she was sure. But eventually, when he remembered that he married her purely so his son had a mother, he’d see her point. And if it left a hollow feeling in her chest, well, she’d just have to learn to live with that. It had to be better than loving someone who was with her out of duty.

---

A greyhound patronus interrupted breakfast the day after Hermione's birthday, a croaked, “We’re alive. St Mungos,” leaving its mouth.

The table froze before Hermione stood, all but running for the floo, James close behind her. 

He caught her arm before she stepped in, “Shoes.” He reminded her gently, making her flush despite the stubborn tilt of her chin as she maintained eye contact, summoning them. She ignored the amused expression on his face as she did. 

Once out of the floo, He kept a firm grip on her hand lest he lose her in one of the corridors as they made their way towards the welcome witch.

“We’re looking for the Prewett twins.”

The bored witch barely raised her head. “Room 8 spell damage.”

---

Hermione came to an abrupt halt outside the door of the room, her courage failing her at the last minute.

“They said they were alive,” James reminded her softly.

“I know. But…alive and ok are vastly different.”

“Gideon was well enough to get the patronus to you.”

She nodded, her grip on his hand tightening as she squared her shoulders and knocked on the door, opening it at the quiet invitation. The room was cluttered, the hospital having clearly shoved another bed in hastily. On the one farthest from them, Fabian lay still, his abdomen and arm heavily bandaged, the pungent odour of the healing ointment almost cloying in the small room. At his side, Gideon looked more alive. Bruised, healing cuts littering the visible skin, he was at least awake, one leg elevated and cocooned in what Hermione thought was a medical cushioning charm. 

“You saved our life.” Gideon rasped, his eyes glued to Hermione. 

She shrugged, despite that James could feel her trembling. “I’m glad it worked.” She nodded her head towards Fabian. “Is he…”

“They’ve put him in a healing sleep.” Gideon interrupted, “He’ll wake tomorrow or the day after.” He paused, eyeing her with an unidentifiable look on his face. “H..I…gods, witch. We be dead. Without your little portkeys we’d be dead.” He let out a hysterical bark of laughter, “What you told us was true.”

“Yes,” she agreed.

“Fuck.” he let out a breath. “Hermione Gloria Potter, I, Gideon Ezikel Prewett, owe you a life debt."

“What! No! No, you don't!" Hermione stared at him in horror.

He let out a laugh, clutching his ribs, looking pained, “Yeah, H, I do. It's a matter of honour and you know it.”

“Christ.” she sat down abruptly, "Can't we do away with it and you can tell me how i’m convincing Caradoc and Benjy to not be alone or aggravating anyone for the next few weeks?"

His face was uncommonly serious, “No we can't. However, I'll help with Caradoc and Benjy regardless. Can it wait until Fab wakes?”

“Yes,” she agreed slowly. “From what I remember Caradoc was first, he disappeared almost exactly a week after your deaths. Benjy was a day or two later. He was sent on a surveillance mission by Albus and well…no one knew exactly what happened but he was definitely caught”

“OK then.  Does the mission need to happen?”

“I don't know. Obviously there was no intelligence for it which makes me think either previous intelligence was off in terms of numbers or it was a set up.”

He hummed, “I’ll stun him and keep in a cupboard if I have to.”

She smiled slightly, “I imagine he’ll be thrilled.”

“Nah, but he’ll be alive.”

She hummed, “How are you feeling?”

“Like I've been ran over by the express," he replied succinctly, “But we got out quickly enough when it became clear we couldn't win. I've passed the names to Moody so Thorfinn Rowle, Antonin Dolovov, Gareth Avery, Corban Yaxley and little Simon Fawley will all be getting a visit. With my memories they won't be getting out of it.”

She blew out a breath. “Good. although Dolohov is slippery.”

“We know,” he agreed. Moody’ll be careful. We both know he's paranoid at the best of times.

“Is it truly paranoia if they're out to get you?”

“Maybe not,” he agreed before looking uncomfortable. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” she frowned.

“We should have taken your warning seriously.”

She hummed, “Yes. But…I suppose given that you're both alive and several prominent Death Eaters have been captured, I’ll let it go. Next time though…”

He held up his hands, “Next time we’ll do exactly as we’re told.”

“That would be a first,” she muttered, shaking her head at his attempt at an angelic smile.

 

---

 

Two weeks later, they had Caradoc and  Benjy both tucked away safely after a painful conversation where they had shamelessly dropped Dora's name, blaming a vision. Anyone who had gone to school with the witch knew to take them seriously. Dumbledore was said to be furious at their refusal to comply with his demands. Hermione had been beyond relieved. And now, she had disappeared to visit the Prewett twins now that they were out of the hospital, their owls pathetic in their boredom. 

However, in order to stave off his own impending madness at being stuck in his childhood home, James had coaxed Sirius into a visit. He was currently regretting that immensely.

Sirius eyed James with frank curiosity, a hint of a smirk on his face, “You look… frustrated.”

With a groan, James sent him a half-hearted glare. “Don’t.”

He smirked in response, “Are you frustrated Prongs?”

“Arsehole.”

Sirius was snickering as he unconsciously rocked Harry, “I’ll take that as a yes. She still won't let you touch her?”

“Not exactly,” James muttered, making Sirius sit straighter.

“She is letting you touch her?”

“Not exactly,” he repeated.

“Prongs for the love of Merlin,” Sirius grumbled, “Are you or are you not finally allowed in your wife's bed?”

“No,” he muttered. “She…she allows the kisses and she doesn't flinch when I touch her. She even occasionally touches me first.”

“Touches you…”

“On the arm, shoulder. She actually hugged me yesterday.” he retorted pointedly.

“Nothing exciting then.” Sirius mused. 

James groaned again, “Shes…”

“Distracting?” Peter offered, catching the end of the conversation as he sat down.

“So bloody distracting.” James mumbled, making them laugh.

“Merlin Prongs, anyone would think you'd fallen in love with your wife.”

The air around them seemed to still before Sirius barked out a disbelieving, “Merlins tits you bloody have!”

“Stop it! She’s…bloody terrifying and scarily intelligent and fearless and…”

“And adores your son,” Peter finished, “Helps that it doesn't hurt to look at her.”

“Gods, what the fuck do i do?”

“Tell her?” Sirius suggested.

“I can't do that!” he yelped. “I’ve only just got her to see me as James, rather than James-and-Lily.”

Both Sirius and Peter grimaced, “Fair enough. Maybe slowly ramp it up?” Peter suggested. 

“Ramp it up, how?”

“Well I've seen you kiss her.” James nodded, “So…touch her more. Kiss her, test her boundaries a little. Don't ignore them, you do that and there’ll be a queue of wands waiting to curse you.” 

“I wouldnt!” James protested.

“No, I don't imagine you would,” Peter agreed, “I just wanted to make sure. Maybe see about sleeping in the same damn room.”

“How do I get her to agree to that?”

“Ask her?” he suggested. 

“And if she says no?”

“Then you wait, ask her again in a while.” he shrugged, “Right up until a week before you married her you were meant to marry her sister. It's hardly a huge surprise that it's taking time for you both to find your feet.”

“Thats…fair.” James murmured reluctantly.

Petre sighed exasperatedly, “Of course it is.

“Fucking shit though,” he mumbled, not ducking quickly enough as Peter's hand collided with the back of his head.

Chapter 5

Pandora bounced up the steps of Gringotts. “Mya!”

“Dora,” she accepted the hug with a look of fond exasperation, “Excited?”

“Of course! I was sure I was going to have to hex you into allowing us to help. I'm so glad to be proven wrong. Maybe it's something to do with the increase in elecktrathones surrounding you. James had more the last time I saw him, but you're catching up.”

“Elecktra….” she trailed off.

“Elecktrathrones,” Pandora supplied, looking at her like she should know exactly what she was talking about. “Now, let's go!”

Feeling slightly stupefied, Hermione followed her in.

The bored looking goblin eyed them over the top of the counter. “Yes?” he drawled.

“Oh we’d like to speak to Nessa if she's free, I think," Pandora answered.

“Nessa?”

“Yes, I think she's the best choice.”

Hermione kept resolutely silent, allowing Pandora to lead this as the goblin in front of them sighed dramatically, “Wait here,” he commanded, jumping down and disappearing from view. 

“Why Nessa?” Hermione whispered.

“Oh because her aura is such a delightful shade of peach,” Pandora mused.

“Of course,” Hermione agreed with a huff of laughter. 

“You requested me, Madam Lovegood?” a suspicious voice queried, drawing their attention back to the kiosk. 

“Yes please, “ Pandora agreed easily, “Although somewhere less open would be ideal.”

Nessa paused, scrutinising Pandora before nodding sharply once. “And Madam Potter?”

Hermione startled, realising she meant her. “I would like to join you.,” she admitted at Pandora's nudge. 

“Very well. Madam Lovegood, you know the way.”

Pandora smiled brightly, hooking her arm through Hermione’s, leading her into an area of the bank she had never been in.

“Sit,” Nessa commanded as Pandora pushed open a door hidden within the wall, leading them into a small, cosy office that was entirely at odds with the austere nature of the main bank. “Now what did you wish to see me about?”

“Mya?” Pandora prompted.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione tried to calm the rapid beating of her heart. “We have reason to believe someone has stored a horcrux in your bank.”

Nessa stilled, before a look of utter fury crossed her face, “Who?” she hissed.

“Tom Riddle, who currently prefers Voldemort. We believe it is in Bellatrix Lestrange's vault.” Hermione paused, “Or we hope it is.”

“You hope it is?”

“If it's not there I have no idea where it is and that's an…issue.” Hermione replied softly, watching as understanding flooded Nessa's face.

“I see.”

“We don't know if he can feel them being destroyed,” Hermione blurted. 

“He has more of these abominations?”

“Five. I think. We have one, currently. We know where another three are definitely, one just requires a purging potion to ensure we don't die retrieving it and another requires stealth to steal it from someone else. The last one will take more than me in order to acquire it uncursed.”

“I see.” Nessa breathed heavily through her nose. “An what would you have me do?”

“I would like the horcrux." Hermione admitted.

“No.”

She blew out a breath, trying to hide her frustration, “Then what would you be willing to do?”

Nessa cocked her head, eyeing Hermione. “We do not get involved in wizard's war.”

“By not handing it over, you are.” Pandora mused idly. “We cannot steal it, no one can, but you know it is here. Therefore, you are choosing to support Tom Riddle by protecting it.

“Mr Riddle has asked nothing from us.”

“No, he's just had his follower store a piece of his soul in your vaults. Allowing you to guard it, ensuring he cannot die.”

“And you are asking me to hand it over to ensure he does.” she countered. 

“Our world will be lost,” Pandora voiced quietly, staring over Nessa's shoulder, “Men, women and children all culled in his name. He will not spare you, you will force their hand. After years of mistrust, they will be forced into the unthinkable to escape death. And you will be punished for it. Because Tom does not care who dies as long as he rules. It won't be now. But in less than two decades, the entirety of our world will be destroyed in that man's quest for domination. I won't be here to see it, nor will Hermione. But you will. You will stand in this bank and fall to his wand and seconds before your last breath, you will remember my warning.”

“I need to speak to someone else,” Nessa informed them abruptly, storming from the room.

---

She returned with an angry looking goblin who immediately sat down and didn't introduce himself. “There is a horcrux in my bank?” he barked.

“We believe so, yes,” Hemione agreed.

“I have someone checking,” he growled.

Not sure what was safe to respond to, both witches remained silent until, after an uncomfortable fifteen minutes, the door behind the desk reopened and another goblin walked in, his entire being radiating his fury as he flung a cup onto the desk. 

Immediately, Hermione was transported back to the tent, where she was starving and her son was a teenager with the weight of the world on his shoulders. The feeling was heartbreakingly familiar and somewhere in the back of her mind, she wondered how in the name of all magic they had survived with this heavy presence trying to destroy them for months. 

“Hermione!” Pandora's slightly panicked voice drew her achingly slowly from the overwhelming fear and desperation that was trying to devour her. It wasn't until the cup was slammed into a box, its presence disappearing, that she realised she was sobbing. All three goblins were eyeing her curiously.

“You are not from here,” the one behind the desk noted. She stiffened automatically and he waved her off, “We do not concern ourselves with wizards.” his eyes narrowed, “However i will not allow that abomination to remain in my bank. Take it. See that this ends, Madam Potter.”

She inclined her head, standing shakily, hearing the dismissal and knowing enough to heed it. Pandora beamed, calling out just before reaching for the door, “Thank you King Ragnuk.” leaving Hermione reeling as she realised just who she'd been dealing with.

---

Hermione eyed the owl with trepidation; the writing was hurried and faintly panicked, which put her on edge. She turned to look at her son, an unconscious smile playing across her face at the sight of him cooing at a monkey where he lay on a playmat Hermione had transfigured from memory, before making a split-second decision, scooping him up and heading out of the room, calling for an elf as she went. 

“Dixie, do you know if my sister is here?”

“Missy Tuney be with Master Peter in the solarium.” the elf informed her with a little smirk that immediately drew a smile.

“Oh is she indeed?” 

“Dixie thinks that perhaps young master Harry might be getting a cousin soon enough.”

Hermione let out a loud laugh, “Merlin that would be something. Although he had better marry here first or I’ll be forced to curse him."

“Oh Master Peter knows,” the elf agreed with a grin. “He told Master James that the young Mistress is scarier than Voldy.”

Hermione choked, torn between amusement and offence. “Well then, let's hope he remembers that.” she murmured.

Schooling her face, she stepped into the solarium, Harry kicking his legs happily as she perched him face out on her hip. Slowly, she arched a brow, wanting to laugh at the way Peter jumped and Petunia flushed.

“Well.” she drawled and Petunia groaned.

“For heaven's sake sit down.”

“Cant,” she admitted, pulling a face as all pretence of winding up her sister dropped. “Any chance you could watch Harry for half an hour while I go and meet someone?”

“Someone who?” Peter demanded immediately.

“Regulus.” Hermione admitted reluctantly after a beat, recognising his stubborn expression.

“Not alone,” he commanded.

“I’ll be fine!”

“Absolutely not.” he crossed his arms, staring her down. 

“For fucks sake, I dont have time for this! Fine!”

A slightly calculating look crossed his face before he leaned down and kissed Petunia's cheek.

“We’ll be discussing that later.” Hermione muttered ominously as she handed Harry to her sister.

Peter paled dramatically, but nodded, following her to the floo. “Where are we meeting him?” he checked, stepping out of the floo and into The Three Broomsticks. 

“A small cafe nearish,” Hermione murmured distractedly, quickly transfiguring both her own and Peter’s clothing before holding out her arm. “Side along?”

He frowned but complied, finding himself standing in a dingy little alley in what was clearly the Muggle world. “Where the hell are we?”

“Elgin,” she murmured, striding forward before ducking into a tiny, shabby cafe. At the back in a corner, was Regulus.

“You brought him .” he hissed

“I am no longer allowed out alone,” she retorted.

He gave a huff of laughter that belied the tense look on his face, “You do look close to falling asleep.”

“My son hates the thought of missing something,” she grumbled.

“Yes,” he mused, “Interesting development that.”

“Stop it,” she whined. 

His smile was more genuine this time as he teased her, “Nah, you and Potter were not a match I saw coming. Tell me, is he still alive?”

“Just,” she muttered. “Arsehole woke Harry two nights ago after I had just got him to sleep. He’d missed him. So I warded my room door and left them to it. Best night sleep I've had since he was born.”

Peter laughed at the same time as Regulus, remembering how awful James had looked following that. Apparently, Harry had not slept at all.

“I’m impressed you managed to restrain yourself,” Regulus mused. “Now truly Hermione, how did you manage to find yourself married to your sister's fiance?”

She flushed, “You mean you don't know?”

“I know Snape is missing.” She arched a brow. “I know he was furious.”

Hermione hummed, “Indeed.”

“Oh, I see,” he mused softly. “Harry, you said your son's name was?

“Yes,” she agreed.

“Interesting. Now.” he chucked a diary onto the table with a look of extreme distrust. “I sincerely hope I risked my neck for the correct one.”

“Regulus.” Hermione breathed softly, eyeing the diary. “Yes. Yes you did. Merlin. That's three!”

“Three?” he queried sharply.

“We have the cup. I spoke to the goblins at Gringotts. They handed it over thanks to Pandora.”

"This is nearly over, then?” he checked, sounding so hopeful that Hermione's heart broke for him.

“Almost. Two to go. I'm meeting Barty next week to discuss the ring and after that we can go for the locket.”

Regulus blew out a breath, trying to force his crumbling mask back into place. "By the end of the month?” he checked pleadingly.

“By the end of the month,” Hermione replied softly, reaching over to squeeze his hand.

 

---

 

Hermione waited three days, allowing her sister to relax, clearly assuming she’d decided not to interrogate her.

“So….Peter?” Petunia flushed scarlet as her sister sat down next to her.

“Where's Harry?" 

Hermione rolled her eyes, “With mum and dad being spoiled absolutely rotten.” she stared pointedly at Petunia.

“Christ,” she swore before groaning. “Right. I ah…quite like him?"

“Quite like him and I'm going to see you in a white monstrosity at some point soon or quite like him, he's here, my life is on hold and therefore he's convenient?”

Petunia's jaw dropped before her mouth opened and closed uselessly as she attempted to find the words. “Cant i just quite like him and it be that simple?” she begged piteously after several seconds.

“Nope.” Hermione grinned. 

“Hermione!” Petunia whined.

“Petunia,” Hermione mocked in response, her smile widening at her sister's glare as she realised she didn't truly need Petunia to answer her when it was written all over her face.

“Bloody relentless witch,” Petunia grumbled.

“You know witch is not an insult, don't you?”

With a pout, Petunia slumped and sighed, "Don't you think he’ll get bored? I'm just a muggle.”

“You're not just anything!” Hermione retorted sharply. 

Petunia rolled her eyes, "I'm quite literally in hiding because your people think less of me.

“Not my people,” Hermione refuted, "The other side are not exactly fond of me either. However, Peter is not like that.”

“Isn't he?”

It was almost painful to see the fear on Petunia's face and Hermione reached for her, squeezing her hand, “No.” she replied softly, “And i think you know that."

“What if he changes his mind?” she whispered.

Hermione let the silence fall for a second, knowing that if she answered immediately, her sister would be less likely to listen, assuming she hadn't thought it through. “I have known Peter since we were 11.” she began slowly. “He is…not fickle. And I think you know that. Once you have his loyalty, he doesn't give it up easily. He doesn't care about what family you're from, he doesn't care about blood purity, and,” she shrugged, “as I said, I've known him since we were 11. He knows I'd curse him if he even so much as considered playing with you. If you don't think he gave this far, far more thought than any sane person would, then you haven't been paying attention.”

Petunia slumped in her seat and groaned. “Christ. Right. So …not changing his mind?”

“Not on a whim, no.” Hermione agreed. “Now, unfortunately, sister or not, I feel honour bound to warn you that if you hurt him I will be doing something about it.”

Petunia's jaw dropped. “So much for family loyalty.”

“Hush you,” she chided, "You're my big sister and I love you but he is one of my best friends and he's…soft…Peter has always wanted someone who was just his, someone who saw beyond James and Sirius’ over confidence and overt brilliance to notice him. He's brilliant too, you know, just less…flashy.”

“I know,” she mumbled. “He constantly challenges me and makes me think.”

Hermione smiled slightly, “Yes, he’ll do that. But he is used to being somewhat overlooked because James and Sirius demanded attention in a way he didn't. Remus too, although his was less deliberate and more to do with that accent and his utter cluelessness."

“What?”

“Well…Remus is…gentle but he looks like he could throw you over his shoulder and make you forget your name if you know what I mean?” Hermione replied with exaggerated innocence, dissolving into laughter at the wide-eyed look on her sister's face as she stared back in horror. “Oh, stop it! You've met Remus!”

“Yes,” Petunia agreed thoughtfully, “I honestly thought he was gay. I've watched women flirt with him and he does not react.”

“Yes,” Hermione sighed, “He does that, which makes him unobtainable and therefore more attractive. He isn't gay,” she tilted her head, “which is a shame really because Remus and Fabian would be amazing for each other. He just…doesn’t notice. He can't fathom someone being interested in him.”

“How?” Petunia demanded.

“Ugh, the werewolf thing. His fathers an abusive arsehole who has him convinced he’ll never be loved. We love him, obviously and hes…accepted that. It took a fucking long time though. Witches just seem to be a sticking point. We’ll fix it eventually. However back to my point….all of that means Peter was less visible. And therefore he invests himself into his relationship. I feel like I should warn you that the last witch who broke his heart ended up in the infirmity.”

“What did you do?” Petunia groaned.

“Technically Dora…”

“Hermione!”

“An unfortunately timed jelly legs jinx combined with a stair move and she might have needed to regrow the bones in her right leg?”

“Hermione Gloria!"

“Oh hush, she was using Peter thinking she could get to Sirius and he was devastated, she's lucky it wasn't worse.”

Petunia froze, "I'm impressed it wasn't her spine.” she replied eventually.

“Which is why Dora did it. I was told I would go overboard.”

“You, baby sister?”

Hermione flushed, “I don't like it when my people get hurt.”

Petunia's smile was fond “We know. Martin Cole still whines about the time you gave him a black eye.”

“I was six!” Hermione protested, “And he shoved Lily off the swing and she broke her arm. Bullying arsehole.”

“He never lived it down, you know, being hit by Lily's baby sister to the point of tears.” Petunia grinned, “Apparently you're to blame for him becoming an upstanding member of society.”

Hermione snorted, “See, it was a public service.”

Petunia shook her head fondly even as she laughed. "So…satisfied I'm not going to break Peter?"

“Yes,” Hermione agreed.

Petunia sighed loudly, “Shall we go and save your son from being utterly spoiled?”

“No.” Hermione shook her head, surprising her sister. “We’re going to order tea and catch up while someone else watches the velcro baby. He’s far too little for their spoiling to do any real damage.”

With a snort Petunia complied, calling for an elf, settling into gossip with her sister like they used to when they were younger, finally beginning to feel at peace despite their precarious position.

---

Albus Dumbledore paced his office, trying to control his temper. He now knew for certain that Remus had not reached the packs, and he was sure that the new Mrs Potter had interfered. Didn't she realise how delicate the plans were? Had she no understanding of how many threads he needed to keep track of in order for all of this not to fall apart?

And on top of that, the Longbottoms had all but disappeared. He had no idea where they were and Augusta had gone with them, removing another wand from the cause. He hadn't banked on that.

There was also the issue of dissent within the Order to deal with. He couldn’t quite work out how, but he was sure that the young Mrs Potter had something to do with that too. It had all started following the attack on the twins; people had started questioning his intelligence, pointing out how lucky they had been to be able to get themselves out. Caradoc and Benjy had outright refused to carry out his orders, citing a vision from Pandora bloody Lovegood. 

And the Potters were refusing to hide properly! The wands might have been useful if he had been able to trust them; as it was, he was sure they were tweaking the threads behind the scenes. But they didn't have all the information! They had no idea of things that might go wrong if they interfered. 

Silently, he began trying to rearrange the plan. He’d manoeuvre around them if he had to. He just needed to work out how to keep the rest onside, how to ensure they couldn't taint anything else before it all fell apart. He alone had all the information, and while he was sure the witch was well-intentioned, she was going to destroy everything if she wasn't curtailed. Perhaps he could convince Effie that her grandson's safety required his mother to quietly retreat. He breathed out a sigh of relief, that sounded like a fair starting point.

Chapter 6

“What's the plan?”

Hermione grimaced at Barty's pacing, his nervous energy all too apparent as he seemed to bounce every other step. 

“Don’t put it on? Don’t get cursed? Don’t die?”

He rolled his eyes, drawling, “Hilarious, Curls.”

Blowing out a breath, Hermione shrugged, “It's sort of all we’ve got.” she admitted.

He froze, turning to stare at her incredulously. “Shouldn't you be better at this?”

“Probably,” she admitted. “But everything always went to hell regardless of the plans we made, so…we’ll wing it and try not to die.”

“Where exactly is it we’re going?” Peter sighed exasperatedly.

“Little Hangleton. I’ll take you.”

He hummed. “And your husband is aware we’re doing this?”

“Um..well. I mean technically he knows I’m with Barty?” she offered, ignoring the horrified look he sent her.

“Mya I swear to all that is magic….”

“Look, he wouldn't have liked it, ok? And this needs to be done.”

“He would want to be here!” Peter growled.

“And if it goes wrong our son will still have one parent!” she snarled. Both Peter and Barty paled.

“It's not going to go wrong.” Barty voiced frantically. “Hermione! It's not going wrong.”

“It fucking might!” Hermione howled, throwing her hands up in exasperation. “This one took out Dumbledore!” 

“Ok.” Peter breathed out looking rattled. “Ok. I just…Godric. He’s going to fucking avada us all when he finds out.”

“Well,” Hermione replied bracingly, “Lets hope he doesn't realise until it’s all over, yeah?”

“Merlin, Curls.” Barty groaned, letting out a nervous huff of laughter. “Let's get this over with?”

---

They approached cautiously, disillusionment spells masking them. Hermione hadn't dared borrow James' cloak in case he noticed it was missing and it led to questions she wasn't ready to answer. 

“I think it's this way,”  Hermione breathed, creeping towards the fork in the road, her heart feeling like it was beating out of her chest. Trusting that they were following, she kept moving until the shack came into view. 

“Oh gods,” she whispered, the feeling of wrongness reaching her before she was even close.

“Well this feels fucking awful.” Barty grumbled. “No wonder Voldys got mummy issues.”

“It feels awful because of Tom.” Hermione pointed out.

“Yeah but look at it, Curls. Imagine growing up here.”

“Well, he didn't."

“Nah but he came to see them didn't he?”

“Yes.”

“I imagine it was a bit of a shock given how sure of his own importance he was.”

“True enough."

“Shall we then?” Peter murmured, “I think there's wards.”

“Of course there's wards.” Barty muttered. “Likely needing my blood, no doubt.”

“Probably,” Hermione quipped, “Mine won't be good enough. Mainly mud, no?”

“For fucks sake,” Peter groaned. “Thats not bloody funny.”

“Do you think it can tell?” Barty checked.

“Honestly? No. There is no difference between your blood and mine regardless of what they'd like you to believe. Unless it's keyed to specific bloodlines, it won't matter whether it's you, me or Peter.”

“Sure?”

Hermione sighed heavily, “Do you truly believe there is a fundamental difference between pureblood, halfblood and muggleborn blood?”

“No,” he admitted. 

“Well then. “

“What if there's a way to link to magical lineage?” Barty hedged.

“Is there?”

“Not that I'm aware of but….”

“Unless it's keyed into each family and requires a double signature but it would require blood from each family and is he likely to?”

“I mean maybe?”

“Or does he believe there's a difference in blood? He's a halfblood so unless he's worked in an exception for himself ... .and really, do you truly think he'd be that worried about someone finding this? He thinks he's cleverer than us all.”

“So no then.”

“Probbaly not.”

“Well use mine just to be sure though,” Barty smiled winningly, “He's a paranoid bastard so let's not be taking any chances.” 

“Oh for heaven's sake! Fine! Go for it.”

“Why, thank you,” she could see his smirk without actually being able to see him.

“Let’s check what's actually there first though, yeah?” Peter cut in, “No point bleeding all over the place until you have to.”

Hermione raised her wand, murmuring under her breath, seeing the surprisingly sparse matrix indicating the wards. Either he was unspeakably arrogant or there were more once they got inside. She wasn't sure what to put her money on. 

“Alright, the first two should be easy to take down. We'll need blood for the third.”

“I’ll do the first, you do the second, Barty the third?” Peter voiced.

“Ok,” she breathed, sending a silent prayer to whoever might be listening that no one got cursed this time. 

---

“That seemed almost too easy.” Peter hedged as they stepped into the house.

“So we be careful,” Hermione murmured, scanning the room they were in. It was dismal. Clearly a horrible place to grow up, it was damp, dark and cramped. Entirely against her will, Hermione felt a jolt of sympathy for Merope Gaunt, who, understandably, had desperately wanted to escape. Unfortunately, that desperation had created Voldemort, so her sympathy was somewhat tempered by the urge to resurrect the woman so she could vent some of her frustration on her for her poorly thought out decisions. Of course, it was possible she didn't know the effects of amortentia on unborn children. Hermione looked around the room again, amending, it was likely she didn't know the effects, but fuck it all if it didn't leave them in this nightmare.

“Found something,” Peter murmured. Immediately, Hermione and Barty joined him, all of them standing staring at the floorboard he indicated to with trepidation. 

“Ok.” Barty breathed. “All of us together.”

“Please don't get cursed,” Hermione begged.

“Don’t die.” Peter quirked a mirthless smile.

“Right. On three.” Barty lifted his wand, levitating the board, immediately magnifying the feeling of wrongness in the room. Inside sat a box, almost daring them, its opulence a stark contrast to the pitiful state of the house. 

“I’ll levitate.” Peter whispered, his hand shaking as he did just that, setting the box down on the floor at their feet.

“Now what?” Barty murmured.

“Now…now we put it in the pouch. I'm not tempting fate by opening it.” Hermione declared.

“What if it's not it?” 

“Fuck,” Hermione whined, staring at Barty with a pained expression. “It has to be, doesn't it?”

“Probably, but what if it's not?”

“Oh God. Right. I ah…fuck. Ok, so we open it. Quickly. “ Hermione blew out a shaky breath, completely terrified that this was about to all go to hell.

“Alohamora,” Barty mumbled as Peter levitated the lid open.

The feeling was instantaneous and so strong it actually took Hermione's breath away. Of course, it was all so clear now. She just had to put on the ring. If she did that, she'd be able to speak to them again. Her versions. Not the versions still in nappies. Two minutes and they could all be in front of her like they'd never left.

She didn't hear Barty and Peter screaming at her, she didn't see their panic. She felt calm. Sure this was the right move. And then everything went black.

---

She woke with a gasp to find Peter and Barty staring at her. “I had to stun you.” 

“Ah,” Hermione mumbled, that explained the headache.

“You were reaching for it and we froze. I had to stun you so Pettigrew could shut the dam lid. Fucking hell Curls!”

“I suppose I should thank you for that,” she murmured.

“You think! What the fuck were you thinking!”

“It got inside my head,” she murmured, “Made me think I could see them again. Just once.”

Peter let out a shaky breath, the nullifying bag held tightly in his fist. “Fucking hell, Mya. That was…please say we’re done.”

“One more.”

“You’re not going.”

“We’ll see. Regulus…”

“Can contact me." Peter bit out. 

She sighed, seeing his fear all too clearly. “We’ll see.”

“Lets…lets go home," Barty muttered shakily. 

“No,” Peter contradicted, “Let's go to the manor.”

“You just want to see my sister," Hermione teased, ignoring the shake still present in her voice. She was rattled; it was all too close to ending badly. But she didn't have time to fall apart now. Later. When she was sure she was alone. Perhaps she’d have time then.

Peter flushed, “Shut up,” he grumbled, tugging her to her feet.

---

Hermione deposited Peter with her sister with a smirk that had her dodging a stinging jinx before heading off in search of her parents, feeling vulnerable and in desperate need of their reassurance. 

“Mya love,” her mother smiled as she opened the door, “It's late.”

Hermione shrugged listlessly, “I know, I…” her lip wobbled, and her mother tugged her into the room, wrapping her in a tight hug. She heard rather than saw her father join them before his arms wound their way around them both seconds before she broke, her sobs loud and breath-stealing. 

“Well then, care to explain?” Malcolm inquired gently once she had calmed.

“Not really,” she admitted.

He arched a brow at her, “Nice try, Lady. Come and sit down in this fancy sitting room your inlaws have given us. Honestly Hermione, what house needs individual sitting rooms for each of their bedrooms?”

She snorted, allowing her mother to guide her towards a sofa, curling into her like she was a child rather than a mother herself. “I don't think every bedroom has one, they're just trying to give everyone as much space as possible so no one snaps and murders someone.”

He hummed, “Maybe. I admit it's nice to have somewhere to…decompress. This isn't quite what we’re used to.”

“I know,” she admitted softly, “I'm sorry Dad. its..hopefully not going to be much longer."

“And while I'm glad of that, I admit it's been nice having you and Tuney with us so much, and Harry obviously. Not many grandparents get to see their grandchild as much as we have these last three months. I think we’ll miss you all quite a bit when things go back to normal. And of course, it's given us a chance to get to know that husband of yours and that lad of hers.  I assume we can approve?”

Hermione leant over her mother to squeeze her father's hand, “We’ll visit. And I’ll sort something so you can visit us whenever you want. As for Peter, yes, we approve. He’ll give Tuney the world if she’ll let him.”

“As all good men should.” her father nodded approvingly. “Now then, my girl, why don't you tell us what got you in such a state tonight?”

Hermione hesitated. “We got one of the horcruxes,” her father opened his mouth and she rushed out, “I took Peter and Barty. I didn't go alone.” he closed it, nodding. “It just…got inside my head. Everything was so close to going badly. It would have gone badly without them there. And I think…i think it scared me. We’ve only one left now. And this is precarious. I just…” she shrugged, not sure how to finish that.

“Needed to not feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders?” her mother suggested.

“Maybe,” Hermione whispered, dropping her head onto her mother's shoulder. Feeling some of the tension leach out of her when she felt her stroke a hand over her head like she used to when she was small. 

“Then stay as long as you need to,” Gloria murmured, cuddling her grown up, independent daughter close, mothering her in a way she hadn't been allowed to do for years.

---

The Order meeting had been tense, the holes left by the missing Longbottoms, Remus, Caradoc and Benjy visible. The reports were as they usually were, nothing beyond intelligence gathering and the reporting of attacks. Unable to hide it, Hermione fidgeted in her frustration, barely biting back the urge to scream at them to wake up to how ridiculous this was. People were dying, Tom was gaining more power and they were sitting around a table not doing anything more than talking. Silently, James' hand clamped down on her leg, stilling its jumping but not before she spotted a similar energy radiating from Alastor. As if sensing her yes on him, he met her gaze questioningly. 

Making a split second decision, she shook her head minutely. His eyes narrowed, and he mouthed “After” at her; she wasn't stupid enough to refuse him. 

“And now,” Albus stood as Dorcas finished speaking. “If James and Hermione could remain, I shall leave you all to your evenings.”

Trading a look with James, Sirius remained resolutely still in his seat. Peter flanking Hermione's other side. Effie and Monty smirked, moving closer. 

“A word girlie.” Alastor growled.

“Tomorrow,” Hermione murmured. “Come to the house.”

Effie's eyes narrowed, “I’ll do tea.”

Giving a huff of laughter at the threat she injected into that sentence, Alastor inclined his head. “Very well.”

Albus frowned as he turned from his conversation with Edgar Bones, spotting the group sitting serenely, talking amongst themselves.

“I must insist that only James and Hermione remain…”

“No.” Hermione met his gaze, “Anything you have to say you can say in front of them.”

“Really, Mrs Potter…Hermione. Be reasonable.”

“I am. Now what was it you wished to speak to us about?"

Albus sighed heavily, the picture of grandfatherly disappointment. “Remus is not with the packs.”

“Oh?”

He frowned, “Do you know where he is?”

“Currently? No.”

“And yet you're not worried.”

“We’re at war. I am constantly worried.

“Not enough,” he refuted sharply before visibly forcing calm. “You refused my help.”

“To lock us in? Yes. We made other arrangements.”

“Hermione…it is imperative…”

“Enough.” Monty cut in. “Albus, you have no idea what measures they've taken, so enough. You might not like not knowing, but they would never put Harry at risk.

He very visibly bit back a retort, his voice controlled and even as he enquired, “Very well. And Frank and Alice?"

“Are safe.” Hermione shrugged.

Albus forced down a growl of frustration. “For how long?”

“As long as they need to be.”

“Mrs Potter!”

“Yes?” Effie answered sweetly.

Albus sighed heavily, amending, “Hermione.  I know you think you are safe…”

“I am not safe.” she refuted immediately. “None of us are. As I said, we are at war. “

“Then why are you still here!”

“Alive? One assumes because they’ve not yet caught me.”

“Mrs Potter! He barked. “There is a target on your back, on your son's back and you are being flippant….”

She stood abruptly, fury radiating from her, James at her side as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, both in warning not to lose her temper and in support. “I am not being flippant,” she hissed. “I take my son's safety seriously. You have no idea what measures we’ve taken, no idea what protections are in place, you just don't like being in control of the board. Fuck you, Albus. The biggest risk to my family is your ego!”

She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, James, Sirius and Peter following.

Fleamont hesitated, sighing heavily, his eyes meeting Albus' furious ones, detecting the hint of genuine worry there underneath it. “She isn't wrong."

At that, he and Effie followed them out, leaving Albus stewing, wishing he hadn’t lost his temper and instead had spoken to Effie alone like he had originally planned.

---

Alastor Moody stepped out of the floo at Potter Manor, having found the slip of parchment in his pocket when he'd gotten home. He'd never admit it, but he was impressed that one of them had managed to slip it in without him noticing. 

After decades in the Aurory, he was used to following his gut, and today, it was churning. Whatever was waiting on him, he wasn't going to be pleased. But he'd seen the little witch's displeasure with Albus' inaction, her frustration palpable as she listened intently, and he knew she had reached the same conclusion he had. Albus was hiding things. Oh, he talked a good game, but underneath that twinkle and his flowery dramatics, Albus was shrewd, and he wasn't sharing a fraction of what he knew. And that rankled. They were putting their lives on the line on his say so and Albus was playing games. So here he was, already wary but hopeful that he’d have an ally, someone to perhaps counteract his paranoid reputation long enough to get folk to listen. 

---

He found the younger Potters and Effie congregated in the sitting room with another couple and a woman he had never seen before, all of them clearly waiting on him. “You found us then." Effie smiled. “Do sit down, Alastor.” He compiled, watching them warily. “Now I imagine you’re confused,” she gestured to them each in turn, “Gloria and Malcolm are Hermione's parents and Petunia is her sister.”

“I see.” he replied slowly, very much not seeing.

“They are living here until the threat has passed, what with my grandson potentially being the subject of a prophecy.”

“Potentially?”

“Well it could be him or Neville Longbottom.” Hermione replied, “Did Albus not say there had been a prophecy given? Of course, it's only valid if activated. We very much intend for it not to be activated.”

“Merlin.” he breathed, “No he did not.”

She scoffed, “Of course not.”

He quirked an eyebrow, “Not fond of our illustrious leader Mrs Potter?”

“No. He's a manipulative arsehole.”

“Hermione! Language!” her mother scolded like she was five.

“Sorry Mum,” she muttered, before pinning Alastor with a look, “What are we doing?”

“We?”

“The Order., What is it doing to end this war?”

“Not enough,” he muttered. 

“Quite. I'm going to need a vow and then I'll tell you what we've been doing.”

He recoiled, “A vow?”

“Yes.”

He glanced around the room, seeing the tense expression on the young Potter’s face and the way he reached for his wife, the wand in Effie’s hand, not pointing at him, but ready.

“I see,” he murmured. “Well then lassie, lets get it over with.”

---

He stared at her in blatant shock once she was done, not sure whether he was surprised about her time travelling or the fact that bloody idiot had made five fucking horcruxes more. 

“You have them all?” he croaked finally.

“All bar one.”

“What's your next move?

“We get the last one and then we involve The Order in making a plan to take down Tom and his followers.”

“I see. Just like that.”

“No, I imagine not just like that. Albus will no doubt have some things to say, but regardless, that needs to happen.”

“Right,” he muttered. “And the young Black?”

“Regulus? He's been spying since he was marked. I couldn't work out how to get him out of it, although the gods know I tried.”

“That tip off at the Shacklebolts, did that come from him?” he demanded suddenly.

“Yes. it did. And the one about the attack on Diagon six months ago, and the one that meant Elphias Dodge wasn't there when his office was ransacked.”

“Mother of Merlin. Albus doesn't know?”

“Of course he doesn't. He likely wouldn't have done anything.”

“I don't know. He's many things but he does want this to end.”

“I know he does.” she admitted, “But he wants it on his terms. And I cannot work to his timeline. Too many people will die.”

“Aye. they likely will.” he sighed. “Merlin, I could do with a dram if there's one going. Bloody time travel…”

With an amused snort, Effie stood, pouring him a healthy measure. “From experience it takes a month or so to get your head around it.”

Alastor gave a mirthless huff of laughter, “I imagine. Now then lassie, tell me what the plan is once we’ve all of Tom's wee trinkets?”

Chapter 7

Hermione read the letter with shaking hands. Kreacher had returned, weakened but otherwise ok, a week ago. The purging potion had worked. And now the Blacks were out of favour, the Dark Lord had no need of Regulus and he would not be missed. There was no better time.

Silently, Hermione sent up a prayer to the gods, asking for forgiveness. Peter was out with Petunia. James and Sirius were helping Remus set up boundaries for the full moon in the garden; they’d be hours yet. Effie and Fleamont had gone to dinner with friends. And her parents had Harry, all but shoving her out of their bedroom, telling her to relax, sleep. They had him for the night. She sent back a reply immediately. 

---

She met Regulus just outside the gate, Kreacher flanking him, trembling slightly; Regulus' face was grim.

“Let's go.”

Accepting Kreacher's outstretched hand, she disappeared with a pop. 

They were sodden and trembling with cold when they finally reached the cave entrance. “You know I can't quite imagine him swimming,” Reggie quipped as Hermione rolled her eyes, casting a drying then warning charm over them both, still able to feel the chill of the water in her bones. She supposed that was part of the point. 

“My blood,” Regulus murmured, already casting the diffindo before she could object.

The cave had the same oppressive feeling as the shack, the hairs on the back of Hermione's neck standing up as she tried to fight against the instinctual shudder. Despite trying desperately not to look, she could see the outlines of the inferi just under the water.

“Can Kreacher take us or do we need to sail?” Regulus checked, dragging his eyes away from the morbid staring contest he’d been having with a corpse, bile climbing up his throat at the sheer scale of the Dark Lord's depravity. 

I don't know,” Hermione admitted.

“Then we try sailing.”

“Ok. although…only one of us.”

“What?” he frowned.

“It can't take us both, we’re both of age.”

“Then I’ll..

“No,” she stepped into the boat, ignoring his look of utter horror as it glided forward.

“Kreacher can you take me?” he demanded frantically once his brain had caught up with what he was seeing. 

“Yes master.” Kreacher agreed, taking him to the island just in time to see Hermione take her first mouthful of the potion. 

“No!” he howled, as she determinedly continued, her face contorting in pain that she was trying to hide.

She offered him a small, shaky smile, “I cannot risk you dying here, Regulus Black, you deserve better,” she grimaced as she forced down another mouthful, feeling like someone had forced her to swallow fire. “Especially given everything I've asked of you.”

“For fucks sake, what about what you deserve?”

She shrugged, her hand now shaking so badly that had the potion not been charmed, it would have spilt. “I was never meant to be here in the first place," she whispered. “Make me drink it.”

“Hermione, please,” he begged, not at all sure what he was begging her for; he couldn't take over now. She let out a low moan, her eyes glassy. “One more,” he whispered, hating himself. “One more, it’ll help.”

“No PLEASE!” she screamed, her voice bouncing off the cave walls, drowning out his sobs as he forced another mouthful down her throat, babbling nonsense. “HARRY! Oh, oh gods. I'm sorry, I'm sorry.”

“Another mouthful, Hermione.”

She gripped the collar of his shirt, her lips pulled back in a feral growl, “Just let me die!”

“No! No please, one more.” 

She whined, struggling to get away from him, her limbs clearly too weak to succeed. “Another one, almost there," he whispered shakily, forcing another three into her, ignoring her pleading, the list of names, the begging to just kill her to make this stop. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, he grabbed the locket, “Kreacher! Take us to Potter Manor. Quickly.”

Nodding, he grasped their arms, depositing them at the gates. Frantically, Regulus pushed against them, clutching Hermione's limp body with his other arm. “Oh gods , please. Please open. Please open.” he jumped at the sight of Fleamont Potter standing in front of him, wand raised. “Oh thank the gods.”

Fleamont's eyes widened as he took them in. “What happened?” he barked.

“Horxcrux.” Regulus croaked, his entire body trembling.

“Fuck.” Fleamont hissed, opening the gates to usher him in. “Dolly!” The elf appeared immediately, her eyes blowing wide at the sight of Hermione. “Take Hermione to her room, quickly.”

“She needs this.” Regulus thrust the potion at him frantically, his panic finally subsiding enough to remember. 

“What is it?” Fleamont demanded suspiciously.

“Purging potion. We've been working on it for ages.” 

His eyes narrowed, “Prove it.”

“I…i you can check.” he gestured to his head. “But…Potter…James, he knows I'm working with her. And Pettigrew. He came with her to meet me last time.”

Fleamont nodded sharply, grasping his arm and twisting. They reappeared in the middle of a sitting room, the conversation falling sharply as six sets of eyes turned to look at him, the conversation ceasing immediately. 

“Reggie?” Sirius stared at him as if he had seen a ghost before a familiar red flush crept up his neck. “What the fuck.”

“Enough.” Fleaomint barked. “Peter. Regulus says you met him with Hermione. That they were working together.

“Yes,” he agreed, palling.

“Can I trust him to give her a potion?”

“Purging potion?” he breathed.

“You knew about this?”

Peter closed her eyes, “I am going to fucking murder her.” he muttered.

“Anyone care to share with the class?” Sirius demanded.

“She needs it now!” Regulus interjected, sounding panicked. The longer it has to sink in...”

Fleamont blew out a harsh breath. “Dolly. Give this to Hermione. Immediately.” He waited until she was gone, pinning regulus with a look, “Start talking.”

Regulus knew he was babbling and almost incoherent, the shakes that had started outside the gates almost tremors now as fear and adrenaline collided in a nauseating mix. By the end of it, they were all pale. Surprising him, Potter looked almost like he felt. “Is she going to be alright?” he demanded.

“I don't know.” Regulus whispered, the words almost wrenched from him, desperation in every syllable. “We hoped…”

He trailed off as James bolted. 

---

James came to a dead stop in the doorway of his wife's bedroom in his childhood home, his breath leaving him in a pained wheeze. She was pale, her chest barely moving; she looked close to death. He felt someone catch him just as his knees buckled, the scent of cigarettes and chocolate telling him it was Sirius and Remus. 

“Let's go and make sure she's something pretty to look at when she wakes.” Sirius’ voice was strained but he appreciated the effort.

“Why didn't she tell me?” he whispered, once they'd got him into a seat, his eyes glued to his wife's chest, ensuring it kept moving.

“I don't know.” Remus murmured, “Probably because she was trying to protect us all.”

“Who was protecting her!" he demanded.

“I think Regulus tried,” Remus murmured.

“Look at her!” He could hear the crack in his voice, unable to prevent the tears.

“She's going to be ok.” Sirius croaked, his grip on James' hand tight.

“Of course she is,” his mother's shaky voice came from the doorway. “She has to be so I can curse the stubborn witch.”

James let out a choked laugh before he began to sob, feeling his mother's arms wind around him tightly, “She can't die.”

Effie sucked in a deep breath, “Oh my boy.” she whispered, "Perhaps when she wakes, after we've all cursed her, tell your wife you love her?”

 

---

Hermione woke slowly, her entire body sore, her throat feeling raw. 

“You're awake,” 

She blinked, trying to focus on the voice, turning her head painfully slowly, biting back a gasp of pain as she did. Her husband's starkly white face stared back at her, the dark circles under his eyes standing out sharply. He looked almost as wretched as she felt.

“Reg….Regulus?” she croaked.

Silently, he wound an arm around her shoulders, helping her sit up before helping her drink from the glass left on the bedside.

She sipped at it gratefully, “Regulus?” she asked again.

“Hes fine.” 

“Good.”

“Good,” James repeated, making Hermione's eyes jump to him in response to his odd inflexion. 

“Yes. It's good,” she murmured warily.

“Is it?” his tone was flat before he hissed, “It's been three fucking weeks hermione!”

She stared back at him in horror. “Three weeks…”

He stood, whirling to look at her, his hands reaching to grip his hair, looking close to deranged, “WE DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE GOING TO WAKE UP!” he roared, making her jump, “FOR FUCKS SAKE, HERMIONE!”

“It's the last one,” she whispered.

“I DONT GIVE A FUCK!” he screamed, “It's not fucking worth it if you're dead!”

“Of course it is!” she hissed, and he recoiled. 

“It is not!” he advanced towards the bed, his face inches from hers, forcing himself not to shake the witch, “It is not!”

“It is! I'm one person and we have them all now, someone else could…”

“IT IS FUCKING NOT!” he took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, his voice tight as he continued at a lower volume, “It is fucking not worth it, you infuriating witch and nothing you will say will make me believe otherwise. You fucking promised, you promised no more secrets, you promised to help me raise Harry, you married me, you bound yourself to me as much as I bound myself to you, it fucking matters!”

“I wasn't meant to be here." she whispered, “Out of everyone, I'm the anomaly, Harry would have had you, your parents, my parents, Sirius, Remus, Peter and Tuney, Barty and Dora. He would have been loved, he would have grown up with the family he was denied the last time. He would have been fine. You would have moved on, found a witch you got to choose to marry, one you wanted. It would have hurt…for a little while. But it fades…you’d all have moved on eventually.”

He stared at her in horror, recoiling sharply. “You can't believe that. You cant…I fucking love you you infuriating witch. You are my wife! I'm not going to move on! I'm not going to pick another sodding witch! Pandora and barty would not just fucking move on! Petunia, your parents, would not have been fine! Peter, Remus, Sirius, my parents…gods, Hermione! How the bloody hell can you believe we'd all be fine, as if you’re an…an..acquaintance! Someone just passing through our lives! You're…you're my bloody wife!”

Hermione's face was bloodless as she stared back at him, blatant disbelief written all over her expression, “you can't love me…Lily…”

“I never loved Lily! Not like I love you!” he howled, “God's Hermione. How can I love the witch who abandoned my son on a bloody doorstep? Who didn't even like me enough to tell me she was pregnant, that she was leaving. She left Harry with you, not me…not his dad. You . because she didn't trust me enough to be a decent father.”

“That's not..”

“IT IS!” he groaned, “Gods hermione it bloody is! You…made me get over myself but she didn't even give me the chance, and I get it…sort of.  But it doesn't mean I can't be angry about it,” he frowned, “I don't think I realised how angry I was about it until just then to be honest. But that's hardly the point….you are…like this force of fucking nature. How the bloody hell was I supposed to not fall in love with you? He stopped when he realised that Hermione looked genuinely shell shocked before continuing in a small voice, “What did you think I was doing? The kisses…the touches…the…the trying to carve out some time in the madness?”

“Well you're stuck with me…” she made an abortive gesture. “THis was sort of…required, for Harry.”

“Is that what you think this is?”

“Well, you were in love with my sister!” she howled. “What was I supposed to think?”

He grimaced before sighing. “For fucks sake hermione. How are you so intelligent and so blindingly stupid?”

She pouted, and unable to help himself, he gave a slight huff of laughter at the sight. “You scared the life out of me.”

“I didn't mean to,” she whispered.

“I know,” he admitted. “Doesn't mean I'm not angry. I've spent three weeks thinking you were going to die. That while I was out larking about with Remus and Sirius, you were…” he swallowed audibly, the fear all too present, she reached for him immediately. And despite wondering if it was selfish, he allowed it, rearranging them until she was on his lap, tucked under his chin, his arms banded tightly around her. “You can't die.”

He didn't give her a chance to respond, pressing a hard kiss onto the crown of her head before tilting her chin up and kissing her mouth. With a need that surprised him, he drew back only to kiss her again, frantic, punishing kisses that only got deeper. It wasn't until she was straddling him that he realised she was kissing him just as frantically as he was kissing her, their movements rushed and instinctive. It wasn't what he had planned, but he wasn’t stopping it; anything that meant he could reassure himself that his wife was here, safe, alive . 

---

“Well.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. Hermione snorted inelegantly against his chest, her fingers drawing idle patterns on his stomach. He pinched her side, making her jump, continuing hopefully, “No more separate rooms?”

He knew without seeing her that she had rolled her eyes; he felt her suppress a smile. “I suppose it's rather redundant now.”

“I knew once you'd seen my body you'd find me irresistible.” He jumped when she hit him. “Oi! Gentle! Don't break me, you're going to need someone on your side for when everyone else comes in to shout at you.”

“I'm surprised they haven't."

Unseen, he smiled sheepishly. “I might have warded the door.”

“Oh gods.” she groaned, “Right up. Shower… clothes .”

He pouted, “Must we? I rather like you like this.”

“You bloody would,” she grumbled. “But yes. Let's get this over with, I don't imagine it's going to be quick.”

“Well then…in the interests of saving time…I’ll come with you for that shower.”

Hermione arched an eyebrow disbelievingly. “That will not be quicker.”

“Oh Hermione, darling, love of my life, I know keeping your hands off this delectable specimen of man is hard, but I'm going to have to insist…”

“James!” she growled, wobbling slightly on her feet as she stood. He was next to her in an instant, an arm banded about her waist.

“So I'm going to insist I join you in that shower so I don't find you bleeding from your head on the floor.” He commanded, his tone dry rather than teasing, “Come along, darling. If you look as pathetic as you currently do they might go easier on you.”

She glared at him, but it was weak, her grip on him tightening as her knees threatened to buckle after three weeks of bed rest. He rolled his eyes, “Stubborn wench,” and then he bent, hooking an arm under her knees and lifting her. “Bath for you, I think. A head wound is quite an extreme way to garner sympathy.”

“Hilarious,” she muttered, before letting out a sigh, her head falling to his shoulder, whispering, “Thank you.”

“Next time, let's ensure we’re doing this for much more fun reasons,” he quipped. 

---

Hermione wasn't sure her ears had stopped ringing yet. Two days after a complete dressing down from just about everyone who loved her, she was yet again sitting in an Order meeting, Albus clearly trying not to glare at her.

Alastor, the last person to berate her thoroughly, looked unreasonably amused, the horcruxes hidden in his pocket.

“Now as we begin..” Albus stood.

“Actually,” Hermione interrupted, "before we begin anything we;ve got something to say.”

“Mrs Potter…”His tone was glacial.

“Let the lass speak Albus.” Alastor growled, startling everyone who did not know what was coming.

“Surely it can wait until…”

“I can't." he retorted. Understanding dawned on Albus' face.

“You know whatever it is she is going to say.”

“Aye.” he agreed, pulling the bag out of his pocket. “So I suggest we all shut up and listen.”

Hermione took a deep breath. “Regulus Black has been spying since he was marked over the Christmas holidays of our seventh year.”

“He's what?” Amelia Bones shouted in shock.

“Spying,” she held up her hand when she went to speak again. “You can ask questions at the end but we’ll never get to the end if this starts.” Slowly, she began to wave the story they’d created. Regulus had overheard something that made them go looking. She kept the rest of history the same, Peter chiming in where he needed to, explaining Barty and Pandora's involvement, neither accepted as members, something several people now seemed to realise was folly. “The upshot is, we have them all. And so now we need a plan for destroying them and Tom. It has to be coordinated; we have no idea if he’ll be able to feel their destruction."

Heavy silence fell. “How many know?” Albus checked almost idly.

“A few.” she admitted.

“And you didn't think to involve the rest of us?”

“Honestly, no. If he had found out we risked not only our lives but him creating more we don't know about. And truthfully, I didn't trust you to actually utilise the information.”

There were several sharp inhales. “Mrs Potter! I want the end of this war as much as everyone here.”

“Yes.” She agreed, “I believe that. But you want it ended according to the plan you create. You don't like being questioned. You don't like sharing information. You almost didn't act on the information that saved the Shacklebolt's. You outright dismissed Pandora's insights. You refused entry to many who would help because our word on their trustworthiness wasn't good enough. You didn't know them, or you knew their families and did not approve and therefore your word was law, and ours meant nothing.”

“THis is precarious…”

“Of course it is! But you're not a god, Headmaster. We put our lives on the line as surely as you do. More, quite frankly. But you expected good, little soldiers, bending to the general’s will. Tell me honestly, would you have researched the horcruxes based on an anonymous tip off or on regulus’ say so? Would you have been willing to listen?”

He faltered, “I would.”

She hummed, “We’ll never know. But i think you would have spent time we couldn't afford to waste verifying that he might have created them, rather than trusting that someone knew that he had.”

There was stillness as she stared him down, a brief lash of something on his face before he cleared his throat. “As you say we’ll never know. Now, we can hardly just ambush Tom."

“No but we can lure him," Alastor mused.

“Oh?”

“Leak a name”, he murmured. Hermione's blood ran cold.

“Godric's Hollow.” Beside her, James stiffened.

“What's that lass?”

She took a breath, "Godric's hollow. Regulus can leak Harry's name. We’ll set wards. Strong ones, make it look like we’re the threat seriously.”

He hummed. “Aye it could work.”

“Really, I must insist we rethink,” Albus protested. “We risk too many lives with this.”

“We risk more letting this drag on.” Edgar protested. 

“With a little more time we could…”

“No. “James interrupted. “No. We need this to end. This is probably the best shot. Two teams. We’ll need a way for them to communicate. Once he arrives, the team destroys the horcruxes. And th second takes car of voldy. Once hes down, we need to do something about rounding up the rest.”

“Surely we give them a chance to explain…”

“At their trial,” Alastor agreed.

“Public trials could destroy lives.” he chided. “Some of them were likely coerced, familial pressure…”

“Which will come out a their trials,” ALastor repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. 

“I just think…if we condemn them all, offer no way to make amends…”

“They have murdered, they have hunted, they have tortured,” Hermione cut in, her face starkly white, caught between timelines. “They showed no mercy. We’re at least granting them a fair trial. Dont…dont dare trivialise what they've done. What they are planning to do!”

“Mrs. Potter be reasonable…”

“Dont.” James commanded. “Don't dare dismiss her. You might want to believe that all of the other side is redeemable, but at what cast. What about us? Are our lives worth less than their chance of redemption?”

“Of course no!”

“Doesn't seem that way,” Sirius muttered. 

“Mr Black I can assure you that that is not the case!”

“THen why are we waiting!”

“Hate to agree with the bairns, Albus.” Alastor murmured, “But they're not wrong. Now. two teams. volunteers.”

---

Hermione was abnormally calm. Regulus had sent a message on the coin to say that they were on the way. Whatever else happened, tonight was going to see the end of it all. She had survived a war before. By some miracle survived a previous final battle. She wasn't so sure her luck would hold for this one.

Despite that, she wasn't worried. She had meant every word she had said to James when she had come round after the locket. Regardless of what happened tonight, Harry would have a family. He would grow up, surrounded by love. Unknown to him, she had hidden a modified portkey in James' pocket. If it came to it, she would ensure he, at least, was safe. Oh, she imagined he'd hate her for it for a while. But Harry deserved at least one parent, and of the two of them, it was never going to be her. There was something freeing in admitting it.

Hidden around the house, order members remained still and disillusioned. The coin to alert the second team was clutched in James's hand, his entire body tense, despite his attempt at looking relaxed. 

He turned to her suddenly, “Promise me we’ll get through this?

She froze, not at all sure what to reply to that, saved from having to by the bell-like noise indicating they had almost breached the wards.

It felt like a lifetime, but in reality was likely only ten minutes of waiting when the front door opened. 

He was far less monstrous than he had been in her time. Rebirth via cauldron had not done him any favours, she supposed. 

Tom faltered slightly at the door. “It's done.” James hissed.

She hummed, raising her wand at the same time as Tom, “Sectumsempra.” 

Silently, he sent something back, she caught it heading for her husband, moving in front of him as if in a trance, activating his portkey with a whispered, “Crookshanks."

She didn't see his panicked expression as he disappeared in the magic of the portkey. She didn't hear the panicked shouts Alastor and Sirius let out as they saw her fall. She didn't hear Tom's choked wheezes as he bled out. Nor Bartys howled diffindo that ensured he actually died. She didn't see it collide with Regulus’ entrail expelling curse, causing an…interesting reaction that Tom couldn't have survived if he tried.

The world went black and she embraced it with a smile on her face, knowing her job was done.

Chapter 8

In a sight that was unfortunately becoming familiar, Hermione woke to the pale face of her husband staring at her, dark circles wreathing his eyes. The harsh lights of St Mungo's left her blinking rapidly as her eyes tried to adjust. 
James went rigid at the sight of her, "You're awake.” he let out a sob that he stifled quickly, “Oh…oh Merlin you're awake.”
He reached for her before stopping seconds before he touched her face. He paused, a slightly tortured expression crossing his face before yanking his arm back sharply. He stumbled to his feet before turning on his heel, wrenching the door open and screaming for a healer. 
And then there was a flurry of activity and people and questions and diagnostics that left her disoriented and dizzy. And in the corner, James stood, looking haunted, his hands shaking, his eyes never leaving her face, but his back pressed so tightly against the wall it looked like he was trying to merge with it. It felt like the hours before the healers were done, and then as quickly as they arrived, they left, murmuring about follow-up tests in a few hours for comparison, but that the initial readings looked good. And then they were alone. 
“How are you feeling?” James checked after several beats of silence, making no move to come closer. 
“I…ok. I think,” she croaked, attempting to take stock of her body. If she were honest, she felt bruised everywhere, her bones ached, and she felt weaker than she'd like. 
He hummed, “We got most of the names on the list. Managed no casualties. Trials are going to be beginning in the next couple of weeks. I think Moody’s close to hexing Dumbledore though, keeps trying to interfere. Minerva seems to be keeping him contained for the moment."
“That's…that's good.”
He nodded shakily. “Its…over.” 
“Yes.” she frowned, moving to sit herself up and failing as her arms gave out. He made an abortive sound, moving as if to step forward before thumping back against the wall. She sighed, “How angry are you?”
He shook his head, the tears falling quickly. “It's been almost two months. They..they didn't think you were going to wake up. They told us to prepare for it.”
Hermione had no time to process that before the door opened, and Effie stepped in, Harry in her arms. “He's been summoning her photo all morning, she announced, I thought,...” She paused, spotting James in the corner, her voice turning fearful, “James, love? Has something happened?”
He nodded towards the bed, and Effie whirled, a gasp of “Hermione!” escaping her as she realised Hermione was awake. 
In her arms, Harry's eyes lit up, and he began babbling, reaching for her. “Oh! Oh thank the gods! James take Harry.”
And then she moved, wrapping Hermione in a tight hug, whispering a tearful, heartfelt thank you into her ear before helping her to sit, fussing with her pillows before helping her drink. “Thank you,” Hermione mumbled, not sure what to make of the look on Effie's face; it seemed torn between gratefulness and anger.
Effie nodded, her eyes glassy. “Your parents, Petunia and the boys will want to know you're ok. I’ll go and tell them. So make the most of the peace.”
She all but ran out the room, leaving an oppressive silence in her wake. Harry shrieked, bouncing on James' hip. Slowly, as if it pained him, James crept forward, finally reaching the edge of the bed, sitting down in the chair with a thump. 
Harry let out a squeal of glee, stretching forward. James handed him over silently, and Hermione felt her entire body relax as her son babbled at her, cooing responses in return, keeping an eye on her silent husband as she did.
"Alastor said you saved my life,” James spoke abruptly.
“Oh?”
He continued in the same monotone. “He…you know who cast a bombarda. It clipped you rather than hitting you full on, like it would have hit me. And even then, they had to regrow your ribs, pelvis and right leg, and that was only after they regrew your liver and right lung. And repaired the damage to your heart, your kidney. It would have blown a hole in me.”
She remained silent, waiting. “I was cursing you as I left with that portkey. Those were my last thoughts and…and then, then the next thing, I was back, and it was over and Alastor was screaming at a team of healers. They took you away seconds before I reached you. And then we waited. For hours. It was hours and…and when they came out, they told us it was unlikely that you'd survive. That the damage was extensive. But you got through the organ regrowing and then the bone regrowth. And we thought…we thought maybe maybe then you'd wake. But then we'd been waiting a month. And then another week…and another…and…and I kept begging someone, anyone who might be listening, to please, please make you just wake up.” he looked completely shattered.  
“James,” she whispered, “Come here.”
He shook his head. She took a shaky breath, “James. If I move, Harry is going to end up on the floor. Come. here.”
He sat for several beats, and then he moved, pulling her and Harry close to him, his arms banding tightly around her as he let out a noise like a wounded animal, sobbing into her hair. “I thought you weren't going to wake up. And the last memory I'd have is me cursing you for making me leave.”
“It’s over," she whispered, trying to convince her arms to work as she manoeuvred Harry onto her lap more securely, so she could twist curling further into James. Her newly grown bones protested the movement, but she ignored it, sinking into him when she finally hit the angle she wanted, clutching a confused Harry to her with one hand so she could wrap the other around James's back. He moved his arm so he enclosed Harry too, his other moving to press her head into his chest. To his credit, despite the curious expression on his tiny face, Harry remained still, listening to his mother's calming nonsense as she tried to soothe his father as he sobbed, clutching them both like they might disappear if he loosened his grip.

---

The trials began the week Hermione was finally allowed out of the hospital, James, Barty and Petunia hovering around her like she was seconds from dying. As much as she understood it, it was stifling. Every time she opened her mouth to protest, she’d catch her mother or Effie's eye and promptly shut it again, knowing that, as thankful they all were that James was alive, this was her punishment for accepting her death in place of his. 

---

A week before her release, in a spectacular display of Gryffindorish-ness that Hermione had been devastated to miss, Minerva McGonagall had lost her temper at Albus in the middle of the Ministry after he had tried to interfere with ongoing investigations. As a result, the Headmaster had been stripped of both his position on the ICW and as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. Madam Marchbanks had been hastily voted in in his place, with Edgar Bones being commandeered to act as the ICW’s interim representative of Britain, a Madam Lucia Martinez being voted in as Supreme Mugwump in Dumbledore's place. He had not been amused, sulking in his office or grumbling under his breath. Only Minerva's hissed threats that she would see him removed from Hogwarts if he didn't grow up stopped his tantrum. Outwardly, at least.
Unfortunately, it meant he attended every trial, his expression leaving no room to doubt what he was thinking. Gideon and Fabian, tasked with crowd management, had ensured he was sequestered at the back and watched closely. He never truly recovered from the damage he had managed to do to his reputation, and five years after the end of the war, he had retired as Headmaster and taken himself off ‘travelling’. According to Aberforth, he ended up as the head of a small, remote community just off the coast of Argentina, where he was revered and pandered to. Despite acknowledging that he appeared not to be doing any harm, Alastor never stopped monitoring him, just in case.

---

For Hermione, the trials were enough to give closure. She didn’t attend every one, but watching as Lucius Malfoy, Thoros Nott, Antonin Dolohov, Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback were sentenced to the Kiss gave her a sense of peace she hadn't realised she’d been missing. Narcissa had been sentenced to Azkaban alongside many others whose names she vaguely recognised, leaving Draco in Andromeda's care. Nymphadora, it was said, was loving having a new sibling; it made her wonder what Draco would be like this time around.

---

And once they were done, the world began to heal. Taking advantage, the Order had aggressively pushed for reform. And well, no one was going to deny anything Hermione Potter, Bartemius Crouch Jr and Regulus Black demanded. They had collectively defeated Voldemort; their names were now spoken in hushed, awestruck whispers that had all three of them rolling their eyes. There was talk of a statue in their honour. Or there had been until Barty threatened to set them all on fire. Peter had been furious. His money had been on Hermione.

Chapter 9

March 1981

“Now are you sure? I can have you out of here and hidden in a secure location in seconds?” Hermione teased, the wobble in her voice giving away her true feelings as she fought back tears.
“Don't you dare!” Petunia warned, her own eyes glassy as she met her sister's eyes in the mirror. “If you start, I’ll start.”
“And then I’ll start.” Gloria chimed in with a tearful sounding laugh. There were several seconds of silence, all of them quietly contemplative, their eyes on the bride. She truly was beautiful, her simple satin dress far outshone by the look of radiant happiness on her face.
“I’m getting married today,” Petunia whispered, sounding awestruck. 
“That you are,” her other bridesmaid chimed in, returning with a bottle of champagne. “Was there a doubt?”
“My sister was offering to spirit me a way if I'd changed my mind.”
“Good woman,” Annemarie toasted Hermione with the bottle. “Always check. Now, I assume you're not taking her up on her offer? If you are, I can nip out and have a quick word with the driver and change the location.”
Petunia laughed, a tear escaping, “No!” Her hand was shaking as she brushed it away. “Now, let's get you all dressed and open that bottle. Do I want to know where you got it from?”
“Oh, your sister's rather delightful mother in law,” Annemarie laughed, "She's going to join us with Peter's mother in a bit. They were just going to check on the boys. Something about ensuring Sirius, was it?” 
“What has he done now?” Hermione groaned, cutting off the end of her sentence.
“Nothing,” Annemarie waved her off, “I think it was more a preemptive ensuring it stays that way.”
“Good plan,” Gloria muttered as she fussed with the skirts of Petunia's dress. 
“I cannot wait to meet this man,” Annemarie grinned.
“You won't be able to miss him,” Hermione returned dryly. “He’ll ensure it.”

---

The ceremony was beautiful, even if there had been some amused looks as Gloria, Hermione, Evelynn Pettigrew and Effie all dissolved into tears the moment Petunia reached a beaming Peter. 
Their vows had been quiet, traditional and heartfelt, the minister they'd commandeered for the day beaming at them from the pulpit. By the end of it, even Sirius had looked a little glassy-eyed, for all he tried to deny it. He made up for it once the Bride and groom were announced, commandeering Harry and helping him throw confetti and rice at them with gleeful abandon before they were whisked off to the grounds of the manor they'd chosen for their reception.  
While the guests mingled and made use of the free-flowing wine, Petunia and Peter stood underneath decades-old oak trees in a small clearing on the grounds, the magical officiant taking over. As she watched her sister bind herself magically to one of her best friends, Hermione's tears increased, leaving James abandoning his post beside Peter to wrap his sobbing wife in a hug. The bright, brilliant white light surrounding the bride and groom indicating the strength of their compatibility.
“Its a good thing,” he all but begged, trying to stop her tears as the officiant announced them bonded.
“I know!” Hermione agreed. 
“Then why are you crying?” he whined.
“Because…because she's going to be so happy this time around.”
James shot a bewildered look at Sirius. The man merely shrugged, looking alarmed.
“Drink anyone?” he checked frantically, bolting from the crying women before anyone could answer.
“Bloody coward,” James muttered, glancing down at Hermione, relieved her tears appeared to have stopped as she let him go to wrap her sister in a tight hug. 
“Congratulations mate.” he turned to a still beaming Peter.
“I can't believe she actually married me.”
“Of course she did!” James retorted bracingly. “Did you not see that magic?”
“Bloody blinded us all,” Remus grinned, “Slightly hard to miss.”
“It was, wasn't it?” Peter agreed, reaching to reclaim his bride, a look of adoration on his face.
“Merlin, you are so…” Hermione turned to Remus, arching a brow, daring him to finish that sentence. He froze mid sentence before plastering a smile on his face, “You know, I think I'm going to help Sirius with those drinks.”
Malcolm barely suppressed an amused snort. “Well then, will we go and get the party started?” He turned to his newest son-in-law, “Those friends of yours promised me gilly something.”
“Tell me it's not gillyweed, Dad,” Hermione begged.
“No.” he replied slowly. “Maybe not gilly. Giggle?”
“Gigglewater?” Hermione replied. “Or Gillywater?”
“It might have been both,” he replied after thinking about it.
“Jesus,” Hermione muttered, “Don’t be drinking gigglewater around other people, for the love of merlin.”
“Why not?”
“You’ll see,” she grinned, tugging James forward, “Come on, let's get inside so they can make their entrance. And James?” he glanced down at her questioningly. “For the love of all that is magic, stop Sirius from feeding my dad things he shouldn't."
“Wheres the fun in that?” he quipped, catching her hand before she could hit him as he laughed, tugging her inside so they could watch a radiant Peter and Petunia make their entrance.

Chapter 10

30th July 1981

 

“Look at them,” Alice gave a huff of laughter, watching as Harry and Neville happily smeared cake all over their faces.

“I’ll let James scrub that out of his hair,”  Hermione replied drily. “Serves him right for handing him a slice bigger than he is.”

Alice laughed, watching as a tiny Susan Bones toddled over to join them, followed by two tiny redhaired whirlwinds who had clearly escaped their uncles, a giggling Draco Malfoy speed crawling after them. In seconds, all of them were covered in cake.

“I’ve changed my mind,” Petunia whined, watching them all, one hand cradling her slightly swollen stomach. “I don't want one.”

Hermione laughed, “Too late now.  He’ll be here and helping them cause chaos before you know it.”

“I know,” she groaned. 

“Ah well, maybe by the time your ones joined, Hermione will be working on the next one,” Alice teased.

“Next one! God no! I can barely cope with the one I have.”

Alice's smile turned soft, “I don't know, I'd like another one. Soon-ish, I think.”

“Rather you than me.” Hermione retorted, grimacing as Fred licked a strip across George's cheek to clear it of icing.

“Well see.” Alice murmured as James appeared, his arm winding across Hermione's abdomen, pulling her into him as he dropped a kiss onto her head.

“None of them are going to sleep  tonight, are they?”

“I’m considering having Sirius shift so he can chase them in the hopes that they do,” Hermione replied seriously.

He laughed,” He'd probably enjoy that. Now, are we doing presents today or are we saving Harry's for tomorrow?”

“Maybe let him have the ones everyone brought today and do ours tomorrow? Although, I swear to Godric, James if Sirius has bought him something ridiculous I will hex him.”

Unseen, he grimaced, “Well. Let's hope he's up for a bit of a run.”

---

Hours later, Harry finally asleep with the broomstick Sirius had got him cuddled in his arms. James tugged Hermione over to him, sliding her across the sofa cushions, so he could pull her onto his lap. “You don't fancy another one?”

She twisted to stare at him incredulously, “You cannot seriously be asking me that after we've just barely survived ten toddlers, Nymphadora, the Weasley twins, cake and Sirius . Alice and Frank will be finding Merlin knows what in their garden for months!”

He laughed, “To be fair, Dora was the one who gave them the potions that made them sneeze bubbles.”

“I know,” she groaned, “What were we thinking of, pairing Dora and Sirius?"

“I’m going to blame it on shock.” he replied with a grin. “So, another one? We’ll pick more sensible godparents.”

“Like who?” she demanded.

“Um…Tuney and Peter?”

She whined, "Are they more sensible though?

“Marginally?” he shrugged. 

“Marginally,” she repeated, “Merlin, that's not a good enough reason to consider another child.”

He shrugged, “What if we had one just because we wanted one.”

“But I won't survive another of your children!”

He paused before he let out a loud laugh. “Nonsense! Harry adores you almost as much as you adore him. Now, how do you feel about three or four?,”

She froze, "Jesus Potter absolutely not!”

“Well then Potter , why don't we start with another one….we could always practice …in fact I think that's the best idea I’ve had all day.” 

She squealed in surprise as he lifted her up, carrying her up the stairs, intent on doing just that.

Chapter 11

Notes:

So Angelina ballerina was first released in 1983, however I have no idea what month, nor do I expect the author was doing signings with her first book. Hopefully you'll forgive me.

 

17th February 1983

 

“Are you sure about this?” James checked, eyeing Hermione with worry.

“Yes,” she agreed, blowing out a slow breath. “I…I need to know. And I can't ask Minerva without explaining things I don't really want to explain. Based on what they said, the first incident of accidental magic they witnessed would have been a month or so ago. So hopefully, we can help them feel less like they're going crazy.”

“And if things are…different?” he hedged.

Hermione paled. “Then I imagine I’ll need to deal with that,” she whispered.

He hummed, nodding, knowing he wasn't going to be able to talk her out of this. “Let's go then. It was definitely today?”

“Yes. The picture was up in the living room. Angelina Ballerina was newly released and Katherine Holabird was visiting several book shops in the area to promote it.”

“Of course she was,” he muttered, hoisting his son onto his hip. “Now then, Mama wants to go and see a dancing rat.”

“Mouse,” Hermione corrected.

“Dancing mouse,” he amended, pulling a face at Harry until he giggled. “So best behaviour, yeah?”

Rolling her eyes, Hermione shoved him towards the floo. “Let's go.”

---

They walked into the bookshop, spotting the forming crowd about the small table where the author sat. “I’m going to get a book,” she murmured, her eyes darting around the shop. She remembered her parents mentioning that they had ended up there by mistake, arriving before the crowds descended; she couldn't see them.

Trying to keep a lid on her nerves, she paid for the books, joining the queue. “Who are these for?” a cheerful woman checked once it was her turn. 

“Oh. Luna and the second is more…preparation.” she gestured towards her distended abdomen with a rueful smile. “We cannot decide on a name.”

“Katherine is a good strong name,” the woman quipped with a cheeky smile, making Hermione laugh.

“I’ll bear it in mind.” Hermione agreed with a smile, accepting the signed books back.

“Not here?” James murmured as she returned to his side.

“No,” Hermione agreed softly, watching the increasing crowds. 

“Let's go. We can…”

“Visit.” Hermione murmured. 

He froze, sure he had misheard her. “We can what?”

“I think I'm going to visit. Unseen.”

“Mya love…” his face creased with concern.

“It’ll be fine.”

“No. Lets take Harry to mums and I’ll at least come with you.”

“But…”

“You’re not going alone! Merlins balls woman, you're seven months pregnant!"

“Fine,” she grumbled, accepting he wasn't going to change his mind. 

---

Effie had been delighted to take Harry, whisking him off with plans to bake, and presumably eat several batches of biscuits. It thankfully prevented her from asking more questions.

"Where are we going?” James checked once Harry had disappeared with his grandmother, babbling animatedly about biscuit flavours. 

“I’ll take you,” she mumbled, reaching for his arm, her heart hammering in her chest. 

They arrived in a quiet side street, just as the lamposts turned on. Silently, she cast a disillusionment over them both, creeping forward towards her house. The curtains were drawn, so against every ounce of sense she possessed, Hermione silenced her footsteps and crept towards the door, opening it silently. She could feel James' panic without seeing him as she snuck in, assuming James would shut the door. 

Inside, her original parents were curled on the sofa, watching something she couldn't identify on the TV. Around the room, there were pictures of their favourite moments, but no hint of a child. 

She startled when her father's voice sounded playfully, “Oh, he's wide awake tonight, isn't he!”

“Yes,” her mother grumbled, only half seriously, “My insides are going to be bruised!”

“Just practicing his football skills,” her father teased.

Hermione felt the words barrel into her. He . Her mother was pregnant, a boy this time, several years too late. She wasn't going to exist at all. Silently, James wrapped an arm around her, tugging her gently towards the door, shutting it behind them silently before he guided her back towards the alley.

---

“Are you alright?” he checked once they were safely home.

“I…I don't know.” Hermione turned to look at him, her bewilderment plain on her face.

“Mya love, you knew it was a possibility,” he reminded her gently.

“I didn't really believe it.” she admitted. 

Blowing out a breath, he wrapped her in a hug, “We’ll keep an eye, if he has magic, we’ll recruit him into our strange little tribe. He’ll be ages with our girl.”

“And if he doesn't?” she checked in a small voice.

“Then he doesn't. If you want to find a way to have them in our lives, we’ll figure something out. As I said, he’ll be ages with our girl. They can't be that far apart if your other dad could feel the kicks.”

She nodded silently, trying to process what had just happened, a feeling of grief settling into her stomach. She truly hadn't expected this. James squeezed her tighter, feeling the growing wet patch as her tears soaked into his shirt.

Chapter 12

19th April 1983

“Look at them,” Effie cooed, her terrified son still in shock in a seat in the corner.
“Tell me he fainted.” Peter crowed, stepping into the room with his almost two-year-old son, Nicholas, on his hip, Petunia seconds behind him, stifling a laugh at the blank faced James.
An exhausted Hermione sent him a faint smile from the bed. “Blood everywhere.” She agreed, “He clipped the side of the cabinet on the way down.”
There were several muffled laughs. “I suppose twins were a bit of a surprise,” Petunia's tone was surprisingly even despite her amusement.
“Just a bit,” Hermione agreed as Gloria and Malcolm rushed in with Harry, Sirius and Barty. 
“He wanted to bring the baby something,” Gloria explained their harried appearance.
“Ah,” Hermione smiled, reaching a hand out towards her son. “Harry, do you want to come and meet your sisters?”
“Sisters?” Gloria gasped, “As in more than one?”
Silently, Hermione gestured to the hospital cot beside her bed, “My god.” Malcom exclaimed faintly, helping Harry up and onto the bed. 
“This is Cecelia Euphemia,” Hermione gestured to her tiny daughter swaddled in pink, smiling at her mother-in-law's gasp, and Elizabeth Gloria.”
Oh,” Harry breathed at the same time as his grandmother, reaching to gently touch the nearest baby's cheek before a worried little frown creased his face.
“What is it, love?”
He held up the bear in his hand, "There's only one!”
“Oh I think we can fix that,” Pandora smiled, gliding into the room, Luna on her hip. She let out a cry of delight at the sight of Harry as he sent her a beaming smile back, waving at her from his perch on the bed. “Now then,” Pandora waved her wand, duplicating the bear, changing the colour slightly. “Now there's two.”
“Two,” James gasped from the corner, making them laugh.
Harry peered at him curiously. “Is Daddy ok?”
“He's…a little bit shocked,” Hermione settled on, “we were only expecting one baby, Cecelia was a bit of a surprise.”
At that, Sirius laughed, “Merlin Prongs, two tiny witches to keep an eye on. Two tiny witches raised by your wife….”
“Poor girls will have a big brother and a big cousin to look out for them,” Malcolm laughed. “Even if they take after their mother and are a little bit too clever for their own good.”
“Poor girls will be taught how to manage overprotective male relatives,” Hermione muttered ominously, making the other women in the room laugh, Luna's infectious giggle leaving the wizards fighting their own smiles.
“As it should be,” Effie agreed with a smirk.
“No you can't teach them your tricks!” James protested as his wife's words caught up with him. “I won't survive two!”
“Nonsense,” Hemione grinned. “Docile witches get nothing done,” she turned, cooing at her goddaughter, “Isn’t that right, little moon?” 
“Yes!” Luna crowed, as Hermione turned to smile smugly at her husband, clearly feeling she’d made her point.
“No child raised by you will ever be docile, baby sister,” Petunia teased.
Hermione laughed, looking down at Harry, “Do you want a cuddle?”
He immediately wrapped his arms around her, leaving them teary eyed as she squeezed him back, “Now what about your sisters?”
He looked faintly apprehensive, but nodded, remaining cuddled into his mother as she helped him hold one baby, before accepting the second from Effie so they were both close. “Hi,” he whispered, "I'm your big brother Harry. 
Still looking pale, James joined them, perching on the bed, “Merlin, we have three kids.” he whispered as he wrapped an arm around his wife. Unseen, Fleamont produced a camera. 
“Maybe one more,” Petunia murmured to Peter before she moved beside her mother, who had just claimed Elizabeth, Cecelia finding her way into a delighted Effie's arms.
“Not if there's a chance of twins!” Peter squeaked, sending Barty into a fit of the giggles.

Chapter 13

31st July 1986

 

Lily paused outside the door of her old house, wondering if she had the strength to knock. At her side, her husband stood silently, her hand clasped in his, her free one skimming over the newly formed bump of her abdomen. 

“Lily, pet, is that you?” a voice called from the gate. She turned, Mrs Lauder from two doors down staring back at her. “And young Severus! Well, aren't the pair of you a sight for sore eyes! Where have you been, loves?”

“France,” Lily attempted a wobbly smile.”

Ah,” she nodded, “well then. You’ll not find them in today pet, did you forget? That sister of yours is hosting wee Harry's party with his friend, what was the lad's name now?” She paused, “Neville. That was it. It's lovely that they're only a day apart; they alternate the days so the boys get a party on their actual birthday every other year. They say it's like getting two birthdays on the year it doesn't fall on theirs,” she huffed, waving an impatient hand, “Listen to me, eh? Talking as if you don’t know that! Now, I’m sure they said they were having it in some manor somewhere. Potter Manor? Would that be right? What with Hermione and that husband of hers having to move in with his parents while they extend their house.” she gave a little laugh. “Get along with you now, it can't be that far, your dad was driving, but you surely don't want to miss it!”

“No.” Lily stammered, reeling, “No, of course. Thank you, Mrs Lauder. We’ll head along now.” She gave a wry smile, “I don't know where my head is.”

---

Are you alright?” Severus checked immediately once the neighbour was gone.

“Yes? No…I don't know. Hermione got married, Sev. And I had no idea. It's been six years, I knew that things would have changed. But married. Merlin, do you think I have nieces and nephews? Is Harry hers or is he…the baby. It has to be surely, given the date”

“Your son,” he supplied.

She gave a mirthless laugh. “My son.” Her hand dropped to her abdomen, and she sighed, “Can I really call him that? Either my sister is the closest to a mother he has because I can't imagine a world where she's not involved, or Potter married and his wife is his mother now. That would make sense given that this party is apparently at his manor. Either way, he’s not truly mine, is he?”

“You don't think…” he trailed off, not sure whether to voice it or not.

“I don't think what?”

“Mya and Potter….”

Lily let out a bark of laughter, “God no.”

He shrugged, “He tended to listen to her.”

“She’d have smothered him in his sleep the first night. And anyway, she was adamant she wasn't marrying anyone for a long time.”

“If you say so,” he agreed softly, “Now. What do you want to do?”

“I don't know.” she admitted. “I don't want to cause a scene and interrupt a child's birthday.”

“But…”

“But,” she sighed, “I think if I wait much longer I'll lose my nerve.”

“So we do it today, but later. How long can a child's party last?”

“What, floo  Potter Manor unannounced?”

“Well we’ll have the decency to wait and ask an elf if Potter is free. I imagine he’ll know where your sister or your parents are. We could wait here on your parents but we have no idea if they're returning tonight or not.”

“No.” she agreed slowly. “Right so…I don't know, he’d be six now so, four-ish? Surely it will be over by then? Gives me three hours to work myself into a state.”

“Indeed,” he drawled. 

---

Trying to calm her panic, Lily and Severus flood the Potters. Having been there before and having listened to James explain why protections were in place, Lily wasn't at all surprised when they found themselves contained in the floo room.

“Can Dixie be helping?”

Lily’s head snapped up, spotting the small elf in a sage green towel at the door. “Hi Dixie. I don't know if you remember me.”

“I remember you, Miss.” she agreed.

“We were hoping to speak to James or his parents,” she gave a self-conscious laugh, “I’m looking for mine, a neighbour said they were here earlier.”

“They still bes here.” she agreed. “Wait a moment, Dixie will be checking with her mistress.”

Lily slumped into Severus’ side once she was gone, "They're going to hate me aren't they?”

He bit back a sigh; it was a common conversation over the years, and he truly didn't have any answers. He might hope that they didn't, but ultimately, she had abandoned her son and ran. It hadn't seemed selfish at the time, desperation mixed with panic dictating their actions, but now, knowing that she was currently pregnant, both of them realised how monumentally wrong her actions were. It had been the push they had needed to come home. 

---

“Lily Evans.” Their heads snapped up to the slightly disdainful voice, the woman standing in front of them poised, clearly monied, her expression blank.

“Mrs Potter.” Lily attempted a wobbly smile.

“Why are you here?”

“One of the neighbours implied my parents might be here. We really only came to ask.”

She hummed, “I see. Why now?”

Lily took in a deep breath, knowing that if she lied this was over. “Honestly? I'm pregnant. It…brought up some buried feelings. We needed to come home,” she grimaced. “Appologise. Face the music.”

“I see. And your first…pregnancy.”

“I’m not here to interfere,” she whispered. “I can't imagine James wants me anywhere near him. But I…I would like to meet him. Eventually."

“To what end?”

“I was wrong. Leaving him, not telling James. Just…running away. But I meant it, I won't interfere. I imagine he has someone he calls mum. And I don’t…i don't want to get in the way of that. As I said, I'd like to meet him, when James thinks it's appropriate. But…i don't expect ... .I know I'm not his mother.”

Effie stared at her, clearly evaluating the truthfulness of her words. “I see. Your parents are here. Follow me.” She eyed Severus, “Mr Snape, I presume.”

“Mrs Potter,” he inclined his head. She hummed, her face impassive.

---

Silently, she led them through the house, intending to leave them in a smaller sitting room so she could acquire Gloria and Malcolm. She unfortunately had not banked on the tiny terrors that were the Weasley twins.

Just as they were passing, Hermione waddled out, her abdomen large and cumbersome, a tiny crying girl on her hip, her skin an alarming shade of blue. Seconds later, James followed, the tiny girl's copy on his, although her skin was a violent green. Arthur Weasley, holding the hands of his own twins, their skin a bright, fluorescent orange that clashed with their hair trailing behind them. “Effie!” Hermione frowned, the question clear on her face before she gasped, her eyes moving to stare over her mother-in-law's shoulder, blowing wide in her shock. “ Lily ?”

“Lily?” James echoed, moving to stand beside her. “Holy fu….um.” he met his wife's glare, “I mean. Fiddlesticks.”

“Why don't I call Dora?” Arthur interjected, his eyes darting between them. “We can deal with both sets of twins,” he pinned his sons with a look, “And the apology. Xeno has Luna well in hand. I think he was going to take a group of them to find nargles. Ron was shouting something to that effect at least. He seemed quite excited”

“Gods,” James choked, trying not to laugh, “I suppose he hasn't enough of those glasses to take them all on a wrackspurt hunt.”

“Stop it!” Hermione scolded, but her lips were twitching as she fought a smile, remembering how adorable all the children had been the last time Xeno had taken them on a hunt, each of them wearing a pair of spectraspecs he had helped them customise. “Well then, little Miss Eliza, will you go with Auntie Dora and Uncle Arthur?”

Eliza nodded slowly, “Where you going Mama?”

“Mama’s just going with Grandma and Daddy,” she murmured, “We won't be long.”

“Cece too?” Eliza checked, missing Lily's stunned, quiet exclamation of “ Daddy ” as several pieces slotted together.

“No lovely, Cece's going to go with you, see if Auntie Dora can change your skin back to something a bit more normal.”

She hummed, “Kay. I don't think the spell worked, Mama, there's not an orange house.” Her lip petted, “But I don't want to be a ‘claw, Mama, not if Cece's going to be a snake! I wants to be a badger. Badgers are cuddly!”

There were several stifled smiles at the look on James' face at that announcement. “No!” he groaned, “Auntie Alice has corrupted you! Don't you want to be a lion like Daddy and Uncle Peter and Uncle Sirius and….?”

“Alright. That's enough indoctrination.” Hermione cut in. “I’ll remind you that her mother was a Ravenclaw and any house would be lucky to have them.”

James pouted, but clearly bored, Eliza patted her mother's cheek for attention, “Auntie Dora bring her moon?”

“Ah, I think Luna’s helping Uncle Xeno.”

“An’ the nargles,” Cece piped up from James' hip, her dark curls flying as she nodded alarmingly. 

Arthur laughed, “Right then, you two, let's go find a room and we’ll send Auntie Dora a message so we can join in the nargle hunt.”

“I’ll send her,” Hermione interrupted, “My parents…Tuney.”

His face creased in understanding, “Right you are, Hermione. Come on then you four.”

“Blue sitting room,” Effie murmured as Hermione turned to leave. She nodded, not turning back as she walked towards the garden as quickly as her current bulk allowed. James hovered for an uncomfortable second, watching his daughters disappear with Arthur.

“You know what I'm going to go and help Mya. Save her walking the length of the garden or Harry seeing her and wanting her to play.”

Effie shook her head, a look of fond amusement on her face, before it fell as she turned to look at Lily, “Come along then.”

“Hermione…Hermione married James?” Lily blurted.

“You hardly left them much choice, Miss Evans.” Effie retorted pointedly before pausing, “Mrs Snape?”

Lily nodded in response, shame infusing her features. “Perhaps not,” she whispered, her grip on Severus tight. “Still, she could have remained his aunt…”

Effie scoffed as she opened the door of a small but opulent sitting room, “Hermione could no more have retained on that fringes of that boy's life than she could have handed him over to another family to be adopted. Your mother wanted that, you know? Thought Hermione was too young to tie herself to a baby. But the thing about Hermione, once she loves you, she loves fiercely. There are no half measures with that witch. And she's managed. Perhaps it wasn't the path she envisioned, but she adapted.”

“And Harry….that is…that's what they called him?”

“Yes. He’s happy. Bright, a bit of a rascal. His mother is his favourite person in this world. Although I’ll be honest, Sirius is an alarmingly close second. He's a good brother. Merlin help those girls when they reach Hogwarts age. Although knowing Hermione, perhaps it should be the boys we’re worried about. Those girls will be no dainty little princesses, whatever James might wish.”

Lily smiled faintly, feeling a jolt of pain at the idea of her son loving his mother fiercely, of that mother not being her. She knew it wasn't fair; all of this was her own doing. But still, it hurt.

“That's good.” she murmured, “And she's due soon.”

“Yes.” Effie agreed, a faint smile on her face, “Another girl.”

“Oh wow. Three girls.” Lily stammered, utterly unable to picture the James Potter she knew coping with raising three daughters.

The door opened, Gloria appearing, cutting off Effie's reply. She froze in the doorway, her expression torn like she couldn't decide whether to hug or hit her.

“In you go love,” Malcolm's voice instructed softly, “If nothing else, the girls need a seat.”

She nodded shakily, sitting down across from Lily and Severus, staring at her daughter, Malcolm sitting down next to her.

Lily couldn't contain her gasp when Petunia followed, Peter's arm keeping her steady, her abdomen as swollen as Hermione's. Coming in last, James grimaced when he managed to shut the door with a louder bang than he'd intended, pulling Hermione tight into his side as they sat. She rolled her eyes but didn't move away from him, surprising her sister.

“Well I'll leave you to your chat,” Effie glanced between them, “Merlin knows we’ve enough children to be keeping an eye on.”

“Thanks Effie,” Hermione murmured, wondering which of them was going to speak first as Effie closed the door softly behind her.

“You're back,” Malcolm voiced after several seconds of uncomfortable silence.

“We’re back,” Lily agreed with a whisper.

He hummed, his face unreadable. “Why?”

“I’m pregnant,” she explained hesitantly, “I…It hit me how awful I'd been and,...I needed, need to apologise."

“You left a baby on a doorstep”, Gloria hissed, “You could have spoken to us! We’d have helped!”

“I was scared!” she blurted “And i felt trapped. And I know it was wrong! I think I'll probably hate myself for it for the rest of my life! But I panicked.”

“Thank goodness your sister didn't."

“Mum!” Hermione interjected seeing Lily flinch, softening her voice, "Don't."

Gloria's lip wobbled. “I am furious with you, Lily Maureen!” she hissed, before standing abruptly and pulling her daughter into a hug, tightening her arms when Lily sobbed.

Malcolm let out a long sigh, arching a brow at Severus, “Tell me you're married and my little girl is not pregnant out of wedlock. Again.”

He grimaced, “Yes. We've been married for five years.”

He hummed, “And didn't think to invite any of us.”

Severus blew out a breath, “It took more time than it should have to brave asking for news. We weren't sure what was happening. Had I come back mid war I would have been murdered. The baby…forced the issue once we had learned it was safe.”

“I see,” Malcolm murmured, his face blank. “And your plans now?”

Severus shifted uncomfortably. “We’ve purchased a house in London, close to Diagon Alley. I gained my potions mastery while we were…ah away. I have a reasonable client base. I believe Lily intends to stay at home initially. Once the baby is older I imagine she will go back to work."

Malcolm hummed, “And Harry?” he checked as Lily finally let go of her mother and sat down.

“I’d like to meet him.” she admitted softly.

“Not any time soon,” James' voice cracked out like a whip. Hermione eyed him but remained silent.

“Right.” Lily choked, “Right I….”

“You just left him,” James hissed. “You don't get to…”

“James.” 

His head snapped quickly around to look at his wife, his posture softening at whatever he read on her face. “Hes yours,” he whispered, his tone pleading.

“Of course he is.” Hermione agreed. “However, Lily is his aunt.”

Unseen by them, Lily flinched. Catching it, Petunia scoffed. “Did you expect something different?”

“I…” Lily deflated, her expression torn, “No,” she admitted. “Not really. I just didn't think it would hurt quite this much.”

Hermione met her gaze unflinchingly. “I am not without sympathy and I won't judge your choices, but Lily? You're going to have to live with the hurt, because Harry is mine. I adopted him in blood the day we got married; there is no going back. And I can't imagine how difficult that is, but however good your reasons, you made the choices you did, the same way I did. Now. It is my son's birthday and we are missing it. If you want to talk later, we’ll be here but today is about Harry and I won't have him wondering where we are.”

She struggled to her feet, James' arm keeping her steady. He spoke quietly before he left, “I am furious with the choices you made, but part of me wants to thank you, you know? Not just for Harry, although he's amazing. But if you hadn't done what you did, I wouldn't have Mya either, and quite honestly, that's unthinkable.” His entire expression softened as he looked at his wife. 

I hope you remember that in a month, Potter, when I'm cursing your entire existence,” Hermione quipped, although her expression was equally soft.

“Well Potter , if the last time’s anything to go on, you remember you love me once it's done.”

Hermione snorted a laugh, not contradicting him as she allowed him to guide her out the door.

“I think we’ll leave you to it,” Peter voiced, reaching for Petunia's hand but looking at Malcolm and Gloria.

“I’m not ready to speak to you yet.” Petunia admitted, her eyes hard. “You…I won't say you ruined Mya's life, you didn't. But you could have. You had no thought for her or Harry or even James. She had to put her entire life on hold, marry a man she didn't love, raise a child that wasn't hers. And she did it, she’s loved Harry from the moment she picked him up. And she fell in love with James and heavens knows she adores her girls. But it wasn't the life she'd planned. The mastery she spoke about? The one she'd been excited about for years? That had to wait. She's only just finished it. She hasn't had a chance to really settle herself in a career because Harry was here and they didn't want a giant age gap, didn't want him wondering if he was a mistake if they left it the ten or so years she had originally planned before she had children. You took away her choices the moment you asked her to raise him. And while I wouldn't change a bloody thing seeing how happy she is, I remember the girl she was, how excited she was about learning, how determined she was to become a Healer. She wanted to travel. She wanted to find out who she was before she became a wife and a mother. And you stole that from her.”

Lily eyed her parents as Petunia left, the tears streaming down her cheeks. “Shes not wrong.” Malcolm's tone was unyielding. “Im glad you're back. But I am…disappointed in your choices. I understand why you felt you had to leave,” his eyes darted to Severus. “But I will never understand you hiding your pregnancy, leaving your son on a bloody doorstep or the guilt you heaped on your sister. She was lucky. James worships the bloody ground she walks on, and despite her initial misgivings, she loves him just as fiercely. But she could so easily have been condemned to a loveless marriage because she loved Harry from the moment she laid eyes on him. She would do anything for that child. I don't know how much information you got before you decided to come back but there was a prophecy you know?”

“No,” Lily whispered.

“Yes, about Harry. And this self professed lord that was terrorising everyone." Lily went ashen. “Hermione stepped in, with help and made sure it never came to pass. It almost killed her. At the end, we were told to prepare for just that. We waited almost two months for her to open her eyes again, half convinced she never would. And I'm not saying that's your fault, it's not. But she pushed herself because of Harry, put herself in situations she shouldn't have so she could end it quickly, for everyone, but mainly for him and her judgement was compromised because Harry didn't sleep and she was exhausted. We’ll never know if she’d have made different choices if she hadn't been in that state, but knowing her as I do, I'd like to think she probably would have.  Now if you’ll excuse me, I'm going to return to my grandson's party.” He blew out a breath as he stood, “I love you, you are my little girl. But I am…not sure I can be rational currently. Perhaps you could visit in a day or two, give us all time to get over our initial reactions.”

“He hates me,” Lily choked as he shut the door behind him.

“He doesn't." Gloria contradicted. "He's disappointed, and hurt and truthfully, angry. At you and for Hermione. Hermione won't be angry. Or certainly not anywhere near as much as she should be. How could she? She's happy and she's loved and while she doesn't like how Harry came to her, she will never regret it either. That's partially why your father is angry, why Petunia is so angry, they feel they have to be because Hermione won't. You've missed six years, Lily. Those years…your sisters, they’re close. Incredibly so, partially because of James and Peter, and partially because we all live here for months during that war. They've gone through their current pregnancies together, they're due the same week. And you missed it all. It's going to be hard. There is a lot of hurt, and I imagine there'll be more to come. However,” she blew out a breath, “I am glad you're back, I've missed you. So, why don't you tell me what we’ve missed in your life, I imagine we’ve all berated you enough for today.”

Haltingly, Lily did just that, her heart hurting at the mess they'd caused, despite knowing it was her own doing.

Chapter 14

5th August 1986

 

I don't want to do this,” James announced into the tense silence. 

Hermione hummed, “I know.” she agreed, sharing a look with Peter before struggling to her feet, dragging James back over to the sofa and tugging him down beside her, leaning into him. Almost automatically, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, his second coming to rest on her abdomen where their newest daughter was making her presence known. As was his habit, he sent a silent prayer that this time it was just one daughter; they were outnumbered enough as it was. 

Petunia looked apprehensive before a stubborn look stole over her face, “I don't want to do this either.”

“We know,” Peter agreed with a soft smile, “But we talked about this. We decided that we'd see if they were really sorry because whatever else she's done, she is your sister and your parents seem to believe they're trying.”

“I know. We were wrong. We should have waited.”

“If we wait any longer you’ll have another newborn and we both know it’ll be ten times harder to escape your parents when that happens.” he reasoned. 

She huffed, "Can't she just go back to France?”

“Apparently not.” Hermione sighed, “Look…whatever she's done, she is our sister. Dad appears to be less wary and…we have to try, don't we, for mum and dad if nothing else?”

“Do we?” Petunia arched a brow.

“Tuney!” Hermione whined and her sister slumped. 

“Fine,” she grumbled. “BUt I want it noted that I'm not happy about it.”

“Done,” Hermione agreed, turning to her husband. “Are you going to be alright?”

He pouted, but nodded. Underneath the overblown expression, Hermione saw the very real apprehension on his face, “If she says or does anything she shouldn't, we leave.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

He blew out a breath before nodding, “Ok. Will we round up the kids then? Let's get this over with.”

---

They arrived via the floo Hermione had insisted be installed in her parents' house, unable to stop the children thundering down the stairs, excited to see their grandparents.

“Merlin I cannot wait until I can move properly again,” she grumbled as she followed them at a much more sedate pace.

She found them all stopped dead in the doorway of the livingroom. Harry and the girls taking a step back at the sight of their parents, Harry's hand finding its way into Hermione's, clearly reacting to the strange energy in the room. Nicholas stood with narrowed eyes, his head cocked, seeming to be in the middle of a staring contest with Severus. 

“Mama, who's that?” Harry whispered.

“Lets go and sit down before Mama falls down, and we’ll introduce you,” Hermione replied gently, steering him into the room, trusting that James had the girls.

Lily's face was starkly white as she laid eyes on her son for the first time in six years, “Harry, Eliza, Cece, Nick, this is your Auntie Lily and Uncle Severus.”

Harry and Nick frowned. “Like Auntie Tuney?” Harry queried.

“Yes. Auntie LIly is mama and Aunty Tuney's other sister.”

“OH.” he paused, clearly sizing Lily up. “WHere have you been?”

“France.” Lily choked out.

Harry's eyes darted to his parents as if not sure what he was meant to respond to that. “Auntie Lily and Uncle Severus are moving back now.” Peter kept his tone upbeat. 

“Oh. Thats nice,” Nick scrunched his nose, turning to his grandparents, “Can we go and play in the garden now?”

“Yes, off you go. Remember though, Mr MacIntyre does not want to see you in his garden so keep any balls on this side of the fence.”

“Yes Grandad!” they chorused angelically, making Malcolm snort. 

“Away with the lot of you, rascals.”

“Merlin. He is…” Lily gasped. 

“Mine and Mya’s.” James finished with a warning growl

Hermione sighed heavily, and he looked sheepish, offering her a guileless smile, “Drink, darling?”

“I’d love one, preferably several. Unfortunately that's going to have to wait.” she shot back.

“Three more weeks,” he smiled.

“Easy for you to say, you don't have a child tap dancing on your bladder and compressing your lungs so you feel like you're slowly suffocating..”

“Is that really what it's like”? Peter checked. 

“Yes!” Hermione and Petunia howled.

His eyes widened in slight fear. “Right ah…Malcolm, why don't I help you with drinks.”

“I don't remember offering drinks…” Malcolm muttered despite his amused expression.

“I’ll help too,” James nodded, standing abruptly. His eye on Hermione's wand.

“You think they'd be braver after the last time,” Petunia mused, sending her youngest sister a wicked smirk.

Hermione laughed, but it was Gloria who answered., “I think they remember the last time well enough that they've learned what a tactical retreat is.”

“Was it bad?” Lily ventured.

It took a second, Hermione clearly weighing up her options before she spoke, “Tuney used to floo me and ask me to hex Peter when he was being particularly irritating. And well…I was pregnant with twins. It's quite a lot of magic to assimilate.

“And here we just thought you were over exaggerating," Petunia teased.

“I hope this time you get a surprise baby too.” Hermione shot back.

“I swear to all that is holy if that happens Hermione Gloria, I'm blaming you entirely!” 

“A surprise baby?” Lily asked with a frown.

“Cece was a surprise. I wasn't aware I was carrying twins.”

“Oh my. That..that can happen?”

“Apparently.” Hermione shrugged.

An uncomfortable silence descended until Severus blurted. “Your mother said you’d accepted a position with the DMLE?”

“As one of their Healers, yes.” Hermione agreed, “Not for another year, it's a job share with the new Sentient beings office, so I don't imagine i’ll be bored. Dorcas Meaddowes, do you remember her?” he nodded.

“Ravenclaw, several years above us. She was Head Girl wasn't she?”

“Yes, she was instrumental in setting it up. It makes sense given how often both Aurors and sentient beings end up needing treatment. I gather that they’re cautiously optimistic that it’ll improve outcomes.”

He hummed, “That's…good.”

Without seeing her, Hermione knew Petunia had arched a brow at how awkward this was. “And your potions, are you considering an apothecary?”

“Not yet,” he replied slowly, “I do not wish to increase my expenditure unnecessarily. Perhaps once I have a more robust clientele. Madam Pomfrey recently requested a meeting, so I am…also cautiously optimistic.”

“That's..good.” Hermione blew out a breath, turning to her sister, “How far along are you?”

“Oh. Only sixteen weeks. A…boy.”

“Congratulations,” Hermione managed a smile that only looked slightly forced. 

“I don't expect you to forgive me any time soon,” Lily blurted.

“Good,” Petunia replied shortly.

“Drinks?” Peter walked in, took in the room and looked like he’d like to walk back out again.

“I think I’ll go and check on dinner, “Gloria sighed,

“Can I help?” he whined slightly pathetically.

“No,” she attempted to stifle a smile. “You can referee,” she waved her hand, “whatever this is.”

“Do you hate me Gloria?”

“For heaven's sake Peter, they don't bite!”

“No, they hex or one of them does and the other convinces her sister to do it for her.”

Malcolm let out a choked wheeze, hearing him, “That they do lad, that they do. And yet you love them both. So…” he made an impatient shooing motion. “You and James can mediate. Girls. No drawing blood. I’ve run out of the stuff that gets it out the carpet.”

---

Dinner was just as awkward, more so perhaps given the way Lily's eyes seemed to fixate on Harry. He clearly noticed, squirming slightly in his seat. 

“Do you like Quidditch?” Lily finally ventured over pudding.

“Oh. Yes.” Harry's eyes lit up. “We took Grandad to see Tornadoes versus Harpies…last year?”

Hermione gave a huff of laughter, “Three months ago.”

“Right,” he nodded earnestly, “And he caught the snitch because it flew in front of his nose and it was annoying him.” Severus choked on his vienetta and Malcolm flushed. 

“I let it go again.” he grumbled. 

“They made Grandad an honorary winner and took him on their brooms with the seeker when the Harpies won!” Harry crowed. “His face was in the newspaper. Daddy got it framed!”

“Yes alright,” Malcolm muttered before he grinned, “Although how many of you can say you caught the snitch in a professional game!”

There was a rumbling of laughter, and James toasted him with his glass, "You're not wrong.”

“And are the Harpies your favourite team?” Lily checked.

“No! The Magpies!” Nick nodded along with Harry furiously as James muttered under his breath about Barty and corrupting his son. “Do you have a team?” he demanded suddenly.

“Oh. I ah…in France I followed the Quiberon Quafflepunchers.”

Harry's nose wrinkled. “Why would you punch the quaffle?”

“They didn't actually…it was just a name.”

“Seems a bit silly.” he shrugged before squinting at her, “Do you have any cousins for us to play with?”

Cece and Eliza stopped their whispered conversation with Peter and Gloria immediately and zeroed in on their new aunt. Lily paled and squirmed before whispering. “Ah no. Not yet.”

“Not yet?” Cece demanded.

“I have a baby in my tummy like your mummy.” she attempted to smile at her niece.

Her nose scrunched, her resemblance to her mother all too apparent. “But babies are boring!” she whined. “I want a girl cousin my age!”

“That's not quite how it works lovely,” Hermione commiserated, hiding her smile.

“Maybe Uncle Reggie and Uncle Fab will manage though,” James tried.

“How?” Eliza immediately queried.

“Well...ah…boys can't keep babies in their tummies.”

“Where do they get them from then?” Cece's eyes lit up as a thought occurred to her, “Is there a shop?”

“Oh gods.” James darted a glance at his wife, who was looking all too amused, her mouth resolutely shut. “Right I ah… not quite, Princess. Sometimes babies and bigger children need a home.”

“What happened to their last one?”

“I ah…Godric,” he stammered. “Sometimes people have babies they can't look after.”

“That seems silly,” Harry muttered, missing the way his new aunt flinched.

“And so they give them to people who can look after them. Uncle Reggie and Uncle Fab are hoping they’ll be given one.”

“Oh. How do they pick them?” she cocked her head. At the same time, Harry blurted, “Do people just drop babies in houses?” Lily flinched so hard she dropped her spoon.

“In shopping bags!” Eliza giggled.

“In presents!” Nick shouted.

There was much childish giggling before Harry announced primly, “I don't want a baby as a present. I’d quite like a dog though.”

“You have Uncle Pads,” Hermione returned dryly. “That's enough of a pet for any family.

“But he doesn't live with us, Mama!” Harry whined.

“Doesn’t he?” she retorted. “I think he thinks he does.”

“Don't be silly Mama, Uncle Pads lives with Uncle Moony and all his floozies.”

There was an immediate silence before Petunia squeaked, “Where did you hear that?”

Harry frowned, but Nick answered, “Tonks said her Mummy said it. Draco agreed.”

“Tonks should know better than to repeat that,” Peter muttered, pinning both his son and his nephew with a look, “Floozie is not a nice word and we don't use it. Especially about Uncle Pads’….ah…friends.”

“Mainly because Uncle Pads is the biggest floozie of them all,” James mumbled, yelping slightly when Hermione's elbow connected with his ribs.

 

---

We survived!” James cowed once they finally got home, all children safely in bed.

“Just.”

“Snape was…quiet.”

“Oh I wonder why,” Hermione arched a brow.

“I was civil.”

“Yes,” she agreed with a long exhale, “You were. This time.”

“Do you think we should tell Harry?”

Hermione froze, “About Lily?”

“Yeah. She's…weird around him. He's going to notice. So…do we tell hum?”

“Merlin's tits,” she muttered, “Maybe?”

He hummed. “Or we could send them back to France."

“James!”

He held up his hands. “Just saying…it's an option.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, shoving his arm, “Do not suggest that, my mother will work out how to curse you.”

James paled, nodding. “More than likely.”

“So, however much it might be easier, no mentioning returning to France."

He pouted slightly but let it go, muttering about terrifying mother-in-laws and questionable taste in wives.

Chapter 15

19th August 1986

Two weeks later, Lily crept into St Mungo's. She had left it as late in the day as possible, still not sure she was truly welcome given how strained everything was. Pushing open the door to her sister's room, she froze at the sight of Harry, curled into Hermione, talking softly to the tiny bundle of blankets in Hermione's arms. 
No one else was in the room, leaving her wondering where James and the twins were. It was a heartstoppingly painful scene to witness, especially now she was pregnant again, able to see herself in her sister's place, with her eldest doting on his new sibling. She knew it wasn't fair, she knew she had entirely messed this up, but it didn't mean the hurt wasn't there. Not for the first time, she wondered if she was strong enough for this, if the blissful distance France offered was worth considering again so she could stop feeling like her heart was being torn in two. It didn't help that she now knew Harry knew. Not that it mattered, when she had pushed, her mother had admitted that Harry had informed Hermione that she was his Mama, and that's all there was to it. She gathered he had been rather clingy since, as if scared Lily was here to spirit him away. She wouldn't, obviously, even if in one of her darker moments she'd contemplated it. 
“I just wanted to bring this,” she voiced quietly, loath to break the bubble but knowing she couldn't hover in the doorway. She noticed when Harry pushed himself further into Hermione's side at the sight of her.
“Lily!”
“Hermione. Just one this time then?”
“Yes.” Hermione's smile was tired but radiant as she glanced down at her newest daughter. “Meredith. Meredith Pandora. We were just discussing whether Merry or Edie would be a better nickname.”
“Ah,” Lily nodded, “And did you decide?”
“Harry thought Edie, didn't you sweetheart?”
“Yes,” he mumbled, “In case she's not always happy.”
Hermione smiled, running a hand over his head, “Good logic. Edie it is.”
“Really Mama?” his face lit up.
“Really,” she agreed with a fond smile.
“No James?” 
“He took the girls home, it’s late and they were getting grouchy.”
“So I stayed to look after Mama and Edie,” Harry announced, a touch of defiance in his tone.
“That's right,” Hermione soothed. “Edie is the best protected little girl in the whole of St Mungos.”
He smiled, stroking one of her tiny hands, finishing, "Until she can be fierce on her own.”
“Oh I think she’ll always need her big brother,” Hermione corrected with a smile, "Perhaps not protecting her, but standing at her side.”
“Like you and Daddy, Mama?” he checked, “Uncle Barty says you're the scariest of them all.”
Hermione laughed, dropping a kiss onto his head, “As all good witches should be, but even Mama sometimes needs someone to stand beside her.”
“So they can hold your overrobe?” James teased coming back into the room and perching on the bed. “Managed to decide on a name?”
“Edie,” Harry announced, “In case she's not always merry.”
“Ah, Good call.” he said, tilting his head, “Lily.”
“James. I was just dropping a gift.
“Thank you,” he replied lightly, accepting it from her, “No Snape?”
“No he has a big order on, he couldn't leave it and truthfully he wasn't sure….” she trailed off.
James hummed, “If you're staying I imagine we'll need to learn to get along.”
She nodded slowly, looking at the family on the bed, feeling very much like she was intruding. “Well. I’ll leave you in peace for tonight. But ah…maybe…maybe we could visit once you're out?”
Hermione stilled and then nodded. “Of course. We’ll be at Potter Manor for the next month.”
“Well…I’ll owl. Arrange something.”
“Lily?” Hermione called as she reached the door, “Thanks for coming.”
Lily's lip wobbled. “I…made some horrendous choices. But you're still my baby sister.” She offered Harry a trembling smile. “You look after yours…little sisters…they're pretty special.”
Harry nodded, looking back down at Edie and smiling slightly as Lily shut the door softly behind her, leaving Hermione conflicted as she wondered if she’d ever truly be able to forgive her sister enough that it didn’t all feel painfully forced.

Chapter 16

1st September 1991

 

The years had been far quicker than Hermione would have liked as she faced the prospect of sending Harry off to Hogwarts. Despite her misgivings, she knew that nothing awaited him but his first taste of freedom, friendship and magic, but it was hard, her past self's fears peaking through. 

Seeing him on the platform, surrounded by family and friends, soothed the worry slightly. The years had softened the gulf of hurt between Lily and the rest of them; they would never have the relationship she had with Petunia, but it was better, less strained. Lily’s son, Rowan, had gone some way to easing the reconciliation, especially given how close in age he was to her Edie and Petunia's Amanda. He had eventually been followed by Rose and Alder, all of them coming to see Harry off, even if, at one, Alder had no idea what was truly going on. 

---

“Ha ve you started saying your goodbyes?” Hermione checked, spotting Harry hovering anxiously, the slightly startling sight of Draco Malfoy next to him, looking equally as nervous as Andromeda scolded Tonks for her teasing. 

“No,” he admitted before he grumbled, “Did you all have to come? Uncle Moony's going to hex Uncle Pads if he doesn't stop…and people are staring.”

Hermione gave a huff of laughter, silently admitting that there were rather a lot of them and people were prone to staring. “Well, Grandma and Grandpa were always going to come, and so were Granny and Grandad. And Luna wanted to practice coming to the platform, so Auntie Dora and Uncle Xeno had to come. And Uncle Reggie and Uncle Fab were always going to be here, Castors going this year too, and Nick was never going to let Uncle Peter and Auntie Tuney stay at home. And well..Uncle Pads thinks he lives with us. And Uncle Moony was not going to be the only one not here. And Uncle Gid and Auntie Mary are here for you and Castor….and to keep a hold of Lyra so she doesn't end up under the train.” he gave a giggle at that, “And Uncle Barty likes to wind up Dad…and he's one of the few who Cece listens to and we’d quite like her not to end up under the train either so…” He groaned in defeat but he was laughing as she shrugged, “And Auntie Alice and Uncle Frank have Neville and Auntie Molly and Uncle Arthur have well…quite a few…”

“We have too big a family,” he informed her seriously, making her laugh. “And ah..Auntie Lily and Uncle Sev?”

“Wanted to see you off, and Rosie really does love trains.”

He rolled his eyes at her, “Has someone checked she's not snuck on?”

“I think Uncle Sev put a leash on her,” she admitted, her eyes searching amongst her family and friends for her niece, finding her pouting, her tiny arms crossed, a wrist rein attached, probably with a sticking charm. “Ah, yes he did.”

“Mum, you know that none of this is normal right?”

Hermione shrugged with a grin, “Who wants to be normal?”

“It would be nice sometimes,” he muttered. “Everyone stares. At you, Uncle Barty, Uncle Reggie.” he pulled a face. “I'm glad you got rid of Tom Mum…but. I’m Hermione Potter's son, what if…what if im not…”

“Aannd I'm going to stop you there.” she interrupted. “You Harry James Potter are perfect exactly as you are.” she crouched in front of him, “You just need to be you. Not me, not your dad or Uncle Pads or anyone else. Just you. And I imagine that people will make comments,” she squeezed his shoulder, “Feel free to remind them that even the great Hermione Potter cant keep a broom horizontal with help.” he let out a giggle just as she’d intended, “you are going to do amazing things Harry. You do not need to have the same strengths as anyone else for that to be true, your strengths are your own, and they are just as special as everyone else. Don't dare let anyone else tell you otherwise.”

“Even if I'm not as good as you?”

“At what?” she countered. 

“Anything!” he shrugged helplessly.

“You're eleven, if you're as good as me I'm going to have to up my game.” she retorted, making him smile. “Harry, you are going to do amazing things. But, you are also only eleven and need to give yourself time to learn, the same as the rest of us.” She squeezed his shoulder as he sighed, wrapping his arms around her.

“Love you,” he mumbled.

“I love you more than you can ever imagine.” He squeezed her tighter for a beat. 

“You’ll write to me?”

“As often as you need.”

“And if I'm in Slytherin….”

“Then Slytherin House will be very, very lucky to have got you.”

“Dad might…”

“Dad will be pleased regardless of where you end up. Auntie Andy was a Slytherin, and so was Uncle Reggie.” he hummed, “And Mama and Auntie Dora were Ravenclaws, and Auntie Alice was a Hufflepuff. And really we’ve far too many Gryffindors, we need to even things up.”

He let out a laugh, “So it doesn't matter where I go?”

“Not in the slightest. As long as you remember your friends from other houses.”

He let out a sigh of relief, whispering, "I'm going to miss you all.”

“Oh, and we’re going to miss you too. But..” she paused dramatically, "I'm Hermione Potter don't you know, I’ll just demand to be allowed to visit.”

He laughed despite the horrified expression on his face, “Mum you won't!” 

“I make no promises,” she laughed, reaching for him to hug again. “I'm really going to miss you.”

He squirmed in her arms, “Mum!”

“Alright, enough of that,” James snagged him, “Now. Remember, you've a legacy to uphold young Potter.”

“James…” Hermione growled.

He grinned at his son, whispering, “The house elves are great at assisting in pranks, so my advice, find the kitchens first.”

“First time Minnie owls him we’ll gift you the map,” Sirius smirked, dodging Hermione's hand.

“I want the map Uncle Pads!” Edie piped up from Remus’ hip. 

“And so you shall have it, teeny Princess!” Sirius declared, “Young Harry will be a seventh year to your first, so he’ll share.”

“Without sharing with us, Uncle Pads?” Eliza checked dangerously, her eyebrow arched in a manner she could only have learned from her mother.

Sirius froze. “Of course not Princess, you and Cece will get it too.”

“How?” Cece demanded, her arms crossed over her chest. 

“Um…I ah…Uncle Pads will make a new map.” he declared. 

“Three.” Eliza demanded.

“Four!” Amanda called, “I want one too, Uncle Pads!”

“Looks like you’ll be busy,” Malcolm smirked, clapping a hand on Sirius' shoulder. He groaned in response. 

They all jumped at the warning whistle.

“Oh! Oh I'm not ready,” Hermione whined, watching as Harry was engulfed in a flurry of hugs. 

“He’ll be fine.” James soothed, “Look at him. He's going with ready made friends.”

Darting out of the group of boys he'd be standing with, Harry barreled into her, giving her one last hug, Neville, Draco and Ron doing the same with their parents before they reconvened, giving them a cheeky smile before dashing onto the train, the twins calling out promises to send various parts of Hogwarts to the ones left behind.

I don't doubt they’ll manage to send something, rascals they are,” Effie muttered in Hermione's ear as the final whistle blew.

She wasn't sure how to feel as the train picked up speed, Harry waving excitedly from the window. 

“One last time,” she whispered, leaning into her husband. 

Understanding her, James nodded, commandeering Sirius and Remus into taking their children for an afternoon before apparating her to the familiar little alley they had visited at various points over the years.

Disillusioned, they crept up to the house, spotting the family inside. Two doting parents teased the curly headed eight year old boy,  his five-year-old sister giggling at them across the board of the game they were playing. For the Grangers, magic was nothing more than fairytale and bedtime stories. Slipping her hand into her husband's, Hermione finally allowed herself to let go of the guilt. 

Perhaps Pandora was right when she’d speculated that maybe her timeline had needed Hermione Granger and her magic, so fate had played a hand. Perhaps this timeline had no such need. But the Grangers were healthy, happy and safe. And that would have to be enough.

Come on,” James tugged her hand after several minutes, “Let's go and see what carnage our girls have talked Sirius and Remus into.”

With a huff of laughter, Hermione allowed him to lead her away, apparating her into the chaos of her family.

---

Mum, Dad,

Hogwarts is amazing! Fred and George already have detention for trying to steal the feather from Professor McGonagall's hat to send to Ginny. Ron got Gryffindor. And Neville got Hufflepuff. Auntie Alice is going to be pleased. Castor got Slytherin, and so did Draco. The hat spent a long time trying to decide with me. Apparently, I was almost a hat stall. Professor McGongagall said you were the last one, Mum. So….are you sitting down? I got Slytherin.

Lots of love, 

Harry.

 

P.S. The house elves say hi. And Dotty wants to check if Dads learned how to pick up his own pants. I told them no and she offered to come and teach him…just so you know.