Chapter 6
Runaways
Lily's Gift spent the next month at sea only coming into port when they finally gave in and bothered to reply to the repeated radio messages. Their reply was followed by a package drop from a Royal Navy helicopter. Inside was their requested formal agreement guaranteeing everyone's safety.
An hour after tying up to a pier in Frenchtown, British Virgin Islands both Potters were at Terrence B. Lettsome Airport boarding a military transport for their flight back to England
"Welcome aboard I'm corporal Hopkins you might have met my youngest brother Wayne at school. This plane and crew are from the 32ed squadron of the RAF. Also known as the Royal squadron as we get to fly the Queen around. This aircraft is a BAe 125 and we are heading for RAF Northholt just outside of London if you need anything I'll be in the back seat. Remember wands stowed and no magic." A woman in uniform said as she helped them settle in before heading to her seat. —Runaways—
Justin Finch-Fletchley looked at the owl that had just landed at the edge of his plate interrupting his breakfast. The scroll it carried was sealed with a wax seal leading him to realize he would continue ignoring his breakfast to read it. Padma Patil his girlfriend since the start of the year and current dining companion looked at her boyfriend shift from relaxed to his shoulders drooping followed by them rising and his back straightening locking in position. "Padma it appears we have been summoned." Justin said starting to rise his breakfast now totally forgotten.
Padma mimicked his actions not bothering to ask as she followed him to the Head Table were he approached their head of house passing an parchment that had been in the scroll over stating, "I along with my girlfriend and a chaperone of her choice have been summoned by family."
His head of house quickly passed the parchment over to Professor McGonagall Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress who was filling in as school head during the continued absence of Headmaster Dumbledore. After she read through the note McGonagall asked, "And Who will this chaperone be?"
"My sister Parvati would be the only one automatically acceptable to my parents." Padma replied.
"Very well you have my permission. I will be in the headmaster's office for a short period in twenty minutes you may leave then. I'm sure Mr. Finch-Fletchley knows the procedure given how often he's been called away this year." McGonagall added a bit piqued at his continued absences.
"Padma this will be totally muggle dress in a casual outfit and if you have something dressy here it might be a good idea to bring it." Justin said as they left the head table before Padma left to gather her sister at the Gryffindor table.
Seeing the two Patils leaving Lavender Brown quickly joined in as they discussed what would constitute casual muggle seeing a way to help her friends she dove into Parvati's amour pulling out one outfit that fit the bill knowing they didn't have anything with them that would pass as muggle dressy they decided a quick floo call before they left asking their mother to gather their saris was their best option. Padma knew she had a similar outfit in her clothes so as her sister dressed she raced to the Ravenclaw rooms where five minutes later she was dressed and working to pull the rest of her in to some resemblance of presentable for meeting unknown but presumably important people.
The sisters met up as they entered the headmaster's office to find Lavender reaching through the lit fireplace retrieving two saris for them. "So this is where you ran off too." Parvati said looking at her dorm mate and friend.
"I figured you were set and thought your mother might be able to get them quickly and I was right so here you go. I have no idea whose is whose." Lavender replied.
"Ah here you are." Justin said walking in. Then took a moment to look over the two girls before saying, "Very good job one will think your setting your own styles but it's a passable look."
"Where are we going?"
"I have a few suspicions but no firm idea other than the Leaky Caldron then out the door where there should be a car waiting." Justin replied looking at the deputy headmistress.
"Miss Patil and Miss Patil while Miss Brown was getting your outfits she also had your mother give me a permission slip for this trip so you are free to leave. Mr. Finch-Fletchley I take it you will contact us as before concerning you and your companion's return."
"Yes Professor." Justin said taking a bit of floo powder and tossing in the fireplace calling out "The Leaky Cauldron" with the Patil sisters right behind him. —Runaways—
The Potters landed after their long flight from the British Virgin Islands and were quickly shuttled from the plane to a waiting limousine and hustled to a nearby base where the SAS had established their headquarters for this operation. Exiting the limousine they were met by Justin and the Patil twins. As Harry shook hands with Justin Hermione quickly went over embracing first Parvati then Padma. "This is a surprise." Harry said looking between Justin and the girls.
"You certainly managed to drag me into a bit of a mess this time Potter." Justin said without any heat in his voice.
"I take it you've been involved a bit more than just letting her majesty know about the problem."
"Oh you could say that or you could say because of being the one that brought the problem to her attention I've become her primary gopher for the wizarding world."
"That really wasn't our intent when we sent you that letter." Hermione said joining the conversation.
"I know that but I must say Dad's been really impressed at who I know and can get in touch with. Of course he doesn't realize most doors open with one of two passwords."
"Two?"
""Her majesty the Queen", works on occasion, the one that works when that doesn't is "Harry Potter suggested I contact you," Hope you don't mind old bean but you did toss me into the middle of this." Justin replied with smile.
"Feel free to use my name. Just don't commit me to anything." Harry replied causing Justin to look around at where they were. "Oh this is all Dumbledore and Trelawney's doing you had nothing to do with this." Harry replied with a grim chuckle at the black humor causing Hermione to take his arm.
"Justin," Padma said with a nod towards the building behind them.
"Right time to get a move on. We were allowed out here to great you and unofficially warn you the big brass is inside waiting for you."
"How big is the brass?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well it starts with "His Highness" and not "Her Majesty" if that makes a bit more comfortable."
"Ah crap, the Prince of Wales?"
"Right in one Lord Potter," an instantly recognized voice called out as the door behind Justin opened.
"Sorry about that Your Highness," Harry said turning a bit red in the face as his gaze shifted from Justin to the figure in the doorway.
"I deny ever having the same thought pass through my mind when meeting certain individuals in the past." Prince Charles replied a smile on his face as he stood in his Major General's uniform. "I believe some of the individuals under my command are a bit anxious to get moving. If you and Lady Potter could join us?" He added a smile on his face.
Harry nodded his agreement and ushered Hermione in ahead of him while Justin and the Patils followed behind knowing they were just the support group.
Twenty minutes later Harry had been sworn directly into the Blues and Royals as a Cornet, administratively transfer into the SAS and was now wearing combat fatigues. "Cornet Potter you have two minutes to say goodbye to Lady Potter and your friends before we leave to give you the bare minimum of information you will need in the next few days."
Hermione was escorted to base guest quarters where she along with Padma and Parvati were assigned rooms and escorts. Once the doors closed Hermione asked, "Shouldn't you two be in school?" seeing their faces fall she quickly added, "Not that I don't enjoy having you here. I'd probably be going spare right now if you weren't here. But I feel bad you're missing school for me."
"Still the prefect I see." Parvati teased. "Though I should thank you. when you left I inherited the job."
"Good they chose well. I take it one of you and Justin?"
"Yes that would be me," Padma said a smile breaking out on her face.
"And Ron lost the boy's prefect so I have Neville as a partner."
"Neville?"
"Nah he's with Luna believe it or not. She evidently realized Ron was a lost cause seeing as how he and Lavender have shagged up, opps I mean hooked up." Parvati said making it obvious the slip was intentional.
"I thought you and her were tight?" Hermione asked.
"Oh we still are but there is only so much I can take about how great Ron is and how mistaken you were to chose Harry when you could have had Ron."
"This is Ron I eat like a pig and have basically no manners Weasley we are talking about right?"
"You are correct." Padma said shaking her head at Hermione's description.
"Now we need to hear all the good stuff about you and Harry so start dishing girl," Parvati said sitting down in their joint living room.
"Not much to share, My parents told me four days before Harry's birthday that on his birthday we were leaving England for good. I spent three of those crying then called him about ten in the morning on the day I was leaving to say goodbye. Harry took care of everything. An hour later I was on the back of a motorcycle heading to Gretna, married by seven and that night Harry and I consummated our wedding. We woke to police knocking at our door and the matron wanted to arrest Harry right then but Harry flashed our wedding license and his identification card. After I'd called my folks and told then I was staying in England with my husband the police left. Harry and I have been traveling since."
"So he rescued you?" Pavarti asked.
"Harry says we rescued each other but yes when I needed him my knight showed up."
"You're looking good. Is Harry as tanned as you are?"
"We were cruising the Caribbean when they found us requesting Harry return to England to help deal with this problem. and yes Parvati Harry is tanned all over," Hermione said happy to be able to brag on Harry a bit. Going as far as drawing out the last two words.
Meanwhile Harry was busy learning what all the capturing and questioning of the death eaters had allowed the SAS to learn about the death eaters methods, tactics, and last but not least members. They also determined the terrorist leader they were hunting was hiding out in a manor home in Little Hangleton. The past month the SAS had been busy gathering their resources and pre-staging them at a rented farm on the outskirts of Greater Hangleton.
After a day of briefings Harry greeted the SAS troops gathered at the farm while the local law enforcement was occupied shutting down all the roads in the area around the manor and moving any nearby individuals to safety.
With the roads cleared and safety boundaries set the pre-staged equipment and supplies were moved into their attack position. The first indication any of the death eaters residing at Riddle Manor were aware of their presence was when SAS Sappers blew their buried ward stones. Dropping the wards that protected the manor from detection and attack just as four muggle vehicles drove onto the property stopping on either side of the doors If any of the death eaters had lived through or just seen video of the troubles they would have recognized them as four Humber Pigs outfitted with odd looking guns on the top of the cabin. Within moments the on guard death eaters streamed forth killing curses on their lips straight into the fire from the mounted 7.62 mm Miniguns dialed down to 2,000 rounds per minute. the Miniguns were fed from an extremely large ammunition storage rack in the back of the Humber and remotely controlled from the passengers seat. The Pigs had intentionally stopped in crossfire positions. Not one death eater made it more than ten feet from Riddle Manor's doors.
When the death eaters decided it was safer inside and stopped emerging from the manor the SAS sappers took over. Advancing under the cover of those same miniguns they approached the manor and carefully planted their second charges in the pre-selected locations before retreating. Moments later in a spectacular display of the power of explosives and the skill of the sappers the Riddle manor was reduced to a cellar full of debris of what used to be the manor house with barely a splinter falling beyond the cellar hole. The SAS recon group then moved in and with the help of the sappers began to carefully remove the debris, setting aside any bodies found for future identification and disposal until in a magically re-enforced corner of the cellar they found the Dark Lord hiding safe under a pile of debris.
When they moved the debris around him Voldemort started firing spells at the SAS who by now were well familiar with this reaction from all their death eater captures. Still the spell barrage caused them to seek cover. Suddenly bullets tore the dark lord and his hideout to shreds. Thirty seconds after it started the hell storm of bullets stopped and the SAS turned to see the Cornet they'd been ordered to bring along standing at the far edge of the cellar with all barrels of his hand held 5.56 mm microgun the SAS had pulled from some forgotten storage smoking. Harry had charmed it and the large ammo can weightless and applied a spell originally intended to be placed on body armor to absorb repeated mace hits to the gun. This stopped the recoil of the gun when combined with the lightened ammo can the SAS troops present thought he was some type of super soldier.
"That should do it. You bums finish cleaning up the area around the cellar then torch everything," the officer in charge announced snapping the watching troops into action
"What about?" one of the troops asked motioning to the bits of flesh left from the microgun's barrage.
"Don't touch any of it. That's what you're going to be burning. I do not want one single cell of that body left, Am I clear?"
"Yes sir," came back loudly in multiple voices.
While the other death eater bodies were removed to their base for identification and analysis Harry stood watch as the cellar of Riddle manor was put to the torch using incendiary grenades. He continued to watch under multiple cooling charms as the fire got hotter and hotter until even the concrete of the cellar walls started popping from the intense heat not averting his eyes until he verified, through conjured and darkened glasses that no remnants of Tom Riddle survived.
—Runaways—
"What do you mean I can't leave yet?" Harry bellowed having been intercepted by Prince Charles as he was crossing the SAS base intending to pickup Hermione and head back to Lily's Gift once their promised plane was ready to go. The Patil twins and Justin having already gone back to Hogwarts the morning after the raid.
"The job is not completed. Her Majesty has requested the Wizarding portion of her nation be brought securely under her control. For that to happen we need to have a Queen's wizard in place she has faith in along with those involved with this terrorist legally dealt with. Now we aren't envisioning you for the Queen's wizard position," Prince Charles stated bringing a look of relief to Harry with his last bit. causing the Prince to add, "Well not yet anyway."
Harry's reply to that was a glare before asking, "So what do I need to do?"
"Why you're our figurehead of course. That roll was originally envisioned for Mr. Finch-Fletchley but as he correctly pointed out with your widespread fame and well noted perchance for getting into trouble you would fit the position better. Don't worry the Queen has plans for Mr. Finch-Fletchley he will be busy but in a more concealed position."
"Hermione's going to kill me."
"I rather doubt that while the Lady Potter's initial reaction was..." the prince paused as he recalled her response. She had managed to cast aspersions on every British Government signatory of their agreement without directly insulting anyone. All in all he viewed it as the best polite ass chewing he'd ever witnessed or even heard about, "let's say it conveyed a bit less than full agreement. While you were dealing the terrorist the Lady Potter along with your friends were involved in wide ranging discussions with the Queen's advisors. I think you will find she is quite up to speed as they say." Prince Charles said with a twinkle in his eye that caused Harry's mind to remember another possible patsy.
"What about Dumbledore he'd be an even better figurehead."
"Ah I was wondering when that would occur to you. Mr. Dumbledore will be resigning from his various positions over the next few months before retiring into seclusion."
Harry looked at the Prince there was something in the way he'd made that statement. Thinking about it for a moment Harry realized something. "I take it he'll be resigning via Owl Post?" Harry ventured.
"From Hogwarts yes Unfortunately for it to be believed he needs to show up at a Wizengamot meeting and a meeting for the International Confederation to retire but his doctors will be with him just incase he has a relapse."
"I suspected there was no way out of this, I guess you've got your figurehead." Harry said resignation obvious in both his voice and body posture.
"Buck up Lord Potter, it won't be that bad. Who knows you might even enjoy a few of the perks." Prince Charles replied.
Harry didn't reply but the look of disgust that passed across his face conveyed his opinion of that statement quite well.
The only good thing Harry and Hermione could find about it was it was something they could do together. His first assignment was a report on the actions of the muggle government over the past two months, delivered to a full meeting of the Wizengamot concurrently broadcast over the Wizarding wireless to all of Wizarding Britain. Needless to say an uproar occurred when he announced muggle troops were responsible for the disappearance of the prominent wizards and witches that had caused the panic. Further uproar ensued when he added that those suspected of crimes in either of the two worlds would be detained by the muggles until they could face a muggle trial and if convicted would face muggle justice.
Harry managed to restrain the more outrageous members of the Wizengamot when he reminded them muggle troops had just taken down the dark lord and had Dumbledore in custody adding if they felt they were more powerful than those two they were welcome to take on the muggle troops. Harry was even willing to give them directions to where those muggle troops were. That meeting ended on an acrimonious note but it was the next meeting that proved interesting.
"What do you mean you can't do anything without a Chief Warlock?" Harry asked as Hermione sat at his side taking notes and observing the members.
"We need a chief warlock to control the meeting and guide the discussion." came the reply and despite his best efforts to have either Amanda Bones or Lady Longbottom elected to that position Harry found himself elected to the position of Chief Warlock.
"I still don't see how that happened," Harry said that night as he discussed it with Hermione.
"You were the obvious choice Harry. When they tried to nominate someone other than the two you proposed you were sitting there shaking your head. You were acting as the Chief Warlock they just made it official."
"I'm resigning as soon as I can."
"Of that I have no doubt Harry, no doubt at all," Hermione replied shaking her head in her discussions with the Queen's advisors they had said this was the most likely outcome so she'd been prepared for it.
It had taken several more meetings and a lot of wrangling before Harry achieved what he'd been tasked with. What the Prince had called a "select committee" had been appointed to meet with the Queen and her government to set up new guidelines governing the interactions between what the magicals saw as two separate worlds and the Queen viewed as two overlapping provinces. That initial meeting never occurred. It was derailed when two of the more isolationist members of the Wizengamot who'd been appointed by their faction refused to give up their wands prior to the meeting. They then tried to bully their way past the guards charged with disarming them. The Wizengamot members quickly found out the same thing Dumbledore had, tasers and magic didn't mix well and it was the wizard who suffered the consequences.
The second meeting went a bit better and while no agreement was reached no one stormed out either. it was following that meeting that one of the more powerful, both magically and politically, isolationist members said his father had cast a shield the muggle fire sticks couldn't break and he didn't see any reason he couldn't do the same after all it was only a boy's word they were taking on the effectiveness of the muggles weapons. It took only a few calls by Harry and soon all interested members of the Wizengamot along with interested parties from the Ministry and journalists were invited to a remote location near where the Quidditch World Cup had been held.
There they found three muggles waiting for them. "Cornet Potter, I'm here with two sharpshooters as you requested." the older appearing one said as he walked up to Harry. not saluting him as Harry was out of uniform.
"Thank you sergeant we will begin shortly once I've set up the test conditions."
With a nod of acknowledgment the sergeant stepped back and joined the other two men. It's your show Lord Greengrass how would you like to proceed?"
"I will cast my shield and they will try to shoot me." Greengrass said imperiously.
"Might I suggest you cast the shield around say a conjured pig to start with?" Harry offered.
"It will work as well I guess," Greengrass agreed with reluctance insuring all the other Wizengamot members noted it wasn't him that lacked confidence in his ability to shield.
"Sergeant have one of your men take a sniper rifle over to that stand and take a shot at the pig when I signal."
The designated individual took a case off the ground and made his way to the table while Harry conjured a pig and Greengrass shielded it.
"Sergeant he may fire when ready." Harry called out.
The sniper took his L96A1 and using the 10 x 42 hensoldt telescopic sight selected which part of the pig would be hit for this demonstration. Going for maximum blood splatter he chose the head and pulled the trigger launching the .338 Lapua bullet on it's path.
Greengrass lived up to a portion of his name as he took in the remains of the pigs head splattered in a wide arc around the conjured pig. "That wasn't a rare gun he used to do that most of the individuals in the group that brought Voldemort down permanently carry similar guns." Harry stated.
"I've been told you also carried a gun." one of the reporters offered.
Harry knew how the wizarding felt about wizards and guns but he had his answer ready. "I was going after Voldemort with a group of muggles and I knew from fighting him in the past that he had decades of experience more than I have. Add in that he admitted to his followers to performing extremely dark rituals to increase both power and endurance. I wasn't going to not take an advantage because it wasn't cricket. I needed every advantage I could find. Hey I am newly married and fully intend to be with her for a century or more if I can," Harry said with passion adding the last hoping to end with a chuckle to lighten the mood.
Looking at the faces he could tell his tactics had worked. most were nodding to each other understanding bringing every advantage to a fight with that monster.
The next meeting of the Wizengamot went a lot smoother and the following meeting with the Queen's select committee actually made progress. Bringing hope to Harry and Hermione that this would not be that long a break from their chosen path.
It was actually three months before they attended the ceremony that replace Harry with Richard Whitecliff, a wizard who until just a few days ago had been unknown to most members of the Wizengamot unless they recognized him as the wizard who visited when they had troubles with their floo connections. Richard was muggle born and a primary school acquaintance of Finch-Fletchley senior. who'd recognized his name on a list the Queen's select committee was reviewing looking for someone to replace Harry until Justin could get some proper seasoning within both governments.
After the Ceremony they took the short jaunt to RAF Northholt where they again were guests of the RAF's 32ed squadron of the RAF who had a BAe 125 warmed up and waiting to fly them back to Frenchtown, British Virgin Islands where Lily's Gift awaited them full of provisions and with a captain who had a cruising plan set for the next year.
Chapter 7: Epilogue
Epilogue
Three years later-
"Good afternoon Bright Smile," The receptionist said into her headset.
"Yes, I'd like to have one of the Grangers call me. My name is Hermione Potter and my number is 234-555-2323."
"Is there any additional message".
"No that should be enough," Hermione said hanging up.
Several minutes passed before Dan Granger stuck his head in the receptionist's office asking, "Any thing I should know?"
"No cancellations today but I did receive a strange phone call."
"Oh,"
"Yes a Harmony Potter called and said she wanted one of you to call her."
"Potter?" Dan replied a bit puzzled.
Emma had wandered over and overheard the last exchange. "Could she have said Hermione Potter?"
"Cour your right that is what she called herself."
"What's the number?" Emma said reaching for the paper with enough urgency to worry the receptionist
"Here's the paper I wrote it down on."
"Emma you don't think after all this time..." Dan asked as his brain caught up to his wife's.
"I don't know but I do intend to find out."
After her current patient was dealt with Emma picked up the office phone and called the number Hermione had left.
"Hello,"
"Can a Hermione Potter be reached at this number?" Emma asked thinking she recognized the voice but wanted to be sure.
Hermione recognized the voice on her end choosing to reply, "Hello mum, Harry and I were in the area and thought we'd say hello."
"Hermione dear where are you. Can you come see us?"
"Tomorrow would be the earliest we could visit. We have some business to attend to first."
"Where are you? Can we visit you today?" Emma asked only to hear the mummer of a short muffled conversation.
"Harry said that should be no problem the customs inspectors just came aboard but we should be able to set up a room where we can meet. We are moored at the Evans Bay Marina. Do you know where that is?"
"We'll find it now how will we find you? I know there's plenty of boats there we even have a few clients who are live-a-boards."
"Oh I don't think it will be that hard. Just tell them you're looking for Lily's Gift."
"Lily's Gift, got it we should be there once we've finished up for the day."
Dan noted how stressed his wife was and realized it wouldn't do for her or him, if he was honest with himself, to be working in someone's mouth given their emotional state. Turning to their receptionist saying, "Cancel the rest of our appointments for today. We've got a family emergency to deal with. I'll call when I know more."
They quickly changed out of their work clothes and with a bit of haste were soon on their way to the waterfront area of town.
As Dan turned their Jaguar from Wellington Road on to Evans Bay Parade Emma finally got a good look at the boats tied up at the Marina. "Dan how are we ever going to find them among all those boats."
"Like Hermione said we'll just have to ask around. Having parked he decided the best place to start was the longest pier which had the biggest yacht in the marina situated at the end. They'd just started onto the pier when an individual in a deck chair who Dan had assumed was just one of the boat owners sitting on the pier looked up at them asking, "Where might you be heading?"
"Our daughter said she was here on a boat called Lily's Gift. We were paying her a visit." Dan said a bit of annoyance in his voice.
"Your names?" the man asked reaching for a radio beside him.
Not sure what was going on Dan looked at the man carefully and realized he wasn't a boat owner his attitude was all wrong. "Doctors Dan and Emma Granger," He replied to hear the man repeat it into his radio.
Whatever the reply was Dan didn't hear it. "You're looking for the yacht at the end. Someone will greet you at the ramp," the guard replied relaxing back in his chair.
Hermione was waiting on the yacht side of the ramp and was quickly embraced by her mother as Harry stood off to one side. Watching the two females as tears and apologizes quickly flowed among the women.
"Bit different than that motorcycle you sprinted her away on." Dan said looking at Harry.
"Yes sir,"
"Good to see you finally made it for a visit,"
"Hermione decided it was time and with the new century coming up we decided this was the best place to watch it arrive." Harry replied.
Emma had heard Harry's reply and looked at her daughter asking, "So you're staying for a bit?"
"Yes if everything goes right. We weren't sure about our welcome given how we parted so that's one reason we just didn't show up on your doorstep." Hermione explained.
What about that, what did you call him dear "Dark Lord" that was after Harry?" Emma asked her concern for her daughter's well being obvious.
"That was taken care of by the British Military a few years back. They're a surprisingly quick acting group once they figured out what was actually going on."
"What, I thought keeping the two groups separate was one of your top rules?" Dan asked a bit confused.
"That went out the window when Voldemort's death eaters attacked what he thought was a family home in an out of the way town. Turns out there was a base nearby and Prince Philip was traveling down the adjacent road when they attacked. The fighting spread into the roadway and He was injured along with a number of solders killed. The death eaters were driven off but as her consort was injured in the attack the Queen got involved along with the normal government."
" Oh that must have been the reason they didn't say what happened when he was in the hospital a few years ago. That also explains the military's reaction then."
"Yup the magical government found out the normal government was even more effective than they feared. Within 48 hours the British military had some magicals in custody and they were getting answers. We learned about this after the fact as we have been traveling since we were married."
"So what happened? You need to finish the story Harry."
"What I was told is our old Headmaster walked into a meeting and told them that only I could eliminate Voldemort and it was imperative they find me and allow him to train me. Before he could react one of the guards in the room had him out cold using a taser and they doused him with truth potion. Once they had emptied him of everything he knew they did something to put him out for a while. I was summoned by the Queen and was there as the SAS circled Voldemort's hideout, took out the death eaters that came out firing spells they opened up with something called mini-guns. Then they blew up the manor old Volde was hiding in. The only one still alive was Voldemort although he wasn't alive by much. In order to comply with the prophecy I put a few rounds in him to finish him off from a gun I found. The SAS threw a party, we stayed for a bit to help get the two governments talking to each other after that Hermione and I split returning to Lily's Gift. Haven't been back to jolly old England since, well other than when the Queen asks us to visit for a few days." Harry said adding that last bit when Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Did any of his death eaters survive?" Dan hesitated to ask but knew he had to.
"The ones they'd captured prior to the final attack are in jail the rest are dead. They just didn't understand what they were up against and their pureblooded superior than thou attitude prevented them realizing their mistake."
"I'm glad that dreadful business is over with! So what are your plans for here surely you've given them some thought Hermione." Her mother asked in full mother mode while leaning forward in anticipation and hope of good news from her perspective.
"Harry and I were thinking of buying a place near you or having one built."
"Oh, there's this little bungalow right down the street that would be great for the two of you." Emma gushed thrilled it was very good news indeed.
"We're actually looking for something a bit bigger," Harry replied then after an encouraging nod from Hermione added, "We're going to need something big enough for five to start with if the doctor was right." Harry finished watching his in laws closely for their reactions. As Hermione predicted her mother was the first to react.
Looking at her daughter Emma squealed, "You're pregnant?" drawing a nod of confirmation from Hermione. Her "with triplets?" drew a second nod as Emma appeared to apparate to her daughter enveloping her in a hug.
Harry & Hermione didn't get a chance to reply to Dan's comment of "You just turned twenty," before a hugging Emma countered with "Yes and she's been married for the last three of those years." Before returning to blubbering "my baby is going to have babies," all the while alternating between hugging and holding Hermione at arms length to look at her as if to reassure herself Hermione was really in her arms after being absence for three years.
Dan took a moment to process his wife's reply before deciding it was time to man up. Approaching Harry he held out his hand saying, "Welcome to the family Harry."
Harry's "Thank you sir," was quickly countered when Dan said, "Seeing as you are my son in law why not give Dan a try. It will take me a while to get used to grandfather which is apparently in my near future.