A/N: I do not own any characters referenced by JK Rowling in the Harry Potter series and do not endorse her comments. This story is entirely my imagination. I do not profit from it and will not pay for any art commissions related to this story.
You're my person
My heartbeat, my slow dance
My Sunday morning sippin' on coffee in bed
My know-when-you-know best friend
The stealer of my t-shirts
My reason for speedin' home from work
My saving grace, my everything
I never been more sure that you're my person
~ My Person by Spence Crandall
~*~ 26th September 2003 ~*~
"This fucking sucks."
Hermione didn't even look up from her notebook. "You are doing great, Sirius."
"You aren't even looking at me. I could be on the ground dying, and you'd never know," Sirius complained.
Hermione glanced up long enough to see his physical therapist holding onto the harness at his waist as he stood, trembling in one spot. "Oh, quit being dramatic. Like Teresa would get you fall, right, Teresa?"
"It's kind of my job, Mr. Black. Falling is bound to happen, but it is my job to set you up for success in a safe, manageable way," Teresa told him. "Now, Mr. Black. You have stood for nearly five minutes without any significant tremors, and you are doing extremely well considering where you have come from. I think we can try to take some steps."
"I am not a bloody baby," Sirius mumbled under his breath.
"Then stop acting like one. You are acting worse than Rosella. If you supposedly aren't acting like a child, don't act like a rude bitch," Hermione stated, not looking up from her rune translation that she was currently working on.
"Want to say that to my face, Granger?" Sirius asked.
Hermione glanced up, "Come over here, and I will happily repeat it to your face."
Teresa bit her lip to keep from laughing, and Hermione glanced up at him in her peripheral vision as Sirius dragged his left leg, clenching his teeth. He grunted as he lifted his right leg, then repeated the process three more times to come stand before her. Sweat shining on his temples and brow.
"Want to say that to my face now?"
Hermione looked up at him and took her glasses off. "No."
Sirius smirked.
"Because you finally quit bitching and did the work," she stated, "Want a gold star? Or a lolly?"
Sirius glared at her, "I could use a lolly. Dry mouth is a bitch."
Teresa assisted him in sitting down beside Hermione, "I will go get you something for the dry mouth."
Sirius laid back against the wall behind him, "Why is this fucking harder than it should be?"
Hermione set her notebook aside, "Your muscles atrophied. They have to relearn how to move in the proper way. Give it time and try to be patient. I know that it is hard for you. Harry and I are so proud of you."
Sirius sucked in a breath as his legs trembled again. "They told me that it was going to be a long road. I just didn't think that it was going to be this rocky or hilly."
Teresa reappeared in the rehab room and held out two lollies, "Blue raspberry or cherry?"
"Both?" Sirius asked innocently.
Teresa stared at him, "You think those puppy dog eyes will work on me? You've got another thing coming. Ten more steps and you can earn the second one. Now, which one would you like until then?"
Sirius glared at her as he took the cherry lolly. "You know, I might not look like it now," he said as he ripped off the cellophane. "But I've popped a few cherries in my day if you know what I am saying."
Hermione burst out laughing as Teresa gasped. "I think you have things here covered, Teresa. I am going to have lunch with my hot fiancé." She gathered up her things, "Don't let him give you crap."
Teresa grinned, "Trust me, I won't. Tell Chief Potter, we are having great success."
"I will," Hermione said as she closed her bag, then left the rehabilitation room.
She greeted the medi-witches that she had come to know well over Sirius's stay, then ventured to the lifts. Riding up to the very top floor, which was administration, she glanced into the staff lounge. "Sorry to bother you, but do you know where Chief Potter might be?"
One of the maternity healers glanced over at her, "Hello, Ms. Granger. Last I saw him, he seemed like he was in a bad mood after we lost a patient to a curse this morning. He should be in his office doing paperwork."
Hermione nodded, "Thank you."
Walking down the corridor, she found his door closed and knocked on it.
"I am currently occupied."
Hermione opened the door.
"I said that I was… oh, Hermione." Harry said, glancing up to see her, and immediately softened, "Come in."
"Healer Walters told me about the patient. I am sorry," she said as she shut the door behind her.
Harry sighed as he sat back in his chair, rubbing his hand across his face. "It always sucks losing anyone."
Hermione crossed the room and pulled herself up on his desk in front of him, and he moved forward to place his forehead on her abdomen. She started gently running her fingers through his hair as he sighed.
"There was honestly nothing we could have done," he told her quietly. "It was an older gentleman, and he had a cursed object in his home. When he was cleaning, he stumbled upon it and touched it. Never sought treatment until his arm was blackened up to his shoulder. Reminded me of Dumbledore's hand." He said as she played with his hair, "The curse was too far gone at that point. We tried what we could to stop the spread, but even with all our interventions, once it reached his carotid, he was done for."
"Well, I have better news," Hermione told him as he looked up at her through those big, beautiful lashes that should be illegal for any man to have, "I made Sirius furious enough with me that he took about five steps to tell me off."
Harry laughed, kissing her stomach, "I'm sure he deserved it."
Hermione winced slightly, "I may have told him he was sounding like Rosella."
Harry snorted, "Probably was." He sat up, "Want to get something to eat?"
Hermione nodded, wincing slightly as her abdomen twinged.
Harry pushed back a stray piece of hair. "You okay?"
Hermione nodded, "My cycle started this morning a day early, so no baby."
Harry pulled her down for a kiss, "Honestly, we just started trying, so not surprised. We will stop by the apothecary for a light pain potion on our way to the canteen."
Hermione rested her forehead against Harry's, "How did I get so lucky with you?"
Harry scoffed, "You? Never in my 23 years would I imagine that you would settle for me. You do remember how awkward and knobby-kneed I was back then, right?"
Hermione jumped down, sliding her fingers into his, "I adored your knobby knees, thank you very much. Rosella has my knees. I hope the next one has yours."
Harry shook his head, "Nah, I hope we have a handful of gorgeous mini yous."
Hermione looked at him, surprised, "You don't want a little boy?"
"Honestly, I'll be happy with any children we have," Harry told her as he opened his office door, "but I'm what Nathan calls a girl dad now. Teddy, I get to spoil him rotten and send him home. I wouldn't mind having more Rosellas around."
Hermione snorted, "You say that now. You didn't see her terrible twos."
Harry held his office door open for her, "My sweet baby girl? Couldn't have been anything but an angel."
Hermione snorted, "She was anything but an angel at times."
~*~ 5th October 2003 ~*~
Hermione tried not to groan aloud as she heard something crash upstairs, walked to the foot of the stairs, and called up, "Are you okay?"
"It was just my books," Rosella reassured her.
Hermione inhaled, closing her eyes, shaking her head.
Suddenly, the floo chime rang through the house. Walking over to it, she was surprised to see Charlie's face within the flames. "Hey, Charlie. Everything okay?"
"Can I come through?" Charlie asked.
Hermione glanced down at her oversized jumper, which was Harry's, and her leggings that were definitely not visitor attire. "Um… sure."
She stepped back as Charlie came through the floo, brushing soot from his sleeves, and she looked up at him. "Aren't you going to be at Sunday lunch?" she asked, picking up toys.
"Yeah," Charlie said, glancing around.
Hermione stared at him, "What are you looking for, Charlie?"
Charlie shrugged, "I was just wondering if your friend was over."
Hermione crossed her arms over her chest, "MacKenzie? Charlie, you are gay. Correct me if I am wrong, but don't give her the wrong idea."
"I am gay, obviously," Charlie told her, rolling his eyes, "That hasn't changed. Her daughter is fascinated by dragons, and I wanted to share something with her that Michel and I just decided."
Hermione shook her head, still slightly suspicious. "It's not like she lives here. In fact, now that she has to get a new job, she is rarely here."
Charlie frowned, "Is her husband still fighting the child support?"
Hermione froze, "How do YOU know about that?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"She mentioned it last time I saw her," Charlie said as Harry walked into the room, wiping his face with his shirt after coming inside from yard work. Charlie let out a low whistle. "Damn, Harry."
Hermione snorted as Harry placed his shirt over his chest.
Charlie looked at her, grinning, "You are a lucky woman, Hermione."
Hermione winked at him, "Don't I know it."
"Why is Charlie here?" Harry asked, glancing between them.
"Don't worry, I'm leaving. See you guys at lunch," Charlie said as he left the way he came.
Harry looked at Hermione, confused as Charlie disappeared in a burst of green flames, "What was that about?"
Hermione raised her hands, "Not a clue," she told him, "But he has taken an interest in Annie and MacKenzie."
Harry raised an eyebrow, "Why?"
"He says it's because Annie is interested in dragons," Hermione told him, "But… I think it's more than that."
Harry shrugged, "You suspect he is interested in more than Annie's interest." He nodded, "I mean, look at Fred, Angelina, and George."
Hermione stared at him, "But Fred and George aren't in a relationship with each other. Angelina just makes a choice which bedroom she is sleeping in that night."
Harry looked puzzled for a second, "I just imagined them all piled in the same bed, I guess."
Hermione laughed, "I wouldn't be surprised if that hasn't happened at least once." She got a sniff of him and wrinkled her nose as she shook her head, "I love your… scent, but we don't want to gas out everyone at the Burrow, so you might want to shower before we leave."
Harry lifted his arm and smelled himself, "I smell like hard work."
"You smell like you've been in a barn," Hermione told him, honestly.
Harry grinned, throwing his shirt on the couch as he moved closer to her.
"Oh no, you don't," Hermione said as she pushed him away. She backed up until her legs hit the couch, making her fall onto it with a yelp. Harry braced his hand over her head on the back of the couch as he hovered over her, "Hey."
"You do stink," Hermione confessed.
Harry kissed her anyway, "I see how it is." He said as he straightened up and left the room.
"I love you!" she called after him, "I just love you more when you don't stink!"
She smiled as his laughter echoed back into the room.
~*~ 13th October 2003 ~*~
Hermione stood at the window of Sirius's new room on the rehabilitation floor of St. Mungo's, pressing her forehead to the cool glass.
He had officially been cleared medically from the Intensive Care Unit. His blood pressure had stabilized, he was eating solid foods again without issues, and could walk for short distances with the assistance of the walker, albeit slowly, much too slow for his liking. With that progress, he had been transferred to the Magical Injuries unit of the rehabilitation wing.
Hermione tapped her foot impatiently as the phone rang on the other line, as it had for the last minute. On the other line was a receptionist who tried to connect her with the person she needed to speak with at the Ogden's Olde Firewhisky company. She had already been on hold for nearly ten minutes. Thankful as she was that wizards were finally accepting Muggle technology, the ringing was becoming annoying.
Glancing up as Sirius slowly shuffled in, his walker tapping on the floor as he went, with Teresa following him.
The line finally clicked. "Ms. Granger?"
"I am here," Hermione answered.
"So sorry for the wait. I just wanted to confirm that the special edition Potter Firewhisky was properly aging. It will be ready for the date that Mrs. Malfoy requested," the man on the other line stated.
"Sorry, I didn't get your name," she said, scribbling the note on her calendar in her planner.
"Mike, ma'am."
"Well, thank you, Mike. I appreciate the update," Hermione told him. "Have a wonderful day."
"My pleasure," he said as she hung up.
Sirius pulled himself into his bed with a groan. "More wedding planning?"
"Just confirming something. I do have a meeting with our photographer later today, though. He went to school with us, so that helps," Hermione said, looking at her wedding planning notebook. "I need to schedule my final dress fitting, too."
"You look as tired as I feel," Sirius said as a medi-witch appeared with Sirius's lunch tray, "Thank you, Josie. It looks delicious." He glanced up at Hermione as the medi-witch left, "You know, you remind me so much of Lily. She had to micromanage everything, too. Drove James crazy."
Hermione glanced at him over her glasses, "I do not need to micromanage everything."
Sirius held his hand up and put a small amount between his thumb and pointer finger, "Just a bit."
Hermione scoffed, "Harry is in charge of our magical ceremony. If I were micromanaging, would I have let that?" Hermione asked.
Sirius grinned as he opened his Jello cup, "Yes, because you trust him."
Hermione glared at him as he ate his Jello, "You need to eat your sandwich first."
Sirius pointed at her with his spoon, "See?"
Hermione groaned as she collapsed onto the chair beside him, "I just want everything to go perfectly."
Sirius shook his head, "When does anything go perfectly? Relax and just let it be. The only thing that needs to be perfect is you and my godson walking down the aisle." Sirius picked up a crisp on his plate and moaned as he bit into it, "These are amazing. I might get that last five pounds back if they keep giving me these."
"Wait until you try sour cream and onion or cheddar, both are my guilty pleasures," Hermione told him.
Sirius looked at her, his eyes widening, "They come flavoured?"
Hermione laid her head back for a moment, "From what I understand, in America they have probably 50 or more flavours. Whole aisles dedicated to crisps. There is a store near mine that has imported treats, and I saw a barbecue flavour once."
"When I am out of here, you'll have to take me," Sirius told her.
"Take you where?" Harry asked, "Sirius, did you bore her that much?"
Hermione raised her head, "I'm awake, just tired." She yawned.
Harry walked over to her and leaned down to kiss her, "You've been going too hard. Don't think I haven't noticed that you are having nightmares again."
Sirius frowned, "Nightmares?"
Hermione ran her hands under her glasses, "It's nothing."
"It's not nothing," Harry assured her.
Hermione sighed, "It's always after I meet with Narcissa, and it's me back in that awful house. This time, Dobby didn't save us."
Harry sighed, "I should never have asked her to help us."
"No, no… I am glad you did. She has been such a big help. It just reopens traumas from the past sometimes, especially when I am stressed, my brain decides to revisit the manor," Hermione said as she squeezed his hand, then stood up. "But it's time for me to leave. I have to meet with Dennis. He wants to scout out the venue."
Harry pulled her to his chest, "I am serious, you need to relax. Please let me get you that hotel room-"
Hermione looked up at him wide-eyed, "No, no… that wouldn't be relaxing for me. I'd just be stuck in my head and not able to sleep without you there."
Sirius made fake gagging sounds. "Isn't that sweet. Harry, do you have any more of these wiggly treats?" Sirius asked.
Hermione laughed into Harry's chest as Harry sighed, "Seriously?"
"Yes, I am. They are rather enjoyable," Sirius told him.
Harry rubbed her back, "You go meet with Dennis. I'll go get him more Jello."
Hermione pulled him down into a kiss, "I love you."
"I love you more relaxed. I think once you get this all settled, we need to take a couple of days of planning off. No translations, no wedding planning," Harry told her.
Hermione nodded, blinking, trying to wet her dry eyes, "I think it's time for me to take a few days of just being at the store." She sighed, "Yeah, a couple of days off before resetting and getting ready for the dinner at our house."
Sirius looked at them, "A dinner at your house?"
Harry draped his arm over her shoulders as she looked at Sirius, "We are having a little dinner for Ron and Luna," she looked up at Harry, "Do you think you might be able to get him a day pass, Chief Potter? You know, as an incentive or motivation for his physical therapy?"
Harry looked between her and Sirius, groaning. "I'm in trouble, aren't I? Fine, I will talk to his team and see what they say. No guarantees."
Sirius held out his hand to her as she walked by his bed, and she slapped it. "I think Hermione might be my new favourite person."
Hermione grinned as she backed up to the door to his room, "I will see you later, boys."
As she shut the door, she heard Sirius tell Harry, "Pup, you got damn lucky with that one."
Harry laughed as she smiled, "Don't I know it."
~*~ 17th October 2003 ~*~
Hermione opened her eyes early in the morning and yawned, stretching before glancing over at the clock at her bedside. Gasping, she grabbed it, making sure that she was not seeing incorrectly.
8:54
"What?!"
Throwing the covers from her body, she shoved her glasses on her face. Still wearing only Harry's shirt and her knickers, she rushed out of the bedroom and glanced inside Rosella's bedroom to see that it was empty. Only Crookshanks remained lying on her bed, fast asleep.
Swallowing hard, she heard humming downstairs and the strong smell of cleaning products wafting upstairs.
Slowly walking down the stairs, she was surprised to find all the miscellaneous shoes that were usually piled by the door, oblivious to the closet behind them, were gone. She slowly blinked, wondering if a cleaning fairy had come while she was sleeping.
Licking her dry lips, she called out, "Is anyone home?"
"In here!" Harry called from the sitting room.
Hermione walked into the sitting room and found him dusting the bookshelves, wearing only a thin t-shirt and his boxers. "Did Rosella go to school?"
Harry laughed, "Yeah, hours ago. You were sleeping so peacefully for once that I didn't have the heart to wake you. So, I told Rosella to be quiet and got her on the bus, then started cleaning. Breakfast is on the stove."
Hermione bit her lip as she stared at him.
"What?" He asked her, confused.
"I've never found you so sexy as I do in this moment," she said as she touched his chest, "Want to go upstairs, and I can show you how attractive you are?"
Harry groaned as she pulled him down by his shirt and kissed him. "Don't do this to me," he groaned as she started kissing his neck. "Your mum and dad are coming over soon, and Molly and Arthur will be over soon after."
"We have at least an hour," Hermione said, reaching into his boxers.
"Fuck, you've activated the launch sequence!" Harry groaned, "One of your parents or a Weasley could walk in at any moment and we…"
Hermione gasped as she heard the front door.
Harry grabbed the throw pillow from the couch and moved it in front of him. "I told you!" he said as her mother came to the doorway.
Briar Rose stared at them as Hermione moved behind Harry. "Oh."
"What's…" Camillo said as he froze, seeing them, then turned around. "So sorry… I just… I'll step outside."
Hermione groaned, laying her face on Harry's back.
"I told you," Harry mumbled.
Hermione sighed, looking at her mother around Harry's arm, "Mum, can you just… give us a moment?"
Briar Rose cleared her throat awkwardly, "Of course, I'll just… be out there."
"Just give us a couple of minutes," Hermione said as she pulled down Harry's shirt and quickly made her way to the stairs.
Hermione groaned as Harry shut the door behind him. "That was so embarrassing."
"At least they didn't come in five minutes later, could have been worse," Harry said as he walked over to his wardrobe.
"I just kind of hoped that my parents still thought I was close to a virgin," Hermione told him.
Harry laughed, "Honey, our daughter tells a different story."
Hermione picked up her pillow and threw it at him, making him laugh.
"Rose has told your parents at least three times that I know of that we kiss too much," Harry told her, "And it's not like they themselves haven't-"
Hermione groaned, covering her ears. "Please stop talking."
~*~*~
"Need any help?"
Hermione glanced over her shoulder as Ron walked into the kitchen. "Help as in to actually help, or help as in sampling?"
Ron grinned, walking over to her, "A little of both."
He went to reach for a roll, and his mother came out of nowhere and smacked his hand. "Mum!"
"You better mind yourself, Ronald. Go help outside. You are no help here in the kitchen," Molly told him.
Ron stared at her in disbelief before looking at Hermione, who was trying not to laugh.
"Harry may need help outside," Hermione told him.
"I can cook!" Ron defended, going over to the sliding door.
Hermione looked at Molly. "Ron means well."
"We don't need everyone poisoned before the wedding." Molly defended as she went back to cutting up the vegetables.
Hermione glanced at her mother, then rolled her eyes as the door opened again, and this time Harry came inside. "Hey."
Harry glanced at Briar Rose before walking over to Hermione and giving her a chaste kiss. "Hey, whenever you want me to start the grill, just let me know."
"Go ahead and start warming it up. You can start the chicken first," Hermione told him as she took the sausage rolls out of the oven.
Harry took the bowl from the fridge. "Got it."
Hermione saw Molly frown as Harry went back out to the patio. "What's wrong, Molly?"
"I don't understand why Harry wants to help, that is all, or even my Ronnie offering. Arthur never set foot in my kitchen," Molly said.
Hermione glanced at her, "Did you ever let him?"
Hermione heard her mother suck in a breath as Molly looked at her in disbelief. "Arthur worked hard outside the home. It was the least I could do to provide a meal for him when he returned home, and a clean home. He shouldn't have had to work himself any further when home in the kitchen or doing anything else."
"Hermione…" Briar Rose warned under her breath.
Hermione's brain felt like it was short-circuiting, "But by that logic, you worked all day while he was out of the house… so don't you deserve a break occasionally too?"
Molly stared at her, "A break from what? My womanly responsibilities?"
Hermione slowly blinked in disbelief, "Molly, that sounds exhausting. It sounds like you never got a day off."
"I didn't need one," Molly said, confused.
"Everyone needs a break occasionally. A marriage and a relationship should be a partnership. Not one more than another. Harry and I take turns with all the responsibilities of this house. Harry cleaned the house this morning prior to everyone arriving, not me. I mowed the lawn yesterday while he was at work. If you don't understand that, I am sorry, but it is what works for us, and from what I understand, Ron and Luna as well." Hermione told her, sighing as the doorbell rang.
Wiping her hands off on a towel, Hermione walked to the front door and opened it to find MacKenzie and Annie on the other side. Hermione smiled, "Hello, Annie. Rosella is outside with her cousins. If you would like to join them," Hermione greeted.
"Thanks, Miss Hermione!" Annie said as she ran off into the house.
MacKenzie stepped inside the house, and Hermione shut the door behind her. "Thank you for inviting us. It's good for her to see other magical children."
Hermione locked the door. "Well, it's not like all of us are going to be walking around waving our wands everywhere. Come on in. I'll introduce you to some people."
Hermione led MacKenzie into the kitchen. "MacKenzie, you remember my mum and Molly, Ron's mum." Hermione glanced at her mum, "I'm going to take these sausage rolls outside."
Briar Rose nodded as Hermione grabbed the plate and slid the door open. "Thank goodness you came when you did," Hermione mumbled as she slid the door shut behind them, "I nearly got into it with Molly."
Hermione smiled as she walked over to the group assembled on her patio. "Hey everyone, here are some sausage rolls. For those who have yet to meet her, this is my friend MacKenzie. Rosella is her daughter, Annie's best friend."
Andi patted the empty chair beside her, "Welcome to the craziness, have a seat."
MacKenzie laughed as she sat down, "Thanks, I feel like I've heard about many of you for years."
"Well, we Weasleys tend to collect people like strays," Bill stated with a smile.
"Hermione loves taking creatures under her wing. Her first baby birds were myself and Harry," Ron stated, "She even held us captive multiple times to do our homework."
"I did not hold either of you captive!" Hermione stated.
"You absolutely did!" Ron replied.
"You both showed up voluntarily and sat down without me binding you or locking you into anything in any way," Hermione told him.
"It was under false pretences," Ron stated.
"Did using a big word hurt your brain?" Hermione asked, making Arthur snort into his drink.
"Wine?" Bill asked MacKenzie.
"For the show? Of course," MacKenzie stated as she grabbed an empty glass in the middle of the table and held it out for Bill to pour her a glass.
Hermione rolled her eyes as she looked out at the garden to see all the kids playing with each other. She smiled as Rosella's giggle filled the air, and Annie laughed so hard that she tripped onto the grass over her own feet.
"Hey Ron, could you come mind the grill for me? I need to go pick up Sirius," Harry stated.
"Sure," Ron said as he walked over and took the tongs from him.
Hermione nudged MacKenzie, "See, you have nothing to worry about. She fits in just fine."
"Sorry, we're late!"
Luna appeared in the garden, and with a crack, Xenophilius appeared behind her, carrying trays.
Hermione looked at Harry wide-eyed, "Grab some desserts before you get Sirius."
Harry nodded as he kissed her cheek, then soundlessly popped away.
Hermione watched Arthur shake Xenophilius's hand as the rest of the Weasleys greeted him.
"I brought some Moon Frogs for dessert," Xenophilius stated as he looked at Hermione. "Thank you for inviting me to your home."
"Moon frogs?" Hermione asked, taking the trays as she lifted the wrap, "Oh, they are chocolate."
"My dear, have you never had the delicacy of a Moon Frog? It is a chocolate frog-shaped cake with filling and a chocolate coating," Xenophilius stated.
Hermione slowly blinked, "Actually, that sounds really good. I cannot wait to try it later."
Hearing the gate at the side of the house creak, Hermione stepped back to see Charlie arriving with Michel beside him. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she saw MacKenzie spot him and straighten up as Annie yelled, "Dragon man!"
Charlie laughed as Annie ran over to him, and he knelt in front of her, "Hello, Miss Annie. I'd like you to meet someone. This is Michel. We care for the dragons together."
"Hello, Miss Annie. Charlie tells me you are interested in my favourite creatures," Michel said.
Annie nodded, "I love dragons. I want to see one!"
"We might have to do that in the future, then," Michel said.
"ROSELLA!" Annie yelled, running off.
Michel straightened up. "She's cute."
Hermione slowly inhaled as Charlie walked over.
"Hey, everyone," Charlie said as he walked over and kissed Fleur's cheek, squeezed Arthur's shoulder, then spotted MacKenzie.
Hermione watched him smile before he walked over and picked Hermione up in a hug.
"Charlie!" Hermione laughed.
"Hey sis, thanks for throwing this party," Charlie said as he set her down and turned to MacKenzie, "Hello, MacKenzie. This is my partner, Michel. Michel, this is MacKenzie."
Michel walked over to her and took her hand, "It is a pleasure to meet you at last."
Hermione narrowed her eyes as she stared at them.
A small crack and Rosella yelling, "Dogfather!" announced Harry and Sirius's appearance.
Hermione laughed as she walked off the patio to the trees that Harry and Sirius appeared in, "Welcome to our home, Sirius."
Sirius looked around and reached up, patting Harry's hand, "You two have done well for yourselves."
Rosella ran over and climbed up into Sirius's lap, "Dogfather, welcome home."
Sirius cleared his throat as Harry pushed them up toward the patio, "I guess I am home, aren't I?"
After setting a bag inside with desserts, Harry walked over to the grill. "Ron, I can take that over now."
"Good, I really have no clue what I am doing," Ron said as he walked over and sat beside Luna.
"Sirius, these are my parents, Camillo and Briar Rose, and this is my close friend MacKenzie." Hermione introduced, "MacKenzie, this is Sirius, Harry's godfather."
MacKenzie looked at her, confused. "Then why did Rosella call him dogfather?"
Sirius grinned at her, "Because I am an Animagus, darling. I am a grim."
MacKenzie stared at him, then looked at Hermione, "Is that supposed to mean anything to me?"
Charlie came up beside her and sat down. "Animaguses in our world can transform into animals. Sirius is a large black dog."
Sirius looked at Hermione, surprised, "She's Muggle?"
"Her brother and Annie are both magical, but yes, she is," Hermione said as she glanced at Charlie, who leaned over and whispered something to MacKenzie, making her laugh.
"You have that look again," Harry said as he set the plated chicken on the table with a bubble charm.
"What look?" Hermione asked.
"The one that says you are about to meddle in something that you really shouldn't be meddling with," Harry told her.
Hermione gasped, "You sound like Hagrid." She pulled him down by his shirt, "I just sense something is there."
"Does it hurt anything?" Harry asked.
Hermione sighed, "That's not the point."
Charlie looked at Harry and Hermione, "Is Gin and Nev coming or the twins?"
"Who is asking for some twins?" George asked as he opened her patio door. "Ask, and you shall receive."
Ginny flicked his ear as she stepped out behind him, "Move aside."
Harry moved over the two cushioned chairs to the second table, "I brought out the cushioned chairs for both of you."
Ginny patted his cheek, "Hermione has trained you well."
Hermione smiled, looking around her back garden and her makeshift family and friends as Fred helped Angelina sit down.
Annie ran over with Rosella and climbed into the chair next to Charlie as she excitedly talked his ear off.
"Guess what?" Charlie asked Annie as he glanced at Michel, "What do you think about being able to see dragons very close by?"
Annie's eyes widened, "Really?"
Charlie nodded as he looked at his family, "Michel and I have purchased a plot of land in Wotton-Under. We have decided to open our own dragon reserve. It's going to be just south of Blackquarries Hill. Heavily wooded area, already has a nice home for us on it. Easy to build some cottages for staff."
Hermione looked at him, surprised. "That is not far from here. Only about 15 minutes away."
"Logistically, it was the best location we looked at," Charlie told her.
Rosella ran over and grabbed Harry's hand, "Daddy! Come play with us!"
"For a bit until the food is ready," Harry said as he ran off.
Rosella hid behind a tree after Harry counted, "You can't find me, Daddy!"
Hermione bit her lip as Rosella counted and then popped out from behind the tree.
"You found me!" Harry stated as he opened his arms wide.
Rosella ran into them, knocking them both down to the ground.
"He's a good dad. I can tell it already," Sirius told Hermione.
Hermione smiled as Annie, Teddy, and Victoire climbed on Harry's back as Rosella 'walked' him, "He is. I cannot wait to give him more kids in the future." She glanced at Sirius, "So a little birdie told me that you might be able to come home soon."
Sirius sighed, "Home… I haven't had a home since the Potters."
Hermione reached over and touched his arm, "Well, these Potters have a place for you. Harry and I already talked it over. We are converting the dining room into your bedroom until you can climb the stairs. There is a half bath down off the kitchen, and when you need to shower or bathe, Harry will assist you up the stairs. When you are better, you can move up to the guest room."
Sirius looked at her, "Until it needs to be a nursery?"
Hermione shook her head, "That's a fair bit away. We hope to have Godric's Hollow finished by then."
Sirius looked at her, surprised, "Their old house?"
Hermione nodded, "It's levelled, and Harry and I are building our dream home on the property. We are trying to keep with the area's aesthetic and are finding the counsel isn't very helpful, so it's taking some time."
Bill looked at her, "Harry levelled his parents' old place?"
Hermione nodded as she watched him laughing with the kids. "It was time to put that place to rest."
~*~ 24th October 2003 ~*~
Hermione bit her top lip as she looked around her former dining room, now turned into a small bedroom. She and Harry had installed doors in the doorways to give Sirius more privacy. A comfortable armchair was beside her bookshelf, and a full-sized bed against the wall.
Glancing at her watch, she realized that Harry and Sirius should have been arriving any moment, and she hoped they could get him settled before Hurricane Rosella arrived home from her last day of first term.
Fluffing his pillow, she heard Sirius yell, "Honey, we're home!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "In your room!"
Slowly, Sirius and Harry entered the former dining room, and Sirius looked around. "It looks like an actual bedroom. This is your dining room."
Harry smiled, "Power of magic."
"And a bit of moving everything from the guest room down here," Hermione stated as she stepped back as Sirius pushed his walker over to the bed and climbed onto it. "Comfortable?"
Sirius smiled as he laid down, "It's so quiet here."
"For now," Harry said with a laugh, "Settle in and take a nap or whatever you want. I have to get back to work. Hermione will be here," he looked at Hermione, "If you need me, call me."
Hermione nodded as he leaned down and kissed her, "Be careful. I was thinking steaks for dinner."
"Sounds amazing to me," Harry said as he looked at Sirius, "And you… don't teach my daughter something that she shouldn't know yet."
"Damn, I can't teach her how to be an Animagus yet?" Sirius asked.
Harry just smiled as he left Sirius's room.
Sirius looked at Hermione, "So… how's the translation going?"
"Nearly finished with the last one for the Ministry's foundations, but today is a wedding planning day," she said, "I'll be around if you need me. Try to get some rest."
Hermione gently shut the door behind her and then walked into the sitting room. Grabbing her notebook for wedding planning, she threw floo powder into the fire, "Malfoy Estate."
Narcissa appeared through the fire, "Hello, Ms. Granger."
"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy. How are you today?" Hermione asked, sitting down on the ground.
"I am doing well. How are things going?" Narcissa asked.
"Neville said he was going to bring all the flowers the morning of, so they don't wilt. We gave our tentative numbers to the caterer. Signet said everything is set on their end as well," Hermione told her. "How is everything on your end?"
"Perfectly, your seating cards arrived this morning, and that band you liked all confirmed they can attend," Narcissa stated
Behind Hermione, she heard Sirius make a gagging noise, and she rolled her eyes, turning to look at him. "Do you need something, Sirius?"
"Hello, Cissy."
"Sirius, I see you are doing well," Narcissa stated.
"So," Sirius said, "Still worshiping dark lords?"
Hermione gasped, "Sirius!"
Narcissa's eyes narrowed. "No. Contrary to popular belief, I never did. Lucius did," she stated with every bit of pureblood controlled poise, "But Lucius was very skilled at making sure that everyone believed his choices were mine as well."
Hermione glared at him as his expression shifted slightly.
"He was an abusive man," she inhaled slightly, "But he is in Azkaban now."
Hermione looked at her, "Mrs. Malfoy, I apologize."
"No need. Now, if you excuse me, I have some other calls to make," Narcissa stated.
"Thank you, Narcissa," Hermione said.
"You're welcome," she said as the flames vanished.
Hermione stood up, folding her arms, "You could have behaved!"
Sirius rubbed the back of his neck as he sat on the couch, "I could have."
"You didn't," Hermione told him with a sigh. "Look, I know the Blacks have a contentious history, but I wouldn't be working with Narcissa if I didn't believe she had changed as a person. Even Draco has set out to improve his life. He is a Quidditch player."
"DADDY?! MUMMA?!"
Hermione smiled, "Watch out, Hurricane Rosella has arrived."
A moment later, Rosella appeared in the doorway, her curls a mess, one stocking somehow missing as her school bag slid onto the floor.
She froze, then her face lit up. "Uncle Sirius! You are home!"
Sirius barely had time to brace himself as she jumped up on the couch next to him, wrapping her arms around him.
"You're here!" she yelled, practically vibrating with happiness.
"I am here," he said, looking at Hermione with a smile.
Rosella looked at him, "You live here now?"
"For a bit at least," Sirius told her.
"Good," she looked at him, "You look skinny."
Hermione choked on a laugh as Sirius looked offended. "I've been in the hospital."
Rosella jumped down and held out her hand, "Come on."
"Where are we going?" Sirius said, slowly pushing himself up on his walker.
"The kitchen, it's snack time," Rosella told him, "You need feeding."
Hermione snorted, "There's the Molly in her. Good luck."
"Come on, Uncle Sirius," Rosella said, gently guiding his walker through the house.
~*~*~
After putting Rosella to bed, Hermione quietly pulled her bedroom door closed and headed downstairs.
Halfway down the stairs, she heard voices coming from the sitting room and paused.
"I've been running on borrowed time since your mum and dad died," Sirius sighed.
Harry was quiet before he replied, "Not borrowed. Gifted."
Things were quiet for a moment, and she sat down on the stairs. "You used the time you have before to the fullest you could under your confinement. Now you get to use the rest of it however you want. You get to make your own path, against all expectations. You're a free man, Sirius. I made sure of it," Harry told him.
"Pup, you and Hermione have done so much for me," Sirius said, his voice thick. "I can never thank you enough."
"You don't have to, because I still remember what you said to me my third year," Harry told him, "You told me that you wanted me to come live with you."
"Harry…"
"You don't realize how much that gave me hope. It was the first time I could remember that an adult wanted me," Harry told him, making Hermione swallow back the lump in her throat.
"Because I loved you, kid… still do," Sirius told him.
"We didn't get to do that then, but we can now," Harry told him. "I've got plans for Godric's Hollow."
"Your Mum and Dad's cottage?"
"I had it demolished," Harry told him, "It was time."
Sirius must have let out a whistle. "I can see it. It was beyond saving even back then."
"It was. Dad's…" Harry cleared his throat, "Dad's soul was trapped there as a spirit. He saw you come there while on the run."
"Fuck."
"Thanks to Luna, we released him of his duty, but the first thing I did was knock the hell out of that place. It's down to the dirt, waiting on me to do something with it," Harry said, "Hermione and I are still working out the plans for it. I have to talk to her, but I want to build you your own place there."
"What?"
"Muggles call them mother-in-law suites," Harry told him as Sirius laughed.
"I'm not a mother-in-law," Sirius told him.
"You know what I mean, it would be a place that would be yours, either above the garage or attached to the house. If you wanted a separate cottage… whatever you want." Harry told him.
"You'd do that?"
"Of course," Harry answered immediately, "You're family."
Sirius didn't say anything, so Hermione stood up and walked toward the sitting room.
"I hope you know how goddamn lucky you are to end up with her," Sirius told him.
Harry laughed, "Don't I know it."
"Must be those Potter genes," Sirius said as Hermione walked into the room and he saw her and grinned. "James married well above his station, too."
Harry grinned as she walked in and sat beside him, "Why did Mum settle for Dad?"
Sirius barked out a laugh, "Oh, she didn't settle. James spent years trying to win her over."
"Remus said that he tried for years," Harry said.
Sirius nodded, "Then he finally got his act together. Didn't hurt that she was forced to see him differently when they became Head Boy and Head Girl. When he stopped trying to impress her, she saw him in a new way. Remus was already in her good graces. Little did we know that our resident Potions prodigy was secretly brewing Wolfsbane for him every month. James was so jealous of her being better than him in potions."
"Slughorn said she was his favourite," Harry stated.
Sirius nodded, "Then her parents died, and he was there at her side. Drove them closer together, and she asked him to ask her out. She said yes, and that was it. They married two years later. Surprised us all when they announced they were having you."
Hermione watched Sirius drink from his bottle. "Should you be drinking with all the potions you're taking?"
Sirius grinned, "It's Butterbeer."
Harry picked a bottle off the coffee table and held it out to her. "How was bedtime?"
Hermione folded her legs underneath her as she opened her bottle. "She passed out nearly instantly."
"The excitement crash finally caught up with her?" Harry laughed.
Hermione leaned into his side and closed her eyes for a moment, "We only have one more month left."
Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I know."
Sirius looked between them, "Do you need anything?"
Hermione looked at him as she rested her head on Harry's shoulder. "No, unless Harry needs help at Potter Estate?"
"Everything is cleared," Harry said, rubbing her arm, "The glass has been replaced where it needs it in the greenhouse. Neville came out last week and worked his magic on the plants."
"Didn't you say Arthur was doing something?" Sirius asked.
Harry nodded, "As Minister, he can marry us. I finished paying off the honeymoon, too."
"Where are you taking her?" Sirius asked.
Hermione perked up.
"It's a surprise," Harry told him.
"Harry…"
"Nope, it's a surprise," Harry told her.
Hermione sat up, "Harry James!"
Harry was grinning, "No amount of interrogation is going to get it out of me."
Hermione folded her arms, boosting her breasts. "I know your hiding spots, and I can hide these away."
Harry gasped, "You wouldn't."
"I absolutely could. I might be abstaining until the wedding," Hermione told him.
"That's abuse!"
Sirius nearly choked, "You two are hilarious."
Hermione smiled as she rested her head against Harry's shoulder. "I'll find out eventually."
"Yeah, in one month," Harry told her.
Hermione bit her lip, grinning, "One month until our forever."
a/n: I am actively working on what I think is the second to the last chapter. So things are quickly winding down!
Preview of Chapter 52- Lost Without You
Harry glanced over at her as he rinsed his razor. "This razor has seen its last day." He said as he ran his thumb over a slight nick. Opening the cabinet door where the rubbish bin was stored, he went to remove the razor head, and the handle fell into the bin. "Bugger it all."
Harry sighed as he reached down to retrieve it, and Hermione saw him freeze at the same time as she realized that she had never taken out the trash after her pregnancy test.
Standing up, he held up the test. "Hermione? A pregnancy test? Are you late? I mean, I thought you were, but I didn't want to ask."
Hermione groaned as she spat in the sink before rinsing her mouth. She bit her lip, "Ten days."
"I didn't realize you were that late," Harry said, looking at the test.
Hermione leaned against the vanity. "I took it a few days ago. It wasn't positive." She shrugged, "I figure it was just stress."
Putting her toothbrush away, she sighed, "My luck, we'll finally relax on our honeymoon, and that's when my period will come."
Harry looked at her, "You were nauseous yesterday."
Hermione glanced at him, "I also had a headache. It was probably a migraine."
"But you barely touched your dinner," Harry retorted.
"Because my head was pounding," Hermione told him.
"I can do the test," Harry offered.
"What?"
"No one has to know," Harry told her. "My wand is downstairs. I just have to get it."