The Reasons to Live

The Reasons to Live

A/N: This is a fic I started a while ago and never finished so I thought I would continue it. The updates probably won't come too often since it's the second fic I'm working on right now. It's slightly angsty, but only a bit in the beginning and then a tiny bit every once in a while. Enjoy!!

Prologue

Eleven years to the day of his death, and I'm still not fully recovered. They never found a body, but he was assumed dead. If he were alive, he would have come back. That's what I always tell myself. Every once in a while I just imagine him walking in the door of our house. Everything would be fine after that. Everything.

I look into the mirror every once in a while, and it's like I've not changed at all and I've changed completely. My looks are the same, the bushy brown hair, slightly tamed. The plain brown eyes that he found fascinating (I never understood why), and the slightly curvy body. But my eyes were alive when he was here. They sparkled when I looked at him, or just knew he was there. Now they were just…dead.

Sometimes, I just wanted to give up on life, on…everything. I couldn't though, I never could. It was as if I didn't believe he was truly dead. He had to be, though, he had to be. If he was alive, he would have come home and met his daughter. Yes...daughter. She was born nine months to the day of his death, on September 6^th. Lily Margaret Potter was the reason I was still alive. I lived for her, and I would keep living for as long as I could. She was what I had left of him, 10 years old, wildly curly black hair, emerald almond shaped eyes just like his.

She had my chin, my lips, his eyes, his nose, and his hair. She was all I had, and I couldn't leave her. She was my reason for life.

A/N: that was just a short prologue, explaining some things. Next we'll have a longer chapter one!

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A/N: Here's chapter one of The Reasons to Live, enjoy!

Life Without Him

“Mum! I can't find it!” Lily Potter yelled down the stairs in a panic. Hermione Potter sighed, just like she had the whole morning of Lily not being able to find her things.

“What is it this time, Lily?” She yelled back as she started climbing the stairs. Lily, her hair disheveled and her cheeks red from exhaustion, walked out into the hallway and said,

“Hogwarts, a History.” Hermione smiled slightly at her, but it didn't go to her eyes. She walked into the messy room, clothes strewn about and what looked like everything in her closet emptied out. She reached behind the dresser and produced the fat book, dropping it with a plop onto Lily's bed.

“There.” Lily smiled her thanks and said,

“Mum? Er…could you help me pack?” She looked up at her mother, her almond shaped eyes wide and pleading. Hermione sighed and said, in a defeated tone,

“I suppose so, Lil, but you won't have my help at Hogwarts, you know.” Lily nodded happily and sat down on her bed, behind her trunk, eyes wide as her mother magicked things to fly in until everything she needed was in.

“Anything else you want in there, Lily?” The 10-year-old girl bit her lip and nodded, pointing to the picture on her bedside table. Hermione breathed in and out quickly and walked over to the picture, picking it up and looking at it lovingly. It was of her and Harry, on their wedding day at the age of 18. They were standing under the awning they got married with, their arms around each other. They would just smile and joke around lovingly in it.

At this point the Hermione picture was smiling out into the distance when Harry picture kissed her mischievously on the cheek. She looked at him in mock madness and then pulled her to him for a sound kiss. Then they looked into each other's eyes, smiling lovingly. Hermione smiled slightly as a tear fell silently down her cheek. She shook herself quickly and brushed the tear away, walking briskly to the trunk and placing it face down on the pile of robes. She pursed her lips and tried and failed to smile at Lily.

“Well, there you go Lil, all packed and ready to start school tomorrow. I'll go make lunch.” She walked quickly out the door and into her room, closing the door firmly and falling against it, sobbing quietly.

*************

Lily shut her door after seeing her mother go into her own room, and, hearing her sob quietly, sat down on her bed. She took the picture that her mother had set down in the trunk and looked at it smiling as her parents waved happily at her. She set it down lovingly, face-up, and took another picture from a drawer in her bedside table.

This picture was her second favorite, it was of her father, leaning up against the wall of their living room, the day her parents moved in. Paint cans littered the floor and his clothes were full of paint specks. He was smiling happily and when Lily looked at it he waved energetically at her. She smiled slightly and said, as she talked to this picture often,

“I'm going to Hogwarts tomorrow, Dad! I'm starting school! I really hope to make it in to Gryffindor and maybe even make the house quidditch team just like you did in your first year. I want to be a seeker just like you! I'm scared how mom's going to be without me though, Dad. It's like I'm the only thing she's living for, and if I leave there'll be nothing else. I promised to owl her at least once a week, though!” She smiled sadly, realizing how much she wanted a real father, instead of just a picture. She kissed the picture Harry on the cheek and whispered “Wish me luck.” Lily placed the picture next to her favorite in the trunk.

She heard her mother walk downstairs and into the kitchen so she walked down into the living room and yelled,

“Could I go over to the Weasley's for a bit, Mum? Please?” Hermione walked into the living room and said,

“I suppose so, Lily. But be back in half an hour.” And as she walked back into the kitchen she yelled, “And speak clearly!” Lily grabbed a pinch of floo powder from the pot over the fireplace and stepped in, throwing it down and yelling,

“The Burrow!” She felt that familiar rushing feeling and spun around and around, smiling all the way. She loved this way of traveling. She landed smoothly in the burrow fireplace and Luna Weasley, Ron's wife, smiled from her spot on the couch and said,

“Hello, Lily. The twins are up in their room. I assume that's why you came over?” Lily nodded and walked up the stairs to Maggie and Matt Weasley's room, Ron and Luna's children. Ron and Luna had moved in with Arthur and Molly when they got married, and had three children, Maggie and Matt, the twins, and 5-year-old Tammy, who barreled out of her room as Lily passed it and ran straight into her.

“Ily!” she yelled happily as she flung her arms around Lily's legs. Tammy looked like a miniature Luna, blond and round-faced, and very energetic. Lily bent down and gently pried Tammy's arms from around her legs, saying,

“Well hullo there, Tam-Bam. How are you today?” Tammy giggled at her nickname and said,

“I'm good. I wish you, Maggie and Matt didn't have to leave tomorrow, though.” She stuck her bottom lip out in a pout and Lily smiled and hugged her, saying,

“We'll be back, don't worry. And in a few years you'll be going to Hogwarts with us!” Tammy smiled at that and ran down the stairs, yelling back,

“See ya later, Ily!” Lily laughed as the energetic girl ran down the stairs and continued up to Maggie and Matt's room. When she walked into the big room they shared, the twins were in an argument, both red-faced (and eared) to match their flaming hair. Maggie, who looked just like a miniature Ginny, was stomping her foot down and yelling,

“You TOOK it! I know you did! You thought it'd be funny, so you TOOK it!” Matt, a miniature Ron, was sitting on his bed opening and closing his mouth as if he wanted to say something, and then finally stood up and yelled,

“I did not! I swear, I saw it lying on your bed this morning! But I didn't TOUCH it!” Lily `ahemed' loudly and they both glared at her. She raised an eyebrow and put out her hands in a `don't attack me' expression, saying,

“What's lost, Mag?” Maggie gritted her teeth and said,

“My quidditch book. It's not lost though. Matt took it!” Matt gaped at her and yelled,

“Why would I take it if I have one of my OWN?!” Maggie sat down on the bed forcefully and said,

“I don't KNOW! Maybe you lost yours and decided to take mine!” I walked over to the cabinet between their two beds and picked up a pile of clothes, producing under it a quidditch book that, in the inside cover, said Maggie Weasley. I turned around as they glared at each other and handed it to her, saying,

“Here, Maggie. It was on the cabinet.” She opened and closed her mouth and then said, quietly,

“That's not where I left it…” Matt said a quick `whoops' and then said,

“I thought it was mine, Mag, and then when I realized it was yours I set it down on the cabinet. Sorry I forgot to tell you.” Maggie looked angry at him for a second and then mumbled, with Lily raising her eyebrows at her,

“Sorry I thought you took it.” They both smiled at each other slightly. Their fights were quite common. Lily smiled at them both and sat down next to Maggie, saying,

“So how excited are you guys for Hogwarts?” They both burst out talking at the same time, Maggie saying something about how she couldn't wait to learn all sorts of charms and Matt saying something about going to see the quidditch games and wishing he could try out for the house team. Maggie finished before Matt and he finished with something along the lines of `a keeper just like Dad'.

Lily laughed at their excitement and said,

“I can only stay for another 20 minutes. So who's up for a game of wizards chess?” Matt yelled,

“Me!” and dropped his upper half of body off the bed, reaching under it and producing his set. Lily moved on his bed and set up the pieces while Maggie settled on the floor on the side of the bed saying,

“I play winner!”

A/N: Well there's the first chapter. Next will be leaving for Hogwarts and stuff. And then in chapter three: whatever happened to Harry? Is he really dead? PLZ REVIEW!!!

-Emily

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A/N: All these ideas are just popping into my head for later on in the story.

But nothing for right now in the story.

Argh.

Well here's the next chapter, it's not really getting interesting yet, but it will a bit more in chapter 3 and then a LOT in chapter 4 (guess what happens then, ;-))

O, and nobody has asked about this, but they might: Hermione does not have a job, Harry left a fortune behind big enough for her never to need one.

Stories and Leaving Home

Hermione woke up early in the morning, shivering. Her covers were all on the floor and her sheets were bunched around her feet. She quickly pulled the sheets over her body and scrunched up into a fetal position as tears fell silently down her cheeks.

She had had the dream again, or rather, the memory. It was looking at the ruins of their battle, everything gone, including both Harry and Voldemort. Everyone assumed he had somehow killed Voldemort as Voldemort did something to make his body explode or…something. Hermione had not believed it, could not believe that he was gone. She cried for days, didn't eat, was throwing up. She thought many times about killing herself…then she found out she was pregnant.

And although it wasn't Harry, it was something to live for, something she had to live for. The dream was remembering the week after he had died, how badly she struggled…it was something she had wanted to forget, something she had tried to forget…something she could not forget.

She had told Lily things about him, when she had wanted to know. It hurt, but Hermione knew she had to know about him. And the Weasley's had told Lily things too, about Harry. She knew enough to know what he was. It hurt to think she would never know who he was. Hermione smiled when she thought about Lily, who was practically an exact mix of Hermione and Harry.

The two non-human things she loved most in the world were quidditch and books. How could that not be a Harry-Hermione mix? She was smart, brave, considerate, humble, and logical. She had quite the sense of humor also, and was only seldom mad. But when she was mad, she was mad. She was the perfect daughter, so why wasn't Hermione happy? Harry was gone, that was why. While being a great daughter, what was a daughter without a father?

And Hermione knew Lily suffered from not having a father. She knew how badly she wanted one, and sometimes thought about dating again. Everyone told her she should. But no, she had loved Harry so damn much that the thought of ever being with someone other than him truly disgusted her. And the reason she didn't date wasn't because deep down inside her she still thought he wasn't truly gone. Right?

Hermione's thoughts went away as Lily walked into the room. Hermione opened her eyes at the sound of the door opening and stretched back out from her fetal position. Lily stood shyly in the doorway and whispered,

“Did I wake you?” Hermione smiled at her lovingly and said,

“No, sweetie, I was already up. Come here.” Lily rushed over to the side of the bed and sat down. Hermione opened up the sheet to her and she lay next to Hermione, on her side so they were facing each other.

“I couldn't sleep. I didn't think I'd be nervous about starting school, but I am. What if I'm put in Slytherin? What if I don't make any new friends?” Hermione hugged her daughter and said,

“I think you're a surefire Gryffindor, Lil, and if not, you definitely won't be a Slytherin, no matter what. And you'll make lots of new friends, you're too great of a girl not to.” Lily smiled and snuggled in close saying,

“Thanks, Mum. Could you…maybe…while we're both up you know…tell me a story about Dad?” She said the last part very fast and looked up into Hermione's face hesitantly. Hermione smiled grimly and said,

“I suppose so, Lils. What do you want to hear?” Lily smiled and thought for a moment before saying,

“Your first kiss. Please?” Hermione sighed in mock defeat and said,

“This must be one of your favorites, huh?” Lily nodded and moved around a bit, getting comfortable, before she settled just as Hermione started,

“It was Christmas Eve of our sixth year, and we were the only ones staying behind in Gryffindor…”

flashback

Hermione sat in front of the fire with her hot chocolate that Harry had insisted on getting her from the kitchens, despite her protests about house-elf rights and such. They had just had a heated snowball fight, ending with both of them collapsing into the snow and lying there, looking at the stars. They had eventually gotten really cold and gone back to the common room, Harry telling her to stay there and pampering her utterly, as she complained about how he shouldn't be doing all this.

She had liked him for a while now, more than a year, so really she was completely enjoying all this. After he had given her the hot chocolate with a flourish, he went upstairs yelling back something about a present. She sat on the couch wondering about it as he came downstairs silently and put his hands over her eyes saying,

“Guess who?” Hermione smirked slightly and said in a mock tone,

“Severus? Is that you, darling?” He took his hands away and drew back in mock horror saying,

“I knew it!” They both laughed and Harry sat down beside her and suddenly seemed very not at ease. He drew something from his pocket, a thin golden wrapped box, and put it on Hermione's lap, mumbling quietly,

“This is for you.” He looked away and Hermione smiled softly, setting her mug down on the table and saying,

“Harry, you didn't have to get me something. Thank you.” She touched his shoulder and he looked back at her, smiling. She gently unwrapped the box and opened it, gasping,

“Harry! It's beautiful!” Inside the box was a simple golden chain, and hung on the end was an oval ruby set in gold. On impulse she reached out and hugged him to her, to his surprise she thought. He smiled and said,

“It was my Mum's. My dad gave it to her and I…I wanted you to have it.” He looked at her questioningly, and she looked into his eyes. She pursed her lips and turned around, picking up her hair and saying,

“Put it on me?” He reached into the box and gently placed the necklace around her neck, clasping it in the back. His hands seemed to burn her shoulders, and she felt a loss as he pulled his hands away. She turned back to him and whispered silently, looking down,

“Thank you, Harry.” He lifted her chin in one of his hands and looked at her questioningly. She gazed into his eyes and started moving her head forward. She stopped halfway there and looked at him as he looked at her. Maybe she moved, maybe he moved, maybe they both moved, but suddenly their lips were touching softly. It was chaste, pure, sweet, everything a first kiss should be. And when they pulled away they just smiled at each other. Harry hugged her to his chest and silently whispered,

“You're welcome, Hermione.”

end flashback

“And from then on we were never apart. The end.” Hermione smiled softly as a tear fell onto Lily's head. She looked into her daughter's face and realized that she was fast asleep. Smiling, she brought the sheet farther up and lay her head down, falling into a dreamless sleep.

*************

“Mum! Wake up! It's already 6 o clock, wake up!” Lily pushed and prodded her mother until she cracked open her eyes a tiny bit, groggily saying,

“Six o clock? We're not leaving for the Weasley's till ten. I'm going back to sleep.” She rolled away and closed her eyes again. Lily sighed in exasperation and got on her mother's other side, saying,

“But Mum! We still have to shower and get dressed and eat breakfast and make sure I'm packed and…lots more stuff! Please get up?” Hermione sighed quietly and sat up, saying,

“Yes, alright. I'll go make you a nice healthy breakfast and you take a shower and get ready.” Lily jumped out of bed and ran into her room with an adjoined bath while Hermione slowly got up thinking, How can that girl be so energetic at 6 in the morning? She put on a robe and walked into the kitchen to make breakfast.

Four hours later, armed with a huge trunk and her owl Hedwig (named for the original Hedwig), Lily got into the fireplace and threw down some floo powder, yelling “The Burrow!” and rushing away. Hermione left after her with a queasy feeling in her stomach during the ride, thinking Ugh, how can Lily like this?

Lily arrived smoothly and quickly stepped out of the fireplace to be greeted by her best friends, the twins. She turned back and winced as her mother hit the ground of the fireplace and toppled over. She walked over and helped Hermione up as she brushed off soot and muttered something about hating floo powder.

“You could have just apparated, Mum, I don't mind.” Hermione smiled at Lily and said,

“Yes, well, too late now. I will next time.” Right then Ron and Luna walked in and they both hugged Hermione. Ron stepped back and smiled at her, saying,

“It's nice to see you, Herms.” Luna echoed his sentiments and Hermione smiled with her eyebrows raised saying,

“You see me every day. But oh well, nice to see you too.” Just then Tammy ran into the room and into Hermione yelling loudly,

“Aunt Hermy, Aunt Hermy!” Hermione winced at the nickname Tammy had decided to give her while Ron and Luna just chuckled quietly. She hugged Tammy back and smiled at her when she pulled away.

“We should probably go if we want to get to the train a bit early,” said Luna. They would be taking a muggle car to the station. Matt and Maggie took their trunks along with Maggie's white cat Dessie and Matt's owl Orlando. Lily also picked up her trunk and birdcage and walked out the door behind them. They all piled into the muggle van and headed to Kings Cross station.

“Now kids, you walk into the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Don't worry, you'll go right through it. Just run through it with your trolley and you'll end up at platform 9 and ¾.” Ron said as they approached the barriers. Tammy went first, giggling like she had a secret or something, and walking in with her mouth and eyes wide open. Maggie and Matt shrugged at each other and went in one after the other, Lily following them. Ron, Luna, and Hermione headed in last.

Tammy had found her 7-year-old cousin Samantha Malfoy, Draco and Ginny's daughter, and was playing with her. Maggie and Lily were arm in arm talking to Bill and Fleur Weasley's daughter Emily, a third year, and Matt was joking around with his cousins Fred and George Weasley. Fred was George and his wife's son, and George was Fred and his wife's son. Although just cousins, they looked almost identical and were often mistaken for twins.

After meeting some people, and reminiscing with parents they had gone to school with, Hermione, Ron, and Luna hugged their children goodbye. Hermione had tears in her eyes as she said,

“Be good to all your teachers, and do your homework. Have a good time sweetheart, I'll miss you.” She pursed her lips and Lily threw her arms around Hermione's middle, saying,

“Oh Mum, I'll owl you once a week at the least, and I promise to be good and do my homework. And I'll miss you too. Love you.” Hermione smiled at her daughter and said,

“Love you too, Lils. See you Christmas Break!” Lily smiled at her and said,

“Yup! Better get me something good!” They hugged again and Lily followed Maggie, Matt, Emily, Fred, and George onto the scarlet train. Well then, she's gone, Hermione thought as she waved back to Lily as the train moved off. She tried to smile at Ron and Luna, but instead a tear fell down her face. They knew right away what she was thinking, which was, I wish Harry could have been here to see this, and they all hugged her close, even Tammy, although she didn't know why.

“I'll be all right, you guys. Thanks.” They all smiled at each other and walked off without saying anything. Nothing needed to be said. When they got to the car they hugged again, and Luna said,

“Come over anytime, okay? We'll still have Tammy and Arthur and Molly, but it'll be quiet without the twins. And I'm sure it'll be deathly quiet for you without Lily. So…so come over anytime you want to.” They smiled again and Hermione said,

“Thanks, I will.” She hugged Luna and apparated back to her living room, falling on the couch and sobbing her heart out.

A/N: Aww, poor Hermione…but you see how depressed she is without Harry? And it's been 11 years! Next chapter…whatever happened to that Harry Potter? REVIEW!!!!

-Emily

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A/N: Thanks a lot to all those who have reviewed so far!! Here's the next chapter, enjoy it!

Waking Up

“Hermione!” Harry Potter yelled, bursting up from his bed. His first thought was where am I? And then how long have I been gone? The last thing he remembered was fainting, after killing Voldemort. Now he was standing in a cold stone room, probably underground, with a plain bed in the middle, attached to what looked like a wizarding sort of monitor. He sat on the bed and thought for a moment. The main thought in his head was Where's Hermione?

As he thought, a man came into a room through a metal door smiling. He was short and thin, with wispy gray hair and light blue eyes.

“You're up! Took you long enough!” Harry looked at him suspiciously and thought about the multitude of questions he had, starting with,

“The last thing I remember is fainting after my fight with Voldemort, injured and dying. Now I feel fine, cured. How long has it been?” The man looked at him with a sympathetic expression, saying,

“I don't know if you're quite ready for that. I'll just start with telling you why you are here. After the fight with Voldemort, I was the only one there with you. I had watched the whole battle, and was afraid you would die because no one was coming. I knew I was the only one who had the power to heal you, for you had both mental and physical scars. So I took you with me, to my `underground hole' home. I put you in a coma of sorts so you wouldn't be hurt as I healed you. In about a year, you were fully healed so could wake up.”

Harry looked at him apprehensively and said,

“So…it hasn't been too long after a year, then?” The man looked suddenly a little fearful and backed up a bit as he said,

“Well you see…the thing is…you didn't wake up when I would have liked you too. I think you might have been scared to have been captured or something. So…you slept…” Harry jumped up and slammed the man against the wall with his hands around the man's neck as if to choke him. Harry gritted his teeth and said,

“How long?” The man looked away but Harry squeezed his neck a little harder and said, “How. Long.” The man nodded as if to say `I'll tell you' so Harry backed off.

“You might want to sit down.” The man said, as he stayed pressed against the wall. Harry glared at him so he just shrugged as if saying `Or not'. He went on and said,

“Well…Harry…for all I tried you just wouldn't wake up…and…and…it's been eleven years.” He said the last part softly and Harry just looked at him and said, as if to make sure he had heard him right,

“Eleven years.” The man nodded and Harry just looked at him, saying,

“Hermione?” The man swallowed and whispered,

“She thinks you're dead. Everyone does, I'm the only one that knows.” Harry glared at him again and said,

“Why? Why couldn't you have told anyone? Why did you have to keep it secret?” The man shrugged and said,

“At first, I was afraid people wouldn't let me heal you. Also, they don't know I exist. I was scared of exposure. After a couple years, I knew I couldn't tell because not only would I be exposed, I'd probably be killed. As it got to a decade, I knew I would have to keep it a secret forever.” Harry let one tear slide down his face as he thought about his wife, and said,

“Well, while I'd like to kill you, I probably shouldn't. I'll be going now, but one last question. Who are you?” The man smiled grimly and said,

“I don't really have a name. Some call me, for a better loss of words, Merlin. I am not the wizard they talk about with Arthur and Excalibur, don't know if he even existed. I'm someone that watches…and helps every once in a while…for special people.” He winked at Harry but Harry didn't smile. Merlin continued, saying,

“And you can go. But if you could, make up a story not involving me. You can tell those closest to you I suppose if you're sure you can trust them. But to the rest of the world, make up a story, something about how Voldemort had transferred you to a place where you couldn't get back or something. I'd rather people not know me.” Harry started for the door but turned around, saying,

“Although I don't know if you made the right decisions, I might have died without you. So…thank you. And before I go, how's Hermione?” Merlin smiled at the thanks and said,

“She's had trouble coping over the years. I know you're worrying, but don't, she's not remarried. She does have someone helping her through things, though. I suppose I'll let her tell you about them, wouldn't want to get into family business.” Harry smiled grimly but was a little confused at Merlin's statement. He walked out the door into a big room that had a mirror on one side along with a couch and a small kitchen on the other. He looked into the mirror and realized that he hadn't really changed that much. He was wearing a pair of muggle jeans and a green shirt, brand new. Guess Merlin dressed me…don't know how I feel about that…he shrugged it off and started for some stairs at the other side of the room.

He wondered where exactly he was, but when he opened a trap door and stepped onto a muggle sidewalk, he realized he was in muggle London. But people didn't seem to notice him at all; they just walked past as if someone hadn't just come up from underground. Harry closed the trap door and it looked exactly like the paved sidewalk. He shrugged and walked towards the nearest bus stop, thinking, Eleven years…feels like I never left…this is so weird…at least I know where I'll go!

*************

Hermione woke up and looked at the clock, groaning when she was 11-o clock AM. She had tossed and turned all night and finally gotten to sleep around 8. She turned around, almost forgetting that Harry was gone. She did this quite a lot. Seeing no Harry laying next to her, she shut her eyes tightly to prevent the tears that were threatening to come, and gulped. She sat up and put her favorite robe on, fluffy and white. She stood up and started for the bathroom, brushing her hair a little and teeth before going to the kitchen to make lunch or a snack.

She jumped up from crouching in front of the fridge when she heard the doorbell ring. Taking out the stuff she needed to make a sandwich, she closed the fridge and started walking towards the door. Wonder who it could be? Maybe Ron and Luna apparated over…don't know why they would have to use the doorbell thought. Probably one of those door salesman. She opened the door ready to say `No thank you' and was greeted by the sight of…Harry Potter. She stood there for a second with her mouth open and her eyes wide, thinking, No, no, I'm dreaming. He's dead. Dead. Her thoughts went away as he said,

“Hi `Mione,” smiling at her hesitantly. She whimpered a little “Harry?” and then fell forward in a dead faint.

A/N: hehehe, cliffie…I know I'm evil, but u love me for it, right? I might get the next chapter out 2morrow but I don't know…if not then then I'll get it out Friday probably!

-Emily

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A/N: I know I said I wouldn't get the next chapter out as soon, but it turns out we're leaving a bit later, so I thought I would get this chapter out before we left. Enjoy!!!

Adjusting

“Hermione? Mione? Wake up.” Harry again padded her forehead with the wet washcloth worriedly. She had been passed out for nearly half an hour and Harry was starting to worry. He smiled when she squinted her eyes open a little and then quickly shut them, thinking, No, no, it was a dream. I'm dreaming. When I wake up he will be gone. She opened her eyes slowly and whimpered, seeing those bright emerald eyes gazing back at her. He smiled at her lovingly and said,

“Hey.” She closed her eyes again and started to get up from the living room couch, Harry helping her before she shook out of his grasp. She walked to the kitchen and sat on a chair by the table, Harry sitting on the opposite end. A tear fell down her cheek as she said,

“You're dead. You've been gone for eleven years. You have to be dead, because if you're alive you wouldn't have left.” He gazed at her intently before walking over and taking her hand in his, saying,

“Hermione, I'm alive. I can explain why I've been gone for so long, but I'm back now.” He smiled at her tentatively but she just stood up again, pulling her hand out of his grasp and pacing in front of him before walking back to the living room saying angrily as she walked back and forth behind the couch,

“No! You left! If you're alive, it means you left us! You left! And that OBVIOUSLY means you didn't love me, so you can just leave, okay?” With that she collapsed on the couch and sobbed loudly “Just leave.” He sat next to her and took her hands in his saying,

“I can't, Mione. I loved you then and I love you now. I can't leave until you hear my side of the story, so…us? `You left us'?” Hermione looked at his eyes with her tearful ones and said,

“It's been eleven years, Harry. Eleven years. I believed, I had to believe you were dead. She grew up never knowing you, believing you were dead. That time can't just be forgotten. And then you just show up at my doorstep! As if those eleven years never happened! Newsflash, Harry, they HAVE!” He looked at her with a confused expression and said,

“She? Hermione, what are you talking about?” Hermione waved her arm to the mantel above the fireplace where pictures were and whispered,

“Our daughter.” Harry picked up a recent one of Lily, with her owl and new wand. He fell down on the couch with tears in his eyes and said,

“Daughter? We have a…a daughter.” Hermione nodded, saying,

“She was born about nine months after you left. Lily Potter. She started Hogwarts yesterday.” A solitary tear fell down Harry's face as he whispered,

“I'm sorry. I'm so damn sorry, Mione. I wasn't here, wasn't here when you needed me.” Hermione looked at him, realizing his sincereness, and turned the corner of her lips up a tiny bit, saying,

“Well…you're here now…but that doesn't mean I'm accepting this. You were gone for eleven years, and you better have a damn good excuse as to why!” She settled back into the couch with her arms crossed in front of her with an expression that seemed to say `Well?' He nodded and settled into a chair next to the couch, moving it until he was facing her.

“First of all, Mione, you have to believe that none of this was truly my fault. If it wasn't for this happening though, I probably would have died.” Hermione worried her bottom lip with her teeth before nodding slightly. He took a deep breath and continued.

“After my fight with Voldemort, I was weak, on the verge of death. There was probably only one person that could heal me. Merlin was watching, I assume you've read about him. Not all of the legends are true, but he is real, a person who watches and occasionally helps. He took this as a time to use his helping on me, so took me to a sort of underground lair. He healed me, inside and out, after putting me in a coma so I wouldn't be badly hurt. After I was healed he…couldn't wake me up. He apparently tried everything yet couldn't. So today…earlier…I finally did wake up, and left after he had told me everything. Although I hadn't much say in all of this, I truly am sorry. Although Merlin helped me, I want to kill him for missing out on this time from you, and…never knowing my daughter. Lily…I'm glad you chose that name.”

Hermione smiled slightly and said,

“Yes, well, despite looking so much like you, I didn't want my daughter to be Harriet. When I saw her eyes, I knew it was Lily. Lily Margaret Potter…Margaret for my mother, of course.” He smiled at her tentatively and said,

“Mione…I want to meet her. I want to get to know her. I want to be…”

“Her father?” Hermione interrupted. He nodded and said,

“Although I can't make up for the loss of time, I want to try. Can we do something, make things right again?” Hermione breathed in and out shakily, and whispered,

“This is all happening so fast, Harry. You just turn up after eleven years, expecting things to turn out right? It's like you came back from the dead…it'll take some time. You're Lily's father, of course you should get to know her, she needs it probably more than you do. But for other things…for us…it just…will take some time.” She pursed her lips and looked down at her hands, clasped together now in her lap.

“Of course. I can't expect everything to be perfect. I should…probably go. I'll call tomorrow, okay?” Hermione nodded and quickly smiled at him. He walked towards the front door, and, after grimacing at the now rainy storm going on outside, walked out.

Hermione bit her lip again and took a deep breath before running after him out into the rain. It immediately soaked her as she stood on the sidewalk, the big plops of water landing on her body.

“Harry!” She yelled as she ran out after him. He was beside the street with his wand out. He turned around and took a step forward, looking questionably at her. She, at a loss of what to say, asked,

“What are you doing?” He stayed where he was and yelled,

“I was about to call the knight bus!” She groaned and yelled,

“You can't let the wizarding world know you're back yet, Harry! People would get too many ideas!” He walked towards her until their dripping wet faces were only one foot apart.

“What do you propose I do, then?” He asked.

She breathed in and out shakily as she looked at his unruly hair pasted onto his forehead from the rain. She hadn't remembered how good he looked. She got a hold of herself quickly and shrugged, saying softly,

“You could stay here. I'm the only one that knows, after all.” He looked into her soft eyes, full of kindness, and smiled, saying,

“I suppose I could do that.” She turned her face away, not being able to look into those intense emerald eyes again for fear she would grab him in her arms and kiss him senseless. She walked towards the house, him still standing there, and said,

“Well, come on then, let's get you out of these wet clothes. I still have most of yours in a box.” He followed her inside the house and couldn't help notice how beautiful she looked with her curly wet hair around her face and her wet clothes sticking to her…no! He would not allow these thoughts yet, not when she was still getting used to him. He clenched his fists before following her into their bedroom where she reached into a box in the closet and produced a large T-shirt and sweatpants. She tried and failed to smile brightly and handed them to him, saying,

“Well, there you go, you can change in the bathroom and I'll change in here.” He looked at him with his brows furrowed and said,

“Hermione, it's nothing-” She cut him off saying,

“I know it's nothing you haven't seen before, but…Harry…eleven years. Just change in the bathroom.” He nodded and walked into the adjoined bathroom, closing the door tightly behind him. She sighed and took some pajama pants and a spaghetti strap white tank top out of her dresser, getting out of her wet clothes and putting them on. When Harry walked out she was at the mirror, wringing out her wet hair before brushing it out quickly. She jumped when she saw him behind her and he touched her shoulder, saying,

“It's okay, Mione. Just me.” She shivered at his touch and walked out into the living room, him following her as she said,

“Well, it's late. I'll set up the couch for you.” She quickly took the cushions off and pulled out the couch bed, walking to the linen closet in the hallway and taking sheets, pillows, and a blanket. As she walked in she said,

“It's not the most comfortable, but it's the only thing we have other than Lily's bed and my…our…my bed…it's what we have, so it'll have to do I suppose.” She smiled quickly, fakely, and thought Smooth, Hermione, smooth. She put the sheets and pillows on, quickly followed by the blanket. She then turned away, biting her lip as Harry contemplated her.

He noticed her being rushed, nervous, and shaky. It was because of him, he knew. He would be staying with her overnight after an absence of eleven years. If she still felt the way he did, then, well, it would be a bit awkward.

“Shall I make us some tea?” Harry asked, trying to get her to calm down. She turned around quickly and said,

“What? Tea? Oh, yes…I suppose. I'll just sit here and…sit here.” She perched uncomfortably on the edge of the same chair Harry had been sitting on earlier and thought to herself, Why I'm acting like a nervous schoolgirl! I'm nearly thirty and acting sixteen! I really do need to be calmer, but…Harry's back and I…I still love him so…With that she leaned back and closed her eyes to a frustrating groan. A few minutes later Harry walked out with two mugs of tea and said,

“Mione? Tea's ready.” She jumped up from leaning back and said,

“Oh, thank you Harry.” He smiled and perched on the edge of the couch bed, handing her one of the mugs. They both sipped at it a bit and it was terribly uncomfortable until Harry said quietly,

“Tell me about Lily. I'd like to know what she's like. Of course, if she turned out exactly like you then she's perfect.” Hermione smiled and flushed slightly as she set her tea down on a small table next to the chair. She started, saying,

“Well, somehow she turned quite a bit like you, and only part me. Her two favorite material things in the world are quidditch and books.” Harry smiled at the quidditch reference, and Hermione continued with,

“Yes, she'd like to be a seeker someday. Probably because of all the tales she's heard of you. She's quite intelligent, and really a beautiful young girl as you saw in the picture. She is sort of like me except probably a lot more fun loving. She shows emotion just like everyone else but is terribly optimistic. She's brave, loyal, logical, and has absolutely the kindest heart in the world. She's a wonderful person…a wonderful daughter.” Hermione smiled at Harry sincerely and he smiled back, saying,

“I'm so sorry I've missed her life thus far. But I promise, I will make it up to her…and you.” He looked at her with such sincereness in his eyes that she felt she would believe anything he said, even if he told her he was madly in love with Dolores Umbridge. She held back her laughter at this thought and just whispered,

“I believe you. Would you like to know more about Lily?” He nodded and she continued.

“Her best friends are Maggie and Matt Weasley. They're twins, Ron and Luna's children. They look exactly like Ron and Ginny. They also have a five year old, Tammy. Lily can be quite the prankster when flanked by Maggie and Matt, they make a trio that could probably measure up to ours. Everyone loves her dearly; anyone that meets her instantly falls in love with her. I know I loved her from that first look in her eyes. They're so like yours, you know. And she has a fiery temper, one that could measure up to any one of the Weasley's. Like I said, she's the most wonderful person you could hope to meet.” Hermione smiled as she finished her tea and stood up, looking at the muggle clock.

“I…it's getting late, I should get to bed.” She turned around and quickly walked towards the hallway. Harry stood up as she left and said,

“Hermione, wait.” She turned back and looked at him with what she hoped was not a `yes, please kiss me to the very inch of my life' expression. He looked at her with a slight smile and said,

“Thank you, for letting me stay.” Hermione nodded and smiled, saying,

“You don't have to thank me, it's my pleasure. But you're welcome.” They smiled at each other as Hermione thought, It's my great pleasure, unfortunately. Harry started to sit back down until Hermione said, not wanting to leave him,

“Harry?” He walked to the side of the bed and she walked over to him, breathing in and out quickly, as their faces were only inches apart. Before she could back out, Hermione leaned forward and stood on her tiptoes, kissing him squarely on the lips. She pulled back after a few seconds and said,

“I-I'm sorry, I-” He put a finger to her lips and whispered,

“Don't apologize.” Before either could say any more they both leaned forward and pressed their lips together. His hands went around her waist as her's went around his neck and played with his hair. It was sweet, a loving kiss until they both realized just how much they had missed each other and kissed fiercely, a fiery passion behind it, mashing their lips together as their tongue's danced, a kiss making up for those eleven years missed.

When they pulled apart both were breathless and lips were swollen. Hermione pursed her lips thoughtfully and looked into his eyes before saying,

“I still love you Harry. I never stopped, not once.” Harry looked into her beautiful chocolate eyes and replied,

“Although I was unconscious most of the time,” this earned a smile from Hermione, “I never stopped loving you either. And I never will.” Hermione smiled mischievously and said,

“We're still married technically, you know. I'm still Hermione Potter.” He smiled back at her and let out a light chuckle. Hermione quickly kissed him on the cheek and said,

“Like I said, it will still take some time to get used to this…there's a lot to get used to…but…not much time.” She smiled again and said,

“Good night Mr. Potter.” Before turning around and walking to her bedroom. He silently whispered,

“Good night, Mrs. Potter.” He smiled and lay down on his couch bed after turning off the lights.

They both slept silently, with happy dreams. And for the first time since Harry had `died', although Lily had brought her joy, Hermione felt complete happiness. They slept with smiles on their faces.

A/N: Aww, I know, pretty fluffy. Some of you might think it's moving a little too fast, but they both love each other and haven't seen each other for eleven years! And it's not like Harry really did anything wrong! So this is perfectly fine, and Hermione hasn't accepted it completely yet…I'll get the next chapter out probably Tuesday, MAYBE Monday, and I'll try to get some new ideas as I'm enjoying the fourth of July in Wisconsin! (I live in Minnesota, but have a cabin there)

-Emily

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A/N: This is just an author's note telling my readers that I have reloaded the last chapter, so instead of the authors note, we have a chapter! So read it!!

-Emily

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A/N: I'm really really sorry about the delay, but my sister was home these past few days and she decided to take over the computer. So I've had no time to write. But here's the next chapter now! Yay!!

Changes

Hermione woke up with a smile on her face, quickly turning into a frown, and thought My that was a good dream. Too bad it's over. She sighed, pulling back the covers and getting out of bed. She walked over to her bureau and took out a jean skirt and a light blue tank top. She walked to the adjoining bath and took a quick shower, shampooing her hair and then putting conditioner in.

Hermione put on a towel and quickly brushed her teeth, before searching for her brush. I must have left it in the living room yesterday, she thought before walking into her bedroom and then out to the living room. She couldn't find it there so walked into the kitchen and grabbed it from a counter by the door.

“Morning, Mione!” Hermione jumped and looked at the source of the voice, coming from in front of the refrigerator. It was…Harry.

“Mione?” Harry said, looking at her questionably. But…it was a dream. No! It's real! Without another thought Hermione ran to Harry and wrapped him in a fierce hug saying,

“It is real! You're back. You're back!” Harry hugged her back before stepping away and smiling timidly, saying,

“I thought we had established this last night, Hermione.” She smiled at him slightly before saying,

“I er…thought it might have been a dream.” She looked at the floor and realized that the only thing she had on was a towel.

“I'm just…wearing a towel, aren't I? Well then, I'll go.” She quickly ran out of the room blushing, before thinking, I'm going crazy, aren't I? Harry's seen me in much less than just a towel. It's so weird, so different. He's back. Things are going to change. She walked back to her room and brushed out her hair before putting on her undergarments and then her shirt and skirt. She looked at herself critically in the mirror. There's something different. Something's changed already, what is it? The bags under my eyes are gone, but…they're sparkling! My eyes are sparkling again! She jumped up and down excitedly before casting a drying charm on her hair and walking into the kitchen.

When Hermione walked in, she saw Harry in front of the stove and heard something sizzling.

“What are you making?” She asked as she came up behind him. He turned smiled, saying,

“Bacon and eggs. Scrambled with cheese, just the way you like them.” She smiled at him and said,

“I do hope you mean the eggs. I don't know how bacon would taste with cheese.” He chuckled and nodded, saying,

“Yeah, it is the eggs. I could've just used magic but…I felt like doing it the old fashioned way.” Hermione smiled her radiant smile at him and said softly,

“That was nice of you, Harry.” They looked at each other for a moment before Harry jumping back around and, realizing the food was done, put the bacon onto one of the plates he had waiting, and the eggs on another. Hermione opened a cupboard and quickly got out two plates, and cups, before reaching into a drawer and getting two forks. She reached into the fridge to get the pumpkin juice and turned around, not finding it, to see Harry smiling, holding it in his hand.

“We always have pumpkin juice for every meal. I got it out already.” They smiled at each other before Hermione walked over to the table and set the silverware and plates in front of Harry and her's places at the dinner table, as Harry set down the food and the pumpkin juice. She smiled at him weakly as she thought, It's weird, everything's so different and yet…the same. They both reached onto the plates and grabbed a piece of bacon and then piled some eggs onto their plates. Harry poured pumpkin juice into both of their glasses and they finished their breakfast in silence.

Hermione sighed, saying,

“I didn't eat that much, yet it feels like I've eaten a hippogriff.” Harry smiled and said,

“I feel the same. I don't want to get up to do the dishes.” Hermione raised an eyebrow at him and said,

“Has that eleven year coma made you completely forget magic, Harry?” She smiled at him teasingly before levitating all the dishes into the sink and casting a few cleaning and drying charms. Harry smiled his lopsided grin at her and said,

“So…what do you want to do today, Mione?” She thought for a moment before saying,

“Absolutely nothing at all.” Harry smiled at her and said,

“Sounds pretty good to me.” They sat for a moment before Hermione jumped up and said,

“Lily! She doesn't know! Oh, I have to owl her. And…and Dumbledore! He'll know what to do about telling the people, and he'll have to help us ease Lily into the idea of you being back. Oh there's so much to do!” She said all this very fast before bustling into the living room and grabbing parchment and a quill, quickly writing a note to Dumbledore telling him some of the situation and asking permission to visit Hogwarts to tell Lily about it.

Harry walked into the room and saw Hermione with a panicked expression on her face, looking for the owl.

“Mione. Just…calm down, okay? Everything will be all right.” He said soothingly as he wrapped her in his strong arms.

“But Harry! How will she react to having a father after all these years? How will everyone react, Harry? Everything's so confusing…” Hermione said before burying her head in Harry's chest and breathing in and out deeply.

“We'll work it out, Mione. We'll work it out. Today let's just…relax, okay?” Hermione looked up at his worried face and smiled slightly, whispering,

“Okay.” Harry smiled back at her and gave her a quick peck on the lips. They wrapped themselves up in a warm embrace and turned their heads, alarmed, as a noise came from the fireplace. Luna appeared in the fireplace with Tammy in her arms, followed by a loud pop as Ron apparated over. He looked worriedly at Tammy and said,

“Was that okay, Tammy? It's all right if you were scared.” Tammy jumped down from Luna's arms and yelled,

“It was fun! Aunt Hermy!” She said this when she turned and saw Hermione, running towards her to hug her legs. Hermione gulped worriedly as she saw Ron and Luna look in hers and Harry's direction. Both their mouths dropped open before they both promptly fainted.

*************

Lily's first days at Hogwarts had been amazing. She loved all her classes and had made many new friends. She had been sorted into Gryffindor, of course, along with Maggie and Matt. The other first years in Gryffindor included Emma Wood (Oliver Wood's, the famous quidditch player's, daughter), Maggie & Matt, Katie Anderson, Angie Jordan (Lee Jordan's daughter), Thomas Malfoy (More Draco and Ginny spawn), Sean Grant, and Michael Finnigan (Seamus and Lavender's son).

Emma Wood instantly became a very good friend of the trio. She had shoulder length blonde hair and was petite for her age. She went running every day and wanted to be a chaser. Angie Jordan and Katie Anderson were very energetic and seemed to be great pranksters. Thomas was nice and quite smart, Matt and him had always gotten along quite well, being the sons of the two youngest Weasleys. Sean Grant, a muggleborn, and Michael Finnigan were best friends instantly, almost like a younger Dean and Seamus.

Lily liked most of her teachers. She liked Potions a lot; Professor Snape was really nice to her and on the first day she had earned 10 points for Gryffindor by answering his questions. The Transfiguration professor, Professor Lawrence, was young and new. She was very funny and energetic. Professor Longbottom, the Herbology professor, was really nice to her and she found she liked this class a lot. In DADA, the professor was Professor Tonks, an old friend of her mother's. This class was one of her favorites. History of Magic was pretty boring, since the ghost Professor Binns still taught it. And Charms was still taught by Professor Flitwick, who was very energetic and excited.

On her fourth day of classes Lily was very excited, for it was the day they would have flying lessons! She woke up early with Maggie and Emma, who were also anxious to learn how to fly.

“I wonder how much we get to try today. I hope it won't be too boring, since Daddy has taught me a lot already,” Emma said as she walked down to the common room with Maggie and Lily. Lily smiled at her, saying,

“It must be so exciting, having a famous quidditch player for a dad!” Emma nodded and said,

“Well, I get to go to all the games and stuff, but there's always people crowding him on the street and stuff, mostly girls. Sometimes I just want to yell, `He's married and has two kids! Lay off!'” Lily and Maggie both giggled as they met up with Matt and Thomas and started off to breakfast. Everyone being a fan of flying, they automatically got caught up on talking about their upcoming lesson with the Slytherins, quidditch, and the like.

“Dad was a Slytherin in Hogwarts, you know, but I'm glad I got Mum's house preference. The Slytherin's are so mean and…”

Matt cut in jokingly saying,

“Greasy?” Thomas and Maggie laughed at his reference to Professor Snape while Emma and Lily, both fans of him, glared at them.

“I like Professor Snape a lot, you guys. He's perfectly nice. Remember the ten points to Gryffindor?” Lily said defiantly. Matt raised his eyebrows slightly and said,

“As opposed to the twenty points off of Gryffindor?” Emma glared at him and said,

“That was all your and Thomas's fault. You should not have dumped your cauldron on that poor Slytherin boy. He still has the boils.” While Thomas snickered at that, Matt gaped at her and said,

“It was his own fault for being mean to Lily. And he's the most evil of all of them, stupid rat-faced whiny…” He rambled off on how much he hated the Slytherin's, while Lily smiled at him and said,

“It was perfectly nice of you to stick up for me like that,” she gave him a peck on the cheek and he blushed, “but you didn't have to give him irreversible boils. Although…it was a little funny.” They all cracked up as they walked into the great hall and took their seats at the Gryffindor table and started eating. With their mouths full of food Matt, Thomas, Michael, and Sean began talking about quidditch. Katie leaned forward towards Emma, Lily, and Maggie so her straight long red hair fell onto the table and said,

“Don't tell anyone, but Angie and I have found a secret passageway already. It's behind the portrait of Douglas the Doomed. It leads to-” Fred and George had just come to the table and sat down beside their two new favorite partner's in crime as George cut in saying,

“It leads to the teacher's dormitories! We didn't find that till last year, as second years!” George hugged the black-haired Angie and yelled loudly,

“This here is one of my new best friends!” Angie giggled with Katie as Fred hugged her. They let go and George turned to his cousin, Lily, and Emma and said,

“You girls excited for your flying lesson?” This started the three girls on talking about quidditch with Fred and George for the rest of breakfast.

On the way to their flying lesson the five children were practically bouncing off the walls from excitement. They reached the quidditch pitch where the Slytherins already were and Madam Hooch started talking about the dangers of flying. Right before they were going to try going up in the air, Professor Dumbledore walked onto the field. The children, who most had not yet seen him up close, gasped in awe as he came down.

He walked up to Madam Hooch and showed her a note. She gasped slightly and her eyes widened as they glanced towards Lily. Dumbledore said something to her quietly and she nodded. He then smiled and said,

“Lily Potter, if you could come with me please.” Her eyes widened and she looked helplessly towards her friends. Maggie shrugged and patted her on the shoulder as she walked past her and after Dumbledore. This is going to be about the dungbombs Matt and Thomas put off, isn't it? I told them not to do it! She was so scared as she walked after Dumbledore that she wasn't even that amazed as he said the password to his office and the stairs appeared. She stepped onto them silently and also was too scared to be in awe of his office. She smiled slightly at the phoenix she saw, though.

“Sit down, please,” Dumbledore said with a smile as he looked down at her through his half-moon spectacles. She sat down before his desk and he sat down behind it, clasping his hands together on top of it and smiling, saying,

“Well, Lily, how have your first few days gone? I am most sorry I've pulled you out of your flying lesson.” She swallowed and said, her eyes wide and fearful,

“That's okay, Professor Dumbledore…Sir…. My first days have er…gone good. I like all my classes. But well, Professor, if this is about the dungbombs, I swear to you, it w-wasn't me that set them off.” Dumbledore looked confused for a second before he chuckled quietly and said,

“No, that's not it, Lily. I'm sure it wasn't you though, anyway. I just am talking to you to tell you that your mother will be visiting in a couple of days. She has a…well…a surprise for you, that I'm sure you'll be most happy about. You may return to your lesson now.” Lily was surprised at something so mild as this to be called to the headmaster's office, but stood up and said,

“Well, er…thank you then. Goodbye.” She walked out the door and onto the staircase, wondering about what surprise would be big enough for her mother to come all the way here. She thought about it all through her flying lesson, and for the rest of the day.

A/N: Well…there was a sort of boring chapter. I could have written more but I figured you had waited long enough for the next chapter. So please review! And if you're going to say something bad about it, please tell me how I can improve on the part you didn't like. On another story I received the worst review a person could get, just being mean about it! It got me a bit angry, so…well…be nice about it, please? Review!!!!

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A/N: Here's the next chappie of The Reasons to Live…hope u enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Although it'd be really really awesome if I was J.K. Rowling…I am not…*sobs*. I'd rather own Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton…and Sean Biggerstaff (nummy) than the characters, though!! Hehe…

Reunions and Introductions

Hermione bit her lip as they sat in a chair, Hermione on Harry's lap, looking at Ron and Luna. Harry had placed them both on the bed and they were still blacked out.

“Do you think they…fell asleep?” Hermione asked worriedly as they looked at their faces.

“I…don't think so…they were pretty shocked…” Harry whispered as he leaned his head on Hermione's shoulder.

“Well, the only thing we can do now is wait, I guess. I'm going to go get something to drink. Butterbeer?” Harry nodded as he looked on at Ron and Luna, thinking has it really been eleven years since I saw them last? It seems like just yesterday…Right then Tammy, who Harry had begun to think of as `mini-Luna' jumped on his lap from where she was sitting on the floor playing with a wizarding chess set.

“Uncle Harry,” which she called him at Hermione's insistence, “Why is Mummy and Daddy still sleeping? They did that all last night!” Harry smiled at her as she got settled onto his lap and said,

“Well, Tammy, your Mum and Dad were very surprised to see me, so they went into another kind of sleep. They fainted.” She nodded as she snuggled into Harry's arms and yawned,

“Ohh. I see. They making me tired too, I gonna take nap now.” With that she rested her head on Harry's arm and fell asleep. He smiled at her sleeping head and brushed a tendril of hair out of her eyes. Hermione, who had seen the whole scene, smiled at him from the doorway before walking over with a butterbeer and whispering,

“Quite the charm you've got there, Potter.” He smiled at her and said,

“She's sweet, huh?” Hermione sat in another chair after she handed a butterbeer to Harry and whispered,

“The sweetest. Also the wildest. I can't believe you got her to sleep in the daytime.” Harry smiled proudly at that when Ron woke up with a yell, turning to Hermione and saying,

“Herms, I had the weirdest dream ever.” With that she bit her lip and whispered,

“Shh, you'll wake her.” She pointed to Tammy lying in Harry's arms and Ron's head turned to Harry. With a whimper he fell back to the bed. Hermione looked at him, thinking he had fainted again, but his eyes were wide open as he said,

“Harry? You're…alive?” Tammy squinted her eyes open and smiled at Harry before putting her thumb in her mouth and reaching her other arm over to Ron. He picked her up and set her in his lap where she fell asleep again and Harry said,

“Well…yeah. Before you say anything, let us tell you the whole story.” With that Harry and Hermione switched off telling parts of the story of why Harry was gone and why he was back, etc. etc. Luna woke up a little after they started, putting her arms around Ron's waist and her head on his shoulder as she listened to the rest of the story. At the end both of them were staring at Harry and Hermione in awe. Luna had a peaceful smile on her face and Ron's mouth was wide open before he said,

“So…so you're back then? For good?” Harry smiled at him and said,

“I never truly left, Ron.” He smiled at him then and said,

“Well, it's good to have you here, mate. Got any food, Herms?” She coughed slightly and said,

“Ron, you just find out your best friend is practically back from the dead, and all you can think about is food?” Ron put a hurt expression on his face and said,

“Well, there's lots of stuff going on in here,” he pointed to his head, “I'd rather just ignore all that and go back to the way things used to be.” Tammy woke up and yawned, seeing her mum awake and moving to her lap. Luna smiled and brushed through Tammy's blonde hair with her hand while saying with her head tilted,

“That sounds pretty good to me, you guys.” Hermione smiled and said,

“Yeah…that does sound good, Harry. How about it?” Harry smiled and said,

“Thought you'd never ask, Mione!” With that she stood up and put her empty butterbeer bottle on a coaster on a small table, before walking over to Harry and giving him a kiss on the cheek. He growled and pulled her onto his lap tickling her sides as she giggled and said,

“Ah, stop! Harry, stop! Stop or I'll never kiss you again.” She looked at him with a smirk and he stopped quickly. Luna laughed quietly and said,

“It's good to have you back, Hermione.” Hermione looked at her with a confused expression and said,

“I think you're a bit confused, Loon. I wasn't the one gone for eleven years!” Luna looked at her with a thoughtful expression and said,

“You practically were, Herms. You weren't the same.” Harry hugged Hermione around the waist and whispered,

“I'm sorry, Mione.” She swatted him on the shoulder and said,

“Oh, Harry, it wasn't your fault.” They moved their heads to kiss but right when they touched Ron `ahemed' and they moved away, both raising their eyebrows at him. He looked at them and said,

“People here. Hungry people.” Hermione glared at him and looked at her muggle watch, saying,

“I suppose we can make some sandwiches for lunch. Luna, want to help me in the kitchen?” She nodded and set Tammy back in Ron's lap, saying,

“Don't wake her up. She's actually sleeping before 10 o clock at night!” Hermione smiled proudly and said,

“All Harry's doing, by the way.” Harry smiled slightly and Luna looked at him and said,

“I'm amazed, Harry. I think that's the first time that's happened since she was a baby!” He shrugged and Luna and Hermione walked into the kitchen to make the sandwiches.

“Wizard's chess?” Ron smiled and picked up the set from the floor, moving the small table between the bed and the chair they were sitting on and setting up the pieces. They started playing and talking, both feeling kind of awkward and yet kind of…the same.

“How's parenting treating you?” Harry said as he moved his rook. Ron smiled happily as he ruffled Tammy's hair and said,

“Better than you could imagine. Maggie and Matt are amazing, and Tammy here is wonderful. I love it.” Harry smiled at this and said quietly,

“I'm sorry I missed out on your kids growing up. I'm even sorrier that I missed out on Lily growing up.” Ron smiled grimly and said,

“She's a great kid, Harry. I'm sure you'll be just as much of a father to her once you meet her then if you'd been here her whole life. Parenting is hard, but so rewarding,” he leaned forward and whispered, “Luna and I are trying for another. Her cousins are all twins and triplets, so who knows, we could have another pair of twins.” He smiled happily and Harry smiled at him, saying,

“That's wonderful, Ron. I'll get to be here for another kid of yours.” Hermione and Luna walked in right then with a plateful of sandwiches and Harry and Ron moved their chess game to make room for them. They all grabbed one and ate quickly. Well, Ron grabbed two.

*************

“Today was fun. I enjoyed being with Ron and Luna and Tammy.” Harry said as they sat down after the Weasley's left. They had stayed for supper and headed home when it was getting late.

“Yeah, it was. I can't believe they're having another kid. Wonder if this one will get both of their genes instead of just one person's.” Harry laughed at that, having seen a picture of Maggie and Matt. Hermione leaned in to kiss him but right as their lips touched she pulled away and said,

“Oh! Dumbledore said we could go to Hogwarts tomorrow. He also said he knew you weren't dead.” She smirked slightly at his and he chuckled quietly, saying,

“Sure he knew. Now, where were we?” Hermione leaned in and whispered,

“Right about here.” She kissed him and before long their tongues were in a fierce battle. They both stood up and didn't break the kiss for a while until Hermione pulled away and said.

“It's late.” Harry nodded and said,

“Yeah, we should be heading to bed I guess.” Hermione smiled slightly and said,

“You didn't let me finish, Harry. It's late…but I'm not tired.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him to their bedroom. Right before they entered it Harry looked into her beautiful chocolate eyes and said,

“Mione? Are you sure?” She smiled at him and worried her bottom lip with her teeth before saying,

“Yes, Harry. Now kiss me before I change my mind.” He swooped in and before long they were wrapped up in a passionate embrace. They stumbled into the room.

*************

They woke up late in the morning in a tight embrace, their legs tangled together, Hermione's head resting on Harry's bare chest. She opened her eyes and smiled before looking up into those intense emerald orbs. He smiled at her and whispered,

“Did you sleep well?” She kissed his chest and whispered back,

“Better than I have in years. Last night was…” She rambled off and Harry said quietly,

“Amazing?” She tilted her head and said,

“Nah. Better than amazing. Spectacular.” They smiled at each other and he leaned down for a quick kiss. He looked at the muggle alarm clock that said 11:00 and then at the wizarding clock that was flashing `get up you sleepyheads!' He laughed quietly and said,

“Definitely. What time do you want to head to Hogwarts? It's already 11.” Hermione stretched and said,

“Probably around lunchtime, noon will be good.” She looked up to Harry's eyes with a concerned expression and said, “Are you scared?” He thought for a moment before saying,

“Kind of. But I'm mostly…excited.” She smiled at him and said,

“That's good. We should get ready, Harry. You take a shower and I'll go make us some toast or something.” He mock saluted her as he stood up and said,

“Yes Ma'am!” She sat up in bed, giggling, and said,

“Go, sailor, before I drag you back into bed with me!” He smiled at her and walked into the adjoining bathroom, closing the door behind him. She shook her head with a smile and put a robe on, before walking to the kitchen.

*************

Lily sat in her beauty desk, complete with a mirror and plenty of drawers (all the girls were provided with one), and slowly brushed out her long curly hair. `It's quite curly, isn't it?' Her mirror commented as Lily worked through a tangle.

“Yes, curly and unmanageable!” She said the last word as she yanked the brush through the tangle, smiling triumphantly and then wincing, “Ow.” `It's like your father's then, being unmanageable.' With that Lily leaned forward and said,

“You knew my father?” The mirror chuckled and said, `I talked to a different mirror that knew him. I just know that he could never manage his hair.' Lily smiled at that and said,

“Yes, well, he's dead now.” She continued brushing through her hair as the mirror said quietly, `Is he?' For some reason, the way the mirror said that made Lily annoyed and confused. Being done with her hair, she threw the brush down and stood up, saying,

“Yes, he is!” She slipped her robe on over her clothes and put her black shoes on, looking at her reflection quickly in the mirror. She patted her wild hair and looked into her emerald orbs before smiling slightly, pleased, and walking out the door. She was the last one out of the dormitory and her friends were waiting for her in the common room. Matt smiled as she came down and said quietly,

“You look nice today, Lils.” She smiled at him and blushed, saying,

“Thanks, Matt. Er…you too.” He blushed back and Maggie and Emma both linked their arms into Lily's, Maggie saying,

“On to breakfast?” Lily's stomach growled and she laughed, saying,

“Yes, please!”

All through breakfast and her first class, History of Magic, Lily was distressed. The way the mirror had said that, `Is he?' in that thoughtful tone just…bugged her. Was the mirror just finding out he was dead, or was it questioning that he was dead? It's just a stupid mirror, I shouldn't let it be getting to me! She thought as the class ended. She quickly took down the notes of what was for homework smiling. She started to lunch, no longer distressed over what the mirror had said, and happily chatted with Emma and Maggie.

When she reached her table, Dumbledore walked up to her and said,

“Lily, if you could come with me, please. Your mother's here. Oh, you can bring a sandwich up to my office.” She had told her friends about her mother coming and they had formulated many ideas as to why, Lily's favorite being she had an evil twin that her mother was finally telling her about. This was Matt's idea. They all smiled at her now as Lily prepared a sandwich. Matt nodded as if Dumbledore was proving his idea right, and Lily smiled, shaking her head.

She followed after the headmaster, taking a bite out of her turkey sandwich and heading to his office. When they got there, Dumbledore said his password quietly, and it sounded like he said `peanut butter gumdrops'. Lily raised an eyebrow at this but followed him onto the staircase and into the office.

*************

Harry bit his lip as he heard the stairs moving and looked toward Hermione worriedly. She smiled slightly as if to reassure him and said,

“Maybe it's better if I explain the situation first. Maybe she won't faint then. If she sees you right away she might.” Harry nodded in understanding. People did tend to faint when they saw him, with an exception of Dumbledore and Tammy. He smiled at Hermione before moving beyond a corner, out of sight from Dumbledore's desk.

Lily smiled when she saw her mother. She set down her sandwich on Dumbledore's desk and ran to give her a hug. Hermione clutched Lily to her and said,

“It seems much more than a few days since I saw you last. How's school going?” Lily stepped back and said,

“It's going good. I've told you most of everything in my owls, though, not much more to tell. Why…er…why am I here? I don't have an evil twin that you've been hiding from me, do I?” Hermione laughed slightly at that and said,

“Definitely not, Lils. I'm actually here to…well…tell you something…about your father.” Lily's mind quickly flashed to the mirror, saying `Is he?' but quickly pushed it out of her thoughts. Hermione bit her bottom lip before saying,

“You might want to sit down, Lily.” Lily sat down and looked at her mother with a confused expression.

“What's this all about, Mum?” She said, putting her legs under her as she settled into the squashy armchair. Hermione breathed in and out quickly before saying,

“Well, Lily. Your father…well…your father is…is alive.” She looked at her daughter worriedly but Lily's expression was frozen with her eyes wide and her mouth slightly open.

“Lily? Lily?!” She quickly moved her hand in front of Lily's eyes while Lily jumped and said,

“OH, sorry, Mum. I sort of blacked out for a second there. I actually thought you said that Dad was alive.” She laughed a little before seeing her mother's truthful expression and stopping. “He's…alive?” Hermione nodded slowly and said,

“Before you say anything or get mad, let me explain it to you. I got plenty mad for the both of us, believe me.” Hermione sat down in a chair opposite Lily and explained to her the whole story, having memorized it by now. When she was done Lily had an expression on her face quite like Ron's when he heard the story.

“So,” she swallowed, “He's gonna be like…my dad now? He's going to live with us and stuff?” Hermione bit her lip again worriedly and said quietly,

“Why don't you ask him yourself? Harry, you can come out now.” Harry walked into sight and Lily looked at him silently. Before she could say anything, though, Harry walked towards her and kneeled so he was at her level.

“Before you say anything, Lily, I want to say some things to you. I know I was gone for your whole life so far, and I'm beyond sorry for that. I'm not going to pretend that those eleven years never happened. But I'm hoping I can become your father, even though I was gone all those years. It kills me that I wasn't here to see you grow up, and I want to make it up to you. So…will you be my daughter?” Lily smiled slightly and softly said,

“You're eyes look like mine.” Harry nodded slowly and said,

“Just like your grandma's.” They looked at each other for a second before Lily smiled broadly and said,

“Yes, I'll be your daughter!” Harry smiled at her happily and then said tentatively,

“Can I…hug you?” Lily smiled shyly and nodded, before Harry picked her up and hugged her, spinning his daughter…his daughter around as she giggled happily. He stopped spinning and they continued hugging. Lily whispered softly,

“It's good to have you back, Dad.” He smiled and set her down. They both looked to where they heard a huge sob and saw Hermione, a bright smile on her face and tears falling down her cheeks. Her family moved to hug her and she smiled at both of their happy faces.

“What's wrong, Mione?” Harry said as he hugged her and Lily tightly. She smiled broader at him and said,

“I'm just so happy!” They all laughed and moved away from each other as Dumbledore cleared his throat.

“Although I hate to break up this…reunion…of sorts, Lily will be late for class. I'm sure you'll have plenty of time with your father over the next years, Lily.” She smiled at Dumbledore and turned to her father, saying,

“How about it, Dad? Promise you'll stay with us forever, so I can have lots of time with you?” He smiled at her and said,

“I'll stay forever, Lils. I promise.” All three of them hugged again before Lily headed to her next class with a promise to owl them once a week at least. I have a dad! Lily thought as she walked out of Dumbledore's office.

Harry turned to Hermione and kissed the tip of her nose, saying,

“I have a daughter, Mione. A daughter.” Hermione laughed at him and pulled him in for a kiss, before saying,

“You sure do, Mr. Potter. You sure do.”

A/N: I know you guys probably want a longer chapter but this was practically seven pages! And that's a lot for me! So hope you enjoyed it, sorry if you thought it was cheesy at the end, but OH WELL! Please review, and I suppose you can flame. But do it nicely. I'm pretty busy with my play right now, but I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as possible! Promise!

-Emily

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A/N: Okay, here's the last chapter of The Reasons to Live. I'm letting my readers choose, it's either a long epilogue, maybe three parts of one, where Lily and Matt might get together, ;-). Or a sequel that's based on their children with some Harry and Hermione stuff. So pick one, I'll do either! Here it is!! OH, and Luna is a little OC, but only because I want her to be, in this story she's changed a little, as most people do when they get older, :-D.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, except for all of the offspring. That and the plot, is all I own. If I owned everything, then I'd be J.K. Rowling, and very rich. Sadly I am not, *cries*.

A New Life

The Boy Who Lived…Again

By Luna Weasley

Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, actually lived again, without us knowing it! He is in fact alive! I've had an exclusive interview with him to figure out why he was gone all these years.

After the battle with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, who is finally proven completely dead, an unknown death-eater cast a spell on Mr. Potter. It cast him to America where he remembered everything he had learned, but nothing of his memories or who he was. He found jobs around America for years, never knowing who he truly was. He called himself Chuck Thompson.

Finally, in early September, he came back to England. It was just meant as a trip, but on this `trip' he saw his wife Hermione Potter. She immediately knew who he was, of course, and brought him to Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The renowned wizard immediately knew what curse was cast upon him and explained it to Harry.

It turns out that Harry Potter, or `Chuck Thompson', had been having dreams of his real past, that included Hermione and Professor Dumbledore. He believed them, and a counter-curse was cast upon him by Dumbledore to recover his memory. He is now finally back, and met the daughter he never knew just a week ago, it was a tearfelt reunion…or introduction, should I say? He is now back in our world, and has gained a job at the Ministry of Magic in the Magical Games and Sports department.

I, for one, welcome the boy who lived back with open arms. I hope everyone else does too.

“Well?” Luna asked from her spot on the couch in the Potter's living room.

Harry put down the paper and looked at her with his eyebrows raised, saying, “Chuck Thompson?” Hermione giggled slightly and stopped when Harry glared at her. “What? It's funny,” she said with a hurt look. With that she clamped her hand over her mouth and jumped up from the couch, running to the bathroom.

“She's been doing that all week. She should go to a healer and find out what's wrong.” Harry said as he looked worriedly after his wife. Luna nodded slowly as Ron walked into the room armed with a box of cookies, Tammy following him in a trance.

“Where'd Ermimee go?” Ron said with his mouth full of cookies. Luna looked at him with a disgusted expression and said, “She's…sick. Do you have to talk like that?” He nodded and smiled at her. Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes. With that Hermione walked back in to the room with a weak smile.

“I've been doing that all week. Sorry, guys.” She said, sitting again next to Luna on the couch. Luna looked at her with a worried expression.

“Hermione? You say you've been throwing up all week? And Harry came back about two weeks ago?” Hermione nodded with a confused expression before clapping her hand up to her mouth.

“You don't think that…that…” Hermione said and looked towards Luna's growing stomach. “I'm pregnant?” She smiled and hugged Luna tightly. Harry had jumped when he heard the word `pregnant', but now was smiling broadly.

“I'm gonna be a daddy? Again?” He jumped up with an excited whoop and grabbed Hermione in a fierce hug, spinning her around as she laughed at him.

“Well, there's a spell to make sure. Want me to do it?” Hermione nodded excitedly and Luna took her wand out, muttering a couple of words before a few green sparks came out of the end. “You are! Almost two weeks along!” Hermione jumped up excitedly.

“I'm pregnant! I have to owl Lily!” She ran to her desk as Harry sat back in his chair smiling like a madman. Ron looked up from his cookies with a happy expression and clapped Harry on the back.

“Congratulations, mate!” Harry nodded happily, saying, “I'm going to be a daddy.” Luna and Ron looked at each other, stifling their laughter at Harry's craziness.

May 28^th

“This! Is…all…your…FAULT!” Hermione yelled from her bed in St. Mungo's to Harry, who was sitting on a chair next to her, his hand purple from his wife squeezing it. She breathed `hee-hee-hoo-hoo' while glaring at Harry, squeezing his hand even tighter as she pushed again after the healer's instruction.

“Just…breathe, Mione. Hee hee hoo hoo. Oww, you have no idea how much my hand hurts right now.” Harry said, wincing. Hermione pushed and glared at him with knives in her eyes.

“I…don't…KNOW? You…(breathe) try…(push) child…birth!” He looked at her and said,

“Oh…right, sorry, Mione. Just…push, push!” He copied the healer as he said it.

“Its head is out, Mrs. Potter, just push harder! Push!” Yelled the healer from his spot at the end of the bed. She squeezed Harry's hand and he winced, saying,

“You can do it, Hermione. I love you.” He smiled at her and she just glared back as she pushed again.

“Okay, Hermione, it's almost out. One more BIG push and it'll be out! Now push!” The healer said. Hermione yelled and pushed one more time, to the sound of a baby wailing. Harry ran over to the healer as he cast a cleansing charm and wrapped the baby up in a pink blanket.

“Congratulations, Mr. Potter, it's a girl.” He handed Harry the bundled up baby and he walked quickly to Hermione, rocking his new daughter back and forth before handing her to Hermione.

“Oh! She has my hair; hopefully it won't be bushy. And your eyes, I'd be okay if all of our children got your eyes.” Harry leaned down for a kiss and they both smiled as they pulled apart.

“What do you want to name her?” Harry whispered as he sat in the chair again and brushed his fingers through the baby's hair.

“How about…Carissa Rose Potter? Rose is my grandma's name.” Harry smiled at his wife and kissed her nose before kissing Carissa on the forehead, saying, “Carissa it is then. My daughter.” Lily ran into the room right then, saying,

“I flooed over as soon as I heard, how is she? What'd you name her?” Hermione patted the bed beside her and Lily jumped up next to her.

“Meet your new sister, Carissa Rose Potter.” Lily smiled as Hermione handed her the baby and she cradled it carefully.

“She has our eyes, Dad.” Harry nodded and kissed both of his daughters on the forehead.

“My little green-eyed daughters.” With that he got up onto the bed behind Hermione. She lay her head in his lap and looked up at him, saying, “I love you, Harry.” He smiled at her and said,

“I love you too, Mione.” They leaned in to kiss but Lily groaned and said,

“Do you guys have to do that in front of your children?” Hermione laughed and hugged Lily to her. They lay on that small hospital bed like that, Lily holding Carissa, Hermione hugging Lily, with her head in her husband's lap. She smiled at her family and thought, Now this is a reason to live.

The End

A/N: Ok, now it's your turn to choose, long epilogue and no sequel, or short epilogue and sequel. It's your choice, so you'll have to review to choose! So review!! Right now!!! Thank you!

-Emily

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A/N: Okay, I started this epilogue a LONG time ago, and am just finishing it now…eek…Well, I just got caught up in all the different fanfictions out there, and my favorite isn't even H/Hr now. I'm writing a Draco/Hermione AND a Snape/Hermione at the moment (which might just gross some of you guys out, otherwise you can check them out at ff.net, my pen name's EmzyTrish). Anyway, I went back to my account at portkey the other day and looked at some of my reviews, and thought `I can't just leave this story hanging!' So here I am, writing a short epilogue and a sequel. I couldn't get to sleep last night with all the different plot bunnies hopping around inside my head looking for food. I actually got up at 1 AM and started writing an outline. Well, without further ado, I give you the epilogue of `The Reasons to Live'!

p.s. I just hope that Hermione won't die in HP and the HBP, because that would just really depress me and basically ruin my fanfiction career…otherwise, I might try to add some of that canon into the sequel.

Disclaimer: Not mine…end of story…

Epilogue

“JAMES POTTER! COME BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!” A seven-year-old boy ran squealing down the stairs with his older sister hot on his heels. He ran into his room and propelled himself onto his bed, hiding his head in the pillow. His 20-year-old sister walked into the room with an angry expression, steam (literally) coming out of her ears. She encountered a young girl with dark brown hair in two plaits and blue eyes sitting on the bed with an innocent expression on her face, reading a book.

“Where is he?” Lily said with her teeth clenched, the steam coming out turning multi-colored. The girl looked up and stifled a laugh at the steam, before saying angelically,

“I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Jackie, tell me right now. I can either hex just him, or hex you both. Tell me.” The girl sighed and stood up, pulling a light silvery cloak off from the boy. Lily rolled her eyes and cast a quick spell to stop her ears from shooting out steam.

“You can either tell me who gave you that candy, or tell Dad what you were doing with that invisibility cloak in your room,” Lily said, shaking out her curly black hair and putting a hand on her hip. The boy bit his lip and mumbled quietly `frumagig'. Jackie smiled slightly and mouthed `fred and george'. Lily took the invisibility cloak and turned with a huff, walking out the door and shaking her head. She walked up the west staircase of the Potter Manor and up to her parent's room, closing her eyes and opening the door. There came a laugh from inside the room.

“We're not doing anything, honey. Your father's not even here.” Said a Hermione Potter, sitting in a chair and reading, not changed much since ten years ago.

“Well, you never know with you two. I swear, it's like you want another kid. Five isn't enough? And speaking of kids, James snuck me some of Fred and George's steaming ear candy, and `borrowed' Dad's invisibility cloak.” Lily said, walking into the room and tapping the bottom of the chest of drawers with her wand in an intricate rhythm. A hidden drawer popped open, and Lily put the invisibility cloak in, closing the drawer again.

“Well, honestly! How do you kids figure these out, he must change the place and the spell at least twice a week! And how did James get hold of a wand?” Hermione asked, furrowing her eyebrows. Lily shrugged.

“Don't ask me, he causes more trouble than I can keep track of. Can't imagine what him and Jackie will be like when they get to Hogwarts.”

Hermione shook her head and smiled, saying,

“Double trouble, huh? It really pertains to all twins, doesn't it?”

Lily giggled slightly.

“And triplets,” she added, thinking of Ron and Luna's triplets: Alec, Andrew, and Abigail, who were all friends with Carissa. They were now 9 years old, James and Jacqueline were 7, and the Potter's 5^th child, Sirius, had just turned 4. “So how's the book coming, Mum?” Lily asked, walking over to the bed and sitting on it.

“It's coming along fine, although I'm stuck at the moment. Whoever thought that writing an article on house elf rights would lead me to writing books?” Hermione answered, smiling wryly.

Just then, in quick succession, came a ringing of the doorbell, a shouted greeting followed by a yelling up the stairs of “Matt's heeeeeere!” and another yelling of “Sirius! I am trying to read, so do try to keep it quiet!” Lily smiled broadly before remarking “Never a quiet moment in the Potter home.”

Hermione smiled warmly at her oldest daughter. “It would be unnatural if there ever was one, dear. Now go see what Matt's up to, and I'll speak to James about the candy.”

“Aye aye, captain,” Lily replied with a mock salute before smiling at her mother and exiting the room, walking towards the staircase.

Hermione stood up from her chair with a groan and put the book she was reading for inspiration on the bedside table. “Now, why did I decide to have five children?” she asked herself while walking out.

“Matt's here, Lily!” Sirius yelled as his sister reached the bottom step. She smiled brightly at Matt before walking over to her little brother.

“I heard you the first time, Mr. Sirius!” She said to him, picking the 4-year-old boy up and spinning him around to his delight. She set him down with a groan. “My, you're getting big, Siri. Now go pester Matt.” The boy smiled mischievously with an `I've got an idea' look on his face before running towards James' room.

“Lily! He's probably off to get some of my uncle's tricks to play on me now! What a way to greet your boyfriend. Honestly.” Lily giggled slightly, walking over to him and putting her arms around his neck.

“Well, perhaps this will suffice as an apology, then.” They both moved towards a kiss and Matt placed his arms around Lily's waist, pulling her closer. Lily pulled away fairly quickly and whispered, “Ah ah ah, Matthew Weasley. There are children in this house after all.”

“They've probably been disturbed enough by their parents, I suppose.” He reluctantly added as Lily smiled warmly at him.

“Now, Mr. Weasley. Come tell me all about how your quidditch games have been going, how you've missed me terribly, and how you refused all those devoted fan girls wanting a quick snog and told them all how devoted you were to me.” Lily said with a small smirk, pulling Matt onto the couch where they snuggled together with his arm around her shoulders.

“Oh, is that what I was supposed to do?” He asked jokingly, poking her in the side. She swatted him on the shoulder with a `not funny' look, and said, “No, really, Matt. I want to know how quidditch has been going.” He smiled towards her quickly and hugged her closer.

“Quidditch is good, although Coach has been working us mercilessly. I have missed you terribly, though, Lils. I came here as soon as I got home to see you.”

“Matt Weasley! How are you? Quidditch going good?” Harry Potter asked, walking into the room with Sirius on his back. Matt stood up to answer him.

“I'm doing good, Mr. Potter. The tour went very well.” He answered with a smile.

“Mr. Potter? Just because you're dating my daughter doesn't change what you've always called me, Matt.” He admonished quickly, setting Sirius down.

“Oh, sorry, Harry. Just trying to suck up a bit.”

Lily smiled at Matt and pulled him back down to sit next to her. “I'm fairly sure that Dad approves of you, Matt.” He shrugged at her, the tips of his ears turning red, much like his father's.

“Daddy! You're home!” Carissa Potter exclaimed, walking into the room with a book under her arm. She had grown to be a tall nine-year-old, with straight brown hair the color of Hermione's, and Harry's emerald eyes.

“Am I now? Kids, my memory is truly going,” He said, shaking his head sadly. Lily and Carissa looked at each other with identical eye rolls, while Matt smiled slightly and Sirius laughed. “Well, I'm off to find your mother and go over the campaign. Don't be making trouble!”

“I'm twenty years old, Dad!” Lily admonished him, shaking her head with a smirk. Carissa sat down on one of the chairs to read to Sirius, who only seemed to calm down when she was around. Harry left the room with a smile on his face.

“Well, you should probably go see your parents, Matt, if it's true you came to see me first.” Lily told her boyfriend, standing up and pulling him up with her.

“Yeah, I suppose you're right, Lils. Do you want to get the gang together tonight, go out to dinner at The Three Broomsticks or something?” He asked her as they both walked towards the entrance of the Potter's home.

“Sure, I'll owl Thomas and Emma if you want to talk to Maggie. And tell her to invite Michael.”

“I shall do that. Talk to you later?” He pulled Lily towards him and she nodded. They kissed goodbye and he left the house and grounds before disapparating. She walked towards her room to owl her friends.

In the meantime, Harry had found Hermione walking out of James' room (which was across a bathroom from Jackie's) with a disgruntled expression on her face, which lit up when she caught sight of Harry.

“Harry! When did you get home? I thought you'd be at the ministry until supper at least.” She said to him as he wrapped her up in a kiss.

“Ah, the minister-to-be can have an afternoon off to be with his family every once in a while,” He answered with a smirk as they walked towards their room, arms around each other's waists.

“A bit sure of your campaign, aren't you, Harry?” She asked with her eyebrows raised, as they reached the stairs.

“Well, the people want a beautiful minister's wife, and it just so happens that I have one of those,” he answered, kissing her cheek as they reached their bedroom door.

“Compliments, Mr. Potter, will get you everywhere.” Hermione said with a smile, pulling him to her for a kiss as they stumbled into the bedroom.

So despite all that happened to the Potter family throughout the years, they were all together, and they were all happy. To Lily, it seemed that she had always had her father. He had made up for missing eleven years by simply loving and supporting her. When Hermione was sad, it was never for long, for she always had Harry near her to make her happy again. And Harry couldn't have asked for a better life. As for the rest of the Potters…well…that is for another time.

And there you have it, folks. `The Reasons to Live' is over! Hope you all enjoyed it. Now, I'll wait to start the sequel until I've read HP and the HBP, so you should expect the first chapter sometime next week or so. I figure that I'll have it set 8 years after this epilogue, so Lily is 28, Carissa's 17, the twins are 15, and Sirius is 12. There will be some surprising things in it, and it will focus a lot on the children, although Harry and Hermione will definitely have their moments. I think that I'll simply call it `The Potter Family'. PLEASE REVIEW!! I know it's been awhile since I've posted something for this story, but I hope my fans haven't left me! And please look for the sequel!

-Emily

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