It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn

A/N: Ok, here’s the last chapter.  It’s a little too idealistic, I realize, but this was my first story and I love the fluffy happiness of it anyway.

Please enjoy and please review!

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            Hermione’s word quickly sunk into Harry’s mind.

            “Oh God! Ok, we can handle this. Sirius, we need to . . . we have to . . . Madam Pomfrey! Have to get to … hospital!” he stammered.

            “Oh, just hurry!” Hermione cried.

            Harry picked her up and told Sirius to get Dumbledore and meet him in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. They both Apparated to the edge of the grounds and Harry conjured a stretcher to carry Hermione on. Sirius ran towards the castle.

            “It’s ok, love. You’re going to be fine. Just fine,” Harry said to Hermione as they hurried to the castle.

            Just then, Professor Dumbledore came running out of the main entrance. “I was wondering what was taking so long. Madam Pomfrey is waiting for you.”

            Madam Pomfrey prepared Hermione for labor and left to get some ingredients for a pain-relieving potion.

            Harry could only hope that she was hurrying. He was afraid that Hermione was going to break his hand every time a contraction hit.

            “I’m sorry, Harry. I must be grabbing kinda hard,” she panted.

            “It’s ok, sweetie. You can break my hand as long as you don’t make the bones completely disappear. Skele-gro tastes terrible!” he said, hoping to make her laugh. It worked, if only for a second. Hermione screamed with the next contraction and Harry held back the urge to scream as well. His hand felt like it was going to break off.

            Just then, Madam Pomfrey returned with the potion. Hermione gulped it down and almost instantly felt better.

            “Oh that’s so wonderful,” she sighed. Harry silently agreed.

            Hermione was in labor for a few more hours when the baby began to crown.

            “Thank God for pain relieving potions,” she sighed as she continued to push.

            “Tell me about it!” Harry agreed as he remembered the pain his hands went through earlier.

            “Ok, Hermione. This should be the last one,” Madam Pomfrey told her.

            Hermione gave the biggest push she could and then fell back with exhaustion.

            “Congratulations! It’s a girl!” the nurse announced.

            “I knew it was a girl,” Hermione sighed. “Well, I promised Hagrid that if you came back to me, I’d let you name her anything you wanted. So, what do you want to name her, Harry?”

            “Well, I think I would like to name her after my mother. I think she was with us tonight and helped us defeat Voldemort finally. Does that sound ok?”

            “That’s fine,” Hermione said as she beamed with happiness. “How about Lily Victoria. Kinda like ‘Lily’s victory?’ It was like your mother’s victory tonight, right?”

            “Oh, Hermione. That’s beautiful. Thank you so much,” Harry said with tears in his eyes.

            Madam Pomfrey laid the baby on Hermione’s chest. “Hello, Lily. Quite a bumpy ride you’ve had, huh?”

            Hagrid, Sirius, Lily, Dumbledore and McGonagall all rushed in, completely against Madam Pomfrey’s orders.

            “’Ermione! She’s beautiful!” Hagrid said, sobs in his voice. “Reminds me of you when you was just a baby, ‘Arry.”

            “And she’s going to have those eyes as well. Hello, sweetie,” Hermione said as baby Lily first opened her green eyes.

            Harry sat down next to his wife stared into her eyes. Sirius conjured a camera and took a candid shot of the growing family. Then he gave them a chance to make themselves a little more “presentable” and took another one (one that Hermione approved of).

            Both Harry and Hermione looked back on their lives. There were so many good memories and so many bad ones. But the bad ones didn’t matter at all, because they all led to this point. Voldemort was finally dead. Harry, Hermione, and little Lily Potter had all lived through a horrible ordeal, but in the end, it was worth it.

            Harry no longer had to worry about Voldemort coming back to get him and his family. Sure, there was always going to be evil in the world, but he now certainly knew that his family could protect themselves. He also hoped that now his parents could rest in peace. Their killer was finally brought to justice by their heirs. Harry (with an assist from Hermione and the baby, Harry was sure of that) had finally brought Voldemort down. It was a wonderful feeling.

            Hermione was happy that Harry now had some closure. The madman who killed his parents was finally gone. The scar would always remain, but the pain could finally die down and the scar could be a reminder of the great defeat instead. Maybe the nightmares would come less frequently. Maybe the sadness in his eyes wouldn’t be as obvious. Maybe he could begin a life with less fear for his loved ones. Hermione wanted all of these things and if even one could happen, she would be happier.

            “So what is this lovely lady’s name?” Minerva asked.

            “I’d like you all to meet Lily Victoria Potter,” Hermione said.

            “Lily’s victory. Beautiful sentiment,” Dumbledore smiled. “Harry and Hermione, I must say that you have a beautiful daughter and her name is already on the list to attend Hogwarts.” Professor McGonagall slapped his arm. He quickly added, “Though I did not tell you that.”

            Even Minerva McGonagall couldn’t hide her excitement looking at the Potter baby. She smiled and even began to cry.

            “Now I have another announcement to make,” Dumbledore said. “As of the end of this term, I am retiring from Hogwarts. I am ready to take some time off and explore some of my passions. I would love some more time on my hands. Perhaps I will learn to make myself some socks, seeing as how I never get any,” he said as he winked at Harry. Harry was the only one to get the joke. “Furthermore, because of my retirement, I will need to name a replacement for the position of Headmaster. Harry, I believe that you would have the qualifications for the job. Providing you are up for the task.”

            “Really? Me?” Harry asked incredulously.

            “Yes, you.”

            “Well, thank you, sir! Thank you very much! It would be an honor to follow in your footsteps!”

            “And I believe I have an announcement as well,” Professor McGonagall said.

“Yes, Minerva?” Dumbledore said, knowing what she had to say.

            “Well, I also was planning my retirement. I have been wanting some rest time and I thought perhaps I would make you some socks,” she said to Dumbledore with a glimmer in her eye. “And I was thinking what a fine Transfiguration teacher Hermione would be. I can only hope that these two can handle being Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress together. Not to mention joint heads of Gryffindor house.”

            “Professor McGonagall! Thank you so much! I’m thrilled that you have that much confidence in us,” Hermione said with a huge grin on her face.

            “Well, at this rate, they’ll have to change the name of the school!” Sirius laughed.

            “’Arry, I’ll be proud to say I work for ya!” Hagrid said, bringing a hankie to his eye.

            “Well, I think we should leave this family in peace now, before Poppy comes back and shuffles us all out. Congratulations to the both of you,” Dumbledore said as he stood to leave. Everyone lined up to hug the Potters and then follow Dumbledore out of the room.

            “You have a beautiful little girl,” Professor McGonagall said as she began to follow. “And I know you’ll do us proud in your new positions.”

            “’Arry, ‘Ermione. Today was quite a day for ya, huh? I just want you to know that I’ll always be around for you to watch the kiddies anytime you need,” Hagrid said.

            “Thank you, Hagrid,” Hermione said as he bear-hugged her.

            “Harry, what can I say?” Sirius began. “You did something remarkable today. You and the whole family did. Not only did you avenge your parents’ deaths, but you gave them a grandchild. Plus you both got quite a promotion. I know that Lily and James are beaming with pride right now. You’re a good man, Harry Potter.”

            “Thank you, Sirius,” Harry said.

            “And Hermione, I have to tell you, Lily and James would have loved you as a daughter-in-law. I’m sure that they are happy that you are the mother of their grandchild. You did wonderful today, sweetie,” Sirius said as he kissed Hermione’s forehead.

            “Thank you so much for everything, Sirius,” Hermione said, tears springing to her eyes.

            “All right! That’s enough!” Madam Pomfrey called. “No more upsetting my patients!”

            “He’s not upsetting me!” Hermione protested.

            “Doesn’t matter. Only ones I want in here are parents. Off with ya!” the nurse said as she shooed Sirius away.

            “I’ll talk to you guys soon!” he said from the doorway right before she slammed it.

            “Now as for you, missy. I want you to rest very, very soon. Your husband here can take care of the baby!” Pomfrey said as she started towards her office.

            “Well, alone at last,” Harry said as he pressed a kiss to Hermione’s forehead.

            “I cannot believe the day we’ve had,” she replied, leaning back onto her pillows.

            “We certainly got a lot accomplished,” Harry joked.

            “Do you realize what you did?” Hermione asked.

            “Yeah, I finally avenged my parents’ deaths and-”

            “No,” she interrupted. “With your magic.”

            “What are you talking about?” he asked with a puzzled look.

            “You levitated my wand to my hand and you shot Voldemort back all without your wand.”

            Harry sat back and thought about that for a second. “You know, I never thought of that.”

            “You’re becoming a more powerful wizard than either one of us thought,” she said.

            “And I have my family to thank for that!” Harry said, beaming. “I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am right now. Or how much I love you,” he said as he kissed her again. “Or how much I love you,” he added, kissing his daughter on the head.

Hermione could only sit back and wonder about their luck. Imagine, avenging Harry’s parents’ deaths, having a baby and becoming Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress all in one day!

            “Harry, are you ok?” she asked, knowing that the day had to take a toll on her husband.

            “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just weird, you know. All those years I spent trying to defeat him and now that it’s over . . .”

            “Well, you’ll have lots to keep you busy now, Headmaster Potter.”

            “What about you, then? Deputy Headmistress Potter and Transfiguration Professor. I know you’ll enjoy teaching that much more than Charms,” Harry said.

            “Yeah, I will. I can’t believe it. We’ve become Dumbledore and McGonagall. Do you think we’re really up to the challenge?” Hermione cautiously asked.

            “I know we are. This will be great.”

            Just then, the door creaked slowly as someone peeked in. Harry recognized the red hair right away.

            “Ron!” Hermione exclaimed as she recognized him as well.

            “Hey! I just heard the great news - all of it!” Ron said taking a seat next to the bed. “Oh, look at her! She’s just gorgeous! What’s her name?”

            “Lily Victoria,” Hermione said.

            “Well, hello, Lily. You got your grandma’s name, huh? I’m your Uncle Ron and I’ll be teaching you all sorts of fun things that your mother will hate!”

            “Ronald Weasley! You will teach my daughter no such things! I don’t think I could deal with another one like you two!” Hermione began to yell.

            “Calm down, mum! I’m just kidding!”

            “She’s a little sensitive right now, Ron,” Harry said.

            “I see that. Sorry, Hermione. So, it’s over, huh? Finally took the dark lord down?” Ron said to Harry.

            “Yeah, I guess it’s finally over,” Harry replied.

            “Hard to believe?” Ron asked.

            “Yeah, all those years of hatred and now it’s over. But now I can focus all my energy on love as opposed to hate. Because now I have a beautiful wife and a beautiful daughter.”

            “And I hear you have new jobs as well,” Ron said.

            “Yeah. Hard to believe, huh? The trouble makers we were and now I’m Headmaster,” Harry said.

            “No, no, no. The troublemakers that you two were. Not me!” Hermione protested.

            “No, it was the three of us. We just usually did the worst or got the worst in punishment!” Ron said.

            “Regardless,” Harry interrupted. Even after graduation, Hermione and Ron could still get into a row.   “it does seem strange, to be in charge of the place,” sighed Harry.

            “Well, as long as we all have good news to share, I might as well share mine,” Ron began. “I had been waiting to tell you until after the war was over and I guess that’s now. Since my father got promoted to Minister of Magic, I got his job as the head Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department.”

            “Ron! That’s great! Congratulations!” Harry said.

            “That’s so wonderful!” Hermione agreed.

            “Thanks, guys. Kinda weird now, huh? To be the adults, I mean,” Ron said.

            “Very weird,” Harry said quietly.

            “Just look at us. You guys are married, you have a beautiful baby and I’mgoingtoaskLavendertomarryme,” Ron mumbled quickly.

            “Excuse me?!” Hermione swiftly asked.

            “Ok, ok. I’m going to ask Lavender to marry me. I knew that if we made it through this war, then it would be like a sign. Well, we made it and now I’m going to do it. You guys are like an inspiration.”

            “Ron, that’s excellent. Congratulations!” Harry said.

            Just then, Hermione gave a big yawn. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I guess it was a bigger day than I thought!” she apologized.

            “That’s ok. I should go anyway before Madam Pomfrey comes out here and hexes me. I just wanted to see you guys and congratulate you on everything. Bloody brilliant work, you two,” Ron said.

            “Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Weasley,” Hermione said in her best Minerva McGonagall impression.

            “You’ll make an excellent Deputy Headmistress, Hermione. You’re turning into McGonagall already!” Ron said with a laugh. Hermione and Harry laughed as well.

            “Well, I have to get going. You have a beautiful daughter. I’ll see you soon!” Ron said as he began to leave.

            Harry and Hermione said their goodbyes as well and then it was just them. Hermione yawned again.

            “I’m sorry. I guess I’m a little more tired than I thought,” she said.

            “Well, that’s ok, because you need your rest. You give me our little princess here and you take a nap,” Harry said as he took Lily from Hermione. “Don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere. We’ll be right here when you wake up.”

            “Ok, ok. You win,” Hermione said drowsily. “I love you, Harry. And I love you, little Lily,” she said as she fell asleep.

            “I love you, too, Mione. And I love you, precious Lily,” Harry said as he kissed the most important women in life on the foreheads.

            ‘I am the luckiest man in the world,’ he thought as he sat back into his chair and fell asleep as well.