Once In A Lifetime

gluglug

Rating: PG
Genres: Romance, Humor
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 7
Published: 28/07/2007
Last Updated: 31/07/2007
Status: completed

Epilogue up! Takes place immediately after the "Crapalogue." Harry and Hermione decide to pay a certain wealthy author a surprise visit.

Chapters

1. Prologue

2. An unexpected arrival

3. Meeting the Author

4. Epilogue - Two Years Later

1. Prologue

Once in a Lifetime by Gluglug

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe and all the characters in it belong to J.K. Rowling. No infringement intended, just borrowing.

Summary: Picks up immediately after the “Crapalogue” from Deathly Hallows. Harry and Hermione pay a certain author a surprise visit. I admit to using Romulus Lupin's Writer's Block as an inspiration for this story.

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Prologue

All was well….or was it? As Harry watched the Hogwarts Express disappear from the platform at King's Cross, his melancholy feeling deepened but it wasn't just because two of his children would be away for the next four months. He looked over at Ginny, and it struck him how much she now resembled her mother, Molly, when he first saw her on this very same platform almost three decades ago.

Ginny's once svelte and petite figure was now plump (and not pleasingly so) and her once glorious long red mane was cut into a shorter, matronly hairstyle. She was busy consoling little Lily, who was still upset that her two older brothers were gone for the term.

“Oh, baby, don't worry - Al and James will be home at Christmas. In the meantime, Mommy and Daddy will make you feel like a little princess. Do you want us to buy you some sweets on the way home?”

“Gin, let's not give Lily any more sweets.” Harry said. “You know how she gets when she has too much sugar. And we don't want to rot her teeth….”

“If you want to give Lily a treat, I have plenty of sugar free snacks at home.” Hermione interjected. “My parents just sent me a box for the children.”

Ginny smiled at Hermione, a little too sweetly, Harry noticed. “Thank you, Hermione - that would be lovely.”

Ron leaned over to kiss his wife on the cheek. “Well, I'm off to a meeting at the Ministry, coming Harry?”

Harry shook his head. “Um no, Ron. I'm taking the day off.”

“You are?” Ron and Ginny asked together, in surprise.

“Yeah, Hermione is too. We have to go visit someone.”

“Who?” Ginny asked suspiciously.

“Oh it's top secret Ministry business. It has to do with one of Hermione's clients.” Harry explained, catching Hermione's eye with a conspiratorial glance.

Hermione saw his look and nodded. “Oh yes, we have to investigate some evidence in a case I'm building. Harry is helping me with one of his contacts.”

Ron shrugged. “Well, good luck with your investigating. Hermione, you can take the car, I'll apparate to work.”

With a pop he was gone. Ginny continued to look skeptical but gave Harry a kiss good-bye. She took Lily by the hand and walked away as their daughter waved to Harry and Hermione.

Harry took a deep breath and turned to Hermione.

“Harry, what was all that about?” Hermione raised her eyebrow.

“Thanks for covering for me.”

“No problem. But you need to tell me what's going on. I don't usually take the day off from work unless one of the kids is sick.”

“I know,” Harry replied. “But this is important. The rest of our lives depend on this.”

Hermione looked suddenly anxious. “The rest of our lives? Please tell me who or what could have such an impact?”

“Hermione, have you ever heard the Muggle song “Once in a Lifetime” by the Talking Heads?”

“No, I haven't, Harry. Why?”

“There's a line in it that goes…And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife, and you may ask yourself-well...how did I get here? That kind of sums up how I feel right now.”

Hermione nodded. “I understand. I haven't been feeling right either. I mean, I'm pretty happy with my job and my family but something feels off and I can't for the life of me figure out what it is.”

“Well, there is only one person who can help us. We need to see the author. The woman who created us, her name is Jo Rowling.”

TBC…

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2. An unexpected arrival

Chapter 2 - An unexpected arrival

See chapter one for disclaimer

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Harry and Hermione apparated from King's Cross and found themselves standing in front of a Georgian style-mansion in the Morningside section of Edinburgh, Scotland. The house was surrounded by electric gates, high fences and Harry spotted several security cameras, ostensibly to deter intruders.

But they weren't intruders, Harry thought. If it weren't for him, Jo Rowling would still be living in a modest, one-bedroom flat infested with mice. Hand in hand, he and Hermione marched to the front door.

“Harry, I can't believe we're doing this!” Hermione exclaimed, looking rather anxious. “What are we going to say to this woman? Look at her home, it's huge! And what's with all of the security cameras?”

“Well, I did a little research on her and it turns out she is very famous in the Muggle world. She's wealthier than the Queen of England and it's all because of the books she's written about me. She has to see us. She owes us that much.”

There was a heavy brass knocker on the front door. Harry lifted it and knocked a couple of times.

A young woman in a maid's uniform answered the door and looked at them with a quizzical expression on her face. She stared at the dark haired, bespectacled man and his companion, a slim, pretty woman with wavy brown hair, both looked to be in their mid 30s. They looked vaguely familiar.

“May I help you?” She asked.

“Yes. We're here to see Ms. Rowling.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

Harry shook his head. “No, we don't. But please tell her that Harry and Hermione are here to see her. We're old friends of hers.”

“Harry and Hermione? As in Potter and Granger?” The woman replied, looking like she had seen two ghosts.

Hermione found her voice. “Yes, although my name is now Hermione Weasley.”

The maid cleared her throat. “Would you both mind waiting out here?” The door closed in front of them.

“Well, the least she could've done was invite us into the foyer.” Hermione huffed.

“We probably just startled her but I'm sure Jo will see us.” Harry said confidently.

“I hope so, Harry. But I still don't know what we're going to tell her.”

“We'll tell her how we feel.” Harry asserted. “Hermione, I just feel like something is off. One moment I've finished off Voldemort and telling you and Ron all about it and the next moment I'm standing on the train platform sending my sons off to Hogwarts! I feel like twenty years have gone by and sometimes I have no real recollection of how I got to this point in my life. And Ginny! Merlin, she looks just like her mother! I mean no offense to our mother-in-law, but the Ginny I remember was so beautiful. How did this happen?”

“Three pregnancies happened, Harry.” Hermione smirked. “But I know what you mean. Sometimes I look in the mirror and I can't believe I'm married to Ron and have two children.

I know I fell for him during the war, but married him? I don't even like the way Hermione Weasley sounds. No wonder I use my maiden name professionally!”

“So you don't like being married to Ron?” Harry asked.

“I don't know. I suppose I love him, but…he's not my idea of Prince Charming. His table manners haven't changed one iota and I'm afraid Hugo is taking after his father.”

Harry chuckled. “Yeah, I worry about my kids, too. Especially Lily, Ginny spoils her way too much. I know she's the youngest child and our only girl, but Ginny never says no to her. And now that Al and James are at school, she'll just dote on her even more.”

“So why don't you say something, Harry? You're Lily's father - you have equal say in how she is raised!”

Harry sighed. “Well, I did speak up when Ginny wanted to give Lily sweets today. But I just don't want to get into it with her - you know what her temper is like. We kind of have this unspoken agreement - she runs the house and the kids and I'm the breadwinner.”

“Sounds like a great romance, Harry.” Hermione said sarcastically.

“Romance? I don't even remember the last time Ginny and I….” Harry blushed, realizing perhaps he was sharing too much with Hermione, even though he considered her his closest confidant, even to this day.

Hermione gave him a small knowing smile and blushed as well. “I know. Ron and I are too tired most of the time and well he's kind of let himself go - he's losing his hair like his dad and his famous metabolism is slowing down. Meanwhile, I do my best to stay in shape, but Ron doesn't make any effort.”

To be truthful, Harry did notice that Hermione was in great shape. She looked even better than she did during their teen years at Hogwarts. And she finally found a hairstyle and that flattered her curls, which were no longer bushy, but smooth. If only he weren't married to Ginny…

At that moment, the front door opened and the maid appeared, bringing Harry out of his reverie. “Sorry to keep you waiting, you may come in,” she said ushering them inside.

Once inside, Harry took in the majestic splendor of the foyer. Something about the design reminded him of the great hall at Hogwarts. The maid led them into a brightly lit drawing room off the foyer.

“May I offer you something to drink? Tea?” The maid asked solicitously.

Hermione nodded. “Tea would be lovely, Harry?”

“Yes, tea is fine. Lemon, no sugar. Um, when will we be seeing Ms. Rowling?”

“She will be down shortly. I must say she was surprised to hear of your arrival. I will be back with your tea soon.”

The maid left the room and Harry looked at Hermione. She looked nervous. He reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. “Don't worry, Hermione. I have a good feeling about this.”

“But she created us, Harry. I don't want us to sound like spoiled, ungrateful children.” Hermione whispered.

“Well, if she created us, she should also want us to be the happiest we can be. Let me handle her at first. But feel free to join in when you are comfortable. I think it's going to take the two of us to get what we want.”

“And what exactly is that?” Hermione asked.

At that moment, Joanne Rowling walked into her drawing room and gasped at the sight of two of her proudest creations holding hands on her sofa.

TBC

A/N: Sorry to leave it like this (we will get into the nitty gritty next chapter and I hope to update in the next couple of days).

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3. Meeting the Author

Chapter Three: Meeting the Author

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“Harry, Hermione!” Jo exclaimed as she headed over to the sofa. “It's so nice to see you both.”

She held out her hand to Harry and he stood up quickly, letting go of Hermione's hand as she followed suit. As he shook Jo's hand, he noticed that she was not an imposing figure; she was a forty-ish woman of average height with her blond hair cut into a stylish bob and was dressed in a black v-neck sweater and a pair of jeans.

“Yes, it's nice to see you, too.” Harry replied. “I don't think we've officially met, face to face.”

Jo took in the sight of two of her main characters and was surprised to see that they both looked so grown up, as they existed in her mind's eye as eternal teenagers. Hermione, in particular, looked like a sophisticated career woman and she felt very proud indeed.

The maid entered the drawing room and placed a sterling silver tray filled with three teacups and saucers, and a small kettle covered with a tea cozy. She poured the tea and quickly left the three of them alone.

An awkward silence followed as Jo, Harry and Hermione sipped their tea.

Jo put her cup down and cleared her throat. “So, what can I do for you? I have to say I was very surprised to hear that you wanted to see me.”

Harry caught Hermione's eye and took a deep breath. “Well, Jo, Hermione and I came to see you because we are not particularly satisfied the way you ended things in the final book.”

Jo raised her eyebrow. “What do you mean by `not particularly satisfied'? Harry, you defeated Voldemort and married the girl of your dreams. You have three beautiful children. And, Hermione, you married Ron and have two lovely children. You have one big happy family, everything is perfect -- what more could you possibly want?”

Harry could tell this was not going to be easy. He couldn't blurt out that he would have rather been paired with Hermione, especially since he hadn't talked it through with her yet. He had to tread carefully.

“Well that's just it, Jo. Things are a little too perfect, too pat. I can't help but feel that you took Hermione and me and fit us into some preconceived notion of what you thought perfect happiness is. But you never really asked us what we wanted.”

“What you wanted?” Jo asked incredulously. “I'm the author - you are my creations, characters written in a book. You are supposed to do what I want you to do!”

“Even if it seems forced?” Hermione blurted out. “Jo, we mean no disrespect here. But Harry and I feel that things aren't quite right. We feel like there's something missing in our lives. It's like a hollow happiness. There's no substance behind it.”

Harry took Hermione's hand and gave it a quick squeeze, proud of the way she had articulated exactly what he felt. This did not go unnoticed by Jo and a sinking feeling hit her square in the stomach.

“So, can you both tell me exactly what it is you're looking for?”

“Well, perhaps you can explain to me why you paired us off with Ron and Ginny?” Harry asked.

“One minute I've defeated Voldemort and ran to see Hermione and Ron to tell them what happened and now it's nearly twenty years later, and I'm married to Ginny. She was a great girlfriend for me to have when I was sixteen or seventeen when all I wanted was a good snog and to run my hands through her hair. But I'm much older now and quite frankly I don't like what Ginny's become. She is no longer the beauty I fell in love with and she's pushy, hot-tempered and she's spoiling my youngest. We barely have anything in common anymore, except the children.”

“It's the same with me and Ron.” Hermione interjected. “All of the things that annoyed me to no end while we were growing up are still there. His table manners are atrocious, he often belittles me and we still bicker all the time. We barely see eye to eye on anything, except the children. That's all we have in common. The Ron I fell in love with years ago reverted back to the Ron who bugs the hell out of me. To be honest, the only good thing about marrying into the Weasley family is that Harry lives next door to us and he's always there to calm me down when Ron and I fight.”

Harry nodded. “And I'm glad to be there for her now, especially since Hermione was always there for me growing up. It's so nice to be able to talk to her, about something other than how to make sure the kids are eating their vegetables.”

Jo took this all in, feeling terribly confused. She truly thought she was giving them a happy ending by marrying them both into the Weasley clan, but seeing how frustrated Harry and Hermione were right now bothered her. She had done the right the right thing, hadn't she? She had to make them see the light.

“But what about Ron and Ginny's needs? Aren't they important, Harry? The Weasleys were the family who practically took you in and made you their son. Are you going to turn your back on the only real family you ever knew and your best friend?”

Harry took a deep breath. He had a feeling she would try the “ungrateful child” route. But he was no longer a child.

“Jo, I appreciate everything the Weasleys have done for me and I love them, I really do, especially Ron. But I don't see why you had to make me one of them to be happy. Wasn't the story about me? My name was on the books, it's my name that's made you a very rich woman. If you wanted the story to be about the Weasleys then you should've called them The Weasley Chronicles!”

“I agree with Harry,” Hermione added, emboldened by his cheek. “I love the Weasleys too, but I feel like their needs and happiness have overshadowed mine and Harry's. I thought Harry and I were the hero and heroine of the story. You wrote this amazing bond between us, one that goes deeper than friendship or family. We could read each others minds, finished each others' sentences, and understood each other like nobody else. When everyone deserted Harry, including Ron, I stayed with him and supported him.”

“Hermione, I hate to disappoint you, but you were never intended to be the heroine of the story. You were just the sidekick, like Ron. That's why I paired you with him.” Jo said with a smug look on her face.

With this remark, Harry could see that Hermione was close to tears. He grabbed her hand to comfort her and she gave him a grateful squeeze. He took another breath to calm his temper.

“Jo, please don't talk down to Hermione like that, she deserves better. And as far as I'm concerned, she is the heroine. Who helped me solve the riddle to get the Philosopher's Stone? Who figured out that the Basilisk was in the pipes? Who took me back in time to rescue Sirius and Buckbeak? Who spent hours teaching me the summoning charm that saved my life when Voldemort returned? Who prompted me to start Dumbledore's Army? Who got Rita Skeeter to interview me so the Wizarding World didn't think I was an attention seeking, delusional liar? Who never left my side during the last months of the war? It certainly wasn't Ginny!”

“But Harry, you left Ginny behind. You loved her and wanted her to be safe.” Jo replied, trying to ignore Harry's list of Hermione's impressive accomplishments over the course of the story.

“Only because you wrote it that way!” Harry exclaimed. “What has Ginny ever done for me?”

“Harry, she's your wife and mother of your children, isn't that enough?”

Harry ran a hand through his hair. Was it enough? The honest answer was `no'. “But she's not my soulmate, Jo,” he said quietly looking at his hands.

“I know that, Harry.”

Harry's head snapped up. Was she finally getting it?

“Harry, let me explain something to you. Sometimes you don't marry your soulmate, that's just the way it us. But by marrying into the Weasley family, you and Hermione are still close - you live next door to each other. You have a beautiful lifelong friendship, a platonic friendship.” She said, putting emphasis on those two words.

“Oh, yes. Platonic.” Harry said, rolling his eyes. “Why didn't you ever let me consider Hermione in a romantic light? You had my jaw drop when I saw her at the Yule Ball, but after that, nothing! You even had us alone in a tent for days, but not once was I allowed to have a non-platonic thought about her?”

Hermione turned to Harry, surprised. “Your jaw dropped when you saw me at the Yule Ball?”

Harry blushed. “Um, yeah. I didn't recognize you at first, I just thought you were some girl Krum brought as his date. But then I recognized you and it hit me just how beautiful you looked.”

Hermione's eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Harry, I had no idea.” She took a moment to collect herself.

“Jo, I have one question for you. If you didn't intend for Harry and me to end up together then why did you have us look at each other when Bill and Fleur said their vows? Why did we polyjuice ourselves into a married couple when we went to visit Harry's parents' graves? Why did I always fling myself into Harry's arms? Why did I call him “fanciable” and “tasty?” If we're so platonic as you insist, then why?”

Jo felt as if she were being pushed into a corner by their questions. Did she really have a good answer for them? One they would find convincing and leave her alone? She took a deep breath.

“I was trying to write teenage relationships in a realistic manner, you usually don't find your true love at seventeen. You often go for the wrong person, and sometimes you wind up marrying them. I didn't find my true love, my husband Neil, until I was about your current age.”

“But you wrote this sickly sweet ending to the story, making it seem like all was well with Ron and me and Harry and Ginny.” Hermione continued. “But Harry and I knew better. And if what you say is true, then couldn't you have ended the story with Harry and me discovering our true love after all these years?”

“You love me?” Harry asked quietly.

Hermione turned to him, her eyes still shining with tears. “Yes, Harry I do,” she whispered.

“I always have.”

“I love you, too, Hermione.” Harry replied, his voice thick with emotion, as he gazed at his beloved. “And just so I'm perfectly clear, definitely not as a sister.”

Before she knew what was happening, Jo watched her two guests envelop each other in a tender embrace and kissed passionately.

Her impulse was to break them apart - this wasn't supposed to be happening! But something suddenly stopped her. It was her fast beating heart, finally allowing her to see the beauty of their relationship staring her in the face. Watching their kiss warmed her heart like nothing since she had fallen in love with Dr. Neil Murray.

When Harry and Hermione parted, they were still in their own little world, beaming at each other.

Jo cleared her throat to remind them that she was still in the room.

“Well, I suppose you don't need me anymore.”

“What do you mean? You still have to fix this!” Harry exclaimed.

“No, you two don't need me anymore. You've found each other, in spite of all of the roadblocks I tried to impose on you. And I can't re-write the epilogue. What's done is done - millions of books have been printed, I would look an absolute fool if I rewrote the ending.”

It was Hermione's turn to get angry. “What are we supposed to do now? Have an illicit affair?”

“Hermione, what you and Harry need to realize is that I no longer have control of you and your lives.” Jo explained patiently. “The Harry Potter series is done. I'm writing new stories with new characters and need to focus on them.”

“So we're free?” Harry asked.

Jo smiled. “Yes, Harry you are free. You and Hermione can live your lives however you please.”

“But we don't know where to go. We're so used to being under your control.” Harry protested.

“Don't worry. If you are in need of writers to help you continue your story, you should look on the Internet. There are many websites devoted to something called “fan fiction” and while I don't really endorse or read it, I would bet that there are hundreds of writers who would be more than willing to help you.”

“Hundreds of writers?” Hermione asked. “How would we ever pick?”

“Hermione, one of the things I instilled in you is your love of reading. Why don't you and Harry go the Edinburgh public library and research some of these stories? Find an author you like and make contact.”

Harry considered Jo's advice and the notion that they were now able to pursue their lives and find someone who appreciated their love and would help them navigate their future. While it was too late to turn back the hands of time and there was the issue of their marriages and children, there was always the option of divorce. So they wouldn't be popular with the Weasley clan for a while, but Harry had been through much worse.

“Hermione, I think we've taken up enough of Jo's time. We still have the afternoon open, why don't we grab some lunch in town and then go visit the library?”

Hermione smiled at him. “Well, you know how much I love libraries! Harry, let's go.”

They joined hands again, stood up and headed into the foyer. Jo followed them.

“Harry! Hermione, before you leave.”

They turned around to face their once beloved creator for one last time.

“I just want to say that I owe you both an apology. I'm truly sorry that I pushed you both into marriages that didn't make you happy. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing. But you've both made me see that I was terribly wrong and I don't usually admit that. I will certainly consider the lesson you've taught me today in the books I write in future.”

“Thanks, Jo.” Harry and Hermione said together as they turned their backs on Joanne Rowling and walked out her front door.

Once they were outside, Harry picked up Hermione and swung her around, their laughter filling the vast, well manicured front lawn. They were finally free.

TBC

A/N: I wanted to be harder on JKR, I really did, but I'd rather have her see the error of her ways than have Harry Crucio her until she agreed to rewrite the epilogue. Speaking of, there will be an epilogue to this story….

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4. Epilogue - Two Years Later

Two years later

Hermione Granger Potter sat inside the living room of her large London flat. She absently massaged her large pregnant belly while engrossed in a rather smutty fan-fiction novel about herself and her husband. Ever since she and Harry had discovered this online world of fan fiction that Jo Rowling had told them about, it had become a guilty, secret pleasure. Well, not so secret, since Harry knew and often teased her about it but he supposed it was better than reading cheesy romance novels. (And he was grateful for the myriad of NC-17 stories which gave them lots of inspiration in the bedroom.)

While she and Harry spent some time two years ago reading and becoming fascinated by this world of stories, they could never agree on an author to help them write the rest of their story. Not that there wasn't a vast amount of talent out there, but they came to the conclusion that perhaps the best authors to help them continue their journey were themselves.

It was summer and Hermione was on maternity leave from her job as an attorney for the Ministry and was looking forward to spending the next six months caring for her new daughter, which she and Harry planned to name Harmony Jane Potter.

Her older daughter, Rose, from her first marriage, sat beside her, reading Hogwarts, a History for the umpteenth time, twirling her brown curls with her fingers. No matter how many times she re-read it, she always managed to find something new in the text to ponder. Rose was visiting Harry and Hermione for the month of August, while her younger brother Hugo spent the month with his father.

After being heartbroken by Hermione's admission that she was in love with his best friend, Ron slowly put his life back together. About six months after the divorce, he ran into Luna Lovegood, who was also recently divorced but had no children, and they hit it off. Luna was now running The Quibbler and was dotty as ever, but Ron was charmed and they fell in love. Ron also quit the Ministry, saying he was never cut out for an office job, and split his time managing Weasley's Wizard Wheezes' second store and coaching a local little league Quidditch team.

Harry and Ron's friendship suffered greatly after the split. Ron felt betrayed and while Harry was saddened by this turn of events, he had a feeling that sooner or later, they would find their way back to friendship. The relationship was slowly healing itself, as Ron invited Harry to meet him for a drink that afternoon.

As for Ginny, she was also angry and devastated by what she called “The Betrayal.” She took the kids and moved back to the Burrow, not letting Harry see his children for a whole year. Their divorce was bitter and they battled it out in the Wizarding courts, The Daily Prophet watching every move. The judge, who was obviously swayed by Harry's fame (but also thankfully by his character), awarded him partial custody of the children. Harry made sure to spend every other weekend with James, Al and Lily when they weren't at school.

The children were, of course, heartbroken by their parents' sudden splits, but the five cousins banded together and became closer as a result. They no longer considered themselves mere cousins but brothers and sisters. And with the imminent arrival of Harmony Jane, they were about to welcome a sixth sibling into the family.

Ginny eventually got over her heartbreak and fell for Viktor Krum, whom she interviewed for a “Where are they now?” piece for her Quidditch column in The Daily Prophet. Viktor was tired of his groupies, and now over forty, yearned for a wife. He moved from Bulgaria to Ottery St. Catchpool and they got engaged.

Hermione was so engrossed in her story that she didn't notice Harry entering the room, until he dropped a kiss on her shoulder and greeted Rose.

“Harry, I didn't hear you come in!”

“You both looked so into your reading that I didn't want to disturb you. How are my three favorite girls doing?”

“Good.” Hermione replied. “Although I feel like an elephant.”

“Thirsty” replied Rose, getting up from her comfy chair. “Mum, do you want me to get you something from the kitchen?”

“A glass of water would be great, thanks sweetie.”

“How were drinks with Ron?” She asked a bit anxiously once Rose left the room.

Harry sat down beside her on the couch. “Um, we were a bit awkward at first, but once the drinks started flowing, we began reminiscing about Hogwarts and things got better. Ron even thanked me because he's really happy with Luna now. He says she's the best thing that ever happened to him, except for his kids. He only regrets that he didn't see it when he was younger.”

“Well, it's not his fault that Jo wrote him with the emotional range of a teaspoon.” Hermione smirked. “I'm really happy for him and glad that he and Luna are together now. It looks like the kids are going to have a new step-mum, huh?”

“Yup, Ron proposed to her last week. They're engaged!”

“Oh, Harry, that's wonderful news!”

Rose came back into the room and handed her mother a glass of water. “Rose, did you hear? Your father is marrying Luna!”

“I know.” Rose replied looking pleased but nonplussed. When she saw her mother's surprised expression she went on.

“Dad told me he was going to propose a couple of weeks ago. I went with him to pick out a ring for Luna. He was so nervous about it, it was really cute.”

“What do you think of your future step-mother?” Harry asked Rose.

“Oh, she's great. I didn't like her at first because she was so out there. But once I got to know her I realized that she's funny and smart and makes the keenest observations. And reading The Quibbler for free is always a laugh.”

Rose paused. “Well, if you'll both excuse me, I have to get a jump on my studying for next term.”

Hermione watched her leave and seeing her husband's bemused expression, she exclaimed, “Don't say it!”

“Say what?”

“Like Mother, like daughter. That's what you were going to say, right?”

“You read my mind, like always, Hermione.”

“I wonder who Harmony Jane is going to take after.” Hermione mused. “Will she be like Rose and me, always with her nose in a book? Or will she be like her father, zooming after the snitch on the Quidditch pitch?”

Harry put his arm around his wife. “Maybe she'll be both - a scholar and an athlete. But it doesn't really matter to me, though, as long as she's ours.”

Hermione leaned her head against Harry's shoulder as the baby gently kicked. “Yes, she is. I can't wait to meet her.”

“Me, too.” Harry replied, leaning in to give his wife, partner and soul mate a kiss. Theirs was the kind of love that only comes along once in a lifetime.

FIN

A/N: I hope this didn't make your teeth ache like the “crapalogue.” In my “delusional” mind, this is where Harry and Hermione are now, getting ready to raise their daughter, it's probably the only way I can live with DH.

As for Ginny, I considered pairing her with Neville, but I think he deserves much better. I considered leaving her a single mother but given Krum's shallow behavior in DH, I thought that Krum would make a good match for her. And he was lusting after her at the wedding, so….

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