A/N - Thanks to the nice reviews I received, I decided to answer the questions and tell you all what happens to the Potter family in the aftermath of Hermione's career angst, in the form of this little epilogue. Hope you enjoy it - and leave some more reviews!
FOUR MONTHS LATER
Little Lily Potter lay asleep, breathing deeply in and out as she lay cuddled up against her mother on the sofa. All the fun and excitement of the day had tuckered out the little four-year old, and she needed her afternoon nap. Her tangled brown hair fell about her cute little face haphazardly, a few strands intermingling with her mother's as she slept beside her daughter, arms wrapped around her torso gently.
As much as Hermione Potter hated sleeping during the day, she couldn't help it just this once. Despite the annoyance, she had fallen asleep there in the living room with a smile on her face. In her old job she wouldn't have been able to spend all day with her adorable little girl and then enjoy a nap with her afterward. It was as if Hermione was extra aware of these little things in her life, and she was more determined to make the most of them. Such as Lily's touchy-feely nature; she loved being hugged, about as much Hermione liked to hug people. Since Hermione had quit her old job, Lily always wanted to be around her. Hermione knew that that wouldn't last into Lily's teenage years, and enjoyed the closeness that it brought. Still, it was as if on come unconscious level, Lily didn't really believe that her mummy would always be able to play with her after school or on her days off. She was a smart little girl, way beyond her years; she made a point of not letting anyone (especially her big brother) pull the wool over her eyes.
The front door clicked open, and Harry Potter walked in wearily, dressed in a Muggle suit of black jacket, trousers and tie over a white shirt. He whistled absently as he shrugged off his jacket onto the coat-hook, and loosened his tie. Then he turned and caught sight of his favourite two girls in the world, asleep on the sofa. He stopped and just watched them for a moment, a smile forming on his tired face. A whole day of tailing a suspected Death Eater sympathiser as a Muggle had taken the wind out of Harry's sails, and he had so been looking forward to just coming home at the end of the day. And here were two of the reasons why.
Harry already knew where the third would be; out in the back garden trying out the new Quidditch hoops that he had pleaded for. Harry had resisted for so long letting his son Jimmy on a broomstick at only seven (but very nearly eight) years old, but relented when he realised that he'd just end up playing with all the various Weasley offspring at The Burrow, anyway. He'd been there all day on this Saturday while Hermione had taken Lily to this work get-together of hers. Unfortunately, Harry had been called in at the last minute to fill in for Dennis Morgan, a veteran Auror who had recently come down with a nasty case of…well, whatever it was.
Harry quietly moved over to the other sofa and sat down, settling back as he just watched his wife and daughter sleep. He had never got bored of watching Hermione sleep beside him in the early hours of the morning; she always looked so peaceful. For Lily that was doubly true; she just looked so precious and…well, cute. Harry had thought sometimes about how he'd be fending off teenage boys seeking to go out with Lily that he didn't approve of. Maybe I'll keep a bucket of sand by the door, so then when that time comes I can just stick my head in it and the problem's gone away! Unless he really didn't like them, in which case there'd be a baseball bat with a nail in it. Or else just a curse of some kind.
Jimmy could have been out in that garden for hours, Harry had thought. There were times that he and his little sister were polar opposites; Lily was quiet and contemplative, whereas Jimmy was exuberant and playful. Lily enjoyed reading, whereas Jimmy enjoyed playing outside. And so the contrasts went on, but Harry loved them both equally. They were good together, as well; Jimmy was protective of his sister and stood up for her when she was picked on, and Lily looked up to her brother a lot and would follow him anywhere. It made Harry realise how different he and Hermione were. And yet here they were, married and with two amazing kids. Funny how things turned out…
Harry got up to head towards the kitchen for a drink, then remembered as he went that he should really head out back and make sure Jimmy knew that his mummy and sister were asleep…
Inevitably, before Harry could, the backdoor burst open…
Jimmy ran in, clutching a small, winged golden ball in his hand, "I caught the Snitch, woo-hoo!" He shouted.
Oh, that was inevitable…
Just as inevitably, both Hermione and Lily jerked awake in the living room, as Jimmy's face turned red.
"Jimmy," Harry said admonishingly, "you just woke up your little sister. Now she's gonna be grumpy."
"Oops," Jimmy said in a little voice.
Hermione couldn't help but smile a little as she drew a few errant strands of hair out of her eyes, "Jimmy, why don't you come over here and say sorry to your sister," She said gently.
Lily sat up on her mummy's lap, eyes narrowed and arms crossed sulkily. She really did not like getting waken up from a nap.
Jimmy walked over and reached out, patting Lilly on the head gently, "I'm sorry, Lily." He said, as meaningfully as he could.
"You're a meanie and a poo-head," Lily said back, sticking out her tongue, before turning her back on him and hugging herself against Hermione again.
Harry watched, grinning.
Hermione urged Jimmy on wordlessly, as he stood there unsure of what to do. Despite his youth, he still felt bad and wanted to make it up to her somehow…
"…You wanna play Wizard's Chess?" He asked hopefully.
After a few seconds Lily replied, in a muffled voice against Hermione's arm, "Are you gonna let me win?"
Catching Hermione's nod, Jimmy sighed, "Okay."
Lily turned to face him haughtily, holding out her arms, "Fine."
With some difficulty, Jimmy scooped up his little sister and carried her away.
Harry laughed as he moved over to Hermione, still lying on the sofa, "You know, she's gonna be guilting him for the rest of the day."
Hermione smiled, "I'll have a word with her later."
"Yeah, to egg her on," Harry said playfully, sitting down on the sofa and resting Hermione's head on his lap. She looked up at him with a warm smile as he stroked her hair.
"Did Lily enjoy herself?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded, "She loved it, I've never seen her so full of energy before!"
"Maybe I should stop putting sugar in her cereal," Harry teased.
"Don't you dare, Potter," Hermione warned, giving him a scathing little look.
"So, how is work anyway?" Harry asked.
"It's been hard work getting the office up and running, but fulfilling," Hermione replied, happy that she meant it.
Since leaving the Unspeakable Division of the Ministry, and after a three-week break, Hermione had lobbied for and attained Ministry funding for a new Department of Wizarding Cultural Exchange. At it's core, the office represented a new approach to the age-old problem of sustaining a true and open Muggle-wizard dialogue, although lately as the office grew there had been attempts to set up relationships with the goblin and (inevitably) elf communities.
Hermione, as department director, had poured all of her creative energies into this project and been pleased with the result. She now had a staff of thirty-five or thereabouts under her, and some fifteen or twenty had met up that day with their children for a day out in the country. It had been a fantastic day, and for Hermione a true picture of what all her and their hard work had achieved. The job and the work often left Hermione tired, but she drew comfort from knowing her work had a positive contribution to magical society. The hours were much more sympathetic to family building as well.
"Well, that's good," Harry said supportively.
"How about you?" Hermione asked.
Harry shook his head, "Our mark's a slippery one. Reckon we'll have enough for a pull in a few days."
"I'm sure you will."
Harry leaned over and pecked his wife's lips tenderly. He sat back against the sofa with a grin, "You know, there's a much more comfy place to lie down I can think of…"
"Oh Harry," Hermione said reproachfully, "do you ever think of anything else?"
Harry shrugged, "What would you rather I think about? Quidditch?"
"Oh God no, you'll get like Ron!"
"Thank you."
"Still, you and your libido are frankly incorrigible."
"You sure know how to talk dirty," Harry teased.
As always when she liked what she heard, Hermione bit down on her bottom lip and raised her eyebrows.
"Well, at any rate I hardly think the kids walking in on us…doing things…is going to hold them in good stead for the future, do you?" Hermione asked bossily.
"You've got a point there," Harry relented.
"Good," Hermione said. She sat up and pecked him on the cheek, "Well then, I guess you'll have to keep a lid on it."
"Yes ma'am…" Harry grumbled.
"Until tonight," Hermione said with a playful smile, before heading off towards the study.
Harry just lay back on the sofa and smiled.
Old Potter charm…works every time…
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