A/N - so here is my epilogue and the end of this particular story. Thanks for those who came along for the ride - love getting the reviews and so many lovely comments. You guys rock. And its great to know that there are still a dedicated bunch of Harmonians out there, even still. May it long continue. So, until next time - enjoy.
Epilogue - 20 Years Later
September first seemed to come around quicker this year and it was with more than a bit of sadness that Harry held tightly onto his daughter's hand as they walked through the border between the Muggle and magical worlds.
His baby was going to Hogwarts.
"I can do this on my own, dad," Rose told her father as she released his hand and started to push her trolley out of Harry's grip.
"I know, Rosie," Harry told her solemnly, "but you need to let me do this, let me pretend that you still need my help. That you're still my little girl…"
"I will always be your little girl, daddy."
Harry looked down at his youngest child, a miniature version of her mother staring back at him. He gave her a grin and affectionately ruffled the already ruffled hair.
"Thank you sweetie."
"Andrew James Potter, this is your last warning!"
Harry looked up in time to see his two sons and their mother heading towards him, his older boy still teasing his younger brother. Hermione was not amused.
"Andrew," he admonished as they came closer, "leave Hamish alone."
"But…"
"Enough is enough," Harry continued, "leave him alone."
"Well, I still say he and Rachel are in love," Hamish sung out before darting away to join his friends.
"I wish he'd just shut up," Hamish grumped, "Rachel is just a friend."
"I know mate," Harry smiled, "your brother just likes to tease."
"Oh, there's Uncle Ron!" Rose shouted and sure enough, the red hair of Ron could be seen through the crowd.
"Hey Harry," Ron greeted warmly, "did you find a park? I did - right outside. Luna said we should just catch a bus but I really wanted to test out my new licence."
"He drove very well," Luna added, her hand resting on the head of her daughter, who quickly went to Hamish.
"Have you seen Rachel yet?" Star asked enthusiastically.
"No, have you?" Hamish asked back.
"Nope, we just got here. Come on, let's go and find her!"
"Don't forget to take you sister with you," Hermione reminded Hamish just as he went to rush off with Star. Hamish just nodded and gestured to Rose to join them, the three running off into the crowd.
"I still can't believe you called your daughter Star," Harry chuckled as he put his arm across Hermione's shoulders.
"Yeah, well I can't believe you called your son Hamish," Ron shot back with a smile.
"It was my grandfather's name," Hermione said, "I like it. And I like Star - it suits her."
"She really is quite heavenly," Luna added, petting her daughter's owl through the cage.
"How's work, Ron?" Hermione asked as they stood around the small circle of trolleys.
"Good actually," Ron answered, suddenly serious, "we caught Samson yesterday. Been after that bastard for a while."
"I heard about that," Hermione nodded, "our office was buzzing."
"Well, your office better get him a life sentence."
Harry stood back and watched his wife and his best friend discuss the business of catching the evil of the world. Ron had worked himself up to head Auror, really able to come into his own after Harry had left all those years ago. Hermione still worked in the legal division of the Ministry though her focus had moved to more political topics than when she first started there. Having already had success with better working conditions for house elves and better rights for werewolves, her latest undertaking was getting more land for the centaurs.
Meanwhile, Harry had returned to school. When the job of caretaker came up after Filch collapsed and died of a heart attack one summer, Harry had jumped at the chance to work at Hogwarts. He accepted the job of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor when he found out his new wife of a year was expecting their first child and has never looked back. He loved his job and when Professor McGonagall retired, it was strongly rumoured that he would be the next headmaster. Instead, it went to Professor Vector and Harry became deputy.
Now he had a job he loved, a wife that still amazed him and three wonderful children - Andrew, a mixture of himself and Hermione with black, wild hair, hazel eyes, terribly smart and the ability to cause mischief wherever he went. Hamish was the splitting image of Harry but with his mother's more logical temperament while little Rosie was the opposite, looking like Hermione but impulsive and reckless like Harry and was definitely daddy's little girl.
Ron and Luna hadn't been so lucky with having a family of their own. Luna miscarried three times before Star was born, with the little girl seen as a miracle. The birth nearly killed Luna so they had decided they wouldn't try for any more. Luna had taken over her father's paper after he died, with her and Ron moving into the Lovegood home not long after they were married.
The two families were never too far apart, and over the years spent just as much time in Grimmauld Place as they did at Ottery St. Catchpole.
"Harry," Ron muttered, grabbing Harry's attention as the redhead indicated to someone standing just off to the side of them. Draco Malfoy was watching them, his sour looking wife and prissy son at his side. In a way, Harry felt sorry for him, his life once more governed by his family and what was expected of him. Malfoy had returned to being a stuck-up arrogant prat years ago and Ron and his team kept a very careful eye on him.
But today he was just a father seeing his son off to Hogwarts for the first time. And he was also the ex-boyfriend of Ginny. During the few years that the two had dated, Harry had tolerated Malfoy where Ron tried, but couldn't. Which is why Harry gave the blond a brief nod that was returned with the slightest of smiles before walking away.
"We found Rachel!" Rose announced as she, her brother, Star and the object of their search re-joined their parents. Behind them were Ginny and Neville Longbottom, with the rest of their large family.
"Cutting it a bit fine, aren't you Gin?" Ron teased as his sister hugged Luna a hello.
"Yeah, well, someone wouldn't leave the house until she found her favourite sweater," Ginny explained, glaring at the third of her five children, making Rachel grin sheepishly.
Harry couldn't help but chuckle. Ginny had had a string of boyfriends after she broke up with Draco, working with George at the joke shop giving her an endless supply of possible suitors. But when Neville accepted the job as professor of Herbology at Hogwarts and Ginny managing the new shop in Hogsmeade, they started seeing each other and after a whirlwind romance, they were married and expecting the first of their five (nearly six, Ginny was due again in December) children before anyone had really realised they were serious. Ten years later, the two were still in love and seemingly continually expanding the Longbottom clan. Still managing the joke shop while raising the brood, Ginny was always busy and looking more and more like her mother by the minute.
"Right, you lot," Harry instructed, ushering the group of children towards the train, "let's get you all settled."
There was a general cry of acceptance as they all made their way to the train, the kids chattering amongst themselves while the adults fell into conversation. Andrew caught up with them and took charge of his trolley while Rosie, the only first year, was introduced to the wonders of the Hogwarts Express.
It wasn't long after that the train was rearing to go and each family split to say their goodbyes. Andrew, Hamish and Rose stood before Harry and Hermione in anticipation.
"Now, you both look out for your sister," Hermione told the boys.
"Especially you Hamish, since she's in your house," Harry added. With the sorting hat destroyed during the war, the four houses were decided by random choice prior to school starting. It was felt that the traits that separated the students previously no longer had a place - everyone was equal. That's not to say the rivalry between the houses had diminished, it just wasn't as spiteful as before.
"And Andrew - this is your OWLS year so a bit less mucking about and a lot more studying from you, young man," Hermione said sternly, getting a groan from her son.
"I always do good in my tests, mum," Andrew frowned, "this year will be no different."
"Well, I know that," Hermione admitted, "but I think your results are more from luck than design. Just, oh, I don't know, be a bit less disruptive. Some of your fellow classmates aren't blessed with your ability…"
"I'll try," Andrew smiled, "don't worry, mum. I won't let you down!"
"Of that I have no doubt," she smiled back, "right, give me a hug and then you can disappear."
Andrew laughed and gave Hermione a hug - nearly as tall as her now, it was the awkward hug of a teenage boy and his mother.
"See you at school, dad," Andrew shot at Harry then he was gone.
"See you at Christmas," Hermione said to Rose as she gave her a hug, then wiping away the lone tear that had escaped down her daughter's cheek, "oh sweetie, you'll love it at Hogwarts! I know he's a few years older, but Hamish is in the same house as you, so is Star and Rachel - Andy isn't far away. You'll be fine."
"I…I know," Rose whispered, "I'm just scared, I guess."
"It's okay to be scared, Rosie," Harry told her, kneeling down to replace Hermione with a hug, "I mean, I was the first time I ever went…"
"But you didn't know about magic!" she exclaimed, "and you had to be sorted into your houses. That would've been really scary!"
"True," Harry agreed, standing, "but this is all new to you as well. Hamish will look out for you, won't you son?"
"Sure," Hamish grinned confidently, "and Rachel and Star. Don't worry, the Ravenclaw common room is really wicked. And we can visit Andrew at Gryffindor whenever we want…"
"Within curfew," Hermione added.
"Of course, mum," Hamish rolled his eyes, "come on, we better go or we'll miss the train."
He gave Hermione and then Harry a goodbye hug, then waited as Rose did the same. Harry looked down on his little girl, the last of his children to start this magical journey, and he couldn't ignore the wave of sadness that went through him.
"Be strong, little one," he said to her tenderly, "and remember to have fun."
"I will daddy," she replied solemnly, "I love you, daddy."
"I love you too, sweetheart," he smiled at her, gave her one more hug then let her stand next to her brother.
"Love you! Don't forget to write, you two," Hermione instructed and with a final wave, they ran to join their friends aboard the train.
"You know how scarily those two look like you two when you were younger?" Ginny asked as the six adults stood to watch.
"It's quite unnerving, actually," Ron added with a smirk.
"I can't believe my baby's left home," Hermione sighed, and Harry put a comforting arm around her, bringing him into him. She leaned her head on his chest and Harry knew she was trying desperately not to cry.
"I know," Harry agreed, waving to Hamish, Rose, Star and Rachel who were all hanging out of the window, "it seems like only yesterday she was born."
"You could always have another child," Neville suggested, holding the hand of one of their younger children not yet able to join his sister and brothers at Hogwarts.
"Not everyone is trying to produce their own Quidditch team like you and Ginny," Ron joked.
"Besides, I'm back to the office in a couple of weeks," Hermione added with a wistful smile, hugging Harry into her more tightly, "and it will be nice just having Harry to myself again."
"I don't want to know," Ron muttered but then the train started to move and all attention was on the departing children.
Harry waved until they were out of sight, knowing he was being stupid because he would see them all in a few hours when they entered the hall and he was seated at the teachers' table.
But it really felt like part of him had forever changed, grown up. It was the same feeling when he held Andrew in his arms for the first time. Or when Hamish's eyes changed from baby blue to brilliant green and he recognised his mother in his own child's face. Or when little baby Rose looked at him and called him daddy.
He had a family of his own that he loved more than he ever thought possible. Even after nearly twenty years of being together, Hermione still meant everything to him and every day with her was an incredible, exciting journey. So often, especially when Ron was with them, it was like they were back at Hogwarts with the banter and the camaraderie of their friendship always there.
As the train disappeared, Harry casually ran a hand of the scar on his forehead, thinking of how far his life had come.
"Are you alright, Harry?" Hermione asked, looking at him worriedly.
"Fine," he smiled at her, "fantastic, actually. How about you?"
"A bit sad," she admitted, "and feeling rather old."
"You're not old," he told her as they started to leave the platform, "in fact, you're only as old as the man you feel, so I'm told, and since I'm younger than you…"
"Not by much, Mr Potter," she laughed.
"Hey, you two," Ron called out to them, he and Luna hand in hand a few metres in front, "wanna join us for a drink at Diagon Alley?"
"Sure, why not," Harry shrugged, "don't have to be at Hogwarts for a few hours. Okay with you, Hermione?"
"My baby's gone, the house is empty," she sighed, "I have nothing to do so yep, a drink would be good."
"Can I tag along?" a young man asked, coming up next to Hermione.
"Sure Teddy," Harry clapped his godson on the shoulder, "so, Victoire is safely on the train?"
"Yep," Teddy nodded, "thankfully it's the last time. Bill and Fleur are pretty proud she got Head Girl, another Weasley carrying on tradition and all that. Hey, Uncle Ron - good work catching Samson!"
Teddy caught up with his boss and they began to chat about work. Sometimes it was a fine line between being a family friend and being a boss, or being a son or daughter and being a student, but after the years the boundaries are kept with little issue.
With his fingers intertwined with Hermione's, Harry joined in with the group of friends - Ginny laughing with Neville, two of their five children trotting beside them, Ron talking to Teddy Lupin while Luna glided serenely by his side.
"Knut for your thoughts?" his wife asked him, nudging him slightly.
"Just thinking how lucky I am," he told her, "that my life has turned out pretty good."
"It has, hasn't it?" she smiled, stopping so that he stopped too, turning to face her, "do you know how much I love you?"
"Yes," he returned her smile, "probably as much as I love you."
"I'll never tire of hearing you say that," she whispered to him.
"And I'll never tire telling you," he whispered back, "I love you."
She didn't reply, instead she took his face in her hands, gently pulling it towards her. He thought she was going to kiss him but instead, she pulled his head down a little bit further and did the one thing that always made everything he'd been through, all the hardships of his past, disappear. With a gentle touch, she moved away the fringe of his hair, her eyes glowing with so much love and understanding that he felt his throat constrict with emotion and with such softness, she kissed his scar.