A/N - not sure if this is what you were waiting for but its full of lovely fluff, no angst (well, okay, just a little bit) and yet another variation on the epilogue of DH. Hope you like it. Thank you for staying with me on this short journey. I am writing another short one so…
Chapter 8
The grip of the tiny hand in his tightened as they made their way through the gateway to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Harry looked down onto the curly-haired head of his daughter with slight concern.
"Is everything alright, Holly?" he asked his little girl, who now paused as the rest of the Potter family continued into the fray of Hogwarts students. Holly's twin sister, Rose, was with Hermione - her mass of curls dancing in excitement as Rosie bounced on her feet trying to look at everything at once.
"Come on," the twins' older brother, Sam, called out to his sisters, "let's go and get a carriage before they all go!" Immediately, Rosie left her mother and went to Sam, ready to follow him anywhere.
Holly stayed next to Harry.
When Rose realised her sister wasn't with them, she turned in surprise.
"You coming, Hols?"
Harry watched Holly shake her head slightly, telling her sister no in silence - a decision that Rose accepted with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders as she once more was ready to run off with Sam. Harry glanced over the top of his daughter's head to Hermione, asking her with a look if she knew what was going on. His wife copied Holly by shaking her head ever so slightly, telling him wordlessly that this was his and she'll leave him to it. Harry nodded, indicating that he understood, and looked back down to the quiet little girl at his side.
Rose Lily Potter was ten minutes older than her sister and a mirror image in everything except personality. Both girls took after their mother in looks - fly away, uncontrollable brown curls, teeth that had needed to be corrected and an intelligent spark that made them both much older than their tender years.
Yet it was Holly that resembled Hermione in temperament; her strong will, her sense of fair play, her love of books and learning - and a sense of responsibility that sometimes stifled the spontaneity that her sister showed in abundance. Where Rose would follow her older brothers (especially Sam) into situations that sometimes were beyond her capabilities (much to her mother's chagrin), Holly would stay behind in safety…and fret.
Rose had the impetuous streak of her father while Holly was the stable headed, serious reflection of her mother.
Their sons also shared the temperaments of their parents. Andrew, the oldest (a newly appointed prefect and ready to sit his OWL's this year) had the same leadership qualities that his father had demonstrated throughout his life, plus his father's daring and skill on a broom. But he also had an intelligence that made him top in his classes at Hogwarts. Popular with both his peers and teachers, Harry and Hermione often joked that Andrew will be the first Potter Minister of Magic as he made the perfect politician. Yet for all his charm, his abilities and his knowledge that he was rather dashing in looks (keeping his black curls cropped tightly to his head displayed his Potter jaw and Granger brown eyes to their best potential), he kept his feet firmly planted on ground.
Sam didn't.
Now in his third year at Hogwarts, it was Sam who caused the most trouble. Constantly pushing the boundaries before him, he spent a lot of his time in detention - or the hospital wing. Together with Alfie Weasley, the two boys were quickly having a reputation that matched Fred and George Weasley, much to Harry and Hermione's despair. With a charm that melted the resolve of even the strongest disciplinarian, Sam was also a favourite of Hogwarts.
The fifth child of the Potter household wasn't a Potter at all. Teddy Lupin had been living with Harry and Hermione since his grandmother died suddenly of a heart attack five years before. Now in his final year at Hogwarts, Teddy wore his Head Boy badge with pride and had plans of being an Auror, just like his mother.
But for Harry, it was the child still clinging onto his hand that had his focus. He tried so hard not to have favourites, and he treated all his children the same - but there was a connection between himself and his youngest daughter that was never exploited but was also not disputed.
Holly was definitely Harry's little girl.
Crouching down to Holly's level, he took her hands in his as he tried to read her face to get a clue of why she was so quiet.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" he asked gently, smiling when eyes that were the same as his looked up through long, dark lashes. Harry had grown up in the wizarding community being told over and over again that he looked like his father but with his mother's eyes. Now, his two girls were constantly told that they were the splitting image of their mother - yet have their father's eyes. It always made him laugh.
"Nothing," Holly replied, shrugging to emphasise her one word answer, yet her eyes darted away betraying her lie.
"You know, I was scared on my first time on the Express," Harry told her, guessing that perhaps it was nerves that had upset her, "it's okay to be nervous…"
"But you knew no-one," Holly interrupted, once more looking at Harry with a bit of fire, "you were all alone! I have Rose, and Sam and Andrew and Teddy! Plus all the Weasley's! I shouldn't be scared!"
"But you are?"
"I guess," she admitted reluctantly.
"It's alright to be a bit apprehensive," Harry tried to reassure, "and as you say, you have your family around you. Even me…"
"But that's just it," Holly cut in again, this time tears welling up in her eyes, "everyone knows you and mum! I mean, you're our Deputy Headmaster and the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher ever and you saved the world and everything. And…and mum's nearly the Chief Wizengamot, and changed heaps of laws and things. And now Andy is a prefect this year and the top of the class. Even Sam is really popular. And Rose will fit in where ever she goes, she'll make friends really easily. But…but I'm not like her! All I am is smart! But…but I'm a Potter! Everyone will expect great things from me because I'm the 'intelligent twin'. Everyone will expect me to be like mum and…and I look just like her! What if I'm not smart enough? What if…what if I make a fool of myself and let you and mum down? What if…what if I'm just stupid and ugly and won't make any friends…"
"Holly…"
"…I mean, when mum first went to Hogwarts, she had no friends," Holly carried on, not hearing her father, "and Uncle Ron said it was because she was a…a insufferable know-it-all! That's what Sam calls me all the time! Maybe I just think I'm smart and over-compensate! Maybe I'm not smart at all!"
She looked up at Harry in horror, her green eyes glistening with tears.
"Oh, honey," Harry consoled, engulfing her into a hug, his hand resting on the large clip that kept her curls at bay at the nap of her neck. After a moment, he pulled back and gently wiped away her tears that had finally fell. Holly sniffed loudly, "I didn't realise you've put yourself under all this pressure," he told her softly, "because you don't need to - your mum and I would be proud of you, no matter what."
"Even…even if I'm not as smart as everyone thinks I am?" she whispered.
"As long as you try your best," Harry reassured, "that's all we ask of any of you."
"But what if my best isn't good enough?" she asked, barely above a whisper.
"Your best will always be good enough," Harry tried to reassure, "and being a Potter…well, it does mean that there are some people who expect more from you because of your name. But remember, we talked about this. About what to do if others pick on you because of who you are. Do you remember?"
"Don't retaliate," Holly replied, still quiet but with slightly more conviction, "ignore them as much as I can. If it continues, tell Andrew or Teddy. If it's really bad, to tell you."
"That's right," Harry smiled, "and none of the teachers will expect more from you because you're a Potter. You're your own person, Holly and that's all you ever need to be. Because you, Holly Helen, are wonderful just as you are."
"Thank you, daddy," Holly gushed, wrapping her tiny arms around Harry's neck and Harry let out a sigh of relief. He realised that this particular conversation would probably continue at a later date, but for now he had allayed her fears and she could enjoy the start of her years at Hogwarts.
"Blimey Harry, you're gonna be seeing the kid again in a couple of hours - you gotta let her go, mate."
Harry felt Holly pull away from him, allowing him to look up at the grinning face of Ron Weasley.
"Uncle Ron!" Holly cried, quickly leaving Harry to hug Ron.
"Hey you," Ron said, giving Harry a huge stage wink, "now, which one are you? Are you the smart one or the cheeky one? I can never tell…"
"I'm the smart one," Holly told him with a mock frown.
Harry stood up and watched the interaction of his family and friends with a satisfied smile. Hermione came to him and asked quietly about his conversation with Holly. He told her he'd tell her later, draping an arm across her shoulders and bringing her closer to him.
Ron and Luna started chatting to them, their five children surrounding them in various forms of chaos. Only the two eldest were on their way to Hogwarts - Rupert was now a sixth year while Alfie was with Sam in their third. Colin, Stuart and Kenny were waiting in the wings, with Colin due to start the following year.
Harry loved watching the mayhem that was the Weasley's. Ron and Luna had got together two years after himself and Hermione got married, but began producing children immediately. Luna seemed to complete Ron in a way that no-one really understood but they were both deliriously happy. Ron still ran the shop at Hogsmeade, which was now a thriving business, while Luna stayed at home and raised the family though still writing articles here and there for her father's paper.
Sam and Rose had returned and immediately, Sam and Alfie got together and began mucking around. Holly went to Rose and finally seemed to relax a bit - Harry just stood back and watched it all. This was the best part of his life, the part that he enjoyed the most - being with his family and friends.
With Andrew and Teddy talking seriously at the edge of the crowd, Luna trying to placate a crying Stuart and Kenny, Ron playing around with Colin, Alfie and Sam seeing who could burp the loudest, Holly and Rose laughing at the boys antics and Hermione frantically trying to restore order - Harry was content.
"Samuel Sirius Ronald Potter - if you don't stop that this instant I'll make sure the only thing you'll get served for the first week at Hogwarts is Brussels sprouts!"
Hermione's reprimand tugged Harry out of his haze as he felt her leave him to stare down their son - now as tall as her.
"You can't do that…" Sam started before cowering under his mother's glare.
"Try me," she threatened and immediately the burping stopped. Any further discussion was halted as the train's whistle caused a sudden influx of activity.
"Sorry mum," Sam conceded contritely, though shared a smirk with his friend when his mother's back was turned. Harry smiled along with him, also hiding his mirth from Hermione, then ushered Sam towards the train. Teddy and Andrew gave both Harry and Hermione quick good-bye hugs before disappearing into the train to start their head boy and prefect duties. Sam also wanted to rush off, Alfie having already said his good-byes and had followed his older brother, but instead stayed and waited for his sister's to say their farewells.
Harry hugged his girls with a sheen in his eyes. He could remember the first time he held them in his arms like it was yesterday, and now they were going to school. Not for the first time, he wondered where all the time had gone. Rosie was soon standing by Sam and this time waited for her more timid sister.
"I'll see you at the Sorting Ceremony, sweetie," he told Holly, "you'll be fine."
"Love you daddy," she breathed into his shoulder, making him hug her more tightly.
"I love you too, Holly," he replied then let her go to her mother.
Hermione stood next to him as their children made their way onto the train. He pulled her close, knowing that she needed some comfort now all her children had gone - his instinct proven when she wrapped her arms around him whilst sniffing back a tear. Sam, Alfie, Rose and Holly were all leaning out of the train window so they could still see their parents, Ron and Luna standing next to Harry and Hermione.
"You'd think," Sam stated with a small frown, "that they'd all get used to seeing us by now. 'Specially since dad teaches most of them at school. I wish they'd stop staring."
"Who says they're staring at you lot, kiddo," Ron retorted, indicating to those on the platform that were giving their party clandestine looks, "it could be me, you know. I am incredibly famous after all."
Harry laughed along with everyone else, but something clicked over in his brain - a memory of something long ago. His brow furrowed as he tried to remember what it was, why that turn of phrase seemed so familiar. His puzzlement paused as the train began to pull away and he waved his good-byes to his children. They waited until the train had fully disappeared before moving off the platform and separating from the Weasley's, who had to take the remaining children to their grandparents for lunch.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asked as they entered the Muggle part of Kings Cross, "you seem rather quiet."
"Yeah, I'm fine I guess," he replied, once more trying to work out what triggered the sense of de-ja-vu.
"They'll be alright," she continued - and it came to him. A dream from a life time ago, a dream where he had been married to Ginny and had three children called James, Albus and Lily. A dream where he didn't touch his wife. A dream where he didn't speak to one of his best friends. A dream where he hadn't wanted his godson to live with them because it would mean his sons would have to share a room. A dream where Hermione had been married to Ron whose insecurities had still ruled his words.
"My dream," he uttered as he stopped when the memories came flooding back. His son's middle name had been Severus, Neville had been the Herbology professor, Draco Malfoy had a son and for some bizarre reason, Ron had got a Muggle driver's licence.
"Dream?" Hermione repeated, looking at Harry with concern.
"Yes, dream," Harry said excitedly, "remember? When I woke up after defeating Voldemort, that really weird dream…"
He could see Hermione try and remember, sifting through the wonders of her brain until she found the memory that was now so vivid for him. He waited as patiently as he could and found himself grinning when he saw the look of recollection cross her face.
"You were married to Ginny," she whispered, "and I was married to Ron. You had three children…"
"…James, Albus and Lily," Harry supplied.
"…and Ron and I had Rose and Hugo, I believe," Hermione finished.
"That's right," Harry chuckled, "Ron didn't like my choice in names."
"We were seeing the kids off to Hogwarts, just like now," she carried on, thinking hard, "and you and I didn't speak." She looked up at him then, frowning, "what made you recall this, Harry?" she asked.
"Something Ron said, about everyone looking at him not me, because he's the one that's famous," Harry explained, smiling broadly, "he said practically the same thing in my dream. And then you told me that the children will be alright. That's what dream Ginny told me when the train pulled away."
"Gosh," she muttered thoughtfully.
"I can't believe I once thought that was the ideal," Harry smiled, looking down fondly at his wife, "that I had ever thought my life would be complete without you being in it with me, by my side. I really was rather stupid, wasn't I?"
"Well, yes, you were a bit slow on the uptake," Hermione grinned back at him playfully, "but we got there in the end."
"We certainly did," he agreed, kissing her softly, "are you okay?" he asked her as he pulled away, his eyes searching hers to see if there was any sorrow in their depths.
"My babies have all grown up," she sighed dramatically, "now all I have is you."
"That's not so bad, is it?" he questioned with mock seriousness.
"I guess not," she pouted, "I suppose I'll cope somehow. Especially since the other girls in your life are now at Hogwarts."
"True," Harry replied, "blimey, I'm going to miss those two."
"So am I," Hermione admitted, this time all joking had gone. Harry hugged her to him and rested his cheek on top of her head, his mind going over the lives of his daughters, images of his two sons intertwined with them. He had the family he always dreamed of with the woman he loved more than life itself.
All was well.
A/N2 - so there you go, no breakdown of how they got married, like some wanted, just love and happiness. I was trying to work in Neville and Ginny - in my mind, Neville is Head Auror, by this stage, and happily married (to the lady I introduced in this story) with children of his own. Ginny is happily single, working as a Quidditch player or at the Witches Weekly or something like that. There you go, my 'not in the story' story (still can't believe that JKR had to tell us how her characters turned out outside of the series. It really grates me…)
Anyway, until next time - have fun!!