Epilogue:
It's been fifteen years since that one summer before his sixth year. The summer after in which everything changed for Harry. So much had happened because of that one realisation and the plan Sirius made for him before his death. Harry was forever grateful for Sirius for helping him stand on his own, giving him the means to survive.
The trials at the end of the second Wizarding War had been horrifying to listen to. Amelia had cleaned up the Ministry from all corruption and got all the known Death Eaters with some help from Croaker. Honestly, she told them it was quite simple. While interrogating them, they dosed the suspect with a truth potion. Not a very strong one, just one strong enough to encourage them to tell the full truth.
They all told Amelia and Croaker of all the people they knew who were either Death Eater themselves, corrupt or doing something illegal. She cleaned up the Ministry and opened up a lot of jobs for muggleborns and halfbloods. Finally people could get a job because they were the best for it instead of how pure their blood was or their connections.
Amelia Bones became the best Minister of Magic in modern history while she wasn't even a year in office yet.
Fudge had even been one of the first to be accused. Soon sentenced for corrupion, he was forced to donate all the money he made to charity and would still be paying his debt of for the rest of his life. Cornelius Fudge was never heard of again.
Harry had been expected to attent the trials himself in one of his seats as a Lord of the Wizengamot, so he had heard every word, every deed these people had done. Dumbledore's had been the worst of them but Snape's, Lupin's, the Malfoys and Umbridge's hadn't been easy to witness either.
It was uncomfortable to hear about Snape's love or obsession of Lily Potter while the man was under a truth potion. Everything he did after passing the Prophecy to Voldemort was for her and for her alone. He even admitted that the only reason he kept protecting Harry, other than his vow and guilt, was because of his eyes, his mothers eyes. He wanted to keep that small part of Lily in his life. As if Harry's eyes were the only thing he got from his mother. Dumbledore took advantage of that obsession but Snape allowed it quite happily.
Severus Snape got charged with three years in Azkaban and a lifelong community service for the kidnapping of an underage child and the years he spent as Death Eater. A light sentence, but Snape had mostly been a Potions Master and spy for Voldemort and had not been part of the raids. He would be providing potions for Saint Mungos for the rest of his life and will never be allowed to teach or be in any way responsible for children again. Harry was satisfied with that.
Dolores Umbridge had been found guilty for the torture of underage children, treason and corruption. Her delight in her time in the detentions she assigned her so-called 'misbehaving' students was obscene. Thirty-nine students came forward, all with scars on the back of their hands. She was still serving her life sentence in Azkaban. Harry, and all of her victims, couldn't be happier to know that the Toad was finally getting her punishment without the escape of death.
Lupin, Remus Lupin was more difficult. In his trial it had come out that he was mentally unstable due to broken pack bonds. His mind was broken, his wolf furious and lashing out. The Wizarding World knew little about werewolves and had even less sympathy for Remus Lupin after his crimes against their Boy-Who-Lived came out. He too got sentenced to Azkaban.
Lupin would serve a eleven year sentence in the prison. A year for each year he didn't check up on Harry while he was living on Privet Drive. It was a bit extreme Harry thought but Remus had shared some worrying views while he was being questioned.
Remus would be in prison almost as long as Sirius had rotted in there. Harry hoped they'd given the wolf Sirius old cell.
The trial of the three Malfoys had been hard for Harry. Narcissa and Draco were members of the House of Black even though he wasn't sure if he wanted to keep them. In their trial in came out that Draco had been marked already. Voldemort had given him the job of killing Dumbledore. Draco hadn't wanted too, but he had little choice. Draco had gotten ten years of community service, in the hopes that it would teach the spoiled brat some lessons.
Narcissa got her freedom back. She asked for a divorce and Harry and the rest of the Wizengamot granted it to her. The proud woman had been furious that her husband sold their son to the Dark Lord and wanted nothing to do with him anymore. Narcissa was a snob, and very much a proud pureblood but Harry didn't think her evil. She could stay as a member of House Black.
Lucius on the other hand...
Lucius Malfoy got a life sentence for terrorisme, corruption, fraud and attempted murder. He lost his son, his wife and probably worst of all to the proud man, he lost his reputation. He was still rotting in Azkaban in Bellatrix's old room.
Remus got out a few years ago. Harry heard he moved to France where he joined a werewolf community for a little while before he left them too and disappeared. Lupin never contacted any of them and Harry found he was alright with that. The man was no friend, no family to him. Tonks and her family were quite relieved that Remus kept away, she would have cursed him silly as soon as he showed his face for what he had done.
Sometimes Harry wondered if perhaps Andromeda and Ted had done something to his former teacher for what he did to their daughter but it was just as likely that the man had run away. Either way, Remus would never get to hurt Tonks's baby boy with his self-hatred.
Reminiscing while laying in bed, curled up with his wife wasn't something he got to do often and this time wasn't any different. The bedroom door opened and little footsteps approached the bed.
"Dad! Daddy!" Harry opened his eyes and groaned quietly as his son tried to climb up the side of the bed. Their bed was a big wooden four poster bed, large enough to fit a big family in it if they'd wanted to. Unfortunately, it was a bit too high for his little boy to reach on his own.
After he slipped off the covers for the second time, James pouted as he let out a demanding, "Daddy!"
His wife mumbled quietly from where she was burried under the covers, "He's your son when it's this early."
Snorting, Harry reached out and picked the four year old up and pulled him on the bed. "James Wendell Potter, why are you awake already? The sun is barely up."
James gave him look that made Harry happy he didn't know the word 'imbecile' yet. It was the same one James mother gave him when Harry did something particularly stupid. His son was a sweet boy, smart and as energetic as most boys his age are. His grandparents portrait told him that he was much like Harry's father in his childhood, just a bit less spoiled. Alphard's portrait said the same, just about Sirius. Either way, Harry didn't mind. James was perfect just the way he was, if you asked him.
"Mummy!" James whisper-shouted happily as the boy crawled over Harry to reach her. "It's my birthday! The best day of the whole year!"
"Really?" Hermione asked and pulled him into a warm hug as James cuddled up to her. "Congratulation then! But love, did you notice that your shirt is on inside-out and that your socks don't match?"
"Dobby said it's better when socks don't match," James declared solumnly before turning his begging eyes on his parents. "It's my birthday! We have to go and make my super special birthday breakfast, Mum. Can Daddy come help me make the super secret birthday pancakes?"
Harry snorted, Dobby still loved his socks to Effy's fond exasperation. The stranger and more colorful the better, and Harry had the feeling that all of his children would be wearing their socks just like him. Currently, James was wearing one bright Gryffindor red sock with little moving snitches on it and on his other foot a brown one with green cats on it.
Hermione shot him a smirk, "Yes, your Dad will go help you make your birthday pancakes, won't he?"
Fighting back a groan ant the thought of getting up already, Harry rolled his eyes at her over James head. Hermione was lucky she was such a bad cook, no one ever asked her to help them cook something, lucky woman.
Smirking back at her over their son's dark curls he said, "And your mum needs to go and prepare Lyra for the day, doesn't she, James?"
"Yes! Mummy go get Lyra for my birthday breakfast!"
Hermione raised an eyebrow at their son and he quickly amended, "Mummy, could you please get Lyra so we can eat my super secret birthday pancakes together?"
Kissing James on his forehead she agreed and went to get up and out of bed to get their two year old daughter. Harry had to keep a stupid smile of his face when her night shirt caught on the small bumb of her stomach. James didn't know yet, but he would be getting another sibling in about six months.
Harry and Hermione have been together for fifteen years and still Harry couldn't believe his luck. They'd dated for five years before Harry asked Hermione to marry him in front of her parents at a family dinner. Then they had a long engagement, since they first wanted to focus on their careers. Harry married his best friend on their ten year anniversary surrounded by their friends and family.
Harry got his mastery first in Defense and then Transfiguation. It took four years of work and study in a magical college in Italy with Hermione and Neville but they did it. Afterwards they came back to England permanently and Harry became a teacher at Hogwarts. He didn't live there as most teachers of Hogwarts did as he and Hermione wanted to live in Potter Manor, as a family.
Harry also sat together with Neville in the Wizengamot. He had his four votes, Black, Peverell, Slytherin and Potter and Neville had his Longbottom vote as Susan had her Bones vote. Harry and his siblings in all but blood made for a very powerful voting block together with their allies.
They had been making a lot of changes. Good ones.
Harry needed to make the Wizarding World a better place for his children. It was hard work, but with the help of his friends and allies it was happening. There were now laws in place for the treatment of House Elves. They might need their bond to a witch or wizard, but Harry fought for their rights to be treated humanely. Abuse was abuse and Harry would not tolerate it.
They also made more laws to make sure no child was left in an abusive home. There was now the option of an orphanage for underage wizards and wizard for the worst cases or if there was nobody left to take the child in. Molly Weasley was in charge of it since the time all her children left the Burrow and she was feeling empty nest-like. She excelled in taking care of lonely children, Harry knew.
Now they were working on making foster families more of a thing in the Wizarding World. The kids deserved a family of their own and Harry would try his very best to make sure they got a good one.
Perhaps Hermione and he would take one in sometime in the future. They have the space, money and love enough for ten children and Hermione told him recently that three pregnancies were enough.
Harry understood. He had never been more horrified and in awe of his wife as she was giving birth to their children.
Hermione got her mastery in Law, Charms and Potions. She became a fearsome lawyer and politican and was fighting for the rights of creatures and muggleborns. She was also his proxy for the Wizengamot. Harry had four seats so he had asked Hermione, Andromeda and Gran to fill them when he couldn't.
The poor old geezers of the Wizengamot feared the days Harry couldn't make it. His proxy's were delightfully vicious.
Looking at his son while he was putting the 'secret ingredient' that looked a lot like chocolate chips into the batter with such a concentrated look on his face, his little pink tong sticking out, Harry was stuck by the feeling of absolute joy. Harry's life had been difficult but looking at his son, knowing his wife and daughter were upstairs getting ready for the day, he knew he would do it all over again just to have this.
His sixth year at Hogwarts after Dumbledore's arrest had been surprisingly normal. The whole school had been relieved to know the man was finally caught. They could breath again, knowing that the danger has passed.
Dumbledore got a full health scan by multiple Healers and they all agreed with Andromeda, Dumbledore had a magical version of dementia which he had been self-medicating. Self-medicating poorly. The wit-shaperning potions addiction came with it's own drawbacks but all the Healers agreed that Dumbledore had been mostly sound of mind when commiting his crimes.
Albus Dumbledore had once been a good man. Unfortunately, his disease stripped him of all that made him so.
He had been suffering for around twenty years and no one noticed a change in his behavior, but Harry wasn't surprised by that. The people in the Wizarding World were lazy sheep for the most part. Dumbledore had known what he had to do to keep being in power and he did everything he could to do it.
In his trial it all came out. The laws he passed, the changes he made, the things he did in Hogwarts. What he did in the war.
He had asked Lily and James Potter to move to the cottage knowing it was less safe than Potter Manor. He thought he knew what the Prophecy meant and went to make sure it happend as he thought it should. He might not have killed them himself but he made it possible that it could happen.
Dumbledore had wanted Harry to have as much as the same upbringing as Tom Riddle had, to make sure Harry really was the boy's equel. Dumbledore told the Wizengamot in his potion induced droning voice how it was sad to see James and Lily Potter light snuffed out but that it had to happen for the Greater Good.
There needed to be a recess called after that. Harry sat there, frozen, in his box. Voldemort might have been the weapon, but Dumbledore had been the hand guiding them all. His parents were dead because of the both of them.
It also came out that Dumbledore had known about Sirius innocence for years and the way Harry was treated on Privet Drive. He had known Quirrell was possesed and purposely put Harry and all the other students in danger to test Harry. Not to mention all that happened in Harry's other years at Hogwarts.
Dumbledore had been behind most, if not all of the danger Harry found himself in, and if he wasn't then he allowed it to happen.
For his crimes Dumbledore got his magic permanently bound and he got sentenced to a life in Azkaban. Some people wanted the death sentence but due to his illness and curse, it was decided that Azkaban was a better punishment for the little time the man had left. Harry was satisfied, Dumbledore didn't deserve a quick end. Let him suffer from the rotting curse as he slowly died, magic bound and helpless.
And as it turned out, Fawkes was happy to be rid of his former companion. He was still living in Hogwart but now he was often found in Harry's office or classroom if he wasn't with Professor McGonagall in her office.
In his trial it also came out what exactly happened with Grindelwald and where the man was now. Dark Lord he might have been but he didn't deserve the total isolement he was in now in Nurmengard. Moving him was an easy decision now that Dumbledore wasn't there to block it anymore.
Grindelwald and Dumbledore shared adjoining cells for about a year before Dumbledore died. Grindelwald joined him within a day. Good riddance, Harry and his friends and family thought.
Rita had written a book about the star-crossed lovers. She also had written a book about Dumbledore called: The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore. It was a very populair book. It was a warning to never give a man so much power again.
"Daddy? Isn't the pancake done now?" A voice asked.
Harry focused and saw that a very brown pancake was sizzeling in the pan. Ruffling his son's messy hair, Harry decided to pay a bit more attention before he burned the Manor down around them.
Hermione came into the kitchen carrying their sleepy daughter. Lyra Lily Potter-Black was recently two years old and a mirror image of her mother, just with Harry's coloring. Her big green eyes twinkled at him as she made grabby hand in his direction.
Kissing her head as he did every morning, he turned back to the pancakes he was baking.
Dobby and Effy popped in with their own daughter, a cute little Elfling called Libby. The couple had been with them for so long now that they had become a true part of their family. They regularly ate together although the Elves did have their own little home on the grounds of Potter Manor.
Winky joined them soon after and took over the cooking so Harry could sit with the birthday boy who had lost interest in making the pancakes and was now playing peek-a-boo with his little sister. Winky had become the nanny Elf of the children and she trived in her job. Kreacher was still living in Grimmauld Place but the grumpy Elf was still an important part of their family.
Sitting down at the table Harry looked at his family and smiled. James's hazel green eyes were shining as he looked at the pile of 'super special birthday pancakes' in front of him. They sang happy birthday as Lyra happily babbled along.
Hermione hugged him and said, "Blow out the candle, love, and make a wish."
James closed his eyes and puffed up his little cheeks as he tried to gather enough air to blow out the candle sitting in the pancakes. Their little chipmunk opened his eyes and blew.
Smiling at the cute scene Harry told the little boy, "Happy birthday, son. Enjoy your pancakes, and as you know this afternoon we will be celebrating your birthday with everybody."
Harry's and Hermione's son didn't need to be told twice. The little boy attacked his pancakes with a joy that reminded Harry of Hedwig viciously snatching up and eating a wild mouse. Hedwig was sleeping now, from a night of hunting together with her mate, Othello and her two children Selene and Helios. His girl had raised her first nest well, and had another one a few years ago.
Selene and Helios were still with them. Hermes was Hermione's owl but he spent most of his time with Hermione's parents. The second brood of Hedwig and Othello had been two little female snowy owls they had called Adara and Astra. They had bonded with Tonks and her family but still visited regulary.
Lyra was enjoying her pancake as much as her big brother from what Harry saw. She was already covered in syrup and was trying to copy her brother's eating habits. Harry handed his wife a napkin and Hermione wiped Lyra's face before doing the same to a pouting James.
Hermione was adding some fresh fruit on her and their childrens plates and Harry decided to copy her. Kreacher and Dobby had found some very nice blueberries, pineapple and watermelon in the markets today so it wasn't any hardship.
Later today all their friends and their families would join them to celebrate James fifth birthday. The group had gotten quite big over the years but luckily, Potter Manor had more than enough room. The Elves had been preparing so everything was ready for the horde that would decent on them for James birthday.
Neville had married Hannah right after Hogwarts. They had four children now who they'd named Hadria, Frank, Alice and Sophie. Hadria was Harry's goddaugther as Neville was James's. Hermione was the godmother of Sophie, Neville and Hannah's youngest daugther. All the children just called them aunt Hermione and uncle Harry.
Neville started teaching Herbology at Hogwarts after he got his Mastery with them in Italy and Hannah started a boarding house in Diagon Alley, a lifelong dream of hers.
Susan married her boyfriend Daniel two years ago and they couldn't be happier. Harry was glad, they'd been starting to worry that Susan would never take that step. Like her aunt, Susan was a bit of a workaholic. Luckily, Daniel had the patience of a saint and picked the right moment to propose. She and Daniel were both Aurors.
Hermione told him that Susan and Daniel had been looking into adoption lately so hopefully there would be more nieces and nephews soon from that direction.
Ginny's still happily single to her mothers despair. She was the seeker for the Hollyhead Harpies and enjoying every minute of it. His friend needed the freedom, Harry knew. Hermione told him in confidence that Ginny had told her she wasn't planning on ever settleling down in the way her mother wanted for her.
Ginny didn't want the 2-3 kids and the little white fence. She wanted adventure, to travel and meet new people. Perhaps someday she would find someone to travel with her but she would never be happy with what Molly wanted for her only daugther.
Luna met her partner Rolf when on one of her expeditions. They had a little boy James age named Lorcan. They were both magizoologist and Luna had also taken over her father's magazine. It had gotten succesful after the war and was now one of the most important rescources on magical creatures.
Ron had married Lavender after an accidental pregnancy in their last year of Hogwarts. The two had started dating the year before and had been disgustingly affectionate with each other, they still were. The couple was now on child number five and Harry wondered if they wanted to field a Quidditch team on their own. Ron works with the twins now in their shop in Hogsmeade after he quit his job at the Ministry and Lavender was a journalist for Witch Weekly.
Fred and George had married Angelina and Katie respectively. Poor woman both got pregnant with twins around the same time. The two sets of identical twins were now eight years old and as mischievous as their fathers. Fred and George had now shops all over Britain and were doing very well. Fred and Angie had two identical girls called Georgina and Lorena.
George and Katie had their twins only a few days later, two identical red-haired boys called Fabian and Fredrick. Katie was pregnant again now and Harry hoped she would give birth soon. The poor woman was already a week past her due date and was complaining to everyone she saw.
Tonks gave birth to her baby a few months before Harry's sixth year ended. She named her son Theodore after her father, Theodore Charles. Little Teddy was a Metamorphus like his mother and Harry's nephew and godson. The boy loved his nephew-uncle sleep overs when Harry was out of Hogwarts. He had given the boy a little toddler toy broom in Sirius honor and the kid had loved it. His parents a little bit less, hence the sleep overs when Hogwarts holidays started.
Charlie eventually married Tonks at little Teddy's two year old urging and together they soon had another two girls, Cassiopeia and Amalthea. Star names for the guy who brought the two together again after their seperation. Teddy, Cassie and Amy Weasley.
Gran, Andromeda and Ted couldn't be happier or prouder at how their family was growing. All of them, with their families joined them that afternoon for James his sixth birthday.
The boy was very excited to see all his cousins and friends again and was running all over the place like an excited puppy. Harry was happy. Happy that his son was so innocently joyful, happy that he could give his children what he never had in his own childhood.
Harry had only seen Dudley again of his own relatives. His cousin had moved to Australia all those years ago with his parents after Harry left them. Dudley had indeed cleaned up his act and had severed all contact with his parents after a big fight while Dudley had been home from college.
You see, Dudley had fallen in love some years ago. He met Yuri in college and they quickly fell in love. Deeply and utterly in love. Yuri was kind, cheerful and patient which was exactly what her socially clumsy husband needed.
Unfortunately, Petunia and Vernon didn't like that their son was seeing a Japanese woman even if she had been born and raised in Australia. That was the last drop as far as Dudley was concerned. He already saw them very little because of how he realised they treated his cousin, but now they also insulted the love of his life.
Dudley never saw them again. He married Yuri, took her name, and together they had two lovely little girls, Hana and Nara Takao. Hana was of an age with Harry's own daughter Lyra and Nara had only been born recently.
Harry had met with his cousin a few times over the years but that was it. Harry didn't know yet if the girls were magical but if they were, then they would be in good hands with his cousin and Yuri. Harry too would be there for them but not yet. It was good that his cousin lived all the way in Australia, for the both of them.
It was still too hard for the both of them, the pain still too fresh. They mostly write each other and sent Christmas carts. Yet Harry knew that if Dudley needed him, or if he needed Dudley, that they would be there for each other. They were family.
Vernon and Petunia lived a lonely life. Their son refused to see them and they had no family or friends. Vernon lost his job and soon Petunia had to find work of her own which made Vernon furious. They kept having little accidents and were just very unlucky overall. To top it all, their house burned down only a month after the big fight with Dudley about his little 'friend'.
What they didn't know is that while Harry didn't want anything to do with them, his loved ones didn't agree to let them go without any punishment. Susan and Ginny might have been the ones that burned their house down and Hermione might have cast a little karma curse on them.
Even Andromeda and Gran had some fun of their own. They made sure the whole neighborhood knew what horrible people they were and cursed them to relive Harry's childhood from his perspective in their dreams. That might have been the best punishment of all. Their neighbors knew what horrible people they were and now even their dreams turned on them.
Even Neville might have gone on a little trip and spooked them a few times in his Animagus form. Just a little chase, so they could feel how it was to be hunted.
Vernon and Petunia Dursley were left a paranoid mess. Alone and unloved with no one to safe them. Hermione was satisfied. Those horrible people would never hurt her husband ever again. She made sure of it.
Harry just pretended he didn't know what they were doing.
"Daddy! Mommy! Look at what Hadria and I made!" James looked so very proud as he stood there with Harry's goddaughter and George's twins. George and Katie and Neville and Hannah came over to see what their little troublemakers had done now. Katie, even holding on George's arm, was waddling everywhere, so close to popping she was.
Hermione kneeled down to their level and admired the drawning, "Well done! Are you having a nice time, James?"
James grinned, "Yes, Mummy! I love my birthday and my presents and my friends!"
Hadria, Fabian and Fredrick nodded very hard behind his son and Harry laughed, "Good. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."
Suddenly James asked, "Daddy?"
Looking at his nervous son Harry asked back, "Yes?"
James looked down and shuffled with his feet, "Do you think I could get a little brother for my birthday?" James stage-whispered, "It's my special candle wish."
Harry shared a look over his head with Hermione. Hermione nodded subtly and asked their son, "Why are you asking that, love?"
"Well, Hadria got a little brother and Frederick and Fabian will have a little brother soon too! I love Lyra, mummy, but she's a girl. Can you and Daddy get me a little brother too?"
Their adult guests laughed. Harry grinned down at his son and took Hermione's hand in his. Rubbing his finger over the wedding ring on her finger he said, "James, love, we didn't want to tell this just yet but since it is your birthday..."
Hermione continued, "In a few months there will be a little brother for you and Lyra." She put her hand on her stomach and smiled, "Would you both like that?"
James nodded furiously with a happy grin on his face as he hugged their legs before running of with his friends all the while shouting that he was gonna be a big brother again.
Lyra, who was playing with some of the other toddlers on a blanket on the ground asked, "Lyra be big sisser?" Her big green eyes shining.
"Yes, darling." Harry said to his baby girl, "You and James will get a little brother in a few months."
Lyra nodded seriously, "Good."
With that said she turned her attention back to the toys laying on the ground. Hermione laughed gently and put her head on his shoulder. Harry kissed the side of her head and looked at the happy faces of the people surrounding them.
Their friends and family congratulated them. Hermione's parents were especially happy to hear they would be grandparents of another grandchild. Harry had a good relationship with his parents-in-law. They met and ate dinner together at least once a week and the children loved being babysat by them while Harry and Hermione loved some private time of their own.
Soon everybody with young children left and it was only their close family left.
Tonks and Charlie approached with their three children, to say congratulations and goodbye. Charlie was carrying Cassie who was to tired to walk after the busy day. The eight year old and currently purple haired little girl was the youngest of the three and was one hell of a firecracker who loved to run around after her younger cousins and friends.
Teddy stayed behind and asked cheekily, "Uncle Harry, can you help me with my DADA paper? The DA teacher is just so strict, he even wants us to write an 12 inch paper about Wendigo's of all things. In our summer vacation!" The outraged look on his godson's face did it, Harry burst out laughing.
"Sorry, kid. Just be glad I didn't ask my students for even more than that."
Teddy glared, "But you will help me right? It's my OWL year!"
Holding his hands up in the air Harry assured the now blue haired teenager, "Of course I will help you, Teddy. Just floo right over tomorrow, okay?"
"Thanks, uncle Harry. You're a lifesafer!" Harry snorted as Teddy ran of after the rest of his family, his hair turning Weasley red again as he joined his dad and little sister. Teddy was a good kid if a bit on the dramatic side. He was going in his fifth year of Hogwarts after this summer and he was a Hufflepuff. He was good friends with Bill's girl, Victoire Weasley and Ron's oldest daughter Rosalie who were sure to turn up too for his godson's tutoring session.
Teddy's younger sister, Amalthea Andromeda Weasley was going to Hogwarts for her first year this September 1st. The little cute as a button redhead was a shoe-in for Gryffindor, Harry thought, together with quite a few of her cousins.
His nieces and nephew from Tonks and Charlie were wonderful children but boy did they take after Ginny and the twins. His poor sister must be exhausted after managing that every day. On the other hand, Tonks was quite the mischief maker herself.
Harry was just glad that James and Lyra were a lot calmer.
Gran hugged them both and asked, "Shall we meet for tea in a few days? We can celebrate and talk some more about the coming Wizengamot session. Andromeda told me she has some new information for us."
"Madam Nightingale's," Hermione decided quickly. "I'll make reservations for eleven the day after tomorrow for the three of us."
Harry waited until Gran had walked of towards her other great-grandchildren were to ask, "What exactly do the two of you talk about in those meetings?"
"People she saw do something they shouldn't, people she knows did something they shouldn't. She really likes to talk about the old geezers were up to in their youths. I have dirt on half the ministry at this point thanks to her so if we have to blackmail anyone, I'm ready for it." She checked her watch as she looked at the mess left in the garden of Potter Manor. "Shall we wrap this up? James looks about ready to fall asleep on his feet."
"Don't get caught?" Harry asked before continuing with a smirk, "I would hate to have to break you out of prison."
Jokingly putting her nose in the air she replied haughtily, "As if anyone could catch me."
Kissing her, Harry had to agree. Hermione had come a long way from the girl who was more afraid of being expelled than death, he was so proud. His lovely wife, his partner in life and the mother of his children, willing to blackmail the Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot.
After dinner, as they put their sleepy children to bed James asked through a yawn, "Mummy? Could you and daddy go fluffy for cuddles till I fall asleep?"
Hermione smiled gently and said in a soft voice as not to wake their daughter, "Of course, love. Cuddle up to your sister and we will join you."
James wiggled closer to Lyra who was laying starfish-like in the middle of the bed. Hermione enlarged the bed with a flick of her wand and toe-ed of her shoes. Gently shoving his daughters limbs a bit closer to the rest of her little body, Harry shifted.
Grim had grown even bigger as Harry matured but the children loved him. Fluffy cuddles were one of their favorite kind of cuddles. Carefully jumping on the bed, Harry saw that Hermione had already joined their children. The Cloud Leopard who was his wife was purring gently as she nuzzled James who was quickly falling asleep to his mothers purring.
Laying down next to Lyra who immediately wrapped herself around him, Harry felt a little hand gently petting his head.
"Goodnight, Mummy. Goodnight, Daddy. Thanks for the cuddles, Grim and Swift." The little boy just managed to mumble before he fell asleep.
Just laying there for a moment, enjoying the combined smells of his family, Harry never felt this happy. He had a wonderful family, a job he enjoyed and he was truly healthy. No longer underweight or a piece of someones soul stuck in his head. Harry had everything he hadn't dared to hope for all those years ago when Sirius died.
All he had now began because of Sirius Black's plan and he would be forever grateful to his adopted dad.
Carefully extracting themselves, Harry and Hermione padded out of their son's bedroom. Shifting back into their human form Hermione told him, "I felt the baby move when I transformed into Swift. It's still facinating how different my pregnancies feel when I change into her."
Harry smiled as he put his hand on her barely there baby bumb, "Yeah? I can't wait for him to be here."
"I know, love." Hermione knew how important their children were to Harry. Her husband, who had no blood family of his own, had finally that what he always wanted. Family.
"Harry? You know, I was thinking, what do you think about the name Leo Sirius Potter-Black for our new little boy?"
"Really?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes, I think it's fitting, don't you?"
"Thank you, Hermione. It's perfect. Sirius would love it." Wrapping an arm around her, they went down the living room. His grandparents were still hanging there, as was Alphard. The children loved to talk to them and the portraits loved them right back.
Sitting down for a while with a nice cup of tea brought by Effy, Hermione and Harry took a moment to just be together after the busy day.
They had busy, wonderful lives and they enjoyed every minute of it. Harry loved teaching, he loved changing the world they lived in for the better in the Wizengamot. Hermione loved the debating she got to do for her own job, the people she got to defend and help.
They loved their families, their children. They loved each other.
Hermione crawled closer to him and Harry kissed her, "I love you, Hermione Potter."
She pressed another kiss against his mouth. "I love you, Harry."
"Still?" Harry asked, still feeling stupidly grateful and so very happy at the same time even after the fifteen years already they had together.
"Forever." she promised.