Chapter Text
Five years later
Hermione leans over the cradle to place a delicate kiss to Felix’s brow. Their little boy was already a year and a half old. She straightens, to watch him sleep, one hand going to her lower back, the other to her already rounding belly. In a little over four months, Felix would be gaining a little brother or sister. They were waiting to find out the sex.
“Keep an eye on him,” she tells Crooks, stroking his head before she turns to leave.
When they brought Felix home, to Warrington Manor, her mom, Cass’s mom, the house elves, and Crookshanks were all obsessed with him.
Crooks considered himself the victor since he was the only one who got to sleep in the cradle with him. Or, Hermione and Cassius theorized he did since Crooks did seem to strut around more often these days. Felix though, was a mama’s boy through and through. He, like his father was a breast enthusiast. Felix would take a bottle if he had to, but not if mum was within reach. She was no longer breast feeding these days, but still remained his favorite.
Leaving his door open a crack, Hermione hesitated there, looking at him through the gap. Motion down the hall catches her eyes though, making her look away. Cassius is there, looking far too good in his dress robes. It’s a good thing she’s already pregnant, those dress robes are dangerous, and part of the reason they are expecting again so soon.
Her gaze moves back to Felix, drinking in the way his rosebud mouth puckers in his sleep. Maybe she could cancel and stay home. Surely Harry and Ginny would understand.
Cassius approaches and quietly whispers, “no canceling. You’re Harry’s groomswoman.”
Hermione pouts, and he strokes her bottom lip with his thumb. “Make it through the bonding ceremony and the speeches at the reception, and we can cut out early.”
He isn’t using legilimency to read her mind, even though it feels like it at times.
“Oliver and Marcus are already here and excited to babysit. I’ve talked to the house elves and they promised not to take over.”
Hermione grins at this. The few times their friends had watched Felix since he was born, the house elves had all but bullied their friends into letting them do all the diapering, feeding, and holding instead. Part of the reason Oliver and Marcus were babysitting was because they had started the process to adopt a baby from a wizarding orphanage. Sadly, since there was no guarantee any of the babies wouldn’t be squibs, there were always babies available.
“Hopefully Felix is good for them,” Hermione says, letting Cassius lead her from the nursery.
“He’ll be grand. I had a chat with him as well. Told him to only wee on Marcus if he must.”
Hermione snorts, covering her mouth and looking back to make sure she didn’t wake Felix.
“Do you have your compact?” Cassius asks.
Slipping her hand into the magically extended pocket of her dress robes, Hermione produces a lovely wooden compact with flowers carved on both sides.
“Go on, have a look.”
Since receiving O’s in each of her NEWTs, Hermione had many opportunities to explore after graduation. While taking time to decide which route was best for her, she continued studying her favorite subjects, and completed a double mastery in Runes and Charms. Inspired by Harry’s two way mirror, after Felix was born, she made one of her own. The main mirror was in Felix’s nursery, with a paired mirror in what Cassius calls her Mad Laboratory. From the mirror in her lab, she charmed two compact mirrors to display whatever it saw.
Opening her compact, her lips tip up automatically at her son’s sleeping form. It was her magical version of a baby monitor. She could hear Felix, and see him. Felix, or anyone in his room, on the other hand, couldn’t see her. His mirror acted like a traditional mirror. Through her Charms mastery in particular, she was developing wizard equivalents to muggle technology. Her Runes and Potions knowledge came in handy as well, allowing her alternatives when she met roadblocks in her Charms work. So far, her creations were popular with muggleborns, and half bloods, and gaining popularity with more old fashioned witches and wizards.
Hermione blows a kiss to Felix through the mirror before closing it and stowing it back in her pocket. Cassius then offers her his arm, and they walk together to their family room, where Oliver and Marcus were waiting. Both stand when Hermione and Cassius enter, giving kisses to Hermione’s cheeks in greeting.
“I left the door open, so you should hear him when he wakes up. If you don’t hear him in an hour, go ahead and wake him up. He’ll be grumpy at first, but after a change and a bottle he’ll perk right up.”
Marcus clutches Hermione’s hands. “We’ll take good care of him.”
Squeezing his hands back, Hermione recalls the early days with Cassius when neither of them knew what they were doing as parents. They were lucky to have a whole army of sorts to rely on for support.
“If you need anything at all, any of the house elves are more than happy to help. Plus, if it’s anything serious, one of them can apparate to us to let us know.”
Cassius pats his shoulder. “You’re going to do great.”
The couples hug again before Hermione and Cassius step into the floo. Harry and Ginny’s wedding, like many of the Weasley’s before them, was being held at the Burrow. As they step through the floo, they are instantly greeted by Molly. Molly’s hands went right for Hermione’s belly.
“Oh you’re starting to show. Arthur and I were so happy when we heard the news. We need to have you over to Sunday Brunch with little Felix once Ginny and Harry are back from their wedding tour.”
Hermione allows herself to be pulled into a hug and grins as Molly releases her to do the same with Cassius. She was thrilled her relationship with Molly had weathered her breakup with Ron and relationship with Cassius. Molly had been frosty towards her until Ron fell head over heels for a witch he met at a quidditch match. Their marriage resolved any lingering issues Molly had with Hermione.
“That would be lovely, thank you.”
Cassius only nods. He was less thrilled about how Molly treated Hermione and still hadn’t completely forgiven her. He’ll still come to brunch though, Molly Weasley was an amazing cook.
Hermione and Cassius make their way outside and are overwhelmed with hugs and greeting from their friends. There was still some time before the actual ceremony, so other than extra Weasleys, everyone here was either in the wedding party, or their plus ones.
Hermione and Ron were standing up with Harry, while Luna and George were standing up with Ginny. Harry and Ginny opted to keep the bonding ceremony simple, possibly to limit the time Molly could loudly sob.
As much as she hated leaving Felix, as Hermione witnesses one of her best friends marry another one of her best friends, she was grateful to share this moment with them. Ginny is gorgeous in a simple gown Molly made herself, and Harry looks happier than she had ever seen him. Ron and George both join Molly in crying, and even Hermione had to dab away wetness from her eyes.
Luna, ever ready, had leaves from a rare annually blooming magical delfrost tree. “They’re more absorbent than handkerchiefs and if you rub them on your face long enough you may attract bowtruckles.”
After the ceremony, Hermione and Cassius were able to catch up with many of their friends. Hermione’s ordeal during her eighth year had brought so many of them together, and they all managed to remain friends. Draco and Astoria Malfoy were there, ready to share wizarding pictures of their three year old Scorpius.
They were the first of their friends to marry and get pregnant. Astoria was healthy and absolutely glowing as she stood hand in hand with Draco. Her husband, was so different from the boy Hermione knew before the war. He had founded a wizarding charity and with Astoria, they devoted their time and funds to dozens of worthy causes.
Pansy and Neville were there, and like Hermione and Cassius, hated leaving their little one at home. They had also married right away, though not as quickly as the Malfoys. They had waited until they were both settled after Neville’s Herbology mastery, and Pansy’s Healer Certification, to start their family. Augusta Longbottom had tried to move away from Longbottom Manor to give the young family their privacy, but neither Neville or Pansy would hear it. Now, little Violet Longbottom had her grandnan and her mum and dad to watch over her.
Victor and Daphne Krum were also there. After Daphne had heroically saved Hermione during their eighth year, she and Hermione had become close. During one of Victor’s visits, he met Daphne, and they hit it off. They were both so thankful to Hermione for bringing them together, they each asked her to stand up with them at their wedding.
Given all of the animosity between Hogwarts houses during their prewar years at school, it was incredible how close their eighth year class had become. Looking out amongst the guests, Hermione wasn’t surprised to see many of their classmates in attendance. They had all experienced so much together.
With luck, and time, their bonds would shape the future of the wizarding world. Many of those closest to her, Cassius, Harry, Neville, Draco, and Theo, had taken over their ancestral seats in the Wizengamot. They all worked to learn from the prejudices of those who came before them, doing all they could to ensure future generations didn’t experience the same hate and divisive ideology intent on separating them.
At the start of her eighth year, Hermione questioned whether or not there was a place for her in not only Wizarding UK, but the wizarding world as well. It was almost impossible to remember how out of place and alone she felt at the time. Witches and wizards were long lived generally. Five or six years was but a blip in what she hoped would be a long and fruitful life. A blip, taking her from such an anxious state to where she was today.
Her life couldn’t be more different. Hermione Granger-Warrington, was surrounded by love. She had a life partner in Cassius. He was her best friend, her biggest supporter, her most faithful confidant, the father of her children, and someone who could still dampen her knickers with one heated glance. Hermione knew, she was the same for him as well. Together, they both had loving families. It had taken time and being vulnerable, but Hermione was closer now than ever with her parents.
Their life was filled with family, friends, work that inspired them, and an unbreakable bond to each other.
“May I have this dance?” Cassius asks.
Hermione wipes at her eyes, and then laughs, taking his hand. “You caught me getting sentimental.”
“Weddings have that effect on you.”
As he leads her onto the dance floor, she brushes her hand over her bump. “Plus pregnancy hormones. It’s a miracle I didn’t weep through the ceremony.”
Cassius pulls her close as a slow song begins. “How was your leaf?”
Hermione snorts, reminded of the leaves Luna passed out. “She wasn’t lying. It was surprisingly absorbent.”
Cassius tips his head, motioning her to look to her right. When she does, Hermione burst out laughing, having to cover her mouth to stifle the noise. There, Molly Weasley sits, with no fewer than ten bowtruckles on her. From where they dance, Hermione can tell Molly isn’t a fan. Luckily, Luna and her husband Rolf are beside her, encouraging the bowtruckles to shift onto them with delfrost leaves.
They continue to dance, and since she’s in Cassius’s arms, Hermione loses track of time.
“The newlyweds are making their escape, if you’d like to say goodbye before they leave.”
With a contented smile, Hermione says, “yes, and afterward, shall we escape as well?”
Cassius bends down to kiss her. Years later, his kisses still render her breathless. They make their way off the dance floor, and catch Harry and Ginny before they can leave. Hugs and kisses are exchanged, none of them surprised when both Harry and Hermione hesitate to let go.
“I love you Harry. You’re the best brother I never had.”
“I love you too sis,” Harry replies, his voice thick with emotion.
Only Cassius has dry eyes when their goodbyes are done. He holds Hermione close as they watch Harry and Ginny apparate away. Then, they walk hand in hand back to the burrow. With Hermione’s pregnancy, floo travel is safer.
They’re greeted by a charming sight when they return to Warrington Manor. Oliver, Marcus, and Felix are all asleep on their sofa. Felix is on Oliver’s chest, whilst Marcus is tucked against Oliver’s side, his hand resting on Felix’s back. Their house elves, Pip, Cleo, Darby, and Crookshanks, are asleep as well, the house elves all using the furry beast, as they still sometimes call Crooks, as a pillow.
Hermione presses her finger to her lips, for Cassius to stay quiet, and retrieves their wizarding camera. She manages to get a few pictures before Pip wakes up and loudly greets them.
“Master and Mistress are welcome home.”
It’s not long before everyone else is awake. Crooks slinks away, pretending as though he wasn’t just a pillow, while Cleo follows him yawning. Darby pops away, likely to prepare snacks no one has asks for.
Pip hovers closer and closer to Oliver, ready to take Felix if anyone offers the chance. Felix stretches, smacking his lips and scrunching his little body as he blinks. When he notices it’s Oliver holding him, and not mum or dad even though they’re home, he lets out a loud wail.
Oliver’s eyes widen comically as Marcus tries appeasing Felix with baby talk. Oliver and Marcus were frequent guests, so Hermione now knew the former Slytherin Quidditch Captain well. It was still sometimes surprising to see how different he was from her very first impressions of him. Thanks to Cassius, she now considered both Marcus and Oliver family, since they were honorary uncles to little Felix.
When Felix began squirming and making grabby hands towards Hermione, she stepped in to rescue Oliver. Felix, now in mum’s arms, gave a contented sigh before nuzzling his face into her neck.
Oliver sags with relief while Marcus still baby talks to Felix.
“I hope he wasn’t too much of a handful,” Cassius says.
It’s Marcus who answers, “he was so sweet and Pip was a huge help.”
Pip, pouting since Hermione got Felix instead of him, instantly perked up under the praise. “Thanks you Mister Woodsy.”
Then he pops away, returning almost instantly with a fresh bottle.
Hermione moves closer to Oliver and Marcus so they can both give Felix a kiss on the top of his head.
“Thanks again for watching him, we really appreciate it,” she says, heading towards the hallway. “I’m going to give this young man a bottle and see if he’ll go back to sleep.”
Cassius kisses both of them before they leave the room.
As Hermione walks away, she hears Oliver ask how the wedding was.
Then, with Pip walking beside her, they take Felix to his nursery.
“Would you like to give him his bottle?” Hermione asks.
Pip positively beams as he accepts.
As Pip settles himself in the overstuffed plush rocking chair, Hermione coos at Felix and kisses his cheeks.
“Mama, mama, mama,” he replies, happily.
He fusses for a moment when she transfers him into Pip’s waiting arms, but once he sees the bottle, Felix’s annoyance is gone.
Hermione smooths her hand over his hair, pushing it back from his forehead. Like his parents, his brown hair is thick and soft.
Movement by the door has her turning her head. Cassius is there, and silently beckons her to him. She looks back at Felix, and Pip. Pip, happy to put Felix to bed once his bottle is done, motions with his head for her to go.
Hermione strokes Felix’s head one more time, before blowing him a kiss. At the door, Cassius takes her arm, and links it through his.
“Marcus and Oliver left. They mentioned hosting us for dinner sometime soon.”
Hermione leans further into him. “Sounds lovely.”
He chuckles at her sleepy tone.
Once in their room, Cassius helps her change and braids her hair. At this point of her pregnancy, her energy wanes rapidly. It’s times like these, Hermione is grateful for charms to wash her face and clean her teeth. After Cassius tucks her in, she drowsily watches him prepare for bed.
Before long, he joins her in bed, and she wastes no time cuddling closer to him. His hand moves to rest on her rounded belly, and hers shifts to cover his.
“Pinch me,” she says.
Hermione had long since explained the muggle expression to Cassius.
“You’re not dreaming love.”
As Hermione drifts off to sleep, in her beautiful home, in the arms of the wizard who makes her magic sing, with her little boy nearby, and another on the way, Hermione Granger-Warrington is thankful for every obstacle she’s ever encountered, since they led her here.
The End