Chapter Text
The trial of Cornelius Fudge was an anticlimax. Realising he was caught and had no one to buy his way out, he entered a plea of guilty to corruption and threw Umbridge under the bus, he was sentenced to ten years in low security and banned from holding any government office ever again.
Dolores Umbridge was executed by a Dementor, the veil being out of use for that purpose until further notice according to the Unspeakables.
Amelia Bones remained in post as head of the DMLE, and her department was awarded independence from the ministry with regards to criminal investigations, especially corruption. The Election for the new Minister was a close-run thing, the winner was Frank Longbottom, recently returned to fitness and running on a manifesto of inclusion. He was heavily supported by the light and grey factions, led by his mother Augusta, the dark faction being sorely depleted because of so many of their number passing away for various ‘unconnected’ reasons.
Frank offered the temp Sarah Connor the role of Senior Under Secretary.
She declined saying, “I don’t want to wait around just in case Albus Dumbledore returns.
I don’t want Alby back.”
She left in favour of a trainer post at the Auror Academy, where she specialised in teaching the witches enrolled there, advanced close quarter combat skills.
In an attempt to pacify the remaining purebloods Frank appointed Narcissa Black and she became a fearsome political powerhouse pushing to remove pureblood agendas.
All members of the Auror corps where required to swear an oath of allegiance, this cost the corps a few older members, but the cost was worth the benefit to the rank and file. Ministry workers were also required to sign a magical declaration to serve the best interests of the public and this further reduced corruption.
A series of employment guidelines were introduced, mirroring those from the mundane world with regards to discrimination and inclusivity, the terms, mudblood, muggle and muggleborn were removed from the language of the ministry. A process of reviewing the staffing appointments within the ministry began to weed out the purebloods that had been promoted beyond their abilities. This was going to be a long process, but with the loss of many blood bigots, their departments were being looked after by magicals of supposedly lesser status, but higher capability. Nepotism was no longer normal but removing it has always proved impossible even in the mundane world, so it persisted in the corners where the light was not cast.
At Hogwarts the Easter break was soon upon everyone and Harry and Hermione headed home for the break. They left to meet with Susan almost immediately on arriving home and accepted the offer that the Higher Powers made them, to separate their age identities into distinct existences. Harry James Potter, still eleven, returned to his adoptive parents with his girlfriend Hermione Jean Granger, aged twelve. They had some wild memories of their school year and were both very capable magically and mentally, perhaps a couple of years higher than would be expected. They knew their Aunt Susan was a scary one, and loved their expanded family.
Luna had tested and successfully joined Hogwarts straight into the second year, the hat placed her in Gryffindor. She spent every holiday with the Grangers, and later the Peverells, she was one of the flower girls at their wedding.
Henry (Harry) Ignotus Peverell, and his wife Hermione Iolanthe Peverell, spent a year relaxing and travelling the world, then in the July of 1993 aged, 28 and 29 moved into the recently vacated house between Sirius/Samantha and Dan/Emma, and introduced themselves to their new neighbours.
Dan answered the front door, he could see the two silhouettes standing outside, he opened the door, to a pair he hadn’t seen for a year, and Dan knew little Hermione was sitting in the garden with Luna and Harry, “Hello, I haven’t seen you two for a while. Why did you knock?”
“Dan, dad, can we come in, we can explain, inside,”
“Of course, what can I get you?”
“Just tea thanks, it’s a bit early for anything else.” Hermione replied. The four of them sat at the dining table overlooking the garden, where they could see their younger alter egos sitting and playing cards with Luna. “I assume Susan explained that the munchkin versions only have partial memories now, just enough to fill in the blanks, but none of the killing or the fighting.”
“Yes, she explained that you two were being given new lives, and allowed some time to recover. How have you been, I know from my own past it can be difficult to return to normal life. I had you, Hermione, to focus on.” He looked over his shoulder at his little girl. “I am glad that the kids get to have childhoods again, although they are all three mischief magnets.” He smiled, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“How is Luna settling in? Is Xeno coping?” Harry asked.
“Luna pretty much lives with us all now, Xeno visits, but he has thrown himself into his paper, and it’s doing well, he has a few reporters now.” He laughed out loud, “You once described Luna as a whacky little pixie, she certainly lives up to that reputation. She is in equal measures adorable and weird. Emma loves her to bits.”
“Where is mum?”
“Hermione, is that you?” Emma spoke from the door, looking freshly showered. She looked out into the garden. “There are two of you now?” Hermione walked over and gave her mum a hug.
“They separated us, our reward. They allowed us, the Hermione and Harry that had been re-lifed so many times, to stay adult, and the innocent versions to have their childhoods without any trauma. They sat at the table. Hermione continued, “We have bought the house next door, so you will see a lot more of us. I hope you agree, but we don’t intend on telling our younger selves about who we are unless we have to, and even then, only to them as adults.” She drank some tea.
Harry spoke up, “I am officially Henry Ignotus Peverell, and this is my wife Hermione Iolanthe Peverell. Call me Harry anyway, it is a short form of Henry. We have just spent a year travelling, dancing on moonlit beaches, meeting lots of people, relaxing drinking, more dancing, and of course getting Hermione pregnant.” He smirked as he said the last bit.
“Harry, you complete prat, I wanted to tell my mum myself.” She smacked his arm hard enough that the crack could be heard outside. “Mum, Dad. We can’t really call you that any more except in private, and if one of the kids overhears us, it will be awkward. We want you to be godparents to our daughter. If that’s ok?”
Emma lost it and was hugging her daughter and crying, “Of course, we will be Aunty Em, and uncle Dan, it’s a lot to handle, but lovely news. How far on are you, when are you due?”
“I am about three months, and I am due at the end of January.” Her smile lit up her face.
Dan took a deep breath, “Wow, you two always made an entrance. That is brilliant news, I will be honoured to be a godparent. Have you told Sirius yet?” he blew out his remaining breath.
“No we came here first, we will go see them later.”
“Why not ask them around now, I think we might have to celebrate a little. I guess you aren’t drinking alcohol now princess?” Emma asked. Hermione shook her head.
“No, we both stopped drinking once we knew I was pregnant.”
“Susan told us the morning after, Soooo embarassing.” Harry added.
“Did she tell you the sex of the baby,” Emma asked.
“No. I can tell. I can feel her magic, she is going to be off the charts powerful when she reaches her full potential. I ate some spicey food, and she floated some milk over later, it was upsetting her. Accidental magic in the womb.” Hermione shook her head, smiling. Harry sent his panther patronus off to find Sirius, and as it bounded out of the patio doors into the garden they heard a squeal from the kids outside
Luna bundled in and immediately hugged Harry. “You are back, I missed you, my brother.” She buried her head in Harry’s chest. Little Harry and Hermione stood looking at the older versions from the door.
“Do we know you?” little Hermione asked,
Older Hermione smiled, “We are old friends of your parents, We served with your Dad for a while Hermione. He named you after me, I am called Hermione as well.” She caught the slight smile and nod from Emma, the little lie would avoid an awkward question or two.
“Really?” Little Hermione walked over and stood next to her older self, “I thought it was from a Shakespear play.”
“It is, it is also the daughter of Hermes of legend, We,” she indicated Harry, “Have been undercover for years, but that’s all finished now, and we live next door, so you have a new Aunty and Uncle of sorts, that is if you would like to be our friends.” Little Hermione beamed,
“Yes, that sounds lovely, you look a lot like my mummy, are you related?” elder Hermione’s eyes sparkled a little, and she looked at her mum.
“I don’t think so, but my Harry and I are orphans, so anything is possible.” Luna untangled herself from Harry and walked around to both Hermione’s.
In her daydream voice, “Susan told me you were happy now, and little Lyra is growing fast, she is happy to be home.” Little Harry looked at the group with a thoughtful look, and when young Hermione caught his eye an unspoken conversation, talk later.
Sirius arrived at the back door and took in the scene. Samantha appeared just behind him, she spoke first. “Dan, Emma, is this?” her voice trailed off looking at the three youngsters.
Dan responded, “May I introduce the new residents at number thirteen, Harry and Hermione Peverell. Dear old friends of ours. They were on the Malfoy Manor raid with us if you can remember that far back?” he added with a grin.
Sirius smiled, “I never thought we would see you pair again, it is really fantastic to see you both well.”
“It’s we three Sirius, I am expecting.” Hermione smirked. Samantha shot through the doors and wrapped her old friend in a warm embrace,
“When are you due, do you know what it is yet?”
“January, and it’s a girl. Luna just named her Lyra. I rather like that name.” She smiled her eyes sparkling.
Remus appeared a little later, and the Tonks arrived as everyone sat down for pizza, older Hermione had her anchovy and pineapple one to herself. Younger Hermione regarded the topping as an abomination against everything holy.
Later that night after everyone had gone home, at the Granger household, Hermione crept into Harry’s room. “Are you awake?”
“No. Fast asleep.”
“Prat.” She sat on the edge of his bed, “The new neighbours. What do you think.”
“She looks exactly like you from my dreams. It sounds stupid to say, but I think they are older versions of us?”
Hermione nodded. “He looks like you from my dreams, I have a recurring one where we are dancing on a beach together, and he looks like you from the dream. His scar is exactly the same as yours. So are his eyes.”
“Her eyes have the same gold flecks in them as yours, and Luna knew them immediately. I have that dream, you are wearing an orange sundress, and the necklace she was wearing today. We are dancing to that old Sade song mum and dad like.”
“Smooth Operator. Is it a dream or a memory then?” She chewed her lip.
“It doesn’t matter, it means you grow up super hot, and I am one lucky guy.” He smiled.
“Blech, cheesy much there Harry.” She giggled, “Older you might be a teeny bit hot. Just don’t get any ideas I hear all the stories about your parents from Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus. You will have to wait, soul mate or not.”
Harry laughed, “I am in no hurry. We will just have to wait, we will figure out what’s going on.”
Next door, “You OK love?”
“Yeah, little you has figured it out. You always were way too smart.”
“I think Harry junior worked it out as well, he recognised me. When he looked at me it wasn’t ‘who are you, it was more like he had an answer figured out.”
“Well, at least they get to enjoy childhood, we get to enjoy a life.”
“mm’mm. She settled into his side. “rub my back?”
“Always.”
The Peverells ‘renewed’ their vows on Harrys’ Birthday. The party was attended by the Good the great and even some of the dead. James and Lily attended with Susan and Chris. Chris got a slap followed by a kiss from Charlotte, who then cried for about an hour. She insisted happy tears, they sat in a corner and Chris filled her in with the three overlapping stories, and how he had tried to make his death have some value.
Charlotte would never marry, but would spend every Samhain night in her parents old holiday cottage in the mountains. One night she simply crossed back over with Chris and spent the rest of time together.
Lyra Emma Peverell was born in January of 1994.
Sirius and Samantha married the following Summer solstice.
Cormac McLaggan disappeared during his fourth year after a Gryffindor Quidditch victory celebration party, he was drunk and attempted to push his luck with Luna. He was missing at breakfast and no sign of him was ever discovered.
The Triwizard Tournament was hosted by the school, each school fielded teams in various events. Beauxbatons were the close winners of the cup, Hogwarts narrowly missing out and Ilvermorney a close third. Harry asked Hermione to the ball, Neville took Daphne, and Tracey and Luna went with some nice American students they met during the competition.
Mark Daniel Peverell was born in September 1996
Harry Potter and Hermione Granger became engaged on Harry’s seventeenth birthday, they returned to Hogwarts as Head Boy and Head Girl for their final year, and Hermione graduated as valedictorian. The whole gang took a year out and travelled the world.
Harry and Hermione Potter-Black both attended Oxford University where they studied law.
Hermione continued on to gain a PhD. Harry left after graduation and worked in magical child services. He successfully campaigned to convert some of the old ‘grand manors’ to orphanages and worked from the once opulent Malfoy Manor for a few years. Hermione worked in Ted Tonks Law firm, eventually taking over the practice with Harry, specialising in child welfare cases.
Albert Dunning fell deeper into dementia, in later years his orderly, a university student working to cover his tuition and partly responsible for his care, Dudley Dursley, was heard to discuss Albert’s insistence that Dudley should help him escape, dark forces were gathering. Dudley was quite patient with Albert, especially when he told him his cousin was a dark wizard. Dudley would smile and nod and agree with old Albert, as far as Dudley knew he had no cousin. Albert passed away in 2001, a young looking couple were the only people to attend the funeral other than Dudley. They laid a bouquet on his coffin consisting of geraniums (stupidity), foxglove (insincerity), meadowsweet (uselessness), yellow carnations (you have disappointed me), and orange lilies (hatred). It was the Peverells.
Albert, once more Albus was warmly received in the afterlife. Perhaps more warmly than he bargained on. Lily and James had a lot to say about his actions, he was then introduced to Henry (Harry) and Hermione. They introduced him to Sally, who met him for dinner, a meal Albus did not enjoy. It became a weekly favourite, of Sally.
Ginny Weasley gained her professional debut with the Harpies as Seeker in the 2000 season opener against the Chudley Cannons. She caught snitch in the first five minutes and the game was won 160-0.
She was on the front page of the prophet photographed by fiancé Colin Creevey.
A Student exchange programme was developed between Hogwarts, Ilvermorney, Beauxbatons and Kookaburra in Australia. Others joined the programme over the next decade. Durmstrang, a bastion of dark magics and pureblood ideology was not included, its steadily falling intake of students causing it to close for good in 2002 . The influx of foreign students eroded pureblood beliefs amongst students at Hogwarts, and a continual relentless rejection of their beliefs by, the now, Minister for Magic Narcissa Lupin pushed them into the corners of unacceptable beliefs.
Bill Weasley married Nymphadora Tonks in the spring of 2001.
Hermione met with Ron the adult incarnation, to celebrate their anniversary, she introduced him to her memories, and Godric Gryffindor, or at least his sword. She kept her promise and visited him annually, with a new present for every year. On the tenth anniversary of her murder she dropped him into an Acromantula’s nest, knowing how much he loved spiders.
Susan eventually relented and moved the other side of the veil to Sally’s home, where she entertained her dinner guests with relish, or ketchup. Sally the Basilisk is enjoying retirement and is being well fed and cared for, she finds that Albus does give her gas, Cormac is quite crunchy, Dolores just tastes wrong. Ron is a vegetable, one of her five a day. She isn’t keen on Snape as a lady of her age should avoid greasy food.
Dudley Dursley married Hannah Abbot in the spring of 2002 and was befriended by the cousin he discovered did exist. Their Daughter Willow Rose Dursley was born that December, she was a witch. Dudley’s father had died of heart failure some years before and his mother was estranged. Dudley was amazed and delighted that his daughter was so gifted.
Neville Longbottom married Padma Patil in the summer of 2003. Their twins Victoria and Andrew were born just over a year later.
Jayne Emma Potter-Black and her twin brother Steven Oliver Potter Black were born in August 2005.
Susan Bones married Daphne Greengrass in 2006, They adopted twins from the magical child services the following month.
Luna married in 2007 to an American she had met on a transfer years before, Luna Connor gave birth to Pandora Sarah Connor six months later.
Tracey Zabini gave birth to twins in April 2008.
Senior Instructors Chris Dennings and Sarah Connor finally married a month after the birth of her grandchild in Las Vegas.
Teddy Weasley was born in June 2008. He was a metamorphmagus like his mother.
Amos Diggory was arrested for the kidnapping in May of 2009 in Buenos Aires. He had been on the run for eighteen years. Elphias had died some years previously. He never made it to trial, committing suicide in a holding cell in Argentina. He spent the next century cleaning Sally’s nest. He kept finding a wristwatch with the name C. McLaggan engraved on the back face.
Lyra Peverell graduated from Beauxbatons in 2011. She went on to study mundane medicine in Paris and then magical medicine in America, Brazil and Australia. She married an Australian potions master, and they found the cure for Lycanthropy in 2032.
Mark Peverell graduated from Ilvermorney in 2018, he went on to MIT, JPL and Caltech. He met a brilliant young grad student called Pandora and after a long courtship married in 2030.
Susan Sto-Helit was sitting with a glass of Caol-Ila a rare Islay malt, only available occasionally, but her current preferred dram. Hermione Peverell was sitting across the table with a large glass of Argentinian Malbec, a discovery from a visit to that country a few years earlier.
They chinked their glasses. “Here’s to us. Leave it to the girls to sort this shit out.” They laughed.