92 Epilogue Final part

Summer 1995, Black Manor

"Lovely weather," Lily said calmly, looking out over the great lawn of Alphard's main estate.

"It's a perfect day for a wedding," Dorea Potter agreed, smiling at her grandchildren who were trying to act very grown up and mostly succeeding. Delphinia, Phi to her family, was twelve and was trying walk gracefully in the silk gown that her grandmother had had made for Dora's wedding. Harry and young Charlus were standing stiffly at attention off to the side, in case their grandmother needed a cup of tea, or anything else.

"Two years late is better than never," Lily said with a small smile. Dorea snorted.

To change werewolf legislation for the better, Hermione had asked Remus to travel to other countries and research their laws. All of his travel, food and lodging was paid for, and he received a small stipend in addition. This meant for the majority of the last ten years he'd been traveling. He made it home only rarely, and some years he was not able to come home for Christmas or birthdays. When Hermione realized it was actually two years passed when they'd suggested enforcing the contract and that neither Dora nor Remus had mentioned anything she made plans of her own. She recalled Remus and did a final major debriefing. They went over the changes that the wizengamot had already effected in wizarding society and used the intelligence that Remus had gathered and his personal opinion to suggest further adjustments to the laws to make them more fair, more just to the werewolf wizarding citizen.

It was ridiculously easy to suggest to James and Sirius that they ought to have a welcome home party for Remus, and invite everyone. Young Nymphadora had grown up to become a beautiful young woman. With the support and encouragement of her family, she had applied for auror training and been accepted. Aunt Hermione had had a very odd look on her face when Dora had graduated from auror training with flying colors, and had tripped on her way to the podium to receive her certificate. Dora had grinned at everyone and the Head Auror, Alastor Moody had made a small joke about Dora's eagerness to fight crime. She had whinged and bitched, but she had allowed her Aunt Hermione and her Aunt Dorea to dress her for the welcome home party. The look on Remus' face when Dora had walked into the room had been utterly priceless. He had stared at her, slack-jawed and speechless. Severus and Regulus had taken pictures to save for blackmail later. The mothers had begun planning the wedding the next morning.

Cassiopeia glided over to her family and sat gracefully next to her mother. Her long hair had been brushed until it shone and she wore a set of dress robes in a pale blue. Dorea smiled fondly at her granddaughter, smoothing her hair back from her brow. Cepheus followed after her, his grey eyes on his sister, a fond smile on his lips. Phi cast a jealous glance at her cousin and her ability to do everything gracefully. She was fairly sure that Cassiopeia could puke gracefully. Cassiopeia turned toward her and smiled gently. Phi grimaced in return. Cassiopeia blinked at her for a moment and then turned back toward her mother.

The wedding was an incredibly beautiful affair, but Cassiopeia couldn't figure out why her mum kept crying through the whole thing. Daddy couldn't comfort her because he was busy being a groomsman for Uncle Remus, so Cepheus had one arm wrapped tightly around his mother's shoulders. He'd grown taller recently, and he looked so much like Daddy that it gave Cassiopeia reason to pause.

"Are you all right, domina?" Regulus asked her with some concern. Hermione nodded.

"I'm just so happy," Hermione wailed. Regulus stared at her for a moment and then he and Cepheus exchanged a purely male look of confusion.

This time, they were able to get married with everyone they loved around them.

I know.

And Teddy is going to have his Mum and Dad. Maybe some siblings, too.

I know.

Is that why you're crying?

Yes.

Oh, Merlin's staff, woman!

Shut up. I'm allowed to cry at weddings. It's a law, I think.

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HG/HP/HB

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The distant future, The Hermione Black Memorial Muggleborn Lending Library

"Do you suppose this is a substantial library, Daddy?" A solemn eight year-old girl asked innocently with wide eyes, staring up at the inscribed sign placed prominently outside the stone edifice. Her father smirked slightly and looked up at the sign.

"I think so, pet," he said, patting her on the head. The little girl frowned and bit her lower lip.

"Why is it still called a Muggleborn Lending Library?" she asked curiously. He frowned slightly.

"Well, Grandad said that it was because it was the first of its kind. No one had ever built a lending library for muggleborns before that," he said thoughtfully, trying to remember when he'd asked his grandfather the same questions.

"But, Daddy, surely they've built plenty since then," she pushed for more information.

"Abraxia," Her father said with a sigh, "I don't have time to explain the last several hundred years of wizarding culture. I promised your mother that we'd meet her at Madame Malkin's to have you measured for your new robes."

"Wait, Daddy!" The little girl said suddenly. She spun on her heel and took off running.

"Abraxia!" He called after her. Damn and blast! Her mother is going to have my hide for this! He finally caught up to her outside Quality Quidditch turning in a circle and looking confused. "What are you doing? I almost had a heart attack back there! You know that you are never to leave me when we're in a big public place like Diagon Alley!"

"He was here, I know he was," the little girl was muttering to herself. Her father watched her warily. Abraxia had done several odd things lately that made him quite nervous. His wife had watched Abraxia with a strange intensity the last few weeks, and it unnerved him. She turned and he saw her face light up with a radiant sort of joy he'd never seen on anyone's face before. It filled him with a terrible awe. He turned to see what she was looking at and noticed a boy standing uncertainly, watching his daughter with a hungry look on his face. She moved forward and took both of his hands in hers. "It's you. I knew you would come to me and you did."

"I've been waiting," the boy said petulantly, his lower lip jutting out. "I've come every day this week and you never came."

"I'm here now," she admonished him lightly as though that was that. The boy looked unconvinced.

"You didn't come," he pointed out.

"These sorts of things are never an exact science," his daughter was scolding the boy, but she still hadn't let go of his hands. "I would think that you would allow me a little slack."

"Abraxia, pet, why don't you introduce me to your friend?" Her father asked hesitantly. She beamed at him and then turned to the boy whose hands she had yet to release.

"What is your name this time?" She asked curiously. The boy shrugged. He had the aristocratic air of the old families, her father noted carefully. His hair was short and blond.

"Acacius Lovegood," he said with a slight smile. Abraxia clapped her hands and laughed.

"I'm Abraxia Longbottom," she said with a wicked smile, "Mummy was a Malfoy. I should probably tell you that up front."

"I think you did that on purpose," the boy accused, his silvery eyes turning dark. Abraxia shrugged.

"Really, Acacius, as if I could control those sorts of things," she admonished.

"Still," he said darkly. "A Malfoy of all things."

"What's wrong with the name Malfoy?" Abraxia's mother asked coolly, finally having found her wayward family.

"Nothing," the boy said sulkily, glaring at Abraxia who was still holding his hand.

"Don't sulk, dearest," Abraxia said calmly. The boy sighed heavily and rolled his eyes heavenward. Then she turned to her father. "Daddy, I need to go see Great-Grandmamma Malfoy."

"But, Abraxia," Her father said uncertainly. His wife shook her head at him. He whispered furiously at his wife. "What on earth can Selene Malfoy do for her?"

"Darling you forget, my grandmother Malfoy's maiden name was Potter. Selene's mother was Luna Lovegood," she whispered to her husband. His eyes widened and he stared at his daughter.

"Do you think she's a…you know?" He whispered back. His wife bit her lip, and then nodded slowly. He stared hard at the boy who was focused on his daughter at the moment. Their heads were bent close and they were whispering fiercely to one another. "What's he then?"

"He is mine," Abraxia said firmly, her hand tightening on the boy's. "We need to go see Great-Grandmamma right away, Daddy."

"Now see here, pet, we can't take random wizards off the street. What will people say?" Her father tried to reason with her. Abraxia's face took on a mulish expression, and the boy looked amused. His wife shook her head at him.

"Do not push her, Nigellus. Er, young man, where are your parents?" Mrs. Longbottom asked with a slight smile. He waved toward the apothecary, and they took off in that direction. Mr. Theodosius Lovegood was delighted to meet Abraxia and had absolutely no problem with his son haring off for parts unknown with virtual strangers. Nigellus stared at the man for a moment and then sighed.

"Ah, Abraxia, you've come to see Great-Grandmamma, have you?" The elderly witch asked with a knowing smile. She gasped when she saw Acacius and her smile widened. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Acacius."

"How did you know his name?" Nigellus demanded. Mrs. Malfoy smiled at him.

"I have my ways, Nigellus, never fear," she replied. She turned back to her great-granddaughter. "I think perhaps you ought to visit Sapientia. She'll know what to do."

"Yes, ma'am," Abraxia said calmly. She turned and looked at Acacius for a moment. "I'm bringing him with me, though."

"I wouldn't expect you to do anything else, dear," her great-grandmother said with that knowing smile.

"You know what this means, don't you?" Acacius observed as the two children headed toward the floo. She quirked a brow at him.

"No, what?" She asked curiously.

"We have to attend Hogwarts again," he reminded her. She scowled at him.

"Well, bloody hell," she growled under her breath.

"Abraxia Luciana Longbottom!" Her mother called from the next room. "You watch your mouth or I'll scourgify it for you!"

"Oh for the love of…they gave you his damn name, too?" Acacius fumed impotently.

"Now dear," she murmured, patting his arm. "What's in a name?"

"Nothing…kitten," he said smugly. She rolled her eyes at him.

"It's a good thing I like you," she muttered. His hand tightened on hers as they went through the floo together.

The End