9 YEARS LATER

MAY 2016

Hermione stretched languidly in the warm sheets, humming at the slight ache in her muscles. She cherished that feeling greatly. Slim, determined fingers crossed her side before caressing her soft belly and teasing at the dark curls of her lady garden.

"Hmmm….last night not enough?" she asked, recognising the gentle, playful touch for the desire it hinted.

"Bored of us, love?" he asked, tickling her shoulder blade with a languid kiss and his moustache.

Hermione chuckled and squirmed but only ended up pressing more firmly into his exploring touch. "Never…" she gasped as he slid between the damp folds and toyed with the little tender button.

"Sore?" he asked as he nipped her soft skin, licking the little freckles on her shoulders.

"A little," she admitted and turned around in his embrace, searching out those hot lips for a delicious kiss.

Sirius pulled her closer and enjoyed caressing the beautiful curves of her soft body. It has been nine years since their bonding and their wedding, and they still couldn't get enough of each other despite the demands of their work, children and friends. Their bond however never let them neglect each other for too long, their need to be close and to love one another stronger than ever.

"We'll be late if we don't get up soon," Hermione reminded, not wanting to be late today of all days.

"Spoilsport," he grumbled and kissed her once more before they got up and pulled on their bathrobes to head downstairs to the kitchen.

"Tonight," she promised him with a last kiss before they went through the door. She was barely through when she was already being addressed.

"Mami, can we please wear the blue dress robes today?" "No, I want to wear the green ones! Mami, please, the green ones?"

Hermione accepted a cup of tea from Remus who was cooking up some breakfast, and turned to look at the twins. "Who says you have to wear the same ones?" she suggested, seeing the realisation before they finished the last of their rice krispies and dashed out.

"Brush your teeth and bring down the comb!" she called after them before taking a seat at the table to enjoy a moment to herself waking up with a cuppa.

The past years have been quite a ride. Their bonding made headlines, their wedding even bigger ones, but nothing could sour the joy of their union or being able to share it with their friends and family. Harry was honoured to walk Hermione down the aisle as the brother she never had, and lead her to the two men that were to be her future, before having too much elven wine and amusing the guests by dancing on a table. It was one of Hermione's most favourite memories. It was also the beginning of her married life, passionate and loving.

A few months later she fell pregnant with the twins and life got a bit more complicated. Her pregnancy was absolute hell, and the delivery was nearly two months early, her body struggling to support the life she was growing due to her war injuries. The twin boys were thankfully healthy, two beautiful bundles with dark curls and hazel eyes. They named them Lyall Orion after Remus' and Sirius' fathers, and Oliver Guillaume for Hermione's father and in honour of the boys' godfather who was none other than Bill.

The large scar on her belly from the emergency C-section and the soft skin that never quite went back to how it was caused her to be self-conscious for a while, but her mates quickly persuaded her into letting her worries go. Never had she once felt unappreciated or undesirable in their presence, and looking at how beautiful her children were, she quickly accepted it as just another scar in the collection she already sported. Despite being in her late 30s, the greys at her temple multiplying like the gnomes in their garden, and her bum curvy, jiggly and dimply with cellulite, she felt beautiful through ageing and spoiled by her husbands who were only too happy to have more of her to share.

Teddy was excited when the twins first came but as he grew into his teenage self, he of course grumbled about having toddlers around and being shadowed by the two little children. He was also a witness to a particularly rough patch in his parents' marriage when Hermione fell ill and the nerve damage she sustained during the war extended to her back. Seeing their wife in pain was taxing on the two Marauders, and Teddy never quite stopped worrying about his mum despite Hermione undergoing treatment and being back to good health these days. She learnt to take things one day at a time and knew that no matter what life threw at them, they would get through it.

Together, as a family.

Remus kissed her cheek gently and nuzzled into her neck, breathing that warm sleepy smell her skin carried this early in the morning. "Good morning, wife," he rambled near her ear.

"Morning love," she cupped his cheek and smiled as he peppered her cheek with kisses. "Thank you for letting me have a lie in, I know the boys were up early."

"They're just excited to visit Hogwarts. You know they have read Hogwarts: A history as many times as you by now," he chuckled.

She looked into his beautiful eyes and they shared a proud smile. "I still can't believe our son is graduating today," she whispered.

"OUR son is GRADUATING today," he kissed her nose, positively beaming with pride for his son and wife, forever grateful that this incredible woman became a mother to Teddy at such young age.

There was no doubt about her being his mother, especially since Teddy's gift to her three birthdays ago were adoption papers. He wanted to call her mum officially, not just at home. She signed through tears of happiness and held him close once he officially became her son, sharing a moment with the boy she grew to love as her own.

"Come on you two, we have to get ready and go to Diagon Alley for flowers and his graduation gift yet," she reminded them.

Hermione was absolutely beaming with pride. She couldn't believe this moment came so quickly. Teddy grew into a handsome young boy, inheriting his father's tall, slim build and his mother's soft features. When he walked on the stage to take his diploma, he shook Minerva's hand and looked into the audience for his parents. His hair changed from its usual turquoise ponytail into lovely walnut curls when his gaze met Hermione's and she wiped a single happy tear from her cheek, brimming with joy for him.

Not only was their son graduating, but he was graduating with excellent grades as the Head Boy and the Quidditch Captain. Sirius grumbled about the boy being Hermione's son more than Remus' but Teddy had a Marauder side to him as well and was already accepted into the Bill's curse-breaking division at the Department of Mysteries following his interview two weeks ago. He was to start his new job in August after a month of traveling around Europe with Victoire, his 18th birthday present.

When the ceremony ended, they headed down from the seats and to find Teddy who was making his way towards them through the crowd. Her husbands picked up a twin each, leaving her arms free to hug her grinning son tightly to her, holding him close for a long moment.

"We are so very proud of you, Teddybear. Congratulations, we love you so very much," she kissed his cheek and let herself be squeezed tightly.

"Thanks mum, I love you too," he held her close but tried not to squeeze her too tight, worried about hurting her.

"Well done, son," Remus hugged him with his free arm and kissed his forehead.

"Thanks dad," he smiled before accepting a hug from Sirius as well. "Thanks, Pads," he grinned, feeling his other dad sneak a small firework into his pocket. He would save that for the Gryffindor dorm when they went to pick up their belongings.

Bill, Fleur and Victoire joined them soon, the beautiful blond girl positively beaming at her boyfriend. She just finished her 6th year and was smitten with her graduating boyfriend. Teddy for his part was hopelessly in love and growing up around the triad made him an absolute romantic. He pulled her into his side and they shared a quick kiss, not wanting to get into trouble with their parents for snogging again like they did at the Quidditch World Cup.

"Why don't you two go grab your luggage and we can head over to the restaurant? We booked a private room for lunch at Giambattista's before you take off tonight," Hermione suggested, watching the teenagers grin and head off up towards the castle.

Bill took both Louis' and Dominique's hand and the Marauders made sure they were holding the twins tight before apparating to the Burrow to drop them off. Molly offered to look after the kids while they celebrated with Teddy and Victoire and saw them off for their travels. Fleur and Hermione linked arms and walked towards the lake to sit down and look out over the beautiful Hogwarts grounds.

"They are growing so fast, non?" Fluer said wistfully. She was celebrating 40 this year and still looked as if she were 25, her veela genes slowing down her ageing considerably.

Hermione nodded. "We'll be doing this again next year when it's Victoire's turn. I hope they'll wait a few years before getting married," she chuckled.

"William says Teddy's salary will allow him to save up for a first flat or house in a couple of years if he works hard," Fluer promised.

"Good, I hope their love will last beyond a school romance," Hermione mused, thinking back to her crush on Ron that lasted only a few years. It was good that Teddy and Victoire were much more committed to each other.

"Those two? They look like Bill and I did after we got through the awkward stage," she chuckled and reached down to hold Hermione's hand, the crinkles around her eyes tensing as she tried to not get emotional.

Hermione hugged her to her side, offering silent support as she teared up herself. During their nearly eighteen years of friendship, they're raised children together, averted crises, argued, researched together, and shared many a cry and laugh. And despite her love for her husbands, Hermione was very happy to share this moment with her best friend.

"We did well," she said softly, feeling Fleur nodding into her shoulder in agreement. "Shall we?" she asked after they managed to compose themselves a bit.

"Oui," Fleur agreed and the two beautiful women headed back towards the castle.

They never knew what life will bring next, but seeing their children grow into such incredible human beings gave them hope that there was happiness in all their futures.

AN: So this is it guys! I hope you enjoyed and look forward to the next story with a new pairing, which will be coming out next week! Keep an eye out! Thank you for all your support and kind comments, it has been a pleasure to once again write for such an incredible audience.

Until next time,

Sybilla