And a short epilogue...

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Chapter 14 – Eight Years Later

The Drycræft Commune had been flourishing for ten years and had continued to grow and prosper, although none of that growth was seen by bringing in new members from the outside. Although the members of the commune had plenty of friends who at least accepted and at most admired the community they had created, no one else after Dean was offered an opportunity to join. None ever seemed to be a good enough fit.

As for the commune itself, it kept producing a good number of its own foodstuffs and the orchard began to produce its first fruits within five years. It would be another couple of years before the output would be generous enough to see a surplus that could be put into jams, jellies, and other canned goods. The output of milk, eggs, butter, cheese, honey, and other produce also continued at a steady pace. Of course fishing was always a fun pastime for different commune members and fresh caught fish regularly graced the table of the commune as well. The commune also ended up with two unique cultivars of cannabis, both for the use of it's members and to sell for medicinal use off the island.

As for the individual commune members, each thrived in their individuals careers and contributed to the commune's growing accounts.

Harry was the only one who, by common agreement, never contributed to the commune accounts. It was voted on and agreed that his contributions in the first year counted for twenty years' worth of contributions, so he had another ten years before he would begin to contribute. All of the various businesses of Potter Industries thrived though and he had become a very successful businessman.

Hermione continued to have success with Granger Runes and had also become an independent spell designer, with nine spell patents to her name and more in the works. Her contribution of 25% of profits was a significant portion of the monthly commune account. She also became a mum to one six year old daughter with Ron, Emily Jean, and a three year old son with Harry, Caspar Neil. Although she loved both her children, she declared that two was the ideal number and that she was done adding to the population of the commune.

Ginny continued to have success as an announcer of Quidditch matches, but she had retired from WWW to dedicate more time to being back at the commune with the growing number of commune children, including four of her own. After Max, she had a six year old son named James Sirius with Harry and then two year old twins with Neville named Grace Harper and Frances Rose. Eventually things had warmed a bit with Molly Weasley, although never to the level where they once had been. Molly still wasn't happy with the lifestyle that Ron and Ginny had chosen, but she had accepted that it wouldn't change and she had accepted and loved her grandchildren. Ginny, along with Hannah, became one of the primary caregivers for the children on the island and had taken over care of the preschoolers when she wasn't called away to announce occasional matches two or three times a week. Still, even with only the occasional work, she made sure to contribute 25% of her salary to help the commune account.

Neville continued as the director of Potter Nurseries, which within five years became known as the premier supplier for arid plants and one of the premier suppliers for highland plant varieties. After three years of managing the nursery, he compiled an in depth paper on his management of the nursery, as well as his trips abroad to procure specimens, and filed for his mastery. His work to shepherd the new nursery business was enough to secure his mastery just shy of his twenty-second birthday. His room and board costs were figured into the contribution to the commune, but in addition he also contributed another 15% of his salary to the commune account.

Susan continued working half time for Potter Nursery and made a similar monetary contribution to the commune as Neville did since her room and board was paid under her salary. A couple of years after Hannah became a mum Susan decided it was her turn and had her first child with Neville, a girl who was now five named Alexandra Hope. A few years later she received an unplanned surprise when she gave Ron a son who was not quite a year old named Christopher Anthony. When she wasn't working part time, Susan was also a teacher who enjoyed working with the older children between the ages of 5-10 who were preparing for their entry into Hogwarts.

As for Susan's lifemate, Hannah had decided that there she was happy with her one child and had not opted to have any more. When Susan added two to their flat, they both felt that it was quite full enough. Hannah had never had a paying job to contribute monetarily like Susan did, but she contributed in much greater ways, always caring for the babies and younger children. As the years wore on, she trained herself more and gradually became more of a teacher, enjoying teaching art and some of the less rigid subjects to the older kids when she wasn't working with the younger set. Wherever she was needed, Hannah floated around and always had a couple of children in tow.

Luna continued to work with the demiguise and a total of six more pups were born between the two tribes, although one tribe did sadly loose one sickly pup. It was an unfortunate fact that happened on occasion. Luna's bond with the tribes continued to grow and each spring the annual shearing went easier and quicker. As predicted, the sixth year saw the first small profit and by the seventh year a full profit was turned from the animals. Luna greatly enjoyed working with the animals, but she also enjoyed her painting and, three years after the commune started, she began to sell her paintings. As everyone else did, she contributed 25% of all profits to the commune accounts, as well as a percentage of her salary for her work with the demiguise. As for children, Luna decided that she needed a child from each of the men on the island and carefully designed each of her following pregnancies. When Xavier was two, she gave birth to a daughter with Neville by the name of Poppy Rainbow. Two years later saw another girl arrive, this one was Dean's and was called Violet Willow. Finally, two years later she finished with a last boy with Ron that was named Xander Nicholas.

Dean continued with his own sculpture career and continued to sell in both magical and non-magical galleries, also contributing 25% of his profits to the commune account. He also continued to work with the farm animals and was the resident beekeeper as his contribution to the commune, not to mention remaining involved in the lives of all of his children.

All of the commune members especially valued their children and were preparing to send the first of them off to Hogwarts in a couple of short years. Although the commune had and would always be controversial, after ten years they were all still quite committed, doing well, and very successful. Things were never perfect and small arguments always arose, but they were worked out within the family. Children were loved, affections were divided, achievements were celebrated, heartbreak was shared, and lives were joined in the commune.

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And we come to the end. Thanks for to all my readers and especially for the reviews!