"I'm so happy for you, Hermione," James says as he twirls her around the dancefloor. "I'm so glad you've found peace."

"Thank you," she says, brushing her finger over his cheek. "I'm happy for you too. I feel like our lives have finally settled into what they're supposed to be."

"Yeah, I think so too," he says, grinning, "Mrs Black."

"I think that's Lady Black to you, Mr Potter," she smirks. "Or did you not hear Sirius's happy news?"

"Are you kidding?" James chuckles. "I know the cause of the party wasn't public knowledge, but you think Sirius didn't floo straight to my place as soon as he heard?"

"All I know is Sirius didn't stop drinking for three days," Hermione chuckles. "I've never seen him so happy, not even the day I said I'd marry him."

"Oh please," James says. "You know Sirius better than anyone – he's king of playing of it cool, but he cried for half an hour after you'd gone to work."

"Did he?" Hermione says, grinning. "Bless his little heart."

"Are you happy?" he asks seriously. "Is this what you want?"

"Bit late to ask me that now, sweetheart," she laughs. "I'm a married woman."

"That wasn't the question I asked," he says. "I know he's my best friend, Hermione, but so are you. If you need anything, I swear, I'll…"

"Stop," she says softly. "James, I love you too. But I'm really happy. Sirius is the love of my life and I can't wait to live out the rest of my days with him. To fight, and laugh, and work, and play, and love…with Sirius Black. He's mine, James, and I'm truly happy. Please, you don't have to worry about me anymore. I'm okay now."

"Are you sure?" he asks softly.

"James, love," she laughs. "You've been incredible. I know I've been a mess, I understand that, but I'm through the darkness. You get to breathe again. Please, you have to trust me now."

"I do," he says, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"What about you though?" she asks, as the song changes and they begin to dance again. "Are you happy?" She scans the room, looking for Mrs Potter, who is in Sirius's arms, tossing her red hair over her shoulder as she laughs at something he has to say.

"I am," James says. "I love her very much, and I'm all the happier now you're friends again."

"Well we're trying," Hermione says. "It has been better since your wedding."

"Good," he says. "How is your work going?"

"Really well," Hermione replies. "How about you?"

"Sirius Black, if you don't get your ass down here, I swear to God-" Hermione begins, but before she can go any further, he appears, sliding down the banister and landing at her feet.

"How are you this evening, Lady Black?" he asks, kissing her deeply and running a hand over her protruding belly.

"Tired," she says. "I want this baby out of me. And I sort of hate you for putting it in me in the first place." He raises an eyebrow; she doesn't manage a smile but her eyes are laughing and so he knows it's okay to smirk.

"Well, it was always going to happen eventually, my love," he says. "We're not exactly careful."

"Well this is the last time," she says. "I can't have another baby, Sirius, I'm so tired."

"Four's not enough," he protests. "Come on, Mione, you know you've always wanted a big happy family."

"Well if it gets any bigger, it's gonna rival the Weasleys," she says, rolling her eyes. "We can get a puppy instead, maybe that'll distract you."

"Nothing's ever going to distract me from you, baby," he says, kissing her neck. "But, right now, we do have to go."

"I know," she says. "Cass will kill us if we're late to the party."

"I don't really get why tonight is such a big deal," he says, putting an arm around her waist. "It's just another party right?"

"You know it's not just another party," she says, rolling her eyes. "She's going to propose tonight, it's a big day."

"Oh shit," he says. "I completely forgot about that."

"I still think it's a bad idea," she says. "Remus would want something private."

"Did you tell her that?" Sirius asks.

"Of course I did," she says. "But you know Cass, she doesn't listen."

"I know," Sirius says. "He'll say yes though, he does want to marry her."

"Well then he should have proposed years ago," Hermione says, as they walk down to the kitchen fireplace.

"And you know exactly why he didn't," Sirius says severely.

"I know," Hermione says sadly. "I get it, I do. It's a heavy burden for anybody, but he and Cass have been together for…13 years? If that doesn't show she's prepared to deal with it, I don't know what will."

"It hasn't been 13 years?!" Sirius says. "Shut up, Hermione, that makes us old."

"We are old," she says ruefully. "But it is 13 years. I'm 30, we've been married for 9 years. And Cass still doesn't even have a ring."

"Yeah, poor girl," he says. "God, 9 years eh?"

"It's Astra's 8th birthday in 3 days, Sirius, you know that, right?" she says, eyeing him up suspiciously.

"Oh, please, you make me out to be the worst father in the world," he says, tutting.

"No I don't," she insists. "You love our children, Sirius, I know that. And you're amazing with them, you always have been. You're just not great with dates."

"This is because I forgot our anniversary one time," he groans. "Please, Hermione, let it go. It doesn't mean I don't love you."

"I know," she laughs, leaning up and kissing him softly. "Come on, we're already late."

They step through the fireplace and into Remus and Dorcas's study. From downstairs, they can hear the party raging, but their eyes fall on Remus, who is sitting at his desk, looking tired and drawn. "Hey, guys," he says, trying to force a smile.

"Oh, Remus, how are you, love?" Hermione asks, crossing the room and throwing her arms around him. Despite himself, he smiles as he hugs her back.

"I'm okay," he says, sounding anything but. "I'm just…worried about Cass."

"Why?" Hermione asks, nodding as Sirius slips out of the door. This is a conversation Remus will feel more comfortable having in private, and Sirius can respect that.

"She's going to propose to me, Hermione," he says sadly.

"Who told you?" Hermione asks, folding her arms as she leans against his desk.

"Peter," Remus says, and Hermione rolls her eyes.

"I told Cass not to tell him," she says. "He's always been awful at keeping secrets."

"I'm glad he told me," Remus says. "You should have said something, Hermione. I needed someone on my side."

"Remus, I am on your side," Hermione says softly. "I love you so much, you know that."

"Of course I do," he says, looking at her, surprised. "Hermione, don't ever doubt that. I know you love me and I love you. But I need you on my side."

"I don't understand?" she asks.

"You think I'm wrong," he says, "for not wanting to marry her. You think it's her choice, not mine."

"I never said that," she murmurs.

"No, but you think it," he says. "You think I'm being overdramatic, or controlling, or…inconsiderate. But you don't understand what it's like to be me. None of you could ever…you see 1% of the prejudice that has followed me my entire life. Just one. I need you to understand that I can't bear to saddle her with that prejudice. It's irresponsible and unfair."

"Remus," Hermione says, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't understand. I could never, I get that. You're…you've struggled so much, and I am so sorry."

"You don't have to apologise," he says.

"What do you want me to do?" she asks. "You want me to get you out of here?"

"No," he says. "You're…you're supposed to talk me into this."

"Is that what you want?" she asks.

"I…I don't know," he says.

"Remus, you deserve to be happy," she says. "More than anyone I know. But so does Cass. If you can't do that for her, if you can't find peace with the idea that you can be happy, you need to let her go."

"I don't understand?" he asks. "You don't want me to marry her?"

"Of course I do," she says. "You're my best friends. I adore you… All I can say, Remus, is that I'm going to do everything I can to rid the world of the prejudice you encounter. Like I have been for the past five years."

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"It's been a secret," she says. "I literally only stopped arguing with the Minister about it three days ago. But I've managed to abolish every piece of anti-werewolf legislation or policy within the Ministry. It goes public in 2 days time."

"Hermione," he says, going white as a sheet.

"I know it's not everything, love," she says. "it's not even 10%. But I'm trying and I'm going to keep trying, I promise."

"Oh Hermione," he says, throwing his arms around her and burying his face in her shoulder.

"If I keep trying, will you?" she asks softly. "Please?"

"Yes," he says. "I will."

"Good," Hermione says. "That's going to make Cass's night."

"So where are your children?" he asks, getting to his feet and starting the walk down to the ballroom.

"With Regulus," she says. "Poor Bella is practically housebound anyway, so they decided to stay home and said they'd look after my babies."

"How long before you're housebound?" he asks, glancing down at her very pregnant belly.

"Not long enough," she says, rolling her eyes. "I've told Sirius I'm not doing this again."

"You know you will," he says. "You love having children – it's just these last few weeks you can't stand."

"Nope, this is it, I swear," she says, grinning as they head into the ballroom. "I need to say hello to James. Good luck, Remus."

"I love you, Hermione Black," he says. "Thank you so much."

"You're an idiot, James Potter," Lily says, as she hefts Harry up and carries him out the room.

"Don't you think Harry's a little old to be carried around like that?" Sirius says drily; James rolls his eyes.

"He's 8 years old," James says. "He's far too old."

"Only a few years until Hogwarts now," Remus says, patting James's knee as he stifles a yawn.

"Sirius is the one that should be worried," James says. "Astra's going on Monday!"

"Shut up, I can't talk about it," Sirius says, his eyes already filling with tears. "I'm too young to have a baby going to Hogwarts. What the fuck has happened to us?"

"You tell me," Remus says. "You're one with five children."

"Six," Hermione says, throwing a quill at James's head as she walks into the room. "What on earth did you do to Lily, you moron?"

"Nothing," James says. "All I said was maybe we should skip the family visit to Petunia this year. She hates us enough already."

"She's her sister," Hermione says. "Maybe if you didn't actively try to make them hate you, it wouldn't be so bad."

"Yeah, right," James says, rolling his eyes. "And her son's a fucking brat – honestly I've never met a child I didn't like but that boy can go straight back to the depths of hell, and take her nasty husband with him."

"Ass," Hermione says, whacking him with a piece of parchment.

"Wait, can we go back?" Remus says. "You said six, Hermione?"

"Yeah," she says, patting her bump. "It looks like I'm growing two instead of one."

"Shut up," Remus gapes. "Oh, guys, congratulations. That's amazing news."

"That really is great," James says, laughing as they fall into a huge group hug.

"What about you, James?" Sirius asks. "When are you and Lily going to give Harry a little brother or sister?"

"Ask Lily," James says, rolling his eyes. "I would love more children."

"So would I," Sirius says, shooting Hermione a side-eye.

"Say that one more time, I swear," Hermione says. "I feel like I've done nothing but be pregnant for the past 11 years."

"But you're so beautiful when you're pregnant," Sirius says, leaning up and kissing her deeply.

"I love you," Hermione says drily. "Remus, more kids?"

"I think 2's enough for Cass," Remus says. "Especially since they're so close in age."

"Well, looks like Peter's going to beat you all," Hermione says. "With the wives he's going through."

"What's he got that we don't have?" Sirius asks ruefully.

"A good personality?" Hermione says, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm kidding," he says gently. "I know I've been blessed. But some of the girls Peter's been marrying, I swear to Merlin, I have no idea how…"

"Maybe he's got a huge…package?" Hermione suggests, grinning.

"As if," James smirks.

"You should be nicer to that poor boy," Hermione says. "Ooh and maybe go and make up with your wife before she changes the locks."

"You're joking?" James says incredulously.

"As if," she repeats back to him mockingly.

"Honestly it's as if we're 17 again," he says. "I'm going, see you tomorrow, guys."

"We should be getting to bed," Hermione says to Sirius. "We need to take Astra to Diagon Alley for one last check tomorrow morning."

"Okay, wife," he says. "Let's go."

"Night, guys," Remus says. "Thanks for coming and keeping me company. I'm proud of Cass but I hate when she's away."

"Come on," Sirius says, leading his family down the platform. "We're going to miss the train if we're not careful."

"You're the one that made us late, Dad," Astra says, rolling her eyes as she hurries ahead, looking for her cousins. "Harry's going to be nervous, we were supposed to be here."

"Don't do that," Sirius says. "You're the spit of your mother, I swear."

"Daddy, where is Mum?" Orion asks, looking up at his father. "She promised she'd be here."

"She will be," Sirius says. "I'm sure she's here somewhere."

"There they are," Astra says, running forwards and throwing her arms around Auntie Lily. "How are you?"

"You're too grown-up for your own good sometimes," Lily chuckles as she rubs her cheek reassuringly.

"That's what I'm saying," Sirius laughs, lifting up his youngest, Isla, and putting her on his shoulders. Behind him, the three others, Leo, Vega and Altair, all too young for Hogwarts, are bouncing around Harry and Orion, laughing and saying goodbye.

"How are you feeling today, James?" Sirius asks.

"Don't look at me," James says, hiding his face in his hands. "I'm fine."

"You're a liar," Sirius says, clapping his best friend on the back. "Don't worry, mate, I've been crying all morning."

"Oh, you're both as bad as each other," Lily says. "Where's your wife?"

"There," Astra says, pointing over James's shoulder to where Hermione is standing, watching a small brunette girl with a pained expression on her face.

"I'll get her," Sirius says. "Astra, sweetheart, say goodbye to your brothers and sisters."

He wanders down the platform to where Hermione is standing and puts his arms around her shoulders, hugging her from behind. "Is that her?" he asks gently.

"Yes," she says, her voice thick with her tears. "And those are my parents." She points to a tall man and a pretty woman; they both are looking round with interest.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," he murmurs. "I can't even imagine how hard this must be for you."

"They're my parents," she says. "I haven't seen them in 16 years. I got married. I had…6 babies. And they missed all of it."

"I know and I'm so sorry," he says. "Look at her, with so much to come."

"I know," she says. "And there's Ron…with Fred and George. It was so nice having them to stay this summer, I knew they'd be friends with Astra."

"How could they not be?" he says. "The daughter of the greatest prankster Hogwarts has ever seen, and the new up and comers. They're funny, I like them."

"Me too," she says tearfully. "And there's Draco…he'll be good to them, I'm sure."

"It won't be like before," he says. "Narcissa is one of your closest friends, they know him. They're all going to be fine."

"We should be worried about our babies," she says, turning back to where Astra and Orion are waiting. "Off they go again. One day they're all going to leave us and I don't think I'll be able to survive it."

"Of course we will," Sirius says. "Just like we've survived everything else."

"Mum, we've got to get on the train," Astra says, as Hermione and Sirius approach the group.

"I know, sweetheart," she says. "Have a great year. Write to us when you can. And we'll see you at Christmas, okay?"

"Yes, Mum," Astra says. "Bye Dad. I love you both."

"And we love you," Sirius says. "Now, go, Fred and George are waiting."

"Thanks, love you, bye," she shouts. "Orion, Harry, I'll catch you later."

"Write to me whenever you want," Hermione is telling Orion as Sirius and James both pretend they're not crying. "Be nice to the other kids, whatever house they're in. Work hard, play hard and never forget that we love you."

"I love you," Orion says, leaning up and hugging his mother. He hugs Sirius tightly, laughing as he sees his dad's tears, and then he grabs Harry and they run off, climbing onto the train. Seconds later, they reappear, waving excitedly from a window. Further down, Astra, Fred and George are all waving too.

"You think they'll be okay?" James asks Hermione quietly. She barely hears him, her eyes on a small brunette with bushy hair, who is hanging out of a window and waving to her parents.

"They'll be fine," Hermione says, turning back to Orion and blowing him a kiss. "They're going to be happy."

"Kids!" Hermione shouts up the stairs. "Come on, our guests will be here any minute."

"Sorry, Mum," Astra says, appearing at Hermione's left shoulder with a loud CRACK. On her right, Fred and George have also appeared; they both kiss Hermione on the cheek and then follow Astra down into the kitchen.

"You don't have to apparate everywhere you go, you know," she tells them, but she's smiling fondly, a memory resurfacing of a similar moment when she was just 15.

"Hey, Momma," Leo says, jumping over the banister.

"Hey, love," Hermione says. "You all packed?"

"I think so," Leo says. "Are the others here yet?"

"No," Hermione says. "But Astra, Fred and George are in the kitchen – go and join them?"

"Okay, Mum," he says, hugging her tightly and then skipping off.

"Vega," Hermione shouts. "Altair, Isla, get down here now!"

"Sorry, sorry," Vega says, stumbling down the stairs, her face still buried in a book.

"Vega, sweetheart," Hermione says, catching her daughter before she falls down the last couple of steps. "I'm happy you're reading, but maybe we should watch where we're going?"

"Sorry, Mum," she says. "Have you read this book? I can't believe everything you did when you were just a kid. Only Astra's age."

"We can talk about it later if you like," Hermione says softly. "I'm sure you have questions."

"Yes," Vega says. "I love you, Mum."

"I love you too," Hermione says, pressing a kiss to her daughter's forehead. "Go on, go get washed up for dinner." Vega hurries off, still reading, and Hermione turns back to the stairs. "Altair, Isla, come on!"

"They're down here, Mum," Astra shouts up the stairs from the kitchen. Hermione rolls her eyes and heads down to the kitchen, ruffling Leo's hair as she walks back to the oven.

Without even turning around to look at her children, she says, "Astra, I'm going to need you to unmount George before his mother gets here. Leo, your hands are filthy, go and wash up at once. Fred, I don't know what you think you're doing with that Dungbomb but if you get it anywhere near my food, you'll be eating in the street, and Isla, if I've asked you once, I've asked you a thousand times, stop tricking your brother into eating blueberries."

She turns to see Astra hastily climbing off George's lap, Fred sneaking something back into his bag and Leo hurrying over to the sink. She performs a charm to reduce the swelling on Altair's face, confiscates Isla's fruit and smiles as the doorbell rings. "Astra, go and let your brother in please," she says, pouring out the water from the vegetables.

Five minutes later, Astra reappears, with Orion hot on her heels. "Hey, Mum," he says, bounding across the room and hugging her tightly. Behind him, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny are all laughing at something Sirius is telling them, with James bringing up the rear, helping a very pregnant Lily.

"Aunt Hermione, is it true you once got 137% in a Charms exam?" Hermione asks brightly.

"Yes," Hermione says, starting to plate up the food. "Ron, where are your parents, sweetheart?"

"Coming," Ron says. "Did Fred tell you that Bill's coming too? He's got a new friend he wants to introduce to everyone."

"Okay," Hermione says. "That should be fine. James, where's Remus?"

"Late again," James says, smirking. "You know it's a nightmare getting his two out of the house. They're running circles around him, especially when Cass is away."

"Bless him," Hermione says, watching as Sirius snakes his way round the kitchen. He grabs her by the waist and kisses her deeply. "Oh hello."

"Oh, Mum, please stop," Astra groans, covering Altair's eyes as Orion does the same for Isla.

"Like we haven't had enough of you and George this holiday?" Sirius teases, kissing Hermione again and then sitting down beside Leo.

And so it came to pass that on August 31st, the Blacks, the Potters, the Weasleys and the Lupins sat down with two versions of Hermione to enjoy a family meal. As Hermione Granger sat, listened and laughed to old stories, Hermione Black watched. She watched as the younger version of herself flirted with Fred Weasley and joked with Harry Potter and talked seriously with Remus about what was coming in their 5th year. And finally, she turned to her husband and said, "It's time we told her the truth."

"Hermione we can't," Sirius says as he closes the door to her study. "She's a child."

"She's almost 16 years old," Hermione says coolly. "By that age, I'd killed. She's no child."

"She's not you, Hermione," Sirius says. "She's never suffered, not like you have. She's not ready."

"Well she needs to get ready," Hermione says.

"You are not this heartless," Sirius says. "You're just not. She's a child, Hermione, just like Orion. Would you make him do this?"

"I'm doing this for Orion," Hermione says. "For Astra, and Leo, and Vega and Altair and Isla. And you. I won't lose what I fought so hard to win. I won't let them die. Not to mention Harry, Ron, James, Lily, everybody we love will perish. Please, Sirius, she can handle this. I know she can."

"Why now?" Sirius asks. "She's still got three years of her life left before she needs to leave."

"And she falls more in love with Fred everyday," Hermione says. "You don't think that's cruel? To let her love someone knowing she will lose him?"

"If someone had told you when you landed on our table that you were going to lose me," Sirius says, "that I was going to die or something, would it have stopped you from falling in love with?"

"I would have tried," Hermione says. "I would have wanted to know what was coming. And so will she."

"Okay," Sirius says. "So tell her. Tell her the story."

"I think we should tell all of them," Hermione says. "Astra, right down to Vega. They're all old enough now."

"Vega's 9," Sirius says.

"And she's already asking questions," Hermione says. "They deserve the truth, and they want to know. Just like we did when we were their age."

"Fine," Sirius says. "But you need to ask James and Remus and Molly before you tell their kids."

"Fine," Hermione says. "Ask them to come and see me. I want to work out what I'm going to say."

"What's going on, Mum?" Astra asks, as the children file into the study. Hermione is standing by the fireplace, Sirius, Molly and James in seats beside her. Remus and Lily are sitting at the desk, and all the children sit down on the empty chairs or on the floor.

"We need to tell you something," Sirius says. "Our story."

"The journey," Lily says. "How we got to here and now."

"What we lost," Remus says. "And what we gained."

"Who we hurt," James says. "Who we killed."

"And who we loved," Hermione says softly. "This is the story of how we won."

And that's the end! I'm not entirely sure I'm happy with how this story ended, but I think it needed to end. I love these characters very much and I wish I could have taken them further, but I really just wanted to see them happy.

Thank you guys for sticking with this story - I really hope you enjoyed it.

All my love xx