Aftermath

Synopsis: This was written in response to several private messages and will attempt to answer several questions. What happened to Ginny? Why did Hermione kill herself? What happened to Ron? What about the Potter kids?

After Luna left Hermione to her thoughts, she headed towards the apparation point, on the magical side of the platform, and appeared in Diagon Alley. She had a few errands to run before returning home. As she passed a small café she spotted Ginny, sitting at one of the tables flirting shamelessly with the young waiter. As Luna approached, Ginny looked upon her with anger and resentment. Ginny drew her wand but with a lazy wave of Luna's hand she was disarmed. Luna spoke.

"Please do not try that again. I'd rather not hurt you. Harry taught me quite a bit about wandless magic." Luna said as she summoned Ginny's wand.

"What do you want? Haven't you done enough?" Ginny seethed with anger.

"Please sit down. It's been a long time since we chatted." Luna said calmly.

Ginny relented knowing she was outmatched and sat down. Luna took a seat across from her and began to speak.

"You've done quite well for yourself Ginevra. Quidditch rookie player of the year. All time leading scorer for the Harpies and now assistant head coach for them as well. You must be very proud."

"Thank you. I am proud. What do you want?" Ginny said through her teeth.

"I wanted to ask you; why did you abandon Harry after the final battle? We saw you on the map together with Dean so do not try to deny it."

"I just lost Fred and I needed comfort. Harry was supposed to be in Gryffindor tower asleep. Dean was there. So what?" Ginny said plainly.

"You obviously didn't know Harry that well then. He blamed himself for all the deaths that night. He was heartbroken and confused and nearly ended his own life. If you really cared for him, why go with Dean?"

"I already answered that. He was supposed to be in the tower. I went there after I left Dean and he wasn't there. If he was there I would have 'helped' him forget." Ginny said slyly.

"So Harry would have just been the next on the list that night. You never really cared for him did you?" Luna asked.

"I loved Harry Potter and you stole him from me you bitch." Ginny ranted.

"If you loved him why be with Dean? You should have been with Harry."

"Harry didn't know how to comfort me properly. He was a virgin for Merlin's sake. Dean and I had history and he gave me what I needed." Ginny said defensively.

"So because of your own selfishness you left him to die?" Luna said calmly.

"If he was so upset, he should have come to ME. I would have treated him . . . Nicely; then everything would have been fine. You had no right to interfere." Ginny said.

"If I hadn't interfered, as you said, Harry would have died."

"He should have come TO ME or stayed in the tower like he said. It's not my fault he didn't." Ginny fumed.

"I see. You wanted him to beg you for comfort. You wanted power over him. Don't forget Ginevra, I heard you talking about having the good life with him after the war. I also remember you going off with other boys. Harry was watching the map during the war but the love potion you gave him wouldn't let him betray you."

"I never gave him a potion. Why would I NEED one?" Ginny said stretching out her arms displaying her attributes.

"They found traces of love potion in his system at St. Mungo's. He thought he was in love with you so I had to be you. If not, then it was your brother Ron." Luna declared.

Ginny looked like a fish out of water. She said defensively.

"So what if I did? It worked out for my parents. I could have made him happy."

"Yes, I'm sure you would have shagged him mercilessly. What about giving him a family?" Luna said slightly annoyed.

"Are you mad?! Have you seen my mother? She was gorgeous when she was in school. All the boys wanted her. Childbirth messed her up badly. She wanted a large family, I didn't. Harry Potter needed a beautiful woman on his arm at all the ministry balls and events, not some cow." Ginny exclaimed.

"Do you not hear yourself? You keep referring to him as Harry Potter-The Hero. You never really cared for Harry the man." Luna said.

"He was a hero. He IS a hero. I loved Harry Potter since I was five and you cheated me." Ginny spat.

"You do realize you put us all at risk, don't you?"

"What are you babbling about?" Ginny said.

"In his sixth year, he was with Dumbledore in a cave filled with Inferi. He panicked. Harry couldn't remember how to fight them because of YOUR selfishness. He was a DADA expert but he was worthless that night. You put the whole world at risk to enslave Harry Potter." Luna spat back.

"I didn't know that?" Ginny said remorsefully.

"Now you do. I'm surprised that Ron and Hermione never told you about that."

"I don't like going over there. His kids are horrendous and the way he treats her is appalling. What did she see in him anyway? I know he's my brother but he was always a prick."

"Why didn't you warn her about him? I thought you were friends." Luna asked.

"If I had warned her away from Ron then she would have gone for Harry. I couldn't have that. When I heard that Ron left them I was worried they would hook up but it didn't happen. But we didn't happen either. What does it matter now?" Ginny said mournfully.

"So you ruined Hermione's life because of your own insecurities. You could have at least told her about that book."

"I thought she knew about it. We all did. I was surprised it actually worked on her." Ginny said.

"That's no excuse and you know it. There was no guarantee that if she didn't hook up with Ron that she would go for Harry. You could have saved her from him."

"I suppose. Is that all you wanted? May I have my wand back?" Ginny said nonchalantly.

"Are you happy Ginevra?"

"I make good money. I have nice things. I travel with the team and meet all sorts of men. I have incredible sex. Yes, I'm happy."

"What about after they're gone? What then?" Luna asked.

"I get over it and move on. I never wanted a family. I wanted Harry Potter. You wouldn't want to share would you? Three-ways are wicked fun."

"If you tell Harry the truth about what you did and what your true feelings were, I'll think about it." Luna said in a dreamy voice.

"I'll consider that. Is that it?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, that's all. I must be going. Take care Ginevra."

"Good bye Luna." She said in a disgusted tone.

Luna returned Ginny's wand and went about her business. Ginny never admitted the truth. She had her pride.

Hermione returned 'home' after her conversation with Luna. She went about her daily routine and thought long and hard about how things could have been different. The next day an owl arrived with a small package. It was several copies of The Quibbler. It had become a more respectable publication after the war. One section had several useful spells for everyday use. The corral spell was most helpful in controlling her unruly bunch. It felt good to learn new things and read again.

Her good feelings ended as quickly as they began when Ron discovered the old issues in their bedroom the following day. He reminded her violently that mudblood witches married to PURE-BLOOD wizards have no rights in this world. So like all her other books including her beloved Hogwarts a History; Ron forbade her to have them and threw them into the fireplace to prove his point. He was the man and what he says goes.

The next day, after healing herself from her husband's lesson, she felt more lost and alone then ever. Molly had taken the kids for the day, to give her a break, and she sat home alone and pondered her life as usual. There were no spousal abuse laws in the wizarding world nor was there divorce. Being a muggle-born only made it worse. She was Ron's property and there was nothing she could do about it. She looked at the meager bookshelf and her heart broke. The only books aloud were the ones on Quidditch, cooking and of course the one that started it all: Twelve Failsafe ways to Charm Witches. It sat there mocking her as a testament to her foolishness. In her depressed state, she opened the book to find out what he actually did.

Hermione opened the book and read the table of contents. It had titles like Giving Complements, Flirting Tips and the like. The last section was what caught her attention; it was entitled Tragedy. She opened to that section and began to read.

Turning Tragedy into Success

Nothing turns on a witch more then consoling her wizard. Witches have given up their virtue more often comforting a vulnerable wizard than any other method previously described. A witch will go to any length to make her wizard forget the pain and heal. The greater the tragedy the greater the comfort. A death in the family, although horrifying, is no reason to forget your goal. You could have many nights of passionate comfort if you follow these steps.

The chapter went on to describe what to say and what to do. Hermione's mind went blank and her soul froze. She realized at that moment, Ron used Fred's death to bed her. He did everything step by step and she fell for it. She was mortified that he would be so callous and even more so because this nearly cost Harry his life. She came to realize that everything she thought about Ron was a lie. He was a hurtful, heartless, demeaning, worthless arsehole that has never and will never change; in spite of the curse.

She wanted to escape but there was nothing she could do. She was glad her parents didn't remember her, because they would be ashamed. She missed them terribly but could do nothing. She thought about Crookshanks and remembered he was with them and probably dead by now. She only made one mistake in her life and it cost her everything. She missed the simple pleasure of reading and she missed doing meaningful magic. She missed Hermione Granger but she was dead now. Hermione was pulled from her thoughts by the sounds of her husband.

"Oi, Mione come here. I've got something for you." He said. She could almost hear him smirk. This was his way of saying he wanted oral sex; he thought it was cute. He called her that name because he knew it annoyed her; it always had. She couldn't take it anymore. She scribbled a quick note and drew her wand, pointed it at her chest and said aloud.

"I hate you Hermione Weasley, AVADA KADAVRA." And she was no more.

Ron entered their bedroom to find his pregnant wife dead on the floor. He said to no one.

"Stupid bitch. Who's going to watch the kids now?"

He went over to the desk and saw the book and he was pleased. He smiled evilly remembering the day he beat The-Boy-Who-Lived and the brightest witch of the age.

The aurors came to investigate and deemed it a suicide. The problem was she killed her unborn child and that was a high crime. The baby was removed from her body, another boy, and buried in the Weasley family plot. Her body was unclaimed, due to her crime, until Harry and Luna took action. Harry took her to Godric's Hallow and had her properly placed. She deserved that much. Her tombstone read.

Hermione Jane Granger

September 19, 1979 to September 4, 2018

Brightest Witch of the Age

Best Friend to Harry and Luna Potter

Be At Peace. You Will Be Missed

The only people at her service were Harry and Luna. Harry put a charm on her stone to hide the magical notation and returned home. Upon their return, Luna went to retrieve their children from their grandfather while Harry went to his study. He pulled out the Resurrection Stone, only Luna knew he had it, and called for Hermione. When she appeared she looked exactly the way she was before marrying Ron. She spoke.

"Hello Harry. I thought you got rid of the stone. Why did you call me here?" She said in her trademark bossy tone that he missed so much.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry, for everything. The curse; for not noticing you sooner; for being a horrid friend; just everything."

"There's nothing to forgive. I made the mistake going after Ron. I made the mistake sleeping with him. I thought I could change him into something better but I was wrong. The curse wouldn't have mattered; he never would have changed."

"Are you okay? I mean are you being punished for what you did?" Harry asked.

"They were going to send me to a bad place to atone for my misdeeds, but the Master of Death called me to him. You're famous here as well. In case you didn't know."

"Can't I ever be normal? Bloody hell!" Harry exclaimed.

"Language Harry." Hermione scolded with a smile.

"Merlin I've missed you." He said with tears forming.

"I've missed you too." She replied sadly.

"I love Luna and our children with all my heart and soul and I thank the God and Goddess everyday for them. But I loved you first; a piece of my heart will always belong to you."

"When it's time, I'll be waiting here to collect. That is a promise I will keep."

"I'll hold you to that. Be at peace Hermione. I love you." Harry proclaimed.

"I love you too, Harry. Goodbye." Hermione said.

Harry canceled the spell and she was gone. He stood there mourning her, thinking about what might have been. When Luna spoke softly.

"That was nice of you. I hope you realize that I'm not going to let you go in the next life. We'll just have to share you. Deal with it."

"You always could make me smile, even when I didn't want to. I love you Luna."

"I love you too Harry. Come now, YOUR children are being rambunctious." Luna said.

"Why are they my children when they act up but your children when they're behaving?" Harry asked with a smile.

"Because I'm the smart one."

"Does that make me the pretty one?" Harry asked playfully.

"No, that's me as well. You're the muscle. My favorite muscle." Luna said with a sultry gleam in her eye as she cupped him gently.

"Mmmmmmmmm. I can live with that." Harry said with a lopsided grin.

He returned the stone to its hiding place which also held the Elder Wand. The cloak was with their eldest daughter at Hogwarts. He kissed his loving wife and the two of them walked with their arms around each other waists to see what mischief their offspring were into.

Along the way, Harry thought of his life up to now. In spite of all that happened, he couldn't be more grateful. His wife and dearest friend Luna could always make him smile. She hadn't really changed much since school. Her waist length hair was now luxurious and he loved running his hands through it. Her petite frame seemed unblemished by childbirth and her blunt honesty was always a comfort. She was always a pretty girl but now a beautiful woman. Gone were the days of radish earrings and butterbeer cap necklace, but she still has them. She was more mature but she will always be just Luna to him.

Their eldest daughter, Sapphire Alana age twelve, was currently at Hogwarts. Top of her year in Ravenclaw, just like her mother. She's the spitting image of Luna at that age but with silver-green eyes. She inherited her mother's temperament but her father's cheek.

Their eldest son, Lorcan Alexander age ten, was the Quidditch player. He had short black hair but not messy. His silver eyes never missed the snitch. A superb flyer and a good student as well. He was always up for a bit of mischief.

Their youngest son, Maximillian Jules age eight, was the prankster. He had shoulder length dirty blond hair with green eyes. A good student but an excellent artist. Perhaps telling him about the Marauders was a mistake.

Their youngest daughter, Aelita Brianna age six, was his pride and joy. She had waist length, straight black hair with piercing green eyes. Loved to read and never missed a thing. She had her mother's thoughtfulness and her father's tenacity as well as his temper. She was a real handful.

He was thankful all his children inherited Luna's perfect eyesight and his son's didn't have cursed hair. He looked upon his children and sighed; another prank gone awry. All the children were sporting pink skin and violet feathers for hair. Aelita was scolding her brothers fiercely and Harry couldn't be happier.

One month after Hermione's death, Ron lost custody of all his children for being an unfit parent. Molly pressed the issue when she heard his two year old say the word 'mud-blood' and found that Ron taught him. He didn't fight hard for his children because he couldn't care for them properly anyway; it was woman's work after all. With much love, support and Molly's iron will, all of Ron's sons would became well mannered, successful members of society.

George and Percy, now a partner at WWW, sacked Ron from his job for his behavior. With no job and no money Ron's anger finally got the better of him. He saw Harry in Diagon Alley and attacked him. Harry quickly defeated him and he was arrested for assault and endangering children; Harry had his with him. At his trial, Ron blamed everything on Harry because he ruined his life. It was revealed, under Veritiserum, that Ron while drunk in The Leaky Cauldron bragged that he left Harry during the war and Hermione still shagged him. He was sentenced to ten years in Azkaban. He died two years into his sentence. Apparently his muggle-born cell-mate didn't like the word mud blood.

Disclaimer: I own nothing that is Harry Potter.

A/N: I hope this answers some of your questions. I want to apologize if I offended anyone with the book excerpt. I do not share these views and they were for illustration purposes only. Again, I sincerely apologize if I offended anyone. The name Aelita I got from the cartoon Code Lyoko. I do not own that either.