Intertwined: An Epilogue

Kyria of Delphi sat in front of the fire, watching as two skeins of thread that had always been loosely interlaced slowly began to knit themselves together. It was as she had foreseen; it was destined to be, but it had not been the right time. Time…it had required time, and now the appointed hour was at hand.

-ooo-

22 December, 2021

As the Hogwarts Express pulled into Platform 9 ¾ Lily Potter knew exactly what would happen; even though her father had given specific instructions for her brothers to help with her trunk and other baggage they would skive off, Al with his friends and James with whatever girl he was dating at the time. It was only Lily's third year at Hogwarts but so far it had been a different girl that James dated each Christmas, and according to Al it had been that way ever since James had started Hogwarts six years ago. As the steam began to clear Lily wiped the window pane next to her seat to slowly reveal the same smiling faces waiting for them as usual; her father, her Gran and Grandpa Weasley, not to mention all the other Weasley aunts and uncles.

And, as always, standing next to her father was Hermione Granger.

"Come on, Lils, I want to introduce Sophie to Dad." James stood at the door of Lily's compartment, holding hands with Sophie Clarke; the Ravenclaw girl seemed nice enough to Lily, which was why she couldn't understand how she'd ended up with her brother.

"Go on, I'll wait for Al." Lily waved them off, gathered her bag and said goodbye to her roommates. Eventually Al arrived with his roommates and the Gryffindors exited the train en masse, all of them leaving Lily to her trunk.

As usual her father didn't make a big display like some parents; he waited patiently with a smile on his face. He also couldn't hide the sadness behind the glasses.

-ooo-

The death of Ginny Potter was a shock to the wizarding world but it was as if the calendar stopped for the Potters and Weasleys. The explanation was startling in how commonplace it was; Ginny was in Muggle London doing some Christmas shopping after attending a Quidditch match for Quidditch Weekly when a drunken driver plowed through a pedestrian-only area. The Healers confirmed to Harry that even if magical assistance had been available it would have been for nought; her neck was snapped upon impact. Four other Muggles lost their lives that day, but the fact that Ginny Potter died made things incredibly hard for the Ministry. It was the intervention of the Other Minister's office that tied off the loose ends, made the BBC and the papers print corrections regarding the number of dead.

The news went out immediately through the Weasley family, as everyone came back instantly to the Burrow. Molly was inconsolable; she had lost Fred to the war, that much she could comprehend, but losing Ginny to the randomness of the Muggle world? As Harry watched her parents deal with the grief he knew that the hardest task, the hardest task of his life lay ahead, but he couldn't do it by himself. He knew that he would break down, and he had to be strong, stronger than ever before. The fact that Lily, little Lily sobbed into Molly's arms did not make the task easier.

Ron went with him to Hogwarts. Headmistress McGonagall asked Neville to fetch the boys, as he was their Head of House, and as they waited for them to arrive Minerva McGonagall broke down for a few minutes, leaving Ron to comfort her; Harry was still numb, still in shock, still mad at the world. After all he'd done for the wizarding world, after all he'd been through he only had seventeen years with her. Seventeen…it should have been a lifetime! As the boys walked into the room with Neville he looked at his sons, a first year and a second year, so much promise ahead of them…

The funeral was a state occasion. Ambassadors from magical countries attended as well as heads of state. Hermione Granger left Durmstrang immediately for an extended visit, to help in the time of need. She later extended her trip to be a sabbatical. She tendered her resignation midway through the summer.

-ooo

The first night back at Grimmauld Place on Christmas holiday kept to the usual routine; Ron, Luna and their kids would come over, Hermione and Luna would fix all the children's favorite foods and they would listen intently to James' excuses for whatever trouble he had caused during the first term. Lily watched with interest this year as, surprisingly, her father let James invite Sophie over for dinner. Ron and Oz, who was a year below Lily, were merciless in attempting to embarrass James to no avail. Only her five year old cousin Selene, who apparently looked like Luna's mum with her dark hair, kept her from relating that she'd found evidence that proved James and Sophie had been caught seventeen times in Gryffindor broom closets; Selene insisted that Lily show her all the Christmas decorations.

Eventually, though, the evening drew to a close and after everyone had said goodnight Grimmauld House became dark and quiet. Lily, though, could not sleep. Something was different, something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Once she'd identified the reason, though, she couldn't move for a while, and sat staring at the picture of her mum on the dresser. After pulling on her dressing gown and sliding into her fuzzy slippers she softly went down the hall, checked something, and then headed downstairs.

Everything was in its proper place. The decorations were as they always were, the pictures were on the mantle, the ornaments were on the tree…nothing out of sorts. Lily walked forward and took the picture from the center of the mantle and stared at her parents. It was taken the year before her mum died, James' first year at Hogwarts. She traced her finger along her mother's long, red hair.

"I've always like that picture. I think it really captures her, don't you?" Hermione Granger stood on the step, a patchwork quilted robe fastened around the middle with a mismatched belt. "Can't sleep?"

Lily shook her head. "No."

"I understand. How about a snack? I happen to know where the Christmas biscuits are hidden. You know if we didn't hide them…"

"Al and Uncle Ron would eat all of them, just like two years ago." Lily smiled, but then cocked her head. "Why are you still awake?"

"Bad dream." Hermione absentmindedly rubbed her wrist where a blue tattoo once sat. "Come on, let's go to the kitchen."

Lily followed her into the kitchen and sat at the counter while Hermione took out her wand and waved it at the garbage bin, then watched as the bin turned into a box. "Oh, they'd never figure that one out. Clever."

"Thank you. The real bin is across the room." Hermione handed Lily the box and then retrieved milk and two glasses. After pouring the milk she sat down across from Lily. "It's always hard this time of year, isn't it? It is for me, and for your father…"

"He tries to hide it but…"

"Yes?"

"He's rubbish at it. We all are."

"She wouldn't want it that way. I know after…after I came back it was obvious she always did her best to make it wonderful for you kids. I think she even surpassed your Gran, and that's saying something." Hermione took a bite of biscuit.

Lily decided to plunge ahead, ask the question that had been nagging at her for a while. "How long have you and Dad been together?"

Hermione half-choked on her biscuit. "What?"

"You didn't sleep in the guest room. I put one of Uncle George's Wailing Watchdogs on the door. I tried to sleep, expecting to hear it go off, but when it didn't…"

After a few moments of shock Hermione pushed back her graying hair from her face. "How long have you suspected?"

"I'm not sure. A while."

"You should really have this conversation with your dad, Lily."

"Yes, but I'm asking you. I'm not mad. To be honest I'm kind of happy." She paused. "Does that make me a horrible daughter? What would mum say?"

"I think your mum would want your father to be happy. In fact, I know she did. Wait here, there's something I want you to read. Harry wanted to save it for later, when you were older, but…I'll be right back."

As she ascended the stairs Hermione's mind was racing a million miles a minute, faster that the swiftest broom. As she entered the bedroom she saw Harry roll over, and when he found the bed empty he groggily sat up.

"Hermione? What are you doing up?"

Biting her lip slightly Hermione went over and sat on the bed next to him. "I'm looking for Ginny's letter. That letter, you know the one. Lily's downstairs and…and she's figured it out."

"Bloody hell. Sorry. Really? How did this all come about?"

"I couldn't sleep and when I went downstairs I saw her with the picture from the mantle. Harry, she's confused, but she's not angry. She just wants some answers. I think you'd better join us."

Harry rose, put on a t-shirt and went to the small box that sat on the wardrobe. He reached inside and pulled out a faded letter.

-ooo-

Several weeks after Ginny's funeral Alexander Crumpitt, the editor of Quidditch Weekly, paid a visit to Harry Potter. He apologized profusely for the interruption but held a small box tightly in his arms and would not leave it unless he spoke to Harry personally. Ron let him in with some reservations, owing to Harry's fragile state of mind, but Harry seemed glad to see him. Once Crumpitt and Harry were alone the editor explained the reason for his visit; every few years all employees were required to create Contingency Letters. Even though there had been no attacks from rogue Death Eaters still about or those who aligned with Voldemort, the actions from the past war had left everyone shaken. Ginny had been required to complete a Contingency Letter, which was enclosed in the box along with all of her personal effects.

Harry had thanked Crumpitt for his condolences and put the box away.

It was while cleaning out the attic, three years later, that Harry had stumbled upon the box. It had been long enough that he'd quite forgotten what the box contained, so when he opened it up he wasn't prepared for what lay inside. There, on top, in Ginny's handwriting, was the envelope. Underneath it were the pictures that always sat on her desk, her reporter's notebook, her quills, several dried up inkpots and a coffee mug that said 'World's Best Mum' that James had insisted they buy her for her birthday when he was five.

All the reserve within Harry began to crumble as he opened the letter. As he read the first few lines the tears began to fall.

My Dearest Harry,

If you are reading this then the worst has come to pass. If anyone deserves a happy ever after it is you, and if you are reading this then my part in your happily ever after has come to an end. I know that you will continue to be the best father to our children, and you will put them first, but you have to remember to think about yourself on occasion. I know all too well how you think of everyone else; put everyone else's needs ahead of yours. Don't dwell on the sadness, as we all know how easily it is to fall into that habit of despair. We have had truly horrific things happen to us in our lives, but we've come out the other end better for it.

You have always been my love. Even before I knew exactly what love was I think it was always you. I know how much love means to you, more than anyone else. I know how desperately you needed it when you were a child, and even though we're grown and have children of our own we will never outgrow that. If you're reading this and I'm gone I want you to pay close attention to the next few things.

Harry James Potter, you deserve love more than any person I have ever known. You are truly a good person, in all aspects of the word. You deserve to have love, even if I am gone. Yes, I know for someone who has exhibited a very large jealous streak this seems at odds with the evidence, but it is true. If I am gone before you I want you to find someone, someone to make you happy, someone that will love our children as much as I do, someone to take care of them when I can't. The children will need a mother, and you, my messy, can't wake up on time, leaves his socks and underwear on the bathroom floor husband, you will need a wife. More than that you will need a best friend, someone to listen to you, to understand how hard it is being The Boy Who Lived for almost all of the wizarding world, but more importantly someone who knows that at the end of the day you're just Harry.

I truly hope that the future finds us reading this letter after I've retired from Quidditch Weekly, lying on a beach somewhere while our grandchildren play in the sand. If that isn't the case, know that I will be there, watching our grandchildren play in the sand, watching you and wishing you nothing but love.

Your Ginny

-ooo-

Lily looked up from the letter to her father and Hermione, who sat closely together, his arm around her shoulders. She wiped tears from her face with the back of her hand. "Dad?"

"I know, Lils. I know."

Hermione reached out and took Lily's hand. "Lily…I could never replace your mum. I'm not trying to. Nobody could replace her. She was my best friend before…before I left. And after I came back it wasn't easy at first. It wasn't easy at all. But she…when she brought you and your brothers to visit, I…I don't know what I would have done without her and your father and the Krums…" She turned to Harry. "Would you give us some time, please?"

Harry kissed Hermione on the cheek, walked over and hugged Lily tightly, and then left the kitchen. Hermione sat there, unsure of what to do. So many things spun through her head, images of Kyria of Delphi sprang unexpectedly to the forefront and one phrase in particular. "We talked about it many times, what happened in Delphi. You know the story, don't you?"

Lily nodded hesitantly and looked down at the table. "Yes."

Hermione noted the softness of Lily's voice. "I am ashamed of some of the things I've done, and if I could take it all back I would, but I can't. We learn to go on, to live. When we were in the cave I was shown many things. Some of those things were true, some of them were false. I couldn't deal with the enormity of everything, and it was only after talking with Viktor much later that he mentioned something. I didn't hear it, I was…I was in no position to listen. Viktor said that when your father talked to Kyria, the Oracle, she said that your father's fate was intertwined with mine, as it has always been. At first I thought that was just because of everything else…that we were friends at school, that we fought Voldemort, all of those things. But Penka, Viktor's wife, disagreed. Penka…"

Hermione closed her eyes and sighed. "I don't know what I've done to deserve to have a friend like Penka. It was a few years after I'd moved back to London. I'd gone over to visit them and Penka asked me what I'd been doing. I told her about how I'd opened my new law office, how I was working with the Ministry, but that wasn't what she was asking. She wanted to know what I did when I wasn't working. When I began to tell her that's when I realized I spent all my time with your father and…he spent all his time not working with me."

Lily nodded. "That was after Dad quit the Aurors, isn't it?"

"Yes, it was right after he went into politics. He hated it at first, but after I told him how much good he could do, how people would listen to him because of who he is…he obviously didn't like that, but it's the truth. If he was going to be saddled with being known as The Boy Who Lived and Vanquisher of Voldemort, why not use it for good?" Hermione sighed and pulled her hair away from her face. "We were spending so much time together and…things just fell into place. We didn't mean it to happen, you have to know that. Your mum was my best friend. But someone just made a comment one day and…"

"Aunt Luna?" Lily smiled. "It was her, wasn't it?"

Hermione seemed flustered. "Yes, it was Luna. We had gone over to eat with her and Ron, and your uncle made some dumb comment about how Harry always did things for me. Luna told him that's just what people in love do for each other. Nobody said a word for quite a while. Thankfully Oz was doing something horrible to Augustus with one of your Uncle George's products so that broke the tension, but later that night your father and I had a very long talk."

"And that's when you realized, right?" Lily gave her a small smile. "Then why hide it? Us?"

"Yes. Your father was so worried about how you and your brothers would take it. He didn't want…we didn't want you to think he was trying to replace your mum. Nobody can replace Ginny."

"You haven't tried, Hermione…but remember, who was there when I got my period? You were. Who was there when Al broke his arm trying to fly a broom in the house? You were. Who's picked me up from the Hogwarts Express every time with Dad? You. And who helped talk to me about Richard Spliptly?"

"Please tell me you're not dating him again."

"Oh no, that's totally over." Lily's smile faded. "Hermione…you know what Dad was like after…after…after mum died. He's not like that anymore. I don't want Dad to be like that again. You make him happy."

Hermione pulled Lily into a hug. "How did you get so smart?"

"I'm my mum's daughter."

As she batted back tears Hermione nodded. "You definitely are."

-ooo-

The editor of The Daily Prophet could not believe his luck; he finally had a society piece with Harry Potter in it that was more than the usual politician grand opening of an orphanage! He'd made the reporter verify everything with Potter's office at the Wizangamot not once, not twice, but five times before going to press. He'd cleared the story about the new international trade agreement with the American wizarding world from the front page and had moved it to page five, as he knew that everyone would want to know the details.

The morning edition sold out almost immediately, and the second printing sold out almost as quickly. Harry Potter was not only getting married again, but to Hermione Granger! A member of the Wizangamot, one of the most esteemed members of the Wizangamot, was marrying Granger, a witch whose sordid past had become one of the most repeated stories since Voldemort's demise. It was the story of the year.

Press credentials for the upcoming Wizangamot session broke all records, and reporters crowded in the Ministry from all over the world. Eventually the Aurors had to be called into restore order. One reporter even tried to get an interview with Ron Weasley, wanting to know how it felt that his best friend was marrying his former fiancée. Unfortunately for the reporter he ended up with a hastily created portkey back to Australia and an empty notebook.

-ooo-

The wedding itself was a very small, very quiet affair. It took place in the country, overlooking a small lake, with only immediate family and close friends in attendance. James and Albus stood with Harry in dress robes while Lily stood next to Hermione.

Luna and Ron stood with their children, Ron watching his boys while Luna held their daughter. As she shifted her daughter into a different arm Luna noticed a small, red bird land in a nearby tree and then hop from branch to branch until it was almost directly over Harry and Hermione. After the vows were said, after plain gold bands were exchanged, after Harry and Hermione kissed the small bird began to sing.

Far away, in a cave in the Greek hills, Kyria watched as the two strands of thread that had started weaving themselves together finished producing a strong, thick thread. A thread that endure for a long, long time.