Hermione reappeared in the Burrow's sitting room. She could hear a cacophony of voices emanating from the kitchen, where an early Christmas breakfast was being prepared. She turned towards the fire place to find Harry and Ron waiting for her. She sank to the floor exhausted, and let the tears flow freely. Ron and Harry came to sit beside her, and put their arms around her.

"I di- di- did it." She whimpered. Harry nodded. "He won't remember anything. We won't remember anything. I don't remember it, do you?" The men shook their heads. "I modified Albus Dumbledore's memory! Probably the greatest wizard known to mankind! He saved our lives, and the lives of our children! It all just feels wrong. This is so wrong!"

"I know," Ron replied. "It's bang out of order, but you fixed it; just like you always do, just like he wanted you to do."

"And if there's anything I've learned from hanging round with you for 27 odd years, it's not to mess with time travel. I reckon you're right about the Unspeakables. You should tell them to lock that thing away and not to put it out for public consumption." Hermione gave a watery chuckle.

"I just feel like it's all my fault. I shouldn't have brought it with me! I wouldn't have but-"

"But what?" Ron pressed.

"But… I'm looking around me at these new people in the department and they're all so young! They don't remember the war. They don't know the world we knew. They talk about us as if we're already legends, like we've already gone down in history, but we're still here! I just-"she took a deep breath, "I love my life, and Merlin knows I wouldn't give it up for anything, but sometimes I just need confirmation that it happened. That it isn't some children's story these kids have been told by their older siblings to give them nightmares,"

"Well," Ron scoffed, "we all know that children's stories aren't anything to joke about." Harry and Hermione both laughed.

"I know I've spent my fair share of time trying to forget, but I wanted to remember the good times this Christmas too. Does that make sense?" Harry nodded.

"You don't want moving forward to mean that we forget the moments and people we lost. I understand."

Ginny walked into the room, and saw the "golden trio" huddled together around the hearth. Relationships were so weird she often thought. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were bound by experiences in a way that she could never be included, but she knew that's how Harry felt whenever they were with Neville, Luna, or anyone else from her sixth year in the DA.

"Oi! You three!" Harry, Ron, and Hermione jumped, and turned to face her. "Mum's cooking up sausage, beans, and toast. You better get in there if you want any before the kids and George eat it up." Harry grinned as the three got clumsily to their feet. He let Ron and Hermione lead the way, wrapping an arm around his wife and kissing her forehead.

"Merry Christmas Gin."

"Merry Christmas Harry."

And she kissed him. The kind of kiss that you give someone after you've known and loved them for so long, and it feels so different from your first kiss, but it's just as sweet because you know and love them so much better than you did. The fireworks are dull in comparison to your joy of having them as your partner in this mad world.

"UGH!" James protested loudly. Harry and Ginny broke apart, and Harry grinned at his son.

"GOD REST YE MERRY HIPPOGRIFFS…." Harry's voice boomed into the kitchen as the rest of his family joined in.

A/N: And that's it. That's the end. Thanks for reading! Merry Christmas!