The Burrow was a place of warmth and comfort, even amidst the memories of the recent past. The Battle of Hogwarts still weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, but today, the air was lighter, filled with anticipation, love, and something that hadn't been felt in a long time, hope. It was July 16th, the evening before Y/n and Hermione's wedding, a day many had been looking forward to, a moment of peace and joy after the turmoil of the war.
Harry and Ginny were back together, as if nothing had ever come between them. The pair sat near the fireplace, quietly talking, their hands entwined. The others were scattered across the living room, Ron was helping Mr and Mrs. Weasley with some last-minute arrangements, and Bill, Fleur, and George were laughing at some story Fred had been telling.
But Y/n was absent from the laughter.
Upstairs in the quiet of a room, Y/n sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the Resurrection Stone. Harry had given it to him after the battle. Y/n had kept it hidden these past few months, unsure of its power, unsure if he even wanted to use it. But tonight, on the eve of his wedding to Hermione, he felt the need to speak to those he had lost. Those whose sacrifices allowed him to be here.
He turned the stone in his hand, feeling its cold weight. Then, with a deep breath, he closed his eyes and hands.
The air around him shifted. A strange, comforting warmth enveloped the room, and when Y/n opened his eyes, he saw her first.
His grandmother, Frieda Grindelwald, stood before him. Her eyes, soft and wise, glimmered with a knowing smile. She was as he remembered her from childhood, regal yet kind, her silver hair flowing loosely down her back.
"Grandmother..." Y/n's voice cracked with emotion.
"Y/n." she said, stepping forward, her form ghostly but solid enough for him to feel the warmth of her presence. "You were just a child when they came for me. Now you are a man..."
He looked down, a lump forming in his throat. "I am sorry grandmother, that I could not hold off my parents for longer."
"You did more than anyone could have asked of you." Frieda said, her hand reaching out as if to brush his cheek, though her touch never quite made contact. "I knew I was going to my death that night. I could feel it in my bones, and though I'm sorry for the grief it caused you, I want you to know... I am proud. Proud of the man you've grown into."
Y/n's heart swelled, and he felt tears stinging the corners of his eyes. He had carried that weight for so long...the guilt of not saving her, of not being strong enough. But hearing her words now, it lifted some of that burden from his soul.
"I'll be watching over you tomorrow." she said softly. "And every day after."
Y/n blinked away his tears, offering a small, sad smile. "Thank you."
Another figure stepped forward, one that Y/n had never seen in person but recognized instantly from old photos and stories, his grandfather.
Lively, energetic, with a mischievous grin that reminded Y/n of both Fred and George, his grandfather had an air of light-heartedness that was infectious. He radiated joy, his eyes twinkling with a brightness that seemed out of place for a ghostly figure.
"You've done cracking, son!" his grandfather exclaimed, throwing his arms wide. "Look at you! Getting married tomorrow, defeating dark wizards...you've been busy!"
Y/n couldn't help but smile. His grandfather's energy was so different from the solemnity of the war. "I wish I could have known you." Y/n admitted, his voice soft but full of emotion.
"Well, I'm here now." his grandfather replied, his grin widening. "And let me tell you, seeing what you've accomplished, it makes the sacrifice to save you worth it. I may not have been able to see you grow up, but I'm also damn proud of you, son."
Y/n chuckled through the tightness in his throat. His grandfather's spirit was so infectious, so full of life despite the circumstances. "You remind me a lot of Sirius." Y/n said.
His grandfather laughed. "Sirius! Oh, that rascal. He and Remus were always hanging around the tail ends of my robes. We had quite the time back in our day."
Y/n could only imagine the mischief his grandfather had gotten into, but before he could ask more, another voice cut through.
"Look who it is!" Sirius stepped forward, his usual roguish grin in place. "If it isn't the one who saved my godson's life on more than one occasion."
Y/n's heart swelled at the sight of him. "Sirius..."
Sirius crossed his arms, giving Y/n a long look. "Thank you, Y/n. For watching over Harry, helping him when I couldn't. And saving Remus... That means more to me than you'll ever know. Thank you."
Y/n nodded, feeling the weight of Sirius's words sink in. "I would have done anything for them."
Sirius smiled fondly, then gave Y/n a playful wink. "Good thing I'm not around to ruin your wedding, eh?"
Y/n laughed lightly, shaking his head. "I would not have minded a little mischief."
The conversation was bittersweet, but before Y/n could say more, another figure stepped forward, a figure that sent a shiver through him.
Gellert Grindelwald.
Even in his ghostly form, Gellert carried an air of undeniable power, though time and defeat had softened his sharp edges. His gaze was piercing, studying Y/n for a long moment before speaking.
"You've improved since we met." Gellert said, his voice cool. "I will admit... you're an extremely talented wizard."
Y/n straightened under the weight of his great-uncle's words, knowing the gravity behind them.
"Perhaps even... at my level when I was your age." Gellert added reluctantly, his pride barely masked. "But remember, power is nothing without control. Stay level-headed. Stay true to your convictions, and you'll be fine."
Y/n nodded, feeling the seriousness in Gellert's words. "I will do my best."
Then, the final figure appeared, her presence bringing a lump to Y/n's throat.
Luna Lovegood, her ethereal smile as bright as ever.
"Luna..." Y/n whispered, the guilt of her death still fresh in his heart. "Luna.. I am so sorry. I should have..."
Luna interrupted him with a gentle shake of her head. "It's not your fault, Y/n Grindelwald. It never was."
Tears welled in Y/n's eyes as Luna spoke, her voice as soft and kind as he remembered. "But I... I could not save you..."
Luna smiled warmly. "It's not all bad, you know. I get to be with my mummy again. But please, Y/n, check in on my daddy, will you? He must be lonely."
Y/n nodded, his voice breaking. "I will, Luna."
Luna's smile grew brighter. "You and the others were the best friends I ever had. Don't forget that."
With one last look, Y/n gave a tearful goodbye to them all. His grandmother, his grandfather, Sirius, Gellert, and Luna. And with a final, decisive gesture, he opened a window and threw the Resurrection Stone far into the distance, watching as it disappeared out of sight forever.
The morning was a flurry of activity. Y/n stood in the room he was sharing with Harry and Ron, adjusting the collar of his dress robes. His hands shook slightly, though he tried to hide it.
"I am nervous." Y/n admitted with a small chuckle as he glanced at his reflection a mirror.
Harry, adjusting his own robes, smiled at his friend. "You're ready. You and Hermione... you're perfect for each other."
Ron, sitting on the edge of the bed, nodded. "Bloody mental that you two are getting married. Feels like just yesterday we were chasing after Horcruxes."
Y/n smiled. "Yes... we have certainly come a long way."
There was a knock at the door, and Fred's head poked in. "Oi! Mum's running around like a maniac. You lot ready yet? She's about to have a meltdown."
Harry, Ron, and Y/n shared a laugh, the tension breaking as they headed out.
"Yeah, I am ready." Y/n said happily.
The ceremony took place in the Weasley garden, surrounded by friends and loved ones. Harry stood as Y/n's best man, with Ron beside him, beaming with pride. McGonagall sat in the very front, dressed in her finest emerald robes, lips pursed but eyes unmistakably warm. Lupin and Tonks were beside her. Tonks bouncing baby Teddy gently in her lap, his hair shifting from bright turquoise to sandy brown in excitement. Toward the back, Hagrid dabbed at his eyes with what was unmistakably a tea towel.
The rest of the Weasleys filled several rows. Bill and Fleur radiant, Percy sitting a bit too straight, Charlie sunburnt as ever, and Fred and George wearing matching mischievous grins that told Y/n everything he needed to know. They absolutely had fireworks stashed somewhere. He remembered overhearing them whispering about it late one night and had a sneaking suspicion this garden was about to witness something spectacular...and possibly mildly dangerous.
Then the music began, and every head turned.
Hermione appeared at the top of the aisle, arm-in-arm with her parents, now restored to their true memories after the trip she and Y/n had taken to Australia following the war. Her mother was teary-eyed, her father proud, but it was Hermione who stole every breath in the garden.
Y/n felt his own breath catch painfully in his chest. Hermione's smile was the brightest he had ever seen, open, genuine, overflowing with the happiness she so deeply deserved. Her dress shimmered softly in the sun, elegant but simple, perfectly Hermione.
She reached him far too quickly, and yet not quickly enough.
Standing before him, eyes glistening, she looked like every promise he had ever made and every hope he had ever held.
"You look beautiful." he whispered.
Her cheeks flushed, and she squeezed his hands.
For Y/n and Hermione, the world seemed to fade into a soft blur. There was no war. No fear. No shadow of the darkness they had fought side by side since childhood. Only this, two souls, long intertwined, finally allowed to rest in the light.
As Y/n and Hermione exchanged vows, the world seemed to fall away.
"Hermione..." Y/n began his. "We were just fifteen when our lives became fully entwined in a way neither of us could have predicted. Back then, I thought I understood the world. I thought I understood myself. But everything changed... losing my grandmother, carrying the weight of a burden I never asked for, and facing darkness I was not sure I could survive."
"And through every moment...you stayed."
"Not because it was easy. Not because I always made it easy."
"But because that is who you are...the brightest, bravest witch I have ever known."
Hermione's eyes welled with tears as Y/n continued.
"When the grief was too heavy for me to speak, you understood my silence."
"When the depression made the world feel unbearably dark, you held the light for both of us."
"And when the dark times threatened to tear apart everything we hoped for, you stood beside me anyway...not out of obligation, but out of love."
"I am standing here today because you never gave up on me."
"You never let me forget that I was more than a name, more than a destiny, more than the shadows trying to claim me."
"So I make these vows..."
"I vow to love you with the same unwavering strength you have shown me."
"I vow to honour the courage you gave me when mine faltered."
"I vow to hold your hand through every hardship and every triump, because you held mine through the worst of them."
"I vow to build a life with you where joy is not something we fight for... but something we finally get to live in."
"Hermione, you are my heart, my hope, my home."
"And I choose you... today, tomorrow, and every day after."
"Always."
The tears flowed freely from not only Hermione's eyes but also several of the guests. But Hermione wiped her wet eyes as she looked at Y/n with loving eyes.
"Y/n..."
"When we were eleven, I didn't realise that the boy sitting beside me in potions class would become the person I could never imagine my life without. Since then, we've walked through everything... laughter, fear, heartbreak, war. And through all of it, I saw you more clearly than you ever saw yourself."
"I saw your strength long before the prophecy demanded it of you."
"I saw your kindness even when the world expected you to be hardened by your name."
"I saw your heart...especially when it was breaking."
"Watching you lose your grandmother, watching you fall into darkness and fight your way back out of it... it never made me want to leave. It only made me want to stay. Because your pain never made you cruel, and your burdens never made you selfish. Even at your lowest, you tried to protect everyone else. That is who you are."
"And I love you for it, fiercely, completely, without hesitation."
"So these are my vow."
"I vow to stand by you, not out of duty, but out of love, the same love that has grown alongside us for years."
"I vow to remind you of your worth when old shadows try to whisper otherwise."
"I vow to support your dreams, steady your fears, and build a future with you free from prophecy and war, a future you finally deserve."
"I vow to love you not just in the quiet moments, but through every storm we may face."
"Because we've already survived the worst together."
"And now, we finally get to choose something better."
"Y/n, you are my past, my present, and the future I want, more than anything."
"Always."
For a heartbeat after the final words left Hermione's lips, the entire garden seemed to hold its breath.
Y/n stood there, his hands trembling in hers, and Hermione's eyes glistened with tears she wasn't bothering to hide. The vows hung in the air like magic, warm and soft, wrapping around them both.
Y/n swallowed hard, but the emotion still pushed through anyway.
"Merlin." he whispered, voice cracking, "I did not think I would cry today."
Hermione let out a watery laugh. "You and me both."
They both laughed then, Hermione lifted a hand and brushed her thumb over the tear on his cheek.
"You did it." she whispered. "We did it."
He leaned forward, forehead resting against hers.
"I love you." he breathed.
"And I love you."
The officiator smiled warmly. "By the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, and with great joy...I now pronounce you husband and wife."
A ripple of anticipation passed through the crowd.
"You may kiss..."
Y/n didn't wait. He cupped Hermione's face and kissed her gently at first, then deeper as she leaned into him, her hands sliding up around his neck. The guests blurred out of existence. The world collapsed into warmth, tears, and the taste of forever.
The garden exploded into applause, cheers, and at least one loud sniffle.
Hermione's mother pressed a hand over her mouth, tears streaming freely.
Her father wrapped an arm around her shoulders, smiling proudly as he murmured. "They're perfect together."
He gave Y/n a kind of approving nod.
Harry whistled loudly, grinning ear to ear.
Ron was clapping so hard his palms were turning red.
McGonagall, though composed as always, dabbed discreetly at the corner of her eye with a lace handkerchief.
Her lips were thin, but her expression was soft, almost maternal.
Under her breath, barely audible to anyone but Lupin beside her, she whispered.
"He was always my favourite, you know."
Lupin chuckled quietly.
Tonks bounced a delighted Teddy, whose hair shifted to match the colour of Hermione's bouquet.
Lupin smiled with a father's pride, eyes warm and full.
He leaned forward slightly, hands clasped, and let out a breath of pure relief, relief that the boy he had guided, worried for, and loved like a son had finally gotten his peace.
"Well done Y/n." he murmured, pride thick in his voice.
The Weasleys were a collective storm of excitement.
Molly was crying openly, muttering, "Oh, they're so lovely together"
Arthur nodded with deep affection, adjusting his glasses.
Bill and Charlie clapped with wide grins.
Percy attempted to remain dignified but failed miserably.
Fred and George wolf-whistled and were already reaching for their wands.
A second later...
CRACK...WHOOSH!
Purple and gold fireworks burst overhead, forming two intertwined initials of Y/n and Hermione's names, followed by a cascading shower of sparks shaped like tiny dancing otters and kittens.
Molly turned, scandalized. "Fred! George! Honestly!"
But she was smiling too, so they knew they were forgiven.
Hagrid let out a joyful bellow, shaking the reinforced chairs.
"Knew yeh two would make it! Knew it!"
His tea towel-handkerchief was soaked through.
Y/n and Hermione finally broke apart, foreheads touching, breathless and glowing.
Cheers still echoed around them, but Y/n only had eyes for her.
Hermione smiled, eyes shining, and hand in hand, they turned to face their family, their real family, as husband and wife.
And the garden erupted again in celebration.
September rolled around as Y/n and Hermione returned to Hogwarts, Y/n had chosen to travel with Hermione on the train for his first journey back to Hogwarts as a professor. It felt strange for them not to sit close together, but both knew that they needed to keep their relationship professional for Y/n's sake this year, even if they were now married.
Ginny and Neville sat in their compartment with them as they asked Y/n about how he felt being a professor now.
That evening, the restored Great Hall was alive with the familiar hum of students chatting, the clink of silverware, and the flutter of owls swooping in with last-minute letters. Candles floated above, casting a soft glow across the room. The Sorting Ceremony had just finished, and as the first-years took their seats, Professor McGonagall, now Headmistress, stood at the front of the hall. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, and with a subtle nod, the hall quieted.
"As always, we welcome our new students to Hogwarts." she began, her voice clear and authoritative. "And to our returning students, it is good to have you back. This year, we are fortunate to have a few new additions to our teaching staff. First, I'd like to introduce a familiar face to some of you, Professor Y/n Grindelwald, who will be taking the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts."
All eyes in the Great Hall turned toward Y/n, who sat at the staff table between Professor Flitwick and Hagrid, there was a ripple of whispers among the students, some of the younger students had heard of his feats in the war, and others were simply intrigued by his last name.
Y/n stood up and gave a small nod, offering a brief but friendly smile to the students. His presence was calm but commanding, his reputation preceding him. He was no longer just Y/n to the students, he was a war hero, and now their professor.
He cleared his throat and spoke briefly, his voice carrying through the hall. "It is an honor to be back at Hogwarts, this time as a professor. I am looking forward to working with all of you in Defence Against the Dark Arts this year. I expect great things from you all, courage, resilience, and above all, a willingness to learn. Thank you."
A polite round of applause followed, some of it enthusiastic, especially from the Gryffindor table, where none were louder or prouder than Hermione, who sat with the Head Girl badge pinned to her uniform watching him.
McGonagall gave a final nod, satisfied with the response. "Now, without further delay, let us begin the feast."
As the tables filled with food, conversations quickly resumed, but Y/n couldn't help but notice the occasional curious glance in his direction. He had big shoes to fill, following in the steps of past Defence professors, some legendary and some infamous. But he was determined to be a kind teacher. One that would help his students prepare for the world they now lived in, a world forever changed by the war.
The next morning, Y/n stood in his classroom, awaiting his first lesson. The Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom hadn't changed much since his days as a student, though he had made a few adjustments. Gone were the more intimidating or dark artifacts from previous professors, replaced with a more open and practical setup. Bookshelves lined one side of the room, filled with various texts on magical creatures, hexes, and advanced defensive magic, while the other side had space for dueling and practical exercises.
The door creaked open, and the first students began trickling in. Y/n noted familiar faces among the crowd. Ginny Weasley, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, and of course, Hermione Grindelwald, who smiled at him warmly as she took her seat. Some were returning students, here to finish their seventh year after the war had cut their education short.
Y/n walked to the front of the room and stood before the blackboard, waiting for the last few students to settle in. As the final person took their seat, he cleared his throat.
"Good morning, everyone." he began, his tone friendly but firm. "Welcome to Defence Against the Dark Arts. Some of you know me personally, and some of you may have only heard about me. But in this classroom, I am your professor first and foremost."
He began pacing slightly, his hands behind his back as he continued. "This subject is one of the most important you will study at Hogwarts. Not just because of the battle that had happened a few months ago, though many of you have seen firsthand what that looks like...but because the world is unpredictable. It is our job as witches and wizards to be prepared for whatever it throws at us."
He paused, letting his words sink in. The students were quiet, attentive. They knew Y/n had been on the front lines during the Battle of Hogwarts, and many were eager to learn from someone with such experience.
"For those of you returning." Y/n continued, his gaze briefly meeting Hermione's. "You have already faced more than any student should ever. But that does not mean there is nothing left to learn. In fact, there is always much more. This year, we will not just be learning theory. We are going to focus on practical magic, dueling, and thinking on your feet. In this room, it is not enough to know a spell, you will need to know when and how to use it effectively."
He gestured to the far side of the room, where dueling dummies were lined up. "We will be starting with defensive spells today. Shields, counters, disarmament, magic that can save your life when things go wrong."
Hermione raised her hand. "Professor Grindelwald?"
Y/n turned to her, suppressing a small smile. "Yes, Miss Granger?" He answered her, careful not to use her new last name.
"What about the Unforgivable Curses? Are we going to study how to defend against them?" she asked, her tone serious.
Y/n's expression darkened for a moment as he considered her question. "A good question....Yes, we will. But that is not something we will jump into immediately. The Unforgivable Curses are powerful, dangerous spells. Most wizards go their entire lives without ever needing to face them. But given what we have all been through, it is necessary you learn how to resist...especially the Imperius Curse."
Ginny, sitting next to Hermione, frowned. "Can anyone really resist the Imperius Curse?" She asked.
"It is difficult." Y/n admitted. "But with enough practice and mental discipline, it is possible. And I believe you are all capable of it."
There was a murmur of determination from the class. Y/n smiled inwardly, this was a good group.
"For today." Y/n said, picking up his wand. "Let us begin with something simpler. I want to see where your basics are. Who can demonstrate a proper Protego charm?"
A few hands shot up, including Hermione's, but Y/n's eyes landed on Ginny. "Miss Weasley, how about you give it a try?"
Ginny nodded, standing up with a determined look on her face. She stepped forward, her wand at the ready. Y/n raised his own wand, giving her a small nod. "Now, I am going to cast a basic Stinging Hex. I want you to block it."
Ginny's eyes narrowed with focus as Y/n flicked his wand. A thin beam of light shot toward her, but Ginny's reaction was immediate. "Protego!" she called, and a shimmering shield erupted from the tip of her wand. The hex bounced off harmlessly.
"Excellent." Y/n praised, lowering his wand. "Well done, Ginny."
The rest of the class watched with renewed focus, eager for their turn. Y/n walked back to the front of the room, addressing everyone. "This is the level I expect from all of you by the end of the year. Quick reflexes, strong shields, and most importantly, confidence in your magic."
He looked around at the attentive faces, feeling a surge of pride. This was what he had wanted, not just to teach them spells, but to prepare them for whatever the future held.
"Now, pair up." Y/n instructed. "And let us see what the rest of you can do."
As the students began practicing, the room filled with the sounds of spells, laughter, and the occasional misfire. But Y/n couldn't help but smile. This was just the beginning of what promised to be a challenging and rewarding year.
And for the first time in a long while, Y/n felt truly at home.
19 Years Later
Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first of September was crisp and golden as an apple, and as the little family bobbed across the rumbling road toward the great sooty station, the fumes of car exhausts and the breath of pedestrians sparkled like cobwebs in the cold air. Two large cages rattled on top of the laden trolleys the parents were pushing; the owls inside them hooted indignantly, and the redheaded girl trailed tearfully behind her brothers, clutching her father's arm.
"It won't be long, and you'll be going too." Harry told her.
"Two years." sniffed Lily. "I want to go now! I want Uncle Y/n to teach me magic too!"
The commuters stared curiously at the owls as the family wove its way toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Albus's voice drifted back to Harry over the surrounding clamor; his sons had resumed the argument they had started in the car.
"I won't! I won't be in Slytherin!"
"James, give it a rest!" said Ginny.
"I only said he might be." said James, grinning at his younger brother. "There's nothing wrong with that. He might be in Slyth..."
But James caught his mother's eye and fell silent. The five Potters approached the barrier. With a slightly cocky look over his shoulder at his younger brother, James took the trolley from his mother and broke into a run. A moment later, he had vanished.
"You'll write to me, won't you?" Albus asked his parents immediately, capitalizing on the momentary absence of his brother.
"Every day, if you want us to." said Ginny.
"Not every day." said Albus quickly. "James says most people only get letters from home about once a month."
"We wrote to James three times a week last year." said Ginny.
"And you don't want to believe everything he tells you about Hogwarts." Harry put in. "He likes a laugh, your brother."
Side by side, they pushed the second trolley forward, gathering speed. As they reached the barrier, Albus winced, but no collision came. Instead, the family emerged onto platform nine and three-quarters, which was obscured by thick white steam that was pouring from the scarlet Hogwarts Express. Indistinct figures were swarming through the mist, into which James had already disappeared.
"Where are they?" asked Albus anxiously, peering at the hazy forms they passed as they made their way down the platform.
"We'll find them." said Ginny reassuringly.
But the vapor was dense, and it was difficult to make out anybody's faces. Detached from their owners, voices sounded unnaturally loud. Harry thought he heard Percy discoursing loudly on broomstick regulations, and was quite glad of the excuse not to stop and say hello...
"I think that's them Al." said Ginny suddenly.
A group of four people emerged from the mist, standing alongside the very last carriage. Their faces only came into focus when Harry, Ginny, Lily, and Albus had drawn right up to them.
"Hi." said Albus, sounding immensely relieved.
Rose, who was already wearing her brand-new Hogwarts robes, beamed at him.
"Parked all right, then?" Ron asked Harry. "I did. Susan didn't believe I could pass a Muggle driving test, did you? She thought I'd have to Confund the examiner."
"No, I didn't Sweetheart." said Susan. "I had complete faith in you."
Ron and Susan had met in the ministry early on and soon found themselves starting a relationship that led to marriage a few years later.
"As a matter of fact, I did Confund him." Ron whispered to Harry, as together they lifted Albus's trunk and owl onto the train. "I only forgot to look in the wing mirror, and let's face it, I can use a Supersensory Charm for that."
Back on the platform, they found Lily and Hugo, Rose's younger brother, having an animated discussion about which House they would be sorted into when they finally went to Hogwarts.
"If you're not in Gryffindor, we'll disinherit you." said Ron. "But no pressure."
"Ron!" Hermione's voice sounded as they all looked to see her and Y/n arriving with their own children. Luna Frieda Grindelwald who was in her first year and looking very excited and her older brother Charles Remus Grindelwald, a second-year Gryffindor who like Y/n, had one silver eye.
Lily and Hugo laughed, but Albus and Rose looked solemn.
"He doesn't mean it." said Hermione, Susan and Ginny, but Ron was no longer paying attention. Catching Y/n and Harry's eyes, he nodded covertly to a point some fifty yards away. The steam had thinned for a moment, and three people stood in sharp relief against the shifting mist.
"Look who it is."
Draco Malfoy was standing there with his wife and son, a dark coat buttoned up to his throat. His hair was receding somewhat, which emphasized the pointed chin. The new boy resembled Draco as much as Albus resembled Harry. Draco caught sight of Harry, Ron, Y/n, Hermione, and Ginny staring at him, nodded curtly, and turned away again.
"So that's little Scorpius." said Ron under his breath. "Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie."
"Ron, for heaven's sake," said Hermione, half stern, half amused. "Don't try to turn them against each other before they've even started school!"
"You're right, sorry." said Ron, but unable to help himself, he added, "Don't get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood."
"I will try not to be offended." Y/n rolled his eyes reminding Ron that they were both pureblooded.
"Hey!" James had reappeared, he had divested himself of his trunk, owl, and trolley, and was evidently bursting with news.
"Teddy's back there." he said breathlessly, pointing back over his shoulder into the billowing clouds of steam. "Just seen him! And guess what he's doing? Snogging Victoire!"
He gazed up at the adults, evidently disappointed by the lack of reaction.
"Teddy! Teddy Lupin! Snogging our Victoire! Our cousin! And I asked Teddy what he was doing..."
"You interrupted them?" said Ginny. "You are so like Ron..."
"...and he said he'd come to see her off! And then he told me to go away. He's snogging her!" James added as though worried he had not made himself clear.
"Oh, it would be lovely if they got married!" whispered Lily ecstatically. "Teddy would be part of the family then!"
"Well he already comes to dinner nearly four times a week for us." Charles said happily.
"That's because he always has questions for Daddy." Luna interjected.
"I have told him time and time again that his own father is much more knowledgeable." Y/n sighed then smiled. "But then who am I to deny my godson wanting to spend time with us. It also lets us see Remus and Tonks more."
"How are they doing?" Harry asked.
"Very well. Remus is settled in a proper job now and Sirius is about 2 years away from taking his N.E.W.Ts." Y/n explained.
"I still remember how happy he was when Sirius was put in Gryffindor." Harry said.
"Well, I am sure that is because he knew I could keep a close eye on him then." Y/n summarised.
"That's because you're the Head of Gryffindor house isn't it daddy?" Luna asked.
"That's right, you're father is head of Gryffindor, so he will be keeping a close eye on you all..."Hermione warned all the children. "But that's not all..." She then continued.
"Eh?" Ron asked.
Hermione looked to Y/n who nodded saying he was fine with her telling them and she wrapped herself around Y/n's arm. "Y/n's been made the Deputy Head this year!"
"Woah..." The children all said slightly awestruck.
"Well done mate." Harry grinned.
"So Hermione's running for Ministry of Magic and you're Deputy head of Hogwarts... no wonder Skeeter labels you two the power couple." Ron said.
"Well, there have been a few retirements this year and Headmistress McGonagall said she wanted to make an appointment with the future in mind." Y/n tried to play it down. "It does not matter if our children are in Gryffindor or not, I will watch over them to make sure they do not get into too much trouble." He looked to James and Albus who avoided his eyes but grinned. "The twins' children give me enough trouble as it is."
Everyone shuddered at the thought of pranks Y/n had to deal with Fred and George's kids who were just like their fathers.
Harry checked the battered old watch that had once been Fabian Prewett's. "It's nearly eleven, you'd better get the kids on board." He said to Y/n who nodded and started to round them up and they started to say their goodbyes to their parents with Y/n giving Hermione a kiss.
"I will floo home tonight after the students are settled in. It has been quite a while since we had a quiet house." Y/n said quietly to Hermione who nodded with a blush on her face.
"Don't forget to give Neville our love!" Ginny told James as she hugged him.
"Mum! I can't give a professor love!" James protested.
"But you know Neville..."
"And what about the 'love from' you wrote in your Christmas card? Did you not mean it?" Y/n chuckled.
James rolled his eyes. "But I know you guys outside, yeah, but at school, you're Professor Grindelwald and he's Professor Longbottom, isn't he? I can't walk into Herbology and give him love..."
Shaking his head at their foolishness, he vented his feelings by aiming a kick at Albus.
"See you later, Al. Watch out for the thestrals."
"I thought they were invisible? You said they were invisible!"
But James merely laughed, permitted his mother to kiss him, gave his father a fleeting hug, then leapt onto the rapidly filling train. They saw him wave, then sprint away up the corridor to find his friends.
"Thestrals are nothing to worry about." Harry told Albus. "They're gentle things, there's nothing scary about them. Uncle Y/n can take you to see them if you'd like."
Y/n gave a small nod indicating he'd be willing.
"Anyway, you won't be going up to school in the carriages, you'll be going in the boats with Hagrid." Harry finished.
"Now, Luna, Charles, you can travel in my compartment with me if you like, but you do not have to." Y/n offered.
"I said I'd meet some friends." Charles said looking a little guilty.
But Y/n and Hermione smiled as Hermione pulled her son into a hug. "Go see your friends, your father won't mind."
"Really?" Charles asked.
"Go have fun son." Y/n nodded. "But remember, stay out of trouble. I am not above docking points from my own house."
"Yes sir." Charles said and pulled away from his mom and boarded the train to find his friends.
"I want to travel with you daddy." Luna said. "You always tell good stories."
Y/n smiled. "Then I shall have to live up to expectations." But he noticed one child didn't look as excited to go.
Ginny kissed Albus good-bye. "See you at Christmas."
"Bye, Al." said Harry as his son hugged him. "Don't forget Hagrid's invited you to tea next Friday. Don't mess with Peeves. Don't duel anyone till you've learned how. And don't let James wind you up."
"What if I'm in Slytherin?" The whisper was for his father alone, and Harry knew that only the moment of departure could have forced Albus to reveal how great and sincere that fear was.
Harry crouched down so that Albus's face was slightly above his own. Alone of Harry's three children, Albus had inherited Lily's eyes.
"Albus Severus." Harry said quietly, so that nobody but their friends could hear, and they were tactful enough to pretend to be waving to Rose, who was now on the train. "You were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew."
"But just say..."
"Then Slytherin House will have gained an excellent student." Y/n said putting his hand down on Al's shoulder as he joined him and Harry. "Al, It does not matter to any of us which house you are in. Remember, your parents accepted me as Grindelwald back when my name was lower than mud." Y/n smiled at him. "Your parents will love you no matter what."
"But, if it matters to you." Harry continued. "You'll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account."
"Really?" Al asked.
"It did for me." said Harry.
He had never told any of his children that before, and he saw the wonder in Albus's face when he said it. But now the doors were slamming all along the scarlet train, and the blurred outlines of parents were swarming forward for final kisses, last-minute reminders.
"I will look after him." Y/n told Harry as he put his hand on Al's back and took Luna's hand with his other then together the three jumped into the carriage and Ginny closed the door behind him. Students were hanging from the windows nearest them. A great number of faces, both on the train and off, seemed to be turned toward either Harry or Y/n.
"Why are they all staring?" demanded Albus as he and Rose craned around to look at the other students.
"Don't let it worry you." said Ron. "It's me. I'm extremely famous."
"Weasley is our king..." Y/n began to sing reminding Ron and the other of his days as the Gryffindor keeper.
Everyone laughed as Ron went a little red and smirked, muttering "git".
The train began to move, and both Harry and Hermione walked alongside it, watching all their children's faces, already ablaze with excitement. Both Harry and Hermione kept smiling and waving, even though it was like a little bereavement, watching their kids glide away from him...
The last trace of steam evaporated in the autumn air. The train rounded a corner. Only Harry's hand was still raised in farewell.
"He'll be all right." murmured Ginny. "Y/n will look after them."
As Harry looked at her, he lowered his hand absentmindedly and touched the lightning scar on his forehead.
"I know he will."
The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.
On the train speeding through the countryside toward Hogwarts, Y/n was fully engaged in a story as several students who had joined to listen stood outside their compartment listening with full attention.
19 years had passed. He and Hermione had their family and a home hidden away that they had built together. He was one of the most popular professors at Hogwarts, running the defense club once a week that always packed out the Great Hall with students eager to take part.
It had been a long journey to get to this point, but Y/n felt that despite the burden placed upon him from such a young age... he had come through it all. That he had achieved everything he had set out to.
And as Y/n Grindelwald looked to see his own children mixed in with the students who hung on his every word, he knew he, was happy.