Summary: It's Halloween, two years since Hermione called for her soulmate. This time she's asks Harry to join her, to see his parents. He doesn't take it well.

Edited: Mar 17, 2015

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~ooO Fates Match – Second Anniversary Ooo~

"Do you have any plans for Halloween?"

Harry Potter blinked and looked up at his oldest female friend, Hermione Slytherin-Black. "Just the usual costume party the Ministry is hosting. Ginny and I are meeting a few friends at Neville's place for dinner." He paused. "Why are you asking?"

"I have some plans and I'd like you to join me."

"You're hosting a party."

"Of sorts."

"Who's invited?"

"It's a private thing."

"Hermione… what aren't you telling me?"

"I practice an Olde Tradition on Samhain Night. It's not Dark or illegal, just not popular."

That caught Harry's interest. "What Tradition?" The Weasleys had not mentioned anything about Samhain Night Traditions.

He was completely thrown off by her response. "I do a ritual to speak to those who have departed."

Was he understanding her correctly? "Departed?"

"People who have died Harry. Samhain is also called Ancestral Night. It's the only night you can speak to the spirits of those who have passed on without any Dark Necromancy rituals."

Harry shook his head. "You're very wrong Hermione. It hurts a spirit to be called back to the living world."

Hermione gave him a reproachful look. "Harry, you know I wouldn't do something that would hurt others, people I care and respect! The ritual I use is not illegal. It's just old and mostly forgotten. It doesn't hurt the spirits who are called. I've done it twice now."

"No Hermione."

She looked as though she wanted to argue but decided not to. "Very well Harry." She moved to the doorway but paused before exiting. "If you change your mind you can join me at the Godric Hollow's cemetery."

Harry's lips thinned as he pressed them tightly together. He did not want to voice the question on the tip of his tongue, who she had called and spoken to?

~ooOoo~

Salazar looked up when the door opened. Hermione was back early! His cheerful greeting was silenced at her woebegone expression.

"He said no, didn't he." It was a statement not a question.

Hermione threw herself into his waiting arms and buried her face in his shoulder. "He refused point blank! He didn't even ask me the name of the ritual!"

"He's too Light oriented. His wife being from a Light oriented clan doesn't help. She provides no balance or counter-weight to his magic or mind."

"It hurts. Harry has always wanted to see and speak to her properly. He told me he never wanted to use the Resurrection Stone to speak to her because it hurt the spirits being called back." She bit her lower lip. "I've spoken for hours with her. Harry could have done the same ever since he started Hogwarts if someone had bothered to tell him about true Samhain traditions."

"The old fool cut out many courses that would have taught Olde Ways," Salazar murmured. "Irma Pince confirmed he took out hundreds of books from the Restricted Section and Library and never returned them. We know they weren't part of his distributed estate so they probably were destroyed or well-hidden long ago."

Hermione's expression turned bitter. "Dumbledore would not let anyone tell Harry anything."

"He might have been wise not to in that particular instance," Salazar pointed out neutrally. "Ritual Ancestral Calling makes one sympathetic to the dead. It is not healthy for someone so young and inexperienced to prefer the dead to the living. Samhain Night is to respect one's forbearers and perhaps to seek their advice to ensure a prosperous future for the living."

"We've forgotten and lost so much due to the manipulations of that bigoted old man. He discarded and buried magicks that were anything but Dark simply because they did not fit in his limited world view."

"I'll bring it up at the next Hogwarts Governors Board meeting. We need to update the Wizarding Studies course material to ensure something like this does not happen again."

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

As planned the witch and wizard Apparated to Godric's Hollow's cemetery with their children. They were met by Regulus who had gone ahead to set up the ritual circle. This years the twins were very mobile and restless, unwilling to stay put when there was so much to explore and experience.

As expected, Lily Potter and Severus Snape responded to the Call. Helga Hufflepuff, Nymphadora 'Tonks' Lupin, a witch with distinctive Black looks, and a rather scruffy looking compactly built man dressed in leather and chain mail.

Helga smiled and dragged the armour clad man forward. "Godric promised to behave and be quiet if he has nothing nice to say."

Hermione blinked and nodded wordlessly and turned to the witch standing next to Tonks. The metamorphmagus made the introductions. "This is Dorea Potter."

The two witches greeted each other formally.

Hermione turned to Severus and held out her hand with a warm smile. "Severus, I'm glad to see you again."

He smiled faintly. "I promised to see you again, so here I am."

Lily smiled brightly and was the next to speak after they settled down on the picnic blankets spread out on the yellowed grass. "Severus and I called dibs again. I think it's fair to say we can be considered your magical kin in the Afterlife."

Hermione inclined her head gravely. "I'm honoured that you feel that way." She hesitated before continuing. "I know many witches who would be offended but I honestly believe you are the only one who wants what's best for me because it is best for me, not everyone else as well."

Lily was rightly offended. "Of course! You sacrificed so much for the Wizarding World and my son! They should be bending backwards for you! Not expecting you to keep sacrificing for Them."

"We've told her that again and again. The staff at Hogwarts and the adults around her did a great disservice because they were too lazy or cowardly to take control and responsibility of events," Salazar murmured.

Regulus snorted softly. "If you hadn't married us you would have been pressured and guilt-tripped into marrying the first available wizard, not the one best suited for you."

"And that would have had a terrible outcome," Dorea Potter murmured as she played with the toddlers, conjuring a glowing orb that teased and led them around the seated adults. "It would have killed your spirit."

Hermione bit her lip and nodded.

"And you're happy, right?" Tonks smiled brightly, encouragingly. It was easily and instantly mirrored by Hermione.

"Oh yes."

"Then forget about the moaning, groaning idiots."

And the conversation turned to other matters.

Time passed, the moon sank steadily and the twins began fretting. They were tired and sleepy. Their parents settled them in a transfigured cot and continued talking. They shared their experiences, opinions, ideas, and plans for personal and social change. They had already set the foundation by creating a network of like-minded individuals. Their goals were more subtle and complex than 'get rid of Umbridge', 'find horcruxes', 'kill Voldemort and defeat his followers'. Even Godric contributed though he spent more time observing and listening, his expression shifting minutely but very clearly to those who knew him best.

The candles began to flicker, the wicks burnt down almost to their bases. It was almost time for the spirits to depart.

Lily was both happy and disappointed. She was happy she finally got the chance to speak to Hermione and see her babies. She was disappointed she didn't get to see her son. Hermione had promised to try her best but it looked like Harry was stubborn, just like both his parents. She forced her dour feelings down and focused on the bright spots. Lily grinned broadly when she saw Salazar wrap his arms around his wife from the back, crossing her arms in front of her waist and drawing her against his front. It was a very intimate gesture from the usually reserved Founder. Severus was looking rather pained. He saw Hermione as a niece and was rather resistant to thinking of her as a sexual creature. Lily's smile turned wicked as she decided to tease the couple.

"Are you going to try for another baby? Leo and Mercer seem pretty independent and ready for daycare or play groups."

To her surprise Hermione's response was serious and blunt. "Not quite. I'm thinking of trying to conceive in late January, or early February."

Lily blinked and blurted out the question on her fore mind. "Why?"

Hermione smiled sheepishly. "I'd like to have a Samhain baby." Her response garnered a chorus of "Ohhs" and understanding expressions. "I know it's not 'acceptable' but it feels right." She reached out and touched Lily's upper arm. "The Afterlife gave me an elder sister, kin who care for me, husbands, the fathers of my children. I want my family to keep that connection alive."

Lily nodded wordlessly. Dorea Potter smiled faintly before speaking. "I see why you were Sorted to Gryffindor. You are very brave, in following your convictions, even when they go against popular opinion."

Hermione snorted softly. "I've always done that." She lifted her chin up. "I hope I always will."

The first candle went out.

Godric Gryffindor was the first one to fade.

"Hermione!"

The spirits and the living turned to the main gates to the cemetery. Standing just inside the wrought iron arch was Harry Potter.

The next to fade was Helga Hufflepuff.

Lily's expression brightened then turned dismayed. "Harry! You silly boy, why didn't you come earlier?"

Another candle flame burnt down to a charred smoking stub.

Harry was running towards the group shouting, "I'm sorry Mum! I was an idiot but Neville reminded me that Hermione's always right. And she wants what's best for me."

A third one. Harry was now standing right in front of his mother, his expression torn and yearning. She was fading and he knew he was too late.

"Don't be silly," Lily reassured him. "Just come back next year with Hermione and I'll be here with your father and Sirius and Remus. I promise."

"Hi Harry. Bye Harry," Tonks called out cheerily before she faded.

"Good bye grandson," Dorea Potter spoke gravely as she faded.

"Potter." Severus spoke brusquely towards the younger wizard but his expression was much warmer as he spoke to Hermione. "You've accomplished a great deal and knowing you, you have a great many more goals you are working towards. Don't give up. Don't stop and settle." And then he too faded.

"Good bye Harry, Hermione. I love both of you. And don't forget to come next year," Lily called out as she faded. "And have fun making that third baby Hermione!"

Hermione blushed darkly as Harry squawked. Regulus and Salazar just chuckled.

"Hermione?" Harry asked uneasily, looking between the witch he saw as a sister and her husbands. "What was Mum talking about?"

Hermione sniffed and raised her nose. "None of your business Harry Potter." And she pulled out her wand to brush off and fold the picnic blankets and pack them away.

Regulus chuckled and began transfiguring handles on the cot, to make it easier to manoeuvre in conjunction with a minor levitation spell.

"Exactly what your mother said Potter. We're going to practice making a third child."

"If you want tips you are more than welcome to stay and watch," Salazar added wickedly.

Harry blushed and stammered and fled as Hermione scolded her wizards. Silently Harry vowed to never speak to Hermione when either of her husbands was around. They enjoyed teasing and making Harry stammer and look like an idiot.

He wondered if he could persuade Hermione to teach him how to do the ritual by himself. Or maybe with just the two of them, without her husbands. He had a year to get her to go along with his ideas so he wasn't too concerned.

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

Harry never managed to do the Ancestral Calling with Hermione, just the two of them like she had promised. She went into labour and had her third child on Samhain night, a daughter named Sophia Slytherin.

~ooOoo~ooOoo~ooOoo~

The End.

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AN: That's it. No more outtakes/sequels. I've got too many WIPs demanding my attention. Including Ripples, Returning Home, and Breaking Ties

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