Chapter 25: Epilogue – Rebuilding the Future

Twenty-four Years After the Fall of Voldemort

Lily sat on the back patio behind Potter Manor watching her grandchildren play with their cousins and close family friends. The whole family was there to celebrate the return to Hogwarts in two days. As she watched, Lily thought of the years that had passed since Harry and Ginny had finally rid the world of Tom Riddle. So much had changed because of her decision to meddle with events. She had a slight regret that the grandchildren she had met so long ago were never born, but she would not change any of it to have a chance to be able to have a life with them.

Harry and Ginny had finished their last two years of school with their friends and Ron. Hermione had narrowly beaten Ginny for the top spot in their final year. That final year had come with a few other surprises. Dora had given birth to Teddy. Remus was over the moon when he was born. Marlene and Sirius had gotten married. Marlene had shocked everyone by coming home from their honeymoon pregnant. Nine months later, Cassiopeia was welcomed into the world. But the biggest surprise was Lily getting pregnant with her second child. Rose Potter was born in March of 1998. Harry was ecstatic to have a younger sibling.

That year was the year the family had grown with Bill and Fleur getting married. A month later, Fred and Hermione soon followed suit with George and Angelina getting married three days after. Neville and Hannah Abbott had gotten engaged shortly after, only to be followed closely by Ron and Madds then Marty and Luna. It was during George and Angelina's wedding that Percy met Audrey Brightwater, with a little help from Ginny. They had wed the next year amongst the well wishes and blessings from the entire family. Percy had even invited Penelope's family and sought their blessing before the wedding.

The next year was full of weddings and the birth of Bill and Fleur's first daughter on the day of the second anniversary of Riddle's defeat. They named her Victoire in honor of the day. She was the first of many grandchildren to be born into the family. Lily had to chuckle as she thought of Molly's reaction when Bill had announced Fleur was pregnant. Molly had gone baby-crazy, crying at first, then knitting three blankets for her first granddaughter.

As the new year came, news of more births was a common event. Dora and Remus had their first daughter, Farrah. Marlene and Sirius welcomed Leo to the family. Angelina and George beat Fred and Hermione by having Roxanne first. Lily chuckled. It was always a competition with twins. Then the news of Arthur Charlus being born to Harry and Ginny had come, sending the whole family into a happy frenzy. James and Arthur had cried when they were told his name.

Shortly after the year 2001 had started, Hermione gave birth to twins, Jack and Jean. Both of her sets of parents were delighted to have two grandchildren. Although, George was not happy he had to pay Fred twenty Galleons about Hermione having twins. Bill and Fleur shocked no one with the arrival of Dominique. Percy and Audrey welcomed Violet and Neville and Hannah had given birth to Frank. Lily remembered the tears Augusta had cried as Hannah had told her his name.

Another year came, and more births came. It was a long year with Remus and Dora having Remy, Marty and Luna having Waldo, Ron and Madds having Hector, George and Angelina giving birth to Edward, Neville and Hannah welcoming Alice, and Harry and Ginny having Brian Tobias. Lily shook her head, that had only been the beginning of the baby boom the family had gone through. Poor Molly was so frazzled that Christmas, she almost didn't get all the sweaters and blankets done in time.

Thankfully, the birthrate settled down for next year with only three births. Louis, the first blonde male Weasley was born to Bill and Fleur. Taylor was born to Fred and Hermione, and Lucy was born to Percy and Audrey. That year was also a sad time for the family as Augusta had passed away. Neville was heartbroken for quite a while after, but Hannah had helped him through it. It was also the year Angelina had gotten sick. Lily swallowed as she remembered how devastated Angelina and George had been after finding out her illness had rendered her infertile. The family had rallied around them, helping them overcome the news.

Despite that trying year, the family had one more large baby boom the next year. Seven children were born that year. Poor Molly was even more frazzled by the end of that year. Lucinda had come as a surprise to Remus and Dora. Fred and Hermione welcomed Alex to the family. To no ones' surprise, Neville and Hannah had Chloe Augusta. Harry and Ginny gave birth to Emma Dorea, making James cry again for naming her after his mother. Marty and Luna took the family by surprise by having Marcus and Maxwell. Not to be outdone by her twin, Madds and Ron gave birth to Samuel only hours later.

At least the baby boom settled down after that. Molly was able to take a bit of a breather with only two births the next year. Daisy became Bill and Fleur's fourth child, and Sandi became Hermione and Fred's fifth. That was also the year, Charlie had brought home his girlfriend, Sadie. Lily rolled her with a chuckle as she remembered Molly cornering Sadie and telling her to make an honest man out of Charlie. Sadie had laughed before pulling out an engagement ring and handing Charlie five Galleons.

After that, there were the final four births to the family over the next four years. Ron and Madds having Nina and Harry and Ginny having Ashley Jean in the first of those three years. Charlie and Sadie had Garrick, then Heather two years later, the same year Arthur had finally retired from the Ministry. With a deep breath, Lily realized that it was eleven years ago. Heather was the last of the grandchildren to be born, and she would be starting Hogwarts this year.

But life wasn't all marriages and births. Everyone had their careers. James, Sirius, and Dora retired from the Aurors with all the children being born. Fleur and Dora talked Aunt Minerva into opening a primary school at Hogwarts. The fact that James, Lily, Sirius, Marlene, and Remus had taken teaching jobs at Hogwarts helped greatly with that. James had taken over for Aunt Minerva as Transfiguration professor, Remus and Sirius had taken the DADA classes. Marlene had taken over Charms when Professor Flitwick retired. Lily jumped at the chance when she was offered Potions Mistress. When Professor Sprout retired, Neville took over for her. Hannah became Madame Pomfrey's nurse.

Bill and Fleur had built a house in Hogsmeade, so Fleur could be close to the school. Bill had worked his way up the Goblins ladder to become Vice Chairman of Curse-breakers for Gringotts. Charlie and Sadie had transferred back to England when Charlie was offered the head handler position at the new reserve in Scotland. Harry and Ginny had chosen to go into politics and had been instrumental in opening the new reserve.

Percy and Audrey still worked for the Ministry in the DMLE, making certain corruption stayed out of the Ministry. Hermione helped out by being the Head of the Office for International Magical Cooperation. She bridged the gaps in the Muggle and Wizarding world and assisted Harry and Ginny with their work with the ICW. Harry and Ginny had also helped fund Marty and Luna's research in magical creatures when they found a new species of Demigiuse in Germany.

Ron and Madds had played professional Quidditch for a few years until their children started being born. They had chosen to coach instead of walking away from the game. Fred, George, Angelina, and Lee Jordan still ran the joke shop but had four locations around Europe.

A squeal from the garden broke Lily out of her reverie. She sighed as Dominique, Jean, and Violet stood soaked while Arty, Leo, Farrah, and Roxy laughed. Those four had proclaimed themselves the New Marauders while they were in school. Aunt Minerva had retired the year before they started Hogwarts because of them. Even at twenty years old, they were terrors. Fred and George had hired them right out of school to run the French and Bulgarian branches of their shop.

Lily had to laugh as Frank and Jack snuck up behind the New Marauders covering them in green goo that sent them floating into the fountain where feathers and duckbills sprouted from them. Molly came out to the patio only to dissolve into a great guffaw of laughter at her grandchildren. Harry and Ginny were the next to join in the laughing. Lily knew as the rest of the adults burst into laughter that it had all been worth it. All the things she had changed, all the damage to the timeline she could and did do, was all worth having a happy large family.

A/N: I can't believe this one is done. It was great fun writing it. I hope that everyone has enjoyed this one. And no, I am far from being done writing! As far as the poll results, The Essence of Forever was the clear winner. Expect to see the few chapters posted soon. I will be working on Birth Bond and then one of my X-Men stories this week. If all goes well, Heart will be updated soon as well. I ran into a creative snag with Ever Love but it's working itself out with a break from working on it. As Always, Thank you so much for the R/Rs, and I shall "see" you all again soon with all the other stories.