The scarlet steam engine pulled out of the station at eleven o’clock on the dot, leaving more than a few teary-eyed parents in its wake. Even through the billowy ribbons of steam, more than a few people had noticed a familiar face in the crowd, and they pointed and whispered. The whispers had changed over the years. No longer were they just about ‘the Boy-Who-Lived’ or ‘the Chosen One’, they now included, ‘Savior of the Wizarding World,’ ‘Youngest Head Auror in History,’ and ‘Husband of the Hottest Player on the Holyhead Harpies,’ although, to be fair, Harry quite enjoyed being called the last one.

Long past paying attention to the response he evoked in a crowd, Harry let out a shaky breath, trying to avoid crying right here on the crowded platform. Ginny’s arms, firmly wrapped around his waist, helped to steady him somewhat, but his voice was still a little uneven as he spoke to his wife.

“You alright, hon?”

“I’ve been better,” she replied with a shrug and a watery chuckle.

Harry let out a controlled, calming breath. “I always knew that today was going to be hard. From the minute she was born…” He shook his head, grimacing as a single tear escaped.

“Buck up, Harry,” Ron said, patting his best friend on the back, “I felt the same way, Rosie’s first year. But they’re strong, and brave, and smart, our girls. Smarter than we were, anyhow. They always come back, and they’re always going to need their old dads. They always come back.” Ron took a shaky breath of his own.

“When the hell did you get so wise, Ronnie? Did you swallow Dumbledore’s portrait, or something?” Ginny pulled away from Harry just far enough to lightly punch her brother’s shoulder as she teased him.

“Hey, I can be smart when I want to!” Ron wiped at his eyes, gladly jumping ship to a lighter topic. “You know Hermione wouldn’t put up with just any old dunce for this long.”

“Where is Hermione, any way?” Harry had finally regained his composure, and was searching the roiling crowd of parents and younger siblings for his sister-in-law.

Ron grimaced. “Percy found her while I was helping Hugo with his trunk. I know I should go rescue her, but…” he shivered dramatically. Harry laughed, but Ginny forcefully poked her brother in the ribs.

“Ron, you git, go get your wife. Today’s rough enough without Percy going on at her about cauldron bottom thickness or whatever.”

“Recently it’s been more about portkey permits, and forms being filled out incorrectly,” Harry interjected with a smirk.

“Oh come on, at least she gets paid to talk to him! I don’t get even a single sickle for putting up with his bullshit. Do you honestly expect me to-”

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Harry interrupted impatiently, “I’ll get her.” He strode out of their secluded alcove towards the empty railroad tracks, scanning the for the telltale Weasley-red hair. Finally he spotted him, near where the front of the train had been. Hermione was looking exhausted already, nodding along like this was not a new topic of conversation. As Harry got closer, he could hear the tail end of Percy’s tirade.

“-It’s just common sense! You’d think no one had ever filled out Request Form 37B before; just imagine the trouble they would’ve had with the old system.” Percy shook his head, horrified at the thought.

“Well, as I’ve said before, Percy, perhaps if the Department of Transportation had a website with clear instructions on the correct forms to fill out, I do believe that the occurrences of incorrectly filed forms would decrease significantly. And I also believe that you, as Head of the department, have the power to make that happen, so if you’ll please excuse me-”

“But Minister-”

“Percy, please just call me Hermione,” she snapped at him. “And for the love of god, if you don’t like my advice, then stop asking for it. Get Teddy or Victoire to help you make a website or just suck it up and deal with it!”

Percy’s mouth snapped shut in shock as Harry tried to hide his amused grin. Hermione caught sight of him and perked up considerably.

“Harry! I was just looking for you, have you seen Ron anywhere?”

“I have. He’s not handling today well. He’s sobbing and wailing about the kids being gone. Practically inconsolable. Mind if I steal her, Percy? I think she’s the only one who can help him.” Harry maintained his concerned demeanor as Hermione turned away to hide her giggles.

Percy stuttered out, “By all means. I’ll see you Monday, Minister.” He bobbed a nod at Hermione and rushed away awkwardly to find his wife. Harry lead Hermione back to their spot, both cackling giddily.

“I can’t believe he still refuses to call you Hermione!”

“I can,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “As if I haven’t known him since I was eleven years old, honestly. Promise me you’ll kill me if I ever get that attached to my job, Harry.”

“Don’t worry, it’s physically impossible for us mere mortals to be as career-focused as Percy. There’s a better probability of Voldemort coming back than of you becoming like him.” They shared a laugh as they reached their spouses.

“Hey love, ready to go?” Ron questioned, grabbing Hermione’s hand as she approached.

“I am, no thanks to you,” she replied, raising her eyebrows at him.

“Hey now-”

“I know you saw Percy grab me, and you sent Harry over instead of handling it yourself, you coward! Some Gryffindor you are…” As Ron began formulating his rebuttal, Ginny took the opportunity to step between them.

“As much as I’d love to see you guys tear each other apart for the millionth time, I was promised lunch, and I’d like to get it sometime before the end of the school year, yeah?”

Ron squinted at his wife, both sizing the other up. “I could do a truce for lunch.”

Hermione nodded solemnly, “Lunch Truce it is, then.” She dropped the scrutinizing look and eagerly took the arm he offered her.

Harry smiled at the two of them. Since the kids had come along, they’d really gotten much better at shutting down their famous arguments. They could still go at it for hours, but they had agreed that there were more important things in life - like lunch, apparently. He turned to Ginny as they followed the other two to their car.

“So, where to, madam?”

Ginny dropped her jaw in faux shock. “As if you even need to ask! Where do I always want to go, you silly man? The cute diner with the nice waitress - yes, exactly!” Harry chorused her answer to her own question. He smiled, pulling her close enough to plant a kiss on the side of her head.

“Silly me,” he shook his head as Ginny pulled his arm over her shoulders. “How could I forget?” Harry shouted the plans ahead to Ron and Hermione, and they decided to abandon the car in favor of the short walk to the favored diner.

They walked in silence for a bit, taking in the glory of London in early autumn. The air was crisp, the leaves just beginning to be overtaken by oranges and golds. Ginny pointed out a squirrel rushing up a tree, shaking the branches with its rambunctious race to the top. They stopped and laughed at his antics, letting the space between them and the others lengthen.

“Do you still want to do it?” Ginny asked quietly, keeping her eyes on the squirrel.

“Hmm?” Harry questioned, tearing his eyes from the spectacle.

“Godric’s Hollow? Now that it’s just us…we don’t have to, if you’re not feeling up to it.” Harry realized he had almost forgotten; it had become a tradition, starting with Teddy’s first year, to bring the kids to the little village after going to King’s Cross. It was on the way home (somewhat), and it was a special treat for the kids not yet old enough for Hogwarts. They usually stopped at his parents’ house, and they always got ice cream. It helped, having nice memories there.

He took a deep breath, and shook his head lightly. “No, let’s go. It is tradition, after all.”

Ginny smiled up at him, and rose on her tiptoes to capture his lips in a chaste kiss. “I’m glad. And afterwards, we have the house to ourselves, remember?” Her arms snaked around his neck, and Harry fell into the comfortable position right along with her.

“Mrs. Potter, are you trying to seduce me?”

“Oi!” Ron shouted to them from across the street, “You two want lunch or not?”

Harry rolled his eyes and shouted back, “Coming, Mum!”

Hand in hand, they hurried to join their friends.