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Epilogue

1 June 1978 - one year later

Everyone had always assumed it'd be James who popped the question to his witch first, but Sirius was a man who knew what he wanted. A year and a half with Hermione Granger wasn't enough. He wanted forever.

That's why on the day of graduation he set up a whole big thing with a twenty-seven step process that would eventually lead to Hermione finding him behind her rock on the grounds with a simple but elegant ring in his fingers and a knee in the dirt. He should've honestly expected what actually happened. She wouldn't be his witch if she hadn't figured out what was happening at Step One. Step One was one of his favorites. It involved James, a permanent sticking charm, and calla lilies.

But instead of it going as plan, everyone involved in the process ended up abandoning their posts and following Hermione on her rampage down to the grounds.

He couldn't help but grin at her when she slammed the doors to the castle open and stormed through the grass in her graduation robes and heels. Behind her was a huge procession of people. Their family, professors, students, and even the Minister who was there to give a speech at the ceremony. He'd just stood there and smiled stupidly at her as her calla lily filled hair flew everywhere, and everyone was yelling different excuses at him about their failed plans.

His confident smile didn't even waver as she started dressing him down for sticking James to the ceiling (who freed him by the way?). As she was mid-rant about how he, 'really shouldn't do these things' and 'do you think anything through," he dropped to one knee right in front of her and just held the ring up without any words.

She stopped, blushed down to her collar bones, and attempted to tuck some of her wild curls behind her ears. This, of course, just ended in one of the petals falling and landing right at the end of her pert nose. She sneezed the most adorable sneeze ever before turning a glare on James. It was only then that she realized just how large the crowd that had followed her was. When she turned back to him, his gaze had melted into that soft intensity he often held when he just looked at her. Her eyes darted from his eyes to the ring pinched between two of his fingers a few times. So maybe she hadn't figured out the entire plan. At least not the last step.

"You ruined my twenty-seven step plan, kitten," he said in amusement.

Her eyes widened and she whispered in disbelief, "Twenty-seven?"

He grinned. "It was originally fifty-six, but Remus told me to cut it down by at least half." He sighed and gave Moony a mock pout before turning back to her. "So… do you want to do this thing?"

Any other girl would've whacked him over his head for his terminology, but instead she broke into a watery laugh that had him grinning even wider somehow.

"Merlin, do I," she said in a rush, and he'd barely had the ring on her finger before she was throwing her arms around him. He stood with her in his arms, her feet dangling, head tossed back in laughter, and he threw one fist in the air.

"She said yes!"

The crowd didn't need to be told twice. They were yelling in excitement, Dorea was crying, and Lily was snogging James. It was perfect.

15 July 1978

Sirius and Hermione had just returned to their flat in Wizarding London from Pandora and Xenophilius's rather… interesting… wedding.

He was sitting on his now favorite armchair with a tumbler of fire whiskey, and she was relaxed against his chest on his lap with a novel open in front of her. She hadn't turned the page since she'd sat down half an hour ago. Sirius was dead tired. He'd started his training with Moody to be an auror, and it was difficult to say the least.

He set his tumbler down and snaked a hand across her ribs to pull her closer to his chest. She was wearing one of his old jerseys, and it swallowed her to the point that the sleeve was always slipping off her shoulder. He pressed open mouthed kisses across her bare shoulder blade before resting his chin there.

"What's on your mind, kitten?"

She sighed and set the book down next to his fire whiskey before slipping off his lap to stand in front of him. She was shifting on her fuzzy sock covered feet and tugging nervously on a curl that had escaped the bun on top of her head. The hand on her hair had the ring he'd given her glinting off one of her fingers. He loved seeing her wear it. He had to consciously stop himself from snatching her up and carrying her to their bedroom.

"I think I've finally decided what to do, Sirius."

All thoughts of their bedroom slipped from his mind as he sat at attention and raised an eyebrow. Hermione had faced offers from many different people as far as careers go. Ministry positions, Mastery Programs, Gringott's, and Private Investigating firms were just a few. She took every offer that arose very seriously and would do the proper research and inquiries as she took them into consideration, but they always ended up with her sighing and declining the offer. None of them had been quite right, so the fact that she was coming to him to say she had decided was major.

"Oh, yeah? And what's that?"

She slowly met his eyes before giving him a soft and happy smile. "I got an owl from McGonagall yesterday. They're looking for a new Transfiguration Professor."

Sirius's face immediately split into a huge grin. Hermione spending her life imparting knowledge on students was so perfect, he almost couldn't believe it. He stood and wrapped her in his arms before pulling back to pepper her face with kisses.

"I think you're the perfect person for that Hermione."

She smiled at him nervously as a pleased brush spread across her cheeks. He loved making her blush. "Yeah?" She asked breathily.

He tugged on one of her curls affectionately before pressing a kiss to the bridge of her nose. "I don't think you realize how many fantasies that would fulfill, Professor Granger," he whispered against the shell of her ear.

She grinned and winked, "Actually, I'm thinking Professor Black has a much better ring to it."

18 August 1978

In lieu of Hermione's decision to start work at Hogwarts that very year, her and Sirius had decided to have their small wedding just a couple months after the proposal. Dorea had thrown a fit at first, but then she'd thrown herself into the wedding planning to the point where it was perfect and exceeded all of Hermione's expectations.

Hermione never quite imagined herself getting married at eighteen, and especially not to her once best friend's godfather in the year 1978. She never could've dreamt that this is where her life would've taken her.

Hermione stood in front of the full length mirror surrounded by her bridal party, trying to quell her nerves. Her dress was a simple a-line cut with thin straps and a modest v neck-line. The fabric was a creamy off-white silk that draped across her legs so that every step she took just a peak of her legs would show. Around her neck, she was wearing the dragon pendant, and her curls were cascading down her back naturally with just the front pinned back. Pandora had braided white snapdragons and hydrangeas into her hair, and Lily had applied the lightest of make-up to where she just had blush color painted on her lips and her eyelashes darkened. From her ears hung a simple pair of sapphire earrings that had been a gift from Dorea. She'd opted to go barefoot, much to the chagrin of Dorea, but Pandora had said it made her look ethereal. And seeing as the wedding was being held on the grounds of Potter Manor, she couldn't quite imagine herself walking down the grass aisle in any sort of heel.

"You look beautiful, Hermione," Lily gushed tearily from her place beside her. Lily, Marlene, and Pandora as her bridesmaids were dressed in simple green gowns, and when Hermione turned to look at them her eyes began to water also.

"Is it normal to be this nervous?" She asked Dorea who stood in front of Hermione in gorgeous dress-robes.

Dorea gave her an indulgent smile, "I promise, I was easily this nervous at my own wedding."

Hermione let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and pressed her hands to her chest.

"Thinking about leaving Sirius at the aisle?" Hermione spun and grinned at the two men standing in the doorway. James was grinning cheekily, and Remus was smiling at her warmly.

"James! Remus!"

Lily put her hands on her hips and glared at the two. "What are you guys doing here? Sirius better not be hiding behind you!" When Hermione had said strongly that her only request for the wedding was for it to be a traditional muggle ceremony, superstitions and all, no one had argued with her.

Remus lifted his hands in the air and said, "Sirius has been warded into a room, the eager prat."

Dorea placed her hands on Pandora's and Lily's shoulders and started to lead them out of the room. "How about we give them a moment, girls?"

When the door shut soundly behind them, Hermione turned her watery eyes on the two boys in front of her and swung her arms out.

"What do you think?"

Not even a second later they were both surrounding her in a hug.

"You look beautiful, Hermione," James said softly. She pulled away from the two to smile up at him happily.

"Thank you, James." She looked up at Remus then to see him giving her a wistful sort of smile. James leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead before backing up towards the door again.

"Best go make sure your groom isn't trying to blast through the door!"

Hermione giggled as James disappeared out of the room, and his yelling could be heard from down the hall. She turned back to Remus when she felt a pull on one of her loose curls. The glint in his eyes had her sucking in a deep breath.

"Remus?"

His eyes met hers and the warm green color brought her the same wave of comfort it always did. "I imagine you're the most beautiful bride I'll ever see," he said quietly.

Hermione's tears finally ran down her cheeks, and she crushed herself against him. His nose automatically went to her hair, and he took a deep breath. Hermione leant her cheek against his chest as she whispered, "Someone is out there for you, Remus. And when they walk down the aisle towards you, I won't hold any grudge when I take second."

She pulled back and placed her hands on his cheeks.

"In fact, I know of someone who has had a bit of a raging crush on you since your second year," she said conspiratorially.

His eyebrows rose in shock. "Who could possibly?"

Hermione smiled kindly at him and rocked back on her heels. Her fingers laced in front of her. "I also happened to invite this certain person to the wedding upon seeing that you hadn't filled the plus one on your invite."

Remus shifted and looked mildly uncomfortable then. When he didn't inquire about it further, she took it upon herself.

"A very clever and beautiful Gryffindor by the name of Mary Macdonald." Remus just looked confused.

"Mary? But Peter…" He cut himself off by pressing his lips thinly together. During their seventh year, Hermione had decided to finally share a room with the other Gryffindor girls and consequently grown quite close to the girls in her dorm. Mary was brave, affectionate, and intelligent, and she had blonde wavy hair and deep blue eyes. Hermione couldn't think of anyone more perfect for her loving and kind friend than Mary. None of the Marauders had even looked at Mary because of the feelings Peter had harbored for her all those years.

"Mary never liked Peter, Remus," Hermione said quietly. "Turns out she was too busy admiring you."

Remus blushed down to his roots, and Hermione grinned. Just then there was a knock on the door, and Charlus poked his head in.

"Ready, Tiger?"

Hermione nodded nervously and leaned up to place kisses on both of Remus's cheeks. "You better ask her to dance, Remus!"

He mock saluted her before kissing her curls and making his way out the door.

Hermione took a deep breath and took Charlus's elbow.

Once they had made it to the aisle she didn't know how she'd been nervous at all. Sirius looked dashingly handsome in his muggle suit and green waistcoat. The flowers on his lapel matched the ones in her hair, and he was smiling at her with wet eyes.

She couldn't stop the huge smile that spread across her face her entire walk down the aisle, nor the light pink blush that coated her cheeks.

The traditional muggle ceremony was like a fairy tale, and the reception afterwards was a party for the ages. They danced and sipped on champagne, and Sirius didn't leave her side the entire evening. Regulus found himself being pulled into dances by multiple witches, and Hermione found immense joy in his clear discomfort. Remus did, in fact, ask Mary to dance. James and Lily stayed happily attached throughout, and when the night finished with a grand proposal from James, Hermione couldn't be happier.

18 August 1979

Hermione stood pacing in the cottage her and Sirius had moved into at the beginning of the summer. It was in Godric's Hollow just a street over from James and Lily, and in Hermione's eyes it was perfect. Sirius was changing after work before they were due to leave for their reservation to celebrate their one year.

She was wearing a nice soft blue cocktail dress with sensible heels and modest jewelry. Her heels were clicking against the hardwood floor of their den, and she was mumbling softly under her breath when strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind to stop her track.

"What's bothering you, kitten?"

Hermione sighed and relaxed her weight against her husband. "Blast," she mumbled.

Sirius pulled away and glanced down at her. "Is everything alright?"

Hermione shifted nervously and looked up at him through her lashes. "I wanted to tell you at the restaurant," she said with a pout.

Sirius grinned and rubbed a thumb against her protruding lip. "Well now you have to tell me."

Hermione sighed and took a step back. A hand went to her stomach absent-mindedly, and Sirius's eyes tracked the movement.

"Are you feeling alright, Hermione? Do you want me to cancel the reservation?"

She had been feeling rather ill lately. Trouble keeping down food, and she had been tiring quickly. Hermione had told him it was just a bug, but lately he'd been pushing her to go to St Mungos. She waved him off again, but she still looked a little green.

"What's your news?" He probed.

She slowly raised her eyes again to look at him and took a few deep breaths. Instead of saying anything she took one of his hands from her cheek and moved it down to her stomach.

"Hermione?" He questioned, but then it hit him. Tired. Sick in the mornings. News. His eyes widened and searched her face, and she just nodded.

"You're going to be a dad, Sirius," she whispered tearily.

Sirius stood there in shock. They hadn't been trying for a baby, that was for sure. They used the charm, and they'd never talked about if they were ready or not. Once the shock wore off, a smile slowly began to spread across his face. A baby. Sirius was going to be a dad.

When he didn't say anything, Hermione started to ramble as she was prone to doing. "I know this is unexpected and scary, but I'm kind of excited. I'm two months along according to the Medi-witch, so I think it must have happened the night of James and Lily's wedding. We must've forgotten the charms. We were pretty drunk, you know? But I can take maternity leave for the second term of this year to take care of the baby. I've already talked to McGonagall about it, and she said I could take as long as I needed because McGonagall herself can fill my position. I was thinking we could turn the guest bedroom next to ours into the nursery? I… well… please say something, Sirius," she begged.

Sirius laughed then before putting a hand over his mouth and dropping to his knees. He pressed kisses all along her stomach before wrapping his arms around the base of her spine to push his cheek to her flat belly.

"A dad," he whispered.

Hermione let out a watery laugh and ran her hands through his hair, "You're going to be the best dad, Sirius."

He gave a shaky sob against her body, and her entire body shook with him. "You think so?"

Her nails scraped against his scalp, and he shivered. "Of this, I am completely certain."

He pressed his forehead into her abdomen and said, "A baby." He laughed joyously, "We're having a baby!"

He kissed her stomach one more time before jumping up and pulling her into a searing kiss. It was watery and they both were smiling into it, but Sirius swore it was one of their best kisses. The emotions and feelings were beyond anything he'd felt before. He was married to the most wonderful witch on the planet, and she was having his baby.

They never made it to their reservation, and rather spent the rest of the evening making promises to each other about the kind of parents they were going to be.

21 February 1980

On Hermione's last day of teaching before she left for Maternity leave, she received the most unexpected surprise.

Her water broke in the middle of her sixth year transfiguration class. She'd been standing behind her desk rubbing her aching back as she described a very difficult charm when she'd paused at the feeling of a slight trickle of fluids running down her leg. The baby wasn't supposed to be due for three weeks.

After a few seconds of silence in which Hermione's face went very pale and every student stared at her in confusion, a particularly loud Hufflepuff had pointed at her accusingly and yelled.

"Professor Black is having her baby!"

Hermione didn't know how the student had known, but she didn't even question it because seconds after that, she felt her first contraction. It was like cramps but worse. It took the breath out of her, and she swayed towards her desk with her palm flat down.

"Quite right, Mister Thorne. Now if you don't mind, I need some assistance getting to the floo in my office," she said as calmly as she could through gritted teeth.

Almost immediately, every student in the room jumped to their feet and ran toward her desk.

Two students wrapped their arms around her in support, and led her slowly up the stairs in her classroom to her office.

Sirius had been at their cottage at home, painting the nursery the muggle way as a surprise for Hermione when he heard someone yelling from downstairs.

"Mister Black!"

He ran down the stairs only to see an unfamiliar and panicked face staring at him from the embers.

"Mister Black, Professor Black is having her baby!"

Sirius paled. "But it's too early!"

The boy mumbled something before he disappeared and Hermione was staring at him. "Get your sorry arse here right now, Sirius! Get the baby bag and the portkey!"

Sirius had retrieved an emergency portkey to St Mungos for when the baby came just yesterday.

"Oh shite!" He scrambled out of the room and sprinted for the baby bag Hermione had put together months in advance and the small child's shoe that was their portkey.

As soon as he flooed through he saw his wife surrounded by a crowd of twenty or so teenagers. She was rubbing her stomach and taking deep breaths. When her head snapped up to his, her cheeks were flushed, and there was a panicked look in her eyes.

He ran toward her and threw the strap of the bag over his shoulder before lifting her into his arms. He ignored the mixture of reactions from her students and instead activated the portkey.

Hermione's labor was long. Longer than normal apparently. It was nearly sixteen hours of screaming and crying and worried friends and family. Sirius had been a nervous wreck the entire time, but one look at a crying Hermione had him putting on his bravest face. And then in the early hours of February 22, 1980, a screaming baby was brought into the world.

Despite the fact that the baby was three weeks early and the labor was one of the longest in Wizarding history, the baby and Hermione were both in perfect health.

When a grinning Sirius emerged in the nearly full waiting room everyone let out all the tension in their body. Everyone was exhausted, but when Sirius asked if they'd like to meet the baby, they all jumped to their feet. Sirius led them quickly to Hermione's room and took his place beside her on the bed.

Somehow, Hermione looked even more beautiful than ever as she held their baby in her arms. She was flushed and her hair was all over the place, but he had never looked at something and felt so much love.

Dorea, Charlus, James, Lily, Remus, Mary, and Regulus all filled the room and looked at the exhausted woman cradling a small squirming baby in her arms.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Lyra Jean Black," Hermione said sleepily.

The large group of people gathered around the bed, and looked down at the small face cradled against Hermione's chest.

Even as a baby, she was beautiful. She had a small tuff of black curls on the top of her head and an adorably pert nose. When she blinked open her eyes, it was to see that she had Hermione's honey-brown eyes.

Dorea reached down and Lyra's small fingers reached for just one of Dorea's. All the women in the room (and James) cooed at that.

"She's beautiful," Charlus said happily.

Sirius gently ran the tip of his finger down her cheek and smiled softly at her. He leaned over and kissed the corner of Hermione's lips.

"She is, isn't she? Looks just like her mum."

A pregnant Lily shuffled forward and sniffled. When she looked down at her little niece as she'd taken to calling her, she broke into full blown sobs. Her hands went to her own stomach and she said brokenly, "I'm sorry. She's just so beautiful." Lily took a deep breath and started fanning herself when James wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

He waved a hand with a goofy grin and said, "Hormones."

Lily smacked him on the arm, and everyone in the room laughed.

Some things would always be the same.

AN: I hope this epilogue satisfied all of you! It's been a good run! Now onto new and exciting stories:)