King's Cross Station, London, 9/1/2007, 10:38
The air was crisp as the three Peverells slipped through King's Cross station and made their way toward the portal that led onto platform nine and three-quarters.
Hardwin was getting ready to return to Hogwarts for his fourth year. He was already donning his Hogwarts robes, the Ravenclaw emblem standing out prominently for all to see.
Unfortunately, neither of the twins could be here this year due to their jobs making this the first year it was just the three of them seeing Hardwin off on the train.
Ignotus was just starting his rookie year with the Auror Corp. If Harry remembered correctly, he would be stuck patrolling Diagon Alley with Senior Auror Neville Longbottom until later this afternoon.
Carina was at Holyhead Stadium going through her morning practices as she had been doing every day this summer. She had been a reserve seeker for the team for the past two years but she would be starting next month in their opening game against the Falcons.
"Oh look, there is my niece," Bella sighed as she spotted Nymphadora Weasley who still went by Tonks along with Charlie and their son Edward who went by Teddy.
"Teddy's starting his first year," Harry said as he led them over to Tonks and her family.
"Wotcher, Uncle Harry," Tonks beamed when she spotted them.
"Hello Tonks," Harry said by way of greeting before shaking Charlie's hand.
"I heard you got called to Norway last month?" Charlie asked.
"I did. They had another man-eating selma in a lake near the Swedish border," Harry said as Bella and Tonks began having a whispered conversation.
"What's a selma, Uncle Harry?" Teddy asked curiously.
"A giant cold water snake," Harry said smiling at the look of awe on the boy's face.
"They like to eat people," Hardwin added.
"Unfortunately, they do," Harry agreed.
"What did you do with it?" Teddy asked sounding intrigued.
"Lured it into a trap and let the Norwegian ministry transport it to the reserve," Harry said chuckling at the look of awe on the blue-haired boy's face.
"So I hear your daughter's dating the Creevey boy?" Charlie asked.
"She is but don't bring that up around Bella, she's not thrilled about it," Harry said as he glanced over at his wife.
Carina had started dating Colin Creevey last year which had caused a few problems between Carina and Bella when age brought him home last Christmas. From what Harry had gathered, he was a sports reporter for the Daily Prophet and they had met after a game. Personally, the only problem Harry had with him was the age difference but Bella was upset she wasn't marrying into an old and well-respected family.
Luckily Ignotus had chosen last Christmas to formally announce his engagement to Astoria which had taken a lot of the attention off of Carona but it was still a sensitive subject.
"Right, Dora did mention that," Charlie said looking sheepish.
"Dad, I'm going to go find my friends," Hardwin said looking in no mood to hear about his sister's relationship.
"Not so fast mate, the train's leaving in five minutes and your mother wants to see you off," Harry said as he threw his arm over Hardwin's shoulder and guided him to where Bella was discussing something with Tonks.
"Dad, I'm too old for Mum to be coddling me in public," Hardwin protested.
"No, you're not," Harry said as Bella looked over at them curiously.
"Why not?" Hardy protested.
"Because your mum wants to see our little Hardy off," Harry said, talking much louder than necessary much to his son's displeasure.
"It's Hardwin, I do not go by Hardy," Hardwin admonished, shooting his father a look of exasperation.
"You'll always be my little Hardy," Bella cooed before wrapping her son in a tight hug and peppering his cheeks with kisses.
"Mum, stop," Hardwin protested, his face resembling a tomato.
"I'm going to miss you, Hardy," Bella pouted as she released him and began straightening his tie, getting sniggers from students walking past them.
Before Hardwin could protest anymore, the warning whistle sounded and Harry saw students starting to scramble onto the train. Harry saw Charlie loading Teddy's trunk onto the train while Teddy was being crushed in a hug by a teary-eyed Tonks.
"Time to go, mate. I'll see you at the feast," Harry said looking at Hardwin who had just managed to free himself from his mother's clutches.
"Okay, I'll see you at Hogwarts, Dad," Hardwin agreed, his face still red from embarrassment.
"Do you have your things?" Bella asked.
"Of course, Mum," Hardwin said patting the shrunken trunk in his pocket.
"And you have money for the snack cart?" Harry pressed as the three of them walked towards a carriage at the end of the train.
"Of course, I couldn't survive this trip without chocolate frogs," Hardwin grinned.
"Well off with you then," Bella said as the one-minute whistle blew.
"Bye Mum, see you this afternoon, Dad," Hardwin said as he climbed onto the train and the door shut behind him.
"I don't think he has a clue," Harry beamed as the train began to lurch forward.
"No, and it has been killing Bella to keep this a secret," Bellatrix said, waving at the train as it slowly chugged down the tracks and out of sight.
This year there would be a new course offered at Hogwarts, Enchanting. Harry had finally managed to talk Minerva and the board of governors that this class was at least as useful as divination or muggle studies and it was added it to the curriculum as an elective course this summer. The first enchanting class would be a selection of fourth years and their son had already signed up for this new class.
What Hardwin didn't know was that Harry had managed to pull off a minor miracle. Yes, Harry was very pleased that he had managed to convince Bellatrix into applying for that teaching position.
Over the past decade, her razor business had expanded to a rather impressive size. Peverell Beauty Accessories employed a dozen enchanters, a handful of accountants and a small army of workers. Bellatrix had quadrupled the Peverell's net worth in a few short years and now offered all sorts of beauty supplies from hairbrushes to wrinkle-reducing creams.
Unfortunately, all this expansion meant that Bellatrix couldn't produce her products like she used to. Penelope Clearwater was overseeing the production facility and the place was a fine example of controlled chaos. So for the past few years, Bellatrix had been quite bored and spent a lot of her time with Narcissa helping at the day school.
Harry hoped that this new job would give her something to do with her time. This also meant that she could keep her eye on Hardwin, so maybe she wouldn't be as depressed as she had been for the past few years when Hardwin had left for Hogwarts.
"Are you sure you want to stay in the castle, though?" Harry asked as the two of them walked towards the entrance to Muggle London.
"Yes, I was thinking of even starting my own club," Bella beamed.
"Like the Slug Club?" Harry teased.
"Absolutely not, I want to start an enchanting club," Bellatrix said, swatting his arm playfully.
"Well, I don't see why you couldn't. Just make sure you don't set up your meetings on the same night as Alice's duelling club or nobody will show up," Harry warned.
"They only show up because Little Harry is her apprentice," Bella pouted.
Harry's younger self had joined the Auror Corp right out of Hogwarts and had been assigned to watch over Hogsmeade for the past few years when Auror Savage had been promoted to captain. Alice had somehow managed to talk Little Harry into assisting her with the club last year and just about every student in the fourth year and up had joined the duelling club to see 'the Harry Potter'.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much, Hannah should be having the baby soon and Harry won't have time for the duelling club," Harty soothed as they stepped through to the muggle side of the station.
Harry found it hard to believe he had been in the past for twenty-five years last March. The actual date of his birthday was kind of hard to figure out due to the time travel but he knew he turned forty-nine sometime this year. He had now spent more time in this timeline than the one he was originally from.
The life he had built with Bellatrix was something he had always dreamt about in his teen years but now he was realizing that they were starting to move into the next stage. Ignotus was getting married soon and he would probably be a grandfather before he knew it. He couldn't deny that he was starting to feel older. He had just found his first grey hair the other morning and it really made him realize how much time had passed.
"Daydreaming again, Harry?" Bella teased.
"I was just thinking about time," Hary shrugged as the two of them stepped out of the station, the sound of traffic assaulting their ears.
"We're both getting old, dear," Bella said as she led him down the pavement to one of her favourite restaurants.
They walked for about ten minutes weaving in between other pedestrians and enjoying the crisp morning air. Harry did a double take when they passed a posh cinema and saw a movie poster in the window.
"She's at it again!" Bellatrix hissed as she glared at the poster, getting odd looks from people around them.
Harry quickly guided her away, getting one last glance at his wife's doppelganger leaning over a man who was holding a straight razor.
"If I ever see that woman so help me, I will-"
Harry silenced Bellatrix by spinning her to face him and placing a searing kiss on her lips.
If he was being honest with himself, he hadn't seen her fired up like this in a while and he found it unbelievably... sexy.
"Wh-what was that for?" Bella mumbled after he'd broken the kiss.
"I just fancied kissing you, are you ready to eat?" Harry said as he began leading her towards the restaurant.
"I am," Bella nodded still looking a bit flustered.
"Then after you, my lady," Harry said as he held the door open for her to step inside.
If someone had told him when he was sixteen that he would one day travel back in time, marry Bellatrix Black, fight Voldemort all over again and be happier than he ever thought possible, he would have worried about their mental health. It was amazing how much better his life had become after Augustus Rookwood sent him back to nineteen eighty-two.
As Harry and Bellatrix took their seats he rubbed the place where his lightning bolt scar used to be. It hadn't hurt in over thirty years, and all was well.
THE END