𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐝 {𝐇. 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫}

109

May 11th 1999
"I really think we should be heading back, darling," Johnny told his one year old daughter as he steered the horse he was sharing with Winona back towards the stables stationed on the grounds of Grindelwald Manor. Today was Winona's first birthday, and almost a year since the war had ended. "Your mother will kill me if we're late to your birthday."

Winona whined from where she was sat between Johnny's legs, and crossed her arms over her chest with a pout in her face, causing Johnny to chuckle as he kissed her forehead.

"I promise we'll come out and go horse riding later, Cupcake," Johnny reassured her, combing his fingers through her brunette hair. Winona huffed once again but nodded as she leaned back against her father's stomach. "Smart girl," Johnny said, kissing his daughters forehead once more as he lifted her and sat her on his shoulders. Johnny made sure Alexia, the horses they were riding, was settled in properly before he sat Winona back on his hip.

"We're not late, are we?" Johnny asked Hermione as he entered through the back door, kissing his fiancé in greeting. Hermione shook her head, taking Winona out of Johnny's arms.

"No, but we haven't got long," said Hermione as she went to approach one of the many bathrooms in the Manor.

"Who're coming all together?" Johnny asked, picking up an apple from a nearby fruit bowl and taking a bite out of it.

"Mia, Pansy and Abraham, Tonks and Teddy, Harry and Ginny, Ron and Padma, Nick and Amber, Draco and Selena, Sam and Luna, your mother, father and sister and my mother and father," Hermione listed off from memory. "Axel and Emily can't make it as Axel is needed in America, Gabbie is working overtime in the Ministry and Kieran and Summer are in Paris."

"It's amazing how you remembered all that," said Johnny, his mouth wide open in shock.

"Just go and shower and change your clothes," Hermione grimaced. "You smell like manure."

"Yes Ma'am," Johnny saluted Hermione sarcastically and threw his half eaten apple in the bin. He climbed the many stairs of Grindelwald Manor and finally made it to the Bedroom Wing, slightly out of breath as he pushed his bedroom door open and stumbled through. He quickly picked out a casual suit and a pair of white trainers and stripped himself of his dirty clothes, walking into the walk-in shower.

As the hot water hit Johnny's back, he felt his fiancé's arms wrap around his waist from behind, and felt Hermione bury her head in the crook of his back, placing a delicate kiss to his spine.

"Cupcake is playing with Abe, Mia and Pansy are watching them," Hermione mumbled tiredly. She had worked herself really hard over the previous months. She had returned to Hogwarts as a student to finish of her N.E.W.T examinations (getting an O in each one), she started her job in the The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, earning rights and better treatment for House-Elves, and managed to plan Winona's birthday in that time.

"You should get some sleep," Johnny advised her, moving around her so Hermione was directly under the shower head. His hands roamed slowly from her naked waist and up to her shoulders, slowly digging his thumbs in to release the tension she had there.

"I can't," Hermione moaned letting the water soak her body as Johnny worked her shoulders. "They all expect me there."

"They'll understand," said Johnny, placing a kiss to Hermione's collarbone as he reached around her to grab the shampoo. He squirted the contents of the bottle into his left hand and slowly worked it into her hair, earning another soft moan from Hermione who leaned back onto Johnny's chest. "Have at least two hours, then come and join us."