The Witch and The Hunters

CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

Page count: 9

"So, was it as terrifying as you thought it'd be?" Hermione asked, fingers laced with Dean's as they walked down Diagon Alley. The street glowed with lantern light, the shops shut for the night, the pubs humming with life.

They were going back to America tomorrow. Back to cases, back to motel rooms, back to hunting things that wanted to rip them in half. Back to reality.

Today had been their one last breath before all of that.

Hermione had spent the morning visiting each branch of her sprawling, chaotic Wizarding family — the Potters, Malfoys, and the entire bloody Weasley clan — handing out presents to her nieces and nephews and introducing everyone to "Uncle Dean" and "Uncle Sam."

Sam, unsurprisingly, had taken to the kids immediately. Dean... took a minute. A very awkward minute. But once he got going, the kids had him trapped under piles of toys and dragging him around like a prize pony.

Hermione had watched it happen with smug satisfaction. He'd make an incredible father. Whether he believed it or not.

After leaving Malfoy Manor — which still felt illegal to both Winchesters — Hermione dropped Sam back at the apartment before taking Dean out for a quiet walk through Diagon Alley's nightlife.

"I'd still rather be outnumbered in a nest of Vampires," Dean said dryly, "but it wasn't that bad, I guess."

She snorted and elbowed him. "Don't lie. I saw the look on your face when you met Lily."

He scowled because he absolutely had melted the second Lily reached for him. Hermione grinned knowingly.

"Ready for your pop quiz?"

Dean groaned. Loudly.

Hermione had decided he needed to learn her family tree — partly so he didn't insult someone at a dinner, partly because the Prophet had already declared him a wizard and they needed to maintain that cover.

"No," he muttered.

"Great," she chirped. "First up: the Potters?"

He blew out a breath and concentrated, eyes flicking around the alley instinctively for danger.

"Harry and Ginny. Harry's the Head Auror. Ginny's a professional athlete."

"Good," she nodded.

"They've been married seven years and have three kids. James is five, Albus is three, and Lily's one and a half."

She beamed. "The Malfoys?"

He gave her a look that said he could do this, but he hated that he could.

"Draco and Luna. Draco's your Deputy. Luna owns a newspaper. Married four years. Scorpius — almost a month old."

She nodded again. "Now for the hard one. The Weasleys?"

Dean made a noise halfway between a growl and a prayer for death.

"Bill and Fleur — Curse Breakers. Married for almost ten years. Three kids: Victorie, Dominique, Lucas."

"Very good," she said, smug.

"Charlie — works with Dragons. Lives in Romania. Dating a Healer named Claire. Percy and Audrey — Percy's the Undersecretary, Audrey's in Family Affairs. Married five years, daughters Lucy and Molly."

Hermione's grin widened.

"George and Angelina. He has a joke store empire, and she works in the Sports Department of the government. Married five years. Kids Fred and Roxy." He paused. His lip curled. "And then there's your asshole ex — Ron — with his two kids."