The Potion Mistress & the Half-Blood Prince

Epilogue: Black & Blue

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine and anyone you don't recognize) are entirely my own.

May 28, 2018

"Awfully cozy here, isn't it?" Hermione Weasley, nee Granger, stated as she sat with her husband Ron, sister-in-law Ginny Potter, nee Weasley, and Harry Potter. The two couples were enjoying the last day of their visit to the States, in a small Wizarding village in northern Wisconsin.

The middle of May brought the forest into full bloom, and David Lamberton, Head of International Wizarding Affairs, told the four about the lovely little town in the middle of northern part of the state.

They had made their way through most of the shops and were now enjoying a bite to eat at a quaint café. A relaxing feeling came over all of them. Here no one knew them. No one knew Harry Potter, the destroyer of Lord Voldemort; the "Boy Who Lived." To them, he was a foreign visitor, a tourist, and nothing more.

It was a Monday morning, and the café was pretty much deserted, except for the four of them. With their meal finished, the couples sat talking quietly about the kids and work, while finishing off their cups of coffee.

"It is very lovely here," Ginny replied as she glazed out the small window at their booth. "The forests here are a lot more welcoming than some back in England."

"Any woods looks friendlier than the Forbidden Forest, Ginny," Ron exclaimed as he was jabbed from the side by his wife. "What the bloody hell was that for?"

"Ginny's right you know," Hermione huffed as she glared at her husband. Harry rolled his eyes as Hermione rambled on about there being no dangerous breeds roaming these forests like they did back at Hogwarts, because there were mainly Muggle villages in the area, except for this one of course. But the faint sound of a chime pulled Harry from the conservation.

Looking behind him towards the front counter, he watched the back of a slender woman, dressed in dark blue robes walk in and greet Ms. Julie Byrd, the owner of the diner. Blonde hair, infused with very tiny bits of silver, encased the view of her face, but her voice seemed familiar.

"Good morning, Julie," the blonde greeted the plump, brunette owner. Her back still to him; Harry got an odd feeling and wished she turned around. Her accent was most definitely British; soft, but British none the less. "One coffee, black, please."

"No husband with you this morning?" Julie turned smiling at her customer.

"Oh yes, but you can guess where he is since he isn't with me," a hint of sarcasm in the blonde's voice.

The noise in the booth became louder, making it harder for Harry to hear the women's conversation.

"Hey, shut up a minute," Harry hissed, before returning his gaze back to the counter.

"What in the name of Merlin is..." but Ron was silenced by Harry's hand cupping over his mouth. The others followed Harry line of vision and saw the blonde as well.

"Why am I not surprised that he's down there," Julie laughed as she poured the blonde a cup of coffee to go. "How are the kids?"

"Good, good," the blonde stated as she slipped her coffee. "Septimus is finishing his sixteenth year of teaching at New Salem. It's so hard to believe, he's been a Potion's Master for sixteen years."

"You have one bright young man there," Julie praised her customer. "How's his little family?"

"Fine," the blonde continued. "Helena's still working for the Department of Education at the Ministry. She loves it there. Their oldest, John, is finishing his second year at New Salem, and is on the Junior Varsity Quidditch team.