Time Boat

{24}

{24-Snapshots}

Everyone had been thrilled to learn of their engagement, even Mary who had been with Severus enough times for Hermione to have thought that it might hurt her. Regardless, they were extremely happy and threw a party almost immediately for the happy couple. Harry stayed at the Weasley's that night.

Hermione had begun to reside in her old apartment again. Of course, she did not sleep in her old room, for Severus was remiss to even let her sleep on the other side of the bed let alone that far away from him.  He cherished what seemed to be every moment, positively scared of whether or not he would have her in the future.

They were able to attend happy occasions, especially when Hermione was more than willing to become Florizel Granger instead of herself. She didn't miss out on anything after that, but they did have a strange occurrence on Halloween which put everything into perspective.

It was the night of what would have been the end of the first war and the start of a miserable life for Harry, but instead... it was something much more. Lily and James had called everyone around, and they seemed very excited over something, but Hermione was simply happy to spend time with their friends.

Harry seemed to be very happy zooming around on the broom Sirius had gotten him for his birthday, the little thing quite good for such a small scale item. Hermione was impressed with the magic, even.

"So, I'm sure you're all dying to know why we're here."

Hermione glared at Lily, who cringed unsympathetically.

"Sorry, Zel, but! Harry!"

The boy came to a halt and looked at them with wide eyes.

"What did Mommy and Daddy teach you to say this week for our friends? hm?" Lily said, plucking him from his toy which fell to the ground at its loss of a partner.

"Baby!" He told them excitedly, "Baby! Baby! Baby!"

James took the boy with a large smile, congratulating him for apparently completing his task properly.

"You're pregnant?" Hermione gaped, looking about her in terror. Surely this wasn't how it had been when... certainly not she hoped because that meant that not only had both James and Lily been sacrificed for Harry's life... but also his sibling's. That would explain the reason why Harry was able to live through the killing curse, so many innocent lives had been risked just for him... and a type of innocence that was only found in the womb.

Hermione nearly choked.

"Zel?"

She shook her head profusely, "I'm fine."

"Congratulations, Lily," Severus interrupted, placing his hand gently onto Hermione's shoulder. They did not act like a couple before Harry, just to make sure that one day if Hermione retained only her memory, they wouldn't scare the poor boy in learning that the Florizel man he grew up with who had been with Severus suddenly was his best friend Hermione Granger. Well, they remained hopeful that Hermione would be herself in the future, but they did not dwell upon it.

"Thanks, Severus... we were kind of hoping you'd be the godfather?"

"You mean I don't get to do it again?" Sirius barked, looking offended as he held his own little congratulations toast with James.

"Not this time, this one's mine!" Severus replied snarkly, looking far too pleased to have been asked.

"That's fine, I have the better child!"

Remus threw him a scathing look, "You don't pick favorites, even if they aren't your kids!"

Sirius picked up Harry who seemed more than pleased to get the attention as his godfather huffed in protest, and Hermione smiled at the scene. No matter if things from this future had happened before, she was going to enjoy every moment of it.