Hermione was sitting at the breakfast table in Grimmauld Place when Harry breezed into the kitchen and picked up the teapot to make a fresh brew.
“Another cuppa, Hermione?” he asked
She Hmmpfed, muttered something and floated her mug over for a refill. “I can’t believe that ridiculous ‘Magical Repopulation Bill’ got passed by the Wizengamot.
“Is that the enforced marriage and children thing?”
“Yes.”
“Really? They expect to tell a woman, marry this wizard, and have his babies?”
“That’s the one.”
“I can’t believe these old duffers. How? No, when does it come into force?”
“Midnight on Sunday, after that you will receive three matches and you have to choose one or else go to Azkaban.”
“Dean and Seamus are going to love that.”
“They moved to Ireland a couple of weeks ago.”
“Of course, I forgot.”
Harry passed Hermione her tea. “Shall we perhaps, go stay with your folks in Australia, for an extended period then? Maybe catch a flight later today?”
“Good idea, how long will it take you to pack?”
“Call Winky, Andi and Teddy might as well come along, in case they foist another wizard on her.”
Harry pulled his mobile from the counter where it was charging and rang Andromeda. After a ten-minute call he turned to Hermione. “That will be four for Australia then.”
The 20:10 Qantas flight lifted off from Heathrow en route to Sydney via Singapore on time, lifting clear of the heavy rain that shrouded the Airport. Harry had taken a trip to Gringotts to confirm they could access their accounts via the Australian branch, his account manager wished him a pleasant journey.
A week later saw them sitting on the veranda of a Black family property near Brisbane as Hermione chatted over the phone to her mother, newly retired and living about twenty kilometres up the road. Six-year-old Teddy was still sleeping out of sync and was in a hammock behind them, as one of Gringotts mail birds dropped off their forwarded mail.
Harry opened his letter. He had; Hermione Granger, Katie Bell, and Fay Dunbar as his options. He laughed “Hermione, I got you, now you have to say yes.”
She reached over and read the letter, picking her own up and opening it, She had Harry Potter, Justin Finch Fletchley and Anthony Goldstien. “Harry, I am not marrying you because some arse in London says I have to. I will marry you when it suits us.” She gave him a long kiss. “At least I didn’t get Ron, how many times did I have to tell him it was just a silly mistake.”
Harry gave her a look and picked up a letter with familiar and poor handwriting, he shook it, Hermione rolled her eyes. She opened it. Read it. Pulled a biro from somewhere and wrote ‘NO’ across it in huge letters, outlining the two letters multiple times. “I don’t believe that boy. He knows we are together.” She stared at him. “Don’t you dare laugh.” He gave her a completely fake smile and shook his head.
He picked up another letter, addressed to him. He opened it, “There is a note for you in here, it’s from Shack.”
“What does he say.”
“He apologises for not being able to block the Bill but has approved our exchange transfers to the Australian Magical Federation. There is a contact number for when we are ready to start.”
“I was thinking I might go back to University and study, rather than be cooped up in a dungeon again like the Unspeakables.”
“See what the locals think. They might sponsor you, I can cover it otherwise. Depends what they offer. I was thinking of doing something different, I have had enough of being an Auror for any two lifetimes. I signed up to save the country, and I spend my nights stopping drunk wizards breaking the statute. It sucks.”
“Any idea what?”
Honestly, none. Beach bum? Surf dude? Slacker?”
“If you are trying to be romantic, please remember I turned down Ronald Weasley repeatedly.”
“How about stay-at-home dad to our kids?” Her stare could ignite steel.
“What is the point of coming all the way here, then getting married and having kids, anyway?”
“Call me fickle. I like the idea of family. I want to have that with you. Now the idea is planted in my head, it won't go away.”
“Why stay at home dad?”
“Because my beautiful, brainy wife, will be working at the University or somewhere doing something clever and amazing, and I am more than happy to spend a few years looking after little ones.” Hermione huffed once more and gave him a medium stare.
“I can officiate if you want to marry, it would be my pleasure,” Andromeda said from behind her cup of coffee, feigning an innocent air. She crumpled her letter and dropped it into the rubbish pile on the table. Harry was laughing, Hermione looked fit to combust.
They contacted the AMF number they had been given a week later, the first offer was teaching posts at the AMF magical school, which also would allow Hermione to study further if she wished. After some discussion they accepted, and took up citizenship along with the jobs. Hermione became pregnant in the new year, and married Harry at Imbolc. Stressing that it was her choice. Nothing to do with ridiculous laws.
The ‘Magical Repopulation Bill’ was declared illegal by the ICW six months after it passed. Only six couples had actually married due to the Bill, four of them were already engaged, of the remaining two, one divorced immediately. Pansy Weasley returned to using her maiden name. Ronald was unavailable for comment.
Hermione’s parents were delirious to welcome their first Grandchild at the end of September that year, Lily Rose was joined by a brother just under two years later and James Daniel completed their family.
Twelve years later they visited Hogwarts as a family to watch Lily compete in the Six Nations Magical Tournament, where she flew Seeker for her country. Harry swore he could feel the ghosts of James, Sirius and Remus cheering when she grabbed the snitch to take the game for her team in the final. Ilvermorney won overall, but Kookaburra took the Quidditch cup, so Harry was the proudest dad in the stands.