=== July 12 1996 ===
Harry is sitting in the living room watching the twins play when the bell goes off announcing an incoming floo. They had adjusted it so that those they trusted didn't ring the bell. Harry pulls out his wand as he gets between his children and the floo.
Dumbledore steps through the floo only to find Harry pointing his wand at him. "Prove your identity." Harry says.
"I told you the entire prophecy regarding you and Riddle at the beginning of your second year." Dumbledore says.
Harry puts his wand down. "What can I do for you?"
"I was hoping you would be able to come help convince an old professor to come out of retirement." Dumbledore answers.
Harry motions to the twins playing behind him. "I don't have a babysitter at the moment."
"If you can bring them along. I know a nice park where they can play outside afterwards.'
"Very well, let me get them ready." Harry says. As he works on getting everything together for an outing he mentally reaches out. 'Mione?'
'Everything okay?' Hermione asks, worry evident through their bond.
'Yeah, Dumbledore's here. He wants help getting a professor out of retirement. Says it's safe to bring the twins.' Harry says.
'Okay, be safe.' Hermione says.
'I will.' Harry says. Now he has both girls dressed and everything ready for their outing. "Alright Headmaster." He says as he buckles them into the stroller Amanda had gotten them from America.
#####
Dumbledore knocks on the door of what looks to have been a rather nice wizarding home at one time, but was now decayed. "Horace Slughorn, I know you're in there!" Dumbledore yells.
The door opens slightly and a gooseberry eye surrounded by pale skin can be seen. "Is that really you Albus?" Slughorn asks.
"Aye, my old friend, and I brought company." Dumbledore answers. "Why don't you let us in?'
"Who have you brought?" Slughorn asks, his tone implying he doesn't believe anyone is there.
"Introduce yourself." Dumbledore says as he moves to the side.
"I'm Harry Potter, and these are my daughters Rose and Iris."
The door opens fully and now we see the robust form of Slughorn completely. "Albus, you've outdone yourself." Slughorn says. "Please come in." He moves out of the way so they can enter.
"Thank you sir." Harry says as he pushes the stroller in.
Dumbledore comes in behind them. "Horace, we don't want to stay too long, you know how toddlers are, so I'll get right to it. I want you to come back to your old position."
"Why would I do that?' Slughorn asks.
"I've already told Mister Potter here you were the best and it was a shame when you retired." Albus explains.
"Really?"
"Yes," Harry says. "The Headmaster has told us several times that he deeply regretted letting you retire."
"Will I be allowed to hold Slug club again?" Slughorn asks, obviously trying to barter.
"Of course." Dumbledore says, "I'm sure Mister Potter and his wife will be glad to join."
"We do have our children, and they are going to be our first priority after classes." Harry says.
"Yes, of course." Slughorn says. "I'll help find you sitters, otherwise I take it you and your wife would take turns coming?"
Harry nods. "That sounds reasonable."
"Then Albus, I only have one other request." Slughorn says. "I'd like my position as head of Slytherin back."
"Agreed." Dumbledore says.
"I'll see you September first." Slughorn says.
"See you then Professor." Harry says. Then he, the twins and Dumbledore take their leave.
=== July 22 1996 ===
With the twins down for their afternoon nap Harry is in the kitchen preparing dinner when the he hears the crack of apparition. He turns and looks through the newly added window and sees very familiar bushy hair.
He stops his preparations and turns to go see her when Hermione slams into him burying her face into his chest. He wraps his arms around her. "Mione?"
Hermione sobs heavily in his arms and mutters. "She's gone, she's gone."
"It's okay." Harry says softly as he rubs her back. "I'm here for you."
"Thank you." Hermione sniffles.
"Come on," Harry says as he pulls her towards their room. "What you need is a shower, that always clears your head."
Hermione nods absently as she lets Harry pull her to their bathroom. He starts the shower and helps her strip down. "Join me?" She asks as she gets in and gets under the hot water.
A minute later Harry joins her in the shower. He presses his stomach against her back as he reaches around her. "Here, let me wash your hair." He says as he pours some shampoo into his hands then begins to lather her hair.
As soon as Harry finishes washing her hair Hermione turns around and kisses him passionately. Harry kisses her back as he pushes her against the shower wall, all thought of actually getting clean leaving both their heads.
#####
Hermione kiss him passionately right before stepping out of the shower and grabbing a towel to dry off "Thanks for the distraction."
"You keep that up and I'll distract you again." Harry smirks as he steps out and grabs the other towel.
Hermione grins slightly as she wraps the towel around her hair. "Tonight." She says before grabbing her clothes and getting dressed
"Deal." Harry says as he gets out and gets dressed.
After getting dressed Hermione goes to the room and digs through her trunk, pulling out a couple vials. "Pepper-up potion, I'm sure we could both use it."
Harry nods as he takes the vial and takes the potion, steam coming from his ears. "Thanks."
Hermione nods. "We only have a few more potions, neither of us have brewed anything since we left Hogwarts."
"Sorry about that, I got caught up in trying to do all the summer assignments when the twins would let me." Harry admits.
Hermione nods. "Tomorrow we'll set up in one of the unused bedrooms."
Harry nods. "Good idea." He opens the door to the nursery and finds it empty. "Looks like someone had the elves grab the twins."
#####
Ginny is sitting in the living room with the twins when Hermione walks in. As soon as she sees Hermione she gets up and hugs her. "I heard what happened, I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thanks, Gin." Hermione says as she hugs her back. "How'd you know to have the elves get the kids?"
"When I saw the stuff for dinner sitting I figured Harry was consoling you." Ginny answers.
"Looks like we're ordering out." Harry says as he walks in from the kitchen.
"I'll call the office, see if Mum's left yet." Hermione says and heads to the phone.
"So," Harry says once Hermione has left. "How was your date?"
"Really good, we got to meet his parents." Ginny answers.
"How did that go?"
"Really well, seemed to accept both of us just fine."
"Good." Harry says.
Amanda and Draco step through the fireplace into the Granger residence. Empty take-out containers sit on the coffee table along with bottles of whiskey and wine. Harry, Hermione, Helen and Richard sit around the messy table.
"Amanda!" Richard says, obviously drunk. "Join us!"
"Um, I'll pass." Amanda says. "Does anyone care to fill me in? The letter Hermione sent said to come quickly."
"You should sit." Harry says, "there's a reason they're all drunk."
Amanda and Draco pull up chairs. "What's going on?"
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news." Harry sighs.
Amanda gasps, covering her mouth as she does. "No."
"I'm so very sorry." Harry says.
"Has anyone told my parents?" Amanda asks, clearly shaken.
Harry shakes his head. "We hadn't even thought about it."
"I'll do it." Amanda says. "With the time difference they're probably still at work."
"Thank you," Harry says. "I'm going to go to see the Minister tomorrow about arranging an emergency portkey for them to get here."
"How soon is the funeral?" Amanda asks.
"Saturday, time to be worked out later." Harry answers
=== July 27 1996 ===
In a small church on the outskirts of the city Claire rests in her casket. In the front pew sits Helen, Richard, Randy and Karen. Hermione, Harry sit with Rose and Iris between them in the second row.
The third row has Ginny, and Luna sitting on either side of Colin. The last pew has Ron, Lavender, Hannah and Neville.
Two assistants roll a podium in front of the casket and plug the cords from it into the nearby wall. An older well-dressed gentleman walks up to the podium and speaks.
"Thank you all for coming. To those that don't know me I'm Brian O'Connell, I had the honor of being Claire's pastor. I assume that you are all here because you knew and loved Claire, and if that's true then you all know she absolutely would not want us mourning her passing, instead she would want us to celebrate her life."
"With that in mind I want you to think about Claire and how she brought joy to your life. I remember when I met her, sitting in the front pew with her cane, one of our young parishioners thought they were going to help her, Claire threatened to whip him with her cane. To this day I'm not sure if she was serious or not."
"Oh, she was serious." Richard says, a slight grin on his face. "For a blind woman she had remarkable aim."
"I remember when we told her we were moving to the states she told me to keep this one in line." Karen says as she nudges Randy.
"Offered you one of her canes to keep me in line." Randy says and they all chuckle.
"I only met Claire once." Ron says, "the day of Hermione and Harry's wedding. During the reception she had her chess set brought down. I don't think I ever enjoyed getting my ass kicked in chess so much."
Brian smiles. "Yes, she loved chess. For the longest time she would have someone bring her to the church and she would teach kids chess."
"That sounds like her." Randy says.
"I hadn't planned on having kids as young as I have." Hermione says as she looks down at the two little girls, both sitting quietly as if they know this is a somber occasion. "Now, I'm glad I did. Grandmum had a chance to hold and love her great-granddaughters."
The church is quiet for a few minutes. "Very well, it's time everyone said their goodbyes."
As soon as the others finish their goodbyes they head graveside. Soon only Harry, Hermione and the twins remain. "Our turn." Hermione says and they all stand and move to the aisle. Rose takes Hermione's hand and Iris Harry's. They walk to the casket where Harry and Hermione each lift up one of the twins."
"Grammy!" Rose says.
"That's right, that's your great-grandmother."
"Grammy sleep?" Iris asks.
"Something like that." Harry answers.
"This is the kind of sleep you don't wake up from." Hermione says.
You could hear a pin drop in the following silence. After a minute Hermione pulls out two drachma and places them over Claire's eyes. "Money!" Rose says.
"This is special money." Hermione says, trying not to cry. "It's to help Grammy sleep peacefully."
"Girls, it's time to say goodbye to Grammy." Harry says.
Iris and Rose both raise one of their little hands and in unison say: "Buh-bye Grammy."