Epilogue Part 1

Fall, 1986

The Pythagoras Day School for Talented and Gifted Children

The idea of a day school for magical children took off like wildfire, especially once Hermione contacted the Ladies' Aide Society and asked for their support. The demand soon outstripped the supply and plans were made to open magical day schools all over the United Kingdom. The Pythagoras Day School for Talented and Gifted Children was located in Godric's Hollow where several families had come together and donated joint land for the purpose. Hermione had insisted on the formation of a parent's group that would meet once a month to help explain to the non-magical parents what their children would be learning. The plan was fully educate those parents so that by the time the children left the day school, they would be prepared for attending Hogwarts. Safety was their watchword; safety for the parents, the children and the public at large. Hermione was well pleased with the result, and shocked when she was informed that there was rather a long wait list.

"Those other schools had better open as soon as possible," Professor Pottage, the Headmistress, informed Hermione darkly. Hermione nodded.

"I'm afraid you're quite right," she agreed, looking through the paperwork that Professor Pottage had given her.

"We've had no problems so far, implementing the structure and the behavior standards that the board has insisted upon," the Headmistress continued, looking through her notes. "We started with an orientation day before the actual first day, and we went over the ground rules with all the children. All of the parents received a copy of the handbook and the parents have all signed off on its rules and guidelines."

"Excellent," Hermione said with a slight smile.

These children were being taught from a young age to treat all sentient, magical beings with respect and dignity. Using improper language or special slurs would earn one demerits or, if the issue were severe enough, expulsion. Hermione and the Ladies' Aide Society had worked very hard to make it seem as though these day schools were exclusive and hard to get into. The current impression was that only "the best of the best" were allowed to attend. The truth was rather different from the current perception of a pureblood haven. Hermione, the Ladies Aide Society, and the milites had combed through all of the files they could to find muggleborn students, impoverished students and students who suffered from issues like lycanthropy. What amused Hermione to no end was that the pureblood parents were clamoring to send their children to these schools, which they had filled with suppressed minority groups. What further amused her was that once those children were enrolled they would learn tolerance, conflict resolution and respect for others. By the time these children would attend Hogwarts, they would have a completely different cultural perspective than the current students.

"Now, I believe we've covered everything we needed to," the Headmistress said with a slight smile. "Would you like to peek in on your children? I believe they're at recess at the moment."

"That would be very kind of you," Hermione said with a small smile.

Cepheus and Cassiopeia had begun kindergarten this year, and Hermione wanted to see how they were adjusting. The Headmistress led her outside to observe the playground. Cassiopeia was easy to spot, and Hermione's gaze was immediately drawn to her. She had thick black curls, slightly tidier than her mother's, and wide grey eyes fringed with sinfully long lashes. She was dressed that day in a pale pink satin smock gown with a crisp white pinafore. Her little feet were encased in sturdy little boots. She was playing with another little girl, Hermione realized with a sudden start that it was Luna Lovegood with her pale blond hair and her wide, slightly bulging eyes. The two little girls were speaking quietly to one another and playing nicely when a bigger boy pushed Cassiopeia down and tried to take something from her. Hermione gasped and had taken a step forward when the other children reacted. The bigger boy was immediately tackled by a group of smaller boys. Hermione reached Cassiopeia who turned and buried her face in her mother's skirts, crying.

"Shh, it's all right little love," Hermione soothed, stroking Cassiopeia's hair. She turned to the group of boys who she immediately recognized as her son, her nephew and her godson, but she was slightly surprised to see Neville Longbottom and Sebastian Granger included.

"Dominella, are you okay?" Draco asked worriedly, his silver grey eyes on Cassiopeia's hair. Hermione stiffened slightly and turned to her godson.

"Draco, what did you call her?" Hermione asked sharply. He started guiltily and looked at his godmother through his lashes.

"Dominella?" He said uncertainly. Hermione's eyes narrowed.

"Why?" She asked, her voice suddenly stern. The boys looked at one another uncertainly. Aunt Hermione was always gentle and calm. She didn't scream or yell, ever. Not even when Uncle Sirius gave them rides on his motorcycle in the house. Draco's Mummy had said that Aunt Hermione was a saint to put up with Uncle Sirius, and Draco's Daddy had suggested that it was either that or insanity.

"We—ll," Harry began and Hermione sighed heavily. Whenever her nephew took that tone, he was brewing some sort of mischief. "See, Draco and me was bored, and-,"

"It's Draco and I were bored, dear," Hermione interrupted. Harry blinked at her in surprise.

"You was bored, too, Aunt Hermione?" Harry asked curiously. Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

"No, dear, between Uncle Sirius and you lot, Aunt Hermione is never bored," she said shortly. "Now, what happened?"

"Well, Harry and I were really bored," Draco said firmly with a look at his friend who looked irritated at having been interrupted multiple times, "and Harry asked me if I had any ideas."

"And then Draco said we could pretend to be like his Daddy and Uncle Severus and Uncle Regulus," Harry said loudly, glaring at everyone, daring somebody to take over from him again. "He said we could be milites, and play 'protect the domina' and fight the bad guys."

"But then we had to pick who would be the domina," Draco reminded Harry who nodded.

"Right, and we were trying to choose who it would be," Harry said slowly. "Neville said it should be his baby sister, Honouria, but she's too fussy."

"And Harry suggested his sister Delphinia, but she's too little," Draco said firmly.

"Sebastian was the one who suggested Cassiopeia, and we all liked that because she's always willing to play our games with us, but Draco said that she couldn't be the domina because there's only one and she's you," Harry managed to get out before anyone could stop him.

"So that's how we came to dominella?" Hermione asked dryly. The boys shrugged.

"Uncle Severus said that it meant 'little lady', and she's smaller'n you," Draco pointed out.

"I see," Hermione said slowly. By that time, Cassiopeia had calmed down, and was content to sit in her mother's arms and rest her head on Mummy's soft, comfy shoulder. Were wizards hard-wired to be over-protective? These were just children and they'd already decided to protect and defend the only female relative that went to school with all of them. She looked down at her daughter. "Cassiopeia-love? How do you feel about a great group of boys that are going to follow you everywhere and try to make sure you don't do anything dangerous?"

"It's okay as long as they don't interfere with my plans," Cassiopeia said firmly with a small nod of her head. Hermione felt her eyebrows rise in shock.

"Plans?" Hermione echoed faintly. Cassiopeia smiled at her mother and nodded.

"Oh, yes, Mummy. My first plan was to get a friend that wasn't a boy," Cassiopeia informed her mother. She looked over at her brother and her face softened. "I like to play with the boys, but they don't like to do girl things."

No, they don't," Hermione said drily. She looked over at little Luna Lovegood, who was watching them with wide eyes.

"Hello, Luna," Hermione said softly. Luna's eyes widened in surprise and she moved a little closer.

"How do you know my name?" Luna asked curiously. Hermione glanced around and realized that only 'her' children were near them.

"I'm a Seer," Hermione said gravely, watching for Luna's reaction. She gazed at Hermione in wonder and then turned to Cassiopeia.

"You didn't tell me that part," Luna said with a frown. Cassiopeia shrugged.

"Not s'posed to," Cassiopeia said firmly, "or the bad mens will try to take Mummy away forever and ever."

"Oh," Luna said softly, her eyes swiveling about as though 'bad mens' might jump out from behind the shrubbery to attack Cassiopeia's Mummy. She gave a small 'eep' of terror and hid behind Harry when two large, imposing wizards walked toward them and stood at attention behind Hermione.

"No, those are not the bad men," Harry said disgustedly, dismissing the two wizards with a wave of his hand. "Those are the good wizards, the milites. You show her, Uncle Regulus, please?"

With a sigh of resignation, Regulus undid the first few buttons of his robes and pulled them to the side so that Luna could see the clear paw print on his collarbone. Luna was suitably impressed. Hermione kissed each child on the head with one extra one for Cassiopeia and Cepheus, and then turned to her honor guard. Regulus and Severus were watching the children play fondly, slight smirks on their faces. Hermione frowned darkly.

"What is it?" She demanded in irritation. Their smirks grew wider.

"It's got to drive them crazy," Severus said, satisfaction thick in his voice, "that the kids pretend to be us."

"I didn't know they were doing this, so I doubt Sirius or Jamie know, either," Hermione said primly, shaking out her skirt.

"They will, eventually," Severus said happily. "I only hope I'm there to see it."

"I worry about you," Hermione told him, concern in her hazel eyes. Severus snorted.

"I'm not the one who married Black, now am I?" Severus shot back, a gleam in his dark eyes. Hermione sighed and started toward the school's floo.