Don't play the song just yet!

"Alright, are we sure we have everything?"

Hermione checked Cassie's trunk and bags for all of her equipment one more time before finally setting the list down. Then she smiled over at her daughter who was trying to wrangle her mess of curly, brown hair into a messy bun in her vanity mirror.

"Mum, I don't know how you did this all the time," Cassie groaned. After a few minutes of struggling she finally managed to pull her hair back and sighed, shaking her arms out. "I might just keep my hair down all the time."

"At least for potions you'll want to have it up," Hermione smiled. "Here, I've charmed a whole package of hair ties so that they don't break and you'll never lose them."

"That's going to be nice!" Cassie took the pack and put it in the front pocket of her backpack. "Especially since Jinx likes to steal them!"

There was a chuckle from the doorway and they both turned to see Draco leaning against the doorframe. He smiled and said, "I still can't believe we let you name your cat Jinx."

Cassie smirked, which Hermione still believed made her look almost exactly like Draco. While she had gotten her mother's mess of brown curls, nearly everything else came from Draco. She had the high cheek bones of the Malfoys and that infamous smirk, and when it was paired with her stormy grey eyes, everyone knew she was up to mischief. Draco, of course, was completely oblivious to it as she was his little angel.

"There are plenty of other things I could have named him," Cassie retorted. "Aunt Ginny told me about a certain nickname of yours from school, dad."

Hermione snickered while Draco looked mortified. "The longer she spends married to Blaise, the more Slytherin she becomes."

He pushed off the doorway and slowly walked into the room with his hands in his pockets, eyeing the black trunk on his daughter's bed and her backpack. It was amazing how quickly eleven years went by. Of course, it had nearly been twelve, since she turned eleven after the previous school year had started, same with her cousins. Well, Sera and Nathan were nearly cousins to Cassie and Scorpius, their nine-year-old son.

Draco sighed. She was going to be twelve this year, and he was going to miss her birthday for the first time since she would be at Hogwarts for it. Maybe McGonagall would allow them to come visit her for her birthday.

"Alright, have you found Jinx yet?" Hermione asked, putting a hand on Cassie's shoulders.

"Not yet, I wanted to save him for last since he doesn't really like the carrier," Cassie said.

"I'm sure he's off chasing Godric somewhere," Draco said with a grin. "You can let him out of his carrier as soon as you get into your compartment, but make sure you don't let him out of the compartment."

"Mum!"

Their nine-year-old son, Scorpius, ran into the room looking rather distressed. "Mum, I can't find my new blazer!"

"What do you need your blazer for?" Hermione chuckled. "You look fine just how you are!"

"I need to make a good first impression!" Scorpius said proudly. "What if my mate is at the train station?"

Cassie rolled her eyes slightly at her brother. "You won't know who they are until you turn, Scorp."

"That doesn't mean I can't try to look good for them even if I don't know who they are!" Scorpius stuck his tongue out at his sister and Draco laughed, ruffling his son's hair.

"You've been spending too much time with your Uncle Blaise," Draco stated, shaking his head. "Come on, I'll help you find your blazer, Scorp."

The two of them left, leaving just Hermione and Cassie in the room. Cassie watched quietly as her mother rechecked her list once more, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

"Mum?" Cassie asked suddenly.

Hermione looked up and smiled at her daughter. "Yes, dear?"

Cassie hesitated, picking at her fingers in nervousness. "What if no one at school likes me?"

Hermione shook her head slightly, smiling as she sat down on the edge of the bed and taking her daughter's hands. "Cassie, you're going to make some of your best friends at Hogwarts. Don't worry about that. And if anything, you'll have Sera and Nathan."

"But what if I'm not in the same house as either of them?" She asked, looking at her mother with uncertainty.

Chuckling, Hermione said, "That doesn't mean you won't see them. The three of you are in the same year, so you'll most likely have classes together. I had classes with your father every single year and we were in rival houses."

"Sera's worried she's going to be in Gryffindor while Nathan and I will be in Slytherin," Cassie admitted, looking away. "I don't want her to be alone."

"You know you can request a particular house," Hermione said, catching her daughter's attention.

"Really?" Cassie asked.

Hermione nodded. "That's what your Uncle Harry did. The hat wanted to put him in Slytherin, and he asked for Gryffindor. Now, you'll most likely be sorted first, since your last name is before theirs alphabetically. But I wouldn't worry too much about the three of you being separated. Besides, since your mothers are both in Gryffindor and your fathers are Slytherin, there's a good chance you can end up in either of those."

Cassie smiled and nodded. "Thanks, mum."

Hermione leaned over to kiss her daughter's forehead before standing up. "Alright, we should probably get you to King's Cross so you can find a good compartment. Go round up Jinx before he gives Godric and Salazar heart attacks."

Ginny and Blaise were both waiting patiently at the barrier next to platform nine at King's Cross. Sera and Nathan were checking their bags a few feet away for the hundredth time, talking quietly amongst each other. They were receiving odd looks from passing muggles and other wizarding families disappearing into the platform, but they all ignored the looks as they waited for the Malfoys to get there before crossing over.

Making her way over to her children, Ginny smiled and said, "Now, don't forget to send a letter immediately to your uncles after you're sorted. They're waiting to find out, just like the rest of us."

"Do you think we'll be in Gryffindor like you?" Sera asked excitedly.

"Or in Slytherin like dad?" Nathan followed up.

Ginny chuckled. "Honestly, I can see the two of you going in either house."

"But either way," Nathan looked at his sister.

"We'll end up together, right?" Sera completed the sentence.

Ginny looked between the two of them, sighing. "You two have too much of your uncles in you."

The twins grinned at each other and pulled their backpacks over their shoulders. Ginny went back to Blaise and shook her head. "McGonagall's going to have a fun time with the two of them."

He laughed. "If anything, she'll get a flashback to your twin brothers."

Ginny gave him a sad smile and he pulled her in for a hug, kissing the top of her head. "Don't worry, they'll be just fine."

Blaise checked his watch one more time and sighed.

Rolling her eyes, Ginny said, "They'll be here very soon, Blaise."

"We all agreed to meet up fifteen minutes before the train was supposed to leave," Blaise answered. "It's almost fifteen minutes on the dot."

There were two small pops behind them and Blaise jumped, turning to see a grinning Hermione and Draco. He scowled at them and looked down at his watch before muttering, "Always have to make an entrance."

Ginny smacked his arm and kneeled down, holding her arms out to Cassie and Scorpius. The two Malfoy children both ran and gave her a large hug, nearly knocking her over.

"Careful now!" Hermione laughed. "Don't hurt your Aunt Ginny; she's got a big match in a few days!"

"Will you send us a gift from Egypt?" Scorpius asked excitedly as they both pulled away.

"Now Scorp, you know better than to ask for presents," Draco scolded gently.

Scorpius hung his head and said quietly, "Sorry, Aunt Ginny."

Ginny laughed and gave him a wink, which he immediately lit up at before racing back to Hermione. Cassie was already talking to Sera and Nathan, who were just a few feet from their parents with their trunks. The twins both smiled and waved at Hermione and Draco who had made their way over to the small group along with Ginny and Blaise.

"How are my godchildren?" Hermione asked, wrapping them both up in a hug.

"We're good!" They answered in unison.

Hermione took a step back and looked at both of them, smiling. It amazed her how much they had grown, with Nathan looking more like Blaise every day. They both had freckles like Ginny and Sera's hair had a touch of red when it glinted in the sunlight, but they had their father's smile. Sera's skin was still a little darker than Nathan's, and he was already taller than her and Cassie, which he would always point out in arguments with the girls.

"I can't believe we're already sending you three off to Hogwarts," Hermione said in astonishment as she stepped back.

Draco wrapped an arm around her shoulder and smiled. "Alright, we should probably start getting you three ready to go."

"I want to help!" Scorpius exclaimed, grabbing Cassie's backpack and flinging it over his shoulder.

He nearly fell backwards though at the weight of the pack, and Draco laughed as he helped his son up. "Alright Scorp; Cassie needs her backpack but why don't you help me with her trunk?"

Scorpius grinned and went behind the cart that carried his sister's trunk, putting his hands on the bar. Draco went behind him and was able to steer, since Scorpius couldn't see over the top of everything and Draco led them towards the platform barrier.

"See you on the other side," He said to the others. Then he and Scorpius started to jog towards the barrier, running through it and disappearing.

The three children all stared at the barrier in shock. Ginny laughed and put her hands on her kids' shoulders. "Alright, you don't have to run through it, but don't be afraid. Just go for a jog and keep going through it! Draco will meet you three on the other side, and we'll be right behind you!"

Nathan took his sister's hand, and Sera in turn reached out for Cassie. The three of them formed a line and ran through the barrier together, disappearing. Blaise chuckled and said, "Yeah, those three will all be in the same house."

Hermione and Ginny both laughed as Hermione said, "That would certainly be interesting."

"I don't know honestly if they will be," Ginny admitted. "Sera's got too much of me in her and Nathan's got so much of Blaise. And Cassie's the smartest of the three of them; for all we know, she could wind up in Ravenclaw."

"Don't worry," Hermione said reassuringly as they walked to the barrier. "Either way, they will be just fine."

Go start the song in the header, lovelies :)

They each crossed through the barrier onto Platform 9 ¾, sighing as they saw the bright crimson engine in front of them. Draco and the children were not too far off, and he waved them over.

"Does everyone still have everything?" Hermione asked as they stopped.

"Yes!"

Hermione's stomach was in knots and Draco immediately felt it. He sighed and wrapped an arm around her lower back, pulling her closer to say quietly in her ear, "They'll be alright, love."

She gave him a weak smile and nodded but didn't say anything in response, pulling away to check over Cassie again. She gave her daughter a long hug and then reluctantly let go so Cassie could give Draco a hug. Hermione saw Draco say something quietly to his daughter, who smiled up and him and he kissed the top of her head before letting go.

Ginny and Blaise were also saying goodbye to their twins. Blaise had wrapped Sera up into a tight hug and wasn't ready to let go, while Ginny was fixing Nathan's clothes. The loud whistle of the train made everyone jump and scramble to get everything together.

"Bye, sis!" Scorpius exclaimed, giving Cassie a hug.

She laughed and return his hug. "Bye, Scorp. I'll see you at Christmas!"

"Blow up a potion for me!" He grinned as he pulled away.

"Don't blow up a potion, sweetheart," Hermione said as they all walked towards the train.

Cassie giggled and grabbed Jinx's carrier, following Nathan and Sera who waited patiently for her. The three of them turned around one last time and waved before getting onto the train and disappearing for a few moments, only to reappear as one of the compartment windows opened.

"Bye, kids!" Ginny called out. "Don't forget to tell us what houses you are sorted in to!"

"And watch out for Peeves!" Hermione called out, making everyone around her laugh.

The three kids all continued to wave as the train slowly began to move, and everyone else continued to wave back until the train was out of sight.

"Alright, so fifteen galleons they all end up in Slytherin?" Blaise announced, looking at the others.

They were all met with laughter and Ginny said, "George has ten on them being split up between Gryffindor and Slytherin."

"Ooh, but who goes to which house?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow. "For sure, Cassie is going into Slytherin."

Hermione shook her head. "Just because you said that, she's going into Hufflepuff."

The mortified look on Draco's face was enough for Hermione to burst out laughing, having to bend down with her hands on her knees. Ginny and Blaise were also laughing hard, as Scorpius gave them a confused look.

"What's wrong with Hufflepuff?" He asked, looking up at his father.

Hermione wiped away a tear and kneeled down to take her son's hands. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with Hufflepuff; your father just happens to not take teasing very well."

"Oh, okay!" Scorpius grinned and jumped up and down. "So when do I get to go to Hogwarts, mum!"

"Here in a couple years, Scorp," Ginny answered, giving him a side hug. "But until then, you get to hang out with us!"

The five of them slowly made their way back to the barrier, but Hermione paused and turned back around, looking out at the tracks with a sigh.

"Everything alright, love?" Draco asked from behind her.

She looked at him and nodded before turning away again. "It's just all gone by so quickly. They're going to find out tonight where they belong, they'll make lifelong friends. Maybe even find their mates."

Draco smiled and wrapped his arms around her, laying her head against his chest. "And they're going to have some of the best memories. Merlin knows I did."

Hermione smiled at this, looking up at him. "I did too."

He gave her a quick kiss before pulling away and giving her arms a squeeze. "Come on; Blaise, Ginny, and Scorp are all waiting on the other side."

Hermione  nodded  and  followed  him  back  to  the  barrier,  watching  him  go  through  first.  She  turned  around  one  last  time,  gazing  at  the  empty  tracks  and  smiled  at  the  thought  of  all  the  happy  memories  she  had  there,  before  turning  back  and  stepping  through  the  wall.

A/N: Guys, I'm actually tearing up as I write this, mainly because I'm actually really sad to end this part of this set of books (plus the ending theme song I added doesn't help but it's self-indulgent nostalgia and we all cried at the end of the first movie). Of course, I will be continuing on with the stories of the three children after the holidays, and I will make the announcement when I start writing them because I know you all are asking for more of this particular universe :) Thank you all for joining me on this journey of books, your love and support means so much to me and I hope you all enjoy my future novels as much as you have these two! I love you all so much, and I promise to continue on with the next generation! <3

Edit: Next Generation novel is up and can be found on my profile for those readers not following me! The title is Unexpectedly :) love you all!