Beta: Cloudy

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

"I have one week to plan this," said Tom as more fireworks exploded above us. "So I need you to cooperate."

"Sure," I said.

"You have until the end of the night to pick out your bridesmaids and tell me," he said. "Then you spend the rest of the week preparing for your wedding dress. That's it."

"Really?"

"Yes. I'll coordinate the rest," said Tom.

"Okay," I said with a smile. "Guess I'll go hunt down some lucky pals after the fireworks."

"Sounds good," said Tom.

As everyone I wanted to ask was still at the party—and wanted to congratulate me on my impromptu engagement—I had a pretty easy time. Naturally, I asked all my lady babeh snakes plus Hermione and they agreed without fuss. I did choose Daphne to be my Maid of Honor, and the heiress enthusiastically hugged me.

I'd like to say the rest of the week was a blur of planning and stress.

But it wasn't.

Not for me, at least.

Per our agreement years prior, Tom was determined to plan the whole ordeal within a week. The day after our graduation party, I went dress shopping with my babehs plus Sirius and Remus. Sirius was determined to buy the dress for me, and Remus was there because he was an excellent uncle and wanted to show support.

Daphne, Pansy, and Tracey already had an excellent idea at what I would look good in. It was only a matter of finding the store that could have it ready on time.

I didn't have much of an inherent fashion instinct and they did excellent in picking my Yule dress so I mostly left it to them. They did keep insisting I provide input but to be honest after trying on the thirteenth dress they all kind of blurred together. I couldn't even tell the difference between ivory and bridal ivory, but they insisted there was a huge difference.

I felt like they were pulling a prank on me, but Daphne wasn't the type to kid around when it came to appearances.

Once we found the dress, got it fitted, and had an impromptu bridal shower, I got to relax for the rest of my week.

And watch Tom run around like headless chicken.

He didn't bother consulting me over anything—he knew what I liked. The man had literally been inside my head. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if he regularly read my mind. I knew he used Legilimency out of habit, after all.

As he was so frantically busy, we didn't have a chance to casually speak until the day before.

"I prepared our wedding in a week," said an utterly exhausted Tom as he slouched in his recliner. "Admit defeat."

"I admit it," I said cheerfully, brushing out my hair for bedtime.

"Why do you look so happy after losing?" asked Tom with narrowed eyes.

"I got you to plan an extremely stressful event within a week while I got to sit around and relax," I chortled. "You did all the hard work for me. Thanks, dear."

"You—you manipulated me."

"Yes."

Tom stared at me in utter disbelief.

I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Thanks for being such a champ, honey."

"Damn you," he whispered softly, closing his eyes in resignation for his loss.

I hummed happily.

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

And then it was time.

The morning of the wedding, Sil and Kreacher prepared a lovely breakfast for me. Tom was already gone by the time I woke up, but that was fine because I knew I'd see him later.

Sirius came by to pick me up. We spent the rest of the morning and afternoon relaxing as he took me to various spas to treat my skin and hair. We had a light lunch, and then my bridesmaids swept me away back to the village and into a dressing room.

We lounged as we drank champagne, snacked, and slowly prepared for the wedding.

It wouldn't start until 8:30 pm so we had plenty of time.

At around 7, Daphne started working on my hair.

Daphne softened my curls, then gently weaved blue roses into a single braid across my hair in the back. She pulled some of my bangs forward and toyed with them until they were perfectly curled. As she worked on my hair, Pansy did my nails. She picked out a shiny white polish, adding a glittering finish on top.

Once my makeup and hair was done, it was time to slip into the dress they had picked out for me.

It was an a-line style pure-white satin wedding dress with a starry design similar to what I wore to the Yule Ball. The bodice had an intricate design, and it left my shoulders completely bare. We found an accompanying veil that trailed to my knees. I shimmied into it from the bottom up so as to not mess with my hair or make up.

Then Tracey dusted my shoulders with a glimmering highlight just as the flowers for us had arrived.

My bridal bouquet was made up of blue roses, white hydrangeas, and baby blue eucalyptus. I didn't know all the details about the wedding, but Tom insisted blue roses be a part of its design. When asked, he pointed out that it was the first flower he had ever given me.

That made me go all ooey gooey inside and I mumbled something incoherent as I blushed.

The bridesmaid bouquets were made up of white hydrangeas, baby eucalyptus, and one blue rose in the center.

At 8:30 pm I could hear orchestral music begin to play. My maids left to meet with Tom's chosen groomsmen, and Sirius arrived to escort me.

At 9 on the dot, I left my dressing room and stepped out to see the outdoor wedding Tom had prepared.

It was enough to take my breath away.

The once empty lot had transformed into a starry wonderland. There were these gloriously sparkling bubbles that lazily floated around and seemed to be filled with dozens of tiny twinkling stars. The trees had been covered in fairy lights, and someone had charmed the area to subtly sparkle like softly falling snowflakes. Rows upon rows of hundreds of faces sat on either side a long aisle of blue rose petals.

And at the end of that aisle were my dear friends and family, and Tom.

Upon my arrival, everyone stood up.

Sirius gripped my arm tightly, leaning in to whisper in my ear, "You say the word and I drop a box of exploding dung and we run for it."

"You drop any such thing at my wedding and I'll kick your shins so hard they'll be bruised for a year," I whispered back.

"Stinker."

"That would be you carrying around that stuff," I said.

The music picked up, a lovingly sweet symphony striking up a familiar tune of Merry Go Round of Life.

Step by step, Sirius guided me down the aisle. I felt the petals squish underneath me, soft and springy. Each step I took the air filled with their floral scent, intermingling with the tantalizing scents that wafted from my bridal bouquet.

It was a long walk—we had several hundred guests, after all—and yet it was over in a blink of an eye.

Although Anyo wore his mask, I could feel him smile at us behind it.

"Good evening everyone," said Anyo. "Friends and family who have come to celebrate this joyous day with Rosie and Tom. Today, we thank you for being here with us to share in this momentous occasion. You may be seated.

"I have been blessed with the good fortune of seeing these two together for some years now," said Anyo. "I have lived for centuries, and seen many unions come together and fall apart. But when I watch these two, I know they can stand the test of time, for I can only see pure, warm, kind love between them.

Tom's lips twitched at that.

"Who gives this bride today?" asked Anyo.

"I do," said Sirius, kissing my cheek before letting me go. He took his seat at the front, next to Remus who was already crying.

"If there is anyone in attendance who has cause to believe that this couple should not be joined in marriage, you may speak now and be torn limb from limb," said Anyo, eliciting a hundred agreeing growls from my fantastic worgen army that I so adored.

"Excellent choice," continued Anyo. "If you would now, before these witnesses, give your vows as an opportunity to express your love."

"I," said Tom, "will take you as my wife for now and always. I will be at your side, helping you through any capacity you require. You will never be alone. And I vow to always let you steal the covers, you blanket hog."

I snorted, a small giggle escaping me. "I will take you as my husband for now and always. I will always love you, and provide you with my warmth and affection. You will never have an opportunity to feel unloved. And I vow to call you well-presented instead of adorable even if you are absolutely adorable."

"The rings," intoned Anyo, which immediately caused all the bridesmaids and groomsmen to conjure Patronuses and—

There was a chill in the air as a lone dementor drifted down to present a decaying pillow with two rings atop it.

"Booboo," I whispered as I took one ring, and Tom took the other.

Booboo wiggled his fingers then drifted back up into the air to not disturb the other guests who weren't immune to a dementor's presence.

"Do you, Tom, promise to honor Rosie in love, to be sensitive to her needs, to comfort her in difficulty, and put your complete trust in her so long as you both shall live?"

"I do," said Tom as he slipped the ring on my finger.

"Do you, Rosie, promise to honor Tom in love, to be sensitive to his needs, to comfort him in difficulty, and to put your complete trust in him so long as you both shall live?"

"I do," I promised, slipping the ring on Tom's finger.

"It is now my deepest honor to pronounce you both husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Tom gently lifted my veil, cupped my face in his hands, and pressed his warm lips against mine.

Anyo raised his hands and all of our guests clapped as the music swelled in the air.

"Okay, party part two!" I said cheerfully. "I'm getting wasted."

"I'll have the hangover potion prepped," said Tom with a smile.

"I love you."

"I know."

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows after graduation.

Tom and I were on a deadline, and I had to prepare for my departure.

When I originally told Harry, I gave him permission to tell his friends so he would have an immediate support group to help him through this. I did not want him to suffer alone, and I knew my dear brother would not have an easy time.

Consequently, Hermione already knew my plans. I was able to persuade her into accepting binding Sil to her.

She was inherently against the idea of owning a House Elf, but I needed someone to take care of Sil for me. After extensively researching House Elf biology, Hermione had come to intimately understand how dangerous and traumatic abruptly freeing an elf could be.

We had not found a cure—and I doubted we would find one before I had to go—but I knew Hermione would find the answer eventually. She was a brilliant witch and I would give her all the resources she needed to succeed. When we left, I would leave behind my house at Lunar's Orchid for her, complete with all of our researching materials and laboratories.

I had already discussed all of this with her, so she knew what to expect.

The next people I talked to about this were Fenrir, Anyo, and Dumbledore.

Dumbledore was kind about it. He listened patiently and offered his assistance in any capacity. Tom was surprisingly gracious about it, even inviting Dumbledore to look over our work which Dumbledore accepted.

Anyo and Fenrir were hard to get through. I invited them over for tea, and ended up crying halfway through. Tom finished explaining for me—obviously no one could know the real reason we were going back was to fix his soul, so we used our cover story of wanting to go back in time to fix "regrets" we had—and by the end of it, Fenrir pulled me into a tight hug.

"I'm going to miss you," I sniffled as he hugged me.

"I'll miss yeh too," he mumbled. "We'll see each other again, though."

"Yeah?"

"This friendship's too good for jus' one life," he promised me.

"I do hope you will find me again in your new timeline," added Anyo. "Both of you."

"We will," said Tom. "Thank you."

Half of my funds would go to Fenrir to be used at Lunar's Orchid. Fenrir was doing an excellent job managing it, and I knew it would be in good hands with him in charge. He and Berit worked as an excellent team, after all, and what they couldn't handle Anyo could.

My babeh snakes were next up on the list and wow a lot of tears were shed there. Pansy was the first to start crying and somehow all of them started to cry and then I started to sob and it was... it was emotionally draining.

But we hugged in the end as Theodore rasped out one last, "Long live the Queen."

And lastly, and most painfully, I had to talk to Sirius and Remus.

That was... That was not an easy conversation. Harry was there to support me, and even then—

Even then—

It was hard.

A lot of tears were shed. Hurtful words thrown about.

We hurt each other a lot that day, and it took months for the wounds to heal enough that we could be in the same room without arguing.

It helped, I think, that they knew they couldn't stop me.

It was better to cherish our time together while we could, and not leave it spent in anger and misery.

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

Death was not the end.

It was merely a change in scenery, a transition in the story.

I knew one day I would have had to say goodbye to them. We were not immortal. The story had to come to a close.

I thought it would be in my old age when death would come to kindly greet me again.

But it was fine like this as well.

Because goodbyes were temporary.

This was not the end.

Merely a transition—a pause in our story.

I would meet them again, and I love them all the same. We would experience life together, and I would do everything in my power to make it that much sweeter for them.

As Rosie Potter, or Rosie Riddle, or maybe even as someone else entirely.

Wherever their souls ended up, or wherever mine ended up—

We would find each other again, and again, and again—

I knew that in my heart, in my soul.

It hurt to say goodbye, but it was not debilitating, because I had absolute faith in that.

In us.

And so, December 30th, 2001, Tom and I met with all of our friends and family in our backyard at Lunar's Orchid for one final time.

There was a ritual circle engraved into the grass with dozens upon dozens of magical stones laid atop the designs.

I was dressed in a simple robe. Within the hour, it would be time to start the ritual, so now was the time for our temporary goodbyes.

"I love you," I whispered to Harry as I hugged him tightly.

"I never doubted that," he told me. "So never doubt that I love you just as much."

We smiled at each other.

"I'll see you again," he promised me.

"I'll be waiting," I assured him. "Take care of him, okay?"

Daphne and Draco each gripped Harry's shoulders, both of them wiping away at their own tears.

"We will," Daphne promised.

"He'll be spoiled like royalty," joked Draco.

I turned to Sirius next, who pulled me into a bone-crushing hug.

"Raising you and Harry was the greatest thing to have ever happened to me," he told me. "I am so proud of you, princess. I love you more than—more than—more than I could ever put into words."

Sniffling, I squeezed him back tightly. "I love you so much, Paddy. You were—you are the best godfather anyone could ask for. And while you aren't James, I—I love you like a father."

"I know princess."

Then it was Remus's time. He looked at me with glistening eyes as he pulled me into his own hug. We didn't need to speak because we already knew how much we loved each other.

One by one I hugged all of my loved ones. Fenrir started to cry, but the worgen wished me all the best nonetheless. Dumbledore was one of the few ones there who didn't cry for which I was grateful.

"Do take care," said Dumbledore.

"We will," Tom promised him.

I pulled Iris off my shoulders to give her to Fenrir.

"Baby girl, hold on for just a few minutes," I cooed to Iris. "I'll bring you with me shortly."

"Be safe, Mommy," she hissed at me, kissing my cheek with her tongue.

"As safe as I can be, baby girl."

"It's time," said Tom, holding out a hand to me. I accepted his hand, and the two of us stepped into the circle.

"Goodbye," I told everyone with a wobbly smile.

"For now," said Harry.

"For now," I agreed.

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

Blinding white light pierced my vision. Even with my eyes squeezed shut, the light shone through. Sensation was lost, a weightlessness lifting my body. I was carried away in a breeze as indescribable sounds bounced in my head.

It was not painful, that transition.

I could not tell you how long it lasted. It simultaneously felt like hours and yet it was over in a second.

The first thing I felt was my bare feet sinking into something crunchy and cold. A shiver ran through me, and I opened my eyes to stare up at a dark, cloudy night sky. My breath trailed up into the cold night.

"It worked?" spoke a small voice.

I looked to my left, finding myself staring at a baby-faced Tom in thin, raggedy clothes. He was marveling at his tiny little hands. My eyes roamed to my own body and—

"Oh dear," I said, sneezing as I realized I was a very naked kiddo.

The process of re-assimilation appeared to have worked, but the cloak I had worn did not survive the process.

Tom noticed, quickly pulling off his jacket and scarf to wrap me up. We both sneezed after a very strong wind blew through, picking up the surrounding snow.

"Let's get you out of the snow," he said, glancing around. "If I can find a rock, I can transfigure you some shoes."

"Don't," I said. "We shouldn't use magic so soon. We need to wait an hour, remember?"

"But..."

I sneezed again. "Is the orphanage far?"

"No," he said with a grimace. He turned around and squatted. "Here."

"Think you can?" I asked uneasily. Tom looked pretty malnourished.

"I'll be fine," he said. "You're a lot smaller than me, and it's just to the orphanage."

"Okay," I said, carefully climbing onto his back. He hooked his arms under my legs and started to trudge through the snow. I buried my nose into his neck, breathing in his familiar scent.

Despite how chilly we were, it was hard not to smile.

"We... really did it, huh?" I mumbled.

"Yeah," he said. "We did."

"Whole new life ahead of us."

"Yes."

"I'm glad I can spend it with you."

"... As am I."

"Tom?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Could you hold on for a second? I want to tug the coat down to cover my butt."

"Yes, dear."

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

We made it to the orphanage five minutes later. As it was well past midnight—there was a clock in the front room—no one noticed the two children sneaking in. Tom guided me through the creaky halls and into his bedroom where he shut the door. He sat on his bed with a sigh, and I climbed onto the bed next to him.

Despite being inside, I couldn't stop shivering. The orphanage clearly didn't have a heater. Tom started to wrap the surrounding blankets around us. I noticed he was shivering as well.

"Good thing I'm a heater," I said, curling into his arms and hugging him tightly.

He rested his cheek atop my head. "I'm quite grateful for it now. Less so in the summer."

"Heheh," I chuckled, closing my eyes. "Rest for a bit?"

"For a bit," he agreed. "Then we'll need to move. We'll have to prepare for our return to Hogwarts."

"Mm... Tom?"

"Yes, Rosie?"

"I love you."

Tom leaned down, bumping his forehead against my own and brushing his nose against mine. His cinnamon eyes filled with warmth like a cup of hot tea on a chilly day.

"Rosie?" he whispered.

"Mm-hmm?"

"I love you, too."

(≖‿‿≖)ノ⌒●~*

Bucket List Completed:

70. Be happy with your life. Have no regrets.

ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ

Applause for Candy (@Cantrona on Instagram) for some bomb-ass final scene artwork. Just... *chef's kiss* beautiful!!

:)

This is my ending.

In a couple days I will upload the final chapters. This will include Bonus scenes (post time travel), the official Bucket List (and the new one created), and a Q&A.

If ya'll have any (sfw & nsfw) questions for Rosie & the HP gang feel free to ask now and they'll respond in character for the last chapter. Unless it's something they'd never admit to, in which case I'll respond.

The real reason I took the break was to try and work on the Tom&Dumbledore scene, but every time I tried, my mind kinda blanked out. After a month+ of trying, I realized it just wasn't happening yet, and I didn't want to put an entire story on hiatus for one scene.

Reviews are love!