The Right by Parks and Fiction Chapter 40 Epilogue 15 years
later, September 1st, 2020. Ivy, watch your trunk.
Pansy called as they strode through King's Cross Station.
Her daughter groaned with all the annoyance of a 13 year old
could muster before she stopped her cart and adjusted it.
This is completely illogical, She said.
We live in Oxmead, why do we have to travel all the way to
London just to get on a train to take us all the way back to
Hogsmeade? Hermione nudged Ivory from where
she was walking with Lyra. Don't tell me you don't like
staying with us for three years in a row.
They'd come down to London a day early to stay with the Granger
Malfoys the night before the train left for Hogwarts.
I love staying with you, but we could have slept in and gone to
Nananar Sisters Library and then flewed home in time to catch the
carriages to Hogwarts. Ivy pouted.
It's about the joy of the adventure.
Neville told her as if that was the right Ave. to take with
their book loving Ravenclaw. You just never know when someone
cute might come knocking at your door asking if you've seen them
Missing Toad. Pansy said.
Ivy groaned again. You tell this story every year.
I like it. Heather said.
Neville beamed at her as he helped her manage her cart.
What story? Scorpius asked.
The story of how your Uncle Neville and Aunt Pansy met.
Hermione said. It's the story of how everyone
met your Uncle Neville and your mummy.
Draco drooled. Hermione looked down at
Scorpius. Your Uncle Neville was the very
first friend I made at Hogwarts. She said.
We sat in the same training compartment and have been best
friends ever since. He frowned.
Can't I just sit by Lyra? I'm going to be with Arthur and
the rest of the second years. Lyra said you might be a
Gryffindor, but we only sit with other Slytherins.
He stuck his nose in the air, looking exactly like his father
had at that age. Mummy is a Gryffindor, you can
sit by me. Heather said.
We can be friends with everybody.
Draco and Hermione exchanged a smirk.
Pansy caught their gazes with a glare that made both of them
school their expression. Oh, I see Pooja picking up her
pace. Ivy raced ahead to greet her
friend Rahul. Heather said before she and
Scorpius followed after their older sister.
Ron and Padma were always the first ones to arrive.
Pansy wondered how Padma was holding up.
She'd hardly been able to talk about Rahul going to Hogwarts
for the first time all summer without tearing up.
Lyra looked around. When is Arthur getting here?
The other two had been nearly inseparable since they were
born. Artie was technically 18 days
older than her, but those 2 1/2 weeks were probably the only
time in his life he had ever had an independent thought.
After that, he simply followed Lyra's lead.
The Potters will be here about one minute before the train
takes off. Draco muttered.
Hermione shot him a sharp look, but Pansy was firmly on Draco's
side. The Potter clan was not known
for their timeliness. There was one more reason they
always stayed with the Granger Malfoys when they were in
London. I'm going to make sure we get a
good compartment, then. Lyra announced, striding forward
towards the barrier. Pansy took the brief pause to
rub her lower back. Neville's hands were there a
moment later, finding the exact right spot to apply pressure,
and she sighed. You know there's a potion for
that. Draco drawled.
And a charm? Hermione offered helpfully.
Fuck off. Pansy said, now that none of the
children were close. She was getting sick of everyone
commenting on the fact that she was pregnant again at 40.
You know that this is Augusta's doing.
Hermione smirked. Maybe Jenny should have given
you both the sex talk years ago if you think that's how
pregnancy happens. She glared at her.
Augusta obviously performed some sort of fertility ritual to
ensure that I gave birth to a male heir.
She and Neville were always so careful most of the time.
It was possible that once or twice a small error had been
made, but it was less embarrassing to blame Augusta,
so that's what she would do. Damn Harridan had been far too
smug when Fancy and Neville had announced the news.
Neville sighed. I've been through all the
Longbottom family spells, and I can say for a fact that no such
family ritual exists because concerned parties never share
family spells with their friends.
Not without living to regret it. Draco muttered.
Pansy and Neville exchanged A smirk before they followed their
children towards the barrier. Platform 9 3/4 was as busy as
ever, students running around and calling out to their friends
that they haven't seen all summer.
Pansy couldn't help but smile as more than one student waved at
or greeted Neville. She walked over to kiss Padma on
both cheeks after Neville got stopped by a group of
Gryffindors. How are you holding up?
Pansy asked her. Don't ask her that.
Ron moaned. Tears welled in Padma's eyes.
He's my baby and he's leaving me.
Just have another one. Pansy turned and saw Jinny
walking towards them with a bright smirk.
James had already disappeared, but Artie went straight for Lyra
while Lily ran to go greet Scorp, Heather and Rahul.
Violet held firmly to her father's hand, watching the
puzzle with wide eyes. She had two years left before
she'd be off on the Hogwarts Express for the first time.
Jinny held her hand as a barrier and leaned towards Padma.
Actually, don't do that. A baby at 40 is wildly
irresponsible. She muttered loudly.
She turned to Pansy with a giant grin.
Hi Pansy. Always good to see you, Ivy.
Pansy called. Come say hi to your grandmother.
Ivy rolled her eyes. I have one grandma and we
visited her yesterday. In addition to Sunday teas, they
always went to see Frank and Alice on special occasions.
Alice absolutely adored her granddaughters.
Her very first smile since her attack had been the moment Pansy
put Ivy in her arms a few hours after she was born.
It's not funny, mum. Ivy snapped before she linked
arms with Pooja and pulled her away from the crush to whisper
together. Goderick.
She's getting sassy. Jinny said with a fond voice.
Pansy smirked. I've never been so proud.
She turned to Ginny and glanced around the platform.
Where are your parents? Ginny cringed.
Dad's parking the car. Don't ask, all right?
If you're a Weasley, Potter, Longbottom, or Malfoy, bring
your trunks over here. Neville's voice carried across
the busy platform. Luckily, he was one of the few
adults they all listened to, and each of them, even James,
scampered to obey him. Pansy smiled to herself as she
watched him heft Lily, Scorpius, Rahul, and Heather onto the
train and their trunks after them.
Violet let go of Harry's hand and ran over to the other
siblings and cousins. She jumped up and down, begging
to get on the train too, so Neville finally lifted her
aboard with a grin. Roxy, Fred and Lalit appeared
from somewhere and Pansy craned her neck to look for George and
Angelina and Parvati and Lee. We can go now, right?
Angelina asked, walking up to the group.
Neb's got this. Don't you want to say goodbye?
Padma's voice cracked on the last word and tears welled in
her eyes. Oh, Padma.
Pavati laughed and wrapped her arms around her twin.
The past two years have been hard enough when it was just
Pooja. But no, Rahul is going too.
Padma sniffed and wiped her tears off her cheeks.
How did you do it last year? Pointed Lillete at the train and
told him to keep an eye on for it.
Asked Pooja if he needs help and not to trust James or do
anything his father would have done.
Parvati said. George and Lee exchanged a look.
That's good advice, George said. Yeah, Lee said.
Although he should do some of the things I did.
Parvati rolled her eyes at him. Like attending most of my
classes. He should go to them all.
Did we miss them? Theo demanded, hurrying towards
the group. Nah, they're just getting
settled into their compartments. Neville said as he finally made
his way over. I told you we have plenty of
time left. Blaise said.
Yeah, well you also said we have to beat the Potters here.
Theo muttered. We got here 22 minutes early.
Harry said. Lyra told Art to set the clocks
20 minutes ahead last night when we were sleeping, Jinny said.
Draco and Hermione both started laughing.
He even got my watch, Harry said.
I still don't know how I was wearing it.
Slytherin, Draco said with no small measure of pride.
The only reason R is a Slytherin is because M comes before P in
the alphabet and Lyra was sorted first.
Jinny said. Keep telling yourself that.
Draco said you birthed A Slytherin.
Jinny glad at him. Could be worse.
George said, smirking directly at Pansy.
You could have given birth to a Hufflepuff.
She has two children left to be sorted.
Pansy said. She might have.
Jinny smirked. Are you saying that the child
that scaled Neville's greenhouse when she was six years old to
scare him through the ceiling is going to be anything other than
a Gryffindor? Or are you suggesting that
Violet is going to be a Hufflepuff over her dead body?
Was any child named after her going to end up anywhere but
Slytherin? Ginny and Harry remain
delightfully naive that her plans to ensure Violet ended up
taking after Artie and not James or Lily.
Molly and Arthur walked over to the group.
Get parked, OK? Hermione asked with trepidation.
Perfectly. Arthur said cheerily.
Only one confondus needed. Molly said.
Ma'am. Jinny said.
Molly ignored her and handed the satchel she was carrying to
Pansy. Here's refills on everything.
I'm going to bless you. There was nothing better than
Molly's home remedies. She leaned closer.
Draco keeps trying to force his apothecary grade potions on me,
and they're absolute rubbish. She had no idea how Hermione
made it through two pregnancies without Molly's assistance.
Worthless, snobbish potions masters.
She'd never asked what was in the potions Molly made, but she
just knew that when she was pregnant with Ivy and unable to
make it out of bed or keep any of her morning appointments,
Molly had appeared in her kitchen, brewed her a special
tea, and she was up on her feet in minutes.
Since then, she'd blindly taken anything the witch had given
her. Molly tutted.
She started to turn towards Draco, but her gaze stopped on
Padma. Oh dear, she's been like this
all morning. Molly squeezed Pansy's hand and
then walked over to pull Padma into a tight hug.
Pansy heard someone yell out about Uncle Theo and in less
than a minute they were mobbed with children as they raced from
their compartments for a round of hugs and sweets slipped into
their pockets from various adults.
Pansy and Neville finally got a moment alone with both of their
daughters. Pansy pulled Ivy into a tight
hug, still amazed that she was almost as tall as she was.
I love you, sweet, she said. Promise your comfort tea each
Hogsmeade weekend. Bring any of your friends maybe,
she said. Some of them think it's weird to
visit their professor's house. My friends loved it.
They looked up and Ivy squealed. Auntie Penelope?
Penelope laughed as Ivy hugged her tightly.
Pansy noticed Penelope slip a coin purse into her robe
pockets. Gives you a good excuse to look
for the answer keys to all his exams.
Ivy pulled back, horrified. But then we don't learn it for
ourselves. Penelope smirked.
Ravenclaw through and through. She kissed her forehead.
Visit your mother, OK? Ivy finally nodded, albeit a bit
begrudgingly. Penelope hugged Heaven Axed,
also passing her a coin purse, Pansy hugged Jacob.
What are you 2 doing here? She asked.
I thought you were flying back from Australia with Teresa and
Richard. Penelope had combined her love
and talent for Herbology with her father's business acumen and
was slowly building a herbology and potion ingredient supply
empire. Jacob shuddered on the muggle
flying death trap? Absolutely not, it's a luxury
private jet. Hermione drawled.
It's horrifying is what it is. Jacob muttered.
Things shouldn't be able to fly without magic.
Penelope smirked at her husband. The trip there didn't go so
smoothly, but I convinced the Porky office to give us an
emergency Porky back to Britain. Who did you bribe in Australia?
Blaise asked. No one.
Penelope started to sniffle. It's just my Muggle parents
changed their plans to extend their trip, and Harry Potter's
children were looking forward to having me see them off at the
Hogwarts Express. Sorry, Yes, I am good friends
with Harry Potter. Why of course, I do happen to
have Hermione Granger's autobiography of the war
autographed by all three members of the Golden Trio.
Would you like a copy? Sounds like a bribe.
Draco drawled. By the way, I have a dozen more
copies in the car that need the three of you to sign before you
head home. Penelope told Hermione.
I thought you were sharing them with friends.
Hermione said, not using them as bribes.
Anyone could be a friend, I just haven't met yet.
Penelope said. When Hermione narrowed her eyes,
Penelope sighed. You know how difficult it can be
to be a muggle porn in this world.
Fine, we'll do it. Hermione snapped.
Penelope smirked proudly before going off to hug the rest of the
kids and slip them galleons. Pansy crouched down to look at
Heather. She started sniffling.
Pansy pulled her into a tight hug.
Don't worry sweetheart, she said.
You're going to make so many friends and have so many
adventures. You know all of your cousins and
have your big sister there and you'll see your dad every single
day. I'm going to miss you.
I don't get Hogsmeade weekends for two years.
She said. Pansy cooked her cheeks.
I'll come to every Quidditch game and your dad will sneak me
into the castle anytime you want, OK?
She nodded but didn't look up from her feet.
What is it sweet? I don't know what house to pick.
She said in a rush. I want to be a Slytherin like
you and a Gryffindor like dad and a Ravenclaw like Ivy.
Pansy cooked her cheeks. The only thing you should be is
yourself, but everyone I know is in Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or a
Slytherin. She said.
What if I get Hufflepuff? Then it's just more friends to
make. She shuffled her feet.
Your Uncle Ron is the only Gryffindor in his family of
Ravenclaws. Your Auntie Hermione is the only
Gryffindor in her family of Slytherins.
Auntie is the only Slytherin in a family of Gryffindors,
depending on how Rahul, Scorp, and Lily were sorted.
But unless there were surprises, their placements almost seemed
like a given. But none of that matters, right?
Heather shook her head. And why not?
She smiled. Because we're all family, and
family is stronger together. Pansy kissed her forehead as the
train's warning whistle sounded. Remember, your daddy and I are
so proud of you and love you more than you will ever know.
She said. And if you do get Hufflepuff, I
will proudly show up to Hogwarts dressed in black and yellow like
a giant bumblebee. Well, mostly black with a pop of
yellow, but it would get the point across.
Heather giggled and flung her arms around her.
Pansy squeezed her tight, feeling tears prick her eyes
before Heather let go. Pansy watched as she ran towards
the train and hopped on. Neville walked up behind her and
wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands on her swollen
belly. A minute later, Heather appeared
at the window, waving frantically with Scorp, Rahul
and Lily practically falling out.
Lily feet on the seat. Jinny yelled.
Ivy and Pooja waved from their compartment.
Down the line. She saw the rest of the familiar
faces beaming and waving at them.
Violet ran after the train, waving at her siblings and
cousins as it took off. She was the last of them to
still be at home. Well, until little Rowan was
born. Pansy sniffed and inhaled
deeply, trying to control her breathing.
Oh no, Jinny said. Not you too.
Pregnancy hormones are a bitch, OK, especially when you're 40.
Jinny said. This is what I get for bribing
the Herbology professor into giving my children good grades.
She said with a sigh. Neville squeezed her hip in
warning and all she could do was giggle as the train slowly
disappeared, all of them waving until there was nothing but
empty tracks. The other adults around them
started apparating away or slipping back through the
platform. You know what I'm excited for?
George asked. The time James teases Heather
one time too many for being a Hufflepuff and she makes him eat
his words. Pansy smirked.
The Sorting could still go anyway.
Heather had also inherited her father's bravery and Pansy's
deviousness. But George was right.
A Hufflepuff with those qualities was going to be a
fearsome sight. Jinny started laughing.
Good, Codrick, she said. Can you imagine what we all
would have done 25 years ago if we found out that Pansy
Parkinson would marry Neville Longbottom and raise a
Hufflepuff? Pansy sighed.
It's our fault she turned out that way.
She said we loved her too much and didn't give her enough
childhood trauma. She brushed away in imaginary
tear as she looked up at a Neville.
We have no one to blame but ourselves.
Going to raise this one in a cupboard under the stairs?
Harry asked, as happy as that would make Augusta.
I was thinking about letting his Uncle Theo and Uncle Blaze raise
him. Hermione snorted.
To be spoiled rotten the whole time.
Exactly. He'll end up just like your
husband. Pansy said.
That sounds insufferable. Neville said.
Yes, but at least he'll be a Slytherin.
Padma finally walked over from where she'd been at the end of
the platform, Molly rubbing her back while Ron chatted with his
father and Violet skipped next to them.
Padma immediately turned to Neville.
Will you write me every single day and tell me Pooja and Rahul
will write to you themselves, He said.
But I promise I will flew you immediately if you need to know
anything important. Parvati grabbed her arm.
Come on, she said if he was paying for brunch.
You'll feel better after a few mimosas.
That's my inheritance you're wasting, Pansy said.
Between your business and the Professor perfume empire over
there, you're going to do just fine yourselves.
Theo said. You're just grumpy because you
can't have a mimosa or caffeine. Violet and I will get our own
special drinks, won't we? Pansy asked her.
She nodded and skipped to hold her hand.
Aunt Pansy, will you bring me to the platform even after Heather
graduates? She squeezed her goddaughter's
hand. I promise.
As if anything could keep her away.
Violet beamed at her and then ran to catch up to Harry.
Pansy paused for a moment at the end of the line to slip back
through the platform to King's Cross and turned back to look at
the empty tracks. You're going to be great.
Neville said. I'll keep my eye on them.
She felt tears well up in her eyes.
It still caught her off guard some days that she didn't have
to worry, that she knew he would always be there for her, for
their girls, for every single person he loved.
She would forever be grateful that she was one of them.
Neville leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, his hand
on the small of her back with a soft, gentle, reassuring
pressure. He gave her a warm smile.
I promise. Thank you for listening to the
Right by Parks and Fiction narrated by me, Briar and Tones.
I absolutely loved this story. It's the longest podfic that
I've done so far, and it's taken us all the way from May to the
end of September. A loss has happened in my life
since then, but I'm glad that I had this story to to see me
through. I really have to thank the
people who've been commenting along the way.
Seeing multiple comments come in has honestly been incredible and
such a wonderful part of this experience.
So thank you to each of you who were following this along.
As a pod fick whip, I massively appreciate you and your
enthusiasm. Thank you to Parks and Fiction
for interestingly with this work.
I hope to record more in this world in the future, but I do
have quite a lot of other fix in the roster before that, so
hopefully you are patient. If you enjoyed this piece of
work, please don't forget to head over to AO3 and give it a
big fat wet kudos. Thank you so much and take care.