Separate Lives

It's the year 2006 and, nine years after the final battle, things have changed. Now a successful business woman, Hermione fights for creature rights and is happily married. Ron, meanwhile, is besotted with his beautiful wife and daughter and is on first-name terms with the Minister for Magic himself, but both have secrets they want to hide. Ginny is newly married to her Hogwarts sweetheart. However, she hasn't spoken to Ron and Hermione in years, and a child will soon enter into her loveless marriage. And then a long-lost stranger turns up on Lupin's doorstep and changes it all. Where has he been? Why does everyone think he's dead? And, most important of all, how will things change now he's back for good?

After waiting on Lupin's doorstep in the cold for quite some time, Harry is finally invited in and catches up with Tonks. However, Harry gets the distinct impression that not everyone is happy to see him. The next morning, Hermione is due at the Wizengamot, representing a House Elf who she believes was wrongly given clothes. At the end of an interesting trial with surprising results, she sees what she can only assume to be a ghost. Is she seeing things? Or is Harry Potter back for real?

The morning after Harry arrives, he isn't making himself popular with Lupin. Tonks is more receptive and fills Harry in on the past eight years. Where has Harry been? What made everyone think he was dead? Who survived the war and who didn't? Most important of all, Tonks shows Harry a crucial Prophet article that will shape his plans.