I am so sorry for the delay. My semester ended, I moved and started working. I promise I am much more sorted now!

"What are we planning on doing for Christmas this year, dad?" Katrina asked her father. The Malfoy family members were currently in their den, cozying up for a family night. Usually, their weekend evenings consisted of games or movies. Hermione's muggle roots shone through in their den, as they had a grand television stand in the corner of the big room, a large sofa and lounge chairs in front of it. They had made this room as comfortable as possible, a place where all of them, or them as individuals, could go to if they wanted some peace and quiet away from the living room.

Draco and Hermione usually came to this room in the night when the kids were in bed, to relax before going up to their own bedroom. The three kids would play in here or watch movies with Missy on the weekends. Even Lucius had taken to the muggle movies, after some encouraging of course. While he grew to love Hermione as a daughter and watched as his son's family grew, it still took him a while to get used to muggle inventions, as he was raised to hate them.

"Well, pumpkin, I think we just plan on going to grandpa and grandmas. I don't think we have anything entirely too specific planned, right dear?" Draco turned to ask Hermione.

She shook her head but shrugged. "I haven't heard anything from your parents, but who knows? Last year was a little surprise, thinking it was going to be a family event and instead, finding out the Notts and the Zabinis were coming as well."

The previous Christmas, Draco and Hermione expected the holiday break to just be family. It was, for the most part, however, a couple days before Christmas, Draco's parents surprised them by saying they invited the other families to join them at the Manor as well. Not that anyone complained, as there was more than enough room for all four couples, as well as the children, and they all considered each other family anyways.

"Maybe they'll surprise us with a trip or something!" Their daughter exclaimed, going on to say how leaving home would be fun.

"Now don't go expecting anything from your grandparents, love. Whatever we all do will be lovely because we'll all be with each other, now how is that?" Hermione smiled down at her daughter, being stern but not too intense.

Katrina nodded, and just as quickly as the conversation began it ended, as she walked over to pick a movie. Serena followed along, intent to voice her opinion on what they would be watching. Scorpius was having a tired night it seemed, as he was currently pressed against Draco's side, his eyelids only half open.

As they settled in to watch the movie, which was Beauty and the Beast, much to Hermione's delight, they heard a light tapping sound.

"Oh, that might be Harry responding," Hermione sighed. She got up, careful not to disturb Scorpius, and headed to their small owlery. There she saw Hedwig, perched and waiting patiently. Upon Hermione entering the room, he made a small noise, which Hermione took as recognition for who she was. It had after all been many years since she had last seen the bird.

She smiled, taking the letter and softly scratching Hedwig on the head before giving her a treat. Content with her job, Hedwig flew off into the night.

Hermione opened the envelope as she headed back to the den, sitting down in her spot and pulling out the note.

Hermione,

Thank you for reaching out to me, I really do appreciate it. All he said was that he left to stay with a friend, but we had no idea who he meant. I contacted as many of his friends that I knew about but had no luck.

Would tomorrow work for you? I'd like to see him as soon as possible. I can come by around noon if that is alright. Let me know.

Thank you again,

Harry

His note was kind and concise, much like her own. She guessed that was how tomorrow would go as well.

"Would tomorrow at noon be okay with you, Draco?"

He looked at her, nodding. "Of course," he said softly. "Although, would you like me to leave? To make the conversation easier?"

Hermione shook her head, her voice determined when she spoke. "Not at all. I want you here, as well as the kids. Even though I don't hold much anger towards them for not trusting me all those years ago, I still have a part of me that wants to show them I knew what I was doing."

He grinned, winking at her. "That's so Slytherin of you, you conniving little witch."

"Well there had to be some part of me that was Slytherin to attract a true snake like yourself," she shot back at him.

He smiled, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. "Oh, I'm sure I would have fallen with or without your Slytherin traits."

She rolled her eyes, cuddling up next to him and relaxing with the kids for the remainder of the film. When they neared the end, she noticed that Scorp was fast asleep next to Draco, and the two girls were leaning against the couch at their feet, nodding off every few minutes.

"I think it's time we all went to bed," Hermione whispered, turning off the movie before moving down to pick up Serena, motioning for Katrina to follow.

"But the movie…" the older girl muttered, slowly shuffling along behind her mother.

Draco smiled, picking up his son before falling the rest of his family out of the room.

After he and Hermione got the kids settled and in bed, they headed into their room and Hermione sat down at the desk to reply to Harry. After telling him that tomorrow at noon would be fine, she gave him the coordinates for their home so he would know where to apparate. Afterward, she quickly went off to send the letter before joining Draco back in their room.

She crawled into bed, immediately curling up alongside him with her head on his chest. He was laying on the bed with one arm behind his head, the other wrapped around Hermione's shoulders. "So," he looked down at her, speaking softly. "Are you nervous for tomorrow?"

She shrugged her shoulders, sighing. "Not particularly... it just will be weird. Him coming here, for the first time in all of these years."

"I'm sure Potter will be on his best behavior," Draco murmured. He never liked the way Hermione's friends started to keep their distance after she made it known what she was doing with her life, both with Draco and work. It wasn't like he got on well with Potter and Weasley, to begin with, but after the war, he tried his best to remain neutral toward them, for Hermione's sake.

However, he found that hard to do after a while, after seeing her break down at her loss of friendships. Those rare moments where her emotional wall fell apart and her emotions took over. When he had to hold her and promise her it wasn't her fault, that she wasn't being selfish by doing what made her happy. That her friends, who supposedly loved and supported her, should have remained by her side, even if they didn't trust her.

So now, after twelve years, Draco still tried his best to not speak of them rudely, but Hermione knew deep down he wasn't fond of her old friends. Whenever she had any form of minimal contact with them, she would see his lips tighten, refraining him from saying anything derogatory about Harry and Ron. She wasn't mad at his though, for she understood his anger. His friends had stood by his side after the war, trusting that he knew what he was doing. Why couldn't hers have done the same?

Hermione let out a groan, throwing a pillow over her face. "Yeah, but we haven't seen any of them for twelve years. Hopefully, he's more put together when it comes to jumping to conclusions but I don't want him to say anything he'll regret in front of Teddy."

Draco shrugged at her. "Sorry love, but this is Potter we're talking about. I know he was your best friend but he surprised you once. Might as well be prepared for the worst tomorrow."

She lowered the pillow, frowning at him. "Must you always be so realistic?"

"Yes, or else a certain wife of mine will get her hopes up and I would really rather you didn't go to bed tomorrow distraught over the day."

He said this in a teasing manner at her, but she knew he was just disguising his true opinions and emotions. Always having a mask on at the beginning of their relationship made it very easy for Hermione to read his mind from then on.

"I guess you're right," she sighed. "Well, tomorrow morning I can head over to pick up Teddy and later on we can start lunch? I don't know how long it will take but I'd rather we at least offered food to Harry since he'll be here during lunchtime."

"Oh sure," he muttered back, rolling his eyes. "Lunch with Potter sounds just lovely."

"Oh shush. You know you'll go along with the lunch just to play nice and get tomorrow over with."

He grinned, nodding. "You know me so well."

"I'm your wife," Hermione smirked at him. "It's my job."

He agreed. No one knew him better than Hermione, not even his parents. She learned every in and out of who he was and who he grew up to be. What he wanted for his future, for his family. For himself. She always had faith in him after everything happened those twelve years ago and he never really understood why, but he was grateful. He vowed on their wedding day to make it his life's mission to repay her for giving him a life worth living.

He and Hermione settled into bed, turning off the light and starting to relax. They talking about the plan for tomorrow, picking up Teddy, what to plan for lunch, how to explain to the kids in the simplest way what was going on. Soon enough they drifted off to sleep.

The next morning came fairly quickly, Hermione waking up to the birds chirping outside, Draco still fast asleep beside her. After looking at the time and realizing it was already nine o'clock, she started to shake her husband lightly. They were hoping to pick up Teddy by ten and have him feel comfortable in their home before Harry arrived.

"Draco, love. Time to get up." She said to him, shaking him one more time before getting up herself and heading to the bathroom.

Hermione brushed her teeth and jumped into the shower, taking her time to appreciate the warm water spreading over her back. After finishing up she turned off the water, wrapping a towel around herself and walking over to the mirror. A few years after the war she had started to work on perfecting her hair. She had never been a very self-conscious person and was well aware while in school that she wasn't the most attractive girl around.

Once she got more settled after school, however, she started to work on her hair and clothing, happy to make herself more professional and put together when needed. Besides, it felt good to try sometimes.

"You know you no longer have to try so hard to make me fall in love with you, my dear."

She turned to look at her husband who was now leaning against the frame of the bathroom door, dressed and holding a fresh cup of coffee in his hand. A small smirk was playing on his lips.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yes, that is why I started to take care of my hair all those years ago. Your affection."

"I knew it all along."

"Incorrigible, you are," she said, putting the last touches on her appearance and then walking past Draco to get dressed.

"You knew that all along, as well, and you still married me."

"Oh yes, what was I possibly thinking?" She smiled, pulling on some lovely dress trousers and a pale pink blouse made of silk. Narcissa had told her at the beginning of her relationship with Draco that while she knew Hermione was used to dressing however she wished, being a Malfoy also meant always looking presentable and put together. Hermione didn't mind after a while, getting nice clothes and jewelry and being expected to look 100% whenever out and about. It had taken a good while to get used to, though.

"Okay, the kids are up and eating right now. They were getting restless," Draco explained. "Shall we tell them what is happening today before you head to get Teddy?"

Hermione nodded, sliding her feet into some boots before sticking her wand into the right boot. They walked downstairs, Hermione kissing all three of her kids on the head before pouring her coffee into a thermos and leaning against the counter.

"Okay, my loves. I am going to go pick up Teddy, you remember him from yesterday, yes?"

They nodded at her, Scorp smiling at the mention of his new friend.

"Well, his Godfather Harry is going to come by today and have lunch with us, alright? I am going to go pick up Teddy and then we're all going to hang out here this afternoon and talk. You all don't have to spend the entire time with us because us adults need to do some talking. You understand, yeah?"

This was one of the times Hermione was so grateful their children had inherited both her smarts as well as Draco's. They were quiet and patient as they listened to their parents, most of the time that is.

"Can we play as well, while you guys talk? Do you think Teddy will want to?" Katrina asked.

Draco smiled at his daughter and answered. "Teddy might need to do some talking as well, but I am sure it wouldn't hurt to ask him."

Satisfied, Katrina nodded before returning to her food.

"Okay, I am off. I'll be back soon. You lot plan what we're having for lunch, okay?" Hermione grinned, knowing the kids loved to play in the kitchen when allowed.

Giving Draco a kiss and blowing a kiss to the table of kids, Hermione apparated on the spot and appeared in her office at the center. Their apparition wards were set so that herself and Draco could apparate on and off of the premises, as well as anyone that they had alongside them.

She got the files that were dedicated to Teddy and his information and then headed to his room.

Once outside the door, she knocked and waited for him to pull the door open.

"Hello, Hermione!" Teddy smiled slightly, backing up so that she could enter and sit.

"How are you feeling, Teddy?" Hermione asked, settling on his chair while he resumed the spot on his bed that he had sat on yesterday.

"I'm okay, kind of nervous to see Harry again, eventually."

"Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that," she smiled at him, trying to reassure him as best as she could.

Hermione told him that she contacted Harry and they planned on lunch at her house that afternoon.

"I wanted to talk to him as quickly as possible, he does expect you there but I don't want you to feel forced at all. You come if you feel ready."

Teddy smiled at that. "Thank you, I understand, I do. And I think I'd like to come today, anyways. Get this over with."

She nodded at him, grinning inwardly at how mature he had grown up to be. "Okay, well then let us get on with the day then, shall we?"

Teddy gathered up his small amount of belongings in the room and then he and Hermione left the ward and headed outside the center. Hermione asked which way he would like to travel back to the house, and after learning he sometimes felt sick after apparating, they decided to walk.

It was a nice day, so Hermione decided to suggest having lunch on the back patio. The kids could play in the yard anyways, which would make it easy for the adults to talk.

Soon enough they arrived at her home, and Hermione opened the front door, beckoning Teddy to follow her inside.

"You have a nice home, Hermione," Teddy said softly, asking shyly where to put his things.

Hermione smiled at him in thanks. "I'm quite happy with it. You can go ahead and set it all on the table right there, dear. Make yourself at home, please!"

It was definitely weird for Hermione to have Teddy in her house. After her friendships with Harry and Ron started to drift, she thought she would never really get the chance to be a sort of aunt to Teddy. Or any of the other kids. No matter how short a visit this was, she was glad at the chance to welcome Teddy into her home.

"Let us go find the rest of the family, okay?" Hermione gave him a small hug, feeling him start to relax as his shoulders became less tense.

He nodded, following her into the kitchen, which they found empty aside from Draco sitting at the table, reading The Daily Prophet.

"Draco, where are the kids?" Hermione asked, sitting at the table next to her husband. She motioned for Teddy to join them.

"Oh, after we got lunch sorted they all went outside to play in the backyard a bit. Missy decided to join them after some begging from Serena, so they're under her watchful eye," Draco answered, kissing her on the cheek and then nodding at their guest.

"Hello, Teddy! I'm happy you joined us today and I hope you're hungry because the kids were in charge of lunch," Draco said. "And when they're in charge, they usually plan far more than needed."

Teddy laughed at that. "Do they plan lunch often?"

"Only on the weekends, and not every week. Just when we all feel like we're hungry enough," Hermione said, laughing at the end. "We wouldn't be able to function if we ate like the kids every week. They're the ones that are growing, not us."

Teddy nodding, grinning. "That's really cool, though. That you guys do that, as a family."

"Thank you, Teddy." She smiled back at him.

"Okay, let's get those kids rounded up and start lunch, Harry will be here soon enough." Draco stood and headed outside, gathering the children and instructing them to wash up before joining them in the kitchen.

When they saw that Teddy was there they rushed to clean up as quickly as possible. Soon they were all in the kitchen, the kids standing on stools next to the counter and giving Teddy, Hermione and Draco all jobs for the meal.

They had decided on pizza, three different kinds. After going out to eat at an Italian restaurant where they could watch the pizza being made, the kids loved the idea of making their own pizza at home. It took a couple tries to perfect it, but soon enough they all knew what to do, with their parents help of course.

Soon enough, the pizza was in the oven and baking to perfection. Hermione gave Katrina the job of getting the back patio ready for all of them to sit outside.

Suddenly they heard the echo of a loud crack, and Draco nodded at Hermione before heading to the front door.

"You ready, Teddy? It'll be fine, no worry at all," Hermione smiled at him reassuringly, leading him to the front room and watching as Draco walked outside to greet their new guest.

Teddy nodded. "Yeah, I'm good."

They waited for Draco to re-enter, behind him Harry following at a slower pace. "We won't bite, Potter," Draco said, not being able to help himself. If he was going to spend at entire afternoon with Harry Potter, he was going to need to be at least a bit sarcastic.

Harry rolled his eyes, opening his mouth but stopping when his eyes landed on Hermione and Teddy, standing together side by side.

"Harry, hello," Hermione smiled slightly, motioning for them all to sit down. "Let's get this over with, yeah?"

Harry nodded, looking at Teddy, who was avoiding his gaze. They all sat down and waited for the first person to speak. Looked like it was going to be a long afternoon.