Thank you to everyone who stuck in there waiting for this conclusion. I got heavily invested in the writing of this one, really trying to get it right. I felt these two deserved a happy ending so here's a bit of a lighter epilogue.

*Shout out to Melek62 because you brought something to my attention that definitely should be addressed. It's small but I didn't want to pass it over entirely.

Please read and review.

Reformation

Five Years Later

Draco stooped low as he carefully poured a vial into his cauldron. He'd always taken potion brewing very seriously. While this one wasn't particularly complicated, he was being extra careful in his efforts to make it right.

His lip curled into a sneer when someone sneezed loudly.

"Potter, if you insist on annoying me in my home lab then at least control your bodily functions."

Harry rolled his eyes dramatically and stood to inspect what Draco was brewing. "You told me I could wait here."

"If you were quiet. In the past ten minutes, you've sneezed twice and asked me no less than five questions. Now keep it down so I don't bungle this."

"You haven't said what you're brewing anyway. What is it?"

Draco sighed heavily as he ignored the question in favor of adding his last ingredient before he stood to his full height. He thanked Merlin that it was Saturday and he didn't have work or he'd feel rushed.

"You're a right nuisance, Potter."

Harry lifted an insistent eyebrow in question and became even more curious when the blonde wizard blushed while managing to simultaneously sneer.

"It's a morning sickness potion."

Harry's eyebrows lifted nearly to his hairline. "Is she…," he let the question dangle in the air.

Draco narrowed his eyes at his once enemy. "Yes, and she wanted to tell you herself so I'd very much appreciate it if you'd act surprised, Potter. She won't be very pleased with me if she finds out I let it slip prematurely. We only found out this week."

The dark-haired wizard snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. "It still amazes me that after all this time, you're still afraid of her."

Draco watched the liquid simmer in the small cauldron, waiting for just the right moment to pour it into glass so he could cool it.

"I believe it's advisable to have a healthy fear of your wife, Potter."

Harry just grinned amusedly but deep down he was pleased. Draco Malfoy was just as besotted with Hermione as the day she'd brought him home from the Ministry.

Hermione had confided in him and Ron that it had taken some time their first year and before Draco's probation was complete to find their footing in their marriage. Draco struggled to come to terms with her forgiveness—forgiveness she only gave as a formality as she claimed continuously that it wasn't necessary. He'd done nothing to require it.

After their first year together and his probation complete, he found more peace with himself. With some soul searching and encouragement from Hermione, he'd taken on an apprenticeship at St. Mungo's in their Potion Brewing Department. He was now in his first year as a full-time Potion Master. He was one of few charged with brewing the more delicate potions for patients. He found the job fulfilling and finally feeling like he was contributing to both society and his marriage.

It was only recently that they had found out about the baby. Draco had been nervous about the idea of being a father, considering his poor example growing up. However, Hermione wanted children and more than anything he wanted a family with her. Therefore, they'd begun trying in earnest.

"Fair enough," Harry nodded. "Ginny has her moments, too. However, I still firmly insist that you're whipped."

Draco merely shrugged, used to the quip by now. Potter and Weasley both joked about it regularly but he didn't care. He lived for Hermione's smiles and affection. He no longer beat himself up for the past and how their marriage began but it didn't mean he valued her love any less. She could have divorced him on the spot but instead she'd made the effort to mend him. He knew he was difficult and rather moody at times with her friends but she loved him nonetheless. Therefore, he'd pamper his wife as he saw fit.

He once admitted to Hermione that he occasionally thought of the fact that it was Voldemort to thank for their being brought together. It was odd, he'd noted and she'd agreed but understood. It had taken bigotry to bring them together.

The wizarding world wasn't apt to forget it either. While the press eventually calmed, there was still the occasional note here and there when they appeared at whatever work function she had about how they stood as a symbol of peace and growth. They'd been mutually annoyed by it at first, not relishing being used a political example when no one truly knew the intimate details of their marriage. After all, there'd been more than a few arguments throughout their relationship regarding their differences once Draco's timid nature began to bleed away and the good parts of his normal personality reemerged. (Though all of Hermione's friends would agree that he was far more enjoyable to be around now that he was utterly besotted with her.)

However, oddly it had been Ron to make them come around about the press.

"Look at it this way. What example did we have before? Bloody stuffy history, that's what. As long as there's an example, people are less inclined to backslide." He'd shrugged then and stuffed half a sandwich in his mouth. "It could be worse," he'd mumbled.

Draco had been openly shocked to hear such a clever observation from the man. But Hermione had merely smiled. They'd all changed then. Still the same in some ways as Draco next quipped about the hoard of food Ron had consumed during that meal and the subsequent rude hand gesture from her redheaded friend, but definitely changed as Draco merely smirked before he leaned over and kissed her gently.

"You can wait in the living room. She'll feel better after she's had this," he gestured toward the cup.

Harry followed him out of the downstairs lab and shut the door firmly behind them. Draco hurried up the stairs, careful not to slosh the precious contents in the glass. She'd been unfortunately cursed with horrible morning sickness. It was what prompted them to realize she might be pregnant before they made their first appointment with the healer two days prior.

Draco fought a smirk when he entered their bedroom and found his wife huddled under their blankets, her small body curled around his pillow.

She always did that. Especially if he was ever called in for emergency shifts on the weekends. As soon as he left the bed, she stole his pillow and hugged it to her chest.

"Alright then, roll over, love."

Hermione groaned and opened her eyes when she heard his voice. However, she did as he instructed and rolled onto her back. She cringed as another wave of nausea washed over her.

"Your bloody child is going to be the death of me," she muttered weakly.

He sighed as he took a seat on the edge of the bed and carefully slid a hand behind her head to lift her enough to drink.

"Yes, I'm aware. She'll be difficult, just like me."

Hermione grimaced as the cup neared her lips and glanced up at him petulantly. "How can you possibly believe it's a girl? We won't know the sex for quite a few weeks still."

Draco smirked then and shook his head. "Because you, Hermione Granger, have always contradicted all of my expectations. There's not been a girl born into the Malfoy line in at least two centuries. I have no doubts our first child will be a girl."

She frowned when he slid the glass to her lips again but opened her mouth and swallowed it all as quickly as possible. Her nose wrinkled afterwards and she licked her lips. "You added peppermint to offset the taste."

"Did it help," he smiled softly as he guided her head back to her pillow.

She shrugged and breathed in deeply as the potion began its work. "A bit but it's still vile."

"Better than hanging your head over the toilet. I'll play around with some other ingredients to offset the taste when I brew your supply this evening."

Hermione didn't respond and merely rolled onto her side until she could rest her head in his lap. She sighed contentedly when she felt his fingers begin running through her curls.

Draco gazed at her as she finally relaxed. He hated seeing her uncomfortable even for a moment. He kept one hand stroking her head as his other migrated to her still flat stomach. He slid his hand under her shirt and spread his palm over her skin. Their child was in there. It still amazed him that they'd created something together. It was something good and something without the taint of their past.

He massaged oweverHO

her stomach for a few moments, indulging her rare desire to be spoiled. His independent witch—she was usually too busy taking care of everyone else, himself included, to stop and allow herself a moment. But that was what having a husband was for, he silently mused with a smile. He secretly relished the idea that maybe she'd allow him to pamper her a bit more than usual during her pregnancy.

"Potter is downstairs for you."

Hermione opened her eyes and glanced up at him. She studied his face and then narrowed her eyes.

"Loose lips sink ships, Draco," she drawled sarcastically.

Draco groaned and shifted as she sat up. "How do you do that?"

She shrugged as she straightened her pajamas, not caring if her best friend saw her before she'd dressed for the day. "You've a look that gives you away when you know you've done something I've asked you not to."

He helped her out of bed and followed her into the hall. "He asked what the potion was and knew you weren't feeling well. What was I supposed to say?"

"You could have tried the usual." She lowered her voice in a mock of his own, "Shove off, Potter, and mind your own business."

"That's neither flattering nor accurate," he drawled as they descended the stairs together.

She glanced over her shoulder at him with an impish grin. "Who said I was attempting to flatter you? I believe you've had your ego stroked enough in bed last night."

He snorted at how proud she looked for her quip. However, he chose not to argue further. She had indeed enjoyed his attentions quite thoroughly and he counted no less than seven sinful moans of his name. Intimacy was clearly no longer an issue for them.

"Morning, Harry," she greeted the dark-haired man with a hug.

Draco rolled his eyes and made for the kitchen to clean the glass and plot her friend's demise for his earlier irritations.

"Feeling better," Harry asked, doing his best to keep his expression neutral. "Malfoy said you weren't feeling well this morning? Caught a bug?"

Hermione sighed heavily as she collapsed into the nearest chair, gesturing for him to do the same. "You can come off it, Harry. He had the look. I know you know."

Harry's face briefly showed shock before he masked it but not quickly enough. "I don't know what you think that you know that I know."

Hermione pursed her lips as she shook her head at him. Men were so ridiculous sometimes.

"Who could possibly follow that line of reasoning, Potter," Draco questioned as he returned and perched himself on the arm of his wife's chair.

"Bastard," Harry muttered to himself. He glanced back at Hermione and offered her an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Hermione. I did question him. I was only concerned. Congratulations?"

She laughed softly and nodded. "It's fine. I'll punish the great prat later," she glared playfully up at her husband before looking back to her friend. "And thank you. Morning sickness aside, we're quite thrilled."

She looked to Draco again with a smile when he stroked a hand over her hair tenderly, ignoring Harry's mock gagging in the background.

"Very mature, Potter," he sneered. "We're in our mid-twenties now. Grow up."

"Merlin," Harry shook his head, "There's the day when Draco Malfoy tells you to mature. Anyway, I'm here because of Ron."

Hermione sat up straighter then. Ron had started to date Pansy Parkinson of all people six months ago and both Harry and Hermione had both been rather surprised by the pair. However, given Draco's transformation during the war, no one felt comfortable judging a book by its cover.

"Well," she asked impatiently. "Did he do it?"

Draco poked her shoulder. "Do what?"

"He did," Harry smirked. "He went for it and she said yes."

"Merlin," Hermione muttered, wide-eyed.

"Will someone tell me what the bloody hell you two or going on about?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry's smirk and glanced up at Draco. "Ron proposed to Pansy last night."

He looked rather shocked by that. He'd been somewhat hesitant to associate with any of his old friends from before the war over the last several years. He'd had little idea what Pansy had been up to after the war and only recently learned about her life since when Ron Weasley had begun to date the witch.

"Ginny wants to throw them an engagement party," Harry added. "Next Saturday in Diagon Alley. She already called up the restaurant to reserve the room."

"We'll be there," Hermione nodded.

"Like hell," Draco griped. "I didn't consent to that."

He and Pansy had had words during the groups' first dinner together when she'd shown up with Weasley. She'd expressed a lot of anger with him for not reaching out and even went so far as to blame Hermione for his isolation. To say he'd set the witch straight was putting it nicely and she'd tip-toed around him ever since at group get-togethers.

"You'll consent or you'll find yourself on the sofa tonight and little Draco is going to be experiencing quite the drought."

"Ugh, Hermione," Harry groaned under his breath, shaking his head.

She ignored him and continued to stare up at her husband whose eyes had gone wide at her threat. She rarely threatened to cut him off in the bedroom as she enjoyed it too much herself.

"That's rather devious of you, Hermione," he muttered.

She sighed and gripped his shirt, pulling him down to whisper in his ear. "Agree and I'll make it more than worth your while, Draco. I know you like me on top. It's been a while as the healers advised it wasn't the best position for conceiving."

She leaned back to meet his eyes and a smile curled her lips when his grey eyes darkened.

His head shot up and he looked at her friend. "I'm in. I'll pay for the bloody thing if I need to. Whatever you want."

Harry glanced at Hermione then who was back to sitting primly in her seat, looking angelic as ever. He shook his head. "I'll never understand you two fully. I don't even want to know what you promised him to make him that agreeable." He grinned then, "But I will take the nutter up on his offer to share the costs."

Draco waved a dismissive hand. "Whatever, Potter. Tell them to charge my half to my account."

Harry left not long after and Hermione stood to meet Draco when he returned from showing him out.

"In all seriousness, are you going to be okay attending the party," she asked when he met her in the middle of the room.

Draco settled his hands on her hips as he leaned down and brushed a gentle kiss to her lips. "Yes, Hermione. If you're going to continue to be friends with that giant ginger rodent, Pansy and I will eventually have to come to terms with one another."

Hermione licked her lips, tasting his morning tea as she stared up into those grey eyes she'd come to love so much. "She apologized to me last week."

His brow furrowed and he made to follow her when she pulled away from him to move into the kitchen.

"You didn't tell me that."

"She asked me not to," she shrugged. "She planned to speak with you on her own soon."

He huffed but didn't answer, instead turning to face the stove where he lit a burner and set down a pan.

He'd become rather adept at cooking over the years. He'd eventually insisted on learning in his off time from his apprenticeship and before going to work full time. He'd teased her that at least one of them needed to be skilled in that department unless they intended to live on takeaway for the rest of their lives.

Hermione had to admit that it was rather nice to come home to a loving husband and a good meal after a long day at the Ministry. He could tease her all he wanted about her terrible cooking but she didn't care when he placed a plate of his homemade chicken parmigiana in front of her.

As she watched him begin to cook a light breakfast for them before they started their day running weekend errands, she wondered if he was truly okay. She recalled her first interaction with Pansy six months ago and it hadn't sat well with her then.

"Granger," Pansy Parkinson greeted as Hermione entered the living room at Grimmauld Place.

Hermione wasn't quite sure what to make of the witch that had snagged her best friend. However, she trusted Ron implicitly that for him of all people to be interested in someone like Pansy then the witch must have changed.

"Pansy, I've heard great things from Ron," she offered the witch a smile.

She couldn't really say it was lovely to see her as the last time she had the Slytherin was calling for McGonagall to give over Harry to the Death Eaters. However, Ron had been talking her up quite a bit to everyone in hopes of the first meeting going well. Given how well Ron had taken her relationship with Draco she felt she owed him the same.

"Draco's well," she asked.

That was a subject Hermione was definitely comfortable with. She smiled, "He's doing very well. Just started full-time as St. Mungo's and he's really enjoying it."

Pansy shrugged, her mouth pulling into a scowl. "I wouldn't know. He's not spoken to me in years now."

Hermione fought the urge to cringe. She knew well why Draco chose not to seek out his old friends. "He's kind of kept to himself after the war." She released a nervous laugh, "He's kind of a homebody really."

Pansy sniffed, "Well, he's certainly not afraid to be seen in public with you. Can't be that much of a homebody given how often the Prophet still publishes photos of you both. Seems to me you don't want him socializing with any of us. Who can blame you?"

The witch walked away without another word leaving Hermione standing there in surprise.

Draco had been livid when he'd eventually dragged the news of the encounter out of her as he'd been stuck at work that evening. What was more surprising is that Draco had gone straight to Ron to inform him of it as she'd not wanted to make a scene at the time.

Ron had been rather upset and assured her that she really had changed. He'd talk with her.

"Don't force her to apologize, Ron. Let her work through it in her own time. I'm fine."

The first time Pansy and Draco had actually been in a room together, things didn't improve. They'd had words about Pansy's behavior and both left disgruntled.

But with a bit of time, she finally did apologize. After watching Draco deal with his own struggles, Hermione wasn't very keen on forcing people to move past emotions when they weren't ready. Sometimes time really was the best medicine.

Draco said nothing more about the engagement party for the rest of the week. Hermione worried a bit over the fact that he wasn't sharing his opinions on the matter when normally he didn't shy away from ranting to her when something was bothering him. Instead, he went to work and came home to cook dinner as always. He asked about her day, read with her in bed, and made love to her as normal.

However, being married for close to six and a half years total, she wasn't naïve. It was bothering him.

When she emerged Saturday evening in her cocktail dress and found him tying his tie in her long mirror, she finally brought it up.

"Draco, do you think we should talk about this?"

He shrugged, not bothering to look up from his task. His lip curled irritably when she batted his hands away and took over for him. She did that often. Claimed the first time that his ties were always messy even in school. He'd fought the urge to ask why she'd noticed and instead just kissed her.

"I know you, Draco. I think at this point in our marriage I may know you better than you know yourself."

"You always were a little know-it-all," he muttered.

Hermione smirked at him as she finished knotting his tie. "Yes, and as I recall you now enjoy that aspect of my personality. I do believe reading you a book is now considered foreplay."

He groaned because he knew she was right. "Get to the point, Hermione."

"You're going to have to deal with Pansy one way or another. In addition, you'll likely see more of your former housemates. Surely you realize this, Draco."

He sighed heavily and wound his arms around her before he pulled her close. He loathed her thick curls that were now pulled back into an elegant chignon. He wanted nothing more than to bury his nose in them. Her scent always calmed him. He settled for kissing her temple and giving her a gentle squeeze.

"They don't understand, Hermione. There's no way they could possibly understand what you and I went through together."

"No, there's not," she agreed. "But it doesn't mean they haven't progressed much like you have, Draco. You have to give them a chance to prove it. Unless they were never really your friends at all."

He shrugged with his arms still around her. "Perhaps some of them weren't truly. Maybe just Blaise and Pansy."

Hermione pushed at his chest enough to lean back and meet his eyes. "I can certainly attest that Blaise has changed. He's a cheeky little prat sometimes at work but he's quite nice actually."

Draco narrowed his eyes then. "Cheeky? Do I need to have a word with the tosser regarding my wife?"

"Oh, keep your wand in your pocket," she rolled her eyes as she pulled away entirely and reached for her bag on her dresser. "No one is stupid enough to even lay eyes on me after the Christmas party fiasco three years ago. You scared poor Michael Corner within an inch of his life."

"As the git should be," Draco nodded to himself as he followed her out of their bedroom.

By the time they reached the restaurant, people were already arriving. They followed a levitating tray with drinks to the spacious party room and immediately sought out Harry and Ginny.

Ginny pulled Hermione in for a rather exuberant hug. "Oh, I'm just so happy for you both," she squealed as quietly as possible.

"Harry," Hermione hissed as she extracted herself from the redhead's arms.

Harry stepped behind his wife all while sporting an apologetic smile, his eyes darting between his best friend and her irritated looking husband.

"Sorry, Hermione. She dragged it out of me. You know how she is."

Hermione sighed, "Merlin, you two. What will I ever do with you?"

"Hex them in the arse when they're not looking," Draco added casually, hands in his pockets as he smirked at the other couple.

"Not a terrible idea," Hermione agreed, giving Harry and Ginny each a pointed look. "Keep it to yourself for a while, yeah?"

"Oh, come off it," Ginny grinned. She took her friend's arm and led her off to the drinks, fully intending to find non-alcoholic options.

It was a beat before either men spoke. Draco nabbed a drink from a passing tray and sipped it casually. Harry waited to see if he would speak first but finally shrugged. The stoic Slytherin wasn't likely to do so.

"Are you scared," Harry asked him finally.

Draco turned grey eyes to meet green and stared for a moment. Without saying it, he knew what the spectacled wizard was asking him.

He didn't have the relationship with Harry Potter that Hermione did and likely never would. Yet he couldn't exactly forget the way that Potter and Weasley both had been there over the years. They'd been there for Hermione when he was still tackling his own demons. And they'd even been there for him—unsolicited but still there. He might even one day work up the courage to let them know he appreciated it.

They accepted him for Hermione's sake. Forgave and forgot more easily than came naturally to someone like him but he couldn't be blind to it.

Their common denominator might always be Hermione but Draco couldn't deny that he respected her friends.

Harry watched as the blonde stood there staring. He knew this look now. Malfoy was processing. Deciding what he felt comfortable sharing and with whom.

"Bloody petrified," Draco admitted after a moment.

"You'll be fine," the dark-haired wizard assured him, relieved to get a response. Sometimes he still wasn't sure that Draco realized they didn't see him as the petulant child he'd once been.

"You met my father, Potter. I didn't exactly have the most nurturing example growing up."

Harry shrugged and sipped his drink. "Yeah, and I didn't have any example at all really. I'm telling you; you'll be fine. I had a lot of the same doubts before James was born. They go away with a bit of time though."

"I'm not you, Potter. I was an evil little shit growing up. Horrible until I was tasked with Hermione's life."

"That's it right there," he grinned. "Being responsible for someone else generally brings out the best in you, not the worst. And if I'm to judge by how you treat Hermione, even when you're fighting with each other, then your kids will be thoroughly loved."

"She gave me purpose," Draco admitted. He'd never really talked to anyone but Hermione about his own issues during the war. He'd had a few short conversations with Ginny Potter but never her two oldest, closest friends. "I was spinning my wheels, as the muggles say. I had nothing to fight for and no reason for being except waiting for the moment I inevitably failed for the last time and the fucker decided to end me."

He shook his head with a heavy sigh as memories washed over him but he refused to let them pull him into the currents as they once did. Things were better now. He was better now.

"When they brought her in and I realized what they intended to do—I don't really know but something inside me snapped. I'd joked about hurting her and any other muggleborn in the past but then it was reality and I couldn't do it. I didn't realize until that moment that, maybe not always positively, but she meant something to me. I couldn't stomach allowing anything to happen to her."

"And Ron and I will always be eternally grateful to you for that." Harry gestured with his free hand around the room that was quickly filling with a variety of guests. "The world's changed. We've all changed. Perhaps it's time to stop letting fear drive us and instead dive in head first. Enjoy it."

Draco stared for a moment before finally lifting his glass to his lips for a sip. "What a Gryffindor thing to say, Potter."

Harry stared back and ultimately rolled his eyes. "You're a mood killer, Malfoy."

"Always have and always will," Draco smirked, lifting his glass in a mock salute.

Despite his flippant reaction, Harry could tell that Draco appreciated the reassurance. They were saved from another sentimental moment when Ron finally joined them with Pansy at his side.

"Congratulations," Harry offered the two a genuine smile and lift of his drink.

"Thanks, mate," Ron grinned. He glanced at Draco who was standing there calmly, finding his drink far too interesting. "And thanks for coming, Malfoy."

Draco lifted his eyes to meet the redhead's. The unspoken message was clear. Weasley knew about the tension between Draco and his former housemate. He also knew that Draco's dedication to his wife was far stronger than any conflict.

"Yes, well Hermione wouldn't have let me live down the poor display of manners should I have missed. She gets quite mental about those sorts of things, as you well know." He lifted his drink in salute again, his own message clear.

Ron gave him a crooked grin and nodded before he shared a look with Harry. "Merlin, do we."

Draco watched as the two former Gyrffindors spoke through eye contact. He bloody hated it when they did that. He knew what was coming next.

"I'm going to get a drink," Ron told Pansy and he and Harry wandered off without a word.

Pansy sighed heavily as she stood in front of him, nervously twisting her engagement ring around her finger.

"Barmy Gryffindors," he griped after a beat of silence, "always making people see reason."

Pansy glanced up at him with a smirk, dropping her hands to her sides. "Horrible, isn't it? If only they knew how to be cold and calculating like us."

Draco licked his lips as he eyed his drink before meeting his old friend's eyes again. "Hermione claims she's not very strategic yet it's nothing but strategy involved whenever she manages to trick me into doing something I don't want to do."

Pansy swallowed hard then and he wondered what he'd said wrong.

"Draco, I…I'm sorry about how I spoke to her when Ron and I first started dating. I apologized to her myself recently but…well I know you were angry about it."

He inhaled deeply. Hermione always said to take a breath before speaking. It allowed more time to choose your words.

"You blamed my wife for something that was ultimately my choice. Given our history, surely you understand that I'm very protective of her."

Pansy nodded, "No, I understand that. Ron's since filled me in on more details than I knew from the stories in the Prophet. I'm sorry you both went through that. I just…well I know I hadn't come to see reason when you had and it did take me a bit longer but I swear on my wand that I'm no longer that person, Draco. I'd never say something hurtful about your wife's heritage and I don't have issues with muggles."

Draco eyed his shoes as he listened to her, unable to meet her eyes. "I beat myself up for a long time for how I'd treated her in school and then the fact that she was forced to be with me. I just…I guess I'm sometimes overprotective."

Pansy touched his arm gently, prompting him to look at her. "Draco, you were forced as much as she was. You realize that, right? I certainly agree you were horrible to her," she smirked when he snorted, "but she didn't like you either then. Don't you think some part of her felt bad that you were being forced as well?"

He huffed at that and dropped his empty glass on a passing tray before he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"You're beginning to sound like one of them. Be careful, your children might be wearing red and gold one day."

Her smirk lifted into a full grin. "Says the man who's frankly head over heels for his Gryffindor wife. I'd venture to say the same for yours but that yours will also be little know-it-alls."

He smirked in return, feeling quite relieved that they seemed to be on more even ground. "Likely so but I can't say I'd be disappointed if they take after her. I'd be quite lucky."

Hermione, Ginny, Ron, and Harry all watched the two as they spoke. Hermione and Ron, in particular, feeling quite invested in the outcome of their discussion.

"He's smirking," Ron noted as he stuffed a piece of cheese in his mouth. "That's good, right? I don't speak Malfoy as well as you and Harry, Hermione."

Hermione rolled her eyes at him and sighed before a smile finally curled her mouth. "Yes, Ron. It's a good thing. They'll be friends again, I'm sure."

"Oh," Harry nudged Ron, "Zabini's joining them."

They watched as the now trio began talking. Hermione eye's widened when Draco lifted a stern finger and poked his old friend in the chest.

"Oh dear, I'd better intervene or I'm afraid we're going to have another Michael Corner incident."

Ron's brow furrowed as he glanced over at her. "Why?"

She shrugged helplessly, "I called Blaise cheeky and he inferred that to mean that he gets flirtatious with me."

"He kind of does sometimes," Harry grinned, already amused. They all loved to retell the Christmas fiasco. It had quickly become one of their favorite stories.

"Don't make it worse, Harry," she chastised lightly. She set her glass of water down and turned to them before she marched off. "Oh, and since it doesn't seem fair that they know and you don't—I'm pregnant, Ron. But keep it to yourself for now because your sister and her husband seem to have trouble with that."

She glared pointedly at the couple before marching off to handle her husband.

Ron's mouth was hanging open with half-chewed food. Ginny noticed and made a face before she pressed his jaw closed.

"Bloody hell, mini Malfoys."

"Mini Granger-Malfoys," Harry corrected. "Imagine what they'll be like."

The two men shared a knowing grin.

It was late once they made it home again. Hermione had finally caved halfway through the evening when she'd had to decline the glass of champagne from Mrs. Weasley to toast the couple. When Ron nodded enthusiastically, she admitted to the Weasley matriarch that she was pregnant. Thankfully, Pansy didn't seem to mind the news spreading across the room and shifting some of the excitement from the newly engaged couple. She'd actually been quite gracious about it and quickly congratulated them.

Draco followed his wife up the stairs to the bedroom. While he untied his tie and slipped off his suit jacket, he watched as she peeled out of her dress and rehung it in her closet. He watched as she shuffled tiredly over to her dresser and pulled out her most comfortable pajama pants and a t-shirt. He smirked to himself as he stepped out of his trousers while she climbed onto the bed and settled.

"Tired," he asked, knowing the answer already.

Hermione turned onto her side and watched as he levitated his clothes into the laundry before climbing into bed with her in nothing but his underwear. Sometime after the first year he'd stopped all pretenses of covering up and admitted that he'd always preferred to sleep in less as he got too overheated at night, especially with her sleeping so close. He'd only ever worn pajamas to bed for her.

Imagine his surprise when she agreed that she preferred him in only his underwear.

Draco lay on his side and doused the lights with a flick of his wand. He placed it on his nightstand and rolled over to face her.

"Exhausted," she finally answered with a weak smile. "I'm sorry. I know what I promised you."

Draco reached over and curled an arm around her waist before he pulled her close. He sighed when she settled close.

"We have our whole lives, Hermione."

He heard her sigh as she wrapped an arm around his middle and felt her lips press a kiss to his chin.

"Hmm, yes, forever."

And forever was something they could both agree to.