They sat together for a while as Hermione drifted in and out of sleep and Theo took care of the baby. Even though they were both on the right track Hermione was far from healed and in fact was still losing blood, the only thing keeping her going was the potions but they couldn't over do them since she was breastfeeding and they didn't want to run the risk of the potions getting into the baby's milk supply. It was a vicious cycle.

The healers came and checked on mother and baby a few times throughout the day and Theo kept the baby settled only rousing Hermione enough to have the baby latch on when needed though for the most part she slept.

When she woke properly it was to him singing to Asteria again and she just lay there and watched the bond between father and daughter grow with tears in her eyes.

Theo caught on to her when she sniffled, he stopped singing and moved close to the bed to place a kiss on her cheek. "Hey" he said, "how are feeling?"

"I'm okay" Hermione answered, not admitting she was tempted to fall asleep again, the blood loss was really taking it toll.

With the baby asleep in his arms Theo placed her back down in her cot before sitting on the edge of the bed. "Why are you crying love?" He asked as he reached over to wipe the tears away.

"This," she replied gesturing between the three of them, "this is everything I ever wanted. Earlier I thought it was the end, I didn't think I would make it and the biggest regret I had was leaving you. I wanted to be your wife Theo, more than anything. I still do. I was thankful that if it was the end I at least got to spend my last few hours with you." She admitted, tears falling freely.

Theo pursed his lips and nodded as he used his thumb to wipe away the tears, trying hard not to cry himself. "Hermione I love you, I'll never stop loving you. No matter what happens I'll love you, but I need to know what you want love."

"I want to come home" she admitted.

He nodded once, a small smile forming as his thumb moved lower before it was tracing her lips. "I want to kiss you" he whispered looking into her amber eyes.

Hermione gulped and nodded her head, "I want you to kiss me."

Theo closed the distance between them until his head was resting on hers and their breaths mingled together. His thumb still tracing her bottom lip as his other hand played with her hair. "I've missed you, so much."

Hermione's heart almost broke, he sounded pained, broken, vulnerable and she just wanted to fix him knowing this was all her fault.

Finally he let his lips touch hers as her hand moved up to trace along his jawline. He'd almost forgotten what it felt like to kiss her but as he sucked her bottom lip between his his memory reignited. Kissing her felt like home. It felt like a puzzle was finally completed. It felt like every wonder in the world was finally explained.

They carried on for a while longer, a kiss that he had meant to be short and sweet now becoming longer, deeper, as they imprinted themselves on one another until finally he pulled away, both gasping for breath.

"Marry me" Hermione said, their foreheads were still together, hands on each other's faces. They were connected as much as they could be.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

She nodded eagerly. "Yes. I don't want to wait, let's do it now."

"Okay" he answered with a smile before kissing her again.

They agreed Ron could do the bonding ceremony since he was at the hospital and as an Auror, and therefore a Ministry official, he was able to officiate. All they needed was a witness. Thankfully Draco chose that moment to turn up.

He knocked on the door and let himself in before leaving again after intruding on a private moment between the two though they called him back in. Hermione was feeling weak and they wanted to get this over and done with as soon as possible so she could sleep and heal.

Draco went straight to Hermione and engulfed the witch in a hug before he looked in on the baby, "she's beautiful" he said, "finally done something right then mate?" He joked to Theo.

Theo laughed and rolled his eyes before going to the door and calling Ron into the room. He sat next to Hermione on the bed and took her hands in his and the pair explained to their best friends what they wanted.

Thankfully Ron and Draco were both in agreement and though Ron had never officiated before he was happy to do it for the couple, touched even that they would ask him.

Everyone took their places as they got ready, "are you sure?" Ron asked them before starting.

They answered in unison, "yes."

He nodded, "suppose we should start then," he said before clearing his throat. "Do you Theodore Nott, take this witch as your wife, your partner, your soul from this day forward?" He asked.

Theo was still sat on the bed and holding Hermione's hand though now they both held their wands for the vows to register. "I do" he answered as a silver ribbon shot out of the end of his wand and wrapped around Hermione's hand.

"And do you, Hermione Jean Granger, take this wizard as your husband, your partner, your soul from this day forward?" He repeated.

"I do" she answered as a matching silver ribbon shot out of her wand and wrapped around Theo's hand.

"Malfoy," Ron said as he turned to the blonde, "do you bare witness to the couple before you, do you give them your love and your blessing?"

"I do" Draco said as his wand shot the same silver ribbon out and wrapped around both Hermione and Theo's hands.

"Then, by the power vested in me by the Ministry of Magic, I declare you both bonded for life" Ron announced as he flicked his wand at the couples joined hands.

The four watched on as the three silver ribbons merged into one thick golden one with the pairs names and ceremony details embroidered on before Theo leaned in and kissed Hermione. "I love you" he whispered as he cupped the back of her head.

"I love you too" she replied, kissing him back.

Eventually Draco and Ron left to go home leaving the new family alone.

"I can't believe we did it" Hermione said, still clutching Theo's hand in hers.

"I know" he answered. "To think yesterday I was all alone and now I have a wife and a daughter" he said with a laugh.

"Oh Merlin, I'm someone's wife" Hermione mumbled as he leaned in and kissed her again.

It wasn't long until the baby was fussing, yet again ready to feed and so the pair had to separate. They sat together as they had all day and night while Theo stroked Asteria's hair and sang to her as she happily fed on Hermione. Once Hermione was sure the baby was well fed Theo placed her back in her cot with a kiss to her head and let both girls sleep. A healer briefly came in to administer more potions for Hermione and yet again commented on her improvements before Theo let himself fall asleep too.

oOoOoOo

Theo was woken up by a movement coming from the bed, he looked up to see Hermione trying to stand and jumped up to help her taking care so as not to wake the baby.

"What are you doing?" He asked as he watched her wobble.

"I need to stretch my legs, I'm getting restless in that bed and I'm feeling so much better, great even." She said with a smile.

He wasn't convinced but helped her up nonetheless, once Hermione set her mind to something there was no going back. "Where are you going to go?" He asked once she was standing.

"I never thought that far ahead" she admitted.

Theo tried not to laugh as he watched the witch peer into their daughters cot when an idea struck, "do you want to dance?" He asked.

"What, here? But there's no music."

"Yes here. It's our wedding night, remember?" He said smiling.

"It is" she agreed before offering him her hand.

They danced together for a good fifteen minutes with no music other than their beating hearts but it didn't seem to matter, all that mattered in that moment was each other.

Eventually he helped her back into bed where she went to sleep before he left the room to call for his elf. He asked the small elf to bring a box from his bedside table and, when the elf came back with it he went back into the room where he opened it and put Hermione's rings on her fingers and then his own before following suit and going to sleep too.

The healer woke them the next morning to check on mother and baby before declaring them both fit to return home, "I'm not sure what happened in the middle of the night" she said with a gleeful smile, "but whatever it was saved your life" she said before noticing the addition to a Hermione's fingers. "This wasn't there yesterday" she pointed out.

"No, it only happened last night" Hermione answered somewhat sheepishly.

"Well, that explains everything." She said with a wider smile.

"What do you mean?" Theo asked.

"I take it you had a bonding ceremony in which case you bind your magical cores and souls as one. Miss Granger's, or should I say Mrs Nott's magical core was previously depleting through her loss of blood. Binding herself to you has healed her. You have healed her Mr Nott." She answered.

"I had no idea" he replied as he stared at Hermione in wonderment.

They soon packed up their things and dressed the baby before heading to the floo. Ready to go home and start a new chapter of their lives as husband and wife. As a family.