The War is Over
Chapter 14 -Building Bridges
Draco Malfoy had spent his fair share of time in interrogation rooms. He knew the dull, concrete walls of these rooms very well. He had been in for everything from breach of the peace through to arson, but Zacharias Smith had deserved to have his broomstick set on fire, and besides it was only a bloody shooting star. The amount of compensation money Draco had paid him would have enabled the git to buy at least three firebolts.
'So Malfoy,' Harry said with a smirk as he leant back in his chair and surveyed Draco across the table, 'why did you duel your co-worker in the middle of a hospital corridor?'
Draco shrugged with a slight smirk, 'I was having a bad day.'
Harry raised an eyebrow at the former Slytherin, 'and that accounts for the charges of breach of the peace and minor assault that your co-worker is now pressing?'
Draco scoffed and shrugged it off, 'She won't go through with it, and by the way why did you arrest me and not Daphne?'
'We did arrest her,' Harry said shortly, 'she's next door.'
'Is she?' Draco asked with a snort.
'She is, and she has 4 lawyers with her,' Harry informed Draco.
'4 lawyers? For petty charges like that? If she had the right lawyer she'd only need one,' Draco said very sarcastically.
Harry rolled his eyes, 'Draco, would you stop being a sarcastic git? I'm trying to get you off with a small fine.'
Draco narrowed his eyes slightly at Harry, 'and why would you do that?'
'Well you are dating, and having a child with, my best friend,' Harry pointed out carefully, 'I may not entirely trust or like you, but she means a lot to me and I don't think it would be great for her if you were in prison while she was pregnant.'
'Alright,' Draco said simply, all joking and sarcasm aside, 'what do you need me to do?'
'I need you to apologise to Mrs. Davies profusely, and I need you to at least pretend that you mean it,' Harry said simply, smirking slightly at Draco.
'Sure,' Draco said, it was reluctant of course but if it meant a small fine instead of time he would do it in a heartbeat.
'How did you end up duelling her anyway?' Harry asked as he shook his head in disbelief.
Draco sighed deeply, he didn't answer for a moment and Harry was beginning to wonder if he would when he eventually spoke up, 'She found out about Hermione being pregnant through the hospital records while she was covering someone's shift,' he said with a frown, 'she made a jibe about how by having a bastard child with a mud-,' Draco stopped himself, 'Muggle-born, I was insulting Astoria's memory.'
'Firstly, well done for stopping yourself or I would have given you time, personally I think it should be illegal to use that word,' Harry began somewhat stiffly, 'and while I agree with you and probably would have done the same in your situation, as a senior healer you are expected to be able to control your emotions. Your girlfriend is the pregnant one, not you.'
Draco chuckled slightly and caught Harry smiling, were they actually bonding at the moment?
'Right, get next door and apologise,' Harry said as he got to his feet.
'I will,' Draco said sincerely, 'thanks Potter.'
'You're welcome,' Harry said with a small smile, 'but there is one more thing.'
'Yeah?' Draco asked, narrowing his eyes at the former Gryffindor.
'You're rich, you must have endless supplies of vintage firewhiskey,' Harry said with a smirk, 'drop by the Manor tonight with a bottle and we're even.'
'You've got yourself a deal,' Draco said and he outstretched his hand to Harry.
There was a strong sense of déjà vu for a moment, for both men, and then Harry took Draco's hand and shook it.
'Why are you so late?' Hermione asked the minute Draco had stepped through the fireplace into the sitting room of the Manor. He glanced around, Rose and Scorpius were nowhere to be seen, he was home an hour later than he should have been.
'I was in an interrogation room,' Draco said honestly, 'in the Auror department of the Ministry.'
Hermione's eyebrows shot up, 'Why?'
'I got in a duel with someone, at work,' Draco admitted as his head began to pound.
'Why would you do that?' Hermione asked, she was frowning deeply.
'Look my late wife's sister works with me at St. Mungo's,' Draco snapped, he wasn't angry at Hermione but he was in a very bad mood, 'she found out about your pregnancy and told me I was shaming Astoria's memory by having a child with a Muggle-born, out of wedlock at that,' he sighed heavily, 'so I cursed her and it started a duel.'
Hermione smiled slightly ruefully, 'Draco Malfoy, you started a duel to defend my honour?'
'Yes,' Draco smiled as he kissed her on the cheek, 'but next time I think I'll skip the interrogation.'
Hermione laughed, 'Did you get community service?'
Draco shook his head, 'Nah the charges were dropped, I got away with a small fine.'
'You're lucky,' Hermione said with a snigger, 'the only Auror I know who lets people off with fines is Harry.'
'Yeah, about that, he was the person who interrogated me,' Draco admitted sheepishly.
'Was he now?' Hermione asked with raised eyebrows.
'Hang on a minute,' Draco realised as he narrowed his eyes at her, 'you know, don't you?'
'Harry might have dropped by and told me,' Hermione said with a smirk.
'Honestly woman, you're more Slytherin than you know,' Draco said, shaking his head in amusement.
Hermione only smirked at this, 'I hear you two have a firewhiskey date tonight?'
'Apparently so,' Draco remarked.
'Draco,' Hermione said, the smirk dropping from her face, 'be careful tonight. Harry has had…problems in the past with firewhiskey.'
Draco smiled very slightly, 'Don't worry Hermione, I know what it's like, I've had similar problems.'
'Really?' Hermione asked in surprise.
Draco nodded, his eyes staring into the distance, 'Losing someone you love is hard, especially when you have a child together.'
Hermione placed her hand on his shoulder, 'I'm sorry.'
'Don't be,' Draco said, shaking the thought from his head, 'I'm happy now and that's all that matters,' he said honestly as he kissed his girlfriend.
As Draco Malfoy stood on the doorstep of number 12 Grimmauld Place he realised just how strange his life had become since he had fallen in love with Hermione.
He rapped his knuckles hard on the door and shook his head in amusement. He heard footsteps and the door was then pulled open by Ginny.
'Hey Draco,' Ginny said brightly with a smile, 'nice to see you.'
'Hi Ginny,' Draco said slightly awkwardly, 'good to see you too.'
Ginny shook her head in amusement, 'You don't have to make it so awkward,' she joked.
'It comes with being a Malfoy,' Draco said honestly, 'you get so used to people being unhappy to see you that it's a foreign thing when someone is.'
'Sounds like an unpleasant way to live,' Ginny commented simply.
Draco frowned, 'it is.'
'Come in,' Ginny said as she stepped back from the doorway.
Draco walked in and looked around the hallway, 'this place looks different,' he commented, 'the last time I was here it was still Black Manor and very much full of dark magic.'
'Yeah,' Ginny said as she glanced around at the cream walls, 'we redecorated pretty quickly.'
'I don't blame you,' Draco said as Ginny led him into the study.
'Harry was home a little late from work,' Ginny explained, 'he's in the shower but he'll be with you shortly,' she frowned, 'but I wanted to talk to you Draco.'
'Why?' Draco asked, he was mostly curious but slightly anxious.
Ginny sighed, 'I know you and Harry are going to have a drink tonight, but I need to warn you about something first.'
'Hermione already mentioned,' Draco said, hoping to spare Ginny the hassle of explaining to him.
'Hermione doesn't know everything about it,' Ginny said with a frown, 'he doesn't have a small problem with firewhiskey, he had a big problem with it.'
'I did too,' Draco admitted honestly, 'I know how to deal with a recovering alcoholic Ginny.'
'Don't call him an alcoholic,' Ginny warned, 'he might break your nose again.'
'Why am I going to break his nose this time?' Harry asked with a smirk as he walked into the study, 'hey Draco,' he added as an afterthought.
'Hey Harry,' Draco said, quite alarmed by the fact he had used the other man's first name.
'Just because he's Malfoy,' Ginny said with a smirk.
'Seems a valid excuse,' Harry joked which made Draco roll his eyes, 'Thanks Potter,' he said dryly.
Ginny chuckled, 'Well I'll leave you two boys to bond,' she said in amusement, 'nice seeing you Draco,' she added as she left the room and shut the study door behind her.
'So,' Draco said awkwardly.
Harry shook his head in amusement at the awkward air, 'I need to leave this open slightly,' he said as he opened the door a little, 'I'm watching the kids while Ginny goes over to Hermione's.'
'Hermione's?' Draco asked in bemusement, 'you mean…'
'Yes, I mean Malfoy Manor,' Harry said as he sat down in an armchair by the fire.
Draco joined him and shook his head, 'that's taking some getting used to,' he admitted as he wrinkled his nose, 'I can't believe I've got Gryffindors visiting my house.'
'Uh Draco, you live with a Gryffindor,' Harry pointed out with a smirk, 'and you've got a future Gryffindor living under your roof.'
'How do you know Rose is going to be a Gryffindor?' Draco asked with a snort, 'she's far more Slytherin, or possibly Ravenclaw.'
'I wasn't talking about Rose,' Harry smirked.
'Don't say that about Scorpius,' Draco said as he shook his head in mock disgust, 'don't insult the poor boy.'
Harry shook his head in amusement, 'I heard your conversation with Ginny by the way,' he said thoughtfully, 'I'm not an alcoholic, she just doesn't understand that sometimes after a hard day at work I like a drink.'
Draco frowned slightly, 'Off the record, I'm a recovering alcoholic,' he said, he hadn't even told Hermione the full story, 'after the war it was my way of coping but Astoria got me out of it, and then after her death I relapsed.'
'Yeah, it was the war that started it for me as well,' Harry said honestly, 'firewhiskey…it made me feel numb, I could shut my eyes and not have nightmares, I didn't see the faces of everyone who died for me.'
'I started for pretty similar reasons,' Draco admitted, 'although it didn't take away the guilt or the regret.'
'I don't think anything really can.'
'No, neither do I.'
'I'm not really in the mood for that firewhiskey anymore,' Harry said with a frown as he looked at the bottle in Draco's hands, 'when was the last time you had a drink?'
'I still drink alcohol,' Draco said, 'but the last time I had firewhiskey was about 3 years ago.'
'What made you stop?' Harry asked curiously.
Draco didn't want to share the truth with Harry so instead he said, 'it's complicated.'
'Yeah, I know,' Harry admitted sheepishly, 'Neville told me.'
Draco shook his head, 'Let's pretend you don't know, and can we promise to make sure Hermione never knows?'
'I think that's a deal,' Harry chuckled, 'some things are better kept secret.'
'Agreed,' Draco said darkly, 'so when was your last drink?'
'2 years ago,' Harry replied, 'not long after Lily was born.'
'Was that what made you stop?' Draco asked curiously.
'Partly,' Harry answered, 'but Ginny threatened to leave me if I didn't get a grip on it and that really made things hit home for me.'
Draco nodded, 'I understand that.'
'Can I keep that?' Harry asked, motioning at the bottle of firewhiskey in Draco's hands.'
'Yeah, sure,' Draco said as he handed it to the boy-who-lived.
Harry placed the bottle on the shelf behind the fireplace and said, 'I'm going to leave it there to act as a reminder of the way I was. It's going to be reserved for special occasions,' he smiled slightly as he sat back down, 'we'll take a drink when you and Hermione get married, and another when the baby is born.'
'That reminds me, I've got two things I need to talk to you about Harry,' Draco said seriously.
'Whenever you use my first name I worry,' Harry remarked.
Draco chuckled slightly and pulled a box out of his robes, he flipped it open and showed Harry the ring inside it.
'Draco, are you proposing to me?' Harry joked, 'sorry but I'm a married man.'
Draco shook his head in amusement, 'it's for Hermione.'
'I have to ask one thing,' Harry said sceptically.
'I'm marrying her because I love her, not because of the baby,' Draco said before Harry could say it.
'I don't know why, but I believe you,' Harry said as he surveyed the former Slytherin.
'Do you think she'll like the ring?' Draco asked anxiously.
Harry took a second look at the ring which was beautiful. It was gold with a ruby centre gem and a cluster of diamonds surrounding it in an oval shape.
'I think she'll love it,' Harry said honestly, 'but why are you talking to me about this?'
'I don't have anyone else to talk to about it,' Draco said truthfully, 'Blaise and I aren't exactly the best of friends ever since his Wife tried to kill Hermione, and Theo…well all he knows about women is how to get them into his bed.'
'So I was the next best option?' Harry asked in amusement.
'Believe it or not, yes,' Draco said with a chuckle.
'When are you proposing?'
'Saturday,' Draco said anxiously.
'That's 3 days away,' Harry said in surprise.
'Yes, I'm aware of that,' Draco said somewhat dryly.
'What did her Dad say?' Harry asked in amusement.
Draco raised his eyebrows, 'Well it wasn't the most comfortable conversation I've ever had, but he gave me his permission.'
'For what it's worth you have my approval too,' Harry said honestly, 'how are you proposing?'
'I thought I'd keep it simple, I'm going to make her meal and propose on the patio outside of Malfoy Manor,' Draco said, he looked worried, 'I just hope she says yes.'
'Trust me, she will,' Harry said with a smile, 'do you have someone to watch Rose and Scorpius?'
Draco shook his head and Harry said, 'Well I'm off, do you have any aversions to them staying the night here?'
'No, in fact that would be much appreciated,' Draco said honestly.
Harry smiled slightly, 'Good luck, Draco.'
Draco nodded, smiling back, 'Thank you Harry.'
'So what was the second thing you wanted to talk to me about?' Harry asked, the first had been the thing Draco had been dreading telling him by the sounds of things.
'Hermione and I were wondering whether you had made a decision or not regarding being the baby's Godfather.' Draco said incredibly awkwardly.
'Until this conversation I hadn't made a decision,' Harry said truthfully, 'but this has shed some light on things, so I'd be honoured to be the baby's Godfather.'
'I'm glad,' Draco said honestly, 'although I would ask that you never tell anyone that it was my idea and not Hermione's.'
Harry chuckled under his breath, 'your secret is safe with me.'
When Draco stepped out of the fireplace in the sitting room of Grimmauld Place the entire Potter squad were there, along with Rose and Scorpius who he had just sent through the floo.
'Oh hey Draco,' Ginny said casually from where she was sitting on the sofa with Lily on her lap.
'I can't believe it's tonight,' Harry said, unable to keep this in, 'I mean it's all happened so fast.'
Ginny rolled her eyes, 'Harry if you're going to act like a pregnant woman on hormones I'm going to get you to start drinking again,' she joked.
Harry chuckled and said, 'It's just a big deal.'
'Tell me about it,' Draco said in an undertone, he took a shaky breath.
'Dad!' Scorpius said loudly, 'whats that?' he pointed to an animal that was crawling on the Potters eldest son, James who had turned 7 a few months ago.
'It's a trained Jarvey,' Harry informed Scorpius and Draco, 'it's capable of basic human speech, and we've made sure it doesn't swear.'
'It looks suspiciously like a ferret,' Draco said as he narrowed his eyes at Harry.
'Does it?' Harry asked in mock surprise, Ginny sniggered from the couch.
'Shut up Weaselbee,' Draco said almost fondly.
'She's a Potter now Draco, it doesn't work,' Harry said with a smirk.
Draco took another breath, 'Right well I better get back to the Manor,' he said, his face was pale and Harry hadn't seen him look so nervous since the end of the war.
'Stop worrying so much,' Ginny said with a smile, 'she'll say yes.'
Draco nodded, 'Thanks for keeping the kids overnight.'
'Don't worry about it,' Harry said with a smile, 'that's what friends do.'
Still looking pale Draco thanked Harry and Ginny one more time and disappeared back through the floo. Hermione was out with Luna who he had managed to rope into his scheme, but she would back in less than an hour so he set about setting everything up out on the patio.
Draco took a deep breath as the fireplace in the sitting room of Malfoy Manor whirred to life at 7pm on the dot.
Hermione stepped through it with a smile on her face, she was dressed up a little from her coffee date with Luna, but in jeans and high heels she was still fairly casual.
'What's got you all dressed up?' Hermione asked the moment she walked through the fireplace.
Draco smiled, 'You,' he said, he was hardly dressed up anyway, he was wearing a shirt and smart shoes with his comfortable trousers.
'Care to elaborate?' Hermione asked with a slight smile as Draco linked his arm through hers.
'I'm treating you to dinner,' Draco said, 'since you moved into the Manor we've not really had much time for ourselves.'
'I've not had much time for myself since Rose was born,' Hermione pointed out with a chuckle.
'Well I think you deserve some time for yourself,' Draco said as they emerged out onto the patio.
'Wow,' Hermione breathed as she saw the patio. Draco may not have been proud of his family, but he was still a Malfoy, and Malfoy's didn't do things by halves, they did things right. This proposal was fairly small and low key, but that didn't mean he wouldn't put everything into it.
The table in the middle of the patio was lit by candles and there were flowers everywhere and fairies flying around the garden. It looked magical.
'How did you put all of this together with the kids running around?' Hermione asked in amusement as Draco pulled out her chair and let her sit down.
'They're staying the night at Grimmauld Place,' Draco said with a slight smirk, 'with Harry.'
'With Harry?' Hermione asked as her eyebrows shot up, 'Harry Potter?'
'Yeah, that one,' Draco said sheepishly.
'You're letting Scorpius stay the night with the champion of the war and his very Gryffindor family?' Hermione asked in amusement.
'I think it will do him a lot of good,' Draco said with a smile as he sat down opposite Hermione, 'and I think we need a night to ourselves.'
'I agree, and I think it's sweet that you arranged all of this,' Hermione said with a wide grin.
At that point they were interrupted by the starter of their meal arriving in front of them from the kitchens. Draco took a breath to calm himself, he was still a little pale but Hermione hadn't picked up on it so he was clearly containing his nerves well.
They made small talk about how they had spent the day as they ate their food, and once it was finished Draco asked, 'Do you want a small gap before the main course?'
Hermione nodded, 'That would be nice,' she said.
Draco nodded and swallowed a lump in his throat, 'We need to talk Hermione.'
Hermione's face fell, 'Oh…okay.'
'It isn't anything bad,' Draco said hastily, 'or at least I hope that it isn't.'
Hermione frowned slightly and Draco elaborated, 'we've known each a long time now Hermione…but we waited this long to let our feelings out, sometimes I wish we hadn't.'
'Me too,' Hermione admitted.
'I wish I'd had the guts to defy my Father and ask you to the Yule Ball,' Draco said thoughtfully, 'I thought about it a lot.'
'You didn't even have the guts to speak to me at school, unless it was to insult me of course,' Hermione remarked with a chuckle.
'I know,' Draco said with a frown, 'I always wondered if we could have had something amazing together, I just had this feeling that we would fit so well.'
'And we do,' Hermione said with a smile.
'We do,' Draco said softly, 'I wanted to know you better then, I tried once or twice, but we never really got it off of the ground…'
'When did you try and get to know me?' Hermione asked with a bemused look on her face.
'Well, there was that time in 4th year,' Draco said awkwardly, 'I asked you if I could borrow the book you were using, but you told me to get lost.'
'It might have gotten you off on a better footing if you had called me Hermione instead of Granger, oh and taking off the 'Potter Stinks' badge you were wearing might have helped too,' Hermione said with a slight smirk.
'Yeah,' Draco said as he chuckled, 'come to think of it I didn't plan it out very well, but I've planned this out perfectly, this night. Hermione, I know it's only been 4 months, but I've never felt as good as I have these past 4 months with you. Everything seems to finally be fitting into place in a way nothing in my life ever has before,' Draco stood up and pulled a black velvet box from his pocket.
Hermione's eyes widened as he got down on one knee in front of her and popped the box open, 'I love you Hermione, and I want to ask you,' he took a shaky breath, 'will you marry me?'
It took a moment for Hermione to come to terms with the fact Draco was actually proposing, 'this isn't for the baby, is it?' she asked fearfully when she came to her senses.
Draco shook his head, 'No, it's because I want you to be my Wife.'
Hermione's smile widened, 'Then yes, I'll marry you Draco,' she said with tears in her eyes.
Draco beamed and breathed a sigh of relief as he slipped the ring onto her finger.
Hermione was still grinning as she examined it, 'It's beautiful,' she said, 'and its ruby, isn't it?'
'Yeah, it is,' Draco said as he got up from the floor and sat back down across from the woman who was now his fiancé.
'Did you know,' Hermione began, 'that ruby is the stone of the Gryffindor's? Godric had it embedded in all of his precious ornaments and belongings, like his sword.'
'I know,' Draco said slightly dryly, 'the woman in the jewellers told me.'
'How difficult did that make it for you to buy that ring?' Hermione asked with a chuckle.
Draco shook his head, 'You have no idea.'
Hermione laughed loudly and Draco grinned, everything really did feel like it was fitting into place finally.
As Hermione and Draco lay in bed later that night all Hermione could do was stare at the ring on her finger.
'Draco, how soon do you want to get married?' Hermione asked thoughtfully.
'As soon, or as far in the future as you want,' Draco replied diplomatically as he put his book down to look at her.
'I think soon,' Hermione said honestly, 'I never wanted to rush into a wedding again after what happened with Ron but looking back then I think I only really married him because I wanted a normal life after the war. This is different.'
'You're more grown up,' Draco said with a smile.
'Exactly,' Hermione said thoughtfully, 'I want to be married before the baby is born.'
'Ideally so do I,' Draco admitted.
'I don't want to wait too long…I don't want to be huge on my wedding day,' Hermione said as she looked down at her stomach. Even though she was now almost 4 months pregnant her bump was still small enough to hide.
'Hermione, we can get married next week if you want,' Draco said with a grin, 'it's one of the perks of being a billionaire, with money anything can happen quickly.'
Hermione smiled slightly, 'You can seriously have a wedding ready by next week? How?'
'I can hire a wedding planner who will fix everything up,' Draco said simply.
Hermione frowned slightly as she thought about this, 'I'll agree to that on the condition that you and I plan what we want and that I can help her. All I do is sit around the house all day anyway and I want to play a part in organising my own wedding.'
'Deal,' Draco said with a grin, 'so when do you want to get married?'
A similar grin came to Hermione's face, 'two weeks today?'
'Done,' Draco said happily, he rolled onto his front so that he could look at her properly, 'where do you want to get married?' he asked.
'Nowhere special,' Hermione admitted as she chewed her lip, 'I did the big white church wedding and it didn't end very well for me.'
'Or me,' Draco said, 'I like the thought of a smaller, more low key wedding. We could get married in the gardens of the Manor.'
'I was wondering about that,' Hermione said with a smile, 'I think a June wedding in the gardens would be lovely…we could have the meal out there too and then transfer everyone in for the reception in the ballroom.'
'I think it's perfect,' Draco said honestly as he kissed Hermione lightly.
'I won't bother with an expensive dress,' Hermione said sheepishly, 'but I'll have to pick carefully.'
'Do you want it to hide the pregnancy?' Draco asked curiously.
'I don't want everyone to know until after the next scan,' Hermione said with a sigh, 'I don't mind a set few people knowing but for the moment I want to keep it quiet.'
'I understand,' Draco said as he placed his hand on hers, 'Rose can be the flower girl.'
'Oh she'll love that,' Hermione said brightly, 'and Scorp can be the pageboy.'
Draco chuckled, 'we might have to bribe him, but I'm sure he'll do it in the end.'
'I think I'll ask Ginny to be my chief bridesmaid,' Hermione said with a smile, 'and Luna can be my second bridesmaid. I think two is just enough.'
'I'll ask Theo to be my best man, and I'll probably ask Blaise to be my second groomsman,' Draco said thoughtfully.
'What about a colour scheme?' Hermione asked as she chewed her lip thoughtfully.
'I don't mind about the colour scheme, as long as there isn't any pink,' Draco said as he wrinkled his nose, 'or red,' he added as an afterthought.
'Deal, but there won't be any green either,' Hermione said as she wrinkled her nose.
'What are you going to do, paint the grass?' Draco remarked sarcastically.
Hermione hit him lightly over the head and he said, 'Yeah, I probably deserved that.'
'You did,' Hermione said, but she was laughing which made Draco doubt her sincerity.
'We'll have to tell the kids tomorrow, about the wedding,' Hermione said with a smile.
'Oh Merlin, that's going to make them more hyper than anything they could buy in honeydukes,' Draco remarked and Hermione laughed loudly.
When Hermione appeared from the fireplace in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place she was immediately bombarded with questions from Ginny.
Hermione laughed, 'Yes he asked, yes I said yes, and this is the ring,' she said as she held out her hand and let best friend examine it.
'It's beautiful,' Ginny said as she hugged Hermione, 'I'm pleased for you Hermione.'
Hermione grinned, 'Thanks Gin,' she said as she sat down at the table, 'I wanted to ask you if you would be my chief bridesmaid, again,' she said with a chuckle.
'Of course I will,' Ginny said happily, 'you're my best friend after all.'
'This might shock you, but the wedding will be fairly soon,' Hermione said as she bit her lip, 'we're getting married in two weeks, on Saturday the 11th of June.'
'It doesn't surprise me,' Ginny said with a smile, 'Harry and I thought this would happen, we knew you wouldn't want to have the baby out of wedlock.'
'You know me rather well I must say,' Hermione admitted with a smile, 'but I think it's best for the baby, and it feels so right. You know I had doubts when Ron proposed.'
'I know,' Ginny said softly, 'and I know sometimes you wish you had acted on them.'
'I used too,' Hermione said honestly, 'but I wouldn't change a thing, I can't imagine my life without Rose.'
At that moment Rose rushed into the room with Scorpius hot on her heels. Both children hugged Hermione who chuckled and got to her feet, 'come on you two, we need to get back to the Manor. Draco and I have something important to tell you.'
Ginny smiled and got to her feet, she hugged Hermione and whispered, 'Congratulations, it's from Harry too, he hoped to catch you before work but he had an early start today.'
'I'm sure I'll see him later,' Hermione said with a smile as she sent Rose through the fireplace and then Scorpius after her, 'Thanks so much for watching them last night Gin,' Hermione said as she hugged her friend once last time before disappearing through the fireplace.
Draco and Hermione found themselves having slight Déjà vu as they sat on the sofa in the sitting room of Malfoy Manor with Rose and Scorpius sitting across from them looking inquisitive.
'Hermione and I are going to get married in two weeks,' Draco told the two children.
The children were silent for a moment.
'But Mummy, doesn't it take forever to plan a wedding?' Rose asked.
'Yes sometimes it can,' Hermione said with a smile, 'but if you really love someone a wedding can happen very quickly.'
'Is it going to be in a big church?' Scorpius asked.
'No Scorp, it's going to be in the back garden of the Manor,' Hermione replied.
'Is Uncle Harry going to be there?' Rose asked.
'Yes of course he is,' Draco said to the girl, 'lots of your friends will be there.'
'Do we get to do anything?' Scorpius asked as he cocked his head at Draco, 'weddings are boring.'
Draco chuckled, 'you'll get to carry the rings Scorp, and Rose will get to wear a nice dress and throw the confetti.'
'Ooh, I like confetti!' Rose said as she bounced up and down in her chair, 'and I like wearing dresses!'
'I don't want to carry some stupid rings Dad,' Scorpius said with a slight frown.
'But Scorp, if you do carry the rings we'll get you a new broomstick, just like Rose's,' Hermione said with a glance at Draco who looked vaguely amused.
Scorpius grinned, 'Okay, I'll do it.'
Hermione chuckled and shook her head in amusement, she was really beginning to think of Scorpius as family now.
'I'll see you in a little while', Draco called to Hermione as he threw some floo into the sitting room fire.
'Have fun,' Hermione called back as Draco stepped into the green flames and said, 'Nott Manor, sitting room,' the flames roared to life and moments later he walked out of the fireplace in the almost identical sitting room in Theo's home.
'Nice look Theo,' Draco joked as he saw his friend standing in front of a mirror wearing smart trousers with no socks, shoes or shirt.
'Not that it's in my nature to be rude or anything Draco but what do you want?' Theo asked in amusement as he turned to his friend.
Draco raised an eyebrow at his best friend, 'I didn't realise you were entertaining tonight Theo,' he retorted.
Theo smirked, 'I'm having dinner with Gabrielle Delacour this evening,' he said, 'as you can imagine I need some time to prepare.'
Draco rolled his eyes in fond exasperation, 'Isn't she a bit young for you Theo'?
Theo only smirked some more, 'It was actually her idea to have dinner tonight,' he pointed out, 'apparently she remembers me from that business board I was on in France while she was at school.'
'Has she even finished school?' Draco asked with a snort.
'She finished last year, I don't date school kids,' Theo said as he threw on a shirt, 'so what brings you to my humble abode?'
Draco laughed, 'I have some good news for you actually, I proposed to Hermione last night, and she actually said yes.'
'Oi!' Theo said in mock offence, 'why didn't you tell me you were going to propose?'
'I sort of did,' Draco said with a slight frown, 'I told you I was planning on marrying her.'
'Yeah well you could have told me you were doing it soon,' Theo said, and he did seem a little offended.
'Sorry,' Draco said sheepishly, 'I just wanted to keep it secret and keeping secrets isn't exactly your forte.'
'I've kept many a woman's secrets,' Theo said with a smirk.
'I bet you have,' Draco said shaking his head in amusement.
'Did you tell anyone if you were keeping it secret?' Theo asked curiously.
'Well Potter knew, but that was it,' Draco said offhandedly.
'Potter knew?' Theo asked with a snort, 'so you told Harry Potter, war hero and grand prick, but you didn't tell me? Your best friend since forever?'
'Theo, you sound like a pregnant woman,' Draco pointed out, 'or a teenage girl, I'm not sure which. Maybe you've been spending too much time with Gabrielle Delacour.'
'She's not a teenage girl,' Theo said with a chuckle, 'she's a young adult.'
Draco raised an eyebrow at his best friend, 'She's 19.'
Theo shrugged, 'Details, details,' he said offhandedly, 'but in all seriousness Draco I'm happy for you. Who knew all those years ago when I was taking the piss out of you for not having the guts to ask Hermione out that now 10 years later here you would be, engaged to your insufferable know-it-all.'
Draco shook his head in amusement, 'Yes, well I'm glad things have turned out the way they have. We're getting married in two weeks by the way, we're doing it fast because of the baby. I know this doesn't mean as much since you've already done it for me, but I want you to be my best man.'
Theo smiled and said, 'Course I'll be your best man, would I say no?'
'I didn't think you would,' Draco said with a smile, 'but you aren't the difficult part, finding a second groomsman is.'
'Why don't you just ask Blaise?' Theo asked casually, 'wasn't he your other groomsman when you married Astoria?'
'Yeah, him and Astoria's best friend, Kevin Entwhistle I think he was called,' Draco said with a slight frown, 'I'll ask Blaise but I'm not sure if he'll agree to it.'
'Oh I don't know why he wouldn't,' Theo said sarcastically, 'I mean why would the fact his wife is in jail for trying to murder your now fiancé put him off going to that wedding?'
'You're a sarcastic git,' Draco said with a smirk.
Theo grinned happily, 'I'll take that as a compliment.'
Draco chuckled, 'Right well I better be off, just do me one favour.'
'Yeah?'
'Don't bring Gabrielle Delacour to the wedding,' Draco said with a chuckle, 'I don't think her older sister would approve much.'
'Why would she be there?' Theo asked with a frown.
'She and Hermione are fairly close,' Draco replied.
'Ah fair enough,' Theo said, he shrugged, 'I'll just bring Soph.'
'Why is it whenever there is some sort of function you always bring her?' Draco asked curiously, 'not that I have a problem with her or anything,' he added, 'I'm just curious.'
'She likes parties and it saves me from going alone,' Theo replied simply, 'and you do have a problem with her, she was the first and only girl who turned you down.'
'Bad memories,' Draco joked as he shook his head, Theo laughed loudly at this and then there was a knock on the front door.
'Have fun with Miss. Delacour,' Draco said with a snigger as he threw some floo powder into the fireplace and disappeared in seconds.
When Draco was let into the entrance hall of Zabini House by one of the house elves he felt awkward. The last time he had been here his visit had ended in Pansy's arrest, the last time he was here he had probably ruined Blaise's life.
'I hope that this visit will be somewhat quieter than your last' Blaise said calmly from where he was surveying Draco.
Draco cringed a little as he looked at his friend standing in the doorway of the sitting room, 'I hope that it is, and I would like to apologise, it was never my intention to get you involved.'
Blaise nodded at this, 'It doesn't make it any easier to deal with,' he said honestly, 'but I appreciate your apology all the same. I don't blame you though, I realise that everything that happened was on Pansy's shoulders.'
Draco nodded stiffly, 'I'm sorry all the same, I wish it had worked out for you.'
'Everything happens for a reason,' Blaise said simply, 'now, why do I have the pleasure of a visit from the great Draco Malfoy?' he asked, a small smirk coming to his lips.
'Well,' Draco said a little awkwardly, 'I'm getting married in two weeks and I came here to ask you to be my second groomsman, but I realise with recent happenings you might not be so keen on the idea.'
Blaise appeared pensieve for a moment, 'While I appreciate the offer Draco and I will definitely attend the wedding, I don't feel that I could be such a large part of it,' he said honestly, 'I don't blame you, but in effect you and your future wife are the reason for the breakdown of my marriage and the imprisonment of my ex-wife.'
Draco nodded, 'I understand Blaise,' he said truthfully, 'and thank you for being so frank about it.'
'I hope you find someone else,' Blaise said with a slight smile.
'I'm sure I will,' Draco said with a sigh, 'I am slightly disappointed that you won't be a part of the proceedings, but all the same Hermione and I look forward to seeing you at the wedding.'
Blaise gave a small nod, 'I truly am sorry Draco.'
'As am I Blaise,' Draco said as he shook his friend's hand, 'I hope things look up for you soon, I'll let myself out.'
'How did it go with Blaise?'
'Not very well,' Draco said with a sigh, he smiled slightly as he looked over to Rose and Scorpius who were playing with one of their potions kits in the corner of the sitting room.
'No?' Hermione asked looking slightly down.
'He said he wouldn't have felt comfortable because of everything that happened with Pansy,' Draco relayed, 'but he said he would be at the wedding.'
'Well that's something,' Hermione said with a smile, 'and you still have two weeks to find someone else, we only got engaged yesterday.'
'I know,' Draco said as he sat down heavily, 'but to be honest with you Hermione…Theo and Blaise are the only close male friends I ever had, Crabbe and Goyle were more like bodyguards.'
'You could always ask Harry,' Hermione suggested.
'I'm not that desperate yet,' Draco said dryly.
'I thought you two got on now?' Hermione asked in amusement.
'We do, but getting on and asking someone to be a groomsman at your wedding are very different things,' Draco said with a frown as his head began to hurt.
'What about Neville? You two are vague friends, aren't you?' Hermione asked with a thoughtful look upon her face.
'We're not really friends, and I don't really want him as my groomsman,' Draco said as he tried to block out uncomfortable memories.
'Well you had better think of something,' Hermione said with a slight smile, 'you can hardly just have Theo there.'
Draco yawned as he stepped through the fireplace into Theo's sitting room early on Monday morning. The room was empty so he wandered up the stairs and called, 'Oi Theo, wake up!'
There was a groan from Theo's bedroom, 'Draco, what the hell are you doing here so early?' he called in a muffled voice.
'I need to talk to you,' Draco called back simply, he heard shuffling and then the door opened and Theo walked out in only his boxers.
'Rough night?' Draco asked in amusement.
'Great night,' Theo whispered with a grin and as he shut the door Draco glimpsed Gabrielle Delacour asleep in his bed.
Draco shook his head in disbelief and amusement, 'Sorry for being so early, I just wanted to talk to you before Hermione's scan this morning.'
'That's today?' Theo asked as he yawned.
'Yeah,' Draco said, 'I asked Blaise last night to be my second groomsman but he said no.'
'Because of Pansy,' Theo said with a tired nod, 'so what you gonna do?'
'I don't know, do you have any ideas?' Draco asked somewhat desperately.
Theo shrugged, 'Why don't you ask Potter?'
'No,' Draco said in disgust, 'he's Harry Potter, he will not be the groomsman at my wedding.'
'I don't know man,' Theo said with a smirk, 'anyway I need to get back, she might be up for another round,' he winked at his best friend and disappeared back into his bedroom.
Draco groaned and made his way back to the fireplace so that he could get Hermione and take her into St. Mungo's for her scan.
Draco and Hermione felt slightly odd as they sat in the waiting room of the maternity ward of St. Mungo's. Their hands were interlocked and they both had sweaty palms.
For Hermione this was the first time the Father of her baby would be at the scan. Ron had been working so Harry had accompanied her to all 3 of her scans with Rose. She supposed looking back that should have been a sign of things to come.
For Draco the last time he had been to baby scans was with Astoria, this was the first time everything hit home for him. She was really gone and he was really moving on, he had gotten a little emotional but he had contained it and gotten on with things.
'Hermione Granger,' a familiar voice called out and Hermione got to her feet and followed Ginny into one of the examination rooms, Draco hadn't let go of her hand.
'Morning Hermione, Draco,' Ginny said brightly as she shut the door behind them.
'Morning Gin,' Hermione said with a smile.
'Lie down on the bed and lift your top up slightly Hermione,' Ginny said cheerfully as she set things up while Hermione got sorted out, 'you remember all this from Rose, right?'
'Vividly,' Hermione said with a faint smile.
'Have you been to scans before Draco?' Ginny asked kindly.
'I went to all of Scorp's,' Draco said with a smile, 'but you don't have to explain it to me Ginny, I cover in the maternity ward sometimes.'
'Oh,' Ginny said with a slight blush, 'yes of course you do.'
Hermione chuckled and said, 'Stop trying to embarrass her Draco.'
'Sorry,' Draco said with a slight smirk.
Ginny smiled and did a few wand movements over Hermione's stomach that made it light up in a faint pink colour so that the outline of the baby could be seen through her skin, 'well it looks healthy,' she said happily, 'and it's moving around a little,' she said as she pointed to the babies tiny feet.'
Hermione smiled, she looked up at Draco whose hand she was still holding and saw that despite his smile he looked a little teary, she looked back to her stomach and said, 'I'm glad it's healthy.'
'I can tell you the sex at your next scan,' Ginny said as she checked the babies heartbeat then ended the spell.
'I think we'd like a surprise when its born,' Hermione said, and Draco nodded his agreement, 'I think that's a good idea.'
'How's the wedding preparation going?' Ginny asked as Hermione got ready to leave.
'Not too badly,' Hermione replied, 'Luna agreed to my second bridesmaid, but Draco isn't having so much luck.'
'No?'
'My friend Blaise wouldn't do it because his ex-wife sort of tried to kill Hermione,' Draco said offhandedly, 'so I need to find someone else but I don't have many male friends.'
'Well, you could always ask Harry,' Ginny suggested casually, Hermione sniggered.
'Ugh,' Draco groaned, 'why is everyone saying that?'
'Have you seen the paper?' Hermione asked as she threw her copy of the Daily Prophet at Draco the moment he walked into the kitchen.
Draco frowned and looked down at the paper, there was nothing on the front cover.
'Flip to the next page,' Hermione said, and Draco did. There was an article complete with pictures of he and Hermione leaving St. Mungo's hand in hand the day before.
'Granger and Malfoy in suspicious hospital visit,' the headline read, Draco sighed as he read the main section of the article.
'Yesterday war hero and close friend of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger was seen leaving St. Mungo's hospital with her new spark ex-death eater, Draco Malfoy. The hospital were tight-lipped in the reasons for this hospital visit, but Miss. Granger was spotted wearing a ruby and diamond ring on her ring finger.
Many may question the reason for this visit, and ponder the meaning of the ring on her finger, is it really an engagement ring? Will Miss. Granger really become Mrs. Malfoy? Was this visit just a check-up or is something more serious going on here? One possible reason for this visit could be to check-up on Miss. Granger after the attack she was involved in not long ago that had been orchestrated by Pansy Zabini, now imprisoned. It was reported that she had possible brain injuries but seemed to be incredibly lucky.
Could our perfect, former deputy Minister be in the hospital for more controversial reasons? Such as an unplanned pregnancy with new lover Mr. Malfoy? If so this would explain the appearance of an engagement ring on the war hero's finger. Miss. Granger has been photographed several times in recent months wearing baggy clothes and looking slightly pale. Mr. Malfoy and Miss. Granger were both unavailable for comment on this matter.'
Draco scoffed and threw the paper in the bin, 'I hope you don't believe what they said about the engagement.'
'Draco, I'll never believe a word that Rita Skeeter prints,' Hermione said matter of factly.
'Is that who wrote it?' Draco asked bitterly, 'go figure.'
'Yeah well her reputation precedes her,' Hermione said with the same slightly bitter tone.
'Do you have a jar?' Draco asked in an undertone.
Draco was on his way to lunch when he bumped into Harry making his way into St. Mungo's.
'Hey Draco,' Harry said when he spotted the Slytherin.
'Oh hey Harry, what are you doing here?' Draco asked.
'Just taking lunch to Gin,' Harry said as he held up a brown paper bag.
Draco chuckled, 'I wanted to ask you something actually,' he said with a slight grimace, he had been thinking about this for the past few days.
'Yeah, anything important?' Harry asked casually.
'Well I don't have a groomsman, Blaise wouldn't do it because of everything that happened with Pansy,' Draco explained.
Harry nodded, 'Understandable,' he said.
'Yeah,' Draco said with a sigh, 'everyone keeps telling me to ask you, so will you do it?'
Harry raised an eyebrow at the former Slytherin, 'ask me nicely and sure.'
Draco rolled his eyes, 'Harry, since you are clearly such a close and beloved friend. Would you please be the second groomsman at my wedding?'
'Beloved?' Harry scoffed, 'that sounds like something you would say at a funeral,' he shook his head in amusement, 'ask me again without being a sarcastic git and I might be more inclined to say yes,' Harry remarked as he walked away from Draco towards the staircase to the upper floors.
Draco groaned and made his way out of the building slightly angrier than he might normally have done.
'How was your day?' Hermione asked over dinner that night after she had told Draco what she had done with the wedding planner that day.
'It was alright,' Draco said, 'I bumped into Harry, and asked him to be my groomsman.'
'Oh yeah? What did he say?' Hermione asked curiously.
'He say he might say yes if I asked him properly and without being sarcastic,' Draco replied.
Hermione snorted, 'well that will be a challenge for you,' she remarked.
'Exactly,' Draco said dryly, 'but I've wracked my brains and I can't think of anyone else so I'm going to have to ask Harry.'
'Just ask him again,' Hermione advised, 'flatter him, and try with your upmost strength not to be sarcastic.'
'Oh I don't know if that's possible,' Draco joked making Hermione chuckle.
'Hey Harry,' Draco said as he walked into Harry's office in the Auror department.
'Wow, Draco Malfoy in this part of the Ministry of his own accord,' Harry said with a smirk.
'Rare, I know,' Draco said with a chuckle as he sat down across from Harry, 'I brought you coffee,' he said as he handed a plastic cup to Harry, 'and burgers,' he added as he dropped a brown paper bag in front of the former Gryffindor.
Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco, 'Have you killed someone?'
'No,' Draco replied as he leant back in his chair.
'Attempted murder?'
'Nope.'
'Assault?'
'Not this time.'
Harry chuckled as he bit into the burger Draco had brought him, 'so what do you want?'
'I want you to please,' Draco said, wincing at the word, 'pretty please, be a groomsman at my wedding.'
'Hmm, maybe,' Harry said with a wicked grin.
'You want to make me beg don't you?' Draco asked as he glared at Harry.
'I must admit I do a little,' Harry replied honestly.
Draco sighed deeply, 'Please Harry, I really need a groomsman and I don't have many friends but I think we actually are getting closer so can you please, please, please be my groomsman?'
'Of course I will Draco,' Harry said with a grin, 'thanks for the coffee, and the burger, but I'm still holding the moment you begged me for something somewhere in between fond memories and blackmail.'
'I hate you Potter.'
'How did it go?' Hermione asked the moment Draco walked into the sitting room.
'Terrible,' Draco said with a groan.
'Did he say no again?' Hermione asked as her face fell.
'No, he said yes,' Draco admitted.
'Then what's so bad?' Hermione asked with a confused frown.
'He made me beg him to do it,' Draco said darkly, 'I begged Harry Potter. You should be honoured, honestly the things I do for you woman.'
Hermione chuckled at this and said, 'I'm very honoured Draco.'
'I swear I don't deserve the Malfoy name, begging to a Gryffindor, and Harry Potter at that,' Draco said, shaking his head in disbelief as he walked out of the door and made for the stairs.
'Where are you going?' Hermione called after him as he began to make his way upstairs.
'To the study,' Draco called back down, 'to disown myself.'
Hermione laughed loudly at this, her relationship with Draco felt more right in months than her relationship with Ron ever had, and in small moments like this she realised it more than ever.
TBC :)
A/N: So this is going to have somewhere between 20 & 25 chapters when its done. Hope you're all enjoying it! :D