EPILOGUE

2008
Easter Break
Malfoy Manor

Draco sat on a bench that had been placed in the family graveyard near Astoria's grave. He came out here every chance he had gotten in the six months since she had died. It had been a long six months and there were days when he had had to force himself out of bed. His parents had taken turns staying with him to help with his children, just as they had done for Harry when Ginny died. Harry had taken over sole care of Slytherin House, leaving Gryffindor to Hermione. Severus had taken over Fifth and Seventh Year Potions classes to help them prepare for their exams.

He was beyond grateful for their help, but he knew it was time to get back to the land of the living and take control of his life again. He needed to take his classes back and help Harry out with Slytherin. Both Harry and Hermione deserved a break.

Hermione. Dear Hermione. He had found Astoria's diary last week and had read through it. He had stopped after he had reached the entry detailing a conversation with Hermione about what Astoria had wanted her to do after Astoria's death. He hadn't forgotten the feelings he had once had for Hermione, but he had buried them deeply in order to focus on Astoria as Sirius had suggested in one of his dreams.

He recalled telling Hermione that they would have to wait seven years before they could act on their feelings for each other. Fate must have a sense of humor before they were both free now, just not the way that they had expected all those years ago. He had never expected for them both to be widowed, just like he had never expected to have fallen in love with Astoria either.

Six months was still the socially accepted period to wait before moving on after the death of a spouse, so he could pursue Hermione without the gossiping old biddies starting in on either one of hem of the tabloids speculating that something improper had happened between them. He didn't want to do anything to cause her problems. No, it was best to start small and court her properly. And make sure that the feelings that they had once held for each other were still true.

2008
Christmas Eve
Grimmauld Place

The former Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix was crowded. As had become tradition since that first Christmas after the War, the Weasley and Malfoy families gathered there on Christmas Eve every year. Their numbers had more than tripled since that first year with marriages and children. They had been joined this year, as they had most years, by the Snape family. Since the war, very few children had remained in the castle during the Christmas holidays. Most families had wanted to be together, leaving the staff free to make plans outside the castle.

There were several new additions to the group this year. From Hogwarts came Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Poppy Pomprey and Neville Longbottom with his wife Hannah. Hagrid and Madame Maxime had come from France. Ollivander and Minister Shacklebolt rounded out the group.

Minister Shacklebolt stood in the hallway just outside the door to the sitting room while Draco and Hermione stood in the doorway facing each other. Hermione's parents stood by her side and Lucius and Narcissa stood next to Draco, all four acting as witnesses as Draco and Hermione joined their lives together in marriage.

Harry also stood close by with the four children. Dark-haired Phineas, just over a year old, slept peacefully in his uncle's arms while his older brother Scorpi clung to Harry's leg. On Harry's other side Libby stood behind Marcella, with her hands resting on her new sister's shoulders. Every few moments, she grinned happily at her uncle. Libby's father, Ron, had died before she was a year old and though her many uncles made a point to spend time with her, she was excited to be getting another father. She was also excited about becoming a big sister and had already proven to be a big help with Draco's children. Libby had her mother's brains and Draco had quickly won his way into the girl's heart with books and trips to Muggle museums. Draco had further won her allegiance when he had asked for her permission to marry her mother and then offered to adopt the girl.

Draco stared into Hermione's eyes as they spoke their vows to each other. As he had courted her, he had fallen even more in love with her, something he hadn't really thought possible. He hadn't really understood before when his parents had talked about being soul mates. Arthur and Molly Weasley were soul mates and he knew that Harry and Ginny had been as well. He knew now that he had been looking for Hermione long before their final year at Hogwarts. It made sense to him now. He hadn't understood his feelings at twelve and thirteen and had picked fights with her instead. If he had figured it out sooner it would have saved them both so much heartache, but then they wouldn't have the four beautiful children standing under Harry's watchful eye. He was thrilled to finally be able to adopt Libby, whom he had secretly claimed as his own since she was born. Hermione had been wonderful with his own children. Even Marcella, with her Black stubbornness, had responded to her. He couldn't wait for them to finally be a family.

Present Day
Malfoy Manor

The last picture in the photo album was of Harry and Teddy right after Teddy had been Sorted into Gryffindor. The young Metamorphmagus had turned his hair red and gold to celebrate the occasion. Lucius closed the photo album. "That's the last one until Aurora has her baby and Libby gets Sorted," he told them.

"In Ravenclaw," Draco said as he and Hermione entered the library. Hermione had Phineas perched on her hip. "Mother was wondering where all of you disappeared to."

"Scorpi and I were looking at your mother's photo album and the others trickled in." Lucius stood, still holding Scorpi. "Let's go, children. If your grandmother is looking for us, we best stop hiding from our guests." He didn't see the smile that Draco and Hermione shared as he led the children from the room.

Once back out on the lawn Draco got everyone's attention. "Hermione and I have an announcement to make," he said, smiling at his wife and children. They had told the children last night and couldn't wait to tell the others.

Hermione smiled back at him. "I'm pregnant!"

THE END

AN: So here's the end of our little saga…at least for now. I may go back later and add another story or some one-shots, but for now I want to finish up some of the other stories I have in progress. I also have several new ideas that I'd like to work on, including a joint project with my sister Winceline (AKA The Brat) which is a Harry Potter and Agatha Christie crossover parody we're calling "Ten Little Voldemorts". We are both looking forward to allowing our somewhat twisted humor run free.

Thank you for sticking with me on this journey and I hope to see you all again in the future.