Author's Note: Thank you to everyone for your lovely comments! We are approaching the final few chapters here, and I'm so happy to have had so many of you stick with me through this story. Hope you enjoy!

Alpha love as always to Kyonomiko!

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Harry Potter franchise.

October 16, 2002

"Miss Granger," Healer Carlson said, looking up in surprise from a stack of paperwork on his desk, as she and Draco let themselves in through the open door of his office. "And Mr Malfoy. What a surprise. I was expecting to hear back from you via owl."

"Right, well," Hermione murmured, fidgeting with her hands. "Suppose we were interested in hearing whatever you had to say in person."

"Of course," Carlson clipped, gesturing to the chairs on the other side of his desk. "Please, take a seat."

Hermione slid into one of the chairs, glancing at Draco, who raised his brows as he took the other seat.

Carlson was staring at her, his brow furrowed slightly. His gaze flickered between them.

"You look different," he said, a tilt to his head. "Your magical aura, as well, seems altered."

"We've mated," Draco said shortly, his expression stern as he slouched a little in his seat. "And Hermione is also now free of her curse."

"Oh!" Carlson exclaimed, his face lighting up with what Hermione could only assume was academic curiosity, rather than genuine concern. "How fascinating. And how wonderful that you are free of your curse."

"Right," Draco drawled, "you had news about Hermione's parents?"

"Yes," Carlson said, settling his hands on his lap and leaning forward in his seat. He had obviously realized it wasn't the time to dig into veela mating. "It's a good thing you're already sitting down."

Hermione glanced at Draco again, but his stoic expression was fixed on the healer.

"When my team originally worked with Mr and Mrs Granger, a number of years ago, we saw no way around the memory charm Hermione had cast, as you know," Carlson prefaced, with a nod to Hermione, who was nervously chewing her lip. "But whenever we explore a person's brain in that way, we leave a backdoor in their mind – a sort of calling card – in case something ever changes. It simply instructs the patient in how they might locate me. Particularly, in this specific case, given your parents are Muggles and cannot see the hospital."

Beside her Draco huffed a sharp exhale but didn't express the impatience she was certain he was feeling.

"A day and a half ago," Carlson continued, pausing as he glanced between them. "Your parents showed up here, at the hospital."

"What," Hermione breathed, gripping the arms of her chair, her mouth suddenly dry, even as her racing heart leapt into her throat.

"They showed up?" Draco asked, blinking. "You mean, via this calling card."

"That seems to be the case," Carlson said, rubbing a hand down his face. "To be honest with you both, it looked as if nothing was ever going to change with Hermione's parents. Which is why this has come as such a shock."

"So wait, what?" Hermione repeated, struggling to wrap her head around what the healer was saying. "So they remembered having met you – or?"

"They came here, Miss Granger," Carlson said, leaning forward on his desk, "looking for you."

A breath caught in Hermione's throat; her knuckles were white as her hands gripped the arms of her seat. Draco's mouth fell open as he stared at the healer.

"They remembered her?" he asked, eyes wide.

"It is… unlike anything we have ever seen here," Carlson said, shaking his head subtly. "Like I said, we had very little hope anything would ever improve. Their minds had come to accept their new reality so thoroughly. They are, understandably, shaken up. But all of the tests we've conducted suggest they've simply reverted to their old existence."

"My parents..." Hermione breathed, her gaze fixated on a point on Carlson's desk. "Remember me?"

"They are, in fact, quite anxious to see you. It is for the best you've come straight here," Carlson said. "I simply wanted to prepare you prior to seeing them, because they have been quite out of sorts."

"I want to see them," Hermione gasped, glancing at Draco. "Now, please."

"Of course," Carlson said, waving a hand. "I will take you to them at once, and then I should like to debrief you again before they are released."

"Fine," Hermione whispered, her mind racing at the implications. What could possibly have changed? It couldn't have been –

"Let's go," Draco said, nudging her shoulder as he stood. He gave her a soft grin, his hand slipping into hers as he tugged her to her feet. He met her gaze, his eyes echoing the shock she felt. "I'd like to meet your parents. And it seems we've a wedding invitation to extend."

"Yes," Hermione choked, and she was grateful for Draco's grip on her hand as she followed along after him and Carlson, still not quite believing it to be possible.

"I should also mention," Carlson said, turning to them as he halted, his hand grasping a door handle. "The matter of trust will need to be addressed. The initial shock has worn off, but they are… rather shaken that Hermione performed magic to remove herself from their memories. In my clinical opinion, some therapy sessions might go a long way. Of course, at the present time, they are simply astounded and looking forward to seeing you."

"Noted," Hermione gasped. The thought wasn't new to her. It was something that had haunted her for years, even before she had been cursed – that they might never forgive her for breaching their minds in such an invasive way.

For now, she simply wanted to see them. She would have time for all the details later.

Carlson swung open the door, and it appeared to be a waiting room of some sort. Hermione carefully followed Draco in, her eyes darting around, furtive, as she looked for her parents.

Then her heart stopped and a breath caught in her throat, her eyes instantly welling with tears.

"Hermione," her mother gasped, and with a sort of strained cry, Hermione threw herself into her mother's arms, silent tears pouring from her eyes and when she pulled away, staring at her mother in a sort of suspended disbelief, Jean Granger was blinking through tears as well.

Hermione's hands slipped to rest on her mother's swollen belly, and she sniffled as a smile came to her face.

"You're pregnant," she breathed, and Jean laughed, swiping at her cheeks.

"Yes," she whispered. "It's a boy."

"I'm going to have a baby brother," Hermione said, smiling as she felt the baby kick.

And before Jean could say anything else, Hermione found herself swept into one of her father's fierce bear hugs, and she choked on a sob at the feel of his strong arms around her, something she had never allowed herself to believe she might feel again.

"It's good to see you, kiddo," her father said, his tone soft and face kind with a smile, and Hermione laughed, ruffling a hand through her father's wild curls. "Even though your mother and I would like to have some words with you about using your magic on us – from what the healers have told us, you were in dire straights up in England."

"All the more reason she shouldn't have gone out looking for trouble!" Jean exclaimed, swatting Patrick on the arm.

"We'll sort it all out later," Hermione said, biting her lip. She glanced at Draco, who had been patiently waiting to the side, and she loved him for it. "I want you to meet Draco Malfoy. He's – well, it's complicated, but he's my fiancé."

"Fiancé, eh," Patrick Granger muttered, stepping towards Draco, extending a hand, which Draco firmly shook with a nod.

"Technically, he's a rare magical creature, and we're magically bonded for life," Hermione said, and Draco snickered as he came up beside her. "So the wedding is just a formality, really."

"A rare magical creature," Jean Granger said, eyeing Draco with a curious look. "Hermione always did attract the most interesting sorts of people. It's a pleasure to meet you, Draco."

"Likewise," he murmured, bringing Jean's knuckles to his lips.

"What sort of magical creature?" Patrick asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm a veela," Draco explained, shoving his hands in his pockets, and Hermione nudged him in the side. "Which more or less means it's instinctive for me to select a mate for life, and to protect her with my own."

"I suppose I can deal with that," Patrick Granger said, his lips twitching.

"Dad," Hermione scolded. "Draco's wonderful." She cast a sidelong glance at the blond, who returned the look with a crooked grin. "You'll both love him."

"I'm sure we will," Jean said with a warm smile as she looked between the two of them. "Now, the healers have done all sorts of poking and prodding at us since we arrived here, and they said once we've met with you we will be discharged."

"Right," Hermione said, her smile faltering at the thought of being separated from her parents again so soon.

"Yes," Patrick said, nodding. "We've got a house to pack up and a life to uproot, you know."

"What?" Hermione choked, her gaze flying between them.

"Well, we're coming back to London, of course," Jean said, waving a hand. "Australia's been nice, but being pregnant in this heat! We'll like to be closer to you, of course."

Hermione let out a heavy gasp of relief, her eyes stinging with moisture again. "I'd love that. We have a flat just in London."

"Well, we'll come for a visit," Patrick said, clapping Draco on the shoulder, who gave a nervous smile.

"You'll have to mind my best mate who's a vampire," he contributed, as Hermione released a giggle.

"A vampire," Jean said, shaking her head. "This is all very fascinating. Hermione, you've been up to quite a lot!"

Hermione snickered, shaking her head. "You don't know the half of it, Mum."

"You'll have to tell us all about it once we're back in London," she said with a dismissive wave.

"Of course," Hermione whispered, sagging into Draco as her parents bustled about, collecting their things, and the four of them said their temporary farewells and went separate ways.

Healer Carlson, who had stepped out so they might have their privacy, returned as her parents were being discharged.

"If you'll come back to my office, please," he murmured.

Hermione exchanged a glance with Draco as they trailed after the healer. He draped an arm around her shoulders with a wide grin. "How's that for interesting!"

"Do you think it was –" she whispered.

"Who else could it have been?" he said with a shrug.

They took their seats at Carlson's desk once more, and the healer pulled a small package out of his top drawer.

"This arrived for you, shortly after your parents walked through the door," Carlson said, scratching the back of his neck. "As if someone knew you would be by soon."

Hermione exchanged another glance with Draco, her lips twitching.

"We've scanned it for curses, and it seems innocuous," Healer Carlson said with a shrug. "Even so, I'd suggest caution."

"Something tells me it isn't dangerous," Draco muttered, snickering, and the healer raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you," Hermione said, waving the small parcel. There was no note or return address on it. "I'll open this once we get home, if you don't mind."

"Of course," Healer Carlson said, rising to see them from the office.

"Healer Carlson," Hermione said, turning to the man. "Thank you, for everything. I'm glad to part on such a positive note."

"As am I, Miss Granger," the man said with a smile. "Should you ever need anything."

Hermione tilted her head in gratitude.

"And Mr Malfoy, if you ever feel like answering some questions about veela," Carlson said, his brows flickering, his question leading.

Draco chuckled. "Suppose I could sometime. Once everything is a bit more settled at home. Owl me then."

"Absolutely," Carlson said with a nod. "Take care."

Hermione found herself clutching the parcel tightly in her hands as Draco activated the Portkey, and shortly thereafter they found themselves back in London.

Hermione nearly stumbled over the couch, distracted, as she turned the package over and over, inspecting it. "Do you figure it's from the Witch Doctor?" she asked.

"I reckon so," Draco said with a shrug, as he dropped onto the couch. "Who else could have been responsible for your parents? And obviously, he'll know you've escaped the curse by now."

Hermione slipped her fingers beneath an opening in the nondescript paper, surprised to find the package wrapped the Muggle way, rather than sealed with magic.

It was a small bag, sealed with a thin metal tie, and her nose wrinkled in distaste as she got a whiff of its contents.

"It's that awful tea he brews," she said, giggling despite herself.

"Throw it away," Draco snickered. He handed her a small note that had fallen loose from the inside of the package. She read it aloud.

Hermione Granger

I wish you congratulations on finding the path to freeing yourself from your curse. I trust you and your mate are pleased. Sometimes, we must relinquish control and accept the help of others, and put others before ourselves, in order to truly learn the truth.

I hope you have learned this lesson in allowing the natural course of matters and magic. Your reward, as you know by now, is the return of your parents' memories.

Enjoy your new life with your new mate.

The Witch Doctor

PS. I know how much you liked my tea.

PPS. Do me the favour of never coming to visit me again.

Hermione chuckled as she looked at Draco, and he grinned in return.

"Okay," he muttered, "we'll save the tea. Maybe it'll grow on us."

Hermione's head spun with the whirlwind of the day, and when she finally sat down to breathe, she couldn't quite comprehend the implications.

Her parents were moving back, they remembered her, and she would have a baby brother – It was almost more than she could absorb all at once.

And not only that, but the Witch Doctor had actually done something helpful – and not just helpful, but according to the healers, miraculous.

That he had such a deep, unspoken well of magic was baffling – but that he used it to curse people for his own amusement left Hermione scowling, despite the gratitude she felt.

She would never understand the sorcerer's sense of humour, but hopefully, she would never need to.

It was the first time she had really felt completely at ease in years. Even prior to the war.

The first time she had real prospects of a life, uncursed, with her family and her mate.

Draco's eyes blinked open and met her gaze, having been nodding off on the couch, and a smirk came to his lips as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"What are you thinking of?" he asked, nuzzling her neck.

"Life," Hermione choked, the implications of it crashing over her like a wave. "My family, and my new brother, and the wedding and –" she gasped, blinking for several moments. "It's the first time, Draco, I've really been able to consider my own future. I can find a job, now, and make a difference."

"Yes it is," he said, a slow grin spreading across his face. "You know, I'll be going back to my potions apprenticeship soon, but I haven't owled Master Herrero yet."

"Why not?" Hermione asked, burrowing into his warmth.

"Because we're getting married in a few weeks," he muttered, pressing a kiss to the mark at the base of her throat. "And I promised my mate a pretty ambitious honeymoon."

Hermione gazed at him, feeling the depth of the words as they needled into her heart. The things they had talked about doing, had longed for, when everything had felt so bleak – it was more than a far-off hope now, or a desperate wish.

It could be their reality, and a breath caught in Hermione's throat at the thought of it. Her gaze flickered to the map Draco had hung on the wall of the sitting room.

"So," Draco continued, as if feeling the weight of her silence, "if there's anywhere we want to add to the list, we ought to do it now."

Hermione chuckled, rolling her head to look at him. "I don't need to go anywhere special, Draco. I'm happy wherever you are."

"I appreciate that, and I can assure you it's mutual," he muttered, his grey eyes sparkling, "but, I want to see the world with you."

"Okay," Hermione murmured, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "I'm sure we can think of a couple more."

October 17, 2002

Draco was helping Hermione prepare sandwiches for lunch – which meant swiping pieces of deli meat and eating them – when Theo's door swung open and the vampire emerged into the hall.

"Theo," Draco said, swallowing a piece of ham. "I didn't know you were back already."

"Yes, well," Theo said, waving a hand. "As it turns out, Wales wasn't all that interesting. I know, you were hoping I was going to stay there."

"Shut up," Draco said with a grin. His eyes widened as Sally-Anne followed Theo from his room, looking furtive as she gazed around the flat. "Sally-Anne. Welcome back."

He shifted a step closer to Hermione, monitoring the fresh vampire closely.

"Sally-Anne!" Hermione exclaimed, taking a hesitant step from the kitchen.

"Hermione," the girl said, fidgeting with her hands. "It's nice to see you again. And I'm sorry about last time – when I threatened to kill you."

Theo shifted beside Sally-Anne, shoving his hands into his pockets. "She's doing a lot better."

"I'm still adjusting," Sally-Anne said with an apologetic smile, "but Theo said the worst of it is over, and being around people will help."

"It helped Theo," Draco agreed with a shrug. "But I'll warn you right now, I won't hesitate if you ever go after Hermione."

His mate elbowed him in the ribs.

"I won't," Sally-Anne breathed, her eyes wide. "Theo told me all about everything. How you're a veela and Hermione's your mate. I think it's wonderful."

"Thanks," Draco said, his brow furrowed. Hermione's hand brushed against his arm and he smiled at her. "You're welcome to stay here with us, Sally-Anne, so long as you contribute around the house."

Theo pressed his lips together and his eyes flickered to Draco's, with a slight nod.

"Thank you, Draco," Sally-Anne said, fidgeting with her hands again. "Looks like a tasty lunch. I miss food. Can I help?"

"Maybe best not to get too close to them just yet," Theo muttered, tugging Sally-Anne towards the sitting room. Draco smiled as he watched Theo's hand find hers, glad for his friend to have found someone who would relate to him.

Hermione met his eyes, a spark of mischief in her chocolate gaze, as she prepared two plates of sandwiches, and two plates with blood bags. Draco snickered.

He delivered the plates of blood to the two vampires, then tugged Hermione onto the arm of the armchair as he settled in, making a mental note to get more furniture.

"So how was Sanguini's colony?" Hermione asked, chewing the crusts off of her sandwich.

"Ridiculous," Sally-Anne said, waving her bag of blood. "For a group of undead immortal fiends, they were all way too happy!"

Draco snorted on his glass of water.

"Each day of the week had a theme – games and sports, or music, or artistic endeavours – don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible. I had been expecting some dark, grimy pit in the ground… but it was incredibly strange." Sally-Anne chewed her lip then smiled. "I appreciate that you've let me come here."

"Of course," Draco said, waving a hand. "As if things aren't already crazy enough around here, what's one more?"

The four of them shared a laugh and Hermione smiled at him, saying, "I'm feeling a bit too human here."

Draco chuckled, tugging her closer. "You're my mate. Which means you carry some of my essence now, too."

"And soon to be wife, I hear," Theo said with a grin. He raised his blood in a mock toast.

"Yes," Hermione said, smiling down at him again, and Draco found his breath momentarily swept away. "Very soon."

Draco beamed at her; this was the best he had felt in as long as he could remember.