I took some liberties with the Potter kids' ages. Don't hate me for it. I thought I'd post the Epilogue now and then start posting a new story I'm working on a little later. Thank you so much to everyone who read my story. It always makes my day to see a new fanfiction email come through on my phone! Partly because it means people like it, and partly because I really like hearing my Hunger Games ringtone.

Epilogue

Grace Malfoy studied her reflection in the full length mirror that hung on the back of her bedroom door. For as long as she could remember, she had shared a room with her sister on the second floor of the Diagon Alley Orphanage. Other kids had come and gone, but she and Effy remained. That was, until Effy left for her first year at Hogwarts. And now it was her turn.

Dressed in her Hogwarts uniform, Grace smiled as she pulled her long blonde hair back into a ponytail. With a stack of books under her arm, she left her room for the kitchen where her mother was preparing breakfast for her charges. "I'm so excited, Mummy," she enthused. "Merlin, Hogwarts. Finally. Did you feel like this when you went for the first time? What about Daddy or Effy? I hope we get put in the same house. I want to be a Gryffindor."

Hermione Malfoy chuckled and magicked the eggs to scramble on the stove. "Your daddy won't be happy to hear that," she replied. "You might be his only chance of having a child in Slytherin house."

Grace shrugged and poured herself a glass of juice. "He's still got Scorpius," she pointed out. "Little demon brat that he is will fit in perfectly there."

Hermione kissed the top of her head and murmured, "A little kindness please."

Rolling her eyes, she set down her juice glass and opened the bread box. Removing a loaf of bread, she began to slice it for toast. She and Hermione were discussing magical methods for cooking when Draco entered with his three year old son seated on his shoulders.

"Please stop doing that," Hermione scolded, taking her youngest from her husband. "Is Effy up yet? We have to be out of here in an hour. I'd like her to have some breakfast before we leave. It's such a long trip to the school, and I don't want either one of you filling up on garbage from the candy trolley."

"But Daddy already gave me money for it," Grace whined.

Hermione glared at her husband of seven years. "What?" he asked. "I gave money to Effy too. Have every year since she started. And, because I felt guilty, I also slipped Danny and Krissy a few coins as well. I couldn't help myself. They've been my kids just as long as Gracie has."

With that one sentiment, Hermione knew she couldn't be angry with him. Daniel and Krissy had been residents of the orphanage long before Draco and Grace had arrived eleven years earlier. Neither had been adopted, but the couple never minded playing parents to them. They had even been a part of their wedding ceremony; Daniel as ring bearer and the three little girls as flower girls. The money they had finally received years after Narcissa promised it went towards the children's schooling.

The kitchen door swung open and a harried Effy entered. "Gracie, one of the kids got into your trunk and threw clothes all over our room. I thought I told you to always keep the door shut," she chastised. Grace groaned and left to clean up the mess. "Mum, my skirt ripped. Do you think you could fix it?"

Nodding, she traded her son for the skirt and set about repairing the torn hem. Draco moved to the stove to check on breakfast and told Effy to let Scorpius join the group in the dining room. Alone now, he turned off the stove and plated breakfast. "I, uh, wanted to talk to you about your sister," he started. "I know the two of you don't always get along, and I understand that, but I'm hoping you'll keep an eye out for her. No pulling any of that 'I'm fifteen, older, cooler, I have my own friends' garbage on her. This is the first time she's ever been away from home. Just make sure she settles in okay."

With a smile, she kissed his cheek. "I promise, Daddy," she replied. "You know, I heard a rumor that you had a very similar talk with Krissy before I started my first year."

He wrapped his arms around the teenager. "I gave Dan the same lecture the year he and Krissy started Hogwarts, too," he told her. "And I'll give the next kid the same one when another one goes. I'm a dad, that's what I do."

"I'm glad to be your daughter," she told him.

Draco smiled and kissed the top of her head. The day he had proposed to Hermione, he asked to adopt Effy. They would become a family, and Effy deserved to carry the Malfoy name as well. "I'm glad to be your father," he replied. Then he handed her the breakfast platter and sent her out to feed the rest of the house's residents.

Finished sewing, Hermione left Effy's skirt on the table and rose to hug her husband. "I hate when she leaves," she told him. "I hate when any of them leaves. I don't want Gracie to go with her."

Grace had been her daughter from the moment the Malfoys had set foot in the orphanage. Hermione had been the only one Draco trusted with his newly born child, and she had stepped up to the task. When Grace said her first word - Mama - she had said it to Hermione. There was no way Draco could deny the bond between the two, and had asked her to adopt his daughter after they married. Though Draco had told Grace about her birth mother, Hermione was the only mother she truly knew.

"It's never the same around here without them," Draco agreed. "My little trio. And now they're taking Gracie too. We still have Scor, I guess."

Hermione laughed. "And four little orphans who need a family," she added.

"Mummy, the Potters are here!" Grace called to her.

Hand in hand, the Malfoys left the kitchen to greet their friends. By Harry's side were his two sons, James and Albus, and Ginny held their newborn daughter, Lily. It had been mere weeks after James's adoption that they learned Ginny was pregnant with their son.

"Hi, pretty baby," Hermione cooed, taking Lily from her mother's arms.

"I Mama's baby," Scorpius said defiantly, tugging on Hermione's pant leg.

Draco laughed and picked him up. "Mama's not replacing you," he assured the little blond. Then he turned to Harry and shook his hand. "Ready to go back to Hogwarts?"

Harry snorted and shook his head. "It was surreal enough going on my own," Harry replied. "At least I only have one going. You've got four. You,my friend, have turned into a Weasley."

Neither man had to look at Ginny to know that she wore a look of great disapproval. Over the years, Draco and Ron had managed to put the past behind them and form a tentative friendship. "There are worse things to be," he replied, smiling at his friends.

"Like a Malfoy?" Ginny offered.

"I a Maffoy," Scorpius proudly declared.

Ginny tickled his stomach. "And my favorite Malfoy man," she told him.

Choosing to ignore her gentle barb at him, Draco changed the subject. "Thanks for watching the kids for us, Ginny," he said.

The redhead shrugged. "I have a personal mission to make that A.J. kid like me," she told. "If I didn't, I would have told Hermione to find another babysitter."

"Our usual sitter couldn't make it," Hermione informed her, huffing with frustration. "Who tells a person the night before that they're going on holiday?"

Effy and Grace came downstairs with their trunks and stopped near the front door. "Mum, we really should get going," Effy said.

Hermione sighed. "Yeah, we should," she replied sadly.

The End