"Will you marry me?" Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a little white box and inside was a platinum band, elegant and simple but it was beautiful. Inside the band were words.

Pro umquam quod umquam , nos sto una.

For ever and ever, we stand together.

"Harry," Draco gasped, "Of course I will."

::That Evening::

"Everyone," Draco stood.

The long table was heavy with food and people. It was a large gathering involving all their beloved friends and family. Blaise had invited his half-brother and father and mother, Theo's mother was there sitting happily next to the Grangers and the Weasleys were all present and taking up a good deal of the table. Julian, Azriel, Zav, Remus, Sirius, Snape, Chael and Lucius were there too.

They all looked at him.

Harry stood, smiling. He lifted his glass of champagne and looked at all his friends.

"This morning," Harry began, "Draco and I got engaged."

Everyone gasped and cheered.

"I'm so happy for you," Hermione leapt up and hugged them both close.

"Thank-you," Draco kissed her cheek.

Lucius was almost smiling. Draco saw it and smiled at his father.

There was an understanding between them.

It relieved him that Lucius was pleased.

Perhaps pleased was not the word. Draco was relieved that his father was not angry. That was more appropriate phrasing.

People were bustling about, talking to each other and the now engaged couple.

"DIBS ON BEING HARRY'S BEST MAN!" Ron yelled into the loud chatter.

Harry laughed and walked to Ron's side.

"It was always going to be you, Ron," Harry smiled and Ron hugged him.

"I'm happy for you, man. Drake's a good guy," they looked to the blonde who was being hugged tight by Molly.

"I am lucky to have him," Harry said.

There were congratulations and cheers and dinner was eaten. Everyone shortly retired to the large parlor.

Zav, who was now nearly six now, curled up in front of the fire. Chael crawled over and sat by the boy, looking at him with interest.

"Tell us, tell us," Sirius laughed, "Tell us about these new rings, lads."

Draco looked at his father.

Lucius stood slowly, using his iron can for support.

"I have stepped down as head of the Malfoy family." He said and everyone looked at him in shocked silence, "Draco is now Lord Malfoy."

Julian looked at his cousin. Everyone just stared at the young blonde.

"Merry Christmas, Draco," they raised their glasses to him.

::January 30th::

"Hey," Draco walked in to Hermione's room. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Hermione smiled. She had a growing bump but rarely had morning sickness. She occasionally had strange cravings, mostly for bacon, and kept off her feet. Other than that the pregnancy was progressing marvelously.

"Good," Draco put a kiss to her temple and smiled.

"Where is Blaise?" she asked, sitting up.

"Around. I think he is meeting with Dumbledore right now," Draco seated himself and pulled out a folder.

"He has been doing that a lot recently," she frowned.

"Not of his own volition, mind you," Draco agreed. "I think it has something to do with his father."

"Really?"

"I can only assume."

"Why would Dumbledore care about Blaise's father?"

"Because Ridex is coming here."

"What for?" she asked, surprised.

"He is going to teach," Draco sighed.

"Teach what?" Hermione was horrified.

"Severus is going to retire. He wants to raise Chael and he thinks that teaching makes it harder for him to do that. Ridex is the best option for replacing him. He's smart, an amazing potioner, charismatic, a Syltherin to the core and a complete tool. He's like Severus but younger and Italian."

"Oh Merlin," Hermione shook her head. "How is Blaise handling it?"

"He's not had a tantrum yet so I imagine he is handling it all right."

Hermione nodded.

"So. Let's plan your wedding!" Draco opened his folder, "Do you have a time in mind?"

"I was thinking before the baby is born," she said, "Hopefully right after graduation."

"Okay," Draco nodded. "Have you thought about exact dates?"

She hummed, "We graduate June third so I think that the fifteenth would be good."

"And a location?"

"Theodore said we could use the manor grounds of his family home. There is a beautiful garden there."

"The west garden?"

"That one."

"You never told me how Theo proposed." Draco commented.

"Oh," she blushed. "It happened a while ago."

"And?"

"We were walking…

::November 14th::

It was a warm afternoon, unusually warm, in fact.

Hermione was wearing a sweater and a scarf just in case but Theo had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his tie undone. He held her hand and smiled whenever he looked at her.

"What's going on, Theo?"

"Nothing," he smiled wider, "That's the best part, Hermione. We took care of Cuida, the Death Eaters aren't a threat, the Dark Lord was neutralized, nothing is going on. It's amazing, really, how much there is to appreciate in the world when you're not preoccupied with war."

She looked at him and smiled. "You're happy then?"

"Never more so than now," he sighed. "I lived my entire life in fear, darling, now I can live my life in love."

She blushed.

"Hermione," he stopped her walking. "I want to live my life with you."

"Theo, what are you saying?"

"Marry me," he held her hands and stepped close to her. "We're having a child, we're adults and about to graduate. We're heroes and young and there's no one out there who I can imagine loving the way I love you. Just say yes."

She smiled, "Yes."

He kissed her.

::January 30th::

"So that's how it happened," she shrugged, "Nothing too special."

Draco smiled, "Theo isn't a born romantic."

"But he tried and that's what's important."

"Very true," the blonde bit the tip of his quill. "What more do we want to decide about your wedding?"

"I have been considering colors," she said, "I would like ivory and silver or ivory and gold. Which do you prefer?"

"I have always preferred silver but I think ivory and gold are a better wedding combination."

She nodded and made the note.

Blaise stormed in, "He's hiring my father despite my efforts."

Draco shook his head, "Ridex should not be trusted around children."

"I know! He's abandoned the only two he had and though he and I are speaking, I don't know that I really want him around all the time."

"You invited him to Christmas dinner, Blaise," Hermione reminded him, "Maybe your father is just trying to create a relationship with you and he thinks this is a way to do so."

"I don't like him," Blaise huffed. "It just feels off."

"He just wants to be close to you," Hermione insisted.

"Maybe. But anyways, what decisions have we made about the Knott-Granger wedding?"

They caught him up on the discussion thus far and Blaise cast a firm opinion on the color scheme.

::February 3rd::

"Hey!" Ron pushed open the door with his butt and then turned to show why his hands were not an option. He had six large packages in his arms. Blaise was sitting on the couch reading but stood to help the redhead. "Okay, so, I was in the Owlery, waiting for a letter from my mum when a swarm of birds delivered all these packages to me. I don't know what they are though."

"I think it's your clothes," Blaise said.

"My what?"

"I ordered you new clothes," he grinned. They sat down and opened the packages. Pants, shirts, sweaters, shoes, belts and scarves were strewn everywhere by the time they were done.

"Why do I have all this?" Ron laughed.

"So we can get dressed up for all the engagement parties and bridal showers we're going to have to go to," Blaise smiled. "Also so we can go on dates to Paris."

"Paris?" Ron looked at him incredulously. "When are we going there?"

"Whenever you want, darling," Blaise grinned.

Ron grinned. "Then we'll be going soon."

Blaise just smiled too. "So…all our friends are getting engaged…"

Ron looked at him, "Yeah?"

"I just want you to know…I'm in no rush to do so."

"Me either," Ron laughed.

"I do love you though," he added.

"I love you," Ron hugged him. "But we're seventeen and though we've had crazy lives I don't feel like I have to marry you right away. I will someday, just not right now."

"Someday?" Blaise quirked an eyebrow.

"Of course," Ron nodded. "When we're older."

"You're sweet," Blaise smiled and hugged him.

Blaise was happy with this. He was young and stupid and he did not want to mess around with getting married. He suspected that just being with Ron was better than having to be, especially at that point in their lives. It was good to know that Ron wanted to marry him.

That was enough.

::Somewhere within the castle::

"How are you doing?" Snape stood with his back to the room, searching with mild interest for a book.

"Okay, I suppose. I have been worse recently but I will be fine," Pansy was sitting languidly in a seat, stirring her lukewarm tea with a finger.

"You say that every week, child, yet every week you seem more isolated and paranoid."

"No one can blame me for me caution," she answered with acid.

"No one should," he corrected her, "But fear is best in doses, it is not a way to live."

"I did what I must to survive," she snarled. "It is how I was raised. I suffered to be here, yet now I suffer to stay? What right do any of these children or sheltered, cowardly adults have to criticize me? I died, twice, to win this war. Most of them cast no spells except ones to defend themselves. I am sick of being looked at like an ill baby, I am a Parkinson and that means the same thing it always has; beauty, power and the overwhelming drive to survive. I will do so, Severus, with or without the approval of the world."

He looked at the dark haired girl.

Her sister had left the school, returning to the family home and taking over there as their mother declined in health. Madam Parkinson, of all purebloods, had been deeply affected by the war and now her heart was weak. Pansy herself had been chased after for eight months, running all over Europe and fighting, nearly daily, for her life and watching humans die on a not irregular basis. She had changed. She was more cautious, less trusting, never inebriated and always had her wand in hand or nearly in hand.

She was still beautiful.

She was still a snake.

Now, however, she was scared.

Well Holy Merlin!

It's a semi-regular update!

WHHHHHAAAAT?

I know, right? I am really bad at this and I don't have an excuse, I just didn't write at this story for awhile. I had a new project going (still do) and that may get uploaded soon. I want to finish it before I start publishing so that I don't have anyone waiting 6 months or a year between updates (SORRRRYYY!)

I still love you guys and I still love this story. It's just...taking work.

It is moving a lot faster now so soon enough there will be weddings and births and then the end. I am aiming for six or seven chapters tops but probably a lot fewer than that. It's going to be brief but fulfilling, I think.

LOVE YOU!

~FireStorm