Five years had passed since Draco and his wife had graduated from Hogwarts and during that time a lot had changed in the Wizarding World.
And some things hadn't.
Whilst it had been reported on extensively in the Prophet and other publications about Hera's attack on Granger and how he and his father had saved her...there were witches and wizards who still looked down upon the Malfoy Family for the part they'd played in the war.
When word had gotten out about their engagement, they'd been across the pond at Camp Half Blood and then had spent the rest of the summer visiting Hector and Melinda. Both had been thrilled for the news of their cousin's engagement and had promised to do whatever was needed in helping to prepare the wedding when the time came.
Nico had returned to Camp and then followed Hermione back to London at summer's end. Theo had graduated with seven NEWTS and had gotten a job in the Department of Mysteries...and even though he couldn't tell his friends which department he was working in...it didn't take an Oracle to know which area the Head of the Department had placed him.
His boyfriend, was the Son of the God of the Underworld after all.
Nico had decided he rather liked school and McGonagall had allowed him to return to Hogwarts along with Percy and Annabeth. They each spent a couple more years learning about magic, and Annabeth had used some of Daedalus works to not only improve the wards around Hogwarts, but around both Malfoy Manor, Nott Manor and Hermione's Manor.
There had been some discussion about where they'd live after marriage. When Zeus had banished the drawing room from Draco's ancestral home, he'd altered the rest of Malfoy Manor and removed all the residual Dark magic from the walls, grounds and the dungeons—that had been banished as well and replaced with a useable basement.
It was a completely different home now, full of light and happy memories.
And he was spot on when he'd told his witch she'd love the library. He'd often find her in her favorite alcove on the second floor—reading through the more obscure tomes on alchemy, warding and magical laws.
Hermione had decided against working at the Ministry—much to everyone's astonishment including him. Zee had left the grounds at Hogwarts and had settled happily at Malfoy Manor. The woods were extensive on the southern border of the property and Zee seemed to like his new digs. When he wasn't flying with Draco and Hermione—he'd often be found nesting near the lake while Lucius would feed him. The only caveat was he couldn't eat Lucius prized peacocks.
It had been three years after graduation before Hermione had agreed to begin wedding planning. She had gotten her Mastery in Charms and became a Ward's mistress. Draco knew this was due to her desire to keep their future family safe. Percy and Annabeth had just gotten engaged and would be living at the Dagworth-Granger Manor after their wedding, while Nico had been happily living with Theo at Nott Manor for the past two years.
However, the biggest change had come about a year ago when the night of Percy and Annabeth's engagement announcement, Hermione had told him when they'd gotten home that she was pregnant.
His answer was to shag her silly and then spend the next nine months hovering around her like a mother hen—making sure she was resting, eating and taking her potions regularly. His parents had been thrilled and his normally stoic Father had left a vase of enchanted silver roses by Hermione's bedside every week for the entirety of her pregnancy.
A fact his little witch had been rather fond of.
That wasn't to say that her relationship with his Father was perfect. Far from that...but they'd learned to respect each other's differences and listen before they'd hex each other. Once she was pregnant Lucius had made it his mission to not antagonize Hermione—which she'd thought annoying as she wasn't an invalid and didn't need to be treated with kit gloves.
When she'd hexed his Father's hair pink after he'd made some scathing comment about House Elves, the gloves hadn't come all the way off—but things had returned their new normal.
Over the past five years Hermione hadn't seen much of her sister's...but every so often during the full moon, Hermione would sneak onto the grounds at Hogwarts and find her sister's engaged in the Hunt. Lady Artemis seemed to find her sister's choice to marry beneath her, and despite her loathing of men in general—it didn't stop the Goddess from wishing her sister well and promising to come to her aid if she ever had need.
Thalia had just hugged her fiercely and told Hermione that despite everything—she was glad they were sisters.
Apollo came and went without warning. Sometimes Draco would find him wandering the grounds of the Manor and other times he'd see the God skulking through Diagon Alley. Draco got the impression that Hermione's brother had been tasked to keep an eye on him...or perhaps he just felt compelled to be a nuisance as Draco was fairly certain the God of Oracles and Healing really didn't like him all that much and was just waiting for him to screw up somehow.
Bloody tosser!
Nico had taken Theo to the Underworld to visit his Father and Step-Mother and the ensuing conversation after they'd returned had everyone in stitches for months. Apparently, Persephone wasn't the least bit deterred that Theo didn't swing in her general direction and took it as a personal mission to try and seduce the poor wizard. He'd been so traumatized by the experience, he'd made Nico promise to never make him go for a home visit again.
Nico had just smirked, but made no such concession.
Draco realized belatedly how utterly Slytherin Nico was and he kind of felt a bit bad for his best friend who was always so smug and pompous in how much more diabolical he was than everyone else.
Theo didn't like to be reminded he'd been out snaked by a younger version of himself who was far more devious and powerful.
But Draco knew that Theo secretly relished in the fact—if the heated trysts he'd often find them in didn't speak to how utterly besotted Theo was.
Potter and the Weaselette had married three years ago and had just given birth to their first son, James Sirius Potter. They two were disgustingly happy and Draco's relationship with Potter while not friendly was at least tolerable.
Weasley still wasn't speaking much to Hermione—a fact she'd gotten over a few years ago. She had known Ron would be the last of her friends to get on board with their relationship and subsequent marriage.
Draco wouldn't care if he ever had to deal with the idiot again.
It was now the middle of the night and Draco woke up as he could've sworn he'd heard his daughter's whimpers from the next room. Getting up and pulling on a robe, he looked down to his wife—who was sleeping soundly as he grabbed his wand and silently moved to the next room.
When he entered, he pulled up short as he stared in shock at the sight. His daughter was wide awake and nestled perfectly content in the large arms of her grandfather, who was smiling down at her and whispering words that Draco didn't understand.
"My Lord?"
Zeus lifted his gaze and as his dark blue eyes settled upon him, Draco couldn't help the shiver that ran up his spine. The God of Sky then smirked when his granddaughter gurgled, her fist tightening around his large finger—clearly unhappy that her grandfather's attention had been taken away from her.
"Hello, my precious one." Zeus cooed as he lifted his granddaughter and nuzzled her cheek affectionately. "Please come in, Draco." Zeus drawled quietly, but his voice held a steel edge to it as Draco found himself moving into the room warily—his gaze never leaving that of his little princess.
"Good evening, My Lord."
Zeus sighed, and then Draco saw an exact replica of his favorite chair that he liked to hold his daughter in appear next to his Father-in-law.
"Sit." Was the command, and Draco complied immediately—settling in the chair comfortably all the while watching in fascination as his daughter's bright grey eyes never left her grandfather's face.
A few moments of tense silence followed as Zeus murmured more words in Greek before his gaze met the worried grey ones staring at him.
"Do get that look off your face, boy. I'm only here to see my precious one." Zeus paused and then sighed. "Is my Treasure, well?"
"She is, My Lord—although I'm sure she will be despondent at not being able to speak with you."
Zeus sighed and nodded. He had only seen his daughter once in the past five years and that had been the day of her marriage. He'd walked her down the aisle as was his right, but beyond that he'd stayed away and watched from the sky as she'd moved into adulthood and now—motherhood.
"I don't expect you to understand Draco. You will have the relationship with your daughter that I was never able to have with my Treasure. It is hard for me to acknowledge such weakness, even as I wish for it. I suppose in time, it will become easier."
"Has it, My Lord?"
Zeus expression was conflicted, before he tilted his head back down towards his granddaughter who smiled up widely at him. She was the same age as his treasure had been when he'd left Selene all those years ago. Now looking down at his witch's namesake, it was hard for Zeus to admit to the truth.
That he'd wished more than anything he could've been here for every minute of his daughter's life—and now his granddaughter's.
"No."
Draco nodded and the defeated word, knowing without words how hard this was for Hermione's Father.
"Selene is a beautiful name."
Draco smiled and said, "It seemed appropriate."
"You will take care of my girls, Draco Malfoy. If they should ever come to harm I will look no further than you for retribution."
"I know, My Lord and for what it's worth? If anything were to happen to either of them I'd gladly let you end me. I don't think I could live without either of them in my life."
Zeus gaze met his own and a silent understanding passed between the two, before the God of Sky stood and gently handed over his precious cargo to her father. His precious one frowned and let out a pained wail—almost as if she knew her grandfather was leaving her.
"I will return my precious one. "Tha eíste pánta evlogiménoi kai agapiménoi." (You will be blessed and loved, always).
Large grey eyes stared at her grandfather and then she graced him with one final smile and a slight giggle. Zeus nodded and Draco watched as the window opened and the God of Sky vanished into the wind.
Draco looked down upon his daughter, who was gurgling happily in his arms and his expressions softened. He couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Hermione's Father. Draco couldn't imagine not being able to hold his little princess everyday and watch her fall asleep every night.
She and her mother were his entire world.
He would have to remember to show Hermione the memory of this night, but for now he had a demanding daughter who seemed to be more interested in playing than sleep.
Crooning soflty, Draco sang a lullaby to his Selene and as he held her close—he realized that he'd been blessed beyond measure.
Life was good.