A/N- I am so sorry for the delay in posting this chapter. School started this week, and I am having trouble teaching content both online and in person. It is a bit daunting, to say the least. I thought I'd have the time to finish this before Monday, but it took to long to perfect my lesson plans for both formats.

One more chapter before I start the sequel! Once I get the hang of things with this hybrid teaching model, I'll have more time. LOL!

Chapter 20: Summer - June 22, 1999

Unbidden tears tore at Draco's eyes as he woke before the sun. He'd been both anticipating and dreading this day. His probation was officially over. It'd been an entire year since his trial, the day that changed his life forever. His existence was so completely altered that he hardly remembered what it was like to wake up in terror every morning like he had when Voldemort was alive. He'd scarcely had a nightmare about it in months. Not since his first kiss with Hermione had he shouldered the weight of those sleepless nights. It wasn't just her that changed his life though, and it's why he was so anxious about this day. As it had been for years, Hogwarts had been a safe haven from his home. Now more than ever. Of course, he was nervous, scared really, of what sort of obstacles he'd face once he left this place, but Hermione ensured him that they'd face it all together. The actual reason he felt those dreadful tears begging to stream down his face was because he was saying goodbye to the faculty that had nurtured him over the course of this difficult year. Each one of the staff had found a way to support him in some form or fashion. Whether it be their forgiveness, allowing him to help make amends, or taking an interest in his future plans, they'd all worked together to mend the broken pieces of the boy they'd fought against to build the man they'd fight for.

And Hagrid. How would he survive without the half-giant looking out for him? Merlin, he'd been the first person to treat Draco like a human being, the first to truly see him at all. Snape had cared for Draco in his own way, but Hagrid actually showed the affection that the blond wizard had craved his entire life. What would he do without their weekend fires? Even through the winter months. The wizard had used his magic to block the harsh Highland winds and cleared the firepit of snow. They'd sit and drink until all that was left were ashes. Ugh, he was starting to sniffle. This was quite pathetic.

"Draco! Are you alright? What's happening?" Hermione awoke with a start, already reaching for her wand. Ever the warrior, she sat up, searching for the danger. Her heavy breathing started to subside as she realized there was no threat in their room. The wild-haired witch turned to him, blinking her eyes several times and cocking her head in confusion as if her husband's red-rimmed eyes couldn't be real. Squeezing his eyes tightly shut, he quickly turned away. He didn't want her to see him this way. "Please don't hide," she whispered as she rubbed her hand across his chest. "Talk to me...what's wrong?" Hermione implored. The wizard angrily swiped at his eyes with the heels of his hands.

"It's silly. I hadn't meant for you to see me like this. I'm sorry," he said, clearing his throat and attempting to rebuild the walls of a skilled Occulemens that he'd long-abandoned. Crying like a child in front of Hermione was completely mortifying.

"Look at me, Draco," his wife commanded, pulling his hands away from his face. It was stupid, but he squeezed his eyes even tighter. Before he knew what was happening, she was straddling him, kissing his tears, and pressing her magic into him. Her emotions poured into him. Love, concern, love, frustration, love. Pure unconditional love. It was so strong that he thought his heart might burst. "Look. At. Me." she said, punctuating each word with a tone that brooked no argument. His eyes popped open. "Tell me what's wrong. Please." Taking a deep breath, he sat up and held her on his lap.

"I was just thinking about..-er, leaving and...having to say goodbye...especially to Hagrid," he choked out as he averted his eyes from her gaze. Hermione grabbed his face with both hands until he looked back at her. She snogged him hard before he felt the smile on her lips. "Don't laugh at me, witch. This is completely embarrassing. I'm surprised you can still stand to look at me," he said with indignation.

"Of course, I'm not laughing at you," she soothed. "In fact, I find you to be incredibly sexy right now," she said seductively. His witch exuded lust, which rolled over him like waves in the ocean. Hermione began kissing him deeply as if they hadn't made love in this bed and this castle for the last time the night before.

"Don't get used to it," he huffed. If this writhing witch wasn't in his arms, he would probably have them folded across his chest like a petulant child. Watching her buck against him was helping to calm him down. The humiliation he felt just a moment ago dissipated. Salazar's bollocks, how did he get so lucky?

"I love it when you open up to me. Don't you feel completely connected right now?" his wife said breathily. He nodded his assent, growling as she sucked his earlobe into her mouth. With that, he couldn't wait a moment longer to have her, not even to disrobe. He pulled down the front of his boxers, moved her knickers to the side, and took his wife for, presumably, the last time at Hogwarts.

"It's okay to feel upset. Goodbyes are always hard," Hermione assured Draco as they stood outside the Great Hall for their final breakfast with the staff. He sighed deeply knowing she was right. They'd talked about how repressing his feelings for almost his entire life was not actually healthy. It was hard to let that go because he knew that emotions of any sort would disappoint his father. He shouldn't care and hated himself for unconsciously yearning for that abhorrent man's approval, but old habits die hard. Then again, he'd been soul-bound to a muggle-born witch, so he should prepare for a lifetime of never receiving Lucius' approval.

"I love you with all that I am, you perfect fucking witch!" Draco said, kissing her on the cheek.

"How poetic of you to work expletives into your sentiments of love, Mr. Malfoy," Headmistress McGonagall admonished. The couple hadn't heard her approach during their conversation, but both their faces stained bright red. The older witch tentatively smiled. "Certainly, you can do better than that. I've heard prettier words from two generations of horrible Malfoy men before you. You're the only decent thing to come from that line, so the least you can do is best them in the art of decorum."

"I apologize, Headmistress. When I finally have the chance to publicly say my vows to my wife, I'll prove myself to you by mesmerizing her with my charm, completely devoid of expletives, of course," Draco said with his most captivating smile.

"I'm sure you will, Mr. Malfoy, and I wouldn't miss it for the world," she replied fondly, leading the way through the doors of the Great Hall.

After over an hour spent with the professors, Draco and Hermione had come to love, it was time for them to go. They'd promised to visit Narcissa as soon as they left, then they had a long few days of finding a place to live. A collective dread fell over the table as the two students stood to leave. Draco and Hermione made their way down the line the staff had formed in hopes of providing the young couple with a proper sendoff.

"Get in your last hug now, Trainee Malfoy. I won't be so kind to you when I see you in August," Auror Jones said with mirth. Draco laughed. "You'll just know deep down that you're my favorite when I'm being especially cruel," she said with a smirk.

"Please make use of those silencing charms, Mr. Malfoy," Professor Flitwick winked at Draco when it was his turn to say goodbye, causing both men to chuckle.

"If either of you needs anything, do not hesitate to ask," the headmistress said as she started to choke up, her eyes glossing over. "I know you will both go on to do great things," she said, pulling them both in for a hug. "Off with you now. We can't just stand here blubbering all day," the elder witch shooed them toward the door where Hagrid stood. His face was splotchy and streams of his sadness spilled down his rounded cheeks and disappeared into his beard. Hermione ran into his waiting arms. Draco stood watching for a moment, his emotions on the tipping point. The half-giant looked up and opened his arm for the young wizard to come over.

"Come 'ere, my Draco," Hagrid cried. Everything the Slytherin had been holding back since this morning came rushing forward, and he took two long strides to close the space between himself and his former professor. "Ey know we'll be seein' each other, but ey'll miss yeh so much!" the gamekeeper wailed. "Once ey'm back from my trip to see Madam Maxime, we'll pick up our weekly…" he looked around to make sure no one else could hear, "...drinks," Hagrid whispered.

"Definitely," Draco sniffled as he pulled back to meet the tall man's eyes. "I just want to thank you for...everything really, but mostly just for being there when I needed a friend. You were on my side since the beginning of all this, and I can't tell you how much your support saved me from drowning in this new life," he explained through shaky breaths. "Merlin, if it weren't for you, I'd have never thought I had a chance in hell with this witch. We both know I don't have enough money in my vaults to thank you for that," the blond chuckled.

"Yeh're a good wizard, Draco. Once ey knew tha', ey knew yeh were good enough fer our Hermione," he hugged the witch tighter, leaving her gasping for air. "-Er, sorry there, Hermione." She backed up and squeezed Hagrid's hand, allowing him the extra time with her husband. "Alrigh', best to move along. No' goodbye, cause ey'll be seein' yeh real soon. Bring Harry, Ron, and Blaise with yeh sometimes too."

Draco backed up and grabbed his wife's hand, squeezing it tightly. With a final nod, they walked out of the castle for the last time and made their way to the apparition point to Malfoy Manor.

July 10, 1999

"He hit you?" Harry questioned in disbelief, taking a sip of his Firewhiskey.

"In the face?" George asked as he tried to contain his giggling. Rolling his eyes, Draco gave a stiff nod.

"I can't believe it," the dark-haired wizard said, shaking his head. Ron was laughing so hard, tears streamed down his face. He kept trying to speak but collapsed in a fit of giggles every time he opened his mouth.

"Let me get this straight. You told the bloke to 'give me your worst,' dropped your wand, and he hit you right in the face. Is that right?" Blaise asked sarcastically. Ron slapped the high bar table between them as he tried to breathe through a fresh bout of laughter.

"Yes," Draco gritted through his teeth. "You'd think my wife would have warned me that her father was some sort of professional muggle fighter in his youth," he added grumpily.

"David Granger was in an amateur boxing club at university," Harry chuckled. "And no less than 25 years ago," he added.

"Muggle fighting skills or not, I still don't understand why you asked him to hit you?" George asked curiously.

"The man just found out that his only daughter erased his memories to protect him from a magical war, and she married the boy who not only relentlessly bullied her in school but also fought on the wrong side of the war. I thought it best to allow him to take his anger over the situation out on me rather than her. After everything, I deserved it, and he needed to feel as if he was somehow protecting his daughter," Draco explained. Ron suddenly sobered at the blond wizard's words.

"Wow, mate. That's actually respectable," the Gryffindor wizard said in surprise. The Slytherin gave him a sort of half-smile, knowing that was Ron's attempt at a compliment.

"You should have seen his face when the memories returned. All I could think about is how I would feel if it were me. If I ever have a daughter that meets a little shite like me, I will murder him without any regrets," Draco declared as he took a sip of his Firewhiskey.

"I'll help you. No witch should be saddled with a prat like your younger self," Blaise said with a smirk. George, Harry, and Ron raised their glasses in agreement.

"Would I be able to get that memory from him and watch it in a pensieve?" the younger Weasley asked as he burst into another laughing episode.

"I think the Grangers are quite done with anyone tampering with their memories, you git," Harry said before Draco could respond. They sat quietly for a moment before the dark-haired wizard asked, "How did Hermione react? I can't picture her being fine with that."

"She doesn't know, of course. I was being crazy, not stupid. Once I saw his reaction, I just asked him to take a walk with me, and as soon as we were clear of the house, it happened," the blond explained. "I laid on the ground in pain for a while before he apologized and handed me my wand to fix it. All was forgiven when I told him he was the second Granger to break my nose."

"Do you think her mother will let me buy her out of her turn to punch you in the face?" Blaise quipped as he lightly pushed his best mate in the shoulder. The three Gryffindor wizards fell all over themselves with laughter. Draco rolled his eyes and elbowed the Italian wizard in the ribs.

"I knew I'd regret meeting you lot for a pint at the Leaky Cauldron," the blond said hastily as he knocked back the rest of his drink and stood to get another.

"Don't be put out, mate. You couldn't have thought the four of us would be mature enough to handle that story like gentlemen," Blaise stated matter-of-factly. Draco knew he was right; they reacted exactly as he thought they would.

"At any rate, they will be coming to the wedding in January. I asked you four arseholes here to see if you'll...stand with me at the ceremony," the blond wizard asked awkwardly, looking down at the table and toying with his napkin.

"Only if I'm the best man. I will settle for nothing less," Blaise said, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"You're the only one I knew would say yes, so you get to be the best man by default," Draco answered in jest.

"Of course, Draco. I'm truly honored," Harry smiled. "Now I'm mad I didn't listen to Gin when she told me to write and ask if you'd stand with me. I wasn't sure if you'd accept, and now our wedding is only a week away."

"Fifty points to Slytherin for uncharacteristic bravery, beating Potter at friendship, and buying a round for the table! I won the day! Take a shot!" Draco whooped. Harry playfully glared at his former enemy.

"If either of you starts doing muggle exercises, I'm leaving," Blaise scoffed at the two competitive wizards.

"I'll buy the next three rounds, immediately contact my wedding planner to add you to the wedding party," Harry poignantly looked over to the Italian wizard, who nodded in return, "and I'll ask you and Hermione to be godparents to our firstborn child," Harry countered, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey! Don't start bargaining off our future nephew or niece, Potter!" George exclaimed, pointing between himself and Ron. He turned to Draco. "Obviously, yes. I already told you I'd stand with you in my letter a month ago even though you hadn't asked."

"Thank you, George," he said appreciatively. "As for you, Potter, Of course, you would have already chosen Hermione as a godmother, so I'd be the godfather by default, therefore, you aren't really choosing me. I need a ruling if I still win the day, Blaise," Draco turned to the Italian wizard.

"As your best man, I officially rule that you win the day, and I'm still holding Potter responsible for all of his promises," Blaise declared proudly.

"My glass is looking rather empty, Harry. You better start fulfilling that first promise and get the next round," George said with a grin, enjoying the look of defeat on his future brother-in-law's face. "Make mine a double," he winked.

"You really want me up there with you, Malfoy?" Ron asked in disbelief after sitting quietly for the last few minutes. Somewhat taken aback by the question, Draco looked up to meet the Gryffindor's eyes and nodded. "Why?"

"I thought that we...that maybe we are...friends now," the blond stammered. "But you don't…-er...well, you don't have to…," he trailed off, feeling slightly embarrassed that he misread how close they'd grown over the many months that had passed since the Halloween Masquerade.

"No...No, I want to. Is that what we are then? We're friends now?" Ron asked awkwardly, a blush creeping up his neck.

"Yeah. I mean I thought so," Draco offered with a smile.

"Alright, mate. Yes, I'll definitely stand with you," the younger Weasley said more confidently. "Make mine a double too, Harry."

July 17, 1999

The youngest Weasley floated down the stone path aisle leading toward the man she'd fallen in love with as a young girl. Though his formal wizarding robes were perfectly tailored for his muscular physique, his hair was still unruly regardless of how hard Blaise tried to charm it into place. Ginny walked proudly toward her future on the arm of her father, who was having a hard time concealing his joyful tears.

"I wouldn't trust my only daughter to any other man," Arthur proclaimed earnestly as he placed Ginny's hand in Harry's. The couple was beaming as the Weasley patriarch took his place next to his weeping wife, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her in close to his side.

As two of Hermione's best friends took the traditional vows of a wizarding wedding, she couldn't help getting lost in her husband's eyes as he stood across from her in the line of men by Harry's side. Watching her friends promise themselves to one another was one of the most beautiful events she had ever witnessed. Although she and Draco would already be married for a year when they hosted their formal wedding in January, she was looking forward to saying their vows in front of all of their friends and family.

Magic filled the air when Minister Shacklebolt uttered the incantation for matrimonial binding. Silver swirls of light wound around the couple's bodies until the binding was sealed with a kiss. Suddenly, Harry's silver stag and Ginny's silver horse burst forth, galloping around the newlyweds. The crowd gasped at the appearance of the corporeal Patronuses, a sight to behold on any day, especially at a wedding. From across the aisle, Draco glanced at Hermione with a slight roll of his eyes, and she laughed in return.

"Nice parlor trick at the end there, Mr. and Mrs. Potter. Wherever did you come up with the idea to cast a Patronus as you kissed?" the blond challenged sarcastically as the wedding party lined up for the photographs before the reception.

"Who guessed under five minutes before Malfoy called us out for our little spectacle during the kiss?" Ginny asked the group.

"Hermione and guessed under five, so you all owe her five galleons each," George announced, pulling a ripped piece of parchment out of his pocket and holding it high for the rest to see. "Harry bet on an eye roll during the ceremony, and Blaise guessed he would make some sort of growl or scoff when he saw Ron walk his wife down the aisle, so that's a galleon from everyone to each of them. Ceremony bets will be accounted for after the event, so don't be greedy," the cunning Weasley instructed.

"You made wagers about me?" the Slytherin wizard asked haughtily.

"Of course, we did, mate," Blaise answered with a smirk. "You're too easy to predict."

"In a totally unrelated topic, have you had some sort of dance lessons growing up?" Ron queried obtusely.

"Sorry, Weasley, I have two left feet when it comes to dancing," Draco glared at the Gryffindor wizard. Hermione laughed behind her hand, knowing her husband had formal dance lessons throughout his childhood.

Somehow, Blaise had managed to book a castle overlooking the sea for Harry and Ginny's wedding. The view was breathtaking as the couple entered the Great Hall to the sound of applause and waves crashing against the rocky shore, fairy lights surrounding them as they made their way through the crowd. Draco draped an arm over Hermione's shoulder while they watched their friends dance for the first time as husband and wife. He kissed her softly on the cheek, and she could feel his watchful gaze appraise the tears of joy streaming down her face.

"Even if it will be a year late, I can hardly wait to celebrate our own special day," the blond whispered in Hermione's ear. They'd talked about it many times over the past few months, but they only started to solidify their plans once they'd restored her parent's memories. As soon as she had them back, it seemed all the more important to have a ceremony. Not only did Hermione feel like she owed it to her parents to take part in all of the traditions, but she and Draco also wanted the day for themselves. In the future, they'd want to show their children pictures and tell them stories of their beautiful, perfect wedding.

Over 500 witches and wizards from all over Europe were in attendance of the Chosen One's nuptials. If Harry had his way, most of them wouldn't have been invited at all, but Minister Shacklebolt wouldn't hear his protests. It was a diplomatic event whether the newlyweds wanted the recognition or not. As a child, Harry had played his role as savior of the wizarding world because it was something he felt he had to do, but he absolutely despised the attention that came with it. After about two hours of being polite to appease his guests, the bespectacled wizard grew tired of the small talk and wanted to enjoy his night with Ginny. Hermione recognized the frustration behind his tight smile and decided to help her best friend before he regretted hosting a wedding at all.

"Shouldn't you be dancing with the bride?" she said loudly enough for the crowd surrounding Harry to hear. He shot her a grateful look.

"Yes, you're right. If you'll all excuse me, I don't want to disappoint my new wife for the rest of the evening," he winked at the crowd. As soon as he was free, he grabbed Ginny from her conversation with the French Minister, offering an apology, and led her to the dance floor. The two were lost in one another for the rest of the reception.

It wasn't long before Draco saved Hermione from the onslaught of people vying for her attention since Harry had left them. Luckily, the public was still too wary of her husband to protest when he stole her away to the dance floor.

"You know you're letting Ron win a bet by showing off your dancing skills?" Hermione teased.

"Let him win. The way he's been looking at Pansy all night, he'll need the galleons to afford a ring that she would actually wear in public," he said with mirth as he cocked his head toward the couple. They swayed slowly to the music with their foreheads pressed together and smiling, too in love to care about anything outside of themselves.

"You sound like a Hufflepuff," she chuckled as he spun her gracefully around the room.

"Watch it, witch, or I'll show you how Slytherin I can be," he said low into her ear.

"Is that a promise?" she asked teasingly. He gave her a heated kiss in return, leaving her breathless.

July 18, 1999

Malfoy,

It's time to buy a ring, and I need help. I hate to beg you, but I will. Tell me when and where, and I'll be there. Bring Blaise.

Ron