As they prepared for the Christmas do-over in separate rooms, Hermione appraised herself in her full-length mirror. In these snowy robes, she felt like she was floating in a cloud of sparkle. Ginny had given her Molly Weasley's newest hair curl formula, which made her curls float down her back in perfect spirals. She had pulled the front pieces of her hair back with a starry comb, and crystal dangles hung from her earlobes. Her eyelids were swiped in a dusky blue, which made the caramel tones in her eyes stand out, and a touch of silver in the corners gave her some extra sparkle. She twisted the ring on her finger and smoothed the front of her robes. In the mirror, the blue stones stood out against the white. Maybe she was a gemstone kind of girl, after all.

A knock sounded on her door but the entrant didn't wait for an answer before throwing the door open. A house elf stood in the doorway to the bedroom with a bouquet of wildflowers, freshly picked. "Where is the witch who has made my master giggle to himself when he thinks nobody is around?" the house elf announced.

" Ermina! " Draco called defiantly from the living room.

Ermina held the bouquet out to Hermione, who bore an expression of surprise and delight. "Cor! You are a wonder, madam. I hope you don't mind me saying so. My master has neglected to allow me the pleasure of meeting you-"

"I told you not to rush her, not that you couldn't meet her," Draco corrected.

Hermione laughed and took the bouquet. "Thank you!" She placed the flowers in an empty jug on her dresser.

Ermina rolled her eyes. "He's reluctant to share you. He's always been like that when he's obsessed with something. Got a kitten for his sixth birthday. I didn't see it until it was down to three lives."

"Alright, I've heard enough!" Draco stepped into the room and Hermione covered her mouth. He had indeed decided on velvet-an emerald green velvet open robe which swirled around his feet with a border of silver embroidery. He had opted for a dark green vest and trousers, which had a fine silver pinstripe pattern throughout, and a black shirt with a straight collar. The best part were his loafers, which were also velvet and and embroidered with his monogram. He had coiffed his hair in such a way as to be perfectly tamed with pomade, but with some height, and he had the sides undercut.

Draco's dimples deepened, and he sighed. "I hope your silence means I look alright; otherwise I'll have to change!"

"You know you look wonderful, Draco Malfoy. In that coat, you make Dorian Grey look humble," Hermione teased.

"She's got you there!" Ermina cackled.

"Mmm. She most certainly does." Draco held out his hands to Hermione and took her in. "My gods. Titania has been uncrowned."

"Do you like my robes?" Hermione asked. "I thought maybe they were too bridal, but Ginny said the white was nice, and I didn't wear a wedding dress, so-"

"My darling wife, I would marry you all over again in these robes if you wish. White is very nice. I don't think I deserve someone so beautiful."

"Do you talk to her like this all the time?" Ermina scoffed. "I might be sick."

"Hush, you," Draco said, pressing his lips to Hermione's. "I love her, I get to say whatever I want." He paused. He cleared his throat and his gaze flicked to hers to gauge her feeling about his sudden admission. "If it's all the same to you… I'd like to leave that particular topic for now."

Hermione cupped his chin. "It is the same. For me. I have been a little bit in love with you since you bought me breakfast, and I am scared witless about it. But you have me."

"I do," He breathed. He shook his head and pulled her against his chest. "She's in love with me," he murmured.

"Lady Malfoy indeed." Ermina clapped her hands happily.

"Just call me Hermione ," Lady Malfoy said with a laugh into Draco's chest. "A title is too fancy to wear every day."

"Shakespeare's tragic queen!" Ermina gasped. "I'm head over heels, Master. I'll give her whatever she wants. I'm convinced. I am wooed! " The house elf faux-fainted against the footboard of Hermione's bed in a dramatic swoon. Hermione held out her hand to Ermina, who took it warmly.

"I've heard you're a great fan of Agatha Christie, so we'll get along famously." She winked at Draco. "Come, Lord Malfoy. We have a party to attend."

"Finally," Ermina said. " I have a date with Hercule Poirot and a cup of tea and that marvelous green chair of yours. So, scoot!" She shooed them towards the living room.

"Ermina, do you mind feeding Crookshanks?" Hermione asked, sleeving her wand.

"Of course not." The ancient cat himself waddled to Ermina's side and curled his tail around her legs. She patted his head and Crookshanks mewed in adoration. "We're good friends."

" When did you meet Crookshanks?" Draco asked in disbelief.

"Last time I was here." Ermina shrugged, as if that explained it all.

"Well," Hermione said, "we will leave you to it. Thank you, Ermina."

"Anything for you, Mistress."

" Hermione. "

"Hermione."

Draco and Hermione traveled side-along to the Minister of Magic's home, which was a humble tudor home in the Cotswolds. Harry had managed to convince the Ministry he could comfortably commute via floo network and live well outside of London, so Ginny got her dream cottage (if you could call a ten bedroom former manor house a cottage) in the country. The front walk was lined in rose bushes, and on this particular evening, the bushes were glowing with fairy lights. Draco and Hermione touched down at the end of the walk. The front door opened almost as soon as they appeared and Harry strode toward them, flushed with excitement.

"Ah! You're both divine!" he said. "I do hope you'll forgive me-I may have gone a bit overboard with our little party." He shook Draco's hand and kissed Hermione's cheek. "Please tell me you're hungry."

"We're up for it." Hermione slipped her hand into the crook of Draco's elbow.

"We are," Draco agreed. Harry clapped him on the shoulder.

"I'm thrilled. We've all been anxious for you to arrive!" Harry's black robes were flecked with tiny gold stars and they billowed behind him as he hastened towards the house with his friends.

Ginny met them at the door, dressed herself in deep blue silk. "White was a perfect choice," she said, hugging her best friend. She offered Draco a hug, too, and Hermione gave her a grateful smile. "So… we have a few small surprises for you, and I know how you hate surprises, Hermione … but you didn't get to have a wedding reception. And we have some people gathered here who love you, so we thought..." Ginny glanced at Harry, who grinned.

"Why not throw you a reception tonight?" Harry finished. "If that's alright with you ."

Hermione looked at Draco in surprise. She was tearful. Draco held out his hand to Harry and shook it firmly. "Thanks, mate."

"It's our pleasure," Harry said. "But Hermione is as dear to me as a sister, and I've never seen her this happy, or settled."

"You deserve it! But if you cry now , Hermione Granger, you will not survive going inside this house!" Ginny cupped Hermione's cheeks.

"Sorry!" Hermione laughed, blinking away threatening tears. Draco's hand warmed the small of her back as they followed Ginny into the house.

White flowers spilled from vases on the steps of the grand staircase and pine branches swagged from every doorway. Candlesticks on the entry table bore silver candles and a host of small packages, and a sign in Ginny's handwriting indicated 'Gifts for Hermione and Draco'. Draco reached for her hand and squeezed.

Ginny and Harry ushered the couple towards the great room, which Hermione knew boasted a stately fireplace and a great many comfortable chairs and sofas for lounging. A soft din of excited voices wafted down the hallway. They paused outside the door. "Wait here for a moment," Ginny said. She slipped into the room and shut the door behind her.

Harry grasped Hermione's shoulder. "'Mione, there's another surprise waiting for you inside. Draco, here, had a marvelous idea, and I took it upon myself to make it possible. So this particular surprise is really from him. But you'll need this-" he handed her a large white handkerchief, "and take your time. They're still getting their bearings." Harry patted Hermione's hand and slipped inside the room.

Hermione frowned. "Who's getting their bearings?"

He took her hands in his. "My love, you made it possible for me to spend Christmas with my mother," Draco said softly. "That is a luxury I could never have dreamed of before I found you." He brushed her cheek. "There are two people you want to be in your life more than anyone else."

Her eyes widened and filled with glassy tears. She shook her head. "It can't be," she whispered. "They're not safe, they won't even know me-"

"Shhh." Draco wrapped her in his arms. "They won't know you as you . That is true. But they are safe now that the war is over, and they can acquaint themselves with you now that they'll be living in England. Oxford, actually. Better for your father's health." He smiled and Hermione's fingers found his jaw as she tried to understand what he had just said. She shook her head again, disbelieving the truth of the matter even as it became more clear.

"You brought me my parents?"

He nodded. "Yes."

Tears streamed down her cheeks. "How? How is that possible?" she sniffled. "How do I talk to them?"

He took the handkerchief and dabbed at her chin, where drops had collected. "They've recently become acquainted with our host, who invited them here to meet his family and celebrate a recent marriage. So we will go in, we may introduce ourselves, and then be yourself."

"Nobody…" she sobbed, covering her face. Draco smoothed her hair and she pressed her forehead to his chest. "Nobody has ever given me something like this."

"Then we're even." Draco stepped back so he could get her to look at him again. "Here, darling." He handed her the handkerchief. "You can cry all you want to when we get home but we have a party waiting in there, filled with people who love you. Let's go in?"

She laughed despite herself and wiped at her eyes. She blew the most attractive honk into the handkerchief and sniffled away the last of her tears, for now. Draco took the handkerchief before she could protest and stuffed it into his back pocket, where it would be hidden by his robes. He kissed her good.

"How have they reacted to the… whole magic thing?"

Draco laughed. "Molly and Arthur gave them a crash course in wizarding life, and apparently they took it quite well. And a shot of whiskey helped your father, I am told."

"That's so like my dad," she giggled.

Ginny peeked into the hall. "Are we composed?" she asked innocently. Hermione nodded and grasped Draco's hand tightly. Her hand shook, but he had her.

Ginny stepped back and swung the door wide. The great room, which had always been grand to Hermione, was a frosted winter wonderland. There were pine branches bedazzled with unmelting snow draped over the tops of bookshelves, while white fabric draped in large panels from the curtain rods puddled on the floor. The silver candles were repeated, but this time they hung in the air just out of reach of the ceiling beams. And the people… the Weasley family stood in full regalia, each with their own partners-Molly and Arthur in their tweeds, Bill and Fleur in floaty blues and greys, Charlie and a man Hermione didn't recognize each in their dragon hide. Percy and the Twins each had a lady on their arms and wore their best robes (Hermione wondered why none of these women had been present at Christmas, but that was a conversation for Ginny for another time). Last but not least, Helen and Mark Granger stood with Harry; Mark wore a crisp tuxedo (either Draco or Harry's doing), while Helen wore a dress that was a favorite of Molly's, which was beautiful on her.

The room exploded with joy as Hermione and Draco were swarmed with hugs from each Weasley. Glasses full of punch were placed into their hands, too, and somehow a small plate filled with quiche became Draco's to balance, while Molly attempted to feed them both.

The general feeling that the Weasley's were remorseful was drowned in genuine joy. These people weren't just sorry, they were turning over a new leaf. Hermione and Draco were introduced to the Grangers, who were dazzled by the whole affair, and were happy to be making friends now that they had returned from Australia. When it was revealed that the Malfoys (as they were introduced… to make things easier, for now) were also going to be living in Oxford, Helen insisted they host them for tea. When Draco mentioned never having gone fishing, Mark committed to teaching him. The Grangers were retired and would help with their garden (Mark was a vegetable whiz, apparently), help Hermione decide whether or not to keep chickens (also Mark's idea), and they knew the sort of things which would help newlyweds get settled in their first home.

It was not what Hermione had expected-if she had even been able to fathom meeting them again, she would have imagined her parents would be timid or quiet, but they were fully formed adults with opinions and senses of humor… it would be a special kind of joy getting to know them better.

At dinner in the equally marvelous dining room, Hermione and Draco were seated side-by-side at the long table, across from the Grangers, and flanked by Weasley siblings. Throughout dinner, it became clear that Charlie's companion was his longtime partner, who he had decided he was ready to introduce to his family. His name was Dougal and he was quiet, but had a quick wit. Both Fred and George had apparently sought out their dates for this particular event, while Percy's companion insisted they were 'friends from work.'

Dinner was a magnificent affair ( Molly, Fleur, and the twins had spent the entire day cooking up this feast); every surface of the table was covered in a piece of china positively overflowing with food. The conversation was lively.

Draco was engaged in a fierce debate with Charlie and Dougal over the validity of a particular ancient viking text, which described 'sky serpents with feathers'-Charlie insisted it could be any number of animals, given there was no mention of wings, while Draco was sure it was the right era for some of the first known recorded sightings of a particular Gallic creature that was very obviously a dragon. Hermione was trying to help Arthur reason out if the muggle toaster was a particularly easy device to curse with a trigger ward given that it could be unplugged in order to render it powerless (they agreed it would be difficult to curse any piece of muggle technology which didn't have a continuous circuit of electricity running through it, unless your goal was to make it into a portkey).

As dinner wrapped up and each occupant of the table declared themselves stuffed to the gills, Harry stood and raised his glass.

"My friends, family. We're here to celebrate the recent marriage of my dearest friend Hermione with one of my most trusted researchers, and may I say, the snappiest dresser that ever there was, Draco Malfoy."

"Here here!" Mark crowed and everyone chuckled.

"Draco, I am so glad you found my friend," Harry said. "Hermione has had a life of many accomplishments, but also many losses. She can bear anything, I believe, but to know she doesn't have to do so alone…" Harry winked at Hermione. Her eyes were shining again and she held out a hand to Draco. He handed over the handkerchief. "I'm so grateful. You hope your loved ones will find a fraction of your own happiness." He took Ginny's hand. She beamed at him. "But you can't guarantee it. All you can do is hope that one day, they run into someone on the street, and that is it. That's their person."

Draco put his arm around the back of Hermione's chair and she sniffled.

"Thank you," Hermione mouthed to Harry. He nodded.

"Hermione, I have an offer for you, which may suit your new situation in Oxford," Harry said. "It appears I am in need of a runic charms expert; the position would pay as well as your last position, but you'd have to work for the Ministry again, and this may be deal breaker… you'd have to answer to one of our most experienced researchers."

"I could be amenable to that, but who would it be?" She asked. Harry's eyes flicked to Draco.

" Me ," Draco said in surprise. "I've been trying to fill that position for ages! Nobody was qualified."

"I know," Harry laughed. "Hermione has always been a whiz at ancient runes but I never thought she'd leave her cushy job in Muggle Relations. And now she has. What do you say?"

Hermione looked at Draco. His eyes were crinkled at the corners in delight. "Could you put up with me every day, at work and at home?"

"I think so," she smiled. "As long as you don't mind."

"You can schedule a formal interview with her if you'd like," Harry teased. "But she comes with the Minister's highest recommendations."

Draco chuckled. "No, no. I would be silly to underestimate my wife; I've made that mistake only once."

"Oh?" Helen asked. A rumble of laughter went round the table. "Do tell."

Hermione leaned over to mock-whisper, "I punched him in the face third year for being a bully."

"Good girl," Helen whispered back. Everyone laughed.

"So, Hermione? Will you take the job?" Harry asked.

"Yes, of course."

"Hooray!" Draco kissed Hermione sweetly as the table applauded. Hermione wiped her eyes and laughed in disbelief.

Draco stood and held up his own glass. "May I?" Harry sat and gave him the floor. Draco cleared his throat.

"Um. Thank you all for this gathering," he said. "I must admit that for us-I think I can speak for both of us." He checked in with Hermione. She nodded. "For us, this… marriage came as a surprise. You may or may not know that my parents arranged a marriage for me when I was quite young, and up until that arrangement was broken six months ago, I had assumed my life would be a lonely one. Apart from that, I have spent a decade or more trying to find some semblance of… normalcy, I guess? After the war, all of us were sort of reeling with no concept of how to move on, knowing as we did that there was real evil in our world."

"Too true," Arthur murmured.

"When you've been through something like that, anything otherwise ordinary which disrupts your status quo for the better feels important. A chance meeting with a girl you knew in school… a girl you tormented, a girl who rightly punched you in the nose third year for being a bully-" He touched her cheek and winked. "That felt important to me-enough that I scrambled for a reason to spend time with her. Maybe make amends, maybe not. It only took three hours that first day to confirm I was right about her being important." He cleared his throat and felt himself getting emotional. "Hermione and me, we were always neck and neck in school. When I was a child, that felt like competition," he said with a laugh. "But as adults, it feels like a match. She married me because she said it would solve my problems. I married her because Hermione has never been wrong."

"Don't you forget it!" Ginny called.

"Trust me, I won't. It has been a matter of days, but I love her." Draco shrugged. "That's it, isn't it? That's all that matters."

Hermione stood. "Too right." Draco was too emotional to go on, he shook his head and kissed her temple. "We're very grateful," Hermione said. "For each other, for all of you. 'Lonely' isn't in our vocabulary any more. How could it be, when this is how our friends show they care?"

"To Hermione and Draco!" Molly held up her glass. Everyone toasted to the couple.

After dinner, the party settled in the great room once more for drinks and small games. Fleur and Bill's children were allowed to join the throng after Hermione insisted; the littlest one, Louis, adored Hermione, and the other two were old enough to sit with the twins and play several rounds of Go Fish. Draco and Ginny attempted to teach Mark how to play Wizard's Chess, which he turned out to be a whiz at. Everyone else kicked their shoes off or sat by the fire, or chatted away. Hermione bounced Louis on her knee and Helen sat beside her.

"I envy Molly," Helen admitted quietly to Hermione. Louis held out a hand to Helen and wrapped his tiny fingers around one of hers. Hermione silently watched her mother dote on the baby. "I would've liked to have a little grandchild."

"Do you want to hold him?" Hermione asked.

"Could I?" Hermione passed the baby over to Helen, who happily accepted him onto her lap. "We weren't able to have any of our own," Helen said softly. "But that's life, you know. C'est la vie."

"I haven't been able to have a relationship with my parents," Hermione managed. "It can be hard, when you see other families like this. Sometimes."

"Yes," Helen said. "We had a small community in Australia, but most of our friends were childless, too, so it made it easier not to mind. But it is so wonderful to be around children, don't you think?"

Louis cooed and blew a little bubble. Both women laughed. "I agree."

"Do you think you and Draco will want to have children?" Helen asked.

"We'd like to get more established, but we both want to."

"How long have the two of you been together? Draco made it sound like it has been a matter of days."

"It has," Hermione admitted. "It's been… five days. We've been married for three. But we knew each other in school years ago. In those days, we saw each other at our worst."

Helen shook her head in amazement. "It must have been love at first sight. Or second sight, as it were."

"You know, it's not about how he looked that day-although he is handsome and he knows I think so-so much as the fact that he was calm, kind, and gentle with me. I am honored he let me see the best in him right away."

"He has no air of judgment." They watched Draco, who was hunched over the chess board with Mark. They were laughing and arguing in a light-hearted manner about something.

"He used to, but that was about fear, as a boy." Draco caught Hermione watching him. His whole face transformed into pure sweetness and he beamed at her. "When you teach a scared boy he deserves to be loved, he might believe it."

Draco strode over and wrapped his arms around Hermione from behind the couch. He kissed her cheek. "Darling, Mark is beating me soundly at chess! I may have to renounce my title."

"Poor dear," Hermione giggled.

"Draco, do you like babies?" Helen asked innocently. She held out Louis as an offering.

Draco happily reached over the couch and grabbed the child, balancing him in one arm. "Louis, my boy!" The baby cackled and extended his little fingers to poke Draco's face.

"I think the answer is yes, my husband does like babies." Hermione sighed happily. That was the first time she had said it out loud. It felt good. Draco took Louis away to share in the cooing delight with Mark and Ginny.

Helen touched Hermione's hand. "Hermione, if you need anything once you're in Oxford, please reach out to me." Hermione squeezed her hand and held back the tears that wanted to escape. "I know you'll be fine, but it's nice to have a friend."

"Likewise," Hermione said. "We can stick together. Find the best place for a good brunch, maybe?"

"I do love a Sunday brunch." Helen and Hermione lauded the best parts of brunch for a while.

When once the baby began to yawn and tucked his little head against Draco's chest, Bill and Fleur decided it was best if they took their leave. The party drew to a gentle close; the twins and their dates insisted a triple date was in order with Draco and Hermione, while the rest of the Weasley siblings agreed they should all get together at least once a month. Draco and Hermione saw everyone out, including Mark and Helen, who Harry had arranged to travel by portkey back to Oxford. Mark took down Draco's telephone number (a device he had acquired while living in exile, but rarely used), and promised to keep an eye out for a house for them with a decent-sized garden. Helen embraced Hermione. When their portkey whisked them off the front steps, Hermione laid her head on Draco's shoulder and sighed.

"How long have you been working on that?" she asked him.

"Since you told me that first day they weren't a part of your life." Draco kissed her head. "Harry's been working out the details; apparently he has contacts in Australia who were able to find them and casually suggest England was a perfect place to retire."

Hermione snorted. "Thank goodness they agreed; if it were me, I might have chosen Mallorca."

"Are you happy?"

She wrapped her arms around his waist. "I am happier than I thought was possible. As of tonight, I have a new position with my husband at Oxford, my parents are back in my life for good, and my friends have outdone themselves to make amends. What more could there possibly be?"

"That baby was adorable." Draco raised an eyebrow and grinned.

"You want a baby?" she laughed.

"The thought holding a little one who looks a bit like both of us? Yes, I like that idea very much."

"We won't have a moment alone until the child goes to school."

"Hmm…" he paused, kissing her deeply. Hermione teased the little hairs on his nape. "Maybe we'll wait a bit," he said huskily. Hermione winked.

Harry and Ginny helped pack all of their gifts into a bag with an extension charm and loaded several platters of pastries and desserts for them to take home. Harry promised they hadn't paid any great expense for the party, which Hermione knew to be a scandalous falsehood. Ginny pulled Hermione away briefly to her bedroom for a little chat.

"I hope you both enjoyed this evening!" Ginny rifled through her closet for something.

"It was perfect, Gin."

"Good!" Ginny emerged from the closet with a small red gift bag. "Here. You have to open this now."

Hermione hesitantly took it. "What is it?"

"It's a stag gift! In lieu of a stag do. Luna contributed, too. She's sorry she's not here but she and Neville had a special appointment they couldn't miss."

Hermione pulled the tissue from the bag and inside was something made of fabric… embroidered delicately, but against a sheer panel. It was black. "Did you get me sexy lingerie?"

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't."

The black fabric was liberated from the bag and sure enough, it was a delicate nightgown with equal parts lace, mesh, and ribbon. It was intricate, and Hermione held it up proudly. "This is beautiful, Ginny! Thank you!"

"You're not embarrassed?" Ginny cringed.

"No! I love it. It's fabulous."

"Phew. I figured it was better than a tiara made from penises or something, like we did for Padma's stag." She shuddered.

"Definitely," Hermione laughed. She hugged her best friend. "Thank you so much."

"You deserve it all." Ginny kissed her cheek. "Draco's speech was so lovely."

"I imagine he's going to surprise me with little moments like that for a long time. After holding Louis all evening, he told me he wants a baby," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "But I reminded him we'd never get alone time for things like this -" she held up the nightgown, "so he agreed to wait a while."

"Good," Ginny laughed. "Besides, you wouldn't want to steal Luna's thunder, would you?"

Hermione's eyes grew wide and she clapped her hands. "Oh gods! Is Luna pregnant?"

"They aren't announcing it until she's in her second trimester, but she gave me permission to tell you ."

"Oh, we are going to spoil that child rotten !"

Hermione and Ginny chattered away, arm in arm (and sexy lingerie safely stowed back in the gift bag), and returned to the great room to make their final farewells. Harry and Draco were talking solemnly, but as soon as the ladies entered, their faces broke into wide smiles.

Harry shook hands with Draco and clasped his shoulder meaningfully. "Hermione, you have married a wise fellow! I'd like to get your advice on all that, Draco, but it's getting late. I'll owl you next week."

"Happy to help however I can," Draco said.

Draco and Hermione finally arrived home close to midnight; Ermina was snoring away in the armchair with Crookshanks in her lap, and they did their best not to disturb her. They closed themselves in the bedroom and Hermione cast a discreet silencing charm. She had him help her with the buttons on the back of her dress, and they snuggled into matching pyjamas, which Molly had sewn for them. Once they were in bed, Hermione with her haid cradled on Draco's chest, he let out a long breath.

"Luna's pregnant," Hermione said softly.

"Oh, bully for them! I'm sure they'll make wonderful parents."

"I think so, too." She closed her eyes and tucked her head under his chin. "What was Harry asking you about?"

"Harry asked me if I thought we were doing enough to take care of older wizards and witches, especially those like my mother who are in hospice care because of war-related maladies. He also mentioned unwitting muggle victims, like your parents," he said. He rubbed Hermione's arm.

"What did you tell him?" Hermione pushed herself up.

He shook his head. "I said No. We could be doing so much more."

Hermione touched his eyebrow. "You have a big heart, my love."

"You have made it so. I told you when we visited my mother-all of this? This party, our new prospects… it's all your fault."

"I didn't make you or our friends do any of those lovely things," she protested.

"Hermione, you are a good person. You make other people want to be good. I want to endeavor to deserve you."