Six months had gone by in a flash. Lucy was working as a secretary for the Malfoy Foundation that Draco and his mother set up to help orphans from the war. No matter how hard Kingsley had tried, he was not able to get her the clearance to work at the Ministry of Magic. Her younger brother and her relationship was becoming stronger every day. Much to the aforementioned brother's disapproval though, she had begun a weekly correspondence with Ronald Weasley.
Hermione had chosen to give Lucy her blessing. He made Lucy happy. He would more than likely never be welcome to their home, but Lucy understood. Ron had been going to therapy to help him with the guilt and self-loathing he felt for kidnapping and raping his former best friend and ex. The session were going surprisingly well, and today was the day he would face his victim. Draco had been fully against the meeting, but his wife promised that she would be safe.
Draco held Hermione's hand as they walked down the corridors of St. Mungo's for Ron's session. "I still don't understand why I can't come into the room as well. I'd feel much more at ease." He'd been complaining for weeks that he was not allowed inside the meeting. His wife was due to give birth in 6 weeks. She didn't need any undue stress.
Hermione squeezed his hand in reassurance, "We'll be fine, Draco. He's improving and no longer obsessed with me. He's in love with your sister. She trusts him. Healer Andrews says that he has been the ideal patient, taking his potions, doing individual and group therapy, and he's even been writing. If you knew him, you'd know that's huge. I did most of his homework and essays for him in school. He hated writing."
Draco scoffed, "Pfft, I knew he didn't do his own work.You were such a coddler, Granger." His smirk told her he was being cheeky. She truly did love this man. "Do you know..." he stopped just then when he caught sight of the ginger bastard they'd just been discussing.
Ron was standing in the hallway next to another male with his head against the wall, hands in his pocket, looking nervous. He heard footsteps approaching and then stop abruptly, so he looked over. At the sight of Malfoy and a very pregnant Hermione, he straightened up. His male companion saw them and spoke up. "Ah, Mrs. Malfoy, hello! I'm Jeremy, Mr. Weasley's nurse. Healer Andrews is running late so if you'd like your husband and you can take a seat inside. You'd be more comfortable than standing out here in the hall, I'm sure." His gaze fell on her protruding stomach and back to her face with a smile.
"Thank you. That would be great. This little one is running out of room, so constantly moving to get comfortable. It's Hell on my back." Draco was already rubbing her lower back as he was always in tuned to her feelings. Hermione rubbed her hands affectionately across her belly and smiled.
"You look great, 'Mione. Congratulations to you both. You're going to be an amazing mother, and Malfoy?" Draco looked up in confusion at being addressed by Ron, "You're a good man. I know you're going to be a great father. And I'm sorry for everything I've done to you and 'Mione. Truly, I am. I never apologized to you, not that you wanted it, but it's been nagging at me for months now." Jeremy patted Ron on his shoulder and Ron seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"I still don't like you or the fact that my sister's in love with you, but thanks for the apologies either way." Draco grunted out. Hermione squeezed his hand then they entered the room and took a seat. Jeremy and Ron followed a few minutes later, with the nurse whispering in Ron's ear. Draco saw Ron nod and give the man an appreciative smile then sit in the chair on the opposite side of the table him and Hermione were at.
The knock on the door was a welcome distraction as was Healer Andrews as he entered. "My apologies, everyone!" he said jovially, "My last session took longer than expected." Draco immediately noticed the beginnings of a black eye on the man and lifted his brow. "Oh, um, Mr. Malfoy, I did not know you'd be here, um." He looked to Hermione who smiled.
"Draco was just waiting with me. I know he isn't meant to stay." Hermione made to stand, but Draco stopped her.
"No, sit, love. I'll be just outside in the hall." Draco kissed his wife and left the room. He transfigured a lamp into a wingback chair and waited.
First, we will open up with Mrs. Malfoy's feelings. Would that be alright, Mrs. Malfoy?" Healer Andrews addressed the room with a calm voice.
"Please, call me Hermione, Healer Andrews. And yes, that would be okay. Well, let me start by stating that my friendship with Ronald will more than likely never recover from his actions against me and my husband, Draco." Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep cleansing breath then continued.
"Ronald, you hurt me worse than anyone. What you did to me, to my body, was worse than being tortured by Bellatrix LeStrange." At this she saw him flinch. "On top of that, you left him there bleeding. The man I love, you just left him without remorse. What if he had died? I'd be alone forever because he is my soulmate. Your delusions that we were meant to be almost ruined multiple lives. We'd agreed, Ronald. We were better off as friends. You acknowledged that that summer."
Ron had tears running down his face, but said nothing, just listened which she appreciated. "Was it just because I moved on with Malfoy?" Hermione waited for his answer and saw him thinking about it.
"Yes. He was our enemy. Your bully, 'Mione, and there you were, dating the guy. I couldn't understand why out if all the blokes in the world, you chose him. I didn't understand then, but now?" Ron sighed, "Now, I look at you both, the love you share radiates off you both. It's something I can only dream of one day finding with Luciana. I'm sorry, Hermione. I don't know what else to say or do to make you believe that. I'm working on myself every day, not to be better for you or him or mum or dad or even Luciana. I'm working to be a better person for myself. So I can stop hating myself and stop blaming the world for the problems of Ronald Billius Weasley." He stared into her eyes during his while speech, imploring her to understand.
"Thank you, Ronald. We will never be like we were before, but I do believe you. I can offer you forgiveness and a handshake, metaphorically of course." She smiled at him and he grinned back at her looking like the old Ron, once again.
"That went wonderfully, both of you. Such growth, Mr. Weasley, over these past six months. That being said, the Wizengamot has asked for you to begin transitioning into a recovery center in the next six months if your progress continues." Healer Andrews finished by patting Ron on the back.
"So, he'll be free after only a year or so of his sentencing?" Hermione asked in confusion. She knew he was doing better, but to just forget he had raped her and kidnapped her? "But he was sentenced to 5 years?" Healer Andrews looked through the file in front of him.
"Yes, but here is says, 'After one year, the Wizengamot will review Mr. Weasley's case file, and the sentence may be reduced with good behavior and growth on the wizard. Any grievances of the victim should be filed within three months of the sentencing." Healer Andrews showed the parchment to Hermione.
"But, nobody ever said anything to me about it. I never knew this." Hermione felt sick to her stomach. "I'm sorry, Ron. I know you are changing for the better, and I am proud of you for that, but this is preposterous. If this was the Muggle Courts, I would have been given notice."
"Unfortunately, the Wizengamot is much different than the Muggle Court system, Hermione. But, you should be happy for Mr. Weasley. He's getting a new chance at life. You may not think that fair, and maybe it isn't, but that's just how it is." Although she wanted to hex the man for his haughty tone, she didn't. Ron was getting out sooner than she thought.
"Well, we have the restraining order in place still. I guess I can find comfort in that. Good day." Hermione got up and opened the door, leaving the men in stunned silence.
Draco saw Hermione's face and got up rushing to her. "What's wrong? You're upset. What happened?" Hermione said quickly, "Not here," and took his hand and walked as fast as she could waddle. Once outside, they apparated home. Hermione was fidgeting and mumbling under her breath.
Finally, she sat down and told Draco about the meeting. "Well, that's not so bad. He actually said that love radiates off of us? Hmpf." Draco saw Hermione begin to naw on her lower lip. "Something else happened, didn't it?" When she told him about the stipulation in the Wizengamot ruling for her rape/kidnapping trial, he cursed.
"Fuck! Can they do that? They can't do this! It's bullshit, Hermione! Completely fucking fucked up bullshit!" Hermione agreed. "Well, that's fine. It's going to be okay. We have our restraining orders in place. My sister is going to need to choose though. Us or him." Hermione didn't agree with that and told him so.
"We cannot make her do that, Draco. She's happy with him. I don't understand it, but she just is. He loves her." Hermione attempted to placate her husband.
"But we love her! She doesn't need him!" He sounded like a petulant child, and once he crossed his arms over his chest and pouted, she couldn't help but laugh. "S'not funny Granger." He mumbled then started laughing himself. "Nice that we can make light of the situation, I guess. Fucking Weasel." Hermione crawled into his lap and he cradled her to his chest. "You know, you're getting to big to do this." He said with a smirk.
Hermione swatted his arm, "Jerk! You did this to me!" The two of them lay there with their hands on her stomach, feeling their baby kick and move around. "I can't believe we'll have a baby in six weeks." Hermione said wistfully.
"I know. I'm going to be a dad, and you're going to be a mum. It's crazy. Looking back, did you ever think that we'd be doing this together? I mean I know I dreamt of it, but I never thought I would ever deserve this." He motioned between the two of them. "Me, Draco Malfoy, free to love Hermione Granger. To marry you and cherish you for the rest of my life?" Hermione kissed him.
"I love you, Malfoy." He kissed her back. "And I love you, Granger." They fell asleep on their sofa, wrapped up in each other's arms. Ron was probably going to be free soon, but it didn't matter. They were safe. They were together. And nothing would change that.
Four weeks later...
"But I still have two weeks left!" Hermione Malfoy was screaming as another contraction hit her. "Ow! Oh Merlin! That hurts!" They had been at lunch in Diagon Alley with Pansy and Seamus when Hermione's water broke. In his rush, Draco tripped over Hermione's bag and fell knocking himself out. "Draco!"
Pansy took control over the situation fast. "Babe! Carry Draco! Hermione! Take my arm! You! Waiter! Clear a path! Witch in labor!" Everyone in the restaurant was gawking as they made their way out of the place. "I'll get her to St. Mungo's babe. Renervate him and meet us there ASAP!" With a crack, she was gone. By the time they registered, Seamus appeared with a lucid Draco Malfoy.
Draco rushed to Hermione's side. "Thank goodness your okay, Malfoy! You scared the hell out of me." Hermione kissed her husband and another contraction hit. "Ow! Gods! That hurts! Where's my damn Healer!" Draco sniggered a bit at his wife's curse.
"Mrs. Malfoy, we have your private room ready. Follow me please." a young nurse said as she turned and walked down the corridor. "Right in here, Mr. Malfoy. We have everything set for your wife." Draco thanked the young woman and helped Hermione get settled.
Two hours later, Blaise and Luna arrived with their baby girl, Ava, and joined an anxious Jasper Granger, Narcissa, Kingsley and Orion. "Any need yet?" Blaise asked Narcissa.
"Last we heard was about 20 minutes ago. She was getting ready to push. Seamus just left to get us drinks." Narcissa looked put out, so Blaise asked if she was okay. She sighed, "Draco kicked me out. Said I was causing him stress. I'm his mother and he just dismissed me. Pansy's in there though. Hermione won't let go of her hand." They all laughed.
"I just got your Owl! Did I miss it?" Lucy came running into the waiting room, breathless and gasping for air. She collapsed into a chair and Kingsley conjured her a glass of water.
Seamus arrived with the drinks and passed out cups to everyone. Moments later, Draco appeared with a huge smile on his face. "It's a boy! A bald, beautiful baby boy!" Hugs and handshakes were doled out. "Caelum Draco Malfoy. He's just perfect. Hermione did so great. Jasper, mum, dad, come meet your grandson." He turned and practically skipped to the room. Pansy left to give everyone space.
Hermione was breastfeeding her son as everyone came into the room. She stared in awe at the perfect human being that just came out of her body. "Caelum, your grandparents are here to meet you." She said softly as Draco covered her so that she could disengage their son from her tit. "Dad? Meet your grandson." Jasper cradle the child in his arms and cried. Followed by Narcissa and Kingsley
By the time all of their visitors had left, Draco thought he'd collapse. "Hey, he's asleep, so should we probably do that as
well." He stopped when he saw she had already drifted off to dream. He kissed her forehead the snuggled into the bed next to her. Never did he ever think he'd have this kind of life. Married to his dream girl, happy, and now a father. He used to believe he could never be fulfilled. Well, thank Merlin for second chances.
A/N: Well, what did you think? Epilogue to follow!