Packing was done, and now Hermione was sitting in her apartment waiting for her fiancé to arrive. He had been notoriously hushed about what he'd planned for their little jaunt—but Hermione didn't mind. This past year she'd learned a few valuable life lessons and the biggest one was to just let go and allow things to happen. Her former take charge, hold no prisoners nature had been tempered a bit. She was still working from home and had managed to get her Werewolf Legislation passed a few weeks ago. Draco had asked her, a couple of days after the Wizengamot had passed her proposal, what she'd wanted to do next and she'd stared at him in shock.

She really didn't have a clue.

Dr. Sindlar had met with she and Draco yesterday, and when the topic of children had been raised, he'd explained to Draco that while chemotherapy can affect a woman's ovaries and can potentially cause infertility in some cases, it wasn't guaranteed. Hermione's periods may resume on their own or may not. Hermione had then explained to Draco that she'd taken the precaution of having her eggs frozen, just in case.

He'd been stunned that Muggle medicine had the ability to do something so advanced.

Then he'd asked the doctor if this was available to all women who went under therapy and the doctor had smiled indulgently and told him it wasn't. That it was a rather new procedure and very costly.

When Draco had finally gotten a figure from the man, and then when he'd calculated the conversion rate to galleons he'd been stunned.

Then awed that his fiancée, had spent nearly her entire life savings in the hopes that someday she'd be able to have children.

He'd spent the entirety of last night just holding her, kissing her and telling her over and over again how amazing she was.

Hermione had basked in his attentions, feeling renewed and hopeful that after the six month waiting period—that they could eventually start a family.

She'd never thought much about the possibility, but now it was all she thought about.

When her floo activated, Draco came through wearing a fitted pair of Muggle jeans and a dress shirt. He had on a leather jacket and Hermione had to admit—he looked scrumptious.

She felt dowdy in comparison.

Her hair was just starting to come in again and Andromeda had advised against taking hair regrowing potions until the six month post treatment benchmark had passed. She was still barely a size two but Draco being the wizard he was—made her feel beautiful and wanted in a way she'd never dreamt of feeling.

The look in his eyes said more than words ever could.

"Where are we going?"

He just grinned and grabbed her hand, helping her up from the couch. She had her beaded bag with all her items packed away for various scenarios.

"It's a surprise, my love."

He whipped out a blindfold, and with flourish placed it over her eyes before leading her back into the floo. When she stepped out, he directed her onto a balcony of some kind and she could hear the streets below—wherever they were...it was busy.

When he took the blindfold off, she gasped in wonder at the sight before her. The Eiffel Tower glistened in the immediate distance.

"Paris!" She turned around and grinned like a maniac. "Draco! This is amazing."

"Yeah?" His grin was sheepish and pleased. "This is a new magical hotel that Blaise just opened. I thought you might like to spend our New Year's Eve ringing it in watching Muggle fireworks going off over the Eiffel Tower."

She jumped up and kissed him breathless—which he returned enthusiastically for several minutes before pulling away with an unhappy groan.

"Love, as much as I'd like to ravish you? Dr. Sindlar said to give it another couple months to get your strength back."

She pouted, but knew that Draco was right.

"Fine...but as soon as he gives the all clear...I expect you to fulfill that promise, Draco Malfoy!"

"With pleasure, love." He grinned wolfishly and they both laughed happily.

There was a bottle of champagne and some strawberries on the veranda, and a long chaise with several warm furry blankets. Draco got them situated and snuggled her next to him under the blankets, as they sipped on champagne, fed each other strawberries and talked about their future.

When midnight approached, Draco waved his wand and the countdown began.

As midnight hit, the fireworks exploded into the sky and Draco gently took her face into his hands and whispered achingly, "Happy New Year, my love."

Then he kissed her and it was so sweet and full of promise—Hermione felt tears leaking from her eyes.

When they eventually pulled apart and watched the fireworks explode into the sky, Hermione sighed happily into Draco's chest and felt him pull her tighter into his embrace. He kissed her head several times before he whispered out, "Would you really have left Britain and started over somewhere else?"

Hermione thought about the resolution she'd written down last New Year's Eve and sighed.

Perhaps a confession was in order.

"I knew before last New Years that I had strong feelings for you. When you'd asked me to go to Harry's party on Christmas Eve? I was thrilled, and then I'd heard about Astoria and I decided to take a couple of George's pranks to mimic sickness so I wouldn't have to go to Harry's party. I didn't want to face the fact that you didn't want me. I know it seems silly now, but a year ago I had every intention of following through. This was well before I found out I was sick, but yes...if you had really chosen Astoria, I would've left."

Draco growled unhappily as he rolled her underneath him and kissed her fiercely. She could feel his repressed anger and sorrow.

"I'm so sorry, love. I honestly didn't realize. I never should've agreed to Astoria's idea, but it seemed like a good one at the time. Had I known of your feelings? I would've told her to bugger off. I hope you believe me."

"I do. I love you, Draco Malfoy. Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, my beautiful witch."

In the year 2007, Hermione and Draco got married late fall at Malfoy Manor, and with the help of fertility specialists...Hermione gave birth to twins...Scorpius Draco Malfoy and Carina Rose Malfoy in the early winter of 2009.

Both Grandmother's were beyond ecstatic.

And Draco's prediction was mostly spot on. Both children were carbon copies of their Father in looks (except for Carina, who had her Mother's unruly curls) while both inherited their Mother's wit and intelligence.

Scorpius was sorted into Slytherin House and Carina into Ravenclaw eleven years later.

And Hermione retired from the Ministry and started a charity to help other cancer survivors, both magical and Muggle—with the backing of both Narcissa and her mother, Helen.

Her parents decided to move back to Britain and with time—all fractured wounds healed completely.

Her amazing husband had been right about that too.

On the day of her twentieth anniversary with Draco, and just a week after Scorpius wedding—Hermione found herself reminiscing on that fateful year of her life and realized that time truly was— the greatest healer of all.