Chapter 43

And that was that. It was kind of surreal sitting at our table, just the two of us. I kept staring down at my wedding band completely in shock.

"I still kind of can't believe it," I said.

"I can," Draco said.

I looked up watching Mira and Teddy run through the garden as Veronica laughed after them.

"Hannah Potter-Malfoy. Got a nice sound to it," I said.

"It does," Draco said. "And speaking of last names, I've been thinking."

"I told you already, hyphenating is the only concession I'm giving you," I said.

"No, it's not that," Draco said. "It's about Mira, actually. I was thinking, we shouldn't change her name."

I paused. "Really?"

Draco nodded. "I mean, naturally our other children will be Malfoy."

"Naturally? And children plural?" I teased.

"You know what I mean. But Mira's life is going to be so different than any other children we'll have. She's going to be friends with Teddy and D'Artagnan and Victorie who're all going to have their birth stories prefaced with some retelling of the war," Draco said. "She should be a Potter. She's going to be the only who grows up knowing life as one. . . Plus then she'll never be shocked that she was born out of wedlock because her name is different."

"Having a different name than her siblings could traumatize her," I said.

"Lots of things could traumatize her," Draco said. "Plus, she's already great at traumatizing her peers so I find it unlikely that she'll be affected by it."

I laughed. "I love you. So much."

"I love you," he replied.

Everyone started clinking their glasses and I rolled my eyes before leaning over and giving him a kiss.

"I'd like to strangle whoever made that a tradition," Draco said.

"It's cute," I said. "Plus, I like any excuse to kiss you."

"MUMMY!" Mira screamed sprinting across the room to me. She grabbed hold of my leg and buried her face in my dress.

"Hello, sweetheart," I said, pulling her up onto my lap. "Are you done chasing Teddy?"

A string of incoherent babble came out of her mouth to which I nodded.

"That sounds so exciting," I said. "Did you eat your dinner?"

"Dinner?" she said, posing it like a question. Then she let out an ear piercing scream before stopping abruptly to laugh and clap her hands excitedly.

"Pardon my language, but what the fuck," Draco said.

"Never done that before," I said.

"Cake now?" she asked straining to reach the last of the cake on my plate.

"Spoiled," Draco said as I lifted a forkful of cake to her mouth.

"And so are you and so I am," I said.

"Hello." Blaise was up front, a drink in his hand. Hermione beside him, smiling. Everyone quieted. "Hi. I'm Blaise. I've been Draco's best mate practically since birth it feels like. I've seen him do some incredibly stupid things and I've seen him do, like, maybe four smart things. But, the smartest decision he ever made was going after Hannah and getting her to stick around because she's really, you don't get lucky twice and yet somehow he got lucky three times."

"He's right," I whispered to Draco. He nudged me.

"I remember when Draco first told me he was going to marry Hannah. It was in fourth year after the Yule Ball," Blaise said. I looked over to Draco who was flushing madly and looking like he could kill Blaise. "Oh, looks like she hasn't heard this story. Fantastic. Yes, it was after the Yule Ball which was the night they started dating, the first time. He came back to our dorm and he said 'she doesn't know it yet, but she's gonna marry me some day.'"

"Did you really?" I asked. Draco nodded.

"He, of course, followed that up with 'hopefully her brother dies from the shock of it' which is unsurprising to those of you who know how well Draco gets on with Hannah's brother, well, until very recently," Blaise said. "Looks like Harry's still standing though, so sorry Draco. Not all of your premonitions can come true. But the important one did. I don't think it needs explaining what you'd do to prove you love Hannah because we've all seen it. The fact that this is happening should be proof enough. All the same I wish you a lifetime of happiness even though I know you two won't have to work hard for it." Blaise raised his glass and everyone followed suit. "To Draco and Hannah."

There was the sound of clinking glasses and a smattering of applause as Hermione took Blaise's place. She held a champagne flute in one hand and was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue in the hand that held her wand.

Then she cleared her throat. "Hello. I'm Hermione. I'm going to cry a lot. Hannah's my best friend. She would do anything for anyone. When we were in first year, we didn't start out as bosom buddies. She was actually kind of awful to me. One day she was talking about me behind my back and I was so upset by it that I spent the whole afternoon and evening crying in the bathroom. But then she came and she apologized and declared herself my best friend on the spot. I haven't always held up my end of the bargain as well as I could have, but she has always been my champion and has always championed for others. Being here with her today after everything she has done for me, for others, after all she has had to endure, it makes me so happy. I'm so glad that she has found someone else who has always endlessly championed for her and would do anything to make her happy. Because she deserves it more than anyone I know."

I wiped a tear from my eye.

"My relationship with Draco has been tumultuous to be polite about it, but he is the poster child for growth. I don't know anyone who would fight harder for his family or for anyone he cares about. I love that you love her so fiercely that you look death in the face and tell it to stand down. I'm glad that Hannah chose to love someone who can love her the way you deserve to be loved," Hermione finished. She held up her glass. "To Hannah and Draco."

Hermione got lots of applause.

As she went to sit down, Narcissa stood. My breath caught in my throat. We were supposed to go to the dance floor now. Narcissa was not scheduled to do a mother-of-the-groom speech.

"What is she doing?" I whispered, keeping a smile on my face.

"I'm sure it will be fine," Draco said. "She and father have been well behaved all day. We can grant her some leniency since it is her house."

I nodded. I took a deep breath all the same.

"I know most of you here," Narcissa said, "But for those who don't know me, I'm Draco's mother. I wasn't asked to give a few words, but I decided to speak them all the same. Draco is my only son, my only child. I have been fiercely protective of him since the day he was born and I will be until the day that I die. That being the case, I've never fully trusted any girl that Draco has taken interest in, but it is without a doubt my great regret that I always trusted Hannah least of all."

I looked over to Draco. "Wow."

"There is no other person on this planet who would defend my son as fiercely as I would aside from her." She turned to look at me, now. "Hannah, darling, I am so sorry for the way I treated you for so many years. Getting to know you this last year has been a pleasure and I'm very proud to call my daughter."

I couldn't help the tears that were coming to my eyes as I gave her a nod. I felt Draco's hand on my thigh and he gave me a tight squeeze. All he'd wanted was for the two of us to get along. She'd risked her own life, lied straight to Voldemort's face to protect Harry and me. After that, everything was in the past for me. Still, it was good to know that my relationship with Narcissa had turned an actual corner.

Narcissa raised her glass in one final toast. Everyone raised their glasses as well. It was the start to a wonderful night.

888

Between making the rounds and getting congratulated by everyone and meeting the extended living members of the Black family, I was on the dance floor, dancing with my new husband, my friends, my family.

A slower song came on and I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and saw Harry there. He held out a hand to me.

"Would it be too cheesy to slow dance with your brother at your wedding?" he asked.

"Probably. That's why Fred and George and Bill skipped it," I said.

He rolled his eyes and took my hand. I remembered the day Ron had left, when Harry had danced in the tent with Hermione and me. I remembered how sad I was, how much I missed Ron and Draco and Mira. This was a complete flip on that day.

"Having fun?" Harry asked.

"Most fun I've ever had. First time I've been not pregnant at a wedding," I said.

"Merlin, you're right," he said. "But who knows, you could get back on your streak right in time for Ron and Hermione's."

"Fat chance of that," I said. "We're being extra careful from now on. At least for a few years. Mira might be a little older than her siblings but it'll be fine."

"She is kind of a lot," Harry said.

"Yep," I replied.

Harry let out a deep breath. "If you told 12-year-old me that you were going to marry Draco Malfoy and that I'd be happy for you I might die."

"I know, it's kind of unbelievable," I said. "Almost as unbelievable as Sirius being okay with it."

"I've never seen a grown man cry as much as he has tonight," Harry said. "Between him and Hagrid I'd watch out for signs of dehydration."

I nodded as I thought of someone who wasn't here. "Snape didn't show."

"Did you really think he would?" Harry asked.

"He practically raised me," I said.

"I know, but he's barely able to show his face around Hogwarts. A social function like this would be too much," Harry said.

"It's not a social function, Harry. It's my wedding," I said. "McGonagall's here. Hagrid. Flitwick, Trelawney. . . I thought he might, for me."

Harry shook his head. "He did a great thing for us, even if it meant spending his whole adult life living a lie. And I'm sure he's happy for you."

I nodded. Harry was right. We may've forgiven him, but not everyone else. Sirius and Remus were still barely civil with him when they crossed paths.

"You know what else I've been thinking tonight?" I asked.

"What?" Harry asked.

"I really wish Dumbledore was here," I said. "I love Sirius and Remus as if they were my actual fathers but my whole life, growing up, it was always supposed to be him giving me away. . . I guess, for what it's worth I miss Dumbledore a hell of a lot more than I miss Snape right now. I hate that he's missed out on Mira and tonight and so many other things that haven't happened yet." I wiped a tear from my eye.

"Hey, no being sad. This is your wedding day," Harry said. He pulled me into a hug. "You look beautiful. I'm so happy for you. Dumbledore would be happy for you." I wrapped my arms around Harry and held him tight. "I know I lost 10 years of getting to have you as a sister, but it doesn't feel like it."

"I know the feeling," I said. "That happens when you fight a dark wizard together. . . I couldn't ask for a better brother."

Harry released me and held me at arm's length. He leaned in an kissed my forehead. "I love you. Even though Draco Malfoy is my brother now. . . Honestly, he's perfect for you."

"He really is," I said.

"And if it ever turns out you're wrong just know I'll drop everything to be there for you in a second," Harry said. "You're my best friend you know. And even though you say it's Ron, I know I'm your best friend too."

I nodded and gave him another hug.

Draco walked up to us.

"What's this? Making my wife cry at her own wedding?" he asked.

"Stopping her from crying," Harry said. "She might need a hug."

Draco wrapped his arms around me and squeezed me quickly.

"Better my love?" he asked.

"Always better when you're here," I said. He kissed the top of my head.

"Just remember, I'll always be her favorite," Harry said.

"I learned that a long time ago," Draco said. I gave Harry a tight hug before taking Draco's hand.

"You're the only person I trust with her life aside from Ron and Hermione," Harry said. "Don't you ever make me regret it."

"Never," Draco said. He kissed my cheek.

"You know what you guys could do that would really make me happy?" I asked.

"Anything," Draco said.

"Promise," Harry said.

"If after all these years, you guys finally hugged it out?" I asked, clasping my hands together.

"Aw, literally anything but that," Harry said.

"We love you though," Draco said.

"You literally just promised me anything," I said.

They looked at each other and sighed.

"How is it she always gets what she wants?" Draco asked.

"Because you've conditioned her to believe she can," Harry said. "It's entirely your fault."

And then they hugged each other. I squealed and they let each other go.

"Yay!" I said. "I've gotten everything I wanted."

"Yes, hopefully your children aren't as spoiled," Harry said. "But looking at Mira I'd say that's to be unlikely."

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Remus there.

"I was wondering if I might steal her away for a dance?" he asked.

"Of course. Always," I said.

"Second bananas to Remus and Sirius then," Draco said.

"Definitely," Harry said. He and Draco walked off as Remus took my hand.

"Sirius wanted to dance with you, but he's not sure he'd be able to get all of his words out properly," Remus said.

"Understandable," I said. "I'm sure he'll be practically comatose if Harry ever gets married.

"If?" Remus asked.

"He and Ginny are content to have this life they have forever," I said.

"Good for them. I thought I was content," Remus said.

"And then you met Tonks," I said.

Remus nodded. "Best thing that's ever happened to me apart from you and Teddy and Kaitlin."

"When you say me-?"

"I mean you, Hannah. If Sirius can play favorites then I can too," he said.

"I won't tell him, but it makes me feel good to know that you love me a fraction of a bit more than you love Harry," I said.

"It's not that," Remus said. "I love you and Harry both, but I-."

"Just have a stronger bond with me, I get it," I said. "Don't tell Sirius though, He likes to be the favorite."

"He does," Remus said. "You know I love you as if you were my own child and I always will. And to see you take this next step in your life, to suddenly no longer be a child-." His eyes clouded with tears. Mine did too. I nodded.

"I get it," I said. "You've been nothing but a father to me since I was 13. You've always been the one to praise me when I succeed, scold me being wrong, and help me when I do something like getting pregnant at 16 or realize my living situation is not ideal. You are my dad."

Remus nodded and kissed my forehead. "Happy to be."

"Good," I said.

"I'm sure if Sirius ever stops crying you'll tell him the same," Remus said.

"Yeah, but he won't stop till he's in bed," I said.

888

Draco and I sat back on our bed in our hotel room after the wedding was finally over. In the morning we'd leave for our honeymoon and be gone for a whole week. After which I'd get straight into my duties as a teacher at Hogwarts.

"I'm so happy to be married to you," Draco said. "But I'm so exhausted."

"I barely had the chance to dance. Everyone was asking questions," I said. "And did you see Veronica with her parents?"

"Yes. I thought my family was dysfunctional," Draco said.

"They're still plenty dysfunctional, don't worry," I said.

"Well, they're your family now too, Missus Malfoy," Draco said.

"So they are," I said. I sat forward and pulled off my heels, tossing them to the floor. "And that's Missus Potter-Malfoy."

Draco sat up and wrapped his arms around my waist and put his chin on my shoulder.

"Hey," he said, "I love you." He kissed my cheek.

"I love you," I said.

"I'd do it all again, you know? Every minute of it," Draco said. "Might listen to you sixth-year when you told me to tell Professor Dumbledore what I was up to, but otherwise, I think I'd do everything else just the same."

"Even the bit where you mercilessly taunt and harass my friends for five years?" I asked.

"Yes, because that helped me grow. Besides, we're all friends in the end aren't we," Draco said. He kissed my cheek and let go me, moving to take off his shoes. "Family, really. Especially if your brother ever marries Ginny."

"You think they won't?" I asked.

"I think they'd both be perfectly content to live together and have children together without ever having to deal with marriage," Draco said.

"I said the same thing to Remus today," I said. "Today was a bit chaotic."

"A bit?" Draco scoffed.

"Well, there were unusual circumstances. We did pull this all together in less than a day," I said. "After Death Eaters destroyed out venue."

"Still not entirely convinced my father didn't orchestrate that whole thing," Draco said.

"Oh, shush. You're not serious," I said.

"I am. I told Tonks as much," Draco said. "There are just a lot of things that haven't sat right with me since my uncle attacked you back in November. For instance, how was he able to even get onto my parents property? And I know my mother has warmed to you, and I didn't expect that my father ever would, but I at least anticipated him tolerating you and he won't even do that."

"But he's still your father," I said. "You don't think-?"

"He'd try to kill or hurt you?" Draco asked. "He's done it before. Being a death eater is the one thing I've always been able to count on him being with any consistency. I think it's better to err on the safe side don't you?"

"Even if it means wrongly accusing your father of something he didn't do?" I said.

"Like he wrongly accused you of murdering Cedric Diggory?" Draco asked. I went to respond but he put a finger to my lips. "Remember when you broke off our engagement because I didn't have the right priorities?"

"Yes," I said.

"You're my priority now. You're my life now. I mean, Merlin, I've barely been able to think about anything or anyone else but you since we were kids, and now the only reason I don't think about you is because of Mira," Draco said. "I love my mother, and as fucked up as he is, I love my father too. But I didn't get to choose them. I chose you. You're my everything. Hannah. And if my own father tries to hurt you, I'll stop him."

I kissed him again. "You already married me. You don't have to keep up with the sappy speeches, you know?"

"Too bad," he said. "I'm going to tell you how much I love you every day until I'm in the ground. An unfortunate side effect of marrying me."

"I don't think 'unfortunate' is the right word," I said. "I just feel… Lucky. Happy. So deliriously happy. And I look forward to you telling me you love me every day for the rest of forever." I kissed him again and again and rested my head on his shoulder.

"We're really on our own now, aren't we?" Draco asked. "No more living with Ron and your brother. No more Ginny in den every evening snogging your brother. We'll be properly on our own, the three of us."

"Are you scared?" I asked.

"Terrified," he said. "But bring it on."

I hadn't known that this boy who I spent so many years trying to hate, who'd spent so many years trying to hate me, was going to be the person I ended up married too. I didn't know that the person I would tell my deepest, darkest secrets to would be the boy who I regularly called a douche until I was 13-year-old. That day in the tower when Dumbledore died, I knew in my gut that everything with Draco died with him. I knew that it was over. As soon as he stepped off the grounds and disappeared with Snape I felt a hollowness that I felt that no one could ever fill.

And yet, here he was. My husband. My protector. My best friend. My everything.

"Bring it on," I repeated. I kissed him again.

I couldn't wait to see what happened next.

[A/N: And that's the end… Ish? I have a few one-shot ideas half-written, that I would love to share, so I'm going to leave this story as incomplete and post them as I finish them. I don't think I'll ever really be done with this story. I wrote the first version of this story on Quizilla when I was 14. I'm 29 now with a husband and a three-year-old. I've made so many friends writing this story and some of them are married and have babies of their own too. Craziness. My life and my goals don't allow me to write fanfic as much as I did before, but this story is always on the forefront of my mind and I couldn't leave it abandoned. So here you go, friends. Thank you for coming on this journey with me. I watched an anime that talked about how sometimes you meet people one time in your life and never see them again, but they still have an impact on you—a one life, one meeting. If this is one of those instances, let's all cherish this one life one meeting.]

[A/N II: I am working on a brand new fanfic which I'll be posting as soon as I finish it, and I also do plan on finishing my Order of the Phoenix fic as well!]