December 1st, 2005
"DRACO-LUCIUS-MALFOY-YOU-SODDING-ARSE-PICKING-MORO NIC-BOGEY-EATING-TROLL-BRAINED-IDIOT! MAKE IT STOP! NOW! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, AND WHEN I'M DONE HERE, I'M GONNA-"
But Draco didn't hear what his wife was going to do as she gave another scream of pain, interrupting her unfinished sentence. The birth was progressing naturally, and Draco knew, since he was pretty sure Hermione had squeezed all the blood out of his right hand, and she was still throwing fresh insults at him. Of course, it wasn't really his fault that she was in pain, but he really didn't feel like correcting her as she whimpered after her latest outburst.
Cautiously, he used his left hand and smoothed her sweaty hair back. "I know, I know, darling. It's my fault, and you can do whatever you want once we're done here. But right now, concentrate, dear. The baby needs you."
Hermione glared at her husband with bleary eyes. "It's easier said than done, Draco. Would you like to switch places?"
But Draco didn't get to answer as Hermione gave one final earsplitting shriek, and the cries of a newborn baby filled the room. Draco, however, never strayed a moment from his wife's relieved face until the baby was brought over by the Healer, thoroughly washed and freshly wrapped in a fluffy white towel.
"It's a boy." announced the plump, small woman, handing the tiny bundle to Draco, and then going back around to start cleaning up Hermione. Draco peered for a fraction of a second at his son's face before giving the baby to Hermione's outstretched arms.
"He's beautiful." he said quietly, as Hermione cooed at the infant, calming down its screams. "So, Scorpius Granger Malfoy, then?"
"Just like we agreed." Hermione smiled at her husband, and handed little Scorpius back to him. "We can call him Cory for his nickname."
"Sounds good to me." Draco beamed at his wife.
At this moment, the Healer was done cleaning Hermione, and said, "Sir, if you can fill out the child's birth certificate outside, I'd be much obliged. Do you have waiting family members outside to take care of the child while the mother rests?"
"Of course." Draco replied. "I'll be right back. Here, Hermione, darling, I'll only be a moment."
As Hermione received her newborn son back, she said happily, "Zach and Heather will be excited! We're still naming them Scorpius's godparents, right?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Draco replied, kissing his wife's forehead, and then that of his son's, before exiting the room.
An extremely tired Hermione was just about to doze off with Scorpius as the Healer bustled around the room, washing instruments and then putting them away. Her eyelids drooping, she wondered vaguely what was taking Draco so long, and was just about to fall asleep when the door was flung open and two little whirlwinds tumbled in.
"Mummy! Mum! We're here! Are you alright?" cried four year-old Austrina Hermione Malfoy, who had been born on April 12th, 2001, and was Draco and Hermione's eldest child. She was slim and rather tall for her age, with her mother's brown hair, though it was as straight as arrows. Austrina had also inherited Hermione's large brown eyes, highly inquisitive, as well as penetrative. She was pulling another little girl by the hand, who was even more chatty than her sister.
Three year-old Berenice Lucissa Malfoy, born on May 8th, 2002, was Draco and Hermione's second child, as well as daughter. She was built like her sister, tall and slim, but looked far more like her father. She had inherited his silvery-gray eyes, as well as the distinct blond hair, although it fell in wavy curls in contrast to her sister's straight locks. Poking the mysterious bundle in her mother's arms, Berenice asked, "Mummy, is that the, what's it called again, Trina?"
"It's Mummy's new baby." the older girl replied patiently to her younger sister and stopping her from poking their brother again. "Mummy, is it a boy or girl?"
"It's a boy, Trina. You two have a new baby brother, besides Hyperion!"
"Aw." Berenice looked disappointed as Austrina peered at the newborn's sleeping face. "Does that mean he's gonna be stinky like Rion, Mummy?"
Hermione smiled at her younger daughter. "Your brother's not that stinky, Berry. Daddy just doesn't change his diaper immediately every time he poops."
"Yes, with that memory of his, it's understandable." the familiar drawl of Lucius Malfoy floated through the still open door. He walked in first, with his wife right behind him, holding yet another child, a one year-old boy. He was the spitting image of Draco Malfoy, though he had only been born last year, on November 17th, 2004. Like his sister Berenice, Hyperion Draco Malfoy had also inherited their father's beautiful gray eyes, as well as the blond hair, although his was as straight and drawn-back as his father's.
"Hello, Father! Hello, Mother! Come meet our newest little addition, Scorpius Granger Malfoy!" Hermione called, as the girls also excitedly waved their grandparents over.
Lucius and Narcissa quickly walked over, congratulating Hermione, as well as craning their necks to get a closer look at their newest grandchild. "He's a fine-looking boy, my dear." Lucius stated proudly, as Hermione handed the child to him.
"Oh, my darling girl! He looks just like you, with the wavy brown hair and eyes, already!" Narcissa declared, handing a struggling Hyperion to his mother.
"Yeah, he kinda looks like me!" Austrina noted, watching her grandmother bounce her new brother and coo at him after her grandfather reluctantly surrendered the baby.
"So me and Rion look the same, and you and, uh, Mummy, what's the baby's new name again?" asked Berenice sweetly.
"It's Scorpius, Berry, but you can call him Cory for short."
"Okay! So now it's me and Rion, and you and Cory!" Berenice finished, clapping her hands together. "Mummy! Now there's two boys and two girls!" she cried, reveling in her observation.
"Yes, yes dear. Where's your father?" Hermione asked worriedly, just now realizing that Draco was still nowhere to be seen after all this time.
"He went to get the Smiths." Lucius replied. "After he told us to hurry to your room, he went to give Scorpius's birth certificate to the front desk, and then Disapparated. The new Minister of Magic is too busy to reply to every owl that's sent to him, as I've already told Draco. It's not a surprise they haven't gotten the message yet."
Zacharias Smith was now the new Minister of Magic, and he was a good one, too. Kingsley Shacklebolt, after steadying the new infrastructure, had handed it over to his best assistant, a man that was now very good at empathizing with the Wizarding community, and not to mention, had very close ties to large corporations, such as Granger's Glorious Gums and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, furthering his understanding of both the economy and the public. Heather Smith was also very successful with her perfume shop, though not on the scale of the other enterprises. They were all still good friends, and Draco and Hermione were even the godparents of their son, Zanavian Saloman Smith, which was why they were now returning the favor and asking Zach and Heather to be their own son's godparents.
"So does that mean Cory's godparents are gonna be Mr. and Mrs. Smith?" asked Austrina curiously. "How come my Mr. and Mrs. Scamander can't be his godparents too?"
"Or my Mr. and Mrs. Potter can be Cory's godparents, too!" Berenice echoed her sister indignantly, her gray eyes bright.
Hermione laughed lightly with her parents-in-law and replied, "Girls, you each have your own godparents, and Cory will, too. It's going to be okay. Rion has his own godparents as well!"
The little boy squeaked out the word, "Beanie!" before burrowing his blond head against his mother's throat.
Narcissa laughed. "Yes, little one. Your godparents are Blaise and Daphne Zabini. How bright you are!"
"They all are." Hermione said, gazing fondly at her four children.
Then in walked Draco, with Heather, Zacharias, and little Zanavian, only a month older than Austrina, right behind him.
"Congratulations, Mione!" Heather squealed, rushing over to her friend.
"Thanks, Heather. Hey Zach! Hi, Zane!"
"That's a good-looking kid, Mione." Zacharias said, joining his wife and friend as his son followed. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Hey, Trina, Berry, Rion."
"Hello everyone." Zanavian called, skipping over to join his friends, Austrina and Berenice.
"Guess what, Mr. and Mrs. Smithie? You guys are gonna be Cory's godparents!"
"We heard!" replied Heather, beaming at the little blonde. "Draco asked us already, Hermione, and we definitely would be honored!"
"Thanks, Heather. Thank you too, Minister." Hermione smiled, winking at an embarrassed Zacharias. "And this little fellow's name is Scorpius Granger Malfoy, Cory for short."
"Zanavian, come say hello to little Cory!" Heather said, beckoning her son closer to Narcissa Malfoy. Peering down at the infant, Zanavian remarked, "He has a cool name, just like Trina and Berry and Rion! Is it a star, too?"
It was Draco who replied, taking his seat next to his wife's bedside again. "No, Zanavian. 'Scorpius' is a constellation, just like 'Draco,' my name. 'Hyperion' is the name of small moon of Saturn, and Berenice is named after 'Coma Berenice,' another constellation. Austrina is named after the constellation 'Corona Austrina.'"
"Oh." Zanavian said sadly. "So none of them are stars anymore?" he asked gravely.
At this, all the adults in the room laughed again. If only children would always stay this innocent.
It was Christmas again, and Hermione felt deeply content as she sat on a comfy couch in the largest living room of Malfoy Manor. Draco had one arm around her and the other one holding Hyperion, and was listening to Neville share his descriptions of the new students in his Herbology class, having gotten the job after Professor Sprout retired three years ago. On Neville's other side was Hannah, who, like Hermione, was rocking a sleeping baby. Hermione was holding Scorpius, and Hannah was holding Alice Hannah Longbottom, born only two weeks ago, and talking to a heavily pregnant Romilda Vane, whom Ron had announced was carrying a daughter to be named Rose Amaryllis Weasley. Ron himself was discussing with Harry a recent Auror case to George, and Angelina was gathered in a group consisting of Bill, Fleur, Percy, Audrey, Rolf, and Luna. Nearby in another group, the Zabinis were showing off their son, Blaire Greengrass Zabini, the same age as Hyperion, to Zacharias, Heather, Pansy, Gregory, Theodore, Graham, Flora, and Hestia. The Goyles had a three year-old boy named Patrick Gregory, the Notts had a boy the same age named Thomas Carrow, and the Montagues had a son named Garett Carrow, the same age as his cousin, all of whom were sound asleep in an upstairs guest room.
The last group was still at the dinner table talking endlessly - the generation of Lucius, Narcissa, Andromeda, Mrs. Goyle, Mr. and Mrs. Carrow, Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson, Mr. and Mrs. Montague, Mr. Abbott, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Xenophilius Lovegood, Mr. and Mrs. Vane, Mr. and Mrs. Scamander, and, of course, Blaise's mother and her latest husband. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were again not present, having gone to Romania to spend Christmas with Charlie and his newest girlfriend for once.
And finally, the children. Teddy and Gabe were both seven now, had toy wands, courtesy of George, and were shooting thin streams of water at each other. Little Victoire, called "Vicky" by friends and family, was five now, and was currently leading Austrina and Berenice in dressing up the dogs, Carrie and Minnie, who were now full-grown beagles, in pink, frilly tutus Fleur had purchased for her daughter a few days ago, but which said daughter heartily disliked. Nearby was James Sirius Potter, a few months older than Berenice, but was outcast, too young to play with the big boys, and having too many cooties to play with his cousin and her friends. Ginny stood next to him, holding a sleeping Albus Severus Potter, who had been born in October this year, and encouraging him to try and play with Teddy and Gabe, although he kept whining that he wanted to play with Berry.
Hearing this, Hermione looked around the room, and saw Crookshanks skulking around under a shelf in the corner. She called out, without waking Scorpius, "Hey, Jim! There's Crookshanks in the corner! He looks so lonely. Why don't you go play with him?"
Ginny threw Hermione a look of relief and came to sit down with her best friend as James happily captured the sour Crookshanks and started petting him, making the old cat purr, something Hermione hadn't heard in a quite a while.
At around midnight, when everyone started moving steadily towards the great front door, Lucius called, "Everybody listen! My two granddaughters have asked to lead us off in singing the Christmas Carol, 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' before you all leave! So please, let's all rise and sing the song before we part ways!"
Hermione smiled as her daughters climbed atop the chairs their grandparents had just been sitting in, and felt Draco kiss her hair and beam. As everyone started singing the carol, Hermione glanced at Draco as the thought hit her: she had never really lost her family; she just had to wait for them. And here they all were now, grandparents, parents, children, and friends, all together, and all celebrating another joyous Christmas, with many more to follow in the future.