September 1st, 2017
Just like so many years long ago, Hermione and Draco were once again on platform nine and three-quarters. But, unlike Neville and Ron's families, they were not sending off their first child to Hogwarts. Rather, they were sending their last.
"Goodbye, Mum. I'm going to find Zane now. I'll see you at Christmas! Love you, Dad. See you soon, Grandma, Grandpa!" Austrina Malfoy, ready to start her sixth year, gave both her parents a quick kiss, before heading back to the Hogwarts Express, which her luggage was already safely stowed away on. She was the pride and joy of her family, a Ravenclaw prefect, and best friends with the Head Girl, Victoire Weasley, who was also in the same House.
The Malfoys, including Lucius and Narcissa, had gotten to the station half an hour early just to make sure everything would be on time, just how Hermione liked it. Hyperion, returning to his second year of Hogwarts as a member of Slytherin House, had already run off to find his friends without saying goodbye, but Hermione was sure he would come back for a hug from both his parents, so long as none of his friends saw it. Berenice, a new prefect in her fifth year as a Gryffindor lioness, was having a tearful farewell with Lucius and Narcissa. Being their favorite grandchild, she wrote them just as often as she wrote Draco and Hermione. Scorpius, ready to begin his seven year-long adventure, remained securely tucked in between his parents, refusing to do anything.
"If Trina's meeting up with Zane, then Zach and Heather should be here, too." Draco noted, glancing at his watch. "Or maybe they're trying to find the twins." Freesia and Jasmine were Zanavian's two year-old sisters, and just as beautiful as Heather. Zacharias often complained on how they managed to disappear without warning, and it could take hours to find them. Luckily, though, when they were discovered, they were usually in one piece.
"I think Heather said she was dropping them off with Luna and Rolf for the day, since Lorcan and Lysander wanted a play date." Luna and Rolf, after coming back from their adventures, publishing a book, and getting married, had had twin boys just a year older than Zach and Heather's daughters.
"Oh! That's right! Zach said he had a big meeting today with the Muggle Prime Minister, so Heather must have come and gone already. He said he wanted to present her to the Muggle Minister." Draco exclaimed, smacking himself on the forehead.
"Draco, you look ridiculous when you do that." Blaise Zabini's voice sounded, and Hermione jumped. Blaise, Daphne, and their daughter, Daisy, who was about to start her first year at Hogwarts, pushed a trolley over to where the Malfoys were.
"Hello to you, too, Blaise." Draco rolled his eyes, but then hugged his best. Hermione exchanged friendly greetings with Daphne before asking, "Where's Blaire?"
"No doubt with Rion." Daphne chuckled. "I told him to wait for his sister, but he would have none of it. I think he just doesn't want to let everyone see me kiss him goodbye, so he took off early. It's a bit hurtful, actually."
Hermione laughed. "I understand the feeling. Rion ditched us at first chance as well."
"Well, it was good seeing you." Blaise said, kissing Hermione's hand. "We're going to go help little Daisy get set up, and hopefully hunt down Blaire as well. See you later!"
"Bye!" Daisy called, following her parents as the Malfoys waved.
"There's twenty minutes left until the train leaves." Draco murmured after a moment, glancing at his watch again. "I wonder where they are."
Hermione looked around, but could only see Neville and Hannah helping Alice load her trunk onto the train, with ten year-old Frank peering excitedly, the Montagues, Notts, and Goyles bidding their children goodbye, and the Birches yelling at their children to stop fooling around and get on the train.
"Look, there's Professor Longbottom and Alice! See, Cory, you'll have Alice and Daisy in your year, so there's nothing to be afraid of!"
"Mum." Scorpius responded dolefully. "I don't want to be a teacher's pet, and nor do I want to be a ladies' man. Where's Albus when you need him?"
"There!" Berenice cried, pointing to a group of redheads coming towards them. "It's the Potters and the Weasleys!"
The first to reach them were Harry and little Lily, who was clutching her father's arm, tears trailing down her face.
"It won't be long, and you'll be going too." he was telling her.
"Two years," sniffled Lily. "I want to go now!"
Albus and James could be heard behind them, and Hermione grinned at Ginny, who was rolling her eyes at the brothers' obviously ongoing argument.
"I won't! I won't be in Slytherin, Jim!"
"Boys, give it a rest." Ginny sighed.
"I only said he might be," said James, flashing Albus an evil grin. "There's nothing wrong with that. He might be in Slyth-"
But one threatening glare from his mother silenced him, and he raced with his trolley past the Malfoys, calling a brief greeting before stopping at the train and starting to load his trunk onto it.
"Hey, Al." Scorpius called, scurrying over to his best friend. "Don't listen to Jim. He's just trying to be funny. There's nothing wrong with being in Slytherin. Rion's in it, and so are Blaire, Patrick, Gloria, Thomas, Fiona, Garett, and Helena."
"But they all have at least one parent in Slytherin." Albus replied dejectedly. "All the Weasleys and Potters have always been in Gryff-"
"Not Vicky." Bill cut in, joining them with Fleur, Dominique, and Louis, who were here to see Victoire off. "She's in Ravenclaw."
"Where is she, Fleur?" Hermione asked. "We haven't seen her all summer, and she, Trina, and Berry used to be so tight. Of course, now that Vicky and Trina have their boyfriends-"
"Hey!"
James had reappeared, and seemed to be bursting with news.
"Teddy's back there." he said breathlessly, pointing to the end of the scarlet engine. "I just saw him! And guess what he's doing? Snogging Vicky!"
"There ees your answer." Fleur replied, suppressing a small smile. Beside her, Dominique and Louis pretended to throw up, while Bill grimaced, but was restrained from doing anything by Fleur's slender arm.
James seemed disappointed by the lack of reaction. "They're snogging!" he repeated louder, looking to Berenice, who ignored him. Since last year, James had been trying to get Berenice's attention, although she would have none of it. They were both fifth years and in Gryffindor, but whereas she was a Prefect, he was the school clown and troublemaker-in-chief.
"Well, I'm going to go check if Trina and Zane are doing the same thing." James announced, giving his mother and father quick hugs before dashing off.
"He will do no such thing." Berenice declared, quickly bidding everyone goodbye, giving her parents and grandparents her last kisses, and then running after James.
"He'd better hope he doesn't catch Trina and Zane doing that." Draco snarled. "If I even hear of them holding hands, I'll-"
"-Be happy." Hermione said firmly, lightly placing a hand on her husband's shoulder. "She's sixteen, Drake. She's a big girl now, and I fully trust Zane. They're both Prefects and want to be Heads next year, so I don't think they'll want to do anything to endanger their chances of rooming together next year."
Although Hermione had intended that bit to soothe Draco, it had the opposite effect, for upon hearing that his daughter would practically be living with her boyfriend next year, he turned a bright red that any Weasley would be proud of.
"Say, I didn't know Teddy was going to be here." Bill remarked, trying to distract the fuming Draco. "Did he come with you guys?"
Hermione shook her head. "Andromeda said that he said he would have a busy day at work today, so he wouldn't be seeing her off. Aunt Andie said something about him keeping himself busy since Vicky's been 'grounded.'"
"She broke her curfew too many times." Dominique informed. "So Mum and Dad wouldn't let her see him for the rest of the summer, and she was really mad."
"Yeah, that's why she ditched us as soon as we got here." Louis added. "But now she's kissing Teddy again behind Mummy and Daddy's back!"
"Hush, Louis." Bill said, ruffling his son's hair. "This problem can be easily resolved."
"How?" asked Ron, grinning at Rose. "Our Rosie's going to be there someday too, so any advice is welcome."
"I'm not sure you'll like this one." Bill chuckled. "It's called a Howler."
Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Draco burst into laughter, remembering when Ron had received his first Howler from Mrs. Weasley.
"You wouldn't, would you?" asked Romilda doubtfully. "She is Head Girl, after all."
"Depends on how good a dinner my wife cooks tonight, I guess." Bill laughed as Fleur swatted his arm.
"Let's go already, this is boring." said Albus, and Scorpius nodded. "Race you to the train!"
"Stop." Harry ordered before the boys could take flight. "Didn't you say you had something to tell Lily, Albus?"
"Oh, right." Albus replied sheepishly. "Hey, Lily, don't cry. I'll write to you every week, I promise. Be a good girl for Mum and Dad, won't you?"
"But Jim said you'll only write me once a month at most, since nobody else ever writes to their parents." Lily blubbered, crying harder than ever.
"We wrote to Jim about three times a week last year." Ginny said.
"You don't want to believe everything your brother says about Hogwarts," Harry put in. "He likes a laugh, that boy. This goes for all of you, Cory, Al, Rose, Dom, Lou."
"What about me?" Hyperion asked, having reappeared behind his mother.
"Don't worry about it, Rion." Ron laughed. "You'll be fine, whatever happens. Take care of Al, Rose, and your brother, won't you?"
"We'll see." Hyperion replied somewhat cockily, permitting himself to be hugged by his parents and grandparents before trying to take off again, only to be stopped by his mother.
"Now, Rion." Hermione said quietly, steering himself off to one side. "Flora, Hestia, and Pansy have been telling me about your 'relationships' with Gloria, Fiona, and Helena. Honey, you're only twelve, and you need to stop playing around with girls and focus more on your schoolwork. You'll be taking your O.W.L.s soon, and you need to start preparing now!"
"Mum." Hyperion rolled his eyes. "That's in three years, for Merlin's sake! And I wasn't playing around with them; I was serious with all of them until I broke up with them!"
"Well, try not to do that." Hermione sighed. "Especially since Rose is going to be at school this year, and you know how she's always liked you. If you hurt her, your Uncle Ron will personally tear off your limbs, without magic."
"Yes, Mum." Hyperion groaned. "But honestly, Rose is Rose, just like a cousin. It's weird."
"Alright, sweetie, whatever you say. Now, stay out of trouble, and try to watch out for your brother and friends who are only first years. And, don't spy on Trina and Zane, and especially don't fight with Berry. She is a Prefect now, so do as she says."
"If she doesn't boss me around every day, sure." Hyperion muttered. "Okay, okay, I get it, Mum!"
"That's my good boy." Hermione laughed, satisfied. She kissed his smooth blond hair one last time before he ran back to an awaiting Blaire, who seemed just as eager to get away from his parents.
She went to rejoin the group, and saw that Bill and Fleur's family had left already, knowing that Victoire would not be coming back to say her goodbyes. Hugo was cheering Lily up, and the other three children were just about ready to get onto the Hogwarts Express.
"Bye, Mum." Scorpius said, kissing his mother first, before doing so for his father and grandparents. "Promise you'll write?"
"We will, every day, if you want us to." Draco reassured him, ruffling his wavy brown hair. "Don't forget that you, Rose, and Al have tea with Hagrid next Friday."
"And please don't sneak a ride a Rion's broom!" Hermione warned. "First years aren't allowed on Quidditch teams!"
"Right." Draco snorted, having already concealed the newest Firebolt 3000 model as a school present into Scorpius's trunk. "That's why Trina, Zane, Jim, Berry, and Rion all made the team during their first years, right?"
It was true. Austrina was a Chaser and Zane the Seeker and Captain of Ravenclaw's team, Berry was a Keeper for Gryffindor while James was a Chaser and the Captain for Gryffindor, and Rion played as a Beater on Slytherin's team.
"Just don't do it." Hermione reiterated, ignoring Draco. "Be safe, alright?"
"I will, Mum." Scorpius promised. He went over to join Rose and Albus, who had received similar farewells from their parents. They had turned around and started walking for the train until suddenly, Scorpius turned around, and asked frantically, "It doesn't matter what House I'm in, right?"
"Of course not, dear." Hermione soothed him. "We'll love you no matter what House you're sorted into. But remember to write us a letter as soon as possible so we know what to get you for your Christmas present!"
"We already have a kid in each House except for Hufflepuff, so that's what I'm betting on." Draco joked. Then on a more serious note, he said, "But your mother's right! We'll love you all the same! We wouldn't do anything like, I don't know, disinherit you."
"I will if you're not sorted into Gryffindor, Rosie." Ron called, earning himself a swat from Romilda, Hermione, and Ginny. "RON!" they yelled.
"Just kidding." he muttered, rolling his eyes as Lily and Hugo laughed. Lucius and Narcissa bid their farewells as soon as the final three children boarded the train, and then Disapparated back to the Manor, ready to get a head start on lunch.
In just a few moments, the train's doors closed, and Hermione, Draco, Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Romilda were waving at their children as they began their journey to Hogwarts, ready to have the most fantastic experience of their lives.
"I'll miss them." Hermione said quietly, as the little red speck finally disappeared.
They said their goodbyes to their friends as the crowd began to disperse, and Draco and Hermione headed back to the Muggle part of King's Cross Train Station.
"They'll be alright." he murmured soothingly, squeezing her hand with his own.
And he knew they would be. He had been married for seventeen years, had four wonderful children, had a rapidly expanding business, had his parents still, and most importantly of all, had his beautiful Hermione, his perfect wife, the person he loved the most in the world.
So as Draco walked Hermione out to the parking lot in the crisp September air, he smiled freely, knowing that only now, not only did he have an amazing life, he had finally fulfilled The Malfoy Remission.
The End