"Ivy, please go put your shoes on," Hermione pleaded around the hair grip in her mouth.
"I'm Ascella," the little ginger-haired girl replied with a huff.
"That trick didn't work on me when your Uncle George and Uncle Fred used to try it. It certainly isn't going to work with my own daughters. Shoes, now, Ivy."
The red hair darkened to black as Ivy stomped all the way to her room. Hermione transferred the hair grip from her teeth to the last rebellious lock of curls. She frowned when she spotted a streak of silver.
"The beginning of the end," Hermione muttered, gliding her wand over the hairs, bringing them back to her natural colour.
"So dramatic."
Hermione shot a glare at her husband as he leaned against the bathroom door frame, signature smirk in place.
"Easy for someone whose silver hair will never show to say," she grumbled. One final appraisal in the mirror… She looked like a woman in charge but wasn't quite feeling it yet. "Have I mentioned how much I dislike having my first day in office coincide with the first day of school?"
"I recall you mentioning it once or twice." Draco pushed away from the door and said, "Come along, Minister. The boys' trunks are ready to go."
"And you double-checked that Ascella didn't sneak into one again?" Hermione asked, joining Draco in the hall and starting for the stairs.
"My inspection turned up only school robes and questionably clean socks."
Hermione wrinkled her nose as Ivy thundered past, mismatched shoes on her feet. "Thank you, Ivy," she called as their daughter disappeared down the steps.
"Did she try the switch trick again?" Draco laughed.
"She still thinks we can't tell them apart after seven years. At least she put in the effort to change her hair colour this time."
They reached the sitting room and found three-fourths of their menagerie in various states of preparedness. Ivy was sitting beside the fireplace. Her hair was back to its usual black pixie cut and she was watching her fingernails change colours, seemingly trying to settle on the perfect shade of purple.
Their oldest, Julian, was sitting on his Hogwarts trunk, hunched over a broomstick with his inherited dark curls shielding his face. He was no doubt inspecting his broom for the millionth time, making sure it was in peak condition for when he tried out for a place on the Gryffindor Quidditch squad.
Their middle child was sprawled on his stomach, halfway under the sofa.
"Scorp, what are you doing?" Draco called.
"I found my trainer," Scorpius' muffled voice called back.
Draco sighed and pointed his wand at the sofa, making it levitate above their eleven-year-old. Scorpius rolled onto his back and grinned up at them, his blonde hair fanned out around his head.
"Thanks, Dad!"
A few more rolls and he was in the clear as Draco lowered the sofa back into place. Scorpius unlatched his trunk and shoved his final backup shoe into it. He was seriously going to go off to school without a complete pair of shoes…
"Scorpius Michael, are those bristles?" Hermione strode across the room and caught the top of the trunk as her son was hastily trying to close it. She reached in and pulled out a broomstick that had been poorly hidden under his first-year robes. "You know you're not allowed a broom during your first year."
"It's not fair! Julian gets to take his!"
"Because I'm in third year," Julian said, making a show of putting his broom in his trunk.
"Enough," Draco said, taking the broomstick from Hermione. "We've already had this argument. Scorp, you know the rules. No broomsticks."
"The rules are stupid," Scorpius grumbled, kicking at his trunk.
"I said the same thing when I was your age but rules are rules and you do not want to get on the Headmistress's bad side before classes even start. Did you really think you'd be able to hide it from me the entire year?" Draco asked in disbelief.
"Urg…you're not going to be watching me twenty-four-seven, are you?"
"Not unless you give me a reason," Draco said, giving Scorpius a pointed look before taking the broomstick to the kitchen. When he returned Ascella was trailing behind him, sipping from a juice box. "Found the last one."
Ascella joined her twin by the fireplace, her long red curls a stark contrast against Ivy's black. Technically they were identical, but they rarely used their metamorphic abilities to match their appearances. As if having twins wasn't enough of a surprise, the Black family genes threw in a little extra excitement.
"Are we ready? All shoes and children accounted for?" Hermione asked as she threw her work bag over her shoulder. A chorus of "yep" and "yes" replied, along with a sullen, "Yes, Mum," from Scorpius. "Lead the way, darling."
Draco threw a pinch of floo powder into the hearth and stepped into it with Ascella. With one hand on her and one hand on Scorpius' trunk, he called out for the train station and the green flames swallowed them up. The two boys followed after, leaving Hermione and Ivy with Julian's trunk.
When she stepped onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, Draco was waiting for her with Ascella clinging to his back, but Julian and Scorpius were nowhere to be seen.
"They already ran off to find James and Albus," Draco said, answering her unspoken query. "I'll go load the trunks."
Hermione relinquished her hold on Julian's luggage and reached up to coax the juice box from Ascella's hand. "Pass that here before it goes down the back of your father's neck."
" 'Mione!"
As Draco dragged the trunks to the train, Hermione stood on tiptoes, trying to find the owner of the familiar voice. It didn't take long to spot the red-haired man that stood a head taller than everyone else.
"Uncle Ron!" Ivy yelled, taking off and gracefully darting between the crowd of students and parents.
"Ivy!" Ron laughed as he grabbed her around the waist and tossed her in the air like she was a doll. He caught her just as effortlessly but didn't put her down.
Lizzie hurried past him and wrapped Hermione in a hug. "Oh, I missed you so much!"
"I missed you. How was the trip?"
"It was good. It was so nice to see everyone. They're very excited to see you in November," Lizzie said as she pulled away from Hermione and looked around. "Ron, where's Sadie?"
"She's already spotted Scorp and Al and they've gone on a search for the best seats. Have you seen Gin or Harry?" Ron asked.
"No, not yet," Hermione said, craning her neck to try and find her other best friends.
"Uncle Ron, while you were in New York, did you give Molly the pictures we drew for her?" Ivy asked.
"Yes and I think she loved them very much because right after a cardinal dive-bombed my head." Ron ruffled her hair and Ivy giggled.
"I see them!" Ivy shouted, pointing over Ron's shoulder. "Uncle Harry! Aunt Ginny!" she called, frantically waving her arms. She started trying to free herself from Ron's grasp, who only tightened his hold the more Ivy fought against it. "Put me down!"
"Oooh, is that what you want? I thought you needed a hug," Ron teased.
"Uncle Roooon," Ivy groaned.
Ron chuckled and loosened his grip but before he could lower her, Ivy jumped from his arms and ran to meet Lily, the youngest of the Potter trio. Ivy immediately held out her hands, showing Lily her purple nails and the two started chattering away.
"Hello, Minister," Harry greeted, shooting a genuinely beaming smile at Hermione. "Ready for your first day?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess." She glanced around the station, trying to see if she could spot anyone on their own, who might look a little out of place. "How many officers did you end up recruiting for security detail?"
"I was told I couldn't send out the entire force so there are five strategically placed senior officers," Harry explained.
"The entire force? Honestly, Harry."
"Of all the Ministers I've known, you're the one I want to protect the most. Anything you need, I'll make sure you have it."
"Thank you."
"Where's Draco?"
Hermione pointed across the platform to where Draco was loading student trunks onto the engine. Ascella still hung from his back as he talked to Neville Longbottom, who was also loading luggage as it was brought to them.
"Talking to his work husband," Hermione said with an exaggerated sigh. She actually loved that Draco had developed a strong relationship with Neville.
After Draco accepted the position of Potions Professor, Neville quickly welcomed him onto the Hogwarts staff. Potions and Herbology naturally went hand in hand and it didn't take long for their friendship to form. Neville happily kept Draco's supply closet stocked and Draco concocted an environmentally safe insect repellent to keep Neville's greenhouses pest free. They even started combining their classes for joint lessons.
"Has he glued Ascella to his back to keep her off the train?" Ginny asked.
"Does it make me a bad mum if I say that I hope so?"
"Nah, it just means-"
"Well, well, well. Look at this mini Gryffindor reunion."
The nasal interruption sent a wave of repulsion rippling through Hermione that she hadn't felt in twenty years. She feverishly wished that the voice belonged to any other insipid girl from her past but the unbridled look of disgust on Ginny's face confirmed that she wasn't that lucky.
Hermione plastered on her politician's face before turning and begrudgingly throwing out the greeting, "Hello, Pansy. It's-" she almost said 'nice to see you', but that would be too much. It had never been nice to see Pansy Parkinson. Instead, she said, "It's been a while."
"It has, it has," Pansy agreed. "This is my son, Brendon," she introduced, gesturing to the young boy with black hair at her side. Brendon had an iron-clad grasp on a brand new trunk and an overwhelmed look on his face. Hermione could tell he was a first-year before Pansy offered up the information.
"Ginny and I both have sons starting their first years," Hermione said to Brendon. "I'm sure Scorp and Al will be more than happy to have another friend to sit with on the train.
"Oh, you all have multiple children then I see," Pansy commented, her eyes flicking momentarily to Lily and Ivy. Lily paid Pansy no mind but Hermione caught her daughter's side-eye. "I guess you Weasleys do have a tradition to uphold."
Hermione raised her eyebrows and Harry's tight grip on Ginny's shoulder didn't go unnoticed. Ron seemed to read the signs and took them as a warning. He linked arms with a very confused, yet fuming, Lizzie and said, "Let's go find Sadie."
"Was there something you needed us for, Pansy?" Harry asked.
"No, I just saw my old classmates and thought I would stop to say hello." Pansy turned to Hermione and gave her a sad, pedantic smile. "Granger, so sorry about you and Weasley splitting up. I really thought you two were going to make it."
"Yes, well, that was a long time ago and it all worked out for the best. We've been able to move on and stay friends," Hermione replied, forcing herself not to take Pansy's pity bait. "We're both in…" she trailed off as a few pieces clicked into place. "...in much better relationships. Where have you been hiding all these years, by the way?"
"Oh, New Zealand," Pansy answered. "I got out of Brittain not long after the war ended. When Brendon got his Hogwarts letter, I went back and forth forever on whether or not to move back. We only just got back in the country two days ago."
"That explains a lot," Hermione said, matching Pansy's smile. "These days only my husband calls me Granger. To everyone else, it's Minister Granger."
"My apologies, Minister Granger. Sounds like your husband is a very lucky man," Pansy replied, sarcasm heavily dripping off every word. Her eyes darted around the station, obviously looking for an out from the encounter. A smile spread across her face when her gaze landed exactly where Hermione had assumed it would. "Is that Draco? I didn't know he had a daughter."
"Yes, he teaches Potions at Hogwarts now," Harry said, shooting a knowing half-smile at Hermione.
There was a predatory glint in Pansy's eyes as she said, "If you'll excuse us, I'm going to go introduce Brendon to his professor."
"It was nice catching up with you," Hermione said as Pansy sauntered across the platform, hips in full swing.
"Did you just let her run off to flirt with your husband?" Ginny hissed.
Hermione nodded. "We could stand here and embarrass her but why waste the energy when she can do it herself."
"I wish we had some extendable ears," Harry said with a disappointed sigh. "I would love to hear this conversation."
As Pansy approached, Draco glanced back and smiled. He finished loading the trunk in his hands and then stood up. Ascella dropped from his back, most likely coaxed off with the reminder to use her manners when she meets new people. Ascella held out a hand and Pansy actually shook it before stepping forward and hugging Draco.
"Uh oh, Ascella is seizing the distracted Draco moment," Ginny giggled.
As Draco was extracting himself from Pansy's clutches, Acella sneaked behind him and Neville, then she scurried onto the train. Hermione shook with silent laughter as her daughter disappeared and Pansy threw herself at her husband.
"Isn't he wearing his wedding ring?" Harry asked, his eyes squinting behind his glasses.
"No, it's getting repaired. He neglected his gloves and it got warped by some Bubotuber pus."
Pansy's seduction attempt started to fall apart within five minutes when Julian carried a pouting Ascella off the train, with Scorpius right behind them.
"Mummy, can I go see Daddy and Uncle Nev?"
Hermione looked down and grinned. Ivy was looking up, an angelic look on her face. The girl might be young but her intuition was years ahead. She was more Slytherin than her father had ever been.
"Of course, sweetheart. Go ahead, my conspiring little snake." Hermione smiled as Ivy skipped over to Draco.
Pansy appeared to have frozen as she stared at Julian, Scorpius, and Ascella. A gleeful squeal of "Daddy!" rang out as Ivy took a running leap at Draco. He was able to throw out his arms and catch her just in time. Pansy's mouth fell open as she stared at Draco and Ivy. She recovered quickly and said something to Draco, whose brows furrowed in confusion as he pointed to Hermione.
Pansy's head whipped around and her eyes narrowed. Hermione couldn't help but shoot back a simpering smile as she gave Pansy a wave. Pansy grabbed Brendon's hand and stalked off in a huff, towards the back of the train, leaving the boy's trunk behind. Draco looked back at Hermione and shook his head as Ivy kissed his cheek. Neville tossed Brendon's trunk into the storage compartment and Draco clapped him on the back before making his way to Hermione.
"And here I was, thinking the great Minister Hermione Granger was above a stunt like that," Draco said as he set Ivy down.
"You thought very wrong. I've been waiting for an opportunity like that for twenty years."
The train whistle let out a screech, signalling five minutes until departure. They were suddenly surrounded by kids, trying to shout out hasty goodbyes and avoid embarrassing kisses. Hermione hooked her arms around her sons' waists and gave them each a kiss on the head.
"Have a good term. Stay out of trouble." She gave Scorpius an unblinking stare before turning to Julian. "Good luck with Quidditch tryouts. I love you both and already can't wait to have you back for Christmas."
"Love you, too, Mum," Julian groaned as Hermione kissed his head once more. When she finally relinquished her grip, he hurried to the train, calling out, "Bye!"
Scorpius turned around and gave her a proper hug. He lingered a few extra seconds and Hermione could tell that, despite his brave performance, he was nervous. "You're going to do great, sweetheart," she murmured against his hair. "And Dad is never far if you ever need anything."
Scorpius nodded and gave her one last tight hug. Shouts from the train drew his attention to Albus and Sadie calling, "Come on, Scorp!"
"Bye Mum, love you," Scorpius said quickly before sprinting for the train.
Hermione smiled sadly as she watched the three figures walk back through the carriage before disappearing into a compartment on the opposite side. As one last warning blast issued from the engine, she had a moment of panic.
"Where's Ascella?"
"Right here, Mummy."
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief when the little girl peeked around from behind Ginny. Ivy and Lily were with her and it sounded like she had been interrupted in their planning of the day's schedule.
Ivy and Ascella usually spent weekdays with Ginny and Lily. Ginny had gotten hired on as a journalist by Quidditch Weekly to cover some of the matches. Some days the girls spent the day running around the cottage and some days they got to spend in the stands, watching the match and adding colourful commentary that Ginny had started incorporating into her articles. As excited as Scorpius had been to start Hogwarts, he was equally disappointed that he had to give up Quidditch matches with Aunt Ginny.
The train whistle sounded twice and then the engine slowly started to pull away. Kids had opened their carriage windows and were hanging their heads out while shouting final goodbyes and waving. Their group stayed on the platform and watched the train get smaller and smaller until the final car turned the corner and completely disappeared.
"Alright ladies, are you ready to go?" Ginny asked.
"Yup!" the three girls called. Ivy and Ascella ran over to hug Hermione and Draco, before dashing off after Lily to where a queue had formed at the floo.
"Have a good first day, Minister," Ron said as Lizzie gave her a hug.
"Thanks." Hermione waved and then turned to Draco. "Are you going up to the school to prepare for tonight's feast?"
"Yes, after I escort you to your new office," he said, linking his arm with hers and guiding her towards the floo.
"You know that's not necessary, right? I have Harry," she said gesturing behind her, "and five other Aurors watching my every move."
Draco looked over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes at Harry. "I don't trust Potter," he said, scepticism tinging his voice.
"Don't make me hex you, Malfoy," Harry threatened.
Ignoring her best friend, Hermione said, "You can escort me to my office but I don't have much free time. I have quite a few back-to-back orientation meetings with the department heads. Plus, I know you have a lot to prepare before lessons start up tomorrow."
At the Ministry, Hermione was greeted by everyone she passed as she and Draco made their way through the atrium. Most of the people called out their support and well-wishes for her. There was one lone voice of dissent that let out a boo but Hermione ignored it and smiled, as she had done so many times throughout her campaign. She had learned many times over that she couldn't please everyone.
When they reached the lifts, Harry followed them in. His finger hovered over the button for level two. "Will you be okay on your own from here?" he asked, returning Draco's wary look.
"I'll be fine. I know exactly what to do if he gets a bit handsy," Hermione said, smirking at her husband.
"Oh Merlin, please don't," Harry groaned. He pushed the button for level two and level ten, then repeatedly hit the close door button while Draco laughed.
Hermione's assistant, Marcene, was eagerly waiting for her with a hot cup of coffee in hand. She handed Hermione the coffee and then asked, "Would you like a cup too, Professor Malfoy?"
Draco smiled and shook his head. "No, thank you, Marcy. And I'm not your professor anymore. You can just call me Draco."
Marcene blushed. "It feels weird just thinking of calling you…that. Can I compromise with Mr Malfoy?"
"It's a fine start, I suppose," he said with a melodramatic sigh.
"Thank you, Marcene," Hermione said as she pushed Draco into her office.
"Very nice," Draco commented as he walked around the room, inspecting the bookshelves and the prepared sunny view out the fake window. He peeked his head in one of the two doors. "You even get your own private loo."
"It's all very posh," Hermione said as she summoned her box of personal items that had been brought in from her previous office.
She started unpacking her various pictures and knick-knacks. There was a clay quill holder that Julian had made her for Mother's Day, a couple of recent drawings from the girls, and a vase full of wildflowers from Scorpius that she had charmed to never wilt.
On the bookcase behind her desk, she started placing her framed pictures. She smiled as she placed a photo of her, Draco, and the boys front and centre. It was her favourite picture from their wedding day. Julian was about to turn three and Scorpius was only several months old. They all had big smiles and the beach wind was blowing their hair every which way.
Like Ginny and Harry, Hermione and Draco had ended up having a multi-year engagement. At first, they put it off, saying they would plan after the baby had been born. Then Hermione got a promotion so they pushed it off again, waiting until she had settled into the new position. As that was happening, they found out that Scorpius was on the way. By the time he was born, Draco and Hermione were tired of hearing everyone ask, "When are you getting married?" Hermione had already done the big fancy wedding and Draco wasn't interested in one, so they planned a vacation to Spain and got married on a beach in Ibiza- just them and the boys.
Hermione pulled out the picture Harry had taken of Draco in the Lady Liberty souvenir crown. "I need to put a security charm on the new door so you don't run off with this one."
"You're way too protective of that picture," Draco scoffed.
"Mmmhmm. And what would you do if you were able to sneak it out of here?"
"Burn it," Draco said without hesitation.
"Exactly. My overprotectiveness is not without merit," she said with a smug smile. "Besides, if you did that, I'd just dig the hat out of my super-secret hiding spot and make you recreate the moment.
Draco rolled his eyes. He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and started kissing the back of her neck. "So what exactly is your plan if I get handsy?" he murmured against her ear.
"Ohh." Hermione let out a breathy sigh and leaned her head back, granting him access to the rest of her neck. "We really don't have enough time to get handsy."
"Pity." His hand slid down her waist, over her thigh, and grabbed the hem of her skirt. As he inched it up, he said, "We have a shiny new desk to put claw marks on."
Hermione moaned and pushed into his hand. "This isn't fair. I have a meeting with the Head of Transportation in ten minutes."
"I'll make an appointment then, shall I?"
Hermione groaned in frustration. She turned around and pulled him down for a kiss, desperately wanting to throw up the strongest silencing spells. Draco picked her up and placed her on the desk, then started peppering kisses on her neck.
With a heroic show of willpower, Hermione gently pushed him back and sighed. "As much as I'm looking forward to keeping our tradition alive, I can't today."
"I know." Draco kissed her and said, "Have I told you lately how wonderful a Minister you're going to be?"
"Only about a dozen times."
"Yes, well, let's make it a baker's." He kissed her once more and whispered, "You're going to be amazing."
"Dad!"
Draco looked up from the final essay he had been marking to see Julian running up to his desk.
"Dad! Dad, dad, dad!"
"What, what, what?" Draco said, matching Julian's enthusiasm.
Julian rolled his eyes and then said, "The Quidditch squad was just posted!"
"And?"
"I don't know! Come on!"
Draco smiled, touched that his son wanted him to be there with him to share in his future elation or disappointment. Quidditch tryouts had been held the previous week and Julian was hoping to be chosen for one of the two open Chaser positions.
"Give me one second to finish this up," Draco said, tapping the top of his quill against the essay.
Somehow, Julian was able to patiently wait while Draco made the final corrections to the work and then marked an E at the top of the parchment. He placed it, along with the rest of the first-year essays on uses of Foxglove, into his desk drawer.
"Alright, let's go see if you made the cut," Draco said. He spelled random askew objects around the classroom back into place as he followed Julian out into the corridor. As they made their way out of the dungeons, Draco said gently, "Remember, if you didn't make it this year, you can always try again next year."
"I know, I know," Julian groaned. "But I want to play this year. I practised all summer."
Draco swung his arm around Julian and pulled him in for a side hug. "I know, mate. I know," he said before ruffling his son's mop of curls.
He had been the potions professor for the past six years. As he had moved up the ranks within his Ministry of Magic department, he found that the time he got to spend with his family had dwindled. When Hermione found out that Horace Slughorn was finally going to retire for good, she encouraged Draco to contact Minerva McGonagall about taking over the position. He had been hesitant about taking the eventual offer. The last time he had been at the castle had not been on the most pleasant of terms. In the end, that had been the only con he could list against the lengthy list of pros.
Working for the school cut his stress in half. He was only required to stay overnight at the castle once a week and one weekend each month, meaning he was able to be home in time for dinner all the other nights. He got to tuck the kids into bed, instead of stealing glimpses of them sleeping. He was able to spend the summers taking them to the park and Quidditch matches, instead of hearing about it all second-hand. It also freed up the schedule to have a date night just about any time he and Hermione pleased.
Draco hadn't fully realised how lucky he was though until Julian started his first year. The problem with being shipped off to a boarding school was that most parents had to watch their children grow up in random spurts; their children returned in December, several inches taller than when they had left in September. But Draco got a glimpse every day of his son growing and maturing and he loved knowing that he would get to experience the same with Scorpius, Ivy, and Ascella.
When they came upon the announcement board, there was a throng of other students clamouring to get a peek at the team list. Draco held back as Julian pushed his way through the scrum. Ten seconds later a loud, "Whoop!" sounded from the centre.
Julian emerged from the group and thrust both fists in the air. "Chaser!" he announced, the brightest grin stretching across his face.
"Congratulations!"
Draco waited to see what move Julian made next. Over the past few years, he had learned exactly how to embarrass his oldest child. Hugs were definitely high on that list. After careful observation, he knew that if Julian didn't immediately initiate the gesture, it was a pat on the back moment.
For this celebration, Draco barely had enough time to plant his feet before Julian barrelled into him, wrapping his arms around Draco's waist. He smiled and gave his son a tight hug. "Great job, Jules. All that hard work this summer paid off."
"Thanks, dad!" Julian let go of him and started racing down the corridor, calling back, "I gotta go find James!"
Draco shook his head and turned around, heading for his quarters. Lessons had ended for the day and he was anxious to shuck off his robes. He would be forced back into them that evening as it was one of his patrol nights but for now, he had a few lovely robe-free hours.
"Hello, Professor Malfoy," Minerva said as they passed in the hall.
"Hello," Draco greeted with a nod. "I'm off for quick catch-up with the Minister but will be back for dinner."
Minerva smiled. "Give her my best."
"Will do."
Draco reached his private quarters and hung up his robes. He had insisted on one of the smaller rooms since he didn't have much use for it. The main room consisted of a bed, armchair, tea kettle, and one mug. There was a basic bathroom attached but the main amenity it had was a private floo, allowing him to come and go as needed.
When Draco reached Hermione's office, Marcene greeted him with a smile. "Hello, Mr Malfoy. How are you?"
"Well, thank you. I just found out Julian made the Quidditch team."
"Oh, that's great! I bet he's chuffed."
"Very." Draco gestured to the office door. "Am I good to go in?"
"Yes, she's expecting you," Marcene said with a wink.
Draco knocked on the door and waited for Hermione to call, "Come in!" He slowly opened the door and slipped into the office. Hermione was at her desk, thin gold-frame glasses slipping down her nose as she read over a thick packet of parchment.
"My apologies, Mr-" Hermione finally looked up and her brow furrowed in bemusement. "Draco?"
"Hello, Minister."
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for our meeting."
Hermione gave him a disappointed smile as she took off her glasses and stood up. "It's lovely seeing you but I have someone arriving any moment for a four-thirty meeting. A gentleman named," she grabbed a small sticky note from her schedule, "Hans Onmaicok."
"Yes, that's me," Draco said, moving to her side.
"What?"
"I'm Hans Onmaicok," he said, his voice low as he brought his hands up to rest on her hips. "Well, I will be soon, hopefully."
"Draco-"
"Hans," Draco corrected, moving to undo the top button of her robes.
Hermione sighed. "Hans…what are you talking about?"
"I told you I was going to make an appointment." He pulled the collar of her robes to the side and kissed her neck. "Your desk is overdue for marking."
She let out a soft huff as Draco moved from her neck to her throat. "You seriously inserted yourself into my busy schedule for an office shag?"
"I thought the ridiculous name would have been an obvious giveaway."
"Mmm, I must be a bit too busy because that is a ridiculous name." Hermione let her eyes fall closed as Draco continued to kiss her neck and attempted to undo the cumbersome purple robes. "I'm not calling you Hans anymore though."
"That's fine. I'm not-" Draco growled in frustration and took a step back, looking at the knot that had formed around his finger. "I seem to have tied your button around my finger. How is that even possible?"
"You do remember you have a wand right?" Hermione laughed. She picked up her wand and slowly ran it down the front of her robes, undoing the rest of the buttons and freeing Draco from his self-made prison.
"You know the thought of you naked makes me forget everything else." Draco backed her up against the desk, bringing his lips back down to her throat. His cock was already half-hard, straining against his pants.
"Lucky for you I remember silencing and locking charms," Hermione said, aiming a spell at the door and then swirling her wand in the air. Pale blue light radiated from the centre of the ceiling and stretched over the walls.
"Lucky me," Draco murmured, nipping at her collarbone. "Do you have the landscape of your desk memorised?"
"Yes, b-"
Not waiting for the 'but', he reached behind her and cleared the desktop with a sweep of his arm. Hermione gasped when he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her onto the desk. The shirt she had on under her robes was one of his favourites. There were no buttons or clasps or zips. Draco didn't even need to pull it over her head. He simply needed to untie the bow in the back and let it slip off her shoulders.
"Don't you think we're getting a little old for this?" Hermione breathed as Draco unclasped her lacy black bra and threw it behind him.
"The day I'm too old for this, please kill me."
Running his hands up her soft sides, he cupped her breasts and pressed his lips to hers. Her lips parted and let his tongue slide against hers. A few flicks of his thumbs over her nipples had her moaning into the kiss. When Draco's fingers travelled south and slipped beneath the waistband of her skirt, Hermione arched up, letting him push the garment and her panties over her arse and drop them on the floor.
"Fuck," Hermione said breathlessly. "You're not naked enough."
"Don't worry, that will soon be remedied."
Draco placed a palm against her folds and used his middle finger to tease her entrance. He delighted in her soft whimpers as he let his tongue lazily circle a nipple. When his gaze flicked up, Hermione was watching him, teeth clenched over her bottom lip and pupils blown wide.
"More," she panted and Draco pressed his finger deeper, stopping just short of her g-spot, knowing it would drive her mad. As if on cue, Hermione let out a needy whine and pressed down. With her repeated insistence of, "More!" Draco added his forefinger and slowly started pumping them in and out. Her body shuddered and she let her head fall back, her long curls splashing across the desktop.
After all the years they had been together, with the ups and downs, their growing family, and many career transitions, the sight of a completely unravelled Hermione Granger was something Draco never tired of. And he was still in complete awe that he was the one that got to do the unravelling. It was also incredibly hot that, despite all her scoffing, she still enjoyed their midday office tête-à-têtes as much as he did.
Draco was enraptured, watching as Hermione writhed and grinded against his fingers. Her breaths were quick and raspy as her climax quickly approached. Splaying his hand over her belly, he bent over and let his tongue flicker over her clit. Her wanting cry filled the room. Several more flicks and her hands were tangled in his hair as she thrust against his face.
"Oh, god, please Draco!"
"Please, Draco, what?"
"I need to come. Please make me come," Hermione begged.
Draco flattened his tongue and sucked on her clit as his fingers beckoned against her trembling core. His fingers pumped in time with her fevered chant of, "Yes, yes, yes," until a desperate keen rang out and her nails dug into his scalp.
His fingers slowed to lazy thrusts as Hermione's body shuddered with aftershocks. When she finally released her grip on his hair, Draco slowly pulled out his fingers and sucked them into his mouth. Through heavy-lidded eyes, she watched, the tip of her tongue darting out over the indents on her lips.
Draco quickly stripped off his jumper and freed himself from the constraints of his trousers. Hermione slowly lifted up, leaning back on her elbows, as he climbed onto the desk. With one knee on either side of her thighs, Draco took his cock in hand and started stroking himself.
"You're supposed to leave the marks on your desk, not on my head," he scolded, his voice low and heady.
Hermione's hand wrapped around his, letting him drag her up and down his cock. She squeezed and stilled his strokes at the base.
"I do believe it's your turn to do the scratching," she murmured and then licked the bead of precum from the tip of his erection before wrapping her lips around the head.
Draco hummed as he thought back to the night he got take her from behind, atop the desk in his classroom. He currently had those marks strategically hidden under his calendar.
With her hands grasping his arse and his fingers tangled in her hair, Hermione let her mouth slide and her tongue slip all along the length of his cock. Draco throbbed, hot and heavy in her mouth as she slowly took him to the hilt, time and after time. The pressure of his release was building and as much as he hated to interrupt perfection, he knew it wouldn't be long before their window of time closed.
As she pulled back, Draco gently held her in place. "If I'm not inside you soon, I'm going to have to schedule a follow-up appointment."
Hermione slowly got up on her knees and wrapped a hand around the back of his neck. "There will definitely be a follow-up. We still have things left to discuss…Hans."
Draco put up no resistance when she pushed on his chest, forcing him to lie back. As she straddled his hips, she brought her arse down to slot against his cock. Her own fore and middle fingers plunged between her folds and she sighed as she spread her wetness over her clit.
"Ooooohhh…" Draco groaned as she lowered herself onto him, cloaking his length in wonderfully familiar warmth. He bucked his hips, urging her to move, desperate for friction. But Hermione grinned and ran her hands up his chest to grip his shoulders.
"Are you going to make me beg?" he rasped.
"Beg for what, darling?"
"For you to fuck me senseless."
A wicked smile crossed her face. "I spent way too many years fucking sense into you. I'm not about to undo all my hard work."
Draco laughed and let his head fall back against the desk. Ignoring the sharp sting of impact, he gabbed onto Hermione's hips and arched his back as he thrust into her. She gasped and gripped his shoulders tighter. Taking advantage of her surprised moment, Draco continued thrusting.
The walls of her second orgasm started to close in. Hermione pulled his hands from her hips, held them against the desk, and then took over control. She rocked to and fro, bending low and then arching back, gasping and moaning as she drove Draco's cock into every one of her sensitive points.
Draco clenched his jaw and his fingers clawed at the slick desktop as he held back his release. He could feel her second orgasm closing in. Her thighs trembled as she clenched around him. Digging his nails through the veneer and into the wood, Draco started snapping his hips up, quick and hard. Cuticles grated against maple as her walls got tighter and tighter until…
"Fuuuuuhhuuuck!" Hermione moaned as wave after wave of release consumed her and washed over him.
Free to chase his own release, Draco growled. His hip snaps grew vigorous and chaotic. Splintered wood pierced his nail beds. Hermione continued to bounce on his cock as she came down from her climax. One snap, two, three,-
"Come for me, Malfoy," her voice purred in his ear before she sank her teeth into his neck.
"Oh, god, fuck!" Draco moaned as Hermione pulled him over the edge.
When all the energy had poured out of him, Draco let his body flop against the desk as Hermione collapsed onto his chest. She placed a few lazy kisses against his neck, and then slowly she moved up to kiss his cheeks.
"Oh, no," Dracco groaned as she quickly peppered his face with kisses.
"Draco, why won't you hold me?" she sighed against his lips. Her hands glided down his arms and rested on top of his hands
"Gently. Gently!" Draco said in his best Dread Pirate Roberts voice. An involuntary yelp escaped as he pulled his blood-covered fingers away from the desk. He held them up and Hermione summoned her wand. As the splinters and blood were swept away, Draco chuckled, "Will there ever be a moment that doesn't lead to you quoting Princess Bride?"
"I guess it's possible," she conceded, swinging her legs off the desk and lowering herself to the floor. "I just haven't encountered one yet."
Draco pushed himself up and watched as she summoned the scattered pieces of her outfit. When she had all of her clothes in hand, she sent Draco's zooming into his head.
"I've always admired your subtlety," he said, pulling his jumper back on.
Hermione shooed him off the desk and ran her fingers over the splintered indents with a look of admiration. When she spelled her scattered desk things back to their places, the marks were hidden except for the edge of one peeking out from under her diary.
"I can't afford much subtlety at the moment. Unless you are…" she glanced down at her agenda. "Mr Mortimer Blackwell?"
"No. Where is the creativity in that name?" Draco buttoned his trousers and straightened his shirt.
Hermione sidled up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Please see my assistant on the way out so we can get that follow-up on the books."
"I'm going to schedule two hours, just to be sure we have plenty of time to discuss all serious matters of this situation." He gazed down at her smile and then kissed it. "Oh, also, Julian made the team."
"That's excellent! Get me a copy of the match schedule so I can make sure I schedule those days out."
"Rowena should be posting them within the week."
"Use my floo to get back to school," Hermione said as she held up her wand and cancelled the silencing spell.
The instant the barrier was dropped there was a knock on the door.
"Mr Blackwell, I presume," Draco laughed, kissing her cheek as he strode for the fireplace
"Hermione, it's Harry! Open up!"
The panic in Harry's voice stopped Draco in his tracks. He watched as Hermione pulled the door open and Harry stumbled in. A second later an enveloped whizzed out of the fireplace, landing at Draco's feet. The Hogwarts crest was pressed into the deep purple wax seal.
"I've been out there for five minutes. What have you been-" Harry paused, finally noticing Draco. He looked back at Hermione. "Marcene told me you had a meeting with somebody named Hans."
"Nice to meet you," Draco said as Hermione's face flushed. He grinned as he bent to pick up the letter, surprised to see it addressed to both Hermione and him.
"Oh, sweet Merlin!" Harry's gaze had landed on Hermione's neck "Seriously you two?"
"What do you want Harry?" Hermione asked, hastily pulling her hair over the series of hickeys lining the left side of her neck. "I was just kicking Draco out because I have an actual meeting at five-thirty."
"You're going to have to postpone that one, Minister," Draco said before Harry could answer. He passed the letter to Hermione.
Hermione's brow furrowed in confusion. "Fighting? Our kids never fight," she said, looking up at Harry. "At least not to the point where they need medical attention." Fear replaced confusion as she hurried out to Marcene, instructing her to cancel the rest of her meetings for the day.
"Ginny took the girls to Molly and Arthur's. She'll meet us at the school," Harry said as Hermione rushed back in.
Her body was shaking as she clutched Draco's hand. He could hear her breathing quickening. Gathering Hermione in his arms, he held her tight in hopes of staving off the threatening panic attack.
"Hey, they're okay," Draco whispered, kissing the top of her head. He felt her nod under his chin, but her body continued to quake. "If something was really wrong, Minerva wouldn't have just sent a letter.
"Yeah, you're right," she sniffled, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"I know. I usually am." He grinned when she let out a watery laugh. He steered her towards the fireplace. "Come along, Potter."
A minute later, Draco was struggling to keep pace with Hermione as she charged through the castle corridors. He was able to pull her back when she took a pause to open the door to the hospital wing.
"Hold still," he instructed. She went to argue until she realised he was healing all the marks on her neck. "Now you may go rain down hellfire."
He knew Ginny would be waiting for them but he wasn't expecting to find Pansy Parkinson standing alongside the headmistress. Ginny stood at the foot of the bed James was lying in, casting withering side-eye stares Pansy's way.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, taking in the sight of James, Julian, and Scorpius glaring at Brendon's sour face.
All four of them were in states of dishevellment- ties askew, shirts half untucked. Bruises bloomed alongside scratches. Dried blood was cracking under what was clearly Brendon's freshly healed broken nose.
A cacophony of chaos erupted as every boy tried to tell their version of the story at the same time.
"Enough," Minerva said, silencing her students without even raising her voice. "I think it would be best if Scorpius started."
"But-" Brendon started to protest.
"You will get your chance," Minerva assured in a clipped tone.
"Scorp?" Draco said, giving his son an encouraging nod.
"He started it!" Scorpius shouted, jerking his thumb toward Brendon.
"Bring it down a level," Hermione said, giving him a warning stare.
"Sorry." Scorpius pouted as he fiddled with the torn Slytherin patch on his robe. "We were coming out of charms and going to put our things in the dorm before dinner. Julian was in the hallway, telling James about how he made the Quidditch team. I was about to go over to hear about it when this one," Scorpius jerked his thumb at Brendon again, "started laughing and saying that Gryffindor must be pretty desperate if they have to put a-" He went quiet and clamped his mouth.
"Whatever it is, you can tell us," Draco said gently.
Scorpius huffed and then said, "He said Gryffindor must be pretty desperate if they have to put a mudblood on the team."
It was Draco and Hermione's turn to shoot withering looks at Pansy.
"Real fucking classy," Draco spat at his former housemate.
"Language, Professor Malfoy,' Minerva warned.
"Oh, don't act as you've never called anyone mudblood," Pansy shot back, giving Hermione a pointed look.
Hermione tightly held onto Draco's hand, silently pleading with him to keep his cool. Turning her attention back to the kids, she asked, "What happened next, Scorpius?"
"I told him to shut his gob and he said make me. I flipped him off and walked away but then he came up from behind and pushed me down. So when he grabbed me by my shirt collar and pulled me up, I punched him."
Hermione let out a sigh as Harry asked the older boys, "What part do you two play in this story?"
"We saw a fight and tried to break it up," James said, adjusting the ice pack he had his elbow resting on.
"I didn't even know it was Scorp until we finally pulled them off each other," Julian added.
"Other students have confirmed this sequence of events," Minerva said, turning to address Draco, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny. "Usually a scuffle like this wouldn't be cause for a parental visit. But I'm experiencing a bit of deja vu and thought this might be a teachable moment."
"Don't tell Sybil about your deja vu," Hermione muttered. The brief quirk of the headmistress's mouth did not go unnoticed.
"Dad."
Draco turned back to Scorpius. His son was running anxious fingers over scraped and bruised knuckles.
"Yeah, Scorp?"
"Did you really call people that?"
Draco's chest went tight and his legs felt weak. He fell into the chair beside Scorpius's bed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Yeah, I did," he admitted.
"Why? Why would you do that?"
"Because when I was growing up, I was taught that it was okay." Draco glanced up at Pansy who seemed to have enough grace to at least look guilty. "Your grandfather wasn't always the man he is today. He tried to instil some very bigoted values in me."
"Grandfather Lucius called people that, too?" Julian asked, looking at Draco in shock.
"My whole family said and did a lot of stuff like that, to a lot of people that didn't deserve it."
"Who did you say it to?" Scorpius asked, his eyes darting between Draco and Hermione.
Draco looked up at Hermione with a sad smile. "Your mother was targeted more often than I like to admit."
Scorpius stared wide-eyed at Hermione. "He called you that and you still married him?" Scorpius yelled.
Hermione approached Scorpius's bed and placed a hand on his knee. "Scorp, you know your dad. Is he anything like that now?"
"...No"
"Views change and people grow. I hated your dad while we were in school. But I was lucky enough to meet him again, years later, and I got to see who he truly was, without others controlling his life."
"There are some people that deserve a second chance," Harry added.
"Giving your father a second chance was the best thing I've ever done." Hermione slipped her hand into Draco's and looked over at Brendon's pensive face. "Prejudices can be overcome if you work hard…" She looked over at Pansy. "And have good support."
Draco stared down at Hermione's hand wrapped around his. In the past fourteen years, not a day had gone by without Draco thanking his lucky stars for that second chance. The sound of a small voice pulled Draco's attention to Brendon.
"I'm sorry I called you that, Julian. And I'm sorry I started the fight, Scorpius," Brendon apologised.
"No worries, mate," Julian replied. Brendon's eyes lit up at the word mate.
"And I'm sorry I broke your nose," Scorpius said, frowning at Brendon and rubbing at his knuckles again.
"You've got a brilliant right hook," Brendon replied.
"He gets that from his mum," Draco laughed, earning him twin scowls from Hermione and Minerva. "What? It's true."
"Don't make me give you detention too, Mr Malfoy," Minerva threatened.
"Sorry." Draco sat up straight and nodded. He was pretty certain it was an empty threat but he didn't want to press his luck.
Minerva directed her attention to the students. "James and Julian, if you're feeling better you may leave. There's no punishment for trying to break up fights."
"Thank you, Headmistress," the boys said as they scrambled out of the hospital beds.
Hermione caught Julian's hand before he could make a break for the Great Hall. "Congratulations on making the team, sweetheart. I can't wait to see you play."
"Thanks, Mum." Risking the embarrassment, he kissed her cheek before calling out a hurried goodbye as he and James ran off.
"As for you two gentlemen…" Minerva cast her gaze on the pair of first years. "A week's detention that will be served together. You'll receive a notice tomorrow morning about the time and place. You may leave whenever you feel ready." She gave a curt nod before turning to the adults. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice."
"Anytime, Headmistress," Harry said.
Minerva gave one last nod before leaving, her boots clicking against the flagstone.
Pansy stayed in place, staring at the floor. Draco didn't know what to say so he chose to stay quiet as he helped Scorpius out of bed. He and Hermione started to follow Harry and Ginny to the door.
"Draco, Granger," Pansy called.
Draco went to correct her on Hermione's name but Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, Pansy?" Hermione replied.
Pansy's face looked pained as she wrapped an arm around her son's shoulder. With what looked like a great effort, she said, "I'm sorry."
Hermione nodded. "Thank you."
Pansy straightened her posture and led Brandon out of the room. As the sound of her stilettos faded away, Draco let out a long breath and scrubbed a hand over his face. He gave Scorpius a nudge toward the door.
"Better get a move on so you don't miss dinner."
"Yeah." Scorpius looked up at him and Hermione. "I'm sorry, too."
"We know, sweetheart." Hermione ruffled his hair and kissed his forehead. "Go eat."
"And do your homework," Draco called as Scorpius made a break for the door.
"I wanna say we weren't like this as kids," Harry started.
Draco snorted a laugh. "No, we were worse."
"Speak for yourselves," Ginny scoffed.
"Mmmhmm, you were a perfect little lioness," Harry laughed.
"Let's go, Chosen One," Ginny sighed, looping her arm through Harry's and pulling him from the room. "I'm sure the girls are still wheedling second and thirds on dessert from Mum so there's no rush to pick them up," she said to Hermione.
Hermione waved and then let her head rest against Draco's chest. He hummed and wrapped his arms around her.
"You know this isn't the end of that discussion, right?" she mumbled against his sweater.
"I know. It's one that's long overdue though," Draco said, stroking her hair. His stomach rumbled and Hermione laughed. "I bet I can get dinner brought up to my quarters." He looked down and arched a suggestive eyebrow.
"Mmm, what about having it sent to your classroom?"
"My classroom?" He smirked as she slipped her hands into his back trouser pockets.
"You see, my potions grade is starting to slip and I was hoping you could give me a private tutoring session."
"I suppose I could accommodate it this one time." Draco wrapped his arm around her waist and they set a course for the dungeons. "I'd hate to see your marks slip all the way down to Exceeds Expectations."
"Yes, I'd hate to slip so…far…down…"
Draco smiled as he imagined where the new set of claw marks should go.