Chapter 3

Welcome to the Future.

"You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear." - Oscar Wilde

Time spun forward, the changes to the dusty office hardly noticeable, a few books moved from place to place, the shimmer of Flitwick wandered the room, a younger Theo appearing and sitting, working on the time turner that they now wore night after night after night. Theo wished he could will him to know that it worked, that it would work, that he would do it.

And finally the time turner slowed to a stop, finding them in the room just how he had left it. And as he smiled towards Draco and Hermione, his face dropped instantly. Terror filled him as both of their eyes rolled to the back of their heads and they collapsed in his arms.

Theo didn't even realise that he had begun to scream until Blaise came rushing in, where he'd obviously been waiting just outside the door.

"Theo!" Blaise cried, "What's happened?"

"They are alive, but they both collapsed, I don't know what to do! Blaise I don't know what to do!"

"I know you want to keep this a secret, but we need a Healer, we have to take them to the Hospital Wing."

"Do you think Pansy will help?" Theo hated how desperate he sounded and the last person he wanted to owe favours to was Pansy Parkinson.

"She will," Blaise assured, "and she'll keep your secret, because I am keeping plenty of secrets for her."

You can help me. You can open for me the portals of death's house, for love is always with you, and love is stronger than death is. - Oscar Wilde, The Canterville Ghost

2 May 2012

Getting Draco and Hermione to the Hospital Wing without being seen was easier than it might have been with two professors carrying them straight there from Theo's office. Anyone who would have recognized the pair was unlikely to be in the halls this late, as even the other professors and the Headmistress were already in bed at this late hour.

Blaise eased open the Hospital Wing door carefully as Hermione was cradled in his arms, moving carefully with her since she was pregnant. Even though her thin frame did not show any outward signs of pregnancy that he could perceive, they knew there was a life growing inside her.

Placing her in the very farthest bed from the door, Blaise left Theo to do the same as he used the password to enter into Pansy's private rooms, and found her curled up around Luna. Straight black hair and long blonde locks messily intertwined on the pillows, both of the women naked, the air smelling of sweat and sex.

"Pans," Blaise whispered, not wanting to intrude, but still urgently needing her assistance. "Pans? There's a medical emergency and I need your help. We need your help."

At the words medical emergency, Pansy sat bolt upright and summoned her matron's uniform unconcerned with her nudity as she swiftly dressed in front of Blaise.

"What's happened? Is it a student? Has Slughorn collapsed again? That man needs to bleeding retire." Pansy was striding out into the infirmary, her forceful tone demanding answers. "Well?" She snapped when Blaise didn't say anything right away.

"I'm afraid that you are going to have to see it to believe it," Blaise responded honestly at a loss of how to explain what she was walking into.

Pansy reached the end of the ward and saw the pale face framed by blonde locks. Her eyes flicked to the next bed and then the coffee curls and freckled nose, she turned first to Blaise and then to Theo–who looked ready to faint himself, his hands clenched nervously as though in prayer, which Blaise thought he may be doing.

"You two have got to be fucking kidding me," Pansy declared, and when neither of the men in front of her responded, she looked to Theo and snarled, "Theodore Nott, what in the name of the Four Founders have you done?"

Illness of any kind is hardly a thing to be encouraged in others. Health is the primary duty of life. - Oscar Wilde

3 May 2012

Several hours and diagnostic spells later it was determined that the strain of jumping forward in time, as well as her pregnancy, nearly 15 weeks along, had caused Hermione to collapse. If Pansy was shocked when Theo told her that Hermione was expecting, she didn't show it, simply nodded and started summoning various potions and adding them to her nightstand.

Draco's situation was much more serious. Not only was his body expelling the dark magic from the Dark Mark now that Draco was in a place and time where its maker was gone, but he'd been hit by a Dark curse in the time before Theo and Hermione had found him. Several of his organs were shutting down and Theo watched in horror as he worried that he had saved Draco from the past where he had been consumed by Fiendfyre only to have him die in front of his eyes.

After attempting futilely for several hours to convince Theo to go get some rest, Pansy gave up trying as the sun rose. She poured dozens of potions down Draco's mouth, stroking his throat to encourage him to swallow them, as he stayed in a comatose state. Slowly the diagnostic spells that were flashing 'Imminent Death' began to flash 'Critical' instead. While it was a slight relief, Pansy continued to work diligently on the young man in front of her, a young man who had been dead for nearly a decade and a half.

She was examining the purple curse mark on his upper back, when Luna stepped into sight. her ragged exhale cut through the silence in which Pansy had been working. Theo was sitting next to Hermione's bed, her hand held in his as he stared forlorn at the flashing diagnostics.

"Hermione? Draco? How is this possible?" Luna gasped out, shocked momentarily out of her natural calmness.

"Hush, we've got to keep this very confidential," Blaise said, appearing with cups of coffee for both the healer and Theo. Pansy gestured towards a table, as she cast yet another healing spell over Draco. Theo gratefully took the cup without releasing his pregnant wife's hand, taking a sip, his eyes never leaving Hermione's face. "No one wants Theo to spend the rest of his life in Azkaban for this little stunt."

"I'd hardly call it a little stunt," Pansy said, finally taking a moment to drink her coffee as she looked over the updated vitals floating in the air above Draco, flicking through each one as they appeared. "It was unbelievably fucking reckless. You're lucky you didn't change anything major, what if you'd come back and the Dark Lord had won? Merlin, I wouldn't even know, would I, if you had changed something major!"

Theo shook his head, "No, but other than Hermione saving some of the Weasleys from a falling wall, all seems to have stayed the same. I even left transfigured bodies of the two of them, so that they would continue to be thought of as dead. The only thing that didn't occur was the scandal of everyone discovering Hermione was with child when she died. Part of the charm work I designed gave me an update in one of my journals when we returned. As far as it determined, there are a handful of children who wouldn't otherwise exist and a few people have different jobs at the Ministry than in the original timeline." Theo shrugged as though what he had done was inconsequential.

Luna blinked widely, "You went back in time and saved them? And Hermione is pregnant? Why would you do this Theodore?"

"It is love that makes the impossible possible," Theo whispered, turning back to rubbing Hermione's hands, her wedding and engagement rings sparkling in the post dawn glow.

9 May 2012

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. - Oscar Wilde

The hospital wing was bathed in the silver light coming from the moon, making Theo think of Draco's eyes. If only he would open them–sitting here watching him struggling to live for the past week had been absolute hell. Theo couldn't imagine, not if he wanted to cling to what little sanity remained, what would happen to him if he'd spent the last fourteen years trying to get his loves back, only to lose them now. So close to the happily ever after that he had dreamt of, sacrificing everything to get to this moment and he could feel fate was laughing at him.

He tucked his glasses into his coat pocket and wiped a hand roughly at the tears burning his eyes. He couldn't think that way. They were here, Pansy was taking care of them, and everything was going to be okay. It just had to be…

He hadn't left them, not even to eat nor sleep. Pansy had brought another cot, and everything in this section of the infirmary had been disillusioned to keep anyone who wandered in from even possibly seeing there were three occupied beds. Luckily it was the end of term, so Quidditch had already ended resulting in fewer injuries and illnesses. The majority of the traction came from fifth and seventh year students who were in need of a calming draft while preparing for N.E.W.T.s or O.W.L.s, and then they were on their way again.

The short list of who knew what Theo had done was keeping the information quiet. While Theo knew that McGonagall had to know what was going on as Headmistress, she hadn't said anything nor appeared in the Hospital Wing. Perhaps she was waiting to see if they lived or died before she spoke with Theo on the repercussions of his actions. It would be a much simpler matter for her if they died.

Theo tried in vain to bite back a sob, but it escaped, shattering the silence of the Hospital Wing. His head dropped into his hands as he desperately fought for the breaths that were escaping him. Die, they really could die here in 2012, and this time around, he wouldn't be able to go on without them.

"Theo?" Hermione's raspy voice called to him, and he was on his feet immediately, all the despair that he'd just been feeling dissolving at the sound of his wife speaking. He was at her side, leaned over the bed towards her, hesitant as to whether he should touch her or not.

"My love?" Theo whispered, not able to hold back the term of endearment, "I am so grateful you're awake. Can I get you anything?"

"W-water," she grunted, her head rocking side to side as she came too, "How long have I been asleep?"

"A week," he replied, pouring the water into a glass then carefully holding the cup to her lips. He knew he should alert Pansy of the change, but he couldn't bear to leave Hermione's side yet.

She drank greedily, taking large gulps, not even attempting to pace herself as she should. When she shook her head to indicate that she was finished, Theo pulled the water away, setting it back on the bedside table. Theo summoned the chair he'd been sitting in from Draco's bedside, and settled into it, hanging onto her hand.

"Draco?"

"He's still unconscious," Theo tried to reassure her with his expression, but it was hard to do so when he had been soaking in despair just moments ago, prior to her awakening. "He was hit with a nasty curse and Pansy's been working hard to heal him. He's doing much better than he was just a few days ago."

Hermione nodded in understanding before confusion marred her features, "Pansy?"

"Pomfrey retired five years ago. Pansy was her apprentice and took her place. Let's see, who else, uh, Blaise is the new Madam Hooch – you'd be proud, he's made the position much more academic than she ever did. And I took over for Flitwick seven years ago, although I was working here part-time before then." Theo knew he was rambling, but bloody hell he was so nervous.

"So, so much time has passed."

Theo felt the blood freeze in his veins. He felt his hands tremble for a second and used all his willpower to still them. She couldn't know how terrified he was, it wouldn't help the situation at all.

Hermione looked to her side table and saw the various prenatal potions sitting there.

"Are all these potions mine? Was I cursed too?" Hermione asked nervously, attempting to sit up, rapidly blinking as she read the labels on the vials next to her..

"No love," Theo shook his head, wondering at what he should say and decided the truth was the best course with his wife, "they are prenatal and nutrition potions."

"Prenatals? But I'm not…" she trailed off, her eyes widening as the comprehension of what she was looking at hit her.

"I'm afraid you are, Mia, in the original timeline. I found out after…after your autopsy. Pansy confirmed it with her diagnostic spells."

"But we only made love without a contraceptive charm the one time. After that debacle at Godric's Hollow…" Hermione trailed off and looked at him in horror. Whether it was at the news of her pregnancy or the thought of her autopsy, the emotions she was warring with finally overcame her and she began to cry. Theo swiftly embraced her, holding her close as she wept, clutching to his robes as she soaked his shirt.

At least he could do this, he still knew how to comfort her. He had never forgotten.

16 May 2012

They've promised that dreams can come true - but forgot to mention that nightmares are dreams, too. - Oscar Wilde

Theo had been chased out of the Hospital Wing by Pansy that morning to go shower and change, she was only willing to tolerate his self-pity not also his stench, she had told him.

When Theo returned, he discovered that Blaise was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed, speaking with Hermione while holding her hand. A few days before, she'd restored his memories when her strength had improved, but she had nearly immediately regressed to the point that Pansy had her back on full bedrest.

The fire of jealousy burned through him at Hermione's open smile that she was bestowing on Blaise and the easy way the pair were sharing touches. Blaise is gay, he reminded himself. Feelings are rarely logical, however.

"Before I started here as the flying instructor," Blaise was saying, "Longbottom and I were seeing each other on the downlow and I thought that being here too would help our relationship progress to the next level. I was ready for the next step, and I foolishly thought he was too." Theo froze. He hadn't had a clue about Blaise and the Herbology professor, but wasn't Neville about to get married?

Blaise let out a cynical laugh, "He broke up with me only a few weeks after I was hired, said he needed to marry a woman, that his grandmother was ill. She needed an heir to their house before she died, and obviously I can't give that to him. Neville said that him being with a man would kill her, it was just a load of bullshit though. He'd been shagging Hannah Abbott behind my back for months and wouldn't have been able to hide it with me here. Especially since he'd gotten her up the duff. How was he going to hide a pregnant girlfriend…fiance now, from me? I was such a bloody fool, Mia." Theo felt like the worst sort of mate as he listened to Blaise speaking so openly with Hermione about what had clearly been a horrible breakup. He'd been so lost in his own suffering that he hadn't realised that Blaise was in pain too.

"Blaise Zabini," Hermione's sharp voice scolded the Italian wizard, "you are no fool. You were in love and you trusted Neville. Honestly, I'm completely shocked that he treated you so shabbily. If I wasn't here in secret I would give him a piece of my mind and tell him exactly what type of man he really is. That's not the Neville that I knew, doing something so devious and cruel." She squeezed Blaise's hand. "I promise, you will meet someone who deserves you. I know there's a man out there that does, and will show you just how worthy you are of love and being loved. Maybe someone we didn't go to school with?"

Blaise laughed, and squeezed her hand back, "Oh, how I've missed you. I couldn't even begin to explain how happy I am to have you back, bellissima. Even if you haven't aged a day and I'm old and grey now." Hermione's smile fell at that, and she looked up and saw Theo standing there looking down at her.

"Theo," she smiled in his direction, "I'm glad you are back." Theo felt horrible for questioning her, but he wondered just how true that really was. Was she really glad? Or was his presence just a burden, a reminder of all the time that had passed without her here? He could feel the bundle of emotions that was Mia in his chest, but couldn't properly sort them: confusion, sorrow, worry. There was never any joy there. Or at least hadn't been since she'd awoken. Had he done the wrong thing going back in time and bringing her back here? He'd had years to work through what to her had just been a few days ago. The losses, the destruction, and then all that is dropped on her in addition to living in a whole new world.

Blaise had begun to extract himself from Hermione's grasp and excuse himself, but Pansy came bustling in with a large tray of potions pausing the other wizard's movements.

"Parkinson," Hermione complained, her grip on Blaise's hand tightening, "more foul potions for me?"

"You know what's foul, Granger?" Pansy snapped, instantly making Theo narrow his eyes at the healer. "Your nutrient levels! You are lucky you didn't do damage to your heart and even more lucky that you didn't lose the baby," Pansy replied in deep annoyance.

"I did not know that I was pregnant," Hermione mumbled quietly, and Theo stood frozen at the pain in her voice. She really did not want this, did she? Not to be brought back and not this pregnancy. It was too late to terminate the pregnancy the muggle way, but maybe there was an abortion charm? He could research it later. Is that what she'd want?

"Oh give me a break," Pansy snorted, slamming the tray of potions down on the side table angrily, making Blaise, Theo and Hermione all jump. "Like you wouldn't have still been off on that suicide mission with Potter if you had known."

"What does it matter to you Parkinson?" Hermione's voice sounded stronger as the shock from Pansy's sharpness faded. Her hair crackled with magic and Theo could feel her fury building through their bond, putting him on high alert and nervous at what his wife might do.

"Pans," Blaise whispered warningly, also sensing the danger that was Hermione. Pansy scowled at him and shook her head, cutting the wizard off.

"Other than that I am your healer? Maybe it's the fact that infertility is widespread in the magical community now?" Pansy pointed at Hermione's abdomen, reinforcing her point, "That child will be lucky if they have three housemates of their gender in their year, but the truth is that it is likely to be even less. You have something beyond value inside of you and you were not giving them or yourself the care deserved, Granger." Pansy spat the last word before spinning on her heel and storming off back towards her office.

As quickly as the anger had built in her, it drained from the little witch laying in the bed. Shock was painted across her features, clearly struggling to digest yet another fact of this new world she'd been forced into. Sensing that the married pair needed to have a private moment, Blaise leaned down, kissing a speechless Hermione on the cheek and quietly excused himself from the wing.

Hermione turned to Theo, her eyes shining with the unshed tears, "Is it true?" Her whispered question was much more loaded than he could admit. The pain and fear was thrumming through the bond, and Theo could only close his eyes while he took a moment to collect himself. He needed to be strong and hold in the tears, he'd done this to her, and he needed to carry this for her.

Theo didn't even bother to pretend that he didn't know what she was talking about, nodding his head before he verbally confirmed. "Yes. Many young adult witches and wizards were killed at the Battle and those that remain…there have been less children for every incoming class for the last five years. The birth rates, well, the ministry has been in talks about what they might have to do, but from what Pansy's research has found, it might all be in vain."

Hermione's lip trembled, but she didn't say anything else, only nodded that she'd heard him and understood what Theo had said as he sat in the seat that Blaise had vacated. She reached over and uncorked the first potion, holding her nose as she downed it. She kept going through this process until all the potions Pansy had provided her were gone. Afterwards, she laid back staring at the ceiling. He could feel her sorrow and confusion; he felt as though he might drown in his guilt. Either he or Draco had done this, put a baby inside her that she did not want all because they'd been careless once.

He was surprised when she reached out and took his hand, and then sat that way for hours. Theo let her seek any sort of comfort that she needed from him, as it was the least he could do. The only sound in the silent ward was their breathing and Draco's behind them. No one spoke.

Hours later, after the sun had long since risen, a voice intruded on their mutual misery. "Hermione?" Luna said from the entrance of their private area. She and Theo looked up to see the blonde Mind Healer standing there with Harry Potter's invisibility cloak thrown over her arm. "Neville lent me Harry's cloak so you could visit the obelisk. Pansy said as long as you'd taken all your potions and weren't gone terribly long, that we could go today."

Hermione gave her friend a smile that was more of a grimace, and again Theo could feel a pang of guilt through their bond from her. She released Theo's hand and slowly rose from the bed, pausing repeatedly to see if her dizziness was better. Theo could feel her analysing from where she lived in his chest.

"Thank you, Luna," Hermione said as she stood, sliding on her shoes.

"Do you want me to come?" Theo asked, ashamed of the desperation that he could hear in his own voice. The thought of her leaving the infirmary where he wouldn't be able to see her or tend to her if she needed him was almost crippling. Though, he stayed strong and kept his emotions under lock, because the last thing he wanted was to manipulate Hermione into anything else that she didn't feel comfortable with.

Hermione shook her head. Theo tried to keep the crestfallen look from his face, but he was not sure how successful he had been. Hermione circled the bed and kissed him on the cheek, as he gazed into her haunted eyes, letting a hand rub against his jaw. "I'll be back soon," she promised before walking to where Luna still stood waiting on her.

The two witches disappeared out into the early morning, before the rest of the school had a chance to wake. Theo turned to his husband and as he held his young fragile hands, he couldn't help but notice how his large bronzed hands dwarfed Draco's. Draco had always been the larger of the two of them in the past. Things were so backwards.

Theo stroked Draco's knuckles and palms, trying to put all his love into his husband who, despite Pansy's reports, did not seem any better to Theo. Suddenly Theo felt Hermione's sorrow erupt into full despair and he knew that she must be weeping in front of the obelisk. All its carved names were a testimony to pain and grief.

Even as a widower, Theo had never felt as isolated from his spouses as he felt now. And he wondered for the hundredth time that day if he had done the right thing.

5 June 2012

I was dominated, soul, brain, and power by you. You became to me the visible incarnation of that unseen ideal whose memory haunts us artists like an exquisite dream. - Oscar Wilde, the Picture of Dorian Gray

It was Draco's eighteenth birthday and nothing hurt worse than the fact that he still wouldn't open his eyes. Hermione was so frustrated with Parkinson, whose bedside manner definitely left something to be desired, that she was often in a foul mood even when the medi-witch wasn't around. Though, Draco was steadily healing. He could wake up any time or it could take a few more weeks.

They hadn't gotten into any more arguments, but Hermione had stopped complaining about the prenatals, especially after Luna told her that she and Pansy had been trying to get pregnant for almost four years without success. Hermione realised that the raven-haired woman's anger came from a place of envy and not a school yard personal vendetta against Hermione herself. It was still hard to understand how sweet ethereal Luna had married fiery Pansy Parkinson. It seemed that them both being Healers had a lot to do with it, because when you set aside everything else, they were both brilliant healers.

The future was so strange, but no it was her present now. And she needed to come to grips with that. She ran her hand over her now noticeably swollen abdomen. It was hard to imagine that she was really growing a baby there, a living, kicking, thriving baby. A son or daughter for their triad would be here right after her birthday in September, and the thought was a bit intimidating. She'd wanted a family with her husbands and it was coming sooner than she had anticipated, but also much later. It had been fifteen years since their bonding even if she had been dead for most of it, and now she was back all because of Theo's sheer determination. It was so strange to think that so much time had passed in the world while she was only a memory.

Theo was truly incredible. He'd done the impossible to save her and she knew that in the time since she'd been back she hadn't shown him the appreciation that he deserved. He'd been so devoted and she'd spent so much time wallowing in what she'd missed, through no fault of his own, and really needed to do better by her husband. She could blame her behaviour on the pregnancy hormones, but the truth was that she'd been selfish and had been grieving the past that she had left behind. So many people had died at the Battle of Hogwarts – including herself. But, her husband had decided instead to spit in fate's eye and steal her back like Orpheus and Eurydice, only Theo had followed Hades' instructions.

She and Theo had had dinner together next to Draco's unconscious body, as they typically did since they did not want to exclude him, and then she excused herself after curfew to the prefect's bath. Her hair was a bit damp, as Parkinson still had her on a magic usage restriction, so she was unable to magically quicken the process and no hair dryer would work within the walls of Hogwarts.

She was wearing one of Theo's silk Slytherin dressing robes that he'd shrunken to fit her body, the fabric clinging to her wet skin. Her swollen belly wasn't the only thing that had changed. Between the nutrition potions and Theo making sure that she ate three meals a day, she'd quickly gained back the weight she'd lost over the year she was on the run with Harry and Ron. Her breasts were much larger than they had been and her hips were wider and curvier, though both of those changes could be because of her pregnancy.

She swallowed her grief at the loss of her old friends, and felt a little ashamed that she was relieved that they were dead. They never would have accepted her choice of husbands, Ron especially would have been a nightmare. Their friendship would not have lasted, and the boys most likely would have said unforgivable things, unable to put aside her husbands' past schoolyard taunts. At least this way she could remember things how they had been.

Hermione slipped back into the infirmary to find Theo hunched over and crying next to Draco's comatose frame. He had his face in his hands, tears leaking through his fingers as the choked sobs broke through his chest.

His whispered apologies in a nearly hysterical tone that made Hermione's heart feel like it was shattering. She was struggling with coming to terms with this new life, but here was Theo who had lived the last fourteen years without either her or Draco for comfort. Guilt threatened to swallow her whole. She had been selfish, so angry at him for throwing her into a world that was unknown to her.

"I have failed you Dragon," she heard Theo choke out. "You won't wake up. I've spent years trying to get you back and I never considered that this could happen," Theo's voice broke again, "And-and Mia doesn't want me anymore. I'm almost double her age. Why would she want me? I've stolen her away from everything she's ever known; she's carrying a baby that she doesn't want, that we never planned. I don't know what I was thinking. I brought you forward in time just so you could die here and Mia…" Theo trailed off as he started to sob in earnest.

She stood there listening as all his insecurities were flowing out. She was shocked to discover that he thought she didn't want him. Well, she hadn't shown it, had she? He was just overwhelming to her senses now. His body had matured. He was broader in the shoulders, in the chest. When she had struggled against him at the battle, he had easily overpowered her. There was definitely something hot about that. Theo was all man now. The boy was long gone. And she couldn't find it in herself to be remorseful about it. This man had been through hell and back for her and for their husband.

"Theo," she whispered his name and he turned, showing her his eyes red rimmed, tear tracks on his cheeks.

Hermione walked in front of him and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I am so sorry," Theo sobbed, his face buried in between her breasts. Hermione stroked his hair, and ran her hands along his broad masculine shoulders. He was bloody fit, this man, her husband. He wasn't the young man he'd been in 1998, but he was still the man that she loved and she needed to reassure him.

She thought of her girlhood crush on Remus Lupin. Theo made the tweed-professor-look a thousand times sexier with his deep blue eyes and the dark curls that fell into his face with a few streaks of grey hair. Hermione leaned forward and put her lips on his neck, nipping here and there, making the man under her touch still for a moment. She ran her tongue over the shell of his ear, Theo let out a gasp and stiffened.

"You have nothing to be sorry for, my love," Hermione whispered, holding him tight. "You did the impossible and stole me – us – back from death."

Her hands grazed over his coarse beard, her thumb stroking his jaw. Theo's sobs had subsided, but he was like a man made of stone, holding still, not moving to touch her as he had before. She needed to bring him back to life, and help him realise that this second chance he had given her was worth everything he'd gone through.

Both hands holding his cheeks, Hermione forced Theo to look up at her. "I love you," she whispered, just a breath away before leaning forward, taking his lips with hers. "Make love to me."

"Mia," Theo mumbled against her lips. Hermione could feel him trying to hold himself back. The tension in his frame seemed to have increased a thousand fold at her request. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I couldn't be more certain of anything."

Theo ran his hands over her belly reverently, his hands' big calloused palms setting her body on fire as they trailed over the green silk robe. Hermione removed his green cravat, and started to unbutton his waist coat. Theo caught her hands and looked at her with his pupils swallowing the sapphire of his irises.

"Lay on the bed, wife."

Hermione shivered at the command in his voice, he'd always been the more dominant of her husbands, but this was...different. She was desperate for him. She could feel the wetness begin to coat her inner thighs. She left the robe on, but loosened the tie. The robe created a deep vee over her breast and then she left her lower body open to him as she laid back on the pillows and tried to ignore the fact that they were in the infirmary. Theo leaned over to Draco, and whispered something in his ear and then kissed him lingeringly on the lips.

If only he had woken up like a sleeping beauty. She'd love to have them both inside her, just the thought made her folds slicker. It had been far too long, since the night their child had been conceived certainly.

Theo's jacket was flung to the floor, followed by his waistcoat. Hermione's breath caught as he began to work his buttons, his muscular chest revealed along with the huge silver dragon tattoo that covered nearly every square centimetre of his skin there.

"Should I be jealous?" she said half-jokingly, but Theo's low laugh caused her body to quiver in anticipation.

His hands at his belt, he shook his head as he dropped the leather and buckle to the floor. "Hardly." And as she watched him open his trousers, she saw the intricate tattoo of her black opal engagement ring just above the dark hair at the base of his cock.

"Merlin and Morgana, Theo."

"Like it do you, little wife?"

She simply nodded, unable to find the words. Theo's trousers fell to the ground and he climbed onto the Hospital Wing bed. "You're sure that you want me, Mia? I have been missing you for half my life, so there's no doubt on my end." He had his hard cock in his hand and she could feel the tip of it teasing her.

"Theo, I love you. I want you. I need you. I am so bloody desperate for you, that not touching you feels like it'll do me in. I'm sorry it took me so long to adjust to being in this new time, but I never want you to doubt my love for you. You and Draco – and this baby – are my everything."

He made a low noise of pleasure at that and slid forward slowly, knowing that it had been more than five months since she had had someone inside of her. Not only that, but he was also much larger now than he'd been fourteen years earlier.

"I love you, Mia," Theo thrust forward, "so bloody much." He stopped when he had her fully impaled on the length of him and her arms circled his neck and he felt the rumbling of his throat when he growled out. "Sweet Salazar, you are so wet and tight." He attempted to stay as still as possible, but it was too difficult when he felt her body pulsing around his.

"I'm always so wet for you, love," she murmured, arching into his touch. He moaned into her neck as he began to thrust in earnest.

Each thrust was punctuated by a word, "I would do it again, Mia, I would do everything again. Every second, the sleepless nights, and driving myself crazy. To get you back, and have you with me, it was all worth it."

She started to lose her connection to reality, every nerve and attention was focused on the wet centre of her legs where they were joined.

Theo rubbed her belly, her breasts, and hummed in pleasure. "Your fecund body is perfect, love, like a goddess." And as he flicked at her bundle of nerves, she exploded around him, claiming him as completely hers once again, after all this time.

12 June 2012

I think… If it is true that there are as many minds as there are heads, then there are as many kinds of love as there are hearts. - Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Theo rolled over and felt the warmth of his wife next to him in his bed. He could tell that she was aroused in her sleep, her pregnancy hormones had her ready for him most of the time. As tempted as he was to lay in bed with her for all the morning, there were other things he needed to get done.

Pansy thought that Draco was ready to be removed from the magical coma this morning. He was no longer flickering into critical condition, and she was confident that he was ready to join them. Theo was also desperate to see his husband's silver eyes blink open, finally able to soak him up after waiting so long.

He looked over at Hermione, she was so exhausted. Her face pressed deeply into the pillow, a spot of drool at her mouth where she snuggled her face in deeper. He rose to dress and decided to let her sleep for a while longer. He would go check on Draco and then if it was successful he would come back to wake her.

It had been such a surprise to discover that he did not disgust her if her insatiability and their bedroom romps had been any indication. She was still an absolute minx, and gods he had missed her enthusiasm. Her pregnant belly and fertile body did something to him and he wondered, not for the first time, whom the baby would favour.

Pansy stood over Draco's bed, checking over his charts again as he entered. The student body had long since left Hogwarts, leaving only a handful of professors and staff still at the school. It was even easier now than it had been to keep his spouses a secret. However, he knew that they could not get overconfident.

"Ready Theo?" Her question brought Theo back to the task at hand and suddenly, he felt the words catch in his tightened throat. The most he could manage was simply nodding at the healer.

Pansy waved her wand and with a few blinks, Theo's silver dragon was awake and staring at him in wonder.

"Theo? It wasn't a dream?" Draco slowly blinked his silvery eyes, his face painted with confusion as he came to.

"No Dragon," Theo said, leaning over the bed to take his husband's hands, his thumb rubbing soothing circles against the skin. "No dream." Theo whispered, kissing Draco's porcelain knuckles.

Seeing that there was nothing pressing she needed to do for her patient, Pansy excused herself with a parting whisper. "I'll go Floo his mother, she's been waiting for an update."

"Help me sit up, love," Draco requested, and Theo was leaning forwards taking care of it in an instant. He would take care of this man for the rest of his life if needed. Pansy said that Draco had had extensive damage to his body and it could be weeks or months before he was back to his previous levels of strength, and even then he might never fully recover. A combination of the time jump and the curse, there was no predicting Draco's recovery. Even if it took years, Theo would take care of his Dragon, only Hermione and their child would take his attention from his needs, because those three were his entire world. The only ones he was devoted to.

Perhaps he ought to discuss a leave of absence with the Headmistress now. With Hermione's pregnancy progressing and Draco in a weakened state, he would be of no use to McGonagall at this time.

Draco grunted as Theo fluffed the pillows behind him, "Gods I feel as weak as a day old kitten," the blonde complained. Theo couldn't help but smile at him, even after everything he still kept his sense of humour.

"Just take it easy, love," Theo reassured, "You'll get your strength back. You were hit with a very nasty curse."

"I didn't even realise it." Draco shook his head, and looked over at the bed Hermione had previously occupied, "Where's Granger? Is she alright?"

Theo pushed Draco's hair out of his forehead and preceded to stroke his face with gentle touches, "Mia's resting in my rooms, love. She was more than half starved on the run with Potter and the baby is wearing her out."

"Baby," Draco squeaked, but then a grin grew on his patrician face. "We are going to have a baby?" The excitement evident in his voice had Theo's heart warming. It seemed that Draco would be adjusting easier than their wife, a small miracle.

Theo nodded affectionately. "In September." Draco threw himself back onto his pillows, a smile gracing his lips.

"Now that's wonderful news to wake up to. What year is it anyway?"

"2012."

Draco nodded. "The war is over then. The light won. My father?"

"Dead."

"Well thank Salazar for small favours. Yours?"

"Dead as well."

Draco nodded and then closed his eyes and bit his lip as though he feared the answer, "And my mother?"

Instead of Theo answering, Narcissa Malfoy spoke, her grey hair and lined face doing nothing to take away from her elegance, despite how harsh the last few years had been to her. "Right here dearest," her voice rang out, strong and composed as ever.

"Mother!" Theo started to back away, but Draco's hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. "Don't you even think about going anywhere." Theo nodded, looking at his husband's pale hand on the bronze skin of his wrist.

Narcissa took the seat next to the bed, spreading her skirts and pulling a folio of documents from a handbag that looked much too small to have held them. Sneaky witch, of course she'd have an extension charm on all her bags.

"This should make everything much simpler." Narcissa handed a large stack of documents to Draco, who took them with the hand that wasn't still clutching Theo's wrist, as though he would be lost at sea without his husband. Draco looked at what his mother had handed him then up to Theo. His gaze bordered on desperation, perhaps that analogy was more accurate than it had any right to be.

Draco opened the folio and saw a variety of identity documentation, both magical and muggle. Yves Malfoy, and a photo of Draco accompanied the new name. Also there was now Mia Black, Hermione's new identity.

There was Draco Malfoy's will, leaving everything to the younger French Malfoy cousin. The deed to Grimmauld Place in Narcissa's name. A marriage contract between Yves Malfoy, Mia Black and Theodore Nott, Lord Nott. The Malfoy Chateau deed in Yves Malfoy's name. Draco shifted the papers again and looked at the papers with his photo.

"What's this?" Draco read through the documents again and held up the muggle EU passport.

"Your ticket to a future where you don't have to hide, my son." Narcissa reached over for the first time since she had arrived and took his hand holding the passport. "A real future with your spouses and the baby on the way, you and my first grandchild deserve nothing but happiness." She shook her head, and Theo realised for the first time that she was fighting back tears she'd managed to conceal this entire time. His mother-in-law was one of the best people he had ever known, and over the last fourteen years had been his greatest supporter. Reaching out, he rubbed her back consolingly.

"You know about Granger? And the baby?" Draco asked awestruck, not knowing who his mother truly was. "You aren't upset?"

"I have had fourteen years to rethink my ideas on blood purity, Dragon, and I've long since realised my mistake. She is your wife, my daughter by marriage and I will do everything I can for her and all my future grandchildren." Narcissa smiled, "Theodore confided in me years ago what the three of you were and what you'd done. I consider myself lucky to have two handsome sons and a beautiful brilliant daughter."

Draco looked at his mother and tears began to run down his face. "I can't even tell you what your support means to me, mother."

"When the words come to you, I will be right here."

20 June 2012

We are what we can be, not what we ought to be. - Romaine Brooks, painter

Hermione hadn't been thrilled with Theo that he'd let her sleep through Draco's waking up, but being back in both of their arms had thawed her upset rather quickly. Minerva had been pleased and quite unsurprised at Narcissa's thoroughness with the documents to conceal their real identities to the world. With this, Theo was unable to push down the suspicion that the Hogwarts Headmistress had been well aware of what he had been about from the very beginning.

This time around, their wedding was not held in secret, but it was so soon after he'd woken that Draco had to use his father's old cane. The announcement of their nuptials along with an intentionally grainy photo had been sent into the Daily Prophet to let the world know of their union. Yves Malfoy, head of the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy, his wife Mia Black, heiress to the Ancient and Noble House of Black and Theodore Nott, head of the Ancient and Noble House of Nott were married at Nott Manor.

The long dark halls were thrown open, allowing in sunlight and were covered in white roses for the occasion. The once gothic place had been brightened for the occasion, Narcissa had really outdone herself, making the Manor look like you were stepping into a storybook cottage – well, that was if a storybook cottage was the size of a mansion.

Vivienne Malfoy again performed the ceremony, saying she had been waiting a long time for this moment. She winked to the bride and grooms as she performed an abbreviated version of the bonding she had done so many years before. The guest list was exclusive, it was reported. Blaise Zabini, the Head of House Zabini, Luna Lovegood and Pansy Parkinson were in attendance as well as Minerva McGonagall and a handful of French Malfoy and Black relations, primarily those who were very old and ideally with poor eyesight. Hermione was in an empire waist wedding dress that hid her baby bump from the onlookers, although the majority of them were well aware.

This wedding day went without a hitch, with no imminent death, no threats of violence, no one who needed to be murdered. The decor was lovely and the food was divine, but Theo couldn't tell you any details about it after the day, other than how beautiful his wife was and how handsome his husband was.

As he stood watching Draco and Hermione dance he swished his elf-made wine in his glass and smiled at them, as much in love as he'd been in sixth year. Blaise caught his eye and toasted toward him and Theo found himself grinning back at his oldest friend. Pansy swept Luna onto the dance floor and spun her in an elaborate dance.

Theo found it all a refreshing change of pace. Once he'd realised his spouses found the older him equally attractive to how he'd been at seventeen, his self doubt was easily set aside.

The newest perk being Draco insisting on regular professor-student role plays. Pretending to catch his younger spouses mid-coitus in a darkened room and threatening to tell on them was quite invigorating. He really had no complaints. And if they weren't sure what they wanted to do after the baby was born, they had more wealth than Croesus and a dozen homes to pick from.

Now, they had nothing but time.

He had had a decade and a half to heal from the war and all that death, but Mia and Draco were just coming out the other side of it. They needed time to just be and to adjust to the new world they were in. And now Theo Nott had all the time in the world to help them.

I don't love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz, or arrow of carnations that propagate fire: I love you as one loves certain obscure things, secretly, between the shadow and the soul. - Pablo Neruda, Sonnet XVII