Epilogue



Draco sat in his favourite chair, and stared into the fireplace. Or, more specifically, he was staring at the mantlepiece above the fireplace. Where it had once held nothing but a set of candles, it was now covered in pictures, and little knicknacks. Some of these were little things that his kids had made in school, and proudly brought home to show off, or made at home, others were things his wife had brought from her apartment, or picked up on a shopping trip. The pictures were what really interested him though. Ginny had arranged them in chronological order. So, the one he'd kept in his office for three years of the pair of them was sitting on one end, and next to it one of the pair of them that she had kept, that had been taken the year after his. Next to that was their wedding picture, in a pretty silver frame with a snake and a rose entwined at the bottom, a gift from Harry and Hermione. Next was a family picture, taken that same year, with him sitting on a chair, Ginny on his lap and a four year old Silvanna sitting on her lap. It had been cute, and Colin had impulsively snapped a picture. They were all waving at the camera. After that, there was a picture of a five year old Silvanna holding a baby, looking at the camera a little frightened that she was going to drop her new baby brother. The next one was a picture taken in a restaurant on their third anniversary, they were both grinning. The last one up there was a very recent one taken just that summer, at a picnic her family had hosted. A very pregnant Ginny was standing next to a similarly pregnant Hermione, both looking pleased with themselves, while Ron and Lavender were standing to one side of them, holding their two year old boy, Garret, between them. On the other side of them, Neville and Parvati were grinning. Behind them stood the rest of the Weasley clan, wives and children included. Colin was on the other side of Lavender, with his girlfriend on his arm. On the ground in front of them, was himself and Harry, sitting back to back, Harry holding a four year old Andrea on his lap. He was holding his two year old son, Nathan on his lap, and seven year old Silvanna had somehow managed to drape herself across both of their shoulders. Every now and again, everyone would grin and wave at the camera.

He couldn't believe that only four years ago, there had been nothing sitting on this mantlepiece. He was still surprised at the ease with which the Weasley's had accepted Silvanna as one of their own. Although it was perfectly natural, seeing as she was family. She had adjusted to her suddenly expanded family easier than either he or Ginny had expected. The new attention thrilled her to bits. What worried him a bit was the fact that she was starting to pick up habits that the twins had. Switching real tools with fake ones, and giggling like mad when they backfired. Ginny wasn't worried though, she seemed to think it was just a phase. He let his gaze move up to the painting above the mantlepiece. Ginny had been working on it while she was pregnant, to give her something to do. She had just finished it the other day, and was so pleased with it that she cold hardly wait to see it on a wall somewhere. He had suggested above the fireplace and she agreed. He'd been a little surprised when he'd seen it. It was a wonderful likeness of them, sitting in the center, with a similar likeness of Harry and Hermione on Draco's side, and Ron and Lavender on her side. They were all wearing their Hogwarts robes and colours, but they looked like they did now. Meaning, Ginny's hair was longer, Hermione was sporting her reading glasses, Harry's were not as round, Lavender had her hair shorter, that type of thing. In the background, on his side was Blaise Zabini, the way he'd seen her last, a sad smile on her face and the bleaching fading out. On Ginny's side was Colin, laughing at something. When he'd asked her to explain it to him in more detail, she just shrugged and said that it was a portrayal of loyalty at it's finest. When it came down to the nitty gritty, it was those six people who had helped them out when they needed it the most. It didn't matter how well they'd gotten along beforehand, when there was trouble they all helped each other.

He started when a baby appeared in his arms and Ginny appeared in front of him, adjusting the left side of the painting. She grinned at him when she turned around. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"It looked crooked from the doorway." She said.

"You just like fussing over it."

"So what?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all." He looked down at the baby. "Is she napping?"

"Yes. She wouldn't go to sleep unless I slept, but she's napping now." Ginny knelt down next to him and peered at their latest baby, Sienna.

"I think she's going be like you, you know. She's already got the 'I'm a Malfoy' attitude down pat." Ginny giggled.

"So you say now. But when she's replacing our wands with ones that turn into cows, you'll be cursing your brothers."

"It's just a phase, Draco. Even Hermione says it's a phase."

"Yes. Sure. We'll see in a few years."

"Where are the other two little devils anyway?"

"Your mother took Sylvie to Diagon Alley with her after school. Said something about birthday shopping. Lavender came and picked up Nathan for a playdate with Garret about an hour ago. They're bringing him back after dinner."

"So, it's just you and me and the baby, then." She said playfully.

"It seems so."

"Good. Because she's still asleep. While you and I are still awake."

"Why, my dear, are suggesting something?"

"You better believe it, buster. Race you to the bedroom!" She cried, jumping up and running for the staircase.

"Hey! That's not fair! I've got to put her down!"

"Good! It gives me time to get ready!" He heard her voice echo down the stairs. He grinned, and got up to follow her. Life was good.





This time, it's really The End.