Chapter 39: Post Occuro – Later Events

"…. Elnath passes to Wood, Wood's got the Quaffle….oooh, a nasty bludger there from Crabbe and Wood drops the Quaffle. Montague's got it, he's off…he passes…"

Parents' Day had been started by Dumbledore the year after Voldemort's defeat and the Presentation Quidditch Match was always one of it's highlights. This year, it was Slytherin versus Gryffindor.

"Montague takes a bludger from Weasley there, ow that must have hurt. Elnath's back in possession, he's going back up the pitch, nope he isn't- Malfoy's snatched the Quaffle, he's down the pitch, he dodges Weasley, he dodges Wood…he aims….he scores! Sorry 'bout that O'Neil."

            The crowd went crazy as the Slytherin counter slid to "210". McGonagall looked slightly disappointed. Josh Macmillan resumed his commentary.

            "And that's the eighteenth goal by Noel Malfoy today! Is that a new record or what? His brother's circling, as is Potter…Potter dives! Has he seen it? No, false alarm….Sirius Malfoy still searching….the Quaffle is back in play! Wood passes to Elnath, Elnath to Fletchley…Fletchly flying for the goal…he aims…he….Montague moves in, hey isn't that illegal? Montague you big, ugly…"

            "MACMILLAN!" shouted Professor McGonagall.

            Montague had snatched a bat from one of the beaters and used it to whack Fletchley so hard the boy had fallen of his broom. The crowd watched tensely as Madam Hooch helped Fletchley stand up and get back on his broom. Meanwhile, Fletchley had dropped the Quaffle which was still in play.

            "And Malfoy's in possession…will that boy score again today? Weasley sends a bludger to Malfoy, Malfoy's hit! He drops it, damn, Montague's caught it…Elnath comes in hard…Montague's racing for the goal again, come on, block him O'Neil! He shoots…O'Neil blocks it! YESSS!"

            There was a groan from the Slytherins as the Gryffindors shouted encouragement to their Keeper.

            "It's back in play…wait…what's that...the Seekers have spotted something…Malfoy's off, followed closely by Potter!"

            The crowd held their breath. The other twelve players hung suspended in mid-air as the two seekers raced towards an almost invisible object.

            "It's not a false alarm this time…Malfoy's nearly got it…no, Potter shoves him hard….Malfoy shoves back….Potter reaches…JAMES POTTER HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH!"

            As Madam Hooch's whistle went off, a dark haired boy tumbled off his broom onto the pitch and lay panting. A few feet away, a white-blond boy touched down neatly onto the pitch and stood by smiling. He hadn't caught the snitch this time but that didn't matter because…

            "SLYTHERIN WINS! 210 to 190! Bad luck Gryffindors, but good going James!"

            James Potter was climbing to his feet, the rest of his team was running up to him to congratulate him. Meanwhile, members of the Slytherin team were throwing Noel Malfoy into the air…with eighteen goals to his name in this game, he was certainly the man of the match!

            "Great stuff, Noel!" yelled his brother, from among the crowd.

            "Thanks, Sirius!" Noel yelled, as he was tossed by an increasingly large number of hands. "Oh no…" he groaned suddenly, "It's mum, she's running towards us!"

            "I thought Dad promised that he wouldn't let her do that anymore!" said Sirius, absolutely mortified.

            "I'm so proud of you!" Hermione said as she pinched Sirius' cheeks and kissed him.

            "Mother…" he muttered, "For heaven's sake, I'm in second year!"

            But Hermione hadn't heard. She was making her way through the Slytherin team as it parted for her to get towards her older son…Noel, the only metamorphmagus in Hogwarts, rapidly changed his hair colour and face-shape and tried to slink off. But unfortunately for him, his mother could recognize him anywhere.

            "And you…"

            Noel Malfoy changed back to his original appearance and surrendered himself to an enormous hugging and kissing session in the middle of the quidditch field while his Slytherin team-mates snickered.

            "Why does she always do that?" said Sirius to his best friend, James Potter.

            James shrugged and grinned, his mom and dad waved to him from the stands, with all the other parents.

            "Father! You promised me mother wouldn't do it this year!" Sirius said to his father as the older man made his way onto the pitch.

            "Well, she promised not to at the start, but lost her head at the end." said Draco, smiling at his son.

            "Hello, Mr Malfoy. Hi there, Narcissa." said James, to the well-dressed white-blonde man who looked exactly like an older, taller version of his friend. The young girl following shyly behind her father turned bright red at being addressed directly by James Potter, son of the famous Harry Potter.

            "Hello James. Your mum and dad said to meet them in the Great Hall. They wanted to come out here and congratulate you but your dad said your mum shouldn't risk this mad crowd down here."

            Just about the whole of Slytherin and Gryffindor were on the pitch. It was mayhem, scarves of green and silver were strewn all over the place and futile cries of "Accio Scarf" could be heard all over the pitch as owners tried to find the scarves they had tossed in the air earlier. Many parents of Quidditch players were on the pitch, looking for their children.

"All right. Come on, I heard the tea for Parents' Day is absolutely wonderful and I'm starving!" said James to Sirius and Draco.

"Hermione! Noel! We're going into the hall!" shouted Draco over to where his wife was fussing over her eldest son. Hermione walked up to him, accompanied by her elder son. He was nearly as tall as her already, clearly, he was going to be as tall as his father.

"Hello, father" said the boy, grinning.

Draco looked at his older son with pride. Gray eyes locked on toffee-coloured eyes. Those eyes were just beginning to melt female hearts in a new generation of Hogwarts students.

"Good job, Noel. I'm proud of you- son."

Hermione smiled. Draco took every opportunity he could to encourage his children, and tell them how much they meant to him. Her daughter slipped her hand into hers.

"Come on mother, I'm hungry…it's tea time!"

"Where's Sirius?" Hermione asked, looking around.

            "Oh, he and James disappeared a moment ago…probably up to no good." Draco slipped an arm around his wife and the family began walking towards the Great Hall.

            "There he is!" said Narcissa, pointing to the distance. A black haired boy and white-blonde boy were throwing a snitch to each other. A red-haired boy stood in the middle trying to catch it.

            "Oh, I see they've found Nicky. Well, they'd better hurry up if they want any tea at all." Draco observed as he entered the Great Hall with his family.  Their story being famous all over the wizarding world, the Malfoys always caused a stir wherever they went. Just as his parents had been the centre of attention everywhere they went, all heads turned to look at Mr and Mrs Malfoy. However, while people had stared at Mr and Mrs Lucius Malfoy with fear and awe, Mr and Mrs Draco Malfoy were looked at with respect and warmth.

Mr Malfoy wore a black, velvet-lined cape, and a smart black suit. The buttons on his vest each made of sterling silver. On his right hand, he wore several expensive rings, including one with the Malfoy Family seal, but on his left hand, he only wore a simple wedding ring. He had worn it every day for the last thirteen years.

            Mrs Malfoy wore pale green dress-robes of fine silk, around her throat and wrists were twined expensive jewellery that were gifts from her husband throughout the years. Some things about the Malfoys never changed. On her right hand were expensive opal and sapphire rings, but like her husband, the only jewellery she wore on her left hand was her wedding ring. She looked very young to be a mother of three, she couldn't be much older than thirty.

            They were greeted everywhere they went.

            "Hello Draco! Hello Hermione!"

            "Great match!"

            "Your Noel will play for England one day!"

            "What lovely robes, Hermione."

            "How's business Draco?"

            "HERMIONE!" Ginny rushed across the room to her friend. She was heavily pregnant and that was why she had been banned by Harry from going onto the Quidditch pitch after the game.

            "Hello Ginny! Hello Harry!" said Draco, smiling at his friends.

            "Have you seen my James?" Ginny said worriedly.

            Hermione laughed, "He's with Sirius and Nicholas outside…playing with the Snitch."

            Ginny looked relieved. Harry and Draco were talking about work again. Harry was Head of Magical Law Enforcement now, and Draco was up for the Directorship of the Centre for Magical Research and Development next year.

            Ginny's sister-in-law came over. "Hi Hermione, Hi Ginny."

            "Hello Penelope!" said Hermione warmly. "Percy at work?"

            Penelope looked very proud. "He's in France, doing something with international relations. Since he was promoted to Minister of Magic, he hardly gets back before ten every night."

            "Hi mum!"

            Penelope smiled as her son Nicholas Weasley walked up with his friends James and Sirius. They were all in their second year.

            Narcissa Malfoy, due to start at Hogwarts next year turned red again, as James flashed a smile at her. Noel came to her rescue.

            "Come on little sister, I'll get you your tea." Noel Malfoy grabbed his sister and pulled her off into the crowd.

            The women were discussing the Christmas party at Malfoy Manor next month. Hermione was making arrangements with Ginny and Penelope to collect their sons from Platform 9 ¾ and take them to the manor.

For years, Draco had made it a point to celebrate Christmas at the Manor, inviting the Weasleys and Potters. James, Sirius and Nicholas normally spent every holiday together at one of each other's houses. They either played Quidditch all day or else devised elaborate pranks with the help of Nicholas' uncles,  Fred and George Weasley.

Noel was quieter- he liked reading (to Hermione's delight, he was currently re-reading Hogwarts: A History) or spending time with his father researching Potions in the new Potions laboratory Draco had built.

Hagrid and Remus came over, beaming and smelling like butterbeer. Professor Longbottom, the new Herbology teacher, came up shook Hermione's hand shyly.

"Oh Neville!" Hermione said, throwing her arms around him. "It's great to see you….tell me, did my sons pass Herbology? They got Outstandings in their last essays? Oh good…what were their scores?"

Penelope and Ginny rolled their eyes and grinned. Hermione was still the same.

"Harry, Draco…" Albus Dumbledore walked over- he looked older, and moved a bit slower, but there was still a twinkle in his eye. "How have you been?"

"Hello Dumbledore" said Harry. After sixteen years, he still couldn't call Dumbledore by his first name. Neither could Draco who greeted the old headmaster in the same manner.

"I see another Potter is on the way." Said Dumbledore.

Harry grinned proudly. "Yes, another boy…we thought of calling him Sirius, but that would cause too much confusion, so we thought we'd call him…" here Harry blushed, "…we thought we'd call him Albus."

Dumbledore smiled. "I'm flattered …though I do have a string of middle names to choose from as well…take your pick. Oh by the way, have you tried the trifle? The house-elves have out-done themselves today. Dobby's been keeping their noses to the grindstone. Now, if you'll excuse me…I see the Fletchleys calling me…"

Draco saw Narcissa talking to a lank, dark-haired man with a hooked nose in the crowd.

"It's Severus" he told Harry, before walking over. He watched as Severus patted Narcissa's blonde hair, a wistful look on his face. Narcissa was chattering away to him easily, she had known Mr Snape for as long as she had lived- he was godfather to her and her brothers.

"Severus" said Draco.

"Draco" smiled Snape. Outwardly, very little about him had changed. He was a crusty old bachelor, but his temper had improved greatly after the burden of being a double-agent had been lifted off him. There was a rumour going around Hogwarts that Snape gave out chocolate to first years in the Hogwarts Express. He certainly was doing that now- Snape handed a large bag of chocolate to his favourite god-daughter. She squealed in happiness.

"Which are your favourites?" Severus asked her.

"Honeydukes Peppermint Cremes" she answered confidently.

Draco grinned. Those were Hermione's favourites as well.

"Okay, thank Mr Snape and go off to play."

Narcissa thanked her godfather. Snape winced as he looked at her blonde hair and blue eyes. She reminded him so much of her. After she had gone, Draco and Severus stood talking quietly about Potions. Draco was asking his for professor's help about a very difficult Colour-Change potion he was developing.

Draco felt someone touch his arm.

"Harry asks if you would like to go there now?" his wife asked him. Hermione and Professor Snape greeted each other.

Draco looked at his watch- a habit picked up from Hermione. "Yes…excuse me, Severus."

He followed his wife out of the Great Hall and found the Potters waiting for them outside.

******************************

The four adults made small talk as they walked out of the Great Hall and towards the edge of the Dark Forest. But as they walked on, conversation stopped. The grounds of Hogwarts were the same, a cold November breeze blew in at them from over the Great Lake. There was Hagrid's hut. There was where the Tri Wizard Maze had been set up. There was the rock where Harry had taken Draco and Hermione's picture all those years ago.

The memories started assailing them, as they always did when they did this at least once a year. Each was silent with their own thoughts. Each trying to understand the meaning of love and loss in their own way.

Then before they realized it, their quiet footsteps had brought them to the place where they were headed. They stood before a smooth stone with a beautifully carved stone border. It was slightly mossy with age, but they knew that Hagrid kept it in as good condition as he could.

The stone had these words carved into it:

Sirius Black

1965 – 2006

Last of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black

Currently on his next great adventure

They stood staring at it for a long time.

"Hello, Sirius" said Harry, at last.

"Hi there" said Ginny.

"Hello Sirius" said Draco and Hermione in unison. Draco held Hermione closer to him. She was trembling slightly.

Harry put his hand on the stone. "Everything's okay. I got promoted to the Head of Magical Law Enforcement. England won the World Cup this year- Ron was the keeper. James caught the snitch in today's Quidditch match. Ginny's going to have another baby."

"We were going to name him after you, but that would cause too much confusion since Draco's boy is already named after you. So we're going to name him after Dumbledore." Said Ginny quietly, her hand on her tummy. "Oh yes, we renovated your house a few months ago and put in a swimming pool at the back. It's a muggle thing that Harry wanted. He said youd've liked it."

Ginny touched Sirius' grave gently. Harry and Ginny stepped back. Draco and Hermione hadn't said anything yet, but Harry understood.

"Well, we'll go now" he said, half to Sirius, and half to Draco and Hermione. "Give you some time alone. See you by Hagrid's hut later."

"Bye Sirius, we'll see you again." Said Ginny, as she and Harry walked away.

Draco and Hermione approached Sirius' grave. While Sirius had been responsible for Harry's success in the past, Draco and Hermione owed their whole future to him. Harry knew that the bond that Draco shared with Sirius was as deep as life itself.

Draco knelt before the grave as did Hermione. He placed a hand on the cold, gray stone.

"Sirius…" his voice broke. Hermione put an arm around her husband's shoulders. Draco took a deep breath and went on.

"Every day of our lives, Hermione and I thank you, but it never seems enough." Malfoy bent his white-blonde head and Hermione kissed him tenderly. She put a hand on Sirius' grave.

"Noel scored eighteen goals in today's match. He's re-reading Hogwarts: A History. Sirius learned how to use the Marauder's Map with James and Nicholas last term and got into so much trouble with Filch that I'm sure you'd be proud. Narcissa's learning to play to piano…she pressed a strange combination on it one day and we discovered a funny hole in the fire-place. It was empty but I kept Amarya there. I think it'll be the Malfoy hidey-hole from now on."

Draco knew Hermione was speaking so rapidly to try and take his mind off things. He pulled himself together.

"We never would have known this happiness had it not been for you, Sirius" he said. "I once doubted myself, and didn't trust people around me….but you believed enough in me to give me this chance. And Hermione- she didn't give up on me either, it's been thirteen years of marriage and I love her and my children more every day. So you see- I'm trying to make it worth your while."

Hermione knew that Draco made this speech every year. When she found herself pregnant with her second child, Draco had gone straight to this place to thank Sirius. And he had done the same for their third child. From death, new life was possible. Like the serpent eating its own tail, the mystery went on in a circle of joy and pain.

"Draco-…" she said, slipping her hand into his, "I think you may have something more to thank Sirius for this year."

Draco looked surprised. "What do you mean?"

Hermione smiled and squeezed his hand, "You're going to have another daughter."

Draco took a while to understand her. Then his face lit up. His gray eyes sparkled like the sunshine on the Great Lake.

"You hear that Sirius?" he laughed, patting the stone. "Like I said, I really am making it worth your while!"

He got to his feet and helped Hermione up.

In the comforting brilliance of the clear November sunlight, Draco Malfoy put his arms around his wife and kissed her.

Although it had taken fourteen years for him to believe it, Draco finally believed that they had won the war: even though on his chest, there would always be a thin, white scar.

THE END