Draco sat with shaking hands as he read the letter his sister had sent. She was offering to meet him, and possibly their mother. She had categorically stated that she was nowhere near ready to consider meeting their father, that she wasn't sure if she ever would be. Her letter had mentioned that if they agreed she was unsure whether the meeting would be a one off but also saying that she understood if they didn't want to meet her given their history.

He wanted to cry. His sister, his Cassie genuinely believed they may not want to see her, apparently not realising that if anything, persuading their mother to let her go would be a bigger issue. He silently handed the letter to Astoria, watching as she smiled slightly.

"That's good, right? She's willing to speak to you, at least?"

"How do I tell Father?"

Astoria's expression faltered for a moment before she sighed. "Your father made the decisions he did and he'll have to live with the consequences."

Nodding Draco stood. "I best go and find Mother."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No. Go and relax, you still look a little pale." he said gently.

Astoria smiled wanly at him, trying not to allow herself to get her hopes up this time. She was further along than she'd ever managed before but there were still too many weeks to go until this pregnancy was viable. "I'll be fine. Go and speak to your mother. She's in the tapestry room."

Drao entered the tapestry room silently, taking in his mothers pale form. She was sat on a plush sofa in front of the tapestry, her eyes fixated on the tiny portrait of Hermione. He glanced at it, startling slightly when he noticed two tiny scrolls under her name. Twins. His sister was pregnant with twins. He decided not to examine the feelings that brought up.

He cleared his throat softly, trying but failing not to startle his mother who jumped slightly at the intrusion.

"She's past twenty-four weeks." His mother whispered. "Twins, Draco."

"I know, Mother." he replied, his throat tight as he thought of his sister with miniature versions of them, wondering if her twins would look like they had as children or if they'd take after Theo. He refused to think of the losses Astoria had endured, refused to wonder if this time, they'd have a baby to hold. A baby who would hopefully grow up with his sister's children. He wanted it so badly it hurt. He wondered if she'd ever allow it. He knew Hermione Granger to be stubborn, ruthless when she needed to be but over all, she was unfailingly forgiving, she'd forgiven the weasel many times over the years, she'd testified at his trial. He hoped that she had some of that forgiveness left. Gods, he hoped.

"I got an owl from Hermione, Mother." he said cautiously, watching as she whirled around to face him.

"What did she say, Draco?" she demanded urgently.

"She's willing to meet with me, possibly you, but she's not ready to consider Father. She said if we wish to see her to owl her with a date. She works for the Ministry, although she doesn't say where, so requested either a weekend or after six during the week."

His mother nodded, wrapping her arms around her waist. "Tomorrow then? It's a Sunday. Whatever time suits her. Please. Draco. I….I need to see her."

"Mother, you know that she'll look like Hermione Granger, not Cassie?" he ventured, wanting to make sure.

"I don't care what she looks like Draco! I care who she is!" his mother bit back.

Nodding at her quickly, he replied, "Alright, Mother. I just wanted you to be sure. I'll owl her now."

Theo reached over to grasp Hermione's hand in an effort to stop her fidgeting.

"It's going to be fine, sweetheart. And if it's not, we never need to see them again. Just breathe."

She nodded jerkily, Andromeda shooting her a sympathetic look from her other side. She stiffened, feeling Andromeda do the same beside her as the door of the cafe opened and Draco and Narcissa Malfoy walked in. She saw Narcissa stumble, Draco reaching to steady her, his own face pale as they both zeroed in on her. She felt herself relax slightly, they looked as nervous as she felt, which ironically made her feel better.

"Andromeda?" Narcissa looked uncertainly at her estranged sister, wondering why she was here. She had no idea that her daughter was acquainted with her Aunt but there was no denying there was a comfort there that couldn't have developed in a couple of days.

"Narcissa." Andromeda inclined her head, taking in the sister she hadn't spoken to in several decades. She was paler than was healthy, dark circles under her eyes and less put together than Andromeda would have expected. She wondered if it was a side effect of the war or an indication of how badly the last few weeks had affected her. "Do you intend to sit down?"

"I...yes. Yes, of course." Narcissa sat gracefully, her eyes fixing on the daughter she'd been desperate to see for the last fourteen years. The girl was watching her warily, the knuckles of the hand grasped in her husbands were starkly white against her skin, the bump indicating her pregnancy, pronounced on her slight frame. She wanted to pull the girl to her and never let go. She settled for grasping Draco's hand like a lifeline as he stared with undisguised longing at the sister he had mourned since she had been taken. She was so close. Closer than Narcissa had allowed herself to believe she'd ever be again and yet there were barriers in place, invisible but strong as the girl held herself back from them. She wondered if they'd ever be penetrable.

"Thank you for agreeing to see us." She said softly, watching as the girl exhaled slowly.

"I almost didn't." she said, her voice was soft but there was an underlying current of hardness that made Narcissa's stomach clench. Her daughter had almost decided not to see them. While she wasn't sure she blamed her, it was unthinkable.

"What made you change your mind?"

"Aunt Andy mainly. However I was also curious. I had no avenues left. I've been looking for answers for as long as I can remember and there have never been any. This is the first time I've ever come close to knowing anything at all about the first eight years of my life."

Narcissa startled at her affectionate address to her Aunt. How close were they?

"Then I suppose I must thank you, sister." she said instead, inclining her head.

Andromeda smirked slightly. "Don't thank me yet." she murmured as she raised an eyebrow at her niece who blushed. Draco frowned at the scene in front of him, they were missing something, Theo appeared to be smothering a grin.

"What have we missed?" he asked, his eyes darting to each of the three people in front of him.

Theo bit his lip before responding. "Pregnancy hormones are….a little challenging currently." he said smiling at his wife, who rolled her eyes at him.

He saw his mother smile in understanding. "I was an unreasonable harridian when I was pregnant," she said, causing Draco's eyes to widen. "If I wasn't threatening to hex someone, I was crying. The Healers said it was a combination of the hormones and my body trying to assimilate three different magics."

Theo snorted, "I wouldn't dare agree that there may be some similarities. I value my life." he didn't dodge quickly enough as Hermione shoved his arm and scowled.

"It wouldn't be your life I would be aiming for." she growled at her husband, causing him to wice, even as he laughed at her.

Draco smiled, it was clear that whatever else they took from this meeting, that his sister was happy and loved. He had no idea how it had happened but seeing them together put some of his fears to rest. Theo was lighter than the boy he remembered from school, he had a playfulness about him that he'd never seen before and despite her words, his sister still reached for him, clearly finding comfort there.

Narcissa laughed at them. Looking lighter than she had since the tapestry had been rehung.

"I will answer any questions you have…..Hermione." she said softly.

Hermione nodded. "I must admit that now you're here I'm not sure what to ask. I….When is my birthday? They used September 19th as that's when they found me and I had no idea. They worked out I was around nine"
"5th of June." Draco answered. "They made you nine months older than you were."

She nodded slowly as she processed that. "I see. Do you know what happened?"

They shook their heads. "You were out with me, one minute you were there, the next, you weren't. The aurors were involved almost immediately but they had no leads. They searched for a year for anything that might give some answers but there was never anything to be found. We still have no idea who took you or why. Draco said you think you had been obliviated?"
"Yes, it's the only thing that makes sense. I was left outside a muggle police station, they're the muggle version of the aurors," she explained, noting Narcissa's confusion. "I had no idea of my name, age or where I came from. It was just….blank. It's still blank."

"How have your...parents taken the news?"
Hermione flinched and Theo tightened his hold on her hand.

"Hermione was fostered, not adopted." he said, "Once she was at school she spent very little time with the Grangers. However because everyone assumed they were her parents, she sent them away during the war to protect them. They are unable to come back."

Both Malfoys looked startled at that. "Unable to come back?" Draco queried.

"I obliviated them and sent them to Australia. It was irreversible."

"Oh, Hermione." Narcissa breathed, looking at the pale woman in front of her, the guilt plain on her face. "That was incredibly brave."

"Which is what we've been trying to tell her." Andromeda cut in, turning to her niece. "You kept them safe, lovely. You were only just seventeen and you kept them safe. I told you, the Order should be ashamed of themselves for not thinking of it."

"Logically, I understand that." she said with a shrug.

"But emotionally, you're not quite there yet?" Narcissa guessed.

"I took their lives from them. Without their permission, I messed with their memories and sent them away."

"You kept them safe." Draco reiterated, glaring at his sister. "They looked for them, you know. They couldn't find them. You kept them safe."

He watched as his sister seemed to slump, "They really looked for them?"

"Yes. He was furious that none of them could find them."

She nodded, exhaling slowly. Theo inclined his head, relief that she was accepting Draco's explanation clear on his face. It was clearly a conversation they'd had many times.

"How did you two meet?" Narcissa asked, looking between Theo and Hermione.

Theo laughed. "We met at work. She's my boss."

Narcissa's face showed surprise. "You work in the Ministry, Theo?"

"Yes. We're Unspeakables, which is all I can tell you."
Draco's eyes widened as he took in his sister.

"You're an unspeakable?"

She shrugged, "Unlimited research and discovering new magics. Where else was I going to go?"
He inclined his head at her with a smile, accepting the truth of her statement. "Fair point. Your husband's boss, though? How has he survived that?"
"By doing exactly as he's told." she replied with an impish grin, startling a laugh out of both Draco and Narcissa. "No, he is brilliant. He's one of the few I've never had to micro-manage." she smiled at Theo as he gazed down at her, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"I feel like I should get that framed somewhere sweetheart." he smiled as she rolled her eyes at him again.

"How long have you been married?"

"Six months." Hermione laughed, "Honeymoon babies, not quite what we were anticipating" she said, gesturing at her rounded middle.

Narcissa smiled at her, her eyes going to the bump. "Do you know what they are? The tapestry indicated twins."

Hermione glanced at Theo who inclined his head slightly.

"One of each." she responded. "We've only just found out."

"Oh!" Narcissa breathed, her eyes going slightly misty. "Have you decided on names?"

Hermione shook her head. "Not yet. We have lists but I suppose we'll decide when they're here. What was my name….before?"

"Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia Narcissa." Narcissa responded promptly. "You were a tiny thing, you still are really. You get it from the Blacks, records describe Malfoy women as being much taller. And the hair I'm afraid, you have the Black curls, although you were Malfoy blonde. Both you and Draco inherited the Black's grey eyes. You were the first female Malfoy to be born in over four centuries. The first set of twins on record. And the first to be born without the Malfoy blue eyes. Your Grandmother couldn't decide whether she was ecstatic that you'd broken so many records or furious that you were a little more Black than Malfoy."

Hermione looked startled for a moment at the mention of more family she hadn't even considered.

"Grand-mere lives in France, she moved after Grandfather died. Be grateful, the man wasn't exactly pleasant. Grand-mere, however….I'm sure she would love to see you. You were close to her once, she doted on you. Father used to admonish her for giving you ideas. She was very much of the opinion that you would never just become a society wife and set out to ensure you were well read and could take care of yourself" Draco spoke, noticing her reaction. "Grandfather, had other ideas of course, he was the traditionalist. Grand-mere was much more liberal. Father blames it on her being French."

Hermione stilled, contemplating whether she wanted to meet the woman who Draco claimed she was once close to. It was an odd thought, to know that the values a woman she couldn't remember had instilled in her had remained, even after obliviation.

"Perhaps." she said.

"She comes over in October until January every year. It gives you a chance to think on it." he said gently.

She nodded at him and sighed. "It's all rather a lot to consider."

"Take all the time you need, Hermione. I meant what I said, I will answer any questions you have. I just….I cannot tell you what it feels like to see you. I….I feel like a piece of me that was missing has returned, at the same time, I am so incredibly sorry. I….there are no words, no explanations that can ever excuse our actions during your time in our home during the war. We were trapped in a situation that appeared to have no escape route. However it does not excuse what happened to you, or to anyone else there while that madman was holding court."

Hermione nodded slowly. "You believed in it though. His ideology."

Narcissa flinched. "Yes. I did. However I do not now. It should not have taken the atrocities that man and his followers committed in the name of pureblood supremacy to change my mind, I realise, but it did. By the time he was living in our home, we were trapped. I'm sure you are aware that it was do as he wished or die. I did not wish to die, not in the beginning anyway and I was aware that I had to play my part to keep Draco as safe as I could. I realise I failed at that abysmally but I did what I could. During the first war, I was kept away from it mostly, due to the pregnancy and then having newborn twins. I hadn't realised how sheltered I'd truly been until the last war. I knew it wasn't a pleasant organisation, but I had no idea of the sheer scale of depravity. I was incredibly naive."

Hermione looked at her in understanding and sighed. Her free hand resting on the top of her stomach.

"I can't say I understand how you justified following him in the first place." she said slowly. "However, I do understand wanting to keep your child safe. They're not here yet and I already know I'd do anything for them."

Narcissa looked at her in relief. "I will still never be able to tell you how sorry I am, Hermione. And I know that nothing I say will ever make up for any of it but please, I'd really like to get to know you better."

Hermione sighed as she looked at the woman in front of her who was clasping Draco's hand like it was the only thing anchoring her. She could see the barely masked desperation on their faces as they looked at her and for the first time really understood what they had lost. She wasn't sure how she felt about giving them a chance, Draco had made her school years horrendous at points, she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to set foot in the home she'd lived in for the first years of her life but looking at the desperate eyes of her mother, she wondered how she could refused to at least try.

"I cannot promise that we will have the relationship you want. But….I am willing to get to know you."

Both Narcissa and Draco slumped in relief, the tears already falling down Narcissa's face as she looked at her in wonder.

"Thank you. I….I will never be able to thank you enough."