M&M's: Malfoy's and Mudbloods
Alternate Ending!
Chapter Nineteen: I Know We're Cool
Thoughts/Flashbacks/Lyrics


Hermione rubbed her swollen tummy as she cautiously made her way downstairs. Being 7 months pregnant made it hard for the former Gryffindor to get around. Arms wrapped around her waist as she reached the bottom step, "I told you to wait, and that I would get the door." Her husband of three years, playfully scolded her.

She turned to look at him, his blond hair wet from just getting out of the shower, blue eyes dancing playfully, before she stuck out her tongue, "Honestly hun, I'm pregnant, not disabled, besides the stairs are good exercise. Plus I've cushion charmed everything in the house so I can't get hurt." she kissed his nose.

Andrew had taken the new of her being a witch rather well, having believed in mystical things since he was a boy, the fact that there was a hidden world out there where things of fantasy actually existed was beyond facinating to him. The couple had even done some research and found that there were in fact wizards in Andrew's family tree, not to mention the bun in her oven was already showing signs of being a young warlock.

The doorbell rang again, "Coming!" Hermione shouted out before reaching the door and pulling it open only to stare in the deep silvery blue eyes of her old boyfriend. "Draco," his name fell from her lips, as she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. It had been close to three years since she had last seen him, in fact a week before her wedding was the last time she had seen him. He had simply left, leaving nothing but a note saying sorry and goodbye.

Draco simply stared at the woman who had once been the love of his life, thinking back to when he had last seen her.

"Ladies and gentle men, welcome to the opening of BW. My name is Andrew Felton and I have the pleasure of introducing you to the owner and head chef, and future Mrs. Felton, Hermione Granger."

Hermione shyly emerged, smiling brightly, giving a small wave. "Welcome all and thank you. I'm flattered at all the reviews that I have received from the press and the support and love I have from all of you." She looked out at the crowd that she considered her family and friends. "I need to get back to the kitchen, I hope you all enjoy your evening." She blew a kiss to the crowd and disappeared behind the swinging double doors that lead to the kitchen.

"Alright, tonight on the menu is Hermione's' most renowned dish, filet mignon in a red wine sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables, for dessert, Hermione's own creation, crème de la cherries jubilee pie. But first you're appetizers, sautéed stuffed Portobello mushrooms."

Andrew smiled as the guest eyes perked up as the waiters brought out plates of delectable looking food, almost too beautiful to eat. He took his seat next to his parents, Draco and the Rowling's. Most people were shocked at the eerie similarities between the two blond haired men, Dr. Kyle, his mom and Mrs. Rowling were the only people besides Hermione having no problem telling the two men apart.

Draco took a small bite of the mushroom, the flavor exploding in his mouth. Hermione's really out done herself. He shifted in his wheel chair, anxious to get out. In truth he had been able to walk for a week, but he wanted to surprise Hermione with a dance. He turned to his date for the evening and smiled.

Dr. Athena Kyle looked radiant outside of her hospital lab coat, she was a stunningly beautiful woman who looked good enough to eat in her modest yet simplistically sexy black cocktail dress.

"It's really delicious," Athena smiled, "thank you for bringing me."

Draco nodded, "Thank you for helping me recover so quickly."

When everyone had been served dessert and coffee, Hermione re-emerged wearing a gorgeous cream colored gown rather that her chef's uniform. Her hair had been left down in mahogany waves. Her bright green eyes although tired, held the unmistakable spark of happiness.

The entire restaurant stood and applauded as she walked across the dance floor to her seat next to Andrew. She bowed graciously, a pink blush staining her cheeks. "Thank you all so much. I do hope that you enjoyed your meals and that you'll stay for some dancing."

All of a sudden the lights turned out as a spot light shone down on the dance floor. Footsteps were heard, Hermione held her breath as a pair of feet stepped into the light. The beam widened exposing a smiling Draco standing on his own. Hermione's eyes welled up in tears as Con Te Partiro began to play and Draco extended his hand to her.

She kissed Andrew tenderly before she rose gracefully and seemed to float into Draco's arms. Andrew watched the couple dance with a small smile on his face, she was so beautiful.

Draco smiled as Hermione kissed Andrew tenderly, before coming to dance with him. He laughed to himself, a mixture of pain and bitterness seeping in… No matter how alike we look, she always looks better in his arms, like she belongs there. He watched as her eyes flickered when she met Andrew gaze; Draco watched as a fire sparked in her eyes as Andrew smiled at her, a spark he had never seen before. It was then that Draco realized, that while Hermione did and probably would always love him, she was in love with Andrew.

Back then he didn't think that it would have ever been possible for him to get over the pain of loosing Hermione, he wasn't sure he'd ever love again. But now looking at how happy she was in Andrew's arms, he knew that she had made the right choice. He knew that he had been selfish to stay away from her for so long, but now he was back, and wasn't going to walk out of her life again.

It's hard to remember how it felt before
Now I found the love of my life...
Passes things get more comfortable
Everything is going right

He was shaken out of his daydream as Andrew extended his hand to shake, "Draco, it's nice seeing you again."

Draco smiled and nodded, "I agree Andrew," he moved to the side revealing a familiar looking brunette, with deep gun metal colored eyes, "Hermione, Andrew, this is my girlfriend Athena, Athena this is my best friend Hermione and her husband Andrew."

Hermione smiled brightly, remembering the doctor who had helped Draco walk again fondly, before slapping him playfully on the arm, "Draco you didn't tell me you had a girlfriend!" she chided as if they hadn't been apart for three years, and turned and hugged Athena, "It's a pleasure to see you again. Come in come in." she and Andrew led the couple into the den where tea and cookies had been set up.

"You have a lovely home Hermione." Athena gushed as they were led through the home that Andrew had designed and built especially for Hermione.

"Thank you." The brown eyed brunette smiled, "It was my wedding anniversary gift from my husband made my gift of son seem rather small." She playfully joked as she tenderly rubbed her stomach smiled as Andrew kissed her hand.

The two couples sat down, and Hermione couldn't help but notice how close Draco and Athena sat, fingers entwined with one another.

"So, how did the two of you meet?" Andrew asked as Hermione poured her guest some tea, before serving her husband then herself.

"Well after I left London, I went to New York, where I worked at one of the hospitals that's integrating Muggle and Magical technology there, I ran into Athena two years ago at the cafeteria, and the rest is history." He smiled fondly at his girlfriend, who blushed adorably pink. "We're back in London, trying to integrate the Narcissa Black Teaching Hospital the same way we did the one in New York." He kissed Athena's hand, "I never would have made it this far without her."

"Well you two look absolutely and deliriously happy together." Hermione commented sincerely before taking a sip of her tea.

"Hermione, I want to apologize for just leaving the way I did."

Hermione shook her head, "There's no need too, Draco, I know you had your reasons for leaving. It's all in the past, I'm just glad that you're back, I've missed my best friend."

Draco smiled appreciatively at the fact that she still referred to him as her best friend, "Me too Hermione, me too."

And after all the obstacles
It's good to see you now with someone else
And it's such a miracle that you and me are still good friends
After all that we've been through
I know we're cool

"It's uncanny how alike the two of you look." Athena spoke up as she glanced between her boyfriend and Andrew.

Hermione giggled, "I know, what can I say I'm a sucker for blond hair and gray/blue eyes." She looked at her husband then at Draco, who were both smirking.

Andrew smiled, "Yea, the first time Draco met my parents, even they had a hard time telling us apart." The three that shared the memory chuckled lightly.

Just then Athena's pager went off, "Oh dear, it's the hospital," she looked at Hermione, "Would it be alright to use your floo?"

She nodded, "Of course." She tried to get up, but couldn't.

"Don't move love, I'll show her to the fire-place." Andrew planted a kiss on her forehead before leading Athena away to the study.

"So Mrs. Felton, when are you due?" Draco asked eyeing her stomach.

"The world will be welcoming Darien Grant Felton on June 26." She patted her stomach affectionately, inwardly smiling at the fact that Draco had called her by her married name. The two fell into a companionable silence, "So Athena seems sweet." Hermione softly stated.

Draco's eyes sparked at the mention of his girlfriend, "Yea she is, she helped me through some dark times… I couldn't imagine my life without her in it… I think she might be the one." He ran a hand though his hair.

Hermione gushed, "Oh Draco, that's great!" her eyes welled up with tears of joy, Draco handed her a tissue, "Thanks Draco, it's just all these damn hormones," she dabbed the tears away, "I tell you these days, even long distance phone commercials make me cry."

The two laughed, both glad that things were back to the way they should be, Athena and Andrew walked in on the two, "What's wrong love?" Andrew immediately rushed to his teary eyed wife's side.

"Nothing, just the damn hormones, I was telling Draco about how long distance telephone commercials make me cry."

"Draco, I'm needed at the hospital." Athena turned to face Hermione and Andrew, "I'm sorry to cut this reunion short. I'd really like to get to know you better Hermione,"

"I'd like that." Hermione stood up with Andrew's help, "We'll walk you to the door," the group headed to the front of the house, "You know what? We're having a BBQ here tomorrow, you two should come. All the gang will be here."

Draco smiled at the thought of seeing his fellow Hogwarts friends, "We'll be here, what time?"

"Around four."

Draco nodded, before leaning in to kiss Hermione's cheek, "See you tomorrow." He shook hands with Andrew.

"It was nice seeing you Hermione," Athena hugged the pregnant woman gently, "You too Andrew." She gave him a hug as well. "See you tomorrow." The couple waved as they headed down the walkway to Draco's silver Ferrari.

Hermione simply laughed to herself as she closed the door, Some things never change. She mused to herself as Andrew picked her up bridal style, carrying her to their bedroom, And for that I'm glad.

We used to think it was impossible
Now you call me by my new last name
Memories seem like so long ago
Time always kills the pain

The next day came quickly, and soon Hermione was downstairs, in the kitchen with her best girlfriends, while the men were outside drinking beers and talking story. "So Hermione, what's the surprise huh?" Ginny asked, as she poured herself a glass of wine.

"Let me guess, you're having twins!" Pansy exclaimed.

"Heavens no!" Hermione laughed, "One is quite enough for now," she looked down at her belly, "Aren't you baby." She cooed softly.

"So, are you going to tell us?" Millie asked, her curiosity finally getting the better of her.

"I must admit, even I'm itching to hear what this surprise is." Daphne added her two cents as well.

Hermione grabbed a few more wine glasses down from the cupboard and poured the girls each a glass before pouring herself some sparkling cider. She smirked a smirk worthy of a Malfoy before raising her glass, "Trust me girls, it'll be worth the wait." She clanged glasses with the girls before turning around to head outside.

"Aunty Hermione!" Three year old, James Potter rushed to his favorite aunt as two year old Molly Zabini attempted to follow on shaky legs.

"Why can't you just tell us?" Pansy whined as the rest of the girls joined their husbands outside.

"Cause that would just ruin the whole point of it being a surprise now wouldn't it?" Hermione smiled as she hugged James before handed him a small bag of cookies, "Go share these with everyone ok hun?" she ruffled his hair as she sent the green eyed boy back to where the rest of the children were. He sat down next to five year old twins Georgia and Fredericka Weasley, and handed them each a cookie, before proceeding to give one to Adam Longbottom. Hermione rubbed her belly as she watched all the children happily munch on their cookies, she felt Darien kick and she giggled to herself, You'll be playing with them soon enough little one.

Just then the doorbell rang, Hermione looked over at her husband and smiled, "I'll get it." He winked at her in response. She made it to the front door in record time, flying it open to welcome Draco and Athena. "You guys made it." She smiled brightly.

"Of course Hermione." He leaned in kissing her cheek, and handing her a blue baby blanket with a pastel green dragon embroidered in the center. "Athena picked it out."

Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes again, as she turned to Athena, "Thank you." She pulled the woman into a warm embrace. She wiped her tears away and took Athena's hand in hers and Draco's in the other, "Come on, and meet the family." She led them to the backyard before stopping, "Stay here, you're my big surprise that everyone's been bugging me about."

Draco laughed and complied as he kissed the top of Athena's head and stayed put.

Hermione opened the door, "Hey guys, can I have your attention?" she waited until all eyes were on her, "Girls, the surprise is here." And with that she stepped aside, enjoying the girls faces of shock as Draco stepped out smiling brightly.

All was silent for about five seconds before four screeching voices shouted as one, "DRACO!" Hermione hurried out of the way as four blurs rushed by her tackling Draco to the ground in a ferocious hug.

After sorting out the tangled mess of limbs, Draco got to his feet and took Athena by the hand, leading her outside to meet his 'family'. "Guys this is Athena, my girlfriend, Athena this is my family."

Hermione smiled as Andrew's arms wrapped around her waist and he nuzzled her neck affectionately. "I'm glad that he's back in my life." She whispered as she watched Draco introduce Athena to the girls and their husbands. She and Andrew laughed as Draco's eyes nearly bulged out of his head upon meeting all the kids.

"I'm glad he's back too." Andrew said honestly, in the beginning he had been jealous of his 'twin' but after the opening of Hermione's restaurant he knew that the bond between her and Draco was nothing more than the best of friends.

Remember Bella Pietra
The dreaming days where the mess was made
Look how all the kids have grown
We have changed but we're still the same
After all that we've been through
I know we're cool

Draco was in shock as he met the group of kids that were all too adorable for words. He looked up at Hermione and found her in the arms of her husband, looking happier than he could remember. He then looked beside him at Athena, yes, he had made the right choice in letting Hermione go, in finding Athena, and in coming back, he fingered the cube shaped jewelry box in his pocket, and smiled at Athena who smiled back, yup, definitely the right choice.

The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up on lost time, none of the girls seem to question why he had left, they were simply overjoyed that he was back. They all welcomed Athena into the mix as if she had grown up with them. Hermione even gave Athena the recipe to her famous and highly secretive artichoke dip, thus confirming the gray eyed brunette's transition to the tightly knit group.

"If Draco trusts you, then I trust you, we all trust you, welcome to the family." The girls came together in a group hug, as the men simply oogled the site of six beautiful women hugging one another.

Draco watched as Athena and Hermione talked like old friends and smiled fondly, glad that after everything that had happened, everything that he and Hermione had been through, they were still friends. It's not easy loosing your love once, only to be reborn and loose her again, to someone that could be your twin. But after all the obstacles and drama they had been through, they had managed to work it out. Perhaps they were soul mates after all, not romantic ones, but ones meant to be in one another's lives for all of time. He smiled to himself, yes, he could definitely live with that.

And I'll be happy for you
If you can be happy for me
Circles and triangles,

And now we're hangin' out with your new girlfriend
So far from where we've been
I know we're cool

"I'm so glad you're back in my life Draco." Hermione hugged him fiercely as they said their goodbyes, "Please don't leave me again." She whispered softly.

"Are you kidding me Hermione?" he pulled away and looked at Athena then back at her, "My girlfriend is here, and my best friend is here. I'm finally home where I belong, I'm not going anywhere."

Hermione handed Draco back to Athena, "You make sure that if he leaves again, he at least comes to say goodbye ok?" Athena nodded, as Hermione pulled her in for a hug, "You two make a wonderful couple together, he's absolutely smitten with you." She whispered before letting go and retreating to Andrew's arms.

The two men shook hands and said their goodbyes. The Feltons's waved from the doorstep as Draco and Athena drove off, "He's so in love with her, I'm glad."

Andrew dropped a kiss to his wife's lips, "Just like I'm so in love with you."

Hermione blushed as she smiled, "Ditto, love, ditto."

Draco watched through his rearview mirror as Andrew tenderly kissed Hermione before heading into the house, "She finally got the happy ending she deserved." He murmured before looking to the enchanting woman beside him, "But then again so did I."


Here you guys go... an alternate ending, where Hermione ends up with Andrew isntead... Just thought I'd also let you know that I've started a new Draco/Hermione fic called To The Earth I Fell... so check it out and review please! I don't know if I'll do a sequel or not, perhaps if a plot bunny for one bites me, or if someone can suggest a plot line I'll continue the saga, but for now it seems like this is the end. Thank you guys so much for all the love, support and words of motivation! I wouldn't have finished without you! I Love you all!

One Love,
NelStar7

August 24, 2006